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March 4, 2007
NEWSWEEK COVER: MARCH 12, 2007 ISSUE : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: In the March 12 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, March 5): "The Real Rudy." Newsweek profiles Rudy Giuliani as he begins his 2008 presidential campaign, already ahead of other GOP candidates. He can be a man of strength and skill but can also be stubborn and abrasive. Plus: al-Sadr's disappearing act in Iraq; why Toyota beats GM; the greening of Wall Street; new worries about laporascopic surgery; museums fighting for their antiquities and what that organic food label means. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:03 PM | View the original post
2007 SUZUKI FORENZA SEDAN AND FORENZA WAGON OFFER ITALIAN STYLE PREMIUM FEATURES : GlobalGiants.com
Forenza meets life enthusiasts’ needs for versatility.
The Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon have enjoyed growing popularity among U.S. car buyers and have led American Suzuki’s strong sales growth since their introduction in 2004 and 2005. For 2007, the popular Forenza family of vehicles continue to offer a strong roster of modern conveniences, including a powerful engine, contemporary European styling and versatility.
The Forenza provides consumers with all the features, comfort, style and performance to fit their action-packed lifestyle. The Forenza Wagon provides budget-conscious drivers the same performance, durability and able handling as the sedan and adds a roomy interior for up to five persons and generous cargo capacity. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:58 AM | View the original post
FARGASON OUTDOOR TECHNOLOGIES TENT CHAIR : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: The innovative Fargason Outdoor Tent Chair is made for all power-sports enthusiasts - down to the last detail. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:54 AM | View the original post
March 3, 2007
Tesco 'One-in-Front' Campaign Wins Prestigious Retail Week Award Using IRISYS Queue Busting Camera Technology : GlobalGiants.com
LONDON, March 3 -- Tesco, the UK's largest grocery chain, has won the prestigious Retail Week Customer Service Initiative of the Year award, for its hugely successful "one-in-front" campaign. Using SMARTLANE queue-busting camera technology, developed by IRISYS, in-store queue waiting time is now kept to a minimum for customers, which Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive of Tesco, sites as a key factor in boosting store profits.
Described by the judges as a "sight of the future", the queue busting cameras represented "what Tesco does well and what helps give it a competitive advantage".
The IRISYS cameras use sophisticated thermal imaging technology to measure and predict customers' arrival at checkouts, enabling managers to react in real-time to ensure the right number of tills are open to deliver the best possible service to customers. |GlobalGiants.com|
In a recent earnings call, Sir Terry Leahy credited the thermal imaging cameras as being a key factor in the company's half-year pre-tax profits rising ten per cent to GBP1.092 billion. Leahy commented, "We have heat seeking cameras that sense the number of customers entering a store and predict the checkouts that need to be open in an hour. We can monitor and manage the service customers get much more precisely - by customer, by store and by the minute. Thanks to this, a quarter of a million more customers every week don't have to queue."
The IRISYS SMARTLANE solution uses ceiling mounted infra-red sensors above the checkout lanes to detect the number and behaviour of customer groups at the checkouts. The intelligent sensors automatically calculate the average queue length, average wait time and overall store performance against Tesco's One in Front* (OIF) customer service commitment. Displaying real-time queuing data on the shop floor enables the retailer's management team to deploy their multi-skilled staff to react quickly to potential queuing issues.
Attila Winstanley, Productivity Director at Tesco adds, "Ensuring we offer the best service at the checkouts is one of our core disciplines, and it is also one of our biggest challenges. Historically we have manually captured data on queue lengths at the checkout, but accuracy levels were varied. SMARTLANE accurately captures our OIF performance in real time, allowing Front End Checkout Managers to deliver better levels of service, whilst at the same time optimising the deployment of checkout staff."
