Thursday, June 28, 2012

Harry Potter 15th Anniversary





THURSDAY, JUNE 28: HARRY POTTER 15TH ANNIVERSARY



Profile America — Thursday, June 28th. Fifteen years ago this week, the first of a series of books was published in the United Kingdom — "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," published in the U.S. with the title "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The books, written by J.K. Rowling, ended up breaking all known publishing records, selling 450 million copies and translated into more than 60 languages. Some critics have credited the series with sparking an increase in reading among juveniles. In addition, the seven novels have been made into wildly successful motion pictures. Nearly $23 billion worth of printed books are sold in the U.S. each year.


CLICK THE PICTURE TO ORDER FOR THE COMPLETE BOOKS 1-7.





Profile America is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau: Measuring America—People, Places, and Our Economy.



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

How Much Do You Know About Milk?


SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The many reasons to love milk go beyond building strong bones. A new brochure and an infographic from Dairy Council of California celebrate the secrets, stories and facts of America's favorite natural beverage.


Milk has been a part of the American family since the first cow came to the United States in the 1600s. Since then, we've come a long way from milking the family cow. Today, milk goes from the cow to the grocery store in about two days, making it one of the freshest beverages available to American families.

"Milk plays such an important role in our everyday lives that it's easy to take milk for granted," said Ashley Rosales, Registered Dietitian with Dairy Council of California. "We're hoping these materials will help people everywhere appreciate milk a little bit more."

Rising prices at the grocery store have prompted a lot of media coverage, but milk remains a great value. An 8-ounce glass of milk costs just about 25 cents, and from it consumers get the same amount of calcium as they would from 12 servings of whole grains, 10 cups of raw spinach and 8 cups of beans (legumes).

"No single food offers the same great flavor, nutrition, versatility and health benefits of milk," said Rosales. "So raise a glass!"

Along with value and nutrition, milk offers remarkable versatility. Enjoy milk in a glass with dinner, in cream soups and puddings, and even in lattes and hot cocoas to start the day or wind down the night. Available in a wide variety of flavors and fat levels—and even as lactose-free—there is a milk choice for everybody.

Find these facts as well as tips on decoding the dairy case in the new infographic How Much Do You Know About Milk? and the brochure Milk! Secrets, Stories & Facts of America's Favorite Natural Beverage, both by Dairy Council of California.

About Dairy Council of California
Dairy Council of California (www.DairyCouncilofCA.org) serves as the dairy industry's contribution to community health by creating science-based nutrition education curricula and resources that help children and families improve their eating habits and make nutrient-rich choices from all food groups. For nearly a century, Dairy Council of California has partnered with schools, health professionals and community leaders to offer California families simple steps for making balanced food choices while conveying the irreplaceable role that milk and milk products play in a balanced diet.

On the Net
Dairy Council of California: www.DairyCouncilofCA.org
How Much Do You Know About Milk? infographic and brochure: www.DairyCouncilofCA.org/How-Much-Do-You-Know-About-Milk
Milk 101 by Registered Dietitian Ashley Rosales for KCRA Sacramento: www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/Milk-101/-/12969376/14756382/-/pnrujw/-/index.html

Related Links
Get the Secrets, Stories and Facts About Milk from Dairy Council of California.
Registered Dietitian Ashley Rosales shares Milk 101 with KCRA Sacramento viewers.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1g3hh)



1 in 5 Women Will Experience a Mood or Anxiety Disorder While Pregnant or After Giving Birth (PPD)



Regroup Therapy introduces Video Support Groups to help women come together and feel better, wherever they are

This is how a Regroup Video Support Session at regrouptherapy.com looks. Expecting and postpartum moms come together with a licensed therapist with specific experience in maternal depression and anxiety. Postpartum depression (PPD) and other maternal mood disorders affect 1 in 5 moms either during or after their pregnancy.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1g4au)


CHICAGO, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnant and new mothers will experience prenatal or postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety. Most women are undiagnosed and inadequately treated, if treated at all. This can have devastating effects on women and families. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics 2010; 126;1032-1039), untreated postpartum depression (PPD) and prenatal depression can lead to increased medical costs, inappropriate medical care, discontinuation of breastfeeding, child abuse, and neglect. Support groups can be an effective way to help prevent these negative consequences (Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158:638–640). Unfortunately, women with postpartum depression (PPD) and other maternal mood disorders frequently struggle to find a group that overcomes barriers of geographical location, traffic, timing, and childcare.

Regroup Therapy is excited to enable women to find support, through the launch of its video support groups. These groups facilitate live interaction between women suffering from Prenatal and Postpartum Depression (PPD)/Anxiety and preeminent therapist-moderators. These online sessions are easy to participate in, and unite women struggling with mood or anxiety concerns like postpartum depression (PPD) from the comfort of their own homes. The sessions are moderated by therapists with specific expertise in maternal mental health and provide women with a supportive experience to promote healing and health.

These sessions also offer participants with PPD and other maternal mood disorders the invaluable opportunity to empathize with and learn from others who share their challenges. These groups will provide an opportunity to practice new skills and develop action plans for healing.

About Regroup Therapy:

Regroup helps bring women and expert, licensed therapists together to help them overcome life challenges. This happens in a live, video support group that is simple enough for anyone to use. It has the benefits of a live, face-to-face support group with the added advantage that participants can join from wherever they choose. In the future, Regroup will expand to help people with a wide range of issues and concerns.

Regroup was recently selected as one of 35 companies invited to compete in Techweek LAUNCH at this year's Techweek Conference and Expo in Chicago.

www.regrouptherapy.com

For more information please contact:
David Cohn
david@regrouptherapy.com
(847) 562- 5673

Related Links:
Regroup Therapy Video Support Groups
Regroup Therapy Video Support Groups in 85 seconds

SOURCE Regroup Therapy

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1g4au)



Presidential Candidates Urged To Make Education A Priority



The College Board’s ‘Don’t Forget Ed’ grassroots effort to keep schools in the spotlight during presidential election

857 empty desks on the National Mall represent the number of students who drop out of American schools every hour of every school day.

857 desks on the National Mall, part of the College Board's Don't Forget Ed campaign, represent the number of students who drop out of school every hour of every school day.

WASHINGTON — June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The College Board today kicked off a nationwide movement to make education a more prominent issue in the 2012 presidential campaign. The effort calls upon the major candidates to discuss and debate their plans for reform amid an alarming decline in the state of American education. The College Board launched the campaign on the National Mall with a compelling public installation of 857 school desks, representing the 857 students who drop out of American schools every hour of every school day.

“‘Don’t Forget Ed’ recognizes that education is the foundation of our society. If our schools fail, then so will everything else — from our economy to national security,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “Yet every four years, the issue of education is shockingly underplayed on the campaign trail. That’s why this year we are encouraging candidates all over the country to tell voters precisely how they would reverse the sharp decline of American education. Parents, teachers, students and administrators have had enough of the silence. This year they are speaking loud and clear, and the College Board is committed to amplifying their voices.”

Don’t Forget Ed is an innovative, multitactical campaign that is being launched on the National Mall with an installation of 857 empty school desks symbolizing the number of students who drop out of school every hour of every school day. The campaign includes a website, a petition to be presented to the candidates at the nominating conventions, a full-page ad in The New York Times, and a PSA featuring former New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Merone Tesfaye. Tesfaye is a graduating senior at New York’s LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and will be tweeting and speaking to promote the campaign over the summer months.

On August 15, Don’t Forget Ed will rally thousands of voices via Twitter and Facebook in order to send a powerful message to the candidates. Don’t Forget Ed will continue staging additional events in conjunction with the nominating conventions and leading up to Election Day to generate further support and engagement.

“We’re not criticizing any candidates and we are not advocating a particular policy. We are mobilizing students and others to create a more visible constituency that wants education to be a prominent issue in the election,” said Peter Kauffmann, vice president of communications at the College Board. A poll commissioned by the College Board in April 2012 found that 67 percent of voters in nine key swing states believe education is an “extremely important” issue in the run-up to the general election.

More than 1.2 million students drop out of school every year, which averages out to 6,000 students every school day and 857 every hour. Recent data show that students in this country rank 25th in math and 21st in science among students from 30 industrialized nations.

About the College Board:
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.


STAY CONNECTED:

On the Web: www.dontforgeted.org
Follow on Twitter: #DontForgetEd

MEDIA CONTACT:

Carly Lindauer
212-713-8052
communications@collegeboard.org








I'm Flattered That You Are All So Interested in My Vagina



Republicans ban Democrat for saying "vagina"

Michigan Republicans think it’s okay to legislate vaginas – but not talk about them. During a debate over one of the most restrictive anti-choice bills yet, Michigan state Rep. Lisa Brown read a letter from a voter that concluded, "Finally Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you are all so interested in my vagina, but no means no."

In response, Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger banned Rep. Brown from speaking on the state House floor the next day.

Send Jase Bolger an email telling him that if he is uncomfortable with lawmakers using the word "vagina," then he should stop legislating vaginas.



Miss Universe Leila Lopes On Cover of MAXIM Portugal



Exotic African beauty Leila Lopes, the Miss Universe 2011 on cover of Maxim Portugal, June 2012.



Click here for more photographs.



Atiq Mahenti In Dubai Wants To Contact Nigerian Friend Peace


Atiq Mahenti is based in Dubai, but lost contact with his Nigerian friend Peace who visited Dubai in April and May 2010 and stayed at the Blue Diamond Hotel in Deira near Gold Souk, Dubai. He wants Peace to contact him asap.


The following is the message from Atiq Mahenti.



Dear Peace,
Where are you?
Please contact me by my email id atiq_dxb@hotmail.com or call my mobile telephone number 00971 50 8800215.


Commerzbank Study: Africa's Economies Continue to Gain Ground


27 Jun 2012 07:05 Africa/Lagos

Commerzbank Study: Africa's Economies Continue to Gain Ground


FRANKFURT, June 27, 2012/PRNewswire via African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Countries benefit from the commodity boom and political stability

- Growth impulses above all in the Sub-Saharan region


After the crises of the past, the economies of many African countries are clearly heading for growth. Political and economic stability has increased above all in the countries of the Sub-Saharan region. "Medium-term growth potential in Sub-Saharan Africa ought to be about six per cent per annum in the years ahead", a new study by Commerzbank, the second largest bank for private and corporate customers in Germany, reveals. According to the study, countries which manage to attract foreign investors could actually see even higher growth, since investments like these frequently initiate or boost growth momentum. With an economic growth forecast of 5.4 per cent for 2012, the region is now already ranking directly behind front-runner Asia.

The commodity boom and the turnaround to stability-oriented economic policy have increased the crisis-resistance of many countries in this region. Some of the states have thus already recorded notable surpluses in current account and government budget. The prerequisites for further economic growth, according to the study, are a stable political framework and a large population which allow higher economies of scale with fixed investment costs, plus good availability of commodities. Countries which meet these criteria include in particular Nigeria, Ghana, Angola and Mozambique. "The greatest challenge for Sub-Saharan Africa is the demographic development. The labour force potential, which is growing strongly because of the high population growth, can only be absorbed by the creation of additional jobs", says Florian Witt, head of the Africa department in Commerzbank's corporate banking. He remarks that this can only succeed if the depth of value added is decisively increased - and that, specifically, prevailing conditions call for such an increase mainly in the commodity-processing industry and in the processing of agricultural products.

The signs point to a sustained positive development: "In the larger cities a middle class is forming with a demand for increasingly higher-quality products. The services sector and in particular finance will also benefit from this", adds Rainer Schaefer, head of Commerzbank's Country Risk Analysis and one of the authors of the study. He expects both the development of the infrastructure and housing construction to give the building industry special momentum, and sees opportunities above all in renewable energies, as well as in information and communication technology.

However, in addition to the pleasing developments the study also reveals a whole series of negative aspects. For instance, in some Sub-Saharan states - such as Sudan and Somalia - civil war and economic chaos still prevail. Moreover, bureaucratic obstacles and corruption often curb economic development. Overall, 26 African countries have benefited from the debt relief initiative of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund since 2004. In return for the debt relief, these countries had undertaken to follow an economic policy based on fixed criteria. This was also backed by the turnaround in development aid, away from loans and towards non repayable grants, after the assistance loans in the eighties and nineties had led to the over-indebtedness of many African countries

With 6 representative offices between Cairo and Johannesburg, and 500 bank customers and 250 institutional customers, Commerzbank is the no. 1 German-speaking bank for corporate customer transactions in Africa. It has now been active there for 60 years, maintaining business relations with banks and state institutions in 50 of the 53 countries on the African continent. It cooperates above all with governments, local banks and central banks.

The study can be downloaded under: https://www.commerzbank.de/media/research/economic_research/2012/0620/afrika.pdf

or: http://ots.de/E7yOJ



Press contact:

Martin Halusa: Tel. +49-69-136-85331

Kirsten Böddeker: Tel. +49-69-136-85466



Source: Commerzbank AG


Source: Commerzbank AG

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

DDB Worldwide Wins 79 Cannes Lions


26 Jun 2012 14:30 Africa/Lagos

DDB Worldwide Wins 79 Cannes Lions

NEW YORK, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide has won 79 Lions at the Cannes Lions 59th International Festival of Creativity, placing the network among the top three vying for Network of the Year for the sixth consecutive year. These wins were by 27 offices in 23 countries across the DDB global network.

