Hui's JOMC221 Journal

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Spam (but really should!)

2005-05-01T11:00:00.001+09:00

I have chosen to focus on the so-called “4-1-9 Scam”. Do you know the 4-1-9 scam? It is a confidence scam. Here is one variation: an e-mail that offers you a windfall profit if you help liberate money from some deposed African head of state’s bank account. It is a pervasive form of spam.

My research question is: What makes the 4-1-9 scam effective? My hypothesis is that the scam is the result of three things: greed, ignorance and apathy. I have organized my work into fifteen questions and answers about spamming and scamming. The answers will help support my hypothesis which I will expand on afterwards. Links point to original sources throughout the essay.

1. What exactly is spam?

According to The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language (4^th edition; Houghton-Mifflin), the term ‘spam’ is defined as ‘unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail’. The term is also a verb, denoting the act of sending such e-mail. The definition gives the term’s probable etymology as ‘inspired by a comedy routine on the British television series Monty Python's Flying Circus, in which the word is repeated incessantly’.

Spam can be the slang equivalent of the term UCE (unsolicited commercial e-mail) but it is more than that. Spam may also be non-commercial in nature. It may be political, religious or a simple chain letter. The 4-1-9 scam is an example of fraudulent spam.

SPAM, coincidentally, is a trademarked, spiced ham product of the Hormel Foods Corporation. According to a SPAM Web site, the company does ‘not object to use of this slang term to describe UCE’.

2. Who started spam? When?

According to the Wikipedia, the first non-commercial spam was sent on January 17, 1994 by Clarence L. Thomas IV. Its title was ‘Global Alert For All: Jesus is Coming’. Laurence A. Canter and Martha S. Siegel posted the first Usenet UCE on April 12, 1994. Given a broad definition of spam as unsolicited e-mail, one can imagine that these were not the first instances.

The first case of the 4-1-9 scam started in the early 1980s. This predates the Internet.

3. What percentage of all e-mail is spam, specifically UCE?

Estimates and research methods vary. One report by Brightmail, estimated 40% of all e-mails were spam in 2002, up from 8% in 2001. Coincidentally, it sells anti-spam software, so it has a financial interest in the figure. According to the Cobb Web site, 45% of emails sent in 2003 were spam. Finally, the Government of Canada cites Brightmail statistics that show month-by-month increases up to 63% (cached version here) as of March, 2004.

4. Is all unsolicited e-mail spam?

This is by true by definition. Yet, one person’s spam is another person’s welcomed e-mail. I think it is important to emphasize that spam is hard to define because there can be legitimate reasons for sending e-mail to unknown people. Are the ‘informational’ e-mails at UNC spam? I do not think so.

According to Brightmail, the Symantec anti-spam section, if the sender ‘has no discernable relationship’ with the recipient, then the e-mail is spam. Brightmail adds that if e-mail is sent ‘mistakenly’, then it is not spam. Those statements may be true at the same time, so spam is not defined exactly.

5. What do people think about spam?

Attitudes could vary from happiness to anger. I find this area has not been researched enough. Is spam a loathsome thing? We can assume it is for most people, most of the time, while also remembering the times when people appreciate receiving so-called spam.

One thing missing from this research is the attitude of spammers and spam recipients. It represents an interesting topic for study because knowing spam’s appeal to them can help with prevention and policing. Regarding UCE specifically, one can assume the appeal is easy money.

6. Who likes spam?

According to eWeek Web site, a Gartner Group study found that ‘except for the senders, no one likes spam’. This is a clear finding. Writing personally, I find some spam can be amusing and, sometimes, a welcome diversion to my online work. If people buy the products and services offered in spam, then spam may hold some added appeal for them.

Of course, when spam is used for fraud, such as the 4-1-9 scam, then criminals like it. The criminals may include government officials. It is a cost-effective way of marketing a product and/or service, so business people like it, too.

7. Who sends spam?

If one uses the wider definition of spam, as any unsolicited e-mail, then any person or organization can send spam. They may not even know that it is spam if they sincerely believe the correspondence is for the benefit of the recipient.

Many e-mails have a disclaimer ‘This is not spam’, but it likely is. The sender is certainly a spammer. Both legitimate and shady business people do engage in UCE mailings. Criminals send spam e-mails, such as the 4-1-9 scam.

According to a BBC News article, PCs in the U.S.A. are responsible for 35% of spam, but this figure is decreasing. PCs in South Korea account for 25% of spam worldwide. The BBC cited research by Sophos.

Wikipedia offers this list of famous spammers: Serdar Argic, Howard Carmack, Alan Ralsky, Scott Richter, Sanford Wallace. Some of these people, like Argic, sent spam to Usenet Groups. Recently, I have have received two unsolicited instant messages from 4-1-9 scammers. These examples show how the people who send spam are adapting their commercial and non-commercial messages to various platforms.

8. What companies facilitate spam e-mails?

They call themselves direct marketers. According to Spamhaus, ‘The (American) Direct Marketing Association ("The DMA") is a pro-spam group, not an anti-spam group, whose mission is to advance the interests of junk email senders’.

Here is the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) Web site and information about its code of ethics. Its code provides guidelines such as this: ‘If you do not have an existing relationship with an individual, you must obtain consent prior to sending a marketing e-mail to that individual’. So, one should send an unsolicited e-mail, ask for permission, then send other e-mail. These particular guidelines are voluntary and based on self regulation. Both the DMA and CMA champion self regulation.

ComputerWeekly Web site had an article titled The value of email in marketing. It includes this advice about spam:

‘There is a fine line between good marketing and spam. However, there are several questions you can ask yourself to determine which is which. If your customer didn't ask for it and it has no clearly discernable value (other than as sales information), then it is likely to be considered spam’.

One thing that I note is, if there were several questions, none were asked. Another is that, again, the marketers decide what ‘clearly discernable value’ is. Does a Web site like ComputerWeekly actually facilitate spam by publishing these guidelines?

9. What is a spam list?

People who send spam need e-mail lists. It is simply a list of e-mail addresses. These lists must be compiled and used ethically, according to the CMA. In the CMA’s Compliance Guidelines, we can see that only those with an existing relationship with a seller may be on the seller’s mailing list. ‘Existing relationship’ means that the receiver and sender have had business together in the past six months or the ‘normal’ life cycle of the product/service. For example, that means about eight years for a car or a year for Spring-cleaning services. The CMA allows adding the names of those who have given consent to receive e-mail. How long does the consent remain valid? It is not clear.

10. Who gets on a spam list? How and why?

In the CMA’s Compliance Guidelines, we can see that only those with an existing relationship with a seller may be on the seller’s mailing list. ‘Existing relationship’ means that the receiver and sender have had business together in the past six months or the ‘normal’ life cycle of the product/service. For example, that means about eight years for a car or a year for Spring-cleaning services. The CMA allows adding the names of those who have given consent to receive e-mail. How long does the consent remain valid? It is not clear.

Spammers, direct market association members or not, can make or acquire a list of e-mails. They can use a computer program to scour the Internet and compile a list. If your email address is published online, then one of the robotic programs can harvest it. These days, I see many instances of people writing ‘AT’ instead of using the ‘@’ mark. Is this effective?

Spammers can send emails to every possible e-mail address and assume that those that do not bounce back are existing e-mail addresses. For example, in Japan, mobile phones can receive e-mail. A mobile’s default e-mail address used to be the mobile number, ‘@’ and the carrier’s domain (e.g., 09000000001@k.vodafone.ne.jp). This meant that everybody could make an e-mail list of 100 million addresses in Vodafone’s prefix range starting with 090. These days, a typical default e-mail prefix looks like this wm8n80cbfjv4bbst1ga2. So, this can have one million times 26 to the power of 14 possible combinations. This can be termed a ‘dictionary attack’.

There are other techniques. According to InfoWorld, e-mails can be gathered by exploiting e-mail protocols. By simply opening an e-mail, one can confirm one’s address is valid, as well as inform the sender of the time, and even the place the e-mail was opened. Another way to get e-mail addresses is to create a phony address removal service from spam lists. Finally, e-pending is a list-creation technique that involves appending e-mail domains to hard copy lists of names.

11. How can people get off a spam list?

Theoretically, you can just send an e-mail and ask for your name and e-mail be deleted from the list. You need to know that your name is on a list. You need to know where to send your request. You may need a special form to fill up. Again, some opt-out and removal e-mails are operated by unscrupulous people who may be spammers.

Some sites are clear about the duration and use of one’s address on their mailing lists. Often, the sites delete your name automatically after a certain period of time. Should it be my responsibility to ensure my addresses removal from a mailing list?

13. How do spammers able to beat anti-spam software?

Drupal.org is the official website of Drupal, an open-source content management platform. It is a good resource for a beginner to learn some of the key words and concepts. On the bulletin board, any fundamental question is OK to ask. My first choice for technical information was http://www.Slashdot.Org, but that site was difficult to navigate. When I finally found the articles on Spam, they were too technical for a beginner.

