Todd Strasser is a name well known to many readers. With titles such as Girl gives birth to own prom date or Help! I'm trapped in my teacher's body, it is no wonder. Some of Strasser's novels are humorous examinations of the angst of being a teen. Other novels, though, tackle more than simply the trials and tribulations of peers and parents. His ground-breaking Give a boy a gun is a must read for all of us, students and teachers, who are concerned about violence in the schools. The wave remains a favorite of teachers for its chilling account of how one classroom experiment goes awfully wrong.
Todd's career in writing began, innocuously enough, with fortune cookies. Fortunately, Todd branched out and produced dozens of wonderful novels for teens and children. For more information about Todd Strasser and his books, visit his web site: http://www.toddstrasser.com/. You can also read more about Todd Strasser in an interview by Don Gallo at: http://www.authors4teens. com. Recently, Todd and I "talked" via e-mail about his books and his work.
TL:
If you were asked to select one scene or chapter to appear in an anthology of YA literature for students to use in school, which might you select and why?
TS:
This is a tough question because my chapters tend to be short. I could probably find a scene in Give a boy a gun, or How I changed my life, or even Angel dust blues that would suffice, but I think that for an anthology I would actually suggest On the bridge, a short story I wrote more than 20 years ago that appeared in a book called Visions [Note: Visions is a story collection edited by Donald R. Gallo).
TL:
What/who do you like to read? Whose writing inspires you as a reader and as a writer?
TS:
I read a lot of nonfiction and particularly enjoy articles and books about the ocean. Having recently taken up surfing I'm reading a lot about that, too. Kurt Vonnegut, Tom McGuane, Tom Wolfe, John Gregory Dunne, Nora Ephron, Neal Stephenson and Nick Hornby. What they all share is a quirky and somewhat dark sense of irony.
TL:
Someone once compared writing to the way an oyster creates a pearl. It begins with a tiny piece of sand, an irritant that the oyster strives to cover over with layer after layer. What is the sand in the oyster for you? What starts the story working? Is your work character-driven or theme-driven? Is there some other genesis?
TS:
Depends on the age I'm writing for. If it's a book for preteens, especially a humorous book for preteens, the situation generally drives the story. I try to make the more serious books for that age group more character-driven. For YA novels, I've written both character- and theme-driven stories, but lately they've been more theme- (issue-) driven.
TL:
People always want to know what you are doing next. What are you working on now? Do you have more than "one iron in the tire"?
TS:
I'm finishing up two "young" YA novels, Thief of dreams and Confidence, both told in the second person. I'm also working on a YA novel about homeless kids, and fooling around with a couple of adult mysteries.
TL:
What is a typical writing day like for you? What is your "routine"?
TS:
When I'm not on the road I generally intend to write every day, weekends included. This doesn't mean I succeed, but it is what I try to do. I try to stay at the computer from 9 till 2 and then, if I've got nothing better to do, I might work a few more hours. But each day, especially in the summer, I try to have an activity that starts by 4 or 5 in the afternoon and gets me out of the apartment.
TL:
What wisdom/advice can you offer teachers who want to connect kids, especially boys, to books and reading?
TS:
I wish I could suggest something new and wonderful, but I still believe it's finding something they're interested in and matching a book to it. I also think it's important to keep in mind that while it is sometimes difficult to get boys to develop of a love of literature and fiction, this doesn't mean that they don't read. I didn't read a lot of fiction until I was in my twenties and thirties. Almost all the reading I do these days is nonfiction from newspapers, magazines and online. My son is 15 and doesn't read many books, but he's on the Internet every night for an hour reading e-mails and web sites, etc. Sure, it pains me to think of that kid who's never read a book. But it also pains me that there are many more kids who've never stepped inside an art museum, or experienced a live symphony, or, for that matter, surfed down the face of a wave. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I truly applaud the efforts of all teachers who teach kids to read and I think it is a tremendous accomplishment that they impart this skill, and I don't think they should beat themselves up too badly if some kids don't practice this skill as much as others.
TL:
If you were asked to coalesce your work into one sentence, what might that be?
TS:
Books for teens and preteens that the Christian right would like to burn.
