Federated Search - What's in a name?

Amazon.com Widgets

'Federated search' is also known as, meta-search, cross-search, combined-search, integrated search and aggregated-search. First, it is about simultaneously searching, with one-click, in several electronic sources. Second, it is about getting all the search results displayed in a single browser.

But then, some tend to use the term, Federated search, for searching OPAC / Union Catalogs / serial holdings, see: 360 Search service and R-search; and some extend to searching Websites (not just the surface web, they attempt to reach the deep web), see: here and here -- the latter refers to an example of Dogpile, as an aggregator (see much more on meta-search in relation to Search Engines, yahoo, google, bing, etc.).

On the same shelf:

Federated Search - Reading now

Why user reviews are worthless: Customer Reviews!!!

PS. This is not a review from my desktop.

By Christopher Null

Why user reviews are worthless - Computers - Yahoo! Canada Tech

Say you are in the market for a new frying pan. How do you go about figuring out which one to buy?

If you're like many shoppers, you probably log on to Amazon.com or another shopping site, poke around to find the size you want and something that's in your price range, but still find yourself faced with a choice of maybe a dozen potential options. How do you pick from that point? If you don't go with the cheapest of the lot, chances are you'll buy one based on which has the best rating as provided by prior purchasers of the item."...



"Bottom line: Merchants may try to temper this stuff, but as a consumer, you need to keep your expectations in check, too.

For more on this topic, I invite you to check out my book on film criticism, which has several pages devoted to grade inflation. I'm happy to report it has a perfect five-star rating on Amazon.com, so you know it's good. continue reading

On the same shelf:

Citation links @ Amazon by Dr. Mohamed Taher

Google Alerts' mybookface! And, the true colors of Internet Explorer and Firefox Web Browsers in dealing with Web forgery

Google Alerts

to me : http://mediahyderabad.blogspot.com/

Deccan Chronicle ( ) Mediahyderabad in Online now Times, Indian following sells Jaundice Feb has Kerala a http://mediahyderabad.blogspot.com. Click Deccan - DECCAN In local ! ...

Clicked @ Deccan Chronicle ( ) and Firefox Web Browser shows ALERT, 'Reported Web Forgery':









Typed the actual website address, http://mybookface.net (@ Deccan Chronicle ( )) and Firefox Browser, still shows a WARNING:









Clicke and typed the actual website address, http://mybookface.net: in IE; and saw ' NO WARNING', 'NO ALERT' and 'NO FORGERY':









The bottomline:
1. Google Alert is mechanically generated, right. It may bring you spam messages / irrelevant site links, too. Possible. Period.
2. IE / Firefox Web browsers have different reception for the above scenario, as seen above.
3. While the website is using a similar url (probably to get Facebook-like traffic), it didn't harm the computer--then, is this type of site, that uses a popular and confusing-like url, is not tested by the robots @ Windows Live's IE and Mozilla's Firefox. The end-result: wasting the time, resources and patience of end-users!

Note: The term 'Web forgery,' is dealt as follows:

• Firefox Phishing and Malware Protection

• Why does Firefox fire a web forgery alert on my site even though ...

• How to Report Web Forgery or Spam/Scam Site to Google

• Web Forgery - Windows Live Help

PUNCH LINE:

"Security researchers Emil Ljungdahl and Lars-Olof Moilanen demonstrated that, in cases where the entire contents of a page are enclosed in a

with absolute positioning, a web forgery warning dialog won't be displayed unless the user switches tabs away-from then back-to the forgery page." Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory.

Partitions (Tr. of 'Kitne Pakistan') by Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena

PS. This is not a review from my desktop.

This book is translated by Ameena Kazi Ansari as 'Partitions'

"Kamleshwar’s Kitne Pakistan enjoys cult status as a novel that dared to ask crucial questions about the making and writing of history.

With India’s partition in 1947 as its reference point, the novel presents a limitless canvas against which the most extraordinary trial in the history of mankind runs its course. Present in a court that transcends space and time are Mughal Emperors Babar and Aurangzeb, Spanish adventurer Hernando Cortez, Lord Mountbatten, Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein. Along with political leaders, religious zealots and scheming gods of mythology, they stand accused of creating countless fractured nations, leaving a never-ending trail of hatred and distrust..."
continue reading the book description

Extract from another article by Asghar Ali Engineer: "My friend and noted Hindi writer Kamleshwar wrote an excellent novel Kitne Pakistan (How Many Pakistan?) and in that novel he counts Maulana Shibli No’mani as one of narrow minded Muslim. I told Kamleshwar he has done great injustice to Shibli. He was highly critical of Muslim League and its politics and great supporter of Indian national Congress and nationalist. Kamleshwar told me he will make the necessary change in the English version of the Novel which was being published by Penguin. However, soon after that he died and I do not know whether he could get time to make that correction." continue reading, Shibli Nomani and national politics

See also reviews by

• Amitava Kumar :: Kamleshwar, Alvida :: January :: 2007
• The Hindu : Literary Review / Book Review : In a new light
• The collector of tears
• Press Release; Jamia Millia Islamia
• kamaleshwar - Palash Speaks

Blog Reviews - Success With Languages

About the Site:
Success With Languages is an educational site. The subject of the site is about the childhood experiences with language, thought and society (some may call this Socio/Psycho-linguistics, some others prefer to name it as: Comparative Linguistics).

