Monday, January 31, 2011

Celebrating Communities: October is National Community Planning Month

Celebrating Communities: October is National Community Planning Month

This October, celebrate your community and the many individuals who help make your neighborhood special during National Community Planning Month.

Chicago, IL (Vocus) September 26, 2007

From where you live to how you commute, community planning plays a major role in your daily life—often more than you may realize. This October, celebrate your community and the many individuals who help make your neighborhood special during National Community Planning Month.

Designated by the American Planning Association (APA), the month-long celebration honors the process and the individuals involved in creating communities that are desirable places to work, live and recreate.

This year’s theme, Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods, recognizes three important building blocks of great communities, the streets, neighborhoods and people who make communities special.

“Planning is a necessity, not an option for communities,” said Jeff Soule, FAICP, Outreach and International Director at APA. “Good planning provides residents with more choices, healthy communities and protection from manmade or natural disasters.”

A variety of events are planned to celebrate National Community Planning Month:
 Great Places in America Program A new designation program designed to celebrate places of exceptional character, quality and planning. Find out what streets and neighborhoods were deemed ‘great’ on October 2.
More at: www. planning. org/greatplaces/ (http://www. planning. org/greatplaces/ )

 Federal Policy & Program Briefing (September 30 to October 1) Planners will discuss possible federal legislation impacts on a variety of planning decisions such as climate change, affordable housing and the farm bill reauthorization.

 Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill (October 2) Planners will meet with legislators to discuss the importance of planning.

 High School Essay Contest The contest encourages high school students to learn about planning in their own community. More at www. planning. org/institutions/hsessay. htm (http://www. planning. org/institutions/hsessay. htm )
 AICP Symposium: “The Art of Making Great Places Green Places” (October 23, National Building Museum)
The symposium will examine the elements of great places and the connection between place making and green planning. More at www. planning. org/symposium/2007.htm (http://www. planning. org/symposium/2007.htm).

 Local and regional events Find a celebration in your neighborhood at www. planning. org/ncpm/07reportedactivities. htm (http://www. planning. org/ncpm/07reportedactivities. htm)

“We hope individuals will take the time this October to learn more about the importance of planning in their community,” said Soule. “Good planning practices really contribute to making a great neighborhood.”

The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the art, science and profession of good planning -- physical, economic and social -- so as to create communities that offer better choices for where and how people work and live. Members of APA help create communities of lasting value and encourage civic leaders, business interests and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. APA has offices in Washington, D. C. and Chicago, Ill. For more information, visit its website at www. planning. org.

Contact:
Roberta Rewers, APA
312-786-6395
Rrewers @ planning. org

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Global Spa Summit Unveils 2010 Agenda and Theme “Bridges Worth Building”

Global Spa Summit Unveils 2010 Agenda and Theme “Bridges Worth Building”

Keynotes, Panels and Research Presentations Focus on Future of the Spa and Wellness Industries – and Bridges to New Markets, Consumers, Technologies and Health and Wellness Tourism Models - Slate of New Research Releases Includes Groundbreaking Report from SRI International on the $2 Trillion Global Wellness Market

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 7, 2010

The Global Spa Summit (GSS), the premier annual event for the global spa and wellness industries, today unveiled the final agenda for its conference being held in Istanbul, Turkey from May 16-19. Under the theme “Bridges Worth Building,” delegates will be immersed in three days of high-profile keynote addresses, interactive panels, new research presentations, breakout workshops and hosted dining and networking events. The Summit reports a record number of top-level executives have already registered, spanning a historically diverse number of industries and nations.

The complete, detailed agenda can be accessed here: http://www. globalspasummit. org/images/stories/pdf/gss_2010_agendaonly_final. pdf (http://www. globalspasummit. org/images/stories/pdf/gss_2010_agendaonly_final. pdf)

“This is a momentous time for the global spa industry. With the recession starting to recede; traditional healthcare costs under worldwide scrutiny; and demand for more preventative, integrative health models; there’s unprecedented new connections being made between spas and medicine, wellness, tourism, fitness and beauty,” said Susie Ellis, Board Member of the GSS. “The agenda perfectly addresses this zeitgeist. It’s designed to help our industry face the future, identify new opportunities, and be poised to take a powerful leadership role in this shifting, expanding global health and wellness market – where spas can, and should be, a cornerstone.”

Bridges to the Future:

While future-focused presentations crisscross the agenda, highlights include prestigious keynotes that directly challenge the industry to examine the “big picture” social, cultural, economic and technological transformations set to shake up the spa and wellness sectors - and the world.
Edie Weiner, one of the world’s most influential futurists (sought-after by the Fortune 500 and government and academic institutions), will deliver the opening keynote, “A View from the Future,” exploring how the next epoch, the Virtual Age, will radically redefine concepts of wellness, health, leisure, and travel.

Keynote presenter Philippe Bourguignon, Vice Chairman of Revolution Places, will bring his renowned “future-focused” vision to bear on the spa, travel and wellness industries in his speech “2025: What’s Next?”

Ahu Aysal, Turkish hospitality luminary, and owner/creator of one of the most renowned boutique spa hotels in the world, Les Ottomans, presents a keynote, “Real Hospitality,” on how she built the bridges between past, present and future at her award-winning property.

Bridges to New Markets & Industries:

The agenda is rich with presentations and research releases analyzing potential new markets, partners and health and tourism concepts that present powerful industry opportunities. Highlights include:

Dr. Kenneth Pelletier (famed doctor, author and integrative health guru) will investigate how an intensified focus on evidence-based medicine can open new, profitable doors to the rapidly growing corporate health sector - in his keynote, “Healthy People, Healthy Places: Bridging the Spa World and Integrative Medicine.”

Pioneering research from SRI International, “Spas and the Global Wellness Market: Synergies and Opportunities,” the first rigorous study benchmarking and segmenting the vast global wellness market, and analyzing future synergies between the spa sector and this nearly $2 trillion market.

A host of panels and new research explore the developing concepts of medical and wellness tourism and the significant industry opportunities:

Terry Stevens, Ph. D. (Managing Director, Stevens & Associates) presents “Wellness Tourism: Global Perspectives & Trends,” along with breakout sessions detailing successful case studies/models. Laszlo Puczko (author of Health and Wellness Tourism & Senior Associate, Xellum) explores “Past and Present Developments in Wellness Tourism.” Renee Stephano (President, Medical Tourism Association) and David Vequist (Founder/Director, Center for Medical Tourism Research) present the latest statistics from the medical tourism arena. A post-Summit “Thermal and Spa Tourism Day,” with Dr. Zeki Karagulle (President, International Society for Medical Hydrology and Climatology) directing a tour of landmark medical and thermal destinations across Bursa, Turkey - as well as an “Istanbul Medical Spa Tourism Day” featuring outings to various hospitals and popular destinations for medical travelers.

Panels on the fast-developing connections between spas and medicine include “Bridging Spa and Medicine: Fitness, Nutrition and Integrative Health,” chaired by integrative health expert, Dr. Roberta Lee, with Dr. Howard Murad, and Dr. Ken Pelletier - along with breakout workshops including “How Can Healthcare and Wellness Converge?”

Connecting to New Technologies:

Presentations will tackle how explosive consumer Internet adoption, the rise of new social media/communities, and new marketing platforms will continue to transform the industry. Highlights include:

Dr. Marc A. Smith’s (Chief Social Scientist, Connected Action Consulting Group) keynote, “The Very Latest in Technology and Social Networking,” on innovations on the horizon poised to revolutionize the spa and wellness markets.

Dedicated panels on “New Media Marketing” and “Social Media” - along with breakout sessions including “Leveraging Technology for Greater Market Share.”

The Design/Architecture Nexus:

A hallmark of the GSS is its focus on the “spa of the future” and the exploration of the myriad connections between spa, design and architecture. Highlights include:

The second annual “Student Challenge,” and presentations of architectural projects from academic teams at Istanbul Technical University and the University of Southern California - competing to design a new eco-tourism destination that could revitalize the ancient thermal springs region of Kula, Turkey.

General Session Panel on “Architecture and Design for the Future,” featuring a variety of architects and designers, both from within, and outside of, the spa industry. Also explored will be trends in green and sustainable design as well as new trends in medical spas.

Linking to New Research:

Research has been a centerpiece of each Summit, and for 2010 (accompanying the landmark SRI Global Wellness Report), top research firms are slated to unveil diverse studies. Highlights include:

“Spa Industry Benchmarking Figures, 2009,” Nikita Sarkar, Ernst & Young

“The New Consumer Mindset: Consumers in 2010 and Beyond,” Euromonitor

“New Priorities of Today’s Spa Consumers,” Stephanie Perrone Goldstein, Coyle Hospitality

“Global Fitness Market Report,” Jeff Kohl, Director of Business Development, Precor

“Hotels and Luxury Spas: the 2009 Spa STAR Report,” Jan Freitag, VP of Global Development, Smith Travel Research

For registration information contact: info(at)globalspasummit(dot)org or visit www. globalspasummit. org

For media information contact: Beth McGroarty, +1 213 300 0107 or +44 (0) 870 121 6066.

About Global Spa Summit:
The Global Spa Summit is an annual event that attracts top-level executives and leaders from around the world with interest in the spa and wellness industry. Delegates from diverse sectors, including hospitality, investment, finance, real estate, medicine, manufacturing, technology, consulting, product and other related industries attend this intimate, high-level gathering focused on advancing the spa and wellness sectors. With increasing attendance by delegates from more countries each year, the Global Spa Summit is expecting representatives from over 35 nations around the world in 2010.

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Friday, January 28, 2011

2009 FTF Travel Writing Scholarship Supports Teen Travelers

2009 FTF Travel Writing Scholarship Supports Teen Travelers

Family Travel Forum's 3rd annual Teen Travel Writing Scholarship rewards teens who share their travel tales with cash prizes and travel gifts.

