Saturday, 31 January 2009
LOWKER FEBRUARI 2009
LOWKER FEBRUARI 2009
Google Toolbar in Firefox: a personalized new tab page
One of the features I'm really excited about is the new tab page. Now, when you open up a new tab, instead of the blank white page you see by default in Firefox, you will instead see small thumbnails of your favorite sites (up to 9), as well as recently-closed and bookmarked pages based on your browser history. You can edit the thumbnails, and all this data remains locally on your browser, which means none of the information about your most viewed sites or recently closed pages will be sent back to Google. If for whatever reason you don't like this updated new tab page, you can always change it back to a blank page or to the website of your choice through either your Toolbar or Firefox settings. Some tab extensions may conflict with this feature, and it currently isn't compatible with Firefox 2, so make sure you check your settings or visit the Google Toolbar help center if you are having any problems.
Next time you want to go to your favorite site more quickly or restore an accidentally closed tab, you don't need to type out the URL. Typing Ctrl + T or double-clicking to the right of your open tabs will open up the new tab page with all your favorite sites right at your finger tips.
In addition, this release now provides the ability for Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking users to access Toolbar 5 with robust right-to-left text support. We've also fixed some of the most reported bugs to give you a faster and more stable experience with this update.
We're always working on improvements and new features to Google Toolbar based on your feedback, so keep those suggestions coming.
Update on 4/1: Yesterday, Firefox Toolbar 5 came out of beta.
Posted by Sergey Ryazanov, Software Engineer, Toolbar Team
Friday, 30 January 2009
A Tropical Tattoo on a Cold Winter's Day
While making a quick pass through Penn Station at lunch, I spotted this sweet tattoo on a guy waiting for his train:
Steph is a student out on Long Island who designs and draws up his tattoos and then has them inked.
The piece featured above was the first one that I spotted on him (he has eight in all), and he was willing to share it here.
Perched on his left bicep, It depicts a tropical setting, with bamboo and a panther, the main element in the tattoo.
This particular design was inked about two years ago by Chris at Tattooing by Richie in Elmont, Long Island.
Previous work from the shop has appeared here.
Thanks to Steph for sharing his self-designed body art with us here on Tattoosday!
Demo Masak - Dekorasi Butter Cream
Informasi buku klik di sini: http://budiboga.blogspot.com/search?q=cara+mudah+mengias+cake+dan+tart
The EMC is the Only EMC
His sole tattoo on his right forearm reads "THE EMC". The EMC refers to his initals, his full name being Eric Manuel Concepcion.
He prefaced his initials with the article "the" so he can set himself apart. It's an manifestation of his individuality.
He wants to have "great significance in life" and has a larger piece in mind to build around this tattoo.
"Only one person can be me," he says, and this exemplifies his conviction that he will be great at being who he is, and that "no one will copy" him.
I've invited Eric to submit more photos as the piece evolves.
The tattoo was inked at Funcity Tattoos in Manhattan. Other work from Funcity has previously appeared here.
Thanks to Eric for sharing his personal tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Renee's Expression of Hope and Joy In Ink: The Presidential Tattoo
By posting the following, I am neither endorsing nor espousing any cultural, political or religious views. The views expressed are those of the owner of this tattoo. I have made small edits to the statement that Renee sent along with her photos, but it remains, for the most part, in tact. My edits are marked by ellipsis (...). This photo and description represent a landmark moment in United States history. So without further ado, let the bars of "Hail to the Tattoo" begin.
Renee from Brooklyn e-mailed me this very new tattoo:
It was inked by Big Steve at Daredevil Tattoo in Manhattan.
