Google has plans for a new website named Knols dubbed for unit of knowledge. Which is to be similiar to the online encyclopedias out on the internet already, such as the well known wikipedia. Google's official blog, describe it with the title "Encouraging people to contribute knowledge". The site is to be a user based tool for organizing of authorative articles, written by users. Google expresses that knols will "Cover all topics from scientific concepts, to medical information, from geographical and historical, to entertainment, from product information, to how-to-fix-it intructions." If you're wondering how that is related to the title well the next paragraph will get into that.

   The part to be most appealing to people is this site will be ad-revenue driven, and authors have a choice to display advertisments. The authors that do choose to display advertisments, will  have the ability to share in "substanial" revenue earned from the ads. Though the pay scale is not mention and/or not determined by google.

Google does suggests that the tool is still in development and gave no indication of when it would come out of the testing phase and roll out to the public. This probably makes you  think of going to the library more often now. Right? Well One thing you surely can't plan on doing is testing the new project because it will be carried out by an invitation-only group of participants.

  The authors will be resonsible for the content they post, and stated by Udi Manber, Googles VP of Engineering, that " Google will not serve as an editor in any way, and will not bless any content." Features, include ability to rank the Knols which means the submissions, will be available in search results, and even on other search engines, making this information easily accessible.

Manbar also said "We are quite experienced with ranking web pages, and we feel confident that we will be up to the challenge," also stating "We are very excited by the potential to substantially increase the dissemination of knowledge. The site is to include the users feedback on the knols with abilities to submit comments, questions, edits, and other abilities. No information is released on if the content will be editable by authors, registered users, or anonymous users.  

 

Resources:

Wikinews

 

 The partnership with DoubleClick and google threatens some companies, and one of the companies such as Microsoft state "that it would give Google an unfair advantage in search and publisher-based advertising tools". Google has been waiting for the last eight months so the FTC can overlook the proposal to spot any antitrust violations. The commision issued their decision, that allowed the merger to move forward, saying the companies are not direct competitors in any relavant market.
 
In a statement by the FTC they said,
 
"The markets within the online advertising space continue to quickly evolve, and predicting their future course is not a simple task...Because the evidence did not support the theories of potential competitive harm, there was no basis on which to seek to impose conditions on this merger."
 
The overwhelming 4-1 vote by the regulators, had approved the merger. Google's response to the  ruling was "The FTC's strong support sends a clear message: this acquisition poses no risk to competition and will benefit consumers," said Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman and CEO. "We hope that the European Commission will soon reach the same conclusion, and we are confident that this deal will deliver more relevant ads for consumers, more choices for advertisers, and more opportunities for website publishers."
 
Google also said, due to acceptance is needed from European regulators, they can't formally close its DoubleClick acquisition, the findings should be announced on April 2.
 
This is just my interpretation of the story, for more info, or full story, it can be
found on this link
www.news.com/FTC-allows-Google-DoubleClick-merger-to-proceed/2100-1024_3-6223631.html 

Beware of this email scam!

Here is the scam email that I have received.

---

Subject: CONTACT ME ASAP!

Received: Mon 9/17/2007 12:16 PM

From: MR. PATRICK CHAN [transaction_online_sender@yahoo.com]

To: undisclosed-recipients:

---

Good Day
I am Mr. Patrick Chan, Executive Director and Chief Financial
Officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have a concealed business
suggestion for you.

Our client Gen. Samir Abi Rahman who was with the Iraqi forces
and also businessman made a fixed deposit for 18 calendar months,
with a value of Twenty Four million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars only in my branch. Several maturities notices was
sent to him, even during the war which began in 2003. Again after
the war another notification was sent and still no response came
from him. We later found out that the General along with his wife
and only daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast
that hit their home.

After more inquiry it was also discovered that Gen. Samir Abi
Rahman did not declare any next of kin in his official papers
including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided
in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew
of his deposit in my bank. So, Twenty Four million Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no
one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is
that according to the laws of my country at the expiration of 5
years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong
Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this
backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Gen. Samir Abi Rahman
so that you will be able to receive his funds.

MODALITIES:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so
that we shall come out successful. I have an attorney that will
prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next
of kin to Gen. Samir Abi Rahman. After you have been made the next
of kin, the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and
secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favour
for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in this matter, as we are going
adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the
necessary documents.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue.Once the funds have been transferred to your
nominated bank account we shall then share in the ratio of 60% for
me 40% for you.

Should you be interested send me the following:
1, Full names,
2, private phone number,
3, current residential address, 

And I prefer you reach me on my private email address
  below:(patrick_chan_contact@yahoo.com.hk)
and finally after I shall provide you with more details on this
  operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Mr. Patrick Chan.

