Web Page Authority

I believe that the move by Google to adjust public page ranks for uncertain reasons (that do not appear to be related to actually "authority") that a market opportunity has been created. I think it would be a great move to create a Page Authority rank along the lines of the authority of pages pointing to a page. Page Rank is often overstated in importance but it is an interesting figure to see. Since the Google one now seems to be inaccurate (for the way most people want to use it) a market exists for someone willing to provide such a rank. Lets just take ove very obvious example - the home page of the Washington Post has a pagerank of 5. My management improvement blog has a page rank of 5. That is obviously totally misleading, the Post has much more authority - even if all you do is use the linking behavior on the web.

The task would require some smart programming and a fair amount of computing power but I think is within the power of many people. I wish I were one of them, I would do it.

Related: Google Pagerank Update - Innovation and Google

Get Your Hands Off the Web

Get Your Hands Off the Web

A bit over a year ago, I wrote a column arguing that innovation on the Internet would be best served if the government mostly kept its hands off. I've changed my mind. The behavior of the top telecommunications companies, especially Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T (T), has convinced me that more government involvement is needed to keep communications free of corporate interference.
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Until a recent change in the terms of its broadband service—again in response to a public flap—AT&T claimed the right to terminate the connection of customers for "conduct that…tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T." Verizon retains similar language in its terms of service.
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The hands-off approach hasn't served consumers well. And the Web is far too important to entrust the free flow of information to the shifting whims of a few big companies. Government must step in and tell them to leave our content alone.

He is right. Internet bandwidth is a utility like electricity and water. It is too bad our politicians are so poorly informed they don't understand capitalism. Actual capitalists understand that the government is suppose to regulate monopolies to maximize the benefit to society. Instead politicians vote to allow monopolies to tax users for the private gains of the companies (that give huge amounts of cash to those politicians).

Related: Net Neutrality - This is serious - Lobbyists Keep Tax Off Billion Dollar Private Equities Deals - Estate Tax Repeal

The Sad State of Cell Phone Service

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Consumer Switching Costs in the U.S. Marketplace for Wireless Telephone Service - a report fron AARP:

In 2004, 2005 and 2006, cell phone service was the most complained about industry in the United States.
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Each of the national wireless carriers has mostly or completely ignored repeated FCC requests to submit network coverage maps and other information about their quality of service and service availability.

They list sensible policy recommendations that politicians undoubtably would pass if not for huge payments they receive to allow continued bad practices.

Related: More Bad Customer Service Examples :-( - Telephone Savings - Poor AT&T "customer service" - Standard Prepaid Cell Phone Policy - Companies in Need of Customer Focus

Ubuntu 7.1

I upgraded to Ubuntu 7.1 today. It went very well. It was a large download but otherwise no problems at all. Simple download, upgraded Ubuntu and lots of supported applications. And it removed some no longer supported applications. It is a wonderful free operating system based on Linux for the desktop and very good for non-IT geeks. It automatically notifies you of updates and installs the updates with no need to reboot most of the time. Also it is Linux based and therefore very secure.

I did have one problem with Ubuntu last week. I could not download the photos from my digital camera. I tried various thing but couldn't figure it out. My friend was able to figure out there was a limitation in the software I was using that failed with over something like 1,000 photos (I had 1,085 photos from my trip). We tried another photos software but it failed too. I was able to delete some (that I got off the camera using a Windows computer at work) and then it worked fine.

Code Monkey

Code Monkey mp3 by Jonathan Coulton

Code Monkey get up get coffee
Code Monkey go to job
have boring meeting with boring manager Rob
Rob say Code Monkey very diligent
but his output stink
his code not functional or elegant
what do Code Monkey think
Code Monkey think maybe manager oughta write goddamn login page himself
Code Monkey not say it out loud
Code Monkey not crazy just proud
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Related: CD Baby

Take A Tour of ProBlogger HQ

Take A Tour of ProBlogger HQ - nice video showing Darren Rowse's office.

via: Coolest blogger offices

Also see: The Ultimate Home Office, from lifehacker.

Google Challenges Baidu for China Market Share

Google Challenges Baidu for China Market Share by Andy Beal:

Well, Google's proving that the #1 spot can be challenged–at least in China. Reuters is reporting Google grew its market share by 4% (to 22.8%) while Baidu grew just 1% (to 58.1%).

Maybe this will give Yahoo, Microsoft, and Ask.com hope that they too can challenge Google's #1 US dominance. Then again, they might be thinking "crap, Google’s going to dominate the entire world!"

I would guess the dominate the entire world option :-) But it is very true if Google fails to return the best results they can easily fall fast.

Related: Search Share Data - Checking the ACSI - Is Google Overpriced