Feed: Yahoo! Buzz Log - AggScore: 79.9

Groundhog Day Storms the Web

by Claudine Zap

Groundhog Day is almost upon us, when marmot meteorologists take over the weather report to answer the pressing question: Is spring almost here, or are we subject to six more weeks of winter -- and maybe more important, are rodents ever right?

Searches on Yahoo! have forecasted a storm of interest, including "what is groundhog day," "when is groundhog day," and "history of groundhog day."

The story goes that on February 2, if the groundhog (also known as a woodchuck) emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. No shadow means an early spring.

The history of this now American tradition stems from pagan and Christian holidays brought over from Europe that looked to hibernating animals to signal the end of winter. The Germans used hedgehogs as their weather guides. In Pennsylvania, early American settlers found groundhogs, not hedgehogs, and the forecasting began in the new country with a new rodent.

Thanks to the movie "Groundhog Day," the marmot Punxsutawney Phil has reached celebrity status. The supposedly 125-year-old rodent, who gained fame in the comedy starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, boasts a Facebook page along with media hype.

So how accurate is the forecast from Punxsutawney Phil? According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil's reading is 100% accurate, natch. But the National Climatic Data Center disagrees, noting that its research shows "no predictive skill for the groundhog during the most recent years of this analysis." The Stormfax Almanac concurs, judging the Pennsylvania prognosticator to be correct a not-very-impressive 39% of the time.

But perhaps that's not all that surprising: As the Christian Science Monitor points out, no weather forecaster would dare deliver predictions further than a few days out. And they've got high-tech gadgets at their fingertips.

But in this case, tradition rules, and across the country, reasonable people turn to rodents for their weather report -- and the results can be unpleasant. The most infamous groundhog has to be Staten Island Chuck, who gained notoriety for biting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg a few years back. Other groundhogs emerge on the day to make their own, possibly contradictory, predictions: The Huffington Post tracked down lesser-known furry mammals who forecast.

Groundhog or no, the first day of spring is officially March 20, and it can't come soon enough.

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Lego Man in Space Moves the Web

by Claudine Zap

Two teens from Toronto successfully launched a Lego figure into near space -- and launched a storm of interest on the Web.

Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad, 17-year-old classmates at Agincourt Collegiate Institute, took four months, many Saturdays, and $400 to carry a Lego figurine and four cameras miles above the earth, a project that the two did for fun, not for class.

"We didn't really believe we could do it until we did," Ho told the Toronto Star. You can see the video they made, using the stunning photos of the Lego man 78,000 feet off the ground, here.

The video of the Lego man in near space has gone viral, with 570,000 views and counting. Searches on Yahoo! for "lego man in space" have soared 325% in just one day.

The high school students, both seniors, were inspired by a video of a similar project undertaken by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The DIY contraption included a GPS locator so the students could track the weather balloon (a professional-grade one they purchased online) once it landed. Using a website that calculates a weather balloon's landing position based on coordinates and variables like wind speed, the two waited to launch the object until the timing was right for a Canadian landing.

The video shows the two-inch high LEGO man holding a Canadian flag flying high above Earth and the clouds, until the tilt of the earth's axis can be seen. And then the balloon pops, sending the Lego guy back to the ground in a mere 32 minutes.

Ho and Muhammad may still be walking on air with all the accolades they've received for their successful project. The teens have been offered cameras from Canon and asked to speak at an engineering competitions, and they've been given funds to cover the cost of the project. Even Lego sent its congratulations.

Not bad for two kids who haven't even found out yet where they're going to college.

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Clooney Has a Big Prank Ready for Pitt

by Mike Krumboltz

George Clooney is a respected actor, director, and activist. But he's also a born prankster. The star of "The Descendants" recently visited "Inside the Actors Studio," where he dished about his plans for pulling one over on his good friend and rival Brad Pitt.

