Hot Trends: Google announces the Nexus 5 with Android 4.4, on sale today for $349 (hands ...

It's about time. The Google-backed and LG-manufactured Nexus 5 is now really a reality, after countless rumors and leaks (a few of them coming from Google itself). The new device, which predictably boasts the latest and greatest version of Android known as KitKat (or 4.4, if you're so inclined), takes its place in the spotlight in place of the Nexus 4. And, despite coming out at a slightly higher price point than last year's Nexus, it still takes the cake in terms of features, components and other specs. Now that it's ready for the public, let's take a deeper look at the Nexus 5, which will be available on the Play Store today, in both white and black, starting at $349 for AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (sorry Verizon customers).

We'd like to say we have a few surprises in store for you, but we don't really. So many details about the Nexus 5 leaked ahead of time, and almost all of them have proven to be true. Under the hood is a 2.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM, pushing pixels to a glorious 4.95-inch 1080p display. LG has also seen fit to include wireless charging again, so you wont have to wear out that micro-USB port keeping the 2,300 mAh battery juiced, you can use it to power a TV over Slimport instead. You'll also find LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac WiFi and NFC on board -- basically if there is a method of connecting to another device, the Nexus 5 has it.

The design moves away from its predecessor's primarily glass construction and embraces plastic. But not the cheap-feeling shiny kind, instead it boasts a "silky texture" according to Sundar Pichai. In fact, it's quite reminiscent of the redesigned Nexus 7 that debuted earlier this year. The front is still sheathed in Gorilla Glass, Gorilla Glass 3 to be specific, and otherwise it's pretty much unadorned. Sure, if you look you can spot the front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and speaker grille, but it's mostly an uninterrupted expanse of black.

In our hands-on with the device, we were incredibly impressed with the clarity and sharpness of the 1080p display. The edge-to-edge glass certainly gives the Nexus 5 an unquestionably premium feel, even with the sliver of bezel adorning the top and bottom. One of the benefits of Gorilla Glass 3 is its thinness, which results in a relatively slim phone overall. Though it's a pretty small detail, even the buttons on the sides of the phone are made of a technical ceramic material, which certainly feels better than regular plastic buttons. Additionally, the "silky texture" does indeed feel a lot like the soft touch matte finish we know and love from the Nexus 7. Both the white and black versions have it too, so you won't have to decide on that front. There are very slight contours on the back of the phone that contributes to a comfortable feel in the hand.

Even though it was widely expected, and leaked, we're still pretty excited about the redesigned rear-facing camera. Sure, it's still an 8-megapixel sensor, but it now boasts optical image stabilization (OIS) for reducing blur. A small gyro and motor actuator in the lens housing move the lens on the X and Y planes to capture the clearest image possible, even if you've got the caffeine shakes. The shutter is also quick enough to capture what Google calls HDR+ or, for the photo savvy out there, true HDR. Instead of applying algorithms to boost brightness and contrast in areas of a single photo, the Nexus 5 captures multiple images at different exposures and combines them to produce the most detail possible. It can not only fix under or over exposed images, it can even compensate for motion when trying to capture a moving target.

Google will be releasing two models: one for North America and Europe, and a second for Asia. Both of which will come in 16GB and 32GB flavors, which will cost $349 and $399, respectively. While you'll obviously be able to pick one up straight from Google, you'll also find the latest Nexus phone at Best Buy and Radio Shack. You can even buy one direct from compatible carriers, like Sprint which will be bringing the handset to its retail stores on November 8th, starting at $150. Android for all and the new Nexus 5

Just in time for Halloween, we have two new treats for Android fans. First, we're excited to unwrap our latest platform release, KitKat, which delivers a smarter, more immersive Android experience to even more people. And second, we're introducing Nexus 5-a new Nexus phone developed with LG.

The first thing you'll notice about KitKat is we've made the experience much more engaging: the book you're reading, the game you're playing, or the movie you're watching-now all of these take center stage with the new immersive mode, which automatically hides everything except what you really want to see.

Bringing more Google smarts to Android Behind the polish on the screen is the power under the hood. Take the Phone app, which for most people hasn't really changed since the days of flip phones. Now, we're making calling easier than ever, by helping you search across your contacts, nearby places, or even Google Apps accounts (like your company's directory), directly from within the app. And with the new Hangouts app, all of your SMS and MMS messages are together in the same place, alongside your other conversations and video calls, so you'll never miss a message no matter how your friends send it. This is just a small taste of KitKat-learn more on our site.

Google has always focused on helping users get immediate access to the information they need, and we want to bring this same convenience and power to users on Android. With the new Nexus 5 launcher, Google smarts are deeply integrated into the phone you carry around with you, so getting to the information you need is simple, easy and fast. Swipe once from the home screen to get Google Now literally at your fingertips. Put Google to work for you by saying "OK, Google" to launch voice search, send a text, get directions or even play a song you want to hear. And in the coming weeks, we're enhancing Now with important new card types that bring you information about contextual topics that interest you such as updates from a favorite website or blog.

Reaching the next 1 billion users Building a platform that makes mobile phones accessible for everyone has always been at the heart of Android. Until now, some lower-end Android phones couldn't benefit from more recent Android releases due to memory constraints. With KitKat, we've slimmed down Android's memory footprint by doing things like removing unnecessary background services and reducing the memory consumption of features that you use all the time. We did this not only within Android but across Google services like Chrome and YouTube. RAM (or memory) is one of the most expensive parts of a phone, and now Android can run comfortably on the 512MB of RAM devices that are popular in much of the world, bringing the latest goodies in Android 4.4 within reach for the next billion smartphone users.

Introducing Nexus 5 Along with our sweet naming tradition, we also introduce a new device with each platform release to showcase the latest Android innovations. For KitKat, we partnered with LG to develop Nexus 5 -- the slimmest and fastest Nexus phone ever made. Its design is simple and refined to showcase the 5" Full HD display. Nexus 5 also keeps you connected at blazing speeds with 4G/LTE and ultra fast wifi. The advanced new lens on Nexus 5 captures more light for brighter night and sharper action shots. And with optical image stabilization, you no longer have to worry about shaky hands and blurry pictures. A new HDR+ mode automatically snaps a rapid burst of photos and combines them to give you the best possible single shot. Learn more on our site.

Nexus 5 is available today, unlocked and without a contract, on Google Play in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea (and coming soon to India), starting at $349. Just in the time for the holidays, Nexus 5 will be available soon at the following retailers: Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack.

Android 4.4, KitKat, which comes on Nexus 5, will also soon be available on Nexus 4, 7, 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks.

How's that for a treat?

Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Android, Chrome & Apps

Hot Trends: Boston Red Sox championship heals psychic wounds of marathon attacks

Boston Red Sox players hold up the championship trophy after Game 6 of baseball's World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, October 30, in Boston. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 6-1.

(CNN) -- Boston is a land of memory. After all, it's the capital of a commonwealth, not just a state, evoking the colonial era. And when it comes to baseball, well, how many times have we heard the yarn about how the antique Fenway Park endured 86 years of pain without a World Series championship?

Now the Boston Red Sox have won their third title in nine years -- at Fenway, no less -- but this victory seems to hold deeper meaning than just winning a sporting crown.

It's being compared to a divine balm to heal one of the darkest recent memories in America: the terror bombings at the Boston Marathon last April.

"It lifts the spirit back up after the marathon," one woman told CNN in Boston during a noisy street celebration so loud that it wasn't possible to get her name. "They obviously deserve it. I feel like I knew it was going to happen." 5 things you need to know about the World Series

Many mused about the supernatural being at work.

"First the Boston Bombing and now the World Series...," said Michael David Reel on the Red Sox Facebook page, "it was given to you."

It was as if Boston rose again after a trial of the spirit.

"This was not just about winning a Championship. It was about a group of regular guys that believed in themselves and this city, and this country, and through their unbelievable efforts it helped relieve the pain of the Boston Marathon bombing in April," wrote Dave Hornoff on the same social media page. "They dedicated their season to the victims and the entire country embraced them, and they embraced Boston and the entire country. What we witnessed was a real life movie in the making and for me this was more than just sports. More championships will be won every year but the story of the 2013 Boston Red Sox will never be repeated."

Fans like Hornoff also repeated all or part of slogan that has since become a mantra in the marathon tragedy's aftermath: "Boston Strong 617." The terror explosions disturbed the nation because they occurred in such a public place: the attacks killed three people, wounded more than 260 others, and put the city in a five-day lockdown until a manhunt finally captured the sole surviving terror suspect.

"This World Series was so much more than just a baseball game for the city of Boston," Derek Lemieux wrote on the team's Facebook page.

Then, signing off in a shorthand of the digital era, he wrote: "#BostonStrong." Jane Richard, 7, Boston bombing survivor, sings anthem at Red Sox game

Wednesday's win over the St. Louis Cardinals also marked the first time that the Red Sox won a championship while at home since 1918 -- the year that began the team's infamous 86-year World Series drought.

Mysticism was behind that punishment, fans cried. It was the Curse of the Bambino -- the hex imposed on the team because it sold legendary player Babe "Bambino" Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1920.

Indeed, 97-year-old Helen McGonagle of Boston was 2 years old when the team won that 1918 championship at home.

