England general blog

$10 Million Bankruptcy Liquidation of Custom Motorcycle Parts

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:44:58 +0000

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Ten million dollars’ worth of custom motorcycle parts are set to be sold in bankruptcy liquidation beginning Friday, September 12, in Fort Worth, TX.This huge liquidation of excess motorcycle parts for V-Twins and choppers will be held at American Ironhorse Motorcycle’s factory, 4600 Blue Mound Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76106, to sell off excess parts not needed for new production. Liquid Asset Partners LLC in joint venture with Hilco Merchant Resources LLC is conducting the sale.Bulk sales will begin August 25 through our office sales staff. Dealers and distributors wishing to make purchases should contact Liquid Asset Partners at (616) 719-5917 or they can view the $10 million inventory at . “Our office sales staff is ready to help with all orders,” says Liquid Asset Partners CEO Bill Melvin. “Dealers or bulk buyers willing to make a minimum purchase of $2000 can purchase through our office sales staff starting today and they can see the full inventory on our website!” says Melvin. “We’ve got everything needed to make a chopper: frames, wheels, gas tanks, fenders, starters, six speed transmissions, engine parts, tires, plus nuts, bolts, and hardware. We have to sell it all, regardless of cost or loss!”The inventory is so large that Liquid Asset Partners is giving the industry a few days to place orders before opening the sale to the public from September 12 through September 14. On Friday, September 12 at 9 AM, the sale will open to the general public, and everyone will have a chance to buy what they need. Melvin says, “We have done this before and it was very effective; hundreds of buyers purchased the basics needed to create their own bike for pennies on the dollar. Swap meet dealers and backyard garage mechanics will have a real treasure trove to pick from. Everything must go, so come on in and make offers.”American Ironhorse Motorcycles filed bankruptcy earlier this year and the manufacturing rights have been sold. Now the bankruptcy court order provides for Liquid Asset Partners to sell all the excess parts. Anyone with a V-Twin motorcycle will want to be at this event. There are many parts to fit Harleys, as well as custom bikes, plus apparel and hardware.The onsite sales event starts Friday, September 12 at 9 AM at 4600 Blue Mound Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76106. Buyers can go to for more details.Liquid Asset Partners is a nationwide liquidation firm specializing in the sale of excess assets, overstocks, and equipment. Their team’s extensive background includes over 20 years of working with Fortune 500 companies, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and even mom and pop shops. Management’s 30-year motorsport history includes the liquidation of motorcycles, parts, accessories, equipment and intellectual property of the Indian Motorcycle factory, Cannondale Motorcycle factory, Big Dog Motorcycles, Nikota Powersports, Custom Chrome, American Ironhorse, Motorcycle Stuff, numerous dealerships, and many more. Contact Liquid Asset Partners LLC for more information at (616) 719-5917.Press can contact Bill Melvin at 616-719-5917.This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit . Liquid Asset Partners LLC

