Procter & Gamble Brand Eukanuba Awards Grand Prize Winners in 'Beauty of The Breeds' Online Photo and Video Contest

Procter & Gamble Brand Eukanuba Awards Grand Prize Winners in 'Beauty of The Breeds' Online Photo and Video Contest

Six Grand Prize Winners Receive One-Year Supply of New Eukanuba Customized Nutrition and the Chance to Appear in Eukanuba Advertisement

Dayton, Ohio (PRWEB) March 19, 2007

In October 2006, Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) Pet Care brand Eukanuba launched their first foray into user-generated content with the announcement of their Beauty of the Breeds online photo and video contest. More than 2,500 dog owners from coast-to-coast uploaded photos and/or videos of their dogs along with a short description of what makes their dogs beautiful - from their melodious bark to their saggy jowls and wagging tails Monthly winners in both the photo and video contest received a one-month supply of Eukanuba food and were automatically entered into the grand prize contest where they competed to win a one-year's supply of new Eukanuba Customized Nutrition and the chance to appear in a Eukanuba advertisement. 

By voting online at http://www. beautyofthebreeds. com (http://www. beautyofthebreeds. com), more than 3,000 site viewers have selected the six grand prize winners of the Beauty of the Breeds contest - three photo and three video winners in the small, medium, and large size categories. Contest winners are representative of the entire U. S. pet owning population and include representatives of several breeds from the canine world. The winners are:

Photo Winners

Small Breed

'Mika,' a two-year-old Miniature Pinscher from Brooklyn, N. Y.

Medium Breed

'Kobi,' a Shibu Inu from Covington, Wash.

Large Breed

'Kali,' a nine-year-old Golden Retriever from Plain, Wisc.

Video Winners

Small Breed

'Lexy,' a three-year-old Papillon from Atlanta, Ga.

Medium Breed

'Griffey,' a one-year-old beagle from Calera, Ala.

Large Breed

'Hobbes,' a one-year-old Golden Retriever from McMinnville, Ore.

"We heartily congratulate the winners of Eukanuba's Beauty of the Breeds contest," said Eukanuba spokeswoman Amy Newkirk. "Like these proud dog owners, Eukanuba appreciates the unique and beautiful attributes of different dog breeds. As such, we believe that dogs can benefit from special diets customized to their particular nutritional, health, and performance needs. We're proud to offer that tailored nutrition through the recent launch of Eukanuba Customized Nutrition including our Breed Specific and Custom Care lineups."

New Eukanuba Customized Nutrition

New Eukanuba Customized Nutrition is the company's most extensive line of pet nutrition customized by breed type, size, health requirements, and performance needs. Eukanuba has formulas for small, medium, and large breed dogs at each life stage - puppy, adult, and senior. In addition, the brand offers a line of breed-specific formulas focusing on five of the top seven breeds in the U. S., as well as Custom Care formulas for dogs with special health concerns, and Eukanuba Performance formulas for dogs that lead more active lifestyles. The full formula lineup is available at pet specialty stores wherever Eukanuba is sold. For more information, log on to http://www. eukanuba. com (http://www. eukanuba. com).

The Eukanuba 15 Most Beautiful Breeds Survey

Complimenting the brand relaunch and Beauty of the Breeds contest, Eukanuba announced the first annual Eukanuba 15 Most Beautiful Breeds Survey in October 2006. In partnership with Gatsby Publications, the survey asked consumers to select the top five most beautiful dog breeds in the small, medium, and large dog categories from the 153 currently recognized AKC breeds. More than 2,000 people voted and the winning breeds will be featured in the April/May 2007 issue of The New York Dog and the May/June 2007 issue of The Hollywood Dog magazines. For a sneak preview of the winning breeds, log on to http://www. mostbeautifulbreeds. com (http://www. mostbeautifulbreeds. com).

About Eukanuba

For nearly 60 years, Eukanuba, a Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) Pet Care brand, has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats by providing world-class quality foods and pet-care products. To learn more about Eukanuba®, the Eukanuba Veterinary Diets line of canine and feline therapeutic diets, or general pet care and nutrition information, call Eukanuba at (800) 446-3075. You also can visit Eukanuba on the Web at http://www. eukanuba. com (http://www. eukanuba. com).

About Procter & Gamble [NYSE:PG]

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Pringles®, Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella, Gillette®, and Braun. The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www. pg. com (http://www. pg. com) for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

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Skincare and Literacy Go Hand in Hand: How Reading About Skin Care Can Help You Look Your Best

Skincare and Literacy Go Hand in Hand: How Reading About Skin Care Can Help You Look Your Best

Skincare News explains why having skin care knowledge can make a big difference

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 12, 2007

With so many terms and scientific advances in the world of skincare, it can be difficult to stay informed. That is what Skincare-New's latest article "Skincare and Literacy Go Hand in Hand: How Reading About Skin Care Can Help You Look Your Best," is all about.
Http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=289 (http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=289)

Reading and educating oneself can make a world of difference regarding skincare and overall health:

When it comes to skin care, most people oftentimes turn to doctors and tips from friends for the best advice and remedies. However, with the Internet age continuing to progress, people are rediscovering the power of their own research and the valuable role it can play in improving their skincare. Websites and online versions of best selling beauty books have given people the resources they need to become more guided and informed in every aspect of their skincare.

Skincare on the Internet has become well-versed on providing inquisitive minds with the facts they want and need:

With this mentality, skincare websites are becoming a much more valuable commodity to the consumer, equipping them with the knowledge they need to become both a smart shopper and an individual with a winning skincare regime.

According to the Skincare News Team's sources, knowledge is power!

By doing research, consumers will be well informed on every aspect of their health including skincare. Reading and learning about these topics will make visits to the dermatologist more productive and will also help save money when shopping for beauty products.

Skincare-News. com covers all skincare and beauty topics from head to toe. Check out these latest articles:

"Celebrate Spring with Some Skincare as Fresh as the Season"
Http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=258 (http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=258)

Spring has sprung! Spice up your skincare routine with these recommended tips and tricks for the season.

"Overwhelmed with Overpriced Skin Care? Beat Inflation with Smart Skincare Shopping"
Http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=257 (http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=257)

You can look gorgeous without going broke! This article helps smart shoppers find a way to break out of their monotonous skincare mold without breaking the bank.

"The Aging Neck…Skincare's Forgotten Frontier!"
Http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=258 (http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=258)

Ever notice how the older we get the more often we choose a scarf or turtleneck to wear? Let's be honest, we're not doing it to be fashion forward. From now on, let's solve the problem of that aging neck, and not by hiding it behind knit and silk. Read this article and find out a few ways other than plastic surgery to start sporting a firm, beautiful, and glowing neck. Who wants to look like a turkey, when you can look like a swan?

"Skin Care & Beauty Basics - Part 3: How to Be a Powder Puff Girl!"
Http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=260 (http://www. skincare-news. com/articles. php? ArtID=260)

Powder is the finishing touch after applying the rest of your makeup. Read on to see how you can make the most out of the powder you use and learn tips to help you get it right every time.

About SkinCare-News. com -- Your Source for Intelligent Skin Care
Skincare-News. com is the online source for consumers seeking intelligent beauty and skin care news, advice, tips and articles.

Founded in 2005, SkinCare-News. com features articles, news items and frequently asked questions on skincare and beauty related issues. SkinCare-News. com is located in Sacramento, California but receives visitors from all around the world. For more information, visit http://www. skincare-news. com (http://www. skincare-news. com).

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The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS features Soraida Martinez's Verdadism Art Exhibition and Nationally Known Actress, Rosie Perez

The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and AIDS features Soraida Martinez's Verdadism Art Exhibition and Nationally Known Actress, Rosie Perez

The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and HIV/AIDS features an art exhibition of socially conscious art by the artist known for Verdadism, Soraida Martinez. Nationally known actress, Rosie Perez, is the guest speaker, with presentations by reputable researchers, educators, medical professionals and Latino leaders. This conference focuses attention to the AIDS epidemic that is affecting Latinos nationwide.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) July 29, 2007

Since 1992, Artist/Designer Soraida Martinez has been raising awareness of socially conscious issues (including sexism, racism and stereotyping), which are just now being discussed in mainstream American society. Soraida's newly created 2007 Verdadism painting, "Latinas and the Unspoken Taboo Killer, AIDS" addresses the current AIDS epidemic among Latinos.

According to Soraida, "I tell people that one doesn't have to have AIDS to be active in an epidemic that is killing people everyday. One should get educated and be aware of all health issues. We cannot wait for the government to help us…let's face it…the government already wishes that all Latinos would just go away."

The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and HIV/AIDS features an exhibition of socially conscious Verdadism fine art, plus nationally known actress, Rosie Perez, as the guest speaker. Presentations by reputable researchers, educators, medical professionals and Latino leaders also help this conference focus attention on the AIDS epidemic that is affecting Latinos nationwide.

This conference is an educational forum designed specifically for professionals who provide health care for Latinos. Co-sponsored by Minority Health Care Communications, Inc. (MHCC) and Nurse Practitioner Alternatives, Inc. (NPAI), the primary goal of this Latino conference is to update the knowledge, skills and attitudes of health providers who care for patients with HIV/AIDS. This conference is designed for healthcare media, federal and state legislators, AIDS service organization officers, social workers, peer counselors, church leadership and corrections healthcare personnel. The objectives are to familiarize participants with the epidemiology of HIV in the United States, current guidelines and cutting edge clinical modalities for the management of HIV, current research encompassing drug abuse and its connection to the HIV epidemic, social and psychiatric concerns of the HIV-infected patient, policy initiatives, trends and political issues which impact the HIV infected patient.

