• May 26, 2012

Larry Summers Is Half-Serious, *At Least*, About “Google Index” Theory

by Juli Weiner  

So it seems like fewer people are performing Google searches with the term “economic depression.” Or maybe it’s the same amount of people, but they’re searching less frequently? Ha ha, no one’s sure! Anyway, what does this statistic mean for America? Everything, essentially. And this is not just because a majority of Americans have been forced to sell or mortgage their Googles. In fact, college-educated Larry Summers believes this means that things are looking up. You see, earlier this year there were four times as many searches for the term, and now there are less, and therefore causality. It’s science. Google it.

Here’s RedState, citing GWU political zine “The Politico”:

“Of all the statistics pouring into the White House every day, top economic adviser Larry Summers highlighted one Friday to make his case that the economic free-fall has ended.

The number of people searching for the term “economic depression” on Google is down to normal levels, Summers said.

Searches for the term were up four-fold when the recession deepened in the earlier part of the year, and the recent shift goes to show consumer confidence is higher, Summers told the Peterson Institute for International Economics.”

Anyway, “erin andrews peephole video cache” will be America’s greatest industry since double-wide coffin manufacturing.

[RedState]

{ 82 comments }

19kevin8 July 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm

double WIFE? huh??

Mahousu July 18, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Unfortunately it appears John Tucker must die before Larry’s prophecy is fulfilled.

Pirate King of the Jews July 18, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Now if we can get people to stop googling DPDebutantes…

Todd Mecklem July 18, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Could it be that people are just searching “economic depression” with Bing instead? No…I guess not.

Strangely, Google searches on “cornhole” have shot up in the last 24 hours.

Mumbletypeg July 18, 2009 at 3:29 pm

[re=365698]19kevin8[/re]: To be featured in the next “Big Love” plot twist.

nappyduggs July 18, 2009 at 3:30 pm

I haven’t been “googled” in quite sometime, and I feel as if I too may be on a path to irrelevancy.

Bagglio Ordonez July 18, 2009 at 3:31 pm

less ≠ fewer

El Bombastico July 18, 2009 at 3:35 pm

[re=365699]Mahousu[/re]: WTF? Why is a several-year-old crappy teen movie #3? This is a serious question.

Todd Mecklem July 18, 2009 at 3:36 pm

“Queen of My Double-Wide Coffin” has a nice ring to it. Tell Sammy Kershaw it’s time for an update.

Dontread July 18, 2009 at 3:39 pm

What’s the ‘Bling’ economic forecast these days?

charlesdegoal July 18, 2009 at 3:58 pm

“Honey, can we go shopping?”
“Wait, let me see if the recession is severe (10 percent or more) or long lasting (3 years or longer). I guess it’s not.”
“Why?”
“That would mean we’re in an economic depression.”
“You’re so smart, honey. How do you know all that?”
“I looked it up on Google months ago.”
“Well, can we go then?”
“We could, if we had any money or if I had a job.”
Larry Summers is a fat cretin.

Mahousu July 18, 2009 at 4:07 pm

[re=365710]El Bombastico[/re]: I assume it’s because of the upcoming sequel, John Tucker Must Die Harder.

No, no, seriously, I looked at the news articles Google pulled up for that search term and found one titled Do Mormons believe in salvation by grace or by works? The article wasn’t very good, but I believe the point of it is that we can achieve salvation through watching the movie. Whether it’s worth it, though, is something we each have to decide for ourselves.

x111e7thst July 18, 2009 at 4:17 pm

[re=365706]nappyduggs[/re]: Awwwwwwwwwwwwww. Will it help if I promise to google you occasionally?

WadISay July 18, 2009 at 4:21 pm

How are the search numbers for “bargain rate hookers”?

V572625694 July 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Larry Summers has to be right, because he was preznident of the University of Harvard, which is the smartest university in the universe, and as preznident he must’ve been the smartest guy there, because higher education is nothing if not a meritocracy, right?

Johnny Zhivago July 18, 2009 at 4:32 pm

What is a “Larry Summers Peephole Video Cache”?

Lord Growing July 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm

However, searches for “available hobo jungle tent space” are up ten jillion percent. Green shoots!

Mahousu July 18, 2009 at 4:35 pm

[re=365721]WadISay[/re]: The good news: 17,600 search results.

