Garth Brooks gushes about life with Trisha Yearwood - Fox News

Garth Brooks may have been married to Trisha Yearwood for almost 13 years but he still sounds like a gushing newlywed when discussing her. In an interview for the Friday, November 29, episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Friday, November 29, the country superstar talked at length about their relationship.

The “Wrapped Up In You” singer explained that they met through songwriter Kent Blazy who thought the pair would get along. Brooks confessed that there was an immediate attraction.

"When she left, he goes, 'What did you think?' I said, 'Well, it's strange, because I felt that feeling like when you just meet your wife, but I've been married for 13 months,’” he explained. At the time the singer was wed to college sweetheart Sandy Mahl.

"Being married, it's got to be right. This is who you went to college with, and you were married in front of God and your family and everything," he told DeGeneres. "So you keep hacking, and you work and you work and you work. And then comes that time where you're looking at the rest of your life going, 'How do you want to live it?'"

They went onto to have three daughters before divorcing in 2000. Yearwood who had two failed marriages behind her was also single and the pair began dating before marrying in December 2005.

"This was somebody I always enjoyed being around. And we had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did. And so we started seeing each other after the divorce," he recalled. "We'd known each other music-wise, but we got to see each other as people. And I've got to tell you, if you like her and don't know her, you'll love her. If you love her and don't know her, you'll worship her. She's the real deal."

And it seems that Brooks is just as besotted with his missus as the first time he ever met her.

"I've got to tell you, I never knew it could be like this," the 51-year-old singer told DeGeneres of life with Yearwood. "I never knew that everyday you could wake up and feel like this. And I have God and I have Ms. Yearwood to thank for this."

He also bragged about her many side ventures like a Food Network cooking show and three cookbooks.

"I'm part of the working wives club," he joked. "I lay out at the pool with the other husbands."

"She's t he bomb, man. She does it all," he said proudly. But the one thing that Yearwood does the best? (according to her hubby).

"Make no mistake -- Ms. Yearwood was born to sing. That's just what she does...I'll put her in the top five female voices of all time. She's that good,” Brooks declared.

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Defacing of Gap Ad Reveals Sikhs Continue to be Misunderstood in US - NBC Bay Area

A Gap ad set to celebrate diversity triggered conversations about racism – not for the ad itself, but for what happened to it in a New York subway.

The poster featuring Waris Ahluwalia, a fashion designer and actor, alongside artist Quentin Jones, is part of Gap’s “Make Love” campaign, but someone defaced the ad writing “make bombs” and “please stop driving taxis.”

The image was snapped by a New York City-based photographer who then posted it on social media, before it was shared by Arsalan Iftikhar, who is a senior editor for Islamic Monthly. Iftikhar, whose Twitter handle is “TheMuslimGuy,” has 40,000 followers. The picture spread across social media platforms.

Gap used Twitter to contact Iftikhar, tracking down the ad and replacing it with a brand new poster featuring the same models. The San Francisco-based company also changed its Twitter background to the same ad.

Mandeep Dhillon, a Sikh-American entrepreneur in the Bay Area, said he was satisfied in Gap’s response, but said his community has had to deal countless times with misconceptions of what Sikhism is.

“It was there we go again,” said Dhillon, who lives in San Jose. “There are two aspects to it. One is frustration and the other is a look for safety. Post-9/11 our primary concern was about safety because our community was under attack. The first people killed were Sikhs, who had nothing to do with anything.”

For Avtar Singh, it was his reaction that spoke to a sadder reality.

“I wasn’t greatly disheartened because I’ve seen things like this happen to us since 9/11,” said the 20-year-old.

In fact, Singh said even in Fremont he experienced racism at school, especially when 9/11 hit while he was in the third grade.

"Third, fourth, fifth grades – those three years were really tough growing up as a kid with the only turban in school. People used to pull it off,” he said.

Understanding of Sikhism, which is its own religion that started in India in the 15th century, still seems to have a long way to go in the U.S. That’s according to a study released in September by Stanford University and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) titled “Turban Myths.”

The study found that 70-percent of respondents could not identify the Sikh man in a picture, and most of them, 49-percent, thought the man in a turban was Muslim.

“It’s a reminder that even as a society over the last decade, we haven’t come very far,” Dhillon said.

For him and other Sikhs, he said, it’s not about putting distance between his religion and Islam, but educating people about what Sikhism is. So after 9/11, Dhillon produced a documentary titled “The Sikh Next Door,” to try and foster more understanding about his religion. He said that piece and the fact that Gap decided to produce an ad featuring a model with a turban, show there is progress, however slow, in spreading awareness about what it means to be a Sikh-American.

“I was very proud,” Dhillon said. “That a large U.S. corporation began to understand that we are part of the American fabric, that we are just as American as anybody else and actually not that bad-looking either.”

Dhillon added the turban is regarded as a sign of equality in Sikhism, as well as a symbol of a Sikh’s code of conduct which includes helping those who are defenseless. He is hoping that one day soon, the turban will reclaim the same symbolism and meaning in America.

“When you see someone with a turban, you should feel safe,” he said.

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Cabela's draws a crowd for Black Friday deals - Columbus Dispatch

By  Tim Feran

The Columbus Dispatch Friday November 29, 2013 2:21 PM

An estimated 2,000 people waited patiently in the predawn dark and cold for the first Black Friday at Cabela’s Columbus. The outdoor retailer is one of the stores that decided not to jump the gun on the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

What did they want? “Camo, ammo, guns — oh, and gift bags,” said Jake Starr of Dublin.

The gift bags were an inducement to arrive early, and the retailer handed out almost $10,000 worth of items in those packs.

The 5 a.m. opening had a party atmosphere despite the cold, as Cabela’s employees rolled out hot drinks and played music — including a festive Duck Dynasty CD, “Duck the Halls.”

Glenn Gomberg, from the West Side of Columbus, was one of the first in line.

“We got here at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, although I came at 9 in the morning to make sure no one had beat us to the front,” Gomberg said.

“I’m going to get a shotgun and a refrigerator. I’m saving like $300 on both.”

The line stretched almost completely around the store and the parking lot was filled to capacity.

So long was the line that Cabela’s opened a few minutes earlier than planned — 4:55 a.m. Unlike some other stores that let a limited number of shoppers in at a time, Cabela’s allowed the vast line to file in, assuming that the size of the store and fast pace of the shopping would keep everything even.

In fact, it was only a few minutes after the doors opened — at 4:58 a.m. — that the first shoppers walked in to the check-out lines, said Derrek Shively, retail marketing manager.

While many in line had stayed up all night, they weren’t planning to shop and go home.

“I got to go to Walmart,” Gomberg said. “I’ve still got to shop for my 3-year-old niece.”

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Aeropostale Earnings Preview: Expect The Struggle To Continue - Trefis

Quick Take

• As Aeropostale releases its Q3 fiscal 2013 results on December 4, we expect its struggle to continue
• The company’s basic as well as fashion products have not resonated well with its customers, which is likely to continue in the third quarter
• The prevailing weakness in the U.S. apparel industry will further add to Aeropostale’s problems
• If the company continues to report terrible results in the third quarter, chances of a buyout might increase
• We will keep an eye on the company’s store consolidation strategy, its direct-to-consumer growth and P.S. from Aeropostale performance, as they hold enough potential to drive the company in the long-term

Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO), a retailer that has been struggling in the U.S. for the past couple of years, is scheduled to report its Q3 fiscal 2013 earnings on December 4th. We expect the retailer to report another weak quarter, as its underlying problems persist.  We suspect there was poor customer response to its present product offerings, which likely added to the impact of the prevailing weakness in the U.S. apparel industry. During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, Aeropostale’s comparable store sales declined by almost 15% due to heavy promotional activities and low store traffic. The third quarter will likely be weak as well.

