Is This Blog Worth $750?

I started at a local Craiglist post: cheap computers. I thought, cool. They came from a local computer "school" that closes down. Not a big surprise. Victoria is home to a lot of scam computer schools. I thought I'd check if my local "favorite" had finally imploded. Sadly no. But they are working on a new scam. It looks like they're scamming people for $750 to do up their blog:

blogs From $750

Last October, General Motors (GM) tiptoed into the blogosphere, quietly launching a blog to coincide with the 50th anniversary of its small-block V-8 engine -- the high-performance roar behind decades of Corvettes, Camaros, and other muscle cars.

Last October, General Motors (GM) tiptoed into the blogosphere, quietly launching a blog to coincide with the 50th anniversary of its small-block V-8 engine -- the high-performance roar behind decades of Corvettes, Camaros, and other muscle cars. The company's virgin blog has attracted a small, happy group of gearheads who write lovingly about power-train codes, horsepower modifications, and other riveting under-the-hood topics. "It was a safe group for us," admits Michael Wiley, GM's director of new media.

Encouraged by this early success, GM has moved into the blogging big time. In January it launched Fast Lane, an online forum hosted by the company's vocal -- and, it turns out, highly literate -- vice chairman Bob Lutz. "People were already talking about us all over the Internet," Wiley explains. "This blog was an attempt to get GM more involved in the dialogue and to get people talking to us. We see this as a direct line to enthusiasts, supporters -- and detractors."

It's working. The site, which focuses on topics such as GM design, new product launches, and business strategy, averages 4,000 to 5,000 hits per day from people around the world. Those consumers are talking back, and then some: Each posting receives between 60 and 100 comments, a mix of positive and negative reactions to Lutz's thoughts. Some are comically precise about what he should do next. Here's a recent posting by "Bruce," clearly a motivated GM consumer: "Mr. Lutz, how about a small, open air Hummer to compete with the Jeep Wrangler? Also, why not produce a stripped down (cloth seats, no a/c, eliminate many power features), no options, hard core (Z51) version of the Corvette (similar concept to the Porsche 911 RS America)? Call it the Stingray. It would appeal to the hardcore enthusiast, rather than the luxury, Grand Tourer market and could be sold for less. It would eliminate the need for a new Camaro."

The above is what they have to say about blogs. A whole lotta nothing. I have to assume that they may be cybersquatting on primo subdomains at Blogspot and Blogcharm and others. If I happen to find out if they've been cybersquatting on these, I won't waste any time passing my concerns to the companies who actually own those sub domains.

Did I mention that these guys do some kwality work (see below):

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