"It has become a part of the everyday vernacular to say, "Oh, just Google it," in order to find information not readily known. Because Google has seemingly become a part of life, says a new study that indicates the search engine is altering our brains."

"A spectre is haunting the technology industry. It is called "electric wok syndrome" and it mainly afflicts engineers and those who invest in their fantasies. The condition takes its name from the fact that nobody in his or her right mind would want an electric wok. But because it is possible to make such things, they are manufactured, regardless of whether or not there is a need for them. The syndrome is thus characterised by the mantra: "Technology is the answer; now what was that question again?""

"Search outfit Google is offering its punters a secure form of searching. The big idea is that the SSL enabled version of the search will prevent your boss or ISP from checking what you are doing.

Employers and ISPs watching peoples' search traffic will just see an encrypted page and be none the wiser. Unfortunately it will only cover the Google search, any connection made via Google to non-secured sites will be visible in the same way as before.

Do you use the Google Chrome web browser? Well now you can install Super Mario Bros. directly into Chrome along with a number of other games!

Google today launched it's long anticipated cloud-based music hosting service called Music Beta for it's accounts and devices. This service is basically the next step in integrating all of the Google services with their Android and Web based devices. Seamless streaming from the web browser, to your recently updated Android 3.1 powered tablet, to your Android powered smart phone. I tell you what, I cant wait to get my invitation!

"Kansas City, Kansas will have a new Internet provider next year, one that operates a 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home network, provides "open access" to any ISP wanting to use the pipes, and charges fees in line with current rates for much slower connections. That new Internet provider? Google.

"Upset boyfriends and girlfriends are nothing new. There are plenty of stories of girlfriends getting back at their ex-boyfriends for mistreatment and visa versa. But in the age where Google ranks supreme, you do not want to mess with a girl who knows how to manipulate Google. One guy learned this the hard way... Apparently, a disturbed ex-girlfriend took her ex-boyfriend's professional taken picture and polluted it all over Google Images for a search on his name.

"CanSecWest takes place on March 9 and as usual, there’ll be the annual Pwn2Own hacking contest. However, this year there’s a new platform on the block -- Google’s Chrome OS -- and the search giant is happy to encourage participants to give it all they’ve got. ZDNet reports that Mountain View is offering a prize of $20,000 for the first person to crack its Chrome OS notebook via a vulnerability and sandbox escape in the Chrome browser."

"Search outfit Google accused Microsoft’s Bing of copying Google’s search results. Apparently, Google’s engineers set up random results for certain terms. Among them was ‘hiybprqag’, a gibberish word pointing to a Los Angeles theater seating plan. Google said that their results started appearing in Bing within few weeks. Google officially stated that they do not mind honest competition but obviously had a thing or three to say about Microsoft."

"Mercury News reports that Google announced this week that it would hire at least 6,000 workers in 2011. If it hits that number, 2011 will be the second biggest year for new hires in the history of Google. The company also says that about 2,000 of those new hires will be in and around its Bay Area HQ in California."

One of these guy could be your new boss in 2011.