GARDENING PALM

After Lusaka, a Second Olympic Centre is to be Created in Haiti

After Lusaka, a second Olympic centre is to be created – in Haiti

(PRWEB) February 21, 2012

A few days before IOC President Jacques Rogge visits the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka (Zambia), accompanied by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, a second project symbolically kicked off in Haiti. Indeed, on 14 February 2012, in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, the first stone of this centre was laid. Numerous personalities from Haiti’s diplomatic, political and sporting circles attended this ceremony, including the Minister of Youth, Sport and Civic Action, Jean Roosevelt René, and NOC President Jean-Edouard Baker. The IOC was represented by Mario Vázquez Raña, EB member, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and Chairman of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission.

Giving back hope

Straight after the terrible earthquake which hit the country just over two years ago, the Olympic Movement committed itself to providing aid to rebuild Haiti’s sporting infrastructure as part of the nation’s reconstruction process. It has honoured its commitment, as this project for a centre, which combines sport, education and health, will contribute to the rebuilding of local communities, promote social values and give Haiti’s citizens a glimpse of a better future after the earthquake of 12 January 2010. As underlined by President Rogge: “With the Sport for Hope Olympic centres, athletes, young people and members of disadvantaged communities in developing countries will have the same opportunities as their peers in developed countries to practise sport and learn about the Olympic values.”

A joint project

The Haitian Olympic Committee and government and the IOC have thus joined forces with a view to building this centre on a four-hectare plot of land. The official opening is scheduled for 2014. The centre will include open-air facilities – an athletics track, football fields and basketball, volleyball, tennis and handball courts – as well as indoor amenities – a gymnasium and an administration and training building.

During the ceremony, Mario Vázquez Raña said how proud he was to participate in this concrete action, which would lead to the rebuilding of some of the sports infrastructure which had been destroyed, adding: “I am convinced that this effort will benefit young Haitian athletes, who are striving in the face of adversity. They are athletes who are working with great effort and dedication to make their dreams reality.” He went on to thank the Haitian NOC for its extraordinary and decisive support in bringing this important task to fruition. For his part, NOC President Jean-Edouard Baker wanted to thank the Haitian government and the IOC for their support in the realisation of this project. And Minister Jean Roosevelt René stated: “This centre is part of our sports infrastructure and we will reconstruct and build many sports fields throughout the country. Haitian sport will be greatly improved, while we also hope to transform this coastal area of Port-au-Prince into a dynamic business and leisure zone.”

Learn more about development through sport

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team.

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Garanimals Debuts New Website Concept: Learn, Play, Share

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

Garanimals has introduced a new “Learn, Play, Share” website concept and look. This concept was introduced to integrate all of the company’s online platforms, and offers new content, easier browsing, and more sharing options than ever before.

The “Learn” section incorporates the Garanimals blog, from which viewers can learn about interesting information, tips and trends on various topics such as animals, fashion, technology, and much more, from real mom experts. The “Play” section offers a variety of games and crafts children can enjoy alone or with their parents. New features in the Fun Zone include interactive coloring pages, a seasonal/holiday section, and educational games that teach young children the alphabet, counting, and basic shapes. The “Share” section focuses on the Garanimals Facebook page, where fun and educational content is posted daily. Themed video and photo contests are held monthly, and winners receive a basket of Garanimals products. Fans can share all of the website and social media content with their friends through various channels, where the company actively encourages and engages conversation.

“Every Garanimals experience should be fun and fulfilling,” says a Garan spokesperson. “The new platform is fully integrated, easier to navigate and filled with fun and informative content our customers want to know and share.”

Garanimals products can be found in Walmart stores and online at http://www.walmart.com. For more information please visit http://www.garanimals.com, http://www.facebook.com/garanimals, and http://blog.garanimals.com.

About Garanimals:

Established in 1972, Garanimals is best known for its matching animal clothing tag system for children. It is a division of Garan Incorporated, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Headquartered in New York, Garan is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of apparel for children.

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A Modest Proposal: Making Chocolate Truffles May Lead to the Altar During this Leap Year, Says Ecole Chocolat Instructor, Who Includes Recipes, Just in Case

Coffee Fanatic Truffles and Scotch Lover’s Truffles are both easy to make. Photo by Ric Ernst. (Photo for web.)

(PRWEB) February 16, 2012

Chocolate, possessed of natural chemicals that unleash positive feelings in those who indulge, is in a class of potent love foods that bring extra meaning to the table this leap year, says Ecole Chocolat Lead Instructor Pam Williams.

