the buzz log

On this day that celebrates the discovery of King Tut's tomb, many are wondering about all things "Tut," including the fabled pharaoh's curse.

Let's review. The boy king's tomb was discovered back in 1922 and launched the modern field of Egyptology. In the '70s, the first exhibit of the perfectly preserved mummified remains went on tour in the U.S. Tutmania ensued. Cue "King Tut" song.

Now that Tut is back for another world tour 30 years later, searches on the Web for the ancient Egyptian teen have surged. In the last seven days, "king tut curse" soared over 200%. Lookups on the Web for "king tut," "king tut exhibit," and "history of king tut" have also increased.

Here's the story behind the curse. Rumors abounded after the archeologist who funded the mummy hunt, Lord Carnarvon, died a few short months after viewing the newly discovered tomb. All sorts of theories, none proven, gave rise to a "pharaoh's curse:" certain death for those who dared disturb a tomb.

Of course, many others who had also visited the tomb didn't die, and Carnavorn suffered from bad health. Still, even National Geographic couldn't resist trotting out some scientific explanations: Sealed tombs have often contained toxic bacteria and mold that could cause people with compromised immune systems to get sick. Another theory is that certain toxins were left near the door to punish those who broke into the tomb.

Still, no danger lies in actually seeing the museum exhibit, which is on tour through the end of the year. For a guy who's been dead for 3,000 years, King Tut sure gets around.

Filed under: Archaeology, Egypt

How green was Jocassee Valley, until the regional power company built a nearby dam and gradually flooded it? One hotel owner protested the development and succeeded in having Attakulla Lodge be the only structure from being bulldozed. Ultimately, he couldn't stop the valley from becoming a lake.

Now, almost 40 years later, local divers found the hotel still standing...well, submerged under 300 feet of water, as well as parts of the old cemetery and a few trees. The underwater trip down memory lane aired on HLN cable show "News To Me" on Feb. 21, and clips have been circulating online, triggering searches for "lake jocasee."

No plans to re-open. Guests wanting a temporary watery rest will have to look elsewhere. In the meantime, the video can be seen on HLN sister channel, CNN.

Filed under: History, Archaeology

Will the undead nudge Batman from atop the Buzz Multiplex? Can Kevin Costner break his streak of mediocrity with a swing? And have audiences at long last found this year's hit documentary? Tune in... now.

1. " The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon" (PG-13). Critic-proof and plot-resistant, the third installment of "The Mummy" brings the next archaelogical generation (Luke Ford) and his suspiciously young-looking parents (Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello) into the top 4,000 queries this week. Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh also make up a search-provoking cast, although their action sequences get lost in the fancy camerawork. The biggest stir, though, belongs to a missing Mummy: Rachel Weisz, the former Evie (replaced by Bello), gets more online attention than the newby.

2. "American Teen" (PG-13, limited release). A year in the life of four Indiana teens, the documentary hits those years better than a beachful of reality TV shows. Director Nanette Burstein didn't let a Sundance prize stop her from adding a follow-up for this debut. The limited release, which expands to more theaters this week, may have spurred the online nostalgia for "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "The Breakfast Club," and "Napoleon Dynamite." Expect a lot of flashbacks in the theater seats as well, with interest coming from ages 13 through 50-something.

3. "Swing Vote" (PG-13). Civics lesson Walt Disney-style should be a sound ticket in an election year, especially with the likes of Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Kelsey Grammer, and Stanley Tucci sharing the ticket with lead Kevin Costner. But so far, audience indifference likely means a landslide loss at the box office. Add this artistic deadweight to Costner's filmography—which has nonetheless enjoyed a spike ("kevin costner movies," +154%) among true believers.

Filed under: Movies, Politics, Archaeology, Jet Li