FAST FOOD NATION: The Fastest Fast Food

We all know that fast food is pretty, well, fast, but one chain can now call themselves the fastest of the fast.

Wendy's can get your drive-thru food ready at an average speed of 129.75 seconds. This information comes from Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Magazine's annual Drive-Thru Performance Study of seven fast food restaurant chains in the country.

So if you're REALLY in a rush, go to Wendy's. And who has the slowest fast food? Burger King had the worst time out of seven, at 201.33 seconds on average. (ABC News)

Here's the full list:

1. Wendy's − 129.75 seconds

2. Taco Bell − 149.69 seconds

3. Bojangles' − 171.61 seconds

4. Krystal − 175.94 seconds

5. McDonald's − 188.83 seconds

6. Chick-fil-A − 190.06 seconds

7. Burger King − 201.33 seconds

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS

Celebs with birthdays today: Dale Earnhardt Junior, Brett Favre, Tanya Tucker, David Lee Roth, Ben Vereen

ON THE TUBE

• Kelly & Michael (ABC) - Kevin James (Here Comes the Boom), Kristin Kreuk (Beauty and the Beast), musical guest The Script
• The Talk (CBS) - Jennifer Esposito (Blue Bloods), guest co-host Mary McCormack, musical guest Jackie Evancho,
• The View (ABC) - Marcia Cross, guest co-host Michael Symon
• Ellen DeGeneres (NBC) - Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), pundit Rachel Maddow, musical guest Joshua Radin
• David Letterman (CBS) - Salma Hayek (Here Comes the Boom), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), musical guest KISS
• Jay Leno (NBC) - Chelsea Handler, opera legend Placido Domingo
• Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Will Arnett (Up All Night), Chris Elliott (How I Met Your Mother), Dwight Yoakam
• Strap on your crossbow for the series premiere of Arrow on the CW.
• Be sure to check your smoke alarm before you tune into the series premiere of Chicago Fire on NBC.
• Throw on your cowboy boots for the series premiere of Nashville on ABC.

One in four vets say they they've treated a dog for this very human problem. What is it?

ANSWER: Being drunk.

Whether it’s a new thriller like Sinister, a foreign flick like the Korean thriller The Host, or a tried and true classic like Psycho, scary movie season is upon us … and they’re the best.

MELLOW IN YELLOW

Actress Amber Tamblyn decided to go non-traditional for her recent wedding to David Cross. She arrived to the ceremony by canoe ... and wearing a canary yellow dress. We've heard of brides wearing pink to their wedding, even black, but yellow is pretty unique. (UsMagazine.com)

SAY IT ISN'T SO ... 

Snooki has announced plans to launch her own maternity line. Yep, now all you pregnant women, and soon to be pregnant women, can breathe a sigh of relief ... inappropriate leopard print, club style maternity clothes will be available to you in no time at all! You'll really make a "statement" at your baby shower in a Snooki designed maternity dress. Don't forget the stilletos! (Stir)
 

SWEATY CITY

If you live to walk around all day in sweatpants, you may benefit from a change of scenery.

May we suggest Philadelphia?

It turns out that the City of Brotherly Love is the highest ranking city … when it comes to sweatpants.

A new study shows that the people of Philly wear more sweat suits than any other city in the nation. Congrats on being comfy! (The Frisky)
 

WINE MYTHS

There’s nothing more relaxing than a nice glass of wine at the end of the day.

But some of us don’t enjoy drinking wine as much as we could – because we get too caught up in the "rules" of wine drinking.

Here are a couple wine myths to help you navigate your way through the grape stuff ...

• Red wine with red meat, white wine with fish and poultry – This rule of thumb came from a time when food was simpler and less fusion-based. Nowadays, food is more complicated and the rule is – drink whichever wine you enjoy most.
   
• The 15 minute rule – When it comes to wine temp, use this as a guide: Take the white wine out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving and put the red wine IN the fridge 15 minutes before serving. 
   
