Google Ads Is A Scam

Google has the opposite mentality of Robin Hood.  Google steals from the poor and gives to the rich.

In the middle of the night on March 19^th Google ransacked my blog, took down all of my Google AdSense advertisements, and pillaged all of my earnings while blocking my Google Ads account.  Google Adsense sent me an email saying they “determined that (my) AdSense account poses a risk of generating invalid activity.”

Un-coincidentally I’m sure... I was supposed to be getting my first ever check from Google Ads at the end of this month.  I finally reached my threshold to receive pay.

I’ve had this blog for nearly four years now and in the last couple months I started writing more, which generated more of a viewership.  Once I started writing again I noticed my Google Ads were missing from my blog, so I did some research and found out they were not showing because a pin number was sent to me that I never received.  Of course, Google never notified me of a pin number being sent to me or why my advertisements were removed.

I requested my pin, received it this time, and got my Google Ads back.  Readers of my blog noticed the advertisements, which related to the stories I write, and clicked on them.  My profits were doubling each month.

I read more into the possible reasons for why my account was blocked and wrote an appeal last night at 10pm.  Once I submitted the appeal a page popped up stating it would take about a week to hear back from Google about their decision.

In the Terms and Conditions it states that you are not allowed to generate clicks on the advertisement links by encouraging people to click on the links, which makes absolutely makes no sense.  As a friend of mine said, “If you opened a store and told your friends about it and they showed up and bought things that would be awesome.”  To me, it’s all a part of advertising.  No matter how those people get there, they got there.
 

I can understand a spam automatically generated system that send people directly to the site being a problem, but when people are literally clicking on an advertisement because it interests them then I don’t see the problem.

I did encourage people on Facebook a couple times to notice the new advertisement links, but never told anyone to click on them a bunch of times so I can earn more money.  If people did do this, I can’t control that, but Google sure seems to have the intelligence to figure out which clicks were valid or were invalid.

But just because they seem to have the intelligence doesn’t mean they do have the intelligence.  Remember to never assume.. you know how the saying goes.

Well, I received my appeal answer much earlier than I expected.  In fact, I received it at 12:45am this morning, not even three hours after I wrote the appeal!  That tells me I received a generated response and I never had a chance.  I mean really, who is working that diligently on my blog appeal between 10pm and 1am on a Sunday night/Monday morning east coast time?  I don’t care where you are in the world.

As I’m sure you can tell by how this blog has gone, my appeal was rejected.  I wanted to ask Google exactly why my request was denied even after my very detailed appeal explaining what my blog is about and what could have possibly happened, but of course an explanation from Google is not an option.

I called Google's contact number and spoke to a person who said she can't give me any information and that none of Google's products provide human customer services.  I asked for her name and she said, "Agent ID 3036."  I laughed and asked, "So they don't even let you give out your name?"  She chuckled and said, "No they don't."  No joke... this just happened to me a couple minutes ago.

So little old Edwin The Bear found a way to get a piece of Google’s pie and as soon as I was about to have my piece handed over, the Google AdSense Nazi said “No Check For You!”

So now, the advertisers that received views from my blog get their money back and benefit from the views I gave their websites.  I'll be contacting those advertisers in hopes to get them back on this blog, which includes Baseball Express, ITT Tech, NBA.com, and others.

Good one Google!   Congratulations on being the Sheriff of Nottinghnam!

Just to be clear, I will continue writing blogs and will use this Google blockage crap as motivation.

My own advertising business is coming soon…

Karma Hits Frank Haith and Missouri Like a Hurricane

In the Florida Gators NCAA Tournament basketball game tonight starting at 6:10 there's two things that will very noticeably be missing, the Missouri Tigers and their head coach Frank Haith.

Instead the #7 seed Gators will play the #15 seed Norfolk State Spartans, who upset the #2 seed Tigers in the first round of the West Region.  The upset feeling Missouri fans are enduring is nothing compared to the upset feelings Miami Hurricanes fans have towards their former head coach Frank Haith.

The NCAA is still investigating the Hurricanes for violations.  The most publicized investigations are on the football side at Miami, remember the whole "Death Penalty" thing ESPN was pushing, but there are clearly serious on going investigations with the basketball players receiving improper benefits during Frank Haith's tenure as well.

The Hurricanes are in this year's NIT Tournament and were one of the teams that were on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.  One or two more wins and Miami would be in the big dance.  And one or two of those wins could have easily happened if three Hurricanes players were on the court.

