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U.S. Black Friday Shoppers Beat Last Year's Pace

Black Friday sales were little changed, rising 0.3 percent, from last year, as U.S. retailers’ efforts to lure customers by opening early failed, ShopperTrak said.

The early holiday sales and promotions boosted sales and traffic for the first two weeks of this month through Nov. 13 by 6.1 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, ShopperTrak said in a statement on its Website.

Shoppers nationwide spent $10.69 billion yesterday, Bill Martin, founder of Chicago-based research firm ShopperTrak, said in the statement. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. and the traditional beginning of holiday season buying.

Hundreds of people lined up at individual stores across the U.S. to take advantage of special deals as they face down a slow economic recovery. Sears Holdings Corp. and Toys “R” Us Inc. started their Black Friday “doorbuster” sales on Thanksgiving Day to attract consumers after two years of dampened shopping enthusiasm since the recession.

do you know who is willie nelson?

Willie Nelson Biography

Singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist. Born on April 30, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. During his extensive career, Willie Nelson has written more than 2,500 songs and has released close to 300 albums. He is recognized worldwide as an American troubadour and icon, transcended musical genres, and has remained relevant through five decades through his music, his acting, and as the face of such social causes as Farm Aid, development of bio-diesel, and the legalization of Hemp.
The son of Myrle and Ira D. Nelson, Willie Nelson and his older sister Bobbie were raised by their paternal grandparents during The Great Depression. With their grandmother, Willie and Bobbie attended their town's small Methodist church where they were first exposed to music. "The first music we learned was from the hymnbooks. Willie had such a beautiful voice," his sister Bobbie told Texas Monthly in 2008. Both grandparents loved music and encouraged Willie and his sister to play. Nelson's famous gospel song "Family Bible" refects the influence of his musical beginnings. He sold the song for $50 to his guitar teacher.

Brazil forces fight Rio gangs

Gun battles continue as security forces prepare to storm another shantytown in Rio de Janeiro.
Police in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro have intensified a crackdown on drug gangs in the city's sprawling shantytowns, that has resulted in the death of at least 45 people and the detention of 192 others since the operation began last week.

Amid intermittent gunfire, security forces on Saturday were preparing to enter Alemao, another major shantytown or "favela" in the city's north, a day after troops entered Vila Cruzeiro, a neighbouring slum.

Soldiers in camouflage, black-clad police from elite units and regular police held their ground at the entrances to Alemao, a grouping of a dozen slums that climb up small slopes where more than 85,000 people live, according to the Brazilian government.

Cyber Monday 2010 Electronic Deals From Best Buy Released

The Black Friday 2010 sale is definitely over but shopping stores in the United States will have a second wave of the Thanksgiving Sale or Holiday Shopping Season Sale this weekend until next week on the Cyber Monday 2010. Several shopping stores which also participated on Black Friday are having weekend sales and Cyber Monday Deals like Best Buy, Meijer, Macy’s, Amazon, Kohl’s, eBay and more.

Willie Nelson Arrested After Pot Found on Tour Bus

Living country music legend Willie Nelson was charged with possession of marijuana after six ounces were discovered aboard his tour bus in Texas, according to a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman.Nelson's tour bus pulled into a routine checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas -- approximately 85 miles east of El Paso -- around 9 a.m. on Friday. When an officer noticed a suspicious odor coming from the bus, a search turned up the marijuana, police said.
Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West told the El Paso Times that Nelson, 77, claimed that the marijuana was his. According to police patrolman Bill Brooks, a sheriff from Hudspeth County was contacted and Nelson was among three people arrested at the scene. Nelson was held briefly and paid a $2,500 bond before being released.

Ohio State Vs. Michigan: Points Aplenty In Second Quarter

The second quarter of the 2010 Michigan-Ohio State tilt is taking on qualities resembling a football game with lurching, frustrating speed. The Buckeyes' first drive of the game that's lasted longer than three plays is slowed by a 10-yard penalty and an incomplete pass by Terrelle Pryor on 3rd-and-10. Devin Barclay kicks a 34-yard field goal, and with 14:47 remaining in the half, somebody's on the board.

Michigan goes three-and-out on three Denard Robinson plays, and Ohio State puts the ball back in Pryors' capable hands. After two fruitless plays, he first hits Taurian Washington for a 13-yard third-down conversion, then converts the next set of downs himself on an 11-yard run. A 7-yard pass to Dane Sanzenbacher nets the first touchdown of the game, and it's 10-0, Buckeyes.

