I just read a Reuters report about some former Google engineers who've started a rival search engine called cuil.com. It seems the founders launched the site because they think Google has spread itself too thinly, and they have a piece of technology that can index bigger, better and faster search results.
So I just tried it out. I searched for "Milwaukee."
Cuil.com came up with zero results.
It said:
"We didn't find any results for "milwaukee"
Some reasons might be...
* a typo. Please check your spelling.
* your search includes a term that is very rare. Try to find a more common substitute.
* too many search terms. Please try fewer terms.
Finally, try to think of different words to describe your search."
Well, that's that. I tried it about 10 more times, and eventually I got some results. But they are hardly consistent -- and this product is not yet ready for primetime. I guess I won't be switching from my Google homepage anytime soon.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.