How to Use New Auction Sites to Nab Must-Have Merchandise

How to Use New Auction Sites to Nab Must-Have Merchandise for up to 95% Off Retail

Have you ever heard of "Penny Auctions"?

They’re a new online auction model that is becoming hugely popular. Penny auctions allow individuals to do just what the name implies – buy new popular products for just pennies on the dollar.

One of the most interesting and successful companies offering penny auctions is called QuiBids. This Oklahoma based company auctions off brand new products such as iPads, Macbooks, HDTVs, Digital Cameras, Gaming Consoles, and more for steep discounts, often as much as 85% off their retail price.

So how do they do it? In the case of QuiBids it’s quite simple. You see, whenever a prospective buyer places a bid for an item on QuiBids, the company collects a small fee. This fee is really inconsequential to the bidder, but based on the volume of sales and bids, the company is able to collect a substantial amount. This revenue allows the QuiBids to sell these expensive products to the winning bidders even if their bid is only a tiny fraction of the value of the product.

Savvy bidders have recently been able to buy a brand new Apple Macbook Pro for $23.90, a Nikon D90 Camera for $45.84, and Sony Playstation 3 for $12.32. On average, buyers pay just 25% of retail for items they win in auction on QuiBids.

The auctions are also insanely fun. Each bid costs just 60 cents, and each auction has a strict time limit. When you place your bid, the system adds a little time to the auction to see if any other bids come in. If you have the winning bid when the clock runs out – you win the item for that price. According to QuiBids CEO Matt Beckham, “A huge part of our growth is generated by word of mouth and friends recommending us to their friends – so we must be doing something right.”

But the best part of QuiBids may be the “Buy-It-Now” feature. This allows bidders who did not win an auction to still buy the product they want and apply the cost of the bids they placed as a discount on the regular product price. So you still get the item and the bids you placed previously in the auction don’t cost you anything!

Some customers have really made out like bandits on the site. We spoke with Cyril Bennet, a QuiBids customer in Arizona who recalled a recent auction that he participated in, “As I was bidding, my roommate was asking me how the auction was going. At that moment, gazing at the screen, I watched as the timer read, "3… 2… 1…SOLD!" and I won this VIZIO 32 HDTV for $2.60. True story. I’ve really enjoyed using QuiBids…its awesome!"

In today’s tight economy, it’s more important than ever to seek out the best possible deals on must-have items. Sites like QuiBids give savvy shoppers the opportunity to nab products at ridiculously low prices. Add in the element of fun, and the fact that their “Buy-It-Now” feature means that you can’t ever pay too much – and it means there is simply no reason not to try it out for yourself.

Story From: www.howlifeworks.com

Rahm Emanuel Chicago mayor

Rahm Emanuel thrown off the ballot for Chicago mayor

T
he front-runner doesn't meet residency requirements, a state appeals court says, reversing the elections board. The former congressman and Obama chief of staff plans to appeal.

Rahm Emanuel, who left Chicago to join the Obama administration as White House chief of staff, should not appear on the Feb. 22 mayoral ballot in the city because he does not meet the residency standard, according to a ruling issued by a state appellate court Monday.

Emanuel told a news conference he would appeal the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court and would ask for an injunction so his name would appear on the mayoral ballot.

"I have no doubt at the end we'll prevail in this effort," Emanuel said. "We'll now go to the next level to get clarity."

Emanuel, a former congressman, has been the front-running candidate in the race to succeed retiring Mayor Richard Daley. The latest poll by the Chicago Tribune showed Emanuel at 44%, more than double his closest rival, former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun.

In a 2-1 ruling Monday, the appellate panel said Emanuel does not meet the residency requirement of having lived in Chicago for a year prior to the election. The judges reversed a decision by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, which had unanimously agreed that Emanuel was eligible to run for mayor.

"We conclude that the candidate neither meets the [Illinois] Municipal Code's requirement that he have 'resided in' Chicago for the year preceding the election in which he seeks to participate nor falls within any exception to the requirement," the majority judges wrote.

