Monday, July 30, 2012

Columbia Records Celebrates 125 Years Of Great American Music With 360 Sound

Bob Dylan (in 1966) featured in new book "360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story" by Sean Wilentz, celebrating 125 years of music. (photo: Jerry Schatzberg). (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

30 Jul 2012 13:00 Africa/Lagos

Columbia Records Celebrates 125 Years Of Great American Music With 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story.

"360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story" Celebrates 125 Years of Great Music. (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

Written by Pulitzer Prize-and GRAMMY-nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, 360 Sound illustrates sweeping cultural and business changes in music over more than a century

Special deluxe version includes book by celebrated journalist Dave Marsh highlighting his selection of the 263 most important songs in Columbia's history along with a drive including all tracks
ISBN: 978-1-4521-0736-3

NEW YORK, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Records will celebrate its 125th anniversary with the release of a book titled 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story on the great American record label and its role in initiating recorded music, cultivating great artists, and igniting cultural change. Written by Pulitzer Prize-and GRAMMY nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, the book provides a journey through Columbia Records' storied past and its contributions to entertainment from the invention of commercial recording through the present day.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120730/NY48261-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120730/NY48261-b)

360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story, published by Chronicle Books, will be released on October 30th. It begins in the late 1880's, when Columbia, under the leadership of Edward Easton, seized upon the phonographic inventions of Thomas Edison and others to offer the public the first commercial musical recordings. The book goes on the explore the rich stories of how Columbia's artists and producers have redefined American music and performance over the past 125 years, at once reflecting and shaping changes in the wider culture.

Simultaneously, Columbia Records will release a deluxe package, which will include, in addition to a hard cover copy of the Wilentz book, a separate book, written by Dave Marsh, entitled 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story: Legends and Legacy. Marsh has culled from Columbia's vaults a collection of 263 songs and tracks of the greatest historical, as well as musical, significance, and his book offers his thoughts on each selection. The package also includes a beautifully crafted drive with all 263 recordings.

360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story will also be available as an e-book through multiple platforms.

Columbia's list of major performers, past and present, is unsurpassed and includes much of the most important, and beloved music in all genres, including pop, rock, country, show tunes, classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and blues. Artists recorded by Columbia and its subsidiaries have included Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Johnny Cash, Beyonce, Adele, Billy Joel, Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robert Johnson, Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, LL Cool J, James Taylor, Philip Glass, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Jack White, and more.

360 Sound includes 300 rare and intimate photographs from the Columbia archives and sidebar discussions of crucial developments and performers written by eminent music historians Dave Marsh and Colin Escott. The book offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia's pivotal technological as well as business innovations, not least its invention of the LP. It also reflects on the connection between Columbia's artists and music and sweeping cultural and political changes, from the emergence of mass commercial culture to the rise of the civil rights movement and beyond.

The release of 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story will be celebrated with a launch event in New York on Oct. 30 th. Additionally there will be a retrospective exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. An event is set for November 7 th at the Museum on opening day.

360 Sound author Sean Wilentz is one of the nation's most prominent historians. His books and commentary on music, politics, and the arts have received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and his writing on music has been nominated for a Grammy Award. He is currently the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University.

Dave Marsh has written more than 20 books on rock and popular music. He has written extensively for publications including Rolling Stone and Playboy. Since 2004, he has hosted a two hour weekly show on XM/Sirius Radio.

SOURCE Columbia Records

CONTACT: Dawn Bridges, +1-917-679-7390, +1-646-512-3372, dawnbridges@me.com







Friday, July 27, 2012

London 2012 Summer Olympics and So Much More

Join the fun in sports!
Thousands have arrived London for the 2012 Olympic Games with tourists and the Olympians making London the busiest city in the world this summer. And Londoners are excited to host them all! You may not be able to be there physically, but thank God for the internet, you will not miss a thing as long as you have access to the world wide web even in the remotest location on earth. Nigerians Reports, Nigerian Times and American Times Online are here to give you the news video reports of the Olympics and other sporting activities around the world throughout the summer and will continue to show you exciting and thrilling sports on this page 24/7. Just bookmark this page now and join the fun on the go!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Top Ten Places To Live in America on $100 A Day!


