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Arvind Kejriwal and Punya Prasun Bajpai Exposed sting operation 2014

2014-03-09T20:47:00.001-07:00

Arvind Kejriwal and Punya Prasun Bajpai Exposed sting operation 2014 by VEVO HD

Biggest Expose Till Date

Arvind Kejriwal and Punya Prasun Bajpai Exposed sting operation 2014

The cleanest politician on earth, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, can do nothing wrong or so he claims. Just to prove his points he comes up with a list of questions for one politician or the other everyday on issues ranging from policies to corruption. He also announced after becoming a full time politician that he and his party will be everything that other mainstream parties are not.

Kejriwal also flaunted every so often his middle class side and travelled in metro or his small car to prove that he really belonged there. But watch the video and see the real face of the anarchist leader who thinks of the middle class as a vote bank

The AAP leader is telling noted television anchor Punya Prasun Bajpai why he is avoiding saying anything against the corporate as it would hurt the middle class. He is also telling Bajpai which part of the interview to play to get reaction.

Is Arvind Kejriwal or Aam Aadmi Party really what they claim to be or they fooling the middle class of the society? That we leave for you – the voters of the biggest democracy in the world, to decide.

Country music stars support for Randy Travis

2013-07-11T19:50:00.002-07:00

Randy Travis

Country music stars and fans joined together to urge prayers for Randy Travis overnight as he recovered from brain surgery following a stroke at a Texas hospital.Steady concern for Travis, a popular and pivotal figure in country music, turned to active support as stars like Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum and Martina McBride and the Grand Ole Opry used Twitter to join Webster's call for prayers.

Hundreds of users reached out using the hash tag Pray for Randy.

it was not clear what kind of stroke Travis suffered. The most common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot that travels to the brain. The other kind happens when a blood vessel in the head bursts or leaks. Stroke patients who get treatment quickly are usually given a drug to dissolve the clot that caused the stroke.

William Gray and Michael Mack of the Baylor Health Care System in Texas described Travis' condition and hospitalization in a video statement earlier Wednesday.

"His condition has stabilized, and he has shown signs of improvement," Mack said in the video. "On behalf of Mr. Travis' family, friends and associates, we would like to express our extreme gratitude for the overwhelming affection and support that Mr. Travis has received."

The Three Wooden Crosses singer was in good health until three weeks before he was hospitalized, when he contracted a viral upper respiratory infection, Gray said.

The viral illness led to a weakened heart muscle that eventually worsened into heart failure.

Travis was admitted to Baylor Medical Center McKinney near his home in Tioga, about 60 miles north of Dallas, through the emergency room Sunday. The singer underwent a procedure to have a pump inserted by catheter that helps increase blood flow before being transferred to The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano.

Travis' illness comes as he's been trying to put his life back together following a series of embarrassing public incidents involving alcohol. Travis pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in January following an arrest last year and received two years of probation and a $2,000 fine. He was required to spend at least 30 days at an alcohol treatment facility and complete 100 hours of community service.

He recently made several public appearances, including a spot on the Country Music Association Festival's nightly concert lineup and a poignant performance at George Jones' funeral.

Webster said from the hospital Travis' fiancee Mary Beougher was at his side and that he is surrounded by family and friends, including his brother, Dennis Traywick, and his pastor, Jeff Perry. Kenny Rogers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Chuck Norris and several others have called to check in on Travis.

The North Carolina-born Travis is a traditional country purist known for hits Forever and Ever, Amen and I Told You So. His 1986 Warner Bros. debut album Storms of Lifesold 4 million copies, and helped return country music to the sound of Hank Williams and George Jones.

"I always feel like he's part of our family, he's in our family," Keith Urban said in an interview Wednesday morning in Nashville. "And I was one of those guys in Australia that bought Storms of Life and became a Randy fan very quickly in late '80s, and I really feel for him right now."

t was not clear what kind of stroke Travis suffered. The most common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot that travels to the brain. The other kind happens when a blood vessel in the head bursts or leaks. Stroke patients who get treatment quickly are usually given a drug to dissolve the clot that caused the stroke.

William Gray and Michael Mack of the Baylor Health Care System in Texas described Travis' condition and hospitalization in a video statement earlier Wednesday.

The Three Wooden Crosses singer was in good health until three weeks before he was hospitalized, when he contracted a viral upper respiratory infection, Gray said.

The viral illness led to a weakened heart muscle that eventually worsened into heart failure.

He recently made several public appearances, including a spot on the Country Music Association Festival's nightly concert lineup and a poignant performance at George Jones' funeral.

Jovan Belcher, kills girlfriend, self

2012-12-01T19:53:00.003-08:00

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who grew up in West Babylon, fatally shot his girlfriend early Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of three team officials, according to a Kansas City police spokesman.Belcher, whose 2012 salary has been reported as $1,927,000, was 25 and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, was 22. The couple had a 3-month-old child, authorities said. Police said he child is now in the custody of Belcher's mother, Cheryl, who witnessed the first shooting.
Police spokesman Darin Snapp told Newsday on Saturday afternoon that a woman, later identified as Belcher's mother, called police shortly before 8 a.m. to report a shooting at a home in Kansas City. Belcher's mother said she was in town for a weekend visit.

Snapp said Belcher then drove to the Chiefs' practice facility near Arrowhead, where the team plays its home games. Belcher pulled up to the entrance of the training facility and had a gun, which was reported to police by a security guard on duty.

Snapp said Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel and an unidentified person went out to talk to Belcher. Snapp said Belcher thanked Pioli and Crennel for the opportunity to play for the Chiefs' organization, then walked 30 or 40 feet away and fired one shot to his head as the three men looked on.

"They said he was not a danger to anyone else," Snapp said. "Belcher thanked them for being a Chief, and that's when he walked away."
Snapp said police were completing the investigation at the stadium. "There's a lot more evidence at the residence," he said.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James went to Arrowhead and met with Pioli afterward, according to the Kansas City Star.

"Think about your worst nightmare and multiply it by five," James was quoted as saying.
Friends and relatives gathered Saturday afternoon in the driveway and street in front of Belcher's family home on Matthews Avenue in West Babylon. Family members toasted to his life and embraced each other.

