Six Questions for Google
In recent weeks, several web luminaries have either been posing or responding to questions on subjects ranging from the predictable to the bizarre; you might remember:
- 10 Questions for Andy Budd (Web Standards)
- Collylogic looks at Visited Links
- 10 Questions for Molly Holzschlag (Web Standards again)
- 10 Questions for Dan Cederholm (and again)
- 10 time-travelling bloggers
Plus some more that I’ve lost the links to.
As a relative newcomer to the blogosphere, emailing lists of questions to such heavyweights felt a little forward, but still, I’d like to get in on the questioning act too.
So I went to where I knew I’d find answers – the Deep Thought of the 21st century – Google.
MP: “So, Google, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Firstly – who?”
Google: “Like most acronymical URLs, the World Health Organisation tops the list, taking the first two spots with its homepage and information on the SARS virus. Although the health scare has fallen off the news radar, the panic served to push SARS up to the top of the search listings, and probably boost the organisation’s hitcount for several months.”
MP: “Question 2 – what?”
Google: “Whatis.com is an online dictionary of IT terms and related words.”
MP: “That’s pretty boring. Why is ICQ.com third in the results when the word ‘what’ doesn’t feature in either the search extract you present, or the body of their homepage?”
Google: “Um… I’ll get back to you on that one. Rest assured our search results are complete impartial and not weighted in any way.”
MP: “Hmmm. Okay. Next question – when?”
Google: whatsonwhen.com lists world events and includes a comprehensive search tool to find stuff happening near you.”
MP: “Why is it a girly pink?”
Google: “Pass – I guess somebody thought it looked good with deep blue. Go figure.”
MP: “What’s at when.com, and why won’t it load?”
Google: “Hmmm – looks like there’s nothing there right now. It’s owned by AOL, so I wouldn’t hold out much hope for it being at all useful if and when it’s developed.”
MP: “Fair enough. Question 4 – where?”
Google: “Where is Raed was one of the many blogs to come to public prominence during the ‘liberation’ of Iraq by the Bush/Blair junta, and was viewed by many as an insight into the real events often overlooked by the mainstream press.”
MP: “Cool. Next question is why?”
Google: “‘Why Nerds Are Unpopular’ is a lengthy but interesting essay by Paul Graham on high-school popularity dynamics and geek value systems.”
MP: “Interesting – think I’ll print it out for later reading. Finally – how?”
Google: “howstuffworks.com is a great way of cheating on your homework by getting all your answers from the internet. Libraries are going to die out soon with stuff like this at your fingertips.”
MP: “Maybe – at least my local library doesn’t feel the need to show me two pop-ups every time I visit.”
Google: “Serves you right for using Internet Explorer!”
MP: “Thanks for your time.”
Filed under: General.
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