Microsoft continues to pursue Google search with a Captain Ahab-esque level of dedication. Next week they are expected to debut their latest search engine which may or may not continue the working title of Kumo. Microsoft's search engine has been a rare commodity among bloggers in that it is a Microsoft effort that has received some praise. Liveside is one blogger who summarized the reasons why Microsoft is better at search than most people believe and, as PC World suggested, this may be the point where we see some semantic benefits of Microsoft's acquisition of Powerset.com. PC World was also quick to point out that, with a 64% market share, the space remains Google's to lose.

Details will emerge over the next few days from either the May 26 D: All Things Digital conference or, as Search Engine Land (perhaps wishfully) speculated, at their June 2 SMX Advanced in Seattle. The name game speculation remains high. Most bloggers agree that Live.com is dead and Liveside did some sleuthing suggesting that, in name at least, Microsoft search might just become a bowl of cherries.

• Avoid selective hearing with 20 top social media monitoring tools (Socialize Mobilize)
• Twitter Power System Review (Online Social Networking)
• 13 Essential Social-Media 'Listening Tools' (Marketing Profs)
• Twitter Proves Its Worth as a Killer App for Local Businesses (Ad Age)
• 5 Lessons Celebrities Can Teach Us About Facebook Pages (Mashable)
• Archivist - Awesome Twitter Search Archive Tool (Mel Carson)
• Facebook's application profile pages might give brands a boost (VentureBeat)
• New Facebook Application Directory Goes Live (All Facebook)
• HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Twitter #Hashtags (Mashable)
• 25 Twitter Apps for Multi-Account Users (Birdsall)

• Google's Search Based Keyword Tool: Finding Diamonds in the Long-tail (PPC Advice)
• How Google Finds Paid Links (SEO Unique)
• How to Write PPC Ad Copy: Four Ad Templates that Cause Clicks and Conversions (Search Engine People)
• Linking to Bad Neighborhoods Can Kill Your SEO Efforts (HouMah)
• 10 ways to use search engine operators for SEO (Conversion Counts)
• How to Improve your Pages SEO Score (SEO Design)
• 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Meta Descriptions and Page Titles (Groove Commerce)
• URL Rewrites and 301 Redirects - How Does It All Work? (SEOmoz)
• Keyword Research Tool: SEMRush (Blizzard)

• 11 Striking Findings From an Eye Tracking Study (Pro Blogger)
• Web Design Industry Jargon: Glossary and Resources (Smashing Mag)
• 9 Ways To Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment ( Conversation Marketing)
• 8 Layout Solutions To Improve Your Designs (Smashing Mag)
• How to Avoid Losing Your Readers Along the Long Copy Path (CopyBlogger)
• 25 Great Examples of Using Gradient Effects in Web Designs (Six Revisions)

• How to Get Your Mail Past the Inbox Bouncers (ClickZ)
• Should You Still Send Emails Consistently Over the Summer? (Email Experience Council)
• 4 Actionable Tips to Optimize Links in an Email Message (Search Engine Journal)
• Learn The First of 3 Critical Opportunities to Create The Right Subscriber Expectations (Aweber)
• Thank You: Another Critical Opportunity to Create Subscriber Expectations (Aweber)
• Time to kill the 'view as a web page' link? (Email Marketing Report)

• 5 Advanced Segments for Ecommerce Analysis (ROI Revolution)
• Spotlight on Google Analytics features part 1: Advanced Segmentation (Google Conversion Room)
• How Google Analytics Tracks 'Bookmark' Visits (Analytics Talk)
• Tracking Transactions back to the Initial Referrer with Google Analytics (ROI Revolution)

• Google Product Search for Android and iPhone (Google Mobile Blog)
• Fennec (Firefox Mobile) Alpha 1 For Windows Mobile Goes Live (Mobile Crunch)
• New Firefox Icon: Concept Rendering by Stephen Horlander (Alex Faaborg)
• Twoogle performs Google and Twitter searches simultaneously (Download Squad)
• Middle-Agers Help Hulu Grow 490% (Marketing Charts)
• Twitmatic version 2 takes Twitter video search seriously (Venture Beat)
• Twitter sees tools, not ads, for revenue (Digital Trends)
• With Facebook, Has OpenID Moved Closer to Being the De Facto Login Standard? (GigaOm)
• Ads in FriendFeed-This Could be Huge (New Comm Biz)
• Augmented Reality - 5 examples of this 3D virtual experience being used for advertising (Nick Burcher)