Most-Popular.net

Most Popular Mexican Baby Names

jeremy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:58 +0000

El Instituto Nacional de Estadística published their list of the most popular baby names in Mexico in 2006. Mexican children usually have one or two given names followed by two apellidos. The first appellido is that of the father while the second is that of the mother. This naming system allows a father’s name to last two generations even through a daughter—a level of male superiority unparalleled by our own patronymic system.

The most popular baby names for boys in Mexico are Alejandro, Juan Carlos, Miguel Angel, Eduardo and Fernando. For girls, the most popular names are Gabriela, María Carmen, Adriana, Alejandra and María Guadalupe

Most Popular Russian Baby Names

jeremy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:06:13 +0000

In an effort to prove everyone from the Greatest Generation to the last of the Cold Warriors wrong, the Rooskies have carried out their most dastardly scheme yet—naming their kids something other than Ivan. Ivan has taken second place to Alexander in Moscow, no doubt in hopes that their children may one day replace their surnames with “the Great II.” Shockingly, Ivan didn’t even place among the top ten on any of the lists of the most popular female baby names.

Take that, capitalist imperialist pigdogs.

In order, the top names for Russian boys in Moscow are Alexander, Ivan, Maxim, Artyom and Mikhail. For girls, the most popular baby names are Anastasiya, Mariya, Dariya, Inna and Polina.

In St. Petersburg, popular boys’ names are Alexander, Alexei, Anatoly, Andrei and Dmitry. Popular girls’ names are Yekatarina, Yelena, Anastasiya, Natalya and Darya.

Among the general population, popular Russian boys’ names are Aleksandr, Sergey, Vladimir, Andrey and Aleksey. Popular girls’ names are Elena, Olga, Tatiana, Irina and Natalia.

Most Popular Car Color in Japan

jeremy — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:22:51 +0000

We’ve told you about the most popular car color in the United States, but what about Japan? Are the Japanese buying white in droves as much as Americans are? According to DuPont’s 55th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, they certainly are. As you can see from the cart below, 24% of all vehicles purchased in Japan in 2007 were white. While white wasn’t as popular as silver in intermediate or compact/sports cars, or black in SUVs, it dominated in luxury cars and MPVs. In fact, white was even more popular in Japan than it was in the US!

Most Popular Truck Color

jeremy — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:21:35 +0000

We’ve told you about the most popular car color, but what about the most popular truck color? Are truck owners buying white in droves as much as car owners are? According to DuPont’s 55th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, they certainly are. As you can see from the chart below, 24% of truck owners purchased white in 2008—more than vehicle owners in any other category!

Most Popular Car Colors in China

jeremy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:40:04 +0000

We’ve told you about the most popular car color in the United States, but what about China? Are Chinese buying white in droves as much as Americans are? According to DuPont’s 55th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, the answer is no. As you can see from the cart below, only 15% of all vehicles purchased in China in 2007 were white. Silver is the most popular color in China at 23%, followed by black at 22%.

World’s Most Popular Superheros

jeremy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:15:07 +0000

It’s the stereotypical comic book geek question—“Who would win in a fight?” Considering the comic book industry’s history of bowing to the demands of their fans, the answer to that question really comes down to which superhero is more popular. If you want to know who’d be left standing after an all-out superhero brawl, then the question you really need to be asking is “Who is the most popular superhero in the world?”

After a series of rigorous trials and arcane experiments—i.e. seeing which ones got the most results on Google—I’ve compiled the following list of superheroes most likely to win a grudge match. Also included are the superheroes’ highest ratings by the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes and their highest grosses on an opening weekend.

5. The Incredible Hulk
This misunderstood monster made a triumphant return to the box office with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Considering the horror that was the Hulk’s previous movie, it’s surprising that Marvel managed to sign an actor of Edward Norton’s caliber for this latest one.
The Incredible Hulk on Rotten Tomatoes: 58%
The Incredible Hulk opening weekend: $55,414,050

4. Superman
The first superhero’s latest theatrical adventure may not have been the success that it could’ve been, but that didn’t keep the last son of Krypton off the list. Superman is easily one of the most iconic (if not the most iconic) superheroes to grace the pages of a funnybook.
Superman II on Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Superman Returns opening weekend: $52,535,096

3. Iron Man
The fact that Tony Stark is even on this list is remarkable—the other five have appeared numerous times in both the box office and on television. Iron Man, by contrast, never had his own television series and only has the one movie under his belt.
Iron Man on Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Iron Man opening Weekend: $102,118,668

2. Spider-Man

Peter Parker has problems, but that hasn’t kept him from becoming a giant in the comic book industry. In fact, it’s pretty much the reason he’s up there. I also suspect that part of his popularity is due to having some of comicdom’s most fascinating villains, but I digress.
Spider-Man 2 on Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Spider-Man 3 opening weekend: $151,116,516

1. Batman
From the 60s TV series to this year’s Dark Knight, Batman has been through the ringer when it comes to moving pictures. Tim Burton’s movies succeeded in bringing the grim and gritty Batman to film while Joel Schumacher nearly killed the franchise by infusing it with the campiness of the dynamic duo’s original television adventures. Director Christopher Nolan’s success with Batman Begins was only compounded by this year’s Dark Knight which, sadly, was marred by the passing of Heath Ledger after what was probably his greatest performance on film. Despite that tragedy (or, perhaps, because of it), Dark Knight now holds the record for the highest grossing opening weekend ever. All that tells us that Batman is the world’s most popular superhero.
Besides, everyone knows Batman can kick anyone’s ass.
Dark Knight on Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Dark Knight opening weekend: $158,411,483

Most Popular Car Color in America

tom — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:07:27 +0000

Cars have been available in a range of colors since the first Model T rolled onto the market. It was only later, from 1914 to 1926, that the Model T was available in just one color—black. Henry Ford is often quoted as proclaiming that “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” Supposedly, black paint dried faster than any other paint of the time and thus led to cars roll.

