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Target Launches Mobile Gift Cards

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 23:06:00 EST

Target shoppers no longer have to carry their Target gift cards in order to redeem them. Target has launched the Target Mobile GiftCard, which lets Target shoppers save gift card information to a PIN-secure account on the Target.com mobile site. Customers can use a mobile phone with Internet capabilities to retrieve GiftCard barcodes for scanning at checkout. Target shoppers can add value to the Target Mobile GiftCards at store registers and check balances at any time via the Target.com mobile site.

"The addition of Mobile GiftCards to our suite of mobile shopping solutions further simplifies the Target experience for our guests," said Steve Eastman, President of Target.com.

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Super Bowl 44 Was Most Watched TV Program Ever

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:41:00 EST

Super Bowl 44 was the most watched tv program in U.S. history. The BBC reports that the viewership of 106.5 million people eclipsed that of the Mash final in 1983.

The figure tops the 1983 finale of medical drama M*A*S*H which drew 105.97 million viewers. The previous Super Bowl record was last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona, watched by 98.7 million.

There had been much interest in the game between The Colts - considered the favourites after winning the title just three years ago - and The Saints who were appearing in their first NFL title game.

The Saints' resurgence had been seen as a mirror of the ongoing recovery of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the underdogs' story propelled viewership.

The Super Bowl was extra compelling because of the New Orleans Saints. Many people were hoping the Saints would pull of the upset because it would be a good thing for the city of New Orleans, which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

Posted in Sports

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Rachel Roy and Estelle Collaborate for Capsule Jewelry Collection

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:15:00 EST

Designer Rachel Roy has partnered with Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Estelle to create a capsule jewelry collection exclusively for the Rachel Rachel Roy brand. The jewelry includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. The collection ranges in price from $34 to $195 and will be available at select Macy's and online at macys.com and rachelroy.com in March.

Estelle said, "What I love about Rachel is that her look is unpredictable. One day she'll be in a cocktail dress and the next day she'll be in flats and a little jacket. No matter what she's wearing, it always looks appropriate. Rachel has great style and I loved collaborating with her on this line."

Posted in Jewelry

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Brooklyn Decker is the Face of La Senza's Valentine Lingerie

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 21:44:00 EST

The Daily Mail reports that swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker - the wife of US tennis star Andy Roddick - is the new face of of La Senza's Valentine lingerie. La Senza's website can be found here.

Posted in Fashion

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UK Company Named X2 to Launch iTablet

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 21:15:00 EST

If Apple is going to use a laughable name like the iPad for its tablet device, then another company is going to come along and use the iTablet name. Wired reports a UK company named X2 is going to use the iTablet name for its upcoming tablets. The tablets will come out in April in two touchscreen sizes, 10.2 inches and 10.7 inches. The tablets are powered by Windows 7 and Linux

The iTablet also has items the iPad is missing including HDMI output, three USB ports and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. Other features include Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and a 250GB hard drive. No details on pricing have been given.

(via Pocket Lint)

Posted in Tech

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Walmart and Best Buy Exit Used Video Games Business

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:25:00 EST

Walmart and Best Buy both decided to try out used video game sales last year. Now they are both exiting the business and shutting down used games kiosks. This should make Gamestop more comfortable. Industry Gamers cites Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia as saying the used games sales from the kiosks were "underwhelming."

Dearlerscope says the company behind the trade-in kiosks, e-Play LLC, has ceased operations.

Posted in Games

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Heart-Shaped Sunglasses at Juicy Couture

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:03:00 EST

Juicy Couture is selling these heart-shaped sunglasses. The glasses have pink plastic frames, heart-shaped, gradient lenses and contrasting earpieces. They offer 100% UV protection. They can be purchased here for $98.

For a lower price heart-shaped sunglasses option, Fredflare is selling Sweatheart Sunnies here for $11.

Posted in Valentine's Day

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Boeing's Largest 747 Plane Takes First Test Flight

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:15:00 EST

Businessweek reports that Boeing's largest ever 747, the 747-8, took its very first test flight today.

"People are really excited about this," Brian Johnson, deputy test program manager for the 747-8, said before the jet's flight today. "It's been a long haul to get these two planes up in the air."

The 747-8 jumbo jet has Boeing's longest commercial wing, supporting a stretched fuselage that will have 16 percent more room in the freighter model, which is the variant that flew today and will be the first delivered. The passenger version can accommodate 51 extra seats and 26 percent more cargo volume.

The AP says the jumbojet measures 250 feet long, which is 18 feet longer than current jumbo 747s. Take a look:

You can learn more about the new airplane here on Boeing's newairplane.com website.

