Daily Search Coverage:

Yahoo launched new ad features. Google has a new user interface for AdWords reports. Matt Cutts chatted about the nofollow tag. GoogleGuy stopped by to say hi. AdSense enabled the allowed sites feature. Tips to check if a site can pass link popularity. Is a robots.txt necessary? YSM increased deposit to $30. SEOmoz streamlines tools. A new way to search Google by date. Yahoo will be launching KickStart in the future.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Yahoo! Search Marketing Launches New August 2007 Features
2. Matt Cutts Provides Insight into the "nofollow" Attribute
3. Advertisers Not Happy with Google AdWords Reports Makeover
4. GoogleGuy Says Hello!
5. Google AdSense Enables "Allowed Sites" Feature After Quick Roll Back
6. How to Check if a Site Passes Link Popularity
7. Is a Robots.txt File Required for Search Engine Optimization?
8. Yahoo Search Marketing Increases Minimum Deposit to $30

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Adds New Ad Tools & Reporting; Google Changes Reports Interface
2. SEOmoz & SEO Book Organize SEO Tools & Add Features
3. How To Go Beyond Google's Advanced Search Page Date Options
4. Yahoo Gives College Graduates A "Kickstart" With Social Job Networking Site
5. Search in Pictures: Search Engine Fun, Yahoo Giant & The Google Dance

Daily Link Finds:

This is the August 31st issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 31st, 2007:

• How To Use the "Ads by Google" Link to Report AdSense Spam, The Real Estate Bloggers
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 30, 2007, Search Engine Land
• AdSense Almost Gives Everyone "Allowed Sites"ù Feature, InsideGoogle
• Got The Current Time? Your Search Engine Does!, Search Engine Land
• Le futur de Google Universal Search décrit par Marissa Mayer, WebRankInfo
• Time Search Feature Gone, WebmasterWorld
• Weekly Rap-up of Search Engine Industry News - 8/27 - 8/31, SearchRank Blog
• Yahoo Adds New Ad Tools & Reporting; Google Changes Reports Interface, Search Engine Land

Posted at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

Starting a few weeks ago, I started noticing a floater in my right eye. It was extremely annoying. It is tiny and most of the time I don't notice it. But as I type, I am noticing it, because it is against a white background.

It looks like a transparent grayish tiny dot on the page. Sometimes I play with it, by scrolling my eyes left and right, to watch the floater "float" across the screen or the sky.

I have read a lot of material on it since I have seen it. Most cases say that they are harmless, in most cases. The Mayo Clinic writes:

Most of the interior of your eye is filled with vitreous, a clear, jelly-like substance. Eye floaters are small bits of debris floating in the vitreous. They may appear as spots, hair or bits of string that dart into your field of vision. Although they can be bothersome, eye floaters in your eye are usually not a serious problem and don't require treatment. Most people learn to ignore them.

Now, not all floaters are harmless. They recommend that you see an eye doctor if you see an "increase in floaters, especially if associated with flashing lights or hazy vision." That may be a sign of a Retinal Detachment, which is not fun.

Can they be treated? Dr. Bill Lloyd's Make My Floaters Disappear at WebMD says no! They may go away by themselves, overtime. But treatment simply doesn't work, even-though there are plenty of treatments advertised.

Speaking of eyes problems... I feel so bad for Ian... He has apparently lost his eye sight. His dry eyes scratched off some of his skin from his eye ball, when he woke up. He said this one is a serious problem and he is hoping it heals itself, but is obviously concerned. I hope it works out Ian, sounds very scary.

Posted at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (30) (0)

It seems like every day a new SEO blog is created. Now, I can't possibly subscribe to each one... well maybe I can. But why don't you help me.

If you want me to subscribe to your blog and I have not yet, then please comment below with your blog URL. In fact, if you want to make it faster for me, just include the add blog URL for Google Reader....

If I see your blog, it has a better chance to get covered at Search Engine Land and be included in the SearchCap at Search Engine Land.

So, please help me - help you. I think that is the slogan.

How do you know if I read your blog already? Well, if it is in my link farm, then I do read it. If it is not, I still may read it, but not have updated the link farm - but feel free to submit it just in case below.

Only SEO blogs please.

I believe all links in comments are nofollowed, not that the nofollow will prevent comment spam. :)

Posted at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , SEO Tips | Comments (18) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Got multiple robots text files served up as one local file? We have a solution for you. Want to ban Google? You now can. AdSense rolled back their allowed sites feature. GoogleGuy hasn't posted at WebmasterWorld in a year. Yahoo launched search suggest in the UK. Report splogs with AdSense. Google Webmaster Central asks for feedback in Google Groups. Yea, search engines can tell the time. Google resumes webmaster penalty emails.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Managing the Robots.txt File for Sites Sharing Same Local Files
2. Want To Ban Google? You Can!
3. Google AdSense Rolls Back "Allowed Sites" Feature
4. One Year Since GoogleGuy Has Posted in WebmasterWorld
5. Yahoo! Launches Search Suggest in the UK
6. Use the "Ads by Google" Link to Report AdSense Spam
7. Google Groups Webmaster Central Team Seeks Forum Productivity Tips

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Got The Current Time? Your Search Engine Does!
2. Google To Resume Webmaster Penalty Email Notifications

Daily Link Finds:

This is the August 30th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 30th, 2007:

• Headlines of Note for August 29, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Blog News Round Up - 8/29/2007, PPC Hero
• RRRSSP: SEO Through Blogs and Feeds, A Feed Is Born
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 29, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SES San Jose 2007 Recap, Techipedia
• Useful SEO Blogs, Auto Industry Startups
• Wrapping up day 3 of SES San Jose Search Strategies Conference, Joe Duck
• Protect Yourself From Duplicate Content Issues, Search Engine Journal
• SES San Jose Coverage Recap, Brisbane SEO Blog
• Total Number of Pages Indexed Dropping, agibg.com
• Do you know the way to San Jose?, 10e20
• Google Removes Real Time Feature While Ask Adds Them!, Unofficial SEO Blog
• SES San Jose Wrap up | Local and In-house Search Engine Marketing topics, Search Engine Tigers
• Yahoo UK Now Features Search Suggestions, Search Newz
• Yahoo! UK Now Features Search Suggestions!, Unofficial SEO Blog

Posted at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

A few weeks ago I wrote about my dilemma in picking a Internet, TV and Phone provider. This week I finally made a decision, thanks to the helpful comments and advice. So what did I choose.

I picked three different providers.

(1) Internet: How can I not go with Verizon FiOS. It is super speeds and nothing, to-date, compares. So I picked FiOS. I have an install date.

(2) Phone: Vonage. Why? Because Verizon and Optimum both required that I get a new number, since I am moving to a new zip code. Vonage allowed me to transfer my number. So I ordered Vonage, it is being delivered soon. I requested a transfer of number and I plan on using Vonage at my current residence and then moving the box with me to the new residence.

(3) TV: Optimum via CableVision. Verizon didn't have TV service available in my area, so I signed up with CableVision. No other choice outside of getting a satellite provider or using an antenna.

If Verizon comes out with TV, I will likely switch because I rather pay one bill but this is the best I can do now.

Posted at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Category: Computers , Homey | Comments (0) (0)

Well, I have pre-ordered the Pleo.

No idea when it will come. I am in no rush. But when it gets here, I will be excited.

What the heck is a Pleo? Well, I blogged about it several times in the past. But in short...

Pleo is a robotic dinosaur, made for all ages, designed to emulate the appearance and behavior of a week-old baby Camarasaurus. It was designed by Caleb Chung, the co-creator of the Furby, and manufactured by Ugobe. Chung selected this species of dinosaur because its body shape, stocky head, and relatively large cranium made it ideal for concealing the sensors and motors needed for lifelike animation. According to Ugobe, each Pleo will "learn" from its experiences and environment through artificial intelligence and develop an individual personality.

Maybe we will code it to run after our programmers who have been slacking off. I hear it has an API. :-)

Posted at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting , RustyBrick , Shopping | Comments (6) (0)

Major geek factor here.

A teen hacked the iPhone so that it is now unlocked and working on a non-AT&T network. The teen is 17-years-old and Glen Rock, N.J. Which is not too far from me.

Teen Trades Hacked IPhone for New Car from the AP writes:

The 17-year-old Hotz said he will be sending the three new iPhones to the three online collaborators who helped him divorce Apple Inc's popular product from AT&T's network. The job took 500 hours, or about 8 hours a day since the iPhone's June 29 launch.

