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 16, 2010, 1:40 am

Liverpool sale complete

Red Sox owner John Henry stretched his sports empire across the Atlantic yesterday, completing what amounted to a hostile takeover of Liverpool FC, one of the cornerstone teams of the English Premier League. Team owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett gave up ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-10-16T07:59:03Z)

NATO to Offer 'Practical' Help for Afghan Peace Talks

(Updates with Hague comment in sixth paragraph.) Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- NATO forces are willing to offer "practical assistance" to aid the Afghan government's peace talks with Taliban rebels, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. The chairman ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-14T15:03:46Z)

Chilean miners not detailing their ordeal - yet

COPIAPO, Chile - The first three rescued Chilean miners out of the hospital celebrated their new lives as national heroes Friday, as word emerged that the 33 want to closely guard their story so they can fairly divide the spoils of their overnight media ... (Source: Tampa Bay Online 2010-10-15T21:57:46Z)

Rich Whitney Misspelled Ballot: Chicago Names Him Rich 'Whitey' In Black Wards

The last name of Illinois gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney is spelled "Whitey" on voting machines in some African-American wards, election officials said. And the problem cannot be corrected by Election Day, Nov. 2, they said. Whitney, a Carbondale ... (Source: Post Chronicle 2010-10-15T16:14:10Z)

Correction: Illinois Ballot Mistake story

In a story Oct. 15 about a mistake in Chicago's electronic voting machines, The Associated Press erroneously reported the way a gubernatorial candidate's name appears on a ballot review touch-screen. The screen lists the candidate as "R. Whitey," not "Rich ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-16T03:55:40Z)

Attorney General: We'll arrest for pot, legal or not

SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is warning that the federal government will not look the other way, as it has with medical marijuana, if voters next month make California the first state to legalize pot. Marijuana is illegal under ... (Source: Desert Sun 2010-10-16T08:13:22Z)

Florida pastor getting car for canceling Quran burning

South Brunswick, N.J. — A New Jersey car dealer plans to keep his word after offering Florida pastor Terry Jones a new car if he promised to not burn a Quran. Car dealer Brad Benson made the offer in one of his dealership's quirky radio ads, which focus ... (Source: Detroit News 2010-10-16T04:52:56Z)

Ecuador Miners Trapped Underground Two Days After Chilean Rescue Operation

Four miners are trapped underground in a mine in southern Ecuador after a cave-in early this morning, the South American country's government said. Rescue workers are trying to make contact with the miners, trapped 150 meters (492 feet) below ground, the ... (Source: Bloomberg 2010-10-15T21:07:39Z)

Abraxis stockholders vote for Celgene acquisition

Celgene Corp. and Abraxis Bioscience Inc. said Wednesday that Abraxis' stockholders voted in favor of its acquisition by Celgene. Celgene said in June that it would buy Abraxis for about $2.9 billion in a deal to expand its cancer treatment offerings ... (Source: Product Design & Development 2010-10-14T01:20:34Z)

For House Democrats, politics trumps loyalty

Grasping to keep control of Congress, Democratic leaders are turning their backs on some of their staunchest supporters in the House and propping up stronger candidates who have routinely defied them on health care, climate change and other major issues ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-16T07:30:25Z)

Can the black vote save the Democrats?

Can it be? Polls are showing black voters to be no less excited about the upcoming midterm elections than they were two years ago during the heyday of Obamamania. I'll believe that when I see it. So far, I'm not seeing it. Although President Barack Obama ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-10-16T00:13:46Z)

Borgata land deal approved

From Press staff reports ATLANTIC CITY - The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Thursday approved the $73 million sale of land underneath the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa to an investment group. Las Vegas gaming giant MGM Resorts International is ... (Source: Atlantic City Press 2010-10-15T11:49:18Z)

Terry Jones wins car for canceling Quran burning

S OUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A New Jersey car dealer plans to keep his word after offering Florida pastor Terry Jones a new car if he promised to not burn a Quran. Car dealer Brad Benson made the offer in one of his dealership's quirky radio ads, which ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-15T20:31:52Z)

Sale of Liverpool soccer team another loss for Tom Hicks

Tom Hicks lost his soccer team Friday after pulling his own legal punches, allowing the Liverpool Football Club's board to sell the storied franchise out from under him. It's the latest humiliation in sports ownership for Hicks, who appears to be on his ... (Source: Dallas Morning News 2010-10-16T04:52:56Z)

The Democratic vision of Big Brother

With Barack Obama restoring solar panels to the White House roof -- the first were put there by Jimmy Carter -- will Carter's cardigan sweater be reprised? The panels -- environmentalism as a didactic gesture -- are evidence of a '70s revival. "Energy we ... (Source: Washington Post 2010-10-16T07:30:25Z)

