State CIO J. Clark Kelso wants to make government more accessible to the citizens of California. In an interview with Information Week's Eric Chabrow, (Nov 22, 2004), Kelso announced, "We need to start changing the inefficeinent way we provide services." The state spends between $2 billion and $4 billion annually on IT.

Kelso is the author of the "California State Information Technology Strategic Plan" (PDF), a 5-year plan presented this month to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Plan follows a more lengthy report issued in August by the California Performance Review Commission. The Commision was charged by Gov. Schwarzenegger with figuring out how to make state government work better and cheaper. Among the ideas in the panel's $32 billion cost-cutting recommendations: favoring open-source software over proprietary alternatives for new IT purchases.

The report, titled Government for the People for a Change, is a 4-volume study with recommendations including recommendations to "Explore Open Source Alternatives." "The state should more extensively consider use of open source software," it recommends, "which can in many cases provide the same functionality as closed source software at a much lower total cost of ownership."

The CIO's most recent plan to bring efficiency to California Information Technology promotes six strategic goals including three that could be facilitated by open source RSS syndication:

• Make Government services more accessible to citizens and State clients.


• Implement common business applications and systems to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.


• Lower costs and improve the security, reliability and performance of the State's IT infrastructure.

Unfortunately, there is no mention of RSS news feeds or xml syndication anywhere in the plan.

California prides itself as the world's fifth largest economy, but in the world of providing syndicated news and services, it lags behind Rhode Island and Delaware. Social Commentator Jamais Cascio writing in WorldChanging wryly observes, "Some states that you'd think would be technologially on the ball (California, for example) have few if any feeds, while other locations are swimming in them."

The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) now has their publications syndicated as RSS channels. These publications are brief discussions about the Wisconsin government and the state legislature in particular, and public policy issues facing the legislature.

Cat lovers often come up with creative ways to express their love for their pets, and Salt Inkso’s clients are doing it through the power of tattoos. This ink artist from Shanghai became a huge sensation on Instagram thanks to her unique tattoos, depicting cats inside shopping bags. Salt Inkso is crafting some of the […]

Practical Cyber Intelligence provides a thorough and practical introduction to the different tactics, techniques, and procedures that exist in the field of cyber investigation and cyber forensics to collect, preserve, and analyze digital evidence, enabling readers to understand the digital landscape and analyze legacy devices, current models, and models that may be created in the future. Readers will learn how to determine what evidence exists and how to find it on a device, as well as what story it tells about the activities on the device. Over 100 images and tables are included to aid in reader comprehension, and case studies… [Continue Reading]

Logitech is making it easier for consumers to access refurbished devices with the expansion of its Certified Refurbished program. Now, customers in North America and Europe can purchase a wide range of products, including mice, keyboards, tablet accessories, gaming gear from Logitech G, and Bluetooth speakers through Logitech’s eBay Refurbished brand store and its own websites. The company is tapping into a growing trend as more consumers seek out high-quality refurbished products. The appeal of these devices lies in their cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits, offering users a way to own premium technology while contributing to waste reduction. Sacni Leon, Head… [Continue Reading]

Apple has launched a beta feature called Share Item Location in iOS 18.2, allowing users to share the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with third parties. This update is designed to simplify the process of locating misplaced items, particularly when traveling. Users can generate a secure link in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which can then be shared. The recipient can access an interactive map that shows the item’s location and updates automatically. The shared link expires after seven days or when the item is recovered, maintaining privacy and security. “Find… [Continue Reading]

Fully updated to reflect modern developments in the field, the Fifth Edition of An Introduction to Optimization fills the need for an accessible, yet rigorous, introduction to optimization theory and methods, featuring innovative coverage and a straightforward approach. The book begins with a review of basic definitions and notations while also providing the related fundamental background of linear algebra, geometry, and calculus. With this foundation, the authors explore the essential topics of unconstrained optimization problems, linear programming problems, and nonlinear constrained optimization. In addition, the book includes an introduction to artificial neural networks, convex optimization, multi-objective optimization, and applications of optimization in… [Continue Reading]

UX surveys can be pivotal tools for designers seeking to understand user preferences, opinions, and behaviors. They foster alignment between design strategies and user expectations and can improve product or service usability. Our overview unravels the process of conducting UX …

Two Irish County Councils and several other Irish, Northern Ireland, and UK government agencies are publishing press releases using the new Nooked hosted online RSS publishing service.

