Retailers Flock to Bing Ahead of Black Friday
Business Wire, Nov 23, 2009
SearchIgnite issues mid Q4 report evaluating search marketing spend
by retailers
ATLANTA — Multi-channel retailers are increasing their U.S. paid search spend
despite economic uncertainty; with spend up 7% in Q4 ahead of Black
Friday. While all three major search engines showed year-over-year (YoY)
spend increases from retailers, Bing saw the largest gain (47%), likely
due to higher average order values (AOV) from shoppers converting on
Microsofts engine compared with Google and Yahoo. The findings were
announced in a report released today by SearchIgnite, a leading provider
of search optimization solutions managing more than $400 million in paid
search annually.
Key Findings:
-
Strong U.S. Retail Spend in First Half of Q4: U.S. search spend
from existing retail marketers is up 7% YoY in the first half of Q4
across all major search engines (Google, Yahoo! and Bing). -
Conversion Rates on the Rise: In the first half of Q4,
conversion rates were up 17%, a strong increase over this time last
year and a hopeful sign that consumer confidence is on the rise. -
Retailers Increase Spend on Bing: U.S. retail marketers
dramatically increased their search spend on Bing, up 47% YoY, seeing
higher AOV from shoppers on Microsofts engine.
After a year of economic uncertainty, its promising to see an increase
in search spend across the engines going into the holidays, said Roger
Barnette, President of SearchIgnite. While Google still dominates, Bing
is making significant inroads and proving to be a worthwhile platform
for retailers looking to capture consumers dollars this season.
This report is the latest in a series of SearchIgnite white papers
reviewing trends across the search landscape. Previous SearchIgnite
reports can be found at: http://www.searchignite.com/about_research.aspx.
About SearchIgnite
SearchIgnite is a leading provider of paid search optimization solutions
that enable large, sophisticated marketers to achieve their online goals
faster and smarter. The company’s search marketing platform gives
advertisers an advanced suite of tools to manage, optimize and report on
their paid search campaigns in one central dashboard. Marketers who use
SearchIgnite have the ability to gather insights into the relationship
between media channels, enabling them to spend smarter
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/ CORRECTION – CleanPath Resources
Market Wire, November, 2009
In the news release, “Beverage Plus Announces
Global Distribution in up to 130 Countries,” issued Friday, November 13,
2009, by CleanPath Resources (PINKSHEETS: CLNP), we are advised by the
company that the beginning of the first sentence of the first paragraph
should read “Beverage Plus Holdings Corporation (PINKSHEETS: CLNP) and
FCBBI AG (FRANKFURT: 3FC.de) are pleased to announce they have entered into
an agreement for distribution of their products through Global
Conquistadors SA” rather than “Global Conquerors SA” as originally issued.
Complete corrected text follows.
Beverage Plus Announces Global Distribution in up to 130 Countries
LAS VEGAS, NV — November 13, 2009 — Beverage Plus Holdings Corporation
(PINKSHEETS: CLNP) and FCBBI AG (FRANKFURT: 3FC.de) are pleased to announce
they have entered into an agreement for distribution of their products
through Global Conquistadors SA, a leading international based consumer
products corporation, for the entry of the MC2 Energy Drink and various
other beverages in as many as 130 countries. In 2010, this represents
anticipated gross revenue from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000.
“We are extremely excited about this partnership. This distribution
agreement will allow Beverage Plus to enter into up to 130 global markets
quickly and easily utilizing their existing infrastructures and extensive
world-wide network,” said Ron Serota, President & CEO.
Beverage Plus Overview
Beverage Plus is a leading franchise company in the energy drink industry
with offices in Zurich, Switzerland and Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Beverage
Plus is the exclusive distributor and holder of the worldwide license for
MC2 Energy Drink and 38 other beverages
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Governor General Announces the Awarding of 13 Bravery Decorations
Market Wire, November, 2009
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced today the awarding of one Star of Courage and 12 Medals of Bravery. The recipients will be invited to receive their decorations at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
The Bravery Decorations were created in 1972, to recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
A list of recipients and their citations, as well as a fact sheet on the Bravery Decorations, are attached.
RECIPIENTS OF BRAVERY DECORATIONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jimmy Victor Beardy, M.B. Manitoba
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Constable Patrick Benoit, M.B. Kingston, Ont.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Sterling Burry, M.B. St
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CEIS – 1st Ld-Writethru: Canada announces additional help for auto sector
0 Comments | Xinhua News Agency – CEIS, Apr 7, 2009
1st Ld-Writethru: Canada announces additional help for auto sector
OTTAWA, April 7 (Xinhua) — Canada will provide additional help to the auto sector to prepare for the possible bankruptcy of U.S. automaker giants, Industry Minister Tony Clement said on Tuesday.
