Bieber, and Census Among Top Searches for Canadians on Google

If the searches a country's citizens make on Google are any indication of the national character, then Canadians are dull and in love with Justin Bieber and hockey. (Which, to be fair, is actually... pretty accurate.)

This week, Google released its annual year-end Zeitgeist list of the top searches in each country. As for the top Google News searches in Canada, the top five went to Japan (what with the earthquake and everything), then the Vancouver Canucks (what with the playoffs and riot and everything), then Libya (what with the war against the insane dictator thing), then Justin Bieber, and finally, the Blue Jays, which were a bit of a surprise. Also in the top 10 was Bieber beau Selena Gomez, who garnered slightly more searches than Jack Layton, who was searched more often than Stephen Harper.

The top 10 fastest rising searches demonstrated Canada's more prosaic tendencies, as the 2011 census topped the list, the Canada Post strike hit No. 3, and the royal wedding nabbed the ninth spot. Rebecca Black is also in there...somewhere.

[Google Zeitgeist]

Britney Spears Is Engaged to Boyfriend

Britney Spears is engaged to boyfriend Jason Trawick. According to TMZ, Jason was poised to pop the question tonight, but after a mysterious status update cropped up on Spears' Facebook wall earlier this afternoon, it would appear that the engagement took place last night.

After dating her former agent and David Foster Wallace lookalike for over a year, it seems Spears just couldn't wait to let the cat out of the bag. According to her Facebook profile:

OMG. Last night Jason surprised me with the one gift I've been waiting for. Can't wait to show you! SO SO SO excited!!!! Xxo

So there you have it. Here's to hoping that Britney's fantasy finally becomes a reality.

[TMZ, Image via AP]

Students Suspended For 'Tebowing' In School Hallway

Four classmates from a Long Island’s Riverhead High School were suspended for one day after they created a “hazard” by Tebowing in the middle of the school’s main hallway.

Tebowing involves kneeling and bowing in the style of Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow’s signature post-touchdown gesture.

“It was more than a religious thing,” said suspended student Connor Carroll. “There was some of that involved obviously, because he prays. I guess it was basically like a moment of silence.”

He went on to say that the school didn’t warn him and his brother Tyler against tebowing in the hallway, despite their claim to the contrary. The other two students later had their suspension rescinded after the school admitted they weren’t warned. Administrators say some 40 students have been Tebowing in the hall every day for a week, and the Internet fad had become a “distraction.”

“This is not about religious discrimination,” Riverhead School District Superintendent Nancy Carney told the New York Post. “It is about being sure kids are able to get to class on time and keeping the kids safe and orderly.”

Carney disputes Connor’s claim that their was no pushing or shoving or other safety issues involved. A video posted to YouTube (above) appears to side with Carney.

[NY Post/Riverhead]

Meet The World's Shortest Woman

On her 18th birthday, Jyoti Amge of India has been named the world's shortest living woman.

Amge is just 61.95 cm tall and weighs 5.5 kgs. When she held up her certificate Friday, the frame covered her entire body, and the Guinness World Records book came up to her waist. Officials went to her hometown of Nagpour, a city located 800 km east of Mumbai, where three measurements were taken over a 24-hour period to confirm her height. Amge has a bone growth disorder called achondroplasia. Officials said her small stature doesn't stop her from dreaming of becoming a Bollywood actress and model.

[Daily Mail]

Video: Students at Sheridan College Re-create 'Recess' Opening

The Sheridan College Class of 2013 has just made your day. This is amazing.



Don’t believe me? Compare their remake with the original after the jump:

Sleeping Bear Found in NJ Basement by Cable Man ‎

The American rendition of Wednesday’s napping seal story is somewhat less adorable: A Cablevision technician entered the basement of New Jersey home while doing routine repair work, only to find a bear asleep on the floor.

The 550-pound male bear, which had apparently been sighted roaming the Hopatcong neighbourhood earlier that same day, had built itself a little love nest inside the house’s unfinished basement.

State conservation officer Michael Madoni was called to the scene, and managed to fire a single tranquilizer dart before the bear took off. It was located a while later, and tranquilized again, this time successfully.

A Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said the bear had apparently been living in the home on Madison Trail for “quite some time,” unbeknownst to its 85-year-old homeowner.

No one was hurt in the incident.

[NBC NY /NJ Herald]

Video: Darth Vader Conducts Flash Mob at Algonquin College

It’s exam week at Ottawa’s Algonquin College, and a group of television broadcasting students decided that they wanted to break the pre-finals tension with a Christmas flash mob starring Darth Vader and the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir.

[Obvwin]

Video: Baby Rhinos Talking

The sound a rhino calf makes might surprise you.



[Arbroath]