Blog News Archive
January 27, 2008
Kill The Wiki?
Posted by QBlog
Should the Quixtar Wiki be killed? As much as I'd love to see this collaborative website flourish I recognize that without regular attention and management, it's become a link-spam magnet and a bit of an embarrassment.
A quick glance at the recent changes reveals lots of activity but virtually all of it related to spammers and link bots.
So, my inclination is to kill the thing because I don't have the time to manage the site and nobody else is knocking down the door volunteering to manage it for me. However, if you think I should keep the site up please let me know why and maybe provide some solutions for the current spam problems.
I have thought of some tougher wiki software that does a better job of blocking out the spammers but the site is still left needing someone to populate it with content and frankly, that's a lot of work. But if there's someone who really wants to take this on then speak up and we'll work something out. There's certainly a need for a robust, data-driven independently run website out there about Quixtar, Amway and MLMs because it looks like Scott Larsen is still managing his unweildy AmQuix site with basic HTML and lots of free time.
November 17, 2007
Back to Business
Posted by Truth
It's been quite a break from writing here but things will be picking up. Things have been busy for me but in a very good way. There were and still are many ambitions that I needed to take time out to pursue and because of that, I wanted to find out if I really wanted to keep on blogging in addition to all the other things I had and would have going on. So in accordance with Qblog's advice in one of his Blogging 101 posts I took a hiatus to see if I would get an itch to keep blogging. At first it seemed as if I was done since I didn't find the need to check the sites or read the message boards. Even after the TEAM fiasco (which I think is friggin hilarious, more on that later) I didn't feel the itch to write.
But as of late the itch to blog has just kept getting stronger so I know I need to get back into the business of blogging. As far as my blog (Quixtar Inside Out) I will no longer post there. I feel Quixtar Blog is really the main hub of much Quixtar discussion and it was the community I was a part of long before I started my own blog. So because of that I will spend my time keeping this blog active with posts and getting comments approved as quick as possible so discussions can go on spam free.
So check back more often as there will actually be something here to read. I won't be able to control if you will like what you read or not, but you can always leave a comment to tell me how much it sucked, and that should help some.
June 25, 2007
The End
Posted by QBlog
Is this the end?
I received a call a few days ago about Quixtar changing its name back to Amway. My initial reaction was to mutter, "it's about damn time."
My second reaction was an observation that there won't be much use for a "Quixtar BLOG" once the whole thing shifts back to Amway. Amwayblog.com is already owned by Ty Tribble so I won't be shifting my attentions to Amway. And would I really want to anyway? Probably not.
For those regular readers who've stuck around the Quixtar BLOG you're already familiar with my lack of participation in the thing that I created a few years ago. Life has demanded that I pour my energies elsewhere and I've eagerly followed those demands to satisfy my ambitions.
Yet, as I've pulled back from this blog (and the forum, wiki and podcast) I continue to think that one day I'll return and dive back into that fascinating world of the "Great Quixtar Debate." And so I leave the door open, refusing to end the thing that's taught me so much about my life's true passion — the World Wide Web.
But perhaps Quixtar, Alticor and Amway are going to end it for me? Perhaps flipping their crappy MLM back to the old Amway brand will be the end of this blog as well.
What do you think?
January 15, 2007
No Comment
Posted by QBlog
It appears that something has happened to the comments on this blog. They all seem to remain in place but they're missing from my database. Not good.
So, while I track down this issue and look for a solution comments will be disabled.
UPDATE: All fixed now. Thanks Preston.
December 25, 2006
Mary Chris Mess
Posted by QBlog
Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!
December 2, 2006
Not For Sale!
Posted by QBlog
Someone called me a few days ago and offered to buy this website.
"Would you be interested in selling Quixtar BLOG," said the energetic voice crackling through my Bluetooth headest.
"No," was my immediate reply.
I didn't ask for a price. Didn't ask to hear details of the offer. I simply explained that I love this site and that just because I've neglected it a bit lately doesn't mean I want to abandon it. Not now. Not ever.
And honestly I don't feel like it's my site anymore. The various ads on the site pay for the hosting fees, domain costs and other expenses so it's not a burden to my wallet. And friends with more technical savvy than me often help out when the server misbehaves so it's not a burden on my schedule.
And of course I'm not the only person posting on this blog. David Robison, Drew and Preston all contribute great content. And then there's archived contributions from many others. And I haven't even mentioned all the comments that people have left.
No way. This isn't my site to sell. This is YOUR site to use. And even as my role on this site has declined the Quixtar BLOG continues to thrive and evolve because it's more than just me — it's a community. It's your community.
And speaking of communities, what about the Forum? That's a real, thriving community and Lindy does a fine job of moderating it when I don't have the time.
Your Site
No folks. This is your site and it isn't for sale. My promise to you is that it will continue in the manner it started — freely sharing information, perceptions and discussions about Quixtar.
Guess Who?
To make this fun, I'll let you guess who it was that offered to buy this site. Here are the rules:
- Only one guess
- Guess must be accompanied by a real email address
- The person who made the offer can't guess
- If I already told you then you can't guess
- You must guess someone specific. You can't just say, "That person with the red hair."
The winner receives a T-Shirt from the QBlog store. Let the guessing begin!
And The Winner Is...
Shawn Cannon correctly guessed who offered to buy this silly little website and so he wins a T-Shirt. The correct answer of course is Ty Tribble formerly of Amway, then Quixtar, then Passport, then Oasis LifeSciences and now Univera LifeSciences. Ty offered to buy the site (not just the fairly worthless domain name) and he's stated on his blog that his offer still stands. Well isn't that nice?
So, what am I to do? Well, I'll counter offer of course. I officially and publicly offer to buy Ty Tribble's MLM Blog website as well as Amway Blog. Both would look nice next to Quixtar BLOG, Quixtar BLOG Forum, QBlog Radio, the Quixtar Wiki, Quixtar Chatter and the Quixtar BLOG shop.
Congrats to Shawn Cannon for correctly guessing Ty Tribble.
November 6, 2006
Long Overdue
Posted by QBlog
Hi folks. You remember me? I'm the guy that introduced Quixtar to blogging nearly four years ago.
This Wednesday, November 8, 2006, marks the four year anniversary of the Quixtar BLOG and my goodness how things have changed.
But I'm not writing to reminisce about the last four years, I'm writing about the future. You know, that sparkly-hopeful thing the dreamers talk about in wistful tones while smiling blankly and muttering lines from Hallmark cards.
I'm kidding. Not THAT future! I'm really writing about the future where we all have jet packs, bionic legs, flying cars and microchips in our brains and everyone who's anyone wears matching unitards.
Ack! Again I kid. Sorry, it's just that the jokes keep coming.
Seriously
Ok, now I just inserted a "seriously" sub-heading so I MUST comply. The future I'm writing about is with regards to this blog. Now do I have your attention? Good.
As the observant have noticed, I haven't been writing much on the Quixtar BLOG lately. As I stated back in June, some things have changed in my life and I've had to move the Quixtar BLOG down on my priority list. I'd hoped that others (Drew, Preston and Tom) would pick up the pace while I lagged but... well... that hasn't really happened. In fact, Tom's now moved on to other things and David Robison has graciously stepped in.
However, there's just not been a lot of posting activity on the blog of late and I feel bad about that. I'm not complaining about any of the other Quixtar BLOG authors, in fact I thank them for the time and energy they've given to this blog, but I'm just acknowledging that this blog hasn't developed quite the way I'd hoped it would since I scaled back my involvement.
What To Do?
