Is it just me?
Is it just me or did the internet change overnight?
I took yesterday off, a rare thing for me, but I decided I needed a full day of no work, no hanging out on the internet, no scrambling for ideas for blogs or stories. For once in a blue moon, I did not spend several hours formatting a document for upload or working on a book cover. Instead, I sat outside and read free short stories from Amazon. And I watched ‘Hemlock Grove’ on Netflix. (All I can say about that is YIKES! My daughter, on the other hand, had this to say: “That is the most gruesome transformation I have ever seen. I hope they do a second season!” Hint: it’s about werewolves and other creepy things). So, it was a day of change for me and I woke up rested but feeling completely out-of-sync.
Good morning, Max!
I logged on later than usual and after checking my email, I went straight to Google. There, instead of a colorful logo or a holiday-themed search box (although today isn’t a holiday), I found an animated Max from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are and an arrow to click. So, I clicked the arrow. You’ll have to check it out to see what popped up. (You can click on the link above.) I was pleasantly surprised and if you are –or ever were–a Sendak fan, I think you will be, too. I also noticed that there’s a microphone in the search box. Was that there two days ago? If it was, I missed it. Now that I’ve noticed this small change, I’m wondering what else is new. I’m on the lookout for other things that are different before they smack me in the face. Unfortunately, I am a creature of habit, doing the same things over and over again until I’m forced to make a change, even for the better. But I’ve noticed that Google has a different feel this morning and a different way of searching.
Visualize . . .
I am a believer in visualization. I believe that it is possible to manifest a better world. See it, feel it, be it. Google seems to believe in visualization, too. On the Google Trends page, it’s now possible to bring your search to full-page with a scroll of clickable hot topics. I’m not exactly sure why that’s a great idea given that a full list with photos is available just to the right, but apparently this is helpful for some people. Or maybe they’re moving incrementally toward another change. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
So What?
Granted, these small changes may not seem BIG to you and in the stream of all things on the internet are actually quite small, but it seems to me that as one platform changes, so go the others. One small change urges another and another until everyone is, once again, doing the same thing. I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. Maybe Google is reacting to a change somewhere else along the line and, having been in my cave, I just missed it.
Are you noticing changes in the way you’re doing business on the internet? Is added visualization a good thing? Do you want a screen that appears in mid-air and comes complete with holograms? (I do! I’ll be on the look-out for that one!)
Just for Fun
Game of Thrones Season Three ended last night. After the Red Wedding, this felt like somewhat of a let-down. If you’re a fan, you might get a kick out of a compilation of the Top 20 Most Shocking Moments of ‘Game of Thrones.’ I’m not sure I agree with the order, but it’s a pretty good list thanks to Nora Grenfell.
If you have other shocking moments, leave me a comment.
And don’t forget to take today’s poll.
Cave Dweller: Alone in a Social World 