4-H News, a Youth Podcasting Video Blog, Reports on American Red Cross Exercise for Local Newspaper

4-H News, a Youth Podcasting Video Blog, Reports on American Red Cross Exercise for Local Newspaper

First In US: Citizen Journalists Club Consistently Contributes “News Pods” To One Hundred and Seventeen Year Old News Outlet.

Port Townsend, WA (PRWEB) March 20, 2006

4-H News (http://4-hnews. blogspot. com (http://4-hnews. blogspot. com)), a new 4-H Podcast Video Blogging Club in Jefferson County, Washington produced "Johnny-on-the-spot" video coverage of the 2006 American Red Cross Olympic Peninsula Chapter disaster training exercise that was held on Wednesday, March Fifteenth, at the Washington State University Extension in Port Hadlock. The report was published the following day on the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader newspaper's website: http://www. ptleader. com/main. asp? SectionID=70 (http://www. ptleader. com/main. asp? SectionID=70)

March is Red Cross Month.

4-H News Reporter, Daniel Bryant, interviewed David Stanko, Public Information Officer of the American Red Cross Olympic Peninsula Chapter. The report reviewed the organization's full day of activities that simulated emergency response actions that would be taken if there was a massive fire that burned down 50 homes in the nearby community of Irondale. The thirteen year old correspondent then edited the exclusive coverage using Apple's "Final Cut Pro" software program and published the in-depth three minute news piece on YouTube, a free video sharing web community: http://youtube. com/watch? v=7qQa7yZCHjE (http://youtube. com/watch? v=7qQa7yZCHjE)

"The 4-H News program is a fine example of youth leading the way with new communication technologies," states Pamela Roberts, Jefferson County, WA 4-H Coordinator. "We are excited about the educational potential of video blogging and increasing public access to information on demand."

"Last week the Olympic Peninsula Red Cross held a three day disaster exercise in conjunction with National Red Cross facilitators." explains Phyllis Darling, Olympic Peninsula Red Cross, "The purpose of the exercise -- called Chapter Disaster Review, Exercise and Evaluation -- or CDREE -- was to determine how prepared the Olympic Peninsula Chapter is to respond to a Level II emergency involving the destruction by wildfire of 50 houses in the Irondale area. The CDREE involved a call-out of all disaster volunteers, the location and set-up of a shelter, provision of food, clothing, medication and basic needs for approximately 50 families, and communication with fire, police and the Jefferson County Emergency Management Office."

4-H Jefferson County, Washington

Jefferson County 4-H builds youth leaders ages 5-19 through hands-on learning and community service. 4-H is sponsored through a collaborative effort between Jefferson County, Washington State University, and over 100 local adult volunteer Jefferson County 4-H Leaders. http://jefferson. wsu. edu/4h (http://jefferson. wsu. edu/4h)

American Red Cross - Olympic Peninsula Chapter

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross volunteers respond frequently to local disasters, such as house fires, and provide emergency assistance to families in the form of food, clothing, shelter, and other needs. The Red Cross also teaches disaster preparedness classes and works with other peninsula organizations to prepare shelters for use in case of a major disaster. http://www. olypen. com/arc/ (http://www. olypen. com/arc/)

Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

The Port Townsend Leader began publication as a daily in 1889. In 1904, the paper changed its name to the Port Townsend Daily Leader, and became the Port Townsend Leader in 1916. Now titled The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, it is the only newspaper continuously published since Port Townsend’s early boom years. http://www. ptleader. com (http://www. ptleader. com)

Contact:

Pamela Roberts

Jefferson County 4-H Coordinator

(360) 379-5610 X207

Jack Olmsted

Youth Leader, 4-H News

(360) 379-5610 X214

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CrossTec Corp. Announces Distribution Agreement with Xnet Communications

CrossTec Corp. Announces Distribution Agreement with Xnet Communications

Hamburg-based company to distribute CrossTec software in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) January 2, 2007

CrossTec Corporation has entered into a distribution agreement with Xnet Communications GmbH, a data communications and system integration company based in Hamburg, Germany and Poznan, Poland.

Xnet, a longtime distributor of the NetOp product line, will now distribute CrossTec products in Germany and Poland, including CrossTec SchoolVue™, a classroom management solution; CrossTec Remote Control™, a remote access and support tool; CrossTec EMS™ (Enterprise Management System), a tool that combines hardware and software metering, software distribution, and remote control capabilities, and CrossTec ResQRemote™, a help desk text chat utility. Xnet will continue to provide technical support to their customers who choose to remain users of the NetOp software.

"We are very pleased to be working with Xnet Communications and to be able to expand our growing list of world class channel partners," said Don Shellenberger, CrossTec's vice president of international business development.

The CrossTec Web site is now available in German translation. Please visit it at http://www. crossteccorp. com/index-german. html (http://www. crossteccorp. com/index-german. html).

CrossTec SchoolVue™ puts teachers, lab instructors, and corporate trainers center stage in networked classrooms or Internet-based virtual classrooms by enabling full control of the classroom - and students' attention - by restricting the use of applications and Web sites during lessons. Additionally, instructors can record what applications students use and what Web sites they visit; broadcast their own screens, multimedia files, and students' screens to other participants; record and play back screen sessions; monitor multiple students' computers as they work; carry on bidirectional text or audio conversations and lectures; create, administer, monitor and automatically grade tests; remote control a student PC for one-on-one instruction and more.

CrossTec Remote Control™ is designed to provide vital tools to access, control and support PCs across an operation. Users can easily and securely reach any Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Sun Solaris, or CE device from their own desktops, Pocket PCs, or any temporary machine via an Internet browser plug-in. See the remote PC's screen, control its keyboard and mouse, synchronize files, inventory its hardware and software, launch applications or chat with someone at the remote PC -- just like being seated at that computer.

CrossTec EMS™ (Enterprise Management System) combines hardware and software inventory with software distribution and application and Internet metering along with optional PC remote control capabilities. Users can easily comply with corporate configuration standards while simultaneously reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

CrossTec ResQRemote™ provides on-demand customer support via the Internet. The help technician and customer can connect through a text chat utility with remote control capabilities to enhance the service process without any software installation. Any user needing support, with a simple network connection can be delivered full remote support in a matter of seconds.

About CrossTec Corporation

Founded in 1996, CrossTec Corporation distributes a select line of quality IT solutions for IT security information management and reporting; PC lab management software; cross-platform remote assistance, help-desk incident tracking and management solutions; and web based communication and calendar portals for schools. Listed by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the top software companies in Florida, CrossTec provides personalized sales consulting, toll-free support and multiple product training options to leading edge solution providers along with major enterprises, organizations, government agencies and educational institutions throughout North America.

About Xnet Communications GmbH

Xnet Communications GmbH is an independent technology center whose core business is the creation of high-end solutions for data communications. Xnet is also a system integrator that combines standard components as well as original products to create customized solutions to solve the complexities of data logistics. In addition to the headquarters in Hamburg, Xnet has offices in Frankfurt/Main, North America, and Eastern Europe.

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Author and Lecturer James Howard Kunstler Joins ZOOM'D Leadership on the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network

Author and Lecturer James Howard Kunstler Joins ZOOM'D Leadership on the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network

James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency and numerous other books, comes to ZOOM'D on Monday, January 11 at 11 AM Pacific Time/2 PM Eastern Time on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel to shake up thinking about the challenges posed by the converging catastrophes of the 21st century. Discussions will include the Current State of America and the Resilience It Will Take to Overcome Current Challenges

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 8, 2010

James Howard Kunstler, author of such books as The Long Emergency and World Made by Hand, writer about environmental and economic issues for the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page, and seasoned lecturer, joins host John Schmidt on VoiceAmerica's ZOOM'D Leadership on Monday, January 11 at 2 PM Eastern/11 AM Pacific to discuss the challenges posed by the coming permanent oil crisis, climate change, and other currently converging dilemmas.

In a riveting description of realities and contraction that the world faces, James highlights two competing forces at play: the dominant push toward the status quo with self-correction back to a consumer-centered growth economy, and the minority force that calls for radically new arrangements in daily life and intelligent responses to the real dynamics at hand. James explores the pressure points and tensions underlying where we are now, what we can expect this year, and where our current path is taking us in the longer term. Underpinning the direct and no-holds-barred conversation is an ever-growing emphasis on resilience--a watchword central to both communities and our personal lives going forward.

In 1993, James wrote The Geography of Nowhere to voice feelings about the tragic American landscape of strip-malls and ravaged cities. Home from Nowhere continued the discussion, focusing on remedies, and The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition, took a wider look at cities here and abroad to see what makes them great (or miserable) and ask what we will do with our mutilated cities. As the most recent installment in this series, The Long Emergency considers current issues such as the coming permanent global oil crisis and climate change in the mix of this discussion. James also has penned nine novels including Maggie Darling, The Halloween Ball, and An Embarrassment of Riches. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page and has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, RPI, the University of Virginia, and many others. He also has appeared before such organizations as the AIA, the APA, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

ZOOM'D Leadership, which airs at 2 to 3 p. m. Eastern, 11 a. m. to Noon Pacific, explores the importance of changing the way we pursue the future. ZOOM'D takes listeners out to the big picture, in to the up-close-and-personal, and toward a future of constant renewal. Whether focused on the economic crisis, energy, climate change, or sustainability at large, the show examines patterns at play, drivers behind them, and perspectives of leadership. The show has exponentially gained popularity since it began airing on May 4, 2009, and has featured the following speakers and topics over the last two months in thought-provoking conversation about the major changes we face:
November 30: John Perkins, "Hoodwinked"
November 23: Jon Love, "Awakening the Dreamer"
November 9: Sandra Postel, "Water for Life"
November 2: Richard Heinberg, "Trapped by Fossil Fuels"
October 26: James Quilligan, "The Commons and Economic Transformation"
October 19: Chip Duncan, "Enough to Go Around"
October 12: Janet Larsen, "Plan B 4.0--Mobilizing to Save Civilization"
October 5: Paul H. Ray, PhD, "Potentiality in the Emerging Wisdom Culture"

ZOOM'D Leadership airs live on Mondays at 11 AM Pacific / 1 PM Central / 2 PM Eastern on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. To access the show, log on at http://www. modavox. com/voiceamericabusiness (http://www. modavox. com/voiceamericabusiness). All shows will be available in John Schmidt's Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel for on-demand and podcast download.