Eau Claire, Wisc .
  • Median home price: $121,100
  • Sunny days per year: 200
  • Vibe: Family-friendly values with a progressive twist
  • Local flavor: Cozy up to the bonfire and munch on Cheese Curds ($7) made from the region's famed cheddar at the Livery, a converted stable downtown.
Gainesville, Florida
  • Median home price: $125,500
  • Sunny days per year: 205
  • Vibe: Funky hippie meets world traveler
  • Secret affordability sauce: The country's sixth largest college—The University of Florida—fuels an economy more durable than most Southern cities.
Grand Junction, Colorado
  • Median home price: $159,800
  • Sunny days per year: 214
  • Vibe: Contemporary arts meet Western charm
  • Impress friends and family with: The views of the Grand Mesa, one of the world's biggest flat-top mountains.
Las Cruces, N.M.
  • Median home price: $148,000
  • Sunny days per year: 287
  • Vibe: A sunny cocktail of Old Mexico, the Wild West and high-desert casual living
  • Local flavor: Head to the patio of De La Vega's Pecan Grill & Bar, and nibble on the stuffed green chiles ($9).
Morgantown, W.V.
  • Median home price: $168,900
  • Sunny days per year: 185
  • Vibe: Small college city combines Appalachian roots with a strong local economy
  • Local flavor: Tip back a cold Blue Moon beer ($4.50) at Mario's Fish Bowl. Originally a candy store, the restaurant has been serving beer in fishbowl-size glasses (yep, made right here) since 1950.
Omaha, Nebraska
  • Median home price: $123,500
  • Sunny days per year: 193
  • Vibe: Midwestern cozy with a high-tech spark
  • Impress friends and family with: The area's many start-up companies, which earned it the nickname "Silicon Prairie."
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Median home price: $106,500
  • Sunny days per year: 194
  • Vibe: Green not grimy, the city's 88 distinct neighborhoods create a European atmosphere
  • Secret affordability sauce: Stable, diverse economy—since 2008, only Austin and Houston have added jobs faster.
Roanoke, Va.
  • Median home price: $151,500
  • Sunny days per year: 217
  • Vibe: A bustling small city, amid the magic of the Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Local flavor: Grab a $1.25 hot dog at the legendary Texas Tavern, a 24-hour fixture since 1930.
San Antonio, Texas
  • Median home price: $135,000
  • Sunny days per year: 263
  • Vibe: Old West urban flair
  • Best daytime lark: El Mercado (which the city claims is the biggest Mexican marketplace outside Mexico) in Old Market Square.
Spokane, Wash.
  • Median home price: $145,000
  • Sunny days per year: 176
  • Vibe: Lush green beauty meets smart urban planning
  • Impress friends and family with: Its stunning Riverfront Park and its historic downtown.

Click here for the complete details.

 


SLIDE SHOW: Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In 2012

SLIDE SHOW: Most Expensive U.S. Cities to Live In 2012

SLIDE SHOW: 10 U.S. Cities With the Most Expensive Cost of Living 2011

SLIDE SHOW: 10 Cities Where Home Prices Have Held Up Most

SLIDE SHOW: 10 Cities Where Home Prices Have Fallen Most

SLIDE SHOW: What $300K Buys You Around the World



Friday, July 13, 2012

If Barack Obama Had Balls He Would Have Been A Republican


"Reagan recognised the American people's hunger for accountability and change."

~President Barack Obama, 2011.

If Barack Obama Had Balls He Would Have Been A Republican

President Barack Obama would do and say anything to woo Reaganites among Republican voters and he has been parroting the legendary Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States (1911-2004) all the way from Capitol to the White House, but true blue Republicans know that Obama is just being a clever politician and has never been a true fan of Reagan if we check the records.

As Rush Limbaugh pointed out that the Left had long been critical of Reagan as "not caring about the poor or homeless", so why would Obama now think otherwise?
Lest we forget Obama said it was his annoyance at the Reagan years in the early 1980s that prompted him to enter politics. “I’d pronounce the need for change. Change in the White House where Reagan and his minions were carrying on their dirty deeds," Obama said in his 1995 autobiography Dreams From My Father. But he is now posing and posturing as the leading ‘Reaganite” among Democrats?
Douglas Brinkley, the Editor of Reagan's diaries said Obama now sees Reagan has a role model.
"There are policies and there is persona, and a lot can be told by persona. Obama is approaching the job in a Reaganesque fashion," Brinkley said in May 2010. And Obama has been following what he read from Lou Cannon's classic biography of Reagan. But real Reaganites know that Obama is a poor imitation of Reagan, because Obama does not have the balls to be a Republican. The Reaganites know that the real McCoy is Mitt Romney who has won the endorsements of top aides of Reagan and they make the vanguard of the Reaganites for Romney.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of Scarlet Tears of London, Bye, Bye Mugabe, In the House of Dogs and his new book Barack Obama and the American Dream will be released before Christmas.







