Computers will make this all work ... and my name is Rasputin

Only politicians could come up with something like this:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRIbXz_idgiG44YTjJcIHUz0y9uY879a7tkMnmc8KEeSsEvjQgeUmzWb1NZ1BY3Pj8kjOumILHRHza2GmOIa5n5NZmJEXc8JoxyfTB5aTcVxhEdenJGUapu52GBz0cDHIfnAg3N0r76fo/s1600-h/madness.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358796602500584834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRIbXz_idgiG44YTjJcIHUz0y9uY879a7tkMnmc8KEeSsEvjQgeUmzWb1NZ1BY3Pj8kjOumILHRHza2GmOIa5n5NZmJEXc8JoxyfTB5aTcVxhEdenJGUapu52GBz0cDHIfnAg3N0r76fo/s320/madness.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(click to enlarge)</span><br /></div><br /><br />... and, mesmerized, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin">Rasputin</a> style, by an <a href="http://hcrenewal.blogspot.com/2009/05/machinery-behind-healthcare-reform-how.html">IT lobby</a> not shown in the diagram, believe computers could not only make it all work, but could save hundreds of billions of dollars over what we have in place now.<br /><br />Such beliefs are madness incarnate.<br /><br />-- SS

Computers will make this all work ... and my name is Rasputin

Only politicians could come up with something like this: (click to enlarge) ... and, mesmerized, Rasputin style, by an IT lobby not shown...

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Introducing a collection of favorite places from around the world

We on the Google Maps team are committed to organizing all the local places and businesses that can be found online, from a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=9010081596312680284">design shop</a> in New York City, to an <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=8312211629617074523">architectural bookstore</a> in San Francisco, to a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=17744103237763244872">cabaret</a> in London. To show you the range of all this interesting local information, we've teamed up with local experts around the world to share some of their favorite places.<br /><br />Culinary expert and chef Alice Waters has shared <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100623135165181432460.00046a49d63feb7d43afd">her favorite places</a> for organic and sustainable food in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including places like <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=17608306437765369711">Blue Bottle Cafe</a>, whose coffee Alice serves at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=8799273193024734362">Chez Panisse</a> in Berkeley, and <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=0,0,3576653928361550875">Bi-Rite Creamery</a>, where you can find salted caramel ice cream.<br /><br />Iwona Blazwick, director of the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=0,0,9259300606315766016">Whitechapel Gallery</a> in London, has shared <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=115650056176233962259.00046d18f647d7894243c">her favorite places</a> to experience art in London, from the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=8930407832581858571">Tate Modern</a> for contemporary art to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=14533400242416141031">Curzon Soho cinema</a>, where you can catch the latest independent film releases.<br /><br />Vladimir Spivakov, artistic director and principal conductor of the State chamber orchestra Moscow Virtuosi and the National Philharmonic of Russia, has shared <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=ru&msa=0&msid=111300226091440043409.000469ed7f3c85b77cfb0">his favorite places</a> to hear and appreciate theater and music in Moscow, from the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=961231844626211901">Moscow Conservatory</a>, where he studied, to the historic <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=10863106246593836814">Maly Theater</a>, the oldest theater in Moscow.<br /><br />With this project we also hope to send a friendly message to local businesses — people are looking online for local information, and you should be here. Timothy Childs, Founder and Chief Chocolate Officer of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=13522453196782902843">TCHO</a> in San Francisco, shares his perspective on using online tools to build and grow:<br /><br />"TCHO is all about using appropriate technology, to make high quality chocolate and experiences for our customers. As our start-up moves to early growth stage, we are now using tools like Google Maps and the Local Business Center to reach customers and to continue building our business."<br /><br />It's <a href="http://www.webvisible.com/thegreatdivide/">estimated</a> that 80% of U.S. Internet users use web search to find restaurants, stores and other local businesses, and yet only about half of local businesses currently have a website. By working with local experts to highlight the power of the web, we're encouraging local business owners to build out their online presence. If you're a business owner looking to get online, have a look at the <a href="http://www.google.com/localbusinesscenter">Google Local Business Center</a>.<br /><br />To browse the full collection of favorite local businesses and places, visit <a href="http://google.com/favoriteplaces">google.com/favoriteplaces</a> or <span style="font-weight: bold;">m.google.com/fav</span> from your phone's browser.<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OFH5b8wKg18&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OFH5b8wKg18&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Special thanks to all the participants and partners around the world who helped to make this project possible, including United Airlines, NYC & Company, Time Out and Le Figaro.<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Michaela Prescott and Katie Mandel, Product Marketing, Google Maps<br /></span>

Introducing a collection of favorite places from around the world

We on the Google Maps team are committed to organizing all the local places and businesses that can be found online, from a design shop in ...