What I did learn is that, in the current environment, spammers and anti-spam companies are not evenly matched. The question is not how spammers beat anti-spam software. The question is how well anti-spam software finds spam.

Brightmail claims to have a 99.9999% success rate: ‘with an industry leading false-positive rate of fewer than 1 false positive in every 1 million messages identified as spam.’ That figure is based on research from the Yankee Group. On its main technical page, it offers specific details; in fact, the software has a 95% effectiveness (eWeek) in identifying spam. So, 5% is let through, minus the unlucky 0.0001% falsely labeled as spam.

Information on that 5% is hard to find. Brightmail distinguishes ‘first-time spam’ that it addresses ‘proactively’. How does it do that? It also notes that ‘some of the filters are ‘reputation-based, examining the source of the email’. Others sift through the message content, applying signatures or heuristics technology.’ Given that sending spam is free, not much thought is put into it. Brightmail seems to boast of getting 95% of sloppy work. If the spammer uses the same sending address twice, then Brightmail can catch most of it. If it is a ‘first-time e-mail’ then all bets are off.

Another eWeek article titled Cash Pours In for Internet Security Providers is not cited. Brightmail was bought by Symantec for 37000000 dollars in 2004. There is a lot of money in dealing with spam after it has been sent.

14. What is the 4-1-9 scam?

The "4-1-9" fraud is named for section 4-1-9 of the Nigerian penal code. There are clear explanations of this confidence scam on a U.S. Secret Service, 419 Coalition and Quatloos Web sites. The last site contains the most basic information about the 4-1-9 scam, examples, advice, model responses and more. The entire site is dedicated to Internet fraud of all types. The writing style and mood seem both playful and serious.

I have received 64 4-1-9 letters since February 6, 2005 and 40 made it into my main mailbox. These e-mails, and the information at the Quatloos Web site, are the reasons that I chose this research topic. The U.S.A. Government issues advisories like this one. Is it enough? The 4-1-9 scam is, above all, something that survives in shadows.

A number of people respond to 4-1-9 e-mails and instant messages. These people are willing to believe the business proposition and pay money to sort through the inevitable fees. It is truly a matter of greed over fear and common sense. Still, these people do not deserve to lose their money. Some are killed in countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Brazil. According to Unspam, the 4-1-9 scam is worth millions, can be tempting and may be the second-largest industry, after oil, Nigeria.

15. What is the possible future of spam?

Spam may be the hated relative of unloved TV commercials, banner ads and pop-up windows. Spam has expanded to every platform: e-mail, instant messaging and mobile text messaging. It will expand to every future platform. Anti-spam software solutions are not bound to fail, but cannot succeed, either. Software companies will always fight for rank and tout success rates. In fact, the ex-post-facto approach is misdirected.

Controlling spam before it is sent is a better approach, but one that may not be adapted because the Internet is an international phenomenon and cooperation is needed in all corners to advance good policy. For example, if sending an email cost money, that would be effective, but every country online would have to agree to some pay-per-send program. I pay X yen to my ISP. I would gladly pay a nominal price for every email that I send. Would you? Spammers would not enjoy the cost-benefit reality of a pay-per-send word.

What cable TV is to ‘free’ TV is what the future of the Internet should be. I believe that an Internet-mail business model will become more popular but not replace the current ‘free’ one. I think my MSN account does a better job of protecting me than my preferred Yahoo! one. I can limit e-mails to those from trusted senders.

In some cases, such as Yahoo!, spam profits are made by people and organizations that “fight” spam (e.g., the Anti-Spam Technical Alliance). It is a curious thing. The spammers are so motivated and zealous, and the volume of spam is so large, that even if 1% of the e-mails were opened, it represents a boon for a company like Yahoo! Yahoo! sells advertising space based on the number of views. Why would they be so motivated to stop spammers?

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Spam bugs me. Personally, I do not think about spam unless it wastes my time. I often open e-mail that has nothing to do with me. Then I get angry about the wasted ten seconds of my life. Apparently, by opening a spam e-mail, I have alerted the spammers of my presence. These spammers are unscrupulous. They may or may not be highly skilled, but they are lucky.

4-1-9 scammers can count on people being greedy. They can count on some of those people being lonely and misguided. Most of all, they are lucky because of the ignorance of the public and the apathy of interested parties that can help.

Answer #1 shows ignorance. Professionals that can help do not define spam precisely because they are not disinterested parties. They may work for companies with a conflict of interests. Answer #3 shows Brightmail has a conflict of interests. If it eliminated spam, then its thanks would be going out of business. So, the lack of a clear definition and scope leads to Answer #7 being unclear. Who sends spam? If spam is defined as unwanted communication, then all ubiquitous pop-up ads are spam.

One can assume apathy in Answer #5. Who cares to survey the public about its attitudes towards spam? Organizations would be asking the questions and organizations profit from an uniformed public. Asking questions raises awareness. What is more, Answer #13 leads to a question for so-called anti-spam software companies; namely, how has spam profited you?

Answer #14 shows that, without safeguards, con artists will find newer, more inventive ways to satisfy their greed. There are a lot of them and the scope and severity of fraud, and even murder, cannot be underestimated. They use the cover large corporations give them. They are what organized criminals are to many, so-called legitimate businesses: family.

Week Fourteen Posting

2005-04-24T23:00:00.000+09:00

How has your writing changed since the beginning of the course?
I am more sensitive to the readers' needs and interests. I think that I can balance their needs and interests with mine, but, to tell the truth, the balance will be 99% Hui and 1% readers. I hope to develop my writing more in order to express 'unadulterated Hui'!

What have you learned in the course that you think will prove most useful?
First I want to thank Drew, Tara and Mr. Carroll. Your opinions and perspectives were very useful. I appreciate the feedback. I wanted more.

What questions remain unanswered for you?
Many! Most of my questions are about my own writing. Is it good? How? When? Are the idioms I use appropriate or strange-sounding. Can I write professionally? Can I be a journalist? The answers to these questions come slowly, don't they?

How can this course be improved or enhanced? (Be brutal.)
Brutal. Right! This course is not Writing for Digital Media Workshop. I liked what we did at the beginning. I think that Mr. Carroll advised us to continue on our own. He advised us to give and take feedback to each other. Hmmm. It is better to force the students together for a few weeks. After that, maybe, we can continue on our own. Writing practice is not a priority it seems. Of course, this is not a workshop.

Secondly, where can we sell the articles we write? I want to be a professional. I want to work in digital media. Mr. Carroll has experience at a newspaper in Japan. I want to know more about that. All the newspapers here have online versions. I want to know their names and email addresses. How about this for a final project: Getting something published is a guaranteed pass and getting paid for it is a high pass. There must be over 1000 media outlets to target. I want to know what the most popular style guides are for them. I do not care to make my own.

How to Blog is as far away from Writing for Digital Media as any writing workshop is. Overall, there is too much about politics and way too much about Blogging. Incidentally, I think 'searched for' is as good as 'googled'. Of course, if Writing for Digital Media means product placements (Google, Blackboard, Apple, etc...) then tell me where I can get paid!

'Proactiv' Marketing Solutions

2005-04-17T11:30:00.000+09:00

The Proactiv Solution Brand and Image

Proactive Solution is one product from Guthy-Renker, a direct-marketing company that specializes in cosmetics. Are they good cosmetics? I do not know because I have never tried them. I have not seen any online reviews or comments.

These cosmetics are not cheap. They are double and triple normal prices. They may or may not be effective, but the pricing makes all of them very exclusive products.

Guthy-Renker relies on famous people to market their products. Its product image is related to the image of its spokespeople. The spokespeople include Vanessa Williams, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Daisy Fuentes, Brooke Burke, Stephanie Seymour, Anthony Roberts, Leeza Gibbons, Susan Lucci and Judith Light. Basically, they are all rich, famous and attractive people.

The Marketing and Advertising of Proactive Solution

Guthy-Renker is a direct-marketing company. It relies on Internet marketing (such as affiliate programs) TV infomercials and magazine ads. I am not sure if they use direct mail in the U.S.A. but they do not use them in Japan. Neither do they use fliers nor newspaper inserts in Japan.

The company has an online affiliate program. Here it is, as taken from its Affiliate Program homepage.

Guthy-Renker's affiliate program offers the following for all of our brands:

17% commission on most items—$5 bounty on Winsor Pilates $9.95 offers (U.S. domestic sales only)
Commission paid on return visits (up to 10 days after last visit from your site)
Monthly payments (subject to $25 minimum payment threshold)
LinkShare Premium Merchant status

Guthy-Renker uses Linkshare to make the payments easy. Any Webmaster can apply. It is free. Although the Web sites are self-selected, I am sure that Guthy-Renker approaches some others.

How effective is an affiliate program? Whether Guthy-Renker makes a lot or a little, there are almost no costs to the company. It is a win-win situation.

The Guthy-Renker homepage uses Macromedia Flash Player and is very attractive. The other pages are full of information and data but are a little plainer. The official Web site for Proactiv Solution is simple but has a video presentation with Jessica Simpson.