JCPenney OPENED At 6 MORNING ON BLACK FRIDAY

2012-11-23T11:55:00.001-08:00

If any Gray Thursday shoppers had energy left by 6am Friday, they may have been standing in line at JCPenney.It's one of the last big stores left that is mantaining the tradition of opening early -- but not too early -- the day after Thanksgiving.

Despite starting her shopping frenzy at 5pm standing in line at Walmart Thursday evening, Rebecca Quist of Hastings and her young son were first at the gate inside the mall."Just because of the values we were receiving on the few items. There's so few items that we really need in life and desire, that the value was there," she said.

For Sheila Cook of Grand Rapids though, JCPenney was her first stop.
"I didn't feel like being with the crowds, this is a much smaller crowd," she said.Cook's other reason for starting Friday morning was to honor her Thanksgiving traditions.

"It's very important because I have parents that are still alive, my mom and dad, and brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, so it was very important, especially my parents," she said.Managers at JCPenney said that's the sole reason they decided to stick with their normal Black Friday open, despite increasing pressures to open earlier every year.

Seventy percent of the stores in Woodland mall opened at midnight, including competitor Macy's.

"We wanted to give back to America's traditional Thanksgiving holiday, which is allowing our customers and our team members the opportunity to really enjoy the day and enjoy family," said JCPenney store leader Karen Bowyer.

While nearly 600 people -- combined at all five entrances -- waited in line, Miki Hendrick of Sparta wasn't happy about it.
"No, every place else opened at 8:00 or midnight and it would have been nice if Penney's opened a little earlier," she said.
Still, she and her family -- three generations of shoppers -- bought into Penney's deals, then headed out of the mall for more.
"Menards and then Wal-Mart again," said Hendrick.

The Woodland Mall store spokesman said thousands of people packed into the mall right at midnight, and mostly headed to Victoria's Secret, American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Bath and Body Works, and other stores in that section of the mall.

Toys R Us Shoppers Choose Deals.

2012-11-23T11:51:00.003-08:00

TOY R US

Toys R Us, the deals started with more than 200 door busters, including a $20 store gift card and $30 iTunes card with the purchase of an Apple iPod touch.

Electronics like the Nintendo Wii U and a “buy one, get one for $1″ deal on video games were some of the hot items that lured many of the early customers to the store.
“We called ahead to scope out how long the lines were,” said Jeremy Gervais, a 24-year-old New Yorker, who planned to head straight to the electronics section for a door buster deal offering a free Air Flo Controller with the purchase of a Sony P S 3 gaming console.
He had lined up four hours early to get the bundle.
Meanwhile, Heather Singleton, 34, also lined up early to get the WiiU, not to give as a gift — but to sell on eBay.
“I heard it’s really popular this year. We’ll decide later if we want to keep it or sell it to pay for our other Christmas gifts,” she said. She did the same with the Xbox and Wii in prior years, and was able to earn $50 to $100 each by reselling the items online after they were sold out in some stores.
Singleton also filled up two other shopping bags with toys for her son and 12 nephews and nieces, including flash card games, a mini plastic golf set for $7.50 and a Home Depot toy tool set, normally priced around $26, for $9.99.
Stores have been gunning to be the first to open for the big annual holiday sales. This year, Toys R Us and Walmart both opened at 8 p.m.
“Our customers love the earlier opening,” said Toys R Us CEO Jerry S torch.
Nationwide, fewer shoppers are expected in stores this Black Friday weekend, but sales are nevertheless expected to be strong.
Johnny Horowitz 21, plans to spend about $500 on gifts for his 4-year-old daughter Angelina, including a Leap Pad 2 tablet, Disney Princess dresses and a mermaid Dora the Explorer doll.
He works at a shoe store in Times Square and headed over to Toys R Us as soon as his shift was over.
“I spoil her. She’s my princess,” he said. “I worked all day today and I missed Thanksgiving to make sure I can get gifts for her. But it’s okay. There’s a plate of leftovers waiting for me when I get home.”

Pueblo's Kohl's and Colorado Springs' Best Buy fill with Black Friday customers

2012-11-23T11:45:00.002-08:00

While several stores still open early in the morning on Black Friday, some say Thanksgiving has been "Black Thursday."

Several stores like Walmart opened at eight last night and others at nine, but many chose to open at midnight, and we went to find out about the excitement.

Excitement abounded in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

As people yelled things like "Let's roll!" as they headed through store doors.

Waiting for great Black Friday deals means waiting for awhile in the cold.

"Since about eight o'clock," said Becky Domina, a Pueblo resident. "Doing it with the family. Had dinner. Came out and froze for a little bit."

Parking lots filled quickly, and of course there were ways to keep warm, especially with lots of hot chocolate.

It was all in anticipation of this...

"Alright are you ready?" a store manager at Kohl's asked those in line.

Of course, they all started yelling in excitement.

The doors open and the soon-to-be gifts quickly left places like Best Buy and Kohl's.

"It's been a little bit of fun, a little bit of chaos, a little bit of everything, but all at the same time, it's all about what's for the people, what we have to offer," Sherri Garbiso, a department manager at Kohl's. "Just to make it the most creative, and happy, and fun Christmas season for everybody."

Some say they were concerned about Black Friday starting so early.

Many refused to shop, but thousands of others in Southern Colorado still turned out.

Some even got help from family when it came to Turkey festivities.

"I got here at 2:30 today," said Serita Walsh, a shopper in Colorado Springs. "My wonderful mother brought me an entire Thanksgiving plate that I ate in front of everybody. I did! I was eating the turkey, and the mashed potatoes, and the sweet potatoes, I was like, 'Sorry, this is really good!'"

The main items most people wanted were electronics.

Topics: Black Friday, Kohl's, Best Buy, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, shop, shoppers, deals, savings, money, economy, Christmas

Colin Kaepernick creates Niners QB controversy

2012-11-20T09:19:00.004-08:00

the Chicago Bears. As 49ers quarterback Alex Smith stood on the sidelines watching backup Colin Kaepernick tear up the Bears in his first NFL start, he may have spotted his job security blowing away in the chilly Bay breeze.

As 49ers owner Jed York asked rhetorically following the game, "What do you think the headlines will be tomorrow?"

