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Us Vs. In Touch: The Gossip Rags Battle

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:31:00 +0000

Battle Of The Gossip Rags: Us Vs. In Touch

by Phyllis Fine , Friday, May 16, 2008
WHO NEEDS PRINT CELEB gossip anymore? After all, you can get updates on Jessica Simpson's activities all over the Web, seemingly by the hour.

And it's not as if these mags provide any kind of fresh spin or deep analysis that's lacking online. Here's what In Touch considers an exclusive scoop: "My weekend was good," says John Mayer, quoted after his first liaison with Jennifer Aniston.

Seems like gossip rags now exist primarily as a market for the paparazzi -- a theory suggested by the many remarkably similar photos in the May 12 issues of Us and In Touch. Both mags show Natalie Portman walking with her surgical-cone-wearing dog, before- and during-pregnancy head shots of Nicole Kidman, and -- hey, you can't have too many pix of Danny DeVito shopping for new eyeglasses, can you?

So are there any differences at all between the two mags, which I qualified for this gossip-off because of their identical cover stories? (People is often cited as Us' direct competitor, but People is in a different class. That's not just because of its no. 1 status in 2007 ad dollars -- as tracked by PIB, more than triple that of Us -- but because People acknowledges humans beyond the Hollywood axis.)

The J&J show: Both Us and IT feature stories about Jen and John's hot weekend together in Miami, with varying details about how they first hooked up, but the same overall theme: Is the ladies' man compatible with the world's most-famous jiltee?

The difference comes down to whether you like your voyeurism with an up-close, you-are-there vibe, or a focus on celeb perks.

IT provides blurry shots of the couple lying by the pool together -- both in bathing suits -- with details like "At one point, John and Jen's heads touched." Ugh! There's something so heavy-breathingly pathetic about viewing from this vantage point.

I prefer Us' focus on the services you get in a $3,000-a-night suite. As a former travel editor suffering from luxury hotel deprivation, I sigh for details like the couples' massage at Jen's Miami resort.

Us also gets clarity points for including all the lurid details in John's statement about Angelina Jolie; IT's incomplete quote may be PG-rated (no mention of blow jobs), but doesn't make much sense. (If you're wondering, it all has to do with Brad's presumed lack of a fantasy object because he's got the real thing.)

"Real" journalism? Us does a better, more even-handed job of parsing a "scandal" in a piece on the Miley Cyrus photo brouhaha. There's a sophisticated take on whether or not posing semi-nude was a calculated move; a disingenuous putdown of Vanity Fair, where the photos ran; and a sidebar on other "Young Stars Who Grinned and Bared" for an edifying touch of historical context.

IT's all about overblown headlines -- "Divorce Shocker: What Star Found Out"-- with no follow-through. What Star (Jones, natch) actually found out: nothing much, it seems. She's not even quoted in the story, which relies on lots of innuendo on whether or not hubby Al Reynolds is really gay ("I don't want to spoil my image of him," says his mother). In fact, IT has another story ("Lindsay Moves In With Her Girlfriend") where the subtext is, everybody's saying yes, she's really gay while at the same time denying it. Weird, and sadly not very gay-friendly.

Fashion Police: This Us feature, in which style experts sometimes too cutely rag on stars' rags (hey! It's catching!) adds a bit of welcome snark to the generally worshipful tone of most gossip mags. In IT, "Who Wore It Better?" does criticize fashion mistakes, but much more respectfully.

Most titillating tidbits: IT and Us both major in short items -- photo captions, really, in which sources invariably trot out the tritest quotes they can think of ("They're really sad. They were very in love," about a breakup). Within this format appear some odd and funny bits: In Us, Julia Roberts and Matthew McConaughey admit they don't wear deodorant; in IT, Kelly Ripa explains how wearing a pair of padded panties for a shapelier rear view feels "like I am sitting in a very cozy chair!"

Is this the end of civilization as we know it because trees are being killed for this crap: "Finally, Nicole's Bump Is Showing!" in IT.

Bottom Line: I rank Us higher because of its slightly less-sleazy approach to putting celebs under a microscrope.

MAG STATS

In Touch Weekly
Published By: Bauer Publishing Co.
Frequency: Weekly
Web site

Us Weekly
Published By: Wenner Media
Frequency: Weekly
Web site

Post your response to the public Magazine Rack blog.

See what others are saying on the Magazine Rack blog.
Phyllis Fine is columns editor for MediaPost.

Magazine Rack for Friday, May 16, 2008:
http://blogs.mediapost.com/magazine_rack/?p=496

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Blogging For Quick SEO Benefits

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:59:00 +0000

Realizing SEO Benefits Quickly Through Blogging

by Ambar Shrivastava , Friday, May 9, 2008

QUICK RESULTS IN SEARCH MARKETING are only possible with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, right? Wrong. The advent of blogging, as well as recent advances to search engine algorithms, has narrowed the gap between PPC and search engine optimization (SEO) to mere hours. With PPC, there is instant gratification as your advertisement will appear in search results almost immediately after your campaign is activated. However, this same advantage can now be seen in SEO.

First, let's take a look at some common reasons why SEO projects have not been carried out in the past.

- Companies don't want to abandon tech investments (e.g. content management systems and Web publishing tools)

- Lack of budget dedicated to SEO

- May take a while to demonstrate ROI

Blogging addresses each of these problems.

- SEO best practices are already in place. Blogging software by default includes a few basic but important SEO practices by using proper Titles, headlines, URLs, and internal linking structure. Search engines also like sites that have fresh content, which can give blogs great influence over search results.

- Recent search engine algorithm changes boost the visibility of blogs. An experiment by Ryan Durk took advantage of temporary changes in Google's logo linking to the search results page for "January 1 TCP/IP". It shows two things: the speed by which a new blog is indexed and the short time between your blog getting indexed and it appearing high in search results.

- Blogs are inexpensive and easy to setup. A new blog can be created in a matter of minutes with little technical knowledge. Blog creation is free in many cases, often with a nominal monthly fee for additional features.

Blogging is great for companies that are not ready to make the larger SEO investment or are worried about abandoning a CMS in which they have already invested. Blogging can be used as a proof of concept that shows that SEO can deliver results. Use of blogging software delays the larger discussion of SEO projects that are potentially more time-consuming and require a larger investment that reap longer term benefits. Setting up a blog is inexpensive and doesn't force you to abandon or modify your existing IT investments.

Then get people to notice your blog.

- Conduct keyword research Creating a blog is just the first step. Keyword research can be the difference between a highly popular, authoritative blog and a blog that no one knows exists.

Since everyone competes on the most popular words, try blogging about slightly less-competitive topics, so your site has the ability to rank for those terms. There are some great tools out there that help facilitate this process of identifying writing topics that other sites aren't necessarily targeting, yet will drive traffic.

If you're just getting started with blogging, write about a subject where you have expertise that you feel will interest your audience. Once you reach a critical mass of blog posts, take a step back and analyze how people are finding your blog and use that information to guide your editorial calendar.

- Utilize social media and pinging. In addition to keyword research, it is important to promote the blog using social media tools that increase the visibility of your blog and generate inbound links to your domain. Be sure to utilize pinging services to notify aggregation services of new content on your blog.

