the buzz log

The pandas have landed

Our picks from the day's hottest searches.

• How to Adopt Haiti Orphans (+1,550). Searches—especially from Iowa, Louisiana and Kentucky—show many are willing to go through the process, after the January earthquake increased the orphan population from 380,00 to perhaps a million.
• Giant panda (+1,194%). Tai Shan and Mei Lan landed in China today. Assimilation begins soon: The pands will get tutors to teach them commands in the appropriate dialect.
• Asashoryu (+372%). The first Mongolian sumo champ, ranked third in championship history, tearfully retired after a scandal in which he allegedly punched someone while drunk. He could've been the first yokozuna to be expelled.
• Tiger Woods golf balls (+261%). They were bound to become a double entendre one way or another, but a new line of golf balls depicting Woods' alleged conquests has raised the hackles of former porn star Joslyn James because it encourages violence against women.
• Giacometti's Walking Man (+114%). Check out the story behind the bidding that made this bronze sculpture art auction history.

 

Filed under: Sports, Animals, Golf, Disaster, Art, China, Tiger Woods, Scandals

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake flattened southern Haiti's fragile infrastructure, and horrific damage drew attention and aid from around the globe. In the United States, a president offered his take about the state of the union, following the ripple show of a Kennedy stronghold going to a Republican. And, the sports cups runneth over in a year that promises to be mighty competitive. Below, what January wrought.

Unnatural Disaster
Late afternoon on January 12, the earthquake rocked Haiti's coastal city Leogane, nearby capital Port-au-Prince and other settlements. More than 50 aftershocks kept its fearful survivors in the streets, and the death count neared 200,000. The flood of global aid could only come in a drop at a time through its single airport--the capital's piers had to be shored up with help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Citizens around the world looked at ways to help, from looking up how to "donate to haiti" (through "catholic charities haiti," "clinton bush haiti fund," "american red cross haiti relief") to "adopting a child from haiti." Even as assistance came in, engineers assessed how "little seismic reinforcement" in a quake-prone region accounted for the horrendous casualties, and one estimate predicts 10 years for the area to rebuild.
Search for reliable charities to donate.

Presidential Reboot
Nations, pundits, and citizens took out out their red pens, ready to hand out grades for President Barack Obama's first year in office. A hint as to his rating came in a special Massachusetts election, in which the seat held by the late Ted Kennedy for 46 years got snagged by Republican Scott Brown. Locally, observers blamed challenger and early fave Martha Coakley's for arrogant stand-offishness, while others pointed to tea party-powered politicking... and maybe a 1982 nude Cosmo centerfold didn't hurt either.

After Obama's State of the Union, some Americans changed their minus to a plus, although some downgraded their plus to a minus. Obama may have lost a majority, but apparently he gained a cousin: Genealogists found shared ancestor Richard Singletary, circa 1585-1687. Maybe that explains their shared photogenic popularity.
Find more about geneaology.

Sporting Chances
In the old days, a rousing song was de riguer for a mighty battle. That didn't give the edge to the Minnesota Vikings in their war against the Saints, even if the balladeer was Prince. The sentimental favorite from New Orleans secured a Super Bowl spot against the Indianapolis Colts for the first time. Meanwhile, sure-footed players took on one another on the soccer field in Africa. Over in Australia, Roger Federer once again sailed through the finals, the Williams sisters doubled up for another win, and Serena Williams put a damper on Justine Henin's retirement comeback. Bet on this: 2010 will be a memorable sporting year.
Catch Olympic fever.

Yahoo! January 2010 Web-Hot Searches

Filed under: Sports, Football, Politics, Tennis, Disaster, Earthquakes, Elections, Barack Obama

Our picks from the day's hottest searches.

• David Thompson (breakout). Michael Jordan, headed to the Hall of Fame on Friday, anointed North Carolina alum "Skywalker" to host his induction.
• Obama School Speech (+581%). No. 44 released his speech in advance and addressed the nation's children today.
• Warrior Mind Training (+289%). Time magazine profiled an Army program out to teach 1.1 million soldiers "the art of mental toughness."
• Uggs (+185%). Ladies are putting away the whites and pulling out the sheepskin boots.
• State Capitals (+125%). It's homework time. Here are some answers: Tallahassee, Frankfort, and Olympia.

Filed under: Sports, Education, Military, Shoes, Barack Obama, Geography