Behind the Scenes of Google Rankings

The New York Times has a mighty interesting inside look at Google’s top search algo engineers, most prominently 39-year old Amit Singhal, and their methodologies. Some highlights:

Users expect more: Amit says search moved from “Give me what I typed” to “Give me what I want.” Users expect more and more these days and take good results for granted... if something they’re looking for is not in the top 3 results, something feels broken.

Read on...Behind the Scenes of Google Rankings

10 Beach Photography Tips

Here in Australia we love to hit the beach.
We’re one big island and most of our population is scattered along the coast line so the beach is a natural place for us to go both on day trips and longer holidays.
Beaches present digital camera owners with a number of wonderful opportunities as they are places of natural beauty, color and interesting light. However they also present a variety of challenges including camera damage, privacy issues and making large open spaces interesting.
10 Beach Photography Tips

Science Podcasts - The Lab

Get caught up in the podcasting frenzy, but in a sciencey way! You can now have the latest ABC Science Online and Radio National science shows to download at your leisure or to have magically delivered when you subscribe via RSS feed.
Science Podcasts - The Lab

Internet Activity, Australia

The Internet Activity Survey (IAS) collects details on aspects of Internet access services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Australia.
This publication contains results from all ISPs operating in Australia with over 10,000 active subscribers as at 31 March 2007. Growth from September 2006 to March 2007 may be due to the movement of subscribers from smaller ISPs.
Internet Activity, Australia

Top 15 Google Street View Sightings

Google’s Street View feature for Google Maps, which enables users to see certain parts of several big US cities through panoramic images, has caused a new trend: StreetSpotting.
Top 15 Google Street View Sightings

The First Digital Image

The first film photo registered by a computer and recreated in pixels—30,976 to be exact. In 1957, Russell Kirsch, a scientist at what is now the National Institute of Standards and Technology, used a drum scanner connected to the SEAC (Standards Electronic Automatic Computer) to scan an image of his three-month-old son Walden.
The First Digital Image (The World Almanac)

Travel Advice for Indonesia

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack. We receive regular reports indicating that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners. If you are in Indonesia, including Bali, and are concerned for your safety you should consider departing.
Travel Advice for Indonesia

31 Of The Worst Predictions

1. “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Read on...
31 Of The Worst Predictions

BitLocker Drive Encryption

Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption is certainly one of the most talked-about features in Windows Vista. However, most people haven’t yet had much opportunity to test BitLocker to find out firsthand
Keys to Protecting Data with BitLocker Drive Encryption

Australian Economic Indicators

A monthly compendium of economic statistics, presenting comprehensive tables, graphs, commentaries, feature articles and technical notes. Primarily a reference document, the publication provides a broad basis for analysis and research on the Australian economy and includes statistics that can be applied to both macro-economic and sectoral analyses. The publication contains statistics under the following headings: national accounts, international accounts, consumption and investment, production, prices, labour force and demography, incomes and labour costs, financial markets, state comparisons and international comparisons.
Australian Economic Indicators, June 2007

The Science of Disgust

The ewww factor. A new study explains why we think some things are icky - and marketers are starting to take heed.
The Science of Disgust

High Stress: Air Traffic Control

High Stress Job !
Air Traffic Control Video

Microsoft Surface Confirmed: Touch-Sensitive

Dubbed "Surface" and five years in the making, Project Milan is set to establish a paradigm of what Microsoft calls "surface computers" which use touch as the sole method of input.
Microsoft Surface Confirmed: Touch-Sensitive

Real-Time Information from ResourceShelf

ResourceShelf is updated daily by an editorial team headed by Gary Price and Shirl Kennedy. Here is a snapshot of some Real Time Information and Webcams such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Eiffel Tower etc.
ResourceShelf » Real-Time Information

Google Maps is spying on my Cat

From Boing Boing...

The new Google Maps zoom feature zooms all the way into my living room window. See cat on cat perch.
I'm all for mapping, but this feature literally gives me the shakes. I feel like I need to close all my curtains now. I'm going to look into whether it's possible for a person to have pictures of their home removed from Google Maps. Meanwhile, I'm happy to show bb readers the photo in the interest of illustrating creepy privacy violations. Heck, the whole world can see him anyway.
Google Maps is spying on my Cat

Spectacular Mammatus Clouds

These photos were taken by Jorn Olsen, he lives on Heartwell Park in Hastings, Nebraska. His website is: http://www.jornolsen.com which you may be interested in looking at. Three of these photos were featured on the front and back cover of the Journal of Meteorology and circulated in 26 countries.
Spectacular Mammatus Clouds over Hastings, Nebraska

You’re Fired!

There are two types of employee. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.
And then there’s the other kind. Read on...
You’re Fired! 20 signs that a pink-slip is coming

Google Maps Street View from outside US

Google is making excessive use of their GeoIP database these days to test new features in a limited area of their choice. Now they decided to only let users from the US use the street view option in Google Maps. If you live in another country, you'd actually have to wait until Google releases the feature worldwide or use a proxy from inside the states.
There's another way to avoid Google's IP filter though:
Google Maps Street View from outside US

Exploring the Windows Vista Firewall

Modern computing environments wildly diverge from ancient times. Everything is connected to the Internet and portable devices are now the standard. Your employer has likely given you a laptop, not because they care about you, but because they care about getting more out of you — they fully expect you to work anytime you’ve got five spare minutes and a Wi-Fi connection. Laptops might cost more than desktops, but that investment is surely repaid in productivity. You see, it’s the portability that makes them so alluring—to you and your adversaries. Read on...
Exploring the Windows Vista Firewall

World Wind Central - Saturn

This World Wind Central addon includes Saturn, Patrick Murris's PlanetaryRings plugin, moons, feature names, and some physical properties of the rings.
Add-on:Saturn - World Wind Central