What to do when you don't
know what to do:
Call Accent on Computers! 203-625-7575.
January 12, 2007
Are You a Good Googler?
Dear Larry,
What exactly does “I’m feeling lucky” mean when I search
using Google?
G. N.
Dear G. N.,
When you click the Google Search button on
www.google.com, Google produces the 10 top
links that relate to the search words you entered. When you click the I’m
Feeling Lucky button instead of the Google Search button, Google immediately
takes you to the first result of your search. For example, if you type LARRY
SCHNEIDER ACCENT in the Google search box and click I’m Feeling Lucky, you’ll
immediately be directed to my web site. If you then decide you want to view
additional search results, click the Back button and click Google Search
instead. (Note: I’m using all caps in this column to indicate Google search
terms, which are not normally case sensitive.)
As long as we’re on the subject of Google, allow me to show
you some Google tricks you may not know about.
When you Google the terms LARRY SCHNEIDER ACCENT, Google may
find a site that contains the phrase ‘Bill Schneider asks if he should accent
the O in the name Larry Simone.’ On the other hand, if you Google the terms
“LARRY SCHNEIDER” ACCENT (with the quotation marks included as shown), Google
will limit the results to those pages containing the specific name “Larry
Schneider” as well as the word Accent. Thus, if you search for “GEORGE BUSH”
instead of GEORGE BUSH, you’ll avoid bringing up any web results having to do
with a George somebody and his prize rose bushes.
Suppose you wanted to Google the term LAGUARDIA but weren’t
interested in LaGuardia Airport or Fiorello LaGuardia? Then type LAGUARDIA
–AIRPORT -FIORELLO in the search box. The dashes tell Google you want to exclude
pages containing the words “airport” or “fiorello.”
Do you only read English? Click Preferences to the right of
the Google search box and indicate to Google that you’re only interested in web
pages written in English.
Going out to eat in Greenwich tonight? Google the terms 06830
RESTAURANTS. Looking for a shoe store in Old Greenwich? Google the terms 06870
SHOE.
Shoes don’t interest you? Okay, then try these on for size:
How much is (78+373) * 47 / 2? Google it and get the answer
10,598.5! (Note: * means “times” and / means “divided by.”)
How much is 4 FEET 7 1/2 INCHES IN METERS or HALF A CUP IN
TEASPOONS or 500 GBP IN USD? Google these phrases (using lowercase) and find out
that the answers are 1.4097 meters, 24 teaspoons, and $973.45.
Try typing a phone number, a UPS or FedEx tracking number, or
a vehicle identification number in the Google search box. Or type AA10 to find
out the status of America Airlines flight #10. Or type MSFT to get Microsoft’s
stock price. Or type WEATHER COS COB CT to find…oh, you get the picture.
For more Google tricks, visit
http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/features.html or
www.google.com/support.
This is Larry Schneider, logging off.