• Pair sweet wines with dessert – Again, this is a matter of taste. If you like sweet wine, go ahead and have it with your creme brulee or other dessert. Then again, a good Cab goes great with chocolate. Bottom line: Drink what you like! (Huffington Post)

ON THE TUBE

• Kelly and Michael (synd) -Christopher Walken (Seven Psychopaths), Connie Britton (Nashville), Rick Springfield
• The Talk (CBS) - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Nick Cannon
• The View (ABC) - Talking head Bill O'Reilly
• Ellen DeGeneres (synd) - Matthew Perry (Go On), Justin Bartha (The New Normal)
• Katie Couric (ABC) - Hoops legend Magic Johnson, former supermodel Kathy Ireland
• Conan O'Brien (TBS) - Mila Kunis, Joel Stein (repeat)
• Jon Stewart (Comedy) - Ben Affleck (Argo)
• David Letterman (CBS) - Kevin James (Here Comes the Boom), Chris Elliott (How I Met Your Mother), musical guest Miguel
• Jay Leno (NBC) - Tyler Perry, musical guest Plain White T's
• Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) - Megan Mullally (Smashed), Dancing With the Stars castoff
• Stephen Colbert (Comedy) - Morrissey
• Craig Ferguson (CBS) - Jeremy Irons, Monica Potter (repeat)
• Jimmy Fallon (NBC) - Christopher Walken (Seven Psychopaths), Pete Townshend, music guest Jens Lekman
• Tune into all the music and violence on the BET Hip-Hop Awards.
• BET has the series premiere of reality spinoff Keyshia and Daniel: Family First.
• Because you can't get enough Dance Moms, Lifetime brings us the premiere of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.
• James Franco and Marina Abramovic are in focus on the sixth season premiere of Sundance's Iconoclasts.

FOOD & DRINK: Flu Foods

The flu is a nasty virus to shake, but, luckily, the food bloggers at Yahoo have your hook-up to foods that can help you feel better, faster. 

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 Foods to Eat When You Have the Flu:

1. Popsicles: Not only do they soothe a scratchy throat, they also keep you hydrated. Opt for icy treats made from 100% fruit juice so you’re not sucking on sugar water.
    
2. Turkey sandwich: Turkey is listed as a “good, lean protein [that’s] essential to solid nutrition.” Plus, it has the amino acid tryptophan, which can have the affect of a sleep aid.
    
3. Vegetable or fruit juice: Because the last thing you want to do is slave over a salad bowl when you’re sick, Yahoo suggests sipping on veggie or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated and load-up on immune boosting antioxidants.
    
4. Chicken soup: Studies show it can help improve the ability of cells in nasal passages protect the body from bacteria.
    
5. Garlic: Apparently it has immune-stimulating properties, and it may help relieve congestion.
    
6. Ginger: Munching on ginger may help fight stomach inflammation.
    
7. Hot tea: Green, oolong and black tea have disease-fighting antioxidants, and the steam can help relieve congestion.
    
8. Bananas: They’re part of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast), which consists of the first foods doctors encourage people to eat when they’re getting over the stomach flu.
    
9. Toast or crackers: Munching something crunchy can take the edge off hunger when your stomach can’t handle much, and it’s also part of the BRAT diet.
    
10. Meal replacement drinks: Opt for low-sugar, lactose-free drinks with at least six grams of protein to make sure you’re getting vital nutrients.

PAULA ABDUL: Appearing on Dancing With the Stars

Paula Abdul will serve as a guest judge on Monday's episode of Dancing With the Stars. She'll critique and score the All-Star couples on their dance routines along with judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

NICOLE KIDMAN: Never Felt Comfortable with Tom Cruise

Nicole Kidman is an Academy Award winning actress. How do we know? She spent ten years with Tom Cruise, all the time appearing on the red carpet to be happily married.

Now, she tells Harper’s Bazaar (in the November issue) that she never felt comfortable around Tom. Kidman says (quote) “It was like, ‘I’m here and I’m clutching onto your arm, and it all feels a little overwhelming and really strange.’ And I was shy. Deeply shy. I didn’t feel comfortable at all.”

Keith Urban, her current husband, has changed that way of thinking. Kidman says the American Idol judge makes her feel confident and more sexual.

KIM KARDASHIAN: 'Very Upset' Over Pregnancy

NFL running back Reggie Bush is expecting a child with his girlfriend Lilit Avagyan. Now, Radar Online is reporting that Kim Kardashian is devastated by the news.

According to Radar, Kardashian considers Reggie her one true love (never mind that she’s currently dating Kanye West).

A source close to Kardashian claims she always believed that they’d eventually get back together and be happily ever after. The source added (quote) “She feels it is a slap in the face that Reggie would consider having a baby with this woman when he wouldn't with her. Kim had pressured Reggie for a very long time to get married while they were together because she wanted to have a family with him. Reggie just thought that Kim placed too much of a priority on her fame and reality television though and he wanted none of it.”

TOM CRUISE, MATT DAMON: Spanked

Matt Damon and Tom Cruise each got a good spanking Saturday night in London, according to the New York Post.

Cruise was one of the celebs on hand for Matt's 42nd birthday party at a swanky London club. Also there were Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton and party organizer John Krasinski. And according to the Post, all the stars got paddled on the rear end by a cross-dressing hostess.

