Showing posts with label 000. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 000. Show all posts

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000



KBB.COM’S 2011 TOP 10 COOLEST NEW CARS UNDER $18,000: EDITORS RANK THIS YEAR’S BEST AFFORDABLE, COOL NEW CARS, PLACING 2012 FIAT 500 AT NO. 1

Personality-Filled, Amenity-Laden Vehicles Dominate This Year’s Kbb.com ‘Cool Cars’ List

IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today name the 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. In a new twist on an annual list published by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, this year the editors ranked their top choices from 10 to one, naming the 2012 Fiat 500 as this year’s No. 1 affordable ‘Cool Car.’



Getting a bargain is special in good economic times, but in economic times like these -- when the economy is teetering, home prices continue to fall and fuel prices inexplicably bounce up to near-record levels -- getting a bargain is more special than ever.

Despite the rising specter of inflation, there are still plenty of new cars available for less than $18,000. Of course, all of them will accomplish the basic tasks that cars are engineered to accomplish – they go, they stop and they keep you out of the weather. But in the kbb.com editors’ vast experience with cars costing less than 18 grand, not all of them are cool, and certainly not all of them are fun. But then there are the select few, the cars that not only do everything one wants and needs a car to do, but those that also do it in an engaging and enjoyable manner.

“There are great deals to be had on many new cars under $18,000, but only a handful of them really possess that cool, difficult-to-describe ‘it’ factor,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Each year the competition keeps getting tougher in this affordable segment, with more personality-filled, amenity-laden, versatile vehicles entering the marketplace. In ranking our top picks this year, the 2012 Fiat 500 took the top prize as our No. 1 choice. After 28 years out of the U.S. market, Fiat is making huge waves with the new 500 and in our books, it is the leader of the ‘Cool Cars’ parade.”

As you might imagine, two criteria -- fun-to-drive and fun-to-own -- are critical in the roll-up to what the editors freely admit is a very subjective "cool factor," the over-arching number-one criterion. Each of the cars on the list is available for purchase at $18,000 or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Purchase Price as the yardstick (Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price is the price consumers typically are paying for a car, based on actual new-vehicle transactions and updated weekly for changing market conditions). Paying less than sticker also is pretty cool, so here, counting down from numbers 10 to one, are kbb.com’s Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000:
Kbb.com’s 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000

10: 2011 Hyundai Elantra

Who knew good value could be so cool? The all-new 2011 Hyundai Elantra is an all-around package of slick design, convenient features and fuel-efficiency -- every Elantra gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway...
9: 2011 Nissan Cube

We agree with Huey Lewis: it is hip to be square, at least when it comes to a car like the Nissan Cube. The polarizing squares-meet-circles design theme gets a lot of attention, but the Cube’s attractiveness is more than skin deep, with features like a sliding and reclining second-row seat, an overabundance of head room and a headliner design that mimics the concentric circles created by a pebble dropped into a pond...
8. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Germany! It’s a country practically brimming with freaky coolness, exemplified by Rammstein, Kraftwerk and, of course, Volkswagen. The latest rendition of VW’s Jetta captures much of Germany’s quirky-cool spirit while being expressly engineered for an American appetite...
7. 2012 Ford Focus

European automakers have long subscribed to the idea that a well-packaged car doesn’t need to be large in size. Ripping a page out of that playbook, Ford has brought the compact, Euro-sweetened 2012 Focus to America, offering head-turning looks, sporty handling and a healthy standard equipment list in an efficient and affordable package...
6. 2012 Honda Civic

Cool doesn’t always have to be in your face. Take the 2012 Honda Civic, for example. Its attributes read like a thought-out online dating profile: Good looking but not flashy, low maintenance and easygoing…but happy be your partner in crime for any adventure (insert winky face here)...
5. 2011 Kia Forte Koup

Having an attractive car that others haven’t seen – that’s cool. The 2011 Kia Forte Koup isn’t just the sportiest-looking car on our list, its standard-equipment list includes a satellite-ready audio system, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and USB/iPod integration, so it looks cool and acts cool…
4. 2011 Honda Fit

Fun, flexible and funky, the Honda Fit remains an instantly unanimous choice for our annual cool cars list. Even the crisper, better-equipped Fit Sport comes in under our $18,000 ceiling...
3. 2011 Ford Fiesta