Before it was cool.

Of course, the full range of colors is available today. In fact, a couple of urban legends have been spawned by the idea that a car’s color is indicative of the owner’s personality. While there is no evidence that insurance companies use automobiles’ colors to determine insurance quotes, it’s still a common assumption along with the idea that red cars are more likely to get ticketed by police officers.

You may be wondering, what is the most popular car color? For seven years, silver was the most popular car color. It was seen as both a high-tech color and one that was safe for resell—not as many people would be turned off by a silver car as would be turned off by, say, a green car.

Buyers in 2007, however, broke the mold by buying more white cars than cars in any other color. Why? Well, it’s been said that a high-tech color like silver isn’t popular anymore. I disagree. I don’t think silver is a high-tech color anymore. Looking at the popularity of iPods, iPhones and other Apple products, I’d say white is going to be the color of technology for some time.

In 2007, nineteen percent of cars manufactured were white. Twenty-two percent of luxury cars were white. Eighteen percent of all cars were silver and sixteen percent were black.

Of course, given years of popularity, silver cars will still outnumber autos of other colors for awhile.

Source: DuPont 2007 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report

Related Info

Most Popular Television Show

jeremy — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:43:55 +0000

The most recent Nielsen report places the national average television viewing time between three and just over five hours per day, depending on both gender and age. That means we spend roughly three percent of our lives glued to the TV. So what, exactly, are we watching? What is the most popular television show?

A new study tells us that the most watched television show on Earth is “CSI: Crime Scene Investigations.” The crime drama boasted more than 84 million viewers around the world in 2007, beating sibling show “CSI: Miami” and hospital drama “House.”

It wasn’t the most popular show in America, though. That honor belongs to “American Idol,” which may have netted the global top spot if different countries didn’t have their own versions of the show.

“CSI” debuted in 2000, spawning its Miami spin-off in 2002 and “CSI: NY” in 2004. It is currently scheduled for its ninth season. “American Idol” debuted in 2002 and will begin its 8th season in 2009.

Most Popular College in the US

jeremy — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:43:42 +0000

Every year, millions of high school students in the United States start the process of applying for secondary education. Of course, some schools have more applicants than others. What, then, is the most popular college in the United States?

For the school year beginning in the Fall of 2007, the University of California, Los Angeles received over 50,000 applications from high school seniors. UCLA is considered one of the best five universities in the nation, among such Ivy League schools as Princeton and Harvard. Part of that rank is due to the institution’s Athletics program; UCLA has won multiple NCAA championships. It’s also considered one of the best public research institutions in the nation; UCLA ranked 11th in the nation for research leading to a Nobel Prize.

Of course, the most popular university can’t accept all 50,000 of those applicants—that’s nearly twice the size of the school’s entire undergraduate class. Instead, they’ve instituted a new “holistic approach” to acceptance, starting in 2006, where each application is reviewed by two readers rather than three. In 2007, UCLA admitted just over a fifth of their applicants.

Most Popular Israeli Baby Names

tom — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:04:15 +0000

Statistics published by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel have recently revealed the most popular names for boys and girls and also show that Israel has an extremely high population of children under 17. Some Israeli families are even sharing names between boys and girls. Popular names shared by boys and girls are Noam, Lior, Or, Shachar, Tal, and Osher.

In 2006, the most popular girls’ name in Israel was Noa. Maybe, due in part to the popularity of recording artist Noa, who currently tops the pop charts in Israel. Other popular girls names in Israel are: Roni, Yael, Adi, Sarah, and Hila.

The most popular name for boys in Israel was Uri. Followed closely by, Ro’I, Amit, Yosef, and Moshe.

One year prior to the Central Bureau of Statistics study of popular names in 2006, three percent of the Jewish girls who were born in 2005 were given the name Noa, while 2.1 percent of boys were named Uri.

Most Popular Country

tom — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:01:23 +0000

The British Broadcasting Corporation has just announced its results of a survey in which more than 28,000 people were polled in regards to their opinions and attitudes towards thirteen major countries around the world. The results are not startling due to so many countries currently pursuing military power around the world.

It should be noted that 1,000 people in other popular countries like the US, France, Germany, India, Egypt, Turkey, and Mexico were also involved in the survey.

Israel is at present the least popular country in the world with a 56% negativity rating, while Canada ranks as the most popular with a positive percentage rating of 54%. Other rankings include the US and Russia in unpopular eight and ninth places with Japan, the EU and Canada rounding off the top three most popular countries in the world. India also deserves mention as this and similar polls show that the country is steadily improving its popularity around the world.

13 Countries Ranked by Public Opinion

1. Canada
2. Japan
3. EU
4. France
5. Great Britain
6. China
7. India
8. USA
9. Russia
10. Venezuela
11. North Korea
12. Iran
13. Israel

Most Popular Dog Names

tom — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:22:22 +0000

by Hunter Davis

A lot of thought is required when it comes to choosing the perfect name for your dog. You’ll want to choose a name that fits the dog’s personality and appearance. To help you with this decision, every year the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company combs through its list of policyholders’ pet names and publishes the most popular dog names (and other pets’ names) online. People that can afford pet insurance will probably name their dogs the same popular names as pet owner’s who do not have insurance.