Emanuel said he meets requirements despite moving to Washington, D.C.. He served as President Obama's White House chief of staff until October.

"Fundamentally, when a president asks you to serve the country as his chief of staff, you do it," Emanuel said.

The municipal code exempts from residency requirements members of the military who serve away from home. State election code also includes a government service exemption that protects the residency status of anyone who temporarily leaves "on business of the United States."

Early voting begins Jan. 31. An elections board spokesman said ballots are scheduled to be printed midweek.

Later, Langdon D. Neal, the elections board chairman, issued a statement: "We're going to press with one less candidate for mayor."

Elections board spokesman Jim Allen said ballots would be printed Monday night.

"We've basically hit the 'go' button," Allen said. "We needed to do this on the 18th. We were waiting for this decision. We are going to press now; we have to."

"A candidate who is removed from the ballots by the courts has until Feb. 15 to file as a write-in," Allen said.

News From: www.latimes.com

2011 NFL Game Times

2011 NFL Playoff Schedule, Kick Off Times And NFL Point Spreads

2011 NFL Playoff Schedule, Kick Off Times & NFL Point Spreads: The 2011 NFL playoff schedule winds down and we take a look at their respective kick off times and NFL point spreads. The first game on Sunday will take place at Soldier Field at 3:00p.m. ET on FOX when the Chicago Bears (12-5) host the Green Bay Packers (12-6) in the 2011 NFC Conference Championship Game. The NFL point spreads for this showdown opened up with the Packers as -3 point favorites and that spread has moved up to -4 points at Bodog.com. Green Bay has been playing like a team possessed and even if they don’t cover their spread, they will move on to the 2011 Super Bowl two weeks from Sunday. Online Sports Handicapping always offers the most accurate free sports picks and 2011 Super Bowl odds from our dedicated team of 2011 NFL playoff predictions experts. Find our winning NFL picks selection below.

The late game features the Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4) battling the New York Jets (13-5) in the 2011 AFC Conference Championship Game from Heinz Field with the kick off time set for 6:30p.m. ET on CBS. The NFL point spreads for this showdown opened up with the Pittsburgh Steelers as – 3 point home favorites over the Jets. Bettors have slightly favored Pittsburgh slightly in the NFL betting action and that point spread is currently listed at -3½ points at Bodog.com. The Jets have grown accustomed to the underdog/villain role and they have exceled when playing the part. That will be no different this week. Our team of 2011 NFL playoff predictions experts has the New York Jets (+170) pulling off the upset against the AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (-200).

Point Spreads NFL Playoff Odds 295% Bonus Sports Odds

Super Bowl XLV will feature both number six seeds when the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets face off in Dallas on Sunday, February 6th at 6:30p.m. ET on FOX. The Jets will cap off a miraculous season with a Super Bowl victory in a game where the NFL point spreads will most likely favor the Green Bay Packers by -2 points since the game will take place at a neutral location. Our team of 2011 Super Bowl predictions experts have the New York Jets (+350) beating the Green Bay Packers (+160) in Super Bowl XLV, where the NFL betting odds will likely open up with the Packers favored by -3 points.

If you’re looking for the inside edge, subscribe to our Free Sports Picks Newsletter and get the insight you need to make an informed decision from the Top NFL Handicapping Experts before every sports wager.

kim richards alcoholic

“Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills” Drama: Lisa Wants Kim Kicked Off Show

Look out, Garden State Housewives: The claws are out and the socialite ladies of Beverly Hills are vying for the title of the “Cattiest Gals on Bravo.”

British restauranteur Lisa Vanderpump has emerged as the reigning diva behind-the-scenes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills just a few weeks after the show joined Bravo’s ratings-winning docu-soap franchise, and insiders believe Lisa’s out-of-control ego may leave one of her co-stars out of a job.

Lisa recently fired her longtime trainer after the fitness nut became too comfortable in the reality star spotlight and is now gunning to have former child star Kim Richards — the aunt of socialites Paris and Nicky Hilton — ejected from the series as well, The National Enquirer reported in its Nov. 29 issue.

