247 million people shopped this past weekend. Black Friday online sales topped $1 billion for the first time, according to comScore, which measures online behavior. According to NBC, more than 35 million Americans visited stores and websites on Thursday. That's up from 29 million last year. 89 million Americans shopped on Black Friday. That's up 3.1% over the 86.2 million who shopped that day last year. Total spending for the weekend rose to $59.1 billion; up from $52.4 billion last year. Shoppers also spent more -- $423 compared to $398 last year.

- Law enforcement officials used Black Friday to bust shoppers, who parked illegally in spots designated for people with disabilities. Some drivers received $500 fines.

- Some consumer experts say stores that opened on Thanksgiving for Black Friday did themselves a disservice because the majority of early bird shoppers tired quickly and headed home once they got the deals they wanted. This hurt other stores because their was less shopping

- Barack Obama went Christmas shopping on Saturday. He bought 15 children's books from a Virginia bookstore.

- No one won Friday's $325 million Powerball jackpot. Wednesday's lotto is expected to be worth $425 million.

- Uunique London is selling a $302,000 iPhone case that features rare pink and white diamonds, 18-carat gold and Italian leather

- Dallas star Larry Hagman died from cancer. He was 81. His family said, "When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time."

- Americans are driving to Canada to get Twinkies and other Hostess brands. A rep for Saputo Inc says, “It’s totally separate… We own the rights in Canada so what’s happening in the U.S. doesn’t affect us.”

- Chevy Chase is leaving Community.

- The Discovery Channel has canceled Dirty Jobs

Hooray for Hollywood: Here are this past weekend's box office results.

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2," $43.1 million ($97.4 million international).

2. "Skyfall," $36 million ($41.3 million international).

3. "Lincoln," $25 million.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," $24 million ($10 million international).

5. "Life of Pi," $22 million ($17.5 million international)

Cyber Monday 2012: Best deals from Macy's, Sears, Walmart, Kohl's and others from cbsnews.com

Sears
Sale will run from 12 a.m. CT Sunday, Nov. 25 through Tuesday, Nov. 27:

Up to 50 percent off, plus an extra 10 percent off coats, cold weather accessories, sleepwear, dress wear and holiday dresses
NordicTrack elliptical - $499.99 (saving of $400)
Kenmore Elite 5-qt. stand mixer - $169.99 (saving of $80)
Craftsman 192-pc. Mechanics tool set - $99.99 (50 percent off)
Maytag 3.6-cu. ft. load washer and Maytag 7.0-cu. ft. dryer - $799.98 (saving of $430)

Amazon
Cyber Monday Deals Week will start at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 26:

"Worth It ... Not Worth It?" financial book - $11.75 ($8.24 saving)
Smartphones with plans - 50% off and more
Sony VAIO laptop - save up to $100
Canon DSLR Lense - save up to $200

Kohl's
Sale will run from Saturday, Nov. 24 through Tuesday, Nov. 27:

All purchases on Kohls.com - 20 percent off and free standard shipping

Macy's
Sale will start on Sunday, Nov. 25 and end on Monday, Nov. 26:

Select women's sweaters - buy one get one free
Club Room cashmere V-neck sweaters - $69.99
1/2-carat diamond stud earrings in 14K white gold - $199
1-1/3-carat Aquamarine ring in 14K white gold with diamond accents - $199
Select 24-piece room-in-a-bag sets - $99.99
Dyson DC-17 Total Clean vacuum - $349.99
Kenneth Cole Reaction wool car coat - $69.99
Select women's coats - 50 percent off
Charter Club leather gloves and cashmere scarves - 50 percent off
Designer and trend handbags - 25-40 percent off
Select men's boots - $59.99
Holiday dresses - $50 off
Bill Blass premier 4-piece luggage set - $79.99
TDK performance headphones, EB-900 in-ear headphones - $29.99

J.C. Penney
Cyber Monday sale will run from Sunday, Nov. 25 through Monday, Nov. 26:

Sale items - free shipping (no minimum purchase)

Walmart

Special deals will be available on Monday, Nov. 26:

Samsung 55" 1080p Class LED Smart 3D HDTV - $1498 ($1,000 saving)
Samsung 40" 1080p Class LED HDTV - $598 (nearly $400 saving)
Xbox 360 Skylanders Family Fun Bundle - $159 (nearly $100 saving)
Double Power T-711 with WiFi 7" Tablet - $59 (nearly $40 saving)
Little Tikes Kitchen - $50 (nearly $30 saving)

Thanksgiving Calorie Calculator: Use the Thanksgiving calorie calculator to total your Thanksgiving feast calories and see how far you must walk in steps, miles and kilometers to walk it off.