Smith, who fought hard to get back on the field following his concussion against the Rams but wasn't cleared by team doctors after taking a "contact test" on Sunday, obviously had his reasons. Though Smith ranks third in the NFL with a 104.1 passer rating, his mobile and strong-armed backup displayed a downfield dimension seldom seen in San Francisco since the Joe Montana/Steve Young glory days.

And while the late '80s/early '90s debates as to which of those future Hall of Famers should run the Niners' otherworldly offense may have been the Mother of All Quarterback Controversies, Smith vs. Kaepernick may turn out to be a bit better than a red-headed stepchild.

So, will Harbaugh hand the ball once again to Kaepernick at the Superdome on Sunday, and perhaps beyond? "We'll see," the coach said. "I usually tend to go with the guy who's got the hot hand, and we've got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand."

He's right: Smith, who seemed to be falling out of favor during a shaky effort in the Niners' previous nationally televised home night game exactly one month earlier, bounced back emphatically in his next two starts. His combined stats since struggling in that Thursday night victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick: 25 of 27 passes for 304 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

[More: Ed Reed suspended for repeated violations of 'defenseless player' policy]

It's hard to yank a guy playing that efficiently, especially based on Kaepernick's single-game sample size. Then again, the athletic second-year passer out of Nevada was really, really good, and it did not seem to be a fluky occurrence.

"He was ready," said 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, whose typically innovative game plan — which sometimes featured seven offensive linemen on the field — kept Chicago off balance.

Kaepernick's numbers (16-of-23, 243 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions) were impressive, especially given that they were compiled against the NFL's second-stingiest scoring defense coming in, but they did not reveal the depth of his excellence. The ball came off his hand with zip and authority; he made smart, confident decisions; and he attacked the opposing secondary without hesitation, something Smith isn't always encouraged or equipped to do.

It's also instructive to remember that, since this was a beat down of comprehensive proportions, a realistic cutoff point for studying Kaepernick's numbers should be with 11:05 remaining in the third quarter. His crafty, 10-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree gave the Niners (7-2-1) a 27-0 lead and essentially ended the game. At that point Kaepernick had completed 14 of 18 passes for 231 yards, and 69,732 fans at the 'Stick were contemplating cherry red No. 7 jerseys as possible Christmas presents.

To be fair, Kaepernick was better protected than British boy band One Direction, while Bears quarterback Jason Campbell absorbed six sacks — a stunning five-and-a-half of them by outside linebacker Aldon Smith. Campbell, playing for starter Jay Cutler (who'd suffered a concussion of his own in last Sunday night's defeat to the Texans), got swallowed up all night by the Niners' top-ranked scoring defense, which allowed Chicago (7-3) only 143 total yards.

In other words, the Niners likely could have won this game by employing the type of run-heavy, risk-averse attack they've so often asked Smith to administer during Harbaugh's two seasons as coach. Given that they came within an overtime defeat to the New York Giants last January of reaching the Super Bowl, that approach is not necessarily a non-starter.

However, if they go after opponents the way Kaepernick did Monday night, these Niners would be much better equipped to make a return trip to the Superdome come February.

They sure looked super from the start of Monday night's game. On San Francisco's first play from scrimmage, Kaepernick fired a hard, low, eight-yard completion to wideout Mario Manningham near the left sideline. Two plays later, with massive tackle Leonard Davis split wide in what looked like an optical illusion, Kaepernick found Vernon Davis downfield for a 22-yard gain.

"He put that ball right there," said the dynamic tight end, who caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. "I was like, 'Hey, we got Colin Kaepernick.' He went to work."

Kaepernick's most impressive endeavor came on San Francisco's second drive. Facing a third-and-7 from his own 40-yard line, he dropped back in the shotgun formation and noticed that the Bears were playing a Cover-1 defense (a man-to-man scheme with one safety helping over the top). He looked toward Davis, his first read, and saw that free safety Chris Conte was shading in the tight end's direction. So Kaepernick turned back to his right and lofted a gorgeous ball that fell into the hands of Williams, who caught it effortlessly for a 57-yard gain.

"Kyle's a great route-runner," Kaepernick said after the game as he dressed at his locker. "He has a lot of speed. I thought I'd give him a shot."

Kaepernick's three-yard touchdown pass to Davis on the following play gave the Niners a 10-0 lead. His other scoring pass — to Crabtree, on San Francisco's first drive of the second half — was especially impressive: On third-and-6 from the Chicago 10, Kaepernick dropped back and glanced to his right, then turned his head back to his left as the pocket collapsed. The quarterback scrambled left to buy time before firing a crisp pass to Crabtree, who had gained some separation from cornerback Charles Tillman in the left corner of the end zone.

"It's no secret, bro — that dude can play ball," Crabtree said. "It was too much for them. Colin's a baller. That's one dude I know I don't have to worry about."

What happens next is now Harbaugh's worry, beginning with Sunday's game against the surging Saints. The coach could go back to Smith, who was so prolific in the Niners' playoff victory over New Orleans last January. He could stick with Kaepernick and make the Saints prepare for a less-known quantity.

Asked about the "unwritten rule" that a player doesn't lose his job because of injury, Harbaugh replied, "We'll make that determination as we go. But, there's no rule."

A cynic would wonder if Harbaugh might evade the problem by urging team doctors not to clear Smith next week, something that, in fairness, could also happen without the coach's input. Certainly, Smith will be pushing hard to get back into the mix, given what he saw on Monday.

My belief is that Smith, once healthy, will remain the Niners' starter, though if he struggles in a given game — or even a given half — Harbaugh will be less hesitant to make a switch than the coach would have been before Monday.

It also seems highly plausible that, after this season, the Niners will build for a future with Kaepernick. That means Smith, the franchise's ultimate survivor since being drafted first overall in 2005, would likely be traded or released to pursue other options.

Even Maroney impressed by photo of her and Obama doing her now famous ‘not impressed’ face

2012-11-18T02:47:00.000-08:00

A photo of the Olympic gold medalist gymnast and President Barack Obama doing her now-famous “McKayla Maroney is not impressed” face went viral Saturday after the White House posted it on Twitter. The two took the picture Thursday when Maroney and her Fierce Five teammates visited the White House.

“He was the one who brought it up,” Maroney told The Associated Press. “We were about to leave and he said, ‘I want to talk to you one second about the face.’ He said, ‘I pretty much do that face at least once a day.’”