Aeropostale’s basic product offerings continue to struggle and its fashion offerings have not been well received. We expect this factor to weigh on the retailer’s third quarter results. The U.S. apparel industry itself is going through a rough phase due to low consumer spending on apparel. We believe that this factor is strong enough to undermine initiatives Aeropostale has made to revive its business. Still, with a look towards the future, we will monitor the retailer’s store consolidation strategy, direct-to-consumer growth, and the performance of its P.S. from Aeropostale brand. Though these efforts are likely to have little noticeable impact on the upcoming results, progress on these fronts will be closely monitored by investors and analysts, as they provide some hope for the company’s long-term growth.

Lately some investment firms have started investing in Aeropostale and there have also been talks of a complete buyout. If the retailer continues to report dismal results in the third quarter, it might strengthen the chances of the company going private.

See our complete analysis for Aeropostale

Poor Customer Response To Product Offerings Will Continue

Prior to the second quarter, Aeropostale was struggling to hold onto its customers due to the lack of fashion content. As U.S. buyers have shown low brand loyalty, they have been readily shifting to brands that provide latest fashion products at affordable prices. This trend has fueled the success of some of the fast fashion brands such as Zara, H&M, Forever 21, Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS), Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) etc. On the other hand, it has troubled retailers such as Aeroposatle, American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO) and Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF).

However, to re-position its brand as more fashionable, Aeropostale took some determined steps in Q2 fiscal 2013. The company attempted a complete product overhaul, with a head-to-toe approach as it extended its fashion offerings and added certain new product categories such as footwear. ^[] It started offering trendy products like lacy ruffled tunics, studded combat boots, floral anorak jackets etc., with hopes of attracting customers. Aeroposatle also launched some marketing campaigns to portray the brand as more fashionable, and reduced its lead times to increase the speed to market. ^[]

Despite these efforts, customer response remained cold as these products did not complement Aeropostale’s brand perception. The brand is known to offer basic products such as t-shirts, jeans and hoodies at affordable prices. While the retailer’s idea was to integrate more fashion content in its offerings, it ended up making changes that were too drastic. ^[] Moreover, the pricing of these products did not resonate well with the customers as they were relatively expensive. We do not expect the company to recover from this in a single quarter. Its basic products were already struggling and its fashion content failed to garner sufficient customer attention.

Industry Wide Weak Apparel Sales Will Add To The Retailer’s Miseries

Pressurized by slow job growth, increased taxes, higher healthcare costs and gasoline prices, U.S. buyers have scaled back their discretionary spending this year. Moreover, a percentage of consumers have started diverting their spending to cars and houses to take advantage of the low interest rates. Subsequently, they are holding back on other products such as apparel and accessories. As a result, consumer spending on apparel products has been sluggish so far in the year.

In response to this weakness, several U.S. retailers have ushered heavy promotions to win back customers and Aeroposatle is not an exception. Due to heavy markdowns, players such as American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch have reported a decline of 5% and 14% respectively in their Q3 comparable store sales. Even the growth of some of the stronger performers such as Gap Inc and Urban Outfitters has slowed down. Therefore, we believe that this factor will add to Aeropostale’s existing problems, resulting in another weak quarter for the company.

These Factors Will Be In Focus

As the top-line growth is not looking good for Aeropostale, it is planning to reduce its operating expenses by closing down underperforming stores. At the start of fiscal 2013, the company had planned to close about 15-20 stores by the year end. Half way through the year, it increased this figure to 30-40. Although closing underperforming stores will weigh on Aeropostale’s revenue growth initially, it should have a positive impact on revenue per square feet and EBITDA margins over the longer run. This is essential for the retailer given that its revenue per square feet has been declining and its EBITDA margins are quite low as compared to its peers.

Aeropostale’s direct-to-consumer business has been growing at a healthy pace for some time now and its relatively new brand P.S. from Aeropostale has seen some success. We will keep an eye out for progress on these fronts as they are quite important for the company from long-term perspective. Over the longer-run, they will decide whether or not Aeropostale can generate good returns for its shareholders.

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Black Friday: Kmart opens at 6 am Thanksgiving morning - WJLA

(WJLA) - Most Thanksgiving turkeys aren't even out of the oven yet, but some holiday shoppers are already getting Black Friday deals a day early.

Continue reading

Kmart customers got the jump on holiday shopping at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning when the big-box retailer opened its doors. With retailers relying on ever-expanding hours to draw customers, Kmart will remain open for 41 consecutive hours, the longest hours of any of the major stores.

Electronics, often one of the most deeply-discounted items during the sales that surround Thanksgiving, were especially popular at Kmart Thursday morning.

The Hyattsville Kmart sold out of its discounted Android tablets within 15 minutes of opening its doors.

This is what has brought people out on this cold Thanksgiving Day: sales. At 40, 50, and 80-percent off, stores are providing an early chance to get big deals even before the even bigger sales Thursday night and Friday.

We found Andrea Dickson at the Walmart in Bowie, starting her Christmas shopping early.

"It's Thanksgiving, but if you work 40 hours a week and have a young baby, you don't have time -- so you take time whenever you can," she explains.

Others shopping for those last second items for their Thanksgiving dinners had grocery store aisles filled on Thursday.

Ginger Reaves has 20 people coming over for dinner, but she came out to pick up a few things for another big Thanksgiving day tradition: football watching.

"My brother and his kids and my other brother and his kids and their extended family," she says about who's coming.

A big dinner, some football, and eating some more. As she says, it’s the American way.

Meanwhile in Fairfax, neither snow nor rain nor dark of night was able to stop the faithful observers of 'Brown Thursday.'

"We've been here for like 18 hours, since 6 p.m.," says Mostafa Ali from Falls Church.

Outside the Best Buy at both Potomac Yards and Bailey’s Crossroads, 'Brown Thursday' is not for the faint of heart – some early shoppers were already sleeping on the sidewalk.

The Target in Falls Church is offering a deal on the 50-inch Element LED television for $229.

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Black Friday: Kmart opens at 6 am Thanksgiving morning - WJLA

(WJLA) - Most Thanksgiving turkeys aren't even out of the oven yet, but some holiday shoppers are already getting Black Friday deals a day early.

Continue reading

Kmart customers got the jump on holiday shopping at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning when the big-box retailer opened its doors. With retailers relying on ever-expanding hours to draw customers, Kmart will remain open for 41 consecutive hours, the longest hours of any of the major stores.

Electronics, often one of the most deeply-discounted items during the sales that surround Thanksgiving, were especially popular at Kmart Thursday morning.

The Hyattsville Kmart sold out of its discounted Android tablets within 15 minutes of opening its doors.

This is what has brought people out on this cold Thanksgiving Day: sales. At 40, 50, and 80-percent off, stores are providing an early chance to get big deals even before the even bigger sales Thursday night and Friday.

We found Andrea Dickson at the Walmart in Bowie, starting her Christmas shopping early.

"It's Thanksgiving, but if you work 40 hours a week and have a young baby, you don't have time -- so you take time whenever you can," she explains.

Others shopping for those last second items for their Thanksgiving dinners had grocery store aisles filled on Thursday.

Ginger Reaves has 20 people coming over for dinner, but she came out to pick up a few things for another big Thanksgiving day tradition: football watching.

"My brother and his kids and my other brother and his kids and their extended family," she says about who's coming.

A big dinner, some football, and eating some more. As she says, it’s the American way.

Meanwhile in Fairfax, neither snow nor rain nor dark of night was able to stop the faithful observers of 'Brown Thursday.'

