EU leaders are to begin talks on the bloc’s 2014-2020 budget, with many of them calling for cuts in line with the savings they are making nationally.
Countries that rely heavily on EU funding, including Poland and its ex-communist neighbors, want current spending levels maintained or raised.
The UK and some other net contributors say cuts have to be made. At stake are 973 billion euros ($1,245 billion).
The bargaining in Brussels will continue on Friday, or even longer.
The draft budget – officially called the 2014-2020 Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) – was drawn up by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who made cuts to the European Commission’s original plan.
France objects to the proposed cuts in agriculture, while countries in Central and Eastern Europe oppose cuts to cohesion spending – that is, EU money that helps to improve infrastructure in poorer regions.
They are the biggest budget items. The Van Rompuy plan envisages 309.5 billion euros for cohesion (32% of total spending) and 364.5 billion euros for agriculture (37.5%).
The EU budget is a small fraction of what the 27 member states’ governments spend in total.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says another summit may be necessary early next year if no deal can be reached in Brussels now.
In a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday, the EU Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, complained: “No one is discussing the quality of investments, it’s all cut, cut, cut.”
Arriving in Brussels, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: “These are very important negotiations.
“Clearly at a time when we are making difficult decisions at home over public spending it would be quite wrong, it is quite wrong, for there to be proposals for this increased extra spending in the EU.”
David Cameron, who was due to meet Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, has warned he may use his veto if other EU countries call for any rise in EU spending. The Netherlands and Sweden back his call for a freeze in spending, allowing for inflation.
Any of the 27 countries can veto a deal, and the European Parliament will also have to vote on the MFF even if a deal is reached.
Failure to agree would mean rolling over the 2013 budget into 2014 on a month-by-month basis, putting some long-term projects at risk.
If that were to happen it could leave David Cameron in a worse position, because the 2013 budget is bigger than the preceding years of the 2007-2013 MFF. So the UK government could end up with an EU budget higher than what it will accept now.
The European Commission says that the EU budget accounts for less than 2% of public spending EU-wide and that for every euro spent by the EU the national governments collectively spend 50 euros.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has spoken out for the first time about the allegations against General John R. Allen, that he had “inappropriate communications” with Florida socialite and military social liaison Jill Kelley.
General John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is under investigation for his correspondence with Kelley, who is also embroiled in the David Petraeus sex scandal.
Investigators are looking at 20,000-plus pages of documents and emails between Jill Kelley and John Allen, some of which have been described by Pentagon officials as “flirtatious”. General John Allen has denied any wrongdoing.
Leon Panetta, speaking at a news conference in Perth on Wednesday, cautioned against reaching early conclusions about the veracity of allegations against General John Allen, which have added a new dimension to the Petraeus matter.
“No one should leap to any conclusions here,” Leon Panetta said in his first public comments on the matter when a reporter asked what John Allen might have done wrong.
Leon Panetta said he supports John Allen, who has been in command in Kabul since July 2011. He took over that summer for David Petraeus, who retired from the Army to head the CIA.
“He certainly has my continued confidence to lead our forces and to continue the fight,” Leon Panetta said.
Leon Panetta has spoken out for the first time about the allegations against General John Allen, that he had inappropriate communications with Jill Kelley
The Pentagon chief declined to explain the nature of John Allen’s correspondence with Jill Kelley, the Florida socialite connected to the scandal that led to David Petraeus’ resignation last week as director of the CIA.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who appeared with Leon Panetta and their Australian counterparts at Wednesday’s news conference, declined to comment on the Allen case except to suggest it has not harmed the war effort.
Adam Victor, a New York businessman, claims that Jill Kelley was so eager to close a billion-dollar business deal that the Florida socialite stood up her own husband on their anniversary.
Jill Kelley reportedly met Adam Victor at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Shortly after they were introduced by mutual friend Don Phillips, the two began to talk business.
Adam Victor is the president and CEO of TransGas Development Systems, a New York-based firm dedicated to the pursuit of clean energy.
Jill Kelley claimed that in her capacity as honorary consul for South Korea, she could help Adam Victor set up a coal plant there.
Emails between Jill Kelley and Adam Victor exclusively obtained by ABC News revealed how Kelley doggedly pursued the deal.
At one point, Jill Kelley emailed Adam Victor: “Adam, I’m on my flight. It was wonderful to meet with you. I was quite impressed learning about the project to say the least.
“I’m emailing around some contacts, calling in favors, and totally anxious to take this to the next step. It has HUGE potential. It just needs a catalyst like me. :-)”
Adam Victor, a New York businessman, claims that Jill Kelley was so eager to close a billion-dollar business deal that the Florida socialite stood up her own husband on their anniversary
While wheeling and dealing with Adam Victor, Don Phillips claimed to ABC that Jill Kelley wasn’t interested in moving forward, telling him: “As a result of my personal investigations and business intelligence this is just not going anywhere, Don, and you just don’t want to associate with [Victor].”
But Jill Kelley soon emailed one of Adam Victor’s employee, saying she was blowing off her husband Scott on their anniversary so that she could speak more about the South Korea deal.
The email shown to the network read: “[M]y husband is in agreement with me canceling our 13th Anniversary dinner plans. Please call me.”
But the deal apparently collapsed when Jill Kelley informed Adam Victor of the commission she was hoping to take in for helping to complete the deal – a whopping 2%, or $80 million.
Adam Victor’s next email informed Jill Kelley: “The suggested fee you have asked for is so out of market, I have no way of working out any acceptable deal with you. You should not contact anyone on our behalf.”
He said he was told by Jill Kelley that David Petraeus had set her up as an honorary consul to South Korea, a claim refuted by the general’s longtime spokesman, retired Army Col Steve Boylan.
Don Phillips, Jill Kelley’s friend, also told ABC that she has never sought any benefits from her friendship with the disgraced general.
Jill Kelley is the woman who blew the lid off the Petraeus affair and ensuing scandal after she received threatening emails from the generals mistress and biographer, Paula Broadwell.
It was revealed on Tuesday that the Florida socialite took multiple flights aboard military aircraft on the taxpayers’ dime.
Jill Kelley, 37, even reportedly flew to Washington, DC, with General John Allen – the military commander she is said to have exchanged tens of thousands of emails with while he was in Afghanistan.
It is not known why Jill Kelley flew to Washington DC with John Allen but it has emerged that in recent months she has had three visits to the White House.
The mother of three from Tampa has so far refused to comment publicly on her role in the scandal that ended the career of CIA Director David Petraeus and put the distinguished career of General John Allen in jeopardy.
The commander of the coalition forces in Afghanistan is under investigation for “flirty” emails said to number as many as 30,000 that he exchanged with Jill Kelley.
An investigation by 10 News Tampa has revealed that Jill Kelley, whose complaint over threatening emails revealed David Petraeus’ affair, has enjoyed several trips on military planes.
The American people have spoken and Cobbler has been voted the 2012 National Thanksgiving Turkey.
The moment of truth in Thanksgiving Decision 2012 came on Wednesday at the White House National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, as President Barack Obama announced that Cobbler was victorious over his competitor, Gobbler, though both are winners as neither will face the chopping block.
They competed for the coveted role in a massive social media campaign with Americans invited to cast their ballots to decide which animal should receive the title. Even though Gobbler failed to nab the top prize, he will serve as an alternate in case the official bird cannot fulfill his duties.
President Barack Obama was joined by the first daughters, Malia and Sasha, to announce the winner.
“They say that life is all about second chances,” Barack Obama told a crowd of Thanksgiving revelers and reporters at the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday.
“This November, I couldn’t agree more,” he said, adding that “once again Nate Silver completely nailed it”, referencing the New York Times blogger and celebrity numbers whiz who was spot-on in his election prediction on November 6.
“The American people have spoken…and these birds are moving forward.”
Cobbler, the winning bird, voiced his delight with several gobbles that were heard throughout President Barack Obama’s speech.
Barack Obama chooses Cobbler over Gobbler as National Thanksgiving Turkey
The president joined his two daughters, Sasha – who was eager to pet the bird – while Malia decided to keep her distance, to officially offer a presidential pardon.
The presidential tradition of offering clemency to a turkey has been in place since 1963 under President John F. Kennedy.
But this year, the White House invited the people to let their voices be heard.
Early Tuesday, the official White House Facebook page posted a picture encouraging users to vote for which turkey should be the official bird of the 2012 holiday – Cobbler or Gobbler.
