If we are what we Google, then Google Hot Trends — an hourly rundown of search terms “that experience sudden surges in popularity” — is the Web’s best cultural barometer. Here’s a sampling of today’s top searches. (Rankings on Hot Trends list current as of 9 a.m.)
No. 11 “tank man”: On the 20 th anniversary of Tiananmen Square, Googlers want to know what happened to the man in the famous photos . The short answer: nobody knows. In 2006, PBS’ Frontline ran a documentary investigating his fate; there’s also a short video of the standoff on YouTube . On the New York Times ’ Lens blog, four photographers who were there talk about what it was like to shoot the standoff .
No. 15 “michael bastian”: “Every time you turn a corner, there’s a guy wearing skinny jeans, an ironic cap, a low V-neck tee, vintagey high-tops and a scarf,” says fashion designer Michael Bastian in a Wednesday New York Times profile . “It’s the equivalent of the ‘Sex and the City’ look that was such a thing for women a few years ago.” What’s Bastian’s counter-aesthetic? “In his world,” the Times explains, “men are still from Mars. Or at least Dartmouth.” Some of the items in his unironic line: “wool tweed trousers, rugby shirts, ski sweaters, two-button suits, polos.”
No. 41 “wang dang doodle”: Chicago blues singer Koko Taylor, a contemporary of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, died on Wednesday at the age of 80 . Taylor’s hit tune: 1965’s “Wang Dang Doodle.” In lieu of flowers, please honor the great Mrs. Taylor by romping and tromping till midnight, fussing and fighting till daylight, and pitching a wang dang doodle all night long. (Also check out this cover version by an extremely young PJ Harvey .)