Renee offers a lengthy explanation:
Why an Obama Tattoo?"You don't even know if he will be a good President." "Why would you put a politician's name and face on your body?" "You are going to hell for all those tattoos." "Renee, have u lost your mind?" "Are u f*cking serious?" "Woooooow!" "This is on ULTRA!" "That is a bit much!" "That is HOT!" "Are you insane?" "OMG!" "Good shit!" "That's very nice!" "You're a dumb ass!" "How utterly stupid!" "I love you; U rock!"Those are just some of the comments I read and heard. Some from closest friends; others from total strangers, but most were typical responses. I didn't expect a warm welcome to the idea. Yet, I am not second-guessing my decision because one of the precious gifts we have is freedom of choice. Additionally, it's a permanent tattoo so I better grill it up and eat it because it's here until death do us part.However, I ... did not get this tattoo as a dare, as some proclaimed; or as a way to get press coverage for personal gain. Yet, I am thankful for that which I received because all publicity, whether negative or positive, is good publicity and keeps your name in the mix. I dig being in the mix; always have.Unlike many people, I do exactly what I want to do. There are two kinds of people in this world; those who talk the talk and those who demonstrate the talk. Blame my mother, as this burning desire to walk to the beat of my own drum no matter how extreme to some, stems from her blood which runs free within me. Shout out to my mother (who doesn't have any tattoos, in case you are wondering).For the last ten years, I have demonstrated the talk. Moved to New York as I said I would do at age 12, mingled with celebrities, did some broadcast and touched people with thought-provoking topics; wrote articles that changed perceptions and sparked controversy; been in love and failed with great stories to tell; had my name in magazines and even remain a staple on Internet search engines; been on television (Hey Amanda Lewis); was homeless, but flew out of it like a bat out of hell; held down some decent jobs and even got a better job during a...recession...performed twice in Time Square; had lunch with Secretary of State elect, Hillary Rodham Clinton; modeled when people laughed and said I was too short, too tatted; too fat, too boyish, too awkward; can’t walk in heels; too over the top; and this is only a fraction of the accomplishments.Be it right or wrong, I've seized the moment to aspire to great heights despite the whispers from those who thought they knew what was best for me. If I lived my life based on their theories of what is just and unjust, how would I be able to call myself an individual? Along with that I am passionate on a lot of things; one of which is the state of our country....I have eight tattoos, with the President Obama caricature tribute being the ninth. I made the decision to get this tattoo a while ago but never acted on it. I toyed with the idea in my head and dismissed it as something I wouldn't do. When the inauguration came, I got that feeling again. The same feeling I got when Obama won the democratic nomination. The same feeling I got when Obama won the presidential election. It was a feeling of VICTORY!President Obama didn't win alone; WE WON! We, being our ancestors who endured the brunt of slavery; our youth who have witnessed what was once said to be impossible; people everywhere of all shades of pigmentation who believed in the dream of equality and democracy; Rosa Parks who sat down and refused to comply; the joy in my grandmother's voice; and the gleam in the eyes of many. Now that I think of it, I can't remember a time I have been so in awe, so proud to stand up and support a movement; because President Barack Obama is a movement. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it is evident.
From the chants of "Obama" all across Washington, D.C. to they dirt roads of Kenya, people believed! I believe! We believe! And though my mother, father, and sister attended the inauguration, as I watched on a television at my job in New York, my feet stuck in one place, mouth open in amazement; I've never seen anything so beautiful and powerful. Something gripped my soul and hollered, "YES WE DID!"
When we got up...to cast our ballots on Election Day, you could feel the power then. It was in some ways indescribable. I felt like I was voting for family. The interactions with President Obama and his family; Michelle's glow of intelligence and nurturing to her children; the innocence and curiosity of Sasha and Malia...
I was moved; simple and plain. I remained moved and encouraged. Others would agree with me but still say, "Did you really have to get a tattoo?" Yes! Every tattoo I've gotten has meaning and a greater significance. Some people express themselves through conversation, the arts, clothing, etc. I chose to document history by inking it on my arm as a constant reminder that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! Of course I knew this before President Obama was elected but his perseverance and the drive of the American people made it full circle for me. When I think back to my childhood and an incident that occurred in Florida, when my aunt and I went fishing, I know the dream has been fulfilled.We were traveling to the 7 mile bridge that leads to Key West to go fishing. We stopped at a small convenience store because we both needed to go to the bathroom. As a Caucasian man left the single stall bathroom he carried a key and handed it to the older Caucasian woman behind the counter. When my aunt asked to retrieve the key so we could use the restroom, she informed her that they didn’t have a bathroom. When my aunt pointed to where the sign read, "rest room,” the lady then said it was out of order. But we just saw a man leave from it who even said "thank you" upon exiting the store. This was the first time in my life I felt so insecure about my skin color. I never want ANYONE to feel that way. I never want to feel as though I would be denied anything because I am a brown. This happened in 1992, which isn’t that far back, so it shows us that some people still hold on to those discriminatory practices.
Will the world be changed overnight because Obama is in office? No. Will racism end based on his win? No. Will we still endure hardships? Absolutely. Yet, we have made SIGNIFICANT progress thus far, which only lets me know we are able to make so much more. President Obama didn't start the movement; he answered the call of the movement. He answered the call of the dream so that the children I will have someday will really be able to say, "I want to be president," and no one will see it as far-fetched. We are a million steps closer.