Since it was Matt's birthday, he got a little extra attention. A source says, "They all had a fantastic night enjoying the shows and partying till the end."

INTERNET FIND

Finally, a porn site for cats. Check out BarelyFeral.tumblr.com.

SUSAN BOYLE: Stand and Deliver

Susan Boyle is looking for some applause with a new studio album titled Standing Ovation.

The reclusive singer has set a November 20th release for the collection, which features a pair of duets with onetime teen idol Donny Osmond. Susan says, "Creating this album was a joy and came very naturally, as I knew the songs and could identify with the characters in the studio.  Recording with Donny on two songs was a dream come true. Working with him was awesome, and I learned so much from him as a performer and a person. Being in the studio with him was without doubt the best day ever -- it wasn't work!"

JERRY SANDUSKY: 30 to 60 Years

Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison this morning in Pennsylvania for his convictions in his child molestation case.

The 68-year-old Sandusky was facing up 400 years in prison for abusing 10 boys over 15 years, but Judge John Cleland said even with this sentence, he'll be in prison "for the rest of your life."

Sandusky again insisted that he's innocent, saying, "I didn't do these alleged disgusting acts."

Source: NBC News

CEE LO GREEN: Christmas on the Tube

Cee Lo Green is heading to your home for the holidays -- in a TV special that he's taping this week in Los Angeles.

The round mound of sound will be joined by his fellow judges on The Voice, as well as nearly 20 of the singers he's mentored over the course of the show's three seasons. NBC has yet to announce an air date for the special, which is tentatively set to share the title of his upcoming holiday album, Cee Lo Green's Magic Moment. That disc is set for release on October 30th.

NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

Only one-third of the jobs in this profession are held by women -- but that's still 10 times as many as in 1970. What is it?
ANSWER:

LADY GAGA: Getting Tricky With Wiki Guy

Lady Gaga took a break from her Born This Way Ball tour this week for a night with one of the few people out there who's made as many headlines as her -- WikiLeaks main man Julian Assange.

Gaga met with Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he's living to avoid extradition to Sweden -- which wants to try him on sexual assault charges that some say are politically motivated. Gaga didn't reveal what the two talked about during their five hours together on Monday night, but she did Tweet a photo of them posing together -- Assange in street clothes, and Gaga in a witch's hat.

RIHANNA, NICKI MINAJ: Lead AMA Nominees (audio)

Rihanna and Nicki Minaj lead the list of nominees for this year's American Music Awards, which ABC will televise live from Los Angeles on November 18th.

Nicki and RiRi each snagged four nominations, with Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5 and One Direction notching three apiece. Katy Perry and Rihanna join Drake, The Bieb and Maroon 5 in the much coveted Artist of the Year category.

The ceremony will feature several performances, including one by comeback kid Christina Aguilera.

• Justin Bieber
• Drake
• Maroon 5
• Katy Perry
• Rihanna

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Fun
• Gotye
• Carly Rae Jepsen
• One Direction

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

• Justin Bieber
• Flo Rida
• Pitbull
• Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

• Kelly Clarkson
• Nicki Minaj
• Katy Perry
• Rihanna

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK

• Fun
• Maroon 5
• One Direction
• The Wanted

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY

• Adele
• Kelly Clarkson
• Train

WEIRD NEWS: One Dollar, No Sense

A Pennsylvania man tried to get a lot of bang for a buck, by staging a bank robbery to steal just one dollar – in order to have himself sent to a prison near his home.

Jeffrey McMullen walked into a bank where he was a regular customer and slipped a teller a note saying that he demanded one buck, only to be laughed off and sent to another window – where he tried again and got laughed off a second time. Eventually, one of the bank's employees handed him a dollar from her purse, but he insisted on being taken into federal custody.

He got part of that wish granted when local police arrived to take him in on a psychiatric hold to determine why he wanted to go to prison so badly. (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

RELATIONSHIPS: Is Marriage on the Way Out?

A new British survey has found that married couples will be a minority by the year 2050.

Phone Topics:

• Is this a bad thing? If so, why?
   
• What problems do you think will arise because so many couples are breaking the tradition of marriage? Do you think it can be – or will be – harmful to children? In what ways?
   
• Do you believe the concept of marriage is outdated and no longer necessary to having a happy and healthy family? Not necessary at all? Do you think it serves any purpose? (Telegraph)

THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Facebook’s New “Want” Button

For those of us who aren’t sharp enough to express our wants, desires and opinions through our own words on Facebook, there’s good news!

