the buzz log
The Many Peoples Of the Year
Really, now that 2008 is over, it's kind of hard to see it go. Yes, the economy tanked, gas prices soared (suspiciously, considering their historic lows now), and conflicts dragged on and restarted—but the year also brought people the Olympics, an enthralling American political year, and, well, fill in your own.
So, while the world is well into the second day on the Gregorian 2009 calendar, it is only a Friday in some parts of the world, so the year hasn't really begun yet. (That'll be Monday, the first work day for many of us.) In that vein, let's give 2008 one last hurrah with a Buzz roundup on personalities who helped to define 2008, with article links to why they deserved their titles:
- Time's Person of the Year: Barack Obama. The most anticlimactic choice only because of its inevitability.
- New York Daily News' New Yorker of the Year: Hillary Clinton. She may not have won the nation, but if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.
- AP's Entertainer of the Year. Tina Fey. The former SNL head writer took a passing resemblance to a historical figure and ran with it.
- Los Angeles Daily News' Sportsperson of the Year: Manny Ramirez. The thud of jaws dropping echoed across the sporting world.
- Staff Care's Country Doctor of the Year: Doc Watson. A little-known award given by what's kind of a temp agency for doctors, the national organization gives a nod to the dying tradition of the house call.
And some more personalities of 2008:
- MTV's Man of the Year: Lil Wayne, aka Weezy, aka Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. MTV's Woman of the Year: Those "Twilight" fans.
- Billboard's Artist of the Year: Chris Brown.
- Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year: Michael Phelps.
- International Sports Press Association' Athlete of the Year: Usain Bolt.
- PETA's Person of the Year: Oprah Winfrey.
Filed under: Politics, Entertainment, Awards, 2008
Buzz Year in Review: Top Buzzed Stories in 2008
You read it. You liked it. You buzzed it up.
In the remarkable mix of stories that circulated through Y! Buzz in 2008, people voted on the ones they thought were particularly important, funny, or just worth reading. Let's review the 10 that garnered the most attention—and votes—in 2008.
Mom takes control of her health
A busy mother of five finally made time to change her life and lose weight (nearly 150 pounds), partly to help her husband cope with diabetes. The story inspired many to vote up this heartwarming tale of health to the top of the Buzz heap.
Not coming to a Best Buy near you
Audiophiles voted up a story on the renewed popularity of old-school vinyl. But what would set a real record collector apart from the posers would be landing one of the rare albums featured in Esquire's slideshow. A John Lennon rarity for a whopping $150,000, anyone? Makes Bob Dylan look like a downright steal at only $40,000, although "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" is considered the most valuable U.S. (versus British) album.
An Olympic year
The Beijing Olympics this summer captivated a huge audience and made us appreciate the phenomenal man-fish Michael Phelps, and impolitely question some very young ladies about their age. Here are the stories loved and buzzed:
• They stuck the landings. They balanced and tumbled. And they won gold. But were they eligible to be in the Olympics in the first place? Questions about the tiny Chinese gymnasts arose after a Chinese media outlet reported some of the Chinese team members' ages as younger than 16, then took down the story.
• Questions also arose about the amazing medal-man, U.S. swimmer Phelps. The 100-meter butterfly race was so close that the results came down to a photo finish, and Phelps fans buzzed up the story that proved he really did deserve that seventh gold medal (out of eight total).
From kid superstars to childlike acts
Another amateur didn't fare so well, after a nine-year-old with a 40-mile-per-hour fastball had opposing teams calling foul. According to the Associated Press, the baseball prodigy was told he was way out of his league, and pulled off the mound.
Among so-called professionals, Michigan basketball coach Kevin Borseth exhibited a meltdown of epic proportions after his team's loss. Bad behavior continued with Dallas Mavericks star Josh Howard, who had to apologize for his national anthem diss. And basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal continued to raz rival Kobe Bryant, this time in song.
Year of the woman candidate
While the election ended in a historic result, there sure were lots of firsts throughout the endless campaign for president. Hillary Clinton, the first major female candidate, gave the eventual winner, Barack Obama, the run of his life. But maybe the best gift of the long race for president was the welcome comic relief. Jack Nicholson's campaign ad for Clinton endorsed her with tied-together clips from his most memorable movies. Then there was Sarah Palin, the first Republican woman to be part of a national ticket. Political pundits took different approaches to these two women, and "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart picked up on some of the mixed messages.
All in all, a memorable year filled with memorable stories. What can we say, except: Keep on buzzing!
Most Buzzed Stories of 2008
- Mother of 5 finally takes time for her own fitness (USA Today)
- Shaq takes a freestyle swipe at Kobe (Yahoo! Sports)
- The Most Expensive Albums of All Time (Esquire)
- State-media story fuels questions on gymnast's age (Yahoo! Sports)
- Jack Nicholson Films Ad For Hillary Clinton (Huffington Post)
- Amazing proof Phelps won (Yahoo! Sports)
- 9-year-old too good to pitch (Yahoo! Sports)
- Michigan Basketball Coach Kevin Borseth's On Camera Meltdown (Huffington Post)
- Jon Stewart Hits Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, Dick Morris On Sarah Palin Hypocrisy (Huffington Post)
- Star sorry for anthem diss (Yahoo! Sports)
Olympic Training for Couch Potatoes
Can you handle more than 3,600 hours of Games of the XXIX Olympiad? You don't even have to cut caffeine and get pedicures, as some Olympiad hopefuls have done. Instead, oil up the remote control and the mouse, and try these sit-down techniques instead.
