Google vs Bing - Who Wins?

Since the beginnings of the Internet there has been a constant argument over one of the basic aspects of usage; which search engine should I use? Until a couple of years ago there was little argument from me over the clear winner: Google, hands down. I don't believe that's the case anymore.

I am something of a "power user" of the web. I'm online pretty much any time I'm not actively doing something else. I've tried just about every search engine out there. Over the years a lot of players have tried to get into the game and failed.  There are only two big players to look at: Google and Bing. For quite a while now I've been using Bing. Yes, Bing.

Now, I hear the grumbling. "Microshaft sucks. Bing Sucks. I'm a Google user. But you are using Blogger". Well...

I won't touch on which company is more trustworthy (short answer: ultimately neither) but will concentrate on which engine gives ME better results and a better experience. And right now Bing is better for for my purposes. 

Search Results - I see almost no difference in results between Google and Bing. Bing results are just as relevant, and often far more useful, than Google. Bing also throws far fewer "sponsored" links into the results. Also, Bing doesn't censor image results. Google does. I'm an adult. I can choose for myself, thanks.

Layout - One place Google falls down is in how it visually presents itself. Nothing has really changed in Google since the early days. It gives you results, but mostly in the form of links to other sites. Bing presents photos, quick links to relevant sites (IMDB, Wikipedia, etc) on the right side. When searching films you'll see actor, director and other information. When searching bands you'll get former members and popular releases. MUCH more information is presented at your fingertips. Google gives some of that information but I feel Bing presents it better. And the Bing landing page is MUCH more attractive, if that matters to you. 

This:

Or this?

Overall User Experience - Here, to me, is where Bing outshines its larger rival. Bing offers the Rewards program which offers points for search, daily activities, daily streaks and occasional bonus points. None of the daily activities are time consuming being mostly certain holiday or history based searches and short trivia quizzes. This isn't a "get rich scheme" by any means. In roughly 3 years I've earned something in the neighborhood of $200 worth of gift cards, storage on One Drive and Hulu monthly subscription fees. The gift cards available as of this writing are

• Starbucks
• Amazon
• AMC Theaters
• Burger King
• Hulu
• Target
• Wal-Mart
• Regal Cinemas
• NFL Shop
• Dominos
• REI
• Sephora
• Dell
• Microsoft Store

There is also a program where you can donate points to various charities as well as sweepstakes for various computers and Microsoft products. The rewards change occasionally and more are added all the time.

I don't see any real downside to using Bing. I'm getting value back for doing what I do anyway. Any extra effort is minimal. The information I want is generally right in front of me. And if I MUST give my information to a faceless, soulless conglomerate at least I am getting something in return. 

Bing.com

How To Unclutter A Web Page In One Easy Step

Courtesy of one of my favorite bloggers, Book Of Joe, here's a handy website that turns normally cluttered webpages into an easy to digest and simple format. 

Turns this: 

Into this:

 

Can A Person Eat 110+ Year Old Beef And Survive?

YouTube MRE reviewer Steve1989 answers that question. 

Steve seems like a genuinely cool (if a bit twisted) guy and he's always worth a watch, even if you couldn't care less about MREs, which I generally don't. 

Lewis and Clark and Feces and Mercury

Dan Lewis is a writer who sends out a daily email called "Now I Know". "Now I  Know" is a daily nugget or two of information/trivia that is well written, well researched and very engaging. I've been a subscriber for years and can't recommend it enough.

Today's nugget involves explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, their western explorations and how we know where they were. Or at least one place where they were. Based on mercury.

Here's the web version of the article. The website contains the "Now I Know" archives. There goes the day.

http://nowiknow.com/the-gross-metallic-secret-behind-americas-westward-expansion/

Vic Is Upset, It Appears

And it's not the first time. Just the latest. 

NSFW language. 

 

Cuban Guitarist Hears Stevie Ray Vaughan For The First Time

Pretty much the reaction everyone has the first time they hear SRV. And his final comment is the EXACT reaction every guitarist has. Beautiful video. 

We Don't Use The Word "Nostalgia" Around Here

We'll call this "Vintage photographic recordings of past history".

Flashbak has a ton of old photos, advertisements and general nos...cultural memories. Most excellent site and a wonderful waster of time.

https://flashbak.com

Here's Mick Jagger (trying to make plaid look fashionable) and Marianne Faithful (who always looked fashionable) in 1969.

Jeron "Blind Boy" Paxton

A real, live, Honest To Goodness Bluesman? TODAY? Yep.

