B-list celebs hit the high seas

Ray Tamarra / Getty Images Contributor

Kate Gosselin will host a cruise in August aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

By Rob Lovitt, msnbc.com contributor

Can?t get your fill of celebrity culture from your TV or Twitter feed? Not a problem.

Sign up for the just-announced Kate Gosselin cruise?and you can sail away with the two-time reality-TV star ("Jon & Kate Plus 8," "Kate Plus 8"), former ?Dancing with the Stars? competitor and celebrity blogger for CouponCabin.com.

B-list celebrities don?t die, it seems, they just find new ways to market themselves.

?Part of it is a realization that celebrities as we have traditionally thought of them were folks who weren?t accessible to us,? said Carla Santos, associate professor of tourism management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

?You?re never going to be on a cruise with Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie so the next best thing is someone who?s had a few minutes of fame,? she told msnbc.com.

Consider some of the other less-than-A-list cruises currently available:

  • The Weezer Cruise: Almost two decades after hitting the charts, the popular ?90s band will be sailing from Miami to Cozumel on the Carnival Destiny, Jan. 19?23. Everybody sing: Ooo-wee-oo, I look just like Captain Stubing, oh-oh, and you?re Julie McCoy ...
  • The Star Trek Cruise: Quick, can you name the characters played by John Billingsley, Denise Crosby and Garrett Wang on the various iterations of "Star Trek?" Neither can we but, apparently, they?re the featured celebs on a Celebrity cruise that will boldly go, well, to the Western Caribbean. Alas, dates are not currently available, perhaps due to a fluctuation of the time-space continuum, the machinations of the Borg or a general lack of interest.
  • Love Letter Cruise: You?ve heard him on land, says the website, you?ve heard him on the radio but you?ve never heard him at sea. Who?s him? That would be R. Kelly, who?ll be crooning his way from Miami to the Bahamas on the Carnival Destiny, Oct. 1??6. Think ?Bump ?N Grind? meets the motion of the ocean.

Live Poll

What themed cruise would you rather board?

  • 173126

    Kate Gosselin

    4%

  • 173127

    Weezer

    12%

  • 173128

    Star Trek

    12%

  • 173129

    Love Letter

    1%

  • 173130

    I'd rather go to work

    71%

VoteTotal Votes: 885

Gosselin, of course, adds a new twist to the concept of celeb-hosted cruises as her accomplishments basically amount to achieving fame for being famous. Still, if you want to meet Kate in person, have your photo taken with Kate and receive a personalized gift from Kate, well, mark your calendar for Aug. 12?19 when the Allure of the Seas will set sail for the Western Caribbean.

In the meantime, consider the fact that the close quarters of a cruise ship can be both a blessing and a curse, especially when it comes to mingling with someone best known for controlling behavior, public meltdowns and terrible dancing.

?The cruise setting is interesting,? said Santos. ?It works perfectly for what they?re trying to create, which is closeness and the ability to rub elbows with these folks.?

On the other hand, she added, ?You can?t leave unless you decide to jump ship.?

For some reason, the vision of a Kim Kardashian cruise just popped into our heads.

More stories you might like:

Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination. Follow him at Twitter.

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Source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/11/10120051-b-list-celebs-hit-the-high-seas

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Travel Picks: World's top 10 film festivals (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? With the Sundance Film Festival starting next Thursday and the Oscars not too far off, the movie buffs at online travel adviser Cheapflights (http:///www.cheapflights.com) have compiled a top 10 list of their favorite film festivals across the globe. Reuters has not endorsed this list:

1. Sundance Film Festival - Park City, Utah, United States

Sundance Film Festival started out in 1978 as an event designed to attract more filmmakers to Utah while staying away from the overpowering Hollywood scene. Thirty-four years later, Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the United States, exhibiting feature-length films, documentaries, shorts, and animation while fostering dialogues among film enthusiasts. This year, the festival will run from Jan 19-29 in Park City, Utah, showcasing 200 films whittled down from nearly 9,000 submissions. Can't make it to the big event? On Jan 26, nine movie theaters across the United States will be hosting a filmmaker and his or her work as part of Sundance Film Festival USA, so you may be able to participate in the festivities wherever you are.

