So it's the end of the day, I'm getting tired, I have dinner plans, I just want to finish up my blogging and go back to the hotel. I figured I'd go to Sree Sreenivasan's session on Web surfing, because, hey, I used Yahoo way back when it was on Stanford's Akebono server, what was someone going to tell me that was new and newsworthy? Easy session to cover, right?

Wrong, wrong, wrong. The good professor had TONS of great information. His site has all the links you need to improve your searching, but his presentation included lots of great observations.

For example, Wikipedia has flaws, but it's a good first source. But many databases that seem more authoritive, like those reached through www.searchsystems.net, also have flaws. The information may be wrong, outdated, or apply to someone else with the same name. Like Wikipedia, it's just a starting point for further research - but it's a great starting point.

Google Desktop Search has made my life easier. But even if you don't use it, Sree suggested that you become familiar with the icon. If you are using a computer in a public place, like an Internet cafe, or borrowing your mother's PC when visiting her, check to see if the icon is there. If so, right-click to stop indexing, or everything you are doing will be recorded.

And if you are using Google Desktop Search to track what your kids do online, well, um, guess what? They probably know this trick already.

Sree also explained that Google's alert service and Google's news page can act as de-facto clipping services. If you are working on a story, set those up to send you information as it comes available. He also said that a great use for Gmail is free backup storage; just email documents to your gmail.com address. You have to trust that Google won't misuse your materials, though.

Finally, he noted that as much as he loves Google, no Web site is permanently perfect. Microsoft's local.live.com may have some advantages to Google Maps, and ask.com's new preview feature may redeem all the foolishness of the Jeeves the Butler days.