Last week Google made a fundamental change to the way it is delivering search results to you, but apparently it has gotten very little press.  Interesting article.

Where’s Waldo in Google Maps : Natural Search Blog

Hmm, maybe those Utahns are more permissive than I thought…

Too soon?

Pearls Before Swine

via coffeeandaknife: web-comics: … thedailywhat

via mpstearns

Not for the loss of my e-mail access, but for all the whining it results in on my dashboard.

(and I am aware of the irony that this, too, counts as a “whine”)

also read about it here

[h/t alex]

Top 10 Most Powerful Brands

this is over a year old

via Mike031

Bing Ad Click Through Rate 55% More than Google

I think one answer is that being a far more popular portal, Google is visited by a lot more people looking to browse, find definitions, etc, but not shop. Also, Google as a well built-out Content network, which can be a great value but naturally has a much lower CTR than search ads.

via alex

Google Maps Captures Bike Path Street Views in Portland » PDX Pipeline

It’s about time!

[h/t alex]

This is hilarious; local business ads show up on Google for the search, “overpriced fast food restaurants”!

Looks like the restaurants listed had “overpriced” in some of their user-reviews.

If you click-through, most of the listings are for Starbucks.  :)

[Edit: And, to be fair to Cafe Yumm, I love their food and while I wouldn’t call them inexpensive, I don’t think they are overpriced, at least compared to a lot of restaurants out there]

Has anyone played with Google’s Wonder Wheel yet?

It’s an interesting way to discover related search queries and narrow down what you’re looking for.

After you perform a Google search, click “Show Options” and then “Wonder Wheel”

Not entirely fair, but still funny

via urbendisaster: agenerousdesigner: vamhazkrt