His Excellency Rashid Mubarak Al Hajeri

 

His Excellency Rashid Mubarak Al Hajeri, Chairman of DMA and Chairman of the Building Codes Higher Council. (PRNewsFoto/Department of Municipal Affairs)

The United States Postal Service - 'Celebrate Scouting' stamp

 

The United States Postal Service unveiled its design for the 'Celebrate Scouting' stamp commemorating 100 years of the Scouting movement in the U.S. The stamp, which will be sold in the summer of 2010, coincides with the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary occurring on February 8, 2010. In conjunction with this announcement, BSA announced a national letter-writing initiative supporting military veterans and active personnel.

Reebok launches Allurent shopping experience on Facebook platform

 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Allurent(TM), the market leader in powering superior online shopping experiences, today announced that Reebok has launched an Allurent on Demand shopping experience on Facebook Platform. Allurent on Demand (AoD) is a hosted, software-as-a-service offering that increases customer satisfaction and site conversion by quickly and cost-effectively deploying interactive merchandising widgets to retailers' ecommerce sites and their social media points of presence.

 

Social media plays an important role in how Reebok communicates about products with consumers. In developing the marketing campaign around its innovative new EasyTone footwear line, Reebok decided to take its social media strategy even further. Marcus Spurrell, global head of marketing and digital commerce at Reebok, explains, "I wanted to bring our products to where our customers spend time online -- Facebook -- and really connect our brand's supporters with our new merchandise. AoD was the perfect fit; it gives us better product merchandising, marketing and shopping to help us engage consumers in new ways across the web."

 

Reebok consumers can now browse the EasyTone collection, see outfit suggestions, and learn more about featured products -- all without ever leaving Facebook. Fans can also "click to buy" items of interest on Reebok.com.

 

Reebok also plans to use Allurent on Demand to create interactive shopping experiences on its main ecommerce site, Reebok.com. With a library of widgets to choose from, Reebok can leverage Allurent experiences to enhance the shopping experience on their existing ecommerce site or to support a new marketing campaign.

 

Spurrell says, "Within weeks, we launched an Allurent shopping experience on Facebook. That flexibility is important to our business. Allurent's quick and easy approach means we can experiment with many different types of enhanced shopping experiences."

 

Graeme Grant, chief executive officer of Allurent, says, "Reebok's plans for combining social media with merchandising and shopping are very exciting -- and a great fit for Allurent. We believe that this type of social commerce strategy will be essential for 2010."

 

The Allurent on Demand platform is a high availability, fully scalable hosted service available for a monthly fee. For more information on AoD, please visit www.allurent.com/#solutions/aod.

 

PricesandCoupons.com leading the way to protect online shoppers

 

CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- PricesandCoupons.com has announced a bold move to help consumers avoid unethical merchants by partnering only with authorized online retailers. By eliminating merchants who are not authorized by the manufacturers, PricesandCoupons.com has created a much a safer environment for online comparison shopping.

 

"Our research and experience have shown that unethical and/or fraudulent merchants are almost always unauthorized online stores," stated David E. Chase, co-founder of PricesandCoupons.com. "We want to increase awareness of the risks involved with unauthorized resellers and help consumers make an informed purchase."

 

Buying from an authorized store provides a level of safety and assurance that your product will arrive in a factory sealed box with a valid manufacturer's warranty. Conversely, consumers purchasing from unauthorized stores should be aware of the following risks:

 

-- The manufacturer's warranty may not be honored

 

-- They may receive an open box/refurbished product advertised as 'new'

 

-- They may receive a non-U.S. version (gray market product)

 

-- The manufacturer's rebate may not be honored

 

-- They may encounter 15%+ restocking fees for product returns

 

-- Customer service may be unresponsive or nonexistent

 

-- They may encounter unethical or fraudulent sales practices

 

 

"Comparing prices from unauthorized stores to those from authorized stores is not an accurate representation or comparison," explained Mr. Chase. "A gray market or open box product without a valid manufacturer's warranty is an inferior product. Imagine ordering a $3,000 Flat Screen TV and finding out that the manufacturer refuses to honor the warranty because it was purchased from an unauthorized store. At PricesandCoupons.com, we believe the peace of mind provided by authorized online stores far outweighs any nominal savings found through unauthorized merchants."

