Emmy versus Oscar: Which honors more substantial work?

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/emmy-versus-oscar-honors-more-substantial-183420168.html

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Curb (for Mac)

Do you find yourself connecting external storage to your Mac on a regular basis? If you do, check out MRR Software's Curb, a free Mac utility that assists in the USB key file-deletion process. Curb is designed to simplify the trash dumping process by letting you delete files without the data first making a pit stop in your Mac's recycle bin.

This is the problem it solves: When you normally delete files from an external storage device, such as a USB drive or SD card, the unwanted data moves to the trash bin where it takes up storage space. Truly deleting the files means that you must then empty the trash bin?a small, but unneeded, extra step. Curb is a simple tool, but one that you may find useful if you frequently shuttle data between computers.

Kicking Files to the Curb
Curb (compatible with Intel and Power PC Macs running OS X 10.5 and higher) exists on your desktop as a small window that features an arrow that beckons your to drag content onto it. Unfortunately, you can't move individual files onto it; instead you drag the USB key icon there. This may not prove problematic if you want to quickly clean a USB key, but if you want to pick and choose you may want to drag the keeper files to the desktop first. Curb automatically begins the deletion process when you move the file USB key icon onto it?it's that simple. It works with multiple mounted drives, too.

Curb has a few options that let you tweak the app's functionality. You can opt to have the deleted file move to local desktop trash bin, securely delete the files, and even have the Mac automatically eject the drive volume after deletion.

Should You Download Curb?
Curb is a Mac utility that you should download if USB keys and other storage devices are a major part of your day to day existence. Not only is Curb free, but it lets you quickly delete files with little effort. This is handy, provided that your goal is to wipe clean the entire drive.

More Utilities Reviews:
??? Curb (for Mac)
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/Qgwea6md1EY/0,2817,2406314,00.asp

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Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX

Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX need to be correctly managed and also managed. Failing to develop as well as put into action a good as well as doable strategic planning strategy can lead to a loss of revenue of your time and money. No business can afford to shed at any time or even profit today?s remarkably competitive organization surroundings. Assess your current logistics wants and take a moment trying to find the right companies in Dallas TX. The health insurance good results within your small business depend on the idea.

Scheduling details Make a difference

Giving merchandise for a consumers promptly is the cornerstone of many company rather than usually as fundamental as that several appear to be. To produce as well as carry out a highly effective and also complete strategies technique, your enterprise ought to look at several components, such as travel function, buying, warehousing and also circulation, inventory manage and also operations, the labels, along with return guarantee. Although many businesses deal with their unique logistics, the trend is definitely when it comes to outsourced workers scheduling details to a third party dealer, specially transport. To make this happen, you need to search for Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX of which finest assist your company wants.

Outsourcing techniques Logistics

If you are purchasing third-party strategic planning vendors, you can search for firms that will cover all aspects of your respective scheduling details requirements or shop for a are often carte providers. One example is, many small business owners can certainly effectively deal with their stockroom along with stock specifications, nevertheless want the transport products and services only. In this case, choosing a low-cost transport organization might assist their very best likes and dislikes. Know very well what you may need and look for the very best alternate that mixes quality and affordable cost.

A number of businesses and CEOs choose to use strategic planning providers together with knowledge and also comprehensive information of their certain sector. These firms just might offer you remedies that actually work perfectly to your product or maybe business. If your options to select a business with understanding of your product or service along with market, you will discover more than likely a couple of Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX 75205 that happen to be sector particular. Handling ones logistical troubles by using a corporation which specializes in a particular subject could possibly be the right choice for your organization and could help your organization reduce costs as well as broaden their usage.

2 Worthwhile Strategies for Small enterprises

To be a small company, cost is more often than not a concern. In this particular over-regulated, over-taxed, and also highly reasonably competitive planet, trying to find this specific low-cost methods to your organization wants is vital for the health insurance and profits of one?s corporation. To support decrease the money necessary for your strategic planning managing, it is sometimes a fantastic selection for you to lover with enterprise when looking for Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX. The majority of Logistics Solutions bottom his or her price ranges on quantity, in addition to coupling with other people small company is amongst the best methods to reduce your delivery charges.

Your second essential hint regarding small business owners is by using a logistics supplier which takes purchaser dividends critically. As a small business, you intend to make item returns as simple and as possible on your shoppers. You would like a logistics partner concentrating on the same viewpoint.

Strategic planning businesses might help your business be a little more efficient, powerful, and profitable. Finding the right strategic planning clients are essential if you wish your organization to outlive within this fast-paced, highly-competitive business community. Logistics issue ? you cannot make money until your products be able to your web visitors undamaged as well as on moment by utilizing Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX.

Logistics Solutions in Dallas TX

Source: http://www.platinumlogistics.com/wp/logistics-solutions-in-dallas-tx/

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Google's Subsequent Shift -Video Recreation Advertisements? | Buy ...

Description

Given that AdWords was released in 2001, Google has expanded to image ads, video advertisements, and print ads, and has regularly been rumored to be getting into radio and television. Although numerous think that tv advertisements (ala Place Runner) may very well be Google?s subsequent key transfer, they can be neglecting a potentially bigger opportunity: in-game video clip activity marketing.

Before this year Huge Integrated, a video match marketing network, declared a landmark take care of Major League Baseball and 2K Sports to present dynamic marketing inside the well-known video clip recreation Significant League Baseball 2K6. In accordance with their press launch, ?Massive?s Community and technologies enable MLB Advanced Media and 2K Sports activities titles to leverage dynamic marketing for ever-fresh manufacturer messaging in their games, mirroring the quickly altering and expanding advertising opportunities within the reside action sports industry.?

Why Must Google Treatment?

The Amusement Software Association place U.S. product sales of video video game hardware and software at $7.3 billion back in 2004, a figure that rivals Hollywood box office revenue. In-game video clip activity marketing is absolutely nothing new for that booming match industry -large businesses have been buying static ads in video games for many years. What?s new is the expansion of on the internet gaming into the mainstream. Once reserved for only Pc Gamers, console avid gamers have now discovered a complete new planet of competition over a broadband link.

In a current interview with TechNewsWorld, EA?s John Schappert, who oversees the biggest interactive game studio on the planet, was asked about in-game advertising: ?In-game ad integration can be a growing organization where we see both advertisers and shoppers seeking additional. It?s an extra revenue stream which is nevertheless small, but growing. There is the possible for scalability in this region with dynamically-served advertisements. It really is nevertheless within the early stages [in conditions of] how in-game ads will grow in significance.?

Starting with Microsoft?s Xbox and Sony?s PS2, and continuing in to the next generation of on the internet gaming with Microsoft?s Xbox 360, Nintendo?s Wii, and Sony?s PS3, it has turn out to be a virtual certainty that almost all gamers might be actively playing although connected to some broadband connection. With that broadband connection arrives an marketing opportunity that?s hard to ignore.

Is Background Repeating Alone?

The prospective flaw in what Huge Included does is the fact that their advert network nonetheless only consists of the big advertisers. Massive?s website provides no certain information and facts concerning tips on how to invest in marketing, only mentioning that ?blue-chip? advertisers can work with their ?veteran? product sales group to begin an account. I assume it?s secure to say that smaller corporations are not their focus on market. So whilst they are employing dynamic advertisements, these advertisements are nonetheless only cost-effective to larger companies. Any one familiar with web advertising can see the possible for background to repeat by itself.

Way back again in 1996, lengthy before Overture (now Yahoo! Research Advertising and marketing) and Google AdWords, an organization named DoubleClick pioneered web page advertising. Their downfall, on the other hand, was which they necessary a proper product sales contract, restricting their potential client base to only massive businesses. Overture and AdWords produced it simple for your compact advertiser and modest internet site owner to take part in their advert networks, essentially opening their assistance to anyone around the web. Numerous years later on, one would think that Google is keeping a watchful eye on what?s happening over at Enormous Incorporated. Huge may be the very first to enter the marketplace, but it?s challenging to disregard the truth the compact organization proprietor stays shut out. Could Google make Massive the following DoubleClick?

How Would Google Do it

There is little question that together with the ideal programmers in the world Google is able to creating and improving on the technologies that Massive has. It really is also not tricky to imagine advertisers having to pay for every thousand impressions (PPM) for his or her text or picture ads to become shown in particular video games, significantly like they do now for distinct internet sites. The hard part for Google, on the other hand, will be the distribution of these ads.

As opposed to signing up internet sites to show their ads by copying some code on to their website, Google would have to function with match programmers throughout the development procedure. This could be considerably more time-consuming and would be an a lot bigger danger for Google. Within the very same way that Huge signed the contract with 2K, Google would have to sign big contracts with sport builders and operate with them for quite a few months to combine their advertisements.

This enforces the truth that the main difference between what happened with DoubleClick and what could occur with video clip video games is that it would probably be a lot more work for Google to distribute their ads over numerous channels (i.e. extra games). Due to the fact each and every sport is programmed differently, there?s no sport equal to the JavaScript utilised in all AdSense ads. Each and every game would have to be tailored to Google?s advertisement network independently. Tough: sure. Unattainable for Google: no way.

When Will They Get it done?

In my viewpoint it?s not an issue of if, it is a make a difference of when. The prospective revenue from the gaming market is as well large for Google to ignore. Oh, and when you nevertheless are not convinced, contemplate this: Microsoft, one of Google?s primary competitors, also produces the Xbox 360. If Microsoft decided to integrate their newly launched adCenter into Xbox video games, would it really surprise anybody if Google countered by announcing a deal with Sony or Nintendo to combine in-game dynamic advertising for that PS3 or perhaps the Wii?

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Pink Ribbons, Inc. Action Package - Breast Cancer Action

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Caitlin C.

By Karuna Jaggar, Executive Director

We have?right now?an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of the breast cancer epidemic. People are rising up in response to the recent attacks on women?s health and are demanding that patients come before profits. We will no longer tolerate the corporatization of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Action supporters are on the vanguard of this movement. Together we are learning, mobilizing, and taking action.

Take a stand today. Bring the integrity and truth back to breast cancer advocacy. Get your Pink Ribbons, Inc. Action Package.

