Hot Trends: Garth Brooks Gives Thanks for Trisha Yearwood: “I Never Knew It Could Be Like ...

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br /><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/pFweY_gwlLqjmVDgK66jWA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/music/2013-11-30/550447a2-7d89-4358-aef8-cd1a98645956_451509583.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br />Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images) Garth Brooks undoubtedly has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season - not the least of which is a new deluxe boxed set, Blame It All On My Roots, which hit stores this week . However, during an appearance on the " Ellen Degeneres Show" Friday, the country icon saved his most grateful words for his wife, fellow musician Trisha Yearwood.<br/><br />"I've got to tell you, if you like her and don't know her, you'll love her," Brooks enthused about Yearwood. "If you love her and don't know her, you'll worship her. She's the real deal."<br/><br />"I never knew it could be like this," he noted of his marriage. "I never knew that every day you could wake up and feel like this. I have God and I have Ms. Yearwood to thank for this."<br/><br />Brooks told DeGeneres he was so smitten by Yearwood that he even recognized the spark at their first meeting in 1987 - when he was barely into his second year of marriage to first wife Sandy Mahl. "I felt that feeling like when you just meet your wife," he told the talk-show host. "But [I'd] been married for 13 months!"<br/><br />Yearwood herself was married at the time, so the two developed a friendly relationship. Brooks went on to have three daughters with Mahl and was determined to be a good husband and father. "Being married, it's got to be right. This is who you went to college with, and you were married in front of God and your family and everything," he explained. "So you keep hacking, and you work and you work and you work. And then comes that time where you're looking at the rest of your life going, 'How do you want to live it?'"<br/><br />The Brooks-Mahl marriage failed in 2000 and their divorce was finalized in 2001. Coincidentally, Yearwood was newly single at that time, too. The friends quickly discovered they had a deep bond. "We had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did," Brooks noted. "So we started seeing each other after the divorce...We'd known each other music-wise, but we got to see each other as people."<br/><br />The pair married in 2005 and have successfully engineered dual parenting roles with Brooks's ex-wife Mahl. While Brooks has been in semi-retirement since 2001, the two lovebirds have never been entirely out of the spotlight. Yearwood most recently launched a cooking show, "Trisha's Southern Kitchen," on the Food Network, on which Brooks has guest-starred. "She's the bomb," he told DeGeneres "She does it all."<br/><br />Brooks also discussed his famous decision to bow out of the spotlight and focus on parenting his kids; a choice he has vowed to stick to until his youngest child graduates high school next May. He called the ability to do so a gift from God: "I think if everybody was allowed that luxury, 99 percent of us parents would take it...they just grow up so fast."<br/><br />The superstar also delighted the audience when he serenaded DeGeneres with a medley of his favorite cover songs, which he recorded for his new boxed set. The talk-show host was so moved by Brooks's rendition of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" that she couldn't resist joining in for a verse or two herself.</div>

Hot Trends: Garth Brooks Gives Thanks for Trisha Yearwood: “I Never Knew It Could Be Like ...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images) Garth Brooks undoubtedly has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season - not the least of which is a new deluxe boxed set, Blame It All On My Roots, which hit stores this week . However, during an appearance on the " Ellen Degeneres Show…

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Hot Trends: The Fast and the Furious star killed in car crash

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />Actor Paul Walker, best known for his role in The Fast and the Furious movies, died in a car crash north of Los Angeles Saturday afternoon.<br/><br />New Regency Productions, a film studio that distributes through Twentieth Century Fox, confirmed the actor's death in a tweet.<br/><br />It is with great sadness to report that @RealPaulWalker has passed away. We will miss you. #RIP- New Regency (@NewRegency) December 1, 2013<br/><br />According to a post on the Walker's Facebook page, he was a passenger in a friend's car at the time of the crash, which happened while he was attending a charity event. <img height="300" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2446826.1385870315!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/paul-walker-obit.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department said the crash happened in community of Valencia. The Santa Clarita Signal reports a red Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames, killing both occupants. Photos from the scene show a pile of twisted metal and broken windows.<br/><br />Police haven't confirmed the names of the victims or the cause of the crash.<br/><br />In addition to starring in The Fast and the Furious franchise, Walker also starred in Varsity Blues and Joy Ride.<br/><br />Walker, 40, was working on the latest The Fast and the Furious movie at the time of his death. He also starred in the suspense drama Hours, a movie that is set for release this month.<br/><br />He left behind a 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.<br/><br /><cite>With files from The Associated Press</cite></div>

Hot Trends: The Fast and the Furious star killed in car crash

Actor Paul Walker, best known for his role in The Fast and the Furious movies, died in a car crash north of Los Angeles Saturday afternoon.New Regency Productions, a film studio that distributes through Twentieth Century Fox, confirmed the actor's death in a tweet.It is with great sadness to report …

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Hot Trends: Toronto Maple Leafs dig hole too deep in loss to Montreal Canadiens

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />MONTREAL - Max Pacioretty scored twice and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.<br/><br />P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec also scored for the Canadiens (15-9-3) and Carey Price stopped 34 shots.<br/><br />James van Riemsdyk and Mason Raymond scored for the Leafs (14-10-3), while Jonathan Bernier made 35 saves.<br/><br />The Canadiens wasted no time getting on the scoreboard after the Leafs' Carl Gunnarsson took a penalty for interference in the game's first minute.<br/><br />Pacioretty scored his eighth of the season on the power play at 0:58 after taking a crisp pass from Subban, who was deep in his own zone. Pacioretty walked in on the breakaway and got off three shots on net before sliding one past Bernier's outstretched leg.<br/><br />Price got an assist on the goal, his first point of the season.<br/><br />Subban added to the lead at 16:13 of the first after a David Desharnais face-off win landed on his stick. Subban took a step towards the goal and beat Bernier with a wrist shot over his blocker.<br/><br />George Parros and Colton Orr opened the second period by dropping the gloves - their first fight since the Oct. 1 season opener when Parros left the game with a concussion. <img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2013/11/leafs-65.jpg?w=620&h=416" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />The Canadiens added to their lead at 15:05 of the second period when Plekanec fired home his ninth of the year on a two-on-one with Daniel Briere. Pacioretty put the game out of reach two minutes later with his second of the game, while playing shorthanded.<br/><br />The Leafs answered with two quick goals of their own. Van Riemsdyk got the first for Toronto, lifting the puck from a tight angle into the roof of the net over a crouching Price at 18:10 of the second. Raymond scored 22 seconds later, tapping a rebound into a gaping net to make it 4-2.<br/><br />Both the Canadiens and Maple Leafs were coming off 3-2 losses in extra time on Friday night. Montreal lost to the Washington Capitals in a shootout, while Buffalo scored 38 seconds into overtime to beat Toronto.<br/><br />The Leafs and Canadiens entered the game tied in the standings with 31 points.<br/><br />NOTES: The Maple Leafs have not won away from home since Oct. 30 in Calgary. ... Subban is the first Habs defenceman to score in nine games (since Dec. 7, when Andrei Markov scored against Senators). ... Montreal rookie Michael Bournival was out of the lineup. ... The Leafs were without injured players Dave Bolland (ankle) and Joffrey Lupul (groin). ... The Habs and Maple Leafs meet three more times this season. The next matchup is Jan. 18 at the Air Canada Centre. <img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2013/11/leafs-66.jpg?w=620&h=478" width="100%"/><br/></div>

Hot Trends: Toronto Maple Leafs dig hole too deep in loss to Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL - Max Pacioretty scored twice and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec also scored for the Canadiens (15-9-3) and Carey Price stopped 34 shots.James van Riemsdyk and Mason Raymond s…

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Hot Trends: Over 400 Retailers Are Offering Deals On New "Bitcoin Black Friday" Website

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bbf_image.png?w=400" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Bitcoin burning a hole in your pocket? Probably. If so, a new site has popped up to help you spend your digital currency during this hectic holiday shopping week: " Bitcoin Black Friday." Starting on Friday, November 29th, a growing number of online retailers will be offering special deals just for Bitcoin users.<br/><br />Frankly, a good many of the offers are fairly gimmicky - you can use bitcoins to buy a bacon-flavored lollipop or a ticket to space on Virgin Atlantic, for example. That's not really going to help you with your holiday shopping list, though. However, there are some decent choices on the site, too, but for obvious reasons, they tend to be a little more geeky in nature. Adafruit, for instance, is offering 10% off of everything in stock, including Raspberry Pi. Reddit is selling Reddit Gold. The Humble Bundle has deals up for grabs. There are also software, electronics, domain name and hosting deals, and so on.<br/><br />Mobile gift card app Gyft is one of the better deals available, giving Bitcoin shoppers 4 percentage points back when you buy gift cards from its supported retailer partners, like Target, Gamestop, Gap, Zappos, Nike, Old Navy, and hundreds of others. If you were stocking up on gift cards anyway, that's worth taking advantage of. (For what it's worth, PayPal users will get 3% back, while credit card users get 2% back, the company says.) <img height="300" src="http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bitcoindeals.png?w=640&h=494" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Overall, though, the deal quality on "Bitcoin Black Friday" is a good indicator of where Bitcoin is in terms of mainstream adoption. That is, not so much. There really aren't big-name retailers on board with the digital currency at this time. And for obvious reasons, big-name tech companies like Google, Amazon and eBay aren't going to play along either, as they all have their own payment mechanisms to push (Google Wallet, PayPal and Amazon's one-click checkout experience, respectively).<br/><br />But the site has the backing of large number of Bitcoin supporters, including digital wallet Coinbase, which is waving all fees on Friday so Bitcoin users can buy, sell, send and receive bitcoins all day. The site lists logos of other Bitcoin backers who have either contributed funds or assisted significantly in outreach to the Bitcoin community, including SV Angel, Bitcoin Investment Trust, Ribbit Capital, Bitypay, Coinbase, Gyft, PrivateInternetAccess, BitGive, and BitDazzle.<br/><br />Internet activists Fight for the Future are also involved trying to get the word out about the Bitcoin Black Friday efforts, somewhat radicalizing the event by pointing to Bitcoin's potential to be disruptive to the status quo. "Bitcoin is an amazing new technology, but because it challenges established industries, it will face serious political opposition-especially in the U.S. where those industries are strongest," the message reads on the project's site. "Bitcoin will only be safe once millions of people rely on it every day."<br/><br />Of course, Bitcoin won't reach those mainstream "millions" while speculators drive the price of the crytocurrency to crazy new heights. That doesn't discount its long-term potential though as a money transfer platform, though. But as a payment mechanism for online shopping? While it's great that there are over 441 retailers on board with Bitcoin Black Friday, it would be better if there were more deals mainstream users would actually want to buy. Instead of say, Bitcoin t-shirts, stickers, glasses, mining equipment....and, oh yeah, more Bitcoin.<br/><br />The Bitcoin Black Friday movement is still growing, however. Earlier this week, it was touting that 250 retailers had signed up, and today there are nearly 200 more. Evan Greer of Fight the Future also tells us the site has seen over 30,000 unique visitors to date, almost half of which arrived yesterday. Meanwhile, over 4,000 people have signed up to get an email when the deals go live.</div>

Hot Trends: Over 400 Retailers Are Offering Deals On New "Bitcoin Black Friday" Website

Bitcoin burning a hole in your pocket? Probably. If so, a new site has popped up to help you spend your digital currency during this hectic holiday shopping week: " Bitcoin Black Friday." Starting on Friday, November 29th, a growing number of online retailers will be offering special deals just for …

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Hot Trends: Black Friday: 20 Great Online Deals for Those Avoiding the Mall

