Daily Search Coverage:

Google goes low with new favorite icon. Google's mysterious and disappearing AdSense ads. Sitemaps won't delete in Webmaster Tools. Google got more people looking at more ads. Don't forget SEO when building links. Google tests and tests. I helped out Google's Merchant Search. Search in Pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google's New Blue Fav Icon :: Google Updated Their Favorite Browser Icon
2. Google AdSense Ads Disappearing
3. Google Webmaster Tools Won't Allow You To Delete Sitemaps
4. More People are Looking at Google Ads, Says comScore
5. Search Engine Optimization Should Not Be Forgotten when Building Links

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. How Google Tests & Tests Search Interfaces
2. Google Updates Browser Favorite Icon
3. Outing Google Merchant Search
4. Search in Pictures: Condoleezza Rice, Google I/O & Big Purple Buttons

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 30th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 29, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Blocking your Redirect 301 with robots.txt file? Bad Move!, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• Google doesn't support the troops, An Alien Mind
• Google Updates Browser Favorite Icon, Search Engine Land
• Most Irrelevant Google News Story of the Day, Search Engine Watch Blog
• New Google Favicon, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog
• Search Engine Land reaches 2000 Facebook Members, Dixon Jones
• soxiam, soxiam.com
• Techmeme: Google's New Blue Fav Icon ::  Google Updated Their Favorite Browser Icon (Barry Schwartz/Search Engine Roundtable), Techmeme
• Trivial Friday, Traffick
• Weekly Wrap Up - Industry News, 30 May 2008, LocalPoint

Posted at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Survival International has posted a new stories and pictures of rare photographs of one of the world's last uncontacted tribes. Here is one photo:

All in red. Now I understand why the smurfs are blue:

In all seriousness, I find these pictures very interesting. This tribe is near the Brazil-Peru border and they were taken from aircraft.

Posted at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) (0)

The other week, I finally had the bank agree to give me remote check deposit for free. They asked if they can come in to meet me, so I said okay and we just had the meeting this morning.

I knew two people were coming, but it ended up to be three people. A branch manager, VP of retail regional manager and VP of business and professional banking. The latter was a last minute join, because she happened to be at the branch and decided to tag along. The meeting was about answering my questions about the remote check deposit and then to see if they can sell me on anything else (without looking like they are selling). Honestly, I had no desire to meet with anyone. The first question they asked was did I have questions on how remote check deposit worked and so on. I said, maybe one - but I kind of knew how it worked. I did get one piece of information that was useful. They then offered to send someone in to help me set up the scanner. I said immediately that I could figure out the installation, and I really don't need someone to make a special trip to help with that. Then we went on to talk about credit lines, insurance, mortgages, and a few other banking products that I really don't need - thankfully.

Okay, now to the point....

What I think the bank wanted to do was show some faces and build a relationship with me. Why? Well, when the whole remote check deposit episode took place and they told me the costs, I decided to be frank with them. I said, that other banks offer it for free and I may go to the other banks because it simply is a great service. Honestly, I have been with M&T Bank, my bank, since I was 12. I really like the bank, I never had an issue - they have tons of branches in my area and they treat me very well. But I don't care for the relationship. If they provide good customer service and I don't have problems, I am happy. If they provide similar tools to other banks and I can utilize those tools, then I am happy.

I am a loyal person, sometimes too loyal (might have a post on that in the next month or two). I have been with M&T for almost 20 years. My personal accounts are there, my business accounts are there and I would have placed my mortgage with them if the rates were competitive (who knows, I might switch). But, I am honestly very loyal to them and to my clients and vendors. If you treat me right, I will treat you right - at least I hope you feel that way.

In any event, for me, customer service is not meeting faces. For me, customer service is purely about convenience and honesty. Do what I need to do faster and more accurately and I am a happy camper.

There are a lot of banks pitching a "personal touch." I personally do not find value in that. Do you?

Sorry for the crazy long post. Sorry for typos/grammar, these long posts tend to get interrupted mid-way several times by calls, emails, employees, IMs - and I don't proof-read, making for major mistakes.

Oh, I hope to get my remote check deposit thing soon. Can't wait!

Posted at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (5) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

SMX coverage schedule is live. Google dislikes keyword insertion in URLs. Can embedding videos improve your rankings? Belgian publishers seriously sue Google. Google audio has some quirks. Search 4.0 is on it's way, says Danny. Google does Everest - well, kind of.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. SMX Advanced 2008 Conference Coverage Schedule
2. Google Does Not Recommend Keyword Insertion in Display URL
3. Embedding Related YouTube Videos May Increase Your Ranking in Google?
4. Belgian Publishers Demand $77.5 Million of Damages from Google
5. Google Audio Ad Quirks
6. Algorithms Alone Won't Cut It: Human Powered Search is Coming

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Climbs To The Top Of Everest With Special Logo

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 29th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 28, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Custom Search - Opera Issues?, Fav Browser
• Outbound Linking: Any SEO Value?, Lawyer Casting
• Search Engine Journal's Coverage of SMX Advanced, Search Engine Journal
• SMX Advanced Coverage, Justin Davy
• Techmeme: Enable Google Contact Sync Without an iPhone or iPod Touch (Gina Trapani/Lifehacker), Techmeme
• Techmeme: Search 4.0: Putting Humans Back In Search (Danny Sullivan/Search Engine Land), Techmeme

Posted at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I find this funny. Sam from OhNuts did a "re-mix" of my May 25th video recap. Here it is:

Awesome job Sam!

To watch and subscribe to my weekly search video recaps click here.

Posted at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (0) (0)

Not sure if I told all of you, but I made the plunge and switched not only my corporate email to Google Apps, but all my clients (several hundred) email accounts to Google Apps. In fact, via Slashdot, DreamHost who hosts 700,000 web sites, is encouraging their customers to switch email from them to Google Apps. Honestly, I switched for the same reason I switched off PHPAdsNew to Google Ad Manager. I don't have to patch for security, I have no server load for hosting it, the data is up in a cloud, I don't have to worry when there are issues and it has awesome features. So, I switched. Kind of scary.

Now, back to my contacts. I use Apple's Address Book application for managing my contacts. Of course, it syncs with my iPhone. But I also wanted that data in a cloud, just in case I need to access it when I don't have my phone or computer (yes, extremely rare for that to ever happen). In addition, it is backed up in a cloud (yes, I am obsessive about running backups with my computer, but still...). I was waiting on SpanningSync to come out with their tool to sync my address book to Google Apps, but last night, Apple released OS version 10.5.3, it came with support to sync your address book to Gmail (Google Apps).

I followed the instructions at the Google Mac Blog and I was set. Oh, if you are not an iPhone user, Lifehacker has a hack to enable you to sync your stuff to Gmail. I am not sure why it was restricted to iPhone users only but it is, without this hack.

Schedule wise, I do sync some of my calendars to Google Calendar, but not all. I might begin syncing my full calendar to Google Calendar, so I can easily share it with everyone in my office.

I can't believe I am giving over virtually all my data to Google. But in exchange for the convenience, piece of mind and ease-of-use, I couldn't resist. Good job Google!

Posted at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Computers , iPhone | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Yahoo updates. Google delays video ad API support. Does Google support acronyms? Microsoft and Siemens teaming up to sell search ads? Opera is not supported by Google. Hacked sites and Google. AdSense on a government website? Microsoft does social bookmarking. We got a serial click fraud lawsuit firm out there. Advertisers are cloaking Google's adbot.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. May 2008 Yahoo Search Subtle Update
2. Google AdWords API Video Ad Support Delayed
3. Does Google Support The Abbreviations and Acronyms Tags?
4. Is Microsoft & Siemens Teaming Up in Europe Against Google?
5. Opera Not Supported By Google Custom Search
6. How Does Google Handle Hacked Sites?
7. Is Google AdSense Safe on a Government Website?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Microsoft Joins The Social Bookmarking Game
2. Serial Clickfraud Lawsuit Firm Strikes Again, This Time At Citysearch
3. Advertisers Cloaking AdWords URLs To Get Around Display URL Policy

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 28th, 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 May 28th, 2008:

• Google убирал из результатов выдачи .info и blogspot домены, habrahabr.ru
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 27, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: Google Temporarily Penalizes Blogspot , Techmeme
• What are Leapfrogg reading this week?, FroggBlog
• Support the troops rhetoric, web-professor.net
• Advertisers Cloaking AdWords URLs To Get Around Display URL Policy, Search Engine Land
• Google a penalizat .blogspot.com si .info, SEOpedia.ro
• Googlen algoritmitesti hvitti info-domaineja hakutuloksista, Hakukonemarkkinointia.fi blogi
• Techmeme: Weather Report: Yahoo! Search Index Update (Yahoo! Search Blog), Techmeme

Posted at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (2) (0) | Speak

Today is my second wedding anniversary. It feels a lot longer then just two years. Not in a bad way, but in a good way. Kind of like I feel I have known my wife for my whole life but it has really been less then four years (two years married and the rest dating).

I am not going to get all "sappy" as Shoe did. Last year, on my firstyear anniversary, I wrote a long detailed post of the past year events. So, I figured I would highlight some of the past years events, only events I wrote about in the past.

Okay, so for last year's anniversary, my wife got me a pretty cool tie rack, I still use it today, although I rarely use the motorized component of it. Today, I am hoping to get one of my favorite dinners tonight, hopefully with lots of ketchup and maybe fries, maybe. ;-)

Did you know that at our wedding, I walked down to Bron-Yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin, did you know that? I rule! ;-) Back to the past year events.