View Larger Map

His name is George Hotz.

George made a deal with CertiCell. CertiCell is giving George a Nissan 350Z plus three 8GB iPhones, in exchange for the unlocked iPhone.

He unlocked the iPhone on Friday, Aug. 24, 2007.

Now that is one killer summer gig.

Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Computers , Just Interesting , iPhone | Comments (3) (0)

I decided to merge the Daily Link Finds with the Daily Search Coverage into one post. This way people who don't care about the search stuff can skip over one post as opposed to two posts. Fair? Comment below.

Daily Search Coverage:

Today in search I covered... Do search engines love text links way more than image links? You bet ya! Should you break out articles on multiple pages? Google has been dropping pages from their index. Google stop telling us what time it is. Should you put a product's price in your search ads? Google's CFO retired. SEM companies don't pitch their services well. Love those local ads. CCIA launches Defend Fair Use site. Flash Earth maps the mapping companies. Sproose goes Digg in video search. Yahoo UK added search suggestions.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. What's Better? Image Based Links or Text Links? What About in H1 Tags?
2. Break Our Articles on Multiple Pages or Keep Them on One Page?
3. Pages Dropping Out of the Google.com Search Index
4. Google Drops Current Time Search Operator?
5. Should You Mention Product Cost in Your PPC Ads?
6. Google's Chief Financial Officer George Reyes to Retire
7. 61% of Ad Agencies Don't Research Prospects Before Making Sales Pitch
8. How To Place a Location Under your Google Search Ad

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google CFO George Reyes To Resign
2. CCIA, Google & Microsoft Launch "Defend Fair Use" Web Site
3. Flash Earth Puts Google Earth, Virtual Earth & Others On Web
4. Sproose Adds Voting To Help Rank Video Search Results
5. Yahoo Launches Search Suggestions In The UK

Daily Link Finds:

This is the August 29th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 29th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 28, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Headlines of Note for August 22, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Debate sobre la compra de enlaces en el SES San Jose 2007, BitSignals
• DMOZ Payola?, MetaFilter
• Google Releases Adsense Feature and Then Pulls It, The SEO Scoop
• Search Engine Strategies 2007 in San Jose Trip Recap, SearchRank Blog
• Yahoo search suggest - UK launch today!, SEO Home

Posted at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I am not feeling to well. Starting last night, couldn't stop sneezing and had a runny nose.

This morning and now I feel pretty bad, I may have fever, I dunno.

Here is a picture of my eyes, via my iPhone.

It is never a good time to get sick, is it? Well, maybe the weekends.

I used to get sick only on Fridays, which worked out well. I would sleep the whole weekend and not miss any work. I guess it can't always work that way. So here I am at work, probably with a fever. At least I have an appetite (no comments from family ;-) )

Posted at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (4) (0)

There is this guy named Steve that I see at almost every search conference I go to. He typically is on the same flights from New York to the conference city that I am on. I think, more times than not, he is on my flight, which is a bit creepy - if you think about it.

We always did some small chat but this last trip, we chatted a ton on the way back to New York from San Jose.

Steve runs this company named Farlex, but it the company's products that are cool. The two main products include:

- The Free Dictionary which provides not just dictionary items, but it is a huge portal, that you can customize to your liking. Check it out.

- The Free Library which provides tons of syndicated articles from tons of sources. The articles have social media buttons within them, plus commenting and much more. You can translate any page and more.

Good stuff.

In any event, Steve and I chatted a lot. He is buying a new house and I am also. He gave me so many helpful tips, so many. It was a fun chat and I hope all goes well with your house as you finalize the remaining details!

Posted at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Category: Buddies , Travels | Comments (1) (0)

Yahoo has been beta testing a new featured called Search Assist. Danny has a great overview of it at Search Engine Land.

To my surprise, this morning, I did a search at Yahoo and now I see the beta UI. Here is a video of it in action:

Posted at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) (0)

This is the August 28th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. If you want the daily link finds to continue, and if you miss the daily search wrap up, please go here and vote. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 28th, 2007 (from past week or so, sorry if I missed some):

• Blog News Roundup 8/17/2007, PPC Hero
• Search Engine Marketers Fantasy Football Challenge, www.marketingshift.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 17, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Utah SEO, Bryan Phelps and Paid Links, Alex McArthur
• Audycje na temat pozycjonowania, seomedia.az.pl
• Bruceclay.com - Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• Headlines of Note for August 20, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Barry Schwartz, Please Learn about the DMCA, Dense Random Googler
• Personalization session at SES 2007, Geeking with Greg
• SES San Jose Coverage Roundup - August 20, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SES San Jose Day Minus, Online Marketing Blog
• The Long Tail Is Dead -- Long Live the Long Tail, Search Engine Watch
• This Weeks Must Reads in Search Marketing, Web Analytics World
• Coverage of the Summer 2007 Search Engine Strategies Conference, ResourceShelf
• Search Engine Roundtable's Coverage of SES San Jose, Search Engine Journal
• Search Engine Strategies Copyright and Trademark Panel, blog.ericgoldman.org
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 20, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SES San Jose: Top Takeaways Part 1, Web Analytics World
• SES SJ 2007 Session of the Day: Personalization, User Data, seo-space.blogspot.com
• Eight Observations On PPC Ad Copy, Rimm Kaufman
• Paid Links Debate Heating Up: Google Under Massive Fire at SES San Jose ::, Fantomaster
• Who ranks who with Personalized Pagerank?, Andrej's Miscellany
• SES San Jose Coverage, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Danny's iPhone challenge, Joe Duck
• Search Engine Strategies (SES) 2007 Recap, www.lonelymarketer.com
• Afterthoughts on SES San Jose, Jonathan Mendez's Blog
• Matt Cutts Attacks Graywolf After SES Session, Scott Hendison
• PilgrimâÄôs Picks for August 27 - Post SES Edition, Marketing Pilgrim
• Search Headlines, Search Engine Watch Blog
• SES San Jose Housecleaning, Small Business SEM
• PilgrimâÄôs Picks for August 28 - Anniversary Edition, Marketing Pilgrim

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 28th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind | Comments (0) (0)

I have been doing some heavy duty purchasing this week.

Along with the heavy duty purchases come serial numbers and rebates.

Sometimes, finding those serial numbers can be a huge pain. It is even more of a pain when the box is missing the serial numbers and you need to find the number on the item you just purchased.

So yesterday, I get an oven and I probably spent 15 minutes in total looking for the serial number. No where to be found. I found the serial numbers on all the other appliances, but not on the oven.

I did some research, and I am told it is on the side of the inner part of the door. We will see, I still need to go back and verify that. I am 99% sure I looked there, but it is possible I missed it.

Why do they make those numbers so hard to find?

(1) Because you rarely need them.
(2) Because if you do need them, they will cost the manufacturer money (problems with it or rebates).
(3) Because if they were smack in the middle of the item, it would look bad.

Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Shopping | Comments (0) (0)

Every day, I really dread doing the daily link finds and daily search recaps. It is added work, that is very routinize'd and tiring.

But if you like them, I will keep them.

Here is a poll, I will base what I do on this poll:

Please let me know if you want me to keep them going.

Posted at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (9) (0)

Tamar just can't get enough blogging. She has her Techipedia, she blogs at Search Engine Roundtable and now, because she needs to blog even more, she is blogging at Lifehacker.

Tamar is Lifehacker's "new guest editor," one of her first articles was on Bloglines Beta.

But she has already written about five articles.

Congrats Tamar!

Posted at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (5) (0)

Danny Sullivan, a want to own iPhone individual, organized the first Sphinn Meetup while at SES.

So Matt Cutts and I, the two cool people who own iPhones, came to the meetup.

Danny quickly felt threatened by his phone-hood and decided to challenge the iPhone'rs to a browser challenge. So Danny and Vanessa Fox who had primitive phones challenged Matt and myself to a war.

Matt had 99% of the page rendered before any of us, I was a bit delayed because they started the contest while I was replying to an email. Vanessa, I think, came in second. But Danny didn't want to fess up that although Matt's iPhone had the page visible, since parts of the page may have been still loading (i.e. pixels for ads or something), that Vanessa's phone actually won.

There is a picture provided by Lee Odden.

