New Global Texting Champions Crowned At 2011 LG Mobile World Cup In New York City

Team Panama Wins USD $100,000 and Claims the Title of Fastest, Most Accurate Texters in the World

SAN DIEGO, January 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — LG Mobile Phones crowned the winner of the second annual LG Mobile World Cup today, naming the sister duo, Cristina Sales Ancines, age 20, and Jennifer Sales Ancines, age 15, from Panama as the “World’s Fastest Texters.” Defeating competitors from 16 countries to take home the title of LG Mobile World Cup Champions, the pair completed rigorous texting challenges and games to take home $100,000 in prize money and bragging rights that will last a lifetime.



Demonstrating their skills using the LG BL20 and the LG GT350, Cristina and Jennifer texted their way into World Cup glory by winning the final round of game play. Contestants from South Korea placed second and took home $20,000, while team Brazil placed third and won $10,000.

“We are so excited to have won this world title,” said Cristina. “Participating in this competition and getting to meet so many people from around the world has been a great learning experience and has led to many new friendships,” added Jennifer

In addition to the main competition, players also competed for the opportunity to break the Guinness World Records® achievement for the fastest texting on a QWERTY mobile phone device. Player, Cheong Kit Au from Australia, broke the current Guinness World Records® record for the fastest texting on a QWERTY mobile phone with a 264-character text he typed in just 1 minute and 17 seconds.

The 2011 LG Mobile World Cup took place on Jan. 26 in New York City at the historic Gotham Hall. During the competition, players competed in various texting missions, including wall of dark, monster guide, legendary trillion, touch-phone game (TBD), monster’s swamp and racing relay. In each mission, contestants were tasked with the challenge of typing in phrases on their LG mobile devices exactly as they appeared on nearby LG plasma screens with no mistakes or abbreviations, all while trying to out-text than their opponents.

Finalists selection for the LG Mobile World Cup began with a series of national texting contests across 16 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Korea, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand and the U.S. After several months, 26 contestants were chosen to compete in the hopes of becoming the word’s fastest texter.

# # #
About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 80,000 people working in over 115 operations around the world. With 2009 global sales of 55.5 trillion Korean won (USD 43.4 billion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning and Energy Solution. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, audio and video products, mobile handsets, air conditioners and washing machines. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a leading global mobile communications and information company. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative design capabilities, LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world. LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products, while continuing its leadership role in mobile communication with stylish designs and smart technology. For more information, please visit www.lgmobilephones.com.


Media Contacts:
Demetra Kavadeles
LG MobileComm U.S.A., Inc.
(707) 328-5307
Demetra.Kavadeles@lge.com
Jackie Cox
LG-One
(914) 729-4235
Jacqueline.Cox@lg-one.com

Shell Oil Defends Nigeria Operations To Dutch Lawmakers

$100 million fine for a 40-year-ol­d oil spill is even like a plea bargain fee. Because, the damages caused to the ecosystem cannot be estimated in monetary terms. Shell cannot just walk away without facing the consequenc­es and paying the penalties for the collateral damages of Shell's oil spillages in Ejama-Ebub­u and other communitie­s in the Niger Delta.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Defendant counters libel suit of FIRS Boss over Chevron Tax Evasion Saga 2

The first part of this report Defendant counters libel suit of FIRS Boss over Chevron Tax Evasion Saga was published on Nigerians Report on TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011. The following is the concluding part.

Fidelis Uzonwanne and ABZ Integrated Limited slam Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), with a counter claim of N50 Billion (Fifty Billion Naira) in the suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1331/2010.

In a liable suit filed by Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), claiming damages of N10 Billion (Ten Billion Naira) against Fidelis Uzonwanne, a Chartered Accountant, his consulting outfit, ABZ Integrated LTD as 6th & 7th defendants and 5 others, the 6th and 7th defendants made a counter claim of N50 Billion against the Plaintiff. They are equally asking for a speedy trial as they believe the Plaintiff’s suit is a calculated attempt to stall on-going investigations of the issues raised by the relevant government agencies and allow her a third term in office.

