RichardBenson.co.uk : Rants

Cuil - Google beater?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:31:02 +0000

The BBC News website had a report about a new search engine, Cuil (pronounced "cool"), created by ex-Googlers that claims to be better and more relvant than the big G.

So I did some searches on it. First I tried some of the keywords that I list highly on for Google and "no results found". After trying a few and also variations on them I was getting nowhere and so just stuck my domain in.

Have a look for yourself at the results. That little logo next to my website has made me quite angry, I don't think I've ever even mentioned Scientology, let alone use a logo that alludes to any kind of "success" within it that I may have achieved.

The natural thing in this case is to pop over to the FAQs and see if there is anything I can do about it. Brilliant, a link to some webmaster tools.... that doesn't work and no other notice about contact.

First impressions count for damn near everything, and I'm certainly not going to be using Cuil or recommending it to anyone. In fact, so that Google can give it a good description, I'm going to link to it by saying, Cuil is misleading and useless.

UPDATE: Looks like a lot of their links only work some of the times you go to them! Maybe if I keep trying the webmaster one will work.

Greatest Games of all time my arse

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:53:23 +0000

Pop over to Game's website and have a look at their top 100 "greatest games of all time" list... go on... I'll wait here...

http://www.game.co.uk/greatestgames/

How many times did you say "what's that doing in there?".. I bet it was an awful lot!

From There To Here - A Guide To Self-Loathing In Three Easy Steps

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:59:27 +0000

Once again, FlyingRodent calls it like it is...

"It's clear now that the Labour government's approach to almost all issues has been precisely the same, whether it's benefit fraud or antisocial behaviour, terrorism or smoking in public places... Matters trifling, middling or massive, the response was identical. Just point out some bastards who everyone can agree are getting up to no good and taking the piss, frame it in the nastiest way possible to get us on board, then pass some wildly disproportionate legislation granting themselves executive power to do whatever they like."

http://flyingrodent.blogspot.com/2008/06/from-there-to-here-guide-to-self.html

Skype

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:18:27 +0000

I was recently asked if Skype was allowed in our corporate network...again. Seemingly there is something in the handbook that states; "All employees must ask at least once a month if Skype is allowed".

Obviously my answer was "no", but when asked why, I thought a picture would explain better than any words could.

'MediaDefender' shoot themselves in the foot

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:05:04 +0000

For those that don't know, "MediaDefender" is a company set up to 'protect' copyright holders from illegal file sharing, which they don't do by contacting people but by severe attacks on servers and ISPs they deem as breaching copyright. A few weeks ago they managed to heavily attack and bring down a perfectly legitimate BitTorrent tracker and the business that surrounded it.

Shock News! Guildford Borough Council are money grabbing bastards

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:39:43 +0000

The images below are all three pages of a letter that was sent to us recently from the wonderful Guildford Borough Council. For those that cannot be bothered to read the whole thing, the primary focus of the letter is suggesting that residents have asked to have their roads restricted on Sundays as well as Monday - Friday. Since GBC introduced its controlled parking zone, it has become nearly impossible to have a guest for the weekend without giving GBC money. At least they could come over on a Sunday, but not if these plans come into force. What's worse is that even if you do get yourselft or your guest a permit, there is very little chance of you finding a space should you for some reason decide to take your car out for the day (I guess it's our own fault for having jobs). There is a woefully small number of spaces in all the residential roads of Guildford, especially as you get nearer the centre and none of the houses have driveways. Take our road for example, there are 20 odd houses and 7 residents' bays, with a further 7 bays for anyone to park up to 2 hours. These temporary bays happen to be right next to a pub, so you can guarantee they'll be full most of the time, leaving just the 7 residents bays for the whole street. So where exactly do I put my car on a Sunday, when the single yellows are also restricted?

The internet as a platform? Not as ISP bloodbath looms | The Register

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:44:55 +0000

"After 15 years of utopian gibberish about the "internet as a platform" that (of course) "changes everything", the pigeons are finally flying home to roost. In 2008, IP networks look less like the future of media, and more like tarpits that promise to bankrupt anyone who tries to run one. Especially the middlemen - as the distributors look like going to the wall first."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/20/iplayer_isps_broke/

Max, 19, hits the road - how exciting!

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:12:00 +0000

Wonderous news! Some rich kid is heading off 'travelling' for two whole months (how tough that's going to be) and is writing a blog about it. What a bloody novel idea, well done to the Guardian for picking this up.

Pay up or else!

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:14:21 +0000

This story has really intriguied and amused me in equal parts. It's also annoyed me. The state of the world with these automated systems that go wrong so often and are then believed fully by the companies that run them.

In reality that should have been spotted, someone should have gone "this isn't right, oh yeah I forgot to carry the one", but no. It went through the systems, passed on to debt collection, who probably had to approve the thing in the first place, and then made it to his doorstep.

I look forward to the legal action they are threatening him with, be interesting to hear them justify the bill....

P.S. well worth reading the comments as some people have done interesting maths!

Mike's lost it

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:28:26 +0000

See for youself (Facebook account probably required)

I hope it doesn't run in the family!

Heroes

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:52:37 +0000

Well we finished watching Heroes last night. I was told that Sylar was badly cast and that the end would dissapoint. Neither of these were true, I felt satisfied with the conclusion but still hungering for season 2.

When it came out in the states I was sceptical of the hype, believing it to be another overrated series like 24 or Lost, I was wrong... very, very wrong!

It's been an amazing season and a truly gripping story line, so if you haben't been watching it, get out there and find it! If you have been following on the BBC then you have some real treats in store for you over the coming weeks/months.

The DVD is out in the states on August 28th, so if you have a multi-region player, grab a copy and be ahead of your friends. If you're following it on the BBC then you have some real treats in store and it's well worth making sure you catch it every week.

I just wish everyone would hurry up and watch it so I can talk about what I think is to come in Season 2!

Back into blogging

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:55:03 +0000

So i've been meaning to make a new site in a long time and technically i still haven't bothered because this is all just MT4 in (most of) it's default settings. Anyway, here it is, hopefully less "teen angst" and more "this is funny or interesting, you should know about it too".

That and i'm far too lazy to e-mail people.