The 2007 National Conference on Latinos and HIV/AIDS is held at the Miami Beach Resort & Spa, Miami Beach, Florida, from July 30th-31st. For more information or to register for this conference, please visit www. minority-healthcare. com or contact NPAI at 866-901-6267. For more information on the socially conscious Verdadism art of Soraida Martinez, visit www. soraida. com.

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Manufacturers Finding that Greasing the Bottom Line Really Works

Manufacturers Finding that Greasing the Bottom Line Really Works

Columbus conference addresses both technical and strategic business impact of plant lubrication programs.

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) April 13, 2006

Every manager knows that manufacturing and processing plants require lubricants to keep the machinery humming. But how much? How often? And what kind?

Knowing the answers to those three questions may make a significant difference to your profit statement. Perhaps millions.

Drew Troyer, senior editor of Machinery Lubrication (http://www. machinerylubrication. com), says that a company’s lubrication program has a direct impact on its bottom line, including share price and market capitalization. Asked for an example, he offers the case of Baltimore Gas & Electric, which made improvements in its lubrication program that led to a $6.9 million boost to the utility’s bottom line.

Klaus Blache, director of manufacturing engineering for General Motor’s Lansing, Michigan plant, agrees. Blache, during his tenure as chairman of the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP), oversaw a study that measured potential savings. The study showed that companies employing lubrication best practices spend only about 4.4 percent of sales to maintain equipment while the average of all companies is about 5.9 percent.

That is a 1.5 percent difference between having a sound, proactive lubrication program and being simply average.

Troyer offers an illustration of the impact this would have in language that any CEO – or investment banker – would appreciate.

“Let’s say your company has annual sales of one billion dollars. Your earnings before interest and tax are $60 million and you have 25 million shares outstanding. That results in earnings per share (EPS) of $2.40. Assuming a typical P/E ratio, the company’s stock would trade at $30 per share. Improving from average performance in maintenance to world-class would increase earnings per share from $2.40 to $3.00. Assuming a constant P/E ratio of 12.5, one could argue that the share price would trade at $38 per share - an increase of $8 per share, or 27 percent,” he notes.

Troyer adds the point that if maintenance costs are reduced through well-engineered programs and not arbitrary cutbacks, reliability will improve throughput and quality, which should further bolster stock price. Likewise, it is well known that the most profitable players in an industry are rewarded with higher P/E ratios.

While the relationship between lubrication and stock price seems obvious to Troyer, he is concerned that this relationship has not been adequately presented or understood by CEOs or VPs of manufacturing. And he aims to change that. Troyer will be speaking at the upcoming Lubrication Excellence Conference (http://www. driveyourplant. com) in Columbus in May, during which he will be beating his drum on the strategic importance of lubrication programs.

“Improvements in lubrication practices have a direct effect of lessening the failure rate of equipment. That means less downtime and less need to replace capital equipment,” he notes. “Given that 30 to 50 percent of mechanical failures are in some way tied to poor lubrication, it should be the first target of a maintenance improvement plan.”

Perhaps it’s easier to understand the importance of lubrication when you begin to look at it as a forensic study, like the characters in the television show CSI. Used lubricants carry messages about a machine’s health. In that sense, oil analysis can be thought of as a sort of blood test. In the right hands, a proper oil analysis will yield data that determines if anything is about to go wrong and what response to take. Having this data and interpreting it correctly can reduce wasteful work orders and unscheduled downtime.

So how does one create a lubrication strategy that reflects best practices?

Jim Fitch, editor of Practicing Oil Analysis (http://www. practicingoilanalysis. com), says that success lies in changing both corporate and plant management attitudes about lubrication, coupled with the proper education.

According to Fitch, more than 80 percent of equipment wear and failures could be avoided through proper training, tools, and support to maintenance staff relating to lubrication and oil analysis. Addressing this shortcoming could significantly increase production.

He would like managers to transform ritual lubrication practices into modern “best practices” programs, the benefits of which must be communicated across the company, similar to corporate communications strategies for safety and product quality.

“What if manufacturing plants announced exciting, company-wide goals surrounding lubrication, oil analysis and proactive maintenance?” Fitch asks excitedly. “Wouldn’t it be great if they could track the savings and the increased productivity and reward the organization for the success? Imagine the pride in being part of such quality and accomplishment!”

Fitch will also be speaking at the Lubrication Excellence Conference www. driveyourplant. com, which takes place May 16-18 in Columbus, Ohio. He hopes to see more professionals from upper management attend so that they can learn from the experience of innovative companies who’ve followed his advice.

“For an increasing number of companies, the active role of management in transforming average lubrication programs to world-class stature has been met with extraordinary success. Managers who have ‘seen the light’ have garnered the critical resources to finance the transformation and generated enthusiasm for these programs. Sadly, these successful organizations represent a small minority of the opportunity. However, their success provides other managers the confidence to plunge into radical reform to overhaul their lubrication program and achieve lubrication excellence.”

It’s an uphill battle, but one that both Troyer and Fitch believe is worth it. Which is why both agree that perhaps it’s time to put aside talk of teamwork and technical rationale for implementing best practices in lubrication. Rather, it’s time to talk turkey with the CEO, COO and finance managers.

Troyer and Fitch both agree on what that message should be: that savings from avoiding maintenance costs go directly to the bottom line as profit - there is no cost of goods sold (COGS). In addition, when maintenance cost reductions are engineered, and not of the slash and burn variety, higher throughput and improved quality are typically enjoyed. This enables the plant to make money both coming and going through improved maintenance.

And what CEO could ignore that message?

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COLGATE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO KIDS THROUGH YOUTH FOR AMERICA CAMPAIGN Program Rewards Local Youth Groups for their Best Service Projects

COLGATE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO KIDS THROUGH YOUTH FOR AMERICA CAMPAIGN Program Rewards Local Youth Groups for their Best Service Projects

Cash awards available for best community service programs by youth.

(PRWEB) November 13, 2002

COLGATE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO KIDS

THROUGH YOUTH FOR AMERICA CAMPAIGN

Program Rewards Local Youth Groups for their Best Service Projects

____________________

NEW YORK (November 2002) – Colgate-Palmolive announced that local clubs and troops of six of the largest national youth organizations are invited to enter their best community service projects as part of the 30th Anniversary “Colgate Youth for America” campaign.

Colgate-Palmolive Company presents cash awards of up to $2,000 for the most creative and best-executed projects by local units of Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated and National 4-H Council – organizations representing 13 million children across America.

Local club and troop community service programs running between March 1, 2002 and March 1, 2003 are eligible to win one of more than 350 cash awards.

“These young people not only see the challenges in their communities, they’re finding solutions,” said Ian Cook–EVP, Colgate-Palmolive and Executive Advisor to the Youth for America program. “By celebrating their achievements, Colgate Youth for America hopes to inspire others like them to make a difference in their own communities.”

Last yearÂ’s top winners reflect the ingenuity and resourcefulness of todayÂ’s young people:

Top National 4-H Council winners included the Grand Prize “Best of All Entries” winners from Fresno, Calif., that raise and train guide dog puppies; a group from North Carolina that provides after-school care for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade; and a California club that helps stock food pantries for several organizations with produce from their community garden.

Boys & Girls Club winners included a club from Texas that created a program that helps feed the homeless and assist their children with school work; a North Carolina club that provides free childcare for children being raised by their grandparents; and a Colorado club that hosts a “Family Night Out” program enabling parents to celebrate their children’s achievements.

Local Boy Scout winners included a troop from Maine that hosted and subsidized an outdoor summer camp for troubled youth; a Pennsylvania troop that trains with Red Cross Disaster services, volunteers with search and rescue operations and teaches younger scouts first-aid skills; a troop from Washington state that refurbishes computers and places them in the homes of low-income families; and a Cub Scout pack from Illinois that hosts reading tutorial classes for students in 1st through 3rd grades.

Local Girl Scout winners included a troop from Florida that planned and built a playground at a home for pregnant and parenting teens; a Michigan troop that initiated an anti-violence and conflict resolution program with educational workshops for their peers; and a Minnesota troop that planned and instituted a babysitting clinic to train community teens about proper safety, care and first-aid.

Local Camp Fire winners included a teen club from Minnesota that provided free or low cost babysitting; another teen club from California that created a free summer camp for underprivileged children; and a third teen club from Texas that tutors elementary school students.

Local Girls Incorporated winners included a unit from California whose members are trained to mentor their peers and younger children about a variety of health issues; a unit from Indiana whose members are available early evenings at their clubhouse to help students with homework and other school projects; and another California unit that oversees a funding program that distributes “seed” grants to new organizations that promote economic literacy to girls and young women.

Details about these and other top-winning programs can be found online at www. youthforamerica. com.

To date, Colgate-Palmolive Company has awarded nearly $6 million to AmericaÂ’s children through Colgate Youth for America. The campaign, initiated in 1972 to encourage social responsibility, is now the longest-running corporate-sponsored program for young people. Colgate Youth for America has been honored by The White House under the last five administrations, has received a Freedoms Foundation Award, is included in The Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, and is praised annually by members of Congress, governors and mayors across the nation.

Entry forms are now available through regional offices of the six national organizations, online at www. youthforamerica. com, or by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Colgate Youth for America Campaign, P. O. Box 1058, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150-1058. Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2003.

Do You Think Like a Millionaire? Give Yourself a 25 Year Head Start

Do You Think Like a Millionaire? Give Yourself a 25 Year Head Start

1) What you habitually say to yourself all day creates your Habits of Thought 2) Your habits of thought create your Desires 3) Your desires create what you Do 4) What you do creates your Life

Bremerton, WA (PRWEB) April 22, 2004

Acquire the habits of thought of people who are healthy, wealthy and happy - and you eventually become more healthy, wealthy and happy.

Why? Because you eventually do what they do and your similar actions produce similar rewards. In other words:

1) What you habitually say to yourself all day creates your Habits of Thought
2) Your habits of thought create your Desires
3) Your desires create what you Do
4) What you do creates your Life - wealth or poverty, health or illness, joy or despair. Your actions make your world a better place or make your world a worse place.

All day long you say things to yourself. You have done so your entire life: "I'm stupid; I'll always be poor; I'll never lose weight; no one likes me; I'm worthless."

If you want more out of life - change those statements. How do you do that?

What you repeat to yourself you eventually believe - whether it's helpful or harmful, accurate or inaccurate, honest or dishonest.

Individuals or organizations that want to implant harmful beliefs into their victims use this process all the time. By the way, to rid yourself of harmful beliefs, just question those beliefs and they begin to weaken.

Through the centuries, this process has been called many things: autosuggestion, goal statements, self-talk, affirmations, self-suggestion, conditioning. Now it's time you use it on purpose instead of accidentally. Here's how.

Example:
You want financial independence. How do you find out what millionaires say to themselves about making money? You could spend decades finding out for yourself - or take the following shortcut and save yourself 25 years of time and money.

The habits of thought of 500 millionaires are in Napoleon Hill's timeless book "Think and Grow Rich" in the chapters on "Faith" and "Autosuggestion."

So, to think like a millionaire and to earn the income you want, do the following two steps:

1) As often as possible each day for the rest of your life read silently or aloud the "Self-Confidence Formula" Napoleon Hill's suggests in the chapter on "Faith" and

2) As often as possible each day for the rest of your life read silently or aloud the "How to Stimulate Your Subconscious Mind" section in the chapter on "Autosuggestion."

As you read the above, see, hear, and feel yourself doing what you read. Soon, you begin to get ideas on what you need to do to make those thoughts become real. The same principle works for other areas of life: physical - spiritual, social - emotional, financial - intellectual as well as achievement in business, art, science, and sports.

One last point. You are 100 percent responsible for your thoughts, desires, actions, and results. If you don't like the results you are getting in life, begin with your thoughts.

And don't use the "victim" mentality of "Oh, I tried this and it didn't work" or "This is stupid. I'm not doing this." Replace unwanted thoughts by saying to yourself 'Next!' and take charge of your life by managing your mind FIRST - your actions and your rewards follow.

Copyright 2004-2007 Lonni Erickson. All Rights Reserved. You now have permission to reprint this article as long as it is not edited and the below resource information is included.

Lonni's career counselor in high school told him he could never attend the University of Colorado because his "C" grade point average proved he could never go to college. Five years later, by using the principles in this article, he graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and has excelled in science, art, and sports. Other aritcles by the author include "Was Jesus an Allegory or a Real Person?" at www. prweb. com.

Free yourself from individuals who use force, threats, fraud, guilt, or fear to steal your time, money, and energy. See www. neo-tech. com

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Childhood Obesity -- Four Causes are Identified and Explained

Childhood Obesity -- Four Causes are Identified and Explained

Leading US Pediatric expert uses major US Parenting website to make his recommendations on childhood obesity available to parents on-line.

Ashville, North Carolina (PRWEB) September 28, 2008

In the inaugural newsletter for Sixty Second Parent (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com), leading US Pediatric expert Dr Robert P. Schwartz, MD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine NC, warns that we are facing a serious problem with childhood obesity. An increase in childhood obesity is directly related to the prevalence of diabetes in children. Dr Schwarz recommends a 5 step strategy (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com/_webapps/Obesity%20in%20childhood) for all families to control and reverse this risk.

Dr Schwartz explains, "We need to get off the couch, eat a healthier diet, dine out less frequently, watch our portion size, and turn off the TV. If we want our children to eat a healthy diet we must also eat a healthy diet and make sure that our homes contain mostly healthy choices. If we want our children to be physically active we must become physically active. If we want to prevent our children from becoming overweight we must make changes ourselves and be good role models for our children, our families, and our communities". Read more at Sixty Second Parent (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com/kindergarten/kindergarten-food-and-nutrition).

Schwartz goes on to say that one in three children born today will develop diabetes during their lifetime, and this is the first generation of children who will not outlive their parents.

As well as diabetes, complications from childhood obesity include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, kidney disease, liver disease, low self esteem and depression. Schwartz hands the control of this epidemic over to the parents, and recommends that they understand and control the key factors that contribute to childhood obesity: sugar-sweetened drinks, dining out, decreased physical activity, and sedentary activity such as TV, video games and computer. By making this information available to the online parenting community at Sixty Second Parent, Schwartz and other experts in pediatrics and parenting are able to get their recommendations out to the parents directly, and parents get the chance to have their questions answered by these experts (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com/forums)

"So why is this increase in childhood obesity occurring? Weight maintenance depends on a balance between our energy intake (the calories we eat and drink each day) and energy expenditure (the calories we burn up with physical activity)" explained Dr Schwartz. When we take in more calories in our diet or decrease our physical activity we get out of balance. The major factors related to increased energy intake include sugar-sweetened drinks, high calorie snacks, dining out at fast food and other restaurants, and large portion sizes for our food and drinks.

About Sixty Second Parent
Sixty Second Parent is a website that offers a unique and fresh approach to obtaining practical parenting tips and information (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com/hot-topics). Sixty Second Parent understands that the expectations and pressures put on parents today are more complex than ever before and recognizes the need for a simpler support system for parents and families.

As part of the solution, Sixty Second Parent has brought together the world's leading experts in child development, child health and parenting to provide sound practical parenting information within an online community network.

Sixty Second Parent intends to provide parents-to-be, young parents and grandparents with information, enjoyment, and connection into a like-minded community via a user-friendly web platform. This community gives parents the information they need, as well as reassurance in their actions, and guidance in interactions with their children.

The online support network is designed to link parents and families with industry specialists and other parents along with an online parenting store (http://www. sixtysecondparent. com/shop) offering the best in early childcare resources.

About Robert P. Schwartz, M. D., F. A.A. P.
Robert Schwartz is Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Section of Pediatric Endocrinology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N. C. Previously, he served as Assistant Chair and Director of the Pediatric Residency Training Program at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N. C., from 1974 to 1992. Dr. Schwartz received his Bachelor of Science and Medical Degrees from the University of Florida. He completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Carolinas Medical Center. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism at Duke University Medical Center.

Along with many other state and national activities, Dr. Schwartz has served on the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission Study Committee on Childhood Obesity; the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatrics; the Executive Committee of the Section on Endocrinology of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) from 1990 to 2000; the Maintenance of Certification in Pediatrics Examination Committee of the American Board of Pediatrics since 1993; the North Carolina Newborn Screening Advisory Committee since 1996; and the Executive Committee (as member and medical adviser) for the North Carolina Task Force for Healthy Weight in Children and Youth. He was president of the North Carolina Chapter of the AAP from 1987 to 1989. His research includes a "Healthy Lifestyles Study" on obesity prevention in young children with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He received the Denny, Katz, Simon, Tingelstad Academic Service Award in 2002. Dr. Schwartz is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatric Endocrinology and is a member of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the North Carolina Pediatric Society.

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Eiffel Software Announces Release of Eiffel ENViSioN! 1.1 Upgrade Eiffel-Language Plug-In for Microsoft Visual Studio. NET

Eiffel Software Announces Release of Eiffel ENViSioN! 1.1 Upgrade Eiffel-Language Plug-In for Microsoft Visual Studio. NET

Santa Barbara, California – Eiffel Software today announced the production release of Eiffel ENViSioN!™ 1.1, the latest version of its Eiffel-language plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio. NET™.

(PRWEB) June 1, 2003

Eiffel ENViSioN! 1.1 is an integral component of The Eiffel Development Framework™, a well-known and powerful system for creating fast, robust, scalable applications and reusable components. By basing their designs on reusable, robust business objects with Eiffel, developers have been demonstrating productivity increases on the order of 2 to 10 times that which they can achieve with other popular languages. With today’s release of Eiffel ENViSioN! 1.1, the product becomes an even more convenient tool for developers looking to create the most robust, extendible applications with Microsoft Visual Studio. NET.

“For years, ‘Eiffel’ has been synonymous with quality software and business-critical applications – and you’ve needed EiffelStudio to use it. But for millions of developers, Microsoft Visual Studio. NET is the preferred environment. Now, those developers can access the power of the Eiffel language from within Visual Studio. NET,” said Chris Ambarian, Exec VP of Sales and Marketing at Eiffel Software. “The combination of Eiffel ENViSioN! and Visual Studio. NET enables developers to efficiently create extremely scalable, robust applications.”

Since its initial release in September 2002, Eiffel ENViSioN! has already attracted several thousand users. “We’ve been gratified to see the response to this product.” Ambarian said. “We take it as confirmation of both the openness of Visual Studio. NET, and of the developers who use it.”

The new 1.1 release of Eiffel ENViSioN! offers the important “Melting Ice” incremental compiling scheme that Eiffel Software invented, along with several minor bug-fixes. Features now include:

· Fully compatible and integrated with the MicrosoftÂ’s Visual Studio. NET development environment

· An incremental compiler for dramatically better compilation speed (you only compile the portion(s) of your system that you have changed since the last compile, which means far less waiting)

· Class and feature browsing

· EiffelBuild – Eiffel SoftwareÂ’s multi-platform GUI builder

· Auto-Documentation

· Designed for compatibility with Visual Studio. NET 2003

· XML support

· Several Eiffel code libraries

According to Eiffel Software, the Eiffel language is among the easiest to learn of all programming languages. Passive support for users new to the language is available from the company website, where there are also links to the many Eiffel user groups worldwide.

Availability:

The new release of Eiffel ENViSioN! has already begun shipping to Eiffel SoftwareÂ’s existing customers, and is available immediately via the companyÂ’s website, www. eiffel. com. A Free Edition of the product is available at www. eiffel. com/downloads/ (http://www. eiffel. com/downloads/). Onsite training and consulting are also available from the company by inquiring at sales@eiffel. com.

Eiffel Software (a division of ISE) is the world leader in Eiffel pure object-oriented programming tools. Founded in 1985, Eiffel Software produces proven professional tools and component libraries for business-critical and enterprise software developments. Eiffel SoftwareÂ’s products enable their customers to output more and higher-quality software in less time than with any other development tools available. Its users span the globe, in industries ranging from large financial institutions, to technology manufacturing, to government and defense contractors, to health care providers and more.

For more information about Eiffel Studio, contact Eiffel Software at 356 Storke Road; Goleta, California 93117; (805) 685-1006; sales@eiffel. com; or visit www. eiffel. com.

Pet World Loses Avian Expert

Pet World Loses Avian Expert

Jerry Binder, owner of HotSpot for Birds, died of complications from pneumonia on July 29th. Jerry brought his love of birds to the Internet over eight years ago, in the early days of surfing the web

(PRWEB) September 9, 2003

Jerry Binder, owner of HotSpot for Birds, died of complications from pneumonia on July 29th. Jerry brought his love of birds to the Internet over eight years ago, in the early days of surfing the web. As an authority on avian matters, he wanted the web site to provide information of keeping pet birds healthy and safe. The various articles available on the web site (http://www. hotspot4birds. com (http://www. hotspot4birds. com)) are frequently referenced by other avian websites and bird clubs.

Jerry was an avid animal lover. Even as a child, he raised birds with his brother. Later, he became intensely involved with aquarium fish. He was one of the first people in Philadelphia to successfully set up saltwater aquariums. His enthusiasm for both fresh and saltwater fish never diminished.

In the sixties, Jerry trained animals for the movie industry. His parrots were used in films such as Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte and The Great Race. He provided monkeys for Sex and the Single Girl and fish for many movies and television programs.

His only regret was that he was not able to become a veterinarian. He did, however, care for many kinds of animals. He was also regularly called on to rescue homeless or mistreated animals, particularly birds and dogs. He was able to nurse many back to health and provide good homes for them.

Although Jerry will no longer be personally handling birds and answering questions, HotSpot for Birds (http://www. hotspot4birds. com (http://www. hotspot4birds. com)) and its sister web site, airfilterstore. com (http://www. airfilterstore. com (http://www. airfilterstore. com)), will continue to be found on the Internet.

LifeBot® Signs Option for DREAMStm : The $14 Million Emergency Ambulance EMS telemedicine System Developed with U. S. Army Materiel Command

LifeBot® Signs Option for DREAMStm : The $14 Million Emergency Ambulance EMS telemedicine System Developed with U. S. Army Materiel Command

LifeBot® announced today it has executed an Option Agreement pursuing world-wide exclusive licensing rights to DREAMStm, the $14 million advanced EMS ambulance telemedicine and disaster management system developed by Texas A&M, UTHealth, and the U. S. Military.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) November 19, 2010

LifeBot, LLC acted today to expand its leading technology position in emergency telemedicine communications. Combining DREAMStm with LifeBot® patented technologies promises to make available the most powerful and advanced prehospital EMS communications systems. Considered by many to be the most highly developed ambulance to hospital EMS telemedicine communications system ever deployed, DREAMStm is the first and only system to provide fully interactive simultaneous “live” transmissions of video and critical patient data. The system in essence brings hospital specialists to the scene giving to doctors and nurses a virtual telepresence to collaborate in saving lives and managing disasters in real time, on the “battlefield”, at home or abroad.

The “Super Ambulancetm” system utilizes multiple remote controlled cameras to provide hospital based emergency specialists invaluable live intelligence, emergency preparedness or “situational awareness” so prompt, objective, and safe life-saving assessments and treatments may be made. The hospital knows more precisely “what’s coming in the door” and can accurately prepare the appropriate assets accordingly and reduce costs.1 The patient’s physiologic vital signs, data, and medical record reporting e-PCR are updated dynamically between the hospital and the scene. The system is especially valuable for treatment of cardiac, trauma, stroke victims and is important in remote areas where transport times may be prolonged. And, the system may actually act to protect ambulance personal and providers during sensitive difficult situations.2 It may enhance critical decisions during disasters and mass casualty events. DREAMStm can make the difference in saving thousands of lives, reducing medical errors and their associated risks further lowering costs.

This development also signals an alliance of extraordinary industry expertise. R. Lee Heath, the CEO and founder of LifeBot®, has recently been awarded his thirty-first patent and is best known as the inventor businessman making possible the modern Automatic External Heart Defibrillator (AED). Heath has many more patents pending that may also be aligned with DREAMStm developer’s pending patents. For example, the DREAMStm family includes a backpack telemedicine system that may be worn by medics on the front-line and in military battlefield operations. Heath’s awarded patent covers a miniaturized telemedicine life support system ideal for such applications. The company is excited about working on the evolution of these advancements with the “DREAMStm Team”.

LifeBot® has successfully marketed the first fully digital VOIP (Voice Over IP) telemedicine communications workstation for use in hospital Emergency Departments and 911 dispatch call centers. Orders for this product are currently being filled by the company. The workstation is the ideal launch-pad for the DREAMStm technologies adding control of radio, telephone, cellular and broadband communications now in demand nationally for hospital and public safety interoperability after the 9-11 terrorism disaster. The system qualifies for most broadband telemedicine and interoperability communications grants provided by DHS, ASPR, and BTOP Stimulus funding.

LifeBot® recently signed an agreement with Avia Health Informatics, Plc or Plain Healthcare. The LifeBot® communications workstation system may include their Odysseytm nurse teletriage software that has demonstrated significant and safe reductions in non-emergent transports and has saved major metropolitan EMS providers millions of dollars.3 When combined with DREAMStm, the combination represents an opportunity to substantially lower overall provider costs while, at the same time, increasing both the levels and quality of emergency patient care using deployment of the advanced ambulance telemedicine systems. The company has also signed agreements with Bosch, Hewlett-Packard and Clearwire to utilize their leading technologies within its designs.

Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association has stated, “Residents of major metropolitan areas should expect most ambulances to have mobile video and data links within a decade.” Dr. Rifat Latifi, a leading authority and Director of Telemedicine at the University of Arizona has stated, “I think five years is more reasonable. It should be part of our practice.” 4 The convergence of LifeBot® and DREAMStm tested and proven technologies can make this now feasible, plus a lot more that will be announced in the near future, according to LifeBot® CEO Heath.

About DREAMStm:

The DREAMStm (Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services) digital emergency medical services (Digital EMS) program is led by famed trauma surgeon and educator, Dr. James H. “Red” Duke, Jr. Dr. Duke is professor of surgery, holder of the John B. Holmes Professorship and chief of surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), as well as medical director of Memorial Hermann Life Flight. The software, hardware, and telecommunications aspects of this program are led by Texas A&M Researcher Larry Flournoy, and Texas Engineering Experiment Station researcher James Wall, Ph. D. The digital EMS program has developed and deployed wireless video communications and combining AVL/GPS (Automatic Vehicle Location/Global Positioning System) technology and advanced software to enable ambulances and helicopters to reach the victim sooner, begin triage, diagnosis and treatment on the scene, and coordinate helicopters and ambulances to minimize transport time to the nearest appropriate facility, using continuous “live” communication with these facilities.

DREAMStm has already been successfully deployed and tested aboard “Super Ambulancestm” in multiple counties of Texas. In addition, these “Super Ambulancestm” also have aided with rescue efforts during the aftermath of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. DREAMStm is a tested and proven “battlefield” application.5,6,7

The development of this system was in conjunction with U. S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) through its Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). TATRC performs medical reconnaissance and special operations to address critical gaps that are underrepresented in DoD medical research programs. Versions of DREAMStm also include field and disaster deployable “MASH” style versions that may be dropped into combat theaters and a HMMWV 9978A2 (Humvee) prototype for in-the-field use by the U. S. Military.

About LifeBot®:

LifeBot® provides exclusive patented emergency telemedicine and home telehealth personal survival life-support solutions with digital collaborative systems to eliminate disparate communications issues during emergencies with next generation broadband interoperability so the benefits of achieving telemedicine, telehealth, disaster and emergency preparedness objectives may all be fully realized. The company was founded by R. Lee Heath, who is best known as the inventor businessman making possible the life-saving Automatic External Heart Defibrillator (AED) now in common use throughout the world. Mr. Heath was recommended for the Lemelson MIT Prize by American Heart Association officials and other peers. His experience spans almost four decades in the design and deployment of emergency life-support and their communications systems.