President Jonathan, Invasion of High Court in Anambra

President Jonathan, the recent invasion of a sacred place like the Courthouse require your direct response

Sir, you and members of your executive council, the ministers in particular probably heard of the recent invasion by some offenders who stormed a High Court of Justice in an area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Sir, as you know the court is one of the most sacred sites among public institutions where ordinary people, and persons of means go to in search of justice, protection or freedom.

In a society that deems itself as an emerging democracy , there is a deep , long and principled tradition of viewing the judiciary and its courts as sacred grounds of judgment which requires utmost protection at every second, minute, and hour.
Yet, this court in question at a time when it was in session would become adulterated by these invaders who picketed the court grounds and openly removed case files , court documents and even vandalized, as well as remove the presiding judge’s personal and official effects as well as other essentials.

Sir, it was also reported that the presiding judge’s panic call to the police received no immediate response, and worst of all, was the report that the invaders acted in the presence of the police, and that the police let go one of the invaders who had been held by a court staff.

Sir, you will agree that this is a disturbing trend as the courthouse terror, violence or thievery frightens not just the justices, judges and magistrates but the faith of the people in the courts become almost erased.
Sir, this puts the country’s already shaky democracy on delicate ground which is further compounded by the current scary political atmosphere across various regions in the nation.

Sir, you and your executive council must save the people from this type of public barbarity, and you Sir should come out publicly and for many very good reasons, personally condemn these heinous acts and assure the protection of the Court officials and documents. Please do this for God’s sake.

Sir, you must push hard against all forms of judicial-laced barbaric or evil inflicts on our young democracy. Doing this head on, through loud voice and outcry will send words of defeat against those that terrorize the courts. Also, potential invaders of the courts will learn a hard lesson, and outrageous acts from bad police officers will be stifled.

Sir, while you have not openly and vigorously supported a state police system which this writer and many others have called for , it is time for you to use executive order to put in place an exclusive body of court police and security agents around the courts and those that serve in the judiciary.

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu

Americans Like People Who Speak Like They Do

26 Jan 2011 12:08 Africa/Lagos


Americans Like People Who Speak Like They Do

Half of adults think speakers with Southern accents are nice, British accents are sophisticated and New York City accents are rude

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2011

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Accents are a funny thing. Certain ones prompt stereotypical thought, which might be why people often deny having an accent. Yet, when asked about various attributes, Americans living in the East, Midwest and South all give more flattering responses about the accents from their areas than do adults from elsewhere.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100517/NY06256LOGO )

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll ® of 2,331 adults surveyed online between December 6 and 13, 2010 by Harris Interactive®.

When asked to think about hearing various accents half of adults say they think speakers with a Southern accent are nice (49%), two in five say the same for speakers with a Midwest accent (40%), one in five say those with a British accent or New England accent are nice (19% and 18%, respectively) while less than one in ten say so for speakers with a New York City accent (7%).

Half of adults also think those with a British accent are sophisticated (47%)—far more than adults say so for any other accent (between 20% for New England accents, down to 6% for Southern accents). And, while half of adults think that speakers with New York City accents are rude (51%), very few adults say the same for any other accent listed (between 14% and 4%).

Regional Differences

Despite speakers sometimes denying their regional accent, adults award accents from their own area more positive descriptions and fewer negative ones, than adults from other areas do. For example:

* Southerners think that speakers with Southern accents are nice (59%) and honest (45%) more often than those from the West (42% and 28%), East (44% and 29%) and Midwest (45% and 31%) do;
* While just over one in ten adults think that speakers with a New York City accent are intelligent (12%), a higher percentage—18%—of those in the East say this, compared to fewer in the Midwest (12%), West (11%) and South (10%) who say the same;
* Similarly, one in six Easterners say those with a New York City accent are honest (16%), compared to very few in other regions who agree (between 4% and 6%); and,
* On the opposite end of the spectrum, although most adults think speakers with New York City accents are rude (51%), only 46% of Easterners agree, compared to more Midwesterners (54%), Southerners (54%) and Westerners (48%) who say this.