"I never thought I'd live to see this," she said of the 2013 championship.

No story on the Red Sox would be complete without interviewing a Bostonian with such a long memory like McGonagle's. She now lives in a nursing home, still peppy enough to talk with reporters.

"I would go down and see the Red Sox a lot," McGonagle said of her childhood years at Fenway.

Back then, a hot dog cost 15 cents, she said.

Opinion: I'm a Red Sox fanboy

She explained the enthusiasm of fans.

"They're a great team," she said. "I don't think as good as they were in Ted Williams' time, but I think they're doing a great job and I'm rooting for them all the time."

Batting legend Williams played for the Red Sox from 1939 to 1960.

This year's team was also noteworthy for how players cultivated beards out of a superstition since spring training: The team kept winning as more players grew one, despite early predictions that this wouldn't their season.

The season indeed ended as theirs.

But one fan on Facebook now wonders:

"Now can they shave?" Robin Gilliam said.

Hot Trends: Google releases Nexus 5 phone with Kit Kat

(CNN) -- Google on Thursday released its latest candy-themed mobile operating system: Android 4.4, more deliciously known as Kit Kat.

The system will launch immediately on Google's new Nexus 5 phone and then roll out to other Nexus devices, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, in the next few weeks.

Nexus devices are Google's flagship line of phones and tablets, running the newest and purest form of Android and available without contracts. The Nexus 5, manufactured by LG, is built to work internationally on a variety of bands and with whatever local SIM card you pick up, though Verizon's band is still not supported.

Physically, the 5-inch Nexus is a bit thinner and lighter than the previous generation, while packing a faster Snapdragon 800 processor. It has optical image stabilization and a new HDR camera feature for combining multiple exposures into a single photo, lightening up dark areas and bringing details back to images blown out by a flash.

The Nexus 5 is available online today in 10 countries and will be available in retail stores like Best Buy. It's a wider rollout than for previous generations of Nexus phones. The 16 GB version will cost $349 without a contract and the 32 GB version will go for $399, also without a contract.

The phone also will be the first to have the new Kit Kat features, many of which attempt to break down the walls between web, search, apps and communication tools.

The phone app -- widely neglected since Android smartphones first came out -- gets more search power in Kit Kat, pulling in search results for business as well as your usual roster of contacts. Incoming calls from business are recognized automatically in caller ID, while pulling data from the same database that powers Google Maps.

Kit Kat also adds support for third-party cloud services like Box so you can see files stored on the device and in the cloud. Google Hangouts absorbs SMS and MMS messages, so your chats, video calls and texts are all together in one place.

Google Now, the company's app for serving up answers to questions you haven't even asked yet, is adding new categories. It can deduce your interests based on your web searches -- say, "The Walking Dead," or corgis -- and add a card to Google Now with the latest information about those interests. If there's a specific site you check a lot that is only sporadically updated, Google Now might alert you to new posts when they happen.

It's also tapping the power of crowds. Google Now knows your location, and Google knows what people at that exact spot during that time are most likely to search. For example, someone standing in front of Old Faithful at Yellowstone might search for a schedule of when the geyser is going to erupt. Google Now will automatically show you the times without your searching.

Google Search on Kit Kat is not limited to content from the web. Google is starting to index content deep inside of individual apps, so if you search for a recipe it might show a web page and a link to a cooking app you already have installed. For now, it will only work with installed apps, but Google says its working on adding support for apps in the Google Play store, which could be a clever way to sell more apps.

Kit Kat is also Google's attempt to address one the bigger problems plaguing Android: OS fragmentation. Low-end Android devices are big sellers in emerging markets like China and India, but because of their limited memories and pokey processors, they typically run older versions of the Android operating system, like Gingerbread.

The decision of what version of Android to ship on these devices is up the manufacturers. But Google is trying hard to make its newest OS more appealing for these markets by upgrading it to use less processor power and memory.

Hot Trends: 5 things you need to know about the World Series

Boston Red Sox players hold up the championship trophy after Game 6 of baseball's World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, October 30, in Boston. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 6-1.

(CNN) -- In a World Series that pitted two of the most decorated teams of all time, the Boston Red Sox came out on top, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.

It's the eighth World Series championship for the Red Sox and their third in the past nine years. Here are five things to take away from this year's Fall Classic. 1. Party like it's ... 1918

The last time the Red Sox clinched a World Series title at home, World War I was still going on, and Babe Ruth was still a pitcher.

World Series MVP Ortiz on winning title

Big Papi's Red Sox impact

Before this win, the Red Sox had last won a World Series at Fenway Park on September 11, 1918, defeating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in Game 6. The end of World War I was still two months away. On Boston's roster was Ruth, a 23-year-old pitcher. Ruth went 2-0 in that World Series. Ruth later was sold to the New York Yankees, triggering what many fans termed the "Curse of the Bambino." Decades later, Boston ended the supposed curse by winning the World Series in 2004 and winning again in 2007. But both of those celebrations came on the road, first in St. Louis against the Cardinals, and then in Denver over the Colorado Rockies.

Ninety-five years after last clinching at Fenway, the Red Sox earned their world championship trophy Wednesday night on their home field in front of their fans. 2. The umpires got the big calls right

Outside of home run calls, there is no instant replay in Major League Baseball. But this umpiring crew got some of the most-talked-about calls right and avoided potential controversy.

In 108 previous World Series, no Fall Classic game had ended on an obstruction call. In Game 3 on Saturday night, St. Louis had runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jon Jay hit a ground ball to second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia threw home, where catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia tagged out Yadier Molina. But Saltalamacchia's errant throw to third caused third baseman Will Middlebrooks to stumble, and he raised both legs and tripped Cardinals baserunner Allen Craig. Third base umpire Jim Joyce made the obstruction call immediately, and home plate umpire Dana DeMuth pointed to third to confirm the obstruction call at third. It was the correct call, though MLB plans to revisit the rule in the offseason.

Before this year, no World Series game had ended with a baserunner getting picked off. That is, until Game 4 on Sunday night. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Boston closer Koji Uehara picked off St. Louis pinch runner Kolten Wong at first base with the dangerous Carlos Beltran at the plate. Replays show Wong was out. Again, the correct call.

And in Game 1 in Boston, the umpiring crew avoided a potential fiasco, reversing a controversial call in the first inning. David Ortiz hit a grounder to Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter. Carpenter flipped the ball to shortstop Pete Kozma to start a double play. DeMuth initially called baserunner Pedroia out, ruling Kozma dropped the ball after taking the ball out of his glove to make the throw to first. However, Kozma clearly dropped the ball. The umpires conferred, and the call was reversed. Ortiz and Pedroia were safe. The next batter, Mike Napoli, hit a bases-clearing double. 3. There is a price to witness history

Fans were willing to pay staggering prices for the chance to see history at Fenway. The night before Game 6, the average price for a Game 6 ticket on online broker TiqIQ.com was $2,189, while the cheapest available on StubHub.com was a standing-room-only ticket on the right field roof box for $983.75. One Craigslist posting offering "CHEAP" Game 6 tickets (in all caps, apparently to hammer home the bargain) led to a broker selling standing-room-only for $774.

But buying a ticket for under $1,000 might have been a bargain. A fan from Calgary paid $12,092 for a seat near home plate, according to StubHub spokeswoman Shannon Barbara. In comparison, the Red Sox paid Ruth less -- around $7,000 -- for the entire 1918 season, according to Baseball Almanac. 4. The beards. Oh, the beards

In 2004, the Red Sox were known as "The Idiots." This year's team will be remembered for their beards. In spring training, Napoli, Pedroia, and Jonny Gomes started growing beards and didn't get rid of them. It caught on. As the year went on, Red Sox players tugged on each other's beards as a method of celebration. Fans started attending games donning real or fake beards. By the end of the season, nearly every Red Sox player had some type of facial hair. And it should be noted that 95 years ago, not a single Red Sox player from their 1918 championship team had a beard. 5. David Ortiz was in the zone.

The Cardinals as a team had a .218 batting average with two home runs. Boston as a team was even worse, hitting .205. No player on either roster came close to the offensive production of Ortiz. At the age of 37, Ortiz, named the World Series Most Valuable Player, went on a tear. He batted .688 with two home runs, and had six RBIs and eight walks, finishing with a .760 on-base percentage. He was walked four times alone in Game 6. Ortiz is the only player left from Boston's 2004 World Series team. Other fun facts from this World Series

Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey became the first pitcher to start and win the clinching game of a World Series for two different teams. In addition to Wednesday night, Lackey also did it when he pitched in Game 7 for the Anaheim Angels in 2002, back when he was a rookie. Lackey gave up a run in 6 2/3 innings Wednesday night.

The Red Sox are the second team to win a World Series one year after finishing in last place in its division. The Minnesota Twins first accomplished the feat in 1991.

This was the first World Series since 1999 that featured teams with the two best regular-season records in their respective leagues, and it was only the third time the World Series teams had matching regular-season records.

Since the Division Series was added in 1995, it's been rare for teams with the best regular-season records in the National and American League to advance to the World Series, much less win it. It was the fourth time a team with the best record won the Fall Classic.

