Bella Santorum, Salmonella Outbreak, Passover: What’s Spiking (Friday)

Becky Uline

The weekday report for the topics and people that are trending on
Yahoo! and across the Web for Friday April 6, 2012.

Research by Search editor Mahlon Chute

A political candidate's daughter makes a return hospital trip for undisclosed reasons. Salmonella breaks out in 19 states, with the source under investigation. What is sure is the advent of Passover at sunset. For reasons clear and not clear, here is what is riveting people online today.

STANDOUT SPIKES

  • Passover: The Jewish holiday begins at sunset tonight and lasts through the 13th. Related searches: passover recipes, are peas kosher for passover, passover jokes humor

  • Salmonella Outbreak: The CDC and FDA are conducting a probe of an outbreak of salmonella that made 100 people ill in 19 states. Though the source has not been officially identified yet, the top suspects are sushi and contact with baby turtles. Related searches: salmonella outbreak sushi tuna, salmonella restaurants, salmonella poisoning, salmonella symptoms, salmonella peanut butter

  • Bella Santorum: GOP candidate Rick Santorum's 3-year-old daughter, who suffers from Trisomy 18, was admitted to the hospital again this morning. The family has asked for "privacy and prayers."

  • Opening Day 2012: Thursday marked the official beginning of baseball season. About 72% of searches on opening day came from men, 28% from women. Most searches came from Michigan, followed by Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Illinois. Related searches: fantasy baseball, talking baseball song, sf giants, red sox, astros

NEWS & POLITICS

  • China Zhou Yongkang: Chinese Internet sites have been shut down to squelch rumors that Zhou, who oversees the police and military, tried to lead a coup. Meanwhile, Anonymous is attacking Chinese government websites to protest shutdowns. The political struggles precede the 10-yearly handover of power later this year.

  • Marion Barry: The former mayor of Washington, D.C., made a series of controversial comments stating that Asian business owners "ought to go" so that African American businesses could "take their places." He continued by saying, "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. They ought to go."

  • Japanese Ghost Ship: The Coast Guard sunk a ship that had been drifting since the Japan tsunami. The fishing vessel is part of 20 million tons of storm debris (the size of California) that has been heading toward North America since March 2011.

  • Texts From Hillary: The latest funny political meme based on photos of Hillary Clinton looking particularly cool texting on a C-17 military plane last October.

  • Stephen Hawking: Researchers are working with the famed physicist to develop the iBrain. The gadget, the size of a couple of pennies, is designed to read brain wave patterns and translate them into speech. If successful, the researchers hope that iBrain will allow Hawking to "talk" just by thinking. Hawking also took a genius break to guest star as himself on Thursday night's episode of "The Big Bang Theory."

  • Josh Powell: Former co-workers are speaking out in the case of missing Utah woman Susan Powell. Her husband allegedly told friends that he knew the perfect place to hide a body during an office party conversation a year before his wife's disappearance. In another incident, a co-worker of his father, Steve, expressed suspicion over plans for a winter camping trip before his daughter-in-law's disappearance. Steve Powell is in jail for voyeurism, after evidence of his sexual obsession with Susan Powell surfaced last week. Josh Powell killed himself and his two sons on February 5.

BUSINESS & MONEY

ENTERTAINMENT

  • The Secret Life of Bees: Gina Prince-Bythewood, director of 2008's "The Secret Life of Bees," will direct the film adaption of Lauren Olivier's "Before I Fall."

  • DeAndre Brackensick: The 17-year old "American Idol" contestant from San Jose, Calif., wasn't destined for the top 5, and he is out after singing "I Like It" by DeBarge. Judge J-Lo wanted to save him, but his time was up.

  • Watch "American Reunion" Free: Yes, that GenX guilty pleasure is in theaters today, and people are curious — but not all are curious enough to actually pay for it. Reviews so far have been middling. Related searches: american pie stifler's mother

  • Ridicuously Photogenic Guy: Zeddie Little is another of the Web's latest memes. Related searches: zeddie little, ridiculously photogenic runner

CELEBRITIES

  • Kellie Pickler: Pickler returned to "American Idol" last night to perform the country song "Where's Tammy Wynette." Pickler was a contestant on Season 5 of the singing competition show.

  • Tonia Sotiropoulou: The Greek actress has been signed as a new Bond Girl to appear opposite Daniel Craig in the upcoming "Skyfall."

  • Beyonce Tumblr: The singer launched her page on the photo-sharing site Thursday. Related searches: beyonce baby photos 2012

  • Nadya Suleman: Suleman, also known as "Octomom," was recently paid $8,000 for posing topless. Her financial woes have landed her on public assistance, and she confided in an interview with Matt Lauer that she is receiving food stamps.

SPORTS

  • Stan Van Gundy: Early on Thursday, the Orlando Magic coach alleged that Dwight Howard attempted to have him fired. By Thursday evening Van Gundy, Howard and the Magic's GM Otis Smith had met and Van Gundy announced that he expected to finish the season as coach. Related search: orlando magic

  • Henrik Stenson: The golfer started out the Masters tournament with a strong lead on the first 11 holes. However, he received a quadruple bogey (also called a "snowman") on the 18th hole, taking him from 5 under par to 1 under par. Englishman Lee Westwood has taken the lead at the start of Round 2. Related searches: the masters, masters 2012, masterslive

  • Bobby Petrino: The Arkansas football coach is on paid leave after admitting an affair with 25-year-old Jessica Dorrell, a UA athletic department employee who was a passenger when he crashed his motorcycle earlier this week and had to go the hospital for his injuries. Related searches: bobby petrino married, bobby petrino family, bobby petrino motorcycle accident, bob petrino, bobby petrino accident pictures

HOLIDAYS, EVENTS & ANNIVERSARIES

  • Full Moon or Paschal Full Moon: Today marks the first full moon of spring (also known as "the pink moon"). Easter is also observed on the Sunday following this lunar event each year. Related searches: lunar calendar, moon calendar

  • Easter: The holiday comes this Sunday with pretty dresses, nice hats and lots of egg hunts. Related searches: Easter egg garland, peeps, how to boil eggs, easter egg hunt, easter brunch, easter majong, catholic easter sunday prayer, free good friday prayers

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