So about the future. This blog will continue. David, Drew and Preston all will continue to post when they have something to post about and I'll pop in when I can. Sometimes I will have more time. Other times I'll have less time. I just want you to know that I'm not abandoning this blog and I appreciate all who've continued to visit and contribute over the years.
And the Forum will continue. And so will the wiki. The QBlog Radio will remain but I won't be having new shows regularly. The old shows are pretty good so be sure to check them out.
And I do have a long list of posts to get to and I will try to fit them in when I can. There's a pretty cool one just about ready to publish on January first. I won't say who it's about but if you check your calendars and Quixtar's rule 6.5 then you may be able to figure it out.
Thanks!
So, thanks for stopping by and sorry there's not more "recent" stuff to offer. Wish I could promise more was coming soon but I'll settle for "some is coming sometime."
August 27, 2006
Upgraded Blog Software
Posted by QBlog
I just upgraded the blog software to the latest version. If you notice problems or bugs please send an email to webraw@gmail.com. Thanks.
August 15, 2006
Introducing David Robison
Posted by QBlog
As Tom (aka Xanadustc) retires from blogging I am pleased to welcome another skilled blogger to the Quixtar BLOG lineup. David Robison, the man behind On The Road With Dave, has graciously agreed to add his whit and wisdom to the QBlog each week.
You may remember Dave from the March of Perceptions last year where he shared his perspectives as a Quixtar IBO. Now he's back and here to stay!
Let's learn a little bit more about Dave.
Since 2004, Dave Robison has been the author of "On The Road With Dave".
Dave regularly writes about MLM and his experiences as a Quixtar IBO. His honest and forthright opinions on being a Quixtar IBO has earned him a reputation as "the critic's choice" as he cites both positive and negative aspects of the MLM industry, while staying decidedly "pro-Quixtar".
Dave maintains a regular 8-5 "J-O-B" with a medical equipment company and enjoys his work. Dave is also a part-time stand-up comedian and is pursuing "open-mics" and corporate work in his area.
Dave holds a degree in Journalism and Public Relations.
Please join me in welcoming Dave.
June 20, 2006
Sipping Lemonade
Posted by QBlog
The old saying explains that if life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade. But what should one do when life serves up lemonade? I say, "Drink it!"
Some regular readers have noticed that my blogging activity has declined over the past couple of weeks. The reason — I've been drinking lots of lemonade (metaphorically speaking).
So, while I'm busy drinking all this lemonade I don't have nearly as much spare time to devote to this blog. I'll still be around but I won't be posting quite as often as before. Preston, Tom and Drew are doing a wonderful job of keeping the QBlog tradition alive and well.
And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
May 30, 2006
Are You Listening?
Posted by QBlog
Yes, I produce a weekly podcast called QBlog Radio. I've mentioned it before (and it's linked in the main navigation under "podcast") but I want to draw your attention to the most recent production because it addresses some of the Oral Arguments in the Nitro Distributing v. Alticor case. Also, I think it's a darn good podcast.
Not sure about podcasts? Relax. It's just an mp3 file. Find out more from the "How to Listen to Podcasts" page.
I prefer that listeners subscribe to the podcast via iTunes but if you simply refuse to be cool then listen to it the old fashioned way by just downloading the mp3 here:
» Download QBlog Radio Podcast - 55 (31.7 MB mp3)
I don't normally mention the QBlog Radio podcast on the Quixtar BLOG because I want the podcast to complement the Quixtar BLOG, not substitute for content. However, occassionally there are productions that I feel need to be highlighted to readers of this blog who may not take the time to explore the QBlog Radio podcast.
May 18, 2006
LawDawg Says Farewell
Posted by QBlog
The guy known as LawDawg exits the exciting online Quixtar conversation. He's leaving his blog up and all his posts are still available on the Quixtar BLOG Forum but he's "retiring" from the discussion.
Take it easy Mr. Dawg.
May 3, 2006
The Big Announcement
Posted by QBlog
I began Quixtar BLOG November 8, 2002, as a way to express my "tale of living with someone who is in Quixtar." After my wife ended her IBO activity the blog evolved into "just one man's perceptions" and I felt it was important to maintain that singular voice even when showcasing other voices on the blog with guest bloggers, contributing writers and special projects.
However, I realize that the blog has continued to evolve and grow beyond just "one man's perceptions." The redesign reflects those changes with the incorporation of a new slogan — Information - Perceptions - Discussion (the old slogan was "Just one man's perceptions"). But the changes don't end there. After nearly four years of running this blog by myself I'm now thrilled to announce the addition of three new bloggers to the Quixtar BLOG.
The Quixtar BLOG Team
Many of you may already be familiar with the new additions to the Quixtar BLOG because each has a blog of his own.
- Tom Murosky is the author of the amazingly detailed Standing Order Tape blog and has an impressive understanding of the Brit Worldwide motivational business.
- Preston Gallwas runs the Quixtar Demons blog and is an administrator at the Quixtar Wiki.
- Drew Bahn operates the Quixtar Inside Out blog and produces the wonderful Quixtar Inside and Out Radio.
I'll post complete biographies for each of the new Quixtar BLOG authors on the About page very soon.
Why?
The new authors will help expand the reach of Quixtar BLOG in ways that I couldn't do on my own. I've come to the realization that I can't keep up with the evolution of this blog without some help. Drew, Preston and Tom provide that help and add new experiences and perspectives to the blog.
I guess I can best answer the "why?" question by stating that this blog has become bigger than me and I need others to help me manage it as it continues to evolve. I know it sounds like I'm talking about some living creature but frankly, sometimes it feels like this blog has a life of its own.
Changes
As we discussed this new collaboration we debated what to do about the money generated by the BlogAds, Google Ads and Merchandise sales. If any remained after expenses and site improvements we decided to take that money and invest it in marketing this blog.
Instead of pocketing the money (if any) or donating it to some cause we will be purchasing ad space on other sites to make people aware of the Quixtar BLOG. We're not trying to make money, just spread the word. I feel strongly that to maintain the integrity of this site it's important that none of the participants are making a profit from the blog, including me.
What Does This Mean?
All this means that the Quixtar BLOG is less about me, Eric Janssen, and more about the information, perceptions and discussion contained within its virtual walls.
Yes, it's still my site, I pay the bills and am responsible for killing comment spam, updating templates and all the other tasks that come with running a site. But hopefully my personality, while ever present, will recede into the background just a bit and the personality of this "ever-evolving" blog will step up into the foreground just a little.
That's the "Big Announcement." Please hang around to see what the rest of 2006 has in store for the Quixtar BLOG.
XHTMLized Kicks Ass
Posted by QBlog
Well, the blog redesign is done for the most part. There are some non-blog pages like the News page, the About page and the Resources page that still need the new template but I can handle that later. The tough work is done and I owe it all to a little service called XHTMLized.
What is XHTMLized?
First I'll explain why I ended up contacting the good folks at XHTMLized. I built this new design back in January and had every intention of converting that design to an XHTML template (what is XHTML?). However, my strength is not in coding elegant markup and I needed a lot of time to build the site templates, time I frankly didn't have.
So, I turned to a friend who codes wonderful XHTML and does freelance work. He agreed to take the job but his busy schedule produced continued delays and setbacks instead of a QBlog template. He saw a reference to XHTMLized on Signal vs. Noise (a blog about design and functionality) and recommended that I look into their service. I followed his recommendation and have never been happier with a site template.
XHTMLized took my graphic design and turned it into an exact XHTML version of that design. If you appreciate clean and professionally structured code then view the source of this page. Better yet, check out the Style Sheet. It actually makes sense! A thing of beauty.
Reasonable Prices
I was also really impressed with their pricing. They don't charge an arm and a leg so people like me can afford the XHTMLized service. If you have a design and you don't have the time or the skills to build your own template then I encourage you to contact the folks at XHTMLized and get an estimate.
