April 1, 2008

Risk Astley and More April Fools Day Goodness

Happy April Fool's Day everyone, or, as we call it in Israel, Monday! But it does give me the opportunity to be awake (hopefully) before everyone else and report on how the various search engines and websites you generally trust are messing with you today.

YouTube is rickrolling everyone today. If you've never been rickroll'd, buy a computer and exit the safety bunker you've been living in for the past ten years. Go to YouTube today and just try not to get rickroll'ed. LiveJournal is following suite by adding Rick Astley to their Advisory Board. They even gave him an LJ page!

Google is partnering with Richard Branson to create Virgle, which will aim to populate Mars.

WikiAnswers is answering a series of ridiculous questions today, like "Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road?"

Wikipedia may actually be the funniest destination this April Fool's Day, with their entire Main Page dedicated to jokes and nonsense. All the links lead to real articles, but don't take anything else serious today, except for news.

Gmail just added CustomTime, which allows to send (10) emails up to 6 hours earlier. Never be late again (again meaning 10 times). Take advantage of Google's e-flux capacitor, which I'm guessing was developed with Doc Brown.

As more happens, I'll keep you updated.

Posted by Eli Feldblum at 5:36 AM | Permalink

February 13, 2008

Doodle 4 Google: Artsy-Craftsy March Madness

"Doodle 4 Google," a brutal, nationwide UGC competition Google launched today, pits kindergarteners against high school seniors in a Darwinian graphic arts contest to design a Google logo inspired by the question, "What If...?"

Attention professional artists and graphic designers: your kids have a homework assignment for you!

The winning student's (or mom's/dad's) doodle will be shown on Google's homepage (May 22, 2008); U.S. champion "doodler" wins $10,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for his/her elementary school, middle school, or high school. (Can winner switch prizes?)

(Winner's strategy: attend Cooper Union art school in NYC. Tuition is listed at $31,500 per year. But don't tell your parents: Every student gets a full tuition scholarship and is not responsible for tuition-related costs! Pocket the Google cash).

The "Doodle 4 Google" competition, open to U.S. citizens only:

K-12 students (Junior high bullies trounce kindergarteners!) eligible, plus lesson plans to help guide students (if your public school art class wasn't deleted by budget cuts!)

Google has suggested questions, too. (Our helpful questions? In parentheses.)

"What if...I could see into the future?" (Buy or sell Google shares?)

"What if....I could build any kind of invention I wanted?" (Facebook killer or Google killer?)

A panel of independent judges, Google employees and you, the public, will help select the final four. (Googley March Madness!)

Judged on artistic merit, creativity, representation of the theme ... and, in the grand Google tradition, the mystery quality score metric: "other criteria."

Google (mystery judges?) choose the prize winner and spill the beans at Google HQ on May 21, 2008. Teachers: register your class online by going to www.google.com/doodle4google. before March 28.

All entries must be postmarked (???) by April 12, 2008. Postmarked? (Doodle before doing your taxes! And don't mix up the envelopes.)

Click here for more info, details, videos and past doodles.

Image files of past Google doodles are available at:

www.google.com/doodle4google/press.html and broadcast quality video is available at www.thenewsmarket.com/google.

In a statement, the Google said, "The customization of the Google logo started in 1999, and these "doodles" are now designed almost exclusively by Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang, whose work is seen by millions every time he exhibits on the Google homepage. Dennis has creatively depicted worldwide events, anniversaries and holidays with doodles that incorporate the Google logo for the world of users to celebrate."

Posted by Kevin Heisler at 1:28 PM | Permalink

November 27, 2006

The Complete Google Master Plan

Google Operating Systems located and posted the Full Google Master Plan 1.0. Remember about a month and a half ago, the Google Master Plan was erased? Well, according to Google OS, said it was erased because it was getting a bit "crufty." The image was taken by Chris diBona, here it is:

diBona said,

We erased the Google master plan from the lobby whiteboard september 28th, 2006. It was getting kind of crufty. All pictures are released under the CC-ShareAlike-Attribution license.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:28 AM | Permalink

October 23, 2006

SpaceShipOne Replica Lands At GooglePlex

Techcrunch reports that Google has acquired a replica version of SpaceShipOne. The replica is to be housed at building 43 at the GooglePlex. Why did Google do this? I honestly don't know that yet. More pictures and video at Techcrunch.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:59 AM | Permalink

October 11, 2006

Google Master Plan Hacked (OK, Erased)

Several Google offices now have "master plans" written on dry erase boards, but the original one at the Googleplex is probably best known. Googlers and others have added to it over time about things Google might do. Now Robert Scoble reports the board has been erased! "Master Plan 2.0" is apparently being drawn up as we speak.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:46 AM | Permalink

October 4, 2006

Your Name Here On Google's Home Page

Via the New York Times Pogue's Post, Custom Google is a way to get the Google home page showing whatever words you want in place of the Google logo -- but using the Google logo's style. You're supposed to be able to do the same for the Yahoo home page, that that simply takes me to a page of paid links.