“Fame has completely gone to her head. She truly believes she is better than everyone else,” according to a well-placed tipster close to production.

Vanderpump has owned 26 restaurants, bars, and clubs during her 28 year marriage to entrepreneur Ken Todd — including LA hotspots Villa Blanca and SUR. Kim, on the other hand, is a rumored alcoholic, who will be forced into rehab by her sister Kylie in upcoming episodes of the Beverly Hills Housewives. Richards’ battle with the bottle is an image Lisa doesn’t want anywhere near her businesses…or her show.

“Not only does Lisa think that Kim is a sad lush, she also feels that Kim isn’t technically a housewife — since she isn’t married,” maintains the insider. “Lisa has demanded that execs fire Kim before next season.”

The Biggest Loser: the masks are off

So in its third episode of the season last night, NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Couples" revealed the faces of the "unknown" trainers–Cara Castronuova and Brett Hoebel. Man, it's gonna suck having to write those names and trying to remember how to spell them! But in all seriousness, these two seem tough as nails. Bob and Jillian tend to have soft sides, and these two seem like they don't have any–they both are all business.

Then they showed the "unknown" camp, and how Rulon and Justin were calling out a couple of their fellow contestants for not giving their all last week, when they lost the weigh-in to the Biggest Loser ranch contingent. They called out Q and Austin, both of whom realized that they indeed had to step things up.

Then host Alison Sweeney offered up the first challenge, and brought the contestants to a location on the ranch where there was a wall up. Then black vans arrived with the other players in it, and they would be competing against each other as teams, but while not being able to actually see the other team. The challenge was to balance an egg on an upside-down frying pan. Yikes. The winner from each group would face off in a calorie-guessing contest with Curtis Stone, who would also be cooking them dinner. Then, the winner of that challenge would have a 2 pound advantage for their team at the weigh-in.

The unknowns already chose their winner in advance, Denise, and instead of dropping their eggs, they all launched them over the wall at the ranch team. Nice. For the ranch team, Marci won, so it would be Deni vs. Marci, two middle aged ladies who clearly had the hots for Curtis during the dinner. Curtis made them a meal of argula/squash salad; halibut over quinoa; and poached pear dessert—and they had to estimate the number of calories per serving for the entire meal. Marci went first and guessed 480, and Deni guessed 440. I was looking at this, and trying to figure it out, but I had absolutely no clue. Marci was closer, as the true calories came in at 572. Is it just me, or does that seem high for a "healthy" meal? I know there was nothing junky in it, but still.

Then came the main challenge, which was to pump water from barrels that had to be carried for ½ mile into each other's trough. Just like the unknowns did on the first challenge, the group decided to let Irene win, since the prize was to give the winning team the only vote at this week's weigh in. That's a lot of power, and they wanted to give Irene, one person, that power? Okay.

So then they showed the weigh-in at the unknown location, and Austin lost 15 while Q lost 19; and Moses has now lost a total of 64 pounds. They sure are working it under Cara and Brett.

Then, Alison mentioned one thing that wasn't mentioned earlier—that if Irene fell below the yellow line, she would automatically be eliminated. So Courtney and Marci went first and lost 6 and 7 pounds, respectively, and then another 2 pounds on top of that. Not bad, but not awesome, especially for the very hefty Courtney. Irene was next and lost 8 pounds, assuring her safety and vote. Jay and Jen were next, and Jay had the number "349" written on his arm all week and kept telling Bob he was going to achieve that, by losing 15 pounds. He almost did, losing 14, and Jen lost 8. Then Jesse and Arthur weighed in, and Arthur did the same as Jay, calling out a 17 pound weight loss—but he only lost 4 pounds while Jesse lost 9. Bob was pissed that now Arthur was in danger of going home while he really needed to stay on the ranch to get healthy. Hannah and Olivia were next and lost 6 pounds each, leaving the twins, Dan and Don. These two had mentioned earlier to everyone that it wouldn't break their hearts to go home, especially Dan, who really missed his family and especially his young daughter. So maybe they'd throw the weigh-in, right? They each GAINED 9 pounds. Each. Holy crap…I have never seen anyone throw it that badly, nor have I ever seen two contestants try to reasonably explain something like that. All I heard was "blah blah blah," and so did Bob and Jillian. Jillian said she was sad more than angry, and I can see that.

So now Irene had to choose between these two, and per his wishes she chose Dan. When Dan was then saying how he would continue to work hard at home, I didn't believe him. But they showed him having gone from 287 to 215, so he really is working at it.

Still, that 9 pound gain is now going to be a sore spot for Don to Bob and Jillian on the ranch. Can he gain their trust and confidence back? It should get interesting, that's for sure. And I think they are going to bring the groups back together next week. So things are heating up for sure.

News From: www.premiumhollywood.com

Suspicious package blocks off NE Albuquerque Area

A suspicious package that turned out to be full of computer equipment had an area of Northeast Albuquerque blocked off early Wednesday morning.

The bomb squad was called out to the area around Jefferson and San Francisco Street around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after a security guard called in a suspicious package found.

After officials x-rayed the package they determined it was only computer equipment and deemed the area safe.

Police say the package was addressed to the Forest Service but had the wrong street address.




News From: www.kob.com

Cargill split off Mosaic fertiliser business

Cargill to split off Mosaic fertiliser business

US agricultural giant Cargill is to spin off its Mosaic fertiliser business to stakeholders, in a deal worth $24bn.

It opens the way to a possible takeover bid for Mosaic, which operates in the same area as Canada's Potash, which BHP Billiton failed to buy last year.

The deal will help keep Cargill - one of the 10 biggest US companies by revenues - in private family ownership.

Cargill's shareholders and lenders will receive the Mosaic stock in return for the Cargill shares and debts they own.
Major asset

The enormous, but little-known, US soft commodities giant, which was founded in 1865, employs 131,000 people in 66 countries and had revenues of $108bn last year.

It currently owns 64% of Mosaic, which is also listed on the New York and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
The subsidiary was formed in 2004 from the

merger of Cargill's in-house fertiliser business with rival IMC Global, and is a leading global provider of crop nutrients and feed ingredients.

Since then, its share price has risen six-fold thanks to the boom in food prices, as well as merger and acquisition activities - notably mining company BHP's bid for Potash, which was blocked last year by the Canadian authorities.

Mosaic is a major asset of Cargill - which also operates in crop growing, bio-fuels, commodities trading and food products - and drove the company's recent spectacular profits growth.

Cargill reported net earnings of $1.49bn in three months to November, more than tripling the $489m it made in the same period a year earlier.

But without Mosaic's contribution, those numbers would have been only $832m and $420m respectively.
Shareholder pressure

Of the 286 million shares being distributed, about 157 million will be sold on in a secondary offering within 15 months, according to a joint statement by the two companies, meaning they will become available for a third party to buy up.

The other Mosaic shares will have to be retained by their new owners for a minimum of two-and-a-half years.

The deal will satisfy Cargill shareholders who had been putting pressure on the company to float itself on the stock market in order to help them dispose of their stakes.

The shareholders participating in the deal are mainly charitable trusts who inherited the estate of Margaret Cargill, one of the firm's biggest family owners who died in 2006.

It will also help Cargill reduce its indebtedness, by offering 107 million of the Mosaic shares to its lenders in redemption of existing debts.

The transaction is expected to go through in the second quarter of the year, but first needs to be approved by a majority of the Cargill shareholders not participating in the exchange.


News From: www.bbc.co.uk

Camden, NJ, One Of America's Most Dangerous Cities

Camden, NJ, One Of America's Most Dangerous Cities, Lays Off Half Of Its Police Force

Budget pain hit home in Camden, N.J., on Tuesday, as nearly a sixth of city employees lost their jobs in one of America's most dangerous cities, AP reports.

The layoffs are just the latest consequence of devastating budget strains that have crippled the nation's cities. As Camden attempts to cut spending to compensate for diminished revenue, the city has begun to execute a plan, approved last month, to cut a fourth of the municipal workforce. Residents fear the cuts will deal a critical blow to the already struggling city.

About 335 municipal workers lost their jobs Tuesday, according to mayor Dana Redd. That includes about half of the police force, and a third of firefighters. Already, Camden is one of the nation's most dangerous cities: An analysis of recent FBI data ranks it number two.

Layoffs will turn Camden into a "living hell," according to a police union advertisement in a local paper, AP reports.

While Camden faces severe challenges, it's hardly alone. After the worst financial crisis since the Depression, the nation's cities have seen their revenue wither. As enormous pension obligations come due -- one estimate places the unfunded liabilities of city pension plans at $574 billion -- cities are having to make cuts that seemed unthinkable just half a decade ago.

As Camden lays off workers, nearby Newark is dealing with the effects of having fired more than 13 percent of its police force late last year. A recent spike in crime has left many Newark residents worried that the layoffs have made their city more dangerous. The city contends, though, that re-deployments have ensured that the same number of officers are patrolling Newark's streets.

Outside of New Jersey, other cities have also resorted to seemingly desperate measures. Prichard, Alabama, has illegally stopped paying its pensioners. Hamtramck, Mich., has repeatedly tried to enter bankruptcy. Detroit is considering a plan that would deprive a fifth of its city of basic municipal services, like trash collection and police protection.

As cities are forced to make tough choices, officials tend to cast public unions in a negative light. Redd, the Camden mayor, said public employe unions' refusal to accept a pay cut made layoffs necessary. But unions resist such talk.

"We get paid to do a service, and we do that service very well," Gregory Floyd, president of the New York City local division of the Teamsters union, told the Huffington Post. "We're not rich, we don't retire rich, and we don't have lucrative pensions."

House kicks off debate over health-care repeal

The House meets Tuesday for its first day of debate on a measure that would repeal the national health care overhaul, following a week during which legislative action came to a standstill following the Tucson shooting tragedy.

Debate on the health care repeal bill is expected to begin after the House reconvenes at 2 p.m. The House has set aside seven hours for debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a vote on the measure expected to come Wednesday afternoon.

The repeal measure is expected to pass the House on Wednesday but is unlikely to make it through the Senate, where Democrats still hold the majority.

Worth watching will be just how much the tenor of the debate will have changed in the aftermath of the Tucson shootings. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that 82 percent of Americans believe the tone of political discourse is negative, with 49 percent saying that it's negative enough to encourage violence.

Over the weekend, there were some signs that congressional leaders have begun adjusting their rhetoric. A post on House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) Web site described the health care law as "job-crushing" and "job-destroying" rather than "job-killing." Democrats, meanwhile, have begun to frame the repeal effort as a "Republican plan to repeal patients' rights."

In addition to Tuesday's floor debate, backers and opponents of repeal were also gearing up for a series of dueling Capitol Hill news conferences. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon featuring testimony from seven ordinary Americans on how repeal of the health care law would affect them.

Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King, meanwhile, is planning a news conference at 3 p.m. at which he and other House Republicans are slated to receive hundreds of thousands of petitions demanding the repeal.

Also expect to see lawmakers speak out on the floor not only on the repeal itself but also the process by which the bill has been brought up; Democrats have argued that Republicans have minimized the minority party's role in the process by not holding any hearings on the bill and by limiting the number of amendments that may be proposed. Republicans have contended that the health care overhaul has already been litigated and that the public stands firmly in favor of repeal; they have also allowed for an amendment proposed by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) regarding the "doc fix," requiring the committees working on replacing aspects of the law to provide a permanent fix for the formula that sets Medicare payments for physicians.



