USA Today Bestsellers Adds Kindle Data

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 11:15:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

USA Today has become the first publisher of a bestseller list to incorporate data from Kindle sales. Kindles sales started being included with the USA Today bestselling books lists last Thursday.

The list has been published every Thursday in USA Today's Life section since Oct. 28, 1993.

"With the addition of sales figures from Kindle, we have created a more robust list which reflects the new platforms consumers and readers are using to purchase books," Susan Weiss, managing editor of the Life section, said in a statement.

Currently, data for the best-seller list is compiled from retail sales data, as well as books sold online. Books are ranked without regard to genre or format.

The USA Today bestseller list can be found here.

Posted in Books

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270917

Digg this

Sales of Single-Family Homes Climbed 11% in June
Compared to May

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 11:00:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

There was some good housing news for a change. The Wall Street Journal reports that sales of single-family homes increased by 11.0% 11% in June 2009 compared to May 2009.

The increase was the fourth in six months, as buyers take advantage of falling prices. It appears new-home sales reached a bottom in January, at a level of 329,000, and that the market is beginning to recover slowly. The level of 384,000 in June was the highest since 390,000 last November.

Home construction unexpectedly rose in June, the government said July 17. Housing starts increased 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted 582,000 annual rate compared to the prior month. The starts data also showed building permits surged, and single-family starts made their biggest climb in four years.

May new-home sales rose 2.4% to an annual rate to 346,000, Monday's data showed. Originally, the government said May sales fell, sliding 0.6% to 342,000. April sales climbed 1.8%.

The June 2009 figures were better than the May 2009 figures but new home sales for June 2009 were still 21.3% lower than June 2008. At least the month-to-month comparison was positive.

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270916

Digg this

Jake Gyllenhaal to the Rescue

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 10:00:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

This is the best photograph yet from the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton. The photo shows Prince Dastan (Jake) rescuing Princess Tamina (Gemma). Another reason to get excited about Prince of Persia is that Ben Kingsley also looks perfectly evil as the villain, Nizam. You can see a few more images here on EmpireOnline.com.

Posted in Movies

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270915

Digg this

Senate Finance Committee: Let's Tax the Mommy
Tuck

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 08:52:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

Okay, this has gone far enough. The latest idiocy coming out of the health care debate is a proposal to impose a 10% surtax on all cosmetic surgery procedures, from mommy tucks to tighten things up after childbirth, to body contouring for those that have lost a great deal of weight to hair transplants for men who are trying to look younger to keep their jobs. It's the Mommy Tuck Tax.

The Senate Finance Committee has discussed imposing a 10 percent excise tax on cosmetic surgery deemed unnecessary for medical purposes. The idea was broached in a meeting with OMB Director Orszag in mid-July, after which Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus told reporters he had heard some "interesting," "creative," and "kind of fun" ideas.

*****

Malcolm Roth, vice president for health policy and advocacy at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said the New Jersey tax has only brought in about 25 percent of anticipated revenue since it was enacted in 2004 and imposes "another bureaucratic layer," including questions of how to determine what procedures are eligible. Roth said lawmakers at the federal level could expect the same administrative headaches and lack of anticipated revenues if they went down the New Jersey route.

The itemized deduction, for example, has been the subject of litigation in federal tax court. In a 2001 case, a nurse was awarded the deduction for surgery to remove an overhanging skin mass after the IRS initially denied her claim. The court agreed that the mass, which formed after the woman lost 100 pounds, was prone to infection and interfering with her hospital work.

Roth, a plastic surgeon at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., said it "would be a discriminatory tax against women," noting that 86 percent of patients are female and 91 percent are of working age between 19 and 64.He also disputed the notion it would be a "tax on the wealthy," noting most patients earn less than $100,000 a year. "People put money aside for years, sometimes weekly under-the-mattress deductions" to get the surgery they want, he said.

Dr. Roth is correct. This is a tax aimed squarely at women, women who are simply trying to look younger in a society that demands beauty, youth and perfection in order to keep a job and pass muster in society.

Most plastic surgery is not paid for in cash by wealthy movie stars, but is financed on credit by middle income people who are making an investment in their appearance or simply restoring their figures after having several children.

The tax will also be a bureaucratic nightmare for doctors who presumably now have to hire someone to figure out how to collect and pay this new, burdensome tax. Just say no to the Mommy Tuck Tax.