In the clip, an audience member asks Clooney about some of his favorite pranks that he's pulled. Clooney says, "I'm a big believer in making (movie) sets fun ... I have done some horrible things to people. Truly, truly horrible. I'm working on one now for Brad Pitt. It might end his career." Clooney then added, "I owe him, so I'm getting him."

What did Pitt do to inspire such a revenge? We're not sure if this is the reason, but according to Matt Damon, while on the set of "Ocean's Twelve," Pitt constructed a fake memo and gave it to the Italian crew. The memo instructed the crew not to look Clooney in the eye and only call him "Danny" or "Mr. Ocean." Clooney was apparently none too pleased.

Clooney's love of pranks goes way back. As the New York Post explains, the Oscar winner placed plants in front of Julia Roberts's trailer door on the set of "Ocean's Eleven" so she couldn't exit. He arranged for a tailor to secretly take in Matt Damon's pants every day while Damon was trying to lose weight for a role. "He couldn't understand how he seemed to be gaining weight while he was trying so hard to lose it," Clooney explained.

He also once told his friend, actor Richard Kind, that he was studying art. Clooney found a horrible-looking painting in the trash and told Kind that he'd painted it. "And then for his 40th birthday I gave him this horrible painting. He had to hang it on his wall, [it was by] his best friend! And for years people would come over -- everyone else knew it was out of the trash -- and go, 'That is a beautiful painting.'"

The episode of "Inside the Actors Studio" will air January 31.

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Cher Not (Repeat: NOT) Dead

by Vera H-C Chan

In today's modern world of Internet hoaxes, celebs must spend time reassuring people of their continued existence. There are celebrity death generators online, in which you can choose the place, time, and manner of death --  often abroad and in a car off the cliffs.

This Cher rumor, however, was traced to a Tweet from someone whose handle is @Lorraine_Star: She falsely claimed that CNN reported of the 65-year-old mega-star's untimely demise in her Malibu home. Her motivation stems from the odd path to fame — falsely declaring a celeb dead to get followers.

The news was retweeted by Kim Kardashian to her 12 million followers — and since angrily retracted. @Lorraine_Star, known among her followers for expletive-filled derogatory posts about celebrities, has since proudly claimed credit for the hoax: "I started the Cher Trending topic Because I'm God."

There has been an earlier Twitition to remove @Lorraine_Star from Twitter because of her frequent foul-mouthed, derogatory posts about celebrities, and "she is so mean, so rude!!!" Kim K might just sign that one.

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The Return of Ferris Bueller

by Mike Krumboltz

Alert Principal Rooney! Ferris Bueller, that righteous dude we all know and love, is making a return.

A 10-second teaser for an upcoming Super Bowl commercial shows a modern-day Matthew Broderick opening bedroom curtains, turning to the camera, and saying, "How can I handle work on a day like today?" Then the familiar "boom-boom-chick-chicka-chickah" music from the John Hughes movie plays over a black screen that reads, "2.5.12" (the date of the Super Bowl).

Some wondered if the clip might indicate that a sequel to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is in the works. Not so. Reports indicate that it's actually a sneak peek at a commercial for Honda. According to auto blog Jalopnik, the commercial, which was directed by Todd Phillips of "The Hangover," will feature a Honda CR-V doing the same kind of stunts Ferris and Cameron did in Cameron's dad's 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Much of the commercial will mimick shots from the 1986 film.

The idea of the inspirational, rebellious, take-no-gruff Ferris driving a mini-SUV is a little sad to us. But, hey, everybody gets old. And judging by the buzz around the teaser, Ferris hasn't lost his popularity. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, bloods, wastoids, dweebies -- they all adore him.

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Ashton Kutcher Does Care

by Claudine Zap

Timing is everything, and when news broke that Demi Moore had been hospitalized for "health and exhaustion issues," ex Ashton Kutcher was living it up in Brazil.

