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Issue #038: BMW Blacklisted

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                    SearchReturn Discussion List
             "Understanding Internet Search Technology"
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Moderator:                                          Published by:
Detlev Johnson                                       SearchReturn
               http://www.searchreturn.com
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February 14, 2006                         SearchReturn Issue #038
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                   .....IN THIS DIGEST.....

// -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- //

           "Complicity Hurts"
           "Lawsuit Hits Target"
           "Technorati Adds Authority"
           "Microsoft Acquires MotionBridge"

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// -- ESSENTIAL NEWS -- //

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==> 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

 

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==> 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.

 

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==> 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.


 

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==> 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.

 

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