- Customize the blog template. It is also important to link to your new blog from the Homepage of your main Web site to make it easier for search engine spiders to discover it. Often times, the default template needs to be tweaked slightly for maximum SEO benefit. For instance, make sure your blog Permalink uses meaningful anchor text and not www.yourdomain.com/blog/?p=456

Blogging may not be the long-term solution for fixing a broken site, but it will get your foot in the door for SEO, deliver results in the short term, and facilitate the process of getting buy-in for full-scale, long-term SEO projects for the rest of your Web site.

Post your response to the public Search Insider blog.
See what others are saying on the Search Insider blog.

Ambar Shrivastava is product manager of Connors Communications, the developer of HitTail.

Search Insider for Friday, May 9, 2008:
http://blogs.mediapost.com/search_insider/?p=784

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Senior Care Professional Online Education Upgrades Affiliate Program

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:01:00 +0000

EasyCEU.com Upgrades Affiliate Program for Online Education

Published on: May 7th, 2008 04:23pm by: SKBrothers

EasyCEU.com, specialists in online training for senior care professionals, launched an upgraded affiliate program today. EasyCEU's program provides nationally accredited continuing education courses for senior care administrators, managers and nurses and other licensed senior care professionals.

Oregon City, OR (OPENPRESS) May 8, 2008 -- The upgraded affiliate program offers very generous commissions for referrals to continuing education courses on a per sale basis. Affiliates can now not only have easy access to custom links for their sites, but with this upgrade they can promote specific and individual courses or even develop a virtual course catalog.

"The time has never been better to align yourself as an affiliate with EasyCEU.com as we are experiencing our largest growth rate in history," explains Wendy Finch, VP Business Development. "We have excellent profitable relationships with healthcare associations through our Partnership Program, and upgrading our affiliate program seemed like an obvious next step to help us increase awareness of our courses and products."

"Through this program reputable companies or individuals who work with senior care professionals can quickly and easily provide information about needed continuing education courses, and earn commissions at the same time. Any company with a website who markets to the senior care industry is a candidate." notes Finch. The affiliate program has proven to be especially useful to professionals who provide seminars or classroom-based training to this population, allowing them to enter the e-learning field without expensive course development or delivery costs.

"Distance education, also known as e-learning or online training, is becoming the product of choice for today's busy senior care professionals," says Finch. "Not only are these individuals expected to accomplish more in less time, but they are also feeling the pinch of travel costs as well. Saving time and money by reducing expensive conference, seminars or classroom training is an obvious step for many in senior care."

EasyCEU courses are available in the areas of care for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, senior care and management, ethics, death and dying, and cultural competencies as well as other topics related to senior care.

Affiliates are screened and accepted into this program from a variety of sites that provide services to this group of professionals.

For more details and an affiliate application visit the EasyCEU website at www.EasyCEU.com and click on the Partner/Affiliate link, or call 877-843-8374.

About
EasyCEU.com is a division of the Institute for Senior Living Education (ISLE-ed.com) a company developed, owned and operated by senior care professionals who have a unique understanding of the training and support needs of individuals who have devoted their careers to senior care. EasyCEU (EasyCEU.com), offers anytime, anywhere web-based courses and continuing education credits for assisted living and nursing home administrators, nurses and managers. All courses are approved by the National Continuing Education Review Services of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NCERS/NAB), as well as by the numerous state licensing boards. Its instructors are professional healthcare and senior care educators and providers. aQuire Training Solutions (aQuireTraining.com) another ISLE-ed product, provides online staff training especially designed to not only meet licensing compliance needs but also to improve quality of care, build stronger staffing teams and reduce staff turnover. ISLE-ed is also launching a new product, Apply2Care (Apply2Care.com) which will help providers utilize internet capabilities for recruitment of new employees.
Release Information

Industry: Education

Country: United States

MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area): Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA

Company: aQuire Training & EasyCEU.com

Web site: Visit our web site

Specialty Vineyard and Pinot Noir Finishes Introduced

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:13:00 +0000

Medallion Cabinetry Introduced Specialty Finishes Vineyard and Pinot Noir

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 02, 2008 --Medallion Cabinetry introduced two new specialty finishes to enhance product line at KBIS 2008. Vineyard, a brush glazed finish, and Pinot Noir, a duotone finish, use a multi-step process to create unique accent finishes.

"Pinot Noir and Vineyard are innovative additions to our line of finishes," said Duke Piotter, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Elkay Cabinet Division, "Both perfectly complement our existing finishes and give the designer and homeowner creative choices in individualizing kitchen design."

Vineyard is a deep red finish accented by a black brush glazed finish. Pinot Noir has an opaque black top finish which is hand-rubbed to expose a deep red, semi-opaque base finish. Both finishes are available on a variety of wood species and door styles in Medallion's Designer Gold and Designer product lines. Vineyard is also available on most Maple and Oak door styles in Medallion's Silverline product line.

Medallion, which is part of the Elkay Cabinet Division, offers more than 6,600 combinations of door styles, wood species and color finishes in semi-custom cabinetry through kitchen and bath design centers and dealers nationwide. The Elkay Cabinet Division was created in 1993 has 12 facilities throughout the United States. Operating under the brand names Medallion Cabinetry, Yorktowne Cabinetry, Mastercraft Cabinets and Schuler Cabinetry, the company is the fourth largest provider of residential cabinetry in the country.

Elkay Manufacturing Company is a privately held, 85-year old firm headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Elkay is a supplier of residential kitchen and bath cabinetry and accessories, commercial and residential plumbing products, including stainless steel sinks, faucets and water coolers.

Contacts

Medallion Cabinetry
Joy Schmelzer, 952-442-5171
joys@medallioncabinetry.com

V.I.P. Trip to London Contest for Affiliates Announceed

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:56:00 +0000

PokerAffiliatePrograms.com Announces V.I.P. Contest for Affiliates to Win an All Inclusive Trip to 2008 CAP Euro in London

Poker and casino webmasters are already familiar with the most popular affiliate convention, CAP Euro which takes place this January in London. Today PokerAffiliatePrograms.com has announced a contest where affiliates will be able to win an all inclusive V.I.P. trip to the largest casino/poker convention ever.

December 23 -- Greg Powell and Jeremy Enke are excited to announce the PAP V.I.P. Affiliate Challenge. Sponsored by one of the leading poker affiliate programs, Chipleader.com, this promotion is going to award one lucky affiliate the trip of a lifetime. This is the opportunity many aspiring webmasters have been looking to become involved in ever since the last CAP show in Barcelona.

The winner of this V.I.P. Challenge will be awarded the following:

    Free roundtrip airfare to CAP Euro
    Paid Hotel at the Olympia - Jan. 24th - 28th
    A killer dinner and night on the town courtesy of PAP
    Free Entry to CanAffco Boot Camp during CAP Euro
    Entry to the prestigious 2008 CAP Awards Dinner

Any poker or casino affiliate is eligible to win this trip. To win, affiliates simply need to post on their websites or blogs why they are the most deserving affiliate of winning this free trip. More information on this exciting promotion can be found here, PAP V.I.P. Challenge.

On January 1st, the judges for this contest will choose (3) semi-finalists. The final winner will be chosen and announced on January 4th.