Learn your numbers. Not just the stats: XXIX means 29, but 8/8/8 means luck tripled in Chinese (the number 8 is a homonyn for the word "prosperity").Practice staring. Don't miss the action. The difference between gold and silver can be measured by a 1,000th of a second, which How Stuff Works says says is 40 times faster than an eye blink.
Visualize the surroundings. Understanding an event's setting may give you an advantage. Try scanning the BBC Sport map.
Tune in. Pump yourself up by listening to the Olympic songs... all of them.
Memorize all 596 American athletes. From the track-and-field competitors to the team members of soccer, volleyball, and B-ball.
Focus on lesser sports. Everyone else will be watching to see if swimmer Natalie Coughlin gets her fifth gold medal, or if gymnast Morgan Hamm will keep clean. Instead, look for underdogs in events like kayaking, table tennis, or fencing.Learn to talk big. If you can't memorize the athletes, talk about grand visions, like the boxing's great reform, America's immigrant athletes, Olympic artistry, environmental algae monsters, and if a Chinese tactical force can possibly look intimidating riding Segways.
Dress the part. What's the point of being a capitalist if you can't buy Olympic spirit? Pay $2,000 for an official torch, or $38.20 for a Speedo Team USA brief. If you get the swim trunks, don't forget to make that Brazilian wax appointment.
The Busy-Buzzy Days of Summer
After a relentless winter and unforgiving spring, the rush to summer is understandably a little more hurried than usual. Searches for "summer solstice" and "first day of summer" are nearly 60% higher than this time last year.
Not so delicious is the substantial drop in "summer vacation" queries, and the rise in summer jobs and activities. Who says slacking off is the best way to enjoy summer anyhow? Take in the buzz on the best ways to get busy.
The Longest Day
As the Earth leans yearningly towards the sun, solstice will begin at 7:59 EDT for the Northern Hemisphere. NPR and Fox News explain the science, while Current explores a bewitching cultural history.
Warm-Weather Toys
A satellite messenger, solar charging panels, and sunglasses you can tie in a knot. If those don't scream summer, then you need to read Forbes Traveler's Summer Gadget Guide for more leisure toys that'll help you get out there.
People must've learned from last summer's quest for "kids summer activities." Lookups for "summer programs," "summer camp" and "ymca summer camp" are 20% higher this year. Also up: "summer school." We've heard that learning is best retained in warm weather. Yes, we're lying... but get those grey cells working anyway.
Youthful Employment
In state after state, the unemployment numbers have been bleak: Minnesota's rate at 5.4%, Florida 5.5%, and tiny Rhode Island 7.2%. That may have rippled among the annual seekers for "part time summer jobs for teenagers" and "summer jobs for kids," which are double over this same time last summer. Shine offers sound advice for the teen job-seeker.
Other Summer Trends
... Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" fares hot, but not as hot as Justin Timberlake did last year with "Summer Love."
... The mood for "summer pictures" has dropped 51%. Get inspired to make photographic memories with Wired magazine's summer photo picks by its readers and photo staff.
... In time for "summer 08 fashion" queries, Esquire lays down its "10 Commandments of Summer Style" for men. The Dallas Morning News teaches a "short course" on poolside beauty, including tanning lessons.
February Buzz
"Thirty days hath September..." and depending on which variation of the Month Poem (69 according to Leapzine), 28 is all February stores, till Leap Year gives it one day more.
We could've used the extra rest. January started off rough, but a faltering economy drove people online looking for relief and stimulus. Meanwhile, Hollywood writers put down their picket signs, but not soon enough to save the Oscars. Still, we had enough drama with underdog Giants, "American Idol" ringers, the curious connection between "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit models and steroids, and a fearsome U.S. presidential contest.
Now with that longest of short months behind us, reflect what searches registered big in spikes and total numbers.
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Filed under: Sports, Monthly Wrapup, Recaps, News, Wrap Up, 2008
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worst Airports For Delays 2009 | Breakout! |
| 2 | How To Survive A Recession | Breakout! |
| 3 | Ice Cream Calorie Counter | Breakout! |
| 4 | Jayson Williams | Breakout! |
| 5 | Alexandra Kerry | Breakout! |
| 6 | Chaz Bono | 10707% |
| 7 | Kelly Osbourne | 3298% |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | 3218% |
| 9 | Nicole Richie | 2075% |
| 10 | Thierry Henry | 1125% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Friday | +413 | 1016 |
| 2 | Elizabeth Lambert | -677 | 263 |
| 3 | NFL | +66 | 235 |
| 4 | New Moon | +74 | 213 |
| 5 | Bing | +83 | 209 |
| 6 | Kelly Osbourne | +193 | 199 |
| 7 | Hulu | +7 | 139 |
| 8 | Nicole Richie | +124 | 130 |
what's the buzz?
A subject's buzz score is the percentage of Yahoo! users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read. Weekly leaders are the subjects with the greatest average buzz score for a given week.
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