January 28, 2011
Global Texting Champions Crowned at the LG Mobile World Cup in New York City
Team Panama Wins USD $100,000 and Claims the Title of Fastest, Most Accurate Texters in the World.
Photo: Sisters from Panama win the 2011 LG Mobile World Cup.
At the second annual LG Mobile World Cup, the sister duo, Cristina Sales Ancines age 20, and Jennifer Sales Ancines, age 15, from Panama, were named as the “World’s Fastest Texters.” They defeated competitors from 16 countries to take home the title of LG Mobile World Cup Champions and $100,000 in prize money.
Demonstrating their skills using the LG BL20 and the LG GT350, Cristina and Jennifer texted their way into World Cup by winning the final round of game play. Contestants from South Korea were placed second and took home $20,000, while team Brazil was placed third and won $10,000.
The 2011 LG Mobile World Cup took place on January 26 in New York City. During the competition, players competed in various texting missions. In each mission, contestants were tasked with the challenge of typing in phrases on their LG mobile devices exactly as they appeared on nearby LG plasma screens with no mistakes or abbreviations.
Finalists selection for the LG Mobile World Cup began with a series of national texting contests across 16 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Korea, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand and the U.S. After several months, 26 contestants were chosen to compete in the hopes of becoming the word’s fastest texter.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:02 AM | Link to this Post
November 8, 2010
Windows Phone 7 Goes on Sale in the United States
Photos: MTV star Rob Dyrdek and actress Minka Kelly kick off the Really Rally Roadtrip tour to help launch Windows Phone 7. After talking to fans at the AT&T store in Times Square, Rob and Minka set off on a five-city tour Monday, November 8, 2010. (Microsoft Photo/Jason DeCrow).
• Windows Phone 7 is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft. It was launched in Europe, Singapore and Australasia on October 21, 2010. It has just been launched in the USA & Canada today. It will be launched in Asia in 2011.
The phone uses an operating system that is very different from the app-focused phones. It provides active and configurable interface elements called tiles that update on the fly with real information, allowing users to place the tiles that interest them most where they want on their Start screen. Facebook photos, music and contacts are pulled into the phone and distributed appropriately across Hubs. It also brings together many of Microsoft's popular offerings from other platforms, including Xbox, Zune, Office and Bing.
The phone's interface features Hubs for categories such as People, Music and video, Photos, Games and Office.
"We think people want to get updates from their social networks, they want to get contact information, they want to get e-mails from a variety of different places, they want to share music -- but they want control over it," said Andy Lees, Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business president. "They want one thing that they can access their work e-mail on and then put in their bag and go to the party, and they want it to be easy to use. That's exactly what we're delivering."
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:38 PM | Link to this Post
November 4, 2010
Dancing, Singing Times Square Announces the Launch of Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360
Photo: November 3, 2010. Times Square, New York City. Microsoft hosts a dance party with thousands celebrating the launch of its newest product - Kinect for Xbox 360. (Foto: Microsoft Corp., Bryan Bedder).
On November 3 night, New York's Times Square became a dancing, singing celebration for the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360.
Xbox 360 is Microsoft's premier home entertainment and video game system. With the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 is transforming social gaming and entertainment with a new way to play -- no controller required.
Kinect for Xbox 360 lets you use your body and voice to play your favorite games and entertainment, turning you into the controller.
"Simply step in front of the sensor, and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and learns how you play. No buttons. No barriers. Just you."
"Kinect transforms entertainment and introduces Xbox 360 to millions of new people -- families, friends and people of all ages," said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. "Years of research and a team of engineers and artists have created something approachable, simple and affordable that everyone can enjoy."
"Kinect for Xbox 360 promises to usher in a new era of entertainment," Microsoft further explained. "Kinect transforms everyone's living room into a movie theater, a sports arena and a social playground, reaching the people that matter most to you, no matter where they live in the world."
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:02 PM | Link to this Post
October 27, 2010
Honda, Toyota Dominate, While GM Makes Big Strides, says Consumer Reports' 2010 Annual Car Reliability Survey
Photo: Honda Acura TL 2011
At an Automotive Press Association luncheon yesterday in Detroit, Consumer Reports announced the results of its 2010 Annual Auto Survey.
According to the survey, General Motors has improved considerably, though Honda and Toyota still dominate in the latest predicted-reliability Ratings of new cars. Eighty-three percent of Chevrolets, GM's major brand, now have average or better scores in predicted reliability, up from 50 percent last year.
Photo: Cadillac SRX
While some GM nameplates had been among the least reliable brands in past years, they now rank above some major European competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Two factors are aiding GM's reliability improvements. First, GM's recent introductions, such as the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse V6 (FWD), and Cadillac SRX, are proving reliable from the time they were launched. In addition, GM shed many models with subpar reliability when it shut down the Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer brands, says the report.
Photo: Chevrolet Camaro
The survey shows that as a company, GM is still a ways from the top when it comes to reliability -- the major Asian automakers, including Honda and Toyota, are still out in front. Among the three domestics, Ford continues to build the most reliable vehicles. Chrysler lags behind both GM and Ford.