In any event, I find it funny that Danny's Sphinn Meetup turned into this makeshift iPhone Meetup.

Posted at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips , iPhone | Comments (8) (0)

The Search Engine Roundtable is sporting this look for the next hour or so. Yesterday, we went live with the theme, in commemoration of Women's Equality Day.

Women's Equality Day takes place annually on August 26th. It was instituted by Rep. Bella Abzug and first established in 1971.

It is to acknowledge the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, aka the 19th amendment was passed. This gave woman rights to vote in 1920.

Posted at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) (0)

This is Rand Fishkin hugging me at the SMX conference a few months back in Seattle.

You see, Rand was so excited there was a conference in his town that he decided to start hugging people.

In realty, Tamar took this picture, Rand wanted to be funny - so it turned out to be an awkward looking picture of one man hugging another.

Posted at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) (0)

Last night I flew back from San Jose to New York. I got a pretty good seat, the row directly behind first class, but I was in a middle seat. But it was great leg room.

There was a woman on my right, by the window. She was absolutely tiny. Directly behind her was a tall, large man.

The tiny lady decided to move her seat back. The poor guy behind him had almost no room. He asked her not to recline her chair all the way back. She got upset. She didn't really speak english, but she said, she paid for the seat to recline and wants to recline. He explained that he had no leg room, so please just recline a bit, since you have a ton of leg room.

She walked over to the flight attendant and complained. The flight attendant came over and tried to work it out. She asked the man to move to a different seat, he didnt want to. She asked the lady to switch seats with the man, she said no. She then put her hands up in the air and said, "children, you need to work this out yourselves." She then walked away. Personally, I felt the flight attendant could of been more professional, even though these two people were a bit crazy. But in any event, it was funny.

This tiny lady, who needed absolutely no room, refused to make it more comfortable for this large man.

There should be a rule. People under x feet tall and weigh less than x pounds should not be allowed to sit in a chair like that. :)

Posted at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (6) (0)

Buying a home in the New York area, as you may expect, is not cheap.

The deal is, for a loan larger than $417,000, you need to get a "jumbo mortgage." Now, in NY, the typical house will cost you more than 417,000 even after putting 20% down.

What makes things worse for home buyers now, is that the jumbo mortgage rates have jumped from 6.87% to 7.64% in a couple weeks. Why? Well, because the lending market was too free going back in the day and many borrowers are going into default. So mortgage companies are now going bankrupt.

This rate hike is not something to laugh at, it can increase your payments to a few hundred dollars per month!

The WSJ has a very clear article on this named Home Inequity where they explain that borrowers with the good credit are not getting hit with this. You see, someone needs to make up for the loses. Now, overall, it is much harder for people to get mortgages, especially jumbos. Which, I think, it should have been for from day one. Lend wisely, like you would to anyone. But due to lending practices, the jumbos are all out of whack with the typical "conforming" loan which have been going down because those are under $417 and backed by the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I personally locked in a solid rate, but it cost me to do so. In addition, I am trading up, so I am selling my current home to the person I am buying from, so that helps a ton. It is just weird times for the real estate market. Pricing of homes are declining but some mortgage rates are increasing. Timing it right, is well, what they say, "it is all about timing."

Posted at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (4) (0)

So, Chris, Ben and I do a live radio show weekly (we were off for the summer), Tuesday nights at 5pm (EST).

We decided to kick things off for the new season at SES San Jose. We did it live in the exhibit hall during the networking reception.

This is what it looks like to do a radio show on WebmasterRadio.FM

Chris Boggs, Barry Schwartz & Tamar Weinberg during live airing of The Pulse

I get a bit distracted keeping track of topics to discuss, talking, IMing, checking email and blogging, all while getting this picture taken.

I think the show went well, hard to tell.

If you want to hear the show, more details on that at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Posted at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

Last night was the Google Dance. Here is a quick video of what went on, after dark.

While upstairs, Matt and the Google engineers were answering questions:

How did we get to the Google Dance? Chris Boggs and Frank Watson organized a limo service.

Chris is the one who seems very happy in that picture.

Posted at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (6) (0)

So Gary Price handed me a box, wrapped in birthday paper this morning. It looked like this:

So I looked at the card on the front, which read:

Barry -

Now you'll always know when your pen's running low!

Enjoy,
Ask.com

So I open the box and find a feather pen with a bottle of ink.

Too funny, a feather Quill pen. Yes, I guess, I will always know when my pen is running low on ink.

Thank Ask.com for fixing my pen outage!

Posted at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind | Comments (4) (0)

As many of you know, I go to a ton of search conferences. From SES (which I am at now), to WebmasterWorld, to the new Search Marketing Expo - I hit them all.

Most of them are flowered with night events, where different vendors and agencies sponsor parties, dinners and more.

Now, a lot of people know, I tend to not stay late at those parties and sometimes I don't stop by at all.

Some people want to know why. Here are some reasons:

(1) During conferences, companies tend to want to release their new features and products. So not only do I spend all day covering the conference sessions and presentations, I need to wake up at 4am to cover all the news from those releases. So staying out late, simply doesn't mesh with waking up at 4am and also having to be able to cover late day releases.

(2) I honestly do not enjoy parties, I like noise free environments, and silence. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy talking with people, I just like to do it in a low monotone voice.

(3) I am simply tired.

How can you help me attend parties?

(1) Stop announcing things during these conferences.

(2) Don't email me things that can wait until after the conference.

(3) Have noise-free parties.

But seriously, tonight is the Google Dance, I will be there (Ill probably be one of the first ones to leave) but I hope to see you there.

In addition, do not miss our live radio show tonight. I posted the details at the Search Engine Roundtable, please stop by, if you have time.

Posted at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (7) (0)

I am at the San Jose Marriott for the fourth time, in four years, I think. Here is my view:

I believe the weather here is always perfect. If that is even possible.

Off to the conference shortly.

Posted at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (2) (0)

So, I am all excited to play movies on my iPhone for this trip. I download an undisclosed movie, a get ready to start up the movie on the plane yesterday. The overhead screens come down and show the featured presentation.

Guess what is playing?

Figure it out yet?

Yes, the movie I downloaded to my iPhone!

What a waste! So I opted to listen and watch the movie on the plane screens. Why waste the iPhone's battery?

In any event, I did listen to my music and music videos on my iPhone after the two movies aired. But I was laughing inside.

I thought to myself, wouldn't it be funny if the movie on the plane would be the movie I downloaded to watch. And then seconds later, they showed the movie.

Too funny.

But at least the Bose earphones kept the snoring sound on my left out of reach.

Posted at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Travels , iPhone | Comments (2) (0)

This is the August 17th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 17th, 2007:

• Headlines of Note for August 16, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Search Engine Roundtable Discusses Google Adding "Excessive" To Link Exchange Guidelines, seoaware.com
• Search Engine Strategies Comes To San Jose Next Week, SearchRank Blog
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 16, 2007, Search Engine Land
• First Generation SEO%u2019s Still Kicking Butt, Cre8PC
• Google UPDATE: Underscores vs. Dashes - Search Engine Watch Forums, Search Engine Watch Forums
• Headed to Search Engine Strategies in San Jose, Search Engine Guide
• I'll Get You, You Scwewy Webmaster!, TwentySteps
• Operation Camouflage, The Art of War, and PPC, EngineReady
• Search Headlines & Links: August 16, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 17th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Joe Morin posts his final SES party list. Webmasters notice weird referrers from Live Search. Google improved the robots.txt report. A weird tool can check your Google status. Tips on high performing keywords in Google. A how to guide on geo targeting your Google ads. Google's new ad traffic quality center is live. Fast Search dropped 148 employees. Family Guy teams up with Google AdSense. American Airlines sued Google. Search in pictures starts Jean and Hamsters.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Joseph Morin Posts His Last SES Party & Events Schedule
2. Weird Referrals From Microsoft's Live Search?
3. Google Webmaster Central Improves robots.txt Tool
4. Automatically Determining when Google Indexes Your Site
5. How Should You Handle High-Performing Keywords in Google AdWords?
6. How To Geotarget Your Google Ads to a Specific City

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Launches Ad Traffic Quality Resource Center
2. Fast Search To Fire 148 Employees
3. Family Guy & Google Form Video Ad Distribution Deal
4. Google Sued For Trademark Infringement By American Airlines Over Sponsored Ads
5. Search in Pictures: Wyclef Jean, Cricket & Hamster Lounge

Posted at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

The folks over at SuperPages.com have sent me schwag already!

