While snow shovels may be topping our personal Lycos 50 here at corporate headquarters outside Boston, we return to the Lycos 50 to find good ol' Dragonball once again on top of our beloved list.
Just below that is NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who drops only one place in the second week after his death. Much of this attention is related to the controversy over photos from Earnhardt's autopsy. Florida newspapers want access to the photos, but Earnhardt's widow Teresa feels the autopsy is private family business. 15 percent of Earnhardt queries asked for the autopsy photos, enough to place the autopsy itself at #61 this week.
TASTY TOES: The number of searches for Foot and Mouth Disease (#25) is a demonstration of how Lycos' international readership has grown. Americans may not have heard about it, but it is the biggest story in Europe right now.
The disease has put the British countryside off-limits and triggered dire warnings of economic collapse for farmers. Foot and mouth disease carries minimal risk to humans but can lead to animals losing weight rapidly. Countries all over Europe are trying to prevent British products from entering their markets, in fear of spreading the disease to their own livestock.
By the way, that other European meat-borne disease, Mad Cow Disease, gets about 25 percent as many searches as Foot and Mouth this week.
REALITY BITES: It's a big week for reality TV shows. Survivor (#9) makes it back into the top 10, powered by interest in Michael Skupin's hand injury last week. ABC's The Mole (#42) finally reveals the mole's identity and makes the Lycos 50 for the first time, with searches jumping 140 percent. To complete the reality trilogy, Temptation Island's last episode pushes that show to #20.
GIVE IT UP: Mardi Gras rises all the way to #3 this week, but it isn't all about the fun and carnivals. Ash Wednesday (#57) and Lent (#68) nearly make the Lycos 50 as well. Last year we combined those two topics -- if we did so this year, they would stand at #25, the same place they took last year.
In addition, Mardi Gras nearly pushes the city of New Orleans onto the Lycos 50; it finishes at #52. If it had made the list, it would have been the first city other than perennial Las Vegas to ever make an appearance.
AS PREDICTED: Last week we wrote that we expected Dave Matthews Band to be the one musical group which could break into the list of top bands. This week, thanks to their new album Everyday, Dave and the gang debut on the Lycos 50 at #37 (or #5 on the music list).
SHORT SUBJECTS: The Seattle earthquake (#5) is the latest natural disaster to make the Lycos 50? The absurd web craze All Your Base Are Belong To Us moves up to #36? Just like last year, the late children's author Dr. Seuss (#14) makes the Lycos 50 in honor of his birthday. 26 percent of searches spelled his name Suess? Two television boosts last week: Judy Garland goes up 380 percent, thanks to the biographical miniseries which aired on ABC last week, and HBO's The Sopranos goes up 70 percent thanks to the season premiere? The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (#32) has staying power? Taxes (#8) drop five spots; is everyone done with theirs early this year?
NEW THIS WEEK: Seattle earthquake, Dr. Seuss, Foot and Mouth Disease, Dave Matthews Band, The Mole, St. Patrick's Day, plus the return of The Sims, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera.
DROPOUTS: Daytona 500, Black History Month, Hannibal, Powerball lottery, XFL cheerleaders (though the XFL remains at #30), pinup Carmen Electra, love poems, NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin, rockers Limp Bizkit.
BIGGEST RISE: Survivor, up 23 places to #9.
BIGGEST DROP: Grammy Awards, down 31 places to #38.
ONE YEAR AGO: Napster makes the Lycos 50 for the first time, at #26. We called it a "campus music craze." Who would have expected it to become one of the most controversial subjects in America?
FINALLY: Survivor breakout star Kimmi Kappenberg outdraws Temptation Island breakout star Mandy Lauderdale 62 percent to 38 percent.
FRIDAY: We predict a hit movie you may not expect.