 

To demonstrate the prevalence of unauthorized merchants, we researched the stores listed on other price comparison sites for the Nikon S70 Digital Camera (a top seller in the Photography category) and here's what we found:

 

-- PriceGrabber.com - 15 Stores listed (8 Authorized & 7 Unauthorized)

 

-- Shopzilla.com - 22 Stores listed (10 Authorized & 12 Unauthorized)

 

-- PricesandCoupons.com - 12 Stores listed (12 Authorized)

 

*Analysis conducted on November 6th, 2009 using Nikon's Authorized Dealer List

 

 

Of the three shopping sites, only PricesandCoupons.com excluded the unauthorized stores. And since the Nikon warranty applies only to purchases from authorized stores, many consumers will unwittingly receive a product with a voided manufacturer's warranty.

 

While PricesandCoupons.com cannot guarantee a flawless order every time, purchasing from only authorized retailers is the safest and smartest approach to online ordering. Consumers can spend more time researching prices on their favorite products and less time worrying about unethical merchants. Many consumers believe the lowest price on the Internet is the best deal, but this couldn't be further from the truth. The best deals are found by combining price comparison with coupon codes and purchasing only from authorized online stores.

 

**For consumers wanting to verify whether a retailer is authorized for a specific brand, PricesandCoupons.com has created an Authorized Retailer List which provides links directly to the authorized dealer page for each manufacturer.

 

 

Southwest Airlines launches fare sale airline reduces fares for winter travel

 

 

DALLAS, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines is offering even more ways to save on winter airfares! For Customers who missed the recent 72-hour sale, Southwest is offering fares starting as low as $59 one-way to select destinations. Fares must be purchased by Nov. 23, 2009. These fares require 14-day advance purchase for travel every day except Fridays and Sundays between Dec. 2, 2009, and Dec. 17, 2009, or between Jan. 5, 2010, and March 9, 2010.

 

To get these special online-only fares, visit www.southwest.com. Just a few examples of the many low fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below):

 

-- $59 one-way between Phoenix and San Diego

 

-- $79 one-way between Pittsburg and Raleigh-Durham

 

-- $89 one-way between Boston Area (Manchester, Boston Logan, or

 

Providence) and Chicago Midway

 

-- $109 one-way between St. Louis and Birmingham

 

 

For travelers with flexible schedules, Southwest's Low Fare Calendar tool will show the lowest price available for each day using a monthly calendar view. Use the link: http://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/lowFareFinderEntry to shop around for fare availability.

 

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Garcia Research hispanic online panel reaches 10,000 member mark

 

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Garcia Research is pleased to announce that we've surpassed 10,000 Hispanic online panel members last week, and the numbers are rapidly growing.

 

Launched in September of 2009, Cada Cabeza(TM) is the first Spanish dominant Hispanic online panel created by a research group that truly understands the cultural nuances of the Spanish dominant Hispanic population.

 

Cada Cabeza(TM) was born out of our own need to fulfill Spanish dominant Hispanic quotas online. After identifying that the rest of the research community was in need of the same demographic, Garcia Research sought to fulfill this need through the creation of Cada Cabeza(TM). The Cada Cabeza(TM) panel now provides high quality Spanish dominant Hispanic online sample that was at one point non-existent. Nobody else in the industry has as many un-acculturated Hispanics in their online databases as Garcia Research.

 

With our online team consisting of experienced panel managers, creative survey administrators, and a bi-lingual customer service panel hotline, our Hispanic panel promises to deliver the highest quality online data available.

 

Our proprietary phone-to-online recruitment method powered by the new fully-hosted, Software-as-a-Service telephony solution that combines CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) with predictive dialing, has aided us in becoming the largest Hispanic online panel. The facts speak for themselves; Cada Cabeza(TM) has over 10,000 members.

 

Cada Cabeza(TM) would like to thank all of our 10,000+ panelists and we look forward to hitting the 100,000 mark very soon!

