I mean, sure, maybe you're really into challenges and want to win so you become more efficient while having fun and it's all win-win. But boy, this sure does seem like a great way for Target to bully and shame its employees into working as fast as humanly possible. Remember, cashiers: the gamemaster is always watching. And if you lose the game, you lose your job. [Dennis Crowley via Kottke]

In addition to storing money, each card can wirelessly control a tiny Christmas mouse inside a shopping cart. The mouse comes free with the purchase of each gift card, but it appears that the minimum value that can be placed on it is set at $25. Target isn't my holiday shopping store of choice, but I can see the appeal of getting one of these in that McDonald's Happy Meal toy sort of way. [Target via Chip Chick via OhGizmo]

When the police arrived, the man, identified as Jerome Charles Eberle, ran through the store while swinging the hammer at the officers. Eventually, they brought him down with a Taser. Eberle claims that he only remembers parts of the incident inside Target, and he is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation. And you thought retail Frankenstein attacks would only happen on Black Friday. [MyFox9 via Fark Image via Flickr]

You can check out the raw material in the leaked documents below, but here is the most interesting stuff to me:

• The Sam's Club document includes the Verizon Motorola Sholes (also been rumored to be called the Droid or Tao). From the tiny picture, the Android phone seems to have a front-facing camera. We already know a good deal of the rest of the specs. Say it is so: Verizon is finally going to get some 'droid!
• The Verizon BlackBerry Storm 2 is finally on its way to Sam's Club, Target and Best Buy. It will be joined BlackBerry Curve 2 or LG Chocolate Touch.
• Don't forget yesterday's Best Buy leaks: the Nokia Booklet 3G netbook is listed and launching on October 25 with the option of AT&T activation. The retailer will also have the Palm Pixi and plans to have "new BlackBerry devices across multiple carriers."

That could be all the exciting holiday phone news we see and not to mention lots of them will be able to run full Flash! Not a bad way to start off the week. [Boy Genius Report]

And dear god, lady, have you not heard of Bittorrent? The cherry on top is that she was also charged with assault and battery. Pretty hard to put a fight up with that many movies in your panties, but I suppose it would nullify all hits below the belt. [newsok via Obscurestore]

You may laugh while pointing to your 50" plasma, but I know a lot of people for whom a 19-inch HDTV would be the perfect bedroom complement, especially here in NYC, land of the hovel.

Also, maybe we were hallucinating, but my girlfriend and I thought we saw another sub-$200 19-incher pop up in Best Buy's ad a few Sundays ago. Both BB and Walmart have been floating around the low $200s for a while, but has anybody seen any more 19-inch HD sets for under two Franklins? Drop some links in the comments if so.

While both companies saw explosive growth from when they were founded (both in 1962) until just a few months ago, when the retail sector imploded, the way in which they expanded was markedly different.

Whereas Wal-Mart spread from a central point like your traditional virus, Target was more like a metastasizing cancer, beginning in the central U.S., like Wal-Mart, and then popping up in targets of opportunity wherever there was good business.

And now, just like Wal-Mart, they to have a Gizmodo writer comparing their stores to something terrible that can invade the human body. Victory! [FlowingData]

Note: Don't take it seriously. It's just a funny image I thought I'd pass along.

Besides, there is only a few days left until Christmas and chances are you still have not completed all of your holiday shopping yet. If you are desperate for a last-minute deal, the players should be available at Target starting on Sunday for a limited time.

My picks:

- Super Mario Bros. DS package: $150
- Garmin nuvi 200W GPS: $120
- Westinghouse 26" HDTV: $300
- Guitar Hero World Tour (Guitar Kit) for Wii: $60
- and of course, the Hello Kitty Hide 'N Fun Elite Indoor Play Tent is on sale for only $14 (!!!!) [GottaDeal, thanks Carrie!]

Update: Ben Johnson tells us that even the tips supplied don't match the ones on the box. You get no generic USB or Samsung Blackjack, but you do get an iPhone connector (not 3G-compliant).