American Express promotes 'Small Business Saturday'

Hoping to drum up support for independent merchants, American Express' CEO said Monday that his company will promote "Small Business Saturday" on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

 

Seth Wenig, The Associated PressKenneth Chenault, CEO of American Express, right, speaks while New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg listens during a news conference Monday on the 'Small Business Saturday' program.

"This is the start of a movement," said Kenneth Chenault, who joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a City Hall news conference to announce the effort.

Convictions upheld in Pirate Bay file-sharing case

STOCKHOLM – A Swedish appeals court on Friday upheld the copyright convictions of three men behind The Pirate Bay, a popular file-sharing site that remains in operation despite attempts by authorities to shut it down.
The Svea Appeals Court agreed with a lower court ruling that found Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundstrom guilty of helping users of the site to break Sweden's copyright law.
However, the appeals court reduced their prison sentences from one year each to between four and 10 months and raised the amount they have to pay in damages to the entertainment industry to 46 million kronor ($6.5 million).
The lower court had set damages at 32 million kronor ($4.5 million).
A fourth man convicted by the lower court, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, didn't appear in the appeals court hearings, citing illness.

Rio drug gang crackdown: police we control vila cruzeiro were not leaving

Elite police units are hunting drug gang leaders blamed for five days of violence in Rio de Janeiro.
The push into the Vila Cruzeiro shanty town left at least eight people dead and one police officer wounded, authorities said.
It is part of a police campaign to clean up Rio's drug gang-ridden slums before the city hosts the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later.

Rio’s Battle for Vila Cruzeiro Continues

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The tally continues to rise as the battle in Rio de Janeiro rages on: 23 deaths, 50 burnt vehicles and 159 injured and over 100 people arrested since Sunday. This afternoon, 150 members of the elite BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais) forces, police from the CORE (Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais) unit and thirty naval sharp shooters mobilized six armored vehicles and entered the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in Penha, a suburb of Rio.

Favela Vila Cruzeiro in Penha a neighborhood in Zona Norte, image recreation.

Many of the criminals responsible for the violence that has been raging since Sunday are said to be held up in the favela. As the police entered the fugitives set fire to tires and cars to impede their approach; but the barriers have been no match for the M113 armored vehicles, the same ones used in the war in Iraq.
Police have already apprehended 29 handguns, ten machine guns, two 12 caliber rifles, a sub-machine gun, five grenades, two home made bombs and a ton of marijuana in Wednesday’s operations, according Coronel Henrique Lima Castro, the Police spokesperson.

Prison terms of Pirate Bay executives' shortened

November 26, 2010

The defendants have said they would take the case to the Supreme Court

A Swedish appeals court Friday shortened the prison terms of two founders and a financier of Swedish filesharing site The Pirate Bay, but increased the damages to be paid to movie and music firms.

"The Appeals Court, like the district court, finds that The Pirate Bay service makes possibly illegal filesharing in a way that entails a punishable offense for those who run the service," the court said in its ruling.

Three founders of the site Peter Sunde and Fredrik Neij, both 32, and Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, 26, were in April 2009 found guilty of promoting copyright infringement with the website.

Will the Real Lizardman Please Show His Forked Tongue?

The big day is finally here.

I told you earlier how "Lizardman" Erik Sprague, a living work of art himself, was transformed into a more traditional artwork -- a wax statue.
Now, the tattooed and pierced author, philosopher and self-described freak has unveiled his own likeness.
"These guys really nailed it," Sprague, Ripley's number two act of all time, said in a press release. "It was pretty cool to unveil myself."
Four Ripley artists spent 200 hours on the likeness, including 60 hours just paining all of the Lizardman's tiny green scales.
"I can now be in two places at the same time," said Spague -- but that's not exactly true.
They're actually creating a second statue, so he'll be in three places at the same time.
The first wax Lizardman is now on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Orlando -- and the second will soon make its way to the Times Square Odditorium in New York City.
See more in my special Ripley's World of the Bizarre photo gallery... and be sure to check out my Extreme Body Modification collection.

Robber Screaming robber

BEIJING, — A man arrested after he stole the computer from the residence and neighbors yelling "thief catching" to deceive the owner's house.

As reported Xinhua, Thursday (2 / 4), one night in December, Xiong, workers from Hebei Province, stole a computer from neighboring cottages in Beijing and a mask to hide face.

When the neighbors who still slumber awakened and cried, Xiong fled, hiding in the computer where your own, then return to shanty neighbors. with the breath fast, he pretend that he helped chase the thief. The neighbors know the tactics of the thieves and the police who arrest after wet Xiong find computer theft in the residence.