Image: Boeing

Posted in Travel

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Scarlett Johansson Designs Handbag for Haiti

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:40:00 EST

Actress Scarlett Johansson has designed a handbag to help raise funds for Oxfam's response to the Haiti earthquake. The print on the handbag represents the ancient cartography of Haiti. It contains the message "supporting the people of Haiti" and is signed by Scarlett.

Scarlett Johansson's Haiti handbag will be sold in all Mango stores worldwide. The selling price will be $29.90. Scarlett Johansson is also the face of Mango. You can see her recent Mango campaigns here and here.

Scarlett Johansson says, "I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mango to promote conscious consumerism and to benefit Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. By purchasing this bag, which I specially designed, you are helping to provide life saving assistance like clean water to the people of Haiti."

Posted in Handbags

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American Eagle May Close Martin + Osa Stores

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

The Wall Street Journal reports that American Eagle may close its Martin + Osa stores. The WSJ says the decision on whether or not to close down the stores will come next month when American Eagle reports its fourth quarter earnings. Martin + Osa's sales could be drag on American Eagle's fourth quarter earnings.

Martin + Osa is depressing American Eagle's bottom line as the concept stores, meant to appeal to 28- to 40-year-olds, lost its president late last year and American Eagle Chief Executive Jim O'Donnell was a bit non-committal about the stores' future at a recent industry gathering.

The stores are making progress, with design and production processes having improved, Mr. O'Donnell told attendees at an industry conference on Jan. 13. "It is also important that we continue to differentiate the Martin + Osa brand within the competitive landscape as well as create an emotional connection with the customers."

But Mr. O'Donnell implied the money-losing unit may not yet have achieved its goal, saying, "We are still evaluating our plans and we'll provide additional information...during our fourth quarter earnings call."

A report in DDi magazine first suggested American Eagle may close its 28 Martin + Osa stores. There is also a report here in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Martin + Osa President Laura Dubin-Wander recently left the company, which has fueled speculation that the stores could soon close.

Photo: Martin + Osa

Posted in Retail

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Take Maddox to the Super Bowl

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:22:00 EST

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and son Maddox had a fun time at the Super Bowl game on Sunday. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie even exchanged a kiss in full view of the paparazzi at the game. Brad Pitt was probaly very happy that New Orleans won. Maddox was wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey at the game. Take a look:

Posted in Celebrity

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Barnes and Noble's Nook to Go on Sale on February 10th

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST

Reuters reports that Barnes & Noble is finally going to start selling its Nook ebook reading device. The device was delayed in December after Barnes & Noble failed to get enough of the devices in its stores. The Nook will go on sale in Barnes & Noble stores on February 10th. This date allows Barnes & Noble to give the Nook a Valentine's Day push.

Barnes & Nobles, based in New York, said it was shipping Nook e-readers to the majority of its stores beginning this week, with devices on sale in stores as of February 10.

The Nook's in store debut, originally expected in December, was delayed after Barnes & Noble sold out of the device before the holidays and was unable to get production sufficiently ramped up.

The Nook costs $259, which is the same prices as Amazon.com's Kindle. Amazon.com is also promoting its Kindle as a Valentine's Day gift. Both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com are currently running free shipping offers with ebook reader orders.

Posted in Tech

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Super Bowl Ads: Megan Fox's Motorola Ad

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 15:25:00 EST

Megan Fox took a bubble bath in an outdoor bathtub for a Motorola commercial that ran during the Super Bowl. In the commerical, Megan sends out a photograph of herself sitting in the bathtub using her Motorola phone containing Motorblur software. Widespread chaos ensues as men receive the photograph on their cellphones. Take a look:

The Daily Mail says a hand model was used during the commercial.

Posted in Celebrity

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Observation Deck Closes Temporarily on Burj Khalifa Tower

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST

The BBC reports that the observation deck on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building has been closed for repairs. The building opened to fireworks just a month ago. The BBC says the tower's builder, Emaar Properties, gives an "unexpectedly high number of visitors" and power supply problems for closing down the tower's observation deck.

The tower's website explains what the observation deck experience is like.

Begin your vertical ascent to the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 metres per second. As the doors open, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. By night, sparkling lights and stars compete for your attention.

Special telescopes provide virtual time-travel visions of the scenes beyond and below. You'll see close-up real-time views as well as the past and the future, by day and by night. You can also walk the entire perimeter for the most comprehensive views. If you wish, adventure outside onto the open-air terrace to enjoy another perspective of the sweeping views below.

Tickets cost $30 if purchased in advance or $100 if purchased at the tower. A date for the reopening of the observation deck has not been given.

Posted in Travel

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Study Links Sweetened Soft Drinks to Increased Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:25:00 EST

Reuters reports that a study of 60,000 people in Singapore found that people who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a significantly higher risk of pancreatic cancer.