New York, NY (Vocus) April 22, 2009

Family Travel Forum (FTF), the award-winning resource for family vacation information on the web, announces its 3rd annual FTF Teen Travel Writing Scholarship (http://scholarship. familytravelforum. com). This merit scholarship, in association with professionals from the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), encourages teens to share their travel experiences in words and images.

Cash awards ($1,000, $500, $200) and a two-night family stay at any Homewood Suites Hotel will be given to the top three authors, and the work of 25 additional Honorable Mention nominees will be rewarded with fun -- two passes to any Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum or aquarium and a "Rand McNally Road Atlas" to help them find the way there. All winning stories will be posted on the FTF's travelBIGO site for those who dream of travel Before I Get Old.

“Family Travel Forum is proud to support the next generation of great writers by offering scholarships and a unique forum to communicate with peers,” says publisher John Manton. “After the 20% increase in applications last year, we are expecting even more submissions this year, and welcome students to share their vacation, staycation or voluntourism effort with the travelBIGO community.”

The scholarship contest is open to teens ages 13 to 18 who are enrolled in a junior high, high school or homeschool program in the United States, Canada or American school abroad. Young travelers are asked to submit a maximum 600-word essay with photo or video on any type of trip and any aspect of a trip they have taken in the last three years. For more information and rules, visit FTF Scholarship Programs (http://scholarship. familytravelforum. com).

The 2009 FTF Teen Travel Scholarship will accept applications between May 1, 2009 and September 27, 2009; for more information about all FTF sponsored scholarships, visit FTF Scholarship Programs (http://scholarship. familytravelforum. com). The winning students' work will be published on travelBIGO. com after November 17, 2009.

About FTF
Family Travel Forum (FTF) has served all who "Have Kids, Still Travel" with print and online guides since 1996. FamilyTravelForum. com has won many awards for its expert global coverage of family vacations ranging from multi-generational cruises to eco-adventures; the Top 10 Getaway survey of resort-based infant programs; a robust Flee Market™; forums on car seat and travel safety; gear reviews; pediatric travel health and a unique Custom Trip Planning service for consumers. For its publications including travelBIGO. com for the Before I Get Old crowd, and twice monthly e-newsletters packed with vacation deals, FTF has been honored with Travel Weekly's 2008 Magellan Award.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Quarterly Dental Implant Market Update: Trends in Implant Delivery

Quarterly Dental Implant Market Update: Trends in Implant Delivery

Millennium Research Group, the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, reports that 1-stage implants continue to rise in popularity while the utilization of immediate functional loading still shows sluggish growth

Waltham, MA (PRWEB) June 22, 2006

Millennium Research Group, the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, states that in the first quarter of 2006, the proportion of dental implants delivered in a 1-stage method was 60.8%, whereas immediate functional loading (IFL) was practiced in only 9.0% of all implant procedures.

Dental implants delivered in a 1-stage method simplify prosthetic restorations for the practitioner and allow the patient to leave the doctor’s office with an aesthetic tooth restoration in the first surgical visit—a notable advantage over the traditional 2-stage approach. Implants delivered in a 2-stage delivery method employ two surgeries: one to place the implant and another to place the abutment, with up to a 6-month time delay between the two surgeries.

IFL, a specialized technique of 1-stage delivery, also allows the placement of the anchor, the abutment, and the prosthetic all in one procedure. Unlike regular 1-stage delivery, however, IFL provides the immediate benefit of a functional prosthetic. The reduced number of surgical visits associated with IFL makes it a preferred method of treatment for many patients. Nonetheless, adoption of IFL has been sluggish because of practitioners’ fears of implant complications and failure. Some dental surgeons argue that excessive stress on the implant before sufficient osseointegration of the implant in the jaw often leads to implant failure. “According to Marketrack, different specialties have varying opinions on the application and usefulness of IFL, resulting in fluctuating penetrations of IFL by specialty,” said Kevin Flewwelling, Analyst at MRG. “It will be interesting to track how these penetrations and the overall acceptance of IFL will change over the next several months.”

About Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed as permanent replacements for missing teeth. A dental implant is a metal post that is surgically placed into the bone under the gums. The purpose of the placement into the bone is to encourage the integration of the dental implant—the bone actually grows around the dental implant, making the tooth secure. A replacement tooth is attached to the metal post by means of a final abutment.

About Millennium Research Group and Dental Marketrack

Millennium Research Group (www. MRG. net), a Decision Resources, Inc. company (www. DecisionResources. com), is a leading provider of strategic information to the health care sector. Focused solely on the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, the company provides its clients with the benefits of its specialized industry expertise through published reports and customized consulting services.

MRG’s new Dental Marketrack project surveys more than 300 implant practitioners on a quarterly basis about their use of implants and implant-related products from leading competitors such as Nobel Biocare (NOBE), Straumann (STMN), 3i (BMET), and Zimmer Dental (ZMH). The survey sample is geographically segmented and comprised of general practitioners, oral maxillofacial surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists.

For more information, contact:

Amy Krohn

Millennium Research Group

416-364-7776 x101

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Toshiba's Portege R400 Wins Popular Science Magazine's Best of What's New Award: Toshiba's Innovative Tablet PC Regarded as One of the Top 100 Tech Innovations in 2007

Toshiba's Portege R400 Wins Popular Science Magazine's Best of What's New Award: Toshiba's Innovative Tablet PC Regarded as One of the Top 100 Tech Innovations in 2007

Toshiba's Portege(R) R400 Tablet PC won a Popular Science magazine 2007 Best of What's New Award in the Computing Category, Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced.

IRVINE, Calif. (PRWEB) November 13, 2007

 "For 20 years, Popular Science's Best of What's New awards honor the innovations that make a positive impact on life today and change our views of the future," said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "PopSci's editors evaluate thousands of products each year to develop this thoughtful list, there's no higher accolade Popular Science can give."

Since its launch on January 7, 2007, Toshiba's Portege R400 has been continuously and publicly recognized for its breakthrough world's first technologies as well as its revolutionary and innovative design, including the implementation of wireless UWB docking capabilities, a secondary LED Toshiba Edge Display with Microsoft's Active Notifications and a sleek and attractive black and white chassis.

"The Portege R400 is a truly phenomenal Tablet PC that sets the standard for what the future of mobile computing will be, in a system that is available today," said Mark Simons, vice president and general manager, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "Toshiba takes great pride in this achievement and we are honored to accept one of the esteemed Popular Science 2007 Best of What's New Awards for the Portege R400, as well as have this breakthrough technology recognized as one of the Top 100 Tech Innovations in 2007."

Popular Science announced the Best of What's New winners in its December 2007 issue and featured the Portege R400 on the magazine cover.

About Best of What's New

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners--the Best of What's New--are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of the Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Tech, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile products and solutions, including industry leading portable computers; projectors; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and telephony equipment and associated applications.

TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure systems. Toshiba has more than 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US $60 billion (FY2006). For more information on Toshiba's leading innovations, visit the company's Web site at www. toshiba. com.

About Popular Science

Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye towards what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.

(C) 2007 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

Over 900 Children Must Cope with the Horror of Caylee Anthony

Over 900 Children Must Cope with the Horror of Caylee Anthony

Each school day more than 900 children must pass by the site where Caylee Anthony's remains were found, creating concerns over emotional trauma, incident management, and school recovery. School Safety Partners is urging Hidden Oaks Elementary School and other service organizations to apply for U. S. Department of Justice grant funding to help restore the Orange County, Florida, community.

Englewood, CO (Vocus) December 24, 2008

Each school day more than 900 children must pass by the site where Caylee Anthony's remains were found, creating concerns over emotional trauma, incident management, and school recovery. School Safety Partners is urging Hidden Oaks Elementary School and other service organizations to apply for U. S. Department of Justice grant funding to help restore the Orange County, Florida community.

According to School Safety Partners, a national volunteer group in Denver that promotes long-term funding for school safety best practices, Federal funding is urgently needed to help Orange County address the mental health needs of the school children and the staff.

The group also recommends a review of incident management related to lockdown and parent-child reunification when the area next to the school became a crime scene.

On Friday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office identified the tiny skeleton found in the wooded area at the entrance to the predominantly Hispanic school as that of Caylee Anthony, a two-year-old girl who lived just around the corner only months ago.

When her remains were first discovered on Thursday, December 11, the school conducted a preventive lockdown to minimize classroom disruption. Confusion erupted when the sheriff's office closed the nearest intersection which prevented parents from picking up their children after school.

Caylee could have started attending pre-kindergarten at Hidden Oaks Elementary School as early as 2009. Her untimely death has been ruled a homicide, and her mother, Casey Anthony, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Sheriff Kevin Beary called the tragedy "an open wound in the community" and said, "No child should have to go through this."

School Safety Partners calls this a teachable moment for the nation and is reaching out to help find recovery funding for the school as well as others who have taken a leadership role in the Caylee Anthony case since her disappearance several months ago.

The group will monitor funding sources throughout the upcoming year, but has already identified 4 immediate grant opportunities offered by the U. S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

Enhancing Public Awareness and Outreach for Victims in Underserved Communities - This program will grant 5 awards of up to $75,000 each to raise awareness among underserved populations regarding victims' rights and available resources for crime victims in the local community. Application deadline: January 22, 2009.

Action Partnerships for National Membership, Professional and Community Service Organizations - A competitive program that will award up to five cooperative agreements of $100,000 each for a national nonprofit professional and community service organization that has the capacity to conduct a national scope project to promote awareness and advocacy for the rights and needs of crime victims. The project should expand the members' knowledge and understanding of issues related to serving crime victims, and encourage members who work with crime victims to integrate this information into their daily practices. Application deadline: January 21, 2009.

