I’m thrilled to officially announce the beta release of a project that has more or less consumed all of my energy this past year and a half, BOTW Local.

Now weighing in at 16.5 million pages, this site has been by far the most intricate and most complicated project I have ever worked on. Our team is continuously finding areas on the site we want to improve, and by all appearances, this project will continue to evolve. Although we’ve only just launched Beta, we have our eyes set on developing many-many more cool features.

Launching such a large site is no small feat. Because there are thousands of working parts, we’ve been careful with its release. Over the past few weeks we have slowly opened up a handful of major markets Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Chicago and Austin. We’ve been monitoring user experience, bot crawling and indexing in efforts to allow us to debug unexpected errors and seamlessly complete our coverage of the entire United States.

If you’re a business owner then we invite you to claim your business for Free with JumpStart. And if you’re responsible for managing the marketing for a business that has multiple locations, feel free to contact us directly so we can help get you setup!

Of course all feedback is welcomed!

While in Seattle I met up with Jim Hedger of Webmaster Radio and answered some questions about LA Mixers, the newest mixer to hit the Los Angeles scene and one of the fastest growing groups on Facebook. (If player does not work, click here)

Webmaster Radio
LA Mixers Learn about an exclusive networking group that holds social gatherings in the Los Angeles Area Show Host: Jim Hedger Show: Search Marketing Expo Channel: Conferences

Ryans bust caught on YouTube. This is what happens when you double book sales! Moral of the story, companies like Dunder Mifflin probably don’t need Web 2.0 social websites. What a hilarious idea,  social for the paper company. (Somewhat reminiscent of Charlie Sheen playing Bud Fox in Wall Street)

I received an email from IndexTools informing me that my accounts with them are now free, thanks to Yahoo acquiring them.

So moving forward from here and upon your acceptance of the Yahoo! Master
Terms & Conditions and Program Terms the product will be provided to you
free of charge.

Thats great news! Although I am not sure how new sign ups are handled.

Wow, this is quite amazing. The father called out some countries I would have a hard time finding so quickly. The fact she has a map in her room is brilliant parenting work.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  You really sent me a check for $1.07?

Lets break down all the costs associated with this:

1. Ink
2. Paper
3. Stamp
4. Mail processing resources (Sorting, Bagging)
5. Mail transportation costs (Bag loading, Gas, Time spent placing check in mail box)

And there is my costs:

1. Time spent opening letter
2. Time spent going to bank
3. Ink wasted endorsing  check to bank
4. Gas & Auto resources waisted going to bank

Other costs associated with check:

1. Bank tellers time to process check
2. Bank time to clear the check
3. Postage costs to send cleared check back to state.

It is no wonder our state is in trouble.

This past weekend I attended the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting. For several hours I sat overlooking Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger as they answered unfiltered questions from the audience.

Some would say that Buffett and Munger are our modern day equivalent John D. Rockefeller, Benjamin Franklin or Andrew Carnegie. To be in the room with these guys was a real thrill even though I was among 31,000 other devoted followers.

Throughout the day Buffett and Munger addressed issues about the current state of the United States economy, the housing bubble, the U.S. election, China, the pharmaceutical industry, education, investor education, diversification, parenting, sin, nuclear threat and what they will not invest in.

Buffett and Munger kept coming back to one common thread. These two titans of industry are addicted to reading. Munger commented that the greatest teacher / fathers in his life are the authors of all the books he reads. If you wish to peek in the mind of one of the most fascinating modern day Americans, check out Books Recommended by Charlie Munger

One common discussion I had this weekend revolved around the idea of surrounding yourself among people who are smarter than you. Especially if your young and are in the early stages of your career. If you are always the smartest person in the room, you are stealing prime hours of your life in which you could be absorbing knowledge from others.

If you have not seen the press release come over the newswire then allow me to be the one to break the news and shed some light on the details. Recently I have formally accepted an executive position with Best of the Web.

Just over a year ago I began having confidential discussions with Greg Hartnett, President and Brian Prince, CEO of BOTW regarding a new web offering that was in the very-very early phase of development.

Over the course of a couple weeks we had multiple lengthy conversations regarding the general aspects about the new product. After some “big brain” strategizing I was offered the opportunity to take the reins & tasked with “make it happen”.

