All posts by EPR Network

Business, Entertainment, Financial, Internet & Online, Media, Music, Social Media, Society, Technology, Travel

New Online Social Network Offers Revolutionary WEsharesTM to its Members

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What do you get out of online social networks? Probably nothing more than just that: Online social networking. A multi-billion dollar corporation is allowing you to communicate with others while using all your information to make huge profits. Not only are you helping them make loads of money from advertising, but you are guaranteeing that a few people make a lot of money off your efforts.

ExpatOdyssey.com is a new online social network that goes against this business model. We also want to make a few bucks, but we want you to share in the success. We want to share something sustainable, unique, and revolutionary. ExpatOdyssey wants to give you more than a few pointless prizes or vouchers. Let us help you help yourself!

You’re probably wondering how this works because it sounds a little too good to be true. Simple. You become a member and use ExpatOdyssey to do what you usually do on online social networks. However, this is the point at which ExpatOdyssey.com is completely different. You are also an actual owner. The moment you sign up, you are awardedWEsharesTM. You are contributing to the website by being a member, so you deserve a reward. Every time you upload photographs, invite friends, create forums, or any one of the innumerable things you can do on ExpatOdyssey, you accumulate WEsharesTM. Like shares in a company, they represent what percentage of ExpatOdyssey.com you own.

Carlo Jacobs, Founder of ExpatOdyssey.com comments: “When the Occupy Wall Street movement began, my wife and I decided that the time was finally right for a venture that included and benefitted everyone, the 99% who have been left behind. We decided not to accept venture capitalists to create ExpatOdyssey.com or any large investors and struggled along with some meagre savings. A few friends heard about our novel idea and invested some money so that ExpatOdyssey.com could be shared with everyone out there. From that point onwards, we knew that our decision for all members to have the opportunity to get or earn Free WEsharesTM, or invest, was the right one.”

In fact, ExpatOdyssey.com has made investment so accessible to everyone that if they want, members can invest from as little as $5 with WEshares currently priced at only 0.1cents per WEshare. We are all passionate about changing the current status quo, or at least doing our part to make a significant difference and giving everyone the chance to own a piece of the future. Businesses usually offer shares when the price is already unattainable. Instead ExpatOdyssey.com is giving everyone the chance to get a piece of the pie at the beginning when it matters most! What’s more is that because our members are owners, we listen to our members’ suggestions, what they want and need and as a result, over time, ExpatOdyssey.com will end up being the world’s best online social network.

-Ends-

About ExpatOdyssey
ExpatOdyssey was founded at the end of 2010 with the purpose of creating a platform for Expats and holiday makers to manage work, play and relaxation. It is not only a social network, but also has blogging, community fan pages, business directory pages, online TVand links to important information in major cities around the world, all contributed by members and businesses that join. We will even have online social shopping, and coming soon, a very unique email system. It is revolutionary and the first website of this kind to emerge. Expatoddyssey consolidates innumerable online application features into one easy-to-use website with a clear focus on the expat per geographical area. Members can also be part owners and attain financial reward with WEsharesTM for the time they would have spent online anyway.

PR Contact:

Sheridene Oersen
Partner
80 Strand, Suite 206, 2nd Floor, 80 Strand Street, Cape Town, 8001
00821047364435
http://expatodyssey.com/

Advertising, Business, Internet & Online, Marketing, Media, Small Business, Social Media

SearchCatalyst Highlights Why Duplicate Web Content is Bad for Small Businesses

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Duplicate web page content is bad for any website because it greatly affects SEO, but SearchCatalyst, an SEO agency dealing exclusively in small business Internet marketing, says it is particularly bad news for small businesses.

Aside from negatively impacting on a user’s online experience, duplicate content is particularly disastrous for SEO. It affects the site’s credibility, which is one of the most important ways a site can rank highly, organically, on search engines like Google. Google ranks sites based on several criteria, each of which is built into its complicated search algorithm. Relevancy is the most important – does the site list content relevant to the search query? – but credibility is a close second.

However, this issue affects all businesses, big and small. An issue that is more likely to affect small businesses, or expanding ones in the processes of upgrading their websites and online presence comes down to duplicate content on developer sites. Quite often web developer domains – where developers work on websites – are indexed by Google. Developers can be completely unaware they have created duplicate content but as websites take a few months to develop they can sit on developer domains for a while and the duplicate pages will negatively affect search rankings on Google.

