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 20, 2010, 3:40 am

Northeast Utilities to buy Nstar in $4.17 bln deal as it ramps up projects tied to renewables

Northeast Utilities will buy Nstar for $4.17 billion, forming one of the nation's biggest utility companies with 3.5 million electric and gas customers in three New England states. The acquisition should help Northeast pay for large transmission projects ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-10-18T14:37:33Z)

'Swipe fee' deal brings new choices

More payment options. More decisions. Slightly lower prices. A bit more confusion. For consumers, all that and more could result from an important recent settlement in the battle over "interchange" fees. When most people think of credit-card costs, they ... (Source: AZCentral.com 2010-10-10T00:28:02Z)

Autodesk SketchBook Hero Image Contest

Autodesk announced a contest seeking images created by users of the Autodesk SketchBook digital painting and drawing products. The winning submission will be featured on the splash screen of Autodesk SketchBook Mobile - an application that has been ... (Source: Dexigner 2010-10-18T19:16:43Z)

Typhoon Megi Kills 10 in Philippines, Heads for China

(Updates with typhoon's Hong Kong path in first paragraph.) Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Typhoon Megi, which left at least 10 people dead as it crossed the Philippines yesterday, strengthened as it churned over the South China Sea on a path to Hong Kong, the U ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-19T08:59:55Z)

Simon Malls rolling out iPhone app for finding deals, and your car

Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group today announced the rollout of a free app, geared for Apple mobile devices that will help users of its malls navigate to shops they want, find their parked car and even check in on the social network Foursquare. They ... (Source: Star-Press 2010-10-19T20:05:38Z)

Counterfeiters beware: China waging war on fakes

BEIJING— China is launching a new crackdown on copyright violations and shoddy products that will target everything from high-tech goods to food, the country's public security minister said Wednesday. The anti-piracy campaign kicks off at the end of ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-10-20T10:10:19Z)

China Sparks Wide Sell-Off

BEIJING—China surprised investors by raising interest rates Tuesday, sparking a world-wide sell-off in stocks, commodities and emerging-markets currencies as investors lowered their expectations for Chinese growth, which has been seen as a key driver of ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-10-20T03:07:59Z)

Q&A: What the MasterCard, Visa settlement means

NEW YORK — Paying with certain credit cards may soon earn you perks at the register. Under a settlement with federal regulators announced Monday, Visa and MasterCard agreed to let merchants offer customers discounts and incentives for using a particular ... (Source: LoHud.com 2010-10-06T06:52:10Z)

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Announces Proposed Private Placement of Senior Notes Due 2020 ...

BETHESDA, Md., Oct 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST) today announced that Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P., for whom the Company acts as sole general partner, is proposing to offer in a private placement $500 million ... (Source: CNBC 2010-10-19T10:32:59Z)

Southern China battens down for Typhoon Megi after deadly sweep of the Philippines

HONG KONG - Residents scrambled to stockpile food and authorities ordered ships to remain docked as southern China geared up Wednesday for Typhoon Megi after it killed 15 people and wiped out crops in the northern Philippines. The storm, a super typhoon ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-20T06:21:15Z)

Movies: It's easy to 'like' David Fincer's Facebook story

Rated PG-13. 120 minutes. Drama. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rooney Mara, Rashida Jones. Director: David Fincher. Across far too many stretches of our movie-going lives, we see movie after movie without seeing ... (Source: Maryland Community Newspapers Online 2010-10-06T11:52:49Z)

Northeast Utilities and Nstar to create New England's biggest utility with $4.17 billion deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Northeast Utilities will buy Nstar for $4.17 billion, forming the biggest New England utility company with 3.5 million electric and gas customers in three states. The companies and industry analysts expect some of the savings from the ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-10-18T19:31:02Z)

Typhoon Megi drenches Philippines, heads to China

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 A typhoon that killed 13 people and flattened forests and crops in the northern Philippines dumped heavy rains on the capital Tuesday as it headed across the sea toward southern China. Typhoon Megi struck the Philippines on ... (Source: San Francisco Gate 2010-10-20T09:56:00Z)

WAUSAU - Prices for Wisconsin ginseng highest in decades

Wisconsin's ginseng crop is commanding the highest prices in decades. Nearly a dozen buyers from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and both U.S. coasts are in Marathon County to bargain on prices for the ancient medicinal root during the harvest this fall. The ... (Source: Biz Times 2010-10-19T12:06:02Z)

'The Social Network' Cast To Be Honored at the Hollywood Awards Gala

The 14th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, presented by Starz, are pleased to announce that the Cast of David Fincher's "The Social Network," Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Josh Pence ... (Source: IESB.NET 2010-10-20T06:14:06Z)

