free 2 be marlo

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Posted by danylo @ 3:42 p.m. ET

I need to clear something up for some of our more oblivious readers, those who sweep by to look at one page because of an odd alignment of search engine algorithms.

Specifically, this page: "Helpful hints from Heloise", one of the consistently highest visited pages on this site.

I believe that most high schools around the country (and Canada, because dear Mr. Largus gets it) teach a very useful concept for the Internet-land called "context."

Context is the practice of determining the meaning of something, a word or a phrase, based on how it's used. Context can also be used to determine credibility of information, especially the credibility of a site on the Internet.

For instance: Hints From Heloise is an advice column started in 1959 in the Honolulu Advertiser by Heloise. It appears "seven days a week in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and internationally," and is syndicated by King Features. The Heloise brand is responsible for at least 11 books.

I got all this information by going to www.kingfeatures.com, clicking on three links (features to columns to Hints From Heloise) which brought me to www.heloise.com.

I didn't have to go to google or yahoo or dogpile, even though heloise.com is the first link for a search on hints from heloise.

I don't understand why just looking at www.freetobemarlo.net (where you're reading this) doesn't scream "nothing to do with Heloise." The two "motherfuckers" in the post should also give it away.

None of the regular posters or readers object to swearing. We're mostly good people. Feel free to browse around for some good writing and intelligent discourse on politics, Haiti, online news and tons of other good and bad stuff.

If you are offended by something you find in the meat of the matter, please post and we'll discuss it. If you object to cuss words, keep it to yourself please.

Thank you for reading.

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Replies: 3 comments

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