Disqus - Latest Comments for Duncan

Re: Asus Eee PC 4G — I so WANT one!

Duncan — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:22:27 -0000

Bought one today for the wife, its a beautiful machine, and so small.

Re: Finding the key: unlocking the door that bars SMEs from entering virtual worlds

Duncan — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:47:05 -0000

You've missed a key point, why would SME's want to invest in Second Life? Recent data would suggest that the ROI isn't worth it, even for big business. SME's would be far better paying for an ad in the local paper, the audience would be bigger and their message would be viewed by more poeple.

Re: New features are on the horizon

Duncan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:22:47 -0000

Re: commenting interface, I'd like to see full admin functions in Disqus itself, like the ability to ban someone from Disqus, not just the site.

Re: I'm not happy with Leopard (Scripting News)

Duncan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:07:10 -0000

Dave
I've installed Leopard on two machines and aside from a minor issue with Time Machine (you shouldn't try to open Time Machine until it has made a backup) it's been 100% stable. Sure, there's a few 3rd party apps that needed updating to work under Leopard, but that's usually true of any OS update. I would have thought you would have welcomed some of the changes, particularly the network ones. Every time turn my Mac Pro on and find that every computer and NAS on my home network has automounted is another day I thank Apple for Leopard.

Dave, could it be hardware related? Perhaps you're not using the latest Mactels? I'm guessing on that, but it has to be something given my own experience has been close to flawless.

Re: Is Twitter down? (Scripting News)

Duncan — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:22:43 -0000

Complete down, as in cant even get a Twitter down page up at Twitter.com. Has been for the better part of 30 mins as I write this.

Re: How to mount a network volume on Leopard (Scripting News)

Duncan — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:15:08 -0000

I don't get it, both my Mac's running Leopard auto-mount the network drives, including a Windows once. It's a great feature

Re: Why Tech Media Cannot Go Mainstream

Duncan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:31:16 -0000

Steve
you're comparing Apples to Oranges. Techmeme tracks tech stories, not political stuff, try memeorandum.com (Gabe's first site, and where techmeme started) and you'll get similar headlines to the MSM stories you quote. Techmeme is not representative of the broader blogging discussion, indeed if techmeme started showing the stories your suggesting it should it wouldn't be Techmeme and we'd all think it was broken.

In terms of breaking into the mainstream, blogs are already main stream. Gizmodo and Engadget (as you mention) are two very good examples, two sites I might add that had press passes at CES, not blogger passes (they have two types). But look outside of tech to the political blogosphere for example, those guys have been getting press passes back to 2004. A lot of these sites do more traffic than most mainstream media sites. If mainstream= acceptance and big readership then blogging has long been there.

I'd note I'm also attending Macworld on a press pass as well. No begging, no problems what so ever. I'll be there covering it next to the mainstream media, and I'm not sure how that makes me not-mainstream, certainly I'm being treated equally as a blogger that would suggest that I'm at the same level

Flip side though: the niche long tail is to be celebrated as well. So what if there are blogs that aren't "mainstream," that's the very beauty of the blogosphere, there is much richer diversity and choice compared to the MSM. I'm also not sure who is saying the tech blogosphere isn't going mainstream, name them! ;-)

Re: Dembot - Why Mahalo is Fundamentally Flawed

Duncan — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:28:01 -0000

Actually Andrew I've publicly defended Mahalo a couple of times on TechCrunch, most recently <http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/26/google-wil...> so to say that Mahalo hasn't had positive press is incorrect and probably just plain uncharitable.

I'll also happily write in defense of it again: it's not search for geeks but find a non-computer person and see how they respond: this is Jason's target market, so I wouldn't expect you to get it in the least, but if you were able to consider someone other than yourself and your own perspective you might get it. Dare I say Jason in the Martha Stewart of search: warm and fuzzy but not for a serious cook :-)

Re: Digg Favorites Slapped By Google

Duncan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:09:08 -0000

Andy
re your comment at the end of the post, it would appear to have only kicked in at a certain number, so only larger linking networks have been punished as opposed to some of the real small ones, least from what I can see.

Re: Digg Favorites Slapped By Google

Duncan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:09:08 -0000

Re: Plausible Deniability Just Doesn't Cut It Mr Arrington

Duncan — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:39:02 -0000

Actually Andy
Michael never once told me he was going: the BlogWorldExpo people told me he was going and it was in this context as part of a long conversation which is not included in your quote. It's entirely unfair to quote what I've written out of its full context to use it in one that its doesn't apply to.

As for TechCrunch gaining from exposure, you'll have to forgive me but if it wasn't for this current debate, the spam I received and my personal (now resolved I'd note) issue with Rick Calvert I would never had known the event was on. I'm really struggling to recall anything at all I've read about it in my 300 odd feeds I read every day, until of course this point on Michael's attendance. Please put a little bit more perspective on this: most of BlogWorldExpo's audience isn't TechCrunch's main audience, and it's not even on the radar on my reading list. I can't speak for Michael but I know that he reads a lot less than I do because he's a lot more time poor: simply he wouldn't have known about the use of his name prior to this...heck, aside from me being told by someone involved in the expo that Michael was speaking I wouldn't have known, and I certainly had zero idea that it was some sort of major keynote etc.

End of the day if Michael said he'd see what he could do, and it wasn't resolved that's not a confirmation. There's even a Facebook invite decline prior to the event with Michaels name on it.

If anything there's been a communications breakdown that leads to the organization of this event, nothing more: how hard would it have been to ring the week before to confirm attendance for example? If it was my conference I would have :-)

Re: Plausible Deniability Just Doesn't Cut It Mr Arrington

Duncan — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:39:02 -0000

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:16:01 -0000

Cmon Andy, I've got more respect for you that to take this as your typical post, and I know you can do better.

As I noted in the post I've had no major axe to grind previously with PPP, indeed although I don't like the idea I fully understand why people sign up..heck, most bloggers who want to make an income are looking at their options and PPP would have been an attractive offer; if I hadn't been quite as successful I would have used it myself, and I don't resile from that fact.

I can't talk for the behind the scenes machinations of the TC advertiser shout outs...I simply write for the site and that has nothing to do with me, but really its disingenuous to point the finger at TechCrunch over what is a fairly common industry practice. Certainly in my past involvement in blog networks we did similar posts: it had nothing to do with gaming page rank but everything to do with thanking our sponsors: in trying to make out that it's something that it isn't makes you drop to the same level as the CEO of PPP, which I know you're not at.

As for the content being "old" I received a tip in my email pointing me to the post today (sat my time, Fri your time). I did notice that it was maybe a day old (by the post date) but I made the call that it was worth a post. If you had already posted on it, good for you, and my apologies that I didn't see you post, you're in my feed read but I was at a concert 24 hours ago. You know we do try to be first or close there abouts with most things, but you cant win them all. If my only crime is to be late to a story so be it, but it's not quite as serious as you make out. Just a note I also read the other blogs you mention as well...again, I was offline for a block of time and when I came back it was catchup time and I flicked through a lot of stuff.

Should TC be in PPP court? why? Are you suggesting that PPP is the same as TLA? sure, Google doesn't like either but it's made a call and PPP is the worse of the two. For the record though (and again, I don't speak for TC, only myself) I've been in favor of TLA's for a long time, and I'm still a TLA customer. I got punished along with everyone else in the last month. The bigger story should be why those 125x125 boxes that soooooo many sites (including TC) run are any different to Text Links. Both give page rank, the only difference is one is graphical. I think the crack down on Text Links is haphazard and unfair. If Google is so concerned about leaching PR it should be all or nothing...which I think you and I would agree on.

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:16:01 -0000

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:18:21 -0000

Andy
I should have noted as well: big difference between paid links and paid advertorials. Your intro distorts this.

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:18:21 -0000

Andy
I should have noted as well: big difference between paid links and paid advertorials. Your intro distorts this.

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:27:52 -0000

Hmmmm...my first comment is either in a moderation queue or censored...

Re: Wrong Reaction From Techcrunch On Paid Links?

Duncan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:27:52 -0000

Hmmmm...my first comment is either in a moderation queue or censored...

Re: CBS buys Howard Lindzon’s brain

Duncan — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:38:09 -0000

I'm not sure what the bad blood is suppose to be? Questioning the deal doesn't constitute a personal attack, I know of Howard in passing but I've never met the guy so prior to today I've never really formed any strong opinion either way. The personal insults from Howard post this news though does paint a specific picture of him that isn't positive, I've now asked him and another investor to explain the deal to me and I've not received an answer, the best way to counter my concerns over the deal would have been a factual response, instead I received derogatory comments. What is it they say about people who resort to this style of abuse? perhaps it's a reflection of their own insecurities? for me the story is over, I've got an inbox full of Web 2.0 companies to look at and news to write about so its not even close to being something I intend on dwelling on and I do once again congratulate the investors and team behind WallStrip on the deal.

