www.Tutorialsforu.info

London,   / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Total Pet Publishing, a specialist provider of pet information online, has issued a rallying call to Britain's dog owners urging them to consider the small changes they can make to help their dogs reach their full potential.

Are Britain's dogs reaching their full potential? That's the question poised by editors at K9 Magazine, a modern lifestyle magazine for dog lovers.

The magazine polled 1,000 dog owners and learned that as many as 1 in 3 dog owners could make some very small adjustments to their dog's lifestyles and gain incrementally positive results in health, behaviour and well-being.

Common issues such as proper dog nutrition, monitoring dog obesity levels and even frequency of dog worming were all areas identified as having room for improvement.

Charles Vincent, a company spokesman, says:

"Use your dog's "voice" to help you with the training process. A dog's bark or whine can tell you a lot about their mood and what they want. Paying attention and responding to their signals will help your pet be happier and more successful during training. You may also want to target exessive barking as part of your training program.

If you are trying to prevent your dog from begging, the best thing to do is ignore the begging completely. Don't respond either positively, with a treat or petting, or negatively, by shouting. Your dog will learn quickly and remember for a long time that the begging ended up with you paying attention to the dog."

K9 Magazine is offering free tips and dog ownership advice via a series of special reports, available from their website during January.
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Chicago, IL / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Back In the summer of 2003 a local teacher from Chicago was picked out of many professional hitting coaches to be Ted Williams sons' personal hitting coach.

At the time, John Henry Williams was 35 years old and wanted to to give professional baseball a try. He believed if he found someone who knew his fathers' swing as well as his late father did, then he had a chance to do well.

Ted Williams Hitting Specialist Mike "Hubie Magic" Huber was the coach that was eventually hired for the job. Huber who has worked with over 70 different travel, high school, and college teams as a team hitting specialist, recalls the intensity of the interview process and how he eventually was selected. Huber said, "I was asked over 100 questions about the swing."

After answering all of the questions, Huber was then put under a physical test and was asked to hit batting practice off of 90 MPH pitching. "I had to hit off some machine that was worth over $100,000 and threw nasty curves, sliders, change-ups, and fork balls." Huber explained.

After passing these tests, Huber thought for sure that he would get the job but he was then psycholigically evaluated by a psychologist to see if if the candidate was of sound mind.

Huber ended up getting the job even though he wasn't a recognized pro name."I certainly did not expect that I would have to go through something like this with a job interview, but I went with the flow because I did think there was a strong possibility that I could get him to hit. I knew he was 35 years old, played no college ball. He certainly did not have a great high school career either. There was something that I liked about the challenge of getting him to hit at the pro level though."

The story of how this relationship between Huber and John Henry is written in Huber's book, Tapping into the Spirit of Ted Williams. Huber says people will be surprised of how the story ends as it never made any public news. So far, most people that read the book comment on how it unravels like a Hollywood movie.

About Mike Huber: Team Hitting Specialist and Confidence Trainer, Mike Huber, has traveled the country to help baseball teams improve their hitting skills at a record breaking pace with the Hubie Magic Training System. This training system has helped teams set over 60 state, national, and/or team hitting records while training over 70 different teams since the late 1990s.  He is the author of the book, Tapping Into the Spirit of Ted Williams.  Mr. Huber, a Chicagonative, has been a radio show analyst of ESPN radio, is a public speaker, holds his masters at Chicago State University in Physical Wellness and Kinetics, and has written many articles on the subject of hitting.

Press Inquiries: Mike Huber is available for television, radio, newspaper, magazine and on-line interviews, articles and speaking engagements.
Contact: Mike Huber
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: (847) 312-1061
Website: www.hubiemagic.com
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  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Online marketing company Ajax Union, which offers a range of holistic plans to help boost small businesses' online profiles and search engine standings, is promoting its Pay-Per-Click and Google AdWords services at http://www.AjaxUnion.com/Services/PPC-Feeder/. Alongside its search engine optimization, press release writing, social media marketing, and business blogging services, the local internet marketing business promotes PPC as an effective way for small businesses to elevate their online profiles and grow their customer bases.

