the buzz log

Obama and McCain

Tuesday night's debate was a bit of a snoozer. Despite the rumors that Senator McCain would take the gloves off, he remained a polite pugilist (not counting his "that one" comment). Meanwhile, Senator Obama stayed on message while ignoring Tom Brokaw's numorous pleas for brevity. Though certainly not a "game changer," the town hall meeting was notable for John McCain's $300 billion plan to have the government buy and renegotiate mortgages on houses whose value have dropped.

The proposal has folks talking. Forbes.com points out that this is hardly a new idea among economists. The New York Times writes that "the mortgage renewal idea actually originated with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, said Charlie Black, a senior adviser to Mr. McCain."

So, is it feasible and, more importantly, is it a good idea? Not surprisingly, it depends on who you ask. The $300 billion used to buy back the dodgy mortgages would be part of the much discussed $700 billion bailout package. The Associated Press writes that the Treasury's plan for the money could be underway by the time the new president is sworn in. In other words, maybe the money would be spent by then.

Both candidates appear to support the idea, which is ironic. Why? According to Marketwatch the proposal originated with President Bush, a politician who both candidates want nothing to do with.

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain

Misty May-Treanor

1. "Misty May" (+109%). The lindy hop did it. Olympic gold medalist and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Misty May-Treanor is out of the competition after injuring herself during dance practice.
2. "Martini" (+387%). We'll take ours shaken, not stirred. The iconic gin or vodka cocktail is buzzing in Search. Perhaps investors want to take the sting off the current economic forecast. Get your mixology lessons here.
3. "Definition of recession" (+363%). Nobody seems to agree on the meaning of the economic term. Maybe it's like obscenity: We'll know it when we see it.
4. "Vh1 hip hop honors 2008" (+237%). Here is something you can understand: Think of it as the hip hop hall of fame. This year's honorees include Cypress Hill, Naughty by Nature, and De La Soul. See who got top honors here.
5. "Presidential debate" (+204%). The New York Times describes the current tenor of the campaign as "a knife fight in a telephone booth." So let the bloodletting begin. See what to watch for tonight.

Another tough day on Wall Street

What with stock portfolios a study in red, home values sinking to Mediterreanean Avenue levels, and the nation still fighting two wars, our personal Fetal Position Index is through the roof. These days, we’re scared of everything and everyone: Bush, Cheney, Obama, McCain, earthquakes, ghosts, credit default swaps, and Miley Cyrus. Not to mention hurricanes and Chinese milk. Plus Osama bin Laden’s still on the loose, and Sarah Palin keeps winking at us. Seems the only thing we're not afraid of anymore is Kimbo Slice.

Web searchers, too, are feeling the Fear, and not just of events in the news. Aversion to spiders, heights, and other sweat-inducing objects of terror are on the rise, still driving search results with clammy regularity. So in this time of National Nervous Breakdown, we'd like to present to you the top phobia searches for the week.

And remember, the only thing to fear is fear itself.

And spiders. 

1. Agoraphobia (fear of open or public spaces)
2. Xenophobia (fear of stangers or foreign people)
3. Acrophobia (fear of heights)
4. Claustrophobia (fear of Santa - no not really - fear of enclosed spaces)
5. Social phobia (aka “social anxiety disorder,” fear of social situations)
6. Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
7. Homophobia (fear of or contempt for lesbian and gay men)
8. Photophobia (abnormal sensitivity to or fear of light)
9. Triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13)
10. Commitment phobia (coined in a 1987 book, usually refers to fear of committing to a permanent relationship)