Bee Zaagar Blog

Farmers Insurance Claims Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers

2008-09-01T17:55:00.000-05:00

Farmers Insurance Claims Teams and Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers Suffering Damage from Hurricane Gustav

LOS ANGELES-- September 01, 2008 --Farmers® Insurance Group of Companies claims teams are preparing today to move into areas stricken by Hurricane Gustav. Once the areas are identified, the teams will deploy along with 2 Catastrophe Claims buses and 5 Customer Care Claims Vehicles.

"Our claims personnel and fleet of claims vehicles are gearing up to assist our customers in Louisiana, Texas and any other areas suffering damage from Gustav," explains Paul Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance.

The Mobile Catastrophe buses are equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; claims stations; water, supplies; laptop, satellite telephone capability; and have a built in grill to serve meals to Farmers' customers and others in need.

The Customer Care Claims Vehicles are smaller versions of Farmers claims buses and are ready to assist with claims and supply needs of Farmers' customers and others in need.

Note to Media: A press release listing exact locations of the claims vehicles will be issued as soon as locations are selected. For questions or information at any time, please contact the Farmers Media Team listed above.

Farmers Insurance customers who have suffered damage should contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

"Farmers' customers who have moved to evacuation centers in Texas, Louisiana or other states, should keep the HelpPoint number handy if needed, when they return to their homes.

Foremost Insurance customers should file their claims by calling: 1-800-527-3907.

Flood victims who have flood insurance should contact the National Flood Program at www.floodsmart.com

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Contacts

Farmers Insurance Group
Jerry Davies, 213-400-4459
jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com
or
Michelle Levy, 512-791-7445
michelle.levy@farmersinsurance.com
or
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com

Residential Solar Shade Structures Create 1.4 Kilowatts

2008-09-01T17:27:00.000-05:00

Solar Power to the People: Modular Residential Solar Shade Structures Created by Envision Solar

LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT Solar Kit-Build Structures Offer Stylish Outdoor Living Space

LA JOLLA, Calif.-- September 01, 2008 --Envision Solar, the La Jolla, California based firm best known for its award-winning design of the Solar TreesT in Kyocera's landmark Solar GroveT, has expanded its product line of photovoltaic shade structures to include two "flat-pack" easy to install modular shade structures, each with eight solar panels providing 1.4 kilowatt of clean energy.

The LifeTreeT is a single post steel structure with a cantilevered canopy, and the LifeShadeT is a four-post structure made of Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable wood. Both are an attractive and functional application of solar power that provides recreational shade, without a requirement for a complex and invasive rooftop installation. The structures are shipped in easy to assemble components and include solar power modules, micro-inverters, and access to an online real-time tracking system to monitor production of clean energy. The structures are anchored in post-holes by concrete, in much the same way that basketball hoops or flagpoles are installed, and a local electrician can connect the AC wiring from the structure to the house meter.

At a price point of $15,500 for the LifeShadeT and $18,500 for the LifeTreeT, these new products offer a lower cost solar power option for homeowners and businesses. Envision Solar designers have focused on modularity as an important goal, because it offers price efficiency and accessibility to clean energy to more people. CEO Robert Noble adds, "We are committed to massive retail deployment of this product in a flat-pack format for local assembly and installation."

In addition to their attractive design and low price, The LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT products offer state of the art technical features; they were designed specifically for photovoltaic modules made by Suntech, and both the LifeTreeT and the LifeShadeT are equipped with "micro-inverters" from Enphase Energy. Micro-inverters convert the energy from the sun into usable alternating current at each module, eliminating the need for a bulky inverter on the side of the building at the meter and making connection to the meter a less costly undertaking. Enphase Energy also offers online access to a real-time monitoring package so that owners can track their clean energy production.

Noble describes the company's mission to employ the principles of sustainable design to innovate in the solar power sector: "We see renewable energy as an architectural element that be integrated into our spaces and our lives."

About Envision Solar International, Inc.

Envision Solar International, Inc. is a turn-key, solar integrated building systems developer. The company's mission is to provide aesthetically pleasing photovoltaic systems to increase the worldwide use of renewable energy. Led by a group of visionary architects, builders and engineers, Envision Solar transforms heat-absorbing parking areas into beautiful, efficient solar power plants. Learn more about us at: www.envisionsolar.com.

Contacts

Envision Solar
Pamela Stevens, 858-768-5151
pstevens@envisionsolar.com

Recording Artist Karlina Covington's CD Sales Benefit Youth Center

2008-08-18T23:26:00.000-05:00

Local Independent Female Recording Artist Karlina Covington Croons for the Community

Cnotes Records Recording Artist Karlina Covington is helping to empower our youth by releasing a new cd where a % of the proceeds will benefit the Eugene Bowman Center in San Diego, CA

Jul 27, 2008 - Cnotes Records Recording Artist Karlina Covington is crooning for our community and helping to empower our youth by releasing a new cd where a percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Eugene Bowman Economic Empowerment Center in San Diego California (http://www.empowering-youth.org/) headed by Lorraine Bowman and Lauren Town.

Based in North Hollywood, California, the record label she is signed to, Cnotes Records (www.cnotesrecords.com) is dedicated to helping our community by not only by contributing currency, but time and education via entertainment or "edutainment" as well. Cnotes Records CEO, Cedric Buard says, "by helping our community we help our world, and Cnotes Records vows to help our world."

Karlina believes that by helping and educating our youth, we can build a better future for us all. Her release "Make Me High" is mostly an R&B/Pop release, but also features strong blues, rock and smooth jazz genre hits in the mind of Alicia Keys, Pink, Aliyah, and Janet Jackson, including an undeniable original sound. The 1st single "See You Again" is already gaining high exposure on the independent charts, and has won over 6 reviewer awards, including "Track of the Day" on a popular Internet site. You can listen to her latest single and more for FREE by visiting www.cnotesrecords.com

Karlina's CD Release party is planned for Saturday, August 30, 2008 (North Hollywood)
Make Me High Anticipated Release date: September 2, 2008 (Available online and via Cnotes Records)
Benefiting our community by providing high quality edutainment.

About the company:

Cnotes Records has been in business in the North Hollywood area since 2007, and has vowed from the beginning to help the community in which they do business and live. This is their 6th independent release and the first in which a percentage of the proceeds will benefit a non-profit organization. They serve the entertainment and small business industry and provide an abundance of products and services to help your business succeed. Visit www.cnotesrecords.com for more information.

Contact:
Cedric Buard
Cnotes Records
818.913.4854
www.cnotesrecords.com

For more information:
Keywords: Cnote,Cnotes,Records,Karlina,Covington,Cedric,Buard

Contact us: 5625 Satsuma Avenue North Hollywood, California 91601 8189134854 www.cnotesrecords.com info@cnotesrecords.com

StoresOnline, Stores Online, Imergent, and Terminal Resource

2008-08-17T20:01:00.000-05:00

We received a letter in the mail offering us a free meal and a free MP3 player if we would attend a "Conference" for StoresOnline that seems to be offering a complete package designed to let you sell things on the Internet. The main company behind this seems to be:

StoresOnline.com
Imergent, Inc.
754 E Technology Ave
Orem, UT 84097 US
801-434-8582 Phone
801-226-8848 Fax

Terminal Resource, L.C.
51 West Center, Suite 208
Orem, UT
888.296.5022
Fax 801.691.5566

Doing some searches in Google for "stores online scam" and "stores online sucks" will turn up some interesting listings that you may want to check out if you are thinking about attending. But you may save yourself a trip if you just visit their web site first. While the site looks very professional, the thing you will discover there is that they are offering their service for $300 a month. While they may be providing more than simple hosting, they better be providing a hell of a lot more, since that is pretty outrageous for any startup ecommerce hosting account that provides little in return that guarantees you will be making anything from your investment. Oh I forgot to mention that you have to commit to 1 YEAR of hosting with them, or $3,600. If you know little to nothing about web hosting, designing, marketing, and promotion I doubt VERY much that you will make your money back. Think about it. If you could really make a lot of money with little effort, wouldn't you just do that for your self to start with? Why would you sell a great money making system to others?

Your first clue is the fact that while they are offering something that you should be excited about and they have to give you a free meal AND a free MP3 player, just to make sure they get you in the door...!

So my advice is to check it out if you are interested. Get the free meal and free MP3 player. But make darned sure you know what you are investing in before you give them any money! If you have any doubts what I suggest is you look around and find an Internet or ecommerce consultant and pay them to help you get started. You will pay a LOT less money and have a MUCH better chance of starting a real business that may do well. And expect to pay a monthly hosting fee that will be between $15-$50 a month, NOT $300 a month!

P.S. I just found a site called Stores Online Sucks and I will list the link below. For me, this confirms EXACTLY what I had been thinking about this company. They are taking advantage of people that have some money but are generally clueless about the web.

Links
====
Rip Off Report: Stores Online
Stores Online Sucks

New IP Camera Technology Improves Surveillance

2008-08-15T23:56:00.000-05:00

Arecont Vision Sharpens the View at the Lucky Eagle Casino.

Arecont Megapixel Cameras Enable Improved Monitoring at Gaming Tables

GLENDALE, Calif.-- July 25, 2008 --The Lucky Eagle Casino in Southwest Washington State has completed a new installation of megapixel cameras from Arecont Vision, the industry leader in megapixel IP camera technology. The casino, which has been in operation since 1995, chose to upgrade their existing analog system in order to improve the ability to view and identify critical information on video.

"It is important that our surveillance operators clearly see the indexes of the cards," said Miguel Grijalva, Director of Surveillance, Lucky Eagle Casino. "We need to view suits and clearly distinguish between a heart and a diamond, and the analog cameras we had were not providing enough of this detail."

After installation on a test server of two Arecont Vision megapixel cameras, the AV2100 and the AV5100, for a two week evaluation, the Lucky Eagle Casino purchased Arecont Vision AV2100M 2 megapixel cameras to upgrade the existing system, supplementing their analog cameras. According to Mr. Grijalva, the Arecont Vision cameras deliver highly detailed images of jackpot hands, as well as increased accuracy in chip activity at the roulette tables.

Arecont Vision AV2100M 2 megapixel cameras have a frame rate of 24 fps (frames per second) with a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 and a minimum illumination of only 0.1 lux @ F1.4. One of the latest additions to Arecont Vision's MegaVideo® line of megapixel cameras, AV2100M megapixel cameras leverage proprietary patent-pending technology and help alleviate the cost and frame rate shortcomings often associated with multi-megapixel camera systems. To help ensure image clarity, the AV2100M delivers full motion HDTV progressive scan resolution and for added cost-efficiency features Power over the Ethernet (PoE).

The HD resolution of the cameras allows wider shots, enabling the casino's surveillance staff to achieve comprehensive coverage using a single dedicated camera for each table. "The frame shot is the same as the analog camera frame shot, but the clarity is several times better," said Mr. Grijalva. "If a guest had a full flush, we can go back and readily confirm it because the picture quality is so excellent."

The camera also features a built-in electronic PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) function. In addition to the improved clarity, the casino surveillance operators found that the digital zoom was highly beneficial in live monitoring or reviewing footage. These investigative digital capabilities help the casino spot unusual activity or instances of suspicious behavior or cheating, as well as help ensure employee procedure compliance.

According to Mr. Grijalva, his team was particularly impressed with the quality of the images produced by Arecont Vision AV2100M 2 megapixel IP cameras when viewing details on the roulette wheel and for identifying stacks of chips. "The new megapixel cameras have also helped determine if a customer's claim is valid or for claims of short changing on chips," he said. "We are considering adding Arecont Vision megapixel cameras to the lobby entrances for facial recognition now as well."

For more information contact Arecont Vision by calling toll free 1-877-CAMERA-8, or visiting www.arecontvision.com

About Arecont Vision

Arecont Vision is the leading manufacturer of high-performance megapixel IP cameras and associated software. Arecont Vision products are made in the USA and feature proprietary low-cost massively parallel image processing architectures MegaVideo® and SurroundVideo® that represent a drastic departure from traditional analog and network camera designs. These innovative technologies enable Arecont Vision to deliver multi-megapixel digital video at analog camera price points.

EDITORS' NOTE: Electronic files and photos are available upon request by emailing Jennifer O'Reilly at in|fusion advertising at joreilly@ifadvertising.com
Contacts

in|fusion
Jennifer O'Reilly
phone: 203-252-2173
fax: 203-252-2174
e-mail: joreilly@ifadvertising.com

International Phone Service Comes To Beijing and Hong Kong

2008-08-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

Beijing and Hong Kong Get Super-Cheap International Phone Service with Rebtel

Rebtel expands low-cost and free interational mobile phone service to Beijing and Hong Kong.

Stockholm, Sweden - April 23 -- First Shanghai. Now Beijing and Hong Kong. In just three months, Rebtel http://www.rebtel.com, the people's global communications company, has delivered on its promise to expand low-cost and free international calling to more Chinese cities.

Starting today, Beijing and Hong Kong residents can use their mobile phones to call any phone, anywhere in the world for just pennies per minute, and make free calls to friends, family, and work colleagues in more than 40 countries.

Using Rebtel Direct, calls from Beijing and Hong Kong to the U.S. and Canada, for example, cost less than 2¢ per minute whether you're calling a landline or mobile phone. By comparison, the same calls on China Mobile will cost $1.16 per minute.

"But if you think Rebtel Direct rates are still too expensive you can use our Smart Call system and make that same calls for free," said Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel's co-founder and CEO. "With Rebtel you can now call friends and family in more than 40 countries around the world from Beijing or Hong Kong for nothing more than the cost of calling around the corner."

A Rebtel account can be set up in just a minute or two. The service works with any mobile phone just the way it is, and is registered and authorized to work with all Beijing and Hong Kong mobile operators.

There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. All new comers get a free 10 minute call to test the service.

