Switcher's lament: The case against Mac
Beautiful hardware and a robust operating system don't trump apps and peripherals that don't work as they are supposed to.

Four Points to meet tourist needs
KUCHING: After almost two decades, a new international hotel will open here. Sheraton's Four Points Hotel, owned by Global Upline Sdn Bhd, will open for business next Saturday, to meet the rising demand for hotel rooms.

Council travel comes in below budget
City Council members and the mayor spent $38,640 on trips in 2008, going to conferences or conventions in Vail, Orlando, Fla., and Washington, D.C.

Backers want Seattle convention center to expand
Never mind the lousy economy. Backers of Seattle's convention center say the time is right for a $766 million expansion to lure more free-spending conventioneers downtown. Despite the state's...

Business calendar
#9830;Summit Computer Training Services, 3939 Parnell Ave.: PowerPoint 2003 Advanced will be Tuesday. Project 2007 Basic will be Wednesday. Outlook 2003 Advanced will be Thursday. Excel 2007 Basic, Photoshop Basic, Outlook 2007 Basic and Publisher 2007 Basic will be Jan. 12.

Does convention center really need to grow again?
Backers of Seattle's convention center say it needs a $766 million expansion to lure more free-spending conventioneers downtown. But the Washington State Convention & Trade Center's track record ? and the struggles of convention centers elsewhere ? raise questions about the wisdom of expansion.

Consumer Electronics Show turns down volume
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas -- known in years past for its outsized booths, wall-to-wall crowds and lobster dinners -- is going to be a lot tamer this month.

Firms in tourism industry share tips in managing business, manpower costs
SINGAPORE: Companies in the food and beverage (F&B) sector are getting tips from their peers and tripartite partners on how to manage manpower and business costs to tide over the economic crisis.

Shahid Buttar: Could Gitmo Get Worse? The Policy Implications of Executive Accountability
If we can't attain a national consensus against surveillance trampling the rights of every American, what hope exists of a progressive consensus emerging on torture or detention?

Nigeria: Uwais Committee Report - Ten-Year Ban for Electoral Offenders
A 10-year ban awaits election riggers, including candidates seeking elective office whose elections are nullified by the tribunal, should the Presidency, the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly accept a proposal by the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee, ERC, Sunday Vanguard can now reveal.

Session gives economy biennial boost
The winter months can be a slow time for tourism in Helena, but every other year the city?s hospitality businesses ? along with others in different industries ? get a boost when the Montana Legislature convenes from January through late April.

Chamber has small-business issues forum
Small-business issues forum The monthly Small Business Issues Forum, open to members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, meets Wednesday, giving small-business owners a chance to meet and share information and resources. The forum is scheduled from noon...

Will 2009 be the year of Rahul Gandhi?
Rahul Gandhi has slowly emerged out of the self-imposed cocoon in the year that went by.

Exchange staff gives predictions for local economy
Hello, 2009. Record high and low fuel prices; commodities, stocks and bonds riding a crazy roller coaster; rampant unemployment; falling world currencies and many other factors had an impact on the local economy in the past year. Covering these issues has been the best and worst of times. On our respective beats - Broady: consumerism; Nardella: real estate, retail and tourism; and Mayle: ...

Sheraton Kuching to open on Jan 17
After almost two decades, a new international hotel will open here. Sheraton?s ?Four Points? hotel, owned by Global Upline Sdn Bhd, will begin business on Jan 17, to meet the rising demand for hotel rooms.

Tourism advocates urge 'Bring it Home'
Midlands News Service The Scotts Bluff County Tourism Committee wants to put thousands of county residents to work.

Other top stories to watch for in 2009
Youve seen our a hrefhttp://www.thenorthwestern.com/ic/top_stories.shtmltargetnewyear-end look back at the top stories of 2008/a, now have a look at some of our other stories to watch for in 2009:

Chamber invests in Smart Community
Business as usual is a far cry from how the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce conducted its affairs this past year.

EDUCATION UPDATE
Jan. 5: District stakeholders' meeting for the Luchan district at 6 p.m. at Tamuning Elementary School. The school's budget will be presented. E-mail input to ahesprincipal@yahoo.com .

Upbeat tourism chief rolls out welcome mat
Although he's been on the job since October, William Pate officially began work last week as president of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He talked recently about his challenges, the city's competitors and things he's already doing to lure visitors here in 2009.