Posted in Politics

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270914

Digg this

Puma Unlimited Hi New Fruity Colorways

post from Nike Air Force Ones Shoes & Air Jordan Shoes at Myairshoes.com on 27 July 2009 08:47:00 PM. © Nike Air Force Ones Shoes & Air Jordan Shoes at Myairshoes.com

puma-unlimited-hi-blue-pink-yellow

Puma has not been known for releasing vibrant colorways for its sneakers but not on this new Unlimited Hi kicks. Puma Unlimited Hi has become more aggressive in releasing these two fun & fruity colorways- Purple/Turquoise and Blue/Pink/Yellow. The materials on the upper are leather along with a textile toe box and side panel. Both shoes have a nice blue lining. Now available at a Puma retailer near you. Via SneakerFreaker. More pictures after the jump.

puma-unlimited-hi-blue-pink-yellow

puma-unlimited-hi-purple-turquoise

Read The Full Article:
http://www.myairshoes.com/puma/puma-unlimited-hi-%e2%80%93-new-colorways.html

Digg this

Video: James Roday and Dule Hill Chat With Kathie
Lee and Hoda

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 08:25:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

Now here's four people we hadn't really anticipated sitting down for a chat: Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Dule Hill and James Roday. James and Dule were on The Today Show to discuss the new season of one of our favorite shows, Psych. The two of them are quite funny together, although they didn't really get a chance to say much since Hoda and Kathie Lee were quite chatty. We're not loving Dule's new facial hair, though. That needs to go. Take a look:

The new season of Pych airs Friday, August 7 on USA Network.

Posted in Entertainment

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270913

Digg this

Applet Tablet Could be Released Before End of the
Year

post from ShoppingBlog.com on 27 July 2009 08:00:00 PM. © ShoppingBlog.com

The Financial Times is reporting today that the much-rumored Apple Tablet is on the way from Apple. It is coming earlier than expected too. The Apple Tablet could be out as early as September.

It will connect to the internet like the iPod Touch - probably without phone capability but with access to the web, and to Apple's online stores for software and entertainment.

Apple is gambling that it can succeed where everyone else has flopped, including Microsoft, which tirelessly pushed a tablet-ready version of its Windows operating system as a personal favourite of founder Bill Gates.

The entertainment industry is hoping that Apple, which revolutionised the markets for music players and for phones, can do it again. "It's a portable entertainment device," said one entertainment executive. "It's going to be fabulous for watching movies."

Apple may be rushing the device to get ahead of Plastic Logic's flat reader that comes out early next year. The Financial Times story quotes an analyst from Oppenheimer & Co analyst Yair Reiner who believes pricing for the flat Apple device would range from $600 and $1,000. Obviously, the Apple Tablet would instantly become the hot gadget for the holidays if it is released before the end of the year.

(via Gizmodo)

Posted in Tech

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270912

Digg this

How to Tie the Perfect Scarf

Jill Martin from Us Weekly demonstrates how to tie the perfect scarf. Scarves make wonderful accessories and are a must-take on any trip to liven up basic pieces. Jill demonstrates how to take a 36" square scarf and turn it into a belt, a halter top, a purse, a neck tie and a headband. We love the purse idea: it's a great way to create a bag if you're suddenly in the need for some extra storage while out and about. The scarves Jill is using come from TheVeraCompany.com, which sells fabulous scarves. Take a look:

Posted in Fashion

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270911

Digg this

Coca-Cola Testing Carbonated Milk Beverage in
Three Cities

The Guardian reports that Coca-Cola is testing a carbonated milk drink called Vio. Vio comes in four flavors: citrus burst, peach mango, tropical colada and very berry

Coca-Cola is trialling a new carbonated "vibrancy" drink and it will depend on Americans' tastebuds whether other countries experience what the company claims is "a refreshing sensory experience".

The soft drinks giant has so far launched its new Vio products only in New York, but milk-based products are popular in Asian markets such as Hong Kong and Japan.

The new offering, which has "a hint" of skimmed milk, comes in four flavours - citrus burst, peach mango, tropical colada and very berry - and is being sold in 8oz aluminium bottles for the equivalent of £1.50.

The company says it has "a delicious, unique and smooth flavour", with no artificial flavours, preservatives or sweeteners and offers 15% of daily calcium intake and antioxidant vitamin C.

An article on Foodbev.com says New York is one of the test markets for the fizzy milk drink. BevNet.com has reviews of the new beverage.

Posted in Food

Permalink | Recent Headlines | Our News Feeds

Read The Full Article:
http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/7270910

Digg this

Jennifer Love Hewitt is Team Edward

Jennifer Love Hewitt is Team Edward. On the Twilight scale of one to ten she says she is a 25. She says there is "not a girl in the world who is not Team Edward." Jennifer says she would pass out if she ever met Robert Pattinson. She says Edward is like "Aladdin with vampire teeth." She also said she would love to be in the Twilight films. She says she would play any role - she would even be the vampire that carries Edward's luggage. Take a look: