Tag: Google

Posted on

Top 10 searches on Google in 2013

Google has compiled a list of the top 10 topics that people wanted to know most about in 2013.

Celebrity deaths, tragic bombings, and the Harlem Shake.  From The Daily Beast:

This year, Google says, the number one trending term for all of 2013 was “Paul Walker.” He was the steely-eyed American actor who was tragically killed in a fiery car crash this past November. The news swept the Internet by storm, as it was revealed the Fast and Furious star had been traveling in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT after attending a charity event.

Following Walker, at #2 on the list, was the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon, colloquially called the “Boston Marathon bombing.” Three people lost their lives that day. 264 others were injured. In what became a week-long news event, federal authorities and the Boston police searched for the alleged culprits, eventually killing one and wounding the other in an overnight gun fight in a Boston suburb, and leaving the world seeking answers (many of which have yet to be found).

Here’s the full list of Google’s national top trending searches of 2013:

1. Paul Walker

2. Boston Marathon bombing

3. Nelson Mandela

4. Cory Monteith

5. iPhone 5s

6. Government shutdown

7. James Gandolfini

8. Harlem Shake

9. Royal baby

10. Adrian Peterson

Posted on

Gay couples married by Belgian mayor via Google Hangouts

From the folks at Google:

Google Hangouts is a unique technology allowing 10 people to be on a video call simultaneously.

We wanted to put Google +’s hangouts at the service of a greater cause – the most debated issue in France at the time: same-sex marriage.

We partnered with the association “Tous Unis Pour l’Egalité” and created the first social same-sex marriage.

We made it possible for French gay couples to get married in France via Hangout, with a Mayor from Belgium where same-sex marriage is law. The ceremony was witnessed online by family and friends and broadcasted live on YouTube for the whole world to see.

Since then, the law has passed in France. It’s now possible for same sex couples to marry in France. But we still have a long way to go as we take this initiative further than France.

If your country is still deliberating the Bill and the Law is not yet passed, please be in touch with us : mariage@tousunispourlegalite.com and we will marry you, from France, live on the Internet via Google Hangouts.

Posted on

Google Doodle honors “Where The Wild Things Are” artist

Today’s Google Doodle pays tribute to gay author Maurice Sendak, who died last year.

Sendak came out in 2008 at the age of 80 and revealed a 50-year relationship with his partner.

Sendak was born on June 10, 1928 — 85 years ago. An American illustrator and writer of children’s books, he is best known for his book „Where the Wild Things Are”, first published in 1963. The book’s depictions of fanged monsters concerned some parents, as his characters were somewhat grotesque in appearance.

The doodle shows an very creative “walk around the world”. Rotating stage-layers includes some main characters of Sendaks illustrations.

Sendak died on May 8, 2012.

Posted on

Google launches “Legalize Love” campaign to support same-sex marriage

Internet giant Google announced Saturday the launch of a global campaign aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage around the world.

The ambitious project, entitled “Legalize Love,” was outlined at a global LGBT Workplace Summit in London earlier today, reported Dot429.

Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion for Google’s Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, called the initiative, “obviously a very ambitious piece of work.”

The “Legalize Love” campaign officially launches in Poland and Singapore on Saturday, July 7th. Google intends to eventually expand the initiative to every country where the company has an office, and will focus on places with homophobic cultures, where anti-gay laws exist.

On the decision to launch the initial phase in a country like Singapore, Palmer-Edgecumbe says, “Singapore wants to be a global financial center and world leader and we can push them on the fact that being a global center and a world leader means you have to treat all people the same, irrespective of their sexual orientation.”

Google’s strategy involves developing partnerships between companies and organizations to support grass-roots campaigns, efforts that it says will also be good for Google’s business.

“We operate in many countries and have a very globally mobile workforce. We have had a number of instances where we have been trying to hire people into countries where there are these issues and have been unable to put the best person into a job in that country,” said Palmer-Edgecumbe.

Via LGBTQ Nation