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 / October 31, 2010, 10:41 pm

Mets Delay Takahashi Deadline

The Mets and pitcher Hisanori Takahashi have pushed back a decision on whether he will sign a 2011 contract until Nov. 5. Under the contract the sides agreed to before the 2010, the Mets were required to sign him to a new deal by Oct. 31 or release the 35 ... (Source: RealGM.com 2010-10-31T11:44:39Z)

For faithful, Halloween can be a tricky holiday

In the front yard of Michele Laramie's home in Madison Heights, you'll find typical Halloween decorations -- pumpkins, a graveyard, a ghost. And tonight, her 3-year-old daughter will dress up and trick-or-treat as a witch. "A nice witch," Laramie says ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-10-31T23:47:38Z)

STOP BLAMING THE DEVIL, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Christians love to blame the Devil for everything. I call it the Gospel according to Flip Wilson. You remember Flip Wilson , don't you, and the phrase that he popularized as the cross-dressing Geraldine ? "The Devil made me do it." We used to laugh ... (Source: NewsWithViews.com 2010-10-28T06:04:36Z)

Microsoft utilizes 3D sensing technology from competitor PrimeSense

Microsoft has acquired Canesta, the manufacturer of semiconductor chips capable of sensing movement and gestures in 3-D. The technology could be applied to everything from Windows 8 motion controls to its Xbox Kinect motion-sensing device. Canesta, founded ... (Source: Zimbio 2010-10-30T13:54:41Z)

Web travel agencies fight Google's ITA deal

SAN FRANCISCO -- Several leading Internet travel agencies and search engines are trying to convince U.S. government regulators to block Google Inc. from buying a technology supplier that plays an instrumental role in finding the best airline fares. The ... (Source: KABC 2010-10-27T13:51:05Z)

FCC fight for News Corp., Cablevision

News Corp.'s Fox said Cablevision wanted to restrict online distribution of Fox programming as part of their carriage deal. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Fox said Cablevision wanted restrictions on content that "would have required ... (Source: New York Post 2010-10-26T04:19:36Z)

Google has spent $1.6 billion on 40 deals this year

Google has said this week that they have spent $1.6 billion on 40 acquisitions this year, with more expected. The search giant revealed the number via a regulatory filing. Google's largest acquisition this year has been the massive $861 million purchase of ... (Source: Afterdawn.com 2010-10-31T00:53:15Z)

Deployment a plus for psych unit

MADISON, Wis. — Members of a U.S. Army Reserve psychological unit that lost three members in the Fort Hood shootings say their deployment to Afghanistan helped them deal with the tragedy. The 467th Combat Stress Control Detachment came home to Wisconsin ... (Source: Denver Post 2010-10-31T06:58:19Z)

Halloween treats, not tricks

Halloween 2010 is shaping up to be a treat, rather than a trick for retailers. There will be no shortage of ghosts or goblins this Halloween according to the National Retail Federation. 148 million Americans are expected to partake in some sort of holiday ... (Source: Birmingham Business Journal 2010-10-28T11:41:03Z)

Retail's ghost of Christmas past

Santa Claus was fighting the grim reaper for shelf space. Candy corn was in a battle with candy canes. And among all those spooky decorations were the Christmas trees sparkling with lights. By the time Halloween hit last year, it was beginning to look a ... (Source: Indianapolis Star 2010-10-31T11:08:51Z)

Hisanori Takahashi, Mets delay deadline until Nov. 5

N EW YORK — Hisanori Takahashi and the New York Mets have pushed back a deadline for whether the pitcher will sign a 2011 contract until Nov. 5. Under the deal the sides agreed to before this season, the Mets were required to sign Takahashi to a new ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-31T15:05:05Z)

Joe Girardi finalizes Yankees deal

The Yankees manager will remain the same in 2011, but the Yankees lineup may be different. That was the news that came out of a conference call to officially announce what a Yankees publicist termed "the worst kept secret in history," the re-signing of Joe ... (Source: ESPN.com 2010-10-29T23:21:22Z)

Halloween business a treat for Western Pennsylvania's eerie attractions

Ghost hunters hoping to spend Halloween night in the Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford County will have to make a reservation for next year. The inn's four guest rooms are booked months in advance, proprietor Melissa Jacobs said. "We have such a well-known ... (Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2010-10-31T21:45:56Z)

Cablevision-Fox Blackout May Raise Hurdles for Comcast-NBC Deal

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- The spat between News Corp. and Cablevision System Corp. that blacked out Fox programming for more than 3 million subscribers may raise hurdles for Comcast Corp.'s $28 billion deal to take control of NBC Universal. Comcast, which is ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-11-01T04:05:20Z)

For faithful, Halloween can be tricky

In the front yard of Michele Laramie's home in Madison Heights, you'll find typical Halloween decorations -- pumpkins, a graveyard, a ghost. And tonight, her 3-year-old daughter will dress up and trick-or-treat as a witch. Witches, ghosts and graveyards ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-10-31T08:24:13Z)

