Thursday, April 29, 2004
Google files to go public
Google is awesome (no biases at all...) Here's an article about all the fun things Google can do for you.
From the Desk of David Pogue: Talking With the Googlers
March 25, 2004
Set the TiVo! This Sunday morning, "CBS News Sunday Morning" will begin with my report on Google, the Web search page-slash-cultural deity that's expected to go public this Spring--the biggest in high-tech history, with a valuation as high as $25 billion.
It was a real kick to interview Google's executives and staff. Along the way, I asked each interview subject to name their favorite Google tips and tricks.
Few of the tricks made it into the TV segment -- but you, the shrewd subscriber to this newsletter, get them hot off the press.
* Download and install the Google toolbar. Not only does it put the Google search box into your browser full-time, but it also blocks pop-up ads and fills in forms for you. For Windows at http://toolbar.google.com. (Ad blocking, form-filling, and Google's search box are already built into the Apple's Web browser, Safari.)
* Phrase your question in the form of an answer. "After all, you're not looking for Web pages that ask your question," explains director of technology Craig Silverstein. "You're looking for pages that answer it." So instead of typing, "What is the average rainfall in the Amazon basin?", you might get better results by typing "The average rainfall in the Amazon basin is."
* This is an old one, but very important: Put quotes around phrases that must be searched together. If you put quotes around "electric curtains," Google won't waste your time finding one set of Web pages containing the word "electric" and another set containing the word "curtains."
* Similarly, put a hyphen right before any word you want screened out. If you're looking up dolphins, for example, you'll have to wade through a million Miami Dolphins pages unless you search for "dolphins -Miami."
* Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. Search for "phonebook: home depot norwalk, ct," Google instantly produces the address and phone number of the Norwalk Home Depot. This works with names ("phonebook:robert jones las vegas, NV") as well as businesses.
Don't put any space after "phonebook." And in all of the following examples, don't type the quotes I'm showing you here.
* Google is a package tracker. Type a FedEx or UPS package number (just the digits); when you click Search, Google offers a link to its tracking information.
* Google is a calculator. Type in an equation ("32+2345*3-234="). Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a units-of-measurement converter. Type "teaspoons in a gallon," for example, or "centimeters in a foot." Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a stock ticker. Type in AAPL or MSFT, for example, to see a link to the current Apple or Microsoft stock price, graphs, financial news, and so on.
* Google is an atlas. Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map of the area.
* Google is Wal-Mart's computer. Type in a UPC bar code number, such as "036000250015," to see the description of the product you've just "scanned in." (Thanks to the Google Blog, http://google.blogspace.com, for this tip and the next couple.)
* Google is an aviation buff. Type in a flight number like "United 22" for a link to a map of that flight's progress in the air. Or type in the tail number you see on an airplane for the full registration form for that plane.
* Google is the Department of Motor Vehicles. Type in a VIN (vehicle identification number, which is etched onto a plate, usually on the door frame, of every car), like "JH4NA1157MT001832," to find out the car's year, make, and model.
* For hours of rainy-day entertainment, visit http://labs.google.com. Here, you'll find links to new, half-finished Google experiments-like Google Voice, in which you call (650) 623-6706, speak the words you want to search for, and then open your browser to view the results.
Disclaimer: It wasn't working when I tried it. (Ditto a lot of these experiments.)
* Poke around the "Services & Tools" link on the Google.com home page, and you'll find some of the better-known lesser-known Google features, if that makes any sense.
For example, there's Froogle (product search), News, Groups (Internet discussion boards), Google Catalogs (hundreds of scanned-in product catalogs), Images (find graphics and photos from other people's Web sites), Blogger (publish your own online journal), Google language translation, Google Answers (pay a couple of bucks to have a professional researcher find the answers for you), and much more.