When you make a one-time donation of $75 (or a recurring gift of $6.25 a month) or more we?ll send you a Pink Ribbons, Inc. Action Package as a thank you. In it, you will find:

• The hard-hitting documentary, Pink Ribbons Inc.?critics are raving about this game-changing movie that examines the commercialization of the pink ribbon. If you?ve seen it, you know what a powerful tool it is for understanding and unpacking the breast cancer industry. With your gift, you?ll receive a voucher for Pink Ribbons, Inc DVD, available immediately upon release in September. Be the first to own a copy that you can share with your community.
• Autographed copy of Pink Ribbons, Inc. book by Samantha King
• Think Before You Pink? Toolkit ? BCAction?s handbook for making change

Together we?re holding accountable corporations that profit off breast cancer while producing products linked to the disease. Together we?re demanding transparency and change in the breast cancer movement so we end this epidemic.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by June 30th! Help us get there by making your gift to Breast Cancer Action now. We depend on the support of individuals like you because we do not take money from corporations that profit from or contribute to cancer. We can?t get there without your generous support at this time.

Let?s change the course of the breast cancer epidemic.

This entry was posted in Articles.

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Father of slain gay teen: 'Justice will be served'

Courtesy of Jillian Manuel

A makeshift memorial was set up near the site in Portland, Tex., where a couple found Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, after they were shot last week.

By Miranda Leitsinger, msnbc.com

?

Updated at 6:45 p.m. ET: The father of a young woman who was shot along with her girlfriend last week in a South Texas park is mourning the loss of his ?guardian angel,? telling a local television station that ?justice will be served? in the case.

Mario Olgin?s daughter, Mollie, 19, and her girlfriend, Mary Kristene Chapa, were found in a grassy area of the park by a couple Saturday morning with gunshot wounds to the head, Portland, Texas, Police Chief Randy Wright has said. Olgin, originally from nearby Ingleside but recently living in Corpus Christi, died; Chapa, of Sinton, was rushed to an area hospital where she is making an ?amazing? recovery in the intensive care unit, her brother told NBC Latino.

---

The couple had planned to spend some time in the park before going to see a movie, Olgin told kiiitv.com on Tuesday. When his daughter, a first-year college student who wanted to become a psychologist, didn?t show up for work on Saturday, Olgin said he knew something was wrong.

?It was not like Mollie. ? If she had some place to be she was going to be there,? he said. ?I immediately had bad feelings (about) it.?

Wright said police had recovered a bullet casing from a large-caliber gun at the scene, leading investigators to believe the shootings occurred where the pair was found, but they haven?t found the weapon. Two witnesses said they heard what could have been gunshots or firecrackers just before midnight last Friday but did not report it at the time, he said.

A motive had not been established, he said in the statement.

"Information from family and friends indicates that Mollie and Mary were engaged in a same-sex relationship. However, there is no current evidence to indicate the attacks were motivated by that relationship," he said.

Wright told msnbc.com on Monday that: ?It appears as if ? this was not just a random attack but that?s something that we really have to develop over time.?

Police are investigating the shooting of two teenage girls in a same-sex relationship in a small Texas community along the Gulf of Mexico. KRIS reporter Lindsay Curtis has the story.

Because of her medical condition, Chapa has not been formally interviewed about what happened, he said.

Chapa?s brother, Hilario, said that his sister was making physical progress on the right side of her body but doctors were awaiting a response from the left. She was able to communicate via sign language.

?The doctors say it?s too early, no one is using the word ?paralyzed,?? he told NBC Latino. ?They say we should be so happy with her progress after three or four days. She?s very strong. She survived a very tough ordeal but her recovery is coming in strides and ?impressing everybody.?

He was hesitant to share many details about the search for a suspect.

?We don?t know who did this to her, she hasn?t given us a name,? he said. ?We?re under the impression she doesn?t know who did it. We don?t know if it?s a hate crime.?

Teen lesbian couple found shot in Texas park
Friends reel from shooting of teen lesbian couple in Texas

The Texas Rangers have joined the investigation, which is being led by the Portland Police.

?We offered our assistance and they accepted and we have been actively involved in the investigation since Sunday," Tom Vinger, spokesman for Texas Department of Public Safety, wrote to msnbc.com in an email.

The park, a nature area with some parts overgrown and no lights, was often frequented by visitors during the day, but not at night. It is located along a bluff overlooking a bay, Wright said, with some homes situated nearby.

Courtesy of Jillian Manuel

Rainbow ribbons, messages, flowers and cut-out hearts were left near the site in Portland, Tex., where a couple found Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, after they were shot.

?We?re not really sure how they got to the point that they were found,? he said. ?It is a scenic overlook with a wooden deck and there is a place at the edge of the deck where you can actually go down a very steep incline into a grassy area that leads down to the shoreline, and that?s where they were found.?

The crime rate is low in Portland, north of Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico, Wright said. The last homicide occurred two years ago.

The couple?s friends and well-wishers placed rainbow ribbons, goodbye messages, flowers and cut-out hearts on Sunday around the site where Olgin and Chapa were found. On Friday, a candlelight vigil and walk will be held for them.

Frank Reyna, a 19-year-old university student, said he grew up with Chapa and met Olgin his sophomore year of high school. He described Chapa as an athlete who played softball, and said Olgin, a student at a nearby university, was focused on academics but also was a big joker. He last saw them together at a local coffee shop in May, which was the first time he saw them out as a couple.

?It?s something that I think all of us are going to carry with us for a while,? Reyna told msnbc.com. ?It?s going to take a while to get past this, the idea that there is somebody still out there that did this to these two amazing, beautiful people, and that they?re walking free right now.?

Friends said the pair had been together since mid-February.

The couple?s relationship ?was a readily accepted thing,? Reyna added, and was not what their friends focused on.

?We focused on their personalities and how they got along with everybody else ? their kindheartedness and their ability to just make other people smile and make each other smile,? he said. ?We didn?t care ? what they were, it?s who they were.?

Jillian Manuel, 20, who used to work with Olgin, said it was hard to return to the park on the weekend knowing what had happened there. She went to help create the makeshift memorial, where friends shared stories and tears, and to check the scene, where she recalled the difficulty of watching Olgin?s car get towed.

?We?re ? hoping to kind of just remember Molly, remember her and just share our memories,? Manuel said of their planned vigil. ?And then ? send off prayers for Christine and just celebrate them.?

The family will hold a memorial on Friday before the candlelight vigil and walk. Olgin welcomed the outpouring of support in the wake of his daughter?s death.

?She was happy,? he told kiiitv.com. ?She didn?t need for her life to end the way it did. Justice will be served.?

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

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Colorado Springs fire ranks as state's most destructive on record

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) - A fierce Colorado wildfire that has forced the evacuation of some 35,000 people while raging for six days at the edge of the state's second-most populous city has destroyed 346 homes, Mayor Steve Bach said on Thursday, citing preliminary damage reports.

If those figures hold up, the tally of lost homes in and around Colorado Springs would make the so-called Waldo Canyon Fire the state's most destructive on record, surpassing the 257 homes consumed in recent weeks by a much larger blaze north of Denver near Fort Collins.

While no deaths or serious injuries have been reported from the blaze so far, Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey said authorities were seeking the whereabouts of some people he described as "unaccounted for," though he did not give a number.

A police spokeswoman, Carrie McCuffland, said there were no specific reports from citizens of missing people, and that the unaccounted-for list consists of individuals who apparently neglected to register with the city or the American Red Cross as evacuees.

"Every indication is that there are no casualties," McCuffland told Reuters.

Authorities earlier acknowledged the loss of hundreds of homes in Tuesday's firestorm, but the damage toll released by the mayor at an afternoon news conference on Thursday gave the first firm picture of the full extent of the devastation.

President Barack Obama plans to visit Colorado Springs on Friday to meet with firefighters and tour the ravaged zones.

The grim news came as lighter winds helped firefighters battling to contain the inferno that had roared unchecked through residential neighborhoods in the northwestern corner of Colorado Springs and nibbled at the fringe of the U.S. Air Force Academy campus.

The academy welcomed over 1,000 new cadets on Thursday, despite the fire, bringing them to a portion of the facility far from the smoke, base spokesman Harry Lundy said.

For the first time since the blaze erupted on Saturday, a red-flag warning for heightened fire hazards was lifted for the Colorado Springs area.

"We had a pretty good day on the line today. There was minimal fire growth," incident commander Rich Harvey said.

But anguish and frustration ran high among many of the estimated 35,000 residents who remained under evacuation orders.

"You don't have the authority to keep me out of my house," David Dougherty, 45, a retired member of the Armed Forces, shouted out during the news conference. "I understand they're trying to save lives, but some of us don't need to be saved."

Dougherty said he believes his dwelling is still intact and wants to be let back in to the evacuation zone to secure his home and his belongings. Police reported at least one arrest for burglary in an evacuated neighborhood.

Bret Waters, the city's emergency management director, said some evacuees would be allowed to return beginning at 8 p.m. local time Thursday.

CORRALLING THE FLAMES

The Waldo Canyon blaze remained a formidable force, with fire crews managing to carve containment lines around just 10 percent of its perimeter by Thursday afternoon -- a fraction of the sprawling fire zone but still double the previous day's total, officials said.

Searing temperatures and strong, erratic winds in recent days stoked the blaze, which has burned at least 18,500 acres of timber and brush, much of it in the Pike National Forest to the west of the city that lies at the base of the famed Pikes Peak mountaintop.

Firefighters on Wednesday pushed back a spot fire in a vacant corner of the Air Force Academy, but some residential neighborhoods in and around Colorado Springs were harder hit.

"There was nothing left in some areas, burned-out foundations that were smoldering. It looked like a nuclear weapon had been dropped. It's as close to hell as I could imagine," said Bach after touring the Mountain Shadows subdivision, which bore the brunt of the destruction.

Colorado wildfires have killed four people this year in what the governor called "the worst fire season" in state history.