This generally impacts small businesses to a greater extent than larger companies because they don’t have the scope and finances to implement new pages quickly.

Google’s algorithms are highly sophisticated and can filter out sites that have duplicate content. Some may be labelled as spam as a result, whilst others will just be listed much lower down on the SERPs. Google has become much better at detecting duplicate content since the Panda algorithm update, which all small businesses and developers should be aware of.

SearchCatalyst offers affordable SEO services to small businesses looking to boost organic search rankings and gain greater online exposure at minimal cost.

-ENDS-

SearchCatalyst contact details:
Brendon Johnson
Level 14, The Broadgate Tower,
Primrose St,
London, EC2A 2EW
www.searchcatalyst.co.uk
contact@searchcatalyst.co.uk
+44 (0)20 3326 1800

Consumer Services, Human Resources, Law, Society

Employment Law Reforms Announced to Shake Up the Work Place and Encourage Businesses to Hire Again, reports Thomas Mansfield

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Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced reforms to the UK’s employment laws that make it easier for employers to dismiss under-performing employees. The amended laws include settlement agreements which will give employers the opportunity to pay-off under-performing staff to prevent future claims of unfair dismissal. Although workers are not obliged to accept a pay-off, if they do so it will be legally protected and as such cannot be brought up as evidence in a future court case or tribunal.

At the same time, the maximum limit for a pay out for unfair dismissal is being reduced. It currently stands at £72,300, but MPs want this reduced to a maximum of 12 months’ salary. The aim is to encourage employers, particularly small and medium sized firms, to employ more people.

Critics say the proposals only benefit employers and remove rights from workers, but many employers, particularly smaller firms, should find some benefits, including savings of time and resources, and greater security.

Thomas Mansfield, employment solicitors London based, points out these new settlement agreements are pretty much the same as the existing compromise agreement system. Currently employees and employers can come to a specific agreement over a financial pay out from the employer in return for the employee bringing no claims against the employer in the future. Free legal representation is offered as part of this package, and Thomas Mansfield predicts it will be included in the new settlement agreements too.

The UK’s legal system is a confusing one and often beyond the reach of the ordinary worker. Thomas Mansfield is well placed to provide advice, support and representation on matters relating to employment law, including unfair dismissal and employment tribunals. It predicts the new rules are bound to cause further confusion among both employers and employees and advises anyone confused by the new laws to seek out legal advice when necessary.

– Ends –

Thomas Mansfield contact details:
Neill Thomas
35 Artillery Lane,
London
E1 7LP
http://www.thomasmansfield.com/
info@thomasmansfield.com
020 7377 2829

Business, Electronics, Industrial, Technology

Line Generators for Machine Vision Offer Improved Performance

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Coherent Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) has introduced a new range of diode-laser based line generators which deliver enhanced flexibility, unique output optimization capabilities, and extended lifetimes. This series of new line generators, called the StingRay, will enable the construction of faster and more accurate machine vision systems that utilize 3D triangulation. The   StingRay series mates a diode laser with high performance electronics and precision, refractive optics for collimation and line generation covering the widest available range of fan angles. They also incorporate optional diffractive elements for creating complex output patterns.  StingRay models are available with output powers as high as 200 mW and at key wavelengths throughout the 450 nm to 1550 nm spectral range, including the popular 450 nm, 520 nm, 635 nm, and 660 nm lines.

StingRay lasers are the first to feature an industry leading, line intensity non-uniformity down to ±5% in a standard product. This high uniformity reduces the need for image post-processing, and translates directly into increased measurement speed and dimensional accuracy. StingRay lasers are also unique in offering external user focusable optics, which allow the laser line to be precisely optimized for the exact distance over which it is projected.  Additionally, the StingRay’s optomechanical design permits “dynamic line balancing,” enabling simple correction of any intensity bias in configurations where the laser must be used at off axis illumination angles. To further enhance usability, Stingray lasers also include an internal “health monitor” that indicates when a diode module is approaching end of life, thus allowing for planned replacement, and avoiding production downtime due to an unexpected failure.

About Coherent
Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a world leader in providing laser-based solutions such as laser cutters and laser measurement tools to the commercial and scientific research markets. Please direct any questions to Wallace Latimer, product line manager, at (503) 454-5826. For more information about Coherent, including product and financial updates, visit our website at http://www.Coherent.com.

Consumer Services, Education, Internet & Online, Society, Technology

The Learning Genome Project unveils a new solution to personalized education through crowd sourcing

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Educator Kelly Tenkely invites educators, parents and investors around the world to join in personalizing education.

