HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 TO YOU!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014!

We are glad and grateful to the Almighty God our maker and owner for keeping us alive and well to celebrate the Christmas and looking forward to a more prosperous New Year.

We thank all our partners and sponsors in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

FULL PAGE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED/EVANS INDUSTRIES LIMITED, MACNUEL COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, TRUE LIFE FORUM, HOLLY GORDON, INGRAM OSIGWE, BISI DANIELS, LANCELOT IMASUEN, FEMI ODUGBEMI, EKULO GROUP INTERNATIONAL, QUINTESSENTIALLY NIGERIA, RECHERCHÉ SIGNATURE EVENTS AND LUXURY GIFTS, PALATIALLY INTERLINK NIGERIA LIMITED,ROYAL LIFESTYLES GROUP OF COMPANIES,
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Less than One in Five Americans Say Their Congressperson Deserves to be Re-Elected

25 Nov 2013 11:00 Africa/Lagos


Less than One in Five Americans Say Their Congressperson Deserves to be Re-Elected
President Obama's job ratings drop again this month

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Another month and another round of headaches for the White House. They finally get through the government shutdown and now have to answer many questions about why the Affordable Care Act's website was not ready for millions to sign up for health insurance. And, perhaps because of this, President Obama's job ratings continue their downward movement. This month just one-third of Americans (32%) give the President positive ratings for the job he is doing, while 68% give him negative ratings. This is down from last month, when 35% gave the President positive marks and 65% gave him negative ones.

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

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,250 adults surveyed online between November 13 and 18, 2013 by Harris Interactive . (Full results, including data tables, can be found here)

While it's not surprising that just 4% of Republicans but 59% of Democrats give the President positive ratings on the overall job he is doing, what should have White House worried about legacies and Democrats worried about fallout for Congressional elections is that just 26% of Independents give President Obama positive ratings while three-quarters (74%) give him negative marks.

There are two things that could make the President a little happier. First, there is an uptick in perceived direction of the country as three in ten Americans (30%) believe it is going in the right direction, up from 20% last month; seven in ten (70%) believe things in the country have seriously gotten off on the wrong track. The second is that when it comes to who deserves the most blame for shutting down the federal government, almost half (45%) of Americans blame Republicans in Congress compared to "just" one-third (32%) blaming President Obama; 7% blame Democrats in Congress, while 16% are not at all sure.

It's one year until the Congressional elections

Congress still sees their approval in the single digits, with just 7% of Americans rating the job they are doing positively while 93% give them negative ratings. This is slightly better than last month when just 4% of Americans gave Congress positive ratings. But it's not just the institution of Congress that is suffering. Just one in five Americans (19%) give their Member of the House of Representative positive ratings, while 71% give him or her negative ratings. And this is across political parties, as 70% of Republicans, 68% of Democrats and 75% of Independents give their Member negative marks for the overall job he or she is doing.

Even more ominous for sitting Members is that half of Americans (52%) say, when it comes to their Member of the House of Representatives, it's time to give someone else a chance, compared to just 17% of Americans who believe their Congressperson deserves to be re-elected. What should give sitting Members some hope is that 31% are still not at all sure. Looking at this by party, 52% of Republicans, 47% of Democrats and 60% of Independents say it's time to give someone else a chance.

To see other recent Harris Polls, please visit the Harris Poll News Room .

Want Harris Polls delivered direct to your inbox? Click here !

Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between November 13 and 18, 2013 among 2,250 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

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

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

J43568
Q1205, 1210, 1215, 1220, 1225

The Harris Poll ® #88, November 25, 2013
By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll and Public Relations, Harris Interactive

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for The Harris Poll® , Harris offers proprietary solutions in the areas of market and customer insight, corporate brand and reputation strategy, and marketing, advertising, public relations and communications research across a wide range of industries. Additionally, Harris has a portfolio of multi-client offerings that complement our custom solutions while maximizing a client's research investment. Serving clients worldwide through our North American and European offices, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help our clients stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com .

Press Contact:
Corporate Communications
Harris Interactive
212-539-9600
press@harrisinteractive.com

SOURCE Harris Interactive

Web Site: http://www.facebook.com/harrisinteractive?ref=share


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What are Americans Thankful for this Thanksgiving? Not the Economy

Photo Credit: Survey Monkey.

21 Nov 2013 19:00 Africa/Lagos

What are Americans Thankful for this Thanksgiving? Not the Economy.

Talking turkey: the bird tops the list of Thanksgiving dishes Americans look forward to

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanksgiving means different things to different people. For some it's all about the parade. For others, it's a chance to see family and friends. For a few, it's become about the sales and strategizing on how to hit the best ones. But for many it's about giving thanks, and more than two in five Americans (43%) say they have about as much to be thankful for as a few years ago, while 38% say they have more to be thankful for than a few years ago. Just over one in ten U.S. adults (14%) say they have less to be thankful for than a few years ago.

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


These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,368 adults surveyed online between October 16 and 21, 2013 by Harris Interactive . (Full results, including data tables, available here)
This year, fewer Americans feel they have more to be thankful for than said so in 2010 (41%), but it's about the same as in 1974 (when this question was first asked) and 1980 (38% and 37%, respectively).  However, in 1983 half of Americans said they had more to be thankful for (50%), which is more than in any other year this has been asked.


Looking at some specific items, Americans have a lot to be thankful for. Over three-quarters of Americans are thankful because of the health of their family (85%), because of their family relationships (84%) and because technology makes it easy to stay in touch with family and friends (76%). Interestingly, in 1980 almost all Americans said they were thankful for the health of their family (96%) and because of family relationships (95%).


While three in five Americans (62%) are thankful for their own personal economic situation, this is down from 66% in 2010 and 81% in 1980. Three in five U.S. adults (60%) are thankful for their work situation, compared to 65% who said this in 2010 and 78% who said so in 1980. What Americans are not thankful for is the economic situation of the United States, as 62% say they are not thankful for this while 17% are thankful. In 1984, 78% were thankful for the economic situation of the U.S. and in 1988 59% were thankful; in 2010 that number was 23%.


The Turkey!

And, for many Americans, Thanksgiving is all about the food. When asked which of these traditional food dishes people look forward to the most, two in five U.S. adults (40%) say it's the turkey while one in five (21%) look forward to the stuffing. Smaller numbers look forward to pumpkin pie (13%), potatoes whether mashed (9%) or sweet (7%) and the cranberry sauce, jelly or relish (4%). Men are more likely than women to look forward to the turkey (46% vs. 35%), while women are more likely to look forward to the pumpkin pie (14% vs. 10%).


While cooking there are always the grumblings about "wouldn't it be easier to just go out for dinner," the truth is that over three-quarters of Americans (78%) disagree with that and say they would rather eat in a restaurant than cook Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe it's because of the leftovers, as nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) agree that even more important than Thanksgiving dinner is eating the leftovers.
To see other recent Harris Polls, please visit the Harris Poll News Room .
Want Harris Polls delivered direct to your inbox? Click here !

 
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between October 16 to 21, 2013 among 2,368 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.


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


Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.


These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.
J43567
Q830, 835, 840, 845
The Harris Poll ^® #87, November 21, 2013
By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll and Public Relations Research


About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for The Harris Poll® , Harris offers proprietary solutions in the areas of market and customer insight, corporate brand and reputation strategy, and marketing, advertising, public relations and communications research across a wide range of industries. Additionally, Harris has a portfolio of multi-client offerings that complement our custom solutions while maximizing a client's research investment. Serving clients worldwide through our North American and European offices, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help our clients stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com .


Press Contact:
Corporate Communications
Harris Interactive
212-539-9600
press@harrisinteractive.com
SOURCE Harris Interactive

Web Site: http://www.facebook.com/harrisinteractive?ref=share


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150 Years Ago, President Lincoln Delivered the Gettysburg Address That Changed America

President Obama's Handwritten Tribute to the Gettysburg Address.

One hundred fifty years after President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, President Obama penned a handwritten tribute to President Lincoln's historic remarks. Read his essay below, then share it with others.

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September 11: 3,000 Candle-lights In Memory of You

September 11, 2011, 10th Anniversary of September 11 Suicide Attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.


3,000 Candle-lights

We Will Never Forget

Will you remember me on every 9/11?
Will you light a candle for me?
For without the light we cannot see
What mortal eyes have never seen.

No. Don't weep for me anymore
No. Don't pray for the dead.
For the dead do not need your prayers.

"What I had, I lost; what I saved, I spent; but what I gave, I have."
~ Mattie Terri Shackelford

We Will Never Forget
No! Never ever.
Though the scarlet memories may linger
Though the flowers may wither
But we will never forget
Until this world will be no more.

Nosotros nunca nos Olvidaremos

¿Recordará me usted en cada 9/11? ¿Encenderá usted una vela para mí? Para sin la luz nosotros no podemos ver Qué ojos de mortal nunca han visto.

No. no llora para mí ya No. no ora para el muerto. Para el muerto no necesita sus oraciones.

"Lo que tuve, perdí; lo que salvé, gasté; pero lo que dí, tengo." -Mattie Terri Shackelford

¡Nosotros nunca nos Olvidaremos no! Jamás. Aunque las memorias escarlatas pueden demorar Aunque las flores
pueden marchitar Pero nosotros nunca nos olvidaremos hasta que este mundo no será más.

Nobody spoke a word as the credits rolled on the screen. But I could hear muffled sounds of sobs near me. Lesleen held my right hand tightly until they turned on the lights and we silently left the hall. As we entered our car and sat down, I used my fingers to wipe away her tears. The last time I wept was at the burial of my mother 14 years ago. And I made up my mind never to weep again. I comforted her for a while before I inserted the key into the ignition and jiggled the steering wheel as I turned the key to start the car. I drove out of the parking lot of Main Street Cinema with the head of LesIeen on my shoulder. I was still thinking about the closing scene of the film.
Why should the director include the 19 suicide bombers in his memorial candle lights?
And he showed us their bereaved families also mourning them. Those bastards killed
2,974 innocent people in a day and more died later from the respiratory diseases caused by exposure to WTC dust. Over 40, 000 people, including 10,000 firefighters from Fire Department of New York (FDNY) were exposed to environmental toxins at Ground Zero. And two years later, Ms. Reeve died of mesothelioma. Firefighters Stephen Johnson, Walter Voight and Joseph Costello and EMTs Timothy Keller and Felix Hernandez have died from cancers linked to respiratory diseases. And the unrepentant Al Quaeda is still thinking of repeating the catastrophe. The hijackers don't deserve any memorial. The devils are already burning in hell.
I hissed and turned back from the direction of our home.
"Where are we going?" Lesleen asked.
"To Gound Zero."
"I am tired and I want to go to bed," she said plaintively.
"There is enough time to sleep. Don't worry. I will make sure that you don't have nightmares," I said.
"How?"
"You just relax until we return home," I replied and smiled.

At Ground Zero, we were not alone. A memorial ceremony was in progress and I could count over a 100 people milling around with candlelights. We joined them and a man wearing a brown hat stepped out from the crowd and handed us two white candles.
"You have got a lighter?" The elderly man asked.
"Yes. Thank you sir," I replied.
"But, do you know the real figure of those who died?" He asked us.
"2, 993," I replied.
He shook his head.
He handed me a piece of white paper and we read what was printed on it.

CONFIRMED DEAD: 2948 •
REPORTED DEAD: 24 •
REPORTED MISSING: 24 •
TOTAL: 2996

"But we believe that 3, 000 must have died," he said.
Lesleen and I nodded.
Minus those 19 devils, I said within me.
We lit our candles and joined the procession.

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America in 1913 and 2013

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

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Statue Of Liberty Reopens With A 4th Of July Song - "Mother Of Exile"

Statue Of Liberty Reopens With A 4th Of July Song - "Mother Of Exile"

NEW YORK, July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Donny Stew's city song "Mother Of Exile" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkwprV3hsRo for New York City, is produced by RAT-A-TAT LLC for the 4^TH of July reopening of the Statue of Liberty after the Super Storm Sandy debacle.  The song, a catchy country rock anthem is dedicated to the historic American tradition of welcoming immigrants to our shores with open arms.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statue-of-liberty-reopens-with-a-4th-of-july-song---mother-of-exile-213700101.html   

The song includes lyrics from the legendary Emma Lazarus poem:

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

The poem is on a bronze plaque in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

The music video features the Donny Stew Band along with an original animated Statue of Liberty singing and dancing to the song with a backdrop of 4^th of July celebrations in the NY harbor.

By a twist of fate, Stew's NYC rehearsal studio below the West Beth Theatre in Greenwich Village was also flooded out during the Super Storm Sandy. "We lost everything. It took us till now to recover."

Donny Stew's City Songs & Youtube Videos released to date: 

"59 Miles to Jacksonville," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vnF2wa-6P0 appeared in Drew Barrymore's Hollywood Roller Derby movie "Whip It."   

"Indy Indy Indeed," released for this years 2013 Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day Race. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kftW255KEx4

"Texas Big" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIzcMeBc66k  for Dallas. 

"La Llorona - Ghost of Santa Fe" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Z7G-eaFB0 

"St. Louis Brew" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT28xWL6ZGo

"Denver Christine" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53kw92snCOw  

"Sedona" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4NKuuqKrt4

"Seeing my '59 Miles to Jacksonville,' song and name up in lights in Drew Barrymore's Roller Derby movie 'Whip It,' was the inspiration for the current 'City Songs project,'" said Donny.

In the meantime, Stew's been busy shooting mixing and editing youtube videos for his next project.  Next is a Multi City, twenty song "Pirate Rock Opera" extravaganza with songs for Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Miami, Key West, Saint Marteen, Nassau, Cancun, Seville and more.

To see the Donny Stew web site click  http://donnystew.com/home.cfm

To see the Donny Stew Biography click http://donnystew.com/donnystewbio.cfm

The Donny Stew City song collection is available at all the major digital outlets including:

itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/donny-stew/id417097735

SOURCE RAT-A-TAT LLC


RELATED LINKS
http://www.donnystew.com


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Boston Terrorist Bombings: America Was Caught Napping Again!

 

  WHO DID IT? Is the question.



Americans and millions of people all over the world were caught napping yesterday after two deafening explosions shook the Boston Marathon near the finish line, killing three people and leaving scores of other injured.
The incident occurred at 3:00 p.m. according eyewitness accounts in Boston.



Has the al-Qaeda struck the United States again nearly twelve years since the catastrophic September 11, 2001 suicide attacks on the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City and the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense) in Washington, D.C.





"We still don't know who did this or why," said President Barack Obama. Then he added, "Make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this."

"We just don't know whether it's foreign or domestic," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Who ever did this caught both the FBI, CIA and other security intelligence agencies napping and this is terrible, because the tragedy would have been worse if the bombs were deadlier.

 When you know your enemies are still alive and kicking, don't be caught napping.
 Don't let your guards down!

How can American security fail at this critical time of emergency with threats from North Korea and Islamic terrorists at large?
 God save America!

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Majority of American Parents Prefer Stanford Ahead of Harvard

Majority of American Parents Prefer Stanford Ahead of Harvard

Stanford University is the first dream college majority of American parents prefer their children to attend according to the Princeton Review's 2013 "College Hopes & Worries Survey".

The colleges parents most named as their "dream college" for their children were:

1. Stanford University
2. Harvard College
3. Princeton University
4. University of Notre Dame
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6. Yale University
7. New York University
8. Brown University
9. Columbia University
10. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

The following is the complete report.


21 Mar 2013 11:00 Africa/Lagos

The Princeton Review's 2013 "College Hopes & Worries Survey" Reports On 14,125
Students' & Parents' Top 10 "Dream Colleges" And Application Views
- 69% Report High Stress
- 89% Say Financial Aid "Very Necessary"
- Stanford is #1 "Dream College" Among Students & Parents / #2 is Harvard
NEW YORK, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Some call it "the other March madness." It's nail-biting season now through April as college acceptance / rejection and financial aid letters land in family mailboxes.

According to The Princeton Review's 2013 "College Hopes & Worries Survey" – an annual poll of college applicants and parents of applicants – stress levels are high and worries about college costs are higher than ever. Eighty-nine percent of survey respondents this year say financial aid will be "very" necessary to pay for college and within that cohort 66% say "extremely" necessary (a 5% increase over 2012). Nonetheless, 100% of the respondents believe college will be "worth it" and 51% see a "potentially better job / higher income" as the main benefit of the diploma.
The college applicants and parents most named as their "dream college" – the school they wish they (or their child) could attend were cost and acceptance not issues – was Stanford. Harvard was the 2nd most named.

The Princeton Review, one of the nation's best known education services companies, has conducted its "College Hopes & Worries Survey" since 2003. Findings for the 2013 survey are based on responses from 14,125 people. Seventy percent (9,955) were teens applying to colleges: 30% (4,170) were parents of applicants. Respondents hailed from all 50 states and DC, plus several countries abroad. The 15-question survey ran in The Princeton Review book, The Best 377 Colleges: 2013 Edition (Random House, August 2012), and it was accessible on www.PrincetonReview.com from September 2012 through March 5.

