Google's Googling the Flu

From Time Magazine (November 24, 2008 - page 13):

Engineers at the California-based search giant are at it again, and this time they are after your germs. By tracking where, when and how many people are Googling terms like congestion, muscle ache and thermometer, a new service at google.org/flutrends hopes to better detect regional outbreaks of influenza. The service has even outsmarted the CDC by exposing hot spots 10 days before the agency did.

The site www.google.org/flutrends is kind of cool. There are charts and graphs, and some other cool stuff. According to the data, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia are already dealing with moderate reports of the flu.

While this is interesting...Is anyone concerned that Google is tracking your search criteria?

Two New Offerings in Our Nation's Capitol

Now that the election is finally over...you may find it interesting that two other things of historical significance are taking place in our Nation's Capitol.

One - The Capitol Visitor Center opens on December 2. Details are here.

Two - The Star-Spangled Banner Gallery at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History opens on November 21. Details are here. For an online exhibition you can visit the Star Spangled Banner's online gallery - here.