Still, as the findings indicate, GM made the most progress of the three domestic manufacturers. Across GM brands (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC), 69 percent of models had average or better reliability. Cadillac improved the most, rising seven places from last year's ranking. Chevrolet had its best showing in years; 83 percent of models had average or better scores in predicted reliability, up from 50 percent.
Photo: Ford Fusion Hybrid 2010
As a brand, Ford now outranks Mazda and Nissan and ranks just below Lexus. Ford vehicles are tops for reliability in two categories: family cars (Fusion Hybrid) and large SUVs (Ford Flex EcoBoost).
"General Motors and Ford have taken different paths to improving reliability," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. "Some of GM's redesigned vehicles have scored well. The company has also dropped many of its below-average models. Ford has put its emphasis on fine-tuning existing platforms and limiting the number of new-model introductions."
None of Chrysler Corporation's models score above average. With Fiat's acquisition of Chrysler, many of its products will either be replaced or redesigned in the near future.
Photo: Kia Sorento
Despite recent safety recalls, Toyota models, including those from Scion and Lexus, remained among the most reliable and earned top scores in five vehicle categories: small cars (Yaris), midsized SUVs (FJ Cruiser), luxury SUVs (Lexus LX), minivans (Sienna V6, FWD), and full-size pickups (Tundra V6). The redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, hurt by antilock brake problems on early vehicles, scored only average.
Honda and Acura are among the top four brands along with Porsche and Scion, with their models topping five vehicle categories -- upscale cars (Acura TL, FWD) , luxury cars (Acura RL), small SUVs (CR-V), upscale compact SUVs (Acura RDX) and compact pickups (Ridgeline).
Hyundai and Kia continued to do well, with only one model, the Kia Sedona minivan, rated below average. Nissan's mainstream models scored well. Subaru had a good record overall.
Photo: The new 2012 Volkswagen Eos hard top convertible will be unveiled to the public for the first time on November 17 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with market introduction in early spring of 2011.
All Porsche and Volvo models are rated average or better. But Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are among the worst automakers overall in terms of reliability, indicates the survey. BMW had a bad year, with five of its 11 models scoring below average. Six of Mercedes-Benz's 13 models were below average, and the GLK SUV was far below average. However, the redesigned E350 sedan was above average. Nearly three-quarters of the Audi models Consumer Reports analyzed were below average. Volkswagen did better, with its Golf, formerly the Rabbit, doing very well and the various Jetta models scoring average or better.
The Porsche Boxster has the best predicted reliability score in Consumer Reports survey, while the Audi A6 3.0T and Jaguar XF have the worst.
Findings are based on responses on 1.3 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its Web site, www.ConsumerReports.org . The survey was conducted in the spring of 2010 by Consumer Reports' National Survey Research Center and covered model years 2001 to 2010.
Full reliability history charts and predicted-reliability ratings on hundreds of 2011 models, plus a list of what's up and what's down, best and worst models, and a comparison chart of brands can be found online at www.ConsumerReports.org, in the December issue and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst New Cars for 2011, on sale November 16, 2010.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:21 AM | Link to this Post
August 10, 2010
Britain's Paul Bonhomme wins the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Photo: Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain in action during Race Day during Round 6 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 8, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action during Qualifying for Round 6 the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 7, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Matthias Dolderer of Germany in action during Qualifying for Round 6 the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 7, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Peter Besenyei of Hungary in action during Qualifying for Round 6 the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 7, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Playboy bunnies walk in hangar lane during Qualifying Round 6 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 7, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Martin Sonka of Czech Republic takes off during Qualifying for Round 6 the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 7, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action during Race Day for Round 6 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 8, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain celebrates winning the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 8, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Members of the support team of Hannes Arch of Austria watch Qualifying for Round 6 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 8, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Yoshihide Muroya of Japan in action during Round 6, training day 2 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 6, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Nicolas Ivanoff of France pushes his plane during Round 6, training day 1 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 5, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Kirby Chambliss of USA in action during Round 6, training day 1 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at the Eurospeedway, Lausitz on August 5, 2010 in Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Britain's Paul Bonhomme won the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship by taking second place behind Austria's Hannes Arch in the final race of the season at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany on Sunday, August 8, 2010.
In another thrilling duel, Australia's Matt Hall got the third podium of his career with third place in the 50th race in the sport's history while Germany's Matthias Dolderer finished seventh to the delight of the big home crowd. A total of 118,000 spectators watched the racing this weekend.
• Bonhomme, who also won the 2009 championship, finished the six-race season with 64 points and two victories, in Abu Dhabi and New York. Arch, the 2008 champion, ends the year with 60 points and four wins, in Perth, Rio, Windsor and Germany. Britain's Nigel Lamb ended up third overall on 55 points.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:36 AM | Link to this Post
July 29, 2010
Macy's, Madonna, and Iconix Brand Group Launch New Junior Brand: Material Girl
Madonna and Iconix Brand Group, Inc. have announced their Fall 2010 marketing campaign for their newly created junior brand Material Girl, available exclusively at Macy's.
