ArkStorm: California's Other "Big One"

Between the dates of January 13th and 14th of this year, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) held an emergency response summit in Sacramento geared toward preparing the California community for a hypothetical “ArkStorm Scenario”. Based upon research into significant storms Which occurred in January 1969 and February 1986, USGS scientist have estimated that such severe weather occurs every 100-200 years and could produce up to 10 feet of rain, resulting in upward of $300 Billion in flood damage. Immediate impacts of the summit include the creation of statewide landslide susceptibility maps, physics-based storm modeling systems to predict wave height and coastal erosion, as well as a wide variety of collaborative flood management initiatives and emergency response plans. View release here...

Amazon to Acquire LOVEFiLM International Limited

Amazon today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares in LOVEFiLM International Limited (http://www.LOVEFiLM.com). LOVEFiLM is a leading European film subscription service and is described as the Netfilx of Europe. Its other services include games rental-by-post and streaming films and TV shows online. Amazon already has 42% shares in LOVEFiLM and does not operate any similar business in Europe.

Link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amazon-to-acquire-lovefilm-international-limited-114263134.html

Release sent out by Amazon.com

Chicago Marriott Offers a Romantic Escape Package on Valentine's Day

On January 19, 2011, the Chicago Marriott O’Hare announced that they will be offering a promotional Escape Romance Package for couples who are celebrating Valentine’s Day. The package includes discounted room rates on any weekend night. The special package also includes champagne and breakfast for two.

Nintendo 3DS Brings a Dimensional Shift to the World of Entertainment on March 27

Nintendo announces the release of the first 3D handheld video game console on March 27th, 2011. The system, The Nintendo 3DS, includes a wide variety of features and an impressive set of hardware components that the company hopes will usher in a new era of handheld gaming. Most importantly, users will be able to play 3 dimensional games that nteract with their environment without the use of 3D glasses. The product goes on sale in the US on March 27th, with a suggested retail price of $249.99.

For the full press release, see Business Wire

Cupid Aims His Arrow at White Castle to Celebrate 90 Years of Steam-Grilled Romance

On February 14th, White Castle will offer their Valentine’s Day promotion, where customers can reserve a table and enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner complete with special menus, table-side service and themed decorations. America’s first fast-food hamburger chain has hosted this special Valentine's Day dinner since 1991, but this February is most notable as White Castle is celebrating its 90th year.

The “steamy” special includes 10 sliders, two 21-ounce sodas and French fries for $10.49. Each reservation party will receive a collapsible commemorative White Castle Valentine’s Day vase, as well as a complimentary digital photo available on the White Castle website after the event. Customers can buy “Love Castle” V-Day shirts and blankets on the company’s website as well. Dinner service ranges from 4pm to 10pm varying with participating restaurants.

Click here to read the official press release from PRnewswire.

Verizon Wireless & Apple Team Up to Deliver iPhone 4 on Verizon
Apple and Verizon are teaming up to release the iPhone 4 on the Verizon network. The device will be released on February 10 and will be available for pre-order on February 3. Both Verizon and Apple had quotes in the document, so you get perspectives from both organizations. The iPhone has been in high demand with Verizon customers for a number of years. The rest of the announcement goes into detail on the features and specs; it also includes boilerplates and contact information from both companies.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110111006543/en/Verizon-Wireless-Apple-Team-Deliver-iPhone-4

Omni Chicago Hotel Gives Green Bay Fans Opportunity to Score Big

Omni Chicago Hotel, a four-diamond all-suite hotel located on the prestigious Michigan Avenue, challenged Green Bay Packers fans to visit the Windy City and stay at the hotel with a chance to win a free night's stay - if the Packers can emerge victorious over the Bears for a Super Bowl bid. The longest rivalry in league history beckoned Bill Bennett, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, to up the ante. If the Packers win, he would don a Packers jersey, a cheesehead hat and would congratulate Packers fans who checked out the following Monday.


Read the official press release here.

Tiger Woods Foundation Launches Summer Academy at the Tiger Woods Learning Center - Orange County

This June, the Tiger Woods Learning Center (TWLC) will host the TWLC Summer Academy for the first time since the program’s origin. Attendees, students aged 11-14, will receive 15 hours of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) instruction and are eligible to attend supplemental workshops. Additionally, attendees have the opportunity to receive instruction from TWLC golf instructors and PGA teaching professionals and make use of the latest Nike equipment and digital skill development technology. Students will also have an opportunity to experience college living while rooming at one of several partnering university locations including Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton.

Please find the original release on PR Newswire.

Tens of Thousands of US Students Learn Chinese Language and Culture Through the College Board's Chinese Guest Teacher Program

The College Board collaborates with China’s Hanban Confucius Institute on the Chinese Guest Teacher Program to place experienced language teachers from China with host schools around the United States for up to three years. The deadline for U.S. schools to apply for the 2011-2012 cycle is February 15, 2011. Since 2007 the program has placed more than 450 teachers in American elementary, middle, and high schools to help them affordably develop Chinese language programs and promote international understanding between the U.S. and China. The College Board has also organized other initiatives that encourage the study of Chinese language and culture, including the Advanced Placement Chinese Course and Exam and the fourth-annual National Chinese Language Conference (co-hosted with the Asia Society and the Mandarin Institute), which will take place in San Francisco on April 14-16.

