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 / June 30, 2011, 8:51 pm

Amazon fights California sales tax requirement

It is real money." But Larry Darnell, who sells guitars and artworks on the Internet from his home in the Santa Cruz County town of Felton, said he believes Amazon should collect sales tax. "I don't think they're a particularly good corporate citizen ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-07-01T03:07:24Z)

Corbett poised to sign Pa. budget before midnight

The state Senate rushed to vote on the final piece of legislation in the budget deal, an hour before the midnight Thursday budget deadline. The $27.2 billion budget makes deep cuts to education and human services but doesn't raise new taxes to cope with a ... (Source: Times-Leader 2011-07-01T03:14:33Z)

iPhone turns 4: Early predictions rewound

Four years ago today, Apple's first iPhone went on sale, a landmark event that bears looking at anew as all eyes are now on the company to announce a fifth-generation of the device. It's easy to look back at the iPhone's rise and success and see how it's ... (Source: CNET News 2011-06-29T10:55:03Z)

NFL owners, players resume negotiations with judge in Minneapolis, trying to reach agreement

Smith and Goodell certainly seem closer than when the lockout began March 12. Whether that will translate into a new deal is the big question. Training camps are scheduled to open in three weeks with the Hall of Fame exhibition game on Aug. 7. Owners and ... (Source: Orlando Sentinel 2011-06-29T23:55:18Z)

How Samsung's U.S. ITC complaint against Apple could play out

"Samsung Electronics Co.'s countersuits against Apple Inc.'s allegations of product copying have expanded to six countries, the company said Thursday, and now include a complaint with the International Trade Commission seeking to stop the sale of ... (Source: Macdaily News 2011-07-01T03:00:14Z)

South Korea-EU free trade agreement takes effect

South Korea has also concluded a free trade agreement with the United States, its fifth-largest trading partner. That deal remains unratified, however, even though it was concluded before South Korea and the EU began negotiations for their agreement. (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-07-01T03:00:14Z)

Lujiazui Breakfast: News And Views About China Stocks (June 29)

According to media reports, the deal will help improve Swellfun's exports.  Suning Appliance, China's "Best Buy," is going to be bringing a second retail brand into the China market. Shenzhen-listed Suning Appliance's wholly-owned subsidiary ... (Source: Forbes (blog) 2011-06-29T08:03:15Z)

Why China's Heading for a Hard Landing, Part 5: A. Gary Shilling

They were necessary, Chinese leaders say, to sustain rare-earth development and deal with environmental damage caused by ... As prices start to break, hoarded commodities suddenly become available for sale by highly leveraged owners. Copper in China ... (Source: Bloomberg 2011-07-01T02:45:55Z)

Gov. Kasich signs 'new day' budget for Ohio

"But the legislature felt strong about it and they twisted my arm and I'm copacetic with it," he said. Two of the biggest cost-saving components Kasich has long advocated for local governments and schools, Senate Bill 5 and a pension cost shift of 2 ... (Source: Columbus Dispatch 2011-07-01T03:00:14Z)

NFL, players resume negotiations in Minneapolis

Smith and Goodell certainly seem closer than when the lockout began March 12. Whether that will translate into a new deal is the big question. Training camps are scheduled to open in just over three weeks with the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7. Owners and ... (Source: NBC Sports 2011-06-30T15:54:31Z)

NFL's post-labor deal calendar will be a free-agent frenzy

Even if a new collective bargaining agreement is reached then — players and owners rejoined negotiations Thursday in Minneapolis after two days with attorneys and officials from both sides — ratification could take another two weeks. That might not ... (Source: USA Today 2011-07-01T03:00:14Z)

BofA Must Overcome Skepticism on 2-Cents-on-the-Dollar Mortgage-Bond Offer

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK) , the debt's trustee, is seeking approval from a New York state judge for the deal, which would apply to bondholders beyond the 22 firms in the talks. BNY Mellon said in a court document that the agreement is ... (Source: Bloomberg 2011-06-30T20:12:13Z)

House approves budget

Meeting the deadline, however, does not obscure the heated political exchanges about whether the final budget goes far enough to restore spending to deep cuts proposed by Mr. Corbett in March to deal with chronic fiscal problems, long-term debt and the end ... (Source: Scranton Times-Tribune 2011-07-01T03:00:14Z)