Books by Todd Strasser
Angel dust blues. Dell, 1984. 044090952X
Close call. Putnam, 1999. 039923134X
Con-fidence. Holiday House, 2002. 0823413942
Don't get caught driving the school bus. Turtleback, 2000. 0606195564
Girl gives birth to own prom date. Simon & Schuster, 1996. 0689804822
Give a boy a gun. Simon & Schuster, 2000. 0689811128
Help! I'm trapped in a supermodel's body. Apple, 2001. 0439210356
Help! I'm trapped in my teacher's body. Apple, 1994. 0590477374
How I changed my life. Pocket, 1996. 068980895X
How I spent my last night on earth. Simon & Schuster, 1998. 0689811136
Kidnap kids. Putnam, 1998. 0399231110
The wave. Laurel Leaf, 1981. 0440993717
TL Contact our columnists at: Marlene Asselin marlene.asselin@ubc.ca Barbara Braxton barbara@austarmetro.com.au Rosemary Chance rchance@student.necc.cc.ms.us Anne Clyde anne@rhi.hi.is Ruth Cox cox@cl.uh.edu Susan Faust SanFranSue@aol.com Reid Goldsborough reidgold@netaxs.com Holly Gunn hgunn@accesscable.net Kate Houston Mitchoff kateho@yahoo.com Teri Lesesne lis_tsl@shsu.edu Joanne Troutner troutner@mindspring.com Helen Wiley helen@kdbs.usa.com Robert D. Wilson coltrane@lodelink.com
M2 PRESSWIRE-18 September 2000-CyberBritain.com: Let's take on Napster says British based SkipMusic.com (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
RDATE:18092000
Leading portal company CyberBritain.com launch new music site SkipMusic.com and announces intentions to compete directly with Napster.
CyberBritain.com was one of the first UK movers in the mp3 market when it launched BritishMP3.co.uk early last year; at the time it was the first dedicated mp3 search engine in the UK. The growing popularity of the service has prompted the company to invest money and time into redeveloping the site for a new and larger audience.
"The first thing we did was ditch the 'mp3' branding as this is an immediate turn off for music labels!" says CyberBritain.com's Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Cohen. The company aim to offer downloadable music in the run up to Christmas. "The aim is to compete directly with Napster but rather than work against the record labels we are working with them to create new and profitable ways of distributing music on the internet."
The revamped site takes over from the previous site this Monday and will add more content over the following weeks. The site has a small in-house editorial team headed by Daniel Ickowitz-Seidler who joins SkipMusic.com as Editor in Chief. He was previously Content Manager at parent company CyberBritain.com Ltd. The majority of the features, reviews and articles are to come from a large "on the ground" team of freelancers in addition to articles written by SkipMusic.com users.
With the motto "skip work, skip dinner but don't skipmusic.com", the site aims to be at the edge of popular culture and will feature a number of satirical takes on the music industry.
The site also boasts the first dedicated online music TV show in the UK. The show called SkipMusic.com TV will be premiered in October. The show is likely to be broadcast for a wide range of net users from modem to ADSL users. A broadband version of the site designed especially for ADSL is also expected to launch by the end of the year.
Whilst initaly launching as an e-zine the site does contain the original search engine that was situated at BritishMP3.co.uk. The search engine contains links to over 5 million mp3 files stored on the web in addition to FTP sites and peer-to-peer services.
About CyberBritain.com Ltd
CyberBritain.com is a leading UK specific portal and dotcom consultancy.
From humble beginnings in the bedroom of Benjamin Cohen (who founded soJewish.com) it has grown to become one the of the most influential and successful companies in its field. CyberBritain.com is a real company in a virtual world with valid and proven revenue streams. Its clients include cube8.com, soJewish.com, Affinity Internet Holdings plc, Virtual Internet Provider, click4home.com, BlueCarrots.com plc and mylawyer.com inc. The company is currently securing a further GBP1m of funding from institutional investors and has appointed its first Chief Financial Officer (Gerry Defries) in preparation for a private placing.
CONTACT: Robert Attar, CyberBritain.com Tel: +44 (0)870 906 4555 e-mail: Lucy Banin@lucy@cyberbritain.co.uk
((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1998--Fawcette Technical Publications (FTP) announced today that it will deliver a live Web broadcast of the first public demonstration of Microsoft(R) Visual Basic 6.0(R). The demonstration will be part of VBITS'98 Conference keynote address, which the company will transmit live through the Web on June 22, 1998, from New York, NY.
"Our readers and online users are the industry's leading Windows(R) developers, and this Webcast helps them get this information directly from the source," said James E. Fawcette, FTP president. "We're pleased to work with Microsoft to make this presentation and demonstration available to the development community."
"This event is particularly exciting because it offers us a way to reach the over 3.2 million professional VB developers worldwide," added Sean Alexander, Technical Product Manager, Visual Basic Group, Microsoft. "The Visual Basic team is very excited about this opportunity to present Visual Basic 6.0 to the developer community, and look forward to working with Fawcette to make future events of its kind available via Internet simulcasts."
As part of his VBITS'98 keynote address, David Stutz, architect on the Visual Studio team at Microsoft, will present a high-level overview of Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0's new language features, new visual designer tools, and new support for building multi-tier and distributed applications.
VBITS'98 will also feature a keynote presentation highlighting the new features of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, and sessions from industry experts on important topics such as creating COM components that work well across different language (VB/VBA/C++, VJ++ & Scripting Languages), building Reliable, Efficient multi-Tier Apps with Visual Basic, Microsoft Message Queue, SQL, Microsoft Transaction Server and Internet Information Server, and Multithreading Applications and Servers.