Black Friday action: Malls fill with shoppers

Many Tysons Corners shops opened their doors at midnight on Thanksgiving, to allow those shoppers hunting for Black Friday deals an extra five hours of savings. Shoppers and store managers talk about the rush, their shopping lists, and the economy.

By J. Freedom du Lac, Jia Lynn Yang and Donna St. George

Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, November 26, 2010; 1:16 PM

Mall parking lots filled, traffic backed up and customers searched for discounts in the Washington region on Black Friday, as streams of shoppers supported industry predictions that consumers would come out in droves this year.

This Story

At Tysons Corner Center, there were discounts, discounts everywhere: 20, 30, 40 and 50 percent off "everything," "the entire store," "your entire purchase" until 10, 11, noon, the end of business, Sunday.
At Aeropostale, everything but the fixtures was 50 to 70 percent off, all day. "And you get one of these if you spend at least $100," a greeter explained as he held up a stuffed bear in an Aero-branded hoodie. Victoria's Secret was running a buy-one-get-one-half-off bra deal. Even White Smile was offering a Black Friday deal: half off your teeth-whitening treatment.
"I bought more than I expected to," said David Roman, a 29-year-old Washingtonian who was clutching bags in both hands, from Eddie Bauer, Express, Macy's and more. "There were a lot of good deals."
Roman figured he'd spent about $400, mostly on clothes. His friend, Emiliano Tellado, 29, racked up $500 in purchases. ("You can buy some good volume at Express," he said.)
Gifts? Not exactly. "This is for me," Roman said. "And," Tellado said, "this is all for me. I'd been meaning to do some shopping." And then Black Friday came, and they came and shopped and spent. And Tellado's wife was still spending: She was in line at Eddie Bauer, making one last buy before lunch.

Apple cuts iPad price to $458

Apple discounted several of its products on Friday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Apple holds Black Friday sale online and in retail stores
  
• The popular iPad is discounted 5 to 8 percent -- on Friday only
  
• Some computers are $101 off on Friday, too
  
• The iPad, a tablet computer, is in high demand for the holidays
  

Apple's iPad tablet computer -- one of the hottest items of the holiday shopping season -- got a price cut on the company's website Friday.

Jets Already Thinking About Patriots

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The leftovers from the Jets’ 26-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving did not have much shelf life. Even in a victorious locker room, there was less reflection and more focus on what lies ahead.

After cornerback Darrelle Revis shut down Bengals receiver Terrell Owens, the versatile Brad Smith had two long touchdowns and the defense reclaimed its snarl, the Jets quickly shifted their attention to the New England Patriots.
“There’s a lot for both teams to prove who is the best team,” Revis said. “It’s going to be big. It’s going to be fireworks. It’s going to be time to play a great game.”

Auburn-Alabama bigger than just bragging rights

AUBURN, Ala. -- The popular cliche among Auburn fans during Iron Bowl week is that it doesn’t matter whether the Tigers’ record is 11-0 or 0-11, beating Alabama defines the season.
More than just bragging rights are on the line this year, however.
The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC) have bigger goals in mind when they travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium this afternoon. At No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, their national title hopes hang in the balance.

Retail CEOs see longer Black Friday lines

Shoppers line up for Black Friday sales outside the Best Buy electronics store in Westbury, New York November 26, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton

By Dhanya Skariachan

NEW YORK | Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:25pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top U.S. retailers from Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) to Toys R Us TOY.UL saw longer shopper lines outside stores on Black Friday, raising hopes for an improved holiday selling season, their chief executives said.
"Judging from the excitement at Toys R Us at 10 p.m. (Thursday) and throughout the evening, the shopper is back," Toys R Us Chief Executive Jerry Storch told Reuters on Black Friday, the kick-off to the biggest selling season of the year.

ALL THE BLACK FRIDAY EVENTS IN THE WORLD. Maybe.

We told you there would be more, and we didn't lie. We can't go 30 seconds without a Black Friday alert popping into our e-mail.  If you're so inclined to brave the crowds at O-Dark-Thirty, be sure to check out our original post of shopping events, and our tips for surviving the rush. And then read below for the rest of the events, in store and online. By all means, if we missed any, let us have it in the comments. We'll update through the rest of the day.
Suiting up in armor now...

Harmful errors still common in U.S. hospitals: study

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Harmful errors and accidents remain common in U.S. hospitals despite a decade of efforts to improve patient safety, a study found.

