Google announces 2008 year-end Zeitgeist

This year's global fastest rising searches show interest in global events such as the Beijing Olympics and Euro 2008, with a number of American politicians and international social networking sites showing up as well:

Global Fastest Rising Queries

• sarah palin
  
• beijing 2008
  
• facebook login
  
• tuenti
  
• heath ledger
  
• obama
  
• nasza klasa
  
• wer kennt wen
  
• euro 2008
  
• jonas brothers

  Zeitgeist explained

  Google reveals the internet "Zeitgeist" through an exploration of the millions of search queries received every day. In addition to the Year-end Zeitgeist, there are several tools available that give insight into global, regional, past and present search trends. Google Zeitgeist tools can never be used to identify individual users as they rely on anonymised, aggregated counts of how often certain search queries occur over time. These tools are available year-round.

  To check out what was hot this year in politics, entertainment, sports, and more, visit http://www.google.com/zeitgeist2008/.