AsiaKO.com

Come on, AsiaKO.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article, dated October 17, 2017, is titled: "2018: THE YEAR OF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY CRAZE"

A WIRED article from December 16, 2017, is titled: "2018: THE YEAR OF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY CRAZE"

Your opening:

Every successful new technology undergoes a Cambrian Era-style explosion of growth in which we try to use it for everything. Email, search, social networking—each passed through its “this will solve all our problems!” phase before we figured out what its best applications and limitations were. With the Bitcoin bubble testing astronomical prices every day, cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that drives them are now taking their turn in this one-tech-fits-all role.

The opening from the Wired article:

Every successful new technology undergoes a Cambrian Era-style explosion of growth in which we try to use it for everything. Email, search, social networking—each passed through its “this will solve all our problems!” phase before we figured out what its best applications and limitations were. With the Bitcoin bubble testing astronomical prices every day, cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that drives them are now taking their turn in this one-tech-fits-all role.

Your post has an embedded link for a different WIRED article which was published December 6, which means the "October 17" date next to your byline was fudged.  So you're using somebody else's content, plus your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

Newstime360.co

Come on, Newstime360.co, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 20, 2017, is title: "Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds"

A New Yorker article from February 27, 2017, is titled: "Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds"

Your opening:

In 1975, researchers at Stanford invited a group of undergraduates to take part in a study about suicide. They were presented with pairs of suicide notes. In each pair, one note had been composed by a random individual, the other by a person who had subsequently taken his own life. The students were then asked to distinguish between the genuine notes and the fake ones.

The opening from The New Yorker:

In 1975, researchers at Stanford invited a group of undergraduates to take part in a study about suicide. They were presented with pairs of suicide notes. In each pair, one note had been composed by a random individual, the other by a person who had subsequently taken his own life. The students were then asked to distinguish between the genuine notes and the fake ones.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy. 

Bloomsberg.co

Come on, Bloomsberg.co, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 26, 2017, is titled: "Original ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Stars on Regrets, Triumphs and a $2 Million Snack Budget"

A Hollywood Reporter article from May 28, 2017, is titled: "Original 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Stars on Regrets, Triumphs and a $2 Million Snack Budget"

Your opening:

When Disney’s original Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, the tale following a rowdy group of pirates across the seas was almost as much of an adventure behind the scenes as it was onscreen.

Under the direction of Gore Verbinski (Pirates 1-3) and Rob Marshall (Pirates 4), the quartet of films (grossing $3.73 billion worldwide) follows Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow through a swashbuckling adventure that continues with the release of the fifth installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, which hit theaters on Friday.

The opening from the Hollywood Reporter:

When Disney's original Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, the tale following a rowdy group of pirates across the seas was almost as much of an adventure behind the scenes as it was onscreen. 

Under the direction of Gore Verbinski (Pirates 1-3) and Rob Marshall (Pirates 4), the quartet of films (grossing $3.73 billion worldwide) follows Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow through a swashbuckling adventure that continues with the release of the fifth installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, which hit theaters on Friday.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

BingoDot.info

Come on, Bingodot.info, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 21 is titled: "Netflix Orders Sequel to Will Smith’s Bright, Renews Dark."

A Comic Book Resource article from December 21 is titled: "Netflix Orders Sequel to Will Smith’s Bright, Renews Dark."

Your opening:

Netflix has been releasing plenty of new content to binge this winter, and while it hasn’t even been released, the streaming service has ordered a follow up to the movie Bright. Its recently released cult-hit series Dark has also been renewed for a second season.

The opening from Comic Book Resources:

Netflix has been releasing plenty of new content to binge this winter, and while it hasn’t even been released, the streaming service has ordered a follow up to the movie Bright. Its recently released cult-hit series Dark has also been renewed for a second season.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

WWE domains

I was listening to Wrestlenomics Radio the other night, and the hosts were discussing XFL and the latest news about WWE's trademarks.  It made me think about WWE's web domains.  I don't know if Mookieghana or anyone else has explored this particular topic yet...

The XFL.com domain is registered to Lauren Dienes-Middlen, at the e-mail address Lauren.Middlen@wwecorp.com.  (The site is down right now.)  I went to Whoisology and noticed 920 domains were registered to Lauren.Middlen@wwecorp.com as of June, 2017.  Whoisology tends to lag behind other WhoIs websites in terms of updates, but its archive produces more results than similar databases.