According to the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the number of patients experiencing hospital acquired infections, medication errors, complications from diagnostic techniques or treatments, and other such "harms" did not change between 2002 and 2007.

Medical complications, some of which are preventable, can prove costly. The U.S. Office of the Inspector General released a report recently estimating that complications contribute to 180,000 patient deaths per year and overall, cost Medicare up to $4.4 billion annually.

Japan jury hands down death sentence to minor

 

AFP/File – People stage a rally in May 2009 against Japan's introduction of jury system in criminal trials to …

– Thu Nov 25, 6:46 am ET

TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese jurors Thursday sentenced a teenager to hang for a double murder, the first death penalty given to a minor under the nation's newly-introduced jury system, court officials said.
The 19-year-old defendant, whose name was withheld, was convicted of stabbing to death both the sister and a friend of his girlfriend at their house in Miyagi, northern Japan, in February this year.
Under Japanese law, people under 20-years-old are tried as minors.

German man demands money back for breast implants

BERLIN (Reuters Life!) – A German woman who splashed out on breast implants with a loan from her then boyfriend now fears her assets could be re-possessed after she failed to fully reimburse him, the 20-year-old woman told Bild newspaper.
Her ex-boyfriend is demanding that she return the 4,379 euros ($5,865) he gave her to pay for her breast enlargement surgery in 2009 or he'll call the police and get the repossessors involved, Bild reported on Wednesday.

India district bans cell phones for unmarried women

AFP/File – Photo illustration. A local council in northern India has banned unmarried women from carrying mobile …

– Wed Nov 24, 1:47 am ET

NEW DELHI (AFP) – A local council in northern India has banned unmarried women from carrying mobile telephones to halt a series of illicit romances between partners from different castes, media reports said Wednesday.
The Baliyan council in Uttar Pradesh state decided to act after at least 23 young couples ran away and got married over the last year against their parents' wishes.

Do you know about Thanksgiving History

Thanksgiving History – The Thanksgiving Proclamation
New York, 3 October 1789

By the President of the United States of America: a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me `to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'

Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe from Drippings

Making gravy from turkey drippings is easy.

You’ve got the turkey all done and all that’s left is to make gravy. Now’s the time to make turkey gravy from the drippings. It’s easy. The basic steps are:
1. Pour turkey drippings from your roasted turkey into a large container and let cool slightly. Skim fat from drippings and reserve. (Use a gravy separator if you have one. See video below.)
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, make a roux by combining 2 tablespoons of the skimmed fat and 2 tablespoons of flour. This is the trickiest part of the entire process. Make sure you keep stirring it so the roux doesn’t scorch.

And the Winner of the National Dog Show is.... Clooney, the Irish Setter

 

Steven Donahue / See Spot Run

Putting the "dog" in underdog, this year's winner of the National Dog Show presented by Purina -- a 3-year-old Irish setter named Clooney -- wowed the crowd with his Cinderella-story win. We talked to Clooney's handler (and roommate), Peter Kubacz, to find out how this dark horse became top dog.

Mr. Obama’s Thanksgiving Message!!!!

Friend –
When Michelle and I sit down with our family to give thanks today, I want you to know that we’ll be especially grateful for folks like you.
Everything we have been able to accomplish in the last two years was possible because you have been willing to work for it and organize for it.
And every time we face a setback, or when progress doesn’t happen as quickly as we would like, we know that you’ll be right there with us, ready to fight another day.
So I want to thank you — for everything.
I also hope you’ll join me in taking a moment to remember that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. These patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and each of us owes them and their families a debt of gratitude.
Have a wonderful day, and God bless.
Barack

Ultrasn0w For iOS 4.2.1 To Unlock iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G To Be Released On Sunday

We have some good news for folks who want to unlock their iPhone.

MuscleNerd of the iPhone Dev Team has just confirmed that the eagerly awaited unlock for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G for iOS 4.2.1 will be released on Sunday.

MuscleNerd announced the good news via the following tweet:

Good progress today…everything is on track for updated ultrasn0w by Sunday/Funday at the latest (longer for iPhone4!)

iPhone Dev team had mentioned earlier that the unlocking solution for iPhone 4 users will need more effort and were not in a position to provide any further information.

The updated version of Ultrasn0w will unlock baseband 05.14.02 that was shipped with iOS 4.1 or lower.

