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U.S. Social Security Administration Selects HiSoftware for Web Content Compliance

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:17:48 +0000

Nashua, NH (PRWEB) November 29, 2011

With as many as 100-plus concurrent users contributing content to Web properties totaling more than five million pages, the US Social Security Administration (SSA) must ensure that its Web presence delivers the highest-quality user experience. This includes mandates that their Web properties be accessible to all end users, regardless of ability, and that any private information collected or stored across their sites, as well as other Web-enabled applications, is protected. In support of the agency?s goals for accessibility, privacy and site quality, HiSoftware Inc., a provider of content-aware compliance and security solutions, today announced that the SSA has selected the company?s Compliance Sheriff product for deployment across its intranet and public-facing web site, http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

Compliance Sheriff will help ensure that all SSA-hosted web content is in compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards, as well as other regulatory controls for the protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Sensitive Security Information (SSI), and Protected Health Information (PHI) via automated content monitoring, detection and reporting. Once deployed, Compliance Sheriff will provide real-time issue identification as well as an overall picture of Web accessibility and privacy compliance across the agency?s network of digital properties.

?SSA has done a tremendous job bringing together multiple internal constituents ? including representatives from their accessibility, privacy and information technology teams ? to design and execute a content compliance program that will serve a wide array of audiences both inside and outside the agency,? said Dana Simberkoff, vice president of public sector for HiSoftware. ?Today the SSA manages private data for nearly 100% of the US population. With this significant responsibility, and in concert with their goals to move more and more services online, the SSA is uniquely suited to tackle the problem of online accessibility, privacy and site quality in a proactive way. With this project, they are serving as an important role model for other agencies, as well as private sector organizations serving similar communities.?

HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff provides federal agencies and other public sector organizations with a means to monitor online content across any Web property, intranet or SharePoint site for potential compliance issues ? keeping information safe, appropriate and within regulatory guidelines. Compliance Sheriff?s content-aware rules engine allows organizations to consistently address regulatory mandates and other content governance issues such as privacy, Web accessibility, site quality and OPSEC information assurance based on hundreds of pre-defined checkpoints, as well as custom rules that can be easily defined as policies evolve. Detailed reporting further supports these automated scans to identify risks and alert privacy or other compliance officers to issues before they can escalate, effectively preventing costly fines or in the worst case, a data breach.

?With more than a decade of experience delivering Web accessibility and compliance solutions, HiSoftware has a deep understanding of the unique needs of federal customers,? added HiSoftware Executive Vice President Jeff Butts. ?Our expertise in helping agencies like SSA ensure that their Web content is safe, compliant and fully accessible is evidenced by our extensive adoption across the public sector. We look forward to helping SSA achieve their compliance goals.?

12 of the 15 largest federal agencies currently utilize HiSoftware?s solutions for Web content compliance, including automated accessibility and privacy monitoring. The federal government?s Web 2.0/Gov 2.0 effort for transparency and open government relies heavily on intranets, collaboration portals and public websites to service the needs of citizen constituents, suppliers, employees and others.

About HiSoftware

HiSoftware provides content-aware compliance and security solutions for the monitoring and enforcement of privacy and information risk management guidelines across digital environments. These solutions create an auditable, highly-configurable information governance platform for content management and collaboration processes that ensure confidentiality, accessibility, brand integrity and site quality for public websites, Web portals, intranets and SharePoint sites. HiSoftware?s hundreds of customers include some of the largest US and international government agencies, as well as educational institutions and Global 2000 companies. For more information, visit http://www.hisoftware.com.

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strategicplanningMD Announces First-Quarter Webinar Schedule; Offers Free Education as Companion to its Strategic Planning Software

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:47:36 +0000

ATLANTA (PRWEB) November 29, 2011

In an effort to elevate healthcare strategic planning among hospitals, physician practices, and related healthcare organizations, strategicplanningMD announced today that it will offer a free, weekly webinar through the first quarter of 2012. Four different webinars focusing on strategic planning, branding, and healthcare reform will be offer each month and will be repeated through March. The webinars are designed to enhance organizational effectiveness, even if the organization is not a user of the company?s strategic planning software.

?We believe that there is a void in providing educational offerings that address current and relevant issues that healthcare executives are trying to solve today,? said Scott Regan, founder and chief executive officer of strategicplanningMD. ?We are going to fill that void and offer free educational content that is not only provocative, but also helps healthcare organizations improve performance and the bottom line.?

The four 90-minute webinars scheduled monthly — at 1 p.m. Eastern on Wednesdays — for the first quarter of 2012 are:

The Future of Healthcare ? Strategic Implications for Success: Healthcare reform is wreaking havoc on providers nationwide, from hospitals to physician practices. The implications are many, and how you manage through those implications could easily mean the difference between success and failure. This insightful presentation will help you navigate the roadmap of healthcare reform.

The Six Biggest Reasons Why Your Strategic Plan Will Fail: What’s more important to your organization than its strategic plan? Probably nothing. Plan and implement well, and you’ll drive the organization to unparalleled success. One misstep, though, and it’s game over. To put the odds in your favor, we’ve catalogued the six most common ways your strategic plan will fail. Ignore them at your own risk.

The Five Biggest Reasons Why Your Brand Will Fail: Broach the topic of healthcare branding, and you’ll likely discuss logos, tag lines, color schemes, signage, and advertising campaigns. But sustainable brands are built from the inside out, with strong leadership to guide and nurture them. To that end, we’ve identified the five most common ways your brand will fail. Snub them at your own peril.

Red Ocean Strategic Planning for Healthcare: Learn how to implement the best-practice Six Stage Design for Strategic Planning; use the 3-3-6 planning cycle to foster accountability and results; incorporate dashboards, balanced scorecards, and key performance indicators into your organization; and create linkage from your strategic plan to your quality management system. Revolutionize your strategic planning process with this informational webinar.

?Our clients who use our software and consulting services should not be the only ones who benefit from our experience,? said Robert Colvin, president of strategicplanningMD. ?This is our effort to give back and help improve the healthcare delivery system in which we work.?

Registrations are being accepted now at strategicplanningMD.com.

About strategicplanningMD

Serving more than 70 clients in 23 states, strategicplanningMD is a healthcare business intelligence company that drives excellence through innovation and performance. Through its suite of web-based strategic planning software applications and healthcare consulting services, the company helps executives respond to the significant pressures being put on the healthcare industry.

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PharmSource Introduces New Platform Release of Proprietary Bio/Pharmaceutical CMO Database and Market Intelligence Service

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:14:50 +0000

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) November 29, 2011

PharmSource Information Services, Inc. (PharmSource) has announced the latest release of its proprietary online service, PharmSource ADVANTAGE. This web portal provides bio/pharmaceutical outsourcing intelligence, and includes a database of CMO contract service providers. The service is available by subscription (for details, visit http://www.pharmsource.com/productsservices/pharmsource-advantage).

PharmSource ADVANTAGE is an outsourcing information web portal for serious consumers of information on contract drug development and manufacturing. It?s used by those who manage strategic outsourcing programs for major pharmaceutical companies; biotech executives looking for an API/dose manufacturer; and contract services providers who need to stay on top of the rapidly changing market.

Beyond a database, this interactive, online service brings a global perspective, saving users weeks of research and due diligence. Included in the service are PharmSource?s acclaimed market briefings and reports, including ?Bio/Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Report? and ?Emerging Markets Outsourcing Report.? The service also includes access to PharmSource?s proprietary ?Knowledge Base? archives, including ?Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices? and ?Industry Analysis? of outsourcing management.

The rebuilt platform enables faster searches, making it easier than ever to obtain the key sourcing and procurement information needed by pharmaceutical company decision-makers. Contract service providers will find the enhanced design makes benchmarking and market intelligence gathering more efficient and informative as well.

This latest release of the new PharmSource ADVANTAGE online contractor database delivers several new features, including a new tabbed display of company information that enables users to sort Known Clients, Mergers and Acquisitions and News and Analysis data by key features such as company, date, contract revenue range, service area, product name, and more.

A revamped Side-by-Side contractor comparison feature offers the ability to compare vendors by capability, country, region and/or revenue range. Previously limited to just 10 comparisons, this feature has been expanded to allow an unlimited number of comparisons within the selected parameters.

The new platform enables PharmSource to add future features and capabilities with greater speed and ease. Upcoming releases will include new query capabilities and enhanced data sets that allow even more detailed searching and contractor profiling.

For a limited time, PharmSource is offering a complimentary test-drive and a 15% annual discount of PharmSource ADVANTAGE to qualified companies (new subscribers only). For more information contact Nathaniel Celentano, Business Development Manager, at 1-703-383-4903 (ET USA), ext. 112 / nathaniel(at)pharmsource(dot)com.

About PharmSource

PharmSource Information Services, Inc. is a respected provider of business intelligence on contract drug development and manufacture. PharmSource assists Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical companies in implementing and managing sourcing strategies and programs. They also provide business development products and services to companies that serve the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Since 1996, organizations involved in contract Pharma services have continuously relied on PharmSource publications, databases, surveys and consulting services to provide timely, accurate information and analysis. Visit PharmSource on the web at http://www.pharmsource.com or contact them at 1-703-383-4903 (ET USA).

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Everything Legal Limited acquired by DAS

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:42:39 +0000

Bristol, England (PRWEB UK) 29 November 2011

Everything Legal Limited, the company which owns and operates the award-winning legal information website Law on the Web, has been acquired by the DAS UK Group, the UK?s leading legal expenses insurer.

Law on the Web attracts more than a million visitors each year, who come seeking legal guidance and advice. The site offers a wide variety of helpful resources for dealing with any legal issue, including do-it-yourself legal documents, an encyclopaedia of UK laws and legislation, and a Find a Solicitor service designed to put people in touch with the right legal practitioner for their needs.

The acquisition also brings a portfolio of more than a hundred niche legal websites into the DAS Group taking total, annual visitor numbers over 2.5 million.

?With Law on the Web, we?ve worked to create a comprehensive, one-stop resource that offers unprecedented ease of access for anyone who needs help with the law,? said Brad Askew, Managing Director of Everything Legal. ?By joining the DAS UK Group, with their experience, knowledge and connections within the legal world, we?ve come one step closer to reaching our goal.?

DAS UK Group?s CEO, Paul Asplin, commented that the acquisition would ?enable DAS to take a giant leap forward in delivering legal services online?.

?DAS has been delivering legal content online for more than 10 years,? Asplin stated, ?but this acquisition will massively extend our capabilities and reach, in developing new services and new markets.?

?The combination of the strength, resources and legal expertise of DAS with the unique skills and online presence that Everything Legal has successfully developed, will put us at the forefront of the rapidly developing market for legal services.?

Future plans for Law on the Web include an expansion of the range of services on offer, with a student resource centre, a browsable directory of solicitors and a ?Legal Who Is? section listing the details of the major players in the law world.

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Urgent Legal Update for Companies Using Independent Contractors in California

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:09:45 +0000

Mountain View, California (PRWEB) November 29, 2011

With the California regulations coming into effect so soon, businesses utilizing contract workers should attend the webcast as they need to be aware of how the new law will affect them. Jason Posel and Douglas Farmer are two of the leading experts in contractor compliance, and have been invited by HR.com to present on how companies can protect themselves.

The new California law, SB 459, subjects companies and individuals to penalties of up to $ 25,000 for each violation for misclassification, creates employer liability for fees and deductions imposed on misclassified contractors, and makes consultants and others who advise businesses on independent contractor issues subject to liability.

This new regulation has received a lot of publicity, with workers themselves becoming increasingly aware of their rights, and comes hot on the heels of the new IRS amnesty program for IC misclassification.

?The current federal budget allocated $ 46 million to both the IRS and DOL to investigate and prosecute worker misclassifications? said Jason Posel, SVP strategy and solutions for ClearPath, adding ?the amount of audits has increased dramatically, and now states such as California are showing they are just as determined to pursue the tax dollars they would receive if ICs are reclassified as common law employees. For many companies, the results of an audit could be financially crippling?.

This webcast will:

?Provide insight on SB 459 that will become law on January 1, 2012;

?Cover the latest legislative and regulatory issues focused on worker misclassification, including California?s SB 459 and the IRS? contractor ?amnesty? program;

?Review recent court cases, with a focus on California, and the impact they could have on your business;

?Examine ways to determine who qualifies as a 1099 contractor and who should be a W-2,

?Evaluate the risks companies have who misclassify workers, including possible financial penalties of reclassification, co-employment risk, wage and hour related issues;

?Identify strategies for mitigating the risks of misclassification;

?Reveal best practices for engaging contingent labor and Independent Contractors

ClearPath?s services are designed to help ensure companies are compliant with all contingent labor regulations. ClearIC is the most comprehensive IC evaluation and classification service. The web-based program is designed to determine if a worker should be engaged as an IC versus employee, and protect companies from the risks of 1099 misclassification. More information about ClearIC is available at http://www.clearpathwm.com/clearic.

WEBCAST DETAILS

DATE: ????????????Thursday, December 8, 2011

TIME: ????????????12 ? 1pm PST

PRESENTERS: ????????Jason Posel; SVP Strategy & Solutions; ClearPath???? Workforce Management

Douglas Farmer; Attorney & Managing Shareholder; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart

HOSTED BY: ???? ????HR.com

REGISTRATION: Click here to register????

About ClearPath

ClearPath is a leading certified woman-owned HRO with a focus on the contingent labor market. With almost 20 years of experience in delivering contractor engagement, payroll and compliance programs, the firm?s solutions include ClearPayroll and ClearIC. ClearPath provides its clients with seamlessly integrated solutions that enable them to engage the contract talent they require in a compliant, cost-effective and efficient manner. ClearPath delivers solutions throughout the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada.

ClearPath was recently ranked as one of the top 35 Fastest Growing US Staffing Companies in 2011, and as one of the top 25 Diversity Staffing Firms by Staffing Industry Analysts.

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Strategies for Integrating Returning Veterans into the Workplace

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:37:39 +0000

Downers Grove, IL (PRWEB) November 28, 2011

On December 2, 2011, Nicole Yeldell, SPHR, Manager of Training at Berkshire Associates, a human resource consulting and technology firm that assists companies in building their ideal, balanced workforce, will help attendees understand how to integrate Veterans into their organizations in her Chicago ILG presentation: “Strategies for Integrating Returning Veterans into the Workplace.”

With so many Veterans returning from active duty, there is an untapped pool of talent waiting to be harnessed by your company. Not only that, the government is expecting employers to hire and retain more Veterans than ever before. In this session, attendees will learn strategies and solutions for tapping into that talent while remaining compliant by integrating and recruiting Veterans into their workforces.

Nicole will educate attendees on Veteran best practices, helping them:

??Better understand the challenges of recruiting and integrating Veterans from both an employer and Veteran employee perspective, and how to integrate solutions to make the processes easier

??Utilize best practices of industry leaders in the areas of Veteran recruitment and retention

??Devise innovative solutions and strategies for implementing their own plan

To set up an interview with Nicole Yeldell, or for more information on this presentation, please contact Lauren Collinson at 800.882.8904 ext. 1307.

About Nicole Yeldell: As Manager of Training, Nicole is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of all Berkshire Associates Inc.’s training programs. Nicole specializes in compliance support including the areas of affirmative action/EEO, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) audit support, and diversity. Her thorough understanding of the laws and regulations that impact compliance allow her to advise and assist companies of all sizes and industries, keeping them protected from liability.

About Berkshire: Berkshire Associates is a human resource consulting and technology firm specializing in helping companies build the ideal, balanced workforce. As an industry leader, Berkshire provides the latest tools and services for applicant management, compensation management, affirmative action, workforce planning, diversity, and professional training. For over 25 years, Berkshire has serviced the nation’s most recognizable companies; and as a result has mastered providing clients with cost-effective solutions to everyday human resource challenges.

About NILG: The National Industry Liaison Group, and its regional and local affiliates including Chicago ILG, promotes Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity by working closely with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and related administrative agencies.

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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iWeb Marks its 15th Anniversary with a New Website

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:05:44 +0000

Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) November 24, 2011

iWeb, a global provider of Internet hosting services and IT infrastructure, is proud to present its new website. The opportunity was ideal because iWeb has just celebrated 15 years of business on the web.

Several changes were made to iWeb.com to improve the visitor?s user experience and to better showcase the products and services.

?The customer experience is central to our business values. We wanted to offer the same visual quality and ergonomics on our site that we implement in our products, like the Smart Server?s Control Center?, said Martin Leclair, President, Products and Technology at iWeb. ?Hundreds of hours of design, content writing, programming and integration were put in to achieve this and we hope our visitors will enjoy?, he added.

Meticulously crafted, fast and easy to navigate, the new site showcases iWeb?s products and services at a glance. A new menu on one side of the home page, puts forward unmanaged, dedicated servers that can be ordered and activated directly from the site. On the other side, one can find a description of our infrastructure design services and advanced solutions and speak with a specialist for more information. The site also features iWeb?s new server management and monitoring packages.

?This new website is another step in the evolution of the company, which began in June with its privatization and merger with the investment fund Novacap? mentions Eric Chouinard, iWeb?s Co-founder and CEO. ?The last 15 years went by very quickly. The dreams of a few entrepreneurs have been realized with the help of an ever-expanding team?, adding, ?What is most exciting, after all these years, is that the best is yet to come.?

The website will continue to evolve as iWeb introduces new features and products throughout 2012.

About iWeb

iWeb is a worldwide provider of Internet hosting services and IT infrastructure. Operating four data centers, iWeb has a capacity of 34,000 dedicated servers, over 1,100 colocation racks and Internet capacity of 77 Gbit/s, divided between nine providers.

According to PROFIT Magazine, iWeb is one of Canada?s 200 fastest growing companies. The company now generates more than 60% of its sales from abroad with revenues of US$ 35 million in 2011.

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Simply Beauty Products Launches Online Store for Holiday Shopping – Perfume, Cologne, Make Up, Skin Care and More

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:34:43 +0000

Akron, Ohio (PRWEB) November 23, 2011

Online shopping just got easier for the holidays with Simply Beauty Products, a new Internet store with thousands of affordable items for daily use and special occasions, including perfume, cologne, candles, eye care, cleanser options and much more.

Shoppers register to get specials, deals, discounts, and learn about coupons. They can also read reviews from others or add their own.

Visit Simply Beauty Products:

http://www.simplybeautyproducts.com

The store showcases a wide assortment of well known brands and other specialty products, including Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Halston, Kim Kardashian, Lancome, Liz Claiborne, L’Oreal , Mary Kate & Ashley, Miss Sixty, Nautica, Paul Mitchell, Paul Sebastian, Perry Ellis, Polo, Ralph Lauren and many others.

Uniquely organized for diverse ages and genders, Simply Beauty Products features countless essentials for use during the day and the night. Whether it?s eye care or a hair conditioner, the store has what children, men and women need the most.

The full line of fragrances includes women?s perfume and men?s cologne that range from traditional and classic scents to bold and sexy.

Health, beauty and skin care products include:

LipFusion Collagen Lip Plump Color Shine ? Bloom
Amplify Conditioner
TRUTH by Calvin Klein After Shave
Mariah Carey Lollipop Bling Mine Again fragrances
1872 Pure Perfume
Homme Capital Force Revitalising Massage Rinse-Out Serum
Euphoria-Essential Oil Blend
Clinique – Turnaround 15-Minute Facial
Smashbox – Lip Color – Lip Gloss

The web site is designed to give consumers access to quality products that match their interests and budgets. Simply Beauty Products selects preferred health and beauty brands that people consider when buying online for themselves or others.

About Simply Beauty Products

http://www.simplybeautyproducts.com

Among online retailers, we help consumers make smart Internet buying decisions when it comes to their beauty and health. Whether someone needs the perfect perfume or special skin care creams, Simply Beauty Products offers the variety that people expect – at prices they can afford.

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Protrada Announces New Pricing Plans

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:01:51 +0000

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) November 22, 2011

The world?s first aggregator of major domain auction houses, Protrada today released new pricing packages, The Protrada Lite, Plus and Pro Plans aimed squarely at new domain name investors and professional domainers. ?We have revamped our pricing plans to make it easier for everyone to trial Protrada and every plan is designed to deliver results,? said Troy Rushton, CEO and Founder. ?These have been specifically planned from the user perspective, whether you want to try Protrada for the first time or whether you want to continue to build a valuable domain portfolio. These three new plans suit usage and budget needs but we have not compromised on the powerful Protrada platform opportunities.?

The new Protrada Lite Plan has no monthly subscription fee, includes 10 free credits towards building websites and access to the Basic data set.

The Basic data set available to Protrada Lite users includes the current domain price, how many bids, number of characters, the age, if the domain has a hyphen, its Top Line Domain (TLD), if it?s a Geo domain, and if the .com, .net and .org versions are available to register. Members can search, sort, filter and watch domains that fit their unique custom criteria.

Protrada Lite requires a one time $ 1 anti fraud fee to activate the account. This initiative is a front line defense against dummy bidders and provides members with added protection when bidding and selling their domain portfolio.

The Protrada Plus Plan includes 50 free credits for building up to 10 websites each month and access to the Advanced data set. This Plan also offers unlimited free listing of domains and websites for sale.

The premier Protrada Pro Plan is an annualized plan designed especially for professional domainers and delivers all the features of the Protrada Plus Plan as well as a massive 1000 credits; enough to build 200 websites.

The Advanced data set for Protrada Plus members includes the Basic data set plus the powerful Value, SEO, Web and Reach data sets that significantly increase the degree to which a domain can be analyzed.

The Value data set shows an independent valuation of the domain, how many exact match keyword searches are preformed each month and the CPC.

The SEO data set shows Pagerank, authenticity, Alexa rank and index results.

The Web data set shows exact match twitter account availability, number of available affiliate products, volume of related articles, number of related images and videos for the domain keyword.

The Reach data set shows how many backlinks are available for the domain in total and from .edu and .gov websites, and if the domain is index in the DMOZ and Yahoo! directories.

Full plan details and all terms & conditions are available at http://www.protrada.com

About Protrada

Protrada is the world?s first aggregator of the major domain auction houses. It provides members with the data and tools to buy, build and sell domains automatically from within the Protrada platform. Launched in mid 2011, Protrada manages more than 150,000 global domain names. http://www.protrada.com

About Winged Media

Winged Media Pty Ltd was established in 2009 to develop a range of platform-based solutions for the domain investing arena, targeting professional domainers, internet marketers and share investors around the world. With offices in Australia and the United States of America, the company has launched a range of digital innovations, including Devname, kwIQ Tool, Parklings, Protrada and Shoppatube. http://www.wingedmedia.com

For more news on Winged Media:

????Visit their blog at http://www.wingedmedia.com/blog
????Find them on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/winged-media

For further information and media interviews please contact:

Craig Russell |Winged Media| +61 (0) 418 468 470 |craig.russell(at)wingedmedia(dot)com

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LeadBolt Releases Innovative New Visitor Match Tracking Feature for Advertisers

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:30:02 +0000

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) November 22, 2011

LeadBolt recently unveiled the latest in its innovative new features for advertisers on its mobile ad network, the new Visitor Match tracking function, which provides a method for the tracking of mobile conversions quickly, conveniently and automatically. The new Visitor Match feature is designed to work across a broad spectrum of platforms including the popular Android and iTunes application stores, allowing LeadBolt advertisers to enjoy highly accurate tracking reports on conversion rates and match them directly to the campaign that prompted the click-thru.

The advertiser can select from three different tracking methods. The first, ClickID matching, is the default and assigns a specific identification code to the original campaign. When end users click through to view the advertisement, the tracking algorithm identifies the ClickID associated with the original campaign and forwards this information on to the advertiser, ensuring that accurate data is available to determine the future course of advertising campaigns with LeadBolt.

Advertisers can also track traffic through the Visitor Match feature by using the proprietary visitor matching feature itself. This innovative new function identifies the source of the traffic by matching platforms, devices and a range of other information to match up the conversion with the original ad impression. Advertisers can also apply the device matching controls to achieve superior matching results across the range of supported devices and operating systems.

?Visitor matching is becoming increasingly important as the mobile ad community wrestles with problems of restrictive marketplaces, a general reluctance to use more SDK?s and the desire for near-perfect accuracy in install tracking. Our new visitor matching algorithms lead the way,? said LeadBolt CEO Dale Carr.

The Visitor Match algorithms produce an impressive 98.7% accuracy rate for the server-side and other conversion pixel events as a result of their combined technologies.

With the release of the Visitor Match feature to its advertisers, LeadBolt again demonstrates its commitment to providing the best possible customer experience and most innovative high performance mobile advertising platform available today.

About LeadBolt:

LeadBolt is an innovative online and app content monetization company. LeadBolt provides advertisers 6x the opportunity to connect to their target audience on the web and mobile in a more effective and efficient manner through the largest range of traditional and premium ad formats. These interactive ad formats, including its renowned content lock, delivers better ROI to both advertisers and publisher by creating higher response rates and better eCPMs. For more information about Leadbolt, visit: http://leadbolt.com or email us at pr(at)leadbolt(dot)com.

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Positive Web Design Adapts Services To Accommodate New SEO Advancements

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:58:11 +0000

(PRWEB UK) 19 November 2011

Positive Web Design is a website design agency that has grown rapidly as a division of the Positive Media Group, which specialises predominantly in search engine optimisation and Pay Per Click marketing. As such, the company understands the importance of optimising websites from their very beginnings and the development team are advised to design and build every single project with this marketing approach in mind.

While this design method has allowed clients to achieve great rankings with the search engines for their most relevant key terms long after their project has been signed off, a high level of commitment to the industry is required if new sites are going to adhere to the ever-fluctuating demands of Google, Yahoo!, Bing and others. Google in particular is renowned for on-going maintenance work to its algorithms and is notoriously secretive about the amendments that are made to the code on a day to day basis.

However, in a recent move that has been deemed completely out of character, Google has published a number of pointers outlining the latest changes to affect the work of SEO-conscious web designers, the most high-profile of which has become known as the ?freshness? update.

The main message from those researching the ?freshness? update is this ? uploading current, engaging content to webpages is essential if webmasters are to leap-frog competitors in the search engines and gain the exposure that?s rightfully theirs. As a result, Positive Web Design has shifted the focus to generating more search engine-friendly content for all web design clients in a bid to build upon the first-class service that is already offered by the website design company.

?It?s easy to leave content writing until the very end of the design process, by which time the client is often eager to sign the project off and insists that they are happy to write their own copy?, Ben Austin, Managing Director of Positive Web Design explains. ?Now that Google have clearly stated that good content is more important than ever, we?ll be adapting our processes and expanding our writing team in the near future to cope with the inevitable increase in demand for these services. We?ll be dishing out up-to-date advice and offering our copywriting services from the very first consultation onwards.?

As demonstrated by the diverse topics covered in the Positive Web Design blog, this agency is of the fervent opinion that a good website design company goes beyond the traditional development processes to bring clients a service that covers the smaller (yet equally important) details.

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Quick Printing Industry Market Research Now Available from IBISWorld

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:26:15 +0000

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) November 19, 2011

The Quick Printing industry in the United States has experienced significant declines during the past 10 years due to the rise of digital products and media. This trend is expected to continue over the next five years, with industry revenue forecast to contract at an average annual rate of 0.7% to $ 2.7 billion, according to IBISWorld, the nation?s largest publisher of industry research. According to IBISWorld, the Quick Printing industry will enjoy several years of moderate growth, stemming from a recovery in business advertising and increasing per capita disposable income, which will spur household spending on quick printing services.

The US Quick Printing industry is becoming increasingly obsolete due to the swift decline in computer, software and peripheral equipment prices that has occurred over the past decade. Rapid advancements in computer technology have driven the drop in prices. As a result, consumers and small businesses are increasingly performing tasks that were previously serviced by quick print shops, in the convenience of their homes and offices. And they are increasingly favoring alternative mediums, such as online media and digital communications over printed materials, leeching away industry demand. Over the five years to 2011, revenue in the Quick Printing industry is expected to fall at an average annual rate of 4.8% to $ 2.8 billion, with an estimated decline of 2.5% from 2010 to 2011.

FedEx Corporation, a global shipping and receiving firm, dominates the industry. Unlike the operators in the Printing industry, the Quick Printing industry is largely composed of firms that do not actually specialize in quick printing services. Instead, the Quick Printing industry’s largest players include office retailers, shipping and transportation companies and business support firms.

More recently, industry demand has experienced a shift toward higher-value services and away from basic printing and copying. In particular, custom and high-quality promotional and stationery products have increased their shares during the five years to 2011. The popularity in web-to-print services, in which customers design materials and send them electronically for printing, is indicative of this shift toward technology-heavy processes that will increasingly be covered by the industry.

According to IBISWorld analyst, Caitlin Moldvay, still, industry revenue is forecast to continue contracting over the next five years, falling to an estimated $ 2.7 billion. Although improving economic conditions will boost business demand for quick printing services and slow the rate of decline, customers’ continued transition to the internet will limit industry gains. In response, ?quick printers are expected to increasingly expand their operations to other high-value service operations in order to diversify their revenue streams,? says Moldvay.

For more information, download the full report from IBISWorld on the Quick Printing industry

IBISWorld Industry Market Research Reports Contain:

About this Industry

Industry Definition

Main Activities

Similar Industries

Additional Resources

Industry at a Glance

Industry Performance

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

Products & Markets

Supply Chain

Products & Services

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About IBISWorld Inc.

Recognized as the nation?s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.

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Perminova Launches 2.0 Version of Cloud-Based Cardiac Surgery Software

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:54:19 +0000

La Jolla, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Perminova, developer of web-based software for the nation?s leading cardiology centers, announced today the release of the 2.0 version of Perminova EP.

Perminova EP is the electrophysiology module of Perminova Cardio, a web-based software system for use in cardiovascular surgery.

?Perminova is pioneering healthcare?s move from outdated client-server technology to modern-and-secure cloud computing,? said Craig K. Collins, President and CEO of Perminova, Inc. ?Perminova EP 2.0 was designed by cardiologists for cardiologists. It dramatically boosts charge capture for hospitals, improves patient safety and reduces the frustration level of doctors and staff from endless writing up of reports and notes.?

Perminova Cardio products are browser-based, not device-based, so they can deploy via the web, with rapid configuration, integration and customization. Perminova Cardio deployments don?t require armies of consultants, budget-busting contracts or expensive new hardware. And, they can be seamlessly integrated into any hospital?s electronic medical record system.

Perminova EP manages scheduling, workflow, surgical data and billing that occur during cardiac EP procedures. New features in Perminova EP 2.0 enhance efficiency by improving scheduling functionality, allowing clinicians and staff to proactively manage the work day while helping them identify and resolve bottlenecks before they occur. Among other improvements, new features of Perminova EP 2.0 allow clinicians and staff to:

????View all outstanding and pending doctor reports
????Electronically process all billing
????Bar-code scan medications used during surgical procedures
????Forward completed copies of doctor notes to referring doctors at the end of cases
????Track and manage patients across the scheduling process through insurance authorization
????Track and manage changes to dates and doctors that would trigger a rework in the process
????Manage last-minute patient additions as high priority

Perminova EP is in use at EP labs at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and UC San Diego Health System?s Thornton Hospital and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center. Mt. Sinai Hospital and UC San Diego Health System are ranked among the nation?s top cardiovascular hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Software development is currently underway for Perminova Cath and Perminova Vascular, modules created for the cardiac catheterization and cardiac vascular specialties.

About Perminova

La Jolla, Calif.-based Perminova develops and markets web-based software for use in cardiovascular surgery. The company is pioneering healthcare?s move from outdated client-server technology to modern, secure cloud computing. Perminova offers customers Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), allowing them to take full advantage of a surgical information system that?s more robust, flexible and cost-effective than currently available. In 2011, the company released Perminova EP, a software module that manages the scheduling, workflow and billing that occur before, during and after cardiac electrophysiological (EP) procedures. Perminova EP enables doctors, nurses and administrators to realize enhanced charge-capture, efficiency and patient safety. The software is currently deployed at leading cardiology centers throughout the United States, including UC San Diego Health System and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

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Verwood Web Design Company Celebrates The Launch Of Their 100th Website

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:22:44 +0000

Verwood, Dorset (PRWEB UK) 18 November 2011

The Company was launched in July 2010 in Verwood, near Ringwood in Dorset and is headed up by Managing Director, Iain Mars. The majority of their business comes from visitors to their website http://www.igm-computers.com

In a statement issued by the Company, Mr Mars said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of our 100th website today. As with all of our web sites, this project benefits from W3C standards-compliant HTML code, comprehensive Search Engine Optimisation, straight forward navigation and 100% cross-browser compatibility.”

When asked about his plans for the future, Mr Mars added that he wishes to continue providing high quality, high value website design services but will also be focussing on mobile website design and iPhone application development.

IGM Computers are a member of VADCOT (Verwood and District Chamber of Commerce) but intend to become members of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce after the New Year.

The Company’s 100th website belongs to local beauty therapist Fiona Cole who specialises in Mobile Beauty in Southampton. IGM intend for their latest website to have a high PageRank, even in the competitive keyword environment that the website belongs to. Fiona’s website can be found here http://www.beautybyfi.co.uk.

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Breast Implant Surgeon near Toronto Launches New Site

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:50:14 +0000

Mississauga, Ontario (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Plastic surgeon Dr. Michael J. Weinberg of Mississauga Cosmetic Surgery has recently renovated his Web site into a more informative resource with a sleek and elegant design. For patients seeking information about procedures ranging from breast implants near Toronto and Mississauga to tummy tuck to facelift, Dr. Weinberg’s new site provides details and useful facts.

The Web site was renovated to create an enhanced layout and design in addition to optimized content and a photo gallery. “The photo gallery was important because I wanted to share my previous work with patients,” says Dr. Weinberg, “I find it’s incredibly helpful for patients to gauge their expectations and goals against the results of previous patients. Seeing my work also increases a patient’s confidence.”

As a renowned and well-respected plastic surgeon, Dr. Weinberg offers a wide range of procedures for the face, body, and breast. For each procedure, Dr. Weinberg wanted detailed information, such as recovery information, available to patients online. Among the procedures he offers, one of the most popular is breast augmentation for Mississauga and Toronto women.

“Breast augmentation is popular because it offers so many benefits,” says Dr. Weinberg. “Many women want a breast augmentation in the Toronto area to restore lost volume to their breasts after pregnancy or enhance the size of their breasts. Most women are very satisfied with the results and feel that breast augmentation has greatly improved their self-confidence.”

With the recently updated site, Dr. Weinberg hopes to attract new patients and facilitate communications with his current patients. With an easy-to-use navigation and user-friendly contact form, interested visitors can get the information they need and request a consultation online.

“My goal was to make the process of undergoing plastic surgery as simple and as enjoyable as possible,” says Dr. Weinberg, “It’s not just about the results?for me it’s about making the patient feel confident and happy with their experience, from finding out about us to their recovery. Nothing is more valuable as seeing a patient be truly satisfied with their results after they’ve invested their time, money, and emotions into the decision.”

A Royal College certified plastic surgeon and internationally renowned authority on cosmetic procedures, Dr. Michael J. Weinberg (http://www.mississaugacosmeticsurgeryclinic.com) serves the Toronto area at The Mississauga Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Clinic. Dr. Weinberg earned an honours Bachelor of Science and a Master’s in Medical Biophysics at the Princess Margaret Hospital before earning his medical degree in 1990 and completing his plastic surgery residency at the University of Toronto. Dr. Weinberg serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at one of the largest teaching hospitals in Ontario, where he pioneers new plastic surgery techniques and is well-respected by his colleagues and the media. Above all, Dr. Weinberg prioritizes his patients and focuses on producing beautiful results.

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Z57 Academy 1000th ZPro REALTOR? Grad is North Pole Military Relocation Specialist

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:18:14 +0000

San Diego, Calif. (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Z57, Inc., a leading provider of real estate online marketing services, announced today that North Pole, Alaska-based real estate agent, Chris Emmett of Century 21 Gold Rush, was Z57 Academy?s 1000th graduate. Emmett, a North Pole military relocation specialist, earned his ZPro Certification by completing the ZPro 100 Series course work. With the holidays just around the corner, Emmett?s achievement may help some military families find a home in the city whose slogan is ?Where the spirit of Christmas lives year ?round.?

Training 1000 graduates is a key milestone for Z57 Academy, the education division of Z57. ZPro graduates master a comprehensive course lineup covering topics that include social media marketing, optimizing traffic and visibility, selling with single property websites, online and offline marketing campaigns and mobile applications. As Z57 Academy students hit milestones in their coursework, they earn Z57 website upgrades.

Chris Emmett?s real estate office is located on St. Nicholas Drive in North Pole, Alaska. Based in Fairbanks North Star County, he serves North Pole, Fairbanks, Eielson AFB, Fort Wainwright, and Salcha areas. As a member of the United States Air Force, he understands the unique needs of military families. Getting Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders is stressful. With ZPro training Emmet improved his skill set to include mastering online marketing — making his client?s transition in to or out of their home as smooth as possible.

The Z57 Academy?s ZPro Certification program consists of five courses. The one-on-one sessions provide agents with proven actionable tasks that make their website more competitive and marketable. The ZPro 100 Series courses cover: a quick-start guide; posting for results; selling with single property websites; promoting your business and selling with Facebook.

?I really enjoyed working with Chris. During every session we had great conversations, and he was eager to learn and see results. Chris definitely demonstrated he mastered today?s Internet strategies to help both his sellers and buyers,? said ZPro Specialist Alexis Davidian.

Z57′s 1000th ZPro Chris Emmett said, ?Z57 educated me on how to integrate my real estate business online. Craigslist, social media, single property websites, and a mobile website have all impacted my business. In addition my search engine marketing program has provided a turn-key solution for long- term search engine placement. The combination of the Z57 Academy and the monthly guaranteed traffic that I am getting from SEM, have generated over 4000 unique visitors and almost 200 leads from my website in less than three months! I am now set to be the top agent in my market, thanks to Z57.?

?The Z57 Academy takes up where traditional real estate education ends. Without implementing ZPro online marketing strategies, real estate agents like Chris Emmet would be left out in the cold in this competitive Internet real estate space,? said Z57 COO Ryan Whitlock. ?Selling homes online today involves knowledge and proven marketing tactics. It?s ironic that a North Pole Realtor is our 1000th graduate as we head into the holiday season. But no, we didn?t plan it this way!?

About Z57 Inc.

San Diego-based Z57, Inc. is a personal Web marketing company for thousands of real estate professionals. Founded in 1998, the company specializes in feature-rich designed websites, with content, listings, lead capture and conversion tools, buyer/seller traffic generation through effective online marketing plans, listing syndication, search engine optimization, drip e-mail marketing and a highly trained and responsive customer service team. Z57 provides clients nationwide with proven real estate solutions matched with personal service from more than 150 dedicated employees. The company?s education division, Z57 Academy, specializes in courses to educate Realtors in Internet marketing strategies. The Southern California Internet marketing firm was recognized as an Inc. 5000 company and one of San Diego’s top Web Development and Design Companies. For more information call (800) 899-8148 or visit http://www.Z57.com.

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Internet Safety Company Awarded for ?Restoring Marriages, Christian Families?, Accountability Software ?Revolutionary? in Fighting Pornography Online

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:46:34 +0000

(PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Many watchdog groups are sounding the porn alarm in the 21st Century?and for good reason. In the digital age, more counselors are seeing firsthand the damaging impact of pornography on marriages and children. But recently the nation’s oldest anti-pornography coalition recognized Covenant Eyes for its innovative approach to changing the way people protect themselves and their families.

Gone are the days of nervously thumbing through your daddy’s Playboy. According to a survey of nearly 29,000 young adults, over two-thirds said they were exposed to porn by age 14. By the time teens boys enter adulthood, more than 8 out of 10 have seen group sex online, over a third have seen S&M activities, and a third have seen bestiality. One study published in The Journal of Sex Research found the presence of violence in 42% of online pornography. Unrestricted access to the Internet opens the door to a potential flood of hardcore erotic material.

Since 2000, pureHOPE, formerly the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, has awarded individuals for their special contributions to the cause of protecting families from pornography and sexual media. This year the special acknowledgment went to Ron DeHaas, founder and president of the software company Covenant Eyes.

As Dr. Al Cooper noted, one of the reasons why Internet porn is such a formidable temptation is because of its secrecy?the anonymity of online interactions make porn all the more alluring. For 11 years, Covenant Eyes has been reversing the power of online secrecy by providing an Internet Accountability service, enabling adults and kids alike to be open and honest with others they trust about the temptations they face and the choices they make online.

Covenant Eyes invented the concept of Accountability software and has been the premier Accountability service for more than a decade. Users download this unique software to their computers and handheld devices, which then monitors everywhere they go online. Users designate Accountability Partners?such as parents, spouses, friends, or ministers?to receive a regularly e-mailed report of everywhere they have been online. Each site is rated on a scale similar to how video games and movies are rated, such as E for Everyone, T for Teen, or HM for Highly Mature. The software also reports the titles of videos watched online and mature words typed into search engines.

For the first time, pureHOPE chose to present this annual award to a software developer, as Covenant Eyes does more than traditional web filtering?it is changing culture within the church. “The church has yet to wake up to the magnitude of the harm that Internet pornography produces,” said pureHOPE president Rick Schatz, “but Ron and his team at Covenant Eyes are leading the charge in changing this. Their software products are helping tens of thousands of Christians live out accountability and community online as well as off, and their educational resources are equipping thousands more.”

This approach to web safety aims at building a bridge between Internet habits and face-to-face relationships. Covenant Eyes provides an “over-the-shoulder report” of Internet use, DeHaas said. “Not only do people make better online choices when they know they are being watched, but when inappropriate activity happens, someone else is alerted and can compassionately talk to them about it.”

The result is changed lives and a new culture of accountability in the church. “As the founder of Covenant Eyes, the leader in Internet Accountability, Ron’s vision and sacrifice has resulted in thousands of lives and relationships changed, healed, and protected through accountability and filtering software,” Schatz said.

This year the award was renamed the Jerry and Patty Kirk Award, after the founders of pureHOPE. Past award recipients include national ministry leaders such as Dr. Paul Rader (former General of the Salvation Army), Internet safety pioneers such as Monique Nelson (former President of Enough is Enough), and legal advocates such as Bruce Taylor (former prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice).

Through this award, Rick Schatz offered DeHaas and Covenant Eyes the highest commendations. “Perhaps more than any other Christian leader, Ron DeHaas is shaping the way followers of Jesus live out their testimony in the digital age, and we pray his influence will increase mightily in the years to come.?

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Digital Innovators to Connect at PSU Conference: December 11-12 event builds capacity for growing business

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:14:18 +0000

Portland, OR (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

With every new social media platform, mobile application, or digital device, businesses and organizations must adapt to remain competitive and relevant?technology doesn?t follow business cycles or the calendar year. So how can businesses and marketers stay up to speed in a world that changes faster than the seasons?

Important answers are found each year at the Digital Marketing Conference (DMC) at Portland State University. During this leading-edge business-development event, creative professionals gather to share ideas, learn from one another, and build the region?s economic competitiveness.

Now in its fourth year, the 2011 DMC will present award-winning Web strategists and authors, online content designers, and social media experts. The conference will be held December 11-12 in Lincoln Hall at PSU. Business owners, emerging creative leaders, and students will be engaged through national keynote speakers, a digital marketing ?boot camp,? and high-speed ?Ignite? presentation sessions.

?In having the best speakers and a collaborative learning environment, we continue to build Portland?s reputation as an epicenter for digital marketing and to further establish brands and businesses across the region,? says Jennifer Portis, program manager for the Multimedia Professional Program at Portland State.

DMC 2011 sponsors include Whole Foods, KGW, Crowd Compass, WebRanking, and Webvisions. Byron Beck, Portland?s well-known writer and media personality, will serve as a conference emcee.

An agency-sponsored kickoff party and PSU-sponsored wrap party will add to the experience and create opportunities for professional networking. Agency sponsors include Mambo Media, Roll 35, and Anvil Media, Inc.

?I believe that marketers and communication professionals need to spend more time listening and taking action,? says Michael Brito, a featured DMC speaker and senior vice president for social business planning at Edelman Digital in San Francisco. ?If brands treat their customers with kindness and respect, customers will love them back and tell others about those brands.?

The DMC serves Portland?s business and nonprofit communities while recognizing the creative professionals and agencies in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Conference highlights will include an interactive keynote presentation on ?The Connected Company,? by Tom Bennett and Roel Uleners of the Dachis Group; Monday keynote presentations by Michael Brito, Tim Frick (Mightybytes, author of Return on Engagement), and Marsha Collier (best-selling author, eBay for Dummies). Drew Blevins of TriMet will present ?What Makes This Place Great,? TriMet?s new rider-engagement campaign. Two Ignite sessions will run Monday afternoon and feature 5-minute speed presentations by over 20 organizations, including Oregon Health & Sciences University, ISITE Design, and The Regence Group.

The Digital Marketing Conference is presented by the Multimedia Professional Program, part of the Professional Development Center at PSU. The Multimedia Professional Program offers over 50 stand-alone courses and three multimedia certificates.

Visit http://www.pdxdmc.com for further details and updates, schedule, speaker, and session information, and registration.

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Godfather of Mafia-MMO’s, Omerta Unleashing Version 3.3 on Dutch and Flemish Speaking Players

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:43:25 +0000

Hull, UK. (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Relaunching on November 18th, 2011, the Dutch version of Omerta ? populated by Dutch and Flemish speaking players from the Netherlands and Belgium ? is the latest facet of the popular mafia-themed universe to upgrade to the all-new Version 3.3.

‘Doubling the Dutch fun’

The Dutch version of Omerta can be played for free at http://www.barafranca.nl, and is available in localised Dutch and Flemish languages.

Of the 28 different languages available to Omerta’s 4-million registered players, the Dutch language version has consistently ranked as one of the most popular.

?Not many people realise that Omerta was originally created by a single Mafia gaming enthusiast in a bedroom in Groningen, Netherlands?, commented Omerta Game Ltd C.E.O, Steve Biddick, ?Our Dutch players have been amongst the most active ever since we launched in 2003 – they can’t get enough of the online gangster lifestyle?

The Version 3.3 update adds a host of player-empowering features to the free-to-play online-game and has already been met with player acclaim, having being successfully rolled out in the French and Scandinavian versions of Omerta earlier this month.

?Everything is running smoothly and the new features have been incredibly well received. Now is the perfect time to introduce v.3.3 to the Dutch players and let them ‘kick some Heine’ in new and inventive ways?, added Bianca Evers, Omerta’s communications and crew manager.

From Antwerp to Amsterdam, Version 3.3 allows wannabe gangsters unprecedented control over how they experience Omerta’s 1930′s set Mafia world. The update was designed and developed alongside the player-community, with Omerta Game Ltd allowing players to decide on a host of game-changing tweaks and improvements.

Dutch version players will now be able to directly influence the Mafia-MMO’s gameplay while it is actually running, including how many Mafia families Omerta’s 8 cities can support. The update also addresses several player concerns regarding the in-game armoury and its influence on the strength of offline players.

?Our players told us that families were dividing into countless and pointless little families so we built a new feature to let the community decide how many Mafia families Omerta’s 8 cities can support. Later in the version we hope to pilot a City Mayor feature, which will allow players direct control over a myriad of detailed functions within the game. We are the only game on the web not ‘leading the players by the nose’?, adds Biddick.

Omerta Game Ltd pride themselves on producing a community-led gaming experience, with features such as Vote of the Day and numerous lively IRC channels and forums affording players a strong voice in how the game world evolves.

Crew and staff members, including Omerta C.E.O. Steve Biddick, are also using Facebook as a social forum to engage with players and share ideas on a personal level.

Omerta is completely free-to-play, only requires a modest PC with an internet connection, and is currently available in 28 different languages.

Players can register at the new versions of Omerta here:

Omerta Dutch (launching version 3.3 on Nov 18th)

Omerta Nordic (version 3.3)

Omerta French (version 3.3)

Omerta Deathmatch (version 3.3)

Omerta Turkish (version 3.3)

Omerta Portuguese/Brazilian (version 3.3)

The international (.com) and various other versions of Omerta are still running and can all be found at http://www.barafranca.com

About Omerta

Omerta has been online since 2003 and can rightfully claim to be the ‘Godfather of all Mafia games’ ? and the longest-established and biggest free-to-play, massively multi-player gangster game on the web, having already achieved a number of impressive milestones including over 4 million individual registrations.

Omerta began in 2003 as an amateur project, in a bedroom in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Omerta Game Ltd was founded in 2004 to manage and further develop Omerta. It now boasts full-time staff situated in numerous offices across the world ? from Eastern Asia to Western Europe ? as well as global network of over 200 volunteers.

Omerta is available in 28 languages. Regional (single-language) versions are available in Dutch, French, German, Portuguese/Brazilian, Turkish and the ‘Nordic’ languages (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish).

Already more than 4.1 million people have played Omerta, with more than 80’000 players logging in every day to live the life of a Mafia don.

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Sfile Announces New Breakthrough Pricing and Product Offering | Sfile End-to-End Electronic Discovery with Pricing Insurance(TM)

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:10:50 +0000

Houston, TX (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Today, Sfile Technology Corporation, a leading provider of Big Data Processing and Analytics with a SaaS-based delivery of eDiscovery, litigation support, and collaborative workspace solutions, announces its newest product offering, Sfile End-to-End Electronic Discovery with Pricing Insurance(TM).

This new offering targets litigation support providers and their clients, seeking an end-to-end eDiscovery solution with an equally transparent and predictable end-to-end price. After considerable engineering efforts to create truly powerful processing technology, Sfile continues to deliver game changing advantages that create real answers to the market?s demand for meaningful solutions from our ?Techonomy? leaders. The result is a new model for pricing that measures the very real risk of the entire electronic discovery process, factors in quantum advances in technology, and delivers new pricing paradigms that offset that risk with guaranteed maximum price exposure.

Recent commentaries circulating strong opinions about eDiscovery pricing models further demonstrate that the main issues remain to be price inflation and unpredictability, disconnection between needs and limits, and even transparency of the actual pricing itself. With the inclusion of a ?price insurance? policy, Sfile eliminates the economic risk associated with the unpredictable processing-to-production cost. Finally, a solution that grants peace of mind to all involved in the eDiscovery process.

With breakthrough ESI processing speeds of 154 gigabytes per hour, and ?native file to black-and-white TIFF? production with industry-standard load files, at the incredible rate of 6 minutes per gigabyte, Sfile is by far leading the processing-to-production experience. Such technology performances reinforce Sfile?s capability to offer huge efficiencies to the marketplace with very little risk and at a greater cost-benefit to our partners and end-users.

Sfile End-to-End Electronic Discovery with Pricing Insurance(TM) is offered to our partner network at the industry?s first $ 100/GB ingestion rate, which includes the following features in a cloud-based SaaS Platform:

????ESI processing and analysis
????De-duplication
????De-NISTing
????Image OCR
????Keyword filtering
????Date filtering
????Concept filtering
????Advanced searching
????1 year of online hosted repository with collaboration and document review functionality
????Unlimited users
????SAS 70 data center
????Native, tiff, or pdf production of up to 10% of ingested data INCLUDED
????Guaranteed discounted production rate for data in excess of 10% of ingested data at $ 250/GB

?With the addition of pricing insurance and the advances afforded by Sfile?s HPC Massive Parallel Processing Engine, we have created a true end-to-end price for eDiscovery where cost can be as low as $ 100/GB and is guaranteed to never exceed $ 325/GB to our partners. The more you ingest into Sfile, the more you save,? says Frank Perez, CEO of Sfile. With the value added by our professional partner network, end-user pricing should be significantly impacted in the marketplace delivering true value and predictable pricing to end-users.

To find out more on how to take advantage of this incredible offering for any size job, from 1 GB to multiple TBs, or about becoming a partner, please email us at info@sfile.com.

About Sfile

Sfile is a leading provider of Big Data Processing and Analytics with a SaaS-based delivery of eDiscovery, litigation support, and collaborative workspace solutions designed to support electronic discovery and document review. Sfile?s solutions are offered through an international network of channel partners and hosted in Sfile?s data center. The Sfile platform is delivered in a true Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model and operates in a multi-tenant environment with high performance parallel processor engines to support ESI processing and analysis. This enables Sfile to offer a market-changing disruptive pricing model that immediately provides economic benefits to Channel Partners, Law Firms and Corporations. Sfile can be found on the web at http://www.sfile.com.

For more information regarding Sfile’s press release, please contact press(at)sfile(dot)com.

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Local Torrance and San Pedro Orthodontist Offers Educational Materials to Patients through Online Web Presence

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:38:51 +0000

Torrance, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Torrance Orthodontist Louis F. Mascola, DDS has announced the launch of a new, patient-focused website. The website contains multiple interactive features including patient education videos and testimonials that help patients make better informed decisions about their oral health. The website was designed to reach patients and local consumers who are searching for relevant information about Torrance, CA Invisalign and other orthodontic procedures.

?I have always felt that a knowledgeable patient is a better patient. Since I began practicing, I have always enjoyed educating my patients. Information is power. I want to empower patients, so they make the best decisions regarding their oral health. Now my patients will have access to a free source of information focused on their dental health that they can conveniently access at anytime,” says Dr. Mascola.

Current and prospective patients now have access to information about the many types of orthodontic options available to them, and other informative content when they visit the website. Some of Dr. Mascola services include:

Invisalign

Invisalign Teen

Incognito Hidden Braces

Damon System Braces

Traditional braces

Dr. Mascola is also utilizing his website to educate the community on the importance of oral health. The website includes a links page with informative resources as well as a frequently asked questions page with topics ranging from oral hygiene to orthodontic dental procedures.

?Many of our patients often have questions regarding a broad range of oral health concerns. As a service to our patients, we have made the answers to these common questions conveniently available to them and their families online, as well as links to sites that provide additional interesting and helpful information for patients and their families,” says Dr. Mascola.

About Louis F. Mascola, DDS:

Louis F. Mascola, DDS offers a broad range of orthodontic services and features a highly experienced and well-rounded staff. Dr. Louis F. Mascola is unique being one of the very few certified Incognito Orthodontist in America. Dr. Mascola was also a clinical instructor at the University Of Southern California School Of Dentistry. The practice provides services to patients in the surrounding communities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Gardena, and Palos Verdes. For more information about Torrance and San Pedro, CA orthodontist Louis F. Mascola, DDS, please visit his website at mascoladds.com.

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MO Group International Delivers Successful International SEO to Praxisdienst

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:06:34 +0000

Brussels (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

?The partnership with MO Group International has definitely been worth it,? states Michael Heine, CEO of Praxisdienst. ?Their compelling translations and professional advice have led to the successful optimisation of our web content, which has significantly improved our market situation in Europe.?

Orad Elkayam, VP Business Development at MO Group International explains further, ?We are proud of what we have achieved for Praxisdienst regarding their online market strategy, and their client base. By localising and optimizing their website content so that it is relevant to each target country, we have identified key terms to boost their appearance in search engines, thus increasing potential business.?

MO Group International and Praxisdienst have been working together for almost two years. In that time Praxisdienst has seen a vast improvement to their website optimisation, with visitors to their site increasing by 40% since 2010.

As search engines become more sophisticated, it is essential to remain aware of new market trends, and MO Group International prides itself on its ability to adapt and improve each time progress is made with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). This is something that is highly appreciated by their clients.

?At MO Group International,? continues Orad Elkayam, ?all site optimisation and translation is designed especially for each client, taking into account their needs and objectives. Praxisdienst wished to expand their client base by targeting countries directly, in their own language, and we have helped them improve site optimisation by localising the content. As market trends change and new challenges emerge, we look forward to continuing our successful relationship with Praxisdienst.?

About MO Group International

MO Group International is a leading Search Engine Optimization (SEO) firm dedicated to International SEO, copywriting services and online marketing strategies. Using only native speakers, and offering copywriting and SEO in over 40 languages, MO Group International also offers website translation and localisation. With over ten years of experience in SEO, MO Group International provides high quality multilingual services tailored to each individual client. For more information about international copywriting and SEO, visit http://www.mogi.eu.com

About Praxisdienst

Praxisdienst is one of the main providers of high-quality medical supplies, and has been supplying hospitals and health care institutions with medical products for over 50 years. Praxisdienst offers a wide selection of medical instruments and laboratory equipment, including syringes and defibrillators, as well as surgical clothing and hospital furniture. To find out more about the medical equipment available from Praxisdienst, visit http://www.praxisdienst.com

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Avectra Announces Eighth Annual Avectra Users and Developers Conference

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:34:39 +0000

McLean, Va. (PRWEB) November 17, 2011

Avectra, a leading web-based Social CRM provider in the association and not-for-profit market, today announced the eighth annual Avectra Users and Developers Conference (AUDC). This exclusive event is slated for February 26 through 28, 2012, at the Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida.

AUDC 2012 aims to promote forward thinking and best practices in the evolving usage of association technology to achieve association objectives. ?Our Avectra Social CRM suite offers the most advanced AMS and social business solutions to date. Year over year, Avectra continues to raise the bar for the member-based industry and 2012 will be no exception. At AUDC, we will showcase customers that embraced innovation and redefined membership success,? said Avectra VP of Marketing, Patrick Dorsey.

Conference registration opens today, and all Avectra customers are welcome to register. For a cost of $ 895, attendees secure a spot at the premiere purple event of the year. AUDC consists of two full days of content sessions on February 27 and 28, as well as product roadmap and pre-conference workshops on Sunday, February 26. The presentations and training sessions are facilitated by senior members of Avectra?s staff, industry experts and association professionals. In addition to over 54 educational and training-focused tracks, AUDC hosts four receptions, a networking luncheon and awards ceremony to provide ample time for connecting with other customers. Selected AUDC sessions have been submitted to receive CAE credits. Avectra integration and implementation partners will also be onsite to display their products and integration with netFORUM.

?Our promise to our customers has never been stronger,? said Avectra CEO Richard Davis. ?We are dedicated to providing a unique experience for all of our customers to learn how Social CRM has become ubiquitous to the association industry and beyond. We?re thrilled to share what?s new with Avectra?s flagship product netFORUM, our private online community MemberFuse, and our latest Social Console and A-Score? products. AUDC is a perfect opportunity for customers to reconnect, reenergize, and kick off 2012 with a host of new ideas to benefit their members, customers and partners.?

To learn more about AUDC 2012, please visit http://www.audc2012.com/. Follow the latest news on Twitter #AUDC12.

About AUDC

The Avectra Users and Developers Conference (AUDC) is an annual event uniting Avectra users, executives, partners and industry consultants with key development and training resources. With informational training sessions and networking opportunities, AUDC is designed to share best practices and provide strategies that will empower organizations using Avectra’s industry-innovating netFORUM association management software.

About Avectra

For the last 17 years, Avectra has translated our customers’ needs into a market-leading Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) – whether our customers serve members and non-members by the hundreds or hundreds of thousands. Avectra Social CRM is uniquely positioned to usher in a new era of membership success with its ability to provide world-class member management, built-in social networking and private online community, social media management and a powerful analytics suite, including Avectra’s proprietary A-Score? and more. Avectra is headquartered in McLean, Virginia with regional offices in Chicago and Orlando.

To explore the Avectra family of products, please visit http://www.avectra.com, or call 800-858-8272.

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Biznet Internet Solutions Launches Sprout for Local Businesses; Guarantees 100 Qualified Leads

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:06:48 +0000

Detroit, Michigan (PRWEB) November 17, 2011

Biznet Internet Solutions, a leading web solutions company, is excited to announce the launch of Sprout, an affordable lead generation solution for small businesses and service providers.

Sprout provides small businesses and service providers with quality, exclusive, local leads for services they offer. We attract these leads through a robust, localized and personalized digital marketing program. Sprout guarantees that each client receives 100 unique and qualified leads within six months or we will refund the difference. Most clients realize a conversation rate of 30 to 60%.

Here is how it works:

1. Lead Generating Website Creation

This new website is branded for your company, optimized for local search, and is mobile friendly.

2. Directory and Map Listing Optimization

People search maps all the time. Online map & directory optimization gets your company found.

3. Website Promotion

Through social media, blogs, wikis and other methods, promotion helps potential customers find your site.

4. Content Creation

Content is produced and distributed to establish you as a leader in your industry.

5. Search Marketing

Using Biznet?s proven digital marketing skills your company will get listed on the first page of Google search results.

All leads are monitored and recorded in Traction, Biznet?s proprietary lead tracking software. Traction is a tool specifically designed to help businesses identify where their leads are coming from and what advertising and marketing efforts are driving them. Learn more at http://hellotraction.com/.

Biznet has been developing custom websites for over 17 years and has witnessed firsthand the decrease in effectiveness of traditional marketing and increase in demand for digital solutions. Most often small business owners don?t have the resources to tackle lead generating activities as their time is best spent serving their existing customers and their marketing budget is small. Sprout exists as an affordable solution to help them increase sales in their local service area.

Biznet offers weekly Spout Webinars for those who are interested in growing their business. The webinars usually last 30 minutes and require no commitment from any business that registers. The webinars are scheduled on Wednesdays each week at 3pm. Visit http://withsprout.com/ for more information.

About Sprout

Sprout is a lead generating solution developed by Biznet Internet Solutions that allows small businesses and service providers to build sales through proven digital marketing services. It is an affordable program that includes the creation of a search engine friendly website and guaranteed lead generating digital marketing services. Visit http://withsprout.com/ for more information.

About Biznet Internet Solutions

Based in Wixom, Mich., Biznet Internet Solutions is an ROI-focused, full service web solutions company. Core offerings include creation of business and mobile websites, advertising agency support and Internet marketing, including search and social media marketing. For more information, visit http://www.biznetis.net.

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Corporate Whistle Blower Center Begins a Campaign Focused on Insiders Who Have Specifics About How Online Universities Are Overcharging or Using Up a Veteran’s GI Bill

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:31:43 +0000

(PRWEB) November 17, 2011

The Corporate Whistle Blower Center is urging employees, or insiders of online universities, or Internet colleges to step forward, if they possess specific proof, their employer is intentionally fleecing U.S. Military Veterans out of their GI Bill. The group estimates that online universities, or Internet non traditional colleges frequently gouge the taxpayer, and frequently leave a veteran with a diploma, that is worthless. The group says, “We know online Universities, or Internet colleges frequently have aggressive marketing campaigns aimed at U.S. Military Veterans, or even active duty U.S. Military personal, and we don’t think very much of Internet universities, or online colleges. We are not talking about Stanford, The University Of Michigan, or even an accredited community college with legitimate academics. What we are talking about here is a scam, and we want insiders, or potential whistleblowers to step up to the plate, provided they have substantial proof, and provided the wrongdoing is in the millions of dollars.” For more information online universities, or Internet college insiders, or whistleblowers are encouraged to contact the Corporate Whistle Blower Center anytime at 866-714-6466, or they can contact the group via its web site at http://CorporateWhistleBlowerCenter.Com

Simple rules for a whistleblower from the Corporate Whistle Blower Center:

Do not go to the government first, if you are a major whistleblower. The Corporate Whistle Blower Center says, “Major whistleblowers frequently go to the federal government thinking they will help. Its a huge mistake. Frequently government officials could care less, or they are incompetent.”
Do not go to the news media with your whistleblower information. Public revelation of a whistleblower’s information could destroy any prospect for a reward.
Do not try to force a government contractor, or corporation to come clean to the government about their wrongdoing. The Corporate Whistle Blower Center says, “Fraud is so rampant among federal contractors, that any suggestion of exposure might result in an instant job termination, or harassment of the whistleblower. We say, come to us first, tell us what type of information you have, and if we think its sufficient, we will help find the right law firms, to assist in advancing your information.”

Any type of insider, or employee, who possesses significant proof of their employer, or a government contractor fleecing the federal government is encouraged to contact to Corporate Whistle Blower Center anytime at 866-714-6466, or they can contact the group via their web site at http://CorporateWhistleBlowerCenter.Com

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Top 25 Features of New Cloud Disaster Recovery Services

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:59:06 +0000

Greenville, South Carolina (PRWEB) November 17, 2011

Servosity, provider of Backup and Disaster Recovery for MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and IT Resellers, announced today DR Server and DR Desktop. DR Server and DR Desktop are Disaster Recovery solutions that allow you to perform a Bare Metal Recovery to dis-similar physical hardware or recover VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines.

DR Desktop is designed for computers running desktop operating systems and DR Server is designed for server operating systems. Both provide the ability to backup physical and virtual machines and recover to any physical or virtual machine. Prior to the release of DR Desktop and DR Server, Disaster Recovery was too costly and/or too complex for MSPs and IT Resellers serving small and midsize businesses. Now they have a simple and cost-effective solution that not only works on Physical Machines, but works with VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, and more. With no hardware required, and pay as you go pricing, the cost and capital barrier to entry is removed for small and midsize businesses.

Take the test; does your current disaster recovery provider measure up?

Disaster Recovery Service Checklist for Managed Service Providers:

1. Can you take transactionally-correct Hot/Live bare-metal image backups?

????Servosity: Yes

2. Can you recover to anything? Dissimilar hardware, recover virtual to physical, vice versa?

????Servosity: Yes

3. Backup to Local Device, Network, and Cloud?

????Servosity: Yes

4. RPO (Recovery Point Objective) for Images of 15 minutes (local and in the Cloud)

????Servosity: Yes

5. RPO for data of ????Servosity: Yes

6. RTO (Recovery Time Objective) ????Servosity: Yes

7. Can you restore individual files instead of the entire server?

????Servosity: Yes

8. Can you restore Exchange mail items in addition to Exchange?

????Servosity: Yes

9. Cross platform ? Windows, Mac, Linux

????Servosity: Yes

10. Physical or Virtual — Physical, VMware, Hyper-V, Xen, Virtual Box

????Servosity: Yes

11. Do you have a product designed for desktops/laptops?

????Servosity: Yes

12. Can it be setup, download, installed, and configured in 5 minutes or less?

????Servosity: Yes

13. Do you have a web-services API to integrate with anything we desire?

????Servosity: Yes

14. Can we do bulk/push installs?

????Servosity: Yes

15. Can we manage everything online, or do we have to remote-in to change backup schedules?

????Servosity: Yes

16. Does the software auto-update or do we have to install upgrades?

????Servosity: Yes

17. Are ALL your Data Centers SAS-70 Type-II Audited?

????Servosity: Yes

18. Do you store ALL my data in 2 or more data centers located at least 100 miles apart?

????Servosity: Yes

19. Do you offer 24×7 Support? Does that cost extra?

????Servosity: There is no extra cost for support and we have technicians available 24/7.

20. Where is your support team located?

????Servosity: Greenville, South Carolina

21. Do you sell Directly to Businesses?

????Servosity: We are 100% Partner / channel focused.

22. Priced for Small and Midsize Business (S in SMB), under $ 20/month for starters?

????Servosity: Yes

23. Do I have to buy software or storage in blocks or is it pay as you go?

????Servosity: Pay as you go.

24. What are you monthly/annual minimums as a partner?

????Servosity: No minimum.

25. Is there any hardware required?

????Servosity: No hardware required.

Managed Service Providers and IT Resellers interested in Servosity?s Backup and Disaster Recovery services can visit http://www.servosity.com or call 1-800-429-0500.

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InterviewStream is Taleo Certified as a Video Interviewing Solution

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:26:58 +0000

Bethlehem, PA (PRWEB) November 16, 2011

InterviewStream, the pioneer in online video interviews announced today that its platform is now Taleo Certified, accessible through Taleo’s Solution Exchange. InterviewStream’s video interviewing technology, integrated with Taleo Recruiting combines the most powerful video interviewing tool with the leading SaaS-based Talent Management solution from Taleo.

With the seamless integration of InterviewStream’s live and pre-recorded interview technology, Taleo customers are able to assess and pre-screen candidates. The integrated solution allows customers to initiate, view, share and provide collaborative feedback on candidates who are interviewed using InterviewStream’s video interview platform.

Randy Bitting, CEO of InterviewStream explains, “Using our video interview solution, hiring managers can invite candidates to respond to pre-defined video questions or schedule live video interviews thereby reducing travel budgets and increasing efficiencies. This certification affords our customers and prospective clients more flexibility without leaving the Taleo platform. We are excited for the opportunity to offer video interviewing to the more than 5,000 organizations that already use Taleo’s leading SaaS-based talent management solutions.”

Since its inception in 2003, InterviewStream has provided organizations with the ability to conduct live and pre-recorded video interviews. InterviewStream reduces scheduling hassles and phone screens with a tool that builds confidence to assess important visual cues in the candidate selection process. With award-winning design, usability and 24/7 customer support, InterviewStream is the only video interviewing solution that provides users with the ability to personalize and record video interview questions or choose from a library of more than 5,000 pre-recorded video questions.

InterviewStream saves its clients over 86% in reduced travel and scheduling costs while providing a superior candidate experience. InterviewStream provides more than 400 clients with video interviews in more than 120 countries.

About InterviewStream InterviewStream, LLC (http://www.InterviewStream.com) is the original provider of pre-recorded and live video interviewing solutions. Hundreds of employers, executive search firms, staffing firms, and the world’s leading global career transition firm have completed more than 300,000 interviews using InterviewStream’s proprietary technology. With award-winning design, usability and 24/7 customer support, InterviewStream is the only video interviewing solution that provides users with the ability to personalize and record interview questions on its enterprise platform. The practice platform is used by more than 300 universities and 21 of the top 25 MBA Programs and has helped college students prepare and secure employment around the globe.

InterviewStream is a privately held company headquartered outside of Philadelphia in Bethlehem, PA.

Media Contact:

Lenore Mohr

Director of Marketing & Communications

205 Webster Street Bethlehem, PA 18015

(877) 773-3164

(610) 417-4300 direct

lmoh(at)interviewstream(dot)com

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This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

Esri Highlights New Technologies at Ecobuild?s Tech User Sessions

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Centerville, MA (PRWEB) November 16, 2011

Esri, widely recognized as the technical and market leader in GIS (geographic information systems) software, is presenting new technology user sessions at Ecobuild?America, Washington, D.C. December 5-9, 2011. The Tech User Sessions are matchless opportunities for design and construction professionals to learn about Esri?s ground-breaking technologies in the areas of intelligent facility mapping (FM), building energy analysis, and using GIS to support the Facilities mission. The Tech user sessions run throughout the conference.

Sessions will be presented by Esri?s top technical executives and their development partners – Woolpert, Inc., PenBay Solutions, and Spatial Systems Associates, Inc. A brief description of Esri?s tech user sessions follow:????

ArcGIS for Facilities: The Next Generation of Intelligent Facility Mapping

This presentation will highlight Esri?s new ArcGIS for Facilities offering. The ArcGIS-based enterprise system now provides a complete information model consisting of maps, apps, tools, data models, and workflows to help users quickly integrate intelligent facility analysis and mapping into their FM enterprise. ArcGIS for Facilities resources will be demonstrated to include use of Portal for ArcGIS as a fundamental platform for discovery, sharing, and use of helpful maps, apps, and tools.

Using GIS for Building Energy Analysis

This session will highlight the use of GIS and its analytical capabilities to model energy-related scenarios for buildings, properties, and campuses. The presentation will focus on technical demonstrations and actual implementations of GIS technology to perform tasks such as improving building energy usage, optimizing the indoor environment, appropriately siting buildings and more.

Achieving Triple Bottom-Line Value: Using GIS to Support the FM Mission

Extend the power of BIM with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support all phases of the FM mission by importing and aggregating into GIS the geometries and tabular data of the BIM(s) required to accurately represent a project (or portfolio), the shared knowledge and representational accuracy of BIM can be leveraged, extended and connected in geographic space to other relevant site, neighborhood, municipal, and regional data.

Using Facility Condition Assessments to Perform Risk-based Asset Management with GIS

There is a better way to process and manage the massive amount of data that is still collected and manually tabulated. Data gathered from FCAs can be managed in a facility GIS-based data repository, allowing users to use the power of GIS to perform advanced analysis of the information. Further, using a GIS-based business risk exposure (BRE) approach, the FCA data can be appropriately organized, weighted, and aggregated to rack-and-stack potential improvements based on defensible priorities. This data can then be combined with budget-level repair and replacement data to evaluate the costs and impacts of various medium and long term strategies.

Extending the value of your CAD and BIM by integrating with Facilities GIS

There is a treasure trove of information about our facilities in CAD and BIM data repositories. Much of this information is valuable to building managers, maintenance and security yet it often stored in ways that make it difficult to access. GIS can serve as a powerful integration platform to help unlock this information and make it available through intuitive applications that provide easy access and valuable analytics. We will discuss and demonstrate some proven approaches to driving more value from these important data sources.

Using a GIS-Enabled Dashboard for a Healthier Building

Facility managers face a multitude of challenges: reacting to daily operational needs, responding to tenant concerns, compliance with regulatory reporting requirements, and ongoing maintenance. Applying for and obtaining/maintaining LEED certification requires additional record-keeping and monitoring. This session provides insights on how a web and GIS-based information system can support those challenges in the following ways:

????Maintain as-built information about the existing infrastructure.
????Collect and maintain detailed information about energy use, water ????consumption, and indoor environmental characteristics.
????Conveniently analyze collected data on-the-fly and present the results of the ????analysis in an easily understood dashboard
????Facilitate reporting to authorities
????Reduce operational costs while improving the work environment of tenants

About Esri

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Redlands, California, Esri is widely recognized as the technical and market leader in geographic information system or GIS software, pioneering innovative solutions for working with spatial data on the desktop, across the enterprise, in the field, and on the Web. Esri has the largest GIS software installation base in the world with more than one million users in over 300,000 organizations worldwide.

About AEC Science & Technology?, LLC

Under the leadership of principals Richard C. Vendola, Jr., and George Borkovich, AEC

Science & Technology?, LLC (Centerville, MA), manages and produces Ecobuild?

America. Together they have a depth of experience in technology and event planning for the AEC industry, including creating and managing the former A/E/C SYSTEMS International conference and exhibition. The events cover the unique intersection where ecology meets technology. Proud member of: buildingSMART alliance?; Green Building Initiative; High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition; United States Green Building Council; and Zero Energy Commercial Building Consortium.