Re: Sethi: Is Hate Mail 2.0 the best response?

Duncan — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:42:53 -0000

Matthew
Michael didn't post the content from Oliver Starr, I did, and if you check the time stamps Michael was probably asleep when I did. As much as I'm aware of some of the previous issues between Michael and Sam it has nothing to do with me and I made the call alone that the lengthy post/ letter was newsworthy. If you're going to throw stones at least point them in the right direction.

Re: Has OmniDrive joined the deadpool?

Duncan — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:50:29 -0000

Simon East
I'm not an investor in Omnidrive so I have nothing to hide or no hidden agenda.

I heard from Nik about a week ago (note after I'd contacted him after the deadpool rumors surfaced) who told me he was experiencing some issues with the web site however they'd hired some new staff and that their focus was keeping the service itself up (which I believe in the most it has been, even if the website is down). That's all I know, there's not a post in that because as far as I know Omnidrive has issues, but its not deadpool time and the core service would seem to be unaffected. If I hear more or discover more that would support a different call on it story wise you'll read about it on TC

Re: Newsweek does UGC drive-by

Duncan — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:19:51 -0000

Well said

Any thoughts on Jason Calacanis saying that Web 3.0 is Web 2.0 with an editorial layer?

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Duncan — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:04:50 -0000

No apology needed, I didn't make this personal, Louis did, a guy I know nothing about who I've never met but who found it necessary to come after me.

You mention rational debate, but go back to my original post, the one Louis ignored in his attack on me, where none of the core points I made (in particularly duplication) have been responded to.

As for traffic I couldn't give a shit about it on my personal blog, I wouldn't have logged into awstats for the site in 3 years.

Mathew, I know in your country openly responding to stuff like this is a foreign concept, but I'd rather respond openly then bottle it all up, eh. :-) Rational argument deserves rational argument, I'm not the person who took it down a peg, or perhaps you can point out where Gray actually put together a rational response because I cant see it. You're just another member of the Gray cheersquad who is cloaking your argument in the belief that Gray has a right to attack me but I have no right to respond.

Re: Duncan Riley: Lessons in diplomacy

Duncan — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:06:04 -0000

Clay
I'm entitled to post as I please on my personal blog, it wasn't on TechCrunch, but I love how you'll attack me without even reading any of it, from the beginning. Typical of the American lynch mob coming after me on this.

Re: It is not how many but what you know about who follows you that matters

Duncan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:24:56 -0000

Seesmic video reply from Disqus.

Re: Caltrain ridership booms — Silicon Valley’s roller coaster

Duncan — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:13:39 -0000

I used Caltrain yesterday, even on a Sunday it was packed both ways. A little rough in terms of global trains (ride quality in particular, it seems to rock a bit) but a decent service at a reasonable price.

Re: So much for my time away from the computer — Google Reader for iPhone improves

Duncan — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:33:09 -0000

I just cant bring myself to use Reader on my iPhone because I'd then get caught not being able to write about what I found (well you could, but it's hard). Still, it's all good in terms of interface from Google, not only with Reader but (more importantly for me) with Gmail.

Re: Yahoo! Annoying Its Flickr Users

Duncan — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:04:55 -0000

As one of the people linked to in this post, I feel compelled to comment. Ignore the fact Thomas Hawk is from Zooomr because what he is saying is a reflection of fact. People are pissed off, and I'm one of them. I've been a long time Flickr user but I haven't had a working Yahoo! ID since maybe 97 or 98, in the same way I don't have a Microsoft Passport (hotmail) id either, nor did I want one. The old system at Flickr worked fine, and they've been running dual logins for at least 12 months with no issues. So they want to force new users to have a Yahoo! ID, fine, but why force existing users to? Have you ever tried getting a Yahoo ID? it's no easy task, I've got a fairly unique name (indeed, there are about 4 people on the entire planet who share my name...now beat that :-) ) and yet I couldn't register it nor variations of it, in the end I came up with my full name with an 07 at the end of it..but it took far, far too long. I've got no desire to use other Yahoo services, their email is second rate, De.licio.us is soo yesterday, and aside from their TV Guide (no login required) I never visit their sites. A lot of people like me didn't kick up a stink when Yahoo! bought Flickr because we were promised that things wouldn't change, indeed by Caterina herself, and yet now were forced into the Yahoo! machine. I'm not leaving Flickr over it, but others will...and yes, Zooomr stands to gain, indeed I'll be checking them out for the first time seriously in the next couple of days....if this all sounds melodromatic, understand that Flickr users are like a tribe, their heavily dedicated to the service, and they don't like it when things are messed with. That sort of passion should be encouraged, not rallied against, which is what Yahoo is doing.

Re: Tech Blogging: In Defense Of Slowing Down

Duncan — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:14:13 -0000

I think you missed one point, he didn't say you should sack people who didn't work hard, he said you should sack people who want balance. You can work bloody hard and still have a balance life, "workaholics" can actually be less effective than someone who works hard but maintains a balanced lifestyle (read the 37signals post). The comment that wanting balance means you should work at starbucks is insulting to anyone who has a family or who doesn't want to do an Om Malik and end up having a heart attack from working too hard.

Re: louisgray.com: Web Service Notifications Outnumber Live Bodies In My E-Mail

Duncan — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:59:28 -0000

Simple solution: rules. You've got the folders, now auto-file the emails. I do it with absolutely everything now and it makes email management that much easier. Funny to see you using Mac Mail though, I would have thought your mail would be online only as well.

Re: Cuba Blames U.S. for Lack of Widespread Internet Connectivity

Duncan — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:20:11 -0000

test

Re: Challenge to Duncan: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is :)

Duncan — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:11:33 -0000

Of course CJ, nothing to fear :-)

Re: A Response to a Lebanese Plea

Duncan — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 02:19:20 -0000

I get what you are saying, and fully agree with it in general, but some of the things the Israeli's have been doing in Lebannon is beyond the pale. Collateral damage is one thing, the purposeful targeting of civilians is another.

Re: What’s in a Name (or why the name is lower-case b-number-5-lowercase-media)

Duncan — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:40:02 -0000

Actually I've made the reason public a couple of times: when we were going through the brainstorming session for names, I came up with b5media meaning blogging 5 people media as there were originally 5 people involved in the process, 3 of whom remained at launch. We had all sorts of interesting name choices, indeed b5media wasnt the most bold nor interesting, but it met the marketing challenge: it was easy to remember, easy to spell, and the .com name was available.

As for the lower case it was always a matter of asthetics for me more than anything else, and hence it's never had a capital B. To the eye b5media looks nicer than B5Media, the B being a bit harsh on the eye.

Re: South of the Border

Duncan — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:25:07 -0000

Big Roy,
I didn't say Australia didn't welcome immigrants, indeed some 25% of all Australian's were born overseas, we also have one of the biggest intakes per capita of any country world wide of refugees as well. What I said was that we don't tolerate ILLEGAL immigrants. VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.We've also got a diverse range of ethnic groups as well.

Re: Democracy Plugin XSS Vulnerability ALERT

Duncan — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 21:41:17 -0000

No link love for the person who actually discovered it? :-)

Re: Technorati isn’t tracking Myspace, if they are they totally suck

Duncan — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 08:34:43 -0000

I just checked, you are right. So the later is right. They totally suck at tracking Myspace :-)

Re: Petrol Panic

Duncan — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 04:06:35 -0000

$1.04 a litre...must have been 3-4 years since I paid that. The problem for many years in Australia was the tax take, I can remember when petrol got to 80c the tax take was something like 50c. They are saying its only about 35% of the price now, which is still a lot higher than the States, but a lot lower than Europe. I can remember relatives probably 4-5 years ago coming back from trips to France and telling me they paid about $2 (AUD) a litre for fuel there then!

As for the conversion: what's a gallon :-) Aside from the odd reason the US never adopted the metric scale (and you work for a defence company, so you'd work in Metric, right? I know Boeing does because the whole world does now except the US), Weight and Liquid imperial measurements are totally foreign to most Australians. I get inches, and I get feet, because my parents generation grew up with this, and I know there is roughly 2.45cm in an Inch (a lot of rulers you buy have both on it), and of course you often see inch measurements online and with things like paper, but the other stuff....no idea :-)Speed and temperature are pretty hard to get around as well. I know 35 miles is about 60km, and I know 100F is about 38C, but that's the extent of it. I was watching the Government funded ethnic broadcasting channel (SBS) the other night (they show South Park, so they aren't to bad) and I caught their news, they showed temps in C for the US....I was quite impressed to see NY at 24 for example, given its about that here now in mid Autumn :-)

Re: Need food, must sell…Weblog Empire up for sale!

