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 / September 28, 2010, 11:43 am

Brazil oil company Petrobras aims at offshore reserves with $70B stock offer, world's largest

BIG DEAL: Petroleo Brasileiro SA , or Petrobras, Brazil's state-run energy company, raised $70 billion through the sale of more than 4 billion common and preferred shares in Brazil and the U.S. BIG OIL: The money will fund Petrobras' ambitious $224 billion ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-09-24T18:19:17Z)

Tornado Warning In Effect For Central Howard County

WBALTV.com COLUMBIA, Md. -- A tornado warning is in effect for central Howard County as severe storms move through Maryland. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for central Howard County until 12:45 p.m. Refresh WBALTV.com often and ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-09-27T16:42:40Z)

Petrobras Prices a Record Sale

RIO DE JANEIRO—Demand for the share offer by Brazilian federal oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, reached $140 billion, a market participant with knowledge of the deal told Dow Jones. Late Thursday, Petrobras set the terms for the world's ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-09-24T02:12:55Z)

Mercer to Offer One-Day MasterClass in M&A Cultural Integration

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Mercer announced today the North American launch of its M&A Cultural Integration MasterClass. By attending this-one day seminar, senior leaders in human resources, strategy, corporate development and other key roles involved in a ... (Source: Earthtimes 2010-09-23T14:24:15Z)

AP Interview: Whitney defends big government, IL

CHICAGO (AP) — Big government and higher taxes aren't taboo words for the Green Party candidate for Illinois governor. In an Associated Press interview on Monday, Rich Whitney said Illinois has been moving toward smaller government with less than ... (Source: WQAD 2010-09-27T22:04:47Z)

Pledge to America: GOP, Democrats offer dueling governing plans in push to midterm elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — These are two remarkably different visions for governing America. With Thursday's release of the GOP's "Pledge to America" — a strongly worded manifesto promising to return government to the people, trim it through deep spending cuts ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-09-23T21:40:54Z)

At Africa Defence Expo, China''s shows its might and ambition

Cape Town, Sep 28 (PTI) Reflecting its growing military might and interest in resource-rich Africa, China showcased its entire range of warships, missile systems and other military equipment at a major defence exhibition here becoming the biggest exhibitor ... (Source: MSN India 2010-09-28T10:14:56Z)

Wal-Mart pursues South Africa retailer in $4.25 billion deal

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has made a $4.25 billion offer to buy Johannesburg, South Africa-based Massmart Holdings, a retailer with 290 stores in 13 African countries. The non-binding deal is subject to several regulatory hurdles. However, a ... (Source: The City Wire 2010-09-27T13:58:02Z)

Quentin Tarantino Film Editor Sally Menke Found Dead

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Quentin Tarantino's longtime film editor was found dead in the Hollywood Hills on Tuesday after going hiking with her dog during the city's hottest day on record. Police said the body of Sally Menke, 56, was found at the bottom of a ... (Source: ABC News 2010-09-28T17:10:07Z)

Tornado warning in Howard County

WASHINGTON - A tornado warning has been issued for Howard County until 12:45 p.m. At 12:11 p.m., the National Weather Service radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado over southern Howard County or five miles southwest of ... (Source: WTOP Radio 2010-09-27T16:21:12Z)

Mass. House Democrats will offer new spending bill

Massachusetts House Democrats are planning to offer a $400 million spending bill that they say will prevent the state from needing to make immediate budget cuts. House leaders circulated a plan late Friday that would close the books on the state's previous ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-09-27T15:16:46Z)

Real Swings Ease as Rousseff Surprises Barclays: Brazil Credit

Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Swings in the Brazilian real are declining to a two-year low ahead of presidential elections as the central bank steps up dollar purchases to offset a surge in investment in the country's stock and fixed-income markets. Implied ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-09-28T09:03:21Z)

Schools follow safety plans after tornado warnings issued

Torrential rains. Flash flooding. Tornado threats. It was a wild day throughout Carroll County Monday. 11 a.m.: A Sykesville-based weather observer with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network reported .67 inches of rain had already fallen ... (Source: Carroll County Online 2010-09-28T04:31:20Z)

Mass. House Democrats to offer new spending bill

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts House Democrats are planning to offer a $400 million spending bill that they say will prevent the state from needing to make immediate budget cuts. House leaders circulated a plan late Friday that would close the books on the ... (Source: Lowell Sun 2010-09-27T14:33:49Z)

Lorna Friedman, MD, Joins Mercer's Global Health Management Team

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Lorna Friedman, MD, has joined Mercer's Global Health Management team, part of Mercer's Health & Benefits business. As a Partner based in New York City, Dr. Friedman will work with multinational organizations to develop ... (Source: Earthtimes 2010-09-27T18:44:21Z)

