Beauty

This is where I wish I was right now- Bora Bora



(Click to enlarge)

Google.org

Google.org
Here's a site that's truly amazing. It's like Google compiled all of their most noble qualities into one location. The direction of Google.org is explained by this quote from its site:

"...In collaboration with experienced partners working in each of these fields, we will invest our resources and tap the strengths of Google’s employees and global operations to advance five major initiatives: Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (RE), RechargeIT, Predict and Prevent, Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services, and Fuel the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises."

Google goes on to explain just how it "advances" the above five initiatives by showing where their grant money is going. Here's the link to the "Grants and Investments" page.

The final notable feature of Google.org is the "Flu Trends" page. This is Google ingenuity at its best. Some time ago, Google noticed that large amounts of users would search for "Flu" keywords on google.com several weeks before any other methods notified the public of a "flu epidemic." Someone on the Google team realized if they could see what area of the country the users were from when they implemented their "flu" search, they could create a map of where the flu virus was most likely to rear its ugly head.

Change.gov

The Obama Administration has launched a site that, they vow, will keep the nation involved with what's going on in the White House. Here's an excerpt from change.gov that describes what it's attempting to accomplish:

"...Throughout the Presidential Transition Project, this website will be your source for the latest news, events, and announcements so that you can follow the setting up of the Obama Administration. And just as this historic campaign was, from the beginning, about you -- the transition process will offer you opportunities to participate in redefining our government..."

One interesting aspect of the site is the blog which it hosts. This means someone will constantly be updating news, pics, vids, and stories for all to see. Personally, I'm hoping that both the good and the bad are updated to the blog, because I'm tired of the whole "Everything I do is Perfect" mentality that the last Administration so often boasted.

Goog-411

Google has a useful tool called Goog-411, which gives directory assistance to anyone who calls for free. This feature is not very new, but is a surprise to me nonetheless. It is very easy to use: Just dial 1800-Goog-411 (1800-466-4411), state the location of your business, then the name of the business, and Viola!- Google will connect you to your business for free. Sweet! Below is Google's video on the subject.




I am a true believer- I have family who will dial "411" three times a day and draw a $2.00 charge each time its used. If he continues his trend, this will save him almost $100 a month.