The VoiceAmericaTM Network offers the latest conversations in a talk radio format, providing education, interaction, and advice on key issues live, on demand as well as through pod cast download. If interested in hosting a talk radio show on VoiceAmerica Network, contact Jeff Spenard, President of Internet Radio at 480-294-6417 or at jeff. spenard @ voiceamerica. com.

Contact Executive Producer Scott Duffy at 480 -294-6405 for advertising / sponsorship information or other show details.

About ZOOM'D Leadership Host John D. Schmidt and Avastone Consulting:
John D. Schmidt is founder and CEO of Avastone Consulting, an international consultancy committed to the vitality and sustainability of client organizations and the larger global community. John serves as advisor to global corporations and nongovernmental enterprises and is a thinker, designer, and practitioner in integral approaches to complex challenges and human development. Avastone provides executive, leadership, and organizational development services to Fortune 500 companies and other complex organizations, enabling them to realize the potential of people and the human system at work.

About VoiceAmerica:
Since 1999, the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, a subsidiary of World Talk Radio, LLC, has been streaming live Internet talk radio programs, featuring more than 300 hosts broadcasting on seven genre-based channels: its flagship VoiceAmerica™ Variety Channel, VoiceAmerica™ Health & Wellness Channel, VoiceAmerica™ Business Channel, VoiceAmerica Sports, 7th Wave Network, The Green Talk Network and Power Up Motorsports Channel. VoiceAmerica™ is the single largest producer of original Internet talk radio programming in the world. http://voiceamerica. com (http://voiceamerica. com).

Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause World Talk Radio LLC's actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, including the risk factors identified in World Talk Radio LLC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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First National Bank & Trust Chooses The Edcomm Group To Deliver Elder Financial Abuse Compliance Training

First National Bank & Trust Chooses The Edcomm Group To Deliver Elder Financial Abuse Compliance Training

First National Bank & Trust of Wyoming has chosen Focus on Elder Financial Abuse — The Edcomm Group’s eLearning program on Elder Financial Abuse Compliance training — along with Edcomm’s own Learning Management System (LMS), Learning Link® for hosting and maintenance, for its corporate-wide training needs.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) August 9, 2006

First National Bank & Trust of Wyoming has chosen Focus on Elder Financial Abuse — The Edcomm Group’s eLearning program on Elder Financial Abuse Compliance training — along with Edcomm’s own Learning Management System (LMS), Learning Link® for hosting and maintenance, for its corporate-wide training needs.

With more than 5 million cases per year, financial abuse of elders is the number one crime committed against persons age 65 and older. Currently, 17 states and Washington, D. C. have passed laws that require bank personnel to report suspected cases of elder financial abuse. Another 33 states recommend it. At the federal level, substantive revision to the Elder Justice Act is in discussion and is expected to pass this year.

The Edcomm Group has been a driving force in the campaign to educate bank personnel about elder financial abuse. Edcomm’s course, Focus on Elder Financial Abuse, is designed to help banks cope with the new laws targeting elder financial abuse by teaching front line staff about how to best serve their elderly customers while reducing risk to the bank.

Focus on Elder Financial Abuse is a comprehensive eLearning program providing training on issues related to elder financial abuse. The course covers: defining elder financial abuse and the laws governing it, detecting the red flags of elder financial abuse, and reporting elder financial abuse properly. Focus on Elder Financial Abuse teaches employees in all bank departments how to identify elder abuse and how to protect both their customers and the bank, with accurate, compliant reporting.

Learning Link®, Edcomm’s full-featured learning management system has an open architecture that builds on industry-standard SCORM and AICC compliance, but adds features and capabilities far beyond any competing products. Learning Link® maintains a complete record of every learning and administrative activity and offers a wide variety of customizable, real-time reports available both onscreen and in CSV formats for download and integration into any HR system. Learning Link’s servers have been issued a SAS-70 attesting to the quality of their security, business continuity and performance.

For more information about programs like this, or to find out how The Edcomm Group can customize any training program, log onto www. bankersacademy. com.

First National Bank & Trust (owned by First Company) is the only locally-owned, family owned bank in its market area. Since the homesteading days of 1912, four generations of the Nelson family have earned a notable reputation for helping families and businesses achieve their dreams.

The Edcomm Group has had the privilege of assisting many distinguished clients with business solutions in the form of eLearning programs, classroom instruction, multimedia production and online and print based documentation. In addition to the development of customized programs, The Edcomm Group offers many banking specific off-the-shelf products such as Teller Training and Compliance Training that have proven themselves effective in organizations around the world.

The Edcomm Group is a 19-year-old multimedia education and communication consulting firm specializing in the development of creative business solutions that improve productivity, customer service and market share — providing bottom-line results. The Edcomm Group (www. edcomm. com) (www. bankersacademy. com) is headquartered in New York City with an Advanced Design Center located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Eagle

President, The Edcomm Group

1-888-4EDCOMM

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Website Publisher Hires TV Sportscaster Andrew Smith as a Contracted Web Content Writer

Website Publisher Hires TV Sportscaster Andrew Smith as a Contracted Web Content Writer

Tornado Solutions, LLC, an online publisher of niche content, announces the hiring of TV sportscaster Andrew Smith as a contracted Web Content Writer.

(PRWEB) July 27, 2005

TV sportscaster Andrew Smith is a new contracted Web Content Writer for Tornado Solutions, LLC, a fast growing website publisher.

Tornado Solutions, LLC, an online publisher of niche content, announced that Andrew A. Smith, a TV sportscaster in Green Bay, WI, has joined its community of independent contract writers, known by the Company as Web Content Writers. Mr. Smith will be providing expert content for various topic-specific websites that Tornado Solutions is planning to create and publish on its network.

"The best part about writing a topic-specific website is having the opportunity to write about something for which I have a passion," said Andrew Smith. "That's what makes a Tornado website so useful to those who surf into it—getting an expert in the field who loves the topic and is bursting at the seams to share that information with an eager learner. It’s how the Internet was meant to be—the sharing of ideas and information for the benefit for all."

"Our top priority is to provide original quality content for people searching for a variety of topics online," stated Tim Stay, co-founder of Tornado Solutions. "To create in-depth, relevant content, we need world-class, expert authors and journalists such as Mr. Smith to write for us."

"Andrew is a great addition to our writing force. He brings a wealth of topical knowledge and an endearing, entertaining style of writing. He's a fantastic writer with flair, and we’re very glad to have him as part of our team," said Dan Smith, Web Content Managing Editor of Tornado Solutions. "Andrew is an ideal fit for our topic-specific websites and our focus on nano-publishing and participatory journalism – the future of online media. We endeavor to provide the Internet reader with free, expert, useful information and advice on the topics they care about, whether it be college education http://www. college-smart. com/ (http://www. college-smart. com/), publishing http://www. publishing-smart. com/ (http://www. publishing-smart. com/), or finances http://www. financial-guide-savvy. com/." (http://www. financial-guide-savvy. com/.")

"Andrew will join a growing community of writers that publish their expertise on the Tornado Solutions network of websites," said Hal G. Halladay, President of Tornado Solutions.

Andrew A. Smith has been writing his entire career, most of it in the television business. An Emmy award-winning sportscaster since 1992, he has been on the air all around the country. Mr. Smith started at KSTU, a Fox affiliate in Salt Lake City, where he anchored a weekly sports show, as well as freelanced for ESPNÂ’s Scholastic Sports America. From there he moved to Sports Director at KVBC in Las Vegas, where he was twice named Nevada Sportscaster of the Year.

Mr. Smith has currently been the Sports Director for WLUK in Green Bay since 1999, anchoring the sports segment and hosting a variety of Packers programming, including Inside the Pack with Donald Driver, which is syndicated to five states, and with whom he serves on the board of the Donald Driver Foundation, helping homeless single mothers. He also works as a football sideline reporter for Fox Sports for select games each year. Known as Drew Smith on television, Andrew Smith also has extensive experience writing columns for periodicals, and is a regular on the radio, both locally and nationally. Mr. Smith earned a B. A. in Broadcast Communications from Brigham Young University in 1993.

About Tornado Solutions, LLC

Tornado Solutions, LLC, http://www. tornadosolutions. net (http://www. tornadosolutions. net), is a rapidly growing online publisher of topic-specific websites, with headquarters in Provo, Utah, and an office in southern California. Tornado SolutionsÂ’ purpose is to provide expert and detailed information, solutions, and resources on a wide range of subjects. Tornado SolutionsÂ’ recognize the need and value of presenting expert, information-rich websites to the end consumer-the reader. Led by a team of seasoned managers with many years of website creation and management experience, Tornado Solutions utilizes professional expert writers to supply valuable website content to the online world.

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New Object Oriented Estimation Tool released by Advanced Programming Institute, Inc. (API)

New Object Oriented Estimation Tool released by Advanced Programming Institute, Inc. (API)

(PRWEB) March 2, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Christopher Pumphrey

Advanced Programming Institute

(800) 245-3990

Chrisp@a-p-i. com

Www. octivity. com

PRODUCT LAUNCH

Advanced Programming Institute (API) Launches Octivity Estimator, an Object Oriented Estimation Tool.

El Dorado Hills, CA - February 28, 2000 - API, specialists in Object Oriented Technologies, announced the release of Octivity Estimator today. Octivity Estimator is a simple and effective software project Estimation Tool based on Use Cases and the Unified Modeling Language. This productivity tool guides users to consistently provide quality estimates, including commonly overlooked or underestimated issues, such as system complexity and work breakdown structures by role. In addition, API is introducing Estimation and Project Management Certification and a VAR Reseller Program for Octivity and its upcoming tool suite.

Octivity Estimator is designed to provide valid estimates in time for budgeting, as well as an initial development plan to initialize a project. Its features include: "real time" project estimates that include cost, schedule and staffing; adjustment of the baseline estimate for language, system and project complexity; importation of Use Case descriptions from tools like Rational's Rose and Requisite Pro; importation of the work breakdown structure and project plan schedules into popular scheduling tools like Microsoft Project and ABT for immediate scheduling benefits; rapid estimates of the cost of requirements changes requested during development; and assistance to all members of the team in sharing estimate information at every stage of the project through delivery.

