Lincoln Journal Star - The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that its 2011 Annual Lunch at The Cornhusker Marriott with businessman and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes as keynote speaker is sold out.

The Chamber is offering additional overflow seating for the Feb. 1 lunch, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be room for 100 additional people to watch a live video feed of the speech in the hotel's Arbor Room. Cost is the $35, and the tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

PR-USA.net (press release) - Recently named one of the "21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century," Todd Buchholz will be the keynote speaker at the Coachella Valley Fall 2010 Economic Summit, "Climate for Success," on Friday, October 22, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California.

"Having Todd Buchholz on board as our keynote speaker brings a new level of excellence to our Summit," says Wesley Ahlgren, Chief Operating Officer, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), the hosting agency for the event. "His widely acclaimed books, and his entertaining and informative debates with such luminaries as James Carville, Ben Stein, and Nobel Laureate

Campus Times - The Campus Activities Board felt it made out good on its latest deal, bringing in comedian Howie Mandel for the annual Winterfest Weekend on Jan. 29, 2011.

“We wanted to continue to bring quality entertainment programming to UR students and with 30 years of experience, Howie definitely fits that description,” Publicity Chair for CAB Caitlin Grady said.

Mandel, who has risen to fame as the host of NBC’s television game show “Deal or No Deal,” was originally a stand-up comedian before reaching his current success on primetime television.

Past years’ comedians have included Stephen Lynch, B.J. Novak, Dimitri Martin, Michael Ian Black and

Media Newswire (press release) - Joel Kotkin, internationally recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends, will be the final speaker for the fall 2010 Presidential Lecture & Performance Series at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Allen Theatre at Texas Tech University’s Student Union Building.

Kotkin is the author of a new book titled “The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050,” which has received rave reviews from renowned media corporations such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail and National Public Radio. In the book, Kotkin delivers insight into how the nation will evolve in the next four decades.

“I

The Next Web - This morning at a press conference in New York City at Manhattan’s Crosby Hotel, Richard Branson officially launched his newest endeavor,”Project,” the world’s first iPad Magazine. Months ago, Giovanni Donaldson, a principal at Virgin Management began working on a project to get Virgin back into the publishing world. “The future lies in apps, not on shelves,” says Branson. Donaldson approached Richard’s daughter, Holly Branson, who was based in Virgin Management as Project Manager and together they took the project forward. The result of just a few months of work is Project, a monthly magazine that will change daily, hourly, by

Northland's NewsCenter - Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - How many light bulbs does it take to plug in an electric car?

That question was answered Monday night at UMD's Winter Sustainability Fair. The two-day event kicked off with keynote speaker Chris Paine inside the Weber Music Hall.

Paine is a noted film maker who is highlighting the future of the electric car and says the big change starts with everyone.

"I think people out there understand electronic cars aren't for everything," said Paine. "They're working in a very specific niche. The difference is, that niche is much wider than everyone thinks it is.

OCRegister - Life has been strange lately for stand-up comedian and actor Bob Saget. The 54-year-old is currently hard at work with his new real-life A&E series, “Strange Days with Bob Saget,” which premiers on Tuesday at 10 p.m.  In between dealings with the show, Saget is also out on his national “Strange Days” stand-up tour.

“It’s a lot of work, but there are worse problems,” he says during a recent phone interview.

He was so busy wrapping up the final edits on the show – which he also executive produces – that he pushed back his stand-up date at the Grove of Anaheim

New York Times - A leading furniture brand is changing course in a campaign fronted by a famous female face, which seeks to remind consumers that its offerings go beyond its mainstay product line.

La-Z-Boy has signed a multi-year agreement with Brooke Shields to serve as the celebrity spokeswoman for the campaign, which carries the theme “Live life comfortably.” Ms. Shields, who is also appearing in ads for Colgate toothpaste, is intended to appeal to the campaign’s target audience of women with families.