He is the first politician who said things I actually felt in my soul. This isn’t some cult or impulsive craze; this is HISTORY. If it’s not something you would do, I understand but in the words of Jay-Z, “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” President Obama is MOTIVATION! And if I am a fool for believing in someone who acknowledges we need change in our schools, economy, government, lifestyles, and so much more but has the power to work for that, than so be it. I'm guilty, standing tall, standing proud, boldly drenched in ink for our 44th President of the United States.
Sho Nuff!
Introducing Measurement Lab
Last year we asked a small group of academics about ways to advance network research and provide users with tools to test their broadband connections. Today Google, the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, the PlanetLab Consortium, and academic researchers are taking the wraps off of Measurement Lab (M-Lab), an open platform that researchers can use to deploy Internet measurement tools.
Researchers are already developing tools that allow users to, among other things, measure the speed of their connection, run diagnostics, and attempt to discern if their ISP is blocking or throttling particular applications. These tools generate and send some data back-and-forth between the user's computer and a server elsewhere on the Internet. Unfortunately, researchers lack widely-distributed servers with ample connectivity. This poses a barrier to the accuracy and scalability of these tools. Researchers also have trouble sharing data with one another.
M-Lab aims to address these problems. Over the course of early 2009, Google will provide researchers with 36 servers in 12 locations in the U.S. and Europe. All data collected via M-Lab will be made publicly available for other researchers to build on. M-Lab is intended to be a truly community-based effort, and we welcome the support of other companies, institutions, researchers, and users that want to provide servers, tools, or other resources that can help the platform flourish.
Today, M-Lab is at the beginning of its development. To start, three tools running on servers near Google's headquarters are available to help users attempt to diagnose common problems that might impair their broadband speed, as well as determine whether BitTorrent is being blocked or throttled by their ISPs. These tools were created by the individual researchers who helped found M-Lab. By running these tools, users will get information about their connection and provide researchers with valuable aggregate data. Like M-Lab itself these tools are still in development, and they will only support a limited number of simultaneous users at this initial stage.
At Google, we care deeply about sustaining the Internet as an open platform for consumer choice and innovation. No matter your views on net neutrality and ISP network management practices, everyone can agree that Internet users deserve to be well-informed about what they're getting when they sign up for broadband, and good data is the bedrock of sound policy. Transparency has always been crucial to the success of the Internet, and, by advancing network research in this area, M-Lab aims to help sustain a healthy, innovative Internet.
You can learn more at the M-Lab website. If you're a researcher who'd like to deploy a tool, or a company or institution that is interested in providing technical resources, we invite you to get involved.
Posted by Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, and Stephen Stuart, Principal Engineer
A Weird Day
I've also waited a week (this is back-dated) to see how it would play out.
Today was a gloomy, sleety, cold New York City day and I decided to go out at lunch, despite the rain.
After an unsuccessful circuit through the Chelsea Whole Foods, I hit the Muhlenberg branch of the New York Public Library and pick up a few CDs (The Black Parade is Dead! by My Chemical Romance, Lost Highway by Bon Jovi, and Rock My World by Bret Michaels) and some books What Is This Thing Called Love by inked poet Kim Addonizio,
Sailor Jerry Collins: American Tattoo Master
and Tattoo Nation: Portraits of Celebrity Body Art.
I head back toward work and stop under the overhang outside of Fashion Institute of Technology to take a break from the freezing rain.
I decide to talk to two students who are talking outside, smoking. I introduce myself and explain the blog and one of them is un-inked and has agreed to participate in the Unin(k)itiated survey. I’m about to talk to ask the first question when a guy comes up to us to ask a question.
Here’s where the abridging of the conversation begins.
Initially, he is looking to get directions to the Apple Store on 5th Avenue. He is visiting from San Francisco and needs to pick up a PC from there. He speaks very fast. He has been a web designer since the early 90’s. He rattles off several websites he has built for various companies. He refers to himself as “Apple Pirate,” and he mentions an Apple tattoo.
My interest is piqued. “You have tattoos?” “Four,” he replies. But he is covered in clothing and is visibly cold in the non-San Francisco weather. I don’t expect him to show me anything. I mention the blog, but he is dismissive. He makes a comment about not having time for websites that are small. I am not offended, though I could take issue with what could be perceived as a sleight. But Tattoosday is still a little baby blog, and I’m a small fish in a big blogospheric ocean, despite the occasional delusion of grandeur.
The conversation is all over the place, with Chris leading most of the discussion. Among the topics: where the nearest bike shop is, how he’s been crashing on the floor at The Hotel Chelsea because he doesn’t have the credit card he used to make the reservation at the W Hotel (he was mugged in Baltimore), the quality of F.I.T. as a school, and why the Baltimore School for the Arts is losing students to F.I.T. Also discussed is the weather, some SF vs. NYC banter, technology, design, and more on tattoos.