The multi-media marketing campaign features actress and musician, Taylor Momsen, and will appear nationwide USA in print, cinema, outdoor, online and in-store.
Madonna said, "Taylor has a cool sense of style that's unique and fits with the Material Girl look."
"I'm psyched to be the face of Material Girl! For one, it's Madonna so you know it's gonna be cool and working with Madonna and Lola has been an unbelievable experience. They have such great sense of style, each brought their personal touch to the styling for the campaign," Momsen stated. "A Material Girl can be anyone you want, it's all about making the style your own, that's what is cool about it."
Photo: Actress and musician, Taylor Momsen, appears in the fall multi-media marketing campaign for the newly created junior's brand Material Girl, which will debut exclusively available at Macy's starting on August 3rd. Taylor was recently revealed as the celebrity muse for the brand, chosen by Madonna and her daughter Lola. The campaign was shot in Brooklyn, New York by famed photographer Tom Munro.
The collection will launch exclusively in select 200 Macy's stores across USA and on www.macys.com on August 3rd for the back-to-school season. To support the launch, a national advertising campaign will appear in August and September issues of fashion, lifestyle and entertainment magazines such as Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Nylon and Cosmopolitan.
Martine Reardon, executive vice president of marketing, Macy's, stated, "The star power of this line-up is remarkable -- fashion designed with Madonna and Lola, a trend-setting celebrity like Taylor as the muse, and an iconic brand like Macy's as the exclusive retailer. The 'Material Girl' teaser campaign has created great buzz about the launch of this brand, and we are excited to unveil the full effort as we gear up for the official launch on August 3rd."
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:38 AM | Link to this Post
July 25, 2010
Real Madrid to play Club America
Spanish Soccer Giant to Play Club America on August 4 in San Francisco.
World's top soccer club, Real Madrid, will face-off against Mexico's Club America in San Francisco on August 4, 2010.
This announcement was made by the event organizers/sponsors -- World Entertainment Sport Promotions, Marquez Brothers Entertainment, and El Mexicano Brand Cheeses.
Photo: Sergio Ramos of Spain shoots at the goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sergio Ramos plays for Spain and also for Spanish club Real Madrid. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Sergio Ramos of Spain misses to reach the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Paraguay and Spain at Ellis Park Stadium on July 3, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sergio Ramos plays for Spain and also for Spanish club Real Madrid. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo (center), plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo currently holds the distinction of being the most expensive player in football history after being transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid.
Photo: Kaka of Brazil and Mark Van Bommel of the Netherlands compete for the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Netherlands and Brazil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on July 2, 2010 in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Kaka is a Brazilian football midfielder who currently plays for Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
Real Madrid announced the team roster for the 2010 USA Tour and the list includes their entire squad that features the following international soccer superstars:
• SERGIO RAMOS - Spain national team
• CRISTIANO RONALDO - Captain of Portugal's National Team
• KAKA - Brazil national team
• IKER CASILLAS - Captain - Spain's national team, goalkeeper
• ANGEL DI MARIA - Argentina national team
• XABI ALONSO - Spanish national team
• GONZALO HIGUAIN - Argentina national team
• RAFAEL VAN DER VAART - Vice captain - Netherlands national Team
• ALVARO ARBELOA - Spain national team
• FERNANDO GAGO - Spain national team
• MAHAMADOU DIARRA - Captain of Mali national team
• LASSANA DIARRA - France national team
• KARIM BENZEMA - France national Team
Real Madrid is widely considered to be the world's top soccer club.
Real Madrid is led by legendary new coach Jose Mourinho, who won the 2010 Champions League as head coach of Inter Milan. Mourinho is nicknamed and is known to soccer fans worldwide as "The Special One".
Real Madrid has won 30 league Championships, 17 Spanish Copa del Rey titles and 9 European Cup/Champions League titles.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:43 AM | Link to this Post
July 17, 2010
American Woman, Alison Levine, Completes the 'Adventure Grand Slam'
Photo: Alison Levine made history by completing the Adventure Grand Slam.
Photo: Alison Levine at the South Pole, which was just one stop on her bid to complete the Adventure Grand Slam.
Photo: Alison Levine completes her 38-day arduous South Pole trek by skiing 10 hours a day in sub-zero temperatures with a sled containing 150 lbs of gear and supplies harnessed to her waist.
• Adventurer Alison Levine made history by completing the Adventure Grand Slam -- climbing the highest peak on each continent (Denali, Aconcagua, Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Vinson Massif, Carstensz Pyramid, Everest) and skiing to both the North and South Poles.
"Fewer than 300 people have succeeded in climbing to the summit of the highest peak of every continent. Very few of those people have also reached the two poles, completing the Adventure Grand Slam," said Harry Kikstra, director of 7summits.com.
Alison has survived some of the most challenging environmental conditions known to man and is a sought-after consultant and lecturer. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point where she teaches cadets about leading teams in extreme environments.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:57 AM | Link to this Post
July 16, 2010
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SUNDAY FUNNIES: COMIC STRIPS DEBUT ON STAMPS
The U.S. Postal Service celebrated five newspaper comic strips by dedicating the Sunday Funnies stamps today. The 44-cent First-Class stamps honor comic strips: Archie, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes.