In video editing, one key aspect that can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your videos is...

Creating a personal oasis in the midst of our hectic lives is more than just a luxury;...

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

I posted the November 2024 Google webmaster report a bit late this month, sorry about that. Google is testing anchor text based links in the AI Overviews. Google Ads has unpaused the election ads today. Google Ads Editor version 2.8 is out. Google is testing removing the site name and favicons from the search results. Google Maps finder may or may not show the sponsored label on the left side. HARO is being closed next month.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• November 2024 Google Webmaster Report
  While Google has yet to confirm a Google search ranking update, we have seen tremendous volatility in the Google Search results this month. Google did however confirm it can downgrade sections of content that is starkly different from the main content. We also posted an update on the helpful content update. Finally, Google did say a new Google update is coming soon.
• Google AI Overviews Testing Anchor Text Based Hyperlinks
  Google is testing showing real blue anchor text based hyperlinks in the AI Overviews, instead of showing that paperclip icon. This may encourage searchers to click on the links within the AI Overviews more - or maybe not - we have no data to validate this because Google won't give it to us.
• Google Ads Allows US Elections Ads Again Today
  Google has lifted its pause on US election and political ads today, Monday, November 11, 2024. The pause of US based election ads was temporarily instituted after the US election polls closed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Google has now lifted the temporary pause and you can begin those ads again, if you so want to.
• Google Tests Dropping Site Name & Favicon From Search Results
  Google is testing removing the favicons and site name from the mobile search results. As you may remember, Google first launched these in the mobile search results back in October 2022 and yes, Google has had its trouble with these favicons and site names over the years.
• Google Map Finder Ads Sponsored Labels Not Always Showing
  Google may be testing displaying sponsored labels in different positions within the local map finder view. Some of the ads have sponsored labels on the left side, where it lists the local listings. While others don't show the sponsored label until you hover over the listing.
• Google Ads Editor Version 2.8 Is Now Out
  Google has released version 2.8 of the Google Ads Editor. This new update brings a number of new features including AI-generatged images, export to Google Sheets, brand guidelines, image cropping, strict age and gender targeting, a new help center and more.
• HARO / Connectively Platform Closing Down December 9
  HARO, Help a Reporter Out, now known as the Connectively Platform is being discontinued, and shut down, on December 9th. For SEOs, it was a way to get attention and potentially links, from journalists and it is a topic we've covered in the past.
• Google Hosts A Plant Party
  This isn't a joke, they have parties centered around plants. Google had a "plant party" at its Kitchener, Ontario office the other week. Googlers sat in a big room and made plants, it was a party.

Other Great Search Threads:

• For those wondering about what @JohnMu answered to my question related to the validity or not of es-419 as language code for Latam Spanish in the #hreflang , here his answer confirming it's still not considered, Gianluca Fiorelli on X
• Nothing has changed, the documentation for this is pretty stable. If we decided to support different code sets, we would make a big deal about it., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• This is great to see, an HCU-affected site (which Google specifically acknowledged as having good content) is now ranking in position 2 organically for a valuable, relevant keyword (above REI & Switchback Travel). Green line in t, Lily Ray on X
• Google is displaying schema prices in bold, Sachin Patel on X
• Heads-up: Looks like there have been some huge surges and drops in the recipe space over the past few weeks. And Oct 26 was a big day for a number of those sites impacted. Some were tied to the August 2024 broad core update... and t, Glenn Gabe on X
• We took a revenue hit in our Moz SEO business, partially due to the MozCon conference moving out of the quarter, but also due to a softening a new customer acquisition" Ziff Davis are usually pretty quiet about their Moz acquisit..., Glen Allsopp on X
• I'm delighted to announce the<< #SEOFOMO News: Your Real-Time Source for SEO and Digital Marketing news. 'SEOFOMO News<< is a news community designed for SEO and digital marketing professionals to stay current with the, Aleyda Solis on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google to unpause political election ads Nov. 11
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Google shifts Demand Gen audience categorization to 'signals'
• Google sunsets Local Services Ads mobile app, shifts focus to web platform
• Google's srsltid= parameter: What it means for SEO and attribution
• YouTube expands shorts monetization, adds new analytics features
• How to brief a content creator effectively for social search marketing

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• Google Analytics launches data access monitoring tools for security control, PPC Land

Industry & Business

• OpenAI loses another lead safety researcher, Lilian Weng, TechCrunch
• A.I.-Powered Painting of Alan Turing Sells for $1.1 Million, New York Times
• How ChatGPT Brought Down an Online Education Giant - WSJ, Wall Street Journal

Links & Content Marketing

• 100+ Winter Content Ideas to Keep Your Marketing Momentum, WordStream
• 10 Content Optimization Tips From 13 SEO Experts, Surfer SEO
• Optimize Content for Search Engines: From Invisible to Unmissable, Level343

Local & Maps

• Edit your Business Hours on Google Business Profile, Sterling Sky
• Google Maps now lets you pick and paint your own virtual car, Android Police
• Has Google Maps seemed a lot less reliable to you lately?, Android Police
• Siri Finally Gets Local Search, Near Media
• Google Maps Introduces AR For Paris Landmarks With Rock Paper Reality, Forbes

Mobile & Voice

• Gurman: Apple Vision Pro 2 on track for release between Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, 9to5Mac
• Standalone 'Google Gemini' app spotted for iPhone with Live, 9to5Google

SEO

• AI vs. SEO: What does the Future of Search look like?, SISTRIX
• News sites 'don't have genuine choice' over Google AI crawlers, Press Gazette
• SEO Poisoning: Google Search Traps Cat Lovers with Malware in Surprising Bengal Cat Scam, Bill Hartzer
• SERP Features Beyond Google '" Analysing China, Advanced Web Ranking
• What if Schema.org is just'... Labels?, Jono Alderson

PPC

• 9 PPC Metrics to Track & How to Optimize Them, Semrush
• Google Ads Speeds Up Access to Automated Asset Settings, PPC News Feed
• How To Design Effective A/B Tests for PPC, PPCChat
• Video: How to Set Up Attribute Rules in Google Merchant Center Next, ZATO Marketing
• What Is Keyword Advertising? A Guide to How It Works + Tips, Semrush
• Customize Your Communication Preferences with Google Ads Reps, PPC News Feed
• Google AdSense unveils enhanced features for 2024 holiday season monetization, PPC Land
• Performance Max Is transforming Google search results - But at what cost?, PPC Land
• Google Ads RLSA: How to Retarget Your Search Campaigns, Jyll Saskin Gales

Search Features

• The Google app is testing a convenient way to check your search history, Android Police
• How search engines changed with proxies, TechRadar
• Veterans Day 2024 Doodle, Google Doodles

Other Search

• ChatGPT told 2M people to get their election news elsewhere '" and rejected 250K deepfakes, TechCrunch
• AI didn't sway the election, but it's eroding voters' grip on reality, Washington Post
• OpenAI Shifts Strategy as Rate of 'GPT' AI Improvements Slows, The Information
• Researchers at Peking University Introduce A New AI Benchmark for Evaluating Numerical Understanding and Processing in Large Language Models, MarkTechPost

