Fenriq 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (39) comment rss

  • On the post: NBC's Online Olympic Video Not Even Remotely Compelling

    Fenriq ( profile ), 30 Jun, 2008 @ 03:53pm

    Works for me, I'm boycotting the Olympics anyway. China should have never been given the games, it disgusts me even more than professional basketball players playing in an amateur competition (and that's saying alot!).

  • On the post: Is A GoDaddy VP Bidding Against Customers In Domain Auctions?

    Fenriq ( profile ), 30 Jun, 2008 @ 03:33pm

    Incredibly questionable? Seems like fraud to me. I've never used GoDaddy, primarily because Bob Parsons is a tool and the name always struck me as being pedophilic. Now I've got even more reason not to use the site. I'll echo the don't search for domains unless you're ready to buy them right then. I've had them registered right out from under me more than once.

  • On the post: It's Good To Be A Monopoly: Rogers Prices iPhone Service At 2 Arms And 2 Legs

    Fenriq ( profile ), 30 Jun, 2008 @ 11:59am

    I doubt Apple is going to sit back and let Rogers destroy an entire market for the iPhone. Either Rogers will have to reduce costs or Apple will move to another, less obnoxious carrier.

  • On the post: Prince Sues Musicians For Making A Tribute Album For His Birthday

    Fenriq ( profile ), 26 Jun, 2008 @ 09:08am

    Seems awfully short sighted and stupid to go so far out of your way to piss off fans. Maybe he's hanging out with Kanye West and Metallica too much?

  • On the post: Associated Press: Fair Use Limits You To Four Words; Five Words Costs $12.50

    Fenriq ( profile ), 17 Jun, 2008 @ 10:20am

    I think the AP needs a refresher course on Fair Use and how the Intertubes work. Have they had an executive change at the top and hired an old-media dinosaur recently? Or maybe they just took stupid pills?

  • On the post: Learning Good Privacy Rules Requires Experimentation

    Fenriq ( profile ), 12 Dec, 2007 @ 03:08pm

    Facebook needs money, they figured this was a way to get some, they didn't consider that people would be outraged by the "value added feature". Facebook doesn't care in the least about user privacy which is a main reason why I don't and won't use the site.

  • On the post: PR Firm Says Video Games Should Be Regulated… After Video Game Lobby Picks Different Vendor

    Fenriq ( profile ), 12 Dec, 2007 @ 01:14pm

    Nothing like a little selective data to back up your revenge ploy. I'll just H&K to my little black book of companies I'd never hire for services.

  • On the post: ISPs Able To Use Your Surfing Data To Insert Their Own Ads Everywhere

    Fenriq ( profile ), 11 Dec, 2007 @ 12:56pm

    Just because they can serve more ads to users doesn't mean that they should. I'm pretty sick and tired of the nonstop marketing on the internet all the time. Places like Craigslist have proven that you don't need to be all-ads-all-the-time to turn a profit.

    By the way, the article notes that you can opt-out but I can't find a link to do so.

  • On the post: FoxNews Fear Mongering: Online Games May KILL You!

    Fenriq ( profile ), 10 Dec, 2007 @ 03:24pm

    People who watch Fox News deserve every bit of fear mongered ignorance they are left with. They also deserve the nightmares about Brit Hume.

  • On the post: What Made Beacon A Bust?

    Fenriq ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2007 @ 10:23am

    Facebook doesn't care about user privacy, they care about monetizing their user base to cash in (regardless of what PC-speaking Zuckerberg has to say to the contrary). There are established ways to add advertising revenue to a site, Facebook should look to those before ever considering something as stupid and invasive as Beacon again. But it doesn't matter to me as I'd never use Facebook anyway, read their Terms of Use sometime. The rights you sign over by using the site are outrageous.

  • On the post: The Most Boring PR People In The World

    Fenriq ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2007 @ 10:14am

    Flacks and editors need each other but the relationship is rocky and prone to plate throwing fits. Understandable since both groups have ridiculous goals, deadlines and metrics to measure up to. Flacks have to be pushy, shotgunny and annoying or they do not get the attention for their clients that is demanded. Editors have to be highly selective, fast and able to shift gears on the fly. Hundreds of badly written, poorly targeted emails and calls a day gets tiring and makes it very hard to get real work done.

    Boy oh boy am I glad I'm no longer working in the flack trenches, it was thankless, difficult and exhausting work. Made alot harder by a minority of other flacks who cut corners, blast pitches without regard to recipients and cold call editors without knowing (or caring) what they cover.