Maroney was photographed making the half scowl with her nose scrunched up while she was on the medals podium after winning silver on vault at the London Olympics. It spawned dozens of “McKayla Maroney is not impressed” memes — including one showing a photoshopped Maroney in the White House Situation Room on the night Osama Bin Laden was killed.

The “face” has become Maroney’s trademark. But it’s one thing for fans to ask her about it, quite another when the president does.

“I, like, freaked out,” Maroney said. “He said, ‘Let’s do it together.’ We took a picture and now it’s everywhere.”

The entire U.S. Olympic team visited the White House earlier this fall, but the Fierce Five missed it because they’re doing a 40-city nationwide tour. But the show, which ends Sunday in New York, was in Washington on Thursday night, so Maroney, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber got their own private visit.

The Fierce Five had talked to Obama in London, where they became just the second U.S. women’s team to win the Olympic title, and first since 1996. But it was neat to meet him in person, Maroney said.

“He’s the coolest person I ever met,” she said — which is saying something, considering the Fierce Five have hobnobbed with a Who’s Who of celebrities since London. “He’s got the hardest job in the entire world.”

Maroney had hinted on Twitter that she had done “the face” at the White House, saying, “Did I just do the Not Impressed face with the President.” But she didn’t know when — or even if — the White House was going to release the photo.

Her father saw it first and sent Maroney a text message. It wasn’t long before pretty much everyone was passing it around.

"Twilight: Breaking Dawn 2" $145M overseas could be even bigger

2012-11-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" is expected to take in $145 million in its U.S. debut this weekend, but it could be even bigger overseas.Summit Entertainment will roll out its "Twilight" franchise finale in more than 11,900 theaters in 61 foreign markets at the same time it opens in 4,070 locations in N-America.

Anticipation among "Twihards" - the film's mainly young and female fans - has been driven to fever pitch globally as well as in the U.S. Stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will appear for a final time in the teen romance set in the supernatural world of vampire and werewolves. The highly publicized real-life split - and subsequent reuniting - of Stewart and Pattinson earlier this year appears to have further stoked, rather than diminished, interest.

The film debuted in several European countries on Wednesday and took in nearly $14 million, posting the best bows of the year in Italy and France. Grosses are still being tabulated, but In those nations as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden, it set franchise records for single-day openings.

This will be the biggest "Twilight" movie ever at the box office and the foreign grosses will be the driving force, according to BoxOffice.com editor-in-chief Phil Contrino, who sees "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" passing the billion-dollar mark globally.

"These franchise films build and build overseas, and then they explode," Contrino said, and tracking and social media suggest "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" is ready to blow. The foreign haul could go as high as $800 million, Contrino said.

That would nearly double the international take of last year's "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which took in $423 million overseas on top of $281 million domestically for a $705 million worldwide gross. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" took in $709 million worldwide in 2009, with domestic accounting for $296 million and foreign $423 million.

In the U.S., demand for the film is so high that Summit has moved its midnight screenings up to 10 p.m. Thursday in many theaters to accommodate demand.

That will give it a shot at the biggest midnight bow ever, a mark currently held by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." That film - also a franchise finale - earned a staggering $43.5 million in midnight shows on about 3,800 screens last year, on its way to a $169.2 million opening weekend.

The online and social media trends for "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" are through the roof. Internet ticket seller Fandango on Thursday reported thousands of shows across the country sold out, and said that sales for "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" were accounting for 92 percent of its business going into the weekend. Two days before its debut, the film has been "liked" more 35.7 million times on Facebook, more than 10 million more than "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" at a similar stage.

The critics give director Bill Condon high marks but are lukewarm on "Breaking Dawn - Part 2." The positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and Movie Review Intelligence are both in the low 60s. But the critics didn't like the earlier "Twilight" films either, and if ever a movie was review-proof, this would be it. Just ask one of the more than 2,000 mostly female young people who camped out for days in anticipation of the L.A. premiere.

The overall weekend box office should be massive, with Sony's James Bond juggernaut "Skyfall" returning for a second week on 3,505 screens and expected to add another $45 million to its coffers.

It opened to $90 million in the U.S. last weekend and, aided by an $11 million haul on Veterans Day, now has a domestic total of more than $110 million.

The 23rd entry in the 007 franchise has already rolled up more than $540 million worldwide and is virtually assured of being the biggest money-earner in the 50-year history of the franchise.

In one of the year's biggest expansions, Disney is moving its Oscar hopeful "Lincoln" into 1,775 theaters, way up from the 11 locations it debuted in last weekend.

"That's more than we originally planned," Disney's head of distribution Dave Hollis told TheWrap, "because there was a lot of interest from exhibitors after the big opening last week."

"Lincoln" took in around $944,308 and averaged $85,846 per location, among the year's best specialty debuts, while setting theater records in Boston and Washington, D.C.\

Hollis is hoping "Lincoln" can average around $7,500 per screen this weekend, which would put it just north of $13 million for the three days. If things go well, Disney will add around 200 theaters on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

"We want to keep this film relevant all through the awards season,' Hollis said. "Lincoln" is considered a front-runner in the Best Picture Oscar race, and Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays the president, is considered a lock for a Best Actor nomination (he's won twice already). Steven Spielberg will be in the discussion for Best Director, too.

Striking Hostess Brands workers

2012-11-16T00:40:00.001-08:00

Striking Hostess Brands workers remained on the picket lines across the country Thursday night, refusing a company ultimatum to return to work or face the liquidation of the national baker.

The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread warned it would file a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to shutter operations if enough workers didn't end their weeklong strike by 5 p.m. ET Thursday.

The company is expected announce Friday whether it will follow through on that strategy. A shutdown would result in the loss of about 18,000 jobs.

Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, already has reached a contract agreement while in bankruptcy with its largest union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. But thousands of members in its second biggest union went on strike late last week after rejecting a contract offer that cut wages and benefits.

The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union said the company stopped contributing to workers' pensions last year, and the union wants pension benefits restored.

Production at about a dozen of the company's 33 plants has been seriously affected by the strike, said Lance Ignon, a Hostess spokesman.

He said a decision on liquidating the company may not come until Friday morning after it's had a chance to assess plant operations late Thursday.

