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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO</title> <atom:link href="https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:24:41 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.5</generator> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">51241449</site> <item> <title>Twins!!</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/twins/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/twins/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:24:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=7193</guid> <description><![CDATA[Hey folks, I hope you鈥檙e doing well, and wanted to catch you up to speed on some new life happenings. Namely: babies. Two of them at once. Lindsay and I welcomed healthy fraternal twin boys into the world a few months ago. So far, Twin A is big, open, loud and easygoing with his smiles. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ Hey folks, I hope you鈥檙e doing well, and wanted to catch you up to speed on some new life happenings. Namely: babies. Two of them at once. <a href="https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/meet-lindsay/">Lindsay</a> and I welcomed healthy fraternal twin boys into the world a few months ago. So far, Twin A is big, open, loud and easygoing with his smiles. He’s also built like a tank, and a one-baby workout for anyone’s back. Twin B is smaller, quieter, and more shy with his smiles, but when you get a smile from him, you feel like a million bucks. The babies are thriving and happy, and Lindsay is steadily recovering from a required C-section. In classic Lindsay form, she鈥檚 done a remarkable job with the kids, all while recovering from major abdominal surgery. Some of which includes, breastfeeding, non-stop pumping, running an ad hoc HR department (ie. sourcing help), hosting humans, sending me flowers with love notes, and more. All on very little sleep. Women are phenomenal. My woman in particular. She regularly leaves me in awe鈥攁nd the boys are lucky to have her as their force of nature Mom. <img decoding="async" alt="❤" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HL7z4Xq316kM4gBZJX1DJmVTvyFMcJuQgUKSynBMhQ3QsRo4hfqaerl2dne1s04P13EfUmnzxU6bYn8oeLFAkc1hQZxw7hKYHUi8vpr5z1gvBcabglg7M3IN-wiNiQ_4IfiZsSlnbqIDnqPBSpJyoQo" width="17" height="17"/>  It’s strange to observe the different standards for men and women as parents. Men are often glorified for doing small things (“You took your baby for a walk!”). Meanwhile, Lindsay dealt with all-day nausea for 6.5 months during pregnancy. In her “stubborn meets perfectionist” way, she also gave up coffee, her favorite foods, refused to take any painkillers, and more to make sure the babies had their best shot at optimal health. Pumping breast milk for twins means she hasn’t gotten a full night of sleep for months. Women carry so much weight (literally, as Lindsay points out), and it’s often treated as though “it’s your job.” It quietly goes unquestioned. It also seems people rarely check-in regarding how much women might be holding throughout the whole process. Our society needs to learn how to recognize, support, and celebrate women in these spaces more. Instead of the highlight reel that people see or post on social media, I hope we can move towards creating more spaces that talk about the challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. It would be a more honest way to live and interact with one another, which is kind of what life is all about. Sometimes when I’m trying to get a baby to sleep, Lindsay will come up behind me and guide me on how to sway or move or shush. It feels like dancing and it’s a wonderful way to learn how to sooth babies. One of her most impressive feats (to me) is taking a baby, coaxing him to sleep, then taking the *other baby* and coaxing him to sleep. Back-to-back baby whispering.聽 We still haven鈥檛 decided how we feel about pictures of them being on the internet, so here’s a tasteful silhouette of Lindsay and twin B instead: <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://mattcutts.com/images/lindsay-and-twin-b.jpg" alt="Lindsay and Twin B"/></figure> So if you’re wondering what we’ve been up to over the last little bit, that’s it. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f642.png" alt="馃檪" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> We’ve spent two cold winters in Canada, and are hoping to be elsewhere during the winter months. If you have thoughts on warm/fun places to spend the winter, with a baby-friendly tilt, let us know. California, Washington DC, Costa Rica, and Europe are all places we鈥檙e considering. Let us know if there’s places that are great to spend a winter with young ones! ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/twins/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>37</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">7193</post-id> </item> <item> <title>This is Lindsay, my force of a human</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/meet-lindsay/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/meet-lindsay/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2021 13:16:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=7111</guid> <description><![CDATA[I wanted to write a bit about my partner Lindsay Aranoff and why I’m so grateful we found each other. I could talk about the stuff you could discover from the internet (inaugural Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, curator of a TEDxKids event in Canada, co-founder of a company with the CTO of […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ I wanted to write a bit about my partner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aranoff/">Lindsay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aranoff">Aranoff</a> and why I’m so grateful we found each other. I could talk about the stuff you could discover from the internet (inaugural Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, curator of a TEDxKids event in Canada, co-founder of a company with the CTO of Amazon), but you could find all that out yourself. <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zizg4ptlrqkropCQ1MpvlCiXfj5Y3GavEIBprkHS-7eL75wQmR7-9rTgp_lrmGtB38B-cx9oaE_j3-_UQgRQ2p_4YAaJedPlHSoGY-D-TOKcevbhD45Q2j78gCgce0zzuhTHHxW2" alt=""/></figure> Lindsay looks for the chance to fight for the underdog and people that have less power. Sometimes that’s working to bring mobile medical care to people that don’t have it. Sometimes it’s reminding car drivers not to cut off bikers. Sometimes it’s standing up for a clerk when a customer is yelling at them. Sometimes it’s fostering dogs. A lot of the time, it’s working to make sure that everyone has access to basic human rights.  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/s3jo8lxfhCOO1Z9VglHzusAeMP3D23YRh2ZuFMOT5lFYQnPdLVR4LVa_NTLu3z2fGgebr09Q4CuT0sKTDpLLmvZD_0oNjPpr31c_Wn4HLAoDwj8TDKxsRc1U55G6ozzeKx9cSScq" alt=""/></figure> We make a good team. Lindsay is a woman of action; I’m more of a man of planning. When I sometimes fall victim to analysis paralysis–what should we eat tonight or do this weekend?–Lindsay often just takes a leap to try something and see if it works. On the other hand, if there’s some administrative paperwork that needs to happen, that’s my time to shine. We fit together so well that early on, I said it was like the universe created us for each other. It still feels like that. <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/L55PMCikgnmdvoLwFI-IB1bhNFnXgL5lLHaEu9MhkxU0t9SZxUoU2vySsEOwvkdI6DeXE3bwIUl8JWnXbCts-zBtTN43OtOKvx8zUCN2Ibx1gg6RpRXfv_4YmLTKNBsxm6OhLCnz" alt=""/></figure> We especially love getting out into nature and hiking together. Lindsay introduced me to the Adirondack High Peaks, and I introduced her to my favorite rock in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Getting out into nature helps us both stay grounded and we savor the ability to get into green tree tunnels. It’s fun to walk down mountain trails while we talk about what schools should really teach people besides just reading or math. Education needs an overhaul, and we talked through all the courses we would want in a curriculum–and how experiential learning would be better. What real-world life skills do you wish *you* had a chance to learn earlier? <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5vVf8rsMCEb7-JS2jHM7fKg3Gb8PHPrxxE-3G8JTVIUGXay934nEAl4d6Kk7-xefQQHegLmoCKBY0i5356ARuJwmYUTVBZliHdYwvAIUEkRTe4uwdmTxF-SvrASTMUnVsk5hIUA8" alt=""/></figure> In an emergency, Lindsay is the person you want in your corner. When a dog we were fostering had an allergic reaction, she carried it out into the street barefoot, flagged down a car (during a pandemic), and got the dog to a vet in minutes. Another time we got a flat tire at dusk in the rain on the New Jersey Turnpike. By the time I’d figured out how to get the spare tire out of the back, Lindsay had help on the way and had already scheduled an appointment to replace the tire for the next morning.  <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Rt5oqMi3Eyrn0zChInNl0tvechuYfA_G2OY1TyJvNqwxUmUJXdUPxugtdo9iuozz4ptbTxGgITxLmMo--jqlT69nqdMKc9BM316rueQA7Dxx0rxSJVeyPlxZovphlYIVlYt_94bh" alt=""/></figure> Lindsay has also helped me recognize the dynamics of power and how to be a better, more intentional person. She regularly reminds me that the way the world works for me is not the way it works for most people, and how the world needs to work better for everyone. Where my communication is often too soft, Lindsay will speak frankly. We operate so differently, yet it’s fascinating how we invite each other to grow. <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/xZt2UjASpKy_V2hRMOeTz4HJHNDPjzkcsWzzTsau13YZ0wg3-8xXZMpdCOyZxP_szTSBCOc0nXwkQujNqBhuBEzTi6mS6E5cMq5X2eN71S6w81KZR3kL_TAvCPe7k27PWRbSs-DF" alt=""/></figure> Lindsay is Canadian and this week we’re heading to Toronto, Canada with our dog <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rojo.pup/">Rojo</a>. Lindsay moved to Washington, DC and supported me during a stressful job while building her own company, designing the entire interior of our rowhouse, and acclimatizing to a new city. This was during a pandemic that made our arrangement last a year longer than we expected due to COVID. All of that is code for: she’s a fierce lady that I hope some of you get to meet. Now I’m excited to spend time with some of Lindsay’s friends, family, and favorite dogs in Toronto. I’m still decompressing after leaving my job, but please reach out if you’re in the Toronto area. We would welcome a dog walk with friends at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_Beach">Cherry Beach</a>. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/meet-lindsay/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>9</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">7111</post-id> </item> <item> <title>All the Fitbit activity badges</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/all-the-fitbit-activity-badges/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/all-the-fitbit-activity-badges/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 03:06:09 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gadgets/Hack]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=7040</guid> <description><![CDATA[Fitbit has discontinued their Fitbit One step trackers, which seems like a good opportunity to step back and reflect on wearing one for the last decade or so. I’ve enjoyed using Fitbit trackers, but the One devices seemed like they broke down too often. I’m pretty proud that I ended up earning all the activity-related […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ Fitbit has discontinued their Fitbit One step trackers, which seems like a good opportunity to step back and reflect on wearing one for the last decade or so. I’ve enjoyed using Fitbit trackers, but the One devices seemed like they broke down too often. I’m pretty proud that I ended up earning all the activity-related Fitbit badges though: <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/fitbit-badges.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>100,000 steps and 800 floors in one day</figcaption></figure> In 2013, I ran a <a href="https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-big-challenge-running-a-50-mile-race/">50 mile race</a> and I took 110,472 steps that day. I think I did some extra steps late that night just in case Fitbit ever increased their top step badge from 100K to 105K or 110K steps. The lifetime miles badge took care of itself as long as I wore my Fitbit. The same applied for the lifetime floor badge: I’ve climbed 73,383 floors in the last few years, and that badge tops out at 35,000 floors. But the Rainbow badge was a little harder: 700 floors in one day. <a href="https://twitter.com/mattcutts/status/497957797980422145">Climbing up Half Dome</a> in Yosemite only got me 500 floors or so. At some point, I found myself in Washington, DC missing only a couple badges: Mountain (600 floors) and Rainbow (700 floors). DC isn’t known for its high buildings. I researched the Washington Monument (897 steps) and the National Cathedral (about 333 steps), but access was tricky and I’d need to climb either many times. Ultimately I decided on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Executive_Office_Building">New Executive Office Building</a>, which I have access to because of my job at the <a href="https://www.usds.gov">US Digital Service</a>. That’s how I found myself on a Sunday morning in July 2018. I started a podcast as I walked up the steps to the 10th floor of the NEOB (pronounced like “knee-ob”). Then I took the elevator down, and started walking up the steps again. And again. Every so often I took a bathroom break or ate a snack, but mostly I walked while listening to podcasts. I ended up climbing 818 floors, which is basically walking up to the 10th floor about 82 times. Fitbit claimed I burned 4000+ calories that day. Wait a second–the badge is only for 700 floors, so why did I climb 800+ floors? It took me about four hours and forty-five minutes to climb all those steps that day. Just in case Fitbit added a badge for 800 floors, I didn’t want the temptation to do re-do several hours of climbing. Overall, Fitbit’s badges have probably pushed me to walk more, along with a goal to get 10,000 steps a day. As my current Fitbit One gets more and more creaky and unreliable, I might explore a less quantified self though. I’m finding myself posting less on social media. Maybe not every single thing needs to be observed and tallied. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/all-the-fitbit-activity-badges/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>4</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">7040</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Halloween 2018: Crab claws!