Hot Trends: 24 last-minute Halloween costumes for kids

Flower

(Real Simple) -- October 31 seems to creep up on us every single year. Still set on treating Junior to that one-of-a-kind disguise? Frightened by the idea of making your own costume from scratch?

Don't be. Get into the spirit with creative ideas that can be pulled together with cupcake liners, coffee filters, and more household items.

Real Simple: Last minute Halloween costume ideas Race car driver

He'll go from zero to race-ready in a jiffy by decorating an everyday track suit with a few strips of tape (get the how-tos). Yellow duckling

Here's an idea that's sure to quack your little one up. A bunch of faux feathers and a pair of bright orange boots will have your lucky duckling ready to waddle around the 'hood. Get the how-tos here. Shark

This ferocious guy will be terrorizing the neighbors-for an extra handful of candy, of course. Only a few supplies are needed to create this shark's tough skin. Is the suspense killing you? Get the how-tos here. Strawberry

Think strawberry season is long gone? Think again. This sweet disguise starts with a ripe red shirt and a pair of matching leggings. Complete the fruity look with a stem made from felt, pipe cleaners, and more (get the how-tos).

Real Simple: Delicious pumpkin recipes Bookworm

A novel idea for the kid who always has his nose in the books. Pull the disguise together with felt, styrofoam balls, and more (get the how-tos). Wondering who's behind those oversized specs? This cute little dude (who you've probably spotted on his mom's blog joined our cast to show off his squiggly (and scholarly) style. Wise owl

Whooo needs a last-minute costume idea? This night owl's getup starts with brown leggings and shirt and calls for cupcake liners, faux feathers, and more (get the how-tos). Mermaid

Is everything really better down where it's wetter? Make a splash out of water with this easy-to-create costume that requires streamers, cupcake liners, and more (get the how-tos). Our little aquatic friend from nicolephoto.com emerged from under the sea to debut her loveliness on land. Ice cream sundae

This costume calls for the works: vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup, chocolate fudge, and a cherry on top (get the how-tos). For super sundae cuteness, the littlest lady at Oh Joy! modeled this sweet disguise. (Cue the screams of delight.)

Real Simple: Simple Halloween costumes Fairy godmother

Once upon a time there was a mommy who wished a Halloween costume could be made with the wave of a wand. Wish granted. This easy and enchanted disguise requires a tutu, star-shaped stickers, and a few more magical accessories (get the how-tos). Vet

The doc is in. And he'll be mending and repairing the stuffed animals, bath toys, and robots. Getting dressed for surgery requires an oversized button-down shirt, shower cap, and more (get the how-tos). When this guy is not on-call, you can find him in the playroom spending quality time with his patients. Lamb

What's blaahk, white, and fluffy all over? This sweet little lamb. To create a fleece as white as snow, you'll need to dip into the cotton ball stash (get the how-tos). Flower

Mary Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With a pipe cleaner stem, petals of felt, and a smile that will make your heart melt (get the how-tos).

Real Simple: DIY Halloween costumes Aviator

Prepare for takeoff. Imaginations will soar when your kid steps into this clever disguise made from a sweatshirt, tape, and more (get the how-tos). Yes, goggles are required. Love bug

Hooray for the pink and red lady who just landed in the garden. Her cuteness is off the charts and she's dressed in a disguise that's made from tulle and felt hearts (get the how-tos). Turquoise peacock

Spotted on the front lawn: An exotic (and adorable) little birdie with feathers bursting in a bright shade of blue (get the how-tos). Cobalt peacock

Here comes little miss magnificent with her vibrant blue feathers (get the how-tos) and her chipper disposition.

Real Simple: Best Halloween movies Rainbow fish

One fish, two fish, red fish, rainbow fish! Create these multicolored scales from that stash of cupcake liners in the pantry (get the how-tos). Flapper

A Roaring Twenties revival: Dancing her way around the neighborhood with a bob cut, strands of pearls, and a hot pink dress that, well, we made for twirling (get the how-tos). Fisherman

This seafarer is sure to reel in compliments (and candy!) with this low-maintenance disguise. There's no catch-but there are a few household items required (get the how-tos). Jailbird

Free to hit the streets on Halloween night, this guy's disguise comes together with faux feathers, white tape, and more (get the how-tos).

Real Simple: Healthier Halloween candy Lightning cloud

When Halloween strikes, this fierce dude will bolt from house to house making a serious dent in the neighborhood candy supply. Create the disguise with a few household essentials (get the how-tos). Skeleton

A sweet twist on a classic costume that requires a few frilly strands of ribbon to make those funny bones at home (get the how-tos).

Get a FREE TRIAL issue of Real Simple - CLICK HERE!

Copyright © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Hot Trends: Zombie eyes, sick dogs and weight gain: 5 ways to avoid an unhealthy Halloween

(CNN) -- Watching your health this Halloween doesn't have to be scary. Here are five easy things to keep in mind for you and your family to stay happy and healthy this Halloween. 1. Eat before you (trick or)treat

Hopefully you've already talked to the kids about their trick or treat strategy. Mentally prepare them not to snack while they're walking, and don't be one of those parents who drives them from door to door.

"Talking to them in advance (about not snacking) makes it a lot easier," said Wendy Palmer, a registered dietitian with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She also makes sure her sons trick or treat on a full stomach.

"I know it's crazy that night with everything going on, but you should make it a huge priority that your kids eat dinner before you go out," Palmer said. "Even a quick peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich and a piece of fruit. Kids are really in tune with their appetite and won't be as tempted to snack if they are full."

It's only after Palmer's little Superman and Ninja Turtle get home this year that they can pick out a piece or two. Binge eating -- for child or parent -- is not allowed.

Did you know thesugary loot children collect on Halloween adds up to about 11,000 calories, according to Children's Healthcare testing? (They were vague about what happened to the candy afterward.)

That's the equivalent of a week's worth of calories. The candy also packs an average of 365 teaspoons of sugar -- the equivalent of 12 double-dip vanilla ice cream cones -- and the same amount of fat as 15 large servings of fast food French fries.

What to do with all that candy? "I would never recommend hiding food as it makes it more valuable to the kids," Palmer said. "If you keep it in the house, it should be free game for mom and dad as well as the kids."

Woman's Halloween treat: Obesity letters

How filthy is your Halloween mask?

Street smarts for trick-or-treating

Pure chocolate stays good for about two years without causing any real health risks, although the texture changes after about 12 months.

If you are counting calories as you snack, sugar candies tend to be lower in calories than chocolate. Dentists hate the sticky stuff, though, as it is harder on your teeth.

If your child has food allergies, be sure to read candy wrappers. Keep in mind, mini-size servings of the candy you know and love can contain different ingredients than their larger cousins.

Mireille Schwartz has a daughter, Charlotte Jude, with severe peanut and tree nut allergies. She founded the Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board and says Halloween is her busy season. She advises parents to talk to their neighbors about keeping a separate bowl of allergen-free candy for kids like her daughter.

Parents who worry about their kids eating Halloween candy could try the Halloween Fairy method, also called the Switch Witch or Great Pumpkin.

It's like the tooth fairy: Your kids set out at least some of their candy before they go to bed. The fairy, witch or pumpkin comes in the middle of the night, takes it and leaves behind something they want, like a toy or tickets to something they want to do.

Palmer does this at her house.

"It really works. My kids are actually willing to give up their candy, really," Palmer said.

If pumpkin ale is more your thing than pumpkin candy, remember Halloween is a work night this year.

Because it's a long night of waiting for the doorbell to ring, there is an easy trick to fool yourself into drinking less: Try a skinnier glass.

Scientists at Iowa State University watched how much people pour and learned people struggle to assess volume, tending to focus more on the vertical rather than the horizontal measures.

Participants poured around 12% more wine into a wide glass than a standard one.

Drink from a narrower glass and you'll only think you are drinking more. Plus, you'll get a little exercise if you do have to get up for that refill.

Watch what you put on your face: You don't want a bad mask or face painting accident to leave your co-workers wondering why you are still in costume on Friday.

The CDC suggests testing face paint on a small area on your arm. That way you can see if it irritates your skin before you slather it everywhere.

Skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive, so check labels on face paint or makeup. If it says avoid applying by your eyes -- even if the people on the package are doing the opposite -- follow the directions.

Throw away makeup that smells bad, as it may be contaminated.

If your inner devil prefers a mask, wipe it down before wearing it. You likely weren't the first to try it on in the store.

CNN Newsource affiliate KTVK took more than a dozen masks to be tested. Even the biologist was shocked by how many germs and molds he found.

"In terms of gross, this is particularly disgusting," said Stan Kikkert, a biologist from Mesa Community College. 4. Just because Michael Jackson wore them...

The microscopic monsters can cause infections. Alcohol should disinfect properly. Pay particular attention to the nose and mouth.

Color contacts made Michael Jackson look extra spooky in "Thriller," but unless you've got a prescription, don't wear them. Some stores do sell them, but that's illegal without a prescription.

Optometrists warn the contacts aren't one-size-fits-all. 5. Don't let chocolate go to the dogs

"Wearing lenses that don't fit properly can suffocate the eye, causing irritation and infection," Dr. Christopher Coad, director of Chelsea Eye Associates in New York, said in a statement. "Bad infections can even lead to blindness and/or loss of the eye."

