It's that time again when the stores will be crowded with thousands of consumers all vying for the same toy, special sweater, hottest electronic device. How do you plan to purchase it?

The current crumbling economy has sparked interest in a form of retail purchasing that became popular in the early 1900s, that of Lay Away. How does it work? It's simple. You, the consumer would like to buy something but don't have the money. All you do is make installment payments on the merchandise. The merchant stocks your item away until your last payment. You receive it once your tab is paid in full. Of course this is different than a credit card purchase which allows you to take home your intended product and make payments while using it.

KFC isn't the only game in town offering cheap eats. Now through Monday, Nov. 1, you can stop by your neighborhood Boston Market and get an entire MEAL for $1. You read it right, $1 MEAL! Click this link to download your free coupon for the $1 Boston Market chicken meal coupons. Only one coupon can be redeemed per person, per visit.

Coupons are good for a quarter chicken, mashed potatoes and corn bread. Don't miss out on this great deal. You'll also find other valuable coupons on the Boston Market site valid until Nov. 25. But none like the $1 deal!

'Series E' war bonds are at the center of the Treasury Department unclaimed bonds lawsuit., which claims there are $16 billion in unclaimed bonds. -- Associated Content

These unclaimed series E bonds date back as far as WWII, 1941 - 1980. While these are no longer available for purchase, they have been superseded by the series EE bonds.

Interestingly, the push to purchase series E bonds, also known as war bonds was one of a patriotic nature of sorts as many Americans bought bonds to raise financial support to the government. What has happened is that since they were purchased, many have not been cashed in. The bonds, which acted as mini loans from the bondholders to the government, were supposed to come due in 40 years. Americans purchased more than $180 billion worth of US bonds over the years, but more than $1.6 billion have yet to be paid after they came due. Why? The world wide web and electronic purchasing was yet to come and these bonds were issued in paper form, which have either been lost or those who bought them have unfortunately passed away.

o magazine, sarah silverman, Forbes has theirs, why shouldn't the most powerful media maven in the world have hers? In the September 2009 issue of 'O' the magazine, Oprah Winfrey names 20 of some of the most powerful contemporary and legendary women in her first-ever Power List. There is no chronological ranking. This is an opportunity to celebrate some of the well-known as well as unsung heroes who inspire, educate and advocate in various arenas.

The full list of honorees includes: Venus Williams, Sarah Silverman, Anna Deavere Smith, Donna Brazile, Mayda del Valle, Terry Tempest Williams, Lauren Ambrose, Pema Chodron, Lateefah Simon, Shirley Ann Jackson, Dambisa Moyo, General Anne E. Dunwoody, Kara Walker, Sheila Bair, Mary Gaitskill, Cleopatra (YES, Queen of Egypt of yesteryear), Michelle Rhee, Lilly Ledbetter, Anne Mulcahy, Melanie Sloan. -- O, The Oprah Magazine


Black Voices chose a few notables from that list to highlight.