Worker, 2 Black Friday shoppers killed

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Obama hands out turkeys in Chicago

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Tips on Video Games

Thinking about getting your children started with video games?
Here are some tips from the National Institute on Media and Family

Start by making sure all the adults in the home are on the same page. That way, you can ensure that your children are following the same standards no matter who is in charge at the moment. Together, ask yourself some of the bigger questions:

* What role do we want game playing to have in our house?
* What are some of the benefits we would like to see come out of game play?
What are we most worried about?
* Where do we want game playing to happen?
* What sort of content are we comfortable with?
* Are we comfortable with online play?
* How much time do we want our children to spend gaming?

GREAT GAMES FOR KIDS Download Buying Guide (PDF)

Recommended E-rated Games

All Star Cheer Squad sends players through a year in the life of a cheerleader. Players learn cheers, create routines and attend practices with the ultimate goal of being the captain of cheer camp’s champion squad. When used with the Wii console, players can use the Balance Board to incorporate movement and exercise into their game play. Available on Nintendo DS and Wii.

Animal Crossing: City Folk begins with players setting out to live life in a colorful virtual town filled with something different to do and new people to meet at every turn. Time passes in 24-hour increments and can be set up to mimic real life down to the minute. Available on Wii.

FIFA Soccer 09 has received praise for giving gamers near-perfect control over movement and feel. For example, bigger players are more likely to use their strength, while smaller players rely on quickness. Gamers can also create a custom player and develop their skills over a four-season period. Available on Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Hasbro Family Game Night lets parents and children come together to play classic Hasbro board games with new age video game technology. Players can create their own game room filled with familiar Hasbro originals with a new twist. Games include: CONNECT FOUR Power Chips, BOGGLE Portal Cubes, Reverse YAHTZEE and BATTLESHIP Barrage, among others. Available on PlayStation 2 and Wii.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! lets fans experience the energy, fun and music of the High School Musical movies. Gamers can choose to be their favorite character from the movie or create their own player. Either way, High School Musical fans will enjoy dancing to 29 songs from the movies alongside their favorite characters. Compete with friends in dance-offs or play together in dance duo. Available on Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Wii.

LittleBigPlanet is a revolutionary game that requires both brains and teamwork to explore, collect and solve puzzles. The most anticipated feature is the ability to build entire levels, which can be shared throughout the world via the PlayStation Network. NOTE: Although the game’s included content comes with an E-rating and is suitable for children, not all player-generated content is appropriate. Parents should monitor and be aware of the levels their children are accessing on the PlayStation Network. Available on PlayStation 3.

Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy finds Nancy travelling to Ireland to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. The groom goes missing and Nancy has to track him down by interviewing characters, solving puzzles and collecting tokens to pay for clues from the fortune teller. This game has complex characters and plot lines without unnecessary violence. Available on PC.

NBA LIVE 09 is the fourth edition to the NBA Live line of games. The game lets players work toward their dream of becoming NBA superstars. One of the most exciting aspects is the Live Dynamic DNA. This feature allows the player to update the game to match the NBA player’s real life performance. Available on PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

NCAA Basketball 09 is a new title for the popular NCAA March Madness franchise. The game offers a new feature, which challenges gamers to replicate a school’s style of play by rewarding players for accurately playing with the same method and tempo as the real-life teams. NCAA Basketball 09 will also feature Division I coaches providing real-time, in-game instruction and feedback to help players mimic their team’s style of gameplay. Available on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Samba de Amigo gives a new twist to the music game genre. Players shake maracas to the tune of catchy Latin beats with the goal of matching the designated height and patterns in rhythm with the music. Available on Wii.

