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Holiday templates to keep you organized

The holidays are upon us, and there's much to do: Gifts to be wrapped, lights to be strung, candles to be lit, and a long list of tasks at the home and the office. A little creativity can come in handy at this time of year. You can save time and money with the Google Docs template gallery for documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Whether you're a small business owner or the chief holiday organizer, the gallery includes a few special templates designed to help you spread a little holiday cheer. Here are a few tips to help you get everything done on time: 1. Email friends, colleagues or customers this <a href="http://docs.google.com/templates?q=business+addresses&sort=hottest&view=public">survey form</a> to update your mailing list... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E04z_0Dowi4hGPhw6wDDfWgyhDny5-_f9KVLYUkxrrtI_ZK2Zoc2l0ZNjAXwjUCPQWF819HnGArzJjYJl5A-EavoAMxJxzxJPj4-D-qO5ROScrKIJjMbWgW8nqu0beHiJdjPPFumeDAJ/s1600-h/company+mailing+address.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275605414042347154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E04z_0Dowi4hGPhw6wDDfWgyhDny5-_f9KVLYUkxrrtI_ZK2Zoc2l0ZNjAXwjUCPQWF819HnGArzJjYJl5A-EavoAMxJxzxJPj4-D-qO5ROScrKIJjMbWgW8nqu0beHiJdjPPFumeDAJ/s400/company+mailing+address.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 124px;" /></a> 2. ...and then send them a <a href="http://docs.google.com/templates?q=holiday+postcard+snowflake&sort=hottest&view=public">holiday postcard</a>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha33mC7qNM2E1S49M_dpplFoy0vk3WSbSGMPLdWclVoW1ZCy76G72cYeqXWdzllcWrgirXQ6k7LT3_jCjtQuuE8P_V0uvOhZd2KdHDrigHX6EiMsL5V_25qEN_qraBfq9mPD0aS7vQIa63/s1600-h/avery+snowflake+post+card%282%29.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275612676644676098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha33mC7qNM2E1S49M_dpplFoy0vk3WSbSGMPLdWclVoW1ZCy76G72cYeqXWdzllcWrgirXQ6k7LT3_jCjtQuuE8P_V0uvOhZd2KdHDrigHX6EiMsL5V_25qEN_qraBfq9mPD0aS7vQIa63/s400/avery+snowflake+post+card%282%29.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 124px;" /></a> 3. Use fun <a href="http://docs.google.com/templates?q=address+label+&sort=hottest&view=public">mailing labels</a> to save time when sending packages... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnV6Jcga4wszwqMQuM9xsNzNrYQJ0DD6HrwUoConpuon4LYPlaMqNbLTRAs5luu3__Vl5gSv7hYDewL0PPkMpg5PA6v6DeBNfYQWHxiOQ-nxqk2PQlDsS1RyNPshBHGxN-uHy5l2pkRcR/s1600-h/avery+santa+mailing+labels+-+20%282%29.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275612954214661138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnV6Jcga4wszwqMQuM9xsNzNrYQJ0DD6HrwUoConpuon4LYPlaMqNbLTRAs5luu3__Vl5gSv7hYDewL0PPkMpg5PA6v6DeBNfYQWHxiOQ-nxqk2PQlDsS1RyNPshBHGxN-uHy5l2pkRcR/s400/avery+santa+mailing+labels+-+20%282%29.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 124px;" /></a> 4. ...and these <a href="http://docs.google.com/templates?q=gift+tags&sort=hottest&view=public">festive gift tags</a> to personalize gifts. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiJxKP8TY6y43R0PKiL1su36xZytJmEx5sUvOxTLEe0cjlRxQmbsryOhmBMfgqsK2Y1VvPrHSYqypam_LKMcx1lDsEGRWmhFyIDI2-iIE0VNY7uBo_CfMmLIf12QK7hjedCkokrYt6Oi3/s1600-h/string+of+lights+gift+tags.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275607470695238466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiJxKP8TY6y43R0PKiL1su36xZytJmEx5sUvOxTLEe0cjlRxQmbsryOhmBMfgqsK2Y1VvPrHSYqypam_LKMcx1lDsEGRWmhFyIDI2-iIE0VNY7uBo_CfMmLIf12QK7hjedCkokrYt6Oi3/s400/string+of+lights+gift+tags.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 124px;" /></a> 5. If there's no time for snail mail, email a <a href="http://docs.google.com/templates?q=video+card&sort=hottest&view=public">video card</a> to send friends and colleagues warm wishes or to thank customers for their business. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLOZEyyO7T12HRI_Gq0WKzf71zryHX7cdcIxVwc4lx92EoafwQmm62z-2aKHCuddSqkGh3H0RTLOy5hyFFrP0JEMyMoe7ZJfJezKar203w_Z_of44J_KQ-xNEWv26wlrTYyj_CH6XTo5r/s1600-h/red+and+blue+video+card.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275608043770442722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLOZEyyO7T12HRI_Gq0WKzf71zryHX7cdcIxVwc4lx92EoafwQmm62z-2aKHCuddSqkGh3H0RTLOy5hyFFrP0JEMyMoe7ZJfJezKar203w_Z_of44J_KQ-xNEWv26wlrTYyj_CH6XTo5r/s400/red+and+blue+video+card.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 122px;" /></a> It's easy to get started with any of these tips. In Google Docs, just click File -> New -> From Template to be taken to the <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/google.com/templates">main template gallery</a> (it's worth a look!). Click the "Holiday" category to see just the <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/google.com/templates?category=21&sort=hottest&view=public">holiday templates</a>, or you can tab through to filter results by product. Pick the design you like and edit it for your needs. And you can always find help at the <a href="http://documents.google.com/support/?hl=en">Google Docs Help Center</a>. We have more holiday ideas on our <a href="http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2008/12/organize-holidays-with-templates-in.html">Enterprise Blog</a>, along with other hints and tips to keep your workplace humming all through the year. We hope you enjoy, and season's greetings! Posted by Serena Satyasai, Google Apps Elf