---

Other Resources:

FBI: E-Scams & Warnings
Scamdex

---

Question:

What are the differences between cellular service providers?


Answer:

The three main differences between cellular service providers are the:

1. Cellular Phone Technology
2. Cost Of Service
3. Coverage Area

Cellular service providers are very different from each other in many ways. For example: Verizon Wireless’s network is CDMA which is more advanced than a GSM network which is used by T-Mobile, but on the other hand Verizon Wireless is a lot more expensive than T-Mobile. Ever since Cingular and AT&T merged, they now have the largest nationwide network with coverage in all 50 states. Smaller cellular service providers such as MetroPCS might have only coverage in only a few states.


Listed below is more information about cellular service providers and their differences. You can also see the maps of the coverage area of each cellular service provider by going to their listed website.

	Verizon Wireless	T-Mobile	Sprint	Nextel
Website:	http://www.verizonwireless.com	http://www.t-mobile.com	http://www.sprintpcs.com	http://www.nextel.com
Headquarters:	Bedmister, NJ	Bellevue, WA	Overland Park, KS	Reston, VA
Employees:	51,000	19,000	65,000	16,000
Customers:	43.8 Million	17.3 million	18.9 Million	16.2 million
Network:	CDMA	GSM	CDMA	iDen
Ownership:	55% Verizon Communications and 45% Vodafone	Deutsche Telekom AG - Germany	Publicly Owned	Publicly Owned
Activation Fee:	$35 for 1 year / $15 on 2 year	$35 for 1 year agreement (2 year not available)	$36 for 1 and 2 year agreements	$35/phone - capped at $70 per account
Customer Service Hours:	6:00 am - 11:00 pm Monday - Sunday	24/7	24/7	Mon-Fri 7:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sat 8-5 - online support 24/7
Night Hours:	9:01 pm - 5:59 am Monday - Thursday	9:00 pm - 6:59 am Monday - Friday	9:00 pm - 7:00 am Monday - Thursday	9:00 pm - 7:00 am Monday-Thursday
Weekend Hours:	9:01 pm Friday - 5:59 am Monday	Midnight Friday - Midnight Sunday	9:00 pm Friday - 7:00 am Monday	9:00 pm Friday - 7:00 am Monday
Return Policy:	15 days	14 Days (30 days in California)	14 Days (30 days in California)	15 Days
Upgrade Policy:	Within two months of contract end date.	30 days of service - discount depends on rate plan	Sprint: Pay promotional pricing on the phone of your choice every 18 months	Varies by option
Early Termination Fee:	$175	$200	$150	$200
Standard Long Distance Rate:	$0.20/minutes	$0.20/minute	Included with all plans	$0.15/minute
	AT&T/Cingular	Alltel	CellularOne	MetroPCS
Website:	http://www.cingular.com	http://www.alltel.com	http://www.cellularone.com	http://www.metropcs.com
Headquarters:	Atlanta, GA	Little Rock, AR	Bellevue, WA	Dallas, TX
Employees:	51,000	23,955	N/A	N/A
Customers:	49.1 Million	8.6 million	1 million	859,200
Network:	TDMA & GSM	CDMA	CDMA	CDMA
Ownership:	60% by SBC and 40% by BellSouth	Publicly Owned	CellularOne Group
Activation Fee:	$36 for one and two year agreements/ $18.00 for FamilyTalk add-ons	$35 on Local Freedom Plans / Waived on National and Total Freedom Plans	35	N/A
Customer Service Hours:	24/7	24/7	Technical Support 24 hours, 6am-6pm Billing	24 hours
Night Hours:	9:00 pm - 7:00 am Monday - Thursday	9:00 pm - 5:59 am Mon-Thurs	8 PM - 6 AM	N/A
Weekend Hours:	9:00 pm Friday - 7:00 am Monday	9:00 pm Friday - 5:59 am Monday	8 PM - 6 AM	N/A
Return Policy:	30 days	14 Days	No Installation, if returned after 3 days or less than 60 minutes. Up to 15 days and customer must pay for usage, but no termination charge.	7 days on equipment.
Upgrade Policy:	24 months/promotion price - must turn in old phone	Promotional Price after current contract expires	1 year upgrade after 10 months. 2 year upgrade after 22 months. **Customers can take advantage of any promotional offer**	None
Early Termination Fee:	$150	$200	$200	None
Standard Long Distance Rate:	$0.20/minute	Included with all plans	$0.10	Included
	SureWest	Qwest	Cricket
Website:	http://www.surewestwireless.com	http://www.qwest.com	http://www.cricketcommunications.com