However, it is not clear if the updated Ultrasn0w will unlock baseband 05.15.04 that was shipped with iOS 4.2.1. So users who want to unlock their iPhone should avoid upgrading to iOS 4.2.1 for now. iPhone Dev Team had warned users immediately after iOS 4.2.1 was released:

As always, ultrasn0w unlockers please stay far far away from this official firmware (and all official firmware). Wait for the ability to create custom 4.2.1. IPSWs that don’t update your baseband!

iPhone Dev Team has already released a new version of Redsn0w to jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch 4G,iPod Touch 3G, iPad and Apple TV 2G.

As always, we’ll let you know as soon as the updated Ultrasn0w is released so stay tuned here at http://anynews-search.blogspot.com or follow us on Twitter .

Have you been waiting to unlock your iPhone? Tell us in the comments section below.

Reggie Bush returning for Saints

ARLINGTON, Texas -- New Orleans running back Reggie Bush will make his return Thursday after missing eight games with a broken leg.

Bush is on the active list and is listed as the starter, although he's likely to share time with Chris Ivory in the backfield.

Inactives for the Saints Thursday are running back Pierre Thomas, safety Matt Giordano, safety Darren Sharper, running back Ladell Betts, tackle Charles Brown, tight end Jeremy Shockey and defensive end Junior Gallette.

Sean Canfield is the third quarterback.

South Korea orders more troops to front-line

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's president ordered more troops to a front-line island and dumped his defense minister Thursday as the country grappled with lapses in its response to a deadly North Korean artillery strike.

In scenes reminiscent of the Korean War 60 years ago, dazed residents of Yeonpyeong island foraged through blackened rubble for pieces of their lives and lugged their possessions down eerily deserted streets strewn with bent metal after Tuesday's hail of artillery.
The barrage darkened skies, set off fierce blazes, killed four South Koreans and raised fears of an escalation that could lead to full-scale war.
"It was a sea of fire," resident Lee In-ku said, recalling the flames that rolled through the streets of this island that is home to military bases as well as a fishing community famous for its catches of crab.
The spit of land is just seven miles from North Korea, but had only six pieces of artillery.
Despite warnings from North Korea that any new provocation would be met with more attacks, Washington and Seoul pushed ahead with plans for military drills starting Sunday involving a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier in waters south of this week's skirmish.

Most Dangerous Cities In America-St. Louis Ranks #1

The annual listing for the most dangerous cities in the United States was just released today. St. Louis, Missouri was at the top of this years list, ranked number one.
According to the study, for every 100,000 residents, there were 2700.1 violent crimes committed in St. Louis, in 2009. 429.4 violent crimes per 100,000 residents is considered to be the national average.
Some of the other most dangerous cities to make the list were Detroit, Michigan, Flint, Michigan, and Oakland, California. So where is the safest city in America? That would be Colonie, New York. Colonie has had the honor of the safest city with a population over 75,000 for the second year in a row.
The FBI calculates the rankings of the cities with population and crime data that they gather. The FBI stated that often times the rankings are unfair, and does not endorse them.

The Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities In America

Sunday School: Vince Young, Richard Seymour Deserve Detention

Vince Young and Richard Seymour starred in the NFL's most recent episode of "NFL Players Behaving Immaturely."

Both talented players embarrassed themselves and hurt their teams with displays of non-professionalism from guys who call themselves professionals.

Seymour's action will have a shorter shelf life, though it was a did-you-see-that moment. Young's decisions will reverberate for a long time -- because his actions doom somebody's future in Tennessee.

It's a stunning tumble for a guy who was so brilliant in that national championship game win over USC. Remember the vision of Young standing amidst the confetti after his dramatic win? That vision is replaced by a guy who threw his shoulder pads into the stands in a post-game snit worthy of Guinness (the book, not the beverage).

Novell to Be Bought by Attachmate for $2.2 Billion

Novell Chief Executive Officer Ron Hovsepian. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

Play Video

Nov. 22 (Bloomberg) - Bob Rice, managing partner at Tangent Capital Partners LLC, talks about the possibility of Google Inc. acquiring the coupon company Groupon Inc. Rice, speaking with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop," also discusses social-media trends and Novell Inc.'s agreement to be bought by Attachmate Corp. for $2.2 billion in cash. (Source: Bloomberg)

Prince William Composite Squadron supports Wreaths Across America

Credit: Submitted photo

Members of the Prince William Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol who participated in a recent fundraiser that benefited Wreaths Across America at Chik-Fil-A on Signal Hill in Manassas include (front row, left to right) Lt. Nancy Carlson, Lt. Pamela Smith, Cadet Mary Claire Rose, Cadet Elena Shriner, (back row, left to right) Capt. Al Bergeron, Lt. David Rose, Lt. Col. William Draper, Maj. Jim Uzzle and Lt. Col. Tim Carey.

