the buzz log
May 2009 Buzz and June Forecast
Despite automakers hurtling towards bankruptcy court and unemployment lines breaking quarter-century records, a strange unfamiliar air of optimism wafted in as economists spoke of an end to the recession, swine flu proved less deadly, and even the Hubble Telescope got a tune-up. In lighter news, runner-ups became front-page news (but winners still count on the sports pages). Here now the buzz that was, May 2009 edition, followed by a June buzz forecast:
On the Docket This Month
Given Guantanamo's legal complications, President Barack Obama's pick for Supreme Court justice pick must've been a walk in the park. Sonia Sotomayor, a George H.W. Bush's appellate-judge appointee, was the only person on Obama's short list that he "didn't know personally," but their legal minds turned out to be in accord. More reluctant candidates for the court system were automakers Chrysler and GM, and their bankrupcty woes have rippled to dealerships across North America. Meanwhile, California's Proposition 8 proponents prevailed in the state's Superior Court, but the same-sex marriage issue is making strange legal bedfellows: The opposing lawyers in Bush v. Gore have filed a federal lawsuit arguing same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional.
The Race for Second Place
Double trouble, Susan Boyle bubbled in a meltdown over mean reporters. Human reaction aside, her Cinderella tale set the world abuzz, and her runner-up status on "Britain's Most Talented" put her in "contrarian" company with odds-on favorite Adam Lambert on "American Idol." Their drama though couldn't quite compare to Miss California Carrie Prejean and her soapy drama involving missing tops in lingerie photos, pageant master Donald Trump's forgiveness, and past pageant contestants expressing outrage (resigning Miss California pageant director Shanna Moakler) and support (Alaska governor Sarah Palin). The only time winning counted was the ring with Manny Pacquiao, at the races with Kentucky Derby's longshot Mine That Bird and the Preakness's first-time filly winner (in 85 years) Rachel Alexandra, and in "Jon & Kate Plus 8" ratings thanks to dysfunction gone tabloid.
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Fastest Moving Search Terms (biggest percentage changes compared to April)
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Most Searched Terms
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Will Gay Pride Month may get marriage-minded (June 1-30)... Conan gets to sleep earlier (1)... Not just another graduation speech for Barack Obama (4) ... The Belmont Stakes are high (6)... Salute the flag (14) ... Expect energetic conversation at the EU Summit (18-19) ... Leave the ties at the store for Poppa (25)... Dubious honors for ugly canine mugs (26).
Filed under: Reality TV, American Idol, Politics, Supreme Court, Celebrities, Monthly Wrapup, Recaps, Horse Racing, Gay Marriage, Wrap Up
A Loss of Gaiety?
To promote the ongoing cause of same-sex marriage, supporters are borrowing a page from the immigrant playbook and declaring December 10th "A Day Without a Gay." People of any sexual orientation are encouraged to miss work by calling in gay, an idea that doubtless has satire newspaper editors at The Onion banging their head against the wall at the missed opportunity.
Of course, the passage of Proposition 8 in California (which banned same-sex marriages) inspired the national protest, set to coincide with International Human Rights Day. The notion has stimulated slackers excited about this unparalleled opportunity to skip work on Wednesday, and searches for "day without a gay," "call in gay day," and "calling in gay" percolated online.
According to the Associated Press, a comedian and his beau came up with the boycott (and the website). CNN credits a film producer for a similar concept, which was actually a 2006 A&E original movie called "Wedding Wars," in which a gay party planner, played by John Stamos, goes on strike. (Yes, Stamos.)
Economic correctness, already responsible for cancelled holiday parties and executive carpooling to government bailout hearings, has dictated that the Wednesday boycott have a community service twist. Boycotters are urged to do volunteer work (better PR than wholesale goofing off).
For those uncomfortable with taking the day off, DWAGers are all about alternatives. Their "Join the Impact" site suggests volunteering after work, abstaining from purchases, cutting off TV or cell phone use, packing lunch ahead of time, and avoiding going online...whaaa? Apparently, the savvy organizers don't even want online advertisers to benefit from bored boycotters surfing the Net.
Whether such proscriptions backfire by making employees more productive than ever remains to be seen. The other unanswered question: How will this affect same-sex marriage opponents who have the sniffles and are thinking about staying home to rest?
Filed under: Politics, Protest, Gay Marriage
Scenes from a Gay Marriage
"I now pronounce you spouses for life." With those words from San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, 87-year-old Del Martin and 83-year-old Phyllis Lyon wed... again.
Technically, the first words allowing their same-sex marriage came from the California Supreme Court on May 15, who ruled that "the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right (of marriage) to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual."
If the couple of 55 years had to save on wedding expenses, they could've safely cut wedding photographers and videographers. Local and national media, including the San Francisco Chronicle and KTVU, covered the ceremony and cake-cutting here and throughout California. As more gay and lesbian couples register to wed Tuesday, sites such as the California Report have created special pages to monitor the legal, nuptial, and social upheavals. Within the Buzz mix, different regions have been considering gay marriage's impact, whether it be the Midwest, Georgia, or California itself and its November face-off over a proposed marriage amendment.