It’s on our list for the second year in a row and we have a feeling the Ford Fiesta is going to be another perennial favorite. Its European looks and well-crafted interior outclass everything else in the category, and its sharp driving dynamics and nimble handling still impress us every time we get behind the wheel...
2. 2011 Mazda3

At some point we’re going to have to give the Mazda3 a lifetime achievement award for its unequaled streak of appearances on our annual list of coolest cars. For the 8th year in a row – every year of the cars existence, in fact – the Mazda3 has earned a spot on our list for its standout sheet metal, excellent interior and exceptional driving dynamics...
1. 2012 Fiat 500

Regardless of what the Hello Kitty mafia would like to believe, cute isn’t cool. Not usually, anyway. But that’s because cute is rarely backed up by substance, as it is in the 2012 Fiat 500...

To see all of the information about this year’s ‘Cool Cars’ list, including full editorial commentary and reasoning behind each of the editors’ picks, visit the 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 story in kbb.com’s Latest News section at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-_-2011-edition/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

Media Contacts:
Joanna Pinkham
(949) 268-3079
jpinkham@kbb.com
Brenna Robinson
(949) 267-4781
berobinson@kbb.com


Monday, March 21, 2011

The shortcomings of the Nigeria Prize for Literature

The shortcomings of the Nigeria Prize for Literature

The Nigeria Prize for Literature, endowed by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited is a great thing. It is an unprecedented initiative of immense benefit to Nigerian writers and the society for the appreciation of our literary culture.
I have been following the progress of the Nigeria Prize for Literature without any objection to the administration, but not impressed by the impact on the sustainable development of Nigerian literature. There is too much emphasis on the cash prize of $50,000 when the focus should be on promoting the revival of our reading culture for the intellectual development of the Nigerian society that is presently breeding philistines.

The Nigerian Prize for Literature has made the lucky winners richer, but it has failed to make us wiser, because many of the prizes winning books have not reached the majority of the Nigerian society, except the intelligentsia.
The Man Booker Prize, Orange Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Commonwealth Prize and other highly coveted literary awards increase the public appreciation of the winners and their books, but the Nigeria Prize for Literature has failed to make the winners bestsellers and becoming a bestselling author is the dream of every writer.
It looks like there is no budget for a comprehensive media plan for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, because there is no tangible publicity plan for the public appreciation of the winning books beyond the public announcements of the shortlisted authors, the winners and prize giving gala ceremonies. Everybody returns to business as usual after the events and the lucky winner of the $50, 000 prize smiles to the bank. But none of the prize winning books has become a bestseller and the author hardly goes on any book signing tour like in America, the UK or other countries where prize winning books become sought after collector’s items and sell like hot cakes.
What is the use of winning a book prize, but your book is not in demand?
The fact that is; the reading culture in Nigeria is still poor after the efforts of some individuals and groups to promote reading and President Goodluck Jonathan launched a widely publicized “Bring Back the Book” campaign.
The revival of our reading culture is a challenge to the administrators of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.
How can we use the prize to revive the general appreciation of reading in Nigeria?

May I advise the administrators of the Nigeria Prize for Literature to review the budget and the media plan and consider spending more on the promotion of the prize winning books to attract the attention and appreciation of the public.
The promotion of the winning book will attract more readers and boost our reading culture.
Invite the public to vote for the shortlisted books, because such an open invitation will be a good motivation for the public appreciation of the books and will definitely boost their interest to read them.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature needs more cooperation and support of the Nigerian news media to achieve more for the overall benefit of the Nigerian society. The Guardian and other Nigerian newspapers should learn from The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the Guardian of the UK and others in America and Europe by dedicating more pages to literary appreciation such as initiating and promoting a Nigerian Bestsellers List for both fiction and non-fiction like New York Times: Best-Seller Lists, Book of the Month and other promotions that will go a long way to increase the public appreciation of the goals and objectives of the Nigeria Prize for Literature beyond the competition for the cash prize and the glitz of the ceremony.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


















Monday, July 12, 2010

This New Minimum Wage of N17, 000 is Nonsense

Nigerian low income earners deserve more pay

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been negotiating for N52000 minimum wage which is reasonable and realistic in view of the present state of the economy. But what the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to pay is a paltry N17, 000.

This new minimum wage of N17, 000 IS NONSENSE.

