First, I wanted to wish all my Jewish buddies a happy and sweet new year, shana tova umetukah. Tonight is Rosh Hashanah. The market has turned, the economy looks bad, things just look pretty bad out there. I hope you all have a healthy, successful and happy new year!

I have a special theme live at the Search Engine Roundtable for the day.

Google Israel does not have their Shofar logo up, not sure why... But if you missed it, make sure to download our free iPhone Shofar.

Tamar and I scheduled several posts at the Search Engine Roundtable and we hope some of the authors come on and do some nice posts. Danny, Greg, and Matt should have Search Engine Land under control while I am gone.

I come back Thursday AM (Wednesday night). I ask one thing. Don't email or call me while I am gone. Please. :)

Then SMX East Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night is then Yom Kippur. Then I fly to St. Louis Sunday for Succots for a week. Crazy month!

Anyway....

Happy New Year!

Posted at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Category: Religion | Comments (0) (0)

Over the weekend, Apple changed their policy in iTunes to only allow those who own the application to review them.

Now, if you try to review an App that you don't own, you get this:

I am very happy about this. Why? Well, it stops people from giving bad reviews to apps solely because they won't pay for them. It also may slow the amount of anti-semitic app reviews.

Glad to see this.

Posted at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Where did my Rupees go? Make those ads rotate. Google on tagging. Google loves books. Are you a social addict? Google Moderator says hello. Google adds traffic to UK. Twitter gets political. Search in pictures features a decapitated Google lego USB drive.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Messes Up AdSense Exchange For Indian Rupee
2. Why Don't My Google Ads Rotate Evenly?
3. Google on Tag Clouds in Search Results
4. Google Pushing Book Search Results in Web Search Results?
5. Are You Addicted to Social Media? Take the Quiz
6. Google Moderator Goes Live

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Adds Traffic Data To Google Maps UK
2. Watching The Presidential Debate? Use New Twitter Election Site To Share What You Think
3. Search In Pictures: Yahoo Grenoble, Google Lego Drive & Google Chess

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 26th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 25, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Welcome New Search Engine Land Editors!, Search Engine Land
• Did Google AdSense just screw you up ?, StartupDunia
• Do Tag Pages Benefit Your SEO Strategies, Search Engine Optimization Journal
• Google Goofs Rupee Exchange Rate, Portfolio.com
• Google Goofs Rupee Exchange Rate, Wired
• New Yahoo! Home Page, Houston Architecture
• Techmeme: Google Messes Up AdSense Exchange For Indian Rupee (Barry Schwartz/Search Engine Roundtable), Techmeme

Posted at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

We are working on version 2.2 of iPhone Siddur, you can see all past version information if you like. But here, I wanted to demonstrate some of the new features in 2.2.

(1) We changed the user interface of the Luach a bit, and also added Hebrew dates. As you can see, you can select "English," "Hebrew," or "Upcoming."

Here is the Hebrew view:

New upcoming view drops the shake feature for a button, it was confusing people. Plus, you can click on a date and the top changes to show more detail:

Note, horizontal does not work.

(2) Skip/Jump or Font Controls in the Siddur:

The right or left arrow can either (a) right to left from section to section, (b) left to right from section to section or (c) make the font larger or smaller.

The down arrow will skip you to sub-heading directly in that a section.

Outside of these changes, here are the changes for 2.2:

• Siddur Jump & Skip navigation controls added
• Turn off landscape mode option added to settings
• Luach Modified to allow both "Secular" and "Hebrew" date searches
• Luach removed Shake for List View and added button, which shows more details
• Add וידוי for ashkenaz before תחנון for Mondays and Thursdays (only for in Israel)
• Fixed error in edut hamizrach-shacharit-psukei d'zimra, just before 'Baruch She'amar' in "Lamenatseach"
• Fixed error in edut hamizrach benching, skips last lines of 3rd bracha and first lines of 4th bracha
• Removed more side borders
• Added Candle Lighting and Havdalah times for Yom Tovim
• Settings for "Arrow Behavior" Left-to-Right Sections, Right-to-Left Section, or Font Size
• Setting for KM or Miles
• Add email catcher to see if user wants email updates
• Fix Israeli cities, missing a ton of records
• Replace Hashem's name in Edut Mizrach with the full name
• Upload new GoDaven.com Database

Fun stuff, while this economy and market crashes.

Oh, we just added "Over the internet (air) Minyan Updates." So in version 2.2 and beyond, all GoDaven.com data can be updated without a new version. We check if you have an active Internet connection, then check to see if there is a new Minyan database update, if there is, we push you the new data without you noticing anything...

Posted at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Category: Religion , iPhone | Comments (4) (0)

About a month ago, I called Noah's Ark Ginormous Burger Challenge, a Scam because my brother in law ate the Ginormous burger a year or so ago and never received his crown.

Well, that all changes! Yesterday, my brother-in-law informed me he received his package from Noah's Ark. It came with:

(1) A letter from the owner of the place, thanking him, apologizing for the delay and so on:

(2) A t-shirt, as promised:

Back:

Front:

(3) A box of cookies, which I don't have a picture of, maybe because my brother-in-law already ate them!?

I do wonder if the owner saw this site ranking #1 for Ginormous Burger and then reading the "scam" part and deciding to do something about it? Who knows...

The important thing is, my brother-in-law is now properly crowned for his achievement!

Honestly, now I want to try to do it myself!

Posted at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Food | Comments (3) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Microsoft announces new adCenter desktop features. Some are seeing the new side of Yahoo. Is there a third Google co-founder. Protect your AdWords account. Yahoo launches new display ad system. Should Google show outliers in query report. Google Reader listens to users. Microsoft adds features to maps. Google builds a virtual moderator named Dory.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. New Features Coming To Microsoft adCenter Desktop Beta
2. Some Yahoo Users Noticing New Home Page Design
3. Is There a Third Google Co-Founder?
4. How To Protect Your Google AdWords Account
5. Yahoo Advertising Platform, APT, Launched
6. Google's Search Query Report Groups Outliers, But Should It?
7. Google Reader Keyboard Shortcuts Changed Without Warning?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. New Virtual Earth Features, APIs & 3D Tools
2. Google Moderator (AKA Dory) Launches

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 25th, 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 September 25th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 24, 2008, Search Engine Land
• SEO Daily Reading - Issue 113, Raven SEO Tools
• Another Google Co-Founder?, Zabawki Naukowe
• Google & SEO : le jeu du chat et de la souris , Zorgloob
• Google's change of policy on URL re-writes, Ian Lockwood
• Internetpret, Wat mij opvalt
• Vermarktungsplattform APT von Yahoo, Microsoft adCenter, Handy- Affiliate, wpAFFI, BlogTopf.de

Posted at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Own your identity and your username or nick or alias or whatever you want to call it.