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 04:39:33 -0000

It's not so much that they didn't work, it's that I didn't have the time to love them...so to speak :-)

Re: Did someone say Winter?

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 04:54:46 -0000

I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like a big drop :-)

The bad thing for me: from The Blog Herald money we got AC installed, but not heating, it didn't go that far, but at least when its cold I can rug up, when its hot....well there is no relief :-)

Re: Help! Do you remember this site?

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 06:54:21 -0000

Paul you're a star...the exact site I was trying to remember. Thank you.

Re: Need food, must sell…Weblog Empire up for sale!

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 09:18:51 -0000

way to quick. I should have asked for more!

Re: Help! Do you remember this site?

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:49:46 -0000

I'm doing stats there again already (with thanks)

I know where you're coming from on the site comparison, pretty scary when you beat the big guys.

Re: Need food, must sell…Weblog Empire up for sale!

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:50:45 -0000

It's money in the bank...or the paypal account as the case may be...until I can spend it on another new project :-)

Re: Did someone say Winter?

Duncan — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:27:02 -0000

34 to 13....yikes, that cant be normal, can it??

I experienced something similar in Sydney when I was about 12.

It was a really hot day, maybe 35. In the space of an hour it dropped to below 10, I can't remember the exact temp, but it was late August, the day was exceptionally hot for Winter, and the front came through, and its the ONLY time growing up I saw Sleet in Sydney. It was a Thursday, which was a Sports day for my school, and my mother picked me up directly from the tennis court. I can still remember her trying to swish the sleet off the windscreen of the car. We got near home, dropped into the local newsagent, and they told us it was Snowing in Engadine (far our Sydney Suburb about 10 minutes from us). Now Melbourne readers might be use to snow (3 times a year folks??? :-) ) but snow in Sydney?? or even sleet. One day in 1987. I still remember, it was that rare!

Where I live now...no snow, although the lawns do tend to freeze in winter :-)

Re: Where should I go on holidays?

Duncan — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 11:12:58 -0000

jesse, too far. I'd love to go to ireland, sooooo much it's scary...tomorrow, but I've got to keep it in my cost ratio, which is no more than $1500 AUD full accomodation and food. I know I'll need to spend more, but I need to include the food in that.

Re: Where should I go on holidays?

Duncan — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 11:29:21 -0000

NY is tempting...but the cost is way too much...unless I'm sponsored for some speaking gigs, I will happily do it for the flight...but without the sponsorship...it's too much.

Re: Where should I go on holidays?

Duncan — Mon, 01 May 2006 04:04:16 -0000

Got to admit, Noosa is tempting, although I spent 2 years living on the Sunshine Coast many moons ago, so I'm sort of Queenslanded out, although the Gold Coast might be a possibility. As long as I can sit on a beach at some stage and it's warm...which is why as much as I'm still thinking Sydney I know it's not warm enough this time of year.

Thailand is looking good, if I can get a passport in time :-) One of the best things about living in WA, cheap airfairs into Asia, can do Phuket for a week for under $1k (AUD).

Re: The Australian TV tour

Duncan — Mon, 08 May 2006 02:43:46 -0000

Ive got summer, autumn, winter and spring right here thanks, Autumn right now....3 deg mornings, 20-25 degree days, lovely. :-)

The prob with Melbourne is that it will have all 4 often on the same day :-) At least I'm hopping when I'm in Sydney to lay on a beach....although I might be a bit cold. In Melbourne I could freeze to death at St Kilda whilst being sprayed with sewerage :-)

next trip. I promised Darren a meeting soon, so maybe July/ August :-)

Re: Is Robert Scoble a good parent? is exposing a 12 year old to online porn and gambling a good thing?

Duncan — Wed, 10 May 2006 01:03:25 -0000

And look, to be honest I believe it's best that kids do eventually find out about this sort of stuff in the supervision of a parent, alcohol, gambling, that sort of thing, but 12 is way, way to young in my books.

Re: Snark? some people don’t get it

Duncan — Thu, 11 May 2006 05:13:37 -0000

Thanks both Hsien and David.
Look, at the end of the day, I know I'm neither perfect or even always right. But I'd rather be honest than put up some pretend front.

Cowboy,
are you sure it's Martin. I'd be really disappointed if it was. Martin, if it is you, and you are reading this, do me favour, get on a JetStart flight to Sydney next week, between Tuesday and Friday, and come and have a bite to eat with me. The flights are cheap (it's costing me $59AUD to fly Gold Coast to Sydney) and we'll talk through it. Get to know the real me. If you hate me at the end of the day, so be it, but at least experience me first hand. It's all I ask before you condemn me!

Re: Snark? some people don’t get it

Duncan — Thu, 11 May 2006 05:17:07 -0000

And I'll add to Martin (if it's you). Yep, sure, I'm a little bit nuts. But I'm not a bad guy. I moved away from all my friends, everything I knew, to marry my wife. Biggest gamble anyone could take. And I'll tell you this. Some of my "so-called" friends said it wouldn't last 18 mths. I'm coming up on my 7 year anniversary.

Martin, if its you, lets talk shop, in Sydney, Tuesday to Friday next week (except Thurday, I'm at the Chaser audience, we can do it late).

Re: BlogHer: where the feminist victimhood agenda is at

Duncan — Mon, 22 May 2006 05:53:45 -0000

Seth
this is were we disagree, because the blogosphere is a level playing field, it's just that the reporting of it, the obsession at the top of it (and by observers) distorts the fact that for every Robert Scoble there are millions of people out their with their own audiences within their own niches.

It's only cliquish at the top, and in the way its presented and reported on. It was always the quandry I had at The Blog Herald, because in many ways I presented the news in that very same way, however 99.99999% of people out there don't give a rats about the A-List and the like. I don't like the term, but the "mainstream" is very much ignored in reporting, but it's the vast majority.

Re: Surpass Hosting Sucks, or the problem with shared hosting

Duncan — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:17:13 -0000

Kayla,
I can only say follow the link to Problogger and read the interview with this guy, it was pretty clear what you guys did. That you've since worked with him is a positive, however you didn't initially, you just cut him off, and this is poor form.

Nova,
happy to know I wasn't alone on this one. Site5 are a disgrace, the worst thing for me is that I made the mistake of recommending them at the time (when things were going well)...indeed, I actually for memory referred some decent business there way as well, and yet the shared hosting curse struck again...and I guess at the end of the day, although it's happened to me time and time again, I'm the most bitter about Site5, because Site5 promised so much more, so the expectations were so much higher, therefore the crash even bigger.

Re: Robert Scoble noise on Friendfeed - I embrace it. « My Thoughts On Social Media

Duncan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:30:57 -0000

I'm not sure exactly how, but FriendFeed makes Scoble easier to digest and I get more value from following him now than I ever have previously.

Re: Will virtual worlds get a guernsey at Rudd’s summit?

Duncan — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:13:07 -0000

Anyone, even you, as long as they aren't members of our so-called cultural elite. I'm tired of not being represented by these people.

Re: 2007/04/19/petition-against-alexas-statsaholic-lawsuit/

Duncan — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 04:58:32 -0000

Adding my name to the petition: Amazon, you're biting the hand that help feed you. As an Amazon customer I'm willing to boycott your sites and products over this, it is beyond unacceptable, if anything, you should buy these folks, and laud them for the excellent job they've been doing.

Re: Censored: List of Countries that Banned YouTube

Duncan — Wed, 30 May 2007 19:40:35 -0000

Your inclusion of Victoria sits somewhere between stupid and insane. Why not include the Unites States as well, after all I'm sure you'll find corporate or public blocking of YouTube in the past, for example Libraries at one stage were blocking a list of social sites.

Re: 2008/05/06/videorix/

Duncan — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:07:00 -0000

Rizzn
I'm not sure this is a PPP style play, it seems to be placed pre-rolls to me, but maybe I'm reading it wrong.

Re: 2008/05/27/improving-blog-comments/

Duncan — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:03:26 -0000

"On the other hand, why you might not want to use such tools is because you are leaving all your blog comments on third party systems. There are arguments that the comments displayed on your blogs through these tools are notindexable by search engines. And in case you want to stop using any of these services, importing your comments back to your blogs might not be easy."