We drift back to his ink and he has decided that he will show me one of his pieces. Here is where this starts looking like a normal Tattoosday post. This is the tattoo on Chris’ left elbow:
That’s the Apple Pirate logo.
Chris kept talking and I continued standing with the two F.I.T. students, whose names I never got. My lunch was over and I needed to get back to work. However, both women have my card, and will hopefully contact me so I can finish the story.
They never did. Nor did Martin.
It was a truly bizarre little encounter, one which may still be unfolding in the days and weeks to come.
There was actually more to this post. Chris credited his tattoo to a well-known tattoo artist in another state. The original post discussed this artist, along with his shop, and the fact that I tracked down the artist to verify if this tattoo could be attributed to him. Ultimately, the tattooist has no recollection of the piece or the individual.
Another day in the life of the tattoo blogger!
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Raising data privacy awareness
To mark this special day of awareness, we are supporting an event hosted by the Information Technology Association of America called "Data Privacy Day: Increasing Privacy Awareness and Trust." We'll join U.S. and European government officials and key members of the privacy community on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, to discuss how to increase public awareness about data privacy. This event is a part of our ongoing constructive dialogue with regulators and legislators, consumer and industry groups, and think tanks and privacy advocates to discuss how to protect user information.
Our efforts to raise data privacy awareness extend beyond the public policy arena; we aim to connect directly with our users, too. We're committed to protecting users' online privacy by following the principles of transparency and choice. We're transparent about the data we collect, and we design products that give people control over the information they share. Earlier this year, we revamped our Privacy Center, where we offer information, tips, and videos that explain Google's privacy practices and show people how they can control what data they share. The Privacy Center also includes a link to a series of blog posts about how we use data to improve our products and services for our users. We recently translated the Privacy Center into multiple languages so that we can better serve people all around the world. We're also continuously working on innovative services and features that make information available to people in new ways, but with built-in privacy controls. For example, we introduced privacy-protective face-blurring for Street View earlier this year. And the launch of our browser, Google Chrome, included a feature for surfing the Internet in "incognito mode."
For the coming year, we want to improve our privacy practices even more by engaging in further dialogue with people who use our products and services, offering up easier-to-understand policies, and providing more privacy tools and controls. We hope that you'll take a few minutes on Data Privacy Day to explore our Privacy Center and learn about our commitment to this important issue.
Posted by Peter Fleischer and Jane Horvath, Global Privacy Counsel
More computing, less power
First, efficiency is affected by seasonal weather patterns — cooler weather is better than hot weather, and several of our facilities benefited from that in Q4. Also, we continually review our efficiency metrics so that we notice, for example, that one of our data centers is not performing consistently with others of similar size and locale. So we'll take a closer look at optimizing that facility. Are we using fans to cool spaces that don't need to be cooled? Is the thermostat at the right set-point? Can we reduce the time the chillers need to run while keeping the machines operational? So we apply lessons we've learned from better-performing data centers to other facilities, and several such improvements took place in Q4. For the nitty-gritty technical details, visit our data center efficiency page.
While we've made a lot of progress in data center efficiency, we're still learning. As we continue to explore ways to use the least amount of power to do the most amount of computing, we'll continue to share our data and best practices with you. In early March we will participate in the CeBIT conference where we plan to disclose more details on our sustainability efforts as part of this year's theme of "Green IT." Stay tuned.
Posted by Urs Hölzle, Senior Vice President, Operations
INFORMASI CPNS 2009 2010 SELURUH DEPARTEMEN
INFORMASI CPNS 2009 2010 SELURUH DEPARTEMEN
Five Questions for the Unin(k)itiated: Nate's Hobbesian Dilemma
So begins another chapter of “Five Questions for the Unin(k)itiated.” Today’s installment was better than the premiere one on the previous day.
Name: Nate
Q: Do you have any tattoos?
A: No
Q: Why not?
A: They’re expensive and I can never decide what to get.
Q: So you have considered getting a tattoo?
A: Yes, off and on for about four to five years.
Q: If yes, what would you have inked, where, and why?
A: Hobbes [The comic strip stuffed tiger from Calvin & Hobbes] on my right shoulder. I love Calvin & Hobbes, and Hobbes is the best comic strip character.
Q: If you could be a tattoo on any famous person, what would you be, on whom would you be, and why?
A: I’d be a Hobbes tattoo on Angelina Jolie’s lower back because she’s hot.