The bad news: Elderly Croatian Man Dies during Bargain Basement Oral Sex Romp.

x111e7thst July 18, 2009 at 4:38 pm

[re=365723]V572625694[/re]: Google search frequency is a fairly good indicator of the level of interest in a given topic. So these results tell us that people are less keen to find out about “economic depression”. That they don’t need to google what they are living seems a valid alternate explanation for the numbers.

dijetlo July 18, 2009 at 4:41 pm

[re=365721]WadISay[/re]: Always strong.

Mr Summer has forgotten, once your up to your ass in poverty, it’s too late to Google “economic depression”.

azw88 July 18, 2009 at 4:50 pm

I think all wonketeers need to search the googles for “Red-State loves the buttecks”

use multiple computers, if you can. Let’s hijack the Googles!

hockeymom July 18, 2009 at 4:54 pm

And what do we learn from the “Tom Watson’s Wife” google searches?

That bored, middle-aged, white men rule the interwebs.

Todd Mecklem July 18, 2009 at 5:11 pm

[re=365729]Mahousu[/re]: It sounds like it was the excitement of getting a good deal that killed him, not a knob gobbling. No word yet on whether or not he needed a double-wide coffin.

BlueStateLibtard July 18, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Why search on Google for something you already understand all too well?

El Bombastico July 18, 2009 at 5:17 pm

[re=365729]Mahousu[/re]: That is why I NEVER skimp on my sex romps, be they oral or otherwise.

the problem child July 18, 2009 at 5:24 pm

[re=365743]BlueStateLibtard[/re]: Exactly. Everybody with the intellectual curiosity of a slug and an internet connection has already done their googling on that particular search string and now they are focusing their efforts on finding the best internet p0rn. Ride it out, baby.

Mahousu July 18, 2009 at 5:48 pm

[re=365744]El Bombastico[/re]: Elitist.

widget09 July 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Did Larry Summerers consider that “only a few monts ago” it was winter, therefore more people were on the innertubes?

schvitzatura July 18, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Stochastic process or Larry Summers’ inferences…are the remaining searches for “economic depression” originating from free Wi-Fi locations or public libraries, Lar?

showmeonthedoll July 18, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Maybe the reason for the decline in google searches is that people had to sell their computers for food.

The economy is not going to improve — let alone be reformed — as long as Obama is taking advice from Larry Summers.

Whatever it is that he is allegedly good at doing (fancy calculations for Goldman Sachs or something) it has little use in the real world. Because the other other thing he excels in, is being a gigantic horse’s ass.

ifthethunderdontgetya" July 18, 2009 at 6:51 pm

[re=365728]Lord Growing[/re]: U meant box space, correct?
~

trickyrick July 18, 2009 at 7:11 pm

[re=365760]showmeonthedoll[/re]: the end. curtain.
Summers/Geithner= the demise of the Obama presidency. sad,so sad.
it had such promise, too.

lmj July 18, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Don’t have time to read the comments now, so someone may have mentioned that, you know, why do you need to internet search on some stupid topic that you know all about it now from at least four months personal experience? Hennggghh?

Summers disappoints as an insightful economist, and I weep wonky tears for my country.

Anyway, I think he got the internet line from the other Obamanaught economist, whatsisname? Gooldbee, who I read someplace earned money when young as a comic, and has done papers on intenret economics. We are doomed.

lmj July 18, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Goolsbee, not Gooldbe. I always remember the name as Arhoolee and have to look it up, but I think that is an old Blues label

Canuckledragger July 18, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Half those google searches were by POLITICO “writers” trying to figure out WTF “economic depression” means.

How do these know-nothing cretins keep getting on my TV screen? Last night it was PBS… for fuck’s sake!

nappyduggs July 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm

[re=365719]x111e7thst[/re]: I am not a plaything, sir/madam. Please do not write a check your googler can’t cash. Also.

desertwind July 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Why did they bother to wake Larry up?

Obviously, we’re all too depressed to google “economic depression”.

honkyman July 18, 2009 at 8:21 pm

I google it and got 7,230,000,000 hits. Then I googled “Julie Weiner” and it asked me, “Do you mean “Julie Wiener”.

Please advise.

2druk2phluq July 18, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Weekend work is the aids that is killing Wonkette. So if Julie changed her name to Icy… I am still not funny.

CuntryFirst July 18, 2009 at 8:53 pm

I still cant find that goddamn Erin Andrews video

SayItWithWookies July 18, 2009 at 9:20 pm

On NPR this evening there was an interview with a guy from some economic think tank, who did a study on leading economic indicators. He said that all leading indicators were going up at this point, and if precedent is any predictor, that the recession was over and current indicators would show that four months from now. So now all we have to do is live for four months on a sack of potatoes and two five-packs of ramen.

