At a near-empty B&Q home improvement outlet in Beijing, much of the foot traffic is due to the location of a public toilet next to the entrance -- not the store's patio furniture or circular saws.It's a sign of how foreign "do-it-yourself" big-box chains have struggled to attract customers in China, where homeowners have little…

Streamlined ratemaking could fundamentally rewrite the regulatory compact,” warns Jeff Pollock, president of J.Pollock, Inc.“Without proper protections and oversight, regulated utilities can raise rates even though they are not experiencing higher per-unit costs.Consumers need to make sure that such mechanisms, if appropriate, use proper ratemaking practices and do not force consumers to bear risks that…

Is this the curse of the Spider-Woman?T.V. Carpio, who stepped in to replace another actress injured in Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," has now herself been sidelined after an accident on stage.Producers of the $65 million musical said Tuesday that Carpio was hurt March 16 during a battle scene with an actor. Details on…

s disastrous Trump Roast stand-up act, “Jersey Shore” star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is coming to D.C., and perhaps he’ll even talk politics.The Situation, who delivered a heavily booed performance at last week’s Comedy Central event for conservative billionaire Donald Trump, is not the first “Jersey Shore” cast member to venture to the nation’s capital.…

height:267px;" width="443"/>I’m the first to admit that the term “” gets thrown around a lot in media and marketing, but that doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on the bursting-with-nourishment, lovely, potent, and delicious foods that fall under the moniker. Especially when these foods are known to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart…

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Nordstrom Inc (JWN.N) reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit as sales surged over the holidays, and forecast higher profit and sales for its new fiscal year.Nordstrom said it expected same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, to rise 2 to 4 percent in fiscal 2011 and forecast earnings of…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iranian leaders have resumed closed-door debates over the last four years about whether to build a nuclear bomb.But a recent update to a controversial 2007 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear ambitions also says its leaders have not decided about going ahead with an atomic weapon, according…

NEWARK, N.J. – A little more than a week after spraining his right knee, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur has started skating again.Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said Brodeur skated on his own Tuesday at the Prudential Center. The 38-year-old goaltender hopes to skate again Wednesday, if his knee feels OK."He was on the ice…

JUPITER, Fla. – The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal, making it likely the three-time MVP will test the free-agent market after the season."We are greatly disappointed at this outcome," Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said at a news conference.…

WASHINGTON – Lawyers for the man convicted of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy are asking for a new trial by claiming juror misconduct and an inappropriate closing argument by prosecutors.Lawyers for Ingmar Guandique filed the motion for a new trial Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court. The filing says that one juror improperly used the notes…