BofA Pays $8.5B to Settle Countrywide Mortgage Claims

Bank of America, which bought the mortgage lender in 2008 for $4 billion, has denied such claims. The deal may embolden other mutual-fund managers, insurance companies and investors to seek similar settlements against major U.S. banks, claiming loans ... (Source: FOXBusiness 2011-06-29T12:28:07Z)

Hawks, Montador agree on four-year deal

1 thing was a chance to win the Stanley Cup. It came sooner than I expected. It was a pleasant surprise getting contacted by Stan, and we were able to get a deal done. It means a lot. … It's a huge honor to be a Blackhawk." (Source: FOX News 2011-07-01T03:21:43Z)

Still talking: NFL, players meet all day

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith met again Thursday, expanding talks on a pro football labor deal for the first time this week to include owners and players. Sitting down with U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur ... (Source: NBC Sports 2011-07-01T03:14:33Z)

Deals of the Hour / June 30, 2011, 10:41 am

Google+ Solves the Social Privacy Problem By Making Friending Very Complicated

It does offer friend lists, groups and myriad privacy settings so users can limit sharing, but those are generally perceived as hard to manage. The Twitter model is that one user publicly follows another. It's perhaps the most simple and clean ... (Source: All Things Digital 2011-06-30T06:36:10Z)

Obama pushes GOP on taxes in debt ceiling talks

GOP leaders have shown no signs of yielding in their opposition to higher taxes as part of any grand bargain with the White House. Recent bipartisan talks led by Vice President Joe Biden collapsed over the tax disagreement. "The president is sorely ... (Source: CNN 2011-06-29T22:50:53Z)

Obama pressures Republicans on federal debt ceiling

Others said it would depend on which loophole was being eliminated. "I'm willing to take a look at the special deals," said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). "I would love to do away with special tax breaks, but not legitimate business deductions." Obama cited ... (Source: Cleveland News - Fox 8 2011-06-30T16:58:56Z)

Wildfire advances on Los Alamos nuclear lab in New Mexico; air is monitored for radiation

About 12,500 residents in and around Los Alamos have been evacuated, an orderly exit that didn't even cause a traffic accident. Associated Press Writer Barry Massey contributed to this report from Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Source: Chicago Tribune 2011-06-29T11:52:19Z)

Nasty or Nice? Which Obama Will Show Up at Press Conference?

Little Give and Take on Trade Deals "I've never voted against a trade agreement before - but if the administration were to embed (Trade Adjustment Assistance) into the Korean trade agreement, I would be compelled to vote against it." -- Senate Minority ... (Source: FOX News 2011-06-29T14:36:58Z)

McManus: For the GOP, it's Romney, Bachmann and, maybe, Perry

And she once told the Minnesota Senate that abolishing the minimum wage could "wipe out unemployment completely, because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level." But don't underestimate her. She's hardcore, but she's no flake. She's smart ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-06-30T16:58:56Z)

Can GooglePlus shoulder way into social circle?

Facebook doesn't yet offer this feature. • Sparks. Tweaking Facebook News Feed concept a touch, GooglePlus' "Sparks" is a content feed that streams from various interests that users type into a search engine. While Google has a huge case of Facebook envy ... (Source: USA Today 2011-06-30T17:06:06Z)

Towns Near N.M. Fire, Nuclear Lab Wary of Radioactive Smoke

"If it gets to this contamination, it's over -- not just for Los Alamos, but for Santa Fe and all of us in between," said Mai Ting, a resident who lives in the valley below the desert mesas that are home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Chris ... (Source: FOX News 2011-06-29T13:11:04Z)

Prosecutors aim to try Whitey Bulger 'as soon as possible'

FBI agents are analyzing two cellphones found at Bulger's Santa Monica apartment, hoping they can provide clues as to whether the Boston mobster received help during his 14 years as a fugitive. Authorities are trying to figure out how Bulger — one of the ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-06-29T16:10:01Z)

LSE Dropping TMX Bid Raises Nasdaq Prospect

(LSE) Nasdaq OMX gained 4.7 percent to $25.14 yesterday, climbing the most since April 1, after LSE dropped its offer for TMX Group Inc. (X ... To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Baker at nbaker7@bloomberg.net ; Andrew Rummer ... (Source: Bloomberg 2011-06-30T09:13:39Z)

