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Tech. Sgt. Sheldon Mason of the 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., pours barbecue sauce on ribs during an office lunch. (Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen / Air Force)
- Filed Under
The Air Force's first-ever 'High Flyin' BBQ Challenge' is underway, with competitors' entry essays or videos due April 25. (Staff Sgt. Kent Kagarise / Air Force)
For all members who submit an essay package:
Commemorative oven mitt and apron
Six regional contenders:
$200 Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift card
First-place finalist:
Horizon backyard smoker
Bass Pro electric meat grinder
Two Bass Pro reclining fold-up chairs
Flavored briquettes
Champion trophy
Second-place finalist:
Teton four-burner gas grill
9-by-6-foot hammock
Two Bass Pro reclining fold-up chairs
Miscellaneous BBQ accessories
2nd-place trophy
Third-place finalist:
18.5-inch charcoal smoker
9-by-6-foot hammock
Two Bass Pro reclining fold-up chairs
Miscellaneous BBQ accessories
3rd-place trophy
*Substitutions possible based on availability of products.
If youre a grill master, this competition may just be your mecca.
The Air Force has launched its first-ever High Flyin BBQ Challenge, aimed at involving airmen in barbecue competitions in their communities and showcasing their barbecue skills.
Active-duty, Guard and Reserve airmen across the contiguous U.S. can compete for prizes and top honors. So can sister service members at Air Force-led joint bases: Joint Base Andrews, Md.; Joint Base Charleston, S.C.; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; and Joint Base San Antonio.
We constantly seek opportunities to provide new and innovative programming for [airmen and families], said Col. Marc Piccolo, spokesman for the Air Force Personnel Center. Given the popularity of barbecue in the U.S., and the popularity of reality shows like TLCs BBQ PitMasters, we decided to field a barbecue-based program this year.
But before you marinate, the first step is to tell the Air Force about your barbecue skills.
By April 18, entrants must submit a 500-word-maximum essay with a photo of their barbecue only and a description of why they believe their barbecue techniques are the best.
Essays will be graded on clarity, creativity and the entrants knowledge of barbecue.
Were mainly interested in people who are passionate about their barbecue, Piccolo said. Winning essays will clearly convey their excitement and passion for this pastime.
But if writing isnt your forte, a video essay would work, too. Contestants can now submit a link to a short video as an alternative to the essay, Piccolo said. We realize some people would rather tell their story on video than take pen to paper.
AFPC judges will pick the top two essay writers from each of three U.S. regions west, central and east to be announced April 25. Those six will then compete in a regional community competition sometime between May 23 and Aug. 23.
Well work with national and regional barbecue associations to line up selected participants with a sanctioned competition within driving distance, Piccolo said.
Local competition events do not necessarily need to be physically located within the region an airman represents some events could be up to 200 miles away from an airmans base.
All competitors will provide their own transportation, equipment and supplies, including meats and other food products, for their local qualifying competition. Competition sanctioning bodies will provide rules and instructions for their event; airmen will have a minimum of one month to prepare. By Aug. 27, the sanctioning bodies will provide the Air Force with the results using their rules and scoring system.
Three finalists from the regional community competitions will travel to San Antonio in September, exact date to be determined, to compete in the Air Force Finals, slated to be held simultaneously with the San Antonio Stock & Rodeo Shows Fall Festival.
For more information on the contest rules, and to find out where the officially sanctioned barbecue events are across the U.S., visit http://www.myairforcelifecom/BBQ.
Answers by RallyPointSEE MORE ANSWERS
Join trending discussions in the military's #1 professional community. See what members like yourself have to say from across the DoD.


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The Baja Architect Lecture Series
AH & Assoc. has spent many years carefully developing a process to make each client's project an enjoyable journey from beginning to end. You can expect creative thinking, detailed planning, and exceptional project management. Before your project starts construction, you will know what it will look like and how much it will cost.
Our Associates include both American and Mexican professionals, which allows us to understand the cultural differences and to understand how to get the job done in the local environment. They include an award winning Architect and licensed civil, structural, and environmental engineers, surveyors, contractors and sub-contractors, and attorneys and other specialists necessary to secure all licenses and permits for your project including permission from Profepa, Semarnat, and or Conagua etc. This means that you can participate as little or as much as you wish. Take a walk on the beach and relax.
Our team of Associates will be your project managers from start to completion. If you would like a list of our associates, please email us and we will be happy to meet with you. As members of the US Green Building council we are dedicated to conserving natural resources, using water and energy wisely, and building high quality durable structures. We know how!
We have created to following five part lecture series as a service for anyone interested in the process of creating a new home in Baja.
- Process Overview and Land Choices
- Design
- Engineering & Construction
- Hardscape & Landscape
- Green Building and/or Remodeling
We believe this information should help distill some of the myths of building in Baja and help bring your dream home into reality.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hormone Replacement May Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk-- A. Agrawal, PhD
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer by more than half, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Gad Rennert, M.D., from the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, and colleagues compared the self-reported use of HRT from 2,460 peri/postmenopausal women among 2,648 patients with colorectal cancer and 2,566 controls.
After adjusting for demographics, aspirin and statin use, sports activity, family history of colorectal cancer, and vegetable consumption, the researchers found that women reporting HRT use had a significantly lower risk of colorectal cancer (odds ratio, 0.37). Women who took aspirin or played sports did not have a risk reduction. The reduced risk was observed mainly in women taking combined estrogen-progestin oral pills.
"The use of oral HRT was associated with a 63 percent relative reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women after adjustment for other known risk factors," Rennert and colleagues conclude. "However, the absence of the risk reduction effect of aspirin in HRT users and the differences in risk reduction with preparation-type call for further study to understand the causes for these phenomena and calls for caution in indicating HRT for colorectal cancer prevention."
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Diabetes & Endocrinology
Internal Medicine
Family Practice
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Cancer and Parenting: Tips for Patients with Young Childrenby Sabina Borza
April 09, 2015
7 Tips for Giving Smart on #givingtuesdayby Christina Bach, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
November 25, 2015


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Exerpeutic 1000XL Heavy Duty Magnetic Elliptical with Pulse
|Take $50 Off Your Purchase of Bikes, Boats, Fitness or Basketball Hoops Priced $250 or More! (see promotion details)
|Free Shipping on Fitness Equipment Over $499.99! (see promotion details)
|Members of The League get 5% back when you spend $100! (see promotion details)
Product Details
The Exerpeutic 1000XL heavy-duty magnetic elliptical helps provide a zero-impact workout with no stress on your hips, ankles, or joints, and it offers the benefit of upper-body exercising with dual-impact action arms. The 8-level magnetic tension resistance adjustments ensure a challenging session, and the easy-to-read, large-window LCD display indicates distance, calories burned, time, and more!
Key Specs:
- Length: 54 inches
- Width: 23 inches
- Height: 63 inches
Additional Info
- Natural elliptical motion eliminates bouncy movement
- 8-level magnetic tension resistance adjustments for a more challenging workout
- Large-window LCD display indicates distance, calories burned, time, speed, scan, and target-zone heart-rate monitoring
- Dual-directional flywheel for frontward and backward workout capabilities
- Pulse pads on the additional stationary handle bars provide heart rate monitoring
- Precision-balanced flywheel and V-belt drive provide a smooth and quiet operation
- Large, ribbed pedal design prevents foot slippage
- Transportation wheels
- Dual-action workout arms for an upper-body workout
- Package Dimensions: L 58" x W 33" x H 12"
- Package Weight: 81 lbs
- Product Weight: 76 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 325 lbs
- 3-year limited manufacturer's warranty
- Made in China
Product Recommendations
Product Reviews
Reviewed by 2 customers
Sort by
- Easy assembly
- Easy To Use
- Sturdy Base
- Hard To Store
- Relatively Small
Best Uses
- General Fitness
Comments about Exerpeutic 1000XL Heavy Duty Magnetic Elliptical with Pulse:
I decided to purchase this for home use after cancelling my gym membership. Upon arrival, it sat in my living room for a week because I found assembly to be daunting. However, once you start going through the manual, step by step (there are 12), I was pleased to find it's actually really easy to put together. The one con in assembly is that all of the tools aren't made so well, for example, the wrench they give you doesn't fit into all of the small spaces it's required, so having your own tools is a benefit, but not a necessity.
I've found this to be a good, sturdy piece. After using it a few times, I will plan to go back and tighten a few bolts, but I don't think it's going to fall apart any time soon. My only complaint is that this feels sort of small- I'm aboug 5'6, and I feel like when I use the piece, the distance between the foot holders and the front support bars is too close, so my knees are often bent. This could be due to my weight, but I don't feel like this is a "low-impact" type of workout. Additionally, the glide isn't very smooth, though I expect this will loosen with time, so there are brief interruptions to the circular motion you make with your legs.