A total of 700 million Canadian dollars (560 million U.S. dollars) will be provided as export insurance to auto parts companies once their U.S. automaker clients cease production, the minister said at a press conference in Ottawa.
Ottawa will also help consumers by backstopping auto warranties in the event that a carmaker fails, he said.
A separate fund will be established to pay for warranty repairs on each new vehicle sold by Chrysler Canada and General Motors Canada while they are restructuring
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LearningRx Offers Tips for 'Smart Mom's Toy Box'
0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 21, 2009
With the busiest shopping time of the year upon us, national brain-training company LearningRx is helping parents with a list of toys that it said are fun, educational and affordable.
“Even the simplest toys – when used properly – can help develop complex brain skills,” said LearningRx Vice President of Research and Development Tanya Mitchell. “Cognitive skills are essential tools that help kids become better learners. Research now shows these skills can be taught – and therefore improved.”
“The Smart Mom’s Toy Box – 10 Toys Under $10; Building Brain Skills Without Breaking Your Budget” includes:
1. Slamwich
This card game is similar to Slapjack but more complex.
Ages: 6
Cognitive skills: Sustained attention, memory, visual processing, processing speed
2. Jax Doodle Dice
Players rearrange designs on dice to match doodles on cards.
Ages: 6
Cognitive skills: Visual processing, planning, problem solving, analysis skills
3. I-Spot Junior Card Games for the Road
Players match images on cards to items on their journey.
Ages: 3
Cognitive skills: Attention, word analysis, visual processing
4. Set Game
Players review images on dealt cards for logical sets.
Ages: 4
Cognitive skills: Sequential thinking, processing speed, visual processing
5. Rhyming Bingo
Chips go on pictures that rhyme with the caller’s word.
Ages: 4 – 7
Cognitive skills: Sound blending and segmenting, auditory processing
6. Math Dice
Players use math to reach the target number.
Ages: 8
Cognitive skills: Analysis skills, planning, numerical fluency, attention
7. My Word!
Players search dealt cards and call out words using at least three cards.
Ages: 7
Cognitive skills: Sound blending and segmenting, sequential thinking, word analysis, visual processing, processing speed
8. The Storybook Game
Children memorize illustrated cards to create a story.
Ages: 2 – 4
Cognitive skills: Memory, visual processing
9. Granny Apples
Players count scattered apples and subtract points for birds, worms and apple pies.
Ages: 8
Cognitive skills: Processing speed, numerical fluency, attention
Statement of Roman Polanski's California Counsel
Business Wire, Nov 21, 2009
LOS ANGELES — Roman Polanski has learned of many press reports relating the pending
case in California and to the extradition proceedings in Switzerland
which contain statements by lawyers in France. These statementswere not
authorized by Mr. Polanski. The French lawyers do not represent him in
the case and do not speak for him about it. The lawyers representing Mr.
Polanski in the California criminal proceedings and in the California
Court of Appeal are Douglas Dalton, Bart Dalton, and Chad Hummel. Dr.
Lorenz Erni represents Mr
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Amadeus Defines 'Amateur-Expert Traveler'
0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 20, 2009
Amadeus, a provider of technology and distribution solutions to the travel and tourism industry, has identified the emergence of the “Amateur-Expert Traveler” – who is more knowledgeable, more adventurous and more likely to live in an emerging economy than ever before – and whose rise coincides with advancements in the trip experience and the growth of niche travel in the post-recessionary environment.
Based on primary research with 2,719 travel professionals and 30 representatives and senior executives worldwide from companies such as Kayak, Forrester and Qatar Airways, Amadeus’ report highlights three developments:
– The Amateur-Expert Traveler: the average consumer has been empowered by the internet, and the dynamic of the relationship between travel companies and their customers is changing. 73 percent of industry professionals welcome the greater knowledge brought by user-generated content, which drives up customer expectations and creates new opportunities for travel agents to share their expertise with increasingly adventurous travelers.
– The responsive journey: 62 percent of those surveyed think that the journey experience is ripe for technological advancement. The maturing of the mobile internet will give rise to advances around the trip itself.