While comparing the list from 2005 with lists from previous years, there hasn’t been a lot of change to the most popular dog name list. You won’t hear names like “Fido” or “Spot” anymore. Instead, names like “Max”, “Buddy”, “Molly” and “Lucy” are more likely to be shouted out at the dog park these days. Animal experts warn not to name your pet a name that sounds too closely to a command you will use. This could potentially lead to a lot of confusion. You might also want to save your favorite name for your baby so it won’t seem like you named your kid after your pet.

The 2005 list probably includes your dog’s name, or at least the dog of someone you know. For male dogs the top ten most popular names are as follows: Max, Buddy, Jake, Rocky, Bailey, Buster, Cody, Charlie, Bear, and Jack. The top ten most popular female dog names in 2005 are: Molly, Maggie, Daisy, Lucy, Sadie, Ginger, Chloe, Bailey, Sophie, and Zoe.

Most Popular Filipino Baby Names

tom — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:48:54 +0000

For centuries the naming customs in the Philippines were heavily influenced by the Spanish, as the result of their 400 years of colonial rule over the the islands. Increasingly however, English baby names are more and more popular in the Philippines, the consequence of the powerful western and American culture in the Philippines. Names of Filipino origin from the native language of Tagalog such as Bayani, Dalisay, Datu, Magtanggol, Mayumi, and others, are dwindling in popularity and are in danger of going out of use.

For Filipino baby boys in 2005 the top ten most popular given names were Michael, Ronald, Ryan, Joseph, Joel, Jeffrey, Marlon, Richard, Noel, and Jonathan. For girls, it was Maricel, Michelle, Jennifer, Janice, Mary Grace, Jocelyn, Catherine, Mary Anne, Rowena and Grace.

Most Popular Norwegian Baby Names

tom — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:31:02 +0000

Top rankings amongst the most popular baby names in Norway have been steadily changing since the mid 90’s. “Thea” has been a strong contender for years, and has finally made it to number one in 2006. This year’s most popular Norwegian boys’ name is “Jonas” which also made its first appearance at number one.

Surprising changes have hit the boys’ name list with “Markus” dropping seven places and names like “Elias” and “Sebastian” finding themselves in the top ten for the first time recently. There are only a couple of changes
to the most popular girls’ names in 2006. “Thea” traded spots with “Emma” for the number one and two slots. In the past, names the royal family gave their babies substantially impacted the most popular baby name in Norway, today royal influence plays a much smaller role.

In 2006, the top ten most popular baby names in Norway for boys were: Jonas, Mathia, Andreas, Elias, Sebastian, Sander, Tobias, Martin, Henrik, and Emil. For girls: Thea, Emma, Julie, Ida, Nora, Ingrid, Emilie, Amalie, Maria, and Malin.

Most Popular British Baby Names

tom — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:24:50 +0000

Data collected in 2006, shows that the most popular baby name in England and Whales for boys was Jack. Jack is also an extremely popular name for boys globally, as it is also listed as the most popular baby name for bays in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Australia in 2006. For British babies that are female, the most popular baby name was Olivia. Interestingly, Olivia is also the most popular name for girls in Australia.

Rising immigration numbers pose the biggest threat to native baby names in England, though popular British baby names have remained consistent over the past several years.
The most popular British baby names for girls in the last five years have been: Olivia, Jessica, Grace, and Ruby. For boys: Jack, Oliver, Thomas, and Harry.

Most Popular Scottish Baby Names

tom — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:13:03 +0000

Over the last 100 years, Scotland has seen a consistent change in the range of names being used for babies. These trends show that parents of Scottish babies may be opting for different and unique names as opposed to the more popular baby names. Also, parents in Scotland have a habit of varying the spelling of popular names such as Callum/Calum and Aimee/Amy.

After several years in second place, one of the most popular worldwide names, Jack, is now the number one most popular baby name in Scotland, replacing Lewis as the most popular boys. Sophie was the most popular girls’ name for new babies for the last two years. Emma remains in second place while Erin and Katie jump to the third and fourth places respectively. The top ten most popular baby names in Scotland for boys in 2006 were: Jack, Lewis, Callum, Ryan, Cameron, Jamie, Daniel, Matthew, and Kyle. For girls: Sophie, Emma, Erin, Katie, Lucy, Chloe, Ellie, Amy, Olivia, and Emily.

Most Popular German Baby Names

tom — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:07:53 +0000

German statistical data shows that Alexander was the most popular German baby name for boys in 2005. Other baby names that were popular for German boys were Maximilian, Leon, Lukas/Lucas and Flinn/Flynn. For girls, Leonie/Leoni was most popular, with Sophie/Sofie, Maria, and Anna all trailing closely.

Several native German names have become popular internationally. People in other countries are warming up to German baby names such as Hans, Jan and Ursula. Even though immigration levels into Germany and many other countries are at an all time high, the popular names for German babies have stayed more consistent than some countries.

Most Popular Canadian Baby Names

tom — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:26:11 +0000

Popular Canadian baby names have remained relatively consistent as of late. Canadian baby names have had the tendency to mirror popular names in some Europe countries and also the United States. The Canadian Vital Statistics Agency reports every year on the top baby names, the following are the most popular names given at birth in 2005.