About API:

API is a forward-looking Object Oriented software development and education company. The company offers training, certification, mentoring, consulting, systems and applications reengineering and development. API has served many Fortune 500 companies and major State and Federal Government Agencies including IBM, GTE, SAGA Software, The Money Store, EDD, Consumer Affairs, TransAmerica Intellitech, Vision Service Plan and California State Lottery. API now offers a unique VAR Reseller Partnership Program to qualified individuals and companies.

For additional information on Octivity Estimator, Estimation and Project Management Certification or the Octivity VAR Partnership Program, please visit their website at: www. octivity. com, or contact Christopher Pumphrey at (800) 245-3990, or chrisp@a-p-i. com.

7x7 Magazine Names West Coast Rap Author Adisa Banjoko One of the Prestigious “Hot 20 Under 40”

7x7 Magazine Names West Coast Rap Author Adisa Banjoko One of the Prestigious “Hot 20 Under 40”

Adisa Banjoko aka “The Bishop of Hip Hop” Receives High Honors As He Readies His Latest Book and new Documentary

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) October 21, 2005

YinSumi Press, the world’s first publishing house dedicated to documenting the social and political trends in the Hip Hop, is proud to announce that West Coast Rap author Adisa Banjoko was named one of San Francisco’s 7x7 Magazine highly coveted “Hot 20 Under 40” in the October 2005 issue.

7x7 Magazine is produced by a nationally recognized team of publishers, editors and artists who seized the opportunity to produce a smart, stylish magazine for a young, affluent audience.

7x7 Magazine reflects the lifestyles of, as well as the attitudes and image of the new San Francisco. The magazine acknowledges “The Bishop” as “The Bay Area’s foremost Hip Hop Journalist and Motivational Speaker”. He was also applauded for his approach in taking Hip Hop’s educational value to juvenile hall centers and the halls of Harvard University.

This year’s “Hot 20 Under 40” list included Alex Smith from the 49’ers, spoken word poetess Elz Cuya, drummer Brian “Brain” Mantia from Primus and Guns N Roses, Philanthropist Hillary Newsom Callan and yoga instructor Jason Crandell.

“This was an absolute surprise to me on every level” says Banjoko. “The most interesting thing for me was learning about how many different, smart, talented, beautiful and compassionate people work hard to make the Bay Area all that it is.”

The magazine came out days after Adisa returned from completing a lecture at Brown University. He addressed the Islamic Council of New England’s 20th Annual Conference, lecturing on “Islam, The West and the Question of Reform” as well as “Hip Hop and Islam: A Unique Journey”.

This November he will keynote at the 3rd annual H2Ed Summit. His discussion will revolve around how Hip Hop can be utilized to authentically enrich the failing American school system. This event will be held at the Bronx Museum of the Arts Nov. 5th 2005.

His latest release “Lyrical Swords Vol. 2: Westside Rebellion” is due to drop November 30th 2005. It covers the social, political and spiritual trends within the Hip Hop subculture. It also investigates Hip Hop’s fascination with martial arts icon Bruce Lee and dedicates and entire chapter to the sublime relationship between Hip Hop and chess. This extraordinary relationship is also the subject of a new documentary Adisa is working on with Mike Relm, “64 Squares in the Cipher”. It is currently in production and scheduled for release in 2006.

“Lyrical Swords Vol.2: Westside Rebellion” features interviews with some of rap world’s hardest hitting icons, such as RZA, Nas, Slick Rick, Frontline, G-Unit’s Spider Loc, Dilated Peoples and Godfather of Hip Hop Afrika Bambaataa.

“I’m thankful to 7x7 Magazine and all the universities and organizations that continue to invite me to speak. My focus is, and always will be on trying to use Hip Hop to educate and empower at risk youth and oppressed people of all backgrounds. This is what I believe Hip Hop was created for.”

For more information contact Mieko at(408) 551-8064.

Visit www. lyricalswords. com or www. netweed. com/lyricalswords (http://www. netweed. com/lyricalswords) today.

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Naked Development Forum Invites All to Join the Discussion Online on May 18th at <a href="http://www. kaluyala. com" onclick="linkClick(this. href)">www. kaluyala. com</a&gt

Naked Development Forum Invites All to Join the Discussion Online on May 18th at www. kaluyala. com

Video, Blog and Social Networking to Be Continuously Updated To Enable Open Discourse

Atlanta, Ga. (PRWEB) May 17, 2010

On May 18th, more than 100 people will gather together for the Naked Development Forum at Serenbe in Atlanta, Georgia to kick off the first-ever open source design of a village, but thousands more will participate online at www. kaluyala. com in a grassroots and viral effort to change the world of real estate development. Through continual blog postings, video content and image uploads, Twitter and Facebook discussions, this event will come to life on the website for all to see.

This transparent and collaborative effort will utilize input from innovative leaders in organic farming, finance, sustainable architecture, community design, future residents of Kalu Yala and the online audience. The result is a living community model, able to evolve in response to the demands of its visitors and residents, and driven by social, environmental and economic purpose.

Through near live web updates, visitors to the Kalu Yala website will witness a continuous influx of content directly from the Naked Development Forum. Onsite technical experts will be releasing content regularly throughout the day with only a slight delay, including a variety of blog entries from attendees engaged in the conversation, video of the renowned speaker presentations, tweeting updates, pictures, and small interview clips from the day’s event. This will all be disseminated via www. kaluyala. com in conjunction with other social media services. This ongoing trickle of information will enable the participation of anyone interested in participating in the event without their actual attendance.

“We encourage everyone to join the Kalu Yala discussion online on May 18th whether it be from their home, their office or the beach,” said James Stice, Kalu Yala developer and visionary. “The more people engaged in this discussion the more collaborative and transparent the process will be and the better the outcome.”

The May 18th Naked Development Forum will take place at Serenbe, a renowned Atlanta community that has become known for its sustainability practices and design. On May 18th, our goal is to raise awareness of these global issues and to begin to seek the solutions to creating a new model which can lead to more sustainable communities, ecologies and economics that can be applied not only to our work at Kalu Yala, but also to communities which already exist and those which have yet to be conceived.

This will be the first of several events to take place over the next eight months that will serve to define the community of Kalu Yala. The collected intelligence from this first meeting of the minds will seed the subsequent Naked Development forums. Each forum will focus on specific and relevant topics; the next is planned for August in Panama and will discuss planning for organic farming at Kalu Yala. The public is invited to participate in the forum on May 18th via www. kaluyala. com as video and discussion will be posted live for people to be able to interact online.

About Kalu Yala
Kalu Yala is a bold new village in the rainforest highlands of Central Panama that is an intersection of visionary thinking and timeless tradition. A truly sustainable community, Kalu Yala is founded on the core tenants of culture, new urbanism architecture, organic food, wellness, recreation, education, preservation and conservation of the natural environment. Kalu Yala will be designed using an innovative process called “Naked Development”. This transparent and collaborative effort utilizes input from innovative leaders in organic farming, finance, sustainable architecture, community design, future residents of Kalu Yala and the online audience. The result is a living community model, able to evolve in response to the demands of its visitors and residents, and driven by social, environmental and economic purpose. For more information visit www. kaluyala. com.

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Small Businesses Eligible for Business Development Scholarships

Small Businesses Eligible for Business Development Scholarships

Learn how to apply for a $3600 scholarship to help grow or start your business.

New York (PRWEB) July 20, 2004

Business owners throughout the United States interested in starting or improving their business are eligible for scholarships under an initiative announced today by Business Pipelines business development division. Under the Businesses Pipeline Scholarships program, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits are eligible to compete for $3,600 scholarships. "Small businesses make an incredible impact on our economy and on our communities," said Jacqueline Edwards, CEO at Business Pipeline, Inc. "By investing in future small businesses nationwide through the Businesses Pipeline Scholarships Fund, we are investing the future of America's dreams."

"Education is the key to economic opportunity, said Ms. Edwards. Because our small businesses need good assistance to help get them off to a good start and a successful future, we should encourage the best and brightest to enter the economy strong. Affordable education is one of my most important priorities to small businesses every where and I know that without companies like ours taking a cut in our prices small businesses will not have the opportunity other mid size and large businesses have. I am pleased to be able to encouraging talented small businesses to consider moving to the next level in their growth by awarding them this scholarship."

The Businesses Pipeline Scholarships benefits start-up and business up to five years old nationwide who plan to initiate more jobs in their communities. Eligible candidates must be starting a business or in business five years or less, grossing under $500,000 per year. Business Pipeline is announcing similar scholarships for dislocated workers nationwide. Interested businesses can receive an application by sending a standard size business self addressed stamped envelope. The completed application must be submitted with the following documents as attachments: the last 2 years of your most current 1040 or corporate tax returns, business description, business owners biography, marketing analysis, competitive analysis, sales projections and an essay on "What is the issue that is most limiting in or to your business right now? As though you are watching a movie, let yourself see all the time this issue has limited your expression, sabotaged your success or prevented you from performing necessary tasks." All submissions must have 1" margins on the top, bottom, right and left. Contact information (name, address, phone/fax number and email address) in the footer of each page (see the footer on the application as an example), the body of each document must be single spaced and no more than one page for each topic. All entries must be mailed through the U. S. Postal Service by September 30, 2004 to the following address:

Business Pipeline, Inc.

Scholarship Department

P. O. Box 2688

New York, NY 10185-2688 

Complete rules for the scholarship can be found at http://www. businesspipeline. com/productsservices/scholarship1.htm (http://www. businesspipeline. com/productsservices/scholarship1.htm) under Scholarships.

Business Pipeline was founded 12 years ago, provides developmental consultative services for small businesses, micro-enterprises and entrepreneurs primarily being disadvantaged. The company currently manages nearly 1000 businesses and provides them with comprehensive information on the business development, revenue management and marketing process. Through its specialized division, Business Pipeline also provides career development services, including resume writing and lifestyle financial management for dislocated workers and other individuals.

More information is available at the web site http://www. businesspipeline. com (http://www. businesspipeline. com)

Contact: Ann Peters @ 212-281-3295

Email: office@businesspipeline. com

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Emotional Intelligence: The Optimal Thinking Solution

Emotional Intelligence: The Optimal Thinking Solution.