Pretty soon you'll need Google just to search Google!
p.s. you can type "define: XX" into the toolbar to get a dictionary definition of a word.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/25/technology/circuits/25POGUE-EMAIL.html?ex=1081253847&ei=1&en=8a1fc78eb024fde3
From the Desk of David Pogue: Talking With the Googlers
March 25, 2004
Set the TiVo! This Sunday morning, "CBS News Sunday Morning" will begin with my report on Google, the Web search page-slash-cultural deity that's expected to go public this Spring--the biggest in high-tech history, with a valuation as high as $25 billion.
It was a real kick to interview Google's executives and staff. Along the way, I asked each interview subject to name their favorite Google tips and tricks.
Few of the tricks made it into the TV segment -- but you, the shrewd subscriber to this newsletter, get them hot off the press.
* Download and install the Google toolbar. Not only does it put the Google search box into your browser full-time, but it also blocks pop-up ads and fills in forms for you. For Windows at http://toolbar.google.com. (Ad blocking, form-filling, and Google's search box are already built into the Apple's Web browser, Safari.)
* Phrase your question in the form of an answer. "After all, you're not looking for Web pages that ask your question," explains director of technology Craig Silverstein. "You're looking for pages that answer it." So instead of typing, "What is the average rainfall in the Amazon basin?", you might get better results by typing "The average rainfall in the Amazon basin is."
* This is an old one, but very important: Put quotes around phrases that must be searched together. If you put quotes around "electric curtains," Google won't waste your time finding one set of Web pages containing the word "electric" and another set containing the word "curtains."
* Similarly, put a hyphen right before any word you want screened out. If you're looking up dolphins, for example, you'll have to wade through a million Miami Dolphins pages unless you search for "dolphins -Miami."
* Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. Search for "phonebook: home depot norwalk, ct," Google instantly produces the address and phone number of the Norwalk Home Depot. This works with names ("phonebook:robert jones las vegas, NV") as well as businesses.
Don't put any space after "phonebook." And in all of the following examples, don't type the quotes I'm showing you here.
* Google is a package tracker. Type a FedEx or UPS package number (just the digits); when you click Search, Google offers a link to its tracking information.
* Google is a calculator. Type in an equation ("32+2345*3-234="). Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a units-of-measurement converter. Type "teaspoons in a gallon," for example, or "centimeters in a foot." Click Search to see the answer.
* Google is a stock ticker. Type in AAPL or MSFT, for example, to see a link to the current Apple or Microsoft stock price, graphs, financial news, and so on.
* Google is an atlas. Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map of the area.
* Google is Wal-Mart's computer. Type in a UPC bar code number, such as "036000250015," to see the description of the product you've just "scanned in." (Thanks to the Google Blog, http://google.blogspace.com, for this tip and the next couple.)
* Google is an aviation buff. Type in a flight number like "United 22" for a link to a map of that flight's progress in the air. Or type in the tail number you see on an airplane for the full registration form for that plane.
* Google is the Department of Motor Vehicles. Type in a VIN (vehicle identification number, which is etched onto a plate, usually on the door frame, of every car), like "JH4NA1157MT001832," to find out the car's year, make, and model.
* For hours of rainy-day entertainment, visit http://labs.google.com. Here, you'll find links to new, half-finished Google experiments-like Google Voice, in which you call (650) 623-6706, speak the words you want to search for, and then open your browser to view the results.
Disclaimer: It wasn't working when I tried it. (Ditto a lot of these experiments.)
* Poke around the "Services & Tools" link on the Google.com home page, and you'll find some of the better-known lesser-known Google features, if that makes any sense.
For example, there's Froogle (product search), News, Groups (Internet discussion boards), Google Catalogs (hundreds of scanned-in product catalogs), Images (find graphics and photos from other people's Web sites), Blogger (publish your own online journal), Google language translation, Google Answers (pay a couple of bucks to have a professional researcher find the answers for you), and much more.
Pretty soon you'll need Google just to search Google!
p.s. you can type "define: XX" into the toolbar to get a dictionary definition of a word.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/25/technology/circuits/25POGUE-EMAIL.html?ex=1081253847&ei=1&en=8a1fc78eb024fde3
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Isabella's milestones
Make sure to go to Isabella's blog to see pictures.