Chris Precious Sales Director of IRISYS, said, "While Tesco initially lead the way with this technology, many other retailers both in Europe and the US are now following suit as they recognise that better service, cost-effectively delivered by IRISYS SMARTLANE technology, can drive both sales and bottom-line growth." |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:21 AM | View the original post
Queen Mary 2 Bids Farewell to Hong Kong During 'Symphony of Lights' : GlobalGiants.com
PHOTO: HONG KONG, March 3 -- Making a graceful departure from Hong Kong after her maiden visit on February 28, Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 bids farewell to the city in regal style, as she sails through Victoria Harbor during Hong Kong's renowned "Symphony of Lights." The world's grandest and most luxurious ocean liner is en route to Singapore as part of her 80-day maiden world voyage visiting 20 of the world's most celebrated cities. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:34 AM | View the original post
'Dirty Jobs' Star Mike Rowe with 2007 Ford F150 : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" star joins "Built Ford Tough" dream team: Mike Rowe, creator and star of Discovery Channel's highly rated show "Dirty Jobs" with is partnering with Ford as the newest F-Series truck spokesperson, beginning with new ads for the 2007 F-150 -- the most capable pickup in its class ever -- that air in early March 2007. Rowe joins Ford’s dream team of truck spokespeople and marketing alliances, including Toby Keith, NASCAR, Harley-Davidson™, the Home Depot and Cabela's. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:28 AM | View the original post
March 2, 2007
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT Extended Cab : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT Extended Cab. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:56 PM | View the original post
Sports package for the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class : GlobalGiants.com
Stuttgart -- The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is now available to order with a sports package comprising exclusive details that inject a new and thrilling sense of flair. Inside, it is primarily the silver-coloured contrast stitching, perforated leather and aluminium trim in a fresh new look that set the tone for the sporty and luxurious ambience. Outside, large wheels in a thrilling five-spoke design dominate the picture, while setting off the silver-painted front brake callipers to particularly stunning effect. Perforated brake discs at the rear wheels help endow the Roadster with excellent stopping power. Finally, the 7G-TRONIC Sport transmission with steering-wheel shift paddles further intensifies the sports car sensation felt when sitting inside the Roadster bearing the mystical letters "SL".
"Ever since the world-famous 300 SL Gullwing Coupé was premiered over 50 years ago, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has ranked as one of the most fascinating and coveted cars in the world. Now in its fifth generation, the current SL-Class has lost none of this mystique and excels in all the same ways as its predecessors, by offering sophisticated design, groundbreaking technology, exceptional comfort and immense driving pleasure. A new equipment package from Mercedes-Benz, which is available to order now, gives the two-seater an even sportier, individualised look, thanks to a host of refined details both inside and out." |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:14 AM | View the original post
Olay Announces Marcia Cross as This Year's Skin Cancer Takes Friends Partner : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Actress Marcia Cross will be the spokesperson for this year's Skin Cancer Takes Friends free skin cancer screening program sponsored by Olay.
CINCINNATI, March 1, 2007 -- Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) have announced that "Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross will be the spokeswoman for the 2007 "Skin Cancer Takes Friends" campaign, encouraging skin cancer prevention and detection. Emmy-nominated Cross will kick-off a nationwide free skin cancer screening initiative and education effort alerting Americans about the importance of early detection and prevention in the fight against skin cancer. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:03 AM | View the original post
Dora the Explorer Invites Preschoolers to Reach for the Stars With Her New Friends : GlobalGiants.com
Tres Estrellas Exploradoras - on a Brand New Episode, 'Star Mountain,' Premiering Monday, March 12 on Nick Jr.
NEW YORK -- Dora the Explorer is reaching for the stars as Nick Jr. premieres a new half-hour episode of the international preschool phenomenon entitled "Star Mountain" on Monday, March 12. The new episode will teach viewers their numbers and colors in Spanish, as they journey along with Dora, Boots and the Tres Estrellas Exploradoras (Three Explorer Stars). Since its debut in 2000, Dora the Explorer was the top-rated preschool series on all of commercial TV for over five consecutive years and garnered the number two spot for 2006, second only to Nick Jr.'s number-one rated The Wonder Pets!
An international success, Dora the Explorer is broadcast all over the world, teaching the majority of her viewers English rather than Spanish. Syndicated to TV broadcasters in 125 markets and translated in 24 languages, Dora the Explorer is the number one rated show in France, Canada, Italy and Mexico and is a top 10 rated show in nearly every major broadcast market in the world including the UK and China.
Dora the Explorer is a play-along, animated adventure series starring Dora, a seven-year-old Latina heroine whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Dora explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday, and the show is designed to actively engage its audience in an interactive quest using a variety of learning techniques.
Nickelodeon, in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:56 AM | View the original post
March 1, 2007
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S READ ACROSS AMERICA ARRIVES AT SCHOOLS : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: The National Education Association's Read Across America program, the largest reading celebration in the USA, arrived at local schools this week. First graders at John Quincy Adams Elementary School in Washington, D.C., were among the 45 million expected to participate in related activities and read-ins, designed to get kids excited about reading. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:25 PM | View the original post
Austin College Leadership Award : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners In Health