2010 NCVRW Resource Guide - A competitive program that will award one cooperative agreement of $225,000 for either a private nonprofit organization or a public agency to produce a comprehensive resource kit. The kit will serve as a resource for the victims' field to use in supporting efforts to heighten the public's awareness of crime victim issues during National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) in April 2010 and throughout the year. Application deadline: January 12, 2009.

National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims - OVC will make one award of $150,000 to fund the development of a national public awareness and educational forum focusing on the rights of and issues faced by survivors of homicide victims. The forum, which will coincide with the 2009 National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims on September 25, 2009, should involve a broad base of victim constituency groups and focus on sharing knowledge and resources so that victims and survivors may be better served. Applicants are limited to private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, and public agencies. Application deadline: December 30, 2008.

School Safety Partners is an all-volunteer organization that assists in drafting and implementing model school safety legislation, and promoting long-term school safety funding through public-private partnerships. School Safety Partners is not accepting donations related to Caylee Anthony or Orange County, Florida. However, it is providing free assistance and resources to organizations interested in helping restore the Hidden Oaks Elementary School community.

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Shilpa, Jade, Big Brother and the Need for Intercultural Skills

Shilpa, Jade, Big Brother and the Need for Intercultural Skills

The recent racism debate emanating from the Celebrity Big Brother TV show in the UK demonstrates the need to incorporate intercultural skills into the education system says intercultural communications expert.

London (PRWEB) January 25, 2007

The recent debate and media frenzy over the racist bullying of Shilpa Shetty in the Celebrity Big Brother TV show illustrates the importance of educating future generations to be culturally-savvy.

This is the opinion of Kwintessential's Managing Director Neil Payne, a consultant to multinational businesses and organisations. Rather than see it is primarily an issue of racism, Payne suggests it reflects a lack of knowledge of other cultures, their beliefs, worldviews and especially how to interact with them effectively. It is this lack of intercultural skills that could see the UK lose its place as a world economic powerhouse.

It is undeniable that the world has become smaller. All of us from Canada to Congo have more exposure, contact and dealings with people from other cultures and countries. Within this global, intercultural web we often come across examples of companies, organisations or people who commit cultural faux pas with embarrassing and often costly results. The majority of these incidents come down to simple lack of cultural understanding and soon blow over. Very few stir any real debate and discourse about serious topics such as racism, ignorance or the need to nurture intercultural tolerance. This all changed, in the UK at least, with the "Celebrity Big Brother saga" that has dominated headlines in Britain for over a week.

Jade Goody and housemate Shilpa Shetty fell out in rather grand style. This led to Goody, along with two accomplices, making comments about Shetty that have been interpreted as racist. This led to a record 30,000 complaints to Oftel (the TV regulator), the Chancellor Gordon Brown apologising for the behaviour on his tour of India, Carphone Warehouse pulling its multi-million pound sponsorship with Endemol (the creators of Big Brother), street protests in India, Channel 4 (the broadcasters) coming under huge pressure due to not acting sooner and of course massive amounts of column inches in newspapers as well as becoming the lead story on most domestic news programmes for days. It would be no exaggeration to say that the incident could be the news story of 2007 even though we are only in January.

Whether or not the actions or comments of Goody and her accomplices were racist, as many uphold, is difficult to prove. However, what can be proved according to analysts at Kwintessential (http://www. kwintessential. co. uk (http://www. kwintessential. co. uk)) is that what led to the whole situation was ultimately down to intercultural communication issues.

Intercultural communication looks at the ways people from different cultures behave, think, speak, eat, etc. By understanding these differences intercultural consultants seek to help people working in foreign or multicultural environments to do so more effectively through educating them on how and why cultures differ and the means of creating synergy between them.

For those that work in the intercultural training field, the events that led to the tense situation in the Big Brother house are all too familiar. In multinational companies many of the same scenarios are played out on a daily basis when multicultural teams work together. People misunderstand and misjudge one another due to their intercultural differences. Communication breaks down completely and a paralysing wall is built between people that seemingly offers no way out. It is only once parties are able to re-trace their steps, analyse situations objectively and apply some intercultural know-how that they start to knock down this wall.

Neil Payne, Kwintessential's Managing Director, believes that what led to the explosive events in house emanated from intercultural differences. "You need to go back and analyse how and why things were said and especially how this was then interpreted, or misinterpreted, by the other party," states Payne. In order to illustrate the intercultural breakdown in the Big Brother house, Payne offers two brief examples of how the Indian and English cultures clashed in the house.

"Jade's and Shilpa's communication styles were like chalk and cheese," continues Payne. "A major factor in Shetty losing respect for Goody was due to the latter's communication style. Indians always make sure they protect both their own and others' face, honour and reputation when communicating. Therefore their tone will more often than not be soft, words are used diplomatically, people will never be criticized in public and expletives are a serious no-no. For Shetty to come face to face with someone that called her a liar in front of others, who swore constantly and spoke in an extremely aggressive manner was shocking to the system. She lost face and as a result Goody lost face in her eyes."

On the other side Payne explains that Goody, used to a more expressive form of communication, interpreted Shetty's tendency to be tactful, non-confrontational and seemingly secretive as suggestive of her hiding something and not being genuine. As a result both felt little warmth to the other's character.

"Another flash point was over food," explains Payne. "One of the comments made in relation to Shetty was in regards to her touching food with her hands. A housemate commented she did not approve of that as she did not know "where those hands have been"; the implication being that she was dirty. Coming from a culture where food is primarily eaten with utensils can make the British rather sterile when it comes to food. In contrast much of the rest of the world is far more comfortable eating with their hands and as a result is probably rather more conscious of hygiene as a result. Again, this intercultural gap between the two sides meant one was offending the other without knowing."

Payne maintains that in these situations no-one is to blame. In both cases had each side been aware and open to the other's cultural norms there would probably have been no issue, which may have led to a more peaceful household. However, as the news demonstrates these issues did occur and as a result tensions rose. This is when parties became liable to slip into a "them and us" mentality where the person they have fallen out with no longer becomes a person but rather a member of a "foreign" group, in this case as commented by one of the housemates "the Indian".

As a result of this pariah status Shetty soon became on object of ridicule and seemingly racist jibes. Her accent was mocked (even though she spoke more clearly than the mockers), her countrymen were stereotyped as "skinny" due to being constantly sick (a remark made in response to Shetty undercooking some chicken) and was told to "f**k off home" (a term used within the British context to immigrants and foreigners). It was these scenes and remarks that caused outrage in among the public.

Payne sees a positive from the whole scenario. "I think what it has done, apart from create a healthy debate about race, class and behaviour is that it has demonstrated how important intercultural knowledge has become in the modern world." Payne feels that what we witnessed on Celebrity Big Brother is taking place across the world in schools, offices and organisations where people from different cultures, faiths and nationalities come together. It provides an insight into the frustrations of immigrants; it illustrates the experiences of expatriates working in foreign environments and it paints a very vivid picture of what it must be like to work in a multicultural environment.

Above all it shows that intercultural know-how is a key skill for the future and that if today's students are not leaving school or university with this know-how, which enables them to deal with international or multicultural clients, then the UK risks losing its place in the league table of economic powers. "We need to start thinking globally. What will help the UK get ahead of the rest is educating our future business people, politicians and leaders in being able to work effectively with people from across the word," concludes Payne.

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Sunday, January 23, 2011

PI Corporation partners with Aditi to open a Design and Development center in India

PI Corporation partners with Aditi to open a Design and Development center in India

PI Corporation, founded by Mr. Paul Maritz, ex Group VP, Microsoft, today announced its partnership with Aditi Technologies, for its core design and development center in Bangalore. PI Corporation is developing next generation software that targets the coming changes in the way information is stored, retrieved and viewed. The framework is initially targeted at the Linux environment. Mr. Paul Maritz and Warburg Pincus, a prestigious global VC firm with a proven track record of investing in software companies, are funding the PI effort together.

Bangalore (PRWEB) May 14, 2004

PI Corporation partners with Aditi to open a Design and Development center in India - Moving from personal computing to personal information. PI Corporation, founded by Mr. Paul Maritz, ex Group VP, Microsoft, today announced its partnership with Aditi Technologies, for its core design and development center in Bangalore. PI Corporation is developing next generation software that targets the coming changes in the way information is stored, retrieved and viewed. The framework is initially targeted at the Linux environment. Mr. Paul Maritz and Warburg Pincus, a prestigious global VC firm with a proven track record of investing in software companies, are funding the PI effort together.

PI is partnering with Aditi Technologies to identify and build the core team that will be the foundation of the design & development center in India. The PI team has a strong group of technology gurus who will work with the India center to create this mainstream product from scratch. Aditi will also help the PI core team to scale up to a full-fledged engineering team and further extend all infrastructure support to PI Corporation, India.

PI expects to release software targeting various platforms in free (open source) and licensed forms. The software will impact the needs of not just corporate but mainstream personal information users.

Speaking at the inauguration Mr. Paul Maritz, Founder & CEO, PI Corporation, said, “The greatest change in the computing landscape over the coming years will be the availability of cheap, ubiquitous bandwidth, both wired and wireless. PI technologies will let users exploit this change to the full – be able to consume, publish and share information in new and easy ways. . With Aditi’s help we are sure to build the most efficient and talented team to build the technologies”

Mr. Pradeep Singh, Chairman & CEO, Aditi Technologies, said, “Ten years ago, Aditi was founded with the mission to build world class software product development teams in India. Four years ago we incubated and spun out Talisma. Today our partnership with PI, founded by Paul Maritz, one of computing's global leaders, is proof that Aditi is successfully accomplishing its mission of injecting software product development capability in India Inc.”

The computing industry is experiencing 3 dramatic trends: Spread of inexpensive broadband connectivity; continued leaps in computing hardware capacity; and the growth of mature, inexpensive software environments; An example being the emergence of the Linux desktop as a low-cost, robust alternative to the Windows operating systems.

