Claire Swire Tops Britney
Well, if we were looking for a Lewinsky-esque, web-dominating event of 2000, we found one at the last minute.
The story of the "Yum-Yum Email" swept across the world last week and is even more of a phenomenon this week, landing both marketing executive Claire Swire (#3) and lawyer Bradley Chait (#7), aka Brad the Cad, in the top 10.
That means that only Christmas and Dragonball are more popular online than this star-crossed London couple and their indiscreet e-mail correspondence. Britney Spears, Santa Claus, and Napster all move down to make way for Ms. Swire. Never let it be said that kinky London lawyers can't top American pop starlets.
If we retroactively include Brad and Claire on the Web's Most Wanted Awards, they rank as the #11 news story of 2000. Click here to dig deeper with more fun Brad and Claire facts.
HOT FROM THE OVEN: At Thanksgiving, we saw a boost for pecan pie, but the hot Christmas dessert is definitely the cookie (#30). Cookie recipe searches have shot up roughly 200 percent since a month ago. We didn't include searches for specific cookies in our count, but the most popular Xmas cookie seems to be the sugar cookie, followed by gingerbread and peanut butter.
HOT FROM THE EARTH: Popocatepetl (#37) is the impossible-to-spell volcano that erupted December 18 near Mexico City. Many searchers who are not fluent in Aztec simply searched for it by its nickname, Volcano Popo.
By the way, the volcano's name is pronounced poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til.
HOT FROM THE PAST: 16th century French seer Nostradamus (#32) makes his first-ever appearance on the Lycos 50 thanks to a widely-distributed email that claims that he wrote the following in 1555:
"Come the millennium, month 12
In the home of greatest power,
The village idiot will come forth
To be acclaimed the leader."
Nostradamus wrote so many things that this one is easy to believe, but he didn't really write this; it's just another piece of Election 2000 humor poking fun at President-elect George W. Bush (#43).
Speaking of which, it is time to finally say goodbye to Election 2000. This year's defining event spent 12 weeks on the Lycos 50 including two weeks at #1 and seven in the top 10.
STILL NOT DEAD: That rumor of Eminem's (#8) death still won't go away. In fact, it is even more popular this week. Eminem is in the top 10 for the first time since June, and 21 percent of searches ask about the rapper's non-death in a non-car crash.
SHORT SUBJECTS: 22% of Madonna (#18) searches asked about her wedding, including requests for a website showing very fuzzy and distant photos of Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie emerging from the church? Tomb Raider (#42) searches get a boost thanks to the recently debuted trailer for the upcoming film adaptation? Don't fret holiday fans; Christmas may be over but Hanukkah (#16) is more popular than ever and New Year's Day (#47) is just around the corner.
NEW THIS WEEK: Bradley Chait, cookie recipes, Nostradamus, Popocatepetl, college football, Tomb Raider, New Year's.
DROPOUTS: The U.S. Supreme Court, Election 2000, Al Gore, science fair projects, William Shakespeare, Martha Stewart, golf.
BIGGEST RISE: Madonna, up 30 places to #18.
BIGGEST DROP: George W. Bush, down 27 places to #43.
ONE YEAR AGO: After making news for taking insider stock trading tips, adult film actress Marylin Star debuts at #15.
NEXT WEEK: The Lycos 50 weekly report will appear on Wednesday again due to New Year's Day.
FINALLY: A few confused Lycos users searched for Brad the Chad, which I believe sums up the year 2000 in one perfect phrase. | 
