Anatomy of a Large Scale Social Search Engine

Why are we writing about a new paper on search engines? Well, for starters, much of the work we and our readers do depends on understanding the organization, interpretation, and use of data. Also, in 1998, a couple of nobody’s published a paper titled Anatomy of a Large Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine. Those guys were Sergey Brin and Lawrence Page, and the company they founded is called Google.

“The paper describes the fundamental differences between the traditional “Library” paradigm of web search — in which answers are found in existing online content — and the new “Village” paradigm of social search — in which answers arise in conversation with the people in your network…”

So without further ado, here’s the new paper: Anatomy of a Large Scale Social Search Engine

For those who want the summary version, here’s the link to Aardvark’s blog and announcement: http://blog.vark.com/?p=352

Sell them Hummer!

A few months ago, when GM was in talks to sell Hummer to the Chinese I was impressed by the Chinese buying the technology associated with the ubiquitous military vehicle and suburban mommy transport. But lo’ and behold, I might have an answer to my worried queries. The Chinese bought the old technology, the technology that got our soldiers routinely killed in Iraq, namely, the technology we didn’t need. At the same time, the Pentagon was already upgrading to the next model…the kind that IS bomb resistant.

Oshkosh wins $1 billion contract for bomb-resistant trucks

Elbows out rivals Navistar and Force Protection

 

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) – Shares of Oshkosh Corp. soared 26% in early trading Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Defense ordered 2,244 bomb-resistant vehicles from the truck maker for an initial $1.05 billion.

 

The Oshkosh, Wisc., manufacturer said the vehicles, called M-ATVs for mine-resistant armored-protected all-terrain vehicles, are designed for the extreme mobility and durability needed to navigate Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain.

 

A delivery schedule wasn’t provides, but Oshkosh said it has already begun production to meet or exceed the government’s schedule.

 

Shares of Oshkosh rose 26% at last check to $18.30 each. Year to date the stock is up more than 60%, getting a boost in May after the Pentagon decided to spinout the vehicle portion of its Future Combat Systems program to modernize the Army more quickly and a smaller cost.

 

Rivals Navistar International Corp. fell 8.3% to $40 and Force Protection Inc. dropped 28% to $6.33.

 

Force Protection is partnered with General Dynamics Corp. to produce MRAP vehicles for the U.S. military.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story//oshkosh-scores-army-contract-for-mrap-trucks

Grisham Is Close to an E-Book Deal

I have a hard time understanding HOW people are going to be rushing out to buy the Kindle ($379) to read a book. I understand the technology will be here and paper books are going to go the way of the LP but the entry price is TOO HIGH imo.

Earlier this week, Amazon introduced an updated version of the Kindle. Although many current best-sellers are available for $9.99 on the Kindle, Mr. Grisham’s newest novel, “The Associate,” a legal thriller that ranks No. 1 on The Wall Street Journal list of fiction best-sellers, isn’t for sale.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123430834074270381.html

Intel to invest $7bn in new US facilities

Intel announced a $7bn investment over two years in new manufacturing facilities in the US, which it says will help safeguard 7,000 high-wage highly skilled jobs.

”We’re investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation,” said Paul Otellini, chief executive, in a speech at the Economic Club in Washington.
The world’s biggest chipmaker said this would be its largest ever investment for a new manufacturing process, which will take the level of miniaturisation of chip circuitry down from thicknesses of 45 nanometres, or billionths of a metre, to 32.

The level of investment is not unexpected. On an earnings call last month, Intel said it planned to spend $5.4bn this year alone in research and development, mainly on advanced manufacturing processes.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de064d26-f771-11dd-81f7-000077b07658.html