TopFinds: Obama's five-fingered baby encounter, the UFO hoax

President Obama is surprised by a baby's exploring hands. A nutritionist finds out how a McDonald's cheeseburger doesn't rot after a year. What kind of UFO hoax happened in Connecticut? These are the top stories on DigitalJournal.com

As we do every week on Friday, we've collected the top stories (as voted by you) and compiled them on one page. Digital Journalists surveyed the world and published fascinating stories on controversies and crises; they were also covering breaking entertainment news, and this TopFinds also applauds some high-quality Special Reports this week.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all contributors for bringing their writing to Digital Journal in 2011, and we look forward to another year of great journalism and discussion. We also highlight some of major topics Digital Journalists have been covering recently. Note you can see the trending topics at the top of any page on DigitalJournal.com, in the black bar. They are changing constantly to react to what people are reading on the site.

Hot topics on Digital Journal

• Google news • Obama news • NBA news

Top Digital Journal Reports

Drug Ecstasy keeps killing, Canadian girl dies at Christmas (Includes interview) by Marcus Hondro The drug ecstasy has taken another life, this time a 17-year-old girl in Canada, in Abbotsford, B.C., who died just 3 days before Christmas. The death of the personable and much-loved Cheryl McCormack on Dec. 22 came after she and 3 friends took ecstasy 'Twilight' star Taylor Lautner's decision to risk 'Abduction' (Includes interview and first-hand account) by Earl Dittman For his first post-Twilight leading role, Taylor Lautner worked with Boyz N The Hood director John Singleton in the fast-paced thriller Abduction. Although Lautner laments the end of The Twilight Saga, he is anxious to do more nail-biters like Abduction.

Lionsgate

Taylor and Lily in Abduction

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SeaWorld's Tilikum is sick, can't move in pool (Includes interview) by Elizabeth Batt Tilikum, the orca responsible for the death of Dawn Brancheau in 2010 is sick. SeaWorld reports that the orca is responding to care. One conservation group however, is surprised he's still alive. Op-Ed: What Boko Haram wants is a political and social revolution (Includes first-hand account) by JohnThomas Didymus Pundits have for long bandied about the term "revolution" as a possibility if certain conditions are not fulfilled for the Nigerian masses. But not many acknowledge that Boko Haram by its statements and actions has indicated its revolutionary nature. Nixon had gay affair with closest friend, new book claims (Includes interview) by Christine Mattice A new book claiming that former United States President Richard Nixon had a gay affair with his closest friend is causing a stir.

Top Images

Paul Bradbury

Hvar is Croatia's premier tourist island

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Kevin Fitzgerald

A radiant garden and pond of lights.

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Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Reflections of Rio Urubu, then Rio Negro, then the mighty Amazon (Solimoes) river, state of Amazonas, Brazil.

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Cynthia Trowbridge

A Santa display in Frankenmuth, MI

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In the Media

Nutritionist: McDonald's cheeseburger remains the same year later by Andrew Moran A nutritionist in southern Ontario purchased a plain cheeseburger from McDonald's one year ago. What happened a year later? Absolutely nothing. The cheeseburger remained unchanged for 365-plus days. Video: President Obama fed a mouthful of five baby fingers by JohnThomas Didymus Eight-month-old Cooper Wall Wagner, son of Captain Greg Wagner, stuck five presumably grubby baby fingers into the mouth of President Barack Obama while he struck a pose with his parents for a photograph. Video: Ben Breedlove tells the story of his life before he dies by JohnThomas Didymus Ben Breedlove, 18, died on Christmas night from a heart attack. He had three near-death experiences over the course of his short life. Before he died, he recorded a video of his life, his illness and near-death experiences. SOPA is losing steam, Internet censorship may not become law by Gar Swaffar SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, is running into increasing resistance as more corporations denounce support for the legislation. Cat put down because owner couldn't pay vet bill on the spot by Arthur Weinreb The Arizona Humane Society has admitted it put down a nine-month-old cat because the owner could not immediately pay the estimated $400 to treat her. Sea Shepherd expects to be rammed by whalers looking for revenge by Elizabeth Batt Having already intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on Christmas day, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SCSS) believes Japan is out for revenge.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

The Sea Shepherd crew thrives on adversity. Nationalists' actions have simply provided more ammo for the organization.

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National Geographic's UFO hoax over Connecticut mall by JohnThomas Didymus Photo and video analyst for Mutual UFO Network Marc Dantonio created a "quadcopter" for an upcoming National Geographic special, "The Truth Behind UFOs." The purpose was to show how technology can fool anyone into thinking they are seeing a real UFO. Abandoned dog on SPCA doorstep has massive tumor removed by Marcus Hondro A dog with a tumor on the side of its head the size of an egg was abandoned in Vancouver, B.C., Canada on Dec. 23, 2011 and while the unknown owners are being criticized, their actions saved the animals life. Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight bound to happen next year by Leo Reyes Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, a long-anticipated boxing fight everyone in the world wants to see, could finally happen late next year after the unbeaten champion serves his 90-day jail term at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. 100-year-old letter to 'Dear Santa' found up chimney in Ireland by JohnThomas Didymus Two children wrote a letter to Santa on Christmas Eve, 1911. In the letter they wished him good luck and listed the gifts they wanted. They placed it in a ledge in the fireplace hoping Santa would read it when he comes down the chimney during the night. Op-Ed: NFL — Jerome Simpson's jaw-dropping touchdown flip into endzone by David Silverberg I've seen a lot of incredible touchdowns during my years watching the NFL. But today's extremely athletic move by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson literally had my jaw drop in amazement. Camera catches UPS worker tossing package and giving the finger by Leigh Goessl Another errant delivery man was caught on video tossing a package. This time UPS holds the honors for having an employee with an unprofessional attitude. Justin Bieber Donates Whack of Dough to Make a Wish by Marcus Hondro Mr. Charity, Justin Bieber was at it again Dec. 22 as he again stepped forward and contributed to the lives of others. While back home in Canada he did a concert that aired Thursday night and donated $500,000 to the Children's Wish Foundation of Toronto.

Top Blogs

Five years with Digital Journal! by Cynthia Trowbridge I just checked the date when I registered with Digital Journal and it was five years ago today. My daughter, Laura,... A few scenes of the Amazon Rainforest by Joseph Boltrukiewicz In the beginning of the gloomy, dark and wet Canadian winter on the west coast, a few cheerful, warm and full of life... My second pick from the science scandals of 2011 by Tim Sandle Following on from my earlier blog post, there is a second 'science scandal' from 2011 which caught my eye

Power Users

1. JohnThomas Didymus
2. Leigh Goessl
3. Alexander Baron
4. Kevin Fitzgerald
5. Katerina Nikolas
6. Andrew Moran
7. Nancy Houser
8. Samuel Okocha
9. Gar Swaffar
10. KJ Mullins
11. Tim Sandle
12. Bart B. Van Bockstaele
13. Lynn Curwin
14. Romeo Marquez
15. Elizabeth Cunningham Perkins
16. Paul Wallis
17. Kev Hedges
18. Cynthia Trowbridge
19. Marcus Hondro
20. Paul Bradbury