Use emails efficiently and effectively

Could you please teach me how I can block abc@def.com's e-mails from my gmail account?

From your gmail screen, click on Settings, which is the third link from the right of the top line. Then click on Filters, which is the fourth link from the left on the top line. Follow the instructions to filter messages. I would recommend not only setting up filters to block undesired messages, but also to forward messages automatically to other accounts, etc.

I am overwhelmed by the number of messages of a google group, but does not want to unsubscribe from it because I find the group important to me. What can I do?

There are many options. For example, you can access the google group site and set your delivery option to one a day.

If you know how to email,then you know how to blog

In the past, I had given workshops to teach people to blog using https://www.blogger.com.
In my future workshops, I will teach people to simply email post@posterous.com anything they wish to publish to a blog.

I can finish my workshop in less than a minute and have every confidence that everybody will start publishing to the web.

It takes no expertise and no cost to speak against injustice.

Stop hurting yourself and others with inconsistent data

I. Email is a terrible way to gather endorsement

Take a recent effort to enlist scholars to support 交大土木系劉俊秀教授 for his 新竹市長 bid as an example. I received such a request in an email and emailed back my endorsement on 2009-11-05. Professors 朱真一, 盧志華, 林宗光, 廖述宗 also promptly threw their weights behind 劉俊秀教授. Owing to the fact that email is a terrible way in gathering data of this nature, the lists of endorsers that are now circulating are different, inconsistent, incomplete and outdated. Here are three lists:

• An 2009-11-20 email from 台灣教授協會:
  
  學界支持劉俊秀市長記者會 將於 11/27 (周五) 上午 10 點 於新竹市林森路60號競選總部舉行 連絡電話 03-5 268 268
  誠摯邀請所有朋友一起來看看老朋友，一起來向劉市長表示最熱情的支持。
  

  各位學界與科技界的朋友，大家好：
  
  我們的好朋友，交大土木系劉俊秀教授，在民進黨最艱困的時刻，接受徵召參選新竹市市長。這幾個月鴨子划水的努力，已經有相當的回響，而且聲勢持續加溫。12月5日就要投票了，在最後一個月的衝刺期，請你參加聯署，給他關鍵的力量。
  
  這一場選戰，劉俊秀原可選擇婉拒，但他沒有；他選擇臨危受命，因為信念與勇氣，因為這不是明哲保身的退卻時刻。
  
  2008年國民黨大獲全勝掌控立法院；同年總統選舉，國民黨又以領先差距勝選。有見之士雖已預言一黨獨大的嚴重危害，但馬政府不顧民意蠻橫強幹的急統傾中，對中共的卑顏屈膝，對人民的傲慢，對治國的無能，還是超乎最壞的預期。現在的馬政府，府院、立院、法院、媒體，一條鞭；2009年和以後，台灣人民除了選票，只能坐以待斃。
  
  對台灣的政局與未來，我們憂心焦慮；對國民黨，我們無奈；對民進黨，我們也許不免失望；但我們沒有冷漠的餘地，我們更沒有放棄的權力。劉俊秀以毅然參選來擔當信念，我們用聯署來發揮影響力，喚回曾有的理想與熱情。
  
  新竹市需要政黨輪替，馬政府需要民意制衡。
  用選票給新竹市一個改變的機會，用地方選舉給馬政府一個反省的壓力。
  你，可以是關鍵力量。
  
  共同發起人：
  後援會會長 褚德三 交大
  榮譽會長 林明璋 交大(中研院院士)
  台教會會長 陳儀深 中研院
  
  鄭天佐(中研院院士)、廖述宗 (中央研究院院士，美國芝加哥大學教授)、
  
  
  紀國鐘、江進福、陳鄰安、洪慧念、林健正、楊谷洋、王耀德、高文芳、林貴林、吳宗信、蕭國模、蘇育德、林盈達、林清安、鄭復平、洪士林、林昌佑、黃炯憲、廖志中、吳永照、張良正、張憲國、陳誠直、趙文成、黃世昌、單信瑜、陳榮傑、楊賜麟、蔡春進、林秀幸、許維德、吳卓諭、柯朝欽、闕河鳴 (以上交大)、
  