In a phone interview with Greg Powell, general manager of PokerAffiliatePrograms.com, he stated, "In the coming days PAP we will be making an announcement that will be THE most exciting announcement in the poker affiliate world this year. Launching this promotion will be a great lead in to many of the exciting things to come. We are looking forward to seeing all the creative entries that this promotion will undoubtedly bring."

For more information and to submit your entry into the PokerAffiliatePrograms.com V.I.P. Challenge, please visit the official website at PAP V.I.P. Challenge

Press Contact: Greg Powell
Company Name: Affiliate Programs
Phone: 714-596-9000
Website: http://www.pokeraffiliateprograms.com/

Online Degree Program Offers New Business Analysis Specialization

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:30:00 +0000

Capella University Master's in IT Online Degree Program Offers New Business Analysis Specialization

Online university currently offers the only online graduate specialization in business analysis

MINNEAPOLIS-- April 28, 2008 --Capella University (www.capella.edu), an accredited*, online university based in Minneapolis, announced the launch of a Business Analysis specialization within its Master of Science in Information Technology online degree program. The new specialization is designed to meet the growing need for business analysts, IT professionals who help define business requirements and translate them into IT solutions.

With businesses increasingly relying on technology in nearly every aspect of their operations, business analysts with the skills to bridge those two areas are in high demand, according to CIO.com's 2008 list of "The Hottest Jobs in Technology."

"Business analysis requires a full understanding of both business and IT systems in order to bridge the two and develop comprehensive IT solutions that meet enterprise-wide business needs," said Kurt Linberg, PhD, dean of Capella's School of Business and Technology. "These are critical positions within a business, yet only 13 universities offer graduate-level degree programs in business or computer systems analysis, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). None of programs listed by NCES are online, and we believe that busy IT professionals will welcome the opportunity to gain deeper business analysis skills in Capella's online master's degree program."

The curriculum for Capella's Business Analysis specialization is based on the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) and offers a broad IT education that pulls from both business and IT-specific knowledge areas. The specialization also leverages the expertise of Capella's scholar-practitioner faculty from the university's School of Business and Technology and complements the university's comprehensive project management offerings. The university's portfolio of graduate and undergraduate IT degree and certificate programs currently numbers more than 25 specializations, including five in project management.

Capella is now accepting enrollment applications for its Master of Science in IT, Business Analysis specialization. For more information, please call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), option 3, or e-mail info@capella.edu. Review of this specialization is pending in AR, AZ, KY, OH, SC, and WA.

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited*, fully online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 104 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. The online university currently serves more than 22,000 students from all 50 states and 45 countries. It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.

Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552), www.capella.edu.

Contacts

Capella University
Media Contact:
Irene Silber, 612-977-4132
irene.silber@capella.edu

High School Students Earn Tuition-Free College Credit

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:36:00 +0000

Minnesota Virtual High School Students Earn College Credit Tuition-Free Through DeVry University

Full-Time Students Also Eligible for School-Supplied Laptop, Internet Allowance

MINNEAPOLIS--April 21, 2008--Minnesota Virtual High School students are now eligible to participate in the Passport2College program offered through DeVry University, one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America. This unique program allows full-time juniors and seniors who meet residency and GPA requirements to take up to two college credit classes tuition-free through DeVry University, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

"The Passport2College program creates a clear pathway to college by giving students the opportunity to take online college classes at no charge while still in high school," said Minnesota Transitions Charter School Superintendent Tony Scallon.

And beginning with the 2008-09 school year, Minnesota Virtual High School will provide a laptop and an Internet stipend to all new full-time students. Existing full-time students will be able to take advantage of the offer when they re-enroll for the fall semester. Minnesota Virtual High School is made possible by a partnership between Minnesota Transitions Charter School of Minneapolis and online learning leader Advanced Academics, Inc.

"Providing students a school-issued laptop and Internet stipend ensures that all students interested in learning online have the equipment they need to succeed," said Jeff Elliott, president of Advanced Academics. "These enhancements to an already strong program make online education an even more appealing way for Minnesota students to earn their high school diploma."

Minnesota Virtual High School is a free online public high school that offers full and part-time education for state residents in grades 7-12. The program is a flexible, high quality option for students who are looking for an alternative to the traditional school environment.

Students earn their high school diploma, issued by a local Minnesota school district, in a personalized program featuring one-on-one access to Minnesota-certified teachers, 24/7 student support, and full high school curriculum including electives and advanced placement courses. Minnesota Virtual High School students are able to participate in sports and other activities through Minnesota Transitions Charter School. For more information, please visit www.MinnesotaVirtualHighSchool.com

About Advanced Academics

Advanced Academics, a leader in the field of online learning, partners with schools and districts in more than 30 states across the country to offer a customizable online solution that uniquely serves each customer. Advanced Academics' program has proven to be extremely successful in providing flexible learning opportunities for students in grades 7 through 12 and increasing overall student academic performance. The program offers comprehensive middle and high school courses, highly-qualified, certified teachers, and a web-based learning management system that enhances student learning. A subsidiary of DeVry Inc. (NYSE:DV), Advanced Academics is accredited by The Commission of International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). For more information, visit www.advancedacademics.com and www.advancedacademics.net.

Contacts

Advanced Academics
Meg Martin, 405-397-6156

Global Space Tribes New WayTo See The World

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:06:00 +0000

8W8.com for Travel and Internet Enthusiasts: Browsing Through the Novel '8W8 Global Space Tribes' by Ralf Hirt (Amazon Books Kindle Bestseller)

8W8 - Global Space Tribes is a new way to see the world. It is written for everyone who uses the Internet, travels and is interested in any aspect of the world in the 21st century. It is a fast and enjoyable read which takes the reader from point 'A' to the world of the Global Space Tribes. Extracts of the futuristic and visionary novel by Internet Globalist Ralf Hirt are available on www.8W8.com. 8W8 Global Space Tribes has climbed into top ranks in various Amazon Kindle categories including Travel, Globalization, Computer & Internet. It is available in both print and as Kindle edition.

New York - April 14 -- The new fiction work '8W8 Global Space Tribes' begins and ends on an airplane flight which serves as bookends to a fantastic journey. It is difficult to tell if the story begins with the central character, O.K. Fellow staring out of the cabin window musing about his inability to see the world as he knows it must exist. Although the elements he wants to see don't manifest themselves in our traditional three-dimensional world, he intuitively knows that they are there, albeit invisible to the naked eye. Or, does the novel begin when the 15 members of the Golden Sky, an IT think tank, in their break out meeting in a mountain palace on the Big Island, Hawaii?

Like Hirt's vision, the mountain palace is a metaphor, invisible to the outside world. All one can see from the outside is a six-story reflection of the sun during the day, and in the evening, the moon and stars. Yet, behind this golden mirror an entire world exists: a mountain stream navigates from floor to floor, an entire self-sustaining farm functions on the bottom floor and our band of 15 IT thinkers amble about from floor to floor, from high tech conference rooms, to dining rooms, to fitness rooms, to swimming pools; all invisible outside the golden mirror.