I first put up my Monsey Condo for sale the month after our wedding anniversary. So technically, I lived their for just over a year and then got out of there. Not because we didn't like it, but it was time for a home for other reasons. I then soon began house hunting, one of the most stressful times I had outside of the business world. I had my home inspection which taught me a lot. But part of the decision was deciding on an internet provided, which turned out to be FiOS, which rocks. But thinking ahead to the cost of being an observant jew really scared me. I finally moved into my house and sold my condo. But I learned a lot, things like installing a mailbox, alight fixtures, a ceiling fan and more, paper shades, as well as keeping my heat costs down, cutting my grass and cutting down a tree.

Other topics of interest include: I got an I hope to get the 3G model soon. Oh, the iPhone cost me a fraction of what it cost many others due to my AMEX credit and apple credit. I was a Kvatter not once, but twice, cause I got a new nephew. Yes, I also got a brand new niece this year also. My oldest nephew was bar mitzvahed, in Israel during my conference...

I announced the first largish SEM event for Israelis, sold out and even overbooked, but the event rocked and we hope to do a new one this coming year. You can watch some of it, if you want to see my intro.

A cop hit me with his car, it all worked out for me, but he had to pay for the damages. I was on the cover of Wired magazine, for real - kind of. I was coined a notable SEO but Wikipedia - does that count for anything? I did make it into a card game, which is fun. I launched a search video cast. But what meant a ton to me is winning the opened a kosher place by my office - still loving it today. I met a famous Jewish book author, Rabbi Hanoch Teller. But soon after that, I began seeing floaters, not a good sign. So I decided to get some aid and I pre ordered a pleo, which I cancelled later. Unfortunately, more birds flew into my window and died from it - at least it wasn't like this was and on crack cocaine. My car was broken into and I got a partial parking refund for my troubles. Eventually, I got a new car, which is saving me a lot of money. Oh, did I tell you ashar caught on fire, my elementary school. I also met Danny Sullivan's wife for the first time. I also managed to finally pay off a surprising electric bill.

But probably most importantly, I revisited one of my all time favorite posts on the leaning tower of snapple.

Posted at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Family | Comments (11) (0)

This afternoon I had to drive up-state a bit, up to Newburgh, NY for a meeting. I actually met with a company that makes things out of steel. Yea, it was an interesting place. That is for another blog entry.

On my way home, the sky opened up and it felt like someone threw a pool of water on top of my car, pretty much for the last 15 miles of my trip. You know that feeling, it is basically impossible to see the car in front of you - all you see is water and more water...

Of course, all the cars slowed down. I noticed many cars pulled over to the side of the highway. But everyone else pretty much had their hazards on, so you can see them and kept going at a steady 30MPH.

I can't remember the last time I drove in rain like that. It was literally impossible to see in front of you at times. I actually drove by looking at the yellow line on my left, to make sure I was in my lane. And then when I saw some sort of thing flashing in front of me (the car in front of me had his hazards on), I slowed down to not hit that car.

The rain stopped now, but it was bad. Glad I typically have a 10 minute commute to work. :)

Posted at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Category: Travels , Weather | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google's webmaster tools bugs out at midnight? Would you buy a nofollowed link? Don't block your 301s. SES Toronto's party schedule is live. Google's international filter seems a bit off. Update your AdSense account to a Google account. Are link buys worth it? Yahoo is updating their index.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Verification of Google Webmaster Tools Fails At 12:22am?
2. Would You Buy a Link With a NoFollow Attribute?
3. Don't Block Your 301 Redirects with a Robots.txt File
4. Search Engine Strategies Toronto 2008 Party Guide
5. Google's International Search Filters A Little Off?
6. A Reminder to Update Your Google AdSense Login to a Google Account
7. Is Link Buying Worth the Effort?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Search May 2008 Index Update

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 27th, 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 May 276th, 2008:

• Do You Report Your Competitors to Google?, ineedhits
• 301 Weiterleitungen & Robots.txt, Prometeo.de
• Around the Web in Blogging, BlogOnExpo
• Google-SERPs:Probleme mit .info-Domains, cooee.de
• On Memorial Day, Matt McGee
• Sphinn - Hey Google, How About a Memorial Day Logo?, Sphinn
• This Week in Search Marketing Staffing - 5/27/08, Onward Search

Posted at 5:04 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I rarely get a call from a Spanish-only speaking person. Today, I just received a call from someone who asked me if anyone here (RustyBrick) speaks Spanish.

I actually have two people here who speak Spanish fluently. So I transferred the call to one of them. It turned out to be a wrong number, go figure.

But we have lots of languages in this office. We got:

• English
• Hebrew
• Spanish
• German
• I think a few others

So I was thinking, maybe we should add a menu when people first call. The menu would read...

If you speak English, press 1. If you speak Spanish press 2 (Si usted habla español). If you speak German, press 3, etc. All in their native toung. But then add the geek factor. If you speak PHP press ?, if you speak C# press #, etc.

Good stuff, no? ;-)

Posted at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

This has been an interesting weekend. Often when I write here, I don't actual think of who will be reading it, outside of the search people. Yea, when I started this blog, it was really a place for my search marketing buddies to learn more about what is going on with me, on a more personal level. My other blogs were more business focused and I couldn't blog about personal matters. So I started this place to do so.

But over time, I learned that many others began reading this blog. Like who? Family of course, also current friends. But not only those people. Over this weekend, not only did I find out family and friends read it, others do also.

I have found out that possibly, soon to be family is reading my blog. I have found out that friends of my family also read it. I have found out that friends I have not seen in years are reading it. I have found out that friends of my wife's family children read it.

How do they find this blog? Word of mouth is the most obvious. But many are now finding it through my annoying Facebook updates. Others are finding it conducting random searches and landing on my blog, one such example is the [ashar fire]. Plus, I get a ton of random people who have no idea who I am but are very afraid of worms (trust me, if you haven't seen that post, click over, it is a hoot).

Anyway, this blog has turned out to be more then a personal log of stuff I like to document or a place for my search industry buddies to chat with me. It has turned into a family and friends newsletter and sometimes a community newsletter.

I am curious, how would you classify yourself. Take my poll below that asks you how you know me.

Please take the poll. I am very curious.

Posted at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (8) (0)

Today was the day that my new nephew had his brit milah, or circumcision. I did my best in taking a picture of the male reaction at the actual second you hear the baby cry from the snip snip of the procedure.

The problem was, the baby was crying a bit before hand, so I really did not see the usual full affect on people's faces. But those up close had a better reaction then those in the back. Here is a picture, with my annotations (sorry for the blurriness).

My wife and I were honored with being the Kvatter again, so that was really nice.

Mazol Tov again. Oh, his name is Judah.

Posted at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Category: Family | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Check out my video recap. Here is to Memorial Day. Google trashes info and blogspot domains for a sec. Google's search share increases. Google is all about the truth.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: May 25, 2008
2. Memorial Day Logos from Yahoo, Ask.com, Dogpile But Still Not Google
3. Google Temporarily Penalizes Blogspot & Info Domains
4. comScore: Google Search Share is at 61.6%

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yes, Truthiness Is A Credibility Factor Google Cares About
2. 2008 Memorial Day Search Logos

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 26th, 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 May 26th, 2008:

• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 23, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Weighing in on Reporting Spammers, Metamend
• Automatic Matching: Heard Of It?, Pay Per Click Journal
• SEO Aware's New Business Site, Some SEO Links , seoaware.com
• Do SEO Bloggers Tell Big Daddy their Woes?, phoenixrealm.com
• How to Redirect Like A Pro, Brian Whaley's Pixelated Views
• Microsoft schliet Live Search Books, TaT
• Neues aus der Universal Search von Google, SEOnauten.com
• Pandia Weekend Wrap-up May 25, Pandia
• Someone is wrong on the Internet, BPWrap
• Why Does Google Lie to SEO's?, Its Service Call
• 2008 Memorial Day Search Logos, Search Engine Land
• Oops, Google Malware Review Form Working Again, WebProNews
• SEORoundtable | Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz, The SEOintelligence Blog
• Techmeme: Google Temporarily Penalizes Blogspot , Techmeme
• The Importance of Being Included in Google's Index, Google Operating System

Posted at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I currently have 430 friends at Facebook. I am a friendly guy, I guess. Honestly, all I use Facebook for is to click the add button when I get a friend request.

But I have been recently getting these friend requests from old friends, outside of the search industry. Like people I grew up with and went to school with. Also, some family members have been friending me, so they are on the list.

What I totally forgot about is that my Twitters have been automatically posting to my Facebook status section. So whenever I post to twitter, it is updated on Facebook.

Not only that, I automatically post my personal blog posts to my Twitter account. Which then will automatically post that twitter (my blog post title and URL) to Facebook. It seems I am a very very active Facebook user, when in all honesty, I only login to Facebook to accept friend requests and decline everything else.

What is pretty funny is that when I first added the Twitter to Facebook application, I wrote about it. I named the blog post Another Way to Annoy People Using Twitter. So, I knew it would annoy people on some level.

This weekend, I spoke to a few of these normal Facebook users (non-SEOs) and they mentioned (two of them did) that I am very active on Facebook, but in a weird way. I.e. I post these short things, often with URLs at the end, and sometimes I tell people I am going to the bathroom. I then remembered that my Twitter account is hooked up and it might be annoying real Facebook users who don't understand that.

So I asked both of those people I was talking to. One on Friday night the other one last night at a nice BBQ if I was being an "annoying Facebook user." They both said no, but I think they were being nice.

People are much more frank via comments. So go ahead, be deadly truthful. Am I an evil facebook user? Feel free to be anonymous with your comments.

Posted at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , Buddies | Comments (5) (0)

Almost a week ago, I received a new nephew. This picture shows the baby at about 8 hours old.

This is actually my first nephew on my wife's side. That side has been relatively consistent with having girls for the past couple generations until now. That is, until now. Congrats for breaking that 'stigma'. ;-)

In any event, this is my fifth nephew. My sister has four boys.