This pattern continues as Midwesterners say that speakers with a Midwest accent are well-educated, intelligent, nice and honest more frequently than adults from other regions say the same. In fact, over half of Midwesterners (55%) say someone with a Midwestern accent is nice compared to 42% of Westerners, 36% of Easterners and just 31% of Southerners who say this.

Does this matter?

Americans cheerleading for their own regional accents is not limited to complimentary adjectives—U.S. adults think that their accents would actually beat out the others in a competitive job market. When asked if four equally qualified applicants for a certain job were only differentiated by their accent, two in five adults (39%) say that the applicant with the Midwestern accent would get the job. However, 63% of Midwesterners say this compared to between 41% and 21% of adults from the other regions who do.

With regard to other regions, a quarter of Easterners say the job would go to the person with the New England accent (26%) compared to fewer adults from elsewhere who agree (between 17% and 9%). One in five Easterners (19%) also say it would go to the New Yorker (compared to between 14% and 7% of those from other areas), and one in five Southerners (18%) say it would go to their applicant, compared to very few adults from elsewhere who agree (between 7% and 3%). Easterners are also more likely than other regions to say the job would go to the person with the British accent (27%).

So What?

Although TV news and other media personalities often work to overcome distinctive regional accents, it doesn't seem that local inflections are bothersome, at least not to an audience from that area. However, it might be interesting if speakers are skilled enough to play up their accent, or not, depending on their situation – it appears there may be circumstances where a different style of pronunciation could work well to one's advantage.

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Controversial African film nominated for Best Foreign Language Oscar

Outside the Law

The controversial African film Outside the Law made it to the final five nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film. A record third time for the director, but I doubt if Rachid Bouchareb’s film can beat the Mexican film Biutiful by Alejandro González Iñárritu. "Biutiful" also got the lead actor Javier Bardem a nomination for Best Actor and tipped by top Hollywood stars to win the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film. Julia Roberts is in love with the movie.

Biutiful

"Biutiful" which is the humourous Spanish spelling of beautiful was in competition for the Palme d'Or at the last Cannes Film Festival where Bardem shared the Best Actor award with Elio Germano for Daniele Luchetti's "La Nostra Vita". It was the Best Foreign Language Film of 2010 at the 17th Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards and also nominated for the 64th British Academy Film Awards for Best Film not in the English Language and Javier Bardem getting another nomination for Best Actor.

The shortlisted films competing for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar are "Dogtooth," by Greece's Yorgos Lanthimos; "Algeria's "Outside the Law," directed by Rachid Bouchareb; "Incendies," from Canada's Denis Villeneuve; "In a Better World," by Denmark's Susanne Bier; and "Biutiful," by Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.



Click here to see all Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards.

Many foreign films had theatrical releases in North America in 2010. The notables included the French production “Babies”, “I am Love” from Italy and “The Secret in Their Eyes” from Argentina that won an Oscar last year. Sandy Mandelberger, a New York film Editor has a detailed report posted on Fest 21.

While some African countries have made it to the Foreign Language Film category of the Oscars, Nigeria has not even made it to the competition at the Cannes Film Festival, except in some minor international film festivals in the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. Nigeria boasts of Nollywood, the so called second largest movie industry in the world, but with nothing much to show for it, except the proliferation of substandard home videos circulated by pirates with impunity.

Jeta Amata’s "Amazing Grace", Stephanie Okereke’s "Through the Glass", Kunle Afolayan’s "The figurine (Araromire)" and Chineze Anyaene’s "IJÉ: The Journey" made so much buzz in the local media with claims of breaking box office records in Nigeria, but they have not even found major distributors in the US and Europe. Now Jeta Amata’s new film "Black Gold" and Mahmood Ali-Balogun’s "Tango with Me" are being hyped with great expectations and the only way to prove their worth is not pulling crowds at the few cinemas in Nigeria, but competing with the best at the Cannes and making the nominations for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Academy Awards. Until then, the best is yet to come in Nollywood.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Are You Ready to Chill?

25 Jan 2011 16:08 Africa/Lagos

Are You Ready to Chill?