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Google Voice mobile app for Blackberry and Android

It’s been an exciting few months since we <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/here-comes-google-voice.html">announced</a> <a href="http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html">Google Voice</a>. The feedback from early users has been terrific, and the requests for invites have been flowing in. We started sending invites <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/google-voice-invites-on-their-way.html">a few weeks ago</a> and will keep sending them daily.<br /><br />At the same time, we continue to improve the service and address your requests and feedback. Among the most requested features are tools to make placing outgoing calls from your Google Voice number easier. So today, we’re pleased to announce a Google Voice mobile app for Blackberry and Android.<br /><br />Previously, to place a call using Google Voice, you had to dial your own Google Voice number from your cell phone or use the Quick Call button online. With this new mobile app, you can make calls and send SMS messages with your Google Voice number directly from your mobile phone. The app is fully integrated with each phone’s contacts, so you can call via Google Voice straight from your address book.<br /><br />From the mobile app, you can:<br /><ul><li>Access your voicemail: read message transcripts, follow along with "karaoke-style" playback of messages, read SMS messages sent to your Google Voice number (even if your phone doesn't receive SMS messages) and access your call history</li><li>Place calls that display your Google Voice number from your address book, the app dialer (Blackberry) or the native dialer (Android)</li><li>Send SMS messages that display your Google Voice number </li><li>Place international calls at low rates</li></ul>See how it works in the following video:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_HvRu9bVH14&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_HvRu9bVH14&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />You can download the app from the Google Voice mobile site at <a href="http://m.google.com/voice">m.google.com/voice</a>. It's also available in Android Market — just search for "Google Voice."<br /><br />And for those of you who don't have a Blackberry or an Android-powered device, we have a mobile web version of the Google Voice site (accessible by typing <a href="http://www.google.com/voice">www.google.com/voice</a> into your mobile browser) that allows you to access Google Voice features.<br /><br />You'll need a Google Voice account to use the mobile application. Currently, Google Voice is only available in the U.S. If you'd like to check it out, request an invite <a href="http://www.google.com/voiceinvite">here</a>. <br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Vincent Paquet, Google Voice Team and Marcus Foster, Google Mobile Team</span>

Google Voice mobile app for Blackberry and Android

It’s been an exciting few months since we announced Google Voice . The feedback from early users has been terrific, and the requests for in...

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Google Friend Connect speaks more languages

We know that there are millions of sites using <a href="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/?utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-et-na-us-googleblog">Google Friend Connect</a> to build a community around their content and they come in a variety of languages. With site owners and visitors from all over the world, the integration of services like <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/netlog-integrates-with-google-friend.html">Netlog</a> and <a href="http://www.orkut.com/">orkut</a> and the worldwide adoption of <a href="http://www.opensocial.org/">OpenSocial</a>, supporting additional languages has been a priority for the team. Today, we're happy to announce that Friend Connect is now available in 47 new languages.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pzG8tn3rC9yN6wUJJNUvZfCkXVV80jZVLdlL2R-JjNepMgdOCOZmm8J9ifS4NiW-sUyMJfW4y-kbzxf2F2ys2bD-7XwSVqfO5OFqkP_7tAnR7AE11n1r5T1xd88EZyveAiQxGHCbFrPN/s1600-h/i18n-blogImage.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358332030781329922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pzG8tn3rC9yN6wUJJNUvZfCkXVV80jZVLdlL2R-JjNepMgdOCOZmm8J9ifS4NiW-sUyMJfW4y-kbzxf2F2ys2bD-7XwSVqfO5OFqkP_7tAnR7AE11n1r5T1xd88EZyveAiQxGHCbFrPN/s320/i18n-blogImage.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 320px;" /></a>This means you'll start seeing Friend Connect gadgets in languages such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Portuguese. Site owners simply set the language of their site and Friend Connect will automatically render the gadgets in that language.<br /><br />To learn more about this and other recent improvements to Friend Connect, visit our <a href="http://googlesocialweb.blogspot.com/2009/07/friend-connect-goes-international.html">Social Web Blog</a>.<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Mendel Chuang, Product Marketing Manager, Google Friend Connect</span>

Google Friend Connect speaks more languages

We know that there are millions of sites using Google Friend Connect to build a community around their content and they come in a variety o...