Like modern travelers, today, they set out from point 'A' and plan to reach point 'B' within a predetermined amount of time. What our travelers don't know is how they are going to get there and where, exactly, they are going. The group is heavily weighted by business people with above average understanding of the Internet and IT technology and a visceral belief that what was needed is a new world modeling engine. Among them is a blind philosopher, who, through cunning, had been able to hide his blindness from his companions, but it is he who first sees the direction in which they are going.

However, it was Theresa Raffles who began to unravel the conundrum by interpreting messages sent to her by O.K. Fellow on his flight from San Francisco to Berlin where the story begins:

"Look at the way you look at lights. They are diamonds. Christmas lights and then, over Belgium, they are reduced to dots. You had finally reduced everything to dots, the basic elements. At one point, you had volumized, segmented and saw elements becoming streams. Later on, you create your own topography, envisioning hills, slopes and mountains."

Slowly, the group begins to assemble the pieces. They stumble upon the idea of using a virtual helicopter which contains a computerized system, a new world modeling engine, which they call "8W8." From this platform they are able to look down on the world and see business opportunities, the state of the environment, wealth and resources and, ultimately, intangibles such as human emotions.

This is a book for every business traveler; a fast and enjoyable read which takes the reader from point 'A' to the world of the Global Space Tribes. Extracts are available on www.8W8.com.

With over a decade of global Internet industry experience at companies including Glam Media and DoubleClick (Google), Hirt is well placed to comment on the possibilities for technology in an ever-more tightly connected world. Originally from Stuttgart, Germany, he has lived and worked in China, Australia, the United Kingdom and now resides in New York City, NY. Rarely, if ever unconnected, Hirt has used his first hand experiences of the business and social changes wrought by the Internet to write an enjoyable and intriguing novel that give readers much to ponder as they navigate their way through the 21st century.

"8W8-Global Space Tribes" combines engaging characters with a fascinating philosophy to create a new vision for the future. Not just for those interested in business, marketing or investment, "8W8-Global Space Tribes" is also a must read for anyone who has ever logged onto a computer or sat on a plane.

For more information or to request a free review copy, members of the press can contact the author at permissions @ 8W8.com and visit www.8W8.com. "8W8-Global Space Tribes" is available for sale online at Amazon.com, Target.com, BookSurge.com, and through additional wholesale and retail channels worldwide. It also is available together with New York Times Bestseller Freakonomics as Best Value bundle on Amazon.com during the months of April 2008.

About the Author
Ralf Hirt is an executive at Glam Media, Inc, a leading online source for women. Previously, he spent nine years with DoubleClick (Google) in London, Hong Kong, Sydney and New York City, NY. He currently lives with his wife and son in Manhattan, NY.

About 8W8 ventures
8W8 ventures inc. is an Internet Knowledge & Development firm from New York City, NY and can be visited on www.8W8.com or reached via email info @ 8W8.com.

Press Contact: Jean Hao
Company Name: 8W8 ventures inc.
Phone: 650.636.5255
Website: http://www.8W8.com

Sexography Tale of Survival and Finding One's Self

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:27:00 +0000

Phoenix Books' Sexography: a Triumphant Tale of Survival and the Journey to Finding One's Self

A new memoirs detailing the triumphs and tragedies associated with learning about one's sexual self, Sexography by Carly Milne opens a new door of discussion about surviving sexual traumas with honesty, wit and hope.

Los Angeles, CA - October 29, 2007 -- Sex may sell, but getting women to talk about it from the heart without theatrics and jokes isn't always the easiest task...and it's not hard to understand why. Women are plagued with issues about sex from birth, sometimes causing them to act out, other times creating feelings of shame and guilt -- and that's not even counting those who have suffered from various forms of abuse. One unique book seeks to change all that by ushering in a new era of intimately honest communication designed to deconstruct female sexuality. That book is Sexography, written by Carly Milne.

By turns serious and playful, Sexography maps the coming of age, tragedy and rebirth of one woman's sexual self. From "making out" with imaginary Hollywood stars in her closet (and getting busted) to coming to terms with abuse, assault and rape; from embracing her curiosity enough to become a sex toy tester to accepting and dealing with her tumultuous past, Milne paints a brutally honest -- and, at times, amusing -- picture of what it's like to learn about and experience sex in every sense of the word.

"At times my path has been dark, but what helped me through it was dealing with it creatively," Milne says. "I've seen and done some off-the-wall stuff to help me heal, like openly blogging about intimate details of my sex life, publicly experimenting or working as a publicist in the porn industry. And I'm not saying everyone needs to do what I did, but maybe what I went through can help others find their own path."

Milne's story begins in her childhood homes of Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she began her journey with the typical kind of curiosity that all children have, doing things like examining her Barbies for some hint of genitalia. But soon she found herself faced with sexual abuse at the hands of trusted adults, which is where her story takes readers on a wild, amazing and sometimes painful trip that spans both Canada and the U.S.

Milne vividly recounts first kisses and first loves amid brewing trauma, sharing the inner workings of her mind as she finds the strength to battle through events that threaten to tear her apart. After discovering her likes and dislikes, marrying and divorcing, and finding a caring support group, Milne finds the courage to heal herself once and for all.

In an effort to further open the channels of communication about these issues, Milne has partnered with RAINN -- the Rape and Incest National Network -- for various fundraising events surrounding the book's release. Says Milne, "Working with RAINN is an honor. Part of the reason why I wrote the book is because I wanted to help other women who have suffered through similar experiences, giving them the change to find a voice and regain their strength. Being able to do that is worth everything I went through."

Whether you've been through similar experiences or just know someone who has, Sexography will change your mind about why and how survivors survive.

About Carly Milne:
Carly Milne has written for Glamour, Variety, Maxim, Stuff, Bitch Magazine, Whole Life Times, AOL and more. She has also been interviewed by Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Sex TV and E!, among many others, and has been published in several books. This is her first full-length non-fiction work. Read more about her online at www.carlymilne.net.

For more information on Sexography, please contact:
CJ Bergthorsen, Type A Public Relations
310.933.5796
www.typeapr.com

Press Contact: CJ Bergthorsen
Company Name: Type A PR
Phone: (310) 933 5796
Website: www.typeapr.com

Help A Reporter

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:17:00 +0000

I thought I would share with you today a great resource. You'll want to tell the PR people, marketers, publicists, editors, bloggers, writers, and journalists you work with about it too, because it's all about them and their needs.

If you're not already using www.helpareporter.com, check it out. It's a service much like that other one that connects PR people and journalists looking for sources, but this one is free. It used to be on Facebook, but grew too large for it. Once you subscribe, you receive about three (sometimes two, no more than four, ever) emails a day with reporter, editor and freelance writer queries, written so you can quickly and easily scan the topics for relevance.

If the topics do not apply to you or your clients, just hit delete. If they do, you may contact the reporter or editor directly, as instructed.

Note that Peter Shankman, the list facilitator, is very strict about helping out these reporters. Respond only if your information (or your client's info) is relevant and on target. If not, and you send non-relevant emails more than once, you'll get bumped off the list. Quickly. I've heard it can happen. He's a big believer in good Karma, and he also thinks he's quite funny, and tends to also include a link to a fun site, or a funny story about his day in the emails. It's a nice refreshing change from the boring, non-funny emails we usually deal with.

