I am a simple guy with simple needs. I restarted my phone today, I do that when someone calls me using Skype. Why? Because Skype's caller ID is starts with a 0 and it messes thing up on the phone for some types of outgoing calls. Anyway...

After I restarted my phone I noticed the top of the phone now displays the current time and date!

This rocks! I know, what is the big deal!

Well, for some reason, the Fonality Asterisk Phone System we have did not show the time on the Cisco phones, they did work for the Polycom phones.

All of a sudden, it is now working.

As you can see from the picture below, it now show the time (I smeared out my extension).

Oh yea, Ronnie put our logo on the Cisco phones for fun a while back.

And you can learn how to integrate iTunes with your Asterisk phone system.

These little things make me happy.

Posted at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Computers | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Today was an other 20 plus blog post day for me. Heck, it is only 2:30pm (EST). Anyway, make sure to tune into the Search Pulse tonight at 5PM (EST), more details below.

Here is a roundup of topics I covered on the search space today, in no specific order. Ask.com responded to Google's "Google" request. The search engines sported some Halloween logos today, oh and so did we. YPN bans are flying around. Site Explorer is now easy to integrate with Yahoo! Stores. I gave an AdWords, "did you know?" Live.com spam, you bet it! Garrett left Market Smart Interactive. Google will share video dollars with authors. More dirt on GooTube. Some folks are getting 15GB Gmail accounts. Google sued $43.2 million by Belgium. Google whines to the EU on antitrust laws. Ask.com's profit increased 62%. Google just bought JotSpot, and today it has been acting very funky.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Ask.com Responds To Google's "Google It" Request
   
2. Google, Yahoo, Ask.com & Dogpile's Halloween 2006 Logos
   
3. Yahoo! Publisher Network Bans Going Around
   
4. Yahoo! Stores Can Now Authenticate With Site Explorer
   
5. Same Domain, Different TLD, Equal's Same Site on Google AdWords
   
6. Microsoft's Live Search Being Gamed Still
   
7. Halloween Logo From the Search Engine Roundtable
   
8. SearchPulse Live Today at 5pm (EST)

1. Garrett French Leaves MarketSmart Interactive
   
2. Yahoo Adds Yahoo Store Authentication For Site Explorer
   
3. Google Video Shares Ad Revenue With Video Authors
   
4. More Details On YouTube & Google Acquisition
   
5. 15GB Gmail Accounts?
   
6. Belgium Slaps Google With $43.2 Million Fine
   
7. Google Asks Microsoft To Give Users A Choice
   
8. Ask.com's Revenue Increases 62 Percent
   
9. Google Buys Wiki Maker, JotSpot

Posted at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

A Reuters article named Microsoft forges ties with open source maker Zend caught my attention. Zend is the corporation behind the extremely popular web development language PHP, we use it here religiously.

Microsoft and Zend have formed a type of partnership where Microsoft "will ensure PHP programs run on past and future versions of Microsoft Web server software." Andi Gutmans, Zend's co-founder said, "PHP has always worked on Windows. The problem is that it never performed very well." I guess Microsoft gets PHPers to move over from Unix operating systems to Windows OSs.

Posted at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

You may have noticed how I put up a Halloween logo at the Search Engine Roundtable just recently. So why no special costume like Matt, for Halloween for Cartoon Barry?

Well, I do not celebrate Halloween.

Possibly the closest Jewish holiday to this, in terms of "dressing up," may be Purim (פורים). Typically, children dress up, go to parties and eat a ton of candies on Purim. Plus there are many other things we do, but that is how it is similar to Halloween, I think.

More details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim.

Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates!

Posted at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Category: Religion | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

There are a few things that bug me big time, one of those things is when people don't use their turn signal (aka blinker) when making a turn.

The worst is when someone wants to pull over to the side of the road but refuses to let the drivers behind him that he is doing so. So instead of signaling, he just pulls over by breaking and swerving to the side of the road (hopefully he moves the car to the side of the road).