Boys’ names: Ethan, Joshua, Matthew, Jacob, Nathan, Ryan, Alexander, Liam, Nicholas, and Noah.

Girls’ names: Emma, Emily, Olivia, Hannah, Madison, Ava, Sarah, Ella, Isabella, and Grace.

Since 2000, the top then most popular names given to Canadian babies have fluctuated in rank, but still remain some of the more popular names.

Most Popular French Baby Names

Hunter Davis — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:49:40 +0000

The most popular French baby names haven’t changed much over the years. The only change to a usually consistent list of most popular baby names in France came when “Marie” fell out of the top ten and was replaced by “Jade”. For boys, “Maxime” and “Louis” were dropped from the top ten and were replaced by “Noah” and “Matteo”.

Here are the top ten most popular names given to French babies for the year 2006. Boys: Enzo, Mathis, Lucas, Hugo, Mathéo, Nathan, Théo, Noah, Mattéo, and Thomas. Girls: Emma, Léa, Manon, Clara, Chloe, Inès, Camille, Sarah, Océane, and Jade. Interestingly, half of the popular girls’ names that made the list back in 1990 have remained in the top ten, but Thomas is the only baby boy’s name to still be in the top ten.

Most Popular Swedish Baby Names

tom — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:47:55 +0000

Many expectant parents often wonder the significance that the name their choose will have on the life of their child. Expecting Swedish couples are more likely to end up choosing Lucas and Emma for their Swedish babies depending upon the gender.

According to information about births in 2006 from Sweden’s Namnstatistik,
Emma, Maja, Agnes, Julia, and Alva are the most popular names for Swedish girls (Flicknamn), and Lucas, Oscar, William, Elias, and Filip are the most popular baby names for boys born in Sweden (Pojknamn). Many popular Swedish baby names are common worldwide, notably Emma which is one of the most popular baby names for girls in many English-speaking countries along with its variant Emily.

More information on baby names in Sweden available at the Namnstatistik.

Most Popular Australian Baby Names

Hunter Davis — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:54:42 +0000

As of 2005, the most popular baby name in Australia for boys was Jack. Jack has also proven to be a popular name for boys internationally, as it is listed as the most popular name in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 2006. Jack was also listed in the top 5 most popular baby names in several other countries for 2006. For Australian girls, the most popular Australian baby name was Olivia. Interestingly, Olivia is also the most popular name for girls in England and Wales.

Australia, like many other countries around the world also experiences a high influx of immigrants that could potentially influence the names of Australian babies. Northern Africa and the Middle East combined are second to Europe in immigration to Australia.

Most Popular Korean Last Names

tom — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:09:56 +0000

As of February 3, 2007, the South Korean Supreme Court has announced that the most popular last names in Korea are Kim, Lee, Park and Choi for both non-Koreans who acquire citizenship as well as for native Koreans themselves. A relevant statistic also reported by the Supreme Court was that out of 110 individuals who became Korean citizens between October 2006 and December 2006, 51 chose the popular last name Kim.

All in all, Korean government statistics account for around 9.9 million Koreans with the surname Kim, which is roughly 21.6 percent of the country’s total population. Lee follows with 14.8 percent, and then comes Park with 8.5 percent and Choi with 4.7 percent. A Korean court official said that with the rise in popularity of international marriages, diversity within Korean last names is sure to increase.

Most Popular Car in America

tom — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:50:55 +0000

To be the most popular car in America, a model has to posses a wealth of features- reliability, safety, inoffensive yet attractive styling, power, and good gas mileage. Considering these design features, what is the most popular car? These desirable traits come together in the Toyota Camry, making it the highest selling and most popular car in America since 2002.

Launched in limited numbers in America in 1982, the first Camry was compact cars available in hatchback and sedan body styles. A second generation model followed in 1987, upgrading available engine power and offering new safety features such as anti-lock breaks and all-wheel drive. The hatchback model would vanish, replaced by the wagon body style. First sold in America in 1992, the third generation of the Toyota Camry ditched its compact roots to become a mid-size family sedan. 1997 saw the debut of the restyled fourth generation Camry, followed by the introduction of the Camry Solara coupe in 1999. Available as both a hardtop and a convertible, the Solara was built with more graceful and youth-oriented styling than the Camry. In 2000, the Camry became the highest selling car in America for the first time in its history, with reported figures of 422,930 sold. The next timely iteration to the Camry occurred in 2001, when America’s most popular car became much taller and roomier. The wagon body style was dumped for the fifth generation Camry. The sixth generation, launching in 2006, marked a decided change in the Camry’s styling. The aggressive front fascia compliments the available 3.5L V6, giving the new Camry much more power than any of the previous versions. America’s most popular car is now also available as a hybrid, using Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Camry classically performs well in crash safety tests, with all models since 1997 receiving a “Good” frontal crash rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Strangely, the fifth generation Camry receives a “Poor” rating in side impact tests from the IIHS when not equipped with side-impact airbags. The side airbag option, introduced in 2004, improves the side impact rating to “Good”.

Sales of the Camry in America peaked in 2006, with the nation’s most popular family sedan selling 448,445 units. The Camry’s future includes a foray into the increasingly popular NASCAR Nextel Cup, making it the first non-domestic car to compete in NASCAR in recent years. 2007 also expects to see the Camry produced in America for the first time, finally bringing America’s most popular car a little closer to home.