Earlier this month, the High Park Fire west of Fort Collins and north of Denver killed one woman while leaving 257 homes destroyed and more than 87,000 acres blackened. That blaze, ranked briefly as Colorado's most costly in property damage, was listed as 75 percent contained on Thursday.

The cause of the Waldo Canyon Fire remained under investigation, authorities said. FBI's Denver office issued a statement on Thursday saying its agents were "working closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to determine if any of the wild land fires resulted from criminal activity."

The fire menacing Colorado Springs follows a recent string of suspected arson fires in a neighboring county, but officials said they had no indication that the Waldo Canyon blaze was deliberately set.

More than 1,200 personnel, supported by heavy air tankers and helicopters, are assigned to the blaze, Harvey said.

(Additional reporting by Ellen Miller; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Stacey Joyce)

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Apple Draws Blood With US Galaxy Tab Injunction [Apple]

The legal scuffling between Apple and Samsung had almost gotten boring; cases have been either summarily dismissed or been decided in far-flung parts of the globe. But last night, the hammer finally fell on Samsung here at home: no more Galaxy Tab 10.1s can be sold in the US, by court order. More »

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Around Town | The Observer

East Newark

? West Hudson Brave Women Fighting Breast Cancer meets on the last Friday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the East Newark Senior Center, 37 President St. The group will provide an atmosphere of warmth and comfort for patients and family. For more information, call Emma a t 201-998-6828, Rosa 201-246- 7750, Fatima 973-485-4236 or email emidura2@yahoo. com. Together we will f ight this disease.

Kearny

? The Presbyterian Boys- Girls Club, 663 Kearny Ave., will open during J uly and August on Tuesday and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Most members and guests are between the ages of 8 and 1 5. The summer program offers basketball, dodge ball, wiffle ball, kick ball, gymnastics, bowling bumper pool, air hockey, foosball, arts and crafts, ping pong and electronic games. Summer trips have been scheduled to the State Fair (June 27), Mountain Creek Water Park (July 11), Red Bulls vs. Chicago (July 18), Tornadoes vs. Jackals baseball (July 25), Bowcraft Amusement and Miniature Golf (Aug. 1), pro wrestling (Aug. 17). All trips are chaperoned by Kearny teachers The club will be supervised this summer by a professional staff including Tom Fraser, former Lincoln School guidance counselor and member s of the P.B.G.C. Board of Directors.

? Children?s author Patricia Brady-Danzig will read from her new book ?Fabrizio?s Fable? (La Favola di Fabrizio) in English and Italian and play ?Fabrizio?s Song? sung by The Celebration Singers children?s choir, 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 10, at the Kearny Main Library, 318 Kearny Ave., Kearny. Come by to hear how the brave little Italian mouse, Fabrizio, outwits the hungry fat cat, Luigi! Please call 201-998-2666, ext. 4207 for more information, or visit pbdmusic. com/fabrizio.html.

? Kearny Public Library will host a two-part class on jewelry making on Monday, July 16 and M onday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. Participants will learn how to make a small beaded pendant, beads, needles, thread, leather necklace, bead mat, patter and instructions will be provided. Please bring: scissors, ruler and a magni ? fier (if you have one). Class size is limited to 12. Please contact Pat at the library, at 201-998-2666 for a reservation.

? Kearny library patrons can now set up a one-onone half-hour session with professional librarians for help with putting together and typing a resume? and applying for a job online. The sessions will be held a t the main library. To sign up, call (201) 998-2666.

? The Kearny Rotary Club meets every Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 at La Fiamma Restaurant, 440 Harrison Ave., in Harrison. Business leaders from Harrison are invited to attend to learn about the work that Rotary International accomplishes around the world and in local c ommunities. For more information about the Kearny Rotary Club or to join them for a meeting, call Joe D?Arco at 201-955- 7400 or Jose Fernandez at 201-991- 1040.

? The West Hudson Detachment of the Marine Corps League invites all former and active duty Marines and FMF Corpsmen to attend an open house, which will be held every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at 286 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Guests are welcome.

Lyndhurst

? The library is collecting nonperishable food items for the Lyndhurst Health Department?s Food Pantry. The drop-off box is located inside the library?s back entrance. It will remain there year-round. For questions regarding the Food Pantry, call the Lyndhurst Health Department at 201-804- 2500.

? The Humane Society of Bergen County 221-223 Stuyvesant Ave., Lyndhurst, has a supply of dog food, all brands, available (FREE OF CHARGE) to anyone due to unemployment, disability or any other f inancial difficulty cannot afford to feed their dog. Just call or st op by for more information. 201-896-9300. Hours: Monday and Saturday, 10-4pm, Tuesday to Friday, 10-5:30, and Sunday 11-2pm.

? Lyndhurst Elks #1505, 251 Park Ave., will have its annual 4th of July barbecue on Tuesday, July 3, at 5 p,m. Admission: Adults are $15 and children ages 12-20 are $8 and ages 6-12 are $5. All proceeds to benefit the Special Children?s Fund. For further details, call the lodge at 201-507-1505.

? The First-Sunday-of-the- Month Nature Walk with the NJMC and the B ergen County Audubon Society, will be held on S unday, July 1, at 10 a.m. This free two-hour guided nature walk starts outside the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, and runs from 10 a.m. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates and weather advisories. You will have to sign a st andard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@ aol.com or 201-230-4983.

? The NJMC and B ergen County Audubon Society will host ?Butterflies for Beginners? on Sunday, July 1, at 1 p.m.m a 30-minute talk and slide show about Butterflies, and then a walk to look for butterflies around DeKorte Park. Participans will meet in the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park at 1 p.m. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute updates and weather advisories. You will have to sign a st andard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To R.S.V.P., contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@ aol.com or 201-230-4983.

? The Lyndhurst Health Department resumed the free chair yoga course on Fridays on June 22. This class is made possible through a partnership with Meadowlands Area Y.M.C.A. It is free to Lyndhurst residents and takes place at 11:30 a.m. in the Lyndhurst Health Department.

North Arlington

? American Legion Alexander P. Stover Post 37, 222 River Rd., North Arlington, will meet on July 2 at 8 p.m. All veterans are invited to attend. For information, call 201-214-8253.

? The North Arlington Woman?s Club holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the North Arlington Senior Center, behind Borough Hall. Guests are welcome.

? North Arlington Public Library announces the following special programs for children this summer. Programs begin on July 9 and end on Aug. 10: For ages 2 to 5, Library Lullabies will be held on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and PJ Story time on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Dream Big, Surf, for ages 6 to 10, will be held on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. A Tween Book Club for ages 10 and up will meet on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Special events will be held weekly on Wednesdays, starting July 11 through Aug. 8. Registration for these programs will open up a week before the scheduled date. Drop-In Programs for all ages will also be held at the library: Board Games- Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and the Family Morning Movie- Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Children of all ages are encouraged to participate in the reading portion of the Summer Program. The library will conclude with a closing ceremony event on Thursday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m.. where children who completed the reading portion of the Summer Reading Club will receive special recognition.

Nutley

? A Lollipop Party to benefit Nutley?s Volunteer Emergency and Rescue Squad will be held on J une 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the home of Ruth Bedford, 232 Highfield Lane, Nutley. Free admission, hors d?oeuvres and house tour. The purchase of lollipops raises funds for the cause. Lol ? lipops may be exchanged for drinks: beer wine, other liquor or soda. All ar e welcome to this casual social event.

? Nutley Public Library will have Family Game Night on Monday, July 2, 16, and 30, at 7 p.m. Come out and enjoy an evening of family board games.

? Drop in Wii Olympics will be held a t the library on Tuesday, July 3 and 5, at 2 p.m. No registration required.

? The library?s Tuesday Evening Knitting Club will meet on July 3 at 7 p.m. Come share your love of knitting and crocheting with both beginning and experienced knitters. Meet fellow knitters, brush-up on your skills, and learn some new techniques. Please bring your own supplies. This group meets the f irst Tuesday of every month.

? The library will host a Tween Video Game Tournament on Friday, July 6 and 20, at 2 p.m.? Registration required.

? The library will have a Drop-In Craft for registered Story Time on July 5, 6, 19 and 20 at 10 a.m. Registration required.

? The library?s Craft Book Club will meet on S aturday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Registration required.

? Babygarten will be held on Monday, July 9 and 23 a t 10 a.m. and 1 p .m. ? Registration required.

? For more information on Nutley Public Library programs, call 973-667-0405 or visit nutley.bccls.org.

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Improve Your Business Secuirty with Cost Effective Dome Mirrors ...

Several technological advances just invented has made life less difficult for humankind, especially when it comes to technologies. And because the relative incidence of criminal offenses continues to enhance, it has become even more essential to be able to create rigorous security procedures to help prevent crimes. In reality, the marketplace for security solutions has advanced too as the technology continues to advance. You?ll find lots of security systems which are offered to provide you with the utmost safety and protection that you just want. Nonetheless, there are also simpler techniques regarding how you can get hold of a solid security and safety strategy. Include a bit of modern technology to such tried and true methods and you have a mixture that simply cannot be overcome, even by the most hardened burglars.

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Much more improved security precautions and systems are among the list of greatest priorities of most companies and organizations right now. In light of today?s crime rates, it?s a phenomena that will continue for years and years to come. For this reason requirement for greater security, the security mirror were developed. Security mirrors for example quarter dome mirrors are crucial in producing any business safe and secure. They?re in reality thought of as a less costly way to improve your security and safety systems. So for companies that do not have sufficient money to afford extremely next generation safety and security equipment, quarter dome mirrors are actually a great alternative.

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What makes quarter dome mirrors useful? Quarter dome mirrors are a single kind of security mirror which is specifically developed to assist steer clear of mishaps, particularly on intersections, blind spots, and exits. Even though virtually all security mirrors serve as a system to discourage criminal offenses, the main purpose of quarter dome mirrors is enable you to keep an eye on manufacturing line assemblies and also equipment inside a more effective procedure. Aside from that, all of these dome mirrors are also referred to as a great preventive measure to stop shoplifting. Cheap, straightforward to put up, with out any maintenance always makes setting up these types of safety and security tools something every business ought to do.