According to international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking, Rosalene Glickman, Ph. D. “Many people use food, drugs, alcohol, gambling and other addictions to avoid their troublesome feelings. They ignore, devalue and wallow in disturbing feelings because they don’t know how to deal with them, or how to meet their needs.” Glickman believes that emotional mastery can easily be learned and implemented in schools, at home, and in the workplace.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 19, 2006

According to international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking, Rosalene Glickman, Ph. D., “Many people use food, drugs, alcohol, gambling and other addictions to avoid their troublesome feelings. They ignore, devalue and wallow in disturbing feelings because they don’t know how to deal with them, or how to meet their needs.” Glickman believes that emotional mastery can easily be learned and implemented in schools, at home, and in the workplace.

So where does Optimal Thinking fit in? Optimal Thinking (http://www. optimalthinking. com/WhatisOptimalThinking. html? source=prweb2), the language of our best self, enables us to focus on what is most important, make the most of our feelings, and best meet our needs. We are all Optimal Thinkers, but most people use this peak form of thinking sporadically. Glickman has pioneered numerous educational resources (http://www. optimalthinking. com/Products. shtml? source=prweb2) to enable everyone -- from working moms to the Fortune 100 corporate CEO -- to use Optimal Thinking consistently to maximize their personal and professional success. “When we employ Optimal Thinking, we optimize situations proactively, and make the most of the hands we are dealt.” she says.

Her latest at-your-fingertips optimization tool is a set of fourteen double-sided Optimal Thinking Emotional Mastery Wallet Cards (http://www. optimalthinking. com/emotional-mastery. html? source=prweb2) that contain roadmaps to understand and resolve manageable and unmanageable feelings such as anxiety (http://www. optimalthinking. com/Anxiety. html? source=prweb2), hurt, anger, disappointment, envy, guilt, loneliness and depression. Glickman believes “Emotions are invaluable allies that serve as our inner compass. Disturbing emotions are optimization signals. They alert us that our thinking or actions may not be in our best interest. When you access the cards and answer the Optimal questions, you immediately gain understanding, explore your options and determine your best solution. You align yourself with your greatest needs, and exercise emotional self-reliance by processing your feelings as they occur. Isn’t this what emotional intelligence is really about?” she concludes.

Rosalene Glickman Ph. D (http://www. optimalthinking. com/DrGlickman. html? source=prweb2), is the international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking (Wiley, and translated into 14 languages), hailed by academia and the media as "the successor to positive thinking." Born in Australia, Glickman is President of The World Academy of Personal Development Inc. (http://www. optimalthinking. com/WhoWeAre. html? source=prweb2), a Los Angeles training and consulting firm. She provides life and executive coaching, business consulting and training for individuals and organizations. Clients include the U. S. Army, Warner Bros., Johnson & Johnson, BP, California State University, National Australia Bank, Internal Revenue Service, and many others. Dr. Glickman has also been honored by the media as "Australia's Most Successful Woman" and received the "Woman of the Year" award for National Business Women's Week in Hollywood. She has been featured on Fox News, Bloomberg TV, CBS Weekend Magazine, New York Times, The Australian, Australian Business, and more. A former high school Physics and Chemistry teacher, she has earned a Ph. D. in Psychology, a Teaching diploma and degree in Business Administration.

For more information or to arrange a media interview, contact Jay Willick at (310) 557-2761 or visit http://www. optimalthinking. com (http://www. optimalthinking. com).

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Joann Gilbert Joins Colon & Associates, LLC as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Special Events

Joann Gilbert Joins Colon & Associates, LLC as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Special Events

Joann Gilbert has raised millions of dollars and garnered the interest and participation of numerous top stars in the entertainment and sports worlds. Her expertise in Marketing and Special Events will enhance the efforts of Colon & Associates, LLC in its work to ensure human and civil rights and educational opportunity.

(PRWEB) May 14, 2005

Colón & Associates, LLC, a Northern Virginia development consulting firm, welcomes Joann Gilbert as its Executive Vice President for Marketing and Special Events.

We know Joann’s expertise will enhance the efforts of Colón & Associates in its mission to ensure human and civil rights nationally and internationally, and to provide educational opportunity for minority and disadvantaged populations.

Before joining Colón & Associates, Joann Gilbert served as National Director of Special Events at the United Negro College Fund (“UNCF”) where she managed UNCF’s largest annual fundraiser, An Evening of Stars (“AEOS”), and its entire production budget. AEOS raised approximately $13 million annually and boasts such prominent celebrities as Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Denyce Graves, Celine Dion, and Debbie Allen.

Joann also created and managed UNCFÂ’s Celebrity Golf and Tennis Tournament achieving more than $750,000 in sponsorship and attracting such top sports figures as Clyde Drexler, Bill Russell, Stuart Scott, Venus Williams and Mal Vai Washington. Each year, responses to the Tournament were overwhelmingly positive with attendance typically at full capacity.

Prior to UNCF, Joann Gilbert began her career as Special Assistant to Congressman William H. Gray, III in the United States House of Representatives where she planned and arranged special events for constituent groups and served as liaison to the White House, Congressional Members and staff, Executive agencies, Heads of State, and constituent groups.

We welcome Joann and look forward to working with her to further the mission of Colón & Associates, LLC.

Contact:

Patricia Cavallaro, Sr. Advisor

Colon & Associates, LLC

(703) 319-0220

Www. colonassociates. com

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New Podcast Interview with Summit Health CEO Helps Employers Choose the Right On-Site Wellness Provider

New Podcast Interview with Summit Health CEO Helps Employers Choose the Right On-Site Wellness Provider

Interview with CEO Richard Penington helps companies navigate an “embryonic” employee health screening industry, avoid legal pitfalls

Southfield, MI (PRWEB) January 26, 2010

The employee wellness industry (http://www. summithealth. com/screenings. html) is in its "lemonade stand phase," and a new podcast from Summit Health helps employers navigate a crowded market of on-site health screening providers (http://www. summithealth. com).

The new podcast features a 20-minute interview with Summit Health CEO Richard Penington, and covers a variety of topics including:
the wellness industry's current state; services provided by on-site vendors; best practices for choosing a wellness provider; ensuring employee compliance; four critical big-picture questions to ask, and the consequences of choosing the wrong screening vendor.

"Today's wellness industry is at the lemonade stand' stage, said Penington. "It's very new, filled with small organizations, not very sophisticated – all trying to move up and become the next big player. Most are not legal and don't understand the various state requirements and that's disconcerting."

The interview is available from Summit Health, Inc., the nation's largest provider of on-site wellness programs, including health screenings, immunizations, coaching, and more. The podcast can be downloaded at no charge by visiting http://www. summithealth. com/about_downloads. html (http://www. summithealth. com/about_downloads. html); the interview can also be downloaded at iTunes.

Penington notes that while national and local regulations cover finger sticks and blood draws, no single organization or regulatory body has established national standards for on-site health screenings or flu shot programs.

The interview covers such topics as staff licensing and training, confidentiality, liability insurance, pricing, account management, integration issues, health coaching skills, data quality and the participant experience. Penington also examines the best practices for vendor selection. He notes that many corporations and HR departments tend to think of health screenings as a commodity business and assume that all wellness vendors are the same. Unfortunately, it's the employer who pays the price when a screening goes awry.

"Selecting the wrong partner can lead to legal and regulatory issues, as well as eroding employee confidence in a company's wellness program," he explained. "Some newer flu shot and wellness vendors may offer a lower per-person cost, but it could very well be at the expense of quality, safety and legality."

Summit Health recently released a white paper featuring additional best practices and sample questions to ask when choosing a provider. The paper can be downloaded at no charge by visiting http://www. summithealth. com/whitepaper_flushot_vendor. html (http://www. summithealth. com/whitepaper_flushot_vendor. html).

About Summit Health, Inc.
Founded in 1999, Summit Health is now the nation's highest rated provider of on-site wellness programs, including health screenings, immunizations, coaching, and educational seminars. This focus on quality of service has earned Summit Health customers who include all the leading health plans and over 80 Fortune 500 companies. Summit Health supports all sizes of companies in every zip code. Summit Health differentiates itself through excellence in regulatory and quality compliance, program management, data and claims expertise and the participant experience.

Media Contacts:

Pauline Reisner
Summit Health
734-332-0476

Elrond Lawrence
Fisher Vista, LLC for Summit Health
831-632-2183

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www. HRmarketer. com (http://www. HRmarketer. com)) on behalf of the company listed above.

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Explorica Antes up Rewards for Educational Travel with $100,000 Cash Prize for Winning Schools

Explorica Antes up Rewards for Educational Travel with $100,000 Cash Prize for Winning Schools

Global Treasure Hunts Offers the Ultimate Interactive Learning Challenge. Explorica today announced the Explorica Treasure Hunt Challenge, a program that will provide $100,000 to schools for the development of experiential learning programs. Through the challenge, up to ten tour groups can take part in global treasure hunts that offer Explorica's interactive learning experience, coupled with one-of-a-kind programs designed to stimulate an immersive travel experience.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) September 21, 2009

Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people, today announced the Explorica Treasure Hunt Challenge (http://www. explorica. com/treasure-hunt. aspx), a program that will provide $100,000 to schools for the development of experiential learning programs. Through the challenge, up to ten tour groups can take part in global treasure hunts that offer Explorica's interactive learning experience, coupled with one-of-a-kind programs designed to stimulate an immersive travel experience.

Student tour groups that partake in the treasure hunt challenge are eligible to win $10,000 for the creation of new hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for their school. Each customized treasure hunt will require students to complete challenges and answer clues on the region before and during the tour. Whether ordering gelato in Italian from a Roman street vendor, taking a glass-blowing class in Venice or studying shipping routes while enjoying a boat ride down the Seine on a warm evening, groups will receive points for each completed activity and correctly answered clue.

The Treasure Hunt Challenge is an immersive experience for students beginning the instant tours are booked by utilizing social media and online tools, such as Twitter and Facebook. Students can share information, learn about their destinations, publish content, and stay connected with those at home while traveling. All of these activities allow students to remain fully engaged at each stage of the travel experience and also unlock points that start students on their quest to meet the Explorica challenge and earn their schools $10,000.