These past fourteen months I’ve been working directly with some extremely smart and highly spirited entrepreneurs on the build-out of what we now publicly call “Local”. We have recently completed major development work and are progressively rolling out nationwide within the United States.

With Local now a notch on my BOTW belt, Brian and Greg approached me a few weeks ago about coming on permanently. Once again we jumped back into having “big brain” strategy conversations and a formal agreement has been made.

As the press release mentioned, I will be responsible for interacting with agencies, identifying distribution opportunities, and project managing new offerings. Since we have already been working with each other for over a year these new responsibilities although challenging are a natural fit.

On a more personal note, I am thrilled to be joining such a great company. Those who regularly attend search conferences are very familiar with the genuine vibe and kinship BOTW exudes. Being able to share in this energy on a daily basis has made this past year highly enjoyable and productive.

I invite my readers to jump on Local and help spread the word of our latest web offering.

This is certainly an interesting development!

Yahoo! Announces Agreement to Acquire IndexTools’ Analytics Business

The acquired technology is expected to extend Yahoo!’s current analytics offerings by adding capabilities to deliver relevant insights and metrics for online campaigns that run across the entire Yahoo! network. Following the acquisition, the first group of customers to benefit from these enhanced tools will be more than 150,000 small-to-medium businesses marketing on the Web with Yahoo!. Additional capabilities enabling third-party developers to monitor and optimize the traffic performance of their applications are expected to follow throughout the year following the acquisition.

How Yahoo! buying IndexTools changes Web Analytics

Yahoo! will almost certainly be able to take advantage of the good work that Google has done establishing their Google Analytics Authorized Consultant (GAAC) network, giving Yahoo! an immediate deployment network (oh man do I hope they call it the “YAAC” Network!) Having run IndexTools on my own site for some time I very much expect that many GAAC partners will actually prefer IndexTools for most of their deployments given the dramatically improved capabilities of the application.

Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws.

Q: When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?

A: The new laws take effect July 1, 2008

Q: What is the difference between the two laws?

A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle(VC §23124).

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands- free device?

A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines if I’m convicted?

A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. According to the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, with the addition of penalty assessments, a first offense is $76 and a second offense is $190.

Q: Will I receive a point on my drivers license if I’m convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?

A: NO. The violation is a reportable offense: however, DMV will not assign a violation point.

Q: Will the conviction appear on my driving record?

A: Yes, but the violation point will not be added.

Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?

A: NO. The law becomes in effect on July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.

Q: Are passengers affected by this law?

A: No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.

Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?

A: Yes

Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?

A: YES. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.

Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that?

A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a “push-to-talk” feature.

Q: What other exceptions are there?

A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property

DRIVERS 18 AND OVER

Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a hands-free device to talk on their wireless telephone while driving. The following FAQs apply to those motorists 18 and over.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?

A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.

Q: Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?

A: Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.

Q: Does the new hands-free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?

A: Yes.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text page while driving?

A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

DRIVERS UNDER 18

Q: Am I allowed to use my wireless telephone hands free?

A: NO. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free. EXCEPTION: Permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities. (VC §23124).

Q: Why is the law stricter for provisional drivers?

A: Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. Teen drivers are vulnerable to driving distractions such as talking with passengers, eating or drinking, and talking or texting on wireless phones, which increase the chance of getting involved in serious vehicle crashes.

Q: Can my parents give me permission to allow me to use my wireless telephone while driving?

A: NO. The only exception is an emergency situation that requires you to call a law enforcement agency, a health care provider, the fire department or other emergency agency entity.

Q: Does the law apply to me if I’m an emancipated minor?

A: Yes. The restriction applies to all licensed drivers who are under the age of 18.

Q: If I have my parent(s) or someone age 25 years or older in the car with me, may I use my wireless telephone while driving?

A: NO. You may only use your wireless telephone in an emergency situation.

Q: Will the restriction appear on my provisional license?

A: No

Q: May I use the hands-free feature while driving if my car has the feature built in?

A: NO. The law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any type of wireless device while driving, except in an emergency situation.

Q: Can a law enforcement officer stop me for using my hands-free device while driving?

A: No. For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a hands-free wireless phone if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless telephone while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over.