Internet
Geocities



Yahoo has announced that it will be shutting off the lights on Geocities, a website which offers free websites to all. To some Geocities represents the pure, unhindered, wistful spirit of the internet. To others, it stands for all that is evil and wrong on the internet. As a freelance web designer, it set a prescident in terms of design and information architecture expectations that basically retarded the industry's ability to grow for years. Was it expressive in terms of an abstract art form and did it provide sociological insight? Sure. Was it fucking terrible as well? Yes. Good riddance, Geocities.

Computers & Electronics
Ubuntu 9.04 - "Jaunty Jackelope"

Somewhere in the damp, dusky corners of parent's basements, members of the Linux community joyously cry out in unison as Ubuntu 9.04 blinks its eyes and cautiously takes its first timid steps in the world of computing.

Initial distributions of Linux were anything but qualified for mass consumption by the mainstream, but recent versions especially distributions of Ubuntu, have become incredibly easy to install & operate. Should any suspicious critic counter with the argument of "Ah yes, but what about driver support? Surely Linux drivers are laughable at best," slap them. Devices made for your computer are increasingly offering Linux drivers.

Business
西部医药 - Western Medicine

Latest data from Google suggests that there's a huge upswing in the number of inquiries from China regarding Western Medicine. Could it be that a certain number of Chinese citizens are increasingly growing sick of pin pricks, herbal remidies, and astrological predictions? Possibly. Is this a reactionary surge in response to recent information regarding swine influenza? Possibly. Do I have any idea what I'm talking about? Absolutely not.

Telecommunications
The Nokia 1100


Why is a 6 year old phone without SMS, a calendar, alarm clock, music player, panini grill, or projector capabilities of interest to so many these days? It turns out that certain models of the Nokia 1100, one of the best selling cellphones in history (sorry Apple,) can also be used to commit bank fraud.

Several savvy hackers have found a way to allow this phone to receive text messages from other numbers, allowing them to intercept account information and passwords from their unsuspecting victims.

Lesson to be learned: When a nice Nigerian prince is kind enough to allow you to hold onto his massive fortune while he escapes the country, don't send your bank account information to him via SMS! It may be intercepted by OTHER thieves in Eastern Europe.

Entertainment
草なぎ剛 - Otherwise known as Tsuyoshi Kusinagi


Japanese pop star from the superband SMAP. What does SMAP stand for? I'll let you guess...

1: Single Motive: Assimilate Population
2: Simple Mail Access Protocol
3: Sports Music Assemble People

SMAP is the primo pop band of Japan, and is known for such timeless albums as SMAP 001, SMAP COOL, SMAP 009, and SMAP 017 ~SAMPLE BANG!~.

Why has this man shot to the #1 ranks of Google searches in recent days? He was found drunk, belligerent, and naked in a public park.

Are you psyched about this group yet? If not, watch this video and allow your heart to melt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlMcp_tYPvg

Industry
豚インフルエンザ - Otherwise known as Swine Flu


This is a subject of which by now I'm sure needs no introduction. Searches for Swine Flu have shot past the 5000% mark, and will probably continue to rise as news of this disease develops. According to National Public Radio, the spread of infectious diseases have generally three categorized stages of spread outside of normal parameters - outbreak, epidemic, and pandemic. Swine flu certainly has pandemic potential (widespread global infection), but is currently only in an outbreak stage, which means it's rate of growth has shot past normal expectations for a given area.

Okay Gang! This is my very first post. This blog is going to follow a large amount of varying trends in search traffic around the world and in the United States. It will cover 10 separate sectors: Arts & Humanities, Business, Food & Drink, Computers & Electronics, The Internet, Online Communications, Industry, Telecommunications, Entertainment, and Photography & Video. While not every topic will be covered daily, I'll try to take some time to offer commentary on each breakout subject.

Since this is the inaugural post, I'm going to run the gamut and offer one breakout area of interest in each specific sector:


Telecommunications:
Nokia 1100

Photography and Video:
Gigapan

Online Communities:
Stephanie Naumoska

Internet
Geocities

Industry
F-35

Food & Drink
Sauternes

Entertainment
Phillip Markoff

Computers & Electronics
Sidekick LX

Business
Scrappage Scheme

Arts & Humanities
Shaheen Jafargholi