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Current DateTime: 01:20:57 29 Nov 2009
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    • Shopper & Investor Deals  25 Nov 2009

        A look at what's likely to happen at the registers once the doors open on Friday, with Richard Hastings, Global Hunters Securities; Richard Jaffe, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. and CNBC's Jane Wells.

    • Black Friday: Bargain or Bust?  25 Nov 2009

        Whether the deals are better than what shoppers will usually see or if it is just another marketing tactic, with Hitha Prabhakar, Style File Group; Brad Wilson, BlackFriday2009.com and CNBC's Jane Wells.

    • Holiday Central  25 Nov 2009

        A discussion of the many ways retailers are preparing for Black Friday, live from K-Mart in Burbank, CA, with CNBC's Jane Wells.

    • Retailers Getting Ready for Black Friday  25 Nov 2009

        Retailers are getting ready for Black Friday, and CNBC's Jane Wells has the play by play. Stacy Janiak, of Deloitte, shares her insight.

    • Amazon vs. Wal-Mart  24 Nov 2009

        What began as a price war between Wal-Mart and Amazon over a handful of books has nos spread to a wide assortment of consumer goods. Lee Eisenberg, a noted retail expert and consumer behaviorist, and CNBC's Jane Wells discuss.

    • Prices to Be Thankful For  24 Nov 2009

        A decrease in food prices is something to be thankful for this holiday, reports CNBC's Jane Wells.

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Current DateTime: 01:20:57 29 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 31388237
Expiration DateTime: 11/29/2009 1:21:17 PM
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Funny Business

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Aug.20
8:58 AM ET
Wednesday, 20 Aug 2008
Cougar Business; Trump & Grossness: Your E-Mails
Posted By:Jane Wells
Sectors:Media

THE BUSINESS OF BEING A 'COUGAR'

Someone mentioned that "Fake Jane" needs a break, so she's holed up in a La Jolla spa buried under two inches of mud mask sipping a mojito through an elongated straw.

It's just as well, because she wouldn't know what to make of the fuss over the word "cougar." For those not familiar with the (possibly derogatory) term, a "cougar" is an older woman who preys on younger men. May-December romances are actually the norm in Hollywood, when it's Miss May and Mr. December. You don't see MR. May hooking up with MISS December very often (though Fake Jane earlier cheered "cougar" Mariah Carey marrying Nick Cannon).

But cougars are reaching critical mass, so much so that First Wives World is debating whether the term is a compliment or an insult.

On one side is FWW Editor-in-Chief Jill Brooke, who likes the term. It's empowering, she says, adding that actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Demi Moore, Susan Sarandon and Kim Cattrall would LIKE being called a cougar. I think Jennifer Aniston would be mortified to learn she's now reached the age where she's cougarable.

On the other hand, FWW's "Chief Executive Girlfriend" Debbie Nigro hates the word.

"It just makes it sound like older women are pouncing on innocent young men, when truthfully we are 'treating them' to the experience of wisdom and an occasional expensive dinner," says Nigro.

She's hoping readers will come up with a new word. One reader responded, "I would rather be called a 'cougar' than a 'sugar mama.'"

Richard Gere in American Gigolo
WATCH COUGARS IN ACTION!

Here's an oldy but goody, a story by CNBC.com's Brooke Sopelsa from February showing a dating event for older women and younger men. It even includes the author of "Getting L*id in New York City," a young man apparently channeling his inner Richard Gere from "American Gigolo."

TRUMP AND HAIR-RAISING RESTAURANT STORIES: YOUR EMAILS

On my blog post that Donald Trump is hoping to buy Ed McMahon's home out of foreclosure and lease it back to the entertainer, Thomas K. writes:

"Would have been a lot classier if Trump kept the news of his gesture to himself. What a blowhard !!"

On the story about the cook who put hair in the steak of a complaining customer, David B. responded:

"Evidently you never worked in a restaurant. You should see what the wait staff put in the food and the bartenders put in the drinks of cheap tippers. If you would, you would do what I do: leave a minimum of 20% if I am coming back. Then there is the military. Enlisted men cook for the officers. This can get very touchy. One must always be nice to those who are below you in rank, especially if they cook your food. Some officers never get it."

On a reader's note that California should solve its budget problems with a temporary sales tax hike (which may end up being what happens), Reg E. writes:

"I want to disagree with the idea that sales taxes affect all equally. If you are rich, you could care less what a consumption tax is...So this is an increased hardship on the low income earners. Additionally, how many 1/4 points can you raise that onerous tax? I also would like to comment on the Congress bank bailout package. If this is such a good package and everyone wins, good.

"But I have a suspicion that it hurts some people. Who?...Is it the person who saves and is prudent with his money? The taxpayer? The bailout is meant to shore up a system that created and allowed massive leverage in the financial markets. They created the mess and they do not deserve to benefit from this, even if it means that these banks fail."

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