Beware of Job Scams

Ask anyone today what topic or area of concern could possibly be a hot commodity and you will surely get job vacancies as one of them. While we all know of the governing recession and layoffs happening in the world today, it remains that it is also an opportunity to trick people out of their leftover money. Pathetic as it may seem, it just remains that people are desperate to have some form of livelihood for their end, caring less of other’s welfare.

“There’s always people out there willing to take advantage of people’s misery,” said Chris Thetford, director of communications for the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. “I’ve never met anyone who had to pay to get a legitimate job.”

Nationally, authorities are finding examples of job scammers and taking action. For example, the Federal Trade Commission filed a federal court complaint in November against a Georgia firm that was charging $120 to $140 for materials it claimed would help applicants pass a U.S. Postal Service qualifying exam.

(Source) The Sun News

The Flydealism Campaign of Virgin America Airlines

600thmIt is a moniker but it is something relevant to their whole intent. Virgin America is flapping its wings and titling it the Flydealism campaign to help reinvent the domestic airline experience and ban mediocrity from the skies. The campaign was created by Virgin America’s advertising agency-of-record, the San Francisco-based Eleven Inc.

The Flydealism campaign has a rolling launch, starting with print ads and Web banners, followed in mid-March by bus shelters, out of home (OOH) and wild postings. In late April, the campaign will include image-driven print and OOH. The campaign is multilayered, with brand-oriented outdoor and direct online. The iconic Virgin America flag is a central element in the work, used both as a visual rallying cry and a creative signal to communicate special offers and deals to guests. The flag will be used in creative elements and in station marketing efforts.

Virgin America offers low fare flights that appeal to today’s tech-savvy business and leisure travelers. The airline offers power outlets and touch-screen Red(TM) entertainment platforms at every seat. The Red system allows guests to control their own in-flight experience, with a touch-screen food menu, live TV, movies, seat-to-seat chat, a play-list of thousands of MP3s, videogames and more. Already launched on 13 aircraft, by the second quarter of 2009, the carrier will be the first U.S. airline to offer in-flight Internet on every flight.

(Source) Press

RedBrick Pizza Announces Franchise Stimulus Package

redbrick2To perk up and reel in some potential investors for RedBrick Pizza franchises, RedBrick Pizza Worldwide Inc., has announced an interest free financing to qualified Master Developers for up to 50 percent of their Master Franchise fee.

“This represents the majority of a Master Developer’s investment in order to own a geographic territory,” says Jim Minidis, President of RedBrick Pizza Worldwide, Inc. “Years ago we had missed the opportunity to become a developer with a national sub-chain and decided RedBrick Master Development was an incredible opportunity to get in on the ground floor,” says Howard A. Johnson, RedBrick’s Master Developer of Maryland.

RedBrick Pizza is the leading fast-casual pizza franchise, now with cafes in 11 states and Canada.

(Source) Franchising.com

Brownies Madness!

roundup_0000000000004073_image_01Sweet tooth people and foodies who are simply crazy about brownies are sure to like this piece of information. Great American Cookies, long known for delicious fresh-baked cookies and Cookie Cakes, announces the launch of the first-ever “Brownie Madness!” celebration. The celebration is the first time the company has made their large selection of brownie flavors the focus of a company-wide promotion. Great American Cookies is supported by NexCen Franchise Management, Inc., a subsidiary of NexCen Brands, Inc.

With this celebration, Great American Cookies introduces a Chocolate Chip Cheesecake brownie, a decadent new cheesecake brownie flavor loaded with chocolate chips and topped with a rich chocolate ganache. The Chocolate Chip Cheesecake brownie joins Great American Cookies’ other decadent brownie flavors: Fudge; Fudge Nut; Cheesecake; Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl and German Chocolate.

“The new Chocolate Chip Cheesecake brownie is so delicious, we wanted to introduce it with a celebration around all of our brownies!” said Jenn Johnston, senior vice president of brand marketing for NexCen Franchise Management. “Just like our famous cookies, our brownies are fresh-baked in our stores using our proprietary recipes.”

(Source) Press

Quay Vodka Sails Into America

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Vodka is a drink that most people love to consume and while we have our own line of brands that are pretty much popular locally, the taste of French Vodka is something rare for most. American vodka connoisseurs will soon be able to enjoy a French-made vodka that evokes the simple elegance of the Mediterranean region of Europe: southern France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Bravado Imports is introducing Quay Vodka (http://www.quayvodka.com), an ultra-premium, artisan-crafted Mediterranean spirit, to select U.S. markets.