Nap Nanny® Announces the Arrival of the Chill™, the Only Portable Infant Recliner Designed for Sleep, Play and Peace of Mind

PR Newswire

DEVON, Pa., Jan. 25, 2011

DEVON, Pa., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nap Nanny Chill is now available and is the answer to every parent's search for better sleep. Now, with the Nap Nanny Chill, anytime can be Chill time, at home or on the go. The Nap Nanny is the only portable infant recliner that provides a safe, stable secure place for baby, asleep or awake. Consumer testing with the new Nap Nanny Chill showed that even the fussiest babies relax and sleep better, giving everyone in the house the sleep they deserve.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110125/PH35236 )

"We've heard amazing stories from grateful parents whose babies have found peace in the Nap Nanny Chill. Not only are they relaxing happily they're snoozing for longer, at nap time and nighttime," says President and Founder Leslie Gudel. The Nap Nanny has been in high demand since Gudel, a sportscaster and Mom-treprener, debuted the product in January 2009. The original, patented Nap Nanny was invented by the sleep deprived sportscaster when her healthy baby girl would only sleep upright in a car seat or loving arms.

"We're constantly tweaking and improving, and our engineers have worked hard to make the Chill even more comfortable for babies of all ages," she says of the revolutionary Nap Nanny, the high density foam product which has helped infants (over 8 lbs.) sleep, feed and play in an inclined, comfortable position.

Weighing in at only 3 lbs, the portable Nap Nanny Chill offers a snugger fit at the hips, with slightly higher sides, a redesigned three-point harness, a wide base for stability, and a waterproof liner to protect the foam core. It mimics the basic contours of a car seat, but is sloped at 30° at the top and curved gently at the foot to cradle the baby and prevent sliding.

The Nap Nanny Chill comes with one super-soft, washable zip cover and is available in traditional Pink and Blue, two neutrals — Sage and Camel — as well as the playful Giraffe print. Extra covers are sold separately, and a new travel carrier is also now available.

Like its predecessor, the Nap Nanny Chill recliner is a stand-alone product and not a sleep positioner. It can be carried easily from room to room, but is designed for FLOOR USE ONLY — it should never be placed in a crib, play yard or elevated surface.

The Nap Nanny Chill is available through a number of online retail outlets, at retail stores throughout the USA and Canada or at www.napnanny.com.

Baby Matters, LLC, parent company of Nap Nanny, is a privately held company and was founded in 2009.

CONTACT: Karin Buck, 215-694-9944, Karin@napnanny.com

SOURCE Nap Nanny

CONTACT: Karin Buck, +1-215-694-9944, Karin@napnanny.com

Web Site: http://www.napnanny.com

Defendant counters libel suit of FIRS Boss over Chevron Tax Evasion Saga

Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru


Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited, an Abuja based company has filed a counter claim against Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to deny the allegations of unwarranted monetary demands from FIRS or illegitimate claims made by the plaintiff against him and his company in her April 16th 2010 libel suit against Roobbs Communications Network Limited, the publishers of The Premier newspaper and the other defendants Messrs.Rotimi Sulyman, Musbau Razak, Lanre Olaleye and Gboyega Adeoye at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.

Mrs. Okauru in her suit at the High Court in Abuja is claiming N10 billion in damages caused by the news story: "FACE OF A FRAUD TAX BOSS, OMOIGUI -OKAURU IN N74BN SCAM" titled "TAX FRAUD FIRS BOSS, OMOIGUI-OKAIRU FINGERED IN $492M SCAM", published on Tuesday 9 MARCH – MONDAY 15 MARCH 2010 edition of The Premier newspaper, accusing her and others of the diversion of some N74 billion tax payment from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

In the suit N0: FCT/HC/CV /1331/2010 filed by N.I Okpo ESQ of ROPHEKA PARTNERS, PENTHOUSE SUITE, COPPER HOUSE, N0 4, ALGIERS STREET, ZONE 5, WUSE Abuja, on 16th April 2010, Mrs. Okauru claimed that The Premier newspaper and Fidelis Uzonwanne were intimidating her to authorize the payment of 10% of US$491, 509, 303.31, allegedly recovered from Chevron Nigeria Limited to Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited.