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Creators of GRID-IT, Orange22, Launch SOLID and CATCH on Kickstarter Just in Time for the Holidays

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:23:34 +0000

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 16, 2011

SOLID and CATCH by Orange22 launch on Kickstarter. With a focus on sustainability, natural materials, and artisanal manufacturing Catch neatly solves the problem of messy wires while Solid is a multifunctional iPad stand and organizer. The minimalist product paring was the result of an ongoing frustration with the lack of luxury and sophistication of similar products in the market. Solid and Catch will ship just in time for the holidays!

“In our work and home environments we are too often surrounded by impersonal and mass-produced objects made of injection molded plastics and silicon. With Solid and Catch, we sought to create a natural sculptural form that beckons exploration while evoking curiosity,” states Antonioni.

Solid and Catch are manufactured in Rumford, Maine from sustainably harvested maple and walnut wood from the picturesque Mahoosuc Mountain Range. The master craftsmen will be using a precision 5-axis CNC routing machine to create the initial form then sand to perfection by hand. Lastly, natural oils are applied to enrich and protect the fine wood texture.

Solid is handsome in-use and when not in-use. Intelligent design provides two viewing angles that are optimized for ideal comfort while sitting or standing. This makes it the perfect tablet companion for any environment. Reading email, surfing the web, listening to music or watching video is pure pleasure with Solid. Dual sculpted trays accommodate personal items such as keys, chargers, or that lucky rabbits foot. Solid supports multiple devices side by side like an iPad and an iPhone. Surfing the web has never looked so provocative.

Catch is simply brilliant and Solid’s perfect companion. We all know how agitating it can be when cables fall off your desk. Despair no more. Catch’s clever design leverages gravity to neatly accommodate all of your cords, both in a vertical and horizontal orientation. It’s sculptural silhouette is carved from sustainably harvested walnut or maple. Use Solid and Catch together or alone. Either way they’ll make life a little less messy.

Solid will retail for $ 149 backers who pre-order will SAVE $ 65

Specs: 9.5x 6×1.75 (inches)

Material: Solid Walnut or Maple

Catch will retail for $ 99 backers who pre-order will SAVE $ 35

Specs: 3x3x8 (inches)

Material: Solid Walnut or Maple

High Res Image Assets: files.me.com/dario.antonioni/b11eyu

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Automattic Launches VIP Support for Web Hosts

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:51:44 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Automattic, Inc. today announced the launch of VIP Support for Web Hosts, a new program for companies that want to excel at hosting WordPress sites and blogs. The program is an expansion of the VIP hosting and support services currently available to large-scale sites using WordPress; current VIP clients include top media companies, sports leagues and Fortune 500 companies. WP Engine, the WordPress hosting and security service for bloggers and small businesses, is the first participant in the new VIP program.

?WordPress is now the #1 application on most web hosts in the world. Our newest VIP support offering is designed to help web hosts offer the highest performance and most secure WordPress experience possible to their customers,? said Raanan Bar-Cohen, VP of Media Services for Automattic.

VIP Support for Web Hosts includes:

????Advanced systems and developer support for infrastructure-wide issues and improvements.
Annual review of the client?s entire stack as it relates to WordPress hosting.
Annual security audit and review of best practices.
One-day onsite collaboration and training of the client?s key WordPress-focused staff.
Pricing starts at $ 250,000 annually.

?We?re thrilled and honored to be the first web hosting company to participate in Automattic?s newest VIP program,? said Jason Cohen, CEO of WP Engine. ?This collaboration reinforces our commitment to high-quality hosting, combining our zeal with the expertise and wisdom from Automattic.?

WordPress currently powers 15% of the world?s top one million sites, up from 8.5% in 2010. To learn more about VIP Support for Web Hosts, visit http://vip.wordpress.com/support-for-web-hosts/.

About Automattic

Automattic offers a network of web services for online publishers including WordPress.com, VIP hosting and support, VaultPress, Akismet, VideoPress, Polldaddy, IntenseDebate, Gravatar, and more. The Automattic network attracts over half a billion worldwide unique visitors every month.

For more information, visit http://automattic.com/.

About WP Engine

WP Engine is the premier, fully-managed WordPress hosting company. We serve 100,000,000 requests daily, each one carefully and continuously tuned for speed, scalability, and security. We?re beloved by hundreds of bloggers from huge, popular sites down to small company home pages who care about their SEO ranking and their users? experience. Best of all is our tech support, where only WordPress experts answer questions.

For more information, visit http://wpengine.com/.

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Automattic Launches VIP Support for Web Hosts

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:51:44 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

VIP Support for Web Hosts includes:

WordPress currently powers 15% of the world?s top one million sites, up from 8.5% in 2010. To learn more about VIP Support for Web Hosts, visit http://vip.wordpress.com/support-for-web-hosts/.

For more information, visit http://automattic.com/.

For more information, visit http://wpengine.com/.

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Datalogic Mobile Releases New Cloud Computing Whitepaper

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:19:17 +0000

Eugene, OR (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Datalogic Mobile announces the release of a new white paper Cloud Computing and Mobility. Cloud computing technology is revolutionizing enterprise computing by reducing costs and infrastructure complexity, while providing greater flexibility.

Mobile computers are designed to communicate in real time with back-end business systems. However, change is quickly emerging in the choices that companies have regarding back-end business systems.????Enterprises can now choose Cloud Computing or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) instead of the large back room infrastructure of hardware and software. For mobile computer users, cloud solutions can provide significant overhead cost reduction and faster deployments.

This white paper describes how a cloud computing and mobile computer implementation can significantly reduce costs, and boost the overall return on investment. Various aspects of SaaS technology, benefits, evaluation techniques and industry statistics are presented. CLICK HERE to download the white paper.

For more information on Datalogic Mobile computers visit our website at http://www.mobile.datalogic.com

About Datalogic Mobile

Datalogic Mobile, part of the Datalogic Group, is a global manufacturer of mobility solutions for retail applications, assisted shopping, warehouse solutions, and field-force automation.

Our diverse product range of rugged mobile computers includes pocket-sized computers, pistol grip computers, and industrial PDAs designed to keep workers connected to their enterprise inside or outside the four walls. Our mobile computers use Cisco? Certified CCX radios for maximum levels of: RF security, data throughput, and efficiency. Datalogic Mobile computers use the latest technologies for voice and data communications giving mobile workers on-the-go connectivity.

Datalogic Mobile is the worldwide leader in Self Shopping. Over 350 retail stores have implemented Datalogic Shopevolution? software and the Datalogic Joya? handheld pod as their assisted shopping solution. Datalogic assisted shopping gives retailers a competitive advantage while reducing their operational costs. Joya makes shopping a multimedia experience that increases consumer loyalty.

Datalogic Mobile has worldwide presence in over 30 countries and over 800 business partners worldwide. A leader in technology, Datalogic has growing portfolio of over 850 patents, eight research and development centers, and 300 engineers.

See us on the web at http://www.mobile.datalogic.com or call 800-929-7899

About Datalogic Group

Datalogic Group is a world-class producer of bar code readers, data collection mobile computers, barcode, RFID and vision systems for the industrial automation sector and offers innovative solutions for a comprehensive range of applications in the manufacturing, transportation & logistics and retail industries. Datalogic S.p.A. is quoted on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001 as DAL.MI, and is headquartered in Lippo di Calderara di Reno (Bologna). It employs about 2,000 staff members worldwide distributed in 30 countries across Europe, Asia, the United States and Oceania. The Group invests over 25 million Euro each year in Research and Development and has a large and growing portfolio of 885 patents across the world. In 2009 Datalogic received the Award in the Large Enterprise category of the “Business Innovation Prize” conferred by Confindustria, as the enterprise that has skillfully expanded in Italy and worldwide through investments in innovation. For more news and information on Datalogic, please visit http://www.datalogic.com.

Datalogic and the Datalogic logo are registered trademarks of Datalogic S.p.A. in many countries, including the U.S.A. and the E.U.

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Kirk Communications Announces Launch of its Global SEO and Web Development Franchise

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:47:57 +0000

Portsmouth, New Hampshire (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Kirk Communications, a leader in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Website Design and Development, is offering a highly innovative franchise model to potential franchisees. Believed to be the first of its kind in the industry, Kirk will offer franchisees the opportunity to run their own SEO and website design and development practice using the global capabilities and expertise of Kirk Communications.

The marketplace has been populated by small or very low quality digital businesses that provide inconsistent products while large agencies are often overpriced and ignore the needs of the small and medium business marketplace. Kirk sees a critical need for a digital offering in the franchise industry that has gone unmet. The need for consistent quality in the area of SEO is even more critical because there has been huge expansion in the number of companies offering these services. At the same time, high-quality, consistent, straightforward and verifiable results have been hard to quantify.

?Small, locally based digital firms do a great job of giving clients the face-to-face time they require,? said Nate Tennant, Founder of Kirk Communications. ?What these localized web companies could use is the large staff, sophisticated digital tools and scalability needed to satisfy the requirements for complex digital design and development solutions that small to medium businesses now require,? he said.

In the Kirk franchise model, clients will get all the required one-on-one client time from the franchisee along with Kirk?s sophisticated digital tools and the scalable capability to deliver high quality services better, faster and at lower cost.

?This kind of franchise is ideal for someone who has the drive to attract clients, but doesn?t necessarily have the large capital needed to start a more traditional franchise,? Tennant explained. The franchise fee is minimal and capital expenses don?t really go beyond owning a computer. ?We provide the leads using our sophisticated lead generation tools, the training to maximize the products and services we provide and the digital capabilities to turn work around quickly and on budget.” Those interested in learning more about this franchise opportunity should contact the company at franchise(at)kirkcommunications(dot)com.

About Kirk Communications

Kirk Communications is a website design and development company located in New Hampshire with additional offices in New Delhi, India. In addition to being a website design and development company, Kirk Communications is a global provider of inbound marketing including Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and social media integration. As SEO Company, Kirk Communications also runs large paid campaigns for clients (PPC). Kirk?s clients cover a broad range of vertical and horizontal markets including technology, financial services and healthcare. Beyond being an integrated website design & development, Kirk Communications offers an extensive suite of state-of-the-art SEO and PPC analytics, that, in conjunction with innovative message development, helps its customers refine their brand, increase visibility and stay ahead of their competitors. Kirk Communications counts among its clients IDG, Dorcy International, Optimize Interactive, Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center, Charter Auction and Animetrics. For more information, please visit us on the web at http://www.kirkcommunications.com.

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?Social CRM? and Open Source Community Forum Leader Vanilla Forums Is Chosen as One of Canada?s Top 20 Hottest Innovative Companies by the Canadian Innovation Exchange

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:15:55 +0000

Montreal, QC (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Vanilla Forums is honoured to be selected as one of Canada?s ?Top 20 Hottest Innovative Companies? by the Canadian Innovation Exchange. Vanilla Forums has stood out from competitors by advocating the importance of ?Social CRM? and delivering social forums and API?s to help businesses thrive in today?s social business environment. Social CRM forums reduce a company?s overall support costs while increasing customer satisfaction, loyalty, referrals and recommendations.

Social networks are no longer solely a place for friends to share updates about their daily lives. They are now critical platforms for conducting business and engaging with and learning about customers. Over half of consumers report that they regularly interact with companies on social sites. Vanilla Forums facilitates these interactions by providing social CRM that delivers core customer support forums that form the foundation for manageable social interactions across their customers? chosen platforms. Creating a compelling cross-platform customer experience allows companies to build meaningful long-term relationships that place the customers in the engagement driver seat.

?If a business doesn?t go social with customer relations management it will be dead in 3-5 years, the pace of change in this market is that fast,? says Greg Marlin, Vanilla Forums VP of Sales and Marketing. ?The social customer is becoming the most valuable customer because companies can discover what truly motivates that customer by engaging with them, learning from them, and incenting them to influence other customers on their behalf.?

?Who do you think the customer of the future will choose from? A company that has deep insights into how they are interacting with their brand and industry and can adapt their message and timing appropriately or a company that barely knows who they are??

A relationship on a social network provides better personal analytics than any Neilsen rating ever could. Customers share their personal content, likes and dislikes and they engage with each other in discussions that help companies adapt and deliver what their customers want.

?In the social CRM space we are providing a way for companies to empower their customers to help each other, and modifying our system to reward them when they do so,? says Marlin.

Vanilla Forums provides deep analytics to help its customers understand things like how quickly questions are answered, who answers the questions (company support staff, or other customers), the general mood of their customer base, etc. Armed with this information, Vanilla Forums? customers can understand how engaged their customer-base is and how much money Vanilla Forums can help them save in support costs. The company is rapidly developing solutions and partner relationships in-line with its vision of how to best help companies plan for and measure the health of their community within the wider social graph.

**About VanillaForums.com

Discussion platforms on the web are predicated on the idea that one size fits all. Vanilla removes all of the feature and design bloat that plagues traditional discussion platform software and instead provides a very basic solution that can be incredibly customized to suit the very specific needs of niche communities. Vanilla also focuses heavily on integration with other platforms, providing powerful APIs and access points that allow customers to deeply integrate the fabric of their community with the other parts of their web ecosystem including all social platforms.

For more information about Vanilla Forums, please visit http://www.vanillaforums.com.

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Global Microscopes Market to Reach US$3.98 Billion by 2017, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:43:42 +0000

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Follow us on LinkedIn ? With the automation of microscopic processes, the market for microscopes is set for significant growth. Technology integration ? marking the convergence of information technology and digital imaging ? is expected to change standard laboratories into advanced research centers. Current innovations in the microscopy market are towards development of microscopes with higher precision and resolution. Developments in image restoration, reconstruction, and other related fields would continue to influence the market in the coming years. Besides, innovations in the electronic, engineering, and industrial materials pave path for the market to effectively combat conventional barriers. Rising end-user demand for high-quality imaging has propelled manufacturers to invest resources into developing new and advanced microscopes that enable tracking and imaging of live cells for biological applications such as atomic force microscope (AFM), and scanning probe microscopes (SPM). Demand for sophisticated microscopes with special sampling handling capability, in various industries, especially in the life sciences sector, is scaling to greater heights.

Over the years, the global market for microscopes has largely been driven by the increased demand from the industrial and biological sectors. Developments in areas involving semiconductors, MEMS (micro electrical mechanical systems), nanotechnology and other material sciences have also helped propel the use of microscopes. The rapidly evolving imaging technologies and growing requirements of researchers, advancements in confocal and electron microscopy, cytometry, laser scanning, and the developments in the quantum dots area are also expected to play a major role in boosting the demand for microscopes in the near future. With image analysis becoming an important criterion for shaping the design of microscopes, a key trend witnessed in the microscope industry in recent years has been the integration of digital imaging in microscopes. Further, the market is also witnessing growing demand for compact and lightweight instruments and custom-assembled systems that enable users to incorporate existing workflows.

Developing markets comprising Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa are expected to pitch in to drive future growth, given the rapid pace of industrialization. Other factors driving demand in these regions include economic prosperity, and rising production and inspection activities. Developing markets are additionally emerging into hot-spots for production activities with manufacturers increasingly relocating production activities from the saturating Western Europe and North America markets to Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific, in an attempt to cut costs. The shift in manufacturing facilities, however, has resulted in the tremendous rise in demand for microscopes in these developing regions.

The US commands the leading position as the largest regional market, garnering a significant share of the global market, as stated by the new research report on Microscopes. Asia-Pacific represents one of the world?s major manufacturing hubs for microscopes, with manufacturers from around the world carrying out production activities in this region. As a result, the region offers substantial growth prospects for the domestic light and electron microscopes markets. Asia-Pacific is poised to expand over the years at the fastest CAGR of about 14% over the analysis period. By product segment, the market for Charged Particle Microscopes accounts for a significant chunk of the global microscopes market.

Key market participants profiled in the report include Bruker Corporation, Carl Zeiss, AG, FEI Company, Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., Jeol USA, Inc., Leica Microsystems GmbH, Nikon Corporation, Olympus Corporation, Optiscan Pty. Ltd., Prior Scientific, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., among others.

The research report titled ?Microscopes: A Global Strategic Business Report? announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides market insights as well as comprehensive review of key market trends, industry overview, product introductions, recent industry activity and profiles of market players worldwide. Analytics are presented in dollar value for major geographic markets such as United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America. Major product segments analyzed include Optical Microscopes, Charged Particle Microscopes and Scanning Probe Microscopes. The study also provides historic data for an insight into market evolution over the period 2003 through 2008.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit ? http://www.strategyr.com/Microscopes_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world’s largest and reputed market research firms.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

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

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Scarlet Gems Launches Exquisite Jewelry E-Commerce Site

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:11:38 +0000

Pacific Palisades, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Scarlet Gems, an original handcrafted jewelry business based in Pacific Palisades, California, officially launched its e-commerce website today. ScarletGems.com is a web presence where customers can shop for high-end necklaces and jewelry, and discover information about fashion industry news. The site will have an area for shopping, a weekly blog with updates on the business and fashion industry, and news and information from the company?s founder and designer, Terry Snider.

?Each piece in my collection is of my own design and lovingly handcrafted with meticulous care,? said Snider. ?I select only the finest quality gemstones and pearls from all over the world and take great care to ensure the stones are positioned perfectly.?

Scarlet Gems currently sells necklaces and bracelets with prices ranging from $ 85 to $ 2,000 in four categories: Sparkling Stones, Luscious Pearls, Exotic Amulets and Precious Gems. The jewelry is made from various stones and metals, including gold, sterling silver, semi-precious stones (amethyst, garnet, turquoise) and fine gemstones (rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds). Snider believes that her uniquely designed pieces, attention to detail, and lifelong passion for jewelry set her business far above other jewelers in her field.

?I created Scarlet Gems with the purpose of creating uniquely beautiful jewelry to be enjoyed and passed down to future generations. I devote great attention to the smallest detail in each of my pieces. Each gemstone I use has a special meaning and is integral to the design of my jewelry.?

About Scarlet Gems: Founded in 2009, Scarlet Gems is a jewelry company based in Pacific Palisades, California that specializes in creating high-end necklaces and bracelets. All of the products are personally designed and made by the owner and founder, Terry Snider. Scarlet Gems products are available for purchase from the website at http://www.scarletgems.com, and at Brentwood General Store in Santa Monica.

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Help Me Self Publish Creates a New Online Portal Supporting the Onslaught of Aspiring Writers Becoming Self Published Authors

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:39:43 +0000

El Dorado Hills, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

Aspiring writers looking to bring their stories to life, yet challenged by the traditional publishing process, are now finding self publishing easier than ever, thanks to a new online resource, Help Me Self Publish, which has bundled together all of the professional services, tools and advice for anyone looking to publish on their own.

“It’s like the self publishing stars have aligned,” said Mary Kathryn Johnson, President of MommyLoves (parent company to Help Me Self Publish), and self published author of Say Bump and Take a Left, How I Birthed a Baby and a Business After a Huge Bump in the Road. (MommyLoves Publishing; May, 2011; ASIN: B004ZLYW54). “Now that eBooks are outselling printed books*, Self Published Authors are legitimized and encouraged to get their story out to the world,” added Ms. Johnson.

This all supports the shift to self publishing by successful traditionally published authors, like J.A. Konrath, who actually shows a higher income and potential from his self published eBooks over his traditionally published print books,** and the first billionaire author, J.K. Rowling, who has chosen to be in full control over the next phase of the wildly popular, Harry Potter series by self publishing the eBooks on her upcoming online platform, Pottermore (http://www.pottermore.com). It has also given rise to two self published author additions to the ‘Kindle Million Club’, the latest of which is Amanda Hocking***. The 27 year old self published author sold the majority of her books through Kindle Direct Publishing.

“There has never been an easier time to self publish,” said Ms. Johnson who, after failing to secure a publishing contract from the traditional publishing community, spent the last two years learning how to do it herself. Help Me Self Publish was born after many requests from fellow writers wanting to learn how to publish their own manuscripts. “I wanted to offer writers what I couldn’t find myself,” she said. “The editing, cover design and marketing assistance previously provided by traditional publishers aren’t as accessible or reasonably priced once you decide to go it alone,” she added. Although those services are also offered individually through her new company, she wanted Help Me Self Publish to offer in one place everything a writer would need to assist her through the entire self publishing process.

By also offering a Free Self Publishing Guide, Help Me Self Publish is not a publisher. “Many companies will publish for you, but they charge thousands of dollars and/or cut into your royalties. Once I saw how easy it was to have my book sold on Amazon.com and the other online platforms, I wanted to guide new authors to do the same, so they may also enjoy the advantages of self publishing without having to reinvent the wheel.”

*Source: Report Sees Flat Consumer Book Spending, Publishers Weekly, September 30, 2011. http://www.publishersweekly.com

**Source: The End is Nigh, A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, August 24, 2011 http://www.jakonrath.blogspot.com

***Source: Baldacci, Meyer and Hocking join ‘Kindle Million Club’ October 11, 2011 http://www.thebookseller.com

About Help Me Slef Publish:

Help Me Self Publish (http://www.HelpMeSelfPublish.com) is a full service online portal guiding writers through the self publishing process by offering complete copy editing, cover design, formatting/layout, marketing services, tips and advice for becoming a self published author.

About MommyLoves:

MommyLoves was founded in March, 2003 as a Wholesale and Retail Maternity and Family Apparel Company located in El Dorado Hills, CA. MommyLoves products can be found on the web at http://www.MommyLoves.com, and in stylish Maternity and Women’s Boutiques throughout the World and online.

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Gary David Hall?s Trans-Plans Now Available on IXACT Contact

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:08:00 +0000

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) November 15, 2011

IXACT Contact Solutions Inc., the leading real estate CRM, and Gary David Hall, the foremost real estate CRM Consultant in North America, launch IXACT Contact Trans-Plans, designed to be one of the most thorough and advanced listing and closing Activity Plans on the market today. IXACT Contact subscribers can purchase Trans-Plans on Gary David Hall?s website and get these plans automatically ?transplanted? into their IXACT Contact real estate contact management software.

Though IXACT Contact already has pre-loaded Activity Plans in the real estate CRM software that subscribers can use free of charge, Trans-Plans are a new set of Activity Plans that were specifically developed by top industry Consultant, Gary David Hall. They are also the most advanced and thorough real estate transaction management plans currently available.

?Trans-Plans are like having a personal ?Transaction Management Assistant? by your side who reminds you to send all relevant letters and emails, print out closing reports, enter data into your real estate CRM, make follow-up calls, and more. The plans are key to staying organized, saving you time, and reducing your overall stress level,? commented Gary David Hall.

Together, Trans-Plans contain over 500 activities, most with extensive notes. They also include 28 letters REALTORS? need to send throughout a listing and sale.

With Trans-Plans, real estate agents can ensure that no detail is missed and nothing falls through the cracks in the listing and closing process. For new or inexperienced REALTORS?, Trans-Plans will significantly reduce their learning curve, and for new and experienced agents alike, Trans-Plans afford them the opportunity to truly stand out from the competition.

Gary David Hall is the author of myriad publications, including Choosing and Using a Contact Manager or CRM, and The Real Estate Contact Management and CRM Comparison Matrix. He was previously a RE/MAX Regional Technology Consultant for over 90 RE/MAX offices and 1,800 REALTORS? in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Hall was also a Certified e-PRO Trainer, created the RECS Designation Course, and is a State Certified Instructor in Pennsylvania, having taught over 22 courses for Polley Associates Real Estate School, the largest real estate school in the state.

?IXACT Contact is thrilled to work with someone of Gary David Hall?s stature to release Trans- Plans for our real estate CRM. We have an ongoing commitment to partner with leaders in the real estate industry so we can continue to add value to our customers. The combination of Gary?s robust Trans-Plans and IXACT Contact?s legendary ease of use will help our customers grow and manage their businesses more effectively than ever before,? commented Rich Gaasenbeek, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, IXACT Contact.

About IXACT Contact Solutions Inc.

IXACT Contact? is an easy-to-use, Web-based real estate CRM system that helps REALTORS? build lasting relationships with past clients, hot prospects and important referral sources. IXACT Contact makes it easy to maintain full contact profiles and to stay in touch with clients in a way that?s personalized, relevant and timely. With IXACT Contact, real estate agents can convert more leads into listings and attract more referrals and repeat business. Real estate sales and real estate prospecting becomes easy. Real estate marketing is also a snap with IXACT Contact?s personalized mass email, drip marketing, and email campaign reporting features. The Active Business side of the system helps REALTORS? keep control of transactions by managing all the to-do?s associated with listings and buyers. Sign up for a free 5-week trial at http://www.ixactcontact.com.

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Denim Group Honored as Top Workplace by San Antonio Express-News

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:35:51 +0000

San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) November 14, 2011

Denim Group, the leading secure software development company, has been awarded the Top Workplace for employee satisfaction by the San Antonio Express-News. The Express-News worked with Workplace Dynamics, to survey San Antonio employees and their assessments of their company’s values, leaders and strategy as well as how the company communicates and gets work done. Denim Group?s score, based on responses from almost 60 of its employees, placed the company at the head of the pack.

?Our extensive research has shown that employees want to be part of something meaningful, where they can contribute and give their best,? said Dan Kessler of WorkplaceDynamics. ?Being awarded as a Top Workplace denotes Denim Group’s ]inclusive approach of doing business means their employees work in an environment that encourages them to be more innovative, operate more ethically and serve customers better.?

Employee retention is a key goal for Denim Group, as the company recognizes that its employees are the life blood of the organization. With a corporate vision focused on building a more secure world by increasing the level of excellence in secure software development, Denim Group is able to provide a credible, compelling and believable vision of the future and each person?s part in it. This creates a meaningful partnership where Denim Group employees are empowered with autonomy and purpose while gaining learning opportunities and career growth.

?We?ve purposely created a situation where people are passionate about their work and are motivated to give their best to our customers, because we?re devoted to creating the most secure software in the industry,? said John Dickson, Denim Group principal. ?Whether we develop the applications from scratch, secure the applications our clients have already created, or teach new developers how to do it themselves, it is critical that our people personally care about creating a more secure world. We?re glad we?ve been able to create that experience for both our employees and our customers here at Denim Group. The end result is an engaged, energized and involved team of people that not only provide the highest levels of professionalism but have a lot of fun while doing it.?

Denim Group provides application development services, application security assessments and secure skills training for software developers. Today?s applications are central to a company?s growth as they support expansion to new geographical markets, improve integration and cooperation across business units, improve customer service, support development of new offerings, and improve process efficiency. However, because of the web, these applications are forced to expose more of their mission-critical backend systems than ever before. This makes secure application development an absolutely critical requirement to creating and retaining business value.

?Denim Group?s success in the market is due to its unusual blend of software development skills and secure application design expertise in a single consulting firm. We have the ability to look at the entirety of the solution, which can really accelerate time to market,? said Sheridan Chambers, Denim Group principal. ?When you combine that with our depth of expertise across multiple technologies and our commitment to providing our clients with extreme customer service, we can make sure that the end-product application not only can perform, but can execute in a manner designed to protect the company?s business, its reputation and its ability to succeed in the marketplace.?

About Denim Group

Denim Group is the leading secure software development firm. The company builds custom large-scale software development projects across multiple platforms, languages and applications. What makes Denim Group unique is that the company brings significant core competencies in software security to the table, offering an innovative blend of secure software development, testing and training capabilities that protect a company’s biggest asset, its data. Denim Group customers span an international client base of commercial and public sector organizations across the financial services, banking, insurance, healthcare and defense industries to name a few. Its depth of experience building large-scale software development projects in a secure fashion has made the company?s leaders recognized experts in their fields. Denim Group has been recognized as one of the 5,000 Fastest Growing Company?s by Inc. Magazine several years in a row, and has won multiple awards including its recent accolades as one of the best places to work in San Antonio. For more information about Denim Group visit http://www.denimgroup.com

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Citrix XenApp Book From Packt Publishing Now on Kindle

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:04:16 +0000

UK (PRWEB) November 12, 2011

Birmingham: Packt Publishing, a world leader in the publishing of quality information for IT professionals is pleased to announce that Getting Started with Citrix XenApp 6 is available on Amazon’s Kindle.

Getting Started with Citrix XenApp 6, by Guillermo Musumeci, is a comprehensive tutorial with details on how to design, implement, and maintain Citrix farms based on XenApp 6. Additionally, readers will learn how to use management tools and scripts for daily tasks such as managing servers, published resources, printers, and connections. XenApp 6 Deployment and optimization on Citrix XenServer, VMware ESX, and Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines and physical servers is also covered.

The book has been developed in a tutorial style with step-by-step instructions and numerous screenshots for carrying out each task. Full book details are provided on the Packt Publishing website.

Packt Publishing is committed to providing high value information for Citrix professionals and has a number of other projects in development.

About Packt Publishing.

Packt is an innovative publishing company based in the UK. It publishes extensively into both the Open Source and Enterprise spaces. With Enterprise, the company has published almost 200 books into technologies such as Citrix, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and others.

Packt recently launched its own in-house library platform, called: PacktLib. PacktLib offers all Packt’s books through any web browser for a low annual subscription.

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PowerDNN Launches A Global Cloud Platform for DotNetNuke

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:32:41 +0000

Omaha, NE (PRWEB) November 11, 2011

PowerDNN, the worlds largest DotNetNuke hosting provider, and a platinum sponsor of the DotNetNuke World conference, has announced the immediate release of the PowerGrid Global Cloud solution for DotNetNuke.

The PowerGrid Global Cloud leverages a variety of enterprise technologies used by companies such as Facebook and Google, to provide a seamless, global web presence.

On the PowerGrid Global Cloud, websites are deployed across multiple data centers in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Customers are automatically routed to their nearest data center. For example: Australian customers go to Australian data centers, European customers go to European data centers, and American customers go to American data centers. Customers in other parts of the world are automatically routed to the closest data center. This delivers the fastest experience to end users, and also provides unique redundancy capabilities.

With a traditional cloud, such as those offered by Microsoft, Amazon, and RackSpace, performance demanding customers are provisioned across multiple servers within a single data center. All requests are routed to a primary data center where load balancing happens within the chosen data center. Customers near the data center have a good experience, while customers that are located far from the data center receive a second-class experience. Additionally, in a traditional cloud model, a data center failure is a catastrophic event. However, when a website is deployed on the PowerGrid Global Cloud, if a failure occurs, all users are automatically rerouted to the next fastest, available data center. This requires no intervention from system administrators and takes place in less than two minutes.

As Tony Valenti, CEO of PowerDNN states, “There are many companies who offer multi-server cloud solutions, but many of these solutions all reside within the same data center. International customers typically receive a second-class experience. While few companies can even fail over from one data center to another, we have raised the bar to create seamless redundancy between global datacenters. We actively serve websites from multiple data centers and customers always visit the data center nearest to themselves. Regardless of geographic location, all customers receive a first-class experience.?

In his session at DotNetNuke World, founder and CEO Tony Valenti will discuss the various technologies that enable global cloud solutions. Building on these themes, he will then discuss the automated data synchronization and distribution required for enterprise cloud environments.

About PowerDNN

PowerDNN, a DotNetNuke Gold Certified Partner, serves over 150,000 DotNetNuke websites and is the worlds largest DotNetNuke hosting provider. PowerDNN specializes in enterprise business solutions for large organizations with complex hosting requirements. Websites that are hosted with PowerDNN include many of the largest DotNetNuke deployments in the world including: the public-facing websites of Pier1Imports.com, LittleCaesars.com, and InfoGroup.com, as well as SECSports.com and NCAAFootball.com . Our 24/7 engineering team provides assistance and support for our customers worldwide. PowerDNN is privately held and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska with offices in Reno, NV, as well as Manchester, England.

About DotNetNuke Corp.

DotNetNuke software is used by developers, designers and business people to quickly build and easily maintain websites of all kinds. We are the number one Web content management solution in the Microsoft ecosystem — more than 700,000 websites have been deployed worldwide using our products. Our online store speeds up this process by offering over 10,000 apps and add-ons that quickly and easily extend our product. Thousands of organizations like True Value, Bose, Cornell University, Glacier Water, Pier One Imports, El Camino Hospital and the City of Denver have leveraged DotNetNuke to deploy highly engaging business critical websites. There have been over 7 million downloads of our open source project, which fuels an active global community one million strong. The rapid growth of our commercial products resulted in DotNetNuke Corp. being named as one of the fastest growing private companies in America on the 2011 Inc. 500 list. Founded in 2006 and funded by Sierra Ventures, August Capital and Pelion Venture Partners, DotNetNuke Corp. is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices in Vancouver and Amsterdam.

DotNetNuke? and DNN? are registered trademarks of DNN Corp. All other registered and unregistered trademarks in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

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Thrive Furniture Launches New Affiliate Program

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:59:51 +0000

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 10, 2011

Thrive Furniture, a high-end mid century modern furniture manufacturer, has implemented a new affiliate program designed to help connect people with products. Anyone can sign up to be a Thrive Furniture affiliate. This position is a lot like a sales associate at a high-end retail store, except pay is entirely on commission rather than an hourly wage. This web-based sales affiliate model still manages to give salespeople a hefty chunk of the profit, however. Affiliates earn a 15% commission on every referral.

Who is Thrive Furniture?

The mission of Thrive Home Furnishings, a Los Angeles-based home furnishing company, is to re-popularize eclectic mid-century modern furniture for contemporary consumers. All of Thrive Furniture’s products are made in the USA, and the company is committed to eco-friendly processes and materials in every piece of furniture it makes. With a focus on high-end design at eminently reasonable prices, Thrive Furniture is committed to providing customers with a positive furniture-buying experience. Affiliates can also stand behind the company’s lifetime guarantee, which may help potential customers make the plunge and buy furniture that will never go out of style or repair.

Thrive Furniture is also noted for its easy-to-use website and forward-thinking internet marketing strategies. A professional web presence, smooth online browsing experience and customer service team have also received praise from nearly 45,000 satisfied customers over the past several years.

How Does the Thrive Furniture Affiliate Plan Work?

Thrive Furniture executives say this about the affiliate plan: “We’ve created a great opportunity for website owners in the mid century modern niche to make extra income. With an average commission of $ 225, the numbers add up quickly.” said Joshua Stellin, Director at Thrive. Aimed at sales professionals who want to make a little extra cash on the side, affiliates advertise Thrive Furniture in whatever way they like, whether on their websites, through direct emails to friends, chatting at parties or on social media. The means is unimportant, though Thrive Furniture suggests making use of social networks like Facebook to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Each affiliate receives a personalized link. If a customer clicks on the link, they will be taken directly to the website. If that customer ends up buying the product, the affiliate will receive 15% of the profits. Even if the customer closes the window and re-opens it to buy the product later, the initial affiliate will still receive 15% of the profits. This provides incentive for affiliates to spread the word around as much as possible so people will visit Thrive Furniture. Commissions are paid monthly via PayPal or standard paper check.

Affiliate Program a Success

An all-American company takes on the world of Internet and social media marketing and launches a new program to take advantage of people’s desire to share quality products with one another. Affiliates receive extra cash at a time when they most need it. Customers get high-quality crafted furniture at reasonable prices. From the looks of it, Thrive Furniture’s affiliate program is a great deal for everyone involved.

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iPhone 4S Siri App Leaves Scottish Speechless Says 2u.co.uk

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:27:56 +0000

Lubenham, Leicestershire (PRWEB UK) 10 November 2011

Siri, the latest app for the iPhone 4S, allows users to make voice commands to send messages, schedule meetings and place phone calls. Siri is designed to understand what the user says and means.

Unfortunately Siri fails to understand the Scottish accent, leaving Scottish iPhone users frustrated and struggling to be understood. Now it is set for release in Ireland too, Irish users may not fare any better says 2U Ltd

When Apple launched their latest innovation, the eagerly awaited iPhone 4S, in early October 2011, it looked like their new voice recognition app was set to be the winning new feature. For most users it probably still is, but for many with accents it is currently not working to its full potential, as Scottish iPhone users have discovered to their cost.

After paying out in excess of ?500 for the new iPhone 4S, some of Apple?s Scottish customers are being misunderstood by Siri says 2u.co.uk

The voice command simply doesn?t understand the Scottish accent and many customers are showing their increased frustration by posting their efforts to be understood by Siri on YouTube. One Scottish iPhone user filmed seven attempts to get Siri to understand his request to simply ?create a reminder?. Siri translated this into ?Create Aramane? and ?Create Aramanda?.

Judging by sketches on Scottish television comedy show ?Burnistoun?, voice recognition devices and the Scottish accent are generally not getting along and now Apple, the world?s leading technological giant, has not got it right either. Siri, the much heralded feature of the iPhone upgrade simply isn?t working for everyone at the moment.

Those with Australian and Asian accents are also missing out on one of the main benefits of the new iPhone 4S says a spokesperson for 2U Ltd.

With its release in Ireland imminent, will Irish iPhone users have more success than the Scottish and what can buyers do if they are unhappy with it? According to Apple, Siri will be enabled on the 4S in every country including France and Germany, but some users with accents may still experience problems as it is configured to UK, US and Australian English.

Grant Burrows from 2U Ltd; an iPhone insurance comparison company, says ?Anyone buying the iPhone 4S specifically for the Siri voice recognition should check it responds appropriately to their accent before they buy it. If it is unsuitable it can be returned to the supplier within the return period. The fact that Siri is not functioning properly because it doesn?t understand a user?s accent is not a malfunction of the device itself so it?s not possible for the customer to claim on insurance for a fault at a later date if they are unhappy with it.?

To be fair to Apple, when Siri is able to understand, it can act like a brilliant personal assistant; creating reminders, changing schedules, searching the web, sending texts and a lot more. It is truly interactive and multitasking; unless one has a Scottish, Australian or Asian accent that is.

This is the first time voice recognition, to the standard of the sophisticated Siri, has ever appeared on a mobile phone and hopefully its current inability to understand everyone is just a temporary glitch. Most voice recognition software on the UK market improves with repeated use. ?The software usually builds up a profile of the user?s voice so the success rate of word recognition increases.? says Simon Shaw of iPhone 4S insurance comparison site 2u.co.uk

Scottish customers may find Siri improves with use too. But if it does not, will Apple be in a hurry to appease their complaints and fix the problem? At the time of writing Apple have not commented on the difficulties Scottish customers are experiencing. With sales of the iPhone 4S at 4 million globally in the first weekend of its release, Apple?s newest arrival is certainly making an impact across the world.

Perhaps the world will have to wait for the next upgrade, the iPhone 5, to be totally understood. In the meantime, if Siri cannot understand the Scottish accent, we can expect a plethora of videos posted on share sites from misunderstood Irish iPhone users too.

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Global Ceramic Capacitors Market to Reach US$17.9 Billion by 2017, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:56:07 +0000

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

Follow us on LinkedIn – Capacitors, though minor and passive components, have become indispensable in all major electronic devices. Ceramic capacitors, with their ability to support the power supply needed for semiconductor devices, have emerged as an integral component of the semiconductor devices. Hampered by the economic turmoil, the global ceramic capacitors market experienced weakening demand starting from the year 2008 until late 2009. However, the market recovered significantly in the year 2010, and is forecast to grow at a faster rate compared to the other segments, primarily due to their usage in almost all electronic devices. In addition, the development of new designs of MLCCs, with higher capacitances, improved bypassing, filtering and decoupling capabilities, is expected to expand their application in a broader range of end use markets. Prospects for ceramic capacitors therefore remain upbeat through the forecast period. Technological advancements and the emergence of new end use markets constitute the key growth drivers in the ceramic capacitors market. In addition, the increasing investments of manufacturers and suppliers to improve capacitance, making it useful in a broad array of applications, would spur market growth through the foreseeable future.

Asia-Pacific represents the largest regional market for ceramic capacitors worldwide, as stated by the new market research report on Ceramic Capacitors. Europe represents the second largest regional market globally. However, growth in the market would be led by the developing markets, including Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America, over the analysis period. Asia-Pacific is forecast to post a compounded annual growth rate of about 20.6% during the analysis period.

Manufacturers of ceramic capacitors are increasing the manufacture of these components in order to meet the burgeoning demand from the semiconductors industry. Resultantly, the market is not expected to see supply shortages in the near future. Prices of ceramic capacitors are expected to decline in the foreseeable future, owing to the buildup of production capacity. Additionally, the market is benefited by the continual efforts of players around the globe to develop high-capacitance designs of X5R, X7R, and Y5V dielectrics. Apart from increasing capacitance, efforts of manufacturers to expand the range of specialty radial/axial leaded products, has been another boon to the ceramic capacitors industry. Other growth drivers in the industry include the increasing demand for mobile technology and technological advancements in emerging fields, including medical equipment and devices.

Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs), with their multilayered design possesses higher capacitance values compared to the single layered capacitors. Continual advancements in technology, with respect to the increase in capacitance per unit volume, are driving the demand for MLCCs. Researchers around the globe are trying to design MLCCs with better capacitance per unit volume, in order to meet the demand for several end-use industries. For instance, MLCC manufacturers from Japan have developed MLCCs with nearly 1000 dielectric layers and a thickness of just one micrometer. Such advancements in technology are leading to a gradual increase in capacitance per unit volume, thereby increasing the suitability of MLCCs in a wide range of product applications and electronic devices.

Major players profiled in the report include Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Inc., EPCOS AG, Evox Rifa Group OYJ, KEMET Corporation, Kyocera Corporation, Murata Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation, Taiyo Yuden Co Ltd, TDK Corporation, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Walsin Technology Corporation, Yageo Corporation, among others.

The research report titled ?Ceramic Capacitors: A Global Strategic Business Report? announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the ceramic capacitors markets, current market trends, key growth drivers, recent product launches, recent industry activity, and profiles of major/niche global as well as regional market participants. The report provides annual sales estimates and projections for ceramic capacitors market for the years 2009 through 2017 for the following geographic markets – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America. Also, a six-year (2003-2008) historic analysis is provided for additional perspective.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit ? http://www.strategyr.com/Ceramic_Capacitors_Market_Report.asp

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

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

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Empathia and Edington Associates Team Up to Help Companies Develop a Culture of Health

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:25:22 +0000

Waukesha, Wis / (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

Empathia, Inc. and Edington Associates announced today an alliance to support organizations developing a deeply ingrained culture of health. Together, Empathia and Edington will deliver assessments and tools to build the leadership, sustainable positive behavior change, and measurable results of a healthy workforce.

The alliance pairs the Edington System’s approach to culture of health consultation and development with the Empathia Experience, which applies the science of positive behavior change to individual and organizational well-being. Their assessment process will provide a detailed roadmap for organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of their employees within a framework of measurable outcomes.

Dee Edington, Ph.D., renowned wellness pioneer and author of the best-selling book Zero Trends, recently launched Edington Associates, a firm that integrates decades of research into strategies that create “Champion Companies” in the culture of health movement. Dr. Edington’s work shows that significant improvements in workplace wellness can be achieved by aligning organizational culture with proven drivers that catalyze and support lasting behavior change.

Edington Associates is partnering with only a handful of key firms to deliver best-in-class services that augment and enhance outcomes achieved through the Edington System. It was a natural fit for Empathia to collaborate with Edington Associates.

With over 30 years of experience, Empathia is a provider of choice for organizations seeking quality behavioral health solutions, from EAP to leadership development to workplace culture enhancement. In addition, Empathia has been a principle participant in several studies demonstrating the positive benefits that culture-specific behavior change initiatives have on both individuals and their employers.

“Empathia is an expert in organizational design and behavior change that fuel a positive, healthy workforce,” said Dr. Edington. “They offer an invaluable set of tools, including training and software that build strong leaders. Such leaders are essential for organizations determined to ingrain a culture of health.”

“Empathia has long embraced the integration of initiatives for building workplace culture with efforts that support individual behavior change,” said Philip Chard, President & CEO of Empathia, Inc. “The missing piece in many corporate wellness programs is the application of the science of behavior change. By combining the assessment intelligence, tailored strategies and consultative resources of Edington Associates with our behavior change expertise, we can offer organizations a proven path to a culture of health and well-being.”

About Empathia, Inc.

Empathia provides behavioral health solutions that improve the well-being, safety and productivity of organizations and individuals. The company collaborates with private and public sector entities from expansive Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses in addressing a diverse range of needs: employee assistance, disaster response and planning, work-life balance, employee relations, leadership development, training and benefits support. Founded in 1982 under the name NEAS, Empathia has distinguished itself as a quality leader dedicated to creating a superior customer experience for both client organizations and employees. For more information, visit http://www.empathia.com.

About Edington Associates

Edington Associates partners with organizations worldwide to create and maintain healthy, high-performing workplaces and workforces. Its efforts help clients reduce and eliminate the upward trend of excess healthcare costs and productivity losses. Its “Champion Companies” model the discoveries of Dr. Dee W. Edington’s 30 years of research at the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center. His work is captured in his groundbreaking book, Zero Trends: Health As a Serious Economic Strategy. Edington Associates’ leaders and board members are experts from Pfizer Health Solutions Inc.; HealthMedia, now a part of Johnson & Johnson; and Cigna HealthCare Business Development. For more information visit http://www.edingtonassociates.com.

Media Contact:

Carrie Reuter

Empathia, Inc.

866-332-9595

creuter(at)empathia(dot)com

Mary Jo Cartwright

Edington Associates

734-998-8326

mjc(at)edingtonassociates(dot)com

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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Newcondo.com.sg Now Provides Best Singapore Condo with Skyline Residences and Ascentia Sky

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:20:15 +0000

Singapore (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

The well known newcondo.com.sg has ventured into best Singapore Condo properties with the Skyline Residences and the Ascentia Sky condo projects.

These new condo projects are aimed at providing the best condo facilities at most affordable rates to the Singapore property buyers. The elegant design and modern interior furnishing altogether give a magnificent look to the houses. In addition to the artistic look, the condo apartments are technically equipped to provide best user experience in terms of luxury and comfort.

Besides the lease hold basis, the company also provides new Launch condo properties on free hold basis in its new property launch. The Ascentia City and the Skyline Residence are best offered condos in the latest property sale segment of the company. These properties have been launched in an endeavor to provide best affordable properties to the potential buyers interested in buying the best Singapore condo.

Features of Skyline Residences

1.Luxurious free hold condos

These condos provide a high level of luxury with best facilities. The place has been technically equipped to provide all the modern facilities.

2.Beautiful surroundings

The surrounding of the Skyline Residence gives a panoramic view of the beautiful environment.

The cool, fresh and natural environment here definitely attracts the attention of each and everyone.

3.Excellent location

Perfectly located, it is alongside the upcoming Telok Blangah MRT and very near to Vivocity shopping mall, Universal Studios Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa.

4.Best and luxurious interior furnishing

Marvelous interior furnishing with marble decorations provide a luxurious stay at this condo facility.

Features of the Ascentia Sky

1.Lifestyle sky gardens

These gardens are a unique symbol of the Ascentia Sky. Besides providing an eye soothing sight, they also give fresh air to breathe in.

2.Beautifully landscape with theme facilities

The building is situated on a wide area which allows a number of facilities like good parking area and luxury swimming pools, which allow the creation of well planned theme facilities.

3.Scope of lavish and endless adventure activities

The adventure activities at Ascentia Sky have no bounds. A stay in this wonderful location definitely gives a chance for exploration of many activities related to adventure and excitement.

4.Top quality finishes and fittings

The finishing and furnishing is absolutely amazing here.With all these lavish features, the two projects under Singapore Property are definitely going to attract a number of buyers not only from the country but abroad as well.

For further info, just visit this link: http://www.newcondo.com.sg

About the Newcondo.com.sg

Newcondo.com.sg is a leading real estate company that provides best and hottest Singapore property launches. A professional advice based on perfect market analysis is the aim of the company. It has a good presence in the Singapore Market and has a number of satisfied clients who are a testimony to the best services the company has delivered.

Contact:

Contact Person: Andrew Boo

Company Name: newcondo.com.sg

Telephone Number: (+65) 6385 7731

Web site address: http://www.newcondo.com.sg

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FeedSyndicate Releases New Version of Easy to Use WordPress Plugin

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:49:06 +0000

Wilmington, DE (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

FeedSyndicate today announced the release of a brand new version of its easy to use WordPress plugin that automatically downloads the latest news content from FeedSyndicate and the WordPress content management system.

?Users can now automatically access and synchronize their site with the latest news content from FeedSyndicate.? Says Jeff Brown, CEO of FeedSyndicate. ?We?ve eliminated the need for complex, expensive and time consuming programming.?

Using the plugin to automatically auto-sync the news to your WordPress site and is displayed on your pages using your existing page design templates.

The plugin is available for download at http://www.feedsyndicate.com/software and requires an active FeedSyndicate content account and a working WordPress enabled website.

About FeedSyndicate:

FeedSyndicate is a leading provider of real-time news, business and financial information, weather, horoscopes and other content for web, wireless, print, broadcast, digital signage and interactive applications.

Need Content?

FeedSyndicate content accounts are extremely affordable.. Visit http://www.FeedSyndicate.com for more information.

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Truth in Social Media Analytics: Polygraph Media Launches in Private Beta at Defrag 2011

admin — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:16:28 +0000

Broomfield, Colo. (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

Polygraph Media, a new analytics platform that helps companies better understand and manage their social media assets and activity, launched in private beta today at Defrag 2011. Polygraph provides actionable engagement analytics for companies measured across both their own social media properties, and their competitors.

Social media activity has grown to such levels that it is difficult for either large brands to know exactly what they?re doing and how they?re doing across assets, or for smaller agencies and companies to afford quality analytics reports. Polygraph Media gives users a set of tools to manage and analyze the effectiveness of their social media properties and those of their competitors.

At the Defrag Conference on November 9th and 10th, Polygraph will unveil the private beta launch of their new on-demand, single-serve snapshot reports for companies, an affordable analysis of how a company?s social media assets, or those of a competitor, are doing.

Polygraph mines deeper engagement data than other analytics services, and leverages a cross-platform functionality that will integrate across Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter to give an accurate picture of how well companies use social media. Like a credit report, Polygraph reports give a just-the-facts account that can then be leveraged to diagnose where a company?s social media pain points are and create an actionable plan accordingly.

?Social media data is a giant black hole for brands. Data is routinely ignored. Executives and marketers have wildly different views about what the data represents, and how to measure success. Consultants usually add to the confusion,? said Chris Treadaway, Polygraph Media founder and CEO, and author of the book Facebook Marketing An Hour a Day. ?With Polygraph, we want to provide users with the clear understanding that only data can provide. We want to help companies truly know themselves and how they are performing, and what has been effective or not for their competitors. Nobody has put this kind of information into simple, easily understood reports, and that?s what we?re doing.?

Polygraph looks within a social media property at immediate audience, extended network size, key demographics, for number of likes, followers, friends, trending topics, top keywords, comment numbers, @replies and total view counts. The data is segmented by account, time, or in custom ways that the user defines on the fly.

In private beta, Polygraph will launch with a straightforward and affordable tiered pricing structure for both single reports and subscriptions. Single reports start as low as $ 99.

The tools and reports are designed to help large companies answer the following questions:

????Who are the most engaged & influential fans?
????What types of interactions take place on our Page?
????What types of content works best on our Page?
????What time of day & days of the week do people interact with us most?

In early 2012, Polygraph Media will begin opening its underlying social data platform to enterprise developers for deeper integrations and data scenarios. These apps will range from profanity protection and cross-channel moderation filters to enterprise social data mining as a service.

Until now, the team has been working with a selected group of large brands and companies as beta testers. They are currently recruiting agency partners. To register for the private beta visit: http://www.polygraphmedia.com

About Polygraph Media

Polygraph is a social analytics and management platform specifically designed to help companies and brands understand how their social media assets are performing and turn that social data into real, actionable engagement intelligence for more effective campaigns. Polygraph provides high resolution reports, both on demand and by subscription, on how both you and your competitors are performing across social media.

The Polygraph beta release is currently available on the web. For more information please visit http://www.polygraphmedia.com.

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Movius Introduces Software-Based Communication Applications Platform, CAF??

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:44:31 +0000

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) November 09, 2011

Movius Interactive Corporation, a leader in communication applications, announced today the introduction of CAF?, a new Communication Applications Framework Engine that enables service providers to offer a constant flow of new relevant applications to their end-users in an affordable, rapid and cloud ready environment.

The telecommunications world and the Internet have always existed in silos, but CAF? changes that paradigm by allowing applications and the end user experience to seamlessly cross the boundaries of the Internet and the telecom world.

?As an established leader in telecommunications solutions, Movius understands not only the latest application trends, but also the market dynamics that constantly redirect the design of the underlying VAS platforms,? said Dominic Gomez, Movius President & CEO.

CAF??s software-based architecture is designed to effectively handle real-time communications while reducing the cost and time needed to create, deploy and monetize new applications. Designed for adaptability, the Applications Development Kit (ADK) on CAF? supports emerging and existing specifications and interfaces as well as easy integration to a service provider?s infrastructure.

?With the growing demand for personalization and in an era where messaging is more relevant than ever, the CAF? multimodal multimedia messaging architecture enables service providers to give the end user greater command and control,? said Amit Modi, SVP & GM Products, Services and Technology at Movius.

CAF??s high port density, scalable and multi-tenanted architecture allows not only for significant opex savings but also helps reduce carbon footprint and provide a greener deployment. The combination of cloud technology and virtualization available through CAF? drastically changes the application lifecycle by allowing service providers to quickly create and teardown applications depending on market fit.

The greatest value a service provider gains from CAF? is the applications it is capable of providing. While Movius? applications for Converged Messaging, Conferencing and Virtual Communications will all be delivered on CAF?, Movius believes that a modern application platform must be open to third-party application development as well. This helps ensure that a service provider can deploy all the applications their customers demand regardless of who develops them. With CAF?, telecommunications service providers can now compete with web service providers and offer new relevant applications to their end-users.

?CAF? will enable Movius to not only continue to offer the suite of applications that service providers worldwide have depended on us for but will also provide the foundation for future applications,? said Gomez.

?CAF? will help service providers in their pursuit to offer network application stores providing latest solutions for multimodal messaging, social interaction and multimedia communications. These applications can either be provided by Movius, by one of our partners or by the service providers themselves,? said Modi.

CAF? is currently in trial at select customers and is scheduled for General Availability in the first quarter of 2012. To learn more visit http://www.moviuscorp.com/cafe.aspx.

About Movius

Movius is a recognized leader in communications applications for telecommunication providers around the world. Our solutions for converged messaging, virtual telephony and conferencing & collaboration enable service providers in established and emerging markets to meet the needs of their consumer and enterprise customers. By continually innovating new services, Movius transforms the way the world interacts. For more information, please visit http://www.moviuscorp.com.

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High Performance Industrial Heat-Resistant Protective Blankets Announced by Torch Wear

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:12:29 +0000

Twinsburg, OH (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

A new line of industrial heat-resistant blankets has been introduced by Torch Wear. The blankets are designed to protect workers from severe heat injuries from molten metal splash, metal-cutting, welding, arc flash or potential exposure to intense heat. This personal protective equipment has applications in the nuclear, automotive, heat treating, military, primary metals, foundry and metal fabrication industries.

Torch Wear? Ultimate Blankets are made with patented CarbonX? flame resistant fabric, which when exposed to intense heat or flame will carbonize and then expand, dramatically reducing the oxygen content within the fabric. Unlike many of the most widely used fire-retardant fabrics currently available, CarbonX will not char, shrink or burn when exposed to heat and flame. CarbonX fabric is not a chemically treated material. Rather, it is a yarn created by spinning oxidized polyacrylonitrile fiber with an Aramid strengthening agent. The blankets provide two layers of Carbonex fabric protection and a layer of durable Twaron? aramid fiber to provide abrasion resistance. They can be employed as firewalls, and insulation. (Blankets are employed with yellow Twaron fabric towards personnel.)

Torch Wear blankets also offer protection from electrical arc explosion (arc flash). When used as an arc suppression blanket, they can provide a barrier from peripheral arcs, and have been rated to over 100 cal/cm2, NFPA 70E.

Blankets are available with or without grommets and in four sizes: 5′ x 5′, 5′ x 6′, 6′ x 6′ and 8′ x 8′. Custom sizes are available.

Torch Wear Ultimate Blankets are the latest addition to a line of innovative protective clothing including welding gloves, protective sleeves, aprons, hoods and coats. Torch Wear has been selling ?ultimate safety? since 2005.

Torch Wear is located at 2374 Edison Blvd., Twinsburg, OH 44087, PH 800-479-7165 or

330-425-2738, FAX: 330-425-2739. Web: http://www.torchwear.com Email: info(at)torchwear(dot)com

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The Scoop on Brand Copycats in the Fine Diamond Jewelry Industry, according to Avianne & Co Jewelers

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:41:01 +0000

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

In the fine jewelry industry, it’s easy for buyers to fall victim to false information provided by what would otherwise be known as a “reputable source.” Each day, consumers browse the web and real world seeking specific products manufactured by brands they can trust and depend on. In today’s fast paced blog-driven world, its easy to get caught up in the barrage of images, statements and advertising targeted towards users. Avianne & Co Jewelers, world renowned manufacturers of custom diamond jewelry, is just one example of the many brands affected by sites and people impersonating the real deal.

Having made a name in the jewelry industry as the premier source of unique and extravagant diamond jewelry, the jewelers of Avianne & Co have taken extra time and effort in solidifying their name and image. As such, many times the actual partners and employees are seen out and about in the media and industry events, representing the brand. “We feel that in order to maintain a personalized relationship with our diverse clientele base, we must be there for them when they do what they do. When your clients spend time with you in the real world, you develop a longstanding relationship that is not based around dollars and cents, but on a legitimate friendship/business relationship,” says Joe Avianne, Founder of Avianne & Co Jewelers.

However, as the public grows aware of the real world and online presence of these individuals, so do brand imitators. It turns out, that while Avianne & Co Jewelers is building a strong presence in the jewelry world, lesser-known companies are attempting to “ride the wave” in an effort to gain exposure from the brand’s notoriety. For example, it has come to the attention of Avianne & Co Jewelers that several similarly named brands are showing face in the industry pretending to be with the brand. As extraordinary as it sounds, there really are people who claim to be employed by Avianne & Co, conversing with big name clients and public figures – even closing deals for high ticket items.

“On more than one occasion, we were notified of impostors claiming to work for our brand, approaching clients and pushing their own merchandise to them – which of course does not meet the standards of quality set forth by our company. This is not only alarming to us as businessmen, but as the go-to designers of hip hop diamond jewelry for artists worldwide,” says Ethan Storme, Head of Custom Designs.

In one notable instance, Avianne & Co Jewelers came in contact with an NFL player, a potential client, who was already familiar with the brand. Upon conversing with the player, it was discovered that recently he had engaged in quite a large purchase with a man named Gabriel, who had claimed to be a senior member of the Avianne & Co organization. The athlete then proceeded to describe how he had paid approximately $ 100,000 for a high end item from Gabriel, only to find out that the product was appraised for no more than $ 30,000. Such instances are not uncommon, and cause a very negative image of the actual brand, who would never engage in such bad business. In this case and many others, the negativity directed at Avianne & Co is reverberated throughout the sports world, leaving a bad taste in potential clients’ mouths prior to even working with the true brand itself.

“It is slightly upsetting that we set forth a certain standard of quality and work overtime to maintain a positive image, only to have it completely ruined by impostors,” asserts Storme.

Just hours prior to the release of this statement, the team at Avianne & Co got a call from a close friend who stated that he was in a meeting with notable hip hop artist and jeweler who claimed to be with the brand. Such incidents occur on a daily basis, and it must be made clear to the world that this is happening. In another case, a store only miles away from the Avianne & Co headquarters in midtown Manhattan, claimed to be a subsidiary of the brand. Apparently a member of the company goes by the name “Avi”, and poses as a member of the Avianne & Co team.

“You’ll be surprised how many people carry the name “Avi the Jeweler”, and cause confusion in the industry when claiming to be with our firm. Just because a person contains three letters of our company name, does not make him a member, ” says George Avianne, Director of eCommerce.

But there is hope, of course. With enough awareness about the issue and by making themselves open to the public on various levels, Team Avianne is doing all they can to prevent imitators from hurting the image. Although it is in their best interest to take legal action against the impostors, the brand takes a firm position in a more diplomatic approach to the issue. After a while, the public does take notice of imitators and fakes, causing a snowball effect which will resolve the confusion set forth by impostors such as Gabe, Avi, and others.

“If the customers do their research, they will know who’s a phony, and who is truly with our brand. All it takes is a simple Google search,” concludes Joe Avianne.

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Search Engine Academy Washington DC Supports Employment For Veterans #Veterans

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:10:14 +0000

Washington DC (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

The MILCOM 2011 International Conference and Homeward Deployed’s “Summit to Create a National Community-Based Model for Veteran Transition” is on Wednesday, November 9 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.

Search Engine Academy Washington DC (SEA DC) is attending the Veteran’s Transition Conference to learn more about the educational and career needs of active duty military personnel transitioning back to civilian life, as well as introduce attendees to the career possibilities of being a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialist.

“I’ve developed an SEO Work Study Program, and this is a great opportunity to introduce it to folks who are transitioning from active duty military status to civilian, and many of our wounded warriors, vets and active military women and men don’t know what they’re going to do for a living. I want to help veterans open up to the possibility of getting trained and certified to be SEO specialists and consultants,” said Nancy E. Wigal, the owner and operator of SEA DC.

SEA DC offers a five day SEO Comprehensive Mastery training and certification course that is geared towards individuals who want to learn the latest SEO techniques and processes to work full time in search engine marketing. There are discounts for veterans who register to learn SEO.

One of the training modules on the last day is “Tips For The Professional SEO.” The module shows attendees how to identify target markets to approach and establish relationships with prospects to convert them into paying clients.

“I’ve taken this module a step further by creating and offering for no additional cost my SEO Work Study Program. I show participants the basics of how to set up their SEO business, such as getting a business license, picking an accountant, getting business cards and setting up their SEO business website. I also give them some real-world experience by practicing on live web pages,” according to Nancy.

The work study program is approximately three to four months long. Participants must establish and complete goals during the program, including approaching prospects, analyzing websites for the depth of SEO work required, writing up a proposal and creating an SEO services contract.

“It’s not enough to teach folks how to be SEO consultants and specialists. For those who want to do this on a freelance basis, but have never started a business on their own, it can be really overwhelming. I’m trying to give them the benefit of my own lessons learned and show them it can be done. It’s a lot of work, but since SEO is a growing career field, anyone who has the passion and motivation for doing SEO as an independent consultant can succeed, given time,” Nancy said.

Search Engine Academy training is face to face, eight hours per day. Attendees should bring an internet-ready laptop to do online work. All course materials are provided by SEA DC, and an online exam is administered at the end of the training. Students must score 76% or better to pass the exam and be certified in search engine optimization and marketing.

This year’s event is sponsored by AFCEA, and is in conjunction with MILCOM 2011. According to Homeward Deployed, the summit is designed:

To educate about the transition needs of OIF-OEF veterans, Guard, and Reserve as well as critical gaps in the system

To explore the three Resilience Pathways to economic self-sustainability for veterans, Guard, and Reserve: Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship

To create national collaborative working groups around each of the three Resilience Pathways

To engage regional community leaders and partners in participating in this coordinated model

Veterans, active duty military, retired military personnel who are looking for career options to transition to as civilians will be interested in learning more about SEO training through SEA DC. Spouses and dependents are also welcome to learn more about training for a new career as an SEO specialist.

“I’m excited to be part of this summit. Veteran employment is a passion with me. I’m a U.S. Army vet, and I remember how overwhelmed I felt way back when, getting discharged and wondering what the heck I was going to do with my life. If I can provide help for veterans to figure out a new career, that’s a good day for me!” said Nancy.

SEA DC is part of Search Engine Academy, founded in 1999 by John Alexander and Robin Nobles. Search Engine Academy has SEO training locations across the United States and Canada, as well as Australia and Malaysia.

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Missouri Botanical Garden Partners with SteadyRain in Digital Landscape Redesign

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:37:43 +0000

Saint Louis, MO (PRWEB) November 08, 2011

The Missouri Botanical Garden, a staple of the international botanical science community and a long-time St. Louis tourist attraction, announces its website re-launch with award-winning web development agency, SteadyRain. Through this partnership, the Garden and SteadyRain present a memorable online experience, allowing all audiences that visit the Garden to feel as welcome online as they do in person.

SteadyRain was asked to bring a cohesive approach through content management to the Garden?s digital landscape after being selected as the most qualified candidate in a request for proposals selection process in early 2010. The scope of the project included redesigning the look of the website, installing the user-friendly content management system DotNetNuke (DNN), and developing custom DNN modules to better manage the flow of important site information.

One custom DNN module focused on the monthly events hosted by the Garden. The module was designed to filter and display events according to predetermined specifications such as location or audience. For example, only events at the Butterfly House would be displayed on the Butterfly House section of the website. Another innovation was the co-branding of off-site locations and other specialized portions of the website to define a clear the relationship to the Garden while maintaining a separate identity. Examples of this approach are the Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve and ?Just for Kids.?

?This is one of the most comprehensive and exciting projects I have worked on to date. It was more than a movement to a content managed environment; it was an opportunity to re-think and improve how the Garden is sharing information online with their varied audiences,? said Eric Baggett, Director of Online Marketing. ?The combined efforts of both the Garden and SteadyRain teams resulted in a best-in-class web presence that improved content delivery and found exciting new ways to serve the website?s users. We are honored to play such an important role in a project of this caliber.?

As the result of an intensive review of the current website and several affiliated sites, SteadyRain and the Missouri Botanical Garden redesigned the website to feature enhanced navigation, spectacular digital imagery provided by the Garden, custom design and color palettes for each site segment and dynamic content relevant to the many organizations that reside under the Missouri Botanical Garden brand.

About the Missouri Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden?s mission is ?to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.? Today, 152 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.

For more information, please visit http://www.MissouriBotanicalGarden.org.

About SteadyRain

SteadyRain is a privately held, St. Louis-based Internet strategy, design and development firm that works closely with each of its clients to create unique and profitable Internet strategies through consulting, strategic planning, website design and development, online marketing solutions, web application development, and mobile application development.

SteadyRain has been helping businesses and organizations develop their online strategies, increase revenue, and decrease costs since 1999, having worked with clients such as Build-a-Bear Workshop, Great Rivers Greenway, the Missouri Division of Tourism, Nestle Purina, Novus International, and Washington University in St. Louis.

For more information about SteadyRain, please visit http://www.SteadyRain.com.

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Systemates Inc. Client Crate & Barrel to Speak at COAA’s Fall Leadership Conference on how Technology like Projectmates and Lean Principles Reduce Project Duration by 50%

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:05:11 +0000

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) November 07, 2011

Systemates Inc., the leading provider of construction management software, announced today that John Moebes, AIA, Director of Construction at Crate and Barrel, will present at the Construction Owners Association of America Leadership Conference. Construction owners from around the country will attend the conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas November 9-11. Moebes’s keynote session, titled “Lean It or Leave It! How Crate & Barrel Reduces Transaction Costs,” will illustrate how lean principles and technology like BIM and Projectmates construction management software drastically reduce cost and project duration.

View COAA’s Fall Leadership agenda and learn more about Crate and Barrel’s presentation by visiting COAA’s website.

A Projectmates client since 2002, Crate and Barrel has utilized Projectmates construction management software to manage new store construction in North America, including Ontario and Alberta, the United Arab Emirates, and has plans to expand to the United Kingdom in the very near future. As a 100% web-based software, Projectmates provides a platform for Crate and Barrel to collaborate with internal stakeholders and external contractors, architects, and vendors. “On our fast moving projects, if you?re not up to speed on what?s happened in the last 24 hours, you could miss a vital piece of information,” said Moebes.

About COAA

COAA was founded in 1994 to serve the interests of construction project owners. COAA is comprised of a diverse group of men and women representing construction project owners throughout America. COAA is dedicated to making a significant and lasting impact on the construction industry through its leadership by creating a unified, collective voice for owners’ issues in the construction process. Owners and Developers, both public and private, have needed a forum. A meeting place to gather, share common goals, learn, discuss, survey the future and share a collective voice. These are the goals that fostered the founding of Construction Owners Association of America. To learn more about COAA, visit http://www.coaa.org

About Crate and Barrel

Home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel was founded in Chicago in 1962 by retailing pioneers Gordon and Carole Segal. Working directly with European ateliers and factories to import their products, Crate and Barrel was among the first to make contemporary tabletop and kitchenwares designs affordable to American consumers. Today, Crate and Barrel is an industry leader, known for exclusive housewares and furniture designs, excellent value and superb customer service. In addition to a thriving direct marketing division, the company operates stores in most major North American markets, including Toronto and Calgary. In early 2010, Crate and Barrel partnered with franchisee Al Tayer Group to open the company’s first overseas stores in Dubai.

About Systemates, Inc

Founded in 1995 by leading architects and software engineers, Systemates developed Projectmates to equip owners and owner?s representatives with a secure, sophisticated Web-based construction management software solution. Projectmates? collaborative platform dramatically improves project execution and cuts costs and delays, increases accountability and reduces risks. With its cutting edge technology, Projectmates creates one seamless platform for managing the complete lifecycle of a building, from planning, bidding, and building to maintaining the facilities. Over 25,000 users from organizations such as Retailers, Real Estate developers, Educational and Government agencies rely on Projectmates to manage billions of dollars in capital construction programs. Systemates is privately held and headquartered in Dallas. To learn more about Projectmates by Systemates visit http://www.projectmates.com.

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Upcoming Seminar Helps Business Owners Plan 2012 Marketing Strategy

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:33:14 +0000

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) November 07, 2011

The recession has sent buyers into hiding, and local businesses are being forced to look at new ways to get back in front of them. An upcoming seminar titled ?Creating Your Killer 2012 SEO Strategy? hopes to make that happen by bringing WhereIsMyBusiness.com Internet Marketing expert Will Hanke and local business executives together for a one-day workshop in St. Louis.

The event, sponsored by Where Is My Business (WhereIsMyBusiness.com), focuses entirely on helping business owners in the Saint Louis area make their websites more search-engine friendly. The ?friendlier? their websites are, the better they rank in the major search engines like Google ? which leads to more customers in 2012.

?Business owners today have to be on the first page of Google,? comments Will Hanke, a search engine optimization expert from St Louis, MO. ?A simple website won?t do ? you need traffic. Since 89% of searchers don?t go past page one, it?s imperative to be on that first page of results. We?ll show our attendees how to get there.?

This isn?t the first time Hanke has put on a seminar like this. Since 2004 he has been helping local business owners optimize their way to the top of Google, Yahoo! and Bing. He teaches monthly SEO classes on everything from analytics to Places, Google?s local business and map system.

?These seminars are interactive and hands-on. Many small business owners bring their laptops and have improved their website before they even leave that evening,? says Hanke.

There are less than 20 tickets remaining.

When: Thursday November 17, 2011

Time: 6:30pm-9:00pm

Where: Staybridge Suites 1855 Craigshire, St Louis MO

Cost: $ 10

Who Should Attend: Business owners, managers, executives and web designers

Seminar Information: http://www.meetup.com/Where-Is-My-Business/

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Comfort Quest?s ?Be Prepared? Website Debuts Brisk First Week Traffic

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:01:21 +0000

Agoura Hills, CA (PRWEB) November 06, 2011

Comfort Quest, Inc., manufacturer of the Side Sleeper Pillow designed to help women manage their pain and sleep well after all types of chest surgery, announced an excellent first week of it?s new ?Be Prepared? website which helps women prepare for breast cancer surgery.

The Side Sleeper Pillow was designed specifically for surgical recovery or breast pain relief. Most women experience breast pain after several types of chest surgery. The recovery pillow will help patients after surgeries such as Augmentation, Cancer, Open Heart, Mastectomy, or Lumpectomy.

The ?Be Prepared? website is specifically designed as a single-source reference for women in need of learning more about breast cancer surgeries. The traffic on the new site was noticeably higher than predicted by Comfort Quest?s marketing research.

?We are very happy with the first week of this valuable reference website,? said Ben Kass President of Comfort Quest, Inc. ?Our intention was to create a one-stop resource for women to provide the information they need in order to be prepared for their surgery. The fact that there was three times the expected traffic indicates we are providing a valuable resource for women with scheduled surgeries.?

The breast support pillow has a manufacturer?s suggested retail price of $ 125. It is currently offered for $ 64.95 on the company?s web site as a special introduction sale. Comfort Quest already has a network of plastic surgeons and certified fitters in the United States and Canada which will supply their patients with the Side Sleeper Pillow or direct them to Comfort Quest?s web site at http://www.mycomfortquest.com.

Comfort Quest, Inc is a southern California based corporation located in Agoura Hills. The company intends to continue to develop post surgery products for women. The Side Sleeper Pillow is the company?s first product in this category.

For additional information:

Ben Kass????(818) 665-2012????

President

ben(at)mycomfortquest(dot)com

http://www.mycomfortquest.com

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Baltimore?s LIVE Hot Transfers Leader Positioned to Become Online Marketing Dynamo

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:29:49 +0000

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 03, 2011

It?s all about the people at DoublePositive Marketing Group, Inc., the undoubted leader in live telephone transfers and online marketing. And now, it?s all about more people. The company strengthened its online marketing team recently by making some key executive hires from powerhouses like AOL/Advertising.com and One-to-One Global, as well as others with deep experience in the space.

The recent hires?and their ability to deliver superior performance-based services?broaden the company?s industry reach and position the company to service new customers formerly unable to take advantage of live telephone transfers. Search engine marketing, display advertising, mobile marketing and advertising, and social media advertising round out the company?s online services suite.

Trent Walter, DoublePositive?s new vice president of national sales and former director of regional sales for AOL/Advertising.com, is enthusiastic about the offering. ?Our technology is designed for real-time advertising. And, unlike others, our system, by design, aims to satisfy the performance goals of the advertiser, not the publishers or the networks.?

JT Benton, DoublePositive?s new vice president of mobile marketing, adds ?we are committed to making a serious impact on the mobile web. Our mobile marketing division has a simple, vital mission: connect advertisers, publishers, and consumers on the mobile web. We will add value to every inquiry.?

Two years ago the company committed to the online marketing space, and soon after hired Paul DiDonno, current vice president at DoublePositive and former strategy manager at AOL/Advertising.com, to manage their flagship education account. Brian Tomasette, current vice president of media products at DoublePositive and former director of product sales and agency partnerships at AOL/Advertising.com, was hired shortly after DiDonno.

?I came to DoublePositive to continue my passion for performance marketing in the education space, and for the people,? says DiDonno. ?The (then) small team, everyone passionate about what they did, trusting each other, and everyone working for one goal?we made serious progress in a short amount of time.?

