...the company blog says theyre launching a human-powered search engine (watch out, Mahalo). In Australia, theyre letting you search the future. And in the United States, theyre possibly firing hundreds of hard-working advertising people " wait, thats not funny!

But seriously, on the one hand, Im hoping Googles April Fools joke is good, on the other Id rather see all those DoubleClickers keep their job. The other hand is weighing a lot more on my conscience than the humor hand, but I suspect that among those writing the pink slips, Google hilarious joke will be the only thing they really care about tomorrow.

Google Earth Getting Street View?
Webware reports that theyre hearing Google will add Street View, its popular novelty feature in Google Maps that lets you see street-level photographs of businesses, making it available in the Google Earth desktop software. Their source is very non-specific, but the rumor does sound very believable, since theres no good reason for Google Earth users to lag behind Maps users for this long. Webware says the addition could come in the next few weeks.

Barack Obama Rendered in Google SketchUp
Someone used SketchUp, Googles 3D modeling software, to create this model of Barack Obamas head. The whole thing is 400 polygons of rendered facial features, and I gotta say, it creeps me out. At least Obamas a decent looking guy; I cant imagine how creepy a 3D rendering of Ted Kennedy or Hillary Clinton (with giant eyes!) would look.

Download it here.

Sync Google Talk With Twitter
Timothy Broder wrote a script that takes your latest Twitter message and makes it your Google Talk/Gmail Chat status message. Its a simple thing, perfectly useful and good, just like a baby angel.

Crack Deal in Google Maps?
Is this really what this Digger thinks it is? Well, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to conduct a business transaction through your car window with a guy standing in the street. I think.

Does Google Chiefs $1 Salary Mean Anything?
For another year, Googles head honchos will be taking a $1 salary, supposedly putting the interests of the business ahead of money. Its a simple token gesture, offset by the fact that the guys taking the pledge, founders Page and Brin and CEO Schmidt, are billionaires, though it, in theory, would make them more focused on the health of the stock price. All three lost billions of dollars in the last few months as the once high flying stock tanked, though you wont see them sweating it.

The salary/publicity stunt has been criticized as meaningless, and Valleywag has pointed out it means the super-rich taking the salary are contributing six cents to help Social Security and one penny for Medicare, meaning that none of their mega-riches are going to help those served by important government programs.

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