In Japan, I have cable television. I pay a lot every month but it seems as though half the programs are infomercial. The worst thing about them, after their frequency, is that they do not serve the customer. One can hear many positive testimonials. One can hear many oohs and aahs from a ‘live’ audience. One does not hear the price! It bothers me to wait ten or fifteen minutes to learn the price. Infomercials must work; otherwise, companies would not use them so often.

Proactive Solution has ads in US Weekly magazine among others. The choice of magazines offers a clue to Guthy-Renker’s target market. Who reads US Weekly? Young women who admire celebrities do. If they like Vanessa Williams they may want to look like Vanessa Williams. Coincidentally, Jessica Simpson is this week’s cover girl.

Possible Directions for Proactive Solution

I have read that Guthy-Renker is a direct-marketing ‘giant’, but it can benefit from the input of a smart, Chinese, Internet business consultant. Unfortunately, I am just a student of writing for digital media.

First of all, I think the affiliate program is not enough for online marketing. They should buy banners on Web sites. I think they should target the online versions of popular celebrity and women’s magazines. Anything related to teenagers would be fine.

Here in Japan, there must be a Japanese-language version of the Web sites. In fact, I could not find a Chinese-language site, either. This is my second recommendation: internationalize. There are a lot of middle-class people in China, India and Europe. They have celebrity spokespeople, too.

Finally, I think that the Proactiv Solutions brand name can be put into GIF images. It seems that the most insidious marketing is good for spreading a brand name. As long as the name of this product is on the minds of potential buyers, it does not matter how annoying the placements are. Disagree? Just a moment, please. Let me find that marketing consultant from China.

Three Travel Services Web Sites

2005-04-10T16:30:00.000+09:00

===http://www.greyhound.com===

1) How does it identify its publics?

This Web site identifies customers from different countries (Mexico, the USA and Canada) by using icons of national flags. It seems very intuitive. The site identifies, in English only, Web pages for English and French speakers.

The site makes much of Macromedia Flash Player, and offers a link to a download Web site. So, this shows consideration for the public that still uses older software. The slowest dial-up modem can load this page fast. Where is the Flash presentation? I do not know.

Yet, the site has no bus on it and relies on the greyhound logo to assure the users that they are on the right Web page. It looks too stark to me.

2) How does it serve those publics?

I chose the English Canada site. It looks spare just like the referring top page. Users are identified further with links for discount travelers, information seekers, and those who wish to contact the company.

Unfortunately, the FAQ link is presented without a context. Does it have information on package deliveries or package tours? In fact, it is a long list of links in an unorganized list.

I imagine that most visitors know what information they want and hope to navigate quickly to it. Other visitors may be more likely to click on the advertisements and promotions. Those serve as a distraction for the first group. The Web site caters to two groups and the information architecture reaches an effective balance. On the other hand, travelers who just want to browse see tempting photos that lead to nothing; in fact, they are mislabeled.

3) How does it encourage repeat visits?

Sorry, no, it does not encourage repeat visits. Ticket selling is a simple transaction on an as-needed basis. The site does not have any ‘Destination of the Month’ or much else to attract browsers.

4) How does it serve specifically the press and news media?

http://www.greyhound.ca/en/company/news/media.shtml is the site that presents links to various media links. It seems complete, if not friendly. The offer seems to be come-and-get-it to those seeking information. They would have done better to organize their press releases on this page, which is already three clicks past the top page.

5) What information is offered? How?

Corporate and financial news releases and parent company information are available. There are many contact telephone numbers and addresses. It is all friendly, but presented in a clumsy way.

===http://www.viarail.ca/===

1) How does it identify its publics?

The top page makes a point of having speakers of eight languages addressed. Too bad for me that the Chinese site was offline.

This site is almost as simple as the Greyhound one, but offers some interesting motion graphics to those who have the browser plug in. Is it Flash or Shockwave? Who cares? None of the graphics are clickable.

2) How does it serve those publics?

Travel Web sites must present a large volume of information in an easily-to-navigate way. This one does. After getting past the fancy top page, it was easy to navigate to most information with just one click. This Web site uses an intuitive index-card motif. Unfortunately, the tabs were ugly, and the colors too earthy and without contrast.

It also has lots of tourist information and was an enjoyable time sinkhole for me. I lost 20 minutes here.

3) How does it encourage repeat visits?

The content is often time-stamped and looks fresh. Browsers are encouraged to return with the prospects of new reviews and bargains. In fact, the Via Rail Destinations magazine page offers a newsletter. That is a smart thing to do because, unless people are hunting for specific information, a travel site is not a swinging Internet location. There is even a contest page.

4) How does it serve specifically the press and news media?

This site has an organized list and catalog of press releases. Again, it has a ‘Information Newsletter’ which is probably the same one that tourists receive. It may be a media-friendly one.

5) What information is offered? How?

Tourist, corporate, investor and recruitment information is offered. It is all organized very well with links and PDF files.

===http://www.united.com/===

1) How does it identify its publics?

There is a very small link to its international sites. United seems to have designed its homepage for the benefit of two main groups: frequent fliers and ticket buyers.

2) How does it serve those publics?

Two-thirds of the front page is devoted to flights and ticket offers. The remainder is for Mileage Plus members.

3) How does it encourage repeat visits?

It does not; however, there is a ‘remember me’ check box for Mileage Plus members. Even if United offers special deals, there does not seem to be any newsletter available on the Home page (There is one! It is just not on the front page for signing up.)

4) How does it serve specifically the press and news media?

There is a link to United Airlines press releases.

5) What information is offered? How?

There is information for shareholders, customers and employees. It is all presented in a chronological list, including an archive. The ‘Contact United’ link is very small, but the page itself is well organized and includes contact information for all three of those target groups.

Google versus Agence France-Presse

2005-03-27T16:30:00.000+09:00

I have chosen a legal question fresh from this week’s headlines, and I hope it is not a problem. A French news agency has brought a lawsuit against Google in

France

for use of their copyrighted headlines. Agence France-Presse (AFP) asked Google to ‘cease and desist’ using its headlines, from its partner sites, on the Google News Web page. So far, Google has, slowly eliminating AFP material from its sites. This lawsuit’s result will define the future of search engines and blogging. The ‘transborder nature’ of the technology, and pace of its development, make the case exciting as well as important.

According to the legal definition, “the fair-use rule is a privilege in others than the owner of the copyright to use the copyrighted material in a reasonable manner without his consent. The reasonableness of a use is determined on a case-by-case basis applying an equitable rule of reason analysis.” The fact that it is determined based on the case makes it a good topic for speculation and opinions and an especially good one for lawyers. Readers, journalists and business people are all interested parties, but in the legal sense, it is all about the money and Web hits. Journalists and Journalism students, like us, are more like spectators.

Ironically, I found out about this case on Google. I would never have found the information from WorldCat, FindLaw.com or Lexis Nexis, legal, academic or otherwise (1). I would have never heard of AFP and I would not have visited their site without the story registering on a search engine. Search engines are vital top sites that serve an important role for Web users. I write ‘vital’ in terms of the users and their experience.

From AFP’s perspective, any viewers sent from Google are a benefit. Yahoo, on the other hand, pays some sources for the right to use their headlines. Google might have felt that the number of viewers it sends to sites like AFP made it untouchable. I am sure AFP appreciates any extra traffic. I am sure Google deserves respect from AFP, but from a business point of view, ‘deserve’ has nothing to do with it. It would be irresponsible for AFP not to chase royalties from Google. Their profile is higher even if they lose. Google would still send viewers even if they lose. There is no downside for AFP.

I view AFP’s position as understandable, but side with Google in this dispute. I side with users and think that content should be user-oriented. It is a nice idea. Coincidentally, this week’s headlines also include Barry Diller’s company buying AskJeeves.com for 1.9 billion. The future of search engines will be driven by commercial imperatives. Nice interfaces and relevant results aside, the business is the vital thing.

I searched through the top ten hits on Yahoo! and Google search engines as well as Google News, among others, and found some interesting results.

With the Google search engine, eight of the top ten results for the keywords ‘Google fair use French’ were for an article by Anick Jesdanun of The Associated Press (AP). AP sold the article to least eight different Web sites. Google happened to have eight them on the first page of its results list. On the Yahoo! search engine, half of the top ten hits pointed to the same Jesdanun article. Remarkably, the first hit was a Google site. One was an irrelevant site, another was a Blog. This is significant, because Blogs often have links to commercial sites and a pro-AFP ruling would limit Blogs.

Most surprising of all were the results from Google News itself. Only one of the top ten results led to the Jesdanun article. It is hard for non-technical people to appreciate why some results come and why others do not, but quid pro quo is one easy explanation. At any rate, educating the public or promoting Blogs is not AFP’s concern.

As for me, I do not think Google competes with AFP. Google only takes a little bit from various sites. These are the two most significant points with regards to fair use. I predict Google and AFP will settle out of court.

