I'm interested in the 'Where's George?' project. Can you tell me when it started, how it's funded, and if it has received any notable media coverage or academic recognition? Provide a concise overview of these details.
Navigate to the 'FAQs/About' section. Click on the 'FAQ Page' link. Locate and extract the official launch date of the website. Identify and extract the primary funding sources from the FAQ page. Navigate to the 'News' section (which functions as 'Where's George? In the News'). Identify if there are entries for media coverage and academic research. Synthesize all gathered information into a concise answer.
State the official launch date as December 23, 1998. List the primary funding sources as the creator's personal funds, banner ads, and the 'Friends of Where's George?' program/merchandise sales. Confirm that the website has received both media coverage (e.g., NPR, Rocketboom) and academic recognition (e.g., PLOS | One, Community Structure in Multi-Scale Transportation Networks). The answer should be concise and directly address all parts of the prompt.