There is news on the web these days about a program senator John McCain is running whereby if you spam on his behalf you will be rewarded with gifts and prizes. From the politicalwire:
Sen. John McCain’s campaign is urging supporters to spam blogs and forums with official talking points, according to the Washington Post. If you do a good job, you can even win prizes.
“That, in essence, is the McCain campaign’s pitch to supporters to join its new online effort, one that combines the features of ‘AstroTurf’ campaigning with the sort of customer-loyalty programs offered by airlines, hotel chains, restaurants and the occasional daily newspaper.”
“People who sign up for McCain’s program receive reward points each time they place a favorable comment on one of the listed Web sites (subject to verification by McCain’s webmasters). The points can be traded for prizes, such as books autographed by McCain, preferred seating at campaign events, even a ride with the candidate on his bus, known as the Straight Talk Express.”
While it is good to see the candidates reaching out and embracing the Internet as another tool to connect with voters, it is frustrating to see spam promoted so vigorously as a viable form of communication.
From Wired:
# 1. Rockin’ Freebird!
# 2. Rubbing cream on that thing I noticed last weekend. Doesn’t seem to be working.
# 3. Buying DC Universe Classics Wave 5 the Atom at Wal-Mart! Build-a-figure Metallo is complete!
# 4. Feeling trapped in this male body.
# 5. Jesus, I’m lonely.
# 6. D’oh! Accidentally trimmed my pickin’ nail.
# 7. Watching The Notebook again.
# 8. Quick! Does anyone know the age of consent in Kentucky?
# 9. Just came up with a new emoticon for sanguine [:<≠>
# 10. Thinking about maybe talking to someone.
We here at Reputation.com are big fans of the New York Times and Freakonomics, so we were delighted that they linked to us in their recent story about couch surfing.
Social networking websites have changed the way we view our reputations, the way we organize protests, and now the way we … couch surf?
The article goes on to show how AirBed&Breakfast, a web 2.0 social network is allowing people to meet one another and stay in guest houses, rather than hotels.
We’ve covered a lot of interesting internet stories here at the Reputation.com Blog. Any readers have a favorite web 2.0 URL that changed the way you live, connect, share and think? Let us know in the comments below.
Reputation.com Blog recently posted about the cyber attacks that are taking place against websites associated with the former Russian republic of Georgia.
Something curious has happened to Google Maps recently: Georgia got scrubbed.
The interiors of the countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have all been made curiously empty on the “map” function, erasing the whereabouts of towns, roads, cities, etc. This was not the case last week, and one can only assume that this move was done in response to the recent escalating conflicts in the region.
To poke, or not to poke: that is the question.
Reputation.com Blog recently ran across this gem that places Hamlet on Facebook.
This is very funny, and very clever work.