Overall, though, I am pleased with the purchase and I do not think you can find a better piece for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Easy To Store
- Easy To Use
- Operates Smoothly
- Quiet
- Sturdy Base
Best Uses
- General Fitness
- Low Impact Exercise
- Weight Loss
Comments about Exerpeutic 1000XL Heavy Duty Magnetic Elliptical with Pulse:
Only con is that it wasn't as easy to assemble as it stated. Alot of screws, blots and parts to put together. But once we got going it went along quickly. It doesn't take up alot of room, we have in our bedroom in a corner and is easy to move around. For the price it is a great product.
- Was this a gift?:
- No


text:
- Filed Under
Businesses that were affected by the severe storms and tornados Aug. 6-7 have until 7 p.m. today to apply in person for disaster assistance. Loans are being made by the Small Business Administration, of which SCORE is a partner, in response to a request by Gov. Scott Walker.
A short-term outreach center was established at the Grand Chute Fire Station at 2250 W. Grand Chute Blvd., Appleton. Hours today are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. After that, applications will be accepted either electronically or by mail. An online application is available at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
The disaster declaration ...


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Blue Buffalo Basics canned dog food receives the Advisor's mid-tier rating of 3 stars.
The Blue Buffalo Basics product line includes three grain-free canned dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Blue Basics Grain Free Turkey and Potato
- Blue Basics Grain Free Salmon and Potato
- Blue Basics Grain Free Large Breed Turkey and Potato
Blue Basics Grain Free Turkey and Potato recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
Blue Basics Grain Free Turkey and Potato
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, potatoes, flaxseed, pea protein, fish oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids), pumpkin, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, cassia gum, cranberries, blueberries, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), cobalt amino acid chelate, niacin supplement (vitamin B3), d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), biotin (vitamin B7), vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid (vitamin B9)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items indicate controversial ingredients
|Estimated Nutrient Content
|Guaranteed Analysis
|Dry Matter Basis
|Calorie Weighted Basis
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered "the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey".1
Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is turkey broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they've first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The seventh ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, carrageenan is a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there does appear to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Blue Buffalo Basics Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Basics canned dog food looks like an above-average wet product.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product's meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 27% and estimated carbohydrates of about 33%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 33% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 86%.
Below-average protein. Above-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effects of the pea protein and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a wet containing a below-average amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Blue Buffalo Basics canned dog food is primarily a meat-based wet product using a below-average amount of turkey or salmon as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.
Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
The Dog Food Advisor does not test dog food products.
We rely almost entirely on the integrity of the information posted by each company on its website. As such, the accuracy of every review is directly dependent upon the quality of the test results from any specific batch of food a company chooses to publish.
Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.
Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.
However, due to the biological uniqueness of every animal, none of our ratings are intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific dietary response or health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.
In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.
However, we do receive a fee from Chewy.com for each purchase made as a direct result of a referral from our website. This fee is a fixed dollar amount and has nothing to do with the size of an order or the brand selected for purchase.
Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
07/18/2014 Last Update
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩


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July 5, 2000 - Number 44
By Danny Sullivan
Editor, Search Engine Watch
Copyright (c) 2000 internet.com corporation
About The Report
The Search Engine Report is a monthly newsletter that covers developments with search engines and changes to the Search Engine Watch web site, http://searchenginewatch.com/.
The report has 139,000 subscribers. You may pass this newsletter on to others, as long either part is sent in its entirety.
Did you know that there's a longer, more in-depth version of this newsletter? The twice-monthly "Search Engine Update" newsletter is just one of the many benefits available to Search Engine Watch "site subscribers." Learn more about the advantages to becoming a site subscriber at this page:
Please note that long URLs may break into two lines in some mail readers. Cut and paste, should this occur.
In This Issue
+ About The Search Engine Watch site
+ Conference News
+ Yahoo Partners With Google
+ Good For Google Does Not Equal Bad For Inktomi (online only)
+ Google Announces Largest Index
+ Inktomi To Acquire Ultraseek From Go.com (online only)
+ Excite Changes Look, Results
+ Lycos Partners More Closely With FAST
+ Subtle But Helpful Changes At HotBot
+ Community Search Blossoms - Part 1
+ New Sites In Search Links
+ LookSmart Ends Pricing Tests
+ Fact Search Engines Available
+ Vortal Services Now Offered
+ On The Radar Screen
Search Engine Articles
+ Interesting articles relating to search engines.
+ List Info (Subscribing/Unsubscribing)
Site News
Hello Everyone--
Happy 4th of July to all my US readers, and Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians! There lots of news to share this issue, covering changes to major sites such as Yahoo, Google, Excite, Lycos and HotBot. Plus, there are an increasing number of new tools to cover, also. So let's dive in. But first, for some time I've been meaning to mention and thank Jimco's Auto-Save tool for Microsoft's FrontPage HTML editor. I use (and despite its faults, like) FrontPage for managing Search Engine Watch. However, I find it unbelievable that after four releases, Microsoft still hasn't added an auto save feature to the program. Until I found Jimco's tool, I either had to remember to hit save button every five minutes or find myself losing work after some inevitable crash. If you are a FrontPage user, get this tool. It has rescued me many times. In addition, I was extremely thankful to have a copy of Norton Utilities this week. I managed to accidentally delete an entire article while editing the newsletter, representing several hours work. I realized my mistake the next day, well after I'd overwritten both the file and its backup version several times. Very fortunately, the Norton Utilities UnErase program was able to locate all the previously deleted backup versions that Jimco had been making, which ordinarily cannot be retrieved from the Windows Recycle Bin. I got the article back, much to my relief.
Jimco's Auto-Save Tool
(and more cool FrontPage enhancements)
Norton Utilities
Conference News
The next Search Engine Strategies conference will be held in San Francisco on August 14. I'll be presenting and moderating sessions that feature experts on search engine marketing issues and panelists from the various major search engines themselves, including About.com, AltaVista, Ask Jeeves, Excite, Google, Inktomi, LookSmart, Netscape/The Open Directory and Snap. In addition, there will be a special session on shopping search, which should be of interest to any online retailers. Details about the conference, for attendees or potential sponsors and exhibitors, can be found via the URL below.
Search Engine Strategies 2000 - San Francisco
Yahoo Partners With Google
Yahoo has selected Google to take over from Inktomi in powering Yahoo's secondary results. These are the listings that appear in the "Web Pages" area of Yahoo's results, after any hits from Yahoo's own human-compiled listings. In addition, Yahoo plans to move forward with changes to improve the relevancy of its own primary listings over the coming months.
The switch to Google should occur sometime this month (in fact, it appears to have already happened). Inktomi is also being retained as a Yahoo partner. The company will provide search services for Yahoo's new Yahoo Corporate product that was announced in June.
Google becomes Yahoo's fourth crawler-based partner. Open Text was the first, then AltaVista took over in mid-1996, then Inktomi picked up the contract in mid-1998. At that time, AltaVista lost out because it was seen by Yahoo as competitor in the portal space. In contrast, Inktomi's "behind-the-scenes" business model of powering but never competing with portals gave it the edge.
Winning the Yahoo contract didn't "make" Inktomi. At the time, the company had already been picked as a provider by both MSN Search and Snap, in addition to serving HotBot and smaller players like GoTo. But the contract certainly raised Inktomi's profile as a leader in the portal powering market. Similarly, the Yahoo partnership is a huge boost for Google. It's an extraordinary achievement for Google, less than two years old, to be selected by the web's most popular search site as its partner.
It's also well deserved. "Our goal is to produce no holds barred, the best search available," said Google's CEO Larry Page, in an article I wrote just after the company received major investment in 1999. Since then, Google has delivered. The most recent NPD Search and Portal Study found 97 percent of Google users say they find what they are looking for every or most of the time, placing it highest among the 13 major search sites surveyed. In addition, reviewers continue to rave about Google, as does the general public. When I speak about search engines to groups and mention Google, something unusual happens to some members of the audience. They smile and nod, in the way you do when you feel like you've found a secret little getaway that no one else knows about. And each time I speak, I see more and more people smiling and nodding this way, pleased to have discovered Google.
One thing that will be missing from Google's results at Yahoo are links to the Google version of the Open Directory, a main competitor with Yahoo in categorizing the web. But what Google has done to apply link analysis to the Open Directory could also be applied to Yahoo's categories. "We have chatted with them about what can be done to improve their directory," said Google president Sergey Brin.