But I find it annoying when someone is making a right turn into a perpendicular street (the street I am making a left out of) and they don't signal. It is nice to know if you can make a possible left turn, as the car on your left, is making a right turn.

It also bugs me when someone in front of you is making a right or left into their parking driveway and does not signal.

Finally, one that doesn't signal when switching lanes or making a turn onto a street at all.

It really bothers me. It is just common courtesy, forget the law.

Posted at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Category: Motor Vehicle | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I am currently in NYC now, catching up with things after a meeting with Xact about their new cool DECT Bluetooth VOIP/Skype/Landline phone, I can't wait until they come out. Anyway... Search stuff....

Microsoft has launched a new ad campaign, Matt from Google considers it very interesting. Some Indian guy tried to piggy back off my brand name, which is trademarked, this weekend - he did apologize. Some discussion on the Google Site command being more accurate these days. Google Guy has not posted at WebmasterWorld in two full months. You can potentially earn $75 for taking a Google survey. I posted some screen captures of a Google license plate and a mock Google Jet. There are rumors that Google is "in bed" with the CIA. Google is testing publication ads again. A judge is to rule on the Kinderstart case by years end. Google is messing with Brazil again. Google Base 2.0 coming soon? An interview with Seth from Google on the Custom Search Engine product. Is Yahoo going to buy AOL? Which Google guy bought an apartment in NYC?

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Microsoft Launches Windows Live Search Ad Campaign
   
2. India SEO Company Impersonating RustyBrick?
   
3. Google Site Command Becoming More Accurate?
   
4. GoogleGuy Goes Without a Post for Two Months
   
5. Earn $75 With Google User Experience Research Survey
   
6. Pictures of the Google Car & Google Jet
   

1. Google "In Bed" With The CIA?
   
2. Google Testing Newspaper Print Ads Again
   
3. Judge To Rule By End Of Year On Kinderstart Case
   
4. Google Appeals Federal Judge's Orkut Ruling
   
5. Google Interview With Shashi Seth On Custom Search Engine Product
   
6. Google Base 2.0 Revealed?
   
7. Yahoo To Buy AOL? Sell To Microsoft? Merge With eBay? Or Keep Status Quo?
   
8. Google's Page or Brin Purchase NY City Apartment For $30 Million?
   

Posted at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

Boston.com reports that a 15 year old Florida boy stole a bus and began driving a bus route, stopping at all stops and collecting fares from passengers.

In Saturday's incident, he took the bus from the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, where it was parked awaiting sale at an auction, a Seminole County sheriff's report said. The bus belongs to the Central Florida Transportation Agency, which runs LYNX public transit services in the Orlando area.

The boy claims that he "drove that bus better than most of the LYNX drivers could." LOL

A court will decide if he is to be charged as an adult for grand theft auto and driving without a license.

Posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Bloomberg reports that St. Louis, the birth city of my wife and the home of my in-laws, is the most dangerous city in the United States of America.

The Missouri city topped a list of 371 metropolitan areas in an assessment of 2005 FBI statistics for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

What is most upsetting is the rate of change in crime seen in St. Louis.

The Midwest experienced the steepest increase in violent crime, 5.7 percent, in the U.S. in 2005, according to FBI figures released in June. The murder rate in St. Louis jumped 16 percent compared to 4.8 percent nationally.

To me, it always seemed like such a nice and friendly place. Maybe since I don't spend my time downtown?

Posted at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Category: Family , Travels | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Hawaii SEO asked;

Why do you prefer MovableType over WordPress?

So why do I prefer MT over WP?

Honestly, I started blogging years ago and back then, MT was the way to go. WordPress has a lot of good features and a lot of bloggers live by WordPress - so I am sure it rocks. But I have been using MovableType for almost three years now and I am comfortable with it.