And no, they aren't paying me to pimp their service and I'm not getting a discount or anything for saying this. I'm really, really impressed with them and want you to know about it. I'm extremely happy with the new look of Quixtar BLOG and I think you will be too if you're not already.
April 30, 2006
Making Sausage
Posted by QBlog
"People who enjoy eating sausage and obeying the law should not watch either being made" - Otto von Bismarck
Right now visitors to the Quixtar BLOG are getting to see a bit of Web sausage being made. The site redesign is nearly complete but some issues still remain and rather than roll back to the old template I'm moving forward and fixing things on the live site.
I'm going to be honest, this is very frustrating for me. I absolutely hate that things aren't displaying as I want them to and I'm working with the template coders to get this fixed as quickly as possible (I'll tell you more about them later - I hope). So I'm putting my frustration aside and will get back to the regular posting schedule that many of you have become so familiar with over the past months.
But first, I'll explain what's yet to be completed so you'll know what's been identified as a problem and what will be fixed over the next few days. Much of the changes and tweaks are based on your feedback so I appreciate that input.
The Blog Ad in the right rail will be centered and not break the templateDone!-
A leaderboard sized Google Ad will be placed at the top of the page where you are now seeing a broken page or a blank space, depending on your browserDone! -
The right rail content is currently displaying at the bottom of the page in Internet Explorer (the worst browser in the world) and this will be fixedDone! -
The size of the text will be largerDone! Comments are currently separated by a horizontal rule and some similar separation method will be employedDone!
That's pretty much it. Again, thanks for your patience. When all this is done it will be worth the hassle.
UPDATE: Big Announcement delayed until Tuesday night.
April 25, 2006
Constructive Criticism
Posted by QBlog
As you may have noticed, this site has undergone a redesign. It's not 100% complete as I still need to make some tweaks, minor adjustments and retemplating of non-blog powered pages.
So, here's your chance to offer some constructive criticism (aka suggestions) about the redesign. Keep in mind that some things are simply broken and will be fixed when I have time. Your feedback is welcomed.
And lastly, I'll have to delay the "big announcement" for another couple of days while I get everything straightened out.
Thanks for your patience.
UPDATE: Your feedback and patience is appreciated. Everything will be tweaked and ready to go for Monday and then I can give the much teased "Big Announcement."
Again, thanks for your patience.
UPDATE II: More setbacks. Looks like much is out of alignment on the right rail in Windows versions of IE. Also, I'm very aware of the Blog Ad being out of position. Thanks for pointing that out. It's obviously NOT going to stay there and we're trying to find out how to fix it.
April 23, 2006
Changes Coming Soon
Posted by QBlog
I promise this isn't a tease, the new site design is just about ready to go live. I've been working on this thing since January and busy schedules, workflow setbacks and other things have held up the implementation. However, it's almost ready to roll.
So, if you notice the site looking different, that's why. Also, some things may not work correctly for a day or two after the redesign so be patient.
And finally, after the redesign I have a big announcement to make so stay tuned for that. Yes, that is a tease.
April 11, 2006
Moving On
Posted by QBlog
Last week I was updating my "Recommended Blogs" links (on the right side of the page) as well as the feeds on the QBlog News page and realized that a lot of the so-called Quixtar critic blogs have ceased publication while several of the "pro-Quixtar" blogs keep plodding along.
Some blogs on hiatus that have been critical of Quixtar in the past:
- LawBlawg
- Quixtar Sucks
- Sinking in Quixand
- Want To Know More
- Quixtar-Amway Infiltrator UPDATE - Blog author promises more posts soons
Of the blogs who have a generally favorable view of Quixtar, On The Road With Dave is probably the oldest and most consistent. Others that have been around and keep on trucking include:
- Quixtar Success
- Business Opportunities World - Formerly Instant-Franchise
- Quixtar IT Blog
- Qrush Quixtar Blog
I suppose I should also include the Google Bombing blogs but they just seem so phony, useless and annoying — like spam.
And there's a new pro-Quixtar blog that's definitely worth mentioning. Unquixotic Enterprises is unlike any "pro-Quixtar" blog I've encountered. The author is prolific, well-spoken and seemingly honest about his (or her) personal achievement in Quixtar. That's not to say other "pro-Quixtar" bloggers aren't prolific, well-spoken and honest but... there's just something different about this blog that I can't quite put my finger on.
Three Blogs To Watch
Last September I highlighted "Five Blogs To Watch" and of those five, only two are consistently posting though one has a post from yesterday. The two remaining are joined by a third not on that original list of five:
- Standing Order Tape
- Quixtar Demons
- New addition Quixtar Inside Out
Moving On?
I guess what I'm noticing is that some people just need to move on while others, like me, just keep plodding along. And some people feel that I should move on. They feel so strongly that they send in emails telling me that they think it's time to kill the blog.
name: Pepe
date: March 22, 2006
message: Dear QBlog,
I am really thankful to you because I discovered you at the right point of time and I successfully freed myself from quixtar. This happened in March 2004. I am following this blog since that point of time. But, as of today, I think it's time to kill this blog and leave it open as an archive.
Thanks Pepe but, while it may be hard for some to understand, I really do enjoy posting on this blog. My plan is to continue blogging as long as it's fun for me and right now, it's still fun so I'll continue. While some of the so-called Quixtar critics seem to be hanging up their spurs and moving on, this blogger (the original Quixtar Blogger I might add) will keep plodding along, hoping that others (pro-Quixtar and Quixtar critics alike) will join me in this little space of the web I call home.
April 11, 2006 - Updated this post just a bit to make it really sappy.
April 7, 2006
Google Analytics
Posted by QBlog
I now have Google Analytics and you don't.
And if you do have Google Analytics then join me in saying, "Holy Crap that's awesome!"
UPDATE: Google Analytics is not like Gmail when it first launched. I don't have any invites to dole out. You must go to Google and put your email on their waiting list, just like I did. If I had any, I'd give them to you but I don't. Sorry.
April 1, 2006
Confession Time
Posted by QBlog
APRIL FOOL!
The following post is part of an April Fool's Day prank. None of it is true, which is sort of the point of April Fool's Day... you know... to fool people.
Last year I had the site redirect to Quixtar.com for most of the day. And in 2004 I said the site was shutting down. I didn't have anything for 2003 but I'm planning something truly spectacular for 2007. See you next year.
I've been getting a lot of inquiries regarding the decline in updates to this blog and I feel that it's time I come clean on several important matters. Certain events have transpired that allow me much more latitude with how I handle previously confidential information.
Money From Quixtar
Since April of 2005 I've been receiving funds from Quixtar as part of their online Public Relations strategy. Quixtar representatives approached me a few months prior and revealed that part of their web marketing strategy was to place so-called "critical" websites in search engine results.
Yeah, it sounded crazy to me too but as I kept and open mind, and listened to the strategy, it made a lot more sense. Quixtar uses sites like mine to keep certain "rogue elements" in check. What are those "rogue elements?" I can't say but if you look to the IBOAI, you won't be far off the mark. When a "rogue element" needs a little reprimand, certain information finds its way to my inbox and ends up online.
So, Quixtar compensated my efforts and allowed me to post pretty much anything I wanted so the blog would maintain the appearance of impartial reporting. There were other aspects of the arrangement that I don't feel comfortable going into right now but let's just say it's no accident this blog is so highly ranked in Google and Yahoo.