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google released the November 2024 core update, so far, we are not seeing much movement but I have a lot more details in the story below. Have you seen term drift in SEO and Google Search. Google has SEO advice on version history pages. Google Ads is testing subheading links. Google is testing seller and product ratings on the same shopping ad. Google is testing a current sales section in search.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google November 2024 Core Update Is Now Rolling Out - What We Know So Far
  Google has begun rolling out the third core update for the year, the November 2024 core update. This update started to roll out on November 11, 2024 at around 3:30 pm and will take about two weeks to complete rolling out. This seems like a typical core update, without any new specifics about what changed or what improved.
• SEO Advice On Version History Pages From Google
  Google's John Mueller posted some SEO advice on how to handle version history pages, for product releases, specifications, APIs and other version history. This advice is pretty similar to how to handle recurring event pages, like conferences and events. In short, the main page should keep the same URL and then archive the older version history details on an archive page URL.
• Term Drift In SEO - Why It Matters
  The meanings of words and brands can change over time. The terms can drift to different meanings. Term drift happens, although it is rare amongst words and less rare with rebrands - but still, it happens.
• New Google Travel Ads Feed Format May Be Rolling Out
  A couple of weeks ago, Google announced the new features for travel search ads through integration with travel feeds. These may now be out in the wild, as we are seeing pricing and other rich markup showing up for hotel ads in Google Search.
• Google Search Current Sales Expandable Section
  Google Search has been rolling out this new expandable section in the search results titled "current sales." I guess Google is able to figure out what is a sale and what is not, maybe from structured data or Merchant Center and then have a section in the search results for that...
• Google Shopping Ads With Both Seller & Product Ratings
  Google is showing both seller ratings and product ratings on a single Google Shopping Ad unit. It is a bit weird to see both ratings, and it can potentially be confusing to see different ratings for the same retailer but one is for the rating of the specific product and one is for the rating of the company selling that product, i.e the seller.
• Google Ads Tests Subheadline Links Under Search Ad Title Links
  Google is testing placing a second link directly under the main ad headline link, some call the title link, that pull from your Google Ads assets or extensions. It is unusual to see these links right next to each other, sometimes you'd see them as sitelinks under the ad description but not directly under the main headline link.
• GooglePlex Sign: Please Refrain From Touching The Androids
  Here is a sign at the GooglePlex that is politely asking visitors to not touch the Androids. It says, "Please refrain from touching the Androids - Thank you." I often see photos of people climbing on them, so maybe that will help?

Other Great Search Threads:

• chatgpt went down for 30 mins today :( we are much, much better at reliability than we used to be, but clearly more work in front of us., Sam Altman on X
• Here are two key takeaways from Google's Search Central Live Taipei 2024., Hope Lui on LinkedIn
• Marigold Magic! From the flavors to the culture, India left us spellbound. That's a wrap on the Gurugram #PESummit24. We loved connecting with PEs in person and virtually!, Google's Product Experts Program on X
• Nothing has changed with the way audiences work in Demand Gen campaigns., Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn
• Several readers are asking me why Search Engine Roundtable won't come up in any Google AI Overviews. I don't have a good explanation but they are right. Even based on third party tools that track them, SER does not show up at all. I assume it is some sort, Barry Schwartz on LinkedIn
• Site reputation abuse reminder: Marketplace Operations Inc & Forbes Marketplace Holdings Inc are responsible for the content on Forbes Advisor, Health, Wheels & Home Improvement. Remember them + Thomas Callahan as we uncover how th, Goog Enough on X
• You can add voiceover to your Pmax videos to increase users attention., Thomas Eccel on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google November 2024 core update rolling out now
• Data: PMax performance stable, but Search CPCs increasing
• Google debuts Sale Event promotion type in Merchant Center
• Google integrates seller and product ratings in Shopping Ads
• Google Ads Editor 2.8 launches with AI image generation
• Server access logs and SEO: Everything you need to know in 2025
• Knowledge graphs: An introduction
• How to gain visibility in generative AI answers: GEO for Perplexity and ChatGPT