"The Treasure Hunt Challenge has scores of rewards. Teachers get to stimulate interest in school related topics, students become immersed in the thrill of the hunt, and schools benefit with $10,000 to support a special initiative," said Olle Olsson, President and CEO of Explorica. "This program rewards students for actively participating in and learning about new cultures, and it gives them the opportunity to experience the region in a way that blows away the average sightseeing tour."

Tour dates for Explorica Treasure Hunt Challenges in summer 2010 are selected by the teacher/group leader, providing flexibility for schools to best incorporate the educational tour into the students' curriculum.

About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, or visit www. explorica. com.

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New Controversial Book's Message to Gen Y: Destroy Your Resume and Never Get a "Real" Job

New Controversial Book's Message to Gen Y: Destroy Your Resume and Never Get a "Real" Job

Scott Gerber's new book is now available everywhere books are sold. In Never Get a "Real" Job, the serial entrepreneur and Entrepreneur Magazine columnist advises young people to create a job to keep a job--and tells them exactly how to do just that.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 7, 2010

Never Get a "Real" Job, a book by serial entrepreneur and internationally syndicated small business columnist Scott Gerber, is now available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books a Million, 800 CEO Read and IndieBound. With over 100 million young people unemployed and underemployed worldwide, Never Get a "Real" Job offers readers practical advice and step-by-step instruction on how they can quit their job search, dump their dead-end 9-to-5s and build their own small businesses to protect their financial futures.

"Never Get a "Real" Job is based on my many lessons learned in the entrepreneurial trenches", said Gerber. "Written from the perspective of one of their own, the book teaches young people why the mantra of 'work hard, get good grades, go to school and get a job' is the absolute message to be listening to. It's time for a paradigm shift where we, as a generation, move away from the antiquated 'hand-out, resume-driven society' that no longer exists, and instead, move toward a future where we are all self-sufficiency experts."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent job numbers report, the youth unemployment rate increased to over 16% in last month.

Scott Gerber has built several successful businesses without a traditional business education, corporate background or outside investment dollars. His company, Sizzle It!, a sizzle reel production company that produces promotional videos for PR and marketing professionals, was started for less than $600 in 2006 and today has clients such as Old Spice, Pampers, Duracell, Dolby, The Gap, and many of world's top creative agencies and PR firms.

"With the economic spiral of 2009, our world of work was blown up, and with it, traditional frameworks for career success," said Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur. "Thank god we have Scott Gerber, a member of the next generation, telling the truth about what it takes to succeed in the coming decades. Gen Y, and parents of Gen Y, you will put your livelihoods at risk if you don't read this book."

About the Book

A twenty-something hustler, rainmaker and bootstrapper who has survived and thrived despite never having held the proverbial "real" job, Scott Gerber is a self-taught serial entrepreneur who has built several successful businesses without storied business connections, a business school background, executive training -- or investment dollars. And in Never Get a "Real" Job, he shows readers how he succeeded so they can overcome today's chronic conditions of mass unemployment, underemployment, and dead-end 9-to-5s.

Gerber gives readers the no-bull reality on turning your business idea into a viable enterprise capable of generating real income now--based on his hard-knocks lessons learned in the entrepreneurial trenches. From the perils of doing too much too fast, to bogging down a promising start-up with infrastructure long before it's needed, Gerber has experienced firsthand how aspiring entrepreneurs can sabotage their own business. Never Get a "Real" Job will help readers to avoid the costly mistakes that can take down their enterprise at any time, helping them to get off the ground, establish their business and stay successfully up and running.

But Gerber isn't just giving readers a collection of war stories. He gives them insights from a fellow young entrepreneur on how to start from absolutely nothing--building a viable business model from the ground up. Along with straight-shooting advice on creating contacts and cultivating clients, he gives practical, affordable, step-by-step instructions on how to constantly analyze, refine, and target an entrepreneur's business offerings -- while minimizing wasted time and keeping him or her on track.

With vast resources to online tools, websites, checklists, and hard coaching, as well as thousands of dollars worth of connections to free and discounted small business services, Never Get a "Real" Job takes readers off the unrewarding resume and cover letter cycle, while putting them on the road toward becoming self-sufficient business owners, and creating a life that gives them a real shot at the success they deserve.

Free Resources with Every Purchase
In an effort to reduce start-up and operating costs for young and aspiring entrepreneurs, Gerber has partnered with the following businesses and service providers: 99designs, AdRoll. com, Animoto, Dim Dim, eFax, EmailStationery. com, FlowTown. com, Freshbooks, Get Satisfaction, Grasshopper, Google AdWords, Moo, oDesk, Plum Choice, PollDaddy. com, PRWeb, RescueTime. com, Setster, ShoeBoxed, Shopify, SitePal. com, SlideRocket, Urban Interns, Weebly, and Wufoo. Each of these companies will provide NGARJ readers with exclusive offers, discounts and/or free services.

For a more information about Never Get a "Real" Job, visit http://www. NeverGetaRealJob. com.

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The Psychological Corporation Releases Latest Version of AIMSweb® Progress Monitoring System

The Psychological Corporation Releases Latest Version of AIMSweb® Progress Monitoring System

New enhanced Palm™ functionality simplifies progress monitoring.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) April 25, 2007

Leading test publisher The Psychological Corporation, a division of Harcourt Assessment, today announced the release of the latest version of its AIMSweb® progress monitoring tool, including enhanced Palm™ functionality. AIMSweb® is a research-based screening and progress monitoring tool for use as part of a Response to Intervention (RTI) solution. The new features of AIMSweb® include the ability for educators to conduct progress monitoring assessments on Palm™ handheld devices.

"AIMSweb's new Palm™ features integrate the progress monitoring functions of the industry's best RTI tool into a handheld device, providing educators with unmatched convenience and ease of use," said Harcourt Assessment Publisher Dr. Aurelio Prifitera. "With the intense frequency of assessments required for progress monitoring, being able to conduct them on a handheld device without internet connectivity adds significant value and reduces the infrastructure requirements for schools to use this great tool."

Using AIMSweb's Palm Link application, educators are now able to conduct progress monitoring assessments, in addition to the previously available benchmarking assessments, on handheld devices and electronically upload scores to AIMSweb®. With Palm Link installed on a Palm Powered Handheld, teachers can easily load assessments and student rosters directly from AIMSweb® to their device for simplified administration.

With the new version of AIMSweb®, Palm™ progress monitoring assessments are available for the following tests:
 Reading Curriculum Based Measurement (Oral Reading Fluency), Grades 1-8  Test of Early Literacy, Grades K-1

Palm Link also includes a built in timer and allows teachers to administer and score the tests directly on the PDA by simply marking errors on the screen. Scores are calculated automatically and stored for upload to AIMSweb®. Palm Link software eliminates hand data entry, manual score calculation, scoring on paper and the need for an external timer.

With multiple assessment probes and charting software, AIMSweb® allows schools to identify students who are at risk of not performing well and direct resources appropriately to them throughout the year. AIMSweb® provides education professionals with a flexible and intuitive tool to monitor the progress of struggling students throughout the year, allowing them to make changes to instructional techniques to best meet the needs of the individual.

For more information on Harcourt Assessment's products, visit http://www. HarcourtAssessment. com (http://www. HarcourtAssessment. com).

About Harcourt Assessment, Inc.
Based in San Antonio, Harcourt Assessment, Inc. is a leading provider of high-quality assessment instruments and testing programs published under two brand names -- Harcourt Assessment and PsychCorp™. For more than 85 years, Harcourt Assessment has been providing insight about children and adults; informing instruction, curricula, and clinical practice; collaborating with educators and clinical professionals; assisting human resources, admissions and credential professionals; and creating assessment innovations, in order to provide the most effective assessment solutions for the success of all individuals.

The company is a unit of Harcourt Education, a global education provider serving students and teachers in PreK through grade 12, adult learners, and readers of all ages. Harcourt Education is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc. (www. reedelsevier. com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. It is owned equally by Reed Elsevier PLC (NYSE: RUK) and Reed Elsevier NV (NYSE: ENL).

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Paybox Wins Gold Mobile Star Award 2007 for 'Success Story Mobile Marketing /M-Commerce'

Paybox Wins Gold Mobile Star Award 2007 for 'Success Story Mobile Marketing /M-Commerce'

Winning the Gold Mobile Star Award for its success story about Maxis Malaysia using the paybox Mobile Wizard honours paybox's side-by-side approach with its customers. It emphasizes the importance of an integrated Mobile Marketing concept for a sustained success in mobile Payments and mobile Commerce.

Frankfurt, Germany (PRWEB) October 9, 2007

paybox wins Gold Mobile Star Award™ from MobileVillage® in the category "Success Story Mobile Marketing/M-Commerce". The award-winning success story is about Maxis, the leading mobile operator in Malaysia, using the paybox Brand Mobiliser ("Mobile Wizard") to maximise the mobile lifestyle of its over 8 Mio subscribers.

Mobile Wizard provides customers easy access to all mobile Content, mobile Commerce and mobile Marketing services through just one SMS short code. At the same time, Maxis can interact with its subscribers via any communication channel (SMS, USSD, MMS, WAP, http). With Mobile Wizard, Maxis sets up, launches and tracks new mobile services through one platform - with zero-programming - to speed up time-to-market of new products. Maxis has rolled up four existing systems (the SMS portal, campaign management, subscription management and voucher management) into the paybox Mobile Wizard - achieving an ROI within 12 months.

"To be honoured with a Gold Mobile Star Award proves our approach in working side-by-side with our customers for their success", says Eckhard Ortwein, CEO paybox. "This case story is an excellent example that sustained success in mobile Payments and mobile Commerce has to be driven by an integrated Mobile Marketing concept ".

MobileVillage®, the 14-year leader in market development and news services about mobile technology, honors with its annual Mobile Star Awards™ the best companies, products, deployments, and leaders in mobile and wireless technology. Winners are chosen by subscribers to Go Mobile®, MobileVillage's free online newsletter sent to technology executives, mobile professionals, IT managers, developers, and top tech journalists.

"Today there are more mobile and wireless products, and more mobile users than ever before," says MobileVillage Editor Gary Thayer. "So there's a natural need for people to see and compare what's out there. This year nearly 2,000 MobileVillage readers cast votes."

