I couldn’t help but to click through to a post with the title of “How Google Failed Its Users and Gave Birth to an Internet Meme“, but reading the post, I have to say that Mike is way off the mark here. His main point is that when users typed “Facebook login” into Google, they shouldn’t have gotten RWW, but Facebook:

While we mock those users, the simple fact is they haven’t necessarily failed, something failed them. With all of our talk about the semantic Web and search engine optimization and tailoring search results to the individual user, there are thousands upon thousands of users performing the same simple search and following the same wrong road. If this were a standard traffic sign misdirecting this many people, it would have been pulled down long ago. There would have been outraged citizens at town meetings and special reports on the five o’ clock news.

I think the real problem is that people are mistaking Google for the addressbar. This isn’t anything new, we’ve all seen it many times. I’m sure that on big sites like CNN, YouTube, etc one of the most common search terms is their domain itself.

The problem isn’t Google but browsers not making this clear…I know this might seem silly, but here’s a screencast showing the difference…

All silliness aside, and please don’t think I’m talking down to anyone, this has been a problem since Google became the default homepage for millions of people. I’ve seen it over and over again, people typing [whatever].com into the Google search field instead of the addressbar.

Where did browsers go wrong that they didn’t make this pretty important part of using a browser more clear? And what can be done now? It’s even more confusing now since if you type a term in the addressbar of Chrome and other browsers it fires off a search…

I guess Google really has taken over.

Now if I could only link my real YouTube account to my Google account…

I found out that my video camera can do interval recording! So I set it to record one frame every second. Now when you play it back at 30 frames/second you get the fast forward look.

So I don’t really type that fast, but I wish I did!

You’d think a group of people who know what Occam’s Razor is would actually follow it…

[From xkcd - A Webcomic - I'm An Idiot]

This morning Alex Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks and Premier Gordon Campbell kicked off the seven annual Spirit of 2010 Hockey Tournament, but after Premier Campbell met and chatted with the parents of the young players on the ice, he appears to be looking for a new post-Premier gig:

Looks like he’s trying out to be the next Canucks mascot. What do you think?

Not that I will, I think folks in Victoria have a rather low opinion of pirates, but these videos were sent to me by a friend and should help you if you choose to speak in pirate today:

Oh and don’t forget pirate pickup lines if you happen to be going out tonight.

While I thought this Gnomedex was awesome, I think other folks didn’t.  Chris took some big risks with this year’s conference.  No, I didn’t like all the speakers, but I respect Chris for trying to shake things up a bit.  Like I said, I had a great time and will be back next year.

All the previous said, I think there is some room for humour … so we have Gnomestock from Kosso and from Randy Gnomedexmen.

 If we can’t laugh at ourselves…

 We all know the famous “Who's on first” routine thanks to Toby…

Today's Friday Fun is a techie version of their famous  “Who's On First” routine. To jump-start your weekend here's a bit of humor because sometimes it's good just to laugh.

The scene: Costello calls to buy a computer from Abbot. Source: Diva Marketing Blog – Marketing blogs and corporate social media strategies for innovative companies

Abbott: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
Costello: Yes. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
Abbott: Mac?
Costello: No, the name's Lou.
Abbott: Your computer?
Costello: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
Abbott: Mac?
Costello: I told you, my name's Lou.
Abbott: What about Windows?
Costello: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
Abbott: Do you want a computer with Windows?
Costello: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
Abbott: Wallpaper.
Costello: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
Abbott: Software for Windows?
Costello: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track
expenses and run my business. What do you have?
Abbott: Office.
Costello: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
Abbott: I just did.
Costello: You just did what?
Abbott: Recommend something.
Costello: You recommended something?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: For my office?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
Abbott: Office
Costello: Yes, for my office!
Abbott: I recommend Office with Windows.
Costello: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at
my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
Abbott: Word.
Costello: What word?
Abbott: Word in Office.
Costello: The only word in office is office.
Abbott: The Word in Office for Windows.
Costello: Which word in office for windows?
Abbott: The Word you get when you click the blue “W”.
Costello: I'm going to click your blue “w” if you don't start with some straight
answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track
my money with?
Abbott: Money.
Costello: That's right. What do you have?
Abbott: Money.
Costello: I need money to track my money?
Abbott: It comes bundled with your computer.
Costello: What's bundled with my computer?
Abbott: Money.
Costello: Money comes with my computer?
Abbott: Yes. No extra charge.
Costello: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
Abbott: One copy.
Costello: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
Abbott: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
Costello: They can give you a license to copy money?
Abbott: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
A few days later:
Abbott: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
Costello: How do I turn my computer off?
Abbott: Click on “START”

 I saw on Doc Searls' blog this map (click for large version):

I'm waiting for the t-shirt …

Update: Thanks to Deb Schultz … poster pre-orders are being taken now!

I can't count how many times I've tried to explain what I do.? Let's not even get into the whole "what is a blog" thing.? The "people pay you to write on their websites?"? Well today's Blaugh cartoon just sums it up, doesn't it?

Tags: professional booger, professional blogging, Blaugh

Not surprisingly the "Which Superhero are you?" meme has now turned to the dark side.? Now which super villain are you?? I saw on Jason Calacanis' blog that he's Lex Luthor, I guess it should come as no surprise that I lean towards Dr. Doom.? I don't think I'm that vain, but I suppose as a flip-side to Spidey, it makes sense.

Your results:
You are Dr. Doom

Dr. Doom 72% Lex Luthor 65% Mr. Freeze 65% The Joker 54% Apocalypse 53% Venom 50% Magneto 47% Poison Ivy 46% Dark Phoenix 46% Mystique 42% Green Goblin 42% Juggernaut 38% Two-Face 34% Kingpin 34% Riddler 33% Catwoman 26%

Blessed with smarts and power but burdened by vanity.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Tags: Supervillains

Spiderman.? Of course, like Jason Calacanis (Green Lantern) you probably would have guess which Superhero I would be. Interestingly Michael Arrington is also Green Lantern, Dave Winer is Iron Man (I can see that) and Steve Rubel is Superman (yeah, sure … mild-manered PR blogger by day …).? Hey Robert … which Superhero are you?

I've always had a connection with Peter Parker.? Geeky guy, smart, nice, gets bitten by a radioactive spider and … But then before learning the mantra "with great power comes great responsibility", screws up and that continues to haunt him.

So who are you?

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 85% Superman 70% Iron Man 65% Hulk 60% Batman 50% Green Lantern 50% Supergirl 45% Robin 45% The Flash 45% Catwoman 30% Wonder Woman 25%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz…

Tags: Superhero quiz

Hsien (pronounced "shen") put this Play Library video up on YouTube.? I don't know whether I should laugh or be scared of the doll.? You tell me.

Tags: talking dolls

With all the Web 2.0 terms out there, I'd be surprised if this doesn't happen more often.

Tags: Blaugh, Humour

I wondered where I should post this, and I think here is as good a place as any (the choices, the choices).? Regardless, Zane had a post today that linked to these spoof "employee dismotivation" movies.? They are so serious and absurd, you'll be shaking your head (well before you start laughing), then you might think about past bosses you've had and places you've worked for.

My fav?? How to handle employee complaints (it could be worse, like you could be out of work).? You have to watch to really get it but employees complaining about sharing headsets with other co-workers and headsets that shock you, well yeah … so real, it's funny.

Just remember, just don't do this at home.? Or show to your boss, he might get the wrong idea.

Tags: business humour

And like who hasn't this happened too?

Tags: blaugh, humour, email oops