Internet search history after researching for a story

ausfet

Really Experienced
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May 24, 2017
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Does anyone else have a bizarre search history due to research undertaken while creating a story?

I've looked up vaginoplasty, what the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught (never did figure that one out), entry requirements and degree durations for degrees I wouldn't ever dream of doing, and international adoption processes all in the past week.
 
Yes. In the mainstream, I edited books on espionage and international and military affairs, primarily on Middle East terrorism, for mainstream publishers. I worked for the government in these areas as well. I more than once have gotten an "Ummm, we were wondering . . ." phone call from my previous government employers.

Conversely, it provides cover as well. I now do editing for erotica, primarily GM, publishers. If I get asked about research on those topics I can point to publisher I do editing for.
 
Use a private browser or at least one that offers private browsing windows like SeaMonkey.
 
Well, now. Showing evidence of trying to hide my tracks would really get me looked at and into trouble.
 
Well, now. Showing evidence of trying to hide my tracks would really get me looked at and into trouble.

Used to know a guy that claimed he formerly worked with missiles. Never explained further, said he couldn't. Said that 'they' would keep tabs on him for at least 'X' years (I don't remember the number) and could show up at his house at any time and that he was not allowed to refuse them entry.

No idea if he was being honest or just blowing smoke.

But the advice was for the OP to begin with.
 
.No idea if he was being honest or just blowing smoke.

Probably not blowing smoke. I've never worked with anything nearly as sensitive as missle tech, and the security clearance briefings I've had to sit through for gov't contracts have have put the fear into me.
 
I worked with missiles for a while. :cool: I helped report on who had what and whether or not that fit in their treaty obligations. Only for a couple of years at two different points in my career. As long as I'm getting an annuity from where I get my annuity, "they" will be keeping tabs on me.
 
Ha. Try working with medical records and dealing with patient confidentiality. Talk abut that and you'll get nailed to the wall. Eeeeek. Forget no such agency. Hospital administrators can read your thoughts.....
 
Ha. Try working with medical records and dealing with patient confidentiality. Talk abut that and you'll get nailed to the wall. Eeeeek. Forget no such agency. Hospital administrators can read your thoughts.....

I had just enough exposure to HIPAA regs back in the 90s to know better than to disagree. And it's probably gotten worse since then.
 
'I'm just researching for some porn I'm writing, I swear!'

Lol. That was me on some Ford Mustang forums a few months ago. I spent an entire day reading up on Mustang mods for one page of the story I was working on and asking questions and my response was...... I came out of that one really wanting a Mustang cobra to customize. And then when I was researching ovipositors for Nockatunga Station, and I found the ones on the web with the eggs, I was soooooo tempted. Researching can be dangerous.....
 
Lol. That was me on some Ford Mustang forums a few months ago. I spent an entire day reading up on Mustang mods for one page of the story I was working on and asking questions and my response was...... I came out of that one really wanting a Mustang cobra to customize. And then when I was researching ovipositors for Nockatunga Station, and I found the ones on the web with the eggs, I was soooooo tempted. Researching can be dangerous.....

I did the same with Valiant Chargers!
 
Lol. That was me on some Ford Mustang forums a few months ago. I spent an entire day reading up on Mustang mods for one page of the story I was working on and asking questions and my response was...... I came out of that one really wanting a Mustang cobra to customize. And then when I was researching ovipositors for Nockatunga Station, and I found the ones on the web with the eggs, I was soooooo tempted. Researching can be dangerous.....

I spent quite a while researching antique pianos for one story. Now there are a lot of sites that offer me deals on pianos and/or piano repairs.
 
I spent quite a while researching antique pianos for one story. Now there are a lot of sites that offer me deals on pianos and/or piano repairs.

Yes, after I've researched something, it's both amusing and frightening what I'll be offered to buy on the Internet. Not in my more public accounts, thank God.
 
Does anyone else have a bizarre search history due to research undertaken while creating a story?

I've looked up vaginoplasty, what the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught (never did figure that one out), entry requirements and degree durations for degrees I wouldn't ever dream of doing, and international adoption processes all in the past week.

"the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught"

It sometimes depends upon the type of reel.
At its simplest, it's a "Ratchet", or "Pawl".
Wiki has an interesting bit about fishing reels.
 
I get annoyed with eBay.

One of my daughters uses my eBay account to buy educational (teaching, not sex!) books and materials and large size clothes. I get emails from eBay offering me clothes in her size.