Wrong. The comments are on your blog, they are simply indexed externally. Secondly at least with Disqus one of the two options offers a fully SEO friendly/ indexable comment stream, one of the reasons I went with them. Last: import back to your blog is surprisingly easy, at least with Disqus, the only problem with Disqus is there's no easy way to import existing comments into Disqus (when you switch) although you can chose to only add it to new posts or posts without existing comments.

Re: 2008/05/29/matt-mullenweg-interview/

Duncan — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:52:35 -0000

For Zune in the links...really? I'm all for catering for minorities, but this is taking it way too far :-)

Re: 2008/06/06/youtubesony-bravia/

Duncan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:41:30 -0000

I don't get it. Why would I pay $300 for this when an Apple TV is $229 and 100x better?

Re: 2008/06/06/youtubesony-bravia/

Duncan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:54:26 -0000

Frantic
you're not being creative enough. Import one. I can buy them where I live, but it was half the price to get one from the States. They pretty much work anywhere with a power plug adaptor and a wifi connection :-)

Re: 2008/06/06/youtubesony-bravia/

Duncan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:27:14 -0000

Frantic
no itunes rentals here in australia either...I can purchase music but I've never once used the iTunes store. You can pretty much convert any file type via iTunes (the software) and sync it to an Apple TV, that's how we use it.

Re: 2008/06/11/tweet2win/

Duncan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:12:19 -0000

Spam.

Re: 2008/06/16/weblogs-inc-is-downway-down/

Duncan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:36:35 -0000

I thought it was just me, I was searching for a plugin and I kept getting Download Squad in the results, but couldn't work out why the page wouldn't load :-)

Re: 2008/06/19/rssmeme-legal/

Duncan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:54:35 -0000

Rizzn, I thought you were smarter than this

"But when you boil it down, the truth is that all these services are in their final form simply republishing content they didnâ€™t create (even if through human editing or algorithmic editing there has been an editorial selection process)."

NO. NO NO NO NO NO.

Some are republishing links. Some are republishing extracts, which is legal under fair use. Some are repubishing full feeds for personal use, while grey is usually presumed ok as the presumption is that in publishing a full feed, you are saying that it's ok for people to read that in a service like Google Reader. Then some are republishing full feeds for commercial purposes, and that's splogging.

ghfghf

Thi

Re: 2008/06/19/rssmeme-legal/

Duncan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:56:10 -0000

Sorry for the end there, Mashable went odd in FF3.

What I was trying to finish with was that this isn't anything like you suggest, and it certainly isn't new. The concept of splogging and fair use has been around for a very long time. That some people are tryying to cloak their splogging efforts in 2.0 is sad, but nothing more than a variation on the theme

Re: 2008/06/24/google-government-teet/

Duncan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:53:06 -0000

+1 Adam. Where the hell did you find that pic.

Re: 2008/06/28/twitter-replies/

Duncan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:49:15 -0000

for now....

Re: 2008/07/07/free-celebrity-pictures/

Duncan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:11:56 -0000

My problem with Picapp remains the god-awful ad they place underneath the pic. What's wrong with an overlay exactly?

Re: 2008/07/08/a-meta-discussion-on-our-irksome-video-experience-video/

Duncan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:11:34 -0000

2 issues: nothing said until the 38 second mark, and the embed isn't working in Goog Reader. That aside, what did you use to get the two pics up?

Re: 2008/07/13/plurk-statistics/

Duncan — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:04:49 -0000

Firstly, Quantcast is as useless as tits on a bull unless it's being directly tracked. Secondly, you've take the surge point from Alexa. Draw the line from the bottom of the hump, or even the third week in June, and you'll get flat or even trending up :-) To be fair, compared to many of these services, a solid chunk of people staid on Plurk, so they deserve at least some credit for that. Most of them flatline or tank in a much more dramatic way

Re: 2008/08/02/sitemeter-down/

Duncan — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:17:20 -0000

C'mon Mark, don't do an Arrington on me http://www.inquisitr.com/2097/site-meter-causin...

Re: 2008/09/01/when-bloggers-arent-bloggers/

Duncan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:26:14 -0000

Mark,
there's fair call preemptive strikes, then there's killing fair process. The RNC arrests fall towards the latter. A few bad apples doesn't justify a broadscale offensive prior to any wrong doing taking place. We should always be presumed innocent until proven guilty. What we saw pre RNC was borderline fascist state, an overboard response that punished the innocent because of the presumptive future guilt of a few. We do not live in the age of the Minority Report, and god help us that we should ever get to that stage.

Re: 2008/10/08/leadership-fear-technology-economy/

Duncan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:13:03 -0000

Mark, kudos for the positive tone, it's going to be something we need more of. But this isn't 2002.

I know unemployment isn't as bad today, and certain other factors. But its worse in a gigantic portion in many other ways, and we are yet to see the full effect of it all.

Smarter people than you and I are calling this at least the beginning of a serious recession, at worst, a repeat of the great depression. 2002 and the first tech crash may well seem like a kids birthday party with bad cake in comparison. That others in the comments would suggest this is a media beat up is beyond me, because you only have to look at some numbers to know that it's actually probably a measure worse again. Even Sequioa is saying it's time to panic.

People need to be creative, and tech can help that, so you're right in that respect. But context needs to consider real numbers.

Re: 2008/12/09/promising-sites-that-died-in-2008/

Duncan — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:00:22 -0000

Agree with Stage 6, the Div X may have been annoying but the quality was great. But you ruined the article by including Pownce. It was never promising. Ever.

Re: 2008/12/15/john-cleese-mashable/

Duncan — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:51:52 -0000

You don't have to be Mashable to tell people that life's about change. (with apologies naturally to John Cleese)

Re: Do Airlines Outsource their Frequent Flyer Programs?

Duncan — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:51:38 -0000

In a way, yes. What you'll find is that they usually spin the frequent flyer program off then that company is acquired. Aeroplan was Air Canada's FF program, from what I understand it's now the biggest FF company in the world as is worth more than Air Canada itself. Qantas here in Australia is about to spin off their program as well, and Aeroplan is taking a stake.

Re: Do Airlines Outsource their Frequent Flyer Programs?

Duncan — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:51:38 -0000

Re: Oops, They Fired All Their Workaholics

Duncan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:34:07 -0000

Zoil
that's not what he said. He said that balance was a bad thing. Passionate employees who give above the fold don't have to be workaholics with no lives, what exactly is wrong with balance in your life? Also to suggest that I was wrong because anyone who has worked in a startup would understand Calacanis is right is BS and insulting. I worked 20 hours days without pay in a startup for 12 months, but I still found time to take my son to school or spend time with him where I could. The balance level may not have been perfect, but understand that I worked long and odd hours because I wanted some balance. The argument, taken by Scoble, Calacanis and you that someone how passionate means working 18 hours days chained to a desk and god help you that you might want to spend some time with your family quite honestly sickens me. WTF is wrong with you people?

Re: Oops, They Fired All Their Workaholics

Duncan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:34:07 -0000

Re: Oops, They Fired All Their Workaholics

Duncan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:40:52 -0000

Roland
he backtracked and changed the post several times after the backlash. I read and responded to the original post, maybe I can find a Google Cache link and send it to you :-)

As I've argued everywhere, balance isn't a bad thing (and he still thinks ppl who want balance should work at starbucks...unless he's changed the post yet again). You can work hard and have some balance.

Re: Oops, They Fired All Their Workaholics

Duncan — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:40:52 -0000

Re: Technorati is Borked - Not Only Right Now.

Duncan — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:19:57 -0000

I was back over there the other day for the first time serious in years and I constantly got the same screen. Some things never change: Technorati has, and always will be broken.

Re: Technorati is Borked – Not Only Right Now.

Duncan — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:19:57 -0000

I was back over there the other day for the first time serious in years and I constantly got the same screen. Some things never change: Technorati has, and always will be broken.