Reporters can post queries at www.helpareporter.com/press, and sources can sign up at www.helpareporter.com - As I said, it's free. Peter asks that if you find it useful, then you make a donation to any animal rescue charity or animal hospital.

You can forward the queries to others who are a fit, but do not post any queries (or the editor/reporter contact info) on any blogs or public websites. I received permission from Peter to send you this note, since this is a private group and I'm helping to spread the word to both subscribers and media to sign up.

The more people who use it, the better it becomes. By the way, Peter wrote almost everything you see before this line with a few edits by me. All the links that don't go to helpareporter.com were added by me.

Music Portal Puts Musicians in Control

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:53:00 +0000

Finally - A Music Portal That Works for The Artist Noisy Planet Shuns Industry Greed, Failures by Putting Musicians in Control

Noisy Planet is announcing the release of its Artist Control Room -- a one-stop-shop for musicians and bands of all genres and professional levels. Member musicians and bands will have affordable access to a host of music industry services that they use most. The new services supplement Noisy Planet's existing MP3 hosting and singe-song download service.

Reno, Nevada - March 31, 2008 -- Kevin Petersen, President of the all-inclusive music portal www.noisyplanet.net and himself a working music artist, pulls no punches in his views on the track record of major music labels. As the once all-powerful labels drop artists and lay-off employees left and right, Petersen proudly offers what he says is "a better way for working musicians to take practical steps to get to the next level."

"The traditional label model has established a long history of distrust in the industry, and we're here to break that mold and build something better," he says, speaking of Noisy Planet's new Artist Control Room. "We don't guarantee stardom, but we do guarantee that if you want to take a few steps forward, we can help you manage the business of your music and hopefully inspire you to create more art in the process."

To that end, Noisy Planet-the one-stop-shop for musicians and bands of all genres and professional levels-is proud to unveil Noisy Planet's Artist Control Room.

Member musicians and bands will have affordable access to a host of music industry services that were once only available to major label music acts.

Artist Control Room services include:
* Biography writing - Press releases, biographies and reviews by a pro journalist
* Short-run CD Duplication - CD design, printing and duplication with no minimum order
* Song Critique - Professional 5-point critique by music industry insiders
* Music Licensing - Showcase your songs for use in film, TV and advertising
* Music Clearing - Secure the right to perform and sell your cover songs
* Standard Printing - Flyers, press kits, business cards, t-shirts and more at great rates
* Booking Agency - Pick venues you want to play and we help you land the gig

These affordable Noisy Planet services are offered in addition to its existing service of MP3 hosting with paid downloads, MP3 file conversion and quarterly artist royalties.

"Whatever your music goal, Noisy Planet is on your side," Petersen says. "We help those working Americans with rock star dreams by bringing the industry to you. The Internet has made new tools available to artists, and they don't have to go it alone anymore."

To learn more about Noisy Planet, visit www.noisyplanet.net, or call Kevin Petersen at 775-825-3886.

Enjoy our planet! You set the trends.

Press Contact: KEVIN PETERSEN
Company Name: Noisy Planet Inc
Phone: 775-825-3886
Website: www.noisyplanet.net

New Guides to Obtaining University Degrees Online

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:43:00 +0000

Almeda University Taps Into Past Successes for New Guides to Obtaining University Degrees Online

Almeda University utilized its long history of providing quality university degrees online in the development of online learning guides for current and prospective students. These guides to achieving an online college degree offer advice on what programs will best suit the students' interests and career goals as well as practical information on the process of earning a university degree online.

Boise, ID - March 14, 2008 -- It only takes a quick Google search of "online degrees" to reveal the sheer number of organizations offering university degrees online today. But wading through the tens of thousands of results on this particular search can quickly prove to be a superhuman task. Fortunately for students seeking an online college degree, Almeda University now offers not only online education but also online degree guides to help students find the right path to their future.

With more than 10 years of experience providing college degrees online and over 26,000 online students in more than 7,000 cities worldwide, Almeda University is the ideal school to lead students through the process of achieving a university degree online. The university has set itself apart from others in the field by securing important professional certifications and consistently receiving high marks from reviewing agencies.

The newly created online degree guide program at Almeda University taps into the expertise of the university's academic advisors. These advisors rely on the guidelines set for by the National Association of Academic Online Assessors (NAOAA), an organization that has certified Almeda University's online degree programs. Founded by professional educators, the NAOAA contends that college credits should be awarded accurately and equitably assessed by trained and certified practitioners. An NAOAA certification provides assurance and validity to employers regarding the skills of Almeda University's practitioners.

In addition to a spotless history with the Better Business Bureau, Almeda University has an overwhelmingly favorable record with ePublicEye.com, an independent third party that allows consumers to rate e-businesses for reliability, privacy and customer satisfaction. After reaching the milestone of 3500 online degree students surveyed, ePublicEye.com shows an overwhelming majority of Almeda University students are satisfied or extremely satisfied in their studies. They earned an 'A' in every major area, scoring 90% or higher in the categories of Management Accessibility (91.64%), Payment Process (93.14%), Satisfaction with Claims (92.85%), Customer Support (91.85%), Comparative Prices (92.25%), Ease of Returns/Refunds (93.06%), Privacy Experience (91.98%) and Customer Loyalty (92.40%).

Students seeking a university degree online can find the guidance they need at Almeda University by utilizing online learning guides that help them decide which programs will suit their interests and career goals. Not only do these guides help students determine their path to higher education, they also walk students through the process of achieving the degree in simple, easy to understand language.

Almeda University is an online institute that has been serving the international community since its inception in 1997. Since that time, Almeda has evolved to educate an expanding population through cutting edge curriculum design based on students' needs and professional service. For more information on University degrees online and Almeda University visit http://www.almedauniversity.org.

Press Contact: Richard Franklin
Company Name: Alemda University
Phone: 866-699-8207
Website: www.almedauniversity.org

Phone Calling Card Rates Under 1 Cent Per Minute!

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:52:00 +0000

New International Phone Cards are cheap and reliable. We've been using 3 different phone cards from Big-Zoo.us for about 3 years now. The service and features have be great and I never think about how much it's costing me to call a client or a tech support line. On hold for 15 minutes? Well that's still annoying, but at least I don't have to pay $5-$10 anymore. My calling rates for domestic US calls are about 3 cents a minute I think, and they have cards now that are as low as 1 cent a minute. Often if you put $20 or more in a card you get a discount so your cost is even lower. http://www.big-zoo.us/

We just started using the Champion phone card because it includes a free 800-Number that I can use for my business. Non-US companies can get one of these cards, program it to call their office, and just like that they have a Toll Free Number in the US to give their customers. Calling rates vary by country, but most are very low compared to other services. Don't let the way they display prices fool you. When you see a cost of 0.90 ¢/min, it looks like 90 cents, but it's real .9 cent, or less than one cent per minute. Yeah, that's cheap!

You don't have a cell phone or mobile phone, but you want one. Well now's the time because they are cheaper and better than ever. Check out http://www.cellphones-resource.info/ and find a great deal.

I can't believe that email has to suck so bad because of spam! Why can't something be done to keep spammers out and still have email be useful and easy to use? Controlled Access Email thinks they may have the answer...!

Domainers are controlling more and more domain names everyday. Is there anything that can be done and are we running out of domain names? Do we need something better than what ICANN offers today?

Phone Calling Card Rates Under 1 Cent Per Minute!

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:41:00 +0000

You don't have a cell phone or mobile phone, but you want one. Well now's the time because they are cheaper and better than ever. Check out http://www.cellphones-resource.info/ and find a great deal.

I can't believe that email has to suck so bad because of spam? Why can't something be done to keep spammers out and still have email be useful and easy to use? Controlled Access Email thinks they may have the answer...!

Domainers are controlling more and more domain names everyday. Is there anything that can be done and are we running out of domain names? Do we need something better than what ICANN offers today?

Gourmet Coffee Gift Boxes Just in Time

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:27:00 +0000

Volcanica Coffee Announces the Addition of Gourmet Coffee Gift Boxes Just in Time for the Holidays.

Today, Volcanica Coffee announced a new addition to their product line and now offers gourmet coffee gift boxes. The new gourmet coffee gift boxes are available in various assortments that contain their famous Kona Coffee, Costa Rica Coffee and Blue Mountain Coffee.

Fort Lauderdale, FL - November 30, 2007 -- Today, Volcanica Coffee announced a new addition to their product line up and now offers gourmet coffee gift boxes. The new gourmet coffee gift boxes are available in various assortments that contain their famous Kona Coffee, Costa Rica Coffee and Blue Mountain Coffee.

The most popular gourmet coffee gift box is the Classic Coffee Gift Box which contains the top gourmet coffees from Volcanica and retails for $129.99. Each Classic Coffee Gift Box includes one pound of each of Volcanica Blue Mountain Coffee, Volcanica Costa Rican Reserve , Volcanica Costa Rican Original and Volcanica Kona Gran Reserve. The gourmet coffee gift boxes are available at www.volcanicacoffee.com/coffee-gift.htm.

Also available are the Signature Coffee Gift Box and the Coffee Lovers Gift Box. Both contain different assortments of the types of Volcanica Coffees an are available lower prices. Each coffee gift is shipped in a beautiful white gift box with the coffee bags nestled in crinkle cut paper.

Volcanica Gourmet Coffee Beans is a specialty importer and retailer of exotic single origin gourmet coffee beans. The Company is committed to offering only the finest quality coffee from volcanic regions around the world that is wonderfully exotic and remarkable in taste. The Volcanica Coffee website is located at www.VolcanicaCoffee.com.

Press Contact: DIANE CONTRERAS
Company Name: Volcanica Gourmet Coffee Beans
Phone: 877-454-7031
Website: http://www.volcanicacoffee.com/

Minneapolis Media Player Rocks West Coast Giants

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Seattle and Cupertino Have Media Player Competition from Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS - February 21, 2008 - J. River technology is behind yet another multiple launch of branded digital media stores, extending the company's position as the dominant independent media player. New stores include TDS Telecom, Charter Media, and HickoryTech.

J. River already provides players for Televisa, Time Warner and over a dozen others. Collectively, these companies have more than 50 million paid customers, who are outside the Microsoft and Apple camps, and ready to buy digital content by download or subscription service.

"We have helped more companies build their digital offering than any other player software company," said Jim Hillegass, J. River's CEO. "There is a growing trend for major companies to engage the clout of their own brands to deliver leading edge digital music, movie, and TV services."

J. River has succeeded in giving these corporations the tools to build an interactive, sticky channel to their customers. Not only do they deliver the latest digital store technology, they supply the most open and comprehensive device integration, giving the customer choice in their use of devices ranging from iPods and PlaysForSure devices, to cell phones and media receivers.

J. River is the premier B2B provider of branded media players to the industry with more than twenty branded media players delivered.

J. River's complete list of partners:

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/partnerplayers.html

About J. River

J. River builds digital delivery solutions for corporate partners. This includes streaming, downloading, subscriptions of audio and video content, handheld device support and DRM. For more information about J. River's media products, visit www.jrmediacenter.com.

Contact e-mail music@jriver.com, or call 612.677.8200.

J. River MEDIA CENTER, J. River MEDIA JUKEBOX and J. River MUSIC EXCHANGE are trademarks of J. River, Inc.
Contacts

J. River, Inc.
Peter Sohal, 612-677-8200 x248
peter@jriver.com

Southern Beauty Magazine

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:29:00 +0000

Southern Beauty

by Fern Siegel , Wednesday, February 13, 2008
MOST OF US WILL never see an android, unless they improve time travel. Since we can't master Amtrak, I'm not hopeful. However, for sci-fi fans, there's a cheaper alternative: the cover of Southern Beauty. Nancy O'Dell of "Access Hollywood" hasn't just been airbrushed, she's been sandblasted. Is this what Southern women do? Scarlett O'Hara had her bewitching ways, while Blanche DuBois preferred indirect lighting, but neither let a high-powered industrial vaporizer near her creamy mien. And I'm doubtful any real-life Southern belle would either.

First, we have to decide: Is beauty regional? I ask rhetorically. Beauty is a subjective call. From what I read, O'Dell sounds like a down-to-earth woman. Best of all, the two inside photos indicate she has -- brace yourself -- facial lines. Just like a real person! I especially liked her take on beauty, defined as "how you treat others." You go, girl.

In fact, one recurring feature here is that several profiled women, including country-music singer Laura Byrna, are community-minded. In Byrna's case, she's involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, much as O'Dell is devoted to Best Buddies, which helps those with Down syndrome.

Still, Southern Beauty is, first and foremost, about body care -- hair, face, skin. Its tips apply to anyone whose address is planet Earth. The articles, like many beauty mags, often double as shills for products, but some were genuinely helpful. Makeup works; it's the maintenance that's killing. Not just daily, but often hourly. Getting the eyeliner, eye shadow, blush, lip gloss and hair gel right is no small trick. I miss college. In those halcyon days, you could wash your hair and run out the door. Everyone was thin, pretty and hopeful. When does optimism fade? The moment you have to pay your own rent. Or realize that time marches on -- usually across your face.

In the "Real Women, Real Issues, Real Beauty" feature, the women are divvied up by age: 20s, 30, 40s, Ageless. The before-and-after results are impressive. The 40s candidate morphed into a freshly scrubbed 14 after her makeover. SB didn't just make her look better, it defied gravity!

Also, wigs are apparently a hot trend right now, though I don't know anyone, except Cher, whose devotion is almost religious in fervor. As for the key pedicure Q&A: Do you shave your legs before getting one? Just say no. Like Giuliani should have done, when someone suggested he run for president. Pundits pored over his failed campaign, but it's a no-brainer. If your kids don't like you, neither will anyone else.

I was also confused by the "Soul Sister" piece, in which a young woman says her "perfect" life has been turned upside-down. Her fiancé is on his second tour of Iraq -- and she wants to know why God chose them to endure such agony? Honey, it's not God. It's George W. Bush. He made the decision to declare war. Whether you agree with it or not, is a personal matter. But why blame God for man's failings? That's added stress, which, according to SB, shows.

So trust Trish McEvoy, the renowned makeup artist. When asked to name the most important product she carries, McEvoy didn't hesitate: "concealer." If you ask me, it answers every question.