Bringing Google on board to improve Yahoo's secondary results is great, but Yahoo is also planning upgrades in the coming months in how listings from its own database are presented and ranked in response to a search request. "You should certainly be looking at further improvements to our own search," said Srinija Srinivasan, Yahoo's editor in chief.
The process already began when "Most Popular Sites" sections were added to some categories in April. Since then, popular sections have been added to additional categories, Srinivasan said. Examples where Most Popular Sites can be found include the Virtual Cards category, Children's Health and Genealogy.
Yahoo has also come through a reorganization of its business listings, which was completed around the end of April. "This was truly a wholescale renovation in how we deal with commercial listings," Srinivasan said.
Previously, commercial listings had been broadly divided between the "Companies" and "Products and Services" categories. However, Yahoo realized there was less distinction between companies and products and much more between companies with products aimed at consumers and those catering to other businesses. Consequently, if you enter the top level "Business and Economy" category, you'll now see two major categories below it, "Business to Business" and "Shopping and Services," aimed at consumers.
Finally, another change that just hit Yahoo about two weeks ago was an increase in the fee for adult sites to use the Business Express system. They must now pay $600, rather than the normal $199. Yahoo says this is to make up for the extra time they've found adult sites take to process. "A small proportion of the submissions take a disproportionally large amount of our time, Srinivasan said. In particular, there is a high incidence of adult sites submitting trying to obtain multiple listings through the use of disguised mirror sites, she said.
Yahoo Changes Listings
The Search Engine Report, May 3, 2000
More information about the addition of "Most Popular Results" to Yahoo's categories.
NPD Search and Portal Site Study
More details from the latest search satisfaction survey will be posted by the end of this week.
Yahoo Business Express Help
More information about Yahoo's express service, from Yahoo.
Yahoo Change Form
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Good For Google Does Not Equal Bad For Inktomi
Inktomi's stock plunged after last week's announcement that the company had lost the Yahoo web search contract to Google, as investors wondered if the Yahoo deal was a harbinger of future Inktomi defections. Maybe, but the loss of a big portal doesn't necessarily mean Inktomi is a big loser, just because Google is a big winner. See the article below for more details.
Good For Google Does Not Equal Bad For Inktomi
The Search Engine Report, July 5, 2000
Google Announces Largest Index
Another milestone in the search engine size wars was hit when Google went live with a full-text index of 560 million URLs in June, making it the largest search engine on the web. In addition, because of how Google makes use of link data, its reach extends to a further 500 million URLs that it has never actually visited, the company says. That means searches at Google potentially encompass more than 1 billion pages, which is the size the entire web was recently estimated to be at earlier this year.
So does this mean Google is the first search engine to give 100 percent coverage of the web? No. For one thing, that 1 billion page estimate is several months old, and the web has almost certainly increased in size since then. Nor does that estimate include the millions of pages that search engines typically don't crawl, such as those behind password protected areas or served up by identifiable dynamic delivery systems. How big the web is now is anyone's guess.
Also, Google has actually visited and recorded the contents of 560 million pages, not 1 billion. Google, unlike any other major search engine, does make clever use of its technology to leverage its reach beyond this core set of pages (as the articles below explain further). It isn't just marketing hype for it to use the 1 billion figure, but those extra pages are more like a bonus that you can't always depend on, rather than the assurance you get from having indexed each and every page.
None of this takes away from Google's accomplishment nor the value of using its service. It is now a clear choice for those seeking both highly relevant results and comprehensive searching across the web. Searchers should also have even more choice in the coming months. WebTop just announced its own half-billion page index, and some of Inktomi's partners should go live with Inktomi's new half-billion page index in the very near future.
While Google is running searches against the full index at its own site, its partners may not tap into the entire amount. "We support searches for different partners, so they won't all be necessarily be getting the largest index," said Google president Sergey Brin. Google's customers can choose to search against indexes of different sizes, with the smaller indexes containing a higher amount of the web's most popular pages, as determined by Google's link analysis system. The benefit for customers in using a smaller index is savings. It costs them more to query against the biggest collection of documents, Brin says.
Offering different sized indexes isn't new. Inktomi has also offered its partners this option, and it is one reason why Yahoo's Inktomi-powered results have never matched those of some other Inktomi-powered services. Yahoo has never chosen to hit Inktomi's index as deeply as possible. Whether this will change when Google takes over remains to be seen. Google says Yahoo has the option to do so, and I'll revisit the issue after Yahoo goes live with the Google results.
Google has also begun to float articles from major news wires at the top of its results, in response to current news stories. You can't specifically search for news, but the system should recognize topical queries such as "elian gonzalez" and respond with links that appear beginning with the word "News."
Google Snapshots
A new page offering a behind-the-scenes look of Googlites at work and play.
Search Engine Size Test
I took a look at how the new Google index performs against other size leaders. Did it live up to its claims? Pretty much, yes. Also see how FAST, Excite, AltaVista and some Inktomi-powered services perform. NOTE: The page isn't ready yet, but results will be posted by July 7.
Search Engine Sizes
The current sizes of major crawler-based search engines, historical numbers and plenty of articles that document the size wars over the past years.
Numbers, Numbers -- But What Do They Mean?
The Search Engine Report, March 3, 2000
Explains how Google leverages its link database to expand its coverage, and it also puts other "dual numbers" you may hear into perspective.
The Half Billion Crew: Google, Inktomi GEN3, & WebTop
Search Engine Showdown, June 29, 2000
Greg Notess compares and contrast leaders in the index size game and runs a current comparison.
Google's Cool Billion
About.com Web Search Guide, June 26, 2000
Another look at the Google size increase from search writer Chris Sherman.
I mentioned WebTop in my June newsletter, and now the company has just announced a half-billion page index. Expect a closer look in the future.
Boo.com's computers used to revamp search engine
Reuters, June 28, 2000
Computers from the failed Boo.com online retailer have been put to new use powering WebTop.com
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Inktomi To Acquire Ultraseek From Go.com
Inktomi has announced that it is to acquire Ultraseek Corporation, the subsidiary of Go.com that produces search software used by web sites and companies for site-specific and Intranet searching. However, the move will have no impact on Go.com continuing to serve a general search market. See the article below for more details.
Inktomi To Acquire Ultraseek From Go.com
SearchEngineWatch.com, June 8, 2000
Excite Changes Look, Results
Excite has released a new look to its search results that also coincides with a new ranking system. In response to a search, Excite's new "Excite Precision Search" generally displays only matches from its crawler-built database. The simple design mimics the "less is more" move that AltaVista kicked off in May with its Raging Search. Behind the scenes, Excite is making better use of link analysis than it has in the past to improve its search results.
The search format changes should be welcomed by Excite users. In particular, it was becoming increasingly difficult to understand how Excite would construct its search results page. Sometimes web page results would appear with full summaries, then other times only titles would appear. Directory listings, news headlines or information from other data sources would pop up almost whimsically. But far from whimsical, Excite was purposely varying its results format depending on the context of the search in an attempt to better serve users. Being predictable is now the watchword.
"We're aiming for consistency," said Abbot Chambers, Excite's Senior Director of Search and Directory Products. "Some users really liked the different results, but it did have the untended expect of unsettling users."
Simplicity is also a key aim. Search for something on Excite, such as "fireworks," and you'll get back 10 results that come from Excite crawler-based index. Other information, such as human-compiled directory listings, news articles and multimedia results will only appear if you specifically request them using links at the top of the results page. Doing so will rerun your queries against those search offerings, described further below.
The only exception to this is if you search for something popular or which falls into a category where Excite editors have produced some programmed results. In those cases, a "Quick Results" box appears to the left of the search results. It has links to related information within the Excite portal. For examples, try "vw bug," "britney spears" or use another example from the Targeted Results article, below.
Excite also says it has upgraded its use of link analysis to improve the quality of its results. Previously, Excite gave pages a boost depending on how many links were pointing at them, with no attempt to measure the quality of those links. Now, sites that have some degree of authority, as measured by the number of links pointing at them, are able to transmit this authority to other sites. In other words, a few links from high quality sites may factor in more highly than many links from ordinary web sites.
Aside from web searching, Excite offers four other major search options. Let's take them in turn by first stopping at the new Excite Precision Search home page. To reach it, click on the "More" link that appears below the search box, on the Excite home page. By default, the page will be set to do web searching. Click on "Category Search," and you can search for matching categories or web sites that come out of Excite's directory, which is primarily powered by LookSmart. Some listings remain from the days when Excite assembled the directory itself. Other than that, except for adult listings, Excite's directory is essentially LookSmart. Unfortunately, no option to browse the directory is presented. Instead, you'll need to go back to the Excite home page itself, then follow links in the "Explore Excite" box. Directory categories will appear on the right side of the screen.