(1) Lexis-Shmexus! Six of the top ten hits for a “Google fair use French’ search were the same Jesdanun article, available freely elsewhere. Lexis-Nexis normally charges $3.00 for access to each search hit on their site. Lexis-Nexis probably kicks back money to news sources, just like Yahoo! does. Does it pay Bloggers for original material? I do not think so. Nice business model, isn’t it? In fact, this Web essay is brought to you by Pam. Why have food stick to your frying pan? Use Pam.

Now, I have to get them to pay me.

Interesting/related sites:

http://www.searchengineguide.com/beal/2004/0204_ab1.html

http://searchenginewatch.com/

Basic Bibliography

2005-03-13T12:00:00.000+09:00

Provide a detailed and carefully cited bibliography for your research project. Include about two sentences describing how you might use this source in your research. Full details are in the Study Book.

Unfortunately, most of the materials on my research subject seem to be online and the books that I found are hard to find where I am. I am trying to find resources to answer my fifty questions (posted on February 6^th).

10 selected resources and references:

My Prime Source of Information (on the Web)

#1> <http://www.quatloos.com/scams/nigerian.htm>

This site is the reason that I chose this research topic. It contains basic information about the 4-1-9 scam, examples, advice, model responses and more. The entire site is dedicated to Internet fraud of all types. The writing style and mood seem both playful and serious.

(The Only) 4-1-9 Scam Resource in the UNC Library

#2> I will follow up on U.S. government advisories for the public, like this one:

Web Access: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS29727
Title: The "Nigerian" scam [electronic resource]: costly compassion. Publisher: [Washington, D.C.] : Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Office of Consumer and Business Education, [2002] Subjects: Swindlers and swindling--Nigeria.
Bank fraud--Nigeria.
Fraud--Nigeria.
Notes: Title from title screen (viewed on Apr. 17, 2003).
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: Internet from the FTC web site. Address as of 4/17/03: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/nigeralrt.pdf; current access is available via PURL.
Other Entry: United States. Federal Trade Commission. Office of Consumer and Business Education.
Series Title: FTC consumer alert!

Spam Resource #1 from the UNC Library

#3> Here is a reference book to help answer questions one to twenty.

Title: Spam Kings: The real story behind the high-rolling hucksters pushing porn, pills, and @*#?% enlargements / Brian McWilliams.

Author: McWilliams, Brian (Brian S.)

Publisher: Sebastopol, Calif.: O'Reilly, c2005.

Subject: Unsolicited electronic mail messages.
Description: xv, 333 p., [16] p. of plates: ill., ports. ; 23 cm.

Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 0596007329 (hardcover)

Spam Resource #2 from the UNC Library

#4> More reference material for questions one to twenty may be here.

Title: Canning spam: You've got mail (that you don't want) / Jeremy Poteet. Author: Poteet, Jeremy.

Publisher: Indianapolis: Sams, 2004.

Subject: Unsolicited electronic mail messages.
Description: xiii, 239: ill. ; 23 cm.

Notes: Includes index.
ISBN: 0672326396 (paperback)

Technical Resources from the Web

#5> Questions 21 to 27 need answers from a resource like this one:

<http://drupal.org/node/14216> Drupal.org is the official website of Drupal, an open source content management platform. It is a good resource for a beginner to learn some of the key words and concepts. On the bulletin board, any fundamental question is OK to ask.

#6> My first choice for technical information was http://www.Slashdot.Org, but that site was difficult to navigate. When I finally found the articles on Spam, they were too technical for a beginner. I hope to understand it soon and share something from this site.

Spammer Groups on the Web…

#7> They call themselves direct marketers. I hope they have answers to questions 28 to thirty six. Here is one national association:

<http://www.the-cma.org/>

What to do about the spam problem?

#8> <http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/>

This site is the first one sees on a Google search of ‘419 scam’. I liked it because it has concrete pieces of advice that I had not see elsewhere.

#9> <http://www.earthlink.net/about/press/pr_asta_tech/> ASTA is the Anti-Spam Technical Alliance. It is made up of many leading IT companies but I am suspicious about them because they benefit indirectly from spam. They have many recommendations and a lot of position statements.

#10> <http://www.crn.vnunet.com/news/1153261> Microsoft does have the best advice so far in my readings. This link is a critique to Bill Gates’ anti-spam initiative. New initiatives like this, technical advances and new laws like Can-Spam will help answer questions 39 to forty five.

Questions 46 to 50 are difficult, but I will have fun speculating. I already have some ideas.

Thanks,

Hui

SEOUL SEARCHING

2005-03-06T06:00:00.000+09:00

WEEK EIGHT ASSIGNMENT: Summarization

Reduce an article to half its original word length. The original 1358-word article is HERE. The 612-word, Summary A is below.

Cut the article in half again, making at least four sections with headings for each section. See Summary B below.

Break up each section into text chunks, using bulleted lists where appropriate.

Indicate what you would hyperlink to supporting material and sites, and identify the sites and sources to which you would link (at least generally; no need for specific URLs).

Offer suggestions on how to improve the content even further to make it a more useful Web experience and space (Flash, interactive graphics, multimedia clips, etc.).

Summary A

It is 2:00 a.m. at night in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Market. Outside are kids mostly, 15 to 25, jamming together at a rap concert. Behind the performers is a six-storey high, neon sign of the Migliore Fashion Mall. The bass sounds resonate as the young crowd flows out from the side streets. Dongdaemun Market has many food stalls selling noodles, chijimi and bulgogi, but this young crowd is there for the clothes and, tonight, the music.

The Dongdaemun neighborhood has 30000 retailers and 50000 manufacturers of all kinds. Customer requests and new ideas drive this dynamic market. The trade amounts to a shopping rave, but it was not always this way.

Corea was once called the “Hermit Kingdom” so all this commercial hyperactivity is surprising. For example, Seoul was once so insular that it opened in the morning and closed at night to the sound of a large bell. Seoul has reinvented itself from civil-war rubble to the bustling present-day metropolis. Corea was heading for bankruptcy in 1997 but bounced back from that, too. Through all of this, Coreans have recently developed the first real bubbling of individualism, and the world is just discovering it.

Indeed, growing numbers of tourists now find Corea has become decidedly extroverted. A diverse bar culture is developing. Business people, homosexuals, military personnel, foreigners, ravers and the university crowd among others all have bars and districts for themselves. Moreover, these nightspots seem even more modern being adjacent to traditional ones. They are springing up because things move quickly in Corea. Yesterday was a long time ago.

All this change is counter-balanced by the Coreans’ sense of self. History centers Coreans just as the famous Yin and Yang symbol centers their national flag. Through the unstoppable energy of the city, one feels a comfortable jumble of the old and the new. Seoul still has a chaotic tangle of narrow streets with low buildings and the old way of life spills into the alleys.

Outside the restaurants, fish are grilling on barbeques; men are sitting on upturned buckets sipping the milky rice liquor makkeolli and snacking on crispy dried anchovies. The smell of kimchi and bulgogi fills the air. Jwipo, a sweet dried fish cake barbequed on stones and sold off street carts is a messy food to eat. The casualness of the food, stalls and patrons says something about the Coreans that has not changed for centuries.

Corea is host to a steady stream of visitors who taste the food and lifestyle. Many foreigners stay for a year or two and serve as language instructors. As they leave they are replaced by others. They take a little bit of Seoul with them. It seems that more and more people will experience Corea as it will be one focus of attention for the 2002 World Cup of Football. So expect the influence of Seoul style to grow. Already, Tokyo has a market fashioned after Dongdaemun. In New York, bars are replicating the Seoul bar scene down to the whiskey bottles placed on each table and, coming soon to a bar near you, ten types of hard soju liquor.

Back at the rap concert, the set is finishing, but the city is still open and teeming with people. Ex-pat journalists are playing darts. Transsexuals at the Q Bar are lip-syncing tunes. Youth with glow sticks and nunchuks are now forgetting the time in techno clubs. Sinchon, Itaewon and other districts are still hopping. The city is open for business. That is one part of tradition that did not survive, but the actual bell, at the ancient Bosingak Belfry, still does.

Get further Seoul info at these sites:

(Annotated list of links)

Summary B (338 words)

Links to real-time, live Web cameras #1, #2 & #3

Links to informational Web sites A (Tourist board), B (History) & C (Food and drink site)

A Seoul Night Market

It is 2:00 a.m. at night in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Market (#1). Outside are kids mostly, 15 to 25, jamming together at a rap concert. The young crowd flows out from the side streets. Dongdaemun Market has many food stalls, but this crowd is there for the clothes and, tonight, the music. The neighborhood has busy stores driven by customer requests and new ideas.

Something Old and Something New

Corea was once called the “Hermit Kingdom” (A) so all this commercial hyperactivity is surprising. For example, Seoul was once so insular that it opened and closed its gates to the sound of a large bell. Through it all, Coreans have recently developed the first real bubbling of individualism. This change is counter-balanced by the Coreans’ sense of self. History (B) centers Coreans. Seoul has a chaotic tangle of narrow streets with low buildings and still exudes a traditional way of life.