MANASSAS, Va. - The Civil Air Patrol, Prince William Composite Squadron in collaboration with Chick Fil-A on Signal Hill in Manassas, held a fundraiser benefiting Wreaths Across America Nov. 13. Patrons visiting Chick-Fil-A between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. were given the opportunity to sponsor wreaths of their choice at over 410 state, national, and local cemeteries across the country.

2010 Walmart Black Friday Ads Leaked Online: Gadgets Galore!

A lot of people are getting ready on the upcoming Black Friday 2010 on November 26. They want some deals that could satisfy their cravings for the best items on sale. Various retailers are expected to participate in this biggest sale such as Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Kmart, Sears, Costco, Toys R Us, Kohls, Macys, and others. As early as now, a lot of people are looking for Black Friday 2010 ads that leaked in the internet to know their schedule in order to grab different items as early as possible when they come on sale.

For Walmart, their Black Friday 2010 Ads are supposed to be revealed online no earlier than November 21 however, a website posted an ad scan of the so called hot deals from Walmart for Black Friday 2010. Some of these deals seems to be so cool that as soon as someone sees the scan the whole internet is bombarded by searches for the Walmart Black Friday 2010 ads.

So what does these Walmart Black Friday ad scan says? According to reports that we have gathered and based on repostings done on Facebook and Twitter some of the cool sales to watch from Walmart includes an 8 GB iPod Touch for $225 with free $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Also, there is a sale on an Emerson 42-inch HDTV for $398. These two main ads are featured on the front page of the 24-page scanned Walmart Black Friday 2010 ads.

Above is one of the leaked pages of the Walmart Black Friday 2010 ads. Besides from those mentioned above, we have also scouted from the same leaked ads that there will be a sale on eMachine 15.6″ laptop for only $198. This laptop has an Intel Celeron processor with 2.2Ghz speed and with WiFi capability and a CD/DVD included. Another sweet deal from Walmart is the Samsung Dual View PL100 Digital Camera with dual LCD screens which will be selling for only $99.

I wonder if the Walmart Black Friday 2010 Ads are really leaked or Walmart just to create a hype and buzz. The Black Friday 2010 ads of other retailers like Target, Macy’s and Best Buy were also said to have leaked on the internet however I greatly doubt that.

For those who are looking for best and sweetest deals this Black Friday 2010 check out our latest update and always do your research. We are also mentioning now to not expect a sale of items like Apple new products and Sony Playstation Move since they are selling like hotdogs at their original rates. In the mean time, let’s just wait for the official Black Friday 2010 ads from Walmart.

Do you want to get the latest and best 2010 Black Friday deals? Subscribe to Black Friday Planet now and get the sweetest deals and latest ads for free straight to your e-mail!

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One

Seventh chapter in wizard saga is a dark and dangerous affair

 

Friends, left to right, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) face the perils of life outside Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. (Warner Bros. Pictures) As fun as the broom rides, dragon fights and Quidditch matches have been, all along, the real magic at work in J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series is the harrowing metamorphosis from child to adult. And my, how the heroes have grown in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, the penultimate film in the series.

Now grim-faced young adults, Harry, Ron and Hermione wander a beautiful, bleak British wilderness awaiting their last reckoning with Lord Voldemort.

Gone are the cozy comforts of Hogwarts School — its benevolent headmaster, Dumbledore, is dead and buried. Instead, Harry the Chosen One (Daniel Radcliffe) and his stalwart best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), now grim-faced young adults, wander a beautiful, bleak British wilderness awaiting their last reckoning with the serpent-faced Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, as sleekly evil as ever).
More a mood piece than an action movie, though there are plenty of genuinely scary thrills, Deathly Hallows is brought to life by director David Yates with a lush, smouldering confidence. Dividing Rowling’s sprawling, 700-plus-page book into two —the final film instalment is due next summer — may have been inspired as much by Hollywood greed as narrative necessity, but the result is visually sumptuous and emotionally resonant.

Opening with the Ministry of Magic on the brink of collapse, Voldemort’s emboldened Death Eaters commit terror attacks on wizards and muggles alike. In the hope of keeping Harry alive, his comrades in the Order of the Phoenix engineer a daring retreat to a safe house, with seven of them disguised as decoy Harrys to throw off the scent of the boy wizard’s magical “trace.” He barely escapes, the Order is scattered, and soon after, the government is reduced to a propaganda machine designed to discredit and ultimately eradicate “mudbloods” — witches and wizards of human origin.
In the books, Rowling draws heavily from Second World War and Holocaust imagery. Yates and cinematographer Eduardo Serra layer in references to the dystopian worlds of 1984 and The Road. These are the darkest of dark days: misinformation abounds, gangs of thugs scour the streets and countryside for Potter sympathizers, and Voldemort’s followers torture and murder innocents with gleeful impunity.