Even before the SES conference started. Pretty neat.

Here is the package:

Basically, it is suppose to contain items that will help you do well at SES.

Here are the two cool items in the package:

Posted at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (5) (0)

I just came out of the bathroom!

I walk into the bathroom, there is this guy turning on the faucet with a paper towel. I go do my thing and he is still there, scrubbing his hands with soap. I wash my hands with soap and water. Turn off faucet. Dry hands.

He is still there washing his hands.

Remember when I wrote that 2 out of 3 don't wash hands but only 7% don't after using the bathroom. Yea, I have seen those people also. But is there "excessive" hand washing?

Typically, the female race, I believe, do a better job of cleaning their hands, than their male counterpart. But this specific guy, I am sure, beat out most of you girls.

Posted at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (4) (0)

This is the August 16th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 16th, 2007:

• PubCon Publishers Search and Marketing Conferences 2007, PubCon Blog
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 15, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google's easy "Embedded Maps" feature coming next week, eLearning Service
• Google's Skull and Bones, Googlified
• Must Read Link Building Posts From This Week, Search Engine Land
• Pilgrim's Picks for August 16, Marketing Pilgrim
• Schedule Optimization for SES San Jose, Search Engine Watch
• Secret AdSense Online Advisory Council Revealed (Darren Rowse/ProBlogger Blog Tips), Techmeme
• See You At Search Engine Strategies, Search Engine Land

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 16th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 4:19 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

I looked at the length of time it takes to rank well. Google does not like excessive link exchanges. Google is inviting publishers to the AdSense Advisory Council. Google Referrals 2.0's wish list is up. We are providing ridiculous SES coverage, and check the parties. Faces in Google Images are nice. Matt Cutts warns on links. IAB UK does SEM standards. Google improves robots.txt analysis tool. Qihoo beats Yahoo down. Some really good link posts this week. Proxies are a serious issue. Google gets serious in China.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. How Long Until I See Top Search Rankings?
2. Google Adds "Excessive" To Link Exchange Guidelines
3. Google's AdSense Advisory Council
4. Google Referrals 2.0 Feature Wish List
5. Roundtable Coverage Schedule of the Search Engine Strategies San Jose 2007 Show
6. Extra Curricular Events at Search Engine Strategies San Jose 2007 (and Party Thread)
7. Using Google Images to Find Faces from Google News
8. Video: Matt Cutts Warns Against Link Buying

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. IAB & DMA Launched UK's First Search Marketing Best Practices Charter
2. Google Enhances Webmaster Central's Robots.txt Analysis Tool
3. Qihoo Wins Unfair Competition Suit Against Yahoo China
4. Google Updates Link Scheme Webmaster Guidelines
5. Must Read Link Building Posts From This Week
6. How Proxy Hacking Can Hurt Your Rankings & What To Do About It
7. Google To Buy Chinese Companies To Compete Better In China

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

$1.5 Million Yacht Plunges Nose-First Into the Ocean from Gizmodo is a true story.

That $1.5 million yacht slipped right off its sling when being lowered into the water and bam.

It ended up upside down.

Snopes.com confirmed the story.

A marketing representative with Carver Yachts confirmed that this explanation is basically correct:

We are aware of this accident. The sling broke while it was being placed in the water. They are legitimate pictures that you have forwarded on to us.

Thanks Judah for the tip.

Posted at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (2) (0)

As some of you know already, I was house shopping. It looks like we pretty much agreed on a house, so I decided to call Verizon about their FiOS offering last night.

The representative told me that Internet and telephone are both available BUT the TV connection is not. Ouch!

I seriously wanted to have all my networking items with one company. TV, Internet and Phone - all in one.

So then I called Optimum to see what the deal is with moving, since I already have Optimum. They said that you have to disconnect your service before the new service is moved and installed. Huh? So I have to go without phone, Internet and TV in the new house? I can't insure that both are up and running, so I don't loose anything? Technically, if I am moving, I have to be disconnected first, the rep told me.

So I have a few options. Get Internet and Phone with Verizon FiOS. And then sign up as a new customer with Optimum for cable. OR I just move my current Optimum over to the new house, but probably have some down time. TV is no big deal, but Internet and phone are.

Any advice?

Posted at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Category: Computers , Homey | Comments (3) (0)

This is the August 15th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 15th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 14, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Export Google AdWords Reports to Google Spreadsheets, Search Engine Journal
• 8 Random Things About Me , David Dalka
• Google product Referrals are in Bad order!, SEO Home
• Liens rciproques et change de liens, Webmaster Toulouse
• Nieuwe Feature Google Adsense, Partnerprogramma's forum
• Reaction Towards Google's New AdWords Promotion Formula Change, Search Engine Land
• Search Headlines & Links: August 14, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• SFINN, SVIN, SPHINN Whatever!, AIM Clear Blog

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 15th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

If you can't make it to SES, ask your questions virtually and have them answered live. You can now export your AdWords reports to Google Docs. Google has probably fixed the AdWords Editor issues. Yahoo is the most satisfying search engine. Live Search is on some sort of trajectory. Google Webmaster Tools is now offering malware reviews. I posted the reaction on Google's new AdWords promotion formula.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Got SEM Questions? Ask Them Virtually At Search Engine Strategies
2. Export Your Google AdWords Reports to Google Spreadsheets
3. Google To Fix AdWords Editor Stalling Bug
4. Customers Prefer Yahoo Over Google, Says New Survey
5. Live Search On "Trajectory," But the Question Is, Up or Down?
6. Google Webmaster Tools Offers Malware Review

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Reaction Towards Google's New AdWords Promotion Formula Change

Posted at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I have been driving on empty for the past two days.

It is a good thing I work less than 4 miles away from my office. The light has been on for a while.

I had to go out before and finally broke down and bought some gas.

The fill up cost...

Guess...

One guess....

About $55.

Can you drive on empty?

Got to love the response at Yahoo Answers:

if your gas tank is empty, then you can't drive it....

Nice one!

Posted at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Category: Motor Vehicle | Comments (2) (0)

People buy gun safes to keep children away from their guns.

Boy, 10, Gets Locked in Store's Gun Safe from the AP reports that a young boy got locked in a gun safe while at a Sam's Club.

Reportedly, the kid was locked in the safe for 15 minutes.

Daniel's mother, Laura Jancura, had brought him, his older brother and a cousin on a shopping outing. The boys came across the safe — which is 5 feet tall, 30 inches wide and 22 inches deep — while she wasn't looking.

Playing with the key pad on the lock, they somehow managed to open the door. Daniel crawled inside and the door locked behind him.

Now, is there a way to make sure a 5 feet tall, 30 inches wide and 22 inches deep safe will not lock while being demo'ed on the store floor?

Hmmm...

Posted at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (1) (0)

This is the August 14th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 14th, 2007:

• Is There A Lack Of Quality In Marketing Blogs?, TheVanBlog
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 13, 2007, Search Engine Land
• A Call To Readers, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Women in search.. what a bunch of crap, Web Professor
• ContentBlogger: Headline Summary for 13 August 2007, Shore
• Google Dance: Août 2007 (topic officiel), Web Rank Info
• Google's embeddable map feature out next week (Stephen Hutcheon/Sydney Morning Herald), Techmeme
• Obstacles to Accessible Flash, The Web Standards Project

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 14th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

YouTube allows you to plug in maps data. Google Maps soon can be easily embedded on your pages. AdWords drops some features. Microsoft buys up aQuantive. The PageRank hysteria continues. UK site rank dropping. Google Webmaster Tools adds malware form. Ask.com goes simple with US commercials. Live search is up up and away, well, maybe not.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. YouTube Videos & Google Maps Integration
2. Google Adds Granular Access To AdWords
3. Google AdWords To Drop Copy/Move Keyword & Advanced Search/Editing Tools
4. Microsoft Completes Acquisition of aQuantive & Forms Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group
5. Can the PageRank Hysterics Simmer Down?
6. What Do You Do if Your UK Site Ranks Lower Locally than Worldwide?
7. Google's Embedded Maps Features Coming Next Week

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Webmaster Tools Adds Malware Review Form
2. Embed Google Maps Feature Coming Soon
3. Ask.com's New Simple U.S. Commercial
4. Live Search Is On A "Positive Trajectory" Says Microsoft

Posted at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Sad news people.