A new site named usernamecheck.com can do that for you. I actually secured rustybrick a bunch other sites. Note, the site is having issues, so don't kill it by trying over and over again (like I did).

Securing your name is incredibly important for online reputation management. Trust me, this will be huge in the future. So do it now, so you don't regret it later.

Posted at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (3) (0)

A couple weeks ago, my Incase iPhone case ripped and I was sad. After I blogged it, Incase commented telling me to call them to replace it for free. They replaced it for free.

In fact, they actually let me try a different case. They recommended I try the Slider Case. I was told it is less "grippy" then the Protective Case, but stronger and has the ability to quickly pull off the bottom to dock on your dock.

So I got the new Slider Case today and I will be giving it a try. Honestly, I am very concerned that I will be missing the grip factor I am used to on my old case. That case simply stayed put. Never slide on my car's arm rest area, never slide on the dashboard, and most importantly, it stayed in my shirt pocket when I flushed the toilet. So we will see.

Here is a video of me demonstrating the case and docking it. The dock feature is something I like, so I have to weigh the pros and cons. Incase is cool enough to let me decide.

Posted at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

See some really high minimum bids. AdWords API brings back still supports the minimum bid report. Google shows different accessing dates. How long did your reinclusion take? Too many links too quickly? Remove those dud keywords. Does Google monitor landing pages? More answers from Google on SEO. Google launches In Quotes. Google Reader improves. Digg cashes in.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdWords Minimum Bids Reach $100
2. Google AdWords API Will Support KeywordMinCPC Reporting
3. Google Webmaster Tools Slower In Reporting Than Google Cache
4. How Long Did Your Google Reinclusion Process Take?
5. Can Inbound Links Come in Too Quickly?
6. Removing Bad Keywords Improves Your Google AdWords Quality Score
7. Does Google AdWords Monitor Landing Pages?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Answers More SEO Questions
2. Google Launches "In Quotes" Project To Compare US Presidential Candidates
3. Google Reader Expands Friends Sharing, Tagging, Ordering Feeds & More
4. Digg To Expand With $28.7 Million In Funding

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 24th, 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 September 24th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 23, 2008, Search Engine Land
• FAST & EASY WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR ADWORDS QUALITY SCORE, The Inside Angle
• google prefers that you don't use URL rewrites...., nameless things
• Google's "New" Static/Dynamic URL Policy is Nothing New, Best Rank Blog
• Live von der Wiesn, seoFM
• Major SEO change at Google - They're OK with dynamic URLs - kinda, Jeff Hendricks
• SEO & SEM, bonnes pratiques, mikiane.com
• The Complicated World of SEO - Take a Good, Long Look, Then Charge Ahead

Posted at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

I am not sure if you noticed, but when you click on an iTunes link from your iPhone, it doesn't open the App Store anymore. This started happening when Apple posted the 2.1 software update. I noticed it a few times when clicking on a link from an article about an App, and the page not coming up. I brushed it off as a bug with the URL and then forgot to buy those apps.

But it is not a webmaster or App developer issue. It is an Apple issue. I tried this will several links from my iPhone, from several developers, using the LinkShare link or the iTunes Store link, the same issue happens.

When you click on a link, it tries to open it in Safari and send you to the App Store on your iPhone, but it does not. Instead, you get:

If I wasn't lazy, I would check the useragent and tell any iPhone users to search for the app in the App Store, as opposed to clicking on the link. But I am lazy and I hope Apple just fixes it soon.

But many are complaining about this issue at the Apple Discussions forum.

Posted at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (2) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Did someone hack into your Google AdWords account? Some country specific domains can be geo targeted in webmaster tools. Are you cashing in on AdSense in 2008? Lisa leaves Bruce! Yahoo created a digital advisory council. Google Maps enhances NY metro transit information. Google says, stop rewriting dynamic URLs to static URLs.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Increase in Google AdWords Accounts Being Hacked Into?
2. .TV & . ME TLDs Can Be GeoTargeted In Google Webmaster Tools
3. Making More Money With Google AdSense in 2008?
4. "Bruce Clay Blog Without The Lisa? That's Like Peanut Butter Without the Jelly!"
5. Major Google SEO Change: Google Prefers You Don't Use URL Rewrites

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Forms New Digital Advisory Council
2. Google Says, Don't Rewrite Dynamic URLs To Static URLs
3. Google Maps Transit Information For New York Metro Area

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 23rd, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 22, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Duplicate Content and Search Engines: The Truth, Interactive Return
• How To Target Hispanic Searchers, HispanicTrending
• Idees d'optimisation du referencement des images, WebRankInfo
• Techmeme: Dynamic URLs vs. static URLs (Google Webmaster Central Blog), Techmeme

Posted at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Yesterday, I decided to start tracking the online reputation of my bank.

I went to Google News and subscribed via RSS to my banks long name, short name and stock ticker. I am not running to the bank to take out my money and put it under my bed, but I do want to stay informed on the health of the places that holds my money.

You should do the same! Let me show you how, if you don't know how...

Step 1: Go to Google News
Step 2: Enter your bank's name in the search box (have short names and other names, don't worry, go with one name for now). I'll enter in bank of america as an example.
Step 3: Subscribe to the search results via RSS or Email. To subscribe via RSS, right click on either "RSS" or "Atom" on the left hand column and copy the URL. Then go to your RSS reader and copy it in your add subscription area. If you prefer email, just click on "News Alerts" on the left hand side and follow those steps.
Step 4: Add your bank's other names and stock ticker to Step 2 and repeat Step 2 and 3 again.

I don't think we have to worry about a bank run. But it always makes sense to stay on top of companies you work with and companies that you have money with, even if they are FDIC insured.

Posted at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (1) (0)

The Google Book Search blog announced you can embed Book results into web pages now. So here is an embedded book result, from a book that quotes me a couple times. Just use the search box in the frame under this sentence to search for "barry schwartz."

I also noticed that "Rustybrick" is a type of plant, according to the Standardized Plant Names by American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature.