LinkShare Enables Publishers to Monetize Ad Inventory in a Brand New Way

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:14:50 +0000

NEW YORK and LONDON, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ — LinkShare, a global online advertising services provider, today announced Easy links as the latest addition to the LinkShare publisher and advertiser offering. Easy links are contextual product ads that use proprietary intelligence to help advertisers and publishers increase revenue and improve their conversion rates.When a publisher places the code for Easy links on their website, the ad unit determines the context of the publisher’s site and selects relevant products to display. In addition, Easy links are also designed to improve conversion rates. Once relevant products are selected, the ad unit uses a unique algorithm that leverages the power of direct response optimization to determine which advertiser products have the greatest chance of conversion, and hence earning a publisher a commission.In determining what to display, Easy links evaluate each possible product with a score based on a variety of factors, including the product’s category, price, and discount, as well as its past performance. This level of relevance and probability is a first in the affiliate and online market and is designed to drive higher conversion rates for publishers.Easy links is intended to be used by a wide range of publishers. Unlike a product feed, which requires publishers to have a significant level of programming skills, with Easy links there are no such requirements. All that is required to run Easy links is for the advertiser to provide a LinkShare product data feed. LinkShare then leverages the feed into a set-it-and-forget-it, self-optimizing JavaScript ad unit for publishers.”LinkShare is continually looking for new and innovative ways to provide our network with increased value, and we are particularly excited about Easy links since they represent a new opportunity for niche publishers, bloggers and long-tail websites to increase their revenue,” said Jonathan Levine, Co-President of LinkShare. “The set-it-and-forget it nature of the Easy links solution represents an exciting evolution in ecommerce marketing.”In pilot tests, advertisers and publishers reported that Easy links let them harness more value from their product data feeds and improve overall conversion rates. They also praised how the contextual link technology means that the content on the page determines the products that are shown for improved targeting.How Easy links workEasy links are contextual product ad units. To use Easy Links, a publisher simply copies JavaScript code from their LinkShare account and places it on their site. Once that is done, LinkShare will “crawl” the publisher’s page and identify keywords associated with that page. LinkShare then queries the advertiser’s product data file using these keywords. With its unique knowledge about product conversion rates, LinkShare then scores and displays products which are relevant to the website’s content, and more likely to convert, based on past performance. Easy Link ads are available in the following eight IAB sizes: — 300 x 250 - (Medium Rectangle) — 468 x 60 - (Full Banner) — 234 x 60 - (Half Banner) — 120 x 240 - (Vertical Banner) — 125 x 125 - (Square Button) — 728 x 90 - (Leaderboard) — 160 x 600 - (Wide Skyscraper) — 120 x 600 - (Skyscraper) About LinkShareLinkShare Corporation provides ecommerce businesses with a wide range of online marketing services including Search Marketing (SEM), Lead Generation and Affiliate Marketing. Advertisers can increase their online sales by leveraging LinkShare’s massive performance marketing network along with expert consultative services and patented technology. Superior service combined with technology innovation allows advertisers and publishers to acquire and retain new customers, increase revenue and drive results.LinkShare clients include Fortune 500 and other prominent and emerging companies doing business online, including J.C. Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express, and Avon Products. LinkShare was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, London and Tokyo. LinkShare is a division of Rakuten, Inc.About Rakuten, Inc.Headquartered in Tokyo, Rakuten is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive Internet service companies, providing leading services in e-commerce, portal & media, travel, financial services, and professional sports. Rakuten focuses on new business development and increasing its scope in order to improve and diversify service offerings. Rakuten, Inc. is a publicly traded company in Japan (JASDAQ: 4755). LinkShare Corporation

Constellation Energy Serves up Wind Power for the 2008 US Open

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:14:51 +0000

BALTIMORE, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Constellation Energy today announced that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy (CNE), is helping to turn the court green at the 2008 US Open in Flushing, N.Y. CNE will supply an estimated 2,000 Green-e certified wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to the United States tennis Association (USTA) to match the electricity consumption at the USTA Billie Jean King National tennis Center for the duration of the US Open held Aug. 25-Sept. 7, 2008.”We’re proud to be serving this year’s US Open with clean, wind-generated energy,” said Michael Kagan, president of Constellation NewEnergy. “By matching their electricity usage with renewable energy, the USTA and other sports associations across America are helping to lead the effort to address the environmental and energy challenges we face around the globe.”"Big-time sporting events provide a unique platform to educate our fans on green initiatives, and we feel that the best way we can educate is to lead by example,” said Arlen Kantarian, chief executive officer, Pro Tennis, USTA. “We have a plan that will lessen the environmental impact of the event and heighten the environmental awareness of those who attend it.”CNE has a successful track record of providing sources of renewable energy to sporting events and venues across the country. For example, last year CNE and The Kraft Group announced their collaboration to secure wind RECs to match the electricity usage at Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots, before, during and after all pre-season, regular and post-season home games. The electricity usage at the 2007 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship was also matched with RECs by CNE. This was the first-ever PGA TOUR or Champions Tour event to be powered fully by renewable energy. This year, CNE also supplied RECs to match the electricity usage at the 2008 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship.CNE offers a suite of sustainable solutions including demand response programs and renewable energy resources. At the US Open, CNE will be supplying RECs generated from the wind. A REC represents the clean air benefits from electricity generated from a wind, solar or other renewable power facility. Organizations may use RECs to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help support the operation and development of domestic sources of cleaner, renewable energy.Constellation NewEnergy (), a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation Energy , is a leading competitive supplier of electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to commercial, industrial and institutional customers throughout North America. Constellation NewEnergy operates in all competitive energy markets throughout Canada and the United States, providing products that enable customers to effectively manage and control energy costs. Constellation NewEnergy’s regional expertise, coupled with its national presence, provides customers with customized energy products and services while leveraging the assets of one of the strongest integrated energy companies in North America. Constellation NewEnergy, based in Baltimore, serves more than 19,000 commercial, industrial and institutional customers throughout 31 states and three Canadian provinces representing more than 15,000 megawatts of peak load and approximately 400 billion cubic feet of annual natural gas consumption.Constellation Energy (), a FORTUNE 125 company with 2007 revenues of $21 billion, is the nation’s largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation’s largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 83 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 9,000 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 94 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. A not-for-profit organization with 725,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com. Constellation Energy