"Do it, shut it down," a woman yelled at 5 p.m. Thursday from the picket line formed at the company's Indianapolis plant.

As many as 45 people in the picket line chanted, "No pension, no deal," as they walked a tight circle in the growing cold and gathering darkness.

Their picketing drew frequent supportive honks from passing drivers.

Wedrick Hollingsworth, business agent for Local 372-B of the bakers union, said union members took wage and benefit concessions four years ago and are unwilling to accept further wage cuts and reductions in health and pension benefits sought by the company. "It's just too much for these employees to accept. We gave concessions four years ago."

John Smith, a wrapper operator at the plant who has worked for Hostess for 22 years, said he's at peace with his decision to join the strikers. "You have to take a stand for what you believe in. They gave us a take-it-or-leave-it deal. We can't take the financial abuse."

Hollingsworth, warmly dressed in coveralls and a hooded sweatshirt, said union members would man the picket line outside the plant round-the-clock. Workers erected a tent and were burning wood fires in two grills to help stay warm.

Several private security officers watched the strikers from the gate of the plant, which normally runs its ovens 24 hours a day turning out bread, buns, mini-doughnuts and muffins.

The union business agent said he'd prefer to see Hostess sold.

"It's definitely got to be better than what this company's trying to implement. There are other bakeries out there looking to purchase some of these locations. These employees have the opportunity to go back in (under a new owner)."

Privately held Hostess filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade. The company cited increasing pension and medical costs for employees as one of the drivers behind its latest filing. Hostess contends workers must make concessions for it to exit bankruptcy and improve its financial position.

The company, founded in 1930, is fighting battles beyond labor costs, however. Competition is increasing in the snack market, while Americans are increasingly conscious about healthful eating. Hostess also makes Dolly Madison, Drake's and Nature's Pride snacks.

The Teamsters union is urging the bakers union to hold a secret ballot on whether to continue striking. Citing its financial experts who had access to the company's books, the Teamsters say that Hostess' warning of liquidation is "not an empty threat or a negotiating tactic" but a certain outcome if workers keep striking.

McCain’s claims

2012-11-15T06:11:00.002-08:00

As a biographer of Condoleezza Rice, The Fact Checker recalls she was confirmed by a vote of 85 to 13, which were the most negative votes cast for a Secretary of State in 180 years. (One of those “no” votes was from John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, who is vying with Susan Rice to be the nation’s top diplomat.Ironically, the key issue then was Condi Rice’s public use of intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. Now McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are seizing on Susan Rice’s citing of initial intelligence about the Benghazi attack to disqualify her.

Here’s what Condi Rice said on a Sunday television show in 2002, “We know that he [Saddam Hussein] has the infrastructure, nuclear scientists to make a nuclear weapon. The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.”

No weapons of mass destruction, let alone nuclear weapons, were ever found.

But in 2005, McCain and Graham fiercely defended Condi Rice from Democratic attacks of “lying,” arguing she had been misled by intelligence. “I can only conclude we're doing this for no other reason than because of lingering bitterness at the outcome of the elections.” McCain complained when Condi Rice’s nomination came to a vote.

Let’s not forget that Condi Rice was also central to the Bush administration’s policy on Iraq, whereas as Susan Rice, as U.N. ambassador, appears to be on a periphery on Libya.

Still, when Susan Rice made her appearance on the Sunday shows back in September, we were critical and awarded her Two Pinocchios, saying “the publicly available evidence stands in stark contrast to Rice’s talking points.” But the White House sharply disputed that conclusion and said it was too early to hand out any Pinocchios.

We also produced a lengthy timeline that documented how long the administration avoided saying the attack in Libya was a terrorist act.

McCain’s comments gives us a chance to revisit Susan Rice’s remarks, as there has been additional reporting that has shed some new light on what was known at the time. Is McCain correct in his characterization of Rice’s remarks?

Channing Tatum named People's Sexiest Man Alive 2012

2012-11-14T11:05:00.002-08:00

Channing Tatum

Following the box office success of “Magic Mike,” it’s no wonder Channing Tatum is taking home this year’s coveted title of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2012.

But the choice wasn't so obvious to the 32-year-old actor himself.

In fact, Tatum tells the magazine, he had to do a double-take when he heard the news.

“My first thought was, ‘Ya’ll are messing with me,’” he said. “I told (my wife) Jenna (Dew-an-Tatum) after we’d been in the bathtub washing our dogs because they’d gotten skunked.

“She was like, ‘What?’ … she calls me [the Sexiest Man Alive] now.”

Once she got past the initial shock, however, Dew-an Tatum, 31, told the magazine she couldn't agree more with their choice.

“People know him to be fun and sexy, but they don’t know how emotionally deep and spiritually open he is,” she said of her husband of three years. “He is such an open-hear-ted person; what you see is what you get.”

Not that the “Magic Mike” actor, who is set to star as an Olympic athlete in upcoming film “ Fox catcher,” isn't aware of his appeal as a hunky leading man on-screen.

“I like to be lean. If I get too bulky I can’t move well and I like to move,” he said of how he keeps his toned body in shape. “When I’m not training, I get really round and soft.”

In addition to acting, Tatum also sculpts, quotes Edgar Allen Poe and loves to give his wife massages, People reports.

The Alabama native is also looking to start his own clan of good-looking children.

“I’m ready; I think she’s ready,” he said of taking the next step. “The first number that pops into my head is three, but I just want one to be healthy and then we’ll see where we go after that.

“It’s really easy for us guys to say, ‘I want like 15 kids.’ Jenna will be like, ‘Well you better get another wife!’”

Hope Solo, Stevens in altercation,jerramy stevens

2012-11-14T09:39:00.002-08:00

SEATTLE -- On the morning before they were supposed to be married, U.S. women's soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo and former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens were involved in an altercation that left Stevens in jail and their wedding plans up in the air, police said.

Stevens was arrested early Monday for fourth-degree domestic violence assault but was not charged. He was eventually released when a Kirkland Municipal Court judge ruled there was no evidence connecting him to an assault.

Kirkland police said the case was still under investigation, and charges could be brought later if prosecutors and police find other evidence, a police spokesman told The Associated Press.

