Gift ideas for the techie on your list

The holidays are coming fast, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably gotten very little of your gift shopping done.

Here are suggestions for a variety of gifts for the techie and the not-so-techie people on your list.

Some of these items can be found in stores and some are only available online, but you should be able to order them in time for Christmas or Hanukkah.

IOMEGA EZ MEDIA & BACKUP CENTER

What is it? A hard drive that lives on your home network so you can share files, store all your photos and music and back up your home computers. Works on Macintosh, Windows and Linux computers.

The EZ Media & Backup Center is available in 1-, 2- and 3-terabyte capacities. It is simple to set up. It lives next to your home router and plugs into the network via Ethernet.

Major features include a built-in iTunes server so your music is available to all connected computers, Time Machine support for easy Macintosh backups and Iomega’s Personal Cloud to access your data from any Internet connection.

It can also stream your video files to your TV if you’ve got a compatible streaming box or an Internet-connected TV.

Software for backing up Windows PCs is also included.

Who’s it for? Any family that wants central storage for their digital lives. This is a great home for your digital photo, music or video library.

What does it cost? One terabyte for $169.99, two terabytes for $209.99, three terabytes for $279.99.

Where can you get it? Online at www.iomega.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Apple store, Fry’s.

NETATMO URBAN WEATHER STATION

What is it? A wireless indoor/outdoor weather station that displays through an application on your Apple or Android mobile device.

There are two parts, one that lives in your house and one you place outside.

The indoor component plugs into the wall and monitors the temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, carbon dioxide level and even the sound level in decibels.

The outdoor module is battery-powered and measures temperature and humidity.

Once you connect the Netatmo to your home Wi-Fi network, you can download the free app and see your weather stats from anywhere.

Setup was easy enough, and you can set the app to notify you when carbon dioxide rises to levels that you should be warned about — which is great.

Who’s it for? Weather geeks and people who like to know what the temperature is without having to fire up a browser.

What does it cost? $179

Where can you get it? www.netatmo.com

3M LED ADVANCED LIGHT

What is it? 3M’s first foray into the home light bulb market is with the LED Advanced Light, which uses light-emitting diodes (LED) to produce 800 lumens (the light of a 60-watt bulb).

The Advanced Light has a life span of 25 years and costs just $1.63 per year if it’s turned on for three hours per day.

The bulb lights instantly and is dimmable.

It’s a little intimidating to start buying light bulbs that might outlive me, but my wallet approves.

Who’s it for? Anyone who wants to save money or wants a bulb that might not have to be changed until 2035.

What does it cost? $25

Where can you get it? Select Wal-Mart stores. For more information, go to www.3mlighting.com/LED.

STEM IZON 2.0 WI-FI VIDEO MONITOR

What is it? A small, wireless video camera that you can monitor remotely with an iOS device.

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Citizens leader criticize media coverage of firm’s problems

TALLAHASSEE --
Beleaguered by allegations of corporate misconduct and exorbitant executive spending, leaders at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. expressed outrage — at the media.

During a special hearing on Tuesday to address several corporate improprieties first reported by the Times/Herald, Citizens CEO Barry Gilway reserved some of his harshest criticism for news outlets that uncovered the laundry list of scandals at the state-run company.

“I am committed to making sure the reputations of innocent employees are appropriately protected,” said Gilway, claiming that reporters had defamed former Citizens employees accused of wrongdoing.

Gilway used words like “preposterous,” “absurd,” “pathetic,” and “shameful,” when discussing media coverage of the company’s internal troubles.

He defended his top officials — who have been beset by a laundry list of scandalous allegations in recent months, including questionable severance packages, sexual impropriety, and falsified documents.

The board largely voiced support of Gilway — who took the helm of the state-run insurer in June — and saved criticism for the media, the former CEO and a few “bad apple” employees.

In recent months, at least two top executives at Citizens have resigned and Gov. Rick Scott has called for two separate investigations into its top management.

Gilway stood by a claim that Citizens terminated internal investigators who discovered the misconduct as part of a company restructuring effort – not as retaliation for exposing the company’s dirty laundry.