If you want to wear them, get a prescription.

If you dress up your pet, make sure the costume lets them breathe and move. Avoid costumes with small parts they might swallow.

Speaking of eating, chocolate may be a favorite in your goodie bag, but it can be deadly to dogs and cats.

Pet insurance company Petplan sees 25% more claims during Halloween -- more than any other week in the year.

Swallowed wrappers and lollipop sticks can cause blockages that might not be noticed for days.

The darker the chocolate, the deadlier it is to your pet, according to Dr. Ron DeHaven with the American Veterinary Association.

"When kids come home after a night of trick or treating and dump their bag of candy, be sure that your pets are safely away in another room away from your kid's loot," DeHaven said. Store it somewhere where your pet can't get to it.

If pets do get hold of chocolate, call your vet immediately. The ASPCA has a poison hot line, too: (888) 426-4435.

Hot Trends: Halloween witch: The real history behind Google's doodle

The Halloween witch. She's mean, she's green, she's... persecuted throughout history? Today, Google pays homage to witches, but their treatment over time hasn't always been so celebratory.





Emerald skin, a wart perched on a hooked nose, wild black hair, and a bubbling cauldron - the description of a witch brings to mind spooky childhood tales and evil cackling laughter.

Skip to next paragraph







It's Google who is cackling today. In honor of Halloween, Google created a dark animation for its homepage featuring the iconic lady on a broomstick. A shifty-eyed sorceress mixes a dark kettle of neon green liquid, and Googlers can add any combination of four ingredients to the pot: a skull, an apple, a bone, and a potion. The result of these concoctions? Find out on Google.

But witches have concocted and cackled in history long before Google existed.

The first witches were seen as healers, known in local villages and towns as the women to go to when feeling sick as they could whip up a quick herbal remedy.

However, in Europe during the Middle Ages, many witches were seen as connected to sorcery and the devil. The Christian church believed witches were given special powers in return for their loyalty to Satan. This way of thinking ushered in an anti-witch hysteria that stretched from the 15th to 18th century that left tens of thousands dead due to paranoid executions.

This worry made it overseas as well. The Salem Witch Trials, which took place in Massachusetts in the 1690s, are one of the most famous examples of anti-witch panic in history. After several young girls in Salem began contorting their bodies and wailing beyond anyone's control, people within the town began suspecting witchcraft, and quickly pointed fingers at any marginalized person in town, like one family's African slave and a homeless beggar. Soon the area dissolved into paranoid blaming, trials with little evidence, and torturous imprisonment for more than 200 people. By the time the hysteria died down, more than 20 people had been executed for being witches.

Today, the term "witch" sometimes applies to people who practice Wicca, a modern pagan religion. Though their practice and beliefs are diverse, the religion focuses on a "mother goddess", connection to nature, and seasonally based festivals known as "Sabbats".

The witch character became associated with Halloween due to the fall holiday's pagan roots - the witch is thought to be inspired by a pagan goddess that closely resembles an old crone.

Though the world is free of actual green-skinned evil sorceresses, the witch is one of popular cultures' favorite characters, starring in everything from " The Wizard of Oz" to "Wicked" to " Sabrina the Teenage Witch." However, as a metaphor, witches aren't so lucky: a "witch hunt" is known as furiously persecuting a group with little regard to guilt or innocence, often using said group as a scapegoat for larger ills in society.

For today, however, witches get the spotlight as a symbol of Halloween and a personalized Google Doodle.

Hot Trends: Red Sox Rout Cardinals to Win World Series

BOSTON - For much of the 20th century, the Boston Red Sox were a symbol of frustration and pain for an entire region. As popular as they were in their corner of the nation, either they were good enough to lose in agonizing fashion on baseball's grandest stage, or they were just plain bad.

But that all changed in 2004 when the Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought, and now their fortunes have changed so dramatically that winning titles has become commonplace.

The latest victory came Wednesday night, when the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1, in Game 6 of the World Series to take the series, four games to two. They earned the third jewel in their championship crown over the last 10 years, and their eighth over all.

In addition, for the first time since 1918, Boston was able to celebrate the victory at home, winning in front of an announced crowd of 38,447 at Fenway Park and many thousands more who crammed the city streets and bars to proclaim those formerly scarce words that are now often repeated: The Boston Red Sox won the World Series.

Even after the team's horrendous late-season collapse in 2001 and a last-place finish in 2012, Red Sox fans have become so accustomed to winning that, once their scruffy team had won Game 5, Game 6 had an air of inevitability.

By the time Boston had taken a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning, the cool air at Fenway Park vibrated in anticipation of the party that would soon follow.

David Ortiz, whose contributions to the Red Sox' last three championships cannot be overstated, was named the most valuable player of the series. He hit two home runs, knocked in six runs, scored seven more, batted .688 and had a staggering .760 on-base percentage.

The Cardinals finally wised up in Game 6, walking him four times, three times intentionally: it was the only way to prevent him from doing damage.

Two Red Sox hitters with little success in the first five games came through instead.

Shane Victorino drove in four runs, with a bases-clearing double in the third inning and a run-scoring single in the fourth, an inning that began with a home run by Stephen Drew against Michael Wacha. Drew had batted .080 this postseason entering the game.

Wacha, a 22-year-old rookie, had been unbeaten in the postseason and had not even allowed a hit with runners in scoring position. But he was charged with six runs in only three and two-thirds innings Wednesday. Red Sox starter John Lackey scrapped and battled his way through six and two-thirds inning to earn the win.

The victory was the second in a World Series clincher of Lackey's career. He also won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, for the Anaheim Angels.

Lackey looked beatable as the Cardinals hit several balls hard in the first two innings. But the Red Sox had fielders in place to catch most of them, and Lackey grew stingier until the seventh.

The Cardinals, trailing by 6-0, scored a run in that inning and then had runners at first and third with two outs. With Matt Holliday coming to the plate, Red Sox Manager John Farrell emerged from the dugout. As he strolled to the mound, though, Lackey gave him a stern look and appeared to say, "This is my guy," as well as a few words obscured behind his glove.

Farrell left him in, but Lackey walked Holliday, so Junichi Tazawa was summoned from the bullpen. Tazawa got Allen Craig to ground to first, eliciting a roar from the fans.

Victorino, who had missed the previous two games because of back spasms, gave the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead with his double, pounding his chest just as he did in the Red Sox' pennant-clinching game against the Detroit Tigers, when he hit a decisive grand slam.

From there, the Red Sox were simply too good for St. Louis once again.

In 2004, the Red Sox swept the Cardinals, winning Game 4 in St. Louis, and in 2007, they swept the Colorado Rockies, taking the final game in Denver. The Red Sox had lost in excruciating fashion in their four previous World Series appearances, in 1946 and 1967 to the Cardinals, in 1975 to the Cincinnati Reds and in 1986 to the Mets, each time in seven games.

For decades it seemed as if 1918 would remain their last title, especially with the mighty Yankees putting up road blocks in their league and division.

But along came Ortiz, who helped erase the Red Sox' jinx against the Yankees in 2004 and carry Boston over a barrier it had been unable to cross for 86 years.

What made this year's title even more notable was that the Red Sox completed a worst-to-first transformation, rebounding from a last-place finish in the American League East in 2012, shedding a negative reputation and replacing it with scruffy beards to signify team unity.

The team brought in Farrell to replace Bobby Valentine and several new players, including Victorino, Drew, Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes and closer Koji Uehara, to change the toxic culture of the clubhouse.

But the team also featured four key players from the 2007 team: Ortiz; Jon Lester, who went 2-0 in the Series; Jacoby Ellsbury; and Dustin Pedroia, who said that despite the misery of 2012, and even the late-season collapse of 2011, he still felt this team had the potential to win again.

"Yeah, my expectations of our team didn't change from last spring training to this one," he said before Wednesday's game. "Your goal playing for the Red Sox every year is to try to be at this point and win the World Series. Next year we're going to come in, and our goal is to win the World Series, and that's never going to change here."

For 86 years, that goal was unattainable. Now it is almost routine.

Hot Trends: Happy Halloween! But ... what's powering your pumpkin?

Happy Halloween: Trick or treat? Solar or oil? Even Halloween jack-o'-lanterns have joined the energy debate. When the Department of Energy promoted clean energy and efficiency as pumpkin-carving suggestions, the US oil and gas lobby served up its own Halloween ideas.





Forget candles, these Halloween pumpkins are all about wind and solar - or oil and gas.

Skip to next paragraph Recent posts

This Halloween, the debate over the future of US energy has made it all the way to the jack-o'-lantern. On one side is the US Department of Energy, promoting clean energy and efficiency with a set of energy-themed stencils for pumpkin carving. Not to be outdone, the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas lobbying firm, has released its own set of stencils to make a "high energy pumpkin" blazoned with the image of an oil barrel or a full gas tank.

So the question this Halloween isn't so much trick or treat? It's renewables or fossil fuels?

Judging by DOE's stencils, the future is in cleaner energy and less of it. The stencils depict wind turbines, solar panels, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and other emblems of alternative energy, with DOE encouraging would-be carvers to "energize your neighborhood" this "Energyween." It's a fitting end to October, which was designated National Energy Action Month by President Obama in late September.