The two split last November after the "Two and a Half Men" star reportedly cheated on his wife of six years. But even though the two are kaput and Kutcher appears to be partying with supermodels in Sao Paulo, it doesn't mean he doesn't care.

A source told People that the 33-year-old is "deeply concerned for Demi," adding, "He still cares about her and wants the best for her. But their marriage is ending and they are both moving on with their lives." In fact, the source said Kutcher was in the South American country shooting an ad campaign when he heard the news.

The Web was certainly moved by Moore's health crisis. Yahoo! searches for "demi moore news" rose 200% in the last day. The 49-year-old was hospitalized on Monday night after she apparently suffered a seizure. At the same time, Kutcher was tweeting a picture of himself "surfing the streets of Sao Paulo." For now, he's gone Twitter-silent.

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Salma Hayek Shines at Paris Events

by Mike Krumboltz

Va-va-va-voom! Salma Hayek, 45, showed off her famous figure at two recent events, proving once again that she can't not look good.

The stunning star attended the Paris premiere of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" in a black leather ensemble. Hayek paired the dress with a glamorous updo and suede boots. The belted outfit, with its three-quarter-length sleeves, struck that so-difficult-to-hit balance between provocative and demure.

A few days later, Hayek rocked a daring black lace dress at an event at Paris Couture Week. The wraparound gown, which Hayak paired with a sexy black choker from Yves Saint Laurent, showed off the actress's gorgeous gams and, ahem, imposing cleavage.

Hayek attended the event with husband François-Henri Pinault. The Frenchman is chief executive officer of PPR, a multinational company that specializes in luxury retail brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Hayek and Pinault have one child together, a daughter. Pinault has three other children, including a son with model Linda Evangelista.

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Demi Moore's Treatment and Troubled Times

by Claudine Zap

Demi Moore is seeking treatment for exhaustion and health issues. The news of the star's health concerns adds to a troubled time for the actress. TMZ confirmed that Moore was taken to a hospital after paramedics responded to a 911 call placed from her home.

A rep for the actress told People, "Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health. She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends." It seems that ex-Ashton Kutcher is not part of that group: He has been catching headlines in Brazil, where he is doing a fashion shoot and partying with supermodels.

The 49-year-old, who had been busy with a directing stint for Lifetime and a part in the indie flick "Margin Call," decided to pull out of the biopic "Lovelace," in which she had a small role as feminist Gloria Steinem.

Moore had fans worried months ago when she showed up on the red carpet looking dramatically thinner than her usual toned and trimmed self.

The cover model for the February issue of Bazaar admitted to the magazine that she had lost an unhealthy amount of weight, which she chalked up to age. She said she is "now experiencing my body as extremely thin -- thin in a way that I never imagined somebody would be saying to me, 'You're too thin, and you don't look good.'"

In November, the news broke that she and her husband, "Two and a Half Men" star Ashton Kutcher, had decided to end their six-year marriage, after scandalous reports that the actor, 15 years her junior, had been cheating.

Moore, who starred in "Ghost," was previously married to Bruce Willis. The two had three daughters together -- the oldest, Rumer Willis, who is 23, took her mom out over the weekend to party at Beacher's Madhouse in Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel. The newly single Moore reportedly sipped Red Bull, danced on a couch, and enjoyed the attention of "90210" actor Ryan Rottman.

Rumer was spotted at the hospital where Moore is being treated, rallying for her mother's recovery.

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Mitt's Millions Move the Web

by Claudine Zap

News flash: Mitt Romney is way richer than you. How rich? A very cool -- if incredibly maddening tool -- can tell you exactly how long it takes for Richie Romney to make your salary (hint: not very long). Based on the presidential candidate's 2010 tax return, the Slate calculator tells us: "Mitt Romney made $40,000 in 16 hours 10 minutes and 34 seconds."