Paybox Brand Mobiliser ("Mobile Wizard") can be deployed by operators as a standalone product or as an integral part of the paybox Mobiliser Platform - combining the broadest portfolio of m-Commerce services worldwide.

About paybox:
Paybox solutions AG ("paybox") is the trendsetting company for mobile payment enterprise solutions. Founded in 1999, paybox was the first to launch mass-marketable mobile payment solutions in five European markets. In 2005, paybox was rated by industry experts as having the broadest mobile Commerce portfolio worldwide. paybox´s patented award winning technology has proven technical and operational reliability with highest, overall service availability. Used by leading global service companies such as mobilkom and ONE in Austria, MasterCard, Vodafone Egypt and Maxis Malaysia, by five million end users and 15.000 merchants, paybox enterprise solutions are deployed across Europe, America, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. For more information on paybox, please visit www. paybox. net

About MobileVillage®:
Founded in 1993, MobileVillage is a market and solution development company dedicated to advancing mobile and wireless enterprise computing in a wide range of industries. MobileVillage accomplishes this by fostering education and alliances through "Best of Breed" solution identification, event partnerships, an online industry directory, industry job postings, daily online news, its widely respected Go Mobile® newsletter, a Mobile Mentors™ program, and popular annual Mobile Star Awards™ program. Visit MobileVillage online at www. mobilevillage. com

About The Maxis Group:
Named Asian Mobile Operator of the Year 2007, the Maxis Group currently operates in three key Asian markets -- Malaysia, India and Indonesia -- serving over 14 million customers and offering a comprehensive range of communications services, including mobile and fixed line telecommunications, valued-added data and content services, wireless and fixed line broadband services and international gateway services.

In Malaysia, Maxis Communications Berhad ("Maxis") is the country's premier mobile telecommunications operator, with the lead in post-paid and pre-paid (Hotlink) subscriber base. Since it began operations in 1995, Maxis has won numerous awards. Most recently, Maxis was named Malaysia's "Most Admired Company" by the Asia Wall Street Journal in 2006. In June 2007, leading regional industry journal Asian Mobile News named Maxis as "Asian Mobile Operator of the Year" and "Malaysian Mobile Operator of the Year". For more information, please visit www. maxis. com. my

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Cinequest Film Festival 19 Wraps To Records

Cinequest Film Festival 19 Wraps To Records

Cinequest Film Festival 19 delivered on its commitment to transform lives and serve more during a challenging economy. Record audiences, 81,000 strong, filled spectacular venues and connected with 605 artists and innovators from 44 countries. Record submissions and media coverage attracted premium Maverick cinema and technologies. 72 World and U. S. Premieres combined with Cinequest trademark Film & Innovation Forums to transform lives and careers. Additionally, 1,500 elementary to college students participated in Cinequest mentoring and education programs.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) March 10, 2009

Cinequest Film Festival 19 delivered on its commitment to transform lives and serve more during a challenging economy. Record audiences, 81,000 strong, filled spectacular venues and connected with 605 artists and innovators from 44 countries. Record submissions and media coverage attracted premium Maverick cinema and technologies. 72 World and U. S. Premieres combined with Cinequest trademark Film & Innovation Forums to transform lives and careers. Additionally, 1,500 elementary to college students participated in Cinequest mentoring and education programs.

What's next? Transform by Distribution

Cinequest Distribution (launched November 2006) remains successful as it provides the distribution needed to keep top films thriving beyond their festival run. This makes it possible for film lovers worldwide gain access to their favorite festival film at their fingertips year round. Currently Cinequest Distribution has been delivering over 60 award-winning features to audiences via DVD, Internet, and Internet TV. Upcoming releases include RUBY BLUE starring Bob Hoskins. Distribution partnerships include Blockbuster (Nasdaq: BBI), Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), Hollywood Video (Nasdaq: HLYW), iTunes (Nasdaq: AAPL), Vuze (Nasdaq: DIVX), Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), and many more.

"Cinequest has a tradition of doing more for the people we serve when they most need it-we like to meet challenges and grow stronger in all environments," said Halfdan Hussey, co-founder and director at Cinequest. "Leveraging our unique position in the world of technology, business and art, Cinequest Distribution has fostered a model that works for our times, times that have seen many fine distribution companies close their doors. And the Cinequest Film Festival remains a growing bastion of film and artist discovery as well as a showcase of groundbreaking technologies that impact film making, exhibition and distribution."

Cinequest Film Festival 19 Award Winners:

Narrative Features

Maverick Spirit Award (Cinequest's top prize)
Firaaq
Director: Nandita Das

Best First Feature
The Fried (Der Freund)
Director: Micha Lewinsky

Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature
The Tour (Turneja)
Director: Goran Markovic

Directors Awards

Global Visions Award
Historias Extraordinarias
Director: Mariano Llinas

New Visions Award
Why Am I Doing This?
Directors: Tom Huang

Documentary Features

Best Documentary Feature
Heart of Stone
Director Beth Toni Kruvant

Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature
Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders
Director: Mark Hopkins

Shorts

Best Student Short Film
Thanksgiving
Director: Anja Marquardt

Best Documentary Short Film
Life for a Child
Director: Edward Lachman

Best Animated Short Film
Slaves
Director: Hanna Heilborn, David Aronowitsch

Best Narrative Short Film
Glory at Sea
Director: Benh Zeitlin

Audience Awards

Audience Award for Best Feature (Co-Winners/Tie)
All About Dad
Director: Mark Tran
&
For My Father
Director: Dror Zahavi

Audience Award for Best Documentary
Witch Hunt
Directors: Dana Nachman & Don Hardy
Executive Producer: Sean Penn

Kaiser Thrive Award:
Heart of Stone
Director: Beth Toni Kruvant

Maverick Spirit Award Recipients
The following individuals received Maverick Spirit Awards at Cinequest 19 for their Maverick careers in the film industry: Louis Gossett Jr., Kevin Pollak, and Diablo Cody.

Screenplay Competition Winners

First Place
Ora by Frederica Bailey

Second Place
Feed the Monster by Rob Rex

Third Place
The Juno Incident by Cody Yarbrough

Finalists: The Circle Cast (Montana Moss); Dog Land (Writer: Jay Nuzum); I Got You Babe (Will Hicks); The Re-Education of David Singer (Todd Friedman); Squirt (Talmage Cooley); Survival High (Aaron Mento); and The Wonder (Gregory Abbey)

Transform - Adobe Youth Voices

This year's festival also included the Adobe Youth Voices/Cinequest Filmmaking Camp, a one-month filmmaking program sponsored by Adobe Youth Voices (AYV), the Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) Foundation's global signature philanthropy program. Now in its third year, the camp provides 25 youth from underserved communities the opportunity to produce short films, as well as guidance from AYV mentors and professional filmmakers.

"The Adobe Youth Voices/Cinequest Filmmaking Camp gives young people in our program the opportunity to develop and hone their creative skills in a real world environment and share their point of view through film," said Michelle Mann, director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Adobe Systems Incorporated and executive director of the Adobe Foundation. "Our collaboration with Cinequest brings youth voice to the festival and empowers them with skills in filmmaking and a showcase for their work."

Sponsors
The following sponsors enable Cinequest's services: Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) , Panasonic (NYSE: PC),  Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Cisco (NYSE: CSCO), Applied Materials (NYSE: AMAT), Hilton San Jose (NYSE: HLT), American Express (NYSE: AXP), JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), and Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET), Kaiser Permanente, San Jose Redevelopment Works, Metro Newspapers, Camera Cinemas, Fry's Electronics, Omneon, Travelocity, Executive Transportation Club, NBC, Telemundo, Redevelopment Works, San Jose Mercury News and Clear Channel.

Empowering the Maverick
Cinequest, a premier film institute, serves Maverick artists, innovators, film lovers and students via:

Cinequest Film Festival: a discovery festival of Maverick films and innovations that was recently named the Top 10 festival in the world by the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.

Cinequest Distribution empowers Maverick films and fans via leading Internet, Internet TV and DVD distribution.

Mentoring and Education: groundbreaking empowerment for elementary through college students.

Cinequest Film Festival 20 occurs February 24- March 7, 2010

Cinequest Distribution releases films monthly

Www. cinequest. org

Tel: (408) 995-5033

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Writers Digest 101 Spot Nailed

Writers Digest 101 Spot Nailed

The Freelance Writing Organization International (FWO-Int'l) http://www. fwointl. com of Toronto, Canada, has the honourable distinction of being named on Writer's Digest's Best Sites of the Year List.

Toronto, (PRWEB) May 29, 2005

The Freelance Writing Organization International (FWO-Int'l) http://www. fwointl. com (http://www. fwointl. com) of Toronto, Canada, has the honourable distinction of being named on Writer's Digest's Best Sites of the Year List.

As of May, 2005 the FWO-Int'l has been recognized as an enormous and successful amassing of writing resource links and accumulated information vital to today's writers, authors, editors and publishers.

The announcement of the Best Site of the Year coincides with the 5th year anniversary of the FWO-Int'l and reaffirms the belief that the writing industry needs a centralized, easy-to-use, constantly updated system of resources to support the creative process. Something that only The Freelance Writing Organization International successfully provides without charge.

The FWO-Int'l hosts thousands of writing resources and writing links in a massive online database sectioned into 40+ genres. They are the publishers of the latest writers' "how-to" monthly ezine, Inkwell Newswatch (IN) Writing and Literary Ezine for Writers. Plus, the FWO-Int'l offers information on: funds for writers, job listings and employment opportunities, education, news, submission calls, agents, publishers, a research library and much more.

The Best Site of the Year Recognition joins an ever growing list of other awards that this exemplary web site has achieved over the years, including;

Multiple Golden Web Awards a Diamond Web Award, Inscriptions Writer's Magazine Link Award, TuDogs Top Library Resource Rating, IAWMD Web Masters and Designers Award,

And a host of other honourable and nominated mentions.

The mission statement of this web site appears to be an enormous undertaking however, with Site Manager Rowdy Rhodes' direction and skilled hands-on management abilities, the FWO-Int'l is living up to its self-imposed obligation:

"To build the world's largest, free, online writing resource links database system available on the internet."

