Bulk Email

An abundance of news stories about Victoria’s Secret attracted searchers’ curiosity over the past week. Queries for “victoria’s secret models names,” “victoria’s secret angels,” “victoria’s secret models,” and “victoria’s secret fashion show” all surged. Between mystery panty raiders, models appearing on the CBS show “How I Met Your Mother,” and the upcoming fashion show telecast on December 4, the popular clothing retailer is the top “secret” at the Search box.

The desire to hunt down the most hush-hush of recipes has folks dialing up “secret recipes,” “top secret recipes” (because just plain old secret isn’t enough), and “secret food cures.” Foodies in the 35-44 age range account for 21% of the queries on “secret food cures,” with the contest between men and women split evenly (10% and 11%, respectively).

Love for the Webkinz online community has some stealthy searchers looking up “webkinz secret codes,” “webkinz world log in secret code,” and “webkinz super secret recipes.” Think kids are most interested in sleuthing for Webkinz secrets? Nope, it’s adults from 35-54 years old who lead the pack.

We make no secret of the top “secret” searches. Take a gander and see if yours is among them …

Everything old is new again when it comes to buzz. Searches on retro items are hot right now and it’s high time to check out these blasts from the past.

Today’s retro buzz comes with an up-to-date twist. Queries on “retro myspace layouts” (+46%) and “retro backgrounds” (+39%) demonstrate the appeal of adding a classic twist to modern life.

What other items come to mind when retro reminiscing? We jumped into the time capsule of Search and dug up the top 20…

A couple of retro notes…

—Number 23 is #1 when it comes to retro style. Michael Jordan’s classic kicks slammed the Search box.

—Retro candy is one of the sweetest searches we’ve seen. Save us an Abba-Zaba!

Sunday is usually a day of rest, not a day of panic. But panic is exactly what happened this past weekend when unsuspecting folks discovered they didn’t know what time it was.

The decision to extend daylight saving time an extra week caused the confusion. Apparently, not everyone got the new schedule. Many people who expected to “fall back” on Sunday morning discovered they’d jumped the gun and were an hour off.

Chaos reigned as the Search box was overrun with frantic questions about daylight saving time. Is it over? (Answer—no.) When does it end? (Next week.) And, most importantly, what time is it right now? (Well, Timmy, that depends.)

For now, it appears the confusion has subsided. Folks are going about their business blissfully unaware that this coming Sunday their worlds will once again be turned upside down by a (real) time change. Heed our warning! The end of daylight saving time is nigh!

This weekend’s top search spikes from the NFL showcase a mix of offensive stars…

—Maurice Jones-Drew (+443%): Fantasy team owners were concerned with the injury status of the Jags RB. The pint-sized terror did play against the Bucs despite a sore knee, but only contributed 62 yards to the Jacksonville offense.

—Frank Gore (+257%): The Niners RB questioned the play-calling after last week’s loss to the Giants. We wonder how he feels after the Saints limited him to 41 yards this week.

—Tom Brady (+239%): Tom Terrific prepped for his big game against the Colts by dismantling the Redskins 52-7. He’s on a record pace for TD passes and the Pats show signs of taking their foot off the gas.

—Jamal Lewis (+194%): Fantasy players were curious about the foot injury of the Browns punishing RB. He played, but he wasn’t a big factor in the win over the Rams.

—Randy Moss (+109%): Tom Brady’s favorite deep threat only caught three passes against the Redskins, but one of them was for a score. Will he be able to break the single-season record for TD catches?

—Travis Henry (+96%): Broncos star RB is supposed to play tonight if he can manage to run despite injured ribs. It’s a game-time decision for the prolific runner.

If you haven’t put together a Halloween costume by now, you have one simple requirement: an easy costume that you won’t have to explain to everyone.

In these last few days before Halloween, procrastinators are pounding the search box for “last minute halloween costumes” (+2,629%), “ideas for halloween costumes” (+448%), “easy creative homemade halloween costumes” (+436%), and just plain “easy halloween costumes” (+275%). Some may have already figured out what they’re wearing, but are now scrambling to put their “dogs in costumes” (+378%).

Even for those smugly saying, “I made my outfit weeks ago,” it’s interesting to see what’s on the minds of folks who have left it to the final hours. Take a gander at the most popular “costume” searches…

Mentalist Criss Angel and psychic Uri Geller joined forces Wednesday in the debut performance of NBC’s newest reality spectacle, “Phenomenon.” The two entertainers play masters of the ceremony and judges as 10 contestants compete to prove themselves the “next great mentalist.” Simon Cowell, eat your heart out.

TV Tracker dubbed the show’s ratings “disappointing,” but buzz revealed something else. After the episode aired, searches for the program flashed upwards 432%. Uri Geller, enemy to spoons everywhere, saw a 170% surge in Search. But the aging trickster lacks clanking neckwear, highlighted tresses, and any popularity with the kids. His buzz was nothing compared to his co-host’s.

Driven almost entirely by females under the age of 17, lookups for the “mystifier” Angel, his pictures, and his solo show on A&E surged. Other queries—for his videos, his magic secrets, his MySpace pictures, and his biography—also picked up. Our favorite: “how to levitate like criss angel.” Don’t try that at home, girls.

