I just happened across a handy little tool Google has adopted. Apparently, when you Google search for Wikipedia, you will see a handy tool that allows you to directly search within Wikipedia. It thoughtfulness like this that makes me still use Google despite the fact that they are the 21st century equivalent of the 19th century British Empire.
Don't be evil indeed.
Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts
05 March 2008
18 July 2007
Google weather slides farther from tightness
Yesterday, I issued a TU to Google for repeatedly using the following icon in their weather gadget:
The icon basically suggests that any remotely plausible configuration of seasonally-appropriate weather (excepting perhaps tornado winds and the second plague) could occur in the next 24 hours - the meteorological equivalent of throwing up your hands, shrugging your shoulders, and uttering "uhnnnnnnuhha?"
Well, my friends, I am sorry to report this, but it gets worse.
Today Google tells me that the forcast for today is "uhnnnnnnuhha?", the forecast for tomorrow is "uhnnnnnnuhha?", but the forecast for Friday . . . well that can only be characterized as this:
Wait a second . . . what the hell is that??? Let's look at these icons side-by-side:
What is different here? Isn't it obvious?! Today and Thursday, we're gong to get some sun, and then a large, ominous cloud might appear, and then some pointy, fast, sky darkening rain might fall out of the sky, whereas on Friday, we're going to get some sun, and then a happy, fluffy cloud might appear, and then some fat, widely-spaced, sky-color-neutral rain might fall out of the sky. Dress appropriately, kids!
Update: Mandy helpfully suggests I use Weather Underground instead. While I'm too lazy independently check the weather each day, I do appreciate this site's willingness to admit they have no fucking clue about the very subject they're supposed to report on. Witness:
I wish I knew about this icon when I wrote my first post on Google weather. Somehow, this is actually more reassuring. Also, their cloud has a mouth, which I like.
The icon basically suggests that any remotely plausible configuration of seasonally-appropriate weather (excepting perhaps tornado winds and the second plague) could occur in the next 24 hours - the meteorological equivalent of throwing up your hands, shrugging your shoulders, and uttering "uhnnnnnnuhha?"
Well, my friends, I am sorry to report this, but it gets worse.
Today Google tells me that the forcast for today is "uhnnnnnnuhha?", the forecast for tomorrow is "uhnnnnnnuhha?", but the forecast for Friday . . . well that can only be characterized as this:
Wait a second . . . what the hell is that??? Let's look at these icons side-by-side:
What is different here? Isn't it obvious?! Today and Thursday, we're gong to get some sun, and then a large, ominous cloud might appear, and then some pointy, fast, sky darkening rain might fall out of the sky, whereas on Friday, we're going to get some sun, and then a happy, fluffy cloud might appear, and then some fat, widely-spaced, sky-color-neutral rain might fall out of the sky. Dress appropriately, kids!
Update: Mandy helpfully suggests I use Weather Underground instead. While I'm too lazy independently check the weather each day, I do appreciate this site's willingness to admit they have no fucking clue about the very subject they're supposed to report on. Witness:
I wish I knew about this icon when I wrote my first post on Google weather. Somehow, this is actually more reassuring. Also, their cloud has a mouth, which I like.
16 July 2007
Confound this weather device!
Meteorology is a notoriously inexact science. Google prides itself on making useful information available to all (except those who live under repressive regimes, but that's another story), yet it seems the company is not merely victim to the unreliability of weather forecasting, but taking this guesswork to new heights.
I present to you the icon which characterizes the weather for each of the next four days in my weather gadget on my Google homepage:
_Mon_____Tues____Wed____Thurs
What should I take this pictoral representation of present and future conditions to mean? Quite literally, it suggests, "Well, there's going to be some sun, which may be partially obscured by a cloud, which may have rain come out of it at some point." In other words, "We don't have a fucking clue what it's going to do outside." As the owner of a fine pair of suede shoes, I find this vexing.
Google, I propose an alternate simulacrum, which will convey a similar meaning without all the unecessary trickery:
.jpg)
_Mon______Tues______Wed_____Thurs
Tighten up and make it happen.
I present to you the icon which characterizes the weather for each of the next four days in my weather gadget on my Google homepage:
_Mon_____Tues____Wed____Thurs
What should I take this pictoral representation of present and future conditions to mean? Quite literally, it suggests, "Well, there's going to be some sun, which may be partially obscured by a cloud, which may have rain come out of it at some point." In other words, "We don't have a fucking clue what it's going to do outside." As the owner of a fine pair of suede shoes, I find this vexing.
Google, I propose an alternate simulacrum, which will convey a similar meaning without all the unecessary trickery:
_Mon______Tues______Wed_____Thurs
Tighten up and make it happen.
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