Pittsburgh, PA  (Profitable.com)  When choosing to use a service, especially one that is vital to health and wellness throughout the years, any savvy consumer does their research.(i) From cost to benefits to customer service, they weigh the pros and cons until finally reaching a decision. At that point, it falls into the hands of professionals behind the scenes who work hard to keep each patient completely satisfied.

In all the tireless research and comparison, it is easy to forget about the vast team that comes together to deliver a quality product. In any operation there are countless individuals playing their part. If this team does not achieve their goals using select tools for success, the final result suffers. These tools are an asset that Automated Security Alert utilizes to build every aspect of their services.

Communication is Key

Even the most basic communication skills can have the power to take a team to the top or bring them crashing down. Internal transmission between co-workers and superiors reduces mistakes, raises accountability and eventually leads to increased morale for everyone. This extends to the outside as well. Without proper communication to vendors, customers and the public, a team cannot expect to serve their general purpose or reach their goals.

Vulnerability

In order to achieve a healthy team, each member needs to figuratively undress in front of each other. This deep revelation builds trust and improves confidence.

Sense of Urgency

One of the most contagious attributes of a thriving workplace is strong determination. With the desire to constantly stay on their toes, a team will relentlessly stay ahead of the competition. With this work ethic running through each and every person, the results are limitless.

Look, Aim, Shoot

Whereas a sense of urgency is a necessity, it is also important not to let it affect the decision making process. Staying up to date with the latest market trends, laws and headlines allows for a faster draw. When the team has current information, it leads to less guessing and detailed research.

Up to Date

A workplace cannot make the mistake of solely keeping up with the latest trends in their own space. Instead, one must dig deeper into the issues affecting the entire world. It is imperative to take the headlines and gain multiple perspectives on the subject to stay on top of all information. This not only improves a team’s knowledge but also productivity and conviction.

The Follow Up and Follow Through

As a team progresses, it is vital to remember the follow up and follow through. With a busy and productive atmosphere, it is easy to get lazy and uninterested in things not included on the immediate task plan. Ignoring these important building blocks can lead to a damaged organization, customer experience and overall culture. Sometimes we need to wake up and intentionally build ourselves to a state of excitement. This improves focus, determination and strength to get the job done.

Attention to Detail

“Didn’t you see that?” Making sure the entire team has a constant focus on the details is everyone’s business. One of the most important communications is constructive criticism to peers when a member is missing the little things. If a team is vulnerable enough to follow through with each other, the details will work themselves out.

These tools are just a few of the methods ASA has implemented to improve their team’s performance every day. The constant goal to improve and excel in these areas builds an overall quality team experience that translates into improved patient outcomes, exceptional customer service and satisfaction.

About Automated Security Alert: ASA has been a local provider of personal emergency response and medication dispensers since 1988. With offices in Philadelphia, Cleveland and their main headquarters in Pittsburgh, ASA’s trained operators provide in-home safety throughout the region with medical alert, fall detection and medication management systems. Through use of the array of available products, patients can increase their time at home by an average of six years. For more information on maintaining an independent lifestyle, visit http://www.automatedsecurityalert.com.

Contact:
Jason Seyler
Phone: (800) 338-7114
Director of Life Safety

(i)Automated Security Alert workplace research: January 2011 – June 2011
(i)ibid

Richmond, CA  (Profitable.com)  California based solar hot water equipment manufacturer Heliodyne has now received certification by The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) on the Commercial Solar Station, otherwise known as the HCOM. This signifies a major milestone not just for Heliodyne, but for the solar water heating industry in general as the HCOM is the first commercial scale pre-assembled heat transfer appliance that carries the IAPMO certification.

The HCOM is a packaged closed-loop heat transfer appliance for accommodating large solar hot water projects of up to 100 flat plate collectors, while still larger projects can combine HCOMs in parallel for limitless sizing potential. The HCOM was engineered by Heliodyne in order to offer installers a factory assembled, plug and play appliance that can work universally with any commercial project reducing the design complexity and time associated with larger installations. “Commercial solar thermal systems can be complicated to the average solar professional or plumbing contractor. The HCOM eliminates a lot of the sizing and engineering guesswork making larger solar commercial projects an easier task.” comments Nicole Cusick, head Engineer at Heliodyne. “And now with the unit being IAPMO certified, the engineer and installer on the project as well as the inspector can trust that it has gone through rigorous testing and inspection to pass all UPC code compliances and requirements.”

The HCOM contains all major balance of system components that compromise a typical commercial solar water heating system. Some notable features of the HCOM include “plug and play” installation, touch screen interface, advanced controller for remote web based monitoring and data storage, single/double wall heat exchanger and integrated variable speed pumps for system energy optimization. “We’re seeing a growing demand in solar thermal commercial projects.” says Ole Pilgaard, President of Heliodyne. “We’re confident that with the simplicity of installing the HCOM, commercial jobs will not only be a simpler task for experienced installers, but also a viable option for less experienced installers new to commercial solar”

More information on the HCOM can be found at http://www.heliodyne.com or by calling the main office at 1.888.878.8750.

About Heliodyne

Established in 1976, Heliodyne has acquired a solid reputation of engineering and manufacturing quality solar water heating equipment for both residential and commercial applications. With offices and manufacturing facilities in Richmond, California, the company manufactures and assembles a variety of solar water heating products including the Gobi line of solar flat plate collectors and the Helio-Pak heat transfer appliances.

Heliodyne is the North American branch of SolarCAP, the active parent company of the VKR Group’s thermal solar energy business area, a holding based in Europe.

SolarCAP’s vision is to become the leading provider of sustainable energy solutions focusing on thermal solar energy – while at the same time making thermal solar energy the most environmentally sound and cost-effective source of energy.

SolarCAP is owned by VKR Holding, which is one of Denmark’s largest and most respected industrial investors, as well as owner and developer of companies that bring daylight, fresh air and a better environment into people’s everyday lives.

Beijing  (Profitable.com)  Air China, Boeing (NYSE: BA), and Chinese and U.S. aviation energy partners recently  conducted China’s first sustainable biofuel flight. The two-hour mainland flight from Beijing Capital International Airport was witnessed by officials from both countries and highlights the viability of using sustainable aviation biofuel sourced in China.

“Through our collaborative efforts with China we have found an incredible partner and place where national capability, innovation and technology come together in a remarkable way,” said Boeing China President Marc Allen. “This historic flight illustrates exactly how bilateral collaboration can help address environmental challenges, and we commend the Chinese for their leadership in helping to develop sustainable aviation solutions.”

PetroChina, working with Honeywell’s UOP, sourced and refined the China-grown, jatropha-based biofuel used for today’s flight aboard a Boeing 747-400 powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. China National Aviation Fuel blended the biofuel with traditional jet fuel and also provided aircraft fueling support.

China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) and Boeing also announced an agreement for further study of regional biofuel development. The study results will help support future efforts to establish a sustainable aviation biofuels industry in China, and also form the foundation for an announced renewable energy agreement between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the NEA.  

Air China and Boeing are already working plans for an international flight between the U.S. and China fueled by sustainable biofuel, which will highlight increasing cooperation on renewable energy development between the two countries.

“The recent success of our biofuel initiatives with government, energy and aviation organizations in China and around the world underscores the tremendous support that exists for the macro-economic benefits and value aviation provides through its unique ability to connect people, cultures, goods and services,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Environment and Aviation Policy, Billy Glover. “Working closely with the Chinese and U.S. energy agencies we can reduce carbon emissions in the two largest aviation markets, while helping to ensure sustainable industry growth.”

The China-Boeing aviation partnership dates back nearly a century, with more than half of all commercial jets operating inChina today being Boeing aircraft. Boeing and its partners, including the US-China Energy Cooperation Program, are now jointly addressing the challenges of sustainability and working to establish a pathway for China to create a sustainable aviation biofuel industry. Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Research & Technology are at the forefront of the global effort to expand aviation’s fuel supply through sustainable options. For more information on Boeing’s sustainable biofuel initiatives, please visit www.newairplane.com/environment or www.SAFUG.org.

San Diego, CA  (Profitable.com)  Cricket Communications, a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services, today announced that its Muve Music service has signed an agreement with independent digital music distribution company INgrooves.

INgrooves, brings an exceptional independent catalog to Muve Music that includes labels such as Nettwerk, Metropolis Records, ESL Records as well as Rostrum Records—featuring one of the best up-and-coming hip hop stars in the industry, Mac Miller.

“We are seeing tremendous interest from independent artists seeking to make their music available via Muve Music and this agreement, that has just been signed with INgrooves, moves us in that direction,” said John Bolton, Sr. Director, Product Development for Muve Music. “Muve Music will expand its catalog to over five million songs by the end of the year, and with the addition of INgrooves music catalog we will greatly deepen the Latin, Alternative Rock and Hip Hop genres.”

How to Get Muve Music

Muve Music is available on the Samsung Vitality, ZTE Score and Samsung Suede at Cricket company-owned stores and at www.mycricket.com, as well as through select partner retail outlets such as Best Buy. Additional accessories are available for purchase including premium headphones, expandable memory an audio jack and Bluetooth adapter to connect to home and car stereos, either wired or wirelessly.

For more information about Muve Music, visit www.muvemusic.com, and for Cricket’s dynamic device lineup, visit www.mycricket.com. To follow Cricket’s latest news and updates online, go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/cricketwirelessand Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cricketnation. 

About Cricket

Cricket is the pioneer of simple and affordable unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required serving approximately 5.7 million customers. Cricket products are available nationwide. Cricket offers wireless voice and broadband Internet services over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital 3G CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Cricket’s nationwide wireless voice service plans include unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited U.S. long distance, unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited text to Mexico, unlimited Mobile Web, unlimited directory assistance, as well as a variety of calling features and feature-rich mobile applications such as popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.

Charleston, SC  (Profitable.com)  During tough economic times like this it is becoming increasingly important for home buyers to have a buyer’s agent in their corner. A major challenge that is adding complexity to the home buying process is when you have a real estate agent who is representing both the seller and the buyer. This often occurs when a prospective buyer finds a home listed on the Internet and contacts the selling agent directly. Since there are laws that require real estate agents to protect their client’s interest, the duty of the selling agent is with the seller, not the buyer. As a result, the sales contract may not favor the buyer. “As people go online and educate themselves about buying a house they realize that they need someone to represent them,” said David Kent, President, National Buyer’s Agent Alliance.

When working with an exclusive buyer’s agent, home buyers know their real estate agent is committed to hammering out the best agreement possible on their behalf. In fact, buyer’s agents have helped to negotiate better deals for their clients. “We want to thank you for helping us find and buy a home in Scottsdale,” stated a recent home buyer in Arizona. The buyer further stated that their buyer’s agent gave them the assurance to concentrate on finding a property that best met their needs. Also, the agent’s knowledge of the local real estate market and legal requirements was a critical success factor.

There are two types of buyer’s agents: exclusive and non-exclusive. An exclusive buyer’s agent works for a real estate agency whose sole purpose is to represent home buyers in their real estate transaction to purchase a home. Although they are licensed real estate agents, they do not list or sell houses. On the other hand, a non-exclusive buyer’s agent is a licensed real estate agent who works with a company that is able to represent both buyers and sellers, and therefore may not be able to represent the buyer in all transactions. The fiduciary duty of an exclusive buyer’s agent always remains with the home buyer.

Finding the right buyer’s agent can be a difficult and time-consuming process. This is compounded if you happen to be relocating to an unfamiliar city. You need to do your homework to make sure the buyer’s agent you hire has a good track record for getting the best terms for his or her clients. In the current market having a buyer’s agent on their side has helped many home buyers close transactions that otherwise might not have closed.

To avoid potential conflicts and to help buyers overcome the hurdles of the mortgage process, the National Buyer’s Agent Alliance provides a free service that matches home buyers with a pre-screened buyer’s agent in their new location. Within a few minutes their personal buyer’s agent is helping them to find and purchase a home.

Press Contact:

David Kent, President, National Buyer’s Agent Alliance, 843-367-0388
http://www.buyersagent.net

Seattle, WA  (Profitable.com)  Despite widespread volatility within the housing market and five consecutive years of home value declines, more than two in five (42 percent) of polled prospective home buyers believe home values typically appreciate by 7 percent a year, according to a recent survey by leading real estate information marketplace Zillow (NASDAQ: Z).

