Arts Books and Magazines

Artprice Previews Artprice TV at the Contemporary Art Biennial

2005-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Artprice Previews Artprice TV at the Contemporary Art Biennial

PARIS, September 13/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Artprice's standardised marketplace is now handling as many as
17,000 classified ads in real time (and a total of 35,284 ads since its
launch in February 2005) with an average sale price of EUR 10,524.

These figures represent a veritable revolution in art market
history.

It is against this backdrop that Artprice is presenting a preview of
Artprice TV (R) at the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial (the world's third most
visited biennial art fair) between 12 September and 31 December 2005.

The screens at the Biennial, broadcasting Artprice TV
continuously (a selection of classified ads for art works and presentations
of future auctions re-formatted for TV and 3G), represent, according to art
critics and professionals "the finest auction catalogue ever" and for others,
the end of an era and the transition of the art market to the 21th century.

Artprice has chosen this important world-renowned exhibition
for art professionals and institutions to promote its standardised art market
and the opening of this market to a much broader public via digital
television, satellite and cable television, the internet and mobile phones.

Broadcast in five languages (English, German, French, Spanish
and Italian), Artprice TV offers advertisers (art dealers, galleries, auction
houses, collectors, etc) using the Artprice marketplace a unique advertising
space that displays selected Artprice ads on a continual basis.

This tried and tested (and relatively cheap) form of
advertising, originally developed by Gazette Drouot in France, allows
Artprice TV to fill 90% of its content with paying advertisers. Current art
market news is gathered and distributed by Artprice's press agency,
ArtMarketInsight, which provides almost 80% of the written and audiovisual
art news worldwide.

The pre-launch of Artprice TV is scheduled for 18 September
2005 under the code Artprice.tv or Artpricetv.com.

Source: (c) www.artprice.com 1987-2005 Thierry Ehrmann

About the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial:

The world's third largest biennial by number of entries
(170,000) with almost 40% of visitors coming from abroad, 1,200 international
journalists and assured visits from every kind of art professional.

Artprice, the world leader in art market information, lists
over 21 million auction prices and indices covering over 306,000 artists
collected from 2,900 international auction houses. Artprice daily serves the
main financial press titles and agencies with the art market trends. Artprice
Classifieds visible to 900,000 Artprice members for buying and selling art
works.

Artprice is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris: Euroclear:
7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF

Contact :

Josette Mey
Telephonenumber: +33(0)478220000
E-mail :jmey@artprice.com

Source: Artprice.com

Contact : Josette Mey, Telephonenumber: +33(0)478220000, E-mail :jmey@artprice.com

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Profile: art and books

FABULOUS FLOORS Begins Posting Complete Back Issues to WEB

2005-09-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

FABULOUS FLOORS Begins Posting Complete Back Issues to WEB

Summer '05 Magazine Available September 27, as Fall Edition Hits Newsstands Advertisers Get 'Triple Exposure' With Indefinite Archiving

GHENT, N.Y., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As far as FABULOUS FLOORS magazine and its advertisers are concerned, Summer 2005 will continue on indefinitely, as the publisher announces plans to begin posting past issues in their entirety to the magazine web site http://www.fabulousfloorsmagazine.com/.

According to Sonna Calandrino, publisher and founder of the first consumer magazine devoted solely to flooring fashion, "When the Fall issue of FABULOUS FLOORS hits newsstands in the US and markets worldwide on September 27, Internet-savvy consumers will be able to access the Summer issue, free, by logging on to http://www.fabulousfloorsmagazine.com/ and clicking on 'back issues' listed on the menu."

Subsequently, each complete quarterly issue will be posted to the web site as soon as the next issue hits the newsstands. Internet browsers can visit at will at no cost. Hard copy back issues remain available at nominal costs while supplies last. Complete CD versions also are available. Subscriptions remain available on line.

Calandrino said the move is part of the magazine's web site expansion and circulation plans to meet a changing reader-consumer market. "Both consumers and members of the industry, largely retailers, are looking for immediate resource material. Advertisers always are looking for more and better ways to get out their message, especially now with traditional distribution methods coming under tremendous competitive pressures. Significantly, not only will each magazine be posted in its entirety, we also will continue to list our advertisers as a resource service to consumers and link our site to those of our advertisers who wish to do so," Calandrino added. "And readers just being introduced to the magazine for the first time will be able to research back issues for additional information and ideas."

The Summer Issue, Number 7, features "Bring the Outside In!", 83 'Sunsational' Rugs, Laminates & Wood, Yummy Floors, Mother Nature's Coconut, Sisal and Seagrass, Treat Yourself! -- Luxe Baths and Smart Kitchens, 5 Design Pros Get You Started, Craving Color 'Green Is In -- Cork & Linoleum plus 125 Internet Sources.

FABULOUS FLOORS is published by Peachtree Communications, 226 Old Post Road, Ghent, NY. 518 828 3200.

Source: FABULOUS FLOORS MAGAZINE

CONTACT: Richard Howland, Vice President & Managing Editor of FABULOUS
FLOORS, +1-518-828-3200, Rhowlandjr@aol.com

Web site: http://www.fabulousfloorsmagazine.com/

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Profile: art and books

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Brings Traveling Photo Exhibit to the Charleroi Art & History Center

2005-09-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Brings Traveling Photo Exhibit to the Charleroi Art & History Center

CHARLEROI, Pa., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) is bringing its traveling photo exhibit, "67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania," to Charleroi from October 6-16, 2005. The photo exhibit will be displayed at the Charleroi Art & History Center, 501 McKean Avenue.

An opening reception, sponsored by Charleroi Main Street and Tara Hospital, is scheduled for Thursday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. To RSVP for the reception, please call 1-800-377-8828 x303.

This educational work of art features women from each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, along with a message about how breast cancer has touched their lives. The women reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and their stories reflect the impact of breast cancer on themselves, their families and their communities. The exhibit encourages women to learn about early detection and celebrates the life, courage, hope and dignity of women and families who have battled breast cancer.

Pat Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President & Founder, encourages everyone to visit the exhibit. "Breast cancer is not a rare event separate from the fabrics of our everyday lives. It impacts our mothers, daughters, friends and ourselves. We must educate ourselves about this insidious disease and fight to find a cure now...so our daughters won't have to."

In addition to the traveling photo exhibit, the Charleroi Art & History Center will also host other events in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Among these events is "Art for Life," an exhibit featuring artwork designed by breast cancer survivors from across Pennsylvania. The artwork will be on display throughout October.

"67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania" is sponsored by the PBCC and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The PBCC, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization and the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors. This year, more than 12,000 Pennsylvania women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 2,300 will lose their lives to the disease. The PBCC's mission is to find a cure for breast cancer and to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research and outreach in the state.

For more information please call 1-800-377-8828 or visit the website http://www.pabreastcancer.org/.

Source: Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition

CONTACT: Amy Collins, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition,
+1-717-738-9567 x106 or +1-717-468-9215

Web site: http://www.pabreastcancer.org/

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Profile: art and books

Deloitte Named to Working Mother's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' List for Twelfth Consecutive Year

2005-09-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

Deloitte Named to Working Mother's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' List for Twelfth Consecutive Year

Deloitte Earns High Marks for Women's Advancement, Flextime and Work/Life Culture

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, has been named one of Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for the twelfth consecutive year. Deloitte emerged from a field of hundreds of companies that scored highest in key categories that are important to working mothers, including flexibility, advancement, family friendly resources, leave for new parents and work-life culture. Deloitte garnered its highest ratings for flexibility, work/life culture and women's advancement programs.

On the 20th anniversary of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, an exclusive Working Mother magazine survey has found that despite the growing popularity of compressed work weeks, job-shares, telecommuting and other workplace flexibility options, two out of three working mothers believe there is still a stigma attached to using flextime options that their companies allow.

"Deloitte is one of the organizations working to eliminate this bias against flextime workers by offering its working mother employees not just flexibility, but advancement opportunities as well," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "We salute Deloitte for its efforts on behalf of working mothers. It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

"The standards of excellence set by Working Mother get higher every year, so we are honored to be recognized once again among the best companies for working mothers," said James H. Quigley, CEO of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. "The only way we can attract and retain top talent is to provide the very best benefits and programs that enhance both the professional and personal lives of our people. We will continue to do all that we can to create an excellent working environment, and to make Deloitte a place where the best choose to be."

In surveying the companies that applied for this year's list, particular weight was given to questions in three areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; child-care options, because without them parents can't work; and time off for new parents, because it's critical for mothers to bond with their newborns without suffering professionally.

To apply for the Working Mother 100 Best, Deloitte provided Working Mother magazine with detailed information on eight areas of work/life including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women's advancement, total compensation, work/life culture, and family-friendly programs. Deloitte completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions and management ranks. It was also required to submit benefits handbooks and results of employee surveys.

The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at http://www.workingmother.com/ .

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names "Deloitte," "Deloitte & Touche," "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein. Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

Source: Deloitte & Touche USA LLP

CONTACT: Mai J. Browne, Senior Manager, National Public Relations,
+1-212-436-2553, +1-917-648-4718, maibrowne@deloitte.com, for Deloitte &
Touche USA LLP

Web site: http://www.deloitte.com/us
http://www.workingmother.com/

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Profile: art and books

Passionate Focus 2005 Celebrates Visually-Impaired Artists on September 15 in Michigan Avenue Art Exhibition

2005-09-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

Passionate Focus 2005 Celebrates Visually-Impaired Artists on September 15 in Michigan Avenue Art Exhibition

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT: Passionate Focus 2005 -- Juried exhibition of artwork of blind and
visually impaired artists from around the country. Sponsored by
Chicago's Guild for the Blind.

WHEN: Artists Reception and Silent Auction Thursday, September 15, 2005,
5 - 9 pm. The exhibition continues through November 13, 2005.

WHO: If people who are blind can be artists, what else can they do if
given the opportunity and support?

Passionate Focus is a reflection of the spirit embodied in all the
programs offered at the Guild for the Blind, including:

-- Career training to stem the 70% unemployment rate among the blind and
visually impaired, and
-- "New Visions," a program to help the one in six people over age 65 who
develop vision loss due to macular degeneration.

Representatives from the Guild for the Blind will be present, as well as
several local featured artists.

WHERE: The Gallery of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Michigan Avenue at
Delaware Place and Chestnut Avenue, Chicago.

COST: $100 per person. Tickets are available at the door.

Visit http://www.guildfortheblind.org/ for more information.

Source: Guild for the Blind

CONTACT: Cheryl Megurdichian, Director of Development of Guild for the
Blind, +1-312-236-8569

Web site: http://www.guildfortheblind.org/

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Profile: art and books

Honest New York Accountant Can't Fudge Numbers So Writes Fiction Instead

2005-09-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Honest New York Accountant Can't Fudge Numbers So Writes Fiction Instead

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Ed Kingman is a crooked college advisor who takes kickbacks. He gets the academically unspectacular children of rich parents into Ivy League schools. He is also in trouble. His client, Victor Stein, is a porn king and mobster; and, if his kid doesn't make the Ivy, Kingman may be sprouting lilies. Carla Benton is Kingman's love interest. She's facing the loss of her mother and has the wrong kind of guy chasing after her.

Number crunching and murder and intrigue -- it's all in a day's work for New York accounting firm partner and fiction writer Jerry Eitel. Mr. Eitel's first novel "Trail of Light" debuts this month. Although his book is captioned in the synopsis above, underneath it is really about dealing with one's parents or lack thereof.

What could possibly drive an accountant to write fiction - where's the connection? "Well, they both require a compulsive personality," joked Mr. Eitel.

"Accounting, especially during tax season, is intense and that's when the book poured out -- as a way to offset the insanity. The advantage of being an accountant, at least in New York, is that you run into a lot of good material -- although they don't know they're good material - and just being crowded into a railroad car every day provides inspiration," said the author. He wrote the majority of the novel in six months during his morning commutes from Long Island to New York City.

Eitel added that the inspiration for his story also came from the culture around him in which people are used to buying pretty much anything -- and observing the lengths to which parents will go to get their children into good schools -- including writing a book. Yes, he has a teenage son, but he's not a writer.

"SAT tutors, essay writing coaches, and application-boosting summer travel/community service programs these days where kids build homes in Africa -- it's easy to get sucked in," Eitel acknowledged. "But I'm too honest. I can't fudge the numbers. Maybe that's why I write fiction..."

"Trail of Light" sells for $17.95 and may be purchased through Amazon and other online booksellers. Mr. Eitel earned his B.A. in creative writing at Brooklyn College and his M.B.A. in accounting at Long Island University.

Jerry Eitel, 631-897-0979

This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging e- mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.xpresspress.com/ .

Source: Jerry Eitel

CONTACT: Jerry Eitel, +1-631-897-0979, or work717@hotmail.com

EDITORS' ADVISORY: Review copies are available.

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Profile: art and books

Corland Publishing Launches Diesel Forecast Magazine

2005-09-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Corland Publishing Launches Diesel Forecast Magazine

Online publication will provide constant editorial coverage of the diesel vehicle market and related technologies

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Diesel vehicles, immensely popular in Europe, are gaining attention in the US as surging oil prices focus attention on more fuel-efficient powertrain technologies.

With this growing trend in mind, Corland Publishing has launched Diesel Forecast, an online publication dedicated to comprehensive reporting on diesel vehicle technology and business news to a qualified audience. Visitors can review the entire publication for free, on a trial basis at http://www.dieselforecast.com/ .

Each installment will review the state of the diesel market, vehicle technology developments and trends, new vehicle launches and diesel fuel developments. Coverage will include interviews and columns by respected figures at the major automakers and suppliers.

The publication also will focus on statistics and market trends, reporting on potential changes in the demand for diesel-related components and services. This editorial focus will help the primary readership in making educated decisions about their involvement in the diesel market and build their strategies in the months and years to come.

Diesel Forecast is led by Executive Editor John McCormick, a widely published automotive journalist and Publisher Rob Cleveland, president of ICON Creative Technologies Group, an interactive marketing and creative agency.

British-born McCormick joined Britain's renowned CAR magazine as deputy editor in 1982. After four years he crossed the Atlantic to join AutoWeek magazine and later Ward's Auto World. A leading independent automotive journalist since 1992, McCormick contributes to consumer and trade publications around the world.

Publisher Cleveland's experience in publishing and the automotive market, including experience as an editor at Ward's Auto World magazine, along with ICON's services in both creative and web-based publishing technology gives Corland Publishing the perfect skills, background and experience for the production of online magazines and newsletters.

Diesel Forecast's editorial focuses primarily on decision-makers at the automakers and major suppliers. The editorial is designed to provide an information platform that will quickly educate these key individuals, and help drive their decisions. Coverage will be designed to inform top managers both in the technical arena and in business operations.

Corland Publishing is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is dedicated to niche publishing projects in multiple media channels. Its online publication, Diesel Forecast, is available at http://www.dieselforecast.com/ and joins sister publication, Hydrogen Forecast, http://www.hydrogenforecast.com/ , the hydrogen economy's leading news source.

Source: Corland Publishing

CONTACT: Rob Cleveland of Diesel Forecast Magazine, +1-734-239-3586,
rob.cleveland@dieselforecast.com

Web site: http://www.dieselforecast.com/
http://www.hydrogenforecast.com/

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Profile: art and books

W Magazine and GUESS? Present the 3rd Annual W Hollywood Yard Sale Hosted By Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford to Benefit Clothes Off Our Back

2005-09-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

W Magazine and GUESS? Present the 3rd Annual W Hollywood Yard Sale Hosted By Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford to Benefit Clothes Off Our Back

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 17, 2005, W Magazine will be hosting the W Hollywood Yard Sale presented by GUESS. Clothes Off Our Back is the benefiting charity of what is Hollywood's version of the all- American yard sale. The event, which is open to the public from 12pm to 5pm will be hosted at a private mansion located at 251 North Bristol Avenue in Brentwood.

Guests will be able to meet celebrities, browse and shop all for charity. Celebrities "man" their own booths selling items from their personal and professional lives that are no longer needed -- just like a real yard sale! Everything from unused decorative accessories from the sets of their TV shows, clothes worn to red carpet events, and unwanted gift bag items will be sold at super-reduced prices. Celebrities such as Gail O'Grady, Lisa Rinna, Cheryl Hines, Nia Vardalos, Alana & Sean Stewart, Lisa Edlestein, Andrea Bowen, Kate Linder, Brenda Strong of "Desperate Housewives" and more will be on hand to sell merchandise from their own closets as well as select wares from such adored brands and names as Lisa Kline, Converse, Diane von Furstenberg, Belle Gray, Industry, Joie, dwell, C&C California, LeSportsac, Eberjey and more! Such sought after beauty companies such as Warren-Tricomi and Z. Bigatti will be pampering celebrities and guests with facial treatments, beauty applications and hair styling.

The event is a family-friendly event with a Kid's Corner where children can enjoy magicians, caricature drawings, balloon artists, and make-your-own tye-dye tee's etc. Guests will enjoy live musical performances by special celebrity DJ Rosanna Arquette and Big Dume.

All money raised from the W Magazine Hollywood Yard Sale presented by GUESS? will be donated to Clothes Off Our Back. Founded by Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford, the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation works with celebrities, designers and high profile individuals to share their good fortune and donate clothing and accessories for auction to benefit children's charities. The items are put up for bid to the public -- all in the name of charity. Over 175 celebrities have participated in Clothes Off Our Back auctions since its inception in 2002, helping raise nearly $500,000 for various children's charities. Additional information can be found at www.clothesoffourback.org.

Also, on September 18th through September 28th an online auction of autographed t-shirts by such celebrities as Jamie Lynn Discala, Kimberly Stewart, Jillian Barberie, Alan Cumming, DJ AM, the cast of ER, Jane Kaz, Wesley Jonathan and more will be up for people to purchase on the Clothes Off Our Back website!

Complete list of Celebrities & Vendors putting their used items to a good cause include:

2xist -- Alana and Sean Stewart for the Stewart Family Booth -- Alex Woo - - Amy McCarthy -- Andrea Bowen -- Ashley Tisdale & Brenda Song -- Baskin- Robbins -- Belle Gray by Lisa Rinna -- Borba -- Brenda Strong -- C&C California -- Cheryl Hines -- Christina Moore -- Converse -- Dee's Grooming -- Diane Von Furstenberg -- Drifter -- dwell/dwell baby -- e.l.f. -- Eberjey -- Essie -- eXtra TV Trivia Booth -- Faire Frou Frou -- Felissimo -- Fifi & Romeo -- FILA -- Gbenga Akinnagbe -- GUESS? -- Guinot -- Inconceivable -- Jaqua -- Joie -- Kate Linder -- LaLicious -- Lauralee Bell and Shauna Stein for ON SUNSET -- LeSportsac -- Lisa Edelstein -- Lisa Klein -- Malcolm in the Middle -- Michele Marcombe -- Monica's on Broxton -- NBC Daytime -- Perrier -- Phillips Union Whiskey -- PowerHouse Books -- Purp7e -- Samantha Thavasa New York -- Scanty -- Seychelles Footwear -- Shanna Moakler -- Sheetal Sheth -- Skulls & Cross Bones -- Sprint Nextel Corporation -- Star 98.7 FM -- Taraji Henson -- The Dresser -- The Walt Disney Co. -- The West Wing -- Thomas "Thunder" Keller -- Tres LA -- Warren-Tricomi Salon -- Z. Bigatti -- And More!

Source: W Magazine

CONTACT: THINK PR, +1-212-343-3920

Web site: http://www.clothesoffourback.org/

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Profile: art and books

Quest Fore Honored for Excellence in Communication and Graphic Design

2005-09-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

Quest Fore Honored for Excellence in Communication and Graphic Design

Agency Receives Two Awards From Graphic Design USA

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Design USA today announced it has selected Quest Fore Inc. as a winner of two Awards of Excellence in Communication and Graphic Design in its 2005 American Graphic Design Awards competition.

The agency was honored for its work in designing The Frick Art Museum "American Beauty" Exhibition Invitation Package, as well as its development of The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center "Clash of Empires" Exhibition Catalog.

Graphic Design USA is the leading monthly business-to-business magazine for professional graphic designers and related creative and production professionals. With the publication entering its 43rd year, its American Graphic Design Awards competition is among the most prestigious, as well as the most open and democratic, of all such events. It's also among the most selective competitions, with only 10 percent of all entries receiving awards.

Quest Fore's award-winning American Beauty Exhibition Invitation Package comprises various communications elements that promoted the April 2005 debut of the American Beauty Exhibition at The Frick Art Museum in Pittsburgh. The package was designed to highlight the mixed media featured in the showcase while conveying the artistic essence of the collection, which included nearly 100 renowned paintings and sculptures created by American artists between the 1770s and 1920s.

The agency's award-winning Clash of Empires Exhibition Catalog is a 108-page commemorative book, which was designed to capture the experience of a visitor to The Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center's Clash of Empires Exhibition by recreating the color palette and organization of the showcase - the most comprehensive museum exhibit ever presented on the British, French & Indian War, as well as the History Center's most ambitious undertaking to date.

"It's extremely gratifying for all of us at Quest Fore to have our work recognized in the American Graphic Design Awards -- arguably the most prestigious awards competition in our industry," said Ken Cuccinelli, president and CEO of Quest Fore. "The efforts for which we're being honored are representative of the leading edge creative work that is the hallmark of the Quest Fore team."

Quest Fore is one of Pittsburgh's oldest and largest marketing communications firms. Now in its 30th year of operation, Quest Fore serves clients in a wide range of industries throughout the country and around the world. The firm's award-winning work has been a marketing staple for many companies for decades. In fact, Quest Fore's three original clients still are clients of the firm today.

Quest Fore offers a full range of marketing communications services, including strategic planning, market research, creative development, corporate identity systems, print and broadcast advertising, brand development programs, graphic design, web development, interactive multimedia, video production and public relations services. For more information, visit www.questfore.com.

Source: Quest Fore

CONTACT: Ken Cuccinelli of Quest Fore, +1-412-381-6670, ext. 223

Web site: http://www.questfore.com/

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Profile: art and books

AdPay Appoints Paul T. Wolfe as Vice President of Sales

2005-09-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

AdPay Appoints Paul T. Wolfe as Vice President of Sales

Company Hires 18 Year Software Sales and Start-Up Veteran to Lead Western Region Sales Team

DENVER, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- AdPay, Inc. today announced the appointment of Paul T. Wolfe to the role of Vice President of Sales. Wolfe brings over 18 years of sales and sales management experience to the company. He will be responsible for the sales and account management for AdPay's western region.

"I'm very excited to join a company that is leading the way in the e-commerce enabled classifieds industry," said Wolfe. "AdPay's best-of-breed solution is the future for those newspapers wanting to compete in the online marketplace and get closer to the transaction."

Wolfe has worked in a number of senior positions in planning and implementing sales strategies, product launches, and start-up sales operations for high growth companies including Travidia, the leading print-to-Internet vendor for newspapers. At Travidia, he rose to Vice President of Media Services and was responsible for developing many of the company's key accounts including Knight Ridder, Belo, Hearst, and The Seattle Times Company.

"Paul's sales, software, and newspaper industry experience are great compliments to our existing management team," said Mike Heene, CEO of AdPay. "His knowledge and industry experience will be instrumental in continuing the rapid market adoption of our Click-N-Buy product."

Wolfe is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a BA in Economics and International Relations.

About AdPay

AdPay, Inc. is the pioneer in providing online classified e-commerce solutions to the newspaper industry. The company was founded with one premise: to enable print publications to effectively compete in the high growth online domain. Under the Click-N-Buy Classifieds(TM) brand, they offer an Internet- hosted solution suite that unifies print and online classifieds into a single, dynamic transactional marketplace. Click-N-Buy's patent-pending technologies integrate with the newspaper's web sites and classified ad entry and posting systems. The result is a strong and effective answer to online competition, allowing the newspaper to be the local online shopping hub while creating new, lasting sources of revenue. AdPay customers include more than 30 of the largest newspapers in U.S., and several media groups including McClatchy, E. W. Scripps Company, Belo, Media General, and Freedom Community Newspapers. For more information, go to www.adpay.com.

Contact:
Kurt Schmidt
(P) 303.268.4069
(F) 303.268.1529
kschmidt@adpay.com

Source: AdPay, Inc.

CONTACT: Kurt Schmidt of AdPay, Inc., +1-303-268-4069,
fax +1-303-268-1529, kschmidt@adpay.com

Web site: http://www.adpay.com/

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Profile: art and books

Yoga Journal Celebrates 30th Anniversary -- Ad Revenues Double in Five Years, Over One Million Readers Per Issue

2005-09-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

Yoga Journal Celebrates 30th Anniversary -- Ad Revenues Double in Five Years, Over One Million Readers Per Issue

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Yoga Journal, the most widely read yoga magazine in the country, marks its 30th anniversary celebrating several major achievements: In the last five years, ad revenue has doubled, while the magazines' circulation has tripled to 325,000. Readership has grown to over 1,000,000 per issue.

In addition, the magazine has expanded its yoga offerings across various media. Its conferences are some of the most widely attended in the country; the company produces an award-winning line of DVDs and widely acclaimed books; and Yogajournal.com, the magazine's website, logs nearly 1,000,000 users per month. The magazine has also won many editorial awards, including three "Editorial Excellence Award for Best Consumer Health Magazine" from Folio Magazine.

The growth of Yoga Journal has been fueled in part by the growth of yoga in the U.S. According to a 2004 Harris Poll study (full results can be seen at http://www.yogajournal.com/about_press020705.cfm ), 7.5% of U.S. adults, or 16.5 million people, now practice yoga, an increase of 43% from 2002. The fastest growing segment of practitioners is the 18-24 age group, which increased 46% in one year. The poll also showed that approximately one in seven non-practitioners, or about 25 million people, say they intend to try yoga within the next 12 months.

This growth translates into dollars. According to the study, Americans spend $2.95 billion a year on yoga classes and products, including equipment, clothing, vacations and media (DVDs, videos, books and magazines).

Says John Abbott, president and CEO of Yoga Journal, "When Yoga Journal published its first staple-bound edition in September 1975, none of our founders could have imagined that the magazine would fuel an international renaissance in yoga, or the central role Yoga Journal would have in that growth. We are proud to bring the benefits of yoga to a wide and ever-growing audience."

"As the number of yoga practitioners grows, so does the financial vibrancy of the market. Yoga is not a passing fad. It's a genuine cultural phenomenon, an integral part of the wellness trend in this country, and it's here to stay."

Current national advertisers include Toyota, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Kelloggs, Chevrolet, Asics, Chrysler, General Mills, Nestle, Burt's Bees, Luna Bar, and Coty. The magazine is the top-selling health and fitness title at Barnes & Noble nationwide, as well as at Whole Foods.

Source: Yoga Journal

CONTACT: Dayna Macy of Yoga Journal, +1-415-591-0555, ext. 304, or
dmacy@yogajournal.com

Web site: http://www.yogajournal.com/

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Profile: art and books

TRAVEL SAVVY Magazine Relaunches Today

2005-09-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL SAVVY Magazine Relaunches Today

First Magazine Devoted to 'Lists That Matter' Hits Stands Sept. 13, 2005

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- David Letterman has his Top 10 list. People has its annual 50 most beautiful people. But only one magazine, TRAVEL SAVVY, is devoted to lists, capitalizing on an American obsession. The just re-launched bimonthly has a new look and new editorial focus: It makes travel sexy and smart. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Jill Brooke, a former CNN correspondent and New York Post and Daily News columnist, TRAVEL SAVVY is redefining the travel category.

The bimonthly consumer publication's September/October issue hits stands today. The cover price is $3.99 with a yearly subscription rate of $12.00.

Purchased by liquor mogul Sidney Frank in January, TRAVEL SAVVY's lists showcase the "best of" in every category: destinations, hotels, cuisine, nightlife, fashion, art and adventure -- with a twist. TRAVEL SAVVY taps acclaimed experts to provide lists that celebrate the travel lifestyle.

Only TRAVEL SAVVY magazine knows Ray Romano's 10 favorite restaurants; Uma Thurman's spiritual retreat; hip-hop entrepreneur Damon Dash's 5 hippest nightclubs; pop-culture author Chris Epting's 10 coolest pop pilgrimages; shark researcher Aidan Martin's exciting shark dives; Jo Malone's 8 aromatic hotels; and The Coffee Review's Kenneth Davids' most satisfying coffees.

"Anyone can Google a place and get travel information," says Brooke, "but the list concept sets us apart. Whether our experts give the best hotels for picky eaters worldwide, New York's most unusual attractions, the hottest tango clubs in Buenos Aires or the best seashell beaches, each list will provide top-notch information you can't get anywhere else."

TRAVEL SAVVY magazine editorial offices are located at 72 Madison Ave., New York, NY. To subscribe, visit: http://www.travelsavvymag.com/.

Source: Frank Media

CONTACT: Jennifer Kahn, +1-212-579-2010, or jkahn@kruppnyc.com

Web site: http://www.travelsavvymag.com/

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Profile: art and books

High Temperature Superconductor Power Grid Stabilization Product Recognized for Technical Excellence -- Selected for R&D 100 Award

2005-09-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

High Temperature Superconductor Power Grid Stabilization Product Recognized for Technical Excellence -- Selected for R&D 100 Award

Developed by American Superconductor in Collaboration with Tennessee Valley Authority, SuperVAR(R) Grid Stabilization Product Serves as "Shock Absorber" for Transmission Grid

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:AMSC), a leading electricity solutions company, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power provider, today announced that the SuperVAR(R) dynamic synchronous condenser has been selected by R&D Magazine as one of the most technologically significant products introduced over the past year. The SuperVAR dynamic synchronous condenser, which has been recognized for this achievement with the prestigious R&D 100 Award, is a breakthrough product that stabilizes grid voltages, increases service reliability and can help maximize transmission capacity.

Developed by American Superconductor in collaboration with TVA, SuperVAR machines are dynamic synchronous condensers, which are rotating machines, much like motors and generators. They utilize superconductor technology and serve as "shock absorbers" for the grid, dynamically generating or absorbing reactive power (measured in volt-amperes-reactive or VARs).

"In today's digital economy, keeping voltage levels constant and stable is vital," said TVA Executive Vice President of Transmission/Power Supply Terry Boston. "That's what our customers expect, and we believe that's what this new technology will help us deliver. SuperVAR machines will help protect the transmission system from voltage fluctuations and help ensure TVA's continued delivery of affordable, reliable power to the people of the Tennessee Valley."

TVA installed American Superconductor's advanced prototype SuperVAR synchronous condenser at an electrical substation serving a steel mill operated by the Hoeganaes Corporation in Gallatin, Tennessee in August 2004. The SuperVAR machine helps stabilize voltage on TVA's grid by injecting or absorbing reactive power to minimize the sudden and large voltage fluctuations caused by the steel mill during operation of its arc furnace.