The issue, at least in Search, had been in a lull the past two years, except for the spike surrounding the court ruling. Last week's online interest in "gay marriage" mainly hailed from California and New York.
On Monday, however, the term leapt up more than 200%, as searches from Missouri, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, and Michigan squeezed between these two coastal states. Texas rounded out the top 10 states, but surprisingly, Massachusetts didn't number among the top searchers. Perhaps Bay State newlyweds recognize that political triumphs don't always guarantee marital harmony, as the New York Times reported.
Other related terms spiking Monday included "gay rights activists" and "gay rights movement." Searchers for these terms, as well as "gay marriage" and "california gay marriage," were split evenly between females and males 13-64, with teens well-represented in this mix.
What do these numbers mean? Based on search spikes, the issue doesn't seem to resonate as strongly as it once did, except on special occasions. This could change as the marriage amendment and presidential vote draw nearer. In the meantime, expect San Francisco and the rest of the state to enjoy its 21st-century summer of love, complete with rose petals and protest signs.
Filed under: Weddings, San Francisco, Gay Marriage, Law, California
The Buzz Week in Review
In the Buzz this week, consumers continued to be nickeled-and-dimed, new price highs meant new lows, and a daytime talk show became an unlikely political battleground—with allies from unlikely places.
On 'Idol'
In a season beset with complaints, "American Idol" had the last laugh by putting on a smashing finale—as well as pulling in its third-highest ratings finale ever (or did it?) and dominating iTunes. After subjecting two nice boys to bad boxing analogies and some risky business, a well-paced Wednesday show brought in oodles of searches for celebrity guests like ZZ Top (+437%), Donna Summer (+534%), and George Michael (+1,826%). The David vs. David face-off hyped up the suspense, and many (like Buddy TV) assumed an Archuleta victory. They should have paid heed to the Buzz Log projection, which was posted nine days before the winner was announced. (The projection's secret formula: geography and gender. Or as one audience placard put it, "Cougars for Cook.") Yet the producers can't rest easy, because (as New York Magazine opines) a Cook win really means restless fans want change.
On Idle
As oil executives testified before Congress on why crude oil passed up $130 a barrel, American Airlines added a $15 fee for checking in the first piece
of luggage. The Wall Street Journal predicted a future of higher fares and airlines liquidating. Perplexed lawmakers trying to get a straight answer about costs may want to check HowStuffWorks' piece on just what oil drilling entails.
On Idyll
May is the new June, with all the celebrity weddings and
engagements going on this month. Promptly after the California Supreme Court struck down a ban against same-sex marriage, talk show host Ellen Degeneres announced her engagement to actress Portia de Rossi. A few days later, she interviewed Republican presidential candidate John McCain on the issue. While she didn't sway him from his civil-union stance, another interview with newlywed Jenna (Bush) Hager resulted in a casual thumbs-up for Degeneres to use the Bush ranch for her upcoming nuptials. That show is scheduled to air next Wednesday ... so far.
Also spiking in Buzz this week ...
•A fatal driveway accident
killed Christian singer Stephen Curtis Chapman's 5-year-old daughter.
Sympathy searches rose up more than 6,000% for the Grammy award-winning music artist.
•Crime-fighting pays off in a weak economy, according to the New York Times. Crime Stoppers have reported increased snitching so tipsters can pay their bills or buy groceries.
•Texas welfare authorities appealed a state supreme court ruling allowing the return of nearly 500 children to the Yearning for Zion compound. Among the reactions was that of the ex-wife of the alleged compound leader, who stated in a Houston Chronicle profile that the court ruling could mean "we have lost another generation."
Filed under: American Idol, Crime, Recaps, Gay Marriage, Week in Review, Elections, Airlines, Wrap Up
Gay Marriage: Yea or Nay?
In the latest effort to define marriage as being solely between a man and a woman, 49 senators voted for and 48 voted against a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the United States. The final tally was 11 votes short of the 60 needed to move the amendment proposal further in the ratification process.
Regardless of how the "yeas" and "nays" were counted in Congress, searchers chose not to abstain from keeping tabs on the issue. In the days preceding the vote, "gay marriage" queries rose 75%, into the top 4,000 searches. "Same-sex marriage" also saw spikes in Search.
If you believe opinion polls, the U.S. is a country nearly split down the middle on whether or not to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. The similarly divided Senate vote may have put the issue of marriage and the Constitution to rest—but only for a short intermission. With 2006 midterm elections on the horizon and 2008 presidential hopefuls lining up at the bully pulpit, we don't expect gay marriage to be out of the headlines or far from the Search box for very long.
Filed under: Weddings, Politics, Gay Marriage, LGBT Issues
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.
For more detailed information, visit our FAQ.