This is an unrealistic expectation as, historically, home values in a normal market tend to appreciate by 2-5 percent a year. (1)

Zillow, with Ipsos®, surveyed prospective home buyers (2), asking basic questions about the home buying process.

Despite the unrealistic expectations about home value appreciation, prospective home buyer respondents seem fairly knowledgeable about the home buying process, answering questions correctly more than half the time (65 percent). However, several important parts of the process confused them.  Two in five (41 percent) buyers think they are required to buy private mortgage insurance (PMI) regardless of the amount of their down payment.  In fact, lenders typically require PMI only when buyers are putting down less than 20 percent of the home’s purchase price.

Additionally, more than half of prospective home buyers who were polled confuse appraisals and inspections.  Fifty-six percent said the purpose of an appraisal was to determine if the home is in good condition, when in fact that is the purpose of an inspection.

“It’s troubling that we’re still in the midst of one of the worst housing recessions in history, and yet prospective buyers continue to have such high expectations for home value appreciation,” said Dr. Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. “It’s great that buyers seem to have a fairly solid grasp of the home-buying process, but since this is one of the biggest financial decisions of most people’s lives, it’s even more important that they understand how that investment will appreciate after they sign the papers. Over-estimation of the appreciation potential will lead many to buy real estate when the time in which they plan to live in the house may make renting a better strategy.”

Additional Survey Findings

• More than one-third (37 percent) of prospective home buyer respondents believe buying homeowner’s insurance is optional.  In reality, lenders require that borrowers purchase homeowner’s insurance. This insurance protects the lender. If catastrophe strikes, the mortgage will be repaid from the insurance proceeds.
• Nearly half of polled prospective home buyers in the study do not understand when they will actually own the home they intend to buy. Forty-seven percent said a prospective buyer owns a home after the purchase contract is signed.  The purchase and sales agreement merely kicks off the closing phase, which can be a lengthy process.
• The majority (87 percent) of polled prospective home buyers know that closing costs are negotiable and can vary by bank and lender. Lender fees, like loan-origination fees, administrative costs and other clerical fees, are typically the most negotiable in the home buying process.

Interactive Online Quiz and Resources Available

An online version of the Zillow survey, the “Buyer IQ Quiz,” is available at http://www.zillow.com/mortgage-rates/buyer-iq-quiz/and contains the correct answers. Following the quiz, participants are given a score and resources to learn more about the home-buying process.

About Zillow, Inc.

Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) is the leading real estate information marketplace, providing vital information about homes, real estate listings and mortgages through its website and mobile applications, enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to connect with real estate and mortgage professionals best suited to meet their needs. More than 24 million unique users visited Zillow’s websites and mobile applications in September 2011. Zillow, Inc. operates Zillow.com®, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace,Zillow Mobile and Postlets®. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Zillow, Zillow.com and Postlets are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc.

Ipsos is a registered trademark of Ipsos S.A.

(1)Over the period from 1890 to 2006, the average annual growth in home values was 3.7%.  Source: Irrational Exuberance byRobert Shiller (Princeton University Press 2000, Broadway Books 2001, 2nd edition, 2005)

(2) These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted August 31-September 1, 2011.  For the survey, a national sample of 1,012 adults aged 18 and over residing in the U.S. was interviewed via Ipsos’ U.S. online omnibus.  Among them, 177 reported that they plan to buy a home within the next 3 years, which qualifies them as “prospective home buyers.”  A survey with an unweighted probability sample of 1,012 and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in the U.S. been polled.  The margin of error for a subgrouping of the survey population of 177 individuals would be +/-7.4.  These data were weighted to ensure the sample’s regional and age/gender composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe.  All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

Dearborn, MI  (Profitable.com)

• The original Mustang – America’s favorite classic convertible – can now be assembled complete with all-new Ford-approved restoration parts
• New first-generation Mustang body shells can be made into ’64-1/2, ’65 or ’66 models, depending on the trim and powertrain that is installed during the rebuild
• New ’65 Mustang body shells are made with stronger steel and use modern welding techniques, making them better than the original

It’s a classic car lover’s dream come true: Now it is possible to build a ’64-1/2, ’65 or ’66 Mustang convertible from the wheels up using the all-new Ford-approved and officially licensed body shell.

The body shell for the original Mustang convertible, now in production and available for restorers as a Ford-licensed restoration part, gives classic car enthusiasts a new option in putting their classic dream Mustang ragtop back on the road.

“The 1964-66 Mustang is the most restored vintage vehicle. But the number of original 1964-66 vintage bodies is shrinking every year,” said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “Most of the original Mustangs left in scrapyards are rusted or wrecked beyond repair. The new body shell is made of virgin metal and uses modern welding techniques. It comes rustproofed, and after final adjustment and finish preparation of the body panels, it is ready for painting and final assembly.”

To build a restored Mustang using the new shell, the powertrain, suspension and brakes, the electrical systems, the interior and trim can either be bought new or transferred from an existing car to the new body. Original parts that can’t be reused from an old Mustang can be replaced with Ford-approved restoration parts. Mondrach says that nearly all the parts needed to build a complete new 1964-66 Mustang convertible, except for some minor body hardware, are now available from Ford-approved classic parts suppliers.

Ford-approved Mustang restoration parts can be found at www.fordrestorationparts.com.

For a restoration part to be approved by Ford, suppliers must meet or exceed the fit, finish and quality of the original, said Mondrach. In order to keep classic Ford-built vehicles on the road, Ford allows parts suppliers access to original technical drawings, blueprints and specifications for parts.

The new body shell not only can save restorers time and money, but enable them to build a strong, well-engineered classic.

“Instead of spending money fixing rust and welding in new panels, restorers can now simply transfer their powertrain, interior and trim parts onto the new body shell,” said Mondrach.

The ’65 Mustang body shell is constructed of higher-grade steel than the original, said Jim Christina, vice president of Dynacorn International, the Ford-approved company that is manufacturing the ’65 Mustang. “We use a modern universal automotive-grade steel that is actually stronger than the original, and modern welding techniques along with more welds to strengthen the body,” Christina said.

The ’65 body is in production now and can be delivered by freight truck to any address. The ’65 Mustang body includes the doors and trunk lid and all the sheet metal from the radiator support to the taillight panel except the hood and front fenders. Those items are available separately. The ’65 Mustang body shell starts at $15,000.

America’s love affair with the original Mustang is still going strong after nearly 50 years. Debuting in April 1964, the original Mustang sold more than 1.2 million units – including more than 174,000 convertibles – before its first redesign in 1967. The 1964-66 Mustang has long been America’s most popular classic car of the postwar era. It is frequently the No. 1 most insured car at Hagerty Insurance, the world’s No. 1 insurer of classic and collectible cars.

The new body shell can be made into a 1964-1/2, 1965 or 1966 Mustang, based on the powertrains and trim parts added to it. It is the third classic Mustang body shell now available to restorers. The other two are the 1967-68 and the 1969-70 fastback bodies.

Ford will display a new 1965 Mustang body shell Tuesday through Thursday at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. It will be parked next to a restored 1965 convertible to demonstrate the high quality of the assembly.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Hoffman Estates, IL  (Profitable.com)  With flu season underway, Kmart is providing seasonal flu vaccinations in its walk-in flu clinics for customers’ convenience, at the value price of $24.99, while supplies last. Vaccinations are now available at any of the more than 900 Kmart Pharmacies nationwide, on a walk-in basis at most locations. Additionally, members of Kmart Pharmacy’s Prescription Savings Club will pay just $20 for the flu shot. Kmart Pharmacy also offers the high-dose flu shot (indicated for those age 65 and over). Many prescription insurance programs cover flu shots, including Medicare Part B and D.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flu activity usually peaks in January or February, but the flu itself is unpredictable(1). Flu vaccines change yearly to protect against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common during flu season; additionally, the CDC reports that everyone needs an annual vaccination for optimal protection since a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time.

“Kmart Pharmacy is aligned with the CDC’s position on preventive care, and we are well positioned to deliver the services that promote the health and wellness of patients in the communities we serve,” said Ghassan Hourani, vice president and general merchandise manager of Kmart Pharmacy. “At Kmart Pharmacy, our pharmacists will take the time to discuss with our patients the importance of being vaccinated as well as practicing good health habits.”

While everyone can benefit from a flu shot, it is especially important for those at higher risk for developing complications from the flu—young children, pregnant women and older adults. In 2012, Kmart Pharmacy will have available at each location nationwide an immunizing pharmacist who is certified by the American Pharmacists Association and authorized by the applicable State Board of Pharmacy to administer vaccines to customers age three and older where permitted by law.

The flu virus is most commonly transferred through sneezing or coughing, but a person can also become infected by coming into contact with a surface that has the flu virus on it and then touching his or her mouth or nose. Kmart pharmacists can provide guidelines for patients on how best to avoid illness during the cold and flu season, in addition to ensuring the most up-to-date flu vaccination.

Kmart pharmacists are available to answer any questions customers may have about the flu vaccine. For more information on vaccinations or Kmart Pharmacy’s Prescription Savings Club, or to find a Kmart Pharmacy near you, call 1-800-822-8345 or visit www.Kmart.com/pharmacy.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that includes Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, County Living, Route 66 and Smart Sense. For more information visit the company’s website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/Features/FLU/

Lyon Station, PA  (Profitable.com)  East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc., and its subsidiary Ecoult, announces the launch of Public Service Co. of New Mexico’s (PNM) Prosperity Energy Storage Project in Albuquerque, NM. This project integrates an Advanced VRLA (Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid) and UltraBattery energy storage solution with a separately installed 500 kW solar plant. Its purpose is to provide simultaneous voltage smoothing for consistent energy levels and peak shifting to deliver energy when it’s needed the most.

East Penn, through its subsidiary Ecoult, is bringing these breakthrough technologies to market as complete energy storage solutions and modules ready for custom integration. Ecoult engineered and integrated the energy storage system, and developed the Smart Grid platform that controls both the batteries and the power conversion system.

“This is an exciting time to be in the energy storage business. Advanced lead acid batteries can play a major role in solar and wind systems, smart grid technology, and other applications as well. The energy landscape is evolving, and we’re well positioned to change with it,” stated Sally Miksiewicz, CEO of East Penn.

This project was achieved with the collaboration of many key partners, led by PNM and including the Department of Energy Smart Grid Storage Demonstration Program, the University of New Mexico, Northern New Mexico College, Sandia National Laboratories, and Electric Power Research Institute. Ecoult also worked with a number of US manufacturers who supplied critical components of the project, including S&C Electric Company that provided a Purewave™ PCS for power conversion and grid integration, Sea Box, Inc.’s contract services for assembly of containerized components, Peterson Panel’s power panels, and KTR Associates’ interconnection design.

John Wood, CEO of Ecoult stated, “We thank our partner US manufacturers for their dedication in bringing this project online in less than a year, PNM for hosting the demonstration, and the US DOE for financially supporting the project. Together this team is demonstrating the multiple Smart Grid benefits of electrical energy storage, and its role in the electric grid of the future.”

This is the first of 16 Smart Grid energy storage demonstrations funded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to go live.

Additionally, East Penn with Ecoult is commissioning a second site partially supported with ARRA funding, located at its Lyon Station, PA manufacturing campus. This will be a 3MW site and will provide continuous voltage smoothing using the UltraBattery. It will serve a secondary application of 1 MWh for demand management for 1 to 4 hours.

Advanced VRLA batteries feature a design enhancement to East Penn’s Deka Unigy VRLA battery technology that has been proven as an industry leading product for telecommunication and data center applications. This enhancement protects the battery from accelerated deterioration while performing multiple cycles in Partial State of Charge (PSOC) applications.

The UltraBattery combines the advantages of the Advanced VRLA with the advantages of an asymmetric supercapacitor. This enables the optimal balance of an energy storing lead-acid battery with a quick charge acceptance, power discharge, and longevity of a capacitor, which is critical for High-Rate PSOC applications.

Both advanced types of VRLA batteries are virtually 100% recyclable and made in the United States.