References and Links:

Telemedicine and e-Health, “Telethinking With Rifat Latifi, M. D.”, June 2009, 15(5): 410-415.
Doi:10.1089/tmj.2009.9966. http://www. liebertonline. com/doi/abs/10.1089/tmj.2009.9966
BBC, “CCTV to Protect Ambulance Staff”, http://goo. gl/QJTY
LifeBot, “Teletriage – Introducing Odyssey from Plain Healthcare” http://www. lifebot. us. com/teletriage/
Hospitals and Health Networks, Neil Versel “Mobile Video Systems Link ED” http://goo. gl/C1TF

Contact Information:
Roger Heath
LifeBot, LLC
3116 South Mill Avenue, Suite 620
Tempe, AZ 85282-3657 USA
Telephone: 877-466-1422
Website: http://www. lifebot. us. com
E-Mail: heath(at)lifebot(dot)us(dot)com
Trademarks Notices : LifeBot® is a registered trademark of LifeBot, LLC. DREAMStm, InterActtm, MediCAMtm, are pending trademarks of Texas A&M University and The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth).
©Copyright 2010 LifeBot, LLC All rights reserved.

Patented. Additional patents pending.
Portions ©Copyright by Texas A&M and The University of Texas

###

This Holiday Give Organic Hair Treatments from the Amazon Rainforest -- Rahua

This Holiday Give Organic Hair Treatments from the Amazon Rainforest -- Rahua

Amazon Beauty™, the most environmental (green) cosmetic company based in New York, is bringing Rahua™ the most organic high-end hair treatments from deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest where women from the Quechua-Shuar tribe have been collecting Rahua nuts from the jungle floor during the gathering season. Once the nuts are collected, the ancient tradition of preparation begins, requiring certain natural conditions to be present. The women of the tribe take pride in having long, healthy hair a symbol of beauty. Today, women from the modern world are benefiting from this ancient wisdom. The application of this hand made oil balances out all hair types and brings new life and brilliance to every mane. The hair becomes extremely strong, stopping breakage and allowing the hair to reach unsurpassed lengths.

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 3, 2007

This holiday green and red are colors to remind us of happy feelings and sharing laughter and stories with family and friends.

Amazon Beauty™, the most environmental (green) cosmetic company based in New York, is bringing Rahua™ http://www. rahua. com/ (http://www. rahua. com/) the most organic high-end hair treatments from deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest where women from the Quechua-Shuar tribe have been collecting Rahua nuts from the jungle floor during the gathering season. Once the nuts are collected, the ancient tradition of preparation begins, requiring certain natural conditions to be present. The women of the tribe take pride in having long, healthy hair a symbol of beauty.

Today, women from the modern world are benefiting from this ancient wisdom. The application of this hand made oil balances out all hair types and brings new life and brilliance to every mane. The hair becomes extremely strong, stopping breakage and allowing the hair to reach unsurpassed lengths.

Green Holiday Gift Packages from Amazon Beauty™ in perfect time for the holidays, wrapped in natural papers with green and red ribbons through the holiday season.

Rahua Elixir™ and Rahua Leave-In Treatment™ are the best in organic hair treatments and all of our treatments are highly concentrated, full-size treatments may last six months to one year depending on the length of the hair.

Urban Amazon Holiday Package - $176.00 : 1 oz. Rahua Elixir™ (retail price $175) + 1/2 oz. Travel Size Rahua Leave-In Treatment™ (retail price $20) + 1/16 oz. Travel Size Rahua Elixir™ (retail price $19) = (retail price $214.00)

Mystic Rainforest Holiday Package - $126.00 : 4 oz. Rahua Leave-In Treatment™ (retail price $125) + 1/2 oz. Travel Size Rahua Leave-In Treatment™ (retail price $20) + 1/16 oz. Travel Size Rahua Elixir™ (retail price $19) = (retail price $164.00)

Jungle to Jungle Holiday Package - $105.00 : 1/2 oz. Rahua Elixir™ (retail price $100) + 1/2 oz. Travel Size Rahua Leave-In Treatment™ (retail price $20) + 1/16 oz. Travel Size Rahua Elixir™ (retail price $19) = (retail price $139.00)

Rahua Holiday Packages may be purchased https://shop. cocoonhair. com (https://shop. cocoonhair. com).

Rahua™ in the Press….
"Shine this season by treating dry, brittle locks with Rahua Elixir, derived from the oil of Rahua nuts in the Amazon rain-forest. Two drops daily can rebuild hair, making it stronger and longer (looking positively angelic) in no time. -- Pilates Style

"... I was even more amazed by the totally organic oil, Rahua, that the stylist used. You just work a few drops into the ends when your hair's still damp and style it as usual. My hair has never been shinier, and I love the earthy, crisp herbal scent of the oil." -- Lucky Magazine

*GIVE GREEN AND GIVE BACK -- For every holiday package sale Amazon Beauty™ is donating $10 to Ecoagents® http://ecoagents. org/ (http://ecoagents. org/) our sister organization, to their efforts to protect

# # #

Small Supplement And Vitamin Manufacturers Must Meet FDA cGMP Requirements By The End Of The Month

Small Supplement And Vitamin Manufacturers Must Meet FDA cGMP Requirements By The End Of The Month

Leading Contract Supplement Manufacturer Welcomes The Higher Standards And Consumer Confidence That Will Come With These Long Awaited Manufacturing Regulations

Smithtown, NY (PRWEB) June 22, 2010

Leading contract supplement manufacturer (http://www. vitakem. com), Vitakem Nutraceutical, Inc. today heralds the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final step in enforcing its current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) for dietary supplement manufacturers supplying the U. S. market. On June 25, 2010, small nutritional supplement and vitamin manufacturers (http://www. vitakem. com), those with less than 20 employees, are required to meet cGMPs. This is the final step in implementing a federal standard for nutritional supplement manufacturing practices.

"While plenty of manufacturers follow these protocols already because producing high quality, safe and effective products is their core mission, too many have cut corners and not put quality first," points out Vitakem President Bret Hoyt, Sr., "The industry's reputation has suffered from the shoddy or dangerous products created by a few bad apples. The new federally-enforced cGMPs give us a chance to change that image."

In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) required the FDA to establish and enforce cGMPs. However, the FDA did not establish cGMPs until 2007. In 2008 and 2009 respectively, cGMP compliance enforcement began for large and medium-sized manufacturers. This June's requirements of small manufacturers mark the final stage. Many of these small companies use contract supplement and vitamin manufacturers (http://www. vitakem. com) to manage production and consequently are dependent on their manufacturing partner to meet the new requirements.

"Vitakem has been, for all practical purposes, following strict cGMP guidelines," explains Hoyt. Vitakem already applies written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols in their labs to insure quality control. And many of their employees are already familiar with cGMPs through their pharmaceutical background and Vitakem's long commitment to following GMPs.

"Other than some fine tuning of some of our labs SOP's," says quality assurance manager James Frahm. "The major change that Vitakem has undergone since the FDA implemented its cGMP guidelines has been in the analytical department. Our labs have purchased top-of-the-line analytical equipment."

Analysis is one of the key components of cGMP compliance. Raw ingredients coming into the manufacturing facility must be pre-tested for identity, strength, composition and purity. In addition to pre-testing of raw materials, manufacturers are also required to
§ Test final products;
§ Follow standard manufacturing processes to prevent contamination and maintain potency;
§ Keep written SOPs on file;
§ Regularly train key personnel on cGMP compliance;
§ Package products appropriately and use accurate labeling.

Small nutritional supplement manufacturers will face some challenges as cGMPs come into effect. Hoyt points out that the added cost of analysis required by the new regulations will increase the cost of production. And as nutritional supplement lawyer, Joel Rothman, noted in his January 2010 blog, "Companies that rely on contract manufacturing will receive a rude awakening as they are subject to regulatory scrutiny they have never previously experienced." Rothman, Hoyt and other industry experts predict that fewer small supplement companies will be around to see 2011 as a result.

For this reason, many small nutritional supplement companies are now looking to partner with a contract supplement manufacturer (http://www. vitakem. com) who is already prepared to meet these regulations. Furthermore, a good manufacturing partner may be able to help in cost savings through ingredient sourcing and more efficient production methods. Because of the specific needs of start-ups, Vitakem has created a division specifically devoted to helping very small companies get started.

Diana Pearson, recently partnered with Vitakem to start her supplement business. She says cGMP compliance and support in navigating the regulations were important criteria for her in choosing a contract manufacturing partner for her first venture in the nutritional supplement market. "The regulations around nutritional supplements were a big concern of ours," says Pearson, "Bret and his sales team were very clear and explained the new cGMPs to us. We dealt with many companies in trying to find a contract manufacturer and Vitakem educated us more than anybody. They made it so easy for us. If I had to do it all over again, I would go right back to Vitakem."

For more information about current cGMP requirements for small nutritional supplement companies or to find out about contract manufacturing services, please contact Bret Hoyt, Sr. at 800-233-2112 ext. 1 or visit www. vitakem. com.

