the buzz log

Monday usually means rip-the-bandage-off-fast bad news. Luckily, today wasn't too bad. Once Buzz readers became numb again to gas sticker-shock and Midwest aftershocks, they moved on to diplomats and games with Mother Nature.

Pumping Gas, Bleeding Cash
Yes, the Europeans have long paid more. Yes, fossil-fuel consumption should be cut back. But man, current gas prices do suck the cash out of a wallet! Buzz readers glommed onto yet another record-breaking price in the United States—an average $3.50 a gallon. The cost of crude also bubbled to new heights, but not for the usual reasons: A pirate rocket hit an empty Japanese oil tanker off the Yemen coast. Although no pirates yelled "avast" and boarded, the maritime aggression pushed landlubbing traders into a whirlpool of panic. Search Engine Journal shows sites that help find cheap gas ... but no tips on pirate defenses.

The Renegade Diplomat
Jimmy Carter went to Syria as a "private citizen," but not many private citizens can list Oval Office on their resumé. Following his meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, the former president delivered the message that Hamas would accept Israel as a "neighbor," but Israel and the U.S. must negotiate directly with what both governments deem a terrorist group. Still, the hopeful development earned the AP story high votes, as well as a Passover thank-you from a Huffington Post writer. Carter gives his own account in an NPR interview—including disputing reports that his visit had been discouraged.

Big Blessings, Little Trifles
Pope Benedict XVI left a trail of jubilance, munificence, questions, and trivia. For instance, GearLog poised the question, "Who knew that Sprint is a holy wireless carrier?" The New York Daily News reported the religious leader's headgear is called a "miter," in a story about a local artist who presented a handmade straw hat to Benedict to "wear in the country." And, readers purred over a New York Times' piece on the "pope's fondness for felines."

Also spiking in the Buzz ...

—An aftershock registered 4.5 on the Richter scale in the Midwest and on the wire stories. Now people really think Californians are crazy.

Filed under: Gas Prices, Earthquakes, Games, Pope Benedict XVI, Presidents, Daily Recap

Sunday morning the earthquake struck—walloping the west coast of Hawaii's Big Island. The violent temblor and its aftershocks knocked out power, demolished buildings, and caused thousands of locals and tourists to be evacuated. By the next day, searches on "hawaii earthquake," "usgs" (+1,325%), and "map of hawaii," (+1,704%) had deluged the Buzz. No other searches rose as high or as fast that day.

The 6.7 magnitude quake did not (we repeat, did not) trigger a catastrophic wave, but fears that it might have sent searches on "tsunami" surging upwards 1,513%. Searchers intent on getting local news boosted buzz on "honolulu star bulletin" (+344%) and "honolulu advertiser" (+162%), while concern about Oahu, Maui, and Kona flooded our top 100 movers.

Hopefully, it won't take too long for disaster efforts to set things right. But, judging by the jump just today in "hawaii vacation" buzz (+27%), it shouldn't be too long before the tourists are back, ordering their Mai Tais and slathering on the Coppertone.

Filed under: Earthquakes, Hawaii