"News Search" allows you to search for "Web News" articles from over 350 news sites, which are checked several times per day. The "Newswires" option lets you check against a much smaller group of wire services, such as the Associated Press and Reuters, while "News Photos" brings back news images from those two wire services. Unfortunately, Excite fails to notify you about its helpful NewsTracker service, from the News Search home page. That's a shame. The NewsTracker clipping service is one of Excite's biggest strengths, yet people I talk with never seem to have found it. You should definitely try it (see link below), and I only wish Excite would add an option to have finds emailed to you and fix the "Learn What I Like" option, which doesn't seem to learn anything, anymore.
"Photo Search" runs a query against pictures from Excite's "Webshots" web site, in particular against the WebShots Community collection, which allows people to contribute photos to other Webshot members. It sounds great -- Excite touts this as giving searchers access to over 750,000 "free" photos. But how "free" are these photos? According to the Webshots Terms and Conditions, members give Excite the right to distribute their photos to other members, when they contribute them. As for what rights Excite then grants you, they seem to be restricted to sending photos as email greeting cards or to download for use in the Webshots screen saver.
As for "Audio/Video Search," it checks for matching multimedia files that Excite has found across the web, such as AVI and MP3 files. Excite says it has between 500,000 and 1 million files indexed.
Other searches and assistance can also be found on the Precision Search home page. There are 25 different search tips that rotate on the page. Popular searches spotted by Excite editors are spotlighted along the left hand side of the screen, while specialty searches such as Maps and TV Shows are also itemized on this page.
Excite Add URL Page
Excite Search Index Add URL Page
AltaVista Launches New Search Site
The Search Engine Report, May 3, 2000
More about AltaVista going for the pure search market with its Raging Search site.
Counting Clicks and Looking at Links
The Search Engine Report, Aug. 4, 1998
An older article that nonetheless still covers the basics behind link analysis, including the notion that some sites have more authority than others.
Targeted Categories At Excite
The Search Engine Report, April 5, 1999
An older article that still provides current examples of how to see Quick Results appear at Excite.
Excite NewsTracker
Excite's news clipping service, a long-time favorite of mine, can be found here.
Moreover: News Lover's Delight
The Search Engine Report, June 2, 2000
If you are searching for news, you'll also want to try Moreover. More about the service.
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Lycos Partners More Closely With FAST
Lycos has finally committed to using FAST Search's results to power the "Web Sites" section of its search results. Over the past two months, Lycos experimented with using results from its own crawler, from Inktomi and from FAST Search in this section. Now, FAST Search, in which Lycos has a significant investment, has been given the nod. The change does not impact Inktomi's deal to power results at Lycos-owned HotBot.
"We'll continue to use both Inktomi and FAST," said Mark Stoever, Vice President of Emerging Destinations at Lycos. In particular, Stoever explained that using different vendors helps distinguish the Lycos.com and HotBot.com sites from each other, thus broadening the Lycos Network's appeal to different audiences.
Significantly, the move makes Lycos the first major search engine to switch from using its own in house web search technology to outsourcing. Lycos started life at Carnegie Mellon University in May 1994 as a crawler-based search engine, using its own spidering system to retrieve pages from across the web. As the Lycos site developed, additional sources of search data were added. However, results from the Lycos spider always were maintained as the dominant information presented.
Then, in April 1999, a landmark move came when the main results began coming from the Lycos version of the Open Directory. The Lycos crawler was retained primarily to serve secondary results, for when Open Directory information was not available. Now, this role has been outsourced to FAST, pretty much taking Lycos out of the do-it-yourself search business, at least on its US site.
The Lycos spider isn't dead. Lycos is retaining it to build specialty collections of content, which will appear in the Lycos results as explained further below. However, the bulk of the burden for providing general web search results now falls to the Open Directory and FAST and to some degree, Direct Hit.
Do a search at Lycos, and the results will start out with a "Popular" section. This is either content from within the Lycos network that editors have selected as relevant to a particular search, or Direct Hit kicks in to provide answers when there is no editor data. You'll know Direct Hit information is being used if the Direct Hit logo appears at the bottom of the search results page. For some very popular queries, Lycos also pops up links in this section to other types of searching you can do with the Lycos network, such as for MP3 files, pictures or homepages. Try a search for "britney spears" to see an example of this.
In the "Web Sites" section, information will come from the Lycos version of the Open Directory, FAST or from the Lycos crawler. From the Open Directory, you might get categories links. (for example, search for "cars," and "Recreation > Models > Scale > Cars" comes up). Click on the category, and you'll see a list of sites for that topic. Additionally, individual sites from the Open Directory might appear in the Web Sites area. These are easy to identify, because they have a link to their "home" category under their listings.
The freshness of the Open Directory information should improve over the next few weeks, as Lycos brings on board a new system. HotBot should be completely in sync with the Open Directory this week, then be updated each week, going forward. The same should happen at Lycos around the end of this month.
If you don't see a category link, then the information is probably coming from FAST Search. You'll certainly see a FAST logo at the bottom of the results page, if any of its information has been used. However, the Lycos crawler may also return some results to this section. This is usually (but not always) information from within the Lycos network. So, look at the URL for the pages listed. If you see "lycos.com" in them, then that's probably the Lycos crawler, still at work.
The Lycos crawler is also being used to return some results that appear in the "News Articles" section of the results page, with newsfeeds also being employed.
Outside the US, Lycos is still depending on its own crawler to power search results, such as at Lycos Germany and Lycos UK. Also, several of the European Lycos sites have just been upgraded to make use of new directories, which look to be built by volunteers but which are not based on the Open Directory. I hope to take a longer look at this in the near future.
Lycos says it is tapping into the full FAST index, and FAST says that no page that's listed should be more than about for weeks old, with the goal to cut that to only a week, in the future. Additionally, some pages are already revisited and updated more frequently than others, if they change often -- a few even several times per day, FAST says.
FAST Search
FAST has been a major player in pushing up search engine sizes, being the first to break the 200 million page and then the 300 million page mark. The company aims to full-text index 1 billion unique pages later this year.
FAST Search Add URL Page
FAST Natural Language Search
FAST has invested in a natural language interpretation company called Albert, and this beta site lets you have your queries examined for meaning and applied against the FAST index.
FAST Gets Bigger, Partners With Lycos
The Search Engine Report, Feb. 3, 2000
More about FAST Search and how it has previously been powering advanced searches at Lycos.
Lycos to hand off Net-search business
Boston Globe, June 19, 2000
Another take on the Lycos-FAST deal. I have a comment on this being the first big test for FAST, and the company says they've actually been handling a significant load from Lycos for over a month without trouble.
Terra Firma
Boston Globe, June 26, 2000
Nice background on the pending Terra-Lycos merger.
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Subtle But Helpful Changes At HotBot
Unlike at Lycos.com, Lycos-owned HotBot has no dramatic search provider announcements. HotBot says that it is pleased with its current major providers, Direct Hit and Inktomi, plus says that having a different mix helps the site appeal to a different audience than those using Lycos.com.
In response to popular searches, matches from the Direct Hit database appear under the heading, "WEB RESULTS Top 10 Matches."
"We're pretty happy with Direct Hit," said Kevin Cooke, Director of Engineering at HotBot. "Top ten matches are what [our users" want."
Inktomi results appear when Direct Hit fails to report good matches, or when you go to the second page of HotBot results. To that degree, Inktomi provides HotBot with comprehensive coverage, and Cooke says that HotBot intends to use the larger 500 million page index of the web that Inktomi is now offering its customers.
There have been a number of small changes at HotBot that users may appreciate:
+ You can now uncluster results. Use the "Disable 'Best Page Only' Filter" option on the advance search page to do this, in order to see more than one page per web site in the top results.
+ Due to user demand, HotBot recently introduced more precise count numbers that appear in the non-Direct Hit portions of its results.
+ Users can now search within categories of the HotBot version of the Open Directory.
Also, HotBot has been operating a beta site for several months. The key difference there is that a company called e-Cyc is providing alternative meanings to searches, in the "Refine Your Search" area that appears at the top of HotBot's search results.
For example, search for "chips," and HotBot will provide these suggestions: CHiPs (TV show), french fries, computer chips, chips (snack food). Click on one, and your search will be rerun with words meant to get you pages aimed at that meaning.
On the normal site, Refine Your Search is replaced by the "People Who Did This Search Also Searched For" area at the top of the results, which show you the top queries related to what you may be looking for. A related searches feature appears at Lycos. The results come from in house work that Lycos does to monitor what people click on. The can help it understand if similar sites are selected for different searches, thus helping it determine that a query like travel is related to things like "airlines," "hotels," "vacation" and "cruises."