"We are delighted to accept this award that recognizes the importance of high temperature superconductor technology in increasing the reliability of electric power transmission," said Greg Yurek, president and CEO of American Superconductor. "This is particularly timely since the Energy Policy Act of 2005, recently signed by President Bush, highlights the need for increased investment in the reliability and modernization of the nation's transmission grid, including mandatory reliability standards. We expect SuperVAR machines to play a substantial role in meeting the new and enforceable reliability standards."

About the R&D 100 Awards

The R&D 100 Awards, now in its 43rd year, names the most innovative new products introduced into the market over the past year as selected by a panel of independent judges and editors of R&D Magazine with superior expertise and long experience in the areas they are judging. The Chicago Tribune has described these prestigious awards as "the Oscars of Invention." This year's R&D 100 Awards will be featured in the September issue of R&D 100 magazine and will be awarded at a Chicago banquet on October 20th.

About Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

TVA is the nation's largest public power provider and is completely self- financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. More information is available at http://www.tva.gov/.

About American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:AMSC)

AMSC is the world's principal vendor of high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire and large rotating superconductor machinery, and it is a world- leading supplier of dynamic reactive power grid stabilization products. AMSC's HTS wire and power electronic converters are at the core of a broad range of new electricity transmission and distribution, transportation, medical and industrial processing applications, including dynamic reactive power grid stabilization solutions, large ship propulsion motors and generators, smart, controllable, superconductor power cables and advanced defense systems.

The company's products are supported by hundreds of patents and licenses covering technologies fundamental to Revolutionizing the Way the World Uses Electricity(TM). More information is available at http://www.amsuper.com.

American Superconductor and design, AMSC, POWERED BY AMSC, and Revolutionizing the Way the World Uses Electricity are trademarks of and SuperVAR is a registered trademark of American Superconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to obtain anticipated funding from corporate and government contracts, to successfully develop, manufacture and market commercial products, and to secure anticipated orders; the risk that a robust market may not develop for the Company's products; the risk that strategic alliances and other contracts may be terminated; the risk that certain technologies utilized by the Company will infringe intellectual property rights of others; the competition encountered by the Company, including several large Japanese companies. Reference is made to these and other factors discussed in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" section of the Company's most recent quarterly or annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this release. While the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's views to change, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date this press release is issued.

Contact Information

Media Wanda Whitson 508-621-4454
American Superconductor wwhitson@amsuper.com

Media Myra Ireland 423-751-7153
TVA mhireland@tva.gov

Investors Kevin Bisson 508-621-4220
American Superconductor investor@amsuper.com

Source: American Superconductor Corporation

CONTACT: Media: Wanda Whitson of American Superconductor, +1-508-621-
4454, wwhitson@amsuper.com; or Media: Myra Ireland of TVA, +1-423-751-7153,
mhireland@tva.gov; or Investors: Kevin Bisson of American Superconductor, +1-
508-621-4220, investor@amsuper.com

Web site: http://www.amsuper.com/
http://www.tva.gov/
http://www.amsuper.com/

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Profile: art and books

Get Away to Stay in Touch!

2005-09-13T02:32:00.000-07:00

Get Away to Stay in Touch!

K-Y(R) Brand Declares September 17, 2005 the Second Annual NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM)

SKILLMAN, N.J., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- How many times a day do you imagine you and your partner "getting away" from it all? Getting away doesn't have to be a trip for two to a tropical island -- it's simply escaping everyday stresses to spend quality time alone with your partner. According to a recently commissioned K-Y(R) Brand survey of women between the ages of 25 and 65 who have been in a committed relationship for three years or more, couples are too caught up in the distractions of daily life to spend real romantic time with each other. Seventy-six percent of women surveyed wish they could spend more romantic "alone" time with their partner. Instead, couples claim they are sleeping, working or taking care of the kids rather than spending quality time together. For this reason, K-Y(R) Brand has declared September 17, 2005 the second annual K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM) -- a designated night to drop everything and spend that much needed time with your spouse.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/NYTU055LOGO )

This year, K-Y(R) Brand has partnered with Tango, the new magazine about relationships, to celebrate K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM). The need to revive romance between couples united the two parties, and now K-Y(R) Brand and Tango are determined to motivate couples to get away to stay in touch! In other words, reconnect, and what better day to do it than on date night, September 17th.

K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM) encourages couples to "get away" and take part in activities that reinvigorate the romance in their relationship. According to renowned relationship expert and author Lana Holstein M.D., "Massage is the perfect gift for your intimate partner at the end of a hectic day." Give a massage with the new K-Y(R) Brand TOUCH MASSAGE(TM) oils, available in five sensual aromas, and you'll instantly be transported to a dreamy destination. Dr. Holstein adds, "Touch without demand is not only a tool for love, but also a profound means of reestablishing connection for committed, yet often distracted, couples."

According to the survey, 57 percent of women say "getting away" from their normal routine means taking a vacation away from home -- but it doesn't have to be! Andrea Miller, founder of Tango attests, "K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM) is the perfect excuse for all couples to go out and do something fun together. It's especially easy, once you have been together for some time, to get complacent, which is why we're really encouraging those who are married to go on an actual date -- even book a hotel room for the night!"

Check out the latest issue of Tango, on shelves September 13 or visit http://www.ky.com/ for more information and tips on how you can truly enjoy K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM). Mark it on the calendar; K-Y(R) Brand NATIONAL DATE NIGHT(TM) is September 17, 2005!

About K-Y(R) Brand TOUCH MASSAGE(TM) Body Massage Oils

K-Y(R) Brand TOUCH MASSAGE(TM) is a new line of scented body massage oils from K-Y(R) Brand. The unique formulation gently glides onto skin, providing the ideal surface for a full body massage. The products have been tested with massage therapists and skin care experts to guarantee an enjoyable, gentle experience. The five available scents are: PARIS TWILIGHT(TM), BALI MOONLIGHT(TM), FIRESIDE(TM), SAPPHIRE GLOW(TM) and SECRET GROVE(TM). In addition, K-Y(R) Brand TOUCH MASSAGE(TM) 2-in-1 WARMING(TM) is the first and only warming body massage and personal lubricant in one and the only body massage product that creates a warming sensation on contact. The unscented formula glides gently on the skin and is condom compatible. K-Y(R) Brand TOUCH MASSAGE(TM) products are available at drug, food and mass retailers at the suggested retail price of $10.99.

About Tango

Tango is the trademark of Tango Publishing Inc. -- a privately funded company which also operates a full service website, http://www.tangomag.com/. Tango has sales and editorial offices in Manhattan, New York. The independently published title sells for a cover price of $4.99 and will publish four issues in 2005 at a rate base of 100,000. Tango is distributed nationwide by Comag Marketing Group, LLC (CMG), a jointly owned company of the Hearst Corporation and Conde Nast Publications.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/NYTU055LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: K-Y Brand

CONTACT: Alyssa Fromkin, +1-212-367-6938, alyssa.fromkin@eurorscg.com,
or Shauna Alexander, +1-212-367-6622, shauna.alexander@eurorscg.com, both of
Euro RSCG Magnet, for K-Y Brand

Web site: http://www.ky.com/
http://www.tangomag.com/

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Profile: art and books

Fall Activities Abound in Georgetown County, South Carolina

2005-09-13T02:13:00.000-07:00

Fall Activities Abound in Georgetown County, South Carolina

Events Feature Musical Tributes, Art Exhibits, a Wooden Boat Show and more

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Energizing concerts, gallery tours, antique shopping, live theater, succulent dining, unique crafts, wine tasting and an estimated 100 classic boats on display along the downtown boardwalk. Nestled along South Carolina's pristine coastline, Georgetown County has something for everyone this fall with the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art, the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival, the 16th Annual Wooden Boat Show and much more.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050517/NYFNSL09 )

The 2005 Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art, which begins Sept. 30 and ends Oct. 23, features 12 musical and art events, including a concert with three-time Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis, the Pawleys Island Wine Festival, children's theater production of Pinocchio and a 1940s-style music and dance revue. All events are held at Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark. Tickets are available online, or through the Festival office at 843-237-4774. For detailed event information, visit www.pawleysmusic.com.

The Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival takes place each September at the site of the historic "Atalaya" castle at Huntington Beach State Park in Litchfield. This year, the event will be held September 22-25. Hundreds of juried artists and their works of art ranging from pastels, oils, glass, woodworking, sculpture, and more will be displayed for the public to view. Food, beverages and music are provided for visitors. For further information, please call 843-237-4440.

And finally, October 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitors can enjoy the 16th Annual Wooden Boat Show. Georgetown will celebrate its appreciation for wooden boats and its maritime heritage with demonstrations, entertainment, music, food and rowing relay races on the Sampit River. An estimated 100 classic wooden boats will be displayed in the water along the boardwalk and on Front Street. For more information, call 877-285-3888 or visit www.woodenboatshow.com.

Georgetown County, the oldest family resort area in the nation and one of the newest All-America communities, extends from Garden City Beach south to the Santee river at the Charleston County line and offers visitors an array of opportunities - from fishing and boating to historical tours, a variety of dining experiences, 15 public golf courses, quaint inns and upscale resort accommodations, and more. For more information on Georgetown County, including an up-to-date listing of events, please visit our Web site at www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050517/NYFNSL09
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Georgetown County Visitors Bureau

CONTACT: Kim Asbill for Georgetown County Visitors Bureau,
+1-803-808-0325, or asbillpr@sc.rr.com, or Grace Brock of Georgetown County
Visitors Bureau at +1-843-235-6595, or gcvb@sc.rr.com

Web site: http://www.cnsg.com/
http://www.pawleysmusic.com/
http://www.woodenboatshow.com/
http://www.visitgeorgetowncountysc.com/

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Profile: art and books

Afghanistan: Breathtaking, Way Off the Beaten Track and Open for Travel

2005-09-13T02:12:00.000-07:00

Afghanistan: Breathtaking, Way Off the Beaten Track and Open for Travel

Tourism Gains with Improving Stability

HONG KONG, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- "Though Afghanistan's south remains dangerous, in the north and west one can see breathtaking landscapes and cultural treasures. Among them: Kabul; Bamiyan; Balkh, terminus of the Silk Road where Alexander the Great married; and Herat, site of ancient architecture and the contemporary Literary Circle where women organized to study, defying the Taliban." So says Matthew Leeming, who has visited Afghanistan regularly since 1993, and who set up the first tour company for Afghanistan in 2002.

In hopes of introducing his beloved, wild land to more people, the adventurous Leeming teamed up with a fellow Oxfordian -- Bijan Omrani, who loves sitting in libraries -- to deliver the definitive guide to Afghanistan. Where Leeming's nomadic exploits give us practical information, Omrani's meticulous history -- along with 307 photographs -- tempts us to make the trip. In writing Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide, (Odyssey Publications, $29.95), available online and in bookstores, Omrani dug deep into source materials in French, German, English, Arabic, Greek, Latin and Farsi.

Having combed 3,500 years of Afghan history, Omrani summarizes, "Afghanistan is where many of the world's great empires -- the Persians, the Moghuls, the British and the Soviet Union -- were first violently challenged, in fact put onto the path of total defeat. Afghanistan must be self-governing. There is hope that this great wilderness may, through continued contact with civil society, be nurtured on its current path to stability and self-sufficiency."

In the foreword by Hamid Karzai, elected President of Afghanistan: "As peace returns with the establishment of democracy and the rule of law, visitors are beginning to re-discover the snow-capped mountains ... the rivers and glaciers ... the wondrous treasures of the Kabul Museum."

Of the tourist trade, Leeming says, "Though Afghanistan remains essentially untamed, it's becoming easier to get around. An octogenarian English couple and a group of retirement age trekkers from Hong Kong have just made separate voyages through the north. While logistics, the lodges and the chaikhanas (tea houses) are improving, the wildlife, the trekking and the people remain simply incredible."

Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide, $29.95, available at http://www.odysseypublications.com/ or through W.W. Norton Books http://www.wwnorton.com/ in U.S.

Source: China Productions

CONTACT: Janet Carmosky, +1-518-894-4805, janetcarmosky@hotmail.com, or
Magnus Bartlett, magnus@odysseypublications.com, both for China Productions

Web site: http://www.wwnorton.com/
http://www.odysseypublications.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Author interviews possible. Review copies, images available.

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Profile: art and books

AMREP Reports First Quarter Results

2005-09-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

AMREP Reports First Quarter Results

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AMREP Corporation (NYSE:AXR) today reported net income of $5,364,000, or $0.81 per share, for its fiscal 2006 first quarter ended July 31, 2005, compared to net income of $4,026,000, or $0.61 per share, in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. This consisted of 2006 first quarter net income from continuing operations of $1,802,000, or $0.27 per share, and from discontinued operations of $3,562,000, or $0.54 per share, versus $3,941,000, or $0.60 per share, and $85,000, or $0.01 per share, in the same period last year. Revenues were $30,014,000 in the first quarter this year versus $33,638,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2005.

Net income from discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2006 was the result of the after-tax gain (including interest and net of expenses) on the disposition through condemnation proceedings of the primary assets of the Company's El Dorado, New Mexico water utility subsidiary. Financial information for operations from prior periods has been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

Revenues from the Company's Kable Media Services, Inc. subsidiary were $22,155,000 in the first quarter of 2006 compared to $23,650,000 in the same quarter last year. This 6.3% decrease was the result of a 9.4% revenue decline in Kable's Fulfillment Services segment offset in part by a 13.5% revenue increase in its Newsstand Distribution Services business. The decline in Fulfillment Services revenues was principally the result of customer losses at Kable's Colorado fulfillment business that occurred throughout fiscal 2005, most of which had been identified prior to the Company's acquisition of that business in April 2003, while the increase in revenues of Newsstand Distribution Services resulted from increased sales of magazines distributed due, in part, to additional business obtained from the purchase of certain distribution contracts in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Kable's operating expenses decreased 2.2% in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period last year, with the operating expenses of Fulfillment Services decreasing 3.8% for this period, primarily due to reduced payroll resulting from the revenue decrease. Operating costs for Newsstand Distribution Services increased 12.5% in the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period last year as a result of costs associated with the distribution contracts purchased in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

Revenues at the Company's AMREP Southwest Real Estate subsidiary decreased from $9,965,000 in the first quarter of 2005 to $7,689,000 in the first quarter of 2006, mainly because the prior year included $1,913,000 of revenues from the settlement of condemnation proceedings involving the Company's last remaining parcel of land in Florida. Revenues from land sales in the Company's core market of Rio Rancho, New Mexico were $7,409,000 in the first three months of 2006 compared to $7,769,000 in 2005's first quarter. The gross profit percentage on Rio Rancho land sales in the first quarter decreased from 53% in 2005 to 36% in 2006 due to a change in the mix of developed versus unimproved lots sold, as sales in the first quarter of 2006 included a greater proportion of developed lots (which generally have a lower gross profit margin than unimproved lots) than was the case in the first quarter of 2005. Revenues and related gross profits from land sales can vary significantly from period to period as a result of many factors, including the nature and timing of specific transactions, and prior results are not necessarily a good indication of what may occur in future periods.

AMREP Corporation's Kable Media Services, Inc. subsidiary distributes magazines to wholesalers and provides subscription fulfillment and related services to publishers and others, and its AMREP Southwest Inc. subsidiary is a major landholder and leading developer of real estate in New Mexico.

AMREP Corporation
and Subsidiaries
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended July 31,
2005 2004
Revenues $30,014,000 $33,638,000

Net income:
Continuing operations $1,802,000 $3,941,000
Discontinued operations 3,562,000 85,000
$5,364,000 $4,026,000

Earnings per share - Basic and Diluted:
Continuing operations $0.27 $0.60
Discontinued operations 0.54 0.01
$0.81 $0.61

Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding 6,626,000 6,606,000

Source: AMREP Corporation

CONTACT: Peter M. Pizza, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
AMREP Corporation, +1-212-705-4700

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Profile: art and books

National Critical Care Program Benefits Families, Patients, and Hospitals

2005-09-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

National Critical Care Program Benefits Families, Patients, and Hospitals

Family-Centered Approach Improves Communication and Care in ICU

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A nationwide hospital program developed to support families visiting loved ones in the intensive care unit (ICU) has significant benefits for families, patients, and team members in the ICU, shows a new study. As reported in a supplement to the September issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), implementation of the Critical Care Family Assistance Program (CCFAP) significantly increased family satisfaction with communication with ICU team members and care of their loved one; decreased family stress; decreased patient anxiety; and increased staff communication and collaboration across hospital departments.

"Research shows that families are not entirely satisfied with their treatment within an ICU while a family member is under care, which can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety for both the family and patient. Yet, it is clear that addressing family needs in the ICU contributes to families' overall satisfaction with ICU care," said coauthor of the study D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP, President of The CHEST Foundation and Chief of Staff, Oklahoma Medical Center, VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK. "The Critical Care Family Assistance Program is the first replicable nationwide ICU program structured with the needs of both the patient and family in mind."

Developed by The CHEST Foundation, the CCFAP aims to improve family satisfaction with ICU communication and care by utilizing a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are dedicated to fostering an ICU environment where families feel well informed, comfortable, and safe. CCFAP teams at Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL, and the VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, collected satisfaction data from 537 families of loved ones in the ICU and hospital staff prior to, and after, the implementation of the CCFAP. Surveys measured family stress level, family need for specific services, family satisfaction with ICU team communication and care regarding their loved one, and family satisfaction with their own treatment and care by the ICU team. Staff surveys measured changes in staff perception of ICU climate, family satisfaction with care and communication, family stress levels, and program impact on their work environment.

Significant increases were seen in the areas of family satisfaction related to care and treatment of their loved one; family perception of safe hospital environment; improved comprehension of information provided to families; and decreased patient anxiety. The most profound impact was on the degree to which families felt they were involved in the decision-making process. In addition, results showed significant decreases in family members' stress/anxiety level when they received CCFAP information or services. In regard to staff, results showed that there were significant increases in staff identification and referrals of families in need of services; staff perception of positive change in family satisfaction of communication, care, and treatment; collaboration among ICU team members and hospital departments; and the ability of hospital to respond to family needs.

"The Critical Care Family Assistance Program has allowed us to increase the level of service we provide for our ICU patients and their families. As a result, we have had an overwhelming positive response from families, patients, and hospital team members," said Raymond Grady, President and CEO of Evanston Hospital. "The success of the CCFAP at Evanston has encouraged us to consider expanding the family assistance program to other areas of the hospital."

The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ACCP, provided funding for implementation of the CCFAP in eight sites across the country. Although specific amenities vary from site to site, hospitals that have implemented the CCFAP offer family members hospitality and support services, educational resources, and adapt technology and the ICU physical environment to make them more family-focused. The CCFAP can be implemented in any hospital with an ICU and varying models of care, including government-run institutions, community hospitals, community teaching hospitals, rural hospitals, inner city hospitals, urban hospitals, academic medical centers, and pediatric hospitals. Due to the overwhelming success of the program, The CHEST Foundation developed the CCFAP CD-ROM interactive toolkit so that many more institutions could have access to the program information, enabling them to replicate the program and implement the initiatives on their own.

"The ICU is often an intense and overwhelming place for patients and their families. By addressing the needs of both the patient and the family, hospitals can create a trusting and supportive environment where families are recognized as an integral part of patient care and recovery," said Paul A. Kvale, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians.

CHEST is a peer-reviewed journal published by the ACCP. It is available online each month at http://www.chestjournal.org/ . ACCP represents 16,500 members who provide clinical respiratory, sleep, critical care, and cardiothoracic patient care in the United States and throughout the world. The ACCP's mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication. The CHEST Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American College of Chest Physicians, whose focus is to assist ACCP members in improving the health and lives of their patients by providing educational resources in the areas of critical care, pro-bono service and clinical research, and tobacco prevention. For more information about the ACCP, please visit the ACCP Web site at http://www.chestnet.org/ . For more information about The CHEST Foundation and the Critical Care Family Assistance Program, please visit the Foundation Web site at http://www.chestfoundation.org/ .

Source: American College of Chest Physicians

CONTACT: Jennifer Stawarz, +1-847-498-8306, jstawarz@chestnet.org , or
Arielle Green, +1-847-498-8387, agreen@chestnet.org , both for American
College of Chest Physicians

Web site: http://www.chestnet.org/
http://www.chestfoundation.org/

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Profile: art and books

National Sports Center for the Disabled Presents the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Holiday Benefit Concert to be Held November 19, 2005

2005-09-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

National Sports Center for the Disabled Presents the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Holiday Benefit Concert to be Held November 19, 2005

DENVER, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) has announced it will bring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Denver for the first time since 1984. The Choir will be joined by the Orchestra at Temple Square, a 60-member symphony orchestra, which like the Choir is comprised entirely of volunteers.

The holiday concert will take place on November 19, 2005 at the Pepsi Center. Tickets for the concert are on sale through Ticketmaster, at the Pepsi Center box office and the Denver area Deseret Book store. Music to be performed will be drawn from the Choir's extensive repertoire of over 1,400 different compositions and will include Christmas and Thanksgiving music as well as music from the Choir's 2005 Pacific Northwest tour. All proceeds from the concert will benefit an NSCD charity fund.

The NSCD is an adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation organization that was founded in 1970 to teach children from the Children's Hospital of Denver how to ski. Over the past 35 years, it has grown into a nationally-recognized agency serving children and adults with disabilities throughout Colorado and the country. What is most unique about the NSCD is that, unlike most other adaptive sports organizations, they accommodate almost any physical or mental disability. They teach lessons in 20 different sports and activities.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, one of the largest and best known choirs in the world, has performed before presidents and kings, sold millions of records, won scores of awards and enthralled audiences in more than 28 different countries. Ronald Reagan dubbed the Choir "America's Choir" in 1981 when the Choir sang at his inauguration. The Choir received the National Medal of Arts -- the nation's highest award for artistic excellence -- from President George W. Bush in 2003. The Orchestra at Temple Square was formed in 1999 to be a companion musical organization to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It also presents its own concert season each year.

For more information about the National Sports Center for the Disabled, call (303) 293-5711 or visit www.nscd.org. More information about the Choir and Orchestra can be obtained at www.mormontabernaclechoir.org.

Contact: Gavin Attwood
Marketing and Events Manager
303.293.5317
gattwood@nscd.org

Source: The National Sports Center for the Disabled

CONTACT: Gavin Attwood, Marketing and Events Manager of National Sports
Center for the Disabled, +1-303-293-5317, or gattwood@nscd.org

Web site: http://www.nscd.org/
http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/

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Profile: art and books

Ernst & Young LLP Marks Its Eighth Consecutive Year as One of the '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'

2005-09-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ernst & Young LLP Marks Its Eighth Consecutive Year as One of the '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'

The firm continues to distinguish itself through its 'People First' programs and flexible work environment

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, leading professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP was recognized by Working Mother magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." The 2005 list marks the eighth consecutive year -- and ninth overall -- that the firm has received this distinction.

Through its "People First" culture, Ernst & Young has distinguished itself when it comes to providing flexibility, and encouraging its entire workforce, including working mothers, to have a successful career while at the same time leading fulfilling lives outside of work.

"Ongoing recognition as one of the best companies for working mothers is testimony to Ernst & Young's commitment to providing its people with a quality career experience," says Billie Williamson, Americas Director of Gender Equity and Flexibility, Ernst & Young LLP. "More than 2,300 employees, including more than 100 partners, principals and directors, work on a formal flexible work arrangement. This demonstrates to all our people, that it is possible to succeed personally and reach the highest levels of our organization -- even for those trying to balance work and family."

Beyond formal flexible work arrangements, the firm continues to invest in resources and programs that have set industry standards, making it easier for people to find the flexibility they need to succeed personally as well as professionally. These benefits include parental leave, back-up child and adult care, adoption benefits, concierge services, additional days off around National holidays, and most recently, fellowships for people who want to volunteer in developing countries.

Ernst & Young believes that its commitment to women's development and advancement is integral to the firm's success. Ernst & Young's Gender Equity Strategy and Flexibility Strategy teams, lead by senior client-serving partner Billie Williamson, are dedicated to the development and implementation of programs designed specifically to help retain and advance women leaders. This is a broad-based effort that combines an active career development process with an approach that embeds flexibility. These programs include mentoring initiatives, women's forums, an annual Women's Leadership Conference, and professional women's networks, both inside and outside the firm, that raise women's stature at Ernst & Young and in the business world at large.

Survey Methodology:

To apply for the Working Mother 100 Best, companies provided Working Mother magazine with detailed information on eight areas of work/life including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women's advancement, total compensation, work/life culture, and family-friendly programs. Firms completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions and management ranks. Firms were also required to submit benefits handbooks and results of employee surveys.

About Working Mother

Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Its 20-year signature initiative, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 100,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at http://www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.

Source: Ernst & Young

CONTACT: Ciara O'Sullivan of Ernst & Young LLP, +1-212-773-6153,
ciara.osullivan@ey.com; or Suzanne Kennedy of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-212-453-2451, vanam@fleishman.com

Web site: http://www.ey.com/perspectives

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Profile: art and books

Booz Allen Ranked in Top 10 for Best Consulting Company and Top 100 for Working Mothers

2005-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Booz Allen Ranked in Top 10 for Best Consulting Company and Top 100 for Working Mothers

Consulting Magazine Names Firm One of the 'Best Companies to Work For'

Working Mother Magazine Chooses Booz Allen as One of the '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' for the Seventh Consecutive Year

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The global strategy and technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton today announced it has earned top praise from those who know it best: the company's employees. Booz Allen was named one of the "Top 10 Consulting Firms," by Consulting Magazine, and also has been named for the seventh consecutive year to Working Mother magazine's list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for 2005 -- the industry benchmark for family-friendly companies.

Consulting Magazine developed its rankings by surveying more than 5,000 U.S.-based consultants at 32 firms. Firms were scored by their employees' responses to questions in six equally weighted categories: Leadership, Compensation & Benefits, Culture, On the Job, Work/Life, and Career Development. Editor in Chief Jack Sweeney noted that the top-ranked firms set a standard for the entire industry: "The professional lives of consultants can only improve, as these top firms demonstrate that people remain the ultimate competitive advantage."

Working Mother also surveyed employees and reviewed detailed information on family-friendly policies for each company. Particular weight was given to flexible scheduling, child-care options, and time off for new parents, categories that highlight the importance for companies to help working mothers balance their work obligations with a satisfying personal life.

"We salute Booz Allen for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the seventh time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative." The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at http://www.workingmother.com/.

About Booz Allen

Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of management consulting for businesses and governments for 90 years. Booz Allen, a global strategy and technology consulting firm, works with clients to deliver results that endure.

With more than 16,000 employees on six continents, the firm generates annual sales of $3.3 billion. Booz Allen provides services in strategy, organization, operations, systems, and technology to the world's leading corporations, government and other public agencies, emerging growth companies, and institutions. To learn more about the firm, visit the Booz Allen Web site at http://www.boozallen.com/.

Source: Booz Allen Hamilton

CONTACT: George Farrar of Booz Allen Hamilton, +1-703-902-4588,
farrar_george@bah.com

Web site: http://www.boozallen.com/
http://www.workingmother.com/

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Profile: art and books

CMP Media's 14th Annual Embedded Systems Conference Boston Opens Today

2005-09-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

CMP Media's 14th Annual Embedded Systems Conference Boston Opens Today

Largest East Coast Gathering for the World's Electronics Engineering Elite Presents Sneak Peak of Pioneering Technologies Changing the Way We Work, Live and Play, September 12 - 15 at Hynes Convention Center

BOSTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CMP Media's 14th annual Embedded Systems Conference Boston (www.esconline.com/boston), the largest embedded systems event on the east coast, opens today at the Hynes Convention Center. The four-day conference is dedicated to showcasing the technological breakthroughs of the industry's Creators of Technology, and will feature more than 90 classes and tutorials, 160 leading exhibitors, and workshops on some of the industry's hottest technologies driving today's global economy and influencing our daily lives.

"Just as celebrities and athletes are globally recognized, the Embedded Systems Conference celebrates the heroes in our community -- rock star engineers who every day, change the way we work, live and play through astounding technological advancements," said Paul Miller, vice president and group publisher of the CMP Media Electronics Group. "ESC Boston 2005 welcomes 160 of the industry's top electronics exhibitors and we are proud to be partnering with so many industry leaders -- those who will be showcasing breakthrough systems several years before they're introduced in the most popular consumer products and industry applications."

Design engineers and engineering managers attending this year's ESC Boston will get a sneak peak of hot technologies presented by 160 of the industry's top hardware and software providers, showcasing innovative technologies and products, September 13-14 on the show floor. Among the exhibitors are Texas Instruments, XILINX, Fujitsu Microelectronics, Intel, Wind River, Echelon, and Sun Microsystems -- many of whom will also be hosting two days of workshops, addressing specific solutions to unique design challenges. Workshops are free to all registered conference attendees and feature programs like "Migration from RTOS to Linux Enables Multi-Core Optimizations" hosted by Intel, "Real- Time and Embedded Java Solutions Seminar" by Sun Microsystems, and "Delivering Added Value With Embedded Speech & Voice Recognition" by IBM. For a complete list of all ESC Boston 2005 exhibitors, visit: http://www.esconline.com/boston/2005/exhibitors.htm.

Throughout the show, conference attendees will also be able to choose from more than 90 classes and tutorials, providing crucial updates on the industry's most pertinent topics. "Principles of Safety-Critical Systems Design" will educate engineers on designing systems that are safe for users and the environment, "Network Updates of Remote Embedded Systems" explores systems and equipment servicing from remote locations, and "Legal Issues for Embedded Systems Developers" gives engineers, managers and entrepreneurs crucial insight on the basics faced in developing and marketing embedded systems. For a complete list of classes and tutorials, visit http://www.esconline.com/boston.

Event Keynote Addresses RFID Technologies

The controversial subject of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology will be addressed at the event's keynote by Avi Rubin, professor of computer science and technical director of the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and the founder of Independent Security Evaluators (Tuesday, September 13, 10:15-11:30am). RFID enables small wireless tags to identify merchandise, control inventory, enable online purchases, reduce car theft - the US government is even considering putting RFID tags in passports, and several states are examining RFIDs for driver's licenses. Rubin will address "Security and Privacy Issues in RFID Technologies" describing the two types of RFID systems in use today and the security and privacy concerns introduced by these and future applications.

Embedded Security Seminar focuses on latest trends, tools and design methodologies (September 12-14)

The three-day technical program will feature several one-to-three hour sessions on topics like practical secure hardware design, wireless security, and Internet security. Executives from Nokia, Atmel, Texas Instruments, LynuxWorks, Seagate, Fortify Software and more will address subjects like "Security for Mobile Devices," "Network Security for Embedded Systems," and "Wireless Sensor Networks." Security is a growing concern for the embedded industry, as engineers are being tasked with the critical challenge of securing devices that share data with other devices. CMP Media research has shown that two-thirds of attendee's upcoming embedded design projects are expected to have security considerations. The seminar is sponsored by Innominate Security Technologies AG and SafeNet.