I found this outside my office building, pretty much, just about where my office window lines up.

Yes, sad. I found it lying there, dead, on it's back, with those little feet up in the air.

I have this issue, Birds Fly Into My Office Window way too often. But I believe this is the first dead one I saw outside of my office.

So sad.

Posted at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (21) (0)

Talk about crazy...

Surgically alters thumbs to better use iPhone from North Denver News reports Thomas Martel, a 28 year-old, had his thumbs surgically altered in a form of "whittling." This surgery allowed him to easy type on his iPhone, since he had large thumbs.

"From my old Treo, to my Blackberry, to this new iPhone, I had a hard time hitting the right buttons, and I always lost those little styluses," explains Martel. "Sure, the procedure was expensive, but when I think of all the time I save by being able to use modern handhelds so much faster, I really think the surgery will pay for itself in ten to fifteen years. And what it's saving me in frustration - that's priceless."

The surgery involved "making a small incision into both thumbs and shaving down the bones, followed by careful muscular alteration and modification of the fingernails." The Doctor said "We're turning plastic surgery from something that people use in service of vanity, to a real tool for improving workplace efficiency."

Posted at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Weird , iPhone | Comments (3) (0)

I was just notified by Answers.com that the Search Engine Roundtable is now an official Answer.

Check it out over here.

Note: The Search Engine Roundtable is already included in Answers.com as a Wikipedia entry.

Also Note: I am personally also an answer because they source Wikipedia content...

Posted at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

This is the August 13th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 13th, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 10, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Link Love Friday: August 10, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• New Adsense Ad Style?, David Castle
• PageRank Update or NOT, Link Survivors
• That's a wrap! 10th August, Self Made Minds
• Inside the Mind of a Google Search Engineer, SEO Book
• Nofollow et Google Webmaster Tools, Webmaster Toulouse
• Relevant Recips OK says Lasnik, SiteProNews Blog
• Search Engine Strategies Updates, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Search Headlines & Links: August 10, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• The Barry Schwartz Effect, LinkJuicy
• Work, Conference and Podcast Schedule, Cshel

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 13th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Got Google Referral problems, we got some solutions. Google Video cuts their paid services. Pump your Internet Cafe income with AdSense. Google is selling more storage. Matt Cutt's presentations are now available. Reciprocal links are not the end of the world. Google Pack now has StarOffice. Ask.com goes creepy with new UK ads. News.com rates search engine privacy practices.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Problems & Solutions for Google Referral Ads
2. Google Video Shuts Downs Paid Category
3. Internet Cafe Owner Receives Google AdSense Ban
4. Want More Storage on Google? Buy It!
5. Google's Matt Cutts Shares WordCamp 2007 Presentations
6. Are Reciprocal Links Bad? Not Quite.

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google To Shut Down Video Store On August 15th
2. Sun's StarOffice Added To Google Pack
3. Ask.com Goes Weird & Creepy With New UK Commercials
4. News.com Rates Search Engines On Privacy

Posted at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I have been very excited about FiOS for a while now. In fact, if I do move, I hope to get FiOS in the new house.

The question is, am I that excited about getting FiOS that that I am willing to sacrifice my house being set on fire by a Verizon FiOS tech?

NetworkWorld reports on a story:

A small electrical fire at a Pine Grove Street home Wednesday, August 8, - accidentally caused by a Verizon employee - forced the Fire Department to shut down power to several nearby homes.

Verizon denied this:

I'm in the press office for Verizon. Unfortunately, this story differs quite a bit from the version of the Verizon staffers on the scene. Here it is: One of our new techs was installing a triple play at a Needham home (they're selling like hotcakes, btw). When drilling a hole for the Optical Network Terminal, he accidentally hit an electrical wire, knocking out power to the house. Our bad, but no smoke, and no fire. Out of an overabundance of caution (always a good thing)the local fire department was called. The FD cut a hole in side of house where the drilling took place to expose the area and check for a fire. There was none. An electrician and power utility restored power shortly thereafter. And, the same tech came back and finished the install. Verizon is paying for any repairs to the house. We are calling the local paper to give them the string of events. BTW, nice of you to point readers to the EE Times article about Verizon Business' Disaster Recovery mobile unit, which is pressed into action after regionwide natural disasters, not accidental, individual instances such as this.

Anyway, still funny.

Posted at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) (0)

This video shows a shooting that took place right outside of the old city, in Jerusalem, Friday.

It is actually right near a police station. I personally have walked this way hundreds of times when I spent a school year in Israel.

It makes it all so much crazier, knowing that I have walked this way hundreds of times.

Yes, this place has dozens of security cameras - it is a main corridor between the various quarters.

Posted at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) (0)

Too funny.

Posted at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (1) (0)

Ok, which one of you out there is messing around with my Wikipedia page?

Of course I subscribe to the revision history via RSS.

And just an hour or so ago I notice a line that looked like this:

It was done by this IP, 65.191.86.69. That same IP made changes to the Limeade page and the Yangtze River page. But those changes were normal.

Mine was out to get my attention. The IP resolved to a RoadRunner ISP, in Herndon, VA.

Ok, so what do you want? :)

Posted at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (1) (0)

This is the August 10th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 10th, 2007:

• Goodbye Google PageRank?, Increased Presence
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 9, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Goodbye Google PageRank?, vBulletin Setup
• Google Wants Feedback on Removing PageRank Score, DigitalPoint Forums
• Il PageRank di Google va Rimosso dalla Toolbar?, DElyMyth
• PPC Discussions: Getting the Top Spot - Google AdWords, PPC Discussions
• Search Headlines & Links: August 9, 2007, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Tiada lagi google pagerank?, szab.net

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 10th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Did Google bounce yet another AdSense check? Is Google shortening their snippets? Matt Cutts busted the dashes and underscores story. Jim Lanzone of Ask.com was interviewed. There is a lot of heat already about Google's AdWords promotion algorithm. AOL might be dropping their Digg clone at Netscape. Google launched Gmail and Picasa storage. Microsoft launched SkyDrive. Search in Pictures is out featuring Martha, Hoop and Crazy Hat Day.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Bounces Yet Another AdSense Check?
2. Is Google Shortening Their Snippet Character Limit?
3. Matt Cutts of Google Says Still Go With Dashes in URLs
4. Ask.com's Jim Lanzone Interviewed, Would Like 10% of Google Share
5. Forum Members React to Google AdWords "Promotion Algorithm"

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. AOL Having Second Thoughts On Netscape As Digg Clone?
2. Google Selling Extra Storage For Gmail, Picasa & More; Microsoft Launches Own SkyDrive Solution
3. Google: Actually, Dashes Aren't The Same As Underscores Yet
4. Search in Pictures: Martha Stewart, Jesca Hoop & Crazy Hat Day

Posted at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Picture this. Your wife gets made at you and tells you to sleep on the sofa tonight... That is the standard joke...

But check this out...

Man Living in Car Since '00 Upsets Town from SFGate.com reports that a man who got in a fight with his wife back in 1999, has been living out of his car since 2000.

Now the car is in his backyard, while the wife lives inside the house.

The neighbors are very upset:

But his neighbors, who say Graham plays loud music, often spouts obsenity-laced tirades and uses his yard as a toilet, aren't amused. They have asked the city to prohibit such living arrangements.

Now, my question, while reading the article, was where do he go to the bathroom. As I continued reading, I found out.

The neighbors say one of their biggest complaints is that Graham may be using his yard for a toilet.

Graham denied that, but here is what the neighbor said:

"I walked out there, and (the smell) was terrible," she said. "Then Ronnie came out the back door and said, 'It smells just like back in Baghdad.' He said he'd been on detail where they have to burn excrement and said that was exactly what it smells like."

Anyway, this brings a whole new meaning to sleeping on the sofa.

Posted at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) (0)

I am sure many of you heard of the Tornado Hits Brooklyn report from the New York Times.

The tornado set off by the storm raged through Sunset Park and Bay Ridge, ripping the roofs off five brick rowhouses, yanking thick trees out by their roots, turning cars sideways and shattering countless windows.

This natural disaster set a tornado of traffic onto this blog.

Microsoft's Live Search ranked this blog number one for a vary of keyword search related to new york tornado.

All because I was paranoid one day about a New York Tornado Watch in Rockland County.

Figure it sent me about 500-600 visits yesterday.