In the World

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Production restarted Friday at the metals plant whose broken reservoir unleashed a massive flood of caustic red sludge, even as villagers began returning to one of the affected towns in western Hungary despite warnings from ... (Source: Philadelphia Daily News 2010-10-16T07:08:57Z)

Four miners trapped in Ecuador, rescue underway

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - A tunnel collapsed in a gold mine in southern Ecuador on Friday, trapping four miners 490 feet (150 meters) underground. Authorities said rescue efforts were underway. A miner who survived the cave-in told authorities that four of his ... (Source: KSLA 2010-10-16T05:07:15Z)

Sale of MGM land at Borgata OK'd

ATLANTIC CITY — New Jersey casino regulators on Thursday approved the $73 million sale of land underneath the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa as part of MGM Resorts International's exit from the nation's second-largest gambling market. The state Casino ... (Source: Courier-Post 2010-10-15T07:10:08Z)

With $1.25B bond sale, Celgene eyes deals

Looking to replenish its coffers, Celgene announced that it's selling $1.25 billion of five-, 10- and 30-year debt in its first bond sale. According to a company statement, Celgene expects to use the proceeds from for general corporate purposes, including ... (Source: FierceBiotech 2010-10-07T13:24:42Z)

NJ car dealer giving Fla. pastor a new Hyundai Accent for canceling Quran burning

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Car dealer Brad Benson made the pitch to Florida pastor Terry Jones in one of his quirky radio ads: If you don't burn a Quran, I'll give you a new car. He was surprised, though, when a representative for Jones called to collect ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-15T22:04:55Z)

U.S., NATO back Afghan Taliban outreach

U.S. and NATO leaders said on Thursday they were ready to help Afghan President Hamid Karzai pursue reconciliation with the Taliban, but cautioned that it was a complex process that may not bear fruit. Speaking a day after a senior NATO official said the ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-14T17:12:37Z)

Pakistan to Help Karzai 'Wherever and However' With Taliban

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan will help Afghan President Hamid Karzai "wherever and however" with his tentative peace talks with Taliban rebels, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. "Pakistan has given a clear signal to the Afghan government ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-15T16:07:00Z)

Attorney General Eric Holder defends Justice Department performance in Black Panther case

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder is defending the Justice Department's handling of a New Black Panthers Party case in which government attorneys obtained a narrower civil court order than Bush administration officials had sought. The department ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-04T22:10:48Z)

Liverpool Sale to Red Sox Owner Finalized

The battle for ownership of Liverpool F. C. ended Friday with the sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures, the owners of the Boston Red Sox , for about $480 million. The consummation of the deal came after the outgoing owners Tom Hicks and George ... (Source: New York Times 2010-10-15T20:31:52Z)

Celgene closes $2.9B acquisition of Abraxis

Biotechnology company Celgene Corp. said Friday it has closed its acquisition of Abraxis BioScience Inc. The $2.9 billion cash and stock deal, which was announced in June, helps Celgene expand its array of cancer treatments. Abraxis has one approved drug ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-15T19:34:36Z)

Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate's Name Misspelled as 'Whitey' on Ballot

An Illinois gubernatorial candidate's name reportedly is misspelled as "Whitey" on the touch-screen voting machines in a number of wards with a majority of black voters.  The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Rich Whitney, the Green Party candidate, is ... (Source: FOX News 2010-10-14T21:30:19Z)

NJ approves MGM land sale at Borgata site

New Jersey casino regulators on Thursday approved the $73 million sale of land underneath the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa as part of MGM Resorts International's exit from the nation's second-largest gambling market. The state Casino Control Commission ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-14T21:23:09Z)

Chile miners quiet on ordeal details

The first three rescued Chilean miners out of the hospital celebrated their new lives as national heroes today, as word emerged that the 33 want to closely guard their story so they can fairly divide the spoils of their media stardom. That could explain ... (Source: Detroit Free Press 2010-10-15T23:37:58Z)

Native Son Cheers Chilean Mine Rescue

As the son of a Chilean miner — born and raised in a mining culture in Sewell, Chile — it was very difficult to stay away from watching the dramatic rescue of the miners in the San Jose Mine in Copiapo, Chile. It was even more difficult stay away from ... (Source: Hartford Courant 2010-10-15T21:29:08Z)

Attorney General Holder opposes California marijuana bill

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Attorney General Eric Holder says federal authorities will continue to prosecute individuals for possession of marijuana in California even if voters there approve a ballot measure legalizing recreational use of the drug. The Obama ... (Source: Town Hall 2010-10-16T04:52:56Z)

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