“When it comes to marriage proposals, it’s often the man who takes the initiative. But this is a leap year, and that brings up the ancient tradition of women doing the asking,” Williams says, adding: “Not that women need the calendar’s permission to do so anymore – today’s women take charge in any arena they want. But marriage proposals tend to follow more traditional models, so things are more relaxed this year.”

Leap year happens every four years, when an extra day is tacked on to the end of February to make up for six hours every year that our calendars aren’t able to accommodate. It’s a way of keeping the world’s seasons from eventually spinning off track.

The tradition of women doing the proposing is thought to have started in fifth-century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that too many men waited too long to propose marriage. Legend has it that St. Patrick agreed and said women could turn the tables on their reluctant men every four years on Feb. 29.

Combine this tradition with the feel-good substances found in chocolate, and you have a recipe for at least a lovely evening of romance. Chocolate brims with theobromine, a mood enhancer, as well as phenethylamine, which triggers the release of pleasure-inducing endorphins and activates dopamine, a neurochemical associated with sexual arousal and pleasure, according to John Robbins, best-selling author of several books on food and health.

So without further ado, here are some easy recipes from William’s bottomless bag of chocolate goodies. “They’re sure to win anyone’s heart, whether there are wedding bells in the picture or not,” she says. One word of advice: “Use the best quality chocolate you can get your hands on. We’ve suggested several brands but any fine chocolate should work,” Williams says.

Scotch Lover’s Chocolate Truffles

Notes: We used two 100g bars of 60% dark chocolate from Green & Black, but use any good chocolate that has 60% cocoa solids. We used the full amount of Scotch to get a stronger flavor, but it also made a softer truffle. Cut the cream by a tablespoon if you want a firmer truffle but more boozy flavor or just go with one tablespoon. If you prefer milk chocolate – which is also delicious with this – reduce the cream by a third. The recipe will work with other liquors or liqueurs.

Yield: Makes about 14 one-inch truffles

Ingredients: 

7 oz. (200g) dark chocolate (60%), chopped fine

1/3 cup (75ml) whipping cream (or 1 tbsp. and 2 tsps. if using milk chocolate)

1-2 tbsps. Scotch

About 1/2 cup (125g) finely grated chocolate for rolling the truffles and unsweetened cocoa for dusting hands.

Method:

Place finely chopped chocolate into a high-sided bowl or the bowl of a blender. Place cream in a saucepan over medium heat until hot but not simmering; remove the pan from the heat.

Pour hot cream over the chocolate and mix thoroughly with a blender or a hand-held immersion blender until you achieve a smooth consistency. You can also stir by hand with a sturdy whisk, spatula or wooden spoon.

Once chocolate is thoroughly melted, add Scotch, one tablespoon at a time, and stir well to blend. Let mixture stand at room temperature for at least one hour and up to two hours until ganache is firm.

Dust hands with cocoa. Scrape spoon or melon-ball cutter across surface of mixture; quickly press with fingertips into 1-inch (2.5cm) balls. Drop the balls into the grated chocolate and roll until well coated. Place on Silpat, wax paper or parchment paper to set for several hours.

Store truffles in the refrigerator in an air-tight plastic container or bag for 1 week or freeze, triple wrapped, in freezer bags for 1-2 months.

Coffee Fanatic Chocolate Truffles

Notes: We tried this recipe with both 60 percent dark and good quality milk chocolate (Divine). The dark chocolate produced an intensely flavored bonbon that is lactose-free and is guaranteed to be a black-coffee and dark-chocolate addict’s dream. Those who prefer their coffee with cream and their chocolate with less bite would like the milk chocolate version better. Reduce the amount of coffee by one third if using milk chocolate.

Yield: Makes about 14 one-inch truffles

Ingredients: 

7 oz. (200g) dark chocolate (chopped fine)

1/3 cup (75ml) coffee or espresso, depending on how strong you want the coffee flavor (or 1 tbsp. and 2 tsps. if using milk chocolate)

1/2 tbsp. salted or unsalted butter (optional)

1/2 cup (125ml) unsweetened cocoa for rolling the truffles

Method:

Place finely chopped chocolate into a high-sided bowl or the bowl of a blender. Place coffee in a saucepan over medium heat until hot but not simmering; remove the pan from the heat. Or microwave coffee in a cup for 30 seconds.

Pour hot coffee over chocolate and blend in blender or in bowl with hand-held immersion blender. Or stir with a sturdy whisk, spatula or wooden spoon until you achieve a smooth consistency.