Details on participating in the Webcast are available at FTP's Development Exchange http://www.devx.com and the Micros site at http://www.vbits98.com.
About Fawce.com), the leading magazine for Windows programmers, and JAVA(TM) PRO, the leading resource for programmers using Java to create real-world business applications, and WEB BUILDER magazine, dedicated to the information needs of professional Visual Basic Insiders' Technical Summit (VBITSVisual Basic are registered trademarks of Micro
pamm@kmcgroup.com
http://www.kmcomm.inter.net
KEYWORD: CAL- Business Wire's full file on the Internet
ALEX FERGUSON was understandably delighted with Manchester United's 1-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers which sent his side to the top of the Premier League. But he has warned his side the hard work is still ahead if they are to go on and win their third title in a row. "Being top is not decisive at this stage but it is always nice because it is the best place to be," he said, after Dimitar Berbatov's 90th-minute goal sealed the win which meant United leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the table. "We have been playing catch-up in terms of fixtures for a while now. We still have another game in hand against Fulham on February 14. "Only after that will we have a good idea of where we stand between Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves." Liverpool face Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield tonight, but at least for a short time United top the Premier League table for the first time this season. Ferguson also revealed that he had been about to take off Carlos Tevez before he played a key part in the build-up to Berbatov's goal, sending in a
fine cross for the Bulgarian striker. "I was ready to take Carlos off and then he makes a goal," said Ferguson. "Danny Welbeck is a big lad and I just felt he might get us a goal from a cross. I am always prepared to gamble." Up until Berbatov's goal, United had been frustrated by the home side, with Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in fine form for the hosts. He denied Cristiano Ronaldo on several occasions, while also saving well from Tevez and Berbatov. But in the end their pressure told and Berbatov made the breakthrough. "It shows that the concentration is good - you have to keep good concentration in the game and I think we're doing that very well," Ferguson stated. "I thought we played well. Bolton are a very difficult team to play against and in a local derby you're always happy to win the match but we left it very, very late."
2007 Al Sidra Media LLC
Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
Colorardo Springs, CO (PRWEB) June 17, 2011
CodeBaby, a company that is changing the dynamics of online engagement with its fully animated web-based digital characters, today reported the early success of its newest client the Winston-Salem Police Department. In early May, the police department introduced "Officer Maria Evans" -- a custom digital character developed expressly for the police department -- to its community-facing webpage with the goal of significantly increasing website engagement, as measured by time-on-site and follow-through engagement (i.e., filing a report, reviewing reports and statistics, getting crime prevention tips, etc.).
"You can be the most computer-savvy individual out there, but still feel daunted when faced with a text-heavy process like reporting a crime online," stated Matt Filios, chief operating officer for CodeBaby. "We are proud to see one of our digital characters helping to create a safer community for Winston-Salem through the efforts of a very forward-thinking, citizen-oriented police department. Winston-Salem citizens should be proud to know that their city government is leading the way in creating online tools that make important government resources more accessible to every resident."
In addition to helping victims report crimes, "Officer Evans" assists site visitors as they explore crime trends and statistics, receive useful crime prevention tips, contact police recruiters and search police reports through the police-to-citizen website. In addition to making it easier for citizens to report certain minor crimes online and helping them to feel more comfortable doing so with a customized and personal digital tour guide, "Officer Evans" provides additional support for citizens to contact the police department's telephone response (TELCOM) unit.
Police Chief Scott Cunningham says the virtual officer will be especially helpful to first-time visitors. "We are continually looking for ways to make it easier to provide information, and make it easier for our citizens to interact with their police department and get information," he said.
The CodeBaby platform is a web-based service that allows websites to implement and deliver CodeBaby characters and "conversations," delivering more engaging visits for their users. Customers are reporting conversion increases of up to 300 percent with the addition of CodeBaby to their website.
For more information: http://www.codebaby.com. You can also connect with us for real-time updates, industry insights and general CodeBaby fun and culture on Facebook and Twitter.
About CodeBaby
CodeBaby is a privately held Internet software company whose leading-edge technology enables companies to quickly and easily create high-quality, realistic digital character conversations that engage online customers and eLearners to optimize results. These customized and interactive conversations are creating value for a rapidly growing number of Fortune 1000 companies as well as mid-sized clients. With extensive analytics, CodeBaby allows clients to track and tune Conversations to achieve dramatic results that include lead capture, cross-sell / upsell, customer service, online learning, and other web tasks.
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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8579408.htm
Death of the American Investor: The Emergence of a New Global eShareholder
By Nico R. Willis
NetWorth Publications, LLC, 2011
$17.95, 237 pages
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
In "Death of the American Investor," Nico Willis offers timely and practical advice for the average investor that ultimately places responsibility for investment choices and success or failure squarely upon the shoulders of that investor. The 'democratization' of the world through social media portals like Facebook, Linked-In and the Internet in general, gives investors unprecedented access to financial markets and makes it easy for them to make an informed decision as to where to park their money. This book functions as a primer for those new to markets, yet offers the experienced trader historical perspectives from which to learn how to navigate the peaks and troughs of a turbulent market. What the book does not, and cannot, do is predict future market price movements, but it can offer readers enough insights into the past and present to guide them around this often tricky terrain.
