[LINK] Google News Doesn't Add Up

[Roger Clarke]

We know that Google's search-engine hit-counts either (a) are 
designed to deliver semi-nonsense numbers, or (b) reflect one, some 
or many bugs.

And of course Google News uses the same engine over a constrained 
search-space, so it inherits the same 'features'.

Nonetheless, some analyses I was just doing cause me to ask:

          Has Google redefined base 10 arithmetic?

Any elucidations much appreciated.

(Yes, what follows is base promotional activity.  But I was actually 
trying to use that particular search-string in order to assess an 
NGO's media impact over time).

________________________________________________________________________

Go to Google News:
http://news.google.com/

Type in: "Australian Privacy Foundation"

Get 2 hits [for the last month - we've been on good behaviour lately]
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=au&hl=en&q=%22Australian+Privacy+Foundation%22

To get the long-term view, hit 'Archives', get moved, and get 288 hits:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Australian+Privacy+Foundation%22&sa=N&tbs=nws:1,ar:1

Choose 'Sorted by Date', and get 289 hits:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Australian+Privacy+Foundation%22&hl=en&tbs=nws:1,ar:1,sbd:1&source=lnt&sa=X&ei=cbttTb-1HIGYvAP0_-HaBA&ved=0CBgQpwUoAQ

Use Custom-Range, and get:

01/01/2011-12/31/2011	  4	2011
01/01/2010-12/31/2011	 72	2010-11
01/01/2009-12/31/2011	 82	2009-11
01/01/2008-12/31/2011	146	2008-11
01/01/2007-12/31/2011	162	2007-11
01/01/2006-12/31/2011	171	2006-11
                                               Calc'd  Calc'd by
						Cum	Range
01/01/2011-12/31/2011	  4	2011		  4	   4
01/01/2010-12/31/2010	 68	2010		 72	  72
01/01/2009-12/31/2009	 34	2009		106	  82
01/01/2008-12/31/2008	 40	2008		146	 146
01/01/2007-12/31/2007	 45	2007		191	 162
01/01/2006-12/31/2006	 32	2006		223	 171

Eh?, says I to meself.


Here are more inanities, analysing the oldest first:

01/01/1986-12/31/2011	191	1986-2011
01/01/1900-12/31/1985	  0	1900-1985
But:
01/01/1900-12/31/2011	114	1900-2011 - 191+0 not= 114


01/01/1900-12/31/1986	  0	(The oldest entry is 1 Sep 1987
                                 Formed 28 Jul 87, big event 31 Aug 87)
01/01/1987-12/31/1987	 13
but
01/01/1988-12/31/2011	185
01/09/1987-12/31/2011	191 - so the difference of 6 mis-matches the 13


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University