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• How to use Google Analytics 4 to track social media performance, Hootsuite

Industry & Business

• Google Executive Picked to Supercharge News Efforts Has Resigned, Wall Street Journal
• Acodie Interview Series: Barry Schwartz, Founder of the Search Engine Roundtable, Acodez

Links & Content Marketing

• NEW: Topics, Interests, and Content Ideas Now Live in SparkToro V2, SparkToro

Local & Maps

• Coming Soon: An All-New Moz Local, Moz
• Goodbye, Google Maps? Apple Maps Envisions Revolutionary Traffic Light Navigation Feature, AutoEvolution
• Google Maps moves the weather for a cleaner map on Android, 9to5Google

Mobile & Voice

• ChatGPT is currently down; Siri integration in iOS 18.2 affected, 9to5Mac
• Google Gemini tests an overlay that looks like you're texting your assistant from any screen, Android Police
• Google's Android-exclusive Gemini Live could be about to launch on iPhone, TechRadar
• Why 'Type to Siri' Is My Favorite New iOS 18.1 Feature, Lifehacker

SEO

• Introducing our Bing Webmaster Tools API Python Client, Merj
• Technically Wrong, But Worth Fixing?, Chris Green
• What we learned at NESS 2024 (pt. 2), SEO For Journalism
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update '" Version 21.0, Screaming Frog

PPC

• 5 Ways to Maximize Your Ad Performance with AdCreative.ai, Semrush
• CMA demands changes to Google Privacy Sandbox after cookie deprecation reversal, PPC Land
• Google Lifts the Lid (a Little) on AI Buying Tool Pmax, Giving Buyers More Ways to Test, AdWeek
• Taboola reports Q3 Growth and raises 2024 targets amid AI expansion, PPC Land
• Unpacking the Data Behind Trump and Harris' Presidential Election Ad Spending, PPC Hero
• Updated PMAX Table View Now Displays Ad Strength, PPC News Feed
• What Digital Marketing Agencies Are Saying Behind Your Back, DAGMAR
• Image Asset Gallery Combines Square & Horizontal Images, PPC News Feed

Other Search

• Ecosia, Qwant partner on search engine tech to counter Google's power, CNBC
• LLMO: 10 Ways to Work Your Brand Into AI Answers, Ahrefs
• OpenAI and others seek new path to smarter AI as current methods hit limitations, Reuters
• Two Upstart Search Engines Are Teaming Up to Take on Google, Wired

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

Californian company Brimstone has announced the development of the world’s first carbon negative cement product. It’s a bold statement, and if true could revolutionize the global building industry and lead to a new era of carbon neutral construction.  Cement is a big deal. Every year and estimated 4.4 billion tons of the stuff is produced to craft our buildings. But there’s a hidden cost to the environment. If cement was a country, it would be the third largest CO2 emitter...

The post Brimstone – the world’s first carbon negative portland cement appeared first on The Red Ferret Journal.

The Honda Motocompacto has to be one of the weirdest e-bikes we’ve ever seen. It’s not just the strange skinny shape, it’s also the fact that it doesn’t appear to offer any real advantage over an electric scooter except a rudimentary seat. Just 3.7 inches wide, it’s made out of aluminum and plastic, and boasts a max speed of 12 mph and a range of 15 miles per 3 hour charge. While we may scoff at the quirky design, there’s...

The post Honda Motocompacto – The e-Bike That Thinks It’s A Suitcase appeared first on The Red Ferret Journal.

IndieCade's Night Games returns to downtown's Music Center, bringing a host of unique and experimental games focused on communal play. And being silly.

