TODAY: HOW COUPLES WORK TO BALANCE WEDDING PLANS, FOOTBALL SEASON | 1E
NO RHODES FOR MCELROY
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TUSCALOOSA, NORTHPORT, WEST ALABAMA
WEST ALABAMA | 1B
Tuscaloosa celebrates national honor
IN TODAY’S PAPER
COUPONS WORTH $
291
In most areas
S U N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 21 , 2010 $1.50
Crimson Friday,
Obama’s goal is to end Afghan combat by ’14
Black Saturday Retailers hope Iron Bowl boosts post-Thanksgiving sales in area over weekend
By Robert Burns and Julie Pace The Associated Press
LISBON, PORTUGAL | President Barack Obama on Saturday said for the first time he wants U.S. troops out of major combat in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the date he and other NATO leaders set for moving Afghans into the lead role in fighting the Taliban. Allies had different interpretations of that target’s meaning. Capping a two-day summit of 28 NATO leaders in Lisbon, Obama said that after a series of public disputes with Afghan President Hamid Karzai — and despite the likelihood of more to come — the U.S. and its NATO partners have aligned their aims for stabilizing the country with Karzai’s eagerness to assume full control. “My goal is to make sure that by 2014 we have transitioned, Afghans are in the lead and it is a goal to make sure that we are not still engaged in combat operations of the sort we’re involved in now,” Obama told a closing news conference. For some U.S. allies, 2014 is more than a goal when it comes to shifting their troops from a combat role. “There will not be British troops in large numbers and they won’t be in a combat role” by 2015, British Prime Minister David Cameron said. But he added, however, Britain has no intention of abandoning Afghanistan SEE COMBAT | 7A
By Patrick Rupinski Staff Writer
T
ens of thousands of shoppers are expected to hit Tuscaloosa stores — many before sunrise — on Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season and one of the biggest shopping days of the year. But this year, “Black Friday,” the shopping day after Thanksgiving, will have an added dimension with the Iron Bowl being played in town. “This is the first time that we will have this experience,” said Johnnie Aycock, president of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. More than 100,000 people are expected to fill Bryant-Denny Stadium on Friday afternoon for the Alabama-Auburn match-up, one of college football’s biggest rivalries. That means tens of thousands of visitors will be in town when the Crimson Tide takes on the Tigers. But the big question is how many of them also will hit the stores while here. “We will have 100,000 extra people in town who are potential shoppers,” Aycock said. “And a good number of local people don’t go to the game, so they will be shopping, too.” Aycock said he thinks retailers will have a good weekend. Many shoppers will take advantage of Black Friday’s door-buster sales that start in the predawn hours. Although shopping is apt to wane during the football game, it is expected to pick up afterward, SEE SHOP | 6A
Pope: Condoms may signal ‘moral responsibility’ By Nicole Winfield and Frances D’emilio
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BLACK FRIDAY MEMORY?
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY | Pope Benedict XVI has opened the door on the previously taboo subject of condoms as a way to fight HIV, saying male prostitutes who use condoms may be beginning to act responsibly. It’s a stunning comment for a pontiff who has blamed condoms for making the AIDS crisis worse. The pope made the comments in an interview with a German journalist published as a book titled “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times,” which is being released Tuesday. The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano ran excerpts on Saturday. Church teaching has long opposed condoms because they are a form of artificial contraception, although the Vatican has never released an explicit policy about condoms and HIV. The Vatican has been harshly criticized for its position. Benedict said that condoms are not a moral solution to stopping AIDS. But he said in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, their use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.” Benedict made the comment in response to a question about Africa, where heterosexual HIV spread is rampant. He used as a specific example male prostitutes, for whom SEE POPE | 7A
You either love it or hate it, but if you have experienced shopping on Black Friday, you will never forget it. If you have a favorite Black Friday story, tell us about it. It can be humorous or poignant, adventurous or trying. Maybe it is about standing in the cold before dawn for a door-buster sale and the people you met, or it could be the strategy you used to get that perfect gift at that perfect price. Send your Black Friday story to patrick. rupinski@tuscaloosanews.com by noon Tuesday. Please put “Black Friday” in the subject line. We will publish some of the stories in The Tuscaloosa News on Thanksgiving Day.
How do you think the Iron Bowl will affect Black Friday shopping? Visit www. tuscaloosanews.com and vote in our Web poll. STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
BLACK FRIDAY TIPS: WISE WAYS TO SHOP BUSINESS Sale of children’s consignment items booming. | 1D SPORTS Alabama men’s basketball team falls to Iowa at Paradise Jam tournament. | 1C High 75 Low 53
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INSIDE: VOL. 192 NO. 325 | 8 Sections
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Bridge 9F Business 1D Classifieds 1F Crossword 3E Dear Abby 2E Horoscope 2E
Ideas & Issues 4D Lend A Hand 15B Movies 14B Outdoors 7C Television 1H Today 1E
COMPARE PRICES
One store’s door-buster sales item might mean savings over its regular price, but another merchant might offer the same item for less. Remember that many retailers, especially discount stores, often sell merchandise for less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
GIFT CARDS HAVE A DOWNSIDE
An October 2009 survey by Consumer Reports found about 25 percent of recipients had not used the cards within the year they received them. Fees are sometimes charged if cards have not been used within a year and some might never be used. Some gift cards also carry a fee at the time of purchase. Gift cards also offer no protection if the card’s merchant goes bankrupt.
RETHINK EXTENDED WARRANTIES
ties that cover many repairs. And Consumer ReSHOP CAREFULLY ports said its research shows products seldom Check newspaper ads and circulars, coupons, break during the extended warranty period and catalogs and the Internet for the best prices. If if they do, the repair cost will be about the same you find a deal online, check shipping costs beas the extended warranty. fore you buy. Once you have purchased a gift for someone, cross them off your list. Avoid READ RETURN POLICIES adding last-minute impulse items. Merchants are free to set their own return policies and can even have no-return policies. MAKE CONCESSIONS Some may have a restocking fee on returns To maintain your budget, you may have to while others might require that packages be cut down your list of gift recipients. Be selective unopened if returned. Keep receipts. about which parties you will attend. Consider the costs of gift wrap. Try creating an online STICK TO A BUDGET card with a family photo that you can e-mail. Make a list of all expected holiday expenses, including gifts, decorations, entertaining, new LOOK TOWARD NEXT YEAR clothes and travel expenses. Consider picking up deals on known expenses like wrapping paper on Dec. 26. Establish a MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE savings account that you regularly contribute List everyone for whom you plan to buy gifts. Ask yourself if you need to buy for everyone or if to throughout the year.
These are money makers for retailers, but Consumer Reports calls them a bad deal for a card or other gesture, such as baking muffins, consumers. Many products come with warran- would suffice.
Source: Consumer Reports and the National Endowment for Financial Education