Donald Deane

In a move that will delight toy lovers everywhere, the National Toy Hall of Fame announced 12 nominees for induction this year, including some of our personal faves, like the Magic 8 Ball, little green army men and 'Star Wars' action figures.

In a sure sign of our technology-driven times, the Oxford American Dictionary has named "GIF" as its 2012 word of the year, beating out a range of other modern terms. Personally, we would have voted for "YOLO," but maybe that's just us.

If there's any doubt how strong the GOP's hold on Alabama is, consider this -- a Republican nominee beat out the Democratic incumbent for a seat on the Bibb County Commission last week despite the fact that he died a month earlier. Congratulations, Alabama, on taking partisanship to a whole new level.

Thanks to a group of Harvard students, a fast food burger has boldly gone where no burger has gone before -- into the edge of space. Hey, it's better than eating it. Those things'll kill ya.

As a parent, teaching a child to use the toilet is one of the hardest (and messiest) things you'll ever do. But potty training just got even more difficult for a Piedmont, Oklahoma, mom who was fined $2,500 for letting her toddler pee in the front yard.

Confusion and long lines may have made it difficult to vote during the presidential election yesterday, but that all pales in comparison to a Michigan man who died while voting, was resuscitated, then made sure his ballot was complete before being taken to the hospital. Talk about a dedicated voter!

While children still seem to unanimously agree that Halloween is one of their favorite holidays, a new survey by the American Dental Association and PopCap Games shows that kids' perception of the holiday is changing in several surprising ways.

We enjoy a cold brew as much as the next guy. But Armageddon beer, which is made by Brewmeister Brewery in Scotland and has a massive alcohol content of 65% by volume, might be too much even for us.

Over the weekend, scores of base jumpers headed to Fayetteville, WV, to leap off the New River Bridge as part of an annual celebration known as Bridge Day. But one couple made their leap especially memorable by tying the knot first. Hey, who are we to judge? Stranger things have certainly happened at weddings before.

The mythical (or is it?) ape-like creature known as Bigfoot is generally thought to be reclusive. But a Pennsylvania man said he had an up-close-and-personal encounter with the creature when it vandalized his Winnebago RV.

We all run out of steam from time to time at work. Usually we just fight through it with a third cup of coffee, but there may be a better idea: Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center recently discovered that short naps may improve the function of the right brain.

Time heals all wounds when suffering from heartbreak, but we're willing to bet $30.5 million helps too. A 22-year-old Hyannis, MA, man recently won a sizable lottery jackpot after getting dumped by his girlfriend several weeks before.