grenades

Close only counts in horseshoes and these

This year’s Black Friday sales set a new record for shopper splurging. Unfortunately, it turns out Black Friday isn’t home to the season’s lowest prices. Wal-Mart strikes again! (Bloomberg, NYT)

Egyptians are heading to the polls today for the first time since they forced Hosni Mubarak out of power, but clashes with current military leader Hussein Tantawi are casting doubt on the election’s legitimacy. (CBS)

Columbia is trying to do its part and pay the money it promised to residents the school evicted nudged out of the way in Manhattanville, but a bunch of it is just sitting in a bank. (WSJ)

For the first time in history, a group of American and English lexicographers selected a “Global Word of the Year.” Their choice? “Squeezed Middle.” Which, if you didn’t notice, kinda sucks. (Slate)

There’s nothing more exciting as a young [Christian] child than visiting Santa at the mall to excitedly shriek out a list of gifts. Well, until Santa tells you that you probably won’t get most of them. (NYT)

Notably poor Black Friday seller via Wikimedia