</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/halloween-costume-crab-claws/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/halloween-costume-crab-claws/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 04 Nov 2018 20:02:59 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Fun]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Halloween]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=7026</guid> <description><![CDATA[Do you need something to cheer you up? You got it: I should explain this costume a little bit. At the US Digital Service, we do a thing called “crab claws.” Crab claws is like visual applause–you pinch your fingers up and down to say “great job” or “congratulations” or “way to go.” We do […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you need something to cheer you up? You got it: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/halloween-crab1.jpg" alt="Matt Cutts wears a crab-like Halloween costume" /></center> I should explain this costume a little bit. At the <a href="https://www.usds.gov/">US Digital Service</a>, we do a thing called “crab claws.” Crab claws is like visual applause–you pinch your fingers up and down to say “great job” or “congratulations” or “way to go.” We do it because actual applause would be annoying when there’s someone on the phone. The love for <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2018/05/u-s-digital-service-debuts-an-unofficial-star-wars-crab-logo-on-twitter.html">crabs goes deep at USDS</a>. So when I thought about what I wanted to be for Halloween, the answer was pretty simple. Lobster, crab–I wanted to share the crustacean love. One thing I love about the costume is that the shell has a hidden compartment. You could use the shell as a backpack for candy or goodies. So no homemade costume this year, but I figured people would enjoy this: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/halloween-crab2.jpg" alt="Matt Cutts wears a crab-like Halloween costume more" /></center> Hope you had a good Halloween! ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/halloween-costume-crab-claws/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">7026</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Some terrible personal news</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/cindy-cutts/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/cindy-cutts/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:17:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6984</guid> <description><![CDATA[Cindy Cutts, my wife and best friend, passed away earlier this week. While I was traveling for work recently, Cindy went to visit her family in Omaha, Nebraska. On Sunday, while enjoying time with family, Cindy started having trouble breathing. Her family quickly called 911 and paramedics took Cindy to the hospital, but Cindy lost […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Cindy Cutts, my wife and best friend, passed away earlier this week. While I was traveling for work recently, Cindy went to visit her family in Omaha, Nebraska. On Sunday, while enjoying time with family, Cindy started having trouble breathing. Her family quickly called 911 and paramedics took Cindy to the hospital, but Cindy lost and never regained consciousness. She passed away on Monday. Cindy didn’t want any callouts on my blog, so I always just referred to her as <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Amattcutts.com+%22my+wife%22">my wife</a>. But I’d like to tell you something about her. She loved her family and <a href="https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/why-do-i-blog/">her</a> <a href="https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/meet-my-other-cat-ozzie/">cats</a>, Emmy and Ozzie. She danced in the Bay Area with a <a href="http://www.bigmoves.org/">fantastic troupe of kick-ass women</a> for years. She ran a <a href="http://www.sanjosefit.com/">half-marathon once</a> and then decided that she never needed to do that again. She sang in show choir in high school and could still rock a karaoke room with an Adele song. She wrestled with anxiety and depression at times, as so many people do. We should all talk about mental health more to lessen the stigma for other people who think they’re alone when they’re not. Cindy enjoyed falling asleep to Parks and Rec. She liked re-reading William Gibson’s novel Pattern Recognition. Cindy made quilts for her family and crocheted scarves. She kept me healthy and on track and moving in the right direction, and I paid her back with occasional head rubs. Cindy was whip smart, with a particular gift with languages, from French to Chinese. I tackled small details like paperwork and license plates and paying bills, but she was the one who looked at the big picture. Cindy was the person who said “Let’s go try this Google thing for a while.” Cindy and I knew each other for 23 years and we were married for 18 years, which is no small thing. I’m unmanned and unmoored without her. I’m just going to tackle the details in front of me and count on time and family and friends to pull me back on course at some point. If anyone wants to send flowers, the service is at Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler at 7805 W Center Rd in Omaha on Saturday, March 10th, starting at 3pm. For the people who didn’t get to meet her, Cindy looked like a movie star: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/cindy-movie-star.jpg" alt="Cindy movie star" /></center> She loved hanging with her family, like her sister and niece and nephew: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/cindy-family.jpg" alt="Cindy with her family" /></center> She had the best smile and amazing green eyes: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/cindy-smile.jpg" alt="Cindy smiling" /></center> And her cat Ozzie adored her as much as I did: <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/cindy-ozzie.jpg" alt="Cindy and Ozzie" /></center> Please give your friends or family a hug for me. We never know how much time we have with someone, and sometimes it’s all too short. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/cindy-cutts/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>857</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6984</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Talking to Mr. Money Mustache about the US Digital Service</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/interview-mr-money-mustache-us-digital-service/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/interview-mr-money-mustache-us-digital-service/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:58:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6972</guid> <description><![CDATA[Last week, I passed my one year anniversary as head of the US Digital Service (USDS). So when Mr. Money Mustache asked for an interview, I was delighted to talk about some of the work that the USDS does. If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Money Mustache, he writes about a philosophy of badassity in […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week, I passed my one year anniversary as head of the US Digital Service (USDS). So when <a href="https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2018/01/22/matt-cutts-usds-interview/">Mr. Money Mustache asked for an interview</a>, I was delighted to talk about some of the work that the USDS does. If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Money Mustache, he writes about a <a href="http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02/22/getting-rich-from-zero-to-hero-in-one-blog-post/">philosophy of badassity</a> in which people make better life choices like <a href="http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/04/18/get-rich-with-bikes/">biking to work</a> or <a href="http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/">saving a higher percentage of their paychecks</a>. I remember discovering <a href="http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/">Mr. Money Mustache</a> and immediately reading through most of his site, so it was a pleasure to <a href="https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2018/01/22/matt-cutts-usds-interview/">do an interview with him</a>. And if you haven’t heard of the US Digital Service before, this interview is a good chance to find out more. The US Digital Service is still here, still <a href="https://www.usds.gov/work">working on projects that matter</a>, and <a href="https://www.usds.gov/join">we’re hiring</a>. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/interview-mr-money-mustache-us-digital-service/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>26</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6972</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Staying with the US Digital Service</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/join-the-us-digital-service/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2017 03:47:17 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6944</guid> <description><![CDATA[A few months ago, I took a leave of absence from Google to do a stint with the US Digital Service. A lot of people know about the US Digital Service because they helped rescue the healthcare.gov website. But you might not realize that the US Digital Service has helped veterans get their health benefits, […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[A few months ago, I took a leave of absence from Google to do a stint with the <a href="https://www.usds.gov/mission">US Digital Service</a>. A lot of people know about the US Digital Service because they <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3046756/obama-and-his-geeks">helped rescue the healthcare.gov website</a>. But you might not realize that the US Digital Service has helped <a href="https://www.usds.gov/report-to-congress/2016/vets-dot-gov/">veterans get their health benefits</a>, brought <a href="https://www.usds.gov/report-to-congress/2016/hack-the-pentagon/">bug bounties to the federal government</a>, and helped <a href="https://www.usds.gov/report-to-congress/2016/irs-secure-access/">the IRS protect taxpayer info</a>. <center><img decoding="async" src="https://www.mattcutts.com/images/usds-logo.png" alt="USDS logo" /></center> When I joined the US Digital Service, I only planned to stay for three months. That quickly turned into six months after I saw the impact of the USDS. In the last month, I made a big decision. On December 31, 2016, I resigned from Google. I’m currently serving as <a href="https://backchannel.com/the-final-days-of-obamas-tech-surge-864b9bf60d34#.vmjdwbyux">director