Add butter, if desired, and stir into the mixture until very smooth consistency is reached. Make sure all chocolate lumps are melted. Let stand at room temperature for one to two hours until ganache has set and is firm.

Scrape spoon or melon-ball cutter across surface of mixture. Dust hands with cocoa and quickly press truffle with fingertips into 1-inch (2.5cm) balls. Drop the balls into the cocoa and roll until well coated. Place on Silpat, waxed paper or parchment paper to set for several hours. Store truffles in the refrigerator in and air-tight plastic container or bag for 1 week or freeze, triple wrapped, in freezer bags for 1-2 months.

Founded in 2003, Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts offers a portfolio of programs for chocolate making – mastering techniques while gaining the expertise and business knowledge needed to become a professional chocolatier or chocolate maker. Ecole Chocolat’s founder Pam Williams is the recipient of the Award of Excellence in Service to the Industry from the Fine Chocolate Industry Association. For more recipes, see our website: http://www.ecolechocolat.com/chocolate-recipe.php

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Fishing Is Fun For The Whole Family

2012 Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing Classic

Springfield, MO (PRWEB) February 13, 2012

2012 Spring Fishing Classic Quick Sheet

    What: Spring Fishing Classic
    When: U.S. Locations Feb. 24-March 11 Canada Locations March 9-25
    Where: 54 Bass Pro Shops store locations across United States and Canada
    How much: Free
    Why cover it: One of the most popular and fun pastimes we remember as kids is going on family fishing trips. As parents ourselves now, we want to pass on this tradition to our kids. An ever-increasing number of families are discovering Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores and flocking to their award-winning venues to discover the great outdoors together. At Bass Pro Shops, families can take advantage of Outdoor Skills Workshops, sit in on educational seminars and listen to professional field experts—all for FREE– that will allow them to make great outdoor memories together to last a lifetime.

Last year, more than 5 million people attended the Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing Classics—lending credibility to the U.S. statistic that more people go fishing than go to Orlando’s Disney World—the world’s number one resort –30 million anglers vs 16 million Disney visitors (http://www.sportsmenslink.org). And, in Canada, more Canadians would rather fish than golf and play hockey combined –18% vs. 7% and 6% (http://www.csia.ca). Plus, there will be great interview and photo opportunity potential with anglers, customers and area visitors

    Special events:

Fishing Seminars by Local Pros or Conservation Groups–

U.S. Locations February 24-26, CAD Locations March 16-18

BASSMaster University Weekend with National Pros and Seminars –

U.S. March 2-4. CAD -Toronto March 10-11, Calgary March 10

Reel Trade-In – U.S. Locations Feb 24-29, CAD stores—March 9-14

Bass Pro Shops Next Generation™ Weekend—U.S. locations March 9-11 CAD locations March 23-25. Noon to 5pm each day– Friday-Sunday

Daily Door Busters, Rod Trade-in, Vendor booths–see specific store listing for dates

Plus, customers may register to win the “Awesome Fishing with Mark Zona” Sweepstakes. One Grand Prize Winner will be selected nationally and will win a 2-day fishing trip with Mark Zona in Traverse City, MI and a $ 300 Bass Pro Shops gift card. The trip will be filmed and the show will appear on The Outdoor Channel. The winner and one guest will receive complementary travel and 2 night’s lodging—a total Sweepstakes Package value of more than $ 10,000.00. In addition, each store will select a First Place Winner for a Fishing Prize Package with a retail value of $ 370 US and $ 445 CAD.

For more information: Contact Katie Mitchell (417) 873-5618

                                            Larry Whiteley (417) 873-5022

Pros, events, seminars, vendor booths and times vary per store location and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Visit http://www.basspro.com/classic and click on the local store from the drop down box for more information

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FISHING IS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Free Bass Pro Shops Event features pro anglers, seminars, kids’ activities and more

Bass Pro Shops is dedicated to ensuring families continue to have fun together outdoors through their exciting, educational events such as the Spring Fishing Classic. Last year, more than 5 million people attended this event at Bass Pro Shops stores across America and Canada and this year promises to be even bigger. And, it is at a price everyone can afford—free.