The information gained from these advanced battery projects will be a key component in furthering its integration into the commercial marketplace for wide spectrum of potential applications. Advanced VRLA and UltraBattery’s current ability to serve the grid, renewable energy, and HEVs has the potential to have immediate impacts on cost effective energy conservation and clean energy generation. Ecoult’s energy storage solutions are further proof of these implementations in action.

East Penn is a leading manufacturer of high quality lead-acid batteries and accessories for the telecommunications, UPS, automotive, commercial, marine, and motive power markets. The company’s quality and environmental systems for its entire 520-acre complex have been certified to ISO 9001:2008, ISO/TS 16949:2009, and ISO 14001:2004 requirements. For more information, contact East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc., Lyon Station, PA 19536 or visit the company web site at www.dekabatteries.com.

Ecoult, a subsidiary of East Penn, is a leading supplier of energy storage solutions based on advanced lead-acid batteries including the hybrid energy storage device UltraBattery. Ecoult provides complete Energy Storage Solutions & Modules that are ready for custom integration and are utilized to provide cost effective, long life solutions for power conditioning and energy storage applications for wind and solar farms, grid ancillary services, and remote area power systems. Visit the company web site at www.ecoult.com for more information.

Contacts:

Inka Schrader
Email: inka.schrader@ecoult.com
Tel: +61-2-9241-3001

Auburn Hills, MI  (Profitable.com)

• Automotive journalists and elite athletes judge a field of entrants in choosing annual Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) winners
• Awards come just days after Wrangler and Grand Cherokee win Texas Auto Writers Association awards
• 2012 Jeep Wrangler’s new 3.6-liter V-6 engine improves fuel efficiency up to 21 miles per gallon, while delivering 285 horsepower (40 percent improvement) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (10 percent improvement)
• Jeep Grand Cherokee – the most-awarded SUV in history – offers unmatched blend of on-road refinement and class-leading capability

A group of automotive journalists and elite athletes from a variety of sports gathered in Phoenix last week to choose the Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) winners for 2012. The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler captured the “Best Value Off-Road” award, while the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee earned top honors in the “Luxury Off-Road” category.

“Both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee beat out vehicles which had dominated their competitive segments for multiple seasons,” said Nina Russin, automotive journalist and ALV program founder. “The new, more powerful engine and the reconfigured cargo area make the Wrangler a very easy vehicle to live with on a daily basis, as well as a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts who like to get off the grid on the weekends.

“The tremendous improvements to the interior of the Grand Cherokee in terms of design, fit and finish, as well as the new engine were in my opinion both game changers. And of course, the Grand Cherokee remains capable of navigating the most extreme off-road trails,” Russin added.

The ALV evaluations took into consideration overall vehicle design, engine power, fuel efficiency, and cargo capability. In the final tally, the athletes’ votes and those of the journalist jury panel each accounted for 50 percent.

“Jeep vehicles offer the perfect blend of fun, performance and capability – and are built for any adventure – so Grand Cherokee and Wrangler were right at home in this unique competition,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We are delighted to have earned awards in both the Value and Luxury categories with the two pillars of the Jeep brand.”

2012 Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler – the most capable and recognized vehicle in the world – becomes even more capable both on- and off-road for 2012, courtesy of an all-new, more fuel efficient and more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine, and a new five-speed automatic transmission – both of which it shares with the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Chrysler Group’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine – winner of the prestigious Ward’s 10 Best Engines award – delivers 285 horsepower (209 kW) and 260 (353 Nm) lb.-ft. of torque, while delivering up to 21 miles per gallon highway in the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The improvement, when compared to the previous 3.8-liter V-6 engine, is 40 percent in horsepower and 10 percent in torque.

Additionally, for refined shifting and greater performance, the Jeep Wrangler migrates from a four-speed to a new five-speed automatic transmission. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler also features the company’s first application of a manual transmission to the Pentastar V-6.

Jeep continues to refine the successful Wrangler formula by combining legendary, benchmark capability with an interior that delivers rich styling with significantly upgraded touch surfaces, occupant comfort and versatility, and a premium appearance courtesy of a body color hard top for the popular Sahara and Rubicon models.

2012 Jeep Wrangler interior highlights include a recently redesigned instrument panel and storage areas with improved ergonomics and upgraded materials. A lockable console and upgraded door armrest areas boast comfortable touch points, while a redesigned center stack is easier to reach and operate. Heated, power mirrors are available, and drivers and passengers enjoy enhanced visibility courtesy of large rear windows.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The all-new-for-2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee captured more than 30 awards, making it the most-awarded SUV ever. Grand Cherokee delivers premium on-road performance while maintaining the Jeep brand’s legendary four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand two-speed transfer case and towing capability. It offers improved fuel economy (up to 23 miles per gallon), a driving range of more than 550 miles, superb on-road ride and handling, a world-class interior cabin, more than 45 safety and security features, and a variety of advanced technology features.

Contributing to Grand Cherokee’s class-leading capability is the combination of Jeep’s Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system and the Jeep Selec-Terrain™ traction control system that lets customers choose the 4×4 setting for the optimum driving experience on all terrains.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available with three 4×4 systems, and with either V-6 or V-8 powertrains.

Jeep Brand

Built on 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup includes Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

Chicago, IL  (Profitable.com)  “Going green” typically means making eco-friendly choices, but in November it highlights the color and turns the spotlight on National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM).  NRPM is a public education campaign symbolized by the color green, and is spearheaded by the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) and the National Network for Youth to raise awareness about the youth runaway crisis in America and to educate people about prevention and solutions.

“The runaway issue has been a silent crisis too long, and this November we need to get Americans talking about it,” said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. “The truth is that prevention is possible and help is available.”

To bring greater understanding of this problem, individuals and organizations throughout the country are planning activities during November, including:

• Social Media Day of Action: On Nov. 1, people are encouraged to wear green socks, upload photos of it to Facebook, and tweet these photos while using the hashtag #NRPM2011. NRS will tweet runaway prevention facts throughout the day and host a webinar on the long-term effects of running away, which will stream live at http://ustre.am/E3CP at 12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET. Questions for the panel can be tweeted with the hashtag #NRPM2011.
• Green Light Project: Americans can show support of runaway and at-risk youth by shining a green light on their front porches. This year, Wrigley Field in Chicago is getting involved and promoting 1-800-RUNAWAY and www.1800RUNAWAY.org on its marquee on Nov. 2. Agencies such as Family Connection, Inc., in Alabama and the Huckleberry House in Ohio will hand out green socks and light bulbs to community members.
• Spirit of Youth Benefit: This Chicago event is NRS’ annual fundraiser to recognize individuals and organizations that help to keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the street. The 2011 Spirit of Youth award recipient is artist and civil rights activist Cyndi Lauper, who took part in last year’s Green Light Project. The Cyndi Lauper True Colors Fund will be honored at the benefit on Nov. 18. This year’s platinum sponsor is United Airlines, and the gold sponsors are Carlton Technologies, Chicago Tribune, Greyhound Lines and Radio Flyer.

For more information, visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org.

Toronto  (Profitable.com)  KineticD™, has ranked number 331 on Technology Fast 500^™, Deloitte’s ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on the percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the period from 2006-2010; KineticD’s grew 253 percent during this period.

KineticD’s chief executive officer, Jamie Brenzel, credits its industry leadership, providing SMBs with a robust, flexible and economic means of protecting business-critical digital assets with a complete hybrid solution including both local and cloud copies with the company’s explosive revenue growth. Jamie Brenzel said, “The 2011 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 is North America’s pre-eminent technology awards program, celebrating leadership, innovation and excellence in the technology sector, honoring emerging, industry leaders. We are extremely honored to have been placed on this prestigious list and we look forward to continuing to demonstrate our leadership and commitment to advancing technology in our industry.”

“KineticD and all the Technology Fast 500 winners in 2011 have shown a remarkable drive for creativity and innovation, and of course growth, particularly when you look at their accomplishments in the context of current economic challenges,” saidRichard Lee, National Leader, Technology Media & Telecommunications Industry Group, Deloitte Canada. “Deloitte congratulates KineticD for this significant achievement.”

“We are pleased to honor KineticD as one of the 2011 Technology Fast 500,” said Mark Jensen, managing partner, technology and venture capital services, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “As one of the fastest growing tech companies in North America, KineticD has demonstrated technological innovation, entrepreneurship and rapid growth.”

For additional detail on the Technology Fast 500 including selection and qualifying criteria, visit www.fast500.com.

Social Media Destinations:

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/kineticd
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kineticd
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/kineticd-formerly-data-deposit-box

About KineticD

KineticD™ sets a new standard by providing small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with the same level of service and protection for irreplaceable digital assets that large enterprises rely on. It delivers comprehensive solutions that enable SMBs to continuously backup, restore, access, and share information online from any location. Its agile, cloud-based services are specifically designed for SMBs that want to activate their digital assets and more efficiently share and collaborate through improved access to information. Founded in 2002, the company’s industry-acclaimed Data Deposit Box product delivers advanced, patented technology that is used daily by over 40,000 customers and is supported around the world through an extensive partner network. Its acquisition of ROBOBAK™, a leading provider of hybrid cloud backup software for MSPs and the Remote Offices/Branch Offices (ROBO) of small enterprises has been integrated into its technology offerings. For a free trial or to request more information, visit www.kineticd.com.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Kim Dearborn
Nadel Phelan
+1-831-440-2407
kim.dearborn@nadelphelan.com

Cambridge, MA  (Profitable.com)  Zipcar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIP), the world’s leading car sharing network, has been awarded a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) by the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Motor Vehicle Management (GSA Fleet) as a vendor for the Federal government’s Short Term Rental (STR) program.

This marks the first time that car sharing has officially been part of the GSA Fleet’s list of approved vendors for use through the STR program by Federal government entities, which now have access to Zipcar’s entire fleet of car sharing vehicles throughout the company’s 12 major U.S. markets. The term of the BPA is from October 6, 2011, through September 30, 2012, with four one-year options to renew.

The GSA Fleet selection comes in the wake of several other city and state government contracts that Zipcar has recently secured.  The company also announced today a contract with the State of Illinois’s Department of Central Management Services to provide car sharing to state employees.  In March 2011, Zipcar announced a partnership with the City of Chicago to provide an integrated fleet and car sharing solution for city agencies, and in October 2010 launched a partnership with the City of New York to provide car sharing memberships to Department of Transportation (DOT) employees as a part of a pilot program.  In Washington D.C., Zipcar launched a program called Fleet Share in April 2009, which provides FastFleet technology to 50 departments and agencies throughout the District.  Zipcar also provides a range of car sharing and FastFleet technology services to a variety of additional City, County and State government entities including the cities of Philadelphia,Pittsburgh, Seattle, Sacramento, Portland, OR; Cambridge, MA; and Wilmington, DE; as well as to the county of Santa Cruz.

“We are proud to offer our car sharing services and FastFleet technology to a broad spectrum of government entities on the Federal, State, City and County levels.  Zipcar fits into a new era when governments are trying to do more with less by utilizing new technologies, methods and practices,” said Zipcar Chairman and CEO, Scott Griffith.  “Our partnerships across a range of government agencies have already helped to create efficiencies and streamline costs for many levels and facets of government.  We are thrilled by the Federal government’s addition of Zipcar to the GSA Fleet program.”

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network with more than 605,000 members and over 9,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

Photos and b-roll footage are available for media purposes at www.zipcar.mediaroom.com.

Fiuggi, Italy  (Profitable.com)  The International Adkins Chiti: Women in Music Foundation, an Italian cultural organization, partner within cultural agreements undersigned by the Italian Foreign Ministry, member of UNESCO’s International Music Council and the European Music Council, internationally recognized for its activities to obtain recognition and visibility for women in the cultural sector, is currently running the European Program WIMUST – Women in Music Uniting Strategies for Talent, involving organizations for women in music, women composers and creators of music in 24 countries to ensure that the March 2009 European Parliamentary Resolution, insisting on Equal Opportunities for women working in the arts and culture sectors, is finally put into force by all European Governments.