Senior forward DeQuan Jones missed the first ten games of the season due to suspension for the allegation that former UM booster and current felon Nevin Shapiro gave $10,000 to one of Haith's assistant coaches to recruit Jones.  Jones was originally going to sit out the entire season until one day before his appeal he was reinstated.  The 'Canes went 6-4 during that time span.  Frank Haith received no suspension. 

With the possibility of more suspensions looming, UM head coach Jim Larranaga did a masterful job keeping his players focused on the current season. The 'Canes won nearly every game they were supposed to win while also pulling out a couple they weren't supposed to win, including wins at Duke and at home against Florida State.

The Florida State game UM won is one of those many memorable moments that can be added to Larranaga's coaching resume.  Before the game started,  Junior center and Miami's leading re-bounder Reggie Johnson was suspended indefinitely due to his family receiving travel benefits from another member of Haith's staff at UM.  Johnson sat out one game.  Miami destroyed the Seminoles 78-62.  Frank Haith received no suspension. 

In the ACC Conference Tournament Miami played the 'Noles and looked to strengthen their bid to be in the NCAA Tournament with a win.  Before the game, Junior guard and Miami's leading scorer Durand Scott was suspended six games due to the NCAA finding he received impermissible travel benefits from an unnamed staff member of Haith's at UM.  Miami lost to FSU 82-71.  Scott averages 12.9 points a game.  Frank Haith received no suspension. 

After Missouri's loss to Norfolk State, Frank Haith won't be participating in important games he thought he'd be playing in, similar to what his former Miami Hurricanes players faced all season.

Karma hit Haith and Missouri like a hurricane.

Miami plays tomorrow hosting Minnesota starting at 9pm in the second round of the NIT.  UM defeated Valparaiso in the first round.

FAU Baseball Limping Into Conference Play

The FAU Owls baseball team (11-7) started off the season hot winning six of their first seven games, but since then cooled off drastically winning just five of their last eleven.

FAU went to Alabama and swept the Crimson tide in their three game series opener.  ESPN took notice, ranking FAU #15 in the nation in their power rankings at the time.

The Owls returned home winning three of a four game set against the Manhattan Jaspers, who were in the Gainesville regional of the College World Series last postseason.

Then FAU traveled to Miami losing 10-5.  FAU looks for revenge against the Hurricanes next Wednesday night, March 21, at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Princeton then traveled to town for a four game series and the Owls looked like they had a Hurricane hangover as they lost 11-4 in the opener.  Saturday was slated for a double header where FAU won the first game 9-1.  In that first game the Owls top player, senior right fielder Alex Hudak (the player's name I love announcing most), ran down a foul ball in the top of the ninth with the team up 9-1, slamming into the fence, flipping over it, and breaking his ankle.  FAU tied the series 2-2 with Princeton, but lost their leader for 4-6 weeks.

Next the Owls traveled to Gainseville to play the Florida Gators and were annihilated 16-1.  In the mean time they lost their number 2 hitter Robert Buckley to an injury for 4-6 weeks, found out Junior pitcher Jeremy Strawn was done for the season, and that last year's closer and this year's professional prospect Senior Hugh Adams is done for the season as well.

FAU bounced back to demolish Boston College at FAU Baseball Stadium 13-4 the night after their embarrassing loss to the Gators, but if they only knew what a wacky weekend they had in store coming up against the boys from New Jersey, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

FAU owned the Rutgers in their all time series 16-5 coming into it, but the Scarlet Knights ended up taking two of three from the Owls in Boca Raton, Florida.  The Owls lost their normal lead off man and starting center fielder Junior Nathan Pittman indefinitely due to a hamstring injury on a bunt for a base hit attempt during the weekend.  The weekend also included the Owls third baseman going 3-4 in a game while making three errors, a Rutgers player scoring with every base he reached being because of an error by the Owls third baseman, a 6-2-3 ground out for a Rutgers player on an overthrow from the Owls shortstop being backed up by the catcher who caught the Rutgers player turning for second at first base, and finally Rutgers catcher Jeff Melillo throwing a bat over his team's dugout while on deck, then losing his bat twice during a 15 pitch at bat before striking out with the bases loaded.  If anyone would have caught Melillo's bat toss while on deck it would have made Sportscenter's Not Top Ten plays for sure.  Melillo wore brand new batting gloves the next game.  Whew, what a weekend.

Finally there was tonight's game, where FAU defeated the Fordham Rams 8-5 and luckily had no injuries. Fordham still has their third basemen Brian Kownacki, who was on Sportscenter's Top Ten highlights two years ago because of his amazing front flip to score a run over an Iona catcher.  

