Cartoons

Many of you already saw the article from the Wall Street Journal named Web Domains Could Expand Broadly Under New Plan.

If not, in short it says, the company that manages the domain names, ICANN, said they will be offering a plan for companies and organizations to purchase their own TLD (top level domain). A told level domain is the .com or .net or .co.il portion of the domain name. So www.cartoonbarry.com’s TLD is the .com. Now, I do not own the .com portion, I own the cartoonbarry portion.

ICANN is structuring a way to allow the sale of TLDs. So if IBM wanted their own TLD, they can get .ibm. If New York City wanted their own TLD, they can get .nyc. But it doesn’t come cheap. The Wall Street Journal said the “cost somewhere between $100,000 and $500,000.”

It isn’t a crazy or unreasonable price. I say, we (SEOs & SEMs) pool together funds under an organization (SEMPO?) to purchase .SEO and .SEM (.SMO for socials?). What you think? Worth it? Think Google will ban the .seo TLDs before they even come out?

Daily Search Coverage:

Yahoo cleans up people search. Do more toolbar PageRank updates happen quietly? Check out a Google malware warning. Find do follow sites. Google updates links in webmaster tools. Link building tips that are risk free. Ask is not focused on core search. 404 errors galore!

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Yahoo People Search Redesigned
2. Does Google Conduct Minor Toolbar PageRank Updates Between Major Updates?
3. What Does a Google Malware Warning Look Like in Webmaster Tools?
4. Google Webmaster Tools Link Update & “Download This Table” Feature is Back
5. A dofollow Blog Google Custom Search Engine
6. Risk-Free Link Building Techniques?
7. Ask.com: Not Focused on Core Search, or is it?
8. What to Do When You Have a 404 Error

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Sorry, Ask.com — I Still Don’t Think You’re Focused On Core Search

Daily Link Finds:

This is the June 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 June 27th, 2008:

• Google reveals the ad partner information for advertisers, winandmac.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 25, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: Google to Unveil New Ad-Planning Tool (Miguel Helft/Bits), Techmeme
• Techmeme: Introducing Google Ad Planner (Emel Mutlu/Inside AdWords), Techmeme
• 5 Authority Sites With A PageRank Penalty, SEOco
• At Google, ‘Long URLs’ Can Land Your Website in Trouble!, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• Google Ad Planner, Microhoo, TaT
• Higher Education Internet Marketers Links of the Week June 26th, 2008, .eduGuru
• Matt Cutts Talks about Alt Attributes in Images!, PageTraffic SEO Blog
• My Today’s 10 Most Favorite SEO Blog Posts, Marc Baumann
• SMX advanced recap, sepguy.com
• Sorry, Ask.com — I Still Don’t Think You’re Focused On Core Search, Search Engine Land
• Techmeme: Sorry, Ask.com - I Still Don’t Think You’re Focused On Core Search (Danny Sullivan/Search Engine Land), Techmeme

I got this great client that has offices both in New York City and Tel Aviv, Israel. They are named American Israel Cultural Foundation, basically they hook up sponsorships for Israel students looking to pursue their culturural talents. If you are into music, art, dance, etc - and you are computer savvy, you might like this job.

The job description is attached as a PDF file. Review it.

If you are interested in this job then email orit AT aicf DOT co DOT il.

Last night, my wife’s sister got engaged to a wonderful guy she has been going out with for almost two years (I think that it’s been almost two years). So last night, we had a small party for the family, to celebrate. I won’t get into the details of the party or stuff like that but I will tell you that it is now official — I am the short and stumpy one. Yes, I am leading myself up for some fun comments below, but hey - it’s fun.

Here is a picture of the (now) three brother-in-laws:

I masked their faces because I didn’t obtain approval from them to post the picture and it is actually funnier this way.

Okay, guess who I am… Yea, that is me on the left. Then the most senior brother-in-law, in the middle, who has taught me a lot and guided me through joining the new family. Then the new brother-in-law, who is still skinny and tall (that will change) is on the right. Notice the progression. Typically, I should be in the middle, since I was married for a shorter period of time - but I break the rules.

So there you have it. My fate has been sealed. I am the short and stumpy brother-in-law and son-in-law. But I am proud to be in that position. At least I don’t fall in between and no one notices me ;-).

In any event, Mazol Tov! Welcome to the family and I look forward to squeezing into my tuxedo at the wedding!

I live in New York, but I am about 20 minutes from New Jersey. New Jersey gas prices are much cheaper than New York prices - so I typically like to fill-up in New Jersey, when I pass through.

Yesterday morning the gas tank light went on. I was too busy to get gas in the morning and in the afternoon when I went out to pick up a bite, I was too lazy to stop for gas. On the way home, I learned about possible news that required me to drive to New Jersey. So I decided to hold out and see if I can make it 20 minutes to the first gas station in New Jersey.

Typically, I make these decisions when I am driving solo. But my wife was with me this time and she doesn’t like it when the gas light is on. Which wife does? But she braved the drive with me and we pulled up to the gas station and filled up for $4.01 per gallon. Then, as we continued down the highway, I noticed gas stations selling gas for $3.55, I was bummed we didn’t try to go longer and get that price.

This is not the first time I wrote about this topic, I wrote about driving on empty with my old car as well. Note the image above really doesn’t due justice to the dial, the dial was on empty and the light was orange for a long long time.

So how far can you go?