Top 10 "Dream Colleges"
Answering the survey's only fill-in-the-blank question, "What 'dream college' do you wish you or your child could attend if acceptance or cost weren't issues?" respondents wrote in more than 500 institution names.

The colleges students most named as their "dream college" were:
1. Stanford University
2. Harvard College
3. Columbia University
4. New York University
5. Princeton University
6. University of California – Los Angeles
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8. Yale University
9. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
10. University of California – Berkeley

The colleges parents most named as their "dream college" for their children were:
11. Stanford University
12. Harvard College
13. Princeton University
14. University of Notre Dame
15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
16. Yale University
17. New York University
18. Brown University
19. Columbia University
20. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

In students' and parents' responses to questions with multiple answer choices, findings show these perspectives among respondents overall:

• Applications are stressful.
97% reported having college application stress: 69% gauged their stress levels as "High" or "Very High."

• Biggest worry? Debt.
39%, the plurality, said their biggest worry is "Level of debt incurred to pay for the degree." Previously (2010 to 2012), the answer most selected was "Will get into first-choice college, but won't have sufficient funds/aid to attend." In 2009, it was "Won't get into first-choice college."

• College cost estimate? $50,000+
87% estimated their degree to cost "More than $50,000." Within that cohort 45% said "More than $100,000."

• Main benefit of college? Better job.
51% said "Potentially better job / income." 24% said "Education." 25% said "Exposure to new ideas."

• Distance from home "ideal" college would be? Parents and students differ.
52% of parents chose "Less than 250 miles": 61% of students chose answers in ranges from 250 to 1,000 miles.

Other survey findings report on: number of colleges respondents were applying to, the toughest part of their application experiences, if the economy was affecting their school choices (and how). The Princeton Review also asked respondents their advice for 2014 applicants and parents. The most repeated exhortation among parents and students alike: "Start early." One parent wrote, "College is not a prize to be won but a match to be made." A teen wrote, "Enjoy applying to colleges. You (hopefully) only get to do it once."

A survey report (all questions, answer choices, and findings) plus a sampler of respondents' advice is at www.princetonreview.com/college-hopes-worries.aspx
The Princeton Review is also known for its annual college rankings in 62 categories (www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx) it reports in August in its book, The Best 377 Colleges, and its many other categories of school rankings and lists accessible at www.princetonreview.com

The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.

About The Princeton Review
Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com) is a privately held education services company headquartered in Framingham, MA. The Company has long been a leader in helping students achieve their education and career goals through its test preparation services, tutoring and admissions resources, online courses, and more than 150 print and digital books published by Random House, Inc. The Princeton Review delivers its programs via a network of more than 5,000 teachers and tutors in the U.S.A., Canada, and international franchises. The Company also partners with schools and guidance counselors worldwide to provide students with college readiness, test preparation and career planning services.
WEBSITE: www.princetonreview.com/college-hopes-worries.aspx
SOURCE Random House / Princeton Review Books

CONTACT: Jeanne Krier, Publicist, Princeton Review Books, jeanne@jeannekrier.com, 212-539-1350 or Kristen O'Toole, Editor, The Princeton Review, 888-865-7737 ext. 1405, kotoole@review.com
Web Site: http://www.princetonreview.com

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The Navy SEAL Who Killed Osama Bin Laden

Osama bin Laden.

11 Feb 2013 13:15 Africa/Lagos

Esquire Publishes First-ever Interview With The Navy SEAL Who Killed Osama Bin Laden
Magazine reveals untold elements of the historic raid as well as the personal aftermath for The Shooter and his family
Story to appear in the March 2013 Issue on Newsstands the week of February 11

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Esquire magazine will publish an exclusive in-depth feature story in the March 2013 issue about the former Navy SEAL Team Six member who killed Osama Bin Laden. The 15,000-word story, "The Shooter," is written by Phil Bronstein, Executive Chair of the Center for Investigative Reporting (the piece was reported in cooperation with CIR), and is based on extensive interviews with the man who killed bin Laden. The story reveals untold, unforgettable details of the historic nighttime raid in May, 2011 at bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and stands as the definitive account of what happened there that night. It also offers a sobering portrait of life after the military and makes the case that the government largely abandons its most elite and highly-trained soldiers after their service is over. The Navy SEAL, identified as "the Shooter" for his safety and that of his family (and out of respect for his colleagues), told Bronstein his story both to correct the historical record of the bin Laden mission and to put a spotlight on how the United States government treats its most highly-trained and accomplished soldiers once they return to civilian life.

On the day "the Shooter" departed the military after 16 years, he was left with:

No medical insurance for him or his family.
No pension.
No comprehensive assistance in transitioning to civilian life.
No provision for security from the threat of retaliation for himself or his family.
An average wait of nine months for those limited VA benefits that are available to him.

(Note: Had "the Shooter" stayed in for 20 years, he would have been eligible for a pension of $2197.00 per month, the same pension as a member of the Navy choir.)

Please find the complete story here on Esquire.com :
http://www.esquire.com/features/man-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-0313

Bronstein spent more than a year establishing trust and building a rapport with the now-retired Navy SEAL at the center of this story, as well as interviewing several other SEAL Team 6 members. One, a friend of the Shooter, states: "If I get killed on this next deployment, I know my family will be taken care of. But if I come back and retire, I won't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of for the rest of my life. Sad to say, it's better if I get killed."

As Bronstein reports: With the American way of war evolving dramatically in the past decade to deal with asymmetrical threats, most of the future fighting will be done not by large contingents of conventional ground forces but with targeted strikes by Special Operations forces such as the Shooter and his colleagues. Consequently, "there will be an increasing number of vets in the Shooter's circumstance: abandoned, with limited choices." This riveting look at a legendary raid and the troubling second chapter for "The Shooter" and his Special Ops peers is a call-to-action: Something must be done.

Phil Bronstein will be a guest on The Today Show at 7:40 on February 11, 2013, to discuss this story. To schedule an interview with Phil Bronstein, Esquire Editor-In-Chief, David Granger or Esquire Executive Editor Mark Warren, or for more information, please contact Adam_Schiff@dkcnews.com.

About Esquire

Esquire (www.esquire.com), published by Hearst Magazines, is the most-honored monthly magazine in America. Over the past 15 years, it has won a total of 16 National Magazine Awards. Its Web site and e-reader applications have been similarly honored—Esquire won the first-ever National Magazine Award for iPad applications. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Esquire publishes 25 editions around the world. Follow Esquire on Twitter at @Esquiremag.

About the Center for Investigative Reporting

Founded in 1977, the Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation's oldest nonprofit investigative news organization, producing unique, high-quality reporting that has impact and is relevant to people's lives. The organization's stories appear in hundreds of news outlets, including NPR News, PBS Frontline, PBS NewsHour, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Sacramento Bee, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, MinnPost and American Public Media's Marketplace. CIR stories have received numerous journalism awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, George Polk Award, Emmy Award, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, and the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Its reports have sparked state and federal hearings and legislation, United Nations resolutions, public-interest lawsuits and changes in corporate policies. For more information, please visit cironline.org, californiawatch.org and baycitizen.org.

SOURCE Esquire

CONTACT: Adam Schiff, DKC, +1-212-981-5216, Adam_Schiff@ dkcnews.com, or Stephanie Tuck, DKC, +1-212-981-5170, Stephanie_Tuck@dkcnews.com

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

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President Barack Obama: Declassified and Decoded?

Source: visual.ly via Re-Branding Nigeria on Pinterest

From 1901, when the Secret Service first began protecting U.S. Presidents, to present day, we take you on a journey through Presidential codenames.

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2013 U.S. Presidential Inauguration Celebrates a President and a King

16 Jan 2013 18:32 Africa/Lagos

2013 U.S. Presidential Inauguration Celebrates a President and a King

Visitors to Washington, DC will celebrate two important African American leaders in one weekend with commemorative events, parades and community service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For only the second time in U.S. history, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration will coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 21. Since 1986 when the third Monday of January was designated as a federally recognized holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr., only President Bill Clinton's second term inauguration has landed on the same day.

The visitors expected to arrive in Washington, DC this weekend will have the opportunity to celebrate two significant African American leaders at once. As President Barack Obama, the first African American to hold the Oval Office, is sworn in for his second term and the nation commemorates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visitors to DC have a chance to participate in a number of historic and community service events, while exploring the city.

Visitors can pay tribute to both President Obama and Dr. King in a number of ways. See where the President lives with a stroll past the White House; have a photo taken with Barack and Michelle Obama's wax figures at the President's Gallery at Madame Tussauds; or sit in the "Oval Office" at White House Gifts - and pick up a few commemorative items while there. Visit the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial on the National Mall, the first ever dedicated to a non-president and an African American; walk down the Lincoln Memorial steps where Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, or stop by The Willard Intercontinental Hotel where he finished writing the speech the night prior.

