Test-run your business savvy

Ad Networks and Analytics:

• In the style of AdWords, Social Actions Blog created a blog widget that reflects text ads exclusively for social causes.
• Ad network Jellycloud calls it quits after eight years and two name changes.
• Tech blog network GigaOmniMedia — parent company of GigaOM — raised $4.5 million in a round led by Alloy Ventures.

Agencies and Marketing Execs:

• mUrgent Email Marketing adds Anthony Miller, GM of small business sales.
• The Lithuanian Development Agency chose Saffron Brand Consultants to improve the country's image.
• Valeh Valiki left his Director-US Sales position at Yahoo for SVP-Sales and Strategy at MySpace.

Biz Buzz:

• Diller gets up-close and personal about his decision to fracture InterActive Corp.

Gaming:

• Casual gaming firm Oberon Media closed a $20 million round of funding led by Infinity I-China Fund, which has taken an interest in the gaming field.

Legal, Government and Regulation:

• Verizon lost its patent infringement case against Cox VoIP.

Mobile:

• Forbes believes iPhone e-reader Stanza may pose a threat to Amazon's Kindle.

Publishing:

• The New York Times reflects on brands pursuing social media fixes to static site offerings.

Search:

• Diagnose your site with Google Advanced Search.
• Google Webmaster Central is hosting Link Week, a series of blog posts all about links.
• Small-time search engine Accoona is dead. No tears were shed.

Social Networks:

• Facebook's doing some reshuffling pending the loss of some executives. The social network promoted Christopher Cox from director, human resources to product director. It also made Mike Schroepfer VP of Engineering.
• InterActive Corp. launched Green.com, a virtual world with an eco-friendly theme, in beta.

User Experience:

• Second Life is becoming a hotbed of increased professional use — including networking, researching, conducting real-life business and running virtual ones — according to a survey of 11,000 Second Life users by the Social Research Foundation.