Seoul’s New Casual

Growing numbers of tourists now find Corea has become decidedly open as well as traditional. A diverse bar culture is developing. There are bars and districts for every crowd. These nightspots seem even more modern being adjacent to traditional ones. Corea’s visitors taste the food and lifestyle and return home with a little bit of Seoul in them. Tokyo now has a market fashioned after Dongdaemun. New York bars replicate the Seoul bar scene down to the whiskey bottles placed on each table and the ten types of hard soju liquor.

Back at the Night Market

Outside the restaurants (C), fish are grilling on barbeques; men are sitting on upturned buckets sipping the milky rice liquor makkeolli and snacking on crispy dried anchovies. The casualness of the dishes, stalls and patrons says something about the Coreans that has not changed for centuries. Meanwhile, back at the rap concert, the set is finishing, but the city is still teeming with people. Sinchon (#2), Itaewon (#3) and other districts are still hopping. The city is open for business.

Get further Seoul info at these sites:

(Here is the bulleted list of annotated links, just like in the original article.)

The article is a personal account of Seoul mixed with a mini tour guide. I would have included more photos, or very short video clips, than the original site did. The six links I chose would be the most popular for readers. I could have linked a long article about IMF loans to Corea, but I did not because it seems too serious a topic. Corea should be shown in a good way with attractive links.

I liked the use of the present progressive tense, but it seemed out of place after I shortened the text by taking out the personal references. So, I switched to the present tense in summary B.

Learning Styles

2005-03-05T01:38:00.000+09:00

Style Scores
Visual 7
Aural 14 (Dominant)
Verbal 10
Physical 9
Logical 6
Social 13 (Secondary)
Solitary 8

I did not feel very strongly about most of the statements. I had imagined that I learn more visually. Yet, I like learning by listening and being in groups, so the test results rings true to me.

How valid is this test? I think that a test should have a track record of validity and reliability. This one seems like it is from a commercial site.

ANALYSIS: Kansas City Star Web Site

2005-02-27T10:30:00.000+09:00

Usability

The first item on the list is ‘Jobs’ and the second ‘Cars’. What kind of a newspaper is this? Are these the most popular links? If so, then they should be prominently displayed.

There are many links on the page which lead to the single news story (the BTK case). The link with lead photo leads to a page with more information and many new links that were not on the front page. One can use the back button on this page. The associated links on the front page lead to pages without a back function. These pages have the same related links.

If one wants to get a quick look at today’s weather, there is a link at the top right of the page beside a blank space. News flash! Now, I cannot navigate the site because it has forwarded me to a site where I can sign up and log on. I am not going to do that because I have given up.

Design

The colors are about 50% black and 50% red tones, red, dark orange and magenta. No color has any special emphasis in this color scheme. The lists on the left do not share common buttons or horizontal highlighting bars. There are numerous font sizes used on the page.

Organization

The content is mixed with advertisements. There is little organization, especially with the pop-up pages and irregular design.

Recommendations

1. The site needs fewer colors, font sizes, button types and section headers. The design elements need more harmony.

2. The front page content suffers because it does not serve the needs of visitors. A certain number of people want information about the news of the day. The site should have more and bigger news photos and headlines with content in a black font.

3. Some people want to know the weather. It could be on the front page. There is space. Instead, the users must click on a link.

4. Only one of the four vertical sections should be used for advertisements.

5. A few more GIF images would help with navigation.

Hui's Web Style Guide

2005-02-20T23:00:00.000+09:00

You can also reach the page by clicking on the JOMC221 link on my UNC homepage or by clicking on the permanent link on the right.

Thanks,
Hui

http://travel.discovery.com/

2005-02-13T23:30:00.001+09:00

When you open this link you will feel a light sea breeze. See the open sky and sea? There is the breeze. Feel it?

We can see the simplicity of this page. The site designer keeps the content clear and concise so it can be easily read. It is a big site with a lot of content but still simple. This simplicity provides an example of effective design and communication.

Most of the content is hidden in the lists on the left. Instead of chunky text and overwhelming graphics, the headlines and the interesting picture draw your attention. I feel all these elements are well balanced. The empty spots make it look light and airy. The font is easy to read. You can navigate easily through the list, but I wish they had been rollover lists. The increased ease would have been in keeping with the overall theme of relaxation. There is an audio-visual presentation on the right, but only for the people who click on it. Notice there are up-to-date travel headlines floating on the top. That is just above the large photo which is the focal point of the page. The simple logo at the top left offers a quick and easy route back to the homepage and re-emphasizes the site’s Web address. Quick and easy is what it is all about.

I like this page very much.

Web site lists

2005-02-13T23:30:00.000+09:00

Here is a Web site with an unusual URL: http://www.tutorials.com/fd/viagrafix.asp. I noticed the list on the left and thought it could be made clearer with some organization. Here is the information on the left with my notes highlighted in yellow:

Course-Catalog

	All Tutorials (This link points to a page with all the other links.)
	Accounting/Finance
	Business Skills
	Collegiate
	Communication
	Databases
	French
	Graphics/Publishing
	Health and Safety
	Internet/Webmaster
	Kid's
	Languages (This link points to information about English as a second language)
	Linux
	Microsoft Certified
	Microsoft Office
	Networking
	Portuguese
	Programming
	Soft Skills
	Spanish
	Spreadsheet
	Windows
	Word Processing
	Miscellaneous

Customer Service

	FAQ
	Payment Information
	Refund/Replacement
	Privacy Practices
	Streammaker

This Web site uses just two headers on its list: ‘Course-Catalog’ and ‘Customer Service’. I would add some headers like this:

COURSE-CATALOGS

Business & Commercial

Computer & Internet

	Databases
	Internet/Webmaster
	Languages
	Linux
	Microsoft Certified
	Microsoft Office
	Networking
	Programming
	Windows

Home & Personal

	Collegiate
	Health and Safety
	Kid's

Languages

	ESL
	French
	Portuguese
	Spanish

Customer Service

	FAQ
	Payment Information
	Refund/Replacement
	Privacy Practices
	Streammaker

Also, I would put the ‘miscellaneous’ links into other categories.

Headline fixes

2005-02-13T22:30:00.000+09:00

On February 10^th, I watched Crossfire on CNN and heard one panelist say this: “Donald Trump probably has a larger staff [than Prince Charles has]”. This was followed by laughter from all the panelists. I wondered why. Then, I learned ‘staff’ can also mean penis. It was not so funny to me.

I know that many misunderstandings find their way into print and online, too. Here is a link to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: http://tinyurl.com/alvh. The examples on that site are from print media. I wanted to find some online examples of misleading links. The closest thing to an inappropriate link, in very bad taste, led to HERE. You can safely skip it unless you like morbid humor.

Then, I got help from the Poynter Online collection of bad headlines. I do not agree with all of them. For example, I could find nothing wrong with this headline: Fire crews save naked man cuffed to toilet. I read the article. There was a fire. The firefighters saved a man. He was naked and cuffed to a toilet.

It did have these headlines with problems (all links leave cookies on your PC):

1. Urine may cause bridge to collapse Actually, the problem with this headline is that it is unclear. It can be taken to mean many things. “Urinating on a bridge’s steel pillars weakens them” is better. I cannot get it shorter than that. Headlines must be concise, as well as clear.

2. Singapore: The monkey swings both ways This headline is unclear, too. I think it is deliberately a double entendre. Does a newspaper or online source benefit from a play on words? Some people may enjoy sexual innuendo. I am told to avoid puns and clever headlines. “Singapore: Its strengths and weaknesses in 2004”.

3. 'I'm sorry sir, but you died last year' One of our written rules is to avoid teasers. I think this is one. “Social security office mistakes man for dead”. Again, I do not know how to make it shorter.

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Spam (but Really Should!)

2005-02-06T10:30:00.000+09:00

I propose to research spam. Basically, spam is unsolicited email. As a topic, it can be considered in many ways. Spam has commercial, technical, ethical, legal and artistic aspects to it.

In particular, I have chosen to focus on the so-called “4-1-9 Scam” as my main research topic. You must know the 4-1-9 scam. Here is one popular variation: An email that offers you a windfall to liberate some money from some deposed head of state’s bank account. It is a particularly effective and pervasive form of spam. I wish to determine what makes it so effective.