2. International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Though it receives less tourist traffic than its neighboring city, Amsterdam, Rotterdam is a modern representation of Dutch culture, and its annual film festival is constantly paving the way for all genres of innovative and thought-provoking cinema. This year's event will run from Jan 25 to Feb 5, and will encompass 19 screening venues - upwards of 350,000 viewers are expected to attend. Rotterdam attendees are passionate movie-goers, so program directors make a point of stripping down the superfluous aspects of film, like commercials and trailers, for an untarnished viewing experience.

3. Cannes International Film Festival - Cannes, France

The highly esteemed Cannes Film Festival sets the trend for up-and-coming cinema every year while boosting the film industry's caliber worldwide. As one of the most prominent film events recognized internationally, Cannes is the place for big names in cinema to show their latest work. Set along the pristine beaches of the French Riviera, warm temperatures and bright sunshine only add to the exciting atmosphere of the event. This year's star-studded festival will run from May 16-27. Attending the festival is by invitation only, but we suggest heading to the Tourist Office and getting passes to the Beach Cinema for free nightly screenings.

4. Guadalajara Film Festival - Guadalajara, Mexico

Considered the most significant film affair in Latin America, Guadalajara Film Festival is an important cultural event, showcasing Mexican and Latino talent alongside other international works of cinematic art. Thanks to Guadalajara Film Festival, Latin American film has become a competitor in the global film industry. From March 2-12, over 100,000 film lovers are expected to flood the streets and theaters of Guadalajara, viewing close to 200 films. While not as chaotic as Mexico City, Guadalajara is a destination perfect for exploring colonial history, enjoying the Mexican culture, shopping street markets and savoring traditional regional cuisine.

5. Rooftop Films - New York, New York, United States

New York City is known for filmmaking, and great festivals like The New York Film Festival and Tribeca are constantly at the forefront when it comes to showcasing the talent of filmmakers from around the world. But veer slightly off the beaten path to the skyline of the Big Apple, and check out our favorite New York festival known as Rooftop Films. What started out in 1997 as film screenings on the roof of a newly graduated film student's apartment has now expanded across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The festival runs on weekends from May to September.

6. Toronto International Film Festival - Toronto, Canada

The Toronto International Film Festival, which premiered in 1976 as an independent film festival, has grown to become one of the most important and influential festivals in North America, and is the leading public film festival in the world. Year after year, works from the Toronto festival have gone on to become Academy Award winners. This exciting and extensive festival takes place in the beginning of September (this year from Sept 6 to 16), and close to 350,000 attendees head to Canada's largest metropolis in the hopes of viewing what will be the next classic piece of cinematic art. Aside from putting Canada on the map as a competitor in the global film industry, Toronto's festival has become a launching pad for the success of new films released every fall.

7. Venice International Film Festival - Venice, Italy

The Venice Film Festival started in 1932, making it the oldest film festival in the world. Every year, this expansive event is held on the island of Lido in the fascinating city of Venice. Unlike similarly large film festivals such as Cannes, public attendees are able to purchase passes in advance to the screenings. This year's festival will run from Aug 29 until Sept 8 and screen more than 275 projects, 75 of which will be national and international premieres. And, if the film scene isn't enticing enough, Venice ranks high among travelers as a destination, encompassing history, culture and romantic charm.

8. Hong Kong International Film Festival - Hong Kong, China

The perfect blend of East Asian culture and a thriving global market, Hong Kong is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. It's no wonder that the Hong Kong International Film Festival has become one of the largest in the world, and has bridged the gap between Asian cinema and the global film industry. This year's event will take place from March 21 to April 5, showcasing more than 330 titles from 50 countries to an expected 600,000 viewers. Spread among more than 11 venues all around Hong Kong, including the Space Museum and City Hall, visitors get the chance to witness the latest works while exploring the vibrant city.

