MediaMap Announces MediaMap/Intranet to Wide Industry Acceptance Contracts Announced With 8 of the Top 10 US PR Agencies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Today MediaMap makes its first public announcement of MediaMap/Intranet(TM) PR software, and simultaneously announces that 8 of the top 10 agencies in the United States are already under contract to deploy the new system throughout their organizations. Combined with MediaMap's hundreds of other PR agency installations, more than one-half of the US PR agency industry is now under contract to use MediaMap's intranet and workgroup media database systems, with thousands of corporate PR users as well.

Under development in close coordination with its client partners for more than 12 months, MediaMap/Intranet is the first commercial intranet media database system for the PR profession. MediaMap/Intranet provides a media information and list building system shareable by all teams and individuals throughout all offices of the PR organization, bundled with intranet workflow software that streamlines the great majority of media relations tasks. The MediaMap/Intranet database is updated every month with MediaMap data on the top 20,000 business, healthcare, consumer and technology media contacts, plus quarterly updates from Bacon's(TM) media database data on over 180,000 additional media contacts.

With both password and client-definable security levels, MediaMap/Intranet can be shared by multiple offices or accessed while on the road. The system supports 2 to 1,000 users from any desktop with Internet access. The system allows an unlimited number of project or account teams, each of which can create its own secured notes, lists, and other media intelligence. The result is team control of data manipulation combined with the efficiency of centralized data updating and software upgrades.

To support clients' deployment of its MediaMap/Intranet systems, MediaMap has created a specialized PR Systems Consulting Group. This unit enables agencies and corporate PR departments to outsource user training, conversion of existing media lists into the new shared system, IS liaison and other deployment support. With management and staff that includes veterans of Cambridge Technology Group and Gartner Group, MediaMap's PR Systems Consulting Group brings specialized PR intranet deployment expertise to enterprise systems integration.

"To date, we have closed MediaMap/Intranet contracts with a majority of the top PR agencies," said John Pearce, MediaMap CEO. "We will continue to work closely with our client-partners to enhance the MediaMap/Intranet system. Our clients have been and will continue to be integral players in our development process," explained Pearce.

The eight agencies with whom MediaMap today announced enterprise system contracts include Burson Marsteller, Porter Novelli International, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, Ketchum Public Relations, Cunningham Communication, GCI Group, BSMG Worldwide, and Weber Public Relations Worldwide. In addition to these giants of the PR industry, more than 1,000 other PR agencies and corporate PR departments are MediaMap clients. MediaMap, headquartered in Cambridge, MA with offices across the country, is the revenue and market-share leader in PR information systems. MediaMap combines timely and accurate media information, powerful PR software, innovative PR intranet tools, and responsive client service yielding clients better PR results and profound return on investment. MediaMap solutions are currently in use by several thousand PR professionals at more than 1,000 client sites. Additional information is available at www.mediamap.com, via phone at 617 374-9300, or e-mail at info@mediamap.com.

  SOURCE  MediaMap       -0-                        07/27/98     /CONTACT:  Nicole Sobell of Media Map, 617-374-9300, ext. 256/     /Web site:  http://www.mediamap.com/  CO:  MediaMap ST:  Massachusetts IN:  CPR MLM SU:  PDT          KR -- NEM026 -- 6236 07/27/98 09:31 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com   

IT'S TIME TO TAKE CONTROL.(Features)

Byline: HEALTH NOTES SARAH STACEY

[bar] ew women I know have enough time to do everything they have to, plus some for themselves. (Working mothers probably count me-time in minutes per week rather than hours per day.) The resulting 'worry hurry sickness', as psychologist Professor Cary Cooper terms it, can affect our health. Most doctors agree that stress is a significant factor in problems ranging from insomnia to heart disease.

But a new book by personal development expert Michael Heppell, who coaches Davina McCall and Chris Evans, might just help. How to Save an Hour Every Day, which covers pretty well your whole life, starts by advising 'Please don't read this entire book'. His first tip is that we can sift through huge amounts of information in minutes and decide what's important and what's not: 'Trust your intuition and you'll quickly see where you need to start.' Then the clincher: 'Actually start.' My intuition whizzed to a section called 'Cut the clutter'. For years, I'd filed anything 'pending' on my office floor. Yes, I lost things. Yes, I spent hours every week moving stuff from one pile to another. And yes, I had plenty of drawers - but they were full of winter bedding. Within five minutes, I'd ordered eight storage bags - for next-day delivery - which enabled me to put the bedding in the attic (labelled, as Heppell instructs, so I know what's in which bag) and move everything off the floor.