Most Popular Candy Bars

tom — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:04:32 +0000

Everyone has their favorite candy bar, the one they still might occasionally grab while waiting in line at the convenience store.

The Snickers bar, created by Mars Inc. in 1930 is a chewy nougat center with peanuts and caramel on top, all covered in a layer of milk chocolate. It was named Snickers after one of the horses of the Mars family who invented the candy, but sold as the Marathon bar in the United Kingdom. It had global annual sales of over $2 billion last year, becoming the most popular candy bar in the world. However just a few years back, the Mars bar held the top spot among the most popular candy bars, for most of the 20th century.

The Mars bar was created by Mars Inc. as well, in 1936. The international version of the Mars bar has always been different than the United States version, as it does not contain almonds like the original formulation. Both versions are a chocolate malt nougat center with caramel on top and covered in a layer of milk chocolate.

The Mars bar has been renamed to Snickers Almond in 2000, which may have been a huge mistake on the part of Mars Inc. In 2000, annual sales of the Mars bar reached over $2 billion, but by 2002 they had dropped to $1.09 billion.

Most Popular Cell Phones of 2006

tom — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 05:56:06 +0000

Cell phones are purchases that many people spend a lot of time researching and thinking about before shelling out the cash and having to use a phone for an extended period of time. The best phone for you may not be the best selling mobile. Wirefly which has a website for comparison shopping for mobile phones and cell phone wireless plans recently published a list of the most popular phones in highest demand. Many are not shocked that the best selling phones were Motorola’s RAZR designs.

Wirefly’s List of Most Popular Cell Phones of 2006:

Cingular Wireless RAZR by Motorola (in various colors)
T-Mobile RAZR (in various colors)
Verizon Wireless RAZR (in various colors)
Cingular Sony Ericsson z520a/z525a video phones
T-Mobile Motorola v360
Verizon Wireless Motorola v276
Sprint Nextel Motorola i850
Sprint Nextel Motorola i710
Cingular Motorola v220
T-Mobile Samsung T309

If you are are a hardcore gamer and have to play games on your cell phone, then the MobileRated Gamers choice list of most popular mobile phones may help you decide your next mobile purchase.

The MobileRated Gamers Choice Top 10 Most Popular Mobile Phones of 2006:

SonyEricsson W810i (3.35%)
RIM BlackBerry 8100 Pearl (2.72%)
SonyEricsson K750i (2.60%)
Nokia 6600 (2.59%)
Motorola RAZR V3 (2.49%)
SonyEricsson K800i (2.30%)
Nokia N70 (2.19%)
Nokia N73 (1.99%)
SonyEricsson W300i (1.95%)
Nokia 6620 (1.92%)

Most Popular Ice Cream

tom — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:58:21 +0000

Not surprisingly, vanilla ice cream is still the most widely consumed flavor. It’s ability to remixed with any variety of toppings, and it’s generally complimentary taste have one it 29% of the market share. But ice cream’s history is much longer and outlandish then one might think. Tracing roots as an ice and fruit to Emperor Nero in the first century, a similar concoction was whipped from ice and milk by a King Tang in 7th century China. It’s seen a gradual development since then, emerging here and there in the form of Italian sorbets and French ice-milk dishes. The first parlor was opened in America in 1776, and it has been served as a luxury item ever since.

Time and technology have allowed for cheaper and much more efficient production. Modern refrigiration techniques dropped the price of ice cream drastically, as you no longer needed large amounts of ice and salt to keep the cream chilled. The continuous process refigerator was successfully introduced by Clarence Vogt in the 1920s, and ice cream cones first gave people a chance to carry it around and spill it on their pants at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904. It’s been giving us “Good Humor” since Harry Burt’s team of uniformed drivers started delivering it in 1920.

Today, ice cream is widely available in traditional flavors at any retail food merchant, and in niche-market packages from parlors such as Ben and Jerry’s and Baskin Robbin’s, or the more recent Coldstone Creamery. More healthy renditions have become available in frozen yogurt and other fat free varieties, as some of us have a waistline to watch. Make mine mint-chocolate chip any day.

Based on ice cream consumption figures, the top five individual flavors in terms of share of segment in the United States are:

vanilla (26%),
chocolate (12.9%)
neapolitan (4.8%)
strawberry (4.3%)
cookies n’ cream (4.0%)

Source: The NPD Group’s National Eating Trends Services

In 2003, about 86% of packaged ice cream retail sales happened in supermarkets. Convenience store sales were second at 11.4%, drug stores were third at nearly 2%, with 0.6% occurring at other locations. Source: Mintel

Based on supermarket statistics in 2001*, ice cream volume sales by quality segment were: superpremium (3.5%), premium (51.5%) and regular (45%). Source: IRI

Nearly 80% of supermarket ice cream sales are packaged in half-gallon containers. Source: IRI, 2001

Mexico is the single largest market for U.S. frozen dessert exports, with an estimated value of almost $17 million. Canada was the number two destination for U.S. frozen dessert exports, valued at $6.6 million. Japan ($3.6 million), United Kingdom ($3.4 million), and Hong Kong ($3.1 million) are third, fourth and fifth respectively. Source: USDA/International Ice Cream Association

Most Popular Plastic Surgery

tom — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:37:46 +0000

You should really consider doing something about that extra weight you’re carrying around. Maybe make those a little bigger. While you’re at it, do something about that whole face area.