Due to an increased disenfranchisement with the education system, Colorado educator, Kelly Tenkely, recognized the need for a product that would honor the uniqueness of children by personalizing learning. Kelly created the Learning Genome Project to fulfill this need.

“Every child deserves to be met right where they are in learning, rather than expected to fit a one-size-fits-all solution. In our society, we have managed to customize everything from ringtones to coffee, why should learning be different?” Said the Learning Genome Project creator, Kelly Tenkely.

The Learning Genome makes personalized learning available to children around the world by:
* Gathering information about an individual child including: their unique interests/passions, learning style preferences, multiple intelligence strengths, brain dominance, and maturation level.
* Crowdsourcing the tagging of both free, as well as premium, education resources and curriculum with hundreds of learning attributes (the ‘genes’ of learning).
* Matching resources and curriculum to students, recommending the materials that best meet their needs and creating a custom learning map for each child.
* Utilizing an open API so that schools, parents, and districts can build additional functionality to meet their specific needs.

This is the Learning Genome Project’s free “hub” that makes personalized learning available to every child.

Said Kelly, “Every child, regardless of their economic situation, deserves an education that is tailored to them. Society benefits when we help kids learn how to best utilize their unique gifts and passions.”

Premium features of the Learning Genome Project will include:
* A student information system
* An e-portfolio
* A teacher and student planner
* Blogging tools
* An e-learning center
* An individual learning map for each child

The premium features will work seamlessly with the Learning Genome hub giving students, teachers, and parents a complete solution to personalized learning.

The Learning Genome Project is seeking crowd-sourced funding through Indiegogo and will use the $85,000 raised to begin programming. The project has 45 days to raise the funds and can be found here: http://www.indiegogo.com/thelearninggenomeproject?c=home&a=1232629

In addition to her work on the Learning Genome Project, Kelly Tenkely is an educator, a prolific education blogger, and created a new educational model. This model is put into practice at Anastasis Academy, a school that Kelly co-founded that is just beginning its 2nd year in operation.

Contact Details: Kelly Tenkely
303-807-3012
ktenkely@gmail.com
http://www.indiegogo.com/thelearninggenomeproject?c=home&a=1232629
http://thelearninggenomeproject.com
http://ilearntechnology.com
http://dreamsofeducation.wordpress.com
http://anastasisacademy.us

Environment, Government, Industrial, Media, Small Business, Society

IL 1st Congressional District Don Peloquin Voters Rush To Oust Bobby

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The Republicans rush to derail the Metra’s $141 million Englewood Flyover Project hasn’t deterred the supporters of Don Peloquin; they’re climbing aboard his “Time For Change” campaign like a freight train.

Well know n for his hands on “let’s get this going attitude” and 25 productive years as mayor of Blue Island IL., the people of the newly redistricted 1 st Congressional District are rushing to get Bobby out. They’re not forgetful of how Don helped elect the first Hispanic and Afro-American Alderman for the city of Blue Island and they don’t want the Chicago City Politicians in charge of their districts destiny.

The most significant increase in Don’s voter support have been from many of those who are now affected by the redistricting. Many didn’t even realize the impact of it until Don woke them up with his “Unless you want all for Chicago and nothing for the suburbs and our rural areas, you’d had better get out and vote for a change. This rush to get Bobby out is more of a community need than a party vote.

New to the 1 st district, Will County residents are waking up fast and have become a large voice for the Don Peloquin “Time For Change” campaign. They don’t call it Insight, it’s hindsight, either way you slice it, being controlled by the “tentacles of Cook County politics” has never benefitted the suburban and rural areas, it’s like being robbed of our rights to live outside of the city. They even wrote and signed their own “Declaration of Independence” a Grass Roots “We The People” approach to nothing less than inciting a large scale riot in the Burbs in order to affect change.

The buzz and the chatter in some of the most highly read online communities likepatch.com is really heating up, and these pro Don Peloquin “Time For Change” discussions have taken on a flavor with some spice, like “Caliente”, it’s that hot.

It’s all about “Get Out And Vote” Know the Dates

Sept. 27:  First day mail ballots will be sent out

Oct. 9:  Last day to register to vote

Oct. 10:  First day of grace period registration and voting

Oct. 22: First day of early voting

Nov. 1: Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters

Nov. 3: Last day of early voting; last day of grace period registration and voting

Nov. 4:  In-person absentee voting begins at the Clerk’s downtown Chicago office

Nov. 5:  Postmark deadline for absentee ballots; last day of in-person absentee voting at the Clerk’s downtown Chicago office and five suburban courthouse mini-centers

Nov. 6: General election

The Time For Change Independent Voice: Dedicated To Public Announcements That Affect Our Suburban and Rural Life. We simply state what’s before us from the eyes and ears of those affected. Get Out And Vote For A Change, Visit www.peloquinforcongress.com and read for yourself.

Business, Consumer Services, Industrial, Media, Software, Sports

Five year print partnership for Balreed and global golf tournament

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Balreed to provide all print technology and support to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships for the fifth year running.

It may be known to many professional golfers as the ‘Home of Golf’ but to Balreed, St. Andrews Golf Course is a ‘home away from home’.

Once again Balreed has been chosen by the organisers of the world-renowned golf championship, played at St Andrews, as the official supplier of print and document technology.

This is the fifth year the event will rely on Balreed throughout the four-day tournament to provide and support print, copy and scan devices to media tents, European tour offices and tournament offices across all three courses that the event plays on.

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a magnet for golfers from every corner of the world. It has a unique format and incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers with a US$5 million prize fund, and a team competition which features some of the most celebrated amateur golfers playing alongside the professionals.

Lee Westwood leads the British challenge for the title this year, and many of the world’s leading international players will be there to compete with him. In the amateur ranks the playing roster is sure to include some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment, sport and business. Michael Douglas, Samuel L Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Hugh Grant and Dennis Quaid have all shared the fairways in previous years with sporting greats like Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Bobby Charlton, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Ruud Gullit, Johan Cruyff and Nigel Mansell so expectations of the 2012 field are very high.

The tournament starts on Thursday 4th October and will play over three championship Scottish courses: The Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Balreed’s support extends to all three courses and staff will be on site throughout the build-up and the tournament itself to help organisers prepare and manage the event.

Balreed’s Managing Director Robin Stanton-Gleaves commented: “When we were first selected to provide print support to the event five years ago we were thrilled, and even more so to be invited back the following year, it was a testament to our hard work. So to still be the chosen print partner five years later is a sincere compliment to all the Balreed team and we will continue to do what we have been doing which is careful planning and precise execution, providing service to the highest standard to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.”

About Balreed Digitec
Balreed Digitec is one of the UK’s leading independent providers of document and print technology and services. Established in 1977, Balreed is now one of the fastest growing solution providers in the industry, providing tailored systems which combine the best hardware and software technology from market leading manufacturers with Balreed’s unique pro-active remote managed service.

Contact Details: Gary Downey
Group Marketing Director
Balreed Digitec
Email: gary.downey@balreed.com
Mobile: 07889 411562
Website: http://www.balreed.com/

Business, Industrial, Management, Software, Technology

New Laser Cutting Machine Offers Faster Throughput and Higher Accuracy

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 Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) has extended its integrated laser tools product portfolio with its new META platform, offering improved performance and greater ease-of-use.  The META platform features a unibody chassis design. This rigid single weldment provides improved mechanical stability for the system, resulting in faster cutting speeds and better positioning repeatability. In addition, the cutting bed on META platform products has been enlarged to accommodate standard European sheet sizes (1.25 m x 1.25 m).

The control system has also been significantly upgraded with the help of our science laserresearchers. Specifically, the operator interface for META platform products has been changed to an industrial type controller. This is an ergonomic monitor/keyboard assembly that is directly mounted on the side of the chassis.  All interface cables for this system are now contained within the machine assembly, further enhancing its ruggedness and suitability for the increasingly industrial environments in which the platform is now being utilized.

Improvements have also been implemented in the META platform’s software. In particular, ease-of-use has been enhanced through a new, multilingual software interface, together with the implementation of greater system automation. Additionally, the system features automatic focus, advanced capacitive height sensing and a fully integrated machine vision system.

When configured with a Coherent 1 kW CO2 laser (Diamond E-1000), the META system offers unmatched flexibility, with the ability to process a wide range of both metals and non-metals, such as plastics, wood, fabrics, leather, paper and thin films. With this laser cutter tool, the system can readily cut stainless steel in thicknesses of up to 3mm, aluminum of up to 2 mm, and mild steel of up to 6 mm.

