Chuck Hagel Being Vetted for State, Defense

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican from Nebraska, is being considered for either Secretary of Defense or State, Foreign Policy reports.

Hagel currently co-chairs President Obama?s Intelligence Advisory Board, an independent group that advises the president on the intelligence community. If nominated, Hagel would be the lone Republican in the Obama administration, as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is expected leave.

The White House and Hagel?s office declined to comment to FP.

Hagel has been critical of the current Republican Party since leaving office in 2008, even backing Democratic Senate candidate Bob Kerrey in this cycle. In 2008, Hagel traveled to Iraq with then-Sen. Obama during the presidential election.

?Now the Republican Party is in the hands of the right, I would say the extreme right, more than ever before,? Hagel told?FP in a previous interview. ?You've got a Republican Party that is having difficulty facing up to the fact that if you look at what happened during the first 8 years of the century, it was under Republican direction.?

Hagel is currently a professor at Georgetown University, teaching at the Walsh School of Foreign Relations.

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., have also been named as possible successors to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. However, Rice has been under attack by Republicans in recent weeks for her role in the administration's response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Libya that killed four Americans.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chuck-hagel-being-vetted-state-defense-071304673--politics.html

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In LA, SUVs take inspiration from BMW w - Automotive News

LUCA CIFERRI

November 29, 2012 - 12:01 am ET

At this year's Los Angeles auto show, it seems that BMW X1s are everywhere.

A cute blue vehicle I passed looked just like an X1 SUV. Actually, it was a Mazda CX-5 that resembled an X1 from the side, but had a nose and tail different than the X1.

On the Toyota stand, there was a concept for the new RAV4. I thought I was seeing things again. The side looked just like an X1 but the front and rear of the concept reassured me that it really was the next RAV4.

At the Detroit auto show 23 years ago, it was a different story. Lexus and Infiniti were unveiling their first models for the U.S. market. Back then, the first Lexus LS flagship was clearly inspired by the Mercedes S Class, while the Infiniti QX looked a lot like the Jaguar XJ.

Now BMW is the brand that inspires imitation. Is that a bad thing?

Toyota RAV4 - inspired by the BMW X1? Design legend d Giorgetto Giugiaro told me many years ago, "You should be flattered if someone copies you because, in doing so, he acknowledges you did an outstanding job."

BMW should be flattered that the X1's styling has caught the attention of other automaker's design teams. So BMW Group design director Adrian Van Hooydonk should not be too upset. In fact, the more that rivals copy BMW's styling, the more he should be flattered!

You can reach Luca Ciferri at lciferri@crain.com.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121129/BLOG06/311299800/in-la-suvs-take-inspiration-from-bmw

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What Does Your Social Brand Say About You Online? | Small ...

You know that social media marketing is here to stay BIG time, right? ?Are you still kind of fighting how essential it has become? ?Do you believe it will do nothing but grow in importance for business success?

Consider These Trends

• While Generation C represents 23% of the US population (US Census data), it represented an out-sized portion of online video consumption (27%), social networking and blog sites visits (27%), tablet ownership (33%) and smartphone use (39%), as of February 2012.

We engage, convene, share, connect, market, help, research, buy, sell, rant, rave and riff online. It?s the other world, the parallel universe we live in when we are not in person and face to face with people.

What Does Your Social Brand Say About You?

How do you present who you are, what you do, whom you serve and why anyone should care on the web?

This is your calling card and?visual home that people will use to determine why connecting with you is viable and has value. Is your web presence active and relevant? Do you engage regularly on the social platforms where your customers, community and colleagues are congregating?

The Illusion of Success

It?s very easy to create an illusion of success and credibility online. People usually believe what they see if they don?t know you. The slick images, buzz words, promises of lot?s of followers, leads, sales and quick success are usually phony carrots people dangle online.

Be careful, get referrals?and get to know good people who are trusted in their circles and platforms. Most importantly, be exactly who you say you are.

Online Image

Your online image will usually get you one chance to make a great first impression. Are your sites and media platforms current, clean, easy to navigate and do all the links work? When someone pulls you up on LinkedIn or goes directly to your sites, are they seeing what you want them to know and see about you now?

Online Messaging

Check all your online copy and marketing messaging and make sure it is timely. Frequently update your pictures, services, testimonials, awards and activities, which show and tell people who you are in real time.

Show people what are you doing NOW!

Serving is the New Selling

Trendwatching?started talking about becoming a ?Brand Butler? in 2010:

?With pragmatic, convenience-loving consumers enjoying instant access to an ever-growing number of supporting services and tools (both offline and online), brands urgently need to hone their ?butlering skills?, focusing on assisting consumers to make the most of their daily lives, versus the old model of selling them a lifestyle if not identity.?

Visual + Visceral = Your Social Brand

How you visually present yourself plus how you viscerally describe your who, what and why?creates your social brand.?Your social brand should inspire people to want to make an emotional connection to and with you. People need to like what they see and believe what you and others say. Your social brand helps them do that.

Check out?the?5 drivers, when reviewing or creating your social brand from Trendwatching, which talks about the? ?Expectation Economy:

?. . .where consumers want the best, they want it now and first, and they want real, human connection, too. In fact, they demand all that.?

Are you using these drivers? And what does your social marketing brand say about you now and what do you need to do to make it stand out?

About Deborah Shane

Deborah Shane is an author, speaker, media host, business and career brand/branding consultant. Deborah hosts her blog, Deborah Shane Toolbox, and weekly business radio show, Deborah Shane Metropolis. She writes for several national business, career, branding, business and marketing sites. Her new book, "Career Transition: Make the Shift is available through all major book sellers.

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Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/11/your-social-brand-online.html

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Bing Translator gets updated for Windows Phone 8, available now in the Store

The Bing Translator app has been helping Windows Phone users avoid cross-cultural mishaps since April of last year, adding augmented reality and offline capability along the way. Naturally, Microsoft has updated this utility for Windows Phone 8. The latest version of Translator supports six languages (Chinese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) and features a new "lens" for translating text via a smartphone's camera. The app is available as a free download in the Store. Head past the break to see it in action.

Continue reading Bing Translator gets updated for Windows Phone 8, available now in the Store

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Comments

Source: Windows Phone Blog, Windows Phone Store

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/P8ObJ8B0Zwg/

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An Interview With Amazon Web Services Senior Vice President Andy Jassy

I interviewed Amazon Web Services Senior Vice President Andy Jassy today at the AWS re:Invent conference.?Before the interview I asked my Twitter followers for questions to ask. I could not use all of the questions but I've included a few here to give you a snapshot of the full recording, which is embedded below.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/PgpsBjFbZi0/

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Employees' holiday wish list - Management and Career

FORTUNE -- Trying to decide how to thank your employees for their hard work over the past 12 months? Consider this: For the second year in a row, almost nobody wants to celebrate the season with a party, "even with an open bar."

That's according to career site Glassdoor's annual survey of more than 2,000 Americans with full-time jobs. Instead, cash tops the wish list for 73%, and the more people earn, the more they want a bonus. Over three quarters (77%) of employees with household income of $75,000 or above said they'd like a holiday sweetener in their pay, versus 67% of those earning less. And if you're considering giving people company stock instead of cash, think again: Only 9% said they'd welcome it.

Besides greenbacks, the most popular holiday handouts include paid time off that doesn't count against vacation, mentioned by 36%, grocery gift cards (29%), and permission to work from home in 2013 (13%). "If you manage a team, communicate holiday time-off policies early so that people have time to plan," suggests Rusty Rueff, a Glassdoor workplace advisor. A former head of global HR at PepsiCo (PEP), Rueff co-wrote a book called Talent Force: A Manifesto for the Human Side of Business. "If you're an employee wanting time off during the holidays, speak with your boss as soon as possible. First come, first served usually works."

MORE:?How should leaders talk about climate change?

Whatever perks companies hand out for the holidays, Rueff adds, it's smart to make clear that those goodies are linked directly to specific results. "Did the company reach its annual goals in 2012? Did a particular team or department surpass expectations? It's essential to explain what made a perk possible," he says -- partly "so people understand their hard work is appreciated and recognized," but also "because it provides history and context in case next year isn't as good."