The White House blog compiled a short biography for the two birds, saying that both were born on a farm in Rockingham County, Virginia.
By Wednesday morning, Gobbler, a 43 lbs male with a “rare but loud” gobble, had amassed 2,223 Likes.
But Cobbler seemed to be the favorite, having garnered a few hundred more Likes on Facebook, bringing his total to 2,512.
The 40 lbs male was described as having a gobble that is “frequent but quick and quiet”.
He stands at 2 feet 2 inches and according to the profile compiled by the White House, his favorite song is You’re so Vain by Carly Simon.
“Cobbler and Gobbler may look alike, but they’re no birds of a feather. Cobbler craves cranberries, is known for his strut … Gobbler, a patient but proud bird, loves to nibble on corn and enjoys any music with a fiddle.”
Cobbler Turkey
Though there can only be one winner, the remaining turkey won’t be served up at a feast.
Following the pardoning, both turkeys will be transported to Mount Vernon, the estate of George Washington, where they will be placed in a custom-made pen at the livestock facility.
But PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is crying foul – saying the Commander-in-Chief should put a stop to the “sorely outdated” ceremony and have asked the president to opt for a Tofurky roast at his Thursday feast instead.
The animal rights activists have decried the practice, accusing the president of a having “partnership with the turkey-killing industry”.
PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk wrote to Barack Obama, saying that the annual turkey pardon “makes light of the mass slaughter” of each turkey and “portrays the United States president as being in some sort of business partnership with the turkey-killing industry”.
She wrote that Tofurky – turkey made from tofu – is a “delicious, healthy” alternative to eating a turkey.
By Tuesday night, Ingrid E. Newkirk said that she received no official answer from the White House, though on the official White House page for the ceremony it was clearly stated that “no turkeys will be harmed during the selection of the National Thanksgiving Turkey”.
Astronomers have obtained an important first look at the dwarf planet Makemake – finding it has no atmosphere.
One of five such dwarfs in our Solar System including former planet Pluto, Makemake had until now eluded study.
But in April 2011, it passed between the Earth and a distant star, and astronomers used seven telescopes to study how the star’s light was changed.
A report in Nature outlines how they unpicked Makemake’s size, lack of atmosphere, and even its density.
Few battles in the astronomy community are as fierce as the one surrounding the demotion of the planet Pluto from planet status in 2006 to one of what the International Astronomical Union then dubbed “dwarf planets”.
Pluto shares the category with four other little worlds: Ceres, Haumea, Eris and Makemake.
Ceres, as the only inner Solar System dwarf, has been analyzed directly with telescopes.
Astronomers have obtained an important first look at the dwarf planet Makemake finding it has no atmosphere
The far more distant Eris and Haumea have both been analyzed separately in the same kind of “occultation” that has now given clues as to Makemake’s makeup.
Haumea was shown to be icy like Pluto, while Eris added to Pluto’s indignities by ousting it as the largest dwarf.
Now Makemake has come under scrutiny by an international team led by Jose Luis Ortiz of the the Andalucian Institute of Astrophysics in Spain, making use of seven different telescopes across Brazil and Chile.
They watched as the dwarf planet blocked the light of distant star Nomad 1181-0235723, only for about one minute.
The dwarf was known to be about two-thirds the size of Pluto, but the team put the measurement on a firmer footing, measuring it to be not quite spherical – about 1,430 km across in one direction and 1,500 km across the other.
The team estimates that Makemake has a density of 1.7 grams per cubic centimetre (similar to that of Pluto, but still less than a third that of Earth) – but the key test was that of the dwarf planet’s atmosphere.
“As Makemake passed in front of the star and blocked it out, the star disappeared and reappeared very abruptly, rather than fading and brightening gradually,” said Dr. Jose Luis Ortiz.
“This means that the little dwarf planet has no significant atmosphere. It was thought that Makemake had a good chance of having developed an atmosphere – that it has no sign of one at all shows just how much we have yet to learn about these mysterious bodies.
“Finding out about Makemake’s properties for the first time is a big step forward in our study of the select club of icy dwarf planets.”
Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday: As the two streams of commerce – retail stores and online stores – converge, it’s hard to say where the best deals will be.
And, of course, many of the stores that consumers might visit in person are the same brand names that one might visit online.
But who ever said bargain hunting was easy? You have to do some homework.
To scope out Cyber Monday, definitely check the CyberMonday websites, and also the sites of any of your favorite stores or brands.
For Black Friday, check out the local newspapers, TV and radio ads, as well as looking online, on Thanksgiving Day.
5 Pros: Reasons to Shop Cyber Monday Rather Than Black Friday Sales
It’s easier and faster.
If you were busy with family or travel on Thanksgiving Friday and missed the in-store sales, Cyber Monday gives you another opportunity to take advantage of reductions.
You can easily compare prices online.
You can shop in your pj’s, from work, or while waiting for the plumber.
You don’t need a babysitter.
The five cons of Cyber Monday? You can’t “kick the tires” and see the merchandise, it might be hard to access a computer for shopping purposes, you’ll have to wait for shipping, and some people hate returning purchases by mail. Most importantly, your boss really might not love it if you spend Cyber Monday shopping at your desk!
Cyber Monday vs Black Friday
5 Pros: Reasons to Shop Black Friday Rather than Cyber Monday
You can actually see what you are buying — measure it, try it on, see if you like the color.
The prices might be better.
Not everything that’s on sale on Black Friday will be available on Cyber Monday.
It’s an outing. You can bring a friend or spouse for fun and advice.
If you don’t go, you might miss some great bargains!
The five cons of Black Friday? Some of the merchandise is lower-end; prices may continue to drop as the holiday season approaches; it’s too easy to over spend in the midst of a buying frenzy, it’s crowded, and the real bargains may be limited in quantity and sold to earlybird shoppers.
So, when to shop? Whatever your personal answer is, the smart thing to do is decide beforehand not just what you want to purchase, but also your budget parameters.
That way, come post-Thanksgiving Tuesday (a day for which, gratefully, there’s no retailing name yet), you won’t feel like a turkey with a hangover of buyer’s remorse!
Retail Stores Open and Shopping Hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012:
N/A – CVS
CVS is definitely open on Thanksgiving Day, but their advertised store hours are “hours vary.”
N/A – Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter stores are definitely open on Thanksgiving, and most stores are open until 2:00 PM. Confirm store hours with your local Harris Teeter store.
N/A – Safeway
Safeway stores are definitely open on Thanksgiving Day, and most stores stay open until 5:00 PM. Check with your local store to confirm Thanksgiving Day hours.
6:00 AM – Albertson’s
Not all Albertson’s locations will be open on Thanksgiving Day. The ones that are will probably be open until 4:00 PM. Confirm store hours with your local Albertson’s store.
6:00 AM – Fresh and Easy Express
Advertised closing time on Thanksgiving Day is 6:00 PM
6:00 AM – H-E-B
Most stores will be open until 2:00 PM
6:00 AM – Kmart
Stores will close at 4:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day
6:00 AM – Meijer
7:00 AM – Big Lots
7:00 AM – Food Lion
Advertised closing time is 3:00 PM
7:00 AM – Fresh and Easy
Advertised closing time on Thanksgiving Day is 4:00 PM
8:00 AM – Bass Pro Shops
8:00 AM – Family Dollar
8:00 AM – Harris Teeter
8:00 AM – Whole Foods
Most stores will stay open until 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day, but you should check with your local store to confirm their exact store hours.
9:00 AM – Gander Mountain
Stores will be open until midnight on Thanksgiving Day, and then re-open again Black Friday morning
9:00 AM – Old Navy
Most stores open from 9:00 AM t 6:00 PM – confirm hours with your local store
9:00 AM – Walgreens
Stores open until 6:00 PM
10:00 AM – Gap
Some stores open at 11:00 AM, most stores stay open until 6:00 PM – Check for local store hours.
10:00 AM – Lord & Taylor New York 5th Ave. Flagship
No official word about whether all Lord & Taylor locations will be open Thanksgiving Day 2012
8:00 PM – hh gregg
8:00 PM – Kmart
After closing at 4:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day, Kmart will re-open at 8:00 PM and stay open through 3:00 AM on Black Friday (and then re-open again!)