Modern plastic surgery has fostered a mentality that we are not good enough, and that high-cost surgeries are the best way to ensure our long-term happiness and physical self satisfaction. Originally developed as a way to help wound victims deal with scarring, cosmetic surgery has blossomed into an industry for the mega-rich to lift, shrink, enlarge, and tuck their bodies in ways they can not or have not through exercise or a balanced lifestyle alone. Rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery and face lifts were the most popular plastic surgery procedures of 2002.

Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery is a popular way to generally shrink or lift, smooth or reshape your nose into a new you. It is designed to remove large bumps, correct the general shape, and even improve airflow through the nose for those who have obstructed passages.

Breast augmentation, generally carried out through implants, is designed to give women (and sometimes men) a little more up front. Also quite common are breast reduction and breast lift surgeries. These popular plastic surgery procedures are most often carried out by people who have experienced dramatic weight gain or loss, pregnancy or back problems, and are not exclusively cosmetic.

Liposuction involves removing excess fat from the abdomen, and has become a common practice for those in need of immediate or permanent weight loss. Other techniques such as the tummy-tuck or stomach stapling involve forcibly limiting the amount of food our bodies can consume or hold. Still other techniques include regular exercise, altering of diet and even supplements that increase the metabolism.

Eyelid surgery is used to tighten up the areas around your eyes that have a tendency to sag or droop with age, or carry wrinkles that show more years then you might like. Portions of excess skin around your eyes can be cut away, and wrinkles on the skin itself can be smoothed with laser and chemical resurfacing techniques.

Facelifts involve pulling the skin across your face a bit tighter to eliminate some of the wrinkles that age can bring. Most effective for shoring up the lower portion of your face, when combined with other surgeries such as the lipectomy, it can help eliminate a double chin, or with a bit of collagen injection allow you to have tighter skin and large, puffy lips. Similar to eyelid surgical techniques, chemical or laser resurfacing is necessary to change the actual surface of your skin’s texture.

There are risks as well as benefits involved in most plastic surgery. While it may make you look younger, many surgical techniques do not age as well as even our own fragile bodies. Cosmetic surgery can leave scars or telltale signs that you didn’t arrive here with those enhancements in place. While it has great benefits and can improve skin conditions, posture, remove scars, and probably most often help those with self-image issues, one must be aware of the physical and psychological repercussions of going under the knife. Choose wisely.

Most Popular Artist

tom — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:24:25 +0000

by Dave Klemencic

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” has long been considered the most recognizable painted image to emerge from the art world. Van Gogh, who lived mainly in France, Belgium and Holland, past in 1890 after a final period of great productivity. Van Gogh’s work is a great mixture of expressionism, naturalistic observation, and not surprisingly a draftsmanship he learned in studying the works of other artists such as Millet. His work is passionate and bold, and highly contrasting color patterns are often laid down to create a real sense of movement. “Starry Night” is also said to be the most often reproduced of any painting, and vendors such as OverStockArt claim it is their most popular print.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night

Claude Monet, oft regarded as the founder of the impressionists is also among the most popular artists. His work is much less direct even then Van Gogh’s at times, and is more about color harmony and the sensations of memory then observation. He created many legendary works throughout his career, including a series of painting of the Rouen Cathedral in the lightings of a variety of different times of day. He is said to have set up a dozen canvases and worked on each for 7 or 8 minutes each day, before switching to the next as the light changed. There is likely some embellishment to that fable, as the paintings were probably greatly reworked in the studio after the fact. His “Garden at Giverny” and “Poppy Field at Argenteuil” are probably his most recognizable, and the atmospheric quality that runs through the majority of his oils makes them easily identifiable.

While Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Gustav Klimt and Wassily Kandinsky are also among the most popular, we must look at a variety of factors that have led to this. Van Gogh in particular was not successful in his lifetime. His work, though frequently reproduced now did not sell, he was virtually unknown to the Europe as a whole, and considered a bit of an outcast to his peers and those around him. The other artists mentioned existed as painting reached a pinnacle at the turn of the 20th Century, and generally as technology and the advent of photography changed the needs and demands for painting. Today, paintings are easily and cheaply reproduced, and enjoyed in a way the artists likely never would have imagined. Modern artists are able to spread their work around with greater ease thanks to the internet and mainstream publishing, and it is conceivable that the public may learn of an artist in their lifetime. Such noted painters as Jack Vettriano, while scorned by the art establishment for his populist, almost commercial approach, are fast competing for the most recognizable images. More art is now likely purchased at Target or Costco then from artists themselves, or even commercial galleries. The images considered most popular or recognizable have been beaten into our subconsciousness via calendars, mugs t-shirts and other bizarre licensing, and it is a wonder they haven’t lost some of their edge.

Most Popular Video Game Franchise

tom — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:05:20 +0000

Today’s video game market is bigger and more competitive than ever. With the recent launch of game systems like Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, and the Xbox 360, gamers are able to enjoy their favorite games on a variety of different mediums. With so many different systems to choose from, one might think that it would be hard to dominate the market with just one game. But since it’s release in August of 2006, Electronic Arts’ “Madden NFL 07 Football” has surpassed the competition as 2006’s most popular video game for the major systems.

Madden NFL 90

Based on internal company data, Electronic Arts’ EA Tiburon office in Maitland, California reported selling over 2 million copies of the most popular video game during its first week of retail sales and over 5 million copies of the game since its release. 2006 is the 17th year of production for the Madden NFL Football videogame, which also holds the title of the most popular video game franchise of all time. A recent Orlando Business Journal article reports that the game has had more than $2 billion in retail sales since its first release.