Plus, this year you could be the winner of the “Awesome Fishing with Mark Zona” Sweepstakes. You could be selected as the National Grand Prize Winner and win a 2-day fishing trip with Mark Zona in Traverse City, MI and a $ 300 Bass Pro Shops gift card. The trip will be filmed and the show will appear on The Outdoor Channel. You and your guest will receive complementary travel and 2 night’s lodging—a total sweepstakes package value of more than $ 10,000.00! In addition, 54 winners will be selected (one from each store) to win a Fishing Prize Package with a retail value of $ 370 US and $ 445 CAD.**

The 17-day event begins February 24th and goes until March 11th at 52 of the Bass Pro Shops retail stores in the United States and March 9th through 25th at the Calgary and Toronto stores in Canada. There’s new fishing products to browse through, live demonstrations to see, tips and techniques to learn, boat shows, kids events, and, it’s all FREE! Don’t forget to register to win the “Awesome Fishing with Mark Zona” sweepstakes or one of the 54 packages being given away that include a Bass Pro Shops Extreme Baitcast reel, Bass Pro Shops Extreme Rod, Rapala Electric Fillet Knife, Kevin Van Dam Tackle System and a fishing vest.

The Spring Fishing Classic is the best time and place to pick up the secret techniques and strategies used by the best anglers in the world. This year you’ll have two weekends of seminars and tank demonstrations to choose from– select your favorite topic or pro or attend them all—they’re all FREE! (Seminars will be held at all store locations except Miami, FL; Branson, MO; Islamorada, FL; and Bass Pro Shops Outlet store in Springfield).

The first weekend (U.S. stores February 24-26, CAD stores March 16-18) features fishing seminars taught by local pros, conservation groups and other area experts. Topics and times are listed below:

In the U.S. stores, Friday, February 24th and Canada stores, Friday, March 16th:

    6pm: Advanced Small and Largemouth Bass Tactics
    7pm: Local Fishing Tips and Techniques
    8pm: Side Image Sonar: How to Use it Effectively to Catch Fish
U.S. Saturday, February 25th and Canada, March 17th:

    1pm: (topics vary per store: check local store listing)
    2pm: Pre-Spawn and Post-Spawn Bass
    3pm: Fish Finder Basics
    4pm: Crankbait Fishing: Tactics and Importance of Matching Rod and Reel Gear Ratio to Various CrankBaits
    5pm: Spinnerbait Basics
U.S. Sunday, February 26th and Canada, March 18th:

    1pm: The Tackle and Tactics of Power Fishing vs. Finesse Fishing
    2pm: Local Fishing Tips and Techniques
    3pm: Side Image Sonar: How to Use it Effectively to Catch Fish
    4pm: Fish Finder Basics

The second weekend of the Spring Fishing Classic offers the BASSMaster University National Fishing Pros seminars and tank demonstrations March 2nd – 4th at the U.S. stores, March 10th-11th in Vaughan, (Toronto, Ontario) and March 10th in Rocky View (Calgary, Alberta). See and hear experts like 9-time BASS Angler of the Year Roland Martin, 4-time BassMaster Classic Champion Rick Clunn, legendary angler and TV host Bill Dance, America’s favorite fisherman and TV host Jimmy Houston, 3-time BassMaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam and many more. Canadian customers will enjoy “Facts of Fishing” TV host Dave Mercer and the Beasley Brothers. (Pros, seminar topics, and times vary by store and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please check individual store schedules by visiting http://www.basspro.com/classic and clicking on the store from drop down box.)

Other special events include:

Reel Trade-In: If attendees have any old reels that don’t see a lot of action any more, bring them in during “Reel Trade-In” days February 24th-29th at the U.S. stores and March 9th -14th for Canada stores. They can be traded in for a coupon worth from $ 5 to $ 100 off the purchase price of a new reel. The donated reels will be given to local not-for-profit groups whose mission is to teach children about fishing and the outdoors.
Bass Pro Shops Next Generation™ Weekend: U.S. stores March 9-11, Canada March 23-25 Noon to 5pm. Kids can get into the spirit of the outdoors with plenty of FREE events geared for them during the Spring Classic. Activities include Catch and Release Pond++, Kid’s Fishing Seminars at 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm, Free Photo Download at Catch and Release Pond, and crafts from 12noon to2pm each day. Plus, the first 50 kids to participate each day will receive a special Bass Pro Shops logo drawstring backpack (while supplies last).
Daily Door Busters, Rod Trade-in, Vendor booths—Determined by specified store locations. Each store will have vendor booths one weekend of the Spring Fishing Classic except the following: Miami, FL; Destin, FL; Columbia,MO; WorldWide Sportsman (Islamorada, FL); Branson, MO; Memphis, TN; and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Get ready for a family summer full of fishing and outdoor adventures. Make plans now to attend the FREE Spring Fishing Classic event at your local Bass Pro Shops store.

