on why GglBse is a really big deal- this is a post on the site *michael parekh on IT* . seems difficult to navigate. so much on the page? and the 'permalink' for each post is only at the bottom of it; the title is not linked. so, for ease, see also: 8/7 on tagging, 10/25 on pc mag's review of web 2.0 tagging services, 10/28 on promoting web 2.0 services, 10/30 on web 2.0 service that thrill.
meanwhile: Google Base provides some structure to the basic Google Search. Not too much like a traditional directory, but just enough for the item to be discoverable by the same basic "type it in a search box and go" approach that most of us are already addicted to. And the directory doesn't look like a directory...you don't get to it in a hierarchichal fashion, but directly via the search box. The directory innards are hidden in what is now being called a "database" and a "classifieds" engine.
//Here's Google's own description of what it is by the way: ...a place where you can easily submit all types of online and offline content that we'll host and make searchable online.
-What kind of information can I submit?
Remember, our goal is to organize the world's information and make it universally useful and accessible, and "the world's information" certainly includes almost anything you might wish to contribute. We encourage you to submit your item, whether it's your store inventory, collection of original poetry, or research paper on cancer receptors. //

+11/22 Exploring GglBse's info-architecture (blog via Willison) : how deeply Google has embraced standard information architecture concepts and trends. We have categories, facets, tags. doesn't like that ggle's tags ("labels") are not social. It is in keeping with the Google way to dream up a generic global classified (& other content) service. And also to think that it does not need a local / social component.

also 11/22, and related: eBay implements simple search expansion-by-contraction (37S-vshort via Willison) : eBay does a nice job helping you compare similar searches with different numbers of words. This sort of reminds me of 37betterGoogle.