"We've been here for like 18 hours, since 6 p.m.," says Mostafa Ali from Falls Church.

Outside the Best Buy at both Potomac Yards and Bailey’s Crossroads, 'Brown Thursday' is not for the faint of heart – some early shoppers were already sleeping on the sidewalk.

The Target in Falls Church is offering a deal on the 50-inch Element LED television for $229.

Garth Brooks

The 10 best covers on the Garth Brooks box set - USA TODAY

Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY 4:24 p.m. EST November 29, 2013

GARTH BROOKS, 'Blame It All on My Roots' (Pearl, six CDs/two DVDs, $25) | The country star's bargain box, his second exclusively for Walmart, delivers four discs of cover songs.(Photo: None)

Story Highlights

• Garth Brooks' eight-disc 'Blame It All on My Roots"'includes four discs of cover songs
• The box set is available exclusively via Walmart
• 'Garth Brooks: Live From Las Vegas' airs Friday on CBS (9 p.m. ET/PT)

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Garth Brooks' new box set features includes plenty of hits — most of them originally sung by other people. Of the eight discs in Blame It All on My Roots, which went on sale at Walmart on Thursday, four consist of covers — the country superstar's first new studio recordings in six years.

Called Country Classics, Classic Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul and Melting Pot, the discs show the confluence of country, pop, folk and rock that went into shaping the musical style of a man who has sold more albums than anyone besides The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Those discs contain 44 remakes spanning from 1952 (Hank Williams' Jambalaya) to 1988 (Keith Whitley's Don't Close Your Eyes). Few Brooks fans will be shocked that he pays tribute to James Taylor, Jim Croce and George Strait, or that his favorites include Billy Joel and Bob Dylan, whose catalogs have provided him material in the past. Perhaps more surprising are the only two singers who have two hits among Brooks' covers: Gladys Knight (I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Midnight Train to Georgia) and Paul Rodgers (All Right Now, Bad Company).

Brooks has been singing several of these songs during his four-year solo residency at the Wynn Las Vegas, and his final show there airs Friday (CBS, 9 p.m. ET/PT). While these remakes may not replace Brooks' hits Friends in Low Places, The Thunder Rolls and If Tomorrow Never Comes in his fans' hearts, we've listened to the new discs and come up with our favorites.

1. Fishin' in the Dark. If there's any track among the 44 covers on Blame It All on My Roots that amounts to more than scraping the rust off and signals a direction new material might take, it's probably this remake of a 1987 No. 1 country hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Thematically, it fits with what current stars like Luke Bryan and Jake Owen are singing, while musically, it's a logical extension of early Brooks hits such as Callin' Baton Rouge and Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House.
2. Don't Close Your Eyes. Keith Whitley hit No. 1 with this ballad in 1988, just as Brooks' career as a recording artist was starting to ramp up. Listening to Brooks' version, it's easy to imagine the song sequenced into his 1990 debut album with the likes of The Dance and If Tomorrow Never Comes.
3. Midnight Train to Georgia. Georgia writer Jim Weatherly also wrote several country hits, so this song is right in Brooks' sweet spot. The arrangement is heavily influenced by Gladys Knight & the Pips' 1973 hit, but Brooks takes more liberty with his vocals. Even better, Brooks brings a new context to the song as he turns it into a love triangle, singing, "She'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine."
4. Black Water. This is exactly the sort of highly stylized, overly familiar song that shouldn't have worked for Brooks, especially since his version takes nearly every one of its sonic cues from the Doobie Brothers' 1974 original. But the strengths of Brooks' style so perfectly match the song's best qualities that the marriage of the two works perfectly.
5. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere. Returning to the Dylan repertoire makes sense for Brooks, since he took To Make You Feel My Love to No. 1 on the country charts in 1998. It's less intuitive that he'd go to this particular song, a single for the Byrds in 1968, three years before Dylan released his original. Pedal-steel guitarist Paul Franklin is as much the star of this honky-tonk shuffle as Brooks is, and it features the smooth country-rock harmonies that show up throughout these covers.
6. After the Fire Is Gone. Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood step into the shoes of Conway Twitty and Loretta for a remake of their 1971 Grammy winner, with impressive results.
7. Unwound. George Strait, who launched his career in 1981 with this Dean Dillon/Frank Dycus single, is Brooks' most obvious, immediate predecessor. Is it any wonder the song suits Brooks perfectly as well?
8. Act Naturally. Brooks probably has a soft spot for this 1963 Buck Owens chart-topper because one of its writers, Johnny Russell, would be the person who first introduced him on the Grand Ole Opry stage. But it's not hard to hear what an impact Owens' singing had on Brooks' own style, especially as he scoops into the vowel sounds.
9. Ain't No Sunshine. Bill Withers' 1971 hit allows Brooks to wallow in obsessive, introspective gloom — in other words, country singer nirvana.
10. Shout. Sure, this rave-up, originally a hit for the Isley Brothers in 1959, would be even better live — like on the 2014 tour many people assume Brooks is planning. But this rollicking studio version's a blast, too, especially when Brooks shifts into halftime gospel mode.

Here's the track listing for the Blame It All on My Roots covers discs:

Country Classics

1. Great Balls of Fire
2. After the Fire Is Gone (with Trisha Yearwood)
3. Act Naturally
4. Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down
5. Amos Moses
6. Fishin' in the Dark
7. Unwound
8. Good Ole Boys Like Me
9. White Lightning
10. Don't Close Your Eyes
11. Jambalaya

Melting Pot

1. Black Water
2. Mrs. Robinson
3. Maggie May
4. Who'll Stop the Rain
5. Wild World
6. Doctor My Eyes
7. The Weight
8. Amie
9. Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)
10. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
11. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Classic Rock

1. Against the Wind
2. Superstition
3. Sweet Home Alabama
4. Life in the Fast Lane
5. Somebody to Love
6. Bad Company
7. Midnight Rider
8. All Right Now
9. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
10. Addicted to Love
11. Goodnight Saigon

Blue Eyed Soul

1. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
2. Midnight Train to Georgia
3. Hold On, I'm Coming
4. Ain't No Sunshine
5. Drift Away
6. Stand by Me
7. Shout
8. I Never Loved Someone the Way I Love You
9. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
10. Lean on Me
11. What'd I Say

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The 10 best covers on the Garth Brooks box set - USA TODAY

Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY 4:24 p.m. EST November 29, 2013

GARTH BROOKS, 'Blame It All on My Roots' (Pearl, six CDs/two DVDs, $25) | The country star's bargain box, his second exclusively for Walmart, delivers four discs of cover songs.(Photo: None)

Story Highlights

• Garth Brooks' eight-disc 'Blame It All on My Roots"'includes four discs of cover songs
• The box set is available exclusively via Walmart
• 'Garth Brooks: Live From Las Vegas' airs Friday on CBS (9 p.m. ET/PT)

SHARE 175 CONNECT EMAILMORE

Garth Brooks' new box set features includes plenty of hits — most of them originally sung by other people. Of the eight discs in Blame It All on My Roots, which went on sale at Walmart on Thursday, four consist of covers — the country superstar's first new studio recordings in six years.

Called Country Classics, Classic Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul and Melting Pot, the discs show the confluence of country, pop, folk and rock that went into shaping the musical style of a man who has sold more albums than anyone besides The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Those discs contain 44 remakes spanning from 1952 (Hank Williams' Jambalaya) to 1988 (Keith Whitley's Don't Close Your Eyes). Few Brooks fans will be shocked that he pays tribute to James Taylor, Jim Croce and George Strait, or that his favorites include Billy Joel and Bob Dylan, whose catalogs have provided him material in the past. Perhaps more surprising are the only two singers who have two hits among Brooks' covers: Gladys Knight (I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Midnight Train to Georgia) and Paul Rodgers (All Right Now, Bad Company).