CPP Hits the Road for the ‘SI Evolution of the Game Tour Presented by Nissan’

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:14:50 +0000

ATLANTA, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ — After a crowd-pleasing run through the Southeastern Conference during the 2007-2008 college football season, Sports Illustrated, Nissan and Creative Presence Partners (CPP) are gearing up once again to provide fans with the ultimate game-day experience.The corporate and creative partners, along with advertising agencies OMD and TBWA/Chiat/Day, are teaming up in the production of the SI Evolution of the Game Tour Presented by Nissan, a multi-platform tour and campaign paying tribute to the ever-evolving game of college football. Sponsored by Nissan and co-branded by Sports Illustrated, the interactive college football tour will be managed by CPP, an award-winning integrated marketing firm that has coordinated several large-scale events at some of the most prestigious sporting events in the country.Launching September 1 before a Rose Bowl matchup between UCLA and Tennessee, the national tour will be making stops at 10 of the most anticipated college football games during the 2008-2009 season. En route to the tour’s season finale at the SEC Championship Game on December 6, fans will be treated to a fun-filled history lesson in one of America’s favorite pastimes.Strategically and conveniently located outside stadiums or other popular campus locations, the highly visible 35′ dome beckons the game-day crowd. Visitors can win prizes by playing interactive games, interact with former football greats who will be making appearances at each tour stop, get a hands-on look at the 2009 Nissan Maxima and take a trip into college football history inside the SI Vault Museum.Fans also will receive a complimentary Sports Illustrated collector’s edition magazine containing colorful features and photography on the iconic moments, players and matchups that have helped evolve the great game of college football throughout the generations.The SI Evolution of the Game Tour Presented by Nissan also will deliver the Heisman Trophy and former winners to thousands of fans across the country. The award will be on prominent display at each of the stops, offering fans the opportunity to have their picture taken with the prestigious trophy and the football heroes who won it.”We’re happy to team up with such great partners as Nissan and Sports Illustrated to provide a venue that helps fans celebrate their passion for the game,” said CPP President and CEO Vince Thompson.Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Vince Thompson Contact: Dwayne Harrison 404-812-1957Creative Presence Partners

Grey Hair and Knowledge of Traditional Lullabies Pays Off With Sing Abuelita Sing Contest

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:44:47 +0000

MIAMI, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Baby Abuelita Productions LLC., creators of the popular Spanish-lullaby singing dolls, is inviting the public to join in the fun. As part of the company’s desire to preserve the heritage from one generation to another, people of all ages can enter for the chance to win one of two Sing Abuelita Sing contests. The entire family can participate by either singing a traditional lullaby or nursery rhyme or by submitting a drawing or photo of family members that resemble one of the Baby Abuelita characters: Abuelita Rosa, Abuelito Pancho, Baby Andrea or Baby Tita.Sing Abuelita Sing is a contest for the entire family, as an effort to embrace the family heritage. Dress up in a bata de casa, put on a pair of gafas or sing “Arroz con Leche” and submit your entry to Sing Abuelita Sing. The grand prize entry in each of the Look-a-like and Sing-a-long categories will receive a camcorder to record fond family memories plus a full assortment of Baby Abuelita products. Approximate retail value of grand prize package is $750.00 each. Second and third place winners in each category will receive an assortment of fun bilingual books from Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, plus a Baby Abuelita prize package. All semi-finalists will receive a Baby Abuelita DVD. To enter, submit a photo or drawing of you or your family that resemble the Baby Abuelita dolls, or send a video, MP3, CD, DVD or record a message from a telephone of one of your favorite nursery rhymes or traditional lullabies. The contest runs through September 30, 2008. Full contest rules and regulations can be found at Founded in 2005, Baby Abuelita Productions was created by a pair of working mothers: Hilda Argilagos-Jimenez, a dance teacher and Carol Fenster, a psychotherapist. “We wanted to create a doll that preserved tradition and warm memories,” said Fenster. “But our dolls have managed to do that and more. We get emails from teachers and parents who are using these dolls to educate their children and teach them Spanish, which is a wonderful thing.”Baby Abuelita Productions, LLC. was recently awarded the 2008 Toy of the Year and Preferred Choice Award by Creative Child’s Awards Program for Abuelita Rosa and Abuelito Pancho. The Creative Child’s Awards panel consisted of over 50 moms and educators.Baby Abuelita is available at a wide variety of Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us and Kmart locations and online at . Baby Abuelita Productions