Qrush Blog
Some of you have correctly guessed that I am the author of the Qrush Blog. I originally created it to create an antagonist for this blog but recently, with some cooperation with Quixtar, it's evolved into something more targeted. I think you can guess its new purpose but suffice it to say, that's me behind the Qrush curtain. I just felt you should know.
My Feelings
I don't feel particularly proud of my work with Quixtar and that's partly why I'm coming clean today. I recently severed all relationships with Quixtar and have decided to move in a new direction. They asked me to start blogging favorably about Dick DeVos and his gubernatorial campaign. I had to draw the line somewhere and so I declined. Then my conscience hit me and I knew that I had to end it all and come clean.
So now you know. I'm able to tell you some of this because I never signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement. However, I can't reveal everything just yet because there are still a few unresolved issues. Once those are resolved, possibly by Sunday, I'll tell you more.
Thanks for understanding and see what others understand.
March 17, 2006
Quixtar Wiki Needs YOU!
Posted by QBlog
Yes, it's true. I started the Quixtar Wiki. But as with any wiki, it requires a community of dedicated contributors to grow. Many thanks to Mevi for his tireless efforts to nuture the Quixtar Wiki. It's a great start.
Now the Quixtar Wiki needs you. That's right, this is a call to action. We need you to join the Quixtar Wiki and add your contribution. The more people who participate, the better the wiki becomes.
Is it hard?
Editing a wiki is easy. The Quixtar Wiki uses the same software that powers the wonderful Wikipedia so if you're familiar with that, then you know how to edit the Quixtar Wiki. If you have any questions just email Mevi and he'll be glad to help.
But I don't know what to say!
Don't worry. Just say what you know. Let's say you know a little bit about XS Energy drinks. You do a search for XS and if no page is returned, click the "create an article with this title" link. Then type in what you know and you're done. It's that easy.
I just like to read, not write.
Well now is the time to write, just a little. We really want to the Quixtar Wiki to be the most comprehensive source of Quixtar information in the world. But we need you to help.
This sounds like you're begging for help!
We are! But seriously, it's not too difficult and you might find that you really enjoy the wiki experience. I mean, a wiki is what the web was always intended to be - a collaborative effort to provide valuable information that anyone can contribute to. That's pretty cool.
So get off your duff and get over to the Quixtar Wiki and show us what you got.
QBlog Status Report
Posted by QBlog
The new site template is coming along but it's been delayed because I've been extremely busy. But it will be implemented sooner rather than later.
While I haven't been posting much here I have been putting up a podcast every week at QBlog Radio. That whole thing is actually growing and I recently implemented a message service.
If you want to call in and leave some comments for QBlog Radio call 312-884-7737. There's a two minute limit on each message so if you want to talk more than two minutes, just call right back. So far we've heard from Rocket, Michael (a fellow podcaster), David Robison and someone named Ryan.
What should you talk about? Anything you like. Don't be shy, just call 312-884-7737 and get yourself on QBlog Radio. It's as easy as dialing a phone.
March 7, 2006
Die Mike Furir
Posted by QBlog
There seems to be an aggressive comment spam campaign hitting lots of blogs right now. My Wordpress blog is getting slammed and of course this one (running Movable Type) is under attack. The name used in each comment is Mike Furir followed by some random number. I'm not sure how this spam is dodging my spam filter but it is and it's really annoying.
Maybe it's time to switch on the authentication?
UPDATE: I won't be implementing authentication right now but it looks like I'm not the only person being attacked by "Mike Furir." Check out the Google results for "Mike Furir". That's some spam baby.
UPDATE II: Jake Ludington hates Mike Furir too. Die Mike Die!
UPDATE III: Not sure if this helps anything but here's a sample comment from Mike Furir.
name:Mike Furir 80
email: test@t26test.com
url: http://t26est.com
comment: Mike Furir Mike 26
UPDATE IV: I just discovered that I can control Mike Furir spam in Movable Type 3.2 by going to settings/plugins and then SpamLookup - Keyword Filter "Show Settings." Cool!
Other Sites That Hate Mike Furir
- Miss Zoot
- It's a Soul Thing
- Mike Furir Needs To Die
- Mike Furir is a big f**king idiot
- They Never Learn
- Killing Spam
Die Mike Furir
Posted by QBlog
There seems to be an aggressive comment spam campaign hitting lots of blogs right now. My Wordpress blog is getting slammed and of course this one (running Movable Type) is under attack. The name used in each comment is Mike Furir followed by some random number. I'm not sure how this spam is dodging my spam filter but it is and it's really annoying.
Maybe it's time to switch on the authentication?
UPDATE: I won't be implementing authentication right now but it looks like I'm not the only person being attacked by "Mike Furir." Check out the Google results for "Mike Furir". That's some spam baby.
UPDATE II: Jake Ludington hates Mike Furir too. Die Mike Die!
UPDATE III: Not sure if this helps anything but here's a sample comment from Mike Furir.
name:Mike Furir 80
email: test@t26test.com
url: http://t26est.com
comment: Mike Furir Mike 26
UPDATE IV: I just discovered that I can control Mike Furir spam in Movable Type 3.2 by going to settings/plugins and then SpamLookup - Keyword Filter "Show Settings." Cool!
Other Sites That Hate Mike Furir
- Miss Zoot
- It's a Soul Thing
- Mike Furir Needs To Die
- Mike Furir is a big f**king idiot
- They Never Learn
- Killing Spam
February 25, 2006
QBlog Radio on TiVo
Posted by QBlog
I love TiVo. Sometimes I wish it was more like Myth TV but overall I love its simplicity and performance. I can't wait until TiVo Series 3 is released. But until then, I'm still enjoying my TiVo and now I enjoy it even more because it supports podcasts.
With the latest TiVo service upgrade I can now check Yahoo! Weather, listen to Live 365 Internet Radio and download podcasts like Diggnation, Open Source and QBlog Radio!
Tonight I listened to QBlog Radio on my TiVo. I know, it's better on an iPod but it's still cool that you can stream podcasts on your broadband connected TiVo. Below are a few photos I took of QBlog Radio on TiVo. If you want to add it to your TiVo go to "Enter A URL" and input http://www.qblogradio.com/?feed=rss2 and click "Find a Podcast."
If you aren't regularly listening to the irregular QBlog Radio then now's the time to start. Just tune in your TiVo and let the fun begin!
February 13, 2006
Scarce
Posted by QBlog
I haven't had a lot of time to post to this blog lately because I've been mired in building a redesign and dealing with some other projects. It's busy times like this that I like to remind everyone about the Blog Archives.
There's over three years of content on this blog and some of it is really good if you just spend some time to dig through. And don't be afraid to use the search tool. It's parked over on the right side of the site.
To get this started I'll share what I was talking about on this day in 2004. Bill's Opinions explains a blog post I found that discusses Bill's opinions of Quixtar.
So go archive diving and share what you find!
February 7, 2006
Redesign Development
Posted by QBlog
I'm in the process of redesigning this site. The new design will be significantly different than this design but it's still a work in progress. You can help that progress by pointing out design elements and features of other blogs that you like.
Also, the creepy glaring eyes at the top of the page will be gone.
Thanks.
UPDATE: The redesign work continues and I've decided to toss in an homage to the creepy eyes. Basically, I'm putting eyes in the design but they're not so creepy.
And please, continue to offer design suggestions. You can help determine the way the new site looks.
February 1, 2006
Sever Problems No Surprise
Posted by QBlog
Well, again with the server problems. New hosts. Slimmer database (reduced from about 145 MB to barely 45 MB). Latest version of Movable Type. And yet there's still problems. Who's to blame? I don't know. It's just frustrating and I'm really thinking of turning this blog into a "why I hate running websites" blog.
