MooseNews

Google Doubles Not

Just over 6 months ago, I posted that Google doubled the number of pages that they are searching to 8,058,044,651.

Now, 6 months later, Google is now searching 8,058,044,651.

The same number? I don't think so... but I guess they are more interested in the big increase splash instead of a real update.

Image how much Google would be used if they had not added any additional pages in 6 months?

MSN Toolbar Beta Announced!

The MSN team is announcing the MSN Toolbar Suite Beta.

This will allow you to find just about anything on your computer.

I just installed it and will let you know more soon.

Key features: Windows Desktop, Windows Shell and Outlook interface, Word Wheel (suggest while you type,) extends Web Search,

http://beta.toolbar.msn.com/

Bloggercon Confession

I have a confession to make.

During the Bloggercon weekend, I said something that I wish I could take back. No, it wasn't me yelling "MIC!" when someone would start talking without the microphone (we ALL have to play by the rules <g>.)

No, it was something that has been bugging me since I said it while talking to Robert Scoble before Saturday night's Aggregator dinner.

I gave Scoble a Magic Cube. You know, "The Toy Homeland Security Doesn't Want You To Own!"  When we were talking about it, I said a word that right as I said it I wanted to take back. It bothered me all night. It bothered me the next day. It bothers me whenever I read a blog.

Some blog entries that I read today mentioned the word. Yeah... it is still bothering me 5 days later. I thought I would never say it out loud to someone. I always thought it was stupid. (Note: I am not stupid. I was outsourced!)

By now, if you are still reading, you are probably wondering what the word is.

Is the word "resume"? No. I did not say that word once at Bloggercon.

Note: Yeah, I need a "real" job, however, I do not have a degree so I seem to keep getting put in the other pile.

Is the word "podcast"? No, I did say that a few times and even had a nice talk with Adam Curry on Saturday night about what I like and don't like about "podcasting."

Is it "ISSN"? No, it isn't ISSN although they will not let one of my clients have one since they use Blogger to put out their publication online. (Long story.)

The word is "blogosphere." Yes, that word! I hate it. I think it sounds stupid. I wish I never said it.

So anyone within earshot when I used that term, please accept my apologies and let me buy you a drink next time we meet.

Google Doubles

I am still trying to get back on schedule after BloggerCon :)

Google just announced that they doubled the number of pages that they search from approximately 4 billion to 8,058,044,651 web pages.

Of course, I thought I would google podcasting and here is the result:

Results 1 - 10 of about 387,000 for podcasting.

Yeah, I need a real job so I don't spend so much time doing things like this! :P

Oh, and yes, Google still asks...

Did you mean: broadcasting 

Of course, this expansion was in anticipation of Microsoft releasing MSN Search (which supposedly has 5 billion documents.) Check out the articule in the Seattle PI.

Moose @ BloggerCon

Moose made it! :)

BloggerCon just started! Woo Hoo!

BloggerCon

Had a great time at Ming's last night and met a lot of great people.

Have to run to get to BloggerCon @ Stanford Law School so I will keep this short :)

Hopefuly the WiFi will work at SLS so I should be posting a little bit later.

And while we were sleeping...

Four computers containing the Social Security numbers and other personal information of some Wells Fargo & Co. borrowers were stolen last month in the third such security breach in a year, the San Francisco bank said Tuesday.

Wells Fargo bank spokeswoman Julia Tunis said a "relatively small percentage" of Wells Fargo's 4.9 million mortgage customers and 890,000 student-loan borrowers were affected but declined to be more specific about the number of victims.

Note: 1% = 49,000 mortgage customers and 8,900 student-loan borrowers.

As required by a California law that took effect last year, Wells Fargo notified affected customers in letters sent out last week. Tunis said they lived throughout the nation but were concentrated in the Western and Midwestern states where Wells Fargo has full-service bank branches.

The first incident occurred last November in Concord, Calif., when a burglar stole a laptop computer from the office of a marketing consultant working for Wells Fargo. The laptop contained names, addresses and account and Social Security numbers of thousands of customers who had taken out personal lines of credit.

The second theft took place in the St. Louis suburb of Edmundson in February, when two Wells Fargo Home Mortgage employees stopped at a gas station and convenience store on the way to return a rented Mustang.

"They got out of the car, filled it up, went inside to pay the tab or get some munchies, and left the keys in the car. Someone just came along and stole it," said Edmundson Police Chief Ron Hawkins.

Inside the trunk of the car was another laptop with sensitive information.

Read the full story at the LATimes website. (Note: free registration may be required.)

Registered Finger

The battery cover on my Microsoft wireless mouse broke today.

My first thought was that I am going to have to buy a whole new wireless keyboard/mouse set!

My next thought was that I should at least try to see if I can get a replacement cover, so I visited the Microsoft Hardware site and clicked on support and called the number for replacement parts. After a couple phone menu selections a real person answered the phone, asked me a couple questions, gave me instructions on how to get the replacement part. I was surprised on how fast and easy it was!

But my real reason for writing this entry was that I came across the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader on the Microsoft site. I almost bought an APC fingerprint reader a few weeks ago and I am very interested in the Microsoft offering. Amazon has it on their site but they say it has been discontinued. In reality, it hasn't been released yet, and is expected to be available in November.

No pricing yet on the standalone fingerprint reader, but the keyboard set that has the fingerprint integrated are going for about $90.

Google Saves Life

You probably have heard some of the stories about Google and maybe even read a few on the Google Testimonials page.

Stories like this message from "Ann":

"I just wanted to let you know that Google may well have saved my life. My sons and I were walking home from having eaten out. A half block from my house, I felt this pressure building in my chest. Immediately, I thought, 'heart attack' and ran through how I'd been feeling that the day (I had been nauseated). My first thought was, 'confirm suspicions,' and immediately, upon arriving home, I went to Google and typed in 'heart attack.' I kept thinking, 'you only have minutes...' I found a site that listed symptoms. Indeed, I was having a heart attack. I was at the Albany fire station within minutes. Five baby aspirin later, and a few squirts of nitro and I was in the ambulance on my way to the hospital. The good news is, I have no residual damage. My heart is back to normal. Thank you for providing the Google search engine. I'm sure my recovery was complete because of the speed within which I was able to get help."

But this latest one, if confirmed, really shows how international Google really is...

This story was released today by the Associated Press...

Militants ‘Google’ reporter, then release him
Independent journalist not connected to coalition
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:15 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2004

SYDNEY, Australia - Iraqi militants who kidnapped an Australian reporter in Baghdad and threatened to kill him investigated his work on Google before deciding to release him unharmed, the journalist’s executive producer said Tuesday.

You can read the rest on MSNBC.

Historical Quote

"Microsoft has had competitors in the past. It's a good thing we have museums to document this stuff." - Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Forbes.com, 4 October 2004