9. Berlin International Film Festival- Berlin, Germany

One of the most renowned film festivals in the world, the Berlin International Film Festival (also known as Berlinale) combines the glamour of filmmaking - parties, red carpet, high fashion - with the appreciation of cinematic art in a variety of genres. Divided into 10 separate sections, highlighting areas like experimental and avant-garde works, shorts geared towards younger generations, films focused around culinary themes and several others, there's a place for all film admirers at Berlinale. This year's festival will kick off on Feb 9 and last 10 days. It is expected that visitors from more than 115 countries will be in attendance to screen and discuss a variety of international films.

10. East End Film Festival - East London, United Kingdom As one of the largest film festivals in London, East End continues to grow in the industry as a high-profile event for filmmakers. In 2011, more than 60 feature films were screened, along with hundreds of shorts, all from more than 30 different countries. Submissions are based around several themes, the most popular being British, European and World films, horror and music. This coming July 3-8, coinciding with the Olympics, dozens of venues will open in East London to screen the latest works - many free - from both seasoned and up-and-coming film professionals. Plus, there will be plenty of live music, master classes and other special events to participate in.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120113/en_nm/us_travel_picks_filmfestivals

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S&P cuts France; more downgrades expected

Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor?s cut France?s credit rating Friday, the nation?s finance minister said. The move is part of an expected downgrade for several euro zone countries and the first blow of the new year for the troubled single currency.

Francois Baroin said S&P notified Europe?s second biggest economy Friday that its cherished triple-A rating had been cut by one notch to AA+, and most euro zone states had received notices of a change. Baroin insisted that the downgrade of the nation?s debt would not mean a change of direction for its economic policies.

?This is not a catastrophe. It?s an excellent rating. But it?s not good news,? Baroin told France 2 television, saying the government would not respond with further austerity measures.

Reuters reported earlier Friday that S&P was set to downgrade the credit ratings of several euro zone countries, among them France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal and Slovakia. S&P declined to comment to msnbc.com on the reports.

Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Ireland are among those to be spared the ratings cut, which would likely drive up borrowing costs for those affected as Europe attempts to tackle its growing debt crisis.

Eurozone slammed by downgrades, collapse of talks

Another source told Reuters that Slovakia, the euro zone's second poorest country currently rated A+ by S&P, would suffer a downgrade.

In a potentially more serious setback for the euro zone, negotiations on a debt swap by private creditors seen as key to averting a Greek default that would rock Europe and the world economy broke up without agreement in Athens, although officials said more talks are likely next week.

Reports that downgrades were on the way hit stocks, the euro and boosted demand for safe-haven U.S. government debt.

The possible downgrade comes as European leaders prepare for a summit at the end of January to tackle the expanding debt crisis.

On Wednesday, European leaders got a warning from the head of credit rating agency Fitch, that promises would not be enough. David Riley, Fitch?s head of sovereign ratings, urged the European Central Bank to ramp up its buying of troubled euro zone debt to support Italy and prevent a "cataclysmic" collapse of the euro.

Unlike their U.S. counterparts at the Federal Reserve, Europe?s central bankers have balked at buying up bad bonds in bulk, largely based on fears from influential German leaders that such a move could spark a dangerous bout of inflation. ECB bond buying is also politically unpopular with German voters, who also have opposed bailouts of Europe?s weaker, ?peripheral? economies like Greece.

More recently Italy, Europe?s third largest economy and the third biggest issuer of debt behind the U.S. and Japan, has lost investor confidence that it can manage its debt payments. That?s forced up borrowing costs, as investors demand higher interest rates to buy fresh Italian debt, adding to concerns that Rome may eventually default.

In December, S&P placed the ratings of 15 euro zone countries on credit watch negative - including those of top-rated Germany and France, the region's two biggest economies - and said "systemic stresses" were building up as credit conditions tighten in the 17-nation bloc.

Since then, the European Central Bank has flooded the banking system with cheap three-year money to avert a credit crunch.

At the time, S&P said it could also downgrade the euro zone's current bailout fund, the EFSF.

A downgrade could automatically require some investment funds to sell bonds of affected states, making those countries' borrowing costs rise still further.

"It's been priced in for several weeks, but the market had been lulled into complacency over the holidays, and the new year began with a bounce in risk appetite, thanks partly to a good Spanish auction," said Samarjit Shankar, Director Of Global Fx Strategy at BNY Mellon in Boston.