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://timebusinessblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/2013-11-29t200510z_349221547_gm1e9bu0b-copy.jpg?w=480&h=320&crop=1" width="100%"/><br/><br /><small>Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters</small><br/><br />Virtually every retailer in America is hosting big sales today. But you don't have to leave your home or office to take advantage.<br/><br />Despite the perception to the contrary, the majority of consumers are not hitting the stores today. For everyone wise enough to avoid traffic on roads and in store aisles today, here's a top 20 roundup of e-retail promotions.<br/><br />Pretty much every department store, electronics specialist, and other retail websites have special Black Friday offers this weekend, but we're focusing mainly on those with across-the-board discounts on every item sold, so that there is no hunting and pecking for bargains. Whatever you want can be had for a substantial markdown off the original price. We're talking deals like 40%, 50%, even 60% off everything sitewide-you know, the kinds of sales that make you regret ever having paid full price for anything at these stores:<br/><br /><strong>Abercrombie & Fitch:</strong> There's a 40% off everything sale on Black Friday, no promotional code necessary.<br/><br /><strong>Aeropostale:</strong> There's a 60% off everything sale (with a few exclusions) on Black Friday at the Aeropostale website, no promotional code necessary.<br/><br /><strong>American Eagle:</strong> 40% off everything plus free shipping with any purchase, no promo code required.<br/><br /><strong>Ann Taylor:</strong> Get 40% off sitewide with the code GET40. (That's pretty good, though not quite as good as the 50% off offer that was available just for purchases on Thanksgiving Day 2013. It wouldn't be surprising if another 50% off coupon surfaced, perhaps as soon as Cyber Monday.)<br/><br /><strong>Apple Store:</strong> The rarely seen Apple Store promotion has surfaced on Black Friday, with free Apple Store gift cards included in various purchases - $75 with the purchase of an iPad Air, for instance, and a $150 card with every iMac or MacBook Pro bought.<br/><br />( <strong>MORE:</strong> The Essential Shopping Guide to the Epic Thanksgiving-Black Friday Weekend)<br/><br /><strong>Banana Republic:</strong> A discount of 40% is applied to your entire purchase with the use of the coupon code BRGIVING.<br/><br /><strong>Barnes and Noble:</strong> Through December 2, knock 30% off the price of one item with the promo code BFRIDAY30. (Excludes NOOK tablets and NOOK e-books.)<br/><br /><strong>Calvin Klein:</strong> 50% off and free shipping for all orders placed on Black Friday.<br/><br /><strong>Cold Water Creek:</strong> 50% off everything, plus free shipping on all orders, is available through 2 p.m. on Black Friday.<br/><br /><strong>Delia's:</strong> For November 29, the code BIG50 delivers a 50% off discount sitewide (and in store), with free shipping on all orders.<br/><br /><strong>DC Shoes:</strong> 40% off your entire purchase, through November 29, no promotional code necessary.<br/><br /><strong>Dockers:</strong> Use the code BLACKFRIDAY for 40% off sitewide on (duh) Black Friday.<br/><br /><strong>Eddie Bauer:</strong> 30% off sitewide, plus free delivery and free return shipping is the early Cyber Monday deal (available right now, through December 2), with the code ICY at checkout.<br/><br /><strong>Express:</strong> 50% off everything through noon on Black Friday, no coupon necessary.<br/><br /><strong>Gap:</strong> Use the code BLKFRIDAY at checkout to get 50% off everything online. Everything's half off in Gap stores on Friday too. (While Gap's sister chain Old Navy is hosting a 50% off everything sale in brick-and-mortar stores on Friday, Old Navy doesn't have an across-the-board discount online.)<br/><br /><strong>Lands' End:</strong> Through December 3, the coupon code WONDERLAND (pin: 3050) will get you 30% off purchases in store, online, or over the phone.<br/><br />( <strong>MORE:</strong> Your Favorite Toys from the 90s Get an Upgrade This Holiday Season)<br/><br /><strong>Lane Bryant:</strong> THANKSLB is the code to use for 50% off sitewide through December 1.<br/><br /><strong>Levi's:</strong> Free shipping and a 40% off discount are available for all Levi's purchases made on Black Friday.<br/><br /><strong>New York & Company:</strong> 50% to 70% off all merchandise, with free shipping included, no code needed.<br/><br /><strong>Tommy Hilfiger:</strong> Use the code THTHANKS40 for 40% off everything on the site, through December 1.</div>

Hot Trends: Black Friday: 20 Great Online Deals for Those Avoiding the Mall

Jonathan Alcorn / ReutersVirtually every retailer in America is hosting big sales today. But you don't have to leave your home or office to take advantage.Despite the perception to the contrary, the majority of consumers are not hitting the stores today. For everyone wise enough to avoid traffic on …

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Hot Trends: Garth Brooks gushes about life with Trisha Yearwood

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br /><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/Entertainment/660/371/garth%20brooks%20and%20trisha%20yearwood%20reuters.jpg?ve=1" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />June 16, 2011. Singers Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood pose as they arrive for the Songwriters Hall of Fame awards in New York.Reuters<br/><br />Garth Brooks may have been married to Trisha Yearwood for almost 13 years but he still sounds like a gushing newlywed when discussing her. In an interview for the Friday, November 29, episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Friday, November 29, the country superstar talked at length about their relationship.<br/><br />The "Wrapped Up In You" singer explained that they met through songwriter Kent Blazy who thought the pair would get along. Brooks confessed that there was an immediate attraction. "When she left, he goes, 'What did you think?' I said, 'Well, it's strange, because I felt that feeling like when you just meet your wife, but I've been married for 13 months,'" he explained. At the time the singer was wed to college sweetheart Sandy Mahl. "Being married, it's got to be right. This is who you went to college with, and you were married in front of God and your family and everything," he told DeGeneres. "So you keep hacking, and you work and you work and you work. And then comes that time where you're looking at the rest of your life going, 'How do you want to live it?'" They went onto to have three daughters before divorcing in 2000. Yearwood who had two failed marriages behind her was also single and the pair began dating before marrying in December 2005.<br/><br />"This was somebody I always enjoyed being around. And we had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did. And so we started seeing each other after the divorce," he recalled. "We'd known each other music-wise, but we got to see each other as people. And I've got to tell you, if you like her and don't know her, you'll love her. If you love her and don't know her, you'll worship her. She's the real deal." And it seems that Brooks is just as besotted with his missus as the first time he ever met her. "I've got to tell you, I never knew it could be like this," the 51-year-old singer told DeGeneres of life with Yearwood. "I never knew that everyday you could wake up and feel like this. And I have God and I have Ms. Yearwood to thank for this." He also bragged about her many side ventures like a Food Network cooking show and three cookbooks. "I'm part of the working wives club," he joked. "I lay out at the pool with the other husbands." "She's the bomb, man. She does it all," he said proudly. But the one thing that Yearwood does the best? (according to her hubby). "Make no mistake -- Ms. Yearwood was born to sing. That's just what she does...I'll put her in the top five female voices of all time. She's that good," Brooks declared.</div>

Hot Trends: Garth Brooks gushes about life with Trisha Yearwood

June 16, 2011. Singers Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood pose as they arrive for the Songwriters Hall of Fame awards in New York.ReutersGarth Brooks may have been married to Trisha Yearwood for almost 13 years but he still sounds like a gushing newlywed when discussing her. In an interview for the Fr…

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Hot Trends: Black Friday shopping stampede starts early in US

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />The holiday shopping season started as a marathon, not a sprint.<br/><br />More than a dozen major retailers from Target to Toys R Us opened for 24 hours or more on Thanksgiving Day through Black Friday, the traditional start to the holiday shopping period. As a result, crowds formed early and often throughout the two days.<br/><br />About 15,000 people were waiting for the flagship Macy's in New York City's Herald Square when it opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Long checkout lines formed at the Target in Colma, Calif., on Black Friday morning. And at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Ga., Jessica Astalos, 20, had already been shopping for six hours starting on Thanksgiving night as another wave of shoppers made their way into the mall around 5:30 a.m. ET on Black Friday.<br/><br />"You just have to be out in the midst of all of it," said Ricki Moss, who hit stores near Portland, Ore., at 5:30 a.m. PT on Friday. "It's exciting."<br/><br />The start of the holiday shopping season has transformed into a two-day event. For nearly a decade, Black Friday had been the official start to the busy buying binge sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was named Black Friday because that was traditionally when retailers turned a profit, or moved out of the red and into the black.<br/><br />This year, several welcomed shoppers for the first time on Thanksgiving night, while Gap Inc., which owns Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy, opened half its stores earlier on the holiday.<br/><br />Wal-Mart stores, most of which stay open 24 hours, has for the past several years offered doorbusters that had been reserved for Black Friday. And Kmart planned to stay open 41 hours starting at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving.<br/><br />That has led some to question how much further Black Friday will creep into Thanksgiving, which along with Christmas is one of only two days a year that most stores are closed.<br/><br />"Black Friday is now Gray Friday," said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy. Calmer in Canada<br/><br />In Canada, retail trade also stepped up substantially, with almost half of all Canadians expected to shop today, CBC's Charlsie Agro reported. <img height="300" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2445204.1385744260!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/thanksgiving-day.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />At Toronto's Eaton Centre, the doors opened at 6 a.m. ET, and people were lined up to get in, Agro reported.<br/><br />"It's all in an effort to capitalize on the American shopping phenomenon," she said.<br/><br />The mall's owner, Cadillac Fairview Corp., tried early Black Friday openings last year at nine malls in Ontario and one in Manitoba. This year, all 21 of the company's malls opened early.<br/><br />"I think, as retailers, we're all doing things that we traditionally haven't done to stay competitive and bring great deals to Canadian shoppers," said Meredith Vlitas, senior marketing director at the Toronto Eaton Centre.<br/><br />At the Cornwall mall in downtown Regina, an orderly, friendly queue of about 200 shoppers waited patiently for their chance to shop for deals, the CBC's Bonnie Allen reported.<br/><br />The earlier openings and sales were met with some resistance south of the border. Some workers' rights groups had planned protests on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday because they opposed having retail employees miss family meals at home. But as of Thursday afternoon, there weren't reports of widespread protests.<br/><br />There were some reports of scattered violence Thursday and Friday:<br/><br />In Chicago, authorities said a police officer answering a call of alleged shoplifting at a department store on Thursday night shot the driver of a car that was dragging a fellow officer. The wounded driver of the car and the dragged officer were both taken for hospital treatment of non-life-threatening shoulder injuries, police say. Three people were arrested. In Southern California, authorities said a police officer suffered a broken wrist as he broke up a brawl between two men waiting in line for Black Friday shopping deals at a Wal-Mart. In Las Vegas, police said a shopper carrying a big-screen TV home from a Target on Thanksgiving was shot by a thief. In Utah, police said at least two people were knocked to the ground by a crowd of Wal-Mart shoppers jockeying for a $49 tablet computer Sales boost unclear<br/><br />Judy Espey ducked out of a Thanksgiving family dinner to buy a flat-screen TV at Wal-Mart near Clifton Park, N.Y., for $288. But "I don't really dig the Thanksgiving night thing," she confessed. "I feel bad for the workers."<br/><br />Vinnie Gopalakrishnan pledged not to hit the stores after seeing TV footage of people shopping on Thanksgiving. But he flip-flopped after his cousin told him about a deal on a big-screen TV.<br/><br />"I said, `I'm not going to do it. Those people are crazy,"' Gopalakrishnan said before heading to a Wal-Mart on Friday.<br/><br />It's unclear whether the early openings will lead shoppers to spend more over the two days or simply spread sales out.<br/><br />Last year, sales on Thanksgiving rose 55 per cent from the previous year to $810 million, as more stores opened on the holiday, according to research firm ShopperTrak. But sales dropped 1.8 per cent to $11.2 billion on Black Friday, though it still was the biggest shopping day last year.<br/><br />Store sales numbers won't be available until Saturday. The National Retail Federation said 140 million people planned to shop during the four-day holiday weekend.<br/><br />IBM Benchmark, which tracks e-commerce for 800 retailers, said online sales rose 19.7 per cent on Thanksgiving.<br/><br />There are signs that stores fared well, too.<br/><br />Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, started its holiday sales events at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, two hours earlier than last year. Wal-Mart said customers bought at least 2.8 million towels, 2 million TVs, 1.4 million tablets, 300,000 bicycles and 1.9 million dolls.<br/><br />Terry Lundgren, Macy's CEO, said the 15,000 people who showed up for the opening of the flagship store was the most ever, up from 11,000 last year. "Clearly people are in the shopping mood," he said.<br/><br />Of course, not every retailer saw robust crowds.<br/><br />At Woodland Hills mall in Tulsa, Okla., the owner of Bags and Bangle complained that he had to stay open from 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving to 10 p.m. on Friday. Suhail Zaidi, who was required by the mall to keep his booth open, said Thanksgiving was somewhat busy, but business had died down by 3 a.m. On Friday morning, he said he had seen only about 20 customers.<br/><br />"We ruined the holiday," Zaidi said. "Black Friday is a good shopping day, but opening up on Thanksgiving is ridiculous."<br/><br /><cite>With files from CBC News</cite></div>

