When I was a kid there was a radio show called "The Shadow." I don't really remember anything about the Shadow except, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" Today the same can be said of Google, Yahoo, Dogpile, Lycos and others----Google is the "Kleenex" of search engines and is rapidly becoming the manifestation of our collective conscience. Almost any thing anyone wants to know can be found with a good search engine. While the internet is becoming the repository of the sum of human knowledge----the search engines are the way to access it.
Just before Christmas I did a post called, All Aboard the Snowball Express. This post was about a project American Airlines did to support the children and families that lost a loved on in the war efforts since 9/11.
Two people responded to that post who were directly involved with that project. There words follow----all thanks to Google:
Charles,
As the Chairman of Snowball Express I appreciate you sharing your first hand experience with the send off of these special families. The AA SEA-TAC employees went above and beyond in building this castle...3500 volunteer man hours!!....and creating a wonderful memory for these children.
Snowball Express is a group of volunteers who are in it for one reason, to honor the fallen heroes of these children and to let these children know these heroes and them will always be remembered by Americans. Next year's event will be in Dallas but we know there will be families from the Seattle area attending again. Thanks and good luck in the new year.
Roy White, Chairman, Snowball Express, Flower Mound, TX
Charles,
Many thanks for posting this. I happened across it while doing a Google search on Snowball Express Chairman Roy White. I work for American Airlines and was involved in building the castle in Seattle. The idea was that of our Station Manager who realy knew how to pull people together for such a project. She deserves much credit.
It was for a great cause that so many of us participated. I think a lot of great memories were made that day! Regards, Paul B, Seattle
These comments show not only the power of Google but just how vulnerable we are when we post information. It forces a level of truth and transparency that was never possible prior to the internet. If we don't perform at the highest standards of honesty, anyone with a simple search or a "Google Alert" will soon find what we have posted. In the past, an article could be published in the paper and any correction or retraction would be buried on page umpty9 a week later.
In this instance it was a great pat on the back----in other instances it might be a letter from an attorney. Again I ask, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Google knows!"
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
DeCroe, is my "etherial" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Scary isn't it? My kids know that I can google them and find out what they're doing! Congrats on getting the letters about your post! It pays to say nice things.
I wrote a post last night about a new software this company was releasing. Within 5 minutes someone from the company registered onto my blog on my website. Strange how quick it is too.
Love the new photo Charles!! :-)
Linda, thanks----it is all pretty cool---but watch out:)
Eau, it can be really quick if someone has "Alerts" set up.
Alan---I owe it all to you:)
Blogging the long tail, consumers find us that way. I love it when a consumer reads it and comments as so many do not do so.
Missy, it is cool isn't it?
Hi Charles~ Lots of consumers are reading. Eventually more may comment. I myself read alot and may not leave a comment.
Vickie, I think we are all "lurkers" and "commenters" depending on the mood.
Google Alerts are great and quick for sure. I have alerts for my company, my name, and my local geography. It's a realtively simple way to see and trakc what's being said about you and your business online.
Jeff
Just a quick reminder to be careful what you put in writing!
Thanks,
Cindy
Jeff, it seems like the search engines can be used to watch our back, watching our back, watching our back.......:)
Cindy, yes----if we don't have a "conscience"---Google will have one for us:)
Charles - yes, 'google' is a verb now. It is wonderful when you gain recognition from the people and causes you write about - one little AR post can help a great deal. "the Shadow knows" - my husband says that all the time, I don't think either one of us has ever seen that show. We aren't that old. :)
I'm pretty sure (I may have to google it to find out) that google isn't a gov't agency yet. Talk about the ultimate big brother. It's a Conspiracy Theory kind of day.
Charles... thanks for the great post. You got me thinking.
Yes, it's true. When one speaks via the web you certainly step on to a global stage. I find that challenging at times, yet I love the idea of transparency. For the most part (in a public forum sense), what do we have to hide? That we're more alike than different?
My thoughts currently are: it's better if someone brings to light something stupid I actually wrote, than to be misquoted.
Be net-wise and proceed with care.
Rene'
Virginia, you can find some of the old shows on line---just Google:)
Jack, I think Google is more likely to be the conscience of the government as well:)
Rene' very good advice.
Indeed. Google has been my search engine since it hit the Internet. Love it. Love it.
Lenn, do any of the others do things that Google can't or doesn't?
I'm not sure what a Googlectomy would look like or feel like, but I'd rather not find out! So count me in as one of the Googlicious bunch. The power and effectiveness of Google is, indeed, awe-inspiring! Nice post.