First, here are some basic questions to consider about spam in general:

1. What exactly is spam?

2. Does spam have appeal? Who likes spam?

3. Who started spam? Where? When? What is the history of spam?

4. What percentage of all email is unsolicited?

5. Is all unsolicited email spam?

6. What do people think about receiving spam?

7. Who sends spam?

8. What companies send and/or facilitate spam?

9. What is a spam list?

10. Who gets on a spam list? How and why?

11. Is all spam commercial in nature?

12. How can people get off a spam list?

13. How much does a spam list cost?

14. Where can I buy a spam list?

15. Is it a cost-effective way of marketing a product and/or service?

16. How much money has been made using spam?

17. What is the most money made from a spam email?

18. Does spam cost money? Why? How much money?

19. What is the total economic impact of spam?

20. What are effective/ineffective spam emails?

21. Does spam have technical aspects?

22. Are spammers able to beat anti-spam software?

23. Why do spam emails sometimes have long lists of words?

24. What is anti-spam software? How does it work?

25. What is the most/least effective anti-spam software?

26. How much money is made by anti-spam companies?

27. What are the technical aspects of spam?

28. Who wrote the most popular spam emails? When? Where?

29. Are there organizations of spammers?

30. What is the demographic information about spammers?

31. Are there famous spammers? Who? Why are they famous?

32. Is sending spam an ethical way to do business?

33. Is responding to spam ethical?

34. Is it ethical to spam a spammer?

35. Is all spam unethical? Why?

36. Does/Should society care about spam?

37. What laws pertain to spam?

38. Who proposes new laws relating to spam?

39. Are there international anti-spam organizations?

40. What countries cooperate about anti-spam measures?

41. What are the penalties for spamming?

42. What has been the harshest penalty given to a spammer?

43. Are the spammers dissuaded by the penalties?

44. Do spammers fight against current or proposed laws?

45. What are some good proposals?

46. What are the psychological aspects of spam?

47. Can spam be art? How?

48. How do communication theorists view spam?

49. Is there a spam hall of fame?

50. What is the future of spam?

Each question can be addressed with respect to the 4-1-9 scam.

Here is a good place to preface my research with my reasons. Spam bugs me. Personally, I do not think about spam unless it wastes my time. I often open email that has nothing to do with me. Then I get angry about the wasted ten seconds of my life.

Email has subject headers and text bodies with keywords. These keywords make it easier to filter out spam. Still, spam gets through. I am especially impressed that 4-1-9 scams get through so often—much more than other forms of spam. These spammers must be highly skilled. I am curious about them and the people who fall victim to them.

Furthermore, I think my MSN account does a better job of protecting me than my preferred Yahoo! one. I am also curious about who profits from spam and who is serious about stopping it. In some cases, such as Yahoo!, spam profits are made by people and companies that “fight” spam. It is a curious thing.

Comments about Convergence in Media

2005-02-06T09:00:00.000+09:00

What do we do with the Web in terms of theory since it combines (converges and diverges) so many media and media forms?

(Is this a trick question?)

I see a positive convergence of print, TV and radio

‘rhetorics’. This requires a knowledge of multimedia technology, marketing and neurolinguistic programming (NLP). In terms of theory, it is simple. The theories must expand and develop in order to explain and predict the future of the Web.

Even the vocabulary word ‘rhetoric’, as a noun, now has a new meaning. The theories and the vocabulary will evolve in the same way. Some concepts and definitions will stick and others will be forgotten.

When as content developers should we strive for immediacy, compared in the reading with TVs "perfect transparency", and when should we go for hypermediacy? (translation: when should we encourage people to forget the presence of the medium and when should we try to remind them of it?)

Well, this question itself has a translation. Professor Carroll thought it was necessary to add it, and it improves the communication. Similarly, when content developers and Webmasters feel clarification is needed, then that is a good time to go for hypermediacy. Clarification is just one reason to remind the Web surfers of what the media are.

I think that sharing technical information about pictures and audio clips is hypermediacy. Hypermediacy is not necessary unless their is responsibility, like in an education environment. In any case, the human need for immediacy is more basic and pervasive than any interest in hypermediacy.

I think that there no “perfect transparency”. It is a theoretical concept only. Even on the holo-deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise on Star Trek, you could be in The Matrix and not know it! Total Recall, eXistenZ and The Truman Show all explore the theme of reality. There is no way of knowing.

Think about this, then tell me what I have just written!

Does the notion of authenticity help us with the hypermediacy/immediacy riddle? (In other words, when do we want individuals to experience a "reality," an emotion, and how do we facilitate this "immediate and therefore authentic emotional response"?

These are theoretical concepts. The surfers can always imagine the medium when the Web designer does not want them to, and vice-versa. These ideas always fall under communication theory.

Your questions?

Do the new terms always add something to our understanding of communication?

No, not always.

I Love My Yahoo (Revisited)

2005-01-30T08:00:00.000+09:00

Let me introduce in detail my favorite Web site: My Yahoo! I have written about My Yahoo! once last semester for my JOMC223 class. Click on the link above to see that.

I visit My Yahoo! everyday- several times a day. I visit it more often than I visit Blackboard. The first page I see when I start my computer is my Yahoo start page. I do almost everything through this page.

Q# 1> Describe how the writing style of the Web site holds your attention. What are the writing’s strong points?

Almost everything is written by professional journalists. In effect, my start page is a collection of headlines and opening paragraphs. Let me comment on one of them: Ann Coulter’s column.

First of all, remember that I am not a native speaker of English. I like to learn about different cultures as well as the English language. Ann Coulter’s columns always teach me a new words, idioms as well as cultural information. Her writing style is sarcastic, so I have to pick up on her real message. Finally, she writes in a clipped, high-paced way. I like that very much. It suits me and reminds me of my favorite writer, Dave Barry.

Here is an example headline: IT'S OUR PARTY, YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT TO. It is from a song by Leslie Gore. I downloaded it from Kazaa. And it is funny, too.

I think this example is very sarcastic and mean: “While dead bodies rotted in the streets of Angola and Somalia, the only "dead soldiers" in evidence in Clinton-land were the empty Cristal bottles lining the parade route.” Incidentally, I learned that Cristal is champagne besides the coincidental history of January, 2003.

Here is another one: “Hollywood liberals could not be reached for comment on the cost of the inauguration because they were being fitted for gowns and jewelry worth millions of dollars in anticipation of Oscar night.” This is an attack on actors in Hollywood. They may or may not deserve criticism; that is subjective.

Q# 2> What are some areas that could be improved? Let’s say you’re hired as the site’s editor-in-chief: Make specific recommendations.

I am learning about American politics and culture but I already know a little bit about communication. Ann Coulter seems to be a demagogue. Her rhetoric sounds like preaching— strong preaching. She is so angry in my opinion. This kind of emotion is attractive and stands out in the crowded Op/Ed world. So, there are so many Web sites devoted to her writing.

I think her writing can be improved by adding more objective information. Whenever possible, her reader’s opinions should be asked for. Example one brings together some important information in one paragraph.

Example 1: “I wouldn't mention it, except for the Times' recent editorial snippily remarking that the amount of foreign aid to tsunami victims offered by the United States within the first few days of the disaster was "less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities."

Changed to: “A recent NY Times’ editorial remarked that the United States offered tsunami victims $ xxx.xx within the first few days of the disaster. The Republicans plan to spend $ xxx.xx on the Bush inaugural festivities. Recent inaugurals have cost… (examples). The NY Times’ editor (snippily/unfairly/mistakenly…) complained about Bush’s priorities.

Example two is not interactive. I appreciate being more involved, so an occasional question is welcome.

Example 2: “Hollywood liberals could not be reached for comment on the cost of the inauguration because they were being fitted for gowns and jewelry worth millions of dollars in anticipation of Oscar night.”

Changed to: “Are Hollywood liberals being hypocritical? Oscar night is an annual celebration which costs $xxx.xx to stage. Staging Oscar parties run $xxx.xx. Estimated cost of dresses alone is $xxx.xx. Does this annual event benefit American society so much that participants can complain about Bush’s inaugural costs?

Generally speaking, people pay attention and react to stronger, simpler, more emotional writing. More equivocal complicated writing is more likely ignored. Isn’t it? In any case, I suspect that Ann Coulter’s charms are lost on normal people. Only people with agendas read, then love or hate it.

What are the other elements or features of the site that promote your consumption of it (think of all the elements described in this module)?

How are graphics and visuals incorporated in the site and do they encourage use of the site? How?

My Yahoo! is almost completely customizable. I like that very much. There is a PDF version of my start page on the title link. Take a look. Yes, they encourage my use of the site.

As for Ann Coulter’s essays, there are no graphics, just advertising. I learned that there are several Web sites that offer Coulter’s work. They are all presented in basically the same way.

Revision of my writing (Great thanks to Drew).

2005-01-23T01:54:00.000+09:00

THE SCOPE OF ONLINE CRIME

I have chosen online theft as my topic. It is a growing, multifaceted problem that touches each of us, if only indirectly.

Two articles by USA Today columnist Jon Swartz provided the impetus for this article. You can access his 10/21 (“Crooks slither into Net’s shady nooks and crannies”) and 10/24 (“Home PCs are not as protected as owners think”) articles by searching the USA Today Web site. The scope of this topic is addressed in terms of money, trends and potential issues. Some possible solutions follow.

1. SCOPE: MONEY
One’s own money is at risk by people who break into our mail boxes and intercept our Internet communication. Moreover, even if one uses the latest encryption software, the costs of losses may result in higher prices for all items. It is just like shoplifting. Everyone pays for it, though only a few are responsible for the malicious behavior.