Northeast Utilities to buy Nstar in $4.17B deal

BOSTON  -- Northeast Utilities will buy New England energy company Nstar in a stock-for-stock deal valued at $4.17 billion, forming one of the biggest utility companies in the country. The combined company, will own six regulated gas and electric ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-18T13:40:17Z)

4 who plotted to disrupt 2008 GOP convention avoid jail, 1 says he 'proudly' conspired to riot

Four men arrested for plotting to disrupt the 2008 Republican National Convention are avoiding jail under plea deals reached with prosecutors in Minnesota. The deals accepted by a judge Tuesday also resolve the last of the major criminal cases stemming ... (Source: COX.net for San Diego 2010-10-20T08:01:28Z)

Wisconsin ginseng prices are highest in decades

WAUSAU -- Wisconsin's ginseng crop is commanding the highest prices in decades. Nearly a dozen buyers from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and both U.S. coasts are in Marathon County to bargain on prices for the ancient medicinal root during the harvest this ... (Source: Post-Crescent 2010-10-19T22:14:29Z)

Federal court upholds stiff Medicare scam sentence

ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal appeals panel upheld stiff prison sentences given to a Miami doctor and a nurse who worked at a bogus HIV clinic involved in a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Tuesday upheld the ... (Source: Yahoo Finance 2010-10-19T19:44:10Z)

Reputable companies will offer Medicare prescription coverage

This is to reassure many who will lose their Medicare Advantage or Private Fee for Service coverage, which includes prescription medicines, at the end of 2010. There will be numerous other plans available. More than 1 million beneficiaries nationwide have ... (Source: Daily Times 2010-10-20T07:18:31Z)

China Begins Emergency Preparations as Typhoon Megi Nears Coast

Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Chinese authorities began emergency preparations as Typhoon Megi, which left 11 people dead as it churned across the Philippines, neared China's south coast. Megi was about 600 kilometers (370 miles) south-southeast of Hong Kong at ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-10-20T10:03:10Z)

Simon has an app for that for its malls

INDIANAPOIS - Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group today announced the rollout of a free app, geared for Apple mobile devices, which will help users of its malls navigate to shops they want, find their parked car and even check in on the social network ... (Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier 2010-10-19T17:13:51Z)

Ginseng prices at highest in decades

WAUSAU — Wisconsin's ginseng crop is commanding the highest prices in decades. Nearly a dozen buyers from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and both U.S. coasts are in central Wisconsin to bargain for prices for the ancient medicinal root during the harvest ... (Source: Post-Crescent 2010-10-19T12:48:59Z)

Host Hotels prices debt offering

Bethesa-based Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. said Tuesday that an affiliated company, Host Hotels & Resorts LP, priced a private offering of $500 million in notes. Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HST) today announced that Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P., for ... (Source: Birmingham Business Journal 2010-10-19T23:26:04Z)

Four accused in 2008 RNC disruptions avoid jail

ST. PAUL — Four men arrested for plotting to disrupt the 2008 Republican National Convention reached plea deals Tuesday that will keep them out of jail, resolving the last of the major criminal cases stemming from hundreds of arrests surrounding the four ... (Source: La Crosse Tribune 2010-10-20T03:50:56Z)

MasterCard, Visa settlements will benefit consumers

Paying with certain credit cards may soon earn you perks at the register. Under a settlement with federal regulators announced Monday, Visa and MasterCard agreed to let merchants offer customers discounts and incentives for using a particular type of card ... (Source: Medford Mail Tribune 2010-10-10T09:03:26Z)

FILM REVIEW: Social Network nails it

The Social Network – A Columbia Pictures release.Directed by David Fincher. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Rooney Mara and Max Minghella. Rated PG-13. Who is the real star of The Social Network ? Is it ... (Source: Abington Mariner 2010-10-15T13:29:31Z)

Host Hotels Announces Private Placement Of Senior Notes Due 2020 - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.(HST: News ) Tuesday said that Host Hotels & Resorts, L.P., for whom the company acts as sole general partner, is proposing to offer in a private placement $500 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due ... (Source: RTT News 2010-10-19T10:47:18Z)

Deal helps 4 accused in RNC disruptions avoid jail

Associated Press Writer= ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Four men arrested for plotting to disrupt the 2008 Republican National Convention are avoiding jail under plea deals reached with prosecutors in Minnesota. The deals accepted by a judge Tuesday also resolve ... (Source: The Guardian 2010-10-20T08:30:06Z)

Don't assume you'll need Medicare's drug plan later rather than sooner

Thank you for your concern, readers, and rest assured: I will enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan. I previously wrote that, as of August, the month I turned 65, I was covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (doctor services). I ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-10-19T08:16:58Z)

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