Deals of the Hour

Trying to find out what's the deal with the world, tracking what's on sale and who's talking about it on Twitter. Update hourly.

Deals of the Hour / July 3, 2010, 8:12 am

Testimony: Rezko gave Patti Blagojevich checks during hard times

CHICAGO — A former associate for Tony Rezko said the convicted influence peddler paid Patti Blagojevich $40,000 at a time when the family's bills were piling up. Robert Williams, the chief financial officer at Rezko's ... (Source: Quad Cities Onlines 2010-07-02T03:59:42Z)

Google to buy ITA Software

SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc. plans to buy travel-technology company ITA Software Inc. in a $700 million deal that would enable the Internet-search leader to steer more of the airline reservations booked on the Web. The ... (Source: Denver Post 2010-07-02T09:21:49Z)

Total CEO says not mulling BP deal

AFP - Total chief executive Christophe de Margerie said Friday that the French oil group was not considering buying its embattled rival BP, whose market value has dropped by half over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. "We are not looking into buying BP," Margerie told journalists at an economics ... (Source: France 24 2010-07-02T19:23:07Z)

Blagoevich's Financial Problems and Spending on Clothing Detailed As Trial Continues

CHICAGO–A former associate for Tony Rezko said the convicted influence peddler paid Patti Blagojevich $40,000 at a time when the family's bills were piling up. Robert Williams, the chief financial officer at Rezko's development company, Rezmar, said he wrote Patti's real estate company ... (Source: WJBD Online 2010-07-02T14:22:28Z)

Testimony: Rezko gave checks to Patti Blagojevich during hard times

Robert Williams, the chief financial officer at Rezko's development company, Rezmar, said he wrote Patti's real estate company, River Realty, the $40,000 check in January 2004 at Rezko's behest. Williams was immediately skeptical of the order, he told jurors on Thursday during the federal corruption ... (Source: Lincoln Daily News 2010-07-02T12:42:15Z)

AP source: Bucks, Salmons agree for $40M

MILWAUKEE -- Another day, another deal for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have suddenly become one of the biggest buyers during the most-hyped free agency period in NBA history. The Bucks made another major move Friday, agreeing in principle to a $40 million, five-year deal with free agent guard John ... (Source: Forbes 2010-07-02T22:00:36Z)

Gulf between Lebanon's rich and poor getting deeper

Would you like the Hermes bag for 40,000 dollars, or perhaps the latest Porsche? Or how about dinner in the sky? Just book a ticket to Beirut to indulge in the lifestyle of the Middle East's hub of the trendy super-rich. In a country where a third of the population survives on less than 4 dollars ... (Source: Ya Libnan 2010-07-03T09:34:57Z)

Google to buy travel tech firm ITA Software

Google Inc. plans to buy travel technology company ITA Software Inc. in a $700 million deal that would enable the Internet search leader to steer more of the airline reservations booked on the Web. The all-cash deal ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-07-02T03:02:26Z)

Is 'Last Airbender' the Worst Movie of All Time?

M. Night Shyamalan -- the director who gave us one modern classic (1999's The Sixth Sense ) and a lot of beautifully shot but increasingly stupid follow-ups ( The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening ) -- had high hopes for this summer's 3D action epic The Last Airbender . Back in February, he ... (Source: iVillage Entertainment 2010-07-02T19:23:07Z)

Search for new Spider-Man over 

A virtual unknown has landed the coveted lead role in the upcoming resurrection of the Spider-Man movie franchise, ending an intense search that attracted virtually every eligible actor in the business. Andrew Garfield, 26, will take over the Peter Parker/Spider-Man role played by Tobey Maguire in a ... (Source: ONE News 2010-07-02T03:38:13Z)

Five Things Guys Should Know Before Watching the Movie "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse " with Their Girl

Look, we all know guys really don't talk or act this way in real life, much less make such a fuss over a girl like Bella (Kristen Stewart), but the movie is after all based on a novel by a woman (Stephanie Meyers) who ... (Source: Associated Content 2010-07-01T03:53:43Z)

Bucks make quick free agency splash, agree to deal with free agent PF Drew Gooden

MILWAUKEE - Everyone who thought the Milwaukee Bucks would be among the most active teams on the first day of NBA free agency, please raise your hands. The Bucks made a surprising early splash Thursday, agreeing in principle to a five-year, $32 million deal with free agent forward Drew Gooden. Agent ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-07-02T06:15:42Z)

Movie Reviews: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Thank you to David Slade for taming down the over-dramatics. Twilight the books, and Twilight the movies, are filled with over the-top sappy lines that no one says in real life unless they are hopeless teenagers. Which ... (Source: Associated Content 2010-07-01T16:11:01Z)

Andrew Garfield nabs Spider-Man role

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A virtual unknown has landed the coveted lead role in the upcoming resurrection of the "Spider-Man" movie franchise, ending an intense search that attracted virtually every eligible actor in the business. Andrew Garfield, 26, will take over the Peter Parker/Spider-Man role ... (Source: Calgary Herald 2010-07-01T23:56:19Z)

Not the best move for Best Buy employee

Brian Maupin created dueling videos of doofus customers enamored with the new iPhone 4 and its Sprint rival, the Evo, and may have shot himself in the paycheck. The 25-year-old amateur movie-maker, phone salesman and ... (Source: Everett Herald 2010-07-03T06:57:28Z)

Best Buy worker draws boss's heat for video mocking iPhone buyers

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Brian Maupin created dueling videos of doofus customers enamored with the new iPhone 4 and its Sprint rival, the Evo, and may have shot himself in the paycheck. The 25-year-old amateur movie-maker, phone salesman and budding graphic artist from Liberty, Mo ... (Source: Sacramento Bee 2010-07-02T20:27:32Z)

Google plans to buy travel search firm for $700m

In its biggest acquisition deal of the year, Google Inc. agreed yesterday to buy ITA Software Inc. in Cambridge for $700 million, giving the Internet's dominant search engine an entree into the rapidly growing online ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-07-03T09:49:16Z)

BP shares post 1st weekly gain since blast

(AP) — NEW YORK - BP shares posted a better than 8 percent gain this week, the first weekly increase since an April explosion on a BP-operated triggered a massive Gulf oil spill. The first of two relief wells that are given the surest chance of plugging BP PLC's gushing well is on target to be ... (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer 2010-07-02T20:49:01Z)

Crack in Birdland levee no big deal, Corps official says

A crack appeared in the Birdland levee late Thursday night, but residents shouldn't worry just yet. "I don't even really consider that a leak," said Paul St. Louis of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. St. Louis ... (Source: Des Moines Register 2010-07-03T09:06:19Z)

A-List: Auteurs

We're coming up on the July Fourth weekend, and at the movies, that usually means that the biggest and best movies are being rolled out. Seeing as the third chapter in the interminable Twilight saga and the adaptation of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon The Last Airbender are new at the multiplexes ... (Source: Box Office Prophets 2010-07-02T22:14:55Z)

Movie review: Third installment in 'Twilight Saga' eclipses chapters 1 and 2

A moon-eyed teen must choose between her vampire lover and her werewolf pal, a decision she faces amid the ever-simmering rivalry between bloodsuckers and lycanthropes. Wait a sec, aren't we right back where we were last ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-06-29T19:12:21Z)

Levee Leak in Birdland

Authorities say they found a small leak in a vulnerable levee near downtown Des Moines, but that the neighborhood it's helping to protect from flooding is not in imminent danger. Des Moines Public Works Director Bill ... (Source: WOI-TV 2010-07-03T03:29:52Z)

Disney acquires Tapulous, maker of popular iPhone game Tapulous

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Walt Disney has acquired Tapulous, the maker of the popular iPhone play-along music game Tap Tap Revenge. Steve Wadsworth, president of the Disney Interactive Media Group, confirmed the deal with The ... (Source: Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 2010-07-01T22:08:56Z)

Disney buys iPhone game maker Tapulous

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co said on Thursday it has acquired startup iPhone app developer Tapulous, as the company continues its push into mobile games. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Tapulous struck ... (Source: Reuters 2010-07-01T22:44:44Z)

Your comments to 'Is M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender the worst movie of 2010?'

Readers had strong opinions on M. Night Shyamalan's "The Last Airbender" and the future of this once promising director . hightaxes1 says: I didn't like 2 of his later movies, The Village and The Happening, though I did like one that no one else did, Lady in the Water. Maybe Noah Ringer is a ringer ... (Source: Union-News & Sunday Republican 2010-07-02T09:50:27Z)

Disney Buys Tapulous, Mobile Game Maker Of Tap Tap Revenge

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said it bought the maker of the popular Tap Tap Revenge game for Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) mobile devices like the iPhone. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Tapulous Inc. will become a ... (Source: NASDAQ 2010-07-01T22:37:34Z)

Likelihood of heavy rain compounds flooding fears

The two favorite words of those fighting the Des Moines River flood are "hot" and "dry." That's why emergency officials are nervous about storms in the holiday weekend forecast that could dump 3 inches of rain on the Des Moines area Sunday and Monday. "The lesser rainfall, the better," said Des ... (Source: Des Moines Register 2010-07-03T13:38:20Z)

Source: Bucks sign G Salmons for $40M

MILWAUKEE -- A person familiar with the negotiations says the Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed free agent guard John Salmons to a five-year, $40 million deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because teams can't officially announce deals until July 8 ... (Source: Forbes 2010-07-02T21:17:39Z)

UK-raised theatre actor nabs "Spider-Man" role

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A virtual unknown has landed the coveted lead role in the upcoming resurrection of the "Spider-Man" movie franchise, ending an intense search that attracted virtually every eligible actor in the business. Andrew Garfield, 26, will take over the Peter Parker/Spider-Man role ... (Source: Reuters UK 2010-07-02T02:40:57Z)

Worker in trouble for snarky iPhone-Evo video

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When Brian Maupin made two snarky online videos poking fun at zealots of the iPhone and the Evo phone, he thought it was just a good way to vent some of the frustrations inherent in selling smart phones ... (Source: Forbes 2010-07-03T11:50:57Z)

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