How Do I Get Rid Of Bot-Sites Like VampireStat? There IS One Way!

My traffic on my local news website thelibertymonitor.com has been growing steadily over the last two years. As traffic has increased so have sitesuckers!

I've searched all over the internet how I can get rid of sites like vampirestat, zombiestat, and adsensewatchdog … but pretty much all the discussion on the topic says, "You can't and that Google refuses to do anything about such websites.

Website, Tech Lore by Igor, at …

http://techlorebyigor.blogspot.com/2013/06/confessions-of-blogger.html

… is the most informative about the topic, but after reading his website I think I came across the answer. It appears Google allows these "bot-sites" to crawl blogger blogs if you do not have adsense - Google's advertisement and monetization program. If you do have adsense, it seems Google will quickly eliminate your "bot problem" so it won't jack up your pageviews and therefore your adsense revenue.

I was axed from the adsense permanently a few years ago - so I can't personally use this cure. Google's loss because my blogs have since skyrocketed in traffic.

There are ways to block domains in blogger blogs by using a proxy server but it's too complicated to follow and apparently really slows your blog down. Operating a dependable news site, I can't afford for any lost load time.

One tip that seems to be common across the web is that you should not visit these sites to try to figure aout what they are, what they are doing, or to use any contact information. You will most likely be put on a spam list and it seems most of the sites contain malicious content - adware, spyware, and malware. 

eBay Officially Zonking The 'Zirking

I received this email the other day concerning eBay's ending of the Trading Assistant Program …
This is essentially ending eBay listing companies official affiliations with eBay.

As some of my regular readers know … I had quite the issue with one such company in particular.

Please read the email below and see this link for more information for what led eBay to make this change:

Bidzirk vs Smith

Also see:

I Used I-Soldit, But They Bought It

____________________________________

Hello eBay Trading Assistants,

Thank you for your participation in the Trading Assistant program and the work you have done to help others sell their items on eBay. We’ve been listening to feedback from many of you and have heard that the program is not meeting expectations or delivering a significant number of sales leads. As a result, on September 20, 2013, the Trading Assistant program will be retired. Please note, this decision has no impact on your eBay account or your ability to buy and sell on eBay. 

Here’s what it means to you:

eBay will no longer host a Trading Assistant directory or provide sellers with Trading Assistant program leads eBay sellers can no longer use “eBay Trading Assistant Program” logos or other marketing materials referring to the Trading Assistant program

To allow time for processing any remaining leads, the Trading Assistant portal will be available until October 18, 2013 to all registered program members. 

For eBay sellers who are “Registered eBay Drop-off Locations” or any other sellers who have physical program marketing materials (flyers, cards, signage, etc.), the deadline to discontinue all usage of these items is October 31, 2013.

As stated above, use of digital logos, marketing materials or other program marks will be prohibited as of September 20, 2013.

Note: all eBay sellers may however continue to use the eBay brand within the guidelines of the eBay seller agreement. Click here for more details. Today’s announcement has no impact on the eBay Education Specialist program. We appreciate all of our eBay sellers and the work you do in your local communities.

Our strategy at eBay is simple: provide our customers the best possible selling and buying experience. We are committed to your success. As new programs and initiatives continue to be developed, eBay will make every effort to find more compelling ways to engage with our sellers. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.

Sincerely,
The eBay Seller Program Team

Important Dates/Actions Needed:

September 20 – Trading Assistant program is discontinued, public access to Trading Assistant portal/directory is suspended, all digital program logos and other marketing materials must be taken down

October 18 – Registered program members must process all remaining leads from within the Trading Assistant portal queue as access to the portal will be discontinued on this date.

October 31 – Any physical program signage or other program marketing materials may no longer be used

Thank You Steve Jobs For Inspiring This Movie To Be Made!

I learned to program on an Apple ][C (1980-1983). I got a Mac in September of 1984, nine months after their introduction.

Ever since, I have pretty much lived my life dependent upon Apple products for my income, writing, and creative process. I have worked for Apple, beta tested products, and worked on my own, selling, repairing and networking Apple computers.

Steve Jobs, made out to be a god by most of the tech industry, was an insanely driven person. He is an inspiration to me - not to become god-like - but to be known for something other than vanity, fortune, or fame. I would like to be remembered for being unique and irreplaceable. Steve Jobs is certainly that.

This movie follows the life of Steve Jobs from dropping out of college to form Apple Computer to his death.

The movie is well acted by Ashton Kutcher.

You may consider the life of Steve Jobs boring to anyone but a geek, but I highly recommend you see this movie. It seems to be a very accurate portrayal of a life that is inspirational.

★★★★★ out of ★★★★★

(5 out of 5 stars)

Elysium: Not Quite A Slice Of Heaven

In the year 2154, two classes of people exist: the wealthy, who live on an advanced space station called Elysium, built by the Armadyne Corporation; and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, slum Earth.

The earth is policed by robots, also made by the Armadyne Corporation; while Elysium is mostly equipped with Armadyne's similar looking, but friendlier, servant bots.

Actor Matt Damon plays Max De La Costa, a worker in an Armadyne Corporation factory on earth. His destiny is to get to Elysium.

I was really looking forward to this movie as I had read that producer, director and writer Neill Blomkamp had loosely based the script on the original Logan's Run trilogy.

As with most films Jodie Foster is in, the plot is politically charged. This film deals heavily with the themes of socialism. It's one flaw is that it doesn't convincingly portray socialism as all that bad.

I enjoyed the film. It was a bit gory in places with unnecessary language. The movie could have EASILY been edited for language as there is no nudity to make it rated PG-13.

I'd wait for it on video if you have a big screen TV.

http://www.itsbetterupthere.com

(website for the film with bonus content)

★★★½ out of ★★★★★

(3½ out of 5 stars)

Is there a way to transfer photos on an iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device that are in albums to a computer?

You may have noticed that when you try to sync photos from your iOS device that photos that have been placed into albums won't sync.

It's unclear as to why Apple has oddly continued this annoyance throughout iterations of iOS.

I've read it's a closure of backdoor security flaw.

Can you get around it?

Well, if you Google it, you'll most likely come across an Apple Forum discussion where a very bullheaded moderator pedantically type-slaps innocent question after innocent question.

The actual answer is "Yes and No."

First, you could tediously remove all your photos from albums and just organize them once synced in programs like iPhoto.

You can sync your iOS device over iCloud and view the photos in albums at any time. If you run over your limit of storage you may want to consider buying more storage. (If that organization is worth it to you.)

Finally, you can use "total access software "PhoneView" for the Mac by ecamm.com - this program allows access to all your photos.

Personally, I like the last option. I use "PhoneView" more than I use iTunes to manipulate files on my iPhone and even to create more space.