Each year the Foundation will host a general meeting of representatives from every Women in Music/for Music Organization inEurope for the investigation of mechanisms producing inequalities and statistics facilitating common policies. One of the main objectives of this program is the updating of data banks for contemporary European women composers and creators of music in all fields in preparation for the publication of a European Yearbook for Women Composers and Creators of Music, which will be constantly updated.

The Foundation has planned diversified actions and events for the Trans-national mobility for women composers and music practitioners (including researchers and musicologists) to amplify professional skills, foster life-long creativity and encourage the passing on of knowledge, methodologies and strategies to other women in their countries. Therefore, the Foundation will also host composers, musicologists and musicians from the EU State Members and from Italy to work with in Fiuggi during three months.

Women in Music organizations participating from the following countries:

Austria – Cyprus – Czech Republic – England – Finland – France – Germany – Italy – Luxembourg – Montenegro – Netherlands -Romania – Serbia – Spain – Sweden – Turkey.

Organizations participating as auditors: Belgium - Denmark - Liechtenstein - Poland - Slovenia

Patricia Adkins Chiti (scientific director of WIMUST program):

“With knowledge of our Equal Rights as women, and above all remember that these must apply to women artists and women with the cultural industries, we can design a better Europe and World.”

This work program has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This communication reflects the views only of the author and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Contact:

Lorena Jimenez Alonso
Press Officer
European Program WIMUST
Tel: 00491632037051
international.press@donneinmusica.org

http://www.donneinmusica.net

Charlotte, NC  (Profitable.com)  Informed Therapy Resources (ITR) is pleased to announce that they have sold over 1,000 Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom programs all over the world!

ITR was formed in April of 2008 with the goal of creating a professional, child-friendly treatment program that would help anxious children overcome their fear. The co-creators, Dr. David Russ and Christopher McCarthy thought it would take them six-months to create and manufacture the program. Boy were they wrong! To do it right, they had to devote significant time and financial resources to the project. After two-years of intense labor, they presented Turnaround to the world in April of 2010. On a shoestring marketing budget, they got the word out and kits began to sell, slowly at first but increasing sales month after month. Testimonies began pouring in from parents thrilled with the results. Their anxious children, trapped in the bondage of fear and worry, were set free!

Turnaround is truly a unique program. There’s nothing else like it available today. It is professionally developed by two licensed therapist with over 30-years of experience between them, and very child-friendly. The talents of 14 child actors and 6 adult actors were utilized to create a program that kids would want to listen to. The anxious children are entertained while be educated about what anxiety is and how to overcome it. Sales increase each month and the word spreads about this effective treatment method for anxious children.

Turnaround Audio Program includes:
Turnaround Program for kids (10 CDs)
Turnaround Journal, a 74 page workbook for kids
Chill Kit, relaxation guide for kids (1 CD)

Parent Guide, packed full of helpful information and techniques to help parents (2 CDs)
A bonus CD titled Med FAQs is also included. Med FAQs is an interview with nationally recognized Neuropsychiatrist, Dr. James Lee, offering a comprehensive discussion on the medications used to treat child anxiety is also included.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release or for a demo, contact us at info(at)myanxiouschild(dot)com or call ITR at (704) 208-4304 or (704) 293-2994 Please visit http://www.myanxiouschild.com to learn more about Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom.

About Informed Therapy Resources (ITR)

Informed Therapy Resources (ITR) is dedicated to creating mental health treatment programs that are scientifically based, proven clinically effective, and professionally developed- using creative, eye-catching audio visual materials

David Russ, PhD, Psychologist

Dr. David A. Russ is President and a Licensed Practicing Psychologist of Carolinas Counseling Group in Charlotte, NC. He and his partners have built a busy practice with 11 clinicians. His doctoral dissertation was original research about a novel treatment for anxiety. He is co-author of the book, “More Than Me,” published by NavPress. Dr. Russ has been an adjunct or visiting professor for four different graduate counseling programs. He has been continuously providing care for over 20 years. He has been happily married since 1983

Christopher T. McCarthy, MEd, Licensed Professional Counselor

Christopher McCarthy, MEd, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in treating child anxiety disorders, teen behavioral issues, parent-child relationship issues, and couple conflict. He co-owns Informed Therapy Resources and co-created Turnaround: Turning Fear Into Freedom™, a professional and creative audio program designed to help kids get free from anxiety and fear (myanxiouschild.com). He has 3 Masters Degrees and is finishing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. He gives lectures on parenting and improving couple relationships. He has been in private practice since 1998 and is married with 3 children.

Contact:
Informed Therapy Resources (ITR)
e-mail: info(at)myanxiouschild(dot)com

http://www.myanxiouschild.com

Chicago, IL  (Profitable.com)  The results of a recent study by the University of Maryland indicate that individuals should not give up eating nutritious foods as they age. This is a fact not lost among the executive chefs who oversee menu planning and meal preparation for residents living at a Vi continuing care retirement community.

Vi chefs have received customized training by the Culinary Institute of America on nutrition, healthy cooking and baking techniques, flavor dynamics and food and wine pairing. And, because Vi offers menu selections that are generally lower in sodium, fat and sugar – yet high in flavor – the cuisine satisfies body and palate, enabling residents to eat well and always dine in style.

The 10-year study conducted by the University of Maryland examined the eating habits of approximately 2,500 test subjects between the ages of 70 and 79. The study suggests that older adults in their 70’s who eat healthy foods increase their longevity.

Eating well in older age does not mean having to compromise a fine dining experience, according to the Vi executive chefs.

“We focus on texture, flavor and digestive health needs,” said Jeffrey Weston, executive chef at Vi at Silverstone in Scottsdale, AZ. “Simply put, my culinary philosophy is fresh, quality ingredients prepared well.”

Anthony Santomauro, executive chef at Vi at Lakeside Village in Lantana, FL, says when he cooks fish, he always make sure it’s the freshest fish that is available: flounder, grouper, yellowtail snapper, ahi tuna or U8 scallops. “When it comes to creative cooking, I have always been inspired by fresh fish,” he said.

Also found in Florida is Vi at Aventura, where executive chef Robert Ibgui said a Thursday evening chef’s menu gives him a chance to provide the residents a gourmet experience. “I use as many seasonal products as I can and I also get ideas from the residents,” he said.

Shep Drinkwater is executive chef at Vi at the Glen in the northern Chicago suburb of Glenview. “We keep our menus fresh by changing specials daily and changing everything else we can as much as possible while always offering a quality product,” he said.

“Our residents enjoy the comfort foods,” said Vince De Mar, executive chef at Vi at Grayhawk, also in Scottsdale. “However, many of them desire a greater variety in their diets and enjoy stepping outside the box on occasion. I get great enjoyment when I’m able to display my passion and creativity through my food.”

Jim Smith, executive chef a Vi at La Jolla Village in San Diego, CA., said older adults may have aging palates, but they still enjoy different things and variety when it comes to their dining experience. “Fresh ingredients and top quality beginnings will yield great results on the plate,” he said. “I also instill quality in my sous chefs and cooks. If it doesn’t look right, don’t serve it.”

At Vi, menus offer a wide variety of options to suit residents’ tastes and preferences, including regional favorites, traditional home-style meals and new recipes. Each community features stylish dining venues and elegant private dining rooms are perfect for parties and special occasions.

Vi, formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt, was founded in 1987 as a developer, owner and operator of older adult living communities. The company is dedicated to enriching the lives of older adults by providing high quality environments, services and care. Vi currently operates ten continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and nine rental communities under a family of brands nationwide. For more information about Vi communities, visit http://www.ViLiving.com.

Word Wizard 2.0 for iPad and iPhone - Talking Spelling App for Kids New and Noteworthy

Sophia-Antipolis, France  (Profitable.com)  L’Escapadou has announced Word Wizard 2.0 for iOS, an update to their New and Noteworthy Education app that lets kids hear the sounds of letters and words, and provides spelling practice with a customizable Word List of more than 1,300 questions and answers. Featuring advanced text to speech capabilities, the app can pronounce an unlimited number of original words and spell-check more than 100,000 words.

Word Wizard has won many accolades including:

• Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Design from Children’s Technology Review
• “…Powerful language-learning tool that is ideal for a child learning to read” - The New York Times
• “…A fantastic app for young children” - GeekDad Blog, Wired Magazine
• ”…I love the talking alphabet…I will certainly recommend it to early educators.” – Mary Ellin Logue, Ed.D, Early Childhood Education, University of Maine
• Featured by Apple as ‘New and Noteworthy’ for iPad and iPhone

There is no clear distinction between learning and playing. This is immediately apparent to the casual observer, who may witness young children enthusiastically engaged in the classroom. Clearly, not all classroom activities stimulate the natural curiosity of kids no matter how young they are. Word Wizard, however, nearly always attracts and holds the attention of children. It provides an expertly planned and exuberantly realized world in which children are encouraged to experiment with all the letters of the alphabet. There are two interrelated modes of operation: Movable Alphabet and Spelling Quiz.

In Movable Alphabet kids see all the letters in two rows at the bottom of the landscape oriented screen and hear the name or the sound of each letter aloud when they touch it. This multi-sensory approach, made famous through the writings of physician and educator Maria Montessori, engages the child completely. Each sense reinforces the other, and a wide range of cognitive styles is accommodated. Using the technology of the iPad/iPhone, Word Wizard enhances and amplifies the experience of seeing, touching, and hearing letters that young children have had in Montessori classrooms for more than 100 years. The app can be seen as taking the best of the Montessori method and making it still better.

The talking Movable Alphabet lets kids drag one letter at a time on to a grid (that automatically aligns the letters) or a blank page. As each letter is added to a word-in-progress, Word Wizard speaks the name of the letter aloud (or optionally, its phonetic sound) and then pronounces the proto-word, demonstrating how each additional letter alters the pronunciation of the whole. The child may never create a word in the English language, but he or she is completely free to get to know the building blocks of words on their own terms. When the last letter of a correctly spelled word is put in place, the entire word is surrounded by white light, all the letters grow to remove the spaces between them, and the word is clearly pronounced.

Touching any letter of the newly built word repeats the highlighting animation and pronunciation of the word. Add words to create a sentence, and touching any letter still repeats the animation and pronunciation of the word. But touch the Speak Aloud button in the top left, and the synthesized voice reads the sentence aloud, altering the inflection with which it reads some words so that they make sense in the sentence. This is natural language processing at its best (and the user’s iOS device can now pronounce such random neologisms as “kjedrwy”).

Talking Movable Alphabet Highlights:

• Spell checker highlights unrecognized words
• 2 American voices and 1 British voice
• Optional magnetic grid to ease letters placement
• Reads all the words as a sentence
• Uppercase or lowercase letters
• Phonics or letter names when a letter is touched in the alphabet
• 2 backgrounds
• Voice Transformer (speed, tone) for added fun

Familiar and at ease with letters, phonemes, syllables, words, and pronunciation, children can leave Movable Alphabet mode and visit Spelling Quiz, where they can put into practice all they have learned and play a semi-formal game with rules and scoring. Each spelling quiz consists of 10 words. Word Wizard prompts “Spell ‘chair’,” and the child drags each letter as they did before to spell the word. If necessary, they can touch the Hint button to receive hints one letter at a time. When all 10 words have been spelled, the app displays the number of correct answers and the number of hints used.

The Built-In Word List of more than 1,400 words is organized into 12 categories: Numbers, Colors, Animals, Body, Clothes, Family Members, Food, Sports, Nature, Shapes, 1,000 Most Frequently Used Words, and Dolch Words. Dolch Words are a list compiled in 1936 of 220 “service words” that are not easily sounded out but are essential to basic literacy (the list excludes nouns), e.g., “show,” “six,” “seven,” “small,” “start,” etc.

Spelling Quiz Highlights:

• 189 Word Lists of 10 words: Dolch Words, 1000 Most Frequently Used Words, Body Parts, Family Members, etc.
• Create custom Word Lists by entering custom words and sentences, and even share lists
• Hints are available if kids do not know how to spell a word
• A variety of colorful animations are displayed when a word is completed
• Once a quiz is completed, a report is displayed and fun, interactive animations are available as a reward

Children, parents, and teachers can quickly and easily create custom Word Lists. Type in a list of words separated by commas, or even sentences. Though the word may not be in the app’s Word List it will properly pronounce it and go on to score the quiz. This expansion capability makes Word Wizard a flexible tool for learning special vocabularies and terms, practicing words challenging to particular students, and challenging super-spellers with spelling bee favorites.

