Why is GMail still in beta?
August 18, 2008 | 4 Comments
I don’t really understand why GMail is still considered a beta application.
Years ago when I first joined GMail — right at the point where people were selling invites on eBay — it made sense as a beta. New members were limited by the number of invites that Google gave out, servers were being tested (I assume), etc. That would certainly constitute a beta service.
But then the issued invites began to grow… 50… 100. Then all of a sudden you could sign up by requesting a text message. And then, one day, you could sign up on the web page itself. But the beta mark still remained.
Now, a few years later, it’s still there for seemingly no apparent reason. Are they still testing their system? Is Google considering a sweet GMail Final? Sure, they are constantly adding new features through the GMail Labs, but once it’s out of beta it doesn’t mean that mean development stops. Maybe Google’s just keeping the beta label for the hell of it. I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Have an idea why GMail is still in beta, share it in the comments below.
From Here to There
January 12, 2008 | 0 Comments
Thanks to Google Maps, I now know how long it takes to get from Here to There.
Héré, Duingt, France to Théré, Vernoux-sur-Boutonne, France - Google Maps
What’s in a name?
May 10, 2007 | 3 Comments
Have you ever googled your name? Don’t be shy, everyone seems to be doing it. Ask.com says that 7% of all web searches are for someone’s name (WSJ). In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently claimed that “You’re a Nobody Unless Your Name Googles Well.” In the article, they quote Matt Cutts, a Google software engineer, with saying:
Any time you can distinguish yourself with a distinctive name or a distinctive characteristic that sticks out in people’s minds, that’s going to be the best solution.
This quest for distinctive characteristics is driving people do some very interesting things. I’m sure you’ve already heard that potential employers are googling applicant names to see what comes up (all you psycho MySpacers with all your bulletins and pictures from that totally awesome party last year be warned). The “vanity searching” doesn’t stop there. Apparently some authors are starting to include their middle name in publications so that they are easier to find among search engine results and parents-to-be are searching potential name combinations to see if their child will be unique — based solely on google positioning, of course and not, you know, personality and character.
So what’s in a name? If you google Justin Cox, my name in case you don’t really know what you’re reading, you’ll see that I’m the number one result which, of course, makes me the coolest Justin Cox to have ever lived in the history of the planet. If you are somehow able to skip the first result and peruse some of the other 3 million results, you’ll find Justin Cox: the Photographer, Justin Cox: the Hockey Player, Justin Cox: the Graduate Assistant, Justin Cox: the Socyberty Author, Justin Cox: the Graphic Designer, Justin Cox: the Evangelist, Justin Cox: the Editor-at-Large, Justin Cox: the Recovering American, Justin Cox: the Cox Built Owner, and well I think you get the point.
It’s good to see that in this technology age where privacy doesn’t actually exist I’m the coolest Justin Cox in the world.
Who Are These People!?
July 21, 2003 | 3 Comments
Throughout the month of July, Lone Palm Creations has been averaging around 100 visits per day. Not much you say? Well considering the site averages about twice that on days surrounding a new post, and the fact that there hasn’t been a new article posted in nearly a month, I’d say that’s pretty good. What does it matter? Well, through the course of the month I have been monitoring visitors to the site, what they are looking at, and how they got here—yes, Big Brother is watching. So who are these people visiting the one and only LPC? Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Let me start with a question. What do you think is the most popular page on my site–the article read more than any other? The answer, Article 50: Dawson’s Creek Series Finale. That’s right. Shannon’s article about the final episode of Dawson’s Creek is the most popular page on this site. Nearly one third of all site visits (27.52%) results in a viewing of this article; this is just under twice the amount that view the sites second most popular page, the index. Have I confused you? Ok, here’s the deal. My faithful readers, friends, family and what not who either have the site bookmarked or type the address in directly, result in a visit to the index. So how, then, does Shannon’s article double the viewing of the index? Two words, search engines.
For some reason, unknown to me, by searching for “Dawson’s Creek Series Finale” on pretty much every search engine brings my site up right near the top. For example, take Google (click here for a shortcut to the search). Now, if you attempted the search or are just taking my word for it, you’ll notice that Shannon’s article is THE SECOND RESULT ON THE PAGE! Yes, it results even higher than THE OFFICIAL DAWSON’S CREEK EPISODE GUIDE! How does this happen, I have no idea. However, I have been tracking the views of that page and a majority of them are from countries all around the world. My thoughts: the finale hit syndication around the world and people went online to get info on it. You’ll also notice that Shannon’s article has the most posted comments than any other article, but we’ll get to that later.