Posted at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Category: SEO Tips | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

My video recap is live, do check it out. Google Maps ties the knot with Tele Atlas. Yahoo not listening to redirects? How soon should you submit another reinclusion request? Google gains more search share. Google Maps goes night and day. You better pay your SEO firm. Google does logo for Fall. Google adds Book Search to APIs.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: September 21, 2008
2. Google Maps Now Exclusive To Tele Atlas Data
3. Yahoo Search Not Listening to Redirect Rules?
4. Should I Submit Another Reinclusion Request?
5. comScore Shows Google Securing More Market Share
6. Google Maps Street View Offers Night Vision!
7. Think Twice Before Not Paying Your SEO Firm

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Reminds Us That It's Autumn
2. Google Announces Google Book Search APIs

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 22nd, 2008:

• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 19, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Updated Google Patent Hints At Linkage Penalties and Site Expiry, DigitalPoint Forums
• 3 Native iPhone Zmanim Applications in the App Store, KosherJava
• 4 points cs pour optimiser le rerencement de vos images, Higherweb
• Kamouflerade Google AdSense annonsenheter fungerar smre, Mclord
• Quality Score = 10/10? Es ist so einfach!, Inside SEM
• Quality Score Improvements Coming to Adwords, ankitrawat.com
• SEO Requires The Slow Approach, Pogra.com
• TaT: OMD und die letzten Tage, Internetmarketing-News.de
• The Weekly Insider 9-15-08 to 9-19-08, eVisibility
• Welcome Back Microsoft, DaveShap.com
• Yahoo's Testing New Site Design, ankitrawat.com

Posted at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

Sunday, I spent most of the day, 8-hours to be exact, driving back and forth to Baltimore, Maryland. It took about 3.5 hours each way. We stopped once, each way, for a bathroom break and I got gas (cause it was cheap in NJ). I am stubborn, so I did not use the bathrooms and any break. Not cause they may be unclean, but because I do not like to stop for breaks - I like to go direct. I dislike stop overs. Why did I stop? Well, I had passengers.

Here is the trip overview (not exact addresses):

View Larger Map

We did drive over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which I found to be nice:

View Larger Map

There was this crazy truck driver swiveling back and forth into lanes, on the way home. It was kind of crazy. Looked like he was driving a race car with a load on the back, the load was waving back and forth, trying to catch up with the car. :) Guess what... I did not see a "How am I driving" sticker on the truck. :)

View Larger Map

Not, that is not the truck. :)

Why so many embedded Google Maps Street Views? Cause I am obsessed with Tamar's finding on night vs day Google street views. Move one block over and it gets dark!

Oh, why did I drive to Baltimore? For a friends wedding.

Posted at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (0) (0)

When I started having my email issues, one of the first things I did was manually turn off Apple's spotlight indexing.

To do that, open Terminal and use this command:

sudo mdutil -i off [harddrive]

Replace [harddrive] with your hard drive's location.

Now that is has been a few days, and Mail has stopped duplicating my IMAP folders, I decided to turn it back on.

sudo mdutil -i on [harddrive]

Spotlight is basically the tool you use to find files on your Mac. I rarely ever use it, because I am filing nut, but I do use it on some occasions. So why did I turn it back on?

I think it is required for Time Machine to work. So I decided to give it a try. After about an hour of running, (it fluctuates between 4 - 6 hours of indexing time remaining), I noticed it gobbled up about 750MB of space.

I'll keep watching it and kill it again, if it eats up more than 2GB of space.

Posted at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google Maps adds roads to Israel. Google patent shows us more SEO hints. Google and Yahoo to proceed with search ad deal soon. Live adds Powerset features. Google makes site stats logo optional. Yahoo tests new home page design. Yahoo redoes the Search Monkey. Search in pictures features Marissa Mayer's birthday. Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day everyone!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Maps Adds Streets to Israel & Mobile Coming Soon
2. Updated Google Patent Hints At Linkage Penalties and Site Expiry
3. Google & Yahoo's Search Ad Deal Kicks Off October 11th
4. Search Industry Celebrates Talk Like a Pirate Day 2008
5. Live.com Search Results Feature Powerset Integration
6. Google AdWords Site Stats Logo Now Optional
7. Do You Like Yahoo's New Site Design?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Pirate Search & Talk Like A Pirate Day
2. Yahoo Modifies Search Monkey Layout
3. Search In Pictures: Marissa Mayer's Birthday, Jenga At Google & 49ers With Yahoo

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 19th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 18, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Arrrrgh! It's Talk like a Pirate Day!, 20 Million Minutes
• Google-Mitarbeiter optimieren Suchergebnisse, ZDNet.de News
• International Talk Like A Pirate Day, Robert SEO
• Talk Like A Pirate Day & The Industry, Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: Google in one more language (Cap'n Pam Greenebearde/The Official Google Blog), Techmeme

Posted at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Posted at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (8) (0)

Last week, I blogged about the Shabbat Shalom app we created for the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Well, now it is live and free at iTunes or App Store. To get it, click here.

Note, we found two minor bugs. So we will wait for feedback to collect over the weekend. And then release a new version some time early next week.

This app is really out there for free to (1) help Jews learn about Shabbos and (2) promote the iPhone Siddur app.

Please post your feedback at this Google Groups thread, please.

Posted at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Posted at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (4) (0)

Via LaughingSquid Nick Bilton and Danielle Bilton's iPhone cupcakes won the Cupcake Decorating Championships.

How tasty do these looks?

My two favorite things; iPhone and Cupcakes!

Posted at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Category: Food , iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

The "oh well" feeling of Google and links. Are you being capped by Google? Who did you blame for Uniter Airlines? Take an SEO break already! Image SEO, more tips for you. Google Maps does street views and walking directions, but they do not fully work. Yahoo is testing a new home page. Live Search adds India maps features and improves Virtual Earth imagery.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. The Google Link Conundrum Summed Up
2. Does Google Limit The Amount AdSense Publishers Can Earn?
3. Survey Says: United Airlines (UAL) Stock Price Drop Blamed On
4. Is it Time for Another SEO Break?
5. Some Insights into Image Optimization for Search
6. Google Mobile Maps New Street Views & Walking Directions Not 100%

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo Tests New Home Page
2. Microsoft Launches New Live Search Maps India & New Virtual Earth Imagery

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 18th, 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 September 18th, 2008:

• Google does not crawl links hidden in Javascript Onclick Events, seogadget.co.uk
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 17, 2008, Search Engine Land
• 13 Tools for SEO, WesUnruh.Info
• A Google le siguen gustando los blogs, adseok.com
• Google soms knap irritant, ZB DIGITAAL
• Google's Human Reviewers - Matching User's Intent, Jim Boykin
• Google: Just a mechanical turk, The MetaSieve Blog
• Links for 2008-09-18, SERPS.CN

Posted at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

So cool!!! Arrington blogged that the Earthscape iPhone app is now available for FREE.

So I downloaded it and it is basically Google Earth desktop on your iPhone. The neatest part is you can upload pictures directly to the app, which makes it incredibly easy for folks to picture-up the earth...

Here is a picture of where I work:

I did upload a picture, but since I was indoors, it geotagged it not exactly near my office building...

Here is a demo on how it works (I did not make the demo):

My email woes are getting better, but still things are not 100% right.

Posted at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

I have been having email issues. I am getting emails fine, but my desktop client, Apple Mail, has somewhat been corrupted.

