Vancouver Secrets

Bad Results From Google?

This site may harm your computer.

Google flags entire internet as malware… For a short time today, all search results were flagged as potentially harmful, with users warned that the site “may harm your computer”.

Users who clicked on their preferred search result were advised to pick another one.

Google attributed the fault to human error and said most users were affected for about 40 minutes.

“What happened? Very simply, human error,” wrote Marissa Mayer, vice president, search products and user experience, on the Official Google Blog.

Unfortunately (and here’s the human error), the URL of ‘/’ was mistakenly checked in as a value to the file and ‘/’ expands to all URLs. Fortunately, our on-call site reliability team found the problem quickly and reverted the file. Since we push these updates in a staggered and rolling fashion, the errors began appearing between 6:27 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. and began disappearing between 7:10 and 7:25 a.m., so the duration of the problem for any particular user was approximately 40 minutes.

Once again, Google shows it isn’t infallible.

photo credit: Andréia

Google Now Officially Obama’s

H/t the big feed

After just over two years, Google has finally defused the “Google Bomb” that has returned US President George W. Bush at the top of its results in a search on “miserable failure”. The move wasn’t a post-State Of The Union Address gift for Bush. Instead, it’s part of an overall algorithm change designed to stop such mass link pranks from working.

A search today now shows the US White House page carrying Bush’s name is no longer top listed. Also gone are pages about Michael Moore and former US president Jimmy Carter that were on the first page of results due to Google bombing actions.

“It’s completely algorithmic,” said Google spam fighting czar Matt Cutts, adding “we’re not going to claim it’s 100 percent perfect.”

Here’s what Google is not telling you.

A week ago, if you searched the term “miserable failure”, it returned Obama as the top result. A reverse google bombing.

Now after 6 years of the Bush derangement, Google, with no other motive, decided to clean up the mess?

Google is shown it’s firmly in the tank for Obama. Who know what else they’ll do to help the cause.

Elizabeth May Reads The Budget For Us

The unquestionable authority on Federal Budgets explains to all of us dirty carbon-loving folks what the budget means.

Her best line: Obama is spending $19 Billion on renewable energy and will create 1.5 million jobs. She then laments that there’s nothing for clean water (we have), green infrastructure and it won’t shift us green. Thank God.

Lizzy pretends to be an authority… and drops her green outfit for a red one. Hmm.

Stimulate This Ignatieff!

The Liberal party will only support the minority Conservative government’s federal budget if Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to an amendment calling for a “clear marker” of regular updates to Parliament on the impact of economic stimulus projects, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday.

Stuff it Iggy… quit playing games with our future. A firestorm is on the horizon and Iggy is deciding whether or not we’ll get water.

It’s a play to get a non-confidence vote every three months, and Canadians should see this as another cynical liberal game.

Harper needs show some backbone on this.

Prime Minister Harper – do the right thing and cut personal taxes and EI employer contributions now. You’ll succeed with the stimulus by March 1st. Plus, you’ll have the worlds best stimulus plan and Canada may avoid the world of hurt that’s on the way.

Public work projects, for the sake of stimulus, are a ridiculous waste and won’t change a thing. They force cities and provinces to take on debt, just to get a road paved to nowhere. $30 billion in debt becomes $90 Billion fast this way. I can live with potholes for a couple of years.

Am I missing something here?

photo credit: terfe

Now Hockey Fights Are Racist?

Of all the hockey fights I’ve watched, been in, or read of, this is a first:

Racism not a factor in Muslim hockey riot: official

BURNABY, B.C. — The president of the B.C. Muslim Sports Association has denied accusations that a recent riot at a ball-hockey tournament was sparked by racism.

“He played last year and nothing happened. You know how (rough) hockey can be – that is normal in hockey. The majority of the players were Sunni but there were a few non-Muslims and non-Sunnis.”

“It was just disgusting. They believe we are non-Muslim. At the end of the day, that is the cause.”

Why this would even be a press item is confusing… replace Muslim with Catholic and see how ridiculous it reads.

I knew when they allowed moms in the dressing room, hockey wouldn’t be the same. Imagine what religion will do to the game.

Banned Super Bowl Ads- Peta

Almost makes me want to skip that burger…

Judging by the site (here), they dumped a small fortune into this. (Who funds these creeps?)

Oh well, at least it’ll get play online.