Attendees can register for the Embedded Security Seminar individually, or together with the Embedded Systems Conference Boston.

Make Beneficial Business Connections

Attendees and exhibitors will have the opportunity to "super-charge their event networking experience" at the event by opting in to EEQuorum(TM), an online matching system designed specifically for the Embedded Systems Conference to enable electronics-industry buyers and sellers to make contact and plan meetings before the event begins. By gathering pre-registration demographics, EEQuorum(TM) empowers each pre-registered attendee to see how they relate to others at the show, and systematically connect to the people and products that support their business objectives. EEQuorum is sponsored by BDMetrics.

EEQuorum(TM) is free to registered participants of the event for use before, during, and for two weeks after the show. Users receive their own personalized development portal to make and receive matches with other EEQuorum(TM) users that have similar networking and business interests. This allows users to proactively pinpoint other attendees or exhibitors to meet at the show. For those interested in tapping into more powerful business development capabilities, EEQuorum(TM) delivers personalized recommendations regarding the markets, technologies, products, companies, and people at the show that have strategic relevance to the products or interests of each participant. To register for EEQuorum(TM), visit: http://www.esconline.com/boston/network

Note to Journalists: Press and analysts are invited to view event press releases, exhibitor news, media registration and media center hours at http://www.esconline.com/boston/media.

About CMP Media's Electronics Group

The CMP Media Electronics Group is the premier technology and business media brand serving the information needs of the creators of technology worldwide through print, online and conferences.

As the most comprehensive and integrated source of electronics technology information, the CMP Media Electronics Group offers a full suite of products and services to reach electronics systems design professionals throughout the world. With its combination of media properties, CMP Media's Electronics Group focuses on delivering a targeted audience and actionable information to marketers in the electronics technology community.

Each month, CMP Media's Electronics Group delivers more than 1 million copies of its publications in five languages to subscribers in 55 countries. Online visitors from more than 100 countries view more than 7.5 million pages on its Web sites in six different languages and in a year, more than 35,000 decision makers from 48 countries attend its conferences in North America, China, Taiwan and Europe.

CMP Media's Electronics Group properties include:
-- Print -- EE Times, Embedded Systems Programming, Electronics Supply &
Manufacturing
-- Online -- EE Times Online, DesignLines, PlanetAnalog.com, Embedded.com,
my-esm.com, CommsDesign.com, and SupplyLines
-- Conferences -- Embedded Systems Conferences, Embedded Connect and
Design Seminars

About CMP Media

CMP Media (www.cmp.com) is the leading integrated media solutions company providing "broad and deep" access to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and buyers of technology worldwide. The company's comprehensive database of technology decision makers enables marketers to reach targeted audiences throughout the purchase process with publications, web offerings, face-to-face events, consulting and other marketing services that deliver actionable results.

Contact: Julia Konstantinovsky
Atomic Public Relations for CMP Media
julia@atomicpr.com
(415) 402-0230

Source: CMP Media

CONTACT: Julia Konstantinovsky of Atomic Public Relations,
+1-415-402-0230 or julia@atomicpr.com, for CMP Media

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/

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Profile: art and books

New York Magazine's First-Ever Fall Weddings Guide on Stands September 15

2005-09-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

New York Magazine's First-Ever Fall Weddings Guide on Stands September 15

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York magazine Fall Weddings Guide is about to hit stands! For four years, New York magazine has shepherded New York-area brides through the spring and summer wedding season with our annual Spring Weddings Guide. Starting September 15, 2005, the increasingly popular fall and winter bridal season will have its own sourcebook: the New York magazine Fall Weddings Guide. New York will now publish two Weddings Guides per year, one in September and one in March. New York Weddings Guides are sold only on the newsstand and through www.newyorkmag.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041119/NYMAGLOGO )

For the fall 2005 Weddings Guide, New York magazine experts searched high and low to find nearly 1,000 sources for the city's best venues, flowers, rings, cakes, dresses, photographers, lingerie, shoes, locations, registries, bands, and more. These resources have been packaged into useful, entertaining, witty, engaging and smart features, lists and guides to help every bride (and groom) plan for her (or his) special day.

Included in the Fall Wedding Guide (and available to be turned into a TV or radio segment featuring one of the Guide's experienced writers or editors) are:

* A To Do Checklist: How to prepare for your New York wedding
* The ring: Picking one that compliments your (or your intended's)
personal style
* Body Boot Camp: From workouts to nutrition and beauty treatments ...
Getting ready for the big day.
* Invitations: Whose name comes first? What's the proper wording? Where
does the dress code go?
* The single girl's guide to bridesmaiding: six lessons on surviving your
friend's big day (and her family, and her expectations, and that damn
dress ... ) Plus gifts to give groomsmen and bridesmaids for putting up
with you!
* Unconventional Pairings: tips on navigating those reconcilable
differences for: the interfaith couple, the same-sex couple, the
bilingual, multi-racial couple and the fractured-family couple
* The dress: choices for the traditionalists, romantics, bon vivants,
mavericks, bohemians, jet set and preppy bride
* The wedding day accessories: finding the right shoes, jewelry, veil --
at every price point
* The Food: 22 different hors d'oeuvres for all appetites.
* The cakes: from classic to contemporary designs

Contacts: Betsy Burton, Serena Torrey, 212-508-0700

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041119/NYMAGLOGO
Source: New York Magazine

CONTACT: Betsy Burton, or Serena Torrey, +1-212-508-0700, for New York
Magazine

Web site: http://www.newyorkmag.com/

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Profile: art and books

CMP Media's Ground Breaking Dr. Dobb's & C/C++ Users Journal Great Writers NetSeminar a Huge Success

2005-09-12T11:08:00.001-07:00

CMP Media's Ground Breaking Dr. Dobb's & C/C++ Users Journal Great Writers NetSeminar a Huge Success

SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dr. Dobb's Journal (www.DDJ.com) & C/C++ Users Journal (www.CUJ.com) hit a home run with their first Great Writers NetSeminar with best-selling author Scott Berkun. Berkun's talk was based on the best practices from his book, "The Art of Project Management." The archive is available at www.ddj.com/netseminars.

Of the 1,094 who registered, Berkun drew an impressive live audience of nearly 500, plus hundreds more are expected to register and attend the archived event. Seventy-eight percent of the attendees lead software development projects and/or manage software developers while most of the other (20%) aspire to take on those responsibilities.

Top-selling SOA author, Thomas Erl will present the next Great Writers NetSeminar. Erl will present SOA principles, strategy and best practices.

* When: Tuesday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m. PDT
* Publisher: Prentice Hall

CMP Media is creating one exclusive sponsorship for each event in the Great Writers Series, which provides guaranteed registered leads, content creation and other opportunities. Sponsorship for the Thomas Erl SOA presentation is available on a "first come" basis.

About Dr. Dobb's Journal

DDJ (Dr. Dobb's Journal) is the most trusted and valued magazine published for professional developers, development managers, and software architects. Since 1976, DDJ has provided in-depth articles on software design and the latest techniques in cross-platform, multi-language development. DDJ has the widest circulation (120,000) of any developer print publication, and has consistently been chosen by the developers surveyed in Evans Data Corporation's annual Developer Marketing Patterns Survey as the best industry publication. DDJ presents articles written by the world's leading developers and demonstrates how to create effective architectures, use innovative techniques, and solve integration problems in diverse computing environments. DDJ also has a vibrant Web site (DDJ.com) which reaches 106,000 unique visitors per month. Because of the quality of its articles, the depth of its coverage and the breadth of its focus, DDJ attracts the most experienced developers who have the position and authority to drive corporate purchasing and adoption decisions.

About C/C++ User Journal

For more than 20 years, CUJ has been the leading resource for advanced application and systems architects and engineers of C/C++ programs. CUJ's technical, real-world approach to providing guidance through the complex maze of C/C++, as well as a thorough explanation of how other languages are best leveraged with them, attracts developers making technology and purchasing decisions for their companies.

About CMP Media

CONTACT: Jessica Marty of CMP Media LLC, +1-916-782-7572, or jmarty@cmp.com

Source: CMP Media LLC

CONTACT: Jessica Marty of CMP Media LLC, +1-916-782-7572, or
jmarty@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.ddj.com/

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Profile: art and books

Philadelphia's Stephen Starr Named 'Restaurateur of the Year' by Bon Appetit Magazine

2005-09-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia's Stephen Starr Named 'Restaurateur of the Year' by Bon Appetit Magazine

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The editors of Bon Appetit magazine have chosen Stephen Starr as "Restaurateur of the Year" in its October issue, which will be on newsstands nationwide on Tuesday, September 13. With 12 Philadelphia restaurants including Buddakan, Morimoto and Alma de Cuba to his credit, and currently celebrating his 10th anniversary in business, Starr has emerged as the country's most prolific and influential restaurateur. With no signs of slowing down, Starr will grow his Starr Restaurant Organization in 2006 by opening two restaurants in New York City and three more in Atlantic City.

"This is one of the greatest honors of my career. It's a wonderful feeling to be acknowledged on a national level by such a prestigious publication," says Starr, who has been lauded for revitalizing Philadelphia's dining scene.

For eight years running, the editors of Bon Appetit have recognized the most deserving people in the world of food and entertaining in their annual American Food and Entertaining Awards. The winners will be honored at a gala dinner on September 20 at Le Bernardin in New York City.

Source: Starr Restaurant Organization

CONTACT: Clare Pelino or Jennie Hatton, Profile Public Relations,
+1-215-985-2106, http://www.profilepr.com/, for SRO; or Alexa Cassanos,
+1-212-286-6591, or alexa_cassanos@condenast.com, for Bon Appetit

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Profile: art and books

Groundbreaking Nationwide Public Art Project from New York City to Los Angeles

2005-09-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Groundbreaking Nationwide Public Art Project from New York City to Los Angeles

The Moving Drawing of Jheon Soocheon: The Line That Crosses America

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- From 9/14 to 9/21, 2005, celebrated artist Jheon Soocheon launches The Moving Drawing: The Line That Crosses America, a remarkable work of art created from a fabric-wrapped chartered passenger train. Jheon regards the artwork as an immense interaction between visual arts, nature, and technology.

For eight days, the American landscape serves as canvas and the train, wrapped in white fabric, becomes the artist's brush. Once in motion, the train will become a "live drawing" creating an elongated line with its white-wrapped, moving rail cars from NYC to LA.

MEDIA/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ARTIST/LOCAL DIGNITARIES WITH THE TRAIN TO BE HELD IN:

New York City Penn Station - September 14
Washington D.C. Union Station - September 14-15
Chicago Union Station - September 15-16
St. Louis Union Station - September 16-17
Garden City Amtrak Station - September 17-18
Albuquerque Union Station - September 18 - 19
The Grand Canyon - September 19-21
Los Angeles Union Station - September 21

For live updates on the train's location & arrival times visit http://www.movingdrawing.com/ or call 314-435-7823.

RailCruise America, located in Saint Louis, is supplying the 15-car train for the realization of Jheon's project. It is also the only certified, privately owned train in North America. Previously used for the John Kerry's whistle stop tour for his 2004 Presidential Campaign, and for various celebrity events hosting such stars as Oprah Winfery, Goldie Hawn and Ron Howard, Railcruise America provides the nations only full service luxury private train.

The Moving Drawing is Jheon Soocheon's latest and largest-scale participatory project as he continues to explore the interaction of people and the environment. According to project's curator Shim Chung, the artist regards the white color of the train as a symbol of the unlimited potential of creativity. Jheon considers the train an aesthetic device blurring the distinction between artist and audience. In the same vein, the artist regards the United States as a symbol of unlimited potential, and this artwork is an exploration of the notion of the American dream, by doing the seemingly impossible.

This project has been organized by the Committee for Jheon's Moving Project 2005 and is sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism and supported by Hyundai and Samsung.

CONTACT:
Dan Tanzilli
FITZ & CO
212 627 1455 x226
daniel@fitzandco.com

Source: The Moving Drawing

CONTACT: Dan Tanzilli of FITZ & CO, +1-212-627-1455 x226,
daniel@fitzandco.com, for The Moving Drawing

Web site: http://www.movingdrawing.com/

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Profile: art and books

Lincoln Financial Group Ranks in 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for 19th Consecutive Year

2005-09-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Financial Group Ranks in 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for 19th Consecutive Year

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC) was recognized today as one of the "100 Best Companies" by Working Mother magazine. Lincoln Financial stands as one of only four companies to be consistently named to the prestigious "Working Mother 100 Best Companies" list for 19 out of 20 years.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050830/LFLOGO)

Each year, Lincoln Financial continues to invest in policies, programs, and resources that help employees succeed professionally and personally. One factor in creating a supportive workplace is fostering flexibility such as alternatives to the standard workweek. Encouraging its employees to have a successful career, while at the same time achieving their personal goals and having a satisfying life, is an integral component of Lincoln Financial Group's work/life strategy.

"The success of our business is directly linked to our employees since they are our greatest asset. We draw a direct correlation between creating a great workplace - one that encourages people to live fulfilling lives - and our bottom line," says Jon A. Boscia, chairman and chief executive officer of Lincoln Financial Group. "Once again we are pleased to be recognized among this esteemed group of employers and proud of the support we offer our working parents," adds Boscia.

Other family-friendly benefits Lincoln Financial offers include adoption benefits, parental leave, and flexible work arrangements to help employees manage personal and professional demands such as advancement opportunities, self-development, and participation in the communities in which employees live and work.

"I am very appreciative of how fortunate I am to work for a company that understands and supports the balance between home and work. Not only is Lincoln Financial committed to this balance, they also offer support to make it possible," comments Susan A. Segal, program officer, Lincoln Financial Group Foundation.

"As my two sons grow and move on to school, my managers have been flexible and supportive with my hours, an integral component of maintaining the balance," Segal adds.

Lincoln Financial Group provided Working Mother magazine with detailed information on eight areas of work/life including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women's advancement, total compensation, work/life culture, and family-friendly programs. Lincoln Financial completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions and management ranks. Lincoln Financial also submitted benefits handbooks and results of employee surveys.

In surveying companies for this year's list, particular weight was given to questions in three areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; child-care options, because without them parents can't

work; and time off for new parents, because it's critical for mothers to bond with their newborns without suffering professionally.

A complete report of Working Mother's 2005 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" can be found in the October issue of Working Mother and at http://www.workingmother.com/. Working Mother will honor this year's honorees at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in New York City.

Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Group has consolidated assets of $119 billion as of June 30, 2005, and had annual consolidated revenues of $5.4 billion in 2004. Through its wealth accumulation, retirement income and wealth protection businesses, the company provides annuities, life insurance, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, savings plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, institutional investment, and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050830/LFLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Lincoln Financial Group

CONTACT: Media: Rob Fleener, +1-215-448-1455, MediaRelations@LFG.com, or
Investor: Priscilla Brown, +1-215-448-1422, InvestorRelations@LFG.com, both
of Lincoln Financial Group

Web site: http://www.workingmother.com/

Web site: http://www.lfg.com/

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Profile: art and books

MSNBC.com Ranked #1 in August 2005 Nielsen//Net Ratings

2005-09-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

MSNBC.com Ranked #1 in August 2005 Nielsen//Net Ratings

Also Sole News Site Named as Best Performer on Adweek Magazines' 'Web Site Hot List'

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In a month defined by historical news events, MSNBC.com maintained its position atop the Current Events and Global News category drawing 26.6 million unique visitors in August 2005, according to Nielsen//Net Ratings. For the fourth time in six months, MSNBC.com surpassed all competitors with its comprehensive coverage of the month's big stories.

"From the space shuttle to Hurricane Katrina, the news events of August 2005 showed that Americans rely on the Internet to tell the stories," said Charlie Tillinghast, general manager and publisher of MSNBC.com, "MSNBC.com is the leader in that space."

MSNBC.com's exclusive video and trademark visual presentations were in high demand in August:

* 69 million videos were played
* Hurricane Katrina coverage generated 9 million plays in one day
(August 29, the day Katrina made landfall) and 24 million total
plays in the final three days of the month. Viewers averaged nearly
1/2 hour on each video. These statistics make Hurricane Katrina the
biggest video event ever on MSNBC.com.
* Photo slideshow traffic soared to 181 million page views for the
month with more than half generated by Hurricane Katrina coverage

On the heels of its August ratings win, MSNBC.com was named one of the top 10 hottest online destinations in Adweek Magazines' first annual "Web Site Hot List." The list recognizes the Best Performers of 2005 and MSNBC.com was the only news site chosen. According to Adweek Magazines (which includes Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek), sites were selected "based on hard numbers, momentum, popularity and the ephemeral 'it' factor."

ABOUT MSNBC.com:

MSNBC.com, the award-winning news site widely recognized as the best on the Internet, is the exclusive online channel for the NBC Universal News family, which includes the Today show, NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, Meet the Press and MSNBC TV. MSNBC.com's driving force is to provide the optimal consumer experience, presenting a diverse range of original content and the best from our partners in a rich multi-media environment that includes interactive features and free streaming video, allowing users to access the news and information they want, when they want it, 24 hours a day. Based in Redmond, WA, MSNBC.com is a joint venture of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and NBC Universal News (NYSE:GE).

Source: MSNBC.com

CONTACT: Anne Keegan, Media Relations of MSNBC.com, +1-425-707-2890, or
Anne.Keegan@msnbc.com

Web site: http://www.msnbc.com/

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Profile: art and books

Christina Weiss Lurie Describes Life as an NFL Team Owner's Wife in the New Professional Sports Wives Magazine

2005-09-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

Christina Weiss Lurie Describes Life as an NFL Team Owner's Wife in the New Professional Sports Wives Magazine

ATLANTA, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Christina Weiss-Lurie of the Philadelphia Eagles has carved a niche for herself as one of the most successful partners and owners of an NFL football franchise.

As the 2005 NFL season begins, Weiss-Lurie appears on the cover of The Professional Sports Wives Magazine and breaks her reserved silence by sharing her story in the premiere issue.

Little is known about the multi-talented NFL team owner, including her success as a film producer. Christina has produced such films such as Game Six with Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr. She holds degrees in theatre and architecture from Yale and used that knowledge to help build the Nova Care Center, NFL's crown jewel sports complex and stadium.

She describes life as Eagles co-owner with husband, Jeffery Lurie, and how their approach as co-owners and officers has been a true partnership.

Christina shares her opinion of how athletes can prepare themselves for a post-pro sports career and avoid financial hardships. She details her work with the Starlight Starbright Foundation with Chairman and mega film producer Steven Spielberg, and her support for chronically ill children.

Articles such as Weiss-Lurie's will appear in The Professional Sports Wives Magazine, a widely anticipated trade publication published by Gena James Pitts, wife of former NFL player Mike Pitts, for the newly created national Professional Sports Wives Association. The trade magazine targets over 708,000 professionals and nearly a half million wives in the sports industry and is the first publication of its kind.

The Professional Sports Wives Magazine looks at the lives of wives of active and retired professional athletes, coaches, sports executives, and team owners. It reveals the realities of life for wives and pro players and offers human-interest articles and information for the media at large, sports producers and announcers that are not shared by the players themselves.

The premiere issue is available free for 30 days at www.prosportswives.com.

In addition, the Professional Sports Wives Association, a not-for-profit association of wives of active and retired professional athletes, coaches, and sports executives, will unite wives to participate in charitable events, support not-for-profit organizations throughout the country, and participate in lunch and learn workshops and seminars on self-improvement.

The Professional Sports Wives Association and The Professional Sports Wives Magazine offer self-empowering articles and useful information for sports wives to be better helpmates to support their husband's career.

Source: The Professional Sports Wives Magazine

CONTACT: Gena Pitts, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Professional
Sports Wives Magazine, +1-770-619-0383, ext. 24, or +1-770-619-0377, Ext. 24,
or genapitts@prosportswives.com

Web site: http://www.prosportswives.com/

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Profile: art and books

CMP Media's Redesigned Website Offers Access, Insight and Action that Drives Results with Targeted Information, Audiences and Marketing Services

2005-09-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

CMP Media's Redesigned Website Offers Access, Insight and Action that Drives Results with Targeted Information, Audiences and Marketing Services

MANHASSET, N.Y., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- CMP Media, a leading integrated media company serving the technology, healthcare and entertainment markets, today announced the redesign of its corporate website, www.cmp.com. Offering information and marketing services, the new site delivers access to the right audience, insight into the market through editorial excellence, and delivers actionable programs that achieve marketers' objectives. In addition, CMP has created a new tagline: "Get There. With CMP." to reinforce its commitment to customer success.

"The goal of the redesigned site is to enhance our partnership with readers and advertisers - offering them the information and marketing services they need to solve problems and drive results. Visitors can now easily focus their attention on our global, multi-product information, multi-audience targets and multi-channel solutions," said, Gary Marshall, President and CEO, CMP Media. "Building on our trusted CMP brands, we are the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs that yield superior return on investment and our newly designed website helps to strengthen the connection between the right sellers with the right buyers."

With a new "look and feel," a sleek navigation system and greater functionality, the website allows visitors to focus on all CMP products and services by market, providing the right content in the right context. The homepage provides access to point to point communication, sales generation, brand awareness, after sales support, education and training, consulting, and insight and analysis.

The new site currently provides access to "broad and deep" audiences, including Channel, Communications, Electronics, Enterprise and IT Management, Entertainment, Gaming, Software Development, International, Healthcare and Music. For example, if an advertiser wants to reach software developers, he can access this audience directly from the homepage and click through to print, online, live and web events, research, training and case studies in the industry.

About CMP Media

CMP Media (http://www.cmp.com/) is the leading integrated media solutions company providing "broad and deep" access to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and buyers of technology worldwide. The company's comprehensive database of technology decision makers enables marketers to reach targeted audiences throughout the purchase process with publications, web offerings, face-to-face events, consulting and other marketing services that deliver actionable results.

Contact: Alix Raine
SVP Communications
CMP Media
516-562-7827
araine@cmp.com

Source: CMP Media LLC

CONTACT: Alix Raine, SVP Communications of CMP Media, +1-516-562-7827, or
araine@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/181993.html

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Profile: art and books

Outstanding Teens Compete for Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year Honor

2005-09-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Outstanding Teens Compete for Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year Honor

WHAT:

Five teens from Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States will be vying for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) 2005 - 2006 National Youth of the Year and a $15,000 scholarship during a competition to be held in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 19 - 21.

During the three-day event, the Youth of the Year candidates will participate in a series of one-on-one interviews with judges and meet with their respective senators and congressman. They also will be honored at a Congressional Breakfast, where the National Youth of the Year will be announced, and meet President George W. Bush.

The Youth of the Year program, nationally sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation since its inception, is in its 58th year. The program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, academic excellence, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

In order to reach the national level of the competition, all five teens garnered the Youth of the Year title at their respective local, state and regional levels. The Reader's Digest Foundation awarded each state finalist with a $1,000 college scholarship and each regional finalist a $10,000 college scholarship.

WHO:
* Jazelle Hunt, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County (Jersey City, N.J.)
* Jarvis McInnis, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast (Biloxi, Miss.)
* Paris Echoles, Stateline Boys & Girls Clubs (Beloit, Wis.)
* Ashley Echavarria, Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad (N.M.)
* Chantel Sanchez, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix

WHEN:
Monday, Sept. 19 - Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005

WHERE:
Various locations (See Highlights and Schedule below)
Washington, D.C.

Highlights and Schedule

Monday, Sept. 19
Candidate Interviews with Youth of the Year Judges
L'Enfant Plaza Hotel
480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C.
1:30 - 4 p.m.
Judging is not open to the media. Candidates will be available for
interviews immediately following the interview process.

Tuesday, Sept. 20
Candidates Meet with Senators and Congressman on Capitol Hill
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Contact Lindsey Edmondson at (770) 715-4161 for specific times and
locations.

Candidates Visit Area Attractions
Various locations including World War II Memorial
2:30 - 4 p.m.
Candidates will be available for interviews while visiting area
attractions.

Wednesday, Sept. 21
Congressional Breakfast Hosted by Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative
Steny Hoyer
Dirksen Senate Office Building; Room G50
8 - 10 a.m.
BGCA 2005 National Youth of the Year to be named at the close of the
breakfast.

BGCA National Youth of the Year and Finalists Meet President of United
States
Oval Office
White House
Time and date subject to change. Contact Lindsey Edmondson at
(770) 715-4161 for details.

Contact:
Lindsey Edmondson
Phone: (404) 487-5868
Cell: (770) 715-4161
E-mail: ledmondson@bgca.org

PRNewswire - Sept. 12

Source: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Web site: http://www.bgca.org/

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Profile: art and books

For Fifth Consecutive Year, Verizon Wireless Makes Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies List

2005-09-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

For Fifth Consecutive Year, Verizon Wireless Makes Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies List

Company Praised for Programs, Continued Commitment to Healthy Work/Life Balance

BEDMINSTER, N.J., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has made Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" list for the fifth consecutive year, it was announced today.

The company was recognized for its commitment to providing employees with work/life programs that help foster healthy moms, healthy babies and healthy families. For the 52,000 employees of Verizon Wireless, going to work every day may be a little easier knowing they are enjoying some of the best benefits offered to employees of any industry.

The only wireless carrier to be cited by the magazine, Verizon Wireless is being recognized for its wide array of work/life initiatives, such as its Healthy Babies program that helps improve employee quality of life throughout their pregnancy and after childbirth. The program was recently enhanced to include a lactation pump reimbursement, free lactation consultations, nutritional counseling, Lamaze classes and disease management programs.

Verizon Wireless also offers flexible work arrangements, childcare discounts, a prenatal exercise program and a Backup Dependent Care program. Introduced over the past year, the Backup Dependent Care program provides employees with access to back-up caregivers for children, adult/elderly dependents and spouses/domestic partners.

Verizon Wireless' dedication to meeting employee needs and providing them with the tools to balance work and family life has become even more of a focus during the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina. The company and its employees have done everything possible to help the communities affected in the Gulf Coast, including the more than 300 employees who have been severely impacted by the storm.

"We are honored to be recognized again by Working Mother for work/life initiatives that help provide balance to our employees, as well as their families," said Martha Delehanty, Verizon Wireless vice president-human resources. "Never have these work/life initiatives been more important than when tragedies, such as Hurricane Katrina, have struck. We are proud of the response of our people, who have given their time and energy to help fellow employees. This level of commitment is what truly defines our company and what makes Verizon Wireless a great place to work."

"We salute Verizon Wireless for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the fifth consecutive time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

In surveying the companies that made this year's list, particular weight was given to three areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; child-care options, because without them parents can't work; and time off for new parents, because it's critical for mothers to bond with their newborns without suffering professionally. The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at http://www.workingmother.com/.

About Working Mother

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Brian Wood of Verizon Wireless, +1-908-306-7901,
Brian.Wood@VerizonWireless.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.workingmother.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

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Profile: art and books

Union Pacific Again Named a Top Company for Working Mothers

2005-09-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

Union Pacific Again Named a Top Company for Working Mothers

For the Fourth Time, UP Is Named to Magazine's Annual List

OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Working Mother magazine announced that it has again named Union Pacific one of the nation's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Working Mother has included North America's largest railroad for the fourth time in five years.

"We are honored Working Mother magazine has again recognized our work to create a culture that helps employees balance work and families," said Barb Schaefer, senior vice president-Human Resources for Union Pacific. "We continue to actively recruit employees across our system, and we are making every effort to nurture an environment that will attract and retain both men and women."

Compensation, advancement, flexibility, childcare, parental leave and work/life balance are all high priorities for the railroad. As a 24/7 operation, Union Pacific takes special steps to take care of its employees. Benefits include:

* An integrated health and wellness initiative that stresses healthy
lifestyles. UP employees are urged to take responsibility for their
health and can take part in company-sponsored smoking cessation
programs, weight management programs and fitness programs.

* Rest Easy, which pays half the cost of a nurse to go to an employee's
home if a child is sick.

* LifeCare Services, a 24/7 referral service to help parents find
programs for children of all ages.

* A 19,000-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness facility within the
railroad's new headquarters in downtown Omaha. The facility includes
50 strength training machines and 50 aerobic machines supervised by
American College of Sports Medicine certified staff. Free membership
is provided to employees, spouses, retirees and contractors. For
employees outside of Omaha, UP sponsors free membership at more than
500 facilities throughout its 23-state system.

* A new 20,000-square-foot childcare center near the railroad's new
headquarters. The center opened in 2005 and accommodates more than
200 children between the ages of six weeks to six years.

* Expanded special programming from LEAD (Lead, Educate, Achieve,
Develop), the railroad's women's networking group, delivered to the
field via tapes and teleconferences.

* Part-time work (while keeping their benefits), flextime, job sharing
and telecommuting.

"We salute Union Pacific for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 best for the fourth time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

In surveying companies that applied for this year's list, Working Mother gave particular weight to questions in three areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; child-care options, because without them parents can't work; and time off for new parents, because it's critical for mothers to bond with their newborns without suffering professionally.

The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at www.workingmother.com.

About Working Mother

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest- growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise.

For more information, contact Gene Hinkle at (402) 514-9406.

Source: Union Pacific Corporation

CONTACT: Gene Hinkle of Union Pacific Corporation, +1-402-514-9406

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/911275.html

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Profile: art and books

Ann Arbor IT Zone Holds Special Event With the Ann Arbor Company of Friends in September

2005-09-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ann Arbor IT Zone Holds Special Event With the Ann Arbor Company of Friends in September

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ann Arbor IT Zone will hold a special event, "What Is Your Life's Work?" with the Ann Arbor Company of Friends on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005. The event will be held at SPARK Central, 330 East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

"What Is Your Life's Work?" will be presented by best-selling author Bill Jensen who will discuss his latest book "What Is Your Life's Work?: Answer the Big Question About What Really Matters ... and Reawaken the Passion for What You Do." Jensen asked thousands of mothers and fathers and caring teammates to write letters to those they love and describe the legacy they're leaving behind by the choices they've made.

In this discussion, he will expose the raw truths we've all experienced, the personal frailties and mistakes we'd like to hide as well as the proudest achievements we'd like to celebrate. Jensen will share with attendees how to find and leverage five distinct discoveries you will make about your life's work, how to deal with the daily grind and still pursue your dreams, and how to view and address the specific challenges and work-life issues faced by women, Boomers, and new graduates.

This special event will be held from noon-2 p.m. with lunch catered by Zingerman's Deli. The cost is $15 for members, $25 for non-members and $5 for students. For more information or to register, visit http://www.annarboritzone.org/ .

About the Ann Arbor IT Zone

Michigan's premier non-profit organization dedicated to the development of the state's information technology environment across multiple market sectors, the Ann Arbor IT Zone fosters and promotes the area's information technology industry by offering services to established and new information technology companies. Its educational series, Hi-Tech Tuesdays, IT Forums and Boot Camp, help educate, retain and attract the diverse talent required to accelerate Ann Arbor and the surrounding region's leadership position in information technology. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.annarboritzone.org/ or call 734 615-9310.