Hallelujah! Daily life feels more under control. I've now cleared the car, handbags - and some kitchen cupboards. It may not sound significant but, as Heppell points out, an hour a day is four blocks of 15 minutes, and the time and energy I save adds up to one hour. Other simple practical ideas ? Divide your time into blocks (from ten minutes to two hours or more), and allocate tasks you know you can complete realistically in that block.

Exercise needn't involve hours at the gym: visit Heppell's website, saveanhour.co.uk, for a link to fitness expert Paul Mort's tips, including a four-minute 'hotel room work-out' (under the Resources section).

Only check your email at set times, allocate significant ones to sub-folders headed 'do it now', 'good read' and 'maybe', then delete the rest.

Don't make long 'to do' lists - you never complete them. Instead, the night before, write down five important things to do - and do them.

Buy a roll of bin bags, then have a monumental clear-out. Take it all to the local charity shop.

After your wardrobe clear-out, re-hang your clothes by colour.

Switch to internet banking. ? Streamline daily activities - eg, keep a scissors and recycling bag beside where you open your post; sort post into three 'to do' trays (labelled action, file and live, the last for things you need to put your hands on quickly).

Find a 'no message' card you like and buy a stash. On the first day of every month, write all the cards you need for that month, eg, for birthdays and anniversaries, put stamps on them, then file in your action tray ready to post.

Carry a small notebook and pen at all times, and make a note of ideas and things to do as they come to mind.

How to Save an Hour Every Day by Michael Heppell, Prentice Hall Life,[euro]14.50

Waste not want not.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

A recent study in the UK shows that a monstrous 4.1 million tonnes of food is thrown out each year, as a result of household and industry waste. The last comprehensive study on food waste in the US was conducted in 1997, and it revealed that each year Americans discard more than a staggering 43 million tonnes of good food. No doubt this figure has risen steeply since, no thanks to the rise of the supermarket and the flourishing of fast-food outlets. In this part of the world food wastage is equally troubling.Aa A lack of statistics means that we can't put exact figures on the problem but an article published in The Peninsula daily newspaper in Qatar last September did give an indication. It reported that across Qatar during the holy month of Ramadan, around 100,000 tonnes of food waste was carted away daily from venues offering Iftar - the daily meal to break fast.

So in a 'throw-away-happy' society like Dubai, famed for it's all-you-can-eat buffet deals and brunches, one can onlyAa imagine the amount of food waste that is consistently being generated. A Dubai chef, who asked to remain anonymous, but works for a large hotel chain in the city, told 7DAYS that he recently prepared a massive banquet of food - all of which, ended up in the rubbish. "We prepared aAa banquet costing dhs18,000 for some high profile people recently," says the chef. "But the person that the banquet was in aid of only made a five-minute appearance at the event. He didn't touch the food and left promptly. Everyone else in the room also left soon afterwards, so the entire dhs18,000 worth of food was thrown in the bin."Aa Conscientious Dubai mother, Mariam El-Accad, who also designs her own clothing line, Half Pint, says that she often thinks establishing a food waste collection service would be ideal in Dubai."I have always thought it would be a great idea to collect all the untouched food from hotels and restaurants and take it around to the labour camps," says Mariam. "Maybe the labourers would not like the food, and maybe more waste would be created re-packaging it, but I am sure someone could come up with some good ideas to make such an idea work, and save food waste." So what can each individual household do to try and reduce waste? A recent feature in the UK's Guardian offered the following tips:

BEWARE OF THE SUPERMARKET

Supermarkets are dangerous, because the idea of the one-stop shop encourages you to buy more than you need. If you do have to go to a supermarket, make a list of what you need beforehand, and stick to it rigorously - but do check that these are groceries you genuinely need, and not items you have just got into the habit of buying.

IGNORE TWO-FOR-ONE OFFERS

More often than not, supermarket two-for-one offers exist because the items in question are nearing their use-by date, or to give shoppers 'the halo effect' - the feeling that they are in a place of endless bargains. But stop and think: are you really going to eat those 12 iced cakes before they go stale?

Two-for-one offers are only great value, provided you know how you can use the extra food.

