journal features

replacing Google as search engine in Firefox

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2009.07.26

I typically use search by typing in some keywords to the location bar (rather than first going to a search site, or using the dedicated search bar). As part of my de-Google plan, I've decided to drop Google from the default role it plays in this so-called "keyword search" via the location bar.

Microsoft's new "bing" service is essentially the same as Google search (MS has, true to form, started forcing all users of Internet Explorer over to that search site). While I realize that MS is no better than Google, I've decided to give the new MS service a try. Here's how:

1. In the browser location bar, I entered "about:config".

2. In the search bar on that page, I entered "keyword.URL".

3. Editing the value for the "keyword.URL" entry, I replaced the default Google search string with:

"http://www.bing.com/search?q="

Done.

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force