You aren't actually changing the Google home page, of course. Instead, you'll go to a customized version on a third party site, such as this example. But it can be a fun way to trick your friends into thinking you've cut some special deal or for making funny screenshots like this:

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 11:20 AM | Permalink

September 28, 2006

Beware: Giant Bug Found On Google Earth

Google Sightseeing reports a huge alien bug being found via Google Maps. Take a look at here or on Google Maps here and you will notice this huge bug about 200+ feet long on German land. Don't worry, it is not some alien from outer-space. It appears that a bug got stuck between the "glass plate and the film during the scanning process."

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:04 AM | Permalink

September 27, 2006

Evil Matt Cutts: Matt's Evil Twin Brother

Spotted via SEO Home, it appears someone launched an alter ego to Matt Cutts's blog at evilmattcutts.com. You got to admit, this is funny. The picture, the reworded blog posts, and the concept. One example blog post is named How to Verify Google Bot, then Kill and cook him. Who owns the site? Well, I know who owns the domain, http://whois.domaintools.com/evilmattcutts.com.

Matt, what happened to your front tooth?

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:41 AM | Permalink

September 7, 2006

Matt Cutts Doll Gets New Clothes

We mentioned in June how there's an online Matt Cutts doll, where you can put some virtual clothing on Google spam fighter Matt Cutts. Good news, Matt fans. The Matt Cutts Doll has gained some new clothing, creator Evan Bailyn tells me. Among other things, you can now put him in a ninja outfit, a Hugh Hefner robe (completely with pipe), a Yahoo shirt (I think that's new) or position him with his cat. No, you still can't put him in a black hat nor switch him from being a briefs to a boxer guy.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:20 AM | Permalink

July 27, 2006

Google The Musical Coming Soon

Philipp Lenssen spots a new musical named Google: The Musical. The musical is being hosted at the Rarig Center on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The dates of the musical include; Friday on August 4th at 5:30 pm, Tuesday on August 8th at 7:00 pm, Thursday on August 10th at 10:00 pm, Friday on August 11th at 8:30 pm, and Sunday on August 13th at 1:00 pm.

What to expect?

Synopsis

Google is taking over the world - one thought at a time. An entirely original darkly-comedic electronic musical. Librarians, DJs and zombies - it's a brave new world. This fable about the dangers of information ubiguity will make you laugh, cry and run home to your Internet.

Some more details at MySpace.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 11:54 AM | Permalink

July 26, 2006

FAA Safety Instructions For The Google Jet

InsideGoogle spotted a funny write up from the Seattle Times called Google founders eager to take users for a ride. I'll quote the piece InsideGoogle quoted:

I’m now required by the Federal Aviation Administration to give the following safety instructions, because our aircraft is in beta and always will be: In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, stock options will drop from the ceiling above you. Please inflate the options until you feel financially secure.

In the event of a sudden loss of propulsion, look under your seat for the blue, red, yellow and green Google parachute. Place the straps around your shoulders, tighten the waist belt, jump out of the aircraft and press the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button on your chest.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 10:27 AM | Permalink

June 26, 2006

Build Your Own Matt Cutts

I reported at the Search Engine Roundtable on a funny little web site that gives you a way to build your own Matt Cutts. To dress up Matt Cutts, go to the Matt Cutts Doll and drag and drop clothing on top of Matt's body. Oh, if you ever wondered if Matt was a briefs or boxers guys, now you know. Too funny.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:21 AM | Permalink

February 10, 2006

Rate Yahoo & MSN Evilness, Too

Remember Evil Or Not? That's the site we wrote about last month that lets you rate how evil (or not) Google is based on current news stories. Growing concern over evilness has allowed the site to grow rapidly into new areas. In addition to rating Google's evilness here, you can now rate Microsoft's evilness here and Yahoo's evilness here.