The problem is that the server is timing out when people comment. This is really annoying. There are other problems but this is the one site visitors would be familiar with.
We're working on it. You may see some tests posts while we trouble-shoot. Ignore those please.
Thanks.
January 27, 2006
I Give Up
Posted by QBlog
No Help Desk™ today as I try to stay sane during yet another server issue. Many complained about database connection errors on the Quixtar BLOG Forum and one solution was to move some things around.
I reluctantly agreed to do this knowing that, in my experience, these things never go smoothly. And of course, everything is screwed up.
The move didn't work. The Forum is now missing data and not allowing me to insert new data. It's all one giant foul-up.
This is a giant headache that I really don't need. Yes, I'm bitching and whining but I'm sick of dealing with all this crap and need to vent somehow.
I just want things to work. If it costs more money, I'll pay. And thanks for your recommendations of other services but I don't want to move again. That was a nightmare that I don't want to repeat and I'm convinced that it's the rule rather than the exception.
When half the time I spend on this site is fixing things, troubleshooting problems and optimizing the site then I really feel I've got a problem.
Just call me frustrated.
UPDATE: My host has done the move for me and it seems to have worked well except that a few of the most recent posts were lost. For now, I'm satisfied and I don't have to think about it again.
Does anyone want to be the QBlog DBA? The pay is lousy but the rewards are... well... also lousy. You'll get a cool QBlog T-Shirt!
January 26, 2006
Three Years and Counting
Posted by QBlog
During the migration mess in November I totally forgot about this blog's three year anniversary. And then all the Holiday Craziness further delayed an anniversary post. But now I'm taking the time to say that on November 8, 2002, I published my first entry on the Quixtar BLOG. It was one of those lame "welcome" posts but it was the first and I guess that somehow makes it special.
The second post dealt with Quixtar's "Image Issue" and was a little more interesting.
And oddly enough, the posts kept coming. The pace was slow at first, a couple of entries each week, but it wasn't long before I was publishing at least one entry per day. That grueling pace yielded a lot of posts (1208), even more comments (14,005) and quite a few memorable moments (some fun, others not so fun).
To commemorate the three year Quixtar BLOG anniversary I've compiled a list of memorable posts, arranged in no particular order.
- My wife's upline threatened to kick her out of Quixtar because of this blog
- Quixtar complained about my quixtarblog.com domain and threatened to kick me out of Quixtar if I didn't comply
- I published the Blakey Report
- Spoke to an Amway Lawyer about the Blakey Report
- Published a novel about MLM (I didn't write the novel)
- Launched a Forum
- Spoke to another Amway lawyer about the Blakey Report
- Started Blogging 101
- Told the world about the "Quixtar Web Initiative"
- Talked to reporter Mark Glaser about the search engine manipulation
- Received a subpoena from Orrin Woodward's Team
- Started QBlog Radio and then ditched it to start again as a podcast
- Started a fledgling wiki (shhhh... didn't you know?)
- Launched the Quixtar Backbone Project
- Facilitated the "March of Percpetions"
- This blog became the number one (non-paid) search result on Google for the word "quixtar"
- Yahoo temporarily de-Lists Quixtar BLOG
- Uncovered a sexual harassment complaint against Dexter Yager
- Examined the Quixtar Average Income
I'm exhausted. That's all I'll post for now but I've left so much out. What memorable QBlog moments can you add to the list?
January 19, 2006
Weekly Top 10 Keywords
Posted by QBlog
I'm starting a new feature called the "Weekly Top 10 Keywords." Guess what it does.
Come on, take a guess.
If you guessed, "Pasteurize milk" you'd be wrong.
The Weekly Top 10 Keywords displays the ten most popular search words that resulted in traffic to the Quixtar BLOG.
For example, this week the keyword that generated the most traffic was "quixtar." That includes searches from various search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Dogpile (yeah, they're still around).
This means that more people found this site by typing the word "quixtar" into a search engine than any other word or phrase. Am I over explaining this? Seems pretty simple.
How?
Ok, here's how I get the Top Ten list. I look at my site stats. I examine the "Searches" category and organize by "Most Common." I then take the first ten keywords listed and put them into the Top Ten list.
Where Is It?
Where is the Weekly Top 10 Keywords? It's on the right side of the page under the recommended blogs. See it? Did you look? Ok, maybe you need to scroll around a little but it's there. I promise.
When Does It Update?
The Top 10 List is updated every Thursday. That's the day after Wednesday and right before Friday. If you're confused, check a calendar.
Exciting
I know, you're excited just like me. This will let everyone see what keywords are beating the other keywords. However, this is for entertainment purposes only. Please, no wagering.
January 17, 2006
41 Episodes
Posted by QBlog
Wow. I've produced 41 episodes of the QBlog Radio podcast. Amazing!
If you've never heard an episode then why not give it a listen. Download the shows to your hard drive or put the RSS feed into your favorite podcast receiver. It's even easier to do if you use iTunes.
January 12, 2006
Quixtar BLOG Stats
Posted by QBlog
As some of you know, a portion of the Quixtar BLOG site stats are public. Those who poke around a little will be rewarded with traffic info related to this blog, excluding the Forum. I have generally relied on basic server stats provided by my host for the most accurate traffic data but also enjoy some of the features bundled with free public stats tools.
I have a personal policy of not publicly stating my site stats for various reasons. One reason is that I think site traffic is oftentimes overrated. I'd much rather have a site with 20 devoted readers than one with 1,000 passersby.
However, I think there is sometimes value in sharing site traffic and that's exactly what I'm going to do for the next 48 hours. Today I installed a new stat tool called called Mint. It's not as robust as some tools I've used in the past but it does an excellent job of displaying some of the basics in a very fresh manner. The stats will be public for two days and then I'll close off access.
I should also point out that as of right now, the tracking mechanism is not on every Quixtar BLOG page but it should be by the end of the night. Update: Stats tracking on virtually every Quixtar BLOG page now. And, if you like the stats and how they're displayed, I encourage you to purchase Mint (it's $30 per site) for your own site stats. No, I don't get anything for saying that or for referring anyone. I leave that stuff to the Network Marketers ;0). I just think it's a nice product and since I don't have Google Analytics yet it's a good substitute.
- The Quixtar BLOG site stats access has been restricted
January 10, 2006
Database Large
Posted by QBlog
My Database is large. Too large for my host. That's why it was shut down over the last couple of days. It's been restored but I will have to do some things to be sure it doesn't bloat again and to reduce its current size.
Thanks for your patience.
UPDATE: Tracked down the source of the large DataBase problem with the help of my friend from Canada. Here's what happened, in a nutshell.
There are around 15,000 comments on all my blogs with nearly 14,000 on the Quixtar BLOG. That in itself isn't an issue. It creates a large DataBase but nothing unmanageable. However, Movable Type 3.2 (which is what I use to power this blog) has a "junk" folder where most of my spam comments are automatically dumped. The spam comments stay in the "junk" folder for a period of time and then are automatically deleted.
The "junk" folder had nearly 22,000 spam comments all accumulated over the past 45 days. That is what beefed up my DataBase. After removing the spam comments the DataBase was reduced by nearly one third its original size.
Some other optimization was done but mainly the junk comments were the problem. Now I have them deleted after five days instead of 45.
December 31, 2005
QBlog Radio in iTunes
Posted by QBlog
Fans of the QBlog Radio Show have been subscribing to the podcast via iTunes since July. However, last night I updated the iTunes directory listing to include artwork and artist information. Now the podcast looks as cool as other popular podcasts like The Ricky Gervais Show and This Week In Tech. If only my podcast were as entertaining.
