2009 Predictions: The year of the Ox (Toronto Sun)

The year of the Ox is just what’s needed to clean up any mess and clutter left over from last year — the year of The Rat.

Desert's fabric revealed in new form (The Australian)

BEFORE they became known for their paintings, indigenous women adapted batik as a means of artistic expression.

Fashion designer Marc Jacobs reveals all (Daily Telegraph)

Gone is the withdrawn longhair 'schlump' hooked on drugs and alcohol. In his place is a new Marc Jacobs who resembles something like a superhero - and is just loving all the attention. The fashion designer tells Ariel Levy why after two spells in rehab he's finally happy in his skin...

Angola: Cinema Seeks Better Ways to End Crises (AllAfrica.com)

Luanda — National cinematography production is seeking for better ways to end the crises it is facing, in a fight among film-makers, producers and government entities, through the Ministry of Culture, with visible results in the domain of amateur video, Angop has learnt.

All News... Medway at Large - Reporters' Notebook (The Kent Messenger)

Writing this remotedly from from home up northish in the hood. Didn't have time to update today but just wanted to write a few lines to keep up appearances before this blog returns with a proper regular flourish in the New Year.

Montana’s year in music (The Billings Outpost)

Most of the 34 CDs I have listened to that were recorded over the past year by Montana artists were recorded in Montana; only few of them were made at Billings studios. A growing number were recorded at home.

RS mother/daughter team cooperate on “Opoly” game (WUTR - WFXV Utica)

By Bruce Watson Richfield Springs Central School elementary remedial math teacher Maureen Heroux’s daughter, Chantelle, had an idea a year and a half ago that would combine a mom’s artistic flair and a daughter’s inventive and creative talents.

New Startups Business Ecourse Outlines Steps to Starting a Small Business Online (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

DM-Creative.com, one of the top sites for work at home business startups, launched an exciting new startups business ecourse. The free course enables users caught in today's economic financial crisis to discover how to start a small business on the Internet. Participants follow a step-by-step process, allowing them to make money quickly and cover unexpected costs, such as a higher mortgage ...

Jared Cohen: Rebutting the Skeptics: Digital Media Is America's Ally (HuffingtonPost)

Over the past year we have seen digital media empower populations around the world in unprecedented ways, but there are skeptics who don't buy into this trend as a force for social good.

Create an Upbeat, Can-Do Workforce and Dazzle Residents (Multi-Housing News)

Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee with a "can-do" attitude or with a disgruntled, distracted, uninterested one, which would you choose? No contest.