I just received a love not from Matt Mullenweg and WordPress.org — here’s a full-text copy of you to enjoy if you’re not on the WordPress.org mailing list:

Subject: WordPress hasn’t forgotten you, we just don’t write
From: Matt Mullenweg

Howdy.

Long time no talk. I take that back — criminally long. I think this is the first message we’ve sent to the WordPress.org announcement mailing list in about four years. That’s older than AJAX!

Where to begin? Since the last newsletter we’ve added themes, plugins, multiple categories, sub-categories, tags, static pages, WYSIWYG, widgets, update notification, post revisions, and colors other than black and white. But most recently…

* WordPress 2.6 *

WordPress 2.6 has cool stuff like wiki-like revision tracking, Gears integration, theme previews, and a new and improved quick-posting interface. Read all about it here:

http://wordpress.org/development/2008/07/wordpress-26-tyner/

If you’re into MU (multi-user), version 2.6 of that is also available.

* iPhone iPhone! *

WordPress for iPhone went from being “fashionably late” to one of the top free apps available in the Apple store. We just released version 1.1, which fixes little things like, oh, crashing if you had an umlaut in your post. We are no longer anti-umlaut. If you try it out, be sure to leave us a review in the app store! It helps a ton.

http://iphone.wordpress.org/

* Theme Meme *

No longer do you have to stumble across the internet looking for themes-that-don’t-suck. Now you can stumble across WordPress.org on our new theme directory, which has more than 100 themes already:

http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

* WordCamp San Francisco *

On August 16th we’re having the best and brightest in the WordPress world gather in San Francisco for a day of edification and mischief. Tickets are going fast, so sign up here:

http://2008.sf.wordcamp.org/

San Francisco is enjoying weather in the low 70s, so it’s a great escape if you’re someplace hot. Want to experience WordCamp closer to home? There’s a ton around the world:

http://central.wordcamp.org/

* FaceWhat? *

The kids these days are spending all their time on something called Facebook. Apparently you can “friend” the WordPress group here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/WordPress/6427302910

Now get off my lawn!

* Thank You *

Thanks for reading, and for blogging with us. We’ll try to do these more often, as we strive to keep you in “the loop” on all things WordPress.

Forever yours,

Matt
http://ma.tt | http://wordpress.org

“Martin Summers, the Former East European projects officer for the New Economics Foundation talks about present day money matters as we slide down a slippery slope.”

Via YouTube via Memes.org, The Coming Economic Collapse

I spend a lot of time Twittering over at twitter.com/chrisabraham. I have journaled my first days in Berlin and my continuing experiences in Berlin on Twitter. Well, I just discovered Tweeterboard and am not surprised by the rankings. Chris Brogan, Jim Long, and Robert Scoble dominate, of course. I am not nearly as impressed by my Twitterings, alas. You can see how I get love and how I give love, too. Very intense and a little spooky. The Tweeterboard is yet another top-100 list I am not on. Tweeterboard even tracks all of the links that I have dropped into Twitter:

1. How Did Leonid Rozhetskin Get to Sundance? Finance! | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

2. » Wombagging – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

3. » Shamsparency – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

4. » Search Moptimization – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

5. » Formalizing Our AHLLC Menu of Services – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

6. Sundance Selects L+E Productions’ Hamlet II < Chris Abraham

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

7. A Leonid Rozhetskin Film in Sundance | Chris Abraham

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

8. Our Top 20 Favorite Memes of All Time | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

9. Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses | culture, science, technology, politics, religion, and conspiracy through a memetic lens

   First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

10. » The Value of Earned Media Over Paid Media – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 13 2007

11. Caught at Schneerot Bar: Libia, Kike, Frank, and Me < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 12 2007

12. » Follow up on Otto vs. Amazon – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 12 2007

13. » Paradigm shift, stage of life, or a bit of both? – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 12 2007

14. Catch Today’s Favorites on Memes.org! | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 11 2007

15. 9/11: A Revolution in Military Affairs | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 11 2007

16. Twitter Updates for 2007-12-07 < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

17. » Online will be the biggest BtoB growth area in ‘08 – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

18. » Facebook is forgiven (sort of) – Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

19. Marlo Furniture is a Washington-Area Landmark and Anchor | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

20. Marlo Furniture Is a Washington Landmark < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

21. Is Marlo Furniture Still a Washington Tradition? < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

22. Marlo Furniture Is a Washington Landmark and Tradition | Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

23. Bottom Shelf Books

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

24. “The Christmas Truce” – When Men Said No To War | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

25. Bank Tells Man He Owes $211 Trillion | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

26. » » I think I just opted out of Facebook Beacon – I think Marketing Conversation – New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 10 2007

27. Energy Bill 2007 Collected Resources and Assets | Memes.org Memes are Mind Viruses

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 9 2007

28. Chris Abraham > Because the Medium is the Message

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 9 2007

29. ooVoo and the Long Tease < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 9 2007

