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I frequently see Google Analytics pop when navigating around the internet, even when Google (seemingly) shouldn’t be involved. Like when I clicked on this thread the little “waiting for” window popped up with Google Analytics, then FreeRepublic. All I can figure is that Google offers some kind of service that website owners can use to gather statistics about traffic on their site.

All I can figure is that Google offers some kind of service that website owners can use to gather statistics about traffic on their site.

That's exactly what it does, as the name implies. Very useful for website owners. My wife has it enabled on our business website.

That said, I still don't know all that much about how it affects my machine, or if it tracks me any further than whatever website it's sitting on.

I frequently see Google Analytics pop when navigating around the internet, even when Google (seemingly) shouldn’t be involved. Like when I clicked on this thread the little “waiting for” window popped up with Google Analytics, then FreeRepublic. All I can figure is that Google offers some kind of service that website owners can use to gather statistics about traffic on their site.

Exactly right. At the bottom of the current page is the urchinTracker:

<div style="font-size: 8pt; color: #777; font-family: Arial">
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
</div>

    <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">_uacct = "UA-2288668-1"; urchinTracker();</script>
  </body>
</html>

Did you ever wonder why Google is so good at staying on top of FR content? I mean, somebody will post some errant nonsense, and you will be moved to Google it on the off chance it isn't BS. So, you do, and the number #1 hit is the post you were just looking at. BS confirmed! I've had that exact experience a number of times.

It appears the Google spider takes a look every time the urchin squawks.