About The Ann Arbor Company of Friends

As part of Fast Company Magazine's Global Readers' Network, the Ann Arbor Company of Friends mission is to help members connect, communicate, collaborate, solve problems, develop skills, and improve their careers. Our Learning Lunch series is a forum for members to share their ideas and expertise, engage in stimulating discussions and learn something new. We provide a personal action plan toolkit at each Learning Lunch so participants can apply the concepts discussed to their own situations. Through our Design Team, members develop their leadership skills and contribute to the development and growth of the group. We also choose one member per month to feature in a Fast Thinkers profile. Our goal is to connect and collaborate with other groups in the Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan area to create even more opportunities to help members connect and grow professionally.

For more information, visit http://www.fastcompany.com/cof or email bethstoner@comcast.net.

Source: Ann Arbor IT Zone

CONTACT: Kajsa Wieslander of Eiler Communications, +1-734-761-3399,
kajsa@eilerpr.com ; or Susanna Thomashefski of Ann Arbor IT Zone,
+1-734-615-9310, sthomas@annarboritzone.org

Web site: http://www.annarboritzone.org/

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Profile: art and books

Dwell Announces Plans to License Dwell Homes

2005-09-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

Dwell Announces Plans to License Dwell Homes

Integrated Partnership Delivers on Prefab's Promise

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Dwell magazine announced an exciting partnership today, signaling a seminal step forward for modern prefabricated housing.

Bound by a collective commitment to building well-designed, affordable modern homes, Dwell has teamed up with Empyrean International LLC (formerly Deck House), Resolution: 4 Architecture, and Lazor Office to create The Dwell Homes(TM) by Empyrean -- an exclusive collection of custom-designed, modern prefabricated homes.

"One of the major obstacles prefab has faced," said Dwell Editor-in-Chief Allison Arieff, "has been effective collaboration among designers, manufacturers, and clients. This partnership brings together experienced parties across that spectrum, all of whom are passionate about and committed to prefab's potential. As a result, we're able to offer the public not one but three beautifully designed, highly functional, and eminently livable homes."

The three designs are featured in the October-November Fifth Anniversary issue of Dwell, on newsstands Tuesday, September 20.

Designs

Joseph Tanney and Robert Luntz of Resolution 4: Architecture -- winners of the first Dwell Home Design Invitational in 2003 -- have adapted their winning Dwell Home design, heralded as "arguably the most high-profile prefab house in America" by The Washington Post.

Charlie Lazor of Lazor Office will commercially launch his brilliant FlatPak system, which Newsweek described as "the first revolution in American housing in decades."

Joel Turkel of Empyrean, with first-hand experience in both architecture and manufacturing, has envisioned Next House, an inspiring brand new design to complete the package.

Manufacturing

Empyrean will also be the exclusive manufacturer of The Dwell Homes by Empyrean, adding unique synchrony to the partnership. The homes will be manufactured at the Empyrean factory in Acton, Massachusetts with regional offices serving clients throughout the country.

Each home is pre-cut and panelized for easy assembly in a fraction of the time that it takes to assemble a typical architecturally designed home.

"Our association with Dwell and a group of bold modernist architects is a key element in the transformation of our company from a manufacturing firm that designs into the only architectural firm that manufactures its homes," says Michael Harris, Empyrean president and CEO.

Specifications

All designs are available in two levels and square footage for each of the three designs ranges from 2526 to 3044 square feet not including optional porches and decks. The FlatPak and Empyrean designs feature post and beam structural systems; the Resolution: 4 Architecture is wood frame. All designs are pre-specified for interior doors and finishes, floor, wall and roof systems, stairs and rails, windows and sliding doors, and cabinets and casework.

Though prices vary based on selected size and local labor costs, the average cost of a 2,500 square foot Dwell Home is estimated to range between $175-$250 per square foot.

Design Seminars

The Dwell Homes by Empyrean will launch at a series of kick-off events throughout the Fall.

San Francisco October 26
Los Angeles October 27
New York November 10
Annapolis November 11
Boston November 12

For more information, please visit www.thedwellhomesbyempyrean.com .

About Dwell

Dwell was created to expand perceptions of the word "home" and champion an aesthetic in home design that is modern, idea-driven and sensitive to social and physical surroundings. Its inherent passion for "bringing good design to everyone" has helped propel the prefab movement onto the national stage. For more information visit www.dwellmag.com.

Source: Dwell Magazine

CONTACT: Shelley Kieran of Dwell Magazine, +1-650-838-9431, or
shelley@dwellmag.com

Web site: http://www.dwellmag.com/

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Profile: art and books

EarthLink Cable Internet Service Receives Top Ranking in PC World's ISP Satisfaction Survey

2005-09-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

EarthLink Cable Internet Service Receives Top Ranking in PC World's ISP Satisfaction Survey

Eighty-one Percent of EarthLink Cable Internet Subscribers are "Extremely Satisfied" or "Satisfied" with the ISP's Overall Service

ATLANTA, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EarthLink (NASDAQ:ELNK), the nation's next generation Internet service provider (ISP), today announced that it received the highest ranking in PC World magazine's ISP Satisfaction Survey. With eighty-one percent of participating EarthLink Cable Internet service subscribers rating their overall satisfaction with the ISP as "extremely satisfied" or "satisfied," EarthLink continues to outpace its competition with its high speed cable offerings.

In addition to taking first place for overall service, EarthLink Cable Internet was number one for spam blocking among cable Internet providers, and e-mail where it shared top ranking with EarthLink DSL, EarthLink Dial Up and Roadrunner. EarthLink Cable Internet also came in among the top three favorites for reliability, anti-virus features, personalization, upload and download speeds.

"EarthLink has always focused on the subscriber's experience - from connecting to the Internet and technical support to innovative protection tools," said Staci Parker, vice president of cable sales for EarthLink. "Receiving the highest ranking in PC World's survey for customer satisfaction among EarthLink Cable Internet service subscribers is recognition of this commitment."

More than 6,000 PC World readers responded to the magazine's survey which rated major ISPs for speed, technical support, reliability, antivirus and parental controls features, personalization and overall service. Complete survey results are available at find.pcworld.com/47764.

About EarthLink

"EarthLink. We revolve around you(TM)." As the nation's next generation Internet service provider, Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, web hosting, wireless voice and data services, or "EarthLink Extras" like home networking, security or voice over IP, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.EarthLink.net.

Source: EarthLink

CONTACT: Deisha Galberth of EarthLink, +1-404-748-7146, or
galberth@corp.earthlink.net

Web site: http://www.earthlink.net/
http://find.pcworld.com/47764

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Profile: art and books

Penthouse Media Group Inc. Raises $48M in New Funding

2005-09-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

Penthouse Media Group Inc. Raises $48M in New Funding

Announces Plans to Launch a Penthouse Branded Broadcast Network

Jim English, Former Playboy Entertainment President, Joins Penthouse

BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Penthouse Media Group Inc., the publisher of Penthouse Magazine, is announcing that it has closed on a $48 million round of private financing.

Penthouse plans to use the proceeds to build out multiple broadcast networks to compete directly with the Playboy Network, the Playboy-owned Spice network, in addition to New Frontier's TEN (The Erotic Network). PMGI believes the Penthouse brand and its reputation for providing cutting-edge content and high-quality programming produced for Penthouse's broadcasting networks, will enable it to not only expand the market, but to capture a significant market share from its competitors as well. "One of Penthouse's strategic advantages is our unique ability to drive traffic to our broadcast properties from our magazines, web sites, clubs and wireless mediums," says CEO Marc H. Bell.

Bell also states that, "The new round of financing is a resounding vote of confidence in PMGI, its management team and our operational plan. With these proceeds, Penthouse will launch Penthouse broadcast networks. To facilitate this, we recently brought James English on board, the former President of the Playboy Entertainment Group and Playboy TV Networks Worldwide. We trust Jim's creative vision and we are confident in his network broadcasting abilities. A veritable wizard at worldwide distribution, marketing programming and production, Jim's knowledge and experience will give us a leg-up globally. We're very pleased that Jim decided to make the move to Penthouse."

PMGI will distribute Penthouse-branded content to consumers via digital Video-on-Demand and linear pay-per-view and subscription channels. Delivered through cable and satellite throughout North America, Mr. English assures that Penthouse offerings will be competitively priced. The programming will continue Penthouse's tradition of delivering contemporary content featuring the most incredible women in the world and will be presented exclusively in High Definition. "This is a very exciting time," cites English, "and yet another opportunity to do what I do best ... join content and emerging technologies. The Penthouse brand is known everywhere in the world and now with new ownership, management and funding, Penthouse will bring a much needed shot in the arm to cable and satellite and will set the stage in new arenas such as wireless."

Over the next several years it is anticipated that Penthouse-branded products will be available in VOD to 100 percent of the market with further extension internationally -- launching in Latin America, Europe and Asia. This will complement the global retail distribution of Penthouse programming via home entertainment.

Penthouse Media Group Inc. is an international, multimedia entertainment company that is globally recognized as one of the premier brands in adult entertainment and publishes one of the most widely circulated groups of men's lifestyles publications. Originally founded in 1965 by Bob Guccione, the company also operates http://www.penthouse.com/ , a leading men's entertainment website; provides adult video entertainment and a broad array of products and services via its numerous licensees.

Media Contact:
Kathleen Berzon
For Penthouse Media Group Inc.
561.912.7034
kberzon@pmgi.com

Source: Penthouse Media Group Inc.

CONTACT: Kathleen Berzon, Penthouse Media Group Inc., +1-561-912-7034,
or kberzon@pmgi.com

Web site: http://www.penthouse.com/

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Profile: art and books

Palo Alto Software Launches Business Plan Pro 2006

2005-09-12T06:14:00.000-07:00

Palo Alto Software Launches Business Plan Pro 2006

Number one selling business planning software features more than 500 sample business plans and a host of other new enhancements.

EUGENE, Ore., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Software (www.paloalto.com), today announced the release of the latest version of its flagship business planning software, Business Plan Pro 2006 and Business Plan Pro 2006 PREMIER. This most recent version of Business Plan Pro includes new features such as new financial options, including detailed Exit Strategy and Financial risks and contingencies. Business Plan Pro 2006 also allows users to create the type of plan they need for a particular situation, including, loan documents, new product or service descriptions, financial plans, marketing plans, or complete business plans.

This year, Palo Alto Software is including free, a copy of the best- selling book by Guy Kawasaki The Art of the Start -- the time-tested, battle- hardened guide for anyone starting anything. Founder Tim Berry's own book Hurdle -- The Book on Business Planning, a no-nonsense approach to getting your business plan done and getting it right -- is also included.

"Palo Alto Software is proud to be able to say that more entrepreneurs have chosen Business Plan Pro than any other business planning software out there," said Tim Berry, president of Palo Alto Software. "Our new Business Plan Pro 2006 has more of the features we're known for. This new version comes complete with 500 sample plans- making it easy for a first time user to find an example that is similar to his or her business needs. We're very happy with this year's version of BPP and excited to hear about how it will make business plan frustration a thing of the past for entrepreneurs."

New features of Business Plan Pro 2006 include SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis, and an EasyPlan Wizard-driven experience accompanied by instructions written by business planning experts to make for the easiest way to create a business plan.

Additional new features include:

Industry Insight

Business Plan Pro now leverages more than 9,000 different industry profiles to give you insight into how your business compares to similar companies. The software will explain, step by step, what the data means and how you can use it to your strategic advantage.

Improved Plan Review

The automatic Plan Review feature included in the software now checks for even more of the common financial-planning mistakes by entrepreneurs, offering tips and suggestions on improving your plan.

Improved Table Wizards

Detailed table wizards walk you through the entire process of generating advanced financial tables for your specific business and industry niche.

Integrated Resources

Get the additional help you need directly from Business Plan Pro, including direct links to sources for market data, venture capital opportunities, and legal guidance.

For the entrepreneur and small-business owner, Business Plan Pro 2006 Standard Edition produces professional business plans quickly and easily. Business Plan Pro 2006 PREMIER is designed for the businessperson who needs to create a comprehensive business plan. PREMIER includes extensive detail in the areas of sales forecasting, personnel planning, and generates enhanced profit and loss statements with up to 10 years of detailed financials.

Business Plan Pro 2006 is available immediately at www.paloalto.com.

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Palo Alto Software, Inc., founded in 1988, develops, publishes and markets software products for use with personal computers. BUSINESS PLAN PRO is the best-selling business planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect (formerly PC Data). Palo Alto Software's other products include, MARKETING PLAN PRO(R), ADVERTISING PLAN PRO(R) and CASH COMPASS(R). Palo Alto Software's product line offers "know how" solutions that have made it the market leader in its category. Palo Alto Software's award-winning site, www.bplans.com, continues to be one of the highest trafficked sites in the small business arena, offering numerous business planning resources. Palo Alto Software is a privately owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software products is available on the company website, www.paloalto.com. To access high resolution images of Business Plan Pro 2004, go to www.paloalto.com/pr and select images from the navigation bar.

Contact: Sabrina Parsons Joanne Hogue
Phone: 1-800-229-7526, ext. 120 (410) 658-8246
Email: sabrina@paloalto.comjoanne@lva.com

Source: Palo Alto Software, Inc.

CONTACT: Sabrina Parsons of Palo Alto Software, Inc., +1-800-229-7526,
ext. 120, or sabrina@paloalto.com; or Joanne Hogue, +1-410-658-8246 or
joanne@lva.com, for Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Web site: http://www.paloalto.com/

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Profile: art and books

WuXi Pharmatech Named a Red Herring 100 Asia Company

2005-09-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

WuXi Pharmatech Named a Red Herring 100 Asia Company

Award Recognizes 100 Private Companies in Asia That Drive the Technology
Industry's Future

SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ WuXi PharmaTech today announced that it has been named one of the Red Herring 100 Private Companies of Asia. ''Getting selected for the Red Herring Asia 100 list is quite an achievement,'' said Red Herring editor-in-chief Joel Dreyfuss. ''We had many strong entries, a reflection of depth of entrepreneurship that has taken hold in Asia.'' In addition, WuXi PharmaTech is the only Mainland pharmaceutical R&D company selected for this honor.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040705/CNM002LOGO )

"We are very pleased to be selected by Red Herring as one of the top 100 private companies in Asia,'' commented Dr. Ge Li, founder and CEO of WuXi PharmaTech, during the conference. "The award is not only a recognition of our achievement and unique business model, but also an encouragement for us to build WuXi PharmaTech into a world-class company."

During the past few months, Red Herring's editorial staff rigorously evaluated more than 500 private companies through a careful analysis of financial data and subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development. The decision to award WuXi PharmaTech a ''100 Asia Company'' reflects that the company's leading position in the pharmaceutical R&D service industry has been recognized throughout Asia and beyond. WuXi PharmaTech as well as other award winners presented their business models, strategies and visions at the Red Herring 100 Asia Conference that took place on September 5-7 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai, China.

About the Red Herring 100 Asia Conference

Red Herring 100 Asia Conference is an invitation-only event for CEOs, select senior executives, and Venture Capitalists. Red Herring 100 Asia will bring together executives from mostly private companies. These executives will be joined by senior executives from public companies and Venture Capitalists.

About Red Herring

Red Herring is the weekly magazine technology entrepreneurs, investors and industry observers read to stay ahead of the curve and to be better informed about the global marketplace. Red Herring covers technology, innovation, financial strategies, important personalities and trends that are transforming the world of business with unique insight, opinion and forward-looking analysis. Readers turn to Red Herring for knowledge to make strategic decisions, build companies and create a competitive advantage for their businesses. Red Herring articles, blogs, research and event information can be found online at http://www.redherring.com/ .

About WuXi PharmaTech

Shanghai-based WuXi PharmaTech Co., Ltd. offers global pharmaceutical/ bio-pharmaceutical companies diverse outsourcing services in combinatorial, medicinal, synthetic chemistry and manufacturing. Importantly, it also allows them to take full advantage of the lower research costs in China. WuXi PharmaTech's rapidly expanding line of services ranges from early stage discovery chemistry through lead optimization chemistry, all the way to process research & development and bulk manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients. With the addition of a new GMP plant at Jinshan in Shanghai, WuXi PharmaTech has further increased its bulk production capacity to meet rapidly growing customer demand. WuXi PharmaTech's strong capabilities and impressive track record enable the company to provide a broad spectrum of integrated development services from milligram to metric ton scaled active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and raw materials. Currently, WuXi PharmaTech's client list includes over 60 leading drug discovery companies covering a majority of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.

For more information, please contact:

David Yin, PR Department,
WuXi PharmaTech Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-5046-4003
Fax: +86-21-5046-1000
Email: Yin_Xiaojun@pharmatechs.com
Web: http://www.pharmatechs.com/http://www.pharmatechs-us.com/http://www.pharmatechs.com.cn/

Web sites: http://www.pharmatechs.com
http://www.pharmatechs-us.com
http://www.pharmatechs.com.cn

Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040705/CNM002LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Source: WuXi PharmaTech Co., Ltd.

CONTACT: David Yin of WuXi PharmaTech Co., Ltd., +86-21-5046-4003, or
fax, +86-21-5046-1000, or Yin_Xiaojun@pharmatechs.com

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Profile: art and books

Wyeth Selected for Eighth Consecutive Year as One of Working Mother Magazine's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'

2005-09-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Wyeth Selected for Eighth Consecutive Year as One of Working Mother Magazine's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'

MADISON, N.J., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) announced today that it has been selected as one of Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." This is the eighth consecutive year that Wyeth has received this honor. The selection was based on detailed responses to a 550-question application, which solicited information about the number of work/life programs offered, the employee usage of such programs and the representation of women throughout the Company. This year, Working Mother gave particular weight to three issues: flexible scheduling, time off for new parents and child care options.

"We are pleased to be recognized again by Working Mother magazine. The fact that we've been selected for the eighth consecutive year is testimony to Wyeth's commitment to family-friendly programs that help employees manage both personal and business responsibilities," says Robert Essner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wyeth.

Wyeth provides a wide array of benefits to meet a variety of employee needs, including the special needs of working mothers. Wyeth offers a unique dependent care subsidy as a matching contribution to an employee's Dependent Care Spending Account. This benefit provides financial support to help meet the high costs of dependent care for Wyeth employees and their families. Only a few of the "100 Best Companies" provide a dependent care subsidy. In addition, Wyeth offers adoption assistance benefits, paternity leave and a LifeManagement Program that is designed to help employees resolve a broad range of personal and dependent care issues, including elder care. Wyeth also provides on-site child care facilities in two of its locations and national child care discounts, a tuition reimbursement program, training and development opportunities, as well as a lactation program for mothers returning to work following the birth of a baby. To help meet the demands of working mothers' schedules, Wyeth employees have an opportunity to choose their work schedules to give them greater flexibility. Some employees may have the opportunity to work from home occasionally or on a regular schedule. Nearly half of Wyeth employees are women and increasing numbers of women are fulfilling leadership roles in the Company.

One female employee, who has worked for the Company for five years, has used Wyeth's programs to aid in her career development. During her tenure, she has been promoted twice and now is a Human Resources (HR) Project Manager in the Strategic Staffing Department. Each promotion has allowed her to gain more experience and broaden her knowledge of HR. She's utilized Wyeth's Tuition Reimbursement Program to pursue her Master's Degree in Human Resources. The Dependent Care Assistance Program is a benefit that helps offset her child care costs by matching, dollar for dollar, up to $100/month. She states, "These programs have helped me save money that my family can use towards other necessities. I believe that the Dependent Care Assistance Program is widely used by working parents and it is an important benefit."

Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.

Source: Wyeth

CONTACT: Media, Douglas Petkus, +1-973-660-5218; or Investor, Justin
Victoria, +1-973-660-5340

Web site: http://www.wyeth.com/

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Profile: art and books

The McGraw-Hill Companies Named A 'Best Company' By Working Mother Magazine for 2005

2005-09-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

The McGraw-Hill Companies Named A 'Best Company' By Working Mother Magazine for 2005

Magazine Highlights Corporation's Commitment to Work-Life Balance and Flexibility

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) today announced that it received a coveted position on Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies for 2005. The magazine cited a wide array of family-friendly offerings, such as flexible work arrangements and backup dependent care, in recognizing the company.

"We are honored that Working Mother Magazine has recognized our efforts to support working mothers and help them achieve a healthy work-life balance," said Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies. "Creating an environment in which all of our employees can develop to their fullest potential both professionally and personally is essential to our continued growth and success."

The magazine highlighted several programs that The McGraw-Hill Companies makes available to its employees, including backup child care and elder care; a flexible work environment that offers flextime, compressed workweeks and job-sharing; and creation of the Women's Initiative for Networking and Success, or WINS, a committee focused on the development of women within the Corporation.

"We salute The McGraw-Hill Companies for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the first time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

For more information on Working Mother 100 Best Companies visit http://www.workingmother.com/.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education and BusinessWeek. The Corporation has more than 300 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2004 were $5.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

Source: The McGraw-Hill Companies

CONTACT: Media Relations Contacts
The McGraw-Hill Companies:
Mary Skafidas
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
(212) 512-2826 (office)
(347) 351-6407 (mobile)
mary_skafidas@mcgraw-hill.com

Web site: http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/
http://www.workingmother.com/

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Profile: art and books

Abbott Continues to Gain Recognition as One of the Nation's Best Employers for Working Mothers

2005-09-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Abbott Continues to Gain Recognition as One of the Nation's Best Employers for Working Mothers

Abbott Makes Working Mother Magazine's List of the '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' for the Fifth Consecutive Year

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Four decades after the first working moms appeared on television, corporate America has come a long way toward learning how to keep up with the changing needs of moms in today's workforce. Few companies have come farther than the 100 employers heralded on this year's list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers published by Working Mother magazine.

For new moms returning to work or parents dealing with family crises, Abbott's flexible work options -- offering everything from part time, flex time and job shares -- help many employees transition back to work more easily.

"After my son got sick, I needed to pull him out of day care, drop down to part time and work from home a few days a week to care for him," said Ann Widman, director, HR Communications. "Abbott gave me the flexibility I needed to take care of my family. There was no stigma associated with going part time or working from home. In fact, I was promoted during this time."

"We salute Abbott for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the fifth time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

Lauded for its health and wellness programs, free lactation consulting, on-site child care and widely used flexible work options, Abbott continues to meet the needs of working moms year after year.

"We are gratified to receive this recognition for our continued efforts to make Abbott a great place to work," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Our intent is to provide our employees with what they need to excel in their careers and to help them better integrate work and home life. Having successful and satisfied employees enables us to better fulfill our mission of bringing medical advances to patients worldwide."

Abbott Offers Numerous Programs for Expectant Parents

For soon-to-be working moms, Abbott helps to alleviate some of the stress and questions that arise during pregnancy by offering on-site classes for expectant parents, a free referral program to locate area child care providers and flexible spending accounts to set aside pre-tax money for paying child care costs. In addition to its own on-site child care center, the largest in Illinois, Abbott offers employee discounts to three of the nation's largest child care providers -- KinderCare, La Petite and Children's World. Parents not enrolled at Abbott's center also benefit from the company's on-site backup care program that helps parents when their child care provider is unexpectedly unavailable.

About Working Mother's 100 Best List

Working Mother's 20th annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," a benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America, appears in the magazine's October issue and is now available on its Internet site, http://www.workingmother.com/ . To apply for the list companies complete a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which analyzes the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions and management ranks. The list is based upon options and benefits companies provide for child care support, work flexibility, work/life balance, adoption assistance, leave for new parents, percentage of women in the workforce and advancement of women.

About Abbott

In addition to being recognized amongst the country's best employers for working moms, Abbott (NYSE:ABT) has been included on FORTUNE magazine's list of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities for many years and has widely recognized by Scientist magazine and others as a top employer for scientists.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com/ .

Source: Abbott

CONTACT: Julie Ferguson, +1-847-936-6116, or +1-847-772-5636 (Cellular),
or Elizabeth Hoff, +1-847-935-4236, both of Abbott

Web site: http://www.abbott.com/
http://www.workingmother.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html

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Profile: art and books

Aviation Week Group Debuts Defense Technology International Today

2005-09-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

Aviation Week Group Debuts Defense Technology International Today

Inaugural Issue Features Exclusive Story: U.S. Marine Space Plane Report and Concept Drawings

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aviation Week Group of The McGraw-Hill Companies today launched Defense Technology International (DTI), dedicated to the critical role of defense technologies in operations, policies, programs and funding.

The premiere issue of DTI focuses on worldwide developments in technologies that deal with unconventional and evolving threats. Topics include:

-- Armor's New Look - The war in Iraq has rapidly led to a proliferation
of new requirements for body and vehicle armor. This feature analyzes
the lessons learned from current military operations and investigates
what's next on the list of U.S. requirements, and which companies -
domestic and foreign - are poised to capture this growth sector.

-- Breakthroughs In High-Rate-of-Fire Guns - This story profiles Metal
Storm, a "million-rounds-a-minute" gun the Pentagon identified as
"breakthrough technology" last year. Featuring interviews from the
military, industry and investors, DTI will be the first to explore
competing technologies, why Metal Storm has not taken hold in the U.S.
market, and the international market for such weapons.

-- Exclusive: DARPA's Hot Eagle & USMC's Great Leap Forward - DTI is the
first to describe the technology components of SUSTAIN - a futuristic
concept proposed by the U.S. Marine Corps for a space plane that
provides quick global transport. The Air Force has now signed on and is
pushing "Hot Eagle," a DARPA program designed to support the Marines'
effort.

-- Israeli Military Goes Digital - Israel has historically been a major
player in the defense technology market, and this feature focuses on
how Israel's experience in urban warfare - from sensor balls to drones
- has expanded the market for exports as the U.S. and other countries
look for new products.

-- The China Threat: DTI frames the latest Pentagon report to Congress on
China's rising military power in context of defense technology and
determines how it may shape international military cooperation and
ongoing acquisition programs.

Columns In Every Issue:
-- Science Watch - The first ever news column devoted to the basic science
behind defense applications
-- Technology Watch - Emerging controversies and issues in defense
technology
-- The Cutting Edge - The best and worst in defense technology
-- Around the World - News Briefs and Breaking Developments
-- Interviews - Q&A format profiling experts from industry or government

Sharon Weinberger, DTI editor-in-chief, further explains: "DTI will build on the long-standing editorial strengths of Aviation Week & Space Technology while branching into new areas long neglected by other publications. More than just a magazine about weapons and technology, DTI will seek to explore the critical issues that drive technology forward, providing relevant and timely commentary and analysis."

DTI is produced as a magazine within a magazine. Half of the 38,000 distribution will be in the center of Aviation Week & Space Technology, with the other half of the circulation going to additional high-level decision makers in land, sea, joint commands and international government. DTI will have a reach of more than 35% outside the U.S. and include more senior military and industry leaders than any other publication. Following the September 12 debut, DTI will publish again November 21 and every other month in 2006.

"Creating a dedicated information source focused on current and emerging defense technologies is a natural progression from our leadership position in aviation and aerospace," said Kenneth E. Gazzola, Aviation Week Group Executive Vice President/Publisher. "Readers will experience the same level of editorial excellence they have come to expect in Aviation Week & Space Technology and other Aviation Week Group publications. Our goal is to reach military, government and defense industry leaders, and expand our frequency as the market grows."

Additional information is available at www.defensetechnologyinternational.com. To advertise, contact: Judy McCoy at 202-383-2391; judy_mccoy@AviationNow.com.

About Aviation Week Group

Aviation Week Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation and aerospace industry, and includes Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Aviation Daily, Overhaul & Maintenance, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Defense Technology International, ShowNews, Homeland Security, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Business & Commercial Aviation, and the World Aviation Directory & Aerospace Database. The group's web portal, http://www.aviationnow.com/, offers the industry's most reliable news, information, intelligence and features, and its Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) at http://www.aviationweek.com/awin is the industry's most integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals across the entire aviation and aerospace field.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Source: Aviation Week Group

CONTACT: Rob Kulat
Kulat Communications
(732) 219-5816
KuComm@Hotmail.com

Web site: http://www.aviationweek.com/awin
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/
http://www.defensetechnologyinternational.com/

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Profile: art and books

Win a Pair of Tickets to London Fashion Week End Courtesy of TONI&GUY!

2005-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Win a Pair of Tickets to London Fashion Week End Courtesy of TONI&GUY!

LONDON, September 12/PRNewswire/ -- A name synonymous with fashion, TONI&GUY's fashion led approach to
hairdressing and ability to translate catwalk led style into wearable trends
made them the obvious choice as the 'Official Haircare Sponsors for London
Fashion Week and Week End!'

London's largest designer shopping event, London Fashion Week End - is
held on the site of London's famous Natural History Museum - and is home to
over 100 London Fashion Week designers, selling clothes and accessories at
jaw-dropping prices! In addition to the fabulous shopping, the award-winning
TONI&GUY session team will be hosting 'TONI&GUY Live', a show pre-viewing
'THE' must-have hair cuts and hottest new hair trends for the forthcoming
season, as well as showcasing TONI&GUY's exclusive new professional line,
label.m.

As this is an event not to be missed, TONI&GUY are offering readers the
chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to London Fashion Week End (and front
row seats at the TONI&GUY Live show). All you need to do is answer the
following question: Where is London Fashion Week End held?

For prize values and further information, please contact Karen Barnett -
PR Manager TONI&GUY Media

T: +44-(0)20-7921-9022

F: +44-(0)20-7921-9005

E: karen.barnett@toniandguy.co.uk

Source: TONI&GUY

For prize values and further information, please contact Karen Barnett - PR Manager ,TONI&GUY Media, Tel: +44-(0)20-7921-9022, Fax: +44-(0)20-7921-9005, Email: karen.barnett@toniandguy.co.uk

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Profile: art and books

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Announces Plans to Open the New Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery of American Art

2005-09-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Announces Plans to Open the New Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery of American Art

Jacksonville Museum Also Hosts J. Seward Johnson Exhibition This Fall

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens announces plans to open the new Thomas H. Jacobsen Gallery of American Art on November 15, 2005. The new 2,100 square-foot gallery will open with more than 80 works from the outstanding Thomas H. Jacobsen and Diane D. Jacobsen collection of American art.

"Diane Jacobsen is a great supporter of The Cummer and we feel honored to open the new Jacobsen Gallery, and with such a high quality collection. This is a great opportunity to unite tradition with The Cummer's new vision of becoming a regional destination," said Museum Director Maarten van de Guchte.

The new gallery launches The Cummer's Board of Trustee's expanded focus on American art. Masterworks in the inaugural exhibition of the Jacobsen collection include painters Jasper Cropsey, William Harnett, Theodore Robinson, Max Weber, Marsden Hartley and N.C. Wyeth and sculptors Randolph Rogers, Bessie Potter Vonnoh and Paul Manship.