Any mention you could give us in your specific form of media would be greatly appreciated.

Interviews are welcomed.

Contact:

The Freelance Writing Organization-International

Http://www. fwointl. com (http://www. fwointl. com)
Public Relations

Press@fwointl. com

Tel: (416) 466-6943

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CelleCast Merges Old, New and Social Media Into One Interactive Environment with the Launch of Its User Community, CelleCast Listener Central

CelleCast Merges Old, New and Social Media Into One Interactive Environment with the Launch of Its User Community, CelleCast Listener Central

Andrew Deal, founder and CEO of CelleCast Inc. announced today the launch of its social media tools built to enhance the burgeoning user community. CelleCast Listener Central brings the popularity of sites such as MySpace and Facebook to a 490 million phones and the mobile, audio-on-demand environment. The CelleCast Listener Central page features a variety of social media tools including talkbacks, polls, playlists, top shows and user statistics and they're available to anyone with a phone.

Vancouver, WA (PRWEB) May 8, 2008

Andrew Deal, founder and CEO of CelleCast Inc. (http://cellecast. com) announced today the launch of its social media tools built to enhance the burgeoning user community. CelleCast Listener Central brings the popularity of sites such as MySpace and Facebook to a 490 million phones and the mobile, audio-on-demand environment. The CelleCast Listener Central page features a variety of social media tools including talkbacks, polls, playlists, top shows and user statistics and they're available to anyone with a phone.

Powered by a robust user profile tool, CelleCast Connect displays the most popular shows and topics of the day, and lets users listen to Talkback comments to shows made by others, as well as their own. It provides a pulse for what's popular on CelleCast, and gives people a chance to express themselves openly in light of their favorite programs and their opinions on various cultural issues.

"The impact of social media services on today's culture is undeniable," commented Deal. "With the CelleCast community, our approach centers around not only connecting users with similar ideologies, but allowing them to share media with those in their real social network - people in their phone address book. Other sites allow you to create networks stuffed with people you've never met. Our service enables sharing audio media with your existing contacts, and finding others who have similar tastes. And there are no obstacles to be a part of the action. All it takes is a phone."

The difference between CelleCast (http://CelleCast. com/community. htm (http://CelleCast. com/community. htm)) and sites such as Facebook and MySpace is the telephony-based channel, with the user's phone number rather than email as a hub. Talkback interactions made to programs on CelleCast are displayed on the user's profile, and some make it to the community page itself where ideas and ideologies are shared freely.

About CelleCast Inc.
CelleCast, Inc. was launched in November, 2007 to bring radio and all things audio to any phone, any time, anywhere. CelleCast is building a network of programming focused first on top-tier radio programs, and extending into local radio, news, talk, sports, traffic, weather, religious, event, educational, ethnic, emerging artists and specialty podcast programming. CelleCast exists to elevate the marketplace of ideas, allowing listeners to build playlists and profiles and talk back to the shows, while maintaining higher content standards than the FCC. Comprehensive voice-text-email messaging tools are scheduled to be added to the service in mid 2008. For more information about CelleCast, Inc. visit their website at www. CelleCast. com.

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Finally Dynamic National Breakthrough in African American Pageantry Miss Black America U. S.A® Las Vegas, Nevada to Host First Annual Televised Broadcast

Finally Dynamic National Breakthrough in African American Pageantry Miss Black America U. S.A® Las Vegas, Nevada to Host First Annual Televised Broadcast

Finally Dynamic National Breakthrough In African American Pageantry Miss Black America U. S.A Las Vegas, Nevada To Host First Annual Televised Broadcast

(PRWEB) May 12, 2005

Wait no more America. Setting the mark high in African American pageantry, as the exclusive founder and producer of the Miss Black America U. S.A® Pageant the Ebony Star Foundation is devoted to uninterrupted powerful longevity in producing professional, quality, and impact filled pageants for a lifetime. The Ebony Star Foundation invites all ethnicities to celebrate this great cause and join in support, as the organization soon becomes the nations largest scholarship provider to African Americans. Don't miss one of the most spectacular televised pageantry events of the century in Las Vegas, Nevada …Who will be the first in the history of the United States of America to be crowned Miss Black America U. S.A® ?

Miss Black America U. S.A® delegates are some of the most goal oriented, career savvy and beautiful women in the nation. Culturally aware, charismatic, spiritually sentient, educated, and intelligent; our delegates proudly personify these characteristics in their everyday lives as grounded role models, and throughout their reign as state and national titleholders. Once becoming part of the Miss Black America U. S.A® pageant system delegates possess the vital tools needed to advance their education, careers, personal and humanitarian goals, family ideals; and work to unceasingly improve the lives of others within their community and across the U. S. The Ebony Star Foundation pageants are not affiliated in any way with any other pageant system or organization, past or present.

As a division of Capital Edutainment (Entertainment Entrepreneurship Service) founded October 2000 in Chicago, Illinois, the Ebony Star Foundation originated in October of 2002 and is a non-profit organization established to encourage and support education, self-improvement, talent, career development, personal achievement and cultural awareness among African Americans. Founded in greatness and spirituality, the organization proudly facilitates these services and strives to help make a difference through community service, mentorship, creative expression and higher education.

The Ebony Star Foundation (ESF) provides True Pageantry At It’s Best™, as the exclusive founding owner and producer of 4 scholarship pageants : The Mr. & Miss Ebony U. S.A Pageant® (a prestigious national cultural pageant for males and females ages 5-28 and up), the Miss Black America U. S.A® Pageant, the Mrs. Black America U. S.A® Pageant, and the Miss Black America U. S.A Teen® Pageant. ESF facilitates 8 diverse Enhancement Programs provided to all state delegates and national titleholders of the Mr. & Miss Ebony U. S.A Pageant. These programs began facilitation March 15th 2002 and will be the base of the first annual 2006 Mr. & Miss Ebony U. S.A Pageant in Los Angeles, California. Official state delegate crowning takes place August 2005. Each ESF delegates charitable platform is promoted and executed in full. The exposure and life enhancing experience gained is unprecedented.

The Ebony Star Foundation stands behind its delegates to exclusively maximize each winner's reign through an endorsed Titleholder Representation Package, which also guarantees complete timely allocation of scholarships and prizes. Upon winning Miss Black America U. S.A® state preliminary pageants in 2006, each titleholder/winner is on her way to a prestigious travel and appearance filled year as an official M. B.A. U.S. A state delegate (state delegate titles include: Miss Black Oregon, m. b.a. u.s. a; Miss Black Arkansas, m. b.a. u.s. a, Miss Black Illinois, m. b.a. u.s. a, etc.). Also going on to aggressively vie for the national crown before millions of viewers in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007; competing for the distinguished coveted title of and possibly becoming the nations first Miss Black America U. S.A.®. ESF is dedicated to impartial evenhanded pageantry. Furthermore, every delegate obtains 100% star treatment, receives scholarships, prizes, meets heads of state, supports national dignitaries, and much more.

“50 of the nations most beautiful, intelligent and educated women of color representing their state will grace the stage during nationals competition week in each of our 3 separate M. B.A. U.S. A pageants (Miss, Mrs., and Teen) ”, stated Ashili Tamique, your new reigning Miss Black America U. S.A Spokesmodel 2005-06, and National Director of Capital Edutainment. Adam C. Thurman, Esq., Executive Director of ESF adds, “There is an abundance of lasting incentives and benefits in becoming a valuable ESF sponsor.” The following are still welcome to apply: Corporate Sponsors, Investors, State Directors, City Directors, State Delegates, Ambassadors, general Volunteers.

For media interviewing and coverage, sponsorship opportunities, to book an appearance by Miss Black America U. S.A Spokesmodel 2005-06, for more information, or to volunteer contact Adam C. Thurman, Esq. of the Public Relations Department at PR@MissBlackAmericaUSA. org.

©Copyright 2005 by Capital Edutainment. All Rights Reserved. Copying, selling, altering, re-posting, or using any words or any part of this document in any way without the written consent of Capital Edutainment is a copyright infringement.

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Scouler & Company Enhances Midwest Presence; Opens Cleveland Office; Names Strazzella to Lead

Scouler & Company Enhances Midwest Presence; Opens Cleveland Office; Names Strazzella to Lead

Scouler & Company, the Los Angeles-based financial services and restructuring firm, further fueled its expansion momentum with the hiring of senior financial executive Alex Strazzella to open the company's Cleveland office. With the addition of an operational foothold in the Midwest region, Scouler & Company has doubled in size since opening just six months ago.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) December 5, 2007

 The Cleveland location joins the New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta offices. Founder and Managing Principal Dan Scouler noted, "Strazzella is precisely the kind of savvy, seasoned professional that clients expect to find at Scouler & Company. A banker by profession and accountant by training, Strazzella brings three decades of client-side experience to the table."

Most recently, Strazzella worked as a senior vice president in the leveraged cash flow, asset based lending and asset recovery groups at KeyBank, which presented opportunities to hone his negotiating and deal skills while crafting consensual resolutions that optimized returns for all parties. While at KeyBank, Strazzella managed a lending portfolio in excess of $1 Billion in commitments.

Strazzella earned an M. B.A. and B. S. in accounting from Chaminade University in Hawaii. After a short stint in public accounting, Strazzella found himself drawn to the complexities of finance, joining First Interstate Bank of Hawaii, followed by positions of increasing responsibility at BankBoston and Fleet Bank. Strazzella has augmented his practical credentials with continuing professional education including seminars such as Chase Credit Analysis, Deanco Cash Flow, MFA Workouts and Turnarounds, Maine Real Estate Foreclosure Procedures, and BankBoston courses on Advanced Commercial Lending, Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Law.

As head of the Midwest Scouler & Company office, Strazzella expects to deal with the fallout from tightening credit markets, slumping real estate, rocketing oil prices, and soft consumer confidence as the shockwaves affect commercial activities throughout the Midwest. Strazzella has worked with many mid-market companies in a wide spectrum of industries ranging from lumber mills and building materials, to construction contractors and developers, as well as a host of automotive-related suppliers, including metal stampers, parts fabricators and steel processors.