One goal at the beta site is how to best incorporate the e-Cyc information alongside the existing related searches.
HotBot Beta
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Community Search Blossoms - Part 1
The popularity of the Open Directory has not been lost on new search companies. Several are trying to tap into human power both as a means to locate, reorganize and rate information. Here's a summary of new players looking to leverage communities into better search.
Allows anyone to create "guides" about different topics. A guide is simply a list of links, but Clip2 makes it easy to create link lists or web logs without knowing any HTML. Visitors to the site can search or browse for topics of interest, and relevant guides will be displayed. Visitors can also chose to "subscribe" to guides by adding them to their own Clip2 account. There's even a nice mechanism that allows the guide's owner to send or receive email from their subscribers. Guide builders will find an option to import links off of any page you find, which is somewhat of a concern because it could also make it easy for others to take links off pages you've created. On the other hand, all they can do is import the links and titles, not any descriptions you may have written. An "Add It" tool for your browser also makes it easy to import the link and title of any page you visit. Ideally, the tool would also import the meta description tag from the page, if one was present. Bookmarks or favorites can also be imported. Guides you create can be public, open to anyone, or "private," accessible only to those you allow. To help searchers, public guides are also assigned ratings. All guides begin with a rating of 10, and ratings go up if people discover and make use of information within the guide. Overall, Clip2 is a great place to visit if you've always wanted to build and share a link resource around a particular topic but have lacked the skills to create web pages. It's also a place where searchers may come across great nuggets of information. For instance, be sure to use the Top 100 Guides link from the site's home page. Mixed among too many guides of affiliate links are fun sources of info, such as a the Computer Gaming for Girlz guide, a concise Harry Potter guide and the gruesome yet fascinating celebrity Death List guide.
Like Clip2, Octopus allows anyone to create collections of information around different topics that are called "views." Views are extremely powerful. In addition to links to web pages, a view can contain parts of web pages, images, "informational elements" that pull data such as sports scores into a view, and more. Even entire web pages can be added to a view, which is convenient, but which also raises some issues of legality, somewhat similar to the issue of pages being framed. All this power comes with a price. Octopus is a harder system to get used to, at least initially. However, the price may well be worth paying, especially if you have recurring informational needs. For instance, in just a few minutes, I was able to make a view for several major search companies that contained their names, addresses, company descriptions from Hoover's, one month stock prices, annual financial information and even their logos. All of this was done by dragging and dropping elements. Moreover, I could easily change the view and even export information into a spreadsheet. It sure beats copying and pasting information HTML into a spreadsheet for analysis. Searchers coming to Octopus can perform keyword searches or browse the Octopus directory (click on the Directory button at the top of the page, to do this). As the site has just emerged from beta, the content still hasn't quite developed. For that reason, I think browsing may be the better way to go, rather than searching, which may not come up with good hits. When entering a category, you'll discover both "Octopus Views," created by the Octopus staff, and "User Views" that are created and shared by Octopus users. User views are ranked in order of how popular they are (meaning how many unique visitors at Octopus view them each day). For a good introduction to the power of Octopus, visit the site's home page and try on of the Top 5 User Views listed at the bottom left-hand corner of the page. Overall, if you are an informational professional, Octopus is a must visit, especially if you deal with company information. Do note that the painless installation of a small, 15K Java applet is required.
Cherry-Picking The Web
The Standard, April 17, 2000
More background on Octopus and other "metabrowse" sites.
There are several bookmark-based search engines now, such as HotLinks.com. Quiver also uses bookmarks to power its directory product, but the company isn't aiming its service at consumers. Instead, Quiver's hopes that vertical portals will chose its technology to create targeted directories. For instance, a tennis web site might get bookmarks from its visitors and thus have a bookmark-based tennis directory that might be especially relevant to its users. As a demonstration of its technology, you can also search at the Quiver site (from the home page, click on the Quiver Technology Preview image). Unfortunately, there's no web-based system that allows you to contribute. Instead, you have to download the 1 MB Qbar applet. The applet also keeps track of browsing behavior (anonymously, the company says), in order to refine Quiver's results.
In Part 2, next month, I'll take a longer look at the sites below. In the meantime, here's a quick overview of them:
Adding and rating sites is a snap -- and I've had some reports from webmasters that it can be a traffic booster, as well.
Money is a prime motivator here. Become a member and get paid for participating, as you also do if your site or people you know send traffic to HotRate. Upon my quick initial review, I found the listings surprisingly good, editors that appear very dedicated and lots of help information. Non-categorized results come from Google.
In beta for the past two months, Wherewithall also offers money to its editors. Unlike HotRate, the difference is that earnings are tied to maintaining a good category, rather than any actions throughout the site. Data comes initially from the Open Directory Project, but Wherewithall editors can build out categories independently of the ODP. Wherewithall has also made provisions so that existing ODP editors can continue to work in both systems at the same time. If you are an editor, you might get over there now and claim your category, if this site sounds of interest to you. For the time being, ODP editors have the priority.
In preview mode, the community submits and rates sites. There's also an altruistic monetary incentive. Your activities can help raise money for charity. Non-categorized results come from Google.
Life After the Open Directory Project
Traffick, June 1, 2000
Former ODP editor David Prenatt found one day that he could no longer log in to perform his editing work. He soon realized that he had been expelled from the project. Far from a rant, Prenatt eloquently chronicles his ouster and illuminates aspects of the Open Directory with detachment. Prenatt describes a rather fearsome world where speaking up equals being attacked and highlights a backdoor allowing some large content providers like Rolling Stone and AOL easy edit control over their listings. This is obviously one side of the story, and any community has its problems. Nevertheless, it highlight problems volunteer directories may encounter.
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
New Sites In Search Links
Somehow, I managed to work my way through the nearly 300 submissions that had come into the Search Links area of Search Engine Watch. After killing about half that were no way search engines, and viewing way to many metacrawlers to count, I added about 100 new search engines. Here are a few notable ones you may wish to check out:
Inktomi-powered search engine that attempts to filter out adult content, web sites promoting hate, and possibly offensive material. Also accepts paid listings at the top of its results. Directory listings are created automatically using Inktomi's classification technology.
Web sites are organized into categories, then ranked in each category by how popular they are. Popularity is determined by online ratings service PC Data Online.
Spanish metacrawler that searches on the more popular search engines. It also has a database of questions and answers that aid the user when searching, similar to Ask Jeeves. Motor de busqueda que busca tu consulta en los buscadores mas populares en espanol.
Great service that lets you search through the audio files of popular US radio programs. Enter a subject, and you'll be shown matching programs and even be taken to the exact points in the shows where the subject is being discussed.
Directory of search engines, written in French.
Tell Somewherenear what type of business you want, such as a pub or cinema, then tell it your location, and the search engine will return matching businesses. If you have a WAP phone, there's a special version that's perfect for locating businesses while on the move. Locations are limited to Great Britain, for the moment.
R U Sure
Software-based comparison shopping search utility that has garnered good reviews.
Enter a question, and within a few minutes, a human being will respond with an answer via this web site.
Directory of free "web apps" or programs that run within your browser, such as calculators or games. Also lists Application Service Providers (ASPs) that produce fee-based web apps.
Finance search engine that indexes over 1.4 million financial Web pages. In addition to spidered results, there is a human-compiled directory.
Search or browse for more search engines and sites about search engines.
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
LookSmart Ends Pricing Tests
LookSmart did a last round of price testing for its express submission service last week, including raising the price from $199 to $299. However, anyone who paid the higher amount was in reality only supposed to be charged the "normal" price, the company says. LookSmart said there would be no more price tests after last Friday, and final submission pricing should be set this month. Currently, the express service is back to the regular $199 fee, but the free submit option still bars non-commercials sites from using it. I don't think this has been made a formal change, but I'll let you know in the next newsletter.
Free Listings Gone At LookSmart
The Search Engine Report, June 2, 2000
Explains how LookSmart has been experimenting with different submission systems.
Fact Search Engines Available
Rather than crawling the web or depending on humans, xrefer is powered by encyclopedias, dictionaries, books of quotations and other reference works. It's designed to help you locate facts backed by trusted publishers such as Penguin and Oxford University Press.
Fact City
Like xrefer, Fact City's goal is to deliver authoritative facts, rather than links to web pages. Unlike xrefer, the company's model is to provide services to portals, rather than run its own search site. Current live partners are sport sites FOXSports.com and ESPN.com. Use the "Try It" link from the FactCity home page to try the service in action at these sites.