In short, it seems like my IMAP trash can is duplicating my deleted mail over and over again. I typically have about 25,000 deleted emails in a 30-day period stored in my trash can. But it has been duplicating that file over and over again. This morning, I had almost 300,000 emails in my trash folder. I tried deleting it, but those files are not on the IMAP server.

So now, I am trying to rebuild my mailboxes completely. To make things worse, the email server thinks I am hacking it, and it is blocking me out. Fun stuff.

As an email OCD freak, I cannot describe the stress this is giving me.

Posted at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Category: Daily Grind | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google loves blogs. Google's fake http errors. Google disabled a site command feature? Live Search is updating. Get me a ten out of ten with AdWords. FeedBurner opens up FeedProxy. Stop the ad blending! Yahoo loses two more employees.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Still Loves Blogs, Says Matt Cutts
2. Google Webmaster Tools Generating False HTTP Errors
3. Google Disable the "Hidden" Site Search Feature?
4. Live Search September 2008 Update Underway
5. How To Ensure That Your Google Quality Score is 10/10
6. FeedBurner Allows Access Again To feedproxy.google.com Via Robots.txt File
7. Too Much Blending of Google Ads Hurts: It Pays to Experiment

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Yahoo's Exodus Continues: Director Communications & Search Monkey PM
2. Live Search Is Updating, Expect Ranking Changes

Daily Link Finds:

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

Daily Link Finds for September 17th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 16, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Link Building for Big Old Sites, Web Data Source
• Live Search Is Updating, Expect Ranking Changes, Search Engine Land
• Search Evaluation at Google, Search Newz
• Techmeme: Google's 12 Hour (and counting) Custom Search Outage (Michael Arrington/TechCrunch), Techmeme
• What Happens to Bullies?, pamelaheywood.com

Posted at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Here at RustyBrick, we can't have enough fun in the day. The latest example is our coders love of Red Bull (not Kosher). When they are done with a can, they rip off the tab at the top and then place it on the window. This is about a month-plus of drinking red bull, between 3 coders.

RustyBricker, Jimmy Mancusi is the man behind this experiment and he is the guy in the picture.

Their goal is to create two full walls of red bull cans. Use the sugar free cans, the lighter cans, to write an R and B (not for Red Bull, but for RustyBrick). That would be cool. ETA until the RB Red Bull wall is about 2 more months, if I had to guess.

Who knows, maybe when Red Bull sees this, they will stop by in the Red Bull Car to visit us.

Posted at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , RustyBrick | Comments (4) (0)

So the market and economy is doing pretty bad, to say the least. Heck, even Wall Street Journal's new design is more black that ever. :)

So I decided to ask my Twitter buddies, "Are you taking your money out of the bank?" The responses were pretty funny:

Skizzlizzit
@rustybrick If I had money to take out, I would. :)

ophirc
@rustybrick I In high school economics they told us to fear the day when all will ask banks for their money...

jimhedger
@rustybrick my CND commodities heavy portfolio is being slammed!

NeOBlog
@rustybrick I like to keep most of my money tied up in jelly beans... because they're always of value...

SEOHolicc
@rustybrick what money?

DavideDiCillo
@rustybrick as WaMu customer i've been thinking about it

cyandle
@rustybrick uhhh...what money..? :)

JeremyLuebke
@rustybrick I'm not that paranoid yet, or should I say I'm not that rich to not be covered by FED yet :D

Posted at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google now using the real time quality score. Google PageRank updates might not be updates. Most SEMs "google" themselves. Use Google Video transcripts. The people at Sphinn. Google talks about search evaluation. Google Maps as guidelines. Google News still indexing old stories.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google's New Dynamic Quality Score Now Live
2. Google Toolbar PageRank Update? Probably a Fluke
3. 96% of Search Marketers Have "Googled" Themselves
4. Optimize Your Google Videos with a Transcript
5. The Various Personalities at Sphinn
6. Google Shares Information About its Human Search Evaluators

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Maps Adds Business Listing Quality Guidelines
2. The Human Side To Google: Search Evaluations
3. Google News & Indexing Old Stories As New

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 16th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 15, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Does Duplicate Content Hurt You at Google?, flyte blog
• Google News & Indexing Old Stories As New, Search Engine Land
• Google to Pin Point Your Exact Target Market, Search Newz
• Google's Suggestions to Pin Point Your Exact Target Market, ineedhits
• Looking for European Search Websites, Bas van den Beld
• Los mejores sitios SEO, BlogDavid
• Real Time Quality Score Coming In "Days" To Google AdWords, Search Engine Land
• Save $1 Billion with Web Content Management!, The Content Wrangler
• The Human Side To Google: Search Evaluations, Search Engine Land

Posted at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

This Sunday, I had to leave the TV during the end of the grueling Jets game. I wanted to know if they can make a come back at the end, but I could not watch it. So I opened my iPhone, dialed into the Sportacular app and went to the Jet game.

It gives you great details for the game in progress, here is a screen shot of one of the pages that I frequently refreshed:

I love the simple illustration of where the ball is, who is on offense, what down it is, how many yards to go, the score, etc.

Posted at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Category: Sports , iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

This morning, I was checking out the latest reviews on our iPhone Siddur and I noticed our first anti-semitic review. Here is a picture:

I reported the review as "offensive" this morning, about 3 hours ago. It is still there. I assume it might take a couple days to be taken offline, if it ever does get taken offline.

I have been writing about search stuff, in the public eye, for about six years now. I have written thousands of articles. Most people who have read stuff about SEO or SEM or even Google have seen my name. I have never received a racist or anti-semitic comment before today. I do not keep my religion private, I am very open about it. But I guess Jewish apps are being targeted by some people.

Does it bother me? Honestly, no. The thing that bothers me is that the review may hurt the overall average. :) I know better not to let ignorance bother me. I got touch skin from writing so much. :)

How can you help? Well, go to the Siddur iTunes via this link and report that guys review (sort by most recent) and then if you really want to make me happy, review that app and the rest of our apps. Here is a link to all RustyBrick iTunes apps.

