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Year End in Review

Happy New Year!!!!



Normally, I'd post a quick, I am so excited for the new year, and how much inspiration its going to bring! But I think what I really want to do, is show you our 2009 is pictures, since pictures speak 1,000 words, it might be funner!



So here goes...







So a brief explaination:



Top Row: A slight change in our marketing and Eventology - totally loved meeting people that I have talked with for years and made some friends for life!



Second Row: Make new friends and keep the old ones, some are silver and the others gold! The first is of, myself, Stewart Powers, Amanda, and Amanda - we had a great time at TJ's Studio Networking Event, And then the fun we've had the office, PJ Party and Halloween!



Third Row: My Best Friends Wedding, and at the same time, same picture, what you don't see is that I got to work with and made friends for life with Wes and Rae Leytham (Love Love Love - but don't tell them, I hear Wes gets a big head) and our Bridal Shows, along with Let's Eat Cake! You all know how much that meant to me!



Fourth Row: Photobooth fun with Matt Radlinski from Verve Studios, formally known as Prince K-Gallery, me being a dork, shoveling an entire cupcake in my face (another thing marked off my life list), My sister's cake from Let's Eat Cake!, and Keri Vincent, meeting her (another thing marked off my life list).



Fifth Row: Speaking at The School of Rad and the funness that ensued, and more photobooth fun with Angela from Adore Events.



And so much more! 2009 was amazing! But honestly, like alot of you, I am glad to see it come to an end!



Welcome 2010! Let's ROCK YOU!
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Five years of Google blogging

It's time again for our annual wrap-up of blogging at Google. You may have noticed 2009 marked our fifth year here on the Official Google Blog — our first post was in April 2004 — and it was our busiest year yet. This is our 423rd post of 2009 — a 15 percent increase over last year. We're also pleased to note that a total of 14,493,472 readers stopped by this year, a 21 percent increase. You hail from all over: more than half of visitors are outside of the U.S. The other top countries are (in order) U.K., India, Canada, Germany and France.

What captured your attention this year? Here are the top 10 posts of 2009, by unique pageviews:
  1. Introducing the Google Chrome OS - 2,591,794 unique pageviews (more than 12 percent of the year's total). The announcement of our open source operating system received more than 4x the views of any other post.
  2. Went Walkabout. Brought back Google Wave - 639,225. Wave-mania struck after we introduced a new product for collaboration and communication at our Google I/O conference.
  3. Here comes Google Voice - 357,084. We released a preview of this application to help you better manage your voice communications.
  4. "This site may harm your computer" on every search result?!?! - 320,435. A short-lived error affecting Google search results led to confusion and concern; this post cleared it up.
  5. Email in Indian languages - 224,052. A transliteration feature in Gmail that makes it easier to type in Indian languages was a hit. More than one million readers of the blog in 2009 were from India — a 53 percent increase over 2008.
  6. Releasing the Chromium OS open source project - 217,424. A few months after announcing our operating system project, we open-sourced it as Chromium OS.
  7. Now you see it, now you don't - 165,329. We introduced a new, clean version of our classic homepage.
  8. Google Apps is out of beta (yes, really) - 164,319. Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Talk all lost their beta tags (in Gmail's case, after five years!).
  9. Now S-U-P-E-R-sized! - 155,196. A "small" change increasing the size of the Google search box got a lot of attention.
  10. Introducing Google Public DNS - 143,122. We launched our public DNS resolver, which converts domain names into unique Internet Protocol (IP) numbers.
We also developed a few different series of posts this year: one on the power of measurement, for people who want to improve the performance of their websites; a weekly series focused on search; and another on the latest in the world of Google Apps.

As always, we had some fun in 2009, with grass-mowing goats and a panda-obsessed Cognitive Autoheuristic Distributed-Intelligence Entity (CADIE) on April Fools' Day. Our curiosity was piqued by Atlantis (or not) under the sea, constellations in Google Sky Map and a fresnel lens somewhere in between.

Finally, the Google Blog network continues to grow. This year, we welcomed blogs dedicated to Google Wave, Google New Zealand, Data Liberation, Google Voice, Google Arabia, Google Thailand, European Public Policy and Google Chrome — among others — to our blogging family.

Beyond the blogs, in February we jumped head-first into the Twitterverse, starting our @google account with a geeky tweet. Since then, we've tweeted more than 1,000 times, and are grateful to have gathered two million or so followers. That puts us in the company of @algore and @ashsimpsonwentz, and (today, at least) just 65,000 or so followers behind a certain @ladygaga (although we're pretty sure that gap is only going to grow — no way we can compete with her outfits). Around 75 other Google entities and teams have gotten into the Twitter act this year as well, so we built a directory to help you keep up with all the action. Twitter also was our biggest non-Google referrer to the blog in 2009, a clear sign of its rapid growth in popularity.

Thanks for sticking with us through all of our goings-on over the past 12 months. We look forward to having you back for more in 2010. In the meantime, happy New Year!

Posted by Emily Wood and Jordan Newman, Editors, Google Blog Team

Happy New Year!





From all of us at MasterPiece Weddings, we wish you a super duper New Years!



Go out and have fun - make some do'able resolutions, and make the most of your year!



And remember: The rock that is an obstacle in the path of one person becomes a stepping stone in the path of another.
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Odalys Garcia (Galeria 2)










Fotos:
Revista FHM, Univision.com y Calendarios Oficiales

Otras fotos:

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Sweetest Thing!





We recieved the nicest Thank You card from Kristina and Darren! I think this is a testimonial as to Why Hire a Wedding Planner! What a wedding planner does? And how a wedding planner can rock your socks off!



As a wedding planner in Gainesville, Florida (not a big city, nothing metropolitan here) sometimes the little things go a lot longer than you thought.  I just have to brag a bit...



Check out their wedding photo's here! {Thanks Gina Leigh!}



Dearest Melissa,



I'm not sure how we can even begin to thank you for all that you've done for us. We could have gone crazy trying to plan our wedding from Chicago! But you and your team kept us sane, organized and reminded us to enjoy the process and stop worrying about all of the little things.



You are truly perfection at what you do. From the first meeting you made us feel welcome and like instant friends. Thank you for being so available to your "Pedro" & Kristina! A simple phone call can relieve so much stress & resolve many things. We know how difficult it must be sometimes to be so accessible. We appreciate it, and hope we didnt' bother you too much!



Thank you for taking the time to really get ot know us, and listen to our hopes and wishes for our special day- without you, our vision could have been lost.



Thanks for being so much more than a wedding planner to us. Thanks for being a sympathetic ear, a therapist, and most importantly a friend. We already miss you, your office, and your hugs! We are always an email, facebook or phone call away! Let us know if you ever need anything!



Love,



Kristina and Darren



The sweetest, right?
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Ordinary citizens, extraordinary videos

(Cross-posted from Citizentube and the YouTube Blog)

The images are grainy, often jerky and hard to follow (like most footage shot using hand-held cameras and cellphones), but the message is unmistakable: in the months since the disputed Iranian presidential election in June, the people of Iran have become fluent in the new language of citizen video reporting. What might have seemed an isolated moment immediately following the election, when we watched videos of Iranians marching, battling and even dying on the streets of Tehran, appears to have become an essential part of their struggle.

At YouTube, we have been watching week after week as new videos have appeared on the site within hours of every single protest or similar event reported from Iran in the past six months. Thousands of uploads have brought the fear and tension of these protests to YouTube, inviting millions of views around the world. It is as if the revolts that are taking place could not do so outside the eye of the camera.

Unlike traditional news footage from foreign correspondents (currently prohibited in Iran), these videos are the voice of the people — unfiltered, unedited and with a single, sometimes disturbing point of view. No professional film could capture the one-to-one feeling of watching an ordinary citizen's images of unrest in his or her own country.



We are constantly amazed by the videos our community uploads, whether from their own backyards or the streets of a faraway land. Armed with only a camera and a means to reach the Internet, anyone can ask another to bear witness to their lives. Given the nature of the YouTube videos from Iran, we may want to turn away from some of the images we see, but we keep watching, knowing that we are seeing through the eyes of a people who have discovered the power of information — despite the often extreme measures their government is using to try to stop them.

We will continue to provide the platform for you to see what they see, hear their voices and learn about their struggles. And we encourage you to join the global conversation. Leave a comment, upload your own response video or share a moving moment with someone else.

Posted by Olivia Ma, YouTube News and Politics
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Lucky Guest Blogger! Part Duex!

I love Erin's Inspiration boards, they are so pretty and festive! And I can't thank her enough for her Guest Posts!



This board began with the festive pinecone boutonniere from April Hiler Designs. Black and white is, of course, a favorite palette of mine, and it is an easy palette to customize to any and every season. Red is a perfect choice for a holiday accent color!