American investors are formidable players in the financial marketplace. Some 54 million Americans, representing 47% of U.S. households, own equities and/ or bonds. If properly informed, responsible and responsive, these citizens can take an active role in an arena that has been dominated by hedge funds, financial institutions and brokerages.
People invest for retirement and for emergencies. The market slump of 2008 and Ponzi schemes such as that perpetrated by Bernie Madoff and others wiped out or seriously diluted retirement funds for Baby Boomers, many of whom will now work well beyond retirement age to ensure that their last years are not spent in penury.
The book cautions investors to perceive the market as "not your grandmother's stock market," but rather as a much more sophisticated beast. Chapter 5 of Part I devotes its 17 pages to the digital, paperless society and the trend toward electronic trading.
"The American investor must reinvent himself as a global eshareholder," Willis writes, "and make decisions based on information, not emotion."
Part II of the book devotes 53 pages to education that, along with the other "e's" of expectation, execution and empowerment, is a tenet that will guide the modern, global eshareholder.
The book defines a global eshareholder as one who thinks like the pros, chooses to work in a team and not alone, and networks regularly.
The twin pillars upon which the global eshareholder constructs his or her portfolio are knowledge of the rules of the game of investing and who the key players in that game are. If such self-education is essential, so are managing one's expectations, assertively executing the purchase and sale of assets and empowering oneself to forego reliance upon market professionals.
Patrick Kelly is a freelance writer with a background in commodity market reporting.
Schools experiencing better campus-wide performance with Airband's fixed-wireless network
DALLAS & BALTIMORE -- On college campuses, the YouTube Generation is watching videos online, playing their game systems and using Skype to talk to family and friends back home. At the same time, professors are using online videos and other resources as tools to give students the latest information on course topics. To stay ahead of increasing Internet-usage demands, Mount St. Mary's University and Stevenson University are two of the higher education institutions using Airband Communications' fixed-wireless data services to ensure their campuses have reliable and high-performing bandwidth.
Mount St. Mary's University, home to 1,500 students and located an hour from Baltimore and Washington, in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains in Emmitsburg, Md., chose Airband as its Internet provider because it needed additional high-speed Internet access to support both students' and faculty's increasing Internet usage, and at an affordable cost. By using Airband's fixed-wireless data services, Mount St. Mary's avoids expensive local-loop fees because data is transmitted directly to its campus via Airband's wholly owned, last-mile fixed-wireless network.
"With the majority of our students living on campus, it's vital that we have the bandwidth to support students' Internet needs for their personal use, including Netflix, Hulu and their gaming systems, because we want them to have the same resources here as they do at home," said Bobby Flack, chief information officer at Mount St. Mary's University. "With Airband, students have full availability to high-speed Internet, 24 hours a day and seven days a week because our network can scale on-demand to meet usage needs, without having to run packet-shaping devices or restricting access of any applications."
Airband provides high-capacity Internet access on its fixed-wireless network to meet Mount St. Mary's student life and academic online needs, including the use of hosted applications. Flack said that universities are increasingly leveraging hosted applications, such as email and course management systems, to enhance student and faculty services with added features and functionality. Mount St. Mary's has a second campus in Frederick, Md., and Airband provides a point-to-point high-bandwidth wireless circuit that interconnects the two campus locations so the Frederick campus can connect to the university's VoIP system and trusted applications without a VPN arrangement.
"As a smaller university, we need the same bandwidth as larger schools to use the same best-of-breed hosted applications, and Airband allows us to do that in a cost-effective manner. Airband has proven a trusted partner in providing reliable, high-speed Internet access as well as great customer service," said Flack.
Like Mount St. Mary's University, Stevenson University chose Airband's fixed-wireless data services when it needed additional bandwidth to stay ahead of the growing Internet demand on campus. Located near Baltimore in Stevenson, Md., the university is using Airband's high-speed Internet to support classroom needs, students' entertainment activities and online classes.
"Whether it's a professor using a streaming video in their lecture or teaching an online class reaching students all across the world, the Internet is integral to the delivery of education. We chose Airband's fixed-wireless Internet access because it can rapidly deliver the additional bandwidth we need in a cost-effective way," said Thomas Allen, chief information officer at Stevenson University. "Even during snow storms, rain or heavy fog, Airband has provided us with the reliable, high-performance bandwidth we need for us to best serve our students and faculty."
Universities like Mount St. Mary's and Stevenson benefit from Airband's fixed-wireless Internet access because it is an affordable and scalable alternative to wireline options. Airband delivers high-bandwidth Internet access via its wholly owned, fixed wireless network, which bypasses the local phone and cable infrastructure, meaning universities don't have to pay the additional cost of the local loop.
