| Gift Guide 2007
It�s the beginning of the holiday season once again, and that means one thing: It�s time to summon the spirits of generosity, and bestow gifts upon family and friends. But, as we all know, gift giving can be a hazardous enterprise. That�s where Gift comes in. Scene has dispatched its own team of correspondents to help take the guesswork out of gift-giving.
.
Pulled toys causing shoppers to redo lists
Shopping for holiday toys has been a challenge this year for at least one Kinston mother who has been forced to change her gift list more than once. Carolyn Deaver, like many consumers, is dealing with record numbers of recalled toys being pulled from store shelves. Deaver has a 19-month-year old son, Ethan, and has spent $300 on toys for him this Christmas season. She had planned to buy several toys for him before finding out they were recalled. "They just can't get the toys right," she said. "I don't like it." The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has an online list of all recalled toys. Wal-Mart in Kinston currently has several white fliers in the store's toy department warn-ing shoppers about recalled toys. Three recalled toys — an Estes-Cox X-15 Flying model rocket, spin master aqua dots, and a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn 2 in 1 learning kitchen set are displayed on the store's recall fliers.
Labour leads all-party attack on SNP budget
Amendments will be put to Parliament which will switch up to £90m of Budget cash over three years to universities. Labour insiders believe the SNP's commitment to freezing council tax is one area from which money could be freed. Brankin told Scotland on Sunday: "We're throwing down the gauntlet to the SNP. We have been talking to the other parties about this and we believe there is widespread dismay about the level of funding for universities. Last week, John Swinney went to Glasgow University to launch his economic strategy in the full knowledge that he was then going to cut the university funding which is so vital to our economic future." A Scottish Lib Dems spokesman said: "Universities are vital to our economy and we are deeply disturbed at the inadequate settlement.
Latest 'Idol' runner-up not just happy to be here
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Blake Lewis checked an e-mail on his iPhone and gasped.“Rough cut of the video!" he announced, and quickly a half-dozen 19 Entertainment employees gathered around a computer screen at the “American Idol" production company's slick offices above Sunset Boulevard.Lewis watched himself singing in front of a wavy purplish background in the clip for “Break Anotha," the uptempo first single from his first album. “It's good!" somebody volunteered after the video played a second time.“For a rough draft," Lewis muttered. “The effects could be more stylized at the beginning."No, the 26-year-old beatboxer from Seattle is not another just-happy-to-be-here “American Idol" finalist. Given a long-awaited shot at a major label album release with his second-place finish (Jordin Sparks was the winner), he's trying to exercise as much artistic control as possible in the Simon Fuller-created machine.He co-wrote all but one song on “Audio Day Dream," which Arista Records released last week, and is already plotting a remix album to add hip-hop and electronica flavors that he favors but wasn't able to include.“I just call myself a communicator.
Pulled toys causing shoppers to redo lists
Shopping for holiday toys has been a challenge this year for at least one Kinston mother who has been forced to change her gift list more than once. Carolyn Deaver, like many consumers, is dealing with record numbers of recalled toys being pulled from store shelves. Deaver has a 19-month-year old son, Ethan, and has spent $300 on toys for him this Christmas season. She had planned to buy several toys for him before finding out they were recalled. "They just can't get the toys right," she said. "I don't like it." The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has an online list of all recalled toys. Wal-Mart in Kinston currently has several white fliers in the store's toy department warn-ing shoppers about recalled toys. Three recalled toys — an Estes-Cox X-15 Flying model rocket, spin master aqua dots, and a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn 2 in 1 learning kitchen set are displayed on the store's recall fliers.
|