Vortal Services Now Offered
In April, I wrote about how a number of new players were entering the vertical portal market, offering the ability for site owners to create specialty search engines that encompass sites related to a particular topic. Now two of those players have released their products, which were previously pending. The players, then a link to my earlier article, for those who may have missed it:
Sandy Bay Networks
"BetterGetter" has been renamed the Results Engine. You can have a specialty search engine of up to 20,000 pages for free, while Sandy Bay plans to recoup its costs by selling advertising within the results that it delivers. The tools for webmasters to control and manage listings look impressive. There's currently no signup form for the service. If you are interested, use the small "Contact Us" link at the bottom right-hand corner of the home page to send email to sales or to call the company.
Searchbutton Community Search
Searchbutton's vertical portal product is now available to customers. Get in contact using this page. Unlike Sandy Bay, you pay for the service, with pricing beginning at $100 per month. However, there are no page count restrictions and presumably no Searchbutton ads on your pages.
The Vortals Are Coming! The Vortals Are Coming!
The Search Engine Report, April 4, 2000
The earlier article I wrote about vertical search engines, with more players mentioned.
On The Radar Screen
Below are new search tools that I may be looking at in more depth, in the future.
Personalized search service, where your actions and member profile influence the type of results you receive.
Alexa/FlySwat like browsing companion that suggests content from its partners that is related to what you are viewing.
A longer and more detailed version of this newsletter is available to Search Engine Watch
Search Engine Articles
The Search Engine as Cyborg
New York Times, June 29, 2000
A comprehensive look at how humans have entered the mix to help improve search results.
RealNames cuts staff amid financial changes
News.com, June 28, 2000
New management trims costs at RealNames by cutting 20 percent of its staff.
Are search engines dead?
WDVL, June 26, 2000
A look at the RDF meta data structure and how search engines aren't using it. Why not? Experience has taught them that meta data often cannot be trusted.
Search Engines Are Dead Discussion
The Search Engine Report, Dec. 4, 1997
The WDVL article takes its title from a discussion back in 1997 about search engines as promotional tools. This article summarizes that discussion, much of which could still happen today, plus it links to the actual posts.
The New Meta Tags Are Coming -- Or Are They?
The Search Engine Report, Dec. 4, 1997
Older but still relevant article I did on RDF that explains why search engines aren't that excited about it.
A Promotional Strategy That Wont Break the Bank
ClickZ, June 23, 2000
Good overview to inexpensive ways of gaining publicity for your web site.
Is Linking Illegal?
New York Times, June 16, 2000
Looks at a new case where linking to illegal material itself might be ruled illegal.
Web links that stick
BBC, June 14, 2000
The average page contains 52 links, and the over 10 percent of the links on the web are broken, according to a company that's developing a link monitoring service.
4anything.com slashes staff, obtains additional financing
Philadelphia Inquirer, June 13, 2000
Directory 4anything.com cuts its staff by 30 percent and may focus efforts more tightly in some areas, such as shopping.
Content Matters Most In Search-Engine Placement
Information Week, June 12, 2000
Nice overview of search engine placement issues.
'Invisible' web code infringes trademark
BBC, June 8, 2000
A company that used the trademark of its competitor within its meta tags loses in a UK court.
Gale Full-Text Content Free on LookSmart? Well, Some of It
Searcher, June 5, 2000
In May, it was announced that LookSmart would begin publishing content from magazines and periodicals on the web that is not currently free. Barbara Quint provides an excellent look at how this will be implemented.
At New Breed Of Vertical Search Engines, The Results Are Coming Fast and Few
SatireWire, June 2000
Perhaps a vertical search engine can be too specialized. This piece pokes fun at the concept.
Local search engines motor past foreign competitors
Korea Herald, May 31, 2000
Summarizes top search engines in Korea, based on a satisfaction survey, with also a look at page view and traffic numbers.
CNET's Ultimate Guide to Search
CNET, May 31, 2000
Comprehensive review from CNET on top search engines, meta search engines, topical search sites, tips and more. Of the search engines tested, Google came out tops for relevancy and tied with Yahoo for tops overall. However, Inktomi gets blamed for the lack of matches at Yahoo yet doesn't get credited for helping MSN Search do well. Inktomi's not to blame in the case. Rather, it's Yahoo's choice not to dig deeply into Inktomi's listings.
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text:
SAN FRANCISCO — University of California officials on Thursday proposed a long-term budget plan that could lead to steep tuition hikes over the next four years if the state doesn't boost funding to the 10-campus system.
School administrators presented the multiyear budget proposal at the UC Board of Regents, which is seeking to address a looming $2.5 billion budget shortfall driven by rising costs and shrinking state support. The regents discussed the plan but didn't take any action.
University officials said the plan would provide financial stability to campuses, allow families to plan for college tuition bills and help the system secure a long-term funding commitment from the governor and state Legislature.
"We must try to reach an agreement with the state of California that will allow us to plan enrollment growth and tuition rates and capital improvements over the course of years," UC President Mark Yudof told the regents.
Under the plan, UC would raise tuition by as much as 16 percent each year if the state doesn't increase funding to the UC system, which has about 412,000 undergraduate and graduate students.


text:
Try the new eurocarparts.com site today
Car Parts
Performance & Styling
Engine Oil
Winter Essentials
Black Friday
Please wait a short moment whilstwe retrieve your vehicle...
Thank you...
Home > All Manufacturers > Subaru Parts > Subaru Radiator
Your Subaru Radiator is a major component which helps the car engine to function efficiently. A car engine generates an enormous amount of heat, so if the engine block gets too hot the pistons will generate excessive friction and run the risk of snapping and seizing the engine. In order to keep the car engine temperature to manageable levels, water and anti freeze are passed through the engine absorbing heat and taking it to the car radiator where it is dissipated. Leaking or damaged Subaru car radiators can easily spell disaster for your engine.


text:
Kenneth Smith
RUSTON - After helping lead Louisiana Tech to a share of the Conference USA regular season championship in its first year in the league, junior guard Kenneth Smith and sophomore guard Alex Hamilton were selected to the all-conference teams by the league head coaches and media members.
Smith earned first-team all-conference honors while Hamilton earned third-team all-conference honors.
This marked the second consecutive year Smith has been a member of the first team all-conference. Last season, he was selected to the first team All-Western Athletic Conference. ...


text:
Middle School Program ("GOLD")
FLY's Middle School Program, known as Goal Oriented Leadership Development ("GOLD") serves 1,000 7th and 8th grade youth in under-resourced communities with higher rates of crime and school drop-out. FLY's GOLD program grew out of recommendations from our probation youth who noted that "trouble started when we were younger." FLY adapted its 12-week Law Program curriculum and Leadership Program to address issues facing younger youth.
GOLD has 3 key components:
- Law Course: 5-day course, typically offered during the regular school hours in a social studies or health class. Using a curriculum adapted from our comprehensive 12-week law course for probation youth, FLY provides critical information on the consequences of crime and how to use legal knowledge to handle negative peer pressure. Our interactive lessons include role-plays to capture youth interest and build skills in conflict management, problem solving, empathy, and resisting negative peer pressure. And FLY high school aged youth who are on active probation come to a class to share their stories and give advice to middle schoolers on how to resist peer pressure and say no to drugs, alcohol, and crime.
- College Field Trip: After the law course, youth can elect to take a college field trip where they take a campus tour, learn about college admissions, participate in a juvenile justice lesson, and act out a trial in the moot court room. This experience stimulates their interest in education and dispels the myth that no matter where they come from, economically or socially, they can go to college.
- Mentoring: At the end of the above two components FLY works closely with school officials to identify those youth at greatest risk of dropping out of school and into crime. Thirty of these youth are then provided with service in the GOLD Program which helps at-risk youth focus on their academics and change their behavior, such that they can successfully graduate from middle school/8th grade through individual case management.
FLY staff recruit, train, and support mentors who are matched with up to three youth. This unique model allows for FLY staff and mentors to gain insight on student's strengths and assets during individual meetings, as well as an opportunity for youth to practice their life skills and goal setting with their peers in the safety of small group sessions. Mentors also provide homework support, and attend the group activities, workshops, and service learning projects provided by FLY staff. This builds a community of positive pro-social adults and peers, which for youth results in confidence, skills, and an increase in school engagement.
The Middle School Program's Impact
After the law course component, over 90% of consistently report that because of FLY:
- they are less likely to break the law
- knowing about the law gives them more confidence to resist negative peer pressure
- they have access to positive role models
Additionally for those youth in the case management component:
- 100% attended school and continued on into their next grade
- 100% did not get involved with the juvenile justice system
- 90% were not expelled during the program year
- 80% were not suspended during the program year
As one teacher shared recently: "FLY is one program I wish every one of my students could have, it really helps to have someone there for the kids to check up on them and help them be successful in school and life. Without FLY I am not sure that any of these kids would have made it through another year of school."
