It's not yet 2009, but Yahoo Australia just announced the Top 10 Internet Searches for 2008. I thought it might make interesting reading for those of you who don't live in "The Lucky Country" - so here goes:

OVERALL
1.  Britney Spears Self-saboteur no more. Not that she ever went away but Britney's back with a new, improved version of herself.
2.  Heath Ledger The death which shocked the world and at only 28 gone too soon.
3.  Beijing Olympics The world was entranced with the Beijing Olympics with China turning on a mass spectacle for the world.
4.  Angelina Jolie & Jessica Alba Australians are equally enamoured with these two yummy mummies.
5.  Stephanie Rice Australia's golden girl found gold medal success and a potential new boyfriend in swimming sensation Michael Phelps.
6.  Global economic downturn The effect of the global credit crisis sent ripples of shock around the world.
7.  U.S. election Australian interest was at an all time high for this election - partly fuelled by the colour Sarah Palin lent to the campaign trail.
8.  Chinese earthquake Devastating earthquake in Sichuan measuring 8 on the Richter scale, which killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless.
9.  Burma Cyclone Tropical cyclone Nargis caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma (officially known as Myanmar).

10.  Large Hadron Collider

http://au.docs.yahoo.com/top2008/index.html

Many were concerned the world would end as a result of the Large Hadron Collider scientific experiment.