Diane Jacobsen's gift of funding for the gallery and gifts to the museum's art collection as well as funds to support acquisitions pay tribute to her husband Thomas H. Jacobsen, a leader in the commercial banking industry who passed away in 2002 of leukemia.

Mr. Jacobsen was an executive, Vice Chairman and Director of Jacksonville- based Barnett Banks, Inc. before being appointed CEO of Mercantile Bancorp, St. Louis in 1989. As a result of several successful mergers he guided, he was named Chairman of Firstar and Chairman Emeritus of U.S. Bancorp. A widely respected figure on the national scene, Mr. Jacobsen served as President of the Federal Reserve Advisory Council, which advises the Chairman on monetary policy.

The gallery space is designed by Jacksonville's award-winning Rink Design Partnership and formerly functioned as museum work-space. This is the first new gallery to be opened at The Cummer since 1992 and is located on the first floor and south of the Barnett Concourse. Diane D. Jacobsen resides in Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Louis.

Additionally, this fall the Cummer hosts Beyond the Frame: Impressionism Revisited, The Sculptures of J. Seward Johnson. The exhibition is organized and circulated by the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington. D.C.

The show runs September 29, 2005 through January 8, 2006. It's the largest exhibition of J. Seward Johnson sculptures in Florida. These whimsical installations are life-scale, three-dimensional representations of some of the most famous paintings from French Impressionism. Viewers play an interactive role as they experience what it would be like to walk through renowned paintings by artists like Monet, Renoir, Manet and Van Gogh.

After a lifetime as a painter, in 1968, J. Seward Johnson turned to sculpture. Since then, over 200 of Johnson's lifesize cast bronze figures have been featured in collections worldwide.

For information, visit http://www.cummer.org/.

Contact:
Liz Morgan, Liz Morgan PR
904-388-1650, ext. 15

Source: The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

CONTACT: Liz Morgan, of Liz Morgan PR for The Cummer Museum of Art &
Gardens, +1-904-388-1650, ext. 15

Web site: http://www.cummer.org/

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Profile: art and books

AstraZeneca Recognized for Fourth Consecutive Year as One of the Nation's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' By Working Mother Magazine

2005-09-12T04:34:00.000-07:00

AstraZeneca Recognized for Fourth Consecutive Year as One of the Nation's '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers' By Working Mother Magazine

WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN), one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, was recognized today by Working Mother magazine as one of the nation's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers."

For the fourth consecutive year, AstraZeneca has been selected as one of the Working Mother 's '100 Best' from hundreds of applicants. The selection process was based on an assessment of company programs and policies pertaining to flexibility, the advancement of women, compensation, leave for new parents, childcare programs and work/life culture.

"AstraZeneca strives to maintain a flexible, supportive work environment that allows our employees to balance their personal and professional commitments," said David R. Brennan, President and Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca U.S. "We are pleased to be recognized once again as one of Working Mother's '100 Best'."

The October issue of Working Mother magazine highlights AstraZeneca's dedication to providing and promoting a variety of programs that help employees manage their business and personal responsibilities while providing the appropriate support for personal development and advancement within the organization.

The magazine praises AstraZeneca's work-life effectiveness programs in support of the company's commitment to accommodate the varied needs of its diverse employee population. These programs include flexible work arrangements, a 346-capacity childcare facility at the Company's US headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, and an emergency/backup care referral service designed to assist employees when their regular child care or elder care arrangements are not available.

In addition to noting that female employees comprise 35% of the Company's top earners, Working Mother touts AstraZeneca for the role employee network groups play in the advancement of women by providing educational, mentoring, and networking opportunities. The magazine also highlights the efforts of AstraZeneca's innovative Eldercare Employee Network Group in providing resources and support for employees with caregiver responsibilities.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and neuroscience products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $9.6 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com

About Working Mother

Source: AstraZeneca

CONTACT: Abigail Baron, AstraZeneca, +1-302-885-3578,
Abigail.Baron@astrazeneca.com

Web site: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/985887.html

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Profile: art and books

SC Johnson Among Best Companies for Working Mothers

2005-09-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

SC Johnson Among Best Companies for Working Mothers

Company Recognized for 17th Year and Ranks in Top Ten for Third Consecutive Year

SC Johnson Also Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Childcare Center

RACINE, Wis., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, SC Johnson ranks in the top 10 among the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," according to Working Mother magazine. The publication today releases its 20th annual compilation of "family-friendly" corporations, and this year marks the 17th time SC Johnson has been included on the list.

"The special honor of making Working Mother's top ten list for three consecutive years is a testament to SC Johnson's unique family culture," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "SC Johnson's business depends on the talent of its people, and the more the company offers flexibility and support to unleash that talent, the more we win in the marketplace."

SC Johnson also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the SC Johnson Childcare Learning Center -- one of the nation's first childcare centers in 1985 for the exclusive use of its employees and their families. In 2003, a large facility extension was added to accommodate the growing needs of the Center and the employees. The newly expanded Center is the largest employer- sponsored childcare center in Wisconsin, providing families with 24-hour access to top quality childcare and the capacity to accommodate employees' children without a waiting list.

This year, Working Mother gave particular weight to three issues: flexible scheduling, time off for new parents and childcare options. In addition to flexible work arrangements like job share opportunities and the summer hours program, SC Johnson offers a robust maternity leave up to six months, paternity and adoption leave and a state-of-the-art Childcare Learning Center. "We salute SC Johnson for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the 17th time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative."

"The special culture and family-friendly benefits at SC Johnson enable working parents to excel on the job and in their lives, and attracts and retains the most talented people," said Gayle Kosterman, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Human Resources of SC Johnson. "Providing that flexibility is part of what makes SC Johnson such a great place to work and a marketplace success."

SC Johnson has long been recognized as an employer of choice. Earlier this year, SC Johnson was among ranked number seven on FORTUNE magazine's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America." The company also was named to the "Corporate 100" list of top companies for Latinos by Hispanic magazine and was among DiversityInc's list of top 50 companies for diversity.

To be named to Working Mother's best companies list, public or private firms of any size and in any industry (except those that provide worklife or child-care services) complete a comprehensive application, including detailed information on eight areas of work/life including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women's advancement, total compensation, work/life culture, and family-friendly programs. SC Johnson completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board positions and management ranks.

The 100 best companies will also be honored in October during a special ceremony at the WorkLife Congress in New York. The complete list of top 100 companies is available in the October issue of Working Mother on newsstands today and at http://www.workingmother.com/ . With nearly three million monthly readers, Working Mother is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.

SC Johnson is a family-owned and -managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE(R), GLADE(R), OFF!(R), PLEDGE(R), RAID(R), SCRUBBING BUBBLES(R), SHOUT(R), WINDEX(R) and ZIPLOC(R) in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN(R), BAYGON(R), BRISE(R), ECHO(R), KABIKILLER(R), KLEAR(R), and MR. MUSCLE(R). The 119-year old company, with more than $6.5 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. http://www.scjohnson.com/

Contact: Steve Peckham
(262) 260-4402
swpeckha@scj.com

Source: SC Johnson

CONTACT: Steve Peckham of SC Johnson, +1-262-260-4402,
swpeckha@scj.com

Web site: http://www.scjohnson.com/
http://www.workingmother.com/

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Profile: art and books

Republic Bancorp Named One of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers

2005-09-12T04:12:00.000-07:00

Republic Bancorp Named One of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Republic Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:RBNC), today announced that the Company has been named by Working Mother magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for the fifth year in a row.

"We are proud to be recognized again, as one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," commented Dana M. Cluckey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Republic Bancorp. "This ranking is significant to Republic since 75% of our workforce is female and it exemplifies the strong value we place on our exceptional work-life policies and outstanding employee and family benefits programs. By providing flexible solutions to our employees to facilitate their balance of work and home life, they are more focused in providing customer service that exceeds expectations," added Mr. Cluckey.

Republic Bancorp Inc., with $6.1 billion in assets, is the third largest bank holding company headquartered in Michigan and the 82nd largest bank holding company in the country. Its subsidiary, Republic Bank, serves customers in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana with 95 retail, commercial and mortgage banking offices and 90 ATMs. Republic consistently ranks as the #1 Small Business Administration bank lender based in Michigan and one of the Midwest's top retail mortgage lenders. Republic was named as the 3rd Best Company to Work For by FORTUNE magazine (marking the fifth year on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For") and named to Working Mother magazine's list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for five years in a row.

Information about Republic Bancorp Inc.'s financial results and its products and services, including on-line mortgage applications and its Internet banking system, ExpressNet, can be accessed at http://www.republicbancorp.com/ .

Source: Republic Bancorp Inc.

CONTACT: Debra A. Hanses, Exec. V.P., Corporate Human Resources,
+1-989-725-2166, dhanses@republicbancorp.com , or Kristine D. Brenner,
Director of Investor Relations, +1-989-725-7337,
kbrenner@republicbancorp.com , both of Republic Bancorp Inc.

Web site: http://www.republicbancorp.com/

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Profile: art and books

Branding will Move Up the Boardroom Agenda and Become One of the Most Prominent Drivers of Shareholder Value in Asia Pacific

2005-09-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

Branding will Move Up the Boardroom Agenda and Become One of the Most Prominent Drivers of Shareholder Value in Asia Pacific

New Global Book "Asian Brand Strategy" Written by Brand Strategist

Martin Roll Illustrates the Paradigm Shift Asian Brands Need to Undertake to

Unleash Their Potential

HONG KONG, Sept. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Leading business publisher Palgrave Macmillan today announced the launch of a new global business book "Asian Brand Strategy" in more than 60 countries. Asian Brand Strategy is written by Martin Roll, an experienced international branding strategist and a senior advisor to corporate boards and top-management teams in Fortune 500 companies.

(Photos: http://xprnnews.xfn.info/VentureRepublic/20050912/MartinRoll.htmhttp://xprnnews.xfn.info/VentureRepublic/20050912/AsianBrandstrategy.htm )

"Towards 2020, a rapid changing landscape will emerge in Asia where the opportunities for Asian companies to benefit from branding efforts will be larger than ever before. The growing emphasis on shareholder value and brand strategy to drive value will move up the boardroom agenda and become one of the most prominent drivers of value in Asia Pacific," said Martin Roll.

Asian Brand Strategy offers insights, knowledge and perspectives on Asian brands and branding as a strategic tool and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding Asian branding strategies and Asian brands, including success stories and challenges for future growth and strengths. The book includes theoretical frameworks and models and up-to-date case studies on Asian brands. The target readers are Asian and Western business leaders as well as anyone interested in the most exciting region of the world.

The book presents the Asian Brand Leadership model illustrating the paradigm shift Asian brands need to undertake to unleash their potential.

"Mindsets and practices need to change in the Asian boardroom. The book invites a complete shift in the way Asian boardrooms think of branding: from a tactical view to a long-term, strategic perspective, from fragmented marketing activities to totally aligned branding activities, from a vision of branding as the sole responsibility of marketing managers to branding as the most essential function of the firm led by the boardroom," said Roll.

The book has cases on brands such as Singapore Airlines, Shiseido, Samsung, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Amanresorts, Giordano, Jet Airways, Jim Thompson, Li Ning, BritishIndia, SK-II, Star Cruises, Yue Sai Kan, Trung Ngyen and many other Asian brands.

About Martin Roll

Martin Roll, CEO of VentureRepublic, the leading strategic advisory firm on branding. He delivers the combined value of an experienced international branding strategist and a senior advisor to corporate boards and top- management teams in Fortune 500 companies. He brings more than 15 years of management experience from the international advertising and branding industry, and is a renowned keynote speaker at global conferences. Martin Roll is a frequent guest lecturer at INSEAD and a Visiting Professor at CEIBS in Shanghai.

Media interview:

Martin Roll will be in Hong Kong from September 13-16 and available for media interviews.

Contact:

Regina Chan
Macmillan East Asia
Mobile: +852-6776-1351
Office: +852-2811-7122

Sarah-Anne Fong
VentureRepublic
Office: +65-6549-7141

www.asianbrandstrategy.com

Web sites: http://www.asianbrandstrategy.com
http://xprnnews.xfn.info/VentureRepublic/20050912/MartinRoll.htm
http://xprnnews.xfn.info/VentureRepublic/20050912/AsianBrandstrategy.htm

Source: Palgrave Macmillan Limited & VentureRepublic

Contact: Regina Chan of Macmillan East Asia, +852-6776-1351, or
+852-2811-7122; Sarah-Anne Fong of VentureRepublic, +65-6549-7141

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Profile: art and books

Bloomberg Announces Live-Events Lineup for Week of September 12

2005-09-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg Announces Live-Events Lineup for Week of September 12

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg, the leading global provider of data, news and analytics, today unveiled its lineup of live events and selected interviews available on Bloomberg Television(R), Bloomberg Radio(R), and to users of the Bloomberg Professional(R) service for the week ahead, September 12 through September 18.

Highlights for the upcoming week include:

Monday, September 12

* Bloomberg users hear it live on AV < GO >: Live coverage of the
election results in Japan; Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan,
speaks live at a press conference beginning at 2:00 p.m. JST /
1:00 a.m. ET available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg
Professional service via AV < GO >.

* Jonathan Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sun
Microsystems, Inc., will appear on "Morning Call" on Bloomberg
Television at 7:05 a.m. ET. The interview will be available real-time
and archived on the Bloomberg Professional service via AV < GO >.

* Bloomberg users hear it live on AV < GO >: Coverage begins and will
continue throughout the week of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing
on the confirmation of United States Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee
John Roberts. The hearing will be available real-time and archived on
the Bloomberg Professional service via AV < GO >.

Tuesday, September 13

* Bloomberg users see it live on AV < GO >: President George W. Bush
speaks live at the opening of the 60th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly in Flushing Meadow, New York. The speech will be
available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg Professional service
via AV < GO >.

* Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group Ltd., will appear on "Bloomberg
On The Markets," live from the World Business Forum at Radio City Music
Hall in New York, on Bloomberg Television at 10:00 a.m. ET. The speech
will be available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg Professional
service via AV < GO >.

* United States Senator Mike Crapo will discuss Federal Reserve monetary
policy and the fiscal impact of Hurricane Katrina on "Money And
Politics" on Bloomberg Television beginning at 2:07 p.m. ET. The
interview will be available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg
Professional service via AV < GO >.

Wednesday, September 14

* Lee Hsien Yang, President and Chief Executive Officer, Singapore
Telecommunications Limited, will appear on "Bloomberg Marketline" on
Bloomberg Television Japan at 2:00 p.m. JST / 1:00 a.m. ET. The
interview is part of a scheduled week-long program entitled "Focus on
Singapore" and will be available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg
Professional service via AV < GO >.

* Jack Welch, former Chief Executive Officer, General Electric Co., will
appear on "Bloomberg On The Markets" on Bloomberg Television at
10:00 a.m. ET. The interview will be available real-time and archived
on the Bloomberg Professional service via AV <GO>.

Thursday, September 15

* Abby Cohen, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Wilbur Ross,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, WL Ross & Co. LLC., Steven Roth,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vornado Realty Trust, and David
Rubenstein, Founding Partner and Managing Director, The Carlyle Group,
participate in a live panel, "Economics 2006: Bloomberg Follows The
Money," on the outlook of stocks and the economy. The panel discussion
will be available real-time and archived on the Bloomberg Professional
service via AV < GO >.

Friday, September 16

* Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Minister Mentor, will appear on "Bloomberg On
The Markets" on Bloomberg Television Japan at 8:40 a.m. JST / 7:40 p.m.
(Thursday). The interview will be available real-time and archived on
the Bloomberg Professional service via AV <GO>.

Through AV < GO > on the Bloomberg Professional service, Bloomberg users watch Bloomberg Television, listen to Bloomberg Radio and access stories on demand from around the world in video and audio formats in real time on their desktops. Through LIVE < GO > on the Bloomberg Professional service, Bloomberg users access live coverage of events including press conferences, company presentations, industry forums, trials and extended interactive interviews with Bloomberg Television guests. These events are archived on the Bloomberg Professional service for Bloomberg users to access on an ongoing basis. Bloomberg's ten global TV channels are accessible to Bloomberg users via VID < GO >. Bloomberg Radio WBBR 1130 AM is accessible to Bloomberg users via AIR < GO >. These functions allow Bloomberg customers to see and hear live and archived news from their desktops. Bloomberg's multimedia functions are available to all Bloomberg users as part of the Bloomberg Professional service, reflecting Bloomberg's commitment to add value to its all-inclusive desktop product.

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg is the leading global provider of data, news and analytics. The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service and Bloomberg's media services provide real-time and archived financial and market data, pricing, trading, news and communications tools in a single, integrated package to corporations, news organizations, financial and legal professionals and individuals around the world. Bloomberg's media services include BLOOMBERG NEWS(R), the global news service that includes more than 1,600 journalists in 127 bureaus worldwide; BLOOMBERG TELEVISION(R), the 24-hour business and financial network produced and distributed worldwide on 10 separate channels in seven languages; and BLOOMBERG RADIO(SM), which provides up-to-the-minute news on XM, Sirius and WorldSpace satellite radio around the world and on WBBR 1130AM in New York. In addition, BLOOMBERG PRESS(R) publishes books for investment professionals. For more information please visit http://www.bloomberg.com/.

Source: Bloomberg

CONTACT: Judith Czelusniak of Bloomberg LP, +1-212-617-4273,
bloomberg@bloomberg.net; or Jeffrey Weir of Sloane & Company, +1-212-446-1878,
jweir@sloanepr.com

Web site: http://www.bloomberg.com/

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Profile: art and books

NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS: Highlights and Exclusives, Sept. 19, 2005 Issue

2005-09-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS: Highlights and Exclusives, Sept. 19, 2005 Issue

COVER: Poverty, Race & Katrina (Atlantic, Asia, Europe and Latin America editions). It takes a catastrophe like Katrina to strip away the old evasions, hypocrisies and not-so-benign neglect. Senior Editor Jonathan Alter examines America's poor: who they are, how they came to be so, why they continue to suffer and what the nation can do to help them. For the moment, at least, Americans are ready to fix their restless gaze on enduring problems of poverty, race and class that have escaped their attention. After a decade of improvement in the 1990s, a rising tide of economic growth is no longer lifting all boats. For the first time in half a century, the third year of a recovery (2004) also saw an increase in poverty. In a nation of nearly 300 million people, the number living below the poverty line ($14,680 for a family of three) recently hit 37 million, up more than a million in a year. The question now is whether the floodwaters can create a sea change in public attitudes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287641/site/newsweek/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004 )

Deadly Mistakes. How the President of the United States could have no more "situational awareness," as they say in the military, than the average American about the worst natural disaster in a century -- is one of the more perplexing and troubling chapters in a story that, despite moments of heroism and acts of great generosity, ranks as a national disgrace, reports Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas. The failure of the government's response to Katrina worked like a power black out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/site/newsweek/

COVER: Iron Lady (Germany and region). Like presidential candidate Angela Merkel, many Germans see their country at a political and economic watershed- very much like that which swept America's Republican Party to power 25 years ago. If, as chancellor, Merkel delivers on her pledge to get the country moving again, all Europe will feel the pull. The odds are near overwhelming that Merkel will win the chancellorship. But without an outright majority, the prospect is that her party will be forced into a dreaded "grand coalition" with the Socialists-a recipe for "lethargy, bleakness and deadlock," as the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel warned last week. All this means that those who might hope for a "Merkel revolution" may be disappointed, reports Berlin Correspondent Stefan Theil.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285505/site/newsweek/

Stuck in Low Gear. Wolfgang Bernhard, who took over as head of the Volkswagen brand last May, confronts a troubled company in which reform is painfully necessary, yet impeded by decades of history, culture and law, some written specifically to protect VW. The fate of his efforts will be a bellwether for Germany as a whole, reports European Economics Editor Karen Lowry Miller.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287436/site/newsweek/

The New Blasphemy. A controversial proposed "anti-blasphemy" law, to be debated by Britain's House of Lords next month, allows prosecution in cases where behavior or written material -- such as a book, play or broadcast -- could potentially incite religious hatred. With religion increasingly intruding into politics and the arts across Europe, though, many worry the British legislation is a step too far, reports Special Correspondent Tara Pepper.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287441/site/newsweek/

Private Lies, Public Figures. A report called "No Secret," issued in August by the research firm Eurispes, estimates that the Italian government has paid 1.3 billion euros over the past five years to the nation's phone companies, directing them to listen in on their most select clientele. The government's eavesdropping business has grown so large that it must outsource much of the transcription work. The result: leaks, often for hefty fees, of the most luscious details of private lives and legal proceedings, reports Special Correspondent Barbie Nadeau.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287439/site/newsweek/

An Oasis of Capitalism. North Korea envisions Kaesung-a small capitalist enclave scheduled to be completed in 2015-as its own version of Shenzen, one of China's first "special economics zones," and is hoping that the area can jump-start its near-bankrupt economy and attract as many as 3,000 southern companies, employing a quarter-million northern workers. While previous moves to attract South Korean investments have been too timid to succeed, Kaesung could be a different story, reports Special Correspondent B.J. Lee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285506/site/newsweek/

SBY Feels the Heat. Indonesia is facing what analysts are calling a "mini- crisis" -- prompted by skyrocketing crude-oil prices that hovered around $65 last week -- and suddenly many are asking whether President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is up to the challenge. Yudhoyono's response has been relatively slow and vague -- and now what might have been a temporary fiscal scare is threatening to become a full-blown crisis of confidence in Indonesia's leadership, reports Special Correspondent Eric Unmacht.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287442/site/newsweek/

Ahead of the Pack. The clamor-and the global buzz over China's emergence as an economic super-power-mask a deeply significant trend in Asian business: Korea Inc.'s rise to prominence on the Indian Subcontinent. By the numbers, Korea now tops the list of countries investing in India. In just a few years, South Korean brand appeal has eclipsed Japanese rivals like Sony and Honda, and even the national cricket team now wears Samsung emblazoned on its jerseys, reports Special Correspondent Jason Overdorf and Hong Kong Bureau Chief George Wehrfritz.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287443/site/newsweek/

INTERVIEW: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Sharon and Abbas talk separately to Special Diplomatic Correspondent Lally Weymouth about Israel's retreat from Gaza and the West Bank. "We have taken a very fateful step-extreme in its nature," says Sharon. "Now we expect they will take all the necessary steps and we can move forward." "We are ready to control the whole security situation," says Abbas. "We will not allow anybody to rush into the settlements."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285504/site/newsweek/

WORLD VIEW: The Wonderful World of Oz. Hurricane Katrina was a horrific act of nature. But the real tragedy is what it says about America, write Andrew Moravcsik, a professor of politics at Princeton, and Europe Editor Michael Meyer. The blame game has begun and is being directed at everything from global warming to the incompetence of a vast array of local and federal officials. At bottom, however, what Katrina exposed is something more profound, even existential: America's changing attitude toward the proper role of government.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287444/site/newsweek/

THE LAST WORD: Tom Lantos, California Congressman. Lantos, ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, recently made a four- day trip to North Korea to outline the U.S. position on North Korean nukes to the country's most senior officials. He discusses how the United States and North Korea can build up trust. "They have to get over complaining about things they don't like, because this is not helpful," he tells Newsweek. "They have to focus on the areas of agreement, and over a period of time build confidence in the United States, in the credibility of their statements and agreements."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285507/site/newsweek/

PRNewswire -- Sept. 11

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newsweek

Web site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To receive a story or book guests, contact Natalia Labenskyj at 212-445-4078 or Andrea Faville at -4859. Highlights and articles are posted on the World Wide Web at www.Newsweek.com.

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Profile: art and books

Entertainment Brings Hong Kong Disneyland to Life As VIPs, Media 'Experience the Magic' on Preview Day

2005-09-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Entertainment Brings Hong Kong Disneyland to Life As VIPs, Media 'Experience the Magic' on Preview Day

HONG KONG, September 11/PRNewswire/ -- On the day before Hong Kong Disneyland officially opened to the public,
an invited audience of political and business leaders and media were special
guests for a Preview Day on Sunday, enjoying an advance look at some of the
spectacular shows and attractions in the first Disney theme park in the
region.

Highlights of the day included preview ceremonies for several of the
park's most eagerly anticipated shows and rides.

Robert A. Iger, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive
Officer-elect, The Walt Disney Company, welcomed the special guests to the
majestic Theater in the Wild in Adventureland for a preview performance of
"Festival of the Lion King," a unique live theatrical experience created
especially for Hong Kong Disneyland.

The joyous high-energy spectacle uses song, dance, puppetry and stunning
visual effects to create an African savannah setting filled with lions,
giraffes, birds and gazelles. In this theater environment, "Festival of the
Lion King" retells the story of the lion cub Simba, from the Disney animated
feature film "The Lion King," and his struggle to regain his kingdom
following the death of his father. The show features the award-winning music
from the movie, written by Elton John and Tim Rice.

"When 'The Lion King' debuted in 1994, it became an instant classic,
capturing the imagination of the world with its unforgettable characters,
soulful rhythms and timeless story," said Iger. "The tradition of 'The Lion
King' continues today as we share with you our latest, original
interpretation of this classic tale with 'The Festival of The Lion King.'"

Hong Kong Disneyland also presents a second live show, "The Golden
Mickeys," in the Storybook Theater in Fantasyland. Modeled on a Hollywood
awards show, "The Golden Mickeys" brings favorite Disney stories to life with
song, dance and special effects.

Main Street, U.S.A. was the stage in Hong Kong Disneyland for the
celebratory "Disney on Parade," also previewed for the Sunday guests. The
parade features more than 100 performers and nine fantastic, larger-than-life
floats. It showcases the history of Disney from the early classic Mickey
Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons to the fairy tale stories of Snow White,
Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid to recent classics like "Toy Story," a
Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film.

Earlier that day, Hong Kong actor-singer Eason Chan joined Iger for a
preview of one of Hong Kong Disneyland's most exciting attractions, Space
Mountain. Combining special effects, pulsating lights and a high-speed trip
through near-total darkness, the space-themed indoor roller coaster has
become one of the most popular thrill rides at Disney theme parks worldwide.
Since the first Space Mountain opened in 1975 at Walt Disney World Resort in
Florida, other versions have opened at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disney
Resort in Japan and Disneyland Paris in France.

"Space Mountain is one of the most popular theme park adventures ever
created and is a truly iconic Disney attraction," said Iger. "Experiencing
the thrill of these high-speed rockets has become a tradition for countless
guests every time they visit one of our parks, and I know the same will be
true here at Hong Kong Disneyland."

The latest Disney theme park innovation was roaming at large in Hong Kong
Disneyland on Sunday. Nine-foot-tall Lucky the Dinosaur walks freely and
interacts with children and families, even signing his own distinctive
four-leaf-clover "autograph."

Sunday's Hong Kong Disneyland preview culminated with an after-dark party
that was both elegant and exotic. The "Enchanted Evening" began with food and
drinks served along the jungle trials of Adventureland to the accompaniment
of reggae music and hard-driving rhythm from village drummers. After dinner,
the guests moved to the fairy tale setting of Sleeping Beauty Castle. There,
majestic Chinese dragons appeared and were joined by spectacular Chinese
acrobats and drummers to announce a sensational concert which mingled East
and West, combining Asian and American musicians and singing stars to present
well known Disney songs.

The international lineup of stars was headlined by Hong Kong Disneyland
spokesperson Jacky Cheung, and also starred Emil Chau, multiple platinum
album Hong Kong recording artist; Andy Hui, Hong Kong singer and film star;
singer-actor Eason Chan; 13-year-old piano virtuoso Rachel Cheung; Brad Kane,
the American voice of "Aladdin"; Coco Lee, Chinese pop star; Paige O'Hara,
voice of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast"; Lea Salonga, Broadway musical
theater star and the voice of "Mulan"; and Joey Yung, award-winning
Cantonese/Mandarin singer.

For a final burst of light, color, music and special effects, the
evening's entertainment concluded with the dazzling "Disney in the Stars"
fireworks show. The night sky is the staging area for "Disney in the Stars,"
and Sleeping Beauty Castle comes to life with dreamlike images projected onto
its walls. "Disney in the Stars" is a spellbinding experience in which
fireworks are choreographed to music like dancers in a ballet, and it was the
perfect "good night" ending for the very special Preview Day.

About Hong Kong Disneyland

Located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny's Bay, Hong Kong
Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment and
recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style theme park of
shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (400 guestrooms), Disney's
Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms) and Inspiration Lake, a public area
featuring boat rentals and a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all
ages a full day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney, Hong
Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Mulan and other Disney
characters beloved the world over.

A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government,
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members. The HKSAR Government
estimated the first phase of the project will generate a present economic
value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a
40-year period.

The project was announced in 1999 and construction began in 2003.

For additional information and to book a magical vacation at the Hong
Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, guests can contact:

Hotel Reservations Hotline
Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center
Telephone: +852-1830-830
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Hong Kong time), daily

To purchase Hong Kong Disneyland park tickets, guests should visit
http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com .

Web site: http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com

Source: Hong Kong Disneyland

Betty Law of HKDL Publicity, +852-3550-3370

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Profile: art and books

NEWSWEEK MEDIA LEAD SHEET/September 19, 2005 Issue (on newsstands Monday, September 12).

2005-09-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

NEWSWEEK MEDIA LEAD SHEET/September 19, 2005 Issue (on newsstands Monday, September 12).