8:00 PM – Sears
Will remain open overnight until 10:00 PM on Black Friday
8:00 PM – Toys ‘R Us
8:00 PM – Wal-Mart
Will remain open overnight and won’t close until 10:00 PM on Black Friday
9:00 PM – 2b Bebe *
9:00 PM – 7 For All Mankind *
9:00 PM – AIX Armani Exchange *
9:00 PM – Aeropostale *
9:00 PM – Aldo *
9:00 PM – All Saints Spitalfields *
9:00 PM – American Eagle Outfitters *
9:00 PM – Ann Taylor *
9:00 PM – BCBG Max Azria *
9:00 PM – Banana Republic *
9:00 PM – BareMinerals *
9:00 PM – Bass Shoes *
9:00 PM – Bath & Body Works *
9:00 PM – Bose *
9:00 PM – Brooks Brothers *
Retail Stores Open and Shopping Hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012
9:00 PM – Calphalon Kitchen Outlet *
9:00 PM – Calvin Klein *
9:00 PM – Carter’s *
9:00 PM – Champion *
9:00 PM – Charlotte Russe *
9:00 PM – Chico’s *
9:00 PM – Claire’s *
9:00 PM – Clarks Bostonian *
9:00 PM – Closet *
9:00 PM – Coach *
9:00 PM – Coach Men’s *
9:00 PM – Coldwater Creek *
9:00 PM – Cole Haan *
9:00 PM – Converse *
9:00 PM – Cotton On *
9:00 PM – Crabtree & Evelyn *
9:00 PM – DC Shoes *
9:00 PM – DJ’s Grill & Deli *
9:00 PM – DKNY *
9:00 PM – DaVinci’s Coffee & Tea *
9:00 PM – Designer Fragrances *
9:00 PM – Designer Studio *
9:00 PM – Disney Store *
9:00 PM – Disney Store Outlet *
9:00 PM – Dolce & Gabbana *
9:00 PM – Easy Spirit *
9:00 PM – Ecco *
9:00 PM – Ecko Unlimited *
9:00 PM – Ed Hardy *
9:00 PM – Erik’s Deli Café *
9:00 PM – Famous Footwear *
9:00 PM – Foreign Exchange *
9:00 PM – Fossil *
9:00 PM – Fox *
9:00 PM – Fragrance Outlet *
9:00 PM – Furla *
9:00 PM – Gap Outlet *
9:00 PM – Godiva Chocolatier *
9:00 PM – Gucci *
9:00 PM – Guess *
9:00 PM – Guess Accessories *
9:00 PM – Gymboree *
9:00 PM – Haggar *
9:00 PM – HanesBrands *
9:00 PM – Harry & David *
9:00 PM – Hugo Boss *
9:00 PM – Hurley *
9:00 PM – Izod *
9:00 PM – J.Crew *
9:00 PM – Janie and Jack *
9:00 PM – Jockey *
9:00 PM – Joe’s Jeans *
9:00 PM – Journeys *
9:00 PM – Juicy Couture *
9:00 PM – Justice *
9:00 PM – Kate Spade New York *
9:00 PM – Kenneth Cole *
9:00 PM – Kids Supercenter *
9:00 PM – Kristen’s Coffee Corner *
9:00 PM – L’Occitane *
9:00 PM – Lane Bryant *
9:00 PM – Last Call by Neiman Marcus *
9:00 PM – Levi’s *
9:00 PM – Lids *
9:00 PM – Lucky Brand *
9:00 PM – Maidenform *
9:00 PM – Maxstudio.com *
9:00 PM – Michael Kors *
9:00 PM – Naturalizer *
9:00 PM – Nautica *
9:00 PM – New Balance *
9:00 PM – Next Accessories *
9:00 PM – Nike *
9:00 PM – Nine West *
9:00 PM – No Fear *
9:00 PM – O’Neill *
9:00 PM – OshKosh B’Gosh *
9:00 PM – PacSun *
9:00 PM – Paolo Giardini *
9:00 PM – Papaya *
9:00 PM – Payless ShoeSource *
9:00 PM – Perfumania *
9:00 PM – Perfume Outlet *
9:00 PM – Perfume Outlet & Cosmetics *
9:00 PM – Polo Ralph LaurenPolo *
9:00 PM – Puma *
9:00 PM – Quiksilver *
9:00 PM – Ralph Lauren Children *
9:00 PM – Reebok *
9:00 PM – Rue21 *
9:00 PM – Saks Fifth Ave Off 5th *
9:00 PM – Samsonite *
9:00 PM – Shoe Palace *
9:00 PM – Shoe Studio *
9:00 PM – Shopko
9:00 PM – Sideline Sports *
9:00 PM – Skechers *
9:00 PM – Solstice Sunglass Outlet *
9:00 PM – Sony *
9:00 PM – Starbucks Coffee *
9:00 PM – Stride Rite *
9:00 PM – Subway *
9:00 PM – Sunglass Hut *
9:00 PM – International & Watch Stop *
9:00 PM – Sunglass Plus *
9:00 PM – Target
Stores will only be open until 11:00 PM and will re-open again on Black Friday morning
9:00 PM – The Children’s Place *
9:00 PM – The Children’s Place Outlet *
9:00 PM – The Fragrance Outlet *
9:00 PM – Tilly’s *
9:00 PM – Timberland *
9:00 PM – Time Factory *
9:00 PM – Time Factory Watch Outlet *
9:00 PM – Tommy Hilfiger *
9:00 PM or 10:00 PM – Toys R Us
Most Toys ‘R Us stores will open at 9:00 PM and stay open through 10 PM on Black Friday night. Some stores will not open until 12:00 midnight and stay open through 10 PM on Black Friday night.
9:00 PM – Toys ‘R Us Express *
9:00 PM – True Religion *
9:00 PM – Ugg Australia *
9:00 PM – Ultra Diamonds *
9:00 PM – Under Armour *
9:00 PM – VanHeusen *
9:00 PM – Vans *
9:00 PM – Victoria’s Secret *
9:00 PM – Volcom *
9:00 PM – White House Black Market *
9:00 PM – William Rast *
9:00 PM – Wilsons Leather *
9:00 PM – Zales Outlet *
9:00 PM – Zumiez *
* If marked by an * above… Stores locations open in Simon Premium Outlet Mall – check directly for other locations. Opening times may vary by location, contact your local store to confirm its Thanksgiving Day hours.
Wal-Mart stores will be open Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, beginning at 8:00 PM.
Wal-Mart’s in-store doorbuster deals on Thanksgiving Day will be launched at two different times. One set of deals will begin at 8:00 PM (local time) and the second set of Thanksgiving Day doorbuster deals will be available starting at 10:00 PM (local time). Below is a complete list of Wal-Mart’s Thanksgiving Day only in-store deals, coupons, and special discounts. These lists are arranged according to price, with the lowest priced items listed first.
Wal-Mart 2012 Thanksgiving Day Pre-Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Special Discounts >> 8:00 PM Deals <<
$1.96 – DVD Movies (100 titles)
$3.96 – Blu-ray Movies (60 titles)
$4.96 – DVD Movies (100 titles)
$7.96 – Blu-ray Movies (45 titles)
$8.96 – Blu-ray Combo Packs
$8.96 – DVD Movies (100 titles)
$9.44 Crock Pot slow cooker at 8:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day
$9.96 – SkyLanders Interactive Character
$9.96 – TV Series DVDs
$10 – PS3 games
$10 – Wii U-Draw
$10 – Xbox games
$11.96 – Xbox LIVE 3-month subscription card (save $13)
$15 – PS3 games
$15 – Xbox games
$15 – Wii games
$24.96 – Wii Epic Mickey 2 game (save $25)
$25 – 10: Minnie or Mickey Pedacycle
$25 – PS3 games
$25 – Xbox games
$25 – Wii games
$25 – Xbox 360 wireless headset
$29 – 12″ Huffy Rock It Bike with training wheels
$29.96 – Nintendo DS Games
$29.96 – Nintendo DS Super Mario Bros.