According to Swartz, consumers and businesses, such as credit card providers, lost $14 billion to online crime: ten billion for spam, two billion in losses for online merchants, and two billion from individual victims of scams. Losses of consumer confidence and future revenue are harder to gauge.

2. SCOPE: TREND
One can see that the scope is very large and increasing, according to Ferris Research. Online fraud is surging according to the National Fraud Information Center. Swartz cites FBI statistics and examples to demonstrate the increase in online extortion. What is more disturbing is one trend that has not changed; namely, victims of online crime are unwilling to discuss it. Individuals may be too embarrassed; large corporations may be hesitant to advertise their systems’ vulnerability.

On a positive note, legislation and penalties are growing in volume and severity. For example, on October 7, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a law against spyware. International cooperation (e.g., an extradition treaty) is also needed as criminals set up shop in the countries with the least legislation.

3. SCOPE: POTENTIAL ISSUES
Could a cyber-attack close a bank? Could one damage national security? Amit Yoran quit his post as the American national cyber-security chief because these questions were not being dealt with. This follows the departures of Richard Clarke, Rand Beers, and Howard Schmidt. I guess it is not an easy job. In any case, the U.S. is not getting the leadership it deserves in addressing the threat of cyber attack. What is not speculation, though, is the potential harm from our reliance on computers.

HELPFUL MEASURES
I do not think that the threat of cyber crime will increase unchecked forever. There are solutions to the existing and potential problems that involve forethought and cooperation amongst the different government agencies and private security companies. In fact, aside from technical aspects, most of the crimes and threats exploit the absence of security measures and cooperation .

No man-made technical solution can avoid being defeated by people. There are many possible measures that can contribute in a positive way. I hesitate to use the word ‘solution’, but feel the combination of all the following measures would lead to safer surfing. These four measures seem like common sense to me.

Measure 1: INCREASED AWARENESS
The first solution seems the most effective, but may also be the most unrealistic. I immediately think about the difference between the terms ‘safe sex’ and ‘safer sex’. Replace ‘sex’ with ‘Internet use’ and one immediately gets a realistic picture of the limitations of online security. Specifically, one can never be 100% safe from online theft. All one can do is mitigate the risks. Since people sometimes do not take care of their health, with potentially fatal consequences, it is likely too much to ask them to responsibly manage their online activities. People want plug-and-play PCs and care-free surfing.

So, it is helpful to explain the risks involved. Any talk of security protocols, firewall software or Internet security benchmarks is premature before one realizes the potential risks. People must first understand that they can lose lots of money as well as their good name through cyber crime.

Above all, everyone has to realize that the Internet is a public space. The privacy and security of one’s home does not necessarily extend to the Internet. Clearly, it is not in the interest of the PC makers and sellers to emphasize this. Some public bodies should raise awareness in order to fill this common sense gap. The following three resources are all free!

Resource #1: http://www.cisecurity.com/ is an international, member-sponsored organization. You can read its charter HERE.

Resource #2: I think that the National Cyber Security Alliance raises awareness, but just for those who hear about it. It takes a lot of money and marketing skill to get their message out.

Resource #3: http://www.sans.org/top20/ has information about computer vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit to reach your sensitive information.

Measure 2: REGULATE/LEGISLATE WEB ACCESS POINTS
One cannot rent a car without a driver’s license. One cannot buy a cellular phone without identification. Getting online is not regulated at most Internet cafés. Without such a system of online user-identity, today’s cyber-criminals can go from café to café, or network ‘hotspots’, committing fraud and theft. An IP number trace would provide no useful information.

On the other hand, this measure must be balanced with the idea of increased access to the Internet. An effective measure should not be a barrier to access. Telephone and mail fraud were around for many years before specific laws came into effect to combat them. Al Capone was brought down by stiff laws against mail fraud (and Robert Stack). A Net-savvy criminal needs to face similar laws and penalties.

Resource #4: http://www.mit.gov.in/it-bill.asp. In India, for example, the IT Act of 2000 specifies that identification must be provided at public Web access points. You can download the PDF file of that law HERE.

Resource #5: Read an interesting article about exploiting network ‘hotspots’ HERE. Again, the author is Jon Swartz.

Measure 3: BETTER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY
Almost anything made by people can be circumvented by people. I still think that if ‘next-generation’ technology lives up to its name, the public will benefit. One of the smartest things for public and private Internet security organizations is to hire cyber-criminals. If the penalties are stiff, cyber-criminals would be adequately motivated to cooperate.

Any improvements in security technologies will be defeated in time. This measure deserves attention because it provides another hurdle for criminals to overcome. There are no guarantees, but more is better.

Resource #6: HERE is one company that sells computer security information and security services. There are several private firms that do the same business and the field is growing.

Resources #7 & 8: “Cyber Crime” by Laura E. Quarantiello is one of many, similar hard-copy resources. It was
interesting to learn the new vocabulary words written on her site, but the best resource
I found was http://www.antionline.com/.

Resource #9: I have read, and can recommend, online articles by Symantec. I am one of their customers.

Measure 4: BUNDLED FIREWALLS WITH ALL NEW PCs
This is probably the simplest, most cost-effective measure. Any country can stipulate that firewall software be bundled with new computer sales. This does not mean that used computer sales would have it, but new PC sellers would not want to risk any big fines. With an economy of great scale, the price of firewalls would come down. Consumer awareness of firewalls and their use would go up.

Resource #10: http://www.interhack.net/pubs/fwfaq/ has an in-depth explanation of firewall technology.

Resource #11: I found a simpler, common-sense site at http://www.firewallguide.com/.

Introduction to me!

2005-01-16T23:59:00.000+09:00

I am from China and live with husband in Japan right now. I love traveling, watching movies and tasting new flavors. I have been to Korea, Thailand, the USA and Canada. I really enjoyed those trips. I have so many travel photos online. You can click on the link above. Check it out if you are interested in it. I love American movies. They give me sweet dreams, nightmares and stomachaches. For Chinese people, we live to eat. We taste almost everything that flies in the sky except airplanes and everything with four legs on the ground except tables and chairs. We really enjoy hearty meals with our family and friends. I am a good cook and wish one day you can taste my cooking.

As for writing, it is so powerful and necessary everywhere. Writing can change people's lives. Writing can help you understand yourself more fully and help you achieve your goals. Writing can present ideas to a far-flung audience. Writing can record your feelings and deepest thoughts in a creative way.

Writing is one of the key skills for getting a good job. My goal in taking this course is to improve my ability to write well, which can tip the scales in my favor. I am moving to Toronto late this year. I am preparing for this big change in my life.

Week TWO Workshop

2005-01-16T23:30:00.001+09:00

Below is a sample of my writing for the WEEK TWO writing workshop. It is taken from my JOMC223 class web journal. I am not passionate about very much, but this topic seems important to me. I touched on some of the more important related issues.

Writing sample (November 8th, 2004)

2005-01-16T23:30:00.000+09:00

THE SCOPE OF ONLINE CRIME

I have chosen online theft as my topic. It is a growing, multifaceted problem that touches each of us if only indirectly.

The impetus for this EOTO article came from two articles by Jon Swartz from USA Today (that I read in airport terminals!). You can access his 10/21 (“Crooks slither into Net’s shady nooks and crannies”) and 10/24 (“Home PCs are not as protected as owners think”) articles by searching the USA Today Web site.

SCOPE: MONEY

One’s own money is at risk by people who break into our mail boxes and intercept our Internet communication. Moreover, even if one uses the latest encryption software, the costs of losses may be seen in higher prices for all items. It is just like shoplifting. Everyone pays for it.

According to Swartz, consumers and businesses, such as credit card providers, lost $14 billion to online crime. That was 10 billion for spam, two billion in losses for online merchants and another two billion from individuals who were victims of scams. Loss of confidence and future revenue are harder to gauge.

SCOPE: TREND

One can see that the scope is very large and increasing, according to Ferris Research. Online fraud is surging according to the National Fraud Information Center. Swartz cites FBI statistics and examples to demonstrate the increase in online extortion. What is more disturbing is one trend that has not changed; namely, victims of online crime are unwilling to discuss it. Individuals may be too embarrassed. Large corporations may not want to advertise that their systems were compromised.

On a positive note, legislation and penalties are growing in volume and severity. For example, on October 7, 2004, the U.S. House of Congress passed a law against spyware. International cooperation (e.g., an extradition treaty) is also needed as criminals set up shop in the countries with least legislation.

SCOPE: POTENTIAL ISSUES

Could a cyber-attack close a bank? Could one damage national security? Amit Yoran quit his post as the American national cyber-security chief because these questions were not being dealt with. This follows the departures of Richard Clarke, Rand Beers, and Howard Schmidt. I guess it is not an easy job. In any case, the U.S. is not getting the leadership it deserves.

What is not speculation is that the potential harm is as great as our reliance on computers.

HELPFUL MEASURES

I do not think that this problem will increase unchecked forever. There are solutions to the existing and potential problems that involve forethought and cooperation. In fact, aside from technical aspects, most of the crimes and threats exploit the absence of security measures and cooperation.