Maple Group Faces Its Own Hurdles for Toronto Exchange After Blocking LSE

Patrick, the bondholder group's lawyer, said the settlement is beneficial for investors because it would bring to an end the dispute over deals involving more than 700,000 loans. "We did a calculation at one point that if you had to litigate every loan ... (Source: Bloomberg 2011-06-30T03:30:03Z)

Secret phone call dampens CBA hopes

That is why Smith wanted to tell players they still haven't gotten a good enough offer from the owners to bring to them just yet. According to several sources, Smith took questions but prefaced that by saying he couldn't get into specifics because of a ... (Source: FOXSports.com 2011-06-30T16:58:56Z)

TMX Group Kills Merger With London Stock Exchange

The Maple Group then increased its offer to $51 per share up from $49 — on the condition that shareholders of TMX Group reject the merger with the LSE. (Source: NPR News 2011-06-29T18:26:02Z)

London Stock Exchange on the block as TMX bid fails

I don't think you have to look far beyond Nasdaq as a bidder for the LSE." TMX shareholders were to choose on Thursday between the LSE's bid and a rival offer from the Maple Group, which has offered $3.7 billion to persuade TMX investors to keep the ... (Source: Reuters UK 2011-06-30T05:17:26Z)

South Carolina repeats as College World Series champions

Our goal year in and year out is to win championships." After closing out historic Rosenblatt Stadium with a championship, the Gamecocks (55-14) opened beautiful TD Ameritrade Park with another, winning a NCAA record 16 straight tournament games in the process. (Source: Collegebaseball.rivals.com 2011-06-29T13:39:42Z)

Los Alamos wildfire reaches lab, forces evacuation

Bandelier National Monument to the south has borne much of the brunt of the Las Conchas Fire. To the west of the town and lab is Santa Fe National Forest (though the state capital city of Santa Fe itself is well to the east). Several Native American ... (Source: CNET News 2011-06-28T01:37:54Z)

Samsung seeks US import ban against Apple products

"And we can't discuss our customers." The International Trade Commission is an independent U.S. federal agency that deals with issues that affect trade including dumping, subsidies and safeguards and also judges import cases dealing with intellectual ... (Source: Boston Herald 2011-06-30T16:44:37Z)

Bank of America: From 'Hand to Hand Combat' to $8.5 Billion Capitulation

To settle claims from unhappy mortgage-security investors, Bank of America will fork over more than all of its profits since the start of the financial crisis in a proposed settlement, reported Deal Journal colleague Dan Fitzpatrick . Bloomberg News The ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2011-06-28T22:37:45Z)

Apple May Offer Older iPhone for Free in Fall: RBC

Apple is expected to offer an older version of its popular iPhone for free when it introduces the iPhone5 in September, according to a research note by RBC Capital. The report joins the recent surge of speculation about the introduction of a lower-end ... (Source: CNBC 2011-06-29T15:55:42Z)

Deals of the Hour / June 30, 2011, 8:52 am

Gas prices up 17 cents in 1 day in Springfield

30 will receive a discount on all fuel, gas and diesel purchases when they use a reloadable Wal-Mart gift card, Wal-Mart MoneyCard or a Wal-Mart credit card. Wal-Mart said the discount will be taken at the pump, with no other requirements. A list of ... (Source: News-Leader.com 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Samsung seeks US import ban against Apple products

"And we can't discuss our customers." The International Trade Commission is an independent U.S. federal agency that deals with issues that affect trade including dumping, subsidies and safeguards and also judges import cases dealing with intellectual ... (Source: Huffingtonpost.com 2011-06-30T15:11:34Z)

Cheap Chick on Dealing with Foreclosure

That's when the bank allows you to sell your home for less than the mortgage amount. HOWEVER, these are time-consuming deals that require a great deal of negotiation. You need a Realtor who has experience with short sales, not someone who was licensed yesterday. (Source: FOX 9 News 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Justin Timberlake part of group buying MySpace

The pop star, who played Napster co-founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network," a movie about Facebook, has joined Specific Media in buying its downtrodden rival, MySpace, from News Corp. in a deal that closed Wednesday. Timberlake will have an office at ... (Source: AZCentral.com 2011-06-30T15:11:34Z)