The search engine agency promotes its Pay-Per-Click Feeder service as an essential aspect of any small business' general internet marketing campaign alongside other search engine optimization strategies. PPC management is a search-engine based advertising model that allows businesses to pay only for their ads that receive clicks, and not for the overall impressions of each ad (how many times the ad is displayed). The amount paid per click, determined by the relevant keywords a business selects in addition to several other factors, is agreed upon in advance. The high degree of customization, low cost, and direct positive effects PPC marketing has on a business' pageviews, sales, and search engine appearances are all factors that make PPC a compelling small business internet marketing channel.

"We've seen tremendous success from our Pay-Per-Click Management Plan. Using a combination of Google AdWords, Yahoo! Advertising, and other ad-hosting services, we've seen some of our clients' page visits jump over 1,000% since the launch of the PPC Feeder campaign, as well as steep increases in ad impressions and ad-based revenue. Our team, certified in Google AdWords management, works with clients from the start to formulate a tailored campaign, select keywords, build company profiles, derive a budget, launch the ads and then follow up with any tweaks or news we receive. As an SEO company, we further distinguish ourselves by making ourselves accessible to clients whenever they want to check in," said Josh Lewinson, the PPC Manager of the search engine agency.

The PPC plans hosted by the internet marketing agency begin at only $450 per month, and increase on a sliding scale based on the adspend budget and chosen ad networks, in addition to the amount of keyword research, the degree of analytics reporting and the types of ads that a client prefers. The budget-friendly PPC Saver Plan uses the Google ad network, allots $1,000 on monthly adspend, and includes keyword research and analytics reporting. The mid-level PPC Basic Plan, meanwhile, gives clients the opportunity to host ads on Google, Yahoo, and Bing search networks, a $5,000 monthly budget, and graphic banner ads in addition to analytics and keyword research. The PPC Feeder service tops out with the PPC Pro Plan, which increases the monthly adspend budget to $15,000, and also adds personalized ad targeting and landing page consulting services on top of the small business internet marketing services afforded by the PPC Basic Plan.

As with all of the company's marketing plans, the Pay-Per-Click and Search Engine Marketing plan works on a month-to-month basis, so businesses won't feel pressured into signing extensive contracts. The SEO company particularly strives to remain accessible and transparent to its clients, and provides them with updates on every action taken on their behalf. Clients are additionally given the log-in information to their PPC accounts, so no information or transactions occur without their knowledge. For businesses that are interested in experimenting with PPC and other local internet marketing but are hesitant to purchase a monthly plan, Ajax Union also provides the option to pay an additional $100 on an existing plan to try out Google AdWords on a smaller scale.

To connect with the SEO NY search engine agency and learn more about its PPC Feeder plan, go to http://www.AjaxUnion.com or call 800-594-0444 for a free consultation. Ajax Union's small business internet marketing updates can be found at its blog, http://www.AjaxUnion.com/blog, or its Facebook and Twitter pages, at http://www.facebook.com/AjaxUnion and http://twitter.com/AjaxUnion.
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  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- The oil and gas industry in the Marcellus and Utica Shale region are always facing two major challenges where to find workers and when they have workers were do they stay, they need a place to stay.  Our new advertisers at ShaleDirectories.com are looking to fill those needs.  Integrated Staffing Group, founded in 1995, has been providing exceptional service to thousands of employers and job seekers throughout the nation, with an emphasis in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia where all the Marcellus and Utica Shale activity is occurring. At Integrative Staffing Group we know that by placing the right people in the right positions at your company, you will reduce your down-time and recruiting expenses - giving you more time to focus on what you do best: Running your business!

Extended Stay Hotels and Alliance Hospitality are two hotel groups that are meeting the short and long stay needs of oil and gas workers throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Extended Stay has hotels in Akron and Pittsburgh while Alliance Hospitality has 7 hotels in Eastern Ohio in counties where drilling for oil and gas is starting.

"Finding workers and lodging are the two biggest challenges of the oil and gas industry in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  We are pleased that we are adding advertisers to our directory that address these needs" commented Joe Barone, President, of ShaleDirectories.com. 