$35.00 Girls 16: Lil’ Gem or Boys’ Rocket Bike
$38.96 – Xbox 360 Assassins Creed III (save $21)
$39 – 20″ Huffy Rock It or Sea Star Bike
$39.96 – PS3 DS3 Controller
$39.96 – SkyLanders Starter Pack
$39.96 – Xbox 360 wireless controller
$69 – 26: Ladies’ or Men’s Cranbrook Bike
$69 – Huffy Boys’ 24: PX 4.0 Bike
$69 – Men’s 26: PX6.0 Mountain Bike
$89 – Wii Console
$99.96 – DSi XL Console (save $30)
$149 – Xbox 360 4GB SkyLanders Bundle
$198 – Emerson 40: HDTV with 1080p, 60 Hz
$199 – Sony PS3 Bundle, 160 GB (doesn’t include stand)
$279 – HP Laptop, 4GB, 320 GB HD, 15.6″
$688 – Vizio 60: LED Smart TV with built-in WiFi, 1080p, 120Hz (save $310)
Wal-Mart 2012 Thanksgiving Day Pre-Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Special Discounts
Wal-Mart 2012 Thanksgiving Day Pre-Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Special Discounts >> 10:00 PM Deals <<
$8 – Onn 2.4 GHz Wireless Mouse (save $6)
$8 – VIZIO 6: HDMI Cable (save $16)
$9.98 – McAfee Total Protection Software 2013 (save $50)
$12.97 Targus 16″ Backpack (save $17)
$18 Logitech laptop dover and wireless mouse
$19.97 – Belkin N300 Router (save $20)
$29 – RCA Streaming Box with vudu and NetFlix (save $19)
$38 – iLive 37: Sound Bar
$39 – TV Wall Mount for TVs up to 70″
$68 – LG 3D Blu-ray Player with Wi-Fi with vudu and NetFlix
$78 – Orion 24: HDTV, 720;, 60Hz
$98 – Samsung Sound Bar
$128 – Philips 3D WiFi Blu-ray Home Theater including subwoofer (save $40)
$179 – Compaq Presario Laptop, 15.6: 2GB, 320GB HD
$248 – Samsung 32: HDTV, 720p, 60Hz (save $50
$349 – HP Laptop, 15.6″, 4GB, 500GBHD
$378 – Samsung 43: Plasma HDTV, 720p, 600Hz
$389 – HP Pavilian Desktop with Monitor, 20: display, 4GB, 500GB HD
$478 – Samsung 51″ Plasma HDTV (save $50)
$598 – Samsung 46″ Smart LED HDTV (save $200)
Even thought TVs have been among the most popular Black Friday purchases in recent Christmas Holiday Shopping Seasons, televisions aren’t always priced with the kind of drastic discounts that Black Friday shoppers are accustomed to receiving on other items in the electronics department.
So, while retailers like Best Buy, Kmart, Wal-Mart, HH Gregg, and Sears all have Black Friday deals on televisions for 50% to 73% off discounts, there are just more than a dozen TV models with this deep Black Friday discount pricing, so competition among Black Friday shoppers will no doubt be fierce.
Below is a list of the Black Friday TV deals with the biggest discounts (discounted 50% or more) advertised for November 23, 2012. This list is arranged according to discount percentages, with the biggest percentages (the best discounts) listed first. This Best Black Friday 2012 TV Discounts list will be updated as more information becomes available through November 23, 2012.
Best Black Friday 2012 TV Discounts – Sony, Toshiba, LG, Mitsubishi, and RCA Discounts 50% – 74%: 74% Discount – Electronics Expo
Haier 32″ LCD HDTV (L32F1120)
Regular Price – $399.00 $144.00 – Black Friday Deal
62% Discount – Sears
Toshiba 50” LED 1080p LCD TV (50L2200U)
Regular Price – $799.99 $299.99 – Black Friday Deal
The name of the Christmas shopping game for the next 11 days is pre-Black Friday.
No longer just a term to describe the days when consumers are waiting for Black Friday, pre-Black Friday has its own official space on the 2012 retail sales calendar, and the biggest U.S. retailers like Amazon (AMZN), Wal-Mart (WMT), Target (TGT), Kmart (SHLD), and Aeropostale (ARO) are trying out some promotional moves in an effort to define the pre-Black Friday dance for the entire industry.
Retailers seem to have collectively come to the unspoken agreement that there’s really no fiscal logic behind waiting until the day after Thanksgiving before offering Christmas holiday shopping deals. So each year retailers dangle Christmas deals in front of online and in-store shoppers at earlier and earlier dates, to see just how soon Christmas shoppers are willing to put on their shopping shoes and join in the pre-Black Friday dance.
So, what hot deals and creative promotions do retailers have to offer to 2012 Pre-Black Friday shoppers who are willing to accept the new Pre-Black Friday shopping schedule? As is true for everything retail this time of year, the Pre-Black Friday promotions are announced often, and change quickly. But here’s some of the latest news from two of the biggest pre-Black Friday players, Amazon and Wal-Mart.
Free from any kind of brick-and-mortar history, Amazon was a notable first to disregard the Black Friday tradition, and because of that, Amazon is the retailer to beat for 2012 Pre-Black Friday sales. Amazon knows this, and is employing aggressive marketing innovations to maintain its Christmas sales lead. The mega Internet shopping site isn’t just sticking its toes into the pre-Black Friday sales pool. Amazon is jumping straight into the deep end of discounts right away.
Amazon Pre-Black Friday Deals
Amazon’s Pre-Black Friday deals so far include:
77% Off Kingston 16 GB Class 4 MicroSDHC Flash Card
60% Off SanDisk Extreme SSD 120 GB SATA 6.0 Gb-s2.5-Inch Drive
Up to 70% Off Men’s Watches
60% Off Fishing Rods & Reels
Up to 60% Off Diamond Rings
Up to 60% Off Android Apps
Percentage-wise, there are very few retailers that are even coming close to Amazon’s pre-Black Friday Black Friday Deals Week.
Amazon is also using every technology and social media outlet available to communicate with and offer Christmas holiday shopping season deals to its virtual customers. That’s part of the mastery of Amazon – being able to build strong relationships with virtually no person-to-person interactions.
Records by James Brown, AC/DC, Billy Joel and Paul McCartney & Wings are among the latest to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame collection.
Grammy Hall of Fame is a catalogue of nearly 1000 historically and culturally significant albums and singles celebrating outstanding recordings across all genres.
2013 marks the list’s 40th anniversary.
Neil Portnow from The Recording Academy said the new entries “have inspired and influenced” generations of fans.
This latest round of inductees includes the late James Brown’s 1965 single I Got You (I Feel Good), Piano Man by Billy Joel – released in 1973 and Bob Dylan’s 1964 track The Times They Are A-Changin.
As for albums, 1973’s Band On The Run by Paul McCartney & Wings has been recognized alongside Elton John’s self-titled album from 1970, Back In Black by AC/DC from 1980 and Whitney Houston’s eponymous debut released in 1985.
Other artists with records now on the list include Little Richard, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra for his Theme from New York, New York and Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton for the first recording of Hound Dog in 1953, a record Elvis Presley covered three years later.
James Brown joins Grammy Hall of Fame with I Got You
The collection, which is on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, now features 933 records.
An annual review by a committee of professionals from the recording arts industry decide which records are put forward, with final approval given by a board of trustees at The Recording Academy.
Neil Portnow said of the new additions: “We are proud to add them to our growing catalogue of outstanding recordings that have become part of our musical, social, and cultural history.”
A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement has come into effect.
Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings, while Hamas will stop attacks against Israel and along the border.
At least 157 people have died since the flare-up of violence began last week.
Both sides continued to fire on each other as the 21:00 ceasefire deadline approached, but no incidents have been reported since.
Earlier, a bomb exploded on a bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, leaving three people needing surgery.
Wednesday also saw at least 13 people die in Gaza.
Israel has agreed to “stop all hostilities on the Gaza Strip, land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals”, the ceasefire deal says.
“All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel, including rocket attacks, and attacks along the border,” it stipulates.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamel Amr announced the ceasefire at a news conference in Cairo with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who joined negotiations on Wednesday.
A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had agreed to a US suggestion “to give a chance to Egypt’s proposal for a ceasefire and so give an opportunity to stabilize the situation and calm it before there will be need to apply greater force”.
For the truce to hold, Hillary Clinton said, “the rocket attacks [from Gaza] must end and a broader calm must return”.
“Now we have to focus on reaching a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security, dignity and legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis alike,” she added.
US President Barack Obama praised the Israeli leader for accepting the deal and said he would seek additional funding for the Iron Dome missile defence system, which destroyed dozens of rockets from Gaza in mid-air during the past week.
Barack Obama also thanked Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi for his efforts.
Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strengthened since Mohammed Mursi was elected earlier this year. Hamas was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mohammed Mursi belongs.