People who drank mostly fruit juice instead of sodas did not have the same risk, the study of 60,000 people in Singapore found.

Sugar may be to blame but people who drink sweetened sodas regularly often have other poor health habits, said Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota, who led the study.

"The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," Pereira said in a statement.

CTV News reports that the study found an 87% higher risk of developing cancer for those who drank two or more soft drinks per week. No higher risk was found for those drinking fruit juice. Pancreatic cancer kills about 34,290 in the U.S. each year on average.

Posted in Health

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Audi's A3 TDI and TS Vehicles Featured in Green Police Super Bowl Ad

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:25:00 EST

The T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicle was featured in last night's Super Bowl XLIV broadcast. Four of T3's vehicles were featured in a 60-second commercial by Audi entitled "Green Police." The commercial main focus was to promote Audis' diesel wagon, the A3 TDI. Cheap Trick also rewrote the lyrics to their hit song, "Dream Police," for the soundtrack to the commercial which aired in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Take a look:

Posted in Auto

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Denny's Offering Free Grand Slam Breakfast on Tuesday

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 10:40:00 EST

Denny's is offering another free Original Grand Slam breakfast again this year. During last year's giveaway, Denny's fed two million people at restaurants nationwide. The Grand Slam contains pancakes, eggs, bacon strips and sausage links. The free offer runs Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 from 6 a.m. through 2 p.m. Denny's ran some ridiculous chicken ads during yesterday's Super Bowl to promote the free offer. You can find more about the offer on Denny's website.

Posted in Food

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Alice + Olivia Designs For Keds

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

WWD reports that Alice + Olivia is designing a limited edition line of sneakers for Keds.

Alice + Olivia founder Stacey Bendet created a version of Keds' classic Champion style inspired by her spring collection. Available in four colors -- black, silver, pale pink and safari green -- each slip-on shoe is adorned with colored sequins and retails for $88.

"I don't think I removed Keds from my feet as a kid," Bendet said. "I can't even count how many pairs I had. We decided to do a collaboration that would bring a little Alice + Olivia fun to the 2010 Keds Champion."

*****

The Alice + Olivia collaboration is the first step Keds is taking in repositioning itself as a modern, fashion-forward brand. It plans to partner with other designers and artists who "can bring their own unique vision and creativity to the iconic Champion silhouette," said Keds president Kristen Kohler Burrows.

The shoes are adorable and are just perfect for summer. The line will be called Alice + Olivia for Keds and will be sold at Neiman Marcus this spring. Later on, the line will be available at other retailers and at aliceandolivia.com.

Posted in Shoes

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Super Bowl Ad: Clydesdale Fence

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 06:15:00 EST

Budweiser's Clydesdale Fence ad was the cutest Super Bowl ad this year. An adorable Clydesdale colt and a longhorn calf become friends and love to race. The theme of the ad is "a Clydesdale friendship cannot be contained." Take a look:

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Kitty Halftime Show at Puppy Bowl VI

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 05:55:00 EST

The Kitty Halftime Show at Animal Planet's annual Puppy Bowl is always entertaining. The idea was to create a kitty paradise full of toys for the kittens. Most of the kittens are enjoying themselves and having a great time playing with the toys. However, a couple kittens look a little overwhelmed or scared. A lot of people probably find this more entertaining than the Super Bowl. Take a look at all the cute kittens:

You can see videos of Ktty Halftime shows from previous years here.

Posted in Pets

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Super Bowl Ad: Worst Super Bowl Party Ever With Dave, Oprah and Jay

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 05:30:00 EST

Dave Letterman is not happy with how his Super Bowl turned out. He is watching the game in this funny Super Bowl ad with Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. Missing from the clever commercial is Conan O'Brien as many have been noting on Twitter. Take a look:

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Dear John Wins Weekend Box Office. Avatar Falls to Number 2

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:55:00 EST

Avatar was finally knocked off the top of the weekend box office charts by Dear John. Dear John is a romantic drama based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. It made $32.4 million in spite of reviews that were not so great. Avatar fell to second place and added another $23.6 million to its massive box office total. Avatar has made over $2.2 billion worldwide. Coming in third place this weekend was From Paris with Love, a thriller starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. From Paris With Love was followed by Edge of Darkness and The Rock's Tooth Fairy.

You can view the full box office chart for the weekend here.

Posted in Movies

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Super Bowl Ads: HomeAway's Hotel Hell Vacation Trailer

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:45:00 EST

HomeAways' Hotel Hell Vacation trailer, shown during Super Bowl XLIV, was very funny. The trailer was true to the Griswolds as we remember them from the Vacation movies. Clark and Ellen Griswold find themselves in an awful hotel that is not as advertised. You can see more videos from the series on HomeAways' website. Here is the trailer:

Posted in Travel

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Super Bowl Ad: Intel's Jeffrey the Robot Commercial

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:25:00 EST

Intel's Jeffrey the Robot becomes very sad when he hears an Intel employee raviing about the company's new 2010 Intel Core family of processors. Apparently, Jeffrey though he was the greatest thing Intel had ever made. Poor little Jeffrey. Take a look:

Posted in Tech

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Bourbon Street Celebrates Saints Win

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:15:00 EST

They were partying hard in Bourbon Street last night after the New Orleans fans Saints won their first ever Super Bowl victory. News stories describe the ood in New Orleans as euphoria. Take a look:

Posted in Sports

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New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:40:00 EST

The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV. It was the very first Super Bowl victory for New Orleans and an emotional win for the city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The Saints started out down 10-0 to the Indianopolis Colts but rallied to come back and eventually win the game. An onside kick to start the second half was key to the Saints' victory. Tracy Porter intercepted a pass from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 32 of his 39 passes and was named the Super Bowl MVP. Take a look:

Posted in Sports

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Google's Seach Stories Super Bowl Ad: Parisian Love

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:15:00 EST

Google ran a very clever and moving advertisement for its search engine during the Super Bowl called Parisian Love. The ad follows a person's pursuit of a love interest in Paris as they use the Google.com search engine. Google blogged that they created the Parisan Love ad a few months ago. It is part of Google's series of videos called Search Stories.

If you watched the Super Bowl this evening you'll have seen a video from Google called "Parisian Love". In fact you might have watched it before, because it's been on YouTube for over three months. We didn't set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a TV ad for search. Our goal was simply to create a series of short online videos about our products and our users, and how they interact. But we liked this video so much, and it's had such a positive reaction on YouTube, that we decided to share it with a wider audience.

Here is the Parisan Love ad. Take a look:

You can find more of Google's Search Stories here.

Posted in Internet

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13 Million Cranberries Used to Make Winter Olympics Display

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:35:00 EST

13 million cranberries were used to make an enormous depiction of the Canadian Olympic Committee's logo at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 13 million cranberries will float within a 46,000 square foot parameter in front of the Richmond Olympic Oval, home of the 2010 speed skating competitions. The cranberries will float throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The tribute celebrates Richmond's top agricultural crop and honors the Winter Games.

Richmond is an official Venue City of the Games, and is Canada's largest producer of cranberries. It has more than 60 family-owned farms, the majority of which are part of the Ocean Spray Cooperative.

"The cranberry grower-owners in Richmond are thrilled to help create a magnificent display that shows our pride as a Venue City for the 2010 Olympic Games and celebrates this thriving industry in our city," said cranberry grower Todd May. "Our family has been growing cranberries in Richmond for four generations, and we're proud to continue the tradition of providing a versatile fruit that's good for you and is enjoyed all over the world."

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Target Selling Trumpette Too Baby Socks and Legwear

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:15:00 EST

Trumpette Too's adorable line of baby socks is comig to Target. Girls socks come in MaryJane, MaryJane Dots and Go Daisy designs. Baby sock styles include Johnny, Get Jets and Dots socks. A 3-pack sock collection costs $8. Trumpette Too also sells legwear and footwear.

Parent Dish says the baby socks arrived in Target stores first and will come to Target.com this spring.

Posted in Baby

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Apple iPad Launched With Several Accessories

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 20:40:00 EST

When Apple introduced the iPad to the world on January 27, 2010 it also introduced several accessories for the tablet. The most interesting accssory is the iPad Keyboard Dock. This allows a regular keyboard to be connected to the iPad for faster typing. The iPad can also be displayed upright like a computer monitor with the Dock.

Apple also introduced an iPad case for its new device. The case protects the iPad while still allowing the iPad to be used. Apple iPad owners will have lots of case choices as there will be lots of third party cases that launch over the coming months.

You will need this USB Power Adapter for your iPad. One of several downsides with the iPad is that it does not contain a single USB port. The adapter lets you charge your iPad through an electrical outlet. It comes with a 6-foot-long power cable.

Apple has not yet announced pricing for any of its iPad accessories.

Posted in Tech

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SNL Video: Cialis for Threeways Starring Ashton Kutcher

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 20:15:00 EST

Ashton Kutcher hosted Saturday Night Live last night and his comic skills were put to very good use in this funny spoof ad for "Cialis for Threeways." The drug is just like the original, but is 50% stronger, "just in case the rare opportunity arises." It also has a nice anti-depressant kicker to alleviate the shame and guilt the next morning. Take a look:

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Miranda Kerr Defends Embarrassed Banker Caught Looking at Her Photos

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST

Model Miranda Kerr came to the rescue of David Kiely, the Australian Macquarie Bank broker who was caught checking out sexy photographs of Miranda Kerr on his computer when he was supposed to be working. Miranda Kerr told the Herald Sun, "I am told there is a petition to save his job and of course I would sign it."

