the buzz log
Falling for Fall Colors
If you skipped a summer vacation, now's your chance to take in the "fall colors" (+46%). Some of the best places to view the foliage are in your home state or one nearby. So, grab a "fall colors map," your camera, and your car keys and find the "best places for fall colors."
Where to go for "fall colors in united states"? According to Road and Travel magazine, for the best places to see "fall colors 2008" (+ 50%), go to "wisconsin fall colors" and "michigan fall colors." Those states also rank among the top 10 searches for fall colors, along with "new england fall colors."
But here's a factoid that may surprise you: displaced West Coasters pining for a taste of that East Coast autumn need look no further than "best places for fall colors california." The golden- and red-hued trees can be seen in parks throughout the state, according to the California State Parks department. If you prefer to travel the rails, enjoy "fall colors by train" or a "fall colors train trip from chicago il."
Finally, for those deprived of viewing the changing leaves first hand, there's always "fall colors clothing" retail therapy.
Road Tripping for Cheapskates
At a time when gas prices are being described as "insane," we don't imagine that road trips are at the top of many summer agendas. But that's not to say the great American tradition has become an impossible dream.
There are a number of ways to trim costs while tasting the open road. A video from ABC explains how a GPS device can help drivers find (relatively) cheap gas. For those who have Web access on the road, gasbuddy.com can be a valuable ally.
But, despite the current economic climate, its not all about keeping things cheap. You also have to be safe. A blog on cars.com highlights the big three issues parents should address before taking their little monsters out to see the America.
But, wait, what about having fun? A blog from USA Today reports that some GPS devices come with celebrity voices. "Mr. T says turn right in 200 yards, fool!" Ignore him at your peril, folks.
Finally, if you're determined to not give one more dime to the oil companies, NPR has a suggestion. Listen to five American composers take you on a "virtual trip" across the United States. You won't come home with a memory card full of memories, but you will have a wallet full of gas money.
Filed under: Travel
From the Rock to the Ritz
Once upon a time, the baddest of the bad were sent to Alcatraz to cool their heels. Fortunately, that's no longer the case. If felons were still being housed on "The Rock," a luxury hotel would be much more difficult to build.
Wait, what? Five-star accommodations on a site that once held hundreds of scary convicts? Yep! Several articles in the Buzz report that the National Parks Service (of which Alcatraz is a part) may build a swanky lodge for tourists and wannabe jail birds.
Of course, the obvious question is why. Why would someone want to pay to spend an evening on the same infamous island Al Capone once called home? The unofficial and even more obvious answer: Because it'd be totally cool. We haven't done the market research, but we'd bet plenty of tourists would love to spend a dark and stormy night at history's most notorious former prison... or a hotel next door, anyway.
Right now, the hotel is in the discussion stage. Maybe something will come of it, maybe not. Regardless, the Parks Service should take note of the Buzz. This is one idea that has folks talking.
Filed under: Travel
June Glossies
Is the to-read pile of June magazines clogging your inbox? A few periodicals celebrate their anniversaries this month... just in case you need an excuse to wallow in the pleasures of the slickly printed word. Whet the appetite by reading some features online.
Gastric Guzzlers
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Budget Magazine has gone UGC: user-generated content. With the exception of one feature, every tip comes from a regular Joe, including a state-by-state gastronomical tour of "America's Favorite Restaurants." Speaking of insiders, Coastal Living gets a native son to talk about Waikiki. If you're traveling abroad, Conde Nast Traveler tells you not to twirl your pasta in its etiquette guide.
Corraling the Round-Ups
Wired magazine is another birthday boy. The grown-up geek hits 15, and celebrates by hitting the carbon issue. Naturally, there must be one shamed trip down memory lane, and the issue reminisces gear lust gone bad. In another round-up, Rolling Stone puts Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" first in its list of top 100 guitar songs… guitar hero wannabes, take note.
Emo Under Fire and Other Stories
Glossy covers usually belie magazines' investigative features, but dig deep and you'll find pieces like Blender's Mexican world of emo racism. Elle magazine explores how some organizers are trying to change some states' surprisingly stringent divorce laws. New York Magazine shows how one woman made her case on YouTube, and Glamour follows some women's descent into "mortgage hell."
Other slick June must-reads...
Light at the End of the Runway
With oil prices continuing to rise, airlines are desperate to cut costs. That means higher prices and fewer perks for passengers. Fortunately for fed up flyers, all hope is not lost.
Aviation.com's article on how average travelers can score first class tickets is begging to be buzzed. The piece features tips on how to find a seat with leg room, hot towels, and edible food without the hassle of taking out a second mortgage. That's win-win, baby.
As of now, the article is flying under the radar, but we believe many a road warrior could benefit from looking it over. Check it out, and if you like what you read, buzz it up.
Filed under: Travel, Air Travel
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford 400 | Breakout! |
| 2 | Indonesia Ferry | Breakout! |
| 3 | Jordan Chandler | 3481% |
| 4 | Evan Chandler | 2322% |
| 5 | American Music Awards | 1841% |
| 6 | John F. Kennedy | 1529% |
| 7 | Turkey Stuffing Recipes | 1361% |
| 8 | Liam Hemsworth | 1172% |
| 9 | Lou Dobbs | 1142% |
| 10 | Hendrick Motorsports | 888% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Friday | +340 | 1290 |
| 2 | NFL | +489 | 670 |
| 3 | Jennifer Lopez | +451 | 515 |
| 4 | New Moon | -67 | 250 |
| 5 | American Music Awards | +236 | 249 |
| 6 | UFC | -36 | 239 |
| 7 | Miley Cyrus | +66 | 169 |
| 8 | Hulu | -11 | 154 |
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.