Saturday, October 20, 2007

New Yoda Stamp to Be Dedicated Oct. 25

WASHINGTON -- The following was released today (Oct. 20) by the U.S. Postal Service:

What: The U.S. Postal Service will issue a pane of 20 Yoda 41-cent
commemorative postage stamps at the American Stamp Dealers
Association Postage Stamp Mega-Event in New York, NY. Since
this event is just six days before Halloween, stamp
enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike are encouraged to dress
up as their favorite character from the Star Wars saga.

Who: Anita Bizzotto, Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Postal Service
Terrence McCaffrey, Manager, Stamp Development, U.S.
Postal Service
Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith
Stormtroopers

When: 10 a.m. EDT
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

Where: The Mall, Madison Square Garden
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY 10001-2807

Background: The U.S. Postal Service invited the public to vote online
for its favorite of the 15 images on the Star Wars stamp
sheet, which was issued May 25, 2007. More than half a
million votes were cast, and this special issuance
fulfills the voters' wishes by honoring their favorite
Star Wars stamp -- Yoda.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only
delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes
and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies
on the sale of postage, products and services to cover its operating
expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and
delivers nearly half the world's mail.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

TEST

Technorati Profile

FROM THE PUBLISHER: Welcome to GoodFluff


GF is up and running . . . fulfilling a dream of years to publish something a little different. I regularly visit Google News, CNN, Fox, Yahoo, etc., and pretty much find the same stories covered and sometimes – even – the exact same story!

Why?

Because the people who put together “the news" are all swimming in the same media soup. At room temperature. With the same bland seasoning. I wanted something different, along the lines of lagniappe, that great southern Louisiana word that (roughly translated) means “a little bonus” or "an extra or unexpected gift or benefit."

And so I surf. In different waters. Looking for that something extra . . .

Now, mind you, since I have no budget, no staff, no secretary, no go-fers, I must rely on free news. Most of it PR stuff – what we used to call “fluff” back in the day. But it’s good fluff . . . hence the name.

So, you’ll see some stories here that you might not find along the mass-trodden path of ABC, NBC, CBS – stories like:

* Harley-Davidson Museum Rolls Out Holiday Gift

* Taxpayer Funding for Hippie Museum Defeated

* Bride-to-Be Receives Kidney Donated by Fiancee

* Eco-Bags Products Green Gifts for the Entire Family

Now, admittedly, these are not Pulitzer material. Nor will they change the world. But they are stories that caught my eye. And, by the way, I mean that literally. I don’t use spiders or bots or tech-no filtered aggregators. It’s just me. And my mug of coffee (if it’s in the morning) or glass of vino (at night). That and my bi-focaled eyes scanning the screen of my old trusty iMac. And my crusty old fingers and thumbs click-clacking on a keyboard stained with chocolate and covered with cat hair from my feline friend Kit-Kat. With songs like “Gimme Shelter” playing in the background.

Well, that’s about it – for now. I’ll jump in periodically and say “Hello” or some such thing.

In the meantime, keep in touch. If you like something, leave a comment. If you don’t, leave one anyway. It will reinforce the fact that I actually exist in this digitized, pixilated, inter-linked and hyper-connected cyber-whirl. Otherwise, I’ll be just a self-deluded, keyboard-striking guy who thinks somebody might actually read this stuff . . .

LD on 10-20-07

PS: Since I work for a living (racking up long hours & long days) this thing is updated when I can still see straight and my wife is watching something like “Desperate Housewives” and doesn’t mind me slinking away to the backroom.

Spike TV Announces Scream 2007 Winners

LOS ANGELES -- Spike TV put on an out of the world performance bringing together the world's of horror, sci-fi, fantasy
and comic book industries this evening to honor the genres' outstanding accomplishments over the past year. Featuring appearances by Harrison Ford, Alice Cooper, Hayden Panettiere and many others, SCREAM 2007 did not fail to disappoint the audience with its wide array of talent and ground breaking performances.

The night opened with a bang as Spike TV honored Harrison Ford with the
first ever Hero Award for his cumulative work in such films as "Star Wars,"
"Indiana Jones" and "The Fugitive." The Hero Award is given to a true
superstar - an icon in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere, a living
legend, whose body of work inspires all those with a love of the fantastic.
Other special honorees of the evening included "Comic-Con Icon Award"
winner Neil Gaiman; The 25th anniversary celebration of "Star Trek: The
Wrath of Khan" and the second annual "SCREAM Rock Immortal" presented to Alice Cooper.

The summer blockbuster "Transformers" blew away the competition winning several honors, including Best Sci-Fi Movie and Best F/X, while star Shia LaBeouf was named Sci-Fi Star and co-star Megan Fox walked away with Sci-Fi Siren. The stunning Jessica Alba was awarded Best Female Superhero and "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere was recognized as Breakout Star.

Memorable performances of the night included Avenged Sevenfold's
rendition of "Scream" from their soon to be released album. Rock legend
Ozzy Osbourne took the stage tonight to a standing ovation. The night
belonged to rock immortal Alice Cooper as he closed the show with an
all-star rock performance of "I Love The Dead/School's Out" with rock gods
Slash and Rob Zombie.

Taped at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, SCREAM 2007 will premiere
Tuesday, October 23 (10:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT) to an estimated audience of one billion viewers worldwide.

A full list of winners is included below:

THE ULTIMATE SCREAM
-- 300

BEST HORROR MOVIE
-- 28 WEEKS LATER

BEST FANTASY MOVIE
PAN'S LABYRINTH

BEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE
-- TRANSFORMERS

BEST TV SHOW
-- HEROES

BEST COMIC BOOK
-- 30 DAYS OF NIGHT

SCREAM QUEEN
-- KATE BECKINSALE, VACANCY

SCREAM KING
-- SHIA LABEOUF, DISTURBIA

BEST SUPERHERO
-- TOBEY MAGUIRE AS SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN 3

SEXIEST SUPERHERO
-- JESSICA ALBA, FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER

FANTASY FOX
-- JESSICA BIEL, THE ILLUSIONIST

FANTASY HERO
-- JOHNNY DEPP, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

SCI-FI SIREN
-- MEGAN FOX, TRANSFORMERS

SCI-FI STAR
-- SHIA LABEOUF, TRANSFORMERS

BEST CAMEO
-- KEITH RICHARDS, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
-- HAYDEN PANETTIERE, HEROES

MOST VILE VILLAIN
-- RALPH FIENNES, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

MOST MEMORABLE MUTILATION
-- DISMEMBERED IN CAR CRASH, GRINDHOUSE

BEST COMIC-TO-SCREEN ADAPTATION
-- 300

BEST SEQUEL
-- HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

"JUMP-FROM-YOUR-SEAT" SCENE OF THE YEAR
-- FINAL BATTLE: MEGATRON VS. OPTIMUS PRIME, TRANSFORMERS

BEST DIRECTOR
-- QUENTIN TARANTINO & ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, GRINDHOUSE

BEST SCREAM-PLAY
-- GRINDHOUSE, WRITTEN BY ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, QUENTIN TARANTINO, JEFF
RENDELL, ELI ROTH, EDGAR WRIGHT & ROB ZOMBIE

BEST F/X
-- TRANSFORMERS

BEST FOREIGN MOVIE
-- PAN'S LABYRINTH (SPAIN)

BEST COMIC BOOK WRITER
-- FRANK MILLER, ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER/FRANK MILLER'S
ROBOCOP

BEST COMIC BOOK ARTIST
-- JOHN CASSADY, ASTONISHING X-MEN

BEST SCREEN-TO-COMIC ADAPTATION
-- 28 DAYS LATER: THE AFTERMATH

MOST SHOCKING COMIC BOOK TWIST
-- CAPTAIN AMERICA DIES!, CAPTAIN AMERICA
Spike TV is available in 95.3 million homes and is a division of MTV
Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the
world's leading creators of programming and content across all media
platforms.

SOURCE Spike TV

Friday, October 19, 2007

'Madonna of the Carnation' on 2007 Holiday Stamp


WASHINGTON -- The following is being issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

What: The U.S. Postal Service will issue The Madonna of the
Carnation 41-cent special stamp in a booklet of 20 at the
American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) Postage Stamp
Mega-Event in New York, NY.

Who: Katherine Tobin, Member, USPS Board of Governors
Eric Jackson, President, American Stamp Dealers
Association
Wade Saadi, Chairman, Board of Vice Presidents,
American Philatelic Society
Terrence McCaffrey, Manager, Stamp Development, U.S.
Postal Service
Preston High School Gospel Choir, Bronx, NY

When: Noon ET, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

Where: ASDA Postage Stamp Mega-Event
The Theater
Madison Square Garden
Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY 10001-2807

Background: The stamp features "The Madonna of the Carnation" by
Milanese Renaissance painter Bernardino Luini. Dating
to around 1515, the painting is part of the collection
of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Designed by Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, the stamp
is available at philatelic centers and in Post Offices
nationwide beginning Oct. 25.

The stamp show is sponsored by the American Stamp Dealer Association.
The event is free and open to the public.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Bride-to-Be Receives Kidney Donated by Fiancee


MANHASSET, N.Y. -- In a case that highlights both the "gift of life" and the "gift of love," surgeons at North Shore University Hospital announced today they successfully performed the hospital's first kidney transplant surgery on a Queens woman whose fiancee donated his kidney to his future bride.

North Shore University Hospital's transplant program is the first in
Nassau and Queens counties, a population area of 3.5 million that had been without access to a nearby transplant center despite the fact that about 70 percent of kidney transplants performed in the New York metropolitan area involved residents from Nassau and Queens, according to the latest statistics.

