Google offers several options for searching. One of the primary ones is “safe search” that should filter out adult content. That progresses up to “safe search off” that should give all results. There is also a moderate level of google search filtering that most people might prefer. If you are looking for nude pictures of say Drew Barrymore (no unsafe link provided here … if that is what you desire and you don’t know Drew personally, you can figure out how to find them by using this post of course), then you would want to turn safe search off. This side called S ** T – O – Meter (missing letters are L and U, not H and I! We are a family friendly site). By comparing the ratio of safe to unsafe searches, they propose that you can conclude how promiscuous a subject is. Of course, I always have safe search off and self filter. I hope my children choose the opposite until they are a bit older. So I am not sure that this really tells the whole story, but I guess it does tell something about the clientelle of a given subject matter. Interesting.

Two other points:
If this were my site I would consider having the name at the top of a search clickable to the google search result for that subject. I would also see if I could pull in the “suggested correct spelling” feature that I so like in google. If you spell a name wrong, it might suggest the proper name. Drew Barriemore might be an angel only because one Baptist preacher looked for her with safe search on. All of the Methodist’s with their safe search off knew how to spell her name. (btw: just kidding about the religious groups used here, you can fill in your own) or disregard if that is offensive.

I was disappointed with day five of the current Google Doodle — and I suspect the final one in the series. The mouse puts together a wheel and powers the plug on the logo. That part is fine and clever, but it just washes out the logo with pastel behind it. I hope they continue the tradition.

Today I read about the Slingbox, a device that lets you watch your local cable from a remote location. To use it you need a remote high speed internet connection and a laptop to watch on. They claim special technology will adjust to varying broadband speeds to permit viewing. A better move might be to take your Direct-TV Box and an extra dish with you. Then you can actually watch the show on a television set. The Slingbox may have some current drawbacks, but it is a start.

A C-Net article indicates Opera denies rumors of the company being aquired by Microsoft. I am not sure it would be a bad thing. If Microsoft decided to bring Opera to the masses in lieu of Internet Explorer it would improve the world. The article sure doesn’t reflect our experience however in browser market share … claiming that Firefox only has 8% of the market. We show Firefox/Mozilla at over 40% of our visitors! (See the sidebar to the right of our main page for our current statistics).

Well it appears there is a problem …. the cords won’t reach. What to do? It appears the mouse is on it as day four of the doodle hits us. Typical of a dog, the lazy thing is just watching …

Here is a post about some of Googles other holiday decorating including a track Santa feature.

This post makes me wonder does the doodle release worldwide at the same time, or is it released around the globe at a set time locally.

An article over at C-Net discusses the fact that many on-line retailers have strict return policies. It says that Best Buy for example has a restocking fee. That appears to be true for some items:

Restocking Fee
A 15% restocking fee will be charged on opened notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS/navigation and in-car video systems. A 25% restocking fee will be charged on special order products, including appliances. These fees apply unless the item is defective or damaged, you receive the wrong item, or the fee is prohibited by law.

But the fact is that if you open it, they cannot sell it as new. If it isn’t broken, then every consumer coming after you will share in the cost of your return because the store will take a hit. Note that the fee does not apply if something is wrong with the item or you received the wrong item. They also offer extended return dates, but note that digital cameras and some other items have to be returned by January 8th. I guess the real message is don’t open it when you receive something until you are sure it is the one that you want! The fee only applies to opened merchandise at this retailer.

This clip will create a Definition List (DL) including building DT and DD tags.

This is posted in the wrong place … a version 2.0 of this clip is available where it belongs. Sorry for any confusion.