News From: www.voices.washingtonpost.com

John Carlson Injury Seahawks TE Carted VIDEO News

John Carlson Injury: Seahawks TE Carted Off Field After Landing On Head (VIDEO)

CHICAGO -- Seahawks tight end John Carlson was taken from the field on a cart after landing on his head following a reception about three minutes into Sunday's divisional playoff game against the Bears.

He will not return.

Chicago had taken a 7-0 lead on a 58-yard pass from Jay Cutler to Greg Olsen when Carlson went down.

Seattle took over at its 24, and on first down, Carlson caught a flare pass from Matt Hasselbeck along the left sideline.

He tried to leapfrog Chicago's Danieal Manning but got upended, his helmet and right shoulder taking the brunt of the fall. Carlson stayed down for several minutes surrounded by medical personnel and teammates.

He was seen moving his legs before being placed on a board and carted off.

WATCH:

Marcus Trufant taken off field as Bears stretch out lead

Cornerback Marcus Trufant was taken off the field Sunday afternoon in the third quarter after taking a knee to the head.

Trufant was the second Seahawks starter to leave the field on a stretcher with a head injury, following tight end John Carlson. Former NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira came o the FOX broadcast to talk about the league possibly mandating knee and tight pads in the future to help the cushion the blow in similar circumstances.

Trufant has a head injury and will not return. He had feeling in all his extremities.

Soon after Trufant left, Jay Cutler rushed for his second touchdown of the game to make the score 28-0. The Seahawks have since added a field goal.

It looks like we’re going to get the first Bears-Packers playoff game in, oh, 70 years. Sweet.

Off the Map

'Off the Map' Creator Jenna Bans: Hawaii's 'Lost' Locations Were a 'Perfect Fit'

PASADENA -- As ABC’s iconic Lost came to an end, Jenna Bans saw an opportunity.

The creator of Off the Map, a South America-set medical drama/action-adventure series premiering Wednesday, thought Lost’s Hawaii locations would be the “perfect fit” for an idea she’d been kicking around about a Doctors Without Borders-type medical series set in the jungle.

“The genesis [for Off the Map] came at the same time as Lost was ending,” she said Monday at the Television Critics Association press stop of the Hawaii sets that would be up for grabs once the mystery drama concluded.

“It was a no-brainer to set it down there,” said Bans of Off the Map, which stars Caroline Dhavernas (Wonderfalls), Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) and Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife) as young doctors who enlist for work at a medical clinic set in the tropics.

“The jungle is their pharmacy, their medicine cabinet,” said Bans, whose credits include producing Shonda Rhimes’ medical dramas Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy.

“[The location] allows us to delve into stories other shows wouldn’t necessarily do.”

“So many docs in this country consider working in a hospital or in private practices as their day job and their passion is going out to these places — often South America — and working with a medical system that’s not as advanced as ours,” Bans said of setting the series in a fictional South America location.”

Added Rhimes of Off the Map’s premise: “[Bans] put a scalpel in the hands of Indiana Jones.”

On Today: 'Off the Map,' Luise Rainer's 101st

Shonda Rimes insists her new TV drama "Off the Map" (ABC, 9 p.m.) is not "Grey's Anatomy" in the jungle. And strictly, speaking it's not. Had it been, it would have been a little better than it is.

As it is, the drama about a handful of vaguely familiar and needlessly good-looking young doctors in a vague third world setting (it's supposed to be South America but is shot in the studio they built in Hawaii for "Lost") is substandard "Grey's," with a disaster of the day (tourist caught up in zipline) and side servings of other stories, most of which point out that these well-meaning doctors hadn't learned a lick of Spanish before packing.

Among the cast are a few notable faces -- Connecticut's Mamie Gummer, Caroline Dhavernas (of the late, lamented "Wonderfalls") and Zach Gilford of "Friday Night Lights." But is that enough to sustain this thin series?

Jeff Bridges may have gotten more acclaim lately than he's gotten in his long career in films. But is it time now for the life retrospective he reeives in "American Masters" (CPTV, 8 p.m.)? Well, the affable man who went into the family business is certainly game for one.