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Google accounts on Twitter

Like lots of you, we've been drawn into Twitter this year. After all, we're all about frequent updates ourselves, and there's lots happening around here that we want to share with you. Of course, we enjoy watching, and contributing to, the tweetstream (we hope you find our tweets useful, too). Because there are many programs and initiatives across the company, we've got a number of active accounts. Here's a list of the current ones. We'll update this list from time to time.<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/google" id="ya_." style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/google">twitter.com/Google</a> - our central account<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GooglePubPolicy">twitter.com/GooglePubPolicy</a> - our take on politics, policy & government*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/blogger" id="zzci" title="twitter.com/blogger">twitter.com/Blogger</a> - for Blogger fans<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlebooks">twitter.com/Google Books</a> - Passages, quotes, images and product news*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlecalendar" id="cebx" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlecalendar">twitter.com/GoogleCalendar</a> - user tips & updates<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleContacts">twitter.com/GoogleContacts</a> - user tips for Google Contacts*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleimages" id="jgv4" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleimages">twitter.com/GoogleImages</a> - news, tips, tricks on our visual image search<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlenews" id="dx8y" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlenews">twitter.com/GoogleNews</a> - latest headlines via Google News<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleNewsJP">twitter.com/GoogleNewsJP</a> - latest headlines via Google News Japan*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlereader" id="srkj" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlereader">twitter.com/GoogleReader</a> - from our feed reader team<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleVoice">twitter.com/GoogleVoice</a> - updates & info on Google Voice*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/igoogle" id="yrpe" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/igoogle">twitter.com/iGoogle</a> - news & notes from Google's personalized homepage<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlestudents" id="p2-e" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlestudents">twitter.com/GoogleStudents</a> - news of interest to students using Google<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlemobileapp">http://twitter.com/googlemobileapp</a> - Updates on Google mobile apps*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/youtube" id="ws9i" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/youtube">twitter.com/YouTube</a> - for YouTube fans<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/youtubees" id="ys7n" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/youtubees">twitter.com/YouTubeES</a> - en Espanol<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleatwork" id="ka28" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleatwork">twitter.com/GoogleAtWork</a> - solutions for IT and workplace productivity<br /><div><a href="http://twitter.com/googlesites">twitter.com/GoogleSites</a> - Google Sites updates*<br /></div><div><a href="http://twitter.com/googletoolbar">twitter.com/GoogleToolbar</a> - news & tips from the Toolbar team*<br /></div><div><br /><b>Geo-related</b><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/sketchup" id="ev4w" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/sketchup">twitter.com/SketchUp</a> - Google SketchUp news<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/3DWH" id="v39e" title="twitter.com/3DWH">twitter.com/3DWH</a> - SketchUp's 3D Warehouse<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/modelyourtown" id="svfk" title="twitter.com/modelyourtown">twitter.com/Modelyourtown</a> - 3D modeling to build your favorite places<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/earthoutreach" id="rob0" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/earthoutreach">twitter.com/EarthOutreach</a> - Earth & Maps tools for nonprofits & orgs<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleEarth">twitter.com/GoogleEarth</a> - updates from the Google Earth team*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlemaps" id="e_26" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlemaps">twitter.com/GoogleMaps</a> - uses, tips, mashups<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleskymap" id="jvc4" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleskymap">twitter.com/GoogleSkyMap</a> -Android app for the night sky<br /><br /><b>Ads-related </b><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/adsense" id="vkfz" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/adsense">twitter.com/AdSense</a> - for online publishers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/adwordshelper" id="em16" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/adwordshelper">twitter.com/AdWordsHelper</a> - looking out for AdWords questions and tech issues<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/adwordsprosarah" id="zxgn" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/adwordsprosarah">twitter.com/AdWordsProSarah</a> - Google Guide for AdWords Help Forum<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleanalytics" id="q1l4" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleanalytics">twitter.com/GoogleAnalytics</a> - insights for website effectiveness<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleadbuilder" id="u2ed" title="twitter.com/googleadbuilder">twitter.com/GoogleAdBuilder</a> - re building display ads<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleAdManager">twitter.com/GoogleAdManager</a> - info on managing online ads & inventory*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleAffiliate">twitter.com/GoogleAffiliate</a> - info for publishers from Google network advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleAuto">twitter.com/GoogleAuto</a> - news for auto advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleFinSvcs">twitter.com/GoogleFinSvcs</a> - news for financial services advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlemande">http://twitter.com/googlemande</a> - news for media & entertainment advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleretail" id="de40" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleretail">twitter.com/GoogleRetail</a> - news for retail advertisers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleTech">twitter.com/GoogleTech</a> - news for tech advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleTravel">twitter.com/GoogleTravel</a> - news for travel advertisers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleTVAds">twitter.com/GoogleTVAds</a> - info on our digital system for more measurable TV advertising*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/technologyuk" id="vveu" title="twitter.com/technologyUK">twitter.com/TechnologyUK</a> - for U.K. tech advertisers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/UKRetail">twitter.com/UKretail</a> - for U.K. retail advertisers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/creativesandbox">twitter.com/creativesandbox</a> - for advertising agencies*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/insideadwordsde" id="i28l" title="twitter.com/insideadwordsde">twitter.com/InsideAdWordsDE</a> - for German AdWords customers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleagencyde" id="e6y6" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleagencyde">twitter.com/GoogleAgencyDE</a> - for German ad agencies<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/AdSenseKorea">twitter.com/AdSenseKorea</a> - info for Korean-language publishers*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/AdSensePT" id="corh" title="twitter.com/AdSensePT">twitter.com/AdSensePT</a> - info for Portuguese-language publishers<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/AdWordsRussia" id="tjdu" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/AdWordsRussi">twitter.com/AdWordsRussia</a> - AdWords news & tips in Russian<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/dentrodeadwords" id="mpex" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/dentrodeadwords">twitter.com/DentroDeAdWords</a> - Spanish updates from the Inside AdWords blog<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleAgencias">twitter.com/GoogleAgencias</a> - for Latin American agencies*<br /><br /><b>Developer & technical </b><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/adwordsapi" id="gd51" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/adwordsapi">twitter.com/AdWordsAPI</a> - AdWords API tips*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleresearch" id="muon" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleresearch">twitter.com/GoogleResearch</a> - from our research scientists<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlewmc" id="lgz1" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlewmc">twitter.com/GoogleWMC</a> - Google Webmaster Central<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlecode" id="hx.l" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlecode">twitter.com/GoogleCode</a> - latest updates for Google developer products<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googledata" id="cqnc" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googledata">twitter.com/GoogleData</a> - Data APIs provide a standard protocol for reading and writing web data<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/app_engine" id="fos3" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/app_engine">twitter.com/app_engine</a> - web apps run on Google infrastructure<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/dataliberation" id="j5-t" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/dataliberation">twitter.com/DataLiberation</a> - our initiative for complete import/export of all data<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googledevapac">http://twitter.com/googledevapac</a> - for Google developers in Asia-Pacific*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlemapsapi" id="kt95" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlemapsapi">twitter.com/GoogleMapsAPI</a> - about using Google Maps embedded in websites<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googleio" id="gdvw" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googleio">twitter.com/GoogleIO</a> - Google's largest annual developer event<br /><br /><b>Culture, People </b><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googletalks" id="stnc" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googletalks">twitter.com/googletalks</a> - notes from our @Google speaker series<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlejobs" id="ae_y" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/googlejobs">twitter.com/googlejobs</a> - the voice of Google recruiters<br /><br /><b>Country or Region </b><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlearabia">twitter.com/googlearabia</a> - news from the Google Arabia Blog*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googledownunder" id="wcfi" style="color: #551a8b; text-decoration: none;" title="twitter.com/googledownunder">twitter.com/googledownunder</a> - Google activities in Australia & New Zealand<br /><div><a href="http://twitter.com/googlebrasil">twitter.com/googlebrasil</a> - News & info for Brasil*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlecanada">twitter.com/googlecanada</a> - News & notes from Google Canada*<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlede" id="j-j2" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/GoogleDE">twitter.com/GoogleDE</a> - Google in Germany<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlekorea">twitter.com/GoogleKorea</a> - News & notes in Korean*<a href="http://twitter.com/googlelatam" id="fqni" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/GoogleLatAm"></a><br /></div><div><a href="http://twitter.com/googlelatam" id="fqni" style="color: #551a8b; text-decoration: none;" title="twitter.com/GoogleLatAm">twitter.com/GoogleLatAm</a> - Latin America (en Espanol)<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/googlepolicyit" id="hdma" style="color: #551a8b;" title="twitter.com/GooglePolicyIt">twitter.com/GooglePolicyIt</a> - Notes on Google policy issues in Italy<br /></div><a href="http://twitter.com/GoogleRussia">twitter.com/GoogleRussia</a> - Information in Russian on Google products & services*<br /><div><br /><b><i>Update:</i></b> Additions indicated by *</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Update</i> April 14, 2010</b>: This list is no longer being maintained. Find the most updated list of Google Twitter accounts in our <a href="http://www.google.com/press/twitter_directory.html">directory</a>.<br /><br />Posted by Karen Wickre, Google Blog & Twitter Team<br /></div></div>