I love acoustic blues. And this guy is the real stuff. "Broke and Hungry Blues". And one of the more unique harmonica solos you'll ever see.

More information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerron_%22Blind_Boy%22_Paxton

How Not To Be Stupid Online

Suddenly it seems everyone is up-in-arms about online security. Nothing has changed, and nothing has surprised anyone who pays attention, but the world at large seems shocked...SHOCKED that companies are using, storing and sharing their data. We are the product and not the consumer in these relationships and doing what you can to protect yourself online is vitally important. Here are my tips:

-Change your passwords often and use unique passwords always. Seems obvious but it's such a hassle most people don't bother. The bother is worth it. One good way to see if your password has been stolen is to check this site

https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords 

which checks your pass against a database of known data breaches. Interesting and useful. If you pass shows up CHANGE IT NOW! I recently bit the bullet and started using LastPass, which stores all your passwords under a single password. It is available as a browser extension and is quite easy to use. Makes life easier AND safer.

-Never, ever, ever go online without using anti-malware, anti-virus and firewall software.  Again, seems obvious but many people don't. As much as I hate to say it Microsoft's Windows Defender has matured into a viable option. First thing I do with any new computer is remove whatever trial security software might be there. Most are bloated and many are NOT secure no matter what they claim. I am quite a fan of MalwareBytes as an anti-malware solution.

-Use some manner of adblocker and redirect blocker in your browser of choice. I used Opera for years and loved it for it's small footprint, but now that my equipment has gotten better and memory isn't such an issue I use Firefox for almost everything. Mostly for the security extensions. I use Adblock Plus, Privacy Badger and Skip Redirect and I've had good results. 

-Don't be stupid This seems to be the hard one for a lot of people. The rules are pretty simple. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Most modern browsers will show you the URL behind a hotlink by hovering over it. If you don't recognize the link or email address, or if the link isn't going where you think it will be going, DON'T CLICK IT! Learn a bit about how links work and keep up a bit with current scams going around. The internet is a lot like walking in a city you don't know. Be aware, be cautious and keep you eyes and brain open. 

Another interesting and useful option for Google and Facebook allows you to download a complete copy of your history on the site for review. This WILL result in a very large amount of data, so be warned!!! My Google history resulted in a nearly 10 GIGABYTE download, most of which was Google Drive! You do have the option to choose which services' data you download so you might wish to skip Drive. 

-Google allows you to see your activity here. Or you can download it. CNBC has a useful article that will walk you through the steps here. You'll get an email in a day or two giving 1gb sized links to the download. I noticed some redundancy but it's certainly complete.

-Facebook also allows history download. Go to your homepage. Click the down carat (arrow) next to the question mark in the blue toolbar at the top and click "settings" which takes you to "General Account Settings". Below "Delete Your Account" there is an option to "Download a copy of your FaceBook data". It's a slow process which may take a few days, but you'll receive an email to a link. The download can be VERY large, and it's VERY complete.  

Anyone else have similar links to other portals? Please post them in the comments.  

Fawkes Returns!

Fawkes pulls up in front of the ramshackle building that hides the basement and sighs at the work ahead of him. Hacking his way through the weeds he makes it to the sewer grate which covers the entrance to the basement. Inserting the key he finds the lock rusted. Cursing he goes back for tools. After much struggle the hatch opens and he enters the Basement for the first time in years...

 New life...new changes...time to give this another shot. 

Welcome to the Basement. Beer and other libations are in the kitchen, fridge is stocked with health food (chips, snack cakes, pizza...no, MENTAL health food). A carefully curated selection of Metal, New Wave and oddities are cued up on the stereo. 

To quote noted documentary filmmaker Marty DiBerghi; Enough of my yakkin', let's boogie.

Lorez Alexandria SWINGS!

For some reason my brain generally doesn't wrap itself around Jazz. I appreciate it, and enjoy seeing it played live but a lot of music that I should love in principle just hasn't stuck with me. But over the years a few artists have gotten through and made me sit up and take notice.This week I'll be posting some of my favorites.

Only in the last two hours have I discovered the first artist I am going to feature today, Lorez Alexandria. How I have never heard of this amazing singer before now is beyond me, but WOW can this lady SING! She seems to be almost criminally obscure. Using Google Play Music as an example, out of 20 albums released over a 36 year career they have a total of only 5! 

This is curl up and mellow out music, emotional and definitely intended for internal consumption. She seems to concentrate on standards and "Torch Songs" but her phrasing and the quality of her voice are both dead on.

