The end of Blogshares, just when I was doing well.

Dear BlogShares players,

I am sorry to announce that BlogShares will not be reopening after the current technical difficulties are resolved. Currently, the database server is dead and looks to be for the next few days.

The latest system crash has highlighted to me that deliverying a fun, useful service for the BlogShares community requires an active operator and developer. As most of you are no doubt aware I've been neither for the past couple of months. That has led to a decline of quality service, new features and ultimately income for the site and it looked likely that there wouldn't be enough to pay for next month's hosting.

It's been an interesting and very rewarding nine months bringing a bit of entertainment to bloggers (and blog lovers). I'd like to thank especially all those people who donated money or their valuable time, those who became premium subscribers, those who worked on cool toys which made use of the fledgling API and all those who could be found on the forums and IRC channel. You turned a silly fun idea of a mad monkey coder in London into something worthy of the attention by thousands of bloggers and the press.

A special mention goes to Greg, Jay, Erika, Joe, Aine, James, Ashes, Morgaine, Patrick and Rob.

My goal with the project was always to embrace the power law and to provide a new way of highlighting blogs with a little bit of fun. I've been pleasantly surprised of how well it did and stupefied it did it for so long. Now, however, it is time to move on to other things. I'm sure you'll be hearing from me in the not so distant future. You can also find me at my perpetual home: monkeyx.com.

All the best,

Seyed Razavi.

All things come and go. What thing do you miss most that has come and gone in your life? I rather miss the Secret chocolate bars. 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 11:42 AM

  There are two recurring themes on this site, web rings and spam e-mails. The latter has been in short supply of late although I cannot nor should not be disparaging about the quality of this electronic letter to fall through my virtual letterbox.

MR. VON HEINZ
Firstmerit Bank
U.k

PRIVATE AND URGENT.

I am contacting you on a business transfer of a huge sum of money
from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this
magnitude will make any one apprehensive and sceptical, but I am
assuring you that its been accurately planned and will be carried out
successfully with your full cooperation as long as you follow our
plans and instructions religiously. We decided to contact you due to
the urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION;
We discovered an abandoned sum of US$5,500,000.00 (five million five
hundred thousand united states dollars) in an account that belongs to
one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family.
Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come
forward to lay claims for this money as the heir. We cannot release
the fund from his account unless someone applies for claim as the
next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.
Upon this discovery, we now seek your permission
to have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all
documentations will be carefully worked out by us for the funds
(US$5,500,000.00) to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's
next of kin through my banks funds managers/clearing house overseas.
It may interest you to know that we have secured from
the probate an order of madamus to locate any of deceased
beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in
acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the
following;
1. Beneficiary name and address
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers
These requirements will enable us file letter of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before
the transfer can be made. We shall be
compensating you with a million dollars on final conclusion of this
project, while the rest shall be for us. Your share stays while the
rest shall be for us for investment purposes.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of
the trust we have bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail.

Regards,

Mr. Von Heinz.

Elizabeth could learn a lot from Mr Von Heinz. 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 3:12 PM

  I may have been seemingly inactive the last two weeks, I have, however been ruminating a few thoughts. Still a fledgling 'think' last week, here is the big question.

Is Retail the new religion?

Explaining myself, so the train of thought is more apparent, in times of great stress increasing numbers of people are turning to Retail for a spot or therapy. Retailers themselves herald the changing seasons with their vibrant displays of wares. Sales and Marketing personal are omnipotent in their ability to influence all our shopping requirements and increasingly for items we weren't aware we were really in need of. Retail rules supreme at a time of religious festivals. How long before Christians use the slogan Retail has taken the Christ out of Christmas. Much like the Pagan community reminds the nation how oppressed by the Christians they once were and how they merely stole existing celebrations with songs such as Santa Claus is Pagan too!

Oh, Santa Claus is Pagan too, just like all the rest
And if you are a merry witch he'll bring you all the best
So get that star up on the roof, and bake those cookies, too
For Christmas-time is really Yule, and Santa's Pagan too!

He's got that Buddha belly and his top's the Holly King
You dressed him in that British coat, the cap's a Nordic thing
You took the horns right off his head and stuck them on his deer
But he still flies high like Jupiter with a belly-full of beer!