Scott’s chief inspector general is looking into the terminations.

Gilway and board members acknowledged that Citizens needed to make some changes, and said the company is beginning to take “corrective action” to address the various scandals.

“We have a new day in this company,” said board chairman Carlos Lacasa. “And we will win back the credibility of the company in the eyes of the public.”

Lacasa also lashed out at the media, referring specifically to a recent editorial in the Palm Beach Post that branded Citizens a “corruption-ridden scam artist that threatens Florida’s economic recovery.”

Such media criticism of Citizens is “shameful” and “designed to incite the public,” he said.

Homeowners covered by Citizens have expressed outrage this year over the company’s unpopular home re-inspection program, an 11-percent rate hike and news that executives were spending upwards of $600 per night for luxury hotel rooms across the globe.

Scott’s inspector general is investigating such expenditures.

“The state of Florida gave them this blanket ability to pull in money from homeowners,” said Sharon Goessel, a 65-year-old from Palmetto Bay whose Citizens insurance rates are skyrocketing. “I want to be one of those executives at Citizens and go spend the night in a $580 hotel room.”

Sean Shaw, a former insurance consumer advocate who works for a law firm that represents insurance policyholders, blasted the board at Citizens and called for the resignation of top executives.

“Instead of spending time talking about fixing abuses of the public trust, the board seems more interested in blaming the media for finding out about it,” he said.

Some board members attacked Shaw, whose employer regularly battles Citizens in court, as someone who “has a direct financial stake” in seeing the company tarnished.

The board had less criticism for former employees and executives whose actions sullied Citizens’ reputation, including the underwriting executive who resigned after a sex scandal blew up and the Chief Administration Officer who resigned after several allegations of misconduct occurred within her unit.

Both received lucrative agreements worth tens of thousands of dollars after resigning, and Citizens helped the underwriting executive apply for unemployment compensation.

Gilway stopped short of criticizing the hefty severance agreements, but said a new policy will be drafted to clean up the process.

Citizens’ board also spent much of Tuesday’s meeting discussing the company’s preliminary budget for next year.

The company expects to shrink from about 1.5 million policies to 1.2 million policies by the end of 2013, advancing Gov. Rick Scott’s push to downsize the state-backed insurer.

“Unlike the private sector, that’s a good thing if we’re shrinking,” said Chief Financial Officer Sharon Binnun.

Toluse Olorunnipa can be reached at tolorunnipa@MiamiHerald.com or on Twitter at @ToluseO.

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Former Melrose Place Star Jailed

Former Melrose Place star Amy Locane-Bovenizer was convicted of vehicular homicide on Tuesday and later jailed when her bail was revoked, The Associated Press reports.

PICS: The Craziest Celeb Mugshots!

According to the AP, the actress, 40, did not testify at the trial and could face five to ten years in prison.

The conviction stems from a 2010 DWI arrest, where Locane-Bovenizer allegedly had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit when she collided with another vehicle in New Jersey. The accident resulted in the death of 60-year-old Helene Seeman, the AP reports.

Sentencing was reportedly scheduled for March 1.

"This is a sad day for the Seeman Family. There were no winners declared by the verdict. There are only losers," Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy said. "A husband lost his dear wife; his two children lost their mother; and Helene's mother lost her daughter. That loss can never be rectified by a verdict."

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Jeff Zucker set to join CNN as head of global news operations

Former NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker is set to sign on as the new boss of CNN’s global news operations, The Post has learned.

Zucker, 47, has been the lead candidate for one of the most important roles inside Time Warner since boss Jeff Bewkes began looking for a new leader to reinvent the flagging flagship news network.

While some minor details still have to be worked out and may still scuttle the deal, sources warned, it appeared that an announcement concerning the hiring of Zucker could be forthcoming in a matter of days.

“It’s been Jeff all along,” one source said late yesterday. “It was not a good fit at NBCUniversal, and he made some enemies, but this is a chance for him to refresh. It’s really good for him.”

Zucker is currently executive producer of the daytime show, “Katie,” featuring Katie Couric, the telegenic former co-host of “Today,” which Zucker oversaw for nearly two decades.

