February 2008 Directory Update Now Live
The directory update for February 2008 is now live at Info Vilesilencer.
We have some significant changes to the list for this update. Firstly we compiled, culled and collated an excellent list of free blog directories. Unlike a tonne of lists out there these directories are all SEO friendly, free and are actual directories. We are also committed to maintaining our lists so they will remain relevant, unlike several other out-of-date lists (even after only a few weeks those lists are 90% irrelevant).
Secondly, we trawled through the list of removed directories and found another 31 free directories that we were able to return to the list. These directories previously were removed for being offline temporarily (due to hosting issues, cleaning up spam in their databases, or taking vacations).
There are also:
- 59 new general directories
- 13 new niche directories
The list is now at 563 directories.
To get your directory listed or identify any changes in the list please post in the Directory Update Thread at the Info Vilesilencer Forum.
December Directory Update Now Live
The directory update for December is now live at Info Vilesilencer.
There are:
- 94 new general directories
- 18 new niche directories
We’ve relaxed the 500 Cap from this update, so the list has climbed to 549 directories. This is necessary to populate the general category prior to moving to the new back-end development.
To get your directory listed or identify any changes in the list please post in the Directory Update Thread at the Info Vilesilencer Forum.
Free Banner Advertising On Info Vilesilencer Forum
I’m offering free banner advertising on the Info Vilesilencer Forum, for directories (and associated) sites. See details below:
The Offer: 50 free banner ads, in rotation, run-of-site on Info Vilesilencer Forum
Availability: 43 remaining (at time of writing)
Valid period: The ads will run from November 16th until the new IVS site is launched (~approx Mar-Apr 08).
Whose Eligible?:
- Directory Owners (Free, Paid, Niche, Whatever)
- Directory Script Owners
- Directory of Directory Owners
- Directory List Owners
- Directory Forum Owners
- Directory Blog Owners
Price: Free
Catches:
- 1 ad per IVS member.
- Banner size is (480 x 60), no exceptions.
- 20 Post Count minimum - let’s face it, that is NOTHING!
If you are interested in signing up for this free advertising offer, please visit THIS THREAD on the forum.
On Leave: Melbourne Cup & Derby Day 2007
I’m off down to Melbourne for the VRC Derby Day (Saturday) and Emirates Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday), and will be enjoying a punt and a pint or two whilst down there.
I’ll see everyone when I get back 
Mac OS X Leopard: The Big Cat Turns Out To Be A Shitty Kitty
Apple has once again shown they are starting to evolve into a Microsoft-esque entity with the release of the latest OS X upgrade, Leopard.
The software release, for the most part, has been a complete nightmare for Apple and its customers with their technical support forum being bombarded by complaints from buyers claiming the OS had crashed their system (337 replies and counting).
The problem occurs when rebooting the Mac close to completing the installation process - the machine will lock up and a screen, ironically similar to the BSOD (blue screen of death) on Windows, will appear on the Mac rendering the machine virtually inoperable.
Apple has released 2 solutions to the install problem on Leopard, though they also chose to blame incompatible third party enhancement software as the culprit. However users have still reported the fault occurring despite having no third-party enhancement software installed on their machines.
Unsanity’s Application Enhancer was also identified as a possible cause, as it is believed to be incompatible with the upgrade.
The fault is so widespread that Apple’s telephone hotline is struggling to keep up with support calls, with callers waiting over an hour and more before reaching tech support.
I currently use a 2007 17″ Macbook Pro, so news of the disastrous release of the Leopard OS X software will ensure that I do not upgrade anytime soon. It is common for MS Windows releases to be super buggy until the first service pack is released (and that’s when the savvy buyers get the OS as they know the majority of release bugs are fixed) - Perhaps it is time for Apple users to adopt the same strategy. Wait till the 2nd or 3rd version of the release, to be sure they won’t experience the same issues.
Google Goliath vs. Little Melissa
NB: I wrote this post back in December 2006, but have released it today as it showcases another area (besides PR penalisation) where Google is being hypocritical. i.e. The area of content.
Now, before I get to the meat of this post, I better be very careful not to tread on any toes. I must avoid a legal wrangle with Goliath as I do not have $2Billion in spare change to settle with a slap on the wrist (and I most certainly do not want to spend any time in a Federal pound me in the ass prison.
This all started late last year as I was making a cynical private remark to one of the more respected members of the Info Vilesilencer Forum regarding search engine terms. I decided to reveal the top 10 search terms for the last 7 days of December for Info Vilesilencer (IVS). When I got to #10 I was suprised to find the keyword little-melissa sitting there. When I checked I found that IVS wasn’t even in the top 100 for that keyword. Yes, you are thinking what I am thinking. Some sicko’s have far too much time on their hands for what’s in their hands.
To allay any fears that I might be hosting any “inappropriate material”, the keyword little-melissa is present in a harmless joke in the Humour & Jokes forum. Nothing sordid or untoward there, just an appropriate, and semi-censored, use of the f-word.
Ok, so what’s so interesting about this keyword? Well clearly sicko’s are searching on it (present company excluded), and on Page 6 of Google as I was browsing through the listings trying to find exactly what number I had been posted at to get so much interest I noticed this juicy Google tidbit:
In response to a legal request submitted to Google, we have removed 1 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read more about the request at ChillingEffects.org.
You guessed it, Google had listed a site that contained Child Pornography (as the notice says) and the Internet Watch Foundation complained, Google was notified, and the listing was promptly removed. Clap, Clap! Does anyone else see a problem with this method of removing inappropriate content from the internet’s most used search engine?
A quick scan of “Other recent C&D’s” shows all 5 are Child Pornography, and all 5 relate to complaints made to Google. It’s been suggested in the past that the internet’s biggest directory, DMOZ, supports child pornography. I am not suggesting they do, however some very credible points are made in that thread, leading to the pertinent question - Why aren’t these giants of the internet stamping this inappropriate material out?
What I find unbelievably hypocritical about the whole thing is that people can have websites banned/penalised by Google for trivial SEO misdemeanours, whilst Google itself is hosting images that can only be described as absolutely pornographic. I’ve tried to join the dots on that, and it doesn’t meet up. Sorry, but wasting time banning someone that’s worked hard to try and get their site in some sort of position to be competitive, whilst others put up Child Pornography sites that dodge the radar is a misaligned focus methinks.
Back to the hypocrisy. Surely, by seeing that Google freely hosts pornographic images, people are encouraged to put up their own websites to make a buck from the countless searches they would get on that material? Why is there no age verification on standard adult material anyways?
p.s. On another datacenter, the jokes forum comes up on page 2 for the little-melissa keyword, that must be the listing that’s pulling all the interest (pardon the pun - heh!).