Facebook is testing a new “want” button that will really let us express ourselves.

Sure, the “like” button is one thing. We might really “like” the smell of buttered popcorn – but we really don’t “want” to smell like buttered popcorn all the time.

On the other hand, the new “want” button will let us tell all our friends what we really want.

Don’t look now, but it looks like Facebook is moving toward being a full-blown online store, with wishlists being public to your friends, basically turning your page into one big gift registry. (Forbes)

SESAME STREET: Asks Obama to Pull Ad

Mitt Romney injected Big Bird into the presidential race last week, but the makers of Sesame Street have no interest in President Obama's latest campaign ad.

The tongue-in-cheek spot suggests that Romney finds Big Bird to be a bigger threat to our economy than the likes of Bernie Madoff. But Sesame Workshop isn't amused. It has released a statement saying, "We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down. Sesame Workshop is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns."

Source: TMZ

WEIRD NEWS: A Sign of Trouble

Cops saw a bad sign when they responded to the site of a street brawl between a man and a sign – a stop sign, to be precise.

A passer-by called cops after spotting Raymond Garcia engaged in a one-sided boxing match with a street corner stop sign, but when officers stepped in to stop the fight, Garcia kept punching – and continued to duke it out even after being tasered and pepper-sprayed.

The reaction, or lack of reaction, led a police spokesperson to say, "This person had to be on some sort of drug possibly that was not allowing his system to react normally."

Officers were finally able to subdue Garcia and he was jailed on charged of aggravated assault against a peace officer and resisting arrest. (UPI)

HALLOWEEN: At What Age Did You Start Dressing Your Child for Halloween?

Halloween is a big deal for school age kids, but what about the younger ones?

SARAH PALIN: Writing a Fitness Book

Recent photos of Sarah Palin looking extremely thin have caused a bit of stir. But the former Alaska governor tells People magazine that she's fine and is, in fact, working on a fitness book.

The 48-year-old says, "Our family is writing a book on fitness and self-discipline focusing on where we get our energy and balance as we still eat our beloved homemade comfort foods! We promise you what we do works and allows a fulfilling quality of life and sustenance anyone can enjoy."

No word on a title or when the book will be published.

WEIRD NEWS: Garden's Gone to Pot

A pair of green thumbs nearly netted an elderly British couple a pair of orange jumpsuits – after cops patrolling their neighborhood found a gigantic marijuana plant growing in their yard.

The retirees insist they had no idea what kind of crop they'd been tending since buying the plant at a garage sale some time back, but they clearly knew their way around the growing process – since the police said it was the biggest specimen they'd ever seen.

No charges were filed in the matter, and cops used the town's Twitter account to complement them on "careful tending" of the plant over the years. (Orange News)

TIPS: Cut Your Primping Time in the Morning

Does it seem like there is never enough time to get ready for work in the morning? No matter how early you wake up, you're still running out the door, breakfast and coffee in hand, make-up half done, and hair still damp from your shower. Cut your primping time with these tips and never be late again:

1. Speed dry your hair: After showering, wrap your hair in a super absorbent towel and go about getting dressed and having breakfast. This will give your bathroom time to dehumidify, which is the enemy of a smooth blowout. Plus, your hair will be almost dry by the time you are ready to style!
    
2. Do your makeup faster by choosing easy-to-use products: Don't line your eyes with the liquid liner that you use on special occasions when you can take your time, or the concealer and foundation that takes time to set ... choose a simple, day look with easy to use products to cut application time in half. 
    
3. Choose an easy, healthy breakfast that doesn't require preparation: Low fat Greek yogurt with a high fiber cereal and some berries is a perfect meal that takes no time to prepare.
    
4. Pick out your clothes the night before: Don't waste time finding something to wear. Organize an outfit, including the accessories, the night before so you don't have to waste time looking in the morning. (RealSimple)

HALLOWEEN: 13 Creative Carving Tips

Tired of carving the same old zipper grin on your pumpkin every Halloween? Buzzfeed.com has a list of “13 Brilliant Pumpkin Carving Hacks” to help you land the most creative jack-o-lantern in the neighborhood:

1. Cut the top and a section in the back in one piece: It makes for easier scraping, and it’s easier to put a candle inside.

2. Use dry erase markers instead of Sharpies: So you can correct mistakes before you carve your design.

3. Use a cookie cutter and a mallet: To hammer out designs in fun cookie cutter shapes.

4. Trace a stencil with a nail or a tack: To help with accuracy in your design.

5. Use glow sticks in place of candles: For multi-colored jack-o-lanterns.

6. Make holes with a power drill: It makes for a cool Lite-Brite effect.

7. Use glow-in-the-dark paint and masking tape: For the those who don’t want to mess with pumpkin guts and knives, use glow-in-the-dark paint and tape to make a one-of-a-kind creation.

