Goofy Google News
One of the unexpected benefits of having a Google account is the opportunity to customize the news page. I’m sure many people, if they’ve actually gone ahead and set up a personalized news page, have chosen keywords that are relevant and thoughtful.
I, however, have chosen single-word searches, like “goofy” and “buggy” and “odd” and “frisky” to see what I get. Most often, it’s page 98 stuff (or sports, especially with “odd” for some reason). But it’s fun. Otherwise I wouldn’t know that a fire-engine chased a suspected drunk driver in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. (It turned out to be a medical emergency, and the driver was taken to the hospital.)
And this morning, “buggy” gives me three different uses of the word: “Microsoft to re-issue buggy security patch,” “Skeeters driving residents buggy,” and “Child dies after Amish buggy crash.” (It’s not all fun and games.)
I’m not sure why I like to read this news that’s not at the top of the heap. I don’t live anywhere near where these small stories are being reported. I don’t really like our local paper, because they mostly just recycle stuff that I’ve already seen online.
Perhaps, though, I’m not entirely alone. Wendy at Creative Ink notes an article in the LA Times (free reg.) about the rise of small-town presses. For me, the money quote:
“There are more titles than ever, and ironically, more readers,” Steffens said. “The Internet has been great for creating communities based on interest. But you cannot go onto the Web and find out what’s happening in these small towns because no one cares what’s happening there — except for the people who live there.”
I would add “and random strangers on the internet.”