  游志雲、呂忠津、王懷權、江永進、楊克峻、吳泉源、李丁讚、吳介民、古明君、金守民、黃倩玉、莊克士、周碧娥、祝平次、陳朝欽、陳茂生、陳萬益 (以上清華)、
  
  范文芳 (新竹教大)、
  曾建元(中華大學)、
  黃哲彥 (聖經書院)、
  
  何建明 (中央研究院)、
  楊信男、詹長權、高成炎、蔡丁貴、陳榮銳(台大)、
  施志汶、紀文鎮、楊瑞瑟、鄭湧涇 (台師大)、
  戴寶村、薛化元 (政大)、
  郭正典(台北榮總教學研究部)、
  傅大為、蔡東湖 (陽明)、
  林意楨 (淡江大學)、
  楊其文、楊聰賢 (台北藝大)、
  李筱峰 (台北教育大學)
  劉聰德 (台科大)
  林詠凱 (文化大學)、
  張正修 (開南大學)、
  劉初枝、何清人 (輔大)、
  張奉文 (中央大學)、
  廖宜恩、董建宏、戴憲弘 (中興)、
  郭錦津 (逢甲)、
  邱賜程 (僑光科技大學)、
  周德璋 (中正大學)、
  鄭瑞明、李漢偉、洪慶宜、卓春英、吳麗珍、許舜欽、張瑞吉(長榮大學)、
  楊澤泉、黃文宏、何明字、林明發、石豐宇、黃正雄、李輝煌(成大)、
  張振鵬 (台南科技大學)、
  范盛保 (崑山科大)、
  李忠潘 (中山大學)、
  吳樹民 (高雄醫學大學)、
  翁銘章 (高雄大學)、
  林鐵雄、鄭榮祿、江仲驊 (義守大學)、
  簡文通、陳淑恩、李佳言、胡惠文、洪廷甫、楊茹媛 (屏東科技大學)、
  謝若蘭 (東華大學)、
  劉如峰 (美國德州大學安德遜癌症中心)、
  王泰澤 (美國退休教授，NATPA會員)、
  柯玲真老師(台北教大)、
  陳永昌 (英國 Times-QS 世界大學排名評鑑評鑑委員)、
  許主峰 (台灣國際珍古德生態保育協會理事)、
  吳成三 (台灣的店)、
  林炳炎 (台電退休資深課長)、
  劉孟堅博士(冠積企業公司)、
  湯俊彥主任(永豐餘研究中心)
  .....名單持續增加中
  
  聯署書：
  姓名 單位 職稱 Email/手機
  
  請將聯署書資料填妥後回寄到 showtime.mayor@gmail.com

  後援會部落格聯絡信箱
  或寄 chongsin@faculty.nctu.edu.tw 給吳宗信,
  或寄 weidershu@gmail.com 給許維德
  
  劉俊秀市長競選總部網站
  http://mayor.hsinchu.org.tw/
  競選歌曲： 新竹之歌 李敏勇昨詞.詹宏達作曲[官網背景音樂]
  
  劉俊秀- 維基百科
  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%89%E4%BF%8A%E7%A7%80
  
• 劉俊秀市長競選總部網站
  

  共同發起人：
  後援會會長 褚德三 交大
  榮譽會長 林明璋 交大(中研院院士)
  台教會會長 陳儀深 中研院

  鄭天佐(中研院院士)、
  紀國鐘、江進福、陳鄰安、洪慧念、林健正、楊谷洋、王耀德、高文芳、林貴林、吳宗信、蘇育德、林盈達、林清安、鄭復平、洪士林、林昌佑、黃炯憲、廖志中、 吳永照、張良正、張憲國、陳誠直、趙文成、單信瑜、陳榮傑、楊賜麟、蔡春進、林秀幸、許維德、吳卓諭、柯朝欽、闕河鳴 (以上交大)、楊聰賢 (台北藝大/交大)、

  游志雲、呂忠津、王懷權、江永進、楊克峻、吳泉源、李丁讚、吳介民、古明君、金守民、黃倩玉、莊克士、周碧娥、祝平次、陳朝欽 (以上清華)、

  范文芳 (新竹教大)、曾建元(中華大學)、黃哲彥 (聖經書院)、

  楊信男、詹長權(台大)、傅大為(陽明)、劉初枝(輔大)、張奉文(中央大學)、廖宜恩 (中興)、鄭瑞明、李漢偉 (長榮大學)、楊澤泉 (成大)、范盛保 (崑山科大)、簡文通、陳淑恩、李佳言、胡惠文、洪廷甫、楊茹媛 (屏東科技大學)、柯玲真老師(台北教大)、劉孟堅博士(冠積企業公司)、湯俊彥主任(永豐餘研究中心)
  …..名單持續增加中

