Herewith, our list of Salon’s 50 most popular stories in 1999, based on cumulative volume of Web traffic. Each day this week we’ll add 10 to the list, counting down to the most-read articles of the year. And don’t miss our “Editor’s Pick” list — a handpicked selection of Salon’s best work from 1999.

50. True tales of topless
Sophie and the bird nest breasts By Amy Reiter
The Sun newspaper catches Rhys-Jones with her shirt off; his Nastiness goes after her Rodhamness.

[05/27/99 -- People]

49. Eau de Mac By Janelle Brown
Apple’s new G4 has a sleek look — and a strange scent.

[09/15/99 -- Technology]

48. Outsiders, even
among the outsiders By Dave Cullen
Littleton killers didn’t quite fit in, even with the “Trench Coat Mafia.”

[04/22/99 -- News]

47. The gentlemanly art of spanking By Carson Fitzgerald
When women turn the other
cheek, what are they asking for?

[01/07/99 -- Health & Body/Urge]

46. Too many naked women By Joel Stratte-McClure
An interview with Helmut Newton.

[02/10/96]

45. Live! From my bedroom By Simon Firth
“Homecam” operators broadcast their daily
lives to Web voyeurs. Why? For art or fame, love or money — or reasons they
can’t quite explain.

[01/08/98 -- Technology]

44. Do penguins eat apples? By Andrew Leonard
Once upon a time, Apple dreamed of killing giants. Today, that hope
belongs to a new generation — of open-source programmers.

[09/28/99 -- Technology]

43. Vive la difference By Sarah Vowell

A melting pot of several stories, “Summer of Sam” is a sprawling urban epic
from Brooklyn’s native son.

[06/30/99 -- Arts & Entertainment]

42. Hillary, Naomi, Susan and Rush. Sheesh! By Camille Paglia
Clinton requires emergency intervention; Wolf’s mind is amazingly slack; Faludi’s “Stiffed” is a stiff. Meanwhile, Limbaugh brings a genuine intellectual service to American culture.

[11/17/99 -- People]

41. Prodigal son By Jake Tapper
How will George W. Bush — and the GOP — confront the whispers about his past?

[04/09/99 -- News]

The release party for “Season of the Witch” will be a celebration of the San Francisco values of social tolerance and experimentation, as explored in David Talbot’s new book. This event will feature music and art of the 1967-‘82 era as well as speakers recounting some of the wild stories that defined this explosive time. Guests include director Oliver Stone, who will discuss how films like “The Doors” channeled the demonic energy of the period, and how his love for the San Francisco 49ers was reflected in “Any Given Sunday.” Other special guests include Scrumbly Koldewyn and Fayette Hauser of the infamous drag queen troupe the Cockettes; Peter Lewis of the legendary band Moby Grape; activist Cleve Jones; and other political, sports and literary luminaries.

Salon has always believed in not just truth, but beauty. Our original design back in 1995 – a clean, art deco look created by Salon’s first art director, Mignon Khargie – immediately set Salon apart. Now Salon is once again separating itself from the cookie-cutter digital clutter that defines too much of the Web with a bold and striking new design.

We asked designer Kelly Frankeny to create a news tabloid as imagined by Coco Chanel. Frankeny — a globetrotting designer who is often dropping into beleaguered democracies in Africa and Latin America to work her wonders for embattled newspapers – responded to our challenge with a sophisticated and dynamic design. A brilliant and sassy blond Texan, she has created a new Salon as big as her personality. And yes, while invoking the brassy urgency of a news tabloid, the new design also conveys the elegance of the House of Chanel. Both Frankeny and the new Salon know how to use red lipstick and a simple black dress for maximum effect.

As winter thaws, the hot spots of the Occupy movement are seeing the first ripples of resurgence. From New York to Oakland, Calif., crowds are returning to the streets, but will the plan for a May 1 General Strike spark an American Spring or will the movement splinter and fade into Tea Party-like irrelevance? Watch the Salon webcast with Occupy correspondent Natasha Lennard to hear her thoughts on these issues:

To participate in upcoming Salon webcasts with staff and friends, join the Salon Core community.

Salon has covered the Trayvon Martin killing relentlessly, but none of our coverage has struck a nerve like the article “Is My Son the Next Trayvon?” by the chief operating officer of Salon Studio, Quincy McCoy. As a black man who escaped the rough neighborhoods of his youth to provide a better life for his child, Quincy’s article conveyed the constant anxiety suffered by all black parents — regardless of class.

Quincy recently hosted an online conversation on the epidemic of violence against young black men. Here is the full video of that discussion:

To participate in Salon’s webcasts with staff and friends, join the Salon Core community.

Two years after the president signed it into law, Obamacare is beginning to have a big impact: Millions more young adults are insured; prescription costs for the elderly are on the decline; and children with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage. Yet, as Andrew Leonard detailed on Tuesday, it’s at this very moment when the legislation is starting to extend coverage and reduce costs that the Supreme Court seems determined to destroy it.

As the justices debate constitutionality of the legislation, we want to know how the law is affecting regular Americans. Has the Affordable Care Act changed you or your family’s healthcare experience?

Blog about it on Open Salon – and we may feature your story on Salon.