Below are the 920 domains (after the jump break):

TrendSetNews.com

Come on, TrendSetNews.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 19, 2017, is titled: "Here’s Courtney Love, trying to warn people about Harvey Weinstein back in 2005."

An AV Club article from October 14, 2017 is titled: "Here’s Courtney Love, trying to warn people about Harvey Weinstein back in 2005."

Your opening:

Part of the gut-churning strangeness surrounding Hollywood’s ongoing Harvey Weinstein scandal is how quickly it’s become clear that Weinstein’s alleged abuses really were an “open” secret; it’s now apparent that a lot of people knew what “Harvey” was like around women, and almost none of them said anything (outside of a handful of inside-baseball jokes) across years of painful encounters, awkward meetings, and outright (alleged) assault. Which is what makes the following clip of Courtney Love at the 2005 Comedy Central Roast Of Pamela Anderson so striking: Not only does she try, in plain English, to warn women away from Weinstein’s grasp, but she’s also very clearly nervous—an emotion we don’t typically associate with Love’s public persona—to be doing so.

The opening from AV Club:

Part of the gut-churning strangeness surrounding Hollywood’s ongoing Harvey Weinstein scandal is how quickly it’s become clear that Weinstein’s alleged abuses really were an “open” secret; it’s now apparent that a lot of people knew what “Harvey” was like around women, and almost none of them said anything (outside of a handful of inside-baseball jokes) across years of painful encounters, awkward meetings, and outright (alleged) assault. Which is what makes the following clip of Courtney Love at the 2005 Comedy Central Roast Of Pamela Anderson so striking: Not only does she try, in plain English, to warn women away from Weinstein’s grasp, but she’s also very clearly nervous—an emotion we don’t typically associate with Love’s public persona—to be doing so.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

VarietyWires.co

Come on, VarietyWires.co, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 15, 2017, is titled: "Kevin Nash to Donate Brain for CTE Research: Latest Comments and Reaction."

A Bleacher Report article from March 2, 2016, is titled: "Kevin Nash to Donate Brain for CTE Research: Latest Comments and Reaction."

Your opening:

Former WWE Superstar Kevin Nash will donate his brain and spinal cord to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation after his death, he told ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein on Wednesday.

The opening from Bleacher Report:

Former WWE Superstar Kevin Nash will donate his brain and spinal cord to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation after his death, he told ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein on Wednesday. 

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

DynastyNow.com

Come on, DynastyNow.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 11 is titled: "Netflix Isn't Killing Movies, Hollywood Studios and Theaters Are."

An Inverse article from May 19, 2017, is titled: "Netflix Isn't Killing Movies, Hollywood Studios and Theaters Are."

Your opening:

There is nothing like seeing a good movie in a movie theater. The big screen, dark room, and experiencing something profound with a group of strangers — it’s the ideal cinematic experience, a tradition handed down from generation to generation. If only there were more good movies in theaters.

The opening from Inverse:

here is nothing like seeing a good movie in a movie theater. The big screen, dark room, and experiencing something profound with a group of strangers — it’s the ideal cinematic experience, a tradition handed down from generation to generation. If only there were more good movies in theaters.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

"The Senate"

The #2 post of all time on /r/PrequelMemes is a picture of Senator Palpatine, and the title is:

The Senate. Upvote this so that people see it when they Google "The Senate".

I don't think this trick works.  Because when I google "The Senate" and check the images, that photo of Palpatine isn't anywhere near the top.  The only photo of Palpatine that appear in the first three rows is actually from KnowYourMeme.com:.

FoxTimeToday.com

Come on, FoxTimeToday.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 8, 2017, is titled: "Colorado's Investment In IUDs And Other Fire-And-Forget Birthcontrol Produced A 'Miracle'"

A BoingBoing article from April 9, 2017 is titled: "Colorado's investment in IUDs and other fire-and-forget birthcontrol produced a 'miracle'"

Your opening:

The Colorado Family Planning Initiative spent comparatively small sums making IUDs and other long-term birth control methods (such as implants and injections) available to women, through a “no wrong door” approach that let women start their journey through a variety of agencies, and included after-school and other counseling services, and also provided birth control to women on maternity wards before they went home with their babies.

