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Issue #038: BMW Blacklisted
----------------------------------------------------------------- SearchReturn Discussion List "Understanding Internet Search Technology" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator: Published by: Disa Johnson SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- February 14, 2006 SearchReturn Issue #038 ----------------------------------------------------------------- SEND POSTS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Refer a friend: http://www.searchreturn.com/subscribe.shtml ----------------------------------------------------------------- .....IN THIS DIGEST..... // -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- // "Complicity Hurts" "Lawsuit Hits Target" "Technorati Adds Authority" "Microsoft Acquires MotionBridge" ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Complicity Hurts http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs038.shtml Essentials: The recent reports from Reporters Without Borders on search engine behavior in China, Yahoo! came out looking bad. They know it too, and they want help figuring out what to do. The Chinese government wanted records, all search giants except Google have handed them over. Though not always aware what the records are for, Yahoo! learned too late journalists are being jailed as a result, and that has been hard on their image. It's right to argue the search engines would not otherwise be allowed to even operate in China. Although Chinese can access unfettered search, it makes the life of freedom seekers really difficult. There is a "Cisco firewall" at the router level, halting access to subversive sites that criticize the regime. It has become a heated battle against free expression and thought. Let's hope it does not result in a "Splinternet," as feared on the Diane Rehm show this morning. Particularly troubling, is the idea of 30,000 cyber-police enforcing Chinese restrictions on the populace. http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/06/02/14.php Congressman Smith joined Diane Rehm this morning discussing his ideas for legislation that would force a change. Alibaba, the Yahoo! subsidiary that operates from within China, could *not* have flourished without American investment. Congressman Smith wants to curb any such relationships that benefits hard- line governments around the world. He wants to impose policies that address Yahoo! and is very disturbed at Google's behavior. He sees being complicit with hard-line governments in any way as assisting a political cause, and perpetuating the troubles of civilians under oppressive regimes. http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs038.shtml ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Lawsuit Hits Target http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6038123.html Essentials: Big brands should learn to deal with usability issues concerning visually impaired users, or face potential lawsuits. In terms of Search Engine Optimization, the ramifications of stuffing alt tags should be crystal clear. The tag is vital for visually impaired users, it is a requirement under XHTML and it just might get you in trouble when you neglect it. Visually impaired users rely on alt text to make purchases, and you would never want to misrepresent purchase information to a blind user. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Technorati Adds Authority http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs038.shtml Essentials: The link quotient of rankings is now taken up by popular blog search engine Technorati. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> Microsoft Acquires MotionBridge http://www.searchreturn.com/digest/refs038.shtml Essentials: With one acquisition, Microsoft goes from zero to sixty in Mobile Search applications destined for the Windows Live initiative. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Got feedback?: http://www.searchreturn.com/feedback.shtml Archives: http://www.searchreturn.com/digest-archive.shtml Alternate formats: http://www.searchreturn.com/info-formats.shtml Manage Subscriptions: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/manage-subs.shtml Problems unsubscribing? Contact the postmaster: mailto:postmaster@searchreturn.com Information on how to sponsor this publication: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/advertise.shtml Published by SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com Website Membership: http://www.searchreturn.com/register.shtml The contents of the digest do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SearchReturn or Disa Johnson. SearchReturn and Disa Johnson make no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents of the SearchReturn Digest. Copyright 2006 Disa Johnson. All Rights Reserved. -----------------------------------------------------------------