After an account is set up subscribers only pay for the minutes they use. Smart Calls between the counties served by Rebtel are always free and only one of the two people on a call must be a Rebtel subscriber.

"This is a great time to be expanding our service in China," said Winbladh. "Hong Kong and Beijing have been important international business centers throughout history, and now athletes and media from more than 200 countries around the world will soon converge on China for the Summer Olympics."

How Rebtel works
Rebtel gives people local phone numbers in their country to call their friends, family or work colleagues who live abroad.

By making all calls local, people can call each other as often as they like and talk as long as they want, for little or nothing more than the cost of the local calls.

That means, for example, Rebtel gives someone living in Beijing a local Beijing phone number that will connect them to their friend in New York. And Rebtel gives the person living in New York a local New York phone number to call their friend in Beijing.

Getting started is fast and easy:
1. Go to http://www.rebtel.com and enter your mobile number and your friend's mobile number.
2. Rebtel creates local numbers and sends them in text messages (SMS) to each phone.
3. Save the number in your phone's address book and use it any time to call your friend abroad.

About Rebtel
Rebtel is a global communications company for individuals and businesses that make international calls. With Rebtel it's possible to call any phone, anywhere in the world, for just pennies per minute. Rebtel's services can be used with any mobile phone without modification or software downloads. There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. No monthly fees, no connection fees and no hidden costs. Anyone may make a free 10 minute call to test the service. Thereafter, customers only pay for the minutes they use. Smart Calls between the 46 counties served by Rebtel are always free and only one of the two people on a call have to be a Rebtel customer. For more information, or to start using Rebtel services, go to http://www.rebtel.com.

Press Contact: Greg Spector
Company Name: Rebtel
Phone: +1 415 717 4666
Website: http://www.rebtel.com

Government Rejects Request to Clean up Asbestos

2008-07-27T17:05:00.000-05:00

LegalView Reports About the Government's Rejection of a Monetary Request to Clean up An Asbestos-Tainted Site

LegalView updated its mesothelioma blog to include news of the government denying federal funds to an area in Arkansas that was left tainted with asbestos after nearly 150 World War II structures were destroyed in a fire. The government rejected the requests from the town of Chaffee Crossing where citizens are currently at risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer.

Denver, CO - LegalView.com, the number one resource for everything legal on the Web, recently reported on its mesothelioma blog that federal funds were denied to cleanup an asbestos-tainted town in Arkansas. Chaffee Crossing is the site of a recent fire, which destroyed nearly 150 World War II (WWII) structures, releasing asbestos fibers and dust into the area potentially increasing the risk of citizens developing mesothelioma. The city requested federal funds from the government to assist the cleanup of the town, which is considered by several citizens there to be a Superfund Site. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is refusing to deem the site a Superfund because it claims that levels of asbestos in the air after the fire were too low to be deemed as such. However, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality found asbestos contamination in some areas to be much higher than EPA tests recorded. For those who live in the area or who have previously been exposed to asbestos, using LegalView's mesothelioma portal to locate a mesothelioma attorney is the best way to protect oneself.

Asbestos is a material that is derived from vermiculate, a mineral often mined for uses in construction and as building insulation. Asbestos was widely used as insulation in many early 20th Century constructions, such as those burned in Chaffee Crossing. However, after discovering the link of inhaling asbestos to an incurable form of lung cancer, the use of asbestos was discontinued and the EPA has spent billions of dollars in the removal of asbestos across the country. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos are advised to contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm to receive an attorney consultation on developing a mesothelioma lawsuit in which compensatory damages can be sought. Mesothelioma is a painful and deadly illness that takes decades to reveal itself, by which time it can be too late to find ways in paying for medical expenses. Use the mesothelioma portal to learn more about this and other recent asbestos-related news.

Additionally, LegalView offers several other information portals relating to a range of issues such as the Baxter Heparin recall, traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatments and Erb's Palsy jury verdicts. Heparin is a blood thinner injected into patients undergoing heart surgery or similar procedures. It is used to prevent blood clots, which can be fatal during surgery. Recently, the Baxter Healthcare Corporation issued a Heparin recall because several patients had reported severe allergic reactions to the drug, which has been associated with at least 19 patient deaths. LegalView.com reported updates continually to readers as this story unfolded, providing insightful and imperative news for victims of the Heparin recall. Similarly, individuals can use the TBI practice area to learn the most up-to-date news on brain injury lawsuits, jury verdicts, treatments as well as how to locate brain injury lawyers.

For information on Erb's Palsy, a condition that usually develops because of labor complications, visit Erb's Palsy lawsuit as the condition is usually preventable and caused by a physician pulling on a baby during birth.

About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Foundation Funds Follow-up Care in Revolutionary Cancer Vaccine Study

2008-07-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Onyx and Breezy Foundation Funds Follow-up Care in Revolutionary Cancer Vaccine Study

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation recently funded after-care for dogs engaged in a revolutionary research study to develop a cancer vaccine that may be given to both humans and animals when successful. The study is being conducted at The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, a small animal teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Tuxedo Park, NY and Philadelphia, PA - March 14 -- The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has announced a gift to The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The gift will cover the expense of follow-up care for 12 dogs that are currently enrolled in the School's cancer vaccine study.

"Thanks to this generous gift, more participants in our lymphoma cancer vaccine clinical trial will be able to return for follow-up care," said Dr. Karin Sorenmo, chief of oncology at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital. "This means that we can capture all the data that is needed for the study while pet owners are helped financially."

Prior gifts to The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital from the Foundation have been a respirator for their ICU department and a mast cell tumor research study.

Dr. Sorenmo treated Breezy, who had mast cell tumors. "Thanks to Dr. Sorenmo, Breezy lived another 2 years, of quality life, after other vets gave her only 6 weeks to live," said Wanda Shefts. "We are glad that this project will help owners of dogs in remission from lymphoma and help advance Dr. Sorenmo's work on the cancer vaccine.

Dr. Sorenmo stated that she was encouraged by the results and she is hoping that this is just the beginning of more trials that can benefit dogs and ultimately help people. Thanks to this study, a number of the participating dogs are now cancer free. The researchers now estimate that they are within two years of testing the vaccine on humans. Without the dogs, they would be more than a decade away.

"We have a tremendous amount of respect for the work they do at the Hospital and we are glad to be able to fund another project for them", said Mark Shefts.

For more information about Penn Vet, please visit www.vet.upenn.edu; for more information about The Onyx and Breezy Foundation, please visit www.onyxandbreezy.org.

The Onyx and Breezy Foundation Background

The Foundation was created in 2004 and named after the trustees Mark & Wanda Shefts' two Labrador Retrievers. The Foundation lends financial support to organizations that benefit the welfare of animals.

The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine Background

Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the world's premier veterinary schools. Founded in 1884, the School was built on the concept of Many Species, One MedicineTM. The birthplace of veterinary specialties, the School serves a distinctly diverse array of animal patients, from pets to horses to farm animals.

Press Contact: Barbara Kauffman
Company Name: The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
Phone: 201-782-7400
Website: www.onyxandbreezy.org

Women's Fashion Blog Has Inside Story

2008-07-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

New Blog Gives Inside Story on Women's Fashion

London fashion expert Caryn Franklin's website howtolookgood.com is not only a dedicated women's fashion advice site on body shape, but now includes her new blog, offering a real behind the scenes, no holds barred insight into the UK fashion industry

London, UK - July 27, 2008 -- In her new blog (http://www.howtolookgood.com/blog) Caryn tells it like it is and offers readers the opportunity to sign up and interact with her, by posting comments and receiving feedback and advice on all issues around fashion and how to dress for body shape.

She also flags up her own clothing solutions giving insight into the wardrobe of a 'fashion expert.'

Written with authority (she has spent 25 years in the business and has interviewed everyone from Yves Saint Laurent to Georgio Armani, as well as presenting on numerous TV shows, writing books and contributing to women's magazines) Caryn also writes from an ageless perspective.

As Caryn Franklin says, "Women can love fashion and dress confidently whatever their age, when they understand how to see beyond what commercial fashion offers. I give women tools to create the best wardrobe for their shape, age and lifestyle. And I'm there as a resource on my site. Since our launch in 2001, I have answered many hundreds of questions from readers."

Caryn's main website http://www.howtolookgood.com offers advice and tips on how to be a clever consumer of women's fashion and by signing up to her new blog, subscribers will receive a free e-book on Jeans - giving them all the information they need on shape, fit and brand.

The site also offers women the opportunity to download one of 19 different e-books on

how to dress for your body shape (http://www.howtolookgood.com/advice_home.html), for either their current wardrobe, or when shopping for new clothes.

These comprehensive and practical e-books are designed to provide valuable tips and advice to help women avoid making time consuming and costly mistakes by understanding what to wear and also what to avoid.

As these three testimonials show, Caryn's advice has been crucial:

Good morning,

I just wanted to let you know how absolutely wonderful your e-book has been for me. Until I read it last week I would stand in front of a wardrobe that consisted primarily of black and white, and still be confused about what I should wear. Always feeling out of shape and completely uncomfortable, with no confidence at all in my appearance.

The following day we went out to dinner and might I say, I looked and felt great. I had three comments on how great I was looking. It was all clothing from my existing wardrobe, put together with your rules and it looked great.

I have had my colours and style done before; however no one has ever produced an action plan (what a brilliant idea, particularly the collage). And the cost to have them come into your home and assist is quite expensive.

I cannot thank you enough; you really are the Queen of Style.

Jacqueline

Hi Caryn,

Simply had to put pen to paper, so to speak.

Just read the first 15 pages of your e-book and it addresses my central concern - large and square shoulders. Your diagrams and short to-the-point good for, or bad for remarks, are just what I require. Great, I now know what suits my top half and this will make such a difference to my shopping and confidence.

Many, many thanks. My 4-year search is over.

Kind regards,

Trixie

Thank you for your very helpful and practical e-book. It's the only one I know of with exclusively the right advice for women of my particular shape, and I found it a valuable source of inspiration. I just wish it had been around when I was sixteen. What a lot of heartache (at not being the 'right shape') and shopping headaches I would have avoided, not to mention how much money I could have saved! I've told all my friends about your site. They are all equally enthusiastic.

Kind regards

Aimée

The website also provides information on the current fashion trends to help readers understand what's on offer this season, news from the catwalks, an online shopping directory and a monthly newsletter.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact info@brilliantproductions.co.uk or visit howtolookgood.com

About Howtolookgood.com

Howtolookgood.com was launched in February 2001 by Caryn Franklin and Jane Galpin offering fashion advice for all women.

About the author: Caryn Franklin has worked in the fashion industry for 25 years. She presented the BBC's Clothes Show for 12-years and has presented many other fashion shows including Style Bible, Style Academy, The Frock and Roll Years, as well as appearing regularly on network TV shows LK Today, GMTV and This Morning. She has written many books, contributes to mainstream women's magazines and has interviewed everyone from Yves Saint Laurent to Georgio Armani. Through her company Brilliant Productions, she hosts many live shows on the subject of image and style and her website howtolookgood.com offers all women advice on how to look good, whatever their body shape.

Contact: Caryn Franklin or Jane Galpin, owners

Brilliant Productions Ltd

0870 442 4498

http://www.howtolookgood.com

Contact Information
Julian Barrett
Brilliant Productions Ltd
http://www.howtolookgood.com
01453 839321

Multi-Billion Online Sports Betting Biz Tapped

2008-07-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

Casinos VIP Lounge Taps into the Multi-Billion Online Sports Betting Biz

Online casino portal CasinosVIPLounge.com launches a new sports betting section. Among the info available are detailed reviews of leading sports betting websites as well as articles on the most prominent sports betting events.

July 27, 2008 -- CasinosVIPLounge.com, a leading online casino portal (http://www.casinosviplounge.com/), recently unveiled a new section targeted at online sports betting aficionados. The new sports betting section provides readers with extensive and valuable information on this particular industry, from in-depth reviews of the most popular sports betting websites and detailed gambling advice to articles on the hottest sports betting (http://www.casinosviplounge.com/sports-betting-intro.html) action.

Over the years, betting on sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry. According to sports betting industry experts, the total amount of money wagered on bets annually in the United States alone stands at over $200 billion. Today, thousands of online bettors enjoy placing daily bets on their favorite sports, such as horse racing, soccer, American football, hockey, baseball, basketball, boxing and golf. Trustworthy information on winning odds, Internet bookmakers and the most popular sporting events is crucial to people seeking to make successful wagers.

CasinosVIPLounge editor-in-chief Marcy Jefferson said, "The CasinosVIPLounge team is very proud to launch this new sports betting section. We seek to provide newcomers to this industry as well as seasoned bettors with reliable information and useful advice. CasinosVIPLounge has already become an authority in the world of online casinos. We expect to achieve the same status in the world of online sports betting."

About CasinosVIPLounge

CasinosVIPLounge, a top provider of reliable and up-to-date information on online casinos and sports betting websites, has already gained tremendous prominence. CasinosVIPLounge offers in-depth reviews of the online gaming industry's most reputed online casino destinations, breaking casino news as well as updates on the richest promotional offers available over the Internet. Already a major authority in the world of online gaming, Casinosviplounge.com is an independent online casino portal not affiliated with any online gambling website.

Contact Information
John Smith
CasinosVIPLounge
http://www.casinosviplounge.com/
18665598690

US Property Real Estate Financing and Mortgage Lending for non-US citizens

2008-07-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

Finance North America Offers Real Estate Financing and Mortgage Lending of U.S. Property for citizens of Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia

UK, Europe, Asian, Australian and the Americas citizens can now purchase and finance their U.S. property mortgage through Finance North America.

San Diego, CA - March 13 -- Finance North America announced today its latest offering of mortgage financing to international residents in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas looking to purchase or remortgage U.S. real estate. Finance North America specializes in providing mortgage financing to U.S. and Canadian citizens and is now proud to announce the expansion of their U.S. mortgage financing offering to the International market.

"Foreigners are taking an interest in purchasing property or wanting to cash in on their equity here in the US. With a weak dollar and low mortgage rates, real estate investments are becoming the choice for a growing number of people from other countries. Some see real estate as a great investment opportunity due to the low price while others are interested in enjoying the properties as a second or vacation residence." - Russ Schreier, CEO, Finance North America

Finance North America is dedicated to helping International citizens interested in purchasing real estate in the U.S. and Mexico. They offer purchase lending as well as refinance / remortgage lending. Awarded for successfully closing the most financing transactions in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for US citizen's real estate investments in Mexico, Finance North America now also provides UK, Canadian, European, Asian, Australian, and Latin American citizens a reliable partner to help with their U.S. property search and mortgage needs.

For additional information about Finance North America and their International financing options for UK, Europe, Asia, Australian, Canadians, and Latin American citizens, please send emails to: info @ FinanceNorthAmerica.com or visit www.FinanceNorthAmerica.com.

Finance North America - Finance North America, Inc. specializes in providing mortgage financing on real estate in the US and Mexico. They offer not only purchase and refinance lending, but also construction loans that convert effortlessly into permanent financing. Finance North America has over 25 years of experience in the mortgage and real estate industry and has a proven track record managing a variety of successful lending transactions on US and Mexico property. Finance North America successfully closed the most cross boarder financing transactions in 2005, 2006, 2007.

Agency/Source: dtelepathy.com

Press Contact: Russ Schreier
Company Name: Finance North America
Phone: 866-937-4639
Website: http://www.financenorthamerica.com

Sales of iPhone 3G Kicked By Telecommunications Giant

2008-07-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

AT&T Kicks Off Sales of iPhone 3G Phone

Online Resources Available to Help Customers Prepare for Purchase

Variety of Attractive Plans Combine Voice and Unlimited Data

Dallas, Texas, July 11, 2008 - AT&T begins selling iPhone 3G today in its retail stores at 8 a.m. local time across the United States, along with a variety of attractive monthly plans that combine voice and unlimited data use. iPhone 3G uses the nation's fastest 3G wireless network, which reaches 300 major metropolitan areas.

Pricing and Eligibility
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that AT&T is making it easy for customers to prepare for their iPhone 3G purchase by posting "Get iReady" tips and frequently asked questions at www.att.com/iphone. The site also includes a link for customers to check their upgrade eligibility and other wireless account information.

iPhone 3G phones will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following customers:

    * iPhone customers who purchased before July 11*
    * Customers activating a new line with AT&T
    * Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

Current customers who are not eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement. Current customers may also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. Eligibility is generally determined by amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history.

Current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G will pay an $18 upgrade fee and new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.

Voice, Data and Text Messaging Plans
AT&T brings iPhone 3G customers the best coverage on the globe and the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community with unlimited calling to AT&T's 71.4 million wireless customers. iPhone 3G customers can choose from four individual AT&T Nation plans, which bundle voice and unlimited data (e-mail and Web browsing).

    * AT&T NationSM Unlimited: Includes unlimited Anytime Minutes for $129.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 1350: Includes 1350 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $109.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 900: Includes 900 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $89.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 450: Includes 450 Anytime Minutes and 5,000 Night & Weekend Minutes for $69.99 a month.

All AT&T Nation and AT&T FamilyTalk® plans for iPhone 3G include nationwide long distance and roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover®, unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling and Caller ID.

AT&T will offer FamilyTalk plans, with bundled voice and unlimited data, starting as low as $129.99 a month for two iPhone 3G lines. Up to three additional iPhone lines can be added for $39.99 each.

Unlimited text messaging can be added for an additional $20 ($30 for FamilyTalk plans of up to five lines); $15 (1,500 messages), or $5 (200 messages).

Additional Tips for Consumers
New AT&T customers who wish to port or retain their phone number from another wireless carrier should consider bringing a copy of a bill from their current service provider. Customers will be asked to provide account information as it appears on record with their current provider, including:

    * Account number
    * Name of the account holder
    * Account holder's SSN or Tax ID
    * Billing address
    * PIN or password (if applicable)

Customers who inherit an original iPhone from a friend or family member will need to request a SIM card from AT&T for the phone and activate the device using the in-home activation process through iTunes.

Customers should listen to voice mail messages on their current devices and write down any necessary information before purchasing iPhone 3G, because existing voice mail messages will be lost when upgrading to iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature.

AT&T will offer accessory bundle options specific to iPhone 3G in its retail stores.

iPhone 2.0 Software
All iPhone customers will benefit from the iPhone 2.0 software, which will be pre-loaded on all iPhone 3Gs and available as a free download for current iPhone customers. The new software will include numerous enhancements, such as business-class e-mail access via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync; the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows a business to easily create applications customized to its needs; and the App Store, available at www.apple.com/webapps, which offers a wide-range of applications - from games to business, education to entertainment and productivity to social networking.

For example, AT&T has developed YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile for iPhone, which takes local mobile search to a new level by allowing users to discover businesses and local events based on their popularity among other iPhone users, get directions and access business reviews. Numerous enterprise applications are and will continue to be available on iPhone 3G, via the App Store, including Oracle's CRM, collaboration and e-mail applications.

iPhone for Business
Oracle and Kraft Foods Inc. are among the first business customers to deploy iPhone 3G. Business customers interested in iPhone 3G should contact an AT&T business sales representative or review their account information online to determine their eligibility for upgrade pricing. Corporate e-mail and other business applications require the Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone, which is $45 a month and bundled with an eligible voice plan. Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk, the industry's only shared plan specifically for small businesses. Additional details on iPhone business offerings are available at www.att.com/iphoneforbusiness.

*iPhone 3G is available to customers who are currently prepaid customers; however, there is no prepaid plan for iPhone 3G. Additionally, customers' accounts must be in good standing at the time of purchase.

AT&T Offers Nation's Fastest 3G Network

Nation's Fastest 3G Network Complements Best Global Coverage and Industry-Leading Portfolio of 3G Devices

Dallas, Texas, July 10, 2008 - For customers who want access to blazing-fast wireless broadband service, there's one clear choice among all U.S. carriers. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it offers the nation's fastest third-generation (3G) network, according to data compiled by leading independent wireless research firms. AT&T's superfast 3G mobile broadband network is currently available in nearly 300 major U.S. metropolitan areas, with plans to expand to nearly 350 by the end of the year. In addition, AT&T has the best global coverage of any provider with roaming available in more than 200 countries, including more 3G roaming than any other carrier.

The fastest 3G network claim is based on a variety of tests conducted by leading third-party researchers, who downloaded a variety of applications and files to test throughput and overall performance. AT&T was the winner by a significant margin.

AT&T also announced it has started doubling the data capacity of its 3G markets, and nearly half of all cell sites will receive additional 3G capacity by the end of the year. The additional capacity will help accommodate the anticipated growth of 3G subscribers over the next several years. According to the Yankee Group, the number of 3G subscribers in the U.S. is expected to increase by 160 percent by 2012.

"We've invested billions of dollars in our 3G network, and now we can proudly claim it as the nation's fastest 3G network," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T's wireless unit. "We will continue to expand our 3G network coverage into new areas, grow our lineup of industry-leading devices, such as iPhone 3G, and deliver compelling new 3G services to market like Video ShareSM. And to top it off, only AT&T offers the best global coverage. AT&T's ability to serve its wireless customers is unparalleled in our industry."

Between 2005 and 2008, AT&T will have invested more than $20 billion in network improvements and upgrades - an average of $5 billion a year. Much of this network investment has gone to build out the 3G broadband data network, which today is available in 296 major metropolitan markets. In addition, the company is deploying additional 3G coverage using 850 megahertz (MHz) spectrum that is now available from the recent sunset of its older TDMA network. This spectrum extends farther and better covers the interior of buildings.

In addition to the company's constant 3G expansion in the U.S., only AT&T can offer 3G data roaming in 60 countries, including Japan and South Korea, as well as voice calling in more than 200 countries. Nearly all devices in AT&T's current portfolio are "world phones" that can be used around the world.

Another advantage of AT&T's 3G network is the ability for customers to simultaneously use voice and data features. For example, customers can make a call while checking for a local address on YELLOWPAGES.COM.

Sprint's "iphone clone" the Samsung Instinct priced at $129.99

Daytona Beach, FL (PRunderground) June 20, 2008 - Sprint's highly anticipated phone, the Samsung Instinct, goes on sale Friday. Sprint has announced via a press release that the instinct will cost $129.99, with a 2 year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Samsung Instinct is Sprint's answer to the iPhone, which is slated to cost $199 next month.

There is a catch. Sprint also announced that activation of the Instinct requires a pricing plan offering unlimited data. Customers can choose from Everything plans for individuals starting at just $69.99 per month for 450 voice minutes or Talk/Message/Data Share plans for families starting at $129.99 per month for 1500 voice minutes to share between two lines.

The Instinct is a touchscreen device that includes EV-DO Rev. A, which is equivalent to AT&T's 3G speeds, for Web browsing, e-mail and more. The Instinct has already been awarded such honors as "Most Innovative Product at CTIA Wireless 2008?, and "Best Cell Phone" by CNET's CTIA 2008 awards. Only time will tell if Sprint has a winner with the Samsung Instinct. To purchase a Samsung Instinct you can visit http://samsunginstinctstore.com

About SamsungInstictStore.com
SamsungInstinctStore.com provides access to the best deals on Samsung Instinct phones and accessories. For more information please visit http://samsunginstinctstore.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michelle Wagner
contact@samsunginstinctstore.com
http://samsunginstinctstore.com

Job Seekers Driven To Self-Employment By Worsening Economy

2008-07-03T12:08:00.000-05:00

Worsening Economy is Driving Job Seekers to Self-employment

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- July 03, 2008 --Forced retirement, job cutbacks, and economic uncertainty all point to a safety net of a recession-proof franchise opportunity. Liberty Tax Service is experiencing a tremendous response to its franchise opportunity. "When job security goes away, many people decide to take the future into their own hands," according to John Hewitt CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service. (www.libertytaxfranchise.com). The company offers low start-up costs and the certainty of filing income tax returns to provide an enticing business opportunity that's a part of the American way of life.

In 2008, the gloomy forecast is that corporate layoffs could increase up to 37 percent. Contrast that with the tax industry that historically has delivered a growing market of taxpayers every year. Approximately 62% of all taxpayers paid someone to prepare their taxes in 2008, up from 51% in 1994.

Liberty Tax and CEO John Hewitt are garnering many accolades for a superlative franchise opportunity that welcomes a diverse America to join its ranks. Hewitt has 39 years of tax industry experience, the most of any CEO in the tax preparation business. He is the only founder of two franchises that Entrepreneur magazine has ranked in the top 25 of their Franchise 500: Liberty Tax Service and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE:JTX).

"Our franchisees continue to be the cornerstone of our success. For the sixth year in a row, Liberty grew by more returns (raw numbers) than H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt combined," noted Hewitt. "We are focused on providing an affordable opportunity for new franchisees, and great support so that our existing franchisees can add additional offices. These key factors will allow us to open a projected 400 new offices for tax season 2009."

Liberty Tax franchising is a fit with various life scenarios: keeping a day job while starting a franchise, entry into the tax business with little or no experience, and the challenge of a busy seasonal business.

A tax background is not a requirement. Top performing Liberty Tax franchisee, Annie Fuller of Newberry, South Carolina lacked any previous tax experience. "I followed the Liberty Tax Service system, held tax schools for training, and hired the best people who were stars in the customer service arena," said Annie. "I'm obviously not a bean counter." By Tax Day, April 17th 2007, Annie's first-year Liberty Tax office in Newberry finished #1 in the entire Liberty Tax Service operating system for first-year stores with a company record of 1658 returns prepared. She was first in the system for second year offices in 2008.

About Liberty Tax Service:

Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service (www.libertytax.com) has prepared over 6,000,000 individual income tax returns. The Liberty Tax franchise opportunity is ranked highly on Entrepreneur's "Franchise 500" for affordability, low cost and overall potential. The company is a member of the International Franchise Association and its MinorityFran and FranVet outreach programs. John Hewitt is available for interviews on franchising issues and entrepreneurial advice.
Contacts

Liberty Tax Service
Martha O'Gorman
Chief Marketing Officer
800-790-3863 ext. 8022
martha.ogorman@libtax.com

Program to Protect Consumers Against Fraud

2008-07-02T19:01:00.001-05:00

MoneyGram Announces Program to Protect Consumers Against Fraud

MINNEAPOLIS-- July 02, 2008 --MoneyGram International is adding to its existing efforts to protect consumers from fraud-induced money transfers in response to concerns from state Attorneys General. Through an agreement of voluntary compliance, MoneyGram is taking steps to enhance consumer protections and further address the problem of wire transfer fraud. The company and 44 states plus the District of Columbia are cooperating on a five-year plan to raise public awareness of the dangers of fraud through a variety of tactics including enhanced consumer education, more prominent fraud warnings for money transfer customers and enhanced training for agents.

Besides enhancing its own education efforts, MoneyGram will contribute $1.1 million to the AARP Foundation for Consumer Education to fund a fraud awareness program aimed at the elderly, who are often targets for fraud. This program is expected to get underway in the next three to six months.

"We are very pleased to help launch this program," said Tony Ryan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MoneyGram International. "We are committed to helping to stop fraud and protect consumers, and we know that this is an issue that none of us can tackle alone."

"AARP Foundation's fight against consumer fraud advances AARP's goal of ensuring the economic security of people 50 and over," said AARP Foundation President Robin Talbert. "Preventing consumer fraud and abuse are critical components of financial security. AARP, the AARP Foundation and hundreds of community volunteers have been fighting fraud directed at older consumers for more than 10 years. We are very proud of our outreach and education."

MoneyGram will also pay $150,000 to the Attorneys General Executive Committee to cover costs.

MoneyGram International, Inc. is a leading global payment services company. The company's major product and services include global money transfers, money orders and payment processing solutions for financial institutions and retail customers. MoneyGram has 152,000 global money transfer locations in 180 countries and territories. For more information, visit the company's website at www.moneygram.com.

Contacts

MoneyGram International
Michael Fox, 203-682-8218
mfox@icrinc.com

Inventors Wanted For Texas Reality TV Show

2008-07-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Reality TV Show Looks for Inventors in Texas

How TV Shows and Internet Sites Help Thousands of Aspiring Inventors Transform their Big Ideas into Reality. Everyday Edisons has announced the casting calls for Season 3, with the next auditions being held at the Dallas Convention Center today, starting at 7am. Internet sites such as IdeaTango help inventors through online resources and community forums.

Dallas, Texas - March 16 -- Exactly how can the average person transform a mere sketch on a napkin into a useful product available to the masses? This was the question that Louis Foreman wanted to answer when he created Everyday Edisons, the inventor reality TV show on PBS. After two successful seasons, Everyday Edisons has announced the casting calls for Season 3, with the next auditions being held at the Dallas Convention Center today, starting at 7am.

Inventors are often not aware about the multi-step product development process through which a basic concept is transformed into a marketable product. This is where television shows like Everyday Edisons or websites like Dallas-based IdeaTango.com come into the picture.

Whereas some are able to take their ideas to the masses through TV reality shows, many more can interact through IdeaTango features like a virtual trade show, a yellow pages for service providers, community forums, and most importantly, educational guides to help inventors launch their million-dollar idea.

IdeaTango.com president and founder Bryan Daigle says, "It's great to see how Everyday Edisons is helping the independent inventors and bringing so many brilliant ideas into the market." "As thousands of inventors line up across the country for a shot at big time, we're also meeting many of these inventors along the way, helping them to turn their dreams into reality."

The Everyday Edisons show will be looking at a range of inventions, and also at those in various states of development, from simple concepts and sketched ideas to detailed, patented designs and factory prototypes. The finished products will also be reviewed by representatives from the major retailers.

In addition to the casting call, there will also be a series of seminars and an opportunity to meet with experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Everyday Edisons is produced with the cooperation of the United States Patent & Trademark Office, and like IdeaTango, hopes to propel thousands of local inventors into the spotlight.

About Everyday Edisons
Everyday Edisons is a reality TV show that airs on PBS, and follows inventors as they go from idea to product. The show's producers and industry experts work with all the contestants, helping them to succeed in the development and marketing of their inventions. Everyday Edisons is a production of Bouncing Brain Productions.

For more information about Everyday Edisons, visit www.everydayedisons.com

About IdeaTango.com
As seen on The Big Idea with Donnie Deutsch, local and national news stations across the country, and one of the largest technology blogs, Gizmodo, Dallas-based IdeaTango.com is a one-of-a-kind social networking site specifically created to help inventors act on their great ideas. This "ingenuity community" provides inventors interactive, collaborative, and educational tools to help inventors connect with valuable resources, and one another. IdeaTango is also the winner of the Rice Alliance 2007 "Most Promising" Web 2.0 Company award.

More information about IdeaTango.com is available at www.ideatango.com

Press Contact: Bryan Daigle
Company Name: IdeaTango.com
Phone: 214-680-3551
Website: http://www.ideatango.com

All-Time Top Rated Documentary on IMDB is Heima

2008-06-27T21:11:00.000-05:00

''Heima'' Rated Top All-Time Documentary on IMDB

LOS ANGELES-- June 27, 2008 --Heima, the 2007 documentary film that chronicles a tour by Icelandic group Sigur Ros, has been named the number-one documentary of all time by widely respected movie industry source IMDB. Alan Calzatti, director of Musicians Institute's Music Video-Film-Television program, served as Director of Photography on the location shoot (widely praised for its stunning visuals) and the group later completed post-production on the film in MI's studios.

Since opening its doors in 1977, Musicians Institute (www.mi.edu) has primed over 20,000 musicians, producers, engineers, vocalists, and industry professionals for successful careers in every genre of contemporary music. Located just blocks from the Capitol Records tower, MI has an incredible history of innovation dating back to its origins in 1977 as the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), which broke new ground as a performance-based contemporary music school taught by working professionals. Within a few years, GIT was joined by bass and drum programs to form Musicians Institute and the evolution has continued to this day with degree and certificate programs for career-minded guitarists, bassists, drummers, vocalists, keyboardists, recording engineers, independent producers, guitar makers, music business professionals and filmmakers.

Contacts

Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.
James Levesque, 818-760-8077

Small Business E-commerce Retailers Jump Start With Google Shopping

2008-06-13T22:30:00.000-05:00

Google Shopping Jump Starts Small Business E-commerce Retailers

During the holiday season the search engine giant Google added a Shopping tab to its homepage, a tab which directly links to its on-line product catalog called Product Search. FastCommerce, a small business enterprise e-commerce provider, recently announced the successful launch of its automated submission service to Google Shopping. Submission to Google is also available with the free version of FastCommerce. The results have been remarkable. By simply signing up for the free version of FastCommerce and creating a product catalog, the on-line retailer starts selling right away.

San Mateo, CA - March 25, 2008 -- For small business on-line retailers, an e-commerce solution that quickly produces results is essential to survival. That is why FastCommerce recently launched a product submission service to Google Shopping; also known as Google Product Search. Google has built the equivalent of an on-line product catalog that is tied in with its popular search site. On-line retailers can post products to the Google catalog, and even sell directly through the service via Google Check-out. Google's popularity coupled with the recent addition of its new Shopping tab on the Google homepage, has the effect of driving targeted searches for product directly through Google Shopping. With Google Shopping, shoppers can view multiple listings for a given product and either purchase directly on Google, or proceed directly to the merchant own web store.

Submitting to Google Product Search costs the on-line retailer nothing; unlike EBay, there are no fees for posting an unlimited number of products. This is a tremendous competitive edge for small business e-commerce start-ups that cannot afford the sometimes prohibitive cost of running a business exclusively on EBay. Rather than having the merchant manually submit products one by one, FastCommerce automatically submits the whole of a merchant's on-line product catalog to Google Product Search. In providing this level of service, FastCommerce is focused on the success of its clients in an increasingly sophisticated and competitive on-line retail universe.

Google Product Search consistently generates a high volume of sales and sales inquiries for FastCommerce merchants. Having the whole of a merchant's on-line product catalog published on Google Shopping is nothing less than a major marketing tool for small business on-line retailers. It is a service that Google offers for free. This is even more remarkable given that the FastCommerce small business e-commerce platform is entirely free for the first fifty products. A small business or an individual entrepreneur can sign up for the free version of FastCommerce, build a professional and attractive web store, and post up to fifty products for free. The free version gives them access to almost the whole of the FastCommerce platform: simply signing up automatically generates a professional website and back office tools to manage their business. Merchants then see an immediate effect in having their products automatically listed to Google's Product Search.