Soldiers say work helped after Fort Hood shootings

Members of a U.S. Army Reserve psychological unit that lost three members in the Fort Hood shootings say their deployment to Afghanistan helped them deal with the tragedy. The 467th Combat Stress Control Detachment came home to Wisconsin this week after a ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-30T17:43:45Z)

Massachusetts high court OKs Caritas Christi sale

C aritas Christi Health Care expects to close its $895 million sale to New York private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management within a month following yesterday's final regulatory approval from the Supreme Judicial Court. Associate Justice Francis ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-31T01:57:40Z)

Ruling Clears Path for Caritas Deal

A Massachusetts judge cleared the way Friday for the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management L.P. to assume control of Boston's Catholic hospital system and convert it to a for-profit company in a deal valued at $895 million. The proposed ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-10-29T23:42:51Z)

Canadian admits terror charges, avoids Gitmo trial

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Canadian captive Omar Khadr pleaded guilty on Monday to all five terrorism charges against him in the U.S. war crimes tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay naval base as part of a deal that would limit his sentence. Khadr ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-25T13:24:49Z)

Guantanamo jury: Canadian 'child soldier' should get 40 years, but plea deal caps at 8 years

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A military jury in Guantanamo says a former teenage al-Qaida fighter should serve 40 years in prison for war crimes, a symbolic decision because a plea deal caps his sentence at eight years. Omar Khadr earlier pleaded ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-31T21:53:06Z)

Contracts expire for Yankees coaches

ARLINGTON, Texas — While the hunt is on for Dave Eiland's replacement, every other Yankees coach's contract expires today. That includes bullpen coach Mike Harkey, a candidate to take over as the pitching coach. Though the remainder of manager Joe ... (Source: New York Post 2010-10-31T09:35:48Z)

Members of Wisconsin unit that lost three in Fort Hood shooting back home

Members of a U.S. Army Reserve psychological unit that lost three members in the Fort Hood shootings say their deployment to Afghanistan helped them deal with the tragedy. MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Members of a U.S. Army Reserve psychological unit that lost ... (Source: WEAU-TV 13 2010-10-31T01:50:31Z)

Microsoft to acquire 3-D chipmaker, price unknown

Canesta Inc., which makes 3-D imaging chips, has agreed to be bought by Microsoft Corp. for an undisclosed amount. The deal announced Friday comes less than a week before Microsoft is set to start selling Kinect, an add-on for Xbox 360 that can interpret ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-30T00:11:29Z)

Fox, Cablevision Deal Finally Ends N.Y. Blackout

Fox and Cablevision reached an agreement Saturday that will restore programming to more than 3 million New York-area subscribers who have been without some of their favorite shows and baseball playoff games for two weeks. Signals for all stations and cable ... (Source: NPR News 2010-10-31T19:37:06Z)

New York Mets push back Hisanori Takahashi contract deadline

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Hisanori Takahashi and the New York Mets have pushed back a decision on whether he will sign a 2011 contract until Nov. 5. Under the contract the sides agreed to before the 2010, the Mets were required to sign him to a new deal by Oct ... (Source: ESPN.com 2010-10-30T21:47:08Z)

With SJC approval, Caritas deal likely to close within a month

C aritas Christi Health Care expects to close its $895 million sale to New York private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management within a month following today's final regulatory approval from the Supreme Judicial Court. Associate Justice Francis Spina ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-30T02:13:10Z)

Factbox: Canadian captive's Guantanamo trial ends with deal

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Canadian captive Omar Khadr was sentenced on Sunday to 40 years in prison at the Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba but a plea deal means he will serve only eight years in addition to the eight years he ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-31T22:14:34Z)

Google's 2010 tally: $1.6B on 40 deals

Google Inc. said in a regulatory filing on Friday that it spent $1.6 billion in 40 acquisitions in the first nine months of the year. The biggest acquisition of the year was mobile advertising company AdMob Inc. , which the search giant said it spent $861 ... (Source: Birmingham Business Journal 2010-10-30T15:42:03Z)

Microsoft Said To Be Buying Chip Maker Canesta -NYT

Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT ) is buying Canesta Inc., which makes chips used in 3-D gesture-recognition technology that lets people control computers and other devices by moving their bodies, the New York Times reports Friday, citing people briefed on the deal ... (Source: NASDAQ 2010-10-29T22:02:38Z)

FAR FROM FINISHED - WITH JOE'S DEAL DONE, YANKEES TURN TO DEREK, MO - AND CLIFF

SAN FRANCISCO - With Joe Girardi off their to-do list, the Yankees have turned their attention to solidifying the coaching staff, re-signing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and formulating a plan to chase Cliff Lee, who will become a free agent after the ... (Source: FOXSports.com 2010-10-30T01:51:42Z)

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