Zucker’s “Katie” obligation runs only to the end of the year, sources said, though any new gig, such as the CNN job, could be complicated by his part ownership in the syndicated show, which is distributed by Disney.

Zucker would replace current CNN boss, Jim Walton, who is leaving at the end of the year.

Also considered for the role were former ABC News boss David Westin, and former NBC News chief Neal Shapiro. Current NBC News boss Steve Capus is said to have been a front-runner, as well.

Zucker began his career as one of the youngest news producers in the business. He ran “Today” back in 1992 and went on to have a wider role at NBC News before ultimately winning control of the entertainment division and later becoming CEO of NBCUniversal.

But after more than a decade of success, Zucker’s career at NBCUniversal ended harshly and his reputation as having a talent for picking hit shows, was sullied.

A return to TV as head of CNN would present Zucker with a chance to write a comeback story — and ding NBC at the same time.

The executive exited when Comcast acquired 49 percent of the company almost two years ago.

CNN is a huge profit center for Time Warner around the globe — and is poised to have its most profitable year ever — but its poor performance in prime time in the US market has made it a cause for frequent embarrassment.

Both Fox News and MSNBC have taken share over the years, though CNN has steadfastly stuck to its middle-of-the-road take on all things political.

The Post, like Fox, is owned by News Corp.

CNN’s ad-revenue growth over the last two years is roughly 12 percent — the smallest increase of any of its rivals, including younger sibling Headline News, which saw ad revenue grow 20 percent in the period.

CNN is part of Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting division, which is run by Phil Kent. Several sources suggest Kent has been under huge pressure to find the right candidate. Kent had been concerned that Zucker might ultimately have his eye on the much bigger role overseeing all of Time Warner’s ad-supported cable channels.

A spokesman for Time Warner couldn’t immediately be reached after hours. Zucker did not respond for comment.

The Post first reported Zucker as a contender for the position in June 2012.

The ratings for Q3 2012:

•Primetime (Mon-Sun): 616,000 Total Viewers / 188,000 A25-54

•Total Day (Mon-Sun): 388,000 Total Viewers / 118,000 A25-54

In Total Day, the network is down 18 percent in Total Viewers and down 25 percent in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic.

In primetime, CNN is down 9 percent in total viewers and down 14 percent in the same demographic.

catkinson@nypost.com

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Shareholders approve sale of U.S. Century Bank

A majority of U.S. Century Bank’s shareholders approved the Doral bank’s proposed sale to C1 Bank of St. Petersburg late Tuesday during a meeting at Florida International University despite dissension from some stockholders, including those who have filed suit against the bank and some of its directors and officers.

According to the terms of the deal, the bank’s 441 shareholders will receive $2.5 million from the sale, or about 1.7 cents on the dollar, from $150.1 million U.S. Century raised from multiple offerings since it was founded 10 years ago.

The sale agreement, which required approval from holders of 51 percent of the shares, still requires approval from federal banking regulators. Seventy-four shareholders attended Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The deal to sell U.S. Century to C1, reached Aug. 30, includes a proposed, renegotiated $6.27 million repayment to the federal government of $50.2 million in TARP funds. The U.S. Treasury Department must approve the proposed TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) repayment. According to documents, the deal also includes up to $400,000 to be paid by C1 to regulators should U.S. Century be fined over Bank Secrecy Act violations found in its recent regulatory examination.

The bank has said the sale is expected to be completed by year-end.

A group of shareholders has filed a “derivative action” suit, which seeks to recover money from the bank that allegedly resulted from the wrongdoing of the bank’s directors and officers.

The suit was filed Nov. 13 in Miami-Dade Circuit Court by brothers Carlos R. Silva and Jorge E. Silva, both Coral Gables attorneys and founding shareholders, and last week was amended to include several additional shareholders — including Shoma Group head Masoud Shojaee — totaling more than $10 million in original investments, said Coral Gables attorney Gonzalo Dorta who represents the shareholders who filed the suit against the bank and some of its current and former officers and directors. Among the defendants are Telemundo executive Jose Cancela, homebuilder Sergio Pino — who formerly owned U.S. Century’s headquarters building, and public affairs businessman and lobbyist Rodney Barreto.

“I feel terrible,” Carlos Silva said after the meeting. He estimated the losses that he and his brother sustained at $400,000. “We all lost a lot of money.”

“This bank was basically run by a group of individuals like it was their personal bank to finance their speculative real estate construction activity at the expense of others,” Dorta said before Tuesday’s meeting.

U.S. Century said in a statement that the bank is in the process of reviewing the suit and is “not at liberty to discuss it further until we have completed the review process and consulted with our legal counsel.”

U.S. Century was founded by a group of prominent, largely Cuban-American investors, many of whom are local business leaders, real estate developers and attorneys.

Among the issues raised in the lawsuit, the bank acknowledges that it has made loans to current and former directors, and a third of its 24 branches are leased from current or former directors.

Current and former directors of the bank hold a significant portion of the bank’s shares, several sources said.

U.S. Century has been struggling since the real estate downturn and recession. Founded in 2002, U.S. Century is operating under a June 2011 regulatory consent order mandating it to boost capital, reduce its bad loans and return to profitability, among other requirements. Last year, it hired Japanese investment bank Nomura Securities to try to raise at least $150 million in private equity funds.

C1, privately owned by four investors, including two Brazilians, is proposing to inject $100 million of fresh capital into the combined bank.

The deal would give the growing C1 Bank 24 branches in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and nearly $1.2 billion in assets.

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Rilya case prosecutor’s license revoked

One of the lead prosecutors in the Rilya Wilson murder trial is temporarily off the case after the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office learned Monday that his Florida Bar license had lapsed..

Joshua Weintraub, who delivered the prosecution’s opening statement Monday, had his license revoked in August for failing to finish a required “continuing legal education” credit, according to the Bar website.

“Mr. Weintraub believed [the matter] had been resolved earlier this summer,” spokesman Ed Griffith said Monday. “Until he is reinstated by the Florida Bar, he will be suspended. We hope this matter is quickly resolved.”

Weintraub, a longtime prosecutor and Florida lawyer since 1990, and the office did not know of the lapse until a Miami Herald reader posted a comment about it on a web story about the case. He is trying the case with longtime prosecutor Sally Weintraub, his mother, and David Gilbert.

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$1,499 Gaming Laptop is Ready for Steam on Linux

Alternative, Linux-based operating systems like Ubuntu haven’t historically carried much weight with PC gamers. Very few PC games have been made for Linux, over the years, ever since the company that was porting AAA gaming titles to Linux (Loki Games) went bankrupt in 2001. And while it’s possible to use a “compatibility layer” such as Wine to run Windows PC games in Linux, the results are mixed at best and require a lot of technical tweaking, sometimes even in between updates.

Colorado-based indie PC hardware company System76, however, clearly expects that not only are there PC gamers on Linux out there, but that some of them are willing to pay $ 1,499 for a tricked-out gaming laptop — the 17.3-inch Bonobo Extreme. Like all of System76′s machines, it runs the Ubuntu flavor of Linux; and its actual price tag is $ 1,599, but it’s gotten a $ 100 discount for the holidays.

Is it ahead of its time, like the Loki Games ports? Or has the time come for a new age of Linux gaming? For whatever reason, Valve — the creators of the Steam social gaming service — seems to think the latter.

​The hardware

The 17.3-inch screen is full 1080p, with a 1920×1080 resolution. Pretty much every spec starts out at “high end” and maxes out at “over the top”; it comes standard with an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 500 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive, with a second drive bay and the option to swap the DVD burner out for a third storage disk. All three have the option of going up to a 512 GB Crucial solid state disk, or a 480 GB Intel SSD.

Gaming graphics are powered by an nVidia GeForce GTX 670MX, with 3 GB of memory. An extra $ 340 will get you a GTX 680M with 4 GB of memory. All told, with every possible hardware upgrade the Bonobo Extreme maxes out at an “extreme” $ 4,333 … and the Alienware-style, multicolored light-up keyboard is included for free.

​But what about the games?