Recognizing these trends, PI Corporation is all set to provide an environment to breakout of the current limitations of storing, retrieving and viewing information on PCÂ’s and other devices. PI (Personal Information) is all information that an individual receives, sends, authors or uses in the process of communicating, collaborating, and working with applications. PI will provide tools and infrastructure for individuals to work with this set in a consistent and productive manner, across machine and corporate boundaries in a secure manner. PI will develop products that run across multiple operating systems, with the Linux user base and their products as the initial target

About PI Corporation

PI is founded with a vision of enabling users to work in better ways in a highly connected world. PI has on its team technology experts in various domains from around the world; however, the core design and development center for PI has been setup in India. The company is funded by Warburg Pincus, the top private equity and venture capital firms in existence today. For more details visit www. picorp. com

About Aditi Technologies

Aditi was founded in 1994 in India with the vision of developing software products for global markets. Aditi developed numerous products for Microsoft and many other clients. It incubated and spun off a CRM company, Talisma, whose entire product suite was built in India. Aditi has 350 employees with development centers in Bellevue, WA and Bangalore, India. Aditi is recognized as one of the best employers to work for by independent studies. For more details visit www. aditi. com.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus has been a leading private equity investor since 1971. The firm currently has approximately $9 billion under management and $5 billion available for investment in a range of sectors including information and communication technology, business services, energy, financial services and technologies, healthcare and life sciences, media and real estate. Warburg Pincus has invested more than US$800 million in India, including Bharti Tele-Ventures, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, HDFC, Moser Baer, Nicholas Piramal and Venture Infotek. The firm also has a long history as a leading investor in the Information Technology sector, including founding investments in BEA Systems and OpenVision Technologies (which merged with VERITAS Software in 1997) and growth capital to Apar Infotech. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to entrepreneurs seeking to create and build durable companies with sustainable value and has an active portfolio of about 125 companies. For more information, please visit www. warburgpincus. com.

For further information please contact:

Swati Rangachari, Manager Corporate Communications,

Swaitr@aditi. com, 9845440442

Suren, Mutual PR

Schawla@mutualpr. com, 9844094951

Conscious Balance Promotes Healthy Sustainable Living

Conscious Balance Promotes Healthy Sustainable Living

Conscious Balance, a new internet-based business, sells products and services to promote sustainable living and social responsibility.

Wheaton, IL (PRWEB) August 11, 2006

Conscious Balance, a new internet-based business, opens its doors with a line of products and services that promote social responsibility and sustainable, eco-friendly living. "With the energy and environmental challenges we face not just today but for the foreseeable future, we need to become conscious of all of our habits and options, and I'm committed to supporting the changes and the possibilities," says founder and president of the company. "I've seen first-hand in my commitment to a healthy world that we have many more answers than we may believe."

The line of products initially includes a combination of renewable energy products and holistic aromatherapy products, all designed to promote balanced living, introspection, and healthier environments. "In our busy lives, it's important to slow down, and consider our actions and options," says Ogilvie. One of the featured products is the solar Sun Oven(tm), a product Ogilvie has taken to rural Kenya and introduced to a rural, poor community. His on-going work there is part of what has fueled his passion for making a difference in the US as well.

For more information about Conscious Balance, go to www. conscious-balance. com, or contact Mr. Ogilvie at 630-709-7752.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Senior Fights Frailty with Support, Attitude and Grit

Senior Fights Frailty with Support, Attitude and Grit

At age 85, Ruth Sharp-Doyle of Omaha struggles with mobility problems caused by a bad back and knees, and aggravated by arthritis. "I just can't do much anymore," she notes. But the evidence would indicate otherwise. Sharp-Doyle has tapped into all the tools that researchers say she needs to fight the effects of aging.

Omaha, NE (PRWEB) February 18, 2010

At age 85, Ruth Sharp-Doyle of Omaha struggles with mobility problems caused by a bad back and knees, and aggravated by arthritis. "I just can't do much anymore," she notes.

The evidence would indicate otherwise.

On any given week it's difficult to find Sharp-Doyle even at home. She may be at the library, the hairdresser or engaged in one of her preferred pastimes - shopping. If she is home, the retired teacher and school principal might be watching her favorite teams - the Atlanta Braves or the Nebraska Cornhuskers - with former colleagues, or baking her mother-in-law's famous shortbread recipe or reading a book. (She's been known to read six books in five days.)

Sharp-Doyle has tapped into all the tools that researchers say she needs to fight the effects of aging: a little assistance, a positive attitude and sheer grit. "Some days I don't feel so good, but I push through," she explained. "Tylenol® makes it work. And I must have a positive attitude," she added. "If you don't, what's the alternative? You have to enjoy what you have."

Sharp-Doyle is battling one of seniors' biggest enemies - frailty. (http://www. getmommoving. com/fears-about-aging/) Medical professionals describe frailty as a syndrome of weakness, fatigue and decline in physical activity that may be triggered by hormonal or inflammatory changes or chronic disease states. For some, frailty results from a heart attack or stroke, while another senior might experience falls and weight loss.

Linda P. Fried, M. D., M. P.H., and scientists at Columbia and Johns Hopkins Universities found that frailty is the result of a systems failure in older adults, rather than a specific problem, disease or even chronological age. Data from women ages 70-79 led researchers to discover that half of those frail had three or more systems at abnormal levels, compared with 25 percent of the pre-frail and 16 percent of the non-frail population. Among the physiological factors that were assessed included anemia, inflammation and fine motor skills.

Most researchers also agree that older adults shouldn't just accept frailty as an inevitable condition of aging. Stephanie Studenski, M. D., M. P.H., one of the nation's foremost authorities and researchers of mobility, balance disorders and falls in older adults, and director of clinical research for the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging, said that frailty can be both prevented and reversed by activity. (http://www. getmommoving. com/activities-mind-body-soul/)

"One of the core ideas in aging is that there are underlying problems in the body's self-correcting mechanism. For example, when a young person is bleeding, the body self-corrects by increasing the heart rate. But older adults, because of medication or health problems, may have lost the ability to self-correct by being able to increase their heart rate. Through activity, though, seniors can build both physical and mental reserves that can help their bodies better tolerate problems that come with aging."

In reality, though, seniors often need help to stay on course, either from a family member or professional caregiver. With her family living elsewhere, Sharp-Doyle employs the services of Home Instead Senior Care. (http://www. homeinstead. com/home. aspx) Two Home Instead CAREGivers alternate schedules to keep her doing what she loves to do.

"She thinks she's not active, but she is very active," said one of her CAREGivers, Gloria Ramsey. "There are things she would tell me she couldn't do anymore. We have a saying that there isn't anything we can't do. Even the shortbread we made today she didn't think she could do because she couldn't mix anymore. I didn't know if it would turn out, but it did."

Sharp-Doyle said it would be difficult for her to remain in assisted living without the help of her CAREGivers. "We go a lot of places. We don't just sit around."

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ASA Participates in Global Observance of World Statistics Day October 20

ASA Participates in Global Observance of World Statistics Day October 20

The American Statistical Association will observe the first World Statistics Day (WSD) on October 20, along with governments, statistical agencies and associations in the United States and around the world. WSD was declared by the United Nations to celebrate the service provided by the global statistical system and to help strengthen awareness and trust of the public in official statistics. The organizers and sponsoring agencies want to raise awareness of the many achievements of official statistics premised on the core values of service, integrity, innovation and professionalism--the UN’s impetus for the worldwide event.

Alexandria, VA (Vocus) October 15, 2010

The American Statistical Association (ASA), the nation’s preeminent statistical society, will observe the first World Statistics Day (WSD) on October 20, along with governments, statistical agencies and associations in the United States. WSD was declared by the United Nations to celebrate the service provided by the global statistical system and to help strengthen awareness and trust of the public in official statistics. The organizers and sponsoring agencies want to raise awareness of the many achievements of official statistics premised on the core values of service, integrity, innovation and professionalism--the UN’s impetus for the worldwide event.

ASA is an organizer and, as part of a consortium of statistical organizations, a sponsor of “National Statistics: Sound Science, Sound Policy, Strong Democracy,” a breakfast briefing and open house on Capitol Hill to celebrate the contributions of statistics toward informing public policy and improving human welfare. The event will take place from 8:30—10:30 am on October 20 in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building (2168 RHOB). A light breakfast will be available and speakers will be heard from 9—9:45 a. m.

“Government statistics are fundamental to our democracy,” said Ron Wasserstein, ASA executive director. “They inform sound policy on the economy and societal issues, guide economic development, and much more. ASA commends our colleagues in federal, state, and local statistical agencies for their commitment to and professionalism in producing statistical data of utmost quality and praises their constant innovative efforts to address changing needs and constant challenges.”

ASA Observance Activities

Beginning October 18 ASA is streaming videos from its Distinguished Statistician interview series. Videos will be available for viewing at this link: http://www. amstat. org/outreach/wsd. cfm. The following videos will be streamed:
Censuses and Surveys: 50 Years, by Morris H. Hansen (1985), 55 minutes Broadening the Scope of Statistics and Statistical Education, by Fred Mosteller (1987), 52 minutes A Perspective on the History of Statistical Education in the United States, by Bob Hogg (1998), 59 minutes Politics and Federal Statistics, by Janet Norwood (2000), 57 minutes The Statistical Century, by Brad Efron (2001), 60 minutes In addition, AmstatNews, ASA’s magazine, has three pieces in the print and online in the October issue, available at http://magazine. amstat. org/, including the ASA President’s column with a sidebar from Census Director Bob Groves. ASA Communications also has developed a World Statistics Day Poster to commemorate the occasion; this can be viewed or downloaded at http://unstats. un. org/unsd/wsd/docs/USA_wsd_flyer. jpg.