The Herald Sun also reports that the banker will keep his job. The Macquarie Bank says, "He will remain an employee of Macquarie. Macquarie and the employee apologize for any offence that may have been caused."

Photo: Kora Skin Care

Posted in Celebrity

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Video: Behind the Scenes at Vanity Fair's New Hollywood Shoot

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:40:00 EST

Here's a peek behind the scenes at Annie Leibovitz's photoshoot for the Vanity Fair New Hollywood issue. Abbie Cornish, Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall, Mia Wasikowska, Emma Stone, Evan Rachel Wood and Anna Kendrick all dresses in designer duds and followed Annie's posing instructions. Carey and Anna are both up for Oscars this year. When asked if she was on Team Jacob or Team Edward, Anne tactfully replied "Team Kristen!" Good answer. Take a look:

Posted in Celebrity

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Nightgown Reacts to Sound

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST

This strange nightgown reacts to noise. When someone speaks near the nightgown it starts to lift up. There is the potential here for someone to create a sexy sound sensitive nightgown. Unfortunately, the person in the video has to yell at the nightgown to get it to move, which is not very romantic. Take a look:

Dvice says the dress was made with Flexinol, a shape memory alloy.

Posted in Fashion

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New NBC Feud: SNL and Burn Notice Go to War

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:10:00 EST

Last night Saturday Night Live did a skit all about the USA Network hit Burn Notice. The game show is entitled "What is Burn Notice" and the contestants try to guess what the show is about. The producers of Burn Notice were not thrilled with the jab and fired back on Twitter saying "Ahhh...remember the days when SNL was actually funny? At least we got a free commercial -- thanks SNL! :)" Here's the skit:

We love Burn Notice. The show's set up is explained at the beginning of every episode: Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) is a spy that got burned and he's stuck in Miami trying to clear his name and get his old job back. In the meantime he helps people in need, assisted by his ex-girlfriend (Gabrielle Anwar) and old buddy, an ex-Navy SEAL played by the hilarious Bruce Campbell. Sharon Gless plays Michael's mom.

NBC and USA Network are owned by the same network, but this doesn't look like cross-promotion to us. It's just snarky -- and not funny. Where is the funny on SNL? Last week showed signs of progress, then the funny died again. As for Burn Notice? It just got renewed for a fourth season, which will air later in 2010.

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Katie Couric Talks to Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:05:00 EST

Katie Couric talked to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees about today's big game. Drew Brees said is is very special to have the opportunity to win the Super Bowl for the city of New Orleans. He says he will always a little nervous before the game but with the nevousness comes "the edge" and the "will to win." Take a look:

Posted in Sports

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Mattel to Launch Puppy Tweets at Toy Fair

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Mattel is trying to cash in on the Twitter trend with a new pet gadget called Puppy Tweets. CNN reports that Mattel will launch Puppy Tweets at next week's Toy Fair in New York City. The device is a tag containing a sound and motion sensor that attaches to your dog's collar. The tag's USB receiver is connected to your computer. You also have to set up a Twitter account for your dog's tweets. The tag contains some pre-recorded tweets that are sent when your dog is engaging in certain activities.

The tag is set with several pre-recorded tweets that are triggered by the dog's activities. So if he's running around, you might get a tweet that says "I finally caught that tail I've been chasing and...OOUUUCHH!"

If Sparky is napping, he'll tweet "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button!" If he's making a ruckus, his tweet will let you know that as well, saying "YAHOOOOOOO! Somedays you just gotta get your bark on."

"Puppy Tweets capitalizes on two popular trends - the use of social media and real time communication, as well as peoples' extreme love for their dogs," said Susan Russo, Mattel's director of marketing.

It is a silly idea but it might sell well considering there are a lot of cat and dog Twitter accounts that people have set up on Twitter for their pets. The people running these accounts type in tweets for their pets, sometimes several times a day. Mattel's Puppy Tweets will retail for $29.95.

Photo: Mattel

Posted in Pets

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Tyra Banks Seeks Plus-Sized Teen Models

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:50:00 EST

Us reports that Tyra Banks is seeking plus-sized teens for an upcoming modeling competition.

"I've always felt it was my mission to expand the narrow perceptions of beauty," she told Us. "Through America's Next Top Model, True Beauty and The Tyra Show, I challenge industry and universal standards by featuring and celebrating non-traditional beauty, and stressing that true beauty is both inside and out."