SHOP DAILY FOR PERISHABLES

By shopping daily for what you need, you are less likely to buy mounds of vegetables, meat and fish that will then sit in the fridge going off.

BE STORAGE SAVVY

There are tonnes of household tips for storing foods to increase their longevity, including topping and tailing carrots as soon as you buy them to prolong their life, keeping apples in the fridge so they last days longer than in the fruit bowl, and ensuring your olive oil is kept somewhere cool and dry to prevent the breakdown of the fatty acids. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for more great tips.

MEAL PLAN FOR THE WEEK

If, at the beginning of the week, you work out precisely what you wish to cook over the next seven days (some of which may incorporate leftovers), you can then shop with a degree of rigour, are less likely to be distracted by appetising products on the supermarket shelves, and even less likely to end up with a heap of unused foodstuffs at the end of the week.

What happens to food waste in Dubai?

The LIMETREE CAFEe

"We run under a minimum waste policy and that has been in operation since we opened six years ago. We have a good feel at this stage of what we will sell per day, so we make roughly the right amount of food to cater for this. Where there is any waste, it is always offered to staff members or any workers that happen to be working in the cafE[umlaut], so electricians, gardeners or decorators to take home. The Limetree always tries to have minimal waste," says Claire Kosior, catering and retail manager at the Limetree CafE[umlaut].

ORGANIC FOODS AND CAFEe

"We have very strict Corporate Social Responsibility standards and waste is one we take very seriously. In terms of food waste from our cafes and stores, all fruit and vegetable waste is turned into compost; products near their expiry date that we know we won't sell, are sent to a shelter for battered wives in Ajman, and all our leftover bread goes to a local man, who has a big herd of goats. That only leaves cooked food waste, which is often doled out to our staff," says Nils El-Accad, owner of Organic Foods and CafE[umlaut] Dubai.

ICH Group Dubai

"With the current rising costs of basic food items both local and imported, food wastage can have a dramatic effect on your food costs if not controlled or managed effectively. We have several ways of reducing our food wastage, especially as we have two extensive buffets here at InterContinental Dubai Festival City.Aa "The most effective way is to reduce the quantities on the buffet and replenish more frequently. Next, we monitor guest traffic in the outlets and stock the buffets accordingly. Also, with the live cooking stations, we prepare as much as possible to order. By following these three basic principles, we offer our guests a wide range of dishes without incurring too much waste. Also, this links to our hotel food safety plan, because food is not displayed on open buffets for an extended period if it is replenished more often," says Geoff Haviland, Executive Chef for the InterContinental DFC, Crowne Plaza DFC and InterContinental Residence Suites DFC.

A[umlaut] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

TELECOMS MERGER REFERRED TO GERMAN COMPETITION AUTHORITY.

The European Commission has referred the assessment of the proposed acquisition of Kabel Baden-Wurttemberg (KBW) by Liberty Global Inc. (LGI) to the German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) at the latter request. The Commission ruled, on 17 June, that the proposed transaction may significantly affect competition in the market for the provision of free-TV services to housing associations, where contracts with tenants are negotiated collectively, a big market in Germany. KBW is a regional cable network operator in Germany providing TV, broadband internet and voice telephony services to customers in the German federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg. LGI is an international cable operator. It owns and operates cable networks offering TV, broadband internet and voice telephony services in 11 countries across Europe. One such cable network is Unitymedia, which is the second largest cable operator in the country and operates cable networks in the German federal states of Hessen and Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Dukan Diet goes on trial as creator sues rival for libel.(News)

Byline: From Peter Allen in Paris

THE slimmers of the world will have their eyes on a Paris courtroom today when the Dukan Diet goes on trial.

Its creator Dr Pierre Dukan has launched a libel battle against a rival who says the low-carb regime increases cholesterol and could lead to heart problems and breast cancer.

Originally launched in France, the diet has proved an Atkins-style sensation in Britain and the US, with millions following it in books, newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Some 250,000 copies of the Dukan Diet have been sold in the UK alone.

Asked for the secret of its British success, Dr Dukan replied that it was down to two factors - 'It works, and Carole Middleton.'.

Mrs Middleton and her daughters Kate and Pippa are all said to have followed the Dukan with spectacular results in the build-up to the royal wedding. Celebrity Dukan fans include Jennifer Lopez and supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

But Dr Jean-Michel Cohen, himself the author of several diet books on the French best-seller lists, insists that plenty of exercise and everything in moderation - including chocolate - is the key to successful weight loss.

