Recently in Search Nuggets Category

From google, we get the interesting and thought provoking "kind of colds". In my experience there's been the blue lips and brrr colds, the snotty colds, and being dragged over the colds. All of them are at the very least uncomfortable.

The common cold still has no cure. It can be caught through numerous methods, but according to some the most dangerous is by public transit. The common cold is caused by viruses, so it can't be cured through antibiotics. Colds can sometimes lead to ear and sinus infections. Usually, you just have to stick it out, waiting for your body to clean itself up. Some people believe vitamin C is useful in defending against and defeating a cold, however, although it has proven to be slightly effective, it can't be considered a cure.

For more information, look here, here, and here. There has also been evidence that rhinoviruses cause colds, so that may be a good search term to use when looking for more information.

From the wonders of Yahoo, we get today's second entry: "man so depressed piss his pants". I'm not exactly sure what the searcher was looking for here, but it sure as hell is funny. As if the gramattical horror it entails isn't enough, the subject matter takes us into the land of strange. 'Nough said.

I'm going to try to start something new here in the old Box: Search Nuggets. Lately I've been seeing a lot of searches from people and I don't think they're getting what they expect when they click through. In some cases, their searches are just plain retarded, in others I know I didn't say enough abou the topic that brought them here. In either case, I'd like to comment.

Today's first entry is brought to us by Google with the terms "Desktop Metaphor". Well, searcher, here you go: The desktop metaphor has been around for a while, and basically describes the idea of interacting with a computer as if the inside of our monitor contains an extension of our desktop (hence the name). This simple concept allows us to throw zeroes and ones into the recycle bin, store them in folders, and place them on our desktop. Without it countless numbers of barely literate computer users would be completely lost and the personal computing revolution would have sputtered and died like nail polish for men.

Interesting terms to add to your search in order to expand it might be Apple(first major success of the desktop metaphor) Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (home of the desktop metaphor) and Doug Englbart (inventor of the mouse, which made this whole desktop thing possible).

Our second search phrase for the day, again brought to us by Google is "how valid and worthwhile is the web"?

Well young padawan, it's my personal opinion that this here web is definitely worthwhile and valid, although the definition of valid that you use may change your opinion. In any case, worthwhile? Yes. Think about all the simple ways having web access can help you out. Curious if Kohls sells futons? They don't. Check their website before you go. Wondering how to get somewhere? Look on MapQuest. Want to change your address in Massachusetts? Go to the RMV website instead of waiting in line. And these are just a few examples. If you look around, there's a lot more than blogs out there from Geocaching to ways to contact your congressperson or governor about controversial issues. The web is letting people do a lot of things.

Is it valid? I think it's a valid medium, as good as TV, radio, or newspaper. Is a corporate website better than a TV commerical? It probably depends on your audience. As for standards compliance, that's a different thing. The entire web is far from valid if you check against the validator. Most of it still works, though, so you should be ok.

That concludes this issue of Search Nuggets. Hopefully more such insightful episodes will follow based on the wonderful search terms I find in my logs. Thanks for stopping by, and y'all come back now, ya hear!