MSN Search has opened up the ability to search for/in RSS using the "feed:" operator. Cool stuff.

That probably explains the previous MSNBot behavior. Ah, it does, according to the MSN Search Blog over at MSDN.

I've been researching some specific technology needs, and figured I'd post here and see if anyone working in the collaboration/groupware/SharePoint world has any ideas. I've got my own research, and am speaking to a few others I know, but the community is bound to have some good input.

What I need is a Yahoo-Groups-like system, but it needs to be private and deployed on the LAN (for security purposes). Threaded discussions, with an email interface to contribute and receive updates. In a perfect world, it would build into SharePoint (we use it as an intranet platform), or at least lend itself to being displayed there. And while I am aware of future software possibilities, I can't wait for v.next in this case.

Indexed, searchable content, with opt-in and opt-out lists that can be moderated if needed, are also important.

Any ideas? Please - let me know!

Things I have considered:

• Groove - http://www.groove.net - and Groove Mobile Workspace for SharePoint, which looks like a possibility
• KAOrg - http://www.kaorg.com/ - which is interesting, but it's not very grown-up

The three brightest objects in the night sky - Venus, Jupiter and the Crescent Moon - all together at once...

(click for larger image)

President Bush has issued proclamations that the United States flag be flown at half staff through September 20th to honor the memory of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Another order requires the flag be flown at half-staff through September 13th to honor the death of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

For people with flags that are attached to a fixed pole, it turns out there is an appropriate way to fly those flags, even though you can't actually move them on the pole. I described that here last year, when several people I know asked me how to fly their fixed flags on their porches at half-staff.

For flags that can't be lowered, such as those on many homes, the American Legion says attaching a black ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag is an acceptable alternative. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag.

If the flag is hanging on a wall, make three black bows from the same material and place one bow at each of the mounting points.

Bill Whittle is an expressive genius. He has a way of bringing out common sense and putting things in perspective, for me anyhow.

Rather than race, rather than religion, this time Bill focuses at length on a concept we all need to think about: Tribes.

"Courage isn’t free. It is taught, taught by certain tribes who have been around enough and seen enough incoming storms to know what one looks like. And I think the people of this nation, and those of New Orleans, specifically, desire and deserve some fundamental lessons in courage."

There's no way to concisely describe what he's written - so go read it for yourself. Yes, it's long and there's some harsh language, but the message is clear. Whether you agree with Bill on every point is not nearly as important as whether or not you take the time to read.

Now that Hurricane Katrina has devastated the South along the Gulf Coast, Joel Comm, author of AdSense secrets and general AdSense guru, has launched ReliefSense.com - where you can donate your AdSense revenues to the relief efforts. It's not a collection site - it's a place where you can pledge to donate to the agency of your choice.

http://www.reliefsense.com/

Earlier this year, when the Tsunami hit, I joined a few friends in asking Google to enable people participating in their AdSense program to have a mechanism built-in to donate their AdSense revenues directly to tsunami relief efforts. I got some response from Google, but not what you'd hope for - they were not able to set anything up at the time (of course, they did have donation links right on the Google home page).

Google - Can't you please find some way to allow us to make donations directly through your AdSense program??? Here's a little history (more linked from these entries):

• Google's response to AdSense donations idea: It could happen!
• Eric Rice Podcast Interview: Greg Hughes on Tsunami Donations

Joel's idea is great - and I have just signed up my pledge. But if Google could enable direct donations as well, it just makes sense that so many more people would find it easier to participate in helping.