Daily Search Coverage:

Google stops advertisers from pointing ads at search results. Google makes minor update to webmaster tools. Yahoo drops keyword tool. Google adds two more AdSense reps. Yahoo defends itself. Power to the white hats! Google looks beyond the past query. Searchers love to Google for the iPhone. A new iGoogle is being tested. Search in pictures is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Google Disables AdWords Ads Pointing to Google.com Search Results
2. Google Moves Crawl Stats Charts to Statistics Section in Webmaster Tools
3. Yahoo Finally Kills Overture’s Keyword Suggestion Tool?
4. Google Adds Two New AdSense Representatives to Google Groups Support
5. Yahoo Prepares Massive Upper Management Reorganization for Possible Acquisitions
6. The Evolution and Power of White Hat SEO

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Google Looking At Multiple Previous Queries To Tailor Search Ads
2. Google Searchers Love The iPhone
3. Search In Pictures: Yahoo Volleyball & Casinos, Pamela Fox of Google, & Ask Productivity
4. Test The New iGoogle, Google’s Personalized Home Page

Daily Link Finds:

This is the June 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 June 27th, 2008:

• Crea tu propio TLD, desmarkt.com
• My Thoughts On Ask.com & Core Search, BruceClay.com
• SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 26, 2008, Search Engine Land
• Google Ad Planner (beta), Media Planning Tool, WebmasterWorld
• Google preferisce lALT al TITLE (per le immagini)?, Tagliaerbe.com
• SEO Blowout From Google! Must Read! - Webmaster Forum, v7n.com
• Sphinn - Porn Continues to Invade Google Web Search Through Universal Search, Sphinn
• Sphinn - Screen Shots of Google’s Ad Planner, Sphinn
• The Happening: Google Adsense Ads Missing, Technobiography
• Why your link-building techniques suck - SEO Theory - SEO Theory and Analysis Blog, seo-theory.com
• Yahoo People Search Redesigned - Yahoo! Buzz, buzz.yahoo.com

Many of you know I am a Neil Young fan. But I am not sure I told you about the first time I remember hearing his music. I believe it started with a song called, “Old Man.” I first heard the song when I was maybe 9 years-old. I borrowed my older brother’s mix tape (mix tapes, too funny) and walkman (walkman, too funny) for a class trip. No idea what was on the tape, I just wanted something to listen to while on the bus trip. I remember listening to it on the way there and really enjoying the song.

So I decided to post some YouTube videos of Neil Young performing Old Man throughout his career. Here they are:

Bob Dylan covering Old Man:

There are many more covers…

It has been a long time since I had a boring weekend. In fact, I miss them. Nothing like being able to sit around, watch TV and just relax. So after work on Sunday, I came home, got a quick hair cut and then got a tie. After that, I went home and simply relaxed.

I got a green tie, I don’t have many green ties.

In any event, I really want this 8-bit tie. Maybe one day, someone will buy it for me and Ill have an excuse to wear it.

Daily Search Coverage:

Video recap is live. Google tells us how they prevent spam and SEO tips. Moving to the US? Yahoo Slurp being banned. Use Google Ad Manager to squeeze out more income from AdSense. I wrote about Plurk. SEOs, back yourself up. How many pages do you need for SEO? Does Google crawl paths? There is a new trademark case in search.

Search Engine Roundtable Topics:

1. Video Recap of Weekly Search Buzz :: June 29, 2008
2. Why Did Google Tells Us They May Use Cookies To Prevent Spam?
3. Moving to a U.S Hosted Server: Will it Impact Country Specific SEO?
4. Some Webmasters Are Banning Yahoo Slurp
5. Use Google Ad Manager To Set Minimum AdSense eCPM
6. Plurk Brings Micro Forums, Like Twitter Brought Micro Blogging
7. Search Engine Optimizers Should Back Up Their Statements!
8. Is there a Minimum Number of Pages Required for Decent Organic Rankings?
9. Is Google Crawling Absolute Paths?

Search Engine Land Topics:

1. Competitors Taking Action Against Competitors For Search Ad Trademark Infringement
2. Matt Cutts On SEO Tips & Fighting Spam

Daily Link Finds:

This is the June 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 June 30th, 2008:

• Forums Niches, Thirty Day Challenge Forums
• Real purpose of YouTube annotations gets unnoticed as people dive into "birth of Long-Form video" discussions, Reactive Software Blog
• Bloggers with cartoon on their blogs, Blogjer
• Overture Keyword Tool finalmente morta pelo Yahoo?, fabioricotta
• 25 Pay Per Click Survival Tips, Palmer Web Marketing
• Overture Keyword Suggestion Tool desaparece, Ojobuscador.com
• Tools For Staying Current with SEO News, Percms
• Confidential: 22 Google Laws Leaked, SPEQLEN
• Google rassegna news 30/06/08, Googlisti.com
• SEO 2.0 - Digital Asset Optimization, digital asset management weblog

The other day I wrote about how I have moved about 200 domains to a new server environment. Well, we are done with that - huge job as you can imagine, but we are done. After I wrote about that, JewishTweets notified me of a popular recent story named The Stalled Server Room.

The short story is that this company’s server room is now part of the office’s bathroom. Too make a long story short, the company had to switch offices. But the new office in the building did not have room for a server room. So they put the server room in a closet that is only accessible through the woman’s bathroom.

Here is the email from the building management company:

As you all are aware, we have new tenants that have moved into
the 2nd floor suites. The access to the server room is now via
the women’s bathroom.

There will be a sign on the woman’s door that can be changed
from OPEN to CLOSED and vice versa.

Should you need to enter the server room, please change the sign
to CLOSED. Once you are done, please change it back to OPEN.

Once you enter the bathroom, you will be able to access the
server room via the handicapped stall. Please close the stall
door prior to entry, just in case someone doesn’t see that the
bathroom is closed.

I know this isn’t ideal, but if we adhere to this protocol, I
don’t think anyone will be disrupted.

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions.

And I was complaining about moving domains to a new server. Imagine if I had to move my servers into a bathroom.

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