Business News

• Car sales plunge heralding bleak 2009 (Reuters) -

  Reuters - U.S. auto sales plunged by 36 percent in December led by outsized declines at Chrysler LLC, Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Toyota Motor Corp(7203.T) as the battered industry closed out its weakest year since 1992 in its largest single market.

  
  
• Asia stocks up on hopes of recovery (Reuters) -

  Reuters - Asian stocks edged up for a seventh day on Tuesday, boosted by hopes for a global economic recovery later in 2009, though the rising yen and falling high-yielding currencies suggested such optimism was limited.

  
  
• Prosecutors seek to jail Madoff (Reuters) -

  Reuters - U.S. prosecutors asked a judge to jail accused swindler Bernard Madoff on Monday, saying he sent jewelry and other items worth more than $1 million to family and friends in violation of his bail.

  
  
• Toyota to halt output for 11 days as sales slump (Reuters) -

  Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), the world's biggest automaker, is to halt production at all its Japanese plants for a total of 11 days in February and March in a bid to reduce stocks of unsold cars as demand has slumped.

  
  
• Merrill brokerage chief McCann to leave (Reuters) - Reuters - Bob McCann, head of brokerage at Merrill Lynch & Co, announced his plans to leave the securities firm, just days after its acquisition by Bank of America was completed.
• World stocks climb on US revival hopes (AFP) -

  AFP - World stock markets rose on Monday, with Tokyo hitting the highest level for almost two months as investors hoped that the US economy would start to recover this year after a dire 2008.

  
  
• Lawmakers set new mortgage bankruptcy bill (Reuters) - Reuters - Legislation designed to stem foreclosures by allowing bankruptcy judges to erase some mortgage debt will be introduced by Congressional Democrats on Tuesday, and hopes are high that it will pass after a similar plan failed last year.
• NY Fed begins purchasing mortgage securities (AP) - AP - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Monday it has begun purchasing mortgage-backed securities in an effort to bolster the battered housing market.
• HK toy makers urge Li & Fung to pay up for failed US retailer (AFP) -

  AFP - More than 40 Hong Kong toy makers who say they lost 10 million US dollars following the collapse of US retailer KB Toys said Monday they would be seeking compensation from trading firm Li & Fung.

  
  

Entertainment News

• Death certificate: Travolta son killed by seizure (AP) -

  AP - An official with a Bahamian funeral home says Jett Travolta's death certificate says he was killed by a "seizure." Glen Campbell is assistant director of the funeral home handling the remains of John Travolta's 16-year-old son.

  
  
• Polanski lawyer claims LA Superior Court biased (AP) -

  AP - An attorney for fugitive movie director Roman Polanski is seeking to have the Los Angeles County Superior Court removed from his notorious sex case, accusing the court on Monday of bias and prejudice against Polanski.

  
  
• Medical Expert on Jett Travolta: Seizures Can Kill (E! Online) -

  E! Online - In light of Monday's autopsy finding that Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, died of a seizure, a medical expert tells E! News that seizures can cause death, even when the person who suffers one is taking medication to manage them.

  
  
• Roman Polanski Wants Court Off His Case (E! Online) -

  E! Online - You can take the case out of court, but can you take the court out of the case?

  
  
• Spoiler Chat: Guess Who May Have a Secret Son? (E! Online) -

  E! Online - Oh, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, you sneaky devil. You always keep us guessing—even from beyond the grave!

  
  
• `Dark Knight' vies for Producers Guild best pic (AP) -

  AP - The Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight," slighted in earlier Hollywood honors, was among best-picture nominees Monday for the Producers Guild of America Awards.

  
  
• Music marketers target female shoppers at home (Reuters) - Reuters - With CD sales dropping fast, the music business is exploring nontraditional ways to expose consumers to recording artists. Among the new sales and marketing vehicles are Tara Leigh Music Party and musicShop.
• TLC, NASCAR will track checkered lives (Reuters) - Reuters - TLC is gearing up a new reality show tracking the spouses of NASCAR drivers.
• Directors and studios sharing economic pressure (Reuters) -

  Reuters - Catherine Hardwicke had every reason to celebrate as her latest film, "Twilight," opened to nearly $70 million in November.

  
  
• Cuba opens Hemingway archives to scholars (Reuters) -

  Reuters - Cuba on Monday made the first of thousands of digitized documents, photographs and books that belonged to writer Ernest Hemingway available to scholars after the items languished for decades in the basement of his home outside of Havana.

  
  
• Michael Phelps to pitch Mazda in China (Reuters) -

  Reuters - The greatest Olympian in history is returning to China, this time as a brand spokesman for Mazda.

  
  
• Cuba opens Hemingway archives to scholars (Reuters) -

  Reuters - Cuba on Monday made the first of thousands of digitized documents, photographs and books that belonged to writer Ernest Hemingway available to scholars after the items languished for decades in the basement of his home outside of Havana.

  
  

Gift Basket News

• Gourmet Food Gift Baskets Delivered
• Birthday Gift Ideas by Adorable Gift Baskets to Brighten Someone's Birthday
• Superior Gift Baskets for Every Person - Every Occasion
• Popcorn Gift Baskets Delivered. Popcorn Makes Fun Gifts for Folks of All Ages
• Gift Baskets Delivered. Food Baskets, Fruit Baskets, Cookies, Gifts and Care Package Delivery
• Last Minute Gifts, Gift baskets delivered today, same day gift basket delivery. Send gourmet food, fruit, flowers, balloons, and gifts today!
• Last Minute Holiday Gift Baskets and Gifts Delivered Fast, Last minute holiday gifts, same day Christmas presents and gift delivery.
• Gourmet Food Gift Baskets Delivered
• Holiday Fruit Baskets; great gift idea for the holidays
• Holiday Gift Baskets; An Easy Solution to the Holiday Rush
• GIFT BASKETS FOR HER; Pampering Bath and Body Gifts for Women
• Are you in a Christmas Shopping Frenzy? Try Last Minute Holiday Gift Baskets!
• NEW HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS! Search our huge variety of holiday gift baskets perfect for business and personal gift giving.
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Holiday Gift Box, Show Your Adoration with Heavenly Chocolate Baskets by Adorable Gift Baskets
• Get Well Gifts, Gift Baskets and Get Well Gift Ideas by Adorable Gift Baskets

• Wordpress Themes