Feed The Beagle!

I've recently noticed a long string of "Email Verification" websites surfacing.  The one I'm choosing to make an example of is "Verify-Email.org"  and for good reason. 

If you look at the small print at the bottom of the page at the copy right, you'll notice a link for "Email Software".  When you visit that link, it takes you to the companies website, email-unlimited.com.  The company itself is a bulk email/marketing company, and if you put 2 and 2 together, you get a spam trap! 

I don't advise using any of these sites, they're all the same.  If you'd like to wax intellectual on the logistics of why they can't possibly work on any legal level, let me know.  The truth of the matter is that these companies who actually charge for this service...  are charging you to build bulk mail lists for them and sending letting you know if the domain is valid or not.  Most companies have protection up to defer it's query so unless you plan on checking the emails of smaller private websites, who don't have the where-with-all to install security, they're useless and stealing your emails =p 


cheers^^

ps: lifehacker even had an article up about the site which was removed due to the discovery of this particular "Email Verfication" website as being a spam trap. 
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Edited:  It turns out it actually works with some sites and not with others, but it's completely independent to the mailing system.  The problem here is that it checks first against "MX Records" and then if there are none, then by domain validity. 

The MX record in layman's terms is simply a map provided by the domain "xyz.com" to the server hosting that specific mailbox on it.  If these records exist, than you may or may not have an accurate representation of whether the email does in fact exist.  The reason this is questionable is because if the MX record has orders to route any "email validation requests" or emails to a specific server designed to handle spam content, then it would return as being valid by default.  Any "email validation request" will return as being existent b/c it's sending all unknown requests to the server, and the site sees that the request has been sent to a server, hence the return is "Valid". 

Most large firms and companies have similar spam filters in tact to prevent email abuse before it becomes an individual/per user account problem.  There are several other methods for hiding email validity that these companies use to protect their employees, servers, and general interests. 

In short, will this email checker work...  you'll never know 100%.  It will vary company by company, by security administrator, by need for deterrents. 

With the near completion of the SourceCon Newsletter Name Contest coming to an end, they're currently down to 6 possible choices!  We need your help, so please vote as soon as possible!  You can vote here: http://sourcecon.wufoo.com/forms/sourcecon-newsletter-name-contest/! 

Cheers^^

It’s been whispered through the blogs, wikis, IMs, and discussion groups that SourceCon is getting ready for something new…. 
 
Keep your eyes peeled as 2008 begins. New website, new community, and new newsletter! 
 
You asked for it, and SourceCon is bringing it to you: 
A resource dedicated to the promotion, education, and advancement of the research and sourcing function. 
A monthly news piece to quench your thirst for sourcing knowledge. 
The premiere resource for the sourcing community. 
 
Featuring researching tips and tricks, best practices, Q&A, and articles written by YOU, for YOU. 
 
So what is this awesome newsletter called? WE DON’T KNOW YET! 
 
That’s right – SourceCon has a fabulous newsletter ready to bring to you, but it needs a name. 
We would like for YOU to name it. 
And we would like to reward you for doing so! 
 
To enter the Name the SourceCon Newsletter contest, please submit your entry here. 
 
The top 5 entries will be featured on the NEW SourceCon website (so new it's not even live yet!) and you will be able to vote for your favorite one there. The winning entry will have the honor of naming the newsletter, and will also receive a prize. 
 
Please keep your eyes on the blogs! More will be available soon. 
 
For additional information/questions, please send an email to SourceCon here.

Best of wishes!  Keep up all the great work! 

Today I began a new career path!  This morning at 9am I officially became a consultant for Deloitte!  No more full cycle recruiting for me!  Big kudos to my new boss, Suzy Tonini!  (Yes, I can hardly believe it myself, it's the best news I've had in a long time =] )  and also an extra big kudos to my employer, Leslie O'Connor at Search Wizards! 

Not that I did a whole lot of actual recruiting blogging to begin with, but now I can say I'm going to be completely focused on internet research technique, tips, and tricks!  Look forward to a LOT of great things =]

Cheers^^

Yep, now you can add a photo to your linkedin profile!  How much fun is this?   A lot I say! 

Cheers^^

Show your support and pre-order the film so they know how badly we all want it to return full time!  Amazon is currently selling it for only $19.99!  Go for it! 

http://www.amazon.com/Futurama-Movie-Benders-Big-Score/dp/B000UZDO62

Cheers^^

It's official.  I've made the transition from full life cycle recruiter to full internet research.  I'm psyched.  More details to come =]

I just got into a debate with a local Verizon rep over something which I've always known but something which particularly irked me. 

For those of you who use Verizon for your mobile carrier, using the 1 button or *86 to check your voicemail, it actually counts against your minutes.  If you dial out your own number and call it to check your voicemail however, it doesn't as you're making an IN-Network call.  What kind of BS is that... really.  Shame on Verizon.

On the upside they have some new plans which look quite nice and you should definitely check them out. 

Cheers^^