Airband serves 17 markets across the U.S. including Atlanta; Austin; Baltimore; Dallas; Des Moines; Fort Lauderdale; Fort Worth; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; San Antonio; San Diego and Washington, D.C.
About Airband
Airband Communications, Inc. is the largest fixed-wireless voice and data provider for businesses in the U.S. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-speed Internet access, point-to-point data services, Voice over IP, security and other managed solutions - delivered over one of the industry's most scalable last-mile networks. Airband bypasses the local phone and cable companies to provide faster provisioning intervals, immediate scalability and complete redundancy for its customers. Thousands of businesses nationwide already count on Airband for their broadband service. For more information, please visit www.airband.com.
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PNX) today announced it will hold a conference call with the investment community on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 1 p.m., EDT. The call will cover Phoenix's first quarter 2011 financial results, scheduled to be announced before the market opens on May 5, 2011, and other matters. Copies of the news release and financial supplement will be available on Phoenix's Web site in the Investor Relations section immediately following the announcement.
The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.phoenixwm.com in the Investor Relations section. The call can also be accessed by telephone at 773-799-3641 (Passcode: PHOENIX). A replay of the call will be available through May 19, 2011 by telephone at 203-369-3316 and on Phoenix's Web site.
ABOUT PHOENIX
Dating to 1851, The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PNX) provides financial solutions using life insurance and annuities. Phoenix is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut.
Boutique Riviera Maya Luxury Resort Partners With Lifestyle Outfit to Host "Mystical Mayan Adventure".
Puerto Morelos, Mexico (Vocus) August 25, 2010 -- Elemental Yoga Retreats, a lifestyle division of Elements Yoga & Wellness Center, an award-winning boutique studio based in Darien, CT, has selected Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, an intimate Riviera Maya property located on the picturesque, white-sand shores of peaceful Puerto Morelos, as the site of its "Mystical Mayan Adventure," a culturally-inspired yoga retreat, November 7-11, 2010.
Mystical Mayan Adventure
Abundant natural beauty--an ivory-white beach bordering brilliant Mexican Caribbean seas, breezy palms, lush greenery, and exotic flowers--surround boutique Ceiba del Mar, which boasts numerous hospitality accolades but is otherwise secluded, providing unrivaled serenity for spiritually connected physical practice, meditative inquiry and indulgent self-care at the heart of the "Mystical Mayan Adventure." In keeping with the resort's commitment to providing guests with exceptional respite at all levels, and Elemental Yoga Retreats' desire to infuse the "Mystical Mayan Adventure" with aspects of holism and an exploration of local culture, the Mesoamerican-influenced yoga and wellness retreat will include the following:
* 7 sessions of spiritually-based and specialty yoga at unique locales throughout the resort;
* 4 guided sessions of morning meditation amid a soothing, centering backdrop;
* A specialty Aromayoga Restorative session;
* A Temazcal Ceremony, a contemporary spa therapy based on an ancient Maya purifying ritual conducted by a local shaman;
* 15% off all other spa treatments;
* Complimentary use of land/sea sports equipment; and
* Calming sanctuary in one of the resort's 88 sublime, sea-facing guest residences, each with a full bathroom with shower and separate bathtub; local wood accents and handcrafted furnishings; complimentary wireless Internet; 300 thread-count Premium Cotton linens and pillow menu; complimentary in-room morning coffee daily and nightly turndown service; International cable TV and DVD/CD player, and 24-hour room service.
Adventures for an additional cost include:
* Spelunking (cave diving);
* Journey to ancient Mayan ruins;
* Zip lining through the jungle;
* Scuba diving (from the dive shop at Ceiba del Mar); and
* A golf outing.
All-inclusive "Early Bird" rates for the "Mystical Mayan Adventure" are per person and start at $1593 for double occupancy and $2093 for single occupancy. Full Yoga retreat package, including four nights in luxurious, ocean-view accommodation included. Rates for non-yoga participants sharing a room with a yoga retreater start at $1263. Rates increase by $200 if booked after September 15, 2010. To book call Ceiba del Mar at 1-877-545-6221 and mention the group code: Yoga Retreat. Reservations must be secured with a credit card. Cancellations received within 120 hours (5 days) of arrival will incur a full stay charge.
Elements Yoga & Wellness Center
Voted "The Best" yoga studio in Connecticut for six consecutive years by Greenwich Magazine, Westport Magazine, and New Canaan, Darien & Rowayton Magazine, Elements Yoga & Wellness Center is a unique, spiritually-centered school that offers various styles and levels of yoga as well as expert instruction from acclaimed teachers who represent a full and diverse spectrum of disciplines. In addition to weekly classes; specialized workshops; advanced teacher training, mentoring and study programs; and healing massage and bodywork for yoga practitioners of all ages, the studio's retreat division is actively working with boutique luxury resorts to develop intimate yoga retreats aimed at invoking total-body transformation. Culturally and spiritually influenced by their locations, retreats will uniquely combine inner work with outdoor adventure to rebalance the mind, center the soul and nourish the spirit. Enriching activities inspired by local custom and heritage in concert with deep yoga practice and spiritual meditation create a singular experience for soul-searching travelers and both avid and casual yoga practitioners.
