This was obviously an attempt at an April Fool’s Joke. I must say, I’m quite impressed with my WordPress/Google Logo

I was chatting to my cousin a couple of hours ago via IM, and he let slip about the news that Automattic had sold off WordPress to Google.

He knows this because he works with Matt Mullenweg, but he obviously doesn’t want me to “reveal his name” until the news is made public (which is going to happen in a few hours time apparently). So, for the purpose of this post, let’s call him Byron.

I asked if he minded if I copied and pasted a part of our conversation about it and he said he didn’t mind because the news would be released later today anyway. (I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact that by the time anybody reads my blog, it will have been announced already).

geniosity [09:40 PM]:

So, how much did Matt sell it for?!

Byron [09:40 PM]:

Sorry, can’t say that just yet . But let’s just say he’ll be able to buy that Jazz band he always talks about starting. It wasn’t quite a YouTube deal… Or maybe it was.

geniosity [09:42 PM]:

Who approached who?

Byron [09:43 PM]:

Google approached us. We mentioned that they didn’t need to buy it, because it’s not like we’re in it for the money, but they said that it would be better for their image if they owned the world’s most popular blogging software.

They were just tired of everybody complaining about the Blogger platform. It crashes, it’s insecure, and it’s just not as cool as WordPress. So they decided to throw in the towel. Don’t quote me on this, (ok, quote me ) but even Evan Williams (of Twitter fame and the creator of “Blogger”) is embarrassed at the state of Blogger.

geniosity [09:44 PM]:

So will they be moving all blogger blogs to the WordPress platform?

Byron [09:44 PM]:

That will eventually happen. It will take a couple of months, but thanks to the great WordPress community, there’s already a Blogger importer, so it will just be a case of converting all the boring themes on Blogspot into WP themes, and then ironing out a few of the minor “missing features” in the importer, and they’ll be good to go.

geniosity [09:45 PM]:

What’ll happen to the Automattic team?

Byron [09:46 PM]:

Well, we’ve still got other software that we can focus on. We’ll be working out of the Googleplex, so there’ll be free food (for a few months at least, because I hear they’re planning on limiting that due to the current global financial crisis).

geniosity [09:47 PM]:

And did u get anything from this.

Byron [09:48 PM]:

he he he… I did, and I’m REALLY happy with it…

geniosity [09:48 PM]:

When’s it going to be announced?

Byron [09:49 PM]:

Should be in the next few hours. You’ll probably see something on Matt Cutt’s blog some time on Wednesday morning because he’s also pretty excited about it. But we’ll see what he says. (Especially since he already uses WordPress for his blog).

So, there’ you have it. Was quite an interesting IM conversation.

I decided to try out creating a “Google Reader Application” by making use of the “Chromeless Chrome” functionality.

In the images (click on them for a larger look) you will see the 4 basic steps to creating the Chrome-less application:

1 – The initial web site (Google Reader) in a basic/standard Google Chrome browser. You can see it’s still in the normal browser chrome because of the tabs and URL bar, etc.

2 – Click on the “page” icon to the right of the URL bar and click on “Create application Shortctuts…”

3 – You will then have a couple of prompts to answer and you can save your shortcut to the desktop. You can see that Google Chrome has chosen the Favicon as the “application icon”.

4 – In this last screenshot you can see what the Google Reader app will look like, now that it doesn’t have the usual “browser chrome”. (See my previous article about Google Chrome for more info on that).

And, we now have a “Google Reader Application“, especially since we don’t really need an internet connection if you’ve enabled Google Gears for this site.

Making a killing money-wise, though.

Read this Idea for a scam. It’s genius.

And I have a feeling Taxi Drivers here in SA would make a FORTUNE!!!

found via Donncha’s blog

A humorous look at Education

Watch this video… It will make you think.

And it made me laugh.

found in Toni’s Garage

I’d love to see them enforce this. I mean, if New York bans iPods, I’d LOVE to see what Apple (and the man himself, Steve Jobs) says.

According to GulfNews.com:

And it is not just iPods. Kruger’s Bill also would ban using cell phones, Blackberries, video games or other electronic devices when crossing the street.

Kruger said a 21-year-old man in his district was killed last autumn when he stepped off the curb at the busy intersection while listening to music. And a 23-year-old iPod listener was killed on January 11.

Do you REALLY think making iPods illegal when crossing the road will make a difference? I don’t…

I didn’t authorize this book to be published, I have no idea who the publisher is and I certainly didn’t ask Amazon to email anyone.

This is regarding this free eBook: “Everyone’s an Expert”

Apparently Amazon is offering this book for sale, even though clicking the above link will get you the PDF version of this book free of charge from Seth’s website. They’re also claiming that it’s a new book, and in internet years, it’s about 14 years old (it was written in 2005)…

So, If you’d like to read it, go ahead, but don’t pay for it!

The father of three was lauded for his quick thinking and even quicker reflexes. Waiting for a downtown train on Tuesday, he saw Cameron Hollopeter, a 19-year-old film student, suffering from some kind of medical problem. After stumbling down the platform, Hollopeter, of Littleton, Massachusetts, fell onto the tracks with a train on its way into the station.

He says he’s not a hero?!? Guy’s got guts!

Read the full article here: US subway saviour says he’s no hero

And, on top of that, VISA keeps around 1-2% of the transaction fee. Works out to $0.17 for every $100 spent IN AMERICA!!!

I’d say they’re making a profit. But what do I know about that? %\