Brooks has been singing several of these songs during his four-year solo residency at the Wynn Las Vegas, and his final show there airs Friday (CBS, 9 p.m. ET/PT). While these remakes may not replace Brooks' hits Friends in Low Places, The Thunder Rolls and If Tomorrow Never Comes in his fans' hearts, we've listened to the new discs and come up with our favorites.

1. Fishin' in the Dark. If there's any track among the 44 covers on Blame It All on My Roots that amounts to more than scraping the rust off and signals a direction new material might take, it's probably this remake of a 1987 No. 1 country hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Thematically, it fits with what current stars like Luke Bryan and Jake Owen are singing, while musically, it's a logical extension of early Brooks hits such as Callin' Baton Rouge and Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House.
2. Don't Close Your Eyes. Keith Whitley hit No. 1 with this ballad in 1988, just as Brooks' career as a recording artist was starting to ramp up. Listening to Brooks' version, it's easy to imagine the song sequenced into his 1990 debut album with the likes of The Dance and If Tomorrow Never Comes.
3. Midnight Train to Georgia. Georgia writer Jim Weatherly also wrote several country hits, so this song is right in Brooks' sweet spot. The arrangement is heavily influenced by Gladys Knight & the Pips' 1973 hit, but Brooks takes more liberty with his vocals. Even better, Brooks brings a new context to the song as he turns it into a love triangle, singing, "She'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine."
4. Black Water. This is exactly the sort of highly stylized, overly familiar song that shouldn't have worked for Brooks, especially since his version takes nearly every one of its sonic cues from the Doobie Brothers' 1974 original. But the strengths of Brooks' style so perfectly match the song's best qualities that the marriage of the two works perfectly.
5. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere. Returning to the Dylan repertoire makes sense for Brooks, since he took To Make You Feel My Love to No. 1 on the country charts in 1998. It's less intuitive that he'd go to this particular song, a single for the Byrds in 1968, three years before Dylan released his original. Pedal-steel guitarist Paul Franklin is as much the star of this honky-tonk shuffle as Brooks is, and it features the smooth country-rock harmonies that show up throughout these covers.
6. After the Fire Is Gone. Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood step into the shoes of Conway Twitty and Loretta for a remake of their 1971 Grammy winner, with impressive results.
7. Unwound. George Strait, who launched his career in 1981 with this Dean Dillon/Frank Dycus single, is Brooks' most obvious, immediate predecessor. Is it any wonder the song suits Brooks perfectly as well?
8. Act Naturally. Brooks probably has a soft spot for this 1963 Buck Owens chart-topper because one of its writers, Johnny Russell, would be the person who first introduced him on the Grand Ole Opry stage. But it's not hard to hear what an impact Owens' singing had on Brooks' own style, especially as he scoops into the vowel sounds.
9. Ain't No Sunshine. Bill Withers' 1971 hit allows Brooks to wallow in obsessive, introspective gloom — in other words, country singer nirvana.
10. Shout. Sure, this rave-up, originally a hit for the Isley Brothers in 1959, would be even better live — like on the 2014 tour many people assume Brooks is planning. But this rollicking studio version's a blast, too, especially when Brooks shifts into halftime gospel mode.

Here's the track listing for the Blame It All on My Roots covers discs:

Country Classics

1. Great Balls of Fire
2. After the Fire Is Gone (with Trisha Yearwood)
3. Act Naturally
4. Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down
5. Amos Moses
6. Fishin' in the Dark
7. Unwound
8. Good Ole Boys Like Me
9. White Lightning
10. Don't Close Your Eyes
11. Jambalaya

Melting Pot

1. Black Water
2. Mrs. Robinson
3. Maggie May
4. Who'll Stop the Rain
5. Wild World
6. Doctor My Eyes
7. The Weight
8. Amie
9. Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)
10. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
11. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Classic Rock

1. Against the Wind
2. Superstition
3. Sweet Home Alabama
4. Life in the Fast Lane
5. Somebody to Love
6. Bad Company
7. Midnight Rider
8. All Right Now
9. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
10. Addicted to Love
11. Goodnight Saigon

Blue Eyed Soul

1. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
2. Midnight Train to Georgia
3. Hold On, I'm Coming
4. Ain't No Sunshine
5. Drift Away
6. Stand by Me
7. Shout
8. I Never Loved Someone the Way I Love You
9. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
10. Lean on Me
11. What'd I Say

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Evelyn Lozada of 'Basketball Wives' is pregnant, mum on paternity - Los Angeles Times

Evelyn Lozada of VH1's catty reality series "Basketball Wives" is six months pregnant. 

"I am so excited to announce a wonderful blessing -- I'm pregnant!" Lozada told People magazine Friday. "I'm excited about being a mommy all over again. This is something I've been wanting for years and I can't believe it's finally happening."

The reality TV star would not disclose who the child's father is, but TMZ reported that it's a new beau -- whom she's been dating for about a year -- not her ex-husband, football player Chad Johnson.

PHOTOS: Hollywood baby boom

The pregnancy was reportedly planned, the site said.

On social media, the 37-year-old "Inner Circle" author repeatedly heralded the pregnancy as a "new beginning," and then took to Instagram to share a pregnant selfie, which was promptly removed.

"NEW BEGINNINGS... #HappiestWomanAlive" she wrote, captioning a side-view photo of herself on the beach wearing a billowing maxi dress that accentuated her growing belly. 

PHOTOS: Oddly fantastic celebrity baby names

Lozada and Johnson famously called it quits on their two-month marriage in September 2012, and entered into prolonged court proceedings in a brutal domestic-violence dispute. Prior to that, she was in a 10-year relationship with NBA player Antoine Walker, but the two called off their engagement before making it down the aisle.

The reality star is already mother to a 20-year-old daughter named Shaniece, who accompanied Lozada on a trip to Hawaii over Thanksgiving, TMZ said. Presumably, that's where the "new beginnings" selfie was taken.

"You deserve everything that GOD sends your way," her daughter captioned another beach photo of them. "I am so excited to meet my new sibling! #youjustkeepwinning #babyswag #JOY @evelynlozada"

PHOTOS: Celebrity parenting handbook

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!" Lozada tweeted Thursday. "I'm truly thankful to all of my followers! Thanks for loving me through thick & thin! LOVE U!!!!!

"I'm so thankful for so many things! How much greatness has happened in a year! I'm sooooooo damn HAPPY!!! Yipeeeeeee!!!" she added.

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Sears Takes Crash Course in Surfing - Wall Street Journal

Nov. 28, 2013 5:42 p.m. ET

It is becoming less clear whether Sears Holdings will ultimately be left holding anything other than the bag.

Beyond the rundown of just how much money the company had lost, its latest quarterly results included a statement from Chief Executive Edward Lampert on where he sees Sears heading.

"We are proactively transforming our business to a member-centric integrated retailer," said Mr. Lampert, who controls the...

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Burke, Lembo to run Foot Locker regionals - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Jim Castor 11:16 p.m. EST November 29, 2013

Been there, done that, figures Rush-Henrietta All-American Mickey Burke.

So this week, with his senior season creeping to a close, he’s taking the other fork in the road that is the great divide in postseason high school cross country.

Saturday Burke will join Penfield senior Katie Lembo at the Foot Locker regionals in the Bronx to try and qualify for an expenses-paid trip to Foot Locker’s 45th national championship in San Diego. He needs a top-10 finish, and as of mid-week, he was top-seeded.