30. Today Was an Amazing Day (and Night) in Berlin < Chris Abraham

    First posted by chrisabraham on Dec 8 2007

Lots of people have so many great questions about the 2007 Energy Bill coming up and what the NET coalition is doing to push through an aggressive energy bill that would push CAFE standards for cars to 35 mpg by 2020 and the percentage of electricity in the US provided by renewable sources of electricity to 15% by 2020. Please sign the petition. Learn more about CAFE standards from Click and Clack, the guys from Car Talk, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Also, see how much this matters, especially to students who will be inheriting the future of the planet during their Lobby Day during which students took to the Hill and lobbied the House and the Senate. (Via Memes.org and Chris Abraham Online)

1. What exactly is this 2007 Energy Bill that I have been reading about lately?
The 2007 Energy Bill is an important piece of legislation awaiting ratification in Congress. It includes several elements that would crub the mount of energy used in the US and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Two main issues in this energy bill would be an increase in standards to 15% renewable electricity by 2020. This would entail more alternate energy source such as wind and solar power. One of the more debated elements of the bill is the 35 mpg by 2020 fuel efficiency standard. Which would mean that all cars and light trucks would need to reach this capacity by 2020.

2. What is the difference between a couple of mpg in cars over the next 15 years?
Although the drop in the standard that the auto alliance is demanding 32 mpg by 2022 does not seem like a lot but it adds up if you look at the numbers the Union of Concerned Scientists calculated (published in “Energy Bill Must Guarantee Real Oil Savings” ,Sept,.2007). The barrels of oil saved per day with the auto lobby proposal would be 500,000 versus 1.2 million which would be saved with the Senate’s 35 mpg by 2020 standard. What does this mean for the American consumer? The savings would be $11 billion with the lower standards and $25 Billion with the Senate’s.

3. Why should I find this important to my family?
This is important to every American family who wants to see the world we live in maintained a beautiful place. New alternative energy sources would mean less dependence on fossil fuels drastically lowering the amount of pollution emitted every day. This bill is aimed at helping the entire planet and if America finally steps up to the plate and passes this energy bill it could set the example for other rapidly industrializing countries. This would ensure a brighter future for families around the world.

4. What is the most effective way to communicate my opinion to congress?
The National Coalition for the Environment has set up a petition allowing every American citizen a quick and easy way to let their voice be heard by their representatives. It is conveniently available online at http://www.energybill2007.org/.

5. How does Power Shift 2007 relate to the energy bill? If it does.
Power Shift 2007 was a student lobbying initiative that reached out to Congress in person on Monday November 5th as well as organizing other events to raise environmental awareness. They were on the Hill on November 5th speaking to Congress about the importance of creating strong environmental policy and endorsed several environmentally friendly bills including the 2007 energy bill. Check out Lobby Day, http://www.smnr.us/lobbyday

I received a brilliant response to my analysis of an ineffective viral protest campaign. A foundering meme, if you will. It begins,

“Who are you fooling, you embarrassingly transparent lackey?”

Here is the entire comment in full:

“Who are you fooling, you embarrassingly transparent lackey?”

“What the “Left” has to do if it wishes to meet the present Republican party on this battlefield is show an equally cynical willingness to baby-talk sweet nothings to the masses to get their passive consent, then do whatever they damn well please with the power they gain.”

“What’s hobbling the Democrats right now in their struggle against the radical right is that they are clinging to the original, romantic notions of democracy being about truth, honesty, transparency, debate, and freedom of opinion. Those are liabilities when facing a rival party where unity and loyalty are prime, and all those other things are tertiary at best.”

“We know the jaded old adage well: “Democracy is the system in which the people get the government they deserve.” Most of the American people deserve – and want – to be lied to and controlled. A horrifying percentage of Americans still cling desperately to the utterly and completely discredited fantasy that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. Even our President, who got so much mileage off this disinformation has conceded that it was a lie – and yet huge numbers of our countrymen simply refuse to give up this myth, like children clinging to their belief in the Easter Bunny. If the Democrats would just grasp this power concept as the Republicans have, perhaps they’d be allowed back into the positions from which they can give the people what they want.”

“Yes, it’s a shame that the democracy that our Founding Fathers envisioned is eroding down towards a one-party sham-democracy. And it’s a shame that those great democratic notions of truth, honesty, transparency, debate, and freedom of opinion are withering under this current cynical onslaught. And it’s a shame that those many Americans who know that Easter eggs actually come from chickens have to watch as the democracy we’ve known and held dear for generations slowly degenerates into a caricature of itself, but perhaps Americans just aren’t ready for democracy.”

“And hey, if you don’t like it, go to Russia. It’s actually quite nice there right now if you have some money, and the women are absolutely wonderful. One of the greatest things about being American is that you can live anywhere in the world you want to – it’s a big, beautiful place out there. Check it out, you might actually prefer it to the present theater of the absurd back home.”

“To sneer or not to sneer? Chris, drop the spin doctor’s hat. You’ve been behind closed office doors and at dinner tables with the world’s wealthy, educated, and powerful. We all sneer and look down our noses at the “normal people”, Democrats and Republicans alike. The Republicans are just showing the good form to do it in private and entre nous.”

“It’s aristocracy 101; I guess the Dems need some charm school.”

“(P.S. If this insults you, sorry ya’ll… but there is no Santa Claus. We really do sneer – on both sides of the aisle. If you don’t like it, then wake up and use what’s left of your freedoms to kick us out. But you won’t… I’m going back to my life of privilege. Go back to your cubicle.)”