The nation's capital will honor both men by hosting a variety of events, parades and community service projects throughout the weekend including:

Saturday, Jan. 19:

• Volunteers will participate in more than 1,300 service projects throughout Washington, DC's eight wards during Martin Luther King's Day of Service from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• This National Day of Service will kick off with a Service Summit on the National Mall featuring Honorary Chair Chelsea Clinton, Presidential Inaugural Committee Co-chair Eva Longoria, singer-songwriter Ben Folds, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, television personality Star Jones, actress Angela Bassett and many more.
• The 35^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace and Freedom Walk will take place at three different sites – the Southwest, Southeast and Shepard Park – to symbolize King's march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.
• The Kids' Inaugural Concert, hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, will feature performances by Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Katy Perry, Usher and Stevie Wonder at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Sunday, Jan. 20:

• President Obama will participate in a small private swearing-in ceremony as mandated by law.
• The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University will host a musical celebration called "Let Freedom Ring" featuring Smokey Robinson and the Let Freedom Ring choir in a free Millennium Stage concert at 6 p.m.
• The Music Center at Strathmore will host a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute and Celebration and will announce the recipients of the Children of the Dream Award, The Literary Arts Award and the Humanitarian Award at 3 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 21:

• Federal offices and many public and private businesses across the nation will close in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
• President Obama will participate in a public Swearing-in Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building at 11:30 a.m. EST.
• The 57^th Presidential Inaugural Parade will escort President Obama from the Capitol to the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue at 2:30 p.m. EST. Participants will include representatives from each of the five branches of the Armed Services, all 50 states and a variety of national groups.
• The Inaugural Ball, held across all 700,000 square feet of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center's five exhibit halls, is expected to draw more than 35,000 revelers including A-list performances by Smokey Robinson, Marc Anthony, John Legend, Nick Cannon and the cast of "Glee."
• The Commander In Chief's Ball will draw more than 4,000 active-duty and reserve military troops, Medal of Honor recipients and wounded warriors. This gala will take place at the third-floor ballroom of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Tuesday, Jan. 22:

• The Inaugural National Prayer Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Washington National Cathedral with the President and Vice President. The private service will include prayer, readings and musical performances.

For more information, please visit www.washington.org.
About Destination DC
Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation's capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 800 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. www.washington.org 
SOURCE Destination DC
CONTACT: Robin McClain, Destination DC, +1-202-789-7099, Robin.Mcclain@destinationdc.com, Alicia Malone, Destination DC, +1-202-789-7053, Alicia.Malone@destinationdc.com
Web Site: http://www.washington.org

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Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln and Skyfall Make ASC Nominations

Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC (Anna Karenina), Danny Cohen, BSC (Les Misérables), Claudio Miranda, ASC (Life of Pi), Janusz Kaminski (Lincoln) and Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC (Skyfall) have been nominated in the feature film category of the 27th Annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards for Outstanding Achievement. The winner will be announced at the ASC Awards celebration on February 10 at the Hollywood & Highland Grand Ballroom.

“The films our members have nominated are visually distinctive, and very diverse: a theatrical epic, a grand musical, an imaginative 3-D fable, a sweeping biographical drama, and a stylish spy thriller,” notes ASC President Stephen Lighthill. “What they all have in common is that each project’s cinematographer contributed captivating visuals that enhanced and elevated the storytelling.”

This year’s nod brings Deakins’ total to 11. He won ASC Awards for The Shawshank Redemption (1995) and The Man Who Wasn’t There (2002). His other nominations were for Fargo (1997), Kundun (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2001), No Country for Old Men (2008), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008), Revolutionary Road (2009), The Reader (2009) and True Grit (2011). He was also the recipient of the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

This is Kaminski’s fifth nomination. His prior nominations were for Schindler’s List (1994), Amistad (1998), Saving Private Ryan (1999) and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2008). Cohen, McGarvey and Miranda have all been recognized once previously – Cohen for The King’s Speech (2011); McGarvey for Atonement (2008); and Miranda for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009). The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) invites you to attend its Annual ASC Open House In attendance will be ASC Award Honorees, Nominees and Esteemed Members. Saturday, February 9, 2013 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. There will be no onsite or validated parking. Please use the lots at Hollywood and Highland. Tweet