A year ago Burke was second at the Nike Cross regionals in Poughkeepsie and a Section V all-time best 13th at the ninth Nike nationals in Portland, Ore.

Both events’ qualifiers for participants from the Northeast have been on the same day since Nike qualifiers began in 2007, so hard choices must be made for top runners.

“The history of Foot Locker is something I’ve thought about a lot,” Burke said. “Most all of the great runners have done it, and no R-H (boys) runner has ever made the finals.” R-H’s Anita Kelly was 14th at nationals in 1980.

Lembo, like Burke the All-Greater Rochester Runner of the Year as a junior, was third at Foot Locker regionals and 21st at nationals last fall.

“She really never considered switching to Nike,” said her coach, Dave Hennessey. “The whole San Diego experience is first class in every way, and to do that (qualify in Poughkeepsie for Nike) it would mean leaving her teammates this week.”

Hennessey and the Penfield cross country booster club have booked a Thanksgiving weekend trip to Foot Locker regionals, along with a shopping excursion into Manhattan, every year since the mid-1980s. This year they’re taking about 35 runners — freshmen to seniors.

“We’re loyal to Foot Locker,” Hennessey said, “and they’ve been really good to us.”

The Nike regionals, on the other hand, attract most everyone with a top team or top individuals, since both can qualify for Portland. Among Section V entries Saturday (running as clubs or individuals since school-name entries are not sanctioned) are Rush-Henrietta’s boys and girls, with Federations runner-up Alex Cooper and Nike nationals participant in 2012 Siobhan Quinn (59th); both Webster Thomas boys and girls teams; Victor’s boys team and Hilton’s girls.

Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered cross country and road racing in the Rochester area for more than four decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com.

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Sears Takes Crash Course in Surfing - Wall Street Journal

Nov. 28, 2013 5:42 p.m. ET

It is becoming less clear whether Sears Holdings will ultimately be left holding anything other than the bag.

Beyond the rundown of just how much money the company had lost, its latest quarterly results included a statement from Chief Executive Edward Lampert on where he sees Sears heading.

"We are proactively transforming our business to a member-centric integrated retailer," said Mr. Lampert, who controls the...

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NFL announces trio of dates of next year's London games - CBSSports.com

Wembley Stadium will play host to three NFL games next season. (USATSI)

With not one, not two, but three (!) NFL games to be played next season in London, the NFL has announced the dates those international contests will be played.

They are as follows:

Week 4 on Sept. 28: Raiders vs. the Dolphins

Week 8 on Oct. 26: Falcons vs. Lions

Week 10 on Nov. 9: Cowboys vs. the Jaguars

All games will be played at Wembley Stadium.

"Our fans in the UK continue to demonstrate their passion for more football," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement last month. “Next year for the first time we will play three regular-season games in London. We have scheduled three attractive games with four teams playing in their first International Series game. The growing enthusiasm for the NFL internationally is exciting and we look forward to continuing to respond to this interest in our game.”

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Hotels offer Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals - USA TODAY

The newly renovated Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia is offering its redesigned Business Class rooms for $19.26 on Cyber Monday. Business class rates normally start at $218.(Photo: Tom Crane)

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Consumers can get much more than a discounted flat screen TV or tablet on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

In recent years, hotels have also gotten into the spirit of the shopping frenzy on the day and Monday after Thanksgiving.

This year, on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2, tons of hotels throughout the country will be offering up to 50% off room rates, some with an amenity or two thrown in.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been lucrative for many hotels.

Alex Attia, general manager of The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., says a Cyber Monday deal generated more than $40,000 of revenue when the hotel first offered it in 2011. Revenue jumped 20% on Cyber Monday the following year.

"For us, the true success has been to really open up availability so guests can actually take advantage," he says. "With the savings and increased availability, we're finding families are booking more and more, taking advantage of our ice rink and other family-friendly winter activities."

Here's a sampling of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals available at hotels throughout the country.

HOTEL TONIGHT

The last-minute hotel booking app is making some changes for the holiday. Typically, hotel deals appear daily on the app at noon. Now, deals are starting at 9 a.m. local time each day. To celebrate the change, HotelTonight is offering rooms for $99 nationwide on Black Friday in such markets as Manhattan, San Francisco, and Chicago.

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MAJOR HOTEL CHAINS

On Cyber Monday, you'll be able to get 30% off room rates at more than 350 participating Marriott hotels across several brands, including JW Marriott and Renaissance Hotels. The hotels are located in a number of cities from New York to San Francisco. Stays must occur between Dec. 20 and March 31.To book, go to marriottcybermonday.com starting at 12:01 a.m. EST Dec. 2 and enter the promotional code 16C or call 888-703-9727 and quote the promotional code 16C. There's a limited supply, and a non-refundable advance purchase must be made by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 2. Comments? Share it on Twitter with #MarriottDeal.

Omni Hotels is launching a "Click Quick " Cyber Monday promotion at nearly all its 60 properties in North America. Guests who book starting at 1:01 a.m. EST on Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 will get 40% off nightly rates. Members of Omni's Select Guest loyalty program can get a head start with members-only early access to the deal beginning today. The offer applies to stays through Dec. 30. The Omni Berkshire Place in Manhattan will extend the stay to mid-January. The offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Guests can book at omnihotels.com or call 800-The-Omni.

Loews Hotels and Resorts are giving travelers four days to book discounted rates. From 12:01 a.m. EST Nov. 29 through 3 a.m. Dec. 3--Big Deal Cyber Weekend, as the hotel company is calling it –travelers can book rooms for up to 40% off the best available rate. Bookings apply for travel from Nov. 29 through April 3 and included free Internet access. To book, visit loewshotels.com.

Red Roof Inn, an economy hotel chain, is offering 30% off rooms at more than 350 properties nationwide through Feb. 28. Book on Cyber Monday at redroof.com/partners/cyber_monday/ using the code 616892. You can also call 800-RED-ROOF (800-733-7663). Blackout dates may apply. You cannot combine the deal with any other promotions.

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NEW YORK

The Jade, a Greenwich Village hotel with a Gatsby-like vibe, is offering a 1920's-themed Cyber Monday package. Book a standard room from midnight to 7:20 p.m. (or 19:20) on December 2, and you'll pay $192 a night in January and February plus taxes. You'll also get lunch at Grape & Vine for $19.20 in addition to two complimentary 1920's themed cocktails. A look at a weeknight stay in January shows rooms ranging from $255 to $380. Book at thejadenyc.com/?ibe=true&pc=CYBERMON.

Book a room at Triumph Hotels' six properties on Cyber Monday in New York for two or more nights through March and you'll get 30% off. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST, you'll get 50% off premium rooms and suites also through March. Properties are located all over Manhattan, from the Upper West Side to Midtown, where the Iroquois New York is located. Book at triumphhotels.com.

THE OUT NYC, close to Broadway and Times Square, will shave 25% off room rates for Jan. 2 through March 20 if you book on Cyber Monday. Private rooms on a weeknight in January range from $199 to $359. You also get a $20 voucher for The Spa at THE OUT NYC, two complimentary tickets to the off-Broadway production "Hot Mess Drag Revue," and two welcome cocktails at KTCHN Restaurant. There are some blackout dates such as Super Bowl weekend. Reservations will also be charged at the time of booking and are non-refundable. Book at theoutnyc.com/specials/.

At the Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City , you can get 20% off regular room rates if you book between the hours of 2:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. on Cyber Monday. The offer includes two complimentary cocktails and is available for stays from Jan. 2 to March 31. Rates in January range from $129 to $215. Black-out dates include Jan. 1 and Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, around the SuperBowl. To book, dial 212-319-7000 and mention CYBER MONDAY or visit zhotelny.com and use the code CYBR.

