Google suggests some stereotypes

You've probably encountered Google Suggestions already, even if you don't realize it. It's the feature in the Google toolbar/Firefox search menu that automatically pulls up the most searched terms as soon as you start typing. Hence, if you type in "S," up pops the most common serach terms starting with "S."

So I happened to type in "stereotypical," and before I could complete the phrase, up popped the list of most stereotypical search for stereotypes:

- stereotypical gay
- stereotypical British phrases
- stereotypical Australian names
- stereotypical black foods
- stereotypical chinese song
- stereotypical college student
- stereotypical gay names
- stereotypical working class

Make of this what you will.

Oh, Walnuts

Yes, John McCain's new nickname is Walnuts... or even better, WALNUTS!

He was actually born before the Crimean War and possibly the Treaty of Ghent. He rides one of those bicycles with the giant 6-foot front wheel. He remembers the Barbary Pirates. OK, you get the point.

Anyway, he also is apparently trying out this new Internet Googles thing! Here he is describing his search for a VP:

"You know, basically it's a Google," he said to laughter at a fund-raising luncheon when asked how the selection process was going. "What you can find out now on the Internet -- it's remarkable."

Basically it's a Google? Um, is he calling up Ted Stevens for tech support?

Worth reading...

Here are some goodies around the web today:

• I don't follow MLS much, preferring to watch La Liga and the UEFA Champions League much more, but SI has a chat with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. In it, Garber proves what a complete fucking idiot he is. It scares me that the future of U.S. professional soccer is in his hands. He appears to loathe the sport itself and completely discounts the way it's organized and funded in every other country it's played in.
  
  
  
• Google is trying to get a bunch of software developers and social networking sites together to form a social networking "platform" that will take on Facebook. So far the NY Times mentions Salesforce, LinkedIn, Friendster (this still exists?), hi5, Oracle, etc. I kind of like this idea, in a way. The biggest problem I have with social networking sites is that they all feel too "flavor of the week." In other words, I wonder if two months after I sign up for one, all the cool kids will have found a new site to use, leaving the mouth-breathing masses behind. Some type of standard platform could conceivably allow, for example, LinkedIn users (business people, generally) to interact with Orkut users (Brazilians, generally). You get 15 or 20 smaller social networking sites to plug into a much larger universe and it might attract a lot of people who want flexiblity.
  
  
• Rocks, paper, scissors -- the ultimate game of chance has a governing body. Enjoy pretending that random luck involves strategy. Make sure you read up on the 27 ridiculous "gambits."
  

Now ad free

Fuck Google AdSense. For some crazy reason I acutally thought their crappy ads would give the blog some kind of Interwebs Authority as a legitimate site. What the hell was I thinking? Oh well, now I can't count on that 2.23 cents I was due to earn this year.

Iraq Insurgents Googling the Earth

British troops in Iraq are reporting that insurgents are using Google Earth to learn details about U.K. military bases in that country. It was only a matter of time before stories like this started coming out. Apparently Google already blurs out some areas -- supposedly including Israeli nuclear faciliities -- but according to the troops interviewed, the aerial maps show "where we eat, sleep and go to the toilet."

The Telegraph article, by the way, continuously refers to the fighters as "terrorists." Isn't a terrorist considered someone who attacks civilians, not military bases? I thought only American journalists continued using this silly terminology, but no.