AccuWeather International has reached a deal to distribute its weather services in China across digital media and any device with an IP address. As a result of the company?s cross-licensing agreement with Huafeng Innovative Network Technology Co., AccuWeather content will now be available to its device-manufacturing partners in China.
At the same time, Huafeng, a subsidiary of the China Meteorological Administration, will supply weather service products from China to AccuWeather across all digital media.
AccuWeather CEO Barry Lee Myers said the pact would eliminate uncertainty for digital device makers and distributors about who to deal with in relation to weather information from or to China.
Under the deal, weather for China locations requested from anywhere that a user is located globally will first return China-sourced weather information and fill in with AccuWeather data. When a user in China wants to get the weather for locations outside the country, AccuWeather will supply that information.
?We are pleased to conclude this agreement, many years in the making,? stated Myers.
Widespread adoption of smartphones in China, with 240 million sold just last year, has helped drive growing use of weather and other types of apps. According to mobile marketing firm Velti, impressions from weather apps in China were up 613% in 2012.
DENVER -- Snowmobiler Caleb Moore was in critical condition Tuesday in a Colorado hospital after a dramatic crash at the Winter X Games in Aspen, and a relative said the family wasn't hopeful about the 25-year-old's chances for survival.
Moore was performing a flip Thursday when he clipped the top of a jump and went over the handlebars and landed face first into the snow. The snowmobile rolled over him, but he walked off with help and went to a hospital with a concussion.
Moore later developed bleeding around his heart and was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction for surgery. The family later said that Moore, of Krum, Texas, also had a complication involving his brain.
"Caleb is not doing good at all," his grandfather Charles Moore told The Denver Post. "The prognosis is not good at all. It's almost certain he's not going to make it."
A family spokeswoman reissued a statement Tuesday thanking fans, friends and family for their support and asked for continued prayers. The family declined further comment.
A separate accident Thursday left Moore's younger brother, Colten, with a separated pelvis at Winter X, an increasingly popular event that showcases the world's best action sports athletes in a festival atmosphere.
The safety of the snowmobile events has fallen under scrutiny with several recent accidents and mishaps. In addition to the crashes by the Moore brothers, there also was a scary scene when a runaway sled veered into the crowd Sunday night after the rider fell off during a jump gone wrong.
In that incident, snowmobiling newcomer Jackson Strong tumbled off his machine during the best trick competition. The throttle stuck on the 450-pound sled and it swerved straight toward the crowd as fans scurried out of the way.
In a statement, X Games officials said their thoughts and prayers were with Caleb and his family. They also said that they've paid close attention to safety issues during the event's 18-year history.
"Still, when the world's best compete at the highest level in any sport, risks remain. Caleb is a four-time X Games medalist who fell short on his rotation on a move he has landed several times previously," the statement said.
To help defray the medical costs, a website has been set up for the family. There's a picture of Moore on the site and a message that reads: "Caleb Moore is an inspiration to us all and we want to support him and his family so they may stay strong during this difficult time. If you are not familiar with Caleb, he lives life to the fullest.
"The world knows Caleb as a brilliant freestyle rider, but his family and friends know him as a fun-loving and deeply loyal person."
In addition, Strong pledged to auction off his outfit from Winter X and donate the proceeds to the Moore family.
Moore grew up racing all-terrain vehicles in Texas and later crossed over into snowmobiling, his agent, B.C. Vaught, said. Two weeks after Vaught said he taught the 17-year-old Caleb to do a backflip, he said he was ready for prime time and joined Vaught's road show, including a trip to Europe.
"Whatever he wanted to do, he did it," Vaught said.
He said Moore set up a practice ramp 70 feet long and 10 feet deep in Krum, a town of about 5,000 people 50 miles northwest of Dallas that rarely sees snow and where snowmobiles are as rare as toboggans.
Caleb began launching his snowmobile into pools of foam a month before the 2010 X Games. After a brief training run on snow ramps in Michigan, Vaught said he joined the big leagues and never looked back. In the off-months, he still uses the foam pit in Texas for practice.
Tucker Hibbert, who won his sixth straight SnoCross title at Winter X, hopes all these unfortunate incidents aren't what people think of when they think about snowmobiling.
"Obviously, at the X Games, you're seeing the most extreme side of our sport," said Hibbert, who's from Pelican Rapids, Minn. "It's definitely dangerous and exciting all at the same time. But it's also a lot different than what snowmobiling is in general.
"Friends and family riding around, going down the trails, having fun riding snowmobiles, is quite a bit different than hitting a 100-foot ramp and doing double backflips. Naturally, you'll see some injuries and some pretty big crashes when you're pushing the limits."
Vaught said Moore's only previous injury was a bruised hip that sent him to the hospital last year, where he was treated and released.
"In sports, everybody makes mistakes, even if it's rare. Caleb made a mistake. That's it," said Vaught, who witnessed Moore's crash.
The spills at Winter X weren't just limited to snowmobiles. Rose Battersby suffered a lumbar spine fracture in a wipeout on a practice run before the skiing slopestyle competition. She was transported to Denver on Sunday and had feeling in all extremities, according to X Games officials.
Soon after her crash, Ashley Battersby, who's not related to Rose, wiped out on the course and slid into the fencing. Battersby was down for at least 30 minutes before being carted off on a sled and taken to a local hospital with a knee injury.
There also was a bad wipeout in the snowboard big air competition, when Halldor Helgason of Iceland suffered a concussion when he over-rotated on a flip. He raised his hand to salute the crowd as he was being taken off the icy course.
Moore's crash came just over a year after one of the most high-profile deaths in the extreme sports community.
Canadian freestyle icon Sarah Burke died Jan. 19, 2012, after sustaining irreversible brain damage in a training accident in Park City, Utah. The 29-year-old was a pioneer in the sport and a driving force behind the inclusion of slopestyle and halfpipe skiing at next year's Winter Games in Sochi.
___
AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.
Jose Contreras defected from Cuba in 2002 while playing a game in Mexico. When he did that, and especially after signing a $32 million contract with the New York Yankees, he became persona non grata in Cuba. ?He, like all other defectors, were barred from returning home and?labeled?traitors.
But a change in Cuban law that went into effect last month allow defectors to return to Cuba to visit and eases restrictions on the comings and goings of residents. ?Contreras was the first big name athlete to take advantage of that law and recently returned home for the first time in a decade.
CNN has the story, with some emotional words from Contreras himself.
While the money and fame obviously make the decision of athletes who defect an understandable one, it?s hard to imagine how they live for years, even decades, without meaningful contact with their family. ?Here?s hoping we?ve seen the end of those days.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres on Wednesday began talks with political parties over who should form a new government, and appears certain to ask incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble it.
The formal consultation procedure to nominate a lawmaker to form a government, the president's only important executive power, began after Peres was presented with the official results from last week's general election.
Peres will meet representatives from all 12 parties elected to the Knesset according to size in descending order, and hopes to complete the formalities within days, after which he will assign the coalition building task to one lawmaker.
"I intend to carry out my duties in order that a government that represents the will of the people can be formed as soon as possible," he said.
He began the process by meeting representatives of Netanyahu's 31-seat Likud-Beitenu party, the biggest faction in the Knesset and then with Yesh Atid, a new party led by political novice Yair Lapid which won 19 seats.
Peres's nominee will have an initial 28 days to form a coalition and could seek a 14-day extension if needed. Coalition building in Israel often involves detailed negotiations.
Informal talks between factions began almost immediately after the election results became clear last Tuesday. Netanyahu is expected to partner Lapid's centrist party and the 12-seat far-right Jewish Home or "Bayit Yehudi" faction. The three parties comprise a parliamentary majority of 62 seats.
Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties are also expected to back Netanyahu.
Up to 10,000 Georgia children could get health insurance this week thanks to a compromise crafted by Georgia lawmakers. Legislation passed last year gave Georgia parents and legal guardians the option of signing their children up for private insurance policies through January 31st of this year. ( photo courtesy of vortex via flikr)
Up to 10,000 Georgia children could get health insurance this week thanks to a compromise crafted by Georgia lawmakers. Legislation passed last year gave Georgia parents and legal guardians the option of signing their children up for private insurance policies through January 31st of this year.
Lawmakers acted in response to some families being denied coverage for their kids. All health insurance companies in Georgia stopped offering child-only policies in response to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. It requires insurers to cover children with pre-existing conditions.
?So insurers were worried they would get only sicker kids,? said Cindy Zeldin, Executive Director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. ?And then once one insurance company pulled out, then the others sort of had to follow in order to remain competitive. Or at least that?s what they claimed ? Zeldin said.
And she says the organization started getting a lot of calls. ?Parents were just mystified that this could really be true. That they could call every insurance company in Georgia saying ?I would like to purchase a health insurance plan for my child. I?m perfectly willing to pay whatever premium you quote me.? And they said ?Sorry we don?t sell those policies.??
The state currently has more than 236,000 uninsured children, according to Voices for Georgia?s Children.
Dante McKay, the group?s Associate Policy Director for Child Health, said the General Assembly stepped in to fill the gap for those needy children.
?For families that may be hard-working families and may not be able to purchase coverage through their employer. Or their employer may stop offering coverage. They make too much, so they?re not eligible for PeachCare or Medicaid. They didn?t have any other options,? he said.
Seven insurance companies are offering the child-only health insurance policies -- Aetna, BlueCross Blue Shield, Cigna, Coventry, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and United HealthCare.
McKay says the new policies apply to children under the age of 19. The deadline to sign up is Thursday.
The legislation only applies until 2014 when the Affordable Care Act expands coverage to everyone.
Testing should continue for a day or more, probing for life in the Antarctic depths
Testing should continue for a day or more, probing for life in the Antarctic depths
By Janet Raloff
Web edition: January 28, 2013
Research teams from Russia, the United Kingdom and United States have each spearheaded drilling efforts over the past few years to pierce and sample separate subglacial Antarctic lakes. Russian scientists reported last year piercing into Lake Vostok but has so far turned up no identifiable life. Those researchers are now working to analyze a new sample of ice recently retrieved from that drill project. Last month, the British team suspended its efforts for this summer season (which ends next month) to reach Lake Ellsworth.
The just-completed borehole into Lake Whillans ?marks the first successful retrieval of clean whole samples from an Antarctic subglacial lake,? the U.S. team reported today. ?Water and sediment samples returned to the surface are now being processed to answer seminal questions related to the structure and function of subglacial microbial life, climate history, and contemporary ice sheet dynamics.?
A research team led by Frank Rack, of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, recently developed and field-tested the novel hot-water drill used to cut through the roughly half-mile-deep sheet of ice to reach Lake Whillans. ?Over the whole Antarctic continent, there are more than 340 [subglacial] lakes,? he notes. ?We selected this one because we know that it goes up and down, which means that the water underneath the ice sheet is periodically filling up the lake, then draining out again.?
Researchers have monitored this cycle through a rise and fall of the surface of that portion of the ice sheet covering the lake. Each cycle can last up to a decade, Rack says.
A video camera and series of sampling instruments will be periodically lowered down the borehole in the day or two available before this portal begins freezing shut again. ?Lake Whillans has already presented surprises,? according to Doug Fox, a reporter embedded with the drill research team, which is camped out less than 400 miles from the South Pole. ?For one, the lake has turned out to be only five or six feet deep ? shallower than the 20 to 30 feet that people expected based on seismic measurements,? Fox reported in a blog on the Discover website.
When I met with the Lake Whillans research team, last month, they planned to begin analyses of retrieved water and sediment within minutes of it reaching the surface. A series of mobile research labs were recently hauled to the Lake Whillans drill site. At least one lab will be used to study the chemistry of the water. Another will focus on probing for signs of microbial life ? chiefly bacteria and viruses.
Think you have what it takes to be a real estate whale? Here are some recently listed pricey abodes for your consideration. 112 homes have come onto the market in the past seven days. Let's take a photo tour of the five most expensive.
4-bed, 5.5-bath, 4,900 sq. ft. single-family home
This abode recently completed quite the renovation that's all about namedropping: David Armour is the architect and Heather Hillard designed the interiors. Property highlights include up close and personal views of the Golden Gate Bridge and an au-pair suite on the garden level.
2) 37 St Germain Avenue, Clarendon Heights Asking price: $5,900,000 Size: 6-bed, 7.5-bath, 7,557 sq. ft. single-family home Price per square foot: $781 The skinny: This property's been on and off the market for quite some time, but now it's considered a "new listing" because it's been off the market (not because of a sale) since December. The property's nestled at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac on one of the highest streets in San Francisco. Property highlights include a commercial-grade elevator and a wine cave. 3) 140 St Germain Avenue, Clarendon Heights Asking price: $5,399,000 Size: 5-bed, 7-bath, 5,701 sq. ft. single-family home Price per square foot: $947 The skinny: Like the above house on St Germain, this too is a relist. It was on the market from October to December of last year. The home was completely rebuilt in 2011 and designed by SFModern. 4) 164 24th Avenue, Lake Asking price: $3,795,000 Size: 3-bed, 3.5-bath, 3,800 sq. ft. single-family home Price per square foot: $999 The skinny: This Mid-Century Modern home has been "dramatically transformed into a modern day classic." So basically the facade looks the part but the interiors have highlights like recessed lighting and fancy finishes. 5) 33 5th Avenue, Lake Asking price: $3,350,000 Size: 5-bed, 3.5-bath, single-family home Price per square foot: Unavailable The skinny: "The public rooms are spacious & grand and are extremely conducive to entertaining," so get your stilettos and tuxedos ready. Property highlights include two sunrooms and being across the street from the Presidio.
Writing effective copy is both an art and a science.
It?s an art because it requires creativity, a sense of beauty and style ? a certain aptitude, mastery and special knowledge. Artistic advertising allows you to create content marketing that?s not just practical and persuasive, but awe-inspiring and breathtaking.
Writing effective copy is also a science, because it exists in the world of tests, trial and failure, improvement, breakthroughs, education and predictability. Scientific advertising allows you to develop an idea, and then test that idea. It?s how you know if your content marketing is working.
In bad copy, one (or both) of these elements are missing. In good copy, they are both abundant.
Read on, in the next few minutes we?ll explore ten examples of good copy living (and selling) out in the wild ?
1. Plain copy
The most basic approach to writing effective copy is to simply introduce the product without gimmick or style. It?s a simple presentation of the facts and benefits.
There is no story. There is no conversation. There is no ?sizzle? and no superlative claims.
Think Google Analytics.
That copy isn?t going to win any literary awards, but it will get the job done. It will give a prospect the information she needs to make an informed decision about the product.
2. Storytelling copy
Everyone loves a good story.
We like hearing about people ? especially interesting people. People who?ve suffered challenges we can relate to, and can tell us how they overcame those challenges.
And the moral of the story, coincidentally, is that your product was the catalyst to overcoming those odds.
You might find this storytelling technique in an email series, a landing page, or a short video. Whatever the format, you?ll get four basic traits in the story:
Opening: Introduce the pain. Show how the character of the story had a normal life, then how that life was shattered by a change of events.
Conflict: How is the life of the main character threatened if he or she does not respond to the problem? What does her journey look like as she tackles this challenge?
Dialogue: People are drawn to conversations in a story. It?s human interest at its root: two people talking to each other. We are also drawn to dialogue because it?s easy to read. ?Our eyes flow over dialogue like butter on the hood of a hot car,? says novelist Chuck Wendig.
Solution: Finally, your product is introduced as the cure for your character?s problem. You increase the credibility of your product by sharing specific results (347% increase in conversion, for example).
Your story doesn?t have to be dramatic. It just has to be interesting to your target audience. And this is where good research comes in.
3. Conversational copy
John Caples calls conversational copy ?You and Me.?
In this style of copy, you write as if there is a conversation between two people: the copywriter and the prospect.
The language here would be no different than a salesman sitting down for lunch with a customer and talking through a sales presentation. It?s a straightforward approach that tries to identify with the reader:
I know how you feel. I felt the same way. That all changed when I found x, y and z.
Keep in mind that you don?t have to be a polished copywriter to create effective conversational copy. Often the sheer passion for what you?re trying to promote breathes off the page.
In fact, you can record a conversation about the product, transcribe that conversation, and use it as a rough draft.
4. John Lennon copy
When John Lennon asked us to imagine there was no heaven or hell, no countries, religion or war, he was using an effective tool of persuasion: imaginative copy.
As an advertiser, you can ask your target audience to imagine a painless way to lose weight, or what it would feel like to be a successful travel writer.
Imaginative copy typically begins with words like ?imagine,? ?close your eyes,? ?pretend for a moment,? ?discover,? or ?picture this? in the first paragraph of the text.
This is the concept behind AWAI?s Barefoot Writer presentation.
In this example, you are asked to imagine your life in a certain way ? to pretend what it would be like to live your dream, whatever that dream might be.
Then the copywriter paints a picture of achieving that ideal life through your product.
5. Long copy
The fundamental premise behind long copy is ?The more you tell, the more you sell.? Ads that are long on facts and benefits will convert well.
Why?
Unlike a face-to-face conversation with a salesperson, a written ad has only one chance to convert a reader. If you get in front of the reader, you?ve got to lay it all out on the table.
Take the Google Analytics example above.
Page after page of facts and benefits are presented because the proposition isn?t simple ? typical prospects are going to be asking a lot of questions. Better to anticipate those questions, and answer them in the copy.
But when you?re following the basic rules of content marketing that works, remember that you don?t have to present all the facts and benefits up front.
You can leak the presentation over a period of weeks through an email autoresponder (like our Internet Marketing for Smart People course), or a registration-based content library (like the Scribe Content Marketing library).
In this way, you?re turning long copy into short, easily-digestible snippets.
6. Killer poet copy
Here at Copyblogger we love Ernest Hemingway and David Sedaris. But we aren?t so enamored by their writing abilities that we try to imitate their styles at the expense of teaching and selling.
Our goal isn?t to convince our audience that we?re smart ? it?s educating and selling with our copy.
As David Ogilvy once said, ?We sell, or else.? But we try to sell with style. We try to balance the killer with the poet.
Killer poet copy sees writing as a means to an end (making a sale), and the ad as an end in itself (beautiful design and moving story).
In other words, the killer poet combines style with selling. Creativity with marketing. Story with solution.
7. Direct-from-CEO copy
It?s a known fact ? third-party endorsements can help you sell products.
But it?s equally effective to position your selling argument as a direct communication between the company founder and his or her customer.
This down-to-earth approach levels the playing field. It telegraphs to the customer, ?See, the CEO isn?t some cold and remote figurehead interested in profit only. He?s approachable and friendly. He cares about us.?
Jeff Bezos of Amazon is a superb example:
Notice this letter is conversational as well as plain: it?s a simple statement of the facts and benefits between two people: Jeff and you.
8. Frank copy
Some copy will explain the ugly truth about the product.
This approach doesn?t start with the jewels of your goods ? it?s going to start with the warts.
When selling a car, you might point out the endless repairs that need to be done ? thin brake pads, leaky transmission, busted sway bar, and inoperable dashboard ? before you introduce the leather seats, Monsoon stereo system, sun roof, brand-new tires and supercharged engine.
What you?re saying is this car will need a lot of TLC. You might even go as far as to say, ?Make no mistake here ? there?s much work to be done here.?
And here?s a curious thing: when you are honest and transparent about product weaknesses, the customer trusts you.
When the reader trusts you, they will be considerably more likely to believe you when you point out the good qualities of your product.
9. Superlative copy
There are also times when you can make outlandish claims.
Claims like (these are actual ads):
?A revolutionary material from this Nevada mine could make investors a fortune in 2013?
?Stores across U.S. selling out of what some call a new ?miracle? diet fighter?
?Obey this one weird loophole to get car insurance as low as $9?
But you can make only make extraordinary claims when you have the proof to back it up. The evidence can be in statistics, testimonials, or research ? or preferably all three.
The problem with superlative copy is that it?s often hard to make outlandish claims and not sound like you are hyping it up ? so use this type of copy sparingly.
Generally, it?s good to follow the ?Remove All Hype? policy.
10. Rejection copy
Rejection copy turns conventional wisdom on its head. and tries to discourage people from being interested in your product.
This type of copy is a direct challenge to the reader that leverages the velvet rope approach ? the idea that only an exclusive set of people are invited to use a product.
The American Express Black Card is a good example here ? this card is reserved for the world?s wealthiest and most elite. The only way you can get your hands on one is if you are invited.
Similarly, consider the dating site Beautiful People. If you want to be part of this exclusive dating club made up of ?beautiful? people, then you have to be voted in by existing members:
Potential rejection startles readers ? they don?t expect to be turned down, especially not from an advertiser.
This approach also keys into our sense of wanting to belong. It generates that curiosity itch and activates our pride. We think, ?How dare they say I might not be good enough to get into their club? I?ll show them.?
Over to you ?
In the end, great copy often combines several of these techniques into one ad.
The CEO of a company writes a conversational sales letter built around a story about his passion for his product (whether it is peaches or water pumps).
A copywriter writes a long rejection ad that explains why certain people are excluded from receiving an invitation to dine at an exclusive restaurant.
Or a Savile Row tailor writes a plain but elegant sales letter about his suits, which have been worn by kings and presidents.
This is the art and science of copywriting.
Can you share any examples of good copy you?ve secently out there in the wild?
Want more? Click here to learn how to write copy that converts.
About the Author: Demian Farnworth is Chief Copywriter for Copyblogger Media. Follow him on Twitter or Google+.
FREDERICTON - With a new year underway many of us are thinking ahead to vacation time but, with today's economic pressures, it can be difficult to set aside the cash for a big trip.
The goal is to have an enjoyable vacation without breaking the bank.
There are lots of ways to be frugal with your vacation budget.
"It's not about being cheap," said Gary Howard of the Canadian Automobile Association. "It's about stretching your vacation dollar."
Start by asking what you want from your vacation and then look at your options.
"As an example, an all-inclusive week in Cuba might be far less expensive than three nights in New York," Howard said.
He suggests avoiding travelling in peak seasons as a way to save some money.
"There are peak seasons and shoulder seasons in everything that you do, whether it is a cruise, Disney World, Myrtle Beach, the Caribbean, or whatever it might be," he said.
Off-season rates for hotels and resorts are often a fraction of the peak price.
But don't always just go for the lowest price, Howard said. Paying a bit more for a larger room or one that has a kitchenette could improve your vacation experience or even save you money in the long run by allowing you to prepare some meals there.
At many hotels breakfast is included in the cost of the accommodation, which can be a substantial saving, especially for a large family.
Consider having your big meal of the day at lunch time when many restaurants have deals, or packing a picnic lunch to tote along with you.
When it comes to travel, you can often find discounts by flying mid-week rather than on a weekend.
Howard advises booking your trip early to get the best selection.
But Peter Dielissen of Fredericton, N.B., is a proponent of using websites like Priceline.com and Hotwire.com to bid on rooms in an effort to save money.
The 66-year-old has also made great use of his Aeroplan points to travel around the globe on many occasions.
He lived and worked in Toronto, Vancouver and Yukon before moving to Fredericton and began collecting Aeroplan points on his flights and on a credit card that gives points for purchases.
"I started putting everything on my credit card," Dielissen said.
"When I retired in 2007 I had one million Aeroplan points."
Howard said when looking for a deal on flights, don't just check your local airport. You can often find savings by flying from another airport located a few hours drive away.
Consider driving to your vacation destination if it is a reasonable distance. The savings can be multiplied when you look at the price of gas for one vehicle versus airplane tickets for all members of your family.
As well, there may be things to see and do along the way that you would miss by flying ? adding extra value to your vacation time.
Many hotels offer loyalty points you can exchange for free rooms, upgrades or other perks.
It is worth signing up in advance for their programs because the points from one trip could provide free rooms for your next vacation. Also watch for promotions when you can collect bonus points for stays during specific dates.
Joining an auto club like CAA can more than pay for itself when you take advantage of hotel, restaurant and attraction discounts, plus the access to free maps, travel books and expert advice.
Good advice can save you a lot of money. Ask friends and family about a destination before you make your plans.
The Internet has become an endless source of information to allow you to research a vacation, compare and book hotels, find attractions and restaurants, and generally help you get the most out of your trip.
Many hotels offer a discount if you book online. Some offer a substantial discount if you pay in advance, but there may be no refund if you need to cancel.
"Do your research online, speak with family and friends, but when it comes to doing your actual booking the best value you're going to be able to get is from a travel agent," Howard said. "These people have the experience, they have the technology and they can save you a lot of time."
Complete vacation packages such as all-inclusive trips to Caribbean resorts can provide a great saving over paying for flights, hotels, meals and drinks separately.
Howard said cruises also offer a great value for your vacation dollar.
"You can take a seven-day cruise and visit five countries," he said. "There are lots of activities onboard, your meals are included, and you've got entertainment onboard."
"It's a multi-faceted vacation all in one."
There are lots of other ways to stretch your vacation dollar, ranging from the use of free hotel shuttles to avoiding roaming charges on your cellphone while you travel.
Howard said it just makes sense to get the most out of your vacation dollar.
"It's your vacation and you can't get that time back," he said.
???
If You Go...
Here are a couple of websites to get you started researching your specific destination. There are also many other websites to look at for money-saving ideas.
NEW YORK -- The legal challenges over religious freedom and the birth control coverage requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul appear to be moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court.
Faith-affiliated charities, hospitals and universities have filed dozens of lawsuits against the mandate, which requires employers to provide insurance that covers contraception for free. However, many for-profit business owners are also suing, claiming a violation of their religious beliefs.
The religious lawsuits have largely stalled, as the Department of Health and Human Services tries to develop an accommodation for faith groups. However, no such offer will be made to individual business owners. And their lawsuits are yielding conflicting rulings in appeals courts around the country.
"The circuits have split. You're getting different, conflicting interpretations of law, so the line of cases will have to go to the Supreme Court, `' said Carl Esbeck, a professor at the University of Missouri Law School who specializes in religious liberty issues.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Obama's fiercely contested health care overhaul, known as the Affordable Care Act, was constitutional. But differences over the birth control provision in the law have yet to be resolved.
Under the requirement, most employers, including faith-affiliated hospitals and nonprofits, have to provide health insurance that includes artificial contraception, including sterilization, as a free preventive service. The goal, in part, is to help women space pregnancies as a way to promote health.
Religious groups who employ and serve people of their own faith ? such as churches ? are exempt. But other religiously affiliated groups, such as Catholic Charities, must comply.
Roman Catholic bishops, evangelicals and some religious leaders who have generally been supportive of Obama's policies have lobbied fiercely for a broader exemption. The Catholic Church prohibits the use of artificial contraception. Evangelicals generally permit the use of birth control, but they object to specific methods such as the morning-after contraceptive pill, which they argue is tantamount to abortion.
Obama promised to change the birth control requirement so insurance companies and not faith-affiliated employers would pay for the coverage, but religious leaders said more changes were needed to make the plan work.
The Health and Human Services Department said it could not comment on litigation. A spokeswoman also did not respond to a question about when the latest revisions in the birth control rule would be made public.
However, government attorneys responding to a lawsuit said an announcement was expected by the end of March. In the suit filed by the evangelical Wheaton College in Illinois and Catholic Belmont Abbey in North Carolina, the court ordered government attorneys to provide a progress report on the new rule every 60 days. Whatever its final form, the mandate will take effect for religious groups in August.
At the center of the cases is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the 1993 law that bars the government from imposing a substantial burden on the exercise of religion for anything other than a compelling government interest pursued in the least restrictive way. The question of how or whether these criteria apply when owners of for-profit businesses have a religious objection to a government policy hasn't been fully tested.
"It's more natural for people to say Notre Dame exercises religion, but when you say this power tool company exercises religion, you have to explain it little more, I think the claims are really the same," said Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents many of the plaintiffs.
Brigitte Amiri, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, argued the business owners are trying to use a religious liberty claim to deny benefits to someone else.
"We don't think that religious liberty claims can be used as a way to discriminate against women employees ? using those claims to take away someone else's benefits and services," Amiri said.
In the lawsuits from faith-affiliated groups, such as the University of Notre Dame, judges around the country have generally said it would be premature to decide the legal issues until the federal rule for religiously affiliated organizations is finalized.
In the cases involving business owners, judges have granted temporary injunctions to businesses in nine of 14 cases they've heard, while questions about for-profit employers and religious rights are decided, according to a tally by the Becket Fund.
In a case brought by Cyril and Jane Korte, Catholic owners of Korte & Luitjohan Contractors in Illinois, a three-judge panel granted a temporary injunction, ruling 2-1 that providing employees insurance coverage that includes birth control would violate the Kortes' faith.
"It is a family-run business, and they manage the company in accordance with their religious beliefs," the judges wrote.
The dissenting judge argued that the company will not be paying directly for contraception but instead will purchase insurance that covers a wide range of health care that could include birth control, if the woman decides with her physician that she needs it.
"What the Kortes wish to do is to preemptively declare that their company need not pay for insurance which covers particular types of medical care to which they object," the dissenting judge wrote.
Similar reasoning was used by courts denying an injunction requested by the arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby and religious book-seller Mardel Inc., which are owned by the same evangelical family. Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby calls itself a "biblically founded business" and is closed on Sundays.
The U.S. district judge who first considered the request said, "Hobby Lobby and Mardel are not religious organizations."
"Plaintiffs have not cited, and the court has not found, any case concluding that secular, for-profit corporations such as Hobby Lobby and Mardel have a constitutional right to the free exercise of religion," the ruling said.
Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie Langelier julie.langelier@ircm.qc.ca 514-987-5555 Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal
IRCM researchers take an important step in making this promising approach a reality
Montral, January 28, 2013 IRCM researchers, led by endocrinologist Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret, were the first to conduct a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.
The artificial pancreas is an automated system that simulates the normal pancreas by continuously adapting insulin delivery based on changes in glucose levels. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas tested at the IRCM controls glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin and glucagon, if necessary, based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and guided by an advanced algorithm.
"We found that the artificial pancreas improved glucose control by 15% and significantly reduced the risk of hypoglycemia as compared with conventional insulin pump therapy," explains engineer Ahmad Haidar, first author of the study and doctoral student in Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research unit at the IRCM and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University. "The artificial pancreas also resulted in an 8-fold reduction of the overall risk of hypoglycemia, and a 20-fold reduction of the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia."
People living with type 1 diabetes must carefully manage their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain within a target range. Blood glucose control is the key to preventing serious long-term complications related to high glucose levels (such as blindness or kidney failure) and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose that can lead to confusion, disorientation and, if severe, loss of consciousness).
"Approximately two-thirds of patients don't achieve their target range with current treatments," says Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret, Director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Diabetes research clinic at the IRCM. "The artificial pancreas could help them reach these targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, which is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy. In fact, nocturnal hypoglycemia is the main barrier to reaching glycemic targets."
"Infusion pumps and glucose sensors are already commercially-available, but patients must frequently check the sensor and adjust the pump's output," says Mr. Haidar. "To liberate them from this sizable challenge, we needed to find a way for the sensor to talk to the pump directly. So we developed an intelligent dosing algorithm, which is the brain of the system. It can constantly recalculate insulin dosing based on changing glucose levels, in a similar way to the GPS system in a car, which recalculates directions according to traffic or an itinerary change."
The researchers' algorithm, which could eventually be integrated as software into a smart phone, receives data from the CGM, calculates the required insulin (and glucagon, if needed) and wirelessly controls the pump to automatically administer the proper doses without intervention by the patient.
"The system we tested more closely mimics a normal pancreas by secreting both insulin and glucagon," adds Dr. Laurent Legault, peadiatric endocrinologist and outgoing Director of the Insulin Pump Centre at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and co-author of the study. "While insulin lowers blood glucose levels, glucagon has the opposite effect and raises glucose levels. Glucagon can protect against hypoglycemia if a patient with diabetes miscalculates the necessary insulin dose."
"Our work is exciting because the artificial pancreas has the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and reduce daily frustrations for patients," concludes Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret. "We are pursuing our clinical trials to test the system for longer periods and with different age groups. It will then probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, using insulin alone, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose controls."
###
About the study
This study was conducted with 15 adult patients with type 1 diabetes, who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. Patients were admitted twice to the IRCM's clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments: the dual-hormone artificial pancreas and the conventional insulin pump therapy. During each 15-hour visit, their blood glucose levels were monitored as they exercised on a stationary bike, received an evening meal and a bedtime snack, and slept at the facility overnight.
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research is funded by Diabetes Qubec, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the IRCM's J.A. De Sve Chair in clinical research. IRCM collaborators who contributed to study published in CMAJ include Maryse Dallaire, Ammar Alkhateeb, Adle Coriati, Virginie Messier and Maude Millette. For more information on the study, please refer to the article summary published online by CMAJ: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/01/28/cmaj.121265.abstract.
About diabetes
Type-1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough or any insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. It occurs most often in children, adolescents or young adults. People with type-1 diabetes depend on insulin to live, either through daily injections or with a pump. Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, an estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, approximately 10 per cent of which have type 1 diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030, making it a global epidemic. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
About Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret
Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret completed his doctoral degree (MD) with a specialization in endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Universit Montpellier in France. He then obtained a PhD in food sciences, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and molecular biology. At the IRCM, Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is Director of the Metabolic Diseases research unit, Director of the Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity clinic, and Director of the research platform on obesity, metabolism and diabetes. He is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Universit de Montral. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine) at McGill University. Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is a Clinical Research Scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Qubec Sant and holds the J.A. DeSve Chair in clinical research. For more information, visit www.ircm.qc.ca/rabasa.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM is currently comprised of 37 research units in various fields, namely immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people and is an independent institution affiliated with the Universit de Montral. The IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit de Montral (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
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Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie Langelier julie.langelier@ircm.qc.ca 514-987-5555 Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal
IRCM researchers take an important step in making this promising approach a reality
Montral, January 28, 2013 IRCM researchers, led by endocrinologist Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret, were the first to conduct a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.
The artificial pancreas is an automated system that simulates the normal pancreas by continuously adapting insulin delivery based on changes in glucose levels. The dual-hormone artificial pancreas tested at the IRCM controls glucose levels by automatically delivering insulin and glucagon, if necessary, based on continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings and guided by an advanced algorithm.
"We found that the artificial pancreas improved glucose control by 15% and significantly reduced the risk of hypoglycemia as compared with conventional insulin pump therapy," explains engineer Ahmad Haidar, first author of the study and doctoral student in Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research unit at the IRCM and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University. "The artificial pancreas also resulted in an 8-fold reduction of the overall risk of hypoglycemia, and a 20-fold reduction of the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia."
People living with type 1 diabetes must carefully manage their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain within a target range. Blood glucose control is the key to preventing serious long-term complications related to high glucose levels (such as blindness or kidney failure) and reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood glucose that can lead to confusion, disorientation and, if severe, loss of consciousness).
"Approximately two-thirds of patients don't achieve their target range with current treatments," says Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret, Director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Diabetes research clinic at the IRCM. "The artificial pancreas could help them reach these targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, which is feared by most patients and remains the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy. In fact, nocturnal hypoglycemia is the main barrier to reaching glycemic targets."
"Infusion pumps and glucose sensors are already commercially-available, but patients must frequently check the sensor and adjust the pump's output," says Mr. Haidar. "To liberate them from this sizable challenge, we needed to find a way for the sensor to talk to the pump directly. So we developed an intelligent dosing algorithm, which is the brain of the system. It can constantly recalculate insulin dosing based on changing glucose levels, in a similar way to the GPS system in a car, which recalculates directions according to traffic or an itinerary change."
The researchers' algorithm, which could eventually be integrated as software into a smart phone, receives data from the CGM, calculates the required insulin (and glucagon, if needed) and wirelessly controls the pump to automatically administer the proper doses without intervention by the patient.
"The system we tested more closely mimics a normal pancreas by secreting both insulin and glucagon," adds Dr. Laurent Legault, peadiatric endocrinologist and outgoing Director of the Insulin Pump Centre at the Montreal Children's Hospital, and co-author of the study. "While insulin lowers blood glucose levels, glucagon has the opposite effect and raises glucose levels. Glucagon can protect against hypoglycemia if a patient with diabetes miscalculates the necessary insulin dose."
"Our work is exciting because the artificial pancreas has the potential to substantially improve the management of diabetes and reduce daily frustrations for patients," concludes Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret. "We are pursuing our clinical trials to test the system for longer periods and with different age groups. It will then probably be introduced gradually to clinical practice, using insulin alone, with early generations focusing on overnight glucose controls."
###
About the study
This study was conducted with 15 adult patients with type 1 diabetes, who had been using an insulin pump for at least three months. Patients were admitted twice to the IRCM's clinical research facility and received, in random order, both treatments: the dual-hormone artificial pancreas and the conventional insulin pump therapy. During each 15-hour visit, their blood glucose levels were monitored as they exercised on a stationary bike, received an evening meal and a bedtime snack, and slept at the facility overnight.
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret's research is funded by Diabetes Qubec, the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the IRCM's J.A. De Sve Chair in clinical research. IRCM collaborators who contributed to study published in CMAJ include Maryse Dallaire, Ammar Alkhateeb, Adle Coriati, Virginie Messier and Maude Millette. For more information on the study, please refer to the article summary published online by CMAJ: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/01/28/cmaj.121265.abstract.
About diabetes
Type-1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn't produce enough or any insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. It occurs most often in children, adolescents or young adults. People with type-1 diabetes depend on insulin to live, either through daily injections or with a pump. Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, an estimated 285 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, approximately 10 per cent of which have type 1 diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030, making it a global epidemic. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
About Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret
Dr. Rmi Rabasa-Lhoret completed his doctoral degree (MD) with a specialization in endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Universit Montpellier in France. He then obtained a PhD in food sciences, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in physiology and molecular biology. At the IRCM, Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is Director of the Metabolic Diseases research unit, Director of the Diabetes, Metabolism and Obesity clinic, and Director of the research platform on obesity, metabolism and diabetes. He is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Universit de Montral. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine) at McGill University. Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is a Clinical Research Scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Qubec Sant and holds the J.A. DeSve Chair in clinical research. For more information, visit www.ircm.qc.ca/rabasa.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM is currently comprised of 37 research units in various fields, namely immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people and is an independent institution affiliated with the Universit de Montral. The IRCM Clinic is associated to the Centre hospitalier de l'Universit de Montral (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Research Concludes: Drinking Tea Promotes Positive Health Benefits554
MonkeyBusiness Images/PhotoSpin
Need another reason to drink tea? On Sept. 19, 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture released research highlighting the positive health benefits of consuming tea.
The research was sponsored by a number of groups including the Tea Council of the USA, a non-profit association with a goal of increasing overall awareness of tea.
The findings showed that the consumption of tea may help aid in many health aspects of our lives and may help reduce the incidence of stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.
Drinking tea may help support weight loss as well as improve bone formation in older men and women. It may also improve mental sharpness, enhance the effect of chemotherapy drugs and may help prevent cells from becoming cancerous.
?Drinking as little as one cup of tea per day supports healthy arterial function and blood pressure,? said Claudio Ferri, MD, University L?Aquila, Italy.
Ferri conducted a study that included 19 normotensive and 19 hypertensive individuals who found that drinking a cup of tea after a high-fat meal helped counteract the negative affect it normally would have on their blood pressure.
Other studies revolved around weight loss and the consumption of green tea.
Researchers' findings showed that subjects who consumed green tea and caffeine lost an average of 2.9 pounds over a 12 week period, without changing their regular diet.
But those who don?t need to worry about their blood pressure or weight loss can also enjoy their next cup of tea, as it can help build strong bones and combat osteoporosis.
According to data from the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 44 million Americans suffer from low bone density or osteoporosis.
The results of a study conducted at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center found that women consuming four to six cups of green tea each day improved bone formation and reduced inflammation while increasing muscle strength.
If these findings still aren?t enough to make you reach for a cup of tea, consider switching your morning cup of coffee for tea.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Planning for bushfire disasters AS summer approaches, too many Victorians have failed to learn the lessons of Black Saturday and are leaving themselves exposed by being under-prepared for disaster. Planning for bushfire disasters
Haiti hunkers down as Isaac looms TROPICAL Storm gained power as it roared toward Haiti with rains and high winds that could wreak havoc for people still living in makeshift shelters after a devastating 2010 earthquake. Haiti hunkers down as Isaac looms
Disaster survival education for kids COMPULSORY disaster education will be taught to all schoolchildren in a national bid to better prepare Australia for future natural catastrophes and pandemics. Disaster survival education for kids
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S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, January 30, 2013. L-3 Communications is a system contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, serving customers in commercial telecommunications and government.
L-3 Communications Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet
Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average analyst estimate is for profit of $2.12 per share, a decline of 16.5% from the company?s actual earnings for the year-ago quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from $2.20. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at $2.12 during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting net income of $7.89 per share, a decline of 10.8% from last year.
Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by 6 cents, coming in at profit of $1.92 a share versus the estimate of net income of $1.86 a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates.
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A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit fell 18.3% to $192 million ($1.97 a share) from $235 million ($2.24 a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue fell 13.3% to $3.28 billion from $3.79 billion.
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Permits allowing people to drink alcohol then drive should be issued to make it easier for those in isolated, rural areas to visit the pub, according to a motion passed by a local government in Ireland.
Kerry County Council, which governs an area with a population of more than 120,000, is to formally ask the Irish government to allow some drivers to have the equivalent of up to three pints of beer.
The motion -- passed by five votes to three with seven abstentions ?-- said this would ?greatly benefit people living alone looking at four walls and restore some bit of social activity in local pubs and may also help prevent depression and suicide.?
The idea has been condemned by leading politicians, including Ireland's Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, so it appears unlikely to be adopted. Kerry does not have the power to change the law itself, the country's justice department stressed.
However, Danny Healy-Rae, the councilor behind the motion, was sticking to his guns Thursday.
Healy-Rae, who runs a pub in the village of Kilgarvan, said because people couldn?t drink alcohol in pubs then drive home, they were instead buying it in supermarkets and drinking at home. This could lead to a downward spiral that ended with some taking their own lives, he argued.
?I know of instances where the local garda [police] have to call out to these people to see if they are all right, to see if they are still there,? he said.
'Wouldn't harm or hurt anyone' Healy-Rae said that under his plan the permits would be issued only to people in isolated rural areas who use narrow country roads where it is difficult to travel faster than 25 or 30 mph. Police would decide who was eligible to drink the equivalent of two or three pints of Guiness and then drive.
?You have to travel the roads and travel the terrain to understand -- honestly what I?m suggesting ? it wouldn?t harm or hurt anyone,? he said.
"It would allow these people to meet with their friends and neighbors and to discuss the topics of the day, the price of cattle and whatever,? he said.
The mayor of Kerry, Terry O?Brien, was among the three councilors who voted against the idea.
Asked why, he said ?because it?s absolute lunacy to allow anybody behind the wheel of a car with a drink in them.?
?We?ve come a long way from those days,? he added.
O?Brien said wearily he had been ?on the phone for the last two days explaining that.?
Varadkar admitted rural isolation was a problem, but added ?the solution to it is not to hand out drink-driving permits. Obviously it's something we very much disagree with," according to the Irish Independent newspaper.
"Most of the accidents that are happening are happening in rural areas and on country roads," he added.
The number of people who died on Irish roads is?at a record low, with 161 people killed in 2012, down from 186 in 2011.
Varadkar's comments prompted a fighting response from Healy-Rae, who said Varadkar was refusing to help ease the plight of people who were ?greatly suffering from rural isolation.?
?He?ll be judged accordingly by those people in the upcoming election,? the councilor said.
?We?ll have to keep the fight on because I?ve got massive support right around the country and from different countries around the world,? he added.
Get yo' popcorn ready. When your company is announcing the latest and greatest mobile OS, why not seize the opportunity to scrape up a few million bucks to make sure the entire world gets a proper introduction? Research in Motion will be forking out for a Super Bowl spot (which averages $3.8 million this year), as part of an effort to get the word out about BlackBerry 10. Let's just hope it's not shown the exact moment 40 million people head to the fridge. A little presser can be found past the break.
Show full PR text
January 25, 2013 - Today Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM)confirms that BlackBerry 10, its new mobile computing platform that will power the next generation of smartphones and tablets, will be featured in a commercial during Super Bowl XLVII.
This confirmation kicks-off a week of worldwide launch activity for RIM's BlackBerry 10 platform, along with the first two devices to run on the new platform. These activities are part of a broad integrated marketing campaign to support the global rollout of BlackBerry 10. In addition to the 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl that will air in both the U.S. and Canada, BlackBerry will be integrated into a number of pre- and post-game on-site, digital and social activities, including real time engagement with BlackBerry social fans on Facebook and Twitter, as well as extending and amplifying exposure and fan engagement through Promoted Posts and Sponsored Story ads.
"A Super Bowl commercial, is a great opportunity to show the re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry to tens of millions of consumers on the largest advertising stage of the year," said Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer, Research In Motion. "BlackBerry has 30 million social media fans, and we're looking forward to continuing to encourage them and all NFL football fans to see the power of BlackBerry 10 for themselves."
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Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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