 

So if you are looking for an online panel that delivers Spanish dominant and English dominant Hispanics, please contact us for your next Hispanic research project.

 

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Actress and mom Alison Sweeney partners with Crest Glide to help americans get out of tight spaces

 

CINCINNATI, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Crest Glide(R) Floss has partnered with Alison Sweeney, host for NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and the award-winning actress on NBC's "Days of our Lives," to help Americans glide easily through tight spaces every day. As a busy mom juggling a career and a family, Alison knows a positive outlook and a healthy, confident smile can get her through even the toughest of challenges.

 

"Working in television while taking care of two young children can be stressful, but knowing I have a healthy smile always gives me the confidence I need to glide through a hectic day," explains Alison. "I am excited to be working with Crest Glide because I believe in the power of a brilliant smile and understand the importance of keeping my mouth healthy. I use Crest Glide because unlike regular floss, it slides easily in the tight spaces between my teeth to remove food particles and plaque which can lead to gingivitis or even a more serious form of gum disease if not treated."

 

Crest Glide and Alison share a passion for helping others and will join Feeding America to host the Crest Glide Tight Spaces Challenge events this month in Los Angeles and New York. The Tight Spaces Challenges will help others discover the multiple benefits of daily flossing while benefiting Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Feeding America's mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

 

Alison will encourage the crowd to show their prowess at sliding and gliding through a specially designed Tight Spaces obstacle course. For every person who participates in the Tight Spaces Challenge events, Glide will donate $1 to Feeding America. Additionally, Crest Glide is encouraging others to tweet about tight spaces on Twitter. Consumers are asked to tell Glide about the "Tight Spaces" in their lives using the hashtag #GlideTightSpaces. For every person who tweets with the hashtag #GlideTightSpaces through December 31, 2009, Crest Glide will donate $1 to Feeding America. Crest Glide will make a guaranteed donation of $20,000 to help ensure families across America will have food on the table this holiday season.

 

 

The Tight Spaces Challenges will be held:

 

 

-- New York City: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

in the Southwest Plaza of Union Square, Manhattan

 

-- Los Angeles: Saturday, November 21, 2009 from noon to 4:00 p.m. in the

 

center court of Hollywood & Highland

 

 

Crest Glide Floss is available in four varieties specially designed to slide easily in between tight teeth to remove food particles and plaque.

 

 

-- Glide Deep Clean -- Uniquely formulated with special cooling sensates

 

that add a blast of minty freshness between teeth that continues even

 

after flossing to help signal a clean feeling.

 

-- Glide Whitening Plus Scope Flavor Floss -- The first floss in the Glide

 

family coated with a special silica and infused with Scope flavor

 

designed to help prevent surface stains in between teeth and deliver a

 

burst of clean refreshment.

 

-- Glide Shred Guard -- Shred Guard is up to 30 percent stronger than Glide

 

Original, making it the strongest dental floss in the Glide family and

 

is guaranteed shred resistant.

 

-- Glide Comfort Plus -- Slides easily between teeth to remove plaque and

 

is gentle on fingers, so flossing can be a comfortable experience.

 

 

Crest Glide Floss is available for the suggested retail price of $3.49-$3.99

 

 

Univision and Todobebe Announce Season 2 of Viva La Familia

 

 

MIAMI, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Univision, the country's premier Spanish-language television network and Todobebe Inc., the leading multi-media company dedicated to the adventures of parenting, announced today the much anticipated return of the popular Family TV show " Viva la Familia! de Todobebe" (Hooray for Families! from Todobebe) on November 21st.

 

The Emmy nominated one-hour program, broadcast each weekend, mixes humor, entertainment, "reality" segments, interactivity, and lots of surprises for families. The show's Fairy Godmother "Mi Hada Madrina" makes dreams come true for deserving viewers, Todobebe experts come to the rescue to help parents with real life problems uncovered by hidden cameras, and the father's perspective is captured with comedy and adventure in "El Papi". The studio comes alive with wholesome fun for the whole family - talented children performers, the always-humorous Telebebela (baby Telenovela), and a new cooking segment!