Toronto exchange, LSE call off merger

In brief statements issued just one day before a shareholder vote, the exchanges said they realised TMX Group shareholders would not give them the two-thirds majority they needed to approve their friendly deal. The LSE would have owned 55% of the new ... (Source: Hindustan Times 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Justin Timberlake taking ownership stake in MySpace

The actor-singer is now taking an ownership stake in MySpace. Timberlake has joined Specific Media in buying its rival, MySpace, from News Corp. in a deal that closed on Wednesday. Timberlake will have an office at MySpace's Beverly Hills, California ... (Source: NECN 2011-06-30T15:18:43Z)

Aaron Carter: Michael Jackson gave me cocaine and alcohol when I was 15

"I mean, I could have refused," he admitted, "but I was 15." The singer, the younger brother of Backstreet Boys ' Nick Carter , said he and Jackson spent "hours and hours" talking on the phone. "I admired Michael, but his behavior bothered me a lot," he ... (Source: New York Daily News 2011-06-30T15:18:43Z)

Firefighters hopeful about wild fire burning near Los Alamos lab

The nearby Indian nation is keeping a nervous eye on the fire, which began on private land near the Santa Fe National Forest on Sunday and then spread into the forest. Indian nation officials reportedly are concerned about the potential release of ... (Source: All Headline News 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Confrontational Obama rebukes GOP on debt talks

WASHINGTON — In a blistering rebuke of Republicans, President Barack Obama on Wednesday pressed lawmakers to accept tax increases as part of a deal to cut the nation's deficits and avoid a crippling government default. "Let's get it done," Obama ... (Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Talking Points | Would an NBA lockout be a bad thing?

They need to quit making these foolish deals. However, the NBA reportedly said total player compensation would never dip below $2 billion over the life of its proposed 10-year deal. However, that would amount to a pay cut for the players, who were paid ... (Source: Kansas City Star 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Minn. braces for government shutdown; talks resume

Without a budget deal, most of state government will shut down at midnight, closing state parks on the brink of a holiday weekend and furloughing tens of thousands of state workers. The shutdown wouldn't stop critical services, including the State Patrol ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2011-06-30T15:40:12Z)

Players aren't problem in NBA lockout

To me, that's what is at the crux of this labor dispute. The owners want to crush the NBA players union and get the players to agree to a 10-year deal that will in no way reflect the value of the league once the owners negotiate new television packages ... (Source: FOXSports.com 2011-06-30T15:33:02Z)

Walmart gas discount not available in Tulsa, state

Oklahoma is not among the states where Walmart stores are offering a 10-cent per gallon discount on retail gasoline prices, some local motorists discovered Thursday. The Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Wednesday that participating ... (Source: Tulsa World 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Senate to work next week on debt limit impasse

At a Wednesday news conference, Obama insisted there is no more time to add. And he beseeched and badgered lawmakers to complete a deal to cut long-term deficits and lift the nation's debt ceiling before Aug. 2 to avoid what his administration says would ... (Source: San Francisco Examiner 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

Sides far apart as lockout looms in NBA

A last ditch effort scheduled for Thursday is set to include small groups from each side but a deal seems more than unlikely, meaning free agency will not start on Friday. The league, which has already shuddered the Las Vegas Summer League, may try to ... (Source: WKYC 2011-06-30T15:33:02Z)

Analysis: Obama's jobs plan aimed at voters, not debt talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's call for new job-creation measures won't make it easier to reach a budget-cutting deal with Republicans in Congress, but it could make it easier for him to win reelection next year. As the Democratic ... (Source: YAHOO! 2011-06-30T15:25:53Z)

All eyes on D.Boerse as latest exchange merger fails

LONDON (Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange's aborted bid for Canada's TMX Group has raised the tally of failed cross-border exchange deals to three in four as ... said it was a "no brainer" that the deal would be bad for the nation's economy. (Source: Chicago Tribune 2011-06-30T15:11:34Z)

Deals of the Hour / June 30, 2011, 12:52 am

Destroying Chicago and Our Brain Cells: Transformers is Back

The plot? Come on, are you really going to do this to me? I didn't even bother to see Transformers: The Second One , although it is possible I watched a great deal of it, without sound, on the airplane screen of a passenger sitting a row ahead of me that ... (Source: Village Voice 2011-06-28T20:57:32Z)

