Google has recently filed for a patent and the associated disclosure provides more detail into the ranking techniques than had previously been revealed. (Buzzle.com Summary)
I find the logic of the variables included to be very interesting. I suppose some will attempt to use what is known about the variables to engineer their site in ways that would generate a higher ranking.
NECC, my personal favorite computer conference, is coming up in a little over a week. A group of bloggers have been organized to describe the event. (NECC bloggers). This should be a good resource for those who cannot attend the event or who do attend but are interested in other perspectives.
I have posted from NECC for the past three conferences and I will again add comments to this blog from the conference.