Also on Wednesday, Palestinian militants fired more rockets at Israel, while Israel renewed its naval artillery bombardment of Gaza.
Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari.
The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, were aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza.
More than 150 Palestinians and five Israelis have since been killed.
Israeli officials described Wednesday’s bus explosion as a “terrorist attack”. Hamas praised it but has not said it was behind the blast.
Former world boxing champion Hector “Macho” Camacho has been left brain dead after being shot in his native Puerto Rico, with his family facing the agonizing decision of taking him off life support as his condition worsened.
Doctors had earlier said Hector Camacho would survive after he was shot in the face while sitting in a car on Tuesday night in his hometown of Bayamon.
However, his condition deteriorated overnight and his heart stopped at one point, said Dr. Ernesto Torres, director of the Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan.
“It would be a miracle for him to recuperate,” Dr. Ernesto Torres said on Wednesday.
Specialists consulted with Hector Camacho’s mother Maria Matias, who arrived from the U.S. mainland, and had a nervous attack at the hospital.
The family faced the agonizing choice of when he should be removed from life support, said Ismael Leandry, a longtime friend and former manager who was also at the hospital.
The 50-year-old Hector Camacho was outside a bar in a parked car with a friend when he was shot in the face.
The friend, whose name has not been released, was killed. No arrests have been made and no motive has been disclosed.
At least one gunman opened fire on their vehicle in the city of Bayamon, according to police. The bullet struck Hector Camacho in the jaw but exited his head and lodged in his right shoulder and fractured two vertebrae, Dr. Ernesto Torres said.
He had said the boxer, who was trailed by drug and alcohol problems during a career that included some high-profile bouts, could be paralyzed from the shooting.
“Camacho’s condition is extremely delicate,” Dr. Ernesto Torres told Telenoticias.
“His physical condition will help him but we will see.”
Former world boxing champion Hector Macho Camacho has been left brain dead after being shot in his native Puerto Rico
Hector Camacho’s representative Steve Tannenbaum said he was told by friends at the hospital that the boxer would make it.
“This guy is a cat with nine lives. He’s been through so much,” he said.
“If anybody can pull through it will be him.”
Hector Camacho’s last title bout came against then-welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in 1997, a loss by unanimous decision.
Steve Tannenbaum said he was going to fight two years ago in Denmark until his opponent pulled out and that they were looking at a possible bout in 2013.
“We were talking comeback even though he is 50,” he said.
“I felt he was capable of it.”
Hector Camacho was born in Bayamon, one of the cities that make up the San Juan metropolitan area.
He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s.
He has fought other high-profile bouts in his career against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Hector Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending what was that former champ’s final comeback attempt.
He has a career record of 79-5-3, with his most recent fight coming in 2009.
Drug and alcohol problems have trailed Hector Camacho since the prime of his boxing career.
He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison for the burglary of a computer store in Mississippi. During the arrest in January 2005, police found him in possession of ecstasy.
A judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail after violating his probation.
He divorced from his wife several years ago after she filed multiple domestic abuse complaints against him.
Hector Camacho was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Spanish Harlem, New York. His son Hector Camacho Jr. is also a boxer.
While many use the Black Friday sales as an opportunity to get big-ticket items at a bargain price, the style set knows that it is also the perfect chance to bag new season stock at a serious markdown.
And fashion retailers are well aware, with some opening as early as 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day so that fans can make the most of the holiday discounts.
This year, sartorially-inclined shoppers will find some of the best deals at Tibi, where fall collections will be 60% off, and J Crew Factory, where already discounted items will have a further 40% off.
For the cheapest bargains, head to H&M, where party dresses will cost from just $5, and Forever 21, which will have some items going for just a dollar.
Earlybirds will most definitely be catching the proverbial worm at Bloomingdales (the sale lasts from just 7 a.m.-1 p.m.) and C Wonder (an extra 50% off between midnight and 8 a.m.) – it’ll be well worth it for bleary-eyed shoppers at Zara on Manhattan’s 34th Street, who will be rewarded for their efforts with free tea and coffee from 5 a.m.
It’s worth getting in line ahead of opening time too, as those at the front will get gift cards at H&M and Topshop – and don’t forget store cards as there will be extra discounts at Saks Fifth Avenue and Target.
Even if the discounts aren’t that impressive, it’ll still be worth hitting some stores for the free giveaways. Victoria’s Secret will be giving away generous beauty goody bags on spends of $60 or more, and at Piperlime’s SoHo store, there will be free hot chocolate and holiday treats for all.
Black Friday 2012: An A to Z of the most stylish sales
AEROPOSTALE
The brand fronted by Chloe Moretz is taking 60% off everything apart from fragrances and beauty on Black Friday.
BANANA REPUBLIC (from 12 a.m. on Friday)
Banana Republic will be offering 40% off everything all day. Stores will also be open on Thanksgiving Day.
Banana Republic Factory Stores will feature 70% off everything from November 16-25.
BLOOMINGDALES (from 7 a.m. Friday)
At the Manhattan flagship, there will be discounts in all departments including 25% off all women’s denim – head down early though, the fun stops at 1 p.m.
C WONDER (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Before 8 a.m., there will be a further 50% off all sale items in store, and throughout the day there will be a 25% discount on everything online.
DIESEL
The denim favorite will be taking 30% off the whole fall collection.
DKNY
A further 30% off sale items, currently discounted by 40%.
FOREVER 21
The Forever 21 sale starts tomorrow, with 30% off sweaters and some items priced between just $1 to $15.
On Black Friday itself, there will be further discounts on denim, pajamas and accessories.
GAP (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Shoppers who arrive before noon can get sweaters for as little as $19, and kids’ T-shirts for $5. The big discounts start well before though, with 60% off everything from Tuesday until Sunday.
H&M (from 12 a.m. Friday)
New season items – including holiday party dresses – on sale from as little as $5. Plus the first 100 people in line at H&M stores will win scratch-off gift vouchers, some with a value up to $300.
Black Friday 2012 A to Z guide of the most stylish sales
JCPENNEY (from 6 a.m. Friday)
There will be discounts across the board, but winter wear looks to be where the strongest discounts are.
Boots will be discounted to $25, $50 puffer jackets at $30, and JCPenney winter jackets, usually $70, will be discounted by up to $30.
J CREW FACTORY
From tomorrow until Monday, J Crew’s outlet is discounting every item by 40%.
KOHL’S (from 12 a.m. Friday)
The first price drops start online at midnight tonight, but on Black Friday itself there will be up to 70% off winter coats and jackets, sweaters for $9.99 and up to 60% off all winter fashion accessories.
Expect $20-30 off most other fashion items, and up to 60% off sterling silver jewelry.
MACY’S (from 12 a.m. Friday)
Discounts of up to 50%. Among the offers will be Charter Club cashmere at $49.99 Nine West and Kenneth Cole coats at 79.99 and boots for just $19.99.
The store has also launched a special Black Friday app to help customers plan their shopping day.
MADEWELL
The J Crew sister chain is offering a 25% discount on all purchases throughout Black Friday.
NORDSTROM and NORDSTROM RACK
There will be extended opening hours on Black Friday (times vary according to region), and Nordstrom Rack shoppers will get a $10 gift card for every $100 spent.
Cardholders can claim double points on Nordstrom Rack purchases over the weekend and Twitter users can follow clues to find 25 green “Dots”, each worth for a $50 gift card.
OLD NAVY (opens at 12 a.m. Friday)
Everything is discounted with deals on coats, denim and tees. Shoppers can expect fleece tops and jeans from $15 and women’s boots for $12. Sales will continue into Saturday.
PIPERLIME
In celebration of Piperlime’s first holiday with a physical location, the SoHo store will open its doors an hour early on Black Friday and offer a hot chocolate and holiday treats.
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Winter clothing will be discounted by up to 50per cent, with a further 50% off sale items.
Spend over $100 on beauty and get a $25 gift card. Make purchases on your Saks credit card after midday, and you’ll get another 10% off sale stock.
SCOOP NYC
Get 25% off everything (with select exclusions) on purchases made in store.
SEARS (from 8 p.m. Thursday)
On the fashion front, Sears is offering discounts of 60% on handbags and 75% off on jewelry, as well as boots for as little as $19.99.
SEPHORA
Ten items, from brands including Stila and Korres, will be on sale for $10 each.
There will also be generous discounts on many other items including Urban Decay eyeshadow for $6 and the Prada Candy Gift Set for $82 (usually $104).