If MT stopped upgrading the software, if they stopped adding features, if they stopped supporting it, then I would consider switching. But right now, MT is serving me very well. So I will stick.

Who knows what I would choose if I was to start from scratch now. I have been hearing of many WordPress hacks recently, but I am sure MovableType is not hack free. Who knows...

Posted at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I am sure you all know by now, that the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series Friday night.

Just wanted to note it here, just to have.

http://cardinals.mlb.com/

Great year for St. Louis. ;-)

Posted at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Category: Sports | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Shmuly, a guy I met at a local lunch place one Friday, has posted this funny video of him using the gym equipment at a local Walmart to get his daily workout. Check it out his blog here. He writes some very interesting stuff.

He starts off by stretching, then lifting some weights, then the bicycle, then the treadmill, heck, I think he even does some fishing.

Good work out man!

Posted at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Phew! Friday. Crazy week.

Google Bombing is back in headlines. Jennifer Convertibles is now back in the Google results. Do you think Google will release an operating system? How long does it take for Google to spot great links? Keep that verification code on your site for Google Sitemaps. If you run a forum, watch out for Google AdSense hacks. Google News launched blog search alerts, but many folks are now getting alerts for things they did not subscribe to. Microsoft lost $136 million on the search side. Rand wrote a great article on competitive intelligence. Windows Live Mobile is now live. Google is looking to hire a project manager for TV ad software development. Finally, rumors are that Google is launching AdSense for radio by years end. Good weekend!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Bombing Back To Life Over U.S. Elections
   
2. Jennifer Convertibles Web Site Back in Google
   
3. Will Google Release an Operating System?
   
4. How Long Does It Take Google To Find Great Links?
   
5. Google Sitemaps Webmaster Central Requires Verification Code
   
6. Forum Hack Enables Google AdSense Code To Be Placed On Site
   
7. Old Google News Alerts Subscribers Getting Unwanted New Blog Search Alerts
   

1. Google Enhanced Google Alerts & Adds Blog Search Alerts
   
2. Microsoft Online Services Group Losses $136 Million in Q3
   
3. Competitive Intelligence & Link Searches
   
4. Windows Live Mobile Now Live
   
5. Google To Hire TV Engineering Project Manager
   
6. Google AdSense For Audio Coming Soon
   

Posted at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

TechLH in the WebmasterRadio.FM chat room informed me of a local6.com article named Principal Suspended After Giving Boy Wedgie.

In short a Montana, Livingston Principle of Park High School has been suspended for six days, two days without pay, for giving a student a wedgie. Superintendent Hannibal Anderson said;

It has been clearly recognized and stated that the behavior is inappropriate, unprofessional and unacceptable.

From Forbes:

Messerli cried Monday as he read a statement to the board and the public.

"I've made mistakes in my life, but none have had the impact that this one has had," he said.

He said his first reaction was to resign, but he wanted to "tackle this mess" head on.

"I want to live in a world where we don't have to hide when we screw up," he said.

Public comments about Messerli, voiced by students, parents and community members, ranged from reprimand to encouragement.

"What could be better than showing how you bounce back after a mistake?" community member Brad Snow said.

Here is a funny article on it.

Posted at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I am way more excited for the St. Louis Cardinals to win then my wife is, and she is from St. Louis. St. Louis beat the Mets, and I wasn't devastated about it. It would be nice, very nice, if St. Louis beat Detroit.

I was shocked that they pulled last nights game off, being down 3-0.

After building a 3-0 lead, the Tigers battled bad luck and shaky fielding to creep within one loss of elimination against the Cardinals. Sean Casey homered and drove in another run on a single, but Curtis Granderson's misstep in center field and Fernando Rodney's throwing error allowed St. Louis to pull out the Game 4 win.

More details on game four here, just amazing.

Go Cards!

Posted at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Category: Sports | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I killed four spiders yesterday. A Daddy Long Leg and then three other ones. Two of them looked like small Daddy Long Legs, and the other one had a fat base, so it kinda was creepy.