Quay Vodka is the culmination of Sheckart’s five-year search for the best European ingredients and blending techniques. The classification “artisan crafted” denotes the meticulous, hands-on approach taken in its creation. “Quay Vodka is made by a master distiller and in smaller quantities than most vodkas,” explained Sheckart. “The resulting attention to detail makes for a finer spirit, and Quay has all the qualities you look for in a fine spirit: ultra smoothness, complexity, that round-the-mouth feel and a flawless finish.”

(Source) Press

Texas Instruments Offers New Power Battery Gauge for Mobile Phones

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A new single-cell battery fuel gauge has been unveiled by Texas Instruments today which will help in monitoring devices in systems. Impedance Track technology accurately predicts battery capacity instantly under all operating conditions, including battery age, temperature and discharge behavior.

Today, TI ships millions of battery fuel gauge ICs with Impedance Track technology to customers worldwide in applications ranging from notebooks to smart phones.

Key features:

  • Patented Impedance Track next-generation gauging algorithm
  • Accurate and complete battery fuel gauge
  • CPU-based IC reports remaining capacity, time-to-empty, voltage, current, temperature and more
  • Calculates remaining charge under all conditions
  • System-side implementation even with a removable battery
  • 12-pin, 2.5 x 2 x 0.625 mm WCSP package

Key benefits

  • Provides complete “state-of-health” battery information so a system can effectively manage the battery and extend run-time
  • No calculations needed with the host microcontroller for easy implementation
  • Accurate display of run time under all conditions
  • No extra circuitry needed inside the battery pack
  • Smallest Impedance Track solution in the industry

(Source) Press

Plentyoffish.com is Everyone’s Favorite Internet Dating Site

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Most singles who browse the web are not only after information. Some even go as far as looking for love as well. And when one asks which site is best, check out Plentyoffish.com. It is the top ranked and favorite site that most online dating addicts are into these days.

Plentyoffish.com is now the official #1 online dating site in both the USA and the UK according to Hitwise and is quickly gaining the reputation for being the site where people meet their true love. At least that’s the case in San Diego, California.

“The notion that people have to pay a dating site big money to meet somebody is outdated.” Says Frind, “the truth of the matter is that POF.com offers people the chance to meet and interact with over ten million singles without having to add more to their credit card debt. When our members meet someone on the site, they still have some money for the actual date. That can be a pretty big challenge in this economy.”

(Source) Press

Mixbook Launches Upgraded Online Photo Editor

For people who love to go online, a lot of things are the reason behind it. And among the, the ability to edit photos online is a growing fad and thanks to the efforts of Mixbook, they just upgraded that option for people who are simply crazy about producing the best photos online today.

Mixbook today announced the release of a powerful new online scrapbook editor. Mixbook’s new editor allows users to fully personalize their photo book with a wide array of stickers, backgrounds, and professionally-designed themes.

Mixbook’s Online Photo Book Software Offers:

  • One-Click Professional Templates – Create a book quickly with pre-built professional templates for baby photo books, wedding photo books, travel books and more.
  • Powerful Scrapbook Editor – Move, crop, rotate, pan and zoom on photos; add stickers and backgrounds; and create custom layouts.
  • Integration with Leading Photo Sites – Add photos from Facebook, Picasa Web Albums, Flickr, Photobucket or Smugmug.
  • Simple Online Collaboration – Invite friends and family to create pages, add photos and even create their own fully-personalized copies to order when the book is done.

(Source) Press

Rotary Clubs and Dolly Parton to Push Children Reading Campaign

imagination_libraryIn an effort to boost the literacy level of kids today, Rotary clubs have partnered with country music legend Dolly Parton to promote literacy bridges the pop culture gap. Rotary International today announced a collaboration with Parton’s Tennessee-based Dollywood Foundation to promote early childhood reading.

Rotary clubs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are encouraged to support the foundation’s Imagination Library program, which provides books to children from birth until age five, so that parents can begin reading to them as soon as possible.

The program is especially valuable for children in underprivileged and working class families for whom children’s books might be an unaffordable luxury. Rotary club participation could include promoting the program locally, helping to identify and register the children, and paying for the books and mailings. The average annual cost is $28 per child.

(Source) Press

BluefirePoker.com Aims to Prove Poker as a Game of Skill

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To help address the growing issue of gambling associated with Poker, BluefirePoker.com (a non-wagering Poker training site via online videos) is willing to put its money where its mouth is – to prove that Poker is a game of skill, not luck.