Elements Yoga & Wellness Center is owned by and operated by the husband and wife team of Bruce Bassock, a former commodity and equity trader turned yogi whose effective Yoga for Men program garnered national attention from The New York Times and Yoga Journal; and Donna Kuebler, a Fairfield County 40 Under 40 recipient, supporter of many non-profits, a charitable event co-chair, and the Program Director of Fit Yoga Magazine. Bassock and Rita Trieger, founder and editor-in-chief of Fit Yoga Magazine; author of Yoga Heals Your Back and Tranquil Mind; a highly-sought yoga conference speaker; and a well-respected yoga and meditation instructor, will lead Elemental Yoga Retreats, including the "Mystical Mayan Adventure" at Ceiba del Mar.
"Our goal is to provide modern travelers--individuals who want to cultivate self-awareness while relaxing, staying fit and having fun--with exactly that opportunity," says Donna Kuebler, co-founder of Elements Yoga & Wellness Center. "When practice is over we enjoy getting to know the people who attend our retreats to develop a traveling community of like-minded, fun-loving, adventurous yogis. "
For more information about Ceiba Del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, which was included on Conde Nast Traveler's 2009 and 2010 Gold List, earning perfect scores of "100" in "Best Rooms" and "Best Service" categories for Mexico, visit www.ceibadelmar.com, or call 1-877-545-6221.
Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort is an award-winning, oceanfront boutique resort in the Riviera Maya district of Mexico. This intimate resort is situated on half-mile of a private white-sand beach and offers 88 deluxe Ocean-View rooms and suites, seven of which are penthouses; two restaurants; a swimming pool; the wellness and aromatherapy Spa at Ceiba del Mar, and beautiful indoor/outdoor spaces for events, meetings and destination weddings.
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BRASS IN POCKET
With more than 77 million units sold worldwide, Nintendo's handheld DS is by far the most popular video-game machine out there. But Sony's PlayStation Portable, while lingering far back with 41 million total sales, has been outpacing the DS in Japan recently. Nintendo's defense? A new model of its popular portable - the DSi, successor to the DS Lite - is about to be launched .
The DSi's major new feature is a pair of digital cameras, one facing outward and one facing inward as you play. It also has a slot for a memory card, allowing you to store images, music or games that you'll be able to download through its built-in Internet browser. The whole package is thinner and has bigger screens than the DS Lite.
The DSi goes on sale Nov. 1 in Japan for the equivalent of $180. But Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said, "We will not see the DSi in America until well into calendar year 2009."
He said 2008 sales of the DS Lite are still ahead of last year's, so there still appears to be plenty of money to squeeze out of the current model.
At a news conference in San Francisco, Fils-Aime did announce some new Nintendo games for 2009. Topping the Wii lineup: "Punch-Out!! ," a revival of the 1980s boxing game, and "Sin & Punishment 2," a sequel to a cult-favorite shooter. DS highlights include "Mario & Luigi RPG 3," "Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon" and "Rhythm Heaven."
HIGH VOLTAGE
As a longtime fan of AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, I like to play "Rock Band" while wearing schoolboy shorts and spinning in circles on my back. And MTV Games' "Rock Band 2" really let me go all out by including "Let There Be Rock" on its soundtrack. But you can never have enough Aussie metal, so the announcement of "AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack" - well, it shook me all night long.
There are a few catches, though. The 18-song disc for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii will cost $40 ($30 for the PlayStation 2 version). That's not a lot for the money, even if the songs include "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." And the disc will be available only at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, the same places you'll have to go to buy AC/DC's new album, "Black Ice."
MTV described the package as an exclusive arrangement with AC/DC. A few months ago, Eric Brosious, the audio director for "Rock Band" developer Harmon-ix, told the IGN Web site, "We prefer not to sign exclusive deals with anyone, because ... in the long run it's not really good for anyone." Apparently there's been a change of heart. With more bands choosing sides between "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero," it looks as if aspiring ax-slingers will need to buy both to get the full pantheon of rock gods.
ALONE AGAIN
The E for All Expo was started with the idea of giving regular consumers the chance to check out the latest video games before they hit stores. But after two years, clearly the show isn't getting the job done. Sony and Nintendo didn't even show up at this year's expo, and the Associated Press reporters who trekked down to the Los Angeles Convention Center said there were very few as-yet-unpublished games in sight.
It's not as if there isn't an audience for such an event. The fan-friendly Penny Arcade Expo drew 45,000 gamers to Seattle in August. That gathering has become so big that its founders are starting an East Coast version in 2010. If E for All's organizers can't get the industry's big hitters to play along, it's probably time to cede the territory to PAX.
HIGHWAY STAR
Do video-game players make excellent drivers? Allstate is hoping to find out. The insurance giant is giving computer games to 100,000 Pennsylvania drivers ages 50 to 75 and plans to compare the accident records of those who play frequently with a control group of nonplayers.
The games, developed by San Francisco-based Posit Science, don't necessarily involve driving - and, personally, I wouldn't want to get in a car with a "Burnout Paradise" expert. Instead, they're meant to reverse cognitive decline and improve visual alertness. Allstate Assistant Vice President Tom Warden said he hopes the software can show "significant benefits here, beyond dollars and cents."
- Lou Kesten, The Associated Press With more than 77 million units sold worldwide, Nintendo's handheld DS is by far the most popular video-game machine out there. No surprise, then, a new model of its popular portable - the DSi, successor to the DS Lite - is about to be launched.
The DSi's major new feature is a pair of digital cameras, one facing outward and one facing inward as you play. It also has a slot for a memory card, allowing you to store images, music or games that you'll be able to download through its built-in Internet browser. The whole package is thinner and has bigger screens than the DS Lite.
The DSi goes on sale Nov. 1 in Japan for the equivalent of $180. But Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said, "We will not see the DSi in America until well into calendar year 2009." As a longtime fan of AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, I like to play "Rock Band" while wearing schoolboy shorts and spinning in circles on my back. And MTV Games' "Rock Band 2" really let me go all out by including "Let There Be Rock" on its soundtrack. But you can never have enough Aussie metal, so the announcement of "AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack" - well, it shook me all night long.
There are a few catches, though. The 18-song disc for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii will cost $40 ($30 for the PlayStation 2 version). That's not a lot for the money, even if the songs include "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." And the disc will be available only at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, the same places you'll have to go to buy AC/DC's new album, "Black Ice."
NEW YORK, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- TechPresident.com announced today that it launched 10Questions.com, a user-generated presidential video debate, in association with the editorial board of The New York Times and MSNBC.com, and the co-sponsorship of more than forty Web sites that span the political spectrum.
10Questions.com gives users the opportunity to submit online video questions addressed to the candidates through a variety of video platforms including YouTube, MySpace, Yahoo and Blip.tv by tagging their video with the word "10Questions." The 10Questions site will then display those videos and enable the public to vote to determine the ten best submissions. At the end of four weeks, the top ten questions will be submitted to all the major candidates. The candidates will have four weeks to submit un-timed video responses to the questions. As those responses are posted, 10Question.com users will be given the opportunity to vote on whether the candidates have answered the questions to their satisfaction.
"The Internet offers our democracy the chance to end the era of sound bite TV politics," said Andrew Rasiej, co-founder and publisher, techPresident. "10Questions.com will address the inherent time limitations of traditional television debates and provide voters with more information on each candidate and his or her issues at the start of the 2008 election cycle."
Users can vote on as many videos as they like, but may only submit one video; user submissions are due by November 14. The entire project will be completed on December 31, 2007.
"The many media sites, online communities and blogs dedicated to promoting this project demonstrate how important this initiative is to facilitating responses from candidates about the major issues of the day across bi-partisan lines," noted Micah L. Sifry, co-founder and editor, techPresident. "It's user involvement in posting and filtering questions to the candidates and the candidates' responses that make 10Questions the first truly people-powered online presidential forum."
The New York Times editorial board will direct users to 10Questions.com through the online opinion section of NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/opinion).
Co-sponsors include: Afro-Netizen Air America AirCongress BlackProf Blip.tv Blogher Buzzmachine Care2 ColorofChange Crooks & Liars CultureKitchen DailyKos E-Democracy.org FireDogLake Free Press Action Fund HotAir Huffington Post Hugh Hewitt Instapundit Latino Pundit Media Bloggers Assoc. Michelle Malkin MSNBC.com MyDD New York Observer Open Left Page One Q Pajamas Media Pam's House Blend Patrick Ruffini Politico Politics Online PoliticsTV PrezVid Racialicious RawStory RedState RightMarch RightWingNews Rocketboom SmartMobs Smirking Chimp TalkingPointsMemo techRepublican The New Homemaker The Truth Laid Bear Townhall Treehugger Vivir Latino
About techPresident.com: techPresident.com is a group blog on how the presidential candidates are using the Web, and how the Web is using them. Written by a cross-partisan array of experienced online political organizers, activists and consultants, it recently won the prestigious Knight-Batten Award for Innovation in Journalism. It is a product of the Personal Democracy Forum, the country's leading conference on how technology is changing politics.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Rasiej Micah L. Sifry Founder and CEO Editor 917.359.2426 914.478.8308 Andrew@fon.com MSifry@gmail.com
CONTACT: Andrew Rasiej, Founder and CEO, +1-917-359-2426, Andrew@fon.com; or Micah L. Sifry, Editor, +1-914-478-8308, MSifry@gmail.com
Web site: http://techpresident.com/ http://10questions.com/ http://www.nytimes.com/opinion
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- TeaLeaf, the leading provider of solutions that offer powerful visibility into the online customer experience, today announced that eWEEK, a Ziff Davis Media publication and one of the IT industry's leading enterprise magazines, has named TeaLeaf's RealiTea product a finalist in eWEEK's Sixth Annual Excellence Awards program, in the E-business Foundations category. Winners will be announced in May and honored at a special ceremony on May 23 in Boston, Mass. Analysis of the winning products and services will also be published in a special report in the June 19th edition of eWEEK and at http://www.eweek.com/. The other two finalists in the E-business Foundations category are Microsoft (Microsoft's Window Server 2003 R2) and Hummingbird (Hummingbird Enterprise 2005).