    The volume of contacts makes individual responses very difficult but it would be helpful to the industry as a whole to respond, maybe an intern could filter through the mass and forward only likely pitches to the editor and respond to the vast sea of worthless pitches with a canned Thank You but this is the area I cover email? Or they can continue banging their heads against firewalls, blacklists and public exposes like on The Long Tail.

  • On the post: Facebook Loses Attempt To Remove Court Documents From The Web

    Fenriq ( profile ), 04 Dec, 2007 @ 12:39pm

    I too hate Facebook and how invasive and overarching their Terms of Use are. I'll never use the site and have actively counseled friends against using it. But I love the irony of them trampling other's privacy rights and then trying to sue to remove Zuckerberg's skeletons. Good luck with that.

  • On the post: Universal Music's CEO Gleefully Explains How Clueless He Is

    Fenriq ( profile ), 27 Nov, 2007 @ 11:07am

    He has certainly earned his multi-million dollar salary and big old golden parachute. Gleefully admitting ignorance in the face of a complete paradigm shift in your industry should get you pilloried and publicly humiliated. What a maroon!

  • On the post: Don't Say Something Bad About John Dillinger; His Great-Nephew Might Sue

    Fenriq ( profile ), 15 Nov, 2007 @ 02:57pm

    Beats working...

    I guess the grand-nephew figures this is a better gig than, you know, trying to get a job. I mean, come on, it isn't a direct relative, he's a freakin' nephew.

    And he's trying to capitalize on a law that doesn't apply to John Dillinger. I bet his grand uncle would take him out behind the barn and whoop him good for being such an idiot.

  • On the post: Apparently Fines And Jail Time Not Enough To Deter Infamous Disappearing Typosquatter From Typosquatting Again

    Fenriq ( profile ), 18 Oct, 2007 @ 07:37am

    Well I learned my lesson, when I get taken into court and asked direct questions, I'll just dodge them and duck them like this scumbag did.

    How was he not held in contempt of court? Why would he be allowed bail since he's obviously a flight risk?

    And why not go after the people bankrolling him? The ones paying him to redirect mistyped URLs? Cut off his funds and he's forced to go looking for more.

    But the tiny fine for his second conviction is ridiculous. Talk about a disincentive to change your ways. When he gets busted next time is the court going to pay him?

  • On the post: Is It Really That Difficult For Some PR People To Pay Attention?

    Fenriq ( profile ), 05 Mar, 2007 @ 09:19pm

    Skeptical Reasonable Doubt

    A quick disclaimer, I am a PR flack (not the one who made this mistake though).

    Depending on the bulk mail system being used to send out pitches, I could possibly see this being an honest mistake by a junior flack (as you're well aware, senior PR folks leave the grunt work to juniors).

    But its still a pretty colossal error. And there really are a huge number of incredibly bad flacks in this business. When I was in market research I once got an eamil from an unknown flack with nearly 8 megs of attachments. I let him know how stupid it was and he still tried to "land me" for a briefing.

    Also, I hate doing the conference call downs as much as you hate getting them, I'm sure. But I do always make sure the editor is appropriate before contacting them.

  • On the post: Yahoo To Try Singing News For Its Supper

    Fenriq ( profile ), 23 Feb, 2007 @ 03:22pm

    I thought of Cop Rock immediately too. The Naked News has eye candy going for it, singing about death in Iraq and Britney Spears shaving her head will be a novelty for about five minutes.

    And yeah, someone got paid and probably even given an "Atta boy" for this turd of an idea.

  • On the post: Can We Force Senators To Play Grand Theft Auto In Its Entirety Before They Introduce Stupid Laws About Video Games?

    Fenriq ( profile ), 15 Feb, 2007 @ 09:07am

    Finished It

    Actually you can finish Grand Theft Auto. I did it several weeks ago (finally) and look at me, I haven't gone on any killing sprees or carjacking sprees or anything.

  • On the post: Stuffy Economist Magazine Experiments With Social Media

    Fenriq ( profile ), 12 Feb, 2007 @ 11:06am

    A Good Idea

    The Economist is very well written and incredibly info-dense. I always get some unique and usable perspective when I find the time to read an issue or part of one.

    The idea of converting letters to the editor into the foundation for a community is inspired.

    I would, however, be interested in reading a blog of the offensive letters to the editor by the moonbat nutters. I need more comedy blogs to enjoy.