**Contest rules: Customers must register to win the “Awesome Fishing with Mark Zona” Sweepstakes or the Spring Fishing Package First Prize. The Grand Prize of the Mark Zona fishing trip will be awarded to one winner selected nationally. Fifty-four first prize winners will be selected (one per store) and awarded a Spring Fishing Package. (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins 02/24/12 and ends 03/11/12 for U.S. locations. In Canada (excluding Quebec), between 3/9/12 and close of business on 3/25/12.

++Catch and Release Pond, stocked with live fish, at all stores, except Calgary, Canada which will offer a Casting Pond inside store that does not feature live fish.

About Bass Pro Shops Group:

Bass Pro Shops® operates 58 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 112 million people annually. The original store in Springfield, MO, at over 400,000 square feet and growing, is the world’s largest outdoor store. Bass Pro Shops® also conducts an international catalog and internet retailing operation, American Rod & Gun® wholesale division sells to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide. Outdoor World® Incentives also sells Bass Pro Shops® gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America. The Bass Pro Shops® restaurant division with 28 locations. The company’s Tracker Marine Group® (http://www.trackerboats.com) manufactures and sells Tracker®, Nitro®, SunTracker®, Tahoe®, Grizzly® and Mako® boats through Bass Pro Shops® retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. The Resort Group (http://www.bigcedar.com) includes Big Cedar Lodge® and other resort properties including restaurants and golf courses. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops® store locations, products or special events, please visit http://www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.

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Alltopics.com Presents Best News on Celebrities

(PRWEB) February 11, 2012

The Celebrities section is now available on Alltopics.

It is an undisputable fact that Celebrities.alltopics.com articles are easy to access on Alltopics search; the reader will get a plethora of all the current news stories, scoops, funny celebrity videos, articles about movie and music stars, new establishments in the world of Entertainment; in fact, everything any amateur or professional, or a regular teenager could ever need to know about the topic, all in one site, all easily available and ready to enjoy.

The best Celebrities news and articles are gathered in one place. With Celebrities.alltopics.com users can search all over the globe and web to find the most resourced articles and news for today’s arena of Entertainment. Alltopics rates the articles, garnered from social networks like Facebook, Google and Twitter, by popular demand. Alltopics is the number one stop on the Internet that helps to find all the latest gossip, breaking news, unusual conditions and news flashes that might reveal Celebrities news around the country and around the world.

The recent search shows that everyone caring about the world of gossips hits the Celebrities.alltopics.com section is always positively surprised, as one peruses all the topics in the larder: Who got drunk in one of the most exclusive clubs of Manhattan? How much celebrities advice are really worth? How is the world of Entertainment affecting the society? The answers are all there, all the time, constantly updated and ready for reader’s consumption on Alltopics.

The Alltopics Search becomes faster than Google Search. Celebrities.alltopics.com gives readers the world of Celebrities at a moment’s touch. Whether it’s tips for permanent make-up in Beyonce style, new revelations from the area of celebrity gossips or news about reputable movie stars, Alltopics gathers it all into one site. The more people search and click on the piece of information, the faster Alltopics chooses and saves the news. That is why the website is a database that’s forever evolving and giving out information that is brand new.

Alltopics.com is a smoking hot composite story article, news and information website that offers the best Celebrities news, together with the latest and most enjoyed postings from all the social networks and news sources on the Internet. It’s all arranged by topic and popularity on Alltopics.com

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Amiclubwear Offers Exciting Gift Choices at a Steal for Valentine’s Day at 40 Percent Site-wide From February 7 to 10.

Holly Madison, image model of Amiclubwear, channels 70′s glamor in a red, one shoulder, mini dress with sequined cuff.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) February 08, 2012

Amiclubwear.com is about to make Valentine’s Day more special with a line-up of online gifts that run the gamut of nice, and naughty. A sizzling hot selection of sexy dresses that range from playful pink to seductive red is available for any Valentine lady in fashion distress. Stumped about how to get that Valentine-ready ravishing look? These red dresses from Amiclubwear are certainly drool-worthy. Different looks ranging from taffeta mini dresses that say ‘hot tamale’, or sleek jumpers with peek-a-boo slits to channel that inner Las Vegas showgirl are guaranteed to make Valentine’s Day a memorable one.