And speaking of next year, here's where the Glassdoor survey really gets interesting. Weirdly, 2% of those polled gave their top goal for 2013 as "helping to get boss/supervisor fired." But more important, after the holidays are over, bosses may want to brace themselves for a barrage of requests for more pay.

On average, about one in three employees (32%) say getting a raise is their top work-related goal in 2013. That varies by age. Among 18-to-34-year-olds, 40% plan to ask for salary hikes, compared to an average of 27% in all other age groups. It's worth noting that many workers apparently think they've already earned a bigger paycheck: Only 21% plan on striving for better evaluations from their bosses, and just 16% say they'll seek work-related training.

"As employment confidence gradually improves, it's no surprise to see employees focus on more money," Rueff notes. "Regardless of whether the economy is good or bad, take-home pay is always top of mind, and employees are sending a clear message that they want higher compensation -- not only during the holiday season, but next year too." And what will they do if it's not forthcoming? Alas, the survey doesn't say.

Source: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/28/employees-holidays-bonuses/

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From Canada, a tough economist for Bank of England

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, left, shakes hands with Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, right, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday Nov. 26, 2012. Carney will become head of the Bank of England next summer. Flaherty called it a bittersweet moment as he announced Carney's new job as the first time a foreigner has been tabbed to run Britain's venerable national bank. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, left, shakes hands with Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, right, in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday Nov. 26, 2012. Carney will become head of the Bank of England next summer. Flaherty called it a bittersweet moment as he announced Carney's new job as the first time a foreigner has been tabbed to run Britain's venerable national bank. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

FILE - In this July 23, 2009 file photo, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney speaks during a news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. British Chancellor George Osborne announced on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 that Canadian central bank chief Mark Carney is to lead Bank of England next year. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilapatrick, File)

FILE -- In a Nov. 8, 2012 file photo Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney waits to address the Canadian Club in Montreal. British Chancellor George Osborne announced on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 that Carney is to lead Bank of England next year. (AP Photo/ THE CANADIAN PRESS, Ryan Remiorz)

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, left, looks on as Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, right, speaks in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday Nov. 26, 2012. Carney will become head of the Bank of England next summer. Flaherty called it a bittersweet moment as he announced Carney's new job as the first time a foreigner has been tabbed to run Britain's venerable national bank. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2008 file photo, Governor of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney laughs as he listens to a question following his speech on 'Building Continuous Markets', before the Canada/United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce conference at a hotel in central London. British Chancellor George Osborne announced on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 that Canadian central bank chief Mark Carney is to lead Bank of England next year. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

TORONTO (AP) ? Naming the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694 might have been expected to cause a fuss. Yet the appointment of Canadian Mark Carney has won bipartisan praise in Britain.

That's because few people in the world have Carney's qualifications.

The Bank of Canada governor is a highly-educated economist with Wall Street experience who is widely credited with helping Canada dodge the worst of the global economic crisis. He gained a reputation along the way as a tough regulator who stood up to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.

Moving to the top job at Canada's central bank just before the global financial crisis hit in 2008, Carney slashed interest rates to historic lows and was the first central banker to commit to keep them at a historic-low level for a definite time, a step the U.S. Federal Reserve would follow.

Canada was spared a mortgage meltdown or subprime lending crisis, and its banks, more regulated and less leveraged than Europe's, are rated among the world's soundest. Britain, however, has endured a decade of economic turbulence, and seemed ready for a foreigner to shake up its central bank.

Besides his job as a central banker, Carney, 47, also heads the G-20's Financial Stability Board, a global supervisor of regulatory changes in the financial system. Carney's championing of stiffer regulation was highlighted in a run-in last year with Dimon. The Bank of Canada chief stood his ground in a closed-door meeting in Washington when Dimon directed a diatribe toward Carney over what the JPMorgan Chase chief called "anti-American" global reforms against banks.

"When there was pushback on the regulatory front he dug in his heels and made his case that, no, we shouldn't slow down, we should be pushing forward," said Craig Alexander, a Toronto-Dominion Bank economist.

"This is the sort of thing that makes him qualified to take on the challenge of the Bank of England because he's going to be materially involved in shaping regulatory reform of the financial system in London," he added. "So the fact that he would stand up for the regulatory regime is exactly the characteristic one would be looking for."

The transnational appointment is a mark of today's globalized world, while also echoing a past in which Canada was a part of the British Empire.

Like other central bankers, Carney is a former Goldman Sachs executive. He worked for 13 years in London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto, before being appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003. He has both financial industry and government regulatory credentials.

"He looks and sounds the part," CIBC World Markets economist Avery Shenfeld said. "He has the academic background, the gravitas and the experience to withstand the fray of central banking in a city like London."

Carney, from the remote northern town of Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories, gained a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University in 1988, and master's and doctoral degrees in economics from Oxford University. Like many Canadians, he played ice hockey, serving as a backup goalie for Harvard.

He lived in London for a decade and his wife and children are dual nationals. British Treasury chief George Osborne, announcing the surprise choice to the House of Commons on Monday, said Carney will apply for British citizenship. He takes up the new position July 1, succeeding Mervyn King, who has headed the bank since 2003.

Before Monday's announcement the frontrunner for the job was widely seen to be Paul Tucker, the bank's deputy governor. But Tucker was likely bypassed because of his embroilment in the Libor-fixing scandal. In July, he was forced to testify to lawmakers after emails emerged showing he had communicated with Bob Diamond, the ex-chief of Barclays, over the setting of the inter-bank interest rate.

Carney's appointment won bipartisan praise in Britain. Ed Balls, the opposition Labour Party's economics spokesman, called it "a good choice," while Osborne said Carney was "quite simply the best, most experienced and most qualified person in the world to do the job."

Although Osborne said it was the first time the Treasury advertised the governor's job, Carney said he hadn't applied. "I didn't apply as part of the formal process to the position. These discussions really only intensified in the last two weeks," Carney said at a news conference in Ottawa.

Carney said he initially turned down the job but British officials kept after him. He said he changed his mind because his term as governor of the Bank of Canada was ending soon, the London job was a big opportunity and the fate of the British economy was critical.

"It's very important for the global economy that the U.K. does well, that it succeeds in this rebalancing of their economy, that the reform of the British financial system is completed, " he said.

Carney said he would take the job for five years instead of the usual eight, and many Canadians are speculating that Carney may return to Canada to run for prime minister. The opposition Liberal Party of Canada had eagerly courted him, but Carney said this month he would remain a central banker for some time.

___

Associated Press writer Sylvia Hui contributed from London.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-27-Canada--Britain-Bank%20of%20England/id-c032d3edae354227ad0ade82b3fe10c1

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South Korea to sack Jill Kelley as honorary consul

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Jill Kelley leaves her home in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 13.

By NBC News and news services

Jill Kelley, the Tampa, Fla., socialite who inadvertently launched the FBI investigation that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus, will be sacked as an ?honorary consul? for South Korea because she used the title for personal gain, a senior official said Monday during a U.S. visit.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun first revealed Kelley?s removal from the post, which pays $2,500 a year, on Monday during a visit to Washington, South Korea?s Yonhap news agency reported.

"It's not suitable to the status of honorary consul that (she) sought to be involved in commercial projects and peddle influence," Yonhap quoted Kim as saying.

The Associated Press reported that an unidentified government official in Seoul confirmed the action on Tuesday.

---

The South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return phone calls from NBC News seeking comment.

It was not immediately clear what Kim was referring to as far as Kelley?s alleged efforts to benefit from the honorary consul post.

A New York businessman, Adam Victor, has said that Kelley was introduced to him at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August as someone whose friendship with Petraeus would help facilitate a no-bid deal with South Korea on a coal-gasification project. She would supposedly be in a position to help broker the billion-dollar deal directly with the Korean president, and expected a 2 percent commission, according to Victor, president and chief executive officer of TransGas Development Systems.

ABC News has reported that it reviewed emails that appear to support Victor?s account.?

