Has Google Made Trivia Obsolete?

So, regularly, in the morning, I listen to Eric & Kathy.  They usually do something 'trivia-like' (oh, pardon me, 'Mix Morning Mind Bender').  Whenever they ask the question, I always simply think 'if I wanted to participate in this contest, I would simply google the question'.

I remember being at a bar on a trivia night back 3 years ago and the administrators of game made a big deal that iphones MUST BE PUT AWAY or the team would be immediately disqualified.  Granted, it was a large bar with at least ten teams participating, so there probably was some cheating, although, at this point in time, smart phones weren't as prevalent, so there was a good chance that some people in the game didn't have extra special help.

Whenever I find myself on the receiving end of an obscure question and not in some timed/isolated from technology conditions, there is one thing and one thing alone I immediately do - I google it.  I think I can safely say, most of society is with me on this one.

This begs to questions - is there a purpose of trivia contests on the radio/television/newspaper any more? Can't everyone pretty much 'cheat'?  Secondly - at one point in time - there may have been something to knowing some piece of obscure information.  Perhaps it defined a 'true fan' of something.  Perhaps it was some kind of payoff to someone devoting a lot of time/energy/interest to a certain subject.  Is it a blessing and a curse that all kinds of information easily accessible at our fingertips?  Is the concept of trivia pretty much gone?  Are we losing something in this, or is it all for the better?

People Who Treat Google Like a Magic 8 Ball

Funny experiment.

Start typing 'Will I Ever' into google....

Some of the autofills are absolutely ridiculous:

--Will I ever find love
--Will I ever get married
--Will I ever be good enough

Other amusing searches:

--What is the meaning of life
--What is the meaning of love
--Do I love him
--Do I look good
--Am I going crazy

Dear searchers - I do know that it can feel like the source of all information at times....however, I think this may have gone a step too far.  Is it that someone thought, per se, that some knowing being out there published accurate information on whether or not said someone would find love, and it was really just a matter of finding this information on the internet?  Actually, it appears, quite a few someones may have had this thought.

Or, perhaps, more logically, someone was dealing the frustrations of wondering about one of said topics and was looking for some articles on the subject of how to cope, or to perhaps to see if there are others out there who feel the same way.

I'm sticking with my first theory.  Does google have any good information on what the future holds for Jaime?!  Has anyone ever been guilty of one of said googles?  Has anyone found anything good?  Any other good ones my dear readers can think of?!   Your thoughts!?

Piercings....

I was afraid to google image search for a good image for this post.

Anyhow.

I know this question can be answered like almost all questions (with the simple 'google it') - however, do piercings that one has had a reasonable amount of time close?  Now, I know, in theory, the answer is yes.  However.  My ears are double pierced and I have a cartilage piercing.  At one time, I wore earrings in all these holes, however, I can say that I haven't used anything but the first holes in at least five years, and I'm pretty sure the other piercings haven't closed.  Will they ever?  Also, don't some piericings (external skin ones - like eyebrows or belly buttons) 'grow out' eventually?  Has anyone out there experienced either of these things?  Are these just urban legends?  Are there any piercing experts out there?

Please share.

Dear Google Ad....

Is this a hint?  What, exactly, are you trying to say?

Is It Just Me?

Is anyone else having trouble with his/her gmail snippets?

Mine is showing the first part of the conversation, not the most recent.

Is it just me?  Did Google decide to pick on me?

How can I fix this?

Please advise.

Just a Question....

Google Wave and Google Voice.

Does anyone USE these products? I'm not being sarcastic. I'm just wondering. I have both products, but I don't use them. Are they as popular as other google products? Are they worthwhile? Are they time eaters, like facebook or twitter? Your thoughts?

Yet ANOTHER Expression I Hate....

...when people take the pronoun out of a reply. For example - something I heard today:

"Appreciate it."

It made me wish I hadn't held the door for her.

Where's the I? I feel like people take the pronoun out to sound more professional or savvy or fast-paced (I don't have time for all the words that belong in this sentence!). Ugh.

In googling the subject, I found this line I couldn't agree with more: pronouns are like condoms, always use one. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Expressions I Hate, AGAIN

The expression 'touch base'

As in, 'Let's touch base on this matter later' or 'I'll touch base with John'.