COVER: "Poverty, Race & Katrina" (p. 42). Senior Editor Jonathan Alter writes that for the moment, at least, Americans are ready to fix their restless gaze on enduring problems of poverty, race and class that have escaped their attention. While it may not mean a new war on poverty, Alter writes that this disaster, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, may offer a chance to start a skirmish, or at least make Washington think harder about why part of the richest country on earth looks like the Third World. Alter examines America's poor, the role that poverty and race played in the Katrina disaster, what lessons can be learned from it and what realistic strategies might work to alleviate it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287641/site/newsweek/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004 )

"How Bush Blew It" (p. 30). Newsweek's team of correspondents in Louisiana and Washington reconstruct the events of last week and look closely at why officials at every level seemed so ill prepared for the storm and out of step when it happened and why, in the richest country in the world, there was still a population in harm's way so poor and helpless that many had no resources to escape or cope with the storm once it hit. Correspondents T. Trent Gegax, Arian Campo-Flores, Andrew Murr, Susannah Meadows, Jonathan Darman and Catharine Skipp were on location in the Gulf Coast region and are available for interviews. Washington correspondents are also available.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287434/

"A Storm-Tossed Boss" (p. 38). Chief Political Correspondent Howard Fineman reports on the Hurricane Katrina fallout for President Bush. When Bush was on Air Force One and allowed photographers in the forward cabin to show him looking out the window at the devastation, Republican strategists privately call the resulting image -- Bush as tourist, seemingly powerless as he peered down at the chaos -- perhaps among the most damaging of his presidency.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287435/

"Some are Found, All Are Lost" (p. 51). Senior Editor Barbara Kantrowitz and San Francisco Bureau Chief Karen Breslau report on the thousands of children who have been separated from their families in the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Even after children are found and reunited with their parents, therapists say the children of Katrina could suffer for years from the physical and emotional effects of their trauma. "Kids have lost their homes, their schools, their neighborhoods, connections with friends," says David Fassler, a psychiatrist at the University of Vermont, who studies children and disasters. "I would expect to see an increase in anxiety, sleep difficulties, fears."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287034/

ELLIS COSE: "A Place Worth Calling Home" (p. 49). Contributing Editor Ellis Cose writes that if New Orleans is rebuilt, "whatever emerges from New Orleans's ruins will not be the city it once was, and that is not necessarily bad. For long before Katrina came along, New Orleans, despite all its grandeur and grace, was slowly, painfully, slipping away -- or, more accurately, the people who gave it its pulse were abandoning the city they had proudly called home."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287028/

NEWSWEEK POLL: President Bush's job approval rating is at 38 percent, the lowest ever in the Newsweek Poll. A 52-percent majority of Americans say they do not trust President Bush to make the right decisions during a domestic crisis; 45 percent do. The same number (52%) do not trust him to make the right decisions during an international crisis, again, 45 percent do. Sixty- six percent of those polled say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. at this time. Senior Editor Marcus Mabry is available for interviews on the poll.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9280375/site/newsweek/

PERISCOPE: "Roberts-And Then the Real Battle" (p. 6). President Bush quickly nominated Judge John Roberts to serve as chief justice -- a move the president had considered all along, according to one adviser close to the process. Roberts could face some tougher questioning as chief, but barring bombshells, the hearings could turn out to be a drama fit only for C-Span junkies. Washington Bureau Chief Dan Klaidman, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief Debra Rosenberg and Contributing Editor Stuart Taylor Jr. report.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287029/site/newsweek/

"Planning For Pullout" (p. 8). Investigative Correspondent Mark Hosenball reports that analysts at the Defense Intelligence Agency have begun war-gaming scenarios for what might happen in Iraq if U.S. force levels were cut back or eliminated, say counterterrorism and defense sources.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285511/site/newsweek/

INTERVIEWS: Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President (p. 54). Special Diplomatic Correspondent Lally Weymouth conducts separate interviews with Sharon and Abbas and both discuss the roadmap to peace. Sharon says in order to enter into the Roadmap, there should be a full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement. And the Palestinian Authority should dismantle the terrorist organizations. Abbas says they want the Israelis to freeze West Bank settlement activities and stop building the wall.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285504/site/newsweek/

THE TECHNOLOGIST: "Honey, I Shrunk the iPod. A Lot" (p. 58). Senior Editor Steven Levy writes about two new Apple products unveiled at a company event last week: the iPod nano, which is smaller than a business card and about as thick as layer -- cake frosting, and the iTunes -- equipped mobile phone, dubbed ROKR. Essentially, the ROKR allows you to use the phone as an iPod, albeit one that holds only 100 songs. You load up your songs only by connecting to your own computer, and you can't use the phone to call the iTunes store and buy the latest Madonna single. The ROKR does, however, thoughtfully pause the music when you get a call, resuming the song when you hang up.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285516/site/newsweek/

SOCIETY: "Boy Brains, Girl Brains" (p. 59). General Editor Peg Tyre reports on a new crop of educators with a radical idea -- that boys and girls are so biologically different they need to be separated into single-sex classes and taught in different ways. Critics of gender-based schooling charge that curricula designed to exploit such differences reinforce the most narrow cultural stereotypes. But proponents say that unless neurological, hormonal and cognitive differences between boys and girls are incorporated in the classroom, boys are at a disadvantage.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285515/site/newsweek/

TELEVISION: "Laugh Riot" (p. 60). Senior Writer Marc Peyser reports that this fall television season there are some genuinely good sitcoms about to bloom. Why is this happening at last? Peyser writes it's either because of crime-drama burnout, reality-show overload or maybe comedy's ancient Rule of Three, which no one really understands. Peyser singles out "Everybody Hates Chris," "How I Met Your Mother," and "My Name Is Earl" as potential hits.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285517/site/newsweek/

THE TIP SHEET: "Are We at Machu Picchu Yet?" (p. 65). Newsweek reports that young children are increasingly tagging along on international trips, whether they're accompanying parents on a business trip or grandparents on their latest adventure. Though the possibility of sickness -- and the certainty of jet lag -- can be daunting for first-time family travelers, many parents discover that bringing the kids is easier than they expected. The tourism industry, eager to capitalize on family dollars, has become increasingly child-friendly.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9286285/site/newsweek/

PRNewswire -- Sept. 11

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newsweek

Web site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To book correspondents, contact Andrea Faville at +1-212-445-4859, Natalia Labenskyj at -4078 or Jan Angilella at -5638. Articles are posted on www.Newsweek.com.

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Profile: art and books

NEWSWEEK INTERVIEWS: Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President

2005-09-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

NEWSWEEK INTERVIEWS: Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President

Sharon on the Image of Israel: 'I Think the Position of Israel in the World Is Much Better Right Now ... I Would Like to Make a Major Effort to Solve the Problems Between Us and the Arabs.'

Abbas Says the Palestinian Army Is Ready to Take Control of the Evacuated Settlements and Will Protect Them From Terrorist Organizations. 'We Will Not Allow Anybody to Rush Into the Settlements.'

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tells Newsweek that in order to enter into the roadmap to peace, "there should be a full cessation of terror, hostilities, and incitement. The Palestinian Authority should dismantle the terrorist organizations ... When we leave [Gaza], our reaction if terror continues will be very, very hard."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004 )

In an interview, which appears in the September 19 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, September 12), Sharon tells Special Diplomatic Correspondent Lally Weymouth, that they didn't withdrawal from Gaza for a peace dividend, "but I think the position of Israel in the world is much better right now ... I would like to make a major effort to solve the problems between us and the Arabs." He believes progress between Israelis and Palestinians is possible but is contingent on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "If he will do his part, I think we can do many things, but he must do his part," Sharon says.

In a separate interview in the issue, Abbas tells Weymouth that he agrees the next step is "to return to the Roadmap. There was an agreement that the Israelis would evacuate [some West Bank] cities ... This was not implemented. We talked about prisoners, and they didn't release any. Of course, we want them to freeze [West Bank] settlement activities and [stop building] the wall." Abbas says that his priorities lie in improving the lives of his people. "Otherwise, the disengagement means nothing. The day after the disengagement, there should be at least a hundred projects on the ground to let the people see that something is changing."

He claims such projects are underway, "Saudi Arabia has two huge projects in Gaza, and the Emirates has one. The Americans gave us $50 million for projects here and $30 million for water. The Germans gave us $60 million for sewage. If things improve here, the whole atmosphere will improve. People will not accept the shooting or shelling or attacks."

(Read interviews at www.Newsweek.com)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9285504/site/newsweek/

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newsweek

CONTACT: Jan Angilella of Newsweek, +1-212-445-5638

Web site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/

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Profile: art and books

NEWSWEEK COVER: Poverty, Race & Katrina Lessons of a National Shame

2005-09-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

NEWSWEEK COVER: Poverty, Race & Katrina Lessons of a National Shame

For the Moment, Americans Ready to Fix Gaze on Problems of Poverty, Race and Class; Katrina May Offer Chance to 'Start a Skirmish' on Poverty

During Meeting With Bush, Rep. Bobby Jindal Tells Story of Sheriff, Whose District Was Underwater, Who Called FEMA For Help, Was Told to Send an E-Mail Request

Frist: Unsatisfied With Where Things Are Now Because 'I Cannot Be Assured Now That if a Similar Event Were to Happen Today That Anything Would Be Different'

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- For the moment, at least, Americans are ready to fix their restless gaze on enduring problems of poverty, race and class that have escaped their attention, writes Senior Editor Jonathan Alter in the current issue of Newsweek. While it may not mean a new war on poverty, Alter writes that this disaster, Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, may offer a chance to start a skirmish, or at least make Washington think harder about why part of the richest country on earth looks like the Third World. "Americans tend to think of poor people as being responsible for their own economic woes," sociologist Andrew Cherlin of Johns Hopkins University tells Newsweek. "But this was a case where the poor were clearly not at fault. It was a reminder that we have a moral obligation to provide every American with a decent life."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004 )

In the last four decades, part of that obligation has been met, thanks to Social Security and Medicare, food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which supplements the puny wages of the working poor, helping to lift millions into the lower middle class. But, Alter writes, after a decade of improvement in the 1990s, poverty in America is actually getting worse. A rising tide of economic growth is no longer lifting all boats. For the first time in half a century, the third year of a recovery (2004) also saw an increase in poverty. Alter examines America's poor, the role that poverty and race played in the Katrina disaster, what lessons can be learned from it and what realistic strategies might work to alleviate it in the September 19 Newsweek cover story, "Poverty, Race & Katrina: Lessons of A National Shame" (on newsstands Monday, September 12).

Also in the cover package, Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas and a team of Newsweek correspondents from Washington and others who were on location in the Gulf region, reconstruct the government's response to the storm, and examine why officials at every level were so ill prepared for the storm. They report that at the White House it's a standing joke among the president's top aides: who gets to deliver the bad news? The bad news on Tuesday, Aug. 30, some 24 hours after Hurricane Katrina had ripped through New Orleans, was that the president would have to cut short his five-week vacation by a couple of days and return to Washington. The president's chief of staff, Andrew Card; his deputy chief of staff, Joe Hagin; his counselor, Dan Bartlett, and his spokesman, Scott McClellan, held a conference call to discuss the question of the president's early return and the delicate task of telling him. Hagin, it was decided, as senior aide on the ground, would do the deed.

Newsweek also reports that as the week went on, denial and frustration finally collided aboard Air Force One on Friday. As the president's plane sat on the tarmac at New Orleans airport, a confrontation occurred that was described by one participant as "as blunt as you can get without the Secret Service getting involved." One by one, the lawmakers listed their grievances as Bush listened. Rep. Bobby Jindal, whose district encompasses New Orleans, told of a sheriff who had called FEMA for assistance. According to Jindal, the sheriff was told to email his request, "and the guy was sitting in a district underwater and with no electricity," Jindal said, incredulously. "How does that make any sense?" According to Sen. David Vitter, a Republican ally of Bush's, the meeting came to a head when Mayor Nagin blew up during a fraught discussion of "who's in charge?" Nagin slammed his hand down on the table and told Bush, "We just need to cut through this and do what it takes to have a more controlled command structure. If that means federalizing it, let's do it."

Late last week, Bush was, by some accounts, down and angry, Newsweek reports. But another Bush aide described the atmosphere inside the White House as "strangely surreal and almost detached." At one meeting described by this insider, officials were oddly self-congratulatory, perhaps in an effort to buck each other up. Also in the cover package:

* Senior Editor Barbara Kantrowitz and San Francisco Bureau Chief Karen
Breslau look at the littlest victims of Hurricane Katrina, exemplified
by the story of one family waiting in their attic who almost starved to
death-and then were ripped apart by the disaster, the children
temporarily parentless, forced to fend for themselves and miraculously
reunited one week later. New Orleans alone was previously home to over
130,000 children, the majority of which are now displaced or reported as
missing, their fate still unclear. Health experts predict the children
of the hurricane could suffer for years from physical and emotional
effects of their trauma. "Kids have lost their homes, their schools,
their neighborhoods, connections with friends," says David Fassler, a
psychiatrist at the University of Vermont who studies children and
disasters. "I would expect to see an increase in anxiety, sleep
difficulties, fears."

* Chief Political Correspondent Howard Fineman reports that Katrina's
winds have unspun the spin of the Bush machine, particularly the crucial
idea that he is a commanding commander in chief. In the latest Newsweek
Poll, for the first time, less than a majority -- 49 percent -- say he
has "strong leadership qualities," down from 63 percent last year. "I'm
unsatisfied with where we are right now," Republican Senate Leader Bill
Frist told Newsweek, "because I cannot be assured now that if a similar
event were to happen today, that anything would be different."

(Read entire cover story at www.Newsweek.com.
For news releases, click "Pressroom" at bottom of page.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9287641/

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050911/NYSU004
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Newsweek

CONTACT: Natalia Labenskyj of Newsweek, +1-212-445-4078

Web site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/

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Profile: art and books

Entertainment Brings Hong Kong Disneyland to Life As VIPs, Media 'Experience the Magic' on Preview Day

2005-09-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

Entertainment Brings Hong Kong Disneyland to Life As VIPs, Media 'Experience the Magic' on Preview Day

HONG KONG, Sept. 11 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On the day before Hong Kong Disneyland officially opened to the public, an invited audience of political and business leaders and media were special guests for a Preview Day on Sunday, enjoying an advance look at some of the spectacular shows and attractions in the first Disney theme park in the region.

Highlights of the day included preview ceremonies for several of the park's most eagerly anticipated shows and rides.

Robert A. Iger, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer-elect, The Walt Disney Company, welcomed the special guests to the majestic Theater in the Wild in Adventureland for a preview performance of "Festival of the Lion King," a unique live theatrical experience created especially for Hong Kong Disneyland.

The joyous high-energy spectacle uses song, dance, puppetry and stunning visual effects to create an African savannah setting filled with lions, giraffes, birds and gazelles. In this theater environment, "Festival of the Lion King" retells the story of the lion cub Simba, from the Disney animated feature film "The Lion King," and his struggle to regain his kingdom following the death of his father. The show features the award-winning music from the movie, written by Elton John and Tim Rice.

"When 'The Lion King' debuted in 1994, it became an instant classic, capturing the imagination of the world with its unforgettable characters, soulful rhythms and timeless story," said Iger. "The tradition of 'The Lion King' continues today as we share with you our latest, original interpretation of this classic tale with 'The Festival of The Lion King.'"

Hong Kong Disneyland also presents a second live show, "The Golden Mickeys," in the Storybook Theater in Fantasyland. Modeled on a Hollywood awards show, "The Golden Mickeys" brings favorite Disney stories to life with song, dance and special effects.

Main Street, U.S.A. was the stage in Hong Kong Disneyland for the celebratory "Disney on Parade," also previewed for the Sunday guests. The parade features more than 100 performers and nine fantastic, larger-than-life floats. It showcases the history of Disney from the early classic Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons to the fairy tale stories of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid to recent classics like "Toy Story," a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film.

Earlier that day, Hong Kong actor-singer Eason Chan joined Iger for a preview of one of Hong Kong Disneyland's most exciting attractions, Space Mountain. Combining special effects, pulsating lights and a high-speed trip through near-total darkness, the space-themed indoor roller coaster has become one of the most popular thrill rides at Disney theme parks worldwide. Since the first Space Mountain opened in 1975 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, other versions have opened at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan and Disneyland Paris in France.

"Space Mountain is one of the most popular theme park adventures ever created and is a truly iconic Disney attraction," said Iger. "Experiencing the thrill of these high-speed rockets has become a tradition for countless guests every time they visit one of our parks, and I know the same will be true here at Hong Kong Disneyland."

The latest Disney theme park innovation was roaming at large in Hong Kong Disneyland on Sunday. Nine-foot-tall Lucky the Dinosaur walks freely and interacts with children and families, even signing his own distinctive four-leaf-clover "autograph."

Sunday's Hong Kong Disneyland preview culminated with an after-dark party that was both elegant and exotic. The "Enchanted Evening" began with food and drinks served along the jungle trials of Adventureland to the accompaniment of reggae music and hard-driving rhythm from village drummers. After dinner, the guests moved to the fairy tale setting of Sleeping Beauty Castle. There, majestic Chinese dragons appeared and were joined by spectacular Chinese acrobats and drummers to announce a sensational concert which mingled East and West, combining Asian and American musicians and singing stars to present well known Disney songs.

The international lineup of stars was headlined by Hong Kong Disneyland spokesperson Jacky Cheung, and also starred Emil Chau, multiple platinum album Hong Kong recording artist; Andy Hui, Hong Kong singer and film star; singer-actor Eason Chan; 13-year-old piano virtuoso Rachel Cheung; Brad Kane, the American voice of "Aladdin"; Coco Lee, Chinese pop star; Paige O'Hara, voice of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast"; Lea Salonga, Broadway musical theater star and the voice of "Mulan"; and Joey Yung, award-winning Cantonese/Mandarin singer.

For a final burst of light, color, music and special effects, the evening's entertainment concluded with the dazzling "Disney in the Stars" fireworks show. The night sky is the staging area for "Disney in the Stars," and Sleeping Beauty Castle comes to life with dreamlike images projected onto its walls. "Disney in the Stars" is a spellbinding experience in which fireworks are choreographed to music like dancers in a ballet, and it was the perfect "good night" ending for the very special Preview Day.

About Hong Kong Disneyland

Located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny's Bay, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment and recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style theme park of shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (400 guestrooms), Disney's Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms) and Inspiration Lake, a public area featuring boat rentals and a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all ages a full day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Mulan and other Disney characters beloved the world over.

A joint venture of The Walt Disney Company and Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort employs 5,000 cast members. The HKSAR Government estimated the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong over a 40-year period.

The project was announced in 1999 and construction began in 2003.

For additional information and to book a magical vacation at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Hollywood Hotel, guests can contact:

Hotel Reservations Hotline
Hong Kong Disneyland Reservation Center
Telephone: 852/1830-830
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Hong Kong time), daily

To purchase Hong Kong Disneyland park tickets, guests should visit http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/ .

Source: Hong Kong Disneyland

CONTACT: Betty Law of HKDL Publicity, +852-3550-3370

Web site: http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/

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Profile: art and books

Swiss Percussion Artist and Composer Christophe Fellay at swissnex

2005-09-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Swiss Percussion Artist and Composer Christophe Fellay at swissnex

Unique Electro-Acoustic Performances on September 21st, 22nd and 23rd

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ swissnex presents an original composition by Swiss musician and composer Christophe Fellay: three truly unique electro-acoustic performances inspired by the sounds of San Francisco, on September 21st, 22nd and 23rd at swissnex.

The underlying inspiration for this series of concerts draws from Christophe's impression of the sounds of the city, gathered during his six- week stay in the Bay Area working in-residence at swissnex, and with local artists and institutions such as the Exploratorium. Christophe's music will be deconstructed, leaving only basic forms and textures of sound that serve as the base for an ephemeral musical experience.

Fellay's music will be played in and transmitted throughout the Golden Era swissnex building in the Jackson Square Historic District, utilizing it as a container, where walls, windows and floors -- the texture and structure of the space -- become an interactive part of the show.

Local sound designer Kim Cascone, known for his work with director David Lynch, joins Christophe during the first two performances, while the third night offers a special surprise for the audience, reflecting the culmination of Christophe's West Coast experience.

Christophe Fellay is known for his conceptual work, combining rhythm and computer technologies, as well as his extensive improvisational skills. He has also written contemporary music for string quartets, percussion and jazz groups, rock and hip-hop bands, as well as a variety of singers. Over the years, Christophe has participated in many North American and European tours. He was a featured performer at the 34th Montreux Jazz Festival (2000) and has played on over 50 cds. He is currently a professor of jazz drumming and theory at the Montreux Music Conservatory and the head of the Sound Department at the ECAV School of the Arts in Sierre, Switzerland. At this year's Montreux Jazz Festival, Christophe served as a judge for the voice competition, along with internationally known musicians Randy Crawford and Barbara Hendricks.

swissnex, the host of these events, connects the best of many worlds by bridging the knowledge, energy and competencies in science, higher education, art and innovation between Switzerland, the U.S.A. and Canada.

Further information:

www.tambuprod.com

Source: swissnex

CONTACT: Erika Burri of swissnex, +1-415-912-5901, ext. 102, or fax,
+1-415-912-5905, or erika.burri@swissnex.org

Web site: http://www.tambuprod.com/

Web site: http://www.swissnex.org/

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Profile: art and books

Penthouse Magazine Interviews Boston Red Sox Pitcher David Wells

2005-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Penthouse Magazine Interviews Boston Red Sox Pitcher David Wells

BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Loving beer, babes and baseball doesn't make David Wells unique; nonetheless, this controversial ex-Yankee turned Red Sox pitcher stands out both on and off the field. An "open-book" persona, Wells does not mince words in the October issue when he discusses steroid use with Penthouse interviewer Dave Hollander; "There are guys out there who've been on steroids who've taken me deep and I'm pissed off about it. I've never touched the stuff. I'm looking good with 200-something wins, done with all fat and muscle. There are guys in the game only because of steroids. They couldn't make it with their natural talent, so they had to enhance themselves. It sucks." So what's his secret for stamina and longevity in a youth and body conscious sport then? "A lot of porn," cites Wells and yes, "I dig Penthouse!"

Wells still loves New York and the nightlife -- in fact he's pitching in the Big Apple tonight, but no longer has respect for the fans. "When I came to NY on opening day, I got so much hatred. The boos I can deal with, but you mother@$#@, you piece of s%#!, you traitor! I heard it all, but I've lost respect for NY fans for them to do that to me."

"GIRLS GONE WILD, GIRLS GONE WILD!" Yes, we've all seen those late night ads for the freakishly popular video series featuring the sexual bravado of college co-ed cuties, but did you know that the multi-millionaire behind this phenomenon is only 31 years young and already has two private jets, two private homes, a Ferrari and a private island retreat? Joe Francis is indeed a hero to men everywhere, including A-list celebrity fans, but he's a self-stated non-chauvinist as well, "I love women. I have three sisters and I don't feel I'm exploiting them in any way, I'm just giving them a medium to expose themselves." While the videos have gotten more explicit, Francis does not want to show hard-core sex, despite the fact that it could bring in additional revenue upwards in the millions. "We've had a tremendous demand for it, but I think pornography is sex and we consider ourselves adult entertainment." Perhaps celebrities agree; they're customers after all.

DR. DOT -- ROCK STAR MASSEUSE -- her name is not a household name, but backstage it is. Dorothy Stein (a.k.a. "Dr. Dot," a name bestowed upon her by none other than Frank Zappa) has been kneading and touching world famous rock stars since the tender age of 15. Not your average groupie, Stein refused to give sexual favors backstage and opted to perform massage therapy instead. The diagnosis: infamy, financial success and a Rolodex of clients that reads like an MTV Awards program. Who's well endowed, who has a smokin' bod, is Gene Simmons tongue really as big as it looks?

Dr. Dot answers Penthouse Magazine's queries and does it topless to boot!

The October 2005 issue is on sale at newsstands now. For a complimentary press copy, or to arrange an interview with a Penthouse representative, kindly contact the Public Relations department: 561.912.7034

Penthouse Media Group Inc. is an international, multimedia entertainment company. Founded in 1965 by Bob Guccione, Penthouse is globally recognized as one of the premier brands in adult entertainment and publishes one of the most widely circulated groups of men's lifestyle publications. The company also operates http://www.penthouse.com/, a popular adult entertainment website and provides adult video entertainment and a broad array of products and services via its numerous licensees.

Media Contact:
Kathleen Berzon
For Penthouse Media Group, Inc.
561.912.7034
kberzon@pmgi.com

Source: Penthouse Media Group Inc.

CONTACT: Kathleen Berzon for Penthouse Media Group, Inc.,
+1-561-912-7034, kberzon@pmgi.com

Web site: http://www.penthouse.com/

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Profile: art and books

Dinner Party Tips Keep Entertaining Fun

2005-09-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

Dinner Party Tips Keep Entertaining Fun

BUITONI(R) Offers Five Italian Dinner Parties with Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello

SOLON, Ohio, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Like a pendulum swinging from side to side, successful dinner parties have a rhythm of their own. Whether you're planning to spend an evening with friends or organizing a family gathering, you will want to remember that the occasion is more about the food and less about the glimmer of your floors.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFTH155A )

Following are a few tips for maintaining dinner-party appeal from BUITONI(R), the maker of refrigerated pastas and sauces, and Michael Chiarello, television celebrity chef and author of the new cookbook, At Home with Michael Chiarello.

-- Keep it casual: Leave the seven-course meals for black-tie affairs.
You want your guests to be comfortable, not concerned about which fork
to use. Plus, you don't want the monumental clean-up job following the
festivities.
-- Stick to your strengths: Decorate simply with objects from your yard
and home. Most importantly, however, create a menu that calls for
ingredients you can easily find for recipes you have already mastered.
You'll have more success turning your favorite ravioli recipe into
bite-sized appetizers than starting with something unknown.
-- Make a strong first impression: Food is the cornerstone of every
dinner party, but don't let that limit your creativity. From the moment
your guests arrive, entertain them with flavorful light bites and a
selection of unique beverages. Everyone will have more fun!
-- Don't do it all on your own: Preparing for an evening of entertaining
can be stressful at times. So when someone else offers to help plan a
wonderful dinner party, take advantage of the opportunity!

Now is your opportunity! In addition to these helpful tips, Buitoni is offering the chance for five people to win an Italian dinner party with celebrity chef Michael Chiarello in the comfort of their own home. Winners will also receive a year's supply of free BUITONI(R) products.

How to Win an Italian Dinner Party

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on September 19, 2005, contestants may visit www.ItalianDinnerPartySweepstakes.com and fill in the required entry information to enter the sweepstakes. Entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. (ET) on October 17, 2005. Contestants may also enter by mail. On a plain 3 1/2" x 5" card, legibly hand-print your name, address, zip code, age, plus day and evening phone numbers (including area code). Then, mail your 3 1/2" x 5" card in a first-class postage affixed envelope to: "Buitoni Italian Dinner Party" Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 2628, Knoxville, TN 37950.

Five "Grand Prize" winners will be selected in a random drawing on or about October 24, 2005, from among all eligible entries received. Winners will be notified by e-mail, U.S. mail or phone on or about November 3, 2005, and will be given instructions on how to claim the prize.

In addition, the first 1,000 people to enter the sweepstakes online will receive a free 6-month subscription to zagat.com(SM) (while supplies last), where they will be able to access the latest ratings and reviews for more than 30,000 restaurants worldwide. Access complete sweepstakes rules at www.ItalianDinnerPartySweepstakes.com.

For more recipe ideas and entertaining tips, visit Buitoni.com. Or visit NapaStyle.com to order a copy of Michael's newest cookbook, At Home With Michael Chiarello (in stores October 2005).

About Michael Chiarello

Chef Michael Chiarello is the Emmy award-winning host of Easy Entertaining on Food Network, NapaStyle on Fine Living, and numerous PBS series. During his 20 years as Executive Chef of Tra Vigne Restaurant (Napa Valley) and 7 other restaurants, he was twice named Chef of the Year: in 1985 by Food and Wine Magazine while at Toby's in Miami, and in 1995 by Culinary Institute of America. He is founder/CEO of NapaStyle (www.napastyle.com), a media-driven lifestyle retail brand, and has created several award-winning specialty food lines and exclusive home products and cookware. He is the owner/vintner of Chiarello Family Vineyards (www.chiarellovineyards.com), which produces sustainably farmed, organic, estate wines from his property in Napa Valley.

About Buitoni North America

Buitoni North America, the maker of BUITONI(R) refrigerated pastas, sauces and shredded cheeses, is part of Nestle USA in Solon, Ohio. Nestlé acquired Buitoni in 1988 with the vision of applying its vast technical know-how to expand the range of BUITONI(R) products. Today, a wide variety of BUITONI(R) products are available throughout Europe and the United States. Many of the favored BUITONI(R) recipes were developed at Casa Buitoni in Italy where Buitoni has been creating award-winning Italian foods for more than 175 years. For product news and information, visit Buitoni.com.

All trademarks are owned by Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFTH155A
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Source: Buitoni North America

CONTACT: Davina Gruenstein of Publicis Dialog, +1-206-270-4602 or
davina.gruenstein@publicis-usa.com, for Buitoni North America; or Roz O'Hearn
of Nestle Prepared Foods Company, +1-440-264-5170 or roz.ohearn@us.nestle.com

Web site: http://www.buitoni.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Chef Michael Chiarello is available for limited interviews. Please contact Davina Gruenstein at 206-270-4602 or davina.gruenstein@publicis-usa.com for more information.

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Profile: art and books

MediaBay Receives Nasdaq Staff Determination Letter

2005-09-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

MediaBay Receives Nasdaq Staff Determination Letter

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MediaBay, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBAY), a leading digital media and publishing company specializing in spoken word and premium audio entertainment, today announced that on September 8, 2005 it received a Nasdaq Staff Determination letter indicating that the Company is not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing of its common stock as set forth in Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5). Accordingly, the Company's common stock is subject to delisting from the Nasdaq National Market. The Company will request a hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel to review the Staff Determination and to outline its plan to regain compliance with the bid price listing requirement. The Company is seeking shareholder approval of a reverse split of its common stock at its Annual Shareholder meeting to be held on October 6, 2005 which, if obtained, will provide the Board with the authority to implement the reverse split in the event the Company is not otherwise able to regain compliance with the bid price listing requirement. While there can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company's request for continued listing of its common stock a request for a hearing will stay the delisting pending the Panel's decision.

About MediaBay Inc.

MediaBay Inc. (NASDAQ:MBAY) is a leading digital media and publishing company specializing in spoken word and premium audio entertainment. The company maintains a library consisting of over 75,000 hours of content, including audio books from best-selling authors and the history of American Radio. Some of MediaBay's digital content partners include BBC, Blackstone, Brilliance Audio, CBS Radio, Harper Collins, Hay House, Oasis, Penguin Group USA Audio, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Sound Room Publishers, Time Warner Audio and Zondervan. In addition to its popular Audio Book Club, MediaBay distributes its content through proprietary web sites including audiobookclub.com and radiospirits.com as well as through partner channels including Loudeye, MSN Music, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. For more information on MediaBay, please visit www.mediabay.com, www.audiobookclub.com, www.radiospirits.com.

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking" statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause MediaBay's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any results, performances or achievements express or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of our management for future operations are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, include, without limitation, our history of losses; the success of our new digital media distribution strategy and our ability to anticipate and respond to changing customer preferences, license and produce desirable content, protect our databases and other intellectual property from unauthorized access, collect receivables; dependence on third-party providers, suppliers and distribution channels; competition; the costs and success of our marketing strategies; product returns; member attrition and other risks detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Undue reference should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Source: MediaBay, Inc.

CONTACT: Tim Clemensen of Rubenstein Investor Relations,
+1-212-843-9337, tclemensen@rubensteinir.com

Web site: http://www.mediabay.com/

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Profile: art and books

Detroit Artists Unite in the Fight Against AIDS at Tenth Annual 'ART WORKS FOR LIFE' Sept. 24

2005-09-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Detroit Artists Unite in the Fight Against AIDS at Tenth Annual 'ART WORKS FOR LIFE' Sept. 24

FERNDALE, Mich., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 300 of Detroit's most prominent artists will donate original pieces of art to be auctioned at the tenth annual "ART WORKS FOR LIFE." This exciting event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at Detroit's historic Masonic Temple to benefit the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP).