PHILADELPHIA

The newly converted Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia is offering its redesigned Business Class rooms for $19.26, a number chosen for the year the hotel opened. Rooms can be booked at 12 a.m. Cyber Monday for 24 hours or until sold out. Business class rates normally start at $218. The deal is limited to one reservation per person. A maximum of two nights is required for stays through Feb. 28. Blackout dates may apply. The room comes with early check-in privileges, Nespresso machines, upgraded bathroom amenities, turndown service, and access to the Lounge with complimentary breakfast and evening refreshments. To book, visit radissonblu.com/hotel-philadelphia/offers/steal.

CAMBRIDGE

Stat at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square for 20% off the best available rate if you book on Cyber Monday. For one hour, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST on Cyber Monday, you'll get 50% off room rates. The deal applies to stays from Dec. 2 to March 31. Blackout dates apply. Book at charleshotel.com.

CHICAGO

Starting Cyber Monday until Dec. 9, if you book two nights at the Thompson Chicago, you'll get a third night free for stays from Dec. 2 through Feb. 28. The offer applies to a Superior King Room for two. It includes a greeted arrival at the airport, complimentary private airport transportation to and from the hotel, and a special welcome amenity, for a total cost of $549 before taxes. For reservations, visit thompsonchicago.com and use the promo code CYBERM2013.

TUCSON

Reserve a room at the Tanque Verde Ranch for four or more nights and get 50% off the starting rate. The southwestern styled rooms come with three meals a day, a supervised children's program for ages 4 to 11, and on-property activities ranging from horseback riding to mountain biking through desert trails. This deal is valid for stays from Nov. 29 through March 10. Book at tanqueverderanch.com.

SAN FRANCISCO

At the Hotel Abri in Union Square, if you book on Black Friday from midnight through 11:59 p.m. PST, you'll get a room for $99. Starting rates are typically $154 a night. The rate is valid on stays from Dec. 1 through Jan. 31. The offer is valid on weekdays, and blackout days apply. Book at hotelabrisf.com.

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Old Navy's 'Overnight Millionaire' contest - Fox Business

This transcript is automatically generated

DISCOUNTS.

OLD NAVY IS OFFERING A CHANCE 00 P.M.

OVER 700 STORES WILL OPEN FOR 29 HOURS.

THE FIRST 500 CUSTOMERS AT EACH STORE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN $1 MILLION IN OLD NAVY OVERNIGHT MILLIONAIRES WITH STICKS.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS IS OLD NAVY HAD OF STORES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

00 A.M.

ON THANKSGIVING.

CORRECT ME WHERE I'M GETTING WRONG.

>> WE WILL ACTUALLY HAVE 900 00 A.M.

UNTIL 4:00 P.M.

WE CLOSE THE 4:00 P.M.

AND THEN 00 P.M.

AND THEN WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED PROMOTIONAL OFFER.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AWAY MILLION DOLLARS.

THE FIRST 500 PEOPLE IN LINE WILL BE GETTING A GAME APIECE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY SOMEWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SOMEONE WILL HAVE THEIR NIGHT -- LIFE CHANGED.

ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE TO MENTION WE WILL HAVE 50 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE STORAGE WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

BETWEEN THE TWO IT IS A PRETTY INCREDIBLE OFFER.

>> 7:00 P.M.

AND AFTER.

9:00 A.M.

UNTIL FOUR, CREDIT CARD CUSTOMERS TO OF PEOPLE HAVE A CARD.

AMONG THE CLOTHES A FOURTH.

HAVE DINNER WITH YOUR FAMILY AND THEN GO SHOP AT SEVEN AND GET AN EXTRA 10 PERCENT OFF.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN UP TO NOW, THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR ON THANKSGIVING.

CUSTOMERS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY APPRECIATED.

THEY LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WIND.

IT'S 7:00 THAT NIGHT IT WILL BE CRAZY.

IT PERSON.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.

NINE A.M.

TO 4:00 P.M.

ANOTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SHOP ON THANKSGIVING.

ANOTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK ON THANKSGIVING, BUT THEY'RE IS A LOT OF BACKLASH AGAINST COMPANIES LIKE YOURS BEING OPEN ON THANKSGIVING.

AUDI REACT? OUR FIFTH THANKSGIVING.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET CUSTOMER SENTIMENT RIGHT.

WHAT SHE TOLD US CLEARLY IS SHE LOVES THE OPPORUNITY, ENJOY SHOPPING, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE HER THAT OPPORTUNITY.

OUR EMPLOYEES, WE GO BACK FIVE YEARS AGO, WE STARTED BY POSTING UP A SIGN UP SHEET AND LITERALLY TOOK VOLUNTEERS.

WHAT WE LEARN REALLY QUICKLY IS STILL WE HAD TO TURN EMPLOYEES AWAY BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTED TO WORK ON THANKSGIVING.

WE GIVE THEM OVERTIME, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

THE BUDGET EVERY ONE OF OUR STORES HAVE A THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION AND MEAL, SO YOU GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THANKSGIVING WITH THEIR OLD NAVY FAMILY AND SEPARATELY A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE IT WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY PEOPLE, MAN.

YOU KEEP SAYING SHE.

I TAKE IT YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC IS ONE IN.

>> FORGIVE ME.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU END UP TALKING ABOUT.

SHE, WE REFER TO HER AS JENNY, BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY.

THAT IS ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE FAMILY AND.

CLEARLY HE COMES INTO.

I AM WEARING A NAVY RIGHT NOW.

I LOVE THE PRODUCT.

THE UGLIEST SHORTS I OWN THE WORLD, BUT ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

THIS WILL BE A SHORTENED HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

PART OF THE GAP FAMILY, AND IT IS AMAZING WHAT CAP HAS DONE.

ALL OF US HAVE SOMETHING EITHER FROM GABBA WORLD NAVY.

ALL THE BEST.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

ASHLEY: INVESTING IN PR HAS A

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Black Friday brings snow globes back to JC Penney; fans rejoice - Los Angeles Times

On Friday morning, some very happy snow globe fans will return to J.C. Penney stores for a Black Friday tradition that was briefly wiped out last year. Call it the Black Friday Snow Globe Debacle of 2012.

J.C. Penney dropped its post-Thanksgiving snow-globe giveaway last year, and a small but determined rebellion took root. It turns out the Disney globes were an entrenched holiday tradition with some customers.

Leah New of Memphis was one of them. She and her mom had a mother-daughter tradition of shopping at J.C. Penney every Black Friday and picking up a snow globe. (The company kicked off the giveaway in 2000.) New's mom died suddenly in 2012, she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview Wednesday. She had planned to carry on the tradition, but the promotion was pulled.

Under the guiding hand of then-CEO Ron Johnson (killer of JCP's coupons and some longtime brands), the annual Black Friday snow globe giveaway was tossed. So, New started a Facebook page: Bring Back the Snow Globes, JCPenney. She found she wasn't alone in her snow globe longing. Others voiced their dissatisfaction, and on Twitter too.

A new year brought new management and efforts by the company to erase many of the changes by Johnson. Penney's also registered the complaints and revived the snow globes.

This year, New said, she and her boyfriend will stand in line beginning at 3 a.m. for the 4 a.m. globe giveaway.

New, a senior at the University of Memphis, said she was surprised at the number of people who shared the snow globe holiday tradition. "There are so many mother-daughter shoppers out there who seem to love it as much as I loved it with my mom."

J.C. Penney offered up a limited number of 2012 snow globes for customers to make up for the skipped year. New said she received hers and was thrilled. It's a reminder of her mother, she said. "2012 was a sad year for my family," but continuing the snow globe tradition helps: "The spirit of Mom lives on in the traditions that she started."