?It was an amazing opportunity to apply my experience and knowledge in online marketing. In the last two years, we have developed technology that surveys the marketplace, scores and optimizes bids based on our client?s performance goals, and then automatically adjusts those bids based on performance. That?s industry leading, and we continue to innovate.?

To support these initiatives, account management, delivery, media analysts, quality assurance, and sales teams are all in place lead by the industry?s most experienced and staffed with dozens of the industry?s brightest.

?We are really excited,? says Tomasette. ?We are creating the future of online advertising, and are armed with all of the tools and people to make it something memorable.?

About DoublePositive:

Nestled securely at the center of lead buying and selling ecosystem since 2004, DoublePositive?s proprietary technology capabilities cover the entire online marketing funnel from display (CPM) to search (CPC) to leads (Cost-per-Acquisition/Cost-per-Lead/Cost-per-Call) to transfers (CPT).

Ranked as one of the HOT 100 Fastest Growing Companies in America by Entrepreneur Magazine and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year? (Maryland), DoublePositive has helped thousands of lead buyers, sellers, and online advertisers transform their businesses.

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New American Pulse? Android Tablet App and InsightCenter? Reveals Current American Mindset

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:57:05 +0000

Worthington, OH (PRWEB) November 03, 2011

American citizens currently face a rough economy, high unemployment and an upcoming election that could alter their way of life. Changes in the economic climate from the stock market to the job market are greatly impacting citizens and shaping the way they feel about the economy, their personal happiness and the 2012 candidates. To track these shifts in sentiment, Prosper has announced the debut of the American Pulse? InsightCenter??a unique, free tool designed to help people better understand the ever-changing American mindset.

The American Pulse InsightCenter is a dynamic service derived from surveys collected every two weeks of 6,000+ Americans. It goes beyond traditional point-in-time data reports to trended insights. In addition, a special election page includes how Americans would vote if the presidential election were held today (President Obama vs. Unnamed Republican) and individual 2012 matchups.

It?s a compilation of all the key American insights you need to know, all in one place, and access is free of charge. No more scouring the web or cross-referencing multiple sources. It?s fast, easy to use and smart. Install the free tablet app and you?ve got answers at your fingertips to questions like ?Which republican candidates do Independent Voters support?? or ?Who?s more confident in the government?s economic policies: Boomers, Gen X or Gen Y?? Unlock these key insights and many more:

Click here to explore the American Pulse? InsightCenter? (Basic access is complimentary)

Download the Free App on Your Android Tablet

Click here for more information

The American Pulse InsightCenter is the third in a series of Android tablet apps and InsightCenters being released this year. Upcoming products include Chinese Consumer Insights and Auto Purchasers. Premium InsightCenters are available and are fully customizable, allowing users to select from ten years of consumer data, identify key segments and incorporate company branding.

The American Pulse InsightCenter from Prosper Business Development is powered by software from Prosper Technologies?. With a tradition of innovation for over 20 years, Prosper has provided market leadership and developed contemporary solutions to help companies at the top of their respective industries navigate change that impacts their business. Prosper has developed solutions that provide answers to today?s most urgent marketing issues.

About American Pulse? InsightCenter?

American Pulse? InsightCenter? is an advanced platform for the visualization and delivery of key insights and answers on how Americans view politics, pop culture, hot topics and the economy. American Pulse InsightCenter illustrates how Americans are planning to vote, how they feel about their current financial situation, how they rate their happiness, and their concerns about terrorism and climate change. It goes beyond traditional point-in-time data reports to trended insights in one easy-to-use, decision-ready format. It also allows for comparison between Americans, Registered Voters, Men, Women, Political Parties and Generations in order to understand current sentiment across different segments important to the political arena.

Contact:

Chrissy Wissinger

614-846-0146

info(at)biginsight(dot)com

Android? is a trademark of Google Inc

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GigaOM Net:Work Conference ? Industry Leaders to Debate the Future of Work

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:25:04 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

GigaOM, a leading business and technology media company, today announced a stellar lineup of top speakers for the second-annual GigaOM Net:Work 2011conference, set to take place December 8, 2011 at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco. Back for its second year, Net:Work is the only conference to focus on how collaboration and mobile technologies are creating a ?human cloud? ? fundamentally changing the way companies run their businesses and how employees collaborate. Leading speakers include top executives from Google, LinkedIn, VMWare, Quickoffice, Jive Software, Yammer, iPass, Box, with more joining weekly.

?The modern enterprise is a 24/7 global workforce connected by the web? harnessing broadband wireless, social collaboration, corporate wikis, virtual private networks, gamification, cloud computing, and other web-enabled enterprise collaboration tools to transform the entire culture of work,? said Nicole Solis, GigaOM senior writer.?GigaOM Net:Work is the only conference where future-focused business leaders come together to discuss the newest collaborative, mobile, and cloud technologies that enable global workforces to contribute wherever they are, whenever they want.?

At Net:Work, industry leaders will tackle the tough questions about the new global, mobile work culture via interactive panels, fireside chats, and compelling keynotes. The one-day event will gather GigaOM editors and research analysts alongside leading CEOs, CIOs, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate the technologies impacting enterprise collaboration, HR and recruitment, remote working, operational and office design, training and retention, and other critical aspects of running a business in the networked age.

Top Speakers

Top tier speakers include Steve Herrod, CTO of VMWare; Alan Masarek,CEO of Quickoffice; David Gutelius, Chief Social Scientist at Jive Software; Deep Nishar, SVP of Products and User Experience at LinkedIn; Amit Singh, VP of Enterprise at Google; Brian Murray, Head of Implementation Strategy at Yammer; and many more. Speakers will share case studies and lessons learned, and invite participants to engage in an open dialogue about the most important challenges to creating a modern business infrastructure. More speakers are joining weekly.

Which innovative web- and cloud-based leaders will become the next giants in the $ 222B enterprise software market? What does the 100% virtual workplace look like, and how can employees and companies thrive in this new environment? How can companies harness mobile and cloud collaboration technologies to become more productive and profitable? Speakers will answer these questions and more at Net:Work.

Engaging Themes

Themes covered at Net:Work will include:

????The Rise of the Mobile Workforce
Your employees are using their personal mobile devices to access corporate systems, whether you planned for it or not. With every new mobile device used by the mobile worker, enterprises must strike a balance between data security and employee productivity. CIOs and CTOs will share best practices for managing the mobile workforce.

????The Gamification of Work
How do you get a highly distracted partner or employee to complete paperwork, pay attention in meetings, or respond to surveys? Make the job a game. The latest trend in productivity and workforce engagement takes a page from apps and interactive games. Hear from the innovators who have found a way to make business processes more productive ? and fun.

????Combatting Information Overload
The rise of the always-on, connected employee has dramatically increased productivity ? but also can cause information and work overload.Over-stressed employees are a major source of job dissatisfaction. Find out how to use technology to help employees with work balance.

????The On-Demand Employee:The contract and freelance industry is booming, with the on-demand workforce making up nearly 30% of today?s U.S. workforce. Find out about new technologies that help companies realize the benefits of project-based and freelance workers.
????The Social Enterprise: Social tools such as present.ly, Socialcast, and Yammer are changing the way teams collaborate. Hear case studies from several businesses detailing how they use these tools to keep employees and managers up-to-date, build bridges between traditionally siloed departments, and create trust within their organizations.

Big Ideas

Net:Work 2011 will host a Big Ideas competition, selecting the most innovative startups and products advancing the future of work to present on stage in front of VCs, angel investors, tech enthusiasts, journalists, and other conference attendees. The closing date for entries is November 11, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winners from across collaboration, mobile workforce, productivity apps, gamification, flexible workspaces, crowdsourcing/on-demand workforce, and social enterprise apps will be announced on November 16, 2011.

Register Now

Spaces at Net:Work are selling quickly and those interested in attending the conference should register as soon as possible. Register by November 5th and get a ticket for just $ 595. Anyone interested in the way companies must leverage technology to build their workforces, increase productivity, and boost profitability should not miss Net:Work.

Top Sponsors

Headline sponsor Alfresco is joined by leading sponsors such as Korn/Ferry International, MBO Partners, Gist, Box, Citrix, Meshin, and Quickoffice. Net:Work is supported by top-tier media partners, including The Churchill Club, The pariSoma Innovation Loft, StartupDigest, TiE, SfAMA, VC Taskforce, VentureBeat, and the MIT/Stanford Venture Lab. To learn more about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities that connect your brand to the top decision makers in enterprise technology, please visit the Net:Work sponsorship page or contact Mike Sly via email at sly(at)gigaom(dot)com or (415) 235-0358.

About GigaOM

Founded in 2006, GigaOM has grown into the leading provider of online media, events and research for global technology innovators. The company is one of the most credible and insightful voices at the intersection of business and technology, with an online audience of more than 4 million monthly unique visitors; industry-leading events, including Structure, Mobilize, GigaOM RoadMap, Net:Work, and Structure:Data; and a pioneering market research service and digital community, GigaOM Pro, which provides expert analysis and research on emerging technology markets.

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GigaOM Net:Work Conference ? Industry Leaders to Debate the Future of Work

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:25:04 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Engaging Themes

Themes covered at Net:Work will include:

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Atlantic 10 Schools Select XOS for Basketball HD Replay

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:54:07 +0000

Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

XOS Digital, Inc., the leading provider of content management solutions and digital media services for collegiate and professional sports organizations, today announced that Temple, La Salle, Fordham, and Rhode Island universities have added the XOS HD Replay? product line for the game-day operations of their men?s and women?s basketball teams. The announcement was made today by Chris McCleary, CEO, XOS Digital.

?We?re proud to provide the basketball-specific version of the XOS HD Replay system to these schools,? McCleary said. ?This technology makes it easy for replay technicians to provide high definition video to game officials in order to make accurate calls in the most efficient manner on the market.?

XOS HD Replay uses technology similar to that found among conferences such as the SEC, Big 12, WAC and Conference USA during the 2011 college football season, as well as in eighteen bowl games and two Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games. However, XOS HD Replay for basketball is software based and has a smaller footprint as it was designed with limited courtside space in mind. The system guarantees shot clock synchronization through a method exclusive to XOS Replay which includes inserting the shot clock feed into each video capture feed.

The XOS HD Replay system for basketball is designed to provide opportunities for quick and accurate analysis, which includes features such as:

????Multi-angle HD video capturing
????Single-person operation
????Zoom capabilities
????Portability via laptop and a 20-inch monitor
????Expedited marked-play review
????Game-clock synchronization for accuracy
????TV feeds (not required)

The schools will also implement XOS Review, a web-based software application for managing, grading and training officials that incorporates stats and associated video. XOS Review works in conjunction with XOS Replay and automatically exports reviewed plays, associated calls, and officials? information to XOS Review. Officiating administrators can pull reports based on a particular game, team, official, foul or call and review video associated with each play to evaluate officials? performance. Upcoming schedules and training material can also be posted to the site for secure and easy access by the officials.

?Officials don?t always have access to broadcast feeds, so for the schools that have installed the XOS HD Replay system, we are now poised to capture all the angles they need to make the right calls,? said Lee Roberts, assistant athletic director, facilities and event management at Temple University. ?Because of XOS Digital?s widespread reputation among leading conferences as the best in sports technology, the decision for this partnership was an easy one for us.?

About XOS Digital, Inc.

Founded in 1999, XOS Digital is the leading provider of digital asset management solutions for collegiate and professional sports organizations. Conference officials, league offices, coaching staffs and athletic departments rely on the XOS portfolio of products and services to manage, analyze, archive, distribute, protect and monetize their digital assets. The XOS Thunder? Coaching Platform, XOS Xchange?, XOS PlayerOnDemand?, XOS Digital Licensing Portal?, and the XOS Digital Sports Network? digital media distribution technology provide the most advanced, comprehensive digital asset management solution available in the world. For more information, visit http://www.xosdigital.com.

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Virtuoso Legal Marketing Launches a New Website & Web Design Services for Small Law Firms

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:21:20 +0000

Dickson, TN (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Virtuoso Legal Company now offers complete website strategy services geared for the small law firm. From website design and hosting to maintenance and Internet marketing, they have it all under one roof. It is now no longer necessary for a law firm to work with separate companies to satisfy the requirements to have a well-designed, highly visible website that generates leads.

Founded in 2010, Virtuoso Legal Marketing is a sister company to Work Media LLC, which has been providing search engine optimization (SEO) services to companies of all sizes all over the United States since 2005. Unlike most other companies providing web design services to law firms, Virtuoso Legal Marketing started as an SEO company first, and the idea of generating website leads drives everything the company does.

In addition to website design and on-page SEO services, Virtuoso Legal Marketing can facilitate email marketing, pay per click (PPC) management, local search and Google Places optimization, complete link building services and custom programming.

It is not only its SEO orientation that sets Virtuoso Legal Marketing apart from other web design companies, but the core principles under which it operates: market exclusive service whereby the company will not promote firms that compete against its clients in the same markets and practice areas; no contract requirement; and all work is actually performed in-house by Internet marketing professionals who have years of experience working with law firms.

Contact: Jerry Work

Office: 615-675-8793

Toll Free: 800-281-2226

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Resource Development Company Releases New Online Learning Course for SEMS Compliance

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:49:15 +0000

Birmingham, MI (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Resource Development Company (RDC) announces today the release of a new web-based ePILOT learning program designed to help offshore companies comply with the training and documentation requirements of the Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) rule that goes into effect November 15, 2011.

The program covers the 13 elements of the SEMS rule, and is designed to be easily and quickly customized with each company?s SEMS plan. The stand-alone online course can then be accessed by company operators on demand via the internet.

?Our clients bring us their SEMS plan and we incorporate their plan into a consistent learning curriculum. Personnel are able to access safe work practices, operating procedures, and emergency response plans as part of a learning initiative, preparing them to prevent mishaps and to properly respond to situations that occur,? says Brian Cormier, Director of Oil & Gas Solutions at RDC. ?Ultimately, how offshore companies apply their SEMS plans will determine their success. This program is designed to maximize employee proficiency and provide documented knowledge verification.?

All ePILOT courses are certified to stringent e-learning standards by the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). ePILOT is the first web-based operator training curriculum certified by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, allowing learners to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU). Additionally, ePILOT is designed to satisfy the training requirements specified by the mandated standards of six different federal agencies including OSHA, DOT, EPA and BSEE for safe and environmentally sound operations.

About SEMS

In October of 2010, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), now the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM), issued a Workplace Safety rule requiring offshore oil and gas operators to develop and maintain a Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS). The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will oversee industry workplace safety and SEMS initiatives. Each SEMS Program must identify and address operational safety hazards and impacts. Its goal is to promote human safety and environmental protection. The SEMS Rule covers all offshore oil and gas operations in federal waters and makes American Petroleum Institute?s (API) Recommended Practice 75 (RP 75) a mandatory practice. The SEMS program will enhance the safety and environmental protection of oil and gas drilling operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

About RDC

Resource Development Company (RDC) is a global leader in developing innovative learning solutions. For the past 50 years, they have specialized in providing learning solutions to the oil and gas, refining, chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Extensive industry knowledge and advanced web technology allow RDC to deliver unparalleled learning management, performance support and compliance information management solutions. http://www.resourcedev.com

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Cause-Shopping Engine nonprofitshoppingmall.com Announces Free Year-End Opportunity for Five Non-Profits to Join Consumer Philanthropist Site

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:17:19 +0000

Anaheim, CA (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

In the spirit of the holiday season and in keeping with its philosophy of embedding consumer philanthropy into the everyday practice of online shopping, web-based nonprofitshoppingmall.com is giving away five (5) private label-shopping sites to nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements outlined below. These organizations will be joining the ranks of groups like Autism Speaks, National Wildlife Federation, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, RAINN and Surfrider Foundation. NPSM’s cause shopping technology will assist them in generating additional revenues without incurring additional costs.

Private label clients benefit from nonprofitshoppingmall?s forward thinking technology in several ways. In addition to a private label site that?s integrated in the organization?s existing online presence, the nonprofit will also receive its own EZ Shopper App, designed for today?s most popular web browsers. The app automatically captures sales earmarked by the consumer to benefit the organization. Furthermore, NPSM rolled out their Facebook Shop+Support capability in October 2011. The personalized Facebook Tab enables organizations to link their Facebook page directly to their online shopping site.

Requirements necessary for consideration include the following:

????Nonprofit needs to be national or international in scope with at least a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator or similar charity rating agencies
????Nonprofit needs to be centralized ? no regional or state offices
????Nonprofit needs to be tech savvy and nimble
????Nonprofit needs to be actively pursuing a social media strategy that includes Twitter and Facebook to benefit from the custom Facebook Shopping Tab.

Nonprofit organizations should send in their requests to receive additional information about nonprofitshoppingmall and its private label capabilities via email to info(at)nonprofitshoppingmall(dot)com.

Deadline: the submission process is open from time of release until December 23rd, 2011 at 5PM Pacific Standard Time.

Finalists will be notified via email on Friday, January 6, 2012.

Their private label sites will be activated no later than January 31, 2012, in time for Valentine?s Day shopping.

As a matter of record, the organizations chosen must be willing to sign a Commercial Co-Venture Agreement to provide trademark and copyright licenses and comply with all state regulatory laws including registration in all applicable states where required.

About nonprofitshoppingmall:

nonprofitshoppingmall.com (NPSM) is a unique web-based tool that uses online shopping to drive a new revenue stream of unrestricted funds into a nonprofit organization’s annual budget. The core of the business is in building and maintaining private label shopping sites for national/international nonprofit organizations. Essentially, each time a consumer shops online through NPSM or any of its private label sites, a contribution will be earmarked by NPSM and delivered quarterly to a pre-selected nonprofit organization. Simply said, nonprofitshoppingmall.com turns everyday shopping into everyday giving.

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Free Webinars on ENCODE data in the UCSC Genome Browser

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:45:50 +0000

Bellevue WA (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

The UCSC Bioinformatics Group announces a free webinar on ENCODE data in the UCSC Genome Browser (http://genome.ucsc.edu/). The webinar will be conducted by OpenHelix, the provider of training on 100s of free, publicly accessible bioinformatics and genomics resources.

In the webinar, attendees will learn about aspects of the ENCODE project and data types, and explore ways for them to access and learn about the ENCODE data available under the UCSC Genome Browser. This tutorial assumes the user has strong familiarity with the software functionality of the UCSC Genome Browser as described in the Introductory and Advanced Topics tutorials (http://www.openhelix.com/ucsc).

Attendees will learn:

????The foundations and background of the ENCODE project
????How to use Track and File search tools to locate data of interest
????To identify ENCODE data in the UCSC Genome Browser, and explore the data use policies
????What types of data are available under ENCODE, and where to find details of the data types and technologies
????How to interact with the data in the graphical browser, table browser, and by downloading

The webinar will held Wednesday, November 9th, 11:00 PT/2:00 ET/18:00 UTC/GMT, Register at http://www.openhelix.com/cgi/webinars.cgi. Download slides before the webinar for note taking at http://www.openhelix.com/ENCODE.

Seminar Summary:

What: ?Introduction to ENCODE data in UCSC Genome Browser? sponsored by UCSC Bioinformatics Group and presented by OpenHelix, LLC.

When: November 9th11:00-12:15 PT/2:00-3:15 ET/18:00-19:15 UTC/GMT

Who: Anyone interested in learning about the ENCODE data and how to access it using the UCSC Genome Browser. Requires working knowledge of the UCSC Genome Browser (you can view the UCSC Genome Browser tutorials at http://www.openhelix.com/ucsc) and knowledge of genomic/biological concepts. No programming skills required.

Cost: No cost.

Contact Information: Register at http://www.openhelix.com/cgi/webinars.cgi. You will receive an email with the URL for the webinar.

About ENCODE

The ENCODE Project, (ENCyclopedia of DNA Elements), an international consortium of researchers who are moving beyond the basic information of the reference genome sequence. Researchers are using many cutting-edge technologies to learn as much as possible about variations, genes, non-coding transcripts, regulatory elements, and genome structure and more, in extensive detail across the entire genome. The ENCODE project is coordinated by the NHGRI. The UCSC Genome Browser is the designated Data Coordination Center (DCC), for the ENCODE project, and the official ENCODE data repository.

About OpenHelix, LLC.

OpenHelix, LLC, provides the genomics knowledge you need when you need it. OpenHelix provides online self-run tutorials, web seminars, and on-site training for institutions and companies on the most powerful and popular free, web based, publicly accessible bioinformatics resources. In addition, OpenHelix also is contracted by resource providers to provide comprehensive, long-term training and outreach programs.

OpenHelix has its headquarters in Seattle, with offices in San Francisco and Boston. Further information can be found on http://www.openhelix.com or by calling 1-888-861-5051.

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Dell Inc. Now Offers Discounts to Credit Union Members as Part of the Invest in America Program

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:13:38 +0000

Livonia, MI (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Dell Inc. now offers discounts on computers and devices through the Invest in America program, available exclusively through credit unions from CU Solutions Group] (CUSG). CUSG, a provider of human resources, technology, marketing and membership enhancement solutions for the credit union industry, today announced this strategic partnership agreement.

?Dell is the perfect addition to the Invest in America program and we are very pleased to have a partnership with them,? said David Adams, CEO of CU Solutions Group. ?Invest in America is about connecting credit union members with discounts from top American companies like Dell, while supporting American businesses, jobs and local credit unions.?

The agreement calls for up to 30% discounts on computer systems and 10% off on Dell Mobility products, with discounts also available on business-class systems.

Dell, a Fortune 50 business and a Top 5 web merchant, joins the successful Invest in America program that also includes special credit union member discounts from top American companies including General Motors, Sprint, Intuit and more. The Invest in America discounts are designed to help credit union members by offering significant discounts on products and services they use every day.

Consumers and credit union members can find details on the discounts at http://www.lovemycreditunion.org, where they can also learn about credit unions and how to find and join one. With lower rates, better fees, free ATMs and even special member discounts, credit unions are a high-quality, low cost choice for financial needs. Invest in America is just one way that credit unions support their core philosophy of ?people helping people.? The nationwide Invest in America program is available at more than 3,000 participating credit unions in all 50 states.

About CU Solutions Group

CU Solutions Group serves the credit union industry nationwide by offering essential solutions in four key areas: marketing, technology, membership enhancements and performance management. It was formed out of the combination of CU Village and HRN Management Group, and is owned by more than 75investors made up of leagues, credit unions and Credit Union System organizations. CU Solutions Group is the home of well-known brands in the credit union industry such as Invest in America, Performance Pro, Compease, Save to Win and others. http://www.cusolutionsgroup.com.

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Leading Common Core Expert to Give Free Training Webinar

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:41:29 +0000

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Curtis Linton has worked in education most of his life. Back in the early 90?s, when Curtis was in high school, his parents founded Video Journal of Education, a company dedicated to giving every teacher access to the best classroom practices. More than twenty years later the company name has changed?it?s now called School Improvement Network?and its reach has grown, serving nearly twenty percent of the teachers in the country, but to Curtis, it will always be the family start-up of his youth.

?When other kids were throwing parties and going to football games,? Curtis remembers, ?my parents would put all their kids in a van and drive them around the country, filming teachers in their classrooms. It was a great way to grow up.?

?But for as fun as it was,? Curtis continues, ?it exposed me to some of the grim realities of education at a young age: underfunded schools, enormous achievement gaps, and teachers working hard to play catch up. There?s no way that I could have witnessed some of the things that I saw and not have taken action.?

As a response to his experiences, Curtis has written a book called Equity 101: The Equity Framework, and coauthored Courageous Conversations about Race with Glenn Singleton. Now, as Vice President of School Improvement Network, and a renowned expert in education, Linton spends his time traveling, advocating, and speaking to leaders about how to improve schools.

?There have been plenty of incredible innovations in education over the years,? says Curtis, ?but of all the movements that have come along in the last few decades, the one that excites me most is the new Common Core Standards. This initiative is going to change the way we reach our students.?

?The Standards have been adopted in 44 states now,? continues Curtis, ?but there is still a sense among some educators out there that this is going to be another program that hinders as much as it helps. While I can understand some hesitance, this couldn?t be further from the truth. Our company has made it a goal to help educators catch the vision of core curriculum?to understand why it exists, what its functions are, and how to use it to elevate student achievement.?

As part of his work to promote the Common Core Standards, Curtis will be putting on a free webinar entitled ?Why, What, and How.? The webinar will focus on the rationale behind the creation of the Common Core initiative, talk about how the Standards provide an opportunity to close achievement gaps, and lay out what educators need to know to effectively integrate the Common Core into their schools and classrooms over the next few years.

?I?m excited to share my experience with educators, and to help them see how they and their students stand to benefit from the Common Core Standards,” says Curtis. It?s a big change, but with training, it?s going to make a world of difference.?

Curtis Linton?s ?Why, What, and How? webinar will run from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Thursday, November 3, 2011. It will include a 30-40 minute presentation, supported by digital media (PowerPoint, video, graphic files) and end with a 15- to 20-minute ?question and answer? session. At the webinar?s conclusion, audio and video material will be posted for viewing on http://www.commoncore360.com.

The Common Core Webinar series by Common Core 360 is free and open to the public. Register today by visiting http://www.commoncore360.com/webinars.php and choosing the desired webinar.

Be sure to register for School Improvement?s Thursday, November 10 webinar, ?Translating ELA Standards,? presented by Dr. Ann Johnson, and stay tuned for upcoming free Common Core webinars as they are posted on http://www.commoncore360.com.

About School Improvement Network

Founded in 1991 by teachers, the School Improvement Network provides comprehensive, research-based professional development anytime, anywhere. As the home of The Video Journal of Education, PD 360, Observation 360, the Learning 360 Framework, Equity 360, and Common Core 360, School Improvement Network resources focus on the most relevant topics, feature the top experts, and show educators how to put theory into practice. School Improvement Network works with thousands of schools and districts in every state and around the world and has visited over 3,000 classrooms to document best practices in action. Learn more at http://www.schoolimprovement.com.

About Common Core 360

Common Core 360 is the leading online, on-demand professional Common Core learning resource for schools and districts. It answers the questions that 3.4 million teachers are asking about how to make the Standards work in their classroom every day. Common Core 360 gives administrators, teachers, and instructional coaches the necessary resources to turn State Standards into measurable student achievement. The unique training, expert analysis, and real classroom examples of putting the Standards into practice all comes from the same minds that designed PD 360, the world?s largest online professional development platform. Common Core 360 is directly integrated with PD 360, so educators have a single sign-in solution for the professional development they need to move forward in the 21st century classroom. Learn more at http://www.schoolimprovement.com/products/common-core-360/.

About PD 360 ? Practical, Scalable, Measurable

PD 360 is the multi-award winning, leading online, on-demand professional learning resource for schools and districts. With 1,800 videos on 117 topics from 120 experts, PD 360 has the largest online community of educators, with over 700,000 subscribers. The innovative PD 360 videos are unique and class-leading because of the quality of production, and each is research-based with classroom examples of best practices. The videos are also relatively short in nature (approximately 6-12 minutes in length) allowing educators access to ?snack-able? content that is easy and accessible to view and integrate.

Teachers, administrators, professional learning communities, coaches, mentors, instructional leaders, and paraprofessionals have available at their fingertips hundreds of indexed and searchable video segments that present real, best-practice classroom examples and feature respected education experts, such as Michael Fullan, Rick DuFour, Doug Reeves, Rick Stiggins, and many others. Educators can instantly find the help they need on nearly every topic, including differentiation, assessment, English language learners, leadership, and more. PD 360 can also be used to create a structured learning experience for an individual teacher, a PLC, or even an entire school. PD 360 bridges the gap between training and classroom integration with job-embedded follow-up, tracking, and reflection tools. PD 360 gives educators access to an online community of teaching professionals that allows interaction and collaboration either within a district or across the United States and the world. PD 360 includes over 1,500 research-based video learning segments and is the most comprehensive web-based library of professional development resources available. See a demonstration at http://www.pd360.com.

School Improvement Network, PD 360, and their respective logos are trademarks of the School Improvement Network. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:

Duane Sprague

School Improvement Network

801-758-9546

duane.sprague(at)schoolimprovement(dot)com

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JessicaSprague.com Announces Partnership with Pink Paislee

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:10:19 +0000

Apex, NC (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Leading internet digital scrapbooking education website JessicaSprague.com has added Pink Paislee to their team of exclusive designers who offer digital scrapbooking supplies to customers.

Established in January of 2008, Pink Paislee is a family owned business based outside of Kansas City, MO. They are known throughout the world for their original designs and strong attention to detail. They pride themselves in developing products that blend design and function to make scrapbooking and paper crafting easier.

According to Jessica Sprague, owner of JessicaSprague.com, Pink Paislee is a leader in the field of both hybrid and paper crafting.

?Pink Paislee is one of the foremost companies in the scrapbooking industry, in terms of both style and popularity. We are thrilled that they’ve made the decision to partner with us.”

Rebecca Cross, owner of Pink Paislee, agrees. “We have been interested in joining the digital scrapbook market ever since we opened our doors in 2008. Almost every week we hear from customers who are interested in purchasing our patterns in a digital format, so being able to make this announcement public is very exciting for us!?

Choosing to partner with Jessica Sprague was an easy choice for the company.

?When we explored options for selling our designs in other digital shops, we knew right away that Jessica Sprague and her team were a perfect fit for us. They have a dedicated group of team members who handle all service inquiries, technical support, marketing and sales and as an added bonus, they also connect us with an amazing group of creative team members that will create project samples to help us market our collections to new users.,? says Cross.

Not only was the team at JessicaSprague.com important in their decision, but the overall ideaology of the website was key. Cross says of JessicaSprague.com, ?At JessicaSprauge.com it isn’t just about selling product and that philosophy is very important to us. They also work very hard to educate the consumer through online classes and workshops so that anyone who is interested in learning more about this amazing digital creation process has the chance to get everything they need in one location.?

Customers can expect to find paper packs, element packs, sticker packs, digital brushes, quickpages and more in the coming months. Some will be new and exclusive digital products while others will be developed from previous paper collections. Pink Paislee?s digital shop at JessicaSprague.com will open on November 14th.

For more information about Pink Paislee, see http://www.pinkpaislee.com. For digital scrapbooking online classes, digital printable scrapbooking supplies, and free tutorials, visit JessicaSprague.com.

About JessicaSprague.com:

JessicaSprague.com is the leading website offering online classes and products for digital crafters. Founded in 2006 by world-renowned crafter, scrapbooker, instructor and author Jessica Sprague, JessicaSprague.com provides professionally designed, video-based online classes in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements for customers interested in learning about digital scrapbooking, photo editing, mouse-and-paper crafting, and more. The site’s mission is to provide instruction, inspiration, and products to help people grow their skills, beautify their lives, and enhance their relationships with the people that matter most to them. The Web site?s offerings include digital scrapbooking paper, digital brushes, digital element packs, lesson packs, weekly tutorials, and online classes in digital scrapbooking, mouse-and-papercrafting, photo editing, and more.

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Rescentris Delivers CERF Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) with Strict e-Records Compliance Options for Added Patent Protection Required by Industry

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:38:24 +0000

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Rescentris, Inc. today announced that it had delivered its award-winning CERF product to several well-known biotechnology companies with new features for added patent protection. CERF is a scalable, cross-platform electronic lab notebook (ELN) software solution used by life sciences and other R&D organizations that migrated away from paper-based record-keeping to increase efficiency and collaboration.

Patents and protecting intellectual property (IP) are critical to the success of research companies. The need for compliance with recordkeeping and evidence regulations such as 37CFR, FRE 803(6), and 21CFR11 is accelerating adoption of ELNs to replace broken paper-based signing and witnessing processes and non-compliance with internal IP policies.

R&D departments in a number of biotechnology companies requested ELNs to improve scientific productivity. Executive leadership mandated an affordable solution with rigorous controls in place to be able to prove that their lab recordkeeping processes were locked down to ensure security and regulatory compliance. These companies selected Rescentris to provide their ELN. In addition to standard CERF features such as authentication, access controls, and audit trails that documented every ELN activity, they had additional requirements for digital signature/witnessing status reports, automated notifications and warnings, proof that lab records were reviewed before digital signings, multiple signature workflows for different departments, and proof that the records, sections, and underlying documents and data were all properly signed, witnessed and not altered.

The customers also wanted social tagging to facilitate collaboration and finding data faster for patents. Rescentris implemented the new features as standard product extensions to take advantage of CERF?s unique worry-free upgrade capabilities resulting from its semantic systems architecture and component-based design. The rich, pure HTML CERF ELN web client also allows administrators to manage and configure recordkeeping policies, as well as to turn on the features they want enabled ? or to turn off unneeded features and templates to simplify user experience. These ELN advances allowed the research organizations to closely monitor record creation processes and act to ensure compliance and high quality laboratory records in a timely and efficient manner.

?We listen closely to our customers,? stated Rescentris president Jeff Spitzner. ?Scientists want an ELN that is fast and easy to use and handles their diverse activities with minimal changes to the way they work. Business wants the benefits of increased efficiency and collaboration. Everyone wants to make sure that intellectual property is captured and protected because patents drive profits.? Dr. Spitzner also said that increasing numbers of academic labs are very concerned about good recordkeeping, including user authentication and time-stamps, and that patent reform is raising their awareness of the need for ELNs to protect their inventions.

About Rescentris

Rescentris, Inc. provides CERF enterprise software to help organizations protect their R&D investments and increase collaboration and efficiency. The company serves a global base of commercial, academic, government and nonprofit research labs in biology and multidiscipline research areas. CERF combines Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) and scientific content management for a complete paperless lab solution with data secured on servers hosted behind firewalls or in cloud-based SaaS systems.

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Building Owners See Cost Benefits of New Sustainable Dashboard Tool

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:06:50 +0000

Bloomington, IN (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Among building owners and managers, interest in the Sustainability Dashboard Tool, officially introduced at the GreenBuild 2011 Expo in October, has been ?swift and significant,? reports Stephen Ashkin, CEO of Sustainable Dashboard Tools, LLC.

Ashkin, known as ?the father of Green Cleaning,? attributes much of the interest to the struggling global economy.

?Building owners/managers are really searching for more ways to significantly reduce operating costs [while still] becoming Greener and more sustainable,? says Ashkin. ?Being ?lean and Green? are no longer goals, they?re marching orders.?

The Sustainability Dashboard is a Web-based program that helps facilities measure and manages up to six key categories involved in most building operations. These include:

????Energy
????Waste/recycling
????Water
????Transportation
????Consumables (such as office supplies)
????Cleaning products

This information also helps owners/manager track associated costs for water, energy, etc., as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, Brandywine Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust that owns, develops, and manages a portfolio of primarily Class-A facilities, uses the Dashboard in 86 of its locations.

?The Dashboard gives us greater [insight] into how dollars are spent and will help us more consistently measure and manage costs across our entire portfolio,? says Brad A. Molotsky, with Brandywine Environments, a division of the company.

Rating systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the Global Reporting Initiative, and Energy Star inspired development of the Sustainability Dashboard, according to Ashkin.

?But my goal with the Dashboard is not just to measure consumption in a facility?but to help people effect real, meaningful change [and] become more environmentally responsible by making data-driven decisions.?

Ashkin says the system will next be on display at the upcoming ISSA/INTERCLEAN? tradeshow in Las Vegas. ?Sustainablity is the next step in Green Cleaning so I hope to help the [professional cleaning] industry realize its importance.?

The Ashkin Group is on Facebook. Visit us at: http://tiny.cc/5abr3

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Occupy: A Grown-Up Coloring Book Novel released by Really Big Coloring Books? Inc.

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:06:48 +0000

Saint Louis, Missouri (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

With millions of people around the globe watching “Occupy” unfold daily, parents, teachers, educators and simply “interested people” have asked for an educational piece that captures this cultural changing event and moment in history. Accurately depicted in detailed line art and conversation, the book includes modern and historical figures with quotations from Plato to O’Reilly, Hannity to Maddow, Obama to Boehner. There are pages dating back to the Robin Hood era, drawings of various parks, political views from every angle and a few surprises with imaginative, satirical pages. Included are newly written “Occupy” songs, poems and games and a true to life “Guilt Relief Donation Form” for the overburdened 1%!

This is a coloring book novel designed around the “Occupy” event that reflects who we are as a people and a nation including what the national media is saying and information on the event itself. The Occupy book is for parents and their children alike. Our company is grateful and happy to publish this new book. Inside you will find varying opinions and statements.

The high quality 36 page book has enough reading and coloring to last many hours. It’s available at major book sellers Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Abe Books and always at ColoringBook.com. The book makes a wonderful conversation starter, stocking stuffer and it’s a historical commemorative piece that will be around for many years to come. The online price is $ 6.99.

Really Big Coloring Books, ? Inc. headquartered in St. Louis, MO, has provided fundraising, retail and promotional opportunities through children?s coloring books for over two decades and are known for their classic, unique and colorful book designs. The company has market-leading positions in its custom and trademarked coloring book brands and owns over 500 coloring book web domains in several countries. Their products are multi-cultural, bi-lingual and used by parents and children alike. RBCB operates four divisions; retail, fundraising, internet and creative development. The company ships globally and all of their products are manufactured in the USA using green technology including recycled paper and soy based inks. For more information visit http://www.ColoringBook.com or call 1-800-244-2665.

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Maine?s Leighton Images Wins Top Prize for Maine Roller Derby TV Spot

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:33:52 +0000

Portland, ME (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Maine-based video production company Leighton Images took home a coveted Gold, the ceremony?s top honor, at the biennial Broderson Awards held October 27 at the State Theatre in Portland, Maine. The top prize was presented for the exciting and popular TV promotional spot for the Maine Roller Derby, which aired locally on television stations and on the web this year. The commercial, ?I Feel Pretty?, which promoted derby bouts throughout the season, won in the category of ?TV Campaign ? Low Budget.? It sets the popular West Side Story number to a raucous musical score, and features fast-cut footage of Maine Roller Derby Members lip-syncing lyrics and vigorously circling the track. Its fun, in-your-face action and ironic mash-up of Broadway lyrics with the women?s strong athleticism made a big impact on viewers. It also won the clear affections of the judges ? advertising professionals that included out-of-market editors and executives from Adweek, Nike, and BBDO New York.

?Capturing the unique excitement of the Maine Roller Derby has been one of our favorite endeavors over the last few years,? said Geoffrey Leighton. ?The idea to combine the members? tough femininity with the lyrics from a popular musical was one that resonated with us immediately. The images, along with the riotous musical score from David Brewbaker really gave viewers a sense of the action and excitement they will encounter at a derby bout.? The ?I Feel Pretty? commercial was part of a three-part campaign created by Leighton Images promoting Maine Roller Derby, which also included the spots ?Sonata? and ?Arena?. These spots were also award winners; they both grabbed Broderson Silver.

Leighton Images has been working with the Maine Roller Derby, Maine?s first and only women?s flat track roller derby league, for the last three years. The derby is one of the hundreds of leagues across the nation that has embraced the quickly-growing sport of roller derby as it is skated on a flat track. It is made up of a diverse group of women of all ages and professions, brought together by their passion for derby. ?These are a not just a great group of dedicated athletes, they also serve as role models for our community,? said Leighton. Bouts for the public are scheduled throughout the year at the Portland Expo. Watch the top award-winning Maine Roller Derby spot.

Leighton Images is a Maine-based video, film and multi-media production company that has been telling their clients? stories for over twenty-five years, using film, video, interactive media, DVD, high definition, social networking and the internet. The company?s recent work includes global employee recognition videos for L.L. Bean, and The Thousand Word Project, developed by Bates College and Leighton Images to teach writing through art.

The backing track and sound design was adapted by David Brewbaker, a musician and songwriter located in West Bath, Maine and partner in Mill Cove Partners, a digital media company that creates written, visual and musical content for businesses and individuals. Brewbaker, also a songwriter and guitarist, released A Sign of Life on CD and the web in 2010.

The Broderson Awards recognize Maine agencies and professionals for their diverse creative work in the field of marketing, advertising and promotion. It is sponsored by the Ad Club of Maine, a professional organization for advertising agencies, media outlets, public relations professionals, photographers, web designers, freelance copywriters and graphic artists working in the state.

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Evermore New Media Develops Advanced CakePHP Website for IamExpat.nl

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:01:57 +0000

Amsterdam, Netherlands (PRWEB) October 31, 2011

The wheels never stop turning at IamExpat.nl ? a successful collaboration between Projekt 45, G Design Studio and Evermore New Media . Designed by expats, for expats, the site was envisioned by four business students when they met in Amsterdam and brought to life over the course of the next year, using talents from all around the world. Evermore?s role in this project was to convert the designs provided by G Design Studio into a fully functional website. While Evermore offers design services too, its role in this project was to incorporate cutting-edge technology, social media integration and cross-platform discussion forums, enabling connectivity with services such as Facebook and Twitter.

All in all, Evermore built a scalable, stable website with plenty of power under the hood, with the kind of clear, clean user interface and minimalist design that benefits a successful, feature packed website that?s easy-to-use. Behind the scenes, Evermore?s development team produced a site capable of handling multiple databases, daily uploads of content, user forums and an ever-growing base of content and traffic. Using collaborative tools of the trade such as 37signals? Basecamp and the Scrum methodology, Evermore was able to work in collaboration with teams and individuals around the world to deliver a complicated, custom website using CakePHP, an open source web application framework, to create a resilent content management system.

It?s hard work building, maintaining and developing a site the size of IamExpat.nl. That?s where Marina, Evermore?s project manager, comes in. Her role is to organize the team and ensure work gets done on-schedule. Using the Agile approach, the team is able to work on the project incrementally, while still working on the same goal, deliver critical and strategically important functionality first, and ensure that communication is always the top priority. Evermore has used the same methodology to produce other large websites to ensure work gets done ? but working with so many people across the world has been Marina?s biggest challenge and an extremely fun adventure at the same time!

Working with people across the globe, Evermore team?s development, project management and coding skills helped to ensure the success of IamExpat.nl. A typical day in IamExpat:

Omsk, Russia, 9am: Maxim, technical lead, logs in at the office. Ahead of him lies a hard day?s work incorporating feedback from the latest project testing and taking care of the next development sprint. IamExpat.nl contains over 10.000 lines of custom code, built from scratch to suit its content management requirements.

Amsterdam, 11am: Marina logs on to Evermore?s Campfire chat room and begins the daily Scrum catch-up. As the project manager, it?s her task to make sure everyone knows what they?re doing, and when.

Macau, South China, 3pm: Stelios, founder of Evermore New Media, receives a message from Marina asking for clarification on some of the day?s issues. Immediately, Stelios gets to work.

Athens, 7pm: Alexandros refines the latest designs and discusses with the IamExpat Team to ensure that the IamExpat brand identity is well incorporated in and clearly reflected on the website.

Amsterdam, 10pm: Panos logs on, approves the day?s work, and switches out the lights in the office.

IamExpat.nl ? created by expats, for expats.

IamExpat.nl was established by four friends who came to the Netherlands for different reasons but found the same reasons to work together. Starting out as students at the Rotterdam School of Management and Tilburg University, they decided to demonstrate their entrepreneurial side and give something back to the country they?d fallen in love with. As they graduated and found work across the globe, they invested their capital in forming the first version of IamExpat.nl, which has gone from strength to strength since then. Now, with the launch of the new version, IamExpat.nl is ready to become the most popular media platform for internationals in the Netherlands and even further..

Using the latest technology, the team has created an easy-to-use, intuitive, user-friendly website that enables customisable user profiles, commenting options, as well as social media integration. It was designed based on feedback from its members, who were consulted at every step of the design process.

Redesigning the site was based on the team?s decision to provide content on a daily basis ? in other words, making sure iamexpat.nl never gets old. But building a more active site required a substantial update to the site?s framework. Evermore?s role was to create a reliable website capable of handling a diverse and active user base and a regularly updated database of content, as well as converting G Design Studio?s innovative design into a working website using the CakePHP framework.

About CakePHP

CakePHP is a rapid development framework for PHP that provides an extensible architecture for developing, maintaining, and deploying applications. Using commonly known design patterns like MVC and ORM within the convention over configuration paradigm, CakePHP reduces development costs and helps developers write less code.

About IamExpat

IamExpat.nl is a community-driven, online media platform dedicated to providing up-to-date, “inside” information, dutch news, services and lifestyle suggestions for all English speaking internationals in the Netherlands.

About Evermore

Evermore New Media, founded in 2004, is a full-service digital agency specializing in solutions for Small Businesses. Evermore New Media ? Providing cutting edge web solutions across the globe. For more information on Evermore, visit http://www.evermore.eu. Connect with Evermore on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/evermorenewmedia and Twitter: twitter.com/evermoretweets

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Free Webinar: Website Infrastructure Architecture with SEO #SEO

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:30:54 +0000

(PRWEB) October 31, 2011

Search Engine Academy Washington DC (SEA DC), in coordination with Search Engine Academy, is conducting its’ first-ever webinar on using search engine optimization (SEO) processes to create a web site’s Infrastructure Architecture (IA) to improve content organization, so that the most important information can be quickly and easily found by web visitors.

Interested listeners may register to learn about IA and SEO, which will be conducted on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 1 PM Eastern Time.

SEA DC chose to talk about IA because “it’s not well known that IA for websites even exists. It’s a very useful process for organizing your content, to get the most important information up there in your top-level pages. SEO and IA go together because they share goals in making sure visitors find and get the best, most important information quickly,” according to Nancy E. Wigal, the owner and operator of SEA DC.

“We’re going to go over how the four main IA systems – organization, labeling, navigation and search – are in tandem with SEO, and how you can use SEO to develop each system so your visitors stay longer on your site and look at more pages,” said Nancy.

IA is particularly critical for large sites that have useful content and data for visitors that may be hidden in poorly designed labeling, navigation and search systems, but any website can benefit from having IA principles applied at any time.

“Obviously, the smaller the number of pages a site has, the easier it is to wrap your arms around IA and implement it, but in a large company, there’s going to be a team of multi-discipline experts to do this together. The SEO specialist is just one person who contributes her part to making the best web design experience and usability possible,” said Nancy.

SEA uses GoToMeeting software solutions to deliver their webinars. It’s a great user experience to share information with interested individuals,” said Nancy.

Anyone with a website that could be improved for both organizing and finding the most important content should listen in on this webinar to see how they can easily use SEO to create an IA for their site quickly to improve visitor experience.

About the Search Engine Academy Washington DC: The Academy offers two, three and five-day SEO training and certification for web and technical professionals. The Academy also creates and teaches customized corporate training packages for businesses to implement in-house SEO functionality, or improve their current SEO program. SEO consultation is also available by contract agreement. Search Engine Academy Washington DC is part of Search Engine Academy, which was founded by directors Robin Nobles and John Alexander.

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Athena Software and PeaceWorks Technology Solutions Partner to Launch New Report Creation Tool for Athena Clients

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:58:43 +0000

Kitchener, ON (PRWEB) October 30, 2011

Athena Software is pleased to announce the introduction of mPWR, a dynamic reporting tool developed by PeaceWorks Technology Solutions for use with the Penelope case management system. Penelope is a comprehensive client information software solution designed by Athena Software specifically for human service agencies, including not-for-profit organizations and governments (http://www.athenasoftware.net).

“We are happy to partner with Athena in providing this reporting solution for their diverse client base,” said Matt Langeman, product manager and software consultant at PeaceWorks. “Development of the mPWR tool for Athena clients is a great fit with our vision to provide effective IT solutions for organizations working to make a positive difference in the world.”

mPWR is a powerful, secure and flexible report-writing tool designed to complement the already robust reporting capabilities of the Penelope client information system by allowing users to create and run custom reports, enhance existing reports or gain access to new reports created especially for use with mPWR. Like Penelope, mPWR is a web-based application, meaning users can access reports from anywhere via a secure HTTPS connection using a web browser.

“Organizations in the social service and mental health sectors have diverse and complex information tracking and reporting requirements,” said Athena Software director Diane Stanley-Horn.?”Athena wanted to complement our comprehensive internal reporting with a flexible tool that can accommodate case-by-case requirements and allow multiple end users at an organization to run the reports they need, when they need them. Partnering with PeaceWorks, with whom we have had a long relationship, provided this exciting opportunity.”

As well as allowing admin-level users to create new reports with customized appearance and content, mPWR comes complete with 18 new ‘out of the box’ reports designed to allow Penelope users easy access to a wide range of statistics on client demographics and outcomes?as well as service provision and productivity. These reports offer additional reporting flexibility and the capability to further ‘drill down’ into user data for enhanced statistical reporting.

The mPWR report writer tool was created and is licensed separately by PeaceWorks Technology Solutions (http://www.peaceworks.ca).

Charlotte Private Investigators, Martin D. Fragale Investigations Recently Launch Website

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:26:25 +0000

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) October 29, 2011

Recently Charlotte Private Investigators, Martin D. Fragale Investigations hooked up with Long Island Web Design Company, Benjamin Marc to launch an SEO plan that would help promote the business. Benjamin Marc specializes in web design and Search Engine Optimization(SEO) and knew that they could help Martin and their Private Investigation firm. Benjamin Marc has done Search marketing for websites such as Long Island Screen Printing Company, CYA Action Funwear, Long Island Dog Walkers, Suburban Pets and more. After one month of marketing Martin D. Fragale has reached the first page of all major search engines for their niche term Charlotte Private Investigators. This has brought new business to the firm and they are branching out to new clients.

Here is some information about Charlotte Private Investigators, Martin D. Fragale Investigations.

When someone hires a private investigator, they expect discretion and credible results from the investigation. The evidence collected should also be confidential. Martin Fragale Investigators can guarantee confidentiality from the moment they take up the case to the moment they deliver the results.

Martin D. Fragale Investigations is credited for exceptional service in the field of private investigations. That positive attribute is a result of maintaining a strong code of ethics since inception. That code of ethics that is the guiding principle for Martin Fragale investigators is disregarded by some private investigating companies. Most of those companies present insufficient or inaccurate reports after being commissioned to conduct an investigation.

After graduating with a degree in criminal justice, the firm?s founder, Martin D. Fragale set up the private eye company in North Carolina. Martin says, ?A commitment to providing the client with true facts and a flawless work ethic has put us on a success path in the private investigation business?. Without these principles your credibility is tainted and clients will gradually loose trust in your service and seek them elsewhere.

Martin acknowledges that this particular line of service has immense challenges and responsibilities. ?You have to put in long hours to gather the information the client needs?, he says. Some cases are very demanding calling on the assigned officer to work extra hard. A successful investigation should be discreet from start to finish, avoiding compromising the investigation and jeopardizing the lives of the client and detective.

The firm offers services in matrimonial investigations. The services available for hire in this category target spouses who think they are being cheated on. The firm?s detectives investigate infidelity matters, and conduct undercover investigations. They can also do and asset location. More services that the firm offers include criminal defense investigations, background investigation, insurance claims, and background investigations among others.

Operating a 24-hour service Martin Fragale Investigators are available on call to begin investigation on any case guaranteeing timely and truthful evidence. Martin D. Fragale Investigations can be reached on their toll free numbers (716) 553-1898 or (704) 323-9095 and setup a meeting with the private detectives or get free consulting on any case. Martin D. Fragale is always present on everyone of his cases and doesn?t sub contract any work out.

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Charlotte Private Investigators, Martin D. Fragale Investigations Recently Launch Website

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:26:25 +0000

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) October 29, 2011

Here is some information about Charlotte Private Investigators, Martin D. Fragale Investigations.

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RANDA Announces Plans for Comprehensive Solutions to Improve Teacher Effectiveness

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:54:18 +0000

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) October 28, 2011

RANDA Solutions today announced an initiative to produce a comprehensive suite of educator tools for states, districts, consortia and teachers. This approach to addressing the needs of educators is both holistic and plays to RANDA?s strength in education data collection, management and reporting.

Marty Reed, RANDA?s CEO commented, ?Simply put, we leverage technology to improve teacher effectiveness. Effective and accessible innovation fuels every RANDA solution, but our energies are always focused. We?re always asking ourselves ?How can technology streamline tedious tasks for educators? How can we produce real improvements in their performance and quality of life? How can we truly transform education?? These questions have led RANDA to develop innovations that produce improvements in everything from K-12 state-wide assessments to higher education mobile applications, as well as a number of patents pending.

In remaining focused on providing reliable and accessible education data, RANDA has maintained a content-agnostic philosophy across virtually all technology platforms. This philosophy has made RANDA highly adaptable for clients, and good team mate when working in tandem with other vendors. It has earned RANDA several acknowledgments such as their two successive INC 500 listings. Further, the firm?s approach has drawn the attention of educators in a number of international markets.

RANDA began its education work in decoupling content from data management in state-wide student summative assessments and aggregating it with other pertinent data from a number of vendors and a myriad of formats. Contracts in this arena led RANDA to develop expertise in role-based data portal development and management. Subsequent RANDA initiatives have included mobile applications for formative assessments and teacher evaluations- initiatives which grew into versions in Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.

?We?ve learned so much on this journey and not just on the software side. Our pilot studies have shown us the importance of active listening and integrating feedback into our solution designs. We?ve also become very good at developing engaging and effective training, which is essential. What good is a superb data tool if you don?t know how to use it?? quips Reed.

?Our announcement of a comprehensive suite of educator tools is only formalizing what RANDA has been planning,? says their Chief Strategy Officer, Randall Dennis. ?We have forged a culture that values innovation, but innovation with a strategy to address all kinds of challenges facing educators.? RANDA?s goals include increasing involvement in state-wide student summative assessments, adding to valuable features to their popular TOWER System and TOWER Mobile for iPads and Android devices. It includes formative assessments and classroom management via mobile devices. RANDA?s HOMEROOM solution integrates data reporting from all types of data into secure portals available in a role-based context at the state, district, administrator and teacher levels. There is a SaaS toolbox for subject matter experts to easily develop courses and export them as SCORM-compliant packages for learning management systems. RANDA is also soon to release their item development portal for student assessments. Additionally, there is a undisclosed project related to common core standards in the first phase of development.

?It?s not that we need to keep our plans top secret simply because we execute them so well,? adds Reed. ?Our real competitive advantage is our experts in education, development, project management and training.? As each component is tested in pilot studies, the components of RANDA?s educator suite will be unveiled in phases over the coming weeks, months and year.

RANDA Solutions is an INC. 500 software firm based in Nashville, TN serving the education sector. RANDA’s tools for administrators and teachers aggregate and manage many types of education intelligence including standardized testing results, formative assessments, teacher evaluations and demographics. Historical and live data reporting, along with additional customized content, is delivered via RANDA’s secure web portals and integrates seamlessly with RANDA’s cross-platform mobile applications for iPads and Android devices. Information on RANDA can be found at http://www.randasolutions.com/about-us/philosophy/.

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Sticky Password Partners with ChicaLogic to Offer Password Management to Women

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:23:21 +0000

Brno, Czech Republic (PRWEB) October 27, 2011

Lamantine Software, the developer of the popular password manager and online form filler Sticky Password, today announced a new technology partnership with ChicaLogic, a leading provider of technology solutions that empower women to be safe, more productive and free from the anxiety of the dangers of identity theft on the Internet.

Lamantine Software is known for developing the most innovative password management solutions which are available to customers through its own product Sticky Password as well as 3rd party integration and white label products. Chica Password Manager is the result of collaboration between the companies? development teams to bring effective password security and usability to women as they shop, bank, transact business and enjoy social networking sites online.

?We are very excited to partner with ChicaLogic. We continue to see a steady growth of awareness and requests for a more secure online experience from this demographic group. ChicaLogic is the perfect partner to bring an efficient password manager and form filler to women and to help them be secure while spending time on the web,? said Lamantine Software CEO, Petr Bilek.

Chica Password Manager uses advanced technology to provide convenient protection for women as they surf online. In addition to password management, Chica Password Manager provides secure memos and online form filling as well as anti-phishing protection. The product also contains a virtual keyboard that helps stop keyloggers from recognizing and recording the user’s keystrokes while entering sensitive data.

?When you look at the number of reported complaints made about identity theft, it?s clear that not enough is being done to protect our valuable personal information online,? said Lori Fraijo Raygoza, President and CEO of ChicaLogic. ?Our customers need to take the initiative to protect themselves against the very real threat of identity theft and we are thrilled to work with Lamantine Software to deliver that product to our target audience.?

Sticky Password provides protection against the growing threat of identity theft attacks and makes life on the Internet safer and considerably easier for its users. Lamantine Software is proud to team up with ChicaLogic, as they bring password management directly to their target audience. The relationship between the two companies represents yet another technology partnership for Lamantine Software.

About Sticky Password

Sticky Password has been storing passwords and making people more productive since 2001. In addition to managing and encrypting your passwords and personal data, Sticky Password provides exceptional one-click online form filling. The small installation package incorporates the industry?s most powerful encryption algorithms and provides effective protection against phishing schemes, concealed key-loggers and identity theft. Each license also includes the Sticky Password portable version for use on a memory device like a USB flash memory stick. At home and on the road, your passwords and other sensitive personal data are secure and accessible only by you.

Sticky Password is created by Lamantine Software. Combining both security and convenience, Sticky Password is the right solution for even the most demanding customers. Sticky Password is available in several languages and is quickly are becoming an integral part of the web experience around the world. Visit http://www.stickypassword.com for the latest announcements and information about Sticky Password.

Media contacts:

Robert Pinkas

VP of Sales and Marketing

(201) 463 4340

About ChicaLogic

ChicaLogic.com offers a comprehensive user experience with technology solutions designed by women for women. ChicaLogic empowers women by helping them understand the tools, programs and software available to keep their computers running optimally and securely.

From PC optimization and security to data backup protection, ChicaLogic.com seeks to become the preeminent online technological resource for women around the globe. Visit ChicaLogic on the Web at http://www.chicalogic.com

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TechCareers Welding Available as Ebook

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:51:17 +0000

WACO, TX (PRWEB) October 26, 2011

“Now, more than ever, it’s imperative to let people know the real technical career options available to them . . . not through pie-in-the-sky projections but, rather, by the presentation of hard facts and documented evidence. Given that all this information is available as an ebook just makes access to it that much easier.” ? Michael Bettersworth, Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Advancement, Texas State Technical College System.

TSTC Publishing?s newest entry in its TechCareer Series: Welding Technology is now available as an ebook, and the print copy will debut Dec. 1 on the book market.

TechCareers: Welding Technology offers employment overviews, skill requirements, education and training information and everything else needed for a career in the welding and metal-working business. The ebook is available on the Nook, the Kindle and other ereaders. The book, written by Joseph Abbott and Karen Mitchell Smith, provides an in-depth guide to the job-market potential of welding, as well as the requirements necessary to become a welder.

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts there will be about 400,000 vacant welding positions by 2014 with not enough welders to fill them. The majority of today?s welders are from the retiring Baby Boomer generation, leaving the job market wide open for welders.

As of May 2008, the average hourly wage for a welder was $ 16.13 an hour, or $ 33,550 a year. The top 10 percent of welders made upwards of $ 25 an hour, or $ 52,000 a year. Welding engineers, the highest paid type of welders, on average make $ 39.34 an hour, or $ 81,827 a year. The salary, of course, depends on location, experience and education.

The book offers a list of job titles and corresponding duties welders can find in their industry:

????Boilermaker ? building and maintaining metal vessels and structures
????Pipefitter ? installing and maintaining pipe systems and supports
????Reinforcing and structural iron worker ? installing girders, columns and other construction materials
????Sheet metal worker ? making, installing and maintaining items made from sheet metal
????Underwater welder ? working on underwater projects like offshore platforms
????Welding machine operator ? setting up and taking care of welding machines
????Welding educator ? teaching others how to weld
????Welding sales ? selling welding equipment and supplies

Today, industries rely on the expertise of highly skilled welders because lives depend on the quality of welders? work. Welding is not just crafting two pieces of metal together. It requires technological savvy, too, with welders using newer technologies like lasers, electron beams and ultrasounds from behind a computer console operating a remote device.

?We are seeing more and more technology coming into play, so it doesn?t have the stigma of welders being high school dropouts that it once had,? says Dave Cotner, head of the welding program at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

From employment outlook to job duties to the necessary skill sets a welder is expected to possess, TechCareers: Welding Technology provides vital information any prospective welding student needs to know.

The TechCareers Series is a joint effort of TSTC Publishing, the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System, and TSTC Forecasting. The series includes: Biomedical Equipment, Automotive Technicians, Avionics Technician, Wind Energy, Computer Gaming Programmers & Artists and Welding Technology. Other forthcoming books include Aviation Pilots, Aviation Maintenance, Graphic Design and Radiation Protection.

Abbott is a native of Marfa, Texas, and a longtime writer and editor based in Waco. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English and has written on various topics ranging from meteorology to space shuttle launches. Mitchell Smith is a longtime educator and freelance writer from Weatherford, Texas.

Established in 2004 as the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System, TSTC Publishing offers faculty throughout the country the opportunity to initiate and participate in a variety of book development projects. TSTC Publishing projects now include such ancillary products as instructor guides, student workbooks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, ebooks and companion websites. In addition to offering editorial help and guidance to faculty, assistance also is available in the areas of materials production, distribution and sales.

Visit TSTC Publishing on the Web at http://publishing.tstc.edu

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Latest Version of Translation Services Portal from Globalization Partners International Wins 2011 Web Award

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:18:20 +0000

Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 26, 2011

Globalization Partners International (GPI), a leading provider of website, software and documentation translation services, announced today that its Translation Services Portal (http://www.translationportal.com) has won a 2011 Silver Award from the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA).

?Used by the world?s top hotel chains, interactive agencies, franchises and global Fortune 500, the new version of the Translation Services Portal helps companies lower per word translation costs, minimize project coordination and completion times, and ensure consistency of clients? branding and content across the globe,? says Martin Spethman, GPI’s Managing Partner. ?We added several new features requested by clients this year including a blog, global news feed, global business resource library, translation budgeting tools and connectivity to a variety of web content management and client relationship management platforms.?

?The Translation Services Portal is hosted for free and there are no licensing charges or IT burden on clients who adopt it,? says Jackie Janeri, Global Client Services Manager. ?Clients who need to manage a multitude of translation projects, whether documentation, software, or websites across departments and global markets, appreciate the access and visibility the translation portal gives them to all of their project information.?

About Globalization Partners International (GPI)

Globalization Partners International, LLC provides an array of translation services that help companies communicate with the world. GPI?s services enable firms to design, develop, and deploy multilingual documentation, software and websites for worldwide use. Services include: Document Translation, Multilingual Desktop Publishing , Audio/Video Translation, Software Translation, Website Translation and Global Search Engine Marketing. To learn more, visit: http://www.globalizationpartners.com.

About the W3 Awards

The W? is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a ?Who?s Who? of acclaimed media, interactive, advertising, and marketing firms. IAVA members include executives from organizations such as Conde Nast, Coach, Disney, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Estee Lauder, Fry Hammond Barr, HBO, Monster.com, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Victoria?s Secret, Wired, Yahoo! and many others.

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StrandVision Debuts Employee Communication Digital Signage Screen Saver

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:46:22 +0000

Menomonie, WI (PRWEB) October 26, 2011

StrandVision Digital Signage today unveiled a new screen saver capability for StrandVision Digital Signage networks that extends companies’ signage networks to employees’ desktops to further reinforce employee communication messaging.

Designed to bring corporate announcements directly to employees, it is ideal for human resources communications of employee benefits, reinforcement of corporate goals/missions, general business marketing, news and events or special announcements, such as weather-related bulletins. Compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems, the screen saver application plays the same content that streams over customers’ StrandVision Digital Signage network on digital signage player screens throughout a facility and internal and external websites.

“This is a powerful and efficient way to consistently communicate with employees and visitors,” commented Mike Strand StrandVision founder and CEO. “The StrandVision Digital Signage Screen Saver enables companies to get the most out of their digital signage networks by utilizing existing equipment that is temporarily inactive. We’ve designed a system that fits with corporate networking and computer management protocols while substantially extending the reach of the digital signage network for employee communication and business marketing opportunities.”

The application can be distributed in the same manner that other standard corporate applications are deployed. Once installed on an employee’s personal computer, the application becomes a dropdown selection in the Screen Saver Settings dialog and works the same way as any other screen saver.

StrandVision Digital Signage Screen Saver content is distributed over companies’ standard computer networks. A StrandVision preconfigured, on-premise server or Linux signage player is required for installations of more than 10 computers, which reduces subscription costs and network traffic while increasing efficiency. Pricing starts at $ 499 per year and goes as low as $ .17 per desktop per month for larger installations. The StrandVision Digital Signage Screen Saver is available immediately from StrandVision and through authorized resellers.

About StrandVision

StrandVision LLC, based in Menomonie, Wisconsin, delivers low-cost, Web-based digital signage software through a patented Software as a Service (SaaS) approach that delivers content to subscribers’ LCD flat panel screens, as well as computer screens and websites. StrandVision’s service distributes text and graphics pages, video content and national and local weather and news. It is ideal for many large and small business marketing applications, including medical and dental offices (patient education); banks, retailers and industrial distributors (video merchandising); education (student communication, staff and visitor information); employee break rooms (employee communication of events and benefits); non-profit and religious organizations (member and supporter communications).

StrandVision also offers PC-2-TV.net, a fully digital, high-definition (HD) video extender to connect a computer to a television over long distances for use with digital signage and many other applications. StrandVision Digital Signage services and PC-2-TV.net are available directly from StrandVision and through registered affiliates and system integrators. Additional information about StrandVision Digital Signage is available at StrandVision.com, 715-235-7446 or by email.

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University of South Dakota Joins HeartRox? Initiative

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:14:32 +0000

Vermillion, SD (PRWEB) October 26, 2011

HeartRox.org today announced that the University of South Dakota has joined Project HeartRox, a nationwide initiative to screen student athletes for potentially serious suspected heart murmurs. Although most cardiac murmurs are not cause for concern, certain murmurs can be possible indicators of heart disease, which can lead to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) among young athletes.

Approximately 10,000 students attend The University of South Dakota, which was founded in 1862 and is the state?s oldest university. Athlete screenings at USD will be conducted using state-of-the-art technology designed to support primary care providers in analyzing cardiac sounds for the identification and classification of suspected murmurs. According to Shant Hovnanian, founder of HeartRox, USD is the first university to take part in the Project HeartRox outreach program, which aims to bring this technology to thousands of schools nationwide to help eliminate SCD among athletes in America?s schools. “USD?s collaboration with local medical personnel and nonprofit health organizations is a model for other schools to follow,” Hovnanian stated. Hovnanian is also an advocate of the American Heart Association?s 12-step cardiovascular screening recommendations for athletes, which may also help reduce SCD.

?One of this country?s greatest resources is its children and young adults. With their ever-increasing level of participation and competition in athletics it becomes vital to identify underlying cardiac abnormalities prior to an unfortunate situation,? stated Dr. Patrick Hauer, an Associate Professor in USD?s Physical Therapy Department. ?Technological advancements have allowed for significant improvements in examination procedures performed by health care professionals; this now is also the case with cardiac auscultation. Implementing Computer-assisted Auscultation may prove to be a very effective, reliable, user-friendly and cost-effective method to help identify cardiac pathologies.?

Although Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes is rare, incidents of SCD continue to make national headlines and are an ongoing cause for concern among school systems and universities around the country, as well to student athletes and their family members. The mission of the Project HeartRox outreach program is to bring the technology to thousands of schools nationwide in an effort to help eliminate SCD among student athletes.

About HeartRox.org

HeartRox is sponsored by Zargis Medical, a medical device company focused on improving health outcomes and cost-effectiveness through software and products. Find out more about our Adopt-A-School Program. For additional information about Project HeartRox or Zargis, contact Peter Hodge at 888.773.3669 (ext. 23) or phodge(at)zargis(dot)com, or visit the following Web sites: http://www.heartrox.org or http://www.zargis.com.

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Marketing Web Sites Benchmarked in New Web Marketing Association Study

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:42:36 +0000

Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 5, 2006

According to the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR) released by the Web Marketing Association, Content, copywriting, design, and ease of use are all strong points in marketing Web sites. Interactivity is the only criteria in which marketing Web sites fall below the 3-year criteria average. The ISAR study provides industry benchmarks for Web site development and is based on data collected from 9,748 Web site evaluations in more than 80 industries over the past decade. A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp.

?Marketing was added to the WebAwards in 2002 and has produced above average Web sites to date,? said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. ?It is no surprise that the marketing industry has spent an incredible amount of energy on Web development. The Internet has become a new marketing channel to reach customers and marketers everywhere who have embraced this are excelling in Web development. ?

Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association has been conducting its annual WebAward Competition for Web site development. The Internet Standards Assessment Report is the results of nearly a decade of independent evaluations of Web site development based on seven categories: design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.

Here are some of the past WebAwards Best Marketing Web site winners.

2005 Nurun | Ant Farm Interactive Website

2004 Symantec Client Security 2.0 Channel Launch Kit

2003 The Getaway

2002 Disc Marketing Corporate Website

A complete list of past winners and the entry form for companies who wish to compete for 2006 honors can be found at http://www.webaward2006.org.

Companies and organizations wishing to have their marketing Web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help boost a Web sites credibility and marketing efforts, can nominate their site at http://www.webawards2006.org.

?Of course, as in every industry, there are marketing Web sites that stand out and others that don?t make the grade,? concluded Rice. ?Our goal has always been to be more than just a popularity or beauty contest that rewards brand names and good design. Instead, this ISAR study is designed to return some value to every entrant with input as to what Internet professionals should strive for in their Web site development efforts in an objective, empirical and constructive way.?

2006 WebAward Call for Entries

The Web Marketing Association is now accepting entries into its 10th annual international WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks that the Internet Standards Assessment report is based upon. The marketing industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Marketing Web site of 2006. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2006 and the WebAward Web site is located at http://www.webawards2006.org.

About the WebAwards

The 10th annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 95 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit http://www.webawards2006.org.

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Direct Marketing Agency Responds to $160 Billion Dollar Market

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:10:48 +0000

Boston, MA (PRWEB) October 20, 2011

Break Media Group, a web design, development and marketing solutions agency, is launching their enhanced website today in response to a strong demand for direct marketing needs.

The Direct Marketing Association reported that direct-market advertising budgets will grow by 3.4 percent to $ 168.5 billion in 2012. Much of that growth will be driven by increased demand for digital marketing, which is expected to grow by 18 percent, according to the association’s data.

?Businesses are seeking web design, development and marketing services that deliver bankable results. BMG?s clients rely on for digital strategies and solutions that help with their companies grow and gain sales without hiring a full internal marketing team,? says, Eric Sullivan, CEO, Break Media Group.

BMG?s new site follows several months of research and consultation with the agency?s team of designers, developers and marketers, as well as it?s core audience and clients. The result is an intuitive and engaging site that gives a high level overview of the agency?s services and value proposition.

The site includes archives of the weekly BMGChat, a twitter chat where marketing professionals from all levels and industries meet to share thoughts about marketing and social media. Also added to the new BMG website is a downloadable tip sheet, The Value of Outsourcing Marketing. Finally, the new site showcases some recently completed work for clients such as Direct Disposal, Correlsense, Cannolis & Rosaries, and Dexrex.

Break Media Group?s new website address is http://www.breakmediagroup.com.

About Break Media Group

BMG is your partner to deliver web design, development and marketing solutions that grow value and foster brand loyalty. The agency is based in New England and was founded in 2009.

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Websites Using CoreMedia Technology Receive Prestigious WebAward

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:39:07 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 04, 2011

CoreMedia, a leading Web content management (WCM) company, today announced its customers, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin and Continental, have each won a 2011 WebAward. The awards, organized by the Web Marketing Association, honor talented individual and team efforts for outstanding website development. Both customers? award-winning websites were developed using CoreMedia?s industry-leading WCM platform, CoreMedia CMS, which enables businesses to create engaging, context-aware online experiences.

Details:

Continental, a worldwide leading manufacturer of parts for the automotive and transport industries, won the WebAward for Automobile Standard of Excellence and Mobile Standard of Excellence. The website was lauded for its clean design and ability to load content rapidly.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin, a business federation representing companies and industries in Berlin, won the WebAward for Professional Services Standard of Excellence. The organization worked closely with German Web and database technology firm ComNetMedia to develop its site. Judges praised the website for its easy-to-read design, strong social media integration and prominent contact information displayed throughout the site.
Founded by the Web Marketing Association in 1997, the WebAwards is the premier annual website award competition that names the best websites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all website development.
The WebAwards is a highly competitive, prestigious award. This year the association received more than 2,000 entries from 45 countries.
Websites are assessed by a professional judging panel, which provides specific feedback on how each site ranks against seven standards of excellence ? design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use.

Supporting Quotes:

?We are honored to have our work with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin be recognized by the prestigious WebAwards,? stated Ralf Heimlich, deputy CEO, ComNetMedia. ?By using CoreMedia CMS to develop and manage the websites for all 30 chambers of commerce and industry within Germany, we?ve created first class websites that offer highly engaging experiences for visitors with seamless social media integration throughout the site.?

?At Continental, we want to ensure that current and perspective customers visiting our website can access our world class products in an efficient and intuitive manner,? commented Monika Andrae, head of online relations, Continental. ?By using CoreMedia?s robust technology, we have created a fast-loading, innovative online experience. We?re honored that the WebAwards has recognized us as having one of the most engaging websites in the automotive industry!?

?We are thrilled to congratulate Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin, Continental and ComNetMedia, who have been recognized by the industry standard for website development,? said Glenn Conradt, vice president of global marketing and North America, CoreMedia. ?These WebAwards are validation that CoreMedia?s WCM technology empowers organizations of all types to create highly dynamic Web experiences for their constituents.?

For further information on CoreMedia, please visit http://www.coremedia.com

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Intellogy Software Launches New Content Management System Suite

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:38:55 +0000

Greensboro, NC (PRWEB) June 7, 2005

Intellogy Software, creator of tools and applications for the Web design industry, announces the launch of its gee! Web Tools? content management software suite available at http://www.geewebtools.com. Engineered exclusively to meet the needs of Web site design professionals, gee! Web Tools is an integrated Web content management and Internet marketing solution that provides Web site designers with a sophisticated Web site maintenance solution for their clients.