"ART WORKS FOR LIFE" will feature both a live and silent auction, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, valet parking and live musical entertainment. The Honorary Chairpersons for this year's benefit are Governor Jennifer Granholm and Senator Carl Levin. The Honorary Host is Ms. Fanchon Stinger of FOX2 News/WJBK Detroit.

Participating artists include Carl Demeulenaere, Phaedra Robinson, Mel Rosas, Sergio De Giusti, Stephen Magsig, Anne Fracassa, Dennis Jones, Toby Upton, Albert Young and many others. This year's event also features a work of art by internationally renowned artist Yoko Ono. Sponsors include: FOX 2 - WJBK, WDET-FM, The Detroit News, Metro Times, HOUR Detroit Magazine, Eclipse Creative, Henry Ford Health System and Dr. Daniel Haddad - Laser Eye Institute.

The Midwest AIDS Prevention Project (MAPP) is a non-profit, community based organization that provides HIV/AIDS education programs for community groups throughout the Great Lakes Region. Since 1988, MAPP has provided thousands of HIV/AIDS prevention programs for over a half of a million people in the Midwest.

Reservations are $85. For a complete list of participating artists, for reservations and/or for more information please call (248) 545-1435.

Source: Midwest AIDS Prevention Project

CONTACT: Yvonne Greenhouse or Andrew Yee of Midwest AIDS Prevention
Project, +1-248-545-1435

Web site: http://www.aidsprevention.org/

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Profile: art and books

The First Comprehensive Book on the Martha Stewart Trial, Her Jail Time, and Her Remarkable Comeback

2005-09-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

The First Comprehensive Book on the Martha Stewart Trial, Her Jail Time, and Her Remarkable Comeback

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Arrogance, enormous ego, hubris: Martha: On Trial, In Jail and On A Comeback (Prentice Hall; January 2006; $22.99) covers how Martha Stewart stage-managed the strategy that led her straight to prison, and her life behind bars. The book is replete with insider accounts of Martha's prison experience, and of her carefully orchestrating the cornerstone of her incredible comeback: "Martha" and "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" television shows.

This is a picture of Martha Stewart you haven't seen up close. It's the underlying story of how conceit and miscalculation led Martha to a trial that should have never happened ... her life in a bare federal prison cell, told by those who were there ... her personal transformation ... and, finally, her brilliant, carefully crafted comeback -- the consummate story of destruction and redemption. This gripping narrative draws upon dozens of exclusive interviews, including candid discussions with many of those involved in Martha's trial. Why didn't the communication diva testify? Robert Slater masterfully captures Martha herself: a woman of extraordinary power and personality who simply could not believe she would be called to account; then micromanaged her defense, leading to a conviction most observers never expected. Bringing out her hubris and enormous ego, Slater tells the story for the first time of her secret public relations campaign, conducted behind the back of her own attorneys, aimed unsuccessfully at preventing her indictment.

You'll go behind the scenes through every phase of Martha's fall from grace: the crime itself; the indictment, the prosecution and defense trial strategy; the damning testimony of star witness Douglas Faneuil and Martha's long-time friends; details about the jury deliberation, the shocking verdict and the sentencing. Slater spoke to insiders at Alderson Federal Prison Camp to gain unprecedented insight into Martha's prison life and behavior -- and the powerful changes she's experienced as a result, leading her to orchestrate a kinder, gentler Martha. Last but not least, he reveals the PR campaign to resurrect Martha's reputation: a campaign that's making her the first convicted business leader of her stature to come back stronger and more fascinating than ever before.

Robert Slater, one of the world's leading business biographers, has authored such best-sellers as: The Wal-Mart Decade; Saving Big Blue: Leadership Lessons and Turnaround Tactics of IBM's Lou Gerstner; Invest First, Investigate Later and 23 Other Trading Secrets of George Soros; John Bogle and the Vanguard Experiment; New York Times bestseller, Jack Welch and the GE Way; and The GE Way Field book. Slater has reported for both Time and Newsweek.

Martha: On Trial, In Jail and On A Comeback is a book for everyone fascinated with Martha Stewart, including the millions of fans of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia products, and tens of millions of viewers of Martha Stewart's new TV shows, "Martha" and "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart."

Source: Prentice Hall

CONTACT: Lisa Berkowitz of Berkowitz & Associates, +1-212-922-281,
lisaberkowitzpr@yahoo.com

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Profile: art and books

DFW International Airport Celebrates 1st Annual Diversity Awards Honoring North Texas Businesses

2005-09-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

DFW International Airport Celebrates 1st Annual Diversity Awards Honoring North Texas Businesses

Airport Honors Local Minority and Women-Owned Firms for Successful Completion of Skylink, International Terminal D - 'National Standard in Excellence'

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- After awarding more than $565 million to minority and women-owned businesses (MWBE) during the $2.7 billion Capital Development Program, DFW International Airport honored 14 North Texas businesses and leaders for their commitment to MWBE efforts during the first Commitment to Excellence in Diversity Awards, Thursday, Sept. 8.

The awards presentation, held at DFW's new Grand Hyatt Hotel, highlighted the critical contributions by Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) during the construction of International Terminal D, Skylink and the Grand Hyatt.

More than 220 minority and women-owned firms have participated in the construction of Terminal D, Skylink and Grand Hyatt and have earned more than $565 million in revenue and make up more than 30 percent of the overall contracting dollars spent.

International Terminal D, Skylink and the Grand Hyatt comprise the largest portion of the Airport's $2.7 billion Capital Development Program and all opened to the public this summer. The event was hosted by the Airport's Small and Emerging Business Department, which recruited and cultivated hundreds of MWBE contractors over the course of the project.

"The Capital Development Program has been a huge success by a variety of measures, and our MWBE program is truly one of the highlights that is setting a national standard for excellence," says Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "Our Airport and our Board has made our MWBE program a strategic priority in building Skylink, International Terminal D and the Grand Hyatt, and the hundreds of millions of dollars earned by minority and women-owned businesses in North Texas have built world-class international air facilities that will serve our region for decades to come. This expansion truly represents the diversity of our region."

"The success of the MWBE program cannot be accurately measured by looking solely at statistics and numbers," said Don T. O'Bannon, Vice-president of Small & Emerging Business at DFW Airport. "The Airport recognizes that the most significant element of our MWBE program is the impact the program has had upon the development of a strong pool of minority and women-owned businesses. This event highlights more than the millions of dollars spent with MWBE firms, but is a tribute to the contractors and consultants that truly embraced diversity and inclusiveness and the individual minority and women-owned firms that took advantage of the opportunity and excelled."

"International Terminal D and the Skylink automated people mover system relied heavily on MWBE participation," said Clay Paslay, DFW Executive Vice President of Airport Development. "In addition to its strong MWBE record, DFW is proud of our excellent safety program and our ability to stay on budget and on schedule."

The awards ceremony included a special recognition in honor of the late artist Arthello Beck Jr. He was a renowned Dallas-based African American artist whose work is displayed in the new International Terminal D. A 10-piece collection of his artwork was exhibited during this special event. Beck's wife, Mae, was present to accept the award in honor of her husband.

"Our company is most proud of our employees and the growth we've experienced while working with DFW since 1986," said Luis Spinola of Azteca Enterprises Inc., winner of the CEO Award and Leadership Award. "The Airport has been our mentor over the years, and this award is a tremendous encouragement for us to continue doing good work."

"We are excited and grateful to be part of DFW Airport and its commitment to excellence and knowing that, together, we share in that commitment," said Nancy Sanders of Economy Signs & Banners Inc., winner of the Excellence Award.

"This award means all of the hard work and effort is worth it," said Rick Lee of HKS, winner of the MWBE Advocate Award. "It's not about being recognized, but rather about creating relationships that will last beyond this program and sharing what we've learned so others can grow."

Commitment to Excellence in Diversity Awards Winners:

Excellence Award
Construction - Prime
Hensel-Phelps Construction Co.

Excellence Award
Construction - Large Subcontractor
ATS Drilling LP

Excellence Award
Construction - Small Subcontractor
Economy Signs & Banners Inc.

MWBE Advocate Award
Construction
Simeon Terry

MWBE Advocate Award
Construction
Eugene Walker

Leadership Award
Construction - Mentor
Azteca Enterprises Inc.

Excellence Award
Professional Services - Prime
Kellogg Brown & Root Inc.

Excellence Award
Professional Services - Large Subconsultant
Morning Associates Inc.

Excellence Award
Professional Services - Small Subconsultant
Moye I.T. Consulting Inc.

MWBE Advocate Award
Professional Services
Rick Lee

Leadership Award
Professional Services - Mentor
Lea + Elliott

Leadership Award
Professional Services - Mentor
Paragon Project Resources Inc.

Excellence Award
Goods & Services - Prime
Terra Mar Inc.

Excellence Award
Goods & Services - Subcontractor
Phenixx Marketing LLC

Minerva Hernandez-Hinkle "MVP" Award
Airport Board - MWBE Advocate
Cathleen Baulisch

CEO Award
Azteca Enterprises Inc.

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 2,000 flights per day and serving 57 million passengers a year. DFW International Airport provides non-stop service to 135 domestic and 39 international destinations worldwide. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, log on to http://www.dfwairport.com/ .

Source: DFW International Airport

CONTACT: Ken Capps, Vice President Public Affairs of DFW International
Airport, +1-972-574-8080, or Kcapps@dfwairport.com

Web site: http://www.dfwairport.com/

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Profile: art and books

In New York magazine next week ... September 12, 2005

2005-09-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

In New York magazine next week ... September 12, 2005

NEW YORK, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Love and War in the House of Murdoch by Steve Fishman

For all their tabloid notoriety, the Murdochs are a close and fiercely protective clan. So it was shocking when Rupert's oldest son, Lachlan, the apparent successor to his throne, announced he was bolting the family's business empire and decamping to Australia. What looked like an act of fury, however, turns out to have been an act of love. The surprisingly intimate world of one of New York's most powerful families.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041119/NYMAGLOGO )
Anderson Cooper Live from Bedlam by Jonathan Van Meter

When Anderson Cooper, reporting from the Gulf Coast, dressed down a U.S. senator and then dissolved into tears on live TV, the footage was riveting - and possibly a preview of television news' future.

Sweet and Vicious by Adam Sternbergh

Since Sex and the City put the Magnolia Bakery on the map, the cupcake business has become cutthroat. How a simple surgary treat inspired visions of grandeur and turned friends into bitter rivals.

THE POWER GRID: Katrina and the Clintons by John Heilemann

The flood in New Orleans gives a sharp new focus to Bill Clinton's New York conference - and a boost to Hillary's presidential hopes.

THE IMPERIAL CITY: W.'s Hurricane by Kurt Andersen
Will Katrina change what 9/11 didn't?

MATING: First Date Coaches by Em & Lo
Should online Cyranos make us second-guess our first impression?

Map No. 10: South Williamsburg by Jada Yuan

The Southside of Williamsburg has become a place to put down roots. Welcome to the LES-like environs.

Salman Rushdie by Keith Gessen

Like his beloved Yankees, Rushdie is struggling to play up to expectations.

New York magazine writers and editors are available for comment. The full text of some stories is available upon request.

CONTACT: Serena Torrey, +1-212-508-0716, or Betsy Burton +1-212-508-0781, both of New York Magazine

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041119/NYMAGLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: New York Magazine

CONTACT: Serena Torrey, +1-212-508-0716, or Betsy Burton,
+1-212-508-0781, both of New York Magazine

Web site: http://nymetro.com/

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Profile: art and books

Katrina's Kids Project Established at Reliant Center

2005-09-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

Katrina's Kids Project Established at Reliant Center

Evacuee Children and Adults Work Together to Create Beautiful Artwork and Quilts

HOUSTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Hope is blooming in one corner of the Reliant Center and spreading out to the Astrodome. Children are happily creating artwork to decorate the shelters and adults are busy sewing quilts featuring the artwork. There are even plans to auction off the quilts to help raise money for recovery efforts and talk of creating t-shirts and hand-made bags featuring the artwork of evacuee children.

Katrina's Kids Project was conceived by volunteers Johna DiMuzio and Carol Gunn who were volunteering in the children's area at the Reliant Center. They instantly saw the value of providing a creative and emotional outlet for the children and they were so moved by the children's artwork that they wanted to create a permanent record. Friend, Janine Schueppert, thought it would be great to get the adults involved too. A plan was formed, art and sewing supplies purchased; they enlisted the support of other moms and the program was launched in less than two days.

The children's initial artwork has often featured images of cars being flooded and grey winds blowing -- but often their second drawings feature trees and sunshine. One participant remarked, "It feels great to be creating something after all of the destruction that we have seen."

The group plans to auction the one-of-a-kind quilts to raise money for the relief effort. They are also gearing up to sell T-shirts and other items via their website www.katrinaskidsproject.org .

Katrina's Kids Project's goal is to bring "Hope ... One crayon at a time." It seems to be working.

Source: Katrina's Kids Project

CONTACT: Janine Schueppert of Katrina's Kids Project,
cell, +1-713-829-3032, or Janine@katrinaskidsproject.org

Web site: http://www.katrinaskidsproject.org/

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Profile: art and books

Handleman Company Wins Cool Places to Work Award

2005-09-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

Handleman Company Wins Cool Places to Work Award

TROY, Mich., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Handleman Company (NYSE:HDL) (http://www.handleman.com/ ) has been named one of 60 "Cool Places to Work" in Michigan in a first-of-its-kind competition jointly held by Crain's Detroit Business and the Grand Rapids Business Journal.

Selection was based both on employee nominations and on numerical scores on a survey conducted by the American Society of Employers, a membership organization that collects workplace data and offers training in human resource issues.

More than 400 people nominated their employers and executives at 205 companies completed an online survey. The nominations and surveys were used to provide an objective benchmark of how companies handled work/life initiatives, talent management, organizational communication, total rewards, corporate citizenship and leadership, work environment and recruitment activities.

The 60 companies selected have "created work environments that attract and retain quality workers, especially young workers," Crain's Publisher Mary Kramer said. "It's very clear that employees prize a workplace that recognizes a balance between work and life, as well as one that offers training and opportunities to advance."

Stephen Strome, Handleman Company chairman and CEO said Handleman was gratified by the selection. "We strive to supply a work environment that provides work/life balance and allows our employees opportunities to advance their careers. Our goal is to recruit and retain quality personnel."

Mark Albrecht, Handleman Company senior vice president of human resources and organizational development added, "Our culture is made up of outstanding employees that live the company values allowing us to create customers for our customers. We are extremely proud of this recognition that reconfirms our desire to be an employer of choice."

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth also promoted the competition to support Governor Granholm's "Cool Cities" initiatives and Michigan's First Gentleman, Daniel Granholm Mulhern, will host an awards luncheon on September 15th in Detroit to honor the companies.

About Handleman Company

Handleman Company is a category manager and distributor of prerecorded music to mass merchants in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. As a category manager, the Company manages a broad assortment of titles to optimize sales and inventory productivity in retail stores and also provides direct-to- store shipments, marketing and in-store merchandising.

Source: Handleman Company

CONTACT: Handleman Company: Greg Mize, Vice President, Investor
Relations of Handleman Company, +1-248-362-4400, Ext. 211; or Media Relations:
David Bassett, +1-248-855-6777, Ext. 132, for Handleman Company

Web site: http://www.handleman.com/

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Profile: art and books

Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM) Starting Its Fourth Consecutive Year

2005-09-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM) Starting Its Fourth Consecutive Year

Schools Now Registering For National Vocabulary Competition

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The national competition designed to instill a love of words and language in 4th through 8th grade students is now registering schools for the fourth consecutive year. The Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM), an outreach program created to promote literacy among children in communities all over the country, awards winners $50,000 in college scholarships and other prizes.

"The Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge(SM) attracted 1.6 million students last year," stated Kathleen Bordelon, executive director of Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge. "Teachers tell us it works - that it helps kids form a genuine understanding of words and a love of books, and that it is also a particularly effective learning activity for children who do not hear English spoken at home."

There are three levels of competition in the Challenge: school, state and national. A change in format now differentiates the competition by grades into two groups, with 4th and 5th graders competing among themselves for state and national championships through qualifying test scores.

The top 100 6th, 7th and 8th graders in each state, Washington, DC, and Department of Defense schools, advance to their state championship. State champions and their teacher escorts receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Championship in Orlando, Florida, April 23-25, 2006.

"The Word Power Challenge reinforces the importance and pleasure of vocabulary in a way that's fun for kids," said Dr. H. Evan Powderly, Principal, H.C. Crittenden Middle School, Armonk, New York. "It has become a tradition in our school."

Another new component developed by the program's educator council is lesson plans that will enable teachers to use the Word Power Challenge curriculum to assess their students' progress.

School registration will continue through December 2005. Complete details can be obtained at www.wordpowerchallenge.com or by calling, toll free, 1-866-523-6388.

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (NYSE:RDA) is a global publisher and direct marketer of products that inform, enrich, entertain, and inspire people of all ages and cultures. Reader's Digest is the most widely read magazine in the world. The company is located in Pleasantville, New York. The company's main website is www.rd.com.

Source: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.

CONTACT: Howard Greene, howard@greeneincpr.com or Amy Trotta, both of
Greene Inc. for Reader's Digest, +1-516-825-0400

Web site: http://www.rd.com/
http://www.wordpowerchallenge.com/

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Profile: art and books

OnRequest Images Secures $8 Million in Second Round Funding

2005-09-09T06:11:00.000-07:00

OnRequest Images Secures $8 Million in Second Round Funding

Frazier Technology Ventures and Maveron Invest in Custom Stock(TM) Photography Company

SEATTLE, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- OnRequest Images, the world's leading provider of custom imagery, has completed a second round of funding of $8 million from new investor Frazier Technology Ventures and existing investor Maveron LLC. With the closing of this round, Frazier Technology Ventures General Partner, Gary Gigot, has joined the company's board of directors. Headquartered in Seattle and with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, OnRequest Images will use the proceeds of this financing to expand its sales and marketing efforts.

"OnRequest Images is capitalizing on the intersection of a highly-visual consumer economy, the need to differentiate brands in a meaningful way, and the pervasiveness of broadband Internet service to deliver high-quality custom commercial photography from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world in just 2-3 days," said Gary Gigot, Frazier Technology Ventures general partner. "Having spent 16 years in the ad agency business and another 10 in high tech marketing, I intimately understand OnRequest Images' markets; Custom Stock imagery is a big, fresh idea, and Frazier is delighted to be an investor in the company."

"OnRequest Images' groundbreaking business model enables companies to quickly and cost efficiently build compelling brand relationships with their customers by integrating consistent, high-quality custom brand imagery across all marketing campaigns -- in a way that's tuned to the needs of global businesses today," said Maveron Managing Partner, Debra Somberg. "Maveron's additional investment reflects the accelerating pace at which leading corporations and creative agencies have embraced OnRequest Images' Custom Stock(TM) photography model."

About OnRequest Images

With its Custom Stock(TM) photography services, OnRequest Images creates original photography using its global network of 1,600 world-class photographers, enabling corporations and creative agencies to have fresh images shot to their specifications at rights-managed stock prices, in just two to three days. OnRequest Images' Custom Stock(TM) Libraries give corporations the ability to build their brand(s) with an all-original collection of fresh, brand-aligned imagery to support all of their marketing needs-for one flat fee covering two years of unlimited use. OnRequest Images makes its complete production capability available to customers through its Custom Assignment TM Services, providing a more efficient, end-to-end commissioned photography solution. OnRequest Images is headquartered in Seattle with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. For more information, call 877-202-5025 or visit www.OnRequestImages.com.

About Frazier Technology Ventures

Frazier Technology Ventures (FTV) is a Seattle-based, early-stage venture capital firm focused on web-services, wireless, digital media/appliances, software and infrastructure. The partnership has a deep, executive operating background from ATT, CCube, Immunex, LSILogic, Microsoft, RealNetworks, Visio and other successful startups. FTV is part of 13-year-old Frazier Healthcare and Technology Ventures which has over $1.3B in capital under management. For more information about Frazier Technology Ventures visit www.fraziertechnology.com.

About Maveron LLC

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Maveron LLC is a leading venture capital firm. Founded in 1998, Maveron's mission is to partner with entrepreneurs in the creation of extraordinary companies across the Consumer Continuum(TM) in order to generate outstanding financial returns. Representative Maveron investments include fast-growing classic consumer companies, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works and Cranium, businesses that use technology to deliver goods and services directly to consumers, such as eBay and Capella University, and companies like Allconnect and GameLogic, which supply technology and services to consumer-facing businesses. For more information about Maveron, visit www.maveron.com.

Source: OnRequest Images

CONTACT: Kristina Kolerich, Market Relations Director of OnRequest
Images, +1-206-382-0192, or kristina.kolerich@OnRequestImages.com

Web site: www.OnRequestImages.com

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Profile: art and books

MGM MIRAGE Named Among 'Top 40 Companies for Hispanics' by Hispanic Business Magazine

2005-09-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

MGM MIRAGE Named Among 'Top 40 Companies for Hispanics' by Hispanic Business Magazine

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MGM MIRAGE has been named as one of the Top 40 Companies for Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine. The recognition follows an examination of the company's efforts to engage Hispanics in its business operations.

According to Hispanic Business magazine, the top 400 companies on the Fortune 500 list were invited to participate in an in-depth analysis that examined how companies reach Hispanics in areas such as employment, procurement, philanthropy and consumer marketing. Additionally, executive leadership and governance practices to support diversity were evaluated.

At MGM MIRAGE, a board-level diversity committee, chaired by Alexis Herman, the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor, establishes diversity policy and monitors the implementation of the company's diversity initiative. More than half of the company's 70,000 employees are diverse, with Hispanics comprising the largest minority population.

The company maintains strategic partnerships with numerous civic, social and professional organizations that enable the creation of collaborative programs to advance its diversity and business goals. Also, nearly 50 percent of the company's total philanthropic contributions benefit programs and initiatives that serve minority and underserved audiences.

The magazine also recognized MGM MIRAGE for communicating its purchasing needs to minority vendors, contractors and suppliers. The company has policies that require minority participation in construction and purchasing bids. Since launching its Supplier Diversity Program three years ago, MGM MIRAGE has increased its expenditures with minority-, women-, and disadvantaged-business enterprises by more than 218 percent.

According to MGM MIRAGE Senior Vice President Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs Punam Mathur, the recognition is a significant accomplishment for the company and its employees. "To be named among the leading companies for diversity, in part, bolsters our effort, and makes us feel proud.

"However, we realize that our diversity journey has just begun and that our commitment requires perseverance. We will continue to reevaluate our systems and methods in our assimilation of the best diversity practices and in our quest for excellence in diversity as in all other aspects of our business," said Mathur.

MGM MIRAGE is the only Las Vegas-based corporation to be named among the Top 40 Companies for Hispanics. The complete list of the Top 40 companies is published in the September 2005 issue of Hispanic Business magazine, the nation's leading source of information for and about Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs. Hispanic Business magazine is the company's flagship publication, and other products and educational services include: SuperOnda magazine, HireDiversity.com, and Hispanic Business Events including EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala, Hispanic Business BOE (Board of Economists) U.S. Hispanic Economic Summit, and WOY (Woman of the Year).

MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM), the world's leading and most respected hotel and gaming company, owns and operates 24 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has investments in three other properties in Nevada, New Jersey, and the United Kingdom. MGM MIRAGE has also announced plans to develop Project CityCenter, a multi-billion dollar mixed-use urban development project in the heart of Las Vegas, and has a 50 percent interest in the MGM Grand Macau hotel/casino under construction in Macau S.A.R. MGM MIRAGE supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association's Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its properties. MGM MIRAGE also has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative and its community philanthropy programs. For more information about MGM MIRAGE, please visit the company's website at www.mgmmirage.com.

Source: MGM MIRAGE

CONTACT: Debra Nelson, +1-702-650-7421, denelson@mgmmirage.com, or
Reggie Burton, +1-702-650-7438, reburton@mgmmirage.com, both of MGM MIRAGE

Web site: http://www.mgmmirage.com/
http://www.hirediversity.com/

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Profile: art and books

Plans Advance for Eradicating Illiteracy in L.A.

2005-09-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Plans Advance for Eradicating Illiteracy in L.A.

Leaders Address How Problem of 3.8 Million Low-Literacy Adults in the County Is Being Tackled; Mayor to Assemble More Resources Toward Literacy

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Actor Sean Astin, and LAUSD Board member Jose Huizar joined over 200 literacy providers at the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles' Literacy Summit to share their plans for eradicating illiteracy and learn about innovative methods to combat the problem in the region. According to a 2004 United Way report on the state of adult literacy in Los Angeles, 3.8 million adults (53% of L.A. County's working age population) have low literacy skills, posing a serious barrier to their employability. Literacy Network Chair Steven Koltai and Executive Director Jennifer Boxer also offered a progress report on the five-year Action Plan designed to address literacy and achieve a more qualified workforce for Los Angeles.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/LATH147 )

"We raised awareness of the problem and began implementing a coordinated workforce literacy system that links providers with businesses to ultimately enable millions of adults in our region to get family-sustaining jobs," said Boxer. "This system works because our providers collaborate with us to design programs that meet the needs of their users, whether children, adults or employers."

Best practices shared at the Summit included the use of technology to teach basic literacy skills to non-English speakers, techniques for teaching adult learners, and methods for teaching literacy to formerly incarcerated youth. Mayor Villaraigosa and School Board Member Jose Huizar addressed the audience on school reform and fostering an educational environment that helps children complete high school.

"Literacy is crucial to creating job opportunities, supporting workers and their families and eradicating poverty in our region," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Literacy must start in homes and classrooms by giving the children of Los Angeles the best education possible to enable them to pursue their goals and become engaged citizens. I am committed to assembling the resources needed to build the skills of our workers and our children."

Sean Astin, a board member for the National Center for Family Literacy encouraged others to follow his lead and volunteer to eradicate illiteracy. "By volunteering, you can help adults, children, and families learn to read and incorporate literacy into their everyday lives." The Literacy Network is currently recruiting 200 volunteers. To volunteer, or to learn to read, call 1-800-707-READ or visit www.literacynetwork.org.

Literacy@Work Action Plan Progress Highlights

* Until 2005, there was no system for implementing workforce literacy;
only a variety of independent entities offering adult literacy
classes. The new system is linking providers with businesses to meet
their specific needs.

* A core group of 14 adult literacy providers was selected in spring
2005 to develop and pilot workforce literacy programming and create
partnerships between providers and employers.

* Volunteer recruitment and tools are now in place. Training is slated
to begin in 2006.

* Standardized workforce literacy tools are in development and will be
completed in 2006.

* WorkSource Centers will now participate in Literacy@Work programming
which will provide workforce literacy skills to job seekers in need.

About The Literacy Network

The Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles is an 11-year old umbrella organization with over 200 members from the five-county greater Los Angeles area, Kern and Santa Barbara. Its goal is to increase the number and quality of literacy programs in the region. The Network supports and promotes individual, family, and workplace literacy efforts through networking, partnerships, resource-sharing and public awareness. For additional information, or to download a Workforce Literacy report please visit www.literacynetwork.org.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/LATH147
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles

CONTACT: Yanka Burgos of The Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles,
+1-310-869-4942, burgosy@earthlink.net

Web site: http://www.literacynetwork.org/

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Profile: art and books

Baxa Corporation Honored as Colorado Top Company

2005-09-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Baxa Corporation Honored as Colorado Top Company

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Baxa Corporation was recognized as a Top Company in an award ceremony held today at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The annual competition, established by Colorado Biz magazine in 1988, highlights the best of Colorado businesses -- those demonstrating financial and operational excellence as well as a commitment to giving back to their communities.

This year's competition resulted in 27 finalists in nine categories. Baxa Corporation was a finalist with CoorsTek Inc., Gates Corp. and Silicon Mountain Memory in the Manufacturing category.

In his acceptance speech, Greg Baldwin, company Chairman and CEO, acknowledged the importance of strong community support to growing a successful business. Thanking the Denver area financial, legal and educational industries, he noted that Baxa relies primarily on local talent and businesses to achieve its goals.

The September 2005 issue of Colorado Biz magazine includes profiles of each of the Top Company finalists, as well as an in-depth article on Baxa Corporation's story of success. The company attributes its financial success to an intense focus on safety and innovation in its niche of serving hospital pharmacies. That success has allowed Baxa to nurture a culture of giving that serves both the immediate front range community, as well as its healthcare customers worldwide. Baxa's feature article can be found online at http://www.cobizmag.com/articles.cfm?article_ID=327&archive=1.

Baxa Corporation has demonstrated double-digit growth in each of its 30 years of operation. The company relocated its headquarters and manufacturing to the Denver metro area in 1981 with just eight employees. Since then, it has expanded to 350 employees in offices around the US, Europe and Canada, with sales to more than 45 countries.

About Baxa Corporation

Celebrating 30 years of business in 2005, Baxa Corporation is a Denver-based manufacturer of medical devices and systems for preparing, handling, packaging, and administering liquid medications. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of healthcare products for use in hospitals, critical care units and alternate-site pharmacies. Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada, the United Kingdom; Denmark, and Germany; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http:www.baxa.com.

About Colorado Biz Magazine

Continually published for over 30 years, Colorado Biz is the state's preeminent business publication and media franchise. The primary mission of Colorado Biz is to inform and educate the region's business professionals about the issues, people, businesses, and management trends at the forefront of influencing economic conditions in Colorado and the western United States. Additional information is available at.

Contact:
Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation: 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157
Email: marian.robinson@baxa.com

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
Absolutely Public Relations: 303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558
Email: maggie@absolutelypr.com

Source: Baxa Corporation

CONTACT: Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing of Baxa Corporation,
+1-800-567-2292, ext. 2157, or +1-303-617-2157, marian.robinson@baxa.com; or
Maggie Chamberlin Holben of Absolutely Public Relations, +1-303-984-9801, or
+1-303-669-3558, maggie@absolutelypr.com, for Baxa Corporation

Web site: http://www.cobizmag.com/articles.cfm?article_ID=327&archive=1

Web site: http://www.cobizmag.com/

Web site: http://www.baxa.com/

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Profile: art and books

Jazz at Lincoln Center Announces Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert and Auction September 17

2005-09-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

Jazz at Lincoln Center Announces Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert and Auction September 17

Concert will be Nationally Televised on PBS' Live from Lincoln Center and Broadcast Live on National Public Radio, XM Satellite Radio & WBGO JAZZ88.3FM

Hosted by Laurence Fishburne, Featuring Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Ken Burns, Shirley Caesar, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Cincotti, Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Robert De Niro, Paquito D'Rivera, Jon Hendricks, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Bette Midler, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Roberts, Paul Simon, Meryl Streep, James Taylor, Mccoy Tyner, Robin Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Buckwheat Zydeco and more tba!

