One of the fun aspects of using Gmail is the little ads for sponsored links that appear next to every message. I can't imagine ever clicking on one of them, but it's amusing to see what the Google mind thinks is related to the message content. For the most recent daily mailing from gr-qc@arxiv.org, here were the sponsored links that came along with it:
Fields Medal declined Grigori Perelman has declined the 2006 Fields Medal for mathematics www.thefirstpost.co.ukthe field center how consciousness creates reality; an extraordinary eight-week course. www.fieldcenter.orgThe Theory of Everything String theory can't be all there is Read all about the alternatives NewPhysicsAndTheMind.netfield offices ny Perfect sales office space in NYC. $495+, full service. Start now! www.microoffice.usRelativity Challenge Did Einstein make a math mistake? You be the judge! www.relativitychallenge.comWanted: Scientists Jobs for PhDs in biology, chemistry physics, math, and engineering jobs.phds.orgHumidifier Filters All sizes all the time 24 hour shipping www.filters-now.com
So the scorecard is: two relevant links, three crackpot sites, one hilariously inappropriate understanding of the word "field," and one perplexing sales pitch for humidifiers. But I kind of like the idea of attacking string theory via Google ads. I might just start advertising my own papers this way.