Capitol Hill Briefing Details

Appearing on the program will be Chief Statistician of the United States Katherine Wallman, Office of Management and Budget as Moderator. Speakers include current U. S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Robert Groves, former Census Director Dr. Kenneth Prewitt, and J. Steven Landefeld, Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Members of Congress and their staffs also have been invited to participate.

Remarks will highlight the many contributions of government statistics to economic and social development and smarter, more effective government. Throughout the event, senior leaders of each of the federal statistical agencies (listed below) will be available to talk with attendees.

In addition to ASA, the organizing/planning committee for the event includes the following organizations, which also are co-sponsors: American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS), Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT), Council on Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS), Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP), and the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS).

The Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP), also a co-sponsor of the event, consists of 14 federal statistical agencies: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Census Bureau, Economic Research Service (ERS), Energy Information Administration (EIA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Science Foundation (NSF), Social Security Administration (SSA), and Statistics of Income (SOI) Division of IRS.

Other World Statistics Day Resources

The international World Statistics Day web site, http://unstats. un. org/unsd/wsd/

The ASA’s “Statistical Significance” series of data sheets highlighting the important contributions that statisticians make to society, from healthcare and economy to national security and the environment. Click on the links to view individual posters.
Http://www. amstat. org/outreach/statsig. cfm

Biographies of statisticians in history include such notables as Florence Nightingale:
Http://www. amstat. org/about/statisticiansinhistory/index. cfm? fuseaction=bios

About the American Statistical Association
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the American Statistical Association is the world’s largest community of statisticians and the second oldest continuously operating professional society in the United States. For 170 years, the ASA has supported excellence in the development, application, and dissemination of statistical science through meetings, publications, membership services, education, accreditation, and advocacy. Its members serve in industry, government, and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research and promoting sound statistical practice to inform public policy and improve human welfare. For additional information about the American Statistical Association, please visit the ASA web site at http://www. amstat. org or call 703.684.1221.

For more information:
Rosanne Desmone 
Public Relations Manager 
American Statistical Association 
703.302.1861 direct 
703.946.3820 mobile 
Rosanne(at)amstat(dot)org

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Advertising Company Expands with State-of-the-Art Editing Platform

Advertising Company Expands with State-of-the-Art Editing Platform

RIO RANCHO, N. M. (PRWEB) November 3, 2005

Edit House Productions, LLC has expanded its equipment platform with the installation of a third video editing system. This system is the fastest computer available for media production. It allows faster, more complex digital video editing through a Power Mac G5 operating system with dual, water-cooled, processors. The system will run the most advanced high definition (HD) Final Cut Pro software on the market and operate on a 1:1 compression ratio.

It will also expand Edit House Productions, LLC’s capacity for custom music composition, DVD authoring, and provide a full range of 3-D animation software.

The Power Mac G5 is the world's fastest personal computer and the first with a 64-bit processor - which means it breaks the 4 gigabyte barrier and can use up to 8 gigabytes of main memory. The new G5 processor - available with a new ultrahigh-bandwidth system architecture - makes the Power Mac G5 a breakthrough in desktop processing power, according to Apple.

The G5 and Final Cut Pro are becoming the choice of theatrical movie production as well, as directors choose the greater flexibility of the hardware/software platform. Recent movies edited on the Final Cut Pro software include “Corpse Bride”, “Intolerable Cruelty”, “Oceans 11”, “Napoleon Dynamite”, “Open Water”, and “The Rules of Attraction”.

Edit House Productions, LLC produces radio and TV commercials that are seen and heard by hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans every day and are also broadcast in over 100 markets across the United States, as well as long-format educational, training and documentary programs.

Clients include Accent Windows of Albuquerque and Phoenix, the New Mexico State Police, Z-Coil Footwear, the Hearing Health Care Centers, automotive dealerships and other retailers locally and across the United States.

Begun in 2000 as Rio Rancho’s first media production and advertising agency, the company also provides marketing, advertising, media buying and public relations services. The web address is www. edithouse. net.

For more information contact Smith at 896-EDTV(3388). Business license # 00-02587.

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Friday, January 21, 2011

PetsitUSA and Independent Pet Sitters Urge Pet Owners to be Aware of Summer Health Hazards

PetsitUSA and Independent Pet Sitters Urge Pet Owners to be Aware of Summer Health Hazards

PetsitUSA and professional pet sitters remind pet owners to be aware of dangers that may affect their pets during the summer months. Summertime pet hazards include such things as extreme heat, fireworks, lawn and garden products, and more. Pet owners who are aware of these dangers may be able to prevent accidents from happening.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) June 23, 2009

Because pet sitters interact with a large number of pets, they are familiar with a variety of summer dangers. They hear stories of cats, dogs and other pets that have suffered summertime mishaps because their owners are not aware of potential dangers, or have not considered taking measures to prevent them.

Simply knowing some of these dangers, and how to prevent them, may mean avoiding a costly and life threatening illness or injury for one's pet. Therefore, as advocates for pets, professional pet sitters offer the following reminders to help pet owners keep their pets safe during the summer months:
Keep the heat in mind -- It only takes a matter of minutes for a vehicle to become dangerously hot, even with the windows open This can cause heatstroke and even death for a cat, dog, or other pet. For this reason, pets should never be left alone in a parked vehicle. Pets that spend time outdoors should always have plenty of shade and water. Pets with health problems, dogs that are extremely active or engage in sporting events, and dogs with short snouts should be monitored closely and made to stop if they show any signs of distress. Fireworks fear -- Many pets are extremely fearful of fireworks. They often become lost after they bolt out of an open door or escape a fenced in area as they try to get way from the noise. Pet owners are encouraged to keep pets indoors for holidays such as the Fourth of July, when fireworks are common. If it is not possible for a pet owner to stay home with their pets on holidays when fireworks are used, hiring a pet sitter to check on them is suggested. Water safety -- It is a myth that all dogs know how to swim, but even those that are expert swimmers should be supervised when around pools and other bodies of water. When including dogs in water activities, such as boating, owners should consider using life jackets or other flotation devices designed for pets. Additionally, dogs should not be allowed to drink water from swimming pools, which contain harmful chlorine and other chemicals. Barbecue dangers -- While barbecues may be a fun summertime activity for people, they can be dangerous to pets. Pets should be kept away from barbecue grills, fires, charcoal, charcoal starter, and citronella candles, as well as food and alcohol. Lawn and garden products -- These can cause serious injury and even death if ingested or if they come in contact with a pet's fur or skin. Just a few of these hazardous products include cocoa mulch, fertilizer, pool chemicals, insecticides, and rodenticide. If products such as these must be used, pets should be kept away from the areas in which they are used.

Being aware of summertime hazards and taking steps to avoid them is often the best way to prevent possible illness or injury. Pet owners who suspect their pet is suffering from heatstroke, poison, or other health problem, should contact their veterinarian or local animal emergency center immediately.

About PetsitUSA

PetsitUSA is a leading pet sitting directory for pet owners searching for professional pet sitters, dog walkers, dog runners, and dog daycares throughout the United States. Based in Austin, Texas, PetsitUSA was launched in 2003 by Therese Kopiwoda, who also serves a small number of pet sitting clients. For more information, or to find an independent, professional pet sitter, visit http://www. petsitusa. com (http://www. petsitusa. com).

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AP9 BusinessMax Uncovers the Latest High-Tech Business Gadgets

AP9 BusinessMax Uncovers the Latest High-Tech Business Gadgets

AP9 BusinessMax offers small businesses valuable savings on office supplies, equipment and healthcare needs.

Stamford, Conn. (PRWEB) June 30, 2005

Small businesses succeed or fail largely on the basis of the products and services they provide their customers. Members of AP9 BusinessMax (http://www. businessmax-program. com/), a leading discount membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC, realize that the right equipment can often mean the difference between fulfilling customer needs in a timely, accurate and consistent manner and coming up short in their customersÂ’ eyes.

The technology revolution of the last decade has increased the speed of communications, production and delivery in ways we never could have imagined twenty years ago. Small-business owners who are members of AP9 BusinessMax (http://www. businessmax-program. com/) can easily and affordably take advantage of the latest technological advancements in business equipment, communications gear and more from top of the line brands like BlackBerry, Treo, and Mac. Members can access their money-saving benefits through AP9 BusinessMax online at DealPass (http://www. dealpass. com/).

While not every technological innovation can be considered “progress,” AP9 BusinessMax offers a few ideas on some recent gadgets that can help small-business owners keep pace with their bigger competitors:

The BlackBerry 7100t is one of the hottest items on the market. It combines wireless phone, email and data access in a small handset design, along with a Bluetooth hands-free headset. Set up a tee time with clients during your morning commute, stay in touch with prospects while you’re running errands, or send a gift basket to a distributor while enjoying dinner with your family. The Treo 650 Smartphone offers you email, an organizer, messaging and web access, with built-in Bluetooth technology for wireless communications — just for starters. It also comes with an MP3 player, a digital camera that shoots videos, and a whole lot more. Whether you need to contact a client from your car or send product specs to a vendor, the Treo 650 can help you deliver your message loud and clear. The Mac mini offers a G4 processor, up to 1GB PC2700 main memory, a Radeon 9200 graphics chip, and a hard drive with room for up to 80GB — all in a 6.5-inch square, 2-inch tall box. If you’re short on office space but long on ideas, the Mac mini can fill your needs. And with a suggested retail price under $500, it won’t use up much cash, either. Worried about theft? The Linksys Wireless-G Internet Video Camera can send a live video feed with sound through the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world, which can help you keep an eye on your most valuable assets, even from the comfort of your home.

In addition to significant discounts on business equipment, AP9 BusinessMax offers members substantial savings on travel, corporate services and supplies, healthcare needs and much more.