The opening from BoingBoing:

The Colorado Family Planning Initiative spent comparatively small sums making IUDs and other long-term birth control methods (such as implants and injections) available to women, through a "no wrong door" approach that let women start their journey through a variety of agencies, and included after-school and other counseling services, and also provided birth control to women on maternity wards before they went home with their babies.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

TheGolder.com

Come on, TheGolder.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 5, 2017, is titled: "7 Things You Might Not Know About Calvin and Hobbes."

A Mental Floss article from October 21, 2013, is titled: "7 Things You Might Not Know About Calvin and Hobbes."

Your opening:

Though we can’t pick your friends, we strongly encourage you to ostracize anyone who expresses disinterest or disdain for Calvin and Hobbes, the brilliant comic strip illustrated by Bill Watterson from 1985 to 1995. For the December 2013 issue of mental_floss magazine, we scored a rare interview with the famously private Mr. Watterson. Here are seven more notes about the author, the boy, and his stuffed tiger. Tuna fish sandwich and toboggan optional.

Mental Floss's opening:

Though we can’t pick your friends, we strongly encourage you to ostracize anyone who expresses disinterest or disdain for Calvin and Hobbes, the brilliant comic strip illustrated by Bill Watterson from 1985 to 1995. For the December 2013 issue of mental_floss magazine, we scored a rare interview with the famously private Mr. Watterson. Here are seven more notes about the author, the boy, and his stuffed tiger. Tuna fish sandwich and toboggan optional.

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

TheTimeWire.com

Come on, TheTimeWire.com, who are you trying to fool?

Your article from December 6, 2017, is titled: "Doctor Behind Vaccine-Autism Link Lose License."

A Time article from May 24, 2010, is titled: "Doctor behind vaccine-autism link loses license."

Your opening:

It took nearly six months but the General Medical Council (GMC) in the U.K. has pulled Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s license to practice medicine in the United Kingdom. 

Wakefield is the researcher who nearly single-handedly fueled parental concerns about the link between vaccines and autism.

The opening from Time:

It took nearly six months but the General Medical Council (GMC) in the U.K. has pulled Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s license to practice medicine in the United Kingdom. 

Wakefield is the researcher who nearly single-handedly fueled parental concerns about the link between vaccines and autism. 

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy.

USATimesInc.com

Come on, USATimesInc.com, who are you trying to fool? 

Your article from December 6, 2017, is titled: "Nicolas Cage on Turning Down ‘Dumb & Dumber,’ Winning Another Oscar and the Movie that Made Him Change His Name"

A Hollywood Reporter article from February 14, 2012, is titled: "Nicolas Cage on Turning Down 'Dumb & Dumber,' Winning Another Oscar and the Movie that Made Him Change His Name"

Your opening:

Nicolas Cage may be known for his tough-guy roles in action films like Face/Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds and National Treasure. 

But, if things had gone differently, he may have been known for a very different role. 

While doing press for his upcoming Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengence (opening Feb. 17), the actor discussed a role he almost took: Jim Carrey‘s sidekick in Dumb & Dumber.

The opening from the Hollywood Reporter:

Nicolas Cage may be known for his tough-guy roles in action films like Face/Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds and National Treasure.  

But, if things had gone differently, he may have been known for a very different role. 

While doing press for his upcoming Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengence (opening Feb. 17), the actor discussed a role he almost took: Jim Carrey's sidekick in Dumb & Dumber. 

You're using somebody else's content, and your site has AdSense ads?  That's just sketchy. 

The largest "Black Lives Matter" page on Facebook is probably a sham

There's a Black Lives Matter page on Facebook with 695,000 followers.  I'll refer to it as BlackLivesMatter1, because the URL is www.facebook.com/blacklivesmatter1.

695,000 people is a big following.  By comparison, the verified "Black Lives Matter" Facebook page has a bit over 300,000 followers.

The page's timeline is filled with memes, photos, and news headlines relevant to the Black Lives Matter movement.  However, the person running BlackLivesMatter1 has occasionally gone off message and posted items that were either false or cooked up by trolls:

BlackLivesMatter1 has also shared headlines from partisan right-wing sites like TruthFeedNews.com and USAForToday.com.  On the surface, this doesn't make sense.  It's like whoever runs BlackLivesMatter1 doesn't pay attention to the details of what they post.