Valve’s Linux Steam client is currently in beta, with another 5,000 testers added over the Thanksgiving holiday. About two dozen games are already available for purchase, including Valve’s free-to-play multiplayer online shooter Team Fortress 2 and a selection of games from previous Humble Indie Bundles.

The HIB previously became famous not just for having nearly all of its games support Linux, but for posting public sales figures online, and showing that a good-sized chunk of each bundle’s sales were for Linux gamers. Efforts such as this helped to convince Valve that supporting Linux would be worthwhile … and also seem to have reached someone at System76.

Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.
Linux/Open Source News Headlines – Yahoo! News

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Ryan Guzman 'Steps Up' to the Plate as Dancer

Ryan Guzman had some pretty hefty dance shoes to fill as the lead of Step Up Revolution. Without any formal dance training, the model and MMA fighter joined a cast of professional dancers, including many So You Think You Can Dance alums.

Producer Adam Shankman sure was fooled at the rookie actor's try-out. "We didn't know he was a non-dancer," he says blindsided. "He lied. He danced really well in the audition."

The rhythmic cast got the newbie up to speed in no time. "They're so open and inviting. They're willing to teach me and spread their art form," Ryan tells ETonline. "There was no lack of chemistry [with Kathryn McCormick]."

Newly minted People's Sexiest Man Alive Channing Tatum met his now-wife Jenna Dewan when they co-starred in the first Step Up film, but Ryan stuck to the scripted romance with Kathryn. In real-life, he's still single. Of his predecessor's honor, he acknowledges Channing is "a very sexy man. He's got good looks and I think People got it right."

VIDEO: Is Ryan Guzman The Next Big Actor?

Ryan would be open to bringing his own sexy back to the big screen if approached to star in 50 Shades of Grey. "I'd love to go after it," he admits. "I've seen the character description. I've read some of the book. It's definitely not really me, but that's what's fun about it. Get a little naughty, get a little dirty."

Step Up Revolution diverted off course from the battling featured in previous installments of the ever-growing franchise and instead focused on the flash mob dance craze that has gone viral as an internet sensation. The flash mobs in the film were used as protest art, showcasing the culture of a Miami community that might be torn down for a construction development project. "It was strange to coincide with the whole Occupy movement," Adam tells ETonline. "Made it relevant. Happy accident."

VIDEO: Inside Ryan Guzman's Birthday Bash

One thing that has stayed consistent throughout all Step Up films is they all promise and deliver elaborate dance numbers. "When you have dancers that are that talented and that precise, you don't need as [many takes]," Adam boasts. "They give it to you pretty much every time. The movie is extremely well rehearsed."

Both Ryan and Adam agree that the Step Up Revolution DVD and Blu-ray, out November 27, makes a great stocking stuffer and can be enjoyed with the entire family this holiday season. Watch an exclusive bonus clip above.

VIDEO: Ryan Guzman 'Steps Up' to Surprise Fans at Theater

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Queens baby in serious condition after traffic accident

A Queens baby was fighting for her life tonight after being tossed from the back seat of a minivan as it slammed into a car owned by a local driving school, relatives and cops said.

The child — wearing a pink snowsuit and wrapped in a blanket — was not in a car seat and flew into the front dashboard when the two cars collided near the intersection of 102nd Street and 91st Avenue in Woodhaven, witnesses said.

The child, identified by an aunt as 14-month old Gianna Gonzalez, was in serious condition at Long Island Jewish Hospital.

Gianna had been in the van with her grandmother and the driver, family friend Jose Santiago, 67, her relatives said.

“I heard the impact. I saw the baby on the ground, and the grandmother was shaking her and screaming in Spanish, `The baby! The baby!’ ” said witness Kim Minerva.

“The baby was limp. She wasn’t moving or crying. There was no car seat.”

Cops arrived, put the child in the back of a squad car and started CPR.

“They were working pretty hard on her, trying to keep her alive,” Minvera said.

Using their own car, police rushed little Gianna to Jamaica Hospital in serious condition. She was later transferred to North Shore LIJ.

Santiago’s green minivan had crashed into the side of a black Honda, owned by D & E Driving School, shortly before 2 p.m., officials said.

The impact shattered the smaller car’s passenger window and pinned driving instructor Jahirul Islam inside, according to bystanders.

Driving-school owner Injoy Islam, no relation to the driver, ran to the crash site.

“Once I saw the child did not have a [car] seat, I just knew the child had to be very injured,” Islam said. “Those injuries are very bad. We are just hoping the baby is OK. ”

It was not immediately clear who had the right of way.

“I had the green light,” said Jahirul Islam, who has been a certified New York state driving instructor for 23 years.

“I’ve never hit anybody. I’ve never had a speeding ticket or a ticket from running a red light. I’m a safe driver,” Islam said. “I just hope the baby is OK. They had no baby seat, no nothing.”

Santiago claims Islam ran the light.

“He ran the red light. He drove so slow through it, that’s why I didn’t think he was going to run it,” said Santiago. “If he was speeding, I would have stopped.

“I was just doing them a favor” by driving, Santiago said of his tiny passenger and her grandmother. “The baby was unconscious. I just want to know if the baby is OK.”

Sources said Islam passed a Breathalyzer test; it was unclear whether Santiago was tested.

Santiago was issued a summons for not having a child in a car seat.

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Shoppers welcome holiday sales by buying early, often — and online

Shoppers swooped into stores in droves on Thanksgiving weekend, topping last year’s sales, as more retailers opened their doors earlier than ever on Thursday, luring bargain hunters away from eating another plate of turkey.

And now Cyber Monday is expected to set a record for online shopping this year, for those who prefer the Internet to the mall.

Spending per shopper nationwide averaged $423 — $25 more than last year — from Thursday to Sunday, while total spending increased nearly 13 percent, to an estimated $59.1 billion, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

“I think the only way to describe the Thanksgiving openings is to call it a huge win,” said Matthew Shay, the trade group’s president and chief executive. Shopping, he said, “has really become an extension of the day’s festivities.”

South Florida was no exception, as a flurry of stores, as well as several malls, opened on Thanksgiving. Thursday has seemingly become the new Black Thursday, taking a bite out of the old-fashioned kickoff day of the holiday, Black Friday.

“We had an excellent weekend,” said Humberto Maldonado, director of marketing for Dadeland Mall, which opened at midnight on Thursday. Sales figures are not yet in, but the overall trend was up from last year, he said Monday.

“It was really busy from midnight to 5 a.m., then it slowed, and picked up again at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m., and stayed busy all day on Friday,” Maldonado said.

Nationwide, about 35 million people visited stores and shopping websites Thursday, up from 29 million last year. More than double that number — 89 million, up from 86 million — shopped on Black Friday.

“There were more people shopping every single day of the weekend,” Shay said.

Topping off the weekend, Cyber Monday’s early results, tabulated at 3 p.m. Monday, showed that online shopping was up a whopping 25.6 percent compared with the same time period a year ago, according to figures by IBM Benchmark.

Nationwide, most of the weekend’s shoppers — roughly 58 percent — bought clothing and accessories. Another 38 percent bought electronics and 35 percent shelled out for toys, National Retail Federation figures show.

Retailers made an effort to lure people in, with updated mobile shopping applications for smartphones and tablets, and expanded shipping and layaway options.

Still, it remains to be seen whether increased sales over the Thanksgiving weekend will translate to higher sales throughout the holiday shopping season. Analysts have been predicting mediocre sales this year, nationwide, as shoppers remain uncertain about the broader economy. Overall holiday sales are expected to increase 4.1 percent from 2011, compared with sales growth of 5.6 percent last year, the National Retail Federation said.

However, Florida is expected to beat those figures. Buoyed in large part by tourists and snowbirds, the Florida Retail Federation is forecasting a 5.3 percent gain this year over last, to $58 billion, marking the highest percentage growth predicted since the recession. Pre-recession, retail sales peaked at $54.3 billion in 2006.

Christian Cutillo, 26, of Weston, hit Walmart, then Sears, Target and Old Navy after eating Thanksgiving dinner.

She began at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and by 3 a.m. Friday she had finished shopping for all 15 people on her list, mostly buying clothing and toys.

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