This weekend, we all (the family) packed into my wife's sister's home, the day after she came back from the hospital, to spend the weekend there. Basically, when an orthodox Ashkenazi Jew has a boy, the Friday night after that birth, a "Shalom Zachar" takes place. Basically, at about 9:30pm, dozens and dozens of men (some women) come to the house and celebrate the birth of the son. They celebrate by singing, speeches, desserts and lots of alcohol. Of course, the woman who gave birth is not in any mood to see all her friends and extended friends a couple days after giving birth. Nor does she necessarily want to host friends and family in her house days after giving birth. But nevertheless, it is done.

After midnight, the last of my brother-in-law's friends left. We helped clean up as best we could and then we hit the hay.

Tomorrow is when the baby gets a bris. Yes, a circumcision. Snip, snip. I'll be a tad late tomorrow morning for that event. If I can, I will try to take a picture of the exact moment when the mohel ("circumciser") does the snip. I will not take a picture of that area, instead, I will take a picture of the male audience, to show you the faces on every single male at the moment you hear the baby cry from the pain. We all feel the pain with the kid, just not at the same level.

Mazol Tov!

Posted at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Category: Family | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google loses its glasses. Improve them maps Google. Google is watching my SEO. SEOs don't rat out other SEOs. AdSense targeting failing? Domain name registration length, an SEO factor? Matt on linkbait. Google changes web local results. Google does safe browsing test. AOL's search data is featured in a play. Search in Pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdWords Magnifying Glass Goes Missing
2. Love Google Maps? Help Improve It With Your Suggestions
3. Google Is On My Site! Will I Be Penalized Soon?
4. Most SEOs Don't Report Competitors To Google
5. Publishers Upset with Poor Google AdSense Quality Targeting
6. Does Domain Name Registration Length Impact SEO?
7. Google May Penalize Fake Linkbait, According to Matt Cutts
8. Google Universal Search Local Results Adds "Change Location"

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google's Safe Browsing Diagnostic Tool
2. AOL's Leaked Searches Get Turned Into Play: USER 927
3. Search in Pictures: Google Branded Disposable Cups, Yahoo Chef Training, & A Personal Googleplex

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 23rd, 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 May 23rd, 2008:

• Attending SMX Advanced in June, Karl Ribas
• Google Search Quality Lifts The Veil, Search Newz
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 22, 2008, Search Engine Land
• DeNial of Service, command (not) found
• Google going to make results Case Sensitive ?, ankitrawat.com
• Reporting SEO Competition to Google : Conflicting Reports, Search Engine Journal
• Yahoo Makes Minor Changes To Advertisement Layout, WebProNews
• Yahoo Makes Minor Changes To Advertisement Layout, Smart SEO
• Yahoo! Follows Google! Makes Minor Changes to Advertisement Layout!, PageTraffic SEO Blog

Posted at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Like you guys care, but part two of getting my kick heater installed was the electrical hook up. The plumber finished and so I called the electrician, he came over two hours later - requiring me to run back home...

He hooked up that white electrical cable through the tile, to a power source in the basement.

Now, I just need to put the shelving back in and clean it all up. The contractor should be doing that Monday or Tuesday!

Posted at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (0) (0)

Remember I blogged about "Installing a Twin Flow III K120 Kick Space Heater Under Kitchen Cabinet, well, five months later, we are finally having it really installed. The plumber is at my house now, I had to stay home for this, and he is plugging in the pipping now.

Here is a picture of it being installed:

Notice the two pipes on the right side, here is a different picture:

Next step is to get the electrician to hook up the power for the fans in the front. Then, I get the contractor back to close up the cabinet so we can use it for storage again. This device hides under your kitchen cabinet, why am I so impressed with that?

Posted at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (0) (0)

This explains the problem with DVRs... Watch the video:

A show runs longer then expected, you are out of luck.

How funny is this!

Posted at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (5) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

AdWords updates billing page. Google Reader has issues. Google suggests IP redirection techniques. Sphinn on Sphinn. Google flops. I rank way too high in Google. Yahoo changes search ads. Barter quizzes Google again. Google 4 Doodle winner announced. Fake linkbait can penalize you in Google?

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdWords Updates Billing Page
2. Google Reader Suffers Temporary Outage Last Night
3. Google Offers Advice on Automatic Redirection Based on Geolocation & Language
4. Blog Post About Sphinn Demonstrates the Power of Community Within Social Networks
5. Is Google Perfect? Not Always. Here are 10 Flops.
6. I Rank Too High on Google! Is Something Wrong?
7. Yahoo Reduces Top Ads & Changes Ad Layout Slightly

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. US Congressman Quizzes Google Again On Privacy
2. Google Announces Doodle 4 Google Winners
3. Doing A Fake Story For Linkbait? Disclose -- Or Face The Wrath Of Google

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 22nd, 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 May 22nd, 2008:

• Canonicalization & SEO : Should I use WWW or not?, Search Engine Journal
• Don't tell Google when your Site is Down!, Shimon Sandler
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 21, 2008, Search Engine Land
• How to Get in Google News (And Receive 8,000 visitors for One Article), ViperChill
• 50 Google Reader Productivity Hacks, Techver2
• Doing A Fake Story For Linkbait? Disclose - Or Face The Wrath Of Google (Barry Schwartz/Search Engine Land), Techmeme
• Future Web, Carly's Blog
• Pondering Facebook, Twitter, Google, Open Standards And The Future Of The Web, Publishing 2.0
• PPC News Roundup - 5/22/2008, PPC Hero
• Reader and Bloglines, Murky Blog

Posted at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Last night, I spent about two hours in the Verizon Wireless store. My wife's phone couldn't keep a charge, so we brought it in. In order to get support in the store, you need to sign in at a kiosk. So we sign in and notice our name is number nine on the tech support queue. We take a seat and watch as the customers before us obtain their tech support.

Now, imagine this. There is a sign under the tech support area that says "Worry Free Guarantee." Have that in your head? Okay, good.

Every single person that was serviced by customer service seemed very upset when they left. Here are some stories, I couldn't help, but over hear.

(1) I can't retrieve my voicemail or something, I think the phone is broken. He hands the phone to the tech support guy. The guy shows him how the phone is cracked and scratched on the outside. He said you must have physically damaged it and our warranty only is for manufacturer defects. The guy argues that he didn't drop it or anything, that "it just happened." LOL - how does a phone crack by itself. In any event, the guy walked away very angry with his broken phone. Why? Because he wasn't willing to pay $50 to replace it.

(2) This next story was just funny, really nothing to do with bad customer service, but I thought I would share it. A daughter and father team walk up. The daughter needs her phone replaced. The daughter asks the tech guy to transfer the songs and numbers. The tech guy says it is X dollars extra to transfer your songs. The dad said no, we don't need it. The daughter says she does and keeps at it. The father said, you were not even allowed to download those songs. The daughter said, but (sister name goes here) does. He said she shouldn't either! He then tells the tech guy to put a block on that feature on all phones on his account. Too funny!

It ended up, they told the guy they wouldn't replace the phone. He was there for the fourth time with the same issue. So he got upset and said, the 3rd time they promised to replace it if the issue comes back. I don't know if he ever got the new phone, I left before hand.

(3) This woman tells the tech guy that she left her charger with them and she never got it back. She wants Verizon to give her a new charger. The guy walks in the back and doesn't find a charger. He comes back and said there is no charger back there. She begins yelling. You stole my charger and never gave it back and now I need to buy a new one from you! I'll spare you the rest. The end, she walks out without a charger and very upset.

(4) By the time it was my turn, I just said, here is the money, just replace my wife's phone. I didn't want to argue, I just wanted to go home. They said they would transfer the numbers. They forgot and then argued with me about how they can't. I then looked at the guy who told me he would do it, who looked at the guy who was helping me on the replacement, and he did it for us.

Worry Free Guarantee. I guess it was referring to something else?

Posted at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) (0)

You know what happens when your throughput is incredibly fast? You get really really hot cables that burn through the plastic wrappings. Here is a picture of one cable that borked out at RustyBrick this morning:

Okay, I lied. As per the new required Google disclosure, I am tagging this post with a rel=hoax attribute.

In reality, the cable was laying on a baseboard heater. I guess after time, it burned its way through.

Posted at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Category: Computers | Comments (3) (0)

So it really looks like the 3G iPhone will be released and available as soon as June 15th.

I know I can hirea professional line waiter but I honestly want to totally geek-it-out and wait on line, myself.

So, if you want an iPhone or just want to hang out online at an Apple Store with me, let me know...

So, if the iPhone is for sale starting on Sunday, June 15th. The Apple Store near me is the Apple Store Palisades in West Nyack, NY. Typically, the Apple Store opens at 11am on Sundays. If it opens earlier for the iPhone rush, that is cool - if not, then I would get there as soon as the mall opens to wait on line there. Anyone want to wait with me? :)

I am not sure why I want to wait on line for it, but I do... Last time, when I bought the iPhone, I waited three weeks until after it was released and then gave it to temptation. Now, I can't wait. In fact, I heard 1 in 4 iPhone owners will buy a new iPhone, not sure where I heard that, so don't quote me.

Tick, tock, tick, tock....

