Friday, December 17, 2004

Fires among the famous.

The original B52s "Love Shack" is a pile of ashes

The cabin was unoccupied and undergoing renovations...building supplies used for the renovation were stolen, which makes the fire suspicious. ...All that's left ... is the burned-out frame and the infamous tin roof.

Damn. I have fond memories involving that song. It was on the radio when-

Er.

Nevermind. No comment.

In lighter news, Jim Carey got to do his "Running in a blind panic like a moron" routine in real life

I get up for the (press) junket today and suddenly my house is burning down, and I'm on the balcony like a damsel screaming with a very high pitched voice ... "No one rescued me, no one came, I had to find my own way out.

And we all wish we could have seen it Jim. We all know exactly how you escaped, and wish we could have seen the look on your face when the drain pipe broke as you shimmied down, landing you in the pool, which was being soaked in by a group of Hell's Angels at a brass knuckle convention.

On a side note, I can say that "Holiday Spice Pepsi" does not have any discernible signs of Holiday Spice. It's Pepsi with a different label.

Tuesday, December 7, 2004

disasterrecoverygroup.com and BLOG SPAM

Well, I now know yet another company to avoid in the grand scheme of things.

disasterrecoverygroup.com

I first heard about them as a result of some BLOG SPAM someone tried to post to my journal at onlineconfessional.com.

IP Address: 193.188.105.9
Name: computer disk retrieval
Email Address: sales@disasterrecoverygroup.com
URL: http://www.disasterrecoverygroup.com
Comments:

the leaders in computer disk retrieval


Now, I filter the posts to that blog, so I just denied it approval. I get a few SPAM posts a day, and have gotten used to just deleting them, but this one was different. The Whois data on the domain name was not only from this country, but looked at least somewhat reasonable!

Registrant:
Disaster Recovery Group (DISASTERRECOVERYGROUP-DOM)
3273 Mohawk Trail
Riverside, CA 92503
US

Domain Name: DISASTERRECOVERYGROUP.COM

Administrative Contact:
Mayer, Sean (SM10052) spmayer@EARTHLINK.NET
Drivetronix
2972 Fillmore St.
Riverside,, CA 92503
US
(909) 785-0833 fax: 999 999 9999

Technical Contact:
(ELN-DA) domainbilling@corp.earthlink.net
EarthLink Network, Inc.
1375 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
US
404-815-0700 fax: - - 626-296-5113

Record expires on 12-May-2008.
Record created on 12-May-1999.
Database last updated on 9-Dec-2004 09:24:32 EST.


So I decided to follow up on this one, especially as I noticed a second such post, identical to the first in content.


--------- Begin Copied Message -------------
From: HalleysComet
Reply-To: HalleysComet
To: sales@disasterrecoverygroup.com, domainbilling@corp.earthlink.net, spmayer@earthlink.net, abuse@disasterrecoverygroup.com
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 09:36:33 -0500
I am writing to complain about the domain name disasterrecoverygroup.com.

They are using BLOG SPAM posts to advertise their site, which is not
an indication of a competent firm, but shysters trying to scan people
into wasting money.

I am very annoyed with such posts, and have to filter the comments to
my web site as a result of such shenanigans.

I am including a copy of the notification I receive of such posts.

All further BLOG posts made to the domain name onlineconfessional.com
or matthewmiller.net will obligate Drivetronix to pay me $100.00 USD
per post, including back payment of $200.00 USD for the two posts that
have already been made.

Making further posts to onlineconfessional.com or matthewmiller.net
will constitute acceptance of this condition.

For the purposes of this document, "Post" is defined as any attempt to
submit a web log entry or comment by any method.
--------- End Copied Message -------------

In very short order, I got a bounced message from spmayer@EARTHLINK.NET, saying the mailbox was full.

Then I got an actual reply, which lead to the following exchange.

--------- Begin Copied Message -------------
From: Disaster Recovery Group
Reply-To: drgsupport@earthlink.net
To: HalleysComet
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 09:16:08 -0800
Subject: RE: Fwd: [Yes, I know it's boring] New Comment Posted to 'Never buying another PalmPilot Again'
Dear Webmaster,

DRG is unaware of any spamming from this company and we are not promoting
our company in that fashion. We do not condone spamming in any sense and
apologize in advance for this problem you are experiencing as we are
looking into this. If you can supply us details of the spammer we will see
what we can do. Most spam is coming from other countries using our name
due to our ranking in the search engines. There is not much we can do
since we are not originating this spam and look forward to any insight you
can supply to remove these spammers.

Best Regards,

Sean Mayer

http://www.DisasterRecoveryGroup.com
Data Recovery Services

t. 951-488-0304
f. 951-488-0224

From: HalleysComet
Reply-To: HalleysComet
To: drgsupport@earthlink.net
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 12:22:36 -0500
Subject: Re: Fwd: [Yes, I know it's boring] New Comment Posted to 'Never buying another PalmPilot Again'

I have already provided all the information I have on the matter.