"The strips, as well as their characters, may have changed over the years, yet each remains an enduring classic," said U.S. Postal Service. "Like stamps, comic strips often tell a story through humor, adventure, fantasy and sometimes even drama."
Source: U.S. Postal Service
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:39 PM | Link to this Post
June 20, 2010
RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
Photo: Nicolas Ivanoff of France in action on the Detroit River during the Red Bull Air Race Training day on June 3, 2010 in Windsor, Canada. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Race Day on June 20, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain celebrates his 1st Place after the Red Bull Air Race New York Race Day on June 20, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Qualifying Day on June 19, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Nicolas Ivanoff of France in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Qualifying Day on June 19, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Adilson Kindlemann (C) of Brazil is pictured at the Race Airport during the Red Bull Air Race Calibration Day on June 16, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Training Day on June 18, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Sergey Rakhmanin of Russia in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Qualifying Day on June 19, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Hannes Arch of Austria in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Qualifying Day on June 19, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
• Paul Bonhomme of Britain won the first-ever Red Bull Air Race in New York on Sunday with a scintillating performance under pressure in front of the most spectacular setting in the eight-year history of the sport.
Nigel Lamb of Great Britain took second place in a thrilling four-way battle between the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan while American Kirby Chambliss got his second straight podium with third place.
Bonhomme, the defending champion, prevailed in front of a huge crowd of 75,000 spectators watching from both sides of the Hudson River and a live U.S. television audience with one superb run after another through three pressure-packed rounds.
Bonhomme had finished behind Hannes Arch of Austria for the last three races and was desperate to get back on top after the Team Abu Dhabi racer cut his lead in the championship to just one point. Arch pushed Bonhomme to his limits but saw his three-race winning streak shattered in dramatic fashion when he hit a pylon in the final 4 ending any hope of a podium finish.
Bonhomme stopped the clock at 1:10.01, the day's fastest time on the 5.5-km track of 13 Air Gates set up on the majestic Hudson River between the Statue of Liberty and New York's breathtaking skyline.
Bonhomme had been the epitome of consistency with times of 1:10.09 in the Top 12 round and 1:10.07 in the Super 8 before lowering the mark again to 1:10.01 in the final. That was a full 2.05 seconds faster than Lamb and 2.08 faster than Chambliss of the USA. Hannes Arch of Austria was 5.34 back -- hurt by the six-second penalty for hitting the pylon.
It was Bonhomme's 12th straight podium, a record, and he now leads the championship with 53 points while Arch is second overall with 48 points. Team Breitling's Nigel Lamb is third on 47 and Chambliss has 35.
"It's very good, and what a setting," Bonhomme said. "I can appreciate the view now that I've finished racing. Great day. I concentrated on me, my airplane and the track. And now I think we can celebrate a bit." Lamb, who got his third second-place finish this year after getting the same result in Abu Dhabi and Rio de Janeiro, called it "a fantastic result". Chambliss, the 2006 world champion, was delighted to be on the podium in his home race. "As an American, I'm very, very proud," he said. "It'll sink-in in a while. I have to personally thank Hannes for hitting that gate. Thank you Hannes!"
Arch was gracious in defeat on the biggest stage in the 49-race history of the Red Bull Air Race, a city where organizers have dreamed of staging a race since the world's fastest growing motorsport was launched in 2003. It has been a FAI recognized world championship competition since 2005. Arch said he pulled out the stops to try to beat Bonhomme and get what would have been a record fourth straight victory and just barely hit the Air Gate, an inflatable pylon that he clipped with his wing.
"It was a good run," said Arch, the 2008 champion. "It was just a couple of centimeters that made the difference. I would rather lose here like that in style, going for it, than completely screw it up. So I think those guys in front of me owe me a beer."
The New York race was the fifth in the eight-race championship. It was a bit of a disappointment for the other American, Michael Goulian. The man from Massachusetts finished seventh. Pete McLeod of Canada, by contrast, had an excellent race and finished fifth to move up to fifth place in the championship with 29 points.
Photo: Nigel Lamb of Great Britain in action during the Red Bull Air Qualifying Day on May 8, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Peter Besenyei of Hungary looks on at the Race Airport during the Red Bull Air Race Calibration Day on June 16, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: A general view of the Race Airport during the Red Bull Air Race Training Day Two on April 16, 2010 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Fans on the beach watch Michael Goulian of USA in action during the Red Bull Air Qualifying Day on May 8, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Matt Hall of Australia looks at a competitors plane at the Race Airport during the Red Bull Air Race Calibration Day on June 16, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Peter Besenyei of Hungary in action on the Detroit River during the Red Bull Air Race Training day on June 3, 2010 in Windsor, Canada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Matt Hall of Australia in action on the Hudson River during the Red Bull Air Race New York Training Day on June 18, 2010 in New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Matthias Dolderer of Germany in action during the Red Bull Air Race Training Day on May 6, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
Photo: Hannes Arch of Austria celebrates his victory in the Red Bull Air Race Day on May 9, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race. © 2010 Getty Images.)
