Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Google Trends


I was reading an article in the New York Times about an obscenity trial in Florida where the lawyers for the defense are going to use data from Google Trends to show that his client’s pornographic website falls within the communities values. Basically, the argument goes, because “porn” is searched so often in Pensacola that a website featuring porn must therefore fall within the communities values.

A quick visit to Google Trends reveals that “porn” beats out “Jesus” by almost 9 to 1 (link), and while “Nascar” might edge out “orgy”, it falls way behind “tits” (link). But lest we worry too much about our perverted friends in Florida, "love" does beat out them all... except "sex" that still wins. (link)

At the bottom of the article, the state prosecutor says:

“How many times you do something doesn’t necessarily speak to standards and values.”

Um… I’m sorry, but isn’t that exactly what “how many times you do something” speaks to? Otherwise, you're a community of hypocrites. After all, actions speak louder than words and all that.

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In 1789, the governor of Australia granted land and some animals to James Ruse in an experiment to see how long it would take him to support himself. Within 15 months he had become self sufficient. The area is still known as Experiment Farm. This is my Experiment Farm to see how long it will take me to support myself by writing.