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Detroit Lions bash Green Bay Packers for division lead - NFL.com

There are blowouts, there are embarrassments and then there's what the Detroit Lions did to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving at Ford Field.

This was complete and utter destruction at a nearly historic level. The Lions wiped out their division rivals, 40-10, and even that score feels misleading in terms of how one-sided this was.

It's a game that re-establishes the Lions as a contender in the NFC, while throwing into question the entire makeup of a Packers team that has cratered without Aaron Rodgers.

When Kevin Ogletree pulled in a one-handed touchdown catch to complete the scoring with less than five minutes to play, the Lions held a 563-56 edge in total yards. 563-56! Reminder: This was a real game between two actual NFL franchises competing for victory.

The final breakdown was 561-126, a difference of 435 yards that represented the greatest yardage discrepancy in eight years, just beating out the 432-yard advantage the New Orleans Saints held over the Dallas Cowboys in their Week 10 laugher.

It had been nine years since the Lions had won on Thanksgiving. They broke that nasty losing streak while giving a national audience a nice picture of what they're all about.

They had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard receiver, a 100-yard rusher (and nearly a second). They sacked Matt Flynn seven times and forced three turnovers. But the Lions also turned the ball over four times themselves, missed a chip-shot field goal and sent two kickoffs out of bounds.

Explosive play. Head-scratching mistakes. It's all there with the Lions. They're a tough team to figure out. Just ask the Packers.

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Q & A with the Butterball Spokesman - CNN (blog)

Michaela: ... You have the table all set, the family's on their way over, there's just one little thing left to handle – you have to prepare and cook that turkey! This year, we're going to give you a little help. We have a man staking out brand new territory at the Butterball Turkey company, RJ Jaramillo, he is the first male turkey talk line spokesman OMG! That's an OMG don't you think?

RJ: Thank you Michaela, it is an OMG alright.

Michaela: We connected in Los Angeles, it's so nice to see you again. Let's talk about this, we know that you are the founder of a website called "Cook like a Dad" so your happy and comfortable in the kitchen, but this is a whole new and exciting opportunity for you.

RJ: Believe it or not Michaela, there's a lot of Dad's out there that are involved in the kitchen process and the cooking process and I'm honored to be part of Butterball, this is an American Thanksgiving tradition – what better way to say it than Butterball and Thanksgiving.

Michaela: No pressure, you're the first male. Do you talk to some of the ladies that gave you some tips on how to handle this?

RJ: I went to Butterball University

Michaela: Butterball University?

RJ: Yes, out in Chicago.

Michaela: Do you have a favorite song?

RJ: No but if I don't get the answers right, believe me there is a fight song.

Michaela: There's trouble to be paid. So is their approach – I have a theory, my dad does the honors, actually my mom and dad do it together. My dad's one of the cooks in the house, do men approach the cooking of the bird a little differently than we do?

RJ: You know, I think we're pretty much all the same and we do have our own strategy, we like to make the – in terms of my family – how we cook. It's kind of like a game plan. We have a team, my daughter's involved with the side dishes, my son is my right hand man, my back up quarter back, and we all get involved in the cooking process for Thanksgiving.

Michaela: It seems as though there's an app for everything and I understand there's an app for turking the turkey – did I say cooking the turkey?

RJ: There is, yeah, if you go on itunes you can find the butterball app.

Michaela: Okay, so let's talk about this, I think there's some, I'm gonna talk to you at home, the viewers that are trying to do this bird, maybe for the first time, it's intimidating, I'm terrified of cooking a bird. What are some of the tips that you can give folks that are trying this out for the first time?

RJ: You know Michaela, people get intimidating by the size of the turkey and it's really an easy process. Every Butterball comes complete with directions and I like to use the plain and simple, open roasting method.

Michaela: Oh really?

RJ: Very simple, just follow the directions, we have, they're all spelled out on the Butterball label.

Michaela: Well now it's gotten kind of deep. You can brine, you can deep fry, you can smoke. What do you think of some of those new methods that are new? Well, they're not really new, they've been around a long time. What do you think of them?

RJ: You know across both coasts, everyone has a preference. Smoking it, deep frying it, I prefer the open roasting because it's so much simpler and it comes out with a consistent, moist, Butterball turkey so I enjoy the open roasting method.

Michaela: There's a couple controversies I want to get to you. A turkey controversies if you will – breast up, breast down? I've heard that if you put the breast down it actually allows some of the flavor to go into the breast. Is that right?

RJ: Well, that is true, but I prefer the breast up and 2/3rds through the recipe I use tenting. Now tenting is just using aluminum foil over the breast, that way it shields it from direct heat and locks in the moisture.

Michaela: Cause you don't want a dry – no, we don't want that. Okay, next controversy, or not, I'm making up these – they're not controversy. Stuffing inside or outside of the bird? I believe in stuffing inside because it's called "stuffing" people. What do you think? Inside or outside?

RJ: I like stuffing inside.

Michaela: Okay, but there are some people that are concerned that you're not cooking it long enough, you just have to be careful right? Like even with the temperature of the bird – you want to use one of those meat thermometers right?

RJ: I like to use two meat thermometers. One inside of the stuffing and one at the deepest part of the turkey, which is the thigh- so 165 for the stuffing, have the meat thermometer in the stuffing where you have it in the turkey and then directly on the thigh at 180. So 180 for thigh, 165 for stuffing.

Michaela: It's easy, you can write that down, or the app would have that. Here's another topic – my sister swears by injecting the bird and putting all sorts of flavorings under the skin. What other tips do you have for people that might want to add a little extra flavor to their turkey?

RJ: You know, I like to pack some butter in between the skin and (Michaela says a little butter never hurts) exactly – a little butter never hurts. But the Butterball turkey comes seasoned, so – absolutely, so if you're not full of supplies, just spray a little cooking oil on it, put it in the roaster and you're done.

Michaela: And dad, let's be honest, your often the guy that has to settle some of the battles, often around the kitchen, often at Thanksgiving – what can we do to kind of elevate some of that stress? The family's all gathered, there's pressure to get the meal on the table, help make this a little less stressful for us?

RJ: Enjoy the process, there's no such thing as a perfect turkey, it's a family tradition, enjoy Thanksgiving. That's the best advice I can offer.

Michaela: RJ Jaramillo, he's the first male turkey line, phone, well I guess you're the emergency call. I guess you're the guy that's called when people are feeling like things are not going well.

RJ: The Butterball turkey talk line, call 1-800-Butterball.

Michaela: We might be calling today, really good to see you again and happy Thanksgiving to you darling. Back to you guys.

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Ruth Ann's chef shares family gravy recipe - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Last year, Ruth Ann's Restaurant owner Mary Heisey got a call from a Fort Benning official begging her to open the eatery on Thanksgiving Day.

Three classes at Fort Benning were graduating on Wednesday and the soldiers were only getting two days off. That was not enough time for most of them to get home for Thanksgiving, which meant their families were coming to Columbus.

Heisey said her staff was enthusiastic about opening and the restaurant, a favorite of military personnel, was busy for the four hours it opened.

Then something funny happened while they were open.

The phone kept ringing.

"People were calling, asking how to make gravy and asking turkey questions," she said.

Her sister, Lisa Kean, the restaurant's head chef, laughed and said maybe they should open a Thanksgiving Day hotline.

Of course, Heisey couldn't give the recipe over the phone repeatedly. She finally told people to come to the restaurant and she would sell them the gravy.

This year, the restaurant will be closed, but Kean is sharing her family's turkey gravy recipe.

It's the one her mother, Ruth Ann, cooked for the family and continues to make. Kean has been making it in the restaurant for almost 18 years.