Read the full press release here

USA TODAY and RACHAEL RAY Show Launch Kindness Challenge

USA TODAY and the Rachel Ray Show partnered to launch the Kindness Challenge, in which five volunteers from the youth organization DoSomething.org will have six weeks to make a difference in their choice cause. The volunteers will document their experience via flip-cams and blog contributions. Public voting will begin on February 28^th and a winner will be announced on March 14^th on the Rachel Ray Show and in USA TODAY.

Click here to view the press release.

Candy for the Classroom: Indie Candy launches allergen-free Valentine’s treats

On Jan. 17, 2011, Indie Candy – a Birmingham, Alabama-based manufacturer of natural and allergen-free gourmet candy – announced the launch of its new holiday-themed allergen-free candy line just in time for Valentine’s Day 2011. The company’s products, which can be purchased at indiecandy.com, are not only free of artificial flavors, preservatives and dyes, but also do not contain any of the “Big 8” food allergens, including gluten/wheat, dairy, tree nuts, soy, eggs, fish and shellfish. Food allergies form when the immune system mistakenly attacks a food protein, causing mild to life-threatening reactions in roughly 12 million Americans who suffer from allergic reactions to food. The company is trying to add news value to the launch by positioning the candy as a safe snack for kids in the classroom.

Please click here to view the press release on PR Newswire.

Wanted: A Smart Star for the hotels.com “Clay Yourself” Contest

Hotels.com, known for its claymation commercials and easy searches for cheap hotel reservations, has developed a microsite where you can create your own clay avatar and compete for a spot to star in your very own Hotels.com commercial. The microsite allows visitors to also create a stage name based on the type of vacation you want to take, and develop a mad-lib like script for your commercial debut. Based on votes from site visitors, a winner will be chosen each week to receive a $200 voucher for hotels.com. The grand prize winner's clay character will star in their own hotels.com commercial. The site will allow visitors to share your clay avatars on their favorite social media sites. The contest concludes on February 25th.

Read full release here - http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/hotels/48103/

New Medication Translations for World Travelers Now Available

HTH Worldwide, a global health and safety services company, today announced the expansion of its mobile and online brand name medication translation guide for world travelers. Prescription and over-the-counter drug names often vary by country — for example Prilosec is called Lomac or Prilosid in India — so those traveling, living or studying abroad need to be sure they are getting the precise equivalent of medications they were prescribed at home. HTH Worldwide built, maintains and annually updates an international database of over 6,200 brand names for nearly 400 compounds in 28 of the most frequently visited countries around the world. The latest additions to the database include translations for medications in South Korea, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates as well as a wider range of drugs used to treat behavioral health (Valium is sold as Kratium or Valpam in Hong Kong) for all 28 countries.

This proprietary worldwide database is the product of years of research by faculty at leading U.S. medical research institutions and teaching hospitals. World travelers can access this vital information by subscribing to mPassport, a mobile and online personal medical concierge or by purchasing TravelGap® or Global Citizen international health plans from HTH Worldwide. Employers and universities also make this information available to their employees, students and faculty when they purchase group health plans from HTH Worldwide.

Full Press Release:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-medication-translations-for-world-travelers-now-available-114222249.html

"Snowman Goes to the Desert"

Summary:

Panasonic Corporation delivered a snowman from Japan to a young boy living in the desert of Bahrain. The snow was delivered via a specially constructed package using Panasonic's vacuum insulation panels and the idea was derived from the company's global eco-ideas program. The project was led by a team called The Sparks and the super charming ‘eco-ideas’. The Sparks’ goal is to create and execute on innovative experiments using Panasonic’s eco-friendly technologies. They have been carrying out experiments since March 2010 and documenting their work on their website and Facebook page. The sister of a young boy living in Bahrain used the facebook page to ask The Sparks team to figure out a way for her little brother to see "his very first 'snow'." The result – a small, fully developed snowman successfully packaged and delivered to Bahrain from Japan, using only Panasonic’s vacuum insulation panel technology.

To read the full press release, click here.

Gilt Groupe and USA Networks Partner for TV Show Inspired Sale

Gilt Groupe, an online shopping website, and USA Networks are partnering together to create a special clothing line based off of the USA television show, White Collar. Gilt has partnered with the show’s costume designer and Brooks Brothers to create White Collar inspired clothing items. Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories will be available exclusively on Gilt Groupe for a limited time (36 hours) starting Wednesday, January 19 at 12 pm ET. Since the show is set and filmed in New York City, Gilt will also offer a dining and travel experience in NYC that encompasses the feel of the show. Finally, Gilt.com will give away a limited amount of Brooks Brother’s white-collar shirts during the day of the sale.

View the press release on PR Newswire here.

Welcome!

A little inspirational video to start the semester.