Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Video: Google Places Team & Experts Answer Questions On Google Maps
Google has announced in the Google Places Help forums a new video they posted using Google+ Help Desk Hangout On Air to answer questions about Google Maps and Google Places…

Poll: Give Page A Grade As CEO Of Google
In January, Google’s co-founder and now CEO for the past year, was named CEO of the year but there are many critics of his work in the past year.
Larry Page wrote a letter to the shareholders named

Google AdSense Engineer Says Invalid Clicks Was Never Money Earned
A Google AdSense Help thread has one AdSense publisher complaining that there was “a $3,000 deduction” from his Google AdSense account.

Truth is, his actual earnings versus his estimated earnings was $3,000 less…

Google: Towing Companies Are In Spammy Vertical
There are certain industries and sectors that seem ‘shadier’ than others. When it comes to Google Maps and getting businesses listed in Google Maps/Places…

Google Halfpipe
Here is a picture of Brett Crosby, co-founder of Urchin, now Google Analytics, learning how to run on the Google Halfpipe. Brett is a surfer, so maybe this isn’t too far off. He is also a great guy.

Other Great Search Forum Threads:

How does Google treat foreign languages in its Algo?, WebmasterWorld
Did Facebook panic?, Hacker News
Facebook buys Instagram photo sharing network for $1bn, WebmasterWorld
Tuesday’s doodle in Korea is for 20th-century artist Lee…, Google – Google+
Viacom and Google YouTube Copyright Case Back On, WebmasterWorld