About ShaleDirectories.com
ShaleDirectories.com has a database of 160,000 businesses in the Marcellus and Utica Shale region.  Businesses are segmented by state, by county, and by business category.  "With a few clicks, it will be easy for oil and gas operators to find businesses in any county where drilling is occurring," observed Barone.
ShaleDiretories.com is the leading online directory that connects oil and gas industry with local businesses in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York.  It is the directory where the oil and gas industry, its employees and their families find local businesses. 

More information can be found at www.shaledirectories.com. For additional information contact Joe Barone, 610.764.1232 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 
 

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Apple computer users now have a Houston IT service company that they can call on. CITOC has achieved the Mobility Technical Competency and is now part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN). 

Houston, TX  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Nowadays, it seems like there is a computer in every business around the nation. So, qualified IT support is a must, particularly for Apple computers.  CITOC recognized the need for qualified Apple IT support in the Houston area and was one of the first firms to become involved in the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).

"CITOC is part of the first 100 partners to inaugurate the ACN. The organization requires certifications from other vendors before anyone can become a member, so clients know the ACN crew is very well rounded" according to CITOC Owner BJ Farmer.

The ACN brings together the best Apple independent service organizations and IT consulting firms that support Apple technologies and the solutions developed by partners.  In order to be part of this group, a member must be Apple technologies certified.  The ACN Consultant Locator allows users and clients to search for and find Apple-certified professionals who are proficient in providing customized IT support for their office.

CITOC provides  IT services in the Houston, TX area.  As a member of the ACN, and the Mobility Technical Competency (MTC) from Microsoft, enables CITOC to plan, deploy and control iPhones and iPads on enterprise networks.

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About the Company:  CITOC is a leader across all IT consulting companies in Houston, Texas, providing services that other IT consulting companies only dream about. We view ourselves as an extension of your business. If you'd like to have a free consultation on managed and IT solutions, contact us at http://www.citoc.com or call 713.490.5000.

CITOC has won four awards from the Houston Business Journal in 2011 including Fast Tech 50 award for the 5th time.  In 2011, CITOC was recognized on the Inc. 500/5000 list.
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New Orleans, Louisiana  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- The International Disaster Conference & Exposition (IDCE2012) completed its premier event having fulfilled its promise to bring together for the first time all disciplines in the field of disaster planning and management for a compelling program relevant to the industry's present and future. By the conclusion of the event, hosted January 17-19 by the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, nearly 2,000 emergency management professionals from government and industry had heard from the industry's top leaders, examined the latest industry innovations from 162 companies displaying their products and services on the tradeshow floor, and perhaps most importantly, capitalized on a rare opportunity to share ideas, solutions and lessons learned with their fellow professionals from across the U.S. and 25 other countries.

The event also was unique from another perspective. It was the first U.S.-based tradeshow owned and managed by a partnership that includes the hosting convention center. The co-ownership of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center with Imago Productions not only ensures the event will remain in New Orleans, it reinforces the very theme of the conference: the advantages of public and private entities partnering to enhance performance.

Speakers at IDCE2012 ranged from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who delivered the keynote address January 17 emphasizing the necessity of government and business to plan together in order to adequately handle future disasters.

"There is no one person or agency that can be in charge and make all the decisions in a major disaster," Fugate sounded the conference theme in his address titled, Private Sector Resources in the Emergency Management Plan: the Public-Private Partnership. "It takes a team and our job as emergency managers is to build that team."

Fugate was followed to the podium by first U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as the gates opened to a wide range of experts and expertise, from LTG Russel Honoré , who led the U.S. Department of Defense's response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi; to Meir Elran of Israel's Tel Aviv University's Homeland Security Program; to Walt Ehmer, president of Waffle House, which has earned distinction for opening its restaurants quickly after major disasters; to Willy Steenbakkers of The Netherlands Ministry of Security and Justice on the new role of government as supporting private citizens' more active roles in their own safety and security.

On the tradeshow floor, exhibitors not only benefitted from the opportunity to promote their products and services to the decision-makers that comprised the IDCE2012 attendee group, but generated partnerships and agreements among themselves toward their next rounds of innovations and solutions.

"This was a great opportunity for us," noted Roi Maufas of Gorilla Design, which debuted its Disaster Relief Unit, a converted shipping container that provides sustainable living quarters designed to keep an entire family safe from harm through the course of a disaster. "The time we spent here and the contacts we made are extremely valuable and have already contributed significantly to our business."