N17, 000 is not even up to a living wage for any adult low income worker anywhere in Nigeria.
The cost of living in Lagos for the poorest of the poor is about N1, 000 daily and that is only for a single adult without any family.

How can families working in low-wage jobs earning only N17, 000 monthly make ends meet?

N17, 000 is not even enough to feed one Alsatian Dog in a Nigerian senator's residence.

I support the demands of the Nigerian Labour Congress.


~ Orikinla Osinachi

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Friday, June 11, 2010

Join to Play Yahoo! World Cup Shootout and Raise $100, 000 for Africa




On June 11th Play Yahoo! Penalty Shootout for (RED) and for every goal scored Yahoo! will contribute $1 (USD), up to $100,000 (USD), to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Your goal counts as many times as you can score!

Play. Score. It's for one day only - today.

The beautiful game just got better.







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Monday, April 12, 2010

Nigerian Senator Paid $100, 000 To Marry A 13 Year Old Egyptian Girl

UPDATE ON: The Untold Story of the Allegation of $10.8 Billion Tax Evasion Fraud against Chevron and its Associated Companies BY ABZ INTEGRATED LIMITED.




Senator Ahmed Sani


Nigerian Senator Paid $100, 000 To Marry A 13 Year Old Egyptian Girl

The bearded Senator Ahmed Sani, who is a former governor of Zamfara state in northern Nigeria has paid a bride price of $100, 000 to marry a 13 year old Egyptian girl.

Old men dating and marrying under age girls is common practice among the Muslims in Northern Nigeria.

Full details on Page 9 of The Punch newspaper on Monday April 12, 2010.


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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

19-Year-Old YouTube Vlogger Receives Over One Million Views and Wins $100,000 in Lashes to Riches Giveaway




5 Jan 2010 13:00 Africa/Lagos

19-Year-Old YouTube Vlogger Receives Over One Million Views and Wins $100,000 in Lashes to Riches Giveaway

DALLAS, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Tessa Violet, a 19-year-old model, artist, and popular YouTube "vlogger", wins $100,000 in the Lashes to Riches Giveaway. Beauty Biosciences, a Dallas-based beauty company, recently launched Lash Allure MD, a lash and brow enhancing serum, and in celebration of the new launch held the Giveaway. Lash Allure MD kicked off the Giveaway in November using Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube and asked entrants to post a video on YouTube answering the question: WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH $100,000? The winner was chosen by public vote, which ended December 21, 2009.


Tessa began posting videos on YouTube using her vlogger name, Meekakitty, to meet new friends when she moved to New York City a year and a half ago. Sitting in her room in front of a video camera, Meekakitty turned her internet passion into a popular weekly vlogger site with over 7 million video views. "She's a quirky, sassy, intelligent young woman who put her obsession to work," says Leesa Smith, EVP of Beauty Biosciences.


Wearing huge dark rimmed glasses and sporting a simple ponytail for special effects, Meekakitty in her signature style of combining wit, imagination, and self -reflective thought shared with her audience her plans for spending $100,000: take her mother to Prague as a thank you for supporting her YouTube obsession, buy a jetpack and the country Switzerland, build a life-size replica of the fictional Harry Potter castle, and have unlimited burritos for life. She also promised her voters that, if she won, she would do a 24-hour blog TV show.


The Lashes to Riches $100,000 Giveaway officially ended 12/21/09 and the check will be awarded in January.


Tessa's winning video


Source: Beauty Biosciences

CONTACT: Gigi Howard, Public Relations Director of Beauty Biosciences,
+1-214-691-7600, cell, +1-917-297-2132, ghoward@beautybiosciences.com


Monday, February 9, 2009

Virtualization Saves Microsoft Customers Nearly a Half-Million Dollars Per Year



Virtualization Saves Microsoft Customers Nearly a Half-Million Dollars Per Year

Businesses gain value via server consolidation, integrated management tools and application management.

REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 9, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Microsoft Corp. today announced that some business customers around the world have saved on average $470,000 (U.S.) per year through IT projects using Microsoft virtualization software. Microsoft's business customers have been able to use virtualization to help reduce operations and capital expenses via reduced electrical power consumption and cooling within datacenters, reduced hardware acquisition costs, automation of desktop and server management, and centralized application deployment.