German-born Luise Rainer was the first actress to win back to back Oscars in the 30s before she left the country and acting altogether. Last year, at age 100 she was invited to an interview with Robert Osborne. In "Luise Rainer: Live at the TCM Classic Film Festival" (TCM, 9 and 11 p.m.) in which she's just as radiant as she was in her Oscar winning performances in "The Good Earth" (TCM, 8:30 p.m.) and "The Great Ziegfeld" (TCM, 11:30 p.m.). Today is her 101st birthday.

Spend your snow day with two of the greatest screen comics ever: Lutrel & Hardy star in films all day including "Our Wife" (TCM, 6:45 p.m) and "Be Big!" (TCM, 8:30 a.m.).

Jeremy Irons pops up as a sex therapist on a new "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 10 p.m.).

On a new "Modern Family" (ABC, 9 p.m.), Alex may be studying too much.

"Live to Dance" (CBS, 8 p.m.) goes live tonight, but will not reveal the ouster of its dancers, now numbering 17, until the last minute.

Two episodes of "Human Target" (Fox, 8 and 9 p.m.) run back to back.

Daytime Talk

Regis and Kelly: Vince Vaughn, Minnie Driver, Jerry O'Connell. The View: Spke Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, Martin Henderson. The Talk: William Shatner. Ellen DeGeneres: Jenny McCarthy, Chris Harrison, Joyce House. Wendy Williams: Suzanne Somers, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Weir and Chrisette Michele.

Late Talk

David Letterman: Kevin James, Olivia Munn, Blake Shelton. Jay Leno: Seth Rogen, Ted Williams, Bettye Lavette. Jimmy Kimmel: Sandra Oh, Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter, Fitz & the Tantrums. Jimmy Fallon: Paul Giamatti, Faith Hill, Cake. Craig Ferguson: David Duchovny, Jo Frost. Carson Daly: "Catfish" filmmakers, Big Freedia, the Morning Benders (rerun). Jon Stewart: Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Stephen Colbert: Bernard-Henri Levy. Conan O'Brien: Denis Leary, Ice Cube, Tim Minchin. George Lopez: Roseanne Barr, Danny Pudi, El Debarge featuring Faith Evans, Michael Bearden & the Ese Vatos. Chelsea Handler: Sara Bareilles, Loni Love, T.J. Miller, Bobby Lee.

What's On Tonight: 'Human Target,' 'Off the Map,' 'Chase,' 'Megaquake 10.0'

 Here's tonight's lineup of new shows and events (all times Eastern). Check your local TV listings for additional information.

* = Series/Season Premiere
** = Series/Season Finale
# = New Day/Time

8:00 to 9:00
ABC: 'The Middle' and 'Better With You'
CBS: 'Live to Dance'
FOX: 'Human Target'** -- (120 minutes)
NBC: 'Minute to Win It'
PBS: 'American Masters'* -- (90 minutes)
Discovery: 'Black Ops Brothers: Howe & Howe Tech'
OWN: 'Mystery Diagnosis'
TCM: 'Luise Rainer: Live From the TCM Film Festival'

The rest of the schedule and the late night talk shows after the jump.
9:00 to 10:00
ABC: 'Modern Family' and 'Cougar Town'
NBC: 'Chase'#
A&E: 'Dog the Bounty Hunter'
BBC America: 'I'd Do Anything'** -- (120 minutes)
Discovery: 'MythBusters: Demolition Derby'
DisneyXD: 'Naruto: Shippuden'
HGTV: 'Disaster DIY'
History: 'Megaquake 10.0' -- (120 minutes)
ID: 'The Will: Outrageous Final Wishes'*
Science Channel: 'Oddities'
Showtime: 'Inside the NFL'
SyFy: 'Ghost Hunters International'
TBS: 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne' -- Two episodes
TLC: 'My Strange Addiction' -- Two episodes
Travel: 'Man v. Food: Carnivore Chronicles'