Another strange feature is that, whenever BlackLivesMatter1 posts a headline, the outbound link doesn't go to the actual news source.  Instead the link goes to an aggregation site, www.blacklivesmatter.media, which has a layout similar to Reddit.  A pop-up immediately asks you to subscribe to a newsletter (see below).  After closing the pop-up, you have to scroll past two rows of AdChoices, then click the headline again to finally view the story.  My understanding is that blacklivesmatter.media and the BlackLivesMatter1 Facebook page are controlled by the same people.

The domain blacklivesmatter.media was registered by an Australian man named Ian Mackay on October 15, 2016, using the e-mail address blacklivesmatter1@hotmail.com.  I sent Ian an e-mail back in September inquiring about BlackLivesMatter1, but it wasn't until this past Monday that I finally reached him on the phone.  We had a brief, static-filled conversation.  Later, Ian e-mailed me and explained that, while he was the original owner of blacklivesmatter.media, he was "not the only person" associated with the site.  He therefore wanted to run any questions I had by some other people first.

Among other things, I was curious how much money BlackLivesMatter1 has raised through its various DonorBox pages, including (but not limited to): Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter Media, Black Lives Matter Membership, Standing Rock Support, and Scholarship Program 1.  These pages don't have any ongoing tallies, but I found many examples of people sharing links to them on Twitter and Facebook:

 
BlackLivesMatter1 doesn't try to organize rallies or affect politics.  Instead, their mission is to expose racism, and they accomplish that by sharing stories on social media.  In theory, it's an admirable goal, but parts of the presentation made me suspicious.  For instance, the About section on Facebook says: "We put every spare dollar we have into paid ads on Facebook to boost the most shocking stories."  The main DonorBox page goes further, claiming:

We also help people who can't get support otherwise that are victims of hate crimes or have been affected by racism...we can't often help them financially but try our best to get them free legal advice or some place to stay with one of our network, we now also face a legal attack ourselves from the right wing media outlets trying to silence us 

In addition to soliciting donations, BlackLivesMatter1 makes money by selling items through its online shop.  The Facebook page is strewn with commerce links for t-shirts, hoodies, and baseball caps.  These orders are processed through MyBigCommerce (which is similar to Shopify), and many of the listings have a parenthetical message: "Proceeds donated to expose racism."  There's also a Patreon page for BlackLivesMatter1 (set up in September), with four patrons. 

I wound up sending Ian Mackay 10 questions, many of which focused on financial matters:  I asked if it's true BlackLivesMatter1 faces a legal attack from the right-wing media.  I asked how much money BlackLivesMatter1 has raised through its Donorbox pages.  I asked for an estimate of how much money BlackLivesMatter1 has made through the combination of AdSense, MyBigCommerce, and Patreon.  And I asked how much money BlackLivesMatter1 has spent boosting stories on Facebook.

I also lobbed some softballs, like "Do you consider yourself to be part of the Black Lives Matter movement?" and "What ethnicity are you?"

Several things happened after I sent the e-mail.  The BlackLivesMatter1 Facebook page removed its "Donate" button.  The About page on Facebook was edited, and a couple external links to blacklivesmatter.media and blacklivesmattergifts.com were deleted.  Most of the DonorBox pages disappeared.  The previous 8 months' worth of newsletters sent by BlackLivesMatter1 were erased from the email campaign archive.  And the "Donate" button was removed from the blacklivesmatter.media homepage.

I'll go out on a limb here and say those things wouldn't have happened if BlackLivesMatter1 were a legitimate group.

On Wednesday, Ian sent another e-mail:

Hi Jeremy,

As I told you I a m the original owner but there are others associated with it now as I buy and sell a lot of domain names as a hobby.  I passed your details and questions on to who I think has it now, hopefully they can help you.  I took a look at your website www.manicnews.com<http://www.manicnews.com> and I do not want my personal or any other of my details published on your website or anywhere else online or otherwise for that matter by you or anyone else, I'd like to make that clear.  Please let me know if there is anything further.

I never received an e-mail from the "others," and a follow-up exchange with Ian yielded no new information.

My hunch is that whoever currently runs BlackLivesMatter1 is trying to make some money off the back of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Still, I'm surprised the page has flown under the media's radar when you consider the current political climate.  A few months ago, CNN reported that Russian trolls were posing as Black Lives Matter activists on Facebook and Twitter.  One of the trolls' Facebook pages, Blacktivists, had 360,000 likes. which was considered a very big number by CNN's Dylan Byers.  I expected, in light of that report, that more people would start paying attention to who runs the popular activist pages on Facebook.