Re: No, the Sky is Not Falling in Startup-land

Duncan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:44:20 -0000

Zoli
thx for the link. Where I disagree though is that there won't be replacements for the startups that fail. Startups always fail, always have, always will, but you take out new ones getting funding, and pop, there's goes the bubble, because you aren't replenishing your supply of startups

Where I do agree though is for existing startups: there as many opportunities in this market for smart startups..indeed some are saying we'll be better for it. Many will survive, and be smarter and more profitable for it

Re: No, the Sky is Not Falling in Startup-land

Duncan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:44:20 -0000

Re: My 15 minutes of Internet Fame

Duncan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:28:36 -0000

rofl :-) Newcastle boy eh, my uncle (and aunt, and cousins) live in Adamstown Heights, lots of trips up the F3 when I was a kid. If I'm at Phil Sims (squash) even this year in the Hunter Valley there's usually a stop over in Newcastle, we'll catch up for a drink, if not head out to the conference, it's lot of fun, last years was at the Crowne Plaza opposite Cessnock Airport

Re: My 15 minutes of Internet Fame

Duncan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:28:36 -0000

Re: My 15 minutes of Internet Fame

Duncan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:28:36 -0000

Re: Tomorrow

Duncan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:53:25 -0000

Best of luck + congrats

Re: Tomorrow

Duncan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:53:25 -0000

Best of luck + congrats

Re: Tomorrow

Duncan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:53:25 -0000

Best of luck + congrats

Re: Pennsylvania might as well be in Israel

Duncan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:56:25 -0000

[viddler id-d12b6c57]

Re: The geeks on Saturday night

Duncan — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 21:24:24 -0000

Sorry Tris and Robert, and Robert, particularly you :-) you need to stop taking an insular, West Coast view of the Blogosphere and remember that blogs actually don't just exist in your own time zone, it was about 3pm the following day when I first read about it (oddly enough, 11pm your time) and many of the bloggers running with it were across various time zones around the world. We aren't all on US PST you know! :-)

Re: How to get a top Technorati blogger to link to you?

Duncan — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:01:38 -0000

No begging from me, but I do have a question: what's Mena's issue with lists? Lists can make great reading, both from an education and entertainment view point as well...indeed I got a good chuckle from this list.

Re: Xbox team opens up its platform (HDTV next?)

Duncan — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:04:31 -0000

Robert,
I think it's important to note as well that XNA Game Studio Express allows for the creation of PC Games as well, I don't own a game console myself, but I can see myself having a shot on XNA Game Studio Express to create games for the PC if it's actually as easy to use as MS makes out....and I've already got a great idea for an Asteroids clone where instead of shooting Aliens, you get to shot Web 2.0 companies....only kidding :-)

Re: News alert: Ze Frank blinks

Duncan — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:34:37 -0000

As for the uninteresting comment, I actually prefer your current style of blogging a lot more than the "old" Scoble if you like, it's more personal, more insightful...and naturally it's less Microsoft :-)
Scoble 2.0 is a good Scoble :-)

Re: Third day with Windows Live Writer

Duncan — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:45:33 -0000

Robert
give Blogdesk a try (www.blogdesk.org)... a lot smoother (and although they quote me on their main page I've got no arrangement with them, just love the program). However if the Writer guys allow me to crop images and name from within Writer them I might think about coming across to the dark side :-)

Re: Linux’ achilles heel: fonts

Duncan — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 05:27:44 -0000

just to agree with others here (yep, I'm being boring) the new Microsoft fonts, particularly in Office 2007 (I've not got a beta of Vista yet) are amazing..totally amazing, sure it takes a day or 2 to get use to them, but if anything for my liking will be Vistas trump card it's going to be asthetics in fonts...they are really that good.

Re: Is Microsoft really the largest blog vendor?

Duncan — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:44:27 -0000

I'll leave my thoughts on this for a post, but I can tell you now that Spaces will still come out on top by your own criteria, Blogger is the only service that might come close (in terms of numbers), and yet the ratio of real blogs to splogs there is far, far worse than Spaces.

Re: Microsoft fights for its reputation, where’s Apple and Google?

Duncan — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 05:48:37 -0000

To be fair to Google, although they are far from perfect, they do have Matt Cutts, who is never shy in engaging with the great blogging and SEO community.

Re: Microsoft helping Firefox team?

Duncan — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:38:46 -0000

Interesting comments to which I can only add this: Microsoft should just drop IE and use Firefox as browser of choice, sure they coud give it a MS coat of paint, but it would certainly save Microsoft a pile of money, part of which they could donate to the Mozilla foundation for Firefox development, and certainly it would allow me to sleep better at night knowing that I no longer have to worry about making my website work in IE6 or IE7.

Re: New DivX video portal rocks, but will you download it?

Duncan — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 01:19:56 -0000

Not only do you have to install a plugin, but FireFox doesn't know what plugin to install either, you cant automatically download it from within Firefox, so theres anywhere from 10-40% of their potential audience lost.

Re: New DivX video portal rocks, but will you download it?

Duncan — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 01:23:31 -0000

Actually it gets worse...they claim it's optimized for FF and yet there seems to be no plugin for it...according to them the only way to view the videos is to install the DivX web player.

Re: Interesting podcast service overview

Duncan — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:51:50 -0000

They totally didn't include The Podcast Network...which on Alexa stats is higher than Podtech.

Re: Office team corrects news about its new “ribbon”

Duncan — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 01:37:35 -0000

That's actually a good thing, I couldn't believe that they were thinking about changing it given it's one of the best things in the new version of Office, sure it takes a day or two of getting use to, but it's a time saver for sure and a definite selling point for upgrading to Office 2007.

Re: I hate John Comokaz

Duncan — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 21:37:13 -0000

Robert, Robert, Robert...WTF? cmon man, you know how to do a whois search, I'd also hope you'd be doing more now than just apologizing to Elliot, I'd be sending him at least flowers and chocolates as well :-)

As for advice, Matt hits it in the comments: DMCA his service provider, and if they ignore it (they appear to be a reseller) do an IP check and DMCA the hosts upline, eventually you'll get the site taken down.

As for this need to vent about this stuff, it does nothing than leave you open to further attack (or in this case legal action for defamation), you're better off taking action behind the scenes, not in the public domain. If you need some advice drop either me or Jeremy an email, happy to help.

Re: Blogger says “it’s OK to steal, if they use RSS”

Duncan — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 23:26:50 -0000

generally speaking republishing an extract would be fair use, republishing the full content is a breach of copyright under the DMCA.

But onto the other comments, there is some hypocrisy and double standard though when it comes to scrapping/ using RSS feeds. Bloglines and others do republish full feeds, so essentially they could be breaching the law as well. It does seem to me (playing devils advocate a little bit) that it's a matter of taking sides when both are doing essentially the same thing.I think Quadszilla over at the SEO Black Hat blog here sums it up well.

Re: I hate John Comokaz

Duncan — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 23:29:45 -0000

Ajay
sending you an email now.

Re: Can you find the little duckie sign on Flickr?

Duncan — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:37:17 -0000

Yeh!!! great success Flickr has had with users in the States, but the 4 billion other people in the world dont count..including me, right? Try geotagging a pic in SE Asia or Australia, you'll get a 1km out pic, but you'll never get it down to the building, maps you say? even worse. When it comes to embracing the global community (and if you don't think Web 2.0 in inclusive of it, you're a dead loss) Yahoo! sucks.

Re: “Colossally stupid,” CA attorney general says of HP chairwoman

Duncan — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:45:10 -0000

I would think "colossally stupid" would be, at least in this case, an understatement.

Re: Devlicio.us, love that URL

Duncan — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:58:40 -0000

I think the TM issue might be a long straw, after all, can del.icio.us trademark every .us name that has icio in it, particularly given that icious is the ending of a number of common english words?

Re: Will Apple sue PodTech.net? (My employer)

Duncan — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 06:15:04 -0000

Blogcast and blogcasting works for me. Video podcasting or similar simply becomes video blogging, after all, Amanda Congdon refers to herself as a video blogger (check out the Amanda does America series).

Re: Full feeds ahoy!

Duncan — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 04:07:53 -0000

Robert,
that's great, but perhaps you'd care to explain why the feed I have for your blog is a part feed?
http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/feed/rss/
being all for full feeds is one thing, but offering readers like myself a part feed...well to put it simply, please explain.

Re: Meta Ze

Duncan — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:05:39 -0000

I'm with you Robert, he's top of my list.

Re: More on Ze Frank and Rocketboom ad numbers

Duncan — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:35:19 -0000

I think Gary's hit it on the head for me, but Michael, yep, Dennis Miller isn't a brilliant example, but you get the idea. Ze is like taking addictive drugs whilst Rocket Boom is like cordial, you get hooked on Ze and he makes you think differently about things, whilst also entertaining, Rocketboom on the other hand is run of the mill find in your supermarket type stuff that you can either take or leave it...and yes, the biggest reason Rocketbooms numbers are bigger is because they are a default download on just about every video service I can think of, certainly Windows MCE plugins, and also with programs such as the Democracy player. Rocketboom is big by default, Ze's audience seeks him out.