As always, an honour roll of veteran British talent is on hand to support the main cast. This time out, the embarrassment of witches includes regulars Helena Bonham Carter as the sadistic Bellatrix Lestrange and Alan Rickman as the possibly treacherous Severus Snape, alongside Imelda Staunton, Robbie Coltrane, David Thewlis, Bill Nighy and Rhys Ifans. The performances by Radcliffe, Grint and Watson feel richer for their having been watched transform into adults over the last 10 years. (It’s gratifying to see that in real life, these actors have become gracious, funny, unspoiled twentysomethings — unlikely to lose track of their panties or get arrested for snorting cocaine off a stripper.)
The three best friends set off to search for horcruxes — the talismans into which Voldemort has secreted bits of his soul. For Harry, Ron and Hermione, everyone they love is either dead or gone underground — they have no one to rely on but each other. Overcome by their predicament, tensions fester and eventually explode. While Harry has been the boy wonder from the start, this instalment in the series is as much Hermione and Ron’s story as his. Grint gets to show off Ron’s simmering resentment, while Hermione has matured into a resourceful, courageous heroine.


In one of the film’s most moving set pieces, Ron deserts his friends in a fit of rage. To console the heartbroken Hermione, Harry leads her in a goofy dance, while Nick Cave’s haunting O Children crackles in the background on a transistor radio. It’s one of the few scenes in the slavishly faithful film series not written by Rowling herself, and yet it feels deeply authentic. No longer kids, but not quite adults, the pair share a moment of not-entirely-platonic connection that captures the entirety of their shared history, as well as all the future and potential that’s at stake in their impending showdown with Voldemort.
At this point, Yates and longtime screenwriter Steve Kloves have earned the divergence from the source material. Another assured cinematic flourish includes the recounting of the wizard legend The Deathly Hallows, told through an elegantly creepy animated sequence of shadow puppets. While each film has been increasingly dark and challenging, this is the first one that fully transcends the kiddie-movie label. If only more adult films were crafted with as much heart.
This, of course, is just the set-up for the final chapter. In its aching, anxious meandering, the movie feels a lot like the way station of late adolescence: a time when nothing much and absolutely everything happens.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One opens on Nov. 18.

Harry Potter leak blasted by Warner Bros.

LOS ANGELES (anynews-search.blogspot.com) -- The latest installment of the Harry Potter saga conjured a box office win on its opening weekend.

A scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 with, from left, Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Bonnie Wright and David Thewlis. A 36-minute chunk of the film has been leaked online just ahead of the film's worldwide release. (Warner Bros. Pictures) Hollywood studio Warner Bros. is fighting off a real-life nemesis as the penultimate film of the Harry Potter teen wizard series begins screening at theatres around the globe — namely an online file-sharing site that has posted a large chunk of leaked footage.
A 36-minute excerpt of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was "stolen and illegally posted on the internet" earlier this week, Warner Bros. said in a statement.
"This constitutes a serious breach of copyright violation and theft of Warner Bros. property. We are working actively to restrict and/or remove copies that may be available. Also, we are vigorously investigating this matter and will prosecute those involved to the full extent of the law."
The film, the first of a two-part finale based on J.K. Rowling's final Harry Potter novel, opened in some European theatres on Thursday and continues to unspool at cinemas around the globe through Friday.
Industry watchers have predicted a blockbuster opening weekend that could set new records for the hit franchise.
The first six films have earned more than $5.4 billion US at the global box office, according to the box office revenue tracking website Box Office Mojo. The book series has sold more than 400 million copies and been translated into more than 65 languages.
Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. U.S. distribution chief, forecast that the film's box office will surpass $100 million US during the opening weekend in Canada and the U.S. alone.
"This one is heading north of $100 million," he told Reuters, adding that he believes it will also be the first Harry Potter film to make more than $1 billion US worldwide.
The second half of the final tale is slated for release on July 15, 2011.
Harry Potter stars, from left, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, are seen at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in London on Nov. 11. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)

Philadelphia Marathon: 17th Annual Race Begins Sunday With 11,000 Runners

Nov 19, 2010 - The third Sunday of November doesn't just mean we're four days from Thanksgiving -- it's also the yearly date of the Philadelphia Marathon, and 2010 is no different.

