Gotta Love the Stuff You Find on the Web

I was browsing something on Wikipedia and came across this stellar Google Sketchup image made by some fellow named Gabriel Fink of what the Tabernacle probably looked like. Of course, I don't have the specs here with me, but I think it's a pretty convincing portrait. Now if I could master the art of Google Sketchup!

Koogle: The Kosher Search Engine!

A hearty hat tip to @ezrabutler, in his infinite wisdom, for Tweeting this.

For those of you wanting to make sure your Googling is going the route of all that's kosher and modest, there's a new search engine out there for you. And it's named after one of my favorite, favorite, favorite Jewish treats: Koogle! And don't worry, just click on the proud U.S. flag in the upper righthand corner for your English viewing pleasure. From NeatORama.com:

Orthodox jews are restricted from surfing the web in case they run across religiously questionable and sexually explicit materials. But Koogle, a search engine launched by Yossi Altman, may change all that:

Yossi Altman said Koogle, a play on the names of a Jewish noodle pudding and the ubiquitous Google, appears to meet the standards of Orthodox rabbis, who restrict use of the Web to ensure followers avoid viewing sexually explicit material.

The site, at www.koogle.co.il, omits religiously objectionable material, such as most photographs of women which Orthodox rabbis view as immodest, Altman said.

Its links to Israeli news and shopping sites also filter out items most ultra-Orthodox Israelis are forbidden by rabbis to have in their homes, such a television sets.

"This is a kosher alternative for ultra-Orthodox Jews so that they may surf the Internet," Altman said by telephone.

This is something to kvell about, folks!

(Note: Koogle is also the name of a peanut butter marketed by Kraft in the 70s, it appears. Even more laugh-out-loud worthy!)

The Google Bot likes Kvetchingeditor.com.

As much as I really want to write about the Hallmark trainwreck that was "Loving Leah," I can't bring myself to waste the space on it. Lots of other bloggers have written about it, and Twitter was afloat Sunday night with lots of commentary. Let's just say that the message was not that being frum is cool and hip and the way to go, but rather that when your husband dies and by old-school Jewish law you marry his brother, you're best to shed your old ways and go the way of the cool kids.

At any rate, the real reason I'm posting is because I was checking out my Sitemeter.com stats and found this really amusing. I mean, it may not be amusing to Joe Reader, but I've never noticed the Google Bot scoping out my site before. I'm guessing this is for caching purposes or something. If you know what the Google Bot wants with my site, please let me know.

Cheating the system -- Gmail Style

Well, folks, it looks like Google has found a way for us to cheat the system -- and deadlines. But remember, use them wisely!

Gmail Custom Time
Ever wish you could go back in time and send that crucial email that could have changed everything -- if only it hadn't slipped your mind? Gmail can now help you with those missed deadlines, missed birthdays and missed opportunities. Is this a good, bad, or unholy concept!?

Pre-date your messages
You tell us what time you would have wanted your email sent, and we'll take care of the rest. Need an email to arrive 6 hours ago? No problem.

Mark as read or unread
Take sending emails to the past one step further. We let you make emails look like they've been read all along.

Make them count
Use your custom time stamped messages wisely -- each Gmail user gets ten per year.

Worry less
Forget your finance reports. Forget your anniversary. We'll make it look like you remembered.

////////Edit: I'm sure most of you have figured this out by now, but this is an April Fool's joke. I just thought I'd let you know! ;)

Just two things.

Happy Wednesday everyone! It's hump day. So here's a few quick Web links for those out there with nothing to do but click around the internet ...

A Simple Jew has posted an interesting Q&A with Mottel of Letters of Thought about Overcoming Lethargic Davening. It's an interesting read, go check it out.

And for the politician in all of us -- check out GOOGLE MAPS, with primary results. Freaking awesome! Not only that, but you can park the code on your website/blog. I have to say last night's results are disappointing. This means another two months of dragged out political junk. I can't wait to see what kind of mud-slinging begins today :(

Oh, and just for kicks and giggles -- if you have an AIM account, MSN account, GChat, and more, you can talk across platforms with Pidgin. I like having it all in one place, no lie. Plus, my little brother doesn't use AIM or GChat, so if I ever want to talk to him, well, I have to thrust myself into MSN messenger. I hate that thing.