The hospital's first transplant recipient, Jarena Bates, 23, of St.
Albans, was diagnosed with kidney disease eight years ago. In May 2007,
soon after she was engaged to be married, she ended up in the Emergency
Department at LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, where she was told she was going into kidney failure.

Understandably, Ms. Bates' emotional roller coaster -- from planning
her July 2008 wedding to fighting for her life -- was difficult to take. A
search began to find a matching donor for the African-American woman -- no
easy task considering that out of the 5,043 people in the New York
metropolitan areas waiting for kidneys, 3,582 or 71 percent are people of
color. The average wait time for a matching donor is seven years. For
people of color, the average wait time is nine years. In short, Ms. Bates
needed a miracle.

And then the unexpected happened -- love intervened. Ms. Bates'
fiancee, 31-year old Tyehesian (Tye) Johnson, also of St. Albans, asked to
be tested to see if he was a suitable match for Ms. Bates -- miraculously,
he was. Not only would Ms. Bates end up taking her fiancee's name, but his
kidney -- a true gift of love as well as life. "Most people are nowhere as
lucky as myself," said Ms. Bates. "Never would I have thought that Tye
would have been a match --particularly since he's not blood-related "

The transplant surgery was performed on Monday, Oct. 15, by Ernesto
Molmenti, MD, MBA, PhD., director of transplantation at North Shore
University Hospital (NSUH). In an adjoining operating room at the hospital, Louis Kavoussi, MD, the North Shore-LIJ Health System's chairman of urology, removed Mr. Johnson's kidney through a minimally invasive surgery known as a laparoscopic nephrectomy. Dr. Kavoussi was the first surgeon in the country to perform a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy when he was at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, in 1995.

The North Shore-LIJ Health System received state and federal approvals
to establish a transplant program at NSUH, after demonstrating the
tremendous need that existed in Nassau and Queens. In 2006, the latest year for which statistics were available, 873 residents of Queens and 317 residents of Nassau County were on waiting lists for kidneys, according to the New York Organ Donor Network. Of those on the waiting list, 39 Queens residents and 13 Nassau County residents died in 2006 without ever eceiving one.

In another reflection of the need for a local transplant program, 209
of the 291 transplants performed in the New York metropolitan area in 2005 involved residents of Queens and Nassau counties, according to state statistics. Until now, residents of those counties have had to travel to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester or eastern Suffolk County to find a hospital with a transplant program.

During the first year of operation at NSUH's new transplant program,
the hospital expects to perform about 15 transplants, a number that Dr.
Molmenti expects to increase to about 100 annually after the third year of
operation.

"This is truly a major milestone in the history of the North Shore-LIJ
Health System," Michael J. Dowling, the health system's president and chief executive officer, said of the first transplant. "What makes this occasion even more gratifying is that our first recipient and donor are engaged to be married, making this a celebration of both the `gift of life' and the `gift of love.'"

About North Shore-LIJ Health System
The nation's third largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, the
North Shore-LIJ Health System cares for people of all ages throughout Long Island, Queens and Staten Island - a service area encompassing more than five million people. Including its clinical affiliates, the health system consists of 16 hospitals, 13 long-term care facilities, a medical research institute, four trauma centers, five home health agencies and dozens of
outpatient centers. The members and affiliates of North Shore-LIJ house more than 8,800 beds, and are staffed by over 8,000 physicians, about 11,000 nurses and a total workforce of more than 37,500 -- the largest employer on Long Island and the ninth largest in New York City.

SOURCE North Shore-LIJ Health System

Southwest Airlines Sends Lucky Blogger to Vegas


DALLAS -- Are you nuts about Southwest Airlines? Visit Southwest Airline's blog, Nuts About Southwest, and you may have a crack at winning a free trip to Las Vegas, including complimentary airfare on Southwest Airlines, a three-night hotel stay at the MGM Grand, and registration to the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, the world's biggest blogging conference, scheduled at the Las Vegas Convention Center Wednesday - Friday, Nov. 7 - 9, 2007.

Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of BlogWorld Expo -- a monumental event celebrating the dynamic industry of blogging and new media -- is offering a full travel package to the lucky blogger who submits the most popular caption for a photo, provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

"Southwest has been blogging for about a year and a half now, and the
community we've built definitely has a unique -- sort of "southwesty" --
sense of humor," says Paula Berg, Southwest Airlines spokesperson and
official "Blog Girl" for the airline. "This contest is just a way for us to
have a little FUN with our bloggers, and, really, to celebrate the
relationships we've built with them over the past year."

How does it work?

-- Visit http://www.blogsouthwest.com
-- Submit your photo caption or vote for your favorite photo caption
-- The caption with the most positive votes by midnight Pacific Time on
Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, wins the Las Vegas/BlogWorld travel package

What does the Las Vegas/BlogWorld travel package include?

-- Roundtrip air travel for two on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas from
any city served by Southwest
-- A three-night stay at the MGM Grand Hotel on the Las Vegas strip
-- Registration for 2007 BlogWorld Expo, the biggest blogging conference
in the world

The deadline to submit a caption or vote for your favorite caption is midnight Pacific Time on Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. The winner will be announced and notified on Monday, Oct. 29, 2007. The most popular caption -- based on the highest number of positive votes by fellow bloggers -- will win the Las Vegas/BlogWorld travel package. BlogWorld exhibitor and social media company spigit created the voting system for the contest with their award winning software.

"Southwest Airlines extends a warm thank you to the folks at BlogWorld,
MGM Grand, and spigit for their support of the Las Vegas/BlogWorld
contest," says Berg. "We hope all BlogWorld conference attendees will stop
by our booth at the BlogWorld Conference on Nov. 8 and 9 to meet some of
our regular bloggers and register to win two free roundtrip tickets on
Southwest Airlines."

About Southwest Airlines
Still a maverick, Southwest Airlines was the first airline to offer its Customers a venue for open dialogue through a blog, Nuts About Southwest.

With nearly 30 Employee bloggers that represent a mix of frontline and
behind the scenes Employees, including Pilots, Flight Attendants, Schedule
Planners, Customer Service Agents, Executives, Mechanics, Marketing
Representatives, etc., Customers are able to participate in meaningful
conversations and build personal relationships with Southwest Airlines'
Employees.

BlogWorld
The first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event
dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media,
BlogWorld will feature exhibits and 60 seminars offered by iconic
personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy
business.

spigit
spigit is the only smart, social collaboration platform for identifying
the best ideas and key contributors within any online community. spigit
leverages advanced algorithms and a configurable analytics engine to
capture and evaluate participation and contributions that happen within a
social community, enabling the best ideas and contributors to shine. spigit
powers a variety of community interest sites, including those for startups
(spigit Innovation(TM)) and elections (Vote spigit(TM)), and allows special interest groups to build custom communities quickly and effectively to meet their community objectives. spigit's premier platform for business innovation, spigit Enterprise(TM), Allows large and small companies to make innovation a part of daily process, engaging employees and allowing top ideas and key influencers to be recognized.

Official Rules
No Purchase Necessary
1. Description of the Contest
The Southwest Airlines Las Vegas/BlogWorld Photo Caption Contest,
("Contest") Sponsored by Southwest Airlines, ("Sponsor") is a photo caption
contest in which a Grand Prize will be awarded to the Entrant who submits
the photo caption that receives the most positive votes according to the
Contest requirements. The Grand Prize will be awarded as a result of public
voting. All photo caption submissions that meet the requirements set forth
in contest requirements will be judged online by the readers of Southwest's
blog (http://www.blogsouthwest.com), who will select the Grand Prize
Winner.
2. Eligibility
The Contest is open to legal residents of the United States who are at
least 21 years of age at time of entry. Employees of Sponsor, and each of
their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion
agencies, and members of their immediate families, regardless of whether
they reside in the same household, are not eligible to participate
("Excluded Parties"). The Contest is void where prohibited.
3. How To Enter:
You must submit your photo caption entry at http://southwest.spigit.com
by following the contest instructions. Registration must be completed
before a photo caption can be submitted by logging in at
http://southwest.spigit.com. At the time of registration you will be
required to acknowledge that you have read the rules and the policies,
terms and conditions for submitting a photo caption in the Southwest
Airlines Las Vegas/BlogWorld Photo Caption Contest Rules and Regulations,
and that you agree to be bound. Prepare one or more photo caption. If your
photo caption wins the Grand Prize, Southwest Airlines will award you with
roundtrip air travel for two on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas from any
city served by Southwest, a three-night stay at the Las Vegas MGM Grand
Hotel, and registration for the 2007 BlogWorld Expo. Any entry that
contains, in the Sponsor's sole discretion, any content that is obscene,
violent, sexually provocative, discriminatory, or material that is deemed
unfavorable to the Sponsor's image, will not be accepted. By submitting a
photo caption, you will be automatically entered into the Contest.
4. Judging:
a) Grand Prize
All Submissions will be reviewed and voted on by the readers of
http://www.blogsouthwest.com. The entrant with the highest number of
positive votes will be deemed the winner. Winners will be notified by mail,
phone or email at Sponsor's discretion.
5. Prizes:
One Grand Prize: The winning photo caption entry will be awarded
roundtrip air travel for two on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas from any
city served by Southwest, a three-night stay at the Las Vegas MGM Grand
Hotel, and registration for the 2007 BlogWorld Expo. No transfer or
substitution of prizes, except by Sponsor in the event the advertised prize
is unavailable. Taxes are the responsibility of the winner.
6. Rights:
By submitting an entry you warrant that it is wholly original and does
not infringe any copyright, trademark, publicity, privacy or other
proprietary right of any third party, union or guild. Entrants in the
Contest agree to assign the rights, title and intellectual property rights
in their Submissions to Sponsor as a condition of competing for a prize.
Entrants grant permission to Sponsor to use their names, likenesses, and
biographical information for promotional or advertising purposes in all
media worldwide, without notice or further compensation, unless prohibited
by law. By participating, entrants hereby release the Sponsor from any and
all liability, or loss, damage, harm, injury, cost or expense which may
occur in connection with their preparation for the Contest, or from their
acceptance, use/misuse of a prize. Winners agree to indemnify and hold the
Excluded Parties harmless from and against any claims, suits, losses,
damages, and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, that arise in
connection with any allegation that their Submission violates the
intellectual property rights of any third party.
7. Entry Errors:
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, damaged, stolen,
invalid, unintelligible or misdirected Submissions. Sponsor is not
responsible if online service or equipment is interrupted including without
limitation (1) interruptions to any network, server, Internet, website,
telephone, satellite, computer or other connections, (2) failures of any
telephone, satellite, hardware, software or other equipment, (3) garbled,
misdirected or jumbled transmissions, or traffic congestion, (4) other
errors of any kind, whether human, technical, mechanical or electronic, or
(5) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry or other information or
the failure to capture any such information. Sponsor reserves the right to
cancel, modify or terminate the Contest if any of the foregoing occurs and
reserves the right, but not the obligation, to select winners from
Submissions, received as of the date of termination or modification.
8. Disputes/Choice of Law:
Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that this Contest shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Texas and: (1) any and all disputes,
claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest
or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any
form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated
in Dallas, Texas (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be
limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys'
fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other
damages, including without limitation lost profits may be awarded
(collectively, "Special Damages"), and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights
to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased.
9. Winner's Lists
For the names of the winners, visit http://www.blogsouthwest.com.
Winner's lists will be available on or about Monday, October 29, 2007.
10. Sponsor
This Contest is sponsored by Southwest Airlines Co.
2702 Love Field Drive
Dallas, TX 75235

http://www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

The Unspoken Obsession of 2007


ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. -- We are reminded daily of the addictions afflicting our society: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, eating
disorders and gambling, to name a few. Now another destructive behavior is brought to our attention, courtesy of plummeting real estate values, one just as pervasive in terms of financial ruin but rarely discussed.

It's the unspoken obsession: the need for celebrity, for status, for plumage.

Tom Scott, a 30-year financial advisor based in Irvine, CA, says many
people in Orange County have overextended themselves financially. He
believes that in most cases, their spending addiction reflects the need to
gain attention, admiration, significance.

Says Scott, "You don't have to look far to see people with tenuous
financial underpinnings driving triple-digit supercars or living in estates
worthy of an oil magnate. Where affluence is ubiquitous, being noticed
requires opulence. What was considered lavish a decade ago is now
commonplace, particularly in wealth-laden Orange County. As a society, we buy not what we need, but what we have the credit to borrow. Cars, boats, jewelry, clothing, homes -- excuse me, compounds -- virtually anything that is visible to the neighbors and tangibly demonstrates we are special."

Scott's professional duties often involve valuing investment assets for
divorce proceedings. Statistics identify financial stress as the principal
cause of divorce, but what underlies this stress? In Scott's experience,
"it is almost always financial overextension, money spent to acquire
plumage to impress... who? People we don't know who see us driving our
Porsche and think, 'Wow, he must be somebody important'?"

There's nothing innately wrong with pampering ourselves occasionally or
enjoying some of life's tactile pleasures. We can enjoy a glass of red wine
with dinner without having to drink a magnum of Chateau Lafite every
evening. We can live comfortably in a home lacking Italian marble floors or oceanfront access.

Those who avoid financial overextension and accumulate sufficient funds
to live comfortably without financial stress don't always earn more money
than their compulsive counterparts, nor do they necessarily deny themselves life's pleasures. According to Scott, what they apparently do differently is:

1. Learn to live without having the best of everything, and
2. Find healthier, more meaningful ways to enhance their life.

When asked for an example, Scott cites the pleasure he derives from
being one of the top players at his squash club. "It costs very little, it
doesn't jeopardize my financial well-being or retirement, it causes no
sleepless nights," he notes. "I think there's nothing wrong with the desire
to be seen in a positive light by our peers and society, we just need to
find more positive ways to do it. The genuine thrill of seeing your
charitable works improve the lives of those less fortunate is another
example of directing your resources towards more rewarding activities."

Scott, a registered rep with LPL Financial and Principal of Scott
Wealth Management, concludes that people would be happier and find greater satisfaction if they simply ignored their neighbor's plumage, adding, "Forget about keeping up with the Jones; they have the same financial issues you do."

Contact: Tom Scott 949.265.1086 or Mike Dubes 800.835.1700

SOURCE Tom Scott

Making Your Money Work for You


CHICAGO -- Continuing its commitment to financial literacy with its outreach to college students, the Illinois CPA Society is heading to campuses with its statewide initiative, a program called "Real World Survival: Money at Work."

The Society hopes to help young adults define and achieve financial
success, letting them know that with the right money management skills
success is within their reach. To help them get started the program offers
ideas on how to manage their money now and grow it for the future. It
covers a number of topics including:

-- Getting out of debt
-- Paying off student loans
-- Credit matters -- Managing credit cards, building and protecting
your credit and the repercussions of a good or bad rating
-- Building a budget that fits your lifestyle
-- What can you do with your savings? -- Different savings vehicles
such as 401(k), IRA, savings account, mutual funds and stocks, and their
pros and cons.

"College students have spent years studying to be teachers, engineers,
nurses, architects -- a whole range of professionals, but they are amateurs
when it comes to being sound money managers. The Illinois CPA Society wants
to arm these up-and-coming professionals with budgeting skills they need to
enter the real world on solid financial ground, and we want to do it in a
way that still gives them a real life in the process," said Elaine Weiss,
President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society.

The Illinois CPA Society's statewide initiative continues in the
Chicago area with two upcoming events. The one hour program "Real World
Survival: Money at Work" will be presented at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October
22, 2007 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Center East,
Room 509, 750 South Halsted Street, Chicago, and at noon on Tuesday,
October 30 at Chicago State University, Student Union Building, Fine Dining
Room, Martin Luther King Drive and 95th Street, Chicago.

More information about the Real World Survival program and other
consumer information can be found on the Illinois CPA Society's website,
http://www.icpas.org. Anyone interested in attending an upcoming event
should contact Judi Kulm, ICPAS Communications and Media Manager at
312-993-0407, extension 251.

About the Illinois CPA SocietyThe Illinois CPA Society, founded in
1903, is the fifth largest state CPA society in the nation, with more than
22,700 members. It is the only professional organization that represents
CPAs in Illinois. During its over 100 years of existence, the Society has
advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession and
has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.

SOURCE Illinois CPA Society

Gifts That Taste as Good as They Look


PLANO, Texas -- Eye-catching holiday gifts are being baked up once again this year at Cookies by Design. The newest twist
for this Christmas season is intricately decorated edible ornaments, which can be personalized, and include a traditional red and white "cookie cane," a friendly sugary snowman, and whimsical reindeer.

Also new are two gourmet cookie gifts; a box of delicious assorted
gourmet cookies dressed in holiday splendor, and an enticing basket
brimming with scrumptious gourmet cookies and delightful hand-decorated
Christmas cookies.

In addition to these new edible gifts, Cookies by Design will also
offer creative Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa cookie bouquets and Cookie
BouTrays that can be personalized and hand-delivered in most areas.

(Shipping is available for those areas not serviced by hand-delivery.)

These delightful holiday gifts are a unique way to send personal,
heartfelt wishes that will be remembered all year long.

"The holidays are a wonderful time to send friends, family, and
co-workers gifts that are personal and unique," said CEO and Cookies by
Design(R) founder Gwen Willhite. "At Cookies by Design, we offer a one-stop
shop solution by providing a selection of sweet cookie gifts that will be
remembered well into the New Year."

About Cookies by Design
Cookies by Design, the original cookie bouquet company, headquartered
in Plano, Texas, offers a wide range of festive gifts and treats for
holidays and special occasions. Founded in 1983 by Gwen Willhite in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, Cookies by Design is a custom cookie gift company with 200
Shoppes nationwide. Learn more at http://www.cookiesbydesign.com.

SOURCE Cookies by Design

WonderWorks Introduces iPod Movies


LOS ANGELES -- WonderWorks Entertainment announces this week the release of its Mobile Matinee collection of eight
classic movies and 12 audiobooks on three DVD-ROMs for the rapidly growing iPod and iPhone market. The DVD-ROM titles are pre-formatted for iPod, import quickly to iTunes and can be viewed on iPod, iPod Nano, iPhone, a computer or directly on TV by use of a 3-pin connector.

The new collections feature the films of Cary Grant, Danny Kaye, hirley Temple, and William Powell among others, plus the writings of Mark Twain, H.G. Wells, Jack London, Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lewis Carroll and L. Frank Baum.

As the first to deliver iPod content on disk, Mobile Matinee represents
a departure from conventional downloading. "Our customers are interested in
convenience and value. We think DVD-ROM collections are a great way to
simplify the process of getting content onto the iPod, while expanding
consumer choices and delivering great value," said Rod Barkley, CEO of
WonderWorks. He added that the company's audiobook collection, with 12
novels and short stories on a single disk, would soon be followed by a
second volume, and that a collection of independent films was in progress.

About WonderWorks
WonderWorks Entertainment is a production and distribution company with
offices in Los Angeles and Paris. As one of the first to package popular
film and audiobook titles for the iPod market, the company aims to be a
leader in mobile entertainment. WonderWorks also develops television
projects and is currently in pre-production on the comedy series "Les
Pretendants" for French TV. For more information, or to submit a title for
mobile distribution, please visit http://www.themobilematinee.com.

iTunes, iPod and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by
Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE WonderWorks Entertainment

AARP Launches 'My Dream Job Contest'


WASHINGTON -- Looking for a new job?

Do you have the desire to start your own business and be your own boss? Do you need to retool to remain marketable in today's job market? AARP today announced the launch of the AARP My Dream Job contest, aimed at helping those age 50+ get into their ideal career path. AARP is looking for people to share their vision of a perfect job at 50+ and giving them a chance to kick-start a new career. Categories for entries are as follows:

The Career Changer
Do you want to take your talent and experience through a different door?

The New Worker
Now that the birds have left the nest, are you ready to spread your wings?

The Entrepreneur
Do you want to be your own boss and release your entrepreneurial spirit?

The Downsized
Have you lost your job but not your way?

The Flexibility Seeker
Do personal responsibilities and interests make flexible work options appealing to you?

The Retired and the Restless
Daytime soap operas not enough? Need a creative outlet or way to pad
your retirement savings?

"The 'My Dream Job' contest highlights the desire on the part of 50+
workers to remain working past traditional retirement age in new and
different ways and employers who recognize the value of this workforce will
have a competitive advantage." said Deborah Russell, Director of Workforce Issues for AARP.

Deadline for entry submissions is December 1, 2007 and 6 winners will be chosen in January 2008. Winners will chronicle their path to success on the AARP My Dream Job community site for jobseekers 50+ and be featured in a 2008 issue of AARP The Magazine. They will also receive:

-- Consultations with a career coach to help them pursue their dream job
-- A new laptop computer
-- A $500 American Express gift card
-- Travel and accommodations for two to the 2008 AARP Life@50+ National Event & Expo

To enter the My Dream Job Contest and view official rules, visit
http://www.aarp.org/mydreamjob.


SOURCE AARP

Pepsi Joins the Minisode Network on Crackle

CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Pepsi is taking its global restyle initiative to The Minisode Network, which is launching a channel on
Crackle.com on October 22. In November, Pepsi's packaging will sport a "retro" look, featuring a variety of Pepsi logos from the past 100 years. Each Pepsi can will feature the Web site http://www.throwbackapepsi.com, which will direct consumers to The Minisode Network channel on Crackle.com, where they can enjoy classic TV programs in an all new way.

"The Pepsi retro can serves as a passport to destinations and
experiences our consumers enjoy," said Russell Weiner, VP of marketing,
Pepsi. "That's why The Minisode Network is a great partner for this design
-- the combination of our can with this site provides a full nostalgic
experience. When these shows originally aired, our consumers could enjoy
watching them while drinking a Pepsi. Today, they're able to do the same in a contemporary way."

"Together, The Minisode Network and Crackle provide advertisers with
well-known, branded content in a rich and exciting environment," said Amy
Carney, president, advertiser sales for Sony Pictures Television, whose
digital ad sales group brokered the deal. "We can offer advertisers an
opportunity for their ads that is both Internet-friendly and familiar."

The Network will also be adding new programming, including "Bewitched,"
"I Dream of Jeanie" and "The Jeffersons," for a total of 18 channels, with
more on the way.

Pepsi branding will appear on the homepage of The Minisode Network
channel on Crackle.com. Sony Pictures Television worked with Pepsi to
create custom ads that will also run on the site, in addition to rich media
banner ads.

The Minisode Network, which features bite-sized versions of classic
television shows, is increasing its distribution with the addition of three
new partners.

-- AOL will showcase 15 channels of The Minisode Network through its free AOL Video portal (http://video.aol.com).
-- Joost, which opened publicly on Oct. 1, will distribute The Minisode
Network via its free, full-screen, online TV service. Joost will
launch The Minisode Network with shows from 15 series, and will add
more episodes every week.
-- Verizon Wireless will be the first mobile partner for The Minisode
Network. The channel will be available on Verizon Wireless V CAST
Video service in the TV and Film section, allowing subscribers with V
CAST Video-enabled phones to watch their favorite shows on the Network
while on the go.

Pepsi's global restyle initiative launched in February. While
Pepsi-Cola's look had changed only ten times in the last 109 years, the
restyle initiative updates Pepsi packaging graphics every few weeks to
reflect themes close to the hearts of teens and young adults, such as
sports, music, fashion and cars. Each Pepsi design is accompanied by a Web
address that gives consumers access to exclusive online content, games,
contests and sweepstakes. In addition to Sony Pictures Television, other
Pepsi packaging and promotions have featured partners like Pharrell
Williams, Big & Rich, The All-American Rejects and MTV. adidas, the
National Football League, Major League Baseball and NASCAR driver Jeff
Gordon have partnered with Pepsi on sports-themed packaging and programs.

Crackle's streaming entertainment network is home to a variety of
programmed channels featuring original productions, licensed content, and
submissions from tomorrow's rising stars. Since launching in July, Crackle
offers advertisers sponsorships of channels and contests, full screen
skins, and media rich 300 x 250 video banners that can be instantaneously
distributed across their viral syndication network to get in front of the
most relevant audiences around the world.

Crackle, Inc.,
Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a
multi-platform video entertainment network and studio that distributes work
from the hottest emerging talent on the web and beyond. Crackle's addictive
channels and shows reach a global audience across the Internet, in the
living room, and on devices including a broad range of Sony electronics.
Crackle, in on-going collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment and
other leading partners, discovers and promotes the starts of tomorrow.
Visit Crackle's new site at http://www.crackle.com.

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading
content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre,
including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment
for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network
series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a
program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows,
landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically
acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT also owns one-half
of cable channel GSN and is a partner in FEARnet, the premier
horror/thriller website and VOD service. Sony Pictures Television oversees
all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) domestic digital distribution
efforts across all electronically delivered platforms, including the
internet and mobile. Sony Pictures Television, advertiser sales, is one of
the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial
inventory in SPT syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital
businesses in the United States, for Sony BMG and for iN DEMAND's
high-definition channel Mojo, and is part owner of national media sales
company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT (http://www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a
Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Pepsi-Cola North America
Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (http://www.pepsi.com) is
the refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo, Inc., in the United States and
Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Aquafina, Sierra Mist,
IZZE, SoBe, Mug, Tropicana Twister Soda, Tropicana Juice Drinks, Dole and
Ocean Spray single-serve juices. The company also makes and markets North
America's best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively,
via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Television

One Billion Bulbs Initiative Passes 100,000 Mark

LOS ANGELES -- One Billion Bulbs (http://www.onebillionbulbs.com), a Los Angeles based campaign to encourage
energy conservation through energy efficient light bulbs, passed a new milestone. The number of bulbs registered by people in homes, schools, and neighborhoods has now passed the 100,000 mark. Coincidentally, Los Angeles County (and the City of Los Angeles) along with San Francisco, are initiating a lights out day on October 20 during which residents are encouraged to turn off power for one hour and change light bulbs.

One Billion Bulbs program manager Mark Anderson praised the "Lights Out
Los Angeles" campaign, noting that "by changing bulbs people can save
energy on Saturday and every day."

Los Angeles residents are being asked to simply turn off all their
household, non-essential light bulbs tomorrow evening from 8:00pm to 9:00pm
Pacific Time. Anderson noted that residents can do even more by taking
another step which is just as simple: changing their light bulbs to energy
efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED lights as part of
the One Billion Bulbs campaign.

"Many people change bulbs because they want to 'make a difference.'
When people register their energy actions in their home, One Billion Bulbs
captures the difference that they make -- sometimes as part of their
school, college or community," stated Anderson.

A special group has been set up for people changing bulbs in Los
Angeles called "Community Alliance to Save Energy - Los Angeles (CASE/LA)."
A parallel group is set up for San Francisco as well, the "Community
Alliance to Save Energy - San Francisco (CASE/SF)."

To schedule an interview with Mr. Anderson, contact Keith Appell (ext.
112) or Megan Franko (ext. 148) at (703)-683-5004. To learn more about One
Billion Bulbs visit http://www.onebillionbulbs.com.

SOURCE One Billion Bulbs

Lexus Announces Pricing on 2008 GS Models

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Lexus announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the GS 350, GS 460 and GS 450h luxury sedans.

In addition to the numerous interior and exterior luxury enhancements that all GS models receive, base prices remain unchanged for the GS 350 and GS 450h hybrid at $44,150 and $54,900 respectively. The GS 460 replaces last year's GS 430, and features a new 4.6-liter V8 engine that provides an additional 52 horsepower, for a total of 342 horsepower. The new GS 460 receives a modest increase of 0.47 percent over the model it replaces, or $245, to $52,620.

2008 GS Model Enhancements: All 2008 Lexus GS models will receive significant interior and exterior revisions, including an enhanced front fascia showcased by a new front bumper and an aggressive new chrome grille surround. GS models also gain side-view mirror turn signals for additional visibility. GS 350 models will come with new standard 17-inch alloy wheels or new 18-inch alloy wheels as an option.

Interior changes to all GS models include a new brushed-aluminum shift-plate that is subtly contrasted with additional wood trim on the door switch plates. The instrument panel and combination meter also have a revised appearance. For added convenience, the fuel-filler door release and trunk-release buttons have been relocated from the drop-down switch box to
the dash area. GS models will also feature a newly designed leather-trimmed steering wheel as standard, with a wood-and-leather-trim steering wheel offered as an option. Every GS model will include an MP3/iPod/WMA port allowing use of portable music devices.

2008 GS 450h Upgrades: The Lexus GS 450h remains the only hybrid luxury sport sedan. In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, the GS 450h is fitted with heated and ventilated semi-aniline leather trim front seats as standard equipment. Remaining consistent with the LS 600h L and RX 400h luxury hybrids, the GS 450h will sport a blue hybrid designation on the side rocker moldings, aluminum-and-blue enameled rear model designation, a Lexus Hybrid Drive
engine cover, blue trimmed front and rear "L" logos, a blue tint to the headlamps and a power meter that replaces the tachometer. A VDIM cutoff switch was added to allow an experienced driver to disengage the stability system.

More Powerful GS 460: The GS 460 is the latest addition to the GS family as it replaces the previous GS 430 model. The GS 460's 4.6-liter V8 engine, first introduced in Lexus' flagship LS 460, produces a commendable 342-horsepower and 339
lb-ft of torque, which is 20 lb-ft more than the model it replaces. Increased performance is a result of new engine technology; in particular, the world's first electric motor-driven Variable Valve Timing with intelligence and Electronically controlled intake cam (VVT-iE). Additionally, a dual fuel-injection system that utilizes both port and direct injection optimizes efficiency and allows high compression (11.8:1) for power and efficiency. Paired with the segment's first 8-speed automatic transmission, the GS 460 can accelerate from 0 to 60 in an intense 5.4 seconds while achieving Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV-II) certification.

In addition to the changes made on all 2008 GS models, the GS 460 adds
semi-aniline leather trim and ventilated front seats as standard luxury
features.

SOURCE Lexus

Target Delivers Exclusive Carrie Underwood DVD

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target is offering guests a very special music and video package from two-time GRAMMY Award winner Carrie Underwood. Available in Target stores and at Target.com at $13.98, the October 23 release of Carnival Ride, Underwood's new 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville album, will feature bonus DVD footage available exclusively at Target. Included with the 13-track album will be a DVD weaving interview footage with live, acoustic performances of
four new album songs, including Underwood's latest Top 5 single, "So Small."

"I have really enjoyed the process of putting together this new album,"
says Underwood. "I spent more time writing and recording songs for Carnival
Ride, and I am so proud of what we've created. Thanks, Target, for helping
me give my fans a more intimate look into my music."

"Carrie's fans have been waiting for a new album for close to two
years," says Sue Peterson, Senior Music Buyer, Target. "We are delighted to
partner with Carrie and provide her fans with behind the scenes looks at
her new album only at Target."

Carnival Ride is the second album from the reigning ACM and CMA Female
Vocalist and follows the phenomenal success of her ACM Award-winning Album
of the Year, Some Hearts, which launched five #1 singles and is certified
for sales of six million copies. Released in November 2005, Some Hearts
spent a remarkable 27 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart,
holding that position across multiple weeks in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and
establishing Underwood as a new force in country music with legions of fans
across the country. With SoundScan sales in excess of 1.3 million copies
this year alone, Some Hearts remains the best-selling country album of
2007.

About Target: Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,591 stores in 47 states
nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices.
Target is committed to providing guests with great design through
innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships.
Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests
enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of
unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE: TGT) gives more than
$3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special
programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with
nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community
needs.

SOURCE Target

USA Network Gives Thumps Up to 'Starter Wife'

NEW YORK -- On the heels of its stellar ratings and Emmy success, USA Network has given a series order to the hit
miniseries THE STARTER WIFE, it was announced today by Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president of original programming for USA. Emmy Award-winner Debra Messing returns to star in THE STARTER WIFE and will serve as executive producer.

The Emmy nominated writing team of Josann McGibbon & Sara Parriott ("Runaway Bride") return as executive producers. Gigi
Levangie Grazer also returns as executive producer. The project will be produced by Universal Media Studios in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment. Stephanie Davis ("The Caveman's Valentine"), Howard Klein ("The Office," "Carnivale") and Molly Madden ("Picture Perfect") will also serve as executive producers for 3 Arts.

Based on the NY Times bestselling novel by Grazer, THE STARTER WIFE is
a sexy, savvy and wickedly funny tour de force about life after divorce and
one woman redefining herself after years of marriage to a Hollywood studio
head. With her signature wit, sassy style and cameos of the rich and famous
-- and wannabe rich and famous -- it tackles the most delicious and
dastardly details of a divorce and recovery, Hollywood style. The series
will focus on the post-divorce adventures of the lead character, Molly
Kagan (Messing) as she begins a new chapter in her life.

THE STARTER WIFE earned ten (10) Emmy nominations including Outstanding
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Messing, Outstanding Miniseries,
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Judy Davis
(won), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Joe
Mantegna, Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Movie for Sara Parriott &
Josann McGibbon, Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie,
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Outstanding
Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Part 1), Outstanding
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie (Part 3) and
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic).
Davis won the Emmy for her performance.

"THE STARTER WIFE was a major cultural event, and an out-of-the-park
home run for us," said Wachtel. "We're thrilled to reunite Debra, Josie,
Sara and Gigi -- the world-class team of star and writers who were
responsible for its success."

Messing is best known for her role as interior decorator Grace Adler
from "Will & Grace" for which she won the 2003 Emmy and recently earned a
2006 Emmy nomination. Her performance has garnered her six Golden Globe
nominations, five Emmy nominations and two American Comedy Award
nominations, one individual People's Choice Award nomination, as well as
winning the TV Guide Award 'Actress of the Year in a Comedy Series' in
2001. Messing has also been seen as lead in the feature film "The Wedding
Date," and has costarred in numerous feature films including "Along Came
Polly" with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston, Woody Allen's comedy,
"Hollywood Ending," opposite Woody Allen and Tea Leoni, and "The Mothman
Prophecies," opposite Richard Gere. Messing most recently wrapped
production on "The Women" directed by Diane English and starring, Annette
Bening, Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith and Eva Mendes. Upcoming projects
include "Purple Violets" directed by Edward Burns, which screened in the
Spotlight category at the 6th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in April 2007.
Messing was also heard in the animated films "Open Season" with Ashton
Kutcher and "Garfield."

The writing team of Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott are best known
for their work on "Runaway Bride" with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. More
recently, they worked at Disney Feature Animation, where they worked on
"Rapunzel," "Chicken Little" and "Frankenweenie" for Tim Burton. They have
additionally written for Sandra Bullock, Sid Ganis, Tom Shadyac and Sara
Colleton. McGibbon & Parriott also wrote the story for "Three Men and a
Little Lady."

Grazer's next book, Queen Takes King, will be published by Simon &
Shuster in 2008. She is currently writing a one-hour drama pilot for NBC
entitled "Wasbands and Wives," and her best selling book Maneater is being
developed as a miniseries for Lifetime. She also wrote the 1998 movie
"Stepmom" with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon and has been published in
numerous periodicals such as People Magazine, Glamour, Vogue and Harpers
Bazaar.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series
and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television
shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA
Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site
is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of
NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies
in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and
information to a global audience.

SOURCE USA Network

Detroit People Mover Wins Website Excellence Award

DETROIT -- The Troy (MI) Chamber of Commerce announced that the Detroit People Mover (DPM) has won first place in the
8th annual Helen eWards for Web Excellence competition for its website, http://www.thepeoplemover.com. The award was for the "Informational" website category.

The Helen eWards, which recognize excellence in website design and content, were presented at a Troy Chamber luncheon on October 18 in Bloomfield Hills (MI).

The People Mover's website was designed under the direction of DPM's General Manager, Barbara Hansen, to market and promote The People Mover and Downtown Detroit. Ms. Hansen said, "It is a welcome surprise to win our second major award within one month. In addition to our 20th Anniversary celebration this year, the awards are just an extra bonus!" DPM also won a first place award for train wrap design from the national transit trade association, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), for transit systems serving 1-4 million annual riders. "We are honored to have received an award for our efforts to promote all the new and exciting things that are happening in Downtown Detroit," she added.

The Detroit People Mover is owned and operated by The Detroit Transportation Corporation. For more information, please visit http://www.thepeoplemover.com, or call (313) 224-2160 during regular business ours.

SOURCE Detroit People Mover

Reid's Limbaugh Letter Sells for $2,100,100

LOS ANGELES -- Last week, Rush Limbaugh announced the eBay auction of Senator Harry Reid's letter that was signed by 41 Democrat Senators and sent to Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays. The auction closed today with a record-breaking winning bid of $2,100,100 for charity through eBay Giving Works. Previously, the most expensive item sold through
eBay Giving Works was the celebrity-signed Harley-Davidson from Jay Leno in 2005, which sold for $800,100.

All proceeds, including Mr. Limbaugh's matched donation, totaling $4,200,200, goes to the Marine Corps - Law
Enforcement Foundation, a registered charity that provides financial assistance to the children of fallen Marines and federal law enforcement officers. Mr. Limbaugh serves on the Board of this organization and has been active on its behalf since its inception.

Mr. Limbaugh stated on his nationally syndicated radio show today, "Our
winning bidder, subject to the receipt of funds, is a wonderful woman named
Betty Casey. As trustee of The Eugene B. Casey Foundation, she gives
significant sums to hospitals, hospices, colleges and private schools.
These include The Eugene B. Casey Diabetes Education Center, The Eugene B.
Casey Swim Center, The Eugene B. Casey Academic Center and The Casey Home
Hospice. She has also donated tens of millions from the foundation and her
personal funds to the Washington Opera."