Re: Andy says I’m an RSS stealer thanks to Google Reader

Duncan — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 03:11:46 -0000

Robert
I've got to say how deeply, deeply disappointed I am that you've decided to do this. Your republishing full feeds on your link blog, and without permission up front, is a breach of copyright, and for that matter the DMCA as well, no matter the fact that you promise to take them down if asked. What you've just done is given a green light to the thousands of spam bloggers out there who doing the same thing, the same people I and many others from content creating companies fight day in, day out. I can see some of the responses now: "well Robert Scoble is doing it". I've heard the whole "but I'm helping you, I'm helping you drive traffic to your site" argument you are using before: it's a standard defense of a spam blogger. I notice you argue that your not always republishing the full feed, but certainly with the feeds that your using that actually publish full feeds, you are indeed reposting them. And one last thing: remember the whole debate you championed in relation to publishing full feeds, indeed you actually stopped reading blogs with part feeds: well since you're now essentially publishing a spam blog, you might well now understand my previous position against you on the matter, because it's sites such as these that force people to go down the part feed route. I suppose I can only ask: please reconsider!

Re: Revver up for an Emmy

Duncan — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 03:39:52 -0000

That's great news, not just for Revver but for the whole Web 2.0 movement as well. Now if we can only get them to give out awards for best short film online, best video blog... :-)

Re: Andy says I’m an RSS stealer thanks to Google Reader

Duncan — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 00:55:14 -0000

Stefan> he’s giving credit, i mean it isn’t as if he’s copy and pasting content without citing sources. that would be wrong.

Citing sources doesn't prevent a breach of copyright, and certainly doesn't mean you can republish an entire post Stefan. Certainly a part feed/ extract with link would be acceptable under fair use provisions, but never a full post without permission.

I also noticed in the comments there someone talking about Google and Matt Cutts...I wonder how happy the people your scraping Robert will be when you get them banned or punished from Google for duplicate content? Drop Matt a line, he'll explain how it works.

As for saying that I'm not rational Robert you're right, I thought once you'd left Microsoft you might have joined the real world but it would appear that this isn't the case. You've got a splog that is helping value add to your own personal blog that not only features commercials, but is also a conduit and communications outlet for your own business and commercial interests with Podtech. Just because you don't have ads on that page doesn't make it non-commercial, and if you believe that you deluding yourself, and I mean that with the utmost respect. As for Andy's arguments pertaining to how RSS should be used...well I don't agree with the way he's putting it, but I do agree with what he's trying to say: RSS feeds aren't private as such, but in terms of use they are there on the whole (particularly copyrighted feeds and works) for private use in a feed reader, they certainly aren't there to be republished by you, or your friendly neighborhood spam blogger. Anyhow, could argue this all day, you're not ripping any of my feeds so I'll leave it at that, but certainly I hope you've given Automattic notice that they should expect some DMCA notices in against you in the future.

Re: Get “pissed as newts” in New York too

Duncan — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:00:37 -0000

Interesting use of the phrase, I was always under the understanding that the phrase was "as pissed as a newt" not pissed as newts...similarly though (perhaps more Australian) we generally tend to use the phrase "pissed as a parrot", but I have heard that used to describe a group in the plural, as in "they're all pissed as parrots". Anyhow, that's my two bobs worth on drinking slang anyway, enjoy getting pissed Robert, particularly with real beer :-)

Re: Full text feeds pay off for this blogger

Duncan — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:04:13 -0000

Of course, the delicious Irony for me here Robert is I'm still reading you blog in Bloglines via a part feed, not a full feed. Feel free to switch the full feed back on though :-)

Re: Wii have a problem…

Duncan — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:16:57 -0000

Got to agree with Michiel in the comments. Try picking up your TV remote and throwing it at your TV, you'll get the same result. There's nothing wrong with the system or the remote, it's just some people are idiots. We've had one for a week and nothing is broken yet, sure, a remote was dropped once by my 4 year old, but no damage and it all still works. Simple moral to the story: don't let go of the remote.

Re: Todd asks “why no hard questions for BillG?”

Duncan — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:21:14 -0000

Extremely well said Robert, and my thoughts exactly. You missed one point though: he's also the worlds richest man. How many of these people criticizing the lack of "hard" questions would really ask hard questions if they had an audience with Gates? None of them would, getting up close and personal with Bill Gates is literally being in the company of greatness, that the 14 got off any questions at all is a credit to them all. Like you were with Steve Jobs, I'd be a blubbering mess, in between trying to lift my jaw off the ground.

Re: AppleTV: Xbox without the “X?”

Duncan — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:46:12 -0000

I'm comment No. 100! yae!
But on a more serious note, I'm with you on this Robert, AppleTV is iLame, big time.

Re: The link blog effect

Duncan — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:27:01 -0000

Still defending the spam (link) blog Robert...despite the fact the "Scoble Defence" (defense in US Eng) has become the *STANDARD* response now amongst the blog spamming community?

Let me quote someone on the topic, who you might know:

"Blogger says “it’s OK to steal, if they use RSS”

Mgreenly says, basically, that by putting a full-text RSS feed out there it’s like giving everyone a license to copy my content and use it however they want.

Ahh, so if it’s easy to copy it’s OK to steal?

American copyright law says “not true.”

And, I’m calling bull on this. It’s one thing to use it in an online news aggregator like Bloglines and its a whole nother thing to steal my content and put a different name on it and then spam everyone I link to with trackback spam.

This is content theft and its not OK. If you are advocating this is OK you simply don’t understand copyright law."

Remember who wrote this? YOU on the 27th of August last year. You're taking FULL feeds and you're putting another name on them, just because you don't have ads doesn't make a shred of difference under the VERY SAME copyright laws you once proudly quoted.

Re: YouTube pulling down posts

Duncan — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:13:04 -0000

Don't take me for a Google or YouTube apologist, because I'm far from it, but in this case it's simply not their fault, they are merely complying with the take down provisions on the DMCA. Short story: if you're hosting something and you're served with a DMCA notice, even if it's rubbish, you're pretty much obliged to take the item down until such time the content creator files a counter claim to the take down notice...and as the host if you fail to comply with a take down notice you also become liable in any future action over breach of copyright with the person who put the content there in the first place...hence hosts (including YouTube) pull stuff down without question *ALL THE TIME*. Is it wrong? Hell yes, but thats the DMCA for you and the stupidity of American law. If anything go after the law, not firms such as Google which are forced to comply with it.

Re: Breaking news: Adobe to release PDF to ISO

Duncan — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:33:32 -0000

Maybe now Microsoft will be able to provide it in Office 07 as standard, as opposed to a plugin? One can only hope :-)

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Duncan — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:17:12 -0000

Robert, I guess I'd speak for a lot of people when I say how extremely disappointing this is. You claim that Intel didn't have veto, the video was unscripted and unedited, but do you *HONESTLY* believe that your great scoop was simply luck? Knowing that you were indirectly on the Intel payroll (via Podtech), knowing that you were indirectly paid to do the video....Intel fed you that scoop because they wanted to use YOU as a conduit for the dissemination of the information. You were used, plain and simple. Don't for one minute think otherwise, Intel is a huge organisation with a massive PR/ Marketing Department. They could have used anyone to break that story, the chose you, it was intentional...indeed at a guess I'd suggest that they were trying to utilise you in a Web 2.0/ video play, after all, what better way to control the information than to feed it in this way. Unfortunately as a consequence your protests about the lack of links sound like you doing Intels bidding, after all, Intel would have had an expectation that your video would have been the point/ reference for this information, not the NY Times. You can protest all you want about editorial integrity, end of the day Intel still used you, and I'm sure your not so naive as to not see that.

Re: Why you SHOULD be livid at me

Duncan — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:32:24 -0000

Probably more of agreance with some of the other comments. GET OVER YOUR SELF, PLEASE. Go out, get on Technorati, do some digging and be the Scoble we all know you can be. Self reflection may be therapeutic, and I just as guilty of that, but the depth of your character will be shown when you pick yourself up and go out and kick some ass! now do it! NOW!

Re: Why you SHOULD be livid at me

Duncan — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 01:33:08 -0000

I hate typos, that should have read I'm just as, it's not bad English, just bad typing to brain skills :-)

Re: I didn’t know about Tech Crunch’s new conference until today…

Duncan — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:09:39 -0000

wooooo...out come the claws Scoble. Dare one say: CAT FIGHT! :-)

Re: German shopkeepers save me hundreds of dollars

Duncan — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:28:48 -0000

Germany sounds like Western Australia: trading hours out of the 19th century. Cant shop here on a Sunday either, or even buy alcohol unless it's from a pub!