OzoneTom July 18, 2009 at 9:30 pm

[re=365723]V572625694[/re]: Absotively posolutely — Harverd must be okay, ’cause the “MBA President” Dubya graduated from there! Anyone who questions anything coming out of Harverd clearly hates America! And Larry Summers. Also.

BTW Juli, it’s good to see that the ole Wonk cares enough our tight community of ne’er do wells to have you working on a weekend. Here’s wishing you a happy Saturday Happy Hour!

honkyman July 18, 2009 at 9:39 pm

FWIW Larry Summers sucks donkey dick. AS of course does Harvard. But we knew that….

hobospacejunkie July 18, 2009 at 9:54 pm

[re=365770]trickyrick[/re]: Perhaps Summers/Geithner will be the demise of the Hopey administration, but if it’s going to happen, and despite many reservations I sure as hell hope it doesn’t, I suspect the Obama admin will be buried in Afghanistan.

Also, see NYT for a story on Rahm Emanuel’s newest finance superhero Jamie Dimon, who of course is dead set against new regulation of derivatives. And of course Obama will cave to Big Money’s every desire. Probably.

honkyman July 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm

[re=365788]SayItWithWookies[/re]: You’ve got potatoes and ramen?? I would DIE for a nice potato right now. Down here we’re barbecuing gravel. And we’re THANKFUL for it….

Dreadful Gate July 18, 2009 at 10:27 pm

Summers is a fat, heaving bag of lard. If you stuck a rope in his ass, he’s make a great candle

j6n July 18, 2009 at 10:28 pm

When I have the flu, I make sure to Google “flu” every day.

Paul Tardy July 18, 2009 at 11:36 pm

Depression looks to be in a downtrend since 2004.
Recession may be in a downtrend.
Zombie is in an up trend.
Furries, no matter what they say at Anthrocon, are in a downtrend.
People have given up on “bomb Iran”
Cronkite has its best day since 04

naveed July 18, 2009 at 11:47 pm

people are media lemmings
see it on tv
google it
economic depression coverage has waned as of late
jacko!

WagTehGod July 19, 2009 at 1:47 am

[re=365785]CuntryFirst[/re]: It’s all over teh torrents. Or, uh, so I’ve heard.

trickyrick July 19, 2009 at 10:46 am

[re=365793]hobospacejunkie[/re]: 3 strikes? sucky, suck, sucko.
Maybe we will get health care?

finallyhappy July 19, 2009 at 11:00 am

I have done laundry, been to services and gone grocery shopping this morning- and we can’t get one new story from the entire wonkette staff??.

hobospacejunkie July 19, 2009 at 11:29 am

[re=365836]finallyhappy[/re]: We would have if you hadn’t gone to services. I hear Juli frowns on that sort of thing. Also: so you’re the one crowding the grocery stores on Sundays? Now I know who to blame for the crowds. Did you pick up any Icee brand frozen confections? I am addicted to those things,

finallyhappy July 19, 2009 at 3:11 pm

I did buy some Klondike bars- with the new thicker chocolate coating. Since my last post, I have now ironed work clothing, walked in the park and worked on my Christmas project for the homeless. I ‘m guessing the Wonkette staff and the rest of readers are suffering from hangovers.

lmj July 19, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Maybe I’ll google economist AND (jackass OR twerp OR goofball) and see what comes up.

x111e7thst July 19, 2009 at 6:41 pm

[re=365848]lmj[/re]: “Former NAR Economist David Lereah is a Jackass” makes up three of the top ten. Lou Dobs gets in there too, and so, oddly does JarJar Binks.
Now if you google : “economist truck nutz OR buttsecks” there is only one Wonkette result in the top ten. Which obviously means that we have been falling down on the job.

EricCantor4Prez July 19, 2009 at 7:28 pm

LOL if you do google search “soft on terror” its a picture of Obama i bet.

BlueStateLibtard July 19, 2009 at 7:45 pm

[re=365836]finallyhappy[/re]: Would this make you happy?

“Latest incoherent Snowbilly Palin tweet: “we are Progressing, lk for big change in AK; taking it to Nobama — no socializm, we’ll Lead on Energy! stay tuned gurgle, gurgle, blah blah.”

lmj July 19, 2009 at 7:47 pm

[re=365852]x111e7thst[/re]: Thanks!!!