"We're grateful to all the speakers, attendees and exhibitors who helped us fulfill our goal of bringing together all disciplines of the disaster industry from public and private sectors and from around the globe for a meaningful conference," noted Jimmy Mouton, who created the event concept and directed IDCE2012. "Our idea was to provide a forum for these professionals to share lessons learned, and in the process we learned how valuable an opportunity to come together like this can be."

Upon conclusion of IDCE2012, the partnership of Mouton's Imago Productions and the New Orleans Convention Center announced next year's International Disaster Conference & Exposition, IDCE2013, will be held January 15-17.

The International Disaster Conference and Exposition, held annually in January at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, unites emergency management, homeland security and disaster industry professionals from the public and private sectors around the world to share lessons learned and forward thinking regarding the policies, procedures and best practices shaping disaster preparation, response and recovery, loss mitigation, business continuity and more. Conference speakers, exhibitors and attendees share the latest knowledge, technologies and techniques toward the common goal of minimizing the loss of life and property in future catastrophic events. For more information, visit http://www.internationaldisasterconference.com.

Contact:

Sandra Moreland

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

404-310-4059
 
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  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- For movie lovers looking to watch free indie and short films online, Festival of Films - available at http://www.FestivalofFilms.com - just announced its new schedule of streaming movies set to debut on the site on Jan. 22, 2012. Each day, the site will allow viewers to watch free full movies online, all of which have been approved for free online distribution. Featuring shorts, documentaries and full-length feature films, the diverse selection will appeal to a broad viewing base.

The last full week of January's schedule of free new movies online kicks off on Jan. 22 with a full-length documentary film, "Life in a Day." With the aim of showing as complete a view as possible of a single day on Earth, the film culls from among 80,000 crowd-sourced YouTube clips, all of which were filmed on July 24, 2010. Originally conceived as a way to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of YouTube, the revolutionary site that has changed the face of media and entertainment, the film is a thought-provoking and compelling survey of thousands of different lives around the globe.

On Monday Jan. 23, the screening schedule of free indie films takes a turn towards the fictional with "Passion of the Priest," one of Festival of Film's new free movies online. Set in the seamy world of 1970s London, the film, adapted from a Piers Paul Reed novel, tracks the story of a Catholic priest who falls from grace when his divine adoration is overshadowed by a decidedly more worldly love. The morality tale captures the struggle between religious devotion and free will in a dramatic and engaging format.

Tuesday's film, one in Festival of Film's collection of short films online, is an engaging and poignant affair that takes a step back from the overt drama and intensity of Monday's film. "Flung," a recently produced short, tells the quiet and heartfelt story of an elderly man and a young child who, united by their loneliness, realize that their lives may have more in common than initial appearances would suggest.

Later in the week, Festival of Film's schedule of free new movies online veers away from single films, presenting instead an assortment of clips from both new and classic films, along with a selection of free documentaries online. Wednesday's presentation, "2011 Newsmakers," includes short documentaries profiling three of the year's notable public figures: Steve Jobs, Muammar Gaddafi, and Elizabeth Taylor. On Thursday, Festival of Films will feature its recurring Current and Classic Movie Clips series, which this week will profile the site's Oscar picks for films produced in 2011. And Friday's selection of Sherlock Holmes films will feature clips from various films that have portrayed the exploits of literature's most famous detective.

For those who love to watch free full movies online, Festival of Film's streaming schedule wraps up on Saturday Jan. 28 with "The Little Traitor," a well-regarded feature film from 2007 that's based on Amos Oz's novel, "Panther in the Basement." Set in Palestine in 1947, just before Israel became a state, the film tells the story of Proffy, a rebellious 11 year-old Palestinian boy who forges an unlikely friendship with Sergeant Dunlop, an occupying British officer.

For more information about Festival of Film's new free movies online, visit http://www.FestivalofFilms.com or call 631-319-0160. The site posts further information about its films on Facebook and Twitter at http://www.facebook.com/FilmLovers and http://twitter.com/FestivalofFilms.
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  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- The current economy's ups and downs make it extremely important for established corporations and startup companies to keep a close eye on their spending habits and business strategy. 

But not all employees have the proper tools and resources in place to assist with effective strategy development or market analysis. 