About Vitakem Nutraceutical, Inc.:
Vitakem Nutraceutical, Inc., www. vitakem. com, has provided custom manufacturing for the nutrition industry since 2003. They provide start-to-finish services that include planning, formulation, production, packaging and labeling, design and order fulfillment. Vitakem's facilities meet current good manufacturing guidelines (cGMPs) established by the U. S. Food and Drug Association (FDA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU). While Vitakem partners with a range of companies, they specialize in working with small, startup companies. For more information about Vitakem's services or to get a free quote, please visit www. vitakem. com or call 800-233-2112

Media contact: Bret Hoyt, Sr., Vitakem Nutraceutical, Inc. 800-233-2112 ext. 1

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Forterra Systems Releases Media Sharing and SCORM Integration Features in Its OLIVE™ Virtual World Platform : New Capabilities Enhance Enterprise Collaboration and Learning Effectiveness

Forterra Systems Releases Media Sharing and SCORM Integration Features in Its OLIVE™ Virtual World Platform : New Capabilities Enhance Enterprise Collaboration and Learning Effectiveness

Forterra Systems, the market and technology leader in enterprise virtual worlds, announced today that it has released several advanced media sharing and SCORM content integration features in its flagship OLIVE virtual world software platform. OLIVE 2.1, released in July, includes drag-and-drop display of Microsoft®1 PowerPoint® and streaming video to distributed audiences in 3D meeting environments. Organizations with SCORM-compliant and web-based e-learning content can now integrate this content into multi-user 3D training scenarios. Forterra is the first virtual world company to provide its customers with the ability to leverage its existing SCORM content directly in 3D scenes to support synchronous and asynchronous forms of learning. The OLIVE 2.2 release, to be available late October, enables displaying of any software application onto 3D screens, collaborative whiteboards, and enterprise-level scheduling capabilities to enable participants to meet in a designated 3D room.

SAN MATEO, Calif. (PRWEB) August 25, 2008

The importance of these features is echoed in a just-issued Forrester Research report, "It's Time to Take Games Seriously" (August 2008) which asserts that "The green revolution and budget concerns are changing how work is done. Companies around the world are looking to lower their energy and operating costs and see IT as a prime target. To oblige, IT departments are turning to collaboration tools like virtualization and videoconferencing. Virtual worlds have become popular with companies as a means to accomplish these goals." Enterprises are also using virtual worlds to help reduce long-term expenses in other cost centers like training, learning, and team building.

Forterra has launched these new features to address six initial compelling use cases where virtual worlds will enhance or provide significant business benefit over the solutions enterprises use today. The targeted use cases include:

Immersive, simulated training environments that integrate existing SCORM or web content with other media in practice-based scenarios using role players Ad hoc collaborative meetings for typically 3 to 20 attendees Large events for upwards of hundreds of simultaneous attendees at virtual offsites, seminars, conferences, on-boarding sessions for new hires, or formal presentations Collaborative product design that integrates CAD models of products and buildings into 3D run-time environments so designers, vendors, contractors, and manufacturers can critique the product while it's going through design cycles Product launches that enable attendees to view and interact with 3D product models and multi-media presentations Control centers/situation rooms that allow operations personnel to flexibly scale and arrange information displays from real-time data feeds and business systems to support incident command, business continuity and other mission-critical applications. "The vast majority of corporate knowledge is developed through collaboration-style learning among colleagues in informal discussions and short meetings. Global companies with a high percentage of remote, home-based or mobile workers are struggling to offer enterprise platforms that address these collaboration needs with on-demand access to the company's learning assets," said Dave Rolston, CEO of Forterra Systems. "The collaboration and training features we are releasing help our customers mix and match both formal learning content and informal peer to peer knowledge sharing through a common engaging 3D environment. Our customers are excited their employees will be able to build stronger inter-personal relationships through OLIVE that will yield more effective virtual teams and communities."

The key new collaboration features include:

Streaming video (Windows Media Player® based), Microsoft PowerPoint files, white boards, and any software application running on a Windows desktop can be displayed on 3D screens and viewed by all participants A hand-held laser pointer for highlighting items on screens or in the 3D environment Avatar lists of who is already in-world, with a one-click teleport to meet other avatars at their locations Customizable avatar name tags Presence settings for users to indicate availability status A Meetings content pack featuring professionally developed 3D meeting environments including an auditorium, board and conference rooms, training facilities, a hotel, and a mansion for corporate offsites The key new and existing training features include:

Learning objects displayed through a browser that can be launched in one of three modes from within an OLIVE 3D scene:   -- Object Broadcasting -- 3D objects within OLIVE can broadcast an interactive action tag to learners who are in close proximity to the object. -- Instructor Book -- Objects such as a 3D book or computer can be populated with a list of learning modules so an instructor can broadcast to a group of learners. -- Lesson Book -- To support self-paced individual education and training, objects can be populated with a list of learning modules the learner goes through at their own pace. 3D record-and-replay of any session including voice and audio, avatar movements, behaviors, and gestures. The replay is sharable with any participant and viewable from any perspective. This feature is ideal for post mortems and compliance requirements. Capture of session events to a database to generate performance assessment reports. About Forterra Systems

Forterra Systems is the leader in providing enterprise grade virtual world technology for the corporate, healthcare, government, education, and entertainment industries. Forterra's software and services enable organizations to train, plan, rehearse, and collaborate using new media technologies integrated into a compelling 3D virtual world. Using the OLIVE™ (On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment) platform and industry standard PC hardware, customers can rapidly generate realistic, collaborative, 3D Internet solutions that scale from single user applications to large scale simulated environments supporting many thousands of concurrent users for public and private use cases. http://www. forterrainc. com (http://www. forterrainc. com)

1 Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

MULTIMEDIA GALLERY http://www. businesswire. com/cgi-bin/mmg. cgi? eid=5762563 (http://www. businesswire. com/cgi-bin/mmg. cgi? eid=5762563)

Nutrisystem Offers “One Month Free” Program to Help Consumers Look Good, Feel Good, and Save Money

Nutrisystem Offers “One Month Free” Program to Help Consumers Look Good, Feel Good, and Save Money

With bathing suit season right around the corner, many consumers are focused on finding healthy ways of slimming down and getting back into their bathing suits, shorts or tank tops!

Horsham, PA (PRWEB) May 19, 2009

With bathing suit season right around the corner, many consumers are focused on finding healthy ways of slimming down and getting back into their bathing suits, shorts or tank tops! Nutrisystem, Inc., a leading weight loss (http://www. nutrisystem. com/monthfree) provider that delivers pre-portioned meals right to your door, offers a variety of healthy and gourmet-style meal choices for consumers looking for an easy and convenient way to shed those extra pounds they gained during the colder months. NutriSystem weight loss (http://www. nutrisystem. com/monthfree) programs are based on 35 years of science and nutritional research and are the first prepared foods program that totally integrates low glycemic index carbohydrates into meal plans that are also low in fat, high in protein and will help you feel full longer. They are also enriched with heart-healthy Omega-3s to help promote heart health. Now, for a limited time, consumers can save additional money with the Nutrisystem “One Month Free”* offer. Customers will receive four weeks of gourmet-style food, 112 meals, absolutely free by visiting nutrisystem. com/monthfree or by calling 1-877-335-4741.

Nutrisystem is Convenient and Offers Great Value for the Money
With Nutrisystem, there is no counting of calories, carbohydrates, or points and no embarrassing weigh-ins. Gourmet-style menu choices are delivered from Nutrisystem’s kitchen to its customers’ doorsteps. Losing weight with Nutrisystem is not only easy and effective, it also saves money. In fact, a study conducted by the National Business Research Institute (NBRI) found Nutrisystem to be hundreds of dollars less than other weight loss programs. For as low as $3 a meal, consumers can save money, lose weight, eat healthy and feel great with Nutrisystem. And, for two years in a row, Forbes. com found Nutrisystem to be the lowest priced popular weight loss program. All Nutrisystem programs come with a money back guarantee if customers are not completely satisfied.

Free Membership
To provide an even greater value, Nutrisystem customers receive free 24/7 phone counseling with weight loss coaches, as well as free membership to its robust online community of over four million people sharing weight loss success stories and tips. Nutrisystem customers have free access to a host of online tools including a menu planner, food diary and progress tracker.

“At Nutrisystem, we keep our customers’ needs top of mind,” said Monica Woo, Executive VP Ecommerce and Chief Marketing Officer. “We recognize how important weight loss is to living a healthier life and are pleased that we can offer a Nutrisystem program that fits into each and every customer’s lifestyle. And with the ‘One Month Free’ program*, there’s an even greater incentive to lose weight. During these challenging economic times it’s even more important to take care of your health. We hope everyone takes advantage of this valuable offer and gets started today.”

With Over 170 Gourmet-Style Meals to Choose From, There’s Something for Everyone
Customers select from one of Nutrisystem’s specially designed programs for Men, Women, Seniors, Vegetarians or the New Nutrisystem D, for people with diabetes. Then, they can customize their menu by choosing from over 170 gourmet-style delicious menu selections or select one of our pre-selected favorites menus. The Nutrisystem website provides free of charge online proprietary tools to make it easy for customers to customize their daily menu, so that everyday they can try new delicious entrees or enjoy their favorites.

Nutrisystem’s New Select Program Offers Frozen Entrees and Treats – Including Ice Cream
With Nutrisystem’s newly launched Select program, customers can enjoy restaurant-quality, fresh-frozen entrees and desserts including Shrimp Alfredo, Margherita Pizza, Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Fudge Swirl Sundaes, all while sticking to their weight loss plan. 

In addition, consumers can enjoy Nutrisystem Flex, the brand’s most flexible and affordable weight loss program, which is perfect for those who are “on the go” in the busy summer months. The Flex program makes it easy for consumers to incorporate Nutrisystem into their busy lifestyles while still ensuring they get the results they want, all while beginning to apply Nutrisystem principles into their daily lives. On the Flex program, customers mix and match Nutrisystem foods and can have “weekends off” to enjoy healthy home-cooked or restaurant meals following Nutrisystem guidelines. Nutrisystem also provides a comprehensive Dining Out Guide to help participants make the right choices at their favorite restaurants, and a Nutrisystem Recipe Book, which allows customers to learn how to prepare nutritionally balanced meals for themselves and their whole family.