Stevens, 33, and Solo, 31, applied for a marriage license Thursday, according to King County records. The couple, who have been in a relationship for two months, were reportedly set to be married on Tuesday.

In the police report, Stevens said he and Solo had been arguing over whether they would live in Washington or Florida after the marriage.

Solo appeared in the courtroom on Tuesday, but left without saying anything to reporters, according to KING-TV.

A call to a number listed for Stevens in court documents went unanswered. A message left at a listed number for Solo was not immediately returned, the AP reported.

Police in Kirkland responded to a disturbance at a home around 3:45 a.m. Monday involving a physical altercation between eight people during a party, said Kirkland Police Lt. Mike Murray.

He said officers contacted several people in the home who appeared intoxicated and didn't cooperate with police, but determined based on information and observations that there was probable cause to arrest Stevens for investigation of fourth-degree assault. Murray didn't identify the alleged victim, but court records show it was Solo, who received a cut to her elbow.

Court documents show that Solo's 34-year-old brother, Marcus, called 911, and that he and Solo told officers there was a party and blamed the disturbance on two to three unknown men who were at the party. Marcus Solo told police he used a stun gun on one of the men, who left the party before police arrived, according to court records.

According to court documents, a police officer found Stevens, "who appeared to be hiding," lying between the bed and the wall in an upstairs bedroom. Stevens told officers he was sleeping on the floor and didn't hear the fight. The officer saw signs of a fight, and dried blood on Stevens' shirt.

The officer noted in his affidavit for probable cause for arrest that he arrested Stevens based on his admission that he argued with Hope Solo, the injury to her elbow, signs of a fight in the bedroom where Stevens was found, and blood on Stevens' shirt.

One 32-year-old woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of a hip injury, and another man suffered multiple bumps, scrapes and contusions, Murray said.

"If officers find that an assault may have taken place, then we have to make an arrest on who we determine is the primary aggressor," Murray said.

Stevens was selected with the No. 28 pick of the 2002 draft by the Seattle Seahawks after playing at the University of Washington. But he also was involved in incidents away from football that included reckless driving charges for crashing into a nursing home.

He was mostly a first-round bust with the Seahawks, except for the 2005 season when he started a career-high 12 games and had 45 receptions as the Seahawks won the NFC championship.

He also was arrested on reckless driving charges in 2003 in a Seattle suburb and in 2007 when he was charged with driving under the influence in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stevens' most recent arrest came in 2010, while he was playing for Tampa Bay; he was arrested the night before a game for possession of marijuana. He was released almost immediately by the team.

'Car of the Year' "Tesla Model S"

2012-11-13T20:38:00.001-08:00

The super-stylish, super-sporty, and super-green Tesla Model S sedan is this year's Motor Trend Car of the Year, the automotive magazine announced this week.
The selection of an all-electric vehicle as Car of the Year is a first for Motor Trend and Tesla's Model S
beat out other finalists such as the Porsche Boxster, BMW 3-series, Lexus GS, and Subaru BRZ, Tesla Motors said.
Motor Trend said Tesla faced tough competition in the selection process but in the end, only the Model S was a unanimous selection for the honor by all participating judges.
The award could prove the capper on a stunning year for Tesla and especially for its high-profile chairman and CEO, Elon Musk. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based automaker began delivering Model S vehicles to customers in June, with the new luxury sedan quickly building on the excitement generated by the company's first available all-electric, plug-in automobile, the original Tesla Roadster.
Musk, meanwhile, is also co-founder and CEO of SpaceX, the aerospace venture that this year became the first private company to successfully orchestrate a supply run to the International Space Station using its own rocket and capsule. SpaceX has been contracted by NASA to make a dozen supply runs to the ISS in the next few years.
The Model S is a four-door, full-size luxury sedan with rear-wheel drive and a rear-positioned three-phase AC induction motor. The base model, currently being manufactured in Fremont, Calif., sports a 40 kW-h battery pack, can travel up to 160 miles on a single charge, and starts at $58,570. Tesla also released about 1,000 limited-edition Signature and Signature Performance Model S sedans with an 85 kWh battery pack good for between 265 and 300 miles on one charge, priced at $95,400 and $105,400, respectively.

Google Nexus 4 sold out at U.S. Google Play store

2012-11-13T20:33:00.001-08:00

Just minutes after going on sale in the United States, the new Nexus 4 smartphone from Google and LG was already sold out. Visitors to the Google Play store are greeted with a "coming soon" notice for both the 8GB and 16GB versions of the device.

The phones previously sold out in the United Kingdom in less than an hour. Some customers reported having trouble accessing the store or checking out successfully. Meanwhile, Dutch blog AndroidWorld reported that a planned Netherlands launch was scrapped amid high demand elsewhere.
It's unclear how many units Google was able to produce by launch time. The Nexus 4 won praise for its low $299 starting price, the fact that it arrived without a contract, and for subtle improvements in the Android 4.2 operating system, which it is the first phone to run. But itLG Nexus 4 drew criticism for failing to run on 4G LTE networks.
The expanded Nexus 7 lineup and the new Nexus 10 tablet, which also went on sale in the United States today, were still available for purchase in all their configurations.

Yahoo's Fantasy Football Servers Down

2012-11-12T00:03:00.002-08:00

Fantasy football participants venturing to Yahoo! for some last-minute lineup tweaks or anything else were hit with a rude awakening on Sunday, as the site's fantasy football servers were down just prior to the morning games.

The site appears to be getting back online as we move on, which is certainly a good thing, but the damage has been done.
Eight games kicked off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. That is 16 teams' worth of fantasy options that Yahoo! participants did not get the option of adjusting and tweaking.

This is especially painful for fantasy players like me, who typically wait until the last second to set a lineup for the week.

This is going to present some serious problems going forward. There is often much more than just bragging rights riding on fantasy football, and now there is a whole week's worth of results that will have giant asterisks.

This tweeter presents a solid option for a bad situation.

Obviously, this was an inopportune time for Yahoo! to experience difficulty, as this tweeter points out:

Auguste Rodin's 172nd birthday

2012-11-12T00:01:00.002-08:00

Google doodles today to celebrate the popular French sculptor Auguste Rodin's 172nd birthday.

Francois-Auguste-Rene Rodin, better known as Auguste Rodin was born into a working-class family in Paris on 12 November 1840.