One commenter on the NBC message boards predicted that the ratings will drop off after the first episode. Maybe the buzz will, too. But even if “Phenomenon” proves a bust, we have a hunch that Mr. Angel will always be in searchers’ good graces.

This weekend’s top search spikes from the NFL showcase a mix of offensive stars…

—Maurice Jones-Drew (+443%): Fantasy team owners were concerned with the injury status of the Jags RB. The pint-sized terror did play against the Bucs despite a sore knee, but only contributed 62 yards to the Jacksonville offense.

—Frank Gore (+257%): The Niners RB questioned the play-calling after last week’s loss to the Giants. We wonder how he feels after the Saints limited him to 41 yards this week.

—Tom Brady (+239%): Tom Terrific prepped for his big game against the Colts by dismantling the Redskins 52-7. He’s on a record pace for TD passes and the Pats show signs of taking their foot off the gas.

—Jamal Lewis (+194%): Fantasy players were curious about the foot injury of the Browns punishing RB. He played, but he wasn’t a big factor in the win over the Rams.

—Randy Moss (+109%): Tom Brady’s favorite deep threat only caught three passes against the Redskins, but one of them was for a score. Will he be able to break the single-season record for TD catches?

—Travis Henry (+96%): Broncos star RB is supposed to play tonight if he can manage to run despite injured ribs. It’s a game-time decision for the prolific runner.

When you welcome the undead, don’t forget the Martha Stewart cupcakes.

After the costume, sprucing up—or down—the domicile is a must for celebrating All Hallows’ Eve. The buzz for “halloween decorations” of all sorts have risen 163% in the past 30 days. In a testimony to the celebration’s growing power of darkness, searches are a quarter higher compared to last year.

It’s not too late to learn the dark arts of interior decorating. Check out these top 13 ways to make your home an unholy terror.  

1. Halloween pumpkin. Would-be gourd carvers have been taking their duties seriously, as they look up designs and stencil patterns to make true art.
2. Martha Stewart Halloween. The domestic diva provides genteel inspiration for every petrifying occasion.
3. Halloween Critters. “Bats,” “black cats,” and “spiders,” oh my… Every haunted hearth should have a hallowed pet, and bats lead in the Buzz pecking order.
4. Halloween props. Doing up the homestead proper means special effects. Skeleton chandelier, anyone?
5. Halloween Sounds. Decorators know good design must stimulate all the senses, and nothing screams the holiday better than a blood-curdling shriek… over and over and over…
6. Halloween Lights. Lighting sets the mood, whether for romance or fear.
7. Halloween Skeleton. The formalwear for spirits, who don this familiar garb when they visit the living.
8. Halloween Tombstones. Make guests relax by providing them a final resting place—personalized, of course.
9. Halloween Table Decorations. A good spread of “halloween cakes,” “treats,” and “cookies” deserve a good setting.
10. Halloween Hangman. Nothing like having the middleman between life and death as a house guest.
11. Halloween Inflatables. Get elaborate with pumped-up hearses, giant spiders, even an instant graveyard.
12. Halloween Glow-in-the-Dark. Nightfall is the whole point of Halloween, so find decorations that stand out during these darkest hours.
13. Halloween Hanging Decorations. Don’t look behind you… look up. Hangmen, bats, ghosts, skeleton brides… frightful decoration truly comes from all directions.

If you haven’t put together a Halloween costume by now, you have one simple requirement: an easy costume that you won’t have to explain to everyone.

In these last few days before Halloween, procrastinators are pounding the search box for “last minute halloween costumes” (+2,629%), “ideas for halloween costumes” (+448%), “easy creative homemade halloween costumes” (+436%), and just plain “easy halloween costumes” (+275%). Some may have already figured out what they’re wearing, but are now scrambling to put their “dogs in costumes” (+378%).

Even for those smugly saying, “I made my outfit weeks ago,” it’s interesting to see what’s on the minds of folks who have left it to the final hours. Take a gander at the most popular “costume” searches…

Mentalist Criss Angel and psychic Uri Geller joined forces Wednesday in the debut performance of NBC’s newest reality spectacle, “Phenomenon.” The two entertainers play masters of the ceremony and judges as 10 contestants compete to prove themselves the “next great mentalist.” Simon Cowell, eat your heart out.

TV Tracker dubbed the show’s ratings “disappointing,” but buzz revealed something else. After the episode aired, searches for the program flashed upwards 432%. Uri Geller, enemy to spoons everywhere, saw a 170% surge in Search. But the aging trickster lacks clanking neckwear, highlighted tresses, and any popularity with the kids. His buzz was nothing compared to his co-host’s.

Driven almost entirely by females under the age of 17, lookups for the “mystifier” Angel, his pictures, and his solo show on A&E surged. Other queries—for his videos, his magic secrets, his MySpace pictures, and his biography—also picked up. Our favorite: “how to levitate like criss angel.” Don’t try that at home, girls.

One commenter on the NBC message boards predicted that the ratings will drop off after the first episode. Maybe the buzz will, too. But even if “Phenomenon” proves a bust, we have a hunch that Mr. Angel will always be in searchers’ good graces.