"TeaLeaf's designation as a finalist for the eWEEK Excellence Award further validates the unprecedented level of visibility that our RealiTea solution provides to e-business, enabling companies to reduce or eliminate website obstacles that cost millions in lost revenue," said Rebecca Ward, chairman and CEO, TeaLeaf. "With the vast majority of online consumers -- nearly nine in ten -- experiencing problems when transacting online and one in three immediately turning to a competitor when a problem occurs(1), companies need to be aware of the catastrophic consequences that these failures can have on their bottom line. RealiTea provides powerful real-time visibility into every single online customer session, enabling e-businesses to immediately realize more successful online transactions and achieve optimal business results."
The eWEEK Excellence Awards program provides enterprise professionals with a comprehensive benchmark for assessing a wide range of technology products and services. Evaluating the entries is a panel of experts including eWEEK Labs analysts and eWEEK Corporate Partners -- senior enterprise IT professionals who act as reader representatives.
"A high level of innovation -- both from start-ups and industry stalwarts -- was what impressed us most about this year's field of entries," said Eric Lundquist, eWEEK Editorial Director. "It's clear from the hundreds of entries evaluated by the Excellence Awards judges that vendors are responding quickly and effectively to the increasingly complex -- and constantly changing -- demands put on enterprise IT managers."
eWEEK is the essential technology information source for builders of enterprise infrastructure. eWEEK helps its readers successfully evaluate, deploy and leverage new technology solutions for competitive advantage. The publication and the eWEEK.com web site deliver breaking news, technology evaluations, and strategic analysis on the technologies, platforms and trends that affect enterprise-wide computing.
Products and services were awarded in the following categories: * Analytics & Reporting * Application Development * Business Integration Systems * Business Relationship Management * Desktop & Mobile Hardware * E-Business Foundations * E-Mail Management & Security * Enterprise Collaboration * Enterprise Storage Hardware * Enterprise Storage Software * IT Quality Assurance Tools * Productivity Applications * Server Hardware * Networking & Management Tools * Networking Infrastructure * System & Application Management * Authentication & User Management * Network Data-stream Protection * Vulnerability Assessment & Remediation About TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf is the leading provider of online customer experience management solutions. TeaLeaf's RealiTea platform provides unprecedented visibility into every user's unique online session, revealing hidden problems that affect consumers and cost companies more than any single catastrophic event. By providing a patented, powerful 'outside in view' of each individual customer experience, leading e-business executives across a wide range of vertical industries including retail, banking, travel and insurance can eliminate failures that impact profitability, cause customer churn and ultimately damage brand equity. Founded in 1999, TeaLeaf is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and is privately-held. For more information, visit http://www.tealeaf.com/.
About Ziff Davis Media Inc.
Ziff Davis Media is a leading integrated media company serving the technology and videogame markets. The Company is an information services provider of technology media including publications, websites, conferences, events, eSeminars, eNewsletters, custom publishing, list rentals, research and market intelligence. In the United States, the Company publishes 7 magazines including PC Magazine, eWEEK, CIO Insight, Baseline, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World and Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. The Company exports the power of its brands internationally, with publications in 40 countries and 20 languages. Ziff Davis leverages its content on the Internet with a network of highly-targeted technology and gaming sites including PCMag.com, eWEEK.com, ExtremeTech.com and 1UP.com. The Company also produces highly-targeted b-to-b and consumer technology events including DigitalLife. With its main headquarters and PC Magazine Labs based in New York, Ziff Davis Media also has offices and lab facilities in the San Francisco and Boston markets. Additional information is available at http://www.ziffdavis.com/.
(1) Harris Interactive consumer poll, October 2005
CONTACT: Geoff Galat of TeaLeaf Technology, ggalat@tealeaf.com, +1-678-513-4143; or Carolyn Adams of Schwartz Communications, +1-415-512-0770, or tealeaf@schwartz-pr.com
Web site: http://www.tealeaf.com/ http://www.eweek.com/
