KitchenAid apologizes for anti-Obama tweet during presidential debate, the most-tweeted event in US political history, which saw Mitt Romney gain the upper hand on Barack Obama. Romney's anti-PBS comment on Big Bird also took over social media, while "Walmart mom" is the new soccer mom. The campaigns, judged the most negative in recent times, inspire JetBlue to offer chance to pull an Alec Baldwin and leave the country after election result.

HP warns about grim outlook, sending shares to lowest level in almost a decade.

Facebook passes one billion users with plans to charge to promote user posts, while Twitter measures brand impact with Nielsen.

Amazon now offers loans to small businesses.

American Airlines pulls 47 jets after loose-seat debacle as image suffers.

Apple rumors of smaller iPad persist as the #2 Best Global Brand earns kudos for admitting maps screw-up.Continue reading...

ANZ Bank to cut 1,000 jobs as Australia's financial sector aims to correct slump.

Arby's plans brand refresh for third quarter.

Avon bribery-case evidence goes to grand jury, Wall Street Journal says.

Boeing eyes stretched, high-capacity 787.

Dunkin' Brands plans to double U.S. units in 20 years.

Groupon defends its accounting methods.

JetBlue plane wears Boston Red Sox colors.

Kodak runs into opposition over Kodak Theatre naming rights in Los Angeles.Continue reading...

American Airlines parent AMR plans to cut 13,000 jobs and pensions.

Apple's iPhone 5 may be coming in June.

Benetton family plans to take retailer private.

Deutsche Bank profit tumbles on European debt crisis.

Facebook sets stage for historic IPO as valuation game begins.

GM cancels half of upfront ad commitments in cost-cutting move.

Google responds to Microsoft criticism of privacy policies.Continue reading...

Old Navy's sense of humor has gotten a lot sharper since its days giggling about passive-aggressive mannequins. In several viral videos that don't even mention Old Navy at all, the HQ of things with cargo pockets takes, and lands, a few shots at conventional fashion.

Better yet are the comments, proving a few people didn't get the memo.Continue reading...

Asos sets sights on male fashion lovers.

Atari plots its comeback.

Au Bon Pain unveils new redesign.

Avaya plans to go public again.

Benetton readies image overhaul.

Blue Shield of California will cap earnings.

Borders finds another potential bidder.Continue reading...

Consumer Reports 2010 "naughty and nice" list of brands' holiday policies takes a dim view of gouging customers.

For retail returns, Best Buy's measly 14-day limit earns the electronics chain a black mark, while J&R's price-matching (even post-sale) policy puts it on the nice list. Similarly, Wal-Mart's generous return policy gets a check mark, while CompUSA's restocking fees earn a demerit.

Mobile shoppers, meanwhile, are warned to read the fine print.Continue reading...

Airstream pitches younger, creative affluents on RV-ing.

Apple is wooing publishers to develop iPad versions of their titles.

ARM, a British semiconductor firm, holds a command position in the crucial technology of low-power chips.

Barnes & Noble’s takeover struggle centers on e-books.

BP finally seals the well in the Gulf of Mexico, but the effects of the disaster will linger for years.

California Pizza Kitchen tests technology that allows patrons to pay their tabs from their tables.Continue reading...

Pizza Hut viral dance craze sweeps South Korea, wooing teens with with in Seoul. (above)

OkCupid dating site breaks down attractiveness of users based on camera and mobile phone brands: Panasonic > Canon > Nikon.

Denny's joins the ridiculous sandwich wars with a Cheese stick sandwich.

New York City transit authority relents and accepts ads referencing 9/11 (more background here).

McDonald's french fry ad crosses over, literally.

Playboy's iPad app disappoints with no-nudity policy (that's right: Hef's keeping the smoking jacket on).Continue reading...