OpenStreetMap is now set to hit the streets of North American. The project is exactly what it sounds like - designed to provide free geographic data. Users get together with GPS's, physically map out a city, then upload their data to a common database.

"We’re talking about developing your online properties. We’re talking about creating new campaigns to drive links and revenue. When we say “Do it Fucking Now”, we’re talking about those tasks that you keep putting off which, when completed, will start putting more money in the bank.

Phoney PayPal, eBay and Bank of America sites account for 63% of all URLs in Google's phishing blacklist, according to Michael Sutton of SPI Dynamics.

It looks like comment spamming Sussie has brought down Matt Cutts' blog ;o)

The comment section of each post currently displays the following error message:

Quote: Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print - George Orwell

These are among the most overused and worn out phrases of 2006: they all have Wikipedia entries! Let them enjoy retirement in 2007.

Just weeks after Google called it quits on Google Answers, Amazon jumps into the social question & answers fray with Askville.

Here's the email I received from Amazon:

Tim Converse, a search engineer from the anti-spam arena is leaving Yahoo! for a new startup opportunity. From his personal blog:

So it seems that my old hosting company are now looking to take legal action against me for “slanderous” material posted to my blog.

I guess I could just take the posting down, but it’s more of a matter of priciple now.

From this morning's SES Keynote:

Quote: SEO is bullshit, if you generate a web page with good content Google will rank the page properly.

Good recaps here and here

Human rights group 'Reporters Without Borders' has released a list of 13 enemies of the internet. The list consists of countries the RSF believe are "supressing freedom of expression on the internet."

According to an internmarkets report, Drudge Report had 25.1 million page views on November 7th, 2006, and delivered over 100 million ad impressions in one day.

Via wired

A new startup, ReputationDefender, will act on your behalf by contacting data hosting services and requesting the removal of any materials that threaten your good social standing. Any web citizen willing to pay ReputationDefender's modest service fees can ask the company to seek and destroy embarrassing office party photos, blog posts detailing casual drug use or saucy comments on social networking profiles.

http://www.gambling-law-us.com/Federal-Laws/internet-gambling-ban.htm

"Aider and Abettor Liability

The federal aider and abettor statute, 18 U.S.C. 2, provides:

"(a) Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.

Danny Sullivan announced that he'll chair the SES NYC and SES San Jose conferences in 2007, after all. He just worked out an agreement for this with Incisive.

In short, I'll be chairing the SES NY 2007 show, co-chairing the SES SJ 2007 event and participating in the SES Chicago 2007 conference. Aside from this, I also intend to continue writing about search via a new search blog of my own plus do some events on my own.

This story got some attention last August when it got shut down. The owner has now been indicted:

Quote: A woman who authorities say ran a Web site that published graphic fictional tales about the torture and sexual abuse of children has been indicted on federal obscenity charges.

Software engineer Matt Cutts wields what Webmasters call the "Google death penalty"--getting dumped from the world's largest search engine. Even some of the world's most visible brands have earned the wrath of Cutts

Just saw this

Quote: WebmasterWorld is proud to announce that Danny Sullivan will keynote WebmasterWorld's PubCon Las Vegas this November.

Funny how the press release starts though:

Quote: WebmasterWorld, the internets leading online discussion forum for search engine marketers, optimizers, and site owners has announced Danny Sullivan and WebmasterWorld have reached an agreement.

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers may soon be able to track how the federal government is spending their money with the click of computer mouse.

Paul Farhi at the Washington Post reports the death of Arthur Schiff.

Arthur Schiff, who died of lung cancer last week in Coral Springs, Fla., at 66, was a businessman who ran his own marketing company for 23 years. And his passing, like the man himself, was altogether quiet, with not a single newspaper noting his death.