He continued to share that, "Betty has been a listener to my program
since its inception, and we can't thank her enough for her support. We'd
also like to thank eBay Giving Works for allowing us to break their website
in the closing moments of the auction, and Auction Cause, who was our
consultant in prequalifying bidders and developing the auction."

"The Eugene B. Casey Foundation believes freedom of speech is a basic
right of every citizen of this country. Their purchase of the smear letter
was to demonstrate their belief in this right, and to support Rush
Limbaugh, his views and his continued education of us," said a foundation
spokesperson.

eBay Spokesperson Catherine England commented, "eBay Giving Works can
confirm that Rush Limbaugh's listing has set a new record as the most
expensive item sold for charity on the site. Unique items such as Rush's
letter are what make eBay a one-of-a kind experience. eBay Giving Works is
exceptionally pleased to see such a generous donation going to support the
Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation and the good work that they do."

Mrs. Casey receives the original "Harry Reid Smear" letter with 41
signatures; the Halliburton briefcase in which the letter is secured 24
hours a day; a personal letter of thanks from Mr. Limbaugh; and a
photograph of the radio personality displaying the letter on stage in
Philadelphia on October 11.

For video link of Mr. Limbaugh's announcement on his radio show today,
go to the homepage of http://www.RushLimbaugh.com.

Nationally syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh
Show is heard by approximately 20 million weekly listeners and airs on
nearly 600 radio stations.

SOURCE Premiere Radio Networks

Taxpayer Funding for Hippie Museum Defeated

WASHINGTON -- American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene says the successful effort by Senator Tom Coburn
(R-OK) to eliminate one million dollars of taxpayer funds for an arts center dedicated to the Woodstock Festival of 1969 is a victory over liberal hypocrisy.

"The fact that this was part of a bill to fund children's health and
education programs puts the lie to liberals in Congress who have fought
every attempt to restrain the massive increases in government spending
we've seen in recent years," Keene said. "Senator Coburn has set an example
for others in the Congress to follow in not being intimidated by liberal
attacks on the integrity of fiscal conservatives."

The earmark in the Senate appropriation bill funding labor, health and
education programs was sponsored by the two senators from New York, Hillary
Clinton and Charles Schumer.

Keene went on to say that Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic
presidential nomination, was so embarrassed by the debate that she did not
take the Senate floor to defend it. Keene said it was also disturbing that
the benefactors of the earmark, the Gerry Foundation, is run by a
multimillionaire, Alan Gerry, whose foundation has assets of $150 million
and who has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Democratic
Party over the last decade, including $9200 to Clinton's presidential
campaign.

"It is an outrage that taxpayer money should be diverted to a wealthy
private foundation," Keene said. "The next time you hear a liberal cry
crocodile tears over cuts to government programs for kids, remember they're
really talking about people like Alan Gerry and his liberal friends."


SOURCE American Conservative Union

Drivers Urged to Slow Down for Halloween

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As ghosts, witches, mermaids and pirates will soon be trick-or-treating on streets across the
state, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation today urged motorists to slow down and watch for pedestrians.

With many communities preparing for trick-or-treat night and
neighborhood parades, PennDOT reminds motorists to obey speed limits and
watch for children walking along the road or who may run into the street.

Parents and guardians can also help keep children safe by buying or
making brightly-colored, highly-visible costumes that do not interfere with
a child's ability to see, hear or walk. Strips of reflective tape should be
added to darker-colored costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

Carrying a flashlight or glow stick is another way to help ensure
children can be seen by motorists. An adult should always accompany
children while they are trick-or-treating.

Along with warning motorists, PennDOT also encourages adults to review
safety behaviors with their children. Children should be reminded to pay
attention to their surroundings and dangers that traffic may present.
Children should walk instead of running when crossing streets and remember
to always look both ways for approaching cars before stepping off the curb.
Children are also encouraged to remain on sidewalks whenever possible.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Road Block on the Internet Superhighway

WASHINGTON -- With the November 1st expiration date of the Internet Tax Freedom Act quickly approaching, the Senate was poised to vote on a permanent extension of the ban on Internet taxation Thursday night. However, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) voiced objection to S. 2128, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, effectively halting the vote. The Senate consideration of S. 2128 follows the Tuesday passage in the House of a temporary extension of the current moratorium.

While the senator stated that her objection was on behalf of Senator
Tom Carper (D-DE), she helped to thwart a similar bill in 2003.

"Yesterday Senator Landrieu took a stand against taxpayers, innovation
and economic growth by blocking a vote on the Permanent Internet Tax
Freedom Act," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of
Americans for Tax Reform. "With broad support for permanently banning
Internet taxes, Landrieu's efforts to stand in the way of S. 2128 are
surprising -- especially after her constituents relied heavily on Internet
communication following Hurricane Katrina."

The House extension, which passed with a vote of 405 to 2, does not
make the current moratorium permanent, despite broad support for a
permanent ban on taxing Internet access. Rep. Anne Eshoo's (D-CA) permanent
bill, which has 238 cosponsors, was not considered on the floor, nor were
amendments allowed under the rules for the vote. In addition to the
temporary extension of the tax prohibition, HR 3678 also extends the
grandfather provisions for the handful of states that had taxed the
Internet prior to 1998 and exempts states that collect gross receipts
taxes.

"The House's temporary extension is a good step toward a permanent
ban," continued Norquist. "As the Senate moves forward, I urge senators to
support at least the temporary extension, as well as the permanent ban on
Internet access taxes."

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers
and taxpayer groups who oppose all federal, state and local tax increases.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact John Kartch
at (202) 785-0266 or at jkartch@atr.org.


SOURCE Americans for Tax Reform

Kirk Douglas Applauds Senator John McCain

LOS ANGELES -- My name is Kirk Douglas and I have been a Democrat my whole life. More importantly than being a democrat, I am a believer in America, human rights and freedom. It is in that spirit that I risked my career during the McCarthy era and helped break the Hollywood Black List.

Even though Senator John McCain is a Republican, I openly applaud him
for being a true American -- he adheres to the principles that make America
the best country in the world. Last Wednesday in Columbia, SC, Republican
presidential candidate John McCain said the Senate should apologize for
slavery and segregation, calling them "dark chapters in our history."

McCain said he would support a planned resolution by fellow Republican Sen.
Sam Brownback, who is also seeking the presidency, to apologize for racist
laws, some of which ended more than a century ago.

Why are all the other presidential candidates SILENT on the topic of an
apology for slavery? I agree with McCain and Brownback: "They were federal
policies. They were wrong. The only way for us to move forward ... is at
the end of the day to acknowledge our mistakes, take ownership, and ask for
forgiveness."

Right now ... THIS COUNTRY IS A MESS. As a 90-year-old man, I ask
myself, "What happened to our country? We started off with such noble
intentions." An apology for slavery mirrors the many issues that this
country today needs to take inventory of as we prepare for the 2008
election.

This apology, coming at this time, will have great impact on
African-Americans ... and the "morale" of the whole country. It will
reinforce that as Americans we condemn egregious behavior and racism. By
apologizing for slavery, the Senate will restate its mission to condemn
crimes of all kinds: slavery, torture, war crimes and more.

I modestly lend my name alongside the Governor of Alabama, Senator
McCain, Senator Sam Brownback and all those who have had the courage to
voice their opinion on this topic. We are all Americans, we believe in this
Country and this is the time for the senate to officially apologize for
slavery.

SOURCE Kirk Douglas

Young Jeezy's Exclusif Birthday Bash

CHICAGO -- Young Jeezy teamed with Courvoisier to celebrate his birthday, the launch of his new clothing line, 8732, as well as his new men's clothing store, Eight the Store, in "Exclusif" fashion.

The Atlanta "Go Getta" pulled out all the stops to entertain his city's
who's who with an invite-only affair held in a private hangar at the
Peachtree Dekalb Airport. The included picture is the unofficial mayor of
Atlanta, Jermaine Dupri, with a bottle of Courvoisier's newest marque,
Exclusif, and the guest of honor himself, Young Jeezy. Other notable guests
included T.I., Ne-Yo, Chaka Zulu, Jazze Pha, Chingy, Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe
and Frank Ski. The party, which was the culmination of a week long, Miami
to Atlanta celebration for Jeezy, was so exclusive that guests had to bring
the black card included in their invitation to gain entrance.

The hangar was transformed into a luxurious setting featuring a private jet, sports cars, a boat, a VIP section, models and several fully stocked bars. Guests sipped Courvoisier's Jeezy-themed cocktails, such as the Exclusif Jet Setter and The Street Dream, as they vibed to music's hottest tracks and indulged in the lavish party atmosphere.

Courvoisier reminds consumers to "enjoy responsibly." For more
information about Courvoisier cognac, recipes for the signature cocktails
and corporate responsibility visit http://www.courvoisier.com.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Courvoisier(R) Cognac, 40% alc./vol. Courvoisier Import Company,
Deerfield, IL USA
Courvoisier is a trademark of Courvoisier S.A.S. (C)2007 Courvoisier
S.A.S.

SOURCE Courvoisier

Synchronis.tv Makes History with Webisode

NEW YORK -- From September 19-30th of this year, Synchronis.tv made history as the first company to stream a scripted drama live over the Internet. Using three Panasonic DVX 100's mixed in real time and streamed live to Ustream.tv via a Tri-Caster Studio, Synchronis.tv presented "35", 10, 10 minute episodes shot over 12 consecutive evenings.

