Remember that trick the Gizmodo kid pulled at CES? Its called TVB Gone. It was a horrible trick but very funny if you were not one of the people that paid for the CES sponsorship.

I wish though someone would invent Cell phone be gone. Lots of rude annoying people in lots of places, can suddenly be silenced with a nifty “cell phone coverage blocker”. Zap the calls into oblivion. Please someone invent this.

The still more ugly side of social networks.

Manheimer said kids get into discussions in the comments sections of
web sites, and engage in everything from vicious threats to what seems
to be innocuous chit-chat.

“The type of profiling they’re
doing of themselves makes them prey to predators and also at odds with
and challenging other gangs,” said Manheimer. “So, we’ll see something
start on the Internet, and actually turn into an assault or a gang
fight that actually results out of Internet profiling.”

In my Facebook news feed today was this. Two of my friends (who BTW have been married for 5 years) were married on Facebook.

This morning’s news that Google’s coming out with local news by zip code created a stir on Techmeme. I thought the Topix blog covered the issue well with a counter point.

Here’s a point that’s worth a thought though. I remember being in the valley trying to raise money in 1997 when Microsoft was invincible. Every startup had to answer the question “but Microsoft can build that”. Now its Google. So – what happened?

The Internet. – Netscape came, and went, but a host of startups including Yahoo and Google rose without having to answer the question “What about Microsoft”? Microsoft became a me-too player on everything related to the Internet.

Now its Google’s turn. Every Web 2.0 and other company is being forced to ask the question “But Google can build that”. Investors (VC’s) are a lot savvier than that now. They know Google’s point of “sheer domination” is the best point when compelling new “groundbreaking shifts happen in the tectonic plates”.

That shift is Mobile. Microsoft’s dominance was killed thanks to the Internet – its an important company no doubt, but not as big a threat as it once was.

Which companies thrived during the gap between Microsoft’s dominance and its irrelevance now? – Those that bet on the Internet.

Same for Mobile – Google does not want to become Microsoft within 2 – 5 years. Which is the main reason for their interest in Mobile. Dont get me wrong – they care about social networks too, but that’s like fighting Microsoft’s “browser” war to the Internet war that Microsoft is still fighting – which is the mobile area.

Its nice when I call something before main stream media picks up on it.

Awesome job by Josh and Jeremiah compiling their twitter social experiment on rating superbowl ads. Worth a full read.

Ever notice that certain cliche’ now make it in imagery also? For example, I am pretty sure that todays 300+ point drop in the Dow will invoke that trader with his hands on the head. There are several sitesfor cliche’s that I came across. Here are my favorite Social Networking cliche’s.

1. Its about the community
2. Make passionate users of your customers
3. Communities are built “one person at a time”
4. The web is the biggest social network
5. Email is the best social network
6. The lines of social networks between business and home are blurring
7. Keep your community always in the know
8. Get inside your community’s head, but go for their hearts
9. Marketing to a community is evil
10. Build a community for the sake of doing good, not profiting from it.

Looking at Yahoo’s numbers and lack of focus yesterday, gives me pause on Google. They are supposed to report tomorrow.

I did 15 searches for the same items on both Google and Yahoo. On 13 of them the same 2 items came on the top. I agree that this is not very scientific but still tells me something:

Google and Yahoo search engines are mostly similar if not the same in terms of results.

If you ask many Search engine optimization experts they will tell you that MOST people click on the top 3 links (non paid ones), that’s why they do heat map analysis.

So, still why do people still use Google as their primary search engine? My guess, feel free to add / challenge:

1. Creatures of habit. When I want to search I just type google.com, Yahoo is out of sight, out of mind.

2. Simpler search interface: No competition here, Google’s simple what are you looking for VS. Yahoo’s NASCAR type front page. Yahoo’s front page distracts me so much I have not been there in 6 months (or more!)

3. Long tail of search words: If you are searching for the top 10,000 words they come up with the same search results, BUT if you are looking for specific stuff, your results on Google are probably more relevant.

4. Integrated into my Mozilla toolbar. Over 50% of the time I use the Ctrl-K keystroke, go directly to the search button on Mozilla.

So why do you think you still use Google?

My friend Ann Handley has started a new personal blog. She writes very eloquently and has kids so you know it comes from the heart.

The best part of the blog is the name – A N N A R C H Y – very apt.

Marc points to this really funny YouTube video from Gabe and Max.