• Just five years since it was officially launched, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has evolved to become the most exhilarating motor sport on the planet. A combination of agility, high speed and extreme maneuverability, the low altitude competition demands exceptional flying skill from the world's most talented pilots.
8 races will take place on 5 continents in 2010.
RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - RACE CALENDAR 2010
1. 26/27 March Abu Dhabi, UAE
2. 17/18 April Perth, Australia
3. 8/9 May Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. 5/6 June Windsor, Canada
5. 19/20 June New York, USA
6.7/8 August EuroSpeedway, Lausitz, Germany
7. 19/20 August Budapest, Hungary
8. 4/5 September Lisbon, Portugal
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:07 AM | Link to this Post
June 16, 2010
Longines Prize for Elegance 2010
Photo: Gustavo Kuerten (Winner of 2000 French Open) receiving the Longines Prize for Elegance from the Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
After the exhibition match that rounded up the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament, Longines organized a charity dinner to raise funds for the charity organizations run by its two ambassadors of elegance Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf.
The Indian actress and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the two winners of the French Open at Roland Garros in 2000 - Mary Pierce and Gustavo Kuerten - were among the 400 guests from all around the world at this elegant dinner in Paris, France.
During the evening the famous Swiss watchmaker presented the Longines Prize for Elegance to Gustavo Kuerten in recognition of his work with disadvantaged children, notably through his foundation, the Instituto Guga Kuerten.
The 3-time winner of Roland-Garros was presented with the Longines Prize for Elegance by the Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaker Longines has been timekeeper for world championships in various sports. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:56 AM | Link to this Post
June 13, 2010
World's Fastest Yacht, Esimit Europa 2, Officially Launched in Cannes, France
CANNES, FRANCE: The highly anticipated Esimit Europa 2 yacht has been introduced to the global audience at its christening ceremony, which was attended by numerous business leaders and project supporters.
• The 30-meter long and 44-meter high giant is the fastest yacht in the world.
Under the patronage of Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, the yacht is building upon its 15-year tradition of connecting European nations.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Slovenian Igor Simcic, the yacht's owner and Esimit Europa project General Manager, outlined the team's goals, which will compete in the 5 most prestigious European regattas as an ambassador of the European Energy movement.
The 26-member crew will man one of world's most advanced yachts. The plan is to achieve an overall victory in all attended regattas. "Nothing in the Esimit Europa project is left to coincidence. Representing the entire Europe is a great honor and a great responsibility. I am glad that the yacht has become a symbol for the united Europe, a symbol that is sorely lacking. Each victory will therefore strengthen the pride in being a European and we will not be ashamed to raise the European flag as we cross the finish line," briefly explained Igor Simcic.
Source: Esimit Europa
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:23 AM | Link to this Post
June 12, 2010
FIFA World Cup and the Economy: ING Studies Correlation Between the Two
Photo: General view during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Brazilians Would pay Most for World Cup Title
Brazilians would be willing to pay more than 800 euros each in exchange for the World Cup football title. Together with the Portuguese (368 euros), they would be prepared to dig deepest into their pockets in exchange for the World Cup glory. At 47 euros a head the Dutch are more frugal, but still more generous than the Germans or Japanese. Brazilians are also the most optimistic about their chances, with nearly three out of four people surveyed believing the 'divine canaries' will take the title. Other countries also see Brazil as hot favourites, with only the Argentineans and the Spaniards believing they have a better chance of winning than the Brazilians. To support their national teams, consumers will be buying masses of fan gear over the next few weeks. On average the French and English will spend 15 euros each, with the Spanish buying more than 27 euros worth of gear and souvenirs. These are some of the findings of a comprehensive study by ING into the correlation between the World Cup and the economy.
Photo: Steven Pienaar of South Africa and Gerardo Torrado of Mexico compete for the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Impact of the World Cup on the economy
As the main sponsor of the Dutch national squad, ING is launching various initiatives in connection with the World Cup. One of these is the 'ING WK-nomie' (ING World Cup-onomics) study. Charles Kalshoven, chief economist at the ING Economic Bureau Retail Netherlands: "The further the Dutch go, the better it will be for the Dutch economy. A similar effect can be seen in other participating countries. The impact of the World Cup can be felt in the workplace and in shops, but also in consumer confidence and spending."
Photo: Giovani Dos Santos of Mexico controls the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Sacrificing days off to win the World Cup
In the Netherlands one in every five people would be prepared to give up more than a full working week in days off in exchange for winning the World Cup. As with putting a price tag on winning the World Cup, most other countries are more generous in this respect. In Brazil and Argentina, 72% and 79% of the population, respectively, would be willing to sacrifice days off. On average they would gladly lose three full working weeks of holidays in exchange for winning the title. In contrast, the Japanese and Americans would be less prepared to give up their days off.
