Costco Wholesale Corp. says it will accelerate warehouse openings next year to between 27 and 30. That would be its biggest expansion since 2007. The company says capital spending will increase between 20% and 33% to between $1.8 billion and $2 billion, compared with $1.5 billion spent in fiscal 2012 to open 16 locations. Costco plans to open 14 warehouses before the end of the calendar year encompassing nine in the U.S., three in Canada, one in England and one in South Korea.

The federal government is asking a federal appeals court to take another look at graphic warnings on cigarette packs. The U.S. Justice Department filed a petition on Oct. 9, asking the full court to rehear the case after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington affirmed in August a lower court ruling blocking the requirement mandated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The New York Jets have a quarterback controversy involving starter Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, who arrived this season via a trade and brought with him a global legion of 'Tebowmania' fans and a roster of marketing partners including Jockey, whose CMO Dustin Cohn says without a doubt, "Tebow should be the starting quarterback."

If Allstate uses the Mayhem character for this one, he'll have to put on weight and visit a cardiologist. Allstate Corp.'s The Allstate Blog says obese Americans are hurting the fuel efficiency of vehicles, contributing to more than 1 billion gallons of fuel wasted each year. The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer and Cars.com found that between 1960 and 2002, 1 billion gallons of gasoline could be attributed to the weight gain of motorists in passenger vehicles.

Domino's Pizza's is picking up cues from traditional pizza parlors where the guy tossing the pies is behind the picture window. The new "Pizza Theater" store design, developed in partnership with strategic branding and design firm Chute Gerdeman, puts the service counter length-wise, with the "Pizza Theater" area - where the chefs hand-toss fresh dough and make each order - at the front and the cash register at the back. There is even a step platform so that children can watch, and a chalkboard wall.

Facebook Inc. is testing a feature, "Collections," that lets users of the social network create "wish lists" of home furnishings, clothing and other retail products, laying the groundwork for what some believe could be an eventual push into e-commerce. Facebook said it is working with seven retailers, including Pottery Barn and Victoria's Secret, to test the new feature that will allow certain users to flag images of desired products by clicking a "want" button.

As if Red Bull weren't busy enough trying to find a launch window for Felix Baumgartner, the company is about to try flavors. Specifically cranberry-, lime- and blueberry-flavored Red Bull, to be sold in red, silver and blue cans, and launched in March. The line will be called Red Bull Editions. Researcher Mintel projects the energy drink category will grow 86% to nearly $12 billion within five years.

Verizon has posted a rotating teaser on its home page promising the low-key black and brown versions of Samsung's flagship sometime "soon," with availability sign-ups on hand. Verizon's promise means it will be the first time for years Americans can Android phone in muted colors, bringing back brown electronics.

In Esquire magazine's list of the Best New Restaurants of 2012, seven, or nearly half, include a burger. Bon Appetit's list earlier this year did not have any. Esquire gives honors to SoBou, New Orleans, The Southern Steak & Oyster, Nashville, and ELM, New Canaan, Conn., among others.

This morning, while you're feeling, yet again, like Dagwood as you ride the subway to your cubicle, one Felix Baumgartner will step out the door and plummet 23 miles from the edge of space to -- appropriately enough -- somewhere near Roswell, N.M. While you are checking your email, he will become the first individual to break the speed of sound (without being in some kind of aircraft). Backing this is -- what else? -- Red Bull, which is calling it Red Bull Stratus. The company will stream the whole thing on its site. Grab your morning joe, flip your …