 

Megastar actress and mother of two, Aracely Arambula returns as co-host and co-executive producer for the initial shows taping from Mexico. Acclaimed parenting author, mother of two and founder of Todobebe, Jeannette Kaplun will also be returning as a co-host of the show, along with a list of visiting guest stars including Geraldine Bazan, Jose Jose and his family, Miguelito, Edith Gonzalez and many more.

 

Season 1 stars included NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez, Cristian de la Fuente, multiple Grammy award winner Juanes, Ana Barbara, Leticia Calderon, Victoria Ruffo, Enrique Iglesias, Salma Hayek, Lupillo Rivera, Pepe Aquilar and Eduardo Yanez.

 

Univision and Todobebe are also partnered together through Univision Radio where Todobebe and Viva La Familia talents provide fun and helpful tips and content for moms and families on the go.

 

"We're very excited to be bringing our viewers a second fun-filled season of 'Viva la Familia! de Todobebe' on Univision," said Otto Padron, senior vice president of programming and promotions, Univision Network. "This program provides informative and entertaining content for Hispanic families and we have many more wonderful surprises in store for the second season."

 

According to Gillian Sandler, CEO of Todobebe: "Our partnership with Univision brings reach to millions of families, changes lives, and combines miracles, humor, inspiring moments, and education. For advertisers, it is the opportunity to participate directly in the entertainment experience, bringing their products closer to mothers within an uplifting and family friendly context."

 

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Freelancer.com surpasses half a million outsourcing projects

 

SYDNEY, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Freelancer(TM), formerly known as GetAFreelancer, the world's top freelance jobs micro-outsourcing marketplace, today announced that over 500,000 freelance jobs have been posted to date through the website.

 

"Our growth in job postings has been phenomenal," said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive of Freelancer. "We are proud to have connected so many employers with freelance service providers from around the world."

 

Freelancer connects over one million employers and freelancers globally. Through our website, employers can hire freelancers to do work in areas such as software, writing, data entry and design right through to engineering and the sciences, sales and marketing, and accounting & legal services. Freelancer is the leader in the micro-outsourcing market, with the average job size being under US$200. This is extremely cost effective for small businesses, which often need a wide variety of jobs to be done, but cannot justify the expense of hiring full time.

 

Some of the recent jobs include the design of an outdoor restaurant (38 bids, average bid US$201), an iPhone application for streaming videos (average bid US$610), and corporate identity development which included logo design, leaflet and a simple website for a weddings business (24 bids, average bid US$217).

 

Over 500,000 jobs have been posted to date, for a sum of over US$45 million.

 

http://www.getafreelancer.com

 

http://www.freelancer.com

 

See what our users say about us:

 

http://www.getafreelancer.com/quotes/

 

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Global Tourism Vacation Forum 2009 held in China, Shangri-la

 

BEIJING, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- 76 years ago, the British writer James Hilton wrote "Lost Horizon," a book of beautiful writing that depicted to the world an idyllic vacation resort paradise full of dreams and poetry -- Shangri-La. On November 9th, 2009, the Global Tourism Vacation Forum 2009 is being held in a Shangri-La Resort prototype -- the China Diqing Shangri-La.

 

The theme of the forum is "enter into a New Era of Vacation Tourism," which is declaring, "a new era for vacation tourism to experience original, natural ecological beauty and taste of unique cultures has arrived!"

 

Guests and journalists from China, Greece, South Korea, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Oman, Chile, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Hungary, Peru, Pakistan, Malaysia and other 22 countries participated in the forum.

 

At the Forum opening ceremony, Governor Chen Jianguo Diqing announced to the world: Our goal is to build Diqing to become the world's top tourist resort, and Shangri-La to become the world's tourism treasure, so that "Shangri-La really becomes the world's Shangri-La!"