Friday, July 6, 2012

Millions of Fans Gear Up for the Annual Sherlock Holmes Week 30th July - 5th August



6 Jul 2012 12:00 Africa/Lagos

Millions of Fans Gear Up for the Annual Sherlock Holmes Week 30th July - 5th August

LONDON, July 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Sherlock Holmes fans worldwide will take part in a week of celebration of the world's most famous detective in the first annual Sherlock Holmes Week from 30th July - 5th August. Holmes has had a resurgence in the last two years with two major Hollywood motion pictures and the success of BBC Sherlock. The week is backed by the main societies and organizations in the world. http://www.sherlockholmesweek.com is the website where fans can register their local events and take part in competitions.

The motto of the week is "By the fans, for the fans," and local groups are being encouraged to celebrate the week in their own way -- from special screenings to picnics. Events have been confirmed across the USA, UK and as far afield as Thailand and Canada. The theme of this year's week is to promote the Save Undershaw campaign -- a trust striving to save the former home of the creator of Sherlock Holmes -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (http://www.saveundershaw.com and http://www.facebook.com/saveundershaw). The campaign was recently captured in the book Sherlock's Home - The Empty House which featured contributions from Holmes legends Stephen Fry and Mark Gatiss.

Image: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-SherlocksHome.jpg

There are two major competitions. The Sherlock Holmes Fashion Awards 2012 on 2nd August enables fans to design costumes for characters from the first two series of BBC Sherlock. The best three from each character will be selected by a leading blog that covers all manners of craft, including costume design (Crafty Crafty) and entered into Awards -- with some very special judges and wonderful prizes. High quality entries will be submitted for coverage on Crafty Crafty and their sister site Dollymix.



Steampunk Holmes is the most eagerly awaited interactive book in history. Several years in the making, this Steampunk version of Sherlock Holmes will have a series of books in all formats, but most stunning on the iPad. This competition for Holmes fans gives them the chance to be a part of publishing history and have their artwork included in the first book: Steampunk Holmes - The Legacy of The Nautilus. Information on entering the competitions is on the website.

Image: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-SteampunkWatson.png

Supporters of the week include the top fan sites Sherlockology, The Baker Street Babes and I Hear of Sherlock. Special guest will be leading mentalist Joe Riggs aka The Real Sherlock Holmes.

The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate 3 will feature celebrities and experts from around the world coming together for the 3rd debate -- the first two featured head-to-head clashes between BBC Sherlock and Warner Brothers Sherlock and included fans from more than 23 countries.

So who can get involved? Any Sherlock Holmes fan, wherever they are. The team have already been contacted by fans as far away as Japan and China. It seems that the popularity of Sherlock Holmes is truly global.

This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Sherlock Holmes Week

CONTACT: Steve Emecz, 0044(0)7837550025, steve@mxpublishing.co.uk

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





Credit: GETT

What is Sherlock Holmes Week?
An annual event for fans all around the world to celebrate all things Sherlock Holmes.
When is it?
30th July - 5th August 2012 and a similar week each year.
How do we get involved?
Organise your own local Sherlock Holmes event, and we'll post it up here for fans all around the world to see. There will be some big events to get involved with too (like The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate 3) - and the Sherlock Holmes Fashion Awards 2012 ) but this is all about by the fans for the fans.
#believeinsherlock - we do.

Sherlock Holmes Fashion Awards 2012

Sherlock Holmes Fashion Awards 2012 - SHFashion

United Kingdom

Fashion Megazine Aigua Media with their eleven iconic sites including Catwalk Queen, Shoewawa and Dolly Mix are joining in the Sherlock Holmes fun and are looking for designers and fans to submit their designs for characters from BBC Sherlock series 1 and 2 for the Sherlock Holmes Fashion Awards 2012.
You can choose to submit a design for Holmes, Watson, Mycroft, Irene Adler, Molly Hooper or Mrs. Hudson. Aigua will prepare the shortlist for a panel of judges to pick the winner for each of the 6 characters.
The awards will be held online and some online audience tickets will be available.
To enter simply send your design as a jpeg of no more than 1MB in size to fashioncompetition@sherlockholmesweek.com
2nd August 2012
From 18:00
London
Online - Some Audience Tickets



Magician Makes Competition Disappear to Win Richest Prize in Poker History



Magician Makes Competition Disappear to Win Richest Prize in Poker History at WSOP
Antonio Esfandiari Tops 48-Player Field to Take Home More than $18 Million

Antonio Esfandiari’s fans hoist the 33-year-old poker pro moments after he won more than $18 million at the richest tournament in poker history, The BIG ONE for ONE DROP at the World Series of Poker. Credit: Joe Giron PokerNews/WSOP.

Antonio Esfandiari with his record prize of more than $18 million for winning the richest poker event in history, The BIG ONE for ONE DROP at the 43rd Annual World Series of Poker. Credit: Joe Giron PokerNews/WSOP.

LAS VEGAS (July 4, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — Antonio Esfandiari earned a place in the record books last night by outlasting a field of multi-millionaires and billionaires to earn the richest payday in poker tournament history. Esfandiari, a 33-year-old poker pro and magician from Las Vegas, put up a cool $1 million to enter the BIG ONE for ONE DROP and walked away with a massive return on his investment: $18,346,673 million.


Antonio Esfandiari celebrates winning the largest prize in poker history – more than $18 million – at the 43rd Annual World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Credit: Joe Giron PokerNews/WSOP.


A total of 48 participants from around the world competed in the three-day event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Esfandiari’s first-place prize in the unprecedented $1 million buy-in event eclipsed the previous record for the largest single payout in poker tournament history: Jamie Gold’s $12 million win at the 2006 WSOP Main Event.

“I’m almost never at a loss for words, but I’m at a loss for words now,” the “Magic Man” told a capacity crowd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. “I’ve played tournaments all over the world, but there’s never been one like this. This is the ultimate. This is the best.”

Full tournament results are available at:
http://www.wsop.com/tournaments/results.asp?tid=12155&grid=887

The BIG ONE for ONE DROP was the 55th of 61 tournaments being held at the 2012 WSOP. Part of the All In for ONE DROP campaign that launched in November 2011, the BIG ONE for ONE DROP was designed to benefit efforts to raise awareness on water-related issues and encourage the poker community to take action and create a powerful ripple effect.

The tournament, a No-Limit Hold’em event, is the creation of ONE DROP Chair and Cirque du Soleil® founder Guy Laliberté in collaboration with fellow Montreal resident and Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber.

Of each $1 million entry fee, $111,111 was donated to ONE DROP, generating a total charitable contribution of $5,333,328 million. The funds will be directed to ONE DROP projects around the world, where teams are hard at work addressing local water crises.

“I’m known for being an imaginative person, but this event surpassed even my expectations,” said Laliberté. “While only one person can walk away with the largest prize in poker history, everyone who participated in the BIG ONE for ONE DROP made an important contribution to a critical cause that impacts millions of people around the world.”

Click here for a full list of those who participated in the record-setting event.

Media Contacts:
Dave Curley
Sandy Hillman Communications
443-683-0920
dcurley@hillmanpr.com

Harry Hammel
Sandy Hillman Communications
443-880-8877
hhammel@hillmanpr.com





Muhammad Ali To Receive National Constitution Center's 2012 Liberty Medal


5 Jul 2012 17:30 Africa/Lagos

Muhammad Ali To Receive National Constitution Center's 2012 Liberty Medal

Ceremony culminates nationwide celebration of the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution

PHILADELPHIA, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the centerpiece of the nationwide celebration of the U.S. Constitution's 225th anniversary, the National Constitution Center's 2012 Liberty Medal ceremony will recognize Muhammad Ali as a champion of freedom. Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner at a special announcement this afternoon, during which Liberty Medal sponsors and partners praised Muhammad Ali as a living embodiment of the Constitution who exemplifies everything the award was established to honor: individuals of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.

Ali will receive the medal in a public ceremony on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia. Action News Anchorman Jim Gardner will host the live broadcast of the Liberty Medal ceremony on WPVI-TV/6abc. The event also will be streamed live on www.6abc.com.