Los Angeles Entrepreneur Reitzin Debuts New $Multi-Million Film and Television Production Facility as Avenue Six Studios Bows to Flurry of Activity

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:29:55 +0000

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ — In 2005, entrepreneur Paul Reitzin was in desperate need of a studio to shoot visuals for his extremely popular furniture line. Reitzin glanced around the Los Angeles film production landscape, and not impressed by what he saw thought to himself, “We can do better. We have to do better.” In his mind, the task at hand was clear.Mr. Reitzin already had a wealth of experience and a knack for bringing his vision to fruition. He founded Studio RTA, a market leader, trendsetter and consistent award recipient for excellence in design within the Home Office and Home Theatre furniture categories and later launched the Avenue Six furniture line. Clearly his ability to launch and successfully build companies was established. But, now Reitzin’s thoughts turned to film and television production and the idea for the glitzy Avenue Six Studios was born.It originally started innocently enough when Reitzin and partner Steve Harris obtained a prime piece of business-zoned real estate and were first planning an “Avenue Six Studios.” The goal was simply to keep creative and quality control over the visual images and marketing materials for Avenue Six furniture and Rezon8 Living. Blueprinted as a state-of-the-art photography studio to support Reitzin’s Avenue Six furniture line and his retail plans, as the process continued, the idea for a larger, more expansive Avenue Six Studios grew.Fast-forward to August 2008 … Now, Reitzin is President and CEO of his latest venture, Avenue Six Studios and his vision for a new self-contained complex has become a reality. The 20,000-square-foot facility includes two stages for all types of production. The facility also boasts several thousand square feet of office and other behind-the-scenes space.Reitzin notes, “What we have created is a wonderfully complete and all-new facility for the entertainment industry. I was so frustrated with what was currently available for film and television production in the city, I was sure we could create the best possible facility and one perfectly suited for all types of uses. People love the versatility of this facility.”The New Avenue Six Studio Complex offers one of the industry’s most versatile shooting environments. Located minutes from Burbank, Hollywood and entertainment giants such as Warner Bros., Raleigh Studios, Universal and Disney, Avenue Six is expertly equipped. Reitzin adds, “We have amazing access and we’re all new. It’s a win, win for our current friends in the industry and our new film and television clientele.”And the word is already out. Avenue Six has opened with a flurry of activity. Warner Bros. Television’s recently lensed scenes from an upcoming TV movie pilot for ABC entitled Captain Cook’s Extraordinary Atlas. Avenue Six was also selected by One Stop Productions and ABC for a recent shoot for the hit television series LOST.And in keeping with his expertise in the furniture universe, Avenue Six Studios also offers Reitzin’s Rezon8 Living inventory as prop rentals. Additionally, a growing collection of award-winning contemporary and classic retro designs by Avenue Six furniture are also available to the industry. Avenue Six furniture is a sister company to Avenue Six Studios and a wholesale furniture company that offers a wide range of original and highly innovative ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture designs for home and office.Reitzin concludes, “This is the film and production capital to the world. We believe we’ve created a world-class venue purpose-built to cater to the incredibly talented individuals in Hollywood who create the movie magic the world has come to embrace.”Visit the Avenue Six Studios virtual tour by logging on to their website at . Prop sales and rentals will be offered by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for studio facility rentals, contact or 818.933.0818, or you can also visit our website at .Contact: 310-341-3201 or This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com. Avenue Six Studios

