n l FEATURE

BY JANET GIBSON UFFINGER
PHOTOS BY RACHAEL SANTILLAN

It’s official. Google has made it into the dictionary.

Indeed, what started out as a noun — Google, the world’s most popular Internet search engine — morphed also into a verb, as in ...

“I Googled my ex-boyfriend to see if he ended up as a CEO or in the slammer — or both.”

Think of Google this way: a modern-day World Book Encyclopedia, plus all the latest newspaper archives on earth, and then some, at warp speed. Research has never been so easy for curiosity-seekers.

Speaking of curious, we wonder how many people have used Google to find out about THEMSELVES.

In the spirit of fun, we took a trip downtown to Cumberland County Headquarters Library, where we came across a few fascinating folks and asked them, “Have you ever Googled yourself?” n

“Google is very good, very powerful. I’ve used it to research other names, but not my name ... never.”

— Suyen Nguyen, 59

His story: Originally from Vietnam, now living in Fayetteville and working as a school maintenance technician and taking college courses to better his future and the lives of his family.

“Have I ever Googled myself? No, should I? Would I enjoy myself?”

— Jean Wagner, no age given

Her story: From Cambridge, England, this financial services counselor (with a wicked sense of humor) admits to using Google routinely for research, but not on herself. Now living in Fayetteville, the tall, striking Wagner is a former model who appeared in Glamour magazine at age 17. “In a leopard skin-printed bikini — in hot pink,” she says. “I still have it. It hasn’t rotted yet.”

“Yes, I have Googled myself — to check on some records information and to find other people with my name. There are two in Eastern North Carolina, and they’re both men! Google is the best. I’ve also used it to find relatives, and for genealogy.”

— Dale Farmer, 55

Her story: Farmer lives in the Cedar Creek community of Cumberland County, but teaches fourth grade at South Harnett Elementary, and is also a GED instructor at Central Carolina Community College in Lillington.