Showing posts with label Results. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Results. Show all posts

Saturday, March 24, 2012

View Craigslist Pictures on the Results Page.

One of the most annoying parts of the internet is having to click every single post on craigslist to see the photo of the item you will probably not buy anyway.  This is very time consuming and is especially frustrating when post says “pic” but it only has a lame stock image just so the title of her or his post looks like it has an image when really it does not.  To avoid all this nonsense you need to install a simple script to your internet browser that will allow you to view the pictures on craigslist ads below the titles as the picture above shows. Once you click this link I’ve provided it will send you to the page of who I am assuming made the script, you can then download the “1.0? version, and it will then automatically install itself on your browser.


Having the pictures all laid out for you on the results page can be particularly handy when looking through real-estate postings, cars, furniture, and things of the such.  This is also a cool feature to have on your browser so you can impress all of your friends and say something snarky like “Oh wow, you DON’T use this!? Not using this script is like still using internet explorer!”  So, download this script, and you can finally begin searching craigslist the right way!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

How to Block Any Site from Showing Up in Google Search Results [Google]

If you're sick of seeing content farms and other spammy links showing up in your Google search results, you can manually block any site through your Google Account preferences. Here's how.


Google added a new feature to their search results page that let you block any search result after viewing the page. However, having to navigate to the page first was kind of annoying, and lately, I've been finding that this "Block _____.com" link doesn't even show up most of the time—meaning I kept getting crappy search results with no way to filter them.


Reader Java-Princess, however, discovered that Google has another method for blocking sites. All you need to do is head to this page and type in a URL in the text box at the bottom. You can also unblock sites you've previously blocked, which is great if you ever blocked a site accidentally, or if a specific site decides to become more useful in the future. Hit the link to check out the feature, and let us know what useless sites you've blocked in the comments below.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

10 Questions That Will Improve Results in Any Area

The only foolish question is the one that was never asked!


When you begin any project, are trying to make a change in your life, or are faced with a difficult undertaking, the best way to improve your result is to ask the important questions first. If you are working as part of a team, some questions may need to be asked of others. When working towards an individual goal, you will be the one giving the answers.


Ask, ask, ask — until you’re confident that you have a firm understanding. Don’t wait until you’re stuck and spinning your wheels. Ask the questions and find the answers first!



Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers. – Anthony Robbins


Why am I doing this?


It’s important to understand the reason behind anything you undertake. Whether it’s a goal, task, habit, or project, “why am I doing this?” should be the first question you ask yourself. Understanding the reason behind the actions can be a tremendous motivator.


What is the desired outcome?


Without being clear about the desired result, you can’t plan how to get there. Identify what you’re trying to accomplish and exactly what that will look like. Clarity is key. Vague targets are rarely attained. Defined and tangible objectives have much greater success.


When is the deadline and are there periodic checkpoints?


Know when the action or project needs to be complete. Be aware of any phases or interim deadlines along the way. If you know how much time you have to work with, you can better plan backwards and set aside the necessary amount of time.


What is my role?


Understanding your role is crucial. Are you the leader or a worker bee? Are you a researcher or a communicator? Are you a team coordinator or planner? It’s important to know which role you play so you can align your actions. If it is an individual undertaking, then you are most likely all of the above.


Who is responsible or accountable for which tasks or projects?


This is related your role, but in a more specific and tangible way. Determine which specific tasks you are personally responsible for. Know who maintains accountability. Perhaps you are the one whom others are accountable. Define your responsibilities.


Do I have metrics or some form of measurement?


Establish a measurement of success, so that progress can be determined. If metrics are set by someone else, know what they are and if there is any flexibility.


What are the possible roadblocks or obstacles?


We almost always encounter snags along the way to completion. However, difficulties can more easily be overcome if we can prepare for them. It’s not always possible to prepare, complications by their very nature, are frequently unforeseen, but if you at least try to anticipate potential setbacks, they can often be resolved quickly.


What are the available resources?


Be aware of what resources are available. Be cognizant of the number of people involved or accessible to you and their skills. Be honest about the amount of time that can be committed. Also, understand if there are financial constraints.


How important is this project or task?


The importance of any goal or project determines how much attention and effort it deserves. Higher priority items get moved to the top of the list, while less crucial tasks can often be pushed back. If a project affects the profitability of a business or the health and well-being of an individual, it usually gets top priority.


What can I do to be more effective?


Develop strategies to help you be more efficient and productive. Improve the quality of your work by utilizing useful and  effective tools. Better organizational skills greatly enhance effectiveness. Learn to be resourceful.


Asking questions is a valuable tool in every area of business and life. This often-overlooked strategy can make the difference between success and failure. When we get clear about what we are trying to accomplish and why, we have a much better chance of attaining the desired result. Likewise, when we align our actions with what is expected of us, we can better meet our responsibilities. Finally, if we plan and prepare we can best utilize the skills and resources available to us to achieve the most success.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Get Real-Time Search Results from Google with a URL Tweak [Search Techniques]

Get Real-Time Search Results from Google with a URL TweakGoogle offers a few preset search filters for time—past hour, day, week, etc.—but if you want much fresher information, you can tweak the URL. This will limit results so see what's happening in more of a near real-time flow of information.

In the address bar, look for the qdr: parameter, e.g.:

https://google.com ... &output=search&tbs=qdr:h&tbo=1

The "h" here stands for hour. Substitute the "h" or whatever comes after the qdr: with either n for minutes or s for seconds and the number you want to limit your search by. So, for example, you could make it qdr:n10 as I did here to bring up information indexed in the past ten minutes.

This is a trick we've mentioned previously in conjunction with a handy bookmarklet that did the real-time searching for you so you didn't have to tweak the URL, but unfortunately the bookmarklet seems to have disappeared. Paul Anthony's post at the WebDistortion blog reminded me again of this trick to bring back Google real-time searching, in a sense.

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