Photo: Thierry Henry (R) of France takes a shot at goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between Uruguay and France at Green Point Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Anglo countries watch fewer World Cup games
Enthusiasm for the World Cup differs from country to country. For example, 58% of Americans say they will not be watching any World Cup games. Remarkably, a large percentage of people in other English-speaking countries - England (42%), Australia (43%) - will not be watching games either. Many fans in Mexico and Portugal watch the games in bars (28% and 26%, respectively), whereas Portuguese people prefer watching the games at home and Brazilians get together with family and friends.
To underpin their support for their national teams, people are stocking up on fan gear. On average the Dutch are spending 5 euros while the French and English are buying 15 euros worth of gear per person. The Spanish are spending even more: on average 27 euros each.
Photo: Nicolas Anelka of France and Diego Lugano of Uruguay compete for the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between Uruguay and France at Green Point Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images)
• Social significance of football
The way that people experience the World Cup and the value they attach to winning it appear to be linked to the social significance a country attaches to football. ING asked people in 12 participating countries which career they would ideally choose for their sons. Brazilians (39%) and Argentineans (32%) dream most of a professional football career for their sons, followed by Spaniards and Mexicans (both 29%). This preference was the weakest in Germany and Japan at a mere 7%. The Dutch would most like to see their sons become company executives (61%), with a professional football career in third place (13%) - still well ahead of a career as a movie star (4%) or Prime Minister (only 2%).
Photo: Singer Shakira poses for photographs during Sony World Cup Opening 3D Launch Show at Nelson Mandela Square on June 8, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images for Sony. © 2010 Getty Images).
• Brazilians and Spaniards most confident about own chances
Brazilians are most confident about their own team with nearly three-quarters of the people surveyed expecting the 'divine canaries' to take the cup home. Brazil are also hot favourites with people surveyed in other countries. Only Argentina and Spain believe they have a better chance of winning than Brazil.
On average, Spaniards give themselves a 58% chance of taking the cup home. Argentineans also have faith in their national squad and think they have a 48% chance of winning for the first time since 1986. The Dutch give their squad a 34% chance of success. Remarkably the Mexicans have more faith in the Dutch team than the Dutch do, while Italians are least convinced that the Dutch will hoist the trophy.
• ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin with more than 85 million customers in Europe, the US, Canada, Latin-America, Asia and Australia. ING Bank N.V. is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Source: ING
• The Castrol Predictor: Who will win the World Cup?
(Two of the world's most passionate footballing nations, Spain and Brazil, are favorites to go head to head in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final according to the Castrol Predictor, a new tool launched by 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) sponsor Castrol. The Castrol Predictor, uses objective analysis and highly advanced technology to offer unique insights into winning performances.)
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:56 AM | Link to this Post
May 28, 2010
Tackling City Challenges: IBM Unveils New 'Serious Game'
Photo: Elbphilharmonie -- Hamburg's New Landmark: During a Roofing ceremony on May 28 & 29, the northern German metropolis Hamburg presents with the "Elbphilharmonie" its new concert house to the public. More than 5,000 guests gain an insight into the making of this unique concert house. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, this magnificent building is to become Hamburg's new landmark. (Foto © Hamburg Marketing GmbH).
IBM has announced CityOne, a new "serious game" that can help customers, business partners and students discover how to make cities and their industries smarter by solving real-world business, environmental and logistical problems.
Based on decades of experience in solving business challenges in creative ways, IBM "serious" games are designed to train the workforce of tomorrow.
With an estimated one million people around the world moving into cities each week, experts predict population in the world's cities will double by 2050. Today cities consume an estimated 75 percent of the world's energy, emit more than 80 percent of greenhouse gases, and lose as much as 20 percent of their water supply due to infrastructure leaks. As their urban populations continue to grow and these metrics increase, civic leaders will face an unprecedented series of challenges as they modify their infrastructures to meet these challenges.
• In order for urban centers to sustain growth and play a positive and central role in the global economy, cities must grow smart.
With CityOne, IBM is providing a virtual environment that will help tomorrow's leaders learn how to apply advances in technology and better understand how these systems work.
• According to IBM, CityOne will be a no charge, "sim-style" game in which the player is tasked with guiding the city through a series of missions that include the Energy, Water, Banking and Retail industries.
For example, one mission involves a city where water usage has increased at twice the rate of population growth, supplies are becoming strained (and possibly polluted); the municipality is losing as much as 40 percent of its water supply through leaky infrastructure; and energy costs are steadily increasing. To complete this mission, the player would be challenged to institute a Water Management System that would include accurate real time data to make decisions on delivering the highest water quality in the most economical way.
Players who promote a more customer-centric business model to the banks represented in their city will discover how mobile payments, dynamic invoicing, and micro-lending can impact business goals. In all of the missions represented in the game, the player will need to determine the best way to invest to meet the financial, environmental and sociological goals of the city's industries while balancing their budgets and the needs of the citizenry. In parallel, players will learn how the components of service reuse, process management, cloud and collaborative technologies make business models more agile.