Recommended T-rated games

Guitar Hero World Tour is expanding with drums and a microphone for its latest edition of the game allowing for a complete four-piece band (previous versions included guitar and bass instruments). The new guitar has a touch pad located on the neck that allows a player to alter notes by sliding up and down the strip. It is rated T for lyrics and mildly suggestive themes. Available on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Rock Band 2 brings back everything that was popular in the original Rock Band adding 84 new songs from AC/DC, Metallica, The Talking Heads, Journey, Modest Mouse and others. Players can still enjoy their original Rock Band favorites by transferring their previously downloaded songs to the new game. Rock Band 2 also introduces a new online mode. The game is rated T for lyrics and suggestive themes. Available on PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Rock Revolution is the latest addition to the rock n’ roll game genre. Similar to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, players channel their inner rock stars by playing drums, guitar or bass. One add-on to this game is the Jam Mode that allows players to create their own music. This game is rated T for lyrics and tobacco reference. Available on Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Shaun White Snowboarding* allows players to test their boarding skills on four massive mountains. As you get better you can purchase new boards that will give you better speed and more air. The game is rated T for lyrics, mildly suggestive themes and mild violence. Available on Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows allows players to explore in a free-roaming, open-ended environment. Gamers can choose to play as the red, heroic, web-slinging Spiderman or the precarious and destructive black anti-hero Spiderman. Web of Shadows is rated T for animated blood, drug references, mild language, mildly suggestive themes and violence. Available on Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 and Wii.

*The Wii version is called Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip. On the other systems it is Shaun White Snowboardin

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Couple found with 74 dead cats faces jail

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Thanksgiving

Nov. 27, 2008

Thanksgiving is the American harvest festival holiday. In the fall of 1621, the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. It eventually became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

271 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2008. That’s not statistically signficantly different from the number raised during 2007. The turkeys produced in 2007 together weighed 7.9 billion pounds and were valued at $3.7 billion. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>

The Price is Right

$1.01
Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2007.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 709 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Where to Feast

3
Number of places in the United States named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey, Texas, was the most populous in 2007, with 465 residents, followed by Turkey Creek, La. (363) and Turkey, N.C. (270). There also are nine townships around the country named Turkey, three in Kansas.
Source: Population estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

5
Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the red, acidic berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2007, with 27,126 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,810).
Source: Population estimates <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>,
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>

28
Number of places in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. Plymouth, Minn., is the most populous, with 71,057 residents in 2007; Plymouth, Mass., had 55,188. There is just one township in the United States named “Pilgrim.” Located in Dade County, Mo., its population was 130. And then there is Mayflower, Ark., whose population was 2,134.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.html>,
<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

116 million
Number of households across the nation — all potential gathering places for people to celebrate the holiday.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2007
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/marital_status_living_arrangements/012437.html>

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Thanksgiving Safety Suggestions - Safer Turkey Fryer Usage Tips

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Hannity said Colmes to part ways

Fox News says that after 12 years, Alan Colmes will be leaving the top-rated "Hannity & Colmes" at the end of the year. Colmes was known as the more liberal half f the duo.

Colmes says that he approached a network executive earlier this year about doing something else.Colmes will continue as a liberal commentator on Fox programs, keep doing his own radio show and is developing a weekend show at Fox News.

“I approached Bill Shine (FNC’s Senior Vice President of Programming) earlier this year about wanting to move on after 12 years to develop new and challenging ways to contribute to the growth of the network," Colmes said in a statement. "Although it’s bittersweet to leave one of the longest marriages on cable news, I’m proud that both Sean (Hannity) and I remained unharmed after sitting side by side, night after night for so many years.”

Sean Hannity said Colmes was "a remarkable co-host," "great friend," and "skillful debate partner.”

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Piano found in woods

A police officer examines an oddly placed piano in the woods of Harwich, Massachusetts.

Police are probing the mysterious appearance of a piano, in the middle of the woods.

A woman in Harwich, Massachusetts, discovered a Baldwin Acrosonic piano, while walking on a trail. Also of note: Near the mystery piano was a bench, positioned as though someone was about to play.

It took a handful of police to move the piano into a vehicle to transport it to storage, so it would appear that putting it into the woods took more than one person.

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Eat And Be Merry, Not Fat this Thanksgiving

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Official information and services from the U.S. government

Going away for the Thanksgiving Holiday?

Road and Train Travel

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Cost of Thanksgiving dinner up this year

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Buy or Sell your home with ZipRealty, and save $$$

Raw Video: Astronauts venture out for spacewalk

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Google SearchWiki

Google recently released SearchWiki.
SearchWiki is a way for you to customize search by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results.

Google says that they now let users reshuffle results so their favorite Web sites get top billing and disliked destinations get discarded the next time they enter the same request.

Users can now tailor Google search results to best meet their needs. They can also write notes attached to a particular site and remove results that they don't feel belong.

Color coordinate with Electronics & Accessories at

SearchWiki is available to signed-in Google users. Goolge will store your changes in your Google Account. If you are wondering if you are signed in, you can always check by noting if your username appears in the upper right-hand side of the page. The changes you make only affect your own searches.