Hot Trends: Black Friday shopping stampede starts early in US

The holiday shopping season started as a marathon, not a sprint.More than a dozen major retailers from Target to Toys R Us opened for 24 hours or more on Thanksgiving Day through Black Friday, the traditional start to the holiday shopping period. As a result, crowds formed early and often throughout…

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Hot Trends: Set-piece sickener

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://e1.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/Olivier-Giroud-Arsenal-Manchester-United-Prem_3033964.jpg?20131110201014" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Olivier Giroud: Found wanting when Arsenal really needed him in their defeat by Manchester United<br/><br />A defensive lapse at a corner proved costly for Arsenal in their defeat by Manchester United and they could be forgiven for feeling unfortunate given the illness which had disrupted their team before kick-off in one of the biggest games of the season. But the disappointing performance of Olivier Giroud was also a major factor in the loss at Old Trafford and will leave the visitors with a sense of what might have been. <img height="300" src="http://skysports.brightcove.com.edgesuite.net/165012893/201311/2063/165012893_2826617940001_video-still-for-video-2825522669001.jpg?pubId=165012893" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Moyes reaction<br/><br />The familiar figure of Robin van Persie, the predecessor who Arsenal hoped Giroud could replace, was the match-winner when he took advantage of uncertainty to head the only goal of the game in the 27th minute. It means Van Persie has now scored in the last five Premier League games between these two clubs and it helped United to fifth in the table.<br/><br />Regardless of Arsenal's questionable defending at the set-piece, it was a superb header by the Dutchman to secure David Moyes' finest hour since succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer. But it was otherwise far from a classically entertaining game as the teams managed a combined total of just four shots on target. It demonstrated the fine margins which define games between the clubs in England's top flight, with only six points now separating the top eight.<br/><br />But Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, who beat Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in their two previous games in a gruelling run of matches which would stretch any team, will be left feeling frustrated. They lost key men Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky to a bug just hours before kick-off and their lead at the top of the table is now only two points. However, there was still a sense - particularly with Giroud - of a missed opportunity for what would have been just a second win in 10 league visits to United. Selection <img height="300" src="http://e0.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/ManUnitedvArsenalstarti_3033784.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Manchester United v Arsenal starting line-ups<br/><br />United's Van Persie missed a penalty against Real Sociedad in midweek having come on as a substitute but he started up front with Wayne Rooney in a side also containing Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, starting in central midfield, and Michael Carrick. <img height="300" src="http://skysports.brightcove.com.edgesuite.net/165012893/201311/1063/165012893_2826617931001_video-still-for-video-2826591177001.jpg?pubId=165012893" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Wenger reaction<br/><br />United were desperate to claw back Arsenal's advantage in the table, which stood at eight points before kick-off, and they were assisted by the absences of Mertesacker and Rosicky, who had both fallen victim to illness on the morning of the game.<br/><br />Mertesacker's absence looked an especially big setback given his good form this season and the way he had led the Arsenal back four. He was replaced by Thomas Vermaelen and it meant Laurent Koscielny had to switch to the right centre-back.<br/><br />Elsewhere in Arsenal's team, Mathieu Flamini returned in place of Rosicky, which led to Aaron Ramsey having to go out of position to right midfield. Jack Wilshere was only fit enough for the bench. Story of the game<br/><br />Sky Sports' Gary Neville asked shortly after Van Persie scored: "How many times in big games, tight games, do set-pieces become an important factor?" Such was the case at Old Trafford and Wenger will be full of regret. It was only the second goal Arsenal have conceded from a corner in the league this season and it was impossible to ignore that Van Persie scored his technically-superb header from an area - the near post corner of the six-yard box - in which the absent, giant Mertesacker would usually be defending.<br/><br />In Arsenal's zonal-marking system, Giroud seemed to be filling in for Mertesacker in the near post area but he could not get to the ball. Ramsey had been drawn under play in the delivery and Kieran Gibbs came off the back post where the ball passed on its way into the back of the net. To compound Arsenal's individual errors, it appeared a tactical decision had also been made not to set up any blockers on the penalty spot to prevent Van Persie having a free run at the ball from his starting position on the edge of the 18-yard area. <img height="300" src="http://e2.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/Robin-van-Persie-header-Manchester-United-Ars_3033894.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Aaron Ramsey was caught under the ball and Van Persie had a free run before scoring<br/><br />Rooney assisted the goal when taking the corner and was named man of the match having shown superb work-rate in covering 11.1 kilometres - a total only bettered by Ramsey - to continue his fine season, although his pass completion rate was still only 79.4 per cent and he lost possession 22 times. The England international after the final whistle revealed United had been working on their set-pieces, because of a perceived lack of height in Arsenal's team. <img height="300" src="http://skysports.brightcove.com.edgesuite.net/165012893/201311/1791/165012893_2826644290001_vs-527fd056e4b06217afb0727c-767904725001.jpg?pubId=165012893" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Rooney reaction<br/><br />It was otherwise a tense and somewhat scrappy game. Rooney was the only player to have had a shot in the opening 20 minutes while Arsenal had failed to have an effort on target from two attempts before half-time. Arsenal's negativity at Old Trafford is a recurring theme given they failed to have a shot on target until the 92nd minute when they visited in November 2012.<br/><br />Moyes had told Sky Sports before kick-off: "The middle of the pitch is somewhere we have to try and make sure we are solid. Arsenal have a lot of midfield players who can hurt you through that area. We have to make sure we do that right. I think, then, if we can get the ball in wide areas at the right times, we can try and cause them problems." <img height="300" src="http://e0.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/UnitedArsenaltacticalfor_3033955.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />United (l) spread the players into wide areas in the first half unlike Arsenal (r)<br/><br />That is exactly what United tried to do and they had 13 crosses from open play in the first half to Arsenal's seven. Another problem for Arsenal, who had a lack of pace on the counter-attack, was Giroud's failure to hold the ball up. It was the Frenchman who gave the ball away in the build-up to the corner for Van Persie's goal and he lost possession on 27 occasions during the game. That was a higher total than any other player.<br/><br />Arsenal improved after half-time, when Wenger had clearly instructed his players to make greater use of the wide areas. Ramsey began the second half hugging the right touchline. Bacary Sagna also got much further forward from right-back and that meant Arsenal had 12 crosses in the second half compared to that total of seven before the break. United had perhaps been weakened by the loss of Nemanja Vidic to a head injury at half-time which saw Jones drop back into defence. <img height="300" src="http://e0.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/OlivierGiroudUnitedvArs_3033959.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Giroud's passing (yellow), lost duels (blue), shots (purple) and times he was disposed (red)<br/><br />Wilshere also came on for Flamini in central midfield in the 61st minute, with Ozil going out to the right and Ramsey moving centrally, and that again brought a greater threat from Arsenal. In the second half, they improved their possession (56% in the first half and 64.4% in the second half), total passes (279 in the first half and 262 in the second half) and passing accuracy (82.8% in the first half and 79% in the second half).<br/><br />But United, in front of the watching Ferguson in the stands, largely kept Arsenal at arm's length. Patrice Evra was especially important in this alongside Chris Smalling when making a joint game-high total of six tackles each while the Frenchman also completed a higher number of clearances (11) than any other player on the pitch.<br/><br />This, combined with Giroud's disappointing game - winning only 25% of his 20 individual duels and failing to hit the target with his two shots, meant Arsenal, despite their dominance in the closing stages, could only match United's total of two shots on target throughout the game. The set-piece cost Arsenal and they will now have to react in a positive manner when they face the difficult game of hosting in-form Southampton after the international break. <img height="300" src="http://images.teamtalk.com/13/11/96x96/Manchester-United-v-Arsenal-David-Moyes-pa_3033883.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />"We have not had many good ones but this was a big result for us today. Arsenal have been in terrific form this season and we had to play well to get the result. I thought we started the game well. We were very good in the opening 20-30 minutes in the game. I thought our whole determination, the effort, commitment and good play helped us in the second half when we were under more pressure." <img height="300" src="http://images.teamtalk.com/13/11/96x96/Manchester-United-v-Arsenal-Arsene-Wenger_3033828.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />"It is difficult to lose the game the way we did. But, overall, to sum it up, we conceded a goal to a set-piece and in a big game that can make the difference. In the first half, we were too nervous and rushed our game too much, and lost too many balls and did not track the ball. On the corner, the goal came from one of these balls." <img height="300" src="http://images.teamtalk.com/13/07/96x96/jamie-carragher-football-expert-opinion_2976930.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />"Rooney is the reason why they are only five points behind this season, because Manchester United have been poor. It is not the vintage United we have seen of old and there are a lot of players who have not performed. But he is the one who has dragged United up there, virtually single-handedly at times."</div>

Hot Trends: Set-piece sickener

Olivier Giroud: Found wanting when Arsenal really needed him in their defeat by Manchester UnitedA defensive lapse at a corner proved costly for Arsenal in their defeat by Manchester United and they could be forgiven for feeling unfortunate given the illness which had disrupted their team before kic…

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Hot Trends: Why we wear poppies, both red and white