Now, Google, what is wrong with you! I am number 30! Obviously, Microsoft is a better search engine. ;-)

Posted at 9:28 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

This is the August 9th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 9th, 2007:

• Neuer AdWords-Algorithmus Top-Anzeigen-Positionen, Internetmarketing-News.de
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 8, 2007, Search Engine Land
• SEO 101 | The Beginning SEO Podcast, stereophone.de
• Goodbye Google PageRank?, Search Engine Journal
• 301 Redirect Results - 2 Weeks Later, SEOptimise
• Google News Hypocrisy: Walled Off Content (Michael Arrington/TechCrunch), Techmeme
• Google Updating AdSense Units?, Noon-an-Night
• New Traffic Quality Center Launches (Yahoo! Search Marketing Blog), Techmeme
• NYT To Lower The Gates, Google, Wikipedia, BruceClay.com
• Once a day SEO: Google Deletes Its Own Blog For Spam, onceadayseo.blogspot.com
• Upcoming change to the top ad placement formula (Judy/Inside AdWords), Techmeme
• What Google should do with PageRank, BlogStorm

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 9th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Google News now allows comments from related parties. Google is to change the AdWords promotion algorithm. Google confirms fresh crawl data. Should you worry about links from duplicate content? Yahoo launched a traffic quality center. Google wants your thoughts on PageRank. Google deleted their own blog. Apple and Google love each other. A tool helps you with your PageRank distribution. Prefect 10 swings for Microsoft. Yahoo does a baseball shortcut.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Quoted Wrong? Disagree With A Story on Yourself? Comment at Google News
2. Google AdWords "Promotion Algorithm" Will Be Changing
3. Google Confirms & Retracts Post on "Minutes" Crawl Time Stamp
4. Should You Let Content Theft Slide if Site is Linking Back to You?
5. Yahoo! Search Marketing Launches Traffic Quality Center
6. Google Wants Feedback on Removing PageRank Score
7. Google Deletes Own Blog After Mistaking it for Spam

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Want That Top Ad Position On Google? The Rules Are About To Change
2. Yahoo's New Traffic Quality Center
3. Apple Continues To Integrate Google (& AdSense) Into Software
4. A Tool To Help Manage Internal PageRank Distribution
5. Google Deletes Custom Search Blog After Marking It As Spam
6. After Striking Out With Google, Perfect 10 Bats Against Microsoft Over Image Search
7. Yahoo Search Adds Baseball Shortcut

Posted at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I am a huge Flickr user and this AM I noticed a new way to upload pictures... So I skipped over to the Flickr blog and saw a post named Improved Web Uploading.

• A snazzy new interface! Designed to show you clearer progress for your uploads.
• More files at once. Only six photos per upload? Ha! Now you can select a bunch of files all at once (using shift-click) and upload them all together.
• New batch operations. Once your photos have arrived safely, add tags to the batch, or add them all to one of your sets.
• Magic pixie dust. Helps your photos upload faster!

Here are screen captures of the new process:

New upload start screen:

Add pictures form:

New Uploading status form:

Upload now complete status:

Update Picture title, description, set, and tags form:

Pretty cool...

Posted at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

Check out this mock demo on how copy and paste should work on an iPhone... The best is the ending, where he said, "I Love You." Made me really laugh...

iPhone Copy and Paste from lonelysandwich and Vimeo.

Via Via Via Engadget..

Posted at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Just Funny , iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

This is the August 8th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 8th, 2007:

• Cost of Being an Observant Jew, Presence
• Daily SearchCast, August 7, 2007: Internet Ad Spend To Grow, Daily SearchCast
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 7, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google Webmaster Tools, Search Engine Journal
• AdCenter Editorial Review Overwhelmed By Submissions, Unofficial SEO Blog
• Cross-Linking Good or Bad Strategy?, 1 Choice 4 Your Store Blog
• Google Analytics, Numbers, GrokdotCom
• Google Streetview...in LA now!, Metroblogging Los Angeles
• IIS Flaw May Hurt SEO, The Search Engine Weblog
• My Project: The Hunt for a Project Management Solution, KoMarketing
• PR (PageRank) = PR (Public Relations), Caixa de Pandora

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 8th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (1) (0)

Google updated the link figures in Webmaster tools and updated some PageRank scores. Should we care about the toolbar PageRank figures anyway? Dashes in adCenter mean a server timeout. Should you fix a duplicate content issue, if it is not an issue? Nofollow links are listed in Webmaster Tools. Online ads to surpass newspaper ads in 2011. Google released a new ad rank model for top positioned ads.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Webmaster Link Tool August 2007 Update
2. Dashes in Microsoft adCenter Statistics Page
3. Should Google Hide the Toolbar PageRank Score?
4. Combining Thousands of Duplicate Pages Without Penalty
5. Are Nofollow Links Listed in Google Webmaster Tools?
6. Online Advertising Costs Expected to Surpass Newspaper Advertising By 2011

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Want That Top Ad Position On Google? The Rules Are About To Change

Posted at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Woman Has Pencil Removed From Head from the WashingtonPost reports a woman has decided to finally remove a pencil stuck in her head after 55 years.

Yes, she had a pencil stuck in her head for 55 years and only now decided to remove it. Here is an xray of the head:

Pretty hair... :)

When she was 4, she fell while carrying a pencil. Yup, it went through her cheek, and into her head and remained their until this week. Now at 59, the pencil, which has been such a big part of her life, has been excavated from her head.

Of course, back then, she couldn't do much to remove the pencil. Now, with medicine and technology, they were able to remove it.

And now Wegner, the wife of German boxing coach Ulli Wegner, will no longer have the headaches and nosebleeds, and her sense of smell should also return soon, Behrbohm said.

Posted at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (2) (0)

This morning it was pouring rain when I left the house. My wife watched me walk out the door, suggesting that I take a rain coat or umbrella. I just left.

I honestly don't see the big deal about getting your clothing wet. So it takes 20 minutes to dry completely. I honestly rather not carry an extra coat or an umbrella with me, if all it takes is 20 minutes for my cloths to dry.

Heck, I don't even have to dry them. I sit, do my work, they dry without me doing anything.

Same with my hair, it dries also.

OK, so if I was into my hair style or I had expensive clothing that can get ruined in the rain, I would wear a coat. But otherwise, I see no point.

I don't mind feeling the rain fall on me. On a hot summer day, it feels nice.

Posted at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Weather | Comments (5) (0)

This is the August 7th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 7th, 2007:

• Headlines of Note for August 6, 2007, Internet Marketing Monitor
• August 6, 2007: Answers.com Hit By Massive Google Traffic Loss; Ask's Toolbar Success; Raccoons, Daily SearchCast
• Barry Schwartz Gives His Thoughts on Splogs with Adsense, David Dalka
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 6, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Minty Fresh Indexing, Matt Cutts
• Cold calling/email SEO companies most cost potential customers Millions, SEO Home
• Increase your ROI with Google Performance Placement Reports and Search Query Reports, Google Blogoscoped
• Sphinn Traffic: The Quality or Quantity?, Sphinn
• The trouble with 301 redirects and backlinks, Joost de Valk

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 7th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Yahoo has these hidden special SAGE reports. YouTube links are nofollowed. Google does send out malware notification emails. Google Maps gets its share of spam. Microsoft is overwhelmed by adCenter customer service. Google seeks business referral reps. How does one check their paid search rank? Are Google's PPC reports sad? An IIS server issue may hurt your SEO efforts. More companies join the YouTube class action lawsuit. Yahoo is hosting a presidential debate online.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Yahoo's Subphrase Matching Account Detail (SAGE) Search Marketing Report
2. YouTube Video Links Are 'NoFollowed'
3. First Reported Google Malware Notification Via Email
4. Google Maps Working on More Automated Local Spam Fighting Tool
5. Microsoft adCenter Editorial Review Team Overwhelmed by Requests
6. Google Seeks Business Referral Representatives
7. Locating the Rank of Your Google AdWords Ad
8. Is the Effectiveness of Google Reports Diminishing?
9. IIS Flaw May Hurt Your SEO by Causing Duplicate Content

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. More Join YouTube Class Action Suit Copyright
2. Yahoo To Host Web Only US Presidential Debate

Posted at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Did you know that in 2000, death and nonfatal injuries cost $70 billion in the United States?

Gary Price pointed me to a CDC report on the The Cost of Violence in the United States.