"But the Italian auction brought us back to earth and now we face the specter of further downgrades."

Italy's three-year debt costs fell below 5 percent on Friday but its first bond sale of the year failed to match the success of a Spanish auction the previous day, reflecting the heavy refinancing load Rome faces over the next three months.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45985510/ns/business-world_business/

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Jay-Z raps about baby, mentions miscarriage

Through a rap verse, Jay-Z has confirmed the birth of "the most beautiful" girl in the world ? his newborn daughter.

The song "Glory" made its debut on his social web site Life and Times on Monday ? two days after he and wife Beyonce gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy.

An official statement from the couple came Monday afternoon, as both said: "We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter."

The couple said the baby was delivered naturally and weighed seven pounds. "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. ... It was the best experience of both of our lives. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."

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Jay-Z's sweet song, in which he says "you're my child with a child from Destiny's Child," gives more revelations.

In the song, Jay-Z talks about where the child was conceived (in Paris) and even reveals that Beyonce had a miscarriage at one point.

"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic/We was afraid you'd disappear/But nah baby you magic."

The song's refrain is: "The most amazing feeling I feel/Words can't describe what I'm feeling for real/ Maybe I paint the sky blue/My greatest creation was you. You. Glory."

The sound of a baby's cries ? perhaps Blue's ? ends the song. The song says it features "B.I.C." ? Blue's initials.

It's the first child for the power couple, who wed in 2008 in a private ceremony after a years-long courtship. Beyonce announced her pregnancy to the world last August at the MTV Video Music Awards with a simple rub of her swollen belly.

Celebs close to the couple have tweeted congrats. Beyonce's sister, Solange Knowles, tweeted Sunday morning: "The most beautiful girl in the world," while Beyonce's close friend Gwyneth Paltrow also tweeted: "Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already."

Story: Beyonce and Jay-Z welcome a baby girl

The couple reportedly gave birth at Lenox Hill Hospital on New York's Upper East Side on Saturday. While there were reports that the couple paid $1.4 million to rent a floor of the hospital for the birth, hospital spokeswoman Barbara Osborne said Monday that "no patient has the ability to reserve an entire floor of the hospital."

While she refused to confirm or deny that Beyonce had given birth there, she said that like other hospitals, suites are available and can be reserved.

One new mother, Rozz Nash-Coulon, said her twins, born Dec. 28, were in the neonatal unit, and starting Friday, intense security measures were implemented and it was a struggle to see her own children as security guards directed hallway traffic. She said a nurse told them Jay-Z and Beyonce were staying at the hospital.

"Once they checked in there was high security everywhere. It looked like the president was on our floor. The hospital's security cameras were taped over. Internal windows from the hallways into the ward were blacked out," said Nash-Coulon, 38.

Nash-Coulon said she and other parents are trying to mobilize to protest their treatment, which she called "disgusting." But Osborne said she had not heard anything about any complaints. She also could not confirm or deny reports that security cameras were taped over.

As for areas of the hospital being blocked off to some, Osborne said: "I can't specifically talk about that but I can tell you that visitors can be asked to leave a waiting area in our hospital for any number of reasons."

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45931331/ns/today-entertainment/

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Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Radiohead headline Coachella

(AP) ? The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will headline two weekends of concerts at The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Organizers of the Indio, California, music festival on Monday announced a dizzying list of top musicians who are slated to perform over two long weekends, April 13-15 and April 20-22.

The six-day concert schedule marks the first time Coachella is to extend over two consecutive weekends.

In addition to the headliners, more than 100 bands are expected to perform at the shows, including Arctic Monkeys, The Shins, Bon Iver, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Beirut, At The Drive In, Cat Power and ska legends Madness.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. PST and start at $285 for a festival pass.