On an interesting side note, check out a photo of Angelina Jolie’s back, for real:
She already has a tiger tattoo there! Is it me, or was Nate’s response, uninformed by what Jolie has inked already, incredibly funny, considering?
Thanks to Nate for chatting with us here on Tattoosday!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Membuat Blogroll
Membuat Blogroll atau Kategori blog yang ingin anda masukkan,baik itu dalam suatu posting maupun halaman html khusus untuk sidebar maupun footer,kadang akan memakan banyak tempat jika kategori terlalu panjang/banyak. Di sini saya akan coba membuat contoh blogroll yang dapat menghemat tempat/halaman blog kita. Untuk membuat/menghemat halaman web/blog,kita bisa menggunakan Fungsi scrollbar,dropdown,marquee,dll. Seperti postingan saya sebelumnya,bagaimana membuat text berjalan,fungsi scrollbar,dropdown maupun marquee. Tapi nggak ada salahnya jika saya mengulang memberikan kode-kode tersebut di sini (biar lebih ringkas,he..)
<option># Dropdown # </option> <option value="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com">Contoh 1</option> <option value="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com">Contoh 2</option>
<option value="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com">Contoh 3</option> <option value="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com">Contoh 4</option>
<option value="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com">Contoh 5</option>
</select>
</form>
Hasilnya seperti di bawah ini :
<a href="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com" <a href="http://pelajaran-blog.blogspot.com" Hasilnya akan seperti di bawah ini :
target="_blank">Contoh 3</a> </marquee>
Hasilnya seperti di bawah ini : Anda coba dulu baru tahu hasilnya :) duk ! PR.. Gimana? pilih yang mana? selamat mencoba ya! |
Membuat Menu Drop Down
Untuk membuat menu dropdown,selain membuat situs lebih rapi,juga sambil belajar yuk! <form><select name="menu" Contoh penggunaan kode : <form><select name="menu" Yang hasilnya nanti akan seperti di bawah ini : Sangat Mudah khan? Selamat mencoba ya..!! Baca Juga Yang Ini.. |
Membuat tempat kode script / html
Seperti yang pernah saya posting beberapa waktu yang lalu,hanya kali ini menggunakan kode yang sangat sederhana.seperti saat ingin memposting suatu blog,dan ingin menyampaikan kode kepada pengunjung,biasanya kita mengalami kesulitan. <table border="0"width="361"><tr><td bgcolor="#E0E0E0" Bagian "Kode anda Disini" yang berwarna hijau diatas,untuk area,artikel yang ingin anda posting. Sedangkan,jika anda ingin menyampaikan/memposting suatu kode html/javascript,tetap di area yang berwarna hijau diatas(jika ingin kode berada dalam sebuah tabel), dengan catatan:karakter dari kode yang ingin anda sampaikan,di ubah dalam sebuah notasi.Untuk lebih jelasnya lihat Ilustrasi di bawah ini : Jika saya ingin menuliskan <head> pada artikel saya,maka pada saat memposting saya akan menuliskan sebuah kode :<head> Notasi yang tercetak tebal di atas ( < dan > ),saat posting terpublikasikan,akan tampil menjadi karakter < dan > .Untuk lebih jelasnya soal notasinya anda bisa baca . Sudah jelas khan ? Untuk simbol atau karakter yang lain seperti; $,#,*,dll bisa anda tuliskan seperti biasanya. Baca Juga Yang Ini.. |
Mengatur Warna dan Huruf pada Blog
Untuk para blogger baru, sobat akan menikmati fasilitas baru dari www.blogger.com, yaitu sobat bisa mengatur jenis font (hurup) serta warna font dengan sangat mudah. Di bawah adalah langkah untuk mengatur Fonts And Colors (khusus untuk blogger baru dengan template baru, sedangkan untuk blogger yang memakai template klasik, menu ini tidak disediakan). pengaturan warna background blog. Silahkan klik warna yang ada di sebelah --> pengaturan warna huruf dari posting-an --> pengaturan warna huruf yang di link --> pengaturan --> pengaturan warna huruf deskripsi blog Color --> pengaturan warna kotak yang mengelilingi judul blog, serta garis Color --> pengaturan warna Color --> pengaturan warna Color --> --> pengaturan jenis huruf,berlaku untuk hurup hasil dari posting-an --> pengaturan jenis huruf --> pengaturan jenis huruf Judul blog --> Pengaturan jenis hurup dekripsi blog Font --> mengakhiri pengaturan. Selesai Untuk template-template selain template "minima", pada dasarnya sama aja, hanya saja ada sedikit perbedaan, tapi itu tidak sulit. Untuk mengetahui tulisan mana yang sedang di rubah oleh anda, anda cukup melihat mana yang berubah tulisannya pada preview yang terletak sebelah bawah. Postingan ini 100% saya ambil dari artikel oleh kolom-tutorial.blogspot.com "Mengatur Hurup dan Warna" Kamis, April 19, 2007. All Right Reserved by kolom-tutorial.blogspot.com |
An update from the Project 10^100 team
All of this reviewing and sorting has kept Googlers around the world quite busy. Because of the sheer number of ideas we received, we were unable to compile the list of finalists in time for our January 27 target and will have to push back that announcement to March 17 (St. Patrick's Day). We apologize for the delay and encourage you to return to the site on that date to vote for your favorite ideas. Perhaps the luck of the Irish will be with you and yours, or a similar idea will be a finalist!