The reality of the $70 billion figure is that most of it is productivity cost. The CDC said, "an estimated $5.6 billion was spent on medical care for the more than 2.5 million injuries due to interpersonal and self-directed violence."

I love the run down on these figures... Here are ones that stand out, but pretty much, all of them stand out to me.

• Hospital emergency departments treat an average 55 people for injuries every minute
• Homicides cost $37 billion
• The average cost per homicide was $1.3 million in lost productivity and $4,906 in medical costs.
• Violence causes approximately 50,000 deaths each year and results in over 2.5 million injuries.

Makes you think...

Posted at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (0) (0)

Robert Scriva created Dashalytics, a Google Analytics Mac dashboard widget. It is pretty sweet...

It shows you time frames from one day, one week, one month, 3 month, 6 month and one year. You get visitor traffic overviews, details on visitors, pageviews, bounce rates, averages, time on site, new visit percentages, browser types, connection speeds, top pages, referring sources in percentages and actual sources, top keywords and much more.

Here is one screen capture of stats from this site:

Here is the Apple Site download page.

Spotted first at Googlified.

Posted at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

Yes, there is now an NES emulator for the iPhone, just amazing.

Here is a video of someone playing Super Mario Bros on their iPhone:

There is still some way to go, but this is just amazing.

Smart Phone --- yea.

Posted at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (3) (0)

This is the August 6th issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 6th, 2007:

• Pilgrim's Picks for August 3 - Extended Edition, Marketing Pilgrim
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 3, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Zen of the Fanatical Business Blogger, AIM Clear Blog
• Does Google Have Permission for this Mission Omission?, Apogee Weblog
• Technorati Says every Blog is the Number One Blog, SEOish
• gmail hacked, Zoso's blog
• Google Book Search Partners with University of Chicago and Big 10, David Dalka
• Google Tests New "Show More", Search Engine Land
• Keyword stuffing: a Google official talks about search engine spam, free-seo-news.com

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 6th, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Google AdSense is testing link units on normal ads and a "show more" link. Google's PPA ads were offline for part of the weekend. Google AdWords Editor released a 4.0 version. Beware of fake PageRank scores. Does Sphinn send traffic? Yahoo adds search suggestions to their toolbar. SEOmoz launches a popular searches aggregator. Accoona files an $80.5 million IPO. A Google cheat sheet was revived.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdSense Test Adding Link Units to Normal Ad Units
2. "Show More" Link Being Tested on Some Google AdSense Ads?
3. Google Referral PPA (CPA) Ads Go Offline for 24 Hours
4. Is There a Way to Check When an Outside Site 301 Redirects to Your Website?
5. Google AdWords Editor 4.0 for Windows Released
6. Beware of Fake PageRank Auction Scams
7. Can You Get a Lot of Traffic from Sphinn?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Adds Search Suggestions To Toolbar
2. Google Tests New "Show More" & Related Words AdSense Units
3. Spot Trends With SEOmoz's Popular Searches Tool
4. Accoona Files For $80.5 Million IPO
5. Cheat Sheet For Google Cheat Sheets

Posted at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

The other week, I was looking for a way to email private photos to a friend without requiring them to sign up with Flickr.

Remember I was upset in the past that there was no way to do this? And then the founder of Flickr told me it is on its way...

Well, it is here and has been here for a while now and I didn't even know!

On November 20, 2006, Flickr released a feature called Guest Pass.

Basically, you can email a photo set to up to 50 people, granting them access to that set or more for an unlimited or set time frame.

To share photos, you must add those photos to a set. After you do that, click on the set and click "Share this set."

Then it will take you to a page like this, simply fill it out.

Click send and presto. Yes, you can invite people to see pictures even if they are already contacts, which is nice for those who forget their passwords. :)

What is also nice is you can view your "guest passes" and send them again, see if they were used and also "expire" them so they no longer work.

You can do that at your Guest Pass History page.

I cannot believe I missed this feature until recently.

Flickr now totally rocks!

Posted at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Category: Family , Rambling | Comments (0) (0)

I create a list of "holidays" or events that I want to create special themes and designs at the Search Engine Roundtable.

I have had themes for Thanksgiving, New Years, Hot Dot Day and so on. I pull these holidays from sites on the web, that categorize them for me.

I honestly, don't think when I collect these dates and have my design mock things up.

So today is "Atomic Bomb Day." The day America bombed Hiroshima in 1945. More about the day at the BBC.

But when I had the theme designed, I didn't put the horrible event together with it being an "event" on the list of events from that list. When I added it to the list, I thought it was the day they invented the bomb, not the day they used it. But then I looked it up, after I put the theme up.

I put the theme up at SERoundtable.com for literally two minutes before I then realized what I have done. I quickly pulled the theme down thinking that it is really bad taste.

Lesson learned, think before acting.

If you want to see what that theme looked like see here:

Yea, when you think about it, I can't believe I went this far with it.

Posted at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (4) (0)

This is the August 3rd issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 3rd, 2007:

• Google Tracks Hydrogen Peroxide Terrorists?, WebProNews
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 2, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Answers.com Loses Significant Google Traffic Despite Google Deal, Search Engine Land
• Bye Bye Supplemental, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Gmail Hacked - Adsense payment details changed, David Naylor
• Google counts links from a word document, SEOCompany.CA
• Google Tracks Hydrogen Peroxide Terrorists?, Revenue Source
• Opt-Out Coming for AdSense for Domains?, InsureMe Affiliate Blog
• Panama, 6 Months On, Read/Write Web
• Why Have A Supplemental Index?, TheVanBlog

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 3rd, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Did you know that Google still powers much of Ask's paid listings? Google should really make it easier to report splogs in AdSense. Google counts links within Word documents. There was a major Gmail security breach. Google is to allow advertisers to opt out of AdSense for Domains. AdWords help turned two. Camouflage those ads. Cross linking, a thing of the past? Zwinky is Ask.com's future? Search in Pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Still Powers Much of Ask.com's Sponsored Results
2. Google Should Add a Report Stolen Content Form in AdSense Console
3. Google Count Links within Word Documents
4. Many Gmail Accounts Hacked Into - Gmail Security Breach
5. Google AdWords To Allow Advertisers to Opt Out of AdSense for Domains
6. Google AdWords Help Forum Turns Two
7. "Operation Camouflage" Allows You to Hide From Competitors, But Can't You Just Place Your Ads Lower?
8. Is Cross-Linking a Bad Strategy According to Google?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Building Ask's Traffic: It's The Toolbar, Stupid!
2. AdSense For Domains Opt Out Coming To AdWords Advertisers
3. Search in Pictures: Twitter Tanning, Google Camping, Yahoo Biking

Posted at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

My wife works with children who are hard of hearing.

This video demonstrates some of the social and political challenges the deaf community has gone through. It also shows the achievements.

Posted at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Category: Family | Comments (1) (0)

This is the August 2nd issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 2nd, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 1, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Home Inspection-Yes? No? Absolutely!, Chattanooga Real Estate Blog
• Bruce Clay Inc. Sounds Off On Supplemental, BruceClay.com
• Der WotR Goldene Trunkenbold 2007, seoFM
• Google Cache Showing Last Retrieve Dates in Minutes, Sphinn
• To dash or not to dash, WebProWorld
• The Google Analytics outage: Could there be a reason?, Googling Google

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 2nd, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (0) (0)

Google knows the secret Unicorn answer. Met Police use AdWords to track terrorists. Ask.com is updating? Google's AdWords exam is out of date. Does the no end date change your history? Google laughs off behavioral targeting. UK SEO meet up is coming soon. LookSmart's CEO jumps off the Hill. Google Maps adds traffic times. Teen pockets $900 per month on blogging. Posted some information on YouTube marketing. Google is hiring a submarine cable negotiator. Google is testing a new weird bookmarking solution. Google, Yahoo and Live all treat underscores like dashes in the URLs.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Knows How Many Horns a Unicorn Has
2. UK's Metropolitan Police Using Google AdWords To Catch Terrorists
3. Ask.com August 2007 Update?
4. Is the Google Advertising Professional Exam Out of Date?
5. Reaching a Google AdWords "End Date" Does Not Change Your History
6. Google Not Excited For Behavioral Ad Targeting
7. United Kingdom SEO Meet-Up and SES San Jose Coming Soon!

