Bestselling books of 2011: the top 100 listed

What were the most popular books in the UK in 2011? Thanks to Nielsen Bookscan, we have the answer. Which is? By and large, books we've already read.Of the nearly 5,000 books detailed in the 2011 charts so far, 35% of them, or 1,695, were published before 2010. In an analysis published today, John Dugdale writes that the charts are dominated by movie tie-ins and older books with the number one slot held by One Day, followed by Christmas number one chef Jamie Oliver's Jamie's 30-Minute Meals Read more [...]

Lift-off for historic city centre building

BUILDERS made light work of a heavy job revamping a 171-year-old listed building in Glasgow city centre. Contractors had to upgrade stonework at the site in Buchanan Street, which houses the Molton Brown, Planet and Accessorize stores. Experts said cracks in the building could have made it dangerous. But replacing some of the stones was hefty work. Some weighed up to three quarters of a ton – and had to be winched in place. Stonemasons also Read more [...]

The Biggest New Year’s Eve Events on Facebook [INFOGRPAHIC]

Millions of people have been invited to New Year’s Eve events through Facebook this year. Social planning startup Hotlist aggregated more than 127,000 of those events to determine which are, at least by their RSVP numbers, the most popular. Good news for the 6,000 people attending the Resolution event in Seattle: You’re going to the biggest NYE event listed on Facebook. The city with the most Facebook planning this NYE was New York, followed Read more [...]

City home sales hit $3-B mark

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image Realtor Lynn Truong sold this $420,000 home in Amber Trails to push Winnipeg over the $3-billion mark in annual home sales for the first time. Winnipeg's total home sales for the year passed the $3-billion mark earlier this month, only four years after first hitting $2 billion. The dramatic increase wasn't the result of a Read more [...]

No California Kmarts listed on first closure list

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – An initial list of Kmart and full-line Sears stores that Sears Holdings Corp. said would be closed has been released. The 79 stores on the list, released Thursday, include no California Kmarts, and only three California Sears stores. Lakeport has one Kmart, and there are no full-line Sears stores in Lake County, only “hometown stores” in Lakeport and Clearlake, the corporation reported. Sears Holdings Corp. had said Tuesday that it intended to close Read more [...]

What Homes Sold in and Around Burlington This Week

Interested to see which homes sold in Burlington this week? Click on the photo at right to look at a photo gallery of homes that sold in Burlington and surrounding communities between Dec. 21 to Dec. 28. The same information without photos is available below in an easy-to-scan list. In the market for a new home? Be sure to check out our House Hunt column on Fridays for open houses in your area. 27 Gloria Circle, Burlington List Price: $409,900 Sale Price: $400,000 Sq. feet: 2,428 Style: Colonial Read more [...]

Reminder to winter event hosts: Keep walkways safe to avoid costly injuries

TORONTO, Dec. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Individuals, municipalities and venues planning to host New Year's Eve gatherings this weekend or other events this winter are reminded that costly "slip and fall" injuries on walkways and driveways can easily be avoided with the appropriate traction solution. "Whether hosting or attending an event this winter, it's very risky Read more [...]

Hot Tuna eyes sale after heavy loss

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago  Hot Tuna, the surfwear business best known for its piranha logo, suffered further heavy losses as it admitted it needs a buyer to rescue the brand.The company, which sells "edgy surf/streetwear" in the UK, United States and Australia, said underlying losses were £862,000 in the year to June 30 after sales more than halved to just £207,000.Hot Tuna originated in Australia in 1969 "to serve the demands of sojourning surfers" and was bought from a consortium of investors Read more [...]

No Del. locations listed as Sears releases store closing list

Sears Holdings has released a partial  list of Sears and K mart  stores that will close as the company deals with declining sales and a disappointing holiday season. (See PDF document). Stores in Delaware and adjacent areas escaped the cuts  for now. However, as many as 40 additonal stores could close. Delaware stores are often the last to close when retailers downsize, due to the state's lack of a sales tax. Florida will be hit the hardest by the closing Read more [...]

Government extends waiver of anti-flipping law – Sun

Florida homebuyers will be able to purchase flipped properties with FHA loans through next year as federal officials try to speed the resale of foreclosed and abandoned homes.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it was extending a 2010 waiver of its anti-flipping regulation, which was scheduled to end Saturday.The rule forbids Federal Housing Administration-backed loans from being used to buy homes that have been owned by the seller for less than 90 days. Read more [...]