Google is attempting to do their part in tracking flu outbreaks by keeping tabs on where folks are entering searches for ‘flu symptoms’ and other key phrases into their search engine.

According to The New York Times, Google may be able to better track outbreaks . . .

“In early February, for example, the C.D.C. reported that the flu had recently spiked in the mid-Atlantic states. But Google says its search data show a spike in queries about flu symptoms two weeks before that report came out. Its new service at google.org/flutrends analyzes those searches as they come in, creating graphs and maps of the country that, ideally, will show where the flu is spreading.”

Read the whole article by clicking here, or check out Google’s Flu Trends page by clicking here.

Remember the telephone game, where everyone sits in a circle and whispers a phrase to their neighbor? At the end of it all, the phrase is usually very unlike what it started out as. This is the same kind of thing, only it uses online translators. You end up with some very funny stuff.

For instance, the phrase “Today was a good day. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?” comes out as “Odierno that the day was a day of good is is strange, of which what will obtain tomorrow.”

Lost in Translation

Here’s a nifty little service. Say you have a blank wall that you are just itching to fill with some art. You can use the Block Poster tool to blow up an image as big as you want. It isn’t going to turn out super crisp, but it is still pretty decent looking. Give it a try. All you need is a printer and some tape.

Block Posters - Create large wall posters from any image for free!
Upload an image from your computer and choose how many sheets wide you would like your poster to be once printed

Once you’re happy with your selection, you can download the PDF file containing your newly created images and print each one massively blown up, resulting in a huge pixel poster to stick on your wall …