It’s official. I’m addicted. Not to chocolate (okay, yes, but it’s not as bad an addiction as it could be.) Not to drugs. Not even to booze.
I can’t live without Google.
You see, I’m a curious sort. If there is a question I do not know the answer to, I simply must know it! Not if someone asks about, oh, let’s say, quantum physics. I could really care less about that. But if my daughter asks me what the state bird of Illinois is and I don’t know, I have to have my Google.
(It’s a cardinal, by the way. Same as Virginia.)
When we were in Hawaii back in March, I realized how much I missed my Google. The hotel room did not have wireless (there ought to be law) and whenever a question would come up (what plant was that growing outside our window? How exactly did the Hawaiians lose their land to the American investors? Just exactly who was King Kamehameha?) I wanted to be able to instantaneously look it up. Books? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had guide books. But Google is so much faster!
Must. Have. Internet!
I don’t even look up phone numbers in the Yellow Pages anymore. I can spend hours delving into all manners of research for my books, from guns to the growing patterns of strawberries in Massachusetts to the treatment of gypsies during the reign of King George I in England. I hear people worry about what the CIA might think if they knew which websites they were surfing to. They can have at it with me. Ecclectic doesn’t even begin to describe.
There have been a gazillion times that I’ve been on the phone with someone and a question comes up…hold on, I’ll Google. I’ve become a Google Queen. It is no surprise to me that Google has become a verb. It is a verb. It’s action–immediate and effective. If I can’t find what I want, I get very frustrated…but all the more determined. I’ve learned the short cuts and tricks. Today, I spent thirty minutes reliving my youth on Tommy Shaw’s place at Myspace. Tommy Shaw, you ask? Lead guitarist for Styx. He’s 52. Thanks for making me feel old, Tom. He’s still sexy. More on him and his music next week!
How many of you share this odd addiction? Even the non-writers? If you haven’t tried Google or don’t go there on a regular basis…why not? You’ll have the information superhighway at your fingertips. Ah, the power!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Yep, even a non-reader can appreciate the wonder that is Google LOL. Since blogging in the last several months, and going to different sites and learning about new books, new authors, etc., it’s a great way to “locate” people or things or trivia. And it was a joy to me when Google brought me to the website of my fave cover model hottie Nathan Kamp (the cutie on Lori Foster’s “Wildly Winston” – sorry, I know you guys are sick of hearing me talk about him)
But Google is a wondrous tool, one that provides endless hours of entertainment and knowledge. I can’t remember life before the internet.
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Oh I am definitely a googlenut. I am like you, Julie, never use the phone book. Encyclopedia? What’s that. Anything that makes me the slightest bit curious I now find out at a few clicks off the finger.
Interesting–you know that DaVinci Code contest that ran with Google for a few weeks? My hubby finaled in it (don’t get too excited, he’s one of 10,000!) Anyway, he really loved doing it and it was all based on using Google to learn about different cities, involved Google Maps and Google Images, etc. Pretty cool.
He got a nifty little DaVinci Code lockbox type thing in the mail Monday and has to complete 5 more puzzles in the fastest time among the 10,000 to win the prize. (Uh, right…) If he were to win by some bizarre happenstance, we probably wouldn’t be able to afford to pay the taxes on the prize…but it’d sure be fun to try!
Leslie
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Me too! I even have friends call me and say… hey, can you look this up for me please? It’s a horrible addiction, but I figure I don’t do coffee or smoke so I’ve got to have some type of visable vice. :)
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Google makes life easier! :) I would really miss it if it wasn’t around!
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Google, is just the greatest at finding things, and I wonder how I survived without it………… :) Things are so much easier to check on, look up, etc.
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Google is the best! Makes research and life so much easier. I also love Webmd – if anyone has a symptom, I’m looking it up on webmd. I’m my own doctor!
My hubby last night lost the American Express card statement and he needed it to take to work to get reimbursed. I said, “Oh, I can pull it from the website, hold on.” And I handed it to him a few minutes later. He said, “The internet is an amazing thing.”
And it is!!!!!!! (*)
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Talk about coincidence I just came here after using Google! Don’t know what I’d do without it.
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i only yahoo.
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Google is great – as long as you evaluate the sites you go too. Remember, not everything is equal in the world of the Internet. As a librarian I use Google all the time, but I’m pretty careful which sites I trust and which I view as “interesting” but not very reliable.
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Great topic. I LOVE Google!!! It’s part of my Internet addiction, LOL.
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Google is a staple in our home… it’s our home page on our computer. I use it for EVERYTHING!
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Have only used google once. Can only get dial up internet connection and don’t like to tie up the phone a lot.
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I only use Google once in awhile but I am on the computer & the internet a lot! Don’t take it away from me!! :) However, if I am traveling I don’t miss it! Julie, Hawaii–you don’t need the internet you are on vacation!!! Unless of course you are researching for a book!!! :) My mom doesn’t get why it is all so fascinating, she is in her 80′s & has never touched a computer–her loss! On the other hand her brother also in his 80′s sends me some of my best emails. I love that all that information is out there & we can access it, a wonderous thing.
Have a great day everyone. :)
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I cannot imagine life before Google! And I wouldn’t want to live without it, either. My kids are “Googlers” too — and it’s invaluable when it comes to homework, projects, and research! :d
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I am not a big google user. I used to use Yahoo a lot but now I like Dogpile. It searches the top four search engines for you (Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask Jeeves).
I just wanted to pop on and Thank Leslie again. The pie in a jar and books both arrived today. And couldn’t have come at a better time. We have had MAJOR flooding here from all the rain. My mother in law was evacuated because the reservoir overflowed and had to stay with us. I wish I could say it was fun.
Anyway all this happened on mothers day, when I also came down with strep throat. So THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK Leslie for brightening my week. :)
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Kelly, I’m so sorry about what a lousy time you’re having and am SO very happy that your little goodies made you feel better. Hope you enjoy the books! (And the pie!)
Leslie
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I love Google I wish we could have had computers and Google when I was in High School and college in the very early 80′s. It sure would have made life easier.
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Google is my bestfriend! I look up everything on Google … I luv it! I am glad to see I am not the only one lol … :p
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I use Google a lot. We use it for homework if my son needs a picture and we have Trivia sometimes at work and we all GOOGLE to get the answer