· What is a search engine?

A search engine is a website which allows users to enter topics, questions and words to have them crosschecked with all websites that relate to them information entered.

· How do search engines rank the stuff they find on the internet?

Search engines rank results according to keyword location and frequency.

· who, or what, makes one page (that you might get in your search results) more useful than another one, so that it is put at the top of your search results?

A program called WebCrawler sorts through information entered by the user and produces an ordered list according to relevance of topic.

· what are some of your favourite search engines? why do you like one more than others?

My favourite search engines are Google and Ask. Google because it’s the most popular search engine on the internet and I figure there must be because its good. Ask because you can actually ask the internet questions and it gives you the closest thing to a reply, very new-age.

· Can you find some current news stories about search engines? (for example, Google has been in the technology news a bit lately).

Yahoo is currently under lawsuit over the disclosure of a man’s details. The man was imprisoned for sharing his views on a multi-party system of government and was charged for the “incitement to subvert state power”. The man claims that Yahoo gave his personal detail to the police, which led to his arrest.

Finally.

1. What is the weight of the world's biggest pumpkin?

The worlds biggest pumpkin weighs 731 pounds !

www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/6453.html

2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Grant Hackett?

The best way to contact Grant Hackett is by emailing glai@granthackettonline.com

http://selina.tblog.com/post/439793

3. What is the length of a giraffe's tongue?

A giraffe’s tongue can reach 18 inches in length

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/Behavior/Spring2002/Kawwass/giraffe.htm

4. How would you define the word 'ontology'? In your own words, what does it really mean ?

I would define ontology as the study of physically and metaphysically existing.

www.dictionary.com

5. What was David Cronenberg's first feature film?

D.Cronenberg’s first feature film was “Crimes of the Future” which was produced in 1970.

6. When was the original 'Hacker's Manifesto' written?

The Hacker’s Manifesto was first written on January 8, 1986 by The Mentor.

7. Why do all phone numbers in Hollywood films start with '555'?

Hollywood films use the prefix 555 because is it not designated as the area code for anywhere in the United States. Therefore they use 555 as their prefix so that no subscribers as harassed by people wanted to test out the numbers they see in films. http://www.omegarobot.com/article/555.html

8. What is the cheapest form of travel from Crete to Rhodes?

To travel from Crete to Rhodes, the cheapest way is by ferry.

9. What song was top of the Australian Pop Charts this week in 1965?

The song on top of the Australian pop charts this week was Help! by The Beatles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

10. Which Brisbane band includes Stephen Stockwell on keyboards and vocals?

Steve plays in the Black Assassins. http://www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au/2005/content/standard.asp?name=StockwellS