The folks at www.BluefirePoker.com are offering $1,000,000 to President Obama or any member of the U.S. Congress willing to play a Poker game against any of their poker pros, and the winnings can go to the charity of choice. BluefirePoker.com will put up $1,000,000 against $1 for a chance to play with either President Obama or any member of the U.S. Congress.

The legislative debate centers on whether or not Poker is a game of chance or skill, and this debate determines the legality of online gambling, according to legal and legislative experts on the subject. No one in their right mind would turn down this challenge if Poker were a game based on luck, because the odds are so far in their favor – putting up $1 for a chance to win $1,000,000 for the charity of their choice.

(Source) Press

Consumers Spending More on Recreation

logo_smart-circle-logoWith hard times upon us, one would think that people would focus more on saving each buck as much as they can. But then again, despite broadly publicized cuts in overall consumer spending, Euromonitor International reports that Americans typically allocate more of their discretionary income on recreation than areas like clothing, electronics, or even household goods.

Smart Circle International, the leader in worldwide referral marketing, is bringing consumers exclusive offers through its signature Smart Circle Cards on the recreational activities they love at an affordable price, including discounts at paintball and karting venues, as well as family entertainment centers such as Gameworks, Main Event, Dave & Busters, Mr. Biggs, Boomers, Zuma, Fiddlestix and Celebration Station.

“The Smart Circle has generated great awareness for our business,” said Danny Lobo, owner of Medley Paintball Park near Miami, Florida. “They have been instrumental in increasing traffic at our paintball facility.”

The typical Smart Circle Card recreational package is priced at $29.99 but averages anywhere from $250 to $300 in value. Sample benefits to consumers include:

  • Paintball – Complimentary admission with equipment rentals included
  • Karting – Free upfront races and additional races are offered on a two-for-one basis. Group discounts also are included
  • Family Entertainment – Complimentary family fun pack for four

(Source) Press

Cyrus Family Pops the Charts

wdrblacklogoTwo Cyruses, Billy Ray and Miley are topping the charts for their respective songs which will appear on Walt Disney Records soundtracks. This week, Miley Cyrus debuts with “The Climb” (Walt Disney/Hollywood/Lyric Street) at No. 48 and father Billy Ray bows with “Back to Tennessee” (Walt Disney/Lyric Street) at No. 59 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

The Songs are due to be unveiled on March 24 in the Walt Disney Pictures film, “Hannah Montana The Movie,” which opens nationwide in theaters April 10. Back To Tennessee is also the title track of Cyrus’ upcoming CD, which will be released on April 7. This marks the first time in nearly twenty years that a father and daughter have appeared on the chart with separate solo singles.

A musical highpoint in “Hannah Montana The Movie,” Billy Ray (as his character Robby Ray Stewart) performs “Back To Tennessee.” Written by Cyrus, Tamara Dunn and Matthew Wilder, it is inspired by Billy Ray’s longing to return to his roots and breathe the sweet southern air of his home state.

(Source) Press

Is the Saturn Brand a Dead Brand?

saturn_picTo help address the worsening economic situations, General Motors is seriously pondering on killing the Saturn brand. General Motors first conceived the idea of the Saturn brand back in the late 1980’s. Since the popular car brand started rolling off of car lots it has created a very loyal fan base.

G.M. says that if Saturn retailers or other investor groups present a plan that would allow a spin-off or sale of the Saturn Distribution Corporation that they would be open to that possibility.

If a deal is not reached then G.M. says it will phase out Saturn at the end of the product’s life cycle sometime in 2012.

(Source) TriCities.com

TitanPoker.com Awarded Best Poker Customer Service Award

titanpokerFor the third year in a row, TitanPoker.com has been adjudged the Best Poker Customer Service Award by Gambling Online Magazine.

Titan Poker, the leading poker destination on the iPoker Network, takes pride in its ability to keep players satisfied with its “personal touch” and reliable customer service. www.titanpoker.com also edged out the competition when receiving Gambling Online Magazine’s Best Poker Customer Service Award in 2006 and 2007.

Titan Poker has earned a reputation for excellence in the online poker industry due to its dedicated and professional support staff working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to meet the needs of its customers. Players in need of assistance can contact Titan Poker directly by e-mail, fax, telephone, or through an Online Support chat system that is available to players in the poker software.

(Source) Press

Web Marketing for Dummies Author Goes Online

image001One thing about people getting into web marketing strategies today, books are not the only ones to help guide them. In fact, some theories and concepts may be up for debate and for the many endorsers of the “For Dummies” series, here is your chance to raise your doubts.