The Scouler & Company/Cleveland office is located at 600 Superior Avenue East, Suite 1300, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114, phone number 216.522.1901 and is now operational. For additional information, visit the company web site at www. scouler. com or call 310.229.5900.

Scouler & Company is a restructuring, crisis management and transaction services firm serving companies, investors and lenders nationally. The Scouler & Company services portfolio encompasses financial advisory--restructuring, business and operating plans; business stabilization--facility consolidation and closure, asset conversion, working capital and liquidity improvement; technology advisory--enterprise systems, risk assessments, business analytics and system recovery; interim executive management--at the CEO, CFO, COO, CIO and CTO level; and transaction services--refinancing and divestiture strategies, due diligence, securing equity and debt participants.

Evolutionary Design of Figure 8 Calendar Realigns Time with the Earth's Season

Evolutionary Design of Figure 8 Calendar Realigns Time with the Earth's Season

A revolutionary recycling of the calendar provides visualization for the evolution of time. Aeon Figure 8 Calendar is a redesign of time. Time gets a make over as the calendar is reformed as the Figure 8, symbol for time and infinity. Aeon Figure 8 Calendar recycles the year to its pre-catholic origins with the New Year beginning with the Spring, reclaiming the natural rhythm of seasonal Earth time from 417 years of subjugation by Roman Catholic Church time (Gregorian Calendar).

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) April 21, 2009

Aeon Figure 8 Calendar offers a revolutionary evolution in the representation of time. By dissolving the static blocks of days and months into a seamless flow chart Figure 8 Calendars provide a lyrical right-brain approach to the visualization of time.

The figure 8 symbol (OO) has long been associated with time and infinity. First credited with introducing the symbol OO was John Wallis in 1655. It is said that predating this was the association with an hourglass inverted 90 degrees as the source of the OO symbol for infinity.

Until now, no one had thought to put the two together, a calendar with the figure 8 symbol of time and infinity. The Aeon Figure 8 Calendar is a new invention (patent pending) of Jon Aeon, an artist residing in Santa Monica, California. His intention in creating the Figure 8 Calendar is to provide a symbolic visualization for the evolution of time, to give birth to the vision of reestablishing the alignment of the planetary population with Earth Time.

Jon Aeon states in his mission statement, "For the past four hundred and seventeen years the calendar of the west has been under the control of the Roman Catholic Church, our lives set to a format of time that is out of sync with natural order of our planetary and personal biorhythms. It's time to reclaim the calendar from Roman rule, to reset time, the beginning of the year and our lives to be in alignment with the natural order of Earth time, to rejoin with the many millions of people in cultures worldwide who still celebrate the beginning of the New Year in the Spring."

The transition from the old calendar format to the new is a simple one as the months, the dates and days of the week in the Aeon Figure 8 Calendar corresponds to those of the Gregorian.

For the inaugural release, Jon Aeon made a selections of images with the theme of recycling time. He chose photos from his various portfolios of photography to provide images for these innovative calendars. The April 2009 - April 2010 editions of the Aeon Figure 8 Calendars include the Ferris Wheel Edition, Carnival in Venice Edition, Moonlight Edition and Recycling Time Edition. All are available for preview and order at http://www. aeon. com (http://www. aeon. com).

Aeon Figure 8 Calendars are published by Environmental Arts, a 501c3 arts and education corporation. Aeon Figure 8 Calendar concept, design, featured art and photography are the creation of Jon Aeon, all rights reserved, ©2009 Aeon. Patents are pending for the Aeon Figure 8 Calendar, with applications in development for print media, computers, mobile phones and touch screen technologies. To remain informed of the new developments and to preview and order Aeon Figure 8 Calendars, visit the website at http://www. aeon. com (http://www. aeon. com).

In the Figure 8 Calendar, New Years Day is liberated from a wintry exile imposed by the Roman Catholic Church and welcomed to return to its origin on the first day of spring. Until four hundred years ago the first day of spring was celebrated as the beginning of the New Year. Then the Roman Catholic Church sacrificed the seasonal year and its celebrations. The Gregorian Calendar shifted the beginning of the year back three months, overlaid religious holidays upon the seasonal celebrations, and played a shell game with time until the sense of living in sync with the seasons was erased and forgotten. It is time to reclaim time from Roman rule.

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MS-ISAC Cyber Security Operations Center for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Governments Launched

MS-ISAC Cyber Security Operations Center for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Governments Launched

The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) today announced the launch of its new state-of-the-art cyber security operations center. The MS-ISAC, a division of the Center for Internet Security, is the focal point for cyber threat prevention, protection, response and recovery for the nation’s state, local, territorial and tribal (SLTT) governments.

East Greenbush, NY (PRWEB) November 18, 2010

The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) today announced the launch of its new state-of-the-art cyber security operations center. The MS-ISAC, a division of the Center for Internet Security, is the focal point for cyber threat prevention, protection, response and recovery for the nation’s state, local, territorial and tribal (SLTT) governments.

The 24-hour watch and warning center provides real-time network monitoring, dissemination of early cyber threat warnings, vulnerability identification and mitigation, along with education and outreach aimed at reducing risk to the nation’s SLTT government cyber domain.

The MS-ISAC coordinates closely with the U. S. Department of Homeland Security through its National Cyber Security Division and U. S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, providing a vital link between and among the SLTT governments and with the federal government.

Howard A. Schmidt, Cybersecurity Coordinator for the White House, provided remarks and was joined by Rear Admiral Michael A. Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications, National Protection and Programs Directorate, U. S. Department of Homeland Security, in cutting the ribbon for the official launch of the cyber security operations center. Other federal, state and local officials were also on hand to mark the occasion.

“The cybersecurity of our nation depends on collaboration across all levels of government and the private sector and the launch of the new MS-ISAC cyber security operations center is a significant step forward towards enhancing the cybersecurity of our state, local, territorial and tribal partners,” said Mr. Schmidt.

Through the new cyber security operations center, the MS-ISAC will be able to provide direct managed and monitored security services to a greater number of SLTT governments. This expanded infrastructure will provide a representative sample of system and network activity for enhancing situational awareness of SLTT government networks across the country. It will also enable more timely cyber incident identification and response while providing more resources for developing and implementing appropriate mitigation strategies tailored specifically to SLTT government cyber resources.

"The ever-changing cyber threat landscape underscores the need for an efficient and flexible organization to help our state and local governments detect, prevent, respond to and recover from cyber attacks," said Governor David A. Paterson. "The MS-ISAC cyber security operations center, headquartered in New York State, provides a central resource for information-sharing and incident response and is improving the cyber security posture not only of New York, but for state and local governments across the nation."

“The dangers in cyberspace continue to increase in volume, complexity and severity for SLTT governments,” said William Pelgrin, President and CEO of the Center for Internet Security (CIS). “The services provided through the new MS-ISAC cyber security operations center are helping to provide a more comprehensive picture of the cyber threat landscape, enabling more effective and timely identification, prevention and mitigation of cyber incidents impacting SLTT governments. Our partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security has been invaluable in the overall strategy to improve the SLTT government cyber posture.”

“CIS is fulfilling the vital need for enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors and its new cyber security operations center will facilitate even greater ability to provide real-time cyber security threat analysis and response to improve our nation’s collective cyber security posture,” said John Gilligan, Chairman, CIS Board of Directors.

Senator Charles E. Schumer said: “The threat of cyber terrorism against American computer systems is growing day by day. This new center in East Greenbush will make significant strides toward enhancing our country’s cybersecurity and will solidify the Capital Region as a center of cyber security development, laying the groundwork for good-paying, high-tech job growth.”

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey said: “What began as an informal effort among a few states in 2003 has become a critical link between the US Department of Homeland Security and state and local officials on the front lines in sharing cyber security information. To Will Pelgrin and the entire MS-ISAC, your work is invaluable in keeping our country safe. I look forward to continuing to work with the MS-ISAC to ensure that this effort gets the resources it needs to continue to improve the nation’s cyber security posture.”

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke said: “Congratulations on the opening of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) Cyber Security Operations Center. This center will be a great tool in protecting our nation against cyber attacks and play a critical role in educating the public on the importance of securing our cyber infrastructure. I applaud William Pelgrin, Chair of the MS-ISAC for his outstanding leadership, determination and hard work in opening this center. I look forward to seeing this great center run in its full capacity as this nation improves its ability to protect ourselves from cyber threats.”

Congressman Paul D. Tonko said: “The new Cyber Security Operations Center will help provide state and local governments with the resources to greatly improve their cyber security and response to attacks. This public-private partnership is a critical piece that will enhance our national security outcome.”

Senator Eric L. Adams said: “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, I want to congratulate the Center for Internet Security and its division, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), on the inauguration of this new state-of-the-art cyber security operations center. I have had the great pleasure of working with Will Pelgrin and other members of the Center for Internet Security during their tenure at the New York State Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Center; I am delighted that they will bring their professionalism and expertise to the new MS-ISAC. It is critical that our state have an effective monitor for cyber threat prevention, protection, response, and recovery, and the MS-ISAC will be an invaluable partner in assisting state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. Every New Yorker will gain from the security services managed by the new center, benefit from the close operational relationship it has with federal, local, and other state cyber security agencies, and profit from improved collaboration between the public and private sectors. I look forward to continuing our productive relationship and wish the new center well."

Assembly Majority Leader Ronald Canestrari said: "As cutting-edge technology continues to advance in today's ever-emerging information age, cyber security is more critical than ever. I am excited to welcome the MS-ISAC headquarters and the jobs the center will create to the Capital District and the heart of Tech Valley."

Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito said: “As Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Operations, I am looking forward to the work being done at the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) Cyber Security Operations Center which will protect critical organizations from cyber threats and attacks. This public-private collaboration will demonstrate to the nation and the world that New York State is a leader in cyber security excellence, and this endeavor will provide new jobs and economic development opportunities for future generations throughout our state.”

Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino said: "As our reliance on technology grows, so too does the threat created by those looking to use that technology in a malicious manner. We have all heard the horror stories from those who have fallen victim to identity theft, as well as the economic losses suffered when a businesses computer system is compromised or disabled by a virus making the work this cyber security center does vital to us all. I thank the leadership of this organization for recognizing the benefits of opening this facility right here in Rensselaer County and I feel strongly that this grand opening is testament to our region’s bright economic future."

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