– All niches great and small: travel companies’ revenue streams are becoming more evenly spread over a wider range of products. The traditional 80/20 sales distribution curve no longer applies to 38 percent of respondents, for whom 80 percent of their revenue was contributed by 60 percent or more of their products. Similarly, niche travel offers present opportunities for travel companies
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Gang of wire thieves busted [Ranchi]
0 Comments | Times of India, The, Nov 9, 2009
SINDRI: Police on Sunday busted an inter-state gang of wire thieves active in Baliapur police station area and a gang of criminals involved in committing dacoities and snatching bikes in Jorapokhar police station area of the district.
The police also recovered stolen materials, arms and cash from the possession of the anti-social elements.
The Baliapur police arrested seven members of the gang red-handed at village Chaldhova while they were trying to cut high-tension 220 kV electrical traction wires of the Damodar Valley Corporation.
Officer in-charge of the Baliapur police station Shankar Kamti said that the police recovered wires worth Rs 20 lakh from the possession of the criminals. The kingpin of the gang reportedly lives somewhere near Durgapur in West Bengal. A police team has been rushed to Durgapur to nab him, Kamti added.
Sources said that over a dozen incidents of cable theft were reported in the area. The members of the gang are deft in cutting high-tension live wires, they added.
In another incident, the Jorapokhar police succeeded in unearthing a gang involved in looting a mobile showroom in August. Officer in-charge R N Choudhary said the police arrested Sudhanshu Mishra alias Chunnu on the basis of a tip-off and recovered stolen mobile phone sets, Rs 16,000 in cash, a US-make pistol and five live cartridges from his possession.
The police also arrested gang members Rajiv Kumar Singh and Shakti Bauri and recovered two stolen bikes. The police also recovered a number plate of a bike belonging to one Pintu Agrawal and his voter ID card from the possession of the criminals.
The gang members confessed to their involvement in the crime and informed the police that they had sold the bike to one Sunil Hansda of Purulia in West Bengal. A police team has been sent to Purulia to recover the bike, the officer in-charge said
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Humble yourself & become enlightened
Muscle & Fitness, Jan, 2010 by Chris Lockwood
For more than four years I’ve known something was seriously wrong with my right shoulder. Heavy deadlifts and shrugs, bench presses, curls, overhead triceps extensions and front raises have long been painful and taken their toll on the amount of training I can bear. Even heavy back squats result in 48 hours of my shoulder looking as though I’ve implanted a golf ball atop it. A contrast MRI confirmed what I had long surmised: a tear.
Overdramatized as it may be, I think I now understand how Linus Pauling must have felt when diagnosed with the very disease his daily regimen of vitamin C was supposed to thwart. In my case, meticulous attention to optimal biomechanics and program design was of equal futility in the end. But that’s the reality of life: Its order and chance aren’t confined by the wisdom you or I try to impose upon it. In fact, despite great efforts to avoid a particular outcome, sometimes it’s that very thing you may be trying to evade that the big gym-owner in the sky decides you must endure for a greater purpose. Now I know what I had previously only studied regarding the chronic effects of overtraining and aging: I’m no longer in my youth, so maybe it’s time I stop trying to train as I did when I blew through recovery times faster than a hooker at an Eliot Spitzer fundraiser.
In training, and in all aspects of life, a humbling of oneself and empathy for others are often the intended lessons that personal challenges and hardships are meant to bring into focus. You just have to be receptive and honest, and sometimes patient enough to see the purpose. For example, while driving into the bank parking lot the other day to inquire about a loan because times have become tougher than I had forecasted at the Lockwood household, I saw a woman holding a sign that read simply: “Please help. Homeless.” When I exited the bank, she was still there. At first I headed to my car, as most of us do, making excuses such as If I give her money, it’ll just go to drugs or alcohol, or She’s just looking for another handout.
Then the reality of how blessed I am sank in: She and I had come to the very same location to ask for money, each of us not proud of our respective choices in life having come to this. I walked over and asked if she had had anything to eat that day. She hadn’t
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Grayer, thinner Obama doesn't blame demands of White House
0 Comments | AFP, November, 2009
WASHINGTON (AFP) Barack Obama conceded Wednesday that he has lost a bit of weight and gotten somewhat grayer during his first year as US president, but said he remains healthy despite the relentless demands of his job.
“This has been an extraordinary year, less for me than for the American people: two wars, worst financial crisis since the Great Depression,” Obama told NBC television.
“I would be lying if I said that, you know, those aren’t some weighty questions that I carry around on my shoulders every day,” he said.
The lanky US leader said that his recent apparent weight loss is in line with what has always been.
“My weight fluctuates by 30 pounds — it has for years,” he said in a one of several interviews given shortly before departing for Seoul, the…