I did not receive SPAM as an e-mail, but as posts to my web log, the
full details of which I have already provided.

Given the fact that your Internet presence appears to be based almost
entirely on entries in link farms, you can of course understand my
being dubious about your claim of innocence in this matter.

I fail to see how your ranking in search engines would encourage
someone else to flood web logs with SPAM promoting your site. It's a
very weak excuse to say the least.

From: Disaster Recovery Group
Reply-To: drgsupport@earthlink.net
To: HalleysComet
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 10:08:40 -0800
Subject: Re: Fwd: [Yes, I know it's boring] New Comment Posted to 'Never buying another PalmPilot Again'

Dear Webmaster,

I unserstand that you think that we are the ones doing this but please
believe me we are not. Thank you for bringing this to our atttention
though, it does mean a lot.

Best Regards,

Nicole Hubble

http://www.DisasterRecoveryGroup.com
Data Recovery Services

t. 951-488-0304
f. 951-488-0224

From: HalleysComet
Reply-To: HalleysComet
To: drgsupport@earthlink.net
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 13:27:31 -0500
Subject: Re: Fwd: [Yes, I know it's boring] New Comment Posted to 'Never buying another PalmPilot Again'

I have received a third post.

Is anyone at your site using an automated tool to "submit your site to
search engines"?

Have you hired a third party to "boost your search engine ratings"?

Most of the sites and programs offering such services are really just
spewing your domain out at assorted link farms and BLOGS to create an
artificially inflated search engine ranking. If you are sincere in
your claim to be innocent on this matter, then someone you hired to
mange your Internet presence / ranking / placement is making these
posts.

As a side note, such an artificially inflated ranking will be revealed
as such by any potential client who makes the minimal effort to click
on the "Find web pages that link to disasterrecoverygroup.com" link in
Google.

Here is the data on the newest post:

IP Address: 200.121.57.138
Name: computer disk retrieval
Email Address: sales@disasterrecoverygroup.com
URL: http://www.disasterrecoverygroup.com
Comments:
the leaders in computer disk retrieval

--------- End Copied Message -------------

I have yet to hear a reply, or receive any more posts form them.

Normally, I just add a URL or term to my blacklist, but I haven't done that with this one yet. They don't have much of a web presence outside of their site and link farms, so I don't really consider them a reputable firm. Using BLOG SPAM to boost their search ranking is on par with the link farm pages they normally use. It's really a matter of degree.

Right now, I'm assuming that they're using a third party program or service to push their name out to link farms, and that said program or service has started using BLOG SPAM as well as link farm submissions. My main concern is finding out how they're doing this, so I can contact the service or vendor to try and get these absurd SPAM BLOG submissions to stop.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Today, I continue my efforts to look into the assorted Christmas songs floating around the air waves. Those reading my journal who think I've stared with the "Easy" ones will not be surprised by my next choice. I've picked another song whose disturbing imagery and connotations are close to the surface.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
T. Connor (c) 1952


I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.


Well, the twisted aspects of this song start of with a bang. Here we see a small child relating the act of catching his mother in a compromising situation with an individual known to distribute gifts. This is not a good beginning.

She didn't see me creep
down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
up in my bedroom fast asleep.


This is a fairly ordinary image. I defy you to find a single parent who observes a Christmas morning gift exchange who hasn't encountered this situation. Kids are impatient and sneak down to see their presents, it's a fact of life.

Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;


An here things get worse. Not only is there a make out session, but tickling. We're clearly past the level of a casual moment of passion, and into the kind of actions that generally require a certain level of comfort between the parties. This is not the first time this has happened.

Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.


Notice the lack of real consequences for being caught. More on this later.

The glee with which the song is normally sung, combined with the complete lack of shame, makes it clear that the child finds the situation amusing. No indication is ever given that the child suspects Santa is really his Father in disguise, nor does the song indicate if this should be taken as implied. Most listeners imply it themselves.

Now for a moment, assume that this song is one that is written, like most Santa centered Christmas sings, under the assumption that Santa Claus is real. What does it say?

First of all, we have a married woman compromising herself in her own home, while her child is home. This man is known to be married, and is supposed to be visiting a large number of children during this meeting.

The child is young, so we can safely assume he / she is either adopted or the mother is under the age of 45.

Assuming the mother is 24 to 45, we see her kissing and tickling a man who is not only several generations older than her, but fat and elderly, kept alive by magic and enchantment. The best case scenario we're looking at is that she's exchanging flirtation, perhaps sexual favors, for material goods. Literally shagging Santa for a diamond ring or pearl necklace.

But what if this isn't a case of sex for goods? What if, instead of a barter form of prostitution, the mother is genuinely attracted to Santa? We have a woman dallying with a man who was elderly when she herself was an infant. At the very least she has some disturbing fixations regarding older men, often considered a sign of sexual abuse.