I hate it mostly because it's classic corporate speak. It has no use in real every day life. If it somehow does appear, it's either
a) force of habit (excusable) or
b) an attempt to sound more educated/important/dignified (horrific)

Anyhow. There's no real reason to choose these two words. It's an inflated way of saying 'talk about' or 'reach out to'. Who 'touches base'? Is yet another everyday expression relating to baseball? Don't people 'tag the base'?

Ugh. This reminds me of the pandemic 'All Your Base Are Belong to Us' back in high school. (Anyone else remember that?!?!)

Anyhow. I guess I don't really want to know the origin of this expression. I just watn to bitch about it. I'd ask if anyone else out there feels the way I do, but I googled 'the expression touch base' and one of the first responses was: 'when people use the expression touch base, do you have the urge to crack them in the chops?'

Does anyone like this expression? Anyone else find him or herself unfortunately using it from time to time?

Google Thinks It Knows Me....

My 'Google Ad Preferences', along with my thoughts on their accuracy (thanks Piper!):

Your interests

Below you can edit the interests that Google has associated with your cookie:

Category

Arts & Humanities - Books & Literature (yes)
Entertainment (check)
Entertainment - Dancing (oh how you know me)
Entertainment - TV - TV Networks (for sure)
Entertainment - TV - TV Programs (I'm an open book)
Home & Garden - Home Furnishings (sure, somewhat)
Lifestyles - Self-Help & Motivational (hmm. is this a not-so-subtle hint, google? what's THAT supposed to mean?)
Local - Regional Content - US & Canada - USA (Canada?!?!)
Real Estate (not buying real estate any time soon)
Reference - How-To & Expert Content (I'm a blogging expert, that's for sure)
Social Networks & Online Communities - Dating & Relationships (I'm the popular social networking site, bookface!)
Sports - Olympics & International Competitions (YES)
Sports - Winter Sports (YES! YES! YES!)

(Editor's Sidenote: My cookie?! What is my cookie?!?! Not just a cookie, MY cookie. Yes, cookies are an interest. I do like cookies. Not as much as cake or ice cream, but moreso than candy.)

Your thoughts? What has been left out? Other than blogging. And wine. And byobs.

Trying to Find Comfort on the Internet?

It always amuses me the things people search for on the internet. Or rather, the possibly answers out there in cyberspace. I guess whether or not people are actually searching for these things is difficult to tell, although, I believe if there are answers out there, it's simply because someone was once asking the question.

Some examples of what I'm talking about:

--Unrequited Love: 1,060,000 google hits
--Dealing with a Broken Heart: 45,600,000 google hits
--Everything Happens for a Reason: 31,600,000 google hits

If one is struggling with a difficult time - is 'googling' the issue - these emotional, real life issues - now the way we cope? Is this a sign of the times? If one is suffering from, let's say, unrequited love, does one google the subject and read up on it? Is there comfort in that? Does google really hold all the answers? I'm kind of opting for 'no' - insert cliched expression of 'some answers can't be found on google'.

Anyhow.

Your thoughts? Has anyone out there ever googled how to handle a tough 'life' topic? Has anyone out there sought comfort on the internet?

No judgment.

My Dirty Secret Around the Office is Out....

They all think I'm a genius. I shouldn't ruin the illusion....

Another Random Question

Does anyone use this new search engine? How does it stack up against google? Better? Worse? Different HOW?

Second - what did we do before we had google? When there was a question of how to cook/bake something? Where to buy something? A questionable song lyric?

All I know is that google's rise to power/popularity came just slightly after I could have really used it - when i was in high school/college and I needed to look up the answer to something. Granted, I did use it/"the internet" quite a bit for help on these matters, but not to the full extent that I can/do now.

Anyone else with me on this one?

One of the Google Ads that Came Up....

Geek 2 Geek Dating
A Geek You Can Love is Nearby Meet & date other geeks
www.Gk2gk.com


Should I be offended? Are any of my readers interested in this site?