Oh, Santa Claus is Pagan too, just like all the rest
And if you are a merry witch he'll bring you all the best
So get that star up on the roof, and bake those cookies, too
For Christmas-time is really Yule, and Santa's Pagan too!

Now history says Christ was likely not a Capricorn
But if you want to share the Yule, we don't care when he's born
Come join the celebration of the Sun King's bright rebirth
And if you practice what you preach, we'll all have peace on Earth!

Oh, Santa Claus is Pagan too, just like all the rest
And if you are a merry witch he'll bring you all the best
So get that star up on the roof, and bake those cookies, too
For Christmas-time is really Yule, and Santa's Pagan too!

Now Santa's way more jolly than most Christians might require
And if he weren't so busy he'd be dancing 'round the fire
Yeah, you can call it Christmas 'cause you got us way out-gunned
But just you wait till Beltane then we'll see who's having fun!

Oh, Santa Claus is Pagan too, just like all the rest
And if you are a merry witch he'll bring you all the best
So get that star up on the roof, and bake those cookies, too
For Christmas-time is really Yule, and Santa's Pagan too!

© 1998 Larry Morris (Emerald Rose)

I do wonder when this song will be re-released as Santa Claus is Christian too! 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 11:15 AM

  They think it's all over, it is now.



Written off from the outset as Clive Woodward's Dads Army (average age of 29) the victorius England team are flying home in Sweet Chariot, specially renamed by British Airways, bring back with them the Webb Ellis Cup. Certainly one in the eye for the Antipodean media and all their bad press leading up to the match. Proof also that someone over 21 is not a sporting write-off. 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 2:40 PM

  George Bush is coming to the UK despite the threat of the masses bearing their bums. Globalise Resistance have downloadable stencils and stickers to make London as unwelcoming and inhospitable as possible to Mr Bush. As I cannot make London during the 19th - 21st November I shall watch with interest news reports to see if anyone bears their bum or carries a banner telling Bush he's not welcome.

Today being November 11th is Armistice Day. Not a day for glorifying war as some would have us believe, but a day to remember those who have given their lives in service. Men and women have died protecting our country, protecting what we believe in. Sadly, more recently lives have been laid down at the expense of war mongerers. Leave the Armed Forces you could say, but then who would protect this country , these people, this Britain should there ever be another World War? I observed the two minute silence, on my own, reflecting, even if the people digging up the road outside my house did not.

With this in mind today's Tuesday Think is simple, what do you think about during a two minute silence? 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 8:40 PM

  I have just finished reading The Wicker Man which was thoroughly enjoyable. Rather unusually it was the book of the film, as opposed to the more common occurrence of the film of the book. However it felt more real, more sinister, and much more plausible than the film. Maybe that is just my impression, but I do tend to prefer the books. The greater detail imparted about Howie makes the ending more horrific, and unlike a film there is no cut scene and implied ending, the reader is taken inside the wicker man and is in the mind of Howie until his death.

Last week’s Tuesday Think was more of a success than I imagined with both Fluffy and Jazz answering the questions. With The Wicker Man in mind and the cliché that two things in life are certain, death and shaky politics taxes, I have some questions of a morbid nature.

1. Realising he is to be sacrificed in the wicker man Howie reacts initially with fear, then calms accepting his martyr’s death as the path his god had chosen for him. Facing your impeding doom would you rationalise so easily?
2. Inside the wicker man Howie saves some caged birds, recites psalms and prays until he falls unconscious. If you knew you were about die how would you spend your last moments?
3. Howie always imagined he would slip away in his sleep in his dotage. How do you imagine dying?
4. Would you want to make peace with anyone?
5. The ashes of the wicker man and its occupants was dug into the ground after the may day sacrifice to ensure the crops would thrive. The inhabitants of the Summerisle believing the sacrifices to be reborn in the crops. Howie believed himself to ascend to heaven having died a martyr. What would happen to you in your beliefs?
 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 10:42 AM

  More Spam mail today. This effort is sadly lacking in imagination, unlike previous efforts with their temptation of US Dollars.

Hi. how are you?. my name is Elizabeth. I have seen your profile on the
internet. If you would like to see my
pictures plesae send me an email to *censored because I am feeling generous today*,
bye

 
¶ Posted by Gene Eric at 11:38 AM