This seems to be a good place to start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK4_-zMIGCo&list=PLFj4nHM46kU03xsRf2kmXau0VWTFkzXVd

Ladies And Gentlemen...The Great Flydini!

Steve Martin performs the greatest zipper related magic act of all time!

Ever Wonder What 100 Guitar Effects Pedals Sounds Like At One Time?

Maybe or maybe not but this video answers the question anyway.

Go to 16:30 if you just want to hear the full 100 at once but the setup is interesting as well.

In The Lap Of The Law

Can't help but think both the suspect and the police officer must be pretty darned thin!

http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/suspected-thief-tries-to-steal-police-car-sits-in-officers-lap/29635954

A suspected car thief trying to run from police got a surprise when he tried to steal a police patrol car and wound up sitting in an officer’s lap.
Fife police Lt. Tom Thompson said the man was spotted acting suspicious near a motel around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, so a patrol sergeant stopped to check the license on the car he was driving. It came back as stolen.

As the sergeant followed the suspect, identified as David Boulet, Boulet jumped from the car and ran. Police said Boulet climbed a fence and ran through traffic in both the north and southbound lanes of Interstate 5, dodging cars.

Meanwhile, a Tacoma police officer, hearing the chase over the radio, stopped on the Port of Tacoma road overpass and turned on his red and blue lights.

Thompson said Boulet ran from the freeway through heavy brush and onto the overpass, apparently looking for a getaway car.

He spotted the patrol car with lights flashing, ran toward it, pulled the door open, got in and sat down in the officer’s lap, apparently unaware that the officer was still behind the wheel.

Thompson said the officer was stunned at first, then recognized Boulet’s description as the suspect leading police on a foot pursuit.

Boulet was wrestled to the ground and placed under arrest.

Chicken Muddle Ain't Brunswick Stew

I grew up in a small city in Southern Virginia called Emporia. In Southern Virginia some things are taken VERY seriously. Pork products, farming, tourism and a stew that exists only there, Chicken Muddle. Some neighboring areas make a similar dish called Brunswick Stew. Some people like one, some people like the other and wars have been fought for less. Either dish is best prepared outdoors, often by volunteer firefighters or civic groups, and sold in quart sized containers. Very excellent stuff!

Edgar Morris was well known as one of the best Muddle cooks in the area when I was growing up. Luckily his Muddle preparation secrets (well, SOME of them!) were preserved on video.

Enjoy a bit of the lost South. Makes me hungry!

You want entertainment? Big Name Hollywood Entertainment? We've got ENTERTAINMENT right here in the Basement! Tonight we are proud to present Hollywood Palace, April 17, 1965. Shecky Green! A truly funny Scottish comic! Gordon and Sheila  MacRae! Spanish Dancers! Danish acrobats The Four Kents! And none other than Rufus T. Firefly himself, the inimitable Groucho Marx as your host! Including the final number, a little dittycalled "Captain Spaulding" with Margaret Dumont in her final stage appearance!

Hard to get much better than Groucho and Margaret together. Margaret was nearly the Marx Sister. She did seven films and several stage shows with the boys, playing the High Society foil to the Brothers. And she was brilliant doing it. Groucho said many times that Margaret never understood ANY of the jokes the Marx Brothers were doing. Harpo said the same in his fantastic biography "Harpo Speaks".

Margaret's career began in 1917 in silent films and ended with this performance. 57 films in total over 48 years! She was one of the best "straight men" that ever lived.


And without further ado, on with the show!

Jean Carroll appeared on the Ed Sullivan show more than 20 times. I'd never heard of her before tonight and WOW was this lady FAST! Give a watch and you'll see how she influenced the generations that have followed. I could see her doing a variation on this act today and killing with it.

Lost In SPACE!

Ah, gotta love Nigerian scammers. They try SO hard!

http://www.anorak.co.uk/428124/money/nigerian-astronaut-lost-in-space-needs-3m-to-get-home-could-be-a-scam.html/

Out Of The Desert

Seems to me that blogging is no longer the next big thing, or even a current big thing. This makes it a perfect place for me to get busy with one. THAT should tell you quite a bit about me. I'm not a follower of current hot trends. I'm not a hipster, unless an almost obsessive love of Sriracha makes me one. What I am is someone into music, movies and humor with occasional side trips into politics, art, pop culture and a ton of other things that stick in my mental drain. Expect to see quite bit of all that in these pages.

Enjoy the ride.