About AP9 BusinessMax (http://www. businessmax-program. com/):

AP9 BusinessMax is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC (http://adaptivemarketing. com/). Headquartered in Stamford, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in both membership and loyalty programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at DealPass. com, an online portal for Adaptive Marketing membership programs. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs, such as AP9 BusinessMax.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Jones and Bartlett Publishers Announces the Publication of Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002

Jones and Bartlett Publishers Announces the Publication of Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002

SUDBURY, MA, July 24, 2001—Jones and Bartlett Publishers (J&B) is pleased to announce the publication of Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002, edited by Kathleen G. Auerbach. The second title in the CICL series, Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002 continues to add to the growing body of information on lactation science and its clinical application by providing new insights on issues affecting successful breastfeeding.

(PRWEB) August 11, 2001

Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002 includes patients' perceptions of providers' views on breastfeeding, inadequate screening of the mother for alcohol consumption, prematurity, and the effects of a non-supportive culture are explored.

 In its first edition last year, Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2000 was called “brilliant” and “exceptional” in a review published by the Journal of Human Lactation (Vol. 17, Iss. 2, p. 170, ã 2001). Reviewer Heather Chase, RN, IBCLC, wrote, “Current Issues in Clinical Lactation will no doubt contribute to the increase in knowledge and expertise of the lactation clinicians. My only regret is that it will come out only once a year.” This yearÂ’s collection of articles will surely continue this legacy of brilliance.

Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC, maintains a private practice in lactation consulting at The Parent Center in Ferndale, Washington. She is co-author with Jan Riordan of Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (now in its second edition) and its three accompanying titles. She and Jan Riordan are also the authors of Clinical Lactation: A Visual Guide. Each of these titles is also available from Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Headquartered in Sudbury, Massachusetts, Jones and Bartlett Publishers is the ninth largest academic publisher in the United States, publishing text, professional, and reference books, and a variety of multimedia products. In addition to lactation, J&B publishes titles in the fields of emergency care and medicine, nursing, health science and nutrition, biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science.

Current Issues in Clinical Lactation 2002

ISBN: 0-7637-1822-X ● 96 pages ● $36.95 (U. S. List)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Booksfree. com Adds Over 8,000 Titles to Paperback Borrowing Service

Booksfree. com Adds Over 8,000 Titles to Paperback Borrowing Service

Online book borrowing website adds quality paperback titles to the fiction and non-fiction sections.

Vienna, VA (PRWEB) May 2, 2005

Booksfree. com, the largest library on the Web, announces the addition of over 8,000 quality paperback titles to its online book borrowing selection, expanding their offerings to over 48,000 paperback titles and 5,000 audiobook titles.

"In response to customer requests, we added these titles to increase our already diverse selection," said Doug Ross, President and CEO of Booksfree. com. "We're confident these new and expanded selections will offer the popular and best-selling titles our customers are looking for."

In addition to supplementing the site's already existing categories, Booksfree. com also added brand new categories for Self-Help, Family & Relationships, Health & Fitness and Cooking. The new, customer-requested categories join such popular favorites as Bestsellers, New Releases and Member Favorites, as well as lists for Oprah's® Picks and Today Show® Picks.

Booksfree. com offers five customized membership packages for paperback book borrowing and three packages for audiobook borrowing, allowing members to select the services that best meet their borrowing preferences and reading habits. In addition to a large selection of Book-on-CD titles, Booksfree. com recently launched an MP3-CD audiobook service featuring the latest titles (currently over 1,400) in this new and popular format.

Booksfree. com membership includes free shipping and a prepaid return mailer for all borrowed titles, with no late fees and no due dates. The Booksfree. com library contains most of today's most popular titles, including "Nighttime Is My Time," "Tipping Point" and "30-Minute Get Real Meals." To browse the complete title listing, visit http://www. booksfree. com/browse. shtml (http://www. booksfree. com/browse. shtml).

About Booksfree. com

Since 2000, Booksfree. com has become the worldÂ’s largest e-library of paperback and audiobook titles, offering free delivery and prepaid return mailers. Booksfree. com designed different monthly membership fees to match reading or listening habits and provides exceptional customer service. In addition, Booksfree. com Retail features the latest titles available for purchase, many at savings of 30%.

For more information, or to become a member, please visit www. booksfree. com.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

Can You Live Your Way Thin? Lifestyle Changes Are Necessary to Defeat Obesity

Can You Live Your Way Thin? Lifestyle Changes Are Necessary to Defeat Obesity

Americans are desperate to find a way to lose weight. Whether it is because the doctor tells us to or because we just want to improve our appearance, Americans will spend billions this year on pills, diets, food supplements, videos, and even fat camps. Some have found success, but many, perhaps most, have found frustration and failure as their weight goes up and down, or they simply lose no weight at all.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) December 3, 2005

Americans are desperate to find a way to lose weight. Whether it is because the doctor tells us to or because we just want to improve our appearance, Americans will spend billions this year on pills, diets, food supplements, videos, and even fat camps. Some have found success, but many, perhaps most, have found frustration and failure as their weight goes up and down, or they simply lose no weight at all.

According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 30 percent of U. S. adults 20 years of age and older-over 60 million people-are obese. And it's a number that is growing every year despite the fact that we spend over 30 billion dollars a year fighting it.

Being overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, results from "an imbalance involving excessive calorie consumption and/or inadequate physical activity." In other words, as experts have told us for years, we need to eat less and exercise more. But we have apparently always hoped there would be more to it than that. And so the marketplace has filled with products designed to shortcut weight-loss.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken hundreds of products and companies to court in the last several decades trying to protect Americans from outlandish and sometimes dangerous claims. A "Super-Formula pill" for instance, claimed several years ago that it would block fat absorption, curb appetite, and speed metabolism, blasting "up to 49 pounds off you in only 29 days!" The FTC froze the company's assets, and they were quickly out of business. But where one claim disappears another appears.

"There is no quick-fix when it comes to losing weight permanently," says Stavros Mastrogiannis, a certified lifestyle and weight management consultant. "There is more misinformation in the weight-loss field than any other," he claims. The outlandish claims for quick weight-loss will not work, or at least will not last according to Stavros. "If we want to win the war against over-weight, obesity and all the diseases that come with it, we need to tackle the problem from the root, which is our lifestyle habits."

Stavros, a 12-year veteran in the weight-loss field, studied most of the dieting advice, research and products offered over the years and applied what he learned to his clients. "As my approach evolved," he says, "more and more of my clients began to see results." His conclusion was that losing weight requires a permanent change in lifestyle. You must incorporate into your lifestyle four major ingredients. They include some form of resistance training, some form of aerobics, proper nutrition, and most importantly, consistency

Stravros has compiled what he has learned about changing lifestyles in his book, Live Your Way Thin. In it, he gives readers the tools needed for making permanent changes in their day-to-day lifestyle. His approach is the only one on the market that includes all the four ingredients necessary for successful and permanent weight-loss.

For a review copy of the book or to set up an interview with Stavros Mastrogiannis for a story, please contact Jay Wilke at 727-443-7115, ext. 223.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Guy Woods Captures First Extreme Mustang Makeover Championship

Guy Woods Captures First Extreme Mustang Makeover Championship

75 American Mustangs Nets $233,000 for Mustang Heritage Foundation

Fort Worth, Texas (PRWEB) September 28, 2007

In a stunning display of horsemanship that included cracking whips, balloons and a chain saw, the inaugural Extreme Mustang Makeover came to a close in Fort Worth, Texas, with veteran cutting horse trainer Guy Woods taking the win and $10,000 during the freestyle finals performance, Saturday, September 22.

Facing 12 other finalists, Woods of Pilot Point, Texas, cracked a whip as he and his American Mustang Max loped around the arena in soft smooth circles, capturing the applause of a standing room only crowd at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center's Watt Arena as he jumped a series of three poles balanced on low barrels, followed by a higher jump. Judges Suzy Jeane, J. D. Yates, Bob Moorehouse and Chris Cox scored the duo a 288.

Prineville, Ore., native Kitty Lauman claimed the reserve championship and a check for $5,000 from sponsor Fort Dodge Animal Health with a score of 284.00 riding Ranger. Definitely a crowd favorite, Lauman maneuvered Ranger through a series of reining movements and then wowed the crowd with her shooting techniques as she galloped past a series of balloons, hitting all nine. In third place was Whitehall, Mont., cowboy Zane Davis, riding Algore, earning a score of 279.5 from the four judges. Davis and Algore deftly performed an expert snaffle bit reining pattern, but thrilled the spectators when Davis pulled out a rope with Algore tracking a steer for a nice clean stop.

All horses competing in the contest were evaluated on their body condition, as well as scored through a series of obstacles in an "in-hand" course, and in a "horse course" which was also a set pattern of maneuvers. A value of 20 percent was applied to the body conditioning, 30 percent in the in-hand and 50 percent for the horse course.

Woods, who has professionally trained cutting horses for almost 30 years and has won numerous National Cutting Horse Association honors, worked with Max at the end of almost every day after riding 15 other horses. "I'd work him after I got all my other horses ridden and for the first 60 days or so, it was challenging and a lot of fun. Then for the last 40 days, it was a matter of keeping him ridden and fine tuning a lot of the things we'd worked on."

Making the decision to take on the Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge wasn't a hard one for Woods, even though more than one of his cutting horse friends raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I wanted to do this because I thought it would be fun," he said. "When I left Australia and came to America, I was the top ranked youth rider in Victoria. Riding in this competition made me feel like a kid again."

Extreme Mustang Makeover Freestyle Finals Top Five

1. Guy Woods, Pilot Point, Texas, riding Max. Score 288.
2. Kitty Lauman, Prineville, Oregon, riding Ranger. Score 284.5.
3. Zane Davis, Whitehall, Montana, riding Algore. Score 279.5.
4. Eviga Aunina, Rock Springs, Wyoming, riding Wellington. Score 274.5.
5. Dwight Bilyk, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, riding J4. Score 270.5.

