larocca - 1:55 am on Sep 12, 2002 (gmt 0)

The only difference I've noticed in terms of content between Google and other searches is that Google is more likely to give me what I actually need for my lesson plans instead of commercials and such.

Regarding all the banned and painful things you can find through Google, they're on the non-blocked sites as well. I do believe it's that cache feature that got Google in trouble.

If I had to guess, the Chinese search engine companies were complaining that Google is taking their business. They were ignored. Then someone at one of these businesses saw the relevance of the cache feature, mentioned it to the government, and BOOM!

I found the cache feature useful because the Miami Herald is blocked, and I enjoy reading Dave Barry's columns. I can click that little cache button and see how Dave's column looked the last time Google spidered it. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of blocking sites in the first place, doesn't it?

I wouldn't mind if Google created a special no-cache version just for Chinese users. I miss its organization more than I do the occassional peek into a blocked site. Their algorithm does produce the most relevant results.

Michael