Globus family of brands Renews Contract with 90octane for Search Engine Marketing, Online Media Planning & Social Media Marketing

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:45:05 +0000

DENVER, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ — Globus family of brands, the world leader in first-class, escorted travel with 80 years of experience, has renewed its contract with interactive marketing agency 90octane, LLC. The agency has provided search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click advertising (PPC) services to Globus family of brands since 2003 and continues to deliver highly qualified prospects to ten of the company’s product and service-oriented websites.Highlights from the recent 12-month program include a more than 50% conversion rate increase and a decrease in cost-per-conversion in the highly competitive travel space. Conversions are defined as brochure requests, e-newsletter signups and vacation or tour bookings.”Each marketing dollar dedicated has shown tremendous return, with customers converting at an unprecedented rate. Careful planning during every phase, from the initial strategy to creative execution and ongoing optimization, has contributed to program results that far exceeded our expectations,” said Jeff Russell, e-Marketing Manager for Globus family of brands.In addition to search engine optimization, PPC, contextual advertising and media planning, 90octane will now manage its partner’s social media marketing, managing the travel blog Story Suitcase (), crafting relevant keyword strategies and implementing new optimization processes.In-depth competitive reports and attention to the inherent seasonality of the travel business drive the strategic approach behind each online marketing tactic.About Globus family of brandsGlobus family of brands, including Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways, provides a variety of products that match today’s diverse traveler with unparalleled vacation experiences. The tour operator has offered hundreds of unique itineraries all over the world for 80 years. For more information, please visit .About 90octane90octane is an award-winning interactive marketing agency that leverages online marketing strategies, search engine marketing (SEM) services and sales lead generation capabilities to develop custom, results-driven solutions. Combining proprietary analytics tools with creative expertise, 90octane optimizes the impact of each interactive marketing dollar budgeted by clients, ranging from international non-profit organizations such as Heifer International to Fortune 500 companies such as Gates Corporation. For more information, please contact Rosemary Riley at 720-904-8169, or visit . 90octane, LLC

MEDIA ADVISORY/ALERT: Synopsys Showcases DesignWare IP Solutions for PCI Express, USB and SATA at Intel Developer Forum 2008

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:15:03 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Synopsys, Inc. , a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, will be demonstrating its complete DesignWare(R) IP solutions for PCI Express(R), usb and SATA at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, California on August 19, 2008. Furthermore, the DesignWare IP for PCI Express with PCI-SIG I/O Virtualization technology will be featured in the Intel Lab sessions at IDF.IDF is one of the premier technical events for the release and exchange of new technology and information in the computer, network, wireless and communications realms.WHAT: Synopsys will be showcasing its latest developments in DesignWare IP for PCI Express, usb and SATA at IDF in the PCI Express Technology Community, usb Community and the SATA-IO booth #326, respectively. WHEN: August 19-21, 2008 WHERE: Moscone Center West, 800 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 EXHIBIT HOURS: Tuesday, August 19, 6:00pm-8:00pm Wednesday, August 20, 12:00pm-1:30-pm & 6:00pm-8:00pm Thursday, August 21, 12:00pm-1:30pm Synopsys Highlights at IDF: PCI Express Technology Community - Synopsys Booth #726 — DesignWare IP for PCI Express 2.0 DemonstrationSynopsys provides leading PCI Express IP solutions for a wide range of applications requiring single lane (x1) up to sixteen (x16) lane interfaces. Using the DesignWare PHY and digital controller, Synopsys will be demonstrating high performance data transfers at 5.0 Gbps using a PCI Express 2.0 based PC platform.– DesignWare PHY IP for PCI Express DemonstrationSynopsys will be demonstrating its silicon-proven DesignWare PHY for PCI Express 2.0, operating at 5.0 Gbps. Learn how the PHY exceeds the electrical specifications in areas of margin and receive sensitivity, providing more margin for the overall design. See how the unique built in diagnostics and ATE capabilities enable you to have visibility into the link performance and conduct at-speed production testing on a pure digital tester.More info on the DesignWare IP solution for PCI Express. PCI Express Technology Community - LeCroy Booth #729– PCI Express 2.0 I/O Virtualization with Synopsys’ DesignWare IP and the LeCroy Protocol Test CardSynopsys and LeCroy will be demonstrating the latest PCI Express 2.0 with PCI-SIG I/O Virtualization technology utilizing Synopsys’ DesignWare IP and LeCroy’s Summit T2-16 Analyzer and Protocol Test Card (PTC). The demonstration will focus on validating the correct behavior for PCI Express Single Root I/O Virtualization transactions by enabling and disabling Virtual Functions.More info on the DesignWare IP for PCI Express 2.0 Solution More info on the LeCroy PTC for PCI Express 2.0 usb Community - Synopsys Booth #803 — DesignWare IP for Hi-Speed usb On-the-Go and Wireless USBJoin Synopsys to see why designers are implementing high quality DesignWare usb IP for a wide range of portable electronics and PC peripherals. See a live demonstration of the DesignWare Hi-Speed usb OTG and Wireless usb Device Controllers functioning as mass storage devices showing wired or wireless data transfers to the target device. Also, take this opportunity to talk to experts about the latest developments in DesignWare usb IP including usb Link Power Management (LPM), Hi-Speed Inter-Chip (HSIC) and usb 3.0.More info on the DesignWare usb IP Solution. For more information on the DesignWare IP portfolio, visit: About SynopsysSynopsys, Inc. is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design and manufacturing. Synopsys’ comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to- silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has more than 60 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at .Synopsys and DesignWare are registered trademarks of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners. Editorial Contact: Sheryl Gulizia Synopsys, Inc. 650-584-8635Synopsys, Inc.

Atlanta to Host Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Team in 2010

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:15:06 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ — With the 2008 Olympic Games underway and many fans wondering what’s next for their favorite female soccer players, Women’s Professional soccer (WPS) announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to expand to Atlanta, Ga. in 2010, the League’s second year of play. Atlanta joins Philadelphia as an expected 2010 WPS expansion city, while host cities named to date for the inaugural 2009 season include Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. Meanwhile, the League continues to explore additional potential franchises for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.Atlanta entrepreneur T. Fitz Johnson, former CEO of Eagle Group International, LLC, leads the local WPS ownership group and is slated to serve as the team’s managing partner. A member of the National soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Johnson holds an Advanced National Diploma from the organization and has extensive ties to soccer at the youth, collegiate, amateur and professional levels.”Atlanta is well-known throughout the country as being a solid soccer city filled with talented players and enthusiastic fans, so we’ve had our eye on Atlanta as an expansion market for many months,” said Tonya Antonucci, WPS commissioner. “The League is fortunate to have Fitz on board, as we will certainly tap his enthusiasm and business savvy during our inaugural season.”Johnson is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and Army reserve, having earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, College of Law. Prior to serving as CEO of Eagle Group International, he served as the organization’s Chief Counsel, V.P. for Human Resources, Executive Vice President, COO, and President.”WPS has proven itself to be a smart business venture, with a conservative business plan built on realistic numbers and executive leaders that not only know soccer as a sport, but as a business,” said Johnson. “Atlanta soccer fans can now watch the world’s greatest athletes play in this month’s Olympic Games and know that those same premier players will soon put their talent on display in our city as part of WPS.”"As a League, we want owners who have solid operational business experience, a deep-rooted passion for soccer, and a commitment to the community, as well as extensive local connections. Fitz meets and exceeds these requirements and we look forward to the prospect of adding him as our business partner,” said Jack Cummins, a Chicago Red Stars owner who has worked on expansion for the league.From 2001-2003, Atlanta was home to the Women’s United soccer Association (WUSA) Atlanta Beat and was the only team in the League to reach the playoffs every season.Plans for Atlanta’s WPS nickname, logo and colors as well as its coaching and front office staff will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, Atlanta fans are encouraged to visit and submit their home videos explaining why their city is the “Top Town” when it comes to soccer. Brandi Chastain, former U.S. Women’s National Team member and star defender for the WUSA San Jose CyberRays, will choose the winner, who will be awarded an all-expense-paid trip for two to an upcoming WPS event.About Women’s Professional soccer (WPS)The mission of Women’s Professional soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. Play kicks off in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league will expand to nine teams by 2010 with the inclusion of Atlanta and Philadelphia. For more information, visit . Women’s Professional soccer (WPS)