Ali has long served as an icon of constitutional ideals and the realization of the American dream – all the while challenging and expanding the very definition of "We the People." The Olympic gold medalist and boxing legend has been an outspoken fighter for religious and civil rights; a conscientious objector who took his battle to the Supreme Court and won; an ambassador for peace and justice worldwide; and a tireless humanitarian and philanthropist. Even as he celebrated his 70th birthday this year, Ali has continued to break new ground as an advocate for those suffering from Parkinson's disease, a disease he has battled since 1982.

Given his history of activism for the cause of freedom, Ali was selected in 1987 by the California Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution to personify the vitality of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He was featured in the Tournament of Roses parade, launching the U.S. Constitution's 200th anniversary commemoration.

"It is very fitting that Muhammad Ali, a representative for the bicentennial of the Constitution, be awarded the prestigious Liberty Medal in 2012, as the nation celebrates the 225th anniversary of our founding document," said President Bill Clinton, Chair of the National Constitution Center. "Ali embodies the spirit of the Liberty Medal by embracing the ideals of the Constitution – freedom, self-governance, equality, and empowerment – and helping to spread them across the globe."

The Liberty Medal ceremony will mark Ali's return to the National Constitution Center. At a special Flag Day ceremony on June 14, 2003 – just before the Center's official opening – he was the first to raise the American flag that hangs in the Grand Hall Overlook and had previously flown over every state and territory capitol.

"Muhammad Ali symbolizes all that makes America great, while pushing us as a people and as a nation to be better,'" said National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner. "Each big fight of his life has inspired a new chapter of civic action. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Center, particularly during this momentous 225th anniversary year."

"As the Liberty Medal recipient during this historic year for the Constitution, Muhammad Ali represents how far we have come as a nation and the spirit of determination, ambition, and civic service that will propel America forward for 225 more years and beyond," said Doug DeVos, Chairman of the Center's Executive Committee.

"While many know Ali as a legendary boxer, his contributions outside of the ring carry even greater significance," Governor Tom Corbett said. "A true champion for the people, his biggest triumph lies in his legacy as a philanthropist, activist, and example of all that our Constitution represents. He is most deserving of this high honor."

"Muhammad Ali is an outstanding nominee to receive the 2012 Liberty Medal," said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. "For more than half a century, Ali has been committed to fighting for peace, justice, and civil rights for all in the spirit of this award. The City of Philadelphia, the birthplace of American liberty, is proud to host this prestigious ceremony honoring Muhammad Ali."

A descendant of pre-Civil War era American slaves, Ali grew up in the segregated South, where he experienced prejudice and discrimination firsthand. Upon returning to the United States after winning an Olympic Gold Medal in Rome in 1960, he was turned away from a "whites-only" restaurant.

In 1967, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Armed Forces due to his religious beliefs. As a result, he was arrested, fined, stripped of his boxing license and title, and found guilty of draft evasion. Though Ali was prepared to pay the price for his convictions, the Supreme Court reversed the decision in 1971, ruling that his refusal stemmed from his constitutionally protected religious beliefs. Ali regained his title in 1974 and retired from the ring in 1981.

He has since devoted his life to helping promote world peace, civil rights, cross-cultural understanding, interfaith relations, humanitarianism, hunger relief, and the commonality of basic human values. His work as an ambassador for peace began in 1985, when he flew to Lebanon to secure the release of four hostages. Ali also has made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea; delivered over $1 million in medical aid to Cuba; traveled to Iraq to secure the release of 15 United States hostages during the first Gulf War; and journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison. His recent attempt to free two American hikers held captive in Iran reinforces his tireless commitment to promoting freedom, tolerance, and humanity around the world.

Throughout his boxing career, Ali's highly publicized fights in locales such as Kinshasa, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur brought increased global attention to the developing world. Today, he continues to serve those in need overseas, providing over 232 million meals to the world's hungry. Ali has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D'Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco, among other countries.

In addition to his international efforts, Ali is equally devoted to helping charities at home. He has visited countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals, and helped organizations including the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics. He also annually participates in "Celebrity Fight Night," which generates funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ali once said, "I've always wanted to be more than just a boxer. More than just the three-time heavyweight champion. I wanted to use my fame, and this face that everyone knows so well, to help uplift and inspire people around the world."

In November 2005, Ali and his wife Lonnie opened the Muhammad Ali Center in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Both an education center and museum experience, the Ali Center inspires children and adults to be as great as they can be, and encourages people around the globe to form new commitments in their lives in areas of personal growth, integrity, and respect for others.

Muhammad Ali has received some of the world's most prestigious awards. He has been honored by Amnesty International with their "Lifetime Achievement Award." Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Liberty Medal recipient, bestowed him with a citation as "United Nations Messenger of Peace." Ali also was named the "International Ambassador of Jubilee 2000," a global organization dedicated to relieving debt in developing nations. In 2005, he was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Given annually, the medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. The Liberty Medal was first administered by the National Constitution Center in 2006, when Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were honored for their bipartisan humanitarian efforts on behalf of the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.

Last year's medal was awarded to former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. Other past Liberty Medal winners include Nelson Mandela, Shimon Peres, Kofi Annan, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Bono. The Medal also has been awarded to organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and CNN International. Six recipients of the Medal subsequently have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

National Constitution Center Board member Ira Lubert of Independence Capital Partners will sponsor the Liberty Medal award in 2012, as he has for the past six years. Citizens Bank is underwriting the VIP Reception for the 2012 Liberty Medal. Citizens Bank has supported the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center since 2006. Hublot, the luxury Swiss brand that brings the "Art of Fusion" to watchmaking, will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Constitution with a limited edition "U.S. Liberty Bang" timepiece.

The City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also support the Liberty Medal.

The National Constitution Center is the first and only nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to the most powerful vision of freedom ever expressed: the U.S. Constitution. Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of American freedom, the Center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires active citizenship through a state-of-the-art museum experience, including hundreds of interactive exhibits, films and rare artifacts; must-see feature exhibitions; the internationally acclaimed, 360-degree theatrical production Freedom Rising; and the iconic Signers' Hall, where visitors can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. As America's forum for constitutional dialogue, the Center engages diverse, distinguished leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely public discussions and debates. The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, the national hub for constitutional education, which offers cutting-edge civic learning resources both onsite and online. Freedom is calling. Answer it at the National Constitution Center. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A complete list of Liberty Medal winners follows.

Past Recipients of the Liberty Medal

2011


Dr. Robert M. Gates, former U.S. Secretary of Defense

2010


Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister

2009


Steven Spielberg

2008


Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader

2007


Bono and DATA

2006


George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton, former U.S. Presidents

2005


Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine

2004


Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan

2003


Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

2002


Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State

2001


Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General*

2000


Dr. James Watson and Dr. Francis Crick, co-discoverers of the structure of DNA

1999


Kim Dae Jung, President of South Korea*

1998


Senator George J. Mitchell, Irish peace negotiator

1997


CNN International

1996


King Hussein I of Jordan and Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel

1995


Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees

1994


Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic

1993


F.W. de Klerk, President of South Africa* and Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress*

1992


Thurgood Marshall, former Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

1991


Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica and Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)*

1990


Jimmy Carter, former U.S. President*

1989


Lech Walesa, founder of Solidarity, Poland

* Liberty Medal recipients who subsequently won the Nobel Peace Prize

SOURCE National Constitution Center
CONTACT: Ashley Berke, Director of Public Relations, +1-215-409-6693, aberke@constutioncenter.org; Lauren Saul, Public Relations Manager, +1-215-409-6895, lsaul@constitutioncenter.org

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


2 Jul 2012 23:49 Africa/Lagos

Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center Receives Largest Gift in Its History
Celebrity Fight Night Donates $3 million


PHOENIX, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix has received a $3 million donation from Celebrity Fight Night that will be used to help dramatically expand the renowned facility and its programs.

Dozens of doctors, patients and staff applauded as Abraham Lieberman, MD, the center's director, personally received the donation recently from Jimmy Walker, founder of Celebrity Fight Night. Since the annual charity event began 18 years ago, it has contributed more than $22 million to the Center. Today's gift was the single largest ever received by the Ali center.

Dr. Lieberman said the funds would be used to more than double the current size of the facility. The expansion will include new clinical areas, physical and speech therapy areas and community education meeting rooms.

The current Ali center was opened in December 2010 on the campus of Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital. It is one of the most comprehensive Parkinson's treatment centers in the world, coordinating patient care, physical therapy, pharmaceutical and surgical care, research, and patient education and outreach. The Center has been designated a Center of Excellence by the National Parkinson Foundation. At an inspiring 2010 event, Muhammad Ali and his wife, Lonnie, officially opened the new treatment center in downtown Phoenix.

"Thanks to the donations from Celebrity Fight Night, we continue to increase the numbers of patients we see, as well as the number of people who come to the Center for our education and social programs," said Dr. Lieberman. "We have also increased our ability to develop new drugs and treatments for Parkinson's disease."

Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984 and today Celebrity Fight Night is his signature event. "We are proud that Celebrity Fight Night continues to grow and succeed every year. Because of its remarkable success we are able to make this large donation," says Sean Currie, executive director of the star-studded charity event. "Thanks to the participation of many of today's biggest stars from around the country, as well as some of the nation's biggest philanthropists, the annual event gets bigger and better every year."

-Barrow-

About Barrow: Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is internationally recognized as a leader in neurological research and patient care and is consistently voted as among the Top 10 hospitals for neurology and neurology in the United States. Barrow treats patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, and neuromuscular disorders. Barrow's clinicians and researchers are devoted to providing excellent patient care and finding better ways to treat neurological disorders.

SOURCE St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

CONTACT: Sara Baird, +1-602-406-3312

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Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
6, 2012.

06:12 2012 UNEP Ozone Africa Media Award is open! / Call for Entries / Register now - Eight (8) more weeks to go

06:27 On the Occasion of UNEP's 40th Anniversary & the International Year for Sustainable Energy for All Philips Launches Nairobi Pilot Showcasing Solar LED Street Lighting as part of En.lighten Partnership Philips' first project in East Africa with Potential to Generate Up to 100 % Energy Savings
5 Jul 2012
11:04 Providing children with their 'first right': new EU project to ensure birth registration in eight countries    






Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Celebrate the 4th with Appoday -- Get Connect Poker for FREE on July 4th


3 Jul 2012 15:00 Africa/Lagos

Celebrate the 4th with Appoday -- Get Connect Poker for FREE on July 4th

Appoday brings you this fun and highly addictive game at no cost for a limited time

PALO ALTO, Calif., July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- We're aiming to make your Fourth of July extra-special this year. Add an extra helping of fun to your celebration with Connect Poker, brought to you by Appoday.

Connect Poker combines the best elements of Connect 4, Bejeweled, and Poker. The recently released app is a simple, yet highly refined matching game where players connect two to five cards from a grid to make a poker hand. Connect Poker is incredibly fun and compelling, rapidly growing a loyal fan base from moms to gamers alike.

Developed by Shrink Ray Studios, Connect Poker reinvents the classic poker game. It features three distinct gaming modes (classic, arcade, and infinite), includes unique power-ups and offers users hours of fun-filled game play. The game is integrated with Apple's Game Center bringing you the ability to compete with friends for rank and achievements.

"We're delighted to be able to offer our users Connect Poker for free this 4th of July. This new take on the classic poker game will take over the App Store. Be careful – it's unbelievably addictive," said Andrej Nabergoj, CEO and founder of Iddiction.

To get the Connect Poker app for free, download Appoday: http://itunes.apple.com/app/appoday-free-app-deal-day/id492105097.

Discover Connect Poker on the web at http://shrinkraystudios.com/ConnectPoker/ or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ConnectPoker.

ABOUT APPODAY

Appoday provides the best user discovery experience for mobile apps and games. Download Appoday from the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/appoday-free-app-deal-day/id492105097. Visit Appoday on the web at http://appoday.com, on Twitter http://twitter.com/appoday or on Facebook http://fb.me/appoday.

ABOUT SHRINK RAY STUDIOS


Shrink Ray Studios is a mobile game development company based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2011 by Sebastian Barrotta and Brian Coleman, the company takes pride in creating unique games with high quality and replay value. The goal of Shrink Ray Studios is and forever will be to make apps that are fun, challenging and addictive. For more information about Shrink Ray Studios visit http://shrinkraystudios.com.

ABOUT IDDICTION

Iddiction, Inc., the latest start-up from mobile games veteran Andrej Nabergoj, is focused on delivering user the best mobile apps and games. The company is backed by Rick Thompson, Comcast Ventures, IDG Ventures, Highland Capital Partners and Felicis Ventures.

SOURCE Iddiction

CONTACT: Diana Dozier, iddiction@groupsjr.com, +1-646-217-0431

Web Site: http://shrinkraystudios.com/ConnectPoker



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The Ticking Time Bomb in a Burqa


“It’s not my role to set off bombs — that’s ridiculous. I have a weapon. It’s to write. It’s to speak out. That’s my jihad. You can do many things with words. Writing is also a bomb.”

~ Ms. El Aroud, a 48-year-old Belgian,who calls herself a holy warrior of Al Qaeda.

Without any doubt El Aroud is like The Terrorist Next Door, and there are legions of them among the millions of Muslims in America and Europe and each of them is a ticking time bomb that can explode anytime. We have to beware of them wherever we see them in the Islamic burqa masquerade on the street.


30 Jun 2012 15:24 Africa/Lagos


CAIR Welcomes Navy Decision to Remove Target of Muslim Woman, Quran

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcome a decision by the U.S. military to stop using a target depicting a Muslim woman wearing a religious head scarf (hijab) and verses from the Quran to train Navy SEALs at the new close quarters combat range at Joint Base Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Va.

The Navy made that announcement after the Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Friday asking that the target and the religious text be removed from the training facility, referred to as a "kill house."

Lt. David Lloyd, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Group 2, told the Virginian-Pilot: "We have removed this particular target and Arabic writing in question from the range in the near term, and will explore other options for future training."

SEE: SEAL Training Range Won't Show Woman as Target (Virginian-Pilot)
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/seal-training-range-wont-show-woman-target

"We welcome the Navy's prompt action to address community concerns and hope this incident serves as a reminder that credible scholars and experts need to be consulted when designing training materials relating to Islam and Muslims for our nation's military personnel," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "This is a welcome first step, but a serious and comprehensive review is needed to deal with the issue of Islamophobia in military training."

Awad noted that CAIR recently called on the Department of Defense to dismiss an instructor at the nearby Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., who taught fellow officers that only a "total war" on Islam would protect America, that they should use "Hiroshima" tactics, target civilian populations, and abandon the Geneva Conventions.

Military to Officers: Use 'Hiroshima' Tactics for 'Total War' on Islam
http://tinyurl.com/cf2hnkd

The instructor of that course was later relieved of his teaching duties.

SEE: U.S. Military Instructor Suspended Over Islam Course
http://tinyurl.com/734q6sk

CAIR last year welcomed a White House-ordered comprehensive review of government counterterrorism training materials to weed out Islamophobic content.

SEE: Obama Orders Clean Up of Islamophobic Terror Training
http://tinyurl.com/74ozglm

CAIR chapters nationwide have filed 87 separate public records requests about possible Islamophobic training of local, state and national law enforcement personnel.

SEE: CAIR Files Multi-State Records Requests on Anti-Muslim Law Enforcement Trainings
http://tinyurl.com/d5kxrql

The Muslim civil liberties organization has also called on the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and Congress to provide oversight for apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide.

SEE: CAIR Asks Sec. Napolitano to Probe Use of Islamophobic Trainers
http://tinyurl.com/3qgb5uu

Video: CAIR Decries Anti-Muslim Police Trainers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxX5y7zX8RU

CAIR noted the release of an 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled "Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security," which details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.

Manufacturing the Muslim Menace
http://tinyurl.com/4qeretq

Washington Monthly magazine also published a major investigative article showing similar anti-Islam attitudes by private trainers of law enforcement agencies.

SEE: How We Train Our Cops to Fear Islam
http://tinyurl.com/4ajnx3h

A number of recent reports have documented the growth and promotion of Islamophobia nationwide.

CAIR: Same Hate, New Target
http://tinyurl.com/66enzm8

Center for American Progress: Fear, Inc.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/islamophobia.html

Southern Poverty Law Center: Jihad Against Islam
http://tinyurl.com/3qsv2v8

People for the American Way: The Right-Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism
http://tinyurl.com/6j9fttw

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List
http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)


29 Jun 2012
20:34 CAIR Asks Pentagon Not to Use Target of Muslim Woman, Quran in SEAL Training
26 Jun 2012
20:37 CAIR: Coalition Asks Apple to Train Sales Staff on Export Rules
18:44 JCP&L Welcomes 36 New Line and Substation Workers