Peruvian Jesus born to Virgin Mary on Christmas

Virgin Mary, a 20-year-old Peruvian woman, gave birth to a baby boy on Christmas day and named him Jesus, Peru's state news agency said on Friday.

The baby's father, Adolfo Jorge Huamani, 24, is a carpenter. Religious Peruvians compared him to Joseph the Carpenter in the Bible.

"Two thousand years later the story of Bethlehem is relived," read the headline about the birth in El Comercio, the main newspaper in Peru, a predominantly Catholic country.

The mother, Virgen Maria Huarcaya, delivered the 7.7 pound (3.5 kg) boy, Jesus Emanuel, in the early hours of Christmas at the central maternity hospital in Lima, the capital.

"A few days ago we had decided to name my son after a professional soccer player," the father said. "But thanks to a happy coincidence this is how things ended up."

Police: Woman faked missing baby story to win back ex

22-Year old mother charged with filing a false police report

On Christmas Day, 22 year old Meagan McCormic faced television cameras to plead for the safe return of her missing 5-month-old son.

"I don't even know if he's dead or alive," she said.

In fact, she knew that the child had never existed, police said.

McCormic was trying to lure an ex-boyfriend back when she invented a missing-child story that triggered a statewide search this week, police said Friday.

Investigators have charged the 22-year-old with filing a false police report. If convicted, they said, she may have to pay authorities for the cost of their search.
She was scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon.

She invented the story to lure back an ex-boyfriend by pretending he had fathered a child he did not know about, said Delrish Moss, a spokesman for the Miami Police Department. When the boyfriend showed up and asked to see the child, Moss said, McCormic told him the boy was missing.

"He finally decided to show up, and she created a story and he had no idea," Moss said.

On Christmas Day, the estranged boyfriend attended a news conference with McCormic under the impression that he had a son who was missing.

"I don't understand," John Buchness, 26, said then, choking back tears. "It's Christmas."

McCormic told police she had left her son with a nanny named Camille.

"I don't know if they're in Florida," she said. "I don't know where they are."

Authorities around Florida started looking for the boy and nanny, using the descriptions McCormic supplied, police said. She even gave police a picture of the boy, but Friday they said they believe she had downloaded the photo from the Internet.

Authorities have called off their search.

The 12 scams of Christmas

'Tis the season for joy and giving -- but for malicious types hanging out in cyberspace it's also a time to take advantage of naive web surfers. Scams run high leading up to and over the holidays, Here are 12 scams to watch out for to ensure a Merry Christmas for yourself.

Not everyone is feeling the festive spirit, as many scammers are attempting to take advantage of your kindness. Here are of 12 scam warning signs to watch out for.

Charity Phishing Scams

How it works: The hackers send fictional emails that appear to be from well-known charitable organizations, such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Oxfam that direct consumers to fake websites designed to steal their money.

What to do: Don’t ever click on a link sent in email -- type in the name of the organization directly.

Email Banking Scams

How it works: the bad guys send an official-looking email that asks consumers to confirm account information, including their user name and password. These emails often try to fool consumers into thinking that if they don’t comply with the instructions, their account will become invalid.

What to do: Don't ever click on a link sent in email. Visit your bank website directly by typing in the name in your browser. Call your bank by telephone if you’re concerned about your account. Never give your account details out as a result of an email request.

Holiday e-cards

How it works: Scammers may send you an e-card that appears as if it’s coming from Hallmark asking you to download an attachment to pick up your e-card. However, the attachment isn't really an e-card -- it's a Trojan.

What to do: A few clues that an e-card is not legit are spelling mistakes, errors in the message, unknown senders or senders with bogus names and odd-looking URLs. When in doubt, don’t open it.

Fake Invoices

How it works: The bad guys create a fake invoice or waybill and send it via email as an attachment. Once the consumer opens the email attachment there are a few variations -- the recipient may be asked to confirm or cancel an order, they may be told that the parcel service was unable to deliver a package due to having an incorrect address, or the recipient may receive a customs notification about an international package.

What to do: Never give your financial details over email to an unknown recipient or open a suspicious attachment. If you want to ensure you are reaching shipping sites like FedEx or UPS, open a browser and directly access the website.

You’ve Got A New Friend!

How it works: As the joy of the holiday season brings people together and reignites old friendships, many of us are excited when alerted with a message that says, “You’ve got a new friend!” when using popular social networking sites. Sadly, in some cases, after clicking on the notice, you NOT only do not have a new friend -- you have downloaded malicious software that you can’t even detect. Of course, it’s designed to steal personal and financial information.

What to do: Delete the email immediately. Stay away from “friends” you don’t know.

Dangerous Holiday-Related Search Terms

How it works: You get an email or see a pop-up window that says "Free Santa download” or "Free Santa holiday screensaver" but when click on it and download the proam, it's malware.

What to do: Don't trust these emails or pop-up windows. If you want to download holiday-themed PC extras, go to a legit site like Download.com, which houses files that contain no spyware.

Coffee Shop Cyber criminal

How it works: An attacker might set up a rogue wireless access point nearby a coffeehouse. If somebody unwittingly connects to the attacker’s network, the thief can watch just about everything that goes on while that connection is in use and can redirect traffic, sending the unknowing user to the dark alleys of the Internet.

What to do: Make sure you have a firewall install and stick with wireless networks you know and trust. Free is tempting, but could cost you a lot in the end.

Password Stealers

How it works: A North American holiday shopping survey found that 53 percent of consumers admit they use the same password for multiple websites or online services. If someone finds out (or guesses) one of your passwords, it could put your entire digital life at risk.

What to do: Be sure you use have an updated comprehensive security software suite to help prevent access to password-stealing malware -- this includes anti-virus, anti-spyware and a two-way firewall. And create complex passwords such as h@ppYh0lid@y$

Fraud Via Auction Sites

How it works: Shoppers on auction sites must be aware of scammers who will use the increased activity of the holiday season to prey upon new victims. Be sure to read the security and safety policies from such sites as eBay to learn how to protect your account and buy safely.

What to do: eBay’s Online Safety Advisor, Rich LaMagna, recommends to use your common sense (if an item looks too good to be true, it probably is), carefully review the seller’s ratings and feedback to be sure that he or she has a positive rating and pay with a safe payment method such as PayPal or your credit card.

Holiday-themed email attachments and spam

How it works: A recent holiday survey found that 49% of consumers have opened or would open an email with a holiday themed attachment. Consumers should beware of emails that prey upon their holiday spirit.

What to do: Be weary of friendly-looking emails from strangers that say something like “Happy 2009 to you!”, “Merry Christmas, friend!” and of course don’t open attachments or click links that take you to a website.

Online Identity Theft

How it works: McAfee says online shopping offers the 3 Cs: cost, convenience and choice -- but there’s one more we learned about from the recent McAfee Shopping Survey: Concern. For example, sites that store your personal information can be vulnerable to cybercriminals who hack in to steal your identity.

What to do: look for the mark of trusted security approvals, such as McAfee SECURE, which appears on more than 80,000 sites that pass daily testing for more than 10,000 known hacker vulnerabilities.

Laptop Theft

How it works: While you're out enjoying the festivities of the season, someone is looking to take home YOUR laptop as their gift.

What to do: Make sure to be particularly vigilant at this time of year and never leave your laptop in sight in your car. For further protection, be sure to purchase a product that safeguards important files – including photos, music and bank/credit card statements, in the event your laptop is stolen.

Office holiday party etiquette

Tis the season...For Holiday office parties!! A time when eager employees get the perfect opportunity to cozy up to their bosses - or ruin their reputations.

Offering up a toxic mix of free booze, pent-up frustration and awkward interactions, these festive soirees have been providing the grist for office gossip mills for decades.

They also have left careers in tatters.

Holiday parties are very dangerous; a person can ruin his or her career in just one cocktail party overload.

You need to remember that the office holiday party is more "office" than "party". Your career needs you to act accordingly.

We've all heard about the person who got so drunk at the office party that they groped a co-worker, told off the boss, and passed out under the buffet table. Monday morning they couldn't remember what happened, but they still had to try to work with those people.

You may have seen it happen. You may even have been the unfortunate who did it. Either way, you probably know what happened to that person. They were either fired outright or shut out until they resigned.

Very few companies tolerate that kind of behavior. Your attempt at being the "life of the party" may cost you your job.
It may also cost you your life, or at least your freedom. If you drive drunk, you may kill yourself or someone else. While some companies arrange for taxis or hotel rooms for employees who over indulge, and the Web is full of resources to help you avoid the problem, the final responsibility ultimately rests with you.

In order to help you avoid committing an office party disaster, follow my advice - don’t do any of the following:

1. Don’t get wasted. Pounding back a few brews and shooting tequila may have made you the king of your college frat parties, but ending an office party with your underwear on your head will get you few plaudits at work. Drink slowly and have just one or two drinks. Better yet, plain club soda or soft drinks are ALWAYS safe.

2. No kissy face with colleagues. Even if you’ve been salivating for months over the guy or girl two cubicles away, now is not the time to make your move. Whether you get to first base or get rejected, the result will be the same: you’ll become the butt of jokes for weeks, maybe even months.

3. Curb your inner stripper. A little dirty dancing will certainly get your boss’ attention. But you’re much better off impressing everyone with your mind rather than a bump and grind - even a silly one.

4. Invite the right date. Who you "roll" with reflects who you are. That guy or girl who doesn’t bathe regularly is a no-no. So is anyone who is covered in facial tattoos or piercings or includes the words “like”, “dude”, “yo” or “son” in every sentence.

5. Dress appropriately. This is the time to relax with your co-workers, not show off that new hip-hugging skirt, groin hugging trousers, any new Victoria's Secret purchase, Calvin's or C-IN2 Sling Support Lo No Show Profile Briefs. Keep your flesh covered.

Remember that the annual office holiday party is still a business function. It's wrapped in a social context, but it's still a business function. Many other business events have a social context, such as taking the client to lunch or attending the charity dinner to receive the award for the company. Those who observe your behavior at the office holiday party will remember it when they consider you for other business social events. The good news is it works both ways.

I'm not suggesting that your bosses are specifically watching your every move at an event like this. Obviously they can't watch everyone all the time. Besides, they are trying to enjoy the party and to use it for their own purposes. However, rest assured your behavior will be observed by someone whose opinion can impact your job and future.

Using it to your advantage

The good news is that you can just as easily use the annual office holiday party to advance your career as you can to cripple it. It's an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to handle business situations of a social nature, something that is required of senior level executives.

It's an opportunity for you to meet the CEO and other senior executives of your company that you might not have met before, or have seldom had the opportunity to speak with.
Finally, it is an opportunity for you to let your coworkers know how much you appreciate their support and assistance during the year.

You don't have to spend all night at the event, but you do have to attend. Plan to arrive soon after the event is scheduled to start. Everyone will still be "fresh". They won't have repeated the same greeting, and small talk several dozen or hundreds of times yet.

Find your host, the boss.
Thank him or her and take advantage of the opportunity to chat, but don't monopolize your host. Others will want to make their greetings too. Don't try too hard to make a good impression and end up making the wrong impression.

Mingle. Introduce yourself to someone you don't know. It may turn out to be someone who can help you on that next project. Or just someone who turns out to be an interesting person.
Not the mingling type? Then find someone who looks as miserable as you feel and speak to them. You'll both enjoy the evening more.

If you haven't eaten yet (came straight from the office huh?) go ahead and sample a few items from the buffet. Be sure to select things you can eat neatly, with one hand, while standing up. Stay away from salty or greasy foods that make you want to drink more. Choose foods high in starch and protein that will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.

Watch what you drink. Keep reminding yourself that this is a business event first and a party second.
A good idea, is to keep the drink glass in your left hand so when you shake hands with someone, your hand isn't wet or cold.

Take advantage of the party atmosphere. Seek out the individuals who can influence your career. Do your homework ahead of time so you can speak with them about their division's newest release, or their favorite sports team, or the play you saw last week. You can talk business, but don't "talk shop". After an appropriate interval, excuse yourself and move on.

When you have spoken to all or most of the bosses, coworkers, and new people you planned to, gracefully make your exit. As you leave, thank your host for the enjoyable evening.

One last thing. If you made any verbal commitments to any of the people at the holiday party, make sure to follow up on them. Try to write them down as soon as you get home so you don't forget.

Happy Holidays

Christmas Around the World

A quick trip around the world to learn how different cultures celebrate the season.



People around the globe celebrate Christmas in their own unique ways. Here is a glimpse into how some cultures around the world mark the occasion.

Christmas Down Under
Christmas in Australia takes place during the summertime. Of course, the hot weather doesn't prevent Australians from celebrating Christmas. They're just more likely to celebrate outside. Many families eat their midday Christmas meal in their backyards and sometimes even at the beach. When Santa makes an appearance, he's usually wearing his swimming suit ready to start his vacation.

Australia's most breathtaking Christmas tradition, Carols by Candlelight, also takes place outside. At outdoor concerts held in cities and towns throughout Australia, people sit on blankets, light candles and sing Christmas carols together.

Australians decorate their homes with "Christmas Bush," a native plant with cream coloured flowers that turn a shiny deep red around Christmas.

Christmas in Africa
Whether rich or poor, Christians in Africa celebrate the birth of Jesus with immense joy and passion. These celebrations center around church services and the lively processions following Christmas Eve services are filled with song and dance.

In Ghana, churches start preparing for Christmas many months in advance and some say it feels like the entire country is actually getting ready for the birth of Jesus.

Eating and visiting family and friends is also huge part of the holiday. For instance, Kenyans typically celebrate by roasting a goat and eating the delicious meat hot off the grill. Those who can't afford to purchase or slaughter a goat often pool resources with family and friends.

Many people in Africa, of course, cannot afford to give gifts. If gifts are exchanged in poor communities, they generally consist of practical things, such as schoolbooks or soap.

Las Posadas
The major Christmas celebration in Mexico starts nine days before Christmas and is called Las Posadas. Each night, a group of neighbours re-enact Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.

Carrying small, lit candles and images of Mary and Joseph, these "pilgrims" travel from house to house looking for lodging. They are refused by each "innkeeper" until they reach the home of the family hosting La Posada that night.

Once inside, they gather around a nativity scene to pray and sing traditional Christmas songs. Then, the nightly festivities begin and children take turns trying to break open a piñata filled with peanuts, tangerines and candy.

Christmas in China
The Christian population in China is relatively small and Christmas is not a public holiday. However, Chinese Christians light up their homes with pretty paper lanterns and hang paper decorations—chains, flowers and lanterns—on "trees of light."

Christian children also hang muslin stockings for Dun Che Lao Ren (Christmas Old Man) to fill with gifts and treats. Many non-Christians also exchange gifts and celebrate Christmas, especially in urban areas where Christmas displays and decorations have become commonplace.

Peace blessing in Iraq
Iraqi Christian families take part in a special ceremony outside their homes on Christmas Eve. Family members hold lit candles while one child reads about the birth of Jesus from an Arabic Bible.

After this, the family sings songs around a bonfire of dried thorn bushes. If the thorns turn to ashes, it is said the family will enjoy good fortune in the coming year. When the fire burns out, everyone jumps over the ashes three times and makes a wish.

Following another bonfire at church the next day, church officials march behind their bishop who carries an image of Jesus. The Christmas service concludes when the bishop blesses a member of the church by touching him with his hand. That person touches the person next to him and so on until everyone at the service receives "the touch of peace."

And now you know :o)