Posted at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Category: Religion , iPhone | Comments (5) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

My video is live, check it out. Google tests more videos side by side. Google says, what is duplicate content? The New York Times wrote about AdSense arbitrage. How do you bill for SEO? Learn how to speak SEO. Get hourly data from Analytics. Best of the web may buy the Open Directory Project. Yahoo hosted hack day. Real time quality score is here, very soon.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: September 14, 2008
2. Google Continues Test Side By Side Videos in Web Search
3. Google: Duplicate Content Penalty Does Not Exist
4. Google AdWords/AdSense Arbitrageur Spotlighted But Who is Right?
5. How Detailed Are Your Monthly SEO Billing Reports?
6. It's Time to Use SEO Terms Correctly (or Maybe to Learn SEO and Stop Claiming You Do!)
7. How to Get Hourly Google AdWords Conversions in Google Analytics
8. Will Best of the Web Acquire DMOZ from AOL?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. NY Times On Google's AdWords Quality Score As Monopolistic & Unfair?
2. Searching Yahoo's Hack Day 2008
3. Real Time Quality Score Coming In "Days" To Google AdWords

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 13th, 2008:

• Search innovation - is Google 95% there, SEMPlanning.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 12, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Geo-targeted Local Niche, Mountain View SEO
• Adult tube sites completely removed from Google.de, Porn Newz
• Google appears to be testing a bottom postion for Adwords within the SERPS, Brian Chappell
• links for 2008-09-14, next STEPH
• The Weekly Insider 9-8-08 to 9-12-08, eVisibility
• links for 2008-09-15, next STEPH
• Why Google and Your Visitors Hate Flash Splash/Intro Pages, Barry Wise

Posted at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Update: This is now live and can be downloaded for free. More details over here.

שבת or Shabbos or Shabbat is the every Friday night through Saturday night. It is basically the time Jewish people don't do work, we pray, learn, eat and sleep. Shabbos starts and ends at very specific times and it is important that we don't do work related activities on Shabbos, so knowing the time we need to stop working is important.

In addition, knowing not to call someone on Shabbos is important. So if you have your in-laws in St. Louis, like I do, I know that they end Shabbos later than I do, but at what time exactly, would take time to look up.

So, we decided to make an iPhone App, similar to Yahoo's iPhone Weather App, that tells you the time for Shabbos anywhere. This way you can scroll from page to page, to find out what time Shabbos is here, or in St. Louis or in Jerusalem or anywhere.

Here are some screen captures of what we are calling the Shabbat Shalom iPhone App:

Starter Screen:

Times Screen that shows the location, Jewish date in English and Hebrew, the local time, the parsha, candle lighting (configurable), Havdalah (configurable), R' Tam Havdalah, next week's candle lighting and parsha (smaller):

Clicking on the "i" at the bottom will open up the edit screen. Right here you can add, edit, delete and reorder the pages you have on this app:

Adding a location looks like this:

(1) Search for your location and...

(2) It populates the information, which you can override:

Flip away....

I will personally find this very useful and hopefully the Jewish community will also.

Oh, the price is free (it is a promo product for the Siddur) and you can sign up to be notified when it is available over at the Shabbat Shalom iPhone App page.

Posted at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (2) (0)

Remember when I cut down my tree? Well, I wasn't there to watch it. But my office building people had to cut down a big tree, and they used the same company I used.

Here is a video of some of the process:

Posted at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Don't bother with link building. adCenter to add features to desktop editor. Is Google or the Tribune to blame for United Airline's stock price drop? AdWords to do maintenance tomorrow. Mayer speaks on the future. Google Germany drops video porn. Google tests new webmaster tools verification process. Live Search adds a fourth ad to the top. Search in pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Your Link Building Request Will Fail
2. Microsoft adCenter Desktop Beta Feature Requests
3. Who's To Blame? Google or Tribune for United Airlines Stock Drop
4. Google AdWords System Maintenace: Tomorrow, September 13
5. Marissa Mayer of Google Speaks about the Future of Search
6. Google Germany Drops Adult Video Sites Like RedTube.com
7. Google Is Testing New Webmaster Tools Verification Process

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Search In Pictures: Google To The Moon, Yahoo's Server Toss & GPS Bike
2. Live Search Adds Fourth Search Ad Before Organic Results

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 12th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 11, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Geotargeting No Less Than 20 Miles in Adwords, Search Newz
• SEO succes meten: waarom rankings waardeloos zijn, EdWords.nl
• Tynt's CEO Derek Ball Responds to SEO Community Concerns, Eric Lander

Posted at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

Yesterday I called Verizon because I had major problems with the bill I got for my new FiOS Triple Play set up. They fixed most of the billing issues, so all is good. But the woman did tell me, when I mentioned the issue with the Verzion FiOS Multi-Room DVR Does Not Work With HD Boxes.

The woman told me that they have a tentative schedule to get the multi room DVR boxes working with HD TVs as early as December. I said, cool! But she said again, it is "tentative," and we cannot guarantee it. I said, cool!

Posted at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Category: Computers , Homey | Comments (2) (0)

This was weird. A college student walks in and asks to speak to someone about a project. I come out and say hello, how can I help you.

I notice it is a young kid, holding a manila folder with about 4 white papers in the folder.

He asks me if I can help him program a game he designed. He said he designed it for a class project. He said it has to be done in Java or Flash. I immediately said, we do not code games, I am sorry. So he left.

There are a few things wrong with this:

(1) Why come to my office to ask us if we would do a project for you? Why not call first? Gas is expensive!
(2) I look at him and he says he is a college student, I immediately think there is no money involved or little money involved. Don't start off your sales pitch (or reverse sales pitch) with saying your from college.
(3) We do not do people's home work! Although he did not word it that way.

Posted at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , RustyBrick | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Don't go less than 20 miles! Google Sitemaps priorities are not so important? When will Yahoo release an editor? Get those best pages for link building. The SEO Squares cartoon rocks. Google, please crawl all my pages. Google gives SEO tips. iProspect buys Range. Marissa talks about the future of search.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Set Your Geotargeting Radius Target No Less Than 20 Miles, Says Google
2. Google Sitemaps Priority Is Site Specific, Not Sitemap Specific
3. When is Yahoo Search Marketing Releasing a Desktop Editor?
4. How to Find the Best Pages for Link Building
5. "The SEO Squares" - Are SEO's Squares?
6. Is Google Crawling & Indexing All of My Pages?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Answers On Image Search, Sitelinks, Reinclusions, Redirects & Communication
2. The Future Of Search: Your Best Friend With All The Answers
3. SEM Company, iProspect Acquires Range Online Media

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 11th, 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 September 11th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 10, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Answers On Image Search, Sitelinks, Reinclusions, Redirects , Search Engine Land
• Google digitalizar todos los archivos de los peridicos de los ltimos 250 aos, LasdeAquiyLasdeAlla.CoM

Posted at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

A moment for today, September 11, 2008:

Posted at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Category: | Comments (0) (0)

This week, in the mornings, I have been swarmed by school buses. I was able to take this picture while stopped at a light, of a school bus in front of me and also behind me (look in the rear view mirror):

They just slow me down and it is upsetting. But I guess education is important. :)

I don't have the school bus issue on the way home. But in the mornings I do. In the past, I did not have this issue either. I use to get into the office at 6:30 am or so. But now, I am not getting in, until 7:00 am, which means, I hit the school bus traffic.

Since we are on the topic of my schedule. It turns out that I am not waking up later. Instead, I get up earlier, work in bed for about an hour before I leave the house at 6:20ish to go to morning prayer services. I then leave from there to work. The schedule is working out nicely, so far.