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There are many kinds of dome mirrors to choose from inside the market place. A full dome security mirror supplies a Three hundred and sixty degree view of a location. They are traditionally placed right on the ceiling and / or hanged using a chain, the mirrors allow the viewer a complete wide ranging, 360 degree perspective. They are good for big areas and also four-way intersections. After that, there?s half-dome 180 degree mirror that is suitable for three-way intersections. Quite often identified as or referred to as blind spot or blind corner mirrors, quarter dome security mirrors are great to deploy at L-intersections or two-way intersections. Typically, most of these dome mirrors are often set up on ceilings, walls, and corners.

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When you are deciding on the appropriate security mirror, the position of this mirror is essential. Where you are setting the mirror, inside or out makes for a big difference. That is going to lend to the actual substance for the lens itself and in addition the design of backing you will need. Security dome mirrors is found in a variety of lens types like stainless steel, acrylic and also other types of materials. Stainless steel is often utilized in severe outdoor locations or even in areas where breakage or shattering is simply not an option. These kinds of mirrors are offered also with a number of backing designs just like hardboard, steel, ABS, and treated hardboard. Meant for interior locations, you will even find economic products that don?t use a backing type whatsoever. A large number of suppliers may include some basic hanging hardware such as a pivot arm or perhaps a mounting bracket, dependent upon the model. An additional factor is the mirror dimensions. Based on on how large of an region you intend to view, you can find a smaller twelve in . quarter dome mirror as well as a massive 48-inch full dome mirror.

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A quarter dome mirror is a popular selection when you are deciding on a security mirror. For the purpose of an elevator, for example, a quarter dome mirror fits snuggly in to the back corners of the elevator. This will offer elevator guests an entire view of the folks in-front or behind them, helping the sense of safety and improving security. If you need to deploy security mirrors at curved locations or sides, the full dome sort is a great option. This type permits you to see almost everything that is around the corner, which helps decrease the possible risks for accidental injuries. If you don?t know exactly what security mirror from which to choose, or require more information regarding the reason why or just the way a security mirror can help you your business, just pickup the telephone and call a security mirror company.

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Health Care Mandate Upheld by Supreme Court (Little green footballs)

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Windows Phone 7.8 update gets shown off

Featured

4 days

Sean Fallon , Nerd Approved

Are you your own worst enemy? If so, the following gadgets might be able to help you overcome some?relatively minor shortcomings. That is to... Read more

10 hrs.

Devin Coldewey

Users of Windows Phone might have felt a bit put out at the news that Windows Phone 8, with all its fancy new features, would not be coming to their hardware ? even the flagship Nokia Lumia 900. But all is not lost: one of the cooler pieces, the customizable start screen, will in fact be coming to older handsets. And Microsoft has just put up a little demo of it on video.

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal, but that doesn't mean we get privileged information about Microsoft's products and services, nor does it influence our opinion of them.)

No doubt it's a cool feature for homescreen customization, more straightforward than Android's widgets and more robust than iOS's... nothing. Most users will be happy to have the extra functionality.

But there's still consternation among purchasers of the much-hyped Lumia 900: many feel it was little more than a bait and switch to sell the device as a top-of-the-line one only to make it obsolete almost instantly with a new OS it can't use. There's truth to that, and Android and iOS customers know the sting of seeing a new version of their favored OS debut with no plans to bring it to older devices.

The update should come to any phone currently running Windows?7.5 "Mango." There's a little more info here at the page for the update, but at the moment there are only a couple features listed, and no date for release.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for msnbc.com. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.

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Zynga expands game line up amid investor doubts

Jim Veevaert, Zynga General Manager, talks about Facebook during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Jim Veevaert, Zynga General Manager, talks about Facebook during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Zynga General Manager of ChefVille Jonathan Knight talks about ChefVille game during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Zynga David Ko, Chief Mobile Officer, talks about the Zynga network during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

David Ko, Zynga Chief Mobile Officer, talks about their association with Atari during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Zynga General Manager Manuel Bronstein announces Zynga With Friends during an announcement at Zynga headquarters in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Zynga said Tuesday it is expected to add more Web games to its digital arcade and introduce more ways to play them as it tries to lessen its dependence on Facebook and generate more revenue. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Web game maker Zynga is trying to turn its digital playground into an even more entertaining place, working to prove wrong investors who doubt that it can build a long-lasting business.

Zynga unveiled features Tuesday that include a network designed to provide the more than 290 million players of its games with the same tools, whether they are competing on Facebook's online social network, a mobile device or the company's own website.

The network is called "Zynga With Friends." That's a reference to one of Zynga's most popular games, the Scrabble-inspired "Words With Friends."

Zynga Inc. also previewed several new games, including a food-themed title called "ChefVille" and a virtual house-building experience called "The Ville." Those are the latest riffs on a franchise that began with "FarmVille" three years ago.

"These games have become something like hobbies for millions of people," Zynga CEO Mark Pincus boasted to reporters who came to the company's San Francisco headquarters for Tuesday's presentation.

The addictive allure of Zynga's free games helped establish the company as one of past decade's brightest Internet stars. Just five years after Pincus founded the company and named it after his dog, Zynga has more than 290 million users worldwide and is expected to generate $1.4 billion in revenue this year.

But investors are worried Zynga is running out of new ideas as it girds for fiercer competition. The strategy laid out Tuesday evidently didn't provide much reassurance.

After edging up earlier in the session on hopes for bigger news, Zynga shares fell 30 cents, or nearly 5 percent, to close Tuesday at $5.77. That's well below the company's initial public offering price of $10 six months ago. The IPO raised $1 billion, enabling Zynga to buy its San Francisco headquarters for $234 million earlier this year to accommodate the growth envisioned by Pincus.

The concerns dogging Zynga include its ability to keep churning out popular games, increasing competition from more experienced entertainment companies such as Walt Disney Co. and Electronic Arts. Inc., and a shift toward playing games on smartphones that is expected to fragment that industry.

Zynga, which already attracts about 22 million daily users on mobile devices, has been trying to establish itself as a gaming hub and lessen its dependence on Facebook for traffic and revenue.

Toward that end, Zynga began in March hosting some of its games on its own website. The Zynga With Friends network is meant to ensure some of the features on Zynga.com also are available to players when they are on Facebook or mobile devices.

The network is also being opened to other game makers in an attempt to encourage players to come to Zynga.com more frequently. That could create more opportunities for Zynga to sell advertising to supplement the sales of virtual goods that make its games more engaging. Those items bring in most of Zynga's revenue. Just 3.5 million, or about 1 percent, of Zynga's users buy virtual goods, underscoring the challenges facing the company as it tries to convert more of its audience into paying customers.

Advertising accounts for just 9 percent of Zynga's revenue. As part of its efforts to boost that figure, Zynga last week began to publish ads from Facebook on its own website.

Zynga probably wouldn't have thrived if not for Facebook's social network, where posts about players' progress on various games have become a common sight ? much to the consternation of many Facebook fans.

Facebook accounts for 85 percent of Zynga's traffic and 92 percent of its revenue.

Even Pincus' personal fortune is intertwined with Facebook's.

As one of Facebook's early investors, Pincus still owns 4.3 million shares in the social network that is currently worth about $140 million.

Pincus, 46, owns a much larger Zynga stake that is currently worth about $545 million. He whittled his Zynga holdings by selling 16.5 million shares for nearly $200 million in April when the company's stock was worth twice as much as it is now.

Associated Press

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2012/2013 EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE - Fashion Maniac

Compiled by Phillip Johnson

Crystal Cruises Wine Tasting

Bocuse d?Or Chef Experiences, Masters of Wine, and Other Culinary Stars to Spice up Crystal?s Summer and Fall 2012 Wine and Food Festivals

Caption: Robin Kelley O?Connor is one of several Master Sommeliers who will be bringing his culinary expertise to Crystal Cruises? guests about the ultra-luxe line?s Wine and Food-themed cruises this year. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

Crystal Cruises is renowned for providing intimate access to the cream of the international culinary crop; and extraordinary culinary experiences are a hallmark of every Crystal vacation. ?Extensive, innovative choices for gourmandizing include the ultra-luxury line?s coveted cheese and wine cellars, overseen by on-board, certified cheese and wine sommeliers; fresh, chef-like cocktails served by certified mixologists; and gourmet dining options at every meal, whether in the Crystal Dining Room, at afternoon tea, or in Nobu Matsuhisa?s specialty restaurants ? all complimentary and included with every cruise.

Crystal Cruises - Crystal Wines (Courtesy: Crystal Cruises Media Center)

The ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises, in a new program, is bringing aboard esteemed chefs, wine experts, and mixologists to enlighten guests on Europe?s culinary arts and host a $1,000/person rare wine experience, with mentors including:

Complimentary cooking lessons, hands-on classes, wine tasting, cocktail-mixing instruction, and special dinner menus for all will be offered:

• September 18: 12-day Mediterranean cruise from Istanbul to Venice on Crystal Serenity
• November 17: 11-day Canary Island voyage from Barcelona to Lisbon on?Crystal Serenity
• August 14: 11-day Baltic/North Sea sailing from Stockholm to?Dover/London on Crystal Symphony. ?Moueix and Solvold will also serve as?chef/wine expert hosts for this cruise?s piece de resistance: a 7-course, $1,000
• ?Ultimate Vintage Room? fete, with Moueix sharing?uber-rare wine pairings from his private collection.