When dreaming up new business ideas, some of the most boring businesses are often overlooked. However, it’s the boring business ideas that can often be the most sustainable and profitable. The Best Boring Businesses to Start This Year All of…

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Gary Arndt is a pretty unique individual.  He’s a polymath who triple majored in college and then went back to study additional subjects. He started an early internet company and then sold it for 7 figures before he turned 30. …

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After close to 2000 podcast episodes, Joe Saul-Sehy knows a thing or two about growing an audience.  In fact, his finance podcast, Stacking Benjamins, has amassed a massive following of 180k listeners, with shows averaging around 40k listens/episode. Joe’s no…

The post How Joe Saul-Sehy Grew His Financial Podcast to 180k Listeners appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

Vinny DelGiudice first dove into blogging to pass the time when he moved to Nevada by himself just out of grad school. Although that blog never really took off, he did learn a lot from the process. A few years…

The post How Vinny DelGiudice Grew His Italian-American Food Blog to +100k Page Views a Month appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

Taegan Goddard’s been in the blogging game for a long time, launching his first website before WordPress even existed.  He went on to create his current website, Political Wire , which has been not only running but growing consistently for…

The post How Taegan Goddard’s Political Blog Gets Up To 10 Million Visitors/Month appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

This week Jared Bauman sits down with Jake Cain, a long-time blogger with a portfolio of sites, a former Niche Pursuits employee, and an attendee at Google’s recent Creator Summit. In this interview, Jake shares his experience at the event,…

The post Jake Cain Was Inside Google’s “Secret” Meeting with 20 HCU Crushed Bloggers. Here’s What Happened appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

El estudio que considera 13 países de la región proporcionará información valiosa para la planificación, evaluación y comercialización de publicidad en medios y plataformas digitales.

San Diego State University's national semifinal victory in the Final Four made for an electrifying weekend for both the students and residents of San Diego. Get a sneak peek at the weekend viewership for SDSU’s Final Four game below.

It was a big week for Connecticut sports fans as the UConn Huskies won their fifth men’s national title and brought an end to another year of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. 

The 149th Kentucky Derby is here, and although fancy hats and mint juleps get all the attention at the event, many of us tune in from the comfort of our own homes. Get a sneak peek at viewership in the Louisville, KY market below!

Another year of the NBA Finals has come and gone, and for the first time in history, the Denver Nuggets are NBA Champions. The five-game series didn’t just make a splash in the NBA history books though, as the series garnered strong ratings and viewership across linear television. 

Wimbledon 2023 wrapped up with a men’s final tennis masterclass, and social media didn't miss out on the action.

Fr. Stephen reflects on the monastic cave in which St. John of Damascus dwelt and compares it to the "cave" of our heart.

Fr. Stephen looks at the image of Christ with the unrighteous gathered around Him and recalls a famous passage in Dostoevsky.

Fr. Stephen looks at particular points within the gospel teaching that are sometimes "scandalous," that is a "rock of stumbling" for believers. He examines how important these points are and how essential for our salvation.

The goal of the Christian life is true knowledge of God (Jn. 17:3). Fr. Stephen speaks about the mysterious character of this knowledge.

The frightful pressure felt by the young as they struggle to find their vocation is deeply enmeshed in the Modern Project. Fr. Stephen looks at those expectations as well as the true vocation of Christians.

Fr. Stephen reflects on the hidden nature of God's work.

Fr. Stephen explains how God is the Ultimate Particular, not "God in General," and what this means for our lives.

Fr. Stephen Freeman offers thoughts on the place of the heart during our nation's struggles. Along with the example of St. John Chrysostom, he points us toward the role our own shame plays in the turmoil of our lives. There is a better way.

In this talk Fr. Stephen continues with the imagery of the One-Storey Universe, but uses it to challenge our sense of finitude and scarcity and instead boldly proclaims that the risen Christ has raised us to a kingdom where we are not bound by limits, but by the endless abundance of His love.

As the AI chatbot's advanced conversational capabilities continue to generate buzz, here are detailed answers to your most-asked questions.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in everything ChatGPT Search has to offer? This quick trick may be for you.