https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mind-blowing-ai-announcement-from-google-you-probably-gil-fewster

"Google Translate invented its own language to help it translate more effectively.

What's more, nobody told it to. It didn't develop a language (or interlingua, as Google call it) because it was coded to. It developed a new language because the software determined over time that this was the most efficient way to solve the problem of translation."

Times were there were some Google Suggest (Gs) keyword tools that also return Gs search volume. I've been doing some searching and there still seem to be a number of Gs tools out there but alas without the search volume? Anyone know of any?

Thanks,
Woz

To all, a Happy, Prosperous and Safe New Year.

Woz

Welcome to 2013 - May it be a good one!

Cheers,
Woz

Wishing everyone here all the very best for the 2012, may it be all that you wish and more.

Wishing you all the very best of the season.

http://www.apple.com/stevejobs

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glanceview/188202/drunk-moose-gets-stuck-in-tree.glance

Woz

http://gizmodo.com/5830842/

QuoteCrazy news just in—Google is acquiring the handset division of Motorola, Motorola Mobility, for $12.5 billion. This means Google could soon officially in the hardware business.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDycZH0CA4I

Microsoft developed an archiving system for saving offline copies of web pages whereby all the necessary elements, htmp txt images etc, were all save in a single container as an MHT page. It was originally only available in IE but they have since opened their "standard" up as open source and plugins are now available for other browsers.

http://www.unmht.org/en_index.html

List online pranks here:-

I'll start with - http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/green-building-special-eco-renovation-break-through/

QuoteThe need to protect the internet from 'astroturfing' grows ever more urgent.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/feb/23/need-to-protect-internet-from-astroturfing

Quote... the use of sophisticated software to drown out real people on web forums – is on the rise. How do we stop it?

From a press release about the death of Film Composer John Barry - "learned to play the trumped and piano at an early age"

All the best for 2011 to all, members, family, friends, ...

Make it a good one. Champagne all round - Bill has the keys! 

Cheers,
Woz

It's an age old subject, but perhaps worth another go around. Why do people abandon the shopping cart without completing the sale and what can you do to rectify the problem?

1) Shipping Costs unclear without registering!

For me, as a user, one of the biggest annoyances, and often the reasons I will hit the back button, is not having any way to check shipping costs without registering an account. To me this smacks of capturing data prior to making the sale, not good from the buyer perspective. Some might think it a good idea from the merchant POV, I would disagree saying it is a short sighted view on commerce and you risk losing a long term customer.

2) Taxes not deducted for out-of-country purchases.

This applies to GST/VAT type countries where the tax is part of the price rather than the US where applicable sales tax is applied after the sale. I find it most annoying trying to buy things from UK companies only to find they do not deduct VAT for out-of-country purchases. Again, short sighted, I am this far away from dumping a merchant because of this which will result in them losing many sales.

3)

Your turn.

No! I @#$%ing well didn't!

I'm sure it annoys you sometimes as it does me, and sometimes it can be just downright embarrassing.

Picture this:-

In a recent Permaculture course the host looked up "Cleavers", meaning Galium aparine, on Google to display some images to the class. Google responds "Did you mean Cleavages?" OK, it provided some comical relief at the time, but it does beg the question "Whoa, just where are you going with that Mr Google?"

Sometimes we are just searching for something very specific, and to have the Search Engine either suggest a correction or even automagically correct you without asking is just downright inefficient - not to mention annoying.

Sometimes the language/spelling used is correct locally, just not where the SE's server is located.

Sometime ... well, there are a myriad of examples.

And then there is personalisation. What the SE thinks you mean based on past history may be appropriate, but what if you are going off on a tangent? What if the Spouse starts using your computer? "Did you mean Cleavages?" Oi! John Boy! What you been lookin' at?!?!?!?

The real meat of the topic though is to what extent the internet is being skewed by SE's intentions, well meant or otherwise, how does that affect your sites/business, and how can you assert your original position?

The floor is open.

or, as we Aussies would say - "Who the Bloody Hell Are Ya?"

So, tell us:

who you are,

perhaps where you are,

how we might recognise you around the traps,

and as much else about yourself as you are comfortable us knowing.