Saturday, December 31, 2011

Patrice Tanaka Presents "Becoming Ginger Rogers" Book Party





“Becoming Ginger Rogers” Book Party Launch Benefits Dancing Classrooms




Patrice Tanaka

Program Teaches Ballroom Dancing in 500+ Public Schools Across U.S. and in Jaffa, Israel, Bringing Together Israeli and Palestinian Children


Patrice Tanaka (Photo Credit: Jan Goldstoff)

NEW YORK, DEC. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The recent industry launch of PR maven Patrice Tanaka’s new book, “Becoming Ginger Rogers…How Ballroom Dancing Made Me a Happier Woman, Better Partner and Smarter CEO,” co-hosted by MultiVu, a PR Newswire company, and CommPRO.biz, at The Ball New York on Dec. 14 was appropriately a fundraiser for Dancing Classrooms. The New York City-based non-profit, co-founded by ballroom champion Pierre Dulaine and his dance partner, Yvonne Marceau, which brings ballroom dance into public schools across the country and, now globally, has transformed the lives of more than 300,000 children and inspired the award-winning documentary, “Mad, Hot Ballroom,” and the film, “Take the Lead,” starring Antonio Banderas.


Jeannie Egas-Trouveroy, Pierre Dulaine, John Schultz, Patrice Tanaka, Yvonne Marceau, Todd Grossman (photo credit: Jan Goldstoff)

“I can’t think of a better way to launch my book, which is a memoir/business book about the personal and professional transformation I experienced through ballroom dance, than to use it as a fundraiser for Dancing Classrooms, a program I have long admired for its success in helping to transform young lives one step at a time through ballroom dance,” explains Tanaka.

“I first started taking ballroom dance lessons at Pierre Dulaine’s dance studio in New York City and have witnessed the tireless dedication of Pierre and Yvonne in building this remarkable program from one New York City elementary school in 1994 to more than 500 schools across the country today, including in Jaffa, Israel, where 10-year old Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Palestinian children were brought together for the first time ever through ballroom dance.” A documentary entitled, “Dancing in Jaffa,” will be released in fall 2012 about Pierre’s visit to his hometown of Jaffa and his efforts to bring children of different faiths together joyfully and peacefully through dance in this war-torn region, Ms. Tanaka said.

According to Pierre Dulaine, research has proven that Dancing Classrooms’ 10-week session of twice-weekly ballroom dance classes have helped to increase social development among children and improve their school attendance and rate of high school graduation. “We can very clearly see the transformative effect of ballroom dance on children and know that dance can transform lives at any age as Ms. Tanaka can attest to in her charmingly candid book, ‘Becoming Ginger Rogers,’ and how it made her, as she says, ‘a happier woman, better partner and smarter CEO.’”

Todd Grossman, vice president of MultiVu, which co-hosted the book party for Ms. Tanaka, announced that proceeds from the sale of books that evening would be donated to Dancing Classrooms.

Ms. Tanaka will also be making a donation to the non-profit organization for every book sold through February 15, 2012, the date of Dancing Classrooms 18th Annual Gala Dinner-Dance at The Pierre Hotel in New York City at which she will be the non-profit organization’s first-ever “corporate honoree.”

To order a copy of “Becoming Ginger Rogers” and, at the same time, make a donation to Dancing Classrooms, please click on either of the following links:

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Ginger-Rogers-Ballroom-Dancing/dp/1936661039

Or

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/becoming-ginger-rogers-patrice-tanaka/1100238005

At the book party, Ms. Tanaka spoke about how she started ballroom dance lessons at age 50 to satisfy a lifelong dream of dancing like Ginger Rogers and, in so doing, found her way to “unimaginable joy.” She recounted how she turned to ballroom dancing to lift herself from a deep depression she fell into post-9/11, the unraveling of a successful business she co-founded, and the prolonged illness and death of her beloved husband.

Ms. Tanaka said that she took up ballroom dancing at a time when she was feeling “totally burnt out and unexcited and uninspired by her own life.” Ballroom dancing, she said, helped her to “reclaim her life.”

In “Becoming Ginger Rogers,” Ms. Tanaka talks about the “lessons she learned from ballroom dancing that have application beyond the dance floor” such as:

The importance of being fully present – mind, body and spirit – in helping you to communicate more effectively, create stronger connections and partner more successfully with others in your personal and professional life.

How “overrated” and inhibiting perfectionism is; more important, she says, is to live full-out and fearlessly even if you make some missteps.
How visualizing your dreams are the first step in manifesting them.
How living every moment of your life in a way that is fulfilling in and of itself, and not dependent on some future you may not have, is the best way to live and to be “good to go” especially if you have little advance warning like the nearly 3,000 people who perished at work in the Twin Towers on 9/11.

Ms. Tanaka concluded her remarks by urging guests to “pursue your joy with a sense of urgency” and not to postpone this critical action by thinking that they had the “luxury of an endless future” in which to do so.

She then introduced a dazzling ballroom dance exhibition by American Rhythm Champions Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine and Liana Churilova. Ms. Tanaka said that Pierre-Antoine, her teacher, was the person who “inspired” her to write her book, explaining that, “Emmanuel views dancing as more than just a ‘sport’ or ‘profession,’ he views dance as a way of being fully present in the world and as self-discovery and a way of connecting with the divine both within and beyond yourself.”

The thrilling Cha Cha, Rhumba and Mambo danced by Pierre-Antoine and Churilova were evidence of this to all who were present that evening.

# # #

About Patrice Tanaka
Patrice Tanaka is the co-chair, chief creative officer and whatcanbe ambassador for CRT/tanaka, an award-winning, national PR and marketing agency she co-founded in September 2005. Her agency’s brand vision of whatcanbe is the reason CRT/tanaka has been recognized for its workplace culture and won more than 300 PR and marketing awards for client campaigns.

A widow since 2003, Ms.Tanaka lives in Manhattan and devotes much of her free time to serving on the boards of non-profit organizations dedicated to helping women and children, including the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund), the American Friends of Phelophepa (the South African health care train) and Asian Women in Business. She also competes in “pro-am” ballroom dance competitions. You can find her on Facebook @Becoming Ginger Rogers and Twitter @BeGingerRogers.

About Dancing Classrooms
Dancing Classrooms is an arts-in-education program whose mission is to build social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance. Dancing Classrooms NYC, a 501©(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1994.

Dancing Classrooms is not about teaching ballroom dancing. Dance is a tool for getting children to break down social barriers, learn about honor and respect, treat others carefully, improve self-confidence, communicate and cooperate, and accept others even if they are different.

Dancing Classrooms is a 10-week – 20 session social development program for 5th and 8th grade children that utilizes ballroom dancing as a vehicle to change the lives of not only the children who participate in the program but also the lives of the teachers and parents who support these children.

You can find Dancing Classrooms on Facebook @Dancing Classrooms New York City and Twitter @DancingClassrms.


About PR Newswire

PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 57 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content — from rich media to online video to multimedia — and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world’s largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world’s enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

About CommPRO.biz
An acronym for "Communications Professional Resources Online," CommPRO.biz is the destination for the answers marketing communications professionals need to be successful, whether they’re in PR, IR, corporate communications, marketing or advertising. CommPRO.biz reaches 75,000+ MarCom professionals with its "Daily Headlines" and enjoys 20,000+ site visitors per month. Its founders include Bruce Merchant, (Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer), Fay Shapiro (Publisher), Todd Fabacher (Chief Information Architect) and Brian Pittman (Content Director). The team brings together a wealth of experience in publishing and services targeted to the business communications sectors — including advertising, investor relations, public relations and marketing. For further information, visit us online at: www.commpro.biz, Twitter @commprobiz and Facebook www.facebook.com/commPRO.biz.



Brad Pitt: Voted Top Money-Making Star of 2011





30 Dec 2011 15:30 Africa/Lagos

Career First for Brad Pitt: Top Money-Making Star of 2011

GROTON, Mass., Dec. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Brad Pitt has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2011 in Quigley Publishing Company's 80th Annual Poll of Motion Picture Exhibitors. This is Pitt's sixth appearance in the Poll, but his first win. Exhibitors felt Pitt was responsible for more traffic to theatres than any other Hollywood star based on his performances this year in "Moneyball," "The Tree of Life" and "Happy Feet Two." (voice)

The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theatres during the year. It has been long regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of a Star's real box-office draw because the selections are made by professionals whose livelihood depends on choosing the films and actors that will bring audiences to their theatres. The Quigley Poll appears annually in Quigley Publishing Company's International Motion Picture Almanac and on our web site: www.quigleypublishing.com. Both list the results of all the Polls since Marie Dressler, Janet Gaynor and Joan Crawford took the top three places in 1932.

George Clooney placed second this year based on "The Ides of March," where he was also the Director, Producer and Co-writer and "The Descendants." Johnny Depp, last year's winner, made it to #3 this year with 2011 roles in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and "The Rum Diary." Depp has placed in the poll seven times as has this year's #4, Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in "J. Edgar." Matt Damon, #5, had a very busy year with "Contagion," "The Adjustment Bureau," "Margaret" and "We Bought a Zoo."

2009's winner, Sandra Bullock, placed #6, which marks her fifth appearance in the Poll. She first placed in the survey in 1995. There were two first-timers this year, Bradley Cooper #7 and Ben Stiller #10. Bradley Cooper was in "The Hangover Part II" and Ben Stiller was in "Tower Heist." Robert Downey, Jr. was #8 on the strength of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" and Meryl Streep was #9 as 'The Iron Lady" and is in the Top Ten for the fourth time.

Tom Cruise has not placed in the Poll since 2006 but he has been in the Top Ten 20 times since 1983, and been voted number one the most of any actor - seven times. Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and Bing Crosby have all won five times. Clint Eastwood has been in the poll 21 times starting in 1968. Currently, Exhibitors appreciate him more as a Director that brings audiences to their theatres. John Wayne, Doris Day and Shirley Temple each finished first four times, but John Wayne was voted one of the Top Ten Money-Making Stars an astounding 25 times from 1949 to 1974.

Exhibitors were also asked to name the Stars of Tomorrow for 2011: one actor and one actress who they feel will be Top Money-Makers in the years to come. The 2011 winners are Rooney Mara who played Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and Jonah Hill who had a breakthrough performance in "Moneyball" and starred in "The Sitter."

Top Ten Money-Making Stars of 2011

Brad Pitt
George Clooney
Johnny Depp
Leonardo DiCaprio
Matt Damon
Sandra Bullock
Bradley Cooper
Robert Downey, Jr.
Meryl Streep
Ben Stiller

Stars of Tomorrow:

Rooney Mara
Jonah Hill

Quigley Publishing Company was founded in 1915 and has published the International Motion Picture Almanac annually since 1930 and the International Television & Video Almanac since 1955. Historical data, analysis and all of the Top Ten Money-Making Star Polls dating back to 1932 are available in the 2011 edition of the International Motion Picture Almanac and on our web site: www.quigleypublishing.com

SOURCE Quigley Publishing Company

CONTACT: CONTACT: Bill Quigley, +1-978-448-0272, Fax: +1-978-448-9325, bquigley@quigleypublishing.com

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



Friday, December 30, 2011

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Fell Short in 2011


Anti Corruption Campaign Banner. Photo Credit: One Stone Advisors.

29 Dec 2011 20:50 Africa/Lagos

FCPA Digest Cites Increased Prosecution of Individuals and Sharpened Focus On Judicial Opinions and Trials

Shearman & Sterling report outlines business and legal implications of US, UK and other international anti-corruption activities

NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Although the overall number of new FCPA enforcement actions fell somewhat in 2011 – just 16 corporate cases, compared with 20 in 2010 – US authorities have continued their aggressive and proactive enforcement of the statute and are now being joined by their foreign counterparts, according to global law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP.

Shearman & Sterling's semi-annual "Recent Trends and Patterns in FCPA Enforcement" report, part of the firm's renowned FCPA Digest (http://fcpa.shearman.com), showed that, despite the claims of some commentators and legislators, FCPA penalties against corporations have remained fairly stable and under $20 million in most cases.

"It's more than a numbers game," says Philip Urofsky, a Washington, DC- and London-based partner at Shearman & Sterling and head of the firm's FCPA and Global Anti-Corruption Practice. "High fines often result directly from high profits. When a company does not make much money as a result of corrupt conduct, the penalties are significantly lower."

In 2011, US enforcement authorities continued their emphasis on prosecuting individuals, charging 18 individuals and, at the same time, going to trial in several important cases. Urofsky notes, however, that a number of these recent trials have underlined the difficulty that US enforcement authorities, once in court, have in proving foreign bribery beyond a reasonable doubt. Still, judicial opinions have largely supported the government's expansive interpretation of what constitutes an "instrumentality" of a foreign government, including state-owned entities indirectly controlled by a foreign government.

Interestingly, most of the individuals charged in 2011 were foreign nationals. This presents a twist on the previously noted trends of US enforcement authorities targeting non-US companies.

"US enforcement officials seem to be saying, 'Enough is enough,'" Urofsky says. "In the past they have targeted non-US companies and now they are reaching out to charge those companies' employees, particularly those in jurisdictions that do not appear to be exercising sufficient energy and commitment to enforcing their own laws implementing the OECD Convention."

It remains to be seen, Urofsky added, if the US will ever be able to bring these individuals to trial, which will depend on whether the countries whose nationals have been indicted – Germany, Argentina, Switzerland, and Israel (all of whom are signatories to the OECD Convention) – will extradite these individuals to the US, will bring their own enforcement actions against them or will do nothing.

UK Bribery Act

The Bribery Act 2010 finally came into effect in the UK on July 1, 2011, following publication of guidance by the Ministry of Justice in March 2011 on the "adequate procedures" defense to the corporate offense of failure to prevent bribery.

"The Bribery Act represents a brave new world here in the UK," explains Richard Kelly, a Shearman & Sterling partner in London who advises clients on the Bribery Act. "The Ministry of Justice guidance is useful as far as it goes, but it still remains uncertain how the courts will interpret a number of key provisions of the Bribery Act."

The Director of the Serious Fraud Office has indicated that an SFO focus from the outset will be prosecuting non-UK companies with a business presence in the UK to help ensure that UK companies which behave properly are not subject to unfair competition from non-UK companies which do not. In contrast, US authorities, after years of focusing on US companies, have only recently targeted non-US companies as part of an apparent effort to spur non-US enforcement agencies to be more active in this area with respect to their own companies.

Increased self-monitoring in the US

Back in the US, there was a withdrawal by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission from routinely requiring an independent monitor in all cases and agreeing to various forms of self-monitoring. But even that did not diminish the importance of self-monitoring and self-reporting.

"The message here has remained generally consistent: companies that make voluntary disclosures and cooperate with the government receive a tangible benefit," says Dan Newcomb, one of the leaders of Shearman & Sterling's FCPA practice in New York.

Shearman & Sterling's analysis of penalties over the past five years indicates that the DOJ has often, but not always, granted discounts ranging from 3% to 67% in cases involving voluntary disclosures and negotiated resolutions. The court filings in a number of these cases list the reasons for the DOJ's decision to depart, including: voluntary and thorough disclosure; nature and extent of cooperation; penalties imposed or to be imposed by other US and foreign enforcement agencies and international organizations; and "extraordinary" remediation, including self and independent monitoring.

Other key findings

Among the other key findings in this semi-annual update to the firm's FCPA Digest:

The first half of the year started off with the US authorities continuing their record pace of the past previous years, bringing 9 actions. In the latter half of the year, the pace dropped somewhat, perhaps because the DOJ in particular was largely pre-occupied with the trials in the Lindsay Manufacturing, Haiti Telecom, and SHOT Show cases and in preparing for additional SHOT Show trials as well as upcoming trials in O'Shea and CCI. Included in the 16 cases in 2011 was the last corporate case involving the Bonny Island consortium and the first FCPA case against a major pharmaceutical company, Johnson & Johnson.


The 18 additional individuals charged in 2011 represents the second highest total in FCPA history, eclipsed only by 2009 in which the government charged the 22 individuals in the SHOT Show case and 7 of the 8 defendants in CCI.

The case against the Siemens individuals may also reflect the pressure from commentators, the courts, and Congress to see that individuals are held accountable for corporate crimes.

This past year also saw the highest financial sanctions ever assessed against individuals in an FCPA case -- a TSKJ case relating to the bribes paid for contracts in Bonny Island, Nigeria. Earlier this year, the courts ordered forfeiture of $148,964,569 in Geoffrey Tesler's Swiss bank accounts.

Since the record-holding $800 million penalty for Siemens in 2008, each subsequent year has seen at least one corporate FCPA case with a penalty of several hundred million dollars. But these headline-grabbing high penalties and resulting high annual totals tend to obscure the reality of what companies, on average, pay for FCPA violations. When the highest and lowest "outlier" cases are excluded, the averages-per-year are lower still. When the outliers are excluded, the averages have ranged from $3 million to $33 million – not inconsequential, but certainly not as severe and extreme as the annual total penalties might suggest.

Several actions this year highlighted the importance of post-closing due diligence in M&A transactions where the target company poses potential corruption risks. In Watts Water, Diageo and Ball Corp., the SEC entered settlements with companies for violations of the books and records and internal controls provisions of the FCPA arising out of misconduct by recently-acquired subsidiaries. Taken together, these actions seem to send a strong message that SEC expects acquirers to conduct due diligence and undertake measures to address existing FCPA issues in the aftermath of a merger.

"I would expect that we will see a very active 2012," Urofsky says. "For example, the adoption of Dodd-Frank whistleblower regulations in the US will have implications for FCPA enforcements. I would also expect the UK Bribery Act to gain some momentum, which could also spark increased enforcement in other OECD jurisdictions."

Shearman & Sterling's updated Recent Trends and Patterns in FCPA Enforcement report provides insightful analysis and serves as an executive summary to the firm's FCPA Digest, a compendium of cases and review releases relating to bribes of foreign officials under the FCPA. The Digest, which is updated regularly, is considered the authoritative source on all FCPA-related proceedings, featuring proceedings related to bribes to foreign officials under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, including those related to foreign bribery criminal prosecution, DOJ foreign bribery civil actions, SEC actions, DOJ opinion releases, ongoing FCPA investigations and pre-FCPA prosecutions.

Shearman & Sterling's FCPA web site, http://fcpa.shearman.com, allows users to quickly learn enforcement trends by retrieving in-depth, original source materials and summaries based on category type, location, fines imposed, as well as numerous other searchable criteria.

ABOUT SHEARMAN & STERLING

Shearman & Sterling LLP is a global law firm with approximately 900 lawyers in 20 offices in 12 countries around the world. The firm is a leader in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, project development and finance, complex business litigation and international arbitration, asset management and tax.

Contact:
Ron Brandsdorfer, Shearman & Sterling
(212-848-5081/ron.brandsdorfer@shearman.com)
Lauren Hatch, Edelman
(212-704-4514, lauren.hatch@edelman.com)

SOURCE Shearman & Sterling LLP

Web Site: http://fcpa.shearman.com



Monday, December 26, 2011

American Jews Condemn Deadly Terrorist Attacks on Churches in Nigeria


A car burns at the scene of a bomb explosion at St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja, just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja, December 25, 2011. Photo Credit: REUTERS-Afolabi Sotunde.

25 Dec 2011 18:13 Africa/Lagos

AJC Condemns Deadly Terrorist Attacks on Churches in Nigeria

NEW YORK, Dec. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC expressed outrage and revulsion at the deadly terrorist attacks that targeted Christian worshipers in Nigeria on Christmas Day and killed at least 25 people.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO )

Several churches, including St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos, were attacked. A Muslim group, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility. The same group, which, according to a New York Times account, seeks "to install strict Shariah or Muslim law across Nigeria," was also identified as the perpetrator of another wave of anti-Christian attacks during Christmas last year that killed more than 30 people.

"AJC, which for over a century has been profoundly committed to defending religious freedom, condemns these despicable attacks on Christian worshipers gathered to celebrate their holy day of Christmas," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "All people of goodwill, and especially all religious leaders of goodwill, should stand together in full solidarity with the victims and in unambiguous opposition to those who would kill and maim in the name of their own perverted faith."

"We pray for the full recovery of the injured," Harris added, "and for the arrest and prosecution, to the full extent of the law in Nigeria, of those who planned and implemented these hate-filled, anti-Christian terrorist attacks."

www.ajc.org

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

CONTACT: Kenneth Bandler, AJC Director of Media Relations, +1-212-891-6771, +1-917-449-1259 (mobile), bandlerk@ajc.org

Web Site: http://www.ajc.org

Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
25 Dec 2011
22:21 CAIR Condemns Attacks on Nigerian Churches
18:13 AJC Condemns Deadly Terrorist Attacks on Churches in Nigeria

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Congressional Recess Means the End of Three Decades of US Tariffs on Imported Ethanol

Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll Finds Nearly One in Four Americans Would Refuse a Full Body Scan at Airport Security



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Who Owns Christmas? Jesus Christ or Santa Claus?


Illustration of Jesus and Santa. Photo Credit: Jason Berggren.

Who owns Christmas? Jesus Christ or Santa Claus?
This is the thought-;provoking subject of David Frum's article on the Huffington Post: Santa vs. Jesus and it is one of the most engaging articles on the debate of how the "religion" of Santa Claus is misappropriating the religion of Christianity for which Christmas is being celebrated in commemoration of the birth of the founder Jesus Christ our Lord and Messiah.

This is really How the Grinch Stole Christmas!



Of course How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is an allegory of how Santa Claus has stolen the birthday of Jesus Christ written by Dr. Seuss on the commercialization of Christmas and satirizes those who profit from exploiting the holiday.

As we speak, Santa Claus has just left the North Pole for his Christmas Eve journey around the world, his reindeer-powered sleigh loaded with gifts for boys and girls. ...

As much we should appreciate the goodwill and love in the sharing and exchange of Christmas gifts and greetings, we must stop the abuse and misuse of the Christian festival by greedy capitalists and legions of hypocrites whose idolatry is the antithesis of the charity of Jesus Christ.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, aka Orikinla Osinachi.







Friday, December 23, 2011

Students Challenged in The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition



Steady, Aim, Shoot – Students Challenged to Tell Their Stories with Photographs in The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition



The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition 2011 High School Senior Category Winner - Karina Rios

PITTSBURGH, PA (December 22, 2011) /PRNewswire/ — Aspiring photographers are challenged to put their skills to the test in The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition 2012. The third annual competition has categories for both high school seniors and high school graduates.

Entrants must submit six original photographs that tell a story on a single theme. Supplemented by a 500-800 word artist’s statement describing the entry, entries are evaluated on their ability to effectively communicate a narrative to an audience.


The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition 2011 High School Graduate Category Winner - Debra Quinn

Local-level finalists will be selected to advance to the national level of the competition at each of the 39 participating Art Institutes schools offering photography programs. From there, one high school senior and one high school graduate each will be named national grand prize winners of the competition by a panel of industry professionals.

“The work submitted by students into The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition showcases the kind of creativity, talent and vision that The Art Institutes schools look for and seek to cultivate,” said John Pufahl, Vice President of Academic Affairs for The Art Institutes. “We look forward to welcoming these talented students to our campuses and are excited to see what they will create.”

The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography Competition is open to graduating high school seniors and high school graduates in the U.S. and was created to provide those with an eye for photography an opportunity to earn a scholarship to an Art Institutes school offering a photography program.

Deadline for entries into the competition is March 2, 2012. To see the full entry requirements and learn more about The Art Institutes Storytellers Photography competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/photocompetition.

About The Art Institutes
The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 45 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

Media Contacts:

Jacquelyn P. Muller
Vice President – Public Relations
The Art Institutes
412.995.7262
jpmuller@aii.edu

Devra Pransky
Sr. Director of Communications
The Art Institutes
412.995.7685
dpransky@aii.edu



Nearly One in Four Americans Would Refuse a Full Body Scan at Airport Security



23 Dec 2011 15:36 Africa/Lagos

Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll Finds Nearly One in Four Americans Would Refuse a Full Body Scan at Airport Security

22.8 Percent Would Opt for Alternative Screening Citing Health Concerns, Privacy Violations

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Roughly one-quarter of Americans say they would refuse a full body scan using new airport body scanners and 14.9 percent said new airport security measures have them concerned for their health, according to the Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090507/NY12658LOGO )

Thomson Reuters and NPR conduct a monthly poll to gauge attitudes and opinions on a wide range of health issues.

The survey, which asked respondents their opinions and concerns regarding flight safety, found that the main reasons for resistance to new scanners are exposure to radiation (22.6 percent), personal privacy violations (17.1 percent) and concerns the scanners violated their 4th Amendment rights (13.3 percent). Forty-seven percent of respondents expressed no concern with the technology.

Additionally, only 7.8 percent said they have health concerns associated with flying. However 11 percent of all respondents said they had become sick as a direct result of air travel. Of those Americans who expressed concern, the top five health risks cited were crashing (21.1 percent), contracting the flu or a cold (16 percent), air quality (7 percent), anxiety (6.8 percent) and blood clots (5 percent).

"While I applaud the survey participants' concern with radiation exposure, these scanners are safe. Based on the amount of radiation these machines produce, a traveler would have to take 2,000 plane rides before being subjected to the equivalence of a single chest x-ray," said Raymond Fabius, M.D., chief medical officer at the healthcare business of Thomson Reuters. "The much more serious health concerns associated with flying are exposure to communicable illnesses and blood clots during long air excursions. By avoiding traveling when sick and exercising in your seat, these risks can be minimized."

To date, the Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll has explored numerous health topics, including generic drugs, abortion, vaccines, food allergies, and organic and genetically modified foods. NPR's reports on the surveys are archived online at the Shots health blog here:

Thomson Reuters maintains a library of poll results here.

The Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll is powered by the Thomson Reuters PULSE(SM) Healthcare Survey, an independently funded, nationally representative telephone poll that collects information about health-related behaviors and attitudes and healthcare utilization from more than 100,000 US households annually. Survey questions are developed in conjunction with NPR. The figures in this month's poll are based on 3,013 participants interviewed from November 1-13, 2011. The margin of error is 1.8 percent.

For a copy of the flight safety survey, visit: http://healthcare.thomsonreuters.com/npr/ .

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

About NPR
NPR is an award-winning, multimedia news organization and an influential force in American life. In collaboration with more than 900 independent public radio stations nationwide, NPR strives to create a more informed public - one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures.

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

CONTACT: Brian Erni, For Thomson Reuters, Healthcare, J. Roderick, Inc. Public Relations, brian@jroderick.com, +1-631-656-9736, +1-631-495-7006; Anna Christopher, Director, Media, NPR, achristopher@npr.org, +1-202-513-2304, +1-202-680-3848

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



Thursday, December 22, 2011

Spielberg's War Horse To Be Released on Christmas Day



The most awaited movie premiere of the year is Steven Spielberg’s War Horse opening on Christmas Day December 25 in the US and on January 13, 2012 in the UK.



War Horse is an adaptation of British author Michael Morpurgo’s children's novel set during World War I. The novel was first published in 1982 and had a successful stage adaptation in 2007.



Spielberg said he had challenges in reworking “a beloved Broadway play into a big screen moment to remember”.

Jeremy Irvine plays the role of Albert Narracott in the war thriller. He was Luke in the television series Life Bites and has remarkable stage experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was in Dunsinane in 2010.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

Cast



PG-13, 2 hr. 26 min.
Drama, Action & Adventure
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
In Theaters: Dec 25, 2011 Wide
Walt Disney Pictures


War Horse is the second Steven Spielberg film opening this December in the US. The first The Adventures of Tintin was released yesterday Wednesday . December 21, 2011 in Digital 3D and IMAX.

The Adventures of Tintin is Spielberg's first foray into motion-capture filmmaking as well as 3-D. "Tintin," is the famous comic hero created by the Belgian artist named Hergé in the late 1920s. Tintin is a young daring investigative reporter whose travels around the world exposes him to fantastic adventures as he covers big stories and uncovers even larger mysteries accompanied by his dog, Snowy.



~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima




Monday, December 19, 2011

Justin Timberlake Scores an Ace in Callaway Golf


Justin Timberlake in action

Timberlake to Help Drive Marketing and Brand Direction for Callaway and its 2012 Product Line

CARLSBAD, Calif., December 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) today announced the establishment of an advanced, creative position for multiple Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actor, musician and avid golfer Justin Timberlake. A Callaway Staff Professional since 2008, Timberlake will lend his versatile talents as a Creative Director for the Callaway portfolio of Brands. Timberlake will engage in the development and execution of high-level concepts within Callaway’s marketing activities and offer wide-ranging consultation on the visual representation of the Brand. The multi-year agreement was announced by Jeff Colton, Sr. Vice President of Global Brand and Product, Callaway Golf.

“We have worked with Justin for more than three years now and have been thoroughly impressed with the level of quality he brings to everything he is involved with,” said Colton. “Justin is an extremely gifted artist and an avid golfer with a deep passion for Callaway products, and his creative energy will serve us well as we connect with the next generation of golfers. The opportunity to bring someone with his multifaceted talents into our creative matrix is very rare, and his input has already made an impact.”


Justin Timberlake enjoys playing golf.

Timberlake’s initial work as a Creative Director for Callaway will support the Company’s 2012 RAZR line of premium golf equipment, including the recently introduced RAZR Fit™ Driver. Callaway’s 2012 product line will be launched in the first quarter of next year via the Company’s upcoming “Epic Demo” campaign being shot this week in Las Vegas across several iconic city landmarks, including the Bellagio Fountain. Timberlake’s contributions to Callaway’s Epic Demo campaign, which features Callaway staff professionals Phil Mickelson and Alvaro Quiros, includes collaboration with the creative teams and Director Joseph Kahn.

“It’s always great when professional projects surround subjects that I am passionate about, and the sport of golf and my work with Callaway definitely fit that criteria,” said Timberlake. “I’m looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to this category -- focusing on the social aspects, fun and lifestyle associated with Callaway and playing golf.”

In 2008, Timberlake became the first non-tour player to join Callaway’s team of Staff Professionals that includes Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Alvaro Quiros and icons such as Arnold Palmer. Earlier this year, he participated in a Father’s Day-inspired social media contest that awarded equipment via Callaway’s Facebook page.

A passionate golfer, Timberlake’s rising status in the sport also includes annual hosting duties at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open PGA Tour event in Las Vegas, NV. and participation in the major Pro Am tournaments. Along with his parents, Timberlake owns and operates Mirimichi, a world-class championship golf course and learning facility located near his hometown of Memphis, Tenn.

About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) creates products and services designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf apparel, footwear and accessories, under the Callaway Golf®, Odyssey®, Top-Flite®, and Ben Hogan® brands in more than 110 countries worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com or shop.callawaygolf.com.


Media Contacts:

Tim Buckman
Callaway Golf
(760) 804-4133
Tim.Buckman@CallawayGolf.com
For Justin Timberlake
Sonia Muckle
M2M Construction
Sonia@M2MConstruction



More Stupid People Are Texting and Driving



Without apologies or regrets I have to call all those who cannot stop texting while driving as STUPID! And the following report has confirmed that the population of stupid people texting and driving is increasing.

Why should stupid people continue to text while driving when there is a cheap and easy to use device for hands free voice texting in motion?
See the demo video below.




Young drivers are most at risk of having an accident as a result of using a mobile phone

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Distracted driving is a dangerous and common practice —and it's becoming an even bigger problem on the nation's roads as more drivers are text messaging while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the percentage of drivers who text messaged or manipulated their mobile devices while driving went up significantly, from 0.6 percent in 2009 to 0.9 percent to 2010. The latest federal figures show more than 3,000 people died in car accidents in 2010 because of drivers who were texting, using a phone or were distracted by something else.

Texting and Driving Can Be a Lethal Combination

Distractions behind the wheel include eating, talking to other passengers, or changing the radio, but there is one that is especially dangerous: reading or writing text messages. Doing this increases the risk of an accident by 2,300 percent.

But you don't have to be typing away to be at risk of having or causing an accident:

Drivers who use mobile devices are four times more likely to have an accident and injure themselves or others.
Using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 percent, the legal limit in most states.
Using a cell phone can reduce the brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent.

Tips for Changing Your Habits

Habits can be hard to break, but these tips can help you get started:

Turn off your phone before driving away, or store it somewhere where you can't reach it.
If you have an urgent call you need to attend, find a safe place to park before using your phone.
Ask another passenger to answer your calls or messages.
Designate a copilot that can help you use other electronics in the car such as your navigation system or the radio.


How to Talk to Your Teens


Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In fact, 16 percent of young drivers involved in fatal accidents were driving distracted.

There are several things parents or guardians can do to help reduce the risk of distracted driving in the family. First, set the example by refusing to drive distracted. In addition, you should:

Talk to your children about the dangers of distracted driving.
Make a commitment that no family member will drive and use mobile devices at the same time.

Establish consequences for not following the rules.
Speak up if the driver of the vehicle is using a cell phone.
Take the time to get to know your state's cell phone laws and share them with your children.

USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov are the U.S. Government's official web portals in English and Spanish, and part of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

SOURCE GobiernoUSA.gov/USA.gov



Sunday, December 18, 2011

10 Outrageous Predictions for 2012



16 Dec 2011 11:38 Africa/Lagos



Saxo Bank Releases 10 Outrageous Predictions for 2012

LONDON, December 16, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

Saxo Bank has today released its annual Outrageous Predictions. Among the unlikely events predicted by the Bank are that Australia will go into recession, Basel III and regulation will force 50 bank nationalisations in Europe and Apple shares will plummet 50 percent from their 2011 high.

In its Outrageous Predictions, Saxo Bank focuses on events that are unlikely to happen, but at the same time are far more likely than the market appreciates. The predictions are not meant as forecasts, but it is important for investors to consider events with under-recognised probabilities. Should any of them come to pass, they would have a significant impact on the markets.

Saxo Bank's Outrageous Predictions for 2012:

1. The stock of Apple Inc plummets 50 per cent from 2011 high

Going into 2012 Apple will find itself faced with multiple competitors such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft/Nokia, and Samsung across its most innovative products, the iPhone and iPad. Apple will be unable to maintain its market share of 55 per cent (three times as much as Android) and 66 per cent on the iOS and iPad.

2. EU declares extended bank holiday during 2012

The December EU Treaty changes prove insufficient to solve EU funding needs, particularly those in Italy, and the EU debt crisis returns with a vengeance by mid-year. In response, the stock market finally caves in and drops 25 per cent in short order, prompting EU politicians to call an extended bank holiday, closing all European exchanges and banks for a week or more.

3. A yet unannounced candidate takes the White House

In 1992, Texas billionaire Ross Perot managed to take advantage of a recessionary economy and popular disgust with US politics and reap 18.9 per cent of the popular vote. Three years of Obama has brought too little change and only additional widespread disillusionment with the entire US political system, and conditions for a third party candidate have never been riper. Someone with a strong programme for real change throws his or her hat in the ring early in 2012 and snatches the presidency in November in one of the most pivotal elections in US history, taking 38 per cent of the popular vote.

4. Australia goes into recession

The effects of the slowing up-and-coming Asian giant ripple through Asia Pacific push other countries into recession. If there ever was a country dependent on the well-being of China it is Australia with its heavy dependence on mining and natural resources. And as China's demand for these goods weakens, Australia is pushed into a recession, which is then exacerbated as the housing sector finally experiences its long overdue crash - a half decade after the rest of the developed world.

5. Basel III and regulation force 50 bank nationalisations in Europe

As 2012 begins, pressure will mount on the European banking system as new capital requirements and regulatory pressure force banks to deleverage in a great hurry. This creates a fire sale on financial assets as there are few takers in the market. A total freeze of the European interbank market forces nervous savers to make bank-runs, as depositors distrust deposit guarantees from insolvent sovereigns. More than 50 banks end up on government balance sheets and several known commercial bank brands cease to exist.

6. Sweden and Norway replace Switzerland as safe havens

As we saw with Switzerland, becoming a safe haven in a world of devaluing central banks presents a number of risks to a country's economy. The capital markets of both countries are far smaller than Switzerland, but the Swiss are aggressively devaluing their currency and money managers are looking for new safe havens for capital. Flows into the two countries' government bonds on safe haven appeal becomes popular enough to drive 10-year rates there to more than 100 basis points below the classic safe haven German Bunds.

7. Swiss National Bank wins and catapults EURCHF to 1.50

Switzerland's persistency in fighting the appreciation of its currency will continue to pay off in 2012. With Swiss fundamentals - particularly export related - continuing to suffer mightily in 2012 from past CHF strength, the SNB and government bear down further to prevent more collateral damage and introduce extensions to existing programmes and even negative interest rates to trigger sufficient capital flight from the traditional safe haven of Switzerland to engineer a move in EURCHF as high as 1.50 during the year.

8. USDCNY rises 10 per cent to 7.00

As marginal returns from building million-inhabitant ghost towns diminish and exporters struggle with razor-thin margins due to the advancing CNY China gets to the brink of a "recession", meaning 5-6 per cent GDP growth. Chinese policymakers come to the rescue of exporters by allowing the CNY to decline against a US Dollar - buoyed by its safe-haven status amid slowing global growth and an on-going Eurozone sovereign debt crisis - and send the pair up to 7.00 for a 10 per cent increase.

9. Baltic Dry Index rises 100 per cent

Lower oil prices in 2012 could lead to an increase in the Baltic Dry Index as operating expenses go down. Brazil and Australia are expected to expand iron ore supply, further leading to lower prices and therefore higher import demand from China to satisfy its insatiable industrial production. In combination with monetary easing this leads to a massive spike in iron ore demand.

10. Wheat prices to double in 2012

The price of CBOT wheat will double during 2012 after having been the worst performing crop in 2011. With 7 billion people on the earth and money printing machines at full throttle, bad weather across the world will unfortunately return and make it a tricky year for agricultural products. Wheat especially will rally strongly as speculative investors, who had built up one of the biggest short positions on record, will help drive the price back towards the record high last seen in 2008.

Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist at Saxo Bank, commented: "Our Outrageous Predictions have been prepared in the spirit of encouraging investors to think outside the box and prepare for world-altering events. Thinking outside the box is rarely a comfortable exercise, but neither is dealing with an unpleasant surprise for which one has failed to prepare in any meaningful way.

"Should some of the predictions come to pass, it would make 2012 a year of tremendous change. We would like nothing more than to be proven wrong on negative views, but only if they are replaced with something better than the current central bank and government-manipulated paradigm."

To see more please visit the Outrageous Predictions [http://www.saxobank.com/lp/outrageous-predictions ] page Saxo Bank's website.

About Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank is a leading online trading and investment specialist. A fully licensed and regulated European bank, Saxo Bank enables private investors and institutional clients to trade FX [http://www.saxobank.com/en/trading-products/forex/pages/forex-trading.aspx ], CFD [http://www.saxobank.com/en/trading-products/cfds-stocks/pages/online-cfd-trading.aspx ], ETFs, Stocks, Futures, Options and other derivatives via three specialised and fully integrated trading platforms; the browser-based SaxoWebTrader, the downloadable SaxoTrader and the SaxoMobileTrader application available in over 20 languages. Saxo Bank also offers professional portfolio and fund management through Saxo Asset Management who accommodates high-net worth private clients and institutional investors and provides banking services and advice to retail clients through Saxo Privatbank. The Saxo Bank Group is headquartered in Copenhagen with offices throughout Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Australia.


PR Contact:
Kasper Elbj0rn
Head of Group Public Relations
Saxo Bank
40 Bank Street
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5DA
+45-3065-4300
http://www.saxobank.com


Source: Saxo Bank



Friday, December 16, 2011

Aloha Wanderwell: First Woman to Travel Around the World in an Automobile



16 Dec 2011 00:56 Africa/Lagos


Aloha Wanderwell: First Woman to Travel Around the World in an Automobile

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- What's blonde, blue-eyed, six-feet tall and looks like a leading actress? She's Aloha Wanderwell – the first woman to travel around the globe in a car; she was 16. And, AlohaWanderwell.com is dedicated to preserving her nitrate films, books and more.

It all started when Aloha read an ad in the Riviera edition of the Paris Herald: "Brains, Beauty and Breeches – World tour offer for lucky young woman wanted to join an expedition – Asia, Africa..."

She quickly set out to convince the expedition's leader, Captain Walter Wanderwell, that she was the one for the job.

"This true story of an incredible journey – the Wanderwell Expedition – took place in the 1920s. Over the years, it's been buried and now needs to be preserved and retold," says Richard Diamond, Aloha's grandson.

During this world tour, Aloha took thousands of feet of 35-millimeter nitrate film while driving through 43 countries on four continents in nearly eight years.

"These nitrate films have to be transferred to HD," says Diamond. "We need help now. This is a gold mine of material for any documentary or film producer. It would be a crime to let these historical films deteriorate. It's a rich part of history."

In addition, Diamond also possesses a 567-page manuscript written by Aloha that details the trip's many adventures; an array of collectibles; photos; and the original auto badges.

During the expedition, Aloha and Walter married. They continued to travel, to film and lecture together. In 1932, their story tragically ended with Walter's murder; it remains an unsolved cold case.

Aloha remarried and tended to her priceless collection of films, photos, journals and artifacts. Much of her work has been preserved in museums and educational institutions throughout the U.S. She passed away in Newport Beach, California on June 4, 1996.

"In addition to preserving these items, I believe that Ford has an amazing opportunity here," says Diamond. "Just imagine a modern-day Aloha retracing these steps in a Ford Explorer? It would be a wonderful way to pay homage to the very first 'Ford Challenge' – the intrepid 1918 Model T that Aloha referred to as her, 'Little Lizzie.'"

So, while the Model T that brought this couple together was not preserved, the story certainly can be.

AlohaWanderwell.com has partnered with CMG Worldwide: http://cmgworldwide.com/news/?tag=aloha-wanderwell to provide information about and licensing opportunities regarding the Wanderwell Expedition.

To learn more, watch the YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-PAVV8Kym0; visit: www.AlohaWanderwell.com which is filled with hundreds of photos, more videos, a comprehensive trip timeline, biographical facts and much more; or check out Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlohaWanderwell .

VNR for story: http://www.send2press.com/newswire/2011-12-1215-003.shtml

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

SOURCE AlohaWanderwell.com
//Note to editors:- Photo 300dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/11-1215-alohaw_300dpi.jpg - Caption: Aloha Wanderwell.

CONTACT: Richard Diamond, Conservator of the Nile Baker Estate, 1-888-921-4242, AlohaWanderwell@cox.net

Web Site: http://cmgworldwide.com



Report Outlines a New Kind of American Defined By Happiness, Purchase Risk, Healthy Choices, Masculinity and Family


CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leo Burnett Chicago released its first annual study of people and behavior highlighting six key consumer trends that will have a lasting effect on American brands and marketers in 2012 and beyond.

The study, "HumanKind 2012: The Transformation of Aspiration," forecasts the evolution of American society as we know it. It deviates from the predictable "Big Plan" to go to school, grow up, get married, have kids and climb the corporate ladder. It's a new kind of America. Men stay at home, women win the bread and nearly 40 percent of all children are born to a single mom. Thanks to daily deal giants, people refuse to pay full price for anything. Food is now viewed as an affordable luxury. The deck is stacked, the system isn't fair and people are suspicious. They read the fine print. For brands and marketers pioneering this changing environment is challenging.

"From the evolving American family to the rise of collective bargaining and the continuing decline of masculinity, the face of the American consumer has forever changed," said Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, Chief Strategy Officer of Leo Burnett. "In 2012, successful brands need to adjust to this reality and find relevant ways to connect with new audiences and influencers - or risk losing loyal customers at an alarming rate."

Below are six key trends brands and marketers should embrace in order to successfully engage with today's consumer.