Website: http://walking.about.com/library/cal/blthanksgivingcalories.htm

Five Hour Energy: Sales of energy drinks jumped over the weekend as shoppers downed them to stay awake for early Black Friday store openings. Scores of shoppers munched on Thanksgiving leftovers while waiting for stores to open. A select few wore adult diapers so they wouldn't lose their premium place in line at certain electronics stores.

Smashing Success: Black Friday shoppers smashed the front door of a Santa Monica Urban Outfitters. Five people were injured in the stampede for 50% off. The store was closed for a few minutes as injuries were treated and glass shards were swept away.

On Strike: Some striking Wal-Mart workers handed out flyers to shoppers with a picture of two iPads and the caption, "Free stampede after giving thanks for what you have." They claim the retailer retaliates against those who speak out for better pay, fair schedules and affordable health care. Less than 50 Wal-Mart workers participated in the protests nationwide.

No Child Left Behind: The Springfield, Massachusetts police arrested Anthony Perry on Friday for leaving his girlfriend's two year old child in the car, so he could go into a K-Mart and buy a 51-inch TV. Mall security called the police, who found the sleeping boy in a Nissan. Police forced their way into the car to rescue the child. The child's mother was working at the time her boyfriend was supposed to be babysitting. Police are not sure how Perry was able to get from the K-Mart plaza to his home without taking the car he drove to the store.

Flight Risk: Just in time for the holidays, Denzel Washington's new movie is causing airline passengers to ask questions. Director Robert Zemeckis says, “People are getting on planes and saying to flight attendants, ‘I’ve seen ‘Flight,’ has the pilot been drinking?'

A new survey by the European Cockpit Association reveals that between 43 and 54% of pilots in Britain, Norway and Sweden have fallen asleep “involuntarily” while flying – and a third have woken up to find their colleagues were also asleep. The pilots’ group spokesman says, “Long duty and standby hours, night flights and disruptive schedules often result in long times awake, sleep deprivation and are followed by insufficient rest and poor sleep opportunities.”

 Big Brother Is Watching: Some retailers are placing security cams in the eyes of mannequins. Almax developed the $5,000 EyeSee Mannequin, which feeds audio and video footage to a central database. Almax won't say what retailers are using their mannequins.

Solid Gold: A Tokyo jeweler is selling a gold Christmas tree for $4.2 million. It stands 8 feet high, weighs 88 pounds and features 50 gold Disney character ornaments. Takashi Miura says, "We used pure gold and had an expert craftsman form each Disney character by hand. It took 10 craftsmen two months to complete. It is very vivid and the gold is very pretty. The characters on it are also really cute and it really looks like a Christmas tree."

7 Ways To Avoid Scams on Cyber Monday from Trade and Consumer Protection

1. Protect your smartphone and computer from malicious software. Malware can spy on your internet surfing, steal your personal information and use your computer or phone to send spam. Beware downloading holiday-themed screensavers, ringtones and e-cards. Download apps only from official app stores. Install quality firewall, virus protection and spyware protection software on your computer, and keep it updated.

2. Guard your personal information. Don’t fall for offers on social networks that promise a free iPad or airline tickets in exchange for personal information. Before entering personal information online, read the privacy policy and understand what the website operators will do with your information. Never email credit card numbers – email is not completely secure.

3. Use search engines to check for scams – and for coupons. Key in a company or product name with words like “scam,” “review” and “complaint.” Read the reviews, but don’t put your trust in one review. When you’ve made your decision, search for the store with terms like “discount” or “free shipping.”

4. Compare costs. Use a cost-comparison website to check prices, making sure you also check shipping, handling and return fees.

5. Pay by credit or charge card for extra protection. The Fair Credit Billing Act gives consumers the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the credit card company investigates.

6. Read the fine print. Before submitting your order, carefully check return policies, restocking fees and who is responsible for the return shipping costs. Know when the items should be delivered, and know whom to contact if they are not.

7. Keep a paper trail. Print records of online transactions and copies of emails sent between you and the seller. Review credit card statements when you receive them to look for unauthorized charges.

Top 5 Reasons Cyber Monday Is Better Than Black Friday from the Houston Press

5. There are no crowds

4. Some deals start as early as November 7

3. Naked shopping

2. No Christmas music.

1. Getting gifts in the mail is awesome.

10 Jobs That Need The Most Coffee from careerbuilder.com

1. Food preparation/service workers

2. Scientists

3. Sales representatives

4. Marketing/public relations professionals

5. Nurses (nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant)

6. Editors/writers/media workers

7. Business executives

8. Teachers/instructors (K-12)

9. Engineering technicians/support

10. IT managers/network administrators

6 Germiest Places At The Mall from abcnews.com

The Air Hand sanitizers and hand washing cannot protect you from what's floating in the air.