After facing growing criticism by his Republican competitors, and taking a drubbing in the South Carolina primary, the Republican candidate finally released his 2010 and 2011 tax returns. Voters were again reminded of the great divide between wealth and regular working stiffs: Romney earned about $21.6 million in 2010 and estimates about the same for 2011.

Mitt proved after releasing his tax information that his rate is, as he had estimated, "probably closer to the fifteen percent rate than anything."

How is that possible? Easy: The very legal and very low capital gains tax. Romney, a former head of Bain Capital, has been living off investment profits, which unlike wages from a paycheck, are taxed at the lower 15 percent rate -- instead of the 35 percent that wealthy Americans pay on earned income. Mitt's riches gave searches on the term "capital gains tax" a one-day jump of 50 percent, along with lookups on "what is capital gains tax," "capital gains tax rate" and "history of capital gains tax."

John Cassidy in the New Yorker points out that it was Bill Clinton who first cut the capital gains tax from 28 percent to 20 percent. George W. Bush slashed it down to 15 percent -- where it remains today.

Maybe it's not surprising that Romney was reluctant to release his tax statements. The New York Times reports that the Republican is the wealthiest candidate to ever run for president, with an estimated family fortune of $190 million to $250 million.

Forbes called Romney's admission of his super-low tax rate a "teachable moment," adding that keeping the investment income tax low allows for a "ginormous loophole" -- tax shelters to convert fully taxed income into capital gains. "If you can transform $10 million of wages into gains, you can save over $2 million."

However, as NPR reporter Tamara Keith pointed out in an analysis of the Newt Gingrich proposed tax plan, Romney would pay zero percent on taxes: The former House Speaker calls for a 15 percent flat tax that everyone could choose on earned income, and no tax on capital gains.

Much of Romney's income comes from Bain, made through private equity deals, and is taxed at the lower capital gains rate. And even at the current rate of 15 percent, that sweet deal could be hard for ordinary taxpayers to swallow.

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Who Is Saul Alinsky?

by Claudine Zap

Newt Gingrich, the Republican presidential candidate on a roll right now, has been invoking a little-known name in his criticism of President Obama: Saul Alinsky. As a result, the 20th-century community organizer has caused a surge of searches on the Web.

After winning the South Carolina GOP primary, Gingrich said in his victory speech, "The centerpiece of this campaign, I believe, is American exceptionalism versus the radicalism of Saul Alinsky." Which seemed to have the effect of viewers nodding, then thinking, "Who?" On Yahoo!, lookups included: "who is Saul Alinsky," "saul alinksy newt gingrich," "saul alinsky obama," and "saul alinsky rules for radicals" -- the name of the activist's book.

Alinsky has been dead for 40 years, and became known on campuses in the 1960s for his organizing tactics, along with a guide to the powerless (think the 99 percent) to grab control from those in power.

Born in 1909 in Chicago to Russian-immigrant parents, the writer is known as the founding father of community organizing. He worked his way through the University of Chicago, then got a job in the slums of Chicago as an organizer. Of his book, "Rules for Radicals," Alinsky wrote: "'The Prince' was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. 'Rules for Radicals' is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away."

If the Occupy Wall Street movement is aligned with Alinsky's teachings, so is the tea party. Dick Simpson, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, told Bloomberg News, "The tea party has understood how to mobilize their anger and turn it to political results, which is the underlying motif of Alinsky."

Saul Alinsky's name came up in the last presidential campaign, when it was noted that Hillary Clinton, who was a candidate in the Democratic presidential primaries, had written her college thesis on the agitator back in 1969.

Other Republicans have sought to link Obama to Alinsky, since both were community organizers in Chicago. But, as CNN points out, Obama was just 10 when Alinsky died, and he has never publicly mentioned the man.

The organizer himself would certainly appreciate the storm of controversy his name has generated of late. He said it best himself: "First rule of change is controversy. You can't get away from it for the simple reason all issues are controversial. Change means movement and movement means friction, and friction means heat, and heat means controversy."