Oh, the red dot under my rear view mirror, is my red bull. I'll blog about that bull later, but it has no relation to the Red Bull car I saw a while back.

Posted at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Travels | Comments (4) (0)

I make a lot of friends, tons of them. Heck, I have 500+ LinkedIn Friends and over 500 Facebook Friends. So I am a popular guy ;-)

In any event, I was looking at my instant messaging client a minute ago, and I noticed the list was incredibly long. So, like I did ~ 2 years ago, I counted them. I had just under a 100 active buddies (approximately, cause people came on and off while I was counting). Last time, I counted 80+ active buddies, but I guess I know about twenty more people.

To be honest, I only chat with a dozen or so people in my buddy list. I really should clean up this list, but I have been wanting to do that for years.

FYI, I don't use Apple's iChat or AOL's IM client, I use Adium X to chat.

Posted at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Category: Buddies | Comments (0) (0)

I detest these types of calls.

Hey, how you doing today!?!!?

AHHH!!!HH!H!H!H!

A company named Magna Resources called me today to tell me that they can make my $40,000 into ~$350,000.

This guy asked, "are you interested?" So my response was similar to my response to the Do You Want To Improve Your Business & Profits? I said, "no." He asked again, I said, "no."

Then he asked if I know what they do. I said, "no."

Do you want to know what they do? I said, "no."

Why not, if we can make you so much money? Cause I don't believe you. I don't even know you.

But we can make you money? You don't want to make more money? I don't.

Good bye.

I hate these calls!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (3) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Advertisers wait on Google's quality score. Politics and SEO are here. Google's missing images. Google Large Hadron Collider logo and Teacher's Day logo. Google's API has issues with image creation. Do you Google yourself. Is the search results extinct? Google on negative SEO.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google AdWords Advertisers Anxiously Wait For New Quality Score To Hit
2. SEO and SEM Tips for Political Campaigning
3. Google Answers: Why Are My Images Missing From Google?
4. Google.com & Google China Sport Logos
5. Google AdWords API Image Ad Creation Bug in Sandbox
6. Poll: Do You "Google" Yourself?
7. Will the SERP Soon Become Extinct?
8. Google's Negative Outlook on Reputation Management

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google's Logo Makes A Big Bang For Large Hadron Collider

Daily Link Finds:

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

Daily Link Finds for September 10th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 9, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Measuring SEO: why rankings are worthless, yoast.com
• Google's Logo Makes A Big Bang For Large Hadron Collider, Search Engine Land
• Pilgrim's Picks for September 10 - Google Overload Edition, Marketing Pilgrim
• Restituirea Banilor pentru Servicii SEO, Tudor Mateescu
• SEO Mastermind Aaron Wall Brings Bad News, Entrepreneur.com

Posted at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

TV simply does not get better than this!

Fox, you guys rock!

Posted at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (5) (0)

This morning we received emails form Apple that they have issued some of our financial reports for the past month, August 2008. Here is a screen capture of the reports currently available in iTunes Connect:

They issue a report for every currency, I guess. And more are coming in.

I am not sure if this means that I will find a deposit of funds in my bank tomorrow of if it will take an additional X days for the funds to appear. All I know is that these reports state how much Apple will pay us for the month of August.

Posted at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

We just published a QuickTime demo of the iPhone Siddur. You can view the demo within the iPhone look, at this page or on your iPhone or iPod Touch on this page (clicking it will open QuickTime on your iPhone). Just click the iPhone graphic, "launch video."

If you don't have QuickTime, then here is a different video that I put on YouTube. Hopefully, one of the three versions will work for those who want to check it out, but don't have an iPhone or iPodTouch.

Note, if the video says it is not available, refresh the page, it should work. YouTube has a weird annoying bug that does this, way too often.

There is no sound on any versions.

Posted at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (0) (0)

Lawyers scare me. I admit it. Most things don't scare me. But lawyers do.

A couple weeks ago, I received a subpoena from a law firm, requesting information about an employee. The thing is, that individual is not an employee, he is an independent contractor. So I called the law firm requesting the information and the assistant told me to just send the lawyer an email that this person is an independent contractor. So I did.

Today, a strange man walked in and handed me a subpoena. I have been served. I have never been served before. So I told this guy that I sent the information via email. He wasn't interested in talking. I then asked him, nicely, please - just tell me what I should do now.

He said, email them again and also mail them a response. So what I did now was, resend the email, print the email out and mail it to them and also left the assistant a voicemail.

As I am writing this entry, the assistant called me back and said, I don't need to do anything. They sent the subpoena two ways, one via certified mail and one via messenger. I told her, I want confirmation that we are okay. I don't want to get in trouble, I said. She said, you won't get in trouble, they have everything they need. I said, just please reply to my email that we are good. She said they would.

Lawyers make me squirm. Nothing against lawyers, as people, just professionally, they make me feel weird.

And before I hit the "post" button, the assistant confirmed receiving my email and that they don't need anything else. So I am much relieved.

Posted at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Weird | Comments (5) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Your sitelinks may not match. Google's code for the verification string. Google search news print. Do you spam forums? Use those redirects to move to a new domain. Google is communicating. Should you submit a reinclusion request? Google News brings down United Airlines. Google helps Africa connect.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Why Don't My Sitelinks on Google.com Match My Webmaster Tools Sitelinks?
2. Google's Webmaster Tools Verification Code
3. Search Old Newspapers as Paper with Google News Archive Search
4. The Three Types of Forum Spammers
5. Using Redirects to Move Your Site to a New Domain
6. 2008 Guide to Google & Webmaster Communication
7. When Should I Submit a Reinclusion Request to Google?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google News Error Aids In United Airlines Stock Drop
2. Google To Help Bring Internet To Africa & Beyond Through New Satellites

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 9th, 2008:

• "Out of Stock": Keine Produktseiten bei Online-Shops, Internetkapitaene.de
• Pilgrim's Picks for September 8, Marketing Pilgrim
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 8, 2008, Search Engine Land
• 100, seoFM
• Chrome Market Share Stats from General Internet Users, Metamend.com
• Los mejores sitios de SEO recomendados por Randfish, MP3d
• SCRIBEFIRE QUICKADS LAUNCHES OUT OF BETA, MediaWhiz Blog

Posted at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

This Sunday we had the company BBQ, aka the RustyBrick Chow Down. Here are some pictures from the event. It is too bad not everyone was able to come:

Posted at 8:26 PM | Permalink | Category: RustyBrick | Comments (4) (0)

Two months old, but still funny:

Posted at 5:22 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (0) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

My video recap is live. Was Google's birthday yesterday? Do you dream about Matt? Yahoo Search is updating. Google Maps misses some license plates. Google partners with Satellite provider. Duplicate meta tag issues? Live Search updates local listing center. Google for a day competition launches for the Swiss.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: September 7, 2008
2. No Google Birthday Logo? Check Back on 9/27
3. Dreaming About Matt Cutts of Google
4. Yahoo September 2008 Search Update
5. Google Maps Forgets to Blur Out License Plate, Hysteria Ensues
6. Google Launches a Real Satellite to Gather High Res Images of the Earth
7. How Serious Are Duplicate Meta Tag Issues?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Live Search Local Listings Center Adds Features
2. Googler For A Day Competition 2008
3. Yahoo Search September 2008 Index Update
4. Happy 10th Birthday Google, Whenever You Celebrate

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 8th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 5, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Whois Privacy Protection won't hurt your Search Engine Rankings, DNBlogger.com
• The Private Domain Registration & Google Dilemma, WebProNews
• Google's Chrome Browser - A Compendium, SEOpittfall
• How Does Private Domain Registration Affect SEO?, Search Engine Optimization Journal
• How Does Private Domain Registration Affect SEO?, Media Design SEO
• Barack Obama Google Link Bomb, New Facebook URL Glitches or ???? , David Dalka
• Google postpones birthday because no-one "feels like cake", Bloggle
• Happy 10th Birthday Google, Whenever You Celebrate, Search Engine Land
• Links for 2008-09-08, SERPS.CN
• Re-Building My Firefox Sidebar (and Ranking the SEO Blogs), SEOmoz
• Yahoo Search September 2008 Index Update, Search Engine Land

Posted at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

We are now pushing out these applications like wild fire...

Next up, in time for Rosh Hashanah, is a Shofar for your iPhone or iPod Touch. A Shofar is a type of horn used by Jewish people during the month before the Jewish New Year and on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year) and Yom Kippur.

It is a positive commandment to listen to the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. This iPhone app will not replace it for two reasons. (1) You need to listen to it live and from a real shofar (not a recording) and (2) you can't use your iPhone on Rosh Hashanah.

Here is a video of me using it:

The application will be free and we can notify you when it is live, if you sign up over here. We feel it compliments our other apps:

• iPhone Siddur
• iPhone Tehillim
• iPhone Tefilla Pack

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

Wanted to let you guys know that we release a new iPhone or iPod Touch app named the iPhone Parking Meter.

It has several features, including a timer countdown, camera snap shots, location notes, GPS tracker, vibration alert (only when app is open), SMS Alert (3rd party fees may apply), some neat graphics and, of course, Maps & Directions integration. Let me explain that if the app is not open, it will not vibrate or yell at you, a limitation of the iPhone App SDK (for good reason).

Here is a walk through:

Set the meter by clicking on "set meter." On this page, you set how much time you have on your meter and you can enter a location note. At the same time, if you allow it and if you have location services on, it will locate your location (as best as possible) and mark it.

When you hit "set meter" it will bring you to this page, which shows you the time remaining and blinks green and red (red means your over).

Note, the "View Map" words will link you to the Maps application, with the destination point being set at the coordinate defined when you clicked the set timer.

We did add reminders in, with some limitations. You can set an email reminder or a on phone reminder. If your phone supports SMS to emails, like yournumber@txt.att.net, then you can use that but clearly, text messages may cost money...

We also added an on app alert that will vibrate and play a sound, but it only will work when the application is open. Apple doesn't allow you to trigger alerts when your not in that application. I assume they dont allow it because it can cause issues with other applications and give a hacker a way into your phone - somehow.

Finally, what I mostly always do is snap a picture of where I parked or jot it down. Snapping a picture of a street sign or a parking garage sign, always helps me locate my car, especially if I go away for a few days.

The application is not yet on the iTunes App store, but we submitted it a few days ago. So if you want to be notified when it goes live, go to iPhone Parking Meter page and fill in your email address.

Posted at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (9) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Don't let your products stock you out of the search results. Google Chrome won't beat IE according to most SEOs. Shine and sparkle, say most SEOs. Search community shares their browser stats. Google adds geographic report. Private domain name registration won't hurt you. Microsoft does TV ad with Gates and Seinfeld. Search in Picture's theme today are cakes.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Out of Stock? Don't Delete or Redirect That Web Page!
2. 44% of SEO/SEMs Say Google's Chrome Won't Win the Browser War
3. Most SEOs Will Clean Their Site Versus Start a New Site After Being Penalized
4. Search Community Shares Chrome Browser Stats
5. Where In The World Are My Search Clicks Coming From: Google's Geographic Report
6. Google Says Private Registration Won't Hurt Your Search Rankings

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Search Engine Land's Chrome Usage 10%: Share Yours
2. I Don't Get The Microsoft TV Ad But I Like It
3. Search In Pictures: Yahoo vs. Google Cake Off, Onam at Yahoo & Google's Toilet Defrag

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 5th, 2008:

• And I'm Back, The Unofficial AdSense Blog
• MSN AdCenter Contextual Ads Running on Cartoon Barry Blog, Search Engine Journal
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 4, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Links for 2008-09-05, SERPS.CN
• Should SEO Companies Offer Refunds?, Sphinn
• Yahoo Site Explorer, Bestnews.su
• Yahoo Site Explorer Showing Less Backlinks, YourSiteForums

Posted at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (0) (0) | Speak

Many of you know that I am a very fast story writer. Sometimes too fast where I make mistakes, but often, I do an okay job. At least I think so...

In any event, I just wrote a 2,500 word help document for the iPhone Siddur. I wrote the whole document within about 30 minutes.

The document covers pretty much all the features in the Siddur. From the Zmanim, Siddur, Luach, Minyanim and location features.

Hope there arent too many grammar or spelling mistakes...

Oh, I also marked it up in HTML.

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

Daily Search Coverage:

Lack of PageRank information on Chrome may be a sign. Ask is Google ad happy. Web Position Gold is back! Twitter drops bio links. This SEO is under construction. Google webmaster report is live. AdWords added geographic report. adCenter UK offers a promotion.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Does Chrome Signal The Removal of Google's PageRank Indicator?
2. Ask.com No Longer Shy About Google Ads
3. Search Engine Rank Checking Tools, Such as WebPosition Gold, Are Back in Business
4. Search Marketers Respond to Twitter's Removal of Bio Links in Profile Pages
5. How Do You Do SEO for a Site that is Under Construction?
6. Webmasters Report September 2008 Google SERP Changes

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google AdWords Adds New Geographic Report
2. More On adCenter UK Promotion & Free Search Ads

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 4th, 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 September 4th, 2008:

• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 3, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Busque "Google" no Yahoo e Busque "Yahoo" no Google, fabioricotta
• State of the Art - Serious Potential in Google's Browser, New York Times
• two.point.oh, freddie.dot.see.eh
• Why You Shouldn't Give Away All Your Secrets, The Inside Angle
• Yahoo Site Explorer Showing Less Backlinks, Search Engine Journal

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

I am a bit sad. My trusty iPhone Case, the Incase iPhone 3G Protective Cover ripped this morning. Here is a picture:

Here is a picture from the back:

I love this case, I had a similar one for my original iPhone. It basically sticks, sticks to my dashboard, stays put in my breast pocket when I bend over, it doesn't slip out of my hand, it is a great case. But now it ripped!

