Even as we write this, a handful of Ask.com notables are preparing to wing their way to Chi-town for the Search Engine Strategies 2006 Conference & Expo, to join their fellow searcherati in sub-freezing temperatures. If you're looking for the Ask.com presence at SES, you'll find it at these panels:

James Speer, VP Marketing and Products, IAC Advertising Solutions, Ask.com
  Tuesday, December 5, 2006
  TOPIC: Meet the Search Ad Networks, 4:30pm-5:45pm

Paul Vallez, Director, Product Management, Ask.com
  Wednesday, December 6, 2006
  TOPIC: Auditing Paid Listings & Click Fraud Issues, 2:00pm-3:15pm

Vivek Pathak, Infrastructure Product Manager, Ask.com
  Wednesday, December 6, 2006
  TOPIC: Social Search Overview, 9:00am-10:15am

  Thursday, December 7, 2006
  TOPIC: Meet the Crawlers, 9:00am-10:15am
  TOPIC: Search Engine Q&A On Links, 10:45am-12:00pm

Be sure to come by after the panels and say hello. And for pity's sake take a jacket! You know how we worry.

--The Ask.com Team