TechCrunch took the time to point out Google's homepage today -- not because it's the third day in a row they're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, but because there's a rare ad, front and center.

This is noteworthy because not only is Google's homepage spare -- there's a 28-word limit -- but they're continually fiddling with making it even emptier.

Apparently standards can be compromised when the tech world is talking about one of your own products. Google's advertising the new Droid phone from Motorola, which runs on its own Android software, and which was released today.

At least Google stuck to its guns in one regard -- even with the ad, the homepage checks in at 27 words.