"Serious games allow professionals to inherently comprehend system interactions, and accurately model the potential business outcomes that can result, in a way that no other medium can do," said Nancy Pearson of IBM. "CityOne will simulate the challenges faced in a variety of industries so that businesses can explore a variety of solutions and explore the business impact before committing resources."
Source: IBM
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"Running a metropolis is different from but as tough, as vital, and as honorable as running a country."
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May 17, 2010
Los Angeles Premiere of DreamWorks Animation's 'Shrek Forever After'
Photo: Actors Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers arrive at the premiere of DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After" at Gibson Amphitheatre on May 16, 2010 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) © 2010 Getty Images.
[Shrek was a 2001 American animated comedy film. Based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!, the film was produced by DreamWorks Animation. Shrek was the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a category introduced in 2001.
The film stars Mike Myers as a big, strong, solitude-loving, intimidating ogre (a giant or monster in legends and fairy tales) named Shrek. Shrek also features Cameron Diaz as the beautiful but very down-to-earth and feisty Princess Fiona and Eddie Murphy as a talkative donkey named Donkey. The same actors appear in the same roles in the movie Shrek Forever After]
Photo: Actress Cheryl Hines (R) arrives at the premiere of DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After" at Gibson Amphitheatre on May 16, 2010 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) © 2010 Getty Images.
The Story of the New Film -- Shrek Forever After:
After challenging an evil dragon, rescuing a beautiful princess and saving your in-laws' kingdom, what's an ogre to do? Well, if you're Shrek, you suddenly wind up a domesticated family man. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. What's happened to this ogre's roar? Longing for the days when he felt like a "real ogre," Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking dealmaker, Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek suddenly finds himself in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now, it's up to Shrek to undo all he's done in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love.
Shrek Forever After opens in theaters on May 21, 2010.
• DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment meant for audiences around the world. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are now being produced in 3D.
Source: Paramount Pictures Corporation
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:18 AM | Link to this Post
May 15, 2010
Fashion at 2010 Cannes Film Festival, France
Photo: All that Shines. Guests at L'Atelier Renault. French Car Maker Renault, an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for 27 years, is marking its commitment to one of the world's most important cinema festivals. L'Atelier Renault is taking up residence in Cannes at the Majestic 63 beach. Photo © 2010 Renault.
Photos: Elsa Pataky is wearing Montblanc Bouquet Necklace and Eclat Earrings at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival in France. Photos © 2010 Montblanc.
Photo: Actress Fan Bing Bin wearing Cartier jewelry attends the "Robin Hood" Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images. © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Actress Aishwarya Rai with Swarovski "Mybag", a clutch in Crystal Mesh. "Mybag" features over 700 crystals to give it an incomparable shine.
Photo: Eva Longoria Parker attends the "Robin Hood" Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France. Eva Longoria is wearing de Grisogono jewelry. (Photo © 2010 Getty Images)
Photo: Aishwarya Rai on the Martinez Terrace -- Actress Aishwarya Rai wearing an Emilio Pucci dress on the Martinez Terrace during the 63rd Annual International Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage. © 2010 Venturelli)
Photo: Actress Fan Bing Bin at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival: May 13, 2010 - 'On Tour' Premiere. As it does every year, Renault is providing more than 100 vehicles to escort stars to the red carpet. (Photo by Stephane Kossmann).
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:41 AM | Link to this Post
May 9, 2010
KODAK Introduces New Consumer Digital Photography Products
Eastman Kodak Company has introduced new consumer digital photography products.
"We believe that the real 'KODAK Moment' happens when you share," said Betty Noonan, Director and Vice President, Business to Consumer Marketing, Kodak. "The simple act of sharing a picture can spark an emotion, encourage a smile, ignite a laugh or even elicit a tear. We put this important element at the forefront of our product designs to help people connect with one another, relive special memories and enrich their lives."
KODAK SLICE:
Photo: KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera Lets You Share and Relive Moments Instantly.
The KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera lets consumers carry a personal photo album worth sharing and reliving at all times. With a sleek and intuitive 3.5-inch touchscreen, and the KODAK SLICE Search Feature, consumers can find the pictures they want from up to 5,000 that can be stored on internal memory. Then, they can easily share those pictures right from the back of the camera.
"Kodak knows that consumers want the ability to share life's memories at a moment's notice, whether it's pictures that evoke a tear or just the funny everyday moments," said John Blake, General Manager, Digital Capture and Devices and Vice President, Kodak. "The power of sharing and reliving life's moments drove the development of our new SLICE Camera. It provides instant access to all of your KODAK Moments, and it's right at your fingertips."
KODAK PLAYSPORT:
Photo: The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is specifically designed for consumers with active lifestyles, allowing them to capture full 1080p HD video with the touch of a button.
The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is waterproof up to 10 feet and features built-in software and USB cable output so users can edit and easily share with family and friends through sites such as YouTube and Facebook. The KODAK PLAYSPORT also features electronic image stabilization and KODAK Imaging Science for sharper videos with vibrant colors and less blur.
The KODAK EASYSHARE M Digital Camera line makes it simpler for consumers to share their pictures with one touch of the Share Button. The cameras include Kodak's new Face Recognition feature so consumers can find the pictures they want, and Smart Capture feature so they can take the perfect shot in a variety of lighting conditions without worrying about camera settings. KODAK EASYSHARE M Digital Cameras come in a sleek and compact design, and are available in a variety of stylish colors.
KODAK EASYSHARE M530:
Photo: KODAK EASYSHARE M530 Digital Camera features 12MP, 3X Optical Zoom Lens, 2.7-inch bright LCD with KODAK Color Science technology, and more.
KODAK EASYSHARE M580:
Photo: KODAK EASYSHARE M580 Digital Camera features 14MP, 8X SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH VARIOGON Optical Zoom Wide Angle Lens, 3-inch Bright LCD with KODAK Color Science technology, HD video capture, built-in HDMI connector, and more.
KODAK EASYSHARE Z981:
Photo: The new KODAK EASYSHARE Z981 Digital Camera is where creativity and versatility come together. It zooms in faster, wider, and closer than ever, giving you sharp, steady shots.
Source: Eastman Kodak Company
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:20 AM | Link to this Post
May 6, 2010
Connect. Create. Entertain. Nokia Introduces New Smartphone -- N8
Nokia N8, Nokia's latest smartphone, intuitively connects to the people, places and services that matter most. With the Nokia N8, people can create content, connect to their favorite social networks and enjoy on-demand Web TV programs.
The Nokia N8 has a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and a large sensor. Additionally, the Nokia N8 offers the ability to make HD-quality videos and edit them with an built-in editing suite.
People can enjoy HD-quality video with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound by plugging into their home theatre system. Further, Nokia N8 enables access to Web TV services that deliver programs, news and entertainment from channels like CNN, E! Entertainment, Paramount and National Geographic.
Social networking is second nature to the Nokia N8. For example, people can update their status, share location and photos, and view live feeds from Facebook and Twitter in a single application directly on the home screen.
Nokia N8 comes with free global Ovi Maps walk and drive navigation, guiding people to places and points of interest in more than 70 countries worldwide.
• Nokia N8 would be available in select markets during the third quarter of 2010.
Source: Nokia Headquarters, Finland
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:15 AM | Link to this Post
May 1, 2010
Newest COVERGIRL: Taylor Swift
Photo: Taylor Swift strikes a pose on the set of her very first COVERGIRL print advertisement. (Procter & Gamble)
Taylor Swift, singer-songwriter and GRAMMY award-winner, has just finished shooting her first advertisements for the beauty giant P&G, and will represent a new line of luxury products for the brand COVERGIRL.
"With millions of fans worldwide, Swift has achieved remarkable success since first entering the country music scene in 2006," the company notes. "To date she has sold more than thirteen million albums and is the top-selling digital artist in music history. This year, her album FEARLESS won the GRAMMY Award for Album of the year."
"With her fresh beauty and authentic style, Taylor is a wonderful addition to the COVERGIRL family," said Vince Hudson, General Manager, COVERGIRL Cosmetics. "Through all her success, Taylor remains a grounded and sincere woman who connects with fans everywhere just by being true to who she is. She personifies the iconic image of the brand while representing the next generation of both inner and outer beauty."
Photo: Actress Dania Ramirez became the new face of COVERGIRL cosmetics in August 2009.
Photo: COVERGIRL Ana De La Reguera.
Photo: COVERGIRL Jaslene Gonzalez.
• P&G is one of the world's largest beauty and grooming companies with more than 100 brands available in nearly 130 countries. Since its introduction in 1961, the COVERGIRL brand has been "celebrating women's inner and outer beauty, and their drive to look and be their best selves".
Source: Procter & Gamble
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:55 AM | Link to this Post
April 27, 2010
FIFA World Cup 2010 Official Song: 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' by Shakira
Photo: FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment select "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira featuring Freshlyground as FIFA World Cup 2010(TM) Official Song.
• FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment today announced that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), written and co-produced by global superstar Shakira, has been chosen as the Official Song of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa.
Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter, entertainer and record producer who emerged as a musical prodigy in the music scene of Latin America in the early 1990s.
Based in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the world governing body of football, comprising 208 football associations grouped into six confederations. While, Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
The song will be performed by Shakira together with South African artist Freshlyground at the Closing Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup(TM) Final on July 11 in Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium. All proceeds from the song will benefit FIFA's Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) "20 Centers for 2010."
The song combines Afro-Colombian instrumentation and rhythms with a rousing Soca beat and Southern African guitar. The chorus borrows from a favorite Cameroonian marching chant made popular by the group Golden Voices.
"The Official Song is as much awaited by the fans as the Mascot or the Logo. It is part of the identity of the world's most exciting sport's event. This song is the personification of the African rhythm and identity and sets the pace for this unique event. I am looking forward to hear the song throughout the tournament and watch it performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the Final," said Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President.
"I am honored that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Shakira. "The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that's what this song is about."
The song will be launched on April 28, 2010.
Sources: Sony Music Entertainment, FIFA
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Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:34 PM | Link to this Post