“gee! Web Tools gives Web designers’ clients the ability to perform Web site maintenance,” Robert Rhodes, CEO of Intellogy Software explained. “Through a user-friendly and simple interface, clients are able to keep their sites current and make most changes without involving the help of the webmaster. Unlike other CMS solutions, gee! has been engineered exclusively to meet the most sophisticated needs of professional web design firms.”

The gee! modules are available separately, or as fully-customizable Content Manager suites. These modules include a selection of web content management and Internet marketing tools, including:

gee! Page Editor ? Edit Web content instantly from anywhere

gee! Mail Wizard ? Compose and send bulk emails to contacts

gee! Calendar Manager ? Easily maintained, full featured Web calendar with multiple display layouts

gee! News Manager ? Post current events within your website easily

gee! Photo Gallery Manager ? Create and organize galleries of photos and images with captions

The extensive suite of gee! Web tools takes the cost and time out of coding data-driven web pages and shortens the Web site development cycle, with no need to re-invent the wheel with each new Web site. Support resources including a database of frequently asked questions and the gee! Development Forum provide online help for both developers and designers.

About Intellogy Software and gee! Web Tools

gee! Web Tools is a product of Intellogy Software, a division of Gate City Technologies, LLC, a privately held company located in Greensboro, NC, USA. Intellogy Software creates tools and applications for the Web design industry, “changing the way you web.” Constantly expanding and improving on its products and services, the company’s success to date can be traced to their technical expertise, proven experience, marketplace knowledge, and unwavering commitment to excellence in product and service quality. For more information about gee! Web Tools, visit http://www.geewebtools.com.

Media Contact:

Debbie Bohl

336-841-7837

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BIT Studios, Chicago Web Design Firm, Launches New Brand-Reinforcing Web Site for Sporting Goods Giant South Bend

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:07:08 +0000

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 17, 2011

South Bend has been manufacturing fishing gear in the US since 1906, focusing on equipment ? rods, reels, tackle and accessories ? that makes fishing fun and easy for anglers of all ages.

They wanted their new website to visually demonstrate their passion for family fishing while promoting the dependable, affordable products that attract millions of anglers to their family year after year.

So BIT Studios created a heart-warming, outdoorsy look that draws in guests and encourages them to feel South Bend?s heritage and commitment to this family pastime. http://www.south-bend.com is full of colorful, action shots of families fishing together, a section just for kids, and easy-to-use architecture. BIT Studios developed it in Drupal 7 Content Management so staff at South Bend could manage the site themselves.

Lori Erickson of South Bend says, “I was a very hands-on client with more than my share of specific wants, needs and tweaks and not once did they tell me to ?get out of the kitchen?. They were more than willing to work collaboratively on this project, which was my company’s first foray into open source (Drupal) as well as in utilizing an outside agency for the development. A great project, a well-received website, and more in the pipeline.”

BIT President Jeff Thompson says, ?Working on the South Bend site was a great experience in large part due to the South Bend team. The website is a critical element in their marketing mix allowing them to reinforce brand loyalty, engage customers and increase market share. They understand the importance of a professional, engaging website and we are glad to be a part of their team. South Bend is a pleasure to work with.?

Thompson says his web design team in Chicago is currently engaged to develop more sites for South Bend?s parent company, Big Game International.

About BIT Studios

BIT Studios (http://www.bitstudios.com) is a Chicago web design firm with more than two decades experience in web design, development, search engine optimization and lead conversion. They provide graphic design, interactive media, social networking services, mobile application development and custom web development to clients around the world.

About South Bend

South Bend Sporting Goods of Northbrook IL designs and manufactures innovative fishing products for the whole family. South Bend brands include: Ready 2 Fish?, N Gage Outfitters?, Hurricane?, Celsius? and Crystal River.

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Bellingham Web Design Company Adds New Services to its Web Site Offerings

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:36:50 +0000

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) October 11, 2011

Bellingham Web Design company HappyChap Media is proud to announce two new services to its web design offerings. They will now provide customers with a customized tutorial video detailing how to update all necessary aspects of the website, as well as provide a physical backup of all website files and databases. Beside web design, HappyChap offers services including graphic design, content writing, social media management and more.

?A lot of hosting companies offer automatic daily backup plans, but what happens if their hard drives are destroyed or hacked?” asks co-founder Aaron Apple. “The best back-up plan is always a hard copy of every file and database associated with a website, in the hands of that website?s owner.?

HappyChap Media specializes in building unique websites that put control into the customer?s hands. Since WordPress, the content management system utilized by HappyChap Media, essentially makes managing a site as simple as writing an email, their clients are able to make future changes and updates without needing a technical expert?s help.

?In these tough economic times, the businesses that can adapt the quickest to new technologies will be the ones who succeed,” said co-founder Noel Abbott. “What we?re doing is giving our clients a head-start on that process.?

In short, HappyChap will build the client’s site, complete with a unique layout and graphic appeal to suit the organization or individual’s needs, and then the client will be able to take the reins and manage the simple updates on their own, now with the help of a customized tutorial video.

About HappyChap Media:

The company was started in late 2010 by three friends in Bellingham, WA, to offer high-performance, affordable websites to small business owners. Bringing together a unique mix of marketing, technical, and artistic expertise, HappyChap was founded with the belief that business owners and organizations should be able to manage and run their own websites. To teach their clients basic website management tasks, HappyChap offers both in-person training sessions as well as custom video tutorials to explain the process.

Media Contact:

Noel Abbott

HappyChap Media

360-941-2234

noel(at)happychapmedia(dot)com

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Affordable Web Design Package for Small Business Solutions

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:02:52 +0000

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 17, 2009

IT Graphix is an affordable web design company in Thailand specializing in custom production of web design for small business. IT Graphix is pleased to announce the new basic web design packages starting at $ 599. These packages are great for any businesses wanting a simple, smart and quick web presence with very low load time, and without spending much money.

Basic web design package offers the same professional presentation as other custom web design packages, but at a greater savings to the small business web design, family web sites or non-profit organization.

Businesses seeking an affordable start-up website option can choose from one of pre-designed static HTML packages, which include one submission to the top search engines.

IT Graphix’s basic web design package consist of pre-designed web page templates designed by professional web designers. Each template is ready for implementation of company identity, color scheme, and content.

“Once a business makes a selection from our list of web templates, we then customize the design with company colors, add the company logo, and format text for placement on each web page to make sure that your website is unique”, stated Jod Kapilakan, web designer with IT Graphix. The result is a custom website that looks unique and professional for each business with affordable budget.

If a company requires more functions, such as databases and online shopping cart, IT Graphix Web Design continues to offer affordable e-commerce website design solutions.

For more information about IT Graphix’s basic web design package, visit http://www.itgraphix.com.

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Internet Exposure?s Marketing Blog ? Above The Fold ? Celebrates Its One-Year Anniversary

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:30:58 +0000

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) August 10, 2011

Internet Exposure, a Minneapolis web design agency, launched its industry blog one year ago. Since going live with its flagship post last August, Above The Fold has grown a significant readership and positioned the agency as an authoritative figure in its space. The blog has also allowed the agency to build a captive audience around its Twitter platform, engage with peers in its industry and cultivate new business.

?We plan and execute content marketing strategies for our clients, so it’s great to be able to point them to our content and social media platforms as an example of how we’ve been able to succeed in the B2B sector,? says the company’s CEO, Jeff Hahn.

Behind the blog sits Internet Exposure’s marketing team, who plan and create content that covers the latest developments in web design, social media, SEO and content marketing. The editorial team also writes a number of ?How To? posts to assist clients and colleagues in accomplishing marketing goals and ongoing digital strategies.

Above The Fold’s recent post, ?How To Get a Google Places Label?, uncovered groundbreaking insight into how to best take advantage of the Google Maps application and helped solidify an SEO industry best practice. Another recent post on Google Plus found the agency offering its clients and peers critical advice in relation Google’s soon to be launched business pages.

Into the blog’s second year, the company says it will be redesigning the blog’s interface and is planning a robust editorial calendar that continues to grow its audience, authority and expertise.

Internet Exposure is a Minneapolis digital agency that specializes in web design, web development, search engine optimization, and digital strategy.

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MDesign Media Offers Free Logo Design ? a $595 value ? with Custom Website Design Purchase

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:59:05 +0000

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) October 25, 2011

MDesign Media, a national, full-service marketing, design and Internet media firm, is making it easy, and easy on the budget, for companies to gain customers by offering free logo design to drive brand awareness through its custom designed, client websites.

?If clients take action now, current economic conditions can be the golden opportunity to position themselves for long-term success,? says Marie Furman, CEO/President of MDesign Media. ?Our offer to design a free company logo, one that makes an immediate and lasting impact and is reinforced by our custom website designs, can be the difference when things turn around.?

In addition to dynamic logo and website design, MDesign Media offers graphic design, photography, content writing, search engine optimization (SEO), online marketing, social media and print marketing services.

?Businesses are also invited to visit MDesign Media on Facebook and click on our savvy marketing and web design blog for the proven methods needed to thrive in today?s marketplace,? Furman adds.

Create your corporate identity today ? visit MDesignMedia.com or call 813.495.7070 to receive a free no-obligation website design estimate.

Offer ends December 30, 2011. To qualify, client must purchase a custom WordPress website of 10 pages or more.

About MDesign Media

Based in Tampa, Florida, MDesign Media continues to be one of the fastest growing web design and full-service marketing firms by producing results-driven, creative execution for clients throughout the Tampa Bay area and across the nation. In additional to web media creation, MDesign Media offers graphic design, photography, content writing, search engine optimization (SEO), online marketing, social media and print marketing services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and everything in between.

MDesign Media’s unique business model and unmatched marketing services have earned accolades within the marketing community and created considerable interest in the news media resulting in a featured segment on Channel 8 WFLA.

For more on the company’s professional capabilities and creative portfolio, please visit MDesign Media’s Website.

About Marie Furman

Marie Furman, CEO/President of MDesign Media, Inc., has created one of the fastest growing media design firms in the nation. Her charisma, passion and expertise to take an idea or philosophy to a visual masterpiece have established MDesign Media in a class of its own.

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Spiffy Web Creates Online Resource for Business Owners

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:27:34 +0000

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) August 01, 2011

Spiffy Web?s new website (http://www.spiffy-web.com) is a resource for business owners starting a web project.

The Internet marketing agency develops websites that support the bottom line. They do this with search engine optimization, natural search and content marketing.

Sixty-six percent of small businesses find new customers from their Internet marketing efforts, per the 2011 American Express OPEN Small Business Search Market Survey. To achieve these results, owners need to optimize their site to its fullest.

?My site generated new business I wouldn?t have found otherwise,? says Marina Snow, Owner, Eve Italia. ?Working with Spiffy Web gave me the confidence to sell my business.?

?Clients get the most from their website when they apply a business mindset,? says Cara Crosetti, Owner of Spiffy Web. ?This means they plan and build their site on a foundation of Internet marketing best practices, like keyword research. Ironically, most people start with design. They aren?t aware of how important it is to develop a smart website to make their efforts worthwhile.?

Spiffy Web?s site educates business owners on what to expect from the process and explains things in easy terms. Owners who are confused about how to start or are afraid of the costs associated with technology they don?t understand will find information and stories about others? experiences. http://spiffy-web.com/portfolio/client-web-spotlight/

The American Express study found that 23% of small businesses plan to implement search marketing this year. For those ready to join this group, visit: http://spiffy-web.com/plan-for-results/.

About Spiffy Web

Since late-2008, Spiffy Web builds websites that get results. They help clients in the U.S. and Europe develop and design websites from scratch; consult throughout a project; and write original copy for social media channels and communications materials.

Cara Crosetti, owner and digital strategist of the small and mighty agency, blends decades of marketing know-how with new digital tools. She specializes in search engine optimization, natural search and copy writing for humans and robots alike.

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Phixios, Inc. Announces Partnership with Stratis Systems for Website Monitoring

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:55:12 +0000

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (PRWEB) August 30, 2011

Stratis Systems is a full-service web services provider supplying website and web-based application design, development, deployment, hosting and marketing to companies of all sizes. Stratis has chosen Phixios because of their tools functionality and cost effective approach to monitor their web services infrastructure including using the Phixios Website Monitoring service to monitor their customers? websites. The service provides Stratis and their customers with rich metrics that show the actual technical performance of their websites. This includes http and https access and response time to the website, authentication to restricted pages, and health of all the links on their websites and web-based applications.

By using the Phixios Website Monitoring service, Stratis can provide potential customers insight into issues with their current website and the positive impact of migrating to their full web services suite. The service provides value to current customers by providing warnings of potential problems so they can be addressed before they impact their customer?s businesses as well as alerting for accessibility issues and broken links on their websites.

With the flexibility of the Phixios cloud service, Stratis is able to rapidly scale monitoring capability to customers while limiting costs. Phixios will support Stratis? sales efforts, verifying impact of changes, troubleshooting issues, identifying root cause for problems, and capacity planning.

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Security Public Storage Converts from Taskmaster(TM) to SiteLink Web Edition

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:23:14 +0000

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) July 26, 2011

SiteLink, the leader in software for self-storage and portable storage, is pleased to announce the roll-out of SiteLink Web Edition at Security Public Storage (SPS), one of California?s oldest and largest self-storage operators.

SPS increases profits by implementing revenue management and by offering ancillary services such as insurance and merchandise in Web Edition. SPS?s profitable online strategy relies on integrating the company?s website with reliable, feature-rich management software. To manage its network of stores, SPS depends on Web Edition?s accurate financial and management reports.

?We evaluated software carefully for a year and settled on SiteLink Web Edition because it is clearly the strongest program in all areas,? said Steve Ford, Manager of Field Services for SPS. ?Central management tools let us standardize and change settings like rates and policies globally, on the fly. SiteLink?s service and training tools are second to none. With Web Edition, our online payments have gone up dramatically and continue to do so. Web Edition?s constant updates keep pace with our company?s growth.?

?We are very excited to have SPS on board,? says Markus Hecker, SiteLink?s COO. ?To turn their ideas into profits, they use Web Edition?s free customer service and features like Revenue Management and APIs (application programming interface) to the max. We are flattered they chose Web Edition to continue their expansion.?

About SiteLink

With 5,000 installations around the world, SiteLink Web Edition is one of the most widely used web system in the self-storage industry. More than 65 of the top 100 operators run Web Edition today. Web Edition?s popularity stems from its user-friendly, reliable design. Web Edition is highly scalable and easy to deploy. At no additional charge to users, Web Edition integrates with other platforms such as smart phones, websites, listing services, INSOMNIAC Kiosks, Lead Tracking Solutions and central mail providers. Powerful features like revenue management, email and texting allow users to grow revenue and lower their cost of ownership. The company?s commitment to service, continuous updates and product quality has made Web Edition a favorite among operators of every size.

About Security Public Storage

Founded in 1983, Security Public Storage is a family owned and operated self-storage company dedicated to providing the highest quality storage experience in the industry. 42 locations in California, Nevada, Maryland and Washington, DC emphasize friendly, professional management. Secure, clean and convenient stores offer compelling storage alternatives to customers. With nearly 30 years of experience in the self-storage industry, Security Public Storage aims to exceed consumer expectations every day.

TaskMaster? is a trademark of Chamberlain? Access Solutions.

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WebHostRanking.com Names SitefinityHosting.us as Best Sitefinity Host

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:51:27 +0000

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) August 23, 2011

WebHostRanking.com names SitefinityHosting.us as the Best Sitefinity Host because of the excellent web hosting tools, features, and customer support they offer to every client. WebHostRanking, a full featured website that came about after years of experience with both free and paid web hosting services, takes notice of the best web hosting providers and takes the time to tell other webmasters about them. Not every web host deserves an award, but the ones that do are the ones worth talking about.

Sitefinity hosting is one of the newest and, in the opinion of many webmasters, best content management systems for building a website, intranet, portal, or blog. Sitefinity is often talked about as one of the best types of web hosting because of the ease-of-use, yet feature-rich, dynamics of the system. Sitefinity was created to be easy enough that a beginning webmaster could use and customize it to meet his/her exact needs, but the adaptability of Sitefinity hosting makes it expandable so that any webmaster can add the functionality that he/she needs for each individual website. Whether a webmaster is creating a simple, small business brochure-type website or a large corporate website with all the latest flash and technical design aspects, Sitefinity provides all the tools to build and maintain each website.

Sitefinityhosting.us was awarded this Best Sitefinity Host award because of the way they have integrated Sitefinity into their web hosting plans and because of the incredible Sitefinity support they have available to every web hosting client. Sitefinity Hosting is also unique in the servers they use to support their Sitefinity hosting plans. Each Sitefinity server houses no more than fifty websites, about 10% of the number of sites many web hosts place on one server, making the entire web hosting experience faster and more reliable. In addition, the Sitefinity Hosting services are backed by a 30 day money back guarantee and a 100% uptime service level agreement.

Sitefinity Hosting features include unlimited bandwidth, a free dedicated IP for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), and free installation and configuration. Prices for the Sitefinity hosting plans start as low as $ 19.77 per month with discounts offered for annual plans. Sitefinity Hosting also offers Sitefinity VPS hosting plans for the webmasters in need of a virtual private server hosting for even more control over each of his/her websites. Visit SitefinityHosting.us for complete details on each of the Sitefinity web hosting plans. Webmasters can see for themselves why Sitefinity hosting has earned the title of Best Sitefinity Host.

About WebHostRanking

WebHostRanking.com is a comprehensive website owned & operated by BestSites, Inc covering a wide range of topics related to web hosing and Internet services. Visitors will find detailed web hosting reviews, company specific coupon codes and promotions, as well as search engine optimization, online marketing tips, and much more.

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HostGator Offering the Best Prices on Web Hosting for Packages Starting from $3.96/month for Unlimited Hosting

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:19:20 +0000

Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 26, 2011

HostGator is offering a unique price for its unlimited web hosting services for the 1st month: One Cent. The top web hosting company is presenting website owners with the opportunity to contract their quality services at unheard of prices. These unique prices ensure that all website owners are able to obtain the web hosting solutions that they require.

HostGator has already made its mark on the web hosting market by offering prices competitive to GoDaddy and other large web hosting sites. Their unlimited web hosting and quality additions have already placed HostGator near the top spot as one of the best web hosting providers in the world. Now, thanks to these unique prices offered by HostGator, the company is expanding its offers to include anyone looking to start an online business or website.

HostGator packages already offer affordable web hosting solutions for website owners. The unlimited disk space and bandwidth ensure that users can expand their online businesses to meet the growing demand, and the tools that accompany the packages enable beginner web users to create their own website in a matter of minutes. The templates that accompany the package are professionally designed, with plugins for photo galleries, forums, and membership scripts included. The shopping cart software offered for free ensures that users can monetize their website at no cost, and the 24 hour support provides users with technical support for any problems.

HostGator is now going a step further and offering unlimited web hosting for a single cent for the first month when users utilize the following HostGator coupon:

1CENTCOUPONCODE

They are also offering a 25% discount off any web hosting plans when users use the HostGator coupon below:

HG25COUPONCODE

These HostGator coupons make it as cheap as it is easy for users to set up and host their websites with HostGator, and provides them with the web hosting solutions that they need.

About HostGator

HostGator is one of the top providers in the world of web hosting, and they have been providing quality hosting for many years. Their web hosting service is renowned for being trouble-free, easy to use, and affordable.

For more information on the web hosting rebates and the coupon codes available, please visit http://hostgatorcouponcode.org today.

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Notchnet Acquires Jadeview Internet Company

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:47:26 +0000

(PRWEB) October 12, 2011

Notchnet, Inc. of Littleton, NH is pleased to announce the acquisition of Jadeview Internet, of North Woodstock, NH. Jadeview Internet, owned by Ron Fitzgerald, provided web and email hosting services for over 12 years. A recent career change led Fitzgerald to contact Notchnet about merging web servers to continue to provide quality hosting services to his customers. “This merge will allow us to combine the strength’s of both companies to better serve our clients.” Says Ron Fitzgerald of Jadeview.

Web and email hosting these days require strong virus and spam protection. Both Notchnet and Jadeview worked through web/email hosting issues over the years to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies. The transition was seamless since the two companies have worked together for many years and used similar hardware and software.

“We?re excited about this acquisition and look forward to working with Jadeview customers to enhance their web marketing activities. Notchnet recently joined with some exciting new web marketing programs to increase our customer?s listing on search engines and mobile phones and we?ll be offering Jadeview clients access to these new Search engine optimization services as well as our solid web hosting services with friendly tech support.” states Francis.????

Notchnet, Inc., established in 1999, provides managed website and email hosting, web design, mobile marketing, and search engine optimization services. The Notchnet office is located at 149 West Main Street, Littleton, NH or online at http://www.notchnet.com.

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New Site5 Joomla Video Install Guides Available at Joomla Hosting Reviews

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:15:48 +0000

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) August 16, 2011

http://www.JoomlaHostingReviews.com has published custom install guides for Site5. These guides cover installing Joomla using both the built-in web installer and Fantastico 1-Click installer.

Each guide includes both step-by-step documentation with screenshots and a video showing an actual Joomla installation with detailed narration. The videos are available at YouTube for anyone to watch. For those not familiar with hosting Joomla at Site5 here is their Site5 Review.

Since Joomla is a database driven web application, installation can be the most challenging part of creating a successful website. Some shy away because it seems too complex. While monitoring the Joomla community, they saw the need for a set of reliable, easy to follow install guides. These guides are designed to be the simplest, most user-friendly articles available for the average user.

There are two methods of installing Joomla at Site5, the built-in Joomla web installer and the Fantastico one-click installer.

The built-in web installer is the basic method to Install Joomla at Site5. Their guide provide all steps needed for downloading Joomla, configuring the server and going through the Joomla install guide. If you prefer to watch a video, you are in luck. Joomla Hosting Reviews has created a video install guide walking you through a Joomla install from start to finish, complete with detailed instructions and addition information.

Fantastico is a third party one-click installer. The Fantastico Site5 Joomla Install guide describes step-by step instructions. Fantastico provide installation support for many different web applications including Joomla.

Steven Johnson, Site Administrator for Joomla Hosting Reviews said, ?We saw the need for detailed guides and videos and invested the time and effort to create detailed, easy-to-use tutorials that cover all essential points of a Joomla installation. We are hoping the Joomla web hosting community will be much better off because of this work.? They have a long standing relationship with the Joomla with much of it being the experience of installing Joomla at different web hosts, ?It (installing Joomla) has become better over the years, but the fundamentals are the same. We try to help the average person understand databases and directories in Joomla.?

Joomla Hosting Reviews, is owned and managed by Intown Web Design of Atlanta, GA. They are not related in any way with the Official Joomla Project or Site5. It is a website that brings hosting and server information and help to the Joomla community.

Working with Joomla and Hosting for over six years, they have provided expert reviews of hosting companies. Follow them at http://twitter.com/jhostingreviews

Intown Web Design, located in Atlanta, Georgia focuses on web development for small to medium sized companies that are interested in functional, stylish, search engine optimized websites. The primary focus is Joomla but have experience in most other popular open source applications such as Drupal and WordPress. Follow Intown Web Design at http://twitter.com/intownwebdesign

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The Net Impact Hosts Social Media Strategist from Famous Footwear

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:44:13 +0000

Chesterfield, MO (PRWEB) October 13, 2011

The Net Impact, a St. Louis based web marketing firm, recently hosted a free social media strategy event with Laura Stude of Famous Footwear, a division of Brown Shoe Company. This event was the latest of The Net Impact?s TXCHANGE happy hour series, designed to inform and educate the St. Louis business community about social media, SEO, new technologies, and other web marketing topics.

Laura Stude?s presentation, Social Marketing with Famous Footwear, covered social media strategies and tactics that enterprise-level brands employ. Using a variety of data and metrics, Stude demonstrated the importance of interconnected marketing channels, personalized social media voices, and targeted Facebook advertisements. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session and an in-depth discussion among the attendees.

The Net Impact?s TXCHANGE events, short for ?technology exchange?, have occurred monthly since the beginning of May 2011 and are typically held at The Net Impact?s Chesterfield offices. Past topics include Video SEO with Adam Crosley of Reel Impact, Website Branding with Tom Schmittdiel of PSG Marketing, and Global Business Strategies with Susanne Evens of AAA Translation.

The Net Impact looks forward to continuing the TXCHANGE event series with new topics and new experts in future months. The October event will feature Natalie Vasilyev, an SEO and Local Search expert with The Net Impact.

If you?re in the St. Louis area and would like to attend the next TXCHANGE event, register online.

?The TXCHANGE events give us an opportunity to present the St. Louis business and marketing communities with insights from a wide array of web marketing experts,? said Steve Thomas, The Net Impact President. ?It?s very exciting for us to see these events generate such high quality information and discussion?.

About The Net Impact?

The Net Impact, a full service web marketing and web design firm is a division of Unidev?. Since 1997, The Net Impact has been a web development leader, empowering clients with highly creative search engine friendly websites. Professional services encompass search engine optimization and Internet marketing solutions, Internet strategy development, training and seminars, social media marketing and design, and web design and development. For more information on The Net Impact, please visit http://www.thenetimpact.com, or call (636) 458-7772.

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HDL Designers Can Now Get Xilinx Online Training with Hardent

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:11:44 +0000

Montreal, Qc (PRWEB) July 29, 2011

Hardent is pleased to announce their new online training catalogue of Xilinx courses, which will allow engineers and professionals to learn from some of the leading HDL experts in the industry. From FPGA online training through Xilinx PlanAhead? e-training to HDL design, the courses are presented at both the intermediate and advanced levels, and at arranged-upon times.

Hardent noticed that some organizations had trouble training their HDL designers in the latest Xilinx technology simply because they had limited time to send engineers for training. Chris Green, Product Manager for training and productivity services at Hardent says ?We need to meet the demand of our clients. For some clients, Xilinx e-training is the only feasible solution.? Hardent have designed their courses to allow customers to enjoy the Web-based environment as much as they do the live classroom sessions. The interactive seminars allow trainees to share a desktop and speak with the instructors directly at their place of work, and do not diminish the quality Hardent?s customers have come to except. In addition to the Web-based presentation, students receive their presentation notes in advance which allow them to sit comfortably in their own working environment and follow the instructor.

In the last few months Hardent has run a pilot program to test its e-training concept, and the response was extremely positive. Tony Mouawad, an advanced product developer at Christie Digital Systems, was very enthusiastic, saying: ?I very much enjoyed the Web-based learning. The course was premium quality and I am looking forward to the next one? hopefully it will be web based again since it saves so much hassle with travel.?

Please search for detailed information about the coming Hardent online training schedule and registration.

About Hardent:

Hardent is a highly experienced training house and the exclusive Xilinx Authorized Training Provider for Canada, New England and Southeastern United States. It offers FPGA courses, digital signal processing (DSP) design training, embedded software course training, SystemVerilog training, and a range of other courses targeted at HDL design experts. Consult the Hardent website for more on the Hardent training courses.

Hardent also provides Electronic Design Services, serving as an extension of companies’ electronic design and engineering departments to achieve faster time-to-market and high electronic innovation. With unique capabilities to rapidly understand a company?s’ requirements, Hardent’s problem-solving skills and cutting-edge design expertise produce creative electronic solutions. The company offers transparent communication, high project visibility, and never-ending support. For further information about electronic design services, visit the Hardent web site.

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WebReady for Self Storage Set to Launch by Red Nova Labs

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:39:47 +0000

(PRWEB) August 31, 2011

Red Nova Labs saw a need on the web for small-scale self storage operators. Many lacked a web presence entirely, and for those that did have sites, many had usability issues and designs that were outdated. As a solution, Red Nova Labs created WebReady.

WebReady is a service that creates high-end self storage websites with sophisticated development, content management tools, ongoing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services, local business optimization for local search and web marketing consulting on an ongoing basis. Red Nova Labs will launch the service Sept. 7-9 at the Self Storage Association Conference and Tradeshow in Las Vegas, but buzz has already been generated with owners who have received a sneak peak.

?The initial response to WebReady has been overwhelming,? said Marc Smith, Director of Business Development at Red Nova Labs. ?Basically, what we’re hearing is, ?This looks great – sign me up!? And why wouldn’t it be? If you’re offering a modern website optimized for today’s Google search and it only costs $ 499 per year including hosting, it’s the best resource you’ve never had.

?These owners have worked very hard and they take so much pride in their stores, we’re just giving them the tools to fight on equal ground on the web.?

WebReady is a templated website with hundreds of different design combinations to choose from. Once an operator chooses a design package, the websites are built with a company landing page and additional landing pages for each facility. Each website also includes Red Nova Labs? patented self storage calculator and storage tips, providing a comprehensive end-user experience.

?Large owners have been early to market with web platforms of all sizes and shapes including a major transfer of their marketing expenses from Yellow Pages to their own websites and they’ve been doing it for years,? Smith said. ?But for storage, the story is still proximity, especially on the web. That’s why WebReady is such an important piece for owners with a smaller portfolio, including those with only one store. A well-designed for SEO, well-designed for conversion website is critical for the smaller owner, so that as Google continues to reward local content, you’re in the right position and ready to convert interest into rentals.?

Red Nova Labs has made a name for itself by helping turn interest into rentals. The company entered the self storage market when it launched StorageFront.com in 2009. StorageFront is a web marketing resource that serves both storage operators and renters with an advanced search engine. Red Nova Labs used much of the technology and knowledge it gained with StorageFront to launch WebReady and WebWorks, which launched earlier this year for larger operators.

?There?s a need in the market,? said Dan Miller, Red Nova Labs CEO. ?People that own 10 or more facilities have the wherewithal and the need in the market to develop their own custom websites, and they should have budgets where they can do ongoing SEO, and they should be able to be competitive in most market places. That?s really where the WebWorks? product fits in. But then you?ve got people with less than 10 facilities that don?t need that kind of an expense and the level of SEO to be competitive in their market places, especially if their market places are less competitive.?

WebReady provides clients with an option for SEO service on an ongoing basis, but Miller said it is not mandatory. He suggests it for operators in a non-competitive market; however, he says it is not for everybody and that?s why they make it optional.

?We shouldn?t be offering SEO services to somebody in a dense and competitive market if they?ve got one facility and they?ve got no chance,? Miller said. ?Their best option for a web presence is WebReady.?

Chris Klein, who runs the Inside Sales team for WebReady, said StorageFront and other models like it have made small operators aware of the power of the Internet for self storage. So when he has started to tell smaller operators about WebReady, it has been an easy sell.

?Eight out of 10 renters are using the web to find storage,? Klein said, ?and it is important to have a company that knows the markets and delivers websites with the design that the search engines are requiring. Webready will be that solution.?

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Leading Los Angeles Web Design Firm Announces National Launch

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:07:52 +0000

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 22, 2011

With over a decade?s experience designing small business websites on the West Coast, Website Design by Adam has begun an ambitious geo-targeting campaign aimed at increasing the company?s presence in the 250 top US urban centers.

Website Design by Adam is the brainchild of Adam Karapetyan, a Glendale entrepreneur and web designer who started the company as a home-based business in 2001. Adam has developed a solid reputation in the Los Angeles market and has also achieved a Google AdWords Certified Partner Status. ?Back (when I first got started) it was just me putting up sites for friends and local businesses,? Karapetyan recalls. ?Soon however I was getting jobs through word of mouth and through people who found my website on the internet and before I knew it, I had a full-fledged business on my hands.?

Website Design by Adam?s strategy has been to focus on providing high quality, modern, fast, and affordable website design followed by longer term web promotion packages for small to mid-sized businesses. The company has handled everything from large and complex enterprise solutions, to small business websites for limousine owners, flower shops, Law Firm and doctor?s office websites over its ten years of existence.

During that time Karapetyan has grown his business and increased his expertise so that he can provide his customers everything from IPhone App design and E-commerce solutions to Social Media Marketing. (Readers can find out more about the services offered by Website Design by Adam at LINK.) ?Part of being successful in this business,? Karapetyan observes, ?is always adapting to the latest trends. I began just as Google was starting to get big and grew my business adapting to their algorithm changes. Now as Facebook, Twitter and the other Social 2.0 Sites are on the ascent, it?s a whole new set of waves. It?s what I love about this business: there is always a new wave to ride.?

And soon part of the new waves this California entrepreneur will ride will be urban areas as diverse as Chicago and Jacksonville. In August, Website Design by Adam begins its large scale efforts to provide its services for customers across the country.

When asked if the Adam’s Website Design Company will lose the personal feel it had when it got started, Adam states, ?I am still involved in virtually all the day to day activities of the business, but to grow you have to be willing to change. If there is one thing this business has taught me, it?s that changing is good.?

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Recently Divorced? New Dating Website Built for You

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:35:49 +0000

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) September 21, 2011

On August 27, 2011 NewlyDivorcedDating.com was launched. This new custom dating website offers people a chance to connect during the difficult times following a divorce. This site provides multiple ways for daters to connect online including live chats and video dating.

Working together, the two Sacramento area companies designed a site with the newly divorced person in mind. The online communications let people ?date? without leaving the house. Especially for people with small children, this can be a great way to get back into the dating world.

?When I design a concept for a client, a portion of my inspiration comes from the type of person they are, their personality and style. With NewlyDivorcedDating.com, the message and design of the site has a very personable, genuine and caring nature. In my experience, this tells you a lot about the intentions of who is running the website. The owners of NewlyDivorcedDating.com have an incredible passion to assist divorcees in finding meaningful relationships ? to find love. ? Ronnie Roper, Senior Designer at I-Tul.

One of the unique aspects of NewlyDivorcedDating.com is the strong knowledge base of resources and articles to help people navigate the post-divorce world. These resources include attorneys, trainers and stylists.

?This project went above and beyond a simple dating website by offering a robust service directory,? said Clint Saxton, I-Tul?s President.

From the logo design to the final user interface, I-Tul worked with Deon Robinson, NewDivorcedDating.com’s President, to create a look and feel that is inviting, intuitive and high-energy. The site offers multiple types of membership, including a free level, to give members option. I-Tul?s in house development team wrote the custom code to support all aspects of the site, including the live video chat.

Businesses interested in learning more about web design and development services for their online businesses can visit http://www.i-tul.com or contact Amanda Hart, Director of Sales, at 1-888-392-8232 or 916-749-1500.

About I-Tul Design & Software, Inc.

Founded in 1999, I-Tul Design & Software, Inc. is a technology design/build company, which specializes in creating robust and scalable business solutions. Services include web design, graphic design, desktop software, computer support, web hosting, search optimization and search engine marketing.

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New Washington, DC Social Media Marketing and Web Design Firm Helps Businesses Win the War for Brand Engagement

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:03:55 +0000

Washington, DC (PRWEB) August 02, 2011

Businesses who need strong artillery to compete on the marketing battlefield are looking to Shout Brigade, a full-service marketing firm that specializes in Washington, DC social media marketing and web design. The company’s goal is to arm its clients with the strategic planning, branding and web development they need to boost their online presence for more visibility, more customers and greater ROI for ad spends.

Shout Brigade is a partnership of business and creative marketing professionals whose backgrounds form the perfect complement for delivering progressive, 360 marketing solutions. The firm?s founders are accomplished entrepreneurs, award-winning advertising talent with world-class agency experience, and proven social media marketing and interactive gurus with more than 20-plus years in their respective fields.

According to Cary Scott, Chief Propaganda Officer, ?Shout Brigade?s name says it all. Your company or brand is in a battle to be heard above the clutter. We show our clients how to engage and connect with consumers and ultimately conquer the competition with the full impact of social media and web development. What we do is part art, yet very much a science. Today, even sophisticated marketers are struggling with how to activate ?social media? within the realm of traditional strategies. It?s more than Facebook or ?tweeting?. We create websites that are beautifully designed, on equity for your brand, and act as your company?s most industrious sales maker, 24/7/365.”

Shout Brigade is currently working on web development and social media programs for a variety of clients including Digby & Rose, The Ley Group and Vienna Health Improvement Clinic. Heather Noss, of Digby & Rose, says, ?Shout Brigade?s new site design is simply stunning. But more importantly, it gives us the power to use social media to the hilt. The old site was created using Flash and that really hurt us, mostly because our products couldn?t be viewed on cell phones. Still, we have applied a lot of the strategies we?ve learned from Shout Brigade in our branding sessions where we discussed what people should know about the uniqueness of Digby & Rose. The resulting marketing strategy to get the message out includes social media, a new web design, direct snail mail, email and personal networking. Since we have implemented the program, our business has tripled in six months. In this economy it?s amazing. I can?t wait to see what the modern website will add to our efforts to connect with our customers!?????????????

Shout Brigade is a full-service marketing firm specializing in social media marketing and web design and development. They are located at 3711 Macomb St NW / Suite 1, Washington, DC 20016. For more information about their services, give them a shout at 202. 621.7937 and visit http://www.shoutbrigade.com.

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R.J. Townsend to Lead NavigationArts? Drupal Practice

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:33:23 +0000

McLean, VA (PRWEB) October 04, 2011

NavigationArts, a strategic web consultancy, is proud to announce the addition of R.J. Townsend to our Development Practice. R.J. will be leading NavigationArts? Drupal team of designers and developers on implementations of the open-source Content Management System (CMS). A veritable Drupal guru, R.J. is the author of Foundation Drupal 7, one of the very first books on the latest iteration of the platform.

R.J. joins NavigationArts from Cultivate Technologies, a web development and support shop specializing in Open Source Software (OSS). At Cultivate, R.J. managed the startup of CodeMyDesigns.com, a Drupal development service for graphic designers. He also led the design and development of over 35 web applications and content management systems, including a web-based project management application that automates research procedures and data collection for No Child Left Behind.

?Over the last two years, Drupal has taken the lead in the open-source web industry,? said Dustin Collis, NavigationArts? Director of Development. ?Having someone like R.J., who commands an in-depth understanding of Drupal and has been working on the platform for the last five years, is an enormous advantage to our already skilled team.?

NavigationArts? Development Department has grown enormously over the past several years. In addition to Drupal PHP development, NavigationArts specializes in a variety of .NET and Java content management systems including Sitecore and Adobe CQ5. Remaining an industry leader in emerging technologies, such as Drupal 7, is essential to delivering the right platform solutions for their clients.

About NavigationArts

NavigationArts is a full-service web consultancy specializing in web strategy, user experience design, and technology. We help our clients meet their business needs by optimizing their web presence for communication, e-commerce, community building, and more. We help our clients solve challenging problems by bringing together highly experienced cross-functional teams drawn from analytical, creative, and technical backgrounds. At NavigationArts, we believe that user experience is the only sustainable competitive advantage online. Our mission is to create online experiences that are most satisfying for our users and most valuable for our clients. For more information, go to http://www.navigationarts.com.

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Wagner Design Builds Capabilities Brochure for National Enclosure Company

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:59:59 +0000

Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) August 20, 2011

National Enclosure Company (NEC), a national leader in design, manufacturing and installation of sophisticated building facades, recently chose Wagner Design Associates to design and produce their new corporate capabilities brochure. It is the focal point of NEC?s presentation kit, and will be used to showcase the firm?s exceptional products and services.

The brochure features a translucent overlay for the cover, a unique design element introduced by Wagner Design to simulate NEC?s innovative glass facades. Inside the brochure readers find a portfolio of featured projects, with imagery that showcases NEC?s capabilities. An external pocket accommodates technical data sheets, allowing NEC to customize information for potential clients.

National Enclosure Company is a nationally-ranked curtainwall and advanced facade contractor with proven expertise in monumental and highrise curtainwall projects. NEC?s primary focus is to address the elements that create successful results: budgets, design, scheduling, materials, construction and cost-saving alternatives.

Wagner Design provides a full range of creative design and advertising solutions for a wide spectrum of industries including high technology, retail, health care, financial, and academic sectors. The firm has won recognition and awards for its work in print collateral, direct mail, electronic communications, and web design, and has been featured in various design publications.

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Catdi Expands Service Mix with Web Design and Web Marketing Services

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:28:04 +0000

Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 12, 2011

Catdi Incorporated has long been a respected leader in the print industry, providing clients impeccable expertise in conceptualizing and designing print marketing materials such as business cards, postcards, flyers, door hangers, brochures, stickers and banners. Today however, Catdi elevates its company to a whole new level with its timely offer of new services covering web design and web marketing to small businesses in the Houston area.????

The Perfect Time for Business Growth

The nationwide economic slump cannot stop Catdi from igniting the print and web markets with fiery business passion. In fact, the economic slowdown has motivated the company to expand its services, as more and more individuals are daring to start entrepreneurships and small businesses to cope with the changing financial times.

Entrepreneurs looking for minimal spending to start or promote their business online could greatly benefit from this new offer from Catdi. Clearly, the company is going beyond its traditional business role by providing small businesses in Houston the perfect, affordable opportunity to stand on their own and to stay steadfast on their business foothold, once it is established. According to Catdi president and CEO Carlos deSantos, such a goal is essential for the company because it?s always disheartening to see businesses close shop or to see workers get laid off. He says of Catdi?s expansion, ?this was a natural fit to offer our client base an affordable web platform to help with growing their business especially in these lean times. We were tired of sending the businesses down the road; now, we can capture this growing business segment.?

The Perfect Offer for Small Businesses

This timely and valuable offer in web design and web marketing services is sure to initiate economic movement, especially with the following big advantages for small businesses:

????Unique Web design packages start at $ 999.99, an unbelievably low cost! Compared to other packages that run by the ten of thousands, Catdi, Incorporated has pegged its minimum rate at such a low cost because the company understands the need for cost-effective pricing in these gloomy economic times.
????Websites are operated on WordPress.com, a leading innovator in the World Wide Web. This site is one of the best weblog hosting providers in Internet marketing with a wide user base that would surely propel any business to new heights.
????Websites carry standard features. Catdi?s web design and web marketing packages netail clients to enjoy the standard features of a website, which will enable their business to be in full operation in a short amount of time.
????Packages include amazing freebies. No matter which package the client chooses, freebies such as web hosting for 12 months, unlimited pages, and friendly SEO URLs are available to help boost any online business.

Houston has long benefited from Catdi?s expertise in the industries of commercial print and traditional direct mail services, and now this Texan city will be empowered even more with Catdi?s offer of web design and web marketing services for the city?s small businesses.

Business as Usual

Despite these new offerings, Catdi Incorporated will continue on with its traditional operations. Carlos deSantos assures long-time customers that, ?Catdi will still focus on its traditional business services.? The company?s core marketing services fall under print promotion and marketing, providing expertise in postcard marketing; flyer marketing; door hanger printing; business card printing; as well as the conceptualization and design of brochures, stickers, banners, graphic design and much more.

About Catdi

Catdi, Incorporated is a print provider for businesses in premier Texas locations including Houston, Austin, Dallas, Katy and The Woodlands. An innovator in the industries of commercial print and direct mail services, the company has long been known for combining keen business sense with strong sense of community solidarity. Catdi, Incorporated is located at 1724 Richmond, Houston, Texas 77098.

To be better connected, customers may browse the company website, http://www.catdi.com follow news and developments at Twitter with http://twitter.com/#!/catdi, and at Facebook with http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catdi/116333525998, as well as establish professional connection at LinkedIn with http://www.linkedin.com/in/catdi.

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Brinkster Debuts New Web Site and Upgraded Hosting Plans

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:56:24 +0000

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) October 19, 2005

Brinkster today announced a newly designed web site with significantly upgraded Windows and Linux web hosting plans. The new web site was designed to enhance usability, clearly showcase product offerings, and feature actual Brinkster customers. “The newly upgraded hosting packages offer industry leading web space and web traffic allotments that meet the needs of today’s web hosting customer,” adds Jared Stauffer, President and CEO of Brinkster.

Design, Usability and Intelligence

The new web site was designed by Brinkster’s in-house marketing team. “With many hosting companies out there today using templates for their web sites, the new Brinkster web site towers above the rest, showcasing the tremendous amount of time and research that was put in to making the user experience truly first class,” says Ben Chambers, VP of Marketing. Custom designed icons and graphics, prominent featuring of the hosting packages, revised text with no unnecessary jumble and the showcasing of real customers are the main features of the new Brinkster web site.

Hosting Plans Get Increased Value

In a market where the amount of features you get almost trump the price you pay, Brinkster once again stepped up and made industry leading changes to its web hosting packages. The upgrade brought the Personal Package ($ 4.95/mo) to 1500 MB web space and 35 GB web traffic. The Professional Package ($ 7.95/mo) now offers 3000 MB web space and 75 GB web traffic, while the Developer Package ($ 17.95/mo) outperforms the rest with 5000 MB web space and 150 GB web traffic. Brinkster also added a twenty-four month payment option to its already existing three, six and twelve month payment plans.

About Brinkster

Established in 1999, Brinkster Communications Corporation is a privately held web hosting company. With customers in over 130 different countries worldwide, Brinkster offers web hosting solutions that cater to individuals, small to medium sized businesses and web developers starting at only $ 4.95 a month. For more information, please contact press@brinkster.com, or visit our website at http://www.brinkster.com.

Contact information:

Ben Chambers, press@brinkster.com

Please see the Brinkster web site (http://www.brinkster.com) for further details on the new web site and the new web hosting packages.

Brinkster is a registered trademark of Brinkster Communications Corporation.

All other names of companies or products may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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AIGA Detroit Presents the First Ever Graphic Design Showcase for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community (LGBT) in Detroit

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:24:38 +0000

Detroit, MI (PRWEB) September 08, 2011

AIGA Detroit presents Beyond the Bar, an LGBT graphic design and illustration showcase.

Despite the vast offerings of LGBT Americans to the applied arts world, so many continue to stereotype the careers of this unique subculture. Now is the time to step-up and show Metro Detroit all that local LGBT Americans have contributed to the Graphic Design world. Welcome to ‘Beyond the Bar’, Detroit’s First ever LGBT graphic design showcase.

For this showcase, Metro Detroit’s LGBT Graphic designers/illustrators can submit their favorite design piece. Maybe it’s an awesome website or logo created – whatever the work – take this opportunity to show the local area your contribution to the graphic design field. Chosen pieces will then be showcased during Detroit Design Festival, to debut at an opening reception party.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Please email a PDF (lastName_FirstName.PDF) of your chosen graphic design/Illustration to aharvilla(at)detroit(dot)AIGA(dot)org, by September 10th, 2011. Submissions must include full name, email address and phone number within the email submission. After each piece is reviewed, chosen designers will be contacted with installation steps.

Both Professionals and students are encouraged to submit. Submissions do not need to have been previously published, but must be applicable to the professional and applied arts world.

SUBMISSION RULES:

The committee and judges reserve the right to disqualify, any entry that does not meet the criteria below:

All work must be a graphic design or illustration piece and applicable to the professional and applied arts world. This includes, but is not limited to:

PRINT:

????Logos

????Letterheads/business card design

????Informational posters

????Information graphics

????Magazine/book layout

????Annual/Corporate Reports

????T-Shirt Graphics

????Billboard Design

DIGITAL (must submit printable screenshots):

????Website/Interface design

????Web banners

????Smartphone App Design

????Presentation Design

ILLUSTRATIONS:

????Magazine/book illustrations

????Album Art

????Murals

Questions can be emailed to Alex Harvilla (aharvilla(at)detroit(dot)aiga(dot)org) or posted on the Facebook event page.

A submitted work does not guarantee entry into the show. Judges and a committee of design professionals reserve the right to disqualify any entries that do not reflect the intention of the showcase.

ABOUT AIGA DETROIT:

AIGA Detroit has been a chapter of the national AIGA organization since 1986. The Detroit chapter has 475+ members with a network reaching out to the entire Michigan creative community including: designers, educators, art directors, web developers, printers, illustrators, photographers, artists and students. Through events, programs and initiatives, AIGA Detroit is demonstrating the value of design to businesses and the power of design in our culture. The Detroit Chapter is committed to the continued growth of an already vibrant, creative community and a rich design history here in Michigan.

Click here to learn about the benefits of becoming a member.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Detroit Design Festival (DDF) is a crowd-sourced design festival developed to showcase the talents and abilities Detroit?s creative community.

Over the eight days and nights of DDF?September 21 through September 28?a variety of Design Happenings will take place across at venues across the city of Detroit. The types of happenings will include studio tours, panels and roundtable discussions, fashion shows, and art wars to name a few.

Detroit Creative Corridor Center established the Detroit Design Festival to connect creative practitioners with one another, expose them to new markets and consumers, and of course put on display the creative talent that will help Detroit become a global center of creative innovation.

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LiquidationChannel.com Features August as Web Month

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:53:01 +0000

Austin, TX (PRWEB) July 30, 2011

Liquidation Channel announces that August is Web Month for the channel. ?In addition to our $ 1 Rising Auctions, we are kicking the month off by offering luxury designer pieces in exclusive daily auctions. Our website will have special values available on-line only,? says Gerald Tempton, President of Liquidation Channel. ?The month will also feature value shipping on all web orders as well as additional savings in our online store.?

The excitement and exceptional web experience begins Monday, August 1, 2011.

You can shop at Liquidation Channel in a variety of ways: Watch 24/7 online at http://www.liquidationchannel.com, or on television via DirecTV channel 226, Dish Network channel 274, and local cable channels throughout the United States. Customers can also buy via the website?s online auctions. Liquidation Channel specializes in providing a wide variety of jewelry with rare and exotic gemstones and at the lowest prices guaranteed.

For more information on Liquidation Channel, visit http://www.liquidationchannel.com.

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Tampa Web Development Firm Bayshore Solutions Applies Custom Video Web Development to Launch New High Impact Website Design for Dynamedia of America

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:20:37 +0000

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 22, 2011

Tampa advertising agency DynaMedia of America partnered with Tampa Web development firm Bayshore Solutions to create a web presence that walks their talk to ?Provoke, Compel and Deliver? for their website visitors. DynaMedia of America had existing company videos that they needed to feature on their website. They looked to Bayshore Solutions to create a web site that generates leads and ensures a quality visitor experience. Bayshore Solutions delivered their results oriented high impact website design, DynaMediaofAmerica.com.

“Bayshore Solutions took our thoughts and ideas and turned them into a digital masterpiece,? stated Cody Lowry, President and CEO, DynaMedia of America. ?Our site went live on Friday (before a holiday weekend), and we received our first inbound lead via form submission on the website Tuesday morning. Great job!?

Bayshore Solutions extended DynaMedia of America?s bold red logo, into the kinetic look in the website graphics. Specific treatments enhance web visitors? experience and ease of travel throughout the site. Dedicated sections highlight their distinct competencies in auto dealer advertising services, while maintaining a broad appeal across all industries.

Bayshore Solutions integrated its web content management system, WebModules, with the site. This enables DynaMedia of America staff to easily and instantly update content, and implement search engine optimization measures to keep their site competitive.

Custom video web development was applied to accommodate the Flash-based videos. This work enables web visitors on all platforms, including Apple iPhones and iPads to view video content that would otherwise be inaccessible to those devices. Extraordinary attention was given to ensuring a quality web with the videos. Website coding detects when a visitor has already viewed a video and if so, presents a still image with the option to view the video again, rather than the industry standard default video restart.

?Creating compelling, high impact website designs that deliver results is exactly what Bayshore Solutions sets out to achieve for our clients.? said Kevin Hourigan, President and CEO of Bayshore Solutions. ?It is a real pleasure to launch websites rich in functionality and fine-tuned for performance like DynaMediaofAmerica.com.?

Bayshore Solutions partners with DynaMedia of America for a number of clients in delivering the digital aspects of holistic marketing and advertising services. Examples of such successful collaborations include online and traditional marketing initiatives with BECO electric and Craig Technologies.

About DynaMedia of America

A premier full service Tampa advertising agency, DynaMedia of America offers a broad range of results-oriented specialties, including TV production, radio, billboard, creative, public relations, Hispanic marketing, as well as DynaDigital powered by Bayshore Solutions, a full-service digital Web Interactive Agency, with the internet expertise to grow your business. This Tampa advertising agency has a proven track record of lasting relationships since 1986. Serving markets throughout the US including all major metropolitan markets in Florida, such as Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Tampa; DynaMedia of America also delivers local media and creative services in Charlotte N.C., High Point N.C., Kansas City, Birmingham, Atlanta, Duluth GA, Washington D.C., Chicago, Phoenix, and many more. Visit their website at: DynaMediaofAmerica.com.

About Bayshore Solutions

Tampa Web Design and Tampa Web development firm, Bayshore Solutions offers award-winning capabilities in Web design, interactive marketing, hosting, e-commerce and custom applications. Bayshore Solutions has delivered Web development services to over 1,500 clients in 54 countries with physical offices accessible to Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dade County, and Broward County in Florida. For more information visit the Tampa Web design company at http://www.BayshoreSolutions.com

Follow Bayshore Solutions on Twitter @BayshoreWebPros or subscribe to the YouTube Channel for the latest industry updates and Internet marketing tips and strategies. For an inside view on the latest at Bayshore Solutions and to take part in interactive polls, news and featured websites, make sure to Like us on Facebook.

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Multiplayer World Unveils Impressive Corporate Site

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:50:03 +0000

Miami, FL (PRWEB) August 15, 2011

Multiplayer World, Corp., serving the south Florida area since 2000, has outdone itself with its newly redesigned corporate website, which, in addition to being easily navigable and well-balanced, features some truly outstanding graphics. http://www.multiplayerworld.com

The company offers a full complement of services, delivering premium quality solutions for web design, custom programming, VB.Net, C#, 3D game programming, e-commerce web design, SEO, and innovative graphic design. Their custom Game Programming team has been developing cutting-edge video games for over 14 years, and has extensive experience with Agile Development Techniques, as well as action, driving, strategy, Arcade and Vending Machine Games.

Their elite team of programmers has a proven track record creating mobile applications for such popular platforms as Ipads, Windows phones, Android and the iPhone. They have created customized mobile applications for clients in the warehousing and retail industry, as well as the gaming and entertainment sectors.

In a recent and very exciting addition to their roster of services, Multiplayer World now offers, for the first time, Customized Social Network Systems built from scratch and tailored to your specifications, a service few companies have the foresight or skills to actualize. Whatever the nature of your group and its focus: religion, sports, cooking or animal rescue – Multiplayer World can design and build your own customized social network online so you can keep in touch with other like-minded individuals who share your goals.

Not content to merely design customized services, Multiplayer World also provides easy, effective, affordable and secure hosting services for both Databases and Web Hosting. They offer SQL Database design, programming and secure SQL server database hosting on a full line of eco-friendly servers in a state of the art datacenter facility with impressive security. This Top Tier Facility, Nap of the Americas, has massive and diverse connectivity and is the unrivaled gateway to the Americas. In addition, Multiplayer World customers have access to highly optimized Microsoft SQL servers to house their database projects and address Database Failover, with the option of having Mirrored database servers in a clustered environment.

Private Web Hosting services are also available, as well as a variety of dedicated Server Hosting plans and Datacenter Server Colocation. For the Business-level client, Multiplayer World offers Hyper-V Secure Virtual Server Hosting, allowing you to grow your infrastructure without the trouble and expense of dedicated servers at your own location.

Multiplayer World is located in south Florida, and all web design and software development is done in house, at their Miami office, helping to ensure the safety and confidentiality of your data, your code and your project. Their web design team assists customers in their constantly evolving needs and offers 24 hour service, seven days a week, with unlimited flexibility.

Orestes Rivero, Jr., CEO of Multiplayer World says: ” No job is too big or too small; we are professionals who will treat you with respect while providing both the services and the advice to help your business tame the web. As our customer, you want the job done, and done right, and so do we. You don’t mess around, because you mean business…..and so do we. We pride ourselves on offering our clients the very best solutions in web design and programming. Our goal is to make your dreams come true.”

Samples of the group’s work can be seen on the website portfolio. To request a quote for custom design or programming services, please contact us.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call (305) 704-3722 ext:200 or email pr(at)MultiplayerWorld(dot)com

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Loewy Design Wins ?Outstanding Website? Award and Three Other Top Distinctions

admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:16:33 +0000

Melville, NY (PRWEB) September 28, 2011

Loewy Design won a 2011 Web Marketing Association ?Outstanding Website? Award for its design of the Bren-Tronics website. Overall, the interactive agency won four awards for website design, including:

Bren-Tronics: ?Online Catalogue Outstanding Website?

Aspiranet: ?Non-Profit Standard of Excellence?

The Club Card: ?Shopping Standard of Excellence?

QuickComm: ?Telecommunication Standard of Excellence?

The agency is delighted to be acknowledged and honored by the WMA internationally among top interactive agencies. ?We?re thrilled to be recognized by the Web Marketing Association in the markets that we specialize in. Providing design and technology solutions for online stores and clients in the technology field has been one of our main areas of focus in 2010 and 2011 and will be our focus going forward in 2012,? stated David Loewy, president of Loewy Design. ?We?re always looking for ways to give back to the community through our work with nonprofits, so it?s very gratifying to be recognized in the nonprofit category as well.?

Loewy Design is a full-service interactive agency specializing in online strategy, design, and technology. In 2009 Loewy Design won a Web Marketing Association ?Best in Class? WebAward for its own website redesign, along with an abundance of other honors and awards throughout its diverse client verticals.

A WMA judge described Bren-Tronics as an ?excellent site for a utilitarian product range.? Loewy Design established a new online brand for Bren-Tronics with an intuitive user interface and comprehensive content. The agency leveraged the Magento eCommerce platform for an interactive catalogue with easy access to the wide array of Bren-Tronics? military battery merchandise. Another judge noted, ?The simplicity and focus are great to help streamline the ordering experience and get visitors to the right content. They do a nice job explaining why their products are the best and utilizing the standard product detail functionality on each individual product page, which is really helpful in making a final decision.?

The WMA has been setting the standard for website design for almost fifteen years. It assigns several judges to act as users; the judges navigate through each site and evaluate every entry on seven criteria, each of which is worth up to 10 points. The highest score attainable is a 70; scores of 60 or above are given ?Outstanding Website? Awards in their respective industries. Bren-Tronics scored 62, 8.6 points higher than the WebAward average. Check out Loewy?s newsletter, ?Loewy?s Latest,? to learn more about the Bren-Tronics journey: http://www.loewydesign.com/latest/34/. Expect to see more from Loewy Design in the future!

Loewy Design, an award-winning interactive agency headquartered in Melville, NY, has been providing online and offline marketing, branding, design, and strategic services since 1998. The agency offers end-to-end interactive solutions, including business development, technology and application design, information architecture, creative direction, interface design, online and social media marketing, and content creation. For additional information, please visit http://www.loewydesign.com and Loewy Design?s blog, http://www.loewy.com.

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Now Any Business Owner Can Design Their Own Website

admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:44:31 +0000

Providence, Utah (PRWEB) September 26, 2011

Nancy Smith, an entrepreneur from Leesburg, Va., found that the high cost of building a business website she had no control over was ultimately the reason her company failed. Utah-based WestHost now has a tool to help business owners like Smith.

Smith said she spent a lot for a site she ?couldn?t go in and make any changes to.?

Many small companies run into similar problems as they face high price tags and limited control with Web design. WestHost, a global leader in Web hosting services, has responded to this dilemma by creating an economical do-it-yourself online website builder called DropClick.

DropClick is designed to help those with no coding or Web developing experience build their own website.

?These people are running businesses. They don?t have time to learn Web design, but they do have time to walk through simple steps to select how they want their site to look,? said Jake Neeley, brand manager at WestHost.

Whether a business wants a simple shopping cart, social feeds, or image gallery, simply drag it in, Neeley explained.

Smith found building her website to be frustrating because she was limited by what her designer built.

?It was hard?because I couldn?t go in and make any changes,? she said.

Neeley said it was frustrations like Smith?s that motivated his web hosting company to create the online website builder. They wanted any company to be able to create a website.

When DropClick was explained to Smith, she said she was disappointed that she did not have a tool like that a couple years ago when she paid to have someone build her site.

?It is fantastic that this service puts the Web design in the hands of the people that are doing it, especially for people who don?t know the back-end code,? Smith said.

Because DropClick provides control over the design, the tool costs much less than paying a designer to create the site, Neeley explained.

?We?ve seen so many small companies hurt by the high price of Web design and figured we could do something about it,? said Neeley. ?DropClick is the best website builder because companies don?t have to worry about high costs or difficult communication; the site design is done by the client.?

As the Internet has grown society has turned to websites to find information. Companies find the need to build a website imperative, yet are often stymied by the lack of resources available to them. The evolution of Web design is explained by WestHost’s new infographic.

?We want businesses to succeed. Web design doesn?t have to be a drag,? Neeley said. ?Our goal is to help more businesses by giving them a solution to their concerns about going online.?

About WestHost

WestHost is a subsidiary of the UK2 Group. UK2 Group has been a significant player in the U.K., European and U.S. hosting markets since 1998. UK2 Group provides domain name registration, website hosting and server hosting to many global customers through its large family of hosting brands ? UK2.net, midPhase, 100TB.com, Resell.biz, WingSix, ANHosting, Autica, Supreme Support, Dotable, VPS.Net, WestHost and Virtual Internet. The group is accredited by ICANN and provides .com, .biz, .info, .net, .org, .jobs, .name and .pro gTLDs to its clients. UK2 Group is committed to providing reliable, secure, great value products and services underpinned with excellent support. For more information about UK2 Group, please visit uk2group.com.

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Webucator Offers Intro to Web Design Webinars

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:13:16 +0000

Jamesville, New York (PRWEB) October 13, 2011

Webucator, a leader in technical and business training, has announced two webinars that introduce attendees to the basics of web design. Attendees can start developing fresh web pages by attending these webinars. Each webinar will focus on introducing key web design concepts. Those interested in learning Dreamweaver should attend ?Get Started with Adobe Dreamweaver? on October 27. Anyone looking to learn HTML is invited to ?Introduction to HTML? on December 14. Each webinar will provide helpful tips and suggest key resources. Below are the details for both webinars.

Get Started with Adobe Dreamweaver Webinar: This webinar will discuss the capabilities of Dreamweaver and talk about planning your website. Attendees will learn about the interface, get a quick introduction to the tools, and watch as a very simple HTML page is created. There will also be Introduction to Dreamweaver course giveaways! Webinar will be held on October 27 at 1pm ET. Click to sign up for the Dreamweaver webinar.

Introduction to HTML Webinar: This webinar will explore basics of web design, the evolution of HTML, and the basic structure of an HTML page. Attendees will learn about resources to help them develop their web design skills. Selected attendees will win a free Introduction to HTML course. The webinar is scheduled for December 14 at 1pm ET. Click to sign up for the HTML webinar.

About the presenter: Allison Kenien has a passion for publishing content, both on the web and in print. She has a wide range of experience with Adobe products, including Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat. She is the manager for the Syracuse Adobe User Group. Connect with her on Twitter @AllisonKenien.

About Webucator

Webucator provides online and onsite business and technical training, including web design training, Adobe training and more. Webucator has provided training to about half of the Fortune 100 Companies, and over 1,000 of our customers have volunteered to serve as references. Webucator is a Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS) and has a GSA contract. Learn more at http://www.webucator.com.

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American Writers & Artists Inc. and its Wealthy Web Writer Division Announces Speaker Line-Up of Second Annual Web Writer Summit

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:41:00 +0000

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) July 27, 2011

American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) and its Wealthy Web Writer division, recently announced an exciting event that will take place on July 30th, 2011. The Web Writer Summit will be an innovative addition to AWAI?s and Wealthy Web Writer?s combined arsenal of programs which feature webinars, teleconferences, and published homestudy programs.

AWAI aims to respond to the rapidly changing market and take action when members request information and new programs. Having a second Web Writer Summit was an obvious next step. ?We are thrilled to be offering the Web Writer Summit for a second time,? said AWAI?s Executive Director, Katie Yeakle.

The virtual Web Writer Summit will bring together a dynamic group web experts who often speak at major conferences and events each year, including the Co-Managing Partner of AWAI and Founder Wealthy Web Writer (http://www.wealthywebwriter.com), Rebecca Matter, who will give attendees an overview of the dramatic opportunities available for both established and aspiring freelance web writers.

Other speakers include:

Highly successful and popular web writer Nick Usborne, who will introduce attendees to the opportunities created by the growing social media marketing trend.
Well-known and popular autoresponder expert Jay White, who will show attendees the huge opportunities available to those who specialize in autoresponders.
Business-to-business expert Steve Slaunwhite, who will introduce attendees interested in a freelance web-writing career to the tremendous opportunities available in the B2B industry.
Paid search engine marketing expert Andrew Palmer, who joins the line-up of speakers to speak about PPC advertising and the exciting opportunities available to freelance web writers.
Pam Foster, a popular web-writing expert and web usability consultant, who plans to show web writers how they can earn more by offering Site Audits as a service.
Mindy Tyson McHorse, a six-figure web writer and Wealthy Web Writer?s Reality Blogger, will share the importance of understanding how to write effective copy for online channels and how freelancers can turn this skill into a six-figure income of their own.
Heather Robson, Wealthy Web Writer?s Managing Editor, also joins the presenter line up to provide insight into the opportunities available to writers specialize in online video marketing.

?The demand for a second Web Writer Summit was obvious,? stated Rebecca Matter, ?Past attendees were overwhelmed by the level of expertise and content offered ? all for free ? and this summit will do the same. The best part? It brings all of these experts together in one place, and attendees can enjoy and learn from the comfort of their own home.?

To learn more about the virtual Web Writer Summit and the resources available to start a new career or to register for this free event, please visit here. Or, to find skilled copywriters, travel writers, photographers and graphic designers, please visit http://www.awaionline.com or call 1-866-879-2924.

About American Writers & Artists Inc.

American Writers and Artists Inc. (AWAI), awaionline.com, has been publishing direct-response copywriting and graphic design home-study programs since 1997. Their mission is to help people develop the critical skills to acquire financial security, independence and freedom. AWAI equips members with the tools and connections necessary to land clients, start working professionally, and earn money fast. And through their free DirectResponseJobs.com site, businesses can find and hire skilled AWAI members quickly and easily. For a complete list of programs and more information about AWAI, please visit the site or call 1-866-879-2924.

Media Contact: Jaclyn Mehler, jmehler(at)awaionline(dot)com, 866-879-2924

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Spectrum Surgical Releases Scope Protection Web Guards

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:08:44 +0000

Stow, Ohio (PRWEB) October 05, 2011

Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. is pleased to offer their Scope Protection Web Guards. The unique design of Spectrum?s Web Guards offers protection for rigid endoscopes in an open, flow-though mesh design. Spectrum?s Web Guards are designed exclusively for use with low-heat/ STERRAD? sterilization processes. Spectrum?s Web Guards come in a range of six sizes, ranging in diameters from 10mm to 70mm to accommodate all sizes of rigid endoscopes. Latex free and single-use.

For more surgical instrument information, please contact a Spectrum Customer Care Representative at 800-444-5644 or visit the web site: http://www.spectrumsurgical.com.

About Spectrum Surgical Instruments

Spectrum Surgical Instruments has been providing a full line of surgical instruments for Human and Animal health since 1983. Spectrum is a leading provider of surgical instrument repair, sharpening and restoration. Spectrum Surgical provides surgical equipment to surgery centers and veterinary centers across the United States.

We have taken a leading role in the industry by providing free educational services about surgical instrument care. The goal is to educate those who come in contact with surgical instruments to ensure that all are aware of the impact they have on patient safety. Our commitment to quality has led us to increase our quality systems and improvement initiatives. We work directly with customers and industry leaders to offer technology, preventative maintenance, and quality products designed to improve patient safety.

Visit the Spectrum Surgical Instruments blog:

http://www.spectrumsurgical.com/surgical-instruments-blog/

Follow Spectrum on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/SpectrumSurgical

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Vancouver Internet Marketing Company Supports the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:37:01 +0000

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) July 20, 2011

VN Web Group is a local Vancouver web design and internet marketing firm that supports the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. While the VN Web Group recognizes the importance of hard work and providing exceptional internet marketing services to their clients, they are also well aware of the importance of giving back to the community. The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is a two-day cycling event to raise money for cancer research that took place in the middle of June.

The goal of the Ride is to create a ?powerful movement one of hope, healing, celebration, and optimism where thousands of cyclists join together to raise funds and awareness in order to conquer cancer,? a vision ultimately shared by the VN Web Group. As one of Vancouver?s leading web design and internet marketing firms, the VN Web Group feels it is important to not only expand their brand in the traditional sense, but also to use charitable opportunities to model exemplary community values and service, thus supporting initiatives such as the Ride to Conquer Cancer. To this end, the VN Web Group was proud to support riders in the event and encourage other Canadians to donate or participate in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Indeed, the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer has evolved into a series of cycling events across Canada all dedicated to enhancing awareness about cancer while raising funds for research to end the disease. While it seems a daunting task, local business such as the VN Web Group, who are involved in supporting the cause are fundamentally saying that a difference can be made when we work together. ?Since its inception in 2009, The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised $ 16.3 million in support of cancer research in B.C.? As a very large event that requires significant resources to promote and host, riders and their donations, as well as event sponsors, ensure that the event will be a success every year.

As such, the VN Web Group would like to highlight the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer as a shining example of the power of communities working together to drive medical, social, and even political change. For more information about the Ride in British Columbia, visit http://va11.conquercancer.ca.

VN Web Group is a Vancouver Internet Marketing Company with expertise in organic search engine optimization, pay per click management and social media marketing. The VN Web Group team of qualified and experienced internet marketing specialists and project managers has helped business owners grow their companies through innovative, reliable and affordable web marketing and design. For more information visit http://www.vnwebsolutions.ca

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Keystone Resources Welcomes its First Web and Technology Director

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:05:08 +0000

Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 04, 2011

Keystone Resources, a Houston Heights, certified woman-owned small business specializing in marketing and graphic design welcomes Roger Sullivan as its first Web and Technology Director. Sullivan?s main responsibility will be web-based business operations and he will oversee web and mobile web development, which includes all websites.

?I am very excited to join Julie and the team at Keystone Resources and look forward to working together to lead this great design firm down new avenues of digital media,? Roger Sullivan said.

His extensive knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, CMS implementations and WordPress will be a great asset to the success of Keystone Resources and its clients. With this knowledge, Keystone Resources will be able to better accommodate all websites, which are already done in-house.

?Under Roger?s direction, Keystone Resources will be able to broaden our offerings in digital strategy consulting, web and user experience design,? Julie Irvin, Founder and President of Keystone Resources said. ?Roger brings a wealth of experience and is a great addition to the already amazing Keystone Resources team!?

About Keystone Resources

Keystone Resources is an award-winning full service marketing and design agency that specializes in branding, corporate identity systems, presentation and proposal development, brochures, and direct mail. Since founding the company eight years ago, Keystone Resources? portfolio expanded to include The Dinerstein Companies, Hunt Companies, the United States Air Force, United States Army, Port Authority of San Antonio, Women?s Business Enterprise Alliance and our hometown Houston Astros.

About Roger Sullivan

A native Houstonian, Roger Sullivan has always thrived in the local arts and technology community. His interest in Web-based technologies peaked when he worked on the Hot Town, Cool City project to help create a Web application that featured Houston?s support of independent movie projects. More recently, Sullivan?s focus has been around working with MODx and their community through the premium partner program and running large scale Web and mobile application development projects for both local and international clients. Sullivan has extensive knowledge in the following web-based applications: MODx, HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, CMS implementations and WordPress. When he?s not building websites and writing codes, Sullivan enjoys playing bass and guitar, hanging out with family and friends, and working with his favorite charity and non-profit organizations. Learning from everyone, every day, is a mantra Sullivan tries to maintain.

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Five WebAwards, Outstanding Website Developer Recognition for Duo Consulting in 2011 Web Marketing Association Competition

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:33:14 +0000

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 15, 2011

Drupal web development specialist Duo Consulting has been honored with five 2011 WebAwards, the 15th annual competition sponsored by the Web Marketing Association for excellence in web development. The Web Marketing Association also awarded Duo with its Outstanding Website Developer award to recognize their outstanding achievement across many different sites. This is the fifth consecutive year Duo has been recognized with WebAwards.

?As we generate more traction in a young niche like mobile site development, recognition from the Web Marketing Association helps validate the direction of the business, the work of our staff and the value to our clients,? said Michael Silverman, CEO of Duo Consulting.

Duo Consulting received recognition for the projects below.

????The Cara Program (Outstanding Website) ? Duo built and launched the Chicago nonprofit?s website to focus more on word-of-mouth marketing to drive more donations, actively encourage volunteer sign-up and promote the group?s work with the homeless and those affected by poverty.

????HousingZone (Home Building Standard of Excellence) ? When Scranton Gillette Communications acquired three trade publications, Duo was called in to migrate existing content, design the new site and build a ?tagging? system for easier searchability and navigation.

????Stout Risius Ross (Financial Services Standard of Excellence) ? Financial advisory firm Stout Risius Ross approached Duo to organize its well-known industry publications into a searchable web format.

????Becker CPA Exam Review Mobile (Education Standard of Excellence) ? When Becker Professional Education?s mobile site traffic quadrupled over the course of a year, they called Duo to develop a website that was optimized for mobile browsing.

????Stalla Mobile (Financial Services Standard of Excellence) ? Stalla called on Duo to develop a mobile website that delivered content to CFA trainees in an enhanced, streamlined way.

The Web Marketing Association is the producer of the WebAward Competition. Competing entries are expertly judged against seven criteria which include design,innovation, content,technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease-of-use. Now in its 15th year, the WebAward program is the premier annual website award competition that names the best websites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all website development.

About Duo Consulting

Based in Chicago, Duo Consulting is an enterprise web design & development firm that uses Drupal open-source technologies to create content-rich websites accessible through traditional and mobile platforms. Since 1999, Duo has worked to improve the website user experience for diverse brands across media, legal, education, nonprofit and other industries.

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New Web Design Company in Bellingham, WA, Empowers Clients with Free Video Tutorials on Website Management, Social Media and Photoshop

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:01:00 +0000

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) July 26, 2011

HappyChap Media is a new start-up web design company based in Bellingham, Washington. The company offers services including web design, graphic design, content writing, social media management and more. In addition, HappyChap Media provides the public an ever-expanding library of free website management tutorial videos, while giving customers the ability to request new tutorials for any questions they may have about managing their site, using photoshop, or performing tasks using popular social media sites.

HappyChap Media specializes in building unique websites that put control into the customer?s hands. WordPress, the content management system utilized by HappyChap Media, essentially makes managing a site as simple as writing an email, so clients will easily be able to post updates and make changes to their page without having to pay any additional fees. HappyChap will create a site template for your organization, complete with custom graphics and layout suiting your specific needs, and you will be able to manage it from there on your own.