The Daddy Long Leg was killed in the morning, after receiving an emergency call from my wife to rush back home at 6:30am to kill this huge spider. It wasn't that bad. :)

The three others were killed at various times throughout the early evening.

Why the sudden influx of spiders in my home? I suspect the cold weather is bringing them indoors? This is our first winter in this home, so who knows. I keep spraying with insect killer, but is it really working?

Here is a good spider resource plus I found Jeremy Zawodny's fear of falling spiders pretty funny.

Posted at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Yahoo!, the Search Marketing and Publisher Network team, wrote about the time I and the crew spent over at Yahoo!'s Burbank office. I wrote about it at:

- Yahoo! Announced Panama Launch via SER
- Day Two at Yahoo! Publisher Network via SER
- Yahoo Releases New Search Advertising System via SEW
- Shwag From Yahoo! Search Marketing via Cartoon Barry
- Yahoo! Treated Us So Well - Thank You via Cartoon Barry

All the pictures from Yahoo! are posted in this Influencer Day, 10/16 Set at Flickr.

Thanks for the link YPN!

Notes about that picture: (1) Forgot my shaver, (2) Pretended to smile, (3) Was tired.

Posted at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips , Travels | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Tonight I upgraded all the blogs I manage to version 3.33 of the Movable Type platform. This post is simply to test it out...

3.33 was released on September 26, 2006 as a "required" update.

Today we are releasing required updates for both Movable Type and Movable Type Enterprise to fix a number of vulnerabilities affecting all previous versions of the platform. The current status of our security update process:

• This is a mandatory update due to the severity of the combined vulnerabilities.
• These vulnerabilities were discovered by our own team during a routine security evaluation.
• There are currently no known malicious exploits targeting Movable Type for these issues.
• We will be disclosing full details of the vulnerabilities on our Professional Network blog in a couple of days allowing you to update in the meantime without incurring unnecessary risk.

We are a go! If you see any bugs on any of the blogs, please let me know. Thank you!

Posted at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

My Israeli brethren, not that I live in Israel but anyway, Google has announced that they now have enabled you to accept your AdSense payments via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). So no more waiting for those checks to be mailed overseas. They will be going directly into your bank account, if and only if you configure your AdSense account to accept EFT.

Instructions here:

To sign up for EFT:
1) Sign in to your account at www.google.com/adsense
2) Click My Account
3) Click the edit link adjacent to the Payment Details header
4) In the Electronic Funds Transfer section, select the Add a new bank account radio button
5) Click Continue
6) Enter the requested bank account information. Your account page will provide details on what information is required - if you're unsure, please contact your bank to obtain this information. Click Save Changes
7) At this point, we'll begin the process of depositing a small test amount into the bank account you specified. Check your bank statements after 4-10 days to find a deposit from 'Google' or from 'BFS'

Once you have the test deposit amount:
1) Click the My Account tab
2) In the Payment Details section, click Verify this account
3) In the box provided, enter the test deposit amount that you received in your bank account
4) Click Next. Once you have entered your test deposit verification amount correctly, your bank account will be approved and automatically selected as your form of payment

So get your Israel Shekels aka שקל. Keep in mind, currently 1 Israeli shekel is worth 0.23314371 U.S. dollars or 1 U.S. dollar is worth 4.2889 Israeli shekel.

Posted at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

This will be my 20th blog post of the day between this site, Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Watch. :-)

Today I wrote about Yahoo!'s pledge to add support for the No Yahoo Directory tag. Google 'OKed' dynamic URLs officially. Firefox 2.0 isn't currently part of the AdSense referral program. Yahoo! upgraded their toolbar and bookmarks yesterday. I linked to two $50 coupons, one from MSN and the other from Google. I am timing how long it takes to get reindexed after being penalized in Google. Google is getting slammed for not pulling racist blogs from Blogger. You can watch Google Videos on your mobile device. The Yahoo! Search Marketing Blog is now live. Check out Google's crazy employee growth chart. Google is now the 3rd most valuable technology company in terms of market capitalization. China.com will run Google's video ads. And finally, Page Creator dropped a feature to prevent web spam (I believe).