November 27, 2005
Forum Log In Issues
Posted by QBlog
If you're having trouble loggin into the QBlog Forum please delete your cookies connected to the webraw.com domain. Changes had to be made to the way the log in cookies were constructed so your old cookies are conflicting with the new cookies.
There's a temporary thread explaining what you need to do for cookie deletion. If you don't mind deleting all your cookies then that may be the easiest thing to do.
November 21, 2005
The Migration Saga
Posted by QBlog
The Quixtar BLOG has been down for a couple of weeks. This is due to several factors. I hope my explanation will answer any questions. Thanks for your patience during this time.
The Beginning
The webraw.com domain (which is where this blog is hosted) has been hosted at ThinkHost since 2002. ThinkHost has been very, very good to me and I continue to recommend their services to people needing a host. Their customer service is great and I really like that ThinkHost can host multiple domains under a single account for a great price.
The Strain
However, the Quixtar BLOG has been growing. Really growing. Growing so much that it started straining the ThinkHost servers. The folks at ThinkHost struggled valiantly trying to keep the site up and running smoothly — even moved it to a better server. But the strain continued and problems persisted.
The server would slow down under the strain and, on occasion, it would be inaccessible. This was frustrating to me, to site visitors and to the good folks at ThinkHost.
The Decision
And so on October 29, 2005, I decided to find a new host. My decision was a bit rash because I hadn't fully pursued a resolution with ThinkHost but I just felt it was time to move on. And really, it was time to move on and that's exactly what I did.
Media Temple
I set up an account with Media Temple, a hosting company that has a boffo who's who list of clients. I thought that if Media Temple had super cool clients then it must be a great host. Not!
In order to get my site of the ThinkHost servers and onto the MT servers as quickly as possible the great folks at ThinkHost offered to do the migration for me... for FREE! I'm not an uber-geek and the thought of a server migration gave me a migraine (get it?). It was a relief to know that some skilled people would be handling the migration.
However, something went wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. I can't be certain but it looks like Media Temple has some problems. Or maybe not. I don't know. I just know that the site never got back to where it needed to be and in frustration (again) I started searching for a new host.
The New Host
I got an account with a new host, Pair Networks. So far, so good. Pair comes highly recommended. Imran, my friend from Toronto, did the migration to Pair. He's a wiz.
There are still a few minor bugs to work out and a couple of changes I need to make but about almost all of the site is back to normal. I didn't lose any data either. I always worry that data will be lost during a migration. But Imran saved the day.
The Forum is back. The blog is back. Everything is back as it should be... except email. I still need to set up my email to work like it did before. I'll get to that tomorrow.
Thanks
Thank you to all who sent me messages of support during the downtime. It's encouraging to know that so many people like this site. I plan to be back to a frequent posting schedule but it may be a couple of weeks before things settle back to normal.
November 18, 2005
Are We Back?
Posted by QBlog
Wow. I think the site is back. Fingers still crossed. Looking for bugs and other creeping, crawling things. See a bug? Report it to me at webraw@gmail.com. I'll provide an update later.
I do know that the includes aren't working so the nav is blown again but that should be an easy fix. It's definitely not a deal-breaker. By the way, the Forum is back in business.
Thanks for your patience... and your patients.
UPDATE: PHP includes are now working it looks like.
November 8, 2005
Delay
Posted by QBlog
The migration is taking longer than expected. Thanks for your patience.
UPDATE - Nov 9, 2005: The migration is just about complete. I'll be changing the DNS later today and that will then take up to 72 hours to fully populate.
November 5, 2005
Migration Begins
Posted by QBlog
The Server Migration will begin tonight. I'll be shutting off comments this afternoon (around 2 p.m. Eastern). The site may be down for a couple of days, or maybe not. We'll see.
Check out QBlog Radio for any news or updates about the migration.
November 4, 2005
Site Down - Moving Hosts
Posted by QBlog
This site (including the Forum) will be down for a few days as it's migrated to a new host. I apologize for the inconvenience. If you need to contact me send a message to webraw@gmail.com.
UPDATE: My mistake. The site will migrate sometime this weekend, on Sunday. I'm opening things up until late Saturday. At that time I'll shut everything down so new data isn't written to the DB while the migration is occurring.
Also, the DNS will have to be changed and that can take up to 48 hours. That may cause the site to be "down" for a couple of days.
Thanks,
Eric J (aka QBlog)
October 29, 2005
Server Maintenance
Posted by QBlog
The site will be down or slow this weekend while maintenance is done to the servers.
UPDATE: Problems persist with the server. My PHP includes aren't working due to screwups by the server team. My site is sometimes up, sometimes down. Nobody seems to know why. I was told that "Daniel, our system administrator, is off today." Well bully for you. So everything comes to a screeching halt when Daniel is gone? What kind of business are these people running?
I've been quite happy with ThinkHost for quite some time but it's becoming clear to me that they do not have the sort of commitment to excellence that I expect from a hosting company. I've already started the process of switching all my accounts to Media Temple. Switching hosts is a ROYAL PAIN but I've pretty much had it with ThinkHost.
I don't know when I'll get everything switched over but it can't happen soon enough in my opinion.
UPDATE II: Here's what the ThinkHost support team just sent me:
Our system administrator should be able look into the problem during the afternoon tomorrow. If everything goes well, he should be able to fix it in the afternoon as well, but I cannot make a guarantee on that.
This is a problem I reported last night. Can you tell I'm a little pissed?
UPDATE III: To be fair, ThinkHost made it clear that they were available if it was an "urgent matter." Here's the full email that I quoted from in the first update:
Daniel, our system administrator, is off today, but should be able to get back to you about this tomorrow. If you believe that fixing this is an urgent matter, please let me know and I'll try to get in touch with him today so that he can take a look at the problem.
So, I could have easily asked them for more assistance if I'd wanted to but I just didn't feel like bothering anyone and so the problem persisted.
I should also point out that ThinkHost has been a wonderful host and continues to host three of my sites. Much of my frustration resulted from the popularity of my site straining the servers. Since I first published this post I've moved from ThinkHost to Media Temple to Pair Networks.
Lastly, the folks at ThinkHost were more than helpful with my migration. I've posted a brief explanation about the entire migration ordeal. I really don't have any complaints with ThinkHost and I appreciate all they've done for me, my site and the migration.
October 20, 2005
QBlog Goes To Toronto - Day 2
Posted by QBlog
I'm still in Toronto on business. Here are some pictures I took today. I got
to eat goat.
October 19, 2005
QBlog Goes To Toronto
Posted by QBlog
I'm currently in Toronto, Ontario on business. It's my first time in Canada.
Here are some pictures I took yesterday while I had a little free time.
October 8, 2005
Changing Servers
Posted by QBlog
I'm changing servers this weekend so expect this site to be down for a while. If you need to get a QBlog fix check out the QBlog Radio. It's on completely different servers so it's not going down at all.
I expect everything to be back up by Sunday night at the latest. This server move is for the better. It will make things faster and have fewer connection problems.
Thanks for your patience.
September 28, 2005
Quixtar Chatter Q & A
Posted by QBlog
The new Quixtar Chatter is up and running. For those who have not been paying attention (you know who you are) I'll answer a few questions about the Quixtar Chatter.
Why is the text of the Chatter Links the same as the title?
This is true of the old links only. The previous Quixtar Chatter didn't even have a blog to visit, it was just a link-dump. There was no RSS Feed. There was no "home page." There was nothing but links to other blogs.
The way I had the old Chatter configured was a hack. I stripped out the title and had the body of the post as the link. However, I had to have some sort of title or else it would be hard for me to keep up with my posts. So, I put the linked text into the post title slot to keep things organized.