Jazz at Lincoln Center will record live CD to be released by Blue Note Records with all profits going to hurricane relief fund efforts

Auction items include autographed Martin guitar by Eric Clapton and John Mayer; items from LeRoy Neiman, Candlewick Press and more tba

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Jazz at Lincoln Center today announced plans to produce the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert and Auction on Saturday, September 17 at 7pm at Rose Theater in Frederick P. Rose Hall on Broadway at 60th Street in New York City. Contributions to the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund will benefit New Orleans musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina and provide general hurricane relief. "New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. The city's diverse population of Spanish, French, British, West Africans and Americans created an original music that embodies the fundamental principals of democracy. Jazz at Lincoln Center was established to celebrate jazz and so we are particularly moved to action by the destruction visited on the Crescent City by Katrina," said Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis. "The focus of the Fund will be to help those individuals and families evacuated from the greater New Orleans area as they address immediate concerns related to housing, food, education, health care and basic survival necessities. The Fund will also provide resources to assist individuals over time to rebuild their homes and livelihoods," said Derek E. Gordon, President and CEO of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The Fund will be administered and distributed through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, a non-profit community foundation. Baton Rouge has become a staging ground for many of the relief efforts, and as many as 500,000 individuals have been relocated there. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is working with organizations in the region to assure that services and resources directly reach those most affected.

The concert, hosted by Laurence Fishburne, will feature Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Ken Burns, Shirley Caesar, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Cincotti, Elvis Costello, Bill Cosby, Robert De Niro, Paquito D'Rivera, Jon Hendricks, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Bette Midler, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Roberts, Paul Simon, Meryl Streep, James Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Robin Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Buckwheat Zydeco and many more tba.

The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert and Auction will be televised live nationally on Live From Lincoln Center on PBS, hosted by Beverly Sills. XM Satellite Radio will carry this concert live on their network from coast to coast on channel 70, the Real Jazz channel. Higher Ground will also be broadcast live via radio partner WBGO Jazz88.3FM in the New York City area and offered nationally and internationally via National Public Radio and its 807 member stations in the U.S., NPR Worldwide, and streamed live on http://www.npr.org/, http://www.wbgo.org/, http://www.xmradio.com/. The event will be recorded by Jazz at Lincoln Center and a CD will be produced and released by Blue Note Records with all profits going to relief fund efforts.

Concert tickets are available at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office at Broadway at 60th St., by calling CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500 or via http://www.jalc.org/. CenterCharge service fees will be donated to hurricane relief efforts. Ticket prices are $50, $100, $500, $1000, $5000, $10,000. Those wishing to make donations to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund may also do so by mailing checks payable to: Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund to Jazz at Lincoln Center, 33 West 60th Street, New York, New York 10023.

The Higher Ground benefit event will include an auction. Items to be auctioned include a 000-28 Martin Eric Clapton model guitar, autographed by Eric Clapton and John Mayer; artwork by LeRoy Neiman; artwork by Peter Max and items from Miramax Films. Paul Rogers and Candlewick Press are pleased to donate ten pre-publication, first edition copies of Jazz ABZ: An A To Z Collection of Jazz Portraits by Wynton Marsalis that will be signed by the author and the illustrator. Each book will be accompanied by a special edition print (15" x 15" framed) that features one of the following ten artists portrayed in the book: Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Jelly Roll Morton, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Fats Waller, Dizzy Gillespie. More details tba.

Jazz at Lincoln Center is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to jazz. With the world-renowned Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and a comprehensive array of guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of performance, education, and broadcast events for audiences of all ages. These productions include concerts, national and international tours, residencies, weekly national radio and television programs, recordings, publications, an annual high school jazz band competition and festival, a band director academy, a jazz appreciation curriculum for children, advanced training through the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies, music publishing, children's concerts, lectures, adult education courses and student and educator workshops. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, Chairman of the Board Lisa Schiff, President & CEO Derek E. Gordon, Executive Director Katherine E. Brown and Jazz at Lincoln Center board and staff, Jazz at Lincoln Center will produce hundreds of events during its 2005-06 season. In October 2004, Jazz at Lincoln Center opened Frederick P. Rose Hall -- the first-ever performance, education, and broadcast facility devoted to jazz. For more information, visit http://www.jalc.org/.

* Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center makes a statement about the devastation in his hometown of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina:

New Orleans is the most unique of American cities because it is the only
city in the world that created its own full culture -- architecture,
music and festive ceremonies. It's of singular importance to the United
States of America because it was the original melting pot with a mixture
of Spanish, French, British, West African and American people living in
the same city. The collision of these cultures created jazz and jazz is
important because it's the only art form that objectifies the
fundamental principals of American democracy. That's why it swept the
country and the world representing the best of the United States.

New Orleanians are blues people. We are resilient, so we are sure that
our city will come back. This tragedy, however, provides an opportunity
for the American people to demonstrate to ourselves and to the world
that we are one nation determined to overcome our legacies of injustices
based on race and class. At this time all New Orleanians need the
nation to unite in a deafening crescendo of affirmation to silence that
desperate cry that is this disaster.

We need people with their prayers, their pocketbooks, and above all
their sense of purpose to show the world just who the modern American is
and then we'll put our city back together in even greater fashion. This
is gut check time for all of us as Americans.

In a country with the most incredible resources in the world we need the
ingenuity of our best engineers to put the cultural heart of our nation
back together. To put it together with 2005 technical expertise and
with 2005 social consciousness, which means without accommodating the
ignorance of racism and the deplorable conditions of poverty, and lack
of education that have been allowed to fester in many great American
cities since slavery.

We're only as civilized as our level of hospitality. Let's demonstrate
to the world that what actually makes America the most powerful nation
on earth is not guns, pornography and material wealth but transcendent
and abiding soul, something perhaps we have lost a grip on, and this
catastrophe gives us a great opportunity to handle up.

Source: Jazz at Lincoln Center

CONTACT: Mary Fiance Fuss, Director, Public Relations, +1-212-258-9829,
mfuss@jalc.org, or Zooey Tidal, Assistant Director, Public Relations,
+1-212-258-9821, ztidal@jalc.org, both of Jazz at Lincoln Center

Web site: http://www.jalc.org/
http://www.npr.org/
http://www.wbgo.org/
http://www.xmradio.com/

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Profile: art and books

Airtrax to Present at the ValueRich Small-Cap Financial Expo

2005-09-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

Airtrax to Present at the ValueRich Small-Cap Financial Expo

HAMMONTON, N.J., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Airtrax, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: AITX) , a developer of patented, omni-directional technology with military and commercial applications, announced today that CEO Peter Amico will provide a Company presentation at the ValueRich Small-Cap Financial Expo, to be held on September 14-15, 2005, in New York, New York at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Mr. Amico will present on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 4:00 pm Eastern Time and will be available for meetings on September 15th. Airtrax has been assigned Booth #197. The Company's flagship omni-directional vehicle, the Sidewinder(TM), will be on display in the Convention Center. A live audio broadcast of the presentation will be available at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/ValueRichExpoNYC2005/. A replay of the presentation will be available shortly following completion of the broadcast at the above link.

Hosted by ValueRich Inc., publishers of ValueRich Magazine, the Expo features 100 small-cap companies with two full days of presentations and business development opportunities by providing interactive panel discussions, seminars and speakers. The Expo's wide variety of topics are targeted at bringing together executives of small-cap companies with investment professionals, including research analysts, fund managers, money managers, institutional investors, investment bankers and brokers, as well as venture capitalists and the financial media. For registration details, visit http://www.valuerichonline.com/ny05/index.php.

About Airtrax, Inc.

A U.S.-based developer of omni-directional technology, Airtrax designs and manufactures omni-directional vehicles. The Airtrax patented wheel was designed and developed by Airtrax after receiving a technology transfer from the US Navy in the form of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

The SIDEWINDER(TM) Omni-Directional Lift Truck and the Airtrax-MEC Cobra (TM) aerial work platform (AWP) are the first omni-directional vehicles using omni-directional technology and the patented Airtrax wheel to be commercially produced. The nearly maintenance-free design also reduces maintenance costs, delivering cost efficiencies to companies both large and small. The Airtrax patented Omni-Directional wheel is manufactured exclusively for Airtrax vehicles. For more information and to view a must-see product demonstration, visit http://www.airtrax.com/.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involved risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company is detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information, contact:

At the Company: Investor Relations:
Airtrax The Equity Performance Group,
Peter Amico an affiliate of OTC Financial Network
President Gary Geraci
609-567-7800 617-723-2373
pamico@airtrax.comgary@equityperfgp.comhttp://www.airtrax.com/http://www.otcfn.com/aitx

Source: Airtrax, Inc.

CONTACT: Peter Amico, President of Airtrax, +1-609-567-7800, or
pamico@airtrax.com; or Investor Relations, Gary Geraci of The Equity
Performance Group, an affiliate of OTC Financial Network,
+1-617-723-2373, or gary@equityperfgp.com

Web site: http://www.airtrax.com/

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Profile: art and books

Dinner Party Tips Keep Entertaining Fun

2005-09-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Dinner Party Tips Keep Entertaining Fun

BUITONI(R) Offers Five Italian Dinner Parties with Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello

How to Win an Italian Dinner Party

For more recipe ideas and entertaining tips, visit Buitoni.com. Or visit NapaStyle.com to order a copy of Michael's newest cookbook, At Home With Michael Chiarello (in stores October 2005).

About Michael Chiarello

About Buitoni North America

All trademarks are owned by Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Source: Buitoni North America

Web site: http://www.buitoni.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Chef Michael Chiarello is available for limited interviews. Please contact Davina Gruenstein at 206-270-4602 or davina.gruenstein@publicis-usa.com for more information.

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Profile: art and books

Vietnamese Zen Master and Peace Activist Thich Nhat Hanh to Give Public Talk to Commemorate 9/11 Anniversary

2005-09-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Vietnamese Zen Master and Peace Activist Thich Nhat Hanh to Give Public Talk to Commemorate 9/11 Anniversary

ESCONDIDO, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With the upcoming four-year anniversary of 9/11 and recent global terrorist attacks, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh will give a timely talk entitled "Remembrance and Transformation: True Peace and Security for Ourselves and the World" on Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The victims of Hurricane Katrina will also be remembered at this event.

Nhat Hanh first gained world attention during the Vietnam War as he worked tirelessly for peace and nonviolence. Martin Luther King, Jr. was so moved by Nhat Hanh and his proposals for peace that he nominated him for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize, saying, "I know of no one more worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize than this gentle monk from Vietnam." Earlier this year, Nhat Hanh was allowed to make a historic, three-month trip to his native Vietnam after nearly forty years of exile for his peacemaking efforts during the war.

Nhat Hanh is no stranger to North America. The New York Times has written, "Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama." He is the author of over 100 books on how individuals, families and communities can transform violence and suffering to create peace and joy. His best-known books include: "Peace is Every Step"; "Being Peace;" "Living Buddha," "Living Christ" and the New York Times bestseller "Anger." His recent book, "Peace Begins Here," offers a Buddhist perspective on resolving conflict in the Middle East and is based on an ongoing retreat program for Palestinians and Israelis. Nhat Hanh's books have sold over a million copies.

WHO: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

WHAT: Public talk entitled "Remembrance and Transformation: True Peace
and Security for Ourselves and the World"

WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Pasadena Civic Auditorium

Tickets for the public talk are available through the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com. General admission tickets are $25; student and senior citizen tickets are $18. The doors open at 6:15 p.m. Public accommodation for the hearing impaired community will be provided. Call (800) 640-7448 for more information.

To access pictures of Thich Nhat Hanh, visit:
http://www.deerparkmonastery.org/images/photoalbum/for%20press/index.htm

Contact:
Denise Nguyen, (626) 786-0472
deerpark@plumvillage.org

Source: Deer Park Monastery

CONTACT: Denise Nguyen of Deer Park Monastery, +1-626-786-0472,
deerpark@plumvillage.org; or Janet A. Jackson of Self Awareness Trainings,
+1-818-899-8812, for Deer Park Monastery

Web site: http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Web site: http://www.deerparkmonastery.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media, please contact Denise Nguyen for tickets, +1-626-355-2024

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Profile: art and books

Aviation Week Group, BDLI To Host First MRO Military Europe Conference

2005-09-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Aviation Week Group, BDLI To Host First MRO Military Europe Conference

NEW YORK, September 8/PRNewswire/ --

- Military Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Issues Examined
During ILA 2006

Aviation Week Group and the German Aerospace Industries Association
(BDLI) are partnering to create the first conference to examine all aspects
of military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) issues in Europe.
MRO Military Europe will be held during the Berlin ILA2006 AirShow, May 17
and 18, 2006, and will follow on the tradition created by Aviation Week
Group's highly successful MRO Military conference series held in the US.

MRO Military Europe will focus on the aircraft maintenance needs of
European militaries, NATO and Russia. It will look at customer requirements
and how service providers can earn their share of this significant market.
MRO Military Europe will also focus on the use of power by the hour concepts
for military fighters and the future of Performance Based Logistics. In
addition it will present case-studies of how maintenance is done real-world
hostile environments.

"We are proud to be partnering with BDLI to create the first conference
in Europe specifically for the military and industry officials involved with
keeping aircraft flying safer and longer," said Kenneth E. Gazzola, Aviation
Week Executive Vice President/Publisher. "The demands of current military
threats have put enormous stress on military aviation in Europe, and the
people who keep aircraft flying must be able to manage a tremendously diverse
fleet mix and effectively organize the supply chain. MRO Military will give
both military maintenance officials and industry suppliers the insight needed
to do their jobs in the most effective manner."

Hans-Joachim Gante, Managing Director of BDLI, said: "I'm glad to have
gained such an important conference to ILA. To have this type of conference
shows the unique quality of the ILA-conference program."

The Berlin Air Show/ILA2006 will provide impressive confirmation of its
position as one of the leading trade shows for the aerospace sector, serving
the needs of all the relevant sectors of the industry, and as one of its main
marketing platforms.

One of the features that make the ILA such a unique event is its
extensive range of conferences. This enables ILA to offer a forum for a
dialogue between experts in the aerospace sector, especially on issues
concerning East/West security policy, military aviation and defence systems,
and on means of combating terrorism.

MRO Military Europe is patterned after the annual MRO Military
conferences held in the US. From Generals and Admirals on the front lines, to
high-ranking Pentagon officials, policy makers, OEMs and maintenance supply
and service providers, the MRO Military conference series has attracted
top-level personnel to discuss ways to successfully and economically maintain
a diverse array of military aircraft in often hostile environments.

For more general information on MRO Military Europe Conference, please
contact Lydia Janow, CMP at +1-212-904-3225 or
www.aviationnow.com/conferences; for general information on The Berlin Air
Show/ILA 2006, please contact +49-(0)30-3038-0 or www.ila-berlin.com.

BDLI represents the interests of a key branch in the German economy. With
150 members, the BDLI represents a high-tech industry with a combined annual
turnover of currently 16 billion Euro and providing some 70.000 highly
qualified jobs. The aviation and aerospace industry is a motor for
technological progress and bundles together almost all strategically vital
branches. The results of R&D in aviation and aerospace and its singular
technical know-how directly effect the development of a number of other
branches. With this strategic importance, combined with high profitability,
it produces and ensures high qualified jobs in Germany - almost like no other
branch. And just as important, this industry joins the interests of foreign
and international security policy with the interests of technology and
industry.

The BDLI is officially accredited in the Bundestag and fulfills a number
of legally anchored obligations. Among these are hearings in preparation for
new laws, participation in ministerial committees, and hearings in the German
Bundestag. The BDLI is a member of the Aerospace and Defence Industries
Association of Europe (ASD) and the Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Industrie
(BDI).

About Aviation Week Group

Aviation Week Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the
largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation
and aerospace industry, and includes publications such as Aviation Week &
Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Aviation Daily, Overhaul
& Maintenance, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, ShowNews, Homeland Security,
The Weekly of Business Aviation, Business & Commercial Aviation, and the
World Aviation Directory & Aerospace Database. The group's web portal,
http://www.aviationnow.com, offers the industry's most reliable news,
information, intelligence and features, and its Aviation Week Intelligence
Network (AWIN) at http://www.aviationweek.com/awin is the industry's most
integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and
technical professionals across the entire aviation and aerospace field.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global
information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial
services, education and business information markets through leading brands
such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education and BusinessWeek. The
Corporation has more than 300 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2004 were
US$5.3 billion. Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Source: Aviation Week Group

Rob Kulat Kulat Communications, +1-732-219-5816, KuComm@Hotmail.com

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Profile: art and books

High School Facebook Sensation myYearbook.com Spreads Like Wildfire

2005-09-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

High School Facebook Sensation myYearbook.com Spreads Like Wildfire

Brother and Sister High School Duo Spread myYearbook.com from 1 High School to 100,000 Students in Just One Month

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for back to school, 2 high school students -- David & Catherine Cook of Montgomery High School in NJ -- launched myYearbook.com. The site, which began in just their high school, spread like wildfire.

With thousands of users being added, myYearbook is on pace to add 100,000 high school members in September 2005, its first full month since expanding to all high schools.

The brother and sister team have been astonished by the success of the site. "We started it in just our school, and soon just about everyone had signed up," says co-founder Catherine Cook, age 15. "Now, people shout 'myYearbook!' as I pass them in the hall. I check my email and I have 1,000 new friends. People have even started dating because of myYearbook. It's basically revolutionized high school social life."

myYearbook gives every student their own online "Yearbook" and "Locker." Students sign each others' yearbooks, vote for classmates for Superlatives like "Best Butt" or "Most Likely to Be on Apprentice," and share music and pictures via their "Locker."

The site also enables students to Flirt, Bully, and Secretly Admire each other at the click of a button. Users may also enter their classes to share homework and study guides with just people in their class.

"People really like to Bully each other for some reason. I also get people telling me that they started going out because they both Secretly Admired each other," says cofounder David Cook, a senior.

The 2 young entrepreneurs have big plans. " ... In 12 months, printed yearbooks will be obsolete," Dave predicts. "I can't believe this is 2005 and yearbooks are still basically the same as our parents'."

The idea came naturally. "We were flipping through a yearbook when we had the idea. Catherine scribbled 'myYearbook' on a notebook and put smiley faces in the O's - now that's our logo."

The 2 founders have been in talks with investors and music labels, receiving help from their older brother, Geoff Cook, a self-made multimillionaire at age 24. He founded his business at Harvard.

David & Catherine think they can one-up him by making their first million in high school.

Source: myYearbook.com

CONTACT: David & Catherine Cook of myYearbook, +1-609-737-0326,
david@myyearbook.com

Web site: http://www.myyearbook.com/

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Profile: art and books

Marshall Faulk Hosts Monday Night Football Viewing Benefit to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts

2005-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Marshall Faulk Hosts Monday Night Football Viewing Benefit to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts

St. Louis Rams Running Back Invites Community to Join Him in Raising Funds for Charities Supporting the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT: SYNERGY, Alliance Sports, and St. Louis Magazine join Marshall
Faulk and friends for the first Monday Night Football game of the
season. All net proceeds from the event benefit the American Red
Cross and the Marshall Faulk Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief
Fund.

Tickets for the benefit are $30 and include complimentary
appetizers and Stoli vodka cocktails during the game. Advance
tickets are available via Metrotix.com; based on availability,
tickets may also be available at the door.

WHEN: Monday, September 12, 2005, 7pm

WHERE: Pepper Lounge
2005 Locust St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
Tel: 314-241-2005

For more information, please contact Amit Dhawan (managing partner, SYNERGY LLC) at 314.706.4080.

Alliance Sports is a top-notch, boutique management firm dedicated to helping athletes reach their goals in professional sports and in life. Alliance Sports specializes in player representation, contractual negotiation, financial consultation, and legal support. Alliance Sports represents numerous NFL players including Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams.

SYNERGY is a St. Louis-based strategic marketing firm that focuses on brand management, event production, and public relations. SYNERGY specializes in uniting corporate brands with the sports and entertainment world via high- profile events and marketing opportunities.

St. Louis Magazine is St. Louis' premier lifestyle magazine, focusing on all the most interesting people, places, events and trends in the Gateway City. Every month, the magazine offers in-depth interviews with the region's most interesting people, a comprehensive listings of events, activities and restaurants, insider tips on where to go and what to do, plus features on travel, St. Louis history, health, shopping, neighborhoods, homes and dining.

The Marshall Faulk Foundation Katrina Relief Fund was established by New Orleans native Marshall Faulk and his charitable foundation to provide immediate aid and assistance to the survivors of the recent natural disaster. All contributions to the Katrina Relief Fund will be used to directly help the citizens of New Orleans by providing essential survival staples such as food, clothing and temporary shelter.

Source: SYNERGY LLC

CONTACT: Dr. Amit Dhawan, Managing Partner of SYNERGY LLC,
+1-314-706-4080, amit@synergystl.com

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Profile: art and books

L.A. Weekly Devotes Issue to Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

L.A. Weekly Devotes Issue to Hurricane Katrina

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, L.A. Weekly publishes an issue devoted to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Featuring 18 pages of coverage specific to the crisis in Louisiana, the paper takes an in-depth look at the devastation.

"All of us as Americans have been affected by what we've seen unfold in New Orleans and all along the Gulf Coast," said Editor-in-Chief Laurie Ochoa. "The tragedy strikes at our very conception of America -- our expectations, our hopes, our fears. Here at L.A. Weekly, we thought it was important to put out an issue with some of the country's best writers, artists and photographers to mark this moment."

"When the 17th St. Canal was breached, another levee burst in our national consciousness," writes John Powers in a piece exploring our collective response. "What poured in were truths normally ignored by our national media and, let's be honest, most of us in our daily lives."

As citizen-refugees flee New Orleans, seeking shelter and care under the roofs of strangers, they find themselves in cities like Baton Rouge, where journalist Greg Langley reports on what is and isn't being done to help them. Ben Ehrenreich travels to the Astrodome, and then onto New Orleans, providing an inside view of the developing situation (continuing updates from Ehrenreich are available at laweekly.com). As Katrina began raging against the shores of Louisiana, native son and L.A. writer, Cole Coonce began his escape -- in an exclusive report, he details the obstacles, attitudes and images he encountered along the way. L.A. Weekly's Erin Aubry Kaplan tells of the personal impact Katrina has had on her family, who made their homes in New Orleans' 9th Ward. Award-winning photographer Anne Fishbein's photo essay shows the New Orleans that was and may never be again.

In the wake of growing criticism over the federal government's inaction, Marc Cooper and Lou Dubose report on the political fallout facing the Bush administration while Harold Meyerson explores the role of government in crises. New Orleans native Tim Wise explosively deconstructs the mentality of blaming the poor for not evacuating.

After Hurricane Ivan crashed ashore in September of last year, renowned author Mike Davis (City of Quartz) wrote prophetically about the dangers that would face the city under a worst-case scenario. As we here in Los Angeles look on in sorrow and reach out in support to those in need in New Orleans, Robert Greene takes a good look at the readiness of Los Angeles.

The complete articles are available at laweekly.com and in the paper. L.A. Weekly is a free weekly publication distributed on Thursdays throughout Los Angeles and is a member of Village Voice Media, the leading weekly print media group in the country.

Source: L.A. Weekly

CONTACT: Audrey Limon of L.A. Weekly, +1-323-993-3658,
alimon@laweekly.com

Web site: http://www.laweekly.com/

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Profile: art and books

Sixth Annual 'Glass Now' Gala Art Auction to Benefit Philadelphia's National Liberty Museum

2005-09-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

Sixth Annual 'Glass Now' Gala Art Auction to Benefit Philadelphia's National Liberty Museum

Work From Hundreds of Glass Artists Will Support Philadelphia Peacemaking Organization

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Final preparations are underway for the National Liberty Museum's sixth annual "Glass Now" gala auction of glass art, with proceeds benefiting the Museum's work to inspire heroes and defuse violence. The annual fundraiser will take place on Saturday, September 24th, 2005 at Center City's Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel starting at 5:00 p.m. Planners expect to include more than 300 works of glass sculpture and fine art jewelry in live and silent auctions. Artists represented at "Glass Now" 2005 range from world-class glass art leaders to up-and-coming young visionaries. The festive evening includes a preview cocktail hour, gourmet dinner and live auction excitement.

The annual "Glass Now" auction started in 2000 to support the crucial work of Philadelphia's National Liberty Museum. The Museum is the only institution worldwide that uses glass art as a symbol for liberty: beautiful and strong, yet fragile. Eight Museum galleries feature more than 125 original works of art, including the 20-foot glass "Flame of Liberty" Dale Chihuly commission. Thousands of children visit the National Liberty Museum each week to learn about America's heritage of freedom, to practice critical violence-prevention skills and to meet 2,000 Heroes of Liberty from across the globe.

"Glass Now" 2005 will honor Pennsylvania artist Christopher Ries as the National Liberty Museum's "Artist as Hero." Ries began his long and respected career in glass art under the tutelage of the legendary Harvey K. Littleton, and today is noted for his cut and polished pure crystal sculptures. Along with Christopher Ries, the auction's catalogue will include work from: Zoltan Bohus, Stanislaw Borowski, Latchezar Boyadjiev, Lucio Bubacco, George Bucquet, Sydney Cash, Jose Chardiet, Keith & Deanna Clayton, Colin Heaney, Stephen D. Hodder, Steve Klein, Jon Kuhn, K. William LeQuier, Steve Linn, Maria Lugossy, Robert Mickelsen, William Morris, Mel Munsen, Jay P. Musler, Shelley Muzylowski-Allen, Robert Palusky, Flo Perkins, Janusz Pozniak, Davide Salvadore, Emilio Santini, Therman Statom, Lino Tagliapietra and many more.

In addition to the "Glass Now" gala auction, the Museum plans a full weekend of related events - including tours of galleries and private collections, demonstrations, lectures, dinners and more. Individual seating for "Glass Now" is $175; reservations for the entire weekend of events - from September 22nd through 25th - are $750 per person. For more information about reservation options, call 215-925-2800, ext. 117 or visit http://www.libertymuseum.org/ for an updated online auction catalog.

The National Liberty Museum is dedicated to celebrating democracy and diversity, promoting respect and defusing violence. Located at 321 Chestnut Street in the heart of Philadelphia's historic district, the Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. The facility is fully wheelchair accessible. For more information on the Museum, call (215) 925-2800 or visit http://www.libertymuseum.org/.

Source: National Liberty Museum

CONTACT: Amanda Hall, National Liberty Museum, +1-215-925-2800, ext. 124
or ahall@libertymuseum.org

Web site: http://www.libertymuseum.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more media information, interviews and/or digital images, contact Amanda Hall at 215-925-2800, ext. 124 or via email at ahall@libertymuseum.org.

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Profile: art and books

9/11 Motivated Father and Son to Write Book for America's Kids -- Offer Moral Lessons For Today

2005-09-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

9/11 Motivated Father and Son to Write Book for America's Kids -- Offer Moral Lessons For Today

SEATTLE, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Magic Picture Frame Studio today announced the nationwide availability of Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame ($35, www.MagicPictureFrame.com), a new book with a new approach to teaching American history to kids. Author and photographer Michael S. Class used digital composite photography to place his twelve year-old son, Anthony, in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Neil Armstrong, and on Normandy beach on D-Day.

Father and son labored for nearly four years in their garage filled with props from an army surplus store; the garage walls were covered with blue bed sheets. The result: It looks like Anthony really did meet Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, FDR, Lou Gehrig, and Audie Murphy. The Web site, www.MagicPictureFrame.com, displays some of the book's captivating photographs.

"It was a challenge," says Class. "I had to go back to school to learn digital photography and compositing. But I was on a mission. After 9/11, I was shocked to see so many adults confused about the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, heroes and villains. It was a time when children were looking for guidance -- and too many adults were behaving badly. I wondered: What would the heroes of the past say to the children of today?"

The book answers that question. Recommended for Grade 6 to Grade 12, the book teaches the moral lessons of American history and prepares kids for the future.

The book's unique approach can also help teachers. Anthony's conversations with the people of the past are based on things they really said, all properly sourced. Designed to be useful in the classroom, the book includes fun "to do" lists containing hundreds of books, movies, music, and places to visit. The Web site includes a final exam.

"The storyline is fictional, but the history is authentic," says Class.

"Every kid should read this book," says Anthony, the time-traveler. "My favorite chapter is when I go back in time to meet my great-grandfather at Ellis Island. I am with him the day he becomes an American." Personal family photographs were used in this chapter.

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame ($35) is available at www.MagicPictureFrame.com, or by calling toll-free: 1-800-247-6553.

Source: Magic Picture Frame Studio

CONTACT: Michael S. Class of Magic Picture Frame Studio,
+1-425-222-7562, or class@MagicPictureFrame.com,

Web site: http://www.magicpictureframe.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS AND BOOK REVIEWERS: The author and his son are available for interviews. Photographs and review copies are available.

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Profile: art and books

Coast Distribution System Ranked #18 on Fortune's List of '100 Fastest-Growing Small Public Companies'

2005-09-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Coast Distribution System Ranked #18 on Fortune's List of '100 Fastest-Growing Small Public Companies'

Coast Ranks 3rd among those Small Public Companies for its Stock Performance for Achieving a Three-Year Annualized Return of 142.5 Percent

MORGAN HILL, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Coast Distribution System, Inc. (AMEX:CRV), one of North America's largest suppliers of aftermarket replacement parts, accessories and supplies for the recreational vehicle and marine industries, announced today that Fortune Small Business Magazine (FSB) has ranked The Coast Distribution System as:

* The 18th fastest growing small public company on this year's FSB list of the top 100 fastest-growing small public companies in the U.S.; and

* The 3rd highest among those 100 Small Public Companies in terms of stock performance, for achieving an annualized return of 142.5% for the three years ended December 31, 2004.

"We are pleased to be ranked among the top 20 fastest-growing small public companies on the FSB 100," stated Thomas R. McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Coast. "During the last three years, our stock performance has mirrored our operational performance, as we increased our top and bottom lines through operational improvements, market share growth and new sourced, propriety products."

This year's FSB 100 was featured in the July/August 2005 issue of Fortune Small Business. To compile the list, Fortune identified companies with annual revenue of less than $200 million and a stock price of more than $1.00, and ranked them based on the past three years' earnings growth, revenue growth and stock performance. The complete FSB 100 is located at http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness .

About The Coast Distribution System

The Coast Distribution System, Inc. (http://www.coastdistribution.com/ ) is a leading supplier of parts, accessories and supplies for recreational vehicles (RVs) and pleasure boats in the U.S. and Canada. Coast supplies its products to its 15,000 customers through 17 distribution centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Coast is publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CRV.

Source: The Coast Distribution System, Inc.

CONTACT: Sandra Knell, CFO of The Coast Distribution System, Inc.,
+1-408-782-6686, sknell@coastdist.com ; Jeff Lambert or Ryan McGrath of
Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc., +1-616-233-0500,
mail@lambert-edwards.com , for The Coast Distribution System, Inc.

Web site: http://www.coastdistribution.com/
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness

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Profile: art and books