She also tried to establish a relationship between South Korea and the University of South Florida's medical school, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.?

The 37-year-old Kelley also cited her honorary post in 9-1-1 calls complaining about members of the media who besieged her house after the Petraeus scandal broke, incorrectly maintaining that it entitled her to some type of diplomatic protection.

"I'm an honorary consul general, so I have inviolability, so they should not be able to cross my property," she said on tapes released earlier this month. "I don't know if you want to get diplomatic protection involved as well, because that's against the law to cross my property because, you know, it's inviolable."

A senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official who handles consulate affairs in the United States told the AP on Tuesday that honorary consuls don't have diplomatic immunity, and that the ministry applies much less strict standards in appointing them than it does for potential government officials.

Kelley also had worked as a volunteer ?social liaison? to MacDill Air Force Base until mid-November, when her participation in the ?Friends of MacDill? program was revoked as the Petraeus scandal erupted.

Kelley met Petraeus after he took over as head of U.S. Central Command at MacDill in October 2008, and became friends with him and his wife, Holly, during his time there.

Related stories

Kelley emails: Petraeus, Allen asked me to help silence 'Bubba the Love Sponge'

As their secret dissolved, Petraeus, Broadwell chatted at awards dinner

Numerous government and law enforcement officials have told NBC News that Kelley inadvertently triggered the FBI investigation that led to Petraeus? resignation as CIA chief on Nov. 9, citing an extramarital affair.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Kelley complained in mid-May to an FBI agent she was acquainted with about harassing anonymous emails warning her to stay away from Petraeus. The agent turned over the emails to the local FBI cyber investigations unit, which traced them to Paula Broadwell, Petreus? biographer, the officials said.

In the course of the investigation, the agents discovered evidence that Petreaus and Broadwell had engaged in an extramarital affair, they said.

Kelley has largely remained silent since her role in the case became public shortly after Petraeus resigned. She and her husband, Scott, issued a single statement on Nov. 11, saying, "We and our family have been friends with Gen. Petraeus and his family for over five years. We respect his and his family's privacy and want the same for us and our three children."

In a separate investigation, the Pentagon?s inspector general is looking into ?potentially inappropriate? emails that Kelley exchanged with Petraeus? temporary successor as CentCom commander, Marine Gen. John Allen, defense officials tell NBC News.

The officials say a small number of the emails contained language that could be considered ?inappropriate? or even ?suggestive.? They also said that the investigation was deemed necessary to remove any suggestion that the Pentagon was covering up any improprieties by Allen, who remains in command of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan pending the outcome of the probe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/27/15484600-south-korea-to-sack-tampa-socialite-jill-kelley-as-honorary-consul?lite

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Nexus 7 32GB hits '1 Sale A Day' for $249.99 with free shipping

It's that time of year where we start seeing some great deals on smartphones and tablets. We saw the Nexus 4 go up for a "discounted" (if you don't count the Play Store price) $499 yesterday, but we have a deal here regardless of what you compare it to. The Nexus 7 has been around long enough that we're starting to see it pretty consistently discounted on various sites, but the savings here come from your ability to save on shipping (and often sales tax as well) over what Google Play charges. Might just save you 10- or 15-percent overall.

Take a look at the source link below if you're interested in grabbing one of these at a great price.

Source: 1 Sale A Day

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/m_YGnZTHXLg/story01.htm

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Dumaguing: Should a woman have hormone replacement therapy ...

FIRST and foremost, this author would like to apologize to our dear readers and friends for the delay of the appearance of this article, which for all the high-tech advantages of computers and gadgets, got lost in transit. At any rate, it is our fervent hope that the delay has not at all, diminished the enthusiasm and interest of our beloved women of menopausal age, including their anxious husbands.

Our health columnist-colleague Ms. Sara T. Poumerol says that doctors prescribe HRT for two major reasons; relief of menopausal complaints, in which treatment is given for two to three years and then tapered off; and/or protection against osteoporosis and other long term ailments. Women have a variety of treatments from which to choose.

Women who have had hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) together with her two ovaries are often given estrogen therapy. Otherwise, most women use a combination of two hormones (estrogen and progesterone) to counter the negative effect of estrogen on the uterus. Relief of urogental signs and symptoms is also available in estrogen vaginal suppositories, cream and the so-called vaginal ring.

Today, doctors and psychologists as well as marriage counselors understand the more complex nature of the maintenance of libido (sexual urge and desire) of women, even in their menopausal stage. Female sexual urges, as well as the male libido is activated by male sex hormones or androgens. Women naturally produce androgens during their 20s and 30s ? more than their output of estrogens. A new formulation that combines male and female hormones (estrogen-androgen combination) replaces the lost androgens in menopausal women providinga big boostto their sexual drive and a significant improvement in their mood and energy level, thus improving their quality of life. Also, as compared to estrogen alone, the estrogen-androgen combinationmay better protect against ospteoporosis because androgens are important for maintaining bone density.

Some researchers have shown that when taken for over five years, HRT might boost a woman?s chance of getting breast cancer by 30 to 40%. The data so far are not compelling nor consistent for a strong link between HRT and breast cancer. At that time, the medical world recommended against prescribing conventional HRT for women at high risk for breast cancer (if she has a mother, sister or daughter with premenopausal breast cancer.

Nowadays, the thinking and the attitude has changed. Many medical societies have discovered that based on experience and research, the benefits of HRT greatly outweighed the risks, unless the woman has two family relatives with breast cancer. Besides, some researchers believe that estrogen may actually benefit women who have already survivedbreast cancer.

As a personal rejoinder, this author strongly advise every woman, of menopuasal vintage, to consult their family physician and make informed co decisions before their consent is given to undergo hormone replacement therapy.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 24, 2012.

Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!

Original post:
Dumaguing: Should a woman have hormone replacement therapy?

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Source: http://www.humangrowthhormone.info/dumaguing-should-a-woman-have-hormone-replacement-therapy/

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Althouse: "Now that legal pot is here, will cigarette companies dust ...

NPR explores the coming of legal marijuana:

In the '70s... "there were high-level conversations about adding marijuana to tobacco, creating a line of marijuana cigarettes, and being ready to jump in and market this."

As recently as 1993, when it looked like France was poised to legalize marijuana, Philip Morris trademarked the name "Marley." But when the estate of Bob Marley complained, the company claimed it had nothing to do with the reggae singer.

"Philip Morris said, 'No no, it could be any kind of Marley,... like Jacob Marley, the cheap, cantankerous teetotaler from A Christmas Carol.'"...

Want legal marijuana? Write to the President:

Source: http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/11/now-that-legal-pot-is-here-will.html

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Separatists winning in Catalonia, Spain: early results

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Four separatist parties in Spain's Catalonia looked set to win a majority in regional elections on Sunday, partial results showed, but the main one was on course to lose some seats, possibly undermining its bid to call an independence referendum.

With half of votes counted, the ruling Convergence and Union alliance, or CiU, was winning 48 seats in the 135-seat local parliament, well down from its current 62 seats.

The separatist Republican Left, or ERC, was winning 20 seats, with two other smaller separatist parties taking a total of 16 seats, giving the four parties 60 percent between them.

Regional President Artur Mas, of CiU, had campaigned on a pledge to hold a referendum on independence, in response to a resurgent separatist movement among Catalans who are frustrated with Spain in a deep economic crisis.

Opinion polls had forecast that CiU would retain 62 or more seats in the local Parliament and that all four separatist parties would have more than two-thirds of the seats. Neither of those projections was met as the results began to come in.

Without the psychological backing of a two-thirds majority, analysts have said, it may be hard for Mas to defy the constitution and the central government in Madrid and try to hold a referendum.

Turnout was very high in the election, 68 percent, 10 percentage point higher than in the previous vote two years ago.

With more people than Denmark and an economy almost as big as Portugal's, Catalonia has its own language. Like Basques, Catalans see themselves as distinct from the rest of Spain.

Growing Catalan separatism is a huge challenge for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who is trying to bring down painfully high borrowing costs by persuading investors of Spain's fiscal and political stability.

