I must admit, I use Google for just about everything. If you ask me about my friendship with Wikipedia, it didn't last long. From research for article writing, to how to know the answers to what I don't know, Google is my lifeline of information. I check facts that I'm not sure about and look for information on different designers and celebrity relationships. The list for me is almost endless. I Google a lot, but from the popularity of Google, as Sam Smith would say "I know I'm not the only one."

Even people who escape to the library wind up using google. So, what if you didn't have a best friend named Google? Would library card catalogs find an increase in usage because people would have to go the library again to get information?

Remember Encyclopedias? When there were volumes and volumes of thick books with useful information all in one place. Encyclopedias were so magical to me until I realized that you could be reading not only out of date information but the wrong information. In order to get the latest update, you had to wait for them to be reprinted and distributed. You could also turn to Wikipedia, but that's only if you want a source that's not credible and has been changed more than once. You could also watch the news or catch up on the newspaper, but sometimes they are printed the day before. You could also read a magazine, but just remember most of them are monthly issued and a lot could happen during the month of their publication.

As a commuter in NYC, Google maps has definitely saved my life more times than I can count on my fingers. Imagine all the stranded travelers who lost their way and needed to find their way back? Who doesn't rely on Google Maps for public transport, car and walking directions? Google maps changed the way we searched and found business entities and stores. Running a search and obtaining a result with the exact location of the entity on a map simply redesigned our expectations in a way that no other search engine could have achieved.

Google is one of those amazing applications that keeps evolving and innovating to keep us all hooked. What started out as a simple search engine has now become a global phenomenon that most of us turn to whenever we need anything. Of course, the number one reason for Google’s greatness is its super fast and extraordinarily thorough web search.The first page of results is usually all you’ll need and the little summary following the main hit is ideal to decide if a site is click worthy.

When Gmail first came out, what made it so unique was its massive mail storage. There was so much space that all emails could be retained without any fears of blocked mailboxes and returned emails.

The Google ‘image’ search utility provides all users the opportunity to find the pictures we need without having to get into any specific clip art or image website. It’s so easy to do and generates so many results that we end up with an array of options to choose from; ideal for any work or home project. The Google mobile application also rocks. It provides all the web-based utilities on the handset, not to mention Google Voice search which allows you to find anything on your phone by saying it out loud. While there are translation tools available online, Google’s is by far the most reliable. Most of all, it helps you understand what a page is about even if it's in a completely alien language.

I have the best search engine in the world to help me find what I need. My best friend is constantly innovating and looking for new ways to make our lives simpler. It knows most of my secrets and finishes my sentences in the search bar before I do. How can we not be thankful for a friend like Google?