FastCommerce is a web-based e-commerce application that lets small business start, grow and then manage their business on-line, all from one single system. Small business entrepreneurs gain access to a professional, fully operable e-commerce website, as well as a full suite of back-office management tools needed to run a business on-line. It is completely free to the first fifty products. The addition of Google Shopping to the free version is a very powerful tool: a small business can make the move to e-commerce with immediate results. The clients are then free to sign up for additional services when they are ready.

FastCommerce.com also announced the launch of a Professional services division, designed for established businesses looking to make the leap into e-commerce while avoiding the hefty expense of project implementation and costly technology. Small businesses with large product catalogs face tremendous hurdles when looking to go into on-line sales. Such a move has traditionally involves licensing e-commerce technologies, and then expending additional funds for implementation. The FastCommerce Professional Services team brings years of experience and its Web 2.0 technology platform to get companies up and running in days instead of months. There is no contract. For a small set up fee, small businesses get a fully operable e-commerce web-site with their products pre-installed. FastCommerce drives down the cost to a fraction of most e-commerce technology platforms. There are additional services for submitting to over 100 search engines, directories, as well as keyword consultation and continuous updates.

About FastCommerce.com

FastCommerce.com is a Web 2.0 technology platform that changes the way entrepreneurs can succeed in on-line sales. It has been designed to automate all the initial hurdles of beginning a web business and managing it, all from one single system. Far from being a simple shopping cart technology, FastCommerce Small Business e-Commerce technology is enterprise in scope with the goal of letting small companies and entrepreneurs run all aspects of their business from a fully integrated single system. It is affordable small business enterprise e-commerce at a small business price.

Press Contact: Gregory Peterson
Company Name: FastCommerce.com
Phone: 650 235 6212
Website: http://www.fastcommerce.com

Squeeze Removed From Online Shopping

2008-06-13T10:38:00.000-05:00

New Online Store Takes the Squeeze out of Online Shopping

Along with a large selection of high quality products partnered with a fresh look to website shopping, BabyMarmalade has reached a new level by taking the squeeze out of your typical online baby store. Babymarmalade.com is poised to be the premier online store for quality yet trendy products for baby and Mom

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 17, 2008 -- BabyMarmalade.com has discovered the secret to what trendy moms really want -- fresh styles for hip kids. Partnered with its unique website design, BabyMarmalede.com offers a wide variety of clothing, toys, and unique accessories for children and mom. BabyMarmalade.com is reaching out of the box and offering several European inspired lines such as safe and lead free toys by Haba and modern furniture with a twist by Oeuf. Along with a large selection of high quality products partnered with a fresh look to website shopping, BabyMarmalade.com has reached a new level by taking the squeeze out of your typical online baby store.

"Today's trendy mom wants to shop on a site that offers unique products that fit not only their need but their children's sense of style. Carrying lines like Haba offers our customers stylish products that that a mom can feel safe about purchasing," says Yulia Orlova, the BabyMarmalade founder.

Today more and more websites geared towards mom are offering a wide selection of products allowing for a one stop shop for mom. BabyMarmalade.com is indeed one of those online stores joining the trend with a unique product offering and a large selection of toys, clothing, gifts, and accessories. Combine the large selection and vast product offering along with the incredible high-quality of their gifts and trendy accessories for tots, Baby Marmalade is poised to be the premier online store for quality yet trendy products for baby and Mom.

For fresh styles for hip kids check out Baby Marmalade

Press Contact: Yulia Orlova
Company Name: Baby Marmalade
Phone: 6178938886
Website: www.babymarmalade.com

Vacation In Your Own Backyard

2008-06-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

Creating a Staycation Retreat in Your Own Backyard

In tough economic times, homeowners are planning at-home vacations
Home & Garden III

ROSEVILLE, Minn.-- June 12, 2008 --From rising airfares and gasoline prices, to the hassle and stress of travel itself, there are a number of factors driving the ideal vacation spot closer to home.

In fact, many homeowners are opting to create a vacation spot in their own backyard. Dubbed a "staycation," this at-home retreat is characterized by finding rest, relaxation and the amenities of a vacation in the comfort of one's home.

"Whether the reason is to save money or avoid the hassle of traveling, vacationing at home allows for enjoyable time off without unnecessary worry," said Michelle Sahlin, managing director, Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). "By planning ahead and creating an outdoor living room, homeowners don't need to travel around the world to get rest and relaxation."

Vacations often lead to visions of sitting under a canopy or awning, drinking a glass of lemonade and enjoying beautiful scenery or landscape. Another vision is spending time with family, playing games and enjoying a few good meals. Whether vacationers opt for tranquility or activity, it can be achieved with a staycation.

Just like a vacation, a staycation requires some preparation. Here are some items to consider prior to the time off:

    * Establish the official staycation timeline: To avoid falling into the daily routine around the house, create a start and end date to the staycation so it is a true vacation.

    * Brighten the landscape: A freshly mowed lawn and flowers in bloom brighten any backyard. Plant a variety of flowers, update the landscape and incorporate a waterfall, fountain or focal point.

    * Create an outdoor living room or kitchen: Extending outdoor living is one of the latest trends. And there's no better time to have the new outdoor living room ready in time for enjoyable summer weather. By adding an awning or canopy over a deck or patio, the living space is versatile in a variety of weather conditions. A grill, cozy furniture, speakers and ambient lighting can also compliment the area.

    * Stock up on games: From bocce ball and croquet to badminton and horseshoes, there are plenty of backyard games well-suited for family and friends. A game of cards or board games also make for more low-key activities.

    * Find a good book: Grab a few good reads - a newly released book, a classic tale and a few favorite magazines.

    * Plan a luau: Just because a flight to Hawaii is out of the picture for now, it doesn't mean a luau can't take place. Grab all the essentials - leis, tiki torches, pineapple, mango, a roast and Hawaiian music. Preparing for the evening ahead of time allows for easy implementation and enjoyment during the staycation.

    * Plan a real vacation: After the staycation is complete, it's time to plan a real vacation, away from home. Determine ways to save and budget for a future getaway after enjoying the comforts of home.

About PAMA

The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is the only international trade association committed to the awning industry. PAMA membership is open to companies who are current members of IFAI and manufacture or sell awnings, as well as those who supply goods/services to the awning industry.

PAMA maintains two Web sites - www.awninginfo.com, which focuses on association members and commercial awning use, and www.awningstoday.com, which educates consumers about awnings and awning benefits.
Contacts

PAMA
Michelle Sahlin, 651-225-6948
mesahlin@ifai.com
or
Risdall McKinney Public Relations
Melissa Neill, 651-286-6736
mneill@risdall.com

Some people with powerful computers can load virtual reality software and use their computer to take a "virtual vacation", but check your computer's memory first. The software demands so much from your computer to create the illision that you may need a computer memory upgrade. Others take a vacation from work on a perniment basis. They do this by searching listings of telecommuting jobs. Once they get a job that can be done while telecommuting they don't ever have to leave their home to go to work.