For more information contact: email@example.com


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>Racing>I did it!
Needs more cowbell!
• Do some dus...and some CX...and some tandem gravel...and some podiums...
• PRs
• 130#s (or less)
Roads were made for journeys...
The Year of the Monkey
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
Great Job!!! Next time, under 30:00, and then it is all downhill from there
Congrats on the time. You are going to be kicking my slow rear soon!!!
congrats!!! great job, you did it!
Abs of Flabs


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Posted on: November 27, 2011 3:39 pm
Edited on: November 27, 2011 3:52 pm
Coaching carousel begins in the Pac-12
Posted by Bryan Fischer
Hot shot commissioner, brand new media deal providing more exposure than ever, facilities upgrades, more money and increased focus on wins.
It's a good time to be a head coach in the Pac-12... except when you're being shown the door.
As the coaching carousel begins in earnest with the end of the regular season, the for-sale signs are popping up all over the West. Thanks in large part to that new media deal, schools are feeling the pressure to win just as much as their counterparts in other parts of the country. The landscape is shifting in college athletics and athletic directors are coming to the realization that they have to find the right guy to lead their program or it's time to make changes.
And if you're an AD even thinking about firing the head coach, you probably should do so. Many have already come to that conclusion and before the Pac-12 puts on the first ever conference title game, there will likely be a third of the league's schools looking at having a new head coach in 2012.
Arizona got a head start on the process and appears to have gotten an A-list head coach for a bargain basement price. Athletic director Greg Byrne is known as one of the sharpest AD's in the country and it showed by shrewdly firing Mike Stoops early in the season following a loss to Oregon State. That allowed him to take his time to research candidates and see who would be the best fit, going so far as to seek out the opinions of the state's high school coaches. Former CBS Sports analyst Rich Rodriguez had taken West Virginia to the cusp of playing for a national title and though he had a rocky time in Ann Arbor, Michigan improved each year he was there. Now he's in Tuscon and while he has another rebuilding job ahead of him, his offense should fit right in out West.
Up the road in Tempe, Arizona State comes open after Dennis Erickson saw the Sun Devils slip from South division locks to barely bowl eligible. Injuries no doubt played a part in 2011's slide but with so many returning starters and upperclassmen on the team, things never did pull together like ASU brass thought it would. For years, this job was thought to be a sleeping giant with access to plenty of talent, decent facilities, a good city to live in and the ability to get plenty of recruits into school. Athletic director Lisa Love will likely target Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin as her first choice (he'll bring plenty of offense and has put Houston a game away from a BCS bowl) but it's possible former Oregon head coach Mike Belloti and even Mike Leach will get an interview.
If Leach's issues (lawsuits against Texas Tech and ESPN, perhaps too open of a personality) don't get him the job with Arizona State, he could be taking his talents to the Palouse. Paul Wulff inherited one of the worst programs in the country - BCS conference or otherwise - and turned Washington State around by steadily improving from year-to-year. They pulled a few upsets this season, including one over ASU that likely shoved Erickson out the door, and came close several other times but it appears they're looking to go in another direction. Leach will have some talent on offense that can utilize his system to put up some big numbers and he knows he can win with the Cougars after seeing Mike Price take them to the Rose Bowl. A West Coast guy, Leach can recruit California with ease and would provide plenty of interest in a program that hasn't had much at all the past couple of years. If he takes a job elsewhere however, AD Bill Moos might have to turn to an assistant coach or a lower-level head coach to fill the needs of a program that seems to be on the right track in a tough division.
Finally there's UCLA, which is probably the most attractive job that will come open west of the Mississippi. One of the few issues is the fact that athletic director Dan Guerrero is himself on shaky ground and may not be making the hire. After Saturday's embarrassing 50-0 loss to crosstown rival USC, it's clear that the gap Rick Neuheisel so recently talked about closing has never been bigger. The Bruins will play in the first ever Pac-12 Championship Game but based on how they played against the Trojans, it looks like they'll just be sacrificial lambs to an Oregon team in the top ten. When - not if - Neuheisel is let go following the game, the direction the school takes in finding his replacement will be an interesting one. Alumni are clearly fed up with the losing and have a prime opportunity to take advantage of local talent with USC entering scholarship reductions for the next three years. The facilities are good and few campuses in the country can compare to what they have in Westwood.
Boise State's Chris Petersen is the name frequently tossed around as the Bruins' top target but they have a better chance of knocking off Oregon and going to the Rose Bowl than they do landing Petersen. Boosters are ready to pony up the cash - as much as $3 million or more - but who's handling the search remains to be seen. After missing with his previous football hires, it's hard to see that being Guerrero. After Petersen, Sumlin seems like the top candidate but they'll have to move quickly. Leach, who went to school at Pepperdine and is well-connected in Los Angeles, still seems like a long shot due to his legal issues but he would certainly put people in the seats at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. Off the radar candidates include Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, SMU's June Jones, Louisville's Charlie Strong and Belloti.
There are plenty of good jobs in the Pac-12 for the taking and someone is going to take them. Who and when remain to be seen.
Category: NCAAF
Tags: Arizona, Arizona State, BCS, Bill Moos, Boise State, Bryan Fischer, Charlie Strong, Chris Petersen, Coaching Changes, Coaching Rumors, Dan Guerrero, Dennis Erickson, Greg Byrne, Houston, June Jones, Kevin Sumlin, Lisa Love, Louisville, Michigan, Mike Belloti, Mike Leach, Mike Price, Mike Stoops, Oregon, Oregon State, Pac-12, Paul Chryst, Paul Wulff, Pepperdine, Rich Neuheisel, rich Rodgriguez, Rose Bowl, SMU, Texas Tech, UCLA, USC, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin


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This week, I saw my neck surgeon for the one year appointment, and he said that my fusion is solid, but he has no idea why I am still in so much pain. Right after my surgery, he told me that when he did my ACDF C5-6, that I had one of the biggest bone spurs compressing the nerve root that he'd ever seen and removed.
My surgeon and regular doctor have no idea why I have the same pain that I had before surgery. I actually think it is worse, but it's been a gradual worsening. My symptoms are:
- sharp pain at the base of my neck, like a pinched nerve feel
- right hand and arm pain and weakness
- neck pain at where the C5-6 site is on the right & back
- migraine headaches that come when I do much & irritate it
The post operation MRI and x-rays do not show any reason for the pain. I do not know what to do next. I'm afraid that it looks like I'm making things up for pain meds, but I'm not!
Does anyone have any idea why the pain is still there?
What should I do?
Thank you, Dee


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The Escapist Blog is a journal on the positive promotion of tabletop, pen-and-paper roleplaying games: dispelling the myths and misconceptions, educating the public about their benefits, encouraging new generations of players, and more. For more information on roleplaying advocacy, visit the Basic Gaming FAQ.
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Lucas at edurealms.com uses Dungeons & Dragons as a metaphor to explain Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, which claims that human beings have several different types of intelligence, rather than one all-encompassing INT score:
So, the analogy here lies in the similarities in an RPG character's abilities or statistics and our own multiple intelligences. To take the analogy to the next level, an RPG character who is a fighter might experience a situation where they are required to fight a band of marauding goblins. The fighter's approach to this situation would be to whip out his sword, charge into battle, and start swinging, achieving victory through brute strength. A character who is a wizard will approach the same encounter quite differently. The wizard would assess the field, and using his keen intellect, begin casting damaging spells at the goblin force while trying very hard to avoid physical contact with the invading force.
Lucas then goes on to pose another metaphor, comparing the varying abilities of D&D characters working together to people using the strengths of their different intelligences as a team.
The funny thing is, many RPGs model this sort of thing in character creation - sure, there's usually one lone Intelligence score, but many rule systems contain advantages that characters can take that include most, if not all, of the eight - linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. So the metaphor applies on a few different levels.
Here's the full article - http://edurealms.com/?tag=multiple-intelligences, and here is more on the theory of multiple intelligences, for those who would like to explore the subject further: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr054.shtml
(Special thanks to Jason Paul McCartan for the links.)
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What is it about the tease that's so hot?
You know what I'm talking about. That tingle you get between your thighs when someone exciting catches your eye, or when you catch his. The lingering looks, the hair toss, the silent communication. That time when your blood heats up and your body awakens as you feel the magic of "what if?"
It's almost … intoxicating.