MarkMonitor Warns of New ‘Knives on the Net’ Threat

admin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:15:16 +0000

LONDON, August 11 /PRNewswire/ — Research by MarkMonitor, the global leader in enterprise brandprotection, demonstrates the ease in which a variety of knives, from pocketknives to machetes, can be purchased over the internet from high-streetretail brands, eCommerce, online auction and exchange sites with little to norestrictions. It is becoming increasingly easy to purchase deadly weaponsonline at a fraction of the retail price, often with no regulationscontrolling who is purchasing them and why. Over a three-day period in July 2008, MarkMonitor found thatalmost 9,021 knives (worth approximately GBP65,000) were available for saleon online auction sites. 55% were available to purchase instantly with nowarnings or restrictions. MarkMonitor has also checked the websites of the UK’s top departmentstores and retailers and out of a list of 6 top retailers, 4 were sellingknives with no warnings, age limits or restrictions and may therefore beinfringing legislation. Key findings: - One seller has a total of 429 knives for sale, all with the option of instant purchasing and an online sales value of around GBP8,700 - One seller currently has 5 auctions selling illegal semi automatic daggers (assisted opening knives)* - The same seller has sold 32 knives in July 2008 alone totalling around GBP250, the majority of them over 3 inches in length** and without any listing advising that it is a legal requirement that the buyer must be over 18 years of age - A variety of different knives, from pocket knives to machetes were also found to be prevalent on b2b exchanges with some able to supply up to 50,000 units per month - The online sites of 22 retailers were advertising the sale of knives, with only 1 of these advising the buyer should be over 18 years old - The top 5 types of knife being sold online over the three day period include: Hunting knife 1333 Lock knife 1259 Army knife 786 Pocket knife 707 Pen knife 498″Only one of the online stores we found had a statement ontheir site forbidding purchase to under 18’s,” reports Charlie Abrahams,MarkMonitor’s VP and General Manager, EMEA. “With children as young as 11 nowbeing able to obtain debit and solo cards, imposing age restrictions willbecome increasingly challenging. Responsible retailers should look closely attheir policies in allowing knives to be purchased from their onlineproperties. ” Notes to Editors: Methodology MarkMonitor searched auction sites, b2b exchanges and commercesites for the term ‘Knife’ and ‘knives’ over a 3 day period in July 2008. * Source: It illegal to own, sell, hire, lend or give awaysemi automatic knives. Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959. Section1(1). Offence: It is an offence for a person to manufacture, sell,hire or offer for sale or hire or expose or have in his possession for thepurpose of sale or hire, or lend or give to any person: A) any knife which has a blade which opens automatically byhand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached tothe handle of the knife, sometimes know as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’; or B) any knife which has a blade which is released from thehandle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application ofcentrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of abutton, spring, lever, or other device, sometimes known as a ‘gravity knife’. ** Source: Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988prohibits the possession in a public place of any article which has a bladeor is sharply pointed, (including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edgeof its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches) (Archbold, 24.125) and Section 43 ofthe Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 amends section 141A(1) of the CriminalJustice Act 1988 under which it is currently an offence to sell a knife or anarticle with a blade or point to a person under the age of 16 years. Section43 increases that age to 18. *** Source: http://www.tunedinresearch.com/ A recent survey of 355 people aged 16 to 24 in London,Manchester and Bristol by market research company, Tuned In found that 30 percent believed it was acceptable sometimes to carry a knife while 23 per centwould use one. About MarkMonitor MarkMonitor, the global leader in enterprise brand protection,offers comprehensive solutions and services that safeguard brands, reputationand revenue from online risks. With end-to-end solutions that address thegrowing threats of online fraud, brand abuse and unauthorised channels,MarkMonitor enables a secure Internet for businesses and their customers. Thecompany’s exclusive access to data combined with its patented real-timeprevention, detection and response capabilities provide wide-rangingprotection to the ever-changing online risks faced by brands today. For moreinformation, visit http://www.markmonitor.com.MarkMonitor