The cost of running IT systems has increased as electrical power, cooling and physical space has become constrained. In his 2008 refereed journal article, "Worldwide electricity used in data centers," Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University concluded that total datacenter power was about 1.5 percent of all U.S. electricity use in 2005, with 80 percent of that amount going toward powering and cooling servers.

A separate report, by Gartner Inc., stated that "the effective use of virtualization can reduce server energy consumption by up to 82 percent and floor space by 85 percent" (Gartner: "Energy Savings via Virtualization: Green IT on a Budget"; Nov. 12, 2008).

"Businesses are looking to reduce and manage computing costs in datacenters and across server and client computing devices," said David Greschler, director of integrated virtualization at Microsoft. "Virtualization software allows businesses to pool computing resources to drive down IT costs, increase IT efficiency and be more responsive to business needs. Customers are getting a better bang for their buck with the Microsoft platform and virtualization solutions because virtualization is in both the operating system and in the holistic management tools. Customers can manage IT services and a broad set of applications across the datacenter and desktops. There is less of a learning curve for customers, and it eases interoperability with existing systems."

Savings Through Available Built-In Virtualization and Management Automation
Microsoft's approach to virtualization, which incorporates server and presentation virtualization into Windows Server 2008 and unlimited virtual machine management with Microsoft System Center suite license, is helping break down barriers to broad virtualization adoption.

"The VMware ESX solution would have cost $30,000 (U.S.) for four servers. With Microsoft, we have a service provider agreement that allows for monthly payments with no capital costs — costing us less than $1,000 over the life of the contract," said David Straede, president and chief operating officer for Santa Barbara Web Hosting. "Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V has the core features businesses need. It's the Windows people know, is installed just like other Windows-based applications, and works in a management console that IT staff are already using. The ESX feature set simply doesn't justify its additional expense."

If making it easy for customers to implement virtualization is important, making it easy to manage the environment is just as critical for saving time and money. With Microsoft System Center, customers have a single solution for managing the entire IT life cycle, from deployment and provisioning to monitoring and backup. Equally important, customers can manage both server and desktop resources, both virtual and physical assets, and both Microsoft and VMware hypervisors, all with the same platform.

These capabilities helped Banverket ICT choose Microsoft for its virtualization strategy. "We knew we wanted to build a compatible virtualization platform that would encompass server consolidation, Terminal Services and application virtualization that we could manage with a single set of tools," said Pontus Blomkvist, service design manager, Banverket ICT. "With Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services, we have been able to reduce the number of terminal servers because we can run many applications on any server at any time, without worrying about conflicts. With Hyper-V, we are now running 50 virtual machines in production, with a utilization rate of 80 percent for some of the servers as opposed to 15 percent before we deployed Hyper-V."

Savings Through Consolidation, Reductions in Power
By running multiple virtual machines on fewer physical servers, Microsoft customers are drastically cutting hardware requirements and easing server management. For example, Indiana University's Auxiliary IT Department went from 152 to just 32 servers, which it expects will save $85,000 (U.S.) annually. Saxo Bank had an average physical server utilization of just 20 percent and was deploying nearly 200 new servers per year before using server virtualization. Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V allowed the bank to reduce the number of servers needed by 36 percent and realize savings equivalent to $1 million (U.S.), because of lower server hardware costs and associated reductions in space, power and cooling costs.

Many customers have realized similarly dramatic electrical savings as a result of server consolidation, which is a particularly important benefit in today's climate of volatile power prices. TALX expects to save approximately 50 percent in annual power and cooling costs by consolidating its server environment with Hyper-V. HotSchedules, which noted that its No. 1 cost in the datacenter is power, spent about $11,000 (U.S.) a month on datacenter power costs, but with Hyper-V it anticipates that this monthly figure will go down to $2,500. Santa Barbara Web Hosting uses Hyper-V to reduce its power consumption costs by $5,220 (U.S.) per month, helping the company provide more cost-effective services to its customers. And Slough Borough Council took advantage of the savings from eliminating 10 physical servers to preserve the electrical power needed to turn on a new storage area network.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see us virtualize 60 servers once our physical-to-virtual analysis is complete, which represents nearly half our server holdings," said Chris Wintermute, technical infrastructure manager for Slough Borough Council. "We've achieved hardware savings of $148,000 (U.S.), and we expect to reduce server deployment costs by $23,700 (U.S.) annually, based on rolling out 20 servers a year."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.
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