Google accounts on Twitter

Like lots of you, we've been drawn into Twitter this year. After all, we're all about frequent updates ourselves, and there's lo...

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Google tips for recent grads

Summer has arrived, and that means graduation. Our hearty congratulations to the class of 2009! Now that you've packed up your dorm room and picked up your diploma, what's next? This transitional time between college and "the real world" can be a bit chaotic. Luckily, we have some tools that can help you get organized as you start the next chapter in your life. We're posting tips and tricks for newly graduated students in our summer series, <a href="http://googleforstudents.blogspot.com/search/label/GradTips?utm_source=gradtips&utm_medium=blog">Grad Tips</a>, running on the <a href="http://googleforstudents.blogspot.com/">Google for Students Blog</a>. The series is a few posts in — look for more tips over the next couple of months!<br /><br /><span class="byline-author">Posted by Joyce Sohn, Google Apps Team</span>

Google tips for recent grads

Summer has arrived, and that means graduation. Our hearty congratulations to the class of 2009! Now that you've packed up your dorm room...

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How to steer clear of money scams

<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This post is the latest in an ongoing <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/search/label/security">series</a> on how to stay safe online. - Ed.</span></span><br /><br />As the designated tech support person for my immediate family, I'm used to getting calls about issues like browser crashes and confusing websites. But recently my mom called to ask about something she saw online that said Google would pay her thousands of dollars to work from home with no experience required. She didn't buy it, but she did want to ask — is this for real?<br /><br />My mom was right to be skeptical. In the current economic downturn, a lot of people are looking for ways to make extra money. Unfortunately, some unsavory characters see this trend as an opportunity to trick unsuspecting people with scams and elaborate get-rich-quick schemes. We're seeing disturbing cases in which websites, emails and advertisements claim that you can make large amounts of money from home with very little effort using Google products and services. They're designed to look like they were written by a regular person, just like you, who stumbled across an amazing opportunity to make their monetary dreams come true. What they don't tell you clearly is that Google is not affiliated with these sites and that they may add extra charges to your credit card or misuse your personal information.<br /><br />To be clear, we are proud to say that many companies and individuals do legitimately make money placing ads on their websites with <a href="https://www.google.com/adsense/">Google AdSense</a> or participating in programs like the <a href="http://www.google.com/ads/affiliatenetwork/">Google Affiliate Network</a>. Creating a successful website is hard work — successful sites earn their money by writing compelling content, developing useful applications and maintaining vibrant user communities. Any claim that you can skip all of that and make just as much money by posting links, using a secret system, or running a kit to generate websites should be treated with a heavy dose of skepticism.<br /><br />Spammers attempt to reach users by generating hundreds of webpages and sending out a flood of spam emails, sometimes even buying advertisements on reputable websites. Their sites also target other popular Internet companies. They may include family photos pilfered from another site or a picture of a check they supposedly received. Spammers use a wide range of techniques that try to slip past automatic filters to get to you. At Google, we work hard to protect users from these schemes by using a combination of automated and manual tools that remove them from our search index and ad network. However, scams target many companies and appear in various places around the web, so we all need to work cooperatively. Google collaborates with various government and non-governmental consumer protection agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, that are <a href="http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/07/shortchange.shtm">investigating these types of schemes further</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How to identify scams and other schemes</span><br /><br />In general, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some pointers on what to look out for:<br /><ul><li>Before you fill out a form or give someone a credit card, <span style="font-weight: bold;">do a web search</span> to see what other people are saying about the company and its practices. </li></ul><ul><li>Be wary of companies that ask for <span style="font-weight: bold;">upfront charges</span> for services that Google actually offers for free. Check out our <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/services/var_1.html">business solutions page</a> before writing a check.