Charles: Google is a great program. You can do so many things these days with google products
Randy, well lets just say that Googlectomies are very messy and expensive:) As long as one is Googlicious----there is nothing to fear.
Roland---I agree---do you have any experience with any of the other engines?
Charles ~ your post brings to the forefront how Google has influenced our modern culture, economy, and personal reputations. This week, our Portland neighborhood had a mass delivery of the 2009 Yellow & White Pages of the Phone Book -- ha! They went straight into the recycling bin -- who would need or use them, with Google so easy to use? (on a personal note, maybe it's just my monitor, but the coloring in your photo makes you look scary, and I know you aren't!)
It is getting to the point where printed materials like phone books just aren't going to be "PC" anymore. (Not to worry about the skin color----I am just expanding on the idea of the "bad hair day" to the "bad skin day"----I am expecting things to be better shortly:)
Very Nice Charles when you write about something and those close to it find it online and respond.
Bill, thanks. Inspectors often write about things we hope some sides of the deal won't find:)
Ah, the power of Google! Last month I tried to count how many times I 'googled' something in a week -- I lost count after about three days.
Well Charles, thanks for teaching me a new word today Googlicious !
Kerry----I am sure I use Google "hundreds" of times per week----it is "the rest" of my brain:)
Cynthia, you are welcome----use it well:)
Congratulations on the feature, Charles. Google is my homepage and I use it all the time. I personally love the power it gives us.
Thanks Barbara. With Google we can all be in "school" forever:)
Charles, very true like The Shadow, Google, and other search engines KNOW. Stuff on the Internet lingers a long time.
Amazing what some people find on Google.
I've had two different inquiries from a post I did last year on a local tomato festival. One wanted to know where to buy tomato seeds and one wanted to buy some tomatoes.
Gary, soon it will be that we will no longer be able to tell the difference between our own thoughts and the thoughts of everyone else----sort of a collective brain----instead of all these little individual brains with their individual agendas:)
Jim, I had a similiar thing happen to me with lawn moles. Now Google thinks I am some sort of mole "expert." :)
I love google and google loves me! I receive contacts every week because of an old blog post info on the Old City Cementery, when is the next HOA meeting for a particular neighborhood. It's great. Congrats on being featured!!
Charles, reminds me of the Borg, from Star Trek. One collective being. Come to thinkof it, I believe Carl Jung had the same idea. Wow, I never realized how philosophical Google had become! ;-)
Debbie, thanks.
Randy, actually I think that any separation between ideas is mostly an illusion:)
That's awesome - it's great to see that our hard work pays off - One big thing to remember is to be specific on the title of your blog so that you get the recognition from Google -
Bridget, thanks---it is more like "hard fun" to me:)
That's impressive Charles. Good on you.
Thanks Michelle
Good post and reminder to be careful what you write in your blog posts.
Rebecca, for sure, Google is always watching
It is strange how quickly people can find our blog posts. I try to be careful about what I post --- just for that reason!
But Emily, being found is part of the reason we are here!:)
Ah yes, Lamont Cranston - The Shadow Knows! Before I was born of course. I also received a nice email from the design company for Ready Alert Pa on my post about the Pennsylvania Emergency Alert System. Feels good to be recognized for the community service of your Blog Topics. Congratulations!
Charles - I think this is a case of Addagoogletomy" not "ectomy."
In MBA school, marketing class, I was impressed to learn that you don't want your product to become the generic Kleenex because then it becomes so difficult to distinguish it from the rest of the pack. All the other similar products, in context, are just as good!
Sorry I have not been around for a while - doing my thing. I will catch up with your posts!
Charles - It is a great feeling when someone involved in something you've blogged about gets on your blog and has a comment to make. Google is one of the best assets you can have.
Judy, it is a treat to hear back from those involved.
Jay did you mean Googlebotomy?
Matt----good to keep it an asset:)
Sounds divisive...
Good for you Charles... nice pat on the back and well deserved I might add. Now that attorney things... gives me pause for thought.
Jay would you rather a "Googlejugation?" :)
Thanks Tammy, good idea to stay away from those attorney critters as much as possible:)
Charles - I considered that and the answer is yes! Sounds like fun!
I am with you on that----but not literally:)
Charles, it's great that they took the time to stop by and comment on your blog! You also brought up a valuable lesson that we should all keep in mind.
Lara, it is cool when you see comments come in like this.