BlueStateLibtard July 19, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Well here’s another post since the Wonkette editors are too busy sleeping off their hangovers. There’s another governor sex scandal in the works: “a New York call girl could plunge one of America’s most prominent governors into a fresh hell. [...] [T]he elegant blond courtesan, whom we’ll continue to call “Annie,” is talking about three “dates” she allegedly had with another state’s chief executive, who we’ll call Gov. X.” Hmm, what governor recently and very unexpected resigned? Think about it sheeples!

El Pinche July 19, 2009 at 9:03 pm

[re=365865]BlueStateLibtard[/re]: Ahhhnold

El Pinche July 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm

[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re]: Hahaha!! Eric Cantor?!!! Seriously?

That’s just as embarrassing as a comment I once came across that said ,” Glenn Beck is God.” At that trigtard wasn’t kidding.

El Pinche July 19, 2009 at 9:11 pm

[re=365869]El Pinche[/re]: At=And

chascates July 19, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Statistics are meaningless unless they’re from Nate Silver.

smartypants July 19, 2009 at 10:14 pm

[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re] Run. Now.

GreyPanter July 19, 2009 at 10:29 pm

My theory is that people have successively lost their jobs, incomes, and internet accounts, and are googling from the library, thus googling less of anything.

SayItWithWookies July 19, 2009 at 10:29 pm

[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re]: That’s hilarious — I’m still laughing. And if I can ever get past your name, I’ll read your post.

chascates July 19, 2009 at 10:53 pm

[re=365865]BlueStateLibtard[/re]: Not Charlie Crist?

hobospacejunkie July 19, 2009 at 11:56 pm

Where’s Dust Bowl Blues when we need her, to call Eric Cantor “Dixie Jew?”

Seeing as how Cantor is probably shorter than Tom Cruise, and has all the personality of a steaming pile of dog feces, he’s simply not cut out to run for, much less be president.

Oh please baby chicken jesus let Sarah Palin start a new party. The potential entertainment value is inestimable.

chascates July 20, 2009 at 1:15 am

[re=365884]hobospacejunkie[/re]: And where’s AngryBlackGuy, TexasBulldogette, and a few others I don’t recall seeing lately? I apologize for my pedestrian rantings but if they aren’t posting due to others bring out the banhammer. And if I’m in that category so be it.

El Pinche July 20, 2009 at 1:21 am

[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re]:
Why not JeffSessions4GrandWizard?
It’s been a while since I made a blingee.

chascates July 20, 2009 at 1:47 am

[re=365890]El Pinche[/re]: Excellent.

shortsshortsshorts July 20, 2009 at 2:03 am

A fucking fire started at South Lake. Send troops.
/end feed.

Suds McKenzie July 20, 2009 at 2:21 am

I would totally “do” Artscape Baltimore.

the lady MS. Sheila Dixon July 20, 2009 at 3:29 am

[re=365894]Suds McKenzie[/re]: tourist!

LindsayBluth July 20, 2009 at 7:54 am

Actually, Google search volume is a good indicator of what people are experiencing. But like their Google Flu tool, you have to track problems people experience in conjunction with the problem, not the name of the problem, and you need to look at more than one term. So instead of measuring “economic depression,” you would look at “job openings,” “selling organs,” “profit margin on truck stop bathroom blow jobs,” and “how to extort money from your illegal immigrant landscapers by threatening to call the feds on them.”

finallyhappy July 20, 2009 at 8:05 am

And now it is Monday morning, I am back at work and still no Wonkette. Has Rush or Sean made a ransom call to anyone?

gurukalehuru July 20, 2009 at 8:12 am

I’m guessing it’s the Gropinator because prominent=Kennedy.
Still, it’s kind of a white bread scandal. If they could prove that he really IS a cyborg from the future, now that’d be something.
[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re]: You’re a retard, aincha?

AKAM80TheWolf July 20, 2009 at 8:50 am

[re=365857]EricCantor4Prez[/re]:

And if you do a search for “soft in terror”, you’ll see a picture of yourself cowering before the presidential peen, crying to Britney Spears to save your scrawny ass.

El Pinche July 20, 2009 at 10:32 am

[re=365891]chascates[/re]: thanks. I’m just keepin the flame alive.

bureaucrap July 20, 2009 at 12:17 pm

Does this mean that if we google “Michael Jackson” enough, he’ll come back to life?

assistant/atlas July 20, 2009 at 1:35 pm

[re=365788]SayItWithWookies[/re]: You still have ramen left? Man you’re lucky….

My roommate is trying to find a job. Maybe we can fire Larry Summers and he can have the job where you go around and say dumbass things all the time and people treat you like you actually know a goddam thing about economics and how it affects actual people?

Man I hope his kidneys fail.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: