It was another wild week in the Buzz. A legendary music producer was knocked out, a tiny car proved that size matters not, and the gay-rights movement scored a huge win in the Golden State.

And down goes Suge!
Suge Knight, founder of Death Row Records, has a reputation for toughness. But one guy didn't get the memo that Mr. Knight is the kind of man with whom you do not mess. A man identified as "Young Rez" allegedly struck Mr. Knight with a pipe outside a nightclub, knocking the mogul unconscious. Searches on "suge knight" soared 11,088%, and related lookups on "death row records" and "suge knight knocked out" also jumped. Several articles, including this one from Radar Online, drew big buzz.

Smart, safe, and small.
According to conventional wisdom, the bigger the car, the safer you'll be. And maybe that's true, but the Smart car has proved that size isn't always such a, er, huge factor. One of the smallest cars in the world, the Smart fortwo recently kicked butt in crash tests. It scored surprisingly well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and buzz on this article from the Ledger drew looky-loos like a fender-bender.

A huge win for gay rights.
Gay-rights advocates scored a huge win this week when the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. The news spurred huge searches on "gay rights" and "california gay marriage," and also helped to inspire one of the cooler marriage announcements in recent history. Ellen DeGeneres announced her plans to wed longtime partner Portia de Rossi and received a standing ovation from her talk-show audience.

Also buzzing this week ...
• Search's biggest mover this past week was Annika Sorenstam. Still on top of her game, the legendary golfer decided to retire to focus on other priorities. Searches spiked 25,840%.
• The wedding of first daughter Jenna Bush continued to stir things up in Buzz. The top stories from the past seven days are still dominated by recaps of the bride's big day.
• "American Idol" marches toward its inevitable conclusion. The final two contestants have been decided, and though we don't know who's going to take the title, we can guarantee his first name will be David.

So much for a summer release formula: After two weeks of pairing a comedy with an action flick, Prince Caspian rides alone into this weekend's Buzz Multiplex.

Now that the AIM era (i.e., "After Iron Man") is here, we can take a look at how audiences have digested the summer movie previews. Local newspapers are rolling out their fairweather cinematic guides, and outlets like Rolling Stone have their opinionated round-up at the ready. IGN and Wired get into behind-the-scenes details, while the USA Today aesthetic makes things easier with a calendar that lists MPAA ratings and running time. The New York Daily News and The Wall Street Journal tout independents.

Looking for an angle beyond comic book fun? Twenty years after the testerone cinema of Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis, Premiere looks at this season's "unlikely" movie heroes (no women? Thank goodness for Angelina Jolie). Marketwatch's interviews with studio executives provide readers with bigwig insights. For celluloid critical thinkers, Newsweek critic David Ansen writes about happy endings.

Meanwhile the audience has been doing their own reviews via online searches. "Iron Man" tops summer movie lookups of the past 30 days—and yes, that's fair, as it had been the most anticipated film in Search for months. The online lookups for "Speed Racer" might be a tad inflated given its lower debut numbers as noted here. And release dates will influence lookups for lesser known titles. All that said, here are the top 20 movies intriguing potential audiences.

Usually a missive with an Internal Revenue Service return address is about as welcome as a dusting of poison ivy.

Offer a little stimulus, however, and taxpayers can't wait. So, understandably, initial reports that 15,000 taxpayers would not be getting an IRS love letter sent the Buzz into a tizzy. Fortunately, that number turned out to be much smaller: Only 1,500 checks have been inadvertently wired to the wrong accounts. (Don't even think of keeping it!) Out of 30 million bits of ... um ... stimuli, that's an error rate of just .005%, give or take a decimal point. At least the IRS didn't toy with taxpayer affections like the agency did back in 2001.

Except there's another small snafu: The IRS also 'fessed up to forgetting to send out 300-dollar child refunds to as many as 350,000 households. Before you ask: The IRS will mail another letter copping to the error, and the checks will follow in July. The upside: The U.S. Post Office must be raking it in from its repeat customer.

By the way, if you did get a check but not your full share, SavvySugar points out that the IRS has kindly deducted back taxes or other debts in advance. 

Despite all this, the government agency should feel swamped with affection. How have people loved the IRS in the past month? Let us count a few of the searches: "2008 tax rebate checks tax return" (+14,579%), "government rebate checks 2008" (+13,085%), "tax stimulus checks" (+5,798%), "federal tax rebate" (+652%), "600 dollar tax refund 2008" (+566%), "bush tax refund 2008" (+300%), and "2008 federal kicker checks rebate checks" (off the charts). The most frequent query? "When will I get my tax rebate check."

The lovefest may not stop. SavvySugar notes that a rebate repeat may be possible next year, in this IRS article found under the section "Not eligible at the current time?" Who says you can't buy love?

"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." That's what the poet William Blake wrote many years ago. Until recently, the line was just one of those metaphorical dealios, but now, thanks to a brave inventor, it can be read far more literally.

A Swiss aviation enthusiast named Yves Rossy has done what the rest of us only dream of. He has invented his own jet-powered flying suit. And, unlike the ones we made out of cardboard, his actually works.

Rossy, aka "Fusion Man," recently gave a performance for the astonished public and press. He soared high above the Alps at 186 mph, doing loops, flips, and figure eights. According to a post from Aviation.com, the daredevil even executed a perfect 360-degree roll to "impress the girls."

Earthbound folks eager to see footage of Mr. Rossy pushed queries on "flying man" and "fusion man" into the stratosphere. For whatever reason, 91% of the searches on "yves rossy" came from males. Why are men so much more interested? We haven't a clue, but we'll let you know if the trend continues when Rossy attempts his next flight across the English Channel.

When news of the upcoming CBS mixed martial arts bout between Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young first hit the sportswire, some asked if mainstream America could handle a female MMA.

The country may not be ready for a female president, but bring on the girl fight. The Carano-Young May 31 bout will be the first MMA match ever seen on a mainstream network. Undefeated kickboxer Carano put a chokehold on the national spotlight as alter ego Crush on "American Gladiators." The NBC revival promptly established her as the Search favorite. Now Carano, who appeared on ESPN E:60 Tuesday, is the star fighter among boxing promoter EliteXC's plan to create a women's MMA title. 

Her searches have roared up 6,000% this week into the top 200, with every single state in the union studying up. To put that into context, Carano's buzz is:

    • about 19 times higher than what MMA icon Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell got for his high-profile beating last May 
    • 10% higher than Paris Hilton this week
    • 25 times that of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards after his endorsement of Barack Obama.

People (89% male) have been clamoring for details on "mma gina carano" and "gina carano weigh in." (Okay, it's not all about prowess: "gina carano maxim," "gina carano myspace," "gina carano red dress," and "gina carano swimsuit pics" also score in Search.) Her opponent Young has engendered far less curiosity.

The CBS-EliteXC Saturday Night Fights series launches May 31 with the Carano-Young card. Looks like that will be boys' night in... and thanks to Carano's pioneering fists, a girls' night out in the MMA world.

Will this summer's "X-Files" movie spur interest in real-life aliens and unidentified flying objects? It may not have to. The British government beat agents Mulder and Scully to the punch by releasing a treasure trove of secret files on UFO activity.

A post from Wired.com explains that the documents cover the period from 1978 to 1987, and touch on saucers seen by police, military personal, and all those regular folks who believe in little green men. Buzz on the article has been scant, but we expect that to change once folks learn they can download these secret files for free. So much for government cover-ups.

In the spirit of the news, we rounded up the top 10 UFO searches from the past 7 days. Study them closely, because as Agent Mulder always says, "the truth is out there."

That last query comes as no surprise to wedding watchers. According to an Associated Press report, the average cost of a wedding is $28,704. Sounds like a lot of money, but that figure is actually lower than it was the year before. Apparently the intended are combining do-it-yourself craftiness with Web savviness. Here are a few nuptial hints from the Buzz for a "dream day wedding."

With This Ring 
Over the past month, look-ups for "engagement rings" have been twice as popular as "wedding rings" searches. Diamonds took a slight search dip last year compared to 2006, but their popularity is coming back, perhaps thanks in part to black diamonds. Antique engagement rings are enjoying a revival... though not as much as the new fad of "divorce rings" (led by trendsetting ladies in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri, apparently).

Dual Showers
Yumsugar says more brides don't want to go it alone, hence the rising popularity of couples showers. FitSugar suggests a lawn-games twist for a garden engagement party. Either way, the co-ed approach may please ladies who find the obligatory bridal shower games tiresome...

Packing the bags
Honeymoons usually don't get their due consideration until it is too late. Inclusive resorts may not be for everyone, but this guide can help you decide. Brides.com's "Top Ten Eco-Honeymoon Resorts" presents an itinerary that combines romance with environmental sensitivity. As for whom to pay, the Wall Street Journal exposes which registries are trying to weasel a chunk of change from guests.

Other wedding tips that have spiked in the Buzz
• This CasaSugar interview ran in April, but a photographer's insider tips will help your wedding day all the more memorable.
• Mashables evaluated a start-up called The Man Registry. Wasn't that called The Sharper Image back in the day?
• BuzzSugar suggests asking people to recommend wedding songs on the guest response cards. A brilliant political move... but beware of 10 recommendations for "I Will Survive."

The resurgence of political song and satire, that's what. While tech pundits—and most recently the Associated Press—like to call citizen-created ads and viral videos a "new form of campaigning," political creativity has existed as long as government—and almost certainly before.

In the pro-Obama camp, two videos gathering search momentum are "Barackula" and "The Empire Strikes Barack." The first goes back to Obama's Harvard days and explores his fledgling fight against vampiric bloodsuckers through song and dance. Blaxploitation allusions aside, the Harvard students' riff is catchier than it is subtle, although the girlfriend twist casts an interesting light on Michelle Obama.

The "Empire" mashup is even less subtle (casting Clinton as Darth Vader), and will probably be destroyed by the jedis of jurisprudence before more men between the ages of 35 and 54 can seek it out.

Searches for satirical Clinton clips aren't as plentiful. (And really, it's hard to rhyme with Clinton, or Hillary, for that matter. Pillory? Conciliatory?) Video-related Clinton searches have focused on "tina fey hillary clinton" and "hillary clinton snl," ever since the SNL alum lauded the candidate's, er, strong female attitude back in February. The latest "saturday night live hillary clinton" resurgence, though, revolves around backpedaling worthy of a superdelegate.

The most viral video of all, though, may soon belong to Clinton, herself. She recently sent out a thank-you to fundraisers that some have read as her farewell aria. Regardless, however the race shakes out, there will be a song to sing and a video to go along with it.

Geographical flubs have brought down lesser beauty queens, so when a Democratic presidential hopeful says he has already visited 57 states, searchers will flock to the Buzz like 14th century explorers to the New World.

The queries "obama 57 States" and "57 states" pulled into the top 35,000 searches in the past 7 days. Of course, the inflated number unleashed conspiratorial theories. Rush Limbaugh implied a "more telling slip" after claiming there happened to be "57 islamic states," which in turn spurred online investigations into that bit of information.

As with so many things, sex spurred the union between HBO and iTunes... as in the upcoming "Sex and the City" movie premiere. This was no shotgun partnership, however, as the premium channel negotiated higher prices (and a higher cut) than the usual $1.99 Apple offering.

The deal likely won't cut into its subscriber base since, according to Portfolio, shows will become available only after their DVD release. Nor are all seasons available: "The Wire" finished its fifth and final season, but the HBO iTunes store currently sells season 1.

