Yes, Facebook is this annoying
January 25th, 2008
Archive
Archive for the ‘Web 2.x’ Category
Doing it for the lulz
January 15th, 2008
Nice summary here of many internet-isms, including the meaning of maddening phrases like “i did it for the lulz” and “O RLY?” The original O RLY and YA RLY are here for your enjoyment:
If you are wondering whether or not you should read the whole long article, ponder the below LOLcats image. If you understand it, and why it is spelled that way, well then off you across the Bridge of Death! If not… you may want to RTFA. ‘Nuff said.
Blogging about a book about blogging
January 15th, 2008
Who Let The Blogs Out?, by Biz Stone, is a great introduction to the world of blogs and blogging. It starts off a little slow with a broad background into blogs and blog networks, it picks up with a lot of practical information about blogging. How to use HTML/CSS to style your blog, how to monetize your blog via Google Adsense and the Amazon Associates program, whether or not to turn on comments, Biz has a point of view on it all, and it is explained very plainly here. I’ve taken some of his advice, I’m joining the Google Adsense and Amazon Affiliates programs, and have informed my employer formally of my blog and its POV. Good practical advice.
He also delves into the social aspect of blogging, showing the wisdom of crowds and how it works together to point out the cracks in mainstream journalism – the blogosphere putting pressure on then-Senator Trent Lott Read more…
Where are the Software Engineers of tomorrow?
January 8th, 2008
Great article in The Journal of Defense Software Engineering written by 2 NYU PhD’s. Found it via subscription to Joel on Software, here.
I received a B.A. in Computer Science from Lehman College, a member of CUNY (City University of New York). When I first declared my major and started, computer programming courses were taught in C++, but by the time I graduated, they were taught in Java. I chose the B.A. in Computer Science, with a minor in Computer Applications, because I could graduate a semester earlier 
. I’m happy I did, the minor allowed me to take classes in UNIX and COBOL, both of which I needed for my day job at the time.
Its been a while since I graduated, so let’s see what classes I took for my major/minor: Read more…
Fun video about the upcoming internet bubble + YouTube = Awesome
December 4th, 2007
Tracking food expiration, the Web way
October 23rd, 2007
Internet People on a lazy Saturday
September 8th, 2007
Andrew Keen @ Google
July 28th, 2007
This is a good talk Andrew Keen gives at Google (not sure if its at the Googleplex). He discusses his book, The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture. I heard that he had criticism of where I work, but he didn’t mention it during the talk. I might have to go get the book.
I have to agree that determining the line between content and advertising is getting more difficult by the day, especially on Web 2.0 sites. Although a member of the audience claimed that today’s teenagers are among the most cynical of all people, and are skeptical of all media delivered to them so as to be untouched by these masquerading advertisers, I agree with Mr. Keen here.
Skepticism of all media does not increase ones ability to discern truthful media vs. advertising, or sponsored media. It promotes media illiteracy. I think the inevitable result is that the youth who cannot tell the difference simply turn off the media and sink into their elaborate social networks.
Regardless of your position on the matter, its a video worth watching.
Holy crap I’m in Wikipedia
April 13th, 2007
Wow. I’m on the Netscape Wikipedia listing. This after watching Code Rush, a documentary about the 1998 open sourcing of Netscape Communicator 5.0 and later sale of Netscape to AOL. It’s been a Netscape day for me. Well, I am the director of the group, so I guess it makes sense, but its all still surreal.
Still, nothing matches the Netscape of its heyday, which was already declining by the time the documentary was shot. I remember using Netscape Navigator 2.0 and Navigator Gold 3.0. Those were the days. If only Netscape could rise again…
Google stalking in the Web 2.0 world
April 7th, 2007
So I Google-stalked myself on a whim today. Things certainly have changed in the last year, working at AOL on Netscape, but have also changed the more I get involved with these newfangled social networks. So for those who are curious, this is what happens when you Google-stalk Tom Drapeau (not even in quotes):
1. LinkedIn. Wow, accept a few of those invitations for CEO types with 500+ friends, and add to it much improved SEO.
2,3. Netscape Blog. I work at Netscape, great SEO on Netscape as well.
4. Blogger.com profile. I am an expectant father, and while I couldn’t work on new dev too much, the new baby’s blog ended up there. It was a project run by a former Yahoo colleague, Pal Takasci-Nagy. Once you see this, Hi Pal!
5,6. My blog. This blog.
7. Twitter. Ah, twitter. I’m not even posting there too much anymore.
8. Emurse. Go Alex! You are an SEO ninja.
9. myfeedz.com, looks to be an RSS feed that picked up from the Netscape blog.
10. Techmeme.com, who gave a critique on a project I oversaw at Netscape.
You have to go to page 2 to see that I have been a member of the United States Poolplayers Association (UPA) tour, and to page 3 to see that I actually once finished a 5k road race.
Wow, I have to take my hat off to Web 2.0 sites and their understanding of SEO. I feel all goose-pimply seeing that every result on page 1 is actually me.
About Me
Tom loves working on the internet. Since 1997, he has built and maintained consumer internet sites for Barnes & Noble, Online Retail Partners, Yahoo! HotJobs, Ask Jeeves and most recently at AOL. The opinions expressed in this blog are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.