| Google: Master Of Closing The Loop?
I gave SEO Book's Aaron Wall a big mention for his piece on trust earlier this week, but he's got another post out now that deserves as much attention: Google as the Invisible Hand of the Online Economy. In it, he covers things such as how by being everywhere, Google reinforces things for Google itself. It's not necessarily a new concept, but he freshens it up by looking at some recent moves. Check it out, and I'll share some of my own thoughts below on how Google continues to "close the loop" and establish systems that reinforce its dominance. Could that potentially set it up for an anti-trust move? When AdSense rolled out back in 2003, I felt like Google was making the first solid step toward closing the loop to keep it earning no matter where you go on the web. As I wrote: Ironically, while Google needs to move into contextual ads for business reasons, the entry potentially may hurt the trust many users have that Google will deliver them "unbiased" search results.
Apple and EMI: Music Is the Winner
Announcing the landmark agreement between iTunes and EMI, Steve Jobs said he expected other record labels to follow suit, and he predicted that half of iTunes' 5,000,000-track inventory would be available in unprotected format within a year. That would be an amazing turnaround for an industry that has fanatically resisted selling music that can be easily copied. Be a Rockstar to Your Marketing departmentThese days, IT staffers work to fulfill a lot of requests. Like finding an email marketing solution for your marketing department. Lyris ListManager is the robust, scalable, and easily integrated solution your team needs. Download your free trial version today. .
Men's Tennis Rallies for 4-3 Win at Florida State
25 Florida State 4-3 Sunday afternoon at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center. Marko Miklo (Bratislava, Slovakia) clinched the victory with his 6-7, 7-6, 6-0 win over Sam Chang to conclude the marathon match, which lasted over five hours. With the victory, the Cavaliers improve to 21-3 overall and 9-0 in the ACC. The nine conference victories ties the ACC record for league wins in a season, set by the Cavaliers in 2005 and matched by Virginia, Duke, and Miami last season. Florida State falls to 12-8 overall, 4-5 in the ACC, as they suffered their first home defeat of the season. "Today was a great college tennis match," said Virginia head coach Brian Boland, "Give Florida State a lot of credit. They came out with a lot of energy in doubles, won the point, and carried that momentum into the start of singles.
'Tweens' tap into the Web
For a stuffed bulldog, Calvin has it pretty good. He lives a full, if virtual, life online and has a pad decked out to his tastes, which currently run sort of froggy style, says owner and decorator Jake Reynolds, a 9-year-old from Forest Hill.
Six months ago, the third-grader got sucked into Calvin's world and hasn't left it since. He can't. Once Jake used the secret code that came with his store-bought bulldog to create an online version at Webkinz.com, he committed to feeding and shopping for the pup regularly while interacting with other kids and their virtual pets on the Internet.
"You have to play it mostly every two days or every day, because if you don't, then their health meter goes all the way down and they'll get sick," Jake says matter-of-factly.
CoStar Green Report: Building Green Becomes the New 'Black'
In this issue of the CoStar Green Report, Ernst & Young predicts that green principles will become synonymous with real estate profits; Bank of America introduces reduced rates for green borrowing; Vail looks to build the U.S. first environmentally friendly neighborhood; plus news that IKEA will phase out plastic bags by charging for them, and more news. The New 'Black' Green will become the new black in 2007, predicts Ernst & Young. Green building - once dismissed by major developers as "too expensive" will become almost a necessity as tenants, lenders, residents, and even investors push for sustainability. Nor is green restricted to building. Look for green principles to become synonymous in the real estate industry with solid, cost-efficient operating principles. "If you aren't at least meeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards in new construction, there's an increasing risk - one likely to accelerate in the next five years - that your project may falter," say the authors Katherine Hammack and Rick Sinkuler.
PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - April 4
April 4 (Reuters) - The following were the top stories in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. * Peter Scaturro, the chief executive of U.S. Trust, a private-banking operation being acquired for $3.3 billion by Bank of America Corp. (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research), has decided to quit this summer, dealing a setback to the big bank's ambitious push to become the leader in the lucrative business of managing rich people's money. * General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Ford Motor Co. (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group posted sales declines for March. Toyota Motor Corp.'s (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) unit vehicle sales rose almost 12 percent, making last month the Japanese company's best ever.
Poles who home in on Yorkshire
Much as he loved his small town in the North West of Poland, there were no jobs, no prospects and no money; or not compared with England, anyway. "I came here because it is quite difficult for young people to get a job in the place I come from in Poland," said Bogdan, 25. "Everyone wants to have a family and get a house, but it's very difficult. I got the idea to come to a different country where living is easier. It took me four days to pack up myself and get here." Since then, Bogdan has saved enough money from his job in a factory to invest and start two Polish food shops. He is happy, he says, but misses Poland. When he can afford to, he will return home. .
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