Attacking the Dukan Diet in a Parisbased health magazine last month, he accused doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the media of 'climbing on the bandwagon of this fantasy'.

He says the protein-based plan is potentially lethal and ends up bringing misery to the millions around the world who have adopted it.

In line with the relatively modest libel payouts available in French courts, Dr Dukan is suing for a modest [pounds sterling]13,000 in damages at the Palais de Justice in Paris. But if he loses, he risks wrecking the worldwide slimming empire which has made him millions.

The Dukan Diet aims to establish users' 'real weight' before helping them maintain it for the rest of their lives, concentrating at first on 72 highprotein foods including fish and no-fat yoghurts. Copious amounts of oat bran are also involved.

Vegetables and carbohydrates are introduced later on, but dieters must have one protein-only day a week for the rest of their lives.

Dr Dukan claims that 40 per cent of those who follow his diet never regain weight - compared with the usual figure of around 80 per cent.

The rival regime preferred by Dr Cohen allows slimmers to eat anything they like so long as they stick to programmes varying from 900 to 1,600 calories a day. They can thus create good eating habits and build their own diets based on likes and dislikes - as well as avoiding anything which might affect their health.

In a case expected to last a week, Dr Dukan's lawyers will argue that disagreements between doctors are acceptable, but that Dr Cohen has gone too far.

Richard Malka, Dr Cohen's lawyer, will respond that the allegations of libel are 'ridiculous and abusive', adding that medical experts are 'unanimous in believing that the Dukan Diet carries grave risks'.

CAPTION(S):

Satisfied client: Gisele Bundchen

Satisfied client: Jennifer Lopez

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COMMENCEMENT.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The following information was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Remarks as prepared for delivery

Thank you, President Romo. Good evening, everyone. And congratulations, Class of 2011!

I'm not going to make them all stand up again, but I want to join President Romo in acknowledging all the moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents, husbands, wives, children, and friends who are here tonight.

I have a good friend who often says that "we all drink from wells we didn't dig, and are warmed by fires we didn't build." Tonight, graduates, you stand on the shoulders of those who have helped you get to this special day. It would not be possible without their sacrifice, support, encouragement, and love.

I know many of you have waited a long time for tonight. And my promise to all of you, especially the graduates, is that I won't make you wait much longer. I'm authorizing the mariachi band to cut me off if I go over 12 minutes.

It's an honor to be here tonight at UTSA, one of our country's fastest-growing research universities, an engine of the local economy, and the home of a microscope that I understand is so powerful that it could blow this basketball court up to the size of the state of Maryland.

And I'm especially glad to be here at the graduation ceremony for the College of Education and Human Development. In the coming years, no one will do more to shape the future of our country than those who shape the future of our children - our teachers, school administrators, guidance counselors, and coaches, and health professionals. In other words: all of you.

Now, I have to admit: I'm biased. I come from a family of teachers. Both my parents were teachers. Both my grandfathers were too.

No one my age can remember our favorite accountant or lawyer - or even HHS Secretary - but we can all remember a favorite teacher or coach because they touched our lives.

And ALL of you will have that rare opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the lives of others.

Now, I know that when I talk about the importance of education to this audience, I'm preaching to the choir. You wouldn't be here tonight if you didn't believe in the power of education to transform lives and open the doors to opportunity.

The parents and family members here believe in education. That's why so many of you worked longer hours or extra shifts or a second job so that your children could have the opportunities that you missed.

And I know the graduates believe in the power of education. You could have studied anything in college, but you chose this. And I don't think you did it to get rich.

But tonight, one point I hope you take with you is that the impact of your work extends far beyond even the lives of your individual students.

The world is changing. The number of jobs that require more than a high school degree is rising steadily. At the same time, more and more companies have the ability to set up shop anywhere they have a laptop or an internet connection.

For these companies, the only question that matters is where are the best people? Where is the best talent? It's why internet start-ups move to Silicon Valley. It's why UTSA is so important to the future of San Antonio.

But we're not the only country that's figured this out. Around the world, other nations are investing in education, hoping to attract the industries of the future and the jobs that come with them.