Weird Dream, Part 893

Ok, so I had a dream last night that I was shopping for art (perhaps for my new apartment). This isn't odd in the least of ways because I was just thinking about the fact that I really have no artwork whatsoever and I'm going to need to put SOMETHING on my wall. So I have been thinking about buying a piece or two. Anyhow.

In the dream, right before I woke up, I was holding a piece that was bright pink and purple and glitterly - highly, highly gaudy. Actually, I personally thought it was pretty, but not appropriate for an adult apartment. It kind of reminded me of something I would like back in high school.

Now, again, the only thing about this dream that really stuck with me was the fact that I remember it very clearly. I decided to do some research on dreams about art. Here's what I found (per google).

Art Gallery

To dream that you are in an art gallery (well, it was a place with multiple pieces of art, so close enough), represents your past experiences. Something in your past is having an impact in your current situation. Alternatively, the dream may be telling you that you need to capture some moment and preserve it.

HMM.

Weird Dream, Part 85?

So now, I am someone who happens to believe there are meanings, etc., to dreams. Well, I have been going in a 'having dreams' spurt lately. (Sidenote: What causes spurts of having dreams? Or, I suppose, as the 'experts' would say - what causes spurts of remembering one's dreams?)

Anyhow. Last night - I dreamt I was in my high school parking lot. I was driving a car (actually, I was driving the car of a girl I used to work with, whom I didn't meet until after high school and haven't seen in years). Somehow, the car started going in reverse (not to my doing) and I tried to stop it, but it sideswiped another car and left quite a bit of damage on both cars. I got out of the car and tried to examine the damage. However, when I looked closer, it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. Randomly, the owner of the car I hit came running up, but she wasn't at all upset, like one would expect a person to be.

So, naturally, I googled 'dream interpretation - car crash'. Here's what I got:

Dreams of cars are symbols of how you are progressing towards your ambitions and emotions experienced with traveling through life. A car can also be symbolic of our bodies.

To dream of a Car Crash indicates that you feel aspects of your life are out of control. Was someone else driving the car? If so you need to gain control over your life which is being dominated by another person.

Hmm.

There are a couple things I note about this bizarre dream that may appear to be significant:

1) I was in my high school parking lot
2) I was going in reverse
3) I couldn't stop the car by my own doing
4) The damage didn't end up being as bad as I expected it to be

Hmm. What does this all mean? I almost think I might know....

Unrequited Love, Part 2

So I just made an interesting discovery. If someone googles 'unrequited love', this blog comes up in the top ten google results. Actually, me writing this post right now probably strengthens that result.

So what is google trying to tell me? Am I an expert in 'unrequited love'? If so, well, ouch, google.

I guess my next question is this - are people searching for ways to cope with unrequited love on the internet? For as funny as this sounds, I do understand that unrequited love is quite a state of desperation, so I'm certainly NOT judging. Like everyone, I know the lonely sad state of heartache and how one could look for comfort in anything to make himself or herself feel better.

I don't know what there is to really make one feel better - I know there are many vices (some unhealthy, some perfectly fine) that people turn to for some self-medication in these times, but I'm not sure what really cures the sad state of the broken heart. As Whitney Houston asked back in the '80s - where do broken hearts go?

I feel inspired by this subject. There'll be a couple more posts later.

What is Google Trying to Tell Me?

Your Dream Is No Accident
See why your dreams are really you
www.Life-Answers.com

The above is the google ad on my blog today. I know it is in relation to what I blogged about earlier (recurring dreams), but still, I am interpreting this, too, as a sign/symbol. They keep coming and they keep getting weirder and weirder....

GRR Google

I gotta say, man, this 'blogspot' is NOT the most user-friendly website out there. You are all welcome to laugh at my struggles with this, however, I can find at least ten people I work with who will vouch that I am a computer GENIUS, so it CAN'T be me. AH. Anyhow. I think I finally straightened it out after 45 minutes of puttering around. When I started this post, I was highly frustrated, but right now, I just don't wanna think about it any more. Goodnight y'all.

Google Knows I Have a Thing for Caterpillars....

Loving it!

Google

What is the takeaway symbolism and/or message here, Google? I get it that it's for St. Patrick's day. But I've never seen a Shamrock tree. Why use this tree format? What does it mean?