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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012

The Two-Way

All Bets Are Off: Intrade Shuts Door To U.S. Customers

November 26, 2012 The move came Monday just hours after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission accused the Ireland-based company of violating the agency's ban on off-exchange options trading. The prediction website takes bets on everything from economic results to the prospects of war to which movie will win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Summary

A Jolly Christmas? Retailers Count The Extra Days

Shoppers line up in a Best Buy store in Rockville, Md., during a Black Friday sale. Thanksgiving weekend sales jumped nearly 13 percent from last year, the National Retail Federation says.

November 26, 2012 Thanksgiving weekend spending shot up nearly 13 percent from last year, and there's more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year for people to shop. And if a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff comes just before Christmas, as some expect, it could brighten the economic mood of last-minute shoppers.

Summary

Books

Independent Bookstores Find Their Footing

President Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia  go shopping at a small bookstore, One More Page, in Arlington, Va. This is shaping up to be a better holiday season for independent booksellers than in past years.

November 26, 2012 Independent bookstores have weathered competition from big chains, Amazon and now e-books. But NPR's Lynn Neary reports that this year's holiday shopping season looks like an improvement on past years, as booksellers offer quality hardcovers and their own take on e-readers.

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The Two-Way

News Outlets Punk'd, Somebody Profits: Google Wi-Fi Buy Is A Hoax

Google page.

November 26, 2012 A fake press release about a $400 million purchase sent one company's penny stock up sharply. News outlets that reported the story missed some telltale signs that it might be a hoax.

Summary

The Two-Way

SEC Chief Schapiro Is Leaving; New Chairman Chosen

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro.

November 26, 2012 Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro will step down on Dec. 14. President Obama has designated SEC Commissioner Elisse Walter to be her successor.

Summary

The Two-Way

'Cyber Monday,' 'Giving Tuesday;' Then 'Weeping Wednesday?'

The scene at the registers in a Braintree, Mass., Target store on Black Friday.

November 26, 2012 There are clever names for many of the holiday season's key shopping days. Today's is in honor of what's said to be the biggest online shopping day. Tuesday's aims to get people to be charitable. Maybe Wednesday's should be for when the bills come in?

Summary

An Entrepreneur Expands The Lego Universe

The bodies of these World War II U.S. Marines and Western Front soldiers are made by Lego, while the helmets and weapons are made by BrickArms. The uniforms are designed and printed by BrickArms.

November 26, 2012 Each year, Lego turns out 19 billion plastic bricks, figures and gears for building things. But sometimes it seems even 19 billion isn't enough. Seattle-area resident Will Chapman wanted more, so he started making Lego-compatible parts — including World War II weapons.

Transcript

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The Salt

At His Own Risk, Somali Chef Creates Gourmet Haven In War-Weary Mogadishu

Somali chef Ahmed Jama holds up freshly caught spiny lobsters he's about to cook in one of his restaurants in Mogadishu.

November 26, 2012 London-raised Ahmed Jama won't give up on Mogadishu, even though his restaurants have been attacked by suicide bombers more than once. In fact, he's leading the city's cultural revival, one dish at a time, by offering residents and visitors a taste of authentic Somali cuisine and hospitality.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

U.S.

'Giving Tuesday': The Start Of A Holiday Tradition?

November 26, 2012 A coalition of more than 1,400 charities is launching Giving Tuesday to jump-start end-of-year giving. They're taking off on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to motivate donors at a time when the outlook for giving remains lackluster.

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From The Opinion Pages

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Experts face off over government intervention in the economy in an <em>Intelligence Squared</em> debate.

Should We Abolish The Minimum Wage?

Experts face off over government intervention in the economy in an Intelligence Squared debate.

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