Once again, Ask Jeeves is in the tricky position of being left out. They aren't considered big enough to warrant evilness measurements. But then again, they're probably relieved that they aren't considered potentially evil enough for such ratings.

Trend charts on evil are available for each company in the upper-right hand corner of their respective sites. Google's actually on a bit of a downswing. C'mon. Someone please mash up Google's stock price with the evil scale. Doing a very rough comparison, I see a bit of a stock price dive during Google's evil spike. But then again, recently both evilness and the stock prices have been falling.

Keep in mind that Evil Or Not does NOT use EvilRank. EvilRank, as it's known around the 'plex, is an internally developed scale that Google uses to determine the potential consequences of its actions.

Keep in mind, it's actually EvilRank Beta. So while some might not agree that EvilRank worked well with the China decision, rest assured that EvilRank may improve over time and better keep Googlers out of evil's way.

If you're curious to know more about EvilRank, Gray Hat News managed to get the scoop on how it works. Details here; photo below:

Interestingly, Yahoo's Jeremy Zawodny shared on his personal blog how this same person recently lectured on evilness at Yahoo:

Jeremy will no doubt protest that he never actually said this person spoke at Yahoo. Jeremy will say he was simply referring to a Yoda versus Darth Vader PowerPoint face-off over at Presentation Zen. But the evidence is clear that Presentation Zen got its photo from someone upset about Darth making the rounds at search companies.

Look closely at the slide. Notice how it says

Search your feelings.

I've bolded the key word, Search. This isn't some funny, made up slide. This is actual evidence of Darth Vader pitching evil to our gatekeepers of the web. Why else would the word "search" be in his presentation?

Everyone will see the proof soon enough. One of these search companies will go with the "Search Your Feelings" in the near future, and now you'll know exactly where it came from.

Finally, with all this attention on being evil, it's worthwhile warning people against trying to buy or sell evilness on the web.

Yes, there are many evilness brokers out there promising to get your EvilRank higher through reciprocal evil trading, such as the dude in black above. But if this is spotted, you could be severely penalized. That's why you should make use of the noevil attribute, to transparently signal that you are buying evil rather than honestly earning evil the hard way.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:14 AM | Permalink

January 17, 2006

See How Evil Google Is On Your Google Personalized Home Page

Gary wrote earlier of a site that lets you rate whether Google is evil or not, based on news items each day. Google Blogoscoped now points to a module for your Google Personalized Home Page where you can keep informed on how Google is doing in the good-versus-evil battle. I've installed the module, where it's now telling me that "On this day, Google was considered 36% evil based on 14 votes."

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:21 AM | Permalink

October 13, 2005

Google's Onsite Dentist Is A Hoax!

It turns out there is no onsite dentist as Google, as we and others reported yesterday. Yeah, you got us! Google Blogoscope's got the official denial from Google over here. Those worried about the dental hygiene of Googlers can relax to know onsite visiting dental service for them is still available.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 5:50 AM | Permalink

October 12, 2005

Google Tooth: Google's Onsite Dentist

If you're going to give your employees free meals, I guess you've got to give them a dentist to take care of the aftermath. I'm not sure if the dental work is free, but via SiliconBeat, you can read more about Google's full-time dentist Dr. Sam Gustard and see pictures of his clinic on his blog, That's The Tooth.

The initial post covers Googlers giving him a "Google Tooth (beta)" logo and why it's cheaper for the company to have a dentist on site than have those employees spending hours going offsite for dental work. Plus, what if you get a toothache during a key product release?

OK, but honestly -- somehow other companies manage to get by with employees making use of personal time to visit a dentist and managing to maintain good enough dental hygiene that an unexpected emergency doesn't stop products from shipping.

Then again, if the money's flowing, who wouldn't want to have a company giving you easy access to a dentist, especially if it's free.

Postscript: Turns out, this is a hoax. More details in Google's Onsite Dentist Is A Hoax!

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 9:24 AM | Permalink

October 10, 2005

Searching (or Not) With Spam Google

Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped fame has a new parody site online today called Spam Google. The site's slogan is, "Just the Noise." If you click the "Our Technology" link on the Spam Google homepage you'll see that Spam Google utilizes Google's well-known pigeon rank technology. (-:

Lenssen writes on his blog:

At the new SpamGoogle.com, youll find nothing but... spam! If youre also tired of web pages not trying to sell you something, endless explanatory stuff from university servers, or blogs without Google ads, this is for you. You can learn the latest about cheap viagra, poker parties, or download just the spyware you need...Best of all, sites in the Spam Google index try to rip you off by being relevant to your search. And isnt that what Google is all about, relevancy?