Posted at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (6) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google talks on search quality, but I talk back. Google updated, they added Char to the webmaster team, they are showing cased based result and floating on the four. Google is trying ads on image search. Microsoft gives cash to search shoppers. You can watch the Google factory tour. Matt was not electrocuted. Finally, you can search Techmeme.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Search Index Update: May '08 Update
2. Chark Added To Google Search Quality Support Team
3. Google Still Showing Different Results Base on Case Sensitivity
4. More Google Floating Four Theories
5. Google Shares Information About Search Quality
6. Google to Run Image Advertisements in Image Search
7. Microsoft to Offer Cash Back to Users
8. What Happened At The Google Factory Tour
9. Linkbait Shows Matt Cutts Being Electrocuted by Solar Panels

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. You Can Search Techmeme
2. Playing With Live Search Cashback
3. A Deeper Look At Google's Search Quality Efforts
4. A Webmaster View Of Google's Latest Search Quality

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 21st, 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 May 21st, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 20, 2008, Search Engine Land
• SEO Class June 23-24 Edinburgh Scotland - Free to Ninjas, www.jimboykin.com
• A Deeper Look At Google's Search Quality Efforts, Search Engine Land
• A Webmaster View Of Google's Latest Search Quality, Search Engine Land
• A Webmaster View Of Google's Latest Search Quality, Sphinn
• Google Search Quality , S Marketer
• Techmeme: Introduction to Google Search Quality (Official Google Blog), Techmeme
• Techmeme: Microsoft to lure search users with cash (Todd Bishop/Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog), Techmeme
• Using Meta Tags In SEO Revisted, Search Engine Optimization Journal
• What's the Best Way to Deal with a Search Engine Algorithm Update?, Enquiro

Posted at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Last night, I conned my wife into coming with me to one of my favorite restaurants, because we were only 5 minutes away, and I was starving.

When we got there, we reviewed our choices and the waiter came by. I had my wife order first, because all polite men do that. ;-) Then I told the waiter my request. He asked, would you like mash potatoes, backed potatoes or french fries with that. What did I say?

"French Fries"

My wife then looked at me and said no. Then the waiter smiles and he looks at me for my next move. He was shocked to hear me say...

"French Fries"

My wife said no again, but with less emphasis, which I then looked back at the waiter, smiled and said...

"French Fries"

The men who read this will think what I thought. This is one small victory for all man kind.

The women who read this will think another thing. Men are so stupid.

Posted at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Category: Family , Food , Just Funny | Comments (6) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google restores most of the lost data. Google adds third party tracking support. Ask.com might be updating. Google Health launches. Where is search in five years? Link and Google - should you? Senator urges Google to remove YouTube videos. Yahoo added features to the search marketing console.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Restores Google Analytics Data
2. Big News for Publishers: Google AdSense Now Supports Third-Party Ad Serving Technology
3. Possible Ask.com Search Update?
4. Google Health Launches Amid Privacy Concerns
5. The Next Five Years of Search
6. Link Buys & Link Exchanges: Should You Compete in a Google World?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Screen Shots Of Google Health
2. US Senator, Lieberman, Asks For Al-Qaeda Content To Be Removed From YouTube
3. Yahoo Search Marketing Console Updated With Minor Enhancements

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 20th, 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 May 20th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 19, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Analytics Admits Errors, Data Loss, WebProNews
• Introducing third-party ads on the Google content network (Courtney Chin/Inside AdSense), Techmeme
• Nothing succeeds like success, especially with AdWords, Beaconfire Wire
• Technology News and Tricks, MILOL Bloging
• The Case For Meta-Descriptions, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog

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

Yesterday, I told you about my Home Depot Saga, in buying a Patio Set. The picture here is a picture of what it will look like when I am 100% done, minus the umbrella.

So last night, I set my goal of putting together the 6 chairs. Each chair had (pauses to count from memory), at least 12 screws, and 12 rubber caps, with additional hardware pieces to make them secure (like 2 bolts per screw, washers, and some metal plates to help it rock back and forth).

Once I did the first chair, the other chairs took about 20 minutes each. I completed four chairs last night and I hope to have time to complete the remaining two chairs tonight. I figure I need an hour in total, 40 minutes to build the chairs and then 20 minutes to clean up everything.

Why do my fingers hurt? The screws are small and after using my fingers to secure 48 screws, and then tightening them with this tiny wrench - was not easy on the fingers. Plus, those rubber caps are not always easy to get on.

Honestly, my fingers did not hurt during the process of putting the chairs together. They hurt now when I type this morning. I guess like being sore from a work out that you are not use to - but with fingers. :-)

Posted at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (2) (0)

Here is a video of Microsoft's CEO getting egged during a presentation at Budapest University in Hungary.

Now, I am not a Microsoft fan on many fronts. But this is totally not appropriate on so many levels. It is childish, it looks so bad for the school and for the person. There are better ways to make your point, IMO.

Posted at 9:42 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (2) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Check out my latest video recap. Google's 3 ad unit restriction. Google to push automatic matching? Site wide links in an iframe? The SEO Scientist looks at minus X penalties. Do caps and URLs work? Yahoo files patent on search term substitution. Microsoft and Yahoo now friends again. YouTube adds features. Google enables third party tracking. Google jails Indian.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: May 18, 2008
2. Why Does Google Limit You To Three Ad Units Per Page?
3. Google AdWords "Automatic Matching" Beta To Expand Tomorrow
4. Should You Place Your Site Wide Network Links in an iFrame?
5. A Deeper Look at the Minus X Google Penalties
6. Benefits of Capitalized Letters in URLs
7. Is a Meta Description Necessary in Google?
8. Yahoo Files Patent for Search Term Substitution
9. Microsoft Back in Talks with Yahoo Over New Deal

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. YouTube Adds Search Suggestions, Demographic Stats, Google Contacts Import & More
2. Google Enables Third Party Tracking For Content Network
3. Google Aids Indian Government In Arrest Of Political Defamer

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 19th, 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 May 19th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 16, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Anatomy of a Google Filter/Penalty (or how not to do nofollow PR sculpting), SEO Scientist
• Google Friend Connect, solo un social connettore?, OMB
• Google PageRank: What Do We Know About It?, lost and found
• Google's Malware Review Form Is Back To Work!, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• Guy Kawasaki Interview on Alltop, Blogging and SEO, Online Marketing Blog
• Interview with Gab Goldenberg, 21 Year Old SEO Consultant of SEO ROI, Winning The Web
• Link Bait Tips, zen.bg
• links for 2008-05-19, pamelaheywood.com
• Primeiro raio laser; Tributo Google, Universo Anjrquico
• U Comment I Follow: The "No to rel='nofollow'" Campaign, VJ Czar World
• Using (and Abusing?) rel="nofollow" to Preserve Page Rank, Jenn's Other Blog
• What's Most Effective for Geo Targeting?, Search Engine Journal
• Yahoo terminate Ambassador search marketing accreditation, e-gain.co.uk
• YouTube Adds Search Suggestions, Demographic Stats, Google Contacts Import , Search Engine Land

Posted at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Yesterday, I spent about four hours with Home Depot trying to get a patio set.

I first went to the one closer to my home. I arrived and asked the service desk how I can order a patio set. She said, write down the SKUs and bring them to the register. So I went to the patio set on display, and wrote down the SKU written on the label. I then go over to the register and try to order it. The sku is invalid. So they try to get someone to help me. It turns out, that after trying for several minutes, the SKU written on the table was wrong. But when I ask the Home Depot associate to give me the SKU for the coordinating umbrella, he was unable to help.

So this associate tries to get someone else to help. After about five minutes, he gives up and goes back to his register. I then sit there waiting for a garden agent to come and help me. They call the agents several times, but after waiting about 20 minutes, no one comes. So I go on the service line and wait there for 15 minutes and as the line doesn't move, I give up. I find someone one the side and ask him for help. He says, you need a garden agent. At that point, I say, I had enough, Im going home to get all the SKUs from the web site.

I go home, I get all the SKUs together and then call the web site number to see if I can order it online with free shipping. I can buy the patio set online and get free shipping but the umbrella does not qualify for free shipping. I ask, even if I get both, the umbrella doesn't ship for free. He said no. I then ask him if he can find out if they have them in stock. He says sure and then comes back on the phone to tell me, he doesn't know if they have them in stock. I give up and decide to call the local stores.

One store gives me the answer quickly, telling me the umbrella is out of stock but the patio set is there. I then wait on hold for the other store, maybe about 10 - 15 minutes, to find out they have it in stock, both of them. So I drive to the other Home Depot and go to the register to order them.

I give her a SKU and she gets all confused. She said she needs the box. I said, I don't have the box, but I am suppose to give you the SKU so you can get it from me. She then gets someone to help me, who runs around the store for 10 minutes looking for the box. He is then told by a garden rep that the patio set is outside somewhere and he has to get it. 30 minutes later, I see my patio set roll up to me.

I then pay, almost paying double because the register person ringed it up twice. Then they say, I will need help getting it into my car. Guess who they send? A man who looked to be over 60 years old. I help him get it into the car, but he is struggling so I decide to lift it basically by myself.

Then off I go home, to set up the new patio set.

I open the box to find that the top of the table is cracked. Ugh!

I call Home Depot, they ask me to bring it all back. I tell them it is too big, can I just bring the top tile. They said okay! I was delighted and when I went back to exchange it, the manager there remembered me and said I can swap out the broken top with the top on the display unit. Now that saved me another 45 minutes, so I was happy.

Four hours at Home Depot or on the phone with them and I secured a patio set. Four hours!

Posted at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Category: Shopping | Comments (3) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google's API data might be off in some areas. Google tests a greener look. Google's malware review form is back in action. Google explains why they do what they do. Google pointing lasers all over. Can you hurt a competitor with a long tail keyword strategy? Yahoo does the monkey. Search in pictures is rocking this week.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdWords Traffic Estimator Figures From The API Wrong?
2. Google Testing Green Backgrounds & Turns Directory Ads Green
3. Google's Malware Review Form Now Working Again
4. Google Explains The Processes & Thoughts Behind an Update
5. Google Celebrates the Anniversary of the First Laser
6. Competitors Use Long Tail Keywords To Hurt Yahoo Search Advertisers
7. Yahoo Opens SearchMonkey Doors to Everyone

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Logo: First Laser Logo
2. Google Feeling Green: Testing Green Color Scheme
3. Search In Pictures: Disposable Cups, Google's Great Firewall, & Yahoo's Bird Problems

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 16th, 2008:

• Linky Goodness, May 15, Marketing Pilgrim
• Reciprocal Linking is NOT Worth the Effort, Shimon Sandler
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 15, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• Google Feeling Green: Testing Green Color Scheme, Search Engine Land
• Google Releases AdWords Editor 5 1, Search Newz
• GOOGLE TESTING GREEN SERPS, iCrossing
• Privacy? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Privacy!, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog
• Yahoo Redirect Users To Country Specific Sites, Tilakbisht.com

Posted at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Everyone has their perceptions of large companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Lexus, GMC, and so on. One of my employees friends created this neat site named Brand Tags. In short, the site shows you a logo of the brand and then you type what first comes to mind directly under the logo.