Update on 3/16: We will unfortunately have to delay announcing the top ideas for Project 10^100 for a while longer. We've never managed a project like this and it's taken more time than we ever imagined possible. We apologize for our over optimistic assumptions about how quickly we could analyze all the ideas that we've received, and thank everyone for their patience. We'll continue posting updates on Project 10^100 here.
Posted by Andy Berndt, Managing Director, Google Creative Lab
Introducing: The Unin(k)itiated
What’s a tattoo blogger to do?
Or, more specifically, what’s a Northeastern tattoo blogger to do?
Sure, this is a site dedicated to tattoos, but there’s a central character here, as well, which is the city of New York. And whereas there’s a vast array of visible ink from May through September, and occasional sightings in the late Fall and early Spring, December through February are tough times for those of us in colder climates that thrive on the public spotting of a well-crafted, nay, any tattoo.
Just to illustrate my dilemma, since December 24, I have posted 21 items, only 5 of which were tattoos from people I had never met before, and all of them were initially noticed inside a building.
Anticipating this seasonal slow-down, I had been batting around some ideas on how to expand the format of Tattoosday to pique interest during the colder months. One such idea came to fruition today in a segment I will be calling “Five Questions for the Unin(k)itiated.” That is, a series of questions for people who do not have tattoos. And if you think its tough asking strangers about their ink, try asking strangers about their lack thereof.
Astonishingly, the first person I asked was happy to oblige. It was 23 degrees outside when I stopped to talk to a young woman out on Penn Plaza.
So, without further ado, here is the premiere installment of Five Questions for the Unin(k)itiated:
Name: Anna
Q: Do you have any tattoos?
A: No
Q: Why not?
A: I don’t want one.
Q: Have you ever considered getting a tattoo?
A: No
Q: Is there a specific factor that causes you to feel that way? For example, religious, cultural, etc.?
A: It’s a personal preference
[Okay, I’m going to interject something into the discussion here. Right about now, you’re probably thinking, “Gee, Bill, this is kind of boring. Are you sure this is a good idea?” Remember, folks, this was my maiden effort, and this feature may evolve. Plus, one should keep in mind, if Anna did have a tattoo, voila! Instant Tattoosday Post. Just add Curiosity. But I saved the best question for last.]
Q: If you could be a tattoo on any famous person, what would you be, on whom would you be, and why?
A: I’d be on Johnny Depp, because I like him. And I would be a palm tree on his arm, because it represents where I’m from originally, The Phillipines.
Thanks to Anna for humoring me as I questioned her in the frigid January afternoon on Penn Plaza
Do let me know in the Comments section what you think of this piece. Remember, it’s better than nothing!
Monday, 26 January 2009
A look back at spam in 2008
From November's breakthrough "takedown" of a global spam proliferator to the day in April when spam hit an all-time high and the growing threat of link-borne viruses, the Google Enterprise "spam squad" (the team behind the products in our "powered by Postini" family) recaps "The Year in Spam" and provides an outlook for 2009 that might help you understand what to watch out for this year – and how you can keep email threats at bay. Head on over to the Enterprise Blog for more.
Posted by Ellen Petry Leanse, Google Enterprise Team
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Demokrat Ungkit Mega Jual Aset Negara
Demokrat Ungkit Mega Jual Aset Negara
Penumpang KA Tujuan Jogja & Solo Terbanyak
Penumpang KA Tujuan Jogja & Solo Terbanyak
Tokoh Hamas Datang karena Terkesan Maraknya Demo
Tokoh Hamas Datang karena Terkesan Maraknya Demo
Mahasiswa China Tewas Dipenggal di Virginia Tech
Mahasiswa China Tewas Dipenggal di Virginia Tech
Warga China Gelar Pesta Pernikahan Pinguin
Warga China Gelar Pesta Pernikahan Pinguin
How to become a Dummies.com author
Knol is a great place for individuals to share this type of how-to content. (Full disclosure: I am the product's marketing manager :-) Knols are articles written by people who are knowledgeable about specific subjects. Anyone can write one; there are templates to show you how to easily get started. You can embed media to better illustrate a topic, provide information about yourself to build your credibility, and collaborate with others to improve your knol over time.