The result is that America is losing its greatest competitive edge. A generation ago, we led the world in the share of young adults with a college degree. Now, we're ninth.

As President Obama has said, we will be able to out-compete the rest of the world in the future ONLY if we also out-educate the rest of the world.

That means your work has never been more important than it is today. Our most precious natural resource - our children - are in your hands.

That may sound like a lot of pressure, but I know that your families and UTSA have prepared you well. And as you head out to begin your careers, I want to give you one piece of practical advice.

When we talk about the development of our young people, we often focus on academics. We talk about reading and writing, math and science. And these skills are all incredibly important. You can't succeed without them.

But the more we study what makes young people successful, the more we realize that academic skills are just one piece of the puzzle. Young people also need to build self-esteem and learn how to get along with others. They need to be physically safe, get good nutrition and exercise, and get the right health care. And nothing's more important than having a loving and engaged family, or even just one caring adult who's a mentor.

For young people to succeed, they need all the pieces of the puzzle. You understand this here at UTSA. That's why this is the College of Education and Human Development.

But I encourage all of you, no matter what career you go into, to see your job not as teaching one skill or subject or sport, but as doing your part to help young people develop as happy, healthy, and whole human beings. That's how you'll make the biggest difference.

Graduations are days when we look backwards and forward. You look back to the journeys you took to get here and at the people who helped you along the way. And you look forward at all the possibilities ahead of you.

As you move on to the next stage in your own journeys, I hope you will remember how you feel today. Because someday in the future, there will be some young man or woman sitting where you are today, thinking back to that people who helped them get there. And they will be thinking about YOU.

And on those hard days, when you're wondering if it's all worth it - and you will have those days; we all do - I hope you will remember the young men or women whose lives you've influenced, and realize how incredibly valuable you are. There's no work that's more important - for your students, for your community, or for your country.

Congratulations, Class of 2011! It's time to graduate!

WILLAMALANE HIGHLIGHTS.(Springfield Extra)

Byline: The Register-Guard

Events scheduled by the Willamalane Park and Recreation District for the week of April 8-14.

Friday, April 8

No-School Day - Ocean Commotion. For grades one through five. Celebrate National Week of the Ocean by learning about the underwater world and then surf the waves at Splash! at Lively Park. Register at Willamalane Center. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. $30.

Literacy Panel - Explore community literacy resources. For ages 18 and older. Register at Adult Activity Center. 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Adaptive Recreation - An Evening at the Wildish with Swing Shift. A big band experience. For ages 18 and older. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $6. Bring $20 for admission and snacks.

Saturday, April 9

Adaptive Recreation - Saturday Movie Matinee. For ages 18 and older. Register at Willamalane Center. 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. $6. Bring $15 for movie and snacks.

Family Sock Hop - For all ages. Register at Willamalane Center. Children $5; adults $6, including dinner.

Monday, April 11

Facebook - For ages 50 and older. Internet experience recommended. Register at Adult Activity Center. 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. $10.

Tuesday, April 12

Computer 2 - For ages 50 and older. Register at Adult Activity Center. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 21, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. $40.

Tennis Lessons - Open to all ages, all levels. Held at Willamalane Park. Call instructor Bob Reed for information at 541-683-1843. Ages 4 to 12, Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 21. Times to be announced. $12. Ages 13 and older, including adults, Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 7. Times TBA. $16.

Wednesday, April 13

How to Use Your Serger - Register at Willamalane Center. Held at Our Sewing Room, 448 Main St. Today, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $65 plus supplies.

Dream Play, Dream Interpretation - Instructor Rony Demont continues discussion of this popular topic. Newcomers welcome. For ages 18 and older. Register at Adult Activity Center. Wednesdays through April 27, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. $12.

Thursday, April 14

Pruning Rhododendrons and Ornamentals - Learn from an OSU Extension Service Master Gardener. For ages 18 and older. Register at Adult Activity Center. 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Pinochle - For ages 18 and older at Adult Activity Center. Each Thursday, ongoing, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Free.

Information

Willamalane Center for Sports and Recreation, 541-736-4544, 250 S. 32nd St.; Willamalane Park Swim Center, 541-736-4080, 1276 G St.; The Annex (Teen Center), 541-736-4083, 1276 G St.; Splash! at Lively Park, 541-736-4244, 6100 Thurston Road; Willamalane Adult Activity Center, 541-736-4444, 215 West C St.