Posts from — June 2008
How to identify comment spam
If you run a blog or forum you need to keep a sharp eye on comments and contributions. Unfortunately spammers are out there, often using scripts to fill your public online spaces with their rubbish.
Some spams are totally obvious, easy to block and filter so they never make it to public view. But even very experienced bloggers sometimes wonder about comments: Is this a spam, or is it genuine?
.
Lorelle VanFossen has some clues to help you sort them out:
… Examples include:
- I read similar article also named <Post Title Here>, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me
- This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title <Post Title Here>. Thanks for informative article.
- Hey! Nice blog posting about <Post Title Here>. I would have to agree with you on this one. I am going to look more into it. This Thursday I have time.
- Superb write up talking about <Post Title Here>. Thoroughly love your blog.
- [many examples snipped]
Yes, these are all blog comment spam trying to fool you.
… If you find you have a comment that is suspicious, you have the right to delete it or edit it. By editing the blog comment, you can delete any links within it, even from within the comment form’s URL/address. You can change the commenter’s name, too, if the name words are too spammy. Blogs are content and you have the right to edit your blog comments and the information that appears on your blog.
[Via Lorelle on WordPress: Comment Spam Alert: I Read a Similar Article.]
Lorelle has a great deal more extremely useful information, both in this post, and in the many others she lists at the end of her post.
If you run a blog or forum for your organisation, or in fact any site where the public are able to leave comments or add material, visit Lorelle’s post and study what she has to say.
Or, go one better, and add Lorelle’s RSS feed to your feed reader.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
June 29, 2008 No Comments
Xero online accounting for community groups - demo
Update: Monday, 30 June 2008, from the Xero newsletter:
We offer special pricing for community groups - half the usual rate - so you pay just $24 per month for a complete and fully-functioning Xero.
On July 16 and 17, Xero is offering free presentations to community groups in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. This series is an introductory seminar open to anyone with an interest in discovering how Xero will benefit your charity or community group.
If you’re interested, please register here.
[end update]
Xero online accounting is running a free presentation in Auckland specifically for community groups.
I’ve switched to this online accounting package for my small business and am finding it excellent. One feature that really works for me is having the accounts package available on the Internet, so it doesn’t matter what computer I’m using when I need to access my accounts.
16 July 2008: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Join us for a free presentation on using Xero for community groups.
Xero is an affordable and complete accounting package ideal for community groups, charitable trusts and clubs.
- Shared online access means full transparency, accountability and seamless handover
- Anywhere, anytime access for people you designate
- Highly secure & cost effective
Auckland seminar 16 July 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Xero, Level 1, 20 Beaumont St (view map)
Register now…
[Via Xero News: Xero for community groups | Auckland | July 16.]
Disclaimer: After doing some work for Rod Drury earlier this year I receive a discounted rate for my Xero subscription.
June 27, 2008 No Comments
yMedia Challenge registrations close 29 June 2008
The following Media Release should interest all NZ community organisations, but note the closing date: 29 June 2008. Read on for how your group may get free media expertise in the yMedia Challenge.
Registrations are now open for students and non-profit organisations.
Registrations are now open for this year’s yMedia Challenge. The Challenge brings web generation students together with non-profit organisations to work on media and technology projects that benefit them and the communities they serve.
yMedia Director, Pamela Minett believes that there are many non-profit organisations who could benefit from being more visible on the internet, but many just don’t know where to start.
“Non-profit organisations often lack time and resources to develop an online presence. The yMedia Challenge recognises that tertiary students brought up in the web era have innate digital skills that are invaluable to these organisations. In addition to helping out a good cause, these students also gain valuable work experience which can help them get jobs when they graduate,” she says.
Initiatives for community groups undertaken last year included Facebook Flyers, Banner advertisements, Bebo pages, YouTube videos, and PayPal donation links for their non-profit organisation. One team developed a website for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome New Zealand (www.sids.org.nz).
“We’re changing the way that charities think and the way they connect with the people they need to reach. This, more than anything else, can make a difference” says Auckland University of Technology student Leah Royden.
Tertiary students enter the yMedia Challenge in teams and each team chooses a yMedia registered non-profit organisation to work with. The students then have two weeks to create a digital solution that best addresses the individual needs of the organisation.
16 teams will be selected for this year’s challenge and each will each receive $1,000 for their two week project.
A series of student and community-focused workshops will also be held before the Challenge, discussing changing technologies and the media landscape. Industry professionals from Chrometoaster, Shift, Terabyte and Xero will present on web 2.0 technologies, digital design & strategy, project management and social media. The workshops give students and community groups the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals and learn from their experiences.
The workshops run in Auckland and Wellington between June 30th and July 10th.
Non-profit organisation registrations for the yMedia Challenge close on June 29th. Student registrations for the yMedia Challenge close on July 4th. The challenge begins on July 28th.
Non-profit organisations and tertiary students can register for workshops and this year’s yMedia Challenge at www.ymediachallenge.co.nz.
About yMedia Group
yMedia Group was established in 2007 by Pamela Minett and Adele Barlow. Its goal is to aid worthwhile projects and give people looking to work in the digital media industry some practical experience. Pamela and Adele’s vision is to maximise the positive impact of young people as change-makers through the use of media and technology.
Key supporters of the yMedia Group include InternetNZ, Microsoft and The Tindall Foundation.
Ends
For more information contact:
Nathan Champion
Relationship Manager
nathan@ymediagroup.org, 027 514 8454.Pamela Minett
Director
pamela@ymediagroup.org, 027 420 8324.
June 25, 2008 No Comments
New Skype includes more video
Millions of people around the world already use Skype for making effectively free phone calls over the Internet. This is also known as VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol.
Internet phonecalls work adequately with dial-up connections, unless they don’t, but broadband is a very definite advantage. Add in video though, even at small sizes, and broadband becomes a necessity.
Now, in the next version of the Skype software, currently being tested by users, the video is going to be even bigger and better. Meanwhile, the makers of Skype are trying to make the software easier to use too, according to the NZ Herald:
Skype version 4.0 would begin making video a more integral part of the service.
The 4.0 test version invites users to post bigger photos of themselves, instead of just thumbnail images, to encourage callers to see and be seen.
It also incorporates features for non-technical users that detect computer settings, available bandwidth and connected audio or video devices to make getting started easier.
Skype lets users make international computer-to-computer calls to other users in most countries for free, and calls from Skype-equipped computers or phones to landlines or cell phones at low rates.
Have you tried Skype, either for yourself or your organisation? Do you use it regularly? Please share your thoughts and findings with other readers in the Comments area.
June 23, 2008 No Comments
Twitter for Nonprofits
Marshall Kirkpatrick is a well known technology blogger that recently participated as a guide in an online event where they discussed how nonprofit organizations can rock Twitter.
The event was held by the great nonprofit technology assistance project TechSoup.
Pop over and see what they came up with for your organisation!
Marshall also lists a few Twitter links on his posting that you may find useful. And, we give you a few more:
June 22, 2008 No Comments
