crazyskillsbloginitiative

Hardly.

This headline [cnet.com] read, “Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL search up; Google down.”  Which is true; however, in January 2009, Google claimed 63% (down half a percent from December 2008) of internet searches.

So what makes Google so strong?

I personally use Google foremost because of the lack of advertisements, fast page loads, followed closely by the lack of graphical elements getting in the way of finding what I’m looking for.  After that would be relevance, though all 4 of the major competitors in this arena offer relevant results to an example query (crazyskills.)

What would it take to beat Google? [cnet.com]

I think simply more of the same of what Google already offers.  Google’s got it all for the time being.  There are few examples out there of where I think what Google is doing has been done better than them - one of which being the Cooliris plugin for firefox which I mentioned before.

“Anne Loucks built a device which, when her cat steps on it, can click the ‘I Agree’ button of a EULA [ohesso.com] Who knows what the lawyers will make of this sort of madness. Can a cat make a legal agreement? Does it need to be of legal age? She lures the cat onto the device, and the cat steps on it of its own free will. Anyway, folks who hate EULAs now have another tool to make the lawyers freak out.” [slashdot.org]

EULAs are ridiculous anyway..  Have you ever actually taken the time to read through one?  I have - not to say that I understood them - IANAL.  I think having your cat agree to them is a brilliant idea.  You bought the software, you don’t see the EULA until you open the package and install the software (at which time, you can’t return the software) so you’re screwed.

“Of course, I have created a wonderful solution to this problem. My cat, Simba, agrees instead of me. As he is not a legal entity, I don’t really know how kitty’s agreements would stand up in court, but I like to think he would be responsible for any breaches of contract, assuming the agreement is even enforceable. After all, he is not even of legal age, at least in human years.” [ohesso.com]

Stumbled upon a site today, googling for an answer for some question — I don’t remember now.  Anyway, this site is pretty cool!  They could use a little more.. something.. in the approach - the appearance, but good nonetheless!  There are a good number of questions (and answers) here, and you can submit questions as well.  Most answers have references to their sources.  We all have enough to do, but it’s good to take a break.  Check it out!  http://www.funtrivia.com/ [funtrivia.com] is the central site but is mostly quizzes.  If you’re not into that sort of thing, check out http://www.funtrivia.com/search.cfm? [funtrivia.com] and search for anything you like.  Guaranteed to come up with interesting results!  Kind of a generic name, not the best asthetics, but entertaining information just the same.

Today, Facebook announced they are going back to their previous TOS, where all rights to user-generated content are terminated when the user closes their account.  Good news indeed!