 

The Global Tourism Vacation Forum is founded by International Tourism Marketing Association, which is the grand international annual conference. http://www.itmacom.com is the only authorized operating agency and contact for live media to the world. China's CCTV, People's Daily, People, Xinhuanet, Zhongxin News Agency, Guangming Daily, CRI, CNR, China Tourism News 10 mainstream media and Malaysian National News Agency, Associated Press of Pakistan, Nepal's National News Agency, and Chile's National Television from 12 foreign news agencies were represented at the Forum to report.

 

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LG Electronics' new line of HDTVs

 

 

CHICAGO, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighting a commitment to providing long-term healthcare institutions with advanced entertainment and digital display technology options, LG Electronics is showcasing its latest Long-Term Care and Hospital Grade LCD HDTVs this week at the Association of Homes and Services for the Aging 2009 annual meeting and exposition (booth #1760).

 

On display in LG's booth, the new line of "HealthView(TM)" Long-Term Care LCD HDTVs bring a sense of home away from home with flat-screen displays, crisp, clear imaging and enhanced patient controls. The HealthView series demonstrates that sleek, modern and easy-to-use entertainment options are possible for long-term care facilities.

 

"LG's innovation in the area of flat panel displays has crossed over into the long-term care demographic illustrating the importance of facility-owned and operated technology," said Tim Wright, director of LG Healthcare Commercial Products, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions. "LG's HDTVs benefit both residents and administrators with new technology that is easy to program and enhances the overall look and feel of the facility."

 

In addition to displaying products in the company's booth, LG innovations will also be showcased in the "AAHSA Idea House" exhibit throughout the conference. LG is the exclusive HDTV provider for the "AAHSA Idea House - Where technology and design meet the future of aging." This exhibit features an array of products and services that bring the "home for life" concept to life with emerging and existing technologies.

 

 

Enhancing the Long-Term Care Experience

 

 

LG's HealthView series televisions are specially designed for Long-Term Care facilities to provide a sleek modern look combined with advanced technology and simplified functionally, with features such as Bed1/Bed2 controllability and a remote control that is easier for residents to use. In a multi-dwelling environment, the Bed1/Bed2 control allows residents to control their own TV as needed without the worry and frustration of adjusting settings on their neighbor's TV. With this option, facilities can now have more than one LG HDTV operating in the same room without conflicting signals.

 

With 26- and 32-inch class* screen sizes (models 26LH210C and 32LH210C), the HealthView series is compatible with LG's accessory Auto-Sensing Remote Jack Pack, RJP-301B. When used with compatible LG displays, this provides a multi-media interface to the in-room TV display. Additionally, this series features LG's 'green' EcoSmart(TM) technology and has ENERGY STAR(R) 3.0 qualification to help facility owners save on energy costs.

 

 

Diverse Display Capabilities

 

LG has a variety of HDTV options for hospital and Long-Term Care facilities designed to make the overall experience more enjoyable and improve the general look and feel of facilities. The UL-Listed hospital grade LG3DCH series on display this week combines advanced power-saving and video-enhancing technologies with a stylish invisible speaker design for an immersive entertainment experience that helps make the room more comfortable for patients and families.

 

 

Available in 22-, 26- and 32-inch class* sizes, LG's LG3DCH series includes features such as integrated Pro:Idiom(R), LG's digital rights management system that provides rapid, broad deployment of secure HDTV and other high value digital content for patient entertainment and education. A built-in pillow speaker interface enables pillow speaker television control from virtually any pillow speaker or bed-rail configuration. This series comes equipped with USB Cloning capabilities, simplifying a hospital or facility integrator's job and creating an easy process to copy settings for TVs in patient rooms without having to set each TV individually. Dynamic Power Saving modes on these TVs provide added energy savings for hospitals and facilities looking to reduce electricity costs and upgrade technology without an increase in energy output.

 

 

 

 

Also on display in the LG booth, are the Public Display LCD HDTV model, 42LH200C, and the Auto-Sensing Remote Jack Pack, RJP-301B. The 42LH200C is perfect for a hospital or Long-Term Care lobby or conference room application. The commercial settings can be set to control the minimum/maximum volume level and start-up channel, and can also lock out the front control panel to prevent unwanted changes from being made to the content. This TV also comes equipped with LG's "green" EcoSmart energy-saving feature and has ENERGY STAR 3.0 qualification.

