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Google Offends the Dreadlocks Hairstyle

On December 24, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

A search for [dreadlocks] sports one of those Google definitions links at the top right of the page that leads to an ‘offensive’ categorization of those who have dreadlocks as their hairstyle. The Google Definition of dreadlocks uses it in a sentence as, “He was turned down for a driving job when he refused to cut his dreadlocks.”

Now one person takes offense to this and posted his dissatisfaction in a Google Web Search Help forum. He wrote:

While it’s true that this kind of thing (unfortunately) does happen, is it crazy to anyone else to be in a dictionary? It’d be like having the definition for Asian American being “He was turned down for the driving job because he was Asian American.”

Here is a picture of the definition:

Google Definition Insults People

If Google stayed with Answers.com as their definitions provider, they might not be taking flack for this.

Personally, I find these types of posts funny – which is why I am highlighting this one.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.


A search for [dreadlocks] sports one of those Google definitions links at the top right of the page that leads to an ‘offensive’ categorization of those who have dreadlocks as their hairstyle. The Google Definition of dreadlocks uses it in a sentence as, “He was turned down for a driving job when he refused to cut his dreadlocks.”

Now one person takes offense to this and posted his dissatisfaction in a Google Web Search Help forum. He wrote:

While it’s true that this kind of thing (unfortunately) does happen, is it crazy to anyone else to be in a dictionary? It’d be like having the definition for Asian American being “He was turned down for the driving job because he was Asian American.”

Here is a picture of the definition:

Google Definition Insults People

If Google stayed with Answers.com as their definitions provider, they might not be taking flack for this.

Personally, I find these types of posts funny – which is why I am highlighting this one.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.



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Google Drops “Search within results” Search Box?

On November 25, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

Back in March 2008, Google began testing search boxes in the search results, it was later seen more often as Google began to like the tests they have seen from it.

Now, it seems like it is gone for most queries. I still see it for a search on new york times, but it is gone for searches like amazon.com or ebay.

Here is an older picture of how that looked:

Google Search Box Within Search Box

Now, this box does not show up.

There are some complaints about this not showing up for most searches at Google Web Search Help.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.


Back in March 2008, Google began testing search boxes in the search results, it was later seen more often as Google began to like the tests they have seen from it.

Now, it seems like it is gone for most queries. I still see it for a search on new york times, but it is gone for searches like amazon.com or ebay.

Here is an older picture of how that looked:

Google Search Box Within Search Box

Now, this box does not show up.

There are some complaints about this not showing up for most searches at Google Web Search Help.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.



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Google Maps Navigation Available for Android 1.6

On November 24, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

The Google Mobile blog announced that Google Maps Navigation, which was originally only available on Android 2.0, is now also available on 1.6 of the Android mobile OS.

Google Navigation is a free navigation system that works on mobile devices with Android 1.6 or 2.0. For more details, see this page.

Tom in the Google Mobile Help forum added a few more details that are not in the blog post.

(1) Android 1.6 that is a build off of the userdebug (test-keys) of the Android OS is not working with navigator. Google is working on a fix for this.

(2) Part of 1.6 also includes Layers functionality and My Maps access.

(3) There is also a bug fix for Traffic layer failing due to memory issues.

Forum discussion at Google Mobile Help.


The Google Mobile blog announced that Google Maps Navigation, which was originally only available on Android 2.0, is now also available on 1.6 of the Android mobile OS.

Google Navigation is a free navigation system that works on mobile devices with Android 1.6 or 2.0. For more details, see this page.

Tom in the Google Mobile Help forum added a few more details that are not in the blog post.

(1) Android 1.6 that is a build off of the userdebug (test-keys) of the Android OS is not working with navigator. Google is working on a fix for this.

(2) Part of 1.6 also includes Layers functionality and My Maps access.

(3) There is also a bug fix for Traffic layer failing due to memory issues.

Forum discussion at Google Mobile Help.



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London Escort Service Using Seductive Images in Google Maps Business Listings

On November 9, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

A disgruntled searcher posted a thread at Google Maps Help forum complaining that he spotted a nude photo on a Google Maps business listing for a London based escort service. I personally don’t think I see a nude photo, but the photos are seductive in nature. You can see the business listing over here (also a screen capture).

Seductive Images on Google Local Business Listing

The individual reported this on Saturday, November 7th, but no one really noticed (it was Saturday). Here is his post:

This is a serious breech of Google quality guidelines ever. Spammer added price £120 on the title of the listing . On the other hand spammer has added nude picture on the Gallery section to get more clicks from surfer .

What a shame, how could some do such things . Please take immediate action.

This is not the first time we found adult oriented content in Google Maps. We found adult spam in Google Maps listings in a much worse way, disguised as a normal business listing. That spam was cleaned up.

Now, I don’t think escort services is an issue in Google Maps – I am not sure. But are these pictures an issue? Nudity is, but these?

Forum discussion at Google Maps Help.

Update: There are some that actually do have nudity. Do not click if you do not want to see nudity. Here are some examples, this one, this one, and probably many many more. Even many in the US, such as this one, this one, this one and many more. So there is plenty of nudity on Google Maps Business Listings.


A disgruntled searcher posted a thread at Google Maps Help forum complaining that he spotted a nude photo on a Google Maps business listing for a London based escort service. I personally don’t think I see a nude photo, but the photos are seductive in nature. You can see the business listing over here (also a screen capture).

Seductive Images on Google Local Business Listing

The individual reported this on Saturday, November 7th, but no one really noticed (it was Saturday). Here is his post:

This is a serious breech of Google quality guidelines ever. Spammer added price £120 on the title of the listing . On the other hand spammer has added nude picture on the Gallery section to get more clicks from surfer .