“We started the company as an affordable alternative to what’s already out there. For web designers, setting up a few sites and forcing customers to pay you every time they need changes is the old way of doing it,” said co-founder Aaron Apple. “Tools like WordPress exist that make maintaining a website easy enough for anyone, so why not start a business that designs sites using those tools and then passes the control to the client? That is the primary focus of our business, though we are still available to maintain and update your site if you want a more hands-off approach.”

Besides web design, HappyChap offers services in the following areas:

Graphic Design: Corporate logos, infographics, business cards, brochures or any other marketing capital designs are available. HappyChap can even take care of the printing.
e-Commerce Integration: Using third-party payment platforms like Paypal and Google Checkout, selling products online has never been easier.
Content Writing: As search engines refine their algorithms and cut out the loopholes, the single best way to guarantee your site?s popularity is to focus on quality content like newsworthy articles, blog posts and press releases, so visitors will keep coming back.
Social Media Management: Unfamiliar with the latest trends in social networking? HappyChap can set up and manage your online presence through the world?s most popular online social networks.

About HappyChap Media:

The company was started in late 2010 by three friends in Bellingham, WA, to offer affordable websites to small business owners. Bringing together a unique mix of marketing, technical, and artistic expertise, HappyChap was founded with the belief that business owners and organizations should be able to manage and run their own websites, without needing to pay a web designer for every small change to the site.

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Extensis Hosts Free Font Management Forums on August 24, 2011 in St. Louis, MO

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:29:11 +0000

Portland, OR (PRWEB) August 04, 2011

Extensis?, a division of Celartem Inc. and leading provider of font management solutions, today announced it will serve up two free opportunities on August 24, 2011 for Web developers, creative and IT professionals in St. Louis, Mo. to learn the latest server-based font management best practices and web font technologies. The forums will be co-hosted by Computer Solutions and AIGA St. Louis.

Free Font Management Lunch & Learn Seminar, with iPad Drawing.

Extensis is hosting a free lunch at the Centene Center for Arts and Education where attendees will learn the latest best practices to manage fonts for their teams or on the web. The seminar will show attendees how server-based font management let?s them stay creative, compliant and in-sync whether in the office, working remotely, or offline.

Extensis will also do a drawing to provide one attendee with a free iPad (must be present to win).

WHEN: ????????????Wednesday, August 24, 2011

????????????Noon ? 2:00 p.m. (includes hosted lunch)

LOCATION: ????????????Centene Center for Arts and Education

COST: ????????????????Attendance is FREE of charge

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:????????Web developers and designers

RSVP AND DETAILS:????????http://www.extensis.com/en/events/stlouis.jsp

Pre-registration is required. ????

Hosted Web Font Mixer

Also on August 24, 2011, Extensis will host a web font mixer where web enthusiasts can learn the latest in web font technologies over cocktails and appetizers. Extensis will demonstrate the latest technologies that provide unlimited creative freedom with web fonts.

WHEN: ????????????Wednesday, August 24, 2011

????????????6:00 p.m. ? 8:00 p.m. (includes free cocktails and appetizers)

LOCATION: ????????????Atomic Cowboy

COST: ????????????????Attendance is FREE of charge

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:????????Web developers, designers and enthusiasts

RSVP AND DETAILS:????????http://www.extensis.com/en/events/stlouis.jsp

Pre-registration is required. ????

About Extensis

Extensis? is a leading developer of software and services for creative professionals and workgroups. Their solutions streamline workflows, securely manage digital assets and fonts, and control corporate typographic branding. Used by hundreds of Fortune 5000 companies, Extensis? award-winning server, desktop, and web service products include: Portfolio Server? for digital asset management, Universal Type Server? for server-based font management, Suitcase Fusion? for single-user font management, and the WebINK? web font rental service. Founded in 1993, Extensis is based in Portland, Oregon, and the United Kingdom. Extensis is wholly owned by Celartem Technology Inc., (JASDAQ Exchange: 4330). For additional information, visit http://www.extensis.com.

About WebINK

WebINK is the standards-compliant solution for bringing live fonts into any web site without font licensing or file format hassles. Simply by integrating a small piece of code into a site?s CSS code, WebINK delivers custom fonts to any browser instantly. Stocked exclusively with professional-quality typefaces, WebINK unleashes creative freedom to Web designers and Web developers?enabling them to push the limits of web design while maintaining brand standards and search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. To learn more about WebINK, visit http://www.webink.com

WebINK Free 30-day trial

To get started using WebINK, all new users automatically receive the first 30 days free of charge. By providing quality web font selections without charge, WebINK encourages creativity and design experimentation previously unavailable in web design.

About Celartem

Celartem Technology, Inc. develops and delivers the best software and services for their markets-spanning digital content to energy management. Based in Tokyo, Japan, Celartem Technology has offices in New York, Beijing, the United Kingdom, Portland (US) and Seattle (US). Celartem Technology, Inc. is listed on Japan?s JASDAQ Exchange (4330) and is a new member stock of the J-STOCK index. For additional information, visit http://en.celartem.com/.

Copyright ? 2011 by Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., EXTENSIS is trademarks or registered trademarks of Extensis in the United States of America, Canada, the European Union and/or other countries. This list of trademarks is not exhaustive. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, product names, company names, brands and service names mentioned herein are property of Extensis or other respective owners.

Contact

Jim Kidwell

Product Marketing Manager for Font Solutions

503-274-2020 ext 163

jkidwell(at)extensis(dot)com

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MA Interactive Sets Liberty Coach on a New Internet Marketing Course with New Website Design.

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:57:08 +0000

Northbrook, IL (PRWEB) August 15, 2011

MA Interactive Group a Chicago Internet marketing firm, has developed a new website design for Liberty Coach. Liberty Coach is the premier provider of custom luxury motor coaches in the United States, setting the pace for the industry since opening their doors in 1970.

For their new website design, Liberty Coach had formulated several key objectives, including to upgrade their web technology and design, to improve the user web experience with a visually engaging web design and to be able to easily manage their content with a highly functional CMS tool. As part of the implementation, MA was able to accomplish these core objectives. A key component of the implementation included utilizing Drupal as the CMS platform for website development. Through the client design and strategy review process, MA was also able to introduce key elements of social media, content marketing, and SEO strategy into the Drupal driven website design.

“Liberty Coach’s new website, sets the standard for website design and Internet marketing in the luxury motor coach and RV industry” said Mike Templeton, Principal at MA Interactive. “We were excited when Liberty Coach selected MA Interactive to redesign their website and are pleased to continue working with them as their Internet marketing provider” added Templeton.

MA Interactive Group, is located in Northbrook, IL. Its partners, Mike Templeton and Allan Yalowitz have been serving the Internet Marketing needs of Chicago and the nation since 1995. Mike Templeton as Vice-President and Area President for several Real Estate companies and Allan Yalowitz as a Director of Interactive Media and Design for several agencies and now collective as MA Interactive Group. MA provides Internet marketing services including branding and strategy, web design and development, mobile marketing, social networking, and search engine marketing.

For more information on MA Interactive, you can contact them via email at info(at)mainteractivegroup(dot)com or via phone at 224.649.1046.

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WSI Recognized by Web Marketing Association with 7 Awards

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:25:19 +0000

Mississauga, ON (PRWEB) September 30, 2011

WSI, the world?s leading provider of digital marketing solutions to small- and medium-size businesses, received seven prestigious recognitions by the Web Marketing Association?s 2011 WebAwards. This is the fourth year in a row WSI has been recognized for excellence by the WebAwards, which highlights outstanding achievement in the field of web design and development. This year WSI submitted 10 sites and seven of those received awards, with two receiving Standard of Excellence Recognitions. Other top brands that competed for the awards include AT&T, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cottonelle, Jetblue, Nissan and Volvo.

The following WSI consultants were recognized by the Web Marketing Association at this year?s WebAwards:

????WSI Internet Consultant Kevin Dean received the Environmental Standard of Excellence WebAward for Arborwell

????WSI Internet Consultant Neal Lappe received the Outstanding Website WebAward for Cabell Childress Group

????WSI Internet Consultant Doug Fowler received the Outstanding Website WebAward for J. Simon Shirtmakers

????WSI Internet Consultant Kimberly Nichols received the Outstanding Website WebAward for Municipality of Potton

????WSI Internet Consultant James Alexander received the Professional Services Standard of Excellence WebAward for Smile Like the Stars

????WSI Internet Consultant Armin Tull received the Hotel and Lodging Standard of Excellence Web Award for Tallinn Hotels

????WSI Internet Consultants Mike Watkins and Nicole Dupree received the Outstanding Website WebAward for Why Diet

?As a Web Marketing Association award recipient for four years in a row, we are proud to say our proven track record of going above and beyond has helped businesses reach their greatest potential,? said Ron McArthur, president of WSI. ?We hope to continue our success next year and beyond.?

This is the 15th year the Web Marketing Association has been organizing its annual WebAwards, which is today?s premier website award program. Website awards recognize the talented individual and team efforts in creating outstanding website development and generating Internet marketing exposure.

There are 96 industry categories in the awards competition and each site goes head-to-head with other sites in their categories. If an entry receives a score of 60 or greater out of a possible 70 points granted by the judges, the entry earns the Outstanding Website award. Entries that scored above the average for their industry and 59.9 receive the Standard of Excellence award.

WSI is the world?s leading provider of digital marketing solutions to small- and medium-size businesses the world over. WSI provides digital marketing solutions, web site design, e-commerce solutions and web hosting. WSI awarded 149 franchises in 2010 and six master franchise licenses. With plans to add 210 franchisees in 2011, primary markets will include U.S., Latin America, U.K. and Europe. For more information, visit http://www.wsicorporate.com.

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Boston Web Design Wins 2004 Web Marketing Association Award

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:53:32 +0000

BOSTON, MA (PRWEB) September 30, 2004

Boston Web Design, a leading, Boston-based Web Design, Development and Marketing Firm, announced today that it has received a prestigious Web Marketing Association WebAward. Boston Web Design received the honor of ?Outstanding Web site,? for their work on The Heart Rhythm Foundation?s Internet site, located at (http://www.heartrhythmfoundation.org).

The Heart Rhythm Foundation?s Web site was one of over 1000 entrants from 19 different countries. All Web sites were evaluated against peer sites within their particular industry, and factors such as design, content, interactivity, ease of use, and use of technology were the criteria considered by the judges. The judges were comprised of elite members of the design, programming, marketing, advertising and public relations communities.

The Heart Rhythm Foundation?s Web site was developed to fulfill the purpose of advocating and providing information regarding heart rhythm disorders, their diagnosis and treatment. The main focus of the Heart Rhythm Foundation is to shine a spotlight on critical issues with programs that give a strong voice to patients, the public and physicians. The Foundation is the voice of support for patients with heart rhythm disorders ? past, present, and future. The Foundation?s hope is that people are inspired by these initiatives and can see the value of better educating the public and the medical community about life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

Boston Web Design assisted in all aspects of the creation and launch of this website including: information architecture, graphic design, website development, email newsletters, and Flash animation.

The Web site ranked highly in all judging categories, including design, content, technology, ease of use, and innovation. This WebAward reflects Boston Web Design?s efforts to completely redesign the organization?s entire original Web site, with the goal of promoting ease of navigation and information flow throughout the entire site.

The Web Marketing Association was founded in 1997, and is known for setting a high standard of internet communication and Web site excellence. The Web Marketing Association has been holding its prestigious WebAward competition annually for the past seven years, and previous winners include Reebok, Bank One, MSNBC and Disney Online.

Contact:

Chuck Murphy, 617-275-7360

cmurphy@bostonwebdesign.com

http://www.bostonwebdesign.com

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Leading American Website Maintenance Company Bags Website Maintenance & Web Marketing Services of Foothill Rank Transit District Website

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:21:30 +0000

Tustin, CA (PRWEB) August 05, 2011

GMR Web Team, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Marketing Resources, LLC and a leading web design, maintenance and marketing provider in America is announcing selection of website maintenance and search engine marketing provider for Foothill Transit District; a leading transportation provider of southern California.

As part of the contract, GMR Web Team will provide the following services:

Ongoing website maintenance

Addition of new features on the website

Ongoing monitoring of the website health

Search engine optimization of the website

Local search engine marketing

Search engine marketing of the website

Cerritos, CA based Optizm Inc., a business optimization company, will act the authorized sub-contractor for developing tools such as phone apps and similar application.

Ajay Prasad, President of GMR Web Team said: ?We are proud to be selected as the webste maintenance and web marketing service provider for this important organization. We are looking forward to providing great service to Foothill Transit District and become their preferred vendor.? Mr.Prasad further stated that ?while we do website maintenance and marketing for over 100 clients, it is always a good feeling to beat competitors and get selected for prestigious accounts.?

Anshuman Sinha, CEO of Optiizm Inc., stated: ?We are looking forward to working with GMR Web Team for this account and future accounts for website marketing, design and maintenance.?

Mr.Prasad further stated that ?while we do website maintenance and marketing for over 100 clients, it is always a good feeling to beat competitors and get selected for prestigious accounts.?

About GMR Web Team.:

Tustin, CA based GMR Web team is a leading provider of internet services like website marketing, web maintenance and website design and development. . Started in 2003, GMR Web Team current helps over 100 customers with their website marketing and marketing needs, The company has also built over 1,000 website for its customers over the last eight years in business.

In January 2011, GMR Web Team launched local search engine marketing to help small businesses get their share of internet opportunity. Over 50 small businesses have already signed up for this program and are experiencing superior return on their online marketing investment.

You can see details of GMR Web Team services at http://www.gmrwebteam.com. You can see details of GMR website maintenance services by visiting http://www.gmrwebsitemaintenance.com.

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Linq360 Innovation Center Launches New Website through St. Louis Web Design Company, The Net Impact

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:49:26 +0000

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) October 05, 2011

LINQ360 in Las Vegas just launched a redesigned website with the help of St. Louis web design and web marketing firm, The Net Impact a division of Unified Development, Inc (Unidev). In addition to a web redesign, LINQ360 needed an intuitive, user-friendly content management system that would allow them to make their own website updates without the help of a web designer or developer. It was also important for LINQ360 to benefit from organic search engine optimizing the new website in order to increase awareness, visibility and site traffic.

To achieve this objective, The Net Impact selected the Auctori? content management system, which is built for search engine optimization. Search engine optimization helps improve the visibility of a website in search engine search results, which will be beneficial for LINQ360.

?We are very proud of our relationship with the LINQ360 Innovation Center in Las Vegas,? said Steve Thomas.?????Scott Garrison and his team have created a great deal of industry buzz in a very short time. The chosen platform, the Auctori content management system, will allow their team to easily update their website and create even more buzz for LINQ360,? says Steve.

The redesigned website will capture the energy and excitement of the innovation center while showcasing the solid partnerships on which it is built. Among those partners is Microsoft, SuiteLinq, Hewlett Packard, Cenium, Unidev and many more.

?We are very excited about our new partnership with Unidev. They bring a lot of innovative ideas to the table,? said Scott Garrison. ?We have brought many incredible companies together; it will be interesting to see what the future holds.?

LINQ360 Innovation Center connects companies from all over the hospitality technology market to facilitate collaboration with like-minded partners and clients. Unidev is pleased to help redesign the LINQ360 website and even more pleased to serve as a LINQ360 partner.

About The Net Impact?

The Net Impact, an Internet marketing and web development and design firm, is a division of Unidev?. Since 1997, The Net Impact has been a web development leader empowering clients with highly creative search engine friendly websites. Professional services encompass search engine and Internet marketing solutions, Internet strategy development, training and seminars and web design. For more information on The Net Impact, please visit http://www.thenetimpact.com, or call (636) 458-7772.

About LINQ 360

LINQ360 Innovation Center, Powered by Microsoft, brings together thought-leaders from all sectors of the global hospitality technology market in a dedicated collaboration center, where truly integrated solutions can be developed and demonstrated for the benefit of world-class hospitality brands. The four cornerstones of this alliance are: our hospitality technology members, innovation incubators, institutional educational programs, and industry development organizations. LINQ360 Innovation Center is located at 9555 Hillwood Drive, Las Vegas, NV, 89134. http://www.linq360.com

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Learn How to Prevent the Million Dollar Font Lawsuit Woes Experienced by Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum?s Website Team at Free Seminars in St. Louis, MO.

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:17:29 +0000

Portland, Ore. (PRWEB) September 08, 2011

Extensis?, a division of Celartem Inc. announced two free opportunities to learn how to prevent legal trouble through effective font management and use of licensed web fonts. On September 28, 2011, web developers, designers and IT professionals in St. Louis, Mo. will learn how the latest server-based font management best practices and web font technologies can help their organization stay out of legal trouble. The events are co-hosted by Computer Solutions and AIGA St. Louis.

With the recent $ 2 million lawsuit being levied against presidential candidate?s Rick Santorum website team for alleged misuse of fonts on his site, this free seminar will teach attendees how to side step potential follies.

Free Font Management Lunch & Learn Seminar, with iPad Drawing.

Extensis will also do a drawing to provide one attendee with a free iPad (must be present to win).

WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Noon ? 2:00 p.m. (includes hosted lunch)

LOCATION: Centene Center for Arts and Education

COST: Attendance is FREE of charge

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Web developers and designers, creatives, IT professionals

RSVP AND DETAILS: http://www.extensis.com/en/events/stlouis.jsp

Pre-registration is required. ????

Hosted Web Font Mixer

Also on September 28, 2011, Extensis will host a web font mixer where web enthusiasts can learn the latest in web font technologies over cocktails and appetizers. Extensis will demonstrate how staying legal is not to the exclusion of being creative.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2011

6:00 p.m. ? 8:00 p.m. (includes free cocktails and appetizers)

LOCATION: Atomic Cowboy

COST: Attendance is FREE of charge

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Web developers, designers and enthusiasts

RSVP AND DETAILS: http://www.extensis.com/en/events/stlouis.jsp

Pre-registration is required. ????

Contact

Jim Kidwell

Product Marketing Manager for Font Solutions

503-274-2020 ext 163

jkidwell(at)extensis(dot)com

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IT Web Werks Inc. – There’s No Better Texas Web Design Company to Handle Your Web Design Needs

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:45:38 +0000

(PRWEB) January 6, 2005

An interesting and provoking website is sure to increase your business prospects.

In this age of e-commerce and online marketing, “website” of a company is responsible for the image of the company in a great way. On the quality and flexibility of the website depend the business prospects of the respective company. So, the website design industry is becoming a key of “marketing success” to other businesses. And, in the US, Dallas website design industry is no exception to this on going trend. Whether it is the small business website design or website of any multi-national business house, Dallas website design companies are making their existence felt in a great way.

Based on the features of the website it can be classified as static websites and the dynamic websites. Static websites are sites that are created by merely posting some information in the web pages. These sites in most cases serve as a book. As against that, dynamic websites are database driven websites that can be used for online shopping and termed as e-commerce sites.

Texas website design industry, especially Dallas website design, is fast growing with the rapid increase of e-commerce. The use of advanced programming techniques like ASP, .NET, Oracle 9i, JAVA and JSP in the Texas website design industry is making the websites dynamic. These sites are interactive and credit card transactions can be done through them. The use of secured payment gateways is enabling these sites to carry out secured and fast online transactions. These revolutionary e-commerce methods have changed the face of small business website design practices. With the use of these online payment gateways and e-commerce techniques, small business website design solution is giving big business in return.

Another specialty or unique field of website designing for any Texas web design company is the medical web site design solution. Medical web site design demands an approach that is completely different from others. The Texas web design company who is attached with medical web site design will understand this need and incorporate relevant techniques to make the web solution unique and productive for the medical service provider. They incorporate different and significant styles for developing websites for companies with different requirements, different business practices and different goals.

Apart from providing relevant and unique website designing solutions, companies from Texas website design industry offer entire range of website related services like Website Hosting, Domain Registration, Website Promotion and Website Maintenance. These services are indispensable parts of a complete web solution. Proper planning at every step of website development and flawless execution of the plan is the only way to have a website that is interactive, aesthetically pleasing, secure, up to date and productive.

Contact -

PR Director

IT Web Werks, Inc.

Address – 5050 Quorum Drive

Suite 700, Dallas. TX 75254

Website – http://www.itwebwerks.com

Phone – 214-722-6404

Email – sales@itwebwerks.com

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New Doctor Marketing Blog Provides Tips and Strategies for Post-Healthcare Reform Challenges

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:13:35 +0000

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2011

Physician practice marketing firm Medical Web Experts is announcing the recent launch of their new blog, http://www.medicalwebexperts.com/blog. The blog provides the medical industry with tips and strategies for marketing, branding, social media and web design tips as well as offering the latest information on search engine optimization (SEO).

Started in April 2011, the blog contains a wealth of informative articles on topics including internet marketing techniques, SEO strategies and tips, profiles of well-built medical websites, social media tactics, patient portals and calculating ROI to determine whether SEO is a good investment for the company. Medical Web Experts posts new information 2-3 times per week, making the blog a frequently updated resource for online marketing information.

“In this post-healthcare reform era, physicians more than ever need to pay closer attention to marketing ? specifically in marketing services that have higher profit margins,? says John Deutsch, President and CEO of Medical Web Experts. ?In the same way, vendors that rely on revenue from physicians, who generally have less cash on hand, need to implement marketing plans that have higher ROIs. The Medical Web Experts Blog is designed to help both physicians and medical vendors with these challenging marketing decisions.”

Medical Web Experts is uniquely positioned to provide solutions and services specifically for companies in the healthcare industry, and the staff has experience and expertise that prepares them to work in this division. They offer highly specialized marketing and web design services for medical practices, hospitals, EMR providers and healthcare IT companies. Also specializing in custom programming, they offer a patient portal customizable to any practice?s needs and specifications. Blog contributors include a registered nurse as well as experts in SEO and EMR (electronic medical record) development.

As search engine algorithms are constantly changing, it?s important to stay on top of SEO and web design news. It?s important for doctors interested in building a website to keep abreast of current trends, and reading Medical Web Experts? new blog can help those with even novice knowledge of the internet stay ahead.

About Medical Web Experts

Medical Web Experts is a subsidiary of internet marketing company New Wave Marketing LLC, which provides affordable marketing and web design services for any business. Medical Web Experts offers custom websites for physicians in any specialty, patient portals, EMR integration, and internet marketing services. For more information, visit http://www.medicalwebexperts.com.

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New Doctor Marketing Blog Provides Tips and Strategies for Post-Healthcare Reform Challenges

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:13:35 +0000

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2011

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New Doctor Marketing Blog Provides Tips and Strategies for Post-Healthcare Reform Challenges

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:13:35 +0000

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2011

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New Website Features Fresh Designs, Tips on Law Firm Web Design & Internet Marketing

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:41:59 +0000

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) August 03, 2011

Lawyers can learn how generate more clients and boost their image, thanks to a newly redesigned website recently launched by PaperStreet Web Design. The website, at http://www.paperstreet.com, features:

1. Detailed ?insider? information about how to increase your website?s search engine rankings through law firm SEO;

2. A new, easy-to-search lawyer web design portfolio showcasing PaperStreet?s latest custom designs;

3. Frequently Asked Questions that law firms should ask any web design company they consider hiring;

4. Real-world case studies that allow attorneys to learn from other law firm?s mistakes and successes online.

PaperStreet is a web design and Internet marketing company founded 10 years ago by a lawyer, for lawyers. It has more than 450 law firm web design clients worldwide. Services include custom web design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Local Search, Pay- Per-Click advertising (PPC), logo design and branding packages, content management, web maintenance, hosting and email, Social Media setup, content writing, and more.

It all started when Pete Boyd was in law school. It was the late ’90s, and the Internet was still a relatively new place. Pete, a self-taught computer geek and aspiring attorney, started checking out law firms online to learn more about potential employers.

He was surprised to find that many firms didn’t have a website. Those that did looked like “crap.” (Pete has always been very reluctant to say what he thinks).

“I could do better,” he thought. So he did.

In 2001, with several sites under his belt, he incorporated PaperStreet.

After graduating law school, Pete went to work for a boutique Intellectual Property firm. He’d bill all day, come home, and head to his computer. He’d design all night for his growing list of legal clients, whose needs he understood firsthand. He did this for fun.

Eventually, a light bulb went on. Pete quit the fancy law firm and started designing full time, out of his living room.

Fast-forward several years: PaperStreet now has over 600 clients worldwide and a talented team of 13 designers, developers, SEO specialists and content writers. In the past 10 years, the company has expanded to offer the full range of services law firms need to build a comprehensive web presence: SEO, Internet marketing, mobile solutions, brand building, logos, content writing, print products, and more.

Needless to say, all this no longer occurs from Pete’s living room. Instead, PaperStreet operates out of a quirky office space in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida – a large, converted garage where the previous owner built sports cars. (It’s rather fitting, given that PaperStreet websites are all about good looks and great performance.) These days, Pete is happy to report he no longer thinks most law firm websites look like “crap.”

He and his team now do battle against the growing plague of “Brand Bland.”

PaperStreet is different from other web design companies in that it offers 7 Guarantees:

1.????You Will Love Your Design: We design to please you and your clients.

2.????Fast, Same Business Day Edits & Support: 24-Hour turnaround time during business hours.

3.????Smart Support: Free Education and Knowledge for Everyone.

4.????No Hidden Charges: We quote flat-rate projects.

5.????You Own Your Site: No strings attached.

6.????Create ROI & Results: SEO, PPC and a Great Design = More Clients.

7.????We Make your Life Easy: One Agency for Web, Branding and Marketing.

For more information on law firm web design or lawyer Internet marketing and SEO, contact:

Peter Boyd

General Guru & Founder

PaperStreet Web Design

219 SW 17th Street

Fort Lauderdale Florida 33315

954.523.2181 (tel)

954.337.6169 (fax)

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Top Web Hosting Directory Honors FatCow as September Host of the Month Winner

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:09:59 +0000

St. George, UT (PRWEB) September 02, 2011

100Best Web Hosting honors FatCow as the September Host of the Month. When it comes to finding the best web hosting provider, the search can be overwhelming and time consuming. As a top web hosting directory, 100Best Web Hosting does all the research and leg work to make the search fast, easy, and much more effective. The founders of 100Best Web Hosting have been using web hosting services for years and have personally tested many web hosts and evaluated and ranked them based on the best web hosting features, tools, support, and reliability.

Web hosting companies are all over the Internet and most of them offer the same basic features for about the same price, but that doesn?t mean they are all created equal. Short of spending several hundred dollars and an enormous amount of time, how is a webmaster supposed to narrow the search down to the best web hosting provider for his/her needs? 100Best Web Hosting suggests webmasters take advantage of the knowledge and experience they have had, to get started in the right direction. The web host honored as Host of the Month may not be the best web hosting service for every website, but they do offer web hosting features that are robust enough to meet the needs of most personal and business websites. FatCow was started in 1998 and has had years to prove how dependable and reliable their web hosting services are, just one reason they are now honored as Host of the Month.

FatCow takes pride in offering green web hosting services to support an environmentally friendly web hosting experience. At FatCow they understand that change begins with them. Most of the features offered by FatCow are available for a similar price from other web hosts, but most of those web hosts don?t go the extra mile and use 100% wind energy to power the data centers that keep millions of websites available virtually all the time. Visiting the FatCow website is a fun experience for the user, a ?Hosting Facts label? designed to look like a nutrition facts label is just one example of the marketing genius that takes place at FatCow, but when it comes to business, FatCow takes their job seriously. The 24 hour customer support is all handled by competent, friendly staff that will gladly help with any questions or issues that arise.

The FatCow website also provides a lot of self help webmaster tools for the webmaster that likes to figure things out on his own. The honor of being named Web Host of the Month was earned by FatCow through their attention to detail, commitment to customer service, and the reliability of the equipment and tools available to every web hosting client. For webmasters looking to make the switch from free web hosting, FatCow makes the transfer quick and easy. Visit the FatCow coupon site for a complete features list to determine if FatCow is the best web hosting provider for your website.

About 100Best-Web-Hosting.com

100Best Web Hosting, based in St. George, Utah, provides web hosting reviews, comparisons, and web hosting tutorials to assist webmasters in finding the best web hosting services. The staff at 100Best Web Hosting has more than 10 years of experience in the Internet services industry.

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LyntonWeb Announces Inbound Marketing Giveaway Contest for Small Businesses to Win Free Marketing Services

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:37:50 +0000

Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 25, 2011

In commemoration of the second annual HubSpot User Group Summit (HUGS) this September 15-16, Houston web solutions company LyntonWeb announces its Inbound Marketing Giveaway Contest. Businesses have a chance to sign up for a variety of packages, each offering a valuable introduction to inbound marketing and the potential it offers.

Inbound marketing is the practice of getting found online by publishing remarkable content through search engines, social media, and blogs. LyntonWeb?s giveaway is unique in that entrants can select one of (4) marketing package prizes that best suits the needs of their company. Prize packages include:

1. Content Package- Brainstorming & strategy session, (4) blog posts, (1) online press release, Content calendar

2. Business Blog Makeover- Blog design brainstorm & consultation, blog background header design, subscribe/social media follow and widgets, customized social media buttons and Call-To-Action button template

3. Landing Page Package- Brainstorm & consultation, professionally designed custom landing page template, page content and up to (3) lead nurturing emails, cover page template for your ebooks

4. CRM Integration- HubSpot medium- or large-edition customers: Integrate HubSpot with MS Dynamics CRM, NetSuite CRM, Infusionsoft or Sugar Professional.

Now through September 1, 2011, businesses can visit LyntonWeb?s contest page at http://giveaway.lyntonweb.com to fill out one or more entry forms for a chance to win. LyntonWeb will choose the winners for each package based on the merit and contents of the submission.

HubSpot, Inc. offers an all-in-one marketing software platform that has helped more than 4,900 companies in 31 countries increase the number of visitors to their websites and convert more of those visitors to leads and customers. Applications in the software platform include website management, blogging, search engine optimization, lead management, marketing analytics, email marketing, landing pages, and social media monitoring. HubSpot, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Find them at http://www.HubSpot.com.

LyntonWeb is a full-service web design and inbound marketing agency based in Houston, Texas. LyntonWeb helps businesses get found and generate leads using inbound marketing coupled with professional design and development services. Services include web design and development, e-commerce, inbound marketing, search and social media marketing, content creation, CRM marketing automation, and app development.

Visit LyntonWeb at http://www.lyntonweb.com or call 1-877-596-8669.

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Bay Area Web Design Firm Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i) Announces Web Building Workshops to Help SMBs Gain Visibility

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:06:03 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2011

Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i), a San Francisco Bay Area web design firm, has relaunched their WebShop website workshops. The four-session program brings together elements of a focus group, a design session, and instructional coursework that helps small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) create unique, professional-looking websites in just five weeks.

?WebShop is ideal for solopreneurs who know they need a site, but have too many other things on their plate to do it right,? said mb/i founder Marissa Berger. ?It?s a structured system with a built-in timeline, so you know you won?t keep putting it off.?

Through a series of discussions, hands-on work, and easy-to-follow worksheets, participants will not only put together a website, they will compose their core content, outline their website strategy, craft effective calls to action, establish a process to generate online leads, and establish the theme and narrative that will be used to build a brand new site.

Because WebShop participants are decision-makers from multiple businesses, participants hear a number of perspectives.

WebShops are sociable and engaging. According to Dr. Antonio Margiotta, who participated in the program when it was first introduced in 2008, WebShop makes ?making a website easy and fun.?

The core mb/i team has more than 40 years of combined experience designing, planning, and producing websites. The Bay Area web designer maintains a portfolio of more than a hundred projects on its website.

Marissa Berger has a bachelor?s degree from UC Berkeley in Business Administration/Finance and a master?s degree from Hayward State in Business Administration/Marketing.

For more information on WebShop or any of mb/i?s other products or services, call them at (925) 435-1514 or visit them on the web at marissaberger.com. MB/I offers a complimentary 30-60 minute consultation by phone or in person, depending on the caller?s location.

About Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i)

Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i) is a San Francisco Bay Area web design company that specializes in popular open-source content management systems such as Drupal and WordPress. MB/I has been developing websites since 2000 and has a diverse portfolio of over 125 websites.

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Bay Area Web Design Firm Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i) Announces Web Building Workshops to Help SMBs Gain Visibility

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:06:03 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2011

Because WebShop participants are decision-makers from multiple businesses, participants hear a number of perspectives.

WebShops are sociable and engaging. According to Dr. Antonio Margiotta, who participated in the program when it was first introduced in 2008, WebShop makes ?making a website easy and fun.?

Marissa Berger has a bachelor?s degree from UC Berkeley in Business Administration/Finance and a master?s degree from Hayward State in Business Administration/Marketing.

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Bay Area Web Design Firm Marissa Berger Interactive (mb/i) Announces Web Building Workshops to Help SMBs Gain Visibility

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:06:03 +0000

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2011

Because WebShop participants are decision-makers from multiple businesses, participants hear a number of perspectives.

WebShops are sociable and engaging. According to Dr. Antonio Margiotta, who participated in the program when it was first introduced in 2008, WebShop makes ?making a website easy and fun.?

Marissa Berger has a bachelor?s degree from UC Berkeley in Business Administration/Finance and a master?s degree from Hayward State in Business Administration/Marketing.

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Web Design and Development Career Resource Guide Launches on All Computer Schools.com

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:34:45 +0000

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) December 6, 2006

In response to the growing demand for highly qualified web development professionals, All Computer Schools.com has released an online Web Design and Development Resource Center featuring career and education information about the diverse field of web creation. According to Robert Half Technology’s 2007 salary guide, “A shortage of experienced software developers means companies are willing to pay top dollar to recruit and retain these professionals. Base compensation for web developers is projected to increase 4.2 percent next year, to a range of $ 54,750 to $ 81,500.”

As one of the few online resources targeted specifically to those interested in web developer careers, the Web Development Resource Guide features ranges of income for web developers, interviews with people in the web development field and a list of web developer career opportunities, as well as articles on web development training and certification.

Aimed at students attracted to front-end website design, the Web Design Resource Guide includes information on web designer job descriptions, salary estimates and career advice from professional web designers. It also provides advice on what to look for in a web design school or training program, different types of web design certification and the benefits of taking web design courses online.

“Web designers and developers are in high demand, it’s a sector experiencing rapid expansion right now,” says Doug Rosenberg, product manager for All Computer Schools. “However there are many niches within web design and development, and most people don’t really know a lot about what web professionals really do. The Web Design and Development Resource Center is there to help people discover exactly where they might fit in this cutting edge field.”

The launch of the Web Design and Development Resource Center is the first of many computer education and career guides scheduled to appear on All Computer Schools.

About All Computer Schools

All Computer Schools (http://www.all-computer-schools.com) is a website dedicated to helping people interested in developing careers in high tech fields such as IT, network administration and web design find the training they need to succeed. Users can search for computer schools, get information about education requirements and read articles about the industry.

About All Star Directories

All Star Directories, Inc. is the Internet’s fastest growing publisher of online and career school directories, matching millions of highly qualified prospective students with the schools that best meet their academic and professional goals. From leading research institutions to fast-growing online and for-profit schools, more than 5,500 featured schools trust All Star Directories as the authority in online student recruitment. The All Star Directories network of sites focus on a wide range of fields including health care, art, business, teacher education, psychology, culinary arts, criminal justice, engineering, online education, computer training, vocational training and nursing.

Press Contact

Jay Goldstein

Director of Marketing

(888) 404-8043 x592

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Virginia Website Design Company, Affordable Web Design and E-Commerce Development, Inc., Wins Golden Web Award

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:02:26 +0000

Gainesville, VA (PRWEB) June 24, 2006

Affordable Web Design and E-Commerce Development, Inc. has won the most sought-after award available on the World Wide Web, the Golden Web Award. In May of this year, the company?s website design portfolio was reviewed by the American Association of Webmasters and chosen to receive the prestigious Golden Web Award. The award honors web designers and professionals that excel in web design, content and creativity.

“We are proud that our web design services have achieved levels of excellence deserving of recognition by the AAW,” said Mr. Yildirimturk, President of Affordable Web Design, Inc. “We are not just graphic designers, we are also experienced internet programmers. Therefore, not only do we create web pages, we create search engine friendly web sites to enhance online business. We want to build our clients’ business image and increase their sales.”

About Affordable Web Design & Hosting, Inc.

Affordable Web Design & Hosting, Inc. offers an exceptional experience in website development and implementing ecommerce solutions, providing a full range of web services to fit any business needs. Affordable Web Design & Hosting, Inc. provides site development, search engine marketing, web site address registration, web site hosting, high quality graphic arts, text writing and research, business to business and business to consumer ecommerce and database development. Affordable Web Design & Hosting, Inc. specializes in affordability, making it possible for small businesses to expand their boundaries beyond their geographic locations.

?Having an attractive website is just part of picture,? says Lewis Yildirimturk. ?Our Web design experts will equip your site with everything you need to leverage the power of the internet, and keep your visitors coming back for more.?

Website Portfolio and Samples at: http://www.affordablewebdesign.us . Call 703-753-5755.

Affordable Web Design, Inc is a member of Prince William County Greater Manassas, Prince William Regional, Loudoun County and Fauquier County, Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

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New Real Estate Advice Forum and Blog Goes Online

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:30:04 +0000

El Segundo, CA (PRWEB) September 19, 2011

Aiming to provide real estate professionals with a new resource for real estate advice, leading real estate web design and internet marketing firm Agent Image recently launched http://www.AgentWebPros.com. Featuring realtor forums and the latest updates on trends in web design and internet marketing, the blog is a resource for agents and realtors who want to ensure that their websites and marketing campaigns are cost-efficient, effective and on-target.

?There are dozens of real estate message boards online, but those that actually offer relevant, up-to-date information are few and far between,? says Tiger Bitanga, CEO of The Design People and Agent Image. ?Through AgentWebPros, we not only provide industry updates, we also serve as the host of an online venue where real estate professionals and web design and marketing professionals can mix and mingle. Our goal is to foster meaningful discussions and to help individuals and firms make the most of the various online platforms that are now available to all of us.?

Designed to be as user-friendly as possible, AgentWebPros.com has a streamlined and easily navigable interface. Since its launch, a variety of topics have already been introduced, from how to create great taglines to search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.

?The internet is about sharing information and making connections,? says Director of Marketing, Ryelle G., ?and this, in essence, is what AgentWebPros.com is all about. Do you want to find out what other real estate agents think about something? Start a thread on our real estate forum. Thinking of revamping your website or starting a social media marketing campaign? You can get tips and advice here, post a topic that can spark a discussion between your fellow agents and our professionals, or contact us directly.? To find out what today?s hottest topics are, visit http://www.AgentWebPros.com.

About Agent Image:

Agent Image provides the very best real estate websites and has enabled thousands of real estate professionals to drive and sustain improved business results through their proven marketing solutions. The firm is a wholly owned division of The Design People, Inc., an El Segundo, California web design company that specializes in website development and online marketing for businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit http://www.agentimage.com

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Newly Opened Roane Home Design Delivers Furniture, Appliances and More Over the Web

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:58:27 +0000

Rockwood, TN (PRWEB) August 26, 2011

Quality, design and value are all important factors when decorating a home. Shoppers want classy and well-made sofas, chairs, tables and more, and they want it all for reasonable prices. One brand new store has all that and more. Roane Home Design, established by entrepreneur Margaret Brogdon, is an Internet storefront providing shoppers with everything they want for their homes, including appliances and decorator items. They also offer a fantastic selection of charming wall art that shoppers will appreciate.

Roane Home Design is now available to shoppers at any time via the web at http://www.roanehomedesign.com. The website is easy to use and fills all the decorating needs shoppers may have for any project, big or small. With handy items like kitchen appliances, this is a true one-stop shop for the home. Even those shoppers with limited experience making purchases on the web will enjoy shopping there.

Roane Home Design delivers furniture, decorator items and wall art suitable for big redecorating projects or small d?cor additions. Their wide array of sofas, chairs, tables and appliances means shoppers can find the perfect item for their home, no matter their budget or tastes. With the best in convenience, prices and quality, this new store is sure to be a big hit.

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UK Design Company SGI Marketing Launches New Website and Talks about the Importance of Close Client Relationships

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:26:23 +0000

(PRWEB UK) 6 September 2011

SGI?s Creative Director, Alex Barnes firmly believes that ?Without recommendation or referral finding the right web design company can be a daunting process.?

?So we provide a very transparent and jargon free approach to our web services.?

The SGI Marketing website has been drastically overhauled as part of a huge design revamp to reflect its brand identity as a leading UK Design Company. The design is easy to navigate in order to find out about the web design and SEO Search Engine Optimisation Services they provide. They take pride in their approach to business, and manage to retain old fashioned values in a modern digital world.

SGI?s web team have built up a strong portfolio of clients across the UK and are best known for providing web design services in Stamford, Mansfield, Birmingham and London.

So what is different about SGI Marketing’s approach to their internet clients?

Newly installed Creative Director of SGI Marketing, Alex Barnes, came in with a passionate for web design and that rubs off on the projects and the clients.

He added; ?It?s all about managing our time properly doing competitor analysis, keeping the design and usability clear & simple and ensuring customers are 110 percent happy with what they are getting for their money.?

?We are not looking for a quick profit; we prefer to develop long term partnerships with our business clients.?

?Honesty and integrity form the cornerstone of our SEO web design services and on project completion, we hope the quality of design and service excellence speaks for itself.”

“If something needs changing we are not afraid to tell them and we hope this trust builds up to form a long term relationship.?

Making it easy – SGI do all the work

SGI?s ethos is all about making things easy for their customers, you will not get bombarded with technical jargon and all that geek talk. They pack a range of free web design services, such as free hosting, free domain names, free training, free advice and superb internet support. SGI Marketing will be your internet friend and tailor make solutions to suit every budget. It really is easy!

Getting a website noticed by search engines

Designing awesome websites is something that comes naturally to the web team at SGI, but if the world can’t find your website, then there is no point having it in the first place! The hard part is getting the world to see it! Luckily, SGI have a real passion for getting their websites ranked highly in major search engines. SGI developed their Search Engine Optimisation Services about 18 months ago having been disappointed by so call SEO experts.

Company founder David Foster said, ?I got so annoyed with so called SEO experts who had knowledge of this magic but never delivered.? ?The only thing to do was to make the people at SGI our own experts.? ?Now when clients come to us for SEO services we really do understand their frustration with previous providers, so we never baffle them with what I call geek speak and we never promise on the things we can?t deliver.?

If you want your company website to STAND OUT from the competition with a strong focus on usability, a cutting edge design and appear in the search engines then visit http://www.sgimarketing.co.uk to explore further.

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Web Talent Marketing Ranks #24 in The Best SEO Companies by topseos.com for August-2011

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:54:42 +0000

(PRWEB) August 03, 2011

Web Talent Marketing, a well-known SEO and internet marketing solution providing company has gained the honor of being #24 among all other top players in the SEO industry. The independent authority on search vendors, topseos.com, has recognized their position among hundreds of other SEO companies for August 2011. Web Talent Marketing has made it possible to go beyond top players and obtain a higher position among them.

Web Talent Marketing, has shown their excellence throughout the extensive review system designed by topseos.com. Web Talent Marketing is mostly known for its fully optimized internet marketing services and solutions. They are located in Lancaster, PA. Their services include SEO, pay per click management, social media marketing as well as web design and web development services. Web Talent Marketing ensures that every customer gets unique attention and considerations for their requirements and requests are fulfilled properly. They are also known for their personalized “white glove” service.

The SEO industry is a place of aggressive and massive competition among its players. Web Talent commits to providing the client the best SEO service solution to achieve a website that is fully optimized and highly ranked for the major search engines. They accomplished each task utilizing professional SEO experts, copywriters, bloggers and link builders. Web Talent Marketing knows that SEO must be built strategically based on customer requirements. Web Talent provides clients with rank & visibility throughout the search engines.

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BadAssWebDesigners.com Kicking Butt and Taking Names — New Web Site Lassos the Most Talented Web Designers the Creative World Has to Offer

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:22:33 +0000

Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 1, 2006

In today?s booming Internet age, no business can afford to be without an online presence. The good news is Web designers are lurking around every corner; the bad news is choosing the right one can be a downright time-consuming task. Up until now, the selection process has been a crapshoot, but a new Web site is changing all that. By bringing together the very best Web designers the creative world has to offer, BadAssWebDesigners.com is taking the guesswork out of choosing a competent and suitable Web designer. Business owners whose Web sites need building or revamping can visit the Bad Ass designer showcase online at http://www.BadAssWebDesigners.com.

Unlike doctors, lawyers and financial planners who must pass rigid certification exams before they can hang out their shingles, anyone can call himself a Web designer. That?s because there are no education or certification requirements governing the Web design profession. While this laxity provides for a veritable smorgasbord of talent to choose from, it also makes the narrowing-down process all that much more difficult.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment there are 600,000 Web designers in the U.S. alone and a staggering 13 million worldwide. Sifting through the portfolios of even just a sampling of these Web design professionals could take up days, or even weeks, of one?s precious time. What?s a busy executive who needs a Web site fast to do? Let BadAssWebDesigners.com do the work for her.

BadAssWebDesigners.com?s founder, Jake Varghese, searched the Web high and low for a Web designer who matched his exacting needs. What he discovered was that there was a lot of chaff to wade through before he got to the wheat. Determined to put his wasted time to good use, he decided to create BadAssWebDesigners.com as a means of showcasing some of the really good designers he found during that search. In so doing, he hopes to spare those individuals who are looking for designers for their own Web sites some major headaches.

For more information on BadAssWebDesigners.com, contact Jake Varghese toll-free at (800) 249-0836 or email him at info @ BadAssWebDesigners.com. Whether it?s a trendy, clean, modern or elegant design you?re seeking, visit the company online at http://www.BadAssWebDesigners.com to find the perfect Web designer to fulfill your needs.

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Interior Design and Lifestyle Mentor, Krista Stokes, Launches New Website Designed by Blue Water Media

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:50:31 +0000

Washington, DC (PRWEB) August 31, 2011

Visionary interior and event design specialist, Krista Stokes, just launched a new website created by D.C. area web design firm, Blue Water Media. Sporting non-traditional but highly efficient navigation, bright colors, high quality imagery and the Joomla content management system (CMS), http://www.kristastokes.com perfectly reflects Krista?s lively and unconventional approach to design and life. The Blue Water Media web design and development team has built the ideal platform to help Krista inspire clients to create and inhabit emotional and physical spaces they love.

The headline on the homepage reads ?Find Your Inner Style? and everything about the site content and design supports this message. Vertically displayed navigation bars provide visual reinforcement to her unconventional approach to interior d?cor, styling and personal shopping and mentoring. High quality images displaying past home design projects on the ?Everybody Likes Pictures? page enhance her credibility as a designer. Even her blog, entitled ?Projects & Random Obsessions? imbues the site with an eccentric yet utterly inviting and accessible tone.

Blue Water Media?s implementation of the award-winning Joomla content management system will allow Krista to expand and edit her website independently of Blue Water Media, making it easy for her to add new content as her business continues to grow. Combined with the compelling visual layout and content, the CMS ensures the site will remain an up to date resource on all things design related, helping Krista continue to spread her advice on how to live an ?extraordinary ordinary life?.

About Krista Stokes

Krista Stokes is a self-proclaimed, ?stylist, event planner, interior designer, entertaining-hostess consultant, personal shopper, seasonal holiday decorator, general advice giver, eager listener, and home mediator?. As someone who has been rearranging furniture since she was a young girl, her passion for design and life visibly are embodied in each and every project she takes on. Her aims to help clients learn to honor and curate what they have, make a realistic plan to get what they need, understand the true intent behind what they want, let go of what they don?t, and finally love wherever they are.

About Blue Water Media

Blue Water Media is an award-winning information technology, web design, and marketing interactive agency based in Washington, D.C. with offices in New York and San Francisco. Blue Water Media provides full lifecycle support for digital initiatives including custom web & software development, website design, hosting, 508 compliance and ongoing site maintenance for local and national clients. Leveraging cutting edge web design techniques, flexible open source software applications, emerging technologies, and integrated marketing campaigns, Blue Water Media offers a turnkey approach to attaining online success. For more information, please visit: http://www.bluewatermedia.com/

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Build Mobile Web Apps With WebMobi HTML5 Platform

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:18:50 +0000

Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) September 15, 2011

The mobile revolution is surging forward. Not only is it pushing mobile internet use to overtake desktop internet, it is also accelerating mobile apps demand. Establishing mobile presence is therefore key to keeping competitive. WebMobi provides SaaS-based solution, offering quick and easy mobile apps for personal or enterprise requirements. Establish mobile presence and reach mobile audience by launching mobile web apps using WebMobi.

The WebMobi HTML5-based platform is now offering the US market SaaS based solution that leverages the latest web technologies for a richer web experience. WebMobi.com is the first HTML5 platform that integrates HTML5-based design into easy-to-use templates for creating mobile apps across the major mobile platforms available in the market today. Web-based and robustly constructed, WebMobi helps cut down the time needed for developing mobile web apps while making it highly adaptable to constantly changing web technologies. WebMobi’s HTML5 platform provides tools and templates that enables small, medium and enterprise level businesses to rapidly create and distribute light-weight custom mobile web apps to major mobile platforms.

WebMobi uses a template-based system for developing mobile web applications, enabling rapid and efficient development and distribution of web apps. This system is especially suited for industries and verticals that rely on fast deployment and constant content updates. WebMobi offers the following features.

1.????Enables development of mobile web apps for all major platforms

2.????Basic implementation of SaaS solution is quick and easy

3.????Clients can integrate user data in their CRM solution

WebMobi service is currently in beta and plan to offer premium services to SMB and enterprises in the near future.

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Online Graphic Design Platform DiginDigin.com Just Launched its New Version

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:46:40 +0000

Montreal, Quebec (PRWEB) September 17, 2011

In the new version, DiginDigin focused on creating a better user experience. As an Internet based design platform, DiginDigin understands that there is a gap between a human and the Internet – a coded world. They found that among countless websites on Internet, only those that offer the best, easiest, most intuitive experience are the ones people visit again and again.

To ensure their customers found the website easy to use, in the new version, they add several new functions. They improve the placing design order system, and make it as easy as possible for their customers when they place a work order. Now it would only take three minutes to fill out a functional design work order. A clear work order would ensure their designers to understand what their customers want and bring a satisfying design result for each design contest. Moreover, they create a price splitting system. DiginDigin.com believes the power of crowd-sourcing. Once the customers would be able to get a design result from multi designers, they benefit from the power of crowd-sourcing as well.

From the designer use end, there are also a few new updates. This includes a cool portfolio display system. With the new version, now the designers are able to show a collection of their designs to the clients or to other designers, regarding to logo design, web design, stationery, etc. DiginDigin also wants to provide a good study environment. A new articles sharing system is updated for that purpose. Once a designer has a creative, inspiring idea, finally there is a place to share.

At the new version of DiginDigin, they enhance the power of communications between the customers and designers. In order to deliver a good design result, the number one key is good communications. When the designers fully understand what the job is, then they could be creative and transfer their clients idea into graphic language. The designers could inspire the customers as well during the design process. The key is they have to talk! Therefore, the new version develop an easy communication system. And they make sure to remind their designers and clients the importance of communications again and again.

About Digindigin.com

DiginDigin is a crowd sourcing logo design web platform. It has an online designer community which currently consists of 1843 talented logo designers. Once there is a design order from a customer, the interested designers would compete for the best design result. DiginDigin has been creating high quality custom made logos for all types of businesses all over the world. DiginDigin.com is a division of 123inkcartridge.ca

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Instrument Filters and Industrial Filtration Solutions Introduced to American Markets via Mobile-Friendly Web Design by Miami Web 3.0 Developer

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:15:06 +0000

(PRWEB) September 19, 2011

With oil prices rising as petroleum reserves deplete, visionaries like T. Boone Pickens are promoting compressed natural gas or “CNG” as a viable alternative energy source. According to CngNow.com, CNG costs about 40% less than gasoline and “compressed natural gas is the cleanest transportation fuel available today.” But keeping CNG clean requires efficient coalescing filtration from production through distribution to delivery. Recognizing that growing CNG consumption will lead to increased demand for coalescing filters, Frontier Group of the Americas has partnered with Classic Filters Ltd UK to distribute their comprehensive line of gas and liquid filter elements and housings. And through their recently-launched website FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com, they will be leveraging mobile friendly Web 3.0 technology to market their instrument, analysis, testing and replacement filters and custom-engineered filtration solutions to a diverse base of scientific, research, laboratory and industrial clientele.

“We project that increasing demand for our stainless steel filter housings and PTFE [polytetrafluoroethylene] membrane DIA [disposable in-line absorption] and DIF [disposable in-line] instrumentation, sampling and analyzer filters, coupled with growing CNG filtration requirements, will be a major contributor to our expansion into the Americas, especially as NGVs [natural gas vehicles] make their way into the mainstream on both continents.” stated David Janes, Managing Director of Sales for Classic Filters. “Based in South Florida near the business hub of Miami, the sales resources and distribution network of Frontier Group are ideally located to meet the needs of our customers in both North and South America,” he continued, “and built on a solid foundation of W3C standards compliance and Semantic Web design, we are confident their FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com website developed by Bruce Arnold will get our compelling message of quality filters, competitive pricing and superior service in front of the right people.”

Designed by Bruce Arnold’s Miami web design firm WebReDesignMiami.com, with front end development by web developer Web3.0DesignMiami.com and optimization by Internet marketer PervasivePersuasion.com, the Frontier Group’s new FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com website consists of hand-coded PHP-scripted HTML5/CSS3 with unobtrusive Javascript and jQuery enhancements. It features a faux browser panel extension, fixed header for desktop browsers, touch- and search-friendly Javascript-free navigation with imageless CSS3 gradient buttons, RSS/Ajax Twitter and blog feeds to enhance the user experience, social media integration, sharing and bookmarking facilitation, and Flash-free jQuery animations viewable on virtually all desktop, notebook, netbook, tablet – including Android and iPad – and smartphone browsers.

Every page at FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com passes all seven tests of Web 3.0 readiness, including not only W3C standards compliance validation of content and format but also checks on behavior, accessibility, semantics, feeds and links. This maximizes the site’s visibility and user agent access potentials. The “mobile friendly” full website is accessible by both standard browsers and robust smartphones. Access is further broadened by the integration of a DDR (device description repository) to identify and adjust for mobile and other requesting browser capabilities, plus a “W3C mobileOK” companion mobile website optimized for both smartphones with minibrowsers (e.g. Opera Mobile) and not-so-smart cellphones with microbrowsers (e.g. OpenWave) at “m.filtrationanalysisfilters.com”. As research by MobiThinking.com et al. indicates that currently only about 25% of the world’s growing base of 4.7 billion or so Internet-capable mobile phones qualify as “smart” phones, these additions increase the website’s Mobile Web market penetration potential fourfold. As the Managing Director of Production for Classic Filters Ian Bovington quipped:

“Our in-line disposable filters will eliminate over 99% of all solid and liquid particulate contaminants. And being mobile friendly as well as Web 3.0 Ready, Frontier Group’s FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com website designed by Bruce Arnold will illuminate over 99% of all desktop and mobile web browsers.”

About FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com and Frontier Group of the Americas

Distributed by Frontier Group of the Americas, the Classic Filters line of industrial, instrumentation, testing, sampling and analytical filtration solutions includes everything from stainless steel filter housings for PTFE membrane filters to replacement filter elements to complete filtering systems suitable for almost any application. To learn more about our highest quality coalescing and particulate filters and filtration systems logon to FiltrationAnalysisFilters.com.

About Web3.0DesignMiami.com and WebReDesignMiami.com

Miami web designer and Mobile Web applications developer Bruce Arnold’s WebReDesignMiami.com (miamiwebdesigner.mobi) and Web3.0DesignMiami.com (webdesignermiami.mobi) form a Semantic Web design and Web 3.0 front-end development boutique that defines success on the Web as high visibility plus broad accessibility. Maximum ROI is assured by a proven proprietary PervasivePersuasion.com (miamiwebdesign.mobi) methodology that encompasses both search marketing and social media.

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Magnetic Wins 2011 Outstanding Website WebAward for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:42:47 +0000

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 19, 2011

Tampa based web design and development firm, Magnetic, was honored with the Web Marketing Association?s Outstanding Non-Profit Website WebAward for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The Web Marketing Association?s annual WebAward competition has been setting the standard of excellence for website development and independent expert judges from around the world review sites in 96 industries.

Jennifer Bakunas, CEO of Magnetic states, ?We are pleased to be partnered with such a great organization that provides so many needed services in the Tampa area. We have been working with the Crisis Center for quite some time and some of our staff volunteer at their organization as well. It is very exciting to receive this honor from the Web Marketing Association and support the Crisis Center in the process.?

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay brings help, hope and healing to people facing serious life challenges or trauma resulting from sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress, substance abuse, medical emergency, suicidal thoughts, emotional or situational problems. The new website is used as the main informational source for visitors to learn more details on how to get help, give help, and the main services offered by the Crisis Center. These include free crisis counseling, suicide prevention and support, educational programs, specialized trauma counseling and therapy, case management and financial counseling, and TransCare Medical Transportation Services available 24 hours a day.

Now in its 15th year, the WebAward competition has become the premier award event for web developers and marketers worldwide. Staffed by volunteers, it is made up of Internet marketing, advertising, PR and design professionals who share an interest in improving the quality of website development and marketing on the Internet. Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward competition has been helping interactive professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to the outside world.

About Magnetic

Based in Tampa, Fla. and founded in 1997, Magnetic is a full-service web design and development firm that helps businesses reach their full web potential through strategic consulting, custom web design and development, e-commerce solutions, database integration, content management, systems integration, internet marketing and hosting. Named the 2007 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Magnetic offers both business and technical expertise to help medium- and large-size businesses achieve greater profitability and sales through the Internet. For more information on Magnetic, please visit http://www.magnetic.com.

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Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards

Celebrity Birthdays Today: Jenna Elfman, Fran Drescher, Kieran Culkin And More!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:55:33 +0000

Happy Friday, readers! TGIF! Can you believe that tomorrow is October 1st? Where has this month gone? Before you know it the holidays will be here. Yikes. In today’s edition of Celebrity Birthdays, a Brady aka Johnny Bravo turns 57, a ‘Police Woman’ turns 80, and a ‘Mask’ man is 50 years old today. Can you guess who? Happy Birthday, Jenna Elfman! The Friends With Benefits co-star is the big 4-0 today. Did you happen to catch her on the season premiere of Two and A Half Men? It was great to see her as Dharma along with her TV husband Greg. I miss that show, don’t you? Happy Birthday, Fran Drescher! The former Nanny star is 54 years old today. Her new show on TV Land, Happily Divorced, which she stars and co-wrote, has been renewed for a second season. Watch for new episodes in the Spring of 2012. Happy Birthday, Kieran Culkin. The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World actor is 29 years old today. Earlier this month Culkin was linked to actress Scarlett Johansson as the two were spotted in Paris. A few weeks ago, they were seen together again in Manhattan. Rumors ran rampant that the two [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/NW6wIjAeV5w/

Britney Spears – Circus

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:50:14 +0000

Circus

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive
Album: Circus

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=322811

Jennifer Gareis Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison

Photos | Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:45:19 +0000

Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs

Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten

Photos | Canadian Hotties On Canada Day

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:41:49 +0000

Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain

‘Twilight’ Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:35:46 +0000

‘I haven’t seen the films,’ frontwoman Ritzy Bryan confesses, despite landing lead-off track on ‘Breaking Dawn’ soundtrack.
By James Montgomery

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

There are some bands prepared for the increased attention that a spot on a “Twilight” soundtrack brings. And then there are bands like voluminous rockers the Joy Formidable who, despite snagging the opening slot on the upcoming “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack, remain blissfully unaware of everything to come. Or, really, everything about the “Twilight” series, for that matter.

“I can’t say I’ve ever read one. I haven’t seen the films either, but I have heard the soundtracks, and I was familiar with some of the songs, you know, Metric and the Black Keys,” frontwoman Ritzy Bryan told MTV News. “So I was more aware of the musical side of ‘Twilight’ than I was the books or the movies. Actually, I know very little [about the books]. I know they’re about vampires, and I know they’ve connected very much with an audience … so they’re obviously much enjoyed by a lot of people.”

And yet, despite all that, their contribution to the “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack — a ringing, downright desperate song called “Endtapes” that will be the album’s lead-off track — fits seamlessly; mostly because, as Bryan explained, it is very much about the themes that remain central to the “Twilight” series.

“The song was written at the same time as our album, and because of that, it has a lot of the tone and the feel of the album. And those songs, there’s a lot of turbulence going on, and it definitely chronicles a year that was very turbulent on one hand, but you know, it’s me trying to push for that hope and that sense of optimism,” she said. “It’s a song that captures that spirit. It’s a song about the frustration of not being able to have closure on a difficult situation.”

And given that, unlike fellow “Breaking Dawn” artist Christina Perri, she’s basically oblivious to the entire “Twilight” phenomenon, Bryan has no idea where “Endtapes” will be used in the upcoming “Breaking Dawn” film … shoot, she’s not even sure she and her bandmates will get invited to the premiere. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t go, of course.

“I don’t know anything about that! If we get an invite, I wouldn’t mind going to the cinema. I haven’t been to the cinema for such a long time,” she laughed. “We’ve been perpetually on the road for about a year and a half, and we watch lots and lots of DVDs in our van, but a trip to the cinema would be wonderful. I would have to do some laundry, but that would be fine!”

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671642/twilight-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-joy-formidable.jhtml

Carrie Underwood Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter

Powers by Design Expands Web Design & Graphic Design to Chicago

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:11:09 +0000

Chicago, Ill. (PRWEB) November 30, 2010

Powers by Design enters 2011 with big changes. The St. Louis-based graphic design and web design company now works with small businesses from its Chicago office, which opened on December 1, 2010.

The new offices are located in the heart of Chicago and into the Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, at 233 S. Wacker Dr, 84th Floor in Chicago, IL, Christopher Powers, the company’s Creative Director and CEO, provides extensive marketing experience and personalized customer service that Powers by Design is known for. Powers by Design is also known for the fact that it does both graphic design and web design, and is a full-service boutique advertising agency.

Powers by Design never outsources its design work to less expensive and inexperienced designers overseas. The company completes most of its work in-house and only relies on outside marketing experts when a client’s project has particular demands.

Even with all of the work completed by the Powers by Design team, professional logo design, creative graphic design and affordable web design services are still significantly less expensive than larger advertising or design agencies in St. Louis and Chicago. However, this does not mean quality lacks because of the low price.

Powers by Design was again named one of St. Louis’ Best in Business for Web Design by St. Louis Business Monthly. For a second year in a row, the publication has recognized Powers by Design. They emphasizes Powers by Design’s ability for specializing in offering full service advertising and marketing solutions, from graphic design to web design.

“Powers by Design clearly has a singular approach,” said Sara Lancaster, a copywriter that works with Powers by Design. “I’m impressed with their willingness to complete projects under tight deadlines and their full-scale approach to design, SEO and web development. They really don’t leave a stone unturned for their clients.”

To contact Christopher Powers, email chris(at)powersbydesign(dot)com or call their toll free number at (888) 328-1355. Visit Powers by Design to see the company’s graphic design and web design portfolios.

About Powers by Design

Powers by Design is the marketing and advertising solution for small businesses by offering affordable website design, creative graphic design and professional logo design services.

Headquartered in St. Louis, and now a branch office in Chicago, the company’s design solutions have reached small businesses in New York, Chicago, California, Ohio and Florida. For more information, Visit Powers by Design and see the benefits of graphic design and web design from Christopher Powers.

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Click here to see Beyonce’s baby bump, the kiss between Britney and Lady Gaga and more.

Britney Spears And Jo Calderone: A VMA Romance?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:55:24 +0000

Lady Gaga’s male alter ego even got fresh with Brit after her VMA tribute.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by James Montgomery

Britney Spears and Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone backstage at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Getty Images

On Sunday night at the 2011 Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga‘s alter ego Jo Calderone met the princess of pop herself, Britney Spears. Gaga, in full drag as Calderone, and Spears had a bit of a VMA romance, sharing kind words — and even swapping spit.

“It was interesting, her character,” Spears later told MTV News about the encounter, even dishing how the kiss between the two took place. “We got onstage and we felt it out.”

Spears, of course, has already kissed a famous pop star on the VMA stage, when she and Madonna locked lips back in 2003. And it’s that kind of free spirit that Calderone noted in his speech about the singer. “She taught us all how to be fearless, and the industry wouldn’t be the same without her,” Calderone said when he not only kicked off the tribute to the star, but also later presented her with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

After a troupe of dancers, who performed dance routines to everything from ” … Baby One More Time” and “Crazy” to “Toxic” and “Do Somethin’,” left the stage, Calderone and Spears came face to face, and lips to lips. Although Spears seemed fine with the initial kiss, when he tried to make a few more advances, Spears rebuffed him with a big smile on her face.

He took it like a gentleman, adding, “I don’t want Gaga to get pissed.”

So was Gaga completely Calderone the whole time? “She’s in full character,” Spears later added. “Yes, definitely.”

The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards have wrapped, but the real action is just getting started! Stick with MTV News for winners, fashion pics, video and behind-the-scenes stories about everything that went down. Visit VMA.MTV.com for the latest.

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Brad Pitt?s Odd Phobia: Going Backwards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:51:01 +0000

Brad Pitt’s odd phobia has been revealed in Empire magazine, straight from the Moneyball star’s mouth. See what he has to say about his fear of ‘going backwards’ below. Pitt told the mag that he has an obsession with ‘moving forward’ in his life, so much so that he can’t bring himself to go in reverse in his vehicle or walking back into his house if he forgot something. Wow. He explains: “If I’m walking out the door and I’ve forgotten something, I can’t go back and get it. It is something in my nature. If I’m driving down the road and I miss a turn, I have to keep going forward. I can’t reverse. It’s some kind of psychological defect.” Does this mean he won’t back out of a parking space too? What the heck? He can’t even surmise why he feels that way, adding: “I don’t know the reason why… But it’s just that, for better or worse, I want to keep moving on. I don’t like to go backwards. It’s not what I’m good at.” I suppose he won’t be getting back together with Jennifer Aniston should he and Angelina split, eh? Another Brad Pitt fear? The [...]

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Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich

Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ Video: Queen Of Pain

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:45:21 +0000

Second clip from 21 perfectly captures song’s somber feel.
By James Montgomery

Adele in her video for “Someone Like You”
Photo: XL Recordings

Never mind the fact that, in person, Adele is so bubbly she’s practically effervescent. When it comes to her albums, Adele is pain personified. Alone and adrift, brokenhearted and bitter — these are emotions we all feel, but rarely do we have the courage to express them like Adele does.

And nowhere on her 21 album is that more apparent than “Someone Like You,” the stirring, somber closer in which Adele goes to visit a former love (with high hopes of a reconciliation), only to discover he has not only moved on with his life, but is in a much better place. And though she’s heartbroken, she puts on a brave face, stubbornly proclaiming she’ll find someone just like him, even if she knows that she never will. And that conclusion makes you ache not only because it’s so daunting, but because it’s so real. We’ve all felt that way, tried to trick ourselves into thinking that any other outcome was possible. In Adele’s music, much like life, there are no happy endings.

“Someone Like You” was a natural choice for the next single from 21, and on Thursday (September 29), Adele premiered the video for the song — an equally somber affair that matches not only the song’s emotional wallop, but its straightforward, downright crushing simplicity.

Shot in Paris, in the very early hours of the morning, it is little more than Adele wandering the deserted streets of the city, gazing longingly at the Seine, very nearly breaking into tears. Director Jake Nava made the smart decision to shoot it in arty, smudgy black-and-white, which only adds to the clip’s desolate, haunted feel. In a lot of ways, as she drifts along, Adele is little more than a ghost, haunting the streets, destined to remain invisible to all, especially the one she wants to notice.

It’s a lot like how everyone feels after heartbreak, and that’s what makes the “Someone Like You” video so powerful. There are no special effects, no camera tricks or elaborate choreography, because those are quick fixes. Life doesn’t operate that way, especially when the bottom falls out and we are all alone. Our days are endless, our hearts black, our skies are gray. And when it gets to that point, all we have is our pain, majestically, beautifully so. Thankfully, we also have Adele, and that sonorous, sorrowful voice of hers. Long live the Queen of Pain.

What did you think of Adele’s new video? Share your reviews in the comments.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671762/adeles-someone-like-video-queen-pain.jhtml

Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle

Lady Gaga Honors Jamey Rodemeyer At iHeartRadio Festival

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:40:14 +0000

Gay teen committed suicide last weekend after suffering years of bullying.
By Gil Kaufman

Lady Gaga performs at the iHeartRadio Music Festival
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Just days after once again speaking out against bullying, Lady Gaga dedicated a moving version of “Hair” to teen Jamey Rodemeyer at the iHeartRadio music festival in Las Vegas on Saturday. The gay teen committed suicide last week after enduring years of bullying by his school peers, inspiring Gaga to tweet that she was going to meet with President Obama to encourage him to pass legislation outlawing bullying.

Following up on her promise, Gaga attended an Obama fundraiser in Los Angeles over the weekend, where a source told MTV News last week that she was expected to bring up the topic if the two were able to get a moment together. According to The Associated Press, Gaga was among the guests at an intimate Sunday night gathering at the home of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, wearing a sleeveless gown and high heels. A spokesperson for Gaga had not returned requests for comment at press time inquiring about whether the meeting of the minds had taken place.

The two-night iHeartRadio festival unfolded at the MGM Grand in Vegas and featured sets from Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez and Usher.

For photos of Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and others at the iHeartRadio festival, click here.

“We lost a Little Monster this week,” Gaga said of the 14-year-old Rodemeyer during the show, as a picture of the teen was shown on a screen onstage. “I wrote this record about how your identity is really all you’ve got when you’re in school … so tonight, Jamey, I know you’re up there looking at us, and you’re not a victim … you’re a lesson to all of us. I know it’s a bit of a downer, but sometimes the right thing is more important than the music.”

The Amherst Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into Rodemeyer’s death and is considering harassment, cyberharassment and hate crimes charges against a number of teens who may have been involved in bullying Jamey.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671464/lady-gaga-iheartradio.jhtml

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebs At Sports Games!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:35:38 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebs At Sports Games!

Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere

Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:31:10 +0000

2011 Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet

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Photos | Little Monsters At MTV First: Lady Gaga

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:25:16 +0000

Little Monsters At MTV First: Lady Gaga

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1669341

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Britney Spears Under Fire For Carrying Gun In ‘Criminal’ Video

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:20:19 +0000

Clip, filmed in London, has drawn the ire of British politicians.
By James Montgomery

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick on the set of her “Criminal” video shoot
Photo: Eagle Eyes / Splash News

Britney Spears is packing heat in her new “Criminal” video, and that’s landed her in hot water with U.K. politicians.

Earlier this month, Spears filmed scenes for the video in and around London, including one in which she flees a building in the borough of Hackney while clutching a pistol. And for a community still scarred from the August riots that spread across the nation, that crossed a line.

Britney Spears responds to the “Criminal” video controversy.

“I think she should apologize and make a sizeable donation to a Hackney charity that deals with young people, in compensation for the rudeness and damage that she’s done to our community,” borough Councilor Ian Rathbone told the ITV news program “London Tonight.”

“It is only a music video, but it’s images like this, with pop stars glamorizing gangs, which means that some young people … get drawn in,” Hackney’s Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott, added. “Britney should really know better.”

Even more concerning was the fact that, according to the Hackney Council, which okayed the video shoot, there was no mention of a gun being used in the “Criminal” production. If there had been, the Council says, Spears and co. most certainly would not have been allowed to film in the borough’s recently restored Stoke Newington Town Hall.

“In this case we did not agree that a replica gun could be used at Stoke Newington Town Hall and we are disappointed,” the Council said in a statement to “London Tonight.” “We will be raising this matter with the production company.”

Spears announced that “Criminal” would be her next single backstage at the Video Music Awards, and she has been promoting it with the release of artwork and a new remix album over the past few weeks.

A spokesperson for the singer could not be reached for comment on the “Criminal” controversy by press time.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671492/britney-spears-criminal-video-gun-criticism.jhtml

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Kim Kardashian’s VMA Highlight: Beyonce’s Big News

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:15:28 +0000

‘It was really cool of her to come out and show that at the VMAs, ’cause music is her outlet,’ newlywed says.
By Kelley L. Carter

Kim Kardashian at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Getty Images

Kim Kardashian rushed back from her honeymoon this weekend and made it to the Nokia Theatre in time to present Best Male Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. But her favorite highlight of the evening was the same as many of us viewing from home: getting the Beyoncé pregnancy news!

The newlywed talked with MTV News’ Jim Cantiello after the show and said that she loved seeing the pop star pat her pregnant belly onstage after running through a high-energy performance of her track “Love on Top.”

At the beginning of her performance, Beyoncé emerged from the darkness, saying, “Tonight I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me!”

Beyoncé and Jay-Z celebrate their big news backstage.

Married to hip-hop superstar Jay-Z for three years, the star has said time and time again that she planned on having a baby by the time she was 30, and she turns 30 on Sunday. Her husband beamed at the end of her performance while pal and collaborator Kanye West congratulated him.

None of that excitement was lost on Kardashian.

“Beyoncé is definitely my highlight,” Kardashian said. “I adore her anyway, but it was so sweet. I thought it was really cool of her to come out and show that at the VMAs, ’cause music is her outlet. She could have done it with any magazine or news station, but she chose her home. I thought it was really cool.”

And speaking of having babies, that’s exactly what Kardashian said she’d be doing right now if she weren’t busy with her ever-rising career.

“I would be a mom right now, for sure,” she said, in response to a question from fans. “I love kids, and I would probably have done this a lot sooner.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669895/kim-kardashian-vma-beyonce-news.jhtml

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Concert Picks: The Album Leaf, Baby Dayliner, Veronica Falls?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:05:43 +0000

Happy autumnal equinox! Now that that’s out of the way, we invite you to dive into the following shows taking place this weekend like a pile of leaves. There are a couple of solo acts to choose from, in addition to varying forms of pop/rock and more mellow stylings. If there’s one thing we [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/2MHWztql7jc/

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Jessica Biel’s City of Lights Landing

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:00:14 +0000

Joining the many celebrities situated in the City of Lights, Jessica Biel was spotted arriving into Paris, France for the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 festivities earlier today (October 1).