New Features & Options in Version 2.0 (as requested by users):

• QWERTY or alphabetic layout
• New voice added (3 voices available now), and a new version of the speech engine
• Keyboard emulation (dragging letters is now optional)
• 4 letter sizes available (allowing more letters on the board)
• Option to turn off the vocalization until the speech bubble button or a word is tapped
• New caps lock key to make typing capital letters easier
• 16 new Word Lists for beginners (CVC words)
• Recognition of words that break at the end of a line
• Erase All Letters button is now accessible on the board
• Add a friend’s Words List
• Add custom words to the profanity list (Settings option to prohibit some words)

“The overwhelmingly positive response we have received to version 1 of Word Wizard has been very encouraging and gratifying,” offered Pierre Abel. “We are very thankful to all those users and reviewers who made such useful suggestions, many of which have been included here in version 2.”

Word Wizard 2.0 is available for $3.99 on the iTunes App Store. It is a universal application that runs both on iPad and iPhone. Review copies are available upon request.

More information is available on the Word Wizard’s product Web Site including a YouTube demo and a media kit.

About L’Escapadou

Based in Sophia Antipolis, France, L’Escapadou is an award-winning, family, design studio dedicated to creating fun, creative, and educational apps for iPad and iPhone, and it was recognized as an Editor’s Choice by Moms With Apps. Montessori Crosswords, L’Escapadou’s top selling app, has won the Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Design. Pierre Abel holds a PhD in computer science and has worked extensively on user experience design. His wife, a translator currently busy home-educating their daughters, helps in the design of their educational apps. Watching their kids – 5 and 8 years old – learn and play is their main source of inspiration for the apps they make. The studio was founded in 2010 after the launch of the iPad, with the belief that the iPad can be a great tool for learning and creativity.

International Dairy Federation’s Innovation Awards, Parma Italy Judged 100 entries from 25 Countries in 14 Categories

XAPP The World’s First Carbonated Protein Fitness Drink Named as Finalist in the 2011 IDF Dairy Innovation Awards

Parma Italy  (Profitable.com)  Household name dairy companies from around the globe highlighted their offerings as they competed for the prestigious title of winner in 14 unique categories during the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) Dairy Innovation Awards.  Judged by a panel of heralded industry judges, Carlsbad, California’s NEXT Proteins, Inc. stood up to the competition as its revolutionary new XAPP® Protein Fitness Drink was named as a finalist in the “Best New Ingredient for Dairy Foods or Beverages” category.

The world is set for a decade-long boom in milk consumption with the demand for liquid dairy products set to surge by around 30% from 2010 to 2020.¹ The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards showcase the performance and potential of the global dairy industry in producing sustainable, innovative, safe and nutritious products. The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards are an annual opportunity for the dairy industry to stay up to date with the latest knowledge, best practices and breakthrough innovations like XAPP, from NEXT Proteins.

“XAPP Protein Fitness Drinks are totally on trend with almost no carbohydrates, no fat and only 100 calories [from 25g protein].  The taste impressed the panel too with the light carbonation giving an instant sense of being refreshed” noted Bill Bruce, Group Editorial Director for FoodBev Media, Ltd. “The panel was impressed by the unique patented formula creatively and successfully combining aqueous whey isolate protein into a drink which creates a real cross-over product into the carbonated energy and recovery drink category,”  Bruce continued, “Additionally, we were impressed with the bold packaging and very clear labeling and messaging. Overall, the successful combination of ingredients and taste ensured XAPP as an obvious finalist in their category.”

“We are extremely honored to have XAPP recognized as a finalist for the International Dairy Federation’s 2011 Dairy Innovation Awards,” commented David Jenkins, Founder and CEO of NEXT Proteins, Inc.  “This recognition is the culmination of more than nine and one half years of research, testing and development work by the NEXT Proteins’ team.”

XAPP, the world’s first carbonated high protein, is packed with essential electrolytes and the highest quality whey protein isolate which makes XAPP perhaps the perfect beverage before and after workouts.  XAPP is great for weight loss as it can help curb hunger between meals.   Manufactured under numerous patents both in the U.S. and internationally,  XAPP delivers a quick, easy way to REFRESH, REFUEL, REPAIR and RECOVER like no other drink ever.

About the International Dairy Federation (IDF)

IDF is the pre-eminent source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders in the dairy chain. IDF is represented in 56 countries and membership is growing: IDF accounts for approximately 86% of the world’s milk production at present. IDF aims to identify, elaborate and disseminate best practice at international level in order to guide the dairy sector and to harmonize members’ work on a variety of issues along the dairy production chain including animal health and welfare, protection of the environment, nutrition, food safety and hygiene and food standards.

About Dairy Innovation Magazine:

First published in 2005, Dairy Innovation is the only bi-monthly magazine to focus on product innovation in every sector of the international dairy industry. Published by UK based FoodBev Media, Dairy Innovation is read by over 15,000 decision makers in over 40 countries. For more information, visit www.foodbev.com.

About NEXT Proteins, Inc.

Founded in 1988, NEXT Proteins, Inc. has been the driving force behind innovative protein brands including nutrition bars, beverages, and powders, that help consumers live healthier lives.   In 1993, NEXT Proteins pioneered the development of one of the industry’s best selling protein powders, DESIGNER WHEY®, and ten years later launched the blockbuster DETOUR® protein bars.

As early as 2002, NEXT Proteins was creating the world’s first carbonated high protein drinks.  Today with six issued patents in the U.S. and multiple patents issued or pending in all the major beverage markets around the world, NEXT Proteins is rolling out XAPP Protein Fitness Drinks.   www.XAPP.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Don Williams
Williams Group Public Relations
(760) 201-8961 direct
(760) 707-4589 mobile
don@williamsgrouppr.com
WilliamsGroupPR.com

¹ Source: “Tetra Pak Dairy Index” Issue 4-July 2011.

Hoffman Estates, IL  (Profitable.com)  Sears Holdings makes shopping online at Sears.com and Kmart.com affordable and easy this holiday season through the offering of free shipping and free same-day store pick up. These quick, cost-effective shopping options will save customers time and money and allow them to focus more on spending time with friends and family.

With free shipping on Sears.com, Kmart.com and mygofer.com, customers can shop for and purchase a wide range of products, from tools to apparel and toys. Whether searching for a gift for friends or family, or even a special gift for themselves, shoppers will find what they need from more than 20 million items online. From proprietary brands like the popular Kardashian Kollection and Sofia Vergara to Craftsman and Kenmore, Sears.com and Kmart.com, and mygofer.com have everything customers need to get their holiday shopping finished effortlessly.

The free shipping offer will begin on Oct. 30 and run through Dec. 19. On Sears.com, customers can use promo code SHIPREALJOY to receive free shipping on qualified mailable orders totaling more than $99.* On Kmart.com, customers can type in promo code HOLIDAY to receive free shipping on qualified mailable orders totaling more than $49.** On mygofer.com, customers can use promo code JINGLE49 on qualified orders totaling more than $49***. New this year just in time for the holidays, Sears launched an online checkout experience that makes purchasing easier than ever before.

“We are always looking for ways to help our customers, especially during the busy holiday season,” said Imran Jooma, president of eCommerce at Sears Holdings. “We are constantly improving our customer service and overall shopping experience, which is why we’re offering multiple wallet-friendly ways to shop, purchase, and receive items all on the customer’s own terms. We want to take the stress out of holiday shopping so that our customers can focus on what’s important.”

Whether they’re looking for heavy-duty snow blowers or fashionable snow boots, customers can also reap the benefits of the Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store offering available at Sears and Kmart (powered by mygofer), which includes free same-day pick up at their local store and curbside pickup in select locations.

“While other companies are just now recognizing the need to meet customer demand to save valuable time and money when shopping online, millions of customers have already been using—and continue to use—Sears’ and Kmart’s best-in-class Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store service,” said Jooma.

Additional offerings that customers can enjoy this holiday season include the following:

• Sears, Kmart, and mygofer Mobile Apps: Available on iPhone, Android and Blackberry smartphones, Sears and Kmart mobile sites and apps give customers access to millions of products in the palm of their hands. On-the-go customers can use their phones to check if the item they want is in stock, buy it online and pick it up in-store, all without breaking a sweat.
• ShipVantage Membership Program: Customers can enjoy free standard shipping all year long on all Sears.com and Kmart.com purchases for the membership fee of only $79 for 12 months (a 30-day free trial membership is available). See details at www.sears.com/shipvantage. Discounted expedited mail options are available through this program. Membership fee applies. Applies only to mailable items sold by Sears & Kmart. Excludes all items sold by Marketplace Vendors.
• International Shipping: With international shipping to 91 countries, Sears helps customers send holiday cheer to everywhere from Australia to Chile. Packages will arrive just in time for Christmas if ordered by Dec. 1; visit Sears.com for details.
• APO/FPO Shipping: Customers can ship Sears.com orders to Army post office (APO) and Fleet post office (FPO) addresses, which are exempt from international customs duties. Order by Nov. 28 for packages to arrive by Christmas.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation’s fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores inthe United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands’ End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings’ website at www.searsholdings.com.

*Visit Sears.com for details.
**Visit Kmart.com for details.
***Visit mygofer.com for details.

Oak Brook, IL  (Profitable.com)  Follett Higher Education Group’s Rent-A-Text continues to grow, and remains the most popular choice for students looking to save big on course materials. Just this fall, students across the country saved nearly $90 million compared to the cost of buying new books by using Rent-A-Text. Students also bought more CafeScribe® digital textbooks as sales more than doubled compared to last year’s figures.

“The growth and popularity of both Rent-A-Text and CafeScribe® digital textbooks show that we have been successful in meeting the evolving needs of our customers,” said Thomas A. Christopher, President of Follett Higher Education Group. “We will continue to grow our offerings to ensure students have more choices and better access to affordable course materials on all of the campuses we serve, both in-store and online.”

Textbook rentals doubled this year compared to last, making Follett’s Rent-A-Text the fastest growing in-store and online bookstore rental program. The company has already rented more than 4.5 million textbooks and saved students more than$215 million. Follett’s rental programs are expected to save students more than $200 million in the 2011-2012 academic year alone.

Students at California State University Northridge took full advantage of the rental options available at the Matador Bookstore and rented approximately 25,000 books, more than any other Rent-A-Text school. The most popular rental title for the fall semester was “They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing,” (W.W. Norton & Company).

In a national survey conducted by Follett this September, 99 percent of students expressed satisfaction for the program and a majority of students said they had a better opinion of their bookstore after using Rent-A-Text. Students also reported buying additional course materials and textbooks with their savings.

Rent-A-Text is available at more than 860 Follett-managed bookstores in the United States and Canada. The program provides savings, on average, of 50 percent or more compared to new textbook prices and is also available online through efollett.com. As a leader in the textbook industry, Follett also offers rental solutions to virtual and independently-managed bookstores.

Explosion in Digital Sales

This fall, Follett announced a new version of its CafeScribe® platform that makes digital textbooks smarter with better study tools, more accessibility on different types of devices and more book titles than ever before.

Already, students are taking advantage of the CafeScribe® application’s unique study tools with hundreds of thousands of highlights, notes and bookmarks created. One of the many dynamic tools available through the new version of the product is Snap Summary, which allows users to quickly and easily compile their notes and highlights into a powerful study and reference tool.

“The CafeScribe® application is truly a dynamic digital textbook platform that allows students to interact with their textbooks,” said Christopher. “We are committed to serving the current and future needs of the academic community and we are confident that CafeScribe® digital textbooks will continue to be an affordable and reliable choice for our students.”

During the fall semester, “Guide to First-Year Composition” (CafeCustom) topped the charts as the best selling digital title, and students at Florida State College at Jacksonville bought the most digital textbooks.  Students at Ivy Tech Community College, Trine University, University of Texas and Arizona State University were also strong adopters of digital course materials. Confirming Follett’s belief that digital content will take hold first in problem-based disciplines, students in accounting, mathematics and computer science bought the most digital titles this fall.