10:00 to 11:00
ABC: 'Off the Map'*
CBS: 'The Defenders'
NBC: 'Law & Order: SVU'
A&E: 'Storage Wars' -- 10:30 start
Animal Planet: 'I Shouldn't Be Alive'
Bravo: 'Top Chef: All-Stars'
Current: 'SWAT: Miami-Dade'
E!: 'Born Different 2: More Amazing Stories'
MTV: 'I Used to be Fat'
NatGeo: 'Wild Justice'
OWN: 'Miracle Detectives'
Planet Green: 'Last Woman Standing'
TBS: 'Are We There Yet?' -- Two episodes
TLC: 'Toddlers & Tiaras'
truTV: 'Full Throttle Saloon'

11:00 to Midnight
Spike: 'Blue Mountain State'

And now the late night talk shows. Scheduled guests can change without notice.

11:00
'Charlie Rose' (PBS): TBA
'The Mo'Nique Show' (BET): Betty Wright; Jody Watley; Chuck Brown; Freddie Jackson
'The Daily Show' (Comedy Central): Former Minnessota governor Tim Pawlenty
'Chelsea Lately' (E!): TBA
'Conan' (TBS): Denis Leary; Ice Cube; Tim Minchin

11:30
'Late Show With David Letterman' (CBS): Kevin James; Olivia Munn; performance by Blake Shelton
'The Tonight Show' (NBC): Seth Rogen; performance by Betty LaVette
'The Colbert Report' (Comedy Central): Author Bernard-Henri Levy

Midnight
'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (ABC): Actors Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter; performance by Fitz & the Tantrums
'Tavis Smiley' (PBS): Halle Berry; Nichelle Nichols
'Lopez Tonight' (TBS): Roseanne Barr; Danny Pudi; performance by El DeBarge and Faith Evans

12:30
'The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson' (CBS): David Duchovny; 'Supernanny' Jo Frost
'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' (NBC): Paul Giamatti; singer Faith Hill; performance by Cake

1:30
'Last Call With Carson Daly' (NBC): 'Catfish' filmmakers; rapper Big Freedia; performance by The Morning Benders

Sharon Van Etten one off London show

Sharon Van Etten one off London show February 13th

Definitely not one to miss, the excellent Sharon Van Etten will be making a one off appearance at London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on February 13th, doors open at 7pm with tickets priced at just £7.00.

Sharon Van Etten’s excellent second album Epic recently made it into my favourite albums of 2010, our album review can also be found here.

The album lays a romantic melancholic lining over the gravel and dirt of heartbreak without one honest thought or feeling spared, watch the excellent acoustic version of One Day taken from the album Epic, here:

Shonda Rhimes in the jungle News Reports

Shonda Rhimes: 'Off the Map' is not 'Grey's' in the jungle

With Shonda Rhimes unleashing another ensemble medical drama staffed by hotties into ABC primetime, critics at press tour want to know: How is her latest production, Off the Map, not just Grey’s Anatomy in the jungle? (Or, as Ken Tucker dubs it, “Grey’s Anatomy with flies”).

“Because it’s not,” insists Rhimes, who then passes the baton to the series creator and showrunner Jenna Bans. “It’s really Jenna’s characters and I’m just lucky enough to get a part of it.”

Bans elaborated:

“On a character level, you’re getting a huge difference. And the jungle is their pharmacy. They don’t have the technology or resources on ER or Grey’s or any other medical show and it allows us to delve into stories we don’t normally get to do.”

Also, with Map set in a fictitious South American country, the show will eventually get into the area’s politics — something different than the usual turf explored by the staff of Seattle Grace.

“Its a mix of action adventure and does get a little political toward the end … in a way you probably haven’t seen on TV before,” Bans says.

The season will be a “50-50 mix” of episodes that have close-ended stories vs. episodes dedicated to bigger over-reaching storylines.

Also, Rhimes gave a bit of detail about her ABC series in development about a Washington DC “professional fixer.” The character is based on Judy Smith, a political image consultant who worked with Monica Lewinsky.

Says the ever-multi-tasking Rhimes: “I very much wish I had a clone.”