Public Restrooms Public restrooms can be a germ-laden nightmare, but they're also where you can wash away unwelcome microbes.

Food Court Tables Think about how many people have touched the tables, napkin dispensers and chair backs at a mall food court or restaurant, and you have another reason to wash your own hands or use a hand sanitizer.

Escalator Handrails Most people grip the handrails when riding escalators inside malls and stores, leaving behind normal skin bacteria plus other germs picked up from rubbing their noses or mouths.

Toy Stores All those sniffling tots inside toy stores, along with the healthy ones who just like to put everything in their mouths, can leave invisible coatings of germs behind -- not to mention what they spew into the air when they sneeze or cough.

Electronics Stores The slick surfaces of smart phones and tablet computers can harbor a variety of germs, including staph, capable of living several hours.

Cyber Monday

41% of people say Cyber Monday is their favorite shopping holiday. Other findings from a new PriceGrabber survey:

- out of the 41% selecting Cyber Monday as their favorite shopping day in 2012, 58% will shop more than they do on Black Friday, which so far still ranks as the best selling day in the U.S..

- most Cyber Monday shoppers prefer to catch early morning deals (30%), compared to only 9% who shop later in the evening.

Pest Control: Hawaii may experience a Christmas tree shortage this year. Inspector Glenn Sakamoto says, ''Nearly half of the christmas tree shipments to Hawaii are being held back due to an extensive pest infestation. Went through 150 shipping containers from the pacific northwest. 74 of them did not pass inspection after the discovery of slugs and other pests. We've been finding a lot of slugs this year in addition to some aggressive yellow jacket wasps. We found a western fence lizard, as well as other types of insects that tagged along with the christmas trees.'' 49 containers are being held until they can be treated.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: CBS says Beverly Hills Caviar has unveiled its first touch-screen vending machine at the Burbank Towne Center, offering “a large selection of the world’s finest selection of caviar, truffles, escargot, bottarga, blinis, oils, Mother of Pearl plates and spoons, gift boxes and gourmet salts.” Prices range from under $50 up to $500.

Sign of The Times: A pair of Flagler County, Florida parents recently made their 15 year-old daughter hold a sign that reads: "I sneak boys in at 3 a.m. and disrespect my parents and grandparents." The girl's dad says, "This is all about love. I took my day off of work. I missed out on $300 or $400 today to do this. You know what I mean, to come and do this. I love this kid.'' The girl's mom says, "I've taken all her toys or her electronics away; her phone, no privileges on the TV or computer and still she just laughs about it.''

What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas: Lauren Adkins' master's thesis for the University of Las Vegas will consist of her marrying a cardboard cutout of "Twilight" character Edward Cullen. She says, "It's a theatrical performance in which I'll be marrying Edward Cullen. I'm definitely not used to this level of attention but I'm really pleased with it. It's been kind of a shock. The British tabloids are rewriting the story on their own volition to fit their perceived idea of this crazy female fanatic.''

The Grinch That Stole Xmas .. Trees: A thief recently stole 350 Christmas trees from a Monroe County, New York tree farm. Cops say the thief stole a truck and trailer with the trees. The trees are valued at $12,000.

Tastes Great ... Less Wrapping: The Phoenix Pub, in Inverness, England, is expected to be swamped with male shoppers this holiday season. Owner Andie Gaston has started a new gift wrapping service where shoppers down beers while she wraps their gifts. She says, "What more can the men want - other than me going out and buying the presents for them?"It's well known that blokes are notoriously bad at wrapping presents and most of them definitely don't like shopping. Hopefully, I can bring some Christmas cheers to customers and they seem to be lapping it up. I was just thinking about doing something to try to get people into the pub. I'm glad to say this seems to be working. And it's good fun, too. I'm quite happy to take them off their hands and do the wrapping. I can see myself being wrapped up in this right up to Christmas Eve!"

The Grinch That Stole Xmas .. Thanksgiving Turkey: Someone stole Joyce Romer's Thanksgiving turkey from the freezer in her garage. She called the Ocala, Florida police to report the theft of the 12.5-pound bird. Thieves left the beer.

Toe Jam: Susan Deming recently cut off part of her pinkie toe so she could wear high heels. She tells Fox, ''Unless you’ve been there, and you can’t find shoes, and you’re in pain, don’t judge. I was having calluses, and just, all sorts of problems with my left foot. And there finally was a solution. There’s never been a solution before. I’ve never felt this good about something I’ve done. If it’s vain, it’s vain.''

