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 / November 1, 2010, 12:39 am

Portugal: gov't, opposition fail deal on austerity

Portugal's minority government and main opposition party have failed to agree on austerity measures designed to restore confidence in the country's debt-laden economy. Portugal, like other eurozone countries Greece, Ireland and Spain, is battling a ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-27T11:35:04Z)

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)

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)

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)

Factbox: Canadian captive's Guantanamo trial ends with deal

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 has been held. Here are some facts about the ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-31T22:14:34Z)

Supreme Judicial Court issues approval for Caritas Christi deal

The merger of the state's second largest health care system, Caritas Christi Health Care and Cerberus Capital Management, a New York based private equity firm, overcame its final hurdle this morning after a Supreme Court justice issued his approval ... (Source: Abington Mariner 2010-10-29T16:47:40Z)

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)

Unmasking Halloween: Origins hearken back to early practices of Catholic Church

The word conjures images of assorted evil minions set loose to haunt and vex the world one night each autumn. But is Halloween's reputation as a cornucopia of all things dank and dastardly deserved? Or has its true face been masked by time and politics ... (Source: INFORUM 2010-11-01T02:39:26Z)

Portugal: political parties clinch austerity deal

Portugal's minority government and main opposition party say they have agreed on austerity measures to steer the country out of a financial crisis. Portugal, like other eurozone countries Greece, Ireland and Spain, needs to slash a high debt load that is ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-30T18:19:32Z)

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)

Socialists cave in on cuts package

Portugal's minority Socialist government and the opposition Social Democratic Party agreed to a damaging package of austerity measures on Saturday. The government hopes to cut the budget deficit with the austerity package, which includes an average five ... (Source: Morning Star 2010-10-31T18:18:21Z)

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)

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)

BP sells Venezuela, Vietnam assets to Russia unit

British oil company BP has agreed to sell its energy assets in Venezuela and Vietnam to its Russian joint venture for $1.8 billion, the companies said in a statement Monday. The deal, part of a series of sales BP PLC is making to help pay for the oil spill ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-18T08:46:47Z)

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)

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)

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 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Guantanamo detainee is sentenced for war crimes

GUANTÁNAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- A former teenage al-Qaida fighter was sentenced Sunday to eight more years in custody under the terms of a plea agreement unsealed after a military sentencing jury said he should serve 40 years for war crimes. Omar Khadr ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-11-01T07:25:46Z)

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)

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)

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)

TIMELINE-Gulf of Mexico oil spill

June 10 - In first comments, British Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain is ready to help BP deal with the spill. June 14 - Two U.S. lawmakers release a letter to Hayward saying: "It appears that BP repeatedly chose risky procedures in order to ... (Source: Reuters India 2010-10-29T13:34:24Z)

BP in deal to sell $1.8 billion of assets in Venezuela, Vietnam to its Russian joint venture

MOSCOW (AP) — British oil company BP has agreed to sell its energy assets in Venezuela and Vietnam to its Russian joint venture for $1.8 billion, the companies said in a statement Monday. The deal is part of a series of sales BP PLC is making to help pay ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-10-18T11:38:35Z)

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