CafeScribe® digital textbooks are available at CafeScribe.com, Follett campus stores, independently-managed bookstores and through efollett.com, the most visited-collegiate ecommerce site. To provide students with the opportunity to experiment with digital for free, Follett offers three-day trials for most CafeScribe® titles. The company created the Try Now, Buy Later program because it found that after using digital textbooks, two-thirds of students prefer the option to print.

For the most up-to-date list of Follett-managed campuses and virtual bookstores offering Rent-A-Text, visit www.rent-a-text.com. For more information on Follett Textbook Rental for independent bookstores, visit www.follettbooks.com. For more information on CafeScribe®, visit www.cafescribe.com.

About Follett Higher Education Group

Follett Higher Education Group of Oak Brook, Illinois, is the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. Follett services five million students and over 400,000 faculty members through more than 930 stores. Follett also services more than 1,600 independent campus stores with its wholesale services, and has the most visited ecommerce collegiate website, efollett.com, that provides services and products through a network of more than 900 campus stores.

About Follett

Follett Corporation is a $2.7 billion, privately-held company that provides products, services and solutions to the educational marketplace. Follett Corporation was founded in 1873, and today is headquartered in River Grove, Illinois.

Chicago, IL  (Profitable.com)  Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and selling new and used vehicles, and PickupTrucks.com, an authoritative site for pickup truck news and reviews, announced today that the Ford F-150 has been named the 2011 “Truck of the Fair” at the State Fair of Texas. During the three week fair, attendees were given the power to be the critics and vote for their favorite truck on display by using their cell phones and mobile devices to vote by text message.

“Texans are truck people—one out of every six pickups in the nation is being driven in Texas,” said Mark Williams, PickupTrucks.com editor. “So when the Ford F-150 is declared Truck of the Fair, you know it is coming from a trusted group of passionate pickup truck owners.”

There were dozens of pickups on display eligible for voting, but three trucks remained on top for the entirety of the Fair. The Chevy Silverado 1500, Ford F-150 and Nissan Titan remained neck-and-neck, but in the end the F-150 was clearly the favorite. This is Ford’s third “Truck of the Fair” win and second for the F-150. Last year, the F-350 Lariat was the fan favorite.

About Cars.com and PickupTrucks.com

Cars.com was recently named the “Best Overall Customer Experience” by Keynote Systems, the leader in Internet and mobile cloud marketing. Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. PickupTrucks.com, part of the Cars.com brand, is dedicated to the distinct needs of pickup truck buyers and owners. Both sites offer thousands of new and used vehicle listings, consumer reviews, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and many other tools. Cars.com and PickupTrucks.com put millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they needs to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Lincoln, CA  (Profitable.com)  The Lincoln, Calif.-based Rogers Family Company (www.rogersfamilyco.com) has launched a breakthrough single serve gourmet coffee – the “San Francisco Bay OneCup™“- that not only costs 25 to 30 percent less than comparable products but also delivers unmatched taste for discriminating coffee lovers.

The OneCup – the Rogers Family Company’s initial product entry into the growing single serve market – provides consumers the highest quality gourmet coffee roasted in the rich, dark European tradition and a 12-cup box is now available online for$7.99

“The San Francisco Bay OneCup delivers top quality, fresh-roasted single serve gourmet coffees for much less than what you are used to paying,” said Rogers Family Company Vice President Jim Rogers.

The company – a roaster and producer of “Responsibly Grown/Fairly Traded” organic gourmet coffee and tea sold worldwide under such brands and divisions as San Francisco Bay Premium Gourmet Coffee and The Organic Coffee Company – is already in several retail markets and will be in other major retail markets across the U.S. in the next 60 days.

The San Francisco Bay OneCup can be used in most single serve brewers. The initial OneCup products – that use only 100% Arabica beans from the world’s premier growing regions – will be Organic Rainforest Blend, French Roast, Fog Chaser and Decaf French Roast.

The San Francisco Bay OneCup does not have an interior plastic brewing chamber.  Instead, the OneCup utilizes a special filter that delivers maximum flavor extraction and the highest quality to coffee lovers.

The OneCup also offers another perk for socially and environmentally conscious consumers. OneCup purchases support the company’s “Community Aid” program.

Community Aid establishes a fixed price for farmers based upon the farmer’s cost plus a reasonable return and pays them more than the average market price and ‘Fair Trade’ rates.  Community Aid provides social, economic, and educational programs to break the cycle of poverty and ensure the long-term viability of coffee communities.  The program also preserves native wildlife, rainforest and plants at farms from Mexico to Central America to Africa. Projects include providing modern houses, medical facilities, schools and day care centers.  The Rogers Family Company has spent more than $4.3 million on Community Aid to date.

The company’s organic and shade-grown coffee farming also protects the rainforest canopy above the coffee trees and produces superior quality coffee that preserves native plants, forest and wildlife without harmful chemicals.

The OneCup has received positive reviews in an extensive test involving single serve users and owners of brewing systems.

For the complete press release, please visit: http://www.rogersfamilyco.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=202

For more information, please visit http://www.gourmet-coffee.com/onecup.html.

San Francisco, CA  (Profitable.com)  Invuity, a leading developer of state-of-the-art illuminated surgical technology, has introduced its illuminated breast retractor system at the American College of Surgeons’ 97th Annual Clinical Congress inSan Francisco.

Designed specifically for breast mastectomies, lumpectomies, sentinel node biopsies and reconstruction procedures, the system integrates the company’s proprietary Eigr™ (pronounced eye-gr) illumination technology into an optimized retractor to enable surgeons to improve visualization of anatomic structures during these procedures. The system includes a family of different retractors designed for various surgical approaches, including reconstructive surgeries.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2.5 million women in the United States are breast cancer survivors; many chose surgery to remove the cancer. Operating in the breast provides unique challenges for specialists, especially in less invasive surgeries. As breast cancer surgery incisions become smaller, Invuity’s illuminated breast retractor system helps surgeons to better visualize delicate structures. Surgeons can use the Invuity breast retractor system whether they are working on a lumpectomy or a mastectomy to enhance visualization and bring illumination inside the incision. The ability to see is critical, particularly in skin and nipple-sparing mastectomies.

“As a breast cancer surgeon for more than 30 years, I have closely followed the advances in surgical techniques with respect to breast conservation surgery,” said Dr. Stephen DeSantis, chairman, department of surgery, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif. ”Invuity’s Eigr technology enables me to perform advanced breast procedures with remarkable visualization. This is truly an enabling technology that will be greatly appreciated by dedicated breast surgeons and plastic surgeons.”

Eigr technology utilizes unique optical structures to control light output to a targeted operative space. By directing light from multiple angles and efficiently managing light across a broad output surface, Eigr virtually eliminates shadows, back reflection, glare and thermal effects such as overheating. Invuity’s Eigr breast retractor system is also ergonomically designed so that surgeons have greater comfort and maneuverability.

“Invuity’s Eigr breast retractor system is the result of close collaboration with breast cancer surgeons to understand their need to visualize structures better during less invasive procedures,” said Philip Sawyer, chief executive officer of Invuity. “As a result, Invuity provides critical tools to aid in these procedures.”

Last year, Invuity closed $15.6 million in Series C funding designed to support the commercial launch of multiple new product introductions and general operating expenses. The funding was led by InterWest Partners and current investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers also participated.

Invuity works closely with surgeons from leading institutions to determine which surgical procedures can best benefit from improved visualization. The result of this collaborative approach to product development is a suite of products that integrate Eigr technology and address procedures in a variety of surgical specialties including spine, orthopedics, head and neck and oncology.

About Invuity

Invuity develops medical devices to dramatically improve visualization in less invasive surgeries where it is difficult to see. The company’s products incorporate its proprietary Eigr illumination technology into advanced access systems for a variety of surgical specialties. Invuity has received funding from InterWest Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.invuity.com

Invuity is a registered trademark and Eigr is a trademark of Invuity, Inc.

New JNL Fusion Workout Challenge Recently Released by Sexy & Fit Jennifer Nicole Lee Entitled "I Dare You"

Miami, FL  (Profitable.com)  Jennifer Nicole Lee has recently released her latest JNL Fusion workout challenge called the “I Dare You” exercise routine. In her workout video, she dares all to be their best, live out their dreams, push themselves physically and mentally, and to never give up. This latest “I Dare You” JNL Fusion workout challenge is the last content of many that JNL has released via her youtube channel at http://www.JNLYouTube.com.

By way of background, Jennifer Nicole Lee is the creator behind the revolutionary workout method called JNL Fusion. JNL designed this specialized workout program to help not only her celebrity clients get maximum results in minimum time, but also to help her keep and stay in shape. JNL Fusion is possibly superior to other workout methods in many ways. Time efficiency, keeping the body guessing, total body toning, and athletic conditioning are listed as some benefits to this practice. JNL Fusion is not a fad, but a fierce fitness revolution, sweeping the world one country at a time.

To date, this exclusive method is only available by Jennifer Nicole Lee herself, and also her 25 JNL FUSION Master Trainers, which she certified one by one. This method is so in demand, that JNL recently signed a huge mega production deal, where she filmed all of her Fusion workouts, putting them into a complete 12 exercise DVD set, soon available for purchase at http://www.JNLFUSION.com.

The 2nd Annual JNL FUSION World Conference will be held on a private resort on Miami’s South Beach on January 13-16, 2011. Applications are pouring in, but only a hand full will be selected, as JNL states “I will be extremely careful in selecting the future trainers of my JNL FUSION method. I am looking for the best leaders, coaches, fitness professionals who are just as passionate about JNL FUSION as I am. They need to be dedicated JNL FUSION Ambassadors, who will take the method back to their country and certify the next generations after us. It truly is a movement and history in the making.”

As it’s apparent in her latest video workout, JNL is extremely adamant about motivating the masses, as she dares all to take her workout challenge, and to live the life that they love through fitness. For more, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i32haaUvzsU.

San Francisco, CA  (Profitable.c0m)  Osann IP Consulting has announced the auction of a patent portfolio for smart phone video messaging at the ICAP Patent Brokerage Fall 2011 Live IP Auction on November 17th in San Francisco.

Video calls now exist, and features like Skype’s “video snapshot” enable still images to be combined with a video call. US Reissue Patent No RE42210 describes such combined calls including saving them in the manner of voicemails today. The acquisition of Skype by Microsoft raises the probability that video-voicemails according to this invention will be available on smart phones in the future.

In addition to storing video-voicemails, realtime video-voice conversations are optionally recorded for later retrieval in order to document a conversation or because a party in the conversation is not able to view the images in realtime. While the sending party will normally use a conventional smart-phone with digital camera, the receiving party may view video-voicemail images on smart phones or a variety of devices with high-resolution displays including a conventional PC/Laptop/Tablet connected to the Internet providing a 10x higher resolution experience.

For friends and family, the Video-Voicemail paradigm provides an easy way to communicate image and video information while maintaining a communication paradigm that is familiar, basically that of phone calls and voicemails. While shopping, a person might call a friend or family member to show videos and images of items they are considering, while the receiving party views the information for comment and approval.

Mobile phone communication among workgroups is used by most businesses that require frequent communications among individuals at different locations in a local area – for the most part, businesses in the construction industry. Video-Voicemail enables a manager, foreman, or responsible person to better track the progress at a variety of locations and effect swift problem resolution or avoidance. The ability of a foreman to view or anticipate problem areas – using this IP – adds tremendous value.

Entitled “Video-Voicemail Solution for Wireless Communication Devices”, the original application was filed on March 22, 2002 and initially issued in 2006 as US Patent No 7,092,735. A reissue application was filed in 2008 and issued with broader claims on March 8, 2011 as Re-issue Pat No RE42210. Pending Re-issue Continuation Application No 13/018,314 is included in the auction lot with claims focused on communication paths and display resolutions, covering scenarios currently emerging in the video messaging arena.

The Video-Voicemail IP lot should be of interest to Mobile Service Providers, Smart Phone Manufacturers, and Software Companies providing platforms for mobile communications. Forward citations for this lot include: Sony, LG Electronics, NEC Electronics, and Sprint Nextel. To find out more about this unique IP portfolio, the IP Auction event, and the patents being offered, contact: Dean Becker at (561) 309-0011 or Dean(dot)Becker(at)us.(dot)cap(dot)com.