of engineering for the USDS</a>. Mikey Dickerson, the first administrator of the USDS, is a political appointee, so he’ll step down on Inauguration Day. When that happens, I’ll serve as acting administrator of the USDS. The work that the USDS does is critical to the American people, and I’m honored to continue that tradition. If you’re reading this blog post, odds are that you might be a tech geek yourself. I’d like to ask you to review what the US Digital Service has <a href="https://www.usds.gov/report-to-congress/2016/">accomplished in just a few years</a>. If you’re a more visual person, you might enjoy this short video: <center><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGe5rEDv3g8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center> Working for the government doesn’t pay as well as a big company in Silicon Valley. We don’t get any free lunches. Many days are incredibly frustrating. All I can tell you is that the work is deeply important and inspiring, and you have a chance to work on things that genuinely make peoples’ lives better. A friend who started working in this space several years ago told me “These last five years have been the hardest and worst and best and most rewarding I think I will ever have.” If you have experience in the tech industry, there’s a decent chance that you have skills that can benefit the American people. If you’re considering joining the US Digital Service, <a href="https://www.usds.gov/join">please fill out an application</a>. ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6944</post-id> </item> <item> <title>A brief update</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/heading-to-usds/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/heading-to-usds/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:57:53 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6929</guid> <description><![CDATA[Over the last couple years, I’ve seen more and more people in technology trying to make government work better. They’re idealists who are also making a large impact. These are people that I respect–some of them worked to fix healthcare.gov, for example. From talking to many of them, I can tell you that their energy […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Over the last couple years, I’ve seen <a href="https://www.usds.gov/">more</a> and <a href="https://18f.gsa.gov/">more</a> people in technology trying to make government work better. They’re idealists who are also making a large impact. These are <a href="https://medium.com/@USDigitalService/mikey-dickerson-to-sxsw-why-we-need-you-in-government-f31dab3263a0#.uhpj8z64s">people that I respect</a>–some of them worked to fix <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">healthcare.gov</a>, for example. From talking to many of them, I can tell you that their energy is contagious and they’re trying to improve things in <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/08/healthcare-gov/">all kinds of ways</a>. I want to see whether I can help too. So for the next few months, I’ll be taking a leave from Google. I’m joining the <a href="https://www.usds.gov/join">US Digital Service</a> family, specifically the <a href="http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2015/11/meet-head-pentagons-agile-new-digital-service/123825/">Defense Digital Service</a> at the Pentagon. I’ll be moving out to Washington, D.C., as part of the change. If you’re in the area, please <a href="https://twitter.com/mattcutts">say hello</a>! And if you’re interested in the US Digital Service, you can find more information at <a href="https://www.usds.gov/">usds.gov</a>. ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/heading-to-usds/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>190</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6929</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Thanks, Amit</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/thanks-amit-singhal/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2016 19:49:36 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6916</guid> <description><![CDATA[Amit Singhal just announced that he’s retiring toward the end of the month. Amit has been a formative part of Google’s search team, but he’s also a good friend. Last year, after he marked 15 years with Google, I wrote this about Amit’s contributions: Amit Singhal, one of the unsung heroes of Google, just celebrated […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Amit Singhal <a href="https://plus.google.com/+AmitSinghal/posts/4PEmsWv8WYe">just announced</a> that he’s retiring toward the end of the month. Amit has been a formative part of Google’s search team, but he’s also a good friend. Last year, after he marked 15 years with Google, I wrote this about Amit’s contributions: <blockquote>Amit Singhal, one of the unsung heroes of Google, just celebrated 15 years at the company. If you’ve ever gotten a magical answer from Google, you probably have Amit to thank for it. I can’t think of another person who has taken on so many different roles–individual contributor, manager, and head of search, not to mention dealing with press–and done such a superb job in each role. When a regular person hits a wall and gets discouraged, that’s when Amit is just getting started. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/14.0.0/72x72/1f642.png" alt="馃檪" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> It’s always fun to see how he cuts to the root of a problem and solves it. I’m proud to call him my friend.</blockquote> Billions of people have benefited in some way from Amit’s insight and judgment. Google will miss you, but thank you for everything, Amit. I’m also thankful that the leadership of search remains in excellent hands, including an experienced group of contributors and leaders in core ranking. ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6916</post-id> </item> <item> <title>Solving a Verizon issue (Nexus 5X)</title> <link>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/verizon-visual-voicemail-texts/</link> <comments>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/verizon-visual-voicemail-texts/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Cutts]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2016 02:00:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Android]]></category> <category><![CDATA[How to]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=6897</guid> <description><![CDATA[I solved a problem today and figured that I’d document it for the rest of the world. Every time someone left me a voicemail on Verizon, I would get a cryptic text from Verizon at 900080006202 that looked like “//VZWVVM:SYNC:ev=NM;id=1;c=1;t=v;s=1XXXXXXXXXX;dt=18/01/2016 13:40-0900;l=13;dev_t=5” or “//VZWVVM:SYNC:ev=MBU;dev_t=5”. Here’s what happened. It turns out that Verizon has three kinds of […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[I solved a problem today and figured that I’d document it for the rest of the world. Every time someone left me a voicemail on Verizon, I would get a cryptic text from Verizon at 900080006202 that looked like “//VZWVVM:SYNC:ev=NM;id=1;c=1;t=v;s=1XXXXXXXXXX;dt=18/01/2016 13:40-0900;l=13;dev_t=5” or “//VZWVVM:SYNC:ev=MBU;dev_t=5”. Here’s what happened. It turns out that Verizon has three kinds of voicemail: basic voicemail (free), basic visual voicemail (also free), and premium visual voicemail ($2.99/month). I have a <a href="https://store.google.com/product/nexus_5x">Nexus 5X</a> and I recently switched from an unlimited Verizon data plan to a different plan (long story). As part of that shift, it looks like Verizon switched me to visual voicemail. I suspect a lot of phones that you get at a Verizon store have some sort of visual voicemail app pre-installed. That app probably intercepts those cryptic texts and uses them to show a voicemail indicator. Ever wondered how the voicemail indicator disappears so fast after you call voicemail? I suspect that’s also because of a Verizon text that is interpreted by your phone. But a Nexus 5X doesn’t have Verizon’s voicemail app, so it just presents texts from Verizon. To fix this issue, I stopped by a Verizon store and had a rep change me from “basic visual voicemail” to “basic voicemail,” and that fixed the issue. I don’t think you can toggle that setting yourself on Verizon’s website. Added: A friend told me that he got his voicemail changed to basic voicemail by chatting with a Verizon representative online. That might be easier/faster than visiting a Verizon store in person. Nexus 5X rocks! By the way, I love my Nexus 5X. It fits well in my hand, the camera is superb, and the fingerprint reader is blazingly fast. Also, the speed and accuracy of voice recognition on the Nexus 5X is amazing. A final nice feature is that you can insert a Nano SIM card from any of the major carriers in the US. I often switch my Nexus 5X over to <a href="https://fi.google.com/">Google Fi</a> in various situations; for example, Fi is great if you’re traveling outside the US. HD Voice One last tip if you’re still on Verizon: you can get HD Voice for free, but you have to enable it. HD Voice works via Voice over LTE, or VoLTE. HD Voice should have much better audio than a regular cell phone as long as both phones support it. On Verizon’s site, go to My Verizon->My Plan & Services->My Plan->Products & Apps->Manage Products & Apps and then click Free Products. Enable HD Voice on all your compatible lines on the website. Then you need to enable HD Voice on each of your phones. On recent Android phones, look for Settings->More->Cellular networks->Enhanced 4G LTE Mode. On iPhones, look for Settings->Cellular->Enable LTE and select Voice & Data. More info on HD Voice and Advanced Calling on Verizon is in <a href="https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/advanced-calling-faqs/">these FAQs</a>. What phone are you rocking right now, and how do you like it? ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/verizon-visual-voicemail-texts/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>42</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">6897</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>