 

The RJP-301B is compatible with the new Long-Term Care HealthView LH210C series models. The RJP automatically senses the resident's personal audio and video devices when connected, thereby allowing them to check e-mail, play music and watch their favorite movie or view their family photos, all through one easy accessible interface. This model has a new single mixed cable connection to the back of the RJP-301B with an additional mixed signal breakout cable assembly for the back of the TV for easy installation.

 

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Oxford announces 2009 Place of the Year: South Africa

 

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next month Hollywood will deftly foreshadow one of world's most important events. Clint Eastwood's Invictus (December 2009) will take audiences back to Nelson Mandela's quest for national unity as his newly democratized country hosts the 1995 Rugby World Cup. If the film buzz extends long enough (Oscar season, DVD release) the perfect stage could be set for the 2010 World Cup this summer -- another athletic tournament for the South African history books. As the parallels between history and the present unfold, Oxford University Press is proud to announce South Africa as 2009 "Place of the Year."

 

Officially becoming a post-apartheid, democratic nation 15 years ago, South Africa still proves to be a complex dichotomy of transformation and tragedy. The billions of dollars pumped into the World Cup are estimated to ultimately boost the economy, increase jobs, and national pride--a potential success story for a country that still struggles to overcome poverty, staggering HIV rates, and residual apartheid sentiment. The 2009 "Place of the Year" campaign aims to give the blogosphere a more in depth look at a nation that will be front and center in the upcoming months.

 

Starting November 9th the OUP blog is proud to present a range of perspectives and stories in celebration of "Place of the Year." To get the things started Oxford presents you with some useful South African facts:

 

Population: 48,783,000

 

Capital(s): Cape Town (Legislative); Pretoria/Tshwane (Administrative), Bloemfontein (Judiciary)

 

Government: Multiparty Republic

 

Ethnic Groups: Black 76%, White 13%, Colored 9%, Asian 2%

 

Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu (all official)

 

Religions: Christianity 68%, Islam 2%, Hinduism 1%

 

Currency: Rand=100 cents

 

Most valuable activities: mining and manufacturing

 

President: Jacob Zuma (elected in 2009)

 

 

For more on our ever changing world, be sure to check out Oxford's Atlas of the World, 16th Edition--the only atlas updated annually. New additions this year include:

 

-- A completely refreshed satellite imagery section, including:

 

-- Greater focus on the center of London, at larger scale, with clear

 

visibility of the new high-speed continental rail terminal at St.

 

Pancras and many other well-known London landmarks

 

-- Completely new image of Tehran, clearly showing its geographical

 

position below the Alborz Mountains

 

-- New images of Nouakchott, the largest city and capital of Mauritania,

 

and Shanghai, one of the fastest growing cities in the world

 

-- A stunning image of New Zealand's Cook Strait

 

-- Brand new images span the Americas, from Quebec to Lima, Peru

 

-- Gazetteer of Nations completely revised to include important international events:

 

-- The most recent US and South African elections

 

-- Recent political developments in Pakistan and Zimbabwe

 

-- Updates to all population figures

 

-- A new durable paper-over-board matte cover--makes the atlas an elegant gift this Holiday season!

 

Atlas of the World, 16th Edition was published, in hardcover, by Oxford University Press.

 

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Alaska Airlines Launches Hawaii Service From Bay Area

 

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate four-times-weekly service between Oakland, Calif., and Kahului, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, and tomorrow will begin thrice-weekly service between Oakland and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

 

"Known for its beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets, the Hawaiian Islands are among our most popular leisure vacation destinations," said Alaska Airlines' President Brad Tilden. "Customers will enjoy Alaska's low fares, convenient schedule and award-winning service."