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Obama's Apollo Moment as a Ringtone

by Vera H-C Chan

What the saxophone did for Bill Clinton, might a ringtone do for Barack Obama?

At a time of declining job ratings, the man who once fueled rock-star fervor got another shot of cool for crooning the 1972 tune "Let's Stay Together." His Apollo Theater singing performance lasted only a few notes, but that was enough to perk up the Twitterverse and online curiosity. Yahoo! searches for the tune soared nearly 17,000%, elevated Rev. Green's profile by 1,008%, and spurred an online encore flurry ("obama at apollo theater," "obama at the apollo," "obama sings al green song," "president sings al green.")

Twitter groupies who longed for a ringtone version can now relive those six words over and over -- or at least use them to signify that Grandma is calling. Obama's official site now offers a free ringtone for iPhone and other smartphones.

And, yes, the Twitterverse is getting buzzed anew. Obama's cover of Al Green is a ringtone now. That's cool lol," delightly observed @simplynono. A Manchester gent tweeted a more tongue-in-cheek observation: "The 'Obama sings Al Green official ringtone' is up there with the CNN http://Will.I.Am hologram interview as defining political moments."

It's a nice bit of timing with his State of the Union address. In his 2011 address, Obama spoke of a Sputnik moment. Now he has his Apollo moment.

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What's Hot at the Box Office

by Claudine Zap

This weekend, there will be something at the box office for everyone -- just as long as you like action, action, action.

The thriller "Man on a Ledge" is causing Yahoo! searches on the movie to jump 82% in the last week. Sam Worthington is the ex-cop now fugitive on said ledge. Elizabeth Banks plays the police negotiator who tries to talk him down. "Ledge" may serve as a bridge builder for both men and women have about equal interest in the flick.

Men ages 30-34 are warming up to the chilly adventure movie, "The Grey." Liam Neeson stars as an oil rig roughneck who leads a group of plane-crash survivors through a sub-arctic stretch of Alaska wilderness, pursued by a ravenous pack of rogue wolves, 'natch.

"One for the Money" is one for the women: The chick flick, based on the bestselling novel, is a winner with female viewers who are looking up the Katherine Heigl vehicle -- men, not so much. The movie stars the actress who decides to become a bounty hunter, even though she knows nothing of the job. Her first big task: to nab an ex-boyfriend for a big payday. Hi-jinks ensue. The movie seems to be catching on, rising in Yahoo! search 43% in the last 7 days.

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Snooki's Stunning No-Makeup Look Rocks the Web

by Claudine Zap

First, "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi shed some weight. Now, she's dumped her overly made-up face. And her fans looooove it. The Web gushed over a makeup-free pic Snooki posted on Twitter with the comment: " No make up day :) and IDC :)" (I don't care).

Over on Yahoo!, a flurry of positive comments -- close to 19,000 at last count -- like this were typical: "She looks amazing without all the goop!" and, "She should go for the natural look, it looks much prettier!" Web searches on the pint-sized Polizzi also surged. Lookups on "snooki without makeup" increased a whopping 28,400% in one day.

Snooki herself seemed overwhelmed by the response to her make-under. She tweeted to her 4 million-plus followers, "Can I just say how amazing my fans/supporters are! You guys really know how to put a smile on my face! Love you all beyond words."

Before and after pics certainly show a dramatic difference. The 4-foot-9-inch star, who regularly showed up to the gym in full makeup and wore her hair in a signature pouf, instead features a face that is erased of its bronzer, overly done eyes, and dark lips. The undone look shows straight hair, mascara-free eyes, glowing skin, and, gasp, a beautiful woman underneath.

Friends on Snooki's Facebook page also agree: The star truly shines without all the makeup. A fan posted on her wall: "She is Beautiful without make up, just gorgous!"