And now we're offering an opportunity to have your knol featured on Dummies.com.* Simply go to the official contest page, create your own knol about a subject you know well, and the contest judges will select five finalists who will be eligible to have their knols featured on the Dummies.com site. In addition, the best entry overall will be awarded a $1,000 grand prize.
Check out our contest microsite for the Official Rules and more details. Submissions are open through March 23, 2009.
So start racking your brain and show what you know. We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.
* Subject to Official Rules, see site for details.
Posted by Matt Ghering, Product Marketing Manager
Friday, 23 January 2009
The Pope on YouTube
Today we're delighted to announce that the Vatican has launched a dedicated YouTube channel.
To find out more about why the Pope has taken the decision to interact with YouTube on a regular basis, here is a short introduction from Father Federico Lombardi, S.I., Director of Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Centre and the Holy See Press Office.
So, for regular updates on the Pope and the Catholic Church's take on the major problems facing the world today, subscribe to the Vatican on YouTube.
Posted by The YouTube Team
Announcing Google's Employee Option Exchange Program
Here's how the employee option exchange program would work:
- This will be a one-for-one, voluntary exchange. Employees will be able to exchange part or all of an existing option grant for the same number of new options.
- The offer period will begin on January 29, 2009 and end at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 3, 2009, unless Google is required or opts to extend the offer period.
- Based on this expected timeline, employees will be able to exchange their underwater options for new options with a strike price equal to the closing price of our stock on March 2, 2009.
- The new options will have a new vesting schedule that adds 12 months to the original vesting schedule. In addition, new options will vest no sooner than 6 months after the close of the offer period.
- Generally, all Googlers with options are eligible to participate (Eric Schmidt, Sergey Brin, and Larry Page do not hold options) except where precluded by legal and tax issues in certain countries. We are working to address these issues and the final offer documentation will specify any countries in which we are not able to offer the program.
- This option exchange program has been approved by our Board of Directors.
We expect to take a modification charge estimated to be $460 million over the vesting periods of the new options. These vesting periods range from six months to approximately five years. This modification charge will be recorded as additional stock based compensation beginning in the first quarter of 2009. This estimate assumes an exchange price of approximately $300 per share and that all eligible underwater options will be exchanged under this program. As a result, this estimate is subject to change.
If you're interested in learning more about this employee-only stock option exchange, we encourage you to read our related SEC filings when they become available.
The option exchange described in this post has not launched. When the option exchange begins, Google will provide employees with written materials explaining the terms and timing. Eligible optionholders should read these materials carefully when they become available because they will contain important information about the option exchange. When the offer period begins, Google will file these materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of a tender offer statement. You will be able to obtain these written materials and other documents filed by Google with the SEC free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The $300 exchange price provided above is intended as an example only. We expect that the actual modification charge we take as a result of the option exchange will be determined based on the exercise price and number of options exchanged as well as the closing price of our stock on March 2, 2009, unless Google is required or opts to extend the offer period.
Update @ 6:41 PM: Our FAQ on the option exchange program is now available.
Update on 2/5: On February 3, 2009, Google launched the option exchange program. Please note that the dates in this post are no longer valid. Written materials explaining the terms and updated timing of the option exchange are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
Posted by Laszlo Bock, VP, People Operations
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Back to the energy future
So what ever happened to the panels? It turns out that during President Reagan's administration the solar hot water panels were removed from the White House in 1986 and placed in storage. In 1992, Unity College located the panels and transferred them from a General Services Administration warehouse to their campus in Maine. After restoration,16 panels provided their cafeteria with hot water for the next 12 years. In cooperation with Unity College, Google was able to bring one of these panels down to our Washington DC office for display throughout the next year.
At the panels' dedication in 1979, Jimmy Carter stated:
"This dependence on foreign sources of oil is of great concern to all of us. In the year 2000, this solar water heater behind me, which is being dedicated today, will still be here supplying cheap, efficient energy. A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people." (To watch video of the dedication, check out this trailer for a movie about the panels).
As we welcome our new U.S. president to office this week, we wanted to share this piece of this history with you. Google is committed to a clean energy future and we hope that you will join us in supporting the creation and adoption of renewable energy technology — what could still be one of the greatest and most exciting adventures for all of us.