What a shame, how could some do such things . Please take immediate action.

This is not the first time we found adult oriented content in Google Maps. We found adult spam in Google Maps listings in a much worse way, disguised as a normal business listing. That spam was cleaned up.

Now, I don’t think escort services is an issue in Google Maps – I am not sure. But are these pictures an issue? Nudity is, but these?

Forum discussion at Google Maps Help.

Update: There are some that actually do have nudity. Do not click if you do not want to see nudity. Here are some examples, this one, this one, and probably many many more. Even many in the US, such as this one, this one, this one and many more. So there is plenty of nudity on Google Maps Business Listings.



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Google AdWords Team’s Photo Help Session

On November 9, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

Google AdWords Online Help TeamThe Google AdWords team posted a photo help session, specifically to give tips on how to use the Google Content Network to the best of your ability.

AdWordsPro Sarah, the woman in the middle of the photo above, posted the details of the photo tips:

To help wish the AdWords Help Forum happy birthday, the Online Help team collected Googler’s favorite tips and created several photo albums (so you can put a face to the tip!). Its our little way of saying “thank you” for a great first year on the forum.

Tip photo album: http://cli.gs/20RB5g

The first album in the series has tips for advertisers looking to place ads on the Content Network. If you look through the pictures and find a tip that looks interesting, some of the photos have URLs in the caption that will give you more information on how to implement this tip in your own account (it may be easier than reading our messy hand writing). And, as always, if you have questions about any of the tips, please feel free to leave them in this thread.

Happy Birthday Everyone!
AdWordsPro Sarah

There is a lot to say about giving online help for this product, but to show a smile when doing it – well, that adds a lot. To see all the tips, go to the Picasa album.

Very creative AdWords team!

Forum discussion at Google AdWords Help.


Google AdWords Online Help TeamThe Google AdWords team posted a photo help session, specifically to give tips on how to use the Google Content Network to the best of your ability.

AdWordsPro Sarah, the woman in the middle of the photo above, posted the details of the photo tips:

To help wish the AdWords Help Forum happy birthday, the Online Help team collected Googler’s favorite tips and created several photo albums (so you can put a face to the tip!). Its our little way of saying “thank you” for a great first year on the forum.

Tip photo album: http://cli.gs/20RB5g

The first album in the series has tips for advertisers looking to place ads on the Content Network. If you look through the pictures and find a tip that looks interesting, some of the photos have URLs in the caption that will give you more information on how to implement this tip in your own account (it may be easier than reading our messy hand writing). And, as always, if you have questions about any of the tips, please feel free to leave them in this thread.

Happy Birthday Everyone!
AdWordsPro Sarah

There is a lot to say about giving online help for this product, but to show a smile when doing it – well, that adds a lot. To see all the tips, go to the Picasa album.

Very creative AdWords team!

Forum discussion at Google AdWords Help.



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Google Removes Green Party Web Site From Index Due To Hack

On October 27, 2009, In SEO, by rustybrick

green party logoOn Sunday, if you searched in Google for [Green Party] you would not find the official Green Party of United States web site, which is at gp.com. Even if you searched for gp.org, Google would not show you the site.

One person complained about the issue at Google Web Search Help forums and a few days later, a Googler came in and told us why.

In short, the site was hacked and included harmful malware that could infect searchers computers. Google removes sites that include malware from their index, until the site is fixed. In addition, if sites are injected with links to unrelated site, with the sole intent of link spamming Google, Google will also remove the site from their index. That is what Google did in this case, and now the site is back in the index.

Googler, Jaime said:

The gp.org website was removed from Google’s results because it has been hacked (if you look at the source code for http://gp.org/, about halfway down you’ll see hundreds of spammy hidden links to websites selling several drugs such as Viagra and Fluoxetine).

We sent an email to the gp.org webmaster a week ago, on Monday the 19th, and they were also notified via the webmaster tools console (http://google.com/webmasters). Anyone in contact with the owners of this site, please give them this information and, as danielroofer pointed out, let them know they can visit the Webmaster Help Forum if they have additional questions.

In the meantime, we’ve already reinstated this site into our index, but it may take up to 24 hours for it to start showing everywhere.

Today, it seems like the spam and hack has been removed from GP.org and the site is now back in the Google index.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.


green party logoOn Sunday, if you searched in Google for [Green Party] you would not find the official Green Party of United States web site, which is at gp.com. Even if you searched for gp.org, Google would not show you the site.

One person complained about the issue at Google Web Search Help forums and a few days later, a Googler came in and told us why.

In short, the site was hacked and included harmful malware that could infect searchers computers. Google removes sites that include malware from their index, until the site is fixed. In addition, if sites are injected with links to unrelated site, with the sole intent of link spamming Google, Google will also remove the site from their index. That is what Google did in this case, and now the site is back in the index.

Googler, Jaime said:

The gp.org website was removed from Google’s results because it has been hacked (if you look at the source code for http://gp.org/, about halfway down you’ll see hundreds of spammy hidden links to websites selling several drugs such as Viagra and Fluoxetine).

We sent an email to the gp.org webmaster a week ago, on Monday the 19th, and they were also notified via the webmaster tools console (http://google.com/webmasters). Anyone in contact with the owners of this site, please give them this information and, as danielroofer pointed out, let them know they can visit the Webmaster Help Forum if they have additional questions.

In the meantime, we’ve already reinstated this site into our index, but it may take up to 24 hours for it to start showing everywhere.

Today, it seems like the spam and hack has been removed from GP.org and the site is now back in the Google index.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.



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