What this does is generate a list of brand perceptions, via tagging, quickly. Kind of reminds me of Google Image Labeler but very marketable. :)

For example, lets compare the tag clouds for brands such as Google and Apple and Yahoo:

Yes, that is the coolest part, you can browse the data by tag cloud, for all the brands in the system. All for free!

Feature Wish List:
- Filter Tags Results by Date Range
- Filter Tags Results by Geo Location
- Filter Tags Results by ISP Connection

But date range and geolocation would be most interesting for me at this time.

Posted at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (2) (0)

I was thinking about coming out with Barry Schwartz branded products. You know, like the George Foreman grill.... So I got this prototype in the mail, Schwartz Hand & Feet Cream!

What do you think?

Nah, I am just kidding. I got this via email from someone who will remain anonymous. This is stuff they apparently sell in Israel.

Posted at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (5) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google likes vodka. You can block your robots.txt files. Yahoo Site Explorer buggy? Yahoo redirecting UK users. Bookmark those Ad Words live chat links. ISPs stealing your ads. Google Maps adds more button. More on search engine redirection.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Of Course Google Indexes Content About Vodka & Hard Liquor
2. Should Google Not Index Robots.txt Files in Search Results?
3. Yahoo Site Explorer Mishandling HTTPS Vs. HTTP Protocols?
4. UK Based Yahoo Users Redirected to Yahoo UK
5. Quick Bookmark URL for Google AdWords Live Chat
6. ISP to Spy on User Activity to Deliver Targeted Ads

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Maps Adds "More" Button For Displaying Videos, Pictures, Wikipedia & More Content
2. How Search Engine Redirect Users To Country-Specific Sites

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 15th, 2008:

• Geek Jewelry, RoboJenny
• "Girls Don't Like My Search Videos", SEO Nonsense
• Ask.com: We're Not Dead, Forbes
• Ask.com: We're Not Dead - Jeeves, the former mascot - (Andrew Greenberg/Forbes), Techmeme
• Demographics now available in YouTube Insight (Nick Jakobi/Official Google Blog), Techmeme
• Google AdWords Editor Gets Upgraded To 5.1, WebProNews
• Google Releases Google AdWords Editor 5.1 and Schedules Maintenance for May 17, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• The Definitive YouTube Resource List, Social Media Trader
• Yahoo! Gets With The IP Delivery (David Eaves/SEOCO), Techmeme

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

Google announced that YouTube added demographic data to the video stats (aka YouTube Insights). It is really awesome, at least until I looked at one of my search videos and noticed that 90% of my viewers are male and 10% are female.

Come on!

How depressing is that!

Here is the chart:

Very depressing! Well, I assume there is a skew here, but still.

It also shows age groups, here is my break down:

But you can see what ages each gender is by clicking on the pie chart. My 10% of women are between the ages of 25 and 35.

Neat stuff. How about my most popular video?

25% female, with a wide range of ages.

Posted at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (2) (0)

Ask.com: We're Not Dead from Andy at Forbes discusses the recent news that Ask.com Buying Dictionary.com Parent.

In Andy's interview with IAC's Jim Safka, he called my worries about Ask.com's future in search horsesh!@#@. He said that in response to to Danny, Lisa and my thoughts on them cutting staff. Okay, so they bought Dictionary.com - good. Let's see search algorithmic improvements. Let's see a better search index. Show us something outside of UI changes. You can have a nice UI, but without the index to back it, then you are nothing.

And I quote the Forbes:

Safka has a response: "It's horseshit," he told Forbes.com in an interview. "It's categorically not true. We're more committed to our algorithm and engineers than ever."

Give me a break. Show me index improvements. Show me algorithmic improvements. I have been hearing excuses since 2002, let's get serious. Core search, core!

Posted at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Tired, way too many meetings. Analytics drops data, No Archive debates again. Google goes bird hunting (yea, cloud article). Ad Words display URL and the quality score. Can porn hurt you? Ad Words downtime scheduled. Twittering twitter. Google updates map images and blurs faces.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Analytics Has Major Data Processing Issue: Loses 6 Days of E-Commerce Data
2. In 2008, Is The NoArchive Tag a Red Flag in SEO?
3. Does Google Index Content in "The Cloud" (Amazon S3, etc)
4. The Display URL May Impact Your Google AdWords Quality Score
5. Can Links From Porn Sites Hurt Your Search Rankings?
6. Google AdWords Dowtime Schedule on May 17th & Minor AdWords Editor Update
7. Building a Powerful Presence with Twitter

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Updates Earth Imagery & Begins To Blur Faces

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 14th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 13, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Могут ли конкуренты опустить сайт?, seodzen.ru
• 63 jel amit Googlebuzi vagy, kocka.blog.hu
• Feedburner drops, Google PR drops, Whats going on here?, Ask The Admin
• Lawyer Blog Directories, Lawyer Casting
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 14, 2008, Search Engine Land
• SERP & hosting performance, consigli utili, OMB
• Vodafone ist geil!, seoFM
• What Google Knows About Spam, flyte blog

Posted at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Seriously, I met a real live typewriter repair man just a few minutes ago.

My office neighbor came in with a computer question (yes, I am their free tech support man). So I went in to the adjacent office to help them with the computer issue. As I am playing computer technician, a man walks in. He announces that he is here to repair the typewriter.

I look up and say... Where do you find a typewriter repair man these days? The office people laughed and then one showed them to the typewriter that needed repair. The office is a law office and they use a typewriter to make quick adjustments to faxed over contracts (like they white things out and then use the typewriter over the whiteout).

In any event, I wanted to see if people actually used such services. So my first instinct was to conduct a search at Google on typewriter repair to see if ads come up. And guess what, they do! Heck, a shop in California even owns www.typewriterrepair.org!

My next step was to try to see if people search on the term. I head over to SEOBook's tool and see it returns estimates from various databases, one says 9 searches, one says 11, another says 3 and the last says 1. Overall, about 16 searches per day from the various engines, based on that tool.

But would those in need of typewriter repair use Google to find a repair man or open the Yellow Pages? :-)

Posted at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (2) (0)

Last night I was thinking... Wow, how do I come up with about 2 - 4 things per day to write at this blog. In fact, I have written over 1,800 blog posts here since I started the blog on July 20, 2006.

Honestly, I think I write too much here. Heck, I barely even write about search stuff here - I write dozens of articles per day on search at the Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Land.

On top of that, I write about the most random stuff here. Yet, I continue to spew this stuff out on a daily basis, with virtually no "bloggers-block." Lucky, I guess. Not so lucky for you, who subscribe and read it. ;-)

Maybe this is a good time to share my top pieces of content on this blog since January 1st:

1. Macbook Air Song By Israeli Yael Naim
2. Comcast Plays Porn Instead of Cartoon on Disney Channel
3. Google Sucks! Google Maps Got Me Arrested!
4. Shaky iPhone Home Screen Icons
5. Need Advice on iPhone & Verizon
6. Practice Parking Your Car Online
7. The Truth Behind my iPhone Popcorn & Goldfish
8. MacBook Pro Keyboard Issues
9. America's Most Drunk Cities
10. How To Make Your Own iPhone WebClip Bookmark Icons

Here is to another two years of spewing out this stuff here. :)

Posted at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google mass emails publishers. Google Maps makes some changes. Yahoo adds geo data to ads. SEOs fear competitors. Google does friend connect. Google News has videos. Matt Cutts depends SEO. Delicious gets more tasty on IE.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Has More Mass Email Problems With AdSense
2. Google Moves "Saved Locations" Feature in Google Maps
3. Yahoo Now Showing Geo-Location Under Search Ads
4. Most SEOs Believe Competitors Can Hurt Your Google Rankings
5. Google Goes Social With Friend Connect
6. Google Adds Video to the News Mix
7. Matt Cutts Discusses Google's Knowledge of Spam

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. del.icio.us Extension For Internet Explorer Adds Firefox Features
2. Yahoo Displaying Geo Criteria Of Search Ads

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 13th, 2008:

• AdWords Knows Your Landing Page Speed, WebProNews
• Matt Cutts Says No to Spam. His Definition Anyway., snydeysense.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 12, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Doug Heil, white hat seo troll, web-professor.net
• Google goes social network mad with Friend Connect, eGain
• links for 2008-05-13 , Cosmos
• Voulez-vous travailler chez Google ?, motrech [blog]
• Yahoo s Search Marketing Program Nearing its End, Search Newz
• Yahoo! Dissolves Ambassador Program, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog

Posted at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

My dad taught me how to fish, cause - every man should know how to fish, no?

How about stuff like simple electric work? How about laying tile? How about putting up dry wall? Painting, etc?

I wish I knew the proper way to do electric work. I would love to install a few more electrical outlets in my basement but I rather not bring in an electrician to do the work. I mean, it is a small job and why call someone in to simple install an outlet?

Yea, I know the "Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" applies to a lot of things, such as electrical work. At least, I can pay an electrician - thankfully.