"[S]o while you're stocking up on pumpkins, fall sweaters and Halloween candy, it's also a great time to think about actions you can take to save energy and money at home," reads a post announcing the stencils on DOE's website from earlier this month.

Shorter days and cooler weather come together in October to begin a steady annual rise in electricity use as homeowners turn up the heat and keep lights on longer. In 2011, commercial and residential lighting made up about 12 percent of the nation's total electricity use. In 2009, space heating made up 41.5 percent of total residential energy use.

But the stencils don't exactly offer a comprehensive look at US energy - at least not according to the American Petroleum Institute (API), which represents the nation's oil and gas companies.

"[W]hen the Energy Department blog highlighted ways to 'energize your neighborhood' with a series of energy-themed pumpkin stencils in time for Halloween - but didn't include any for the sources of 62 percent of the energy Americans use - we thought maybe it was some kind of holiday trick," reads a post on API's website.

Renewables made up 12 percent of the nation's electricity mix in 2012, and while solar and wind showed tremendous growth last year, most analysts predict fossil fuels will continue to dominate the electric grid in coming decades.

So it's a tall order for the Obama administration, which wants to reduce the 40 percent of carbon emissions that come from fossil-fuel power plants. It's no surprise, though, that it's turbines and photovoltaics on DOE's Halloween pumpkins, instead of oil and gas.

Happy "Energyween!"

Hot Trends: Meet the People Who Design the Sexy Pizza Costume and Other Risqué ...

Yandy

It was hotter than usual in the halls of lingerie turned sexy Halloween costume provider Yandy's Phoenix-based office. CEO Chad Horstman had an idea for the popular e-retailer's next barely-there endeavor, and his staff just wasn't having it.

"I thought a sexy pizza costume was crazy," said in-house design representative Pilar Quintana. "I don't know if any girls want to go out with crust on her shoulders."

But as the creator of the instantly iconic sexy watermelon costume (complete with midriff baring bite cutout), Horstman knew that the short costume with a cheesy yet seductive "v" and fashion forward crust shoulder pads (stuffed crust or regular? manufacturers tested both!) would be a hit.

"We were both on a diet at the time, so I said let's make a bet," he told TIME. If the $70 costume reached a certain sales number, Quintana would have to eat a whole large pizza, without any help, while wearing said sexy pizza costume at a pizzeria. Horstman offered to do the same.

The costume was premiered as a part of a sexy hamburger, french fry fast, food collection. It immediately made headlines and even a Daily Show appearance. Numbers soared.

"I'll be literally eating my words this week," Quintana said. The Sexy and the Strange

Although the world of sexy Halloween costumes isn't new, it is certainly getting increasingly bizarre. There's a mass market for costumes you would never think to slap a "sexy" label on, from $120 orca whales to Burt and Ernie.

But the Yandy team doesn't think the costumes' wide variety or noteworthy success is strange at all. "Girls are always trying to one up each other," Quintana said. "They are always trying to wear something no one is going to wear, so the creativity level has to go up from the French maid costume."

Horstman, 35, left his job as a marketing consultant in 2005 to start Yandy with his brother Evan, a Boeing supply chain manager. While its initial focus was just online lingerie sales, he quickly saw a market for Halloween costumes.

Horstman said that the costumes started out as run of the mill concepts, "Like a dirty cop instead of a regular cop ... maybe a border patrol agent." So in 2010 he decided to take it to the next level with its own original line of furry, sexy animal line. At $240 a pop, but hand stitched and made in California, "people thought it was dumb, but I didn't think it was dumb at all," Horstman said.

Costume sales now make up more than a quarter of the lingerie company's total sales, and the company's compound growth rate is over 30% for the last five years. It now offers 2500 costumes and a successful get up will sell in the thousands.

And they get national acclaim. Horstman is proud of when sexy George Washington made to front page of FoxNews.com. Do Ladies Want to Dress as Sexy Corn Fields?

"I always have my eyes open for new ideas," Horstman said. "I think it was 4 or 5 months ago I was at a state fair, and I someone wearing a plush octopus hat. I took a picture on my phone and I turned it into a sexy squid costume. It's pretty over the top."

The colorful sexy squid costume comes in an underwater collection that also features a clown fish, sea turtle, shark, and killer whale-sexiest of all the creatures. (What woman doesn't aspire to be a giant wonton whale on Halloween?)

But Quintana, who used to be a buyer at Dillard's, pointed out that not all of Horstman's concepts work. Like the sexy corn costume.

"I thought it would do well because I was in Nebraska at the time and there was corn everywhere," Horstman said. "I thought that girls would buy a lot and wear them together and go as a corn field."

(We should note that Horstman still hasn't given up on the corn concept. There's already a new sexy carrot outfit, so Horstman hopes that if he designs two other vegetables, there's a chance that it will make a popular garden variety set.)

Yandy likes breaking the boundaries, but there are some lines it won't cross. If a manufacturer, for example, offers a sexy nun or rabbi costume, Yandy won't order it for fear of turning off potential customers.

"People might think a sexy burger costume is ridiculous, but no one gets upset," said Horstman. "Well, maybe a vegetarian."

"Then we have to start selling a sexy black bean burger costume," Quintana offered. Fashion Versus Fabric

Although the costumes are marketed as somewhat scandalous, Horstman said that he is considering changing some of the labels from "sexy" to "fashion."

"Some of the best selling costumes right now come from more ready to wear silhouettes," Quintana said. "High waisted designs are in and selling really well ... and a lot of club wear sexy dresses have a lot of cutouts." (Like the watermelon and cookie costumes.)

Less revealing onesies and rompers are also selling well.

"We once carried a line that was just super sexy bikinis, and they didn't sell well," Horstman said. "So we're working with manufacturers. Girls, they're tired of the skirts being so short."

He's even considering lengthening some skirts by an inch or so. He can always use the left-over fabric from the cut outs.

Click through our gallery of bizarre, sexy Halloween costumes:

Hot Trends: Drive in Google Glass, get a ticket

(CNN) -- In what might be a first, a woman in California received a traffic ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving.

Cecilia Abadie was pulled over for speeding on Tuesday in San Diego and given an additional citation for driving while wearing her Google Glass. The officer considered the head-mounted display a monitor that was visible to the driver. Shocked, Abadie posted a copy of the ticket on Google+.

Traffic laws vary state by state, but many now have broad distracted-driving laws or bans on certain monitors that could easily apply to Google Glass.

The California law cited in Abadie's case is meant to prevent people from watching television while driving. V C 27602 prohibits televisions and similar monitors from being turned on and facing the driver. There are exceptions for GPS and mapping tools and screens that display camera feeds to help the driver navigate. If a device has a safety feature that limits its display to approved uses while driving, it can be allowed.

Weather anchor wears Google Glass

Going gaga for Google Glass

"I think the law is broad enough to say it violates the law," said San Diego attorney Mitchell Mehdy, also known as "Mr. Ticket." Mehdy has been working in traffic law for 25 years and said this is the first case he's heard of involving Google Glass.

Abadie says her Google Glass was not turned on when she was pulled over, and that the officer said the screen was blocking her view. The Google Glass display is located slightly above the right eye, not directly in front of the eye.

Google does warn users about running afoul of traffic laws in its Google Glass FAQ: "Most states have passed laws limiting the use of mobile devices while driving any motor vehicle, and most states post those rules on their department of motor vehicles websites. Read up and follow the law!"

However, in another section on navigation, it says Glass can give turn-by-turn directions, "whether you're on a bike, in a car, taking the subway, or going by foot."

Glass fans defended the technology in comments on Abadie's post, saying that a voice-activated screen close to the eye could actually be safer than trying to check a smartphone or other monitor while driving.

"Glass is far safer than any other means of information delivery. It is out of your view and not distracting," said Aaron Kasten, who compared it to checking speed and other information on a car's dashboard, which requires taking your eyes off of the road.

The turn-by-turn directions on Glass can be turned on with a voice command. The display will show a map view, but for extra safety the screen can be turned off while driving so there's only voice navigation.

A Google Glass spokesperson didn't address the ticket directly but emphasized responsible Google Glass usage, saying, "As we make clear in our help center, Explorers should always use Glass responsibly and put their safety and the safety of others first. More broadly, Glass is built to connect you more with the world around you, not distract you from it."

Abadie could take the case to court and try to get the Google Glass portion of the ticket dismissed.

"How can this officer prove that this display was being activated or was actually on at the time and what kind of signal she's getting?" said Mehdy.

State laws are always adapting to new technology, and Google Glass is still a somewhat rare sighting. The device is only available as part of a beta program and is not yet sold commercially. According to Mehdy, new technology is a tempting target for law enforcement looking for new ways to bring in money.

"There's a wealth of revenue to be generated from technology. The traffic law enforcement is coming and saying wow, we've got this new incredible device and we want our piece too," said Mehdy. With a mandatory minimum fine in California is $162, this is just the beginning of more tickets for Google Glass wearers according to Mehdy.

