Before I post again, I thought I should add a little separator post, to note that this blog went away for about three years. Yes, I was working at a startup, and was kinda busy for part of that time, but that's not why - I was just bored with blogging and had nothing to… Continue reading 3-year hiatus
Author: timboy
Proximity is a hack
Here's a more technical (and much longer!) post than usual - some thoughts about web search relevance, which may help explain why I ended up at Powerset. Relevance Improvements (large and small) I've been working in web search since 2000 (Excite, Inktomi, Yahoo, and now Powerset). During that time, I've seen lots of new techniques… Continue reading Proximity is a hack
Working at Powerset
Whew. In December I blogged that I was leaving Yahoo! for a new job, and had every intention of following up with news about the new job and the new company just as soon as I started. But the next time I look up I find that it's ... June(!). I guess new jobs have… Continue reading Working at Powerset
First earthquake
There was a sudden rumbling noise, and mild shaking lasting a couple of seconds, max. As it was happening, at least two different co-workers called out "Earthquake!", cheerfully. Immediately I went to the usgs.gov site to make sure - and it was this one. I was chuffed - finally! You see, I moved to the… Continue reading First earthquake
2007 predictions
Techbiz 1) YHOO will remain an independent entity, and will not merge with either AOL or MSFT 2) Yahoo! Search will close most of the search monetization gap with Google 3) In May 2007, journalistic coverage of Yahoo! will be more positive than negative 4) At the end of 2007, the search engines ranked by… Continue reading 2007 predictions
Goals vs. resolutions
For the last couple of years, sometime around New Year's Day, I have written down goals for the coming year. I'm calling them goals, not resolutions, because I think that there's a difference, and that goals work better, at least for me. Here's an example of what I don't like in a resolution. Let's say… Continue reading Goals vs. resolutions
Goodbye 2006
OK 2006, see ya later. I can't say that I'm sorry, or that I'll miss you too much. Professionally it was actually challenging, fun, and (at the end) tumultuous in not a bad way, and 2006 sends me out somewhat crisply, with me wrapping up my former job in December and starting a new one… Continue reading Goodbye 2006
Card “activation” as a survey tool
Since I'm leaving the bigcorp I'm also leaving the bigcorp's gym, so I bought a three-year membership to 24-Hour Fitness. (I hope that this does not show insufficent optimism about the startup's chances - if we have our own gym in our own large corporate campus before three years from now, I guess I'll just… Continue reading Card “activation” as a survey tool
Smiley on a stick
In her interview with me, Sugarrae said "He is definitely a witty guy, but has a stern way of saying things sometimes that leaves you wondering if he was being serious or simply having fun with you. ;-)". She's right - although I make jokes _all_ the time, I never smile when I do, for… Continue reading Smiley on a stick
Leaving Yahoo!
I've been mulling this one for a while, but finally had to pull the trigger. I'll be leaving Yahoo! Search at the end of the month, and going to a small startup. The decision was hard, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with my Yahoo! job. The people in Engineering, Research and Applied Research (the… Continue reading Leaving Yahoo!
Tim Converse 