Until June 30, ?Book Now? fares for the Wine and Food-themed Series begin at $3,615/person, double occupancy, with $1,000/person in additional savings for Penthouse bookings. ?Attractive airfares are available from more than 200 North American gateways.
For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call?888-799-4625, or visit?www.crystalcruises.com.
Web Site:?http://www.crystalcruises.com

The Big Reveal: Crystal Symphony Completes Dazzling Extreme Ship Makeover. $15 Million Dry Dock Finishes 5-Year Redesign Plan

Caption: Among the redesigns of Crystal Symphony?s gathering spaces was a complete re-do of the ship?s Palm Court lounge, a signature space for drinks, dancing, afternoon tea, and vista-gazing. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)
Completing a two-week extreme makeover, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises reveals chic-ly redesigned major public spaces aboard Crystal Symphony, including the Avenue Saloon, Palm Court lounge, Galaxy showroom, Hollywood Theatre, Bridge Lounge, Fantasia and Waves ?junior cruisers? areas, and the Tender Landing/Passenger Boarding Area. ?This latest triumph marks the culmination of a $65 million, five-year plan to redesign every room aboard the award-winning ship. ?Other invigorating new touches include ?bells and whistles? added to all staterooms, paddle tennis court resurfacing, sprucing of tender shuttles, more energy-efficient hull paint, galley updates, and general maintenance and detailing of the entire ship, from propellers and boilers to the bridge and lifeboats.

Crystal Cruises - Crystal Symphony at Sea

?In keeping with our tremendous focus on design, we wanted to create something both highly contemporary and yet extremely accessible,? says President Gregg Michel. ?The ultimate result is all our guests? favorite gathering places now feeling even more welcoming, while also offering the stylish sophistication and comfortable elegance luxury travelers look for in a vacation setting, and expect from Crystal.?

Crystal Symphony - The Refurbished Palm Court - Among the redesigns of Crystal Symphony gathering spaces was a complete re-do of the ship's Palm Court lounge, a signature space for drinks, dancing, afternoon tea, and vista-gazing. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

Three interior design companies from the UK and U.S. created the visions for the new spaces: Adfecto and SMC Design from London and KNA Design from Los Angeles, with inspiration culled from classic tony icons like New York?s 21 Club, Hollywood?s Coconut Grove, and Palm Beach country club life. ?With lighting being such a key creative consideration, Crystal and designers also worked with DPA Lighting Consultants to add to the design?s drama, ambiance, and environmental-friendliness.

Crystal Symphony Galaxy Lounge

Helping Local Communities
While the refurbishing was taking place at Hamburg?s Blohm + Voss shipyard, four 20? containers of Crystal Symphony furniture were donated to Hamburger Tafel, a charitable organization that has extensive outreach into local, underprivileged communities. ?Thanks to transportation assistance from fellow goodwill organization, Stilbruch, hundreds of chairs, stools, tables, and cabinets will be given directly to Hamburg area residents-in-need.

Elegant Tea, Tunes, Cocktails, and Vistas
KNA?s redesign of signature lounges Avenue Saloon and Palm Court sets the perfect, lively backdrop for taking advantage of Crystal?s newly all-inclusive fine wines and custom-crafted cocktails. The panoramic-view from the Palm Court is the jewel in the crown on top of the ship, recalling the glamour-filled Coconut Grove of Hollywood?s yesteryear, yet also delivering a sleek, uber-contemporary wow factor. ?More intimate, modern lounge seating in buttery soft leathers surrounds a larger, spiral-design dance floor and slick, stainless and hand-tiled mosaic bar. ?Flooring is a mix of white, laser-cut Calacatta marble, soft grey swirling wood, and carpeting with a bold, large-scale, graphic ? a pattern that is complemented by the reflective, decorative ceiling around the bar?s perimeter. ?Together, aqua, chartreuse, ash, and cream jewel tones create a ?light? California ambiance that helps bring the outside in during daytime tea and view-gazing. ?New lighting, including stunning, faceted Lucite wall sconces and shimmering Murano glass table lamps, transforms the space into a dreamy destination for evening dancing and drinks. ?The emblematic palm theme endures in pillow fabric, Sago palm trees, and a dramatic rock crystal, branch ceiling feature above the spacious dance floor. ?Six-foot-tall, lit alabaster urns, suede wall upholstery, electric window shades, and state-of-the-art Meyer speaker and audio control systems further accessorize the look and sound of this enchanting social destination.

Crystal Symphony Fitness Center

The Avenue Saloon and Piano Bar retains its 19th-century gentlemen?s club feel, but incorporates updated colors, furnishings, materials, and music and seating configuration. ?Rich mahogany-paneled walls, leather upholstery, brass nailhead trim, sumptuous velvets, and thick, lush inset rugs remind one of a days-gone-by manor home. ?Heavily shuttered windows frame regal burgundies, golds, caramels, moss greens, and ivories that embrace guests in luxe warmth. ?The inviting piano relocation allows for increased seating and conversation area choices, including new brass-tack couches, embossed-leaf barstools, or tufted booths. ?New romantic lighting, sumptuous crown molding, antique-style trunk tables, custom artwork, and audio systems add to the salon atmosphere.
Old Hollywood panache also extends into Crystal?s entertainment showrooms, the Galaxy Lounge and Hollywood Theatre, with an air of British tradition, thanks to the spaces? two UK designers. With diamond-patterned glass doors, lustrous gold fabric panels, black Nero Marquina marble flooring, and large LCD digital signage screens, a new, contemporary entrance to the ship?s live performance showroom immediately tells guests they?re in for something special once inside the Galaxy Lounge. ?Through the entry, crystal lighting features, reminiscent of a dressing room mirror, and starburst-designed carpet and wall lights help create a galactic home fitting for Crystal?s star guests and performers. ?Royal purple and old gold curtains in sheer and velvet fabrics envelop the space, including the main stage and side walls, in royal theatricality. ?New, modern mohair seating, cocktail tables, and under-banquette lighting add comfort and drama. ?Throughout, SMC Design includes artwork niches with abstract figurative sculpture and a harmonized color scheme of lively lilac, pink, and crimson shades. ?A new stage extension that expands performance space by 30%, plus cutting-edge tech enhancements such as a new sound booth, show control systems, high-definition Barco projection, infrared video cameras, stage lighting, and Meyer speaker system bring guests on the high seas even closer to Broadway.

Crystal Symphony Reburbished Seahorse Pool - Pool Deck at Day

Classic, Art Deco movie palaces and the stars of the silver screen inspired Adfecto?s re-do of the Hollywood Theatre, Crystal?s elegant space for feature films and presentations. ?New smoked woodgrain walls and velvet damson-colored curtains create a sweeping entry, while decorative and underseat lighting provides a warm ambience and soft glow. ?Crisp, architectural lines prevail in the design of knife-pleated pendant wall lamps and high-back, ivory-colored leather theatre seating ? a contrast to the circular starburst patterns in both the carpet and custom-woven acoustic wall-paneling. An additional, damson wallcovering of crushed silk texture synchronizes with dark umber, taupe, and pearl earth tones and bronze-colored ceiling and metal trim. ?New ?stage? lighting, boosted surround sound audio processing from Bose? and Meyer, top-notch Barco high-definition projector, and enhanced lecture, recording, and presentation control systems further transform the space into a luxury screening room.

Crystal Cruises - Cocktails at the Galaxy Lounge

Crystal?s dedicated Junior Cruisers? areas, Waves (teens) and Fantasia (children), have been re-designed by Adfecto for savvy stylistas-in-training, acknowledging that the spaces? patrons are fashionable young cruisers who already have a strong sense of what?s cool and sophisticated ? while also providing versatility for a wide range of ages and activities. ?Scarlet, pistachio, denim blue, and magenta pink colors differ from typical ?primary? kids colors and inject vibrancy into the sophisticated, warm grey and neutral base woodgrain colors. ?Dramatic graphic harlequin carpeting; custom, digital-printed wallcovering; Marimekko-patterned, Fatboy? bean bags; ?70?s-classic, multi-colored Casala Casalino chairs and tables; and multiple oversized sofas, including a huge Walter Knoll Circle sofa, together, create a trendy urban loft/modern rec room look that kids can ?own? as their own, be it curling up alone with a book, or piling on the couch with new friends for a movie night. ?The areas? divided layout has been reconfigured to create more privacy for teens and a welcoming, home den feel for younger children ? while also allowing flexibility for the space to be opened up into one. ?Different sections for group activities/crafts, storytime, relaxation, videogames (Wii, PlayStation?, Xbox, Kinect), and screenings (two wide-screen TV?s, Blu-ray players, and movie projection system) encourage personal expression. ?New lighting features and Bose? speaker system help create different atmospheres and transform the entire space into an exclusive teen hangout at night.

Crystal Symphony Refurbished Deluxe Stateroom with Veranda

KNA has transformed the Bridge Lounge into the perfect, classic card room ? reminiscent of Palm Beach?s tennis and card clubs during the Gilded Age ? with ambient sconces flanking wooden built-ins, frosted mirrors, and saffron panel-covered walls. ?Soothing ocean blues and teals keep nerves calm during Bridge, board games, or spirited speaker sessions. ?Other new accents include floor-to-ceiling drapes, Roman sheers, modern chandelier, and a 12K gold, champagne leaf, dome ceiling that enhances the wall design. ?New podium, credenza, and A-V systems, along with new convertible game tables and armchairs, provide room versatility and expert-level presentation tools.

Crystal Symphony transitioning the Panama Canal

In addition to Crystal-sprucing of the tender shuttles that transport guests to and from anchor ports, Adfecto has designed a comfortable and welcoming foyer for the Tender Embarkation Area. ?A hint of signature seahorse turquoise, with design references from other public areas of the ship, reminds guests they are back on Crystal immediately upon stepping off the gangway. ?Aged teak, plank-style flooring, a sky blue ceiling, bright lighting, and multi-colored, striped canvas curtains (a la the ship?s poolside furniture) evoke feelings of being out on deck. ?Contemporary benches and boldly-colored, five-foot-tall travel photographs from around the world provide comfortable seating and global-inspired eye-candy when waiting to pass through the space.

A new electronic ?do not disturb? doorbell system ? a big success after installation on Crystal Serenity last year ? were added to all staterooms, as were new cordless digital telephones. ?Penthouses also received new glass shower doors. ?Smaller-level updates included a complete refresh of the paddle tennis court, new stoves and cooking equipment in the main galley, and environmental upgrades with lighting, boilers, and a new, energy-efficient hydrogel hull paint that mimics the low-friction characteristics of a shark?s skin. ?The scheduled dry dock also boasted a massive cleaning and maintenance detail of the ship?s entire exterior and interior. ?An update to stateroom verandah furniture is also scheduled to follow shortly after the dry dock?s end.

