The Duo always find it a treat to search inside the Tip Jar, even if the Carafe of Competence has taken an alarming turn in recent shows toward the punful. This week, Angela unearths what appears to be a chain of Os, which can mean only one thing: more Goooooooogle.
And so it is, as the Barrel of Beneficence suggests various ways of improving your search results. Looking for a specific phrase, such as digital duo? Enclose it in quotation marks. Want to narrow things down, say to bugs of the insect kind rather than computer problems or Volkswagens? Put in the terms you don't want with a hyphen in front of each one (e.g., "bugs -computer -volkswagen"). Best of all, these pointers work not only on Google but on other search sites as well--top-notch tips indeed.
For real power, though, check out some of the advanced options available from Google. (Again, some of these will also prove useful on other search sites.) If you click on a search result and get a page not found (404) error, hit your browser's Back button and click the cached link under the link you wanted. It'll show you a saved copy of what Google saw last time it visited.
If you remember that a page you once saw and need to see again has the word orange in the URL, try typing "inurl:orange," and Google will come back with all the URLs that include orange. Want to know which Web pages link to a specific page? Type in "link:URL," replacing URL with the Web address of the page you're checking on.
For the most powerful search options all in one place, says Steve, visit the Google Advanced Search page. Most of the previously mentioned search operators are available there, along with some really fancy search options, such as one that lets you select the language of the pages Google finds for you. Those of you searching with kids nearby can also check out Google's Safe Search, available from that page, which can filter out the kinds of pages that can turn Google into Ogle. Because even for Google, there is such a thing as too much information.
But wait--there's more! This week the Duo have a search tip so big it won't even fit into the Tip Jar--or, in fact, inside your puny personal computer. For truly deluxe search power, Steve and Angela say, check out your local library. Not only does it have access to high-powered (and high-priced) databases where even Google fears to tread, your library has a staff of smart humans that can make sense of even your most arcane or complicated queries. As it turns out, even the Duo's mighty Tip Jar is no match for the power of one thin card.
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