Holiday templates to keep you organized

The holidays are upon us, and there's much to do: Gifts to be wrapped, lights to be strung, candles to be lit, and a long list of tasks ...

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Calling all musicians: Join YouTube's Symphony Orchestra

Calling all musicians: Join YouTube's Symphony Orchestra

YouTube is offering musicians around the globe the opportunity to join a symphony orchestra via video through the world's first collabor...

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Countdown to 2009

The end of the year is a wonderful time to reflect, celebrate, and look forward to new things to come. This is also a season when things tend to get a bit too hectic. So we wanted to share some tips that we hope will help make the best of your holidays and year-end celebrations. We'll be counting down to 2009 with one new tip per day to get you through the holidays. We'll cover everything from today's tip on "Gift ideas and holiday savings" to checking out your flight status with Google Search. There will be much more to come throughout December, so check <a href="http://www.google.com/countdownto2009/#utm_source=ogb&utm_medium=ogb&utm_campaign=ay">Google's Countdown to 2009</a> daily and add a <a href="http://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=www.google.com/ig/modules/google_tips.xml&up_countdown=1">countdown gadget</a> to your iGoogle page. We wish you a wonderful head start to the holiday season. Posted by Anita Yuen, Group Product Marketing Manager

Countdown to 2009

The end of the year is a wonderful time to reflect, celebrate, and look forward to new things to come. This is also a season when things ten...

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The Santa countdown begins...

I remember when I was 8 years old standing in the middle of our living room, gazing at our Christmas tree. I dared not blink, fearing that the twinkling tinsel, gleaming lights, and the pile of festively wrapped gifts would all be gone when I opened my eyes again. Once I finally hopped into bed, still wide-awake and staring at the ceiling, I listened to every gust of wind, every creak of the rafters, wondering if Santa had landed on our roof. “Where is Santa now?” I thought. “When will he be here?” Eventually, sheer mental exhaustion ushered me off to sleep. The spirit of the season and a wondrous curiosity electrify many people's imaginations during the holidays, especially on Christmas Eve. That’s why Google has teamed up again this year with <a href="http://www.norad.mil/">NORAD</a>, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, to bring you the NORAD Santa Tracker. NORAD provides aerospace warning and control for North America 365 days a year. On Christmas Eve, they turn their attention to Santa, tracking his yearly gift-delivering journey from the North Pole. The Santa Tracker itself goes live at 6am EST on December 24th. In the meantime, you will find the unique history of the Santa Tracker, holiday-themed games (a new one released each day) and updates from the North Pole at <a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/">www.noradsanta.org</a>, the official NORAD Tracks Santa website. Check it out, and don’t forget to bookmark the site so you can come back often throughout the month. And, of course, be sure to visit on Christmas Eve to follow Santa as he makes his way toward your area. You can track him in both Google Maps and Google Earth, and can also view videos of his flights over several landmark cities, captured by special "Santa cams." Here are some highlights from last year's Santa Tracker: <object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7XpqeJyECo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7XpqeJyECo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object> (Visit <a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/">www.noradsanta.org</a> for more information.) Happy holidays to all, and to Santa... a good flight! Posted by Jeffery Martin, Geo Product Marketing Manager, child at heart

The Santa countdown begins...

I remember when I was 8 years old standing in the middle of our living room, gazing at our Christmas tree. I dared not blink, fearing that t...

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Get holiday gift ideas and special savings

Today is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_Monday">Cyber Monday</a> and we know many of you have holiday shopping on your mind. If you're not sure what to buy for that special someone, or if you're looking for ways to save on your holiday purchases, Google Product Search and Google Checkout can help. Our Product Search team recently pored over millions of aggregated (and anonymous) search queries to put together some of the most popular products people are searching for. You can see the season's most-wanted gifts in various categories such as toys & games, cold weather apparel, and specialty foods. Someone you know just may have one of these items on their wish list. With Google Checkout, you can shop quickly and easily with one login for hundreds of stores across the web. And now Checkout buyers can save $5, $10, $20 or more on their holiday shopping at over 600 participating stores, including StarbucksStore.com, the HBO Shop, J&R Electronics, and Petco.com. These exclusive discounts are available through December 17th. To help you kick off the shopping season with ease, we've created a <a href="http://www.google.com/holidayshopping#utm_source=us-en-et-gblog&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=holiday08">special site</a> that brings these holiday savings and gift ideas together in one place. Enjoy your seasonal shopping! Posted by Jessica Ng, Google Product Search Team and Anita Barci, Google Checkout Team

Get holiday gift ideas and special savings

Today is Cyber Monday and we know many of you have holiday shopping on your mind. If you're not sure what to buy for that special someo...