Oh, please provide your feedback on this at my poll.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Dynamic URLs? Google Is Officially 'OK' With Them
   
2. Firefox 2.0 Is Not Supported By Google AdSense Referrals
   
3. Yahoo! Upgrades Toolbar & Bookmarks
   
4. $50 Worth of MSN adCenter Clicks via eComXpo
   
5. $50 Worth of Google AdWords Clicks via eComXpo
   
6. Time Line To Get Reincluded in Google With Reinclusion Request
   
7. Yahoo! To Add No Yahoo Directory Tag
   

1. Google Helping Racism By Refusing To Take Down Hosted Blogs
   
2. Watch Google Videos On Your Mobile Device
   
3. Yahoo Search Marketing Blog Now Live
   
4. Charting Google's Growth By Employees
   
5. Yahoo To Add No Yahoo Directory Tag
   
6. Google 3rd Most Valuable Technology Company
   
7. China.com To Run Google's Video Ads
   
8. Google Page Creator Drops Subdomain Feature
   

Posted at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

Is it weird that I want this new shirt named the T-Qualizer Shirt? Basically, it is a t-shirt that has these vertical bars that go up and down and change color to the music. There are YouTube videos of it in action to the music here.

ThinkGeek is selling them so they have to be for the uber geek.

Product Features:

• EL Lit Glowing Equalizer animates to ambient noise or music
• Battery Pack fits in small interior pocket inside shirt
• Each Equalizer bar reacts differently depending on sound frequency
• 4 AAA Batteries Required
• Battery pack is removable, shirt must be hand washed

Only $40!

Posted at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird , Shopping | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

A common issue web developers and designers have is the ability to check how a particular site renders in different versions of Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer 7 was just released, many have already upgraded, but there are still people who use Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 5.5, 5.0, 4 and even 3! So it is important you test your site out on multiple versions of IE.

Justin, a RustyBrick'er, informed me and my staff that you can easily do this with a little program by Tredo Soft. The installer contains IE3 IE4.01 IE5 IE5.5 and IE6 to run concurrently with IE7. This installer does it all for you. The installer is at http://tredosoft.com/IE7_standalone with details instructions, step by step.

Known bugs you should be aware of include:

• Sometimes IE5, IE5.5 and IE6 crash unexpectedly.
  
• The address bar in Internet Explorer 4.01 does not work. This is due to a missing file "browseui.dll". If you have that file with version number "4.72.3612.1706" let me know. As a workaround, press CONTROL+O and enter the address you want to visit there.
  
• Microsoft supplemental EULA says : IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALID EULA FOR ANY "OS PRODUCT", YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO INSTALL, COPY, OR OTHERWISE USE THE OS COMPONENTS AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EULA.
  
• IE 6 will consistently crash if you drag a URL from the toolbar
  
• Clicking on any bookmark (new, or previously existing), will launch the Print dialogue
  
• (Minor) You get the java error" 'is_browser_supoorted' is undefined on many sites, including gmail.
  
• Sites claim cookies are disabled (particularly gmail), even though I choose "override automatic cookie handling' and accept all cookies [from Internet Options > Privacy > Advanced]
  

Posted at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Would you believe that I have never made an Amazon wish list before? Well, I haven't.

The other day, someone asked me for my Amazon wish list and I told her I don't have one.

So last night, I created one and linked to it from the about me page.

It is on the header line, it is the icon that looks like .

So there it is, My Amazon Wish List. Don't worry, I'll fill it up.

