Web Surfing

Have you ever just surfed the web, just to see what's out there? Just because you can? Just because you have a few moments? Just because you're bored and don't want to play Facebook games or surf You Tube anymore? Do you ever want to just see what's "new" and might be "exciting" on the web out there today? If so, how do you go about it? Do you surf a title? Do you search a keyword that interests you? Do you surf on the "photo" site or the "shopping" site? Do you do a random search on Google to "just get lucky"? LOL

There are so many things on the internet today, I think those of us that are used to it just take it for granted. We also may not realize how "intimidating" it is to the new players on board, mostly the older generation since they are confused by it, don't understand how they can be scammed by it, or are just plain "overwhelmed" by it. I know I've had to teach mom all of the protocols of buying online. She's not allowed to put in her credit card unless she looks for the SSL certificate. She isn't allowed to buy at a company that doesn't have a "storefront" in her area like a big chain without asking one of us children to research it out for her. I think we forget how intimidating such a wealth of knowledge (and, of course, lies and deceit) can be to those who haven't grown with the times, especially in the technology arena.

If you do surf the net, what do you look for? As I'm typing this, I just searched for cupcakes. WOW and OMG! 60 Million results! How beautiful the images are, that's for sure, and look at google maps and it points out every location of a "cupcake" specialty store in your area - there are TONS! When did these stores shoot up, overnight? My boss introduced me to Crumbs a few years ago, but I don't really eat sweets so I never gave it another thought. Until I decided to watch some reality tv and the Cupcake Girls, DC Cupcakes and, my favorite, Cupcake WARS! These shows don't make me hungry, but they do satisfy my need for competition and some good old fashioned peeping into someone else's life that we seem to get from reality TV! I had no idea there were so many businesses competing for the same market, holy smokes! Makes me smile and hope that everyone does a great business, but that a whole bunch of people don't start to have weight problems!! ROTFLMAO!

How about a search of 'cookbook' - how about 64 million results!! With Bettycrocker.com being at the top of the list of course! LOL There are sites with the 'largest recipe collection ever' and then you have the Wikipedia on Recipes (now there's a big surprise! NOT!) Make your own cookbooks. Create your own cookbooks with cookbook software! How about some cookbook blogs! The list seems endless!

So I decided to see what would happen when you go to the search engine page and just hit "feeling lucky" - Google is great at marketing, man! It comes up with their logo page, Google Doodles, Google Calendar and so on, I wonder how many people actually hit enter by accident without typing anything into the search box and get this daily?

Now on the other side, I went to Bing and did the same thing, nothing! The search engine didn't do anything. HOWEVER - I like it that they have "popular posts" at the bottom and a "giggle fest" link and then, of course, a "living the dream" link. I think the "popular now" posts are awesome in that they take you to a topic you may never have dreamed of trying just to take a peek at what everyone else is "supposedly" searching for today. I say "supposedly" because there is really no way for us to "know" that these are the popular ones for the day, just Bing's (and Microsoft, of course!) word for it, but it is an interesting idea to just click and see what the fuss is all about. Kind of like following Abe Vigoda on Twitter, how hilarious his posts are (not that you know they ARE his, but its still funny!). Sometimes you just have to do it! There is a website, by the way, abevigoda.com that lists whether he is alive or dead - he jokes about it so much on twitter it's become a hilarious joke!

I definitely turn to the more intellectual pursuits on the internet when surfing. You remember my blog about the "pause" button? I cannot seem to turn my brain off or even pause, so even when I'm in the bus on the way home from commuting (like I am doing now), I am always thinking of new things and wanting to learn new pursuits and figure things out. I guess that is just the way my mind works!

So what exactly are you surfing for today?

Thanks for listening...