RE: REF: Iris-specific search engine

I was going to reply similarly to Laurie's message, but thought then
that I should not rain on her parade. It is a laudable effort, but not
without its own pitfalls, as she has noted. Personally, I do not do much
in the way of searches for iris related information, but for the topics
I do search, I seldom limit the query to one term, using qualifiers to
refine the search immediately. After looking at some of the hits, I may
further refine the search. I also use a number of available search
engines that limit their queries to certain types of information. One
that may help members of this group who are into the genetics of iris,
and other such research would probably be Scirus (http://www.scirus.com)
which searches mostly scientific literature. 


\\Steve// 
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Colleen Modra
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 12:20 AM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] REF: Iris-specific search engine

Laurie

A Google search for "irises" usually gets rid of the IRIS software and 
iridology sites

Colleen Modra
Adelaide Hills
South Australia

colleen@impressiveirises.com.au
www.impressiveirises.com.au



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laurie Frazer" <lauriefr@localnet.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 8:16 AM
Subject: [iris] REF: Iris-specific search engine


> Hi Everybody,
>
> I have been working on a project - a gift, really - for all iris 
> enthusiasts (present company included).  When I moved my Shadowood
website 
> to its new domain, my interest in developing more iris resources on
the 
> site was renewed.  Then some website promotion newsletter arrived in
my 
> email box with news of a new custom web search available through
Google.
>
> "Hmm," thought I.  "How cool would it be to have a search engine that 
> searches ONLY iris-related websites so that I wouldn't have to slog 
> through hundreds of thousands of completely unrelated search results
that 
> just happen to use the word "iris" within their pages?"
>
> And so, I am in the process of developing Shadowood's Iris Search!
This 
> is a search engine that searches ONLY the sites and pages I designate.
So 
> far, I have added over 300 iris-related websites, forums, photo
albums, 
> mailing lists, etc. to the search index, including all of the sites
linked 
> on the AIS website links page, plus many sites linked on the sites
linked 
> on the AIS website links page!  I am on a quest to find every single 
> iris-related website on the internet to index into Shadowood's Iris 
> Search.  I want this to be THE one and only, comprehensive search
engine 
> that makes it easy for iris folks to find exactly what they need,
quickly 
> and efficiently.
>
> I would be very appreciative if you all would help me by sending me
URLs 
> to iris-related material that isn't linked on the AIS links page, any
of 
> the Affiliate Society websites, or any of the Regional websites (I've 
> already grabbed and indexed all links appearing on all of those
sites). 
> If you have a personal website with iris information or photos, an
online 
> photo album, or anything else iris-related that isn't linked on any of
the 
> sites I just listed, please send me the URL.  I want to get ALL of
your 
> pages into Shadowood's Iris Search.
>
> The Google Custom Search feature with which I have built my Iris
Search 
> isn't perfect, unfortunately.  The biggest flaw is that it will only 
> search sites that Google itself has indexed into its main index.  To
my 
> great frustration, that means that Shadowood's Iris Search won't even 
> search my own new site because Googlebot hasn't finished indexing it
yet! 
> ARGH!  That also means that it won't search any sites I include in the

> Iris Search's index that Googlebot hasn't already indexed itself (or
has 
> rejected from inclusion in the Google index).  If you do send me URLs
to 
> add to the Iris Search index, and subsequent search results don't
include 
> entries from those sites when you know they should, please blame it on

> Google and not me.  I'll add all iris sites to my Iris Search index,
but 
> whether or not Google will actually search them is up to Google.
>
> Please also bear in mind that Shadowood's Iris Search is a work in 
> progress.  I have MUCH left to do in terms of specifying labels for 
> particular websites, adding more websites, and such.  Don't despair.
I'll 
> try to get it finished before I die of old age.
>
> In any event, I am hopeful that Shadowood's Iris Search will
facilitate 
> finding that special iris for which you've been searching, or locating

> information on the correct way to plant Siberian irises or even how to
go 
> about creating that elusive red iris.
>
> Give it a try and see how it works for you.  If you have any
suggestions, 
> problems, or ideas for improving Shadowood's Iris Search, please don't

> hesitate to let me know. You can find the search on the entry page to
my 
> iris pages at:
>
> http://lfrazer.com/iris/index.html
>
> Enjoy, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!!!
>
> Laurie
> ---------------
> lauriefr@localnet.com
> http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg
> http://lfrazer.com/iris/index.html
> USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern Minnesota
> normal annual precipitation 26-27"
> slightly acid, potassium deficient, clay soil

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index