Sources: Pinecone boutonniere - April Hiler Designs on Etsy; Cake- Real Simple Weddings; Bouquet on Chair - Anna Williams; Bride's hair - Eclectic Images Photography; Drink - Sweet Paul; Shoes - Jayd Gardina Photography; Bride - TM Photography; Candles - Erin Ever After; Pretzels - Sweet Paul; Invitation - My Personal Artist; Coffee - Just be spLendid 
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Anahi Puente (Galeria 4)

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Think2010: Series recap

We kicked off the Think2010 blog series 14 weeks ago with the idea of helping you prepare for the coming year by devoting one post each week to big-picture, forward-looking themes supported by actionable tips. Over the course of the series we've covered topics such as relevance, speed, experimentation and innovation. We've discussed the multiple roles that search can play, how to use data to better connect with customers, and the importance of staying focused on the fundamentals. We've also deliberately infused the series with perspectives from thought leaders both inside and outside of Google in order to give you a range of insights on the changing face of marketing. You can find a more in-depth version of this same conversation taking place on our Fast.Forward. YouTube channel.

As our series comes to a close this week and we prepare to usher in 2010, we'd like to thank you for reading and leave you with some parting thoughts. Here's what a diverse group of industry leaders have to say about the new marketing landscape and the vast opportunity that they believe lies ahead for 2010:


From the Think2010 team -- best wishes for a prosperous and successful 2010.

Posted by Miles Johnson, Inside AdWords crew
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Genelia Dsouza latest images


Genelia is now again getting ready to entertain her fans in Kollywood. Her Telugu runaway hit Ready, is being remade in Tamil and will star Dhanush. My south Indian projects have never taken a backseat even.......more images after a break...

14 Images
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The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha from Kamakura (Daibutsu) represents the Amida Buddha (in Japanese Amida Nyorai), the Buddha of the Infinite Light, the main Deity of the Buddhist Sect Jodo (Pure Land).


Actually, Buddha is not a name, but a honorific term, like the Christian Mesia. Buddha comes from Sanskrit and it is the past participle of the verb Buddh, meaning “to awaken” or “to know", translated in English as “one who has awakened to the truth".
In Japanese it is also referred as Butsu, hence Daibutsu (written ?? or ??), from ? Dai, meaning Great and ? or ? Butsu (the On reading), meaning Buddha. More images after a break...
 

In the Mahayana tradition there are many Buddha. The Historical Buddha (the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism) is one of them and the statues of the various Buddha share common attributes. The Amida Buddha is not Siddhartha Gautama, it is a monk named Dharmakara, who become a Buddha and lived in very old times (or in another realm…). Amida Buddha is usually represented wearing simple monk clothes and the Kamakura Daibutsu is no exception.


The hair is represented in small spiral curls (Rahotsu in Japanese). This is an allusion to a legend about Prince Siddhartha, who at one moment pulled his hair together into a top knot and cut it. After the cut, the hair spiraled into fine curls and he never needed to cut its hair again.

The statue of Amida Buddha must always have 656 curls.


On the top of the head we can see Ushnisha (Nikkei in Japanese), a bump on top of the head symbolizing the fact that Buddha is all-knowing and also symbolizing a fully developed top chakra.

At the front base of the Nikkei we can see a circular object, the Nikkeishu (Nikkei Jewel), which “radiates the light of wisdom":


Also, on the forehead, we can see Urna (Byakugo in Japanese), symbolic the representation of the third eye, emitting rays of light and symbolizing that Buddha is all-seeing. Usually, on Buddha statues the third eye is represented from a crystal or a gem. On the Kamakura Great Buddha, Byakugo is made of pure silver, weighing 13.5 kilograms.

 

The elongated ears symbolize that Buddha is all-hearing…


The hands are represented in the position of Mida no Join (Meditation Mudra), a Japanese specific position, used exclusively for Amida Buddha.


I will return tomorrow with a more down-to-earth look at this statue…

 

Via Link
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Miss Fat And Beautiful



Meet Moran Barannes, the winner of the Israeli beauty contest "Fat and Beautiful." More than 40 women from across the country were fighting for the prestigious title of a beauty in the weight category from 80 to 120 kilograms. Every year in.......

14 Images
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Tree man

Dede Koswara dubbed the Tree Man is back after nine months of operations to remove the woody growth from his body. He was once sacked from his job, deserted by his wife and shunned by his neighbors - treated like a freak becaused of his gnarled growths sprouting from his hands and feet. The warts on Dede’s body was the cause of a severe Human Papilloma Virus infection. The 37 year old man’s life quality has improved where he now can use his hand write and use the cell phone. Dede still has to go through more surgery in October after the fasting month to trim more warts and was given strong course of medicine including vitamin A in an attempt to prevent the return of the growth. 3 more images of Dede Koswara the tree man getting better after a break....



