cnn

by Kristy Korcz

Millions of Americans were captivated last night as President Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, but the news did more than just increase TV ratings — it also caused a huge spike in Internet activity while citizens searched for details and updates. Find out how this breaking news affected the Internet below!

• Twitter — It was a big moment for Twitter, as the news actually broke on the microblogging site. Though there was a traffic spike of 4,000 tweets per second, there was not a fail whale in sight. Way to go!
• Internet — As the news leaked out and President Obama began his speech, the Internet was a pretty packed place with over four million pageviews per minute to top news sites, which amounts to a 28 percent increase here in the US.
• Mobile news — Mobile browsers aren't immune from high traffic spikes, as CNN's mobile site crashed shortly after the news hit.
• Newseum — Citizens looking to find out how newspapers around the country are covering Osama bin Laden's death would usually check Newseum (which posts digital replicas of hundreds of newspapers around the country), but searchers actually crashed the newspaper site this morning.

by Emily Co

Looks like the discount coupon site is jumping on the Super Bowl bandwagon. The firm bought a 30 second ad spot after recently raising $950 million in funding, according to CNN.

The firm currently has 50 million customers who subscribe to their daily deals. I'm thinking the $3 million they're dishing out for the Super Bowl commercial will probably take them to the next level and grow their user base even faster than it was before. Previously, Internet domain registrar site, GoDaddy.com, experienced similar growth since it first posted an ad in 2005. It went from a relatively unknown site to making $1 billion last year.

Do you think Groupon made a smart move — is spending a few million worth some short Super Bowl airtime?

by Emily Co

Want to take some days off, but aren't able to because you don't have any PTO days left? If you're working at companies like Netflix, IBM, or Morningstar, you won't ever need to worry about running out, because you'll have an endless amount of vacation days. They are companies with flexible vacation policies, which gives workers the freedom of figuring out how to ration their own PTO.

Giving employees the option to take limitless days off creates a better work environment, and cases of people abusing this flexibility are rare, according to experts.

"If you have employees who are committed to working towards their own goals and to the organization's goals, then the idea of giving them free rein on vacation time is not a big deal because they are going to be able to regulate their own progress," says Mark Frame, a workplace psychologist from the Middle Tennessee State University.

This sort of model is not a one-size-fits-all policy — some companies have different cultures, which may clash with this flexibility. For example, it might not work for a firm that has the type of employees who don't usually like to take time off. We all know that taking a break is essential to work-life balance, and not enough of you are taking full advantage of your PTO days. So I'm wondering, is this a policy you would love implemented at your company and how many days would you ideally want to take off?

by Emily Co

The fact that people will soon be able to start trading cupcake stock is a sign that cupcakes have gone above and beyond a temporary craze. Meet Pam Turkin, a woman who capitalized on the cupcake frenzy and left her marketing job to start her own chain of cupcake stores. It was definitely the right decision in her case — not only did she turn her passion into a job, but she also generated a sweet $1.6 million from her business last year.

It seems really easy when you're reading someone else's success story, but there is actually a process to creating your own job. Here's how Pam did it:

Early Observer: Pam caught on to the cupcake trend in 2008 and was one of the first to start that concept in Detroit.

Experimental Stage: She tested out recipes on people. In her case, her family members were the lucky guinea pigs.

To find out how she made cupcake magic happen, read on!

by Emily Co

Yup, you heard me right. The 2011 Volkswagon Jetta is going for $5,995 on the luxury discount site, Gilt.com, tomorrow, reports CNN. There are only three available, and each one will be sold on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. That's a great deal, because the car retails for $15,995. How do you get yours? The car will only be available via the Gilt mobile app tomorrow, and you can access the deal through your web browser at the Gilt.com website on Thursday and Friday. Who's gonna try their luck for one?

by Emily Co

Apparently December is a busy time for plastic surgeons, as people start gifting each other with cosmetic surgeries. In fact, Massachusetts-based Dr. Min S. Ahn tells CNN that December is when his schedule is the most packed because it's a good time for people to take time off and hide their surgeries. It's even busier for Dr. Ahn this holiday season due to the gradual rebound in the economy. I guess there's a correlation between cosmetic surgeries and the country's economic climate.

People can get pretty creative with trying to surprise recipients with their surgery gift — this one guy apparently put breast implants in a box for his wife under a Christmas tree! This is certainly not your ordinary holiday present; how would you feel if someone gave you some plastic surgery for Xmas?

by POPSUGAR Moms

Americans worry about their kids becoming the best and the brightest, but for some Cambodian children school isn't an option. Education is free, but many impoverished families cannot pay the $20 a year for their youngster's uniform and supplies. CNN reported:

Cambodia is one of the poorest nations in the world, where about 40 percent of the population of 14.7 million live off less than $1.25 a day, according to World Bank.

The Ponheary Ly Foundation is trying to change that. Started by Ponheary Ly, a Cambodian teacher and tour guide, and Lori Carlson, a Texan who met Ly while vacationing, the charity benefits thousands of children.

by babysugar

There's nothing as pure as a newborn! But would mama be shocked to learn the babe's cord blood already showed traces of more than 200 potentially hazardous chemicals before he had ever left the delivery room? From the much talked about BPA to PBDEs and Methylmercury, today's tots are exposed to more toxins than ever before they even arrive.

Beginning tonight, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta hosts Toxic America, a two-part investigation of the toxins people are exposed to on a daily basis. The second half of the series focuses on children, including an interview with Healthy Child, Healthy World founders Jim and Nancy Chuda about new research linking early exposure to harmful chemicals with obesity, autism, ADHD, lower IQ, sexual reproduction issues, cancer, and more.

by POPSUGAR Fitness

Kids aren't the only ones going to "fat camps" these days. Billed in kinder terms as weight loss resorts, spas, or retreats, CNN reports that attendance has taken off amongst overweight and obese adults too. And while it used to be a women's only sort of zone, more men are signing up. In 2007, men made up 30 to 40 percent of customers to these types of facilities.

The article speculates that shows like The Biggest Loser have helped the upward trend of adult weight loss retreats. (Coincidentally, The Biggest Loser has its own adult weight loss resort.) But the help doesn't come cheap. Taking part in one of these programs will cost you $2,000 to $7,000 per week, and while their methods of weight loss may vary — some focus on outdoor activities, while others take a more clinical approach — the underlying idea is the same. The retreats create a controlled environment that centers around "exercise, healthy meals, and lifestyle education" to help adults drop the pounds.

To find out their success rates and locations, read more