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May 16, 2000 — 5 PM

I remember stumbling across Google

I remember stumbling across Google one day and being quite taken aback by its effectiveness. Generally speaking, it finds exactly what you are looking for--no mean feat in this day of hundreds, if not thousands, of millions of web pages (98.2% of which seem to be fan sites for over-exposed supermodels or over-exposed, naked celebrities). Being a faithful netizen, I recommended it highly to others; now it seems everyone I know uses the site.

Google works by ranking web sites based on how much other sites link to them. Genius, really, although it does ensure that only the well-linked and popular will survive. Apparently, though, I was not the only one taken aback by Google's rapidly-rising popularity. Altavista, a search engine which has long been plagued by countless, meaningless results, has started raging, which claims to similarly rank results.

First reaction: great! The Web can always use better search facilities.

Second reaction: Have they no shame? Raging looks awfully similar to Google, besides being functionally equivalent.

And if that wasn't enough, they have yet another swoosh logo.

Is originality just too much to ask these days? Or have all the good ideas just been used up already?

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Previously: Sometimes we need voices of

Subsequently: My oh my. You can

May 2000
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