Chuck Brymer, President and CEO of DDB Worldwide, said, "Cannes Lions represent the epitome of creativity in our industry, and are a measure of not only our success but our clients' as well. A special congratulations goes to our client Mars for being named Cannes Lions 2012 Advertiser of the Year. We are proud to be associated with them."

The Lions were won across numerous industries and brands, including McDonald's, Volkswagen, Harvey Nichols, C&A, Henkel, State Farm, Swedish Armed Forces, Tourism Australia, and Lion Nathan, as well as other local brands throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latina, and North America.

Amir Kassaei, Chief Creative Officer for DDB Worldwide, said, "To have 46 offices win Lions or be shortlisted is a massive achievement for us as a worldwide network. Each and every one of our regions contributed to our haul, clearly demonstrating the power of DDB's creativity across the entire globe."

About DDB

DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc (www.ddb.com) ranks among the top five consolidated advertising and marketing services global networks, according to Advertising Age. DDB emphasizes Social Creativity to grow the value and influence of brands around the world by creating ideas that people want to play with, participate in and pass along. The agency is consistently one of the most awarded at the Cannes Festival of Creativity and was recognized by The Gunn Report as one of the Top 3 Global Networks for 10 of the last 12 years. DDB was also recently named the Spikes Asia Network of the Year for the second consecutive year and the Eurobest Network of the Year for the third consecutive year. DDB Worldwide is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) and consists of more than 200 offices in over 90 countries.

Contact
Kaya Lobaczewski
kaya.lobaczewski@ny.tribalddb.com
212-515-8348

SOURCE DDB Worldwide

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

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Disruptive Advertising Technology - Adcquire -Breakthrough in Mobile Advertising



26 Jun 2012 16:00 Africa/Lagos

Disruptive Advertising Technology - Adcquire -Breakthrough in Mobile Advertising

The startup's psychology studies leads to the revolutionary Immersive Product Discovery Platform which provides unprecedented Consumer Engagement through reversed-targeting

LONDON, Ontario, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Adcquire's new revolutionary marketing platform is making waves throughout the marketing industry. The platform, which connects brands and consumers through an innovative mobile app, generates physical interactions with products and is a first-of-its-kind positive experience engine.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120614/FL24925LOGO )

This new approach to digital advertising bridges the gap between traditional marketing methodologies while completely revolutionizing mobile marketing that until now has been much sought after yet elusive, especially in consumer goods.

Adcquire's technology leverages on decades of data and research in social psychology by focusing on compliance and persuasion, as well as current research into the neurochemistry of the reward circuitry in the human brain.

"We looked into some of the most powerful concepts and created a unique platform to help brands create positive experiences for consumers and at the same time, for consumers to discover information about brands and products," says Babak Motamedi, co-founder and COO of Adcquire.

The startup's Immersive Product Discovery Platform takes a new approach to digital marketing using a method that was previously mostly used in direct response marketing.

"Most forms of advertising use blunt delivery methods that only manage to interrupt in the desired activity or event of their target consumer. This creates negative experiences, sometimes to such an extent that the ad not only failed to serve its purpose but perhaps caused unwanted negative associations with the ad content," David Snir, co-founder and CEO explains. "Video, print and digital advertising, especially pop-ups such as currently exercised in mobile advertising can be causing more harm to a brand than good. Adcquire takes on an entirely different approach – one that actively invites people to participate in discovering products, letting them target ads instead of them being the target – it's a reversed targeted advertising technique."

The system engages people to physically interact with products by scanning them via a mobile app and answering one question about them. If they answer it right the system then rewards them.

"Our platform offers an unparalleled opportunity to marketers to create positive experiences with their brand through direct engagement with their product. Rewards have always been used in video games in the form of points, trophies and achievements to create a hook. We simply take this approach to create physical engagement with products," says Mr. Motamedi.

About Adcquire

Adcquire Inc. is the pioneer of Pay-Per-Grab Advertising, the revolutionary Immersive Product Discovery Platform. Adcquire's mobile advertising technology provides brands with an unprecedented digital-to-physical engagement between consumers and consumer goods that is then converted into unique market intelligence data. Adcquire reverses how digital marketing works by placing an emphasis on physical product discovery and a reward mechanism for which the consumer stands to benefit the most. The platform is not only proven to produce 1:1 marketing ROI, but is also a first-of-its-kind positive experience engine.

Video Introduction

www.adcquire.com

CONTACT: David Snir, 1-800-680-4640, PR@adcquire.com

SOURCE Adcquire

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