Heisey has been making the gravy since she was a child.

"I hope people make good gravy for their family this year," Kean said. "It's very simple."

Ruth Ann's Turkey Gravy

• 1 cup celery, diced

• 1 cup onion, diced

• 1 teaspoon pepper

• 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes

• 4 sticks of butter (or margarine), melted

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour

• 48 ounces of chicken stock

• 48 ounces of turkey stock

• Melt the butter, making sure it's not scorched.

• In a six-quart pot, saute the celery and onion in a little butter until translucent. Add the pepper and dried parsley flakes and mix well. Take off the stove.

• In a medium-sized bowl, add the melted butter and flour and mix very well, until the consistency is stiff. This will be the roux.

• Add the chicken and turkey stocks to the pot with the vegetables. (Make the turkey stock using the liquid in the pan after roasting the turkey. Scrape the bottom of the pan and add water and simmer for an hour or so.)

• Bring it to a hard, roiling boil.

• Start adding the roux. Let it continue to boil to the consistency you want, adding more roux for a thicker gravy.

This recipe makes about two quarts.

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Power outage halts sales at Metro area Old Navy - 9NEWS.com

KUSA- A power outage prevented a Metro area store from opening for its Black Friday sales Thursday night.

The Old Navy at Parker Road and Arapahoe Road was scheduled to open at 7 p.m. As of 8:45 Thursday night it remained closed because of the outage.

There were no customers in the store, because the power went off while the store was closed.

Store managers greeted customers at the doors and turned them away. They're not sure why the power is out or when it might be restored.

Xcel Energy says about 7 customers mostly retailers are affected. They're working to replace a transformer in the area.

(KUSA-TV © 2013 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)

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Steam Autumn Sale 2013 starts now - GameSpot

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'Frozen' review: New Disney musical comes up cold - Fox News

Disney Animation attempts to emulate their classic animated musicals with “Frozen,” an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” but comes up a little, well, cold.

“The Snow Queen” is prime real estate for a Disney adaptation, and this musical features a few unexpected plot twists, but it is dimmed by lackluster humor and a rushed structure not as cohesive as previous Disney films. 

However, “Frozen” does modernize the Disney princess meme by turning the vulnerable princess and prince charming story on its head. All the stereotypes are here, but “Frozen” puts them on ice. Rather than focusing on a princess who can only be saved by a prince, the film tackles a different type of love-- the power of a sisterly bond.

Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) are sisters gifted with the magical ability to create and manipulate ice. As young girls they innocently use their magic to play games, until an accident almost kills Anna. To save young Anna, a pack of trolls removes her magic and memories, giving her a new lease on life. Elsa, though, is confined to a life of solitude to protect herself and her family from her reckless powers, a decision that keeps her from seeing Anna for many years.

Years later, during her coronation, Elsa learns that Anna is engaged to a handsome prince she only met minutes before, prompting her powers to go haywire and accidentally turn the entire kingdom into a land of ice and snow. With the kingdom now decrying her a monster, a scared and embarrassed Elsa flees into the mountains to live in her magical ice castle. With her forgotten past rushing back, Anna, joined by Olaf (Josh Gad), a dopey but lovable, larger-than-life snowman and ice salesman, venture to bring Elsa back home.

The biggest assets to any classic Disney musical are the songs, and the tunes in "Frozen" just happen to be the weakest link, making this attempt to return to the glory days of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” an arduous, frigid journey. The songs are by Tony-winning musician Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen-Anderson Lopez, and while their “Avenue Q” and “Book of Mormon” have become Broadway classics, the songs in “Frozen” are instantly forgettable. The tunes are given a pop feel, as if inspired more by “Glee” than classic Disney. Power ballad after power ballad could have provided Broadway superstar Idina Menzel with a major platform, had they been memorable. Noticeably absent are those grand, full-cast songs that Disney did so well during the Oscar-topping Alan Menken days.

Perhaps those days are gone for good, but hopefully not.

The animation, however, is beautiful. “Frozen” features the whispery wonderland of color that Disney typically does so well. Both the ice palace and the queen’s castle are gorgeous, harking back to those early Disney princess days. The digital animation gives each crystalline snowflake or blast of arctic magic a three-dimensional pop. The characters are impeccably drawn, but the weak screenplay surprisingly renders them lifeless and wooden. Only Olaf, the bucktoothed snowman and typical Disney comic relief, provides bursts of energy from the cast. Credit to Josh Gad, who voices Olaf, for adding a little heat.

“Frozen” will certainly appeal to many children, especially young girls in princess mode, but unfortunately due to clunky pacing and lackluster songs, we'll have to keep on waiting for a new Disney classic.

Walt Disney Pictures. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 1 hour and 42 minutes.

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'Frozen' review: New Disney musical comes up cold - Fox News

Disney Animation attempts to emulate their classic animated musicals with “Frozen,” an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” but comes up a little, well, cold.

“The Snow Queen” is prime real estate for a Disney adaptation, and this musical features a few unexpected plot twists, but it is dimmed by lackluster humor and a rushed structure not as cohesive as previous Disney films. 

However, “Frozen” does modernize the Disney princess meme by turning the vulnerable princess and prince charming story on its head. All the stereotypes are here, but “Frozen” puts them on ice. Rather than focusing on a princess who can only be saved by a prince, the film tackles a different type of love-- the power of a sisterly bond.

Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) are sisters gifted with the magical ability to create and manipulate ice. As young girls they innocently use their magic to play games, until an accident almost kills Anna. To save young Anna, a pack of trolls removes her magic and memories, giving her a new lease on life. Elsa, though, is confined to a life of solitude to protect herself and her family from her reckless powers, a decision that keeps her from seeing Anna for many years.

Years later, during her coronation, Elsa learns that Anna is engaged to a handsome prince she only met minutes before, prompting her powers to go haywire and accidentally turn the entire kingdom into a land of ice and snow. With the kingdom now decrying her a monster, a scared and embarrassed Elsa flees into the mountains to live in her magical ice castle. With her forgotten past rushing back, Anna, joined by Olaf (Josh Gad), a dopey but lovable, larger-than-life snowman and ice salesman, venture to bring Elsa back home.

The biggest assets to any classic Disney musical are the songs, and the tunes in "Frozen" just happen to be the weakest link, making this attempt to return to the glory days of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” an arduous, frigid journey. The songs are by Tony-winning musician Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen-Anderson Lopez, and while their “Avenue Q” and “Book of Mormon” have become Broadway classics, the songs in “Frozen” are instantly forgettable. The tunes are given a pop feel, as if inspired more by “Glee” than classic Disney. Power ballad after power ballad could have provided Broadway superstar Idina Menzel with a major platform, had they been memorable. Noticeably absent are those grand, full-cast songs that Disney did so well during the Oscar-topping Alan Menken days.

Perhaps those days are gone for good, but hopefully not.

The animation, however, is beautiful. “Frozen” features the whispery wonderland of color that Disney typically does so well. Both the ice palace and the queen’s castle are gorgeous, harking back to those early Disney princess days. The digital animation gives each crystalline snowflake or blast of arctic magic a three-dimensional pop. The characters are impeccably drawn, but the weak screenplay surprisingly renders them lifeless and wooden. Only Olaf, the bucktoothed snowman and typical Disney comic relief, provides bursts of energy from the cast. Credit to Josh Gad, who voices Olaf, for adding a little heat.

“Frozen” will certainly appeal to many children, especially young girls in princess mode, but unfortunately due to clunky pacing and lackluster songs, we'll have to keep on waiting for a new Disney classic.

Walt Disney Pictures. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 1 hour and 42 minutes.

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