For additional information on Nutrisystem or the “One Month Free” offer*, visit nutrisystem. com/monthfree or call 1-877-335-4741.

About Nutrisystem, Inc.
Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDQ: NTRI) is a leading provider of weight management products and services. Nutrisystem is sold direct to the consumer through nutrisystem. com for convenient home delivery. The company offers proven nutritionally balanced weight-loss programs designed for women, men, and seniors, as well as the new clinically tested Nutrisystem D plan, formulated specifically to help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight. All Nutrisystem programs are based on 35 years of nutrition research and offer great tasting, satisfying high-fiber, heart healthy, good carbohydrate meals that are low on the Glycemic Index and contain zero trans fats. Nutrisystem is hundreds of dollars cheaper than other weight loss (http://www. nutrisystem. com/monthfree) programs, based on an independent study by National Business Research Institute (October 2008). The program has no membership fees and provides 24/7 weight management support by trained weight loss coaches and online weight management tools free of charge. For more information or to become a customer visit http://www. nutrisystem. com (http://www. nutrisystem. com) or call 1-877-681-THIN (8446)

*NBRI Research Methodology

Seven (7) diet programs were researched independently using the same manner as a consumer would research the programs in making the decision to participate in one of the included programs. This research included visiting the websites for each of the programs, contacting each program by telephone for clarification and/or additional information, visiting centers, where applicable, and visiting various supermarkets to cost ingredients for recommended meal plans.

The process was to calculate actual costs for participating in a program for one (1) month. Specifically, calculations were based on program costs for 28 days. Grocery costs were calculated by adjusting the local prices (Dallas, TX) for the Cost of Living Index. Grocery prices in the Dallas area are.936 of the National Average, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index (http://www. coli. org (http://www. coli. org)). Weekly costs were based on 4.33 weeks per month. Recommended meal plans were included for those programs that require participants to use self-prepared meals.

The independent cost analysis study was commissioned by Nutrisystem.
Offer good on 28-Day Auto-Delivery order only. Free shipping, Continental US only. Free month of food will be shipped after your purchase of three consecutive 28-Day Auto Delivery orders. With Auto-Delivery, you are automatically charged and shipped your 28-Day program once every 4 weeks unless you cancel. You can cancel Auto-Delivery at any time by calling 1-800-321-THIN. However for this offer, you must stay on Auto Delivery for three consecutive 28-Day program deliveries to receive your free month of food. Other restrictions apply. Call or see website for details. Cannot be combined with any prior or current discount or offer. Not available on Flex programs. Limit one offer per customer. Offer expires 12/31/2009.

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Pluromed, Inc. Announces FDA Approval for BackStop™

Pluromed, Inc. Announces FDA Approval for BackStop™

Pluromed, Inc. announced approval by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BackStop™, a device used in ureteroscopic kidney stone management procedures. BackStop was approved as a Class II device under the pre-market notification 510(k) process.

Woburn, Massachusetts (PRWEB) September 23, 2009

Pluromed, Inc. (http://www. pluromed. com) announced approval by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BackStop™, a device used in ureteroscopic kidney stone management procedures. BackStop (http://pluromed. com/products_top. htm) was approved as a Class II device under the pre-market notification 510(k) process.

Backstop™ is based on Pluromed's proprietary Rapid Transition Polymers (http://www. pluromed. com/technology. htm) (RTP™) that are liquid at low temperature and transition to gel at body temperature; the transition is reversible via cooling and the gel is completely dissolvable. BackStop is used in the treatment of kidney stones, a disease estimated to affect 5 million people worldwide annually. A common method of treating stones is intracorporeal lithotripsy where the stones are fragmented using laser energy or another energy modality in a minimally invasive procedure. The BackStop gel forms a plug above the stones in the ureter and prevents stone migration during fragmentation. After the stones are fragmented, the gel is dissolved with saline and exits the body. BackStop offers the potential to reduce operating time and complexity, and significantly improve "stone free" rates for patients.

"Gaining our first FDA approval is a special milestone for Pluromed," said Jean-Marie Vogel, Pluromed's CEO. "We are pleased to be executing the plan we presented to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center that resulted in the Accelerator Loan, funding that has contributed to our substantial progress in a very short period of time."

In April of 2009, Pluromed received a $500,000 Accelerator Loan from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, a quasi-public agency tasked with implementing Massachusetts' ten-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative. The Accelerator Loan Program provided $3.4 million in working capital to seven early-stage life sciences companies, including Pluromed. The program seeks to expand life sciences-related employment opportunities, promote health-related innovations and stimulate research and development, manufacturing and commercialization in the life sciences by providing working capital to promising early-stage companies.

"Adding United States FDA approval is an exciting step as we move towards making BackStop broadly available to urologists around the world," said James Wilkie, Pluromed's Vice President of Operations. BackStop is also approved in Europe and Canada. "It's a product that can benefit both the surgeon and the patient."

In addition to BackStop, Pluromed has developed a family of Rapid Transition Polymer products for cardiac and vascular surgery. LeGoo™ (http://pluromed. com/products_top. htm), Pluromed's flagship product which is commercially available in Europe, is a gel used to temporarily stop blood flow through a blood vessel, providing surgeons with a bloodless field in which they can perform a bypass procedure. When cooled, the gel plug liquefies and dissolves into the bloodstream, and is then excreted in urine. Pluromed's LeGoo (http://pluromed. com/products_top. htm) is the only completely atraumatic method of temporarily occluding a blood vessel.

"Pluromed is the second of our portfolio companies to announce FDA approval this week for an innovative medical product that will improve human health." Said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. "These approvals are coming just five months after we announced the Accelerator loans. The approval of BackStop is another example of the Center's commitment to promoting good science that will bring commercialization and job growth to Massachusetts. We are very proud to have Pluromed as part of our investment portfolio."

About Pluromed, Inc.
Pluromed, Inc., Woburn, Massachusetts, founded in 2003, is pioneering the use of atraumatic gel plugs to improve the safety, efficacy and economics of medical interventions. These products address a broad surgery market that includes cardiac and vascular surgery, prostate, kidney and liver surgery, plastic/reconstructive surgery, trauma/battlefield applications and the treatment of kidney stones. They are based on the Company's patented rapid phase transition polymer technology; Pluromed Rapid Transition Polymers™ (RTP™) are liquid at low temperature and quickly transition to a high viscosity gel at body temperature. For more information, please visit www. pluromed. com

About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The Center's mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community. For more information, visit www. masslifesciences. com.

About the Life Sciences Accelerator
In order to expand life sciences-related employment opportunities, promote health-related innovations and stimulate research and development, manufacturing and commercialization in the life sciences, the Life Sciences Accelerator Program provides loans to companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization and manufacturing in Massachusetts. Target entities are generally early-stage life sciences companies with a high-potential for technology commercialization, rapid growth, and downstream private equity financing. The program is designed to help sustain these companies through a critical stage of development and to leverage additional sources of capital to bring cutting edge innovation to the marketplace. Accordingly, the Program places special priority on providing matching funds for grants or awards from a variety of sources.

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Ten Ways to Quiet Your Mind During the Holidays

Ten Ways to Quiet Your Mind During the Holidays

Author Jim Loehr, Ed. D., shows how to use your inner conversations to achieve inner balance, as well as mental, emotional and spiritual wellness during the year-end holidays. Free tools available from author's web site to promote full engagement and energy for life and work.

(PRWEB) January 2, 2008

Millions of people will soon take time off for their year-end holidays, looking forward to a break from business, school and the workplace. But we all know that for many, a different type of stress takes over. How can people help themselves get the mental, emotional and spiritual wellness they hope for during this time?

"Everyone has the opportunity to quiet their inner noises by managing their inner voices," says Dr. Jim Loehr, a performance psychologist whose latest book, The Power of Story (http://www. energyforperformance. com/book_power_of_story. html), shows how to use your "inner storyteller" to become more fully engaged in life and work. Dr. Loehr explains that we all have private voices that tell us stories, often over and over again. "During holidays, that conversation intensifies as shopping, parties, communications with people we see only once a year, and complex travel arrangements that don't go according to plans all bombard us at a fast pace, and in a limited period of time. Things can get out of control, irritating, and exhausting," he says.

He offers ten "inner voice lessons" from "The Power of Story":

1. Quiet Your Inner Discord. Consciously turn to an activity that engages and absorbs you completely. Continue it until you can talk with yourself calmly.
2. Summon the Voice of Your Conscience. Ask yourself questions like, "Is this (the stress-producing activity) really something I should be spending my time or money or other resources on?"
3. Summon Your Voice of Reason and Wisdom. The next time disturbing inner chatter rises, write down the facts-just the facts-of what is happening. Then write a brief story around those facts, using your best wisdom and perspective.
4. Summon Your Voice of Support and Encouragement. Whatever message you would send to those you care most about, whatever tone of voice you would use, send it to yourself.
5. Summon Your Voice of Toughness. Without access to the voice of toughness, many of us are too easily pressured by the world. Listening to this voice will help you to "hang tough" in the face of temptation as well as attempts by others to influence you through guilt.
6. Summon Your "I Don't Buy It" Voice. Maintain a healthy inner skeptic, or you risk becoming tragically gullible.
7. Suspend Your "I Don't Buy It" Voice. Some of us tend to be overly suspicious. That's good-up to a point. Tough as it may be, at some point we have to suspend suspicion and make the leap of faith.
8. Summon Your Voice of Compassion. Every time you stimulate feelings of compassion within yourself, you increase this capacity. It is a practice that has as many benefits for you as it does for the recipient of your compassion.
9. Summon Your Voice of Sincerity. This voice gains volume when you listen to and acknowledge your deepest private voice, and then find an appropriate and honorable way of using that voice when speaking publicly to others.
10. Summon Your Voice of Intuition. Intuition doesn't follow the standard pathways of conscious logic and reason. Training this voice, listening to and respecting this voice, can pay enormous dividends in just about every avenue of life.