Now the Owls are getting ready for the beginning of the games that matter.  Their conference schedule begins Friday night at 7pm with a trip a few miles down south to face their arch rival, the FIU Golden Panthers, in a three game series.

Miami Marlins Home Opener Last Night (With Photos)

The Miami Marlins played their home opening game at the new stadium last night, defeating the Miami Hurricanes in a split squad Spring Training contest 7-6.

The Marlins started pitcher Mark Buehrle, who threw three innings, allowing three runs all coming in the bottom of the third.

The Hurricanes started pitcher Andrew Suarez, who looked more impressive than Buehrle.  Through his first three innings he kept the Marlins scoreless and struck out UM alum Gabby Sanchez.  Suarez was drafted by the Blue Jays straight out of high school, but didn’t accept the offer, electing to play near his home town for the U instead.  Remember his name.

Hanley Ramirez homered to opposite field, but the big ugly home run piece of “art” out in left center isn’t working yet so no one had the privilege to witness the monstrosity in action.

Ramirez played well at third base and looked as happy as he’s ever been in a Marlins uniform.  I was a little worried in the beginning of the game when Buherle was getting ready to throw the first pitch and Hanley was still standing in the infield as shown below, but he eventually figured it out.

The ‘Canes stud catcher Peter O’Brien pulled a screamer that Ramirez fielded cleanly, along with multiple other put outs by the Marlins new third baseman.

Bad weather was in the area a couple hours before the first pitch was scheduled and the roof was closed for play.  That idea is already a win in the book for the Marlins.

Billy the Marlin was at the game and has a slightly altered look.  His fins are now multicolored just like the new Marlins colors.

As for Marlins every day starters there was John Buck at catcher, Hanley at third, Gabby Sanchez at first, and Logan Morrison in left field, who left the game with a strained arch.  Austin Kearns and Aaron Rowand rounded out the outfield.



It was nice how both teams implemented the Miami flavor based on their players.  Alexander Fernandez pitched for the 'Canes, son of former Marlins pitcher Alex Fernandez.  Elih Villanueva, a Miami native, pitched in relief for the Marlins.  And of course the fan favorite of the night Gabby Sanchez played.

My Personal Experience

The stadium looks like a huge UFO landed in the old city of Little Havana.  It looks out of place to say the least.

The drive down wasn’t fun either.  If you want no problems make sure you have a Sun Pass for the Express Lane on I-95 or you’ll be caught in bumper to bumper traffic every time there is a 7o'clock game during the weekdays.  We left at 5:15 and got down there at about 6:30 from Fort Lauderdale.  The ride home was much smoother only taking about 30 minutes.  Next time I’ll remember my Sun Pass for the drive down.

I sat in row 2 behind home plate, but be aware that row 2 doesn’t really mean row 2.  It’s really row 7.  There’s rows A, B, C, D, E, and 1 in front of you, not to mention the ground level seats that are  8 to 10 rows deep depending on which section you are in.

I went with my three month old son for his first ever ball game, and with my fiancé.  Of course we got on the big screen.  Cameramen love catching daddies dancing with their babies, especially when they’re wearing the new team colors.

All in all it made for a pretty nice experience, but be sure to remember what garage you parked in.  They are all identical and there were plenty of people confused as to which one they parked in… including me.

The Real Reason Mike Stanton Wants to be Called Giancarlo is Because of Me

You may have heard recently that the Miami Marlin's 22 year old slugging right fielder Mike Stanton now wants to be called Giancarlo Stanton.

He's been called Mike, which is part of his middle name Cruz-Michael, since he was a kid, but now he wants to go by his first name.

Giancarlo has yet to give a real reason for the sudden name change this season, but I know the true reason, and it's me.

Last season for the majority of Marlins games I attended I sat in the front row in right field with my fiance and a couple friends.  Of course the reason we sat there was to be as close to Stanton as possible.  He's like the Marlins' Babe Ruth.

Every inning Stanton ran out to right field my friends Sam Lay, Edmar Curiel, and I would scream, "Giancarlo, throw me a ball!"  He never tossed a ball our way, he'd always throw it to a kid, but he definitely remembers us yelling to him.

Throughout every inning Edmar would yell, "Giancarlo, be ready, it's coming your way, rob him!"

Oh yea, it's no coincidence that's why he wants to be called Giancarlo.  It may have a little to do with the new Latin coach and players they picked up this off season as well, but it's mainly because of us.

We'll be at the Marlins first ever game played in their new stadium tomorrow night.  They're playing a split squad against the Miami Hurricanes.

We won't be in right field, and Stanton won't be playing, but I'll get him to admit it sooner or later.  Stay tuned.