The Extreme Mustang Makeover concluded September 23 with the adoption of all horses placed in the program.

When trainer Ray Ariss went off pattern during the "horse course" of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, giving him a zero for that portion of the competition, his hopes for representing his hometown of Norco, Calif., and displaying the talents of his American Mustang Hail Yeah were dashed, or so he thought. That was until Hail Yeah was adopted for $50,000 during the Extreme Mustang Makeover adoption process, taking the high-adopted horse of the adoption and the highest-adopting Mustang in the history of the Bureau of Land Management's adoption program.

But the gelding's adopters knew the horse's abilities, so offering the adoption fee was, well, a no brainer. Partnering on the fee was the City of Norco, Calif., represented by Mayor Harvey Sullivan and the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF).

Ariss had a lot riding on the exhibition of his horse. Sullivan had seen the first episode of the Extreme Mustang Makeover on RFD TV and approached Ray about representing Norco in its marketing focus as Horsetown USA. "I thought this competition was so unique and Ray is an outstanding trainer," said Sullivan, who traveled to Fort Worth to support Ariss and Hail Yeah. "When I return to Norco, we will be naming Hail Yeah the official mascot of the city and he will represent our message as Horsetown USA."

The second highest adopting horse was a Calico Mountain Mustang named Larry, trained by Dave Schaffner. Schaffner tragically suffered a serious riding accident on another horse shortly before the competition and was not able to compete. As a result, Larry was shown by Shaffner's son Tyler and was adopted for $10,000 by Mustangs Forever Inc.'s Randy Olson of Kerrville, Texas who was also the high-money adopter purchasing two horses for a total of $13,100. The after fee funds received for Larry will be donated to the Schaffner family to assist with medical bills.

Seventy-five Mustangs were adopted for a total of $233,100 for a sale average of $3,108. The Bureau of Land Management received $125 per head as the minimum adoption fee while the remainder was allocated for the development and programs of the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Trainers also received a 15 percent adoption commission for any horse adopted for a fee higher than $250.

The Extreme Mustang Makeover will also become a six-episode series on RFD Television's Wide World of Horses through December 2007. The show will share the stories of the mustangs and trainers as they learn to trust in one another and gain competitive confidence. The show will air future episodes October 22, November 19, December 17 and December 31. Airtimes for the series will be Mondays at 10:30 p. m., with additional airings on Tuesday at 8:30 a. m. and Mondays at 4:30 p. m. All times are Eastern. RFD-TV can be found on Direct TV channel 379 and Dish Network channels 231 or 9049.

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The rSmart Group Builds Momentum by Adding New Sakai Clients

The rSmart Group Builds Momentum by Adding New Sakai Clients

Today, at the 8th Sakai Conference, The rSmart Group announced exciting growth for its Sakai support and services offerings. rSmart, the leading full-service provider of open source solutions for education, is now providing commercial support and professional services for the rSmart Sakai Collaboration and Learning Environment (CLE) to educational institutions across the globe.

PHOENIX (PRWEB) January 14, 2008

 Institutions that have recently contracted with rSmart for support and services around Sakai include:

-- Carnegie Mellon University

-- Charles Sturt University (Australia)

-- Cornell University

-- Marist College

-- Mesa Community College

-- New York City Department of Education

-- National Health Group (NHG), Singapore

-- Portland State University

-- Rutgers University

-- University of Houston-Clear Lake

-- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

-- University of Wyoming

Each of these institutions is using the Sakai CLE's powerful course management tools, ePortfolio functionality, and other collaboration features to enable and support innovative approaches to teaching and learning. In some cases the institutions are augmenting existing systems in order to get the specific best-of-breed functionality that Sakai offers. In other cases, institutions are using Sakai as a comprehensive replacement for an existing CMS solution. In implementations that vary from pilot programs to full production usage of Sakai, these institutions are relying on rSmart to support their innovations.

"We at Marist College picked rSmart in order to augment our resources with a team of knowledgeable Sakai experts. This allows our academic technology support team to focus on innovation in our area of expertise--teaching and learning," said Josh Baron, Director, Academic Technology and eLearning, at Marist College. "Partnering with rSmart allows our scarce resources to work on local innovations and serve the needs of our academic community while rSmart takes care of the more routine support of our rSmart Sakai CLE instance."

The rSmart Sakai CLE is the company's fully packaged, tested and supported distribution of the Sakai software. Similar to the way RedHat(TM) distributes and supports the Linux(TM) operating system, rSmart distributes and supports Sakai.

The CLE provides a feature-rich, fully scalable, enterprise ready software application that is unique in its ability to support teaching and learning, project collaboration, group interaction and ePortfolio construction. It offers an open source collaboration environment that is polished, customizable and fully supported by an accountable partner -- rSmart. The company also provides professional services including Sakai assessment and planning, training, installation, integration and data migration, customization and application hosting to complement its support offerings.

"We find that many institutions are so accustomed to the proprietary software model, they don't understand that using and consuming open source software can be as simple," remarked Chris Coppola, President of The rSmart Group. "The difference is that they benefit from the extraordinary level of community innovation and save significantly by eliminating license fees."

The rSmart Sakai CLE may be downloaded free of charge from the company's website. The free download enables institutions to try the software before making a financial commitment for support and services.

About The rSmart Group:

The rSmart Group is the leading open source application software company serving the education market. rSmart packages, certifies, deploys, and supports a suite of enterprise financial and collaboration and learning applications for colleges, universities, and institutions serving grades K-12. As an active member of open source projects like Kuali and Sakai, rSmart is able to provide its clients with software applications specifically designed to meet the unique needs of educational institutions. This collaborative approach allows rSmart to offer open source applications that break the dependence of educational institutions on traditional proprietary software vendors. Please visit www. rsmart. com for more information.

About Sakai:

The Sakai Project is a landmark venture to create a comprehensive open-source course management, collaboration, ePortfolio and online research environment for the education community. Started in 2004 by a collaboration between the University of Michigan, Indiana University, Stanford and MIT, the project is now run by the Sakai Foundation and includes over 100 members representing universities, colleges and institutions of learning around the world. For more information visit www. sakaiproject. org.

*Redhat and Linux are trademarks of their respective owners.

Small to Medium Size Businesses are Using Technology to Increase Productivity and Revenue; Everon Shows Them How in 7 Steps

Small to Medium Size Businesses are Using Technology to Increase Productivity and Revenue; Everon Shows Them How in 7 Steps

Everon Technology Services LLC, a leading provider of managed IT services to small to medium size businesses, will be conducting a series of free webinars aimed at helping SMB’s utilize technology to advance and grow their businesses. This webinar “7 Technology Habits of Highly Successful Small to Medium-Size Businesses” will be conducted nationwide via the Internet.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) July 11, 2005

Everon Technology Services LLC, a leading provider of managed IT services to small to medium size businesses, will be conducting a series of free webinars aimed at helping SMB’s utilize technology to advance and grow their businesses. This webinar “7 Technology Habits of Highly Successful Small to Medium-Size Businesses” will be conducted nationwide via the Internet.

“With greater and more cost-effective accessibility to computers and technology, small and medium size businesses are utilizing PC’s more than ever to run their businesses,” said Michael Cooch, CEO of Everon.

Few SMB’s actual harness and optimize their technology to advance and grow their businesses. “In fact, most SMB’s may be under-utilizing the capabilities of their technology by as much as 50%” say Michael. The free webinar, “7 Technology Habits of Highly Successful Small to Medium-Size Businesses” will show business leaders how to get the most out of their technology to increase productivity and revenue.

Non-profit technology experts David Liniado and Michael Cooch, founders of Everon Technology Services, will provide business leaders with specific examples, tools, and recommendations for utilizing technology to its fullest. Attendees of this webinar will also receive a free Systems Inventory Report, giving business leaders a snapshot of the health and effectiveness of all their technology.

Webinar Dates:

-July 19, 2005 at 2:00 PM EST

-July 21, 2005 at 2:00 PM EST

For more information or to register for these webinars, visit: http://www. everonit. com/webinar (http://www. everonit. com/webinar) or call 617-737-3815.

About the Presenters

Michael Cooch, CEO of Everon Technology Services, is an expert in technology for non-profit and small to medium size businesses. Michael founded Everon with the goal of bringing a dramatically higher level of service to the small to medium sized business marketplace. Prior to Everon Michael built and sold Britewire, a DSL Internet Service Provider, and served as Vice President for Napali Networks.

David Liniado, President of Everon Technology Services, is an expert on small business needs and challenges, and solving them with technology. David previously co-founded Student Advantage creating the nationÂ’s largest student membership organization served by a network of over 15,000 businesses.

About Everon

Everon Technology Services provides a suite of managed information technology (IT) services for small to medium size businesses allowing for end user support, network management and strategic growth. Everon delivers the same level of complete technical support found at large companies but at an affordable cost charging clients a flat monthly fee per desktop. Everon is continually improving the value of its services and focuses on making its customers more efficient, productive, and satisfied with their technology investments.

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Everon provides services nationwide to a wide range of clients ranging from non-profit organizations, professional service firms and consumer companies. For more information on Everon, visit http://www. everonit. com (http://www. everonit. com) or call 1-888-244-1748.

Contact Information:

Doug Ziewacz

Everon Technology Services LLC

617-880-1715

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Are you ready for the next generation of Spa-Goers?

Are you ready for the next generation of Spa-Goers?

The next generation of spa-goers is far from typical. They are as varied as the types of spas and treatments available today. Be ready for the next spa generation with a line of fun, spa inspired apparel from bare minimum. It is a way for your clients to bring the spa experience home, as well as a unique revenue opportunity for your spa!