Jan. 4 - BIRTH DAY!
1 day old - go home
2 days old - first manicure, Lucy's milk comes in, first time Rich changed diaper without baby crying, umbilical cord stump comes off, falls off side of bed after falling asleep on top of Lucy
4 days - Nurse comes to visit; measures 13 1/4" head, 97.6 F, 6 lbs, 6 ounces; at this point 8 wet diapers & 5 dirty ones; no more cute innocent cries?; lots of back arching and lifting head back
5 days - first bath
6 days - first walk outside: to Rose Garden and Ace Hardware
1 week - very strong kicks, moving head a lot
1 w 1 day - very active, eyes open during feeding, doesn't doze off after feeding; got a very good loud burp
1 w 2 days - angel baby! first time slept a 5 hour stretch???
1 w 6 d - Lucy had korean dumpling tofu stew and was CRANKY all night!
2 w 2 d - eyes follow mobile and Lucy; turns head back and forth; head/neck strength seems really good; slept on Rich's chest, then slept on tummy
2 w 2 d - nursing not so painful for Lucy anymore; launched stool at Rich
2 w 3 d - 2 week appointment measured at 7.52 lbs, 19 3/4 long, 13 3/8" head; first time made non-crying noise
2 w 4 d - enjoy Gymini by batting toys for 1st time
2 w 6 d - filling out: no more elfen ears?
3 w - Rich says baby vomited >1 cup; spitting up a LOT; tears?
3 w 2 d - Lucy visit R1; slept all day
3 w 4 d - HUGE spitup; barf all over sofa and on Lucy; infant acne, wide eyes, sucked pacifier for first time
3 w 5 d - hard time settling; Moro reflex keeps waking her up; cries when let go; laughing in sleep, cross-eyed at times
3 w 6 d - slept about 7 hours??!, enjoyed crib mirror, Red Egg & Ginger party at Lichee Garden
4 w - introduced bottle for first time
4 w 1 d - tons of spit up / vomit; slept for 5 hours??
4 w 2 d - spitty, irritable & gassy all day but not all out crying
4 w 3 d - 101.7 F auxiliary at 12:15 am??! per Advice Nurse recommendation, give infant tylenol
4 w 4 d - see Dr for high fever; measures in at 7 lbs, 10.7 ounces, 20 inches; fever is 100 but based on the 101.7 F, gets strapped down in stretcher, driven down in ambulance and admitted to Kaiser Hayward hospital; gets blood drawn twice, spinal test done, IV stuck in for Genomyocin and Ampicillan antibiotics, renal ultrasound, etc. UGH.
4 w 5 d - still 100 F temperature; tons of infant rash, acknowledgement, smiling / laughing; much more alert; growth spurt??? tons of nursing
4 w 6 d - temperature back to normal; measures in at 7 lbs 12.5 ounces; still lots of infant rash; Lucy's milk production goes down because of too much stress??; find out Isabella has urinary tract infection
5 w - weighs in at 8 lbs 3.5 ounces! LOTS of nursing - yikes!
5 w 1 d - moved over to edge of crib?; start Cephalexin medicine - NIGHTMARE nursing every 10 minutes; nurse Martha Isabel says Lucy must eat more and take better care of herself; visit from lactation consultant; Isabella discharged from hospital - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 w 2 d - laugh in sleep
5 w 3 d - can't wake up for feeding unless put in crib on back; Cheng Mom fed milk from bottle; inconsolably fussy??
5 w 4 d - 8 lbs 9.6 oz; visit lacation consultant and Kaiser Mommy support group
5 w 5 d - Lucy goes out to dinner w/ b-school friends w/o Isabella while Rich babysits; falls asleep on Rich's chest w/o eating
5 w 6 d - found breast by herself
6 w - sleep in bed with us and sleep for 6 hours
6 w 2 d - infant acne going away
6 w 3 d - start Furadantin medicine 1 ml at bedtime; Lucy gets electric pump to work: didn't plug both sides in
6 w 4 d - cradle cap getting bad; treat with olive oil
7 w - getting better at burping; neck nuzzle cheek to cheek works instantly at calming baby
7 w 1 d - lifting head a LOT; left there for quite a while; good neck strength
7 w 2 d - another huge vomit; rolled over from back to side
7 w 3 d - Immunization shots; see urologist; 9 lbs, 3.4 oz, 22 1/2 long, 14" head
7 w 4 d - suck fingers; projectile vomit all over Dinara
7 w 5 d - audible laugh!