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Triple silken pumpkin pie takes the prize

What is the first thing that most people associate with Thanksgiving? Well, probably turkey, but pumpkin pie comes in a close second. As I am not a fan of the traditional pumpkin pie, I set out on a quest to find a delicious alternative this year. My search led me to a robust cookbook sitting on my kitchen shelves. Sheri Yard's <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=4VHMjIfxfYcC&dq=sheri+yard+desserts+by+the+yard&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=tcC1f8aSKj&sig=YNOSvHRTNXFpqs481pQswPu1_fI&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1">Desserts by the Yard</a> is an amazing compilation of a pastry chef's career spanning from coast to coast. What I found in that book turned out to be the most fluffy, decadent, flaky, scrumptious pie I have ever tasted. And apparently my officemates liked it just as much -- the triple silken pumpkin pie and I took home first place in last week's bake-off at our <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=Google%20New%20York@40.742412,-74.004915&hl=en">New York office</a>! So if you're looking for a holiday-perfect pie, I encourage you to try out <a href="http://services.google.com/blog_resources/google_ogb_pie_recipe.pdf">the recipe</a> (PDF file). It takes a little time to make, but it's so worth it. Happy baking, and happy Thanksgiving! <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fgblogphotos%2Falbumid%2F5272677852296745713%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="400" height="267"></embed> Posted by Kayla Wilson, Recruiting Coordinator

Triple silken pumpkin pie takes the prize

What is the first thing that most people associate with Thanksgiving? Well, probably turkey, but pumpkin pie comes in a close second. As I ...

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Sorting 1PB with MapReduce

At Google we are fanatical about organizing the world's information. As a result, we spend a lot of time finding better ways to sort information using <a href="http://labs.google.com/papers/mapreduce.html">MapReduce</a>, a key component of our software infrastructure that allows us to run multiple processes simultaneously. MapReduce is a perfect solution for many of the computations we run daily, due in large part to its simplicity, applicability to a wide range of real-world computing tasks, and natural translation to highly scalable distributed implementations that harness the power of thousands of computers. In our sorting experiments we have followed the rules of a <a href="http://www.hpl.hp.com/hosted/sortbenchmark/">standard terabyte (TB) sort benchmark</a>. Standardized experiments help us understand and compare the benefits of various technologies and also add a competitive spirit. You can think of it as an Olympic event for computations. By pushing the boundaries of these types of programs, we learn about the limitations of current technologies as well as the lessons useful in designing next generation computing platforms. This, in turn, should help everyone have faster access to higher-quality information. We are excited to announce we were able to sort 1TB (stored on the <a href="http://labs.google.com/papers/gfs.html">Google File System</a> as 10 billion 100-byte records in uncompressed text files) on 1,000 computers in 68 seconds. By comparison, the previous 1TB <a href="http://developer.yahoo.net/blogs/hadoop/2008/07/apache_hadoop_wins_terabyte_sort_benchmark.html">sorting record</a> is 209 seconds on 910 computers. Sometimes you need to sort more than a terabyte, so we were curious to find out what happens when you sort more and gave one petabyte (PB) a try. One petabyte is a thousand terabytes, or, to put this amount in perspective, it is 12 times the amount of <a href="http://www.loc.gov/webcapture/faq.html">archived web data</a> in the U.S. Library of Congress as of May 2008. In comparison, consider that the aggregate size of data processed by all instances of MapReduce at Google was on average 20PB per day in <a href="http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=1327452.1327492">January 2008</a>. It took six hours and two minutes to sort 1PB (10 trillion 100-byte records) on 4,000 computers. We're not aware of any other sorting experiment at this scale and are obviously very excited to be able to process so much data so quickly. An interesting question came up while running experiments at such a scale: Where do you put 1PB of sorted data? We were writing it to 48,000 hard drives (we did not use the full capacity of these disks, though), and every time we ran our sort, at least one of our disks managed to break (this is not surprising at all given the duration of the test, the number of disks involved, and the expected lifetime of hard disks). To make sure we kept our sorted petabyte safe, we asked the Google File System to write three copies of each file to three different disks. Significantly improved handling of the so-called "stragglers" (parts of computation that run slower than expected) was a key software technique that helped sort 1PB. And of course, there are many other factors that contributed to the result. We'll be discussing all of this and more in an upcoming publication. And you can also check out the video from our recent <a href="http://research.google.com/roundtable/MR.html">Technology RoundTable Series</a>. Posted by Grzegorz Czajkowski, Systems Infrastructure Team

Sorting 1PB with MapReduce

At Google we are fanatical about organizing the world's information. As a result, we spend a lot of time finding better ways to sort inf...

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