Google says that these changes won't affect Google's closely guarded formulas for ranking Web sites. Google processes more than 60 percent of the search requests made around the world.

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Verizon employees looked at Obama records

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How to Give a Back Massage

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A good back massage can relieve pain, anxiety, and stress, as well as increase physical intimacy, if desired. The following techniques will help you learn how to give a good back massage. Finding a volunteer to practice on shouldn't be too hard!

Steps

Setting Up

Place a pillow or cushion where the person's chest will be.
Spread the sheet over to catch any excess oil.
Have the person prepare by loosening or removing their pants (so that the lower back can be reached) and taking off their top. If privacy is a concern, step out of the room and have them wrap a towel around their chest (just underneath the arms) so that the ends are at the back.
Have them lie face down, with the pillow underneath the breast bone.
Fold one of the towels and place it underneath the forehead to keep the person's neck straight.
Fold one of the towels and place it underneath the ankles to support the person's lower back.
If the person is wearing a towel around their chest, unfold the ends to expose the back.
If the person is wearing pants, spread another towel over them and tuck the towel into the waistline to prevent the oil from staining them.

The Massage

Tell the person you are about to begin, and to let you know if anything you are doing is painful or uncomfortable.
Place massage oil in a cupped hand, and warm it by rubbing it between your hands.
Spread the oil around the person's back with light strokes. Don't forget the shoulders and neck area.
Palm circles. Place one hand on the lower back and put your other hand over it. With arms extended, begin making small circles, going up the back and down again. Staying on one side of the spine, repeat 2-3 times.
- The movement should come from the waist, rather than from the shoulders.
Muscle lifting. Move up and down the back, 2-3 times. It'll take some practice for this to become a smooth, confident rhythm:
- Make one hand into a "lobster claw" or "L" shape.
- Move your hand in the direction of your thumb, applying pressure and gradually closing the gap between your thumb and forefinger.
- As you finish the stroke, twist the wrist to achieve a lifting motion on the muscle. As you bring your thumb and forefinger together, the outside of your hand (along the little finger) should be running along the back.
- Keep alternating hands with a windshield wiper type of motion.
Knuckling. Repeat 2-3 times. Do not apply pressure on the lower back, and remember to avoid the spine.
- Form the hands into loose fists. With your arms straight and your knuckles and fingers in contact with the back, slide up and continue up and over the shoulders.
- Then lightly drag the knuckles back.
On the last knuckling, instead of coming back down, you can use muscle lifting on the trapezius, which is the muscle that connects the neck to the shoulders. Continue rubbing as you move around the head.
Repeat the palm circles, muscle lifting, and knuckling on the other side of the back.
Stand above the head. Use an extended thumb to make upward strokes between the shoulder blade and the backbone (from the hips, towards the head). As one thumb slides off, the other one begins its stroke upwards.
- Gradually move over and continue on the other side. Do not do this directly on the spine.
Bring both thumbs to the upper back, on either side of the spine.
- With constant pressure, slowly begin to slide your thumbs down the back. Remember to be careful over the lower back, where there are no ribs protecting internal organs.
- When you reach the top of the hips, allow your thumbs to linger there with steady pressure before beginning a new stroke.
- Slide the hands back up and repeat two more times, each time moving a bit farther to the sides (away from the spine).
Twists. Come back around to the person's side. Reach around the far hip with one hand, while the other hand rests on the near hip. With a fluid motion, pull one hand towards you as the other one pushes away; in the middle, they should slide against each other, in opposite directions. Repeat this stroke up the back until you reach the shoulder area, then come back down. Repeat 3 times.
Spread the fingers of both hands. Draw the fingertips of one hand down the back, lifting off at the top of the hips as the other hand begins at the shoulders. Repeat several times, and slowly allow the pressure to lighten until your hands float off.

Video

Tips

Make sure the room is warm.

Everyone has a different tolerance to pressure. Be sure to ask for feedback when introducing deeper strokes and as necessary. A good sign you may be going too deep is when the muscle contracts as you press. If the client confirms that the stroke isn't painful, encourage them to relax so to avoid injury to the muscle. Never force a stroke on the body.

Many massage tables include a cushioned face cradle. If you have one, drape it with a pillow case or small towel leaving a hole for the mouth and nose, and set it at a comfortable level. You can usually forgo the cushion under the chest if you have a face cradle (an exception would be a client with an extreme thoracic curve).