8 w - Rich goes to Japan for 5 days, Lucy's mom stays over
8 w 3 d - definitely a laugh!
8 w 4 d - VOMIT all over bed, etc.!
8 w 6 d - notice baby in happiest mood on the changing table or generally lying on back flapping wings; happiest when getting lots of attention
9 w - Mommy magic becoming obvious; cries in Rich's arms
9 w 2 d - Rich cannot console baby??
9 w 4 d - cystogram conducted to test for urinary reflux
9 w 5 d - comb out cradle cap with Aquaphor for loooong time; likes tummy to tummy in sling; more conversational?
9 w 5 d - beginning of stranger anxiety; starts at Joel's place when Kitty in town
10 w 1 d - lots more non-crying noise
10 w 2 d - lots of cooing
10 w 3 d - first time unhappy during car ride to SF in Golf; blood murder crying while on the Bay Bridge and had to exit at Fremont Street to console
10 w 5 d - little rashes around body probably prickly heat; slept on stomach = face rashes
10 w 6 d - more comfortable with Rich again
11 w - skin BAD
11 w 1 d - see Dr. for skin; measures at 10 lbs 8.8 ounces, 22 5/8" long; Dr. says skin problems are prickly heat plus eczema
11 w 2 d - introducing rattles; graduate to 3 - 6 mo sizes
11 w 3 d - no urinary reflux - yay! stop Furadantin medication
11 w 4 d - still stranger anxiety; Cheng mom says I should leave with her for the afternoon to cry it out - UGH; fell asleep while she sat on Lucy's lap and I shake legs
11 w 5 d - fascinated by hands and playing with them in Art Louie's office
11 w 5 d - feeling more comfortable with Rich again
12 w 1 d - grabbed Gymini rattle!
12 w 2 d - long talking non-crying conversation; introduced Sam the Spider toy
12 w 4 d - non-stop laughing conversation w/ Rich on the phone
12 w 6 d - 1st time rolled over from stomach to back!
3 m 1 d - scratches all over face; itchy.
3 m 4 d - soft spot on back of head seems to have hardened?
3 m 5 d - leave with Cheng mom for 1 hour to get accustomed to "stranger"; cried bloody murder for 5 minutes until put in car seat, then fell asleep
3 m 6 d - stranger (Christine) able to hold for long time without crying!
3 m 1 wk - fell asleep in "stranger's" (Margarita) arms again!
3 m 1 wk 1 day - April 12, 2004 - 100 days old!; left again with "stranger" Cheng mom; cried shorter period until fall asleep
3 m 1 wk+ - self-soothed with sucking thumb when woke up at night; grabbed & chewed on Gymini octopus rattle; start needing to strap down in bouncer
3 m 2 wk - got my stomach flu?; fell asleep in Lucy's Mom's arms with rocking, cradling and patting on butt; getting really cranky; lots of "death cries"; starting to teeth? sucking lower lip and chewing hands and everything else a LOT
3 m 3 wk - still not like stranger's arms again - ugh!; discovered Gymini's paper crinkle sounds
3 m 3 wk 1 day - 4 month doctor appt; measured at 11 pounds, 14 ounces, 23 7/8" long, 14 7/8" head; 50th % length, 20th % weight, 5th % head; scooted 90 degrees in crib; turned over from back to stomach and then to back again!!!
3 m 3 w 4 days - Isabella falls asleep crying in Rich's arms while in Baby Bjorn
3 m 3 wk 5 days - slept 15 hours except for waking 3 times for feeding???!!