 

 

Summary of flights

 

Start date City pair Departure time Arrival time Day of week

 

Nov. 9 Oakland-Maui 7:45 a.m. 11:05 a.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

 

Nov. 9 Maui-Oakland 12:05 p.m. 7:10 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

 

Nov. 10 Oakland-Kona 7:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Tues, Thur, Sun

 

Nov. 10 Kona-Oakland 12:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tues, Thur, Sun

 

 

All times based on local time zones

 

"Travelers will start their vacation with a smooth departure from Oakland International, where they can park close to the terminals and quickly access their flight," said Deborah Ale Flint, the Port of Oakland's acting director of aviation. "Oakland's on-time performance record allows passengers to easily begin their Alaska Airlines experience," she added.

 

Flights are available for purchase at alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

 

The new flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. All flights to Hawaii offer Hawaiian-themed beverages and meal service. Customers in the main cabin are offered complimentary Mauna Loa macadamia nuts and a complimentary Mai Tai or POG juice, as well as a Hawaiian-themed meal-for-purchase option for $6.

 

Inflight service includes Alaska Airlines' digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features.

 

Alaska Airlines Vacations offers a full line of vacation packages for travel to the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tours. For more information about Alaska Airlines Vacations, visit alaskaair.com/vacations.

 

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KODAK Gallery launches new application on Facebook Platform

 

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to providing the best photo sharing experience for customers, KODAK Gallery launched a new application that allows users to share Gallery photos directly to their Facebook streams and profile pages. In a few quick clicks, Gallery members simply select favorite photos or albums and click the link to share on Facebook.

 

"KODAK Gallery's Facebook application is part of the faster, more user-friendly Gallery, which helps members easily share their pictures in multiple ways," said Victor Cho, General Manager, KODAK Gallery and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "The new KODAK Gallery was rebuilt from the ground up based on customer feedback, and this new Facebook application delivers a fun and easy way for people to share their pictures."

 

To celebrate the launch and to thank customers for their help in creating the new site, KODAK Gallery is looking to give away ONE MILLION free photo gifts until November 20, 2009. The free gifts include all of Kodak Gallery's great photo products valued at $15 or less including photo books, picture mugs, photo cards, mouse pads and prints. KODAK Gallery has enlisted the help of Thanks Man to help make the campaign a success. View Thanks Man's video adventures of his quest to give out a million free KODAK Gallery gifts here.

 

Features of the new KODAK Gallery include: faster upload speeds to KODAK Gallery, streamlined creation tools and exclusive Photo Card and Photo Book designs.

 

ShopAtHome.com Introduces Free Shipping Guide and a Holiday Savings Event

 

 

DENVER, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- ShopAtHome.com, a leading Free Coupon and Cash Back Web site, introduced today several features to help consumers save money on their holiday shopping. The ShopAtHome.com Free Shipping Guide features nearly 2,000 free shipping codes for popular online retailers. Consumers can easily browse the ShopAtHome.com Free Shipping Guide by category -- such as apparel, electronics, or toys and games -- or by retailer. Click here to learn more about ShopAtHome.com's Free Shipping Coupons.

 

"There are more free shipping codes available this holiday season than we've ever seen before," said Marc Braunstein, president and co-founder of ShopAtHome.com. "Consumers can find many incredible deals online this season and pocket significant savings by taking advantage of free shipping and discount codes as well as Cash Back rewards. Our Free Shipping Guide and holiday savings events make it easy for consumers to find the best deals available."

 

Today, ShopAtHome.com launched its Holiday Kick-Off Extra Cash Back Event featuring significant savings opportunities with more than 50 retailers. The event is aimed at helping shoppers get an early start on their holiday shopping with limited-time massive deals. Check out these incredible Holiday Deals running from Nov. 9, 2009 - Nov. 16, 2009.

 

Consumers must be members of ShopAtHome.com to accumulate Cash Back rewards. It is free to sign-up at www.shopathome.com. The Holiday Kick-Off Extra Cash Back Event includes the most popular online stores, such as:

 

-- Barnes & Noble, BN.com - 14% Cash Back

 

-- OldNavy.com - 10% Cash Back

 

-- Macys.com - 8% Cash Back

 

-- Target.com - 6% Cash Back

 

-- BestBuy.com - 4% Cash Back

 

-- Walmart.com - 4% Cash Back

 

In addition to the limited-time Cash Back deals, deal-savvy consumers can multiply their savings by taking advantage of free coupon codes and free shipping offers. ShopAtHome.com offers more than 46,000 online coupons at more than 20,000 merchants.

