Below is what happened in search today, as reported on
Search Engine Land and from other
places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

• 
  Search Biz: Google Ups And Downs, Yahoo’s Jekyll And Hyde Sides, The Revolving Door & More
  Writing the Search Biz column is challenging because of the diverse group of stories that get collected every day. Today there’s an unusually large number, however, there are basically three broad themes: Google and the company’s legal challenges, Yahoo’s Jekyll and Hyde positions on China and human rights, and…
• 
  Search In Pictures: Yahoo Bubble Boy, Herbie Hancock Live, Google Hancock Building
  In this week’s Search In Pictures, here are the latest images culled from the web, showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have, and more….
• 
  Microsoft, Yahoo Appear To Dig In Their Heels
  Both the Wall Street Journal and CNET are reporting about an apparently unsuccessful meeting between Microsoft and Yahoo this week. According to the Journal, “The Microsoft executives showed no willingness to raise their cash-and-stock offer, and the Yahoo camp continued to refuse to enter formal negotiations without a sweetened bid,…
• 
  Google Tests Middle Of Page One Box Results
  Google Blogoscoped reports that Google is testing the placement of one box results within the middle of the search results. We have seen Google test “search refinements” within the middle of the search results, but never really one box results, at least not in this separated form. Here is a…
• 
  Google To Allow Bidding On Keyword Trademarks In UK
  The UK PPC Blog tipped me off to Google announcing that the UK AdWords trademark policy has been changed to work like the US AdWords trademark policy. What this means is that UK advertisers can now bid on trademark terms, when earlier, those trademarked terms were blocked from bidding on…
• 
  Human Hardware: Dunbar’s Number
  Few things about the internet generate as much buzz as social networking. Suddenly, it looks like the very fabric of our society might be rewoven online. The world becomes our community as we erase geographic boundaries to connect based on shared interests and ideals. Whether your community of choice…

Search News From Around The Web:

Applications & Portal Features

• What’s new with Google Gears? A Tech Talk, Google Gears API Blog
• Google’s Chinese Partner Adds Community Forecasts, Google Blogoscoped

Business Issues

• Baidu.com Allies With 15 Broadcasting Stations, ChinaTechNews
• Cone of silence (finally) lifts on the spectrum auction, Official Google Blog
• Couple Sues Google Over "Street View", www.thesmokinggun.com
• Federal Court Waxes Theoretical During Google Search Case, MediaPost
• Fidelity Distancing Itself From Google, WebProNews
• Is Content King? Or Is Search?, BusinessWeek
• New Fox Interactive Group Moves Into Yahoo Center In Santa Monica, paidContent.org

Local, Maps & Mobile

• Adgent Raises $5.3 Million First Round To Localize Online Ads, paidContent.org
• Does Local need to be held to a higher standard? Greg Sterling Responds, Mike Blumenthal
• Google Absent From Wireless Show, InformationWeek
• Google Plus Box - for real, Mike Blumenthal
• Google’s Android work far from finished, News.com
• MerchantCircle Debuts "Verified Listings" Program, Screenwerk
• Superpages "Replies" Adds Mobile Distribution, Screenwerk
• Where in the world is… (answers), Google LatLong
• Yahoo! India launches maps in local languages, Zee News

Link Building

• Is it Normal to Plateau When Doing Continuous Link Building?, Search Engine Roundtable

Paid Search & Contextual

• Auto-Tag Your Site in 5 Minutes with adCenter Analytics - adCenter Analytics, adcentercommunity.com
• Landing Page Optimization, The SEO Scoop
• Leveraging Traditional Media Placements in an Online World, Search Engine Watch
• Using geolocation targeted keywords in PPC ads for consumer confidence, Jennifer Slegg
• Want Your Business to Be Around in 450 Million Years? Manage Your PPC Campaign Like a Shark, PPC Hero

Searching

• U.S. Funded Health Search Engine Blocks ‘Abortion’, Wired
• 1 in 7 Google users choose UK-only search, Epiphany

SEM Industry

• Elite Retreat 2008 - Day 1, Scott Hendison

SEO & SEM

• How Many Fingers Are In Your SEO Pie?, Search Engine Journal
• Search Engine Marketing Bootcamp: Make Sure the Search Engines Can Read Your Site, Search Engine Guide
• Google Directory PageRank Update: Directory PageRank Now Matches Toolbar PageRank, Search Engine Roundtable
• Microsoft on Determining Search Engine Spam From Email Spam, SEO By The Sea
• Optimization Tips for PDFs: Great Advice for B2B Search Marketers, Search Engine Watch Blog
• Recruiting the Right People for Your SEM Business - Part 1, Search Engine Watch
• The Truths and Myths of Google News as a Reputation Management Tool, Marketing Pilgrim

Social Media

• Seesmic Aquires Popular Twitter AIR Client Twhirl, TechCrunch
• Social Media Is Where The Conversation Starts, BruceClay.com
• The Not-So User Experience of Social Networking, Cre8PC
• Whiteboard Friday - Tracking Non-Traditional Conversions, SEOmoz

Video, Music & Image Search

• Rolling Stones, YouTube team up for music channel, Reuters

Web Analytics

• Google Analytics 101 (Part 3), Inside AdWords
• New Graphing Options: By Week and By Month, Google Analytics Blog

Recent Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

• What features you would like in the ultimate link analysis tool?
• Should Your Business Start a Blog?
• What you don’t know about optimizing PDFs can hurt you
• Reputation Management Explosion - Review of SEM Compare
• Google News: Fact & Fiction Edition
• What To Look For When Hiring InHouse SEOs
• Google Update Dewey - Google Confirms Algorithm Change
• 14 Little-Known Sources for PPC Traffic
• One Day You’re Optimized, The Next Day You’re A Spammer
• RSS - Blog Directories Provide an Edge
• How to Prevent SEO Bloat from Overcrowding Your Marketing Campaign
• 9 Reasons Why Automated Link Software Suck
• Is Your SEO Firm Outsourcing Your Work?
• SEOs Are Like High Schoolers