The campaign, which got under way in mid-November, urges shoppers at stores that sell La-Z-Boy products — as well as at the company’s

The BoomBox - Jay-Z is no stranger to sitting high on the charts when it comes to his music career, which makes the Brooklyn rapper's No. 3 debut on 'The New York Times' Best Sellers list an expected achievement.

The Roc Nation head honcho's memoir 'Decoded' landed on the Hardcover Nonfiction edition of the newspaper's Best Sellers list for the week of December 5. Coming in at the top of the list are George W. Bush's 'Decision Points' and Lauren Hillenbrand's 'Unbroken.'

Hov's book has been received warmly by fans and critics alike. Perhaps 'Decoded's success has much to do with 'The Blueprint 3' creator's

Celebrity Health & Fitness - Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has landed another fitness endorsement to promote Skechers Shape-ups fitness footwear, even though she attributes much of her weight loss to another product she hawks, a controversial diet supplement.

Kim, who shills the diet pill QuickTrim, released an exercise DVD earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out regarding the effectiveness of “fitness footwear.”

Some say they’re nothing more than overpriced sneakers, while others say the shoes’ unique contours do indeed help tone the thighs and glutes.

While it’s unclear whether these fitness sneakers can accelerate weight loss, most agree that at the very least, they’re comfortable to

Utalkmarketing - Andy Hobsbawm, ex Chairman of Agency.com and digital strategy guru kicked off today’s UTalkMarketing Digital Brand Strategy Summit, saying that modern marketing is "less about campaigning and more about sustaining".

Hobsbawm used his keynote speech to highlight how the Internet has changed the nature of the media system. “We’re talking not just about a marketing change, but a world system change,” he said.

Hobsbawm told delegates that fragmentation meant brands could no longer control the flow of information. “Fifty years ago brands could access large sectors of the population in one go, but fragmentation has changed that.

“Modern branding happened in an era

Look To The Stars - On Tuesday November 16, 2010, I had the pleasure of joining Ali Landry and Yum! Brands as they co-hosted their first LA Area WE CAN Community-wide Food Drive benefiting the Burbank Temporary Aid Center and the Burbank Boys' and Girls' Club.

Ali and volunteers – including celebrity parents Adrienne Maloof-Nassif (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), Marissa Jaret Winokur (“The Talk”), Ally Walker (“Sons of Anarchy”), and Bill Horn and Scout Masterson (the “Guncles” from “Home Sweet Hollywood”) – greeted contributors curbside to collect their canned good contributions to benefit the Burbank Temporary Aid Center.

In addition to hosting the WE CAN

Look To The Stars - Alice Cooper will hold his 10th annual “Christmas Pudding” celebrity charity concert on December 18, with the help of former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, Rob Zombie, Cheech Marin, Glen Campbell, winners from ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ’America’s Got Talent’, and many others.

Rocker Alice Cooper has a soft spot for charity, and can usually be found on golf courses around the world raising funds for those less fortunate.

The shock rocker credits golf as being the one thing that helped him beat his dependency on alcohol, and has thrown himself into the game ever since. He is also the

ABC News - Steve Martin glides from acting to music to writing so fluidly that he gives the impression it all comes easily to him.

Martin admits "a certain kind of ease" with writing fiction, as exemplified in his new novel "An Object of Beauty" from Grand Central Publishing, but only now does he feel that way, at age 65, years removed from the "wild and crazy guy" who burst into show business as a stand-up comedian in the 1970s.

"Object of Beauty," which hit bookstores on Tuesday, tells the story of an alluring and ambitious art dealer named Lacey Yeager who climbs from the

Look To The Stars - Ray Romano will host the 4th annual Comedy Celebration for the International Myeloma Foundation on Saturday, November 13.

Featuring a plethora of comedy’s best – including Dana Carvey, Doris Roberts, Susie Essman, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Ken Jeong and more – the event will honor Spinal Tap's Michael McKean, who won $1 million for the charity in the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament earlier this year.

Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer after lymphomas, affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide. McKean became passionate for the cause when his friend, musician Lee Grayson, passed away from myeloma eight years ago.

The

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - Humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris brings his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques to Davenport's Adler Theatre for one night only at 8 p.m. April 7.

Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. He is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today, slicing through cultural euphemisms and political correctness with his sharp wit.

A playwright and regular commentator for National Public Radio, Sedaris has been nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. He is also the author of the best-selling "Me Talk Pretty One

eReleases - Celebrity Spokesperson Brenda Strong and American Fertility Association Executive Director, Ken Mosesian, will co-host a media luncheon to introduce their efforts to combat infertility to media in the fields of health and wellness, fertility and pregnancy, lifestyle, news, and more. In an intimate setting at the Rouge Tomate in Manhattan, guests will dine on local cuisine while learning about the challenges — and solutions — that go along with trying to start a family.

“The AFA’s purpose is to provide comprehensive family building education,” says Brenda Strong, actor and creator of Strong Yoga™ 4Fertility. “I wanted to lend my support to

UB News Center - Humanitarian, writer and former mountaineer Greg Mortenson will discuss the journey that led him to establish more than 100 schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan when he presents the next lecture in the University at Buffalo's Distinguished Speakers Series at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, in Alumni Arena on the UB North Campus.

The 2010 UB Reads selection author, Mortenson is co-author of The New York Times' bestseller, "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time."

His work has not been without difficulty, including an eight-day kidnapping by the Taliban.

Co-founder

PR Newswire (press release) - Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Harvard University political scientist and best-selling author Robert D. Putnam will discuss their perspective on the steps governments and communities could take to form more successful relationships between immigrants and their new communities.  The remarks will come on Saturday, December 4 during the National League of Cities' (NLC) 2010 Congress of Cities and Exposition in Denver, Colo.

In their "Washington Post" op-ed on July 3, Bush and Putnam suggested that governments and communities provide low-cost English classes, invest in public education including civics and higher education and assist communities experiencing rapid increases in immigration.

Bush served

WebCPA - Lou Holtz, who coached Notre Dame and other championship football teams over a long career before becoming a best-selling author and ESPN analyst, delivered some sage advice at the CCH User Conference in Orlando.

Holtz talked about the philosophy that has kept his career more or less on track through ups and downs and kept his marriage intact for over 50 years. Holtz has also become an inspiring motivational speaker, even though he freely admits to having a lisp and a stutter. “I’m not a saint, I’m not an entertainer, I’m not a dancer,” he said.

Holtz said people need to make

MassLive.com - Best-selling author Wally Lamb will be among the speakers at the second annual "United in Hope: Celebrating Literacy Through a Community Voice" event.

The two-hour program of entertainment, information and local celebrities will take place on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at the High School of Commerce. Admission is free and open to the public.

Lamb, whose works have been selected twice by Oprah Winfrey for her book club, is the author of "She's Come Undone" and "The Hour I First Believed," among other books.

The "United in Hope" event is all about the importance of reading and writing.

"A good story can open

Baltimore Sun - Sports apparel company Under Armour said Monday it has signed NFL quarterback Tom Brady in what it is calling the highest profile athlete to enter into an endorsement deal with the company.

Brady gets a stake in the company as part of the deal, something sports marketing experts said is unusual in the world of athlete endorsements.

Brady will make appearances at Under Armour stores and be featured in the company's advertising campaigns. He will also wear the company apparel during practice with the New England Patriots and will debut the company's newest cleat — to be sold in stores next year

CareFair.com - It seems cosmetics companies are competing these days to see which big celeb they can snag to help promote their products. Japanese beauty company Cle de Peau Beaute recently signed Mama Mia star Amanda Seyfried to be its new celebrity spokesperson according to reports online. The actress, who named Maybelline Great Lash among her favorite makeup products in the past will now have new top picks.

