1.)     Feeling helpless because there’s nothing you can do to help the families in Newton, Connecticut?    You’re not alone, but one small thing you might consider is signing the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card.     Already more than a million people have signed the on-line card, which is now the largest ever petition on Causes.com.     Click through to that on-line petition here:     http://www.causes.com/actions/1715318

2.)     There are many ways of spreading the Christmas cheer this time of year.    In Sweden, a Coca-Cola vending machine is doing it.    The machine is equipped with two microphones and a karaoke screen with lyrics.     Instead of cash, the "Sing for Me" machine accepts Christmas carols as payment for soda ... you sing and the machine rewards your performance with an ice cold Coke.     This isn't the first time a Coca-Cola machine has accepted something other than money. Last spring, a machine in Singapore gave free sodas to customers who gave it a hug.

3.)     You may have thought on November 6th, your vote was determining the next President of the United States.    Instead, you were really voting for either Republican or Democratic electors, who cast their votes for President yesterday.    Since President Obama won a majority of the popular vote, more Democrats became Electoral College members, ensuring his election.    While those votes have now been cast, they won’t be counted until January 6th, when Congress officially tabulates those ballots.