h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK... In someone's NaJoPoMo posting last week, there was a discussion concerning the problems with using google to search (it puts you in a bubble based on your previous searches, it autofills and autocorrects, it seems to have abandoned some traditional modifiers to limit searches, etc.)

All these Najopomo posts blend together, and I have possibly unsubbed from the one I was looking for as my convo list gets unmanageable every November, so I can't find it now.

But maybe some of you will appreciate this.

An intro to Google's "Custom Search".

Looks quite useful.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/11/google-custom-search/?cid=co14400754

"Google Custom Search can be a powerful tool
for any workflow that queries the internet."


Makes me wanna search synonyms for 'horsefeathers'.


~jwf~

Whooooo is on today's Google Doodle?

Lots of fun to be had as it's an interactive 50th anniversary edition.

The 50th anniversary isn't till tomorrow, but it's Dr. Who so I'll forgive them.

It took me a while to figure out what I was supposed to do, but it was fun once I got it.

Completed 16+ minutes.
I'll have to try again.

I did it in 12:04 on the first try. But I was really bad in the one with the lights (?) on the floor.

Good news. We have a very old version of IE here which just doesn't work with it. That should mean that I get home at a reasonable time today (when I can play with it in Firefox).

PP.

I am struggling with the cruel irony of the sheer amount of TIME
that this thing takes. It is running in the background in another
window as I type this and I can hear all sorts going on but I have
yet to accomplish any task. Keep hearing the word "exterminate!".
I've killed a lot of Doctors and can't get the Dalek to fall off.

~jwf~

Google have excelled themselves this time. Thanks Google.

(I completed the game without having to have a Dalek fall off).

PP.

jwf, what you need to do is gather the letters to from the word "google".
Just go around the daleks and the other bad guys and you should be fine.

You can't fight against the Daleks, you just have to run and stop in a way so they do not get/touch you at any time.

Got the G almost by accident but then I couldn't get the first O.
Got tired of hearing EXTERMINATE and gave up. As always, games
do not respond the way I intend or expect.
Maybe my mouse needs feeding.

But I have to say I'm glad they have left it up for a second day.
Most unusual. Perhaps it's a ripple in time.


~jwf~

Well the anniversary is actually today, so maybe they put it up yesterday by mistake?

Yesterday I suspected it was a promotional (paid advert) sorta thing
(this is Google afterall) for the 50th Anniversary special. Even people
who are not devoted fans might then explore more about the Doctor
and become aware of the impending broadcast. Then I decided it was
just an avoidance of the JFK thing which has been inundating the TV
airwaves all week and they saw an opportunity to demonstrate that
the web is a viable media alternate. Then I figgered it was just the
Google-people being cool. I dunno.
All I know is that "The Day of the Doctor" is on in a few minutes.

It feels like Xmas.

~jwf~

It took me 38:38 to do this. My hand-eye coordination sucks.

It did remind me of the old 'Doctor Who', though. As the 'Nitpicker's Guide' says, there's a lot of tedious running about in corridors...

Surprised that they didn't mark JFK's Assassination 50th anniversary yesterday.

I guess Doctor Who was probably a better theme for a mini-game, though...

I don't know. You could have had people finding CIA agents on the Grassy Knoll, KGB spies in the Book Depository, etc...

A first person shooter game set in Dallas near the grassy knoll?

Suddenly I realise why I really don't like most video games.

~jwf~