by Claudine Zap Our top picks from the day's hottest searches. Pet Halloween costumes )Searches increased by 3,752%(. Remember, it's not really a good costume unless your furry friend looks thoroughly humiliated . National Coming Out day )+2,038%(. A younger generation turned out to march on Washington for gay rights . Edgar Allan Poe poems )+1,468%(. The literary legend who died a pauper finally received a proper burial. Quoth the Buzz: Poe will be forgotten nevermore .

by Vera H-C Chan Fire up the barbecue. Get the mall-walking shoes on. About 517 years have passed since Christopher Columbus stumbled onto North America, and it's time to remember that with a three-day weekend. Well, for some of us. While national government offices can be depended upon to celebrate a federal holiday, Columbus Day isn't a day off for all Americans. Some schools will stay open, and local bureaucrats will still shuffle paperwork.

by Mike Krumboltz The world is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, it's also full of irritating words and unfortunate odors. This past week, there was a lot of interest in smelly trees and annoying terms. Oh, and let us not forget about the poll that lists the worst plane passengers to sit next to. Hold your nose and plug your ears â€" its time for the Buzz Week in Review. What's that smell? Trees produce oxygen. But when it comes to ginkgo trees, that's not all they produce.

by Mike Krumboltz Following President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win , Web searches immediately soared on previous winners. Al Gore , Woodrow Wilson , Theodore Roosevelt , and Mikhail Gorbachev all posted huge lookups. Also of interest: How much prize money will President Obama receive? According to the AP , Mr. Obama will get $1.4 million. But don't look for him to blow it all on mom jeans. The President announced that he would donate the entire sum to charity.

by Mike Krumboltz " Couples Retreat ," a comedy written by and starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau , is the only new release to hit theaters this weekend. But is all that attention a good thing? Let's see what the critics have to say. If there's one word you never want to hear used to describe a comedy, it's this: Depressing. Unfortunately that's how Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune sums up the film. Giving the movie 2 stars out of 4 ,

by Claudine Zap The case of the swindled socialite appears to be over. The jury on the Brooke Astor trial found her 85-year-old son guilty of siphoning $60 million from his Alzheimer's-afflicted mom, who died at the age of 105 two years ago. Searches on the Web immediately surged, with lookups on " brooke astor " and " astor verdict " both posting big gains. The trial had gripped New York with all its Greek-tragedy implications.

by Mike Krumboltz The fall TV season is not the time for networks to be modest. It seems like every show is billed as either "sensational," "hilarious," or "addictive." But, let's be honest. The vast majority could be better described as "average, "mildly amusing," or "OK if you have nothing better to do." With that in mind, we dug into the Web Search data to see which of the Fall's new shows inspired the most lookups following their premieres.

by Mike Krumboltz Has a hyperactive five-year-old taken over as the director of NASA ? It sure seems like it. On Friday morning, an unmanned spacecraft launched in June will crash into the moon's surface . On purpose. Anyone not named Michael Bay is likely to ask why. Here's the answer: NASA wants to know if the twin impacts of the Lunar Crater Observation and its Sensing Satellite ) LCROSS ( will reveal any ice or water under the moon's surface.

by Claudine Zap Our top picks from the day's hottest searches. Helen Keller )Searches increased by 1,446%(. A bronze statue of the deaf and blind activist for the disabled was unveiled at the capitol . Seal )+1,149%(. Wife Heidi Klum will retain her name professionally, but she will legally change her surname to match her husband and three kids. Who knew â€" Seal's last name is Samuel. Silvio Berlusconi )+676%(.

by Claudine Zap Change has come to the White House walls. The Obamas have the largest selection of modern art ever to hang in the people's house. Those artworks you learned about in school â€" abstract paintings of words, blocks of color, and lines â€" are the signature of the Obamas' choices . But here's the rub. While their decisions have caused a bit of a stir in the art world , the paintings might not be for everyone. A red 1983 canvas "I think I'll'" by Ed Ruscha ,

by Mike Krumboltz Tired of Hollywood telling you which movies to see? We have good news: The backers of " Paranormal Activity " are letting moviegoers decide for themselves if their flick is worthy of a wide release. The film was shot several years ago on a minuscule budget. But the lack of special effects and big names hasn't slowed it down. "Paranormal" has played at film festivals and had a recent release in "select theaters.

by Claudine Zap Our top picks from the day's hottest searches. High interest savings accounts )Searches increased by 1,629%(. Searches don't lie: Seems like some of us want to be savers, not spenders . " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" )+632%(. The Disney animated classic is out on DVD . Amanda Knox )+598%(. The foreign exchange excursion that became a nightmare murder trial for one student has led schools to re-think their programs abroad . Bottega Veneta )+156%(.

by Claudine Zap We smell bacon. The Web has suddenly gone hog wild. Here, a roundup of the cloven-footed and snout-nosed â€" and a little swine sickness. Little pig, big trend Sorry, Miss Piggy: But when it comes to pigs in Britain, petite is where it's at. Celebs are going wild for the tiny teacup pigs . Fully grown at 14 inches, they can easily fit in a handbag. Paris Hilton, you heard it here first. We're not sure if this porcine craze will make it to Hollywood,

by Mike Krumboltz The name Peter Billingsley may not mean anything to you, but we'd bet our official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot-range model air rifle that you could pick him out of a lineup. Back in 1983, a young Billingsley played Ralphie Parker in the classic comedy " A Christmas Story ." The actor has kept a low profile in his adult years, but he's buzzing again thanks to a big career move. This Friday,

by Claudine Zap Our top picks from the day's hottest searches. Monty Python )Searches increased by 5,290%(. It's been 40 years since the comedy troupe first aired . Every episode is sacred. Sonia Sotomayor )+3,228%(. A new term for the Supreme Court opens with a new justice . Gourmet magazine )+2,279%(. The foodie publication is the latest victim of a decreased advertising appetite . Anne Frank )+1,156%(.

by Claudine Zap If you prefer to take in " Star Wars " with friends, and you're not old enough to drive, then this new game might be for you. " Star Wars the Clone Wars: Republic Heroes ," is a multiplayer game that puts players in charge of their own destinies. As Yoda puts it, "Many paths this story has." )See a preview for the game.( Reviews warn that the game is geared toward a younger crowd. Still,

by Mike Krumboltz Here's something you don't see every day: Corpulent cartoon character Homer Simpson talking up the benefits of a healthy diet. Amazingly, that's exactly what he'll be doing in the UK. The country's Department of Health has paid about $1 million for the right to sponsor episodes of the hit show. According to an article from Reuters, before episodes air, the Simpson family will be shown eating unhealthy foods that morph into healthier snacks. Blasphemy?

by Claudine Zap Our top picks from the day's hottest searches. Abigail Breslin )Searches increased by 16,786%(. The zombie-killing actress is starring in the box-office hit "Zombieland." Rio de Janeiro, Brazil )+1,490%(. What Olympic magic does Rio have that Chicago doesn't? Farm Aid 2009 concert )+579%(. The charity show offered help for Missouri with a St. Louis fundraiser. David Letterman affair )+440%(. The "Late Show" funny guy had a seriously scary confession to make.

by Jon Brooks Searches on " Iran " were up this weekend and for the entire week,  as were "Iran map," " Iran president " " Israel-Iran " and " Iran nuclear program ." It's this last topic, specifically, that captured the attention of the Buzz on Sunday, after the New York Times revealed an International Atomic Energy Agency )IAEA( analysis that Iran had acquired "sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable" atom bomb.

by Mike Krumboltz Some might say that everything on Earth has already been discovered. To them we say, "You're just not looking in the right places." This past week, the science community was rocked by a couple of epic finds. No idea what we're talking about? No problem, because we're gonna recap what you missed with the Buzz Week in Review. Add another million candles to the birthday cake In 1994, scientists discovered the remains of a female hominid who lived 4.