About Coherent
Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a world leader in providing laser-based solutions, such as laser measurement tools and diode modules to the commercial and scientific research markets. Please direct any questions regarding this press release to Ravi Pendse, product line manager at (408) 764-4556.  For more information about Coherent, including product and financial updates, visit our website at http://www.Coherent.com.

Business, Industrial, Management, Real Estate

Mamtek US, Inc. Sucralose Manufacturing Facility, Brand New Equipment and Real Estate Assets to Be Sold by Heritage Global Partners via Live Global Webcast Auction October 24

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Heritage Global Partners (“HGP”), a global leader in asset advisory and machinery auctions and a wholly owned subsidiary of Counsel RB Capital, today announced its upcoming auction of the sucralose (artificial sweeter) manufacturing facility, never- used heavy equipment, commercial real estate, and related assets of Mamtek US, Inc. (“Mamtek”), a subsidiary of Mamtek International. The sale is being conducted in partnership with Aaron Equipment Company, BidSpotter.com and Zimmer Real Estate Services.

The auction is slated for October 24, 2012 from 10 am PT to 1 pm PT. A two-day onsite preview of the manufacturing facility is available October 22-23 from 9:00 am CT to 4:00 pm CT at 1200 U.S. 24, Moberly, MO 65270.

A virtual data room (“VDR”) is available for bulk lot purchasers, including those seeking to retain the Sucralose Manufacturing Facility lease. Photos of the equipment, including brand new Stainless Fabrication Reactors, chillers, cooling towers, piping and centrifuges, are available at http://www.hgpauction.com/?auctionid=263. To gain access to the VDR please visit the above link for specific requirements, or contact George Wandachowicz (see contact info below) with any questions.

The Auction is expected to consist of six buying opportunities (Lots), ranging from the purchase of all of Mamtek’s assets in bulk to individual items tagged for sale if no bulk offer is accepted.

“We expect our upcoming auction of Mamtek’s brand new manufacturing assets and state-of-the-industry sucralose manufacturing facility to draw in a significant number of worldwide buyers,” stated Vice President George Wandachowicz of Heritage Global Partners.

About Heritage Global Partners (HGP)
Led by auction industry pioneers Ross and Kirk Dove, Heritage Global Partners is one of the country’s leading auction services firms, assisting large and small companies with buying and selling assets such as electronic test equipment and laboratory test equipment. A Counsel RB Capital company, HGP specializes in asset brokerage, inspection, and valuations, industrial equipment auction and real estate auctions, as well as enterprise auctions combining tangible and intangible assets.

Business, Consumer Services, Financial, Healthcare, Society

Research Show 4.4 Million over 21s Still Rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad, reports Bower Retirement Services

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Research from LV = reveals 4.4 million over 21 year olds still borrow money from their parents. The average monthly donation from parents to adult children is £175. This is used to cover rent, bills and help pay off debts. Additionally £9,476 is awarded to fund weddings, holidays, further education and to help young adults get onto the property ladder. Although it helpingyoung adults is hardly surprising, the research revealed parents expect to continue to support their ‘children’ until the age of 38, now the average age of a first-time property buyer.

This obviously puts great financial strain on Britain ‘s parents. It eats into retirement funds and one in ten parents surveyed by LV = admitted they had spent everything they had on their children. The issue isn’t going to go away soon, particularly if predictions that the average age of a first-time buyer will be 41 by 2025 are correct.

Parents need to prepare for the future early to ensure they are well equipped financially to provide for themselves and help out their grown-up children when necessary. There are several options available, but with interest rates currently being so low, saving plans aren’t the most viable option.

Equity release plans are a more effective option for homeowners. Bower Retirement Services, an award-winning equity release advice service, can help homeowners find anequity release plan that’s right for them.

There are four types of plans available: lump sum lifetime mortgages; lifetime mortgage with flexible cash release, also known as a drawdown mortgage; interest only lifetime mortgage and home reversion plans.

The most suitable, and now the most popular comprising 68% of the market, are drawdown plans. Homeowners are lent money based on their property’s value and additionally can withdraw regular cash amounts at a frequency and value chosen by the individual. Interest is charged, but it’s only repaid when the homeowners die or move into permanent care. These mortgages allow parents to look after themselves during retirement but also offer the ability to provide assistance to their offspring.

-ENDS-

Press Contact:
Address: Essex Technology & Innovation Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0GA
Phone No: 01277 262724
Email: info@brsequity.co.uk
Website: www.brsequity.co.uk