Mas converted to separatism after huge street demonstrations in September.

Up until recently Mas was a moderate nationalist who had pushed Spain to give Catalonia more self-governing powers. He has followed the popular mood in converting to a more radical separatism, but it is not clear he can hold a referendum legally.

Many Catalans are angry that Rajoy has refused to negotiate a new tax deal with their largely self-governing region. Annually, an estimated 16 billion euros ($21 billion) in taxes paid in Catalonia, about 8 percent of its economic output, is not returned to the region.

Home to car factories and banks that generate one fifth of Spain's economic wealth, and birthplace of surrealist painter Salvador Dali and architect Antoni Gaudi, the region also has one of the world's most successful football clubs, FC Barcelona.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/catalonia-test-spanish-unity-separatist-vote-180102975--sow.html

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Like a Roller Coaster ? The Nordic art of public speaking with ...

Written by: Nando Miranda

The first time I ever rode a real roller coaster was when I was 8 years old. My parents took my three older siblings and I to Disney World near Kissimmee, Florida, during a road trip from Charleston, South Carolina, to Montgomery, Alabama. We had spent the previous three years at the Panama Canal Zone where my father was stationed. We were oblivious to American television commercials and amusement parks.

Space Mountain was the name of this roller coaster. It still exists to this day. And yes, I was scared out of my shorts, no less. After the anticipation of waiting in line couple with a great fear of the unknown, my white knuckles gripped the safety bars as the car slowly lurched clackety-clack up the hill, in total darkness!

Space, the Final Frontier.

Countdown!

10-9-8?..

No way to turn back now!

6-5-4?

I?m going to die! I?m going to die!

2-1

BLAST OFF!

Oh my gosh, all I saw was space around me! Stars, galaxies, meteors, comets smothered with a sudden moment of panic as I thought to myself, I can?t see the track!

Not knowing where this coaster was going, I squinted my eyes and focused ahead trying to catch a glimpse of a falling star illuminating any tiny part of the dark track. I tried to figure out how far this first drop was going to last and predict which direction would the car turn next. Not only did the designers of Space Mountain give me the fear of a fast, indoor coaster, but being virtually ?blind? during the trip was a cruel, yet welcome, added bonus.

Whenever I prepare a speech for my Toastmasters Club in Helsinki, Finland, called Stadi Talkers, I think about Space Mountain. I have the same chills beforehand, the anticipation, the butterflies in the stomach, the preparation, the self-questioning stage, the point of no return, the out-of-body self-awareness of all eyes on me, including my own. Ridiculous, but true.

I just signed up for speech #7.

10 days out

I have time to prepare.

5 days out

What is my topic? What is my structure?

3 days out

I?m going to die! I?m going to die!

Prepare, practice, then deliver!

Do you know what is the best part of the speech writing process for me? I am the designer.?I can map out how I want my audience to experience it. I can also build the introduction and the conclusion to have any effect. But most importantly, I am the creator of twists and turns and drops and hills and varying speeds, of which, the audience has no clue. Of course each audience member may try to figure out what would be said next, some of them perhaps more accurately than others, but they are all essentially ? in the dark.

You have to ask yourself. ?Which do you enjoy more? Being the roller coaster passenger? Listening to speeches without knowing what is to come? Or do you prefer to create your own roller coaster and let it unfold before the audience as they experience it?

I highly suggest you aim to become an expert in both roles. Learn to be a better listener and practice to become a better public speaker. With both, you?ll need to have your mind and eyes wide open facing your own fears. Regardless of what you try first, you will induce the same feelings of foreboding, anticipation, excitement, butterflies, a sense of relief that it is all over, but above all, you will obtain a sense of accomplishment.

You have survived, you are alive!?Now go and build your own Space Mountain!

- Photo of Space Mountain by Nando Miranda. All rights reserved.

Source: http://toastmastersfinland.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/like-a-roller-coaster/

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Researchers discover gender-based differences in Alzheimer's disease

Public release date: 26-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Linda Brooks
lbrooks@rsna.org
630-590-7762
Radiological Society of North America

CHICAGO All patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) lose brain cells, which leads to a shrinking, or atrophy, of the brain. But the pattern of gray matter loss is significantly different in men and women, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"We found that the extent and distribution of regional gray matter volume loss in the brain was strongly influenced by gender," said lead researcher Maria Vittoria Spampinato, M.D., associate professor of radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.4 million Americans have AD, the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Currently, there is no cure for AD, which lends urgency to research efforts designed to better understand, diagnose and treat this devastating illness.

"There is a strong interest in using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess brain atrophy with the purpose of monitoring dementia progression noninvasively and to aid in understanding which factors can influence brain atrophy progression and distribution in the Alzheimer's brain," Dr. Spampinato said.

In the study, Dr. Spampinato and colleagues analyzed data on 109 patients, including 60 men and 49 women (mean age 77), who participated in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a major study that followed hundreds of cognitively healthy individuals and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD over a period of five years.

During the five-year period, each of the 109 patients progressed from amnestic MCI (in which the patient suffers memory loss but maintains cognitive function) to AD. Using MR images of the patients' brains taken when they were diagnosed with AD and 12 months before and after the diagnosis, the researchers created brain maps that illustrated gray matter changes.

The brain maps revealed that compared to male patients, the women had greater atrophy in gray matter 12 months prior to their AD diagnosis and at the time of their diagnosis. The brain maps also showed that the men and women in the study lost gray matter volume in different areas of the brain as their disease progressed from MCI to AD.

"The female patients in our study initially had more gray matter atrophy than the male patients but over time, the men caught up," Dr. Spampinato said. "In the men, the disease developed more aggressively in a shorter period of time."

Dr. Spampinato said the gender differences in atrophy patterns have important implications for the development of therapies for MCI and AD.

"These differences should be taken into consideration when testing new drugs in clinical trials," she said. "Knowing the difference between the male and female patterns of atrophy will help researchers better decipher a patient's response to drug therapy."

###

Coauthors are Zoran Rumboldt, M.D., Markus Weininger, M.D., Vavro Hrvoje, M.D., Karen Patrick, M.D., and Ryan O'Neal Parker, Ph.D.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2012 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press12 beginning Monday, Nov. 26.

RSNA is an association of more than 50,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.

Editor's note: The data in these releases may differ from those in the published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting, as researchers continue to update their data right up until the meeting. To ensure you are using the most up-to-date information, please call the RSNA Newsroom at 1-312-949-3233.

For patient-friendly information on MRI of the brain, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 26-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Linda Brooks
lbrooks@rsna.org
630-590-7762
Radiological Society of North America

CHICAGO All patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) lose brain cells, which leads to a shrinking, or atrophy, of the brain. But the pattern of gray matter loss is significantly different in men and women, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"We found that the extent and distribution of regional gray matter volume loss in the brain was strongly influenced by gender," said lead researcher Maria Vittoria Spampinato, M.D., associate professor of radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.4 million Americans have AD, the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Currently, there is no cure for AD, which lends urgency to research efforts designed to better understand, diagnose and treat this devastating illness.

"There is a strong interest in using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess brain atrophy with the purpose of monitoring dementia progression noninvasively and to aid in understanding which factors can influence brain atrophy progression and distribution in the Alzheimer's brain," Dr. Spampinato said.

In the study, Dr. Spampinato and colleagues analyzed data on 109 patients, including 60 men and 49 women (mean age 77), who participated in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), a major study that followed hundreds of cognitively healthy individuals and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD over a period of five years.

During the five-year period, each of the 109 patients progressed from amnestic MCI (in which the patient suffers memory loss but maintains cognitive function) to AD. Using MR images of the patients' brains taken when they were diagnosed with AD and 12 months before and after the diagnosis, the researchers created brain maps that illustrated gray matter changes.

The brain maps revealed that compared to male patients, the women had greater atrophy in gray matter 12 months prior to their AD diagnosis and at the time of their diagnosis. The brain maps also showed that the men and women in the study lost gray matter volume in different areas of the brain as their disease progressed from MCI to AD.

"The female patients in our study initially had more gray matter atrophy than the male patients but over time, the men caught up," Dr. Spampinato said. "In the men, the disease developed more aggressively in a shorter period of time."

Dr. Spampinato said the gender differences in atrophy patterns have important implications for the development of therapies for MCI and AD.

"These differences should be taken into consideration when testing new drugs in clinical trials," she said. "Knowing the difference between the male and female patterns of atrophy will help researchers better decipher a patient's response to drug therapy."

###

Coauthors are Zoran Rumboldt, M.D., Markus Weininger, M.D., Vavro Hrvoje, M.D., Karen Patrick, M.D., and Ryan O'Neal Parker, Ph.D.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2012 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press12 beginning Monday, Nov. 26.

RSNA is an association of more than 50,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill.

Editor's note: The data in these releases may differ from those in the published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting, as researchers continue to update their data right up until the meeting. To ensure you are using the most up-to-date information, please call the RSNA Newsroom at 1-312-949-3233.

For patient-friendly information on MRI of the brain, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/rson-rdg111612.php

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95% Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

audience

93

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 808,555

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is no ordinary archeologist. When we first see him, he is somewhere in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet (complete with an over-sized rolling boulder) to fetch a solid-gold idol. He loses this artifact to his chief rival, a French archeologist named Belloq (Paul Freeman), who then prepares to kill our hero. In the first of many serial-like escapes, Indy eludes Belloq by hopping into a convenient plane. So, then: is Indiana Jones afraid of anything? Yes, snakes. The next time we see Jones, he's a soft-spoken, bespectacled professor. He is then summoned from his ivy-covered environs by Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to find the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, it seems, are already searching for the Ark, which the mystical-minded Hitler hopes to use to make his stormtroopers invincible. But to find the Ark, Indy must first secure a medallion kept under the protection of Indy's old friend Abner Ravenwood, whose daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), evidently has a "history" with Jones. Whatever their personal differences, Indy and Marion become partners in one action-packed adventure after another, ranging from wandering the snake pits of the Well of Souls to surviving the pyrotechnic unearthing of the sacred Ark. A joint project of Hollywood prodigies George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with a script co-written by Lawrence Kasdan and Philip Kaufman, among others, Raiders of the Lost Ark is not so much a movie as a 115-minute thrill ride. Costing 22 million dollars (nearly three times the original estimate), Raiders of the Lost Ark reaped 200 million dollars during its first run. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), as well as a short-lived TV-series "prequel." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In Theaters: Sep 7, 2012 Limited

On DVD: Oct 21, 2003

Box Office:$3.1M

Paramount Pictures

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/indiana_jones_and_the_raiders_of_the_lost_ark_in_imax/

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New molecular culprit linked to breast cancer progression

ScienceDaily (Nov. 23, 2012) ? Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered a protein "partner" commonly used by breast cancer cells to unlock genes needed for spreading the disease around the body. A report on the discovery, published November 5 on the website of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details how some tumors get the tools they need to metastasize.

"We've identified a protein that wasn't known before to be involved in breast cancer progression," says Gregg Semenza, M.D., Ph.D., the C. Michael Armstrong Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Vascular Program at Hopkins' Institute for Cell Engineering. "The protein JMJD2C is the key that opens up a whole suite of genes needed for tumors to grow and metastasize, so it represents a potential target for cancer drug development."

Semenza and his colleagues made their finding when they traced the activity of HIF-1, a protein known to switch on hundreds of genes involved in development, red blood cell production, and metabolism in normal cells. Previous studies had shown that HIF-1 could also be hijacked to switch on genes needed to make breast tumors more malignant.

Would-be tumor cells face a host of challenges as they make the transition from working with their host to working against it, such as the need to evade the immune system and to produce more cancer cells, explains Weibo Luo, Ph.D., an instructor in the Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Biological Chemistry who led the project. All of these efforts require switching on the right genes for the job.

To learn more about how HIF-1 works, the researchers tested a range of human proteins to see whether they would interact with HIF-1. They then sifted through the 200 resulting hits, looking for proteins involved in chemical changes to sections of DNA that determine whether or not the genes they contain are available for use. "In order for HIF-1 to switch genes on, they have to be available, but many of the genes HIF-1 activates are normally locked down in mature cells," explains Luo. "So we thought HIF-1 must have a partner that can do the unlocking."

That partner turned out to be JMJD2C, Luo says. Delving deeper, the researchers found that HIF-1 switches on the JMJD2C gene, stimulating production of the protein. HIF-1's presence also enables JMJD2C to bind to DNA at other HIF-1 target genes, then loosen those DNA sections, enabling more HIF-1 to bind to the same sites and activate the target genes.

To test the implications of their discovery, the research team injected mice with breast cancer cells in which the JMJD2C protein was not produced. Tumors with depleted JMJD2C were much less likely to grow and metastasize to the lungs, confirming the protein's role in breast cancer progression, says Luo.

"Active HIF proteins have been found in many types of tumors, so the implications of this finding go beyond breast cancer," says Luo. "JMJD2C is both an important piece of the puzzle of how tumors metastasize, and a potential target for anti-cancer therapy." Other authors of the research report are Ryan Chang, Jun Zhong, Ph.D., and Akhilesh Pandey, M.D., Ph.D., all of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

This work was supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (contracts N01-HV28180 and HHS-N268201000032C), and by funds from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. W. Luo, R. Chang, J. Zhong, A. Pandey, G. L. Semenza. PNAS Plus: Histone demethylase JMJD2C is a coactivator for hypoxia-inducible factor 1 that is required for breast cancer progression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1217394109

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/2nYvEp2kt_g/121124090511.htm

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2012 Champaign-Urbana Winter Holiday Fun Guide: December

There is so much happening in Champaign-Urbana over the winter holidays this December that we?re giving you a head start.

We?ve got the lowdown on all the?family-friendly Christmas, Hanukkah and other?holiday events in and around Champaign-Urbana. Plenty of?these events require pre-registration, so be sure to plan ahead.

We will list these chronologically by start date.?Have we missed any events??Let us know?? ?and check back often to see what we?ve added. We are just getting started, because we know there will be an avalanche of local holiday events to enjoy as we head into December. (We?ve got?November events?listed separately).

Ongoing events:

Hardy?s Reindeer Ranch:?Reindeer tours, Christmas trees, and more. Open daily through Dec. 29 (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

Santa?s Secret Star Film:?Learn about the day and night sky and how the stars seem to make pictures in the sky in our holiday show for young stargazers. Head to the?Staerkel Planetarium?to learn how YOU, too, can find Santa?s secret star! Every Saturday night from Nov. 3 through Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.

Santa Arrives at Marketplace Mall:?Santa comes to Champaign-Urbana starting on Nov. 23 and will be in town through Dec. 24. Free Hugs, Free Smiles, Free Wishes and of course Free HO HO HOs!?Santa has made his way from the North Pole and is ready to greet children of all ages. Holiday photo packages are also available.

Holiday Market in Lincoln Square:?Every Saturday starting Nov. 10 until Dec. 15, 8am ? 1 p.m.?Come out to enjoy the festivities, music, Santa and gift wrapping. The market will feature merchants from Champaign-Urbana, and the surrounding area, selling products made or grown in Illinois, including fresh produce, baked goods, and tons of arts and crafts.

Season Of Light:??Season of Light? at the Staerkel Planetarium?traces the history and development of many of the world?s holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season. This show also recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice ? not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. It also takes a look at some of our more light-hearted seasonal traditions. Shows Friday-Saturday nights, Dec. 1, 7,8, 14, 15 Dec. 17, at 8 p.m.

The?2012 Crisis Nursery Children?s Holiday Shop?will again feature a full one week schedule, from?December ?1-8, at Lincoln Square in Urbana.?Hours are:?Saturday, December 1: 9am-5pm;?Sunday, December 2: 12-5pm;?Monday, December 3: 4-7pm;?Tuesday, December 4: 4-7pm (Parents Only! For one night, caregivers are allowed in the store to do their own holiday shopping!);?Wednesday, December 5: 4-7pm;?Thursday, December 6: 4-7pm;?Friday, December 7: 4-7pm;?Saturday, December 8: 9am-5pm.?The Children?s Holiday Shop is a wonderful place for children to do their own holiday shopping. ?Children arrive at our store with their shopping list in hand and money tucked away safely in their pocket. A volunteer then assists the child through the store and helps them budget their money as they pick out gifts (between $2 and $8 dollars) for their family and friends.When the children are done picking out their gifts, they pay for them and wrap them in festively decorated bags. As they leave the shop, children are always full of pride with the items they have picked out on their own and an understanding that it is just as great to give as it is to receive!

Snow Globe Saturdays at the Orpheum Children?s Museum in Champaign:??December 1, 8, 15, and 22nd, 1-5 p.m. Spend an enchanted time in a winter wonderland inside the Orpheum Theater?s own snow globe featuring indoor sledding, snowman making, snow ball throwing, ice fishing, and more! Bring your wish list for Santa and enjoy sounds of the season floating through the glittery air. After a couple of runs down the snow hill, return to the Orpheum?s mezzanine for hot chocolate, treats, and crafts. $6 members, $8 nonmembers, family pack 4 for $28.

Champaign Urbana Ballet Presents The Nutcracker:?Who doesn?t love the ?Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy?? ?The Nutcracker? features company dancers from Champaign Urbana Ballet, along with children from the Champaign-Urbana community. This local production is performed at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 8; and 3; and 2 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2, 8 and9. ?and 4. For more information, visit the?Champaign Urbana Ballet?online.

Home for the Holidays Christmas Spectacular at The Little Theater on the Square:??This all new musical review, which?runs Dec. 7-16,?is perfect for the entire family. Follow one family with a son overseas during the holidays and his wishes to be at home celebrating with his family. Featuring fantastic USO style holiday songs paying tribute to The Andrews Sister and Bing Crosby, high-kicking dance numbers, a beautiful telling of the Nativity, and of course the big man in red himself, this is a show you will not want to miss. Written especially for The Little Theatre On The Square. See the theater?s website for?showtimes and ticket prices.

Visit Santa in Monticello:?Santa will be waiting for your visits at the Wabash Depot in Monticello starting Saturday, Dec. 15 through Dec. 23. Hours vary by the day.

Candlestick Lane: Grant Place and potions of Eastern and Fairlawn, Urbana. An area tradition, Candlestick Lane will be lit (starting Dec. 15) every evening from 5 to 10 p.m. through Christmas. Drive cautiously and turn off headlights to get the most enjoyment from the lights.

Saturday, Dec. 1

Polar Paws: This jog has gone to the dogs! Join us at Centennial Park to kick off your howl-a-day season with a fun run that?s sure to delight everyone in your family ? especially the four-legged members! Dogs and their owners choose on the day of the race to run either the 5K (1 lap) or 10K (2 lap) distance. ?Water, hot chocolate, and holiday and dog cookies will be available along the course to keep all our racers merry and bright. Only one dog per runner, please. All dogs must have current vaccinations and be under control on a leash at all times.?Fee (R/NR): $10/$15. Fee covers one human and one dog. Humans running without dogs (i.e. children accompanying their parents) are also $10/$15 each. Dog handlers must be 15 or older. Please, no human runners under the age of 8 and no canine runners under the age of 1 year.?Deadline: Wednesday, November 28 (no t-shirt)

Holiday Market in Lincoln Square:?Every Saturday 8am ? 1pm until Dec. 15. With the holidays approaching, come out to Holiday Market get fresh produce, arts and crafts and gifts galore.

Breakfast with Santa in Mahomet: Enjoy donuts and milk, crafts, activities and a visit with Santa on Saturday, December 1 from 8:30-10: a.m. at the Mahomet-Seymour High School Cafeteria. $3.00 per child, $1.00 per adult Parents are welcome to bring cameras for a photo opportunity with Santa. Please purchase tickets by November 30th at the following locations: Busey Bank, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, Fisher National Bank, First Financial Bank and Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce Office in ReMax building. Sponsored by Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mahomet Town & Country Womens Club.?

Christmas in Homer:?Enjoy the season in the village of Homer.?Santa in the Library, vendors, Christmas Tree Lane, the Cookie Walk, and a Soup and Sandwich Luncheon.From 9-2 the Village Hall will have Christmas Tree Lane, an arts and crafts fair, and a Cookie Walk.?From?11-1 there is a soup and salad luncheon, and Santa will be at the?Homer Community Library?from 10 a.m. -1 p.m.

Tolono Library Story Time at Barnes and Noble:?Come to Barnes & Noble in Champaign at 10:30 a.m. for a special storytime with Miss Jeannette! We will share fun stories and songs about giving and gifts and make some cool crafts, suitable for gift-giving. Pick up a voucher at the library ahead of time or at Barnes & Noble on this day and any purchases you make will help Tolono Public Library!

Festival of Trees Public Hours: Be a part of a Champaign County tradition, and join us for our 17th Annual Festival of Trees. Public hours on Dec. 1 are 9 a.m. ?? 5 p.m. Special performances:?10:30 a.m., Garden Hills Elementary School; 11:45 a.m. Urbana Free Library (Children?s storyteller);?1:00 p.m. Central Illinois Children?s Choir;?2:20 p.m. Slavic Story Time provided by Russian, East European, and Eurasian?Center at?the University of?Illinois Urbana-Champaign?(Bring your kids to do a craft!). Santa and Mrs. Claus ? 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Win raffle and silent auction prizes, and shop the holiday gift gallery. $5 adults, $3 children 4-12 and seniors, Children 3 and under FREE. At the Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign.

Jolly Shop:?The Monticello Junior Women?s Club is hosting their annual Jolly Shop, a shopping experience for the kids, ?from 9 a.m. 2 p.m. with a break for the parade. The Jolly Shop will be located in the basement of the community building (102 E Livingston St.).

Make a Picture Frame:?At this free workshop at?Home Depot in Champaign, children can build and paint a picture frame. Perfect gift for a grandparent or other family member ? and it?s Free! For ages 5-12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Art HooHa 2012:?Art HooHa is an unofficial celebration of C-U?s creative community and an opportunity to support local artists and find unique, handmade gifts in a relaxed atmosphere. Friday, Nov. 30, 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit?www.arthooha.com?for more information.

Tuscola Christmastown Celebration:?Full slate of events all day! ?7- 7:45 Registration ? Santa Chase 5K Run/Walk ?@ Tuscola Community Building;?8:00 am ? 11:00 am ? Santa Breakfast @ Douglas County Museum;?8:00 am ? 3:00 pm ? Craft Vendor Fair @ Tuscola Community Building;?8 am ? Santa Chase 5K Run/Walk @ Tuscola Community Building; 11:00 am ? Parade ? route starts from the ?entrance? to Ervin Park, the parade will proceed South on Main St.,?then West on North Central St. ending at the Community Building.;?1:00 pm ? 3:00 pm ? Baby Contest @ Tuscola Community Building;?1:00 pm ? 4:00 pm ? Santa Paws @ Jarman Center (Pet pictures with Santa); 3:00 pm ? 4:00 pm ? Children?s Activities @ Tuscola Public Library; 4 p.m. Arthur Christmas Movie @ Tuscola Public Library.

Rantoul Christmas Parade and Santa?s Village:?Parade at 10 am followed by Free Fun Activities and Prizes at our downtown businesses:?House of Flowers,?Lindsey Lane Bridal Cottage,?Deena?s,?Style by Fox,?Downtown Barber Shop.?Santa will be in the parade and after the parade visit Santa at the Around the Corner Resale Shop located at 119 Sangamon Ave. (former Hallmark store).?To get in the parade contact the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce? at 893-3323 or email us at?office@rantoulchamber.com. Free.?

Free Photo With Santa at County Market:?County Market & Lou Taylor Photography have come together to offer a Free photo on CD with SANTA!?Dec 1 & 2 from 10 am-7 pm. First Come First Serve!?One free photo per family. Lou Taylor Photography Portrait CD Studio?1914 Glen Park Drive?(inside the County Market),?Champaign.

Monticello Christmas Parade:?Kick off the holiday season with a parade in downtown Monticello at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 1. Theme is ?Coming Home for Christmas.?

Make and Take Ornament Workshop:?Kids of all ages are invited to the Mahomet Public Library from any time between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to make a holiday ornament they can keep.

Sunday, Dec. 2

Festival of Trees Public Hours: Be a part of a Champaign County tradition, and join us for our 17th Annual Festival of Trees. Public hours on Dec. 2 are 10 a.m. ?? 3 p.m. Special performances:?11:00 and noon, The Conservatory of Central Illinois;?1:00 p.m. Flute Keys Studio;?2:00pm Bow-Dacious String Band from the Community Center for the Arts. Family photos 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Santa Claus will be there too. Win raffle and silent auction prizes, and shop the holiday gift gallery. $5 adults, $3 children 4-12 and seniors, Children 3 and under FREE. At the Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign.

2012 Champaign Jingle Bell Run/Walk:?A fun and festive way to kick off the holidays with family, friends and coworkers from 12 to 2 p.m. in Centennial Park in Champaign. Form a team, raise funds and organize your very own holiday-themed costumes. Then tie jingle bells to your shoelaces, and complete a 5 kilometer route. Tara Braucht, tfunk@arthritis.org, ?or call 309-451-0785 to register.

LeRoy Christmas Parade:?LeRoy will welcome Santa Claus during the Christmas Parade, to be held on Sunday, December 2, at 2:00 p.m.

Ornament Workshop and Tree Decorating:?Come to the?Philo Public Library?at 3 p.m. and make holiday ornaments to take home and one to hang on the Village Christmas Tree. ?At 4:00 p.m. there will be caroling and trimming of the Village Tree followed by refreshments in the Library.

Peace Lutheran Church Live Nativity:?From 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 200 W. Arnold,?Thomasboro.?Come see and hear the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus. ?Each presentation will close with a Christmas carol. ?Animals include sheep, a donkey, and a cow and a llama. ?Inside the parish hall, have fellowship with cocoa & cookies, hot dogs & chili while the children play and do Christmas crafts. ?In case of bad weather, activities will still be held in the church.

Parkland POPS Winter Concert.?1:00 pm,?Parkland Theatre, 2400 W. Bradley Ave. Champaign.?Admission is free and open to the public.

Parkland Holiday:?Parkland Wind Ensemble and?Parkland Community Orchestra at the Parkland Theater, 2400 W. Bradley Avenue?Champaign, 3 p.m.?Admission is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Dec. 4

Calls from Santa:?Who wouldn?t love a personal call from Santa this holiday season! All boys and girls ages 4, 5, or 6 can receive a call from the North Pole. Calls will be made between 6-8pm. Champaign-Urbana area calls only please, and this event requires pre-registration. Forms are available at online at the?Champaign Park District website.?

Polar Express Party:?Experience the magic of Chris Van Allsburg?s?Polar Express?with activities, crafts, and a bedtime snack. For children of all ages at the?Urbana Free Library, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 6

A Swingin??Holiday Concert:?Parkland Big Band and Parkland Concert Band. Starts at 7 p.m. in the Parkland Theater.?Admission is free and open to the public.

Friday, Dec. 7

Merry Treasures:?A holiday DIY bazaar hosted by the I.D.E.A store, from ?4 -7 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec.8 in the classroom area. The sale?s emphasis will be on handmade stocking stuffers and other small gift items. Another unique component of this sale is that all items must be crafted primarily from recycled, reused or repurposed materials.?The I.D.E.A. Store, Second Floor, 28 E. Springfield, Champaign.

Santa at Tolono Public Library:?Mark your calendar for Santa?s visit on Friday, December 7 from 6 -7:30pm. ?Santa will listen to your wish list and check to see if you have been naughty or nice! We are delighted to have Dimock Photography back this year to take pictures for this event! ?Santa?s little elf helper Miss Beth will be helping children with a craft, too! Don?t forget to visit our book sale and find some great books for yourself or as a gift.

Holiday Storytime Featuring The Polar Express:?Barnes and Noble, 65 East Market View Dr.,?Champaign, 7 p.m.?Parents and children are invited to our annual Polar Express moonlight story time. Everyone is encouraged to wear his or her favorite Christmas pajamas for the moonlight Storytime!?We will have a craft after the story time and will provide hot chocolate and cookies! Call 217.355.2264 or e-mail crm2714@bn.com to reserve a spot.

Saturday, Dec. 8

A St. Joseph Country Christmas:?St. Joseph will welcome Santa as he rides into St. Joseph on a firetruck (at 9). Santa will available for children to visit with him and parents could take a picture of their children with Santa, and there will be children?s activities. From 9 a.m. to noon, at the American Legion, 223 E. Lincoln St,?in St. Joseph.?

Christmas in Bement:?A full day of events are planned, including a parade at 1 p.m., horse-drawn carriage rides between 5 to 7 p.m, a tea (advanced registration required), and much more. Full schedule, click on the link.

Philo Santa Breakfast: Children of all ages are invited to visit with Santa before he makes his annual around the world flight delivering toys. Enjoy a simple breakfast, games, crafts and pictures with the one and only Santa Claus! Tickets for the activities will be available at the door for only 25 cents and all activities will cost only one or two tickets, making this a fun and affordable family event. Bring a new, unopened toy for our Salvation Army tree and receive 10 FREE tickets!??From 9 ? 11 a.m., at?R.E. Franks Center, 127 W. Washington, Philo.

Brunch with Santa:?At 88 Broadway, Lincoln Square, Urbana, from 10 a.m. to 2 pm.?Tickets are $10 per person.?Breakfast catered by Piato; Santa photos, other children?s activities. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Build a Gingerbread House at Lowe?s:?The holidays are right around the corner! Bring your child to Lowe?s and they can build this cool Gingerbread House! At the Build and Grow clinic, Champaign Lowe?s, 10 a.m. Registering in advance is recommended. For kids 5 and up.

Merry Treasures:?A holiday DIY bazaar hosted by the I.D.E.A store, from ?4 -7 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec.8 in the classroom area. The sale?s emphasis will be on handmade stocking stuffers and other small gift items. Another unique component of this sale is that all items must be crafted primarily from recycled, reused or repurposed materials.?The I.D.E.A. Store, Second Floor, 28 E. Springfield, Champaign.

Candy Christmas Trees: Come enjoy books and songs about Christmas trees, then make your own candy christmas tree to take home. Yummy!?For elementary and preschoolers.From 10 a.m. to noon at the?Urbana Free Library.?

Kris Kringle Workshop: Sign your kids up for a fun afternoon at the Savoy Recreation Center while you enjoy a little time to yourself to get your shopping done. Your child will enjoy gym games, art projects, snacks and more!?Ages: 4 and up,?1:00-5:00 pm?$12/resident, $10/R additional child;?$15/non-resident, $13/NR additional child.?Registration Deadline: December 1?

Douglas Community Center Holiday Party:?FREE! Ages 3-10. From 1 -3 p.m.?Come celebrate the holidays with us! Kids and parents are invited to attend a day with Santa featuring games, prizes, a free toy giveaway, and a treat. Sponsored by the Champaign Park District.

The Tons O? Fun Band and Friends 7th Annual Christmas Show:?This magical event will feature TOFB performing many of your seasonal favorites. Special guest appearances include the PBS Band, Rena Day from the group Champaign, Tim Frazier, Chip McNeil Chair of the Jazz Studies Division at the U of I, Chris Moors, Sam Carroll, Dody Cosmedy, Diana Rasch, Celia Williams, Tim Donaldson, and Tony Clements as Master of Ceremonies. Start off the holiday season with good music, good times and good cheer. All proceeds will benefit Developmental Services Center?s ?Tree of Hope Campaign!??Tickets are $35 for VIP which includes pre-show reception and reserved seating, $15 adult/$5 for children 12 and under. 1:30 p.m. at the Parkland College Theater,??2400 W. Bradley Avenue?Champaign.