Auguste Rodin has an inclination towards art from his early age and pursued drawing and painting at the Petite Ecole, a school specializing in art and mathematics.

His first sculpture was displayed in 1864 with the subject The Man with the Broken Nose, to the Paris Salon. It was an unconventional bronze piece of art work that emphasized the emotional state and texture of the subject. But unfortunately, his first work was rejected.

Among his various works, the best known included The Thinker and The Kiss.

Today's Auguste Rodin doodle commemorates the sculpture The Thinker (1879-1889) which is among the most recognized creation of his works. It is a marble and bronze sculpture and is now in the Musee Rodin in Paris.

'The Thinker' depicts a man in sober meditation and often interpreted as philosophy. It is represented in many public places.

Rodin is appreciated for his manner of dealing with the subject and muse.

He hardly considered conventional academic postures as his inspiration rather preferred his sculpture to move naturally.

Rodin also emphasized to capture the intellectual force of his subject.

Thus to commemorate Rodin's artistic legacy and celebrate his 172nd birthday on November 12th, 2012, Google has displayed a doodle featuring The Thinker on its homepage.

"Alabama Football": How Nick Saban, Tide Can Still Make the BCS Title Game

2012-11-11T04:41:00.005-08:00

Alabama, the team that was considered the best in all of college football for the majority of the regular season, has now lost a game. The newbie of the SEC, Texas A&M, found a way to knock off the Crimson Tide in a competitive matchup that ended with a score of 29-24.

It is the first loss for head coach Nick Saban in a little over a year.

There will be no undefeated season for this club, but this is a program that always has its mind on national championships. And while it may be hard to understand at this point, it would be foolish to count this team out of the national championship conversation even with one loss.

Here is why Alabama still has a good chance to make the big game and make everybody happy again in Tuscaloosa.

There are now three undefeated teams left in Notre Dame, Oregon and Kansas State. While many don't agree that a one-loss program should jump an undefeated team, that's life in the BCS and could happen regardless of what Notre Dame does.

The Irish do have four wins over ranked opponents, but every one of those teams has looked shaky throughout the year, really hurting the team in the polls. Notre Dame has also struggled to beat subpar opponents such as Purdue, BYU and Pittsburgh. There is a reason the Leprechauns haven't made much progress in the BCS rankings and were the lowest of the previous four undefeated teams at the top of the rankings.

Even if the Irish do finish the season undefeated, it is hard to see this team finishing in the Top Two of the BCS. We also can't overlook a USC club that plays Notre Dame at the end of the season, as the Trojans have a realistic shot to pull off a victory, eliminating this team from the conversation altogether.

If you add an SEC championship to Alabama's resume, Nick Saban and company will easily jump this program with the Irish not having a conference championship game to participate in.

Veterans Day: A USA Tradition

2012-11-11T04:40:00.002-08:00

November 11 is Veterans Day in the U.S. – a federal holiday to honor all military personnel who have served the U.S. in all wars.

This is the first Veterans Day since the last U.S. troops left Iraq in December. The holiday this year is also a chance for Americans to thank the rapidly shrinking population of World War Two veterans.

The U.S. president places a wreath every Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Communities across America traditionally hold Veterans Day observances and ceremonies. Federal offices will be closed Monday in recognition of the holiday.

Veterans Day – originally called Armistice Day – was first observed in 1919. One year earlier, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations took effect.

Britain honored its war dead Sunday – Remembrance Day – with a moment of silence at 11 a.m., local time.

Aftershock hits northern Myanmar hours after strong quake leaves 12 feared dead

2012-11-11T04:36:00.001-08:00

YANGON, Myanmar – The U.S. Geological Society is reporting a 5.8-magnitude aftershock has hit northern Myanmar hours.
It came after a strong earthquake Sunday morning damaged several Buddhist pagodas, collapsed a bridge and a gold mine and left 12 people feared dead.
There are no initial reports of casualties or damage from the latest aftershock Sunday evening.

Alabama Football: Texas A&M Downs Crimson Tide 29-24

2012-11-10T17:20:00.002-08:00

The Alabama Crimson Tide’s hopes for a repeat performance in the BCS national championship game were snatched out of the air by a Texas A&M defender as the Aggies came into Tuscaloosa and defeated the defending champions by a final of 29-24.

The Aggies jumped on Alabama from the start, sprinting to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter. A&M freshman sensation Johnny Manziel was spectacular, going 24 of 31 for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Alabama made a game of it, dominating the second quarter and closing the gap to six, then scoring the only points of the third quarter with a Jeremy Shelley field goal from 28-yards out.
But in the end, the offensive woes of the LSU game were in evidence in this game. AJ McCarron’s streak of passes without an interception was broken, with the Tide quarterback throwing two picks. McCarron went 21 of 34 for 309 yards and one fourth-quarter touchdown to freshman Amari Cooper.
The offensive game plan will be questioned, with Alabama going pass-heavy the entire game. Alabama had a mere 126 yards on the ground, with Eddie Lacy getting 16 carries for 92 yards.
Despite being outdueled on offense, Alabama was in great position to win the game late, with a first-and-goal deep in Aggie territory, but after a scramble by AJ McCarron to set up a fourth-and-goal, McCarron threw a quick screen to TJ Yeldon that was picked off, ending the drive.
After a defensive stop, Alabama forced an Aggie punt that would have given the Crimson Tide the ball with less than a minute to play, but Alabama lined up in the neutral zone, drawing an offsides penalty that gave Texas A&M a first down. A&M was then able to run out the clock and seal the win.
After the emotional come-from-behind win last week against LSU, it appears Alabama did not have enough left in the tank to answer the challenge. Offensive mistakes doomed Alabama, and going to the air so often will be second-guessed in the days to come.
Alabama is now all but out of the hunt for a fifteenth national championship. Three undefeated teams are still in the running, and Alabama will drop in the polls. If there’s any bright spot, Alabama next plays Western Carolina before hosting Auburn.

Justin Bieber dating Victoria Secret model Barbara Palvin?