8. Try fishnet stockings: Pumpkins look sexy when covered in cool fishnet patterns.

9. Preserve with floor cleaner: To keep the inside of the pumpkin from rotting.

10. Give them teeth: Insert plastic “bubba” teeth for a redneck pumpkin.

11. Use it as a punch bowl: Hollow it out, put a bowl inside, and fill with your beverage of choice.

12. Turn it into a keg: It’s perfect for storing beer at a Halloween party.

13. Skip the pumpkins and go with milk jugs: No carving required! Just fill the milk jug with twinkle lights!

TRENDING NOW

Hulk Hogan’s sex-tape partner and Big Bird’s political trouble are trending on Twitter and Google.

• Sesame Street: The foundation behind Sesame Street has asked that President Obama's spoof ad featuring Big Bird be taken down.
• Mitt Romney: Mitt has attacked Obama's Big Bird ad, saying on Tuesday, "These are tough times with real serious issues, you have to scratch your head when the president spends the last week talking about saving Big Bird.”
• Heather Clem: She's the woman in the Hulk Hogan sex tape, the estranged wife of his best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge, who gave Hogan his blessing to sleep with her.
• Red Bull Stratos: Skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s free-fall from the edge of space was postponed on Tuesday over wind concerns. A new date for the 23-mile drop has not been set.
• Frank Ocean: He recently hits the studio to collaborate with Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams.
• Alex Karras: The 77-year-old NFL great and actor is near death with kidney failure.

KIM & KANYE: Hunting for Love Nest

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are ready to shack up, and they plan to do it in style.

The two are said to be looking for a love nest in Miami, because they both love the city. TMZ says Kim and Kanye checked out four homes Monday -- all waterfront properties ranging between $7 and $10 millon.

TOP TWEETS

Presidential politics dominate celebrity tweets.

• Joy Behar: “The latest polls say women are tilting toward Romney. Ladies, ladies -- since when do we break up with a guy after one bad performance?"
• Lisa Lampanelli: “Tanning Mom challenges Octomom to boxing match. This could be the lamest match-up since the first presidential debate.”
• Donald Trump: "Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin, watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate."
• Roseanne Barr: “Democrats work for right-wing banksters too -- the fact that they've done nothing to fix the broken voting system that elected Bush proves it.”
• Ricky Gervais: “I'm Team Adam Levine, but my favorite thing about The Voice is Cee Lo Green dressing as a different character from Angry Birds each week.”
• Britney Spears: “I am both honored and humbled to take part in the Grammy salute to Whitney Houston on Thursday...She'll always be one of my heroes.”
• Steve Martin: “Soon to release my new ‘App’ app. It’s an app that represents an app. Right now, will only be for Android.”
• Rainn Wilson: "I have so much to learn about humble-bragging, but I'm getting there."
• Jeffrey Ross: "Re-tweet if you are kayaking to Nyack while listening to The Knack.”
• Craig Ferguson: “Leaving NYC. Boo. Taking highway to Hershey, PA. Maybe later take the steamer to Cleveland with my pal Sanchez."

MITT ROMNEY: Says Abortion Legislation Isn't Part of His Agenda

Mitt Romney claimed that abortion legislation isn't part of his agenda, but if elected president he would ban federally funded non-profit organizations from offering abortions in other countries.

Romney made the claim Tuesday in a meeting with the editorial board of The Des Moines Register, saying, "There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."

Yet he admitted if elected president -- not by legislation but by executive order -- he would reinstate what's known as the Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. funds from being used to do abortions in other countries, he said. President Obama dropped the policy on his 10th day in the White House.

An Obama spokeswoman in Iowa, Erin Seidler, slammed Romney's statement, saying, "Mitt Romney is not telling the truth about his positions. He's said he would appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn [Roe vs. Wade]. Romney may try to change his image four weeks before Election Day, but can't change the fact that women can't trust him."

Source: DesMoinesRegister.com

WHITNEY HOUSTON: TV Tribute with Halle & Britney

CBS has scheduled a one-hour tribute to the late Whitney Houston. The singer’s soaring career but tragic death will be honored with the help of celebrities like Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Usher, Celine Dion, Yolanda Adams, Cece Winans and Jennifer Hudson.

The show is scheduled for November 13. The complete title is “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston”. It features exclusive interviews, and never-before-seen footage including highlights of Houston's Grammy performances.