Madden NFL 07 brings back practically every feature that was in Madden 06, but over the years, the game has undergone obvious changes with advances in technology. Some of the changes from the 2006 edition include a new menu presentation, easier to learn moves and excellent new player models, stadiums, and the like that make the game more attractive overall.

Madden NFL 07

One particularly note-able feature of the most popular video game franchise is that you can play “franchise mode” yourself, and create and personalize your NFL team to your liking as you try to achieve the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl victory.

Most Popular Stamps

tom — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:37:19 +0000

Since 1993, no other postage stamp can hold a candle to the most popular stamp that bares the image of the “King” himself, Elvis Presley. With over 124 million Elvis stamps collected, US Postmaster General John E. Potter said, “Stamp collecting continues as one of the world’s most popular educational hobbies that the entire family can enjoy.”

The majority of the most popular postage stamps are commemorative of Elvis’s anniversaries, and are highly colorful and attractive. Many are artist portraits depicting Elvis in the different stages of his life and on complete stamp sheets this is particularly effective. A timeline of sorts, we see Elvis as the youthful performer of the 1950’s, through his film career to his black leather-clad comeback in 1968 to the more mature concert artist in the 1970’s. Full stamp sheets usually contain up to four identical or totally different stamps, often on a decorative background. Miniature sheets, usually containing one or two stamps, tend to be more stylized with highly imaginative renderings of Elvis plus objects connected with his life.

The French father and son artists Jean-Louis and Paul Puvilland are the designers of the most interesting Elvis stamps and sheets for many different countries. Artist Isabelle Tanner has also produced several beautiful commemorative sheets themed with backgrounds and quotes. Other Elvis stamps use well-known photographs to make up sheets and single stamps, such as the 1996 sheet of nine stamps from Tanzania bearing the Official Elvis Presley Estate logo. Other Elvis stamps are included in tribute or commemorative sets for cinema, rock, jazz, boxing and even football. Details are given in the following pages.

With the universal appeal of Elvis, it is no surprise that his image is on the most popular stamp, and if collection statistics remain consistent, you may be spotting Elvis more than you think in the future.

Top 25 Most Popular Stamps and the estimated number collected:
1) Elvis 1993 124.1 million
2) Wonders of America 2006 87.5 million
3) Wildflowers 1992 76.1 million
4) Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues 1993 75.9 million
5) DC Comics Super Heroes 2006 73.0 million
6) Greetings From America 2002 71.4 million
7) Insects and Spiders 1999 61.0 million
Art of Disney: Romance 2006 57.2 million
9) Legends of Baseball 2000 53.9 million
10) Art of Disney: Celebration 2005 52.8 milion
11) Baseball Playing Fields 2001 49.0 million
12) Art of Disney: Friendship 2004 47.7 million
13) Civil War 1995 46.6 million
14) Legends of the West 1994 46.4 million
15) Marilyn Monroe 1995 46.4 million
16) Advances in Aviation 2005 45.8 million
17) Bugs Bunny 1997 44.1 million
18) Lunar New Year SS 2005 42.7 million
19) Comic Strip Classics 1995 40.8 million
20) Jim Henson: Muppets 2005 40.6 million
21) Cloudscapes 2004 40.1 million
22) Stars and Stripes 2000 40.0 million
23) Baseball Sluggers 2006 39.5 million
24) Summer Olympics 1992 39.5 million
25) Lucille Ball 2001 38.7 million

Most Popular Majors

tom — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 06:56:09 +0000

by, Hunter Davis

Business Administration and Management is the most popular college major. In a yearly study conducted by the “Princeton Review”, colleges are asked to give data regarding their academic offerings. Each college polled is asked which three majors have the highest undergraduate enrollment. With today’s fast-paced economy, it is no surprise that Business Administration is the number one choice and most popular major amongst hundreds of possible college majors.

Business majors usually find success in the field of their choice by working their way up the corporate ladder to become managers, executives, and vice-presidents of their companies. A business major receives focused training and education in accounting, marketing, finance, human resources, economics, and decision-making.

Since Business Administration and Management is the most popular major, chances are you know someone who is majoring in business. Growing up, they probably saved their weekly allowance instead of blowing it, or maybe they started their own lawn mowing business in grade school. Regardless, a business major is naturally good with money and finances and can always be counted on for advice regarding monetary issues.

“Princeton Review’s” top ten Majors of 2006:

Business Administration and Management
Psychology
Elementary Education
Biology
Nursing
Education
English
Communication
Computer Science
Political Science

* note that the popularity of these popular majors has nothing to do with the current job markets’ need for positions in their related fields.

Most Popular Cell Phone Provider

tom — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:20:15 +0000

There are three cellular phone providers who are neck in neck in the competition for the most subscribers in the US.

Currently in the lead is Cingular Wireless, with slightly over 57 million subscribers and a steadily decreasing ‘churn’, which is an industry term referring to the amount of customers canceling their service each month. Cingular Wireless was formed in 2001 as a merger between SBC Communications and BellSouth, and then another merger in 2004 when Cingular bought AT&T Wireless for $41 billion dollars, pushing them into the number one spot as most popular cell phone carrier in the US.