Dressed in a casual cute look consisting of a lightweight olive top, black trousers and matching black flats, the “New Year’s Eve” actress was excorted through the Roissy terminal by an airport staffer before hitting the exits and hopping into an awaiting chauffeured ride.

The trip to the French capital city comes just after Miss Biel spent time in Las Vegas to support her on/off beau Justin Timberlake during his Shriners Hospitals for Children Open charity golf tournament.

Doing her best not to steal the spotlight from the worthy cause, a source told Perez Hilton, “She?s laying low and being supportive.”

The insider added that the two are “very much back together” and ?she still remains ?completely with? J.T.”

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/jessica-biel/jessica-biels-city-lights-landing-549022

America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros

Shailene Woodley Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Surprise’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:55:07 +0000

‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ actress will star with George Clooney in ‘The Descendants.’
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Shailene Woodley
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Shailene Woodley is already the star of the hit ABC Family series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” For those not familiar with the show: It’s kind of like MTV’s “Teen Mom,” but all the drama is fiction. Still only a teenager at 19, Woodley is readying her not-so-secret life for the next phase of her budding career.

She’s set to star in the Alexander Payne-directed “The Descendants” with George Clooney, and her turn in the drama will likely help her connect to a whole new crop of fans. The film, which opens November 18, centers on a family trying to piece their lives back together.

Clooney plays Woodley’s dad who is trying to reconnect with her after his wife gets in a boating accident that leaves her in a coma.

Now that Woodley is ready to show another side of herself, she is the up-and-comer MTV Movies has named the New Class’ “Most Likely to Surprise Everyone.”

MTV: Do you get excited about roles?

Shailene Woodley: From the second I first read the screenplay for “The Descendants,” I was incredibly passionate about it. I loved how human it was and how it dealt with raw emotions, and it didn’t try and cover up the messiness of everyday life. So, I was incredibly passionate about it … And then Alexander became attached, and George Clooney became attached. Those were added components, but it was the screenplay that I fell in love with.

MTV: There are so many points where you can relate to this story. Can you give me a sense of what really hit you hard?

Woodley: There’s so many components: the loss of someone or someone being in a hospital or the dysfunctional family. Everyone can relate to all of those; we’ve all had those hardships. But, for me, it was more about the art of making a film that was real and a film that was human because I feel like cinema has drifted so far away from the truth of humanity that it was really refreshing to be raw and emotional in a film that was also comedic.

MTV: We’re always looking ahead, so we’re anointing you as a part of our New Class. Does it feel like now the choices are going to be different and more important?

Woodley: People always talk about “strategy” and whatnot. If a screenplay fuels my soul, then that’s what fuels my soul, and that’s what I’m going to be passionately committed to. I would love to continue to do movies ’cause that’s where my heart lies. I’m so grateful to the show, and I look forward to seeing what happens, and in the meantime, I’ll go hike the Swiss Alps.

MTV: Is it useful to look at other actors [for inspiration]?

Woodley: Absolutely! I think the world of Natalie Portman and Ryan Gosling and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I find them so inspiring, not only as actors, but as human beings, and I really respect their choices in films and what they bring to the table.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, visit NewClass.MTV.com.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671794/shailene-woodley-new-class.jhtml

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‘X Factor’ Auditions Wrap Up With Teen Rapper Brian Bradley

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:50:34 +0000

Teenagers ruled final audition episode before Boot Camp.
By Adam Graham

L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell on “The X Factor”
Photo: FOX

Fox’s “The X Factor” wrapped up its audition rounds Thursday (September 29), sending its final batch of singers — including more than a few teenage contestants — to its version of Hollywood Week, known as Boot Camp.

First up was Brian Bradley, who definitely had the X factor, if the X factor is massive self-confidence.

The 14-year-old pint-size Brooklyn rapper stepped in front of the “X Factor” judges with the ego of a 10-times-platinum superstar. He said the reason he hadn’t yet been signed to a record deal was “politics, man,” and then picked a mock beef with Simon Cowell that led to him performing his original song, “Stop Looking at My Mom.” With its old-school boom-bap and instantly catchy hook, “Stop Looking at My Mom” came on as strong as Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” did the first time you heard it, and the judges were instantly sold. Four “yes” votes later, Bradley was headed to Boot Camp.

Bradley mixed brash overconfidence (he said his contemporaries were Jay-Z and Kanye West, and claimed in five years he’d be “better than Jay-Z”) with an endearing teenage innocence. After he was passed through, he said his plans to celebrate involved going home and jumping up and down on his bed.

Bradley had so much confidence he could afford to let Jazzlyn Little borrow some. The 16-year-old was so meek onstage in front of the judges that it looked like if there were a hole for her to climb into, she would have happily disappeared from view. But when she sang Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Going Down,” the shyness melted away, and she gave one of the most powerful auditions we’ve seen on the show thus far. L.A. Reid praised her “superstar voice,” and Paula Abdul dubbed her “a little brilliant gem.” Of course she’s headed to Boot Camp, where her biggest obstacle will be belief in herself.

The teenage parade continued with 17-year-old Cari Fletcher, a classically trained vocalist whom Cowell dubbed “boring” after her version of Heart’s “Alone,” though he decided to let her through anyhow; and Ausem, a duo made up of two 15-year-olds, Austin and Emily. The pair performed Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts” and the judges had much more confidence in Austin than they did Emily, but since they were a package deal, it was all or nothing. After much debate, Nicole Scherzinger gave them the “yes” they needed to advance in the competition, though it came with much reservation, and Emily already seemed nervous about meeting the challenge ahead.

Viewers were also briefly introduced to 14-year-old Nick Dean, a Justin Bieber type who earned passing marks from the judges for his original song “Walk Away”; the Brewer Boys, a brother duo made up of 13-year-old and 17-year-old siblings; Paige Elizabeth Ogle, an 18-year-old whose animated version of Lady Gaga’s “Yoü and I” earned her what Cowell called his “easiest yes so far”; and Emily Michalak, who at 12 just barely met the show’s age requirement but passed through to Boot Camp anyhow.

While they hogged the spotlight, Thursday’s episode wasn’t all about teenagers. High marks were also earned by Kelly Warner, a 22-year-old hairdresser at a nursing home whose bubbly disposition and sturdy vocal chops made up for her choice of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” one of the most overdone songs in the singing-show genre. Liliana Rose Andreano, a 26-year-old office worker who looked a bit like Olive Oyl, overcame her atypical pop-star looks and was called “magical” by Abdul after her winning version of “You Are My Sunshine.” If “The X Factor” doesn’t quite work out for Brennin Hunt, the 26-year-old already has the soap-star good looks to get cast on any number of daytime dramas as the brooding singer-next-door. And Tora Woloshin, a 21-year-old student who looked like Nicki Minaj by way of Amy Winehouse, was already feeling like a star during her version of the Jackson 5′s “I Want You Back.”

With auditions wrapped, “The X Factor” Boot Camp begins next week, where the pool of contestants will eventually be narrowed to 32 and split into four categories: Boys, Girls, Over 30 and Groups. Each judge will be assigned to coach one of the groups, and singers will be picked off until eventually we get down to one singer who has that elusive X factor.

What did you think of Thursday’s episode of “The X Factor”? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671780/x-factor-new-jersey-auditions-recap.jhtml

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Amy Winehouse Remembered By Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, More

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:45:12 +0000

‘RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace,’ Perry writes. ‘I am genuinely heartbroken about this,’ Rihanna tweets.
By Jason Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Klenk

Amy Winehouse
Photo: Carlos Alvarez/ Getty Images

As news spread that 27-year-old Amy Winehouse was dead, stars immediately tweeted their shocked reactions and remorse over the lost talent.

Katy Perry, who touches down in Boise, Idaho, this weekend as part of her California Dreams Tour, tweeted her condolences, writing, “RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace.”

Nicki Minaj, who is also on the road as part of Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale jaunt, took to Twitter and expressed disbelief at the news of Winehouse’s passing. “Please tell me Amy Winehouse didn’t die,” wrote the Young Money MC, who’s set to hit the stage in Florida on Saturday (July 23). “Is this some sick joke?”

“I am genuinely heartbroken about this,” wrote Rihanna, who continued to express her shock over multiple tweets. “Dear God have mercy!!! I am SICK about this right now!” In another, she wrote “U made a MAJAH impression on this industry and throughout the world, in such a short space of time…too short!”

Usher reflected on Winehouse, who he had known: “I’m so sad to hear the horrible news of Amy Winehouse’s death. I’m so happy I knew you Amy…Rest Well. Gone Too Soon…we’ll miss you!!”"

Frequent tweeter Kim Kardashian used her 140 characters to send prayers: “I just heard the news that Amy Winehouse passed away. What a true talent. I pray she’s in a better place & at peace.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest showed Winehouse’s impact on the music industry, singling out both Lady Gaga and Adele as those who had been influenced. “Sad to lose Amy Winehouse – incred talent. Both @LadyGaga & @OfficialAdele say Amy paved way for them.”

Dr. Drew focused on the singer’s well-documented struggles with addiction. “SO sad, another lost to addiction. A reminder this is often a fatal condition. Recovery is possible, but sadly not for Amy Winehouse.”

Winehouse’s American record label, Universal Republic, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time.”

Many More Stars Are Reacting. Check Back To See Who Else Has Weighed In:

Leann Rimes: “RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone and her life end in tragedy. This makes me terribly sad.”

Khloe Kardashian: “Wow! I just heard about Amy Winehouse passing away! Wow! So sad what an amazing talent”

Ashton Kutcher: “Rip amy winehouse”

Big Boi: “Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and now Amy Winehouse. All died aged 27. RIP to you all.”

Kelly Osbourne: “i cant even breath right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!”

Rick Ross: “Wanted to collab w/ Amy Winehouse…r.i.p…smoking 1 in your memoryyy!!”

Janelle Monae: “heart is heavy. My heart goes out 2 Amy Winehouse’s family, loved ones. Praying for their strength during this time.”

Ricky Martin: “I just found out. I feel pain. I feel anger. Rest beautiful girl rest. You are free!”

Cee Lo: “Is it true about amy?”

Victoria Justice: “I’m so sad about the #amywinehouse news I heard this morning. She was 1 of my favorite artists. What a sad story, she was such a talent…”

Randy Jackson: “Wow what a tragic loss today in the music world, Amy Winehouse such a talent. She will be missed”

Kreayshawn: “I said she was a TIMELESS artist and a real artist because of her struggle. I’m so upset I love her! RIP Amy Winehouse”

What Was Your Favorite Winehouse Song? Pay Tribute To Her Talents On Facebook

Share your memories of Amy Winehouse in the comments below.

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Britney Spears – Hold It Against Me

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:40:53 +0000

Hold It Against Me

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
Director: Jonas Akerlund

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=624145

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Beyonce At VMAs And More Public Baby Reveals

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:35:22 +0000

Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez have also taken to live audiences to break the news.
By James Dinh

Beyonce on the 2011 VMA black carpet
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Beyoncé set Twitter on fire when she hinted on the VMA black carpet that she was set to make a big announcement, placing a hand on her stomach. Speculation turned into overwhelming joy when the pop superstar announced her pregnancy at the end of her “Love on Top” performance by unbuttoning her sparkling blazer and rubbing her noticeable bump.

Bey’s public announcement came as a bit of a surprise, given that the songstress usually gets media-shy when asked anything about her personal life during interviews. MTV News reached out to pop-culture expert Rob Shuter, columnist for HuffPost Celebrity, for his thoughts on how she revealed the big news. “I thought it was so brilliant that somebody as private as Beyoncé and Jay-Z would make their own rules to address the fact that she’s clearly pregnant,” he said.

Shuter explained that the power couple’s private nature made the revelation all the more joyous. “I love that this couple who has made it a policy to not talk about their personal life would once again do that, let us in on this huge secret, without ever really uttering any words.”

Post Your Well Wishes For Jay and Bey on Facebook.

Kim Kardashian, a real pro at living publicly, told MTV News that she admired B’s choice of venue. “I thought it was really cool of her to come out and show that at the VMAs, ’cause music is her outlet. She could have done it with any magazine or news station, but she chose her home.”

Beyoncé is now among the ranks of other starlets who have chosen creative venues to reveal the anticipated news. Take a look at how some other A-list moms revealed their baby bumps:

Britney Spears, 2006
Surprises come by the dozen when we’re talking about Britney Spears’ life and career, and she had another one up her sleeve when she took to “The Late Show With David Letterman” in May 2006 to confirm her second pregnancy with then-husband Kevin Federline. “Don’t worry, Dave. It’s not yours,” the pop star laughingly told the late-night host after he circled around the question. Spears gave birth to her son Jayden James Federline that September and filed for divorce just two months later.

Jennifer Lopez, 2007
It was only appropriate that J.Lo chose a concert as her venue to announce that she and husband Marc Anthony were having a baby — he was the tour’s co-headliner. “We didn’t want to say anything before, because we didn’t want to take away from the tour, but Marc and I are expecting,” the pop star revealed to fans during the Miami stop of her El Cantante Tour. Anthony then turned to his wife, kissed her belly and told the crowd that he “did not expect her to say anything.” Lopez gave birth to fraternal twins Emme and Maximilian Muñiz, in early 2008.

Ashlee Simpson, 2008
Ashlee Simpson and then-husband Pete Wentz make our list not because of their announcement but because of their steadfast policy before they made it: deny, deny, deny. Simpson even shied away from the question during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” as the pregnancy rumors were at their height. “Well, that has been going on for quite a while. That is something that I choose personally not to discuss,” Simpson said, before cracking a joke about whether she looks like she can eat “10 cheese burgers or something.” Almost a month later, the couple took to FriendsOrEnemies.com to confirm the news, writing, “While many have speculated about this, we wanted to wait until after the first trimester to officially confirm that we are expecting our first child.”

Jessica Alba, 2011
Some use their Facebook news feed to talk about work or current events. Some use it to talk with friends. Jessica Alba used it to announce her pregnancy to the world. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on FB & I thought I’d drop by to let you all in on some exciting news>Honor is going to be a Big Sister!” the actress wrote in February. Just a couple weeks ago, Alba gave birth to a baby girl named Haven Garner Warren and, as expected, took to her Facebook profile to announce the news.

Hilary Duff, 2011
Hilary Duff also favors the Internet for her personal revelations. In celebration of her one-year anniversary to husband Mike Comrie, the starlet offered fans with an extra special blog post. “I can’t believe it has already been a year, time really flies when you’re having fun!” she wrote on her website in mid-August. “We also want to share the exciting news that …… BABY MAKES THREE!!!” Since then, the former Disney actress has taken to her Twitter to dish on her many pregnancy cravings: “Today it was rice crispy treats! trying really hard to give them ALL away!!!”

Which is your favorite celebrity pregnancy announcement? Share your thoughts below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669931/beyonce-pregnant-baby-jay-z.jhtml

Bar Refaeli BeyoncÃ© Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively

It?s Been A Week Without All My Children?Sniff Sniff

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:30:13 +0000

It’s been a whole week since All My Children signed off last Friday, and let me tell you, I’m going through some major withdrawals. My life has centered around this show for so long, and this week I’ve felt lost without it. I know, it’s just a TV show right? Get over it, you say? Well, that’s easier said than done. Many have told me, oh come on, you can watch it online in January. Um, without the amazing Erica Kane? Susan Lucci has reportedly declined to take part in Prospect Park’s online AMC show. While some cast members have agreed to move on to the online endeavor, it simply will not be the same. Other central characters to Pine Valley have already jumped ship and signed contracts with other shows, notably Debbi Morgan (Angie), who will now appear on The Young and the Restless, and Jacob Young (J.R.), who has gone back to a role he originated on The Bold and the Beautiful. Last week’s cliffhanger finale saw J.R. wielding a gun at the Chandler mansion, where a party is being held to welcome Stuart (who was thought to be dead) home. J.R. fires off the gun, but we [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/c7OPyLVyZhM/

Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford

Sarah Gadon Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Wear A Corset’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:25:03 +0000

Roles in ‘Dream House’ and the upcoming ‘Cosmopolis’ set her up for a long career, especially in period pieces.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sarah Gadon
Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine.

This year alone, she appeared in David Cronenberg’s Freudian flick “A Dangerous Method” and Mary Harron’s “The Moth Diaries,” and this week, she gets her scare on in “Dream House,” alongside Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz.

Up next, Gadon, 24, re-teams with Cronenberg on the Robert Pattinson-starring “Cosmopolis.” Her work in period pieces and her ethereal, striking looks certainly make her the perfect candidate to stay trapped in a time when women wore more restrictive clothing. That’s why she’s MTV Movies New Class‘ “Most Likely to Wear a Corset … A Lot.”

MTV: We’re always looking for the next exciting talent, and it’s not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off?

Gadon: You go through different arcs in your career. I think when I was younger, I was very into the performing side of the industry. I came to acting through that way, and then having gone to university and studied cinema studies and watching tons of films and understanding film theory and making a conscious choice of working with auteur director marks a new chapter in my development as an artist.

MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward.

Gadon: I think when you work with really wonderful directors who have a really strong vision, it lets you as an artist set the tone for your own career. So for me, it’s not necessarily having that kind of notoriety. I’m interested in great work and working with people that have a singular vision, and I think the work dictates that.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob’s character?

Gadon: I think it’s a really interesting film, and I don’t want to give away too much, but I think in a really kind of pared-down version of the film, it’s about a young millionaire who loses everything in the course of a day. And I play his new wife, so I’m one of the only characters that really kind of comes in and out of the story throughout the film. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and those are going to be some interesting meals.

MTV: Is there someone to emulate?

Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she’s fascinating. I love her work.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671809/sarah-gadon-dream-house.jhtml

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Photos | Lady Gaga Joins Her Little Monsters At Best Buy Signing

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:20:14 +0000

Lady Gaga Joins Her Little Monsters At Best Buy Signing

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1664459

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Beyoncé – Why Don’t You Love Me

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:15:08 +0000

Why Don’t You Love Me

Artist: Beyoncé

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=514842

Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns

Usher Collaborator Rico Love Calls Kelly Rowland’s ‘Motivation’ ‘Truly Organic’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:10:08 +0000

Lil Wayne ‘jumped on it,’ Raymond v. Raymond writer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Rob Markman

Rico Love
Photo: TTLL

Behind the Beats: Rico Love

If more people read the credits behind some of R&B’s biggest hits, Rico Love should be a household name. Born Richard Preston Butler Jr., the former Florida A&M University student is now one of the music industry’s most-sought-after singer/songwriters.

After writing hits for Usher (“There Goes My Baby”), Beyoncé (“Sweet Dreams”) and Diddy-Dirty Money (“Hello Good Morning”), to name a few, one of Rico’s biggest hits to date is Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation.”

“It came about in a truly organic way,” Rico told Mixtape Daily of the Jim Jonsin-produced “Motivation.” “We had this meeting in New York: myself and Sylvia [Rhone] and Kelly. And they just were saying, ‘We need to find that single; we need that big single.’ Everybody was asking for an uptempo, actually.

“I flew down to Miami the next day, and that Tuesday, we got back in the studio, and Jim started playing these chords, and then coming up with these little sounds — the signature sounds that Jim comes up with. I just told him to lay it like a skeleton idea, and I jumped in the booth, and I started with the verse, and I kind of sang my way all the way through the record.”

Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child, was in the studio while Rico was laying down the reference track and made her regard for the song known immediately. “Kelly was there and watched the whole process,” Rico recalled. “As soon as I finished singing the demo, usually an artist wants to live with it or listen to it for a little while. She just said, ‘I want to cut it right now.’ So she jumped in the booth, and we cut the record.”

“Motivation” became the lead single for Rowland’s third album, Here I Am, which was released in April. The song, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, features a verse from Lil Wayne.

“Lil Wayne got out of jail a few days later, and as soon as he got out of jail, [Rowland] went to see him, and he jumped on it,” Rico explained. “It was the most organized situation ever. It was nothing contrived about it.”

There’s been nothing manufactured about Rico’s accomplishments either. Starting his musical career as a rapper, he has signed former Roc-a-Fella rapper Young Chris to his Universal/Motown-distributed Division 1 label.

After leaving Florida A&M to pursue music, Rico caught the attention of Usher, and penned songs for the R&B singer, including “Throwback.” Other artists soon benefitted from his songwriting, including T.I., Pleasure P and Mario. Rico takes pride in being versatile with his talents, preferring not to make specific songs intended for specific artists only.

“Sometimes, when you keep an artist in mind, you’ll limit yourself,” Rico explained. “You won’t go a place that they probably would go because you’re thinking, “Nah, she wouldn’t say this,” or “He wouldn’t do this,” or “He wouldn’t say this,” and “This melody is out of the way for them.”

“When I get a chance to just get into the studio and just write music and just produce music and sit at the piano and tell a guy where I want to hear the chords and create the progressions and just freely make music, it’s a lot more fun.”

Lately, Rico has been back in the studio with Usher. In 2007, he was signed to the singer’s former US Records via J Records. But his debut album was never released, and he and Usher went their separate ways.

But as Rico become a songwriting force, the two eventually started working together again. The first song they recorded was the Grammy-winning “There Goes My Baby” from 2010′s Raymond v. Raymond. Now, Rico is working on Usher’s forthcoming album and embracing the pressure of surpassing its predecessor’s platinum sales and critical success.

“I feel like this is what separates the boys from the men,” Rico said of working with Usher. “This week, we been creating records together. We had two mics, two headphones set up in the booth, and we just sit there and vibe out.

“These first few days have been amazing. We got four records cut so far that sound super amazing. I’m super excited about it. I’m just anxious for the world to hear it.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Michael Jackson’s Bodyguard And Chef Testify

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:05:51 +0000

Both describe Dr. Conrad Murray as panicked on the day of MJ’s death.
By Kara Warner

Michael Jackson’s bodyguard Alberto Alvarez testifies in court on September 29
Photo: Getty Images

The third day of testimony in the manslaughter trial against former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray once again featured former members of Jackson’s staff, bodyguard Alberto Alvarez and chef Kai Chase.

Alvarez took the stand first Thursday (September 29) to describe his arrival on the scene. He claimed when he entered the room, he saw Murray performing chest compressions on Jackson with one hand, and that when Murray heard Alvarez enter, he made the frantic request for Alvarez to remove several vials of propofol — the potent anesthetic that was part of the official cause of Jackson’s death — from the room before he called for an ambulance.

Jackson’s former personal chef was next to testify. After going through a list of the food items she prepared regularly for MJ and his children, mostly healthy meals like granola with almond milk and juice blends, Chase revealed that on the day of Jackson’s death, she was in the middle of preparing his lunch when a worried and panic-stricken Murray burst into the kitchen and shouted for her to “get help, get [son] Prince and get security.” Chase said she “did as she was told” and went into the den to alert Prince and that she did her best to keep the children calm.

Testimony is set to resume again Friday at 8:45 a.m. PT. Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and administering the dose of propofol that caused Jackson’s death and faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if found guilty.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671778/michael-jackson-trial-bodyguard.jhtml

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MTV Exclusive: Lady Gaga To Premiere Film At Paris Fashion Week

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:00:23 +0000

Singer will debut the film during the Mugler fashion show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga in a tease for her short film
Photo: Mugler

Lady Gaga is set to give her Little Monsters a big surprise at Paris Fashion Week next Wednesday. MTV News can exclusively announce that Mother Monster will debut a brand-new short film during the spring/summer 2012 fashion show for the Mugler Women’s Wear Collection in Paris next week.

The film was directed by “Yoü and I” fashion-film directors and fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin under the creative direction of Nicola Formichetti, Mugler’s creative director and Gaga’s stylist.

The film will feature a previously-unreleased remix of one of Gaga’s songs. For those not lucky enough to attend, a special edit of the film will drop the following day online. In an exclusive behind-the-scenes still, fans are teased with a peek at Gaga’s face and her long, straight blond hair. In addition, starting Monday, Mugler.tumblr.com will feature live blogging from Mugler’s Atelier.

While little is known about what the Haus of Gaga have up their sleeve for this latest film, the clapper board does reveal some hints. The date on the board is 09.20.2011, perhaps a hint as to when Gaga, Formichetti, and Inez and Vinoodh shot the video.

This isn’t the first time Gaga and Mugler have collaborated in this way. Besides the fact that Formichetti is her stylist, she’s also given fans brand-new music at his shows. In January, she debuted a remix of her Born This Way track “Scheiße” at a Mugler fashion show. Then in March, Gaga not only walked in a Mugler show, she also debuted her song “Government Hooker” during the same show.

Experts agree that the Mugler/Gaga relationship is one of the best in the business. “Gaga working with people like Nicola Formichetti has allowed designers like him and like the late Alexander McQueen to step out of the world of high fashion, which is often perceived of as elite, and become part of the mainstream music landscape as she’s used high fashion to build her own personal musical narrative,” MTV Buzzworthy blog editor Tamar Anitai said.

MTV Style blog editor Mary H.K. Choi calls their work together “a pop culture moment. … I think we can all agree that Lady Gaga’s relationship with Nicola Formichetti has been entirely synergistic,” she said. “When she walked the Mugler runway in Paris last season, not only did she model with aplomb, but her debut of ‘Government Hooker’ galvanized the show as a pop culture moment. The clothing was beautiful, granted, very much the sexy, bombastic Mugler aesthetic of the ’80s and early ’90s, but the confluence of Gaga, her music and Formichetti — all streamed live on Facebook — made the collection a must-see event.”

For more on Lady Gaga and her style, visit Style.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671251/lady-gaga-short-film-mugler-fashion-week.jhtml

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What’s Your Number? Premiere!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:55:53 +0000

The What’s Your Number? premiere is tonight in Los Angeles! I have my dress and I’m super excited!

I’m gong to be tweeting live from the red carpet at 6:30 PM PST for US Weekly magazine, so make sure to follow them and me on Twitter:

@usweekly

@karynbosnak

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/9/19/whats-your-number-premiere.html

Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke

Nicki Minaj at the iHeartRadio Music Festival

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:50:04 +0000

Adding to the fabulous lineup, Nicki Minaj took the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the iHeartRadio Music Festival this evening (September 24).

The ?Super Bass? rapper looked to be in good spirits as she performed a hit-filled set list including “Fly,” “Did It On Em,” “Super Bass,” “Roman’s Revenge” and “Where Them Girls At”.

Prior to the iHeartRadio festivities, Minaj told press, ?I?m just gonna be a ball of fun. Obviously I?m gonna bring my Harajuku-ness over there. It?s just about having fun. That?s all I?m gonna do, is just enjoy the moment and enjoy the people.?

As for the upcoming Halloween holiday, Nicki has been thinking about her costume. ?Maybe I should dress up as a girl dressing up as Nicki Minaj. Maybe I just don?t get it quite right that day. I don?t know… No! You know who I?m gonna dress up as? I?m gonna dress up as Lil Wayne.?

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/general/nicki-minaj-at-the-iheartradio-music-festival/

Jessica Alba Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel Jessica ParÃ© Jessica Simpson

Usher – OMG

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:45:07 +0000

OMG

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V. Raymond

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=498588

Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba

Britney Spears – Hold It Against Me

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:40:29 +0000

Hold It Against Me

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
Director: Jonas Akerlund

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=624145

Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge

Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj And Ke$ha ‘Till The World Ends’ Remix Leaks

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:35:35 +0000

Reworked tune features an opening verse by Minaj as Ke$ha sings atop Spears’ vocals throughout the song.
By James Dinh

Britney Spears’ “Til The World Ends”
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears isn’t the only pop titan dancing until the world ends: Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha have joined forces to add a new spin on an all-female remix of Femme Fatale‘s second single, “Till the World Ends.”

The reworked dance anthem, which leaked online Friday (April 22), appears to have surfaced earlier than expected as noted by a series of countdowns on all three of the stars’ websites.

Mixing the dance tune’s original sonic swirls with heavier bass, Britney tourmate Minaj starts off the remix by throwing down an aggressive verse, in which she calls out a female hater: “A-A-A-A-A-AYE!/ Chimpanzees is hatin’, but I take it all in stride/ Put her in a jungle with bananas on the side/ Told you they’d revive your career, but somebody lied/ I ain’t talkin’ poultry when I say this chicken’s fried.”

After Minaj spits a few introductory bars, Spears delivers the song’s first verse before an introduction for the all-star trio. “It’s Britney, bitch. I’m Nicki Minaj and that’s Ke$ha!” the Young Money MC proclaims.

Ke$ha, who originally wrote the track for the pop princess, takes part in singing the club-ready track’s chorus. Spears soon takes back control of the song as Ke$ha shadows the singer’s lines toward the end of the second verse and bridge. Unlike the original version, the “Till the World Ends” remix also features a stuttering dubstep dance break.

News of a star-studded collaboration was hinted earlier this week when producer Dr. Luke tweeted, “@NICKIMINAJ killed it tonight!!!! thanks!!!”

Have you heard the all-star “Till The World Ends” remix? Share your reviews in the comments!

China Chow ChloÃ« Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe

Anne Hathaway at ?The White Fairy Tale Love Ball?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:30:36 +0000

On Wednesday night (July 6), Anne Hathaway dazzled at ‘The White Fairy Tale Love Ball’ at Chateau de Wideville in Crespieres, France.

Looking princess-like as she stepped out for a good cause. As for the cause, The Naked Heart Foundation has a stated mission “to provide a safe and inspiring environment in which to play for every child living in urban Russia.”

The praiseworthy effort actually just launched a new program based on the principle that: ?Every Child Deserves to have a Family? – which supports the implementation of new and development of existing family support centers.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/anne-hathaway/anne-hathaway-at-the-white-fairy-tale-love-ball/

Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank

Around the Web?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:25:27 +0000

Happy Thursday! Give today’s links a click: Susan Lucci‘s daughter, Liza Huber, shares DIY baby food recipes ? Good Morning America Who should cut the cord when your baby’s born? ? Momformation.com The five most expensive states for day care ? CNN.com Rosh Hashanah crafts the whole family can do together ? Babble.com Babies bond [...]

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/kHdnPd1HKHA/

Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond

VMAs Backstage: Five Things You Didn’t See

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:20:17 +0000

Find out what happened backstage at the 2011 MTV VMAs.
By Kara Warner, with additional reporting by Matt Elias and Jim Cantiello

Beyoncé
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

For all the unforgettable moments that occurred onstage during the VMAs on Sunday night, there were just as many equally amazing happenings that went down behind-the-scenes. Thanks to our VIP connections, MTV News had access to everything that happened before, after and during the live broadcast. Therefore, in no particular order, we are proud to present five moments you didn’t get to see:

Gaga’s Gentlemanly Behavior Leaves Celebs Starstruck
As is her M.O., Lady Gaga‘s presence at the VMAs was a highlight in and of itself, and every celeb who encountered her had a wide-eyed story to tell of his/her encounter. Particularly Foo Fighter Dave Grohl’s first introduction to Gaga as her alter ego Jo Calderone.

“I got to meet her for the first time tonight [as Jo Calderone],” Grohl said of meeting Gaga when he went to say hello to Queen guitarist Brian May, who performed with her during the show. “I was like, ‘Brian May, what’s up!’ and she was right next to him and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Dave,’ and she goes ‘I know who the f— you are!’ Yeah, it was rad.”

We spotted Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and more hanging out backstage!

Another Gaga-centric highlight occurred during one of the commercial breaks, when Gaga as the confident ladies’ man Jo Calderone (or Gago, as Twitter users tagged him last night) took a cigarette from behind his ear, lit it and smoothly passed it to Adele.

‘Jersey Shore’ Stars Make Friends Everywhere They Go
As part of the MTV family, the stars of “Jersey Shore” have become welcome additions to any and all of our awards shows. We witnessed the ladies of Seaside Heights — JWoww, Snooki and Deena — palling around with new BFF, none other than “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens. Later on we spotted them crossing paths with Jared Leto, which produced the following exchange: JWoww to Jared Leto: “Wow. I’m a huge fan! ‘The Kill’ is my favorite!” Leto: “Thank you so much!” Snooki, once they had passed the 30 Seconds to Mars frontman: “Aah?” To which Jenni replied, “That was Jared Leto. Don’t you know who Jared Leto is?!”

Tyler, The Creator’s Accidental Stage Dive Sends Him Into Unlikely Arms
Immediately following their win for Best New Artist, the many members of Odd Future and their assorted entourage were trying to shuffle off the circular stage, when suddenly there was a loud noise and everyone in the audience in the right section gasped. It was clear from the commotion that a member from Future had fallen off the stage. When the dust finally settled, we saw two unexpected heroes holding frontman Tyler, the Creator up: Kanye West and Kid Cudi.

Go behind-the-scenes with Wiz Khalifa, Kreayshawn and more at the VMA Pre-Show!

“It was really hard, but [the tears] came out when I fell offstage into Kanye’s arms,” Tyler half-joked as he processed the emotions surrounding his win and his almost fall.

Jay Z And Beyoncé Celebrate Baby News
Arguably the newsiest moment of the evening occurred when Beyoncé announced that she was pregnant, with a not-so-subtle rubbing of her belly at the end of her performance. Immediately following the big moment, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were enveloped backstage by ecstatic well-wishers including Kanye West, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. One of the sweeter of those moments was when Jay stepped outside Beyoncé‘s dressing room, to allow her some time with her female friends to gush and squeal over the news. The proud and sweet smile on his face when he did so made for our favorite VMA warm fuzzy moment.

BONUS: VMA Recap With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello MTV News correspondent Jim Cantiello does many things well, but his 60-second recaps of important events in pop culture are a must-watch. Check out Cantiello’s super-speedy recap that includes analysis of Gaga as Calderone, what gets a hard-to-impress Justin Bieber to applaud VMA performers and Beyoncé’s big announcement.

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Heidi Klum’s Advice To New Moms

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:15:22 +0000

With four young kids at home, model mom Heidi Klum knows a thing or two about parenting – and she’s sharing her hard-earned wisdom with all of the new mothers out there.

“[My guidance for new mothers is] to take all of the advice with a pinch of salt because everyone sort of gives you advice when you are pregnant,? the Project Runway host tells OK! ?Everyone sort of has something to say and ultimately, you just find your own way and you have so much time to figure it out.?

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/10/01/heidi-klums-advice-to-new-moms

Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau

Justin Bieber Teases ‘Shocking’ Collaboration For Christmas Album

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:10:07 +0000

’1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!’ Bieber’s manager tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: WireImage

On Tuesday, Justin Bieber had this message for fans eagerly awaiting some new music from the teen star: “oh yeah … and i think LESS THAN A MONTH … I’m gonna give you some #newmusic.” Bieber is busy in the studio locking down features for his forthcoming Christmas album.

With rumored collaborations with Sean Kingston and Taylor Swift, as well as a confirmed track, “Falalalala,” with Boyz II Men, Bieber is hustling to get the album done.

“He thought we’d be perfect for it,” Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman said of their work with the star. “And we went in and locked in.”

On Wednesday, Bieber not only confirmed another guest for the album, the Band Perry, but also teased a secret one. “@thebandperry heard the final version of our song for the Christmas album!! Love it. glad to have you!” he wrote, before going back and forth with his manager, Scooter Braun, about that other feature.

“Wow. Just got an #epic phone call regarding @justinbieber xmas album. 1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!” Braun tweeted.

Bieber responded, “@scooterbraun cant believe it … completely #HONORED. I think people are going to be shocked. I was. #christmas.” In addition to all the feature updates, Bieber revealed, “working hard on this #SOMEDAY shoot. they are playing my first single from the christmas album. what is the name of it again …. hmmmm …..”

Bieber apparently also has something big in store for fans this week. Braun only had this to say about it: “kinda hyped right now …. @justinbieber has something pretty wild in store for this week. #remix.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671192/justin-bieber-christmas-album-collab-tease.jhtml

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Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:05:16 +0000

2011 Billboard Music Awards

Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin

Usher – OMG

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:01:48 +0000

OMG

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V. Raymond

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=551930

Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman

Do Foo Fighters Know Robert Pattinson From Robert Plant?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:55:26 +0000

During band’s rehearsal break for Sunday’s Movie Awards, we put Foos to the test.
By Ryan J. Downey, with reporting by Jim Cantiello

The Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl
Photo: MTV News

UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore and punk have long gone hand-in-hand with evil wizards, magic, vampires and werewolves. And with a collective sub-cultural pedigree that includes stints in the Germs, No Use for a Name, Sunny Day Real Estate, Scream and some band called Nirvana, you’d think the Foo Fighters — set to perform at Sunday’s Movie Awards — would know their “Potter” from their Zeppelin. Certainly they can recognize a “wand” reference and pinpoint its origin?

Right? Before we put MTV News’ magically crafted trivia to the band, it seemed safe to assume the Foos would accurately distinguish between the words of Harry Potter, a “Twilight” character and Led Zeppelin. But was their underground nerd cred blown to shreds? Read on — and click the video! — to see how the Foo Fighters fared when we caught up with them on the Universal Studios lot, shortly after they finished rehearsing their Movie Awards performance.

Our own Jim Cantiello played dungeon master as Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear were given a series of semi-famous lines and asked whether they originated with “Harry Potter,” the “Twilight Saga” or the lyrics of hard-rock pioneers Led Zeppelin.

Here’s a sampling of a few of those one-liners:

» “The elder wand, the most powerful wand ever made.”

» “Why don’t you let me be yours ever truly? Can I make your garden grow?”

» “You’re lying, Dolores! You mustn’t tell lies!”

Can you guess whether the lines above came from the “Potter” flicks, “Twilight” or Robert Plant?

Watch as the Foos try their best to do exactly that. Then tune in to the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday to catch the Foo Fighters rock the stage with their new single, “Walk.”

Will wizards, vampires or dream thieves steal the 2011 MTV Movie Awards? Find out June 5, when the 20th annual show airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT that night for the “America’s Best Dance Crew” finale and Movie Awards pre-show, loaded with live action from the red carpet, exclusive movie clips and a special edition of “After Hours.”

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:50:06 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides

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Photos | 2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:45:08 +0000

2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

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Beyonce Hates Jay-Z?s Cologne

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:40:58 +0000

Things are going to change around Beyonce’s house now that she’s pregnant, and one of them might be husband Jay-Z’s cologne. Talking to “Entertainment Tonight Canada” Wednesday, the “1+1″ singer revealed that one thing pregnancy has changed about her is her sense of smell. “My nose is like doot doot doot,” the superstar, 30, said, [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/beyonce-hates-jay-zs-cologne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beyonce-hates-jay-zs-cologne

Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo

Michael Jackson – They Don’t Care About Us

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:35:24 +0000

They Don’t Care About Us

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: MJJ
Director: Spike Lee
Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208348

Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura

‘Breaking Dawn’ Soundtrack Track List Revealed

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:30:19 +0000

Iron & Wine, Christina Perri, Theophilus London join Bruno Mars on ‘Part 1′ album due November 8.
By James Montgomery

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

We already knew about Bruno Mars’ involvement in the upcoming “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack. But now — officially — we know who will be joining him.

Theophilus London, the Joy Formidable, Iron & Wine, Christina Perri and the Noisettes are just some of the acts confirmed for the “Dawn” soundtrack, which hits stores on November 8 (10 days before “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ bows in theaters). The full track list was unveiled Monday (September 26) afternoon on the official “Twilight” Twitter account, confirming speculations that sprung up over the weekend, when a listing of artists and songs began making the rounds on various fansites.

Work by “Twilight”-series composer Carter Burwell and actress Mia Maestro (she plays Carmen of the Denali Cover in the “Breaking Dawn” films) also shows up on the soundtrack, as do songs by Angus and Julia Young, the Features, the Belle Brigade and Cider Sky. All in all, there are 15 tracks on the album, and all — aside from a “Wedding Version” of Iron & Wine’s “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” (as any good Twilighter will tell you, the original version of the song appeared on the first “Twilight” soundtrack) and an updated take on Noisettes’ “Sister Rosetta” — are new.

The “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack follows in the footsteps of the ultra-successful 2008 “Twilight” ‘track (which featured new songs from Paramore and Perry Farrell), ’09′s “New Moon” (which boasted a new track by Death Cab for Cutie and contributions from Thom Yorke and Lykke Li) and last year’s “Eclipse,” which packed in tunes from Muse, Florence and the Machine, Beck and Vampire Weekend.

The full track list for ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ soundtrack:
» The Joy Formidable, “Endtapes”
» Angus & Julia Stone, “Love Will Take You”
» Bruno Mars, “It Will Rain”
» Sleeping at Last, “Turning Page”
» The Features, “From Now On”
» Christina Perri, “A Thousand Years”
» Theophilus London, “Neighbors”
» The Belle Brigade, “I Didn’t Mean It”
» Noisettes, “Sister Rosetta (2011 Version)”
» Cider Sky, “Northern Lights”
» Iron & Wine, “Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)”
» Imperial Mammoth, “Requiem on Water”
» Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz, “Cold”
» Mia Maestro, “Llovera”
» Carter Burwell, “Love Death Rebirth”

Share your thoughts on the “Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ track list in the comments below!

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Shailene Woodley Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Surprise’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:25:36 +0000

‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ actress will star with George Clooney in ‘The Descendants.’
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Shailene Woodley
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Clooney plays Woodley’s dad who is trying to reconnect with her after his wife gets in a boating accident that leaves her in a coma.

Now that Woodley is ready to show another side of herself, she is the up-and-comer MTV Movies has named the New Class’ “Most Likely to Surprise Everyone.”

MTV: Do you get excited about roles?

MTV: There are so many points where you can relate to this story. Can you give me a sense of what really hit you hard?

MTV: We’re always looking ahead, so we’re anointing you as a part of our New Class. Does it feel like now the choices are going to be different and more important?

MTV: Is it useful to look at other actors [for inspiration]?

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, visit NewClass.MTV.com.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671794/shailene-woodley-new-class.jhtml

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Mini Must-Have: Nahla Aubry?s Pretty Dress

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:20:15 +0000

Check out Nahla Aubry in her GapKids dress and Stride Rite sandals. Plus, get the deets on where to buy them.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/Pnzt5PLP6Nw/

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Hugs

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:15:12 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Hugs

January Jones Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis Jennifer Garner

Kristen Bell Necklace and $250 Gift Card Sweepstakes

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:10:42 +0000

In his new film Machine Gun Preacher, Gerard Butler plays former tough-guy drug dealer Sam Childers, who finds God and decides to change his ways. Based on a true story, he then makes it his mission to save the children who’ve been forced to become soldiers in the war-torn region of Sudan.

But you don’t have to travel across the world to help the children of Africa. Satya Jewelry partnered with actress Kristen Bell to design the Invisible Children Charity Necklace, and the Satya Foundation is donating 100 percent of the net proceeds to help promote peace and education in Northern Uganda. The tree of life pendant (valued at $78) is made of sterling silver with a 24-karat gold finish and features a brilliant peridot stone.

In honor of the release of Machine Gun Preacher (in select theaters now), we’re giving away one Satya necklace and a $250 Visa gift card to one lucky winner.

To enter the sweepstakes and learn the official rules, click here!

And click here to watch an exclusive clip from Machine Gun Preacher.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/kristen-bell-necklace-and-250-gift-card-sweepstakes/1-a-386547

Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren

‘Breaking Dawn’ Single Drops: Bruno Mars’ ‘It Will Rain’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:05:12 +0000

‘Twilight’ soundtrack, due November 8, also will feature Christina Perri and Theophilus London.
By Jocelyn Vena

Bruno Mars
Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/ Getty Images

The indie angst of past “Twilight” scores has given way to doo-wop sadness on “It Will Rain,” the lead single Bruno Mars dropped Tuesday (September 27). The full “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ soundtrack will hit the streets November 8.

In a previous interview, Mars promised “It Will Rain” would be “dark,” and he didn’t lie. The track — co-written and co-produced by Mars’ team, the Smeezingtons — is signature Mars: Sweeping and romantic, it focuses on the power of true love and the emotional pain of heartbreak. The pain of the track is reminiscent of his smash “Grenade.”

” ‘Cause there’ll be no more sunlight, if I lose you, baby,” he sings on the emotional chorus. “There’ll be no clear skies, if I lose you, baby/ Just let the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away/ Every day, it will rain.”

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ opens in theaters November 18. “After seeing the movie, I thought that it would be a perfect fit,” Mars said of the song. “The ‘Twilight’ movies for me [are] a love story. But it’s a dark love story,” he added. “And I think the best way to describe the song is: It’s the darker side of love. I think that pretty much sums it up.”

On Monday, a full track list dropped, revealing which other artists made the final cut for the November release. Christina Perri, Theophilus London and Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz are a few of the artists who will be featured. The track list also reveals that Iron & Wine’s song “Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)” will be played during the long-awaited wedding.

The full track list for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ soundtrack:

» The Joy Formidable, “Endtapes”
» Angus & Julia Stone, “Love Will Take You”
» Bruno Mars, “It Will Rain”
» Sleeping at Last, “Turning Page”
» The Features, “From Now On”
» Christina Perri, “A Thousand Years”
» Theophilus London, “Neighbors”
» The Belle Brigade, “I Didn’t Mean It”
» Noisettes, “Sister Rosetta (2011 Version)”
» Cider Sky, “Northern Lights”
» Iron & Wine, “Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)”
» Imperial Mammoth, “Requiem on Water”
» Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz, “Cold”
» Mia Maestro, “Llovera”
» Carter Burwell, “Love Death Rebirth”

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671548/bruno-mars-breaking-dawn-soundtrack.jhtml

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Beyonce Says Shopping For Maternity Clothes ‘So Much Fun’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:01:54 +0000

B dishes on dressing for her expanding baby bump after unveiling latest House of Deréon line.
By Jocelyn Vena

Beyoncé
Photo: MTV

Beyoncé hit up London Fashion Week this past weekend to launch the latest House of Deréon line. The line was described as “global nomad,” and according to B, anyone — even pregnant ladies like herself — can wear the clothes.

“What I’m wearing today is part of the collection and it’s not supposed to be, but it actually is really good for … maternity,” the singer, dressed in a sparkly black pantsuit, told CNN.

B explained that she and her mom, Tina Knowles, started working on the line at least six months before her pregnancy, so they hadn’t planned maternity clothes specifically. “But we do have some things that I am still trying to rock,” she admitted.

“Actually, I am having so much fun, it has been the most fun time now that [my pregnancy] has been announced and I don’t have to, you know, it was really difficult to conceal,” she continued. “But now that I can be proud and excited about it, I’m having so much fun shopping. It’s great.”

Beyoncé has always been a trendsetter in the world of fashion, and that isn’t going to change just because she’s going to be a mom. “I just feel like it is often within,” she said. “My mother has always told me that beauty comes from within and what’s exciting about being a woman is you can say, ‘Today … I feel really conservative, today I’m feeling classy. Today, I am going on a date and I want to just be a showstopper.’ And you know there is this variety of beautiful clothes that can bring out whatever you feel inside,” she added. “But it comes from here and you should wear your clothes, they shouldn’t wear you.”

The singer also shared that she isn’t sure whether to buy pink or blue clothes as she doesn’t know the baby’s gender yet. Her mom, however, is just happy about the news. “I am so delighted. I’m over the moon,” she gushed.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671035/beyonce-maternity-clothes.jhtml

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Photos | A Day In The Life Of Lady Gaga

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:55:29 +0000

A Day In The Life Of Lady Gaga

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1668175

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Lady Gaga Has Three Heads In New Fashion Film

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:50:11 +0000

Mother Monster collaborates with Thierry Mugler for latest visual art piece that debuted at Paris Fashion Week.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga (file)
Photo: BuzzFoto

Lady Gaga and her pal, Thierry Mugler designer Nicola Formichetti, hit Paris Fashion Week once again, dropping a new film during the Mugler women’s wear show on Wednesday.

As MTV News previously reported, Gaga and Formichetti teamed up with directors Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for the project. On Thursday (September 29), fans not in Paris for Fashion Week got to see a special edit of the film when it premiered online.

The video, which mixes Mugler runway show footage with clips from the new Gaga film, offers another take on Mother Monster’s ever-evolving persona. It opens on a close-up of Gaga’s face, her teeth diamond-encrusted, as she says, “Sometimes, my heart sometimes feels so black … and other days my heart feels like rainbows.”

She flips her multicolored hair, saying, “I am Paris. We are Paris.” In the next scene, a three-headed Gaga dances while a haunting track plays in the background. The image is reminiscent of the one that appeared on the cover of V magazine earlier this year. (As for the runway show, the clothes seen in the video are futuristic in style, in mostly muted tones.)

The directors, Inez and Vinoodh, worked with Gaga on her “Yoü and I” fashion films and, so far, three have featured some of her alter egos, including the nymph, the bride and Yüyi the mermaid. More “Yoü and I” films are expected to premiere, but when and where remains a mystery.

Gaga and Mugler have collaborated before: Besides the fact that designer Formichetti is her stylist, he has also debuted some of her brand-new music at his shows. In January, she premiered a remix of her Born This Way track “Scheiße” at a Mugler fashion show. Two months later, in March, Gaga not only walked the runway at a show, she debuted her song “Government Hooker”

The pop star is already back at work on her next album. Late Wednesday, she tweeted, “Almost #14MillionMonsters!! Thank you for making Born This Way really matter, this has been a crazy memorable year! Writing music today.”

Share your thoughts on Gaga’s new film in the comments section!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671733/lady-gaga-fashion-film-paris.jhtml

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Guess Who Revealed: Sawyer Gilbert

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:45:31 +0000

It’s Sawyer Gilbert!

The Talk co-host Sara Gilbert and her 4-year-old daughter were seen picking up a bouquet of flowers while out shopping at the Farmer’s Market last week. Big brother Levi, who turns 7 this month, was not spotted with the mother-daughter duo.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/10/01/guess-who-revealed

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Jennifer Garner: Baby Bump Alert!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:40:26 +0000

There’s definitely a bump there, folks!

Valentine’s Day actress Jennifer Garner showed off her growing belly as she picked up a couple coffees from the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday (September 30). The same day she was spotted taking her eager learner Violet to a learning center in Santa Monica, Calif.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Upper Slideshow?

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/jennifer-garner-baby-bump-alert

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Photos | The 2011 BET Awards Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:35:18 +0000

The 2011 BET Awards Red Carpet

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Photos | Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:30:33 +0000

Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1576195

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Florence And The Machine Almost Went Gaga On Ceremonials

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:25:09 +0000

In new interview with Billboard, Florence Welch reveals she nearly worked with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry’s hitmaking teams.
By James Montgomery

Florence Welch on the cover of Billboard magazine
Photo: Billboard

Florence Welch graces the cover of the new issue of Billboard magazine (on stands now), and inside, she talks about the making of Ceremonials, her brand-new album with the Machine due November 1 here in the States.

Welch began work on Ceremonials (the follow-up to their 2009 breakout Lungs) more than 18 months ago, and during those early stages, they toyed with the notion of making the new album with the same hitmakers responsible for Lady Gaga and Katy Perry’s success. But eventually, as she told the magazine, Welch decided against it because it would be too much of a departure.

“I love Lady Gaga and I love Katy Perry and R&B and rap music. … I love big, American pop music. … So the label said, ‘Do you want to go over to America to work in that scene?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, OK. Maybe I could bring my own take on it,’ ” she recalled. “It got put in the diary to go out for a week, to start writing the new record. And then the diary got sent to me, and I looked at it and just went, ‘No … I can’t do that. This is too weird. I can’t just suddenly leave behind everything that made Lungs.‘ ”

Instead, she decided to work with producer Paul Epworth (most recently known for Adele’s multi-multi-platinum 21), and yet, sessions kept getting delayed due to Florence’s continued success in the U.S., thanks in no small part to her show-stealing performance at the 2010 Video Music Awards. Eventually, with Epworth working on tracks in his London studio and Welch recording vocals in U.S. studios during days off from her tour, the duo finished some 40 tracks, 12 of which made the cut for Ceremonials (a total of 20 will be included on the album’s deluxe version, Billboard reports).

“I’m pretty surprised at how prolific I’ve been, to be honest. When making the first album, I think I wrote a song about every six months,” Welch said. “The first album was so much about the vocals carrying it. This time I really wanted to give the music space to breathe and for the band to be able to experiment.”

Of course, though she was under the gun to finish the new album, Welch says she never felt pressure — mostly because she’d already felt it during the making of her first album.

“Nothing could have been harder than making the first record, so I was prepared for the onslaught this time,” she said. “There was a huge amount of media scrutiny on me. … Those conditions of people waiting and waiting, that expectance, everyone talking about you … those are the conditions that I did my first album in. This one, by comparison, is much easier. I came into it having a much clearer idea of what sound I wanted to make and a much clearer idea of what was going to happen after the record was finished.”

What are you expecting from Florence’s next album? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671810/florence-welch-billboard.jhtml

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Britney Spears Reveals Next Single At VMAs

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:20:16 +0000

Singer confirms to MTV News that ‘Criminal’ is next up from Femme Fatale.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by James Montgomery

Britney Spears at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: MTV News

Britney Spears may have been looking back on her impressive career during a Jo Calderone-helmed tribute at Sunday night’s VMAs, but there’s still so much for fans to look forward to. The singer has a lot up her sleeve after taking home the Moonman for Best Pop Video for her “Till the World Ends” clip and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award — and she revealed all to MTV News.

There’s been some hot debate about what the singer’s next Femme Fatale single is going to be, and finally her loyal fans are getting the confirmation they’ve been waiting for.

“I don’t if I’m at liberty to tell,” she teased MTV News backstage at the VMAs. “But I will anyways: It’s ‘Criminal.’ ”

The slow jam should make for some interesting visual fodder, and Spears told us she knows what the video will look like, but she’s going to keep everyone waiting a little longer. “Actually the song, when I first heard it, it’s really different and it’s not anything I’ve heard like this before. So I really wanted to deliver this song. I was thinking of a really cool concept for the video just to make it interesting,” she said, teasing, “You’ll have to see.”

She’s also set to hit the road again when the Femme Fatale Tour heads to Europe. She’ll be joined by Joe Jonas for select dates.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669925/britney-spears-next-single-criminal.jhtml

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Photos | Buddy Movies Justin Bieber And Ashton Kutcher Should Remake

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:15:20 +0000

Buddy Movies Justin Bieber And Ashton Kutcher Should Remake

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Jacqueline Laurita Skips Reunion & Quits Show

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:10:32 +0000

Jacqueline Laurita is the latest housewife causing drama. The RHONJ star quit the show and didn?t show up for the reunion! Now I see where Ashley gets her rebellion from! Okay so first off, I love love love Jacqueline. She is so sweet and I find her to be one of the most relatable housewives in the whole franchise. But girlfriend is causing some drama! Earlier this week she vented to Twitter saying, I feel nauseous and feverish. No reunion for me. Sorry guys. XOXO! I can’t be part of the Charade anymore. It’s unsettling. It’s disturbing & against what I stand for. I’m a REAL housewife A source said, ?It?s true. Jacqueline didn?t attend the reunion and doesn?t wish to return to the show. She is currently waiting to see how Bravo will penalize her for skipping the filming.? Well, obviously there is something going on and rumor has it, it?s Teresa. Shocking. ?Teresa has tried to sabotage every member of the cast in many different ways. She?s fooling the public in many ways?.she has ?created unnecessary and forced drama. She (Jacqueline) wants to protect her family and her sanity. She feels the environment isn?t healthy and she can?t [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/KZ6Xw1W5kWg/

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Photos | Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:06:15 +0000

Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

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Jennifer Garner Picks Up Her Karate Kid

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:48 +0000

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck may not have Violet starring in movies like Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, but they have their own little karate kid in real life instead . Jennifer was spotted picking Violet up from karate class … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/10/01/jennifer-garner-picks-up-her-karate-kid/

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‘Transformers: Dark Of The Moon’ On Blu-Ray: Optimus Prime Speaks!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:55:40 +0000

Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and animated role model for generations of geeks, would be nothing without his voice ? so, really, the hero you have to thank for years of service isn’t Prime himself, but voice actor Peter Cullen.
Cullen, who also provides the iconic voice of Eeyore the donkey of “Winnie the Pooh” [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-blu-ray-optimus-prime/

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Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:50:27 +0000

2011 Billboard Music Awards

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Kim Kardashian’s VMA Highlight: Beyonce’s Big News

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:45:02 +0000

‘It was really cool of her to come out and show that at the VMAs, ’cause music is her outlet,’ newlywed says.
By Kelley L. Carter

Kim Kardashian at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Getty Images

At the beginning of her performance, Beyoncé emerged from the darkness, saying, “Tonight I want you to stand up on your feet. I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me!”

Beyoncé and Jay-Z celebrate their big news backstage.

None of that excitement was lost on Kardashian.

And speaking of having babies, that’s exactly what Kardashian said she’d be doing right now if she weren’t busy with her ever-rising career.

“I would be a mom right now, for sure,” she said, in response to a question from fans. “I love kids, and I would probably have done this a lot sooner.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669895/kim-kardashian-vma-beyonce-news.jhtml

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Britney Spears – I Wanna Go

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:39:53 +0000

I Wanna Go

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
Director: Chris Marrs Pillero
Album: Femme Fatale

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=667190

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Photos | 2011 Video Music Award Nominees

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:34:54 +0000

Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra

Lady Gaga Has Three Heads In New Fashion Film

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:30:01 +0000

Mother Monster collaborates with Thierry Mugler for latest visual art piece that debuted at Paris Fashion Week.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga (file)
Photo: BuzzFoto

Lady Gaga and her pal, Thierry Mugler designer Nicola Formichetti, hit Paris Fashion Week once again, dropping a new film during the Mugler women’s wear show on Wednesday.

Share your thoughts on Gaga’s new film in the comments section!

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MTV First: Lady Gaga

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Photos From Lady Gaga’s ‘MTV First’ Special

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Lady Gaga

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671733/lady-gaga-fashion-film-paris.jhtml

Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank

Can Melissa Joan Hart Explain This One?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:24:50 +0000

Melissa Joan Hart is being accused of some pretty ugly things by a former employee, including racial profiling and discrimination. The problems supposedly happened at a candy store the former actress owns. Some people know her as Sabrina The Teenage Witch, but I grew up watching her on Clarissa Explains It All. Back then, she was huge. Even after that show fell apart, she suddenly came back as Sabrina. I guess her next move was to invest in the candy business, because she apparently opened a store called Sweet Harts. One employee there didn?t find the way she was treated to be sweet at all. A woman named Shana Kharineh claims that Hart discriminated against her based on her race, and even held back money that she owed her. One example from the lawsuit is that Hart supposedly told Kharineh that she couldn?t wear black because it didn?t look ?appropriate? alongside her dark skin. Even worse, the woman says she was forced to work tons of overtime without being paid for it, and was made fun of by the other workers. Obviously we don?t have the full story so it?s hard to know what really happened. I?m a big fan [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/9OsegaLsOgI/

Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido

’50/50,’ ‘What’s Your Number?’ & ‘Dream House’ Reviews

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:20:10 +0000

Which movies are fun for the whole family and which ones are treats just for you? Find out!

In theaters now:

50/50
Short Story:
Things are going well for Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt): He has a beautiful girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard) and devoted best pal in Kyle (Seth Rogen). But his life is suddently turned upside down when he’s diagnosed with cancer. Forced to start chemotherapy and fight for his life, Adam quickly learns to appreciate the humor in life and take nothing for granted.

What They’re Saying:
"A picture with a commercial sensibility and a quippy streak, yet one honest enough to transcend the usual." — Chicago Tribune

"It’s the Rogen-Goldberg touch, with the duo’s characteristic Superbad mash of the sweet and the bracingly coarse, that sells this unusual downer/upper of a life-and-death comedy." — Entertainment Weekly

Good for Kids?
The film is rated R for sexual content and some drug use. And, not surprisingly, Common Sense Media tells parents to be prepared for some heavy themes. Based on screenwriter Will Reiser‘s own battle with cancer, the film is centered around the concept of life and death and "what to do when faced with the possibility of not living past 30." With rave reviews, this dramatic comedy is a good fit for adults. Read the full Common Sense review!

What’s Your Number?
Short Story:
After being fired from her marketing job, Ally Darling (Anna Faris) feels a little lost in life. When she reads an article that leads her to believe she will be alone forever, Ally — with the help of her neighbor (Chris Evans) — embarks on a journey to find love among her numerous ex-boyfriends.

What They’re Saying:
"There are no surprises, but for once you don’t much mind." — Hollywood Reporter

"What’s Your Number? is not much dumber than the average romantic comedy, but there is something sad and infuriating about it — like running into a high-school friend who seemed destined for greatness and walking away realizing she just picked your pocket." — TIME magazine

Good for Kids?
The plot of a single girl searching for "the one" may seem charming and kid-friendly, but don’t be fooled! Common Sense Media tells parents to be prepared for this R-rated raunchy comedy to include strong sexual content, foul language and a neighbor that "has one-night-stands." Read the full Common Sense review!

Dream House
Short Story:
Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quit his job as a sucessful publisher to relocate his wife (Rachel Weisz) and two daugters to a small New England town. But after they settle into their new dream home, they soon discover that it was the scene of the brutal murder of a mother and her two children. When Will investigates the crime with the help of his neighbor (Naomi Watts), he soon stumbles upon a shocking revelation: He was the father who survived the murders.

What They’re Saying:
The film has not been screened for critics.

Good for Kids?
Rated PG-13, this mystery and supsense flick promises violence and terror. But with an A-list cast, it’s perfect for teens and adults looking for a good thrill.

Courageous
Short Story:
This Christian drama film from the men behind Fireproof follows four law enforcement officers who all face the daily challenge of fatherhood. When a tragedy hits close to home, they are left figuring out what it means to be a great dad.

What They’re Saying:
"Like a pastor so caught up in the moment that he can’t see that the air conditioning has given out and the congregation wants to go home, the film travels far beyond its dramatic climax, aiming for an altar call finale." – Orlando Sentinel

"A moving, modern parable not to be missed by anyone who’s always wondering why they don’t make wholesome movies with uplifting messages anymore." – NewsBlaze

Good for Kids?
Although this film centers around faith and spirtuality, parents should know that the PG-13 film includes intense car chases, shoot-outs, fistfights and the tragic death of a child.

In case you missed:

Moneyball
Short Story:
Based on Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book of the same name, Moneyball tells the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). Forced to reinvent the A’s on a tight budget, Billy teams up with Ivy league graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to recruit players the scouts refer to as "flawed," challenging the big-money approach to baseball and revolutionizing the game in the process.

What They’re Saying:
"It really happened, it’s really corny, and it’s really great." – Village Voice

"[It] may be the first baseball film to tap into the thrill of strategizing – of manipulated cause and effect – as entertainingly as you’d expect from a movie about chess or a casino heist." – Entertainment Weekly

Good for Kids?
The film is rated PG-13 for some strong language and might be tough for children to understand, but baseball fans from 13 to 130 will love it, especially since it boasts an all-star cast at the top of their game and rave reviews from critics.

Abduction
Short Story:
Nathan Harper (Taylor Lautner) has always had a feeling that he was living someone else’s life. His worst fears become reality when he finds his childhood picture on a missing person’s website, and soon finds himself on the run from a team of lethal assassins. With the help of his neighbor Karen (Lily Collins), he begins to piece together clues to his true identity – and ultimately realizes that he must stop running and take the fight to his enemies.

What They’re Saying:
"Abduction falls in the same corner of the youth market as the Twilight movies. Some moments and many lines feel cribbed from that series." – Orlando Sentinel

"Last I checked, tweenage girls weren’t too keen on this genre, and the boys who normally would be a fan will likely be disappointed by (Abduction‘s) bloodless, stagnant lameness." – Quickflix

Good for Kids?
Despite less-than-impressive reviews, this action-thriller should prove perfect for the teenage audience that loves Lautner for his work in the Twilight films. But it’s it’s rated PG-13 for some sexual content and scenes of violence, whichCommon Sense Media says includes shootings and beatings. Read the full Common Sense review!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/5050-whats-your-number-dream-house-reviews/1-a-387003

Killer Elite
Short Story:
Former British SAS agenet Danny (Jason Statham) is forced into action when his mentor (Robert De Niro) is kidnapped by the leader of a secret military society (Clive Owen).

What They’re Saying:
"This is actually a pretty good thriller, based more on character and plot than on action for its own sake." – Chicago Sun-Times

"And quite the cliché-ridden desultory mess it is, too…" – MSN Movies

Good for Kids?
If you’re looking for more of an adult action film than Abduction, Killer Elite has your name written all over it. But with scenes of intense violence, foul language and some sexuality, this one certainly isn’t for kids or tweens.

Dolphin Tale
Short Story:
Based on an inspiring true story, the film tells of a young bottlenose dolphin named Winter who loses the bottom portion of her tail when she’s caught in a crab trap. A vet (Harry Connick Jr.) rescues Winter and transports her to Clearwater Marine Hospital in Florida, where a young boy befriends her and enlists those around him — including his mom (Ashley Judd) and a doctor (Morgan Freeman) – to create a prosthetic tail for Winter… inspiring everyone along the way.

What They’re Saying:
"Kids are going to eat this up. Given what a dismal year it’s been for the family film, it’s likely their parents will, too." – TIME magazine

"Winter is friendly, loving, emotional, playful, brave and intelligent. Before herDolphin Tale is over, I dare even the most jaded cynic not to shed a tear of admiration and joy." – New York Observer

Good for Kids?
After a dismal summer for family films, here comes the perfect movie for young kids and their parents — with a message that’s inspiring and uplifting for all!Common Sense Media says this "family-friendly drama should especially appeal to young animal lovers." Read to full Common Sense review!

Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen

Jack, My Narcoleptic Nephew Update

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:15:04 +0000

Remember when I wrote this post about how my nephew Jack can sleep anywhere?

Well, here’s the latest:

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/6/17/jack-my-narcoleptic-nephew-update.html

Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton

Photos | Little Monsters At MTV First: Lady Gaga

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:09:56 +0000

Little Monsters At MTV First: Lady Gaga

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1669341

Emma Stone Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum

Usher – Lil Freak

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:04:55 +0000

Lil Freak

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V. Raymond

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563

Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon

Courtney Love Is Writing A Memoir

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:00:08 +0000

Earlier this month, at NY Fashion Week, Courtney Love gave an impromptu interview where she talked about books (among other, very random things) and wouldn’t you know it … today we learn that Courtney has landed a publishing deal to WRITE her own book. According to the New York Times, C. Love will be penning [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/qxEpZxlb7PY/

Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons

Britney Spears’ Mysterious ‘Criminal’ Art Hits Net

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:55:05 +0000

Spears set to shoot clip for new single in London.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears’ Criminal
Photo: Jive/Sony

Britney Spears recently shared that she plans to shoot her video for “Criminal” in England, and now fans are not only learning more details about her plans to promote the single but also getting a look at the cover artwork.

The turquoise-and-red single art for the song — which is now all over the blogs — features a serious-looking Spears looking out into the distance, her wavy hair falling on her bare back. A mysterious hooded man is also featured on the cover. A rep confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (September 14) that the art is official.

Spears has promised that the video will be eye-catching. “Actually, the song, when I first heard it, it’s really different and it’s not anything I’ve heard like this before. So I really wanted to deliver this song. I was thinking of a really cool concept for the video just to make it interesting,” she told us last month. “You’ll have to see.”

As for the location of the shoot, Spears gushed about it on Twitter. “So excited to stop over in the UK before I start my European tour in a few weeks,” she wrote. “Can’t wait! I LOVE London, it’s like my second home. Decided to shoot the ‘Criminal’ video in the streets of merry old England when I get there.”

As Spears gears up for the release of “Criminal,” she’s also got a few other projects in the works, including a remix album due out next month and a concert special set to air on Epix. The just-released trailer for the special, set to air in November, uses concert footage from her Femme Fatale Tour, which Brit is gearing up to take to Europe later this month.

What are you hoping to see from Brit’s “Criminal” video? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1670746/britney-spears-criminal-artwork.jhtml

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Courtney Love to Pen Tell-All Memoir Next Year

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:49:51 +0000

Add Courtney Love to the list of musicians baring their souls in tell-all memoirs. The former Hole frontwoman has signed a book deal with William Morrow to tell the story of her life and career.

Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, announced Thursday that Love, 47, will "set the record straight" with the memoir. Love will pen the manuscript with New York Times best-selling author Anthony Bozza, who has co-written about Eminem, Tracy Morgan, Tommy Lee, INXS, and Slash, to name a few of his hard-partying subjects.

"Courtney is one of the most fascinating and provocative artists of our time, one of those rare performers who continues to reinvent herself time and again throughout the arc of her career," says Lisa Grady, Morrow’s deputy publisher. "It’s time for the public to hear her tell her story, as she lived it."

Currently untitled, the memoir will follow Love from her childhood with hippie parents, her wild-child adolescence, her earliest days with Hole, and then her legendary relationship and marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide at age 27 in April 1994. The two had a daughter named Frances Bean Cobain, who is now 19.

Readers can look for the book sometime in fall 2012.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/courtney-love-pen-tell-all-memoir-next-year/1-a-387167

Elena Lyons Elisabeth RÃ¶hm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Saddest Celebrity Breakups

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:44:50 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Saddest Celebrity Breakups

Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris

Family Photo: Kim Raver?s Premiere Posse

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:40:09 +0000

Actress Kim Raver kept her main men close — husband Manu Boyer and sons Luke West, 9, and Leo Kipling, 4 next week — as the group made their way into the world premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS, A Journey Through the World of Cinema on Sunday at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/HFYCvjUc9Dk/

Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt

Crystal Harris To Auction Off Engagement Ring From Hugh Hefner

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:35:04 +0000

Runaway bride Crystal Harris dumped her fiancé Hugh Hefner days before their wedding and now she is looking to dump the engagement ring he gave her too. In true gold digger style she is set to have the bling auctioned off, one classy lady that Harris. Crystal Harris has listed her engagement ring with Christie?s auction house, according to US Weekly anyway. There is a listing with the auction house that says the 3.39 carat circular-cut diamond should sell for anywhere between $20,000 and $30,000. Not sure if you are aware or not but the bling that Hef bought his former girlfriend reportedly cost him a whopping $90,000. I tell you what it is quite the impressive ring and hey it sounds like some lucky buyer could get a real deal on a barely used diamond ring. If you are like me you are probably wondering why Crystal has decided to auction of the ring. Well apparently she just couldn?t stand to look at it anymore because it reminded her of so many bad memories. I totally get not wanting a reminder of your ex around but then why doesn?t she just give the ring back to Hugh? Oh wait [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/SJAclXzrE0Q/

Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru

‘Bunraku’: Five Reasons To See Josh Hartnett’s Latest Action Ride

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:29:56 +0000

?Bunraku,? director Guy Moshe?s latest picture, is, as leading man Gackt so eloquently (and confusingly) described to MTV News in an exclusive interview, ?a Cowboy meets Samurai meets Mafia action flick. It?s an action-packed movie unlike any other, mixing various genres in the style of Japanese puppetry.? Confusing, yes, but pretty much spot on: no [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/bunraku-five-reasons-to-see-josh-hartnetts-latest-action-ride/

Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo

Justin Bieber: Boyz II Men ‘Perfect’ For Christmas Song

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:24:51 +0000

Holiday collabo is called ‘Falalalala,’ group reveals to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Boyz II Men
Photo: MTV News

After a photo surfaced online of Justin Bieber and Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman in the studio together, Beliebers were pretty excited about the Christmas track they were putting together. Bieber had his musical heroes in mind when he heard the song — called “Falalalala,” the group revealed to MTV News — for his upcoming holiday album.

“He thought we’d be perfect for it,” Stockman said. “And we went in and locked in.”

When the Boyz stopped by to talk about their October album Twenty, Wanya Morris recalled meeting the teen star for the first time way back before they all worked together.

“We met him in the hotel, at the Le Montrose, in L.A. and the dude, he had a cast on at the time,” Morris remembered. “And he stepped up and said, ‘Oh my God! Boyz II Men, you’re my favorite group!’ And we’re like, ‘Oh, OK,’ and at the time, we didn’t know who he was. He was a new dude, and the next thing you know, he’s huge. And I’m like, ‘That’s the same guy!’ ”

Bieber was a fan of Boyz II Men from when he was a kid, but there was one track that wasn’t allowed in the Bieber household.

“He told us his mom didn’t want him to sing ‘I’ll Make Love to You,’ so he’d sneak and go sing it somewhere,” Morris said. “It’s also good to know we’ve influenced such a good artist. It’s something that makes us feel we’ve accomplished [something and] we’re doing our job, [that] a guy so young and so into his craft [is] influenced by three guys from Philadelphia that love to sing.”

What are you expecting from Bieber and Boyz II Men’s Christmas collabo? Let us know in the comments!

Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra Carol Grow

Snoop Dogg has settled an outstanding tax bill dating back to 2008

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:20:19 +0000

The Drop It Like It’s Hot hitmaker, real name Calvin Broadus, Jr., was slapped with an invoice from the Internal Revenue Service after failing to hand over $476,338. But the hip-hop icon is now in the clear – he paid the sum on 15 September, according to The Detroit News. Snoop Dogg isn’t the only [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/snoop-dogg-has-settled-an-outstanding-tax-bill-dating-back-to-2008/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=snoop-dogg-has-settled-an-outstanding-tax-bill-dating-back-to-2008

Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff

Sarah Gadon And Shailene Woodley Round Out Our New Class

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:14:53 +0000

The New Class closes out its final day with a two-for-one deal: Sarah Gadon, voted Most Likely to Wear a Corset ? A Lot, and Shailene Woodley, dubbed Most Likely to Surprise Everyone, are the last remaining members of our group of Hollywood’s brightest up-and-comers, but they are certainly not the least.

From Robert Pattinson smooching [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/sarah-gadon-and-shailene-woodley-round-out-our-new-class/

Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese

Kristen Stewart Dons ‘Snow White’ Armor In New Photos

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:09:58 +0000

Pics show Stewart filming battle scene on beach in Wales.
By Jocelyn Vena

Kristen Stewart as “Snow White”
Photo: Universal

Kristen Stewart looks like she’s ready for battle. Some photos of the “Twilight” star on the set of “Snow White and the Huntsman” have hit the Internet. In them, Stewart is wearing her previously teased armor as she films scenes at Marloes Sands Beach in Pembrokeshire Wales, U.K., this week.

