Osama hotter than 'sex' on Web

NEW DELHI: Osama Bin Laden topped the charts as the hottest keyword on search engines after last Tuesday''s attack on the World Trade Center.
NEW DELHI: Osama Bin Laden topped the charts as the hottest keyword on search engines after last Tuesday''s attack on the World Trade Center. Laden displaced all-time favourites like ''sex'', ''MP3'' and ''Playboy'', according to a report published by Website 101, a firm that tracks the behaviour of Internet users.
A close second was ''Nostradamus'' -- who a hoax email said actually predicted the attack on New York City -- the man who presaged the beginning of the end of the world. ''Terrorism'' now ranks at position No. 48 on the most frequently searched list. These queries were recorded on September 14, 2001 -- all 24 hours of the third day after the worst terrorist attack on US soil.
A total of 5.5 million queries were keyed in during the day. Web enquiries on ''Taliban'' ranked among the top 20 most searched keywords at No. 19. Curiosity about ''Afghanistan'' (No. 22) also increased tremendously in the backdrop of last Tuesday''s events. ''New York City'' also climbed the popularity charts displacing other popular cities.
''Twin tower'' and the ''Pentagon'' were also popular keywords in the aftermath of the attacks on these buildings. Finally, in a sign of solidarity, the `American Red Cross'' came in at No. 21.
This indicates netizens across the globe were interested in volunteering for rescue and rehabilitation of the killed and injured in the attacks.