The move to go natural is a growing trend in 2012. Makeup artists report to the New York Times: "Stiff coiffures, overdone eyes, defined lips and matte skin are out. Tousled hair, smudged eyeliner, dewy lips and luminous skin are in." If this is Snooki's new look (and we hope that it is) she could lead the way for a  new outlook in the new year.

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Stars Without Stylists

by Claudine Zap

They're beautiful, fashionable, and always red-carpet-ready for their close-ups. But there's one accessory these stars don't have: a stylist. So they say. Blake Lively, the "Gossip Girl" star, has become the poster child for going stylist-free.

What does this mean, exactly? The 24-year-old says fashion is her favorite hobby, so she prefers to go with her gut. "I just like whatever I'm feeling. Sometimes things are really beautiful, but they just don't photograph well, and that's that." Yes, we all know that whenever an outfit doesn't work, it's the camera's fault.

Still, the stylish TV show "Gossip Girl" seems to be doing for Lively's fashion sense what "Sex and the City" did for Sarah Jessica Parker. Off set, Lively clearly loves to show up in designer duds, even if she doesn't always hit the mark.

The blog Fashionista is doubtful of the Chanel spokesmodel's claim, noting, "It doesn't seem that Blake needs a stylist, because she has Eric Daman, 'Gossip Girl's' costume designer, who clearly 'helps her out' for big events."

Other stars who say they turn up at major events with a DIY look include January Jones, Diane Kruger, and the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley.

Certainly, there's no shame in hiring a stylist. In fact, a celebrity stylist told the New York Times that it can be a game changer. Nicole Chavez, who has dressed Katherine Heigl and Scarlett Johansson, insisted that a good dress is a great career move: "People -- casting agents, studio executives -- stop and take notice. They are suddenly interested in working with you."

Whether or not Lively has a stylist, directors are apparently interested in working with the up-and-coming actress. Her career is on the rise, along with her fashionably short hem: She is said to be starring in the upcoming Oliver Stone movie "Savages."

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SOPA and PIPA Explained

by Claudine Zap

If you tried to look something up on Wikipedia today, you may have been surprised to learn not about whatever obscure fact you were hunting down, but that there's a war being waged over what you can see on the Web. Two bills, Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, are seeking to limit copyright infringement online, and the web is in revolt.

On Wednesday, Wikipedia (which blacked out its site) and Google, which visibly protested the legislation on its homepage, voiced their opposition (along with many other sites, including Yahoo!) to bills they argue would ruin the freewheeling world of the Internet. Media companies are in favor of the legislation, arguing that they need a way to stop illegal downloading and pirating of their material.

So what are these bills exactly?

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is the House bill; Protect IP Act (PIPA) is its Senate sister. Both focus on foreign websites that pirate movies, music, and other materials from the U.S. (sites that many Americans use -- an industry study has noted that 17.5% of all bandwidth in the U.S. is taken up by illegal downloads.)

That may sound sensible, but many media companies operating online think the language is too vague in terms of defining what constitutes piracy; feel the bills don't define who is responsible for making sure illegal material from foreign sites isn't showing up on U.S. sites; and think the legislation imposes sanctions that are too heavy-handed.

Here's why: If passed, the bills would allow the owner of the material to seek court orders that would block access to the alleged pirate site and require credit card companies and advertisers to stop payments to the site.

So how are law-breaking sites identified? SOPA defines a "foreign infringing site" as one that is "committing or infringing" on copyright. PIPA is more specific, describing sites that have "no significant use other than" copyright infringement. Websites would have 5 days to appeal.

Websites and media companies worry that they could be targeted for unknowingly hosting pirated material -- think of user-generated video uploaded on Facebook, Wikipedia, or Twitter.

SOPA would also make it illegal to stream unauthorized content. This has been dubbed the "Free Bieber" provision, since the baby-faced pop icon Justin Bieber got his start on YouTube performing music from other singers.

The Senate bill is losing sponsors who think the legislation goes too far. Voting on PIPA will begin on January 24.

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