The year is coming to a close, but the endless year-in-review articles are just beginning. Google's annual Zeitgeist is out today with its compilation of the most popular search terms around the world.
Zeitgeist is a German term that is loosely translated as "spirit of the age and its society." Google's 2008 edition included broad categories like "Top of Mind," "Politics," "Trendsetters," "Showbiz," "Sports" and for the first time the search company has added 30 country specific breakdowns.
Without further ado, here's the top 10 fastest-rising searches entered into Google by Internet users around the globe:
1. sarah palin
2. beijing 2008
3. facebook login
4. tuenti
5. heath ledger
6. obama
7. nasza klasa
8. wer kennt wen
9. euro 2008
10. jonas brothers
It seems the world could not get enough of Sarah Palin.
The Alaska governor and former vice presidential candidate made headlines with her gun-toting, snowmachining, "you betcha" style. Palin even dominated tech headlines in October when a University of Tennessee student hacked into her Yahoo! Mail account.
Here in the U.S., however, president-elect Barack Obama topped the fastest-rising search terms list, while Palin came in at #7.
But tech was the real Google champ with requests for Facebook, iPhone, ATT and YouTube all making the top 10.
Google.com's Fastest-Rising (U.S.)
1. obama
2. facebook
3. att
4. iphone
5. youtube
6. fox news
7. palin
8. beijing 2008
9. david cook
10. surf the channel