The biggest discount will be on the Sephora Collection Color Daze Blockbuster, available for $49.50 instead of the usual $370.
TARGET (from Thursday at 9 p.m.)
There will be special discounts across the board, including clothing from as little as $10.
Those paying on the stores’s REDcard get an extra 5% off.
TIBI
Pieces from the fall and pre-fall collections will be discounted by an impressive 60%.
TOMMY HILFIGER
There will be 40per cent off all stock, plus a 25% discount on spends of over $200 before 10 a.m.
TOPSHOP
The chain is offering $10 off $30 spends, $20 off $50 spends and those spending over $100 get $50 off and a pair of mittens (NY and Chicago) or a glitter nail polish and scarf, while stocks last.
There will be 30% off selected merchandise, spree prizes of $100, $200 and $500, and the first 200 in line at the New York and Chicago stores will get Early Bird gift cards.
The Las Vegas flagship will be open from midnight, and the first 500 will be eligible for gift cards.
URBAN OUTFITTERS (from 12 a.m. Friday)
The holiday sale has already kicked off at Urban Outfitters, but on Black Friday there will be an extra 50per cent off before 10 a.m. on all sale items.
VICTORIA’S SECRET
Shoppers spending over $65 on Black Friday will get a limited edition tote filled with “Beauty Must-Haves” from the lingerie giant’s range.
ZARA
The New York stores will be open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., with the exception of the 34th Street store, which will be open from 4am (with free tea and coffee from 5-8 a.m. for those early birds).
There will be discounts of 50% off selected items in all New York locations.
Mall of America is implementing their parental guidance rule all day on Black Friday, banning anyone under the age of 16-years-old has to be accompanied by someone who is over 21.
The Bloomington, Minnesota mall is one of the most crowded places to be on the busiest shopping day of the year, and though they normally just use the rule on Friday and Saturday evenings, they are extending those hours this year to stem off trouble.
On December 27 last year, the chaos of the crowds was coupled with a fight the involved a chair-throwing melee, so this year mall administrators are looking to lessen any damage.
“We had never opened at midnight on Black Friday prior to last year,” Mall of America’s vice president Dan Jasper told NBC’s Today.
“We had 217,000 people that day, including some unaccompanied kids who are 14, 15. Just for the safety of everyone, we expanded the policy.”
Crazed bargain hunters started lining up Black Friday deals at commercial stores throughout the country as early as Monday evening.
Best Buy shoppers in California have started pitching tents outside several store locations, more than 100 hours before the company’s big holiday sale begins.
Shoppers in Arizona are also getting an early start in line, equipped with soda, water, snacks, laptops and air mattresses.
Mall of America is implementing their parental guidance rule all day on Black Friday, banning anyone under the age of 16-years-old has to be accompanied by someone who is over 21
According to CBS San Francisco, more and more retailers across the country will require big buyers to hand over their driver’s licenses so that the store can keep a record to place alongside your purchase history.
In doing so, they will be able to keep tabs on who makes multiple returns after the busy shopping day. If an individual abuses the system, they may have their right to return unwanted goods taken away for future purchases.
The flood of bargain hunters could mean an even bigger headache for holiday workers this year.
Retail employees recently began protesting the earlier shifts they were given this Black Friday as several chain stores have decided to open earlier than previous years.
Target, Walmart, Sears and Toys R Us are all opening their doors between 8 and 9 p.m. this Thanksgiving, two to four hours earlier than last year.
That news led to the organization of a national Black Friday walkout among Walmart workers and more than 40 petitions on Change.org protesting this year’s Thanksgiving shifts at several big chain retailers.
Adding to the mayhem of hundreds of thousands of people expected at the Mall of America, they are following in the footsteps of other retailers who are doing what they can to draw the ready-to-spend crowds on Friday.
The Star Tribune reports that American Idol winner Phillip Phillips will be performing inside the Mall, which is the second-largest in the country in terms of space throughout the entire United States.
Part of the problem was that the Mall, which typically welcomes more than 40 million people per year, became a hotspot for teenagers to see and be seen, as opposed to simply going through their Christmas shopping list.
“Last year we experienced a large influx of youth, more than we had anticipated,” spokesman Bridget Jewell told the Pioneer Press.
“We don’t want it to turn into a place for people to come and hang out.”
Administrators are hoping that the adult guidance policy is good on all fronts.
“Retailers love the policy. When we first implemented it, there were concerns that sales would drop. But sales increased following the implementation and remain strong. It encourages more families to come out with their kids and sales went up,” Dan Jasper said.
“Every single tenant was thrilled because they know it’s a policy that keeps everyone safe and leads to increased sales.”
Turkeys are bred for their prized breast white meat.
In fact, most turkeys are fertilized via artificial insemination because they are so large, they cannot get close enough to mate.
Although the turkey can grow to 70 pounds, most toms (males) weigh in at around 20 pounds. Turkey hens are usually 8 to 16 pounds. Due to the popularity of turkeys in todays’ market, a smaller version has been bred called a fryer-roaster which weighs 5 to 8 pounds.
Frozen turkeys are readily available year-round, and fresh turkeys can easily be obtained by your grocer with a few days notice.
Most come with a pop-up thermometer to indicate when the bird is completely cooked, but it is wise to use an instant-read thermometer to be sure of internal temperature.
Many turkeys have been injected with butter or vegetable oil which are sold as self-basting turkeys. When you are ready to buy a turkey, choose a bird with smooth, creamy, soft skin, avoiding turkeys with any bruised or torn skin.
Thanksgiving Turkey
Turkey Storage
Fresh turkey may be stored up to 2 days in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Freeze no longer than two months.
Cooked turkey should be consumed within 3 days or frozen up to a month. Cooked turkey will retain its moisture if you freeze it in turkey or chicken broth.
When storing fresh turkey, be sure to remove the giblets and store separately.
Jennifer Reyna, traffic reporter from KPRC-2 in Houston, Texas, was delivering a live TV update when she missed a massive accident that occurred in real-time on a screen behind her.
Jennifer Reyna was giving commuters the latest details on an earlier accident along a busy highway leading into the city.
As she took her eyes off the video monitors that were displaying live traffic shots of the Houston highway, and turned to tell viewers that all was clear, a second pile-up played out behind her.
A fast-moving car swerved to avoid rear-ending one of the firetrucks that had responded to the earlier incident.
The car’s abrupt sideways move sent it smashing into an SUV.
The SUV flipped onto its side and slid for several feet, debris flying.
It banged into the front left side of the firetruck before finally coming to a stop.
Oblivious to the drama playing out behind her, Jennifer Reyna smiled into the camera and told viewers the road was clear.
Jennifer Reyna was delivering a live TV update when she missed a massive accident that occurred in real-time on a screen behind her
Jennifer Reyna was good-natured about the gaffe when she went back on-air a few minutes later for another update.
“It’s very rare that we catch an accident happen live on television,” Jennifer Reyna said.
“I just can’t believe I just missed it on the last one.
“But I took my eyes off for a split second to look back from our monitors and missed this accident that happened when we were clearing it in downtown Houston.”
At least 21 people have been injured in an explosion on a bus in Tel Aviv, in what one Israeli official described as a “terrorist attack”.
After the incident, near a military headquarters, huge blasts were heard in Gaza – an apparent Israeli strike on the football stadium.
Eleven people were killed in Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said.
Efforts to broker a truce between the Hamas movement and Israel continue.
After eight days of exchanges of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now in Cairo for talks with the Egyptian president.
Earlier, Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Militants in Gaza have been firing more rockets at Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter account that the explosion was caused by a bomb and that it was a “terrorist attack”.
Of the 21 injured, three were suffering from moderate to light injuries – including shrapnel wounds and burns – and were undergoing surgery, a spokesman for the Ichilov medical centre in Tel Aviv said.
Six had already been released and the rest were suffering from anxiety, he said.
The bus was reportedly passing the military headquarters in the city at the time of the blast.
Police believe a bomb was planted on the bus and they are still searching for a suspect.
At least 21 people have been injured in an explosion on a bus in Tel Aviv, in what one Israeli official described as a terrorist attack
Hamas, the Islamist movement which has governed Gaza since 2007, has praised the attack but has not said it was behind the blast.
Celebratory gunfire reportedly rang out in Gaza when local radio relayed news of the attack.