Check out these photos of the panels at Unity College and at Google's Washington DC office.
Posted by Alice Ryan, Green Energy Project Manager
Liz Presents a Cherry Tattoo
This afternoon, passing through Penn Station, I spotted some knuckle tattoos on Liz, who gladly complied with my request to photograph them. Check them out here over on KnuckleTattoos.com.
The drawback of talking to people waiting for the L.I.R.R. is, at some point, their train will flash on the board, and they'll dash off. Cognizant that the departure time of Liz was rapidly approaching, I asked if she had any other tattoos I could feature.
Unfortunately she was bundled up against the cold, and the bulk of her 30-plus tattoos were not easily viewable.
She did present to me, on the left side of her neck, these cherries:
No earth-shattering story here, folks, Liz just likes cherries. She had this inked at Tattoo Mania on Staten Island by an artist named "O'Brien 7," or just "7".
Thanks to Liz for sharing her ink with us here on Tattoosday!
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Explore New York City with Google -- from your home, phone, and in person
[From time to time we invite guests to blog about initiatives of interest, and are very pleased to have Mayor Bloomberg join us here. – Ed.]
This is New York City: the ultimate destination and home to world-class hotels, dining, shopping, arts, entertainment and more.
In partnership with Google, we are launching a new website and Information Center to help make it easier for both visitors and residents to explore all the energy, excitement and diversity of New York City's five boroughs. nycgo.com is the official resource on the web for all there is to see, do and experience in the City. This dynamic site uses Google Maps to help you plan your New York experience and find hotels, restaurants and entertainment, in addition to exclusive citywide savings and promotions. With nycgo.com you can use Google Maps to get directions to attractions throughout the City, and even send the info to your phone with Google Maps for mobile.
While you're in New York, stop by the brand new Official New York City Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets. The Information Center features interactive map tables, powered by the Google Maps API for Flash, that let you navigate venues and attractions as well as create personalized itineraries, which can be printed, emailed or sent to mobile devices. Additionally, there's a gigantic video wall that utilizes Google Earth to display a 3D model of New York City on which you can map out personalized itineraries.
So whether you are a visitor or a resident, we invite you to explore New York City from your home computer, your mobile phone—and of course, in person.
Get started by taking a look at this video:
Search findings from the U.S. presidential inauguration
However, interest in the inauguration was not only confined to the United States. Twelve percent of inauguration-related queries came from outside the United States as thousands worldwide used Google to find ways to watch the event. From Latin America, we received queries like toma de posesion de Barack Obama en vivo (inauguration of Barack Obama live -- Spanish) and posse de Obama (inauguration of Obama -- Portuguese). Similarly in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, people interested in the inauguration searched for amtseinführung (inauguration -- German), inauguratie (inauguration -- Dutch), investidura (inauguration -- Spanish), ברק אובמה (Barack introduction -- Hebrew), اوباما (Obama -- Arabic), and investiture (inauguration -- French). And even though it was very early in their day, users in Asia and Australia were still interested in watching the festivities, with queries like 奥巴马就职典礼直播 (Obama inauguration broadcast -- Chinese) and inauguration timetable.
While President Obama was certainly the central player in today's events, searchers were also interested in the other people who took part in the ceremony. In particular, people wanted more information on the religious leaders who spoke: Dr. Rick Warren, who gave the invocation, and Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, who gave the benediction. Additionally, there was a lot of interest in some of the artists who performed: Aretha Franklin, Elizabeth Alexander, and Yo-Yo Ma. They also sought to know more about Senator Dianne Feinstein, who presided over the ceremony as chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., who swore in President Obama. (Click on the images to see a larger version.)
During the last nine years, the growth of the Internet has changed the way the world seeks information. From President Bush's first inaugural address in 2001 to his second in 2005, the number of inauguration-related searches increased by more than a factor of ten. From 2005 to today's address, the number grew even more. Few of the 2001 queries requested "video," and none requested streaming. By 2005, a few queries such as inauguration audio and streaming video of inauguration appeared. Today, technology has become so prevalant that queries such as YouTube live inauguration, live blogging inauguration, inaugural podcast, and Obama inaugural speech mp3 formed one-third of all inauguration-related queries.
Finally, this graph demonstrates one other interesting search pattern that we saw: the overall query volume of Google searches dropped in the U.S. from the time President Obama took the oath of office until the end of his inaugural speech, demonstrating that all eyes were on today's festivities.
Posted by Jeffrey Oldham, Software Engineer, and Fred Leach, Quantitative Marketing Manager