Since 2010, Fortune 500 companies, top MBA programs, and leading management consultancies across more than 40 countries have utilized the business strategy frameworks available from LearnPPT. Featuring tried-and-true business presentation materials created by highly educated and experienced ex-management consultants, LearnPPT provides companies with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their pricing strategy, growth strategy, scenario planning, and more. 

Complex business issues can be much more readily analyzed and resolved using the business frameworks offered by LearnPPT. 

The company's PowerPoint documents include both instructional slides and templates focused on different business projects, including market analysis, product life cycle, change management, business case development, cost reduction and more. Many also include templates that can be imported into customers' own presentations for added flexibility. Some also include companion Excel-based financial models.

Past customers have raved about the high-quality business frameworks offered by LearnPPT and the success they have found as a result of them. 

According to the CEO from a consumer products startup, "I manage a business doing over 50 million in sales. I have found the growth strategy toolkit to be tremendously insightful in how I should look at growing my company. Would not hesitate to recommend this document to others." 

An associate with a strategy consulting firm agrees, "These products were excellent, saved me tons of time for my deliverables, and were highly revered by my managers and clients!"

Other past clients have included employees of AT&T, General Electric, IBM, Coca-Cola, and Intel. 

The PowerPoint templates and diagrams and business frameworks available from LearnPPT are appropriate for people across all industries and at any level in the organization, including marketing, corporate strategy, corporate finance, and supply chain. 

With frameworks starting at just $11.99, LearnPPT features affordable business presentation solutions, as well as special bundle packages that include a number of different frameworks.

Companies can browse the slides in all of the LearnPPT business strategy toolkits by visiting http://learnppt.com/business-strategy.php

About LearnPPT:

Founded in 2010, LearnPPT offers the essential PowerPoint tools companies need to create professional and effective business presentations. Products range from ready-to-use PowerPoint diagrams to consulting-quality business strategy frameworks and have been used by Fortune 500 companies, top MBA programs, and leading management consultancies across more than 40 countries. 

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Company: LearnPPT
Contact: David Tracy
Phone: (949) 436 1290
Email: dave[@]learnppt.com
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  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Our bodies cannot function properly without consistent blood circulation; thus, making this basic process very crucial to the human system. As long as the body maintains healthy blood circulation it is likely to continue without a hitch; however, as we all know it is difficult to remain healthy at times as our bodies are vulnerable to attacks from disease-causing pathogens as well as other conditions that compromise the well-being of the body's functions. Poor blood circulation means that something has gone awry with normal bodily functions which translate into poor supply of blood and oxygen to body tissues which can pose major challenges for the human system.

Poor blood circulation can be a source of many problems and disorders such as:

High cholesterol levels

Diabetes

Heart complications

Chest pain

Headache

Weight gain

Inconsistent heart beats

Low levels of energy which accounts for a tired feeing most of the time

Poor sleep patterns

A tingling feeling or pain experienced in the limbs-usually  occurs on all four limbs

The good news is thateHelpshas now discovered miraculous herbs that go a long way in improving blood circulation. Among these is a wonderful natural plant-based product made from 100 percent herbal extracts known as BioBoost. This natural formula supplies the body with the required nutrients to stay functional at all times. The concept of this herbal formula has been developed over years of studying the complex functioning of the human body and its relationship with plants.

Plant-basednutritional supplements have been hailed as an effective way in helping the body function in optimum levels unlike most of the conventional commercial supplements which the body at times reacts to negatively. BioBoost contains a mix of 12 blood circulation enhancing herbs that boosts the immune system.

BioBoostbenefits the body in the following ways:

Helps improve sleep pattern and gives a relaxed feeling when a person wakes up

It consistently maintains the blood circulation throughout the entire body

Helps to increase skin elasticity

Helps to assist in lowering blood pressure

Helps decrease the possibility of heart conditions

Helps to boost the immune system enabling it to fight off infections; thus, promoting the overall well-being of an individual

About Product

The reason that BioBoost can help you sleep deeper and longer is because it helps remove the blockage of the blood circulation. With smooth circulation, you can easily go into a deep sleep at night and stay asleep for a longer time. BioBoost will help to reenergize you and will help boost the immune system which fights off harmful pathogens.