And, if seeing red this Valentine’s seems a tad bit conventional, fear not, Amiclubwear has prepared an equally sexy selection of dresses in beautiful hues still fitting for this day of hearts. This well-chosen collection gives women who intend to look simply ravishing for Valentine’s, different colors to choose from. They can choose to melt hearts in stunning fuchsia dresses made even more alluring by side ruching and ruffled shoulder details. Or they can play it coyly sexy by pouring their slim forms into dusty pink dresses, whose sweetness is cut by form-fitting silhouettes meant to display the feminine shape to great advantage.

Looking gorgeous for Valentine’s Day is a must, but this day of love doesn’t end after dinner. Amiclubwear knows this only too well. For lovers in the first blush of l’amour, or lovers rediscovering that passionate flame, Valentine’s would actually just be heating up post-dinner. And there’s nothing wrong with that, is there? Amiclubwear doesn’t feel an ounce of guilt when recommending saucy, red intimates to ignite the night. There is even a selection that calls to mind a more than mischievous Scarlet O’Hara intent on making her Rhett Butler say he gives a damn, and then some.

What’s more, Amiclubwear doesn’t want to leave the men out of the loop this Valentine’s Day, by making Valentine’s-Day-gift-hunting, a walk in the park for clueless Lotharios everywhere. A naughty collection that will please women as well as men is just there for the clicking, and at 40 % off from February 7 to 10 site-wide, that’s a Valentine steal! Amiclubwear declares “With the right gift, and perfect timing, pleasurable dividends will certainly be reaped by lovers, young and not so young, this Valentine’s Day.”

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Popular Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin Supports Study that Frying Foods in Certain Oils has No Negative Health Effects

Frying Foods in Certain Oils Has No Negative Health Effects

Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 05, 2012

The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a study showing that fried foods may not be bad for the heart, depending on which type of oil is used.

As reported in the Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin on Monday, January 30, 2012 (http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/is-there-such-a-thing-as-healthy-fried-foods), Spanish researchers have determined that cooking in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death.

Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin reports that, for their study, the researchers examined the cooking habits and health of nearly 41,000 adults, aged 29 to 69. None of the participants had heart disease at the start of the study, which lasted 11 years. The participants were divided into four groups depending on how much fried food they consumed.

The researchers found that there were 606 heart-disease-related events and 1,134 deaths during the study follow-up period, Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin. They found no association between the large amounts of fried foods eaten and the risk of heart disease or death.

According to Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, in Spain, olive and sunflower oil are used for cooking, so the researchers’ results are based on these preferences. They caution that results taken in other countries may differ if the same types of oil are not used. Food fried in a solid oil like butter and/or re-used oils such as those commonly found in fast food restaurants have a different effect on the nutritional value of a particular food. This is because the food will absorb more oil and increase the calories of the food. It is also true that frying in saturated fat is less healthy than using monounsaturated fats like olive oil.

(SOURCE: Guallar-Castillon, P., et al., “Consumption of fried foods and risk of coronary heart disease: Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study,” BMJ, Jan. 23, 2012; 344: e363.)

Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin is a daily e-letter providing natural health news with a focus on natural healing through foods, herbs and other breakthrough health alternative treatments. For more information on the Doctors Health Press, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com.

David Juan, MD, is the editor of The Vitamin Doctor newsletter that reveals some of the inside facts, including potential hazards, of today’s popular world of vitamins and supplements. The Vitamin Doctor has released a new video revealing the foods that can have negative consequences when mixed with popular supplements. To see the video, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/foods-never-to-mix.

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Small Business Majority Opinion Poll: Small Business Owners Say Access to Credit a Problem; Support Current Proposals to Boost Economy

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Opinion polling released today shows 90 percent of small business owners see the availability of credit as a problem for small business, and they strongly support increasing the lending authority of community banks and credit unions. Small business owners also support current proposals being debated in Congress that aim to boost the economy and create jobs.

Small business lending has become such an issue that 90 percent of small employers support community banks and credit unions being able to lend more to small businesses, and 82 percent support more stringent credit card regulations, such as clearer identification of terms and interest rate caps, according to the poll released by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority. Additionally, 61 percent say it’s harder now than it was four years ago to get a loan.

The poll also asked respondents about proposals in the president’s American Jobs Act. The vast majority, or 69 percent of small business owners support committing $ 50 billion to new and existing infrastructure projects that would generate jobs—such as making improvements to road, bridge and water systems. Another 59 percent favor creating a nationwide wireless network and improving the accessibility of high-speed wireless services. Read the Access to Credit Poll Report findings at the Small Business Majority.

