Is this Site Down, or is it Just Me?

If you've ever browsed to a web site and got an HTTP error, you're familiar with the question: "is this site down for everyone, or is it just me?". In a world of firewalls, proxies and workplace filters, one site dares to answer this question: downforeveryoneorjustme.com.

Simply type in the site you want to visit and downfor... will tell you if it's really down, or is your firewall acting up again. Very useful.

Beware execcareerhunt.com

I just received the following email:

Your resume came to me through one of our partners and we would like to set an appointment to meet with you. At Advantage Associates California, we help build relationships to assist senior executives and managers find the best jobs in the San Jose area. We steward our clients careers, maximizing their earning potential and job satisfaction.

We provide unique tools and technology that assist our clients in identifying and pursuing the best career opportunities.

If you are interested in learning more, please reply to sanjose@execcareerhunt.com and attach the most current version of your resume and we will call you to set a time to meet.

Robin
Executive Administrator

If you would like to be removed from receiving any more emails, please reply back with unsubscribe in the subject line.

I immediately became suspicious:

1. Who are they and where did they get my personal address?
2. Why would anyone serious sign with just his first name?
3. Why is the company called "Advantage Associates California", yet the address says "execcareerhunt.com"?
4. Why does the last line offer the opportunity to "unsubscribe" - like any other spam email?
5. Finally, the domain execcareerhunt.com does not return any HTML page.
   

A very short Google search later, I found this great post in the Geeks-R-Us blog, detailing all you need to know about these scammers. The amount of comments show many other people received this email or fell for it. One of the comments actually explains how to reseach these scam domains safely, using Telnet instead of your browser.

Bottom line: Beware unsolicited email (and Nigerian dignitaries who would like to share their ill-gained profits with you ).

Important note: while GMail didn't flag this email as spam, Windows Live Mail did. Good job Microsoft.

Fancy a cuppa gov?

This week I'm in Halifax, UK, visiting a customer. Just landed not long ago, still jetlagged and shivering from the weather change.
Being in Yorkshire, the people here speak with a heavy accent. So heavy in fact, that I sometimes can't understand a word.

Some of my conversations so far were hilarious (to me, at least ). I either got the gist of things, or just replied with a noncommittal "yes" or "no" at my end of the conversation. I couldn't even pronounce the address I was looking for (try it: "Dean Clough").

To fully experience a Yorkshire conversation, just speak at 3x the normal speed, switch every "o" with "u", and the word "my" with "me". Also, for good measure, add the word "cheers" at the end of every third sentence. To fully grasp the situation, try saying the following sentence out loud:

we had a row because me yungest fancies man U

Which was my cab driver's way of telling me that his youngest son is a fan of Manchester United, while he favors Liverpool (UK Premiere League football teams), leading to some arguments around their dinner table.

This all reminded me of the scene from the movie Snatch, where Brad Pitt plays a Pikey (sort of an English Gypsy) speaking his unique version of English:

This is going to be a fun week