In 2006 Cingular aggressively advertised a claim that they had the fewest dropped calls of any carrier - however the market research company that they used as a source, Telephia, later denied that the claims Cingular were accurate. Slightly behind Cingular in subscriber numbers, with slightly under 57 million subscribers, is Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless was formed in 2000 by a $90 billion dollar merger between Vodafone AirTouch and Bell Atlantic Corp. Shortly thereafter the assets of GTE Wireless were added to Verizon Wireless’s business, making them at the time the most popular cell phone carrier. In 2004 Cingular lost their number one position in subscriber numbers when Cingular merged with AT&T Wireless.

Third place in the US cell phone provider market is Sprint Nextel Corporation. Sprint runs a CDMA cellular network, as does Verizon Wireless, in contrast to Cingular’s GSM network. They have approximately 52 million subscribers currently. Sprint Nextel was formed in 2005 by the No. 3 and No. 5 leading cell phone providers in the US, Sprint and NEXTEL. Sprint Nextel offers cell phone service under two brands, Sprint PCS and Nextel, as well as offers wholesale access to its PCS wireless network to companies including 9278 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, EarthLink Wireless, BeyondMobile, Working Assets, Telispire, Excel Wireless, STI Mobile, Liberty Wireless, Powernet Global, PlatinumTel, ConnexOne, Disney Mobile, Movida Wireless, Helio, Primus Wireless, Voce, Jitterbug Wireless, Humane Wireless and Qwest.

Most Popular Beer in America

tom — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:08:52 +0000

Can you guess what the worlds most popular beer is? If you guessed Budweiser, you were just partially right. I’ll give you another hint: it was introduced in 1982. Have you figured it out yet? OK, I’ll give you another hint. It is a classic American light lager. Yes you finally got it, Bud Light.

According to Budweiser, it is brewed with two-row and six-row malt, rice, and hops, both American and European varieties. It uses a very different and distinct brewing process to produce a distinctively different, lower calorie beer with a crisp, clean taste.

Even though the micro-brewed beers are more flavorful and are gaining in popularity, the marketing people have help make Bud Light the best selling brand in the US!

Related
Most Expensive Beer

Most Popular Christmas Gift

tom — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:38:10 +0000

For the first time ever, the most popular Christmas gift in 2006 will be gift cards, according to research by American Express. In 2005, 57% of American shoppers purchased a gift card to give as a Christmas gift. In 2006, American Express predicts that number will reach 66% of American shoppers!

It may be easy to see why the gift card is the most popular christmas gift. A gift card is much more likely to be accepted by the recipient of the gift, and it relieves the stress from the gift purchaser who may not know exactly what the recipient would want. Gift cards also make post-holiday sales more valuable, as the same gift bought with a gift card will often be cheaper right after Christmas than if it was purchased at pre-Christmas retail prices.

In terms of specific items expected to be the most popular Christmas gifts in 2006, Elmo TMX and Sony’s PlayStation 3 top the list as the most sought after and hardest to find gifts. Elmo T.M.X. (Tickle Me eXtreme) is an animatronic successor to 1996’s hottest and most popular Christmas present, the Tickle Me Elmo. The toy requires six AA batteries, which are actually included with the toy. Elmo TMX hit store shelves September 19, 2006 and quickly sold out, with auctions selling them shortly thereafter for up to $1,000. The price of Tickle Me Elmo TMX was originally supposed to be a suggested retail price of $39.99, but is now selling for many times that at various retailers and auctions.

Sony’s Playstation 3 was released on November 17, 2006 in the USA leaving very little time for Christmas shoppers to get their hands on one. A 20GB model retails for $900 while a 60GB model retails for $1000. There was such an incredible demand for PlayStation 3 on its release date that a string of related violence occurred during the week following its release. The media reported on robbery after robbery, shootings, and stabbings across the country while prices on eBay skyrocketed to as high as $2,000. If you have yet to purchase the popular gift yourself, and you plan on doing so this season, you were wise to wait. There is no shortage of PS3’s on the market and you can buy them at the suggested retail price online or by auction for possibly even less.

Most Popular Cat Breeds

tom — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:13:58 +0000

Get Yourself a Lint Brush
By: Sherri S. Reese

When making the decision to own a pet, first you decide on which kind you want. Danny DeVito says in War of the Roses, “Cat people should marry cat people, and dog people should marry dog people.” There is a lot of truth in this statement. However, cats generally require less maintenance than canines, and are the most popular choice of pets to be owned in an apartment.

According to the latest statistics on Catster, the American Shorthair is by far the most popular breed of cat owned by people today. Respectively, these cats are most popularly owned in America. Considered to be feline “mutts”, they are not recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA). The CFA is the world’s largest cat registry, and acknowledges 41 different pedigrees of cats. They rank the Persian and the Maine Coon as the top two breeds of cat.

The Persian cat is almost universally rated as the most popular breed of cat to own. It is a long-haired, fluffy and very affectionate breed of cat. This breed of cat is devoted and laid back, but its’ hair can be nightmare for maintaining, sometimes growing up to 3 inches long! This cat is the most popular breed because it is so loving and devoted. Persians need a comfortable environment to feel safe.

The Maine Coon is the second most popular breed of cat. It is one of the oldest cat breeds around, and can withstand both hot and cold climates. This is why it is so popular, because it can be owned all around the world. They are fun-loving, good natured, and are considered safe around children.

Even though purebred pedigree cats can be attractive, there are so many homeless cats that are just as adorable, and are in need of good homes. Most any cat will be a wonderful addition to your home. However, avoid the ones that hiss at you off the bat.