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. LookSmart CEO David Hills Resigns
2. Google Maps Now Estimates Drive Time At Rush Hour
3. Forget Chores For Pocket Money -- Teen Makes $900 Per Month Doing SEO
4. Promoting Your YouTube Video Online
5. Become Google's Next Submarine Cable Negotiator
6. Google Tests On Search Page Keyword Bookmarking Service?
7. It's Not Just Google That Treats Underscores Like Dashes

Posted at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

The whole doctor being poor post got me thinking a bit about costs.

Specifically, what it costs to be what is called a "Modern Orthodox Jew" in the New York Tri-State area. Now, I do not have a family yet, so I don't have these costs. I also do not know exactly how much each item costs, but I took educated guesses in my numbers.

The biggest item is tuition. I would guess if you had four or five kids in private school, they would give you a break on tuition. Imagine $60,000 a year for four kids, $75,000 for five kids. I assume you get a discount as you keep adding kids. Keep in mind, all your kids are not the same age, so then you have High School and college.

Another thing about being an orthodox Jew and living in New York is that you have to really live in a "Jewish neighborhood." Homes are simply not cheap in NY, especially in areas where there is demand set by having to be in walking distance to a local synagogue. A typically home in Teaneck, NJ would go for a $800,000 to $1.2M on average. Out by me, maybe $600,000 to $850,000 on average. Brooklyn, Manhattan, forget about it. Figure your mortgage will cost you at least $40,000 per year with taxes, if you bought now.

These numbers may be off, but I think the approximates are not bad. I can be wrong, if so, feel free to correct me.

Honestly, these numbers seem too high. Something doesn't seem right...

Posted at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Category: Family , Religion | Comments (15) (0)

At what point did Doctors become poor?

Many doctors that I know now, complain about not being able to make enough to pay for the things they need. Let me explain that these are general doctors, who have to pay for private school which costs upwards of $15,000 per kid per year (Jewish thing).

But in the past, Doctors did not worry. They went to medical school, opened a practice, paid off their loans and then started making tons of money.

Now all I hear is how the insurance companies are killing them. They are barely able to charge their patients and they are barely making a profit after purchasing office, machines, hiring help and then paying themselves enough of a salary to support their families.

Am I missing something?

Posted at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (6) (0)

The picture from Reuters really tells the whole story.

Elton John's war on the web from The Age reports that Elton John wants the Internet to vanish.

He is clearly not making enough from sales of his latest albums so he said, "Hopefully the next movement in music will tear down the internet."

"I do think it would be an incredible experiment to shut down the whole internet for five years and see what sort of art is produced over that span," he said.

The funny thing is that in March this year Elton John had a deal with Apple to make his entire music catalogue of 400 tracks available through iTunes music store.

Let's kill the Internet, because of people who steal music. Errr...

Posted at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (2) (0)

Last November, I counted up all my blog posts and forum posts and provided some statistics for your all, mostly for myself. I figured it was time to update those numbers.

Blog Posts:
Search Engine Roundtable: 4,684
Search Engine Watch: 1,137 (may be a bit more)
Cartoon Barry: 1,114
Search Engine Land: 834 (Since December 2006)
RustyBrick Tech Blog: 63

Estimated Total Blog Posts: 7,831 up to right now.

Forum Posts:
Search Engine Watch Forums: 2,729
SEO Chat Forums: 2,642
Search Engine Roundtable Forums: 1,528
Cre8asite Forums: 983
DigitalPoint Forums: 280
WebmasterWorld: 226
HighRankings Forum: 124
JimWorld: 100

Estimated Total Forum Posts: 8,612

Twitters:
Barry Schwartz: 1,422
Search Engine Roundtable: 625

Total Twits: 2,047

Total online communications minus email, IM, and many other places, just including the ones listed above...

Total: 18,490

Posted at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (2) (0)

This is the August 1st issue of a daily post that will contain links to commentary of the posts over at the Search Engine Roundtable. All links I find throughout the day that ad some commentary to the posts written over at the Search Engine Roundtable, will be in the Daily Link Finds. The purpose is two fold: (1) To help people find discussion around our articles and (2) To thank people for linking to us. How do I find these links? Only one way, via a Google Blog Search link command, so make sure that (1) you are in Google Blog Search and (2) link to us.

Daily Link Finds for August 1st, 2007:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, July 31, 2007, Search Engine Land
• Google Dumps The Supplemental Results Label, Search Engine Land
• Google's "Supplemental Results" Label is Dead, Internet Marketing Monitor
• 15 Traits of an SEO Nerd, KoMarketing Associates
• Google annuncia la fine dei risultati supplementari, blog.achille.name
• Google's Cache Gets Down To The Minute, Search Engine Land
• My New "SEW Experts"ù Column, evilgreenmonkey
• Neue Konkurrenz Google und Co, Aykie's Welt
• Google getting fast, real fast!, SEO Home

That is the discussion I have found via Google Blog Search around the posts at Search Engine Roundtable for August 1st, 2007. Thank you for contributing!

Posted at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds | Comments (1) (0)

Google is testing maps within Google sponsored results. Google has hide the supplemental index label from the search results. Google is now showing a cache date by the minute. Google is having some AdSense reporting issues. Trusting a tool named KeywordSpy. Google AdSense supports Bulgarian and Serbian. Some on-page and off-page SEO was discussed today. Google is not doing much behavioral targeting. Google and Microsoft want clarity on copyrights.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Tests New Ad Format with Local Search Results
2. Google Hides Supplemental Results Label in Google.com: Webmaster Reaction
3. Google Cache Showing Last Retrieve Dates in Minutes
4. Google AdSense Host Properties Reporting Errors
5. Should You Trust KeywordSpy?
6. Google AdSense Now Supports Bulgarian and Serbian Languages
7. On-Page vs. Off-Page Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google: Not Ready To Behaviorally Target
2. Google Maps Plus Sign In Sponsored Results
3. Google, Microsoft & Others Want Copyright Warnings To Be Clearer
4. Google's Last Visited Time Stamp Gets Down To The Minute

Posted at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

So, as you know, I am selling my Monsey condo and also looking at new homes.

We are down to the point where I had an inspector come and look at a home we are interested in.

I was honestly amazed at how valuable that inspection was. I used House Master based on my realtor's recommendation and wow, was I impressed.

The inspection took about 2.5 hours. The guy who was doing it was incredibly knowledgeable, clear and professional. I felt like I was watching an instructional video. Everything he said seemed planned but at the same time, all personalized.

He starts off by introducing himself and what he will be doing. We went through the entire house from outside and in, from top to bottom and through all the electrical work also.

The invaluable part is not just about him telling you what needs to be done or fixed. Not just about how good condition the house will be. Not just how long your roof, siding or heating will last.

The main thing I got out of it was that he showed me all I need to know to maintain the house in the future. He showed me that I need to clean the gutters 2 or 3 times a year, replace the filters yearly, check the windows for moisture, and on and on. He showed me what to do if there was a major leak in the house. How the heating system works and when to expect to change each piece of the system. The same with the water tank. He explained the potentials of the house. In addition he explained if I make a change here, I can expect X, Y and Z.

He basically gave me my blueprint for the future of this house. And all I paid for was to make sure the house was in good working condition.

Of course, I came out of the inspection glowing. The house was done more than right. There are a few minor items, all easy to take care of.

I have my printed report in hand, and I am awaiting the standard Radon results, that will take about a week to come back. But I already have a professional report, binder, DVD on home maintenance, more documents and an electronic copy of the report on hand.

I highly recommend House Master and I highly recommend you go along with your inspector through your potential house. The amount I learned from it, is simply invaluable.

Posted at 4:49 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (2) (0)

I was doing some research on Radon.

Yea, Radon. The EPA has some good information on it, that scares the @#$$@# out of you.

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. EPA has launched a new series of television, radio and print public service announcements encouraging people to test and fix their homes for radon. This is a good time to focus on testing and on fixing homes with a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more.

In fact, they have this very easy to understand A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon.

How does Radon get into a house?
- Cracks in solid floors
- Construction joints
- Cracks in walls
- Gaps in suspended floors
- Gaps around service pipes
- Cavities inside walls
- The water supply

Do I have radon in my house? No. Just doing some research on it.

On a more scientific level, I believe, but can not vouch for it, Wikipedia has some useful information on that front. "Radon (IPA: /ˈreɪdɒn/) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Rn and atomic number 86."

Cool stuff, I guess.

Posted at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (0) (0)