A series of massive explosions in Gaza, in an apparent Israeli strike on the sports stadium have been reported. Reports from Gaza say the stadium has in the past been used a site to launch rockets.
According to Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs, the last bomb attack in Tel Aviv was in April 2006, when a suicide bombing on a restaurant killed 11.
The bus blast comes on the eighth day of the current flare-up in violence between Israel and militants in Gaza.
Some 147 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed.
Other sites hit in Gaza included a banker’s villa, tunnels to Egypt used by smugglers and a media office, said to be linked to Hamas, that was situated two floors above the Agence France-Presse office in Gaza City.
The IDF said 62 rockets fired by militants from Gaza had hit Israel so far on Wednesday, while another 20 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system.
The latest violence will further complicate ceasefire discussions taking place in the region.
The two international mediators are both expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi in Cairo.
In the West Bank, Ban Ki-moon expressed “profound concern” at the civilian casualties in Gaza and also called on militants to end immediately their “indiscriminate attacks on Israeli population centres”.
Hillary Clinton held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before heading to Cairo.
Officials from Hamas had suggested on Tuesday that a truce would come into effect at midnight, but Israel later said it had not agreed to a text.
Israel’s demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and targeted killings by Israel.
Israel launched its current offensive a week ago with the killing of Hamas military leader Ahmed Jabari. The Israeli government says his assassination, and the subsequent offensive, is designed to end rocket fire from Gaza.
Israel has troops massed along the Gaza border but says it is holding off on a possible ground invasion as talks continue.
A revolutionary “virtual tape measure” – known as Body Shape Recognition For Online Fashion – promises to make badly fitting clothes (and even badly lit fitting rooms) a thing of the past, advising the user on which size dress, trouser or top they should buy in every retailer.
The web-based body-scanner would take detailed measurements of the body via webcam or smartphone, create a 3D image of the user, then advise on which size garment to buy whenever they visit the website of a participating retailer.
Taking multiple measurements of the body, the system aims to ensure the best possible fit, saving shoppers and retailers millions of pounds a year in return postage costs, as well as eliminating the need to send back clothes that are the wrong size or fit.
Currently, between 30 and 60% of all clothes bought online are returned to the shop.
Body scanning is already starting to make a mark in the clothing retail sector, but these often involve the user stepping into a machine that “photocopies” the body.
Body Shape Recognition For Online Fashion promises to make badly fitting clothes a thing of the past
The new software – being developed by London College of Fashion and computer vision experts at the University of Surrey – requires only a photo of the user in their underwear, their height, and an internet connection.
Philip Delamore from London College of Fashion said: “The potential benefits for the fashion industry and for shoppers are huge.
“Currently, it’s common for online shoppers to order two or three different sizes of the same item of clothing at the same time, as they’re unsure which one will fit best.”
Professor Adrian Hilton from the University of Surrey says: “It’s unrealistic to expect online clothes shoppers to have the time or inclination to take a series of highly accurate body measurements of themselves. The new system makes it all very easy.”
The 18-month project Body Shape Recognition for Online Fashion is being developed in collaboration with body-mapping specialists Bodymetrics and digital creative agency Guided.
The research builds on previous work by the University of Surrey in developing 3D body-shape templates from single-view images, which has been used commercially in creating animated representations of people for games such as The Sims.
Plans to launch the new system are anticipated within two years.
A growing number of women are now cutting off their pinky toes to make wearing heels more comfortable.
The shortening of toes and foot injections are similar surgeries that are popular with stiletto-obsessed women who find it too painful for her to wear heels for more than a few minutes.
Susan Deming, a patient who recently underwent a toe-shortening procedure, told Fox News: “Unless you’ve been there, and you can’t find shoes, and you’re in pain, don’t judge.”
She added: “I was having calluses, and just, all sorts of problems with my left foot. And there finally was a solution. There’s never been a solution before.”
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 87% of women have foot problems from wearing ill-fitting shoes, such as uncomfortable high heels.
For Susan Deming, her left foot was one size larger than her right foot, due to abnormally long left toes.
So she underwent a surgical procedure which cut off a centimeter of her second toe, enabling her to finally wear high heels again.
“I’ve never felt this good about something I’ve done. If it’s vain, it’s vain,” she said.
A growing number of women are now cutting off their pinky toes to make wearing heels more comfortable
Other foot surgeries include removing bunions, and even injecting collagen into the balls of the feet for extra cushioning.
Dr. Nathan Lucas, a podiatrist in Memphis, said: “It’s as if they’re walking on pillows when they wear their high heel shoes.”
Dr. Nathan Lucas, who saw nearly 30 patients per month last year for foot surgeries, also revealed that more women are now requesting removal of their pinky toe.
In such instances, he simply refers a doctor who will perform the procedure, which is “a bit extreme” for him, he said.
“It’s on the rise here because the more people know about it, then of course the more they inquire about it,” he said.
“They seek to get certain things done, just because they didn’t know it exists.”
However, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons advise against foot procedures for purely cosmetic purposes.
The group said: “Surgery performed solely for the purpose of improving the appearance or size of the foot or ankle carries risks without medical benefit, and therefore should not be undertaken.”
An oversized painted portrait of Florida socialite Jill Kelley and her surgeon husband Scott is hanging on the wall of their $1.3 million Bayshore Boulevard mansion.
The ostentatious gold-framed commission no doubt adorned the wall during one of Jill Kelley’s parties she famously hosted as an unpaid, unofficial social liaison for U.S. Central Command.
But appearances can be deceptive and the couple portrayed smiling widely have been sued for $4.1 million of debts and are, as we found out this month, at the centre of the biggest sex scandal to rock the U.S. in living memory.
Jill Kelley, a 37-year-old Florida housewife, unveiled the David Petraeus sex scandal when she contacted the FBI about harassing emails from his mistress Paula Broadwell.
After Jill Kelley contacted the FBI, agents launched a massive in-depth investigation into who was sending the emails because they shared this detailed information that was not publicly available.
The catty emails, which told Jill Kelley to “back off” from David Petraeus, were sent to Kelley from several fake email addresses.
In order to find who had confidential information about David Petraeus’ whereabouts, the FBI obtained an administrative subpoena, and traced them back to Paula Broadwell.
In the course of the investigation, they also unearthed emails indicating the affair between Paula Broadwell and David Petraeus, leading to his resignation earlier his month.
At her glamorous home the lawns are perfectly manicured – the residence has six bedrooms and four bathrooms for the hundreds of military guests who used to attend parties there.
A closer look, however, and you notice that the paint is peeling on the outside and wooden chairs at all rather too well worn.
An oversized painted portrait of Florida socialite Jill Kelley and her surgeon husband Scott is hanging on the wall of their $1.3 million Bayshore Boulevard mansion
Jill Kelley boasted about serving dinner to David Petraeus and his wife Holly in 2007.
Holly Petraeus and her husband were pictured next to the Kelleys and Jill Kelley’s twin sister, Natalie Khawam.
Each year Jill Kelley and her husband, Dr. Scott Kelley, host a party on their extensive manicured front lawn to celebrate the Gasparilla Festival in Tampa.
In 2010 General David Petraeus and his wife Holly attended the pirate themed festival staged at the Kelley’s home.
David Petraeus arrived with a 28 motorcycle escort and mingled with more than 200 guests who dined on crab cakes and lamb chops.
At this year’s Gasparilla festival, where pirate themed floats are driven through Tampa, the Kelley’s hosted military officers from 60 nations to a coalition appreciation party.
Tight security surrounded the Kelley’s home during the event.
One neighbor complained that it resulted in the street running alongside the Kelley’s red and white painted mansion being closed off to traffic for the day.
“You soon know when Jill is having a party It’s like having the president come to town as everything shuts down. There is security everywhere and you cannot move,” said one neighbor.
Jill Kelley, who said she has known General David Petraeus and his wife Holly for five years, has visited them in Washington DC. She is also reported to have been invited to a breakfast at the White House.
In recognition of her work with officials at CENTCOM, Jill Kelley was recently named as honorary consulate general to South Korea.
A new facet in the David Petraeus scandal has unfolded as it emerged that Paula Broadwell once modeled and served as spokeswoman for Kriss Arms, a Virginia Beach machine gun production company.
Paula Broadwell is featured in an advertisement for Kriss Arms, where she leans on years of military research and her shooting savvy to praise the design of the guns.