With Minn. government shutdown just hours away, no budget accord between governor, lawmakers

Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to strike a budget deal Wednesday, which the governor had called pivotal to preventing major disruptions to state services. Such a shutdown would serve as a potent symbol of gridlock between a ... (Source: Republic 2011-06-30T07:11:58Z)

Obama, Congress work against, and with, the clock

Obama on Wednesday beseeched and badgered lawmakers to complete a deal to cut long-term deficits and raise the nation's debt limit before Aug. 2, which is when the administration says it would have to stop paying some bills. Obama has faced such countdowns before. (Source: Reading Eagle 2011-06-30T07:19:07Z)

Justin Timberlake becomes part owner of MySpace

The deal is for $35 million, mostly in Specific Media stock, according to a person familiar with the matter. That's a small fraction of the $580 million that News Corp. paid for the site six years ago. The sale resulted in the layoff of about half of the ... (Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal 2011-06-30T07:11:58Z)

Quick Takes: 'Transformers' takes a hit

South Carolina governor is writing a book South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has a book deal. Sentinel, a conservative imprint of Penguin Group (USA), announced Wednesday that Haley's "Can't Is Not an Option" will come out in January. Haley, a Republican and ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-06-30T06:57:39Z)

Nasty or Nice? Which Obama Will Show Up at Press Conference?

House Republicans say they will split the welfare program out of the free-trade deals and deal with (and almost certainly defeat) it separately. And Senate Republicans may also move to block the South Korean trade deal if it, as expected, contains the welfare spending. (Source: FOX News 2011-06-29T14:36:58Z)

Christine Lagarde new IMF chief

She will have to immediately deal with an IMF-European Union effort to keep debt-stricken Greece afloat and focus on potentially thorny IMF "spillover reports" that analyze the economic and policy actions of the world's major economies. "Minister Lagarde's ... (Source: Bangladesh News 24 hours 2011-06-30T07:33:26Z)

Bus driver admits molesting girl, 8

Deputy District Attorney Kristine Reed said Richard Evans made a plea deal to a 25-year, four-month sentence in state prison. He will register as a convicted sex offender and will be on parole for 20 years following his release, which could come as soon as ... (Source: Record 2011-06-30T07:11:58Z)

California tells online retailers to start collecting sales taxes from customers

"We have to consider it," said Loren Bendele, chief executive of Savings.com, a West Los Angeles website that links viewers to hundreds of money-saving deals. "It does not look ... t give one segment of retail a 10% discount every day. (Source: Los Angeles Times 2011-06-30T07:04:48Z)

Corporate Jet Tax Gets Six Obama Mentions, Barely Nicks Deficit

"It would be hard for the Republicans to stand there and say that the tax break for corporate jets is sufficiently important that we're not willing to come to the table and get a deal done," Obama said during the White House news conference. It would ... (Source: Bloomberg 2011-06-30T07:26:17Z)

Asheville High makes history by choosing woman to coach boys hoops team

"It's truly not a big deal to me," Warren-Dixon said. "(The historical significance) is actually one of the biggest drawbacks and something I didn't want to deal with. Basketball is basketball, whether it's guys or girls. I've dedicated my life to ... (Source: Asheville Citizen-Times 2011-06-30T07:11:58Z)

New winners galore, it's like the pre-Tiger days on PGA Tour

Woods, by the way, is here. He's just not playing. But the tourney, which he once hosted before his personal life got in the way of his sponsorship deal with AT&T, continues to benefit his Tiger Woods Foundation. It also honors the military, something ... (Source: Tri-City Herald 2011-06-30T07:11:58Z)

MySpace Bought for $35 Million, Justin Timberlake Participating

MySpace had a very lucrative ad deal with Google which practically guaranteed that News Corp. would be making money with the site. However, as Facebook started to surge and people to leave MySpace so did the ad money. Revenue has been paltry for the past ... (Source: Softpedia 2011-06-30T07:33:26Z)

Amber Rose Denies Sending Nude Photos to Nicki Minaj's Boyfriend

The Young Money MC also credited the Philadelphia native for introducing her to Kanye West, which resulted in Minaj being featured on his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album, in which she rhymed on 'Monster.' (Source: Pop Eater 2011-06-30T07:33:26Z)

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