Jan. 4 - BIRTH DAY!
1 day old - go home
2 days old - first manicure, Lucy's milk comes in, first time Rich changed diaper without baby crying, umbilical cord stump comes off, falls off side of bed after falling asleep on top of Lucy
4 days - Nurse comes to visit; measures 13 1/4" head, 97.6 F, 6 lbs, 6 ounces; at this point 8 wet diapers & 5 dirty ones; no more cute innocent cries?; lots of back arching and lifting head back
5 days - first bath
6 days - first walk outside: to Rose Garden and Ace Hardware
1 week - very strong kicks, moving head a lot
1 w 1 day - very active, eyes open during feeding, doesn't doze off after feeding; got a very good loud burp
1 w 2 days - angel baby! first time slept a 5 hour stretch???
1 w 6 d - Lucy had korean dumpling tofu stew and was CRANKY all night!
2 w 2 d - eyes follow mobile and Lucy; turns head back and forth; head/neck strength seems really good; slept on Rich's chest, then slept on tummy
2 w 2 d - nursing not so painful for Lucy anymore; launched stool at Rich
2 w 3 d - 2 week appointment measured at 7.52 lbs, 19 3/4 long, 13 3/8" head; first time made non-crying noise
2 w 4 d - enjoy Gymini by batting toys for 1st time
2 w 6 d - filling out: no more elfen ears?
3 w - Rich says baby vomited >1 cup; spitting up a LOT; tears?
3 w 2 d - Lucy visit R1; slept all day
3 w 4 d - HUGE spitup; barf all over sofa and on Lucy; infant acne, wide eyes, sucked pacifier for first time
3 w 5 d - hard time settling; Moro reflex keeps waking her up; cries when let go; laughing in sleep, cross-eyed at times
3 w 6 d - slept about 7 hours??!, enjoyed crib mirror, Red Egg & Ginger party at Lichee Garden
4 w - introduced bottle for first time
4 w 1 d - tons of spit up / vomit; slept for 5 hours??
4 w 2 d - spitty, irritable & gassy all day but not all out crying
4 w 3 d - 101.7 F auxiliary at 12:15 am??! per Advice Nurse recommendation, give infant tylenol
4 w 4 d - see Dr for high fever; measures in at 7 lbs, 10.7 ounces, 20 inches; fever is 100 but based on the 101.7 F, gets strapped down in stretcher, driven down in ambulance and admitted to Kaiser Hayward hospital; gets blood drawn twice, spinal test done, IV stuck in for Genomyocin and Ampicillan antibiotics, renal ultrasound, etc. UGH.
4 w 5 d - still 100 F temperature; tons of infant rash, acknowledgement, smiling / laughing; much more alert; growth spurt??? tons of nursing
4 w 6 d - temperature back to normal; measures in at 7 lbs 12.5 ounces; still lots of infant rash; Lucy's milk production goes down because of too much stress??; find out Isabella has urinary tract infection
5 w - weighs in at 8 lbs 3.5 ounces! LOTS of nursing - yikes!
5 w 1 d - moved over to edge of crib?; start Cephalexin medicine - NIGHTMARE nursing every 10 minutes; nurse Martha Isabel says Lucy must eat more and take better care of herself; visit from lactation consultant; Isabella discharged from hospital - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 w 2 d - laugh in sleep
5 w 3 d - can't wake up for feeding unless put in crib on back; Cheng Mom fed milk from bottle; inconsolably fussy??
5 w 4 d - 8 lbs 9.6 oz; visit lacation consultant and Kaiser Mommy support group
5 w 5 d - Lucy goes out to dinner w/ b-school friends w/o Isabella while Rich babysits; falls asleep on Rich's chest w/o eating
5 w 6 d - found breast by herself
6 w - sleep in bed with us and sleep for 6 hours
6 w 2 d - infant acne going away
6 w 3 d - start Furadantin medicine 1 ml at bedtime; Lucy gets electric pump to work: didn't plug both sides in
6 w 4 d - cradle cap getting bad; treat with olive oil
7 w - getting better at burping; neck nuzzle cheek to cheek works instantly at calming baby
7 w 1 d - lifting head a LOT; left there for quite a while; good neck strength
7 w 2 d - another huge vomit; rolled over from back to side
7 w 3 d - Immunization shots; see urologist; 9 lbs, 3.4 oz, 22 1/2 long, 14" head
7 w 4 d - suck fingers; projectile vomit all over Dinara
7 w 5 d - audible laugh!