Law enforcement is increasingly enforcing distracted driving laws. During the month of April, there were more that 57,000 distracted driving tickets issued in California as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Hot Trends: Allen Iverson's quiet NBA exit obscures intensity of his career

PHILADELPHIA -- In the cold, dark recesses of the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, something just didn't feel right. One by one, friends and family of Allen Iverson filtered into the arena's lower bowl, exchanging knowing smiles and quiet laughs. From Dr. J to John Thompson, Theo Ratliff to Pat Croce, so many of those close to Iverson had come out for this: Three years after last wearing an NBA uniform, Iverson was finally ready to say goodbye.

This wasn't how it was supposed to end for Iverson, an 11-time All-Star, an MVP, a man who over 14 seasons squeezed more out of a (listed) 6-foot, 165-pound frame than anyone possibly could. He attacked the basket relentlessly, fearlessly, refusing to back down, refusing to succumb to injury. LeBron James called Iverson the best pound-for-pound player to ever play the game, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone to dispute it. He captured four scoring titles, memorably traded 50-point games with Vince Carter in the 2001 playoffs and famously stepped over the Lakers' Tyronn Lue after burying a 20-footer in the closing seconds of a Game 1 win in the '01 Finals.

That '01 team is widely regarded as one of the worst Finals teams in NBA history. It was Iverson and a bunch of guys playing defense, or so the storyline goes, but amazingly that was enough. Sixers officials fondly remember the last preseason game that year, when Iverson insisted Larry Brown leave the starters in for the fourth quarter because he believed it was important to win. Philadelphia started the season 10-0, with Iverson setting the tone.

Often lost in the controversy that enveloped Iverson was a man desperate to win. In 1999, Iverson broke his thumb. He missed 10 games, a stretch that may have been longer had Iverson not removed the cast himself. Once, in New York, Iverson was told by Philadelphia's medical staff to sit a game out with a nagging injury. Iverson declined. An equipment manager hid his jersey. Iverson said he would go to the NBA Store and buy a new one.

GOLLIVER: Remembering highs and lows of Allen Iverson's career

Iverson's aversion to practice -- practice?-- was well documented, but he did have his moments. During a late season practice in '01, Matt Geiger, who played just 35 games due to knee injuries that season -- injuries, team sources say, Iverson believed Geiger could have played through -- returned after a lengthy absence. Throughout practice, Iverson refused to pass him the ball. When he saw Geiger roll his eyes after one attempt, Iverson stopped the scrimmage. He asked Geiger if he was frustrated. Geiger said yes. Good, Iverson told him, because I've been frustrated with you not playing all year.

There was so much more to Iverson than the defiance, so much more depth than the cornrowed, tattooed thug image with which he was branded, the image the NBA despised. Team officials talk about the kindness Iverson showed their children. They laugh at the caricatures that Iverson would draw of teammates and staffers while taking a bus to an arena. One team executive recalled telling Iverson about how he planned to drive several hours to his daughter's high school graduation. Iverson offered to let him drive his Bentley.

Graceful endings aren't granted all of sports stars -- Michael Jordan is proof of that -- but Iverson should have had one better than this. When his skills diminished, Iverson could have adapted, checked his ego and tailored his game. Even a reduced version of Iverson would have been good enough to average double digits off the bench for some teams and may have kept him in the game today. But he couldn't do it -- wouldn't do it. As Iverson sat on a makeshift dais on Wednesday, a black hat twisted sideways on his head, a gold chain wrapped around his neck, a vacant look on his face, he sat there a man forced out of the game.

"Could he still play [in 2010]? Of course," said an Eastern Conference executive. "But what he pulled in Detroit finished him."

In 2008, the Pistons shipped franchise cornerstone Chauncey Billups to Denver for Iverson with the hope that Iverson would have enough left to help Detroit challenge Boston and Cleveland and that his expiring $21.9 million contract would enable the team to rebuild on the fly. But the ball-dominating Iverson clashed with the Pistons' style, and when Detroit shifted him to the bench late in the season, Iverson declared that he would rather retire than continue in the role. Two days later, he was banished, officially because of a back injury, unofficially because the Pistons could tolerate no more.

Iverson is far from alone on the list of players unwilling to accept the unstoppable effects of time. But his inglorious end was perhaps the most public, most abrupt. He was bounced out of Memphis after just three games in '09 and finished his career playing 25 games for the publicity-starved Sixers in '10.

"It's not easy to accept a lesser role when you feel you have more to give," Dwyane Wade said. "It's got to be something inside that you want to do. No one can make you do it. No one can write an article that will make you do it. You have to be OK with it. Obviously, he didn't want that."

Iverson admits he made mistakes in his career, but refuses to say he would do anything differently. "No," Iverson said. "Not a thing." His flaws define him, Iverson says; they are what make him human. "Obviously, if I could go back and change anything I would be a perfect man," Iverson said. "And I know there's no perfect man and there's no perfect basketball player. So no, I wouldn't change anything. My career was up and down at times. I made a lot of mistakes, a lot of things I'm not proud of. But it's only for other people to learn from."

At 38, Iverson's future is uncertain, his life problematic. Rumors have swirled about financial problems, which Iverson declined to directly address. He says he is happy being a stay at home dad, giving his kids the father he cheated them out of during his career. He lamented using his family as a crutch during the tough times of his career, and says now was the time to pay them back.

"I gave everything I had to basketball, and [while] the passion is still there, the desire to play is just not," Iverson said. "I just feel good that I'm happy with the decision I'm making. It was a great ride."

Off goes Allen Iverson, off into the unknown. At the end of the first quarter of Philadelphia's game against Miami Wednesday night, a montage of Iverson's greatest moments flashed on the JumboTron and he was introduced to a deafening cheer. There will always be what-ifs with Iverson -- what if he worked harder on his game, what if he had lived a quieter life -- but one thing is certain: There will never be another like him.

Hot Trends: Nnamdi Asomugha: 5 Things To Know About Kerry Washington's Husband

Nnamdi, 32, is going to be a proud papa soon! After wife Kerry's pregnancy was announced, we were overjoyed for the sweet couple and wanted to know more about the NFL star. So, what else is there to know about him?

Nnamdi Asomugha is one lucky guy. He's a cornerback in the NFL and married to Kerry Washington, 36 - but there's so much more to learn about the expectant dad! Read on for all you need to know about Nnamdi - we totally see why Kerry fell for him! Nnamdi Asomuga: Get To Know Kerry Washington's Husband

1. For all non-sports fans, Nnamdi is currently a cornerback in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He's also played for the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles.

2. Scoot over, Kerry! He may play football - but he's also got acting credits to his name. Nnamdi's appeared in episodes of T he Game, Friday Night Lights, Leverage, and Funny or Die. He also appeared on the big screen in Fire with Fire starring Bruce Willis, and starred in and produced his own short film, Double Negative. Wow!

3. He has a particular type of color-blindness, discovered when he was seven-years-old. Deuteranomaly affects about six percent of the male population.

4. Nnamdi's moral character is evident by the amount of awards he's received! Notably, he received the "Role Model of the Year" award from the National Conference on Citizenship, and was nominated for Sport Illustrated 's Sportsman of the Year award in 2008 and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2011.

5. He's of Nigerian descent and has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in corporate finance. Wow, brains and brawn! Coupled with Kerry's beauty and intelligence, they're going to have one amazing son or daughter! Kerry Washington & Nnamdi Asomuga Expecting First Child

Kerry and Nnamdi tied the knot on June 24 in Idaho. Kerry's pregnancy news was revealed on Oct. 30. "She's about four months along," reported.

"Kerry and Nnamdi are ecstatic," a source told . This will be the first child for the couple. WATCH: Kerry Washington Got Married - Wendy Williams Show

- Ivy Jacobson More Kerry Washington & Nnamdi Asomugha News:

Kerry Washington Weds NFL Star Nnamdi Asomugha In Idaho Kerry Washington Pregnant: 'Scandal' Star Expecting First Child Kerry Washington Hides Baby Bump In 'SNL' Promo Video - Watch

Hot Trends: No surprise here: David Ortiz named World Series MVP

By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer

To the surprise of no one, David Ortiz was named MVP of the 2013 Fall Classic. (USATSI)

More World Series: Game 6 box score | Game 6 quick hits | Game 6 grades

As expected, David Ortiz was named World Series MVP following the Red Sox's win over the Cardinals in Game 6 on Wednesday night. He hit a ridiculous .688/.760/1.188 (!!!) in the Fall Classic, reaching base 19 times in 25 plate appearances. Just unreal. Here's some more Ortiz craziness:





What an outrageous series by Ortiz. The MVP hasn't been this obvious in a long, long time. Congrats to him and the Red Sox.

Hot Trends: Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington, like her Scandal alter ego Olivia Pope, sure knows how to keep a secret. The 36-year-old actress, who married NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha in a super covert ceremony in June, has yet another surprise on the way -- a baby! As the new issue of Us Weekly exclusively reveals, the Scandal star is pregnant with her first child. PHOTOS: Kerry's red carpet style

"She's about four months along," a pal tells Us of Washington. (Thus far, the mom-to-be has kept any hint of a baby bump concealed under roomy dresses.)

This will be the first child for the Emmy-nominated beauty, who married San Francisco 49ers cornerback Asomugha on June 24 in Hailey, Idaho. According to reports, the couple first started dating in the summer of 2012; Washington was previously engaged to actor David Moscow. PHOTOS: Secret celeb weddings

Asked about her top-secret wedding in an interview with Glamour magazine in September, the Django Unchained actress said she had "learned through experience" that talking about her personal life just "doesn't work" for her.