Re: A bug with TechMeme…

Duncan — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:46:16 -0000

Scoble,
lets see, I'm in trouble because people linked to my post? WTF? And what, I'm also in trouble because unlike a whole pile of A-list bloggers (I'm not saying I'm in this ground BTW...nor am I pointing the finger at you..although your credting skills have a fair bit to be desired) I actually *CREDITED* in full the reference path from which I found the story? If I'm guilty of anything it's giving the story a wider audience, that's why they linked back to the post at 901am, it was an audience that otherwise may not have seen it. So what EXACTLY are you saying? that I shouldn't have bought up the story? what, I'm not allowed to report of these things because my last name isn't Scoble? Again, full reference path and links in the post not only to Philippe Mottaz but to the blog I found the story at, SEO Black Hat. Difference audience...enabling a discussion. Techmeme tracking links in, 901am has a wider audience, hence it go the links because that's where people read it...but not to take away from Phillippe or Quadszilla for that matter, because they deserved credit (and got it from me) as well. Go a try to start a meme tracker Robert, then lecture Gabe on what should and shouldn't be done, I actually have before, it's no easy task.

Re: A bug with TechMeme…

Duncan — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 20:02:06 -0000

I'm while I'm at it, if this isn't about me, why not bring up all the other sites that get links in when they've picked up a story from somewhere else (usually with credit). Engadget is a great example, 90% of the content at Engadget is picked up from other sites, to their credit they do give credit, but it's Engadget that gets the links to the story in Techmeme, Digg, megite and others. Boing Boing does it, Gizmodo does it, indeed YOU do it...give me a free hour and I'll give you a list of the top 100 blogs and at least half of them pick up stories from other sites...and they get the headlines on Techmeme and other places. It's sad that you've needed to play the man not the ball in this example Robert. If you're serious, you'll take a look at the bigger picture as opposed to singling out me and 901am (which BTW, I don't own, I'm simple a paid writer).

Re: A bug with TechMeme…

Duncan — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 21:45:02 -0000

Techmeme tracks the most links into a post Robert, 901am at the time (not earlier I'd note) had those links, it got there because it disseminated the story to more people. Whether you like it, or as the case is you don't, that's how a meme tracker works, it tracks a meme by tracking incoming links. It's not a bug, it's the measure of what it actually is. As for taking this personally, you take all criticism about your activities personally, so if I take this personally I'm learning from the master. You could have singled out any leading blog over the last couple of years on this, you didn't, and given your choice of one particular friend I'm not really surprised you're targeting me, of course the gutless wonder wouldn't have the balls to do it himself, knives in the back are much more easier after all, and attack by proxy makes sense. :-)

Re: Anna Nicole linkbait!

Duncan — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:26:35 -0000

I'm sure I read the results of a very scientific poll at Shoemoney that Danny Sullivan was the father? :-)

Re: Joost … deleted instantly here

Duncan — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:30:44 -0000

Clicking on the icon top right hand corner to take it out of full screen mode too hard Scoble? or is there another agenda here we don't know about. It's a great platform for streaming shows with a wonderful future, why you've written it off because of your own inadequacies in using a computer is beyond me.

Re: Joost … deleted instantly here

Duncan — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:33:18 -0000

Sorry, let me correct myself, the icon down the bottom that looks just like the same one in Windows Media Player does it. 1 second it took me to find it. It's not that hard.

Re: MySpace’ers learn harsh reality

Duncan — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:23:31 -0000

I'll tell you what I think, I think you're a goose. News Corp's Myspace has become popular off the back of allowing broad creative freedom to users, and now it's trying to take that away. Have you actually checked Myspace to see if there's an easy alternative there to Photobucket's video hosting? THERE ISN'T. People are using services such as this because MySpace DOESN'T offer an reasonable alternative + they want to run this stuff on their sites. This is literally a case of MySpace bitting the hand that has helped fuel its amazing success, it's not an argument about whether they should be able to make money off the site, that they should be able to make money is a given, it's about creative freedom and what defines a given service, in this case MySpace, and its users.

Re: A million downloads in 49 days

Duncan — Mon, 07 May 2007 00:20:27 -0000

Nice find, but the attempts to force the Ask toolbar on me were not a nice touch, seems to install without it though (the text in the install is confusing).

Re: Another reason I use Google Reader…

Duncan — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:23:42 -0000

You're 100% right. I made the switch from Bloglines 3 months ago (to Reader) and it has never skipped a beat, sure the Ajax can fail occasionally and it's sluggish in updating feeds at times, but it's definitely more reliable than Bloglines.

Re: Is Facebook worth the hype?

Duncan — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:24:43 -0000

Sleeping Giant. This is MySpace for Gen X.

Re: Welcome to the blurry, but fast, browser…

Duncan — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:57:28 -0000

for once I agree with you totally. The fonts in Safari for Windows are awful, what in the world would posses a company to render fonts like that?

Re: Why can Leo Laporte and Disney do it, but Mike Arrington and TechCrunch can’t?

Duncan — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:16:22 -0000

Robert, stop being right, I'm finding it difficult to agree with you on an ongoing basis :-)

On some of the other comments though: WTF? what product endorsements? The accused did nothing more then lend their names to a vague motherhood statements revolving around a word or phrase: an endorsement usually involves ENDORSING a product, these are nothing of the sort and if Microsoft thought they were getting endorsements they should ask Battelle for their money back.

Re: Firefox on Macs giving people fits

Duncan — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:30:38 -0000

Robert
is the post title correct? did you switch to a Mac?

My Mac isn't here yet (still waiting) but I can tell you that under Vista Firefox is a constant battle, some days its fine, other days it will freeze up constantly. I've even gone as far as having Task Manager open all the time so I can deal with it immediately; and thank god for session restore :-)

I love Firefox but seriously, every new version gets worse and worse. Eventually someone out there is going to build a FF alternative that natively supports FF plugins and millions will make the switch because of these issues; most ppl only stick to FF because of the addons (in my experience anyway).

Re: Twitter vs. Pownce

Duncan — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:08:13 -0000

Robert
she may be talking about scalability, but as a Pownce Desktop Client user I can clearly say that the strategy is failing. The is NO justification for delaying an open API other than suicide by Pownce: the Pownce desktop app sucks and the only real long term chance Pownce has is opening the platform up to 3rd party developers. Is you need validation ask Patrick to run Twitteriffic and the Pownce app side by side on a Mac. :-)

Re: Is 2008 finally going to be “year of Linux on the desktop?”

Duncan — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:00:12 -0000

Robert
It may be getting easier to use and prettier to look at, but it still sucks at overall support for basic PC hardware. I was keen to switch to Ubuntu permanently on my less than 12 month old Laptop: the wireless card isn't supported, my now ex-PC: video card issues. Worse thing: you still have to revert to the command line for anything other than the basics. This won't be the year of the Linux desktop, and neither will next year.

Re: Wall Street Journal gets blogging history wrong

Duncan — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:57:41 -0000

I've always credited Justin Hall in 1996 (not 1994 as some sources do) as he beat Dave Winer by a matter of weeks on the first blog as we know blogs to be..ie chronological, dated posts. Dave is the father of the blogging CMS, RSS and a whole pile of other things though...and lol that Barger was using his CMS! proves the WSJ as being even MORE wrong.

Re: Secret SEO tricks behind TechCrunch

Duncan — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:53:46 -0000

I thought this was going to be exciting: all that was done was dropping the blog name out of the description for each post, real simple stuff.

Re: Second Life is trying to get rid of the nasties

Duncan — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 01:07:45 -0000

Robert
I think you're right. Second Life already had PG and M sims, a X rated sim would seem like a sensible solution. Certainly there is little to no enforcement now between the two classes of sims, so why does Linden Lab bother with a PG rated sim if kids can't use it? Seems a little bit daft to me.

Re: TechCrunch: Linkblogs are evil?

Duncan — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:22:37 -0000

I'm speechless: you're advocating part feeds. Major, major backflip.

As for people being able to opt-out: great; you do the right thing and good for you, but you'd be nearly entirely alone. I didn't name you in the post and I wasn't talking about you in particular so to say I'm some how wrong is incorrect: believe it or not you are not the be all and end all of so-called link bloggers; folks aren't all like you Robert.

To some of the other commenters: I'm not for one minute advocating that people shouldn't be able to read feeds in a feed reader or find stuff by social bookmarking (indeed the notion that you'd think that says more about yourselves than me, this isn't an all or nothing proposition). You're confusing what I'm say with republishing those feeds on another site for all to read: link blogs with full content create a new destination which bypasses the publisher in ways they may not have agreed to: that, when done without permission is copyright theft, plain and simple. The line between a so-called link blog that republishes full posts and a spam blog that publishers the same content is non-existent, and I'd note that it would be as easy as day to monetize a Google Reader link blog as well.