(PRWEB) April 8, 2004

Ten years ago if asked to describe the typical spa-goer, the consensus would be, ‘She is white, married, well-educated and between 40-50 years old.’ Today you would be hard pressed to come up with a description as narrow as that. The next generation of spa-goers is far from typical. They are as varied as the types of spas and treatments available today. “She” could be “He”. Or “single” instead of “married”. Or a “teen” instead of “50 years old.”

International Spa AssociationÂ’s (ISPA) 2003 Spa-Goer Study reports that men account for 29% of todayÂ’s spa-goers. The study also reports 40% of spa-goers, with children between the ages of 13 and 15, have taken their teen to a spa. And the 18 and 19-year-old spa-goers are just as likely to attend a spa with or without their parents' supervision. Given these numbers, more and more spas are expanding their menus to include men-specific product lines and treatments, and youth spa services.

Be ready for the next spa generation with a line of fun, spa inspired apparel from bare minimum. The line includes everything from infant onesies that sport a playful childÂ’s pose, to Expression Kits containing all the elements for young spa-goers to design their own spa t-shirt. Also includes tanks and tees with eye-catching spa graphics that please even the most discriminating teen. bare minimum also offers a full range of stylish and comfortable spa apparel for women and men.

Offer these as standalone pieces or bundle them with your spa products and services as an added value. bare minimumÂ’s spa wear is a way for your clients to bring the spa experience home, as well as a unique revenue opportunity for your spa!

From April 18-19 you can see bare minimumÂ’s spa wear at booth 419 during the Spa & Resort Expo, Pier 94, New York City. CanÂ’t make the show? Visit bare minimumÂ’s website www. wearbare. com or contact them [512-857-1018 or customerservice@wearbare. com] for sizing, color selections and wholesale pricing.

About bare minimum:

Bare minimum is an apparel company that is committed to the harmonious fusion of comfort and style. We offer a unique line of spa wear and accessories for women, men, and children. Our designs are inspired by the ideas of holistic health and wellness as essential components to everyday life.

Workplace Management Stories

Workplace Management Stories

We would be happy to offer our expertise on workplace-related stories on topics such as Leadership, The New Workforce, and Current Trends.

(PRWEB) January 9, 2002

Leadership

 Never was leadership in HR more critical to corporate survival. The Executive Team is looking to you for the right Talent to see them through these tough times, and for measurable bottom-line results. But how do you do all this in a weakened economy? Focus, strategy, and innovation are how.

 How to avoid the “skills gap” that seems to be cropping up everywhere.

 Compare your leadership behavior to that of some of our more successful Clients who have managed to keep their companies out of the “Danger Zone.”

The New Workforce

 Traditionalists, Gen Xers, Gen Yers, Baby Boomers. What does this highly diverse New Workforce mean to your company?

 Exit strategies – temporary work, a rapidly growing alternative for employment.

 Worried about becoming a “temporary employee”? No problem – the stigma is long gone.

 Temporary to “permanent”: a great way to avoid “culture clash.”

Current Trends

 There are more women entering the workforce than ever before. What are they looking for to stay motivated? (Since 1950, the number of women working outside the home has increased by 27%.)

 How demographic and psychographic changes are affecting the workplace.

 Americans are working longer, but how has that changed our career goals and job requirements? (In 2000, 12.8% of people over 65 worked--more than any time since 1979)

Advantage has a staff of highly-trained professionals, many of whom can offer authoritative, incisive interviews on a variety of workplace/workforce issues. At our helm is CEO and founder, Catherine C. Candland, a recognized industry leader and expert on Talent-related subjects and human capital management. Her vision for the future of work and how it relates to return on investment has propelled Advantage Human Resourcing®, to become one of the largest woman-owned companies in the country. Her views on the future of work would be fascinating to your readers.

About Advantage Human Resourcing®

Advantage Human Resourcing is a leading provider of professional and support-level Talent and related management services, including:

 Advantage Search, for Direct Hire

 Advantage Placement, for Temp-to-hire placements, and

 Advantage Assignment, for temporary or variable Talent needs.

-- more--

Advantage provides Clients with Talent for administrative, creative, customer service, financial and accounting, human resources, information technology, legal, and sales and marketing positions.

Based on feedback, we achieve the fastest time-to-contribution in the industry through:

 A proactive and effective assessment of Client needs.

 Attraction of candidates through innovative applications of Web-based and traditional recruitment methods.

 Effective screening and placement of candidates with respect to three dimensions: Can Do, Will Do, Will Fit.

 A diverse and readily available Talent community of “job ready” Associates.

Founded in 1983 and privately owned by founder, Catherine C. Candland, Advantage provides value-driven Talent solutions and services to corporations, government agencies, health and educational organizations.

For more information, please visit our web site at www. advhr. com.

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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Physicians Collaborate to Bring New Hope to Adult Brain Tumor Patients in Northeast Georgia

Physicians Collaborate to Bring New Hope to Adult Brain Tumor Patients in Northeast Georgia

An urgently needed lifeline of hope has just been created for adult brain tumor sufferers in northeast Georgia. Six Gwinnett physicians representing five practices specializing in oncology and the treatment of neurological disorders have joined forces to form Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program. Thanks to this innovative partnership, patients now have access to advanced treatment that is closer to home and only one phone call away through an urgent care 24-Hour hotline.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (PRWEB) April 5, 2006

Time – it’s often said to be of the essence. That’s doubly true if you are a patient diagnosed with a brain tumor. Answers and treatment must come quickly. Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program is now putting more time on the side of patients in Gwinnett County and northeast Georgia through an innovative hotline and treatment that is closer to home.

Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program (GBTP) is the newly formed, collaborative effort of six Lawrenceville based physicians. Neurosurgeon, Dr. Princewill Ehirim, spearheads the program. He says the concept evolved to address the needs of critically ill patients who formerly had to seek treatment outside the local region to receive the most advanced care.

“Long commutes to distant treatment facilities add emotional and financial stress to brain tumor patients and their caregivers. Patients need access to the most effective treatments as close to home as possible,” says Dr. Ehirim, a practicing partner with North Georgia Neurosurgical Associates.

As the program’s architect, Dr. Ehirim followed the model of the renowned brain tumor program at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio where he received his neurosurgical training. The foundation of a brain tumor program is the creation of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Partnering with Dr. Ehirim, five board certified specialists have combined their expertise. Dr. Charles Wood, neurosurgeon with North Georgia Neurosurgical; Dr. Todd Williamson, neurologist with North Georgia Neurological Clinic; Dr. Richard Loyd, medical oncologist with Georgia Cancer Specialists; Dr. Christopher Hagenstad, medical oncologist with Suburban Hematology-Oncology Associates and Dr. Mark Quinn, medical director and radiation oncologist with Atlanta Oncology Associates’ Cancer Center of Gwinnett complete the group.

“Each physician routinely stays abreast of the latest medical research and technology in his individual practice,” says Dr. Ehirim. “Now we’ve joined together to create a team approach. Formalizing the treatment process under one program provides patients the complete range of therapies which are available through major cancer centers.”

According to the Brain Tumor Society, each year more than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor. With over 120 different types of brain tumors, effective treatment can be complicated. In a population size of Gwinnett and the surrounding region, more than 100 people can be expected to receive this diagnosis annually.

Because symptoms can vary from patient to patient, making a brain tumor diagnosis can be difficult. Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program serves as a vital resource for primary care physicians with a diagnosed patient or a patient who presents suspicious symptoms. These symptoms may include: headaches that are not typical for the patient and do not improve over a period of a few weeks, weakness or numbness without clear explanation, unexplained seizure in an adult and nausea and/or vomiting that does not improve.

“Timely evaluation is critical,” notes Dr. Ehirim. To facilitate the evaluation and treatment process, GBTP has established a 24-hour Hotline. Each call is answered by a healthcare professional who consults with the patient or referring physician. Arrangement is made for an office assessment or, if necessary, emergency treatment is scheduled.

Patients who have been diagnosed with a brain tumor are typically first seen in Dr. Ehirim’s Lawrenceville office located adjacent to Gwinnett Medical Center on Medical Center Boulevard. Following evaluation, the patient receives diagnostic testing. Physicians then consult to create an individualized treatment plan. Depending upon the tumor characteristics, the patient may require one or a combination of therapies involving neurosurgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Radiosurgery, a newer advancement in brain tumor treatment, is one of GBTP’s most sophisticated technologies. Utilizing a precisely targeted beam of radiation, it is often referred to as “surgery without a scalpel”. According to Dr. Quinn, a physician with more than 13 years of experience in radiation therapy, radiosurgery may be used when open surgery is considered too difficult or dangerous. It achieves the same results of eradicating the tumor cells but is a noninvasive procedure.

The program’s completing components include a range of patient support services and access to clinical trials. Until recent years, a patient had to go outside his community to participate in clinical trials. “We assist the patient in enrolling in the appropriate trial and coordinate the care,” Dr. Ehirim says. “Again, this allows the patient to spend more time at home with his support network where he can focus on coping with illness.”

The program’s goal is to ensure each patient’s best chance for survival. “Our entire team is dedicated to providing hope through advanced therapies in a community setting. This is the reason Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program exists,” Dr. Ehirim states.

Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program is the first private, multidisciplinary treatment program for adult brain tumor patients in Georgia and among the first in the southeastern United States. The program’s physicians, therapists and support staff comprise a team of over fifty healthcare specialists.

More information can be obtained by logging onto the program’s website http://www. GwinnettBTP. com (http://www. GwinnettBTP. com). Consultations, referrals or emergency care can be arranged through the hotline number 1-888-831-8361.

Media Contact: Peg Jones, Marketing Specialist, Gwinnett Brain Tumor Program

Cell: (678) 372-1835 / Office: (678)377-0662

Website: http://www. gwinnettbtp. com (http://www. gwinnettbtp. com)

Note to editor: If you are interested in interviewing Dr. Ehirim or the other physicians, please contact Peg Jones via phone or email to make arrangements.

Photos are available.

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