Confused yet? Yeah, I never thought I'd have to explain this but the questions come in so here I am explaining. To make a long story short (and it is much longer) just know that the old Chatter links were an old-fashioned hack and it will take me some time to convert them all to the new, blog-friendly style.
Why don't you allow comments and trackbacks on the Chatter links?
Because I don't want to, that's why. Really, the goal is to direct you to other sites and blogs, not discuss them on this blog. I don't really have any other reason.
What is that devil-looking horned thing?
Seriously, someone asked me that. I created a graphic of a person talking. I'm not Norman Rockwell but I know my way around Adobe Illustrator. It's supposed to be the profile of a person with a big, pointy nose talking with an open mouth. That's a word balloon to the left with the letter "Q" inside it.
If you think it looks like a devil then send me something better and I'll swap it out.
I don't see any graphic. What are you talking about?
You don't get on the Internet much do you? Here's a tip, try following the links and looking around a little before asking questions. Maybe, just maybe the graphic that I'm talking about is at the new, improved Quixtar Chatter blog. Did you visit it yet? No? Well then shut up.
So will Chatter link posts show up on the main Quixtar BLOG?
Yes, they will. They'll flow into the main blog and will cycle off after a few posts. Of course they're all archived somewhere. Can you guess where they're archived? Come on, guess! You're so smart.
Ok, now I've just about deflated any excitement surrounding the Quixtar Chatter relaunch. Oh well. I hope you like it, I do.
September 27, 2005
Revised Quixtar Chatter
Posted by QBlog
I revised the Chatter Links and they are now included within the main blog. The previous Quixtar Chatter was listed on the right side of the blog, without commentary. The new, improved Chatter Links will get better exposure and include more links and a few comments.
This change is, in part, modeled after Jason Kottke's improved Remaindered Links and Tom Coates' link posts.
A few things to mention:
- Comments and Trackbacks are not enabled for the Quixtar Chatter links
- The current Chatter entries use the previous style, I will update these as time permits
- I'm using David Raynes' excellent MultiBlog plugin to post the Chatter links onto this blog
- All Chatter Links will be archived within the Quixtar Chatter blog
I hope you enjoy the new Quixtar Chatter. And just so you know, the new Quixtar BLOG design is coming soon so stay tuned. How soon? Well, maybe for Christmas.
September 20, 2005
Remaindered Links - Lil' Help?
Posted by QBlog
I'm trying to figure out how to duplicate Kottke's Remaindered Links on this blog but am not finding a solution. I run MT 3.2 and have installed David Raynes' MultiBlog plugin but it doesn't quite fit my needs.
See, I need to bring in posts from another blog that do not use the same display format (ie. no date-stamp, no title, etc.) as this blog. But MultiBlog utilizes whatever format I have assigned to this blog.
Anyway, I'm stuck and I'm unimpressed with Crossblog. Any ideas?
September 11, 2005
Upgrade to MT 3.2
Posted by QBlog
I just upgraded this blog to Movable Type 3.2. If you notice any bugs, please report them to me.
Thanks.
September 2, 2005
No Registration Required
Posted by QBlog
At a time when many blogs are now requiring readers to register before posting comments, the Quixtar BLOG is still open to anyone and everyone — no registration required.
Yeah, you do need to put in an email address, and using a real one sure helps if I need to contact you about something, but bogus ones are ok too. And for the paranoid, email addresses are not displayed on the site so spammers and other creeps won't be able to get them.
Yet another reason this blog freakin' rocks!
September 1, 2005
Five Blogs To Watch
Posted by QBlog
There are five new (well, mostly new) blogs that I'd like to direct your attention towards because... well, they're worthy of attention for one reason or another. The Fab Five are, in no particular order:
- Standing Order Tape - "Blog by a former 'Gung-Ho' BWW IBO"
- Quixtar - Edify, Deify, Demonize - "Blog by a former WWDB IBO"
- Quixtar Widow - "Brooke, a Quixtar widow"
- worldwidedreamstealers.com - "Go Plutonium!"
- Crazies - "This is going to be a weird blog"
You want to have a little fun? I know you do. Contrast the candid, off-the-cuff posts of the Fab Five blogs with those generated by the Quixtar leadership. Check this out...
Contrast this - Deimler International Reviews- NUTRILITE BRAINIUMS DHA
With this - Quixtar Sales Fail to Increase
Which one reads like a press release? Which one reads like a real, honest-to-God blog? Which one do you think John Q. Public is more likely to read and believe? You tell me.
My Point?
What is my point? Well, basically Quixtar and its leaders can't stop the continued proliferation of websites and blogs like the Fab Five with ill-conceived Web Initiatives. What Quixtar needs to do is pay attention to these blogs and work to address many of the issues, concerns and complaints they raise. The cost of ignoring such blogs can be (and probably has been) costly as Dell learned when it ignored blogger Jeff Jarvis.
August 11, 2005
Congratulations Blog-Zilla!
Posted by QBlog
So, you're interested in Dan Hollings' Blog-Zilla tool? Curious about how it works, how much it costs and if it will meet your "multi-blogging" needs? Don't mind that the nattering nabobs of negativism are comparing it to spam? Well, then I've got the four-one-one you crave.
A couple of Quixtar BLOG readers sent me the "Inquirey [sic] from Blog-Zilla" which outlines some of the Blog-Zilla basics. I've done all the heavy lifting and condensed the info into easy-to-read bullet points.
Blog-Zilla 411
- The trial period costs $1
- Trial period involves one or two conference calls per week
- One blogger believes that 1500 people applied for Blog-Zilla
- According to the Blog-Zilla call availability page, there are approximately 57 people participating in the trial period
- After trial period, Blog-Zilla costs $30 per month for 5 blogs and $1 extra for additional blogs
- Also, there is a one-time setup fee "under $100"
- Annual subscriptions get discounts and the setup fee is waived
- Those running 50 or more blogs will receive greater access to Dan Hollings' training and expertise
- The training calls are apparently available in mp3 format
How Does It Taste?
One blogger appears to be very excited about Blog-Zilla. Lester Colegado runs Infoblogger Journal and believes it will make his "infoblogging into a multiblogging endeavor." Colegado also posts some of his early impressions of Blog-Zilla:
These last couple of days, during my off-work hours, I was trying to learn how to use this program. So far, I find it to be of great potential. And, the offer that I can multiblog by the 100's in a short time can be true once I learn the ins and outs of Blog-zilla.
In fact, I already am working on 5 right now and have several more in mind to add once I really become proficient with its use.
There's a learning curve to it but it's not really that technical. In my case, I had to think more of a precise blog concept to blend with the system than learning how to use the software.
Who's Who?
Who are the people Dan Hollings has selected to participate in the Blog-Zilla trial period? Well, according to the Blog-zilla Member Call Availability page the following people are on the short-list.
- Adam Abernethy
- Allida Thomas
- Andy Smith
- Anthony Pohle
- Barbara Gathany
- Bengt Sather
- Brett Hodges
- Catherine MacDonald
- Cherie Kilgour
- Chris Morte
- Christopher Silano
- Criss Bertling
- Dan Hollings
- Danny Lowell
- David Grogan
- Debra Hamuka-Falkenham
- Douglas Mackie
- Dylan Benjamin
- Erik Kampe
- Gene Parker
- Grant Segall
- Greg Killam
- Henry Davis
- Jaan Kanellis
- Jan Dilley
- Jan Jenson
- Jan Manzer
- Jason Katzenback
- Jeanette Fisher
- -- name removed --
- John Herren
- John Leong
- Katherine Roberson
- Katie Tarochione
- Kevin Knuhtsen
- Lester Colegado
- Mathias Pruestel
- Matthew Savage
- Michael Lu
- Michael Santiago
- Paula Smith
- Peter Lee
- Rita Scott
- Rob Caldwell
- Ruth Bird
- Sandra Dinkins-Wilson
- Scott Boyce
- Scott Skibell
- Stanley Piszczatowski
- Steve Brown
- Steve Eisenberg
- Stewart Ott
- Ted Stalets
- Terry Klingberg
- Tiat Leong, Ang
- Tom Roberson
- Jason Ciment
I suppose that if all goes well, we'll be seeing a lot more blogs from the people on that list.