Photos on Screenrant.com show the actress riding a white horse alongside a group of extras dressed as medieval soldiers. They are riding through the water for what appears to be some sort of battle scene.

In some on-set candids, the ponytail-sporting actress laughs and walks around the set of the Rupert Sanders-directed flick. Stewart recently debuted her longer locks for the film at London Fashion Week. No signs of co-stars Charlize Theron (the Evil Queen), Chris Hemsworth (the Huntsman) or Sam Claflin (Prince Charming) in the new photos. The film is expected to open June 1, 2012.

“It’s not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go,” Stewart told MTV News of her character. “[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things.”

Her tough look has even been approved by that other “Snow White” movie director, Tarsem, who recently gushed over her battle-ready look. “She’s gorgeous,” he told MTV News. “She’s great.”

The film centers around the struggle between Snow White and the Evil Queen, who, jealous of Snow White’s beauty, wants to destroy her. The catch is that Snow White has been training with the Huntsman, who has been ordered to kill her. And in true fairy-tale form, Prince Charming is enamored with Snow White.

“This, as a fable, she sort of just starts off as a bad person, so it was important to understand [why she is the way she is],” Theron explained about her character. “A lot of her circumstances will kind of bleed into her actions. … She’s a serial killer; I’m pretty much preparing to play a serial killer.”

Check out everything we’ve got on “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671657/kristen-stewart-snow-white-armor.jhtml

Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli BeyoncÃ© Bianca Kajlich

Olivier Martinez & Nahla Aubry: Affectionate Duo

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:04:50 +0000

What a sweet pair!

Unfaithful star Olivier Martinez enjoyed some quality time with his girlfriend, actress Halle Berry‘s daughter, Nahla, 3, in a small town on the Island of Palma de Mallorca, Spain on Friday (September 30). This marks the second time we’ve spotted Olivier and Nahla sharing public smiles and cuddles.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Upper Slideshow?

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/olivier-martinez-nahla-aubry-affectionate-duo

Esther CaÃ±adas Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly

Lady Gaga Rehearses for Sting Anniversary Concert

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:59:56 +0000

Gearing up for tomorrow night’s big ado, Lady Gaga made a colorful arrival to the Beacon Theater in New York City on Friday (September 30).

Clad in an all-yellow ensemble, the “Judas” singer was on-hand for rehearsals for Sting’s 25th Anniversary Concert – as the show will benefit the Robin Hood Foundation, which fights poverty in NYC.

Meanwhile, we’re also just days away from the release of Gaga’s collaboration with Cher on “The Greatest Thing”.

Of the much-talked-about track, producer RedOne told MTV, “I think it’s timeless. The beautiful thing about this song is, it’s very uplifting, very uplifting. It’s emotional, but it has dance on it, and it has a dance vibe on it. It’s just a timeless song. You can play it with the guitar, the piano, with whatever instrument you want. You can sing it a cappella, you know what I mean, it’s that kind of song.

“I’m very excited about that song,” RedOne added. “And it’s an event. Cher and Lady Gaga: How big can it get?”

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/lady-gaga/lady-gaga-rehearses-sting-anniversary-concert-548942

Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso

Sarah Gadon Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Wear A Corset’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:55:13 +0000

Roles in ‘Dream House’ and the upcoming ‘Cosmopolis’ set her up for a long career, especially in period pieces.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sarah Gadon
Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine.

MTV: We’re always looking for the next exciting talent, and it’s not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off?

MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob’s character?

MTV: Is there someone to emulate?

Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she’s fascinating. I love her work.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671809/sarah-gadon-dream-house.jhtml

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Brad Pitt?s Odd Phobia: Going Backwards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:49:55 +0000

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/MKY7asNx9ZE/

Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns

Photos | Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio’s Shock The World Event 2010

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:45:09 +0000

Ke$ha Gets Electro At Casio’s Shock The World Event 2010

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1644943

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Usher – Spotlight

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:39:52 +0000

Spotlight

Artist: Usher
Label: Warner Bros. Records, Asylum, Mizay Ent
Director: Benny Boom
Album: The State vs. Radric Davis

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=454171

Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere

Simon Cowell Denies Calling Beyonce, Lady Gaga ‘Boring’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:35:27 +0000

‘X Factor’ judge clarifies reports that he accused the superstar singers of lacking said factor.
By Jocelyn Vena

The “X Factor” judge Simon Cowell
Photo: Ray Mickshaw/ FOX

Simon Cowell is conducting damage control following some insulting statements he allegedly made recently. The always outspoken “X Factor” judge reportedly said that Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and even Beyoncé lack the full-scale X factor that he’s looking for on his Fox reality show.

So, what got Cowell into so much hot water? “If you only ever heard Lady Gaga, she’s the most boring singer in the world,” he reportedly told The Mirror. “You’ve got to see her — you need TV. Same with Beyoncé. Or Katy Perry. We’re all about image. You have to have that X factor.”

Well, he is now going on the record to let everyone know they’ve got it all wrong. “This was completely misreported. It’s the complete opposite, in fact,” Cowell’s rep told RadarOnline.com. “Simon is a massive fan of both [Gaga and Beyoncé] and he always refers to them as amongst the artists he most admires. He thinks they are two of the most interesting, talented and relevant artists today.”

Cowell himself said, “It’s like they’ve all been bred to take over the world and dominate everything in entertainment. They are unbelievable, these girls.”

Noticeably absent from the statement was Perry, but he was specific about why he thinks Gaga and Beyoncé are so great. Beyoncé’s “the biggest star we’ve seen in 20 years; we’re seeing sort of the rise of the super female pop star. It’s like a different breed. Beyoncé has that,” he said.

Gaga “has the X factor. She’s smart … [and] has real ambition. She is a total, utter star. … You have to be open and embrace this level of expression. You hope to God that you can find someone like her,” Cowell said.

“I think somebody like Lady Gaga defines exactly what we’re looking for. She’s both talented and interesting. She’s worked it all out for herself. You never get the feeling somebody is controlling her. Lady Gaga is the most relevant pop artist in the world at the moment. I’ve met her. She is very smart. I like her,” he added.

Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh

Photos | Michael Jackson’s ‘Michael’ Cover Decoded

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:30:17 +0000

Michael Jackson’s ‘Michael’ Cover Decoded

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1651606

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‘Paranormal Activity 3′ Trailer: Back To Start

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:24:59 +0000

by Dionne Buxton
Paramount Pictures has released a brand new trailer today of “Paranormal Activity 3,” which will serve as a prequel showcasing how Katie and Krisiti started this battle with demons.

Although a very brief trailer, it looks like there will be more of a back story explained and not just a movie full of [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/29/paranormal-activity-3-trailer-2/

Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

Photos | The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:19:57 +0000

The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees

Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum

Latina magazine: 15th anniversary issue

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:14:51 +0000

Some of Hollywood?s hottest ladies are on the cover of the15th anniversary issue of Latina magazine. The pullout photo features big names like Shakira, Selena Gomez, Salma Hayek, Zoe Saldana, Eva Longoria, and Jessica Alba.

But that?s just the beginning- super-hotties like Gloria Estefan, Michelle Rodriguez, Daisy Fuentes, America Ferrera, and Rosario Dawson are also in the mix.

And Latina went to great lengths to pull off the monumental feat- they scheduled seven photo shoots, used over 100 red dresses, and included around $10 million in fabulous jewelry.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/jessica-alba/latina-magazine-15th-anniversary-issue/

Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

Michael Jackson Tribute Concert To Be Hosted By Jamie Foxx

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:10:09 +0000

Beyoncé will appear in a pretaped segment for the Michael Forever Tribute.
By Gil Kaufman

Jamie Foxx
Photo: WireImage

While the show has not yet added any more big names, the upcoming Michael Forever Tribute concert, honoring the legacy of late pop icon Michael Jackson, now has an award-winning host. Oscar winner Jamie Foxx has signed on to emcee the October 8 concert in Cardiff, Wales.

The show, which is being put together by Jackson’s mother, Katherine, as well as a few of the late King of Pop‘s siblings — but not the singer’s estate — is slated to feature performances by Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Craig David, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Alien Ant Farm and Motown legend Smokey Robinson.

And though Beyoncé was added to the bill recently, some fans were upset to subsequently learn that the pregnant pop queen will not perform live via satellite as originally promised but appear in a pretaped segment described as a “special contribution on video.”

In addition, some Jackson followers on the Fans Against Michael Forever Tribute Facebook page have expressed their anger that promoters announced an upcoming two-for-one ticket deal to goose reportedly slow sales. According to reports, the discounted prices will not apply to tickets already purchased for the event; conflicting reports also stated that the two-for-one deal had been rescinded. A spokesperson for the event told MTV News that there would be no two-for-one ticket package.

Some disgruntled posters have also complained that the show’s promoter, Global Live Events, is reportedly censoring negative fan comments on the show’s official page. There has also been grumbling from some of Jackson’s siblings — including Janet, Jermaine and Randy — and fans about the timing of the show, which will take place in the midst of the manslaughter trial of Jackson’s physician Dr. Conrad Murray.

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Britney Spears – I Wanna Go

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:05:57 +0000

I Wanna Go

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
Director: Chris Marrs Pillero
Album: Femme Fatale

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=667190

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Justin Bieber: Boyz II Men ‘Perfect’ For Christmas Song

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:59:58 +0000

Holiday collabo is called ‘Falalalala,’ group reveals to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Boyz II Men
Photo: MTV News

“He thought we’d be perfect for it,” Stockman said. “And we went in and locked in.”

When the Boyz stopped by to talk about their October album Twenty, Wanya Morris recalled meeting the teen star for the first time way back before they all worked together.

Bieber was a fan of Boyz II Men from when he was a kid, but there was one track that wasn’t allowed in the Bieber household.

What are you expecting from Bieber and Boyz II Men’s Christmas collabo? Let us know in the comments!

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Photos | Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:55:06 +0000

Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

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Photos | Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:50:25 +0000

Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

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‘Breaking Dawn’ Single Drops: Bruno Mars’ ‘It Will Rain’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:44:58 +0000

‘Twilight’ soundtrack, due November 8, also will feature Christina Perri and Theophilus London.
By Jocelyn Vena

Bruno Mars
Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/ Getty Images

The full track list for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ soundtrack:

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671548/bruno-mars-breaking-dawn-soundtrack.jhtml

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Rob Kardashian Wants to Go All the Way on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:40:04 +0000

Rob Kardashian is taking the Dancing with the Stars judges’ praise to heart. The sole Kardashian brother was so delighted by Carrie Ann Inaba’s compliment after his jive performance with Cheryl Burke ("It’s official. Rob Kardashian is a better dancer than Kim Kardashian!") that he’s rededicating himself to practicing so he has a shot at the Mirrorball trophy.

According to TMZ, Kardashian, 24, is going to the gym every day and taking his practice schedule with professional dancing partner Burke more seriously. He even brings Burke treats, like buying her lunch, sources say. Apparently, he really thinks they can make it in the ballroom.

Kardashian’s performance improved after he was nearly eliminated from competition in his debut dance. And after Inaba’s props, he has completely changed his attitude, which was reportedly nervous and laxed before the show premiered. In the weeks leading up to the reality show’s first dance-off, Kardashian allegedly refused to practice for more than two hours a day when his competitors were logging in more than five hours of rehearsal time daily.

But now, sources say, he is ready to prove Inaba right and prove he’s the most fleet footed Kardashian.

Watch Rob and Cheryl’s well-received jive below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/rob-kardashian-wants-go-all-way-dancing-stars/1-a-387192

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Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That’s News To Him

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:35:00 +0000

‘I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,’ singer says.
By Chris Harris

Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he’s been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.

Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge‘s Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn’t take part in the tour.

“I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,” Cornell told MTV News. “I’ve heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it’s just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour.”

Cornell’s denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. “They did it for fun,” Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show “Todd N Tyler Radio Empire.” “I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert.”

Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London’s O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.

According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, ” ‘We’re all rehearsed, we’re ready to go. Here’s a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don’t do it, we’re going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].’ ”

“And he can sing the sh– out of Zeppelin,” Snider added. “They’re going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, ‘OK,’ and step in.”

In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. “We are trying out a couple of singers,” he said. “We want to do it. It’s sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there.”

But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren’t interested in finding a Plant clone. “It’s got to be right,” he said. “There’s no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don’t want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard.”

Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn’t see it that way.

“It makes me happy that there’s this perception that I have a group of fans that I’m now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be,” he said. “But I’ve been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I’d done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren’t necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.

“It feels like I’ve done this so many times that when it’s presented to me as being a departure, I feel that’s a misconception,” he added. “I feel like that’s my theme at this point.”

Gina Philips Gisele BÃ¼ndchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy: Best Of Kelly Clarkson Part II

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:30:02 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy: Best Of Kelly Clarkson Part II

Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle

Justin Theroux’s Motorcycle Vandalized with Bologna?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:24:53 +0000

Somebody is full of bologna, and Jennifer Aniston‘s boyfriend Justin Theroux can’t be too happy about it. New York Post‘s Page Six is reporting that a vandal covered the actor-screenwriter’s BMW motorcycle with up to 25 slices of "what was clearly bologna" Thursday morning while it was parked outside Aniston’s West 12th Street apartment in New York City. The bike was cleaned off shortly thereafter and avoided any permanent deli-meat-induced damage.

According to neighbors, Theroux, 40, has been parking his bike outside Aniston’s apartment all week. The pair has attracted plenty of paparazzi attention during their stay in the Big Apple, a fact that Page Six says has unsettled some locals.

"I got the impression it was some weird message, like, ‘You’re full of bologna,’" the neighbor who discovered the motorcycle in its cold-cut-laden state told the newspaper. "The bike was in otherwise in fine condition."

So far the perpetrator hasn’t been caught, and Aniston’s representative seems skeptical about the whole incident.

"There are paparazzi outside their apartment 24/7," she told Page Six. "Don’t you think they would have photographed the person doing it, if indeed this actually happened, which I do not know for sure."

Aniston and Theroux met on the set of the Judd Apatow-produced comedy Wanderlust, and sparks flew. They went public as a couple in June at the MTV Movie Awards afterparty, and have been seen together frequently since. Theroux and Aniston recently got a house together in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills. Hopefully it has a nice garage for Justin’s bike — far from the reach of bologna-loving vandals.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/justin-therouxs-motorcycle-vandalized-bologna/1-a-387328

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Mixtape Daily: Rico Love, Gunplay

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:19:52 +0000

The platinum songwriter and producer talks about his work with Kelly Rowland and Good friend Usher.

Photo: Triple C’s

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Family Photo: Kim Raver?s Premiere Posse

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:14:51 +0000

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/HFYCvjUc9Dk/

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More Photos From The Set Of ?Dark Shadows? Hit The Internets

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:09:51 +0000

Last week Entertainment Weekly magazine gave us our first official look at the new Tim Burton-directed reboot of Dark Shadows but this week, Empire magazine bring us our second look from the set. As you can see in the photos below, Burton has created his own Dark Shadows world and IMHO, it look pretty sweet. [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/5gtFrInyTY0/

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Kourtney & Kim Kardashian Take Mason To Aquarium

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:04:56 +0000

While filming season two of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, sisters Kourtney and Kim Kardashian took some time away from the Big Apple on Thursday (September 29) and went to Mystic, Conn. for a day trip.

With cameras capturing every moment, the reality stars visited the aquarium and they brought Kourt’s 1 1/2-year-old son Mason along for the adventure! The trio looked to be having a great time and even got close enough to touch and feed the different sea animals.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/kourtney-kim-kardashian-take-mason-to-aquarium

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Beyonce Doing Regular Mom Things!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:59:58 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Beyonce Doing Regular Mom Things!

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Photos | Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:55:13 +0000

Ke$ha Exclusive Photos | MTV Style

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1646299

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Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:50:05 +0000

Sweet Dreams

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Adria Petty
Album: I Am…Sasha Fierce

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=404504

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?Star? Magazine Claims That Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher Are Dunzo!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:40:02 +0000

According to the new issue of Star magazine, presumed happily-marrieds Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are headed for a multimillion dollar divorce due to Ashton‘s cheating. Now, we all know these sorts of stories pop up from time to time … invariably a third party comes along to make the claim that she or he [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/ZBydfCSjVzc/

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Photos | Celebs Bid Farewell To Oprah Winfrey At Her Final Show Tapings

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:34:58 +0000

Celebs Bid Farewell To Oprah Winfrey At Her Final Show Tapings

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy: Awkward Photos Of Celebs Blowing Kisses

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:29:57 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy: Awkward Photos Of Celebs Blowing Kisses

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Hulk Hogan says he blew ?hundreds of millions? of dollars on homes and fast cars

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:24:51 +0000

The wrestling legend – real name Terry Bollea – admitted he wasted the vast sums of money he earned during his years in the WWE and WCW and is now living in a rented home after slashing $16 million off the price of his Florida mansion in order to get a quick sale. The WWE [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/hulk-hogan-says-he-blew-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-on-homes-and-fast-cars/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hulk-hogan-says-he-blew-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-on-homes-and-fast-cars

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‘Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close’ Trailer: Prepare To Weep

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:19:56 +0000

by Amy Wilkinson

Grab those tissues—the trailer for the heart wrenching “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, is here.
Based on the 2005 novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” tells the story of precocious 9-year-old Oskar Schell. It’s no spoiler to tell you Oskar’s father (Hanks) dies in [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/29/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close-trailer/

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Michael Jackson – Hollywood Tonight

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:14:57 +0000

Hollywood Tonight

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Director: Wayne Isham

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=634970

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Usher To Donate Gadhafi Money To Charity

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:09:59 +0000

‘I will be donating all of my personal proceeds…to various human rights organizations,’ singer says of concert linked to Libyan dictator.
By Shawn Adler

Usher (file)
Photo: Getty Images

R&B superstar Usher announced Friday (March 4) that he was donating to various charities proceeds from appearing at a private event at St. Barts linked to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to a statement made to the Associated Press.

The Grammy award winner’s renouncement comes after similar announcements from singers Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, and Beyoncé, all of whom were revealed to have performed at private concerts linked to the Middle Eastern leader, who has faced open revolt and major political uprisings since February.

“I am sincerely troubled to learn about the circumstances surrounding the Nikki Beach St. Bart’s event that took place on New Year’s Eve 2009,” Usher said of the concert, at which he appeared alongside Beyoncé but did not perform. “I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations.”

Usher has already begun the process, having made a donation to Amnesty International, the AP reports. The exact size of the donation is not known.

The New Year’s Eve gig was reportedly for Moammar’s fourth son Muastassim, who an unnamed music industry source told MTV News has a history of throwing lavish parties “jammed” with supermodels.

Beyoncé, who sang at the event, donated all proceeds from her performance to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.

“All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year’s Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago,” the “Halo” singer’s publicist said in a statement to The Huffington Post. “Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause.”

Singer Nelly Furtado tweeted February 28 that she plans to make similar amends.

“In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy,” she tweeted. “I am going to donate the $.”

The leader of Libya since a successful military coup in 1969, Gadhafi has reportedly lost control of much of his country as a result of widespread uprisings. The United Nations voted unanimously to refer the dictator to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659301/usher-donate-gadhafi-money-charity.jhtml

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Rob Kardashian Wants to Go All the Way on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:05:00 +0000

But now, sources say, he is ready to prove Inaba right and prove he’s the most fleet footed Kardashian.

Watch Rob and Cheryl’s well-received jive below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/rob-kardashian-wants-go-all-way-dancing-stars/1-a-387192

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Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:00:10 +0000

2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

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More Photos Of Kristen Stewart As Snow White Hit The Internets

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:54:59 +0000

Yesterday we got our first look at actress Kirsten Stewart in action as Snow White on the UK set of her new film Snow White and the Huntsman and today we get to see a few more photos of K. Stew on set. Yesterday she was riding atop a horse in full metal armor. Today [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/SPP90EOkX34/

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Britney Spears ‘Can’t Be Knocked Down’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:49:57 +0000

Celebrity fans including former ‘NSYNC singer JC Chasez, tourmate DJ Pauly D and more weigh in on why Brit is still on top.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears with Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

At the 2011 Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga’s alter ego Jo Calderone presented Britney Spears with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by telling the audience that Spears “taught us all how to be fearless.” And that fearlessness was honored with a dance-heavy tribute to the pop star. Brit’s ever-growing legacy is the reason why she was so deserving of the special award, her celebrity fans and members of her inner circle told MTV News.

“She never lets you down,” her longtime choreographer Brian Friedman told MTV News on the VMA black carpet on Sunday night. “She’s definitely not dull. There’s always something crazy coming around the next turn. I think it’s a mix between music, which is always incredible, the dance performance you see on the stage, the iconic videos, the fashion, and then the fact that she can’t be knocked down.”

We spotted Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and more hanging out backstage!

Those sentiments were mirrored by her pal and former ‘NSYNC member JC Chasez, who noted that even at 30, “She’s actually been around long enough [to have a tribute]. She has a body of work to pull from.”

Spears’ former tourmate, DJ Pauly D, also gushed about the singer, who won Best Pop Video for “Till The World Ends.”

Find out how Beyoncé and Jay-Z Celebrated Their VMA Baby News!

“Oh, man! She deserves it out of anybody,” the “Jersey Shore” star said. “She’s been killing it forever now. She’s got so many albums, and every time she brings out an album, she brings it.”

After Gaga presented Spears with the award on Sunday, a group of young female dancers of various ages, dressed up in Britney-themed costumes from her hit music videos, took the stage to perform some of her most memorable moves.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669948/britney-spears-video-music-awards-tribute.jhtml

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Beyonce, Jay Z Celebrate VMA Baby News Backstage

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:45:12 +0000

B gathers with well-wishers — including her Destiny’s Child girls and Kanye — declaring ‘I’m free!’ after onstage pregnancy reveal.
By Kara Warner

Beyoncé at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Another year, another unbelievably action-packed Video Music Awards. As expected, viewers were treated to mind-blowing performances and several jaw-dropping surprises. The most unexpected moment came courtesy of Beyoncé Knowles, who not so subtly announced to the world that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child.

When B unbuttoned her sparkly jacket and rubbed her belly with a knowing smile, after which the camera panned to a visibly elated Jay-Z and Kanye West cheering from the audience, the Nokia Theatre was bursting with warm and fuzzy well-wishes for the soon-to-be parents. And that very public moment of celebration was just the beginning.

When Beyoncé returned backstage to her dressing room, she was greeted by a team of people who enveloped the visibly happy star with hugs, cheers and congratulations.

Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan

“I’m free!” she said to one of the well-wishers, indicating that she and Jay are thrilled to not have to keep such a big secret any longer. “We’re all free!” she said to the group.

A few minutes after her arrival backstage, she was joined by her husband, a very excited West (whose first words upon entering the dressing-room area were “Where is Beyoncé?” as if he could not wait to give B a huge hug) and her former Destiny’s Child ladies, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Even with the doors to their dressing rooms closed, the applause and whoops of joy could be heard everywhere backstage.

“That was an eventful night, to say the least,” Jay, still smiling, said to some of the revelers in the hallway, who continued to shower him with congratulations and hugs.

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Miranda Kerr Walks The Runway For Dior

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:40:18 +0000

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom are in Paris for Fashion Week. Today the celebrity couple headed over for the Dior show, which Miranda was participating in. Orlando hung out behind the scenes while Miranda got ready and then he was … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/miranda-kerr-walks-the-runway-for-dior/

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Latest Dish!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:40:15 +0000

Mariah Shows Off Post-Baby Bod – toofab

Did Breastfeeding Change Nicole Richie’s Boobs? – iVillage

Michelle Obama’s Target Shopping Spree - The Stir

10 Celebs With Million-Dollar Boobs- Betty Confidential

A Harry Potter Party For Kids – LilSugar

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/latest-dish

Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

Online Marketing Firm Bayshore Solutions Launches the DMEautomotive Web Design

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:38:49 +0000

Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) July 27, 2011

Bayshore Solutions announces the launch of the new DMEautomotive website found online at http://www.dmeautomotive.com. DMEautomotive needed a more effective Web design and mobile website design that would offer better functionality and a more intuitive and consistent user experience for automotive dealers and aftermarket franchises.

The automotive marketing company DMEautomotive had a complex online presentation challenge as they deliver multi-channel, variable communications to a diverse client base, including automobile dealers and aftermarket franchises nationwide. Some of the client base they provide services to include Southeast Toyota, Chrysler, and Toyota Motor Sales; as well as some of the largest dealer groups in the country such as AutoNation, CarMax Auto Superstores and more. DMEautomotive also works with numerous aftermarket companies including TBC Retail (Tire Kingdom), and has been chosen as a preferred vendor for service retention marketing for Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Kia.

To better address the needs of their clients, DMEautomotive needed a new website design and Internet marketing strategy that would provide the maximum benefit for their company and clients. Bayshore Solutions incorporated an effective online marketing strategy and functional Web design to combine two website properties into an all-inclusive corporate website that delivers consistent messaging and branding across all product divisions.

With the addition of Bayshore Solutions? WebModules content management system, DMEautomotive has the ability to easily manage the content on their website and integrate with their CRM software. This integration combined with the reorganization of corporate and product sites makes it easier for clients to learn about DMEautomotive?s solutions.

In addition to an Internet marketing strategy, secure Web hosting and Web development to support the new DMEautomotive site, a mobile website design was created. The new DMEautomotive mobile website extends their main site, providing a Web experience tailored for mobile navigation and functionality to serve visitors with appropriate presentation and accessibility across numerous devices.

Bayshore Solution frequently helps clients seamlessly merge Web properties. Another example of how Bayshore Solutions has integrated separate Web properties into one place on the Web is with client, ThermoEnergy Corporation, who had previously maintained separate Web properties for their Wastewater Recovery and Carbon Capture Divisions. This client needed unified access to information about either or both technologies while engaging two separate audiences. Bayshore Solutions? Web Design and development recently earned industry recognition with both a Communicator Award and an American Business Stevie award for this work, complimenting their Web branding consolidation expertise applied to the DMEautomotive websites.

About Bayshore Solutions

Online marketing firm Bayshore Solutions offers award-winning capabilities in Web and mobile website design, development, online marketing and Web Hosting. Bayshore Solutions has delivered custom Web and services to over 1,500 clients in 54 countries with physical offices accessible to Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dade County, and Broward County in Florida. For more information visit the Tampa Web design firm at http://www.BayshoreSolutions.com.

Follow the Tampa online marketing firm on Twitter @BayshoreWebPros or subscribe to the YouTube Channel for the latest industry updates and Internet marketing tips and strategies. For an inside view on the latest at Bayshore Solutions and to take part in interactive polls, news, featured websites make sure to become a fan on Facebook.

About DMEautomotive

Automotive marketing company DMEautomotive provides multi-channel, variable communications for automobile dealers and aftermarket franchises nationwide. Their robust product and service offering includes: data driven, multi-channel acquisition and retention marketing programs, best-in-class campaign reporting, data management and analytics via the Red Rocket Portal, Virtual BDC call applications, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., DMEautomotive also has major operations in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Sarah Gadon Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Wear A Corset’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:34:59 +0000

Roles in ‘Dream House’ and the upcoming ‘Cosmopolis’ set her up for a long career, especially in period pieces.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sarah Gadon
Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine.

MTV: We’re always looking for the next exciting talent, and it’s not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off?

MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob’s character?

MTV: Is there someone to emulate?

Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she’s fascinating. I love her work.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671809/sarah-gadon-dream-house.jhtml

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Photos | Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:30:12 +0000

Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore

Josh Hutcherson Is ‘Most Likely To Play A Superhero’ In Our New Class

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:26:00 +0000

Actor talks about his breakthrough year and the ‘Hunger Games’ audition process.
By Kara Warner

Josh Hutcherson
Photo: Donato Sardella/ Getty Images

If you’re not yet familiar with Josh Hutcherson, you’re about to be.

The talented 18-year-old has been a working actor for half his life, quietly paying his dues with roles on television and in films, earning Hollywood street cred in films like “Kicking and Screaming,” “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

Then last year, Hutcherson suddenly evolved from dependable sweet-faced child actor to formidable future leading man with his buzzed-about performance in the award-season darling “The Kids Are All Right.” That career momentum kicked into future-superstar gear when Hutcherson landed the highly coveted role of Peeta Mellark in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling “Hunger Games.”

All things considered, it’s a no-brainer that Hutcherson made our New Class list as the “Actor Most Likely to Play a Superhero.” MTV News caught up with him recently to talk about the honor, his very busy year and, of course, “The Hunger Games.”

MTV News: You’ve experienced the whole award and recognition thing before, but how does it feel to be named to our New Class?

Josh Hutcherson: It’s very nice, especially to be considered with the group I’m in here with, all peers of mine I admire very much. I’ve been an actor for a long time, so to finally get some recognition from some people that I think are really cool is pretty nice.

MTV: It seems like this past year has been a whirlwind. Take us through all the projects you’re juggling at the moment.

Hutcherson: It’s been crazy. I shot “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” the end of last year and the beginning of this year, then I went into a little short film I shot in Cuba with Benicio Del Toro ["7 Dias en La Habana"], which was really fun, and then this summer the whole time I spent shooting “The Hunger Games,” which was an amazing experience. Very exciting, and I can’t wait for that to come out.

MTV: Is there someone in the business whose career you’d like to emulate?

Hutcherson: I have a few people. I’ve always been a big Jake Gyllenhaal fan. I like how he goes from doing a bigger studio movie to a more independent film. I am a huge Christian Bale fan; I think he’s incredible and can play any role and kill it. And I’m also a die-hard Ryan Gosling fan, so those are my guys I’d like to be like.

MTV: Do you make a conscious effort to go from smaller, independent films as well as big studio films?

Hutcherson: Yeah. It’s all about balance; everything in life is about balance, in my opinion. You have to do the big studio movies to keep people caring about you in a way, and also for me, I’ve been really fortunate. I haven’t done any big studio movies that suck. They’ve all been good material and that’s the most important thing for my career, to choose the right material and to choose the characters that I care about and stories I want to tell, so that’s kind of how I’ve gone about my career since I was 9, more or less.

MTV: So let’s talk briefly about “The Hunger Games” and that crazy audition process.

Hutcherson: For the audition process, I came in the first time and read a few scenes for [director] Gary Ross and [author] Suzanne Collins and some of the other producers involved. Then maybe about a week or so, maybe two weeks later, I came in and did a screen test with [co-star] Jennifer [Lawrence], where I actually read the scenes with her so they could see how the chemistry worked. Both of them felt really great, but as an actor, you just pick apart every single thing that you do, so for me, I was on pins and needles waiting to find out. And then when I finally found out, my jaw hit the floor. I was so excited.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671644/josh-hutcherson-hunger-games.jhtml

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Michael Jackson’s Legacy, Two Years Later, By the Numbers

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:19:55 +0000

Legendary singer’s impact continues to blossom in the two years since his death; MTV News breaks down the figures.
By Gil Kaufman

Michael Jackson
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Like Elvis, Bob Marley, Notorious B.I.G. and Frank Sinatra before him, Michael Jackson‘s influence has continued, and grown, since his untimely death on June 25, 2009.

On the second anniversary of the King of Pop’s passing, MTV News took a look at the enduring appeal of MJ’s music, videos and imagery, which continue to fascinate and attract fans across the globe thanks to a series of posthumous albums, a movie, video games and two upcoming Cirque du Soleil live shows.

Where Were You Two Years Ago When You Heard the News? Tell Us on Facebook

$72 million: According to Box Office Mojo, Jackson’s posthumous concert film, “This Is It,” has grossed more than $72 million to date domestically and $189 million in foreign markets for a worldwide take over more than $261 million. It ranks as the #2 music documentary of all-time behind Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never.” The film has also generated nearly $45 million in DVD sales in the U.S.

16: In May, Jackson lodged his first #1 on the Billboard magazine Dance/ Club Play Songs chart in 16 years with the latest single from his posthumous Michael album, “Hollywood Tonight.”

2: Number of posthumous albums that have been released since Michael’s death in June 2009. Last year’s Michael has sold just over 510,000 copies to date, while the This Is It collection has moved nearly 1 million copies to date in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

15,000: The number of videos submitted by fans since March for the crowdsourced video for “Behind the Mask.” After they were edited down by a five-person team over two months, the resulting clip used submissions from more than 1,600 participants from 103 countries.

3 million: The amount of copies sold of the Ubisoft “Michael Jackson: The Experience” video game worldwide.

$57 million: The reported cost of Cirque du Soleil’s traveling MJ show, “The Immortal World Tour, which is slated to kick off on October 2.

$1 billion: That gaudy figure is the reported amount the Jackson estate had generated by last June on the first anniversary of the singer’s death. According to Billboard, the revenue was generated by a combination of music sales ($429 million), film/TV revenue ($392 million), music publishing ($130 million), licensing ($35 million) and a $31 million recording contract. (A spokesperson for Jackson’s estate declined to provide updated figures for this story.)

$310 million: The amount of gross earnings reported by the executors of the estate in a December 2010 court filing detailing the progress made in paying off the $400 million in debt run up by the spendthrift singer during his lifetime.

16.1 million: MJ was always a big singles artist. Yes, Thriller is one of the best-selling albums of all time, but even in death, fans can’t resist cherry-picking some of Michael’s best songs. That explains why he’s sold more than 16 million digital tracks since June 28, 2009, the first sales week following his passing, according to Nielsen SoundScan. To put that in perspective, from the time Nielsen began counting digital tracks in 2004 until the week before Jackson’s death, the singer had sold just over 8.1 million digital tracks, a figure that has doubled in just the past two years.

2013: The projected launch for a second, non-touring Cirque show celebrating Jackson. The yet-untitled show is slated to open in the spring of 2013 at a new theater being built at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

$25 million to $50 million: That’s how much Jackson’s estate takes in on an annual basis thanks to his stake in the half-million-song Sony/ATV catalog, which includes titles by Elvis, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Beyoncé and Bob Dylan.

Share your memories of Michael Jackson in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666426/michael-jackson-anniversary.jhtml

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Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez’s Arena Date: How Much Did It Cost?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:14:55 +0000

A regular guy would have dropped serious coin to rent out the Staples Center for a romantic night out.
By Gil Kaufman

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Membership has its privileges, and when the club you’re in is the elite pop star society, there isn’t much you can’t get your hands on. That’s why a teenager like Justin Bieber was able to swing the swankiest surprise date of all time with his squeeze Selena Gomez on Friday night when he treated her to dinner and a movie at the Staples Center.

Now, before you get any ideas. The 20,000-seat home of the Los Angeles Lakers (and countless major concerts) is not available to just any Joe Schmo. No, Bieber reportedly got the keys to the palace for free because he’s sold the joint out three times and owner AEG Live figured they’d throw him a bone. Which got us thinking: What would it cost to treat your sweetie to a Bieber-esque night of steak and “Titanic”?

Check out photos of Justin and Selena.

As you might imagine, the powers-that-be at Staples weren’t really willing to spill the beans, but we crunched some numbers on our own and here’s what we were able to figure:

$475,000: That’s how much it would cost you to buy a high-end VIP luxury suite for 14 at the Staples Center, which would get you about 2,500 tickets a year to Lakers, Clippers and Sparks basketball games; L.A. Kings hockey games; concerts; lectures; X Games; and wrestling matches. Given that the venue holds 20,000, we can only imagine a one-night rental would run you well into the six figures.

$200-plus: Bieber ordered steaks and pasta from the exclusive members-only Lexus Club at Staples, a 130-capacity high-end dining area where even the buffet will run you $57.

Priceless: The lucky couple reportedly watched “Titanic” on their date. Now, most men would try to save a few bucks and rent the regular DVD, but given JB’s clear baller tendencies, is it safe to assume he called James Cameron and finagled an early copy of the 3-D anniversary Blu-ray edition that is due out in April?

$299 to $1,199: The price of renting an inflatable, 32- to 40-foot portable movie screen from FunFlicks.com for a special event. That is, assuming the Biebs did not make Gomez crane her neck and watch the whole movie on the Center’s Jumbotron.

194: That’s how many minutes “Titanic” would run if JB didn’t have a remote that would allow him and Selena to skip some of the hours of extras.

2:30 a.m.: That’s about how late into the morning the couple would have had to stay at Staples in order to watch all of “Titanic,” assuming they started it as soon as they arrived at 11 p.m. and had it running during their meal.

$300,000: The amount Bieber pulls in nightly at each one of his concerts.

$53 million: That’s how much Bieber banked in 2010. In other words, don’t sweat it: He can afford this kind of date every night of the year if he wants to.

What do you think of Justin’s date idea for Selena? Tell us in the comments!

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Ashton Kutcher Kinda Sorta Responds To The Cheating/Break-Up Reports

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:09:59 +0000

Ashton Kutcher, the normally tweet-crazy celeb who has remained relatively silent in the past few days as reports of his infidelity and alleged break-up of his marriage to wife Demi Moore spread like wildfire, has finally spoken out publicly about the rumors … in a kinda sorta way. Ashton posted a couple of tweets on [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/xjrbJNFMqz4/

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Ke$ha – Blow

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:05:07 +0000

Blow

Artist: Ke$ha
Label: RCA
Director: Chris Marrs Piliero

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=628103

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Photos | 2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

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Right Celebrity October Giftcard Contest! Win $50!!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:55:06 +0000

Right Celebrity October Giftcard Contest!!! Yes, it is back! Thank you so much to all of those who entered last month! Here is another chance to win for October. Enter now!!! Right Celebrity just underwent a huge redesign to make our site more up to date and enjoyable for our readers. You will notice in our sleek magazine layout, one of our main sections is the contest section. We are constantly running different contests, bringing our readers the opportunity to win giftcards, DVD sets, SWAG bags from celeb events and more. Please check out our contest section here for all current contests. We run several a month, so check back often! We also have fun interactive contests as well! We want to make this site not only fun to read, but also offer you a few incentives for being loyal readers! Just our way of saying “Thank you for your readership.” Readers, please join in on the fun and help us spread the word! Right Celebrity wants to regularly reward our loyal readers with CASH prizes. Our $50 giftcard giveaway went so well last time that we decided to make it a permanent thing. This month, we will once again [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/Q-tGAS0yl-0/

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Happy Friday

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:49:55 +0000

Here’s a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:

Don’t you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn’t like to talk about it.)

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/29/happy-friday.html

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Celebrity Twitpics

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:44:58 +0000

From Kim Kardashian to Katy Perry, see the celebs who are no-holds-barred when it comes to their Twitter photos!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-twitpics/1-b-342029

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‘Twilight’ Fan Christina Perri Pens ‘A Love Song To Edward And Bella’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:39:54 +0000

Admitted ‘Twi-Hard’ is ‘unbelievably honored’ that ‘A Thousand Years’ made the ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ soundtrack.
By James Montgomery

Christina Perri
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

For any artist, getting a song on a “Twilight” soundtrack is a pretty big deal. But for Christina Perri, whose “A Thousand Years” made the cut for the upcoming “Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ album, well, “pretty big deal” is an understatement.

Perri is — to put it mildly — rather obsessed with the series, as she told MTV News on Tuesday (September 27).

“Yes, I am 1,000 percent a ‘Twilight’ fan. I can’t even deny that I am actually, in fact, a Twi-Hard and have a ‘Twilight’ tattoo,” she laughed, also revealing that she’s Team Edward. “I got a tattoo on my wrist that says ‘bitten,’ and it’s written in the font of all the book titles. So, yes, I am of one the big, geeky fans.”

For Perri, who already found success with her hit “Jar of Hearts,” landing “Breaking Dawn” was a career-defining moment, not to mention a dream come true. Especially since, until the final track list was revealed Monday, she had no idea if her song made the cut.

“I’ll never forget going to the screening of the movie. But, for me, having this opportunity is also such a wild card, because it’s Hollywood, and you never really know. … I wasn’t even sure I was going to be on it until yesterday, when I saw it in print,” she laughed. “So I tried not to get hyped out, because it’s one of my favorite movies, one of my favorite books, one of my favorite soundtracks, and that could potentially freak out the little songwriter in me.

“So I tried to put that aside and take it one step at a time, went to see the movie and cried like a baby, because it’s so good, and I felt so lucky to be there,” she continued. “And then went home and wrote a love song to Edward and Bella … and to have it be chosen, I’m unbelievably honored.”

She wrote that love song based less on the screening she attended (“It wasn’t finished,” Perri said. “But I still cried. Seriously, that’s how good it is”) and more on the emotions she felt reading Stephenie Meyer’s series … in particular, the star-crossed love affair between Edward and Bella.

“When we went to watch the screening, they told us to see where there was temporary music added and just jump into those scenes a little harder,” she explained. “But I’m fortunately a fan of the movie and the characters, and I feel like, by reading these books, I can step into that feeling that Edward and Bella have for each other. So [songwriter] David Hodges and I sat down, and it just came out in one afternoon. I feel like it was all meant to happen; I feel like it was all waiting inside me, waiting to come out.”

While she doesn’t know where “A Thousand Years” will be used in “Breaking Dawn,” Perri said it’s not all that important to her. She’s just counting down the days until the film’s premiere, when, finally, she’ll get to hear her song on the big screen. And after that, all bets are off.

“For me, personally, this is one of my dreams coming true. And the fact that it’s on the soundtrack, I’m seeing it, but I’m not sure I’m quite believing it,” she said. “I have a feeling when I’m sitting in the theater with the cast, and the movie comes on and my song happens, that I’m probably at that moment either going to combust with excitement or finally believe it and probably cry a little.”

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671624/christina-perri-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-thousand-years.jhtml

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Movie Review: ?Footloose?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:35:10 +0000

So … last might I was invited to an early screening of the new Footloose remake film and, to be honest, I was very resistant to the idea of even seeing the film. I am SUCH a big fan of the original 1984 film, which stars Kevin Bacon in his break-out role, that I had [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/qu9e7AhH9sc/

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Kristen Stewart Dons ‘Snow White’ Armor In New Photos

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:30:16 +0000

Pics show Stewart filming battle scene on beach in Wales.
By Jocelyn Vena

Kristen Stewart as “Snow White”
Photo: Universal

Check out everything we’ve got on “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671657/kristen-stewart-snow-white-armor.jhtml

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Miranda Kerr Walks The Runway For Dior

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:25:53 +0000

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/miranda-kerr-walks-the-runway-for-dior/

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Jay-Z Throws A Carnival For College Kids’ Scholarships

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:20:15 +0000

Jay’s foundation set up the Ferris wheel in New York on Thursday to raise funds for university-bound students’ scholarships.
By Steven Roberts, with reporting by Rob Markman

Jay-Z at “Making the Ordinary Extraordinary” in New York City
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

NEW YORK — On Thursday night, Jay-Z hosted a carnival at the Hudson River Park pier for his Shawn Carter Foundation. But it wasn’t all Ferris wheels and funnel cakes — unfortunately Momofuku doesn’t make those. The event was called Making the Ordinary Extraordinary, and it sought to raise funds for college scholarships.

MTV News caught up with Mr. Carter at the event, where he said the evening was about having fun while raising money for a good cause. Jay said two of the worst things in life are a waste of talent and a person who applies him- or herself but is unable to advance due to financial hardship. He hoped this foundation would help ease such burdens and assist people in recognizing their potential.

“Just providing opportunity and seeing what people do with that opportunity. If you want to go further and you want to further your education, just giving someone that extra little push [so] that maybe you’ll turn out to be someone special,” Jay said.

Jay and his mother, Gloria Carter, started the foundation in 2002 to help those facing socioeconomic difficulties further their education at institutions of higher learning. The foundation started with one student earning a full ride through college and grew to offer 50 scholarships to students in 50 different states annually from 2003 to 2005. More than 750 students have been awarded scholarships totaling in excess of $1.1 million, and nearly 500 kids have taken part in the foundation’s college tours — some even rode the bus with Jay’s mom.

“My mom has been running this for a number of years,” said Jay. “My mom gets on the bus and takes the kids and takes them to their orientations and she’s been riding around the college. It’s a real grassroots thing that she’s been doing on her own, and I’m just really trying to help her expand it so we can help more people. It started out as a Brooklyn thing, and then it started as a New York thing, and now hopefully we can take it to a worldwide thing.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671783/jay-z-foundation-carnival-shawn-carter.jhtml

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Around the Web?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:14:54 +0000

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/kHdnPd1HKHA/

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Ke$ha, Black Eyed Peas, More Featured In O Music Awards Roundtable Debate

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:10:18 +0000

Music-video director Wayne Isham will join Most Innovative Video debate, which streams live Monday on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com.
By MTV News Staff

Ke$ha
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images

Ever since they were first announced, the O Music Awards have proudly proclaimed themselves the untraditional alternative to the staid world of red carpets, acceptance speeches and celebrity glad-handing.

And for further proof of that point, consider the following: Though the inaugural O Music Awards won’t premiere until April 28, the first award will be handed out on Monday at 4 p.m. ET … and it’s a big one.

For weeks, fans have been voting for the Most Innovative Music Video through the O Music Awards official site, and on Monday — in a roundtable debate moderated by MTV News’ James Montgomery — a winner will be crowned.

The O Music Awards Debate for the Most Innovative Music Video, presented by FUZE®, will stream live on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com. Joining Montgomery around the table will be acclaimed video director Wayne Isham, Mashable’s Brenna Ehrlich and some super-secret celebrity guests. 

The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and more will also take part in the discussion about just what makes a video truly innovative, and the folks who are nominated for the award — a list that includes Arcade Fire, Robyn, OK Go and Andy Grammer — will also Skype in to make the case for why their video deserves to be named Most Innovative.

On Monday morning, the original list of 10 nominees will be whittled down to the top five vote-getters, and then, during the debate, our roundtable and the Internet audience will cut that list down to the final three. At the very end, we’ll announce the winner of the very first O Music Award for Most Innovative Video.

The inaugural O Music Awards will stream live from Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on OMusicAwards.com. Tune in to see who will reign supreme in categories like Most Viral Dance, Funniest Music Short and NSFW Music Video!

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Sarah Gadon Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Wear A Corset’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:04:58 +0000

Roles in ‘Dream House’ and the upcoming ‘Cosmopolis’ set her up for a long career, especially in period pieces.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sarah Gadon
Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine.

MTV: We’re always looking for the next exciting talent, and it’s not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off?

MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob’s character?

MTV: Is there someone to emulate?

Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she’s fascinating. I love her work.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671809/sarah-gadon-dream-house.jhtml

Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke

Usher – Lil Freak

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:00:17 +0000

Lil Freak

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V. Raymond

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563

Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara

Seth Rogen: ‘I Smoke A Lot Of Weed When I Write’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:54:58 +0000

‘I think way more people smoke weed than the media likes to acknowledge,’ actor tells MTV News.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Seth Rogen
Photo: MTV News

“That dude gave me the greatest gift I’ve had in the last five years,” Kevin Smith told MTV News earlier this year about his “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” star Seth Rogen.

Smith wasn’t talking about some meaningful postproduction keepsake — say, the bubble-blowing ring ex-porn star Traci Lords uses for unclean purposes in the movie — but rather a joint Rogen and the filmmaker shared on the last day of shooting in 2008. “We sat back, watched some footage and sat there smoking,” Smith explained. “And I loved who I was.”

Smith is now a gleeful proponent of weed, which he credits with spurring the most creatively productive years of his career, and Rogen is happy, as he put it recently to MTV News, to take credit for Smith “being stoned all the time.”

“I either get people started smoking weed or I put them out of business smoking weed,” Rogen added with a laugh while promoting “50/50,” a comedy about a young guy with cancer in which the actor and co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s characters get high for suspect medicinal purposes. “I’m either your first or last.”

While Smith credits pot as a sort of mind-expanding artistic gateway, Rogen says he lights up to ease the drudgery of the creative process. “I smoke a lot of weed when I write, generally speaking,” he told us. “I don’t know if it helps me write. It makes me not mind that I’m writing. And I don’t know if it makes me work better, but it makes me not care that I’m working. Who wants to work? But if you’re stoned, it doesn’t seem like work.”

To help you work better, to make you forget you’re actually working, to just have a good ol’ time — why and when people get blazed may differ. But Rogen is convinced that no matter how it goes down, it’s most certainly going down (and up in smoke).

“I think a lot of people smoke weed,” he said. “I think way more people smoke weed than the media likes to acknowledge. Maybe it’s just the people I’m around, but I don’t think so. Pretty much everyone that I know smokes weed sometimes — with the exception of my parents.”

Check out everything we’ve got on “50/50.”

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671806/seth-rogen-50-50-weed.jhtml

Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum

Photos | Ke$ha On The Set Of Her Video For ‘Take It Off’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:49:58 +0000

Ke$ha On The Set Of Her Video For ‘Take It Off’

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Ke$ha

Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1643229

What’s Your Number? Premiere!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:45:13 +0000

The What’s Your Number? premiere is tonight in Los Angeles! I have my dress and I’m super excited!

I’m gong to be tweeting live from the red carpet at 6:30 PM PST for US Weekly magazine, so make sure to follow them and me on Twitter:

@usweekly

@karynbosnak

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/9/19/whats-your-number-premiere.html

Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson

Photos | iHeartRadio Festival Rocks Las Vegas

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:40:07 +0000

iHeartRadio Festival Rocks Las Vegas

Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff

Can Melissa Joan Hart Explain This One?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:36:11 +0000

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/9OsegaLsOgI/

Prince Harry: Florence Brudenell-Bruce new Girlfriend

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:30:10 +0000

The most eligible member of the Royal family appears to be off the market, as Prince Harry and former girlfriend of Formula One racer Jenson Button, Florence Brudenell-Bruce are reportedly engulfed in a budding romance.

According to “The Sun,” the 26-year-old redhead has taken to numerous secret trysts with leggy swimwear and lingerie model, even spending intimate get-a-ways at her pricey Notting Hill pad.

He?s finally moving on from Chelsy Davy, and Prince Harry has chosen a super-hottie with whom to spend his time – Florence Brundenell-Bruce.

According to a report, the British Royal and the lovely lingerie model have been seeing each other for a few months, now, though they?ve kept their relationship under wraps.

However, when Harry finally declared that his on/off relationship with Chelsy was over for good, news began to break that Florence was his new leading lady.

An insider told press, ?It?s very early days but Harry and Florence are an item. She is a lot of fun, blond and very good looking. Harry really likes her.?

Ms. Brudenell-Bruce comes from a wealthy family of wine merchants, and has her own $3 million home in Notting Hill, London.

The much-talked about twosome met years ago, but have become much more cozy as of recent, following Harry’s “final” split with long-time love interest Chelsy Davy.

While the palace is yet to confirm nor deny the rumored romance, one unidentified source says the duo are definitely coupling-up, telling the newspaper, “It’s very early days but Harry and Florence are an item. She is a lot of fun, blonde and very good-looking. Harry really likes her.”

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/general/celebrity-couples/prince-harry-florence-brudenell-bruce-new-girlfriend/

Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz

Celebrity Pictures: Emily Blunt

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:25:29 +0000

Actress Emily Blunt was spotted this afternoon as she stopped by to visit a friend in Beverly Hills. Emily looked casual and cute in gray and black stripes with ballet flats. Emily is part of the new “Muppets” movie and … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/celebrity-pictures-emily-blunt/

Elena Lyons Elisabeth RÃ¶hm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin

Anne Hathaway at ?The White Fairy Tale Love Ball?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:20:00 +0000

On Wednesday night (July 6), Anne Hathaway dazzled at ‘The White Fairy Tale Love Ball’ at Chateau de Wideville in Crespieres, France.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/anne-hathaway/anne-hathaway-at-the-white-fairy-tale-love-ball/

Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings

Some Glee Spoilers?Read At Your Own Risk!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:14:57 +0000

Okay fellow Gleeks, some spoilers will be talked about in this post, so you have been warned. Again, I repeat, do not read on if you don’t want to know what will happen next on your favorite show and mine. Oh, my apologies for not recapping Tuesday’s episode, ‘I Am Unicorn’, the #$%#^ DVR went on the fritz. I finally was able to watch it yesterday On Demand and I am lovin’ how much the show is reminiscent of its first season, where we all fell in love with these kids from McKinley High. First of all, thank you Ryan Murphy for the Rachel and Kurt dynamic. I love the Hummelberry relationship. Remember last week’s scene where they’re both in her car feeling defeated about their dreams of making it big in New York? Simply genius. It was good for them to get a good dose of reality. Michael Ausiello of TV Line tweeted on Wednesday, ‘Finn forced to choose between Rachel and (wait for it) Kurt! DRAMA!’ We’ll see that in next week’s episode, titled ‘Asian F’. Speaking of ‘Asian F’, the focus of the ep is on Mike and Mercedes. We’ll meet Mike’s parents and watch for an [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/84Xp2Danuh8/

Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi

Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:10:21 +0000

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

“I’m bewildered,” Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. “In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it’s a good way to spend a Sunday.”

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night’s show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker’s dozen of time-tested standards.

You’re probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett’s work on the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don’t know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she’s won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she’s the key to Sand‘s success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album’s finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she’s getting bluesy on Little Milton’s “Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson” or entwining with Plant’s husky voice on songs like “Please Read the Letter” and Roly Salley’s winsome “Killing the Blues,” she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that’s also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It’s a testament to his work that he’s often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project … and it’s certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album’s success, but by the fact that it’s actually quite a good album.

“At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. … Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn’t have to be any good, you know?” New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. “Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards.”

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Seth MacFarlane of ‘Family Guy’ Is a Big-Band Singer

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:04:58 +0000

Seth MacFarlane is the creator of Family Guy, the voice of half the Griffin family, the premier Charlie Sheen roaster — and possibly the next Frank Sinatra! In the video below, MacFarlane shows off his shockingly good jazz vocals by crooning his new tune "Nine O’Clock" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Who knew?

MacFarlane, 37, was on the show promoting his new big band album, Music Is Better Than Words — which, unlike most of the comic mastermind’s ventures, is completely un-ironic. The record consists of 14 standards, recorded with a 55-piece orchestra at Capitol Records — using Sinatra’s own microphone. As Jimmy Kimmel pointed out to MacFarlane: On paper, it sounds like an awful idea.

"If it does terribly, I’m the first guy to start mocking the crap out of it," admitted MacFarlane. "The only thing that makes it not a complete disaster of an idea from the inception is that a lot of the style of music is what we’ve been doing on (Family Guy) for 10 years… It’s not like I’m doing a rap album."

Fans of MacFarlane’s FOX animated series, which also include American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, know exactly what he’s talking about. MacFarlane has belted out plenty of musical numbers for his audience, mainly in the guise of deep-voiced baby Stewie or talking dog Brian. But are fans prepared for a "serious" album? The voice actor says that the album works because big-band music isn’t all that serious to begin with.

"When Sinatra, Dean Martin and those guys got up, it’s almost like they didn’t give a s***," he told Kimmel. "They were drunk and God knows what else. That’s something about this music: Even at its most vulnerable, it really never takes itself quite seriously."

Even so, MacFarlane has recruited two seriously talented duet partners: Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles. The album is in stores this week.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/seth-macfarlane-family-guy-big-band-singer/1-a-386977

Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris

Photos | 2011 Video Music Award Nominees

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:00:08 +0000

Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke China Chow ChloÃ« Sevigny Christina Aguilera

Beyoncé – Best Thing I Never Had

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:55:04 +0000

Best Thing I Never Had

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia
Album: 4

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=671258

Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb

Beyoncé – Run The World (Girls)

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:50:12 +0000

Run The World (Girls)

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia
Director: Francis Lawrence

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=654804

Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten

Beyonce Hates Jay-Z?s Cologne

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:45:00 +0000

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/beyonce-hates-jay-zs-cologne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beyonce-hates-jay-zs-cologne

Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell

Happy Friday

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:39:57 +0000

Here’s a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:

Don’t you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn’t like to talk about it.)

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/29/happy-friday.html

China Chow ChloÃ« Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe

Right Celebrity October Giftcard Contest! Win $50!!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:34:59 +0000

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/Q-tGAS0yl-0/

Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello

Michael Jackson ‘Wasn’t Right,’ Choreographer Testifies

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:30:04 +0000

Kenny Ortega takes stand in doctor Conrad Murray’s manslaughter trial.
By Gil Kaufman

Kenny Ortega testifies during Conrad Murray’s manslaughter trial on Tuesday
Photo: Pool/Getty Images

After dramatic opening statements from prosecutors and the defense, the manslaughter trial of former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray began Tuesday with gripping testimony from Jackson’s friend and former choreographer, “This is It” documentary director Kenny Ortega.

“My friend wasn’t right. … There was something going on that was deeply troubling me,” Ortega said of Jackson’s demeanor on June 19, a week before the singer’s death. Ortega testified that although Jackson was “very excited” about his upcoming 50-date “This is It” series of comeback shows at London’s O2 Arena, the pop icon seemed ill in the days before his passing, missing numerous rehearsals from mid- to late June 2009.

According to TMZ, Ortega said Jackson left rehearsals early on the 19th, after seemingly not eating anything all day, which prompted the director to send an email to Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG Live, the show’s promoter. “There is no one taking responsibility, caring for him on a daily basis,” Ortega wrote. “I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets … and calling his doctor.”

Ortega described Jackson as “incoherent” and said he confronted Murray during an emergency meeting at the singer’s home June 20, during which the doctor became upset that the choreographer would not let Jackson rehearse and accused him of trying to act like a doctor. Ortega also said he thought Jackson was abusing drugs and that just four days after appearing so sick, the “Thriller” singer was back at rehearsals June 23 full of energy and ready to work.

AEG co-CEO Paul Gongaware later testified that it was Jackson’s idea to extend his string of 10 sold-out shows with an additional 21 gigs to bring the total to 31 in order to beat longtime rival Prince’s record of 21 sold-out gigs at the O2. He also said that even after selling out all 50 shows, there was a list of 250,000 people waiting for tickets.

And while Gongaware described Jackson as seeming a little “off” and speaking in slurred speech when he first met him in the early stages of rehearsal, longtime friend and fitness trainer Lou Ferrigno said he saw no signs of physical distress during workouts a couple weeks before the singer died.

The former “Hulk” star said that two weeks before Jackson’s passing, he watched as the pop icon trained for an hour at his rented Beverly Hills mansion, doing cardio on a treadmill, working with light weights and doing core exercises. Ferrigno described Jackson’s energy level as very good, but did note that his friend complained of having trouble sleeping.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors showed a previously unseen, graphic image of the 50-year-old Jackson’s body on a hospital gurney and claimed in opening statements that they planned to show that Murray repeatedly acted with gross negligence and incompetence in administering a drug cocktail to Jackson.

Murray, who was working on a $150,000-a-month retainer, faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if found guilty.

Defense attorney Ed Chernoff countered by telling the jury that Jackson caused his own death by swallowing eight 2-milligram pills of the anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam, as well as injecting himself with a dose of the surgical anesthetic propofol that instantly killed him. Testimony in the trial continues Wednesday (September 28).

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671654/michael-jackson-trial-kenny-ortega.jhtml

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Lauren Conrad’s Halloween Hair Tutorial Shoot

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:25:05 +0000

Partaking in a holiday how-to creative effort to close out the week, Lauren Conrad was spotted arriving at a swanky salon in West Hollywood, CA on Friday (September 30).

Wearing a light toned buttondown top with short shorts and high heel sandals, the former “Hills” hottie loaded the parking meter up with coins before sashaying past paparazzi and into the local place of beauty.

As for the week-ending doings, LC tweeted, “At @Kristin_Ess ‘s fancy new salon shooting a @TBDofficial tutorial for Halloween hair”

The outing follows quite the previous night, as Miss Conrad was spotted out at The Playhouse in Hollywood – where she exited with rumored new flame Derek Hough.

Of the possible new pairing, an E! source tells that the twosome “have been on a few dates together,? while others claim that it isn’t a serious situation at the current time.

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/lauren-conrad/lauren-conrads-halloween-hair-tutorial-shoot-548835

Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau

Beyoncé – Diva

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:20:00 +0000

Diva

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Melina
Album: I Am…Sasha Fierce

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=333569

Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears

Happy Friday

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:15:07 +0000

Here’s a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:

Don’t you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn’t like to talk about it.)

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/29/happy-friday.html

Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren

’50/50′: The Reviews Are In

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:09:59 +0000

Most critics think the comedy about cancer proves anything can be funny.
By Eric Ditzian

Anna Kendrick and Joseph Gordon Levitt in “50/50″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

When Will Reiser first found out he had cancer, he and his comedy-writer buddies (including Seth Rogen and “Pineapple Express” scribe Evan Goldberg) would jokingly wonder if Reiser’s disease would bring them all a Make-a-Wish opportunity to hang with Led Zeppelin.

That rock-and-roll dream never came true, but Reiser’s battle with, and eventual remission from, cancer did gift them all with one thing: “50/50,” a comedy (out now) that is drawing rave reviews from critics and is being discussed as a possible contender come awards season. Though not all reviewers have found it easy to find yuks in a deadly serious topic, far more point to the film as an example that nothing is out of bounds when it comes to art and comedy; handled deftly, anything can lead to laughter and learning.

The Story
“Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a nice guy with a great job at a Seattle NPR station, a promising relationship with up-and-coming artist Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard), a best-friend-since-high-school named Kyle (Seth Rogen) to hang with — and, as he learns to his horror in a doctor’s office, cancer. … Also woven deftly into the mixture is Anna Kendrick as a young (very young) therapist assigned to work with Adam; [Anjelica] Huston as the kind of mother who explains ‘I want you to know that I smothered him because I love him’ to anyone who will listen. … It’s not a perfect movie, but it doesn’t matter. ’50/50′ takes on a bold subject and makes us laugh and cry. I thought I didn’t want to see a cancer comedy; I was wrong.” — Moira McDonald, The Seattle Times

The Laughs
“Scenes where the pals trash a piece of once-important memorabilia in a backyard rampage and the after-effects of pot-laden cookies scored at the chemotherapy clinic show loopily grinning Gordon-Levitt at his best. Kudos to [director Jonathan] Levine for not letting Rogen’s very funny comedic bits overshadow the proceedings. The actor dials it down ever so slightly and isn’t afraid to be the butt of jokes — watch for Gordon-Levitt’s spot-on Rogen impersonation. The suggestion a bald head and a cancer diagnosis could be the ultimate pickup leverage leads Adam and Kyle into funny territory. But the hilarity turns with the exploration of deeper relationships as Adam finds new friends among the genial stoners of all ages at the chemo clinic.” — Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

The Writing
“[Reiser] draws on his personal battle with a rare form of that disease. His success rate in the delicate balance between comedy and the profound devastation of such an illness is much greater than 50/50, but the film is not without its tonal lapses. … Reiser has written his characters with an indelible sweetness and vulnerability, which allows the cast to deliver performances with some depth. So a situation such as Kyle insisting that Adam and he should cruise girls at a bar looking for sympathy lays — Cruisin’ with the Big C as it were — comes off as quite funny as does Adam’s first chemo session where he ingests weed-laced sweets created by a fellow patient’s wife and floats out of the hospital afterwards.” — Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

The Dissenters
“In the pantheon of tastelessness designed to make you laugh at diarrhea, menstruation, masturbation, yeast infections, fellatio and worse, you can now add a stupid horror called ’50/50.’ Artificial, irresponsible, filthy and forgettable, it knocks itself cross-eyed trying to make you roar with laughter at chemotherapy, with the nauseating Seth Rogen milking most of the yuks. But a stoner comedy about cancer? I don’t think so.” — Rex Reed, The New York Observer

The Final Word
“The reason ’50/50′ works is it’s not trying to force us into any particular emotion. It fits in the emerging category of sad-man comedies such as ‘Up in the Air’ and ‘Crazy, Stupid Love,’ telling its downbeat tale with tenderness, sincerity and warmth. ’50/50′ isn’t a cancer buddy comedy or a male weepie but a message movie. The message is that you can tackle pretty much any subject matter and tell a story any way you want to onscreen as long as it’s absorbing.” — Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Check out everything we’ve got on “50/50.”

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671815/50_50_joseph-gordon-levitt-seth-rogen-anna-kendrick.jhtml

Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor

Justin Bieber Drops ‘How To Love’ Acoustic Remix

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:05:01 +0000

Lil Wayne cover arrives ahead of Biebs’ forthcoming Christmas album.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images

First, it was Demi Lovato, and now, Justin Bieber is jumping on the Lil Wayne “How to Love” bandwagon. On Wednesday (September 28), the singer dropped his acoustic version of the ballad.

According to a tweet, from Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, Bieber, in addition to producing the track, played all the instruments on it as well. Braun also shared that there’s more new music coming out from Bieber, tweeting, “He has some more remixes coming too. right @seankingston.”

About a minute and a half into the track, Bieber even shows off his rapping skills when he spits, “I just want to take my time/ I just want to my thing/ Maybe we press rewind/ Maybe I buy that ring/ We could grow old together/ Just share our souls together/ Find how to love, kiss and hug/ How to roll together/ I just need you by my side/ Maybe we could be all right/ I just want to hold you right/ We can go into the night/ You’re the one I need.”

This week, Bieber heads to South America for a string of dates on the next leg of his My World Tour, and he had this message for all the Bieliebers out there: “U know what … I LOVE MY FANS!! and yeah i know there r haterz but u cant stop us from living our dream. hard work and this team. #wegohard.”

In related news, Bieber tweeted out the date “#nov1st,” perhaps a hint as to when his highly anticipated Christmas album will drop. The album, which will feature confirmed track “Falalalala” with Boyz II Men, is also rumored to contain collaborations with Sean Kingston and Taylor Swift, as well as a super-secret collaboration with “1 of the most #Legendary performers ever,” according to a tweet from Braun.

Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman said, “[Bieber] thought we’d be perfect for it. And we went in and locked in.”

Share your thoughts on Bieber’s version of “How to Love” in the comments below!

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Photos | Buddy Movies Justin Bieber And Ashton Kutcher Should Remake

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:59:58 +0000

Buddy Movies Justin Bieber And Ashton Kutcher Should Remake

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1661035

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T.I. Once Again A Free Man

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:54:54 +0000

Tip was just released from an Atlanta halfway house, his lawyer confirms to MTV News.
By Rob Markman

T.I.
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images

T.I. was released from a halfway house in Atlanta on Thursday (September 29) and has completed an 11-month sentence stemming from his 2010 arrest for drug possession, the rapper’s attorney confirmed to MTV News.

“I’m excited our family is back together,” T.I.’s wife, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, told MTV News in a statement. “Tip definitely completes us.”

“He’s out, he’s good,” T.I.’s manager and Grand Hustle partner, Jason Geter, told The Associated Press.

Tip’s legal drama began with his 2007 arrest and eventual sentence on felony weapons charges. The Trap Muzik rapper was sentenced to one year and one day in prison in 2009; he completed nine months of his bid but was arrested again in October 2010 while driving in Los Angeles. The L.A. County district attorney’s office declined to file drug charges against T.I. after finding narcotics in his vehicle, but the multiplatinum spitter violated his federal probation and was sentenced to serve 11 months in prison in October 2010.

According to the AP, T.I. will now have to serve one year of federal probation, but barring any infractions, there will be no more prison time.

It has been speculated that T.I. would make an appearance at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards, which are being taped in Atlanta on Saturday. When T.I. was arrested in 2007, it was just hours before that year’s BET ceremony.

T.I.’s buddy DJ Drama couldn’t confirm whether the King of the South would attend the festivities, but he did express his excitement about Tip’s return to the studio. “Me and Tip have been friends, working together for almost a decade now, so we know what we gotta do,” he said. “It’s really time to get to work and get to the music.”

T.I.’s record company, Atlantic Records, had no comment concerning the rapper’s release.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671754/ti-released-halfway-house.jhtml

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Justin Bieber Teases ‘Shocking’ Collaboration For Christmas Album

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:49:52 +0000

’1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!’ Bieber’s manager tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: WireImage

With rumored collaborations with Sean Kingston and Taylor Swift, as well as a confirmed track, “Falalalala,” with Boyz II Men, Bieber is hustling to get the album done.

“He thought we’d be perfect for it,” Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman said of their work with the star. “And we went in and locked in.”

“Wow. Just got an #epic phone call regarding @justinbieber xmas album. 1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!” Braun tweeted.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671192/justin-bieber-christmas-album-collab-tease.jhtml

Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra

Selena Gomez To Host 2011 MTV EMA

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:44:52 +0000

Actress/singer calls November 6 gig ‘a dream come true!’
By Gil Kaufman

Selena Gomez
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/ WireImage

Between romantic dates in empty basketball arenas with boyfriend Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez has found some time to squeeze in a new gig: host of the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Gomez, who got her hosting feet wet when she served as a special black-carpet correspondent at the 2011 MTV VMA pre-show in Los Angeles, will help celebrate the best in the world when the awards show touches down in Belfast, Ireland, at the Odyssey Arena on November 6.

“I’m so excited to be the host of the 2011 MTV EMA–it’s a dream come true!” Gomez said a statement announcing her gig. “This is such a huge event that always recognizes the biggest stars in music from across the globe, so it’s a real honour to be MC at this year’s show.”

Gomez has been on the road for the past few months promoting When the Sun Goes Down, the third album from her band, Selena Gomez and the Scene. Not only will she keep the action moving on the main stage at the EMA, but she will also tweet in the midst of the show and offer some behind-the-scenes dish on other social media platforms as the show is taking place.

Lady Gaga leads the EMA pack with six nominations, followed by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars with four and Adele, Justin Bieber and 30 Seconds to Mars with three. Other nominees include LMFAO, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, Jennifer Lopez, Foo Fighters and Snoop Dogg. American and Canadian audiences can vote for the North American nominee for the Worldwide Act EMA, who will represent the continent against contenders from across the globe.

Do you think Selena will do a good job as EMA host? Let us know in the comments!

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Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis

Gillian Anderson Is Not A Bossy Mom

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:40:04 +0000

Gillian Anderson doesn’t know why she keeps getting cast in bossy roles. The actress admits it took time to get used to her character in Johnny English Reborn because she is not strict with her kids Piper, 17, Oscar, 4, and Felix, 2.

Speaking at a London press conference for the movie she says, “I don’t know why I keep being cast as everybody’s boss because if you saw me in my real life, in my black jeans and my flip-flops running around a playground with my kids I’m very different. I keep being cast in these roles and it cracks me up! That in and of itself is funny enough for me to say, ‘Yes, why not, I’ll show you!’ “

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/gillian-anderson

Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther CaÃ±adas

Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry Nab MTV EMA Nods

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:34:57 +0000

Gaga leads Europe Music Awards nominees with six nods, including Best Video and Biggest Fans at November 6 show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV

Lady Gaga is ruling the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards nominees list.

Mother Monster, who nabbed six EMA nominations, is followed by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars with four noms; Adele, Justin Bieber and Thirty Seconds to Mars are each up for three.

Gaga is up for Best Female, Best Live Act, Best Pop Act, Best Song and Best Video for “Born This Way.” She scored the sixth nom in the Biggest Fans category, an honor she’ll share with her Little Monsters if she wins.

American and Canadian audiences can vote for the North American nominee for the Worldwide Act award, who will represent the continent at the EMAs against contenders from across the globe.

So, who will go head-to-head with the superstar? Adele’s unstoppable “Rolling in the Deep,” Bruno Mars’ “Grenade,” Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor” (featuring Pitbull) and Katy Perry’s “Firework” will go up against Gaga for Best Song.

For Best Pop, Britney Spears, Bieber, Perry, Rihanna and Gaga are set to face off, while Adele, Beyoncé, J.Lo, Katy and Gaga also made the final cut for Best Female.

Battling it out in the Best Male category are Bruno Mars, David Guetta, Bieber, Kanye West and Eminem, who’s also up for Best Hip Hop alongside Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Kanye West (a.k.a. the Throne), Pitbull and Snoop Dogg.

Coldplay, the Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Kings of Leon and Red Hot Chili Peppers are up for Best Rock. And the night’s big prize, Best Video, features the most eclectic mix of nominees: Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” the Beastie Boys’ “Make Some Noise,” Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls),” Justice’s “Civilization” and Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

On Monday morning (September 19), Bieber reacted to the nods on Twitter, writing, “Just got word that we got 3 MTV EMA Nominations for Best Male, Best Pop, Biggest Fans!! THANKS SO MUCH! LEt’s VOTE!!!”

Well, those fans better take note. Beliebers voting in the Biggest Fans category will face off against his girlfriend Selena Gomez‘s followers, Thirty Second to Mars’ devotees, Paramore’s biggest admirers and, of course, Lady Gaga’s Monsters.

The MTV Europe Music Awards air live on November 6 from Belfast, Ireland. For a complete list of nominees and to vote for your favorite artists, check out the MTV EMA website. Stick with MTV News as we roll out more information on performers and presenters.

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Heidi Klum & Gisele Bundchen in the July/August issue of GQ Russia magazine

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:30:03 +0000

They?re both easy on the eyes, and Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen are featured in the July/August issue of GQ Russia magazine.

The ?Project Runway? stunner appears on the cover, looking super sexy as she covers her topless torso with her hands.

Meanwhile, Ms. Bundchen goes for the birthday suit look inside the issue, maintaining her modesty with a strategic pose.

Additionally, Gisele is on four different covers of the July issue of Vogue Brazil magazine, showing her impressive modeling range.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/models/heid-klum/heidi-klum-gisele-bundchen-in-the-julyaugust-issue-of-gq-russia-magazine/

Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino

Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo Have A Few Royal Wedding Gift Ideas

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:24:59 +0000

From ‘guyliner’ to American delicacies like Uncrustables, Kathy Griffin, Mike Posner and more tell us what they’d get Will and Kate.
By Terri Schwartz

Kate Middleton and Prince William
Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty Images

What kind of wedding gift do you give the royal couple who has everything?

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is on Friday (April 29), so MTV News reached out to some of our favorite Hollywood celebrities — from Ke$ha to Adam Lambert. Fortunately, they had some solid ideas!

“I haven’t met them, so it would be kind of awkward,” the “Tik Tok” singer admitted to MTV News. “I might paint them something. Maybe I’ll paint them a guitar.”

Like Ke$ha, other celebs had suggestions that were from the heart, even if they weren’t the most practical.

“I will go out on a limb and say these two individuals maybe haven’t had Uncrustables before in their life. I would get them a strawberry Uncrustable,” Mike Posner said about the pastry.

David Cook followed up on the all-American food idea. “I feel like they have everything except maybe they probably don’t have an Applebee’s gift card. I’ll go [with an] Applebee’s gift card,” the “American Idol” alum said.

Other stars said they’d gift the British prince and soon-to-be-princess with an item they were personally best known for.