Banks said she was unhappy that the term "plus-sized" has such a "negative connotation" in today's society.

The requirements for Tyra's Fiercely Real Teen Model Search are that models have to be a size 12-20 and stand between 5 foot 9 and 6 foot 1 inches tall. You can read more about the requirements here.

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Luxury Aircruise Concept Slowly Floats You From London to New York

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:22:00 EST

London-based design and innovation company Seymourpowell has come up with the Aircruise, a floating hydrogen gas powered luxury hotel. The Aircruise concept features penthouse apartments and bars and glass viewing floors. The Aircruise would take about 100 passengers on a leisurely 37 hour flight from London to New York. Here is a video of what the Aircruise will be like if it becomes reality. Take a look:

The Aircruise will not be witout competition. Popular Science has a story about another flying luxury hotel called the Aeroscraft that could carry up to 250 people.

Posted in Travel

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Fans Arrive at Sun Life Stadium for Super Bowl 44

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:44:00 EST

Fans started arriving at Sun Life Stadium in Miami earlier today as Swat teams and helicopters patrolled overhead. Some of the Colts and Saints fans are wearing ridiculous outfits. One Saints fan says he purchased his Super Bowl costume on eBay although it looks like something he could easily have made himself. Take a look:

Posted in Sports

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Tunisian Family Farm Produces High Quality Olive Oil

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:31:00 EST

A small Tunisian family farm run by the Mahjoub family produces some of the world's finest extra virgin olive oil. The family has been making olive oil for over a century. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on how the family uses old techniques - slowly cold-pressing the olives and then ladling the oil by hand - to create high quality olive oil. It is a more labor intensive process but the family believes it gives more life and flavor to the final product. Abdel Majid Mahjoub says that by keeping the olives cold, the olive oil's antioxidant qualities are preserved. Take a look:

Posted in Gourmet

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Rihanna Talks Charitable Efforts, Upcoming Book

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST

Singer Rihanna says she is still excited about her recent Grammy win. She says you never come down from that feeling. Rihanna also recently lost a friend to leukemia. She is working on charitable efforts to raise money to help tose who suffer from the disease. The Jakarta Globe says Rihanna is trying to raise funds for DKMS, which finds bone marrow donors for leukemia patients. Rihanna says a coffee table book about her life is in the works. Take a look:

Posted in Music

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Bob Schieffer Explains the Importance of the Super Bowl

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

Super Bowl 44 begins today with kickoff time 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. CBS's coverage of the game begins at 6:00 p.m. EST with the Kickoff Show. Even if you do not plan to watch the game you are probably aware of it. Bob Schieffer explains how the Super Bowl long ago become more than just a game and it now part of our culture. He says it is part of culture like "turkey at Thanksgiving" and "lights at Christmas." He also says the big game has become an essential part of our economy.

Bob Schieffer says the Super Bowl is "one of those breaks when we can put aside the things that really matter and for a few hours just gather with our friends and family and enjoy something that makes absolutely no difference in the course of human events. We need that every once in a while. Maybe lately more than ever. I feel lucky to be a part of it." Take a look:

Posted in Sports

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Brian Williams and Jimmy Fallon Slow Jam the News

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

Brian Williams (aka Brilliams) helped Jimmy Fallon and The Roots slow jam the news on Friday. The slow jam made hearing the news about the enormous 3.8 trillion budget a little less painful. The slow jam also covered the Bush administration's profligacy, the deficit, wars and NASA. Take a look:

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Toyota Likely to Begin Recall of 2010 Prius Models this Week

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 08:40:00 EST

The Wall Street Journal reports that Toyota may begin recalls of 2010 Priuses for the defective braking issue.

Toyota Motor Corp. will likely start recall or voluntary repairs to fix the braking system problems of the latest model of its highly-popular Prius hybrid in Japan as soon as early this week, people familiar with the matter said Sunday. One person said Toyota also intends to take similar steps in the U.S. and other overseas markets simultaneously, but didn't elaborate. Toyota will likely "take an action early this week," the person said.

The move goes a step further for Toyota, whose president Akio Toyoda, a member of the founding family, gave "a heartfelt apology" for causing a massive world-wide vehicle recall affecting over 8 million cars related to problems with its accelerator pedals and floor mats.

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In Japan, Toyota has already provided information, including what caused the Prius problems, to its dealerships, but the company has not specifically decided what form the customer support would take--a recall or voluntary repairs, the people familiar with the matter said. One of the people said service to owners of the newest Prius model may start as soon as soon as Monday. The fix will take 20 to 30 minutes to rewrite a software program.