Free or Fee?
I can't really comment on how Blog-Zilla works because I've never seen it in action. I'm unimpressed with the blogs it produces but admittedly I have no idea how the application functions.
However, one reader suggested that w.bloggar may do much of what Blog-Zilla does — for free. I've never used either application so it may be completely different. If you've used Blog-Zilla I'd love to hear from you and how you think it compares to w.bloggar.
Also, if you do the math on Blog-Zilla it would cost $125 per month to run 100 blogs that are, according to Hollings, 25-60% unique from one another.
Contrast that strategy with that of a blogger who spends the same amount of time generating quality content for a single blog and spends that same $125 on BlogAds or Google Ads. Who, at the end of the day, do you think will be driving more consistent traffic? The single blogger or the multi-blogger?
Anyway, congratulations to all you lucky Blog-Zilla trial folks. Hope it goes well and I look forward to hearing more about it very soon.
August 6, 2005
Still Busy
Posted by QBlog
I'm still busy. Life, go figure. But until I return, which may be later today or even tomorrow or September, check out the Flying Cat Gallery. You won't be disappointed... unless you hate Flying Cats.
Link via Kottke
July 28, 2005
Not The First
Posted by QBlog
Apparently I'm not the first person to criticize Dan Hollings' Blog-Zilla multi-blogging application and I suspect I won't be the last.
Today I discovered a few sites that seem to take Hollings, and Blog-Zilla, to task.
- Plagiarism Made Easier - Or Not? (part 2.) - July 13, 2005
- Killing the Golden Goose - June 17, 2005
- On Blog Plagiarism Software? - July 13, 2005
- Spam Blogs - July 12, 2005 (mostly in German)
- Methods of multi-blogging - "...Sadly BlogZilla doesn't do this and produces very obvious 'cookie cutter' pages."
Who else doesn't like Blog-Zilla? Who does like it? Who's using it? If you've signed up to be a Blog-Zilla customer I'd love to hear from you.
Dan Hollings Responds
Posted by QBlog
Sometimes what I post on this blog ruffles a few feathers. That's fine, people aren't required to agree with my perceptions. Yesterday I published comments critical of a new blogging tool called Blog-Zilla. Dan Hollings, Blog-Zilla's creator, took issue with my post and responded in an email as well as within the comments of the post.
I've posted excerpts from Hollings' comments below but the full text, unedited, is available for reference. Hollings' comments appear in italics and my responses appear in blue.
First. Multi-blogging is a new phenomena that allows people, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations to manage multiple blogs each targeted or personalized to a specific readership. The idea was not invented by me, but he has created software to assist legitimate publishers and bloggers multi-blog. It follows the identical logic that a personalized newsletter follows. It is rules based and has capabilities much like common mail merge programs.
Hollings makes an incorrect comparison. This is not like newsletters because a newsletter is distributed to an email inbox and often archived on the Web at a single site. Emails are not (under normal conditions) included in search results. The long-term impact of emails on the Web is the same whether I send one email or one Billion.
An Avon consultant would not read my blog if it talked about MLM...
That's an assumption. There's a very popular forum called Making the Run that gives tips, advice and opinions to people from a multitude of different professions and interests. Another example is the Business Opportunities Blog which has a very diverse audience. I think Hollings is grossly underestimating his potential audience.
You know my content is not garbage.
Yes, and I clearly conceded that in my post. "Technically, it's not quite spamming since there is some genuine content but I don't know what else to call it." Hollings has some valuable content but some of the Quixtar Google Bomb blogs could make a similar argument. Not all were pure nonsense, just most. What I'm pointing out is the spam-like nature of duplicating that content across dozens of blogs and the parallels with Quixtar's WRTF
Duplicating Content?
...an analysis with a duplicate content checker shows that my blogs range from 25% to 60% DIFFERENT when compared one against another...
What's a "duplicate content checker?" Most bloggers don't need such tools because they don't regularly duplicate their content across dozens of blogs.
I invite anyone interested to READ the description of Blog-zilla again (http://blog-zilla.com) and note the ANTI-SPAM notice "Spammers Beware" clearly published on the site.
There are laws against spamming, but that hasn't stopped it. Napster made it clear that copyright infringement was wrong, but that didn't help them in court. I'm glad Hollings has Anti-Spam notices, but that doesn't change the nature of the software.
In addition, please review our strict ANTI-DUPLICATION, ANTI-SCRAPE, ANTI-CONTENT STEALING policy. Blog-zilla is NOT a spam or thieving tool. Blog-zilla has ZERO cabability to "harvesting content from various sites"...
I never accused Hollings of stealing anything. However, I'll also point out that to my knowledge, Quixtar's WRTF never "stole" anything either.
All Blog-zilla users go through a qualification survey to eliminate potential spammers.
Hollings forgot to add "All Blog-zilla users with money go through a qualification survey..."
Dealing With Content and Costs
[From Blog-Zilla's license agreement and rules]
Blog-zilla can be used to post RSS feeds to multiple blogs, but if you are not also posting other quality content, your account can be terminated.
Interesting term. So who's making the determination about what's "quality content?" Hollings? Some neutral third-party? What if I had a Blog-Zilla account and published yesterday's post about Blog-Zilla to 100 blogs. I believe it's "quality content" but would Hollings agree?
...each subscriber goes into a trial period (cost is $1) and while users evaluate Blog-zilla, Blog-zilla evaluates the subscriber by monitoring their posts and observing their participation in weekly conference call training classes.
What, if any, is the cost of those conference calls and training sessions? Do they compare with the rates listed on DanHollings.com?
- 1 Hour One-on-one Consultation $189
- Personal Web Site Evaluation $149
- Four 1 Hour Sessions - One per week $99 per week
- Four 1 Hour Sessions - One per month $149 per month
- Unlimited On-call Consultation $949 per month
Disappointed
Eric Scheibeler was greatly disappointed that other similar topic sites and like minded people (including Eric Janssen) did not do more to offer support for this effort. Instead, support was lacluster and criticle. In fact, Eric Janssen was given the unique sponsorship of word #1 in Scheibeler's LGTWO "Merchants of Deception" online book, yet not even a thanks was ever received. Guess it was just too "link-laden" as Janssen states. Go figure.
Unfortunately this comment is both personal and misleading. I would prefer that Eric Scheibeler speak for himself on this matter unless Hollings is in a position to speak on his behalf. By the way, I did thank Scheibeler for his generosity.
You attempt to link my reputation and activities to those like the Google bombing by Quixtar and to porn sites. Give us all a break Mr. Eric; the only garbage I see is the garbage in your post. Who's spamming who?
I merely presented my opinions about the facts as I found them. If that's spam, then so be it.
Please let me know how you feel about my post. Whether you love it, hate it, think it was unfair or right on — I want to hear about it.
Thanks!
July 27, 2005
Speaking of Scoundrels...
Posted by QBlog
What is it that bugs me most about Quixtar subverting search results to squelch criticism? As I've said before, my main complaint with Quixtar's Web Reputation Task Force is that it essentially flooded the Web with crap intended to bury legitimate sites under a sea of PR pabulum