No technical solution made by people can avoid defeat by people. There are many possible measures that can contribute in a positive way. I hesitate to use the word ‘solution’ but feel the combination of all the following measures would lead to safer surfing. These four measures seem like common sense to me.

Measure 1: INCREASED AWARENESS

The first solution seems the most effective but may also be the most unrealistic. I immediately think about the difference between the terms ‘safe sex’ and ‘safer sex’. Replace ‘sex’ with ‘Internet use’ and one immediately gets a realistic picture of the limitations of online security. Specifically, one can never be 100% safe from online theft. All one can do is mitigate the risks. Since people sometimes do not take care of their health, with potentially fatal consequences, it is too much to ask them to take care of their online activities. People want plug-and-play PCs and care-free surfing.

Above all, everyone has to realize that the Internet is a public space. The privacy and security of one’s home does not necessarily extend to the Internet. Clearly, it is not in the interest of the PC makers and sellers to emphasize this. Some public bodies should raise awareness and fill the common sense gap. The following three resources are all free!

Resource #1: http://www.cisecurity.com/ is an international, member-sponsored organization. You can read its charter HERE.

Resource #2: I think that the National Cyber Security Alliance raises awareness, but just for those who hear about it. It takes a lot of money and marketing skill to get their message out.

Resource #3: http://www.sans.org/top20/ has information about computer vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit to reach your sensitive information.

Measure 2: REGULATE/LEGISLATE WEB ACCESS POINTS

One cannot rent a car without a driver’s license. One cannot buy a cellular phone without identification. Getting online is not regulated at most Internet cafés. Criminals can go from café to café, or network ‘hotspots’, committing fraud and theft. An IP number trace would provide no useful information.

Resource #5: Read an interesting article about exploiting network ‘hotspots’ HERE. Again, the author is Jon Swartz.

Measure 3: BETTER SECURITY TECHNOLOGY

Anything made by people can be defeated by people. I still think that if ‘next-generation’ technology lives up to its name, the public will benefit. One of the smartest things for international security is to hire cyber-criminals. If the penalties are stiff, the criminals would be suitable motivated to cooperate.

Any improvements in technology will be defeated in time. This measure deserves attention because it provides another hurdle for criminals to overcome. There are no guarantees, but more is better.

Resource #6: HERE is one company that sells computer security information and security services. There are several private firms that do the same business and the field is growing.

Resources #7 & 8: “Cyber Crime” by Laura E. Quarantiello is one of many, similar
hard-copy resources. It was interesting to learn the new vocabulary words written on
her site, but the best resource I found was http://www.antionline.com/.

Resource #9: I have read, and can recommend, online articles by Symantec. I am their customer.

Measure 4: BUNDLED FIREWALLS WITH ALL NEW PCs

This is probably the simplest, most cost-effective measure. Any country can stipulate that firewall software be bundled with new computer sales. This does not mean that used computer sales would have it, but new PC sellers would not want to risk any big fines. With an economy of great scale, the price of firewalls would come down. The awareness of firewalls and their use would go up.

Resource #10: http://www.interhack.net/pubs/fwfaq/ has an in-depth explanation of firewall technology.

Resource #11: I found a simpler, common-sense site at http://www.firewallguide.com/.

Week One

2005-01-16T22:00:00.000+09:00

Exercise 1.1: Here are some samples of cluttered writing. Rewrite the sentences to say the same thing with fewer words, perhaps something you have seen before.

>>Example: The real question that cannot be avoided is whether to be real and true to myself or to remain passive.

>>”To be or not to be, that is the question.”

· People shouldn’t fear anything except being fearful, and we should stick together on this so we can’t be defeated.

---- “Fear nothing, stick together and we cannot lose.”

---- “If we hold on together I know our dreams will never die” (Diana Ross! I think President Roosevelt’s inaugural address is good, too.)

· The male gender is so different from the female gender that it is almost as if the two are from completely different planets altogether.

-----“Men are from Mars; women are from Mercury.”

-----“Men are from Mars; women are from Earth.”

· Before there was anything else, the all-powerful omniscient, omnipresent being of all beings created out of nothing both what we know of today as the earth and that which we do not yet know of – the heavens.

-----“At first, God created everything.”

-----“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (…and thus began the world’s first copyright claim. –It is a joke!)

Exercise 1.2: Write a sentence for each of the words in the pairings of words below. The sentences should illustrate the differences in meaning or nuance in each pairing:

>>Example:

deduce: From the blood on the glove, he deduced that the murderer was left-handed.

infer: By leaving her bloodless glove on the table, she inferred her innocence.

Ambiguous: This statement is ambiguous and cannot easily be interpreted in one way.

Ambivalent: Many people feel ambivalent towards insurance and consider it a necessary evil.

Healthy: Keep healthy by eating well and exercising regularly.

Healthful: Eating healthful green vegetables everyday is a smart thing to do.

Conscience: I have a guilty conscience about what I did.

Conscious: He was conscious of being watched.

Apprise: As soon as he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.

Appraise: It is difficult to appraise the value of old paintings, because their value fluctuates wildly from buyer to buyer.

Disinterested: During a trail, a judge should remain a disinterested party.

Uninterested: He is uninterested in fishing.

Affect: The south of the country was affected by the drought.

Effect: The main effect of the drought was the loss of crops.

Exercise 1.3: Re-write the following two sentences to make them active and descriptive.

Example: I was tired so I finished my work and went up to bed.

>>Exhausted and bleary-eyed, I somehow negotiated the winding staircase, spilling me into my bed. Work would have to wait for a fresh day.

· The labor leaders were frustrated by the latest offer which forced them to go through with the strike.

>>The latest offer forced the labor leaders to go through with their proposed strike. (CNN News)

>>The latest company face slap, delivered with their so-called “offer”, left the labor leaders no alternative except to follow through with the unwanted labor action. (Crossfire)

· She walked into the room without saying a word, sat down and looked at me.

>> I heard the noise of her high-heel shoes becoming louder and louder, coming towards the room. With a thin-lipped smile, she sat down facing me then her eyes locked onto mine.

Exercise 1.4: Think of more clichés – the more the merrierJ. More clichés than you can shake a stick at are found at http://www.copydesk.org/cliches.htm. Here are some clichés that I have heard on TV. I had to check the meaning of most of these because I could not understand.

1. In a basketball game: “Nothing but floor.” (Play on a cliché.)

2. In a movie: “There is no ‘i’ in ‘Team America.’” (Play on a cliché.)

3. Regarding violence: “the body count…” (’Death toll’ is worse. It sounds like a tax to me.)

4. Regarding Iraq: “friendly fire…” (Drew! What do you think of this?)

5. From a vocabulary-building cassette: “The long and the short of it…”

6. Unknown source: “…put the team first…”

Exercise 1.5: Describe the Internet using analogy in two different sentences, each with a different emphasis in meaning.

>>Example: As an information highway, the Internet too often resembles a Los Angeles cloverleaf during rush hour.

>>The Internet is to 2000 what the telephone was to nineteen hundred.
>>The Internet is like traveling without an air ticket.

Be consistent: Parallel structure, verb tenses and singular and plural nouns

Failing to use parallel structure is one of the most common problems in students’ writing. Here are some examples:

Good: One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
Bad: One cannot think well, have love, fall asleep, if dinner was bad.”

Good: Billy likes fielding and hitting.
Bad: Billy likes to field and hitting.

Sentences need to be balanced and faithful to a reader’s subconscious expectations in terms of the physical act of reading. Parts of a sentence with coordinating conjunctions (and, but or for, nor, yet, so) should, therefore, be joined in consistent fashion.

Exercise 1.6: Re-write the following to make them parallel in structure. Examples are available above (Good/Bad comparisons).

· U.S. Airways promises a bounty of flights that are on time, have convenient connections and offer a well-balanced in-flight meal.

>> U.S. Airways promises a bounty of flights that arrive on time, have convenient connections and offer a well-balanced in-flight meal.

>>U.S. Airways promises a bounty of on-time flights with convenient connections and a well-balanced, in-flight meal. (Even better.)

· Heroes in movies are always wealthy, always get the girl, wear high fashion and usually arrive at the scene about two seconds after the bad guy has left.

>> Male heroes in movies always have money, get the girl, wear high fashion but usually arrive at the scene about two seconds after the bad guy has left.

· Speaking of movies, telephones in movies are always knocked over if they wake up a character, never ring more than three times before getting answered, and get restored by frantically tapping on the cradle and shouting, “Hello? Hello?”

>>Speaking of movies, telephones in movies are always knocked over if they wake up a character, usually get restored by frantically tapping on the cradle and shouting, “Hello? Hello?”, but never ring more than three times before getting answered.

This is a test posting...

2005-01-15T20:15:00.000+09:00

I hope this works. Are you reading something here? Yup, it works.

When I was in the U.S.A. last year, I picked up two books about writing:

Writing Clearly: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley, 2004) by Dr. D. Sova
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Well (Alpha Books, 2000) by Dr. L. Rozakis