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />Honouring our war dead, and the sacrifices of those who served and survived, ought not to be as controversial as it too often seems to be.<br/><br />But, again, in what is sadly becoming an early November tradition, this year's Remembrance Day is being marked by controversy. A group of students at the University of Ottawa has embraced the left-leaning Rideau Institute's initiative to wear white poppies, instead of the traditional red ones distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion, and intends to distribute them during the Nov. 11 ceremonies at the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.<br/><br />The logic behind the campaign - if logic is the term - is that a white poppy supports peace, while a red one glorifies war. Continue reading...<br/><br />It seems as though every few years a new debate erupts around Remembrance Day and how we should commemorate our military past. In other years, disputes have arisen about the futility or utility of the raid on Dieppe or the morality of the mass bombing of German and Japanese cities during the Second World War. This year, the newest debate is over the correct colour of the poppy we wear on our lapels for Remembrance Day. Ottawa's Rideau Institute, through website Ceasefire.ca, encourages Canadians to wear the white poppy as a symbol of peace. Predictably, the initiative has generated significant controversy since its announcement earlier this week. Elected representatives, the Legion and members of the press across the country have generally condemned the move, and public opinion appears to be firmly in the red camp this November. The white poppy, we are told, is disrespectful to the sacrifices of Canada's veterans, ignoring the encompassing nature of the red poppy as a symbol of loss and remembrance. The white poppy, however, has a history that helps explain its ebbs and flows over the past 84 years, as well as its relationship to its more prolific red cousin.<br/><br />It is generally accepted that the red poppy was first promoted by Moina Michael (an American) and Anna Guerin (a Frenchwoman), two female volunteers with the YMCA during the First World War. Meeting at a YMCA conference in New York City, 1918, and inspired by John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields, they decided to encourage wearing a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who were killed in the war. Guerin and Michael promoted the red poppy among veterans' associations and within two years the British and American Legions had adopted it as an official symbol, spreading throughout the Commonwealth. Primarily a symbol of remembrance, the sale of artificial poppies, often hand-made by disabled veterans, became an important fundraising tool to pay for training and rehabilitation services offered by veterans' organizations.<br/><br />Through the early 1920s, a sincere sense of optimism pervaded Western European and North American society. In the aftermath of the Great War, a celebratory tone was widespread and not merely over battlefield victories, but also because there was a real sense of hope for a peaceful future. Smaller conflicts continued to erupt between the former members of now-dissolved continental empires, but it seemed these could be managed and quelled. The League of Nations had been founded in 1919, and in 1925 the Treaty of Locarno was designed to normalize relations with Germany for the first time in the interwar period, offering the possibility of a real and enduring peace. There were alternatives to war, and it seemed that "The War to End All Wars" might well be so.<br/><br />The optimism of the 1920s would prove a cruel hoax, however, producing the white poppy in its wake. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 plunged countries around the world into the Great Depression. The resultant shock rippled across the political spectrum, resulting in ever hardening lines between the political left and right. Pacifists, leftists themselves by and large but also veterans and prominent members of mainstream churches, looked upon these events despairingly, seeing the seeds of global conflict once again being sown. Militarism, violence and revolution were becoming common. The white poppy became a symbol of the total renunciation of war, to be worn alongside the red poppy as a reminder of the desire for enduring peace and using peaceful means to resolve disputes.<br/><br />The original idea behind the pacifist poppy in 1926, a product of the No More War Movement in England, was simple enough: place a pin at the centre of the red poppy stating "No More War," replacing "Haig Fund" (the British Legion's fundraising appeal, named after British Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig). Failing that, white poppies would be distributed alongside the Legion's reds. Though it took nearly a decade to execute the plan, the Women's Co-operative Guild created the white poppy in 1933. A year later, the newly formed and all-male Pledge Peace Union (PPU), consisting of 135,000 members, took over its production and distribution. The white poppy became a symbol of the pacifist left, and has been distributed for Remembrance Day by the PPU in the United Kingdom every year since.<img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/11/redpoppycanada.jpg?w=300&h=225" width="100%"/><br/><br />The birth of the white poppy as a symbol of peace in the 1930s is unsurprising given the historical context, just as the red poppy became a symbol of remembrance in the 1920s. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, Hitler's ascent in Germany in the 1930s and fascist Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 all undermined the League of Nations and its dream of collective security. When Spain descended into civil war in 1936, pacifist organizations like the PPU refused to take sides, while other political groups, both right and left, supported their respective causes. What had happened to "The War to End All Wars"?<br/><br />Against that backdrop, Canadian pacifist groups came to the fore through the 1930s, as they did in Britain and the United States. The most prominent in Canada were associated with the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, predecessor to today's NDP. Even within the Canadian left, though, disputes arose about whether or not they should condemn all military actions, or just some. Given the schism in the political left, it's equally unsurprising that the white poppy never caught on in this country. Whereas the PPU in Britain continued to oppose war with Germany, only the CCF's leader and preeminent pacifist, J.S. Woodsworth, voted against war in 1939.<br/><br />British Legion appears to be the sole Commonwealth branch that takes no position on the white poppy whatsoever<br/><br />The white poppy was largely forgotten in Canada after 1945, though it comes and goes given varying political climates. At the height of the Cold War, in the early 1980s, nuclear disarmament groups resurrected the white poppy as a symbol of their continued demands for peace. Then, as now, the official response was mostly one of disdain. Of note, however, is that the British Legion appears to be the sole Commonwealth branch that takes no position on the white poppy whatsoever. Then again, it's the only place where the white poppy has been under continuous, organized production.<br/><br />If anything is clear in the great poppy debate, though, it's this: the white poppy symbol, like the flower itself, is not native to Flanders as is its red cousin. Accordingly, it has never caught on as a symbol of remembrance. Perhaps major Canadian involvement in recent wars has caused it to blossom anew. While most would agree that the red poppy is the official symbol of Remembrance Day and represents a certain unity of purpose, the return of the white poppy has prompted a new conversation about the absence of peace and stability in the present day.<br/><br />National Post<strong>Jonathan Weier and Christopher Schultz are PhD Candidates at Western University.</strong></div>

Hot Trends: Why we wear poppies, both red and white

Honouring our war dead, and the sacrifices of those who served and survived, ought not to be as controversial as it too often seems to be.But, again, in what is sadly becoming an early November tradition, this year's Remembrance Day is being marked by controversy. A group of students at the Universi…

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Hot Trends: Typhoon Haiyan survivors desperate for aid in Philippines

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />Stunned survivors of one of the most powerful typhoons ever to make landfall picked through the remains of their homes Monday, pleading for food and medicine as the Philippines struggled to deal with what may turn out to be its deadliest natural disaster.<br/><br />Authorities at least two million people in 41 provinces had been affected by Friday's disaster, and at least 23,000 houses had been damaged or destroyed. In parts of the coast, large areas had been transformed into twisted piles of debris, with decomposing bodies trapped underneath.<br/><br />"In some cases the devastation has been total," said Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras. Anticipated death toll is 10,000 people<br/><br />The official death toll stood at just over 250 people, but two provincial officials said Sunday it could reach 10,000 or more. On Monday, the central government said it was still trying to come up with an accurate tally. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said "we pray" that it wouldn't hit 10,000.<br/><br />"Please tell my family I'm alive," said Erika Mae Karakot, a survivor on Leyte island, as she lined up for aid. "We need water and medicine because a lot of the people we are with are wounded. Some are suffering from diarrhea and dehydration due to shortage of food and water."<br/><br />The U.S. military dispatched water, generators and a contingent of Marines to the worst-hit city along the country's remote eastern seaboard, the first outside help in what will swell into a major international relief mission in the coming days. <img height="300" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2421581.1384118021!/cpImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/aptopix-philippines-typhoon.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Two U.S. C-130 transport planes flew from Manila's Vilamor air base to Tacloban, a city in Leyte province that was badly hit by the storm. From the air, the city resembled a garbage dump punctuated by a few concrete buildings that remained standing.<br/><br />"We are moving in supplies for the Filipino government," said Marine Capt. Cassandra Gesecki . "That's what they asked us to do."<br/><br />Survivors wandered through the remains of their flattened wooden homes looking to salvage belongings or to search for loved ones. An Associated Press reporter in the town said he saw around 400 special forces and soldiers patrolling its downtown area, where residents have been seen breaking into malls, shops and homes, taking food, water and consumer goods. 800,000 people evacuated before storm hit<br/><br />Haiyan hit the eastern seaboard of the Philippines on Friday and quickly barrelled across its central islands, packing winds of 235 kilometres per hour that gusted to 275 km/h, and a storm surge of six metres. 'I have no house, I have no clothes. I don't know how I will restart my life.' <cite>- Unidentified survivor</cite><br/><br />Even though authorities had evacuated some 800,000 people ahead of the typhoon, the death toll was predicted to be high because many evacuation centres - brick-and-mortar schools, churches and government buildings - could not withstand the winds and water surges. Officials said people who had huddled in these buildings drowned or were swept away. <img height="300" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2421030.1384086096!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/philippines-typhoon.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />It inflicted serious damage to at least six islands in the middle of the eastern seaboard, with Leyte, Samar and the northern part of Cebu appearing to bear the brunt of the storm.<br/><br />Video from Eastern Samar province's Guiuan township - the first area where the typhoon made landfall - also showed a trail of devastation similar to Tacloban. Many houses were flattened and roads were strewn with debris and uprooted trees. The ABS-CBN video showed several bodies on the street, covered with blankets.<br/><br />"I have no house, I have no clothes. I don't know how I will restart my life, I am so confused," an unidentified woman said, crying. "I don't know what happened to us. We are appealing for help. Whoever has a good heart, I appeal to you - please help Guiuan."<br/><br />The United Nations said it was sending supplies but access to the worst hit areas was a challenge.<br/><br />"Reaching the worst affected areas is very difficult, with limited access due to the damage caused by the typhoon to infrastructure and communications," said UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi. Storm moves to Vietnam, China<br/><br />The storm's sustained winds weakened to 120 km/h as the typhoon made landfall in northern Vietnam early Monday after crossing the South China Sea, according to the Hong Kong meteorological observatory. Authorities there evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, but there were no reports of significant damage or injuries.<br/><br />It was downgraded to a tropical storm as it entered southern China later Monday, but weather officials forecast torrential rain over the coming 24 hours across southern China. Guangxi officials advised fishermen to stay onshore. <img height="300" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2421263.1384086042!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/philippines-typhoon.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />President Benigno Aquino III said he was considering declaring a state of emergency or martial law in Tacloban. A state of emergency usually includes curfews, price and food supply controls, military or police checkpoints and increased security patrols.<br/><br />Challenged to respond to a disaster of such magnitude, the Philippine government also accepted help from abroad.<br/><br />Pope Francis led tens of thousands of people at the Vatican in prayer for the victims. The Philippines has the largest number of Catholics in Asia, and Filipinos are one of Rome's biggest immigrant communities.<br/><br />The Philippines, an archipelago nation of more than 7,000 islands, is annually buffeted by tropical storms and typhoons, which are called hurricanes and cyclones elsewhere. The nation is in the northwestern Pacific, right in the path of the world's No. 1 typhoon generator, according to meteorologists. The archipelago's exposed eastern seaboard often bears the brunt.<br/><br />Even by the standards of the Philippines, however, Haiyan is a catastrophe of epic proportions and has shocked the impoverished and densely populated nation of 96 million people. Its winds were among the strongest ever recorded, and it appears to have killed more people than the previous deadliest Philippine storm, Thelma, in which about 5,100 people died in the central Philippines in 1991.<br/><br />The country's deadliest disaster on record was the 1976 magnitude-7.9 earthquake that triggered a tsunami in the Moro Gulf in the southern Philippines, killing 5,791 people.<br/><br />Canadians needing urgent consular help following Typhoon #Haiyan can email sos@international.gc.ca or call collect 6139968885- DFATD (@DFATDCanada) November 9, 2013</div>

Hot Trends: Typhoon Haiyan survivors desperate for aid in Philippines

Stunned survivors of one of the most powerful typhoons ever to make landfall picked through the remains of their homes Monday, pleading for food and medicine as the Philippines struggled to deal with what may turn out to be its deadliest natural disaster.Authorities at least two million people in 41…

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Hot Trends: Riders advance to West final with win over Lions