Makena Technologies, creator of the popular social virtual world There.com, today announced that Wiley Publishing’s “Web Marketing for Dummies” author, Jan Zimmerman, will be hosting an in-world discussion on March 5 at 7:00 pm ET. The updated version of the book in the popular “For Dummies” technology book series features notes about marketing in a virtual world like There.com. The event is free to all There.com members.

Zimmerman’s visit to There.com on March 5 will coincide with Wiley’s Dummies promotion, in which people purchasing the book will receive a $5 rebate. At the event, members can enter a raffle for Dummies-branded clothing and will also have the chance to ask questions of Zimmerman. There.com members can also read a sample chapter and order “Web Marketing for Dummies,” which went on sale earlier this year.

(Source) Press

Successful E-mail Marketing Strategies: From Hunting to Farming

logo_logo_144References on how to effectively make use of email marketing strategies can be solicited once again from this new book reference that was recently launched.

e-Dialog, a proven provider of advanced e-mail marketing services and solutions, today announced the debut of Successful E-mail Marketing Strategies: From Hunting to Farming, a book co-authored by marketing veterans Arthur Middleton Hughes and Arthur Sweetser. Available from RACOM Books, Amazon.com and Borders.com, the book outlines how to create and measure e-mail messages that are relevant to subscribers.

Understanding that competition has never been more fierce, nor margins more slim, the authors guide marketers in FARMING techniques; sending e-mails that prompt recipients to take a desired action based on a database of demographic and behavioral information. In essence, they direct companies in optimizing and measuring the most impactful and cost-effective medium today.

(Source) Press

Watchmen is the Film to Watch

Watchmen 2009Though it was not feted that much during the Academy Awards, Watchment is slowly proving to one and all that it is the movie worth watching. Watchmen doesn’t open until Friday, but Fandango is already seeing strong advance ticket sales for the film, comprising 61% of all sales on Fandango, the nation’s leading moviegoer destination.

Advance tickets for director Zack Snyder’s Watchmen are far outpacing advance tickets sold for Snyder’s previous movie, 300, at the same point in that film’s sales cycle. Dozens of midnight Thursday night showtimes for the film are sold out on Fandango, from Albany, Georgia to Dublin, California.

As a bonus, moviegoers purchasing tickets for Watchmen or Watchmen: The IMAX Experience on Fandango will receive a free download of bonus content on iTunes, including the first chapter of Watchmen Motion Comics plus a sneak peek of Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter.

(Source) Press

Go Orange for Animals

o_aspca-speak-4Join in the commemoration on the prevention of cruelty to animals with their new moniker, Go Orange for Animals. This April, the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) will once again commemorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month – an extremely important month for animals.

From its beginnings three years ago as a small grassroots adoption event in New York City, the ASPCA’s April celebrations have mushroomed into a nationwide celebration of the human-animal bond and the organization’s victories on behalf of animals.

The ASPCA will officially kick off the month on April 7 when iconic buildings and landmarks across the country such as the Empire State Building, Sears Tower and Niagara Falls will support the ASPCA’s life-saving work as they light up in its signature color and “Go Orange for Animals.”

(Source) Press

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience

jonas-brothers_mancrushIt looks like that this new offering from Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures and IMAX Corporation, the Jonas Brothers is going to be the next big hit if initial numbers are to be considered.

The 3D Concert Experience grossed $765,000 in select IMAX(R) 3D theatres, posting a per screen average of approximately $15,000 during its opening weekend from Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1. The limited IMAX 3D engagement will continue to run through this Thursday, March 5.

“We’re happy that Jonas Brothers fans have a chance to experience this concert film in IMAX 3D,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “The rollout of our digital IMAX projection system made this one-week IMAX run possible, and we are pleased that this flexibility enabled our partners at Disney as well as our exhibitor partners to have this special release for a week.”

This high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary 3D feature film event from director Bruce Hendricks (”Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour”), blends excerpts from the Brothers’ red-hot “Burning Up” concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift. The film also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song (”Love Is On Its Way”), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor-giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick.

(Source) Press

D-Angelo Sports Drinks to Rebound

Cheetah Power Surge

To many, this sports drink brand may seem unfamiliar. Maybe its because this brand crashed spectacularly a few years ago in beer and juice ventures. However, they are back for another shot at big-time business. The venture is spearheaded by Frank D’Angelo.

D’Angelo announced yesterday one of his old companies is relaunching “Cheetah Power Surge,” a non-caffeinated energy drink, for distribution in unidentified convenience stores and national grocery chains.

Cheetah gained notoriety when D’Angelo and disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson appeared in TV commercials promoting the drink.

(Source) The Star.com