For more inquiries, please visit our links:

Website: - http://www.myehelps.com

Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/myehelps

FROM:  eHelps, 15450 E. Valley Blvd., City of Industry, CA, 91746, USA

CONTACT:   Amanda Tostado, Marketing and Social Media Manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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BOCA RATON, FLORIDA   / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- In celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the film classic, Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and to highlight a unique showing of the film to Orchestra on Friday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m., the Festival of the Arts BOCA will award talented high school students who can "take the cake" with the best Casablanca-themed decorated confection.

The contest evolved through a partnership with West Boca Raton High School Culinary Program and students viewed the film for creative inspiration.  RSVPs for entries will be received through February 15, 2012.  The contest is open to high school students only.  Interested participants are to send their full name, contact phone number, e-mail address, name of school and title of entry to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bakers' presentations and judging will take place promptly at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 9th at the Mizner Park Amphitheater where cakes are to be in place and ready for display.  Judges will include Constantine Kitsopoulos, Festival of the Arts BOCA Music Director; the pastry chef from Boca Raton Resort & Club; and a personality from WPBF-TV.

Judging will be based on first impression/appearance; originality; variety of skills; symmetry and proportion and attention to detail.  First Place will receive a $200 Mizner Park gift certificate; 2nd Place will receive a $100 gift certificate and 3rd Place will receive a $50 gift certificate. 

Following the competition, bakers will be invited to stay for the 7:30 p.m. showing of Casablanca, the 1942 American romantic film classic that tells the story of a man torn between love and virtue, set to live orchestra featuring the Boca Raton Symphonia under the direction of Festival Music Director Constantine Kitsopoulos.  The full-feature presentation showcases Max Steiner's Oscar-nominated score like it has never been heard before. 

For more information and rules visit www.festivaloftheartsboca.org.

The 6th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, set for March 7th - 18th, 2012, is presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts' at the Mizner Park Amphitheater & Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in Boca Raton with a sensational line-up including internationally acclaimed José Carreras; Cuban-born jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríquez and his trio; a special presentation of film classic Casablanca with LIVE Orchestral accompaniment conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos, and the Boca Raton Symphonia; an Opera "Night at the Movies" with Metropolitan Opera stars Angela Meade, James Valenti, Jennifer Johnson Cano, and the Boca Raton Symphonia; Time for Three, the groundbreaking, category-shattering trio that transcends traditional classification, with elements of classical, country western, gypsy and jazz idioms forming a blend all its own.

Acclaimed pianist and YouTube sensation Valentina Lisitsa will join the Lynn University Philharmonia, conducted by Jon Robertson, for the ever-popular Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Berlioz's seminal work, Symphonie Fantastique; Larry Rosen's Jazz Roots Series will team up once more to present An Evening of Gershwin featuring Patti Austin and Tony DeSare; and Poncho Sanchez, known for his straight-ahead jazz, gritty soul music and infectious melodies promises a high-energy and memorable performance. 

The Festival music finale, Saturday, March 17th, will be a St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza with an afternoon filled with folk dancers, acclaimed fiddlers, and Celtic bands.

This year's program of Authors & Ideas once again welcomes Distinguished Writer in Residence, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Kevin Bleyer, multiple Emmy Award-winning writer for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and best-selling author.

Joining this year's line-up of authors is Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe and author of Knowing Your Value:  Women, Money & Getting What You're Worth; Andrew Ross Sorkin, co-host of CNBC's Squawk Box and best-selling author of Too Big To Fail; Barbara McDonald Stewart, daughter of the first U.S. Ambassador to Israel, James G. McDonald, who will discuss her experiences with her father in Israel and the newly founded embassy in Tel Aviv; and P. Scott Cunningham, co-founder and director of the O, Miami Poetry Festival and the author of Chapbook of Poems for Morton Feldman. 

New this year will be a University President's Panel moderated by Dr. Susan Resneck Pierce, President Emerita of the University of Puget Sound and author of On Being Presidential: A Guide for College and University Leaders with Florida Atlantic President MJ Saunders and Lynn  University President Kevin Ross.

Individual tickets range from $20 to $100 per person.

For more information call 561-368-8445 or visit www.festivaloftheartsboca.org.