___

Online:

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, www.coachella.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-10-Coachella%20Lineup/id-1e0a3388ae844feea3f7a77ca8ec183a

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ESPN 3D BCS Championship demo eyes-on

It seems like it's been forever since we last saw college football in 3D at CES and oh my has the technology come a long way. ESPN partnered up with RealD, Marchon, and Christie Digital to present the LSU vs Alabama BCS National Championship game in 3D at the Las Vegas Hotel theater. We left wow'd and believe everyone else did too. We walked about the theater and didn't find a bad spot, although front and center was the best. There were a number of 3D cameras in use to cover the event (details after the break) which featured the same announcers as the 2D presentation, but different cameras from different angles. Of those cameras, the most dramatic was the wireless handhelds that made us feel like we were doing the pre-game interviews ourselves. The only gripe was that the typical 50-yard camera up high and center was not part of the presentation, we found ourselves missing the typical perpendicular shots that are a staple of most football broadcasts. This did reaffirm one thing, though, we can't imagine there's a single sports fan in the world who has experienced their favorite in 3D and not become a fan of the technology.

ESPN 3D BCS Championship demo eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/espn-3d-bcs-championship-demo-eyes-on/

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Obama hails Dallas Mavericks for first NBA title

WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama saluted Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday as NBA champions who staged a season-ending charge to beat LeBron James and the vaunted Miami Heat and claim their first title with a ''heart that's the size of Texas.''

''This was a remarkable run, a great victory,'' Obama declared, as owner Mark Cuban and Mavericks stars, including series MVP Nowitzki, looked on. ''It's too bad that next year, it'll be the Chicago Bulls here.''

The first basketball fan - a passionate supporter of his hometown Bulls - was nonetheless lavish in praising the Mavericks, who beat the Heat in six games last June.

''They know how good teams win,'' Obama said. ''Not just by jumping higher or running faster, but by finding the open man, working together, staying mentally tough, being supportive of each other, playing smarter.''

He said that's how Dallas ''took down some of the league's best teams ... including the Miami Heat, who got a little bit of attention last year.''

The victory was sweet revenge for Dallas after it blew an NBA finals lead to the Heat five years earlier. It also upended the hope of Heat superstars James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for a championship in their first year playing together.

Monday's ceremony reflected both the league's current, lockout-shortened season and the determination of the colorful Cuban to make it happen. Typically, White House visits take place when a championship team plays in Washington. With such a short season, the Mavericks aren't here this year. Cuban insisted on the ceremony anyhow.

''It's tough to say no to Mark Cuban,'' Obama said, to knowing laughter from his players.

Obama singled out the German-born Nowitzki, noting he played in the finals despite a painful finger injury and fever. ''Clearly Dirk is a tough guy, although the most painful thing may have been his rendition of 'We Are the Champions' during the victory celebrations,'' the president said.

Mavericks guard Delonte West did not attend the event in the East Room, even though the Secret Service said he had been cleared along with his teammates.

West pleaded guilty to weapons possession charges after a September 2009 traffic stop in suburban Maryland. He told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he was ''banned'' from the White House on Monday because of the weapons charges, but Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said in fact West could have taken part. A team spokeswoman, Sarah Melton, also said West was not banned from the White House ceremony but declined to comment on why he didn't attend.

West was not a member of the championship squad but joined the Mavericks prior to this season.

---

Associated Press Writer Julie Pace in Washington and Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5722616344

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Japan's Animation TV Ranking, December 5-11

Fairy Tail Blu-Ray + DVD 2
Fairy Tail suffers from the same production flaws as before, with cost-cutting animation and bland background music ... but a more substantial storyline makes it easier to overlook these shortcomings. Kamisama Kiss GN 6
Kamisama Kiss' latest English volume takes the promise of volume five and expands upon it. Despite a slight artistic decrease, the story remains engaging and by turns funny, touching, and romantic. D.Gray-man Illustrations Artbook
You don't have to be a D. Gray-man fan to enjoy this book. While the images will make more sense if you are, Hoshino's work is attractive and artistic enough to stand on its own with no previous story knowledge. Mr. Convenience GN
Mr. Convenience isn't anything earth-shattering or new. But it is pleasant, sweet, and sexy, and if you like yaoi and just want a break from the real world, this is a good way to take one. Black Jack GN 16
The usual praise that is showered upon Black Jack applies once again to Volume 16, but this time there's something even more special in store with the last hundred pages or so.

Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-08/japanese-anime-tv-ranking/december-5-11

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Toyota Canada?s new head lays out a recovery plan

Toyota Canada Inc.?s new president has laid out an ambitious plan for reversing the company?s slump, one that includes an aggressive sales goal that can be met only by winning back customers from rival auto makers.

In his first interview since his appointment last month, Seiji Ichii revealed that Japan?s largest auto maker has set a target of selling 200,000 vehicles in Canada this year, which would be a jump of almost 25 per cent from 2011 and a dramatic turnaround from three straight annual sales declines.

More related to this story

Hitting that mark after last year?s sales of 162,260 will not be easy, Mr. Ichii acknowledged Sunday. But he believes a flood of 18 new or redesigned Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles over the next 18 months will propel the auto maker back to a sales level that it hit each year from 2007 to 2009 as it rose to become the No. 2 seller of vehicles in Canada. Last year, it slipped to No. 4, behind the Detroit Three.

?I don?t think our targets should be easy ones,? he said on the eve of the North American International Auto Show, which opens to the media in Detroit on Monday. ?We don?t know whether we can achieve that or not, but I want to keep challenging.?

Mr. Ichii?s comments highlight the challenge that faces all of the major auto companies in 2012: how to find growth in a market that is stagnant.

Canadian vehicle sales, which were 1.585 million last year, are expected to be up only a fraction in 2012 ? at best -- as heavily-indebted consumers shy away from large purchases.

That means any sales gains will have to come at the expense of competitors. Companies like Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. have grabbed market share from Toyota in recent years and are seeking to hang on to those drivers and win new customers. Toyota also faces other Japan-based auto makers equally intent on boosting sales after major declines in 2011 because of a shortage of vehicles caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The slow-growth environment has led to speculation that auto makers will increase incentives such as rebates and low-interest financing to snag customers. Mr. Ichii said he is surprised by how high consumer incentives are in Canada, noting that some auto makers are offering $7,000 or more in rebates.

Toyota will not boost incentives to meet the 200,000 target at any cost, Mr. Ichii said. ?Crazy incentives is not what I have in mind.?

Another ambitious, but longer-term, goal for Mr. Ichii is to see Toyota?s Lexus division become the best-selling luxury brand in Canada. Lexus ranked fifth among luxury makers last year with sales of 13,364, which was less than half the 29,773 sold by leader BMW Canada Inc.

Among the new or redesigned vehicles Mr. Ichii hopes will help reverse Toyota?s decline are the subcompact Yaris, the mid-sized Camry sedan, new hybrid vehicles carrying the Prius badge and new cars for the youth-oriented Scion brand. Lexus will be helped by new vehicles as well, he said.

Mr. Ichii said Toyota?s overall sales of 13,706 in December are the equivalent of a 200,000-vehicle year, when sales are adjusted for seasonality.

He also believes some customers have been waiting on the sidelines for tsunami-related vehicle shortages to ease, and are starting to buy now that dealers? lots are fully stocked again.

Such an attitude among consumers could provide an unexpected boost to Japanese auto makers and the entire Canadian market, industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers said in a note to clients last week.

?A lot of consumers sat on their hands last year as supply of Japanese products was very tight,? Mr. DesRosiers wrote. ?Even though Detroit vehicles are much better built and many are as good as any Japanese product in the market, it is very difficult to bring a consumer back into your fold once you have disappointed them not just once but maybe three, four, even five times.?

Even before the supply shortages last year, however, Toyota had been in a tailspin in Canada since hitting a peak in 2008 with sales of 224,158 vehicles. The three years since that peak have been among the most difficult times the auto maker has faced since it began selling cars in Canada in 1964.

The recession battered all companies in 2009. The next year, Toyota faced a recall crisis, during which it was savaged in the media and sustained damage to its reputation for leading the industry in vehicle quality, reliability and dependability.

Just as it was recovering from that crisis, the earthquake, tsunami and power crisis caused massive disruptions in parts supplies and caused shortages of most of its models last year.

In addition, flooding in Thailand disrupted supplies again last fall. Toyota and other Japan-based auto makers are also feeling the effects of the surging Japanese yen, which increases costs in their home market and reduces profits from exports.