Crystal Symphony is now sailing her first of seven all-inclusive Baltic and Northern Europe cruises this summer before sailing across the Atlantic for a New England/Canada season this Fall. ?Until June 30, Book Now fares for a 2012 voyage aboard Crystal Symphony start at $2,355/person, with 7- to-18-day options also offered in the Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call?888-799-4625, visit?www.crystalcruises.com.
Web Site:?http://www.crystalcruises.com

New Low Solo Fares for Crystal Fall European Voyages

Crystal Cruises, who already charges one of the lowest rates in the luxury cruise industry for sole occupancy of a double occupancy

Crystal Cruises' solo fare offers savings of 15% off starting fares for all-inclusive, luxury Mediterranean cruises this fall. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

room, has ?launched? a new solo travelers? sale on fall Mediterranean voyages. Guests traveling alone can enjoy even lower fares to vacation in ease while traveling through one of the most beautiful cruising areas in the world.? A significantly-reduced solo supplement of just 10% can save individuals up to almost $900 off a private, deluxe outside stateroom (Category C) of their own.

The savings are offered on eight 11- and 12-day Crystal Serenity sailings through the Black Sea, Middle East, Canary Islands, and entire Mediterranean, starting with September 6?s voyage. The all-inclusive luxury cruises embark in Athens, Istanbul, Venice, Barcelona, and Lisbon from September through November, with overnight visits and more time in both smaller, off-the-beaten-path and favorite, large ports throughout Italy, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Montenegro, Israel, Croatia, Morocco and the Canary Islands.? Attractive air add-ons are offered from more than 200 North American ports.

?A Crystal cruise is a wonderful option for solo travelers who seek luxury and pampering while on vacation and also the fast, easy friendships that are made on board,? says Jack Anderson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales.? ?This is an ideal opportunity for cruisers indulging in a room all to themselves to realize significant savings and value with the World?s Best Cruise Line.?

Among the extraordinary care Crystal provides for solo travelers are Ambassador Hosts on every sailing for those seeking a dance partner, assigned seating for dinner in the Crystal Dining Room, and ?Table for 8,? which brings individuals together for friendly shared dining in the specialty restaurants at night.? Crystal Cruises? ocean resort experience always includes fine wines, premium spirits, and gratuities with one?s vacation, as well as a host of other complimentary amenities, from enlightening enrichment speakers and fitness classes to pampering pillow menus and specialty restaurant dining, featuring the world-renowned cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa.

http://www.crystalcruises.com

AMAWATERWAYS RELEASES NEW WINE BROCHURE & THEMED ITINERARIES THROUGH 2013
NEW CRUISES SHOWCASE ACCLAIMED WINE REGIONS ALONG EUROPE?S SEVEN MOST BEAUTIFUL RIVERS

The Award-winning river cruise line AmaWaterways (www.amawaterways.com) proudly announces the release of the Wine Cruises Through Europe 2012 & 2013 Brochure, officially launching its newest ?In Celebration of Wine? themed cruises through Europe?s premier wine regions and world-renowned destinations.
?We?re thrilled to announce our new wine ? themed itineraries and the new brochures are the perfect way to share this exciting news,? said AmaWaterways Executive Vice President and Co-Owner Kristin Karst. ?We believe that each travel agent and guest is a part of our AmaWaterways family and we?re always looking for ways and tools to enhance their experience with us.?

Founded in 2002 by river cruise pioneer Rudi Schreiner, river cruise executive Kristin Karst and founder of Brendan Vacations, Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways is the premier river cruise line on Europe?s Danube, Rhine, Main, Mosel and Rh?ne Rivers. Known for its custom-designed ships, extensive complimentary amenities and personalized service levels, AmaWaterways consistently leads the way in river cruising. With destinations traveling through Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and new voyages to Africa and Portugal the line?s award-winning fleets compliment a variety of travel plans.

AmaWaterways Amalegro at the Dock in Amsterdam (www.cruise.about.com)

The Europe fleet includes the AmaPrima (2013); AmaCerto (2012); AmaVerde (2011); AmaBella (2010); AmaLyra (2009); AmaDolce (2009); AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008); AmaLegro (2007) and the AmaDagio (2006). ?In the spring of 2012, AmaWaterways introduced the new 164-passenger AmaCerto in Europe, joining the AmaVerde and AmaBella in offering an exclusive Twin Balcony design in the majority of staterooms; multiple dining venues; complimentary Internet and Infotainment system, a heated swimming pool or whirlpool on the Sun Deck plus many more unique design elements. In addition to the European destinations, AmaWaterways offers the separate and distinct AmaVoyages to Vietnam and Cambodia via the AmaLotus (2011) and the La Marguerite (2009); Russia via the AmaKatarina (2011); Portugal via the AmaVida (2013); and Africa via the Zambezi Queen (2009).

AmaWaterways? customized ?In Celebration of Wine? cruises feature unique shore excursions and complimentary wine-themed programming designed to showcase the rich history of Europe?s famous wine regions. Guests can enjoy visits to local vineyards and wine cellars in the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape region; dialogue with acclaimed vintners; sip select tastings of award-winning vintages including Beaujolais

AmaWaterways Cruises - Outdoor Sun Deck on the AMAWaterways Amalegro

and Cotes du Rhone wines and attend onboard, wine-themed lectures co-hosted by various celebrity food and wine experts from top U.S. wineries and an AmaWaterways Executive.

AmaWaterways Cruises - Amalegro Observation Lounge Bar

Itinerary highlights include a traditional ?Heruiger? tasting of new wine in the Austrian villages of Grinzing and Neustift; an introduction to Alsatian wines at the ?Wunsch et Mann? winery in Wettolsheim, France; a tour of Lamego and the historic Palacio de Mateus; and a special ?Oktoberfest? celebration in the charming village of Vilshofen, Germany held exclusively for AmaWaterways guests.

? AMAWATERWAYS? NEW ?IN CELEBRATION OF WINE? ITINERARIES AND DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Legendary Wine Regions of the Rhone- This 15-day itinerary begins with 3 nights in Barcelona. There, guests embark on the AmaDagio ?for a 7-night cruise through legendary wine regions with visits to the cities of Arles, Les Baux de Provence, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Vienne and Trevoux before arriving in Lyon, followed by a high-speed TGV train ride to Paris for a 3-night stay. Excursions include tastings at local vintners, visits to enchanting Roman ruins and tours of the Provencal shops and marketplaces. North American travelers are invited to book cruises from Nov. 4 2012 ? Nov. 18, 2013.

Vineyards of the Rhine & Mosel ? On board the AmaDolce, this 12-day Rhine and Mosel River itinerary offers an unparalleled experience of centuries-old vineyards along two of Europe?s most renowned rivers. Itinerary highlights include views of the steepest vineyards in the world, a sight unique to the Mosel River; visits to ancient wine villages and vineyards and a visit to the 13th-century gothic cathedral in the city of Colonge, whose twin spires are among the tallest in Europe. The Vineyards of the Rhine & Mosel cruise begins with 3 nights in Paris, followed by a 7-night cruise from Luxembourg to Amsterdam. North American travelers are invited to book cruises starting Nov. 3, 2013.

Paris & the Sparkling Seine- This 11-day itinerary includes 2 nights in Paris and a 7-night cruise along the magnificent Seine

AmaWaterways Cruises - Dining on the AMAWaterways Amalegro (www.cruises.about.com)

aboard the AmaLegro. Guests will enjoy wine lectures, samplings and pairings as they visit the beautiful cities of Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Les Andelys and Conflans before returning to the Parisian ?City of Light.? Highlighting the rich art and culture of France, excursions include walking the along the streets that inspired Monet, exploring the historic capital of Normandy and its beaches and seeing the ruins of Chateau-Gaillard, the once-massive stronghold of Richard the Lionheart. North American travelers are invited to book cruises from April 4 ? Nov. 7, 2013.

Castles & Wineries of Germany ? On board the AmaDolce, this 14-day itinerary offers a historic tour of Europe?s rich medieval era. Beginning with 2 nights in Prague, the itinerary includes a 7-night cruise from Nuremberg to Luxembourg, visiting Bamberg, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Rudesheim, Koblenz, Cochem, Zell and Bernkastel. The cruise concludes with a 3-night stay in Paris and optional tours of the famous city. Excursions include vineyard visits and wine tastings, a Bamberg Smoked beer, or ?Rauchbier?, tasting, a visit to Siegfried?s Music Museum and a tour of the Reichsburg Castle. North American travelers are invited to book cruises starting Oct. 28, 2013.

AmaWaterWays River Cruises

Culture & Wine Legacy of the Rhine ? This 13-day itinerary begins in the colorful city of Amsterdam, where guests embark on the beautiful AmaCello. Traveling through the legendary Black Forest region en route to Zurich, guests can discover the stunning scenery of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. ?Excursions include a tasting of renowned Kolsch beer, a visit to Heidelberg?s red-walled Castle, scenic lakeside tours and visits to the region?s famous local wineries and markets. The itinerary concludes with a 2-night stay in the medieval city of Lucerne, followed by 2 nights in Zurich, Switzerland. North American travelers are invited to book cruises from Nov. 7, 2012 ? Nov. 21, 2013.

AMAWATERWAYS LOGO

Classic Port Wines & Charming Quintas ? This 12-day itinerary begins with three nights in Portugal?s lively capital, Lisbon, before continuing on a relaxing 7-night cruise aboard the AmaVida through the scenic Douro River Valley. Surrounded by deep cleft gorges, charming fishing villages and lush vineyards, this cruise begins and ends in Porto, the capital of the North. Itinerary highlights include a visit to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a tour of the Palacio de Mateus; a journey to the Portuguese pilgrimage site Nossa Senhora dos Rem?dios (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies) and exploration of the 14th-century Alpendurada Monastery. North American travelers are invited to book cruises from March 29 ? Nov. 1, 2013.