The 17th annual Philadelphia Marathon begins Sunday at 7 a.m. ET, at 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklink Parkway (near the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Roughly 11,000 runners are expected to attempt the 26.2 mile course that winds through the heart of the city -- "Center City to Penn's Landing, University City, and Manayunk before winding along Kelly Drive and back to the Art Museum."

Last year's race was won by John Crews of Raleigh, NC, in 2:17:15. Jutta Merilainen (Ontario, Canada) won the women's division in 2:46:44. But this year, the course has changed and is now flatter. And flatter means faster.

"They changed the course this year, taking out one of the hills, so the times should be lower," said [last year's third-place finisher, Karl] Savage, who instead will run in the half marathon that goes off at the same time as the 26.2-mile race.

"This course is mostly flat and fast," Savage said, "so runners in good shape should really do well."

The weekend's festivities begin Saturday, with the Rothman Institute 8K at 7:30 A.M. There's also a Verizon Kids Fun Run and the Health & Fitness Expo at Pennsylvania Convention Center Hall D.

For more coverage, visit SB Nation Philadelphia, as well as the Philadelphia Marathon's official site.

Richard Seymour Ejected for Punching Ben Roethlisberger: Video

In the first half of what has been an extremely physical and chippy game between the Steelers and Raiders, Richard Seymour was ejected for hitting Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with an open-hand slap to the jaw following a Roethlisberger-to-Emmanuel Sanders touchdown pass, which gave the Steelers a 21-3 lead.

Following the touchdown, there was a scuffle near the line of scrimmage -- as there was after many plays in the first half -- and as Roethlisberger stepped in to the middle of it, Seymour hit him in the jaw area, knocking Roethlisberger to the ground.

Seymour was instantly ejected.

The Steelers were penalized eight times for 103 yards in the first half, including a borderline roughing the passer call on LaMarr Woodley. Given the way the NFL has attempted to protect players, especially the quarterbacks, this season from blows to the head, it should be interesting to see how the the league handles this incident. If a routine roughing the passer penalty results in a fine, what will be the result of a play that led to an ejection?

Take That Progress Review

"An ebullient, daring album which sounds more like a fresh start than a final destination."

Jaime Gill 2010-11-08

Enough has been written elsewhere about Take That's history (a humdrum tale of boys meet boys, exploitation and idolisation, dreams fulfilled and crushed, ruined friendships, success as vengeance, glorious pop and the furies of fame), so let's skip straight to the new chapter. If the title of Progress suggests the band's new sound will be a merging and evolving of Take That Mk.II and recent Robbie Williams fare, the reality is startlingly different. Progress is something entirely new – Take That Mk.III – and the strangest, most ambitious and most exciting record its creators have ever been involved in.

Taking in bombastic stadium rock, sleazy funk, up-tempo RnB, operatic techno, Bowie-esque whimsy and demented disco, Progress is most definitely not the sound of two wildly popular acts playing it safe and raking the millions in. Even the relatively conventional comeback single, The Flood, is unexpected: with its huge, widescreen production, booming drum rolls and faux-profound lyrics, it instantly makes the next U2 album redundant.

The Flood's enjoyable hokum is immediately bettered by SOS, a savage-of-bass, furiously paced disco romp with Mark Owen on gleeful lead vocals and Williams providing adrenaline-flecked back-ups. The latter sounds like he’s having a ball throughout, particularly on another Owen/Williams duet, Kidz, which exhilaratingly combines martial beats, glam guitars, Atari techno and the kind of absurd dystopian pomp ("Daggers of science evolving into violence / We're not sure where the fallout blows") usually found on Muse albums. On the space-funk of Underground Machine – the closest thing to a Williams’ solo track – he sounds more ruttingly, struttingly confident than he has in years.

Elsewhere, Progress is slightly more conventional. Pretty Things sees Williams' falsetto and Gary Barlow's hushed croon sonically merged into something uncannily like David Bowie, while its chiming keyboards, gorgeous harmonies and fluttering melodies make it an obvious single. Only one song falls flat on its face: even super-producer Stuart Price can't salvage much from Owen’s wobbly vocals and watery sentimentality on What Do You Want From Me.

What will happen next is predictable, for once: monster hit singles, eye-watering sales and a tour that will keep St John's Ambulances busier than they’ve been in years. After that? With this collection of erratic egos, who knows; but the ebullient, daring Progress sounds more like a fresh start than a final destination.