Toyota Canada is cushioned from the much of the impact of the yen by the fact that about 50 per cent of the vehicles it sells in Canada are made at the company?s two Canadian plants and another 30 per cent are imported from U.S. factories, Mr. Ichii said.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/toyota-canadas-new-head-lays-out-a-recovery-plan/article2295445/?utm_medium=Feeds:%20RSS/Atom&utm_source=Globe%20Investor&utm_content=2295445

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Fed survey shows economy ended 2011 with strength (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The final weeks of 2011 were the economy's best since it seemed to be slipping toward recession in late spring ? a shot of optimism for 2012.

Consumers spent more freely. Factories made more goods. Americans stepped up travel. And the auto industry enjoyed its best stretch of the year.

That's the bright picture the Federal Reserve sketched in a survey released Wednesday. It said all but one of its 12 banking districts experienced some growth from late November through the end of the year.

The one exception was Richmond. Even in that district, the Fed said economic activity either "flattened or improved slightly."

The Fed said that some sectors of the economy, notably housing, remain weak. But overall, the message was encouraging. It comes just six months after the economy nearly stalled under the weight of high food and gas prices and supply disruptions from Japan that slowed U.S. manufacturing.

The economy and the job market have both improved since then. And December may end up being the strongest month of 2011. Employers added 200,000 jobs. And the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent ? the lowest rate in nearly three years.

"The Fed's report Wednesday confirms what everyone else has been seeing in the economic data from retail sales to auto sales and manufacturing ? activity is improving," said Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Most of the Fed's districts reported holiday sales increased over last year. In particular, the New York and Dallas districted reported healthy gains. Boston, New York and Minneapolis reported exceptional growth in online sales.

Consumers are spending more on cars and travel, the survey noted. Auto sales in the Atlanta area were the best sales in more than two years. Boston, New York, Richmond and Atlanta experienced gains in tourism from a year ago. In Boston alone, businesses expect double-digit growth in hotel revenue in 2012.

U.S. manufacturing continued to lift the economy, particularly in industries that make heavy equipment and steel. That has helped boost energy, farming and auto manufacturing sectors, the report said.

The depressed housing market has hurt some manufactures. As an example, the Fed cited weakness among furniture manufacturers in the Richmond, St. Louis and San Francisco districts.

Inflation remained subdued, largely because high energy prices have eased. That may change in the new year. Oil has climbed above $100 a barrel again, and gas prices are creeping up.

The strength shown in the Fed survey reflected other positive economic reports.

Consumer confidence hit its highest point since spring. U.S. automakers reported their two best months of sales for 2011 in November and December. And U.S. factories ended the year with their best month of growth since spring.

Most economists are predicting the economy grew at an annual rate of 3 percent in the final three months of last year. That would be an improvement from the summer, when the economy expanded just 1.8 percent. And it would be much better than the 0.9 percent annual growth rate in the first half of the year.

Still, the U.S. economic recovery remains vulnerable to setbacks. Europe's debt crisis could lower demand for U.S. exports. Consumers may pull back on spending, especially if their wages continue to stagnate.

And Congress could decide not to extend a Social Security tax cut or long-term unemployment benefits. Both expire at the end of February. That would leave many households with less income and could slow spending.

The Fed has been studying the economy's progress but announced no new actions to try to energize it after its Dec. 13 meeting. That was taken as a sign of confidence that the economy was in no immediate danger.

But in the minutes from the meeting released last week, the Fed said it will start this month announcing four times a year how long it plans to keep short-term interest rates at existing levels.

The change is intended to reassure consumers and investors that they will be able to borrow cheaply well into the future. And some economists said it could lead to further Fed action to try to invigorate the economy.

The Fed's next meeting is Jan. 24 and 25.

The Beige Book is released eight times a year. The findings from each of the Fed's regional bank districts are all anecdotal; there are no numbers.

The idea is to detect trends in consumer spending, manufacturing and real estate, among other areas. Consumer spending is particularly important because it accounts for about 70 percent of gross domestic product. GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in the United States.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120111/ap_on_bi_ge/us_beige_book

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