About Robert Osann and Osann IP Consulting:

Robert Osann is an Intellectual Property consultant, inventor, and veteran of five venture-backed startups. He was the founding CEO at two VC-funded startups and a co-founder at three others. With equal experience in both engineering and marketing, he is also an inventor with 36 US Patents issued and more than 20 applications pending. Since 2007, he has sold 6 US patents and 9 pending applications in four transactions to three different buyers, including the sale of a Smart Phone patent portfolio at the Ocean Tomo Fall IP auction in 2007. Visit http://www.silaero.com.

About ICAP Patent Brokerage:

ICAP Patent Brokerage is a division of ICAP plc and the world’s largest intellectual property brokerage and patent auction firm. Visit http://icappatentbrokerage.com/forsale.

Santa Clara, CA  (Profitable.com)  Shipments of tablet PCs with ARM processors are expected to grow 211% Y/Y in 2011 to 59.9 million units, while tablet PCs with x86 processors (typically used in notebook and netbook PCs) are not expected to experience strong growth until 2013, according to the newly-launched DisplaySearch Tablet Quarterly report. Similarly, Windows 8, which is also associated with mobile PCs, is not expected to take significant share until 2013. Global tablet shipments are expected to reach nearly 330 million units by 2017, up from less than 60 million units in 2011, so this market segment provides significant growth opportunities.

“The tablet PC and notebook PC markets are on a collision course as both product categories continue to evolve and improve on their respective weaknesses,” said Richard Shim, DisplaySearch Senior Analyst. “As such, each product category will influence the other over time. Still, the incumbent platforms have inherent advantages in the early years.”

More brands will challenge Apple for a share of the tablet PC market and are expected to experiment with the various platforms available to them in the market. PC brands are likely to gravitate toward the familiar—Windows and x86 platforms—with some branching out towards the ARM platform as well. The emergence of Amazon as a tablet hardware vendor introduces even more non-Windows and non-x86 thinking into the tablet PC ecosystem, requiring players like Microsoft and Intel to catch up to the changing landscape of consumer computing.

“Although several processor architectures could be used to power tablet SoCs, the rich software ecosystem of the ARM architecture built around smart phones is proving to be a key differentiating factor,” according to Jim McGregor, Chief Technology Strategist for In-Stat, an NPD Group Company. “Unlike notebook and netbook PCs, where consumers have chosen products based on the processor or PC vendor, consumers of new mobile devices care more about what they can do with the devices, which is associated more with the device applications and services.”

Ultimately the developer community and the apps they create will play a significant role in the success of any emerging platform.

The new DisplaySearch Tablet Quarterly report tracks quarterly changes in tablet PC products and strategies and forecasts the impact of those changes on the market. It covers the changing landscape of screen sizes, features that are expected to be included and excluded in future tablets, and operating systems, including these highlights:

• Cellular connectivity could be a potential catalyst for shipment growth and will be an influential technology in the growth of the tablet category. The share of tablets with embedded cellular connectivity will reach about 10% in 2013 and will exceed 25% by 2017.
• Many display manufacturers are transitioning tablet panel production to larger plants, Gen 6 and Gen 8, which will lead to greater panel capacity for tablets. This transition could affect pricing.

For more information on this report, please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, or contact(at)displaysearch(dot)com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

About DisplaySearch

Since 1996, DisplaySearch has been recognized as a leading global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge. In collaboration with The NPD Group, its parent company, DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information on DisplaySearch analysts, reports and industry events, visit us at http://www.displaysearch.com. Read our blog at http://www.displaysearchblog.com and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit http://www.npd.com and http://www.npdgroupblog.com. Follow us on Twitter at @npdtech and @npdgroup.

New York, NY  (Profitable.com)  There’s an old adage that says, everyone has a soul mate. Thanks to a new dating site, there’s a way for singles to find the exact kind of person they really want.

“Whether you are looking for an ugly people dating service, wealthy matchmaking or other adult online dating service, we have an online dating community that is perfect for you,” said Aaron Fraser, spokesman and developer of gothamdatingpartners.com. “We offer dating for all walks of life, wealthy people, dating by race, attractiveness, religion, and more.”

Fraser added that gothamdatingpartners.com is the mother site of 11 additional websites that will ultimately lead visitors to a dating portal of their liking, such as prisonhookup.com, lovenotlust.com, whitepeopledate.com, Donsanddivasdating.com, faithfullover.com, wealthypeopledate.com, and more.

What sets this dating service apart from everyone else on the market, Fraser said, is that it offers a $99 lifetime membership, which costs less than a yearly membership at any of the major dating websites.  “That’s $99 bucks for life,” Fraser said.

The launching of the dating sites could prove to have perfect timing.

According to a recent study by The New York Daily News, about one in five people who have used online dating sites have gone on to marry someone they met via the Web. The study also concluded that 94 percent of those who used online dating sites were satisfied enough to go on a second date.

Gothamdatingpartners.com, which was developed after Fraser found himself homeless, and without a companion to share his ups and downs with, prides itself on making the first connection, quick and easy.  “It is easy to connect with members of our ugly people dating service, millionaire dating website and other services,” Fraser stressed. “You can send a message or send a card on the profile of the member you want to contact. You can browse free online personals dating profiles and read our online dating guide as a guest.”

Jason Thomas, 34, of Houston, said he has always had a fetish for people who most consider unattractive, and is impressed with what the new dating site has to offer.

“This makes it a lot easier for me to find the woman I want even if they feel like they are ugly,” Thomas said. “I’m not the greatest looking person in the world, but ugly people need love too.”  That’s the primary goal of gothamdatingpartners.com and its 11 other feeder dating sites.

“We have a huge database of over 1 million people on each website, which is the largest database of viable dating candidates, “Fraser noted. “All you have to do is click on the dating website that best describes what you are looking for to start on the path to finding that perfect person, whether for one date or the rest of your life.” Unlike the other sites, our database is comprised of real members, real contacts, and who really want to meet someone like you. We also cover all the bases,sites like: match.com, E-harmony,Zoosk, and Plentyoffish.com, have niche markets that shuts out other users from making a viable connection based on their particular likes or dislikes. Aaron Fraser is also considering a run for congress against Charles Rangel, who has occupied his seat in Harlem for forty years. “New blood is sorely needed,” says Fraser.

For more information about dating for ugly people, black people dating, white people, and more, visit http://www.gothamdatingpartners.com
Gotham Dating Partners Inc.
45 East 135th Street
New York, NY 10037
Info(at)gothamdatingpartners(dot)com

Pittsburgh, PA and Fort Worth, TX  (Profitable.com)  Lucas Systems, Inc., the leading independent provider of voice-directed warehouse applications, has introduced Jennifer FoodSelect, the first voice-directed solution designed especially for foodservice and grocery distribution centers. Jennifer FoodSelect is being introduced this week at the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Ace Endico, a regional foodservice distributor in New York State, is the first customer to install this new Jennifer voice solution, with double-digit improvements in selector productivity and accuracy.

“Jennifer FoodSelect incorporates industry-leading voice technology and best practices that Lucas Systems has developed over ten years of delivering voice-directed warehouse applications for foodservice and grocery DCs,” says Chris Sweeney, SVP of Lucas Systems. “Jennifer FoodSelect maximizes the operational gains possible with voice, adds powerful QC/Audit tools, and includes the most advanced management tools available today, the Engage Management Services Console. Unlike a one-size-fits-all package, Jennifer FoodSelect includes comprehensive configuration capabilities to provide easier, faster implementation without sacrificing flexibility in the future. This new Jennifer solution is designed for foodservice and grocery DCs that need a full-featured voice solution that can extend their existing inventory management, WMS and other warehouse systems.”

Jennifer FoodSelect is tailored to the unique needs of foodservice and grocery DCs. The system supports GS1 data standards for product traceability, and also provides flexible voice- or scan-based data capture for lot numbers, catchweights, or date codes using any industry-standard voice capable mobile computer. This new Jennifer solution inherits key components of the award-winning Jennifer VoicePlus solution that have been pre-configured for food DCs:

• Voice-directed order selection including two-stage PIR picking and single and dual-pallet case picking. For foodservice DCs, Jennifer FoodSelect includes on-demand case label printing which eliminates selector idle time, reduces paper handling, and adds points to individual productivity rates.
• Voice-directed truck loading improves overall productivity and reduces dock clutter and congestion. Jennifer FoodSelect generates accurate load maps to improve service and efficiency for truck drivers and customers.
• The integrated QC/Audit module allows managers to better prioritize audits and focus scarce QC resources on the orders that need to be checked, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of audits.
• Engage MSC includes route planning and management, robust productivity and process tracking, and system configuration tools in a flexible, user-friendly Web environment.

About Lucas Systems, Inc.

Since 1998, Lucas Systems has delivered more voice-directed warehouse applications on a wider variety of mobile computers than any other company. Customers like Cardinal Health, C&S Wholesale Grocers, CVS/pharmacy, Do it Best Corp., Kraft Nabisco, and OfficeMax trust Lucas to deliver solutions that greatly improve worker productivity and accuracy because Lucas truly understands warehouse operations. Jennifer™ VoicePlus, the Lucas voice solution, creates a conversation with warehouse workers that frees their hands and eyes to focus on the job at hand. Jennifer also provides managers and supervisors with real-time reporting and management tools that help them better manage their operations. Tens of thousands of associates at hundreds of distribution centers work with Jennifer every day. For more information, visit http://www.lucasware.com.

Atlanta, GA  (Profitable.com)   Winners of the 2011 Excalibur Awards were recently announced during a special ceremony at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel that attracted an audience of more than 300 leaders from Georgia’s business community. The Excalibur Awards, presented by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) in collaboration with the Business and Technology Alliance of TAG (B&TA), recognize the Georgia companies and organizations demonstrating the best use of technology for challenges in business and education.

“Technology has become a vital part of the business world today and Georgia companies are leading the charge in both creating and implementing technology,” said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. “The winners of the 2011 Excalibur Awards are all great examples of the innovative spirit alive in our state and are shining examples to the business community of the success that can be created through the creative use of technology.”

The 2011 winners are:

Small
Promotional ScreenPrint and Digital, Inc. (PSP) is a digital print and screen printing company producing POP materials inDecatur. The company implemented a manufacturing operations management (MOM) portal solution to centralize company data (such as job status, inventory, sales orders, etc.). PSP was able to increase efficiencies, decrease email use by 50% and win more business without adding staff.

Mid-Sized
DIRTT Environmental Solutions is an award-winning modular wall manufacturer for commercial and industrial settings. The company is recognized for its use of ICE software, which uses 2D and 3D graphic communication to envision, design, specify, price, manufacture and deliver DIRTT product. Integrated into ICE is ICEcycle, a reconfiguration tool for product lifecycle management. ICEcycle captures all elements from an existing modular layout and inventories, sorts, locates and defines each part available, all in real time, and reduces design time by up to 60%. ICE and ICEcycle vastly improve the precision, speed and custom capabilities of DIRTT’s manufacturing and installation processes while maximizing use of all pre-existing parts in an interior redesign.

Large
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is a global company operating seven well-known hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. IHG also manages Priority Club Rewards. The company won for its use of Smart Cache Services, which provides better accuracy on room availability and rates when Global Distribution System (GDS) Partners and Online Travel Agencies (such as www.travelocity.com) pull this information from IHG’s reservation processing system. Smart Cache has saved the company a $1.5 million upgrade and has helped IHG’s partners realize similar savings through a reduction in the number of transactions and in increased look to book ratio.

Educational
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is a premier 21st century liberal arts college where learning takes place continuously and beyond the confines of the classroom. The school offers organic chemistry, which is perhaps one of the most challenging undergraduate classes. In fact 40% of first semester students nationwide taking organic chemistry change their career goals and do not continue on to the second semester of that course. GGC tackled this challenge by launching the “iTouch Chemistry Project” which taps into the strengths of the smart phone to provide flash cards, podcasts and other supporting materials to students on the go. The school’s organic chemistry students now have over 90% success rate with the two semester organic sequence.

