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* From Gizmodo…
What happens if you let the notoriously fickle (and sometimes downright dirty) Google search autocomplete feature take over U.S. geography? A completely new State of the Union heavy on universities, history and other peculiarities, that’s what.
Some of the new states are rather obvious, but still provide an interesting look into what Google’s search field algorithms and people’s previous queries “think” you’re actually searching for.
KFC? No brainer. Nebraska football? From what I’ve seen from old college friends who hailed from there, completely obvious choice. Utah Jazz? Hmm. I suppose when it’s the only notable professional sports team going it’s not much of a surprise. Louisiana Purchase? Not what I would have guessed, but Jefferson would surely be proud.
Others are somewhat troubling. What’s going on in Illinois that so many citizens are searching for the lottery?
The map…
When I use Google’s Autocomplete, I get “State Fair” as the number one item. It could be a geographical thing, or Google knows how much I love the State Fair. Whatever.
* The Question: What, in your opinion, should be the first Google Autocomplete item for Illinois?
Snark heavily encouraged, of course.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:10 pm
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Comment by OneMan Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:14 pm
The first item should be the always-jumping “Six Flags Over Roland Burris’s Mausoleum Theme Park.”
Comment by The End Is Near Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:18 pm
Convicted Governor’s
Comment by Interested Observer Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:27 pm
Corruption and soybeans.
Comment by chimack Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:32 pm
The fix is in.
Comment by gathersno Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Illinois Smellinois.
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:35 pm
“Illinois ….”
Corruption Handbook
balanced budget requirement joke
Govenor Mansion empty
statehouse FBI hotline
GOP losing streak
take leave cannoli
Interstate 80 border
springfield not downstate
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:37 pm
Google knows your search history.
When I enter “Illinois”, auto-complete offers up “Illinois state equalizer”. I was searching for that last month.
“Illinois lottery” is after that.
Forget “Mile after beautiful mile.” Time for the tourism board to use our strenghs: “Come play the Illinois lottery. 2nd night stay free.”
Comment by Just a Reader Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:42 pm
Illinois how much you offering
Illinois what’s it to ya
Illinois you can run for office no experience necessary
Comment by KGB Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:44 pm
Illinois Land of Daley
Comment by KGB Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:44 pm
I actually checked it out and “Illinois Lottery” is the first choice when “Illinois” is typed into Google search. When you you think about it, life in Illinois is becoming more and more like playing the lottery every day.
Comment by Lefty Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:46 pm
“Illinois….”
Chicago Alderman offices Oxford Wiconsin
Two Party Myth
Kass combine wishes fantasies
Terrence Goggin John Patrick Ryan real
Brady Hendon summit
size height of curtains Governor office
jobs missing
s silent
butter cow facebook
fan page bureau of prisions politicians
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 2:51 pm
“Illinois….”
Madigan Road Runner Cross Coyote
Pat Quinn 9 lives
conflict interests top exuses
pay to play menu chart
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:06 pm
The Federal Prison in Wisconsin where all our Governor’s retire.
Comment by Irish Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:06 pm
“Loyalty”
Comment by Peter Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:10 pm
How to look good in an orange jumpsuit.
Comment by Ahoy Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:10 pm
I got State Fair too, I think is geographical.
Comment by UISer Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:17 pm
in the spirit of the motto for Chicago, ubi es mea, the Illinois phrase should be, caveat incola…..resident beware.
Comment by amalia Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:19 pm
It should be left blank, because the state is too in debt to be able to afford to complete anything.
BTW: When I typed in Capitol, it completed with Fax!
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:21 pm
“Illinois ….”
value bleeping golden not giving away
Roland Burris real not act
reality star governor sad
Blagojevich drinking spelling game
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:24 pm
Such cynics. Kind of a word association game. With a 60-second timer I say,
“lllinois…
corn
deficit
politics
budget
history
Lincoln sites
Reagan sites
basketball
Civil War
capitol
historic sites
beans
football
rivers
business
taxes
universities
state parks
economy
trade
With the snark on, again with a 60-second timer, I get “Illinois”
corruption
politics
hustlers
gangsters
embarrassment
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 3:48 pm
I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure Google is evil.
That autocomplete thingy has to use something that knows where you are - the other night, I typed in GI - and the at least seven of the ten drop downs were for Chicago restaurants. And no, I don’t use gmail.
And then, last night good ol’ Comcast shuts down, but turns out there’s a workaround using the Google openDNS port. I looked around and saw the same thing happened, at almost the same time, last week on the east coast. And everyone then was suggesting the google workaround as well.
Now, if everyone switched their DNS settings to the google server, got it working, but then forgot to switch it back (or just didn’t care), google would have a whole new wealth of information running through their servers.
Coincidence? Or was the directing to google after the Comcast “outage” intentional? Or was the outage created by Google somehow?
Yeah, I know, conspiracy theories…but still…
Comment by Thoughts... Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:11 pm
This has to be it…Ubi Est Mea?
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:17 pm
It has to be Wrigley Field.
I would say Madiganistan, but Kass has trademarked this expression.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 4:56 pm
a suburb of Chicago
Comment by Concerned Voter Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 6:27 pm
I think a lot of people are confused about what Google autocomplete is.
Comment by dave Monday, Dec 6, 10 @ 8:32 pm