Element of the Year 2007 edition - and the Mendy goes to.....

Rotterdam Institute of Science and Technology - The Netherlands

With Professors Feith and Jansen hosting the proceedings this year's Mendy Awards celebration went off without a hitch. The veteran Dutch comedy duo kept the audience in stitches with their version of Tom Lehrer's "The Element Song" and kept the evening moving along at a nice clip until it was time for the big announcement; this year's Mendy winner for element of the year. Named after Dmitri Mendeleev, inventor of the periodic table, the Mendy goes to the element that for whatever reason garnered the most notoriety during the preceding 12 months. Last year's victor, Polonium, was on hand to pass on the torch and the suspense built to a fever pitch as sometime around 11 p.m. presenters Paula Abdul and Simon Fuller announced that Lead , good old Pb 82, was taking home the honour.

This war horse of a metal, in use for thousands of years, has seen its star rise during the past several months thanks in large part to the Chinese and their love of inexpensive lead-based paints that give their toys a nice sheen and a dangerously elevated level of toxicity.

Lead was in attendance with Pam Anderson who didn't deny rumors that the 2 were an item. "I don't want to say too much" said the platinum and silicone starlet "but I love heavy metal and this guy is the heaviest!!"

As they zoomed off for the traditional after party and post-after party we were left to wonder if next year would be the year for an inert gas to finally have its moment in the spotlight. With the world helium shortage in full swing don't be surprised if element number 2 is feeling lighter than air some 12 months from now. Remember...you heard it here first!!