2012-11-10T11:13:00.002-08:00

Victoria Secret model Barbara Palvin has created an Internet buzz after rumors that she may be dating Justin Bieber surfaced. The 2012 Victoria Secret Fashion Show took place Wednesday night and Justin Bieber attended the show; then the couple was seen together Thursday night at the Lion King on Broadway in New York. Palvin has become more famous for dating Bieber than for her modeling career with Victoria’s Secret and her other modeling gigs.

Bieber has been dating Selena Gomez and Barbara Palvin has dated Kristof Somfai.

Barbara Palvin, 19, is Hungarian and grew up in Budapest, Hungary and she has modeled for Armani Exchange, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, and Pull and Bear; she was also an ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. She is number 40 on the models.com list of the top 50 female models.

"Paula Broadwell" takes media spotlight

2012-11-10T10:35:00.002-08:00

Fascination with Paula Broadwell, the woman linked to Gen. David Petraeus’s resignation from his post as director of the CIA, mounted early this weekend as details about her surfaced.
Her name was the top search on Google from late Friday through Saturday morning, with more than
1,000,000 searches for the woman who according to two sources cited by the Associated Press was the partner in an affair discovered through an FBI investigation, after the agency learned she may have had access to Petraeus’s personal email account.

Hours after the news broke, the New York Times already had a profile posted, followed by several follow-up pieces in The Daily Beast and the Huffington Post.
Broadwell was the four-star general’s biographer, the co-author of the book “All In: The Education of General David Petraeus.” She has a number of media appearances under her belt, including one on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
In that January appearance, Broadwell discussed the book and more broadly her relationship with Petraeus, including a segment where when asked if the general had “let his guard down” during her time with him, she said there were “no secrets” to come out.
(Also on POLITICO: A long fall for Petraeus)
She also called Petraeus her “mentor” and revealed that she called him “Peaches” — a nickname that reportedly dates to Petraeus’s high-school days. While embedded in Afghanistan for book research, Broadwell often accompanied Petraeus on five-mile runs, a habit through which Petraeus often talked with younger recruits and members of the media.
In September, Broadwell appeared to play the role of spokeswoman for the general: when the Daily Princetonian asked for her comment on a story, she responded,“Gen. Petraeus is going to send some thoughts which I’ll pass along to you this afternoon,” according to an account from Princeton University’s paper.

Rumors have circulated for some time about possible infidelity on the part of Petraeus, according to multiple reports.
He addressed CIA employees in a statement Friday that condemned his own actions.

“After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours,” the statement said.

Broadwell, a North Dakota native, now lives in a posh Charlotte, N.C. neighborhood, with her two sons and her husband, a radiologist, according to news reports.

“She met Petraeus in 2006 when he spoke at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she was a graduate student,” The Charlotte Observer reported in January. “When she told him about her research interests, he handed her his card and offered his help. ‘He really cares about mentoring,’ she says. Later, with his cooperation, she began a doctoral dissertation that included a case study of his leadership.”

Walmart's Black Friday 2012

2012-11-09T08:15:00.004-08:00

Black Friday sales have been starting earlier and earlier every year, and in recent years, a few brave retailers have broken the midnight threshold to open their doors late in the evening on Thanksgiving. On Thursday morning, Walmart (WMT) threw down a new gauntlet: It announced it would open its doors at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving evening.

That's the earliest the nation's biggest retailer has ever opened for Black Friday. So far, Walmart is only being matched this year by Sears (SHLD), which also announced an 8 p.m. Thursday opening in its circular. However, some other major chains have yet to announce their Black Friday plans, so we wouldn't be surprised to see some of Walmart's other competitors announce similar hours in the name of keeping up with the Waltons.

The 8 p.m. opening is probably not so early that it will interfere with anyone's traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but early enough to preempt another Thanksgiving custom: Watching football. While the day's earlier games in Detroit and Dallas won't lose viewers to the sales, the traditional post-dinner evening game -- this year, a matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Jets -- kicks off at 8:30 p.m. And that means, in some households, gathering around the TV in a post-turkey daze will be replaced by lining up at the local Walmart to grab the best deals.

And there are certainly some terrific deals to be had for those willing to skip the game, or whatever other activity you used to enjoy in your tryptophan haze. Walmart's announcement mentions a number of doorbuster deals, including an LG Blu-ray player for $38, an Emerson 32-inch TV for $148 and an Apple iPad 2 plus a $75 Walmart gift card for $399.

While doorbusters are usually limited in quantity, Walmart says that for those three products in particular, it can guarantee supplies will last for all shoppers in the store or in line between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Other deals include the Nintendo Wii for $89 (not to be confused the next-generation Wii U, arriving Nov. 18) and a six-quart Crock Pot for under $10.

In the Black Friday circular posted to its site, Sears features a 32-inch TV for just $97 and 50% off cases for the Nook Simple Touch for Thanksgiving night shoppers. Those who show up on Friday -- starting as early as 4 a.m. -- can get a 9.99 Craftsman electric drill/screwdriver.

While the early start to shopping will rub some traditionalists the wrong way, it's worth noting that an 8 p.m. opening has at least one advantage over the midnight opening: It let's shoppers grab their deals and still get to bed at a reasonable hour. On the other hand, Walmart employees working that day will have less time to spend with their families on Thanksgiving. That's sure to further aggravate employees already threatening to walk off the job on Black Friday in protest of working conditions.

Note: A previous version of this article indicated that the Sears' Black Friday was unconfirmed to this point. The article was updated at 3:22 p.m. to reflect the fact that the ad has been posted to Sears' official site.

Tennessee NCAAA Tennessee State University freshman dies after collapsing on the field player, 19, collapses, dies

2012-11-09T08:04:00.002-08:00

A NCAA player, 19, collapses, dies State freshman defensive back has collapsed during practice and was later declared dead at a hospital.

William Wayne Jones III, a freshman walk-on from Smyrna, Tenn., had just caught a ball and was throwing it to defensive backs coach Ed Sanders when he collapsed Wednesday afternoon. Trainers found the 19-year-old Jones unconscious with no pulse.

He was taken to Baptist Hospital where he died at approximately 6:50 p.m. EST, according to a statement posted on the school's athletic website.

Athletic director Teresa Phillips called it a very tragic day for Tennessee State and said in a statement that the university community is devastated by Jones' death.

The Tigers (8-2) have an open date Saturday and conclude the regular season Nov. 17 at Tennessee Martin.