Marcia - 2:50 am on Sep 18, 2008 (gmt 0)

HuskyPup, the bias remark you quoted was specifically directed to the "glass ceiling" reference, which is related to gender in common usage: as in Hillary's recent 16K cracks in the glass ceiling.

Regarding bias in the Adsense algos, algos are just computer programs, which are written by human beings who have likes, dislikes and preferences; but the important part is that there are guidelines they have to go by. Some of them are very clear in patents and patent applications, but there's nothing personal in any of that, either implicit or implied.

There may be financial bias in algos or shifts in favor of either Google or publishers, but there's no bias related to people in any way shape or form, either for gender or national origins or political persuasion, etc., etc.

And speaking of patents, it can never hurt to read through them, both for the Adsense and the Adwords side of things - or even those for organic search.