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VISUAL ARTS AWARDS APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- Applications are now available for the Palos Verdes Art Center's 2012 Beverly G. Alpay Memorial Awards for the Visual Arts. These grants provide funds to enhance the abilities and encourage the careers of visual art students, working professional visual artists and young persons seeking to become visual artists. Completed applications are due February 24, 2012.

While the definition of visual arts is very broad, the Alpay Awards focus on traditional media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and photography. The program emphasizes on artistic merit and excellence. Applicants must live or attend school within 25 miles of the Palos Verdes Art Center. Maximum grants in the various categories range from $500 for youth to $3,000 for MFA candidates. 

In the program's 14 years, awards have totaled over $132,000 to 132 students and artists. The Beverly G. Alpay Memorial Awards were established by the Board of Directors of the Palos Verdes Art Center and Dr. O. Allen Alpay in memory of his wife. Beverly Alpay, a long time patron of the arts, was president of the Art Center board and also served as executive director.  Applications are available at www.pvartcenter.org under the News & Events page or by calling (310) 541-2479 x313.

The Palos Verdes Art Center and Community School of Art, celebrating 80 years in the community, is a non-profit community organization serving southwestern Los Angeles County with visual arts exhibition, education and outreach programs. For more information about any of its many activities, art classes or volunteer support groups please visit www.pvartcenter.orgor call 310-541-2479.
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For more information, kindly contact jay Snow at (413) 733 1972 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cost Estimating Software, Costimator®, Gives Leading Portugal Manufacturer, MCG, a Shot in the Arm

West Springfield, MA  / PRBuzz.com / January 24, 2012 -- MTI Systems, Inc. (www.mtisystems.com) has announced today that MCG of Portugal has selected Costimator®, MTI Systems' flagship software estimating tool, in order to increase their cost estimating speed and to enhance the accuracy of their quotations.

MCG mind for metal is a 60-year veteran of the metallic component manufacturing industry with a laser-focus on ethics and sustainability. The machining, fabricating and assembly company fuses their cutting-edge technologies, a robust engineering department and forward-thinking research and development processes, all dedicated to making waves in the automotive, solar, laser and tooling markets. However, when traditional cost estimating practices on archaic spreadsheets consumed vast amounts of financial and human resources, MCG knew it was time for a change.

MCG Sales and Marketing Director Pedro Sousa, explains "...What we used for cost estimating was the typical spreadsheet for every kind of process. So if, for example, you had a part with five processes, we would use five different spreadsheets. This dispersion, over thousands of spreadsheets, was time consuming and error prone.  With Costimator we are seeing a reduction in cost estimating lead time and an increase in accuracy through a more simplified estimating process."

"We are finding that more and more overseas manufacturers are seeking out cost estimating software to help them improve the quality and timeliness of their cost estimating process." remarks David LaJoie, VP Sales of MTI Systems. "In fact, our international sales of Costimator have more than tripled in the last 2 years."

Costimator cost estimating, quoting and process planning software has for the past three decades, served as a platform helping to make cost estimating more effective for part suppliers. Whether estimating machining, fabricating, or assembled parts, it helps manufacturers, like job shops, contract manufacturers, precision machining shops and others quickly and accurately, estimate cycle times and determines the manufacturing cost for parts and assemblies. Today, the software is also being used by many of the world's largest OEMs in a wide variety of industries including defense, aerospace, medical, heavy equipment, automotive and consumer product.

About MCG - Read through their case study - "Cost Estimating Software, Costimator, Gives Metal Industry Giant MCG-Portugal a Shot in the Arm" located at (http://www.mtisystems.com/case-study/MCG.html) for more information about MCG and on how this cost estimating software has helped them enjoy multifaceted enhancement in costing growth and development.

About MTI Systems, Inc.  - MTI Systems, Inc. offers cost estimating, quoting and process planning software and services for the manufacturing industry - providing solutions for suppliers and OEM's. Costimator has been implemented at over 1,400 companies worldwide resulting in over 12,000 trained users -- since its inception in 1982. Contact Information: MTI Systems, Inc., 59 Interstate Drive, West Springfield, Massachusetts, 01089, USA, Phone 800-644-4318, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit their cost estimating softwareproduct page to learn more about Costimator.

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