MAG STATS

Published by: The Southern Beauty Group
Frequency: Bimonthly
Web site

See what others are saying on the Magazine Rack blog.
Fern Siegel is Deputy Editor of MediaPost.

Magazine Rack for Wednesday, February 13, 2008:
http://blogs.mediapost.com/magazine_rack/?p=471

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Home Loan Industry Magazines - Free Subscriptions

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:10:00 +0000

We are sending you this offer because you have subscribed to similar Sales & Marketing publications in the past. As such, we wanted to give you the chance to subscribe to Mortgage Originator® and also to sign up to read Mortgage Technology

Be sure to forward this email to business associates - they may wish to apply to receive a complimentary publication in their industry as well.

Mortgage Originator® Mortgage Originator® Magazine (M.O.M.) is a dynamic forum for originators, lenders, managers, brokers and other mortgage-lending professionals to exchange viewpoints, insights and successful origination, management and marketing strategies. Every month, industry experts offer advice and observations related to hanging on to market share, exploring new niches, training and keeping good people. Review innovative advertising best practices; banner ads and other promotional materials others in the industry are finding successful. Examine support solutions related to outsourcing, accounting, processing and payroll services, managing leads and web support. Each issue brings you cutting edge editorial designed to help you survive and even thrive in this often challenging market.

Mortgage Technology provides in-depth analysis of the latest automation to make mortgage lending more efficient. Mortgage Technology is the only mortgage publication devoted exclusively to delivering the latest news and information on technology-related developments and their influences in the mortgage industry including: Online originations, secondary marketing, wholesaling, sub prime lending, EDI-capable software programs, Data mining technology, Document processing, Servicing technology, Automated underwriting, and Default management.

Browse the list of job functions and industries on the application form to see if you might qualify. Also note the geographic availability. Then simply complete the form and submit it. If you have co-workers, friends or family who work in a related field, please pass this offer on to them - they'll thank you!

Kitchen Tools Will Have Them Cooking

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:06:00 +0000

New Kids' Kitchen Tools Will Have Them Cooking Up A Storm

We all know kids love to mess around in the kitchen. Now The Chefs Toolbox has created some fantastic tools to help them nurture their inner superstar Chef.

Sydney, NSW (PRWEB) January 17, 2008 -- We all know kids love to mess around in the kitchen. Now The Chefs Toolbox, a party plan company specialising in high quality kitchenware, has created some fantastic tools to help them nurture their inner superstar Chef. The new range of quality kids' kitchen utensils will have them cooking up a storm in no time.

The Kids' Toolbox (RRP AUD$45) features safe yet functional grown-up tools in just the right size for little hands. There's a 1L melamine measuring jug with non-slip rubber base and a choc-chip recipe printed on the inside, as well as a silicone spatula, silicone whisk, rolling pin and four child-safe cookie cutters. Packaged in a gorgeous box, it makes a great gift.

The Flexi Shapes (set of 4) (RRP AUD$27.50) are brightly-coloured silicone pancake moulds in four fun shapes -- an aeroplane, a shoe, a footprint and a rabbit -- for making the coolest pancakes in town! The moulds, which come complete with a drawstring calico storage bag, can also be used to make frittatas, hash browns and rostis.

The Flexibake Teddies (set of 6) (RRP AUD$27.50) are flexible silicone moulds that are great for making cute cakes, muffins, chocolate crackles and ice-cream cakes. The set contains two blue, two yellow and two red teddy-shaped moulds.

The Kids' Apron (RRP AUD$20) will help the kids stay clean, even if the kitchen doesn't! It's 100 percent cotton, screen printed and double-hemmed for durability.

Cooking is one of the most fun and constructive activities you can share with your child: it unleashes their creativity, sets up healthy eating habits and teaches them a valuable survival skill for the future. If you teach your kids to cook now, they will eat well for life.

"With careful supervision, cooking can be just like an edible craft project," says Chris Chandler, cooking guru at The Chefs Toolbox. "If you need some ideas about what to cook, you'll find some great kids' recipes on our website, www.chefstoolbox.com.au".

The Chefs Toolbox kids' range can be purchased though their online store: Cooking Parties. The Chefs Toolbox will donate AUD$5 from every purchase from the kids' product range to the Children's Food Education Foundation.

About the Chefs Toolbox
The Chefs Toolbox brings new ideas to cooking at home by marrying great recipes with clever cookware to bring fabulous food into the home. The Chefs Toolbox offers top quality cookware through home cooking workshops and their online store. By providing free cooking workshops designed for modern lifestyles, The Chefs Toolbox aims to encourage an appreciation of great food and show that fabulous meals are easy with the right tools and a few simple techniques.

Press Contact: Felicity McDougall
Company Name: The Chefs Toolbox
Phone: 1300-135-816
Website: http://www.chefstoolbox.com.au/

BlogReach Boosts Blogs

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:58:00 +0000

Innovative Plug-in Boosts Blog Networking and Promotion

Bloggers unite. Getting the word out to interested readers just got a lot easier. BlogReach is a new, innovative approach to help bloggers promote their blogs and boost their search engine ranking (SEO). This free widget collects current headlines from participating blogs and displays them on other blogs in related interest areas within the BlogReach network.

Brentwood, UK - January 14, 2008 -- The blog community is ready and willing to bring together like-minded individuals who want to hear and be heard--the challenge is finding the right audience. Getting the word out to interested readers just got a lot easier. BlogReach is a new, innovative approach to help bloggers promote their blogs and boost their search engine ranking (SEO).

BlogReach is a free widget that collects current headlines from participating blogs and displays them on other blogs in related interest areas within the BlogReach network. This new service delivers double benefits. First, bloggers can reach a wider audience by tapping into the rapidly expanding network of blog participants. Blogs also improve their SEO ranking by increasing the number of topic-relevant links on their site.

For bloggers, BlogReach is simple to install and free to use. Installation involves pasting a few lines of code or deploying a simple plug-in. The blogger can then customize the appearance of the BlogReach widget to match their blog's appearance.

Once installed, the BlogReach widget automatically retrieves a blog's current headline and then displays it on other blogs within the BlogReach network. Headlines are shared between related interest areas, ensuring content enhances the value of the blog to the reader. BlogReach displays direct links to the blog, not redirects, offering maximum impact for SEO optimization.

BlogReach also offers advertising opportunities that are customizable by geographic location, interest area, and more. As a result of the internet networking culture, consumers increasingly expect highly targeted content that is specifically relevant to their interests. BlogReach is an innovative means for companies to maximize their marketing investment, focusing their efforts on a market that will welcome their messages.

Measurement is essential to creating and maintaining an effective presence online. BlogReach delivers the online statistics and tracking that bloggers and advertisers need to evaluate their impact and to adjust their approach in real-time. BlogReach offers free sign up and more information for advertisers at www.blogreach.com.