Toyota has received a great deal of criticism in both the U.S. and Japan for its slow response to the crisis and lack of communication with customers. The CEO of the company finally apologized on international television last week, but many felt his words were insufficient to stem the tide of bad PR the recalls have engendered. It didn't help that Akio Toyoda looked uncomfortable in front of the cameras. He looked like he would rather have been anywhere else than on TV apologizing for his company's errors.

Posted in Auto

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Heart-Shaped Whoopie Pies at Williams-Sonoma

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Williams-Sonoma is selling heart shaped whoopie pies for Valentine's Day. The company says its Sweetie Pies come from a bakery in Maine. Local butter and free-range eggs are used to make the pies. The red-velvet cakes are filled with buttercream and come in three flavors: chocolate, raspberry and classic vanilla. The pies are individually wrapped and packaged in a ribbon-tied box. You can buy them here for $49.

Williams-Sonoma also sells a whoopie pie pan so you can make your own whoopie pies. However, the pan's shallow whoopie wells are round, not heart shaped.

Posted in Valentine's Day

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Amy Sarabi Wins Campbell Red Dress Challenge on Project Runway

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:55:00 EST

The Campbell Soup Company and Campbell red dresses were featured on last Thursday's episode of Project Runway. The red dresses help raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement. Campbell sponsored the Project Runway challenge as part of the company's "AdDress Your Heart" campaign, which has enlisted top fashion designers for the last four years to create Campbell red dresses.

On the entertaining Project Runway episode designers were each asked to create Campbell red dresses. Heart disease survivors became runway models and served as inspiration for the competing designers. The winning designer was Amy Sarabi from Plano, Texas. Her silk red dress was worn by American Heart Association (AHA) ambassador Nadine Jenkins from East Orange, N.J.

Project Runway style consultant Tim Gunn said, "These women truly are role models and should be proud of all that they have accomplished in their fight against heart disease. They certainly 'make it work' on and off the runway."

Nadine Jenkins and Amy Sarabi will be joining Tim Gunn on the red carpet at the Woman's Day Red Dress Awards in New York City on February 10th, 2010. A limited edition replica of Sarabi's winning dress (pictured) is being sold here on ProjectRunway.com for $199. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the American Heart Association. The dress will also become part of the Campbell red dress collection joining creations by noted designers including Nicole Miller, Lisa Perry and Michael Vollbracht for Bill Blass.

Posted in Fashion

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Snoop Dogg Helps Launch Adidas Star Wars Sportswear

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:40:00 EST

Adidas called on Snoop Dogg to help launch its new line of Star Wars sportswear in New York City. Snoop Dogg was accompanied by Darth Vader and a large number of stormtroopers. He was wearing the Adidas Men's Star Wars Superstar Darth Vader Track Top, which retails for $85. Take a look:

The Adidas Star Wars collection also includes Star Wars shoes. You can see all the Star Wars sportswear items available here on the Adidas website.

Posted in Fashion

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Hermes Launching Leather Binoculars

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:25:00 EST

Hermes is launching an attractive pair of binoculars wrapped in saddle leather. The binoculars also include a leather carrying strap. Presumably, the binoculars will also come with an attractive leather carrying case. The retail price for the binoculars is expected to be around $2,500. The technology behind the stylish Hermes binoculars was made by Leica, German manufacturers of high-end cameras, lenses and photography equipment. The binoculars are not yet listed for sale on Hermes' website.

(via Duncan Quinn, Luxist)

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Abercrombie's Problems Are Bigger Than the Economy

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:11:00 EST

Abercrombie & Fitch may have more problems than trying to sell expensive clothes to teenagers in a weak economy. The Wall Street Journal reports that some retail analysts think the brand's fashion is also stale.

Retail analysts said Abercrombie's troubles go beyond pricing to its once unerring sense of style, a problem that could be trickier to fix. The logo T-shirt and torn jeans ensemble that Abercrombie made the unofficial school uniform a decade ago has played out, said Kimberly Greenberger, a retail analyst with Citigroup Inc. who tours malls every two weeks to assess trends. That misstep has created an opening for lower-priced competitors such as Aeropostale Inc. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc., which reported December sales gains of 10% and 7%, respectively.

"The look is stale," Ms. Greenberger said. "They need to figure out what the next hot trend is and push that, because that's the only way out of this downward spiral."

The Wall Street Journal article says sales at stores open at least a year for Abercrombie plunged 19% in December compared to the year before. Even its lowest priced brand, Hollister, suffered from plunging sales. Hollister's sales dropped 25% in December. The article says Abercrombie is making changes. Hollister has a new line of new dresses out for spring. The WSJ also says the CEO Michael S. Jeffries has personally taken control of selecting the company's new female clothing offerings.

