Sunday, November 13, 2022
CAUTION - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
Sunday, November 6, 2022
LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY!
Wow. Google can do just about ANYTHING! So so many sites that will share tips and tricks about Google with you. I will share a few that I found useful
Use a colon to search specific sites
There may be an instance where you need to Google search for articles or content on a certain website. The syntax is very simple:
- Sidney Crosby site:nhl.com
This will search for all content about famous hockey player Sidney Crosby, but only on NHL.com. All other search results will be removed. If you need to find specific content on a particular site, this is the shortcut you can use.
Use Google search to do math
Google search can actually do math for you. This is a rather complex one to describe because it can be used in so many ways. You can ask it basic questions or some more difficult ones.
It is important to note that it won’t solve all math problems, but it will solve a good number of them. For example
- 8 * 5 + 5
If you search, it’ll return 45. It will also show a calculator that you can use to find answers to more questions.
Use words that websites would use This is a very important one. When people use Google search to hunt the web, they generally search for things using the same language that they would use for speaking.
Unfortunately, websites don’t say things the way people do; instead, they try to use language that sounds professional. Let’s look at some examples:
- “I have a flat tire” could be replaced by “repair a flat tire.”
- “My head hurts” could be replaced by “headache relief.”
The list goes on and on.
Google search has shortcuts
A number of commands can be entered to give you instantaneous results.
Like the math example above, Google can immediately give you the information you need that is displayed right at the top of the search results. This can save time and effort so you don’t have to click a bunch of bothersome links.
Here are a few examples of some commands you can enter into Google:
- Weather *zip code* – This will show you the weather in the given zip code. You can also use town and city names instead of area codes, but it may not be as accurate if there are multiple area codes in the city. I used to go to my phone and use the weather app!
- What is the definition of *word* or Define: *word* – This will display the definition of a word. Although I just type in the *word* and it shows the definition (and synonyms and antonyms) A mediocre tip in my book.
- Time *place* – This will display the time in whatever place you type in. Again, I would use my iPhone when my sister was in Hong Kong.
- You can check any stock by typing its ticker name into Google. Just type in GOOG, it will check the stock prices for Google.
These quick commands can take a web search that is usually multiple clicks and condense it into a single search. This is very helpful for information you need repeatedly.
Track your packages
This last trick (and my favorite so far) is to use Google search to find out where your packages are. You can enter any UPS, USPS, or Fedex tracking number directly into the Google search bar, and it’ll show you the tracking information about your package.
This is much easier than going to the specific sites, waiting for them to load, then searching for your packages there. How many times have you done that???? Me? Millions and going to the delivery site is usually very cumbersome for me.
I updated the operating system on my Mac and man it changed everything! Currently I hate it but once I watch a few more videos, I'm sure I'll find everything somewhere and will be able to make Ventura do things my way.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
GOOGLE GURU
It was a trailer truck and a pick up truck and oil had spilled all over the highway. It would be 4 - 6 HOURS before traffic could move again. Luckily Kate uses the Waze app and she asked for directions home without using any highways. It was a meandering beautiful fall drive with just a bit of fog.
While the boys played on devices in the car some of the time, we had GREAT conversations about any topic someone brought up and all of us chimed in. Just delightful. Yet exhausting. Deacon and I shared a room but mostly we were in the bigger room (with a view of the ocean) (and a fireplace). He loves to have his privacy and he is always building "tents" or "clubhouses" or "nests."
Now .... I’m going to continue to sip my cold brew while I do a little more Google research for my NEXT blog! Hopefully I'll write it before Saturday so it posts on time. Such a slacker ....
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Sunday, October 16, 2022
QR CODES ARE TAKING OVER!
Believe it or not, bar codes were invented in the early 1950’s and patented in the US and are kinda based on the Morse code. However, it took over twenty years before this invention became commercially successful.
Now we see them everywhere! Groceries are probably the first and most successful use of barcodes. (Which are now referred to as automatic identification and data capture - AIDC). In fact, the first barcode was used on a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum in 1974.
In 2017, Apple integrated a QR code reader in their camera app. There are two kinds of WR codes used in 2022 … static and dynamic. A static QR code contains information that cannot be modified once it's live. This means any typo or misstep will require you to create a brand new one. The good news is that static codes don't expire — so once the content is set, your work is done.
Dynamic QR codes allow you to change your info as many times as you want. This is because the information isn't ingrained into the code itself. Instead, it redirects users to a specific URL that can be changed at any time. For example, a restaurant can redirect users to a menu on their website. Our local Olive Garden uses a dynamic QR which instantly opens their Current menu on your phone or pad. We could also pay our bill using a QR code.
The Food Pantry will be using bar codes or QR codes soon to identify clients. Because in the next month we will have to limit shopping to every other week. I stopped in to Hunger Fighters on Friday to pick up a project and was shocked to see how bare the shelves are. Both in the shopping area and in the storage area. We are again offering Thanksgiving Boxes and all clients were mailed or emailed information on contents and how to order. Unfortunately for us, some clients photocopied the flyer for their friends and neighbors and now we have double the number of recipients over last year.
It reminds me how privileged my life is.
Sunday, October 9, 2022
IT'S COMING TO AN END
My town in Oregon has had the best, sunniest Summer and Fall ever. We are still enjoying 55 at night and 80 during the day. And the 80 seems so much cooler (tilt of the earth?).
Sunday, October 2, 2022
TECHNOLOGY OR NOT
CAUTION - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
This will be my last blog. My heart is not in it, I struggle to find topics and readership is half of what it used to be. If I have a negat...
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Bar Codes vs QR codes Believe it or not, bar codes were invented in the early 1950’s and patented in the US and are kinda based on th...
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This will be my last blog. My heart is not in it, I struggle to find topics and readership is half of what it used to be. If I have a negat...