Hot Web Searches: Are You Cool?

The great thing about the Google guys is not just that they have figured out a multitude of ways to organize the world's information. They've also figured out a way to make it fun -- and that cannot be discounted in the rise of Web 2.0. The latest Google tool to destroy your work day is Google Trends.

Trends allows you to track top search terms and see the arc of their search terms. For example, search for the Boston Red Sox (a Baron favorite), you see a huge spike, as expected, toward the end of 2004 when the team won its first World Series title in 86 years. You can also search for Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and John McCain's name together to see how they relate. By far the best part is the Hot Trends section, which allows to see what the top searches are. It's basically a snapshot of whether you're cool and in the know or lame and out of the loop. I won't tell you where I fit in, but let's just say that I wasn't one of the people searching for the Vern Troyer sex tape today.