I used to flirt a lot. Men used to flirt with me. Then I got married. I haven't gained weight or let myself go, but somehow, I've changed. I know it, and they know it. I think it's because the chase is over. The magic of flirting, the heightened awareness that arcs between two people, the building of anticipation… it's gone.
And I don't know exactly when, or how, it disappeared.
The sad thing is, it also seems to have disappeared between my husband and me.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love my husband. Grant is still very attractive in every way, and leaving him has never occurred to me. I'd never cheat on him, either.
Yet, I can't deny that a certain restlessness has been building in me for some time.
That was the beginning of my story WATCH ME in the Kink anthology, and today I want to talk about beginnings.
For me, starting a new story can be either the easiest thing in the world, or the hardest. There really is no in-between.
When it's easy, it's usually something personal that has randomly occurred to me, and then as I write it a characters voice is born, and from that a story is born. Like the start of WATCH ME. The thoughts about flirting and the energy and anticipation came to me because I'd been working behind the bar that night, and I'd had a few hot guys as customers. They were way young for me, but they'd been huge flirts, and I flirted back because it felt good. I love to flirt, even when I know it's not going to go anywhere, and those thoughts started the above opening, and by the time I was done I had a character. When I started writing it, I had no character, no story in mind, 5 minutes later I had a character (Married woman Bethany) and a story, (she missed flirting with her husband). That beginning was easy, and it fit.
Then there are the times that I think about a story, an idea, or a character, for a while. I toss different ways to start around in my mind, and soon it seems like the more I think about it, the harder it becomes to actually start the story. When that happens I tend to have several (I'm talking a dozen or so) false starts to the story before I actually find one I like.
Beginnings are important for both readers and writers. They are often the hook that draws a reader in and makes them want to read more. And for most writers they set the tone of the whole book.
I know some writers can just start, and not care that the beginning isn't 'just right' because they know they'll go back to fix it in another stage of thier process, but for me, that doesn't work. I just can't get into writing a story when I don't know how it starts. And as frustrating as those false starts can be, I've found a way to make them work for me. They often end up in other parts of the books because they always have information in them that I think is important. It just might not be the right place to start the story.
Whatever works for you, works for you. Don't let anyone else tell you that you're doing it wrong just because you don't do it the same way they do. And don't worry if, like me, different beginning tactics work for different stories. All that matters is that in the end, your beginning works for you, and your story.
I do wonder though, how important readers really feel the opening of a story is. I know myself, as a reader, if I'm not at least intrigued by the first page, I won't bother going further. What about you?


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Rebecca Carter
Co-Founder & Marketing Director
Twitter Thursday: Hybrid Wall Clock From Gent Supply Co.
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1. Summary of the Annals of the Choson Dynasty
2. About the Annals of Last Two Emperors of the Choson Dynasty(Kojong-Sunjong Sillok)
3. Recommended System requirements
4. Setting environment for using the Annals of the Choson Dynasty
5. How to access to articles by calendar
6. How to read an article
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The Annals of the Choson Dynasty(朝鮮王朝實錄) comprise 1,893 books covering 472 years (1392~1863) of the history of the Choson Dynasty, from the reign of King Taejo, the founder, to the end of the reign of King Cheoljong. Thick extensive set of records is considered to deal with the longest period of a single dynasty in the world. For their cultural and historic rarity, the Annals of the Choson Dynasty deserve world cultural preservation as an invaluable documentary heritage.
the Annals of the Choson Dynasty are the authentic records of one dynasty which cover the longest period of time. There are some well-known historical documents compiled for long periods of time. For instance, the Chinese Huangming Shilu(皇明實錄), the Annals of Ming Dynasty, records the 260 years of the reigns of 13 Chinese emperors, and the Chinese Daqing Lizhao Shilu(大淸歷朝實錄), the Annals of the Great Qing Dynasty, covers 296 years. Yet the Annals of the Choson Dynasty are unrivaled in the length of time covered.
the Annals of the Choson Dynasty boast the most extensive works containing the greatest variety of historical facts. Since the Dang Dynasty(唐朝), when China initiated the tradition of compiling annals, Japan and Vietnam followed suit. However, their annals can not stand comparison with the Annals of the Choson Dynasty in quantity and quality as well. The Japanese Sandai Jitsuroku(三代實錄), the Annals of Three Reigns, are a very small collection in comparison. The Vietnamese Great Authentic Annals of Vietnam(大南寔錄), recording the history of the Nguyen Dynasty(阮朝, 1802∼1945), consist of 548 books. The Chinese Huangming Shilu, the Annals of Ming Dynasty(明朝), with 2,964 books surpass in number the 1,893 books of the Annals of the Choson Dynasty, but each volume is thinner and the total number of words is much less. (The Chinese Huangming Shilu have 16 million letters while the Annals of the Choson Dynasty have 64 million letters). The Annals of the Great Qing Dynasty(淸朝) are composed of 4,404 books, ranking them as the world largest historical document in number of volumes, but they consist of the same content written in three different languages, Manchu, Chinese, and Mongolian. Thus their size is deemed to be one third of the total number of volumes. By this account, the Annals of the Choson Dynasty are evidently the world's most outstanding in size, historic value, richness of content, and every other respect.
the contents of these annals are encyclopedic. They include not only general affair of the state but also diplomatic relations among neighboring northeast Asian countries, politics, social system, economy, religion, astronomical and atmospheric phenomena, geography, music, science, military affairs, transportation, and arts, as well as the modus vivendi of all classes from the royal household to the populace. Therefore these are precious historical materials for Koreanologists and other interested people, clarifying the lifestyle of the Choson era.
the Annals of the Choson Dynasty are highly reliable records based on actual historical facts. For their compilation, historiographers directly collected material, wrote drafts, edited them, and published the annals. These historiographers were also professional officials legally guaranteed independence in their record-keeping and the right to keep secrets. They had to participate in and record all of the king's movements and all national affairs to make out the Sacho, or "Draft History". Their daily drafts and the various documents and daily records of the king and government offices became the main sources for the compilation of the annals. When a king died and the coronation of his successor finished, the annals of his reign were started by the Sillokcheong, the Office for Annals Compilation. Nobody was allowed to read the Draft History, not even the king, and any historiographer who disclosed its contents was severely punished. These strict regulations lend great credibility to these records.
the Annals of the Choson Dynasty, printed with movable type, show the sophistication and long tradition of Korean printing. The Choson Dynasty's Annals of the first three reigns, those of Kings Taejo (太祖, 1392∼1398), Jeongjong (定宗, 1399∼1400), and Taejong (太宗, 1401∼1418), were in manuscript form in excellent calligraphy. But since the Annals of King Sejong (世宗, 1418∼1450) annals were printed with movable metal and wooden type, which was unprecedented in the making of annals in Japan and China. Movable-type printing of these massive works required elaborate skill. Tens and thousands of pieces of movable type in different fonts could be produced only by remarkably advanced printing technology. Taking the advanced printing culture of the Goryeo Dynasty, which utilized metal movable type for the first time in the world, the Choson Dynasty strenuously upgraded and molded it into the mass production which enabled this landmark documentary heritage.
the preservation of the vast collection of the annals in almost perfect condition near the end of the Choson era is unparalleled in the world. The annals published for the previous king were made in four copies and stored with one set in Chunchugwan, the Office for Annals Compilation, and one set in each of three archives in deep mountain sites built to avoid unforeseen damage and to ensure that the annals would be transmitted to posterity. This special care under a national system has made it possible today to utilize the cultural and historical heritage of these precious annals.
the Annals of Choson Dynasty are treasured historical, political, and diplomatic materials for research on the relations of Japan, Manchuria, China, and the Ryukyus. They also provide useful information about Korea's modern history, the initial period of the open-door policy advancing to the European nations, America, and other countries. These annals clarify that the Choson Dynasty did not just close its door but sought active diplomatic relationships aiming at brisk political, economic, and cultural exchanges with East Asian countries. Facing the power of european nations in the 17th and 18th centuries, the dynasty initially rejected them but gradually made various approaches to them. So the Annals of the Choson Dynasty possess great value to the world in casting light on Korea's diplomatic relations with East Asian, American, and European countries.
To broaden public access to the annals, the Korean government has supported the project of translating them into Korean from the original classical Chinese. After 26 years of effort, the Korean edition of the annals of the Choson dynasty was completed in 1993. To provide easy public access to the annals themselves and information about them, a CD-ROM version was made in 1995. These have rapidly popularized the Annals of the Choson Dynasty in Korea as well as in the world scholarly community, which indicates their great cultural value. In many respects the Annals of the Choson Dynasty are the finest example of classical historical records in the world, an invaluable documentary heritage.