“Loans that will help small businesses grow and create jobs are harder and harder to come by,” said John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “With banks’ lending portfolios shrinking and small businesses’ dependence on credit cards growing, lawmakers need to look for smart ways to revamp the credit landscape.”

“Small businesses create 65 percent of the net new private sector jobs in America,” said David Brodwin, co-founder and board member of ASBC. “Our deregulated, damaged banking system isn’t providing the credit they need, and they are calling for change.”

“Small business owners want action from Congress to boost the economy,” said Kelly Conklin, owner of Foley-Waite Associates in Bloomfield, New Jersey and a leader with the Main Street Alliance. “Invest in infrastructure to build the foundation for business success. Take serious steps to deal with the mortgage crisis and restore consumer purchasing power. Put teachers and firefighters back on the job serving our communities and boosting local economies. That’s what small businesses need.”

Additional findings in the report include:

52 percent of those surveyed have turned to credit cards to finance their business
6 in 10 small business owners support making loans more accessible by reducing collateral requirements
77 percent support creating incentives for community banks to lend more
By a 2:1 margin, small businesses support increasing credit unions’ lending cap from 12.25 percent to 27.5 percent
73 percent of small employers believe their business has been hurt to some degree by the drop in consumer demand resulting from the housing and mortgage crisis
57% of respondents agree reducing the principal on underwater mortgages to the current market value would boost consumer spending, helping small businesses regain their vigor through increased profits.

Poll results represent findings from an Internet survey of 500 small business owners nationwide, commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority and conducted by Lake Research Partners. The survey was conducted between December 8, 2011 and January 4, 2012. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

Small Business Majority is a national nonpartisan small business advocacy organization founded and run by small business owners and focused on solving the biggest problems facing America’s 28 million small businesses. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with small business owners, policy experts and elected officials nationwide to bring small business voices to the public policy table. Follow Small Business Majority on Twitter or visit Small Business Majority’s Facebook page.

The American Sustainable Business Council is a network of business organizations representing over 100,000 companies and 200,000 business leaders. ASBC advocates for public policies that meet the realities of the 21st century global economy including strategic investments in workforce and infrastructure; standards and safeguards that promote innovation, prevent abuse and protect critical resources; and a new sustainable economic model that fosters a growing, economically-secure middle class.

The Main Street Alliance is a national network of state-based small business coalitions. MSA creates opportunities for small business owners to speak for themselves on issues that impact their businesses and local economies.

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Enterprise Management Associates Announces Free IT Management Webinars for February

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), a leading IT and data management research and consulting firm, today announced it will host a number of free Webinars focused on IT management during the month of February.

The EMA™ Webinars set for February are:

Tuesday, February 2 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Optimizing Cloud for Service Delivery: Where, How and Why Infrastructure and Services are Coming Together in Real Cloud Deployments

EMA VP of Research Dennis Drogseth will discuss how IT organizations are combining management and cloud-specific technologies to optimize application and other services in Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Software-as-a-Service contexts. Dennis will also address what technology options are most critical, including but not limited to:

-Capacity planning/optimization analytics

-Cloud bursting

-Automation

-Virtualized applications and virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs)

-And many others

Tuesday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Application Performance Management (APM) for Cloud Services Radar: 18 APM Solutions Which Are Cloud Ready TODAY

The story behind Application Performance Management is one of managing complexity, and the addition of Cloud computing takes complexity to a new level. Today, most large companies have already deployed private Cloud, and many are also utilizing public Cloud in new and unexpected ways. Relatively little research has been done, however, to uncover the impact of Cloud on Application Performance Management solutions.

EMA Research Director Julie Craig will reveal key findings from the latest EMA Radar Report. This Radar Report incorporates product evaluations, vendor briefings, and customer interviews to identify which of the many APM solutions in the market are Cloud ready today. Attendees will learn:

-Why and how public, private, and hybrid Cloud introduce new APM challenges

-What types of innovative APM capabilities are required to address Cloud-based applications and services

-Which vendors and solutions are addressing these challenges today

Thursday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. EST

CMDB/CMS Use Case Radar: From Database to Federation

A follow up from last year’s CMDB research on “Innovation through Diversity,” this Webinar will focus on how platforms and other vendors are making the move to support a more federated, model-centric and dynamic foundation for service management. New vendor profiles are included from BMC, CA Technologies, HP and IBM, while Axios Systems, ASG, iET Solutions, LANDesk and ServiceNow are participating again as strong multi-purpose CMDB systems and critical points of comparison.