“I’d probably buy William some eyeliner,” Lambert said. “He could do that, he could rock that look. I think.”

Ne-Yo was more empathetic, saying he would give gifts that could help shield them from photographers and blend in with everyday people. “Three years’ supply of sunglasses. Yeah, put them on. A bunch of baseball caps, throw those on, and try to move around like regular people,” the singer said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like having to live under that big of a magnifying glass your whole life … and fake mustaches, that’s what I’d give them.”

Brooke Burke went the more traditional route, saying she would get Will and Kate a journal to record the big event. “I would ask them to really take the time to write down thoughts and phrases and wishes,” Burke said. “And not really to lose sight of how they feel about each other now and to really hold on to that feeling.”

Kathy Griffin had good intentions but the comedian couldn’t resist a puke joke.

“If I had to get the royal couple a gift, I would get them the Royal Couple Vomit Bag, which someone sent me a photo of,” Griffin told us. “So you can actually buy vomit bags with their image on it, and I think that that is an honor and I hope that they see it as such.”

What would you give to William and Kate? Share your ideas in the comments section!

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Photos | Canadian Hotties On Canada Day

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 06:20:23 +0000

Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser

Beyonce At VMAs And More Public Baby Reveals

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:34:53 +0000

Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez have also taken to live audiences to break the news.
By James Dinh

Beyonce on the 2011 VMA black carpet
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Post Your Well Wishes For Jay and Bey on Facebook.

Beyoncé is now among the ranks of other starlets who have chosen creative venues to reveal the anticipated news. Take a look at how some other A-list moms revealed their baby bumps:

Which is your favorite celebrity pregnancy announcement? Share your thoughts below!

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Beyonce’s Big Night At The 2011 VMAs

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669931/beyonce-pregnant-baby-jay-z.jhtml

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Lady Gaga And Cher Make ‘History’ On ‘Greatest Thing’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:29:59 +0000

Producer RedOne tells MTV News how the Gaga track turned into one seriously epic duet.
By Kara Warner

Cher and Lady Gaga
Photo: Picture Group

For all the Lady Gaga and Cher fans out there who fainted at the news that two of pop music’s biggest stars have teamed up on a soon-to-be released record, your wait is almost over!

Cher herself confirmed via Twitter back in August that we would hear “The Greatest Thing” sometime in September, and because the month is quickly coming to an end, we should only have a few more days to wait to hear the highly anticipated track.

To hold you over until the release, MTV News recently caught up with RedOne, the producer mastermind behind the soon-to-be hit, to find out how the song came to be and why everyone will love it.

“[Gaga and I] recorded the song a few years ago, and we were always in the studio enjoying that song. It’s weird we never did anything with it,” he said. “So I remember my management and Cher’s management were trying to get us together, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’d love to meet Cher, just to meet her!’ And so I met her, I played her some songs, and I played her ‘The Greatest Thing,’ and she loved it. She said, ‘This is my song,’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s your song.’ ”

RedOne said he let Gaga know via text message, and she was ecstatic. Then, about a month later, Red received a text from Gaga that inspired an epic pairing.

“I cut the vocals with Cher first, and I was in Madrid and got a text from Gaga saying, ‘I’m thinking about jumping on the song in the remix,’ ” he recalled. “I was like, ‘No, you should jump on the original! Make it a duet.’ She said, ‘Oh yes, OK, absolutely,’ and then I spoke to Cher, and it became a party.

“Everybody loved it,” he added. “Gaga on it, Cher, two big icons, [they are] part of music history. So it happened. I’m very happy to be a part of this.”

Of course, RedOne wouldn’t reveal when we’ll hear the track, only that it’s coming soon.

What are you expecting from a Gaga/Cher duet? Let us know in the comments below!

Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump

Jack Osbourne Engaged To Actress Lisa Stelly

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:25:01 +0000

Girlfriend announces engagement to former star of MTV’s ‘The Osbournes’ via Twitter.
By Jocelyn Vena

Jack Osbourne
Photo: Getty Images

Jack Osbourne is ready to tie the knot! The former MTV reality star popped the question to girlfriend Lisa Stelly after dating for four months.

The heir to the throne of darkness is “a great influence on her. It’s just no drama. More stable,” a source told Us Weekly about the duo.

Over the summer, Jack appeared on Howard Stern’s show to talk about a documentary he was making about his father, Ozzy Osbourne, and also chatted about his relationship.

Stelly took to her Twitter account on Thursday night to share the good news: “The most amazing man I’ve ever met asked me to marry him….and he wasn’t joking! Crazy, right?”

While 24-year-old aspiring actress Stelly’s résumé is still light, Osbourne has maintained a presence in Hollywood since he appeared with his family on the hit MTV series “The Osbournes.” The reality show had an impressive three-year run before ending in 2005. Jack later starred in his own U.K. reality show, “Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie,” for two seasons.

The 25-year-old has been keeping busy making television appearances on shows like “Armed & Famous” and “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! NOW!” The family even tried their hand at variety TV in 2009 with Fox’s “Osbournes Reloaded.” The show lasted just one season.

Osbourne, who has spoken out about his battles with substance abuse over the years, documented his dad Ozzy’s life, including his struggles with drugs and alcohol, in the 2011 film “God Bless Ozzy Osbourne.”

Share your congratulations for the couple in the comments!

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671790/jack-osbourne-engaged.jhtml

Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon

Photos | Photos From Lady Gaga’s ‘MTV First’ Special

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:20:06 +0000

Photos From Lady Gaga’s ‘MTV First’ Special

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1669344

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List of winners from the 2011 ESPY Awards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:14:54 +0000

On Wednesday night (July 13), the 2011 ESPY Awards took place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Hosted by SNL funnyman Seth Meyers, the Dallas Mavericks emerged as the big winners of the night, as the NBA Champions took home Best Team accolades while Rick Carlisle was named Best Coach and Dirk Nowitzki garnered Best NBA Player and Best Male Athlete trophies.

With skier Lindsey Vonn being named Best Female Athlete, another big winner was Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, as he won Best MLB Player and Best Moment.

Meanwhile, there was plenty of star power on hand, as celebrity presenters included Justin Bieber, who was joined by girlfriend Selena Gomez, along with big names such as Justin Timberlake, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Kendra Wilkinson, Brooklyn Decker, Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds.

The complete list of winners from the 2011 ESPY Awards is as follows, and enjoy the pictures from the event below!

Best Male Athlete
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
Rafael Nadal, Tennis
WINNER: Dirk Nowitzki, NBA
Aaron Rodgers, NFL

Best Female Athlete
Kelly Clark, Snowboarding
Lauren Jackson, WNBA
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
WINNER: Lindsey Vonn, Skiing

Best Championship Performance
Tim Lincecum, 2010 MLB Postseason
WINNER: Tim Thomas, Stanley Cup Finals
Kemba Walker, Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament
Serena Williams, 2010 Wimbledon

Best Breakthrough Athlete
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
Arian Foster, Houston Texans
WINNER: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Li Na, Tennis
Cam Newton, Auburn Tigers

Best Record-Breaking Performance
WINNER: Ray Allen, NBA three-point record
Rory McIlroy, U.S. Open
Derrick Rose, youngest player to win NBA MVP
UConn Women’s Basketball, longest win streak

Best Upset
Blame over Zenyatta, Breeder’s Cup
Fabricio Werdum stuns Fedor Emelianenko, MMA
Seahawks upset Saints, NFL Wild Card Playoffs
WINNER: VCU, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

Best Game
Auburn beats Alabama, Iron Bowl
Butler upsets Pittsburgh, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
WINNER: Eagles rally to beat the Giants, NFL
Oklahoma City edges Memphis in triple-OT, NBA Playoffs

Best Moment
Fennville HS Basketball Team, High school basketball tournament run
WINNER: Roy Halladay Postseason No-Hitter, MLB
Trevor Bayne at Daytona 500, NASCAR

Best Team
Auburn Football
Boston Bruins
WINNER: Dallas Mavericks
Green Bay Packers
San Francisco Giants
Texas A&M Women’s Basketball

Castrol Edge Performance Under Pressure Award
WINNER: Arian Foster, Houston Texans
DeAngelo Hall, Washington
Leon Washington, Seattle

Best Sports Movie
WINNER: The Fighter
Secretariat
Soul Surfer
Win Win

Best Coach/Manager
Jim Calhoun, Connecticut Basketball
WINNER: Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks
Gene Chizik, Auburn Football
Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Dom Starsia, Virginia Lacrosse

Best NFL Player
Tom Brady, New England
Arian Foster, Houston
Clay Matthews Jr., Green Bay
Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh
WINNER: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Best MLB Player
Jose Bautista, Toronto
WINNER: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
Josh Hamilton, Texas
Felix Hernandez, Seattle
Joey Votto, Cincinnati

Best NHL Player
Corey Perry, Anaheim
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay
WINNER: Tim Thomas, Boston

Best Driver
Greg Anderson
John Force
Dario Franchitti
WINNER: Jimmie Johnson

Best NBA Player
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
LeBron James, Miami
WINNER: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
Derrick Rose, Chicago

Best WNBA Player
Tamika Catchings, Indiana
Lauren Jackson, Seattle
Cappie Pondexter, New York
WINNER: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix

Best Fighter
Bernard Hopkins
Jon “Bones” Jones
Sergio Martinez
WINNER: Manny Pacquiao
George St. Pierre

Best Male Golfer
Luke Donald
Jim Furyk
Graeme McDowell
WINNER: Rory McIlroy
Charl Schwartzel

Best Female Golfer
Na Yeon Choi
WINNER: Cristie Kerr
Jiyai Shin
Yani Tseng

Best Male Tennis Player
Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer
WINNER: Rafael Nadal

Best Female Tennis Player
Kim Clijsters
Li Na
WINNER: Serena Williams
Caroline Wozniacki

Best Male College Athlete
WINNER: Jimmer Fredette, BYU Basketball
Andy Miele, Miami-Ohio Hockey
Cam Newton, Auburn Football
Rob Pannell, Cornell Lacrosse
Kemba Walker, Connecticut Basketball

Best Female College Athlete
Blair Brown, Penn State Volleyball
Dallas Escobedo, Arizona State Softball
Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame Soccer
Katinka Hosszu, USC Swimming
WINNER: Maya Moore, Connecticut Basketball

Best Male Action Sport Athlete
Tucker Hibbert, Snowmobiling
Travis Pastrana, Motocross
Kevin Rolland, Freestyle Skiing
Kelly Slater, Surfing
WINNER: Shaun White, Snowboarding

Best Female Action Sport Athlete
Sarah Burke, Freestyle Skier
Kelly Clark, Snowboarding
Ashley Fiolek, Motocross
WINNER: Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing

Best Jockey
Ramon Dominguez
Garrett Gomez
WINNER: John Velasquez

Best Male Athlete with a Disability
Chris Devlin-Young
WINNER: Anthony Robles
Aaron Scheidies
Jerome Singleton
Steve Wampler

Best Female Athlete with a Disability
Allison Jones
Tatyana McFadden
Alana Nichols
Melissa Stockwell
WINNER: Mallory Weggemann

Best Bowler
Chris Barnes
WINNER: Jason Belmonte
Mika Koivuniemi
Bill O’Neill

Best MLS Player
Edson Buddle, Los Angeles
WINNER: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles
David Ferreira, Dallas
Chris Wondolowski, San Jose

Best Track and Field Athlete
Allyson Felix
WINNER: Tyson Gay
David Oliver

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/justin-timberlake/list-of-winners-from-the-2011-espy-awards/

Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

‘Transformers: Dark Of The Moon’ On Blu-Ray: Optimus Prime Speaks!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:10:21 +0000

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-blu-ray-optimus-prime/

Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips

Kim & Kourtney Kardashian: Glammed Up in NYC

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:04:58 +0000

Back in the Big Apple after a brief visit to Connecticut, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian were all glammed up as they departed their downtown New York City hotel on Friday (September 30).

The two reality star sisters continued with their busy schedules, as Kim tweeted, “Had an incredible experience today. Met w John Edward from the show Crossing Over. Ironically on the anniversary of my dads passing.”

In related news, it has just recently been announced that Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kris and Bruce will each take a turn sitting in for Kathie Lee Gifford and host the ?Today? show alongside Hoda Kotb next week.

On Monday, Khloe will kick the Kardashian/Jenner lineup off while followed by Bruce on Tuesday, Kris on Wednesday, Kourtney on Thursday, and Kim capping the week off by appearing on the hit morning show on Friday.

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kim-kardashian/kim-kourtney-kardashian-glammed-nyc-548825

Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:15 +0000

Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls

Photos | Canadian Hotties On Canada Day

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:55:02 +0000

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/anne-hathaway/anne-hathaway-at-the-white-fairy-tale-love-ball/

Anne Hathaway at ?The White Fairy Tale Love Ball?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:50:05 +0000

On Wednesday night (July 6), Anne Hathaway dazzled at ‘The White Fairy Tale Love Ball’ at Chateau de Wideville in Crespieres, France.

Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele BÃ¼ndchen Giuliana DePandi

Jack, My Narcoleptic Nephew Update

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:44:59 +0000

Remember when I wrote this post about how my nephew Jack can sleep anywhere?

Well, here’s the latest:

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/6/17/jack-my-narcoleptic-nephew-update.html

Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele BÃ¼ndchen Giuliana DePandi

Melissa McCarthy: Motherhood Made Me Less Insecure About My Looks

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:39:58 +0000

For years, Melissa McCarthy has been the proverbial comedic "best friend" sidekick — but now she’s finally in the spotlight.

The funny lady is having the best year of her career: She won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike and Molly and chewed up the scenery in the blockbuster comedy ensemble Bridesmaids. But the role McCarthy, 41, savors the most isn’t professional — it’s being mother to her two young daughters, Vivian, 4, and Georgette, 1.

Parenting her girls with actor-husband Ben Falcone (he was the Air Marshal in Bridesmaids) has had a profound effect on McCarthy’s self-esteem, she tells The Hollywood Reporter.

"The stupid stuff, like what I wear or how I look, I can’t control, so I just try not to give too much energy to it," she says, referring to her postpartum body as a work in progress. "At 20, I would have been like: ‘Don’t they like me? Was it my hair?’ At 41, I think the things that define me, I hope, are a lot more than those kinds of petty things." ??

But McCarthy does care about fashion — she even designed her own Emmys gown with the help of custom dressmaker Daniella Pearl. And as a plus-sized actress, McCarthy has to have a healthy sense of humor about her red-carpet options.

"Trying to find stuff that’s still fashion-forward in my size is damn near impossible. It’s either for like a 98-year-old woman or a 14-year-old hooker, and there is nothing in the middle," McCarthy jokes.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/melissa-mccarthy-motherhood-made-me-less-insecure-about-my-looks/1-a-387172

Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi

Usher Says New ‘Rev Pop’ Project Is A ‘Movement’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:35:25 +0000

Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like ‘Yeah!’ and ‘OMG.’
By James Montgomery

Usher
Photo: MTV News

With the success of songs like “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” “Hot Tottie” and “OMG,” Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he’s looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a “movement.”

It’s something he’s calling “Rev Pop” — or, simply, “Rev” — and though he’s already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn’t reveal much, he did let it be known that “Rev” isn’t exactly something new. In fact, he’s been doing it for a while now.

“I’ll give it to you this way: At a later date, I’ll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I’ve done it before, I did it with ‘Yeah!’ ” he said, “taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with ‘OMG,’ once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.

“It’s bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here,” he said, gesturing toward his heart, “And that’s what Rev Pop is. There’s more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that’s just what I’m going to tell you right now. ‘Rev’ is what it’s called … the movement is called Rev.”

Usher wouldn’t say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they’re going to be impressed … if not a little shocked.

“Stay alive,” he smiled, “Because you’re definitely going to be in for a surprise.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658043/usher-rev-pop.jhtml

Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish Adriana Lima

Britney Spears To Shoot ‘Criminal’ Video In England

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:30:08 +0000

Singer also graces the cover of U.K. Glamour before European leg of Femme Fatale Tour kicks off.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Before Britney Spears kicks off the European leg of her Femme Fatale Tour later this month, she is taking care of a little business in England. Spears took to Twitter to reveal that the country would serve as the locale for her “Criminal” video.

“So excited to stop over in the UK before I start my European tour in a few weeks,” she tweeted. “Can’t wait! I LOVE London, it’s like my second home. Decided to shoot the ‘Criminal’ video in the streets of merry old England when I get there…”

The news of the video shoot comes a week or so after the singer revealed to MTV News that her next single would be the Femme Fatale slow jam. She also teased that she had some interesting ideas for the video.

“The song, when I first heard it, it’s really different and it’s not anything I’ve heard like this before,” she told us backstage at the VMAs. “So I really wanted to deliver this song. I was thinking of a really cool concept for the video just to make it interesting. You’ll have to see.”

Vote for Britney Spears’ “I Wanna Go” in our Song of the Summer poll over on the Newsroom blog!

Just in time for her Euro trip, Spears also graces the cover of Glamour‘s U.K. edition. In the magazine, the singer opens up about her next personal milestone: turning the big 3-0.

“I think the older you get, the wiser you get,” she said. “I can’t wait. I’m really excited and definitely gonna celebrate and do something spectacular. I’m gonna be in South America so I’ll have to do something pretty fun. A carnival of Britney?”

Spears wears a dress with sequins and feathers on the cover, and in the article, she says she’d love to have William and Kate stop by one of her shows in London. “That would be amazing. That would be really crazy and cool. I think they’re a beautiful couple,” she said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get to watch the [royal] wedding, but I heard it was beautiful.”

Does Britney Spears’ “I Wanna Go” have the people’s support as Song of the Summer? Check out the video below to find out!

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Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale

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Britney Spears

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1670262/britney-spears-criminal-video-england-uk.jhtml

Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag

Britney Spears – 3

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:24:55 +0000

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Jive Label Group
Director: Diane Martel

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=452061

Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie Amy Cobb

Who Would You Rather Date: Seth Rogen or Chris Evans?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:19:53 +0000

When it comes to picking the perfect guy, what’s more important: a sense of humor or good looks?

What’s Your Number? star Chris Evans and 50/50 star Seth Rogen are both adorable in their own ways — and they both have movies opening Sept. 30! If you had to pick, which actor would you rather cuddle up to? Rogen would surely keep you laughing with his quick wit, but who can argue with Evans’ rock-hard abs?

Tell us your thoughts, ladies! Want to know what you think!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/who-would-you-rather-date-seth-rogen-or-chris-evans/1-a-387011

Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra Carol Grow

Ashley Tisdale & Leah Remini Parody ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:14:53 +0000

It’s hard to watch TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras without wondering: What will these kids be like when they get older? That’s the question that Leah Remini and Ashley Tisdale attempt to answer in this hilarious new video from Funny or Die. Watch below!

You know it’s a good parody when it seems weirdly plausible! In this pretend "Where are They Now?" special, Tisdale plays a grown version of Mackenzie, the 4-year-old diva from the TLC show’s third season. At 25, we learn, Mackenzie is still shrieking at her mother (Leah Remini), crying for her pacifier ("Ni-ni!") and competing in beauty pageants… in the 5-to-7-year-old category.

"We feel she really does shine in this particular group," Remini explains, as if it’s perfectly logical. (Is it any less logical than spending six figures on pageant costumes for a 4-year-old?)

There’s also a great dig at the ridiculous get-ups that pageant moms coerce their kids into (like this year’s infamous "Pretty Woman" outfit).

"As Makenzie grew, some of the judges were concerned that her outfits were too ‘promiscuous’ — but when she was younger, they were ‘cute’?" scoffs Remini. "Please. Semantics."

Even though Remini gets the best lines, it’s Tisdale that gets the biggest laughs out of this video. The former High School Musical villain has proven her excellent timing as the voice of Candace on the cartoon Phineas & Ferb, and here she shows that she can do sketch comedy with the best of them. Somebody ought to give this girl her own sitcom — or she may be forced to scream "Ni-ni" again!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/ashley-tisdale-leah-remini-parody-toddlers-tiaras/1-a-386778

Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth RÃ¶hm Elisha Cuthbert

Prince Harry: Florence Brudenell-Bruce new Girlfriend

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:10:21 +0000

According to “The Sun,” the 26-year-old redhead has taken to numerous secret trysts with leggy swimwear and lingerie model, even spending intimate get-a-ways at her pricey Notting Hill pad.

He?s finally moving on from Chelsy Davy, and Prince Harry has chosen a super-hottie with whom to spend his time – Florence Brundenell-Bruce.

According to a report, the British Royal and the lovely lingerie model have been seeing each other for a few months, now, though they?ve kept their relationship under wraps.

However, when Harry finally declared that his on/off relationship with Chelsy was over for good, news began to break that Florence was his new leading lady.

An insider told press, ?It?s very early days but Harry and Florence are an item. She is a lot of fun, blond and very good looking. Harry really likes her.?

Ms. Brudenell-Bruce comes from a wealthy family of wine merchants, and has her own $3 million home in Notting Hill, London.

The much-talked about twosome met years ago, but have become much more cozy as of recent, following Harry’s “final” split with long-time love interest Chelsy Davy.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/general/celebrity-couples/prince-harry-florence-brudenell-bruce-new-girlfriend/

Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther CaÃ±adas Eva Green Eva Longoria

Usher – Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:05:06 +0000

Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)

Artist: Usher
Label: JLG
Director: Chris Robinson
Album: Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=476362

Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso

‘Bunraku’: Five Reasons To See Josh Hartnett’s Latest Action Ride

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 03:00:06 +0000

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/bunraku-five-reasons-to-see-josh-hartnetts-latest-action-ride/

Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke China Chow

Photos | Ke$ha, Chris Brown Heat Up The Us Hot Hollywood Party

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:55:18 +0000

Ke$ha, Chris Brown Heat Up The Us Hot Hollywood Party

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Ke$ha

Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1652662

Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards

‘Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ Cast Joins The ‘New Class’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:50:00 +0000

All week long, we’re celebrating “The New Class,” Hollywood’s latest group of up-and-coming actors and actresses on the cusp of graduating to greatness. Tune in every day this week for exclusive interviews with these pending graduates and your chance to vote for the student body president – the one you think holds the brightest future [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/29/perks-of-being-a-wallflower-cast-joins-the-new-class/

Carol Grow Carrie Underwood Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West

Celebrity Babies 2011

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:45:42 +0000

The actor and wife Kelly Tisdale have their first child! Plus, see more stars who welcomed new bundles of joy

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-babies-2011/1-b-16266

Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson January Jones

Ashton Kutcher: Kabbalah Center Stud

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:39:57 +0000

Stepping out for a visit to the Kabbalah center in Los Angeles, CA ? a solo Ashton Kutcher was spotted outside the building on Friday (September 30).

The ?Killers? actor looked dapper in a suit and tie, but was in no mood for his picture to be taken by the on-hand paparazzi.

In recent news, the gossip mill has been abuzz all week long with rumors that Kutcher and wife Demi Moore are having troubles in their marriage and are headed for divorce.

Although the spouses have been making solo appearances as of late, Ashton was spotted out yesterday still sporting his wedding ring and later tweeting, ?Don?t Believe the Hype.?

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/ashton-kutcher/ashton-kutcher-kabbalah-center-stud-548808

Denise Richards Desiree Dymond Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird

Jennifer Aniston Justin Theroux Photos

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:35:00 +0000

The actress and her new beau happily bask in their romance during a trip to the Big Apple.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/jennifer-aniston-justin-theroux-photos/1-b-386249

Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano

Heidi Klum: August 2011 issue of Glamour

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:30:05 +0000

She?s less than two years away from being over the hill, but Heidi Klum is not letting that stop her from oozing sexiness.

The Victoria?s Secret bombshell shows off her slim figure in nothing but a pair of J Brand jeans, a floppy hat and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses in the August 2011 issue of Glamour.

Opening up to the magazine about her healthy sex life with husband Seal, Heidi explained how the couple keeps things hot in the bedroom.

She revealed, “There’s nothing wrong with a nice garter belt,” she tells the mag. “I’m not saying you have to put up a pole in your bedroom and start swinging off the rafters. But I love that sometimes! My husband and I just had a ‘sexy week’ in London. I’d put on a super-short skirt with a garter belt on underneath so that when I’d sit, he could see it. It’s fun to sauce it up a little bit.”

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/models/heid-klum/4612/

Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag

Five Reasons To See Seth Rogen And Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s ’50/50′

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:25:21 +0000

In a nutshell, “50/50″ is movie about an otherwise average 27-year-old guy named Adam who gets diagnosed with cancer, and what happens to his life and the people in it when faced with 50/50 odds of survival.
Unlike most of the generic, forgettable fare that Hollywood churns out each year, this film is something special. [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/30/50-50-movie-review/

Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell Carla Gugino

Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry Nab MTV EMA Nods

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:19:57 +0000

Gaga leads Europe Music Awards nominees with six nods, including Best Video and Biggest Fans at November 6 show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV

Lady Gaga is ruling the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards nominees list.

Mother Monster, who nabbed six EMA nominations, is followed by Katy Perry and Bruno Mars with four noms; Adele, Justin Bieber and Thirty Seconds to Mars are each up for three.

American and Canadian audiences can vote for the North American nominee for the Worldwide Act award, who will represent the continent at the EMAs against contenders from across the globe.

For Best Pop, Britney Spears, Bieber, Perry, Rihanna and Gaga are set to face off, while Adele, Beyoncé, J.Lo, Katy and Gaga also made the final cut for Best Female.

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Ke$ha – Your Love Is My Drug

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:14:59 +0000

Your Love Is My Drug

Artist: Ke$ha
Label: RCA
Director: Honey

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=516772

Dido Diora Baird Dita Von Teese Dominique Swain Donna Feldman

Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:10:04 +0000

Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly Eve

Photos | 2011 Billboard Music Awards

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 02:05:08 +0000

2011 Billboard Music Awards

Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan

Kim & Kourtney Kardashian: Glammed Up in NYC

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:59:57 +0000

Back in the Big Apple after a brief visit to Connecticut, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian were all glammed up as they departed their downtown New York City hotel on Friday (September 30).

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kim-kardashian/kim-kourtney-kardashian-glammed-nyc-548825

Adrianne Palicki Aisha Tyler Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio

Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:54:54 +0000

2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento

Michael Jackson – Gone Too Soon

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:50:12 +0000

Gone Too Soon

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Director: Bill Dicicco
Album: Dangerous

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208381

Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto

Seth Rogen Says ’50/50′ Head-Shaving Scene Was Improvised

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:44:52 +0000

‘My heart was beating hard,’ Joseph Gordon-Levitt tells MTV News.
By Amy Wilkinson

Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen in “50/50″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

If the Summit Entertainment marketing machine has done its job, you’ve probably seen the eye-catching movie posters for the studio’s latest release “50/50.” The goofy one-sheet depicts a memorable scene from the film in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s cancer-stricken Adam shaves his head, while a dubious Adam (played by Seth Rogen) looks on.

It’s one of the movie’s many lighthearted moments, adding levity to what could otherwise be a downer drama. But according to the film’s stars, the take wasn’t as carefree as it may have looked.

“My heart was beating hard, because we only had one take because you can’t shave your head twice. It doesn’t work,” Gordon-Levitt said at the “50/50″ premiere earlier this week in New York. “Normally, you can always do it over again when you’re making movies. You get a take two. But we only got take one, and it worked.”

Apparently, Gordon-Levitt had another reason to be nervous about the scene — it wasn’t scripted. According to producer and co-star Rogen, the two just played it by ear.

“We only had one shot at it,” Rogen recalled. “It was the first day of filming, and we improvised the whole thing, which is not wise when it’s something you have one take for, but it turned out funny. It went exactly how you see it in the movie, which was pretty good, I think.”

You can judge Gordon-Levitt’s razor skills for yourself: “50/50,” co-starring Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston, opened Friday (September 30).

Check out everything we’ve got on “50/50.”

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671777/50-50-seth-rogen-joseph-gordon-levitt-head-shave.jhtml

Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani

Photos | Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:39:55 +0000

Led Zeppelin Reunite At London Concert

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1576195

Brooke Burke Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson

Justin Bieber – Eenie Meenie

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:35:07 +0000

Eenie Meenie

Artist: Justin Bieber
Label: Epic, Beluga Heights
Director: Ray Kay
Album: My World 2.0

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3187077&vid=512194

Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge

Los Angeles

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:30:16 +0000

I’m here! I’m here! And I saw my first gang-banger get arrested yesterday so I feel like a total Angeleno.

I’m getting ready to go to the gym (again, like a total Angeleno!) so I will update later about my run-ins with Alexander Skarsgard, Pauly Shore, and Jeremy or Jason London (I’m not sure which one it was and seeing if I could force him to do drugs to find out seemed unfair. Besides, as it turned out, he was telling the truth?)

Anyhoo, I’ve got a lot to tell you about gardening! (Did you know if you get dirt wet it turns into mud? Yuck.)

And bumpers! (They don’t bump off anything… they go, “Scraaaaaaaatch!”)

And there’s probably more but, again, I have to go because I have to get to the gym!

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/6/9/los-angeles.html

Jennifer Gareis Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison

Britney Spears – Break the Ice

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:25:12 +0000

Break the Ice

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Robert Hales
Album: Blackout

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=215555

Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle

Kelly Osbourne: Pretty in Pink

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:19:55 +0000

Stepping out to host ?Extra? alongside Mario Lopez, Kelly Osbourne was spotted at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA on Friday (September 30).

The reality TV star looked freshly coiffed and rocked a rocker-esque ensemble as she happily co-hosted the entertainment news show.

In other news, Kelly?s baby brother, Jack, recently got engaged to aspiring actress, Lisa Stelly.

Of the exciting news, Kelly tweeted, “I guess you’re not my little brother anymore. I’m so unbelievably proud of the man you have become! I’m so happy for you and Lisa!”

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kelly-osbourne/kelly-osbourne-pretty-pink-548794

Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther CaÃ±adas

Photos | Michael Jackson’s ‘Michael’ Cover Decoded

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:14:54 +0000

Michael Jackson’s ‘Michael’ Cover Decoded

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1651606

Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh

Around the Web?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:09:53 +0000

Happy Thursday! Give today’s links a click: Susan Lucci‘s daughter, Liza Huber, shares do-it-yourself baby food recipes ? Good Morning America Who should cut the cord when your baby’s born? ? Momformation.com The five most expensive states for day care ? CNN.com Rosh Hashanah crafts the whole family can do together ? Babble.com Babies bond [...]

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/kHdnPd1HKHA/

Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth RÃ¶hm Elisha Cuthbert

Engaged Celebs: They Put a Ring on It!

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:04:58 +0000

The former reality star will tie the knot with Lisa Stelly! See more stars who are planning to tie the knot

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/engaged-celebs-they-put-ring-it/1-b-277661

Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen

Photos | Canadian Hotties On Canada Day

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:00:23 +0000

Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin

Usher – Lil Freak

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:54:55 +0000

Lil Freak

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Raymond V. Raymond

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563

Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell

Selena Gomez To Host 2011 MTV EMA

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:49:54 +0000

Actress/singer calls November 6 gig ‘a dream come true!’
By Gil Kaufman

Selena Gomez
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/ WireImage

Between romantic dates in empty basketball arenas with boyfriend Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez has found some time to squeeze in a new gig: host of the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Do you think Selena will do a good job as EMA host? Let us know in the comments!

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Likes or Yikes? Rihanna Is Fat, Kim K. Is Annoying and Bravo’s Chris March

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:44:54 +0000

Chime in on the week’s hottest entertainment stories!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/likes-or-yikes-rihanna-fat-kim-k-annoying-and-bravos-chris-march/1-h-387123

Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone

Lily Collins Is Our New Class’ ‘Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door’

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:39:56 +0000

With ‘Mortal Instruments’ and ‘Snow White’ still to come, the badass-yet-relatable actress is destined for mega-fame.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Kara Warner

Lily Collins
Photo: MTV News

We called it way back in January: Lily Collins was an actress to watch in 2011.

At that point, her career was just heating up following a turn as Sandra Bullock’s daughter in “The Blind Side.” An impressive series of castings in high-profile films followed: “Priest,” “Abduction” opposite Taylor Lautner and an adaptation of the best-selling YA series “The Mortal Instruments.” A few months later, she landed the role of Snow White in Relativity Media’s Julia Roberts-starring take on the fairy tale.

Collins is making good on our predictions, which is why we’ve selected her as part of our New Class — a collection of young talent about to rise to the top of Hollywood, including her “Mortal Instruments” co-star Jamie Campbell Bower. With her badass-yet-relatable roles, Collins is our New Class’ “Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door.”

Though she’s had all of 2011 to get used to the spotlight, the whole celebrity thing continues to feel odd.

“It feels very surreal,” she told us at the “Abduction” red carpet. “It’s weird getting out of a car and people are saying my name. It’s still a weird concept to me.”

Give her time. Collins told us she’d like to model her career after Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet or Meryl Streep. “I like that none of them have stuck themselves in a box,” she said. “They’ve done all sorts of roles — comedic, dramatic, they’ve gone from indies to big motion pictures. I love their choices.”

And she’s a fan of the New Class itself, which includes not only Bower, but Emma Watson, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev.

“It’s an honor to be placed in the New Class of actors,” Collins said. “I’m doing what I love, and I’m having the best time.”

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671507/lily-collins-mortal-instruments.jhtml

Photos | How Justin Bieber Should Spend His Summer Vacation

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:36:17 +0000

How Justin Bieber Should Spend His Summer Vacation

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1667690

Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara

Photos | Britney Spears’ ‘I Wanna Go’ Video: Pop References

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:29:53 +0000

Britney Spears’ ‘I Wanna Go’ Video: Pop References

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1666233

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Britney Spears And Jo Calderone: A VMA Romance?

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:24:59 +0000

Lady Gaga’s male alter ego even got fresh with Brit after her VMA tribute.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by James Montgomery

Britney Spears and Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone backstage at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Getty Images

“It was interesting, her character,” Spears later told MTV News about the encounter, even dishing how the kiss between the two took place. “We got onstage and we felt it out.”

Click here to see Beyonce’s baby bump, the kiss between Britney and Lady Gaga and more.

He took it like a gentleman, adding, “I don’t want Gaga to get pissed.”

So was Gaga completely Calderone the whole time? “She’s in full character,” Spears later added. “Yes, definitely.”

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Photos | iHeartRadio Festival Rocks Las Vegas

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:20:22 +0000

iHeartRadio Festival Rocks Las Vegas

Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin

Heidi Klum: August 2011 issue of Glamour

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:15:04 +0000

She?s less than two years away from being over the hill, but Heidi Klum is not letting that stop her from oozing sexiness.

The Victoria?s Secret bombshell shows off her slim figure in nothing but a pair of J Brand jeans, a floppy hat and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses in the August 2011 issue of Glamour.

Opening up to the magazine about her healthy sex life with husband Seal, Heidi explained how the couple keeps things hot in the bedroom.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/models/heid-klum/4612/

Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum

Photos | Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:10:45 +0000

Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1620796

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Best Website Builder Competition Has Been Announced By FreeCustomWebsite.com

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:07:06 +0000

Riverside, CA (PRWEB) September 21, 2011

Custom Websites are normally thought of as expensive and time consuming. Free websites are normally thought of as cheap and unappealing. Free Custom Websites are a business man or woman’s dream.

FreeCustomWebsite.com has announced a Best Website Builder competition. FreeCustomWebsite.com is built on the belief that custom websites built by professionals are better than Do-it-Yourself websites built by software programs and computers. They believe that a live web designer is able to incorporate their creative ideas into a clients website and truly convey the vision the business owner has on to a web page. FreeCustomWebsite.com has a slogan that says “we design it free, you just pay the hosting.” Other web design companies provide a series of templates for you to choose from and then charge you for hosting as well. While those companies may be a perfect fit for some, FreeCustomWebsite.com believes that more people are looking for less work and higher quality at little to no cost.

The Best Website Builder competition is aimed at pushing internal designers to put forth their best work and really throw everything that they have into each and every website. The competition works in two ways. It first challenges all of those people out there who have a do-it-yourself website but are unhappy with it. They bring their website to FreeCustomWebsite.com designers and the designers goal is to out-do the template built site. If the customer is happy, and writes a good review, the designer receives a point. The second way the best website builder competition works is by internal FreeCustomWebsite.com judging. Each month, everyone in the company votes on the best looking website made during a given month. Each designer cannot vote on his or her own websites. The winner of that competition wins a monetary prize at the end of the month. Maybe it’s an ipad, or gift certificate, but whatever it is, web designers will be competing hard to win it. That means that FreeCustomWebsite.com clients are going to receive high quality web design with no associated costs.

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Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/miranda-kerr/miranda-kerr-dazzles-lanvin-runway-548818

Miranda Kerr Dazzles on the Lanvin Runway

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:05:00 +0000

She’s a seasoned pro when it comes to modeling, and Miranda Kerr was busy strutting her stuff down the runway at the Lanvin Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion show in Paris, France on Friday (September 30).

The Aussie model looked dazzlingly gorgeous in the designer?s glitzy duds as she walked the catwalk at Jardin des Tuileries.

Once finished up with the Lanvin efforts, Miranda wrote on her Twitter wall, ?Just finished the Lanvin show! Incredible!?

Earlier in the day, Kerr was among the lucky ladies chosen to partake in the exclusive Christian Dior show, where her hottie husband Orlando Bloom sat front row and proudly looked on.

Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick

Snoop Dogg has settled an outstanding tax bill dating back to 2008

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:59 +0000

Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone

Simon Cowell Takes Three Showers A Day

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:55:27 +0000

‘The X-Factor‘ star Simon Cowell opens to People about his daily habits and routine. The former ‘American Idol‘ judge is a bit of a neat freak – and hygiene obsessed as well! “I’ll do 500 push ups in a day … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/simon-cowell-takes-three-showers-a-day/

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Olivier Martinez & Nahla Aubry: Affectionate Duo

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:50:12 +0000

What a sweet pair!

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Upper Slideshow?

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/olivier-martinez-nahla-aubry-affectionate-duo

Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti

Beyoncé – 1+1

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:44:57 +0000

1+1

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia Records
Director: Beyonce, Ed Burke
Album: 4

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=689540

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Paul Bettany: Fatherhood Can Be Scary

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:40:20 +0000

Paul Bettany is a devoted dad to his kids with his wife Jennifer Connelly, but the Broken Lines star admits that the early years of parenthood “scare the s**t” out of him.

Arriving for an interview with UK newspaper The Guardian, Paul offers to ditch his iPhone but then has a quick change of heart: “Oh, let me turn this off,” he says. “Oh no, I shouldn’t turn this off. Don’t judge me…. I have a very small baby. Do you have kids? They’re great, great ? the first three years they just scare the shit out of you.”

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/paul-bettany-fatherhood-can-be-scary

Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti

R.E.M. Announce Post-Breakup Career Retrospective

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:35:49 +0000

Taking a page from the Legendary Band Break Up Play Book, R.E.M., on the heels of announcing their break up last week, have announced that they will be releasing a career-spanning retrospective collection (after this, according to the Play Book, comes a series of unsuccessful solo albums, a few movie cameos, and then the band [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/beatcrave/~3/o4fxwdQoCYs/

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Ke$ha Is Channeling ‘Sexiness’ Of ’70s Rock For New Album

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:30:03 +0000

Glitter-heavy pop star tells MTV News she’s going for ‘balls-out, irreverent rock and roll.’
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias

Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News

Ke$ha‘s already got the face paint down pat, and, during recent live sets, she’s even taken to guzzling blood out of a human heart, so it should come as no surprise that, on her upcoming album, the pop star is taking things back to the most theatrical era of rock: the prop-heavy, arena-spanning heyday of the 1970s.

Ke$h revealed her plans over the weekend in Los Angeles, on the red carpet of KIIS FM’s annual Wango Tango concert, where she told MTV News that the follow-up to her breakout Animal album (and, we suppose, Cannibal too) would be heavy on hard riffs and light on pretty much everything else.

“The next album … I’ve been working on writing on the road, but as far as a sound, I just know it’s gonna be balls-out, irreverent rock and roll,” she said. “I’ve been pretty much in this ’70s rock and roll kick and I just want to capture some of the true essence of what rock and roll is, and that’s just irreverence and sexiness and fun and not giving a f—, so we’ll definitely put a bit of rock and roll in it.”

So, does that mean that fans can expect the likes of Alice Cooper or Peter Frampton to show up on her new album? Perhaps. Because while Ke$ha’s new album is still a ways off, she’s already begun calling in favors, hoping to line up a killer collabo for the new disc.

“I’m trying, trust me,” she laughed. “I really would love to connect with one of my idols, I mean, that’s my dream. I’m working on it.”

What do you think of Ke$ha going rock for her next album? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663946/kesha-new-album.jhtml

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Gwen Stefani Unveils Her Own Kids Clothing Line

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:25:21 +0000

Gwen Stefani, who fronts the band No Doubt when she’s not bizzy designing clothing for Harajuku girl wannabes, has unveiled a new line of clothing made specifically for little girls. After releasing a line of Harujuku-inspired clothing for adult women called L.A.M.B. a few years ago, Gwen is now releasing a line called Harujuku Mini [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/Fyzx9id8A-4/

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Kevin Federline & Family: Strolling Through Life

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:19:57 +0000

Former back-up dancer Kevin Federline, 33, and girlfriend Victoria Prince, 28, hit the pavement on Thursday (September 29) with their new baby girl Jordan Kay in Los Angeles, Calif.

Mama Victoria pushed Jordan in her jogging stroller while papa rode his bike next to his ladies as they cruised around their neighborhood, enjoying each other’s company and the warm, sunny day.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/kevin-federline-family-

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Celebrity Hair Transformations

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:15:08 +0000

The Twilight star sports some new facial fuzz! Check out more star tress-formations and tell us what you think!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-hair-transformations/1-b-364776

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The Jolie-Pitt Kids Visit The Tower Of London With Their Nannies

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:10:13 +0000

The Jolie-Pitt clan is still exploring all that the UK has to offer. Maddox, Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh were snapped today with their nannies as they made a visit to the Tower of London. Brad is still busy shooting ‘World … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/the-jolie-pitt-kids-visit-the-london-tower-angelina-brad-maddox-zahara/

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Usher To Donate Gadhafi Money To Charity

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:04:54 +0000

‘I will be donating all of my personal proceeds…to various human rights organizations,’ singer says of concert linked to Libyan dictator.
By Shawn Adler

Usher (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Usher has already begun the process, having made a donation to Amnesty International, the AP reports. The exact size of the donation is not known.

Beyoncé, who sang at the event, donated all proceeds from her performance to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.

Singer Nelly Furtado tweeted February 28 that she plans to make similar amends.

“In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy,” she tweeted. “I am going to donate the $.”

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659301/usher-donate-gadhafi-money-charity.jhtml

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Photos | Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:00:05 +0000

Love Is In The Air At The 2011 VMAs

Photos | ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Trailer Frames

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:54:59 +0000

‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Trailer Frames

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1621244

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Melissa McCarthy: Motherhood Made Me Less Insecure About My Looks

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:50:20 +0000

For years, Melissa McCarthy has been the proverbial comedic "best friend" sidekick — but now she’s finally in the spotlight.

Parenting her girls with actor-husband Ben Falcone (he was the Air Marshal in Bridesmaids) has had a profound effect on McCarthy’s self-esteem, she tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/melissa-mccarthy-motherhood-made-me-less-insecure-about-my-looks/1-a-387172

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‘Paranormal Activity 3′ Trailer: Back To Start

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:45:07 +0000

Although a very brief trailer, it looks like there will be more of a back story explained and not just a movie full of [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/29/paranormal-activity-3-trailer-2/

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Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres Shares Mommy-Friendly Workout Tips

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:40:04 +0000

As the busy mom of a 5-year-old, the swimmer shares tips for squeezing in a workout

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/LbmGnl8uURk/

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Beyonce, Jay Z Celebrate VMA Baby News Backstage

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:35:00 +0000

B gathers with well-wishers — including her Destiny’s Child girls and Kanye — declaring ‘I’m free!’ after onstage pregnancy reveal.
By Kara Warner

Beyoncé at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

When Beyoncé returned backstage to her dressing room, she was greeted by a team of people who enveloped the visibly happy star with hugs, cheers and congratulations.

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“I’m free!” she said to one of the well-wishers, indicating that she and Jay are thrilled to not have to keep such a big secret any longer. “We’re all free!” she said to the group.

“That was an eventful night, to say the least,” Jay, still smiling, said to some of the revelers in the hallway, who continued to shower him with congratulations and hugs.

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Michael Jackson’s Kids Watched Their Father Die

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:30:02 +0000

Michael Jackson‘s children watched as their father passed away in 2009, according to two testimonies heard at Dr. Conrad Murray‘s involuntary manslaughter trial on Wednesday. Jackson’s bodyguard and assistant both reported an agonizing scene at the pop legend’s home, as his oldest children Prince, 14, and Paris, 13, saw Dr. Murray try and fail to revive their dad.

"Paris screamed out, ‘Daddy!’" testified Alberto Alvarez, an assistant to Jackson. "She was crying."

Bodyguard Faheem Muhammad also described the reactions of Jackson’s older children, then 12 and 11, to seeing their father lying motionless on his bed.

"Paris was on the ground, balled up and crying," said Muhammad. "Prince had a really shocked, just slowly crying kind of look."

As Murray reportedly shouted, "Don’t let them see their dad like this," Alvarez said that he tried to comfort the children.

"Kids, don’t worry, we’ll take care of it. Everything’s going to be okay," said Alvarez. "Then I asked Dr. Murray what happened, and he said, ‘He had a bad reaction.’" Muhammad later he had the children’s nanny take them away, so that they wouldn’t see paramedics carry off the body.

Jackson’s children have not been present at the trial, which began on Tuesday; however, it’s been rumored that Prince may be called to testify. All three of Jackson’s children — including Blanket, 9 — have been named on a list of potential witnesses. According to psychiatrist Gail Saltz, M.D., taking part in the trial could be traumatizing for Jackson’s young family.

"Testifying is really not in the children’s best interest, as it causes them to have to relive the circumstances surrounding the loss as opposed to having grieved already and attempting to continue on with their lives," Dr. Saltz tells iVillage. "It may stir up both their grief and their trauma.

"The images out there are disturbing for any child, let alone that he is their father," Dr. Saltz adds. "Hopefully the adults in their lives will try to minimize both media and courtroom exposure for them."

We can’t imagine that Jackson’s parents and siblings would allow the children to take part in the trial, except as a last resort to get Dr. Murray convicted. If found guilty, Murray will lose his medical license and face up to four years in prison.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/michael-jacksons-kids-watched-their-father-die/1-a-387009

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:25:22 +0000

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Star Brides

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Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:20:05 +0000

Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

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Lady Gaga And Cher Make ‘History’ On ‘Greatest Thing’

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Producer RedOne tells MTV News how the Gaga track turned into one seriously epic duet.
By Kara Warner

Cher and Lady Gaga
Photo: Picture Group

For all the Lady Gaga and Cher fans out there who fainted at the news that two of pop music’s biggest stars have teamed up on a soon-to-be released record, your wait is almost over!

To hold you over until the release, MTV News recently caught up with RedOne, the producer mastermind behind the soon-to-be hit, to find out how the song came to be and why everyone will love it.

RedOne said he let Gaga know via text message, and she was ecstatic. Then, about a month later, Red received a text from Gaga that inspired an epic pairing.

“Everybody loved it,” he added. “Gaga on it, Cher, two big icons, [they are] part of music history. So it happened. I’m very happy to be a part of this.”

Of course, RedOne wouldn’t reveal when we’ll hear the track, only that it’s coming soon.

What are you expecting from a Gaga/Cher duet? Let us know in the comments below!

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Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez’s Arena Date: How Much Did It Cost?

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:10:14 +0000

A regular guy would have dropped serious coin to rent out the Staples Center for a romantic night out.
By Gil Kaufman

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Check out photos of Justin and Selena.

As you might imagine, the powers-that-be at Staples weren’t really willing to spill the beans, but we crunched some numbers on our own and here’s what we were able to figure:

$200-plus: Bieber ordered steaks and pasta from the exclusive members-only Lexus Club at Staples, a 130-capacity high-end dining area where even the buffet will run you $57.

194: That’s how many minutes “Titanic” would run if JB didn’t have a remote that would allow him and Selena to skip some of the hours of extras.

$300,000: The amount Bieber pulls in nightly at each one of his concerts.

$53 million: That’s how much Bieber banked in 2010. In other words, don’t sweat it: He can afford this kind of date every night of the year if he wants to.

What do you think of Justin’s date idea for Selena? Tell us in the comments!

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Latina magazine: 15th anniversary issue

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:05:00 +0000

But that?s just the beginning- super-hotties like Gloria Estefan, Michelle Rodriguez, Daisy Fuentes, America Ferrera, and Rosario Dawson are also in the mix.

And Latina went to great lengths to pull off the monumental feat- they scheduled seven photo shoots, used over 100 red dresses, and included around $10 million in fabulous jewelry.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/jessica-alba/latina-magazine-15th-anniversary-issue/

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admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:00:06 +0000

Enjoying some time overseas, Miley Cyrus was spotted giving a press conference in Makati City, Philippines today (June 16).

The ?Can?t Be Tamed? chick was in good spirits as she arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, sporting a shirt/vest combo and long curly coif.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/miley-cyrus/4610/

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Family Photo: Kim Raver?s Premiere Posse

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/HFYCvjUc9Dk/

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Paul Bettany: Fatherhood Can Be Scary

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:50:04 +0000

Paul Bettany is a devoted dad to his kids with his wife Jennifer Connelly, but the Broken Lines star admits that the early years of parenthood “scare the s**t” out of him.

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/09/30/paul-bettany-fatherhood-can-be-scary

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Beyonce, Adele, Lil Wayne Get VMA Bump On iTunes

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:45:15 +0000

Up-and-coming rockers Young the Giant also among those benefitting from post-show sales boost.
By Gil Kaufman

Beyoncé performs at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Getty Images

Beyoncé‘s surprise pregnancy reveal wasn’t the only bump to show up this week. A number of artists also got an expected iTunes VMA bump, as their singles shot up the iTunes digital charts in the wake of their performances on the record-setting broadcast.

The biggest leap was made by Adele, whose second single, “Someone Like You,” shot right up to #1 on the tally in the wake of her dramatic appearance on the broadcast, a rise of 441 percent. The song was not even in the top 10 when iTunes released the charts for the week ending August 22. Though iTunes does not release sales figures, there was clearly some serious online purchasing that went on, in addition to a major flood of Twitter traffic caused by the VMAs.

Among the other beneficiaries were Lady Gaga, whose Jo Calderone-fueled take on “Yoü and I” pushed that song back into the top 10 to #4 as of Thursday (September 1). And, after dropping Tha Carter IV at midnight on Sunday, Lil Wayne was all over, with “Mirror” moving into the #5 position, “Blunt Blowin’ ” at #13, “MegaMan” at #23 and “How to Love” at #15.

Beyoncé herself had a boost from the night, as her “Love on Top” performance pushed the not-officially-released-as-a-single single to #3 (currently at #9) as sales picked up by 221 percent. Pre-show performers Cobra Starship were feeling the love also, as “You Make Me Feel” moved up to #6 after having faded to #11 before the broadcast.

Also benefitting were rockers Young the Giant, whose performance likely helped breakthrough single, “My Body,” shoot up 223 percent to land at #2 on the alternative singles charts and #24 on the overall chart. The band’s self-titled disc also saw some serious love, with sales expanding by 220 percent, moving up to #4 on the iTunes album chart. House artist Jessie J got the bump as well, with sales of her album, Who You Are shooting up nearly 200 percent.

Chris Brown‘s high-flying VMA medley also pushed him up the charts, as his singles “Beautiful People” and “Yeah 3X” soared by 904 and 149 percent, respectively, on the iTunes singles chart.

The love was spread far and wide, as evidenced by the 1,375 percent jump for Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s version of “Valerie” — performed by Bruno Mars during the Amy Winehouse tribute — and the Foo Fighters’ VMA-winning “Walk,” which had a 120 percent jump on the iTunes singles chart. Sales of Britney Spears’ “Till the World Ends” were up 76 percent on the iTunes singles chart after the song was heard in the Britney tribute to the pop star and Pitbull’s summer jam “Give Me Everything” surged 71 percent on the iTunes song tally following his performance.

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Beyoncé Is Readying The Release Of A New Fragrance Called ?Pulse?

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:40:45 +0000

Back in early 2010, Beyoncé officially released her first celebrity fragrance called Beyoncé Heat. Today we learn that Bey is readying the release of a new fragrance called Pulse. As you will read below, B tells People magazine that her new perfume is Sasha Fierce-inspired … whatever that means. Check out the first promo photo [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/JyHKQLjRLiE/

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Emma Watson, ‘Perks’ Co-Stars Do ‘New Class’ Boogie In Exclusive First Look

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:35:29 +0000

‘I was waiting for this story, for this script, for this moment, for these people to do it with me,’ Watson says of ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower.’
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Emma Watson
Photo: Nick Harvey/ WireImage

The post-“Harry Potter” education of Emma Watson began, in a way, at Brown University. Searching for her first film after completing the boy-wizard franchise, the Ivy League actress found some unlikely career advisors in the form of her fellow college students, who told her that she simply had to sign up for “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” an adaptation of Stephen Chbosky’s seminal novel.

“Honestly, I had never read the book before, but a lot of my friends at Brown were hugely into it, and when I told them I had this script, they were crazy excited,” Watson told MTV News.

And just that like, through the pop-culture schooling of her peers, she’d found a flick to carry her away from Hogwarts and toward a Hollywood second act. It’s fitting, then, that with “Perks” on her résumé, we’ve selected Watson as a member of MTV News’ New Class — actors and actresses about to graduate toward greatness. The 21-year-old finds herself in good company on the movie, whose cast contains so many soon-to-break-big talents that we selected a bunch of her co-stars as her New Class cohorts.

We’ve dubbed Watson “Most Likely to Win an Oscar.” Nina Dobrev (“The Vampire Diaries”) is our Next Style Icon. Logan Lerman (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians” and the upcoming “Three Musketeers”) is Most Likely to Make You Swoon, and Ezra Miller (Sundance eye-opener “Another Happy Day” and Cannes selectee “We Need to Talk About Kevin”) is Most Likely to Win an Independent Spirit Award. Together they’re bringing a beloved teen novel to the screen. And when we visited the film’s Pittsburgh set earlier this year, all four of them were well aware of the expectations surrounding the project and professed themselves lucky to be involved.

“I feel incredible about it. I feel like I’ve been waiting for ‘Perks,’ ” Watson said. “I was waiting for this story, for this script, for this moment, for these people to do it with me. I’m so glad I didn’t do anything that I didn’t care about.”

Watson plays Sam, a high school senior who, along with Miller’s Patrick, introduces Lerman’s freshman Charlie to a world of sex, drugs and awkward adolescence. “I definitely tapped into some awkward childhood memories for this movie,” Lerman explained. “It’s been a year and a half since I first signed on to the project, so to be out here making it is a pretty big deal for me. It’s cool to be working with this great cast of young actors.”

Dobrev, on a break from “Vampire Diaries,” echoed those sentiments. “Every hiatus, my goal is to try something different, and this is a small part in a great, fun indie that has a great script,” she said of playing Charlie’s sister. “It’s been fun to meet such great new people. Everyone really gets along and is really friendly and fun.”

Their subject matter, it should be said, is not all fun or funny. When when we showed up on set the stars were filming a raucous school-dance sequence set to “Come on Eileen,” but “Perks” takes on potentially controversial material about suicide, drug use and sexuality. These may be divisive topics to some, but ask any teen and he or she will say it’s all part of their world.

“I don’t think there will be one teenager who will watch this and not have one story or one moment that they don’t deeply feel they can relate to,” Watson said.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Usher Gets ‘Emotional’ On David Guetta’s ‘Without You’

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:30:24 +0000

DJ/producer calls their collabo the ‘biggest record’ on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
By Akshay Bhansali

Usher
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage

David Guetta recently told MTV News that the Usher collabo “Without You” is the “biggest record” on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.

It’s a rather bold statement, considering his latest album also features Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, will.i.am, Akon, Timbaland, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. But Guetta has a soft spot for the cinematic team-up with Ush, which he says is equal parts sentimental and hands-in-the-air euphoric.

“It’s just totally emotional,” Guetta said. “Some of the record is a proper ballad, and then it goes to that crazy dance beat. It’s perfect for him, because he’s famous for his ballads. And he’s also now famous for those big club records that he comes with. He’s an amazing dancer, so I felt like he was the artist that I needed.”

Usher and Guetta first previewed the song in Ibiza, Spain, earlier this summer, with the crowd demanding an encore performance of the sure-to-be-hit song.

“It was amazing,” Guetta gushed. “We were not supposed to do this. I always do these kinds of stupid things, playing records when I’m not supposed to play them. And Usher was so excited for this time to be in Ibiza performing in front of those people. He called me onstage and said, ‘Come on. Let’s do it.’ So we did it, and, yeah, they loved it. We had to do it again! They asked for one more.”

For some, the combination of Usher and Guetta might seem out of left field. While the DJ/producer works with a variety of artists, he has a pretty tight-knit musical family — but it may come as a surprise that Guetta has known Usher the longest.

“I actually speak very often about how thankful I am to will.i.am because he called me to produce ‘I Gotta Feeling’; Akon, when we started to work together, because I wasn’t famous in America; Kelly Rowland and all those guys that came to me when I was not known yet,” Guetta said. “But I have to say that the very first time when someone big from America asked me if I want to work with him, it was Usher. Like, a really long time ago, but we never had the time to do it. So I was so happy to be finally in the studio with him, because he spotted me when I was really not famous yet.”

Usher and Guetta already shot the video for “Without You” in Ibiza. The song will follow up Guetta’s current single, “Little Bad Girl,” which features Ludacris and Taio Cruz.

Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis

Rihanna?s 2AM emergency bikini wax in Belfast

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:25:16 +0000

The ‘Rude Boy’ hitmaker – who has been in Northern Ireland shooting the video for her single ‘We Found Love’ – had her team call four local beauticians in the early hours of Monday morning, before finally persuading one to get out of bed to perform the intimate treatment. A source told The Sun newspaper: [...]

Source: http://www.celebritymound.com/rihannas-2am-emergency-bikini-wax-in-belfast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rihannas-2am-emergency-bikini-wax-in-belfast

Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

‘Prometheus’ Scribe Damon Lindelof Talks Robots, Slimy Corporations & Ridley Scott Collab

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:20:10 +0000

The official “Prometheus” synopsis has been unleashed, and as cool as it is ? A discovery about the origins of humanity! An intergalactic voyage! An extraterrestrial battle with genocide-level implications! ? the description still leaves much about Ridley Scott’s “Alien”-DNA project unknown.

All in good time. Back at San Diego Comic-Con, though, “Prometheus” writer/producer Damon Lindelof [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/09/28/prometheus-damon-lindelof/

Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick

Britney Spears ‘Can’t Be Knocked Down’

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:15:14 +0000

Celebrity fans including former ‘NSYNC singer JC Chasez, tourmate DJ Pauly D and more weigh in on why Brit is still on top.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears with Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

We spotted Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and more hanging out backstage!

Spears’ former tourmate, DJ Pauly D, also gushed about the singer, who won Best Pop Video for “Till The World Ends.”

Find out how Beyoncé and Jay-Z Celebrated Their VMA Baby News!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669948/britney-spears-video-music-awards-tribute.jhtml

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Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez’s Arena Date: How Much Did It Cost?

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:10:26 +0000

A regular guy would have dropped serious coin to rent out the Staples Center for a romantic night out.
By Gil Kaufman

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Check out photos of Justin and Selena.

As you might imagine, the powers-that-be at Staples weren’t really willing to spill the beans, but we crunched some numbers on our own and here’s what we were able to figure:

$200-plus: Bieber ordered steaks and pasta from the exclusive members-only Lexus Club at Staples, a 130-capacity high-end dining area where even the buffet will run you $57.

194: That’s how many minutes “Titanic” would run if JB didn’t have a remote that would allow him and Selena to skip some of the hours of extras.

$300,000: The amount Bieber pulls in nightly at each one of his concerts.

$53 million: That’s how much Bieber banked in 2010. In other words, don’t sweat it: He can afford this kind of date every night of the year if he wants to.

What do you think of Justin’s date idea for Selena? Tell us in the comments!

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Justin Bieber’s Grammy Performance Will Be ‘A Crossover,’ Usher Says

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:06:08 +0000

The ‘O.M.G.’ singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery

Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday’s 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single “O.M.G.” and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush’s Grammy plans seem rather fitting.

Especially since he’ll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber’s pal Jaden Smith), a move that’s just as much about celebrating Usher’s successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.

“Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn’t want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here,” Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. “And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for.”

And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn’t about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he’s hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber … a side most tend to overlook.

“The performance will be fun,” Usher explained. “We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. … This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn’t believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He’s going to play acoustically, and also, we’ll get down a little bit.”

And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he’s most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.

“I’m very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun,” Usher said. “The story of Justin Bieber doesn’t stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world … a cultural experience that’s much more than just fanfare. And that’s what this is. That’s what the Grammys will be; that’s what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way.”

Don’t miss “Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys,” a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Enjoying some time overseas, Miley Cyrus was spotted giving a press conference in Makati City, Philippines today (June 16).

The ?Can?t Be Tamed? chick was in good spirits as she arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, sporting a shirt/vest combo and long curly coif.

Source: http://www.celebritygossiphollywood.com/celebrities/miley-cyrus/4610/

The Kardashians To Cohost ‘Today’ Next Week

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:56:00 +0000

Attention, fans of unintentionally funny TV personalities. We have good news and bad news.

The bad news: Next week, Kathie Lee Gifford won’t be in her cohost chair during the fourth hour of NBC’s Today.

The good news: Various members of the Kardashian family — Khloe, Bruce, Kris, Kourtney and Kim — will take turns filling Gifford’s chair alongside Hoda Kotb every day next week!

Is it just us, or is it getting a lot easier to keep up with the Kardashians? You used to have to turn to E! to see America’s most glam reality family. But now you can catch them on all the major networks, from CBS’s The Talk (Kris) to ABC’s Dancing With the Stars (Rob) to Fox’s Fox & Friends (Khloe and Kourtney) to NBC’s Today (Kris, along with her hubby and her three girls).

It’s yet another confirmation that their show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians was merely a launch pad for total media domination. Next up: Kim’s Fairytale Wedding (Sunday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. ET; and Monday, Oct. 10, at 9 p.m. ET), an E! special chronicling the preparations and nuptials of Kim and new hubby Kris Humphries, which took place last month.

The Today appearances are a means of promoting this wedding special, but don’t worry if you have to miss them. E! News will have behind-the-scenes footage of their Today follies each night next week at 7 p.m. ET.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/kardashians-cohost-today-next-week/1-a-386847

Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum

Beyoncé – Why Don’t You Love Me

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:50:03 +0000

Why Don’t You Love Me

Artist: Beyoncé

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=514842

Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes

‘Twilight’ Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:45:04 +0000

‘I haven’t seen the films,’ frontwoman Ritzy Bryan confesses, despite landing lead-off track on ‘Breaking Dawn’ soundtrack.
By James Montgomery

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671642/twilight-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-joy-formidable.jhtml

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Photos | 2011 Video Music Award Nominees

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:40:15 +0000

Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin

Review: Baby Jogger Pod

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:35:26 +0000

Check out our review of the Baby Jogger Pod.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/InexqpjYmQA/

Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

Sarah Gadon Is New Class’ ‘Most Likely To Wear A Corset’

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:30:47 +0000

Roles in ‘Dream House’ and the upcoming ‘Cosmopolis’ set her up for a long career, especially in period pieces.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sarah Gadon
Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine.

MTV: We’re always looking for the next exciting talent, and it’s not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off?

MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob’s character?

MTV: Is there someone to emulate?

Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she’s fascinating. I love her work.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV’s New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671809/sarah-gadon-dream-house.jhtml

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Photos | ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Premieres In Los Angeles

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:25:17 +0000

‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Premieres In Los Angeles

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Audrina Patridge, Ke$ha, Adam Lambert Share Prom Memories

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:20:00 +0000

‘Me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m.,’ Ke$ha tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Audrina Patridge
Photo: MTV News

It’s prom season, and that means high schoolers across this great land will be renting tuxes, buying fancy dresses and negotiating the details of their curfews with parents. So, before you take your pictures and get in your limos, we asked some Hollywood A-listers to recall their fondest prom memories.

“I had a great prom,” Ne-Yo told MTV News. “I didn’t get to go with who I wanted to go with. I got my second choice, but my second choice turned out to be the one I was supposed to be there with, so it turned out good.”

Ke$ha, never one to say no to a party, had the best night of all her friends. “I went to prom with my gay best friend, and let me tell you, I had way more fun than anybody else at a prom with their boyfriends,” she recalled. “Everybody else was, like, crying and drama and breaking up, and me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m.”

“Hellcats” star Aly Michalka doesn’t have a favorite prom memory — because she never went to prom. “I was homeschooled, so I don’t even think we had a fake prom,” she lamented. “Like, maybe we had a home-school prom and I wasn’t invited?”

While everything always seems to be in peril on “The Vampire Diaries,” star Nina Dobrev had a less tumultuous night: “Having everyone get together and such a final celebration [is what I remember].”

Romeo went big for his prom. “My senior prom, I remember I pulled up in my red Ferrari. I was feeling like James Bond,” he said. “And it was one of the best nights of my life.”

“My favorite prom memory was probably going shopping for a dress, and our boyfriends at the time dressed up as ‘Dumb & Dumber,’ ” Audrina Patridge laughed. “And so we were like, ‘We can’t dress up dorky … we have to look good.’ ”

Roots drummer ?uestlove made a big decision on the night of his prom: “June 2, 1989, was my very last haircut; prom haircut, totally butchered my hair. He butchered my hair, and I vowed never again to ever get in a barber chair, so I grew that Afro on my prom night.”

Adam Lambert said his prom date was a 10, so he definitely had a fun night. “I had a great prom. I had an awesome time,” he said. “I went with one of my best friends in high school. Her name was Lauren, and she was really hot. She wore a really hot red dress, so I felt like I had arm candy.”

Share your prom memories in the comments below!

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Reader Reviews

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:15:00 +0000

The movie tie-in edition of “20 Times a Lady”—now called “What’s Your Number?“—is now available wherever fine books are sold!

To celebrate its publication, a few of my favorite readers came up with these great reviews…

“What’s Your Number? is like Harry Potter minus the wizards, wands, and Lord Voldemort.” —Michelle Bell

“‎What’s Your Number? is like Gone With the Wind except with less hoop skirts and poverty and more beaus…” —Karen Meyer

‎”What’s Your Number? is like To Kill a Mockingbird without all the racism and children.” —Julie Stone

Thanks ladies!

Please add your review in the comments!

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/9/7/reader-reviews.html

Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Misses England

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:09:57 +0000

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is rocking those skinny jeans with her long legs as she’s out and about in Los Angeles! She admitted, however, that she misses England while in LA. “I miss England, especially the culture and camaraderie. In Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/09/30/rosie-huntington-whiteley-misses-england/

Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown

Lady Gaga Questions President Obama On Bullying

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:04:57 +0000

Mother Monster attended an Obama fundraiser over the weekend at home of Facebook COO.
By Gil Kaufman

Lady Gaga
Photo: BuzzFoto

Lady Gaga is not one to make a promise to her Little Monsters and not keep it. That explains why she raised her hand and asked President Obama a question about bullying at a Silicon Valley fundraising event for the Commander in Chief over the weekend at the home of Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.

The $38,500-per-couple event for around 70 guests took place under a tent in Sandberg’s yard and, according to ABC News, it’s where Gaga made good on a Twitter vow she’d posted last Wednesday in reaction to the suicide of bullied teen Jamey Rodemeyer. Gaga — who turned heads in a black dress with a dramatically plunging back, extremely high heels, a blond upswept hairdo and a black veil covering the back of her hair — brought up the issue during the Q&A segment of the event.

Though a transcript of the exchange is not available, according to reports, she first thanked Obama for what he’s done so far on the subject — which includes a forum held earlier this year about bullying and an “It Gets Better” video — and then read from what she described as a letter from a fan about the suicide of another Little Monster who had been bullied.

After congratulating the president on all of the things he’s accomplished so far in his first term, Gaga made what was described as a “general plea” to everyone in the room, including the president, to do what they can to prevent bullying. Obama then reportedly thanked her, re-iterated his administration’s anti-bullying work and spoke in general about the importance of values.

Gaga also reportedly had a bit of face time with Obama before dinner, when she walked through the photo line with her manager and spoke to the president for two minutes in a room full of other guests. The singer dedicated her song “Hair” to Rodemeyer at Saturday’s iHeartRadio festival in Las Vegas, speaking out in support of the gay teen who committed suicide last week after enduring years of bullying by his school peers.

Just days after the 14-year-old’s death, Gaga was so shaken that she called on Obama to enact laws that would make bullying a hate crime. “The past days I’ve spent reflecting, crying, and yelling,” she tweeted on Wednesday. “I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone’s life.” She went further, posting Rodemeyer’s “It Gets Better” video, and insisting that bullying “must become illegal. It is a hate crime.”

It was then that she revealed she planned to meet with Obama to discuss the matter.

MTV’s ongoing “A Thin Line” project provides stories and resources for anyone who believes they are being cyberbullied or who is looking for ways to stop harassment by digital means. And check out our story for more info on the results of a recent MTV/Associated Press study about the prevalence of digital abuse and cyberbullying among young people.

What do you think of Lady Gaga’s activism on the bullying issue? We want to hear from you in the comments section.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671571/lady-gaga-president-obama-bullying.jhtml

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Lady Gaga And Cher’s ‘The Greatest Thing’ Is ‘Timeless’

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:00:06 +0000

‘It’s an event,’ co-writer/producer RedOne tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner

Lady Gaga and Cher
Photo: WireImage

While we anxiously await the release of Lady Gaga and Cher’s duet, “The Greatest Thing” — which, according to Cher’s Twitter, is supposed to drop in roughly two days — we can while away the hours with a few insider details about the song from co-writer/producer RedOne.

When MTV News caught up with the mega-producer recently, we did our best to get an early listen of the track, but no dice. Instead, we asked him to tell us specifically what kind of song “The Greatest Thing” is and whether we’ll want to dance to it or sing along — or both.

“I think it’s timeless. The beautiful thing about this song is, it’s very uplifting, very uplifting. It’s emotional, but it has dance on it, and it has a dance vibe on it,” he explained. “It’s just a timeless song. You can play it with the guitar, the piano, with whatever instrument you want. You can sing it a cappella, you know what I mean, it’s that kind of song.

“I’m very excited about that song,” Red added. “And it’s an event. Cher and Lady Gaga: How big can it get?”

RedOne said Cher and Gaga were ecstatic with the finished product, and he couldn’t be happier to have helped connect the two stars.

“Everybody loved it,” he said. “Gaga on it, Cher, two big icons. [They are] part of music history. So it happened. I’m very happy to be a part of this.”

What are you expecting from “The Greatest Thing”? Let us know in the comments!

Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen

Amy Winehouse Remembered By Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, More

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:54:56 +0000

‘RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace,’ Perry writes. ‘I am genuinely heartbroken about this,’ Rihanna tweets.
By Jason Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Klenk

Amy Winehouse
Photo: Carlos Alvarez/ Getty Images

As news spread that 27-year-old Amy Winehouse was dead, stars immediately tweeted their shocked reactions and remorse over the lost talent.

Katy Perry, who touches down in Boise, Idaho, this weekend as part of her California Dreams Tour, tweeted her condolences, writing, “RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace.”

Usher reflected on Winehouse, who he had known: “I’m so sad to hear the horrible news of Amy Winehouse’s death. I’m so happy I knew you Amy…Rest Well. Gone Too Soon…we’ll miss you!!”"

Frequent tweeter Kim Kardashian used her 140 characters to send prayers: “I just heard the news that Amy Winehouse passed away. What a true talent. I pray she’s in a better place & at peace.”

Many More Stars Are Reacting. Check Back To See Who Else Has Weighed In:

Leann Rimes: “RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone and her life end in tragedy. This makes me terribly sad.”

Khloe Kardashian: “Wow! I just heard about Amy Winehouse passing away! Wow! So sad what an amazing talent”

Ashton Kutcher: “Rip amy winehouse”

Big Boi: “Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and now Amy Winehouse. All died aged 27. RIP to you all.”

Kelly Osbourne: “i cant even breath right my now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!”

Rick Ross: “Wanted to collab w/ Amy Winehouse…r.i.p…smoking 1 in your memoryyy!!”

Janelle Monae: “heart is heavy. My heart goes out 2 Amy Winehouse’s family, loved ones. Praying for their strength during this time.”

Ricky Martin: “I just found out. I feel pain. I feel anger. Rest beautiful girl rest. You are free!”

Cee Lo: “Is it true about amy?”

Victoria Justice: “I’m so sad about the #amywinehouse news I heard this morning. She was 1 of my favorite artists. What a sad story, she was such a talent…”

Randy Jackson: “Wow what a tragic loss today in the music world, Amy Winehouse such a talent. She will be missed”

Kreayshawn: “I said she was a TIMELESS artist and a real artist because of her struggle. I’m so upset I love her! RIP Amy Winehouse”

What Was Your Favorite Winehouse Song? Pay Tribute To Her Talents On Facebook

Share your memories of Amy Winehouse in the comments below.

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Photos | Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:50:05 +0000

Janet Jackson Performs A Tribute To Michael Jackson At The VMAs

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Photos | Justin Bieber’s Wax Figures Unveiled At Madame Tussauds Around The World

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:44:55 +0000

Justin Bieber’s Wax Figures Unveiled At Madame Tussauds Around The World

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1659923

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‘Twilight’ Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:40:00 +0000

‘I haven’t seen the films,’ frontwoman Ritzy Bryan confesses, despite landing lead-off track on ‘Breaking Dawn’ soundtrack.
By James Montgomery

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″
Photo: Summit Entertainment

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1671642/twilight-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-joy-formidable.jhtml

Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin Emma Heming Emma Stone

Star Snapshots: Couples Cam

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:35:32 +0000

Heidi Klum & Seal get silly at Disneyland! Check out more pics of Hollywood’s tightest twosomes

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/star-snapshots-couples-cam/1-b-73237

Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris

Photos | 2011 Video Music Award Nominees

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:30:05 +0000