"I've had earlier times in my career when I did talk about it," she explained. "But I couldn't just turn around and say, 'I only want to talk about the good stuff, but not the bad stuff.' So I just thought, 'Okay, no more.'" PHOTOS: Celeb pregnancies

That said, Washington isn't trying to dupe anyone. "I'm walking around in the world with my ring. And when people say congratulations, I say thank you," she said. "But I'm going to continue to not talk about it and just let it unfold."

For more on Kerry Washington's pregnancy -- including her morning sickness, her style, and how this might affect Scandal -- pick up the new issue of Us Weekly.

Hot Trends: Happy Halloween! Liam Payne Shows Off Pumpkin Carving Effort After ...

The One Direction tour may FINALLY be about to come to a conclusion, but Liam Payne has no interest in taking some time out from band duties - as he's carved the recognisable logo into a pumpkin.

The singer - who recently expressed his surprise at being voted the boyband's sexiest member in an EntertainmentWise poll - said he was quite chuffed with his effort in a rightfully boastful Twitter snap.

He wrote: "Happy Halloween here's my pumpkin attempt I'm very proud of myself and that I can now handle sharp objects :D (sic)"

We reckon he's done very well indeed...

Liam Payne shows off the fruits of his labour (Twitter)

The group's mammoth Take Me Home tour has just ended its Australian leg, and yesterday the boys were in full-on gushing mode over the success of the jaunt.

Liam had written: "What a great end to an amazing tour and experience thank you so much aus this is something I won't ever forget I've had so much fun...

"Every audience has been simply incredible it's been hard to tell who was the loudest because every show you give us such amazing support."

Showing he has no intention of throwing in the towel any time soon, he added: "Can't wait to come back, thanks to all our crew and everyone at the label in aus let's keep having a great time over here for many years xxx".

The boys are currently locked in a massive chart battle in the UK, with a weak lead over the competition at the midweek stage with their new ballad 'Story Of My Life' just a hairline ahead of Fatboy Slim's 'Eat Sleep Rave Repeat' in yesterday's midweeks.

The quintet also have to contend with Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster', which has been at No1 on iTunes since it was released late on Monday night. In yesterday's overall figures, it had snuck into the Top 10 on just 24 hours' worth of sales, and stands a good chance of dethroning 1D by Sunday.

Hot Trends: Watch the first trailer for 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'

Here's what we knew before this two-minute trailer for X-Men: Days of Future Past: it's based on the comic arc of the same name, Wolverine is going back in time to prevent a dystopian future for mutants, and it will be split between the present day and the older world of X-Men: First Class. This teaser doesn't necessarily shed more light on the plot, but it emphasizes the pathos of a cross-generational attempt to avert disaster, and it suggests that we'll be seeing a lot from just about every major mutant from either generation - including Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen as Magneto.

Hot Trends: Brooke Greenberg, 20-Year-Old Woman Who Looks Like A Toddler, Dies

Originally from Montreal, Zoë Mintz joined IBTimes in March 2013. A graduate from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, her writing has... Continue Reading

Hot Trends: Giraffe Riddle Goes Viral on Facebook: Do You Know the Answer?

Getty Images

If you've been noticing that people on your Facebook feed-your mom, your aunt, that one kid from middle school you don't even know why you're Facebook friends with-have turned into giraffes, here's why:

They're all bad at riddles.

A new trend on Facebook asks users to answer a simple riddle, and if they answer incorrectly, they must change their profile picture to a giraffe for three days. Here is the riddle-now, are you a giraffe? It's 3 a.m., the doorbell rings and you wake up. Unexpected visitors! It's your parents and they are here for breakfast. You have strawberry jam, honey, wine, bread and cheese. What is the first thing you open? WATCH: Ohio State performs the most impressive halftime show ever

The viral game was apparently started by YouTuber Andrew Stugnell, who explained in a video that if you get the answer wrong you must post this message to your Facebook page with your new picture: I've changed my profile to a giraffe. I tried to answer a riddle and got it wrong. Try the great giraffe challenge! The deal is I give you a riddle. You get it right you get to keep your profile pic. You get it wrong and you change your profile pic to a Giraffe for the next 3 days. MESSAGE ME ONLY SO YOU DONT GIVE OUT THE ANSWER.

Why a giraffe? Why not?

WATCH: This woman's dance is the most watched video in Russia

So what is the answer? It depends who you ask. (WARNING: Spoilers)

TheGreatGiraffeChallenge.com, the official site of the movement, says that the answer is "your eyes." If you input any other answer you get a message that says, "You Are A Giraffe! The first thing you open before you get out of bed and answer the door...are your EYES!"

Others (including us) would say the answer is "the door." One commenter said, "I answered, 'The door' due to the fact that in the riddle it says that you woke up meaning that your eye's were already open. Poor riddle I'd say."

Either way, The Giraffe Riddle Facebook page has racked up over 70,000 likes in only a few days and Andrew promises they will now release weekly riddles each Saturday. Get ready to see a lot more giraffes pop up on your Facebook. PHOTOS: Check out the 20 biggest celebrities on Facebook!

Hot Trends: Not Good Enough

Among the more worrying stats, fifth-round rookie Zac Stacy pounded the Seattle defense for more yards than longtime Ram Steven Jackson ever gained against Seattle. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

ST. LOUIS - Golden Tate knew he'd screwed up. The Seahawks receiver's taunting bye-bye wave to Rams safety Rodney McLeod on the way to a third-quarter touchdown set Seattle's kickoff team 15 yards back during a one-score game. So Tate went to apologize to that kickoff unit, which had to work that much harder, running at full-speed, in what is indisputably the most dangerous play in football when the ball is returnable.

"Yeah, he apologized, and the next time he does that he's going to run down on kickoff and cover it too," said Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson, smiling in the moments after yet another Seahawks win. "Wait till you score, dude. Wait till you cross the goal line. But he knew it. He knew he made a mistake."

Tate should know something else, readily apparent after Seattle's 14-9 Monday night victory in St. Louis: The Seahawks are not that good. Despite being 7-1, they're not good enough to give up 15 yards on a kickoff and keep a 3-4 team led by a second-string quarterback from scoring (after a holding penalty the Rams began at the 22 instead of the 12 and eventually kicked a field goal). They're not good enough to keep their own second-year quarterback off the ground long enough for him to make a second and third passing read. And surprisingly, they're not good enough to avoid getting gouged by fifth-round rookie running back Zac Stacy for 134 yards on 26 carries-a wake-up call in the midst of a winning start if there ever was one.

In a primetime football game played before a stadium filled to just 60 percent capacity, with a World Series going on six blocks away and as many visiting fans in the building as home supporters, the strangest sight was the supposed top team in the NFC getting pushed around.

Stacy's exploits left Seattle's defensive line core of Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Brandon Mebane huffing and puffing long after the final whistle, the last group to de-pad in a corner of the visitors locker room reserved for big men.

"They just kicked our ass, bottom line," Bryant said flatly. "Looking at them on tape, we really didn't feel like they could rush for 200 yards today. It was a total surprise.

"We were still able to get the win, but we do pride ourselves on not letting teams run the ball. We've got to watch the tape and see exactly what was allowing them to hit those creases."



Seattle's porous line allowed seven sacks of Russell Wilson, the most-hurried QB in the league this year. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

In lieu of film study, Bryant and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner offered some instant analysis: Seattle lagged in its gap discipline, and Stacy had the patience to take advantage of it, rushing for more yards in one game than Rams great Steven Jackson did against the Seahawks in any game over nine seasons. But that doesn't explain how or why Sam Bradford understudy Kellen Clemens was able to convert passes of 18 and 21 yards into the heart of Seattle's defensive-its Legion of Boom backfield-on the way to 1st-and-goal at the six yard line with a chance to put Seattle away in the final minute. That ship sailed for St. Louis when Clemens' final pass from the 1 fell flat.

Of course, the Rams were only in that position because their vastly underrated defensive line was able to sack Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson seven times. Blame goes to a host of injuries. There's the absence of wide receiver Percy Harvin, who was expected to debut this week after offseason hip surgery but is still day-to-day. His presence might have discouraged St. Louis from stacking the box and sending extra rushers at Wilson.

But more than that, fingers point to a patchwork offensive line, missing tackle starters Breno Giacomini-expected to return soon from knee surgery last month-and Russell Okung, on the short-term IR after tearing a toe ligament. In their absence, Marshawn Lynch had just 23 yards on eight carries and Rams ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long each logged three sacks while lining up across from left tackle Paul McQuistan and right tackle Michael Bowie. With Long and Quinn coming off the edge unperturbed for long stretches, it was easy to forget which team had six wins and which had three.

It's been this way for a while now, with McQuistan and Bowie allowing a combined 39 sacks, hits and hurries in their 10 starts, according to Pro Football Focus. The result: Wilson has had less time to throw than any other quarterback in the NFL.



Golden Tate will be waiving bye-bye to Seattle's championship hopes if he and his mates don't correct the glaring errors exposed in what was expected to be a walkover. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Bowie, the lumbering seventh-round rookie listed at 332 pounds, looked helpless against the speed rush of Long, yet he put an oddly lenient grade on his own play: "I gave up one sack in the last series of the game, so I guess that's a win," he said. "My performance was alright."

