The Lede Blog: Vignettes of Black Friday

With promotions, discounts and doorbusters already well under way on Thanksgiving Day itself, many big-box retailers are making Black Friday stretch longer than ever. The Lede is checking out the mood of American consumers in occasional vignettes Thursday and Friday as the economically critical holiday shopping season kicks o...

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Israel and Hamas Maintain Cease-Fire, After Push by the U.S. and Egypt

CAIRO — A cease-fire agreed to under intense Egyptian and American pressure between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to halt eight days of bloody conflict seemed to be holding on Thursday, averting a full-scale Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip without resolving the underlying disputes. With Israeli forces still massed on the Gaza border, a tentative calm in the fighting...

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Texans playing Lions for a spot in the playoffs

DETROIT (AP) — The Houston Texans have put themselves in a position to be the NFL's first team to seal a spot in the playoffs and to move a step closer toward earning home-field advantage in the AFC.Houston (9-1) has won four straight and is 4-0 on the road this season, giving the Texans a great shot to be in consecutive postseasons for the first time."It shows the progress we've made," said tight...

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Recipes for Health: Apple Pear Strudel — Recipes for Health

Andrew Scrivani for The New York TimesThis strudel is made with phyllo dough. When I tested it the first time, I found that I had enough filling for two strudels. Rather than cut the amount of filling, I increased the number of strudels to 2, as this is a dessert you can assemble and keep, unbaked, in the freezer. Filling for 2 strudels: 1/2 pound mixed dried fruit, like raisins, currants,...

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DealBook: S.E.C. Weighs Suing Aletheia Manager

Federal regulators are preparing a civil fraud case against a prominent Los Angeles money manager, a government lawyer said at a court hearing on Wednesday.The manager, Peter J. Eichler Jr., chief executive of Aletheia Research and Management, has received a so-called Wells notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission, an indication that the agency is considering an enforcement action.Gary...

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Israel and Hamas Reach Cease-Fire

CAIRO — Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire on Wednesday after eight days of lethal fighting over the Gaza Strip, the United States and Egypt said after intensive negotiations in Cairo. The cease-fire, which is to take effect at 9 p.m. local time (2 p.m. E.S.T.), was formally announced by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr of Egypt at a news conference...

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Boxer 'Macho' Camacho critical in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hector "Macho" Camacho was clinging to life Wednesday after being shot in the face while in a car, with doctors and his family expected to decide whether to remove the former boxing champion from life support.Doctors had said Camacho was in critical, but stable condition and expected to survive after he was shot Tuesday night in his hometown of Bayamon. But his condition...

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Ask an Expert: Ask and Expert About Alzheimer’s, Part 3

(Some questions published here have been edited, and not all questions can be answered.) The doctor’s answers are meant for educational purposes and are not meant to be a substitute for advice from your own doctor. Readers should contact their physician before making health care decisions. Q. What practical steps can a baby boomer take to stave off dementia of any type? — Canoe9, Hawaii...

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Blue Laws Curb Consumerism Where Pilgrims Gave Thanks

Charlie Mahoney for The New York TimesThe annual Thanksgiving celebration in Plymouth, Mass., is held the weekend before the holiday, so as not to interfere. PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Here in the birthplace of Thanksgiving, where the Pilgrims first gave thanks in 1621 for their harvest and their survival, some residents are giving thanks this year for something else: the Colonial-era blue laws that prevent...

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Videos on the Gaza Conflict

Latest VideoGaza ConflictWorldU.S.BusinessScienceOpinionArtsStyleThanksgiving RecipesMiddle EastWest Bank Rallies for GazaNews/TimesCastMoving to Defuse the Gaza ConflictWorldIsrael’s Iron DomeNews/TimesCastDeath Toll Rises in GazaWorldA Look at the Violence in GazaWorldTensions Grow Between Israel and HamasWorldThe Escalating Conflict in GazaNews/TimesCastConflict in Gaza Tests AlliancesMiddle EastAn...

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