"The ability to see clearly in the storm is neither inherited nor something that necessarily develops with age," says Dr. Loehr. "It comes from repetition and practice, much like strength develops from workouts at the gym." He invites readers to download a free storyboard process (http://www. energyforperformance. com/sample_stories. html) from "The Power of Story." His organization also offers a free self assessment (http://www. energyforperformance. com/assessment_profile. html).

Dr. Jim Loehr is cofounder and CEO of the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, FL. For thirty years, he has worked with world-class athletes and top performers from all fields of endeavor to help them achieve peak performance and full engagement. He is author or coauthor of thirteen books, including The Power of Full Engagement (http://www. energyforperformance. com/book_PFE. html). The Human Performance Institute (http://www. energyforperformance. com) offers training for individuals and organizations in the science of energy management for full engagement in work and life. The Institute's programs are used by major organizations worldwide to promote employee wellness and work-life balance. Upcoming dates include Jan. 28-30, 2008, March 3-5, and May 5-7.

Media Contact:
Caroline Rivera
Web site: http://www. energyforperformance. com (http://www. energyforperformance. com)
Phone: 407-438-9911 x112

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

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Leeann Tweeden to Host Poker After Dark's 4th Season

Leeann Tweeden to Host Poker After Dark's 4th Season

Popular model and television personality brings an impressive resume to the show.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) April 10, 2008

For the past seven years, Leeann Tweeden has been seen in the role of show host and sports reporter on the Fox Sports Network. She has covered everything from mainstream and extreme sports to news and entertainment, and has won both a Sports Emmy and a Telly Award. Now fans of NBC's Poker After Dark will be able to see Leeann interacting with the biggest stars in the world of poker as she will be the host of PAD's 4th season.

Poker is not a new venture for Leeann. She was a co-host/exit interviewer on the Mansion Poker Dome Challenge on FSN in 2006, and was the host of the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, which will begin airing on NBC on April 13.

Leeann was born and raised in the Washington, D. C. suburb of Manassas, VA. Her dad and brother raced cars and go-karts while growing up, and her uncle was a track announcer, so she was born into a racing family. Leeann graduated from high school in three years at the age of 16. Instead of going straight to college, Leeann wanted to follow her dreams of moving to Hollywood and giving modeling and showbiz a shot, and did so at the age of 18. Once there, she was soon cast as a spokesmodel on Ed McMahon's famous talent show Star Search, launching her television career.

Leeann also spent years modeling in Los Angeles before she auditioned for and beat out 30,000 other women for the ESPN workout show Fitness Beach. The program was the number one rated fitness show of its time according to the New York Times. Over the years, Leeann has been the focus of numerous magazine covers and articles that range from health and fitness, to lifestyle, to popular men's magazines like Maxim and FHM.

She's also appeared on talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Craig Kilborn Show and done radio appearances on Loveline and Adam Corolla. She even had her own racing column for a year in Stuff Magazine. She's often been invited to be a contributor to news shows such as Scarborough Country and Hannity and Colmes.

In January 2002, Leeann became a cast member on FSN's The Best Damn Sports Show Period. This occurred after originally coming on as a guest, thus solidifying her in the world of mainstream sports. She frequently appeared on the panel with host and comedian Tom Arnold, as well as ex-pro athletes such as Michael Irvin, John Kruk, and John Salley.

While appearing on this show, Leeann flew with the Navy's Blue Angels and skydived with the Army's Golden Knights. She learned what it was like to be a professional bull rider and rodeo clown. She spent time at various NFL training camps learning how to play different positions from the pros, and with MLB's best at spring training learning to throw a curve ball and playing the 'hot corner'. She's covered the Daytona 500 numerous times, as well as many Superbowls, World Series, and the Kentucky Derby. She also had her weekly Best Damn Insider segment that covered the inside worlds of sports and entertainment.

In 2005, Leeann moved part-time to Charlotte, NC, to host the NASCAR lifestyle show NASCAR Nation on SPEED. She was hired for this show due to her racing background and insight into the sport. While there, Leeann proudly filmed a public service announcement warning teens against the perils of drunk driving.

Leeann has used her celebrity status to help promote various causes including the USO, The Wounded Warriors Foundation, breast cancer research, The Special Olympics, and charities to help the children of fallen soldiers. She has done 10 USO Tours around the world, and has gone overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit the troops on 8 different occasions. This includes almost every Thanksgiving and Christmas since the attacks on 9/11. She's traveled numerous times with Robin Williams, The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wayne Newton, John Elway and Gale Sayers. When she is in Washington, D. C., she visits the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed and the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. This is something close to her heart as her father was an Air Force Vietnam Vet who served two tours of duty.

Leeann is currently working on her degree in Political Science at Santa Monica College before transferring to either USC or UCLA. She currently resides in Los Angeles but splits her time between there and Manhattan where her fiancé is a JetBlue pilot and a member of the Air National Guard.

This press release was filed by Dennis Oehring, who serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the firm POKER-PROductions. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Moore.

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RSMeans and Wiley to Launch Green Building Publication at Greenbuild 2010

RSMeans and Wiley to Launch Green Building Publication at Greenbuild 2010

First Co-Branded Reference Publication with Wiley

Norcross, GA (Vocus) November 2, 2010

RSMeans, North America’s leading supplier of construction cost information and a division of Reed Construction Data, will introduce its first co-branded reference publication, Green Building: Project Planning & Cost Estimating, 3rd edition, with partner John Wiley & Sons, Inc., an industry-leading publisher, at the 2010 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (booth # 1511) in Chicago on November 16-18.

The Third Edition has been updated with the latest in green building technologies, design concepts, standards, and costs. The elements, case studies, and resources give practical guidance to contractors and building owners on green building, to include:
Green building approaches, materials, rating systems, standards, and guidelines Energy efficiencies, implementing energy modeling tools Designing and specifying, as well as commissioning, green building projects Often-specified products and materials, as well as a sample spec Goals and techniques for health, comfort, and productivity Evaluating the cost versus value of green products over their life cycle Low-cost green strategies and special economic incentives and funding Building deconstruction and cost considerations

With a new chapter on commercial real estate, this reference is a one-stop resource for the latest in green building approaches and implementation.

“The release of this reference publication is a valuable addition to the green conversation,” said Andrea Sillah, Product Manager, RSMeans Books. “We are pleased to have teamed up with Wiley for the first of many exciting publications.”

“We’re excited by the opportunities to collaborate with RSMeans in a comprehensive publishing partnership, and Green Building provides a terrific kickoff to our new relationship. This is the kind of essential reference that we are committed to providing to the industry” said Amanda L. Miller, Vice President and Publisher, Wiley.

RSMeans will also team up with the U. S. Department of Energy as sponsor for Solar Decathlon 2011, in greater pursuit of green initiative and evolution. The event challenges 20 collegiate teams to demonstrate inventive clean-energy solutions by building solar-powered houses that feature cost-effective, energy construction and incorporate energy-saving appliances and renewable energy systems. The U. S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is held every two years as one of the most ambitious and inspiring events in the country.

For more information about Reed Construction Data and RSMeans at Greenbuild visit: http://www. reedconstructiondata. com/events/greenbuild-2010

About RSMeans
RSMeans, a division of Reed Construction Data, is North America’s leading source of construction cost information. The company offers print, CD and online cost data; reference books and seminars; and consulting services—tools to help owners, developers, architects, engineers, and contractors estimate and control construction costs. Visit http://www. rsmeans. com.

About John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 400 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Wiley’s core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U. S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www. wiley. com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

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Dental Sealants: Protecting Against Tooth Decay

Dental Sealants: Protecting Against Tooth Decay

Journal of the California Dental Association Publishes Evidence-Based Sealant Recommendations

Sacramento, CA (Vocus) October 26, 2010

The use of dental sealants are universally recognized as a cost-effective and proven evidence-based method of reducing the incidence of dental caries in high-risk populations. Sealant utilization in California remains low, however, especially among groups such as low-income children who have the highest risk of developing tooth decay.

The October Journal of the California Dental Association is devoted to evidence-based recommendations intended to increase the dental professional’s comfort level in making appropriate contemporary sealant recommendation and placement decisions.

Based on the American Dental Association’s 2008 sealant guidelines, the Journal includes information on the science related to sealant application, a comparison of the types of sealant materials available, tooth preparation, and the use of adhesives prior to sealant placement. The similarities and differences between sealant use in private practice and in public health settings, including school-based programs, is also examined as well as prevention and management protocols based on caries risk assessment.

“Dental sealants can reduce the incidence of tooth decay in school children by more than 70 percent,” said Paul Reggiardo, DDS, chair of the CDA Policy Development Council’s 2008 Sealant Workgroup. “The Journal’s recommendations give oral health care providers effective guidelines on the utilization and placement of sealants.”

In addition to the Journal, CDA has also published a new dental sealant resource fact sheet and patient education flyer. The fact sheet is printed in multiple languages and contain information on the benefits of sealants, which are proven to be the most effective method of reducing cavities in children.

For more information on dental sealants, visit http://www. cda. org/popup/dental_sealants.

The California Dental Association is the nonprofit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA supports its members in their practices and service to the public through innovation in education, advocacy and related programs. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 24,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda. org.

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