Seattle's final offensive possession ended in Long sacking Wilson on third and 7, and the Seahawks punting to the Rams 3. Then the Rams marched 96 yards on Seattle's vaunted defense, coming within one yard of an upset. That's far from alright if the Seahawks still fancy themselves Super Bowl contenders.

More from The MMQB: Greg Bedard on the decisive moments in four big wins, Robert Klemko on the Cowboys' blown opportunities and Peter King on Andy Dalton's ascension.

Hot Trends: Why Facebook is full of giraffes

(CNN) -- If you've spent any time on Facebook in the past day or so, you may be wondering: What's up with all the giraffes?

Are they suddenly endangered? Is the circus in town? Is Toys R Us having a sale?

No, no and no. (Although depending on where you live, the circus may actually be in town.) Photos of the spindly, long-necked animals are the byproduct of a meme that's been sweeping the social network in recent days.

The meme invites users to share a riddle with their friends, who then are supposed to send a private message with the answer (don't post it in the comments, obviously). Any user who guesses wrong must agree to change his or her profile photo with one of a giraffe.

Why a giraffe? It's not clear. CNN iReport: Who is talking on Facebook about giraffes?

The riddle goes like this: 3:00 am, the doorbell rings and you wake up. Unexpected visitors. It's your parents and they are there for breakfast. You have strawberry jam, honey, wine, bread and cheese. What is the first thing you open?

(Spoiler alert: The answer is at the bottom of this story.)

Most users agree there are two acceptable answers, although given that Facebook is an unruly community of 1.2 billion people, there's some debate over that.

Judging by some comments on Facebook, some users are growing tired of the giraffe riddle. Others are making jokes.

"If anyone shows up at my house at 3 am they had better get a hotel because I'm not answering the door," wrote one commenter on CNN's Facebook page.

Said another, "I got it right, but the giraffe pic cracked me up so I made it my profile pic."

Then there was this commenter on the Chicago Tribune's Facebook page: "Truth be told ... upon realizing it was your parents you'd probably open the wine first."

The answers: "The door" and "your eyes."

Hot Trends: Magic Johnson says Lakers fans are 'spoiled,' 'tough season' ahead

Magic Johnson thinks the Lakers are due for a rough season ahead of them. (USATSI)

Los Angeles Lakers fans are spoiled. Even the greatest Laker ever Magic Johnson believes this to be true. But that's not a pejorative way of classifying Lakers fans by any means. They've rooted for a team that has experienced nearly unparalleled success over their time in Los Angeles since coming over from Minneapolis in 1960. They've won 11 championships since moving to LA and have rarely had rosters that didn't include some of the best and most exciting players in the NBA. Because of this consistency of talent, competitiveness, and excitement, it's easy to say Lakers fans may have a spoiled basketball experience than a lot of other fan bases.

Magic Johnson stated this during a radio interview on Tuesday before the Lakers opening night victory, saying the fans were in for a tough season ahead of them. With Kobe Bryant still waiting to come back from his Achilles' injury and an older veteran core that's supposed to drive the team to success, it makes sense that Lakers fans should probably brace for the worst. From ESPN Los Angeles:

Magic Johnson is bracing himself for a rough season. He might be part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who just went to the National League Championship Series, but he'll always be a Lakers fan, and their prospects don't look as rosy.

"Laker fans are spoiled. I don't know how they're going to react now, because this is going to be a tough season," Johnson said Tuesday afternoon during an hourlong interview on the "Max and Marcellus Show" on ESPNLA 710 radio. "This is going to be one of the roughest seasons that the Lakers have ever faced. You're waiting on Kobe [Bryant] to see if he can get healthy. Nobody knows if he can be what he was. Then you've got [Pau] Gasol -- who I think is a premier big man -- but he plays better when he has talent around him.

"You've got guys who are all on one-year contracts, and all were journeymen on other teams. Laker fans are not used to that. I don't know if they're going to buy into that. We're going to see. If you want the Laker fans to really buy in and be involved, you're going to have to win right away. I don't see that happening. The West is tough this year."

"I'm hoping that they at least make the playoffs," Johnson said. "But that's going to be tough, especially without Kobe. We have to see what Kobe we're going to get. Is he going to be that same Kobe or is he going to be hurt a little bit?"

While the victory over the Clippers was fun Tuesday night, I doubt it would change much of Magic's view on the upcoming Lakers season. The longer Kobe is out; the longer the Lakers will be at a talent disadvantage. You can catch a couple of teams on random nights but at a certain point, the opponents will be expecting the type of effort we saw in the opener. And from then on, you'll be dealing with a talent discrepancy and better prepared teams.

On the bright side, the current Lakers know they don't really have expectations to weigh them down and that they can play loose in the current system. They don't have to worry about playing poorly in the sense that it will aggravate the fans or the organization because they're beginning a transition period for this franchise. It could still be a rough season but Lakers fans will likely take the effort we saw Tuesday, whether it comes with wins or losses.

Hot Trends: 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' trailer released: Hugh Jackman's Wolverine makes ...

X-Men Movies via YouTube

Director Bryan Singer's mutant power is apparently blowing comic book nerds' minds.

The first full trailer "Days of Future Past" arrived in our time on Tuesday from the near future - since the next installment in the super hero film franchise hits theaters on May 23, 2014.

RELATED: HUGH JACKMAN CLAWS HIS WAY BACK IN 'THE WOLVERINE'

Time travel is at the heart of the plot -- loosely based on a popular storyline of the same name by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne during their "X-Men" run.



Present and future versions of the X-Men are linked by an assassination of a key senator that sets off a chain of events leading to a dystopian future where mutants are hunted into virtual extinction. RELATED: HUGH JACKMAN: WOLVERINE WILL 'EXIST WAY LONGER THAN ME'



That means "Days of Future Past" features the return of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart as Magneto and Professor X - the roles they made famous in Singer's earlier "X-Men" movies - alongside Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, the actors who played the younger versions of those characters in the 2011 prequel, "X-Men: First Class."

"You need me as well," says Ian McKellen's Magneto in a voiceover near the start of the two-minute, 17 second trailer, setting the stage for a team-up with his old friend and rival, Professor X (Patrick Stewart). "Side by side, to end this war before it ever begins."

RELATED: EXES JENNIFER LAWRENCE AND NICHOLAS HOULT HANG OUT OFF-SET

And that war has a lot of potential new casualties -- the trailer shows brief glimpses of some of the new X-additions, including fan favorites Warpath (Booboo Stewart) and Bishop (Omar Sy).



At the heart of the film, though, is the most popular X-Man of all, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, who must be sent back in time to convince McAvoy's younger, more impetuous Charles Xavier to prevent the cataclysm from taking place. PHOTOS: COMIC BOOK SUPERHEROES: FROM THE PANELS TO THE BIG SCREEN

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" marks the seventh time the actor has donned the mutton chops and claws - a genre record.

"I love this character and I never take for granted the opportunity I have to play what I think is one of the cooler, more interesting, multilayered comic book characters, particularly with this one I have wanted to do the story," Jackman told the News in the summer. RELATED: 'X-MEN #1' FEATURES ALL WOMEN CAST OF SUPERHEROES

"At some point my body will give up, but right now I'm enjoying it more than ever."

Mobile Users can click here to see the trailer.

Hot Trends: Jonas Brothers: It's over for now

The Jonas Brothers have broken up, at least temporarily. A rep for the group told CNN on October 10 that there is "a deep rift within the band. There was a big a disagreement over their music direction." Think that's bad? Check out these other celebrity feuds:

(CNN) -- It looks like that "deep rift" among the Jonas Brothers has led to a breakup.

The boy band, which recently canceled a planned 19-show national tour following a disagreement over musical direction, is no longer a group.

"It's over for now," Kevin Jonas, 25, told People magazine, which first reported the news. His brother Joe, 24, called it a "unanimous decision." Jonas Brothers cancel tour amid 'deep rift'

The three decided to go their separate ways after Nick Jonas, 21, spoke up during an October 3 meeting, according to the magazine.

"I was feeling kind of trapped," Nick said. "I needed to share my heart with my brothers."

The Jonas Brothers skyrocketed to fame through the Disney Channel's "Camp Rock" movie series. They signed with Disney's Hollywood Records label in 2007, and their albums -- including solo projects -- have sold 20 million copies worldwide.

But in recent years, each brother has broken out with his own projects: Kevin and his wife, Danielle, have a reality show on E! and are expecting their first child. Joe has gone in a more adult direction with his music career, and both he and his brother Nick have released solo albums and expanded into acting. No purity ring for this Jonas in new video

Rumblings that the band was in a pretty bad spot have grown louder over the past few weeks after a spokesman confirmed there was "a deep rift" within the pop group.

On October 17, their official Twitter account was deactivated, and Joe Jonas asked fans via his personal account on October 22 to "please hold while we get our s*** together."

The three worked together on new music earlier this year, releasing singles "Pom Poms" and "First Time," but one industry insider told People it could be "the beginning of the end."

CNN's Carolyn Sung, Rachel Wells and Jane Caffrey contributed to this report.