Homer for the Holidays: Join us at Homer Lake for our natural approach to creating unique holiday gifts. Stations will be set up for children to make, wrap, and take home presents and ornaments for their families and friends. You can also help us create treats to decorate the trees outside of the Interpretive Center as our gift to the wildlife that call this preserve home. There?s no place like Homer for the holidays! Come and go at your convenience during program hours during 2-4 p.m. Free. Homer Lake Interpretive Center, Homer Lake Forest Preserve, 2573 S Homer Lake Rd, Homer.?For information, (217) 896-2455 or shampson@ccfpd.org.?

To Grandmother?s House We Go:??Nine stations will be available for children to make, wrap, and take home?presents and ornaments for their families and friends. Come join us for a great time with crafts for everyone!?Storyteller Kim Sheahan will entertain with holiday stories from 4:00-4:45. Free. Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve,?600 N Lombard, Mahomet, 2:00 ? 5:00 p.m.?For information, 217-586-2612 or?kriopelle@ccfpd.org.

Candy House Creations with the Urbana Park District: Get your family in the spirit of the season with an afternoon of candy fun. Create fabulous decorated houses from all sorts of goodies and treats. We provide all the fixins?- the graham crackers, cookies, candies, and frosting. Listen to holiday tunes while your sweet tooth builds its dream house. Best of all, we clean up the mess!?Registered participants may drop in at the Phillips Recreation Center any time between 2:30pm and 4pm. All participants must register in order to ensure adequate seating, but you will only be charged for the number of candy houses that you want to decorate. Register early for a discount ? $7 per candy house; otherwise, $9 per candy house. REGISTER BY DECEMBER 1.

Live Nativity:?This year?s Trinity Lutheran Church, (701 E. Florida Ave., Urbana) Live Nativity will be held on December 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. See animals, a manger and watch as the story of Christmas comes alive. There are live animals, adult and children choirs, real people playing the parts of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, shepherds, and angels; special music and songs all evening.

Sunday, Dec. 9

Annual Carol Concert 2012:?Presented by the UI School of Music, an exuberant tradition returns when choruses, instrumentalists, and audience members join in a celebration of the winter season. Tickets $10, at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Foellinger Great Hall, 3 p.m

In Concert at CPL: Briana Kay:??It?s Christmas! Come relax and get away from the holiday bustle with a concert of joyous seasonal music. The soulful Briana Kay, backed by pianist Crissy Rigsby, will sing original songs by Ray Miner along with traditional Christmas favorites.?This series is sponsored by the Champaign Public Library Friends.?At 2 p.m. at Champaign Public Library. Free.

Nativity Walk and Christmas/Advent Concert:?From 5-8 p.m. at?Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,?2101 S. Prospect Avenue, Champaign. Many beautiful nativity sets shown in lighted displays. Central Illinois Children?s Chorus and The Rip Chords free concert from 6-7 PM. Carols performed on the piano and vocal performance during social hour to follow by Kat Downs. Sing-a-long and requests included. Special Christmas coffee, cocoa, and cookies for all. Free.

Thursday, Dec. 13

CUSO Holiday Concert: Join the CUSO for the heartwarming cheer of the annual Holiday Concert! Bring your family for an evening of favorite carols, festive surprises, and entertaining guest artists. Lend your voice to the traditional sing-along and let the CUSO and returning guest conductor Daniel Black lead you into the holiday season! At Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; tickets $31-$5.?

Mills Breast Cancer Institute Music Series:?CU Symphony Sounds of Holiday Cheer.?From 12 to 12:45 p.m. at the Mills Breast Cancer Institute, 509 W. University Ave. in Urbana. Free.

Friday, Dec. 14

Merry & Bright Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt: 6 p.m. at Prairie Farm in Champaign. ?Bundle up, grab your flashlights, and come out to Prairie Farm to help us find candy canes hidden by the big guy in the red suit!? We hear he left some rare and special candy canes that are worth prizes, too.? Stick around afterward for hot chocolate and a visit from Santa himself!? This event is FREE for children ages 3-10. Sponsored by the Champaign Park District.

Saturday, Dec. 15

Elf on the Shelf Storytime: Barnes & Noble will host The Elf on the Shelf Storytime and Adopt-an-Elf event with Crisis Nursery on December 15 at 10:30 am.The event will kick off with a reading of The Elf on the Shelf ? A Christmas Tradition.?This special Storytime will give children an opportunity to adopt an elf of their own, complete with an adoption certificate. There will be activities and holiday treats as well. To RSVP for this event call 217.2264 or e-mail crm2714@bn.com

New Covenant Fellowship Craft Day:?Spend the morning enjoying Christmas music, snacks, gingerbread house decorating and lots of other holiday crafts. There will be a variety of projects available for everyone ages 2-99. Many will be perfect for gift giving. All materials will be provided, and this event is absolutely free, so don?t miss it! From 9 a.m. to noon. Corner of Randolph and White Street, Champaign.

Annual Candlestick Lane Opening Ceremony: The ceremony begins at 6:00 pm at the north end of Grant Place in Urbana. Grant Place and potions of Eastern and Fairlawn will be closed beginning at 5:00 pm. There will be NO parking allowed on the street, so plan ahead to park on adjacent streets.??Candlestick Lane will be lit every evening from 5 to 10 p.m. through Christmas. Drive cautiously and turn off headlights to get the most enjoyment from the lights.

Christmas Storytime at the Tolono Public Library:?Children will enjoy lively Gingerbread stories and create Gingerbread related crafts during this one hour event. ?Join Miss Beth as she cooks up some Gingerbread fun! 2-3 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 18

Movie Night: Frosty the Snowman: Put on your favorite pjs and get ready for the holidays by coming in to the Urbana Free Library to see an old favorite, Frosty the Snowman. We?ll have a snack and maybe even sing a carol or two!?6:30 p.m. Free.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Christmas Storytime:?Head to the Allerton Public Library in Monticello for storytime and a craft on Saturday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m.; for children ages 3-5.? Please register as space is limited.?Call 762.4676 for more information.

Art Lessons for Children: Holiday Origami: ?Do you want to add some holiday spirit to your week? Ai-ling and Yukimi, two local origami artists, will lead you through some holiday paper-folding fun. Create a few things to take home or give as gifts. Free; 2 p.m. For elementary school children.

Tuesday, Dec. 25

Community Christmas Dinner:?First Christian Church is once again hosting a Community Christmas Dinner for people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Children in attendance will receive a gender and age-appropriate, small gift. Appetizers will be served at 12:30 p.m. with dinner following at 1 p.m. on December 25 at the First Christian Church, 3601 South Staley Road, Champaign. Meal is free, but reservations are required. Dinner reservations can be made by calling (217) 649-2315 or send an email to christmasdinner@fcc-online.org.

Monday, Dec. 26

Happy Kwanzaa!

Thursday, Dec. 27

Itty Bitty New Year:?From?10:00am to 12:30pm.?Celebrate New Years as a family at the Savoy Recreation Center with craft projects, face painting, games, snacks, a noon balloon drop and more! Registration Deadline: Dec. 20 $20/Resident Family, $26/Non-Resident Family.

Monday, Dec. 31

Noon Year?s Eve: Are you afraid you won?t last till midnight to celebrate the New Year? Come celebrate with the Urbana Free Library at 11:30, with count down at noon. Ringing in the New Year with stories, food and fun!

Noon Day Celebration:?Ring in the New Year with a big balloon drop and count down at noon! Make crazy hats, crazy noise, and bring in the New Year with a parade around the Orpheum Children?s Science Museum! Free with admission, balloon drop and countdown at noon. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Related posts:

1. 2012 November Champaign-Urbana Winter Holiday Fun Guide
2. 2012 Champaign-Urbana Holiday Gift Guide
3. Champaign-Urbana Small- and Home-Business Holiday Gift Guide
4. 2012 Champaign-Urbana Area Halloween Fun Guide

Source: http://www.chambanamoms.com/2012/11/23/2012-champaign-urbana-winter-holiday-fun-guide-december/

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