Those are some very tough and critical words from Phillip towards Google but it goes without saying that spam is not only an issue for Gogole but one for all general-purpose web engines. They also say something about the commercialization of the web in general.

Back in April, Lenssen unveiled another Google site, Google April Fools.

Postscript: For the techies out there, Phillip shared the following with me about how Spam Google works: Internally, Spam Google makes use of the Google API along with PHP5. For every user query, only a certain subset of "spam" sites is being searched through. In other words, what you see on the SERPs is a sub-set of Google results... and a noisy one at that. Also, there's some easter-eggs hidden in the application, some making use of the Yahoo API.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:48 PM | Permalink

August 31, 2005

New Parodies: Google Meets South Park, Plans To Destroy Information & More

A five-fer on the Google parodies front for you today, a sure sign that its the summer holiday period and people have too much time on their hands. Overview? Google falls into the South Park universe, a Google Purge plan to wipe out what can't be indexed, a funny top-five list of real reasons behind Google Talk, a fake, funny TV commercial to pitch Google Maps and building new offices on the beach.

GooglePark: Scoble Goes To Google at the Channel 9 forums has Microsoft blogvangelist Robert Scoble paying a visit to Google done up as a clever episode of the South Park cartoon series. He meets up with Larry and Sergey, who have an unhealthy obsession over information. A trip to Google Moon reveals Alien (as in the movie) sales reps are behind Google's growth, leading Bill Gates to demand that Microsoft develop its own sales aliens.

Spotted via Google Blogoscoped, Google Announces Plan To Destroy All Information It Cant Index over at The Onion covers a new "Google Purge" plan that has Google declaring that the best way to help organize information is to destroy whatever it can't index. "Book burning is just the beginning," said Google co-founder Larry Page, in the parody article. Give it a read.

Meanwhile, spotted via Threadwatch, JupiterResearch analyst Joseph Laszlo's Top 5 Reasons to Launch Google Talk ranges from "Larry and Sergey got tired of yelling across the office at one another" to the hilarious "Wanted yet another communication channel via which to refuse to talk to CNET."

Over at the blog of Google's communications chief David Krane, Google TV Campaign? links to this archived version of a QuickTime file where some male strippers end up at the wrong place -- a pitch that maybe they should have used Google Maps.

Still need more? The Onion's fine, but Gray Hat Search Engine News will keep you going with a steady stream of Google parodies. Check out the Googlers with sand pails building new offices.

A personal plea to the other SE's is also a brief note from the site wishing that the other search engines would do things to be parodied. Hang in there, Gurtie -- I'm sure there will be plenty coming around :)

Feel you must comment or discuss these parodies? Suppress that desire and move on to more productive activities. OK, start a thread over at our Search Engine Watch Forums!

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:40 AM | Permalink

June 30, 2005

The Illustrated Google Master Plan

I've had a laugh when I've seen the marker board "master plan" in one of the lobbies at Google with its copious notes of "do not erase." It covers everything from creating a super portal to low flying aircraft spying on the world. If I remember right, way at the end not shown are some bits about spam detection. I think mind control is on there, also! Andy blogs that a photo of it is now online, so have a look. There is, of course, a real plan as we blogged here. And the next week, there wasn't.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 1:16 PM | Permalink

June 29, 2005

The 10 Google Headlines You Don't Want to Read

Google Blogoscoped has posted a spoof of Google's "Press Center" page containing the "10 Google Headlines You Don't Want to Read." My favorite, "Google Announces Motto Change; Now "Only evil when necessary."

Posted by Gary Price at 8:43 AM | Permalink

May 16, 2005

Latest Google Parodies

Spotted via Google Blogoscoped, Google Content Blocker is a parody of a pretend Google feature that blocks editorial content on pages, leaving only ads. But hey, not just Google ads. Any ads, in order not to be evil.

Meanwhile, spotted via Threadwatch is Marissa (Beta), a fake blog for Google's Marissa Mayer, director of consumer web products. Marissa often gets called out to defend Google if it takes heat for some product features such as Google AutoLink.

We'll see if that lasts longer than the fake blog created for Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin back in 2003 :)

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 3:44 PM | Permalink