And what about Santa? He's kissing, perhaps gaining carnal knowledge of, a woman he's known, at least casually, since the first year of her life. He would have seen her grown up, perhaps receiving and reading her letters throughout her childhood. We are often disturbed by a 50 + Rock Star taking up with a 20 something model, how much more distressing is this situation?

It's not unlike the idea of one of the Sesame Street Cast having an affair with a woman who had been on the show as a child. We would recoil at the thought, especially if the program were still showing skits featuring the two love birds when one was in their 20s and the other around 9.

And why is the child amused at the thought of the Father finding out?

Oh, what a laugh it would have been

Why isn't; the Mother's fidelity taken more seriously?

Let's assume the parents are not in a Poly relationship. The father is either emasculated and unable to take his wife to task for her infidelity, or he himself is so unfaithful that he might be genuinely amused to find out his wife is involved with Santa when he himself is having an affair with his secretary.

And what about another, even more disturbing interpretation?

What if the child and father are both fairly masoganistic? What if the husband is abusive, and the child so twisted by an unhealthy environment that he / she finds the beatings amusing? Is the mother desperately trying to recapture a small fragment of a safe and romanticized childhood, or did she find herself with an abusive husband as a result of the mental damage from being molested by Santa himself?

I think we can all see why the general interpretation is to assume that Santa is in fact the father in disguise, and the child probably knows.

Earthlink, useless wastes of skin

Welcome to Earthlink LiveChat. Your chat session will begin shortly.

Not at home and you want to read your email? With EarthLink Web Mail you can check your email from any computer with an internet connection!

'Darrell P' says: Thank you for contacting EarthLink LiveChat, how may I help you today?
halleyscomet: I attempted to contact DISASTERRECOVERYGROUP.COM through the information on their whois record, and found that their e-mail address and FAX number are invalid. I received a bounced message from spmayer@EARTHLINK.NET They are subjecting my site to BLOG SPAM to advertise their services, and my attempts to complain about this behavior has gone unheard, because of their invalid Whois data.
halleyscomet: Earthlink is their Registrar, which is why I'm trying to contact Earthlink
halleyscomet: Where do I go to report invlid whois data to Earthlink for the sites they
Darrell P: Please hold on, while I go through the issue.
halleyscomet: Where do I go to report invalid whois data for Earthlink registered domains?
Darrell P: If you registered ti through EarthLink, you can send email to domainhelp@earthlink.net to update the domain information or call our Web Hosting Technical Support: 800-955-0186 (24 Hours / 7 Days a Week).
halleyscomet: It's not my domain
halleyscomet: It's a domaon that's sending me abusive content
Darrell P: The steps below will guide you through configuring Outlook Express for EarthLink:

1. Open Outlook Express
2. From the Tools menu, choose Accounts.
3. Click on the Mail tab.
4. Click the Add button.
5. Select Mail in the list.
6. In the Display name field, type your name
7. Click the Next button.
8. Select I already have an e-mail address that I'd like to use.
9. In the E-mail address field, type your email address.
10. Click the Next button.
11. Click the down arrow on the "My incoming mail server is a..." drop-down list and choose POP3.
12. In the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP, or HTTP) server field, type in your POP Server name. If you are unsure which server name you should use, please visit http://support.earthlink.net/support/BROWSEHELP/email/ (clicking on the link will open the page in a new window, so you will not lose this chat session).

13. In the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server field, type in your SMTP Server name. If you are unsure which server name you should use, please visit http://support.earthlink.net/support/BROWSEHELP/email/ (clicking on the link will open the page in a new window, so you will not lose this chat session).

14. Click the Next button.
15. In the Account name field, type your mailboxname
16. In the Password field, type your password
17. Check the box next to Remember password if you want to save your password. Do NOT select Secure Password Authentication.
18. Click the Next button.
19. Click the Finish button.
20. Click the Close button.

If you would like a copy of these instructions emailed to you, the option will be presented in the survey that appears when you close this chat window. You can then review the email via http://www.earthlink.net/webmail. Of course, if you have any further questions, please feel free to ask them before closing this window. #PFR#/DUT/Ema/PC/OE5-6/Config
Darrell P: I am sorry, please ignore the above.
halleyscomet: I will.
halleyscomet: I'm not an Earthlink customer, but one of your customers is sending me abusive content through BLOG posts.
Darrell P: If you want to report any issue, you can report it to our abuse department at abuse@abuse.earthlink.net
halleyscomet: I tried.
halleyscomet: I got a message abounce back that I didn't send them enough data
halleyscomet: All I want to do is report invalid whois data.
halleyscomet: Most the other registrars I've seen have a web interface for doing so that actually works.
Darrell P: We are only the resellers, the domain name seems to be registered with http://www.networksolutions.com
Darrell P: Please contact them to resolve it with them.
halleyscomet: Thank you, that's all I needed to know
Darrell P: You're welcome and thank you for using EarthLink LiveChat. Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us again.
Chat session has been terminated by the site operator.