Seyfried was quoted as saying of the new deal, “I appreciate Cle de Peau Beaute`s philosophy of empowering each woman to define her own unique sense of style. It`s a very sophisticated approach to beauty

Examiner.com - Let's hear it for the dogs and celebrate those that are working to make things better for them. Rachel Ray, television personality and best-selling author,  is currently in the midst of a book-signing tour.

Along the way, she is making donations to various rescue organizations. The donations are proceeds from Ray's line of premium dog food known as Rachel Ray's Nutrish.

Ray developed Nutrish as a way to not only provide a high-quality food for her own dog, a Pit bull named Isaboo, but also, to help support animals in need.

Ray is known as a go-getter, uber multi-tasker, get things done type

Ultimate Woodlands - Local authors from The Woodlands and surrounding areas will represent a variety of book genres to round out the literary lineup at the sixth Annual Signatures Author Series on Friday, Nov. 12, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

New York Times best-selling author Nicholas Sparks will deliver the keynote presentation. His books, including A Walk to Remember, The Notebook and Dear John have sold more than 50 million copies in worldwide circulation.

The visiting authors will be available to meet, discuss, sell and sign books from 10 a.m. until noon. At noon, a luncheon will feature presentations from the

Look To The Stars - Elton John and David Furnish hosted a massive group of celebrities in London on October 30 for his annual charity Winter Ball.

Among those who attended were Stephen Fry, Elizabeth Hurley, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Erin O'Connor, Graham Norton and many others.

For one night only the site of the new American Embassy was transformed into a dazzling French boudoir. Guests sipped bespoke Grey Goose cocktails in surroundings designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, and were entertained by Sir Elton, who stepped in for the ill Lily Allen.

The evening – which also included an auction – raised around £600,000 for the Elton John

MarketWatch (press release) - Millions of jobs will become available in STEM related fields by 2018, but with U.S. children falling behind in STEM education, the next generation of job candidates will be unprepared and unqualified to take advantage of these career opportunities. In response to a pressing need to educate tomorrow's workforce, Danica McKellar, well-known for her roles on "The Wonder Years" and "The West Wing" and now also a mathematician and best-selling author, is teaming with DeVry University for National HerWorld month in November to inspire young women across the country to explore careers in STEM related fields.

Now in its 13th year,

Bourne Courrier - Join New York Times bestselling novelist Tracy Chevalier, author of  “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” as she discusses her newest book “Remarkable Creatures” at the Sandwich High School auditorium at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 3. The evening is hosted by Titcomb’s Bookshop and the Sandwich Public Library. Admission is $2.  A book signing will follow the talk.

For further information or to reserve a signed copy of “Remarkable Creatures” if you cannot attend, contact Titcomb’s Bookshop at 508-888-2331.

jewishinstlouis.org - Best-selling author, Rabbi Harold Kushner will speak on his book CONQUERING FEAR, followed by an audience Q&A and a book-signing.

Rabbi Kushner's book has been selected as the 2010 BIG Community READ.

Rabbi Kushner is the author of the best selling book on the problem of evil, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Written following the death of his son, Aaron, from the premature aging disease, progeria, the book deals with questions about human suffering, God, omnipotence and theodicy.

Kushner has written a number of other popular theological books, such as How Good Do We Have to Be? (Dedicated to his grandson,

Business Wire (press release) - Thomas A. Stewart is the Chief Marketing and Knowledge Officer of Booz & Company, a global management consulting firm. Prior to joining Booz & Company, he was the editor and managing director of Harvard Business Review as well as editorial director of Business 2.0 and a member of the Board of Editors of Fortune magazine. He is a best-selling author, an authority on intellectual capital and knowledge management, and an influential thought leader on global management issues and ideas.

In his keynote address on Tuesday, November 16 at the KMWorld Conference and Exhibition in Washington D.C., Stewart shares winning strategies for