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 2, 2011, 4:49 pm

The Harry Potter phenomenon

Marvin Berglas, creator of Marvin's Magic, which has a range of magic products and is enjoying "record sales", said the brand saw a "great deal of interest" following the first Potter books and films. Membership of Marvin's Magic Club has trebled since ... (Source: The Independent 2011-07-02T22:54:29Z)

Tensions rise on Capitol Hill as America runs out of money

If a deal cannot be reached before 2 August, the treasury says it will be forced to default on its debts. No one knows quite what that means yet. Will it choose to stop paying interest, a move that could trigger a global financial crisis? Or will ... (Source: The Guardian 2011-07-02T23:15:57Z)

Obama: ending tax breaks required to cut US deficit

Obama, a Democrat, is locked in a dispute with Republicans over how to bring down the U.S. deficit as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling and prevent Washington from default. Democrats insist that some tax increases be included in a deficit-cutting package. (Source: Reuters 2011-07-02T09:54:14Z)

Minnesota Shutdown: Political Fireworks Display Instead

Minnesota's Democratic Governor Mark Dayton blames the Republican majorities in both legislative bodies, and the GOP majorities blame the governor for the failure to reach a budget deal before this week's deadline. Budget talks fell apart late Thursday ... (Source: Christian Post 2011-07-02T22:33:00Z)

The NBA lockout has begun, and so has the posturing

Only an 11th-hour uprising by the rank-and-file enabled Hunter to make a deal in the early hours of Jan. 6, hours before the owners were to vote on shutting down. The New York Times' Murray Chass, whose frame of reference was the baseball players' union ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-07-02T23:01:38Z)

Jerry Brown signs California budget without fanfare

In fact, many were happy that a deal was not struck because it meant that taxes would drop back to pre-2009 levels July 1, the first day of the new fiscal year. Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, R-Visalia, claimed credit for blocking tax extensions. (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2011-07-01T03:50:21Z)

Strauss-Kahn Freed on Own Recognizance

A few minutes later, Strauss-Kahn, clean shaven and dressed in a dark blue business suit, walked out of the courtroom into bright sunlight, his arm around his wife. His next hearing is scheduled for July 18, at which time all the charges could be dropped ... (Source: FOXBusiness 2011-07-02T03:49:09Z)

Strauss-Kahn steps out on first day of freedom in NYC

Former French government minister Jack Lang said he spoke with Sinclair to offer the couple moral support. Lang, who has known Strauss-Kahn since the 1970s, urged him to go back to France and join the 2012 presidential race. "He could be a good candidate ... (Source: msnbc.com 2011-07-02T23:30:16Z)

Obama: "Nothing can be off-limits" in budget

With an Aug. 2 deadline looming to raise the government borrowing limit, the president used his weekly radio and Internet address to call on Congress to make a deal. He also renewed his call for Congress to eliminate some tax breaks for the well-off as ... (Source: CBS News 2011-07-02T15:16:21Z)

Panel discussion: NBA experts weigh in on the lockout

15. I don't think players are going to agree to a 10-year deal. The longest they've shown a willingness to go is six. When the current deal was ratified in 2005, the owners thought it was a great deal for them. So you never can tell. It'll be at least a ... (Source: Daily Oklahoman 2011-07-02T23:01:38Z)

A Game of Give and Take

Let's preface this entire "lockout/work stoppage" issue with a simple truth: No matter who is right and who wrong - the owners will "win" in the end because their offer still outstrips ... the rest of the lot should be able to deal with "only" getting ... (Source: CelticsBlog 2011-07-02T00:50:12Z)

The Fans Own the Magic

DARGIS In anticipating the first Harry Potter film Anne Collins Smith, then an assistant professor at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, peered into her crystal ball and gave dark warning. "It will take a strong individual indeed to say, ... (Source: New York Times 2011-07-02T23:01:38Z)

Minnesota Government 'Shuts Down' Over Budget Impasse

Republicans are in control for the first time in 40 years in Minnesota. In a press conference shortly before the deadline for reaching a deal passed, Dayton said, "One basic difference remains. They don't want to raise revenues on anyone and I believe ... (Source: The Heartland Institute 2011-07-01T21:51:15Z)

Jagr: Turned down more money to join Flyers

This week he mulled a one-year offer to rejoin the Penguins, his original team, before deciding to play for the Flyers. The Flyers' deal is worth $3.3 million ... had the Flyers held on to Richards and Carter. But if they were here, Jagr might be in ... (Source: FOX News 2011-07-02T23:23:07Z)

NFL, players have no deal on revenue split

But they had little to offer for an update. "We'll continue to meet next week, and the goal is to get a deal done," Smith said on his way out. Said NFL lead negotiator Jeff Pash: "We'll be back at it again next week." Friday marked the fourth ... (Source: Nashville Tennessean 2011-07-02T23:23:07Z)

Jurors see scant evidence in Casey Anthony trial

During opening statements in May, prosecutors said Caylee was suffocated with duct tape by a mother who loved to party, tattooed herself with the Italian words for "beautiful life" in ... Nor did they offer proof of the molestation allegations, which ... (Source: Gainesville Sun 2011-07-02T23:01:38Z)

Minnesota Government Shutdown Begins, No End In Sight

More than 40 state boards and agencies went dark, though critical functions such as state troopers ... So far, 30 agencies had accepted United Way's offer of advances on their grants, seeking cash to stay up and running. The stoppage suspended some ... (Source: Huffingtonpost.com 2011-07-02T14:33:24Z)

Cuts for thee, not for me

State-owned and state-affiliated universities, public schools, the Department of Environmental Protection and a host of social service agencies throughout Pennsylvania have begun scrambling to deal with massive cuts imposed upon them in the new state budget. (Source: Scranton Times-Tribune 2011-07-02T23:15:57Z)

Closing arguments Sunday in Casey Anthony trial

The trial was delayed all morning so Baez could interview two state witnesses who he said were going to offer new opinions related to the Caylee's autopsy. As it turned out, those witnesses spent only a few minutes each on the witness stand in the afternoon. (Source: msnbc.com 2011-07-01T23:38:37Z)

Jaromir Jagr: Turned down more money to join Philadelphia Flyers

Jagr's acquisition is a big part of the Flyers' offseason overhaul that has seen them jettison key cogs Mike Richards, Jeff Carter ... offer to rejoin the Penguins, his original team, before deciding to play for the Flyers. The Flyers' deal is ... (Source: Patriot-News Blogs 2011-07-02T23:08:48Z)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Out On Bail: Accuser's Lies Jeopardize DSK Case, Experts Say

His passport remains surrendered and he can't leave the country. Former French government minister Jack Lang said he spoke with Strauss-Kahn's wife, Anne Sinclair, to offer the couple moral support. Lang told the AP on Saturday that she is relieved but ... (Source: Huffingtonpost.com 2011-07-02T23:23:07Z)

Analysis: Brown hedges his political bets with veto of farmworker 'card check' bill

Some Democrats say Gov. Jerry Brown checkmated their hopes Tuesday with his last-minute veto of the "card check" bill for farm workers, but analysts say he's playing a bigger game of chess. The United Farm Workers, whom Brown courted last year by reminding ... (Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel 2011-07-02T23:44:35Z)

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