See The Untold Story of the $10.8 Billion Tax Evasion and Fraud By Chevron Nigeria Limited and Its Associated Companies published on the Nigerians Report on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

The following are the first 10 of the 28 documents of the statement of defence and counter claim of Mr. Fidelis Uzonwanne, the Managing Director of ABZ Integrated Limited at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. The remaining parts will be published before the end of this week.

How to Identify and Influence "Social Echo"

New White Paper & Video Series from PR Newswire Educates Organizations on How to Identify and Influence "Social Echo"

New York, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — “Social Echo”, the powerful reverberation of conversations around your brand that occur across social media, is explored in a new white paper and video series from PR Newswire that will identify how organizations can strategically influence their Social Echo and create benefits across the entire organization.

The first in the series, “Amplifying Your Social Echo”, explores how to find your “Social Echo” and amplify it to create a lasting effect on everything from product development to customer service and audience engagement.

Utilizing case studies from recognized brands such as Unisys and Windstar Cruises, this series will provide practical information that can immediately be tailored to any organization.

Other topics covered in the series will include how to create ‘group echoes’, how to manage your social echo during a crisis and when it’s appropriate to take a back seat to your Social Echo and let it play itself out. Case studies will be presented throughout the white paper and video series.

PR Newswire offers a comprehensive suite of monitoring & measurement services to keep abreast of what’s being said about an organization - its brand, products and people – in both traditional and social media and to understand the potential impact of these conversations. These monitoring services, together with PR Newswire’s engagement services, provide a means to identify, influence, amplify and leverage an organization’s Social Echo to impact the bottom line.

Download “Amplifying Your Social Echo” NOW.

Contact PR Newswire to learn more about monitoring and engagement services.
About PR Newswire

PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms and solutions that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 56 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content – from rich media to online video to multimedia – and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, social, search and mobile channels. Combining the world’s largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world’s enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. Among its suite of audience engagement and workflow solutions, PR Newswire includes the ARC™ engagement platform, which enables marketers to distribute and optimize multimedia across all digital channels, and Media Monitoring, which enables the measurement of brands’ “Social Echo,” including sentiment. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a United Business Media company.

Media Contact:
Rachel Meranus
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6776
rachel.meranus@prnewswire.com

Call To Artists: The Beverly Hills Art Show - Affaire In The Gardens

25 Jan 2011 05:28 Africa/Lagos


Call To Artists: The Beverly Hills Art Show - Affaire In The Gardens

PR Newswire

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 24, 2011

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

When:

Deadline for Artists to submit application is February 14th, 2011

Show dates are Saturday and Sunday, May 21st & 22nd, 2011

Where:

Beverly Gardens Park along Santa Monica Boulevard, from Rodeo to Rexford Drive
9400 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

More Information:

Contact:
Karen Fitch McLean, Art Show Coordinator
City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department

310.285.6836 or 310.285.6830

kmclean@beverlyhills.org

Website:
http://www.beverlyhills.org/artshow - or visit us on Facebook

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/DC35521 )

The City of Beverly Hills is seeking fine artists to display and sell their art at its two-day art fair, The Beverly Hills Art Show – Affaire In The Gardens, to be held on May 21st and 22nd, 2011 in gracious Beverly Gardens, a long green oasis in the historic heart of town. The deadline to apply to the art show is February 14th.

Fine artists working in the categories of Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Ceramics & Glass, Mixed Media and New/Digital Media Categories are welcome to apply. An additional special theme of this show will be combustion and fire; any artist working with these concepts is encouraged to get in touch with the art show office.

The show has been held for nearly 40 years in the heart of Beverly Hills, attracting up to 50,000 visitors throughout the weekend. Please visit our website or call 310.285.6836 to apply or receive additional information.


SOURCE City of Beverly Hills

CONTACT: Karen Fitch McLean, Art Show Coordinator of City of Beverly Hills Community Services Department, +1-310-285-6836, +1-310-285-6830, kmclean@beverlyhills.org

Web Site: http://www.ci.commerce.ca.us