Posted at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Category: Shopping | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Every weekday that I cover search, I compile all the items I wrote into one post at this blog. I write a title, I do a short written summary, I link to the articles I wrote, add tags to the post and wrap it up with a text-to-speech summary of the topics I covered that day. It probably takes me about 10 - 15 minutes each time I do it.

I want to know if you guys want me to keep doing the Daily Search Coverage roundups. Do you like it? Do you benefit from it in anyway?

Here is the poll:

Feel free to use "Other" but you only get one vote and no selecting more than one option. So you can leave a comment below and also vote on the poll.

FYI - the other poll was cool. Thanks for sharing. You can see the results by going to the poll and clicking on "View Results."

Posted at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Category: Polls , SEO Tips | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I shared something today that I normally do not do. I wrote about one of my old clients getting delisted from Google because they got hacked. Outside of that, the news was the news. Yahoo! added support for the NOODP tag, and announced a weather report. Google's subpoena was rejected by Amazon. Microsoft caved quickly on the Belgian newspapers request to be excluded from their index. I reported on spotting a face on Google maps. Google added a "more info" link to Google Maps, too bad it wasn't for that face. Google also updated their webmaster guidelines to be up with the technology. Digg.com is up for sale. Did-It's president is getting some heat from the SEM community. I looked at a poll about those AdSense users who use section targeting. Finally, I looked at some MSN Search (aka Live.com) SEO tips.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Jennifer Convertibles Web Site Hacked & Delisted In Google.com
   
2. Yahoo! Search Now Supports NOODP Tag
   
3. Yahoo! Search Weather Report 10/24
   
4. Do You Use Section Targeting in Google AdSense?
   
5. Did-It Knocks SEO - SEMs Respond
   
6. Microsoft Search (aka Live.com) Search Engine Optimization Tips
   

1. Amazon Turns Down Google's Request For Information On Book Search
   
2. Yahoo Adds NOODP Support & Weather Report Update
   
3. Next Up For Sale, Digg.com
   
4. Microsoft Removes Belgian Content Without Court Order
   
5. Google Maps Adds "More Info" Link & Expand/Collapse Result
   
6. Face Found On Google Maps
   
7. Google Removes Dynamic Parameter Clause From Webmaster Guidelines
   

Posted at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

I just got my fourth "SES Chicago 2006 -- Registration Is Now Open" email from Incisive Media within the past 90 minutes. I ignored the first three, yea, I am going, yea, I love the conference, but four emails! Common guys!

Each one was sent to my main email address, not an alias.

This is not the first time I am complaining about this. I wrote about SES Toronto Email Notifications are Out of Hand where I got 10 emails emails. So now I only received four. Hope it stays that way.

Oh, SES Chicago should be fun, check it out here.

Posted at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

My Dad bought me this wonderful present, it enables me to learn some Torah (תּוֹרָה) during my day. Torah is the Jewish Bible, orthodox Jews are suppose to learn from the Torah throughout the day. We are suppose to live by it and observe the laws and guidelines - in short, it is our way of life. I have to admit, one of my downfalls is that I do not make enough time for this aspect in my life. I pray with a Minyan twice a day but this I fall short with.

My Dad knows this and he bought me a new book from Artscroll named The Daily Dose. It is great, it is about 18 minutes of learning per day (18 the number has a special meaning in Judaism). Each day includes a bunch of aspects from the Torah including:

• A Torah Thought for the Day
• Mishnah (משנה) of the Day
• Gems from the Gemara (גמרא)
• A Mussar (מוּסַּר) Thought for the Day
• Halachah (הלכה) of the Day
• A Closer Look at the Siddur
• Question for the Day
• Taste of Lomdus (deep thought), once a week

Thanks Dad!

Posted at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind , Religion | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

I missed this, but Reuters reported Thieves steal NY mayor's car. The mayor was not in the car, but his assistant was, and was wrestled out of it. The 2001 Lexus was found about two hours later in Fair Lawn, N.J., it was stolen in Hackensack, N.J. I guess Bloomberg needs strong assistants, reportedly his assistant was 62 years old but he was not injured badly from the scuffle.