But honestly, I may read up on doing electrical work myself. I bet my wife would love that. ;-)

Posted at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (3) (0)

Every now and then, but typically daily, my monitor looks like it is going to break in half. It only happens when I have my laptop hooked up to my Apple Cinema Display. But I don't think it is a hardware issue. I am convinced it is a graphics card issue, associated with a software OS update.

When I use programs and they overlap, and my computer runs slow. Sometimes the windows skid on each other causing parts of the screen to look like they are tearing apart, or sometimes even a white TV screen fuzz look. Here is a picture of the weirdness:

Honestly, it doesn't bother me that much. It goes away as soon as I move another window on top of it.

Posted at 3:34 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

My latest video is up. Happy Mother's Day. YPN a flop? New parameter in Google discovered? Google AdSense no-nos. Yahoo drops ambassador program. AdSense phone verification not working in the UK. Network linking, should you do it? Yahoo mixing up Google as malware. Vote on the Doodle 4 Google.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: May 11, 2008
2. Mother's Day '08 from Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Ask.com & Search Industry
3. Almost Three Years Later, Yahoo Publisher Network Still Failing To Compete Globally
4. HS Parameter in Google Search Results When Using Firefox
5. Google AdSense No-Nos
6. Yahoo Drops Search Marketing Ambassador Program
7. UK Users Report Google AdSense Phone Verification Not Working
8. Is Network-Linking Frowned Upon?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Labels Google As Malware? No, Yahoo URL Mix Up
2. Cast Your Vote For Doodle 4 Google Contestants
3. Yahoo Search Ambassador Program Closing

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 12th, 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 May 12th, 2008:

• Has Google's Display URL Policy Affected You Yet?, PPC Hero
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 9, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Subdomains or Subfolders : Which are Better for SEO?, Search Engine Journal
• Altering An AdSense Payee Name, Kingnomar.com
• Google's Safe Search Filters, WebProNews
• A New Definition of "Blog", Blogger Buster
• El ultimo de Ask llamado Edison, seosistems.890m.com
• Image ads on Cellular phones by Google, Snugd.com
• Search Engine Marketing Scholarship Contest Entries - October 9th, Marketing Pilgrim
• The Top 5 Reasons I Left Wordpress for Blogger, Smithereens
• "Stock Up?" Really? For a Penny Increase?, Lean Blog
• 63 signs you're addicted to Google and the Church of Search, Google Tutor
• An idea a day - Remotely hosted Analytics solution, The 42 Topics Blog
• Techmeme: What Google Knows About Spam (Matt Cutts/Gadgets, Google, and SEO), Techmeme
• Yahoo Search Ambassador Program Closing, Search Engine Land

Posted at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (2) (0) | Speak

Remember my Nephew's first goal? Well, his coach posted a video of him checking the coach in the boards on the ice. Pretty funny.

Posted at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Category: Family | Comments (1) (0)

Neil Young gets new honor -- his own spider via Reuters reports that one of my favorite musicians, Neil Young, received the honor of having a new species named in his honor.

A new species of trapdoor spider was named Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi by Jason Bond, an East Carolina University biologist. Bond explained:

As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice.

The new spider was discovered by Bond in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2007.

Young wasn't the only musician that had a species named for him. Roy Orbison had a beetle named in his honor. It was named the Orectochilus orbisonorum or the whirligig beetle because it looks as if it is wearing a tuxedo.

Pretty cool. Who will be the first search guy to have a species named for him or her? Larry? Sergey? Marrisa? Jerry? Matt? Danny? or would it be more fitting for a black hatter?

Posted at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1) (0)

This is, in my opinion, understandable to even non SEOs. So, if you want to know what I write about often, this might help you understand it. Matt Cutts: What Google Knows About Spam:

Posted at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Learn how to change your AdSense payee name. Geographic target in Google Webmaster Tools doesn't seem to work well. Video ad support is now in the AdWords API. Landing page load time is coming to AdWords quality score soon. Does SEO have a future? Are header tags important? Do multiple link penalties exist? Yahoo bought Inquisitor. Search in Pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Getting Married: How To Change Your Google AdSense Payee Name
2. Does Setting Your Geographic Target In Google Webmaster Tools Work?
3. Video Ad Support Comes To Google AdWords API Sandbox
4. Google's AdWord Quality Score To Add Landing Page Load Time In June
5. Big Debate: Does Search Engine Optimization Have Long Term Viability?
6. How Important are Header Tags?
7. Does the Multiple Link Penalty Really Exist?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google AdWords Adds Landing Page Load Time Metric To Reports & Launching Mid-June
2. Yahoo Buys My Favorite Search Browser Plugin, Inquisitor For Apple Safari
3. Search In Pictures: Cinco De Mayo At Yahoo, Google Lego Monster & Yahoo's Soccer Team

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 9th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 8, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Classifica Seo Blog aggiornata secondo i feed subscriber di FeedBurner, Esperto Seo Blog
• Follow oder NoFollow, das ist hier die Frage, The Web2.0 Experiment
• Google AdWords and Google AdSense Problems still Persistent, even after 24 Hours!, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• Implementing a Successful Internet Marketing Strategy, Carl-Johan Hunefalk
• Linky Goodness, May 8, Marketing Pilgrim

Posted at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I finally got around to adding both the Yahoo Buzz and Sphinn buttons to the Search Engine Roundtable.

I only added the icons under the entries, and only on the individual entry pages. I.e. you should not see the large buttons on the home page, category pages, or date pages. You should see them when you view the specific article at the article URL.

For example, check out one of my latest articles on Getting Married: How To Change Your Google AdSense Payee Name. If you scroll down to the bottom of the article, you should see these icons:

Clicking on them should submit and/or vote the story up at the respective social news sites. So give them a try. I think Yahoo Buzz might be a bit buggy on my end, so if you notice issues, please let me know.

Oh, why didn't I add Digg? Well, (1) I have it in the text links where it says "Stumble It! • Digg This! • Add to del.icio.us". (2) Digg traffic isn't something I am looking for right now.

Posted at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (2) (0)

Wanted to wish Israel a happy 60th birthday.

Technically, it started last night - since Jewish dates start at stars up and go through sundown or so. As HebCal says, Yom HaAtzma'ut or Israel's Independence Day, is today. Ask.com says it was yesterday, which can be right - kind of.

Remember when I wished Israel a happy 59th, that was on April 23, 2007 and some guy left a comment there...

It normally falls out on the 5th day of the month of Iyar. But this year that falls out on the Jewish Shabbath, Saturday, so they moved it forward. So this year it is on the 3rd day of Iyar.

For more on the day, I guess see Wikipedia. Also, here is an article from the AFP on the day...

Israel is marking its 60th Independence Day, which began at sundown Wednesday, with a great sense of pride but also uncertainty about its future and doubts about prospects for peace with the Palestinians. Six decades after rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, the Jewish state is still plagued by existential threats from abroad and an identity crisis at home.

Posted at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

AdSense reporting still broken? Do you report spam in Google? That pesky Safe Search filter at Google. Are internal links the same as external links? Google helps Myanmar. Do keyword research offline. Yahoo glues the web. Jennifer Convertibles is based in Croatia according to Google.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Says They Fixed AdSense Reporting Bug But Publishers Not Convinced
2. Poll: Do You Report Your Competitors as Spam in Google?
3. How Do You Get Your Images Out Of Google's SafeSearch Filter?
4. Are Internal Links Weighted the Same as External Links by Google?
5. Google Strives to Help Myanmar Cyclone Victims
6. Performing Keyword Research Without a Computer
7. Yahoo Launches Glue Pages ("Universal Search")

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Glue Pages Launches In India
2. Convertibles & Croatia: Google Thinks They Go Together

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 8th, 2008:

• Google AdSense in Comic Sans Font, SearchNewz
• PageRank Update for April 2008, gInside
• Search Featured: Barry Schwartz from Search Engine Roundtable, Search Feature
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 7, 2008, Search Engine Land
• What the B2B Marketers are Reading, demandblog
• Google Adsense en Comic Sans MS, webilus.com
• AdSense Trauma, S-O-S SEO Blog
• Convertibles & Croatia: Google Thinks They Go Together, Search Engine Land
• Let Google know you're in the UK, Webmaster Roadmap
• New Google Adsense Four Square Ads inside One Large Rectangle Ad unit, My Blog Posts
• Screen Shots of New Google AdSense Font, Comic Sans - Google Blogoscoped Forum, Google Blogoscoped
• Techmeme: Yahoo Glue Pages Launches In India (Barry Schwartz/Search Engine Land), Techmeme

Posted at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Okay, I am taking you all to one of the most private places I go - the bathroom. I would consider a bathroom very private, maybe not all of you do - but I do. Even public bathrooms are private, where you go to take care of your most private matters. Kings, dictators, and so on mostly hide the fact that they went to the bathroom. Of course they went, but it was something that wasn't proper to talk about. In my opinion, it is a private matter.

This morning, I went to use the bathroom in my office building. Yes, I use the bathroom. :) When I walked in, I heard someone talking in Russian. I then looked around and noticed the voice was coming from a person in a stall, talking to someone on his cell phone.

I know people talk on their phone while in their personal bathroom. As you can see from the image above, many hotels have a phone in the bathroom for that reason. Personally, I find it weird to talk on the phone while taking care of your most personal and private business. But yes, many people do talk on the phone while doing that. It just isn't for me.

I think you take it to a whole new level when you bring your phone conversations into a public bathroom. It makes me uncomfortable to hear someone talking on their phone while in a public bathroom. Standing by the sink and talking is one thing, but...

Again, I have nothing against bathroom phone talkers. Just another personal blog post on my personal preferences.

Posted at 9:11 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (8) (0)

I doubt I am the first to think about this. In fact, I assume this is common practice and something I just didn't know or think about until last night.

The concept of pre-screening references. Most businesses need to give their prospects a list of clients they can call as a reference. Typically, business owners will give the names and numbers of clients who are in love with you. But how do you really know those clients love you? They may be very nice to you in person and over the phone - but when you send them the bill - they may dislike you for it. :)

Do companies pre-screen their references by having friends call to find out what the client might say? This also works with resume references when you are looking for a job. Why not have a friend call your references on your resume to validate that they have good things to say about you? Did any of my former employees do the pre-screening on me? I certainly have not pre-screened any of my client references. But should I?

The process would be simple. In the client references case, just have a friend call and say he is interested in RustyBrick and that I listed you (the client) as a reference. Then have the friend go through a check list of questions and report the answers back to you.

Is that unethical? Is it done in business? Is it smart business practices?

FYI, this might be something that is a no-brainer to some people. I honestly never thought or heard about this concept ever. I was in the shower last night (too much information), thinking about a prospect who recently called my references. I wondered if they had good things to say about me. Then it stuck me, what is to stop me from having a friend find out what they have to say about me.

So what do you think?

Posted at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

Thankfully, I really don't have allergies. My wife is not as fortunate, her allergies stink. In any event, I wanted to convey to you all how bad it is here, with the tree pollen.

You can take a look at the Weather Pollen Report for my area and see this chart:

Or you can use a more scientific approach and look at the hood of my car, as of yesterday afternoon.

All those green smudges on my black car is what we call tree pollen. In fact, I left the moon roof tilted upwards yesterday and I found pollen bits inside my car.

It is the season where cars turn green here.

Posted at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Category: Weather | Comments (5) (0)

So I got these ads on The Search Engine Roundtable but I am having problems with one.

The Google ads have this hidden pixel for DoubleClick tracking purposes. It is a 1x1 pixel. The 1x1 pixel, 3 out of 8 times, messes up the ad layout. What do I mean? Well, when the Google ad is displayed in 3 of the 8 sections, the 1x1 pixel seems to push the other ads down.

Let me illustrate... X marks the spot of the ad location where the 1x1 pixel messes up the other ads. O marks the spots where the 1x1 pixel does NOT mess up the other ads.

X O
X O
X O
O O

If the Google ad is displayed in any of the X positions, then it messes up the other ads. I tried adding display none and absolute to fix the issue, but it did not work.

Any thoughts out there?

Otherwise, I need to have Google send me a different tracking technique - which is doable.

What is with the title? Not sure. I kept thinking... "Messy Pixel" and it reminded me of Trix for some reason.

Posted at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Category: Web Development | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Yahoo asks McAfee for protection. Storybids does user generated product placement. AdSense slows to a halt. Google, I am from the UK, well, maybe not. AdSense tests new design. Link farms according to Google. Monday is payday.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Yahoo and McAfee Partner to Give Users SearchScan
2. Storybids Launched to Pair Creatives with Product Advertisers
3. Google AdSense & AdWords Reporting Still Showing Incorrect Data After Over 24 Hours
4. How Do You Tell Google that You're a UK Site?
5. Google AdSense Test Four Text Ads In Large Rectangle Unit
6. The Link Farm: How Does Google Define a Link Farm?
7. Monday: The Biggest Pay Day For Google AdSense Publishers

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Just Postscripts & Research Today

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 7th, 2008:

• Comic Sans To Invade Your AdSense Ads? (Say It Ain't So!), freddie.dot.see.eh? two.point.oh
• Google AdSense Anzeigen in Comic Sans?, Internetmarketing-News.de
• Google AdSense in Comic Sans Font, Google Blogoscoped
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 6, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Affiliate Summer im Regen, seoFM
• Comic Sans f AdSense-Anzeigen???, Interessante Zeiten
• De nouvelles polices pour les annonces de Google AdSense ?, Actualites SEO
• eMetrics San Francisco Coverage Schedule, BruceClay.com
• Google Search Update - May 2008, Denial Design
• Google sperimenta annunci AdSense con il font Comic Sans, Motoricerca News
• Techmeme: Neil Young Announces Collected Work With Dynamic Updates from the Web (Marshall Kirkpatrick/ReadWriteWeb), Techmeme
• Top 5 Non-SEO Ways to Increase Your Search Rankings, Search Engine Watch

Posted at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

If so, I am so on that. Yes, The Boy Genius Report has an internal email to AT&T employees that implies that Apple will be releasing the 3G iPhone on June 15th.

In short, the emails tells AT&T employees to not take vacation between June 15th and July 12th in anticipation for "an exciting product launch." Everyone and his dog are buzzing that this "exciting product launch" has to do with the 3G iPhone coming out.

Will I get it? I certainly will, unless something comes up where I can't. I did buy my iPhone on July 11th, so it would be just under a year from when I first got it. It honestly feels like I got my iPhone a few months ago, but not, it has almost been a year. I've written about the iPhone dozens and dozens of times. I honestly have no regrets in the iPhone purchase. I will also likely be one of the first to order the 3G iPhone, pending on my schedule of availability.

Note, the Apple Developer Conference ends on June 13th, two days prior to the June 15th announcement. Now, I fully expect the SDK to go live then, but everyone else thinks it will also be the 3G iPhone.

Posted at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Like any good online personality, I do my best to keep up with the online reputation management of myself and the brands I manage.

In this case, I track via RSS the revisions to the Search Engine Roundtable's Wikipedia article.

At 18:54 today, some guy from the IP address of 199.20.26.98 made a change to the page. In short, he felt that the Search Engine Roundtable "is by far tha gayest site i have ever seen wikipedia sucks!"

I did a reverse IP address lookup on this user and it turns out he/she goes to Bishop State Community College, or at least made the revision from a college computer. The change was reverted by Philip Trueman, who seems to specialize in killing Wiki vandalism.

So either this Bishop State guy things the Search Engine Roundtable is spam or he hates the article on Wikipedia about the Search Engine Roundtable OR he just is bored in class and needs to keep his time occupied.

Posted at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging | Comments (3) (0)

I get these calls once in a while...This time is went like this...

Caller: Hi, may I speak with your safety inspector or head of safety.
Me: We don't have a safety inspector.
Caller: Don't you lay bricks? Aren't you a bricklayer company?
Me: We sit behind computers all day.
Caller: Oh, I am sorry.

A bricklayer according to the current Wikipedia page says:

A bricklayer or mason is a tradesman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".

On a deeper, more philosophical level, we are a type of bricklayer. We lay the building blocks of your web site and web business. ;-)

Posted at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

Neil Young, one of my favorite musicians, has seriously embraced technology at the JavaOne conference today. He, along with Sun, announced that his entire music career will be put on Blu-ray disc.

The first release will contain years 1963-1972, and will be available on 10 Blu-ray Disc set available this fall from Reprise/Warner Bros. The content will include Young's music, movies, videos, personal archives, memorabilia, photographs, letters, handwritten manuscripts and more.

You can preview some of this at neilyoung.com/archives. Also, here is the Java page:

Rock legend Neil Young is bringing you the most comprehensive, dynamic and interactive career archive ever released with the help of Java technology. His amazing archive, releasing on Blu-ray Disc, is like a time capsule of his career in high definition. With seamless Java powered navigation, you can browse through photos, articles, video clips, and memorabilia, and even have Internet connectivity, all while listening to his legendary music delivered in 192 Khz, 24-bit PCM—for the best possible audio experience. The first 10 Blu-ray Disc set covering Young's career from 1963-1972 will be available from Warner Music this fall. Neil Young and Java: bringing a legend's career and achievements to life for you.

Posted at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

AdSense publishers with AdWords are being punished? Comic Sans font on AdSense? Yahoo auctioning out the product submit prices? Check out the Google Floating Four. Are long URLs spammy? Google Reader adds note taking. Google AdSense adds search. Google tests product images in web search. Google News gets related search. Live Search has a new home page.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Fishing Out AdSense Arbitrageurs Through AdWords Accounts?
2. Screen Shots of New Google AdSense Font, Comic Sans
3. Yahoo Changing Product Submit Fee Structure to Auction Model?
4. The Floating Four At Google: Google's Position Four Seems Funky?
5. Are Long URLs Spammy?
6. Google Reader Adds "Share With Note" Feature
7. Google AdSense Adds "AdSense for Search"

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Testing Showing Google Product Images In Search Results?
2. Related Searches Comes To Google News
3. Live Search's New Design Goes Live

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 6th, 2008:

• Exploring The Google Penalty Box, WebProNews
• Google Leaks AdWords Quality Score, Portent Interactive
• Pandia Weekend Wrap-up, Pandia
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 5, 2008, Search Engine Land
• 5 Must Have Sites of Social Marketing, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog
• 99 Creative and Memorable Profile Avatars, Get Elastic
• Forums Are Social: But We Need Stuff, Eric Martindale
• Google's Minus 60 Penalty, WebProNews
• How to Get Ideas (for Blog Posts), Alibi Productions
• I Believe In the Google -60 Penalty, Sphinn
• Is Google out with a Confession for its Minus 60 Penalty?, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• Is it Time to Break Up With Your Avatar?, Get Elastic
• Techmeme: AdSense for search now powered by Custom Search (Sandra Tsui/Inside AdSense), Techmeme

Posted at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

One might think that I may be a loud, outspoken type of personality. You would be wrong. I am extremely quiet, especially in larger groups.

Even though I write a ton all over the web, when it comes to talking - I don't do much of it. Yes, I do speak at conferences and seminars. But when it comes to group conversations, I normally take the back seat. I often enjoy listening, and then speaking when I have something good to say.

I used to love listening to speakers who would say so much in just a single line. You know the type. There are those that will repeat the same message over and over again in a 30 minute speech. And there are those that will say 30 messages in a single speech. I much prefer listening to the speaker who says 30 messages in a single speech then listening to a speaker who gives one message in a single speech.