Via Link
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Funny Shots



34 Images
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Amber Rose Candid

Even with a Shaved Head Amber Rose Is Still Pretty



5 Images
Continue Reading...
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Lucky Guest Blogger!

We have some fantastic guest bloggers in the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy their posts, they are some of my very favoritest people in the whole wide blogesphere! If you don't ready Erin's blog, you are missing out! She is full of amazing designs, inspriation, and wit - LOVE HER! So without further ado, Erin....



My favorite color this holiday season is blue. Blue feels romantic and festive. I like the idea of adding a touch of gold and green to make it unusual and unique.



If you are planning a wedding over the holidays, did you choose classic, traditional colors or go with something out of the box?











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This week in search 12/25/09

This is part of a regular series of posts on search experience updates that runs on Fridays. Look for the label This week in search and subscribe to the series. - Ed.

Googlers are all about the holidays, and we're always delighted to bring some extra holiday cheer to the web. Here are some of this year's festive digital offerings for you.

Holiday Google doodles
As you likely noticed, the Google homepage has been adorned with a fun series of holiday postcards this week. From snowmen to festive palm trees, each doodle depicts a postcard with a fun seasonal scene. Did you miss any of them? Check out all five days at our holiday logo gallery.

NORAD tracks Santa
This week, in partnership with NORAD, we helped share the excitement of following Santa Claus's travels with Google Maps and the Google Earth plugin. At the NORAD Santa site, children have been following the jolly journey from chimney to chimney across the globe. Don't miss the fun YouTube video of Santa's trip last year, as well as some great holiday games to play, at NORADSanta.org.

From all of us at Google, have a safe and happy holiday season. We'll see you back here next year!

Posted by Andrew Schulte, Associate Product Marketing Manager
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Hanshika Motwani Newest Gallery



16 Images
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World's Tallest Dog

Standing at nearly 43 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weighing a staggering 245lbs could this be the world's new tallest dog? Pictured here in the parks of Tuscon, Arizona, George, a four-year-old blue great dane, looks more like a miniature horse than a dog. More images after a break.......
'Giant George' and owner Dave Nasser share a couch together: The four-year-old blue great dane, weighs a staggering 245lbs and measures almost 43ins at the shoulder. The gentle giant, who measures 7ft 3ins from nose to tail, could be a prime contender to take the title from the former record holder, Gibson, a harlequin Great Dane who passed away from cancer last August.

Now George's owners, David and Christine Nasser, are awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records to see if he has achieved the lofty heights.

'He's 42.625 inches at the shoulder,' said David. 'He's very very unique.'

According to David, George consumes 110lbs of food every month, and sleeps alone in his own Queen Size Bed.  David and Christine raised George from when he was 7 weeks old, but never expected him to grow so big.


Magnificent: George measures more than 7ft from nose to tail and tucks away 110lbs of food every month

With size comes problems: The giant great dane barely fits in the back of his owner's SUV

The couple eventually had to move their aptly named dog out of their king sized bed, when he grew too large for the three of them to share the same sheets.

Dr. William Wallace of the Buena Pet Clinic in Tucson, who witnessed the documentation necessary for the Guinness record, said: 'In my 45 years of experience working with giant breed dogs, without question, George is the tallest dog I have ever seen.'

David is currently rushing to get that necessary documentation into Guinness as other dog owners are coming forth claiming the record.  As they wait for the results to come through, George is busy occupying himself with his new found stardom and even has a Facebook fan page and Twitter accounts for his adorning fans. It appears as though the sky's the limit for this mammoth hound.


Paws for thought: George's giant feet dwarf his owner Dave Nassar's hand. Last August the worldís tallest dog, Gibson, a harlequin Great Dane, passed away from cancer
Via Link
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Bull Frog Vs Sparrow

Spectacular captures of the American Bullfrog preying on an unlucky sparrow. Growing up to a length of 20 centimeters or 7.9 inches, the bullfrog preys on any animal that it can overpower and stuff down its throat. Their stomachs have been found to contain rodents, small turtles, snakes, frogs including bullfrogs and birds of course. Ambush predators as they are known for, the bullfrog can be seen submerging large preys (in this case the sparrow) into the water to cut their air supply and defense. Check out the whole sequence of the bullfrog and the unlucky sparrow with 5 more pics after the jump........




 Via : Link
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