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Janet Jackson the big search word

In a year of devastating natural disasters and terrorist attacks, Janet Jackson was the most popular search on Google.

Even though her infamous wardrobe malfunction happened in February 2004 and her brother Michael beat child molestation charges, Janet managed to surpass hurricane Katrina, the tsunami and the launch of Microsoft's new Xbox 360 as the most popular search of the year.

The 39-year-old made the news in 2005 with tabloid rumours that she secretly had a daughter about 18 years ago - a claim she denied. And she surely racked up her Google hits when paparazzi video of her sunbathing naked appeared online.

Ask an adult what Inuyasha is and you might get a puzzled look. But the Japanese anime cartoon was the most popular search in February, March and April and the third most popular search in January and June. Inuyasha is a half-human, half-demon character searching for a jewel that would give him tremendous power. He and the female protagonist, Kagome Higurashi, are characters in the popular cartoon that first aired overseas from 2000 to 2004 and was brought to North America to great success.

Teen favourites Hilary Duff, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Chad Michael Murray also made the list. Rapper 50 Cent was also a mainstay on the list, and made a steady climb from No. 9 in February to as high as No. 2 and never dropped out of the Top 10 through July.