But as me? I have a search set up for a stately home in Hertfordshire. My wife's family have a connection with that estate. A few months ago there was a golf ball embossed with the name of that stately home. My wife thought it might be nice to have - as long as it didn't cost too much. We agreed a maximum bid. I was outbid and it sold at about twice our limit.

For the last couple of months I have been getting emails from eBay offering me every possible item of golf equipment. I don't play golf. Playing golf would be very difficult if not impossible for me. But the emails keep coming...
 
~snip~, what the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught (never did figure that one out),~snip~.

I'm reasonably sure that is "the brake" or "the reel brake". At least that's all I've ever heard it called.

Then again, most fellas around these parts are hunky dory with a stick, a string, and bent safety pin.

Unless you gotta eat, then it's buckshot fishing lure.
 
If anything, I get a lot of strange ads for products I really don't want . . . because, as with everyone else, my web browser often facilitates consumer purchase data.

Researching medieval pleasure devices certainly is an interesting endeavor. . .
 
I'm reasonably sure that is "the brake" or "the reel brake". At least that's all I've ever heard it called.

Then again, most fellas around these parts are hunky dory with a stick, a string, and bent safety pin.

Unless you gotta eat, then it's buckshot fishing lure.

what the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught

If you're deep sea fishing, then it's a brake.

If you're freshwater fishing then the button on the reel lets the line out. There is a thingy on the side of the reel at the inner end of the handle that will adjust the drag on the reel, but to stop it altogether you use your finger to trap the line against the reel.
 
I've been researching gyroplanes and automotive steam engines but have received nary an offer. Sad.
 
what the name is of the thing that you click on a fishing reel to stop the line running out when a fish is caught

If you're deep sea fishing, then it's a brake.

If you're freshwater fishing then the button on the reel lets the line out. There is a thingy on the side of the reel at the inner end of the handle that will adjust the drag on the reel, but to stop it altogether you use your finger to trap the line against the reel.

Ah, no. Ok, I'll modify that into; not exactly but sort of.

Ocean fishing it's a brake.

For freshwater fishing reels the main types of reels are; spinning and casting, plus fly fishing reels.

Spinning reels are the one's that hang like a pod on a stem and the line is on a spool in the front. There's a wire bail that directs the line onto the spool when it's being retrieved or flips out of the way when casting. There's a knob on either the rear of the reel or the front of the spool that tightens to create drag on the spool so it doesn't freewheel when the fish is on and fighting.

Casting reels are the ones that are compact and the spool is in the middle of the housing. They also have a drag friction control. To cast, one must push the button on the rear of the housing to release the spool into freewheel mode. Failing to use one's thumb on the spool during casting to control the line/spool usually results in a nasty line snarl that often ends a promising day of fishing.

It is called fishing instead of catching because fishing requires control and technique. Catching only requires one to go to the store and buy a fish at the meat counter.

Fly fishing reels are a different animal all together. They don't have anything except a spool. All control is by the angler's hand and fingers in casting and controlling drag. Line retrieval is by "stripping" the line and letting it lie on the ground until the next cast is made.
 
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Ah, no. Ok, I'll modify that into; not exactly but sort of.

Ocean fishing it's a brake.

For freshwater fishing reels the main types of reels are; spinning and casting, plus fly fishing reels.

Spinning reels are the one's that hang like a pod on a stem and the line is on a spool in the front. There's a wire bail that directs the line onto the spool when it's being retrieved or flips out of the way when casting. There's a knob on either the rear of the reel or the front of the spool that tightens to create drag on the spool so it doesn't freewheel when the fish is on and fighting.

Casting reels are the ones that are compact and the spool is in the middle of the housing. They also have a drag friction control. To cast, one must push the button on the rear of the housing to release the spool into freewheel mode. Failing to use one's thumb on the spool during casting to control the line/spool usually results in a nasty line snarl that often ends a promising day of fishing.

It is called fishing instead of catching because fishing requires control and technique. Catching only requires one to go to the store and buy a fish at the meat counter.

Fly fishing reels are a different animal all together. They don't have anything except a spool. All control is by the angler's hand and fingers in casting and controlling drag. Line retrieval is by "stripping" the line and letting it lie on the ground until the next cast is made.

So you deep sea fish in other than oceans?

I'm really sorry, I assumed, which I have stop doing, he was talking about casting as that's really the only one with a button.

All my spinning reels have the drag control on the front and look like this....

mr_crappie_slab_shaker_spinning_reel_1286801_1.jpg


The only way to engage the drag, is to spin the handle to pop the metal half hoop thingy back to snap the line on to the reel.
 
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