 

In 2009 alone, nearly 31 million people have shopped through ShopAtHome.com, saving money through the use of coupons and earning more than $1.8 million in Cash Back rewards.

 

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Noah Education announces Senior Management changes

 

 

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Noah Education Holdings Ltd. , a leading provider of interactive educational content and education services in China, today announced the appointment of Mr. Benguo Tang, one of Noah's founders, to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as the appointment of Mr. Jerry He, the Company's Executive Vice President, to the role of Chief Financial Officer.

 

Mr. Tang will take over the position of Chief Operating Officer from Mr. Xianquan Xiao, who has stepped down due to personal matters, but will continue to serve Noah on the Company's Board of Directors. Having played an instrumental role in Noah's founding, Mr. Tang brings to the position not only vast industry knowledge, but a deep understanding of Noah's business. Mr. Xiao, who has overseen the Company's daily business activity and operating initiatives since taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2008, remains committed to Noah's long-term success, and will continue to provide strategic advice in the capacity of Executive Director.

 

Mr. Jerry He, who joined Noah in July 2009 as Executive Vice President, will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer, driving the Company's corporate and strategic development as it enters a new growth phase, while also maintaining responsibility for the fiscal planning and investor relations functions. Ms. Dora Li, who has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2008, and has reported to Mr. He since he joined the company in July, will continue to play a leadership role at the Company, managing Noah's internal financial controls and accounting processes as Noah's Vice President of Finance, Controller. All of the aforementioned managerial changes will all take effect immediately.

 

Mr. Dong Xu, Noah's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "These managerial changes will allow each individual to focus on his or her core strengths and, ultimately, create a stronger and more cohesive senior management team to support our growth. We wish Mr. Xiao all the best in his personal endeavors, and look forward to the invaluable leadership and advice he will continue to provide as an Executive Director. We welcome Mr. Tang's return to the management team as Chief Operating Officer. Given his commitment to the success of Noah since its inception and his wealth of company and industry experience, I am confident that he will be able to hit the ground running and provide a seamless transition as we continue our expansion."

 

"Additionally, Jerry He will continue to leverage his extensive background in both finance and business development as he more actively spearheads strategic investments and drives both organic and acquisitive growth initiatives in his new role as Chief Financial Officer. Dora Li, who has been instrumental to our growth as a public company, will take on a more focused leading role in our finance department. With the continued expansion of Noah, we believe it is imperative to have someone as experienced as Ms. Li dedicated to overseeing our internal controls and financial reporting. I welcome each individual to their new role and am confident that their collaborative efforts and expertise will further our vision of becoming the leading provider of interactive educational content and education services in China," Mr. Xu concluded.

 

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Delta Offers Travel Assistance to Customers Affected by Hurricane Ida

ATLANTA, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines today announced travel options for customers whose flight plans may be affected by Hurricane Ida.



Customers booked on flights operated by Delta, Northwest Airlines or Delta Connection carriers to, from or through the following Gulf Coast cities through Tuesday, Nov. 10 may make a one-time change to their travel schedule without fee if tickets are changed by Nov. 11, 2009.



-- Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
-- Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.
-- Mobile, Ala.
-- Panama City, Fla.
-- Pensacola, Fla.
-- Tallahassee, Fla.



Delta will proactively thin flight schedules to and from affected airports to ensure delays are minimized during the storm. However, customers may wish to consider postponing or rerouting their trip without penalty to avoid possible inconvenience.



Travel for changed itineraries must begin by Nov. 11 and changes to origin and destination may result in a fare increase. Any fare difference between the original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of rebooking. Customers whose flights are cancelled may request refunds. Complete details are available at delta.com and nwa.com.



All customers traveling to, from or through impacted Gulf Coast cities are encouraged to visit delta.com or nwa.com to check the status of their flights before arriving at the airport. Updates on flights also are available by calling 1-800-325-1999 (Delta) or 1-800-441-1818 (Northwest).