Fun with Google Tricks

 Sometimes I just like to sit at the computer for fun, as opposed to the multitude of hours I’m putting in on this book project right now.  So in the hope of providing some distraction for you in the midst of your work, here are some tricks from Google’s engineers – who obviously aren’t all humorless programming geeks.  (Some of them have been around for a while, but they’re still fun to re-visit.)

First, type these words into a Google search and see what happens:

• Askew (or Tilt)
• Do a barrel roll
• Zerg Rush (and then wait a moment)

These work for most people, but for some reason my mother’s computers blocked the fun.  One computer was on Windows XP and the other was Windows 7, so I don’t think that was the problem.  I think her internet provider just blocked it somehow.  So if nothing happens, go to a friend’s house!

Zerg Rush is actually a game.  You can click on all those little O’s that drop down and try to get rid of them all before you hit bottom.  Good luck – you’re going to need it!

Next, go to Google’s homepage.  In the search box there, see what happens when you type these terms and click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button:

• Google Gravity
• Let it snow
• Epic Google
• Weenie Google

Next, for a mirror site, go to elgoog.im.  You’ll see why when you do it.  And while you’re there, check out the Underwater and Terminal links.

Here’s one for all you wordsmiths.  You know how if you misspell “somthing”, Google asks if you really meant “something”?  Try typing:

• Anagram
• Recursion

(And if you don’t get it, look them up in the dictionary!)

That’s all for now – get back to work!  But if you know of any other Google tricks (or anything similar), please please please put them in the comments!

PS – My ROW80 goals have gone out the window this week (this is my Sunday check-in, a day early).  This is my only blog post, I’ve only done a few blog and Twitter comments, and music & eating right are out the window.  But by the end of today, I’ll have put in almost 29 hours on this book project – and that’s in spite of a day of packing and errands, and another day driving up to Portland and flying home!  Making good headway, and another week to go until the deadline for my first portion.