Warnings

Always be gentle when applying pressure on the lower back. Remember that there are no ribs to protect the internal organs from the pressure of your hands.
There are some cases in which massages can aggravate a medical condition. A person should consult with a doctor before receiving a massage if they have any of the following issues/conditions:[1]
- Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs)
- Spinal injuries or damage, such as herniated disk, etc.
- A bleeding disorder or taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin
- Damaged blood vessels
- Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or cancer
- A fever
- Any of the following in an area that would be massaged: open or healing wound, tumor, damaged nerves, an infection or acute inflammation, inflammation from radiation treatment
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Fragile skin, as from diabetes or a healing scar
- Heart problems

Things You'll Need

a massage table, mattress, or mat
a sheet
massage oil
3 towels
a pillow or cushion

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

VideoJug.com: How to give a deep stress relief back massage. - Original source of images and content, shared with permission.

↑ http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/#5

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Give a Back Massage. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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14 LIved Without a Heart for 118 Days

She is on her way home now.
A rare transplant failure forced one teen to live with a blood-pumping machine for 118 days until a new heart could be found. The girl says she felt like a "fake person" for 118 days when she had no heart beating in her chest. "But I know that I really was here," the 14-year-old said, "and I did live without a heart."

After her heart transplant didn't work well, they replaced the heart with a pair of artificial pumping devices that kept blood flowing through her body until she could have a second transplant.

Watch CBS Videos Online

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US Tests Missile Defense

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 27, 2008

In the fall of 1621, the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. It eventually became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

Weighing in With a Menu of Culinary Delights

49 million
The preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota expects to raise in 2008. The Gopher State is tops in turkey production. It is followed by North Carolina (39 million), Arkansas (31 million), Virginia (21 million), Missouri (20 million) and Indiana (15.9 million). These six states together will probably account for about two-thirds of U.S. turkeys produced in 2008.

689 million pounds
The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2008, up 5 percent from 2007 and slightly below 2006. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 385 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (190 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 15 million to 50 million pounds.

1.8 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes — another popular Thanksgiving side dish — produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2007. North Carolina (667 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. It was followed by California (426 million pounds). Mississippi and Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 300 million pounds each.

1.1 billion pounds
Total production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2007. Illinois led the country by producing 542 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in Ohio, California and New York also provided lots of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $117 million.

If you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn that the nation’s forecasted tart cherry production for 2008 totals 177 million pounds. Of this total, the overwhelming majority (135 million) will be produced in Michigan.

2.1 billion bushels
The total volume of wheat — the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust — produced in the United States in 2007. Kansas and North Dakota accounted for 28 percent of the nation’s wheat production.

769,760 tons
The 2008 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap (green) bean-producing states. Of this total, Wisconsin led all states (293,200 tons). Many Americans consider green bean casserole a traditional Thanksgiving dish.

Source: The previous data came from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>.

$9.2 million
The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2008 — 99.3 percent from Canada. Our northern neighbor accounted for all of the cranberries the United States imported ($2.1 million). When it comes to sweet potatoes, however, the Dominican Republic was the source of 86.3 percent ($3.8 million) of total imports ($4.4 million). The United States ran a $4.9 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had surpluses of $15.0 million in cranberries and $22.3 million in sweet potatoes. Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www>.

13.3 pounds
The quantity of turkeys consumed by the typical American in 2006, with a hearty helping devoured at Thanksgiving time. Per capita sweet potato consumption was 4.6 pounds. Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Tables 209-210 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>.

The Turkey Industry

$3.6 billion
The value of turkeys shipped in 2002. Arkansas led the way in turkey shipments, with $581.5 million, followed by Virginia ($544.2 million) and North Carolina ($453 million). In 2002, poultry businesses whose primary product was turkey totaled 35 establishments, employing about 17,000 people.
Source: Poultry Processing: 2002 <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i311615.pdf>

$4.3 billion
Forecast 2008 receipts to farmers from turkey sales. This exceeds the total receipts from sales of products such as rice and peanuts.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service <http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm>

The Price is Right

$1.01
Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2007.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 709 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Where to Feast

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The 8 year old 'murderer'

The 8-year-old Arizona boy suspected in the deaths of his father and another man told police in a videotaped interview that he shot both men after he came home from school.