James
I've written about this in the past as well...the difference today is Google is thinking about adding a comment facility which further enhances the link blog as an alternative destination to the source...in effect a link blog basically becomes a fully fledged blog under this proposal.

Re: Dawn takes on TechCrunch

Duncan — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:01:58 -0000

I want what she's on.

Seriously: Michael writes the odd opinion piece and all of a sudden it's a trashy personal blog...WTF? One company didn't get any offers from the Demo Pit, yet a whole pile I spoke to had meeting after meeting lined up. She didn't like some of the companies: neither did I but guess what: I bet our lists are different, as would yours Robert or anyone else reading this post: she totally doesn't get the rule of subjectivity. Not every single startup out of the 50-100 leads we get every day gets printed, and Michael is abusing his power...WTF again; she's obviously never heard of editorial choice as well. We have to pick and choose otherwise the site would have 50 posts + a day. I can't help but think that someone has done something to her to make her so bitter and twisted that she'd write this without any sense of objectivity. Startups get pissy when they don't get coverage...yet out readers get pissy when we post about crap startups: can't win either way :-)

BTW (for once perhaps ;-) ) I agree with you on the Demo Pitt: the signage wasn't great, and you've totally hit the mark on what could have been done differently there.

Re: The truth about traffic on the Internet

Duncan — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:16:37 -0000

Well said, and totally right.

Re: Mike’s iPhone

Duncan — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:33:17 -0000

Jee whiz Scoble, for a country in which you once asked me as to whether we had any startups, Atlassian is another mighty fine Australian startup for your list :-)

Re: China blocks search engines…(or not, according to Blognation)

Duncan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:36:34 -0000

Robert
It wasn't just a couple of reports backing this (I chose to link out in the second post) but also various emails and comments on the first post as well.

BlogNation can debunk the story all they want but as I understand it the Great Firewall of China isn't in some single room blocking all traffic in China, censorship is often (or mostly) implemented at an ISP level. We regularly see stories about sites being block in particular cities in China only. If access isn't blocked in Beijing on a certain ISP this doesn't debunk the otherall premise: that the Chinese Government has ordered this action, it just means the message or action hasn't filtered down and implemented everywhere yet. There are too many reports from too many people to indicate that there is truth in this story.

Re: China blocks search engines…(or not, according to Blognation)

Duncan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:38:41 -0000

Just checking the comments on my post (just out of bed!): Google has confirmed the blocking according to Danny Sullivan.Sam can protest all he wants on blog nation but if Google says its true, who would you believe?
http://searchengineland.com/071018-071828.php

Re: China blocks search engines…(or not, according to Blognation)

Duncan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:36:00 -0000

The Register also has confirmation from Google
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/18/china_h...

Re: China blocks search engines…(or not, according to Blognation)

Duncan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:46:25 -0000

Ron
we had numerous emails and comments prior to the main story being published (ie my second one) that confirmed the validity, complete with screen shots. As I noted in comment 31, censorship is rarely uniform in China as a lot of it is done at ISP level so you'll often get stories of sites being blocked in Shanghai but not Beijing...well not immediately anyway. Balance of probabilities is that the story is correct based on the evidence at hand. So Sam Sethi has someone in Beijing who can still get on...we've got a list of commenters on TC and reports from other sites that people cant. Numbers don't lie (usually :-) )

Re: China blocks search engines…(or not, according to Blognation)

Duncan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:37:16 -0000

http://news.google.com/?ned=us&ncl=1122330985
Is true, and I've received an email from someone in Beijing just now confirming it again for me. Google says it's true, and apparently Google.cn was being redirected as well.

Re: Google Page Rank is dead and has been for quite some time

Duncan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:06:02 -0000

Robert
you can declare page rank dead all you want (and in terms of real relevance I'm not disagreeing) but the reality is that PR is still wildly used as a measure in ad sales, particularly with Text link sales. It's not dead to the people who use it as a measure, or the people who rely on it to make ad sales. I'm not suggesting that this is overall a good thing (at the top end we've totally moved away from this) but it still remains a very real fact.

Re: Reports of PodTech’s demise are bull####

Duncan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:57:20 -0000

What competitors are writing this? Techmeme links: TechCrunch, Scobleizer, WinExtra, Valleywag, The Last Podcast, GracefulFlavor and Mashable. Which one is a Podtech competitor? I don't know nor can I say what (if any) Daniel Lyon's motivation may be, but last time I check Forbes isn't a competitor either.

Scoble: your pissed, and its understandable, but instead of making wild unfounded conspiracy accusations and accusing all and sundry of wrong-doing (like TechCrunch), calm down and show the world that PodTech is doing fine with some hard facts that no one can deny. Financials or something similar...something that says "Lyons is wrong." As I've already asked you on email, and on TechCrunch, we will happily print a rational denial.

Re: Scoble has “long and boring” videos…

Duncan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:12:52 -0000

Scoble
I like your videos, interesting stories with interesting folks, but I will gripe a little bit time wise: I just dont always have the time to sit through them all. The shorter versions are a good idea for the many of us who are time poor.

Re: Google says “Mahalo” to Knol

Duncan — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:38:12 -0000

More Squidoo than Mahalo: this isn't a links product but authoritative data ala Wikipedia

Re: The tree with the business model

Duncan — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:19:58 -0000

My only problem is with taking a decent camera everywhere. There are days I wish I didn't buy a half decent pro camera and went with a compact, like attending a Crowded House concert where they ban cameras...but not mobile phone ones or ones stuffed in your pocket. Nice pics and nice sentiment.

Re: Mac Rumors Live rocks as place to watch Steve Jobs keynotes

Duncan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:58:26 -0000

Amit
apologies, my EVDO started getting spotty about 5 minutes from the end which meant I couldnt wrap it up (indeed it dropped completely while the guy was singing).

Re: Calacanis is right: startups can’t afford slackers

Duncan — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:52:39 -0000

Since when did having balance in your life (balance is the word Calacanis used, he only did the strike through after everyone complained) make you a slacker? I struggle to maintain balance in my life but I work f**king long hours Scoble. I suppose you compensate by combining the time with your son and work. I never once defended slackers and that you'd suggest that I did speaks volumes for you and your low opinion of human beings. Here's hoping you don't end up doing an Om.

Re: Podtech sold

Duncan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:44:35 -0000

I'm blocked from seeing your response, can you repost it?

Re: Podtech sold

Duncan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:41:09 -0000

Still cant see it. Scoble, if you're going to link to others FF streams, least pick one that isn't blocked to some

Re: All VC activity has NOT stopped

Duncan — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:31:07 -0000

Pinch of salt: deals take months, this one would have already been in the works. But sure, positive news is good news, and VC isn't going to dry up, there will always be money for good startups.

Re: Google Starts Test of In-Stream Video AdSense

Duncan — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:04:35 -0000

Can only skip past the ads if the video is preloaded enough to allow it, and even then if you're sitting back and watching a clip by the time you get you mouse in the right spot the ad would be half over (I'm presuming they're going to be no more than 15 sec spots).

Re: Motrin Faces Twitter Headache Over New Video Campaign

Duncan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:32:19 -0000

Cmon Andy,
enormous backlash? where? some vocal crazies on Twitter is not an enormous backlash. Did you even watch the video? If you scope outside the vocal few you'll see the bulk of people can't believe how stupid this whole story is...and I'll bet you money they sell MORE pain killers as a result of this. This is NOT a Wal-mart style PR disaster by any stretch of the imagination. This is a vocal minority pretending to represent the whole, nothing more, and you of all people should have been able to see this a mile away.

Duncan Riley's last blog post..Vicious Bambi 1: Maryland Lobbyist 0

Re: World's First Climate Change Refugees to Be Rescued in 2009

Duncan — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:03:51 -0000

Lame post with zero research. The islanders aren't climate change refugees, the islands sit on a tectonic plate, the islands have raped the surrounding coral, and may may be naturally sinking anyway. A split island isn't climate change, it what SAND does, or have you guys never been to a beach before?

Re: News Corp's Synergy Play With WSJ Starts: Australian Co-branded Section

Duncan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:16:58 -0000

The web site may be new, but the paper syndication started last year. For memory (I did write about it somewhere...) The Australian (The Oz) dropped the Economist or the IHT for WSJ content on a specific page in the Oz, complete with branding.