So enough about the Creek, what is the second most read article? Well, I’ll answer that with the second most searched for phrase. The second most searched for phrase which leads to my website is any combination of “nude youth camp,” naked volleyball,” “photos of nude teen girls,” etc. Figured it out yet? The second most read article is Article 59: Summer Camp, With a Twist. I’ll have you know that a lot of sites hide keywords (what the search engines search for) like sex and porn on their pages somewhere to get more traffic. But I do not stoop that low! No, I, the author of the one and only Lone Palm Creations, place words like sex, porn, nudism, and the Olsen Twins DIRECTLY in the body of my articles for the world to see–the result is still the same in the long run.
Anyway, enough about that crap. I want to take the time here to address some of the more, shall I say, special comments made throughout my website.
Visitor Harley, who has been traced back to London, comments on my article The Meaning of That as follows:
Zebras are black and white for cooling - as the wind passes over the white and black areas - it draws heat off the body more effectivly thanjust a solid colour…
To this I say, Harley thank you for the wonderful insight. I am really impressed that you know this and hope that, in the future when I attempt to make a joke, you continue to correct me and make sure my readers stay informed and in the know.
Reader Jasmine, who appears to be from Austin, Texas (don’t mess with her) left about a six page response to Shannon’s Creek article, and then, these interesting words:
i’m always looking for new ppl to talk to– especially since i watch a lot of tv, and NONE of my friends like the same shows i do,a nd i love to talk about my fave shows. but if u want to contact my, u should first now that i’m EXTREMELY weird and insane, and i HATE preps ans peps.
Hum… I’ve written about Hot or Not, though my new friend Jasmine (hi Jasmine) has got me thinking, LPC: Hook Ups. How’s an internet dating service sound? Look for it in the future.
Some guy from Tampa named George, in a comment also on the Dawson’s Creek article writes:
i want to have a 3 some with dawson and pacey
Yeah, ok George. Let me see if I can arrange that for you. I’ll add it to the list just below getting Jimmy Buffett to play a Lone Palm Creations benefit concert and having Katie Holmes become a regular author here.
And our finnal comment of the night was posted by Jeff in regards to Popular Culture:
justin, i hope you weren’t complaining about low rise jeans, they’re a good thing.
No Jeff, I am in fact a big fan of low rise jeans–especially when they’re on the Olsen Twins (I bet that’ll draw in some readers).
Work, Fate, and the South Poll
May 20, 2003 | 3 Comments
Well people, after a lovely two weeks of doing absolutely nothing, I’ve started working again. For those that know me, you know I am Mateer and Harbert’s most faithful employee. I have been at the M&H law firm for a total of three years calendar time and oh what a ride it’s been. Currently–and probably for the entire summer for that matter–I am working on this massive destruction project in which I sort old files and slate them to be destroyed. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? At least I get an office with a computer and a view. Hehe. I can safely say that M&H is very good to me and by far the best working experience I’ve ever had–which isn’t saying much considering all I can compare it to is Publix which was a complete hell hole.
I speak of fate this evening because sometimes it’s funny how things work out the way they do. I mean, ever go car shopping only to find out your friend’s mom is selling a car and a guy you work with’s brother is opening a dealership? Anyway, that’s not exactly what I came to talk about. The other night in a fit of boredom online a friend asked for a random word and a random number. So I gave her the first word into my head, Westminster, and–of course–the number 316 (if you don’t know, it’s probably best not to ask). Anyway, come to find out she searched Yahoo! for Westminster and looked up the 316th result. What was it? Interestingly enough it was an ad to combat litter in Regent’s Park, which can be found here. So in turn she gave me a random word (hippopotamus) and a random number (23) and I searched on Google (I like it better even though they use Yahoo for the most part). The result? A poem by T.S. Eliot entitled “The Hippopotamus.” The poem is pretty cool actually and can be found here, at the resulting page. What does this have to do with fate? Probably nothing but it was a lot of fun and the results were pretty cool.
Anyway, my final topic tonight can be classified into the “what in the hell is wrong with people” section of my website. Yesterday a British man named Pen Hadow completed a 64 day walk. First off, what kind of name is Pen? Oh boy. Anyway, where did he walk to you ask? Oh, just from the northernmost human settlement in Canada to the geographical North Pole, a distance of 478 miles. But get this, ’cause the story does get better, he didn’t just walk–he swam too. I mean what an idiot. AND he did utilize any food or supply drops that treks to the North Pole usually require, he carried all his stuff with him. Evidently he’s some sort of crazy hiking guide that takes people on trips to both the North and South Poles. Regardless though, how boring could 64 days alone be? At least he was able to talk to people via a satellite phone–until the battery died. Somehow he managed to keep a diary online throughout the course of this his trip and you can read that here. Anyway, I gotta give the guy some credit because I mean, it’s not something I could do–not that I would want to but hey, that’s the way it is right?