Written by award winning writer Sharr White and directed by Adam
Forgash, Synchronis.tv's first series "35" introduces us to Christian and
Sarah, a couple, who on the cusp of their long awaited success, are visited
by an unwelcome houseguest whose presence unearths their deeply-buried
skeletons, paving the way for a razors-edge triangle of possession, deceit
and retribution.

A co-production with New York's Digital Film Academy, a New York City
based 21st Century all digital film school, Synchronis.tv's "35" was
covered by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times On Line, Mashable,
NewTeeVee, online video watch, Jeff Pulver , Steve Garfield, and more.
35 is sponsored by W123, spacious luxury long and short term
accommodations in the heart and soul of NYC, and coup de couture, a fashion
line by a young New York designer with European roots and influence.

QUOTES:

With shows like "quarterlife" and "35" premiering and high speed
Internet becoming the norm that Internet TV may just be able to break
through and establish itself as contender for viewers vs. the regular old
TV ... Is the Internet about to change TV viewing as we know it? -
Truemors.com

I just watched the first episode, and it just struck me how amazing
this was. Yes, we can all put a video on the web, but to do a live 3 camera
drama, bootstrapping the whole thing, is amazing. - Eric Rochow -
Gardenfork.tv

RELATED LINKS:
To view this release in social media format, go to:
http://urlcut.com/1lmuo

SOURCE Synchronis.tv

Boys & Girls Clubs Call America to Action

NEW YORK -- America's young people need our help, concluded a panel of child development experts that came together in New York City today to examine issues impacting youth. Too many children and teens are not receiving the guidance they need to graduate from high school, to avoid the effects of violence, gangs and drugs, or to become responsible adults.

The panel, brought together by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), issued a call to action asking Americans to become outraged over what is happening to children, to make a commitment to help reverse the negative trends affecting kids in communities throughout the nation, and to join BGCA in its mission of changing and saving young lives. The organization's
national spokesperson and alumnus Denzel Washington, along with actor and alumnus Cuba Gooding Jr. and WNBA star and alumna Swin Cash, joined the panel to discuss the positive and profound impact the Boys & Girls Clubs have had on their lives.

The panel also discussed the results of a new BGCA survey of Club
alumni that confirmed the positive impact Boys & Girls Clubs have on kids
who pass through their doors. The group concluded by asking Americans
everywhere to help build more safety nets for America's youth by supporting
Boys & Girls Clubs and other community-based organizations that serve
children.

Panelists included Harvard University's Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, one of the nation's preeminent child psychiatrists; Northeastern University's Dr. James Alan Fox, national youth violence expert, professor of criminal justice and author; Harris Interactive Chairman/CEO Humphrey Taylor; BGCA Chairman Rick Goings and President/CEO Roxanne Spillett; and Stacey Walker, 19, Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2006-07 National Youth of the Year, from Des Moines, Iowa.

According to the BGCA survey, 57 percent of alumni believe the Club
saved their life. Verbatim comments reveal that alumni found a safe haven
at the Club, away from disruptive or dysfunctional family situations or
other negative influences in their neighborhoods.

"The Club was my whole world from the time I was 6 years old. It's
where I learned how to focus and set my mind on a goal; it's where I
learned about consequences and how to be a man," recalls Denzel Washington.
"I believe we all have the responsibility to give something back; to leave
the world a better place for our having been here. For me, that means
giving back to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, whose programs helped shape me and gave my life purpose and direction. I can't think of a nobler or more fulfilling mission than to guide our young children and set them down the right path."

"As a nation, we need to provide more safe havens for children and
teens in our communities," said Roxanne Spillett, president/CEO of Boys &
Girls Clubs of America. "Today we call on all civic leaders, educators,
parents and other caring adults to 'share the outrage' concerning the
dropout epidemic, the increasing levels of violence, and other growing
threats to the well-being of our young people. Boys & Girls Clubs will do
their part, with the support of many caring and concerned people throughout the country, but we cannot turn the tide alone."

Four Major Areas of Concern

The panel focused its discussion on four major areas of concern from
the BGCA survey, impacting America's youth today: crime and violence, high
school dropout rates, obesity and health, and crises affecting
African-American males. Based on the survey results, a significant number
of Boys & Girls Club alumni agree that they would not have graduated from
high school, attended college, or stayed out of trouble if not for the
Club.

-- Crime & Substance Abuse: Crime, drug and alcohol use are among the
most serious problems affecting America's young people. Every 24 hours,
more than 15,000 teens use drugs for the first time. Every two hours a
youth is murdered. Every four minutes a youth is arrested for an
alcohol-related crime and every seven minutes a youth is arrested for a
drug crime (Crime Time by Safe Place). And in the next 24 hours, 3,506
teens will run away from home (Teen Help). Some 67 percent of Club alumni
attribute their ability to avoid difficulty with the law to the influence
of Club staff, and 67 percent also say the Club is where they learned how
to "say no" to drugs and alcohol.

-- Dropout Rates: In 2006 alone, 1.2 million teenagers did not graduate
from high school in the United States -- that's 30 percent of the class of
2006. The number increases to an astonishing 50 percent among some
minorities. According to a survey by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
88 percent of those surveyed (ages 16 to 25 in 25 urban, rural and suburban
communities nationwide) had passing grades when they dropped out of school,
and 91 percent of those dropouts said they knew that graduating was vital
to their future success. According to the BGCA alumni survey, some 28
percent report they would have dropped out of high school if not for the
Club, plus 51 percent achieved a higher level of education than they
thought possible because of attending the Club.

-- Childhood Obesity: Obesity and lack of physical fitness is also a
serious issue affecting today's youth. According to a study by the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC), 16 percent of adolescents in the United States
are overweight. This figure has nearly tripled in the last 20 years. Some
25 percent of young people (ages 12-21) report that they do not participate
in any vigorous physical activity and 14 percent report that they don't
even participate in any light to moderate physical activity. This lack of
physical fitness and abundance of obesity means that 16 percent of our
teens are at risk for heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood
pressure. Type 2 diabetes has also increased dramatically in teens as a
direct result of adolescent obesity. Of the alumni surveyed, 80 percent
said that their Club experience made a positive impact on their attitude
toward fitness and health, with 74 percent participating in organized
sports.

-- African-American Males: According to a 2006 New York Times article
by Erik Eckholm, the problems affecting many African-American males have
become an epidemic. Eckholm states that about one-third of black males are
awaiting trial, in jail or prison, or on probation or parole. In their
lifetime, nearly one-third of black males will spend some time in jail or
prison. Black males are more likely to drop out of high school, be placed
in special education classes, and be suspended or expelled, but less likely
to be placed in gifted and talented classes. More than 50 percent of black
males in inner-city schools do not graduate from high school. However,
according to the survey, some 73 percent of African-American male alumni
said the "Club saved my life." Most impressive -- 34 percent of
African-American BGC male alumni earned a four-year college degree,
compared to the national rate of 16 percent (2006 Current Population
Survey.)

"There's an eclipse of traditional community in today's generation:
higher rates of divorce, the decline of churchgoing and the fact that more
people live in urban areas, where they may not even know their neighbors.
Kids need a community where they are safe, where people know and care about
them, someplace they can go after school and do their homework instead of
getting into trouble on the streets," concluded Dr. James Alan Fox. "Boys &
Girls Clubs of America is an organization that is able to provide that
much-needed community for millions of kids."

Impact 2012: Building for the Future

Boys & Girls Clubs of America used the panel discussion as the official
kick-off for Impact 2012, the national organization's five-year strategic
plan. For the period between 2008 and 2012, BGCA has identified several
strategic priorities, the most important being the deepening of impact on
young lives through:

-- Increased overall daily attendance, and increased frequency of
attendance for each Club member;

-- Emphasis on outcome measurement of success indicators, including
academic achievement, juvenile crime reduction, and level of civic
engagement;

-- Outreach to more young people and families most in need;

-- Special emphasis on serving the needs of teens;

-- Strengthening of local Clubs through enhanced training and
development of professional youth development staff;

-- Establishment of new Clubs in communities where the needs are
greatest, reaching a total of 5,000 service locations by 2012.

Methodology

The survey was conducted online and by telephone within the United
States by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(BGCA) between November 15, 2006 and March 16, 2007, among 1,014 BGCA
alumni (18 and older). Figures for age, sex, race, education, household
income, and region were weighted where necessary to bring them into line
with their actual proportions in the population of BGCA alumni. Propensity
score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be
online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability
sampling are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not
possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error,
error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording
and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore,
Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are
misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling
errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples
with 100 percent response rates. These are only theoretical because no
published polls come close to this ideal.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org) comprises a
national network of more than 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities, with 4.8
million youth served through Club membership and community outreach, in all
50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Known as "The Positive
Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development
programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a
full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize
leadership development, education and career exploration, financial
literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation,
and family outreach. An estimated 30 million American youth have been
served by Boys & Girls Clubs since the founding of BGCA in 1906. National
headquarters are located in Atlanta.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Opening Wine Bottles Just Got Easier

SONOMA, Calif. -- Anyone that enjoys wine knows the frustrations of uncorking the bottle. The corkscrew is too small, too
big, or doesn't work. We often resort to holding the bottle between our legs to pry out the cork!
There have been many attempts to solve this age-old problem with all
types of grips, handles or gas, but they are still awkward to use. The
Penguin EZ Pull Corkscrew has solved this problem by utilizing a
cylinder-and-lever patented system.
"The Penguin EZ Pull Corkscrew is absolutely the coolest wine opener I
have ever seen," says Steve Kruschen, better known as TVs One and Only Mr.
Gadget(R).
No gas, no special strength or skills required. Senior citizens with
arthritis or low hand strength find the Penguin Corkscrew a breeze too. The
first time you use it, you may not realize the cork is already out. Just
remove the foil, place the unit over the top of the bottle, then pull the
lever down and back up in less than four seconds.
A matching foil cutter is included to easily remove the foil. The
Teflon-coated, magnesium corkscrew 'worm' is automatically inserted into
the cork while pulling the handle down, then effortlessly removes the cork
from the bottle.
A quick repeat motion of the handles ejects the cork. It works
effectively on synthetic or natural corks. An extra corkscrew is also
included for replacement after the first 1,000 bottles are opened.
The Penguin Corkscrew comes in an elegant burgundy gift box with
magnetic 'hidden' closure. It retails for $49.95 and is available at major
national retailers or at http://www.penguincorkscrew.com.