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://metronewsca.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/ldr110142276_high1.jpg?w=618&h=408&crop=1" width="100%"/><br/><br />Liam Richards Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in Regina, Sask., Sunday, November 10, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards<br/><br />REGINA - Corey Chamblin had seen this all before.<br/><br />Sunday, for the first time, he was able to enjoy it.<br/><br />With the Saskatchewan Roughriders trailing 25-16 after three quarters, quarterback Darian Durant came up with a blast from the past, rushing for 76 of his game-high 97 yards in the final frame to help propel the Riders to a 29-25 comeback win over the B.C. Lions in the CFL's West Division semifinal.<br/><br />The win also advanced Saskatchewan into the Western final for the first time since 2010, where they will face the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday at McMahon Stadium.<br/><br />Chamblin, Saskatchewan's second-year head coach, was a defensive coach with Calgary in 2009 and 2010 when Durant ran for 29 and 51 yards, respectively, as the Riders beat the Stamps to advance to back-to-back Grey Cups.<br/><br />"Darian played like the Darian of old, the one that kept me out of a couple championship games," said Chamblin. "Darian stepped up to the plate when we needed him. We were struggling in a couple areas and Darian just stood up and took over."<br/><br />Durant's first big run actually came on the final play of the third quarter when he scampered for 15 yards on second-and-nine from the Saskatchewan 50-yard line.<br/><br />Two plays later he did it again, this time going for 35 yards on second-and-10.<br/><br />Two plays after that he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Weston Dressler for the diminutive slotback's second score of the game.<br/><br />"I told Coach I thought the quarterback draw was there," said Durant. "We had them pretty much outnumbered in the box. They were playing coverage a little bit and I felt like it was there. So Coach called my number and I was able to make some plays."<br/><br />That drive seemed to ignite the Riders' running game which, to that point, had been virtually non-existent. The Lions had outrun Saskatchewan 162 yards to 35 by halftime.<br/><br />The Riders ran six times for 32 yards on their next possession and took their first lead since the first quarter on a 45-yard field goal from Chris Milo.<br/><br />Durant then added rushes of 28 and 13 yards on Saskatchewan's final drive of the game and Milo capped the scoring with a 28-yard field goal, his fifth of the game.<br/><br />He'd missed his first one, from 38 yards, by putting it off the right upright before making five straight.<br/><br />"Better that than have them return it 110 yards for a touchdown," said Milo. "Uprights are kind of my best friend ... and enemy at the same time. But it is what it is. You just shake it off. And having the confidence of the guys on the sideline, 'Just get the next one, get the next one,' and sure enough I did and we won the game."<br/><br />The Riders couldn't capitalize on strong field position early.<br/><br />On three straight drives they found themselves inside the B.C. 35-yard line but had to settle for six points, wasting a 55-yard circus catch from Taj Smith and a 56-yard kick return by Jock Sanders.<br/><br />Milo provided all Saskatchewan's offence until the final three minutes of the half, hitting field goals from 40 and 29 yards while missing off the upright from 38. The miss was his fourth time hitting a post this season.<br/><br />Saskatchewan finally found the end zone after a screen pass from Durant to Kory Sheets turned into a 61-yard gain. Dressler outran J.R. LaRose on the next play for a four-yard TD grab to make it 14-13 B.C.<br/><br />B.C. took a 17-16 lead into halftime on precision 13-of-16 passing from Travis Lulay, who only threw four incompletions in all after the game's opening drive.<br/><br />Lulay, making his first start since Sept. 15, completed passes to seven different receivers, including eight throws of 10 yards or more in the first half alone, to set up a pair of touchdown runs from Stefan Logan.<br/><br />Logan hit paydirt from 14 yards to open the second quarter and from two yards to cap an eight-minute drive later in the quarter.<br/><br />Lions kicker Paul McCallum and Milo traded field goals to end the half, Milo's third of the game following a 43-yard pass from Durant to Smith that moved the Riders to the B.C. five.<br/><br />Durant was near-perfect as well, despite a couple close-call throws into double coverage, finishing 19-for-23 with 270 yards.<br/><br />He appeared not to be affected by the absence of injured receiver Chris Getzlaf either, connecting four times with Smith who had a game-high 126 yards receiving.<br/><br />Saskatchewan avoided disaster in the third quarter after coming up short on a long third-and-one near midfield when Kory Sheets was tackled short by Adam Bighill.<br/><br />Logan was then held to seven yards on back-to-back runs and the Lions could only manage a single on Paul McCallum's 52-yard punt.<br/><br />Logan had been a key piece of the Lions' rushing attack that went for 213 yards in the game.<br/><br />Thomas DeMarco scored on a one-yard run to give B.C. a 24-16 lead early in the third quarter.<br/><br />Lulay finished 20-for-26 passing for 211 yards.</div>

Hot Trends: Riders advance to West final with win over Lions

Liam Richards Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in Regina, Sask., Sunday, November 10, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam RichardsREGINA - Corey Chamblin had seen this all before.Sunday, for the first time, he was able to enjoy it.With the Saskatchewan Roughriders trailing 25-16 after th…

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Hot Trends: Manchester United's Robin van Persie haunts former club Arsenal

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United roared back into the Premier League title picture on Sunday by beating leader Arsenal 1-0, completing a perfect day for the improving reigning champions after surprise defeats for top-four contenders Manchester City and Tottenham.<br/><br />Robin van Persie's 27th-minute header against his former club settled a cagey match at Old Trafford and lifted United to fifth place, with Arsenal's second defeat of the campaign trimming its lead over second-place Liverpool to two points.<br/><br />With Man City losing 1-0 at struggling Sunderland and Spurs beaten at home by Newcastle by the same scoreline, just six points separate Arsenal and eighth-place City after 11 matches in what is proving to be a tight, exciting battle for the title.<br/><br />"What we have learned today is that not only Man United can beat Arsenal but that everybody can beat everybody in this Premier League," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It just shows you how much excitement there will be until the end of the season."<br/><br />City's poor away form continued as Phil Bardsley grabbed the winner in the 21st minute for Sunderland, which started the day level on points with bottom-place Crystal Palace.<br/><br />City has taken only four points from a possible 18 on its travels.<br/><br />"I am concerned because we are losing too many points away and, of course, that's very difficult if you don't win away to try to fight for the Premier League," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said.<br/><br />More doubts were raised about Tottenham's top-four credentials after in-form striker Loic Remy struck a 13th-minute winner at White Hart Lane, with Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul preserving the victory with a string of brilliant saves.<br/><br />"I think Tim Krul was the key to the game," Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "He made the difference."<br/><br />I don't think it puts out a statement, I think people have known for years how good Manchester United have been<br/><br />Spurs followed medical advice and chose not to play goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who is still recovering from being knocked unconscious during a match against Everton last weekend. Lloris also missed the midweek Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol, despite having played on against Everton.<br/><br />In Sunday's other match, Charlie Adam converted a penalty in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage Stoke a 3-3 draw at Swansea.<br/><br />After beating Liverpool 2-0 last weekend, Arsenal was looking to pass another examination of its title credentials but failed to shake off an inferiority complex the Gunners seem to have when they arrive at Old Trafford.<br/><br />Wenger said his side was "nervous" in the first half, during which Van Persie answered the relentless taunts of visiting fans by heading Wayne Rooney's corner into the top corner. Since leaving north London for Manchester in August last year, Van Persie has scored in all three games against Arsenal. <img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2013/11/rooney-7.jpg?w=354&h=500" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />In a game of few clear-cut chances, Arsenal established control in the second half as United reorganized after losing defender Nemanja Vidic to a head injury sustained just before the break. Vidic was later taken to hospital for a scan.<br/><br />However, home goalkeeper David de Gea wasn't seriously tested as Arsenal tried to find a way through the United defence.<br/><br />It was the biggest win for Moyes since taking over from Alex Ferguson this summer and United is now unbeaten in its last nine matches in all competitions after a scratchy start to his tenure.<br/><br />"I don't think it puts out a statement, I think people have known for years how good Manchester United have been," Moyes said. "My job and the team's job is to try to show we can do that again.<br/><br />"We know we are going to get a few bloody noses along the way. And I think the Premier League has shown it's not just Manchester United getting them, there are a few others as well."<br/><br />City can attest to that.<br/><br />Having scored 12 goals in beating Norwich and CSKA Moscow over the past week, City was expected to ease past Sunderland. But their foibles away from home came back to haunt them, despite dominating possession and territory.<br/><br />Sunderland remains in the bottom three but seem to be heading in the right direction under new manager Gus Poyet, who also guided the team to a northeast derby victory over Newcastle in his last home game.<br/><br />"The proudest time is when you are able to keep a clean sheet against a team like Man City," Poyet said. "For a team who did not keep a clean sheet before, it is perfection."</div>

Hot Trends: Manchester United's Robin van Persie haunts former club Arsenal

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United roared back into the Premier League title picture on Sunday by beating leader Arsenal 1-0, completing a perfect day for the improving reigning champions after surprise defeats for top-four contenders Manchester City and Tottenham.Robin van Persie's 27th-minute…

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Hot Trends: Celine Dion earns puzzling comparison to Miley Cyrus after X Factor performance

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/ad_120169620-e1384115998139.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br />Celine took to the stage on The X Factor results show (Picture: Rex)<br/><br />Celine Dion has earned comparisons to a pop star 20 years her junior, Miley Cyrus, after performing on the X Factor results show.<br/><br />Celine, 45, took to the stage to perform her new single and was met with mixed reactions from viewers.<br/><br />One Twitter user, Karen, wrote as Celine performed: 'Why does Celine Dion sound like Miley Cyrus on #XFactor? Half expecting her to start twerking...'<br/><br />Another wrote: 'Umm is it just me or does Celine Dion sound like Miley Cyrus on X Factor right now?' <img height="300" src="http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/miley-cyrus-23.png?w=650&h=362&crop=1#038;h=571" width="100%"/><br/><br />Miley Cyrus is actually quite different to Celine Dion (Picture: Vevo)<br/><br />For the most part, reaction was positive, with Carol tweetign: 'Celine Dion. I don't care what you say, she could teach these pretenders a thing or two. Technically stunning and terrific mic technique.'<br/><br />Cherry added: 'Celine Dion killin' it on the xfactor tonight, she doesn't seem to age either. #Immortal #GoGurl'.<br/><br />However, one less enamoured viewer was Ritchie, who wrote disparagingly: 'Nice to hear Celine Dion do something a little different to everything else she has done over the past twenty years.........'<br/><br />And another quipped: 'is celine dion singing the titanic song or a different one we will never know'.<br/><br />Impervious to the criticism, Celine spoke enthusiastically about UK audiences, telling X Factor host Dermot O'Leary: 'I wish I could stay here much longer, especially with the great welcome I've had.<br/><br />'It's great to be here, it's been a while.'</div>

Hot Trends: Celine Dion earns puzzling comparison to Miley Cyrus after X Factor performance

Celine took to the stage on The X Factor results show (Picture: Rex)Celine Dion has earned comparisons to a pop star 20 years her junior, Miley Cyrus, after performing on the X Factor results show.Celine, 45, took to the stage to perform her new single and was met with mixed reactions from viewers.O…

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Hot Trends: Celine Dion: Facebook Death Hoax Horrifies Fans

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/celine-dion-death-hoax-bgr-lead.jpg?w=600" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" width="100%"/><br/><br />False alarm! Nov. 9 was a scary day for Celine fans, who were scrambling for information after false reports of the iconic singer's death took Facebook by storm.<br/><br />For a brief moment, many people thought iconic singer <strong>Celine Dion</strong> had died. The 45-year-old pop star was the latest victim of a celebrity death hoax on Nov. 9, and not surprisingly, she is not very happy about it. Celine Dion: Death Hoax Victim<br/><br />Fake stories about the singer's death began circulating and building steam on Facebook through an app that uses logos from well-known news outlets to entice users to click, according to 7News. One story said that Celine died in a car crash, while another claimed it was a plane crash.<br/><br />And huge news like Celine's death - no matter how fake - has a tendency to spread like wildfire on social media. After starting on Facebook, the hoax leaked onto Twitter:<br/><br />OMGGG my childhood idol Celine Dion is dead 😢<br/><br />- Celine (@celinedionisio) November 9, 2013<br/><br />What!? Wait! Not sure of this Is Celine Dion dead?<br/><br />- iyann ★ (@kifukatoto) November 10, 2013<br/><br />CELINE DION IS DEAD WUT OMG<br/><br />- Taylor Michetti (@parTAY_) November 10, 2013 Celine Dion Responds To Her Death Hoax<br/><br />The fake news spread so fast that it even reached Celine - who was very much alive - and she was shaken and upset.<br/><br />"Sometimes it's freaky because I have to call my family about it," she told Digital Spy. "I was celebrating the birthday of my twins in Montreal and I was getting these phone calls saying there was stuff on Facebook that I was dead."<br/><br />When Celine puts it that way, it really outlines how damaging death hoaxes can actually be. Maybe we should all just agree to take a step back and stop the madness. But is it too soon to make a "her heart will go on" joke? Celine Dion - "My Heart Will Go On"<br/><br /><br/><br /><strong>- Andrew Gruttadaro</strong> Follow @AndrewGrutt More Celebrity Hoaxes:<br/><br />http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/10/10/johnny-depp-death-hoax-not-dead-the-lone-ranger/ Jim Carrey Not Dead - Latest Death Hoax Victim Joel Osteen Hoax: Televangelist Allegedly Denounces Christianity</div>

Hot Trends: Celine Dion: Facebook Death Hoax Horrifies Fans

False alarm! Nov. 9 was a scary day for Celine fans, who were scrambling for information after false reports of the iconic singer's death took Facebook by storm.For a brief moment, many people thought iconic singer Celine Dion had died. The 45-year-old pop star was the latest victim of a celebrity d…

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Hot Trends: Premier League: Robin van Persie scored as Man United beat Arsenal 1-0 at ...

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://e2.365dm.com/13/11/660x350/Manchester-United-v-Arsenal-Robin-van-Persie-_3033822.jpg?20131110165028" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Robin van Persie: On target against Arsenal<br/><br />Robin van Persie scored against his former club Arsenal, again, to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.<br/><br />Since leaving the Emirates last year, van Persie has never failed to score against his ex-employers and he made that three games in succession as he bagged the winner for United.<br/><br />He rose to meet a Wayne Rooney corner on 27-minutes to give David Moyes a much needed win and one which puts them right back in title contention, given that rivals Manchester City and Tottenham lost earlier in the day.<br/><br />The opening 25-minutes had been played out in midfield, with neither side able or seemingly willing to get hold of the game.<br/><br />A rare effort deflected effort from Wayne Rooney had showed his willingness and he played a big part in the break-through just before the half-hour.<br/><br />Rooney made some space on the left and sent over a wicked cross that Thomas Vermaelen could only head over his own bar for a corner.<br/><br />Rooney then took the resulting corner which saw van Persie leap above Olivier Giroud and glance the ball into the top corner to give United the lead.<br/><br />Just before the break and United suffered a huge blow when captain Nemanja Vidic left dazed after a clash with his own keeper David De Gea and that meant he did not return after the break.<br/><br />Tom Cleverley was the man brought on ahead of Marouane Fellaini to replace Vidic, which meant a tweaking of United's side with Phil Jones - who had impressed in central midfielder - dropping back to partner Jonny Evans.<br/><br />Arsenal pushed hard at the start of the second-half, but on the hour again Rooney was at the heart of everything and he should have doubled the lead.<br/><br />A Shinji Kagawa flick-on came to Rooney via van Persie, but with the goal at his mercy he sent his left-footed shot wide.<br/><br />With that Jack Wilshere was introduced by Arsenal as they looked to push for the equaliser - but it was not to be as Rooney inspired United to a big three points.<br/><br />Full report to follow...</div>

Hot Trends: Premier League: Robin van Persie scored as Man United beat Arsenal 1-0 at ...

Robin van Persie: On target against ArsenalRobin van Persie scored against his former club Arsenal, again, to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.Since leaving the Emirates last year, van Persie has never failed to score against his ex-employers and he made that three games in successio…

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Hot Trends: Marc Márquez rides into the record books with Moto GP title at just 20

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2013/11/10/1384109404576/Moto-GPs-youngest-ever-wi-011.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Marc Márquez became the youngest ever rider to win the MotoGP world title after riding a controlled race to third place at the season finale in Valencia.<br/><br />The 20-year-old Spaniard needed to only finish fourth or higher to be sure of beating Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo to the crown, and did all that was required of him with a performance that yet again belied his tender years. Márquez's achievement sees him become the series's youngest champion, breaking the record of Freddie Spencer who was 21 years and 258 days old when he won the 500cc title in 1983. Márquez is also the first rookie to win the premier class title since Kenny Roberts in 1978.<br/><br />The Honda rider's title triumph was just reward for his stunning consistency across his debut season, with his podium finish on Sunday his 16th in 18 races - of which six of those were victories. Lorenzo, the only man who could deny Márquez his moment of history, won the race but that was not enough for the outgoing champion to overcome the 13-point advantage his rival enjoyed at the start of the day.<br/><br />Márquez had one or two scares with Lorenzo riding aggressively in the early stages, but once the race settled down Márquez was able to back off and waved team-mate Dani Pedrosa through into second place late on.<br/><br />"I feel ... I cannot explain what I feel," Márquez told BBC Sport. "It is a dream come true - maybe too early because I did not expect to fight for the championship this year. Jorge did a very good job, but thanks to all my team."<br/><br />Pole-sitter Márquez made a tentative getaway at the start with Lorenzo and Pedrosa leading the way on the first lap. The duo squabbled for the lead and twice changed positions on the opening tour, while behind Márquez was content to keep a watching brief.<br/><br />The battle between Lorenzo and Pedrosa almost ended in tears when Lorenzo was late on the brakes into turn two and made contact with his Honda rival, briefly forcing Pedrosa off the track, but both were able to continue.<br/><br />Lorenzo, who took the title battle to the wire after back-to-back wins in Australia and Japan, then found himself leading from Márquez, who with the field now bunched up was in real danger of being tagged from behind. Luckily for the rookie the chasing pack was unable to maintain the pace and he and Lorenzo were able to pull away.<br/><br />With the chequered flag in sight Márquez backed off to allow the recovering Pedrosa through into second place, while up front Lorenzo was untroubled as he came home for his third win in succession and eighth of 2013.<br/><br />Lorenzo told BBC Sport: "I tried the first seven-10 laps to slow down the group. We tried our best, but when I saw the other riders didn't catch the group I tried to go away and win this race. Marc has been a deserving champion, so today is his day."<br/><br />Valentino Rossi came home in fourth on the second factory Yamaha, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Honda Gresini) and Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda), with Britain's Bradley Smith seventh for Tech 3 Yamaha. However, there was disappointment for Smith's fellow Briton and team-mate Cal Crutchlow, who crashed out early in the race.<br/><br />Elsewhere, Maverick Vinales wrapped up the Moto3 crown with victory in the final race of the season, while Nicolas Terol was the winner in Moto2 after new champion Pol Espargaro crashed out.</div>

Hot Trends: Marc Márquez rides into the record books with Moto GP title at just 20

Marc Márquez became the youngest ever rider to win the MotoGP world title after riding a controlled race to third place at the season finale in Valencia.The 20-year-old Spaniard needed to only finish fourth or higher to be sure of beating Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo to the crown, and did all that was req…

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Hot Trends: 10 Quotes: Marc Marquez vs. Jorge Lorenzo

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://www.cycleworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Jorge_Marc.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><strong>Marc Marquez:</strong> After my accident at Motegi, I've been doing rehabilitation on my neck, and it now feels much better. We know what is at stake, but we will approach it as we have done every other race. With MotoGP bikes, if you don't push then the setup isn't working, and you don't warm the tires.<br/><br /><strong>Jorge Lorenzo:</strong> With three races ago, we thought the championship was over. Instead, we have a chance to fight for the title. We don't have anything to lose but everything to win. Maybe our main rival can feel more pressure than us because he is so close to victory.<br/><br /><strong>Marc Marquez:</strong> One year ago, this was my first MotoGP rider press conference. I was so nervous. At that time, I couldn't imagine this situation-to be here in Valencia, fighting for the championship with Jorge. He is very strong and has a lot of experience; you can feel that when you ride with him.<br/><br /><strong>Jorge Lorenzo:</strong> This year, I made some improvements to my riding style that give me some tenths. Also, during the last two years, I think I improved a lot the feeling on the first laps. So, yeah, at this moment, I think I'm riding my best ever.<br/><br /><strong>Marc Marquez:</strong> This track is one of the most difficult in MotoGP because it's so tight. To get confidence is difficult.<br/><br /><strong>Jorge Lorenzo:</strong> If Cal [Crutchlow]and Bradley [Smith] had the seamless transmission, they should be faster. I asked, but [<strong>Yamaha</strong>] said, "No, not possible. We don't have time. We don't have material."<br/><br /><strong>Marc Marquez:</strong> The target was to start from the front row. In the end, we got the pole. Today, we did the job, but the most important day is tomorrow. We need to focus like today, like yesterday. Jorge is quite strong, but I feel confident. We are ready for a fight with Jorge, Dani and maybe Valentino. It will be difficult because Jorge has a great pace.<br/><br /><strong>Jorge Lorenzo:</strong> Of course, there is some tension. If the situation is good to make a joke, there is no problem. We are respectful of the other riders outside the track. On the track, we try to beat them.<br/><br /><strong>Marc Marquez:</strong> We will try to follow Jorge, because, surely, he will start first. And then, we will try to find the same feeling like in practice and try to do our best.<br/><br /><strong>Jorge Lorenzo:</strong> If I have to bet my money on someone, I would put my money on Marc. Maybe not all, but...</div>

Hot Trends: 10 Quotes: Marc Marquez vs. Jorge Lorenzo

Marc Marquez: After my accident at Motegi, I've been doing rehabilitation on my neck, and it now feels much better. We know what is at stake, but we will approach it as we have done every other race. With MotoGP bikes, if you don't push then the setup isn't working, and you don't warm the tires.Jorg…

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Hot Trends: Miss Universe 2013: Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler, Wins, Drops Crown

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://assets-s3.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/articles/67953-miss-universe-2013-miss-venezuela-gabriela-isler-wins-drops-crown/1384096057_miss-universe-2013-miss-venezuela-gabriela-isler_1.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />She's beauty and she's grace, but she's not Miss United States. On Nov. 9 the Miss Universe 2013 pageant crowned Miss Venezuela, <strong>Gabriela Isler</strong>, its winner. PHOTOS: Stars' pageant pasts<br/><br />The 25-year-old brunette was all smiles as the crown was placed on her head, and didn't break her grin when the sparkling trophy fell off before she quickly grabbed it.<br/><br />Isler beat out 85 other competitors from around the world, and Miss Spain, <strong>Patricia Rodrigues</strong>, was named the runner-up. The ceremony was held in Moscow and aired on NBC. Isler replaced last year's winner, Miss America's <strong>Olivia Culpo</strong>. Culpo has been dating Nick Jonas since August 2013. PHOTOS: Behind-the-scenes beauty secrets<br/><br />According to her official profile on the Miss Universe website, Isler is a trained flamenco dancer who serves as a "second mother" to her niece. She is a TV personality on the Venevision TV Network.<br/><br />On Nov. 10 Isler had her first official duty as Miss Universe. She modeled a million-dollar one piece swimsuit at the Yamamay press conference. Isler stunned in the white cutout with bedazzled sequins. PHOTOS: Miss Universe 2012 bikini bodies<br/><br />Tell Us: Do you think Gabriela Isler deserved to win Miss Universe 2013?</div>

Hot Trends: Miss Universe 2013: Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler, Wins, Drops Crown

She's beauty and she's grace, but she's not Miss United States. On Nov. 9 the Miss Universe 2013 pageant crowned Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler, its winner. PHOTOS: Stars' pageant pastsThe 25-year-old brunette was all smiles as the crown was placed on her head, and didn't break her grin when the spa…

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Hot Trends: UFC Fight Night: Vitor Belfort becomes first man to knock out Dan Henderson

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />GOIANIA, Brazil - Brazilian slugger Vitor Belfort became the first man to ever knock out Dan Henderson, and he may have earned himself a shot at the UFC's light heavyweight title in the process.<br/><br />Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturday's UFC Fight Night 32: Belfort vs. Henderson event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pair's 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision.<br/><br />Belfort opened patiently, staying at distance to avoid Henderson's powerful right hand. Henderson was equally calm to start, but when he did finally load up on a strike, Belfort slipped the effort and countered with a left uppercut that sent his opponent crashing to the floor. To his credit, Henderson climbed back to his feet, but Belfort was there to deliver a crushing high kick that again sent his opponent to the floor, where referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in to call off the fight.<br/><br />Rather than take his time on the mic to call for a title shot, Belfort chose instead to thank his support system.<br/><br />"Without the support of everyone in my camp, the Blackzilians, and without the support of my wife and kids, I have to thank them," Belfort said.<br/><br />Still, UFC President Dana White said in the build-up to the fight an impressive win would likely mean a shot at the winner of December's middleweight title fight between champ Chris Weidman and former title holder Anderson Silva.<br/><br />Daniel Sarafian's injury prevented him from facing Cezar (Mutante) Ferreira in the finals of 2012′s The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil tournament, but the middleweights faced off in the co-main event of Saturday's card. It was Ferreira who would walk away as the winner of the tournament finale that never was.<br/><br />The larger Ferreira looked to keep his opponent at distance and use his range to strike with powerful kicks and flashy spinning strikes. However, Sarafian did a fine job of pressing forward and keeping things in tight. Stymied by his opponent's approach, Sarafian turned to his wrestling, instead. While it didn't please the crowd, who voraciously booed, the three successful takedowns helped earn points from the judges, and Ferreira was awarded a split-decision victory, with scores of 28-29, 30-27 and 30-28.<br/><br />I like to punch, and I like to get punched. It's not a fight unless you got punched<br/><br />"He's a very tough guy, a very strong guy, and I tried to do some moves, and I couldn't do what I had to do," Ferreira admitted after the fight.<br/><br />Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight Rafael (Feijao) Cavalcante (12-4) earned his first UFC win, downing Croatian Igor Pokrajac (25-11) in rapid fashion.<br/><br />The two men engaged early, teeing off in the pocket with heavy punches. Pokrajac pushed his opponent to the cage, but Cavalacante grabbed a Thai clinch and blasted away with knees. Pokrajac wobbled from the blows, and Cavalcante turned to punches to seal the result, earning a tap from his battered foe at the 1:18 mark of the first round.<br/><br />"I was very well prepared," Cavalcante said. "I think I was lacking dedication, and I fixed it." <img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2013/11/vitor-1.jpg?w=333&h=500" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Welterweight Brandon Thatch (11-1) continues to impress, this time dispatching of veteran Paulo Thiago (15-6) with relative ease.<br/><br />Concerned with Thiago's strong submission skills, Thatch looked to keep the fight on the feet, where he could use his range and power. The strategy paid off, as a vicious knee to the body saw Thiago crumple to the floor. As Thatch prepared to follow with strikes, Thiago tapped out, ending the fight at the 2:10 mark of the first round.<br/><br />In a welterweight contest, undefeated prospect Ryan LaFlare (9-0) kept his perfect record intact with a one-sided decision win over The Ultimate Figher: Brazil 2 finalist Santiago Ponzinibbio (18-2).<br/><br />LaFlare was the stronger man throughout the fight, scoring five takedowns in the three-round fighter and outstriking his opponent 109-32. In the end, he was awarded a unanimous-decision victory with 30-27 scores on all three cards.<br/><br />"I'm happy to get the win," LaFlare said. "I like to punch, and I like to get punched. It's not a fight unless you got punched. I wanted to show I could strike. I got hit a few times, but I got to hit him too, so that was fun."<br/><br />The night's first main-card contest saw Jeremy Stephens (22-9) move to 2-0 as a featherweight with a spectacular knockout of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil winner Rony Jason (13-4).<br/><br />Stephens stalked from the opening bell, and as Jason circled right, the former lightweight unleashed a right high kick that landed flush and sent his opponent toppling to the canvas. A hard right hand followed, and Jason was out just 40 seconds into the matchup.<br/><br />"I didn't expect it to end like that, but I'm excited it did," Stephens said. "I was able to use faints to set him up, so I was able to time my kick perfectly."</div>

Hot Trends: UFC Fight Night: Vitor Belfort becomes first man to knock out Dan Henderson

GOIANIA, Brazil - Brazilian slugger Vitor Belfort became the first man to ever knock out Dan Henderson, and he may have earned himself a shot at the UFC's light heavyweight title in the process.Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturday's UFC Fight Ni…

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Hot Trends: Celine Dion reveals she has had IVF SEVEN times to get pregnant - and may do ...

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />The superstar singer had first treatment at 33 and is mother to three boys, Rene-Charles, 12, and three-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy<br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1330613.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Celine%20Dion-1330613" width="100%"/><br/><br />Celine Dion: Wants a baby girl<br/><br />Celine Dion has told how she had IVF ­seven times to get pregnant - and ­hinted she may do it again.<br/><br />The superstar singer, 45, is mother to three boys, Rene-Charles, 12, and three-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy.<br/><br />Her first ­treatment, aged 33, was a ­success but she struggled to conceive a second time, the Sunday People reports.<br/><br />Celine said: "For the twins I did IVF six times one after the other.<br/><br />"I'd done five years at Caesars Palace and went half a year around the world on tour and it was finally time to get pregnant again.<br/><br />"I thought as long as my health permitted me and unless my doctor thought physically I couldn't do it, then I would go on with the IVF until somone told me to stop.<br/><br />"With any pregnancy, whether it's through IVF or not, you feel a danger. You have to remain positive and try to relax as much as possible.<br/><br />"I always say my children's first country is inside of me, so I try to make it a good one and be healthy."<br/><br />And the My Heart Will Go On singer, who married her manager René Angélil, 71, has not ruled out ­trying for a baby again.<br/><br />Canadian Celine said: "There's nothing that can top being a mother. I'd like more but I don't know.<br/><br />"It's selfish to keep ­wanting more - although I would love a girl."</div>

Hot Trends: Celine Dion reveals she has had IVF SEVEN times to get pregnant - and may do ...

The superstar singer had first treatment at 33 and is mother to three boys, Rene-Charles, 12, and three-year-old twins Nelson and EddyCeline Dion: Wants a baby girlCeline Dion has told how she had IVF ­seven times to get pregnant - and ­hinted she may do it again.The superstar singer, 45, is mother …

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Hot Trends: Canada Goose sues Sears for trademark infringement over 'distinctive' parkas

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://vipmedia.globalnews.ca/2013/11/chy115141711_high.jpg?w=280&h=176&crop=1" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />;<br/><br />TORONTO - Canada Goose is taking Sears to court, accusing the department store of selling knock-offs of its highly distinctive winter coats.<br/><br />Sears Canada Inc., which the maker of the ubiquitous parka describes in a lawsuit as a retailer of "low to mid-quality" clothing, is passing off one of their jackets as a Canada Goose Inc. item, the coat company alleges.<br/><br />"(Sears) is intentionally seeking to mislead consumers and potential consumers into believing that they are purchasing a 'lower-end' Canada Goose jacket that is intended for sale at Sears," Canada Goose writes in its statement of claim.<br/><br />"Canada Goose is aware of at least one instance of actual confusion, where a consumer saw the Sears jacket and believed it to be a Canada Goose jacket, or a 'misleading knock-off' and subsequently complained to Canada Goose."<br/><br />The company is asking Federal Court to order Sears to stop selling the coats that it says resemble its "Kensington" coat, a red three-quarter length coat with a fur-trimmed hood.<br/><br />Sears has not yet filed a response in court to the trademark infringement lawsuit filed this week, but a spokesman said the company considers the lawsuit to be "frivolous" and "without merit."<br/><br />"Our brand is quite distinct from theirs and there is no confusion between the two whatsoever," Vincent Power wrote in a statement.<br/><br />"There are quite a few brands out there that use their logo in a circle and Canada Goose cannot claim it invented that."<br/><br />Canada Goose is also accusing Sears of selling another brand of jackets it says violates its trademarks. The Weather Gear jackets, sold in "close proximity" to the Sears jackets, also have a circular logo on the upper shoulder of the jacket sleeves, like Canada Goose apparel, the lawsuit alleges.<br/><br />Canada Goose sued International Clothiers Inc. last year, alleging it intentionally designed a logo and positioned it on jackets to mimic the Canada Goose Arctic Program design trademark.<br/><br />The lawsuit was later settled on undisclosed terms.<br/><br />Canada Goose bills itself in the lawsuit as a "Canadian success story."<br/><br />"The Canada Goose trademarks, and in particular, the circular Canada Goose Arctic Program and Design trademark...have become very well-known across Canada and are distinctive exclusively of the high-quality clothing products that<br/><br />Its jackets "have come to enjoy enormous consumer recognition in Canada and abroad," the company says in the lawsuit.<br/><br />Canada Goose writes in the lawsuit that it has sold more than $225 million in coats and accessories - more than 600,000 items - across Canada since 2005, though it used the same figures in the International Clothiers lawsuit, filed in January 2012.<br/><br />© The Canadian Press, 2013</div>

Hot Trends: Canada Goose sues Sears for trademark infringement over 'distinctive' parkas

;TORONTO - Canada Goose is taking Sears to court, accusing the department store of selling knock-offs of its highly distinctive winter coats.Sears Canada Inc., which the maker of the ubiquitous parka describes in a lawsuit as a retailer of "low to mid-quality" clothing, is passing off one of their j…

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Hot Trends: MISS VENEZUELA GABRIELA ISLER WINS MISS UNIVERSE 2013

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img height="300" src="http://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/thumb.cms?msid=25522234&width=350&resizemode=4" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />An evening of extravagant entertainment marked the crowning of Gabriela Isler from Venezuela as Miss Universe 2013 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Patricia Yurena Rodriguez from Spain finished as the first runner-up, while Constanza Baez from Ecuador was the second runner up. Manasi Moghe from India made it to the top 10 of Miss Universe 2013.<br/><br />Gabriela Isler, who stands 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in), competed as Miss Guarico, one of 24 finalists in her country's national beauty pageant Miss Venezuela 2012, held on August 30, 2012 in Caracas. She won the Miss Elegance Award and became the ninth Miss Venezuela winner from Guarico, gaining the right to represent her country in Miss Universe 2013.<br/><br />Narrowed down from top 16, the top 10 comprised India, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, Ukraine, USA, Brazil, Great Britain, Philippines and Spain.The 16 semi finalists included Costa Rica, Ukraine, China, Ecuador, Great Britain, Indonesia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain, USA,Nicaragua, Switzerland, India, Brazil, Philippines. Top 5 finalists included Ecuador, Brazil, Spain, Philippines, Venezuela.<br/><br />The evening took off with a grand performance by International recording artist Emin, in between which the girls from 86 countries, including Manasi Moghe from India, were introduced. Miss Universe is the oldest International beauty pageant and an eminent panel of jury made the selection process tougher for the contestants. The list of winners is as follows..<br/><br />MISS UNIVERSE 2013 is Gabriela Isler from Venezuela 1st RUNNER UP MISS UNIVERSE 2013 Patricia Yurena Rodriguez from Spain 2nd RUNNER UP MISS UNIVERSE 2013 Constanza Baez from Ecuador 3rd RUNNER UP MISS UNIVERSE 2013 Ariella Arida from Philippines. 4th RUNNER UP MISS UNIVERSE 2013 Jakelyne Oliveira from Brazil.<br/><br />To watch Miss Universe 2013 as it happened, please click here ...</div>

Hot Trends: MISS VENEZUELA GABRIELA ISLER WINS MISS UNIVERSE 2013

An evening of extravagant entertainment marked the crowning of Gabriela Isler from Venezuela as Miss Universe 2013 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Patricia Yurena Rodriguez from Spain finished as the first runner-up, while Constanza Baez from Ecuador was the second runner up. Manasi Moghe fro…

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Hot Trends: Heroes of the Storm unique enough that Blizzard needn't worry about competing ...

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />Heroes of the Storm will offer players enough to differentiate it from League of Legends or Dota 2, Blizzard believes. <img height="300" src="http://images.vg247.com/current//2013/11/heroes-of-the-storm-110913.png" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />Speaking with CVG during BlizzCon 2013, the firm's Alan Dabiri said Heroes of the Storm will likely win over the MOBA audience with its mechanics, and the game's unique gamplay feature, Battlegrounds.<br/><br />"I'm not concerned about other people in the industry and other people in this space," he said. We're just focused on making a fun, great game. Pretty much every game we've ever released has been in a space where other people have games of the same type. When we released StarCraft or Warcraft there were plenty of RTS games, World of Warcraft is the same and even Hearthstone, there's plenty of card games out there.<br/><br />"We always take that experience and put a Blizzard flavor on it and I think that people have come to appreciate that. Personally, I think that it's shown through the years that we've been able to succeed at that, but there's a lot of other mechanics, we learned this from our other games, that we can have all these other cool gameplay elements built into the maps themselves to make the game more interesting."<br/><br />Dabiri said the MOBA's Battleground feature will allow for different strategies and choices with each one, providing a "different experience."<br/><br />During BlizzCon, the team showed four of the battlegrounds off, one of which was Blackheart's Bay - a ghostly pirate ship taking up residence in the center of the arena.<br/><br />According to the description, treasure chests of gold coins spawn periodically on either side of the battleground and players can either collect or steal them from enemy players to pay tribute to Blackheart. Once enough tribute is paid, he'll train the ship's cannons on enemy fortifications for damage.<br/><br />More details about how the business model works will be discussed in the future, but players will be able to unlock heroes and other content just by playing the game. Cosmetic upgrades like skins, equipment, and mounts will be available. New heroes will also be released over time, along with new battlegrounds, though battlegrounds will probably be freely available to all players.<br/><br />It's also possible that additional talent options for existing heroes could be available as unlockable content.<br/><br />Specific plans for post-launch support will also be announced later along with a release date.<br/><br />Heroes of the Storm beta sign ups are live, and you can sign up here through Battle.net.</div>

Hot Trends: Heroes of the Storm unique enough that Blizzard needn't worry about competing ...

Heroes of the Storm will offer players enough to differentiate it from League of Legends or Dota 2, Blizzard believes. Speaking with CVG during BlizzCon 2013, the firm's Alan Dabiri said Heroes of the Storm will likely win over the MOBA audience with its mechanics, and the game's unique gamplay feat…

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Hot Trends: No playoff revenge for Toronto Maple Leafs in loss to Boston Bruins

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />BOSTON - Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal early in the third period and Tuukka Rask stopped 33 shots, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 win over Toronto on Saturday night in the teams' first meeting since their playoff series last spring.<br/><br />Bergeron also added an empty-netter with 22 seconds to play, and Zdeno Chara also had a power-play goal for Boston. The Bruins won for only the third time in seven games.<br/><br />Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs, who lost for just the second time in six games.<br/><br />In Game 7 of the opening round of the last season's Eastern Conference playoffs, Boston trailed by three goals with a little over 10 minutes left before forcing overtime - with the final two goals coming 31 seconds apart in the closing 90 seconds of regulation. Bergeron scored the game winner in OT, capping an improbable comeback.<br/><br />On Saturday, skating during the closing part of James van Riemsdyk's double-minor penalty for high-sticking Johnny Boychuk late in the second period, Bergeron jumped in on a rebound in front and fired it past sprawling goaltender James Reimer 1:06 into the final period.<br/><br />Winger Carl Soderberg backhanded the puck on net from near the bottom of the right circle.<br/><br />Reimer made 31 saves.<br/><br />Boston killed off a penalty late in the game when Soderberg was sent off for holding the stick. The Maple Leafs went 0 for 3 on the power play.<br/><br />The Bruins had grabbed a 1-0 lead on Chara's power-play goal off a rebound 15:27 into the opening period. David Krejci won the faceoff back to defenceman Torey Krug, who sent a cross-ice pass to Jarome Iginla. The winger slipped a backhand on net that Chara, positioned in front, banged past Reimer before two Maple Leafs defenceman could clear the puck. <img height="300" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2013/11/leafs-46.jpg?w=620&h=410" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />If it wasn't for solid play by Reimer it could have been a bigger deficit for Toronto. Boston outshot the Maple Leafs 14-7 in the opening period, keeping the puck in the offensive zone for long stretches.<br/><br />Bruins winger Chris Kelly fired a shot off the crossbar 90 seconds into the game and Reimer made nice stops on close bids by Krug and Iginla about 20 seconds apart five minutes into the game.<br/><br />But in the second period, the Maple Leafs outshot Boston 18-10 and controlled play for lengthy stretches.<br/><br />Toronto tied the game at 1 on Lupul's goal late in the second. Paul Ranger sent a long clearing pass to Lupul, who broke in down the right wing before firing a shot that beat Rask over his left shoulder, slipping the puck just inside the right post.<br/><br />There were a fairly large number of blue Maple Leafs' home jerseys sprinkled throughout the stands, and a big roar went up when Lupul scored.<br/><br />NOTES: Bruins D Adam McQuaid went down grabbing his right hip area midway into the opening period, had to be helped from the ice and didn't return. There was no update from the team on his injury other than an announcement early in the second that "he would not return." ... It was the first of four games between the teams. ... Toronto's Phil Kessel needs two points to reach 400 for his career. ... The Bruins held Progeria Night, raising funds for research to help find a cure for the accelerated aging disease that affects one in every 4 to 8 million newborns. Sam Berns from Foxborough, Mass. dropped the ceremonial first puck. ... Former Bruin Terry O'Reilly watched the game from a luxury box.</div>

Hot Trends: No playoff revenge for Toronto Maple Leafs in loss to Boston Bruins

BOSTON - Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal early in the third period and Tuukka Rask stopped 33 shots, lifting the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 win over Toronto on Saturday night in the teams' first meeting since their playoff series last spring.Bergeron also added an empty-netter with 22 seconds …

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Hot Trends: Venezuelan Crowned Miss Universe 2013

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><br/><br />TV host Gabriela Isler becomes seventh contest win for the nation<br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://timenewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/187488794.jpg?w=480&h=320&crop=1" width="100%"/><br/><br /><small>Victor Boyko / Getty Images</small><br/><br />A Venezuelan television host beamed as she was crowned Miss Universe 2013 on Saturday, marking the seventh contest win for the South American country.<br/><br />Gabriela Isler, whose full name is Maria Gabriela de Jesus Isler Morales, bested 86 contestants to win the diamond crown. Last year's winner, American-born Olivia Culpo, crowned the 25-year-old, who is a TV host on Venezuela's Venevision.<br/><br />"I have a lot of emotions. I can't describe all the things that I feel at this moment because I'm shaking," she said.<br/><br />Isler will now pose in a specially designed swimsuit worth $1 million on Sunday. <img height="300" src="http://i2.wp.com/i.huffpost.com/gen/1429068/thumbs/s-DICK-CHENEY-154x114.jpg?resize=200%2C133" width="100%"/><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/life/family/2013/11/131107_family_addictIllo.jpg.CROP.rectangle-large.jpg?resize=200%2C133" width="100%"/><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://i2.wp.com/i.huffpost.com/gen/1428385/thumbs/s-JULIANNE-154x114.jpg?resize=200%2C133" width="100%"/><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://i0.wp.com/img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2013/1311/232_int_afghanistan_1108.jpg?resize=200%2C133" width="100%"/><br/><br />Sell, Give Away and Destroy: the Dismantling of America's Presence in Afghanistan</div>

Hot Trends: Venezuelan Crowned Miss Universe 2013

TV host Gabriela Isler becomes seventh contest win for the nationVictor Boyko / Getty ImagesA Venezuelan television host beamed as she was crowned Miss Universe 2013 on Saturday, marking the seventh contest win for the South American country.Gabriela Isler, whose full name is Maria Gabriela de Jesus…

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Hot Trends: Blizzard explains why it doesn't call Heroes of the Storm a MOBA

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>"Action real-time strategy didn't make a lot of sense for this game," says Heroes of the Storm director.<br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/1493/14930800/2309075-2309074-newstarter35_martingaston_012913.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><img height="300" src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/536/5360430/2372662-cursedhollow03.jpg" width="100%"/><br/><br /><br/><br />At BlizzCon 2013 last night Blizzard unveiled the first footage of Heroes of the Storm, the new name for the long-in-development title that was once known as Blizzard DotA and released as a mod for StarCraft II.<br/><br />Heroes of the Storm is inspired by the original Defence of the Ancients: All-Stars modification for WarCraft III. The original mod went on to kickstart the genre that Dota 2 developer Valve now calls MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), and League of Legends developer Riot calls ARTS (action real-time strategy), but Blizzard instead opted to avoid calling their game a MOBA/ARTS and instead christen Heroes of the Storm a hero brawler.<br/><br />Speaking to GameSpot, Heroes of the Storm game director Dustin Browder elaborated on that decision. "We fully feel like we're making something a little bit different and a little bit new," he said. Heroes of the Storm is "certainly based on a lot of the games we played in WarCraft 3 and even in Brood War that were made by our fans, but we're trying to create something that's very very quick, and can be played in about 20 minutes."<br/><br />Other than a shorter duration for matches, what else sets Heroes of the Storm apart from League of Legends and Dota 2? "It's very much about map objectives," Browder explained. "It's about taking over the battleground and engaging with those objectives, and it's very much about playing with your team. It's about team leveling. We start you with all of your abilities, so you're using everything at once. It's a little bit more action-orientated in that sense, a little less about the RPG components. It's more about playing with these iconic heroes that you've seen over many many years inside our games."<br/><br />"So we felt like the hero brawler was a better name for the game we were making, but whatever anybody wants to call the game is totally cool. We just feel that [hero brawler] made a lot more sense."<br/><br />"Coming from a bunch of guys that made real-time strategy, action real-time strategy didn't make a lot of sense for this game," Browder concluded.<br/><br />GameSpot sister site onGamers went hands-on with the "distinct" Heroes of the Storm yesterday, and detailed many of the core differences between Blizzard's game against Dota 2 and League of Legends. Notably, Heroes of the Storm will feature shared experience, no last-hitting, no item purchasing, and all skills unlocked at the start of a match.<br/><br />Sign-ups for the Heroes of the Storm beta are now live. Filed under: Heroes of the Storm Blizzard DOTA</div>

Hot Trends: Blizzard explains why it doesn't call Heroes of the Storm a MOBA

"Action real-time strategy didn't make a lot of sense for this game," says Heroes of the Storm director.At BlizzCon 2013 last night Blizzard unveiled the first footage of Heroes of the Storm, the new name for the long-in-development title that was once known as Blizzard DotA and released as a mod fo…

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