Google tip #347

This is one of those either you already know it and you're going to think I'm an idiot for pointing it out as one of the coolest things since mint chocolate chip ice cream—or—you don't know it, and therefore you're going to think I'm the coolest thing since mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Have you ever known that you saw something on a particular site, but when you use that site's search box, if it even has a search box, you can't find it? Or it's really slow? Or you get 10,000 results in some crazy mixed up Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler way that could be fascinating if you were interested in getting on the game show "How does their algorithm work?", but since you don't want to get on that game show, you're just frustrated you can't find what you're looking for?

I have another option. Use site specific search in Google. You know those chocolate chip cookies I keep raving about? Well, since for some reason I keep forgetting to save and print, or print and save, the recipe, I have to keep looking for it. You'd think going to the NYT website and searching for chocolate chip cookies would be the fastest way to do that. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong. The fastest way to find that recipe is to Google the following: site:nytimes.com "chocolate chip cookie". And if you want to get around Rotten Tomatoes' new and, IMHO absolutely not, improved interface, typing site:rottentomatoes.com unforgiven (or swordfish, or charade, or whatever movie you happen to be interested in) is a much better way to go.

From me to you. Don't say I never gave you anything.