Free Republic Search Engine *Experimental*

Search Free Republic ^

[John Robinson]

I've placed online an experimental search engine. It currently only searches article titles. If the technology proves worthy, I'll try to expand it to search articles and commentary. If it cooks the server, it's outta here.

It has a few interesting features, please give it a whirl.

[IncPen]

Very Very cool, John.

One of my favorite (self) posts:

FEDS HAVE TAPES!!!

[John Robinson]

New posting program should have that by the end of the year.

[fnord]

bump for non-drunk research :-)

[Cool Guy]

BTW, I am waiting here till the 35 year mark ;-) Take care, talk to you sometime soon!

[jackbill]

add "order by author"

I agree. Many columnists are carried by a number of papers, and each paper appends a different headline. Causes duplicate posts.

[RonDog]

Kewl!

Naturally, I started testing it by searching Free Republic for search free republic

So far, so good! Thanks, JohnRob. You da man!

[jude24]

You da man!!!

[clikker]

Thank you, John Robinson, yet again for these cool features!

This search engine is better then the current one, which is quite erratic, at best. However, I haven't throughly tested the thing out, but I'm sure there are FReepers more capable at that sort of thing than me.

I also think that the new search format is more pleasing to the eye than the old format, but that might be just me.

The only improvement I can personally think of would be tossing the Breaking News sidebar onto the Search Results page just for consistency.

But, those are minor points. Great job!

[RonDog]

Before, I was trying to find this -
9.8: Mel Reynolds transcript (censored adult content...damn funny, though.) -
through Google, and I got nuttin'.

Actually, it depends on whether your Google search preferences are set to:

Use SafeSearch to filter my results
- or -
Do not filter my search results.

Using the later setting, see the last entry (untitled, for some reason) in site:www.freerepublic.com "mel reynolds" transcript.

Apparently, Google thinks that ANY reference to "Mel Reynolds" in an article makes it unfit for children.

It must be programmed by FReepers. ;o)

[Trailer Trash]

My god!

I've been looking for this thread for almost 4 years!

Thanks a million John.

[RonDog]

Very Very cool, John.

One of my favorite (self) posts:

FEDS HAVE TAPES!!!

What a GREAT "classic" post! Along those lines, I also like:

About this forum:

Post notes about this forum here.

Thanks,

---

Posted by: Jim Robnson (jimrob@psnw.com)
01/16/97 14:12:28 PST

.

JohnRob's new search function finds this VINTAGE post (with JimRob's name spelled WRONG!) but it lists the post date as:

Posted on 11/29/99 4:00 PM Pacific by (Unknown)

That must be when the REALLY OLD files were transferred to a newer server. Or something like that.

[RonDog]

You are amazing.
L

You got THAT right!
And JohnRob has all kinds of OTHER goodies for us in his new search engine!
Searching for lurker finds THIS gem:

Topic: ACTIVISM
I am NO LONGER a LURKER!

Freepers, you have motivated me more than you'll ever know... I have my 'rainy-day' money in hand, and what better use for it than helping end Bill's 'reign' of terror! I have appreciated & enjoyed all of y'alls posts for months, and I'm looking forward to meeting each & every one of you! I am a LurkerNoMore...(Katie)

---

Posted by: LurkerNoMore! (kgdesign@gte.net) *
10/16/98 18:57:50 PDT

.

And from LurkerNoMore!'s profile page:

"member since October 16th, 1998"

Wow. Her FIRST post!

[John Robinson]

I am not sure why that date was chosen, the date recorded in the table is 0000-00-00 (no date) as these older threads existed prior to the database. (Fishing out the date after the fact has proven difficult.)

[LJLucido]

You get some interesting results if you do a search on "Opus."

[RonDog]

Searching for free republic gives, among others:

Free Republic... Is There Room For Me Here

my personal curiosity
3/5/98 One who knows....

Since joining this fine forum about a month ago... I've come to feel the comfort of kindred spirits. I've talked with most of you. Shared opinions. Most often I find myself in complete agreement with the consensus here at FR....

---

I respectfully request your comments

Posted by: One who knows... (oneday@atime.com) *
03/05/98 12:10:51 EST

[RonDog]

I am not sure why that date was chosen, the date recorded in the table is 0000-00-00 (no date) as these older threads existed prior to the database. (Fishing out the date after the fact has proven difficult.)

Thanks, John!
Check out THIS search for daily index, which includes a BUNCH of threads (from 5/8/1998 to 11/22/1998) like:

Topic: White Water
Daily Index 07/04/1998

The Free Republic
July 4, 1998 all of us

These articles were seen on the Free Republic forum
between 07/04/98 17:00:00 EST and 07/03/98 17:00:00 EST
...
...
...
Posted by: Ed Millar (ithilien@btc-bci.com) *
07/04/98 20:51:49 EDT

[Slyfox]

I like the search engine. Is there anyway we can bookmark some of those oldies but goodies?
Man, back in the old days most threads got barely 10 hits!

[WIMom]

I don't know if this was asked (if it was, just tell me and I'll find it in the thread) but what criteria did you use for 'order by relevance'?

[butter pecan fan]

I like it! Thought I probably couldn't beat a good Google search, but there was no contest. Am impressed. Thanks!

Now forming: FreepAlert!

[RonDog]

Check out JohnRob's NEW SEARCH ENGINE - ping!