Creative
The Weather Channel (TWC) has brought timely weather information to the world since 1982. Beginning as a 24-hour, 7-day television network devoted entirely to weather, it has expanded across several mediums to bring the breaking weather to its viewers and users. Desiring to tap into the explosion of social media and the immediate and personal access to information it can provide, TWC added social to all TWC platforms to make the company’s storytelling more complete. TWC partnered with Twitter to filter weather-relevant content and match it to the user’s location for display across all of The Weather Channel properties. Following major weather events, including Hurricane Irene, TWC saw record social numbers through The Weather Channel Social.

For more information about TAG and the Excalibur Awards, visit http://www.tagonline.org/excalibur-awards.php.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 14,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.

About The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG
The Business and Technology Alliance of TAG is focused on addressing the challenges of today’s fast paced marketplace by bringing together business leaders and technology innovators to address key business issues. Their mission is to foster business innovation through the exploration of technological advancements and the ways in which these technologies can help corporations in all industries to solve complex problems and be more competitive. For more information, visithttp://www.tagonline.org/tag-business-technology-alliance.php.

Santa Barbara, CA  (Profitable.com)  As the overweight and obesity rates in America continue to rise, FindTheBest has developed a Fast Food Nutrition comparison to help consumers make more informed decisions when it comes to their health.

Americans love fast food.  A reported 25 percent of American adults consume fast food each day—whether it’s a large order of McDonald’s French fries, weighing in at 500 calories, or Taco Bell’s Volcano Nachos, which comes loaded with 1,000 calories.  It’s no surprise that an estimated 68 percent of American children and adults are overweight or obese.

The issue has become so important that First Lady Michelle Obama has launched the Let’s Move campaign to get childhood obesity under control.  But while part of the problem is a lack of self-control, a large part of the problem is a lack of information.  Educating consumers about what they are eating is an important step to containing the obesity epidemic.

FindTheBest’s Fast Food Nutrition comparison allows users to sort and filter their favorite fast food items and popular restaurant chains—from KFC to El Pollo Loco—by menu item, number of calories, serving size, total fat, carbohydrates, sodium, sugar, protein and more.

For those not willing to give up fast food, the Fast Food Nutrition comparison helps users compare healthier alternatives.  Substituting Del Taco’s Jalepeno Rings for the Habit Burger’s onion rings can drop 240 calories.  Swapping a Hardee’s 2/3 LB Monster Thickburger with a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sheds 910 calories.

Next time you walk into a Burger King and the smell of freshly made French fries wafts past your nose, or you’re in line at Subway and can’t decide between the Subway Footlong Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich and the 6-inch BLT, check in with FindTheBest’s Fast Food Nutrition Comparison to compare the nutritional information before making a decision.

San Antonio, TX  (Profitable.com)

• Ram broadens Power Wagon lineup with new ST and Laramie models
• Ultimate truck capability now available in three trim levels

Ram Truck has announced that the most capable off-road truck on the market and the reigning Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas, the Ram Power Wagon, will now be available in two additional models—ST and Laramie.

The new Ram Power Wagon ST will offer off-road enthusiasts all of the Power Wagon’s legendary capability in a value-oriented package. The Power Wagon Laramie will offer more comfort and luxury features. Each of the three Ram Power Wagon models will have its own distinctive look.

“When it comes to off-road capability, no other pickup truck compares to the Ram Power Wagon,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico — Chrysler Group LLC. “Expanding the Power Wagon’s availability to ST andLaramie models is not only what our customers have asked for, but also a true measure of the truck’s success and popularity with truck buyers.”

Ram Power Wagon ST

The Ram Power Wagon lends itself to duties requiring reliability, durability and capability. The ST package will appeal to customers such as fire and emergency services, mining companies, oil exploration and forestry services for daily off-road duty. The Ram Power Wagon ST features single-tone paint, a black grille, black front/rear bumpers, black fender flares and black mirrors with optional clearance lamps. The interior is unchanged from the ST trim level with the exception of additional controls for Power Wagon’s unique features.

Ram Power Wagon Laramie

The Ram Power Wagon Laramie broadens Ram’s hard-core off-road lineup, adding comfort and convenience features, such as leather seats, premium audio, dual-zone A/C and woodgrain dash and door panels. The Power Wagon package also includes a floor mounted, manual transfer case shifter. On the outside, the bold exterior features body-colored fender flares, chrome mirrors, bumpers and grille, and unique badging. The addition of Power Wagon to the Laramie model gives the off-road linebacker a tuxedo and builds on the success and heritage of the Power Wagon nameplate.

Pricing

The starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2012 Ram Power Wagon ST is $42,620 and $51,995for the 2012 Ram Power Wagon Laramie (including a $995 destination charge). The 2012 Ram Power Wagon SLT starts at$46,560. Laramie and ST models go on sale December 2011.

2012 Ram Power Wagon

The 2012 Ram Power Wagon features award-winning interior appointments and distinctive graphics, but it’s engineering that makes Power Wagon the ultimate off-road pickup. New for 2012, the most capable off-road pickup truck on the market is now available with a new RamBox storage system for trucks with 6-foot-4-inch beds and a new heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission. Ram Power Wagon continues to offer class-exclusive electric-locking front and rear differentials, class-exclusive electronic disconnecting sway bar, the legendary 383 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, 33-inch off-road tires, a custom-built Warn® 12,000-lb. winch, Bilstein shocks, underbody skid plate protection and a 4.56 axle ratio. Additionally, the Power Wagon is rated to tow up to 10,250 lbs. with a Class 4 trailer hitch, all standard.

Built for all terrain

The 2012 Ram Power Wagon lives up to the heritage of Power Wagons built in the 1970s. There is simply no other pickup on the market that matches the capability. Ram Power Wagon takes the road less traveled while comfortably taking passengers and gear along for the ride.

Built to master the most rigorous off-road trails, the Ram Power Wagon is based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4×4 Crew Cab. The Power Wagon has a 14.5-inch ground clearance, compared to 12 inches on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty. The vehicle’s approach angle is boosted to 35 degrees, the departure angle is increased to 26.5 degrees and the breakover angle is enhanced to 25.5 degrees. This gives the Ram Power Wagon significant clearance for navigating a variety of off-road trails, especially when tackling severe inclines and declines.

Providing optimal balance between on-road civility and off-road capability are 33-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, which feature a beefy tread pattern to help grab ledges along the trail and deliver optimum traction through sand, mud and snow.

Underneath the 2012 Ram Power Wagon are generous underbody protection components. A steering damper skid plate and fore-aft bars bring together the transfer case and fuel tank skid plates, resulting in armor that minimizes underside damage and rock wedging.

Best-in-class wheel articulation

A disconnecting stabilizer bar, a solid front axle with coil springs and a single-stage leaf spring rear suspension with unique softer spring settings give the Ram Power Wagon the best wheel articulation in its class.

The 2012 Ram Power Wagon’s electronic disconnecting stabilizer bar, called a “Smart Bar,” delivers additional wheel travel for traversing the toughest trails. The driver-actuated stabilizer bar disengagement is possible in both four-wheel drive “High” or four-wheel drive “Low” at speeds below 18 miles per hour. As a safety feature, the Smart Bar automatically re-engages at speeds above 18 miles per hour.

Front and rear electronic axle lockers provide low-speed maneuvering when climbing boulders and ascending steep inclines by evenly splitting torque between both wheels, forcing them to turn in unison for extra traction. Bilstein monotube high-pressure gas shock absorbers keep all four wheels firmly planted and provide an appropriate ride for on- and off-road.

The 2012 Ram Power Wagon’s combined axle and suspension package adds to greater vehicle flexibility, a determining factor when negotiating extreme obstacles. The Ram Power Wagon boasts a 460 (23-inch vertical height) Ramp Travel Index (RTI – a measurement of a vehicle’s suspension articulation) with the stabilizer bar engaged and 655 (32-inch vertical height) RTI with the stabilizer bar disengaged.

HEMI power

The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 features 383 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 400 lb. ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The HEMI V-8 has been modified for use in the Ram Power Wagon in order to enhance its off-road maneuverability and finesse. When driving in four-wheel drive “Low”, the throttle response softens and the idle speed increases by 100 rpm (from 650 to 750 rpm) — providing added control when ascending and descending off-road obstacles at slow speeds.

The original Power Wagon; first mass-produced civilian 4×4 truck

After World War II, GIs returning home wrote to Dodge and asked, “Where can we get a truck like the ones we used in the war?” Dodge responded by building the Power Wagon. Virtually unchanged from its introduction in 1945 to when its domestic sales ended in 1968, the Dodge Power Wagon is the classic four-wheel drive truck.

Power Wagons first appeared on the civilian market in 1946 as the model WDX. The model designations changed over the years, but the Power Wagon was offered only as a 1-ton truck through its final year of production in 1968.

The Power Wagon was similar in design to the 3/4 ton weapons carrier, with a 126-inch wheelbase, closed cab similar to the Dodge VC series trucks, and the front shell and grille similar to the T234 3/4 ton built by Dodge for the Chinese Army, also known as the Burma Road truck.

The original Power Wagon featured a 230 cubic-inch flathead six engine, a two-speed transfer case, a four-speed transmission with a power take-off opening, which would send power to the front and back of the truck for operating auxiliary equipment and big 9.00/16-8 ply tires on 16×6-inch five-stud wheels. The 1-ton rated Power Wagon’s maximum GVW rating was 8,700 lbs. Its maximum payload was 3,000 lbs.

A pickup box was designed that measured 8 x 4.5 feet. Dodge factory-built this four-wheel drive truck over a year-and-a-half before the Willy’s 4T and 10 years before other manufacturers began producing 4×4 trucks, making it the first mass-produced civilian 4×4 truck.

Over the years, changes were made to the original Power Wagon including a 251 cubic-inch engine to replace the original 230 cubic-inch powerplant, as well as synchromesh transmission, alternator and 12-volt electrical system, to name a few. Many custom-bodied Power Wagons were put into service as fire trucks and school buses. One of the finest examples is the custom Cantrell-bodied four-door woody station wagon – the original sport utility vehicle.

The 1947 WDX featured amenities including electric wipers, a single driver’s sun visor and armrest, dome light, a heater and the Braden 10,000 lb. winch.

In 1957, Dodge introduced another line of four-wheel drive trucks, also known as Power Wagons, with the model designations W100, W200, W300 and W500. More conventional in styling, these Power Wagons were available with different engines, including V-8s.

A total of 95,145 WDX-WM300 Power Wagons were sold from 1945-1968. Exports continued through 1971 and limited sales continued through 1978, with versions that included slant 6 engines and hanging pedal assemblies.

After the 1968 model year, the Power Wagon went out of production because the nearly 30-year-old cab did not comply with new federal light-duty truck regulations.

About the Ram Truck Brand

The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they’d like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The 2011 Ram 1500 was named a Consumers Digest Best Buy and AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star. Ram 1500′s smooth-riding suspension and 20 mpg, 390 horsepower HEMI® V-8 are just two of the reasons it beat the competition. Ram 1500 also was named the Truck of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association in 2011.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Ram trucks now boast these segment exclusives:

• Coil-spring rear suspension on Ram 1500 for best-in-class ride and handling
• Available RamBox lockable and lighted bedside storage
• In-floor storage on all Ram Crew Cabs
• The largest cab in the market – Ram HD Mega Cab
• Standard six-speed manual transmission on all diesel models
• Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package

Follow Ram and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:

Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrysler and http://twitter.com/RamTrucks
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo and http://www.youtube.com/ramtrucks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RamTrucks
Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramtrucks

Washington  (Profitable.com)   The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Children’s Frog Masks

Units:  About 3,400

Importer: Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The plush frog masks lack proper ventilation. When secured in place across a child’s face, it presents a suffocation hazard to the child.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves child-sized frog-themed animal masks. The plush mask is green with yellow and red highlights. There are two eye cutouts and a green elastic band with a fastener used to secure the mask at the back of the child’s head. UPC code 06626491474 is printed on a label attached to the mask.

Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide from August 2011 through September 2011 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy:  Consumers should immediately take masks from young children and return the product to any Target store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Target Guest Relations at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.target.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals—contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired.  Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov.  To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 440-0680
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908