EMA VP of Research Dennis Drogseth will discuss highlights from this new research, preview vendor profiles, and:

-Identify what to look for in selecting a CMDB or CMS foundation for Asset Management and Financial Optimization, Change Management and Change Impact Analysis, and Service Impact Management (the three use cases examined)

-Provide insights on how these nine industry leaders position in terms of design, focus, strengths, and limitations across the use cases cited above.

Thursday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. EST

Into Action: How Unified Security & IT Operations Management Works

The ways in which comprehensive and highly adaptable solutions can eliminate the redundancies of siloed legacy approaches, close gaps and reduce costs while enabling greater solution scalability will be explored in this Webinar. EMA Managing Research Director Scott Crawford and IBM Senior Product Marketing Manager Mark Ehr will:

-Examine the characteristics of successful platforms

-Identify how unified security and IT operations management not only reduces costs but can also simplify the overall infrastructure

-Highlight the specifics of what to look for in a truly unified solution that addresses both security and IT operations management

A brief discussion of how IBM Endpoint Manager, built on BigFix technology, helps to address these issues will also be provided during the Webinar.

About EMA

Founded in 1996, Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) is a leading industry analyst firm that provides deep insight across the full spectrum of IT and data management technologies. EMA analysts leverage a unique combination of practical experience, insight into industry best practices, and in-depth knowledge of current and planned vendor solutions to help its clients achieve their goals. Learn more about EMA research, analysis, and consulting services for enterprise line of business users, IT professionals and IT vendors at http://www.enterprisemanagement.com or blogs.enterprisemanagement.com. You can also follow EMA on Twitter or EMA on Facebook.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Video Balun Manufacturer PIMFG.com Offers New Products and Discounted Items to Welcome the New Year

Video balun manufacturer PIMFG.com plays its part in welcoming 2012 by offering selected products at discounted prices while simultaneously launching several new items.

Rowland Heights, CA (PRWEB) January 28, 2012

Celebrating the New Year is PIMFG.com, a manufacturer of video baluns, cables, and home theater products. From PI Manufacturing, Corp. comes the latest security, networking, adapters, and mobile accessory products, just to name a few. PIMFG.com’s new items include the best prices in female adapters, digital indoor/outdoor ATSC antenna, 4 camera video balun kits, and Bluetooth mini-keyboards.

Some of the video balun manufacturer’s latest products that are worth mentioning are the 1U Rackmount Short Depth 1-Port KVM Console Combo Interface, Sony Outdoor Camera with Built-in Video Balun, and the 19-inch Heavy Duty Steel Rack. The 1U Rackmount Short Depth 1-Port KVM Console features a 15.6-inch wide screen LCD that also comes with a USB and PS/2 combo interface, which can be used either for a mouse of keyboard. For a price of $ 772.42, this latest addition to PIMFG.com’s inventory can be easily mounted on a standard rack and also has a built-in rail self-locking device for easy installation.

Sony’s 1/3 HQ1 520 TVL Outdoor Camera, which fetches a price of $ 194.88, is packed with a built-in video balun and Infrared Technology perfect for nighttime visibility and dark areas. The 19-inch Heavy Duty Steel Rack, on the other hand, can be purchased for $ 507.50 and offers a great way to organize networking systems. Allowing 40 unit panels, this steel rack from PIMFG.com makes efficiency more possible with networking systems.

Visitors who come to PIMFG.com’s website will be greeted with Featured Products that are sold at discounted prices. These include Dome Camera Kits for $ 149.00, 7-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip for $ 11.51, iPad 2 Polyurethane Leather Case with Stand for $ 7.00, and Bluetooth Cellular Phone Getaway for $ 49.00 just to name a few.

Visit the company’s official blog or simply subscribe to the video balun’s official mailing list for more details on PI Manufacturing, Corp.’s products and services.

About PI Manufacturing Corp.

PI Manufacturing Corp. has been serving customers for over 24 years. Specializing as a manufacturer, importer and distributor, PI offers customers a full line of high quality products. It carries computer cables, networking cables, audio/video cables, adapters, home theater products (HDMI, LCD Plasma Wall Mounts, Ceiling/In-Wall Speakers), security products, and thousands of other items at wholesale prices. The company has earned the reputation as one of the fastest growing companies according to US. Press, press release produced by Cybertegic.com – an Internet marketing services agency that specializes in search engine optimization and SEO marketing.

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Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.