Her proximity to David Petraeus, one of the highest-ranking members of the American military, and her commercial endorsement of a gun manufacturer will appear suspicious and likely add more fodder for federal investigators.
The commercial was posted in March of this year, at the same time she was reportedly having an affair with the then-CIA director who previously was the head of U.S. military command in Afghanistan.
“Clearly computer technology cannot solve all the problems in modern warfare, for example a computer can’t come up with a strategy to win a war. Neither can a computer or technology galvanize unity of effort which is critical in these wars… those are all human efforts. It can be empowered and enabled by technology but it comes down to human endeavor at the end of the day,” Paula Broadwell says in the video.
Producers of the video included that she was the author of General David Petraeus’ biography as the justification for her participation on screen, and while she did not explicitly mention her lover by name, it is clear that she was thinking of the man she repeatedly called an “inspirational figure”.
Paula Broadwell is featured in an advertisement for Kriss Arms, where she leans on years of military research and her shooting savvy to praise the design of the guns
In portions of her interview, Paula Broadwell uses her military background to justify the improvements made by Kriss Arms.
“On the individual fighter, reducing weight is critical because of fatigue and stress. Weight reduction can greatly improve the efficiency of a firearm,” she says.
“It allows the trooper to carry it further, obviously, if an individual is out there in the battlefield. And that trooper should have more confidence in the system he’s carrying, ideally, if the system is a manned aerial vehicle or again a heavy vehicle the range of the system will be longer, less resupply of fuels and other materials.”
Paula Broadwell doesn’t simply rest on her brains when it comes to touting the company’s guns, however, as she is seen using one of their models to shoot at targets in a Virginia Beach range.
During one segment, she successfully hits four targets out of five consecutive shots.
David Crane, who is also featured in the six-minute video, told The National Enquirer that he took particular notice of the mother-of-two when she changed out of the professional clothes she was wearing and slipped into something more befitting the shooting range.
“She changed into those tight jeans and riding boots specifically to shoot guns at the firing range,” David Crane said.
“She looked very sexy shooting a submachine gun, so I started taking her picture. She was a decent shot and didn’t seem to have a problem hitting the targets.”
There is no denying the connection between Paula Broadwell and the machine gun company, as she apparently posted about her time as a “model/demonstrator” for Kriss Vector on both her website bio and her LinkedIn profile before making them private once the scandal hit.
The company is now keeping their distance, however, as the CEO John Spurrier downplayed her involvement.
“Mrs. Broadwell did participate as a subject matter expert and demonstrator… about the company’s products, but has never had any official affiliation with the company,” he told ABC News.
Now the only posing that Paula Broadwell is doing is that of the reluctant troublemaker, as she has been seen going to and from relatives’ homes in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet.
The volcano, in the North Island, sent a column of ash at least 2 km (1.25 miles) into the air, scientists said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but hikers and a group of school children were being moved out of the national park.
Before the August activity, the 1,978m (6,490 ft) peak last erupted in 1897.
The latest eruption happened at around 13:25 local time and lasted for around five minutes, experts said.
A release from the Ministry of Civil Defence said “minor volcanic activity” was occurring at the Tongariro – Te Maari craters and “could be hazardous in the immediate vicinity of the craters”.
New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet
“Light volcanic ash fall can be anticipated downwind of Tongariro,” it said, potentially affecting the Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty areas.
Air New Zealand said it did not expect delays or cancellations as a result of the eruption, based on current information.
It was “working closely with the relevant authorities to keep up to date with ash movement and forecasts” and would adjust flight routes if necessary.
Audrina Cardenas, a baby girl who was born with her small heart beating outside of her body, is now remarkably recovering after a revolutionary surgery saved her life.
Audrina Cardenas was born with a rare congenital disease where her heart formed outside the chest; though the disease affects only one in eight million, 90% of infants with the condition are stillborn or die within days of their birth.
But after hours of complicated surgery at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Audrina Cardenas is recovering, and her mother Ashley couldn’t be more thankful.
Audrina Cardenas had ectopia cordis, causing her heart to be located outside of the body. Incredible video taken during the surgery shows it beating at a steady pace.
Her mother found out about her daughter’s life-threatening condition at a routine check-up at 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Ashley Cardenas said she was given three options, each of them difficult in their own right – abort the baby, carry her to term knowing she would die shortly thereafter, or have doctors construct a hole in her unborn baby’s chest to make room for the heart.
Audrina Cardenas, a baby girl who was born with her small heart beating outside of her body, is now remarkably recovering after a revolutionary surgery saved her life
She told the Houston Chronicle that her choice to have her newborn daughter operated on was incredibly difficult.
“You’ll never know what it feels like to make that decision until you’re faced with it,” she said.
Audrina Cardenas was born five weeks ago. Ashley Cardenas calls her “my miracle baby”.
But the infant isn’t in the clear yet – surgeons said that she’ll need more surgeries in coming years to repair defects in her heart.
They must wait for Audrina to heal and gain strength before attempting any additional procedures.
She will need to see a cardiologist for the rest of her life, but doctors said the prognosis is good.
Dr. Carolyn Altman, a pediatric cardiologist at the hospital, said in a release: “Despite Audrina’s misplaced heart, she was born with no other syndromes or genetic conditions that would cause additional stress or complications on her heart.
“Although her future prognosis is uncertain, Audrina is currently thriving and making progress each day.”
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been executed by hanging.
The Pakistani national’s plea for mercy to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee was rejected earlier this month.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab was executed in prison in Pune early on Wednesday, the Home Ministry said.
The 60-hour siege of Mumbai began on 26 November 2008. Attacks on the railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre claimed 166 lives. Nine gunmen were also killed.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab and an accomplice carried out the assault on the main railway station, killing 52 people.
He was convicted of murder and other crimes in May 2010. The Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in August.
Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab was hanged in the Yerawada prison at 07:30 a.m.
“This is a tribute to all innocent people and police officers who lost their lives in this heinous attack on our nation,” RR Patil was quoted as telling reporters by the Associated Press news agency.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab did not leave behind a will and was buried inside the jail, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.
Senior officials in Delhi said Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab’s family members had been informed about the execution “through a letter sent by courier”.
In Delhi, federal Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said he signed Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab’s execution order on 7 November, two days after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his clemency petition.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been executed by hanging
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, who had been held in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, was moved to Pune’s Yerawada prison two days ago, Prithviraj Chavan said.
“We kept secrecy. It was important to maintain secrecy in this matter,” Sushil Kumar Shinde said, adding that Pakistan had been informed of the execution.
The Indian government was under pressure to act against a man who carried out one of the deadliest attacks in the country.
But the swiftness and secrecy in which the execution took place would have come as a surprise to many, our correspondent adds.
Commenting on Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab’s execution, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Moazzam Ali Khan said: “We condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation… We are willing to co-operate and work closely with all countries of the region to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.”
But Pakistan-based banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT], which was blamed for the Mumbai attacks, hailed Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab as a “hero”. He would “inspire other fighters to follow his path”, an unnamed LeT commander was quoted by Reuters as saying.
The Pakistani Taliban were “shocked” by the hanging, Reuters quoted Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan as saying.
There has been no information yet on Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab’s last few days, but his lawyer Raju Ramachandran, who argued his case in the Supreme Court, told Reuters that Qasab was a “worried man” when he last met him in August, before the court upheld his death sentence.
He was scared that he would be hanged and asked the lawyer: “Can you please help me get out of jail?”
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab was part of a 10-member group which arrived in Mumbai by sea on 26 November.
The men split into groups to attack various targets. Their siege of the Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel and a Jewish centre went on for more than two days.
Closed-circuit TV camera showed Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab and an accomplice opening fire on passengers at one of Mumbai’s busiest train stations, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated sharply after India blamed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.
After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the assault had been partially planned on its territory and that Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab was a Pakistani citizen. Ties have been gradually improving since then.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab’s execution was the first in India since a man convicted of raping and killing a schoolgirl was hanged in the eastern city of Calcutta in 2004.
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab
Pakistani citizen from Punjab province.
Reports say he received little education, and spent his youth alternating between laboring and petty crime
Was 21 years old when he carried out the attacks in Mumbai in 2008
India says he was trained for Mumbai operation by Lashkar-e-Taiba group in a remote camp
Captured on camera at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a slight figure in combat trousers and a sweatshirt, clutching an assault rifle
Prosecutors said he had confessed but his lawyers then said his statement had been coerced, and it was retracted