About LogicNow:
LogicNow is an innovator of browser-based software solutions that streamline client tracking, billing, and customer communications. The company's brands, Kambee, PerlDesk, LogicBill, and LogicReach, provide a range of solutions for web monitoring, internet surveying, help desk management, and ecommerce. LogicNow solutions are used globally by over 8,000 customers including governments, universities, large enterprises, and small businesses. www.logicnow.com

Press Contact: JOHN BENNETT
Company Name: LogicNow Limited
Phone: 212 845 9817
Website: http://www.blogreach.com

One-Stop Web Platform for Blogging

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:56:00 +0000

Profy Announces Alpha Launch of Its One-Stop Web Platform for All Things Blogging

With blogging clearly here to stay and experts predicting continuing growth, Profy enters the game today with the alpha launch of its new Web platform for bloggers. The integrated solution supports a full range of advanced AJAX blogging applications to satisfy the most demanding and experienced bloggers yet features a simple user interface that novices will find immediately accessible.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 11, 2008 -- With blogging clearly here to stay and experts predicting continuing growth, Profy enters the game today with the alpha launch of its new Web platform for bloggers. The integrated solution supports a full range of advanced AJAX blogging applications to satisfy the most demanding and experienced bloggers yet features a simple user interface that novices will find immediately accessible.

Profy's vision is to provide single, comprehensive seamless access and friendly navigation for the many stages of the blogging process - news reading, sharing selected news stories with a group of readers, writing posts and publishing them, discussing posts with readers, and communicating with readers on other topics. In short, it wants to provide -- in one place -- all the creative tools a blogger could want. Notable among the capabilities are an integrated dashboard with full-featured reader making it easy for bloggers to follow important events, an advanced WYSIWYG editor that turns the publishing process into a snap, and social networking tools that allow authors to engage in discussions with readers.

Today's launch kicks off private alpha testing of the platform with an initial set of tools and applications allowing users to read and write blogs, discuss created content, and network socially with readers and other bloggers.

"Through this launch, Profy is creating the opportunity for initial users to influence how the final platform will look and perform," said Ilya Korsun, CEO. "Profy developers will work in close cooperation with users to ensure that when the platform emerges from beta it will provide bloggers of all kinds with whatever they need."

Bloggers interested in joining the alpha testing program can request an invitation at http://alpha.profy.com/getinvite.

About Profy, Inc.: Profy is a San Francisco-based company headed by veteran Internet entrepreneur Ilya Korsun. The development team works out of Novosibirsk, Russia. The Profy alpha platform has been in development since September 2006. For further information, visit http://www.profy.com.

Press Contact: Svetlana Gladkova
Company Name: Profy, Inc.
Phone: +1-415-830-6309
Website: http://www.profy.com/

Award Winners Announced By LAPTOP Magazine

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:22:00 +0000

LAPTOP Magazine Announces 2008 Best of CES Award-Winners

Awards given to winners in 13 categories.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 10, 2008 -- LAPTOP Mobile Solutions for Business & Life, the leading mobile technology magazine and a cosponsor of the International Consumer Electronics Show 2008, today announced the winners of its fourth annual Best of CES Awards.

Reporting each day from the show floor, LAPTOP's editors and writers waded through hundreds of new mobile products and services across numerous categories. Among those, the editorial team has recognized only the truly innovative products and services that represent exciting advances in mobile technology and evolution of design and performance. "LAPTOP is proud to honor those companies whose products enrich the mobile lifestyle, from a phone that looks and acts like an MP3 player on demand to a laptop that can log you in to your favorite sites just by sitting in front of it," says Mark Spoonauer, LAPTOP's Editor in Chief.

LAPTOP's Best of CES 2008 Winners are:

Best Notebook: Lenovo IdeaPad U110
Best Notebook Accessory: Logitech diNovo Mini
Best Storage Device: Seagate Maxtor BlackArmor
Best Software: Yahoo Go 3.0
Best Cell Phone: Motorola ROKR E8
Best Cell Phone Accessory: Nextlink Invisio Q7
Best Portable Audio/Video Player: Slacker Portable
Best Digital Camera: Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1
Best Digital Camcorder: Sony HDR-UX20
Best GPS Navigator: Garmin nüvi 880
Best Wi-Fi/Home Networking Device: Netgear HD/Gaming 5 GHz Wireless-N Networking Kit
Best Wireless Home Entertainment Device: Logitech Squeezebox Duet
Best Projector: Optoma HD65

For more information about the winners, and LAPTOP's complete CES 2008 coverage, please visit: http://ces.laptopmag.com/category/best-of-ces.

To schedule interviews with LAPTOP's editors, media may contact Liz Moran, Marketing Director.

About LAPTOP Magazine & Laptopmag.com
LAPTOP Mobile Solutions for Business & Life celebrates the infusion of mobile technology in our daily lives and provides the information and insights that enable its readers to thrive in a wireless world. It serves as the essential guide for mobile professionals and tech-savvy consumers who depend upon our expert product evaluations, helpful how-to advice, and examination of the societal impact of mobile technology.

Contact: Liz Moran
(212) 807-8220
lmoran @ bedfordmags.com

Press Contact: Elizabeth Moran
Company Name:
Phone: 212-807-8220
Website: Laptopmag.com

Tools for Car Repair Available

noreply@blogger.com ((hris) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Diagnostic Tools for Car Repair Now Available at One-Stop-Factory.com

Every car owner can have a do-it-yourself diagnostic tool to detect and repair their own car thanks to the new section on One-Stop-Factory.com. With the new section, tools for car repair are now available at an affordable cost to the general public.

(PRWEB) January 6, 2007 -- Troubleshooting and car repair are now more accessible to the general public with the launch of an automobile diagnostic section at One-Stop-Factory.com (www.One-Stop-Factory.com).

Third-party car diagnostic tools are designed for personal car repair. These tools can be used in order to get a rough self-evaluation about the repair's cost before passing the vehicle to a repair shop.

Before the availability of third-party diagnostic tools, car diagnostic solutions were only available to a small group of people. Now, there are many different solutions available via One-Stop-Factory.com's user friendly interface.

Almost all famous European car manufacturers, including BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi, supply built-in systems to detect errors in their cars' diagnostic systems. These systems quickly scan information such as data of the car's engine, AT, CVT, emission, temperature, driving speed, battery voltage, pressure, rotation speed, ABS, SRS, slip steering angle turning, Yaw rate and more. Many manufacturer diagnostic tools are available for authorized resell for car repair. However, these tools are often available for rent, not purchase. Second-hand tools from eBay are also available, but they often sell for more than 5,000 Euro.

With One-Stop-Factory.com, everyone now has access to a handy do-it-yourself tool. The market for diagnostic tools has started to boom, and consumers can now have their own diagnostic products at a much more affordable rate than before. In fact, most families can afford to own any car diagnostic tool as soon as they own a family car.

The car diagnostic tools market features various solutions from different developers, each with their own specific, unique features. Some popular tools available at One-Stop-Factory.com are Carsoft, OBD2, BMW Scanner, Uniscan / Euroscan, ELM, KWP2000, ALDL, LPG, TECH1, VAG and USB HEX CAN.

At One-Stop-Factory.com, consumers can find all of the above tools and more. As a manufacturer, the company produces and controls the quality and costs to make the products' prices competitive.

For more information on diagnostic tools necessary for car repair, visit www.One-Stop-Factory.com.

Press Contact: Henry Chu
Company Name: Teleway International Technology Ltd.
Phone: 852-96812328
Website: www.one-stop-factory.com