8 w - Rich goes to Japan for 5 days, Lucy's mom stays over
8 w 3 d - definitely a laugh!
8 w 4 d - VOMIT all over bed, etc.!
8 w 6 d - notice baby in happiest mood on the changing table or generally lying on back flapping wings; happiest when getting lots of attention
9 w - Mommy magic becoming obvious; cries in Rich's arms
9 w 2 d - Rich cannot console baby??
9 w 4 d - cystogram conducted to test for urinary reflux
9 w 5 d - comb out cradle cap with Aquaphor for loooong time; likes tummy to tummy in sling; more conversational?
9 w 5 d - beginning of stranger anxiety; starts at Joel's place when Kitty in town
10 w 1 d - lots more non-crying noise
10 w 2 d - lots of cooing
10 w 3 d - first time unhappy during car ride to SF in Golf; blood murder crying while on the Bay Bridge and had to exit at Fremont Street to console
10 w 5 d - little rashes around body probably prickly heat; slept on stomach = face rashes
10 w 6 d - more comfortable with Rich again
11 w - skin BAD
11 w 1 d - see Dr. for skin; measures at 10 lbs 8.8 ounces, 22 5/8" long; Dr. says skin problems are prickly heat plus eczema
11 w 2 d - introducing rattles; graduate to 3 - 6 mo sizes
11 w 3 d - no urinary reflux - yay! stop Furadantin medication
11 w 4 d - still stranger anxiety; Cheng mom says I should leave with her for the afternoon to cry it out - UGH; fell asleep while she sat on Lucy's lap and I shake legs
11 w 5 d - fascinated by hands and playing with them in Art Louie's office
11 w 5 d - feeling more comfortable with Rich again
12 w 1 d - grabbed Gymini rattle!
12 w 2 d - long talking non-crying conversation; introduced Sam the Spider toy
12 w 4 d - non-stop laughing conversation w/ Rich on the phone
12 w 6 d - 1st time rolled over from stomach to back!
3 m 1 d - scratches all over face; itchy.
3 m 4 d - soft spot on back of head seems to have hardened?
3 m 5 d - leave with Cheng mom for 1 hour to get accustomed to "stranger"; cried bloody murder for 5 minutes until put in car seat, then fell asleep
3 m 6 d - stranger (Christine) able to hold for long time without crying!
3 m 1 wk - fell asleep in "stranger's" (Margarita) arms again!
3 m 1 wk 1 day - April 12, 2004 - 100 days old!; left again with "stranger" Cheng mom; cried shorter period until fall asleep
3 m 1 wk+ - self-soothed with sucking thumb when woke up at night; grabbed & chewed on Gymini octopus rattle; start needing to strap down in bouncer
3 m 2 wk - got my stomach flu?; fell asleep in Lucy's Mom's arms with rocking, cradling and patting on butt; getting really cranky; lots of "death cries"; starting to teeth? sucking lower lip and chewing hands and everything else a LOT
3 m 3 wk - still not like stranger's arms again - ugh!; discovered Gymini's paper crinkle sounds
3 m 3 wk 1 day - 4 month doctor appt; measured at 11 pounds, 14 ounces, 23 7/8" long, 14 7/8" head; 50th % length, 20th % weight, 5th % head; scooted 90 degrees in crib; turned over from back to stomach and then to back again!!!
3 m 3 w 4 days - Isabella falls asleep crying in Rich's arms while in Baby Bjorn
3 m 3 wk 5 days - slept 15 hours except for waking 3 times for feeding???!!