I spent $30 on this puppy and I had it for only a couple months. Do I go out an buy a new one or contact Incase and see if they will replace it?

Posted at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (5) (0)

So I get a cold call from some type of company. Not this time it is not a programming outsourcing firm from India or a magazine subscription. The nice sounding woman asked if I have 15 minutes to learn how her company can improve my business, profits and team synergy.

I said, "no." Basically, no, I don't want to spend 15 minutes learning how they can help me.

She then questions me and this makes me angry...

You don't want to make more profit or improve your business?

I said, "what kind of question is that? Of course I do. But I don't want you to tell me how to." I guess I am having a bad day, cause I was a bit rude, but as nicely as I can be... I added, "comeon, your reading from a script, why would I think, honestly, that your company can improve my business? Are you not reading from a script?"

She said she memorized the script. At that point, I just waited, because whatever...

She then went on and asked me again, "You don't want to make more profit or improve your business?" I said, you can't ask me that. I said, "what do other people tell you?" I added, "seriously, what do they say, do they say "no" to that question? Do you ever hear no?"

She said, well - sometimes. Or people say "they are happy with where they are now."

So I said, "I am sorry for wasting your time but I am happy with where I am now."

That is it. I mean, please don't ask me a question like that. Ugh!

Posted at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Category: Rambling | Comments (4) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google AdSense slips on Canadian exchange rate. Searches at Google love Yahoo, and at Yahoo love Google. Yahoo Site Explorer drops links? Google Maps brings back reordering destinations. Google images being filtered again. Chrome gets a Google Groups area. SEOs and refunds, do they exist? Microsoft bluffs on free ads, while Google gives an editor guide PDF.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google to Adjust Canadian Exchange Rate Used for AdSense
2. Searchers 'Google' at Yahoo & 'Yahoo' at Google
3. Yahoo Site Explorer Updates Link Data, Huge Drops Reported
4. Google Maps Finally Brings Back Reordering Destinations & More
5. Google Image Filter Being Too Sensitive Again?
6. Submit Your Google Chrome Feedback Over Here
7. Should SEO Companies Offer Refunds?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Free Search Ads From Microsoft adCenter & Google's Free AdWords Editor Guide

Daily Link Finds:

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

Daily Link Finds for September 3rd, 2008:

• Pepperjam Network - Meet the Affiliates' Interview , pepperjamNETWORK Blog
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, September 2, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Crawls & Index UTF-8 Encoded URLs, ankitrawat.com
• Google Maps Brings Back Reordering Destinations, Search Engine Land
• Kim Krause Berg Speaking at Search Camp Philly & SMX East, Cre8PC
• Techmeme: Google Maps Brings Back Reordering Destinations (Greg Sterling/Search Engine Land), Techmeme
• What's Up with the Yahoo Site Explorer ??, SEO GURL

Posted at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (1) (0) | Speak

Thousands of people like me, with an iPhone in the Northeast, were without our mobile connectivity this morning, due to an AT&T Wireless outage.

There is tons and tons of coverage on the news. What happened? DSL Reports has a statement from AT&T:

There was a routing issue affecting some wireless data use in the Northeast region. AT&T technicians determined the cause and restored service at 11:56 a.m. EDT. Voice calling, text messaging and BlackBerry email were unaffected.

I noticed it this morning before I got to work. I was not on a wifi network and I wanted to check email. It just said "connecting..." but nothing happened. I closed it out and figured it was another small outage or 3G overage issue. Soon after, I got to work and downloaded my emails on my computer. So I forgot about it.

But now I am seeing all the reports surface. It should have been resolved by now, which is good. AT&T still has a lot of work to do. Why did so many people buy the iPhone! :)

Posted at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Category: iPhone | Comments (1) (0)

Last night, I saw this poster hanging in the elevator of my office building. Yea, this cat owner wants to get rid of his/her cat. Clearly, he/she is looking for a great new home for his/her cat.

I wonder if she is targeting our building for a reason or if this sign is all over the place.

I have never seen a sign like this in any elevator I have ever been in, in my whole life. So I figured it would make for a blog post.

Posted at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Category: Just Interesting | Comments (3) (0)

Daily Search Coverage:

Google Chrome is here soon. Google crawls UTF 8 URLs. We got screen captures of the new Google quality score. Google Webmaster Tools shows mobile warnings. Google Apps adds video sharing tools. Picasa does facial recognition. Hope you enjoyed your Labor Day!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Can Google Win The Browser Wars With Google Chrome?
2. Google Does Crawl & Index UTF-8 Encoded URLs
3. First Screen Captures of Google AdWords New Quality Score & First Page Bids
4. Google Webmaster Tools Mobile Warning: "Document Size Too Large"

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Labor Day & Programming Note
2. Google Apps To Add Business Video Sharing Tools
3. Google's Picasa Adding Facial Recognition

Daily Link Finds:

This is the September 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 September 2nd, 2008:

• Flash Still Has its Place, SEO Chatter
• Friday Recap, BruceClay.com
• Google Displays Ads at Bottom of Search Results, DigitalPoint Forums
• Google testing ads at the bottom of the search results, Bloggle
• Puppy's Picks - SES Coverage 08/29/08, Search Engine Guide
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 29, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Adsense Akan Dapat Dimonitor Lewat Google Analytics, Jimmy Kurnia Indradjaya
• Google Tests Displaying Ads Bottom of SERPs, Tilakbisht.com
• Labor Day , Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: Labor Day '08 Logos Not From Google or Yahoo (Search Engine Roundtable), Techmeme
• Coming Soon: A Google Browser, Blogs.com
• Google Penalty Box SEO Penalty Webmasters google penalty, Shashank
• Modern Day SEO Warriors, DerekChew.com
• Techmeme: Thoughts on Chrome , Techmeme
• Ten Search Engine News Blogs You Ought to read Daily`, Prashant Vikram

Posted at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Category: Daily Link Finds , Daily Search Coverage | Comments (2) (0) | Speak

I don't get into politics, so I am not going there. Shmuly Tennenhaus's Vanity Kippah, and also a buddy I correspond with regularly, sent me a McCippah.

Here is a picture of me wearing it:

Will I wear it around? I doubt it, maybe over Succots. ;-) (extremely inside joke)

Posted at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny | Comments (2) (0)