If you are ever going to be frightened about your privacy, I think it is this that will do it. I am not. At all. I don’t know if I would open my searches to others… but I don’t really care. That being said… this thing is wild. Go to http://www.google.com/dashboard.

Three takes on Google Dashboard:
Googles
&
CNN.
&
Mashable
With a lovely little 2 1/2 minute video that explains it all to you.

I think Google has added some tools since Mashable’s review, however, because I find it deeply fascinating and hilarious… not that my searches could be misconstrued or improperly interpreted…. but that they *DEFINITELY* would be.

I have made 19,697 google searches since 23rd April 2007. I am not quite sure if that’s when I started logging into my account for searches or if that’s when Google started indexing searches associated with my fishbits account (that one is from 2003). I do know, if you want to play along, log into your oldest or most frequently used google account, scroll down and go to “web” then click “oldest”.

My first search that morning was “weird al gore pictures” and my last search was “licking machine”.

What’s funny out of context you are like, “WHAT THE HELL?” But when I tell you I remember those searches, and I remember the first was for a conversation about Gore’s movie, and I wanted to find that pic because it was hilarious. The second was for a fake screen cleaner “link” that ends up being a dog licking a screen. Wild that I remember that. In fact, I think I remember every search I have ever done. Which is crazy odd.

Whatever the case… people admit some of their darkest and deepest thoughts, questions, pains, or desires in google search. Things they might not ever tell another human.. be it family, doctor, or stranger. Some of the stuff Google Search has seen isn’t even seen by Post Secret.

Also… the calendar thing is really, really cool. You can see the trending of your searches from light to heavy in a color coded chart… and it shows me one thing. I do not use the internet on weekends at all. I knew this, but now I have proof. Proof that will likely get me disowned and locked away but proof just the same. Of course, this proof also says white to light green means 1-25 searches. Most workdays it looks like I have logged over 100.

Boy I have a hell of a lot of questions. Like who the hell is reading this.

In fact… google search and it’s algorithm have been asked so many ludicrous things, it’s now a memetic type viral hit!

I only posted this because I saw the release of Dashboard went *WAY* *WAY* under the radar, and don’t really get why. If Rupert Murdoch, Facebook, or some other person touted unprecendented access to powerful information about their consumers… people would have LOST THEIR MINDS. I like that Google, and it’s powerful image manipulation people, have been able to keep the public’s faith in their BHAG “Do No Evil!”.

Essentially… people trust and love Google. If they keep up transparency like this… which is unprecedented (*COULD* you imagine if Facebook gave up this info? Nope) … people will continue to trust them.

They have, at least, got me. I am an unabashed with my usage of voice, wave, gmail, youtube, etc. I doubt that any of the information will ever get out or really be used in a way that will impact more than a small, possibly evil, minority. I mean… what do you have to hide anyway people? I have some odd kinks, to be sure… but you cats must be sickos. I mean… it’s probably moot because it’s never going to get out.

However, if it does…. the non sequitrs will killlllll me.


(There are only two things
(\__/) O that are absolute realities, love
(=’.’=) . o & knowledge, and you can’t
(“)_(“) escape them. – Olive Schreiner)

About Uncle Fishbits

I'm.. just this guy, you know?

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