Posted at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Aaron Wall spotted the announcement of a new scholarship for students who do blogging. It is called the Blogging Scholarship and they give $1,000 to four students over the year.

Criteria?

• Your blog must contain unique and interesting information about you and/or things you are passionate about. No spam bloggers please!!!
  
• U.S. citizen;
  
• 3.0 GPA;
  
• Enrolled full-time in post-secondary education; and
  
• If you win, you must be willing to allow us to list your name and blog on this page. We want to be able to say we knew you before you became a well educated, rich, and famous blogging legend.
  

The scholarships are awarded on April 30th, July 30th, October 30th and January 30th.

If you meet those requirements, then you can apply here.

Also, give it a digg.

Posted at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

Ronnie told me that he was looking at Firefox's schwag the other day and he noticed that Firefox has bags for sale, the same ones we are going to be getting soon.

Right now we are in the process of getting a sample so that we can order about a 100 of them.

I do not plan on selling them, unless you think people will buy them, in that case, I would order more.

Firefox sells them for $60 a piece, I bet they bought a huge quantity and they make about $20 per bag.

This gadget-friendly backpack features a padded laptop sleeve, and a handy drop-in audio pocket with a headphone exit port. Other features include power supply pockets, file folder and cell phone pockets. For those intrepid travelers, there is a cool airline ticket sleeve built into the back of the bag. Roomy enough to comfortably fit a 17" laptop and still hold all of your documents and bric-a brac. Firefox logo and text embroidered on the front.

But I am much happier buying them now knowing that Firefox decided to go with them.

Posted at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting , RustyBrick | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1) (1)

I try to watch one show each week religiously. That show, this year, is Prison Break. It airs on FOX 8pm (EST) on Mondays.

I am home from basketball that day, so it works out nicely.

Plus the show is action packed and has a crazy plot that makes it fun.

I missed a couple shows this season so far, I wonder if I can download them via iTunes?

Update: My wife's friend read this an emailed me an article named Suit Alleges 'Prison Break' Idea Stolen from yesterday.

For four years in the 1960s, two brothers were on the run, fleeing authorities after a prison break at a juvenile facility. Robert Hughes, wrongfully incarcerated at 16, turned to older brother Donald, who helped him escape.

Sound familiar? Like Fox's "Prison Break"? The Hughes brothers think so.

In a federal lawsuit, they say their agent sent Fox a manuscript in 2001 chronicling their experiences and the network wasn't interested in it. So they were surprised when, last fall, Fox began airing "Prison Break.

Posted at 9:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0) (0)

The big news for October 24th was that Google rolled out their own customized search engine solution. Yahoo! redesigned their Publisher Network home page. Google has gained some visitors in Japan this past month. The Yahoo! Marketing Solutions blog was leaked. George W. Bush uses "The Google." Dislike comparison search engines, search with "Give Me Back My Google." Google added a blog search link on Google News. Is AdSense Google's big volume winner?

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Custom Search Engine Via Google Co-Op
   
2. AdSense Google's Big Winner?
   
3. Give Me Back My Google Flavor Google Search
   
4. Yahoo! Publisher Network Home Page Redesigned
   

1. New Yahoo Marketing Solutions Blog?
   
2. Google News Adds Link To Google Blog Search
   
3. New Yahoo Publisher Network Home Page
   
4. President George Bush Uses Google Maps To Get Away
   
5. Google Gains Traction In Japan
   

Posted at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) (0) | Speak

Eiffel Tower by night
Originally uploaded by swinging girl.

Around a dozen Japanese tourists a year need psychological treatment after visiting Paris as the reality of unfriendly locals and scruffy streets clashes with their expectations, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Already this year, Japan's embassy in Paris has had to repatriate at least four visitors -- incl