</li></ul><ul><li>Always <span style="font-weight: bold;">read the fine print</span>. Watch out for get-rich-quick schemes that charge a very low initial fee before sneaking in large reoccurring charges on your credit card or bank account.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Google never guarantees top placement</span> in search results or <a href="http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?answer=6546">AdWords</a> — beware of companies that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a special relationship with Google, or advertise a "<span style="font-weight: bold;">priority submit</span>" to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our <a href="http://www.google.com/addurl/">Add URL page</a> or through the <a href="http://www.sitemaps.org/">Sitemaps program</a> — you can do these tasks yourself at no cost whatsoever. </li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be wary of anything resembling a </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.sec.gov/answers/pyramid.htm">pyramid scheme</a>, where you make commissions by recruiting more participants.</li></ul><ul><li>Some sales pitches use the word "Google" or other trademarks right in their name with targeted phrases like "cash," "pay day," "money," "secrets," "home business," etc. <span style="font-weight: bold;">If you can't find it on our </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/">list of Google products</a> or on the business solutions page, <span style="font-weight: bold;">don't trust it</span>. </li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Look for third party verification</span>. Scammers can easily cut-and-paste images to plaster a site with "as seen on TV," "five-star reviews" and the logos of well-known news channels. Products that have really been recommended by experts and fellow users typically contain links from legitimate news sites and multiple user review sites.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reserve the same skepticism for unsolicited email</span> about making money with Google AdWords as you do for "burn fat at night" diet pills or requests to help transfer funds from deposed dictators. In general, be wary of offers from firms that email you out of the blue. Amazingly, we get these spam emails too:</li></ul> "I visited your website and noticed that you are not listed in most of the major search engines and directories..."<br /><ul><li>Google is not running a lottery, and we have not picked your email address to win millions of dollars. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't give out your bank account details via email</span> in anticipation of a big jackpot.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">What you can do</span><br /><ul><li>If you've been ripped off, or suspect others are, <a href="http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=9110">report the site and file a complaint</a> with the appropriate agency.</li></ul><ul><li>If you come across many sites with duplicate content or common templates intended to direct users to the same product or scheme, please let us know with a <a href="http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35265">spam report</a>. </li></ul><ul><li>If you've been contacted to place suspicious links on your site for money, let us know with the <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/paidlinks">paid link report form</a>. If you have your own website or are in charge of advertising on a site, think carefully before accepting ads or entering into affiliate programs that will lead your users to schemes like those mentioned above. </li></ul><ul><li>If your site's forums or comment sections have been spammed with fake offers of fabulous financial gain, you may need to <a href="http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/09/keeping-comment-spam-off-your-site-and.html">take steps to fight comment spam</a>. Spammers will take advantage of any user-generated content sections of your site, and will even generate thousands of <a href="http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2009/06/spam20-fake-user-accounts-and-spam.html">fake user profiles</a> to try to slip under the radar. </li></ul><ul><li>If you receive suspicious messages that claim to be from Google, these may be <a href="http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=106318">phishing attempts</a>. Please report them to <a href="mailto:%20phishing@google.com">phishing@google.com</a>. </li></ul> <span class="byline-author">Posted by Jason Morrison, Search Quality Team<br /></span>

How to steer clear of money scams

This post is the latest in an ongoing series on how to stay safe online. - Ed. As the designated tech support person for my immediate fami...

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