There was one speaker I remember specifically. Every single line was a message in itself. He said a line, and that alone could have been a 30 minute discussion. But he stopped there and then moved on to his next line. Yes, the next line could have been a 30 minute discussion.

Back to being quiet. There is this concept in Judaism (I can be wrong, if so, Israel Brother, please comment).... I think it goes... We are only given so many words in our life time. The more you talk, the less time you got. I don't think it is literal. But there is 100% value in that statement. I think it has to do with the value of listening what others are saying and then only speaking afterwards.

I am being distracted left and right from this post, so I am cutting it short. Which is kinda fitting, i.e. less words. ;-)

Update: I should clarify. I have nothing against loud people, I am just explaining that I am not loud. That is just not my personality. Nothing is wrong with loud people.

Posted at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind | Comments (8) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Take our survey, please! Watch my video, pretty please. Microsoft stops nagging Yahoo. Google enforces display URL policy. Webmaster Tools is section specific. Polling on link penalties. Google admits to minus 60. Ranking number one, is it important? The May Google webmaster report is live. Google does better on synonyms. AdWords phishing continues. Ask spells De and Do.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Please Take Our Reader Survey: Win Schwag & Dinner With Me
2. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: May 4, 2008
3. Microsoft Backs Off Yahoo & Drops Offer
4. Google Finally Begins Enforcing The Display URL Policy
5. Part Of Your Site Needs a Google Review? You Need To Verify That Section With Google Separately
6. Poll: Can A Competitor Hurt Your Google Rankings with Links?
7. Google Basically Admits to Minus 60 Penalty
8. The Importance of a #1 Google Ranking
9. Webmasters Report May 2008 Google SERP Updates
10. Google Improves Semantic Search

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Beware: Google AdWords Phishing Attempts Continue
2. I Believe In the Google -60 Penalty
3. Ask.com Spells Cinco de Mayo Wrong

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 5th, 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 May 5th, 2008:

• Don't Be Fooled By April's Links - This Month In SEO 4/08, Van SEO Design
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 2, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Who Is This Schwag Queen Addict? It's Tamar Weinberg!, Redvwbus.com
• My 1st Month on Twitter - What I've Learned, Marketing Safari
• Google Slowing Down Crawl Rates? Why?, Aloha Digital Marketing Interactive Blog
• May 3 Cre8tive Community Weekly Roundup, Cre8tive Flow
• Power 150 : la crme des blogs media, Super Fiction
• Sucede con el googlebot?, Blog de Dr. Max Glaser
• Beware: Google AdWords Phishing Attempts Continue, Search Engine Land
• Google Previous Query coming to Natural Search, are we Teaching the Machine?, ReveNews
• I Believe In the Google -60 Penalty, Search Engine Land
• I feed come strumento utile - SEO Tips , etechs.it
• NON-SEO Ways to Boost your Visibility and Ranking Online, johnraygoza.com
• Pilgrim's Picks for May 5 - Cinco de Mayo Edition, Marketing Pilgrim
• SEO Must Be Ongoing, Duct Tape Marketing

Posted at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I am very proud to announce that RustyBrick, my company, launched the core back end infrastructure and front-end technology of Storybids.

Storybids is a very unique idea. It basically is a way for video creators to feature product placement ads in their videos and get paid for it. So let's say I do a weekly video cast (which I do weekly) and I wanted to earn some extra cash by inserting products from advertisers in them. Storybids provides an auction house for video producers to hook up with advertisers looking to put their products and/or brands in user-generated videos, serial mini-dramas, videoblogs and webisodes. Awesome idea!

In fact, the co-founders are Joseph Morin and Juan Prado. Yea, you know Joe. He has been on the SEM scene forever, involved with WebmasterWorld, Search Engine Watch and so much more. He is the guy at the conferences being matchmaker. Awesome guy.

He picked us to build out the core technology. And boy was it a fun job.

Confused on how it all works, check out http://www.storybids.com/howitworks.html and it will become crystal clear.

Want to watch Rand's testimonial, check it out at Storybids and see how he praises the new marketplace. In fact, Rand's team wasn't doing any more web development at the time Storybids was looking for a web development team, so Rand recommended us. The rest is history.

Posted at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (1) (0)

This Sunday afternoon, I spent an hour or two so water sealing my deck.

I first went to home depot and went down the paint/sealer row. I found a sprayer thing so that I can spray the water seal on my deck. Then I picked up two cans of Thompson's WaterSeal® Clear Wood Protector. Why that kind? Well, it was the only one that was obviously clear to me. I didn't want to darken the wood too much, and this packaging conveyed to me that it was a clear waterseal and would not change the color of the wood. So I picked this one over the hundred other options.

I then got home, swept the deck as best I could and built the sprayer. The assembly instructions for the sprayer would just so bad. So I put them aside and assembled it by eye. Thankfully, it worked. I then filled up the tank and sprayed the deck.

I have a small amount of sealer left. So I bought the right amount - which was good. I did measure the deck in square feet before leaving, but I wasn't in the mood to spend time figuring out exactly how much solution I needed. So I guessed two would be enough. I got lucky and I used 1 and 3/4ths. I actually need the rest to finish off some of the railings next sunday, so it worked out well.

Posted at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google crawling less? SEOmoz's cheat sheet is nice. Yahoo to run Google ads again? AdSense tests new fonts. Search Radar, the tool. Schmidt was interviewed. Are forums also social media? Street Views gets directions. Live Search QnA relaunches. Google News comes to the iPhone. Search in Pictures is cute this week.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Crawl Rate Drops: Google Responds?
2. SEOmoz's Web Developer "SEO Cheat Sheet"
3. Advertiser Dreams May Come True: Yahoo May Boost Google Ads Again
4. Google Adsense Testing New Font Styles?
5. Cool Keyword Research Tool: Search Radar
6. Google's CEO Eric Schmidt Interviewed by CNBC
7. Are Forums "Social Media" Sites?
8. Google Combines Street View and Driving Directions

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Microsoft Releases "Renaissance" Version of Live Search QnA
2. Google News Comes To iPhone, Plus Goes Global With Interface
3. Search In Pictures: Yahoo Baby, Google Megaphone, Alanis Morissette

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 2nd, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 1, 2008, Search Engine Land
• 16 Korisnih SEO stranica, Fortis Informatika
• April '08: Best Search/Marketing Posts, Small Business SEM
• April Fools 2008, SEOpittfall
• Google robots.txt, Utilidades para Webmasters
• How Much is a Top Google Ranking Worth to Your Business?, SEO Book
• SEO Standards - To Be or Not To Be?, SEOpittfall

Posted at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

If you read the Search Engine Roundtable, which I assume many of you do, I would hope you will take our first ever reader survey. The survey is designed for us to learn more about you and at the same time, glean information on how we can make our content, design and features better for you - the reader.

I have 15 questions at the poll, which you can access by clicking here.

If you can please take the survey, I would really really appreciate it.

Finally, comment here with what I should give away as a prize for those who take the survey. I.e. win crazy amount of search schwag? An iPod? Etc...

I hope to post the survey at the Search Engine Roundtable this weekend. At that time, I will pick a prize and announce it there. Feel free to help me decide on the prize.

But please please please take the reader survey, pretty please. :)

Posted at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Category: Polls | Comments (5) (0)

Outside of a screw driver and standard wrench, one of the tools I use incredibly often are hex wrenches. I needed a single hex wrench about a year or two ago, but I wasn't sure what size I needed. So I went to Home Depot and bought a 13 piece set and I am so happy I did. I use it for a ton of things, but mostly for tightening the screws on furniture, chairs and other misc items throughout the house and office.

Here is a picture of it:

The thing on the right is an arm that can be attached so you have more of a grip on tightening screws, if necessary. Here is a taller image, so you can see what I mean. You basically pick the hex wrench, pull out that arm thing and plug the hex wrench into it. Works well...

Posted at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Category: Homey | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google opens TV ads. GoogleBot getting lazy? AdSense publisher prepares site for big traffic rush. Do you triangular link? Can your site pass a Google review? Check out the Google vending machine. SEMPO launches agency certification.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Opens TV Ads To All US Advertisers
2. GoogleBot Getting Tired? Google's Spider Crawling Less Documents
3. Google AdSense Publisher Prepping Site For New York Times Feature
4. Do You Engage in 3-Way (Triangular) Link Exchanges?
5. Would Your Website Pass a Google Review?
6. Google's Vending Machine - Verdict: Cool

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. SEMPO Institute Now Offering Agency Training Certification
2. Google TV Ads Available To All US Advertisers

Daily Link Finds:

This is the May 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 May 1st, 2008:

• Google PageRank PR update April 2008, SEOCompany.CA
• How To Get a PageRank 4/10 on a Ezine Article, SEO Co
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, April 30, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Did You Notice a Change in Your Google PageRank?, BHC3
• Google TV Ads Available To All US Advertisers, Search Engine Land
• Has Google lost the plot?, RSS Feeds
• Search Engine Position, Chris Dutch
• Techmeme: Place ads on television with Google TV Ads (Christian Yee/Inside AdWords), Techmeme
• Thursday Roundup for the Week of 4/27/08, SEOmoz

Posted at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

This morning, outside of the elevator up to my office, I found money. It wasn't a huge amount, but it wasn't just a dollar. I don't want to say how much, because I might use that to return the money to it's owner - if possible.

I have a few options:
(1) I can keep it, which I think is legal and also in accordance with Jewish law (in this situation).
(2) I can give it to charity.
(3) I can post a sign in the elevator saying, if you lost money call ###. Then if people call, I can quiz them on information about the money (i.e. how much, where, how many bills, etc.)

My concern with number three is that I would get a ton of calls from different people. Then they might get mad at me if I determine they are not the rightful owners of the money. It just can get hairy and for the amount, it is likely not worth fighting over.

Just not sure what to do here... I never found money before.

Posted at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (12) (0)