YoogleTube

Ok, so here is where an “anonymous” blogger calls someone a skank.

Google – ya collective putz – A simple message saying, “we apologize for the inconvenience, but the username NoIAmChuck is already taken by YOU, on YOUTUBE.” I realized today when something a friend of mine had on another site linked to YouTube, and it asked me to sign in because it was ‘mature’. I can’t have NoIAmChuck@GMail.com because I already have a YouTube account under NoIAmChuck. Both are part of Google.

Google told some stranger, by court order, who was behind their avatar. They couldn’t tell me that even though my contact e-mail was the same for GMail and YouTube.

Sometimes, an entity gets too big to be effective any longer. Has Google finally hit critical mass?

 

Sticks and Stones and Cyberthugs

Reposted From London Free Press – 2009/08/26

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/CanadaWorld/2009/08/26/10613866-sun.html

(They are horrible at archiving, so I have reposted it rather than just linking it)

Trash-talking bloggers warned of perils

Wed, August 26, 2009

A court battle to ID a name caller is cited as a wake-up call

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL — Anonymous bloggers who like to trash talk online should brush up on the latest cyber etiquette, say legal experts.

The recent case of a Canadian model who won a court battle to reveal the identity of a nasty name-calling blogger should be a wake-up call about the legal implications of sharing derogatory opinions online, said lawyer David Fewer of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic.

“It should be an eye opener for most people,” Fewer said yesterday. “They are not nearly as anonymous on the Internet as they think they are.”

Liskula Cohen, a former model for Vogue and Flare magazines, won a court order in New York that forced Google to unmask the identity of a blogger, who had called her a “skank” and made other off-colour comments about her online.

Cohen has since dropped a multimillion lawsuit against the blogger, saying it wouldn’t add anything to her life. Meanwhile, the blogger, Rosemary Port, is suing Google for violating her privacy by revealing her name.

Fewer said Canadian courts, as well as courts in many other jurisdictions, will likely give people the opportunity to launch similar court battles to reveal the secret identity of an online persona or the person behind an online publication.

“If you’ve got a non-frivolous legal claim you are entitled to your day in court,” said Fewer, acting director of the clinic, based at the University of Ottawa.

Cohen’s lawyer, Steve Wagner, said the case has struck a chord with people and he expects to see more of them end up in court. “It goes well beyond just trash talking.

Now, as you can see, she gave up this nonsense AFTER exposing the author. I guess that is some sort of victory. I am not exactly sure how I feel about this. I have no problem giving my name to anyone who wants it … but that isn’t really why I reposted this. I think what struck me is that apparently the person making the accusation that the model is a skank (among other things – I have no idea who she is) was identified, but there were no court proceedings that made the model prove she was not a skank. I mean, I know it is all point-of-view, but “unmasking” someone because of slander, but not PROVING there was slander? Is it because the person was a model? I have a problem with people who choose to be in the public eye complaining that they are in the public eye.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

 

Google This

I have been looking into a few things, and I am considering using the Google Picasa tools (a client-based part and a seemingly good web-based hosting site) for images/vids.

However, although I respect the “Guys at Google”, they are pissing me off.

I want to streamline my accounts everywhere by using my handle, “NoIAmChuck” everywhere.

I went to GMail to create a new e-mail, NoIAmChuck at GMail.com. Oops.

Desired Login Name: NoIAmChuck

Examples: JSmith, John.Smith

NoIAmChuck is not available, but the following usernames are:

• noiamchuck34
• noiamchuck407
• noiamchuck384
• noiamchuck156

Hmm… did I already register that name? Let’s see if I can get my password.

Reset Password
There are no Google Accounts currently registered to the username NoIAmChuck@gmail.com. If you spelled the address incorrectly or entered the wrong address, please try again.

If your email address is correct, then you may not have created an account with Google, even if you currently use some of our products. For example, it’s possible to use iGoogle and Google Alerts without a Google Account. In this case, please create an account.

If you’re sure that you previously created a Google Account with the username NoIAmChuck@gmail.com, contact us so that we can assist you.

If you can’t remember the username you used to create an account, read this help article.

I went on a huge trek through Google, and yet, I can’t find a way to ask the question, “WHO THE HELL HAS MY HANDLE?” There is nothing with that name anywhere on Google. Kinda pissing me off.

Maybe Picasa is NOT the way to go.

 

Jong Il’s Gotta Gun – His Whole World’s Come Undone

I know I am not the only one thinking that Kim Jong Il is acting no differently than any other child who just got grounded, and sent to their room. He is yelling loud enough for us to hear, downstairs, things like, “nobody loves me”, “why are they so mean to me”, “just wait until I run away”. He is kicking the door of his room, and pulling all of his underwear and socks out and flinging him around the room.

Pacification will simply breed contempt, and then he’ll be a very unruly child. I am not saying that he can’t be taught to behave, and I am definitely not suggesting the United Nations puts him on Ritalin. Either go in that room and tell them to stop it, or they’ll NEVER get any dinner … or … send uncle US of A in there to spank the fight right out of them.

If he is just going to sabre-rattle ad infinitum, kick his ass. If he actually intends to start a war, kill him. Why is this so hard to do? How many leaders – like Saddam Hussein (not involved in the 9/11 attacks on the US of A) – have been taken out? Oh, wait – North Korea is not oil-rich, or threatening an oil-rich country.

JMHO, of course.

 

Pizza Hut Lied.

First off, I don’t have to “prove” anything – and you can search around the blogosphere – because even if you believe the commercial, most find it absolutely unbelievable that four somewhat normal people can be led back into their own house, fed at their own table and yet are fooled into thinking they are in an Italian restaurant.

I don’t fall for high-pressure sales, and I question things that I see – everywhere. But, you know how once someone has really lied to you, you think back (because hindsight is 20/20) and realize that wow, if they lied about THIS, then they probably lied about THAT. After looking at this latest commercial, I am finding the others to be highly suspect. I am sure that Pizza Hut – well known for being very forthcoming and always paying their fines … – will issue some statement explaining it all. I mean, I remember remarking (to her chagrin, of course) the statement that was shown on the other commercials, like “real people” seemed odd. I think my exact statement was, “they didn’t use the latex people for this commercial?”

I am just saying, I find it very, very hard to believe that these four people are made to leave home, blindfolded; we are to assume they have been driven around, blindfolded; led into their own home, blindfolded, and eat a meal in what they think is an Italian restaurant, blindfolded; and THEN, the blindfolds are removed to reveal that Pizza Hut take out is as good as an Italian restaurant.

First off – the obvious. Pizza Hut tastes like Italian food because – well – IT IS ITALIAN FOOD. Grow up, people. Now, seriously, am I the only human, or in some kind of elite 97th percentile that knows what my own house smells like, sounds like, feels like? How many people assume the only sound you are going to hear in this Italian restaurant is awfully similar to your own clock, furnace, fridge, that rosebush that taps on the window, the neighbour’s stupid dog that barks at falling leaves or your cat? Funny how that votive candle smell your wife put on the credenza or that garlic smell from last night’s fish seems to be EXACTLY like the smell you left 20 minutes ago. Pizza Hut is lucky this particular family doesn’t have a phone, or people that knock on the door to sell vacuums, cheap heating oil, religion or chocolate bars.

So, now, all that bull about serving Pizza Hut in “high class” restaurants – I don’t believe any of it. But, once you get big, like Yum, you start getting weird.