• 城市工程師 建設大新竹 3 大城市 大建設
  共同發起人：
  後援會會長 褚德三 交大
  榮譽會長 林明璋 交大(中研院院士)
  台教會會長 陳儀深 中研院
  
  鄭天佐(中研院院士)、廖述宗 (中央研究院院士，美國芝加哥大學教授)、
  
  
  紀國鐘、江進福、陳鄰安、洪慧念、林健正、楊谷洋、王耀德、高文芳、林貴林、吳宗信、蕭國模、蘇育德、林盈達、林清安、鄭復平、洪士林、林昌佑、黃炯憲、 廖志中、吳永照、張良正、張憲國、陳誠直、趙文成、黃世昌、單信瑜、陳榮傑、楊賜麟、葉弘德、蔡春進、林秀幸、許維德、吳卓諭、柯朝欽、闕河鳴 (以上交大)、
  
  游志雲、呂忠津、王懷權、江永進、楊克峻、吳泉源、李丁讚、吳介民、古明君、金守民、黃倩玉、莊克士、周碧娥、祝平次、陳朝欽、陳茂生、陳萬益 (以上清華)、
  
  范文芳 (新竹教大)、曾建元(中華大學)、黃哲彥 (聖經書院)、
  
  何建明、廖弘源、高明達、陳孟彰、施純傑、莊庭瑞 (中央研究院)、
  楊信男、詹長權、高成炎、蔡丁貴、陳榮銳、施信民、游偉絢 (台大)、
  莊萬壽、施志汶、紀文鎮、楊瑞瑟、鄭湧涇 (台師大)、
  戴寶村、薛化元 (政大)、
  郭正典(台北榮總教學研究部)、傅大為、蔡東湖、張學逸 (陽明)、
  林意楨 (淡江大學)、
  楊其文、楊聰賢 (台北藝大)、
  李筱峰 (台北教育大學)、
  劉聰德、 李漢銘 (台科大)、
  林詠凱 (文化大學)、
  張正修、彭百顯 (開南大學)、
  劉初枝、何清人 (輔大)、
  張奉文 (中央大學)、
  廖宜恩、董建宏、戴憲弘 (中興)、
  郭錦津、劉曜華 (逢甲)、
  邱賜程 (僑光科技大學)、
  周德璋 (中正大學)、
  鄭瑞明、李漢偉、洪慶宜、卓春英、吳麗珍、許舜欽、張瑞吉(長榮大學)、
  楊澤泉、黃文宏、何明字、林明發、石豐宇、黃正雄、李輝煌(成大)、
  張振鵬 (台南科技大學)、
  范盛保 (崑山科大)、
  李忠潘 (中山大學)、
  吳樹民 (高雄醫學大學)、
  翁銘章 (高雄大學)、
  林鐵雄、鄭榮祿、江仲驊 (義守大學)、
  簡文通、陳淑恩、李佳言、胡惠文、洪廷甫、楊茹媛 (屏東科技大學)、
  謝若蘭、沈乃慧 (東華大學)、
  劉如峰 (美國德州大學安德遜癌症中心)、
  王泰澤 (美國退休教授，NATPA會員)、
  柯玲真老師(台北教大)、
  陳永昌 (英國 Times-QS 世界大學排名評鑑評鑑委員)、
  許主峰 (台灣國際珍古德生態保育協會理事)、
  吳成三 (台灣的店)、
  黃帝穎律師 (台灣青年智庫法律與政府研究中心主任、
  翁敏航博士 (金屬工業研發中心)
  林炳炎 (台電退休資深課長)、
  劉孟堅博士(冠積企業公司)、
  湯俊彥主任(永豐餘研究中心)
  .....名單持續增加中
  

II. Punished by check company DELUXE Corp

I ordered new checks from my bank. But the new checks did not come after three weeks. Why? It turned out that the check company DELUXE Corp printed and mailed out new checks using my old address. The checks with wrong address were returned to DELUXE Corp while I waited for these checks. Everybody was a loser except perhaps the Postal service. All the suffering could have been avoided if the DELUXE Corp was smart enough to use my updated address from the bank.