"This blog aims to help language learners in any level the owner of the weblog is a trilingual parent who has lived and worked with more than 4 languages for more than 40 years. She shares her journey from the eyes of the child and how using simple childhood methods, to live with languages."

How much is the traffic, one word: terrific:

APPEARANCE (layout, colour, positioning and style)
Overall Appearance = 9
Layout = 9
Color Scheme/Theme = 9.5
Headings/Font = 8
Ease Of Navigation = 8
Loading Time = 9

CONTENT (text and images and context)
Quality = 9
Quantity = 10
Spelling/Grammar = 9
Content Interest = 8.5
Theme Continuity = 9
Use Of Pictures/Video = 8.5

MISCELLANEOUS
Reader Interaction = 9.5
Incentive To Return = 8.5
Active Links = 9.5
Accessibility = 9
TOTAL = 143/160
[e-metrics / benchmarks courtesy: jennij]

Recommendation:

Technical: Generate a site map (they say it is good for search engine optimisation), or a detailed menu or cloud to visualize what is all hidden in layers and pages.

In short, the site is focused, updates quite often, encourages readers to be loyal and return for another glance / round trip. The site needs some cleanup to be able to navigate freely.

The content is well written, with no communication errors, whatsoever. The posts have a catchy heading. The design may need some alteration in order to display a distinction between: a) internal and external links, and b) commercial ads from professional content--some say ads are OK so long as they are not a barrier to your site's goal (see the other side). Overall the site is simply impressive and reveals the authors passion to be the best in this field!

On the same shelf:

Blog Reviews - Willowby Woods

Blog Title: Willowby Woods a witch’s forest of piffle, poetry and painting
Blog URL: http://www.willowbywoods.com/
Former Blog URL: http://witchwoman.wordpress.com/
Blogger: Crystal Raven
Blog's Date of migration: August 12, 2008
Blogger's Profile: http://willowbywoods.com/about-2
"This site is about my daily life as a witch, mother, wife, poet and artist. I will also touch upon minimalism, home organization and time management. "
Subject Profile: Development and Growth Art
Tags:Book of Shadows Hedge Witch Series Piffle Poems Theory Tidbits
Tag Cloud @ Blogcatalog:

book of shadows
bs
children
family
hedge
witch series
life
personal development
piffle
sabbat
Spirituality
the artist's way
the hedge witch series
tidbits
winter solstice
witchiness

Strength: Good design. Netmechanic analysis gives five star to each: a) Link Check and b) HTML Check & Repair. Overall technically (above, right side) there are no major issues, going by this automated roundup.
The tags or Categories are well organized and user-friendly. More subject-wise tags tell you what the blog is all about: Tags: poetry Mental Illness witchcraft pagan fine art persona;

Layout is cool and the content is well spread in first and second columns (and a third column hangs).
Navigation is easy and presents no problem

Weakness: No major weaknesses to report. Minor issues include: a) the third column can be used to add content--instead of leaving it blank; and b) there is no direct link to archives (The heading: Dusty old Tomes, leads you to comment section, not to the old posts).

What do others say about this blog [This blog is currently rated a 5.00 out of a possible 5 based on 4 comments. ]:

• Mylissa: I really like your blog. Very interesting!
• rani: Wonderful blog, from which we can all learn a lot. Thanks.
• Cassandra: great personal and insightful blog. she is true to herself and i love that!
• Ruben Ricart: Great Blog! I have the same theme for one of my blogs.
• The Review Guy- Clear, crisp, simple, smooth. All words I would use to describe your blog layout. I love simplicity.
• Blog Review DailyNot only is the author a witch, she is also a pretty good poet… Witch Woman is a blog that is interesting and scary at the same time…
• KatYou have an amazing way of putting the facts down, without sugar coating them and making them touch the hearts of the reader.
• MelindaI love your site! I find your writing so inviting–and I love the way you explain your beliefs in such a matter - of - fact way that is easy to understand. I love your blog–and think you are a great addition to the blogging world.

Recommendation: Good job. The content is focused. The design is cool, the site is not overloaded. This site is of interest to all those who wish to look at life with an alternative perspective. The author synchronizes mental illness, creativity and practical approaches that work and work well.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

On the same shelf of Spirituality on the Web, see more in my book:



Here is a sample from inside the Book: Cyber Worship in Multifaith Perspectives--full of resources that will facilitate building bridges in a Multifaith society.