We did notice a welcomed change recently when walking past an Abercrombie & Fitch store at the mall. There was no longer deafening music coming from inside the store. It is possible the store had simply blown out its speakers, but if it is really a change it is a good one. Unfortunately, the smell of perfume coming from the store was still overwhelming.

Posted in Fashion

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Cartier CEO Bernard Fornas Talks Luxury Products

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:01:00 EST

CNN's Monita Rajpal interviewed Cartier CEO Bernard Fornas. Bernard Fornas says Asia-Pacific will be a big area for growth over the next decade. He also thinks Europe should not be ignored. Fornas says to stay a popular luxury brand you must have beautiful products and excellent service. He says you have to keep people "dreaming of your products." Take a look:

Posted in Jewelry

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HP Planning Line of 3D Printers

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:57:00 EST

Wired reports that HP has partnered with Stratasys to create a line of 3D printers that will cost around $15,000. The 3D printers will be marketed to businesses, designers and architects.

"This is the boldest step we have seen so far in 3-D printing," says Scott Summit, chief technology officer for Bespoke Innovations, a company that creates 3-D artifacts for medical use. "A lot of people want to do 3-D printing but it is a mysterious world. With HP embracing it, it is likely to demystify the idea to many consumers."

HP's printers will be manufactured by Stratasys, a company that specializes in 3-D printers.

The printers have long been used by designers and architects in computer aided design (CAD) to create prototypes before finalizing on the design for larg-scale production. But these printers cost many thousands of dollars and have been popular with only a select group of specialists.

At $15,000 the printers will be out of the price range for most hobbyists. Wired says there is a do-it-yourself 3D printer kit called Makerbot that hobbyists can purchase for around $950. You can read more about Makerbot here.

Eventually 3D printers will get cheaper and they will do much more. People will be able to download molding patterns from the Internet and create products like toys, cups, plates, vases and other products at home with their own 3D rapid prototyping machine. Some believe technology like this could revolutionize several industries.

Posted in Tech

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Modern Amusement Closing Headquarters and Ceasing Operations

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:44:00 EST

WWD reports that the Modern Amusement fashion brand ceased operations last week. WWD says Nicole Castrogiovanni, vice president of sales at Modern Amusement, informed retailers in an email, "With regret, I am writing to inform you that Modern Amusement has ceased operations effective immediately. In light of prior management disputes, it is a difficult but necessary choice. Unfortunately, this is all the information we can provide at this time and we are unable to elaborate on all the details. This is deeply troubling for myself, Mossimo and the entire Modern Amusement family."

Modern Amusement's headquarters in Costa Mesa, California will be closed and spring apparel to any of the retailers that carry the brand, including Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. The company has not updated its Twitter account, @followthecrow, since last December. ApparelNews.net also has a story about Modern Amusement ceasing operations.

Posted in Fashion

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Videos: Hong Kong Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:35:00 EST

Hong Kong Fashion Week Fall/Winter was recently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. On display were some very colorful collections. Do Do Leung and Dorian Ho from Hong Kong and Xie Feng and Guo Pei from mainland China were some of the best known local designers displaying their latest collections. The exhibit featured over 2,000 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. Some of the international fashion brands attending this year's Hong Kong Fashion Week included London's Vivienne Westwood and Dutch menswear label OntFront. Take a look:

You can find more coverage of Hong Kong Fashion Week here, here and here.

Posted in Fashion

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Photo: Former President George H.W. Bush Visits President Obama

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Former President George H.W. Bush paid a visit to the White House to met with with President Obama. The photograph above was taken in the Oval Office, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. The visit was described as a social call. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush also visited the White House with his father.

Photo: (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Posted in Politics

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Amazon Stops Blippy From Revealing Its Purchase Data

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 21:45:00 EST

Blippy is an unusual social networking service that blasts the credit card purchases of its users on to the Internet for everyone to see. Amazon.com asked Blippy not to publish anymore of its data and to delete all of the data it had collected to date. Blippy complied with Amazon.com's request. TechCrunch talked with Blippy cofounder Philip Kaplan about the situation. Kaplan says he hoping they can come to an agreement with Amazon.com about using its purchase data.

He says they didn't block Blippy, but simply insisted that the service stop pulling user purchase data, and erase all historical data they had already collected. They were also summoned to Seattle to speak with a "high ranking executive" of the company. Blippy complied (with both the summons and the demand to stop accessing user data).

Kaplan is soft stepping around the Amazon issue, and is hoping to come to some agreement with the company to allow them to access data in the future. He says "We believe our users feel strongly, as we do, that it is their right to access and use their data however they want. We're optimistic that Amazon will come to the same conclusion."

Blippy still posts updates when Blippy users spend money at Amazon.com but it no longer provides any information about what they purchased. You can read our previous post about Blippy here.

Posted in Tech

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