I welcome them making it more difficult to search, it gives reason to try other alternatives.
the other alternatives really suck with Yahoo owned by Bing and Bing is still struggling. So it's again back to Google.
Direct links:
Blog search: https://www.google.com/search?q=key+phrase&tbm=blg
Discussion search: https://www.google.com/search?q=key+phrase&tbm=dsc
Video search: https://www.google.com/search?q=key+phrase&tbm=vid
I used to use Discussion search all the time, but the past couple of months, the only results it returned were from Google groups, and that was horrible so I quit using it. I never once found anything useful in a Google group, and I am NOT a Google hater.
Still, the old discussion search could find the answer to any of life's problems.
Use keyword + "powered by vbulletin" to avoid google groups i wish there was a script or something for greasemonkey.
The search option I use most and they pointlessly remove it. What the fuck is wrong with this company.