AmaWaterways Luxury river Cruises - The AmaDagio

Great Capitals & Vintages of the Danube ? Onboard the AmaPrima, AmaCerto, AmaBella, and AmaLyra, this 12-day itinerary travels along one of Europe?s most captivating rivers. ?Following a 3-night stay in majestic Prague, guests are invited to embark on a 7-night cruise from Vilshofen to Budapest with a backdrop of rolling hillsides, lush vineyards and medieval castles. Itinerary highlights include a walking tour of Vilshofen, known as a 2,000-year-old fairy tale city; a visit to one of Europe?s largest Baroque monasteries, Melk?s Benedictine Abbey; a visit to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of the ?The Sound of Music? and tours of Krem, a city rich with wine culture and history. North American travelers are invited to book cruises from Nov. 3, 2012 ? Nov. 14, 2013.

For additional information or to request a Wine Cruises Through Europe 2012 & 2013 Brochure, please visit?www.amawaterways.com. To book, please contact a local travel agent or visit?www.amawaterways.com, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Web Site:?http://www.amawaterways.com

Risky Drinking Can Put a Chill on Your Summer Fun

Summer is a wonderful time for outdoor activities with family and friends. For many people, a day at the beach, on the boat, or at a backyard barbecue will include drinking alcoholic beverages. But excessive drinking and summer activities don?t mix. Drinking impairs both physical and mental abilities, and it also decreases inhibitions?which can lead to tragic consequences on the water, on the road, and in the great outdoors. In fact, research shows that half of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults involve the use of alcohol.

SWIMMERS CAN GET IN OVER THEIR HEADS?Alcohol impairs judgment and increases risk-taking, a dangerous combination for swimmers. Even experienced swimmers may venture out farther than they should and not be able to make it back to shore, or they may not notice how chilled they?re getting and develop hypothermia. Surfers could become over-confident and try to ride a wave beyond their abilities. Even around a pool, too much alcohol can have deadly consequences. Inebriated divers may collide with the diving board, or dive where the water is too shallow.

BOATERS CAN LOSE THEIR BEARINGS?According to research funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol may be involved in 60 percent of boating fatalities, including falling overboard. And a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.1 percent is?16 times?more likely to be killed in a boating accident than an operator with zero BAC. According to the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, alcohol can impair a boater?s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. And if problems arise, intoxicated boaters are ill equipped to find solutions. For passengers, intoxication can lead to slips on deck, falls overboard, or accidents at the dock.

DRIVERS CAN GO OFF COURSE?The summer holidays are some of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. When

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RETHINKING DRINKING -

on vacation, drivers face many new obstacles: Traveling an unfamiliar route, hauling a boat or camper, and/or with the distraction of pets and children in the car. Adding alcohol to the mix puts the lives of the driver and everyone in the car, as well as other people on the road, at risk.

STAY HYDRATED AND STAY HEALTHY: Whether you?re on the road or in the great outdoors, heat plus alcohol can equal trouble. Hot summer days cause fluid loss through perspiration, while alcohol causes fluid loss through increased urination. Together, they can quickly lead to dehydration or heat stroke.

But this doesn?t have to happen. At parties, make at least every other drink a nonalcoholic one. If you?re the host, be sure to provide plenty of cold, refreshing nonalcoholic drinks to keep your guests well hydrated. If you know you?ll be driving, stay away from alcohol. And remember, there?s no shame in taking a cab or sleeping on a friend?s couch if you feel at all unsure if you should be driving.

FINALLY, SUMMER WILL END, BUT CONSEQUENCES CAN ENDURE: You can have fun in the sun and still be safe: Avoiding beverages that cause mental and physical impairment while piloting a boat, driving a car, exploring the wilderness, and swimming or surfing is a good place to start. NOT BEING SMART WILL MEAN THAT YOU WILL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN A WHEELCHAIR AS A QUADRPELGIC, SUFFER A BROKEN LEG OR ARM THAT WILL TAKE? MONTHS TO HEAL, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE BAOTING ON THE LAKE THAT WILL RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO OTHERS AND/OR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR YOURSELF. Be smart this summer?THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK, and make sure that you and your loved ones will be around to enjoy many summers to come.

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT DRINKING AND THE SUMMER HEAT

MYTH: If you drink just beer or wine, you?ll be fine.

FACT: It doesn?t matter what type of alcohol you chose to consume?a drink is a drink. Your blood alcohol content (also known as BAC, the percentage of alcohol in your blood) is what determines how drunk you are.

MYTH:??Drink coffee. Caffeine will sober you up.

FACT:?Caffeine may help with drowsiness, but not with the effects of alcohol on decision-making or coordination. The body needs time to metabolize (break down) alcohol and then to return to normal. There are no quick ways to sober up?only time will help.

For more information on preventing problems with alcohol this summer, and tips on cutting back, visit?http://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov. SOURCE: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health

http://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov

DURANGO, COLORADO ZIPLINE INTRODUCES OBSERVATION TRAIN CAR SEATING

Traveling on its inaugural journey through the Animas River Canyon, the ?Knight Sky? Open Air Observation Car carried its first passengers to Soaring? Tree Top Adventures? Zipline on June 15, 2012. ?Knight Sky is the newest addition to the Durango & Silverton Railroad?s train car fleet. The car was commissioned by Soaring owners and given to the Durango Railroad. With no road access to Soaring?s remote location in the mountains outside of Durango, Colorado, guests arrive at Soaring via the Durango & Silverton Railroad.

Soaring? Tree Top Adventures? first guests to ride in the Knight Sky were Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa (from the daytime TV show Live! with Kelly) and their family.

Melcher Brothers of Durango, Colorado built the new First Class, open-air observation train car, Knight Sky. This private, open seating car was built with the historic Silver Vista car in mind, with luxurious appointments added. The Knight Sky train car includes roomy, reclining leather seating, a UV-protected glass paneled roof and large viewing platforms. From mid-June through mid-August, Soaring guests have the option of riding in any of Soaring?s First Class cars: the Tall Timber Legend, the Tall Timber Legacy and now the Knight Sky.

SOARING TREE TOP ADVENTURES OBSERVATION TRAIN CAR SEATING - Durango, Colorado Zipline Introduces Observation Train Car Seating. The Knight Sky train car was added June 15, 2012. (PRNewsFoto/Soaring Tree Top Adventures)

Soaring? Tree Top Adventures consists of over 34 eco-friendly platforms, with 27 spans ranging from 56-1400 feet. Guests soar over 1.5 miles of cable in old growth forest, through Aspen glens and across the Animas River. Also included is a four-course gourmet lunch served in the trees overlooking the river and an ecology tour that operates in tandem with the Zipline. It has been enjoyed by guests age 4 ? 91. For several years, the canopy tour has been rated the #1 Attraction in the United States, Colorado and Durango on TripAdvisor.com, a consumer website for posting unbiased reviews of places visited.

The all-inclusive cost for the 5 1/2 hour Zipline adventure, including all equipment, expert Sky Ranger guides, Eco Tour specialists, a four-course gourmet lunch served in the trees and roundtrip train transportation on Soaring?s First Class train cars to this full day of adventure is $449/pp. Advance reservations are required: please call?970-769-2357?or reserve online at?www.soaringcolorado.com.
Web Site:?http://www.soaringcolorado.com

FATA MORGANA CIRQUE-STYLE EXTRAVAGANZA COMES TO BEAU RIVAGE JUNE 26 ? AUGUST 19
PRODUCTION SHOW FOR ALL AGES PRODUCED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MGM RESORTS GULF COAST CASINO
Bello Nock, comedic daredevil and circus star, for the first time ever walked 32 stories above and 360 feet across Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The high wire walk kicks off Beau Rivage?s summer production show FATA MORGANA which will appear in the Beau Rivage Theatre June 26-August 19.

Bello Nock is one of only five people in the world trained to perform such a feat. Easily recognized by his mile-high blonde hair, Nock holds a Guinness World Record for the first-ever high wire walk across a cruise ship at sea and he has more than four million views on YouTube for footage of his unbelievable toe hang underneath a helicopter this past February. He is one of only a handful of performers to win a Silver and a Gold Clown at the prestigious Monte Carlo International Festival hosted by Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert of Monaco. Equally accomplished at generating breathtaking thrills and laughter, Bello is a true mix of amazing comedian and daredevil. ?Recognized by TIME magazine as ?America?s Best Clown,? Nock kept millions around the world laughing during his time as a headline performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. After eight years with the ?Greatest Show on Earth,? and star of his own traveling show, he joined DreamCast Entertainment.

BEAU RIVAGE RESORT & CASINO FATA MORGANA -

?DreamCast Entertainment has produced several successful cirque-style shows for Beau Rivage including Balagan and New Ezuru. This time we wanted to create a summer production featuring more daring and death-defying stunts than ever before. This show has been exclusively produced for MGM Resorts and we?re looking forward to bringing 64 exciting performances in eight weeks to the Beau Rivage Theatre,? said DreamCast Entertainment President Misha Matorin, the show?s creator and producer.

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino is a AAA Four Diamond resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast featuring 1,740 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, four nightclubs and bars, a 85,000-square-foot gaming area, a 1,550-seat theatre, an upscale shopping promenade, a world-class spa & salon and Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course.

FATA MORGANA, an Italian phrase meaning optical illusion, will feature an international ensemble cast including the stunning Bolshoi Moscow Circus dancers, award-winning acrobats, aerialists from Canada and daring motorcyclists from the Ukraine. The show will feature more than a dozen acts including hand-balancing, the Cyr Wheel, the Sphere of Fear motorcycle globe and the Wheel of Wonder to wow crowds. ?At the center of FATA MORGANA is international circus star Bello Nock.
FATA MORGANA performances are 7 p.m. Tuesday ? Friday; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; no performances on Monday. Tickets are $9.95, $14.95 and $19.95 plus tax and service fees and available for purchase at the Beau Rivage Ticket Office, by phone at888.566.7469?or online at?www.beaurivage.com.

A family package of four tickets is available for $30. Advance reservations are required and package pricing is based on availability. ?A one night hotel stay and two FATA MORGANA tickets can be purchased for $129.99 plus taxes and fees. This offer is valid Sunday-Thursday nights and additional restrictions may apply. ?Reference offer code FATA129 when booking.

Ticket holders can also take advantage of Beau Rivage food and beverage offers from June 26 ? August 19. ? Children 12 and under eat free at The Buffet. Receive a free appetizer at Jia with the purchase of any entr?e, and 25 percent off your total bill at Stalla and Memphis Q. Guests must present their show ticket stub and M life card to redeem restaurant discount offers. Food & beverage offers are valid only on day of show dated on ticket. Offers are valid during the duration of the show, any day of the week, excluding July 3 & 4, 2012.

Beau Rivage is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International? (NYSE: MGM), one of the world?s leading global hospitality companies. For more information, call?(888) 567-6667?or visit?www.beaurivage.com.
SOURCE:?Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Web Site:?http://www.beaurivage.com

USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS PARTNERS WITH CRYSTAL CRUISES TO TEACH MOVIE-MAKING
Crystal Cruises? award-winning, luxurious offerings always include a diverse selection of thought-provoking, scholarly, and

CRYSTAL CRUISES joins with USC'S SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS - Crystal Cruises' industry-first partnership with USC's School of Cinematic Arts will teach digital filmmaking on the iPad to luxury cruisers. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

sophisticated enrichment activities that provide extensive on-board choices for cultured world travelers.

In an industry first, Crystal Cruises has teamed up with the esteemed University of Southern California?s School of Cinematic Arts ? alma mater of Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, and George Lucas, among many other film and media-makers ? to present ?Digital Filmmaking: The iPad iMovie Video Course? through the line?s exclusive Creative Learning Institute. Launching this week aboard Crystal Symphony, the five-hour, complimentary course teaches professional filmmaking tools and techniques to create one?s own films, from pre-production to final cut. Led by USC film professors, alumni and other film industry experts specially trained by curriculum creators Kerry Millerick and Dina Sterr, the course utilizes the iMovie app for iPad, but teaches basics that can be applied to any digital format.

?USC is one of the best film schools in the world,? says Bret Bullock, Crystal?s vice president of entertainment. ?We?re thrilled to bring guests a curriculum of this caliber to expand our Creative Learning Institute and teach vacationers even more new skills that they can take home with them.?

Using one?s own iPad, guests shoot one of five documentary-style genres while on board: Interview, Event, Commercial, Man on the Street or How-to. They then edit the footage and add music, graphics, voiceover and effects. Participants learn the importance of filmmaking theory in production ? considering the video?s purpose, intended audience, camera angle and shot composition ? and then how to create a trailer and digitally share their masterpiece with an ?audience? of loved ones via social media.
USC School of Cinematic Arts? Dean Elizabeth M. Daley, shares her enthusiasm about the partnership: ?We are always delighted to have the opportunity to share some of our creative skills and our love of cinema and media with others. Crystal Cruises provides a special way to reach a very interesting and exciting group, and we are pleased that members of our faculty will be invited on board to provide lectures and workshops to their guests.?

The Digital Filmmaking course will expand to Crystal Serenity in January 2013, making the program available on all Crystal?s luxury cruises worldwide. For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call?888-799-4625, visit?www.crystalcruises.com.
Web Site:?http://www.crystalcruises.com

VIRGIN AMERICA NAMED OFFICIAL DOMESTIC AIRLINE OF SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE PARADE?S 42ND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
SAN FRANCISCO?S HOMETOWN AIRLINE PROUDLY PARTNERED WITH SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE PARADE FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
This past weekend, Virgin America, San Francisco?s hometown airline, in partnership with San Francisco Pride, the nation?s largest LGBT event, was the ?Official Domestic Airline of SF Pride? for the fifth year in a row. ?As the ?Official Domestic Airline of SF Pride,? Virgin Americaonce again partnered with the local LGBT Pride Celebration Committee for the world-famous, one-of-

Virgin America logo. (PRNewsFoto/Virgin America)

a-kind SF Pride Parade and Celebration ? complete with a contingent of hundreds of Virgin America teammates celebrating the long tradition of inclusiveness in San Francisco on the airline?s ?The World is Your Runway? themed float. ?In addition, Singer and San Francisco native Aubrey O?Day ? formerly of ?Danity Kane and most recently, Celebrity Apprentice, took to the ?runway? to help Virgin America teammates celebrate atop the airline?s float in the annual parade. ?The float also included a live DJ with music spun by local San Francisco DJ, Fifty Pound Note.

This year marks the 42nd Anniversary of SF Pride, which was be held this past weekend.

SF Pride Parade-goers were also be able to join in the fun by striking a pose in a Virgin America aircraft window cut-out for snapshots that will be featured on Virgin America?s SF Pride photo album on Facebook. The airline is also inviting its followers around the country to tweet the airline a photo of their interpretation of Virgin America?s ?The World is Your Runway? theme using the hashtag #VXPride.

Celebrity Apprentice alum, Aubrey O'Day, celebrating with Virgin America teammates onboard the airline's float at SF Pride. (PRNewsFoto/Virgin America)

Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Virgin America was named ?Best Domestic Airline? in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 ?Readers? Choice? Awards ?and ?Best Domestic Airline? in Travel + Leisure?s 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 ?World?s Best? Awards. ?The airline?s base of operations is SFO?s sleek and sustainable Terminal 2. The airline?s new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat. Virgin America was the first airline to offer Gogo? InFlight Internet on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the U.S. skies, via the touch-screen Red? platform.
?We?ve worked with SF Pride ever since our launch and this event is always one of the most popular with our teammates,? said Luanne Calvert, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. ?As San Francisco?s hometown airline, we couldn?t be more proud to continue to be part of the incredible tradition and celebration that is SF Pride.?

As the Official Domestic Airline of SF Pride, Virgin America has welcomed onboard those traveling to San Francisco from all over the country to take part in the festivities. Virgin America offers hip mood-lit cabins and touch-screen personal entertainment systems (with 700 hours of entertainment content, on-demand food and beverage ordering, shopping and more). With WiFi on every flight, parade-goers can update their Facebook status or tweet about their journey on Virgin America ? and even chat up fellow Pride-Paraders on their flight at 35,000 feet, via the airline?s seat-to-seat chat system.

Since its launch in August 2007, Virgin America has created 2600 new jobs and grown to serve multiple destinations across North America. ?The airline has a fleet of 52 A320 Family Airbus aircraft ? with 60 additional aircraft slated for delivery from 2013-2019. ?Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (Dulles), Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington Reagan National (as of August 14, 2012). ?Known for friendly service, beautifully designed cabins and inventive amenities, like touch-screen entertainment at every seat, Virgin America has swept the major reader-based travel awards since its launch, including ?Best Domestic Airline? in Conde Nast Traveler?s Readers? Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure?s World?s Best Awards.

?SF Pride is the celebration of the best that is within us ? the diversity and depth of the LGBT community,? said Brendan Behan, Executive Director of the LGBT Pride Celebration Committee ?We are excited to welcome back Virgin America as our official domestic airline sponsor. ?Virgin America?s commitment to make flying good again goes hand in hand with their partnership with the world-class event that is San Francisco Pride.?
Web Site:?http://www.virginamerica.com

JAPAN AMERICA SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HONORS DISNEYLAND RESORT AND OPERATION TOMODACHI
103RD ANNIVERSARY DINNER & GALA CELEBRATION RECOGNIZES ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO RELIEF EFFORTS FOLLOWING JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

Caption 1:? The Japan America Society of Southern California presented its Kokusai Shimin Sho ?International Citizens Award? to Operation Tomodachi, the joint U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces humanitarian relief effort after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Pictured (L-R) Tammie Kanda, Co-Chair, JASSC?s 103rd Anniversary & Gala; Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, 59th Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Ret.); Jun Niimi, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles; and Terry Hara, Co-Chair, JASSC?s 103rd Anniversary & Gala. (PRNewsFoto/Japan America Society of Southern California)

Caption 2: The Japan America Society of Southern California presented its Kokusai Shimin Sho ?International Citizens Award? to Disneyland Resort for its more than 50 years of help to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship though the world?s most beloved theme parks. Disneyland Resort was also honored for its response and humanitarian aid following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The quake initially stranded 69,000 people at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Pictured (L-R): Terry Hara, Co-Chair, JASSC?s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala; 2011-12 Disneyland Ambassador Jolie Hales; Mickey Mouse; and Tammie Kanda, Co-Chair, JASSC?s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala. (PRNewsFoto/Japan America Society of Southern California)

The Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) presented its Kokusai Shimin Sho ?International Citizens Award? to Disneyland Resort and Operation Tomodachi, the joint U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces humanitarian relief effort, at the JASSC?s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration at the Disneyland Hotel on June 15, 2012.

?The Japan America Society of Southern California?s annual celebration is not only a time to bring our members and guests together, but also to honor outstanding efforts to foster the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Japanese and Americans,? said Nancy Woo Hiromoto, chair of the JASSC. ?Last year?s tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan brought out the best of both peoples, and we are proud to honor Disneyland Resort and Operation Tomodachi for their extraordinary contributions to the relief efforts.?

The Japan America Society of Southern California presented its Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" to Operation Tomodachi, the joint U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces humanitarian relief effort after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Pictured (L-R) Tammie Kanda, Co-Chair, JASSC's 103rd Anniversary & Gala; Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, 59th Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Ret.); Jun Niimi, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles; and Terry Hara, Co-Chair, JASSC's 103rd Anniversary & Gala. (PRNewsFoto/Japan America Society of Southern California)

The Japan America Society was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America. ?It has grown to become the West Coast?s premier educational and public affairs forum dedicated to the United States-Japan relationship by offering unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries. ?The Japan America Society?s active calendar of events includes breakfast and luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts and other special activities. ?Annual events include the 44th Japan America Golf Classic & Tennis Open, Family Fishing Trip and Family Whale Watch Cruise, 16th Japan America Kite Festival? and 6th U.S.-Japan Green Conference. ?The Japan America Society of Southern California is a qua

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