google news gets cooler
When I got home from What's My Line? Live On Stage last night, I tossed my bag onto the couch (it's a bag, okay? From ApacheCon, and I keep my books and appointment calendar and some gum and kleenex and stuff in it . . . but it's not a purse. Let's be clear about that. Not. A. Purse.) Uh, I tossed my not-a-purse onto the couch and went into my office to check my e-mail and scan the news headlines.
I was a little surprised when I sat down and saw that Google News, which is my homepage, was displaying a 502 error. I hit F5, and the page came back up . . . and revealed that the HiveMind at Google has bestowed upon us the ability to customize Google News.
Holy crap, man! It's very cool. I now have a "Wil Wheaton" section, a "Fark" section, and a "Monkey Attack" section, to go along with all the other default sections. I also got rid of the "Business" section, which I never read anyway. Control freaks of the world rejoice!
Whenever something comes along that makes the Internets more useful, I sing a little song and jump around a little bit.
Good jorb, Googleoids.
Comments
Jorb? Someone's been watching (is that the right verb?) too much Homestar Runner.
Posted by: thunderjones | March 10, 2005 10:39 AM
Too much Homestar Runner??? Blasphemy!!! You shall be attacked by starving llamas for speaking such evil!!!
Seriously, I know Google's getting a rap as "THE NEXT MICROSOFT" (re: evil) but I really like what they're doing. The desktop search utility has become invaluable to me at work and, of course, who doesn't "Google" at least once a day.
Favorite quote from a newsgroup: "Have you Googled yourself lately?"
Posted by: Kevin Gamin | March 10, 2005 11:12 AM
my first instinct was to say, “google this biatch!” and then I realized that your post is in no way detrimental to me. actually, it helps me out a little, so instead, I will ask: What song do you sing whilst these findings occur William?
i normally just use a high pitched operatic "Ahhhhhh!"
Posted by: mariazmess | March 10, 2005 11:12 AM
I haven't customized my interface yet, but I do see great benefit in doing so.
The Desktop Search Tool is fine, but I want something that will search my network resources as well. I think Microsoft might have the lead in this but I also think that Google will catch up and eventually pass Microsoft. The day will come when "Everything" will be indexed.
P.S. I can't wait until tonight's CSI and your subsequent post.
Posted by: HumanIMDB | March 10, 2005 11:21 AM
hey Wil,
When I met (re-met) you last night, I told you that I never post... oh well :-) You guys were so awesome! If anyone is in the LA area and has not seen What's My Line yet, you need to! I will also be recording your ep of CSI tonight (after I figure out which channel it's on, as I don't follow the show...)
Btw, I have read both of your books and they are a great read! When's the next one coming? ;-)
Terry
p.s. and thanks for remembering me from the con (which I only went to your evening show!)... that was cool, too!
Posted by: oboeterry | March 10, 2005 11:29 AM
Bag... purse... call it what you want as long as you remember to keep your lip gloss in it. ;^)
* runs *
Posted by: Cookie | March 10, 2005 12:06 PM
You're so funny, Wil. You crack me up all the time. But, that's cool that you can do all that with Google News!
Posted by: Sweetbug74 | March 10, 2005 12:25 PM
Tonight! Tonight....it's CSI tonight! GO WIL! I don't follow the show but I'll be taping it so everyone I know will see it! I'm excited to see your latest work!
1cutebird
Posted by: 1cutebird | March 10, 2005 12:28 PM
What you have there, my friend, is a PLO: a Purse-Like-Object. I finally broke down and got one after a friend pointed out that I was starting to look lumpy with all my crapola stuffed in my jacket pockets.
Can't wait for CSI tonight!
Posted by: BonzoGal | March 10, 2005 03:39 PM
WW:
Thanks for pointing that out about Google News. Very cool. My new homepage is the "monkey attack" section.
Posted by: ernac | March 10, 2005 03:40 PM
Ah, but Wil... Roland Deschain had a purse.
Posted by: Scott T Mark II | March 10, 2005 03:47 PM
Hey don't be ashamed, its not a handbag it's a manbag. say it loud and say it proud. But seriously, kudos to you mate, things appear to be picking up for you, may this ride be long and eventful for you.
Posted by: badboybubby | March 10, 2005 03:56 PM
Here I was all excited to see a customized page about monkey attacks, and all it has there are links to articles about *chimpanzee* attacks.
First I was confused, then sad. But then I remembered this, a handy song to help everybody remember the difference between apes and monkeys, and it cheered me up again (to the tune of Happy Birthday/For He's a Jolly Good Fellow):
Happy Birthday to you,
You live in a zoo,
You look like a monkey...
But in reality you're an ape.
OH,
He's an ape, not a monkey,
He's an ape, not a monkey,
He's an ape, not a monnnKEY...
Because he has no tail,
Because he has no tail, because he has no tail,
He's an ape not a monnnKEY...
Because he has no tail!
A-thankyou.
Posted by: DCB | March 10, 2005 04:38 PM
My boyfriend (who happens to work for said Google) insists that his Jack Spade man-purse is a "satchel."
I say man-purse.
To your "bag" Will, I counter "man-purse." :o)
Posted by: mischievium | March 10, 2005 06:35 PM
Google's new G Mail is also very cool... All you email is organized into running conversations and it stores everything for you... up to 1GB
Posted by: KQM | March 10, 2005 07:07 PM
I actually rarely read Google News, but I do think the customizations might make it more useful to me.
Posted by: Geek | March 10, 2005 07:11 PM
I love anything that keeps me from having to actively seek information.
*whistles*
Come on, knowledge! Sit...gooood knowledge.
Posted by: MtDewAddict | March 10, 2005 07:24 PM
Appointment book, gum, kleenex? Sorry Wil, but unless it also contains 3 things that won't pass airport security or a serious gadget (above and beyond phones and PDAs), it's a purse.
Thanks for giving me a reason to make a point to watch a new CSI episode again. Too bad they cut the scene where Jorja Fox trades her shirt for the sweater to get you to give it up ;)
Posted by: extra88 | March 10, 2005 08:47 PM
Agreed. Customizable news is good.
js
Posted by: Jshugars | March 10, 2005 09:13 PM
Also cool new development from google... gizoogle.com. Try to gizoogle WWDN (http://sites.gizoogle.com/?url=http://wilwheaton.net) -- it's the shiznit!
Posted by: geekindc | March 11, 2005 06:29 AM
My father and brother-in-law have coined the word "murse" -- smushed form of man-purse. They both carry around small Tumis. No need to feel ashamed anymore. :)
Posted by: Banfennid | March 11, 2005 12:40 PM
When someone asks me "Is that your bag?", I respond, "Yes, that's my man-purse.".I don't have enough pockets to carry my camera, Newton MessagePad, pens & pencils, meds, checkbook, wallet, other keys, flashlight, sunglasses, reading glasses, ... well, you get the idea. No lip gloss, but I do have a Blistex[tm]
Posted by: solak | March 11, 2005 01:02 PM
Ohhkay back to GoogleNews again: now if only I can take it with me everywhere like My Yahoo!
Just this morning while surfing at one of the many, many Warnets (Warung Intenet, Indonesian for Internet Cafés but much cheaper) near my campus, after archiving all my recent GMails, which gets me to that familiar screen suggesting I visit Google News (whose suggestion I mindlessly obey just as usual), I wound up on the old, uncustomized Google News. At first I tried to pseudo-recreate my customized section by doing news search on Indonesia, then on Creative Commons, and after a while I decided to blog-hop since I became so bored of Google News by then...
But I still go to Google News... from home...
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Posted by: Lemi4 | March 16, 2005 11:59 AM