Death, Taxes and Search Engines
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Mr Death and Taxes
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By Martin Kelly, Editor, Search Engine Room
MODERN consumer search engine users are giving a fresh slant to a phrase coined by Benjamin Franklin more than 200 years ago.
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes,” Franklin wrote to a friend in 1789.
The Australian public is clearly fascinated with both subjects, along with illness and tragedy.
Yahoo!7 has revelaed that Steve Irwin, fatally stung by a stingray, was the most popular search of 2006.
Three other recently deceased men could also be found on the most popular male searches.
They were: racing car driver Peter Brock (#2), media mogul Kerry Packer (#6) and a man he employed for many years, the journalist Richard Carleton (#8).
Belinda Emmett, who died after a long battle with breast cancer, was the top-ranked female search.
Public curiosity extended well beyond the grave to loving friends and relatives.
Emmett’s grieving partner, talk show host Rove McManus, came in at #3 on the male search tally, while Bindi Irwin, daughter of Steve Irwin, was the second most popular female search.
Bindi finished just in front of singer Kylie Minogue, who was seriously ill for much of the year.
And taxes? The most popular political search was for tax cuts – interest rates were also in the Top 10 at #7.
PM John Howard, take note.
NB: Franklin also coined the phrase - "He that lieth down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas".
Copyright Search Engine Room
18 January, 2007