Considering the crime drama ranks in the top 10 searches for HBO shows, the cable channel should start hustling... so to speak. As for other possible favorites, these offerings ranked highest in the past 30 days.

Madonna is turning 50 this summer. That's right—the woman who attempted (and thankfully failed) to bring cone bras to the masses has been walking the earth for half a century.

And she's not the only icon celebrating the big 5-0 this year. Michael Jackson will have 50 candles on his cake this August. Actor, environmentalist, and cell phone aficionado Alec Baldwin just turned 50. And the artist formerly known as "the artist formerly known as Prince" turns 50 in a few months. Time, it seems, waits for no man, even if he happens to be extremely funky.

We expect lookups for Madonna, Jacko, and Prince to climb the buzz charts in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we tracked down the top twenty "how old is..." searches from the past seven days. Searchers are always interested in learning the ages of their favorite celebs—even if the glitterati would prefer you think they're all 28.

Does David Cook have to watch his back now that David Archuleta's father has been banned from the set?  Did Jason Castro psychologically flub his lines, or was he undone by unwillingness to knuckle under the "Idol" machinery? And, seriously, how has Syesha Mercado managed to survive and flummox the critics?

As "American Idol" careens to its crowning moment, many questions arise. Of course, the most paramount is who will win season 7. The contest was supposed to come down to second-chance Cinderellas Michael Johns and Carly Smithson. Over the weeks, Cook has evolved from "dark horse" (per judge Simon Cowell) to Idol personified (per judge Paula Abdul), while Mercado's theatrical flair paradoxically made her more real.

Mercado, though, is past her expiration date, so unless an upset (or a stage dad) is in the offing, odds favor a David vs. David scenario. In straight unadulterated searches, the 17 year old leads by a skimpy 5%. In the complicated Buzz Log formula however, which depends on geography and gender, the projection calls for Cook to win Season 7. And the chart please...

Monday got you down? Ease your pain with some of the coolest clicks on Yahoo! Buzz. And remember—tomorrow isn't just another day, it's one day closer to Friday.

Watch out for the zipper.
Contrary to what you've heard, not everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time. A new video proves that a select few have the ability to jump into their drawers with both feet blazing. But while the acrobatic jumps are real, the "viral video" is actually the work of Levi's Jeans. Read the Wired.com article for details on the undercover ad.

Please hold for Justin Timberlake.
With apologies to Pat Sajak, game shows aren't often thought of as "hip." MTV is hoping to change that with their new show, "The Phone." GeekSugar explains that Justin Timberlake will produce a program in which contestants "run around a big city and complete tasks assigned by the caller."  Will viewers want to watch other people have inane phone conversations? Hey, if people are willing to pay for ringtones, anything is possible.

Postal rates rise. Again.
For the three of your who still send letters, we have bad news. The price of a first class stamp went up by a penny on Monday. Sending a letter to grandma will now run you 42 cents. Meanwhile, the going rate for sending an email is holding steady at "free." An article from Yahoo! News explains that the postal service is already planning further increases.

Also buzzing today...
• 99% of people over the age of five hate airlines. But we wouldn't blame the flight attendants if they hated at least some of the passengers. An article from the Dallas Morning News recaps how an unruly flyer refused to stop using his cell phone during a Southwest flight.
• We all know that John McCain bleeds red, white, and blue. But green, too? The presidential candidate is touting his voting record on the environment, but The Daily Green wonders if he really "deserves kudos."
• This summer, Indiana Jones goes looking for the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls." But, wait—what the heck is a "crystal skull," anyway? HowStuffWorks explains what they look like, how they work, and whether they can predict the future. Spooooky.

In the weekend's most popular stories in Buzz, the president's daughter says "I do," "Saturday Night Live" skewers a presidential candidate (and former first lady), and the U.S. government reveals the most fashionable names for newborns...