* Sense of fairness declines, happiness inequality rises: Americans as a population have traditionally been optimistic and happy. Even during the years leading up to the recession everyone was happy, regardless of social class. Since the economic downturn, that's all changed. Americans are more unhappy than ever, especially those with lower incomes. Feelings of inequality and unfairness are rampant and continue to dwindle.

o Implication for brands: This year's winning brands will be those that consistently deliver acts of fairness and behave with morality. A company that treats all customers fairly will earn Americans' trust and patronage.

* The average American family is anything but: Finish school, get a job, get married, have a family. That plan still exists, but only for some. Forty percent of kids are born to an unmarried mother. More couples have children out of wedlock. People define their own family situation and shape their lives according to their own needs, not their peer group.

o Implication for brands: Popular media is slow to catch up to the changing American family. Diverse images of family ring true with consumers and can be a great way to show how your brand fits in to today's reality.

* Men evolve as masculinity declines: The universal archetype of masculinity is over. The old rules that define a man's role in the home and office do not apply in today's world. Women are out-earning their husbands and men accept it. In fact, 77 percent of all men are comfortable with their wives earning more than them and 72 percent are okay with staying home to take care of the children.

o Implication for brands: Speak with caution when referring to traditional views of masculinity. Focus instead on shaping identities and transforming individuals, not a specific gender.

* Healthy is in the eye of the beholder: Despite the rising obesity crisis, food remains an affordable luxury – a way to treat oneself when being forced to cut back in other ways. Forty-seven percent of Americans say they would like restaurants to offer healthier items, but only 23 percent actually order those items. When given the choice between a burger or a salad, consumers see more value in the satisfaction of eating a burger than a salad, especially on a tight budget.

o Implications for brands: Regardless if you are in the food industry, think about how to satisfy consumers' desire for smaller, bite sized luxuries. A small amount of satisfaction can go a long way.

* Collective bargaining is a weapon of survival: Daily deal giants such as Groupon and LivingSocial have paved the way for Americans to score deals on everything and anything. People don't expect or want to pay full price ever again and collectively demand better deals and offerings in the palm of their hand, each morning.

o Implication for brands: Integrate daily deals with customer loyalty programs. To compensate for downward pressure on margins, daily deal technology needs to segment customers that are already bargaining and offer more personalized deals to heavy users.

* Social/mobile technology: abandon the novel, embrace the practical: There will be 20 million new smartphone users in 2012. These users want to leverage social platforms and mobile in their shopping and buying repertoire, but they need mobile and social to add value, not noise.

o Implication for brands: To activate shoppers through social and mobile, marketers need to identify the problems shoppers are trying to solve and provide informed solutions. Brands that don't provide practical experiences will be ignored.

"This year's power brands will be those that quickly adapt to changing human behavior and recognize how this shift is reshaping the fabric of American society," said Hahn-Griffiths.

To view the "HumanKind 2012: The Transformation of Aspiration" video please visit, http://vimeo.com/33619022.

About Leo Burnett Company, Inc.

Leo Burnett Worldwide (www.leoburnett.com) is one of the world's largest agency networks and the parent company of Leo Burnett and its marketing services arm, Arc Worldwide. Leo Burnett, a HumanKind communications company, has a simple and singular approach: put a brand's purpose at the center of co

mmunications to truly connect with people. Leo Burnett, one of the most awarded creative communications companies in the world, creates "Acts, not just Ads," for some of the world's most valuable brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg, McDonald's, Hallmark, P&G, Allstate and Nintendo.

SOURCE Leo Burnett Worldwide



Thursday, December 15, 2011

TIME MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR: THE PROTESTER



14 Dec 2011 18:00 Africa/Lagos

TIME MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR: THE PROTESTER

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Audio, hard copy requests, contact information and more available at: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/broadcast/52764/press.html

NEW YORK, December 14 /PRNewswire/ -- THIS IS A TIME MAGAZINE SPECIAL REPORT.

TIME MAGAZINE REVEALS THE 2011 TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR: THE PROTESTER

TIME EDITOR RICK STENGEL:

"In 2011, all over the world, from Egypt to Greece, Wall Street to Red Square, The Protester embodied the idea that individual action can bring collective change. Although it meant different things in different places, the idea of democracy was present in every gathering. Everywhere people said they'd had enough."

TIME SAYS THE CHOICE IS NOT NECESSARILY AN HONOR, BUT A RECOGNITION OF THE POWER OF THESE MOVEMENTS AND THE WANING INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS.

"For upending governments and conventional wisdom, for combining old techniques with new technologies and for steering the planet on a more democratic though sometimes more dangerous path for the 21st century, The Protester is Time's 2011 Person of the Year."

READ THE TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR STORY ONLINE NOW AT TIME.COM OR BUY A COPY OF THE ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS OR TABLET ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 16TH.

I'M PAUL JOHNSON.
Audio: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/broadcast/52764/press.html

Source: TIME MAGAZINE

AUDIO PROVIDED BY: TIME MAGAZINE

CONTACT: FOR STORY INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: MultiVu Media Relations,1-800-653-5313, EXT. 3 OR EMAIL RADIO@MULTIVU.COM

Web site: http://www.time.com



Paramount Pictures Unveils New Logo in Celebration of the Studio's 100th Anniversary



Paramount Pictures Unveils New Logo in Celebration of the Studio's 100th Anniversary

New Logo Will Be Seen With "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

(PRNewsFoto/Paramount Pictures Corporation) HOLLYWOOD, CA UNITED STATES


HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Paramount Pictures today unveiled a new company logo that commemorates the studio's 100th Anniversary in show business. The new logo can be seen on the new Tom Cruise starrer, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL. The movie will open in IMAX and on other premium large format screens on Friday, December 16th and in theatres everywhere on December 21st.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111214/LA22803LOGO)

The studio's first logo, a symbol of a rugged, snow-covered peak from the Wasatch mountain range, was created in 1916. The 100th Anniversary logo was created by Devastudios, Inc.

Paramount will use the logo throughout its centennial year in 2012. Beginning in 2013, the wording about the 100th anniversary will be removed from the logo, with the rest of the design remaining in use.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Paramount Pictures 100th Anniversary

The only major studio still located in Hollywood, Paramount Pictures celebrates its 100th year in show business in 2012. Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky and Cecil B. DeMille are credited as Paramount's principle founders, with Queen Elizabeth being the studio's first feature film in 1912. Through a century of excellence, Paramount has set the standard in cinema and continues to deliver the highest caliber of entertainment to audiences worldwide.

SOURCE Paramount Pictures Corporation

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