SOURCE Wine Things Unlimited

Fusion Chrome's power razor with built-in spotlight

NEW YORK -- Gillette & The Art of Shaving have launched FUSION CHROME COLLECTION, a premium assortment of shaving
instruments combining the best of these two leaders in shaving. The high-style, high- performance collection consists of two razors, a manual version and a powered version which features a built in spotlight -- a world first, a coordinating shaving brush and two elegant shaving stands.
Since its inception in 1996, The Art of Shaving, led by co-founding
husband and wife team Eric Malka and Myriam Zaoui, has designed and
marketed premium razor handles compatible with only Gillette blade
cartridges.
The Art of Shaving is recognized as the high-end shaving industry
leader and brings quality, style and craftsmanship to the co-branded
partnership. As the world leader in shaving, Gillette brings its superior
technology and rigorous testing to ensure the highest level of shaving
performance. The result is FUSION CHROME COLLECTION, a perfect blend of
both partners to give men the ultimate shaving experience.
"Partnering with Gillette allows us to offer our customers the very
latest in shaving technology," explains Eric Malka, President and CEO of
The Art of Shaving.
Myriam Zaoui, Chief Creative Officer, agrees, "This collection truly
represents an innovation in the premium razor category. In addition to the
light and micro-pulse technology, we are introducing new materials such as
polished chrome and thermo-resin."
"The FUSION CHROME COLLECTION is the culmination of a unique and
natural partnership between Gillette and The Art of Shaving, two strong,
well- respected brands," says Matthew Wohl, General Manager of Gillette's
Global New Products and Shave Care.
The launch of FUSION CHROME COLLECTION is strategically timed to
coincide with this holiday shopping season. The collection hits store
shelves today and is sold at all of The Art of Shaving Shop locations -- 25
stores nationwide, http://TheArtofShaving.com,
http://FusionChromeCollection.com, fine retailers such as Barney's, Neiman
Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and select men's
clothiers, spas, resorts nationwide.
Suggested retail pricing for the FUSION CHROME COLLECTION Power Razor
is $150 and $125 for the Manual Razor. The Shaving Brush and Shaving Stands
will be sold separately for $75 and $100.

SOURCE The Art of Shaving

Holiday Gifts That Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease

CHICAGO -- More than half of holiday shoppers (57 percent) plan to purchase a gift that gives back to a good cause*. This
year, choose a gift that will brighten someone's holiday and contribute to the fight against Alzheimer's disease, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
Your gift could help fund care services for families struggling with
Alzheimer's or support innovative research grants, which could one day put
an end to this devastating disease. For more information visit
http://www.alz.org.
Alzheimer's Association Champions T-shirt - Become an Alzheimer's
Champion with the purchase of a Champions T-shirt as worn by celebrities
such as: David Hyde Pierce, Dick Van Dyke and Ricki Lake. The distinctive
purple colors of the Alzheimer's Association indicate that you can OPEN
Your Mind, Use Your VOICE and MOVE the Cause.
-- T-shirts ($20-25) are available on http://www.actionalz.org.
SanDisk(R) Flash Memory Cards and USB Flash Drives - SanDisk Ultra II
SD memory cards are ideal for capturing images on digital still and video
cameras and for fast transfer of pictures to personal computers. The
SanDisk Cruzer Micro flash drive allows you to carry and store important
files, music, images and other data.
-- When SanDisk Ultra II SD 2GB memory cards ($44.99) and the SanDisk
Cruzer Micro 2GB USB flash drives ($39.99) are purchased at
participating retailers $1 will be donated to the Alzheimer's
Association.
The Connect and Reflect Kit - This holiday season purchase The Connect
and Reflect Kit, including a Family Memory Book, a Family Memory CD and a
Family Video available in VHS or DVD, for your loved one living with
dementia and their caregiver.
-- When The Connect and Reflect Kit ($39.98) is purchased at
http://www.memorylanemedia.com, 10 percent will benefit the
Alzheimer's Association.
"Once Upon a Game: Baseball's Greatest Memories" by Alan Schwarz - A
gift for every baseball fan, "Once Upon a Game: Baseball's Greatest
Memories" chronicles favorite recollections from baseball's enduring
legends: Cal Ripken, Yogi Berra, Nolan Ryan, Derek Jeter - even Kevin
Costner and "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz. Listen to Ernie Banks,
Hank Greenberg, Bobby Thomson and 30 more baseball stars relive their top
moments in their own words.
-- This book ($19.95) can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com and
bookstores nationwide with 20 percent of the author's royalties
benefiting the Alzheimer's Association.
"Still Alice" by Lisa Genova - For the reader on your gift list, "Still
Alice" is a touching story of a 50-year old university professor who
develops early-onset Alzheimer's.
-- "Still Alice" ($18.95) can be purchased at http://www.stillalice.com
or http://www.iuniverse.com with up to $3 being donated to the
Alzheimer's Association.
Project Everlasting" co-authored by Mathew Boggs and Jason Miller -
Love stories of married couples compiled by two young bachelors during a
cross- country search for America's greatest marriages, which they called
"Project Everlasting."
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health
organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to
eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to
provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the
risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a
world without Alzheimer's.
* The 2006 Cone Holiday Trend Tracker.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association

Harley-Davidson Museum Rolls Out Holiday Gift

MILWAUKEE -- The Harley-Davidson Museum has created a one-of-a-kind gift option that is perfect for true Harley-Davidson (HOG) enthusiasts. Similar to a tattoo, Living the Legend(TM) gives Harley fans a chance to express their personal connections to Harley-Davidson.
Stainless steel Living the Legend rivets, available in three-inch or
six-inch sizes, can be customized with a name or a personal message.
Recipients and Museum visitors will be able to view the rivets displayed on
either curved steel walls or special plazas found on the Harley-Davidson
Museum grounds when it opens next summer. They can be personalized and
purchased in time for the holidays at
http://www.h-dmuseum.com/livingthelegend.
"Harley-Davidson chose the rivet as a symbol of the bond between
Harley-Davidson and all those who celebrate freedom and the individual
spirit of adventure," said Stacey Schiesl, director of the Harley-Davidson
Museum. "Harley-Davidson's heritage has been built upon the stories,
passion and experiences of each rider. Living the Legend is a great way for
Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to share those experiences and connect with our
one-of-a-kind Museum."
For years to come, visitors from around the world will feel the
Harley-Davidson pride and learn about the legacy when they explore the
collection of personal messages on the park-like Museum grounds. Living the
Legend(TM) rivets will be available for customization until December 31,
2007 to ensure installation in time for the Motor Company's 105th
Anniversary celebrations.

SOURCE Harley-Davidson, Inc.

Hundreds of Homes for the Holidays

DENVER -- Looking to blow the mind of your family this year? Try giving them weeks and weeks of perfect vacations -- year after year.
An Exclusive Resorts vacation is an incomparable present for yourself
and the ones you care about most. Members of the luxury destination club
can choose from over 350 fabulous vacation homes in dozens of the world's
most sought-after destinations. (http://www.exclusiveresorts.com )
Consider treating your family to gorgeous white-sand beaches in Turks &
Caicos or cliff-side homes in Costa Rica. Or offering your family immediate
access to ski slopes in Vail, Deer Valley or the French Alps. You could
even tempt them with elegant New York residences just steps from Fifth
Avenue, or a week of wine tours in the Tuscan countryside.
But the destinations are only the beginning. With an Exclusive Resorts
membership, you're also giving your family access to amenities and services
from five-star resorts. You're giving access to onsite concierges who stock
the fridge with groceries prior to arrival, reserve a table at the best
restaurants in town and arrange tee times at championship golf courses. And
you're giving access to premier partnerships for your vacation, such as
preferred pricing, guaranteed availability and complimentary delivery
courtesy of Avis Rent a Car, or expert medical advice from the medical
advisory and health information resources of the world-renowned Mayo
Clinic.
With the little details out of the way, you and your family can enjoy
more quality time together. On your Exclusive Resorts vacations, you'll
have more time for the things that matter. You never know which moments
with your family might turn into memories that last a lifetime. Now is the
time to show them that the best gift they can receive is time spent with
those they care for most.
The destination club vacation model has attracted more and more
discerning travelers in recent years. For a one-time, mostly refundable
membership fee and annual dues, members enjoy the privacy and spaciousness
of vacation homes plus the services and amenities of luxury resorts.
You and your family can vacation in the best places the world has to
offer. And you can do it without any hassles. Together, you can discover
the secret Exclusive Resorts members have known for years: that dreams of
ocean sunsets, fresh mountain snow, private chef dinners and rejuvenating
spa getaways can come true.

SOURCE Exclusive Resorts