Congratulations, Jenna and Henry
Jenna Bush's wedding to Henry Hager in Crawford, Texas on Saturday dominated the weekend's top articles. Reports from The Huffington Post to People.com followed the first daughter's walk down the aisle, and earned high votes from Buzz readers. In a popular Lifestyles piece, The Dallas Morning News investigated how Crawford responded to the presidential nuptials. What does the Lone Star town think about its time in the political spotlight coming to a close? In a word: relieved.

In Search, politicos and wedding fans alike sought more on the intimate affair. Demand for "bush wedding" soared 4,799% on Saturday. Bridal details like "jenna bush wedding pictures" (+3,877%), "jenna bush wedding plans" (+2,560%), and "jenna bush wedding party" (+2,034%) also posted quadruple digit gains. Sunday evening, queries for "jenna bush," "henry hager," and "white house weddings" continued to linger in our top hourly searches. No one likes to leave a good party.

"Saturday Night Live" takes on Senator Clinton
In February, Hillary Clinton urged her supporters to watch "Saturday Night Live." Don't expect such a ringing endorsement now. Over the weekend, the comedy series featured a sketch mocking the New York senator's refusal to give up the race for the White House. Mrs. Clinton surely didn't like it, but Buzz readers lapped it up. Huffington Post hosted the clip on its site, and the blog item jumped to the top of our Entertainment category.

Hello, Hannah, and Emma, and Abigail!
Social Security celebrated Mother's Day with its annual release of the past year's most popular baby names. Among the monikers topping the charts in 2007, "Jacob" and "Emily" nabbed the #1 spots. Apparently, "Emily" is the reigning champ of children's names—the tot term has reigned supreme for over a decade. An article on the lists from Tampa Bay Online enjoyed the benefits of baby cuteness and leapt in Buzz polls.

Also Moving up the Buzz Charts...

• Deadly storms swept through the Midwest and South on Sunday, causing death and destruction in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Georgia. A Yahoo! News report on the tragedy quickly made its way up the Buzz charts. In Search, terms like "greensboro tornado" and "tornadoes in georgia" sought more information on the twisters and their aftermath.

• Is it time to invade Burma? Time.com posed this question in a magazine piece on Saturday. Buzz readers seized on it, voting it upwards in the Overall and World sections.

• Man steals Mac, but woman gets revenge. After a New York woman's Apple computer was stolen, she logged on to her laptop remotely and snapped photos of the thieves using the machine. Now, the burglars are arrested, the intrepid Mac owner has been reunited with her high-tech property, and a BoingBoing post on the affair is sitting happily at the top of our Science/Tech category. We love a story with a happy ending.

As international relief agencies press to bring more aid into Myanmar, searchers have hit the Web for background on the cyclone-ravaged country.

Demand for "myanmar" has lifted queries 2,454% over the past week, while lookups of the country's former name, "burma," have picked up 1,401%. Surging terms like "myanmar map," "myanmar news," and "burma news" reveal an intense interest in the country's location and how it's responding to the disaster that struck nearly a week ago.

Here are some of the other fastest-moving search questions about the catastrophe...

• "What is a cyclone?"—According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a cyclone is "a violent tropical storm." This "atmospheric system" is "usually accompanied by stormy, often destructive weather."

• "What is the difference between a cyclone and a hurricane?"—Not much. "Hurricane" (and "typhoon") is a "regionally specific" name for a tropical cyclone. How these ferocious outbreaks are labeled depends simply on where each forms. Read more in this FAQ from NOAA.

• "Where is Burma?" and "Where is Myanmar?"—Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. It borders India, China, Laos, and Thailand.

As to confusion over the nation's two names, here's American Heritage again: Burma's "civilian government was overthrown by a military coup in 1962 and again in 1988. The country was officially renamed Myanmar in 1989." Many sources, such as the CIA Factbok or Wikipedia, continue to refer to the land as "Burma."

•Finally, spiking demand for "junta," "military junta," and "myanmar junta" suggests curiosity about the term. Here's how Merriam-Webster defines "junta": "a group of persons controlling a government especially after a revolutionary seizure of power."