The Star claims Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are allegedly having problems because she recently got chummy with her ex-boyfriend Penn Badgley. A source says, “He and Blake got into a huge fight about her being so touchy with Penn. Ryan told Blake that he broke off all contact with Scarlett Johansson after they split, and he expects the same from her. She doesn’t see it that way, though — she still cares about Penn as a friend, and she’s not backing down.”

TMZ claims Charlie Sheen recently gave Lindsay Lohan a check for $100,000 to cover her $233,904 tax bill. The two became close on the set of Scary Movie 5.

 Legal Clash: Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash resigned after being hit with another lawsuit. Another man claims he solicited him for sex when he was a minor. Cecil Singleton claims he met Clash on a gay chat line in 2003 when he was 15

** UPDATE **

Clash has taped Elmo episodes through 2014.

Singleton says, “I was assured they would do everything possible to prosecute. If I was seduced by anything, it was how sweet and polite he was. He courted me like you would when you’re dating someone. No one understands what my life was like at 15 years old — I saw myself as sophisticated and mature. I thought my experiences made me unique and different. As an adult, I can tell you emphatically I wasn’t in any position to consent in any type of sexual relationship. It makes me disgusted with myself that I could have been so naive. I didn’t recognize a predator. A lot of people have called me money hungry, gold digger. I promise you that ($5 million) amount came out of left field. It was determined by my attorney.”

Hasbro says, "Sesame Street and its wonderful characters have been entertaining and educating children and families for more than 40 years. We are confident that Elmo will remain an integral part of Sesame Street and that Sesame Street toys will continue to delight children for years to come."

** WEEKEND UPDATE **

Clash won't be charged because the alleged victims waited too long before coming forward.

Brad Pitt is dieting. A source tells the Daily Star, ''He'll slouch in front of the TV for hours at a time watching Food Network. He only moves to make himself a plate of sandwiches which he'll often wash down with a couple of beers. He's always calling and texting his friend, the chef Jamie Oliver, for recipe ideas. Brad has let himself go since he proposed to Angelina. Some of his muscle has turned to flab and he doesn't work out or watch his diet like he used to."

Robert Pattinson's family has forgiven Kristen Stewart for cheating on him. A source tells Hollywoodlife.com, “It was really important for Kristen to win back the love and trust of Rob’s family, and she has done just that. They are all back on really good terms — even better than before. Kristen reached out to Rob’s sisters and expressed how sorry she was. They are proud of how far she has come and they know she has been treating their brother like gold.”

Justin Bieber wants to reconcile with Selena Gomez. A source tells Hollywoodlife.com, ''Justin really wants Selena back. He’s buying her things and sending her flowers. He’s trying to be as sweet as possible. Hoping this will make Selena realize that they are meant to be.”

Katy Perry's next CD will be out in the summer of 2013.

Lady GaGa woke up on Black Friday to find 30 fans hiding in her garage. She Tweeted: “Thanksgiving story: woke up for leftovers in kitchen (naked) - stumbled on security camera revealing 35 monsters in my garage #why #iloveu.” “i should be mad i guess except i tried to figure out how to slide stuffing under the door, but theres no cat-flap.''

Harry Styles recently surprised Taylor Swift at a rehearsal. A source says, ''They lit up when they saw each other. Taylor was a puppy dog. Harry picked her up and carried her to the trailer!''

A source tells HollywoodLife.com, “Taylor couldn’t be happier about Harry. She feels super connected to him and feels like he totally gets her. She likes that he brings out her ‘silly’ side. In fact, they both love to laugh. He makes her laugh. Taylor is crazy for Harry.''

Another source says, “She’s been interested in buying a house in the UK for a while. But after months of not really mentioning it, Taylor’s suddenly instructed an estate [agent] to get on it ASAP! She’s even asked Harry if he’ll come and look at some places with her, since he knows the area. Taylor’s enthusiasm may be a bit much for Harry to handle. Taylor says the reason things fizzled out last time was because they had no time together. I’m sure their recent contact is behind her sudden enthusiasm to buy in London. She says they’ll be able to pick up where they left off. I’m not sure how Harry will cope if Taylor does move in down the road. He always talks big with girls he likes, promising the earth, but in reality I think Harry likes being single.''

Taylor says, “Bad boys usually have a lot to say, and even if they don’t, they know how to look at you to say it all. I think every girl’s dream is to find a bad boy at the right time, when he wants to not be bad anymore.''

QUIKKIES COURTESY OF SHEETHAPPENS.