Don't be conned into giving away your account information

I got this message in my Gmail INBOX today. You would think that Gmail would catch this phishing attack, but it did not! The link I was invited to click looks completely legit: http://www.gmail.com/account. As I clicked, I was invited to log in my Google acount. I submitted my username/password into this normal looking Gmail login screen, knowing that my username and password was being harvested. In two seconds, I tried to access this google account; but I could not, because the account's password had been changed. It took about ten seconds to reset the account password to reclaim the ownership of this account.

How did I know this was a phishing attack? Because the link address (URL) behind (don't click) http://www.gmail.com/account is http://gmail.serveuser.com:8080/accounts/google/accounts/ServiceLoging/service=mail/3A2F2F3Dhtml/gmail.php

So when I click the link, I am not viewing a google page, but a page from an outfit called serveuser.com.

If you already fell for this, immediately change your password to reclaim your account. Otherwise, the consequence can be serious.

Subject: Urgent Notice: Your Gmail account will be blocked
From: Gmail Group

Dear User
Your account due to unusual account activity will be blocked, which may
be caused by the following

1.In the short period of time receiving, deleting, or downloading large
amounts of mail (via POP).

2.sending a large number of undeliverable messages (returned mail).

3.You used third-party software that automatically log in to your account.

4.Browser-related issues. You may need to clear your browser's Cookie.

To not affect your normal use, please log on the following link to activate account

http://www.gmail.com/account

Advices on mailers and Google Groups

Advice on mailers:

• Stop (today, not next month) using any mailer that does not allow threaded presentation of messages. Use mailers that allow both threaded and un-threaded presentations.
• Stop (today, not next month) using any mailer that does not allow you to filter unwanted messages intuitively and quickly.
• Use mailers that allow drag and drop, shift-clicking and control-clicking.
  

Advice on Google Groups:

• If you are a member of a Google Group, you should (read MUST) have a Google account. Your Google account will make your life much easier. It allows you (after log in)
  • to read and search your Google group mail archives. Note that a corollary of this is that you do not need to store any of your group messages.
  • to change your group status. For example, you can opt for one digest message a day when you are overwhelmed by the volume of the messages, or even to opt for no mail.
    

How to lie in the Internet age? Don't!

In the Internet age, almost all lies will be caught. Once a lie is recorded, it lives forever. The liar and his offspring have to live with the disgrace and notoriety - there is no relief, ever.

Let me use Ma Ying-Jeou as an example. Notwithstanding the KMT/CCP media packaging, the many news and videos showing how he lies, how he deposited public fund into his personal bank accounts, ... will live forever. Anyone, anywhere can watch and read them anytime and say: What a miserable and shameless liar! Ma and his offspring will need to live with these ever growing mountains of records detailing his atrocities. For example, this youTube video 戳破馬英九不承認特別費是公費 will live forever, played again and again. There is nothing Ma's makeup artists or KMT/CCP historians can do.

Computer literacy can save Taiwan

At this moment in human civilization, a people, such as 23,000,000 Taiwanese, have the power of making a statement that the world will hear right away. For example, they can sign an electronic statement that says

CCP and KMT keep on spreading a lie that Taiwan is part of china against historical facts. Taiwanese are not Chinese and do not want to be Chinese.

I now describe how to start with nothing in the morning, but collect 10,000,000 signatures by the end of the day.

1. Create an endorsement web page using one of the many free petition hosting sites or alternatives such as Google spreasheet
   
2. Email out request for endorsement
3. Get foot soldiers to go door-to-door, Si-Men-Ding, Department Stores, Bullet Trains Stations, ... with a notebook computer quipped with a 3G device for Internet access to gather signatures. This has the added benefit of connecting to voters in meaningful ways.
   

Will this work? It will if enough people want to make it happen.

This is extremely attractive because

• it cost little money to carry out
• it does not take a committee to approve or debate to no end. A person can start the project. Whether it succeeds in collecting enough signature is a reflection of people's will.
• if you do not succeed, keep on trying until you do
  
• remember that Taiwan is not democratic because KMT never allows people the birthrights of referendum. Electronic signing/voting is a low-cost way to tell KMT that we do not need its permission for referendum. Electronic voting is the next generation referendum. We are paving ways to a democratic country.