Since we started the Lycos 50 back in August 1999, the concept has spread throughout Lycos internationally, including Italy, France, and Japan. One of the most successful Lycos 50 lists comes from our northern neighbors at Sympatico-Lycos Canada. They have a weekly article with a very similar format and their own host, a fellow named Mark Thorne.
Many of the topics that you know and love are just as popular in Canada. Here's their Top 10 for this week:
1) Hockey
2) Britney Spears
3) Cuba
4) Dragonball
5) Florida
6) NHL
7) WWF
8) Las Vegas
9) Barbie
10) Shania Twain
Well, that should leave no doubt as to what is the most popular sport in Canada. Here are some other things you'll notice about the Canadian Lycos 50:
WINTER WONDERLAND: As befits the Great White North, winter terms are much more prevalent on Canada's list. This week, snowmobiles are #11, and snowblowers are #21. You also get an appearance by the winter sport of curling, virtually unknown outside of the most northern American cities, at #20.
Surprisingly, snowboarding, which is #35 here, does not make the Lycos 50 Canada. Most of the mountains for snowboarding are in the western part of the country, where Lycos Canada has far fewer users.
TRAVEL: To get away from that cold, Canadians seem to travel south a lot. An important note is that Lycos 50 Canada ranks countries, while Lycos 50 U.S. does not (for more information, see our FAQ). That being said, you'll notice three travel spots in the Canadian top 10, as well as Mexico at #15.
NO GAMES: Even though they are stuck inside during the winter, Canadians don't seem to play a lot of video games. Other than Pokemon (#12) and Playstation (#13), you won't find any game-related queries on this week's Canadian list, as opposed to the five specific games on our list. The closest is Majora's Mask, which was #50 on last week's Canadian 50.
SOUTHERN CROSSOVER: Back in December when the Canadian Election made the Lycos 50, it was quite surprising, but it's nothing out of the ordinary for the Lycos 50 Canada to have American topics make their list. For example, NASA (#37) and the NFL (#48) both make the Lycos 50 Canada regularly.
MMMM, CIDER: What is going on with apple cider vinegar? It is #26 this week in Canada and has been on their list for nine weeks. Apparently, it is a fad health tonic that is supposed to promote everything from weight loss and the immune system to dandruff prevention.
Here in the United States, apple cider vinegar gets only 7 percent as many searches as our #26, 'N Sync. In Canada, it gets more searches than the Backstreet Boys, while here it gets as many as Backstreet-wannabes BBMak.
CANADIAN HOTTIE: Justin Trudeau (#22) is the hugely popular son of the late prime minister Pierre Turdeau. He's a simple high school teacher thrust into the limelight after his father's death, but his thoughtful eulogy has turned him into the "thinking woman's hunk" and begun talk of a career in politics. He's been in the Lycos 50 Canada for 13 weeks, pretty incredible considering President-Elect George W. Bush doesn't come close to our list.
By the way, there is also a Lycos 25 for Canada in French. Here is this week's Top 10 from that list:
1) Napster
2) Quebec
3) Hockey
4) Digimon
5) Ski
6) Pokemon
7) Les Simpsons
8) Caillou (Kids TV show)
9) Mitsou (Quebecois singer)
10) Britney Spears
Surprise, surprise? Digimon is the top Japanese animated program in Quebec, and the current U.S. champion Dragonball drops off the French Canadian list this week after 13 weeks.