The boy, said he shot his already wounded father "because he was suffering."

"I was thinking, 'What the heck is going on?'" the boy said "'Who did this? Why would anyone do this?'"After I shot him once he was still moving, I think I shot him again."

"I'm going to go to juvie," the boy says after an officer asks what he's thinking."

At one point, the boy told authorities he had been mad at his father. He said he was supposed to bring home some papers from school earlier in the week and got spanked by his stepmother at his father's request because he didn't.

The boy has been charged in juvenile court with two counts of murder.

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Peterson meets with divorce attorney

Remember this ex-cop with the string of 'missing' wives?

Drew Peterson, a suspect in the case of missing wife, Stacy Peterson,now wants to divorce her. You have to wonder if there is a new wife lined up already.

Peterson reportedly said his wife ran away with another man and he said he doesn't want to wait for her any more.

"She ran off with another guy. It's that simple," Peterson told the local news.

"If she wants to go out for drinks, give me a call," Peterson said.

Stacy Peterson was reported missing Oct. 29 last year by her sister. Drew Petersen said that Stacy Peterson told him the night of Oct. 28 that she was leaving him for another man.

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Great American Smokeout,

Tomorrow, November 20, is the 33rd Great American Smokeout, and the American Cancer Society continues its legacy of providing free resources to help smokers quit. The Great American Smokeout was inaugurated in 1976 to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Now, 44.2 percent of the 45.3 million Americans who smoke have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year, and the Great American Smokeout remains a great opportunity to encourage people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good.

With all the resources available to help smokers quit, there has never been a better time to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society is here to help. If you smoke, make a plan and set the Great American Smokeout, November 20, 2008, as your quit date. By calling the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 1-800-227-2345, people who plan to quit will be able to speak with a trained counselor and receive free, confidential counseling.

NEED HELP QUITTING?

Studies have found that Quitline can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco. Callers to Quitline can be connected with smoking cessation resources in their communities, social support groups, Internet resources, and medication assistance referrals. Since its inception in 2000, Quitline has provided counseling support to more than 380,000 smokers.

The American Cancer Society offers other free resources – through Quitline and at www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans – that can increase a smoker’s chances of quitting successfully, including tips and tools for friends, family, and coworkers of potential quitters to help them be aware and supportive of the struggle to quit smoking. Studies show the importance of social support in quitting smoking, as people are most likely to quit smoking when their friends, family, and coworkers decide to quit smoking. Popular online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are also becoming support channels for people who want to quit, and American Cancer Society Smokeout-related downloadable desktop applications are available on these networks to help people quit or join the fight against tobacco.

“A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that social networks are helpful in quitting smoking,” said [spokesperson]. “Friends and family can help the most by being aware and supportive of the struggle to quit, and the American Cancer Society has resources to help them show support for their loved one who is trying to quit.”

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Each year, smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.

Also imperative in this effort to encourage people to quit smoking are smoke-free laws and higher tobacco taxes which make it harder for people to smoke, and protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke. The majority of U.S. communities are now covered by smoke-free laws, while forty-three states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have raised tobacco taxes since 2000. Smokers nationwide now face an average cost of $4.32 for one pack of cigarettes, not including all taxes. The rising cost of living is also affecting smokers, as the cost of cigarettes presents an even greater burden. Smoke-free workplace laws and other tobacco control legislation, supported by the Society and its nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), help protect Americans from secondhand smoke and encourage smokers to quit.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

For information on smoking cessation, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) smoking cessation web site at SmokeFree.gov.

Smokefree.gov outlines why quitting smoking is so difficult and offers tips to help smokers develop strategies to quit smoking and stay quit for life. In addition, Smokefree.gov offers a tool called LiveHelp which offers smokers the opportunity to "chat" with National Cancer Institute's (NCI) smoking cessation experts.

You may also contact Smokefree.gov by phone at 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) or by TTY at 1-800-332-8615.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also offers a smoking quitline where smoking cessation counselors are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. Call 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).

The Great American Smokeout is November 20, 2008. This event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and is celebrated on the third Thursday in November every year.

American Cancer Society

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Five, 25 minute personal trainings for $99

Twilight the Movie Premier

More than 600 people were allowed inside special holding areas along both sides of the Twilight premiere's red carpet. Mann Village and Bruin Theatres hosted the Los Angeles premiere of "Twilight."