Lorna Friedman, MD, Joins Mercer's Global Health Management Team

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lorna Friedman, MD, has joined Mercer's Global Health Management team, part of Mercer's Health & Benefits business. As a Partner based in New York City, Dr. Friedman will work with multinational organizations to develop ... (Source: StreetInsider.com 2010-09-27T18:44:21Z)

Direct Energy to compete for households with Duquesne Light

Direct Energy said it plans to compete with Duquesne Light for residential electric customers in the Pittsburgh area. The company said today it will offer residential customers a 12-month, variable rate plan guaranteed to provide a 5 percent savings off ... (Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2010-09-28T11:05:02Z)

Sally Menke, Film Editor for Tarantino and Other Directors, Is Dead

Sally Menke, a film editor best known for her long association with the director Quentin Tarantino , and who edited his kinetic features like "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," the "Kill Bill" movies and "Inglourious Basterds," was found ... (Source: New York Times Blogs 2010-09-28T16:55:48Z)

Wal-Mart Targets Africa

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. made an aggressive and expensive bid to expand in Africa ahead of its international competitors, offering to buy South African retailer Massmart Holdings Inc. for 32 billion rand ($4.6 billion). Wal-Mart's proposed offer would ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-09-28T02:36:48Z)

AP Interview: Green candidate for governor says Ill. should offer free college education

CHICAGO (AP) — The Green Party candidate for governor says Illinois should let people go to college free of charge. Rich Whitney calls it an investment in the people of Illinois. He compares it to the G.I. Bill that provided college educations for World ... (Source: FOX2now.com 2010-09-27T17:04:08Z)

Wonkbook: DeMint's last stand; Sebelius vs. WSJ; Fed purchases; a longer school year?

Senator Jim DeMint is planning to end the 111th Congress with a glorious show of all-points obstruction. Everything he hasn't personally agreed to, he'll hold. The idea is to just run out the clock so the Senate has to adjourn for the election. No wonder ... (Source: Washington Post 2010-09-28T09:24:50Z)

AOL to buy technology blog and conference business TechCrunch

AOL plans to buy influential technology blog TechCrunch and other blogs in its network for an undisclosed amount. AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong joined TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington onstage Tuesday to make the announcement at the TechCrunch ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-09-28T17:24:26Z)

Mass. Gov. says new spending bill is urgent

BOSTON— Gov. Deval Patrick says the state will probably have to close some prisons and cut programs for the developmentally disabled if a $400 million spending bill is not passed soon. Patrick told reporters Monday that he would even support a full ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-09-27T21:43:19Z)

BRIEF: Direct Energy to compete for households with Duquesne Light

Sep 27, 2010 (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Direct Energy said it plans to compete with Duquesne Light for residential electric customers in the Pittsburgh area. The company said today it will offer ... (Source: TMCnet 2010-09-28T06:18:43Z)

Confirmed: AOL acquires TechCrunch, founder Arrington to stay at least 3 years

AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong just confirmed that his company has acquired popular tech blog TechCrunch. He's currently on-stage in San Francisco with TechCrunch founder and editor Michael Arrington. The pair said they were spurred to reveal the ... (Source: Reuters 2010-09-28T17:17:16Z)

AP Interview: Ill.'s gov hopeful defends big gov't

Rich Whitney makes no apologies for believing in big government and higher taxes. The Green Party candidate for governor told The Associated Press on Monday that Illinois has been moving toward smaller government and that it has led to dangerously ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-09-27T21:07:31Z)

Direct Energy Enters Pittsburgh Area Residential Electricity Market

PITTSBURGH , Sept. 27 -- Direct Energy announced today that the company will begin providing competitive electricity supply services to residential customers in the Duquesne Light service territory of southwest Pennsylvania . With increased competition ... (Source: Earthtimes 2010-09-27T16:21:12Z)

Tarantino film editor Sally Menke dies on hike in Hollywood Hills

An award-winning film editor has died while hiking in the Hollywood Hills during a record Southern California heat wave. Assistant coroner Ed Winter confirmed early Tuesday that the body found along a Griffith Park trail is 53-year-old Sally Menke, who ... (Source: Desert Sun 2010-09-28T15:08:25Z)

GOP, Democrats Offer Dueling Governing Plans

These are two remarkably different visions for governing America. Republicans are pledging to shrink the government, cut taxes and undo health care and stimulus laws. President Barack Obama and Democrats want tax cuts for the middle class, more stimulus ... (Source: NPR News 2010-09-23T21:40:54Z)

AOL Munches Up TechCrunch

Michael Arrington may not have wanted TechCrunch Disrupt to be overshadowed by stories of the giants swallowing up the little guys but he got just that. The founder of TechCrunch has a new funder ready to steal headlines. AOL announced Tuesday that it has ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-09-28T17:38:45Z)

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