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Many people don't know that when you use a search engine and click-through to a website, the website you are going to gets told what search terms you used to get there.
I used to work at a big search company and there was nothing better than reading the found poetry that is a live feed of search queries (unless it was late in the evening, in which case you really did not want to see what people were searching for).
I can't tell from my logs who you are, though if I were industrious enough I might be able to find the logs of queries and IP addresses. I'm not interested in that though.
But I am interested in those of you who were looking for answers and couldn't find them, so I did a little data mining.
- Those wanting to know how to sneak pot onto an airplane (Example search: "get a dope stash through airport security" ): I have no advice for you, except to say that John Perry Barlow's experience should convince you that putting even a small amount of pot in your checked luggage isn't the smartest thing to do.
- Does Peter Jennings smoke? (Example search: "Peter Jenning smoke") I have no idea, but Peter Jennings is my favorite of the Big Three and this was one of the greatest TV moments I've ever seen.
- Is there a class action lawsuit against FreeIpods.com? (Example search: "gratis free ipod scam lawsuit") I have no idea, but there ought to be some legal recourse for all the spam in message boards from the fools seeking other fools to help them get a free lunch.
- Folks looking for the assets of Fax.com: (Example search: "cascade trust kevin katz") - Good luck finding this money, its likely still in a Radcliffe's Swiss bank account (ask for Serge!), but it wouldn't hurt to call Mellon Bank NA in Philadelphia or the Cozen O'Connor law firm.
Some one -off searches I don't know the answer to:
- number of americans concerned about privacy 2005 (ed. note: after all the recent data leaks, I'd guess more than in 2004)
- how to ask a guy on a date in a short notice (ed. note: by phone?)
- usefulness of hunches (ed. note: Go ask Malcolm Gladwell)
- deadbeat dads reported by airline (ed. note: not that I'm aware of, those avoiding child support are free to fly around the country)
- memo to employees do not shout at office (ed. note: a fine policy)
- reasons why people carry lighters and matches (ed. note: you never know when the pilot light will go out)
- bypassing school internet blocks by alternet searching (ed. note: who knew Alternet was in the proxy business and by the way, Alternet still owes me $60)
- number of singel parents (ed. note: I have two and they are both lovely people and thanks for asking)
- dod/black budget (ed. note: a damn good question)
And finally, a lazy web search of my own.
Does anyone out there know why the International Atomic Energy Agency (www.iaea.org and iaea.org) is number one with a bullet in my referrer logs, even though they don't link to me at all?
Posted by Ryan Singel at April 7, 2005 10:49 AM
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