China Moves to Cool Korean Tensions

                BEIJING—China engaged in high-level diplomacy to try to cool tensions on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. and South Korea on Sunday started a naval drill that has prompted dire warnings of reprisals from North Korea.

                   Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday and said China "opposed any acts that harmed the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," China's state news agency Xinhua said.

                  Mr. Dai said China "has consistently committed itself to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as promotion for dialogue," and the two sides agreed in the talks to further develop bilateral ties, Xinhua said.

                A U.S. aircraft-carrier battle group started large-scale exercises with the South Korean navy in the Yellow Sea Sunday morning, in a show of strength five days after a North Korean artillery attack on a small South Korean island that killed four people. North Korea has condemned the naval drills and warned that if they go ahead, "no one can predict the ensuing consequences."

                 Mr. Dai arrived in Seoul on Saturday and discussed the situation on the peninsula with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, China's Foreign Ministry said.Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean-peninsula affairs, also visited the country, South Korea's foreign ministry said.


               Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also discussed the situation by phone Saturday with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the ministry said.Mr. Yang said "all sides should exert effort together, push for the situation to cool down as quickly as possible, and earnestly avoid conflict happening again," the ministry said.

                 He also said he "hopes all sides involved will take a rational and practical attitude, and actively create conditions for resumption of the six-party talks" on North Korea's nuclear program, the ministry said.
Mr. Yang on Friday also met with the North Korean ambassador to China and spoke by phone with South Korea's Mr. Kim and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

              Choe Tae Bok, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, will visit China from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 at Mr. Wu's invitation, Xinhua said Sunday.

             China on Friday protested the U.S.-South Korean naval drill. "We oppose any party to take any military actions in our exclusive economic zone without permission," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. China's stance appeared firmer in July, when officials said they opposed any military exercises in the entire Yellow Sea.

              The Global Times, a generally nationalistic Chinese newspaper, said "the Chinese people oppose the U.S. aircraft carrier entering the Yellow Sea, and this opposition is resolute and definitely will not just be oral."
"Judging from the current situation, the act by [South Korea and the U.S.] to fully enhance their military alliance will not help ease the hostile sentiment between North Korea and South Korea, and instead it will only further intensify the tense situation on the Korea peninsula," Xinhua said Sunday.

Walmart's Cyber Week of Savings 2010

              Walmart is launching Cyber Monday savings early this year, offering six days of sale prices beginning on Sunday and ending on Friday Dec 3rd. More than 150 holiday gifts and other items are available online, while supplies last.

             Walmart’s Cyber Week event will give families amazing offers on a wide assortment of holiday gifts from electronics, toys and video games to home furnishings, apparel, beauty products and personalized items with new savings added daily.

               Walmart, being the largest department store in the country has been letting everyone feel the great Holiday sale during their Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals. They are not yet done folks, here is their Cyber Monday which is actually happening not only for Monday but for the entire week! They are calling it Cyber Week. 

               Walmart's Cyber Week sale will include discounts on electronics, toys, video games, home furnishings at Walmart.com beginning on Sunday, November 28 through Friday, December 3. Go ahead and check Walmart.com and begin to scout all the items that you want to buy.

Willie Nelson Arrested Near El Paso

                 Willie Nelson Arrested – The legendary country music singer known as Willie Nelson was arrested yesterday morning by the Border Police of Sierra Blanca, in the state of Texas for marijuana possession again.

                 The 77 year old musician who is currently on another U.S. tour had just left California with his tour bus to perform in Austin, when his vehicle was stopped and searched by the authorities.

               The police discovered more than six ounces of marijuana conspicuously hidden inside the bus!
Willie Nelson and three members of his entourage were arrested for illegally possessing marijuana but were quickly released after paying their bail of 2,500 dollars.

              Mickey Raphael, Nelson's longtime harmonica player, spoke with Rolling Stone magazine regarding the incident and Nelson's release, telling the magazine that "he said he feels great -- he lost six ounces."
"It's kind of surprising, but I mean we treat him like anybody else," West told the El Paso Times. "He could get 180 days in county jail, which if he does, I'm going to make him cook and clean. He can wear the stripy uniforms just like the other ones do."

                   At the time Nelson was traveling from California to his ranch in Austin, Texas. Because he was released, it is not expected that the arrest would affect his tour, which continues with a concert in Thackerville, Okla., tonight.
                      Elaine Schock, Nelson's spokeswoman, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.Nelson, a staunch advocate of decriminalization of marijuana, has had his share of drug-related brushes with the law.
                     In Louisiana in 2006, 1.5 pounds of marijuana and three ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found on his bus. Nelson pleaded guilty in that case and each was sentenced to a $1,024 fine and six months probation.

                   Back in 1995 Nelson was also arrested in Waco, Texas, and police officers said they saw a joint in his car's ashtray. Nelson had pulled off the road to sleep after an all night poker game. At the time he also confessed that there was small amount of marijuana on the car's floorboard.