Clearly there's plenty of cash to go around for said consultants: Best Buy reported $43 million dollars a few Christmases ago from unused gift cards. For that kind of dough, I want to see a gift card do a little bit more than poorly reproduce my 96kbps MP3s; In the gift card Battlemodo that appears to be taking shape, Target's 1.2MP camera with included USB cord and voucher for 40 free digital prints is still in the lead. Who will be the next challenger? [Best Buy - Thank you, Oscar!]

The quality might sound bad, but it's probably on par with most camera phones. The hardware features a 1.2MP sensor with 8MB of onboard storage holding 50 pictures. If the camera itself sounds useless, realize that it comes bundled with a USB cord, driver disk, instruction manual and a voucher for 40 free prints at Target. The USB cord alone and voucher alone might be worth the hassle, even if you don't plan on ever using the camera.

Running on two AAA batteries (that's how they get you!) the digital camera gift certificates will be available at no additional charge (unless ordered online) in denominations ranging from $50 to $1000. Those giving gifts in excess of $100 might consider a name brand digital camera instead. [Target via gamertell and Coolest Gadgets]

Target also goes the Iron Man trophy head route, though it just has the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition, in both DVD and Blu flavors, inside.

FYE and Suncoast deliver the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition in a superclassy steelbook case that I really, really like.

Walmart waltzes in with not one, but two exclusives, though only the first one matters to you: Ultimate 2-Disc edition with an exclusive Nick Fury comic. The other packs the first ep of the Iron Man animated series in with the single disc edition of the movie.

Costco's gift set throws in a bobblehead of each Iron Man suit from the movie. Feh for bobbleheads.

Borders rolls with a collectible book loaded with sketches and the top 24 Iron Man comic covers.

Circuit City gives you access to some exclusive Marvel Digital comics, snore.

Kmart and Sears are knocking five bucks off the Ultimate Edition if you buy $25 in Craftsman tools. I'm...not really sure what's going on there either.

Which version are you going to pluck from this overloaded orgy of marketing? This "exclusive" crap—and most of it is crap—has really gotten out of hand. Update Best Buy is just selling the bust, the DVDs aren't in it, as some of you guys pointed out.

On September 30th, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the critically acclaimed box office smash IRON MAN: 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION on DVD and Blu-ray!

With this release comes EIGHT fantastic retail exclusives! Below, you will find details and article work on these eight exciting, exclusive offers!

Here are the details for these Eight Exciting Retail Exclusives:

**Circuit City - Access to exclusive Marvel Digital Comics featuring the artwork of Adi Granov.

**Best Buy - Custom Lithograph created by Marvel artist Gerald Parel.

**Target - Target Deluxe Edition includes exclusive Mark III mask packaging. Available on both the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition and 2-Disc Blu-ray.

**Costco - Giftset includes the Ultimate 2 Disc Edition DVD and 3 Iron Man Bobbleheads, with all 3 Iron Man suits from the film. Giftset includes the "Battle Damaged Mark II", available exclusively in this giftset at Costco.

**Walmart - Two exclusive SKUs. Ultimate 2 Disc Edition packed with an exclusive comic book chronicling the Nick Fury story. The single disc giftset is packed with the 1st episode of the new Iron Man animated series.

**Kmart & Sears - Save $5 on the Ultimate 2 Disc edition with any $25 Craftsman purchase.

**Trans World - FYE and Suncoast Exclusive Steelbook Package available on the Ultimate 2- disc Edition. (pictured above, left)

**Borders - On pack collectible book featuring original sketches by Bob Layton and the top 24 comic cover of Iron Man.

[Paramount]

The Johnson County District Attorney, Phill Kline is leaning towards the latter explanation:

There was a lack of understanding on their end of what they were incapable of doing. I was on the conference call with Verizon, and we had three technicians telling us different things and using different terms, and we can't guess their mind. We've got a girl that's missing. We have a girl that's missing, we have a likely abduction, we need to find her.

So far, Verizon has not offered up an official explanation. Whatever the reason, Verizon really dropped the ball on this one. Obviously, their actions in this situation lead to two or three extra days without closure for the family of the deceased. In case you were wondering, Target went out of their way to help on their end. So at least we know that they can be trusted should something terrible go down while you are perusing their electronics department for batteries.[Fox via Consumerist]