Trending: Friday, December 20, 2013

Published 2:29 p.m. CDT (GMT - 6:00)

Trending now on Google and Twitter at bottom

Today's headlines
2014 preview
▪ NBCNews: Top 10 races to watch of 2014
1. Kentucky SEN, 2. Florida GOV, 3. Louisiana SEN, 4. Arkansas SEN, 5. North Carolina SEN, 6. WI GOV, 7. Ohio GOV, 8. Alaska SEN, 9. GA SEN, 10. CO/MI/MN SEN

2013 in review
▪ NBCNews: Top 10 tech fails of 2013 (also new use of word: 'fail' as a noun): Blackberry, Ouya, HP Chromebook 11, Samsung Galaxy zoom, Yahoo mail, Vinci MV 7 Family Tablet, HTC First, Windows RT 8.1, MSI Slidebook S20
▪ USAToday: R.I.P.: Vehicles automakers killed this year
(Acura ZDX, Cadillac Escalade EXT/Chevrolet Avalanche, Nissan Altima coupe, Toyota Matrix, Volkswagen Routan, Volvo C30 and C70)

SeaWorld controversy
▪ CNN: SeaWorld takes out ads to defend itself against whale mistreatment accusations
▪ USAToday: SeaWorld runs ads after performers cancel

Obama approval
▪ CNN: President ends year at all-time CNN polling low
▪ USAToday: Live: Obama refutes 2013 was worst year of his presidency

Obamacare Website
▪ CNN: Obamacare Website down days before deadline
▪ NPR: Fed drop mandate for people whose insurance was canceled
▪ FoxNews: Obama defends health law, claims more than 1 million have signed up
▪ ABCNews: Obama: 2014 can be breakthrough year for America

London theater collapse
▪ FoxNews: London Apollo theater closed as investigators seek cause of collapse

North Korea
▪ CNN: North Korea sends fax threatening to strike South Korea 'without notice:' report
▪ USAToday: Dennis Rodman receives chilling open letter from an ex-North Korean prisoner

Indian diplomatic incident
▪ NBCNews: Slice of revenge: Dominoes in India ransacked amid diplomat spat with US

Secret Service investigation
▪ NPR: No widespread misconduct in Secret Service, investigators say

South Sudan news
▪ NBCNews: World's youngest country grapples with deadly growing pains: Turmoil grips South Sudan

Fukushima follow-up news
▪ FoxNews: Sickened by service: More US sailors claim cancer from helping at Fukuskima

U.S. military leadership controversy news
▪ CNN: Report: U.S. nuclear general drank too much, misbehaved in Russia

'Safe passage' rape
▪ CNN: Chicago girl's rape near a school 'Safe Passage' route alarms parents

Carjacking news
▪ FoxNews: NJ county notches 450 carjackings as hunt for assailants continues

Economic news
▪ NBCNews: Economy expanded at fastest pace in two years

Health news
▪ CNN: How many steps does it take to avoid a heart attack? Researchers find out: 2,000 or 20 minutes per day

Pop culture news
▪ CNN: Katie Couric to end daytime television show
▪ NBCNews: J.K. Rowling to bring Harry Potter to London stage
▪ NBCNews: 'After Earth,' 'Sharknado' named year's worst movies
▪ CBSNews: 'Duck Dynasty' patriarch Phil Robertson receives support from Sarah Palin

Trending now on Google (See Trendilla from Wednesday, December 18, 2013 for explanation of changes to Google trends)
500,000+ searches
▪ Target credit card breach

100,000+ searches
▪ Alex and Sierra
▪ Kobe Bryant
▪ Thursday Night Football
 
50,000+ searches
▪ Phil Robertson interview

Trending now on Twitter
▪ A&E
▪ #2013TaughtMe
▪ #BIGNBAXMAS
▪ #SexierSitcoms
▪ #CongratsAlexandSierra
▪ #FrozenFun
▪ Major Garrett
▪ Leroy Jetson
▪ Phil Robertson

Google trends from previous day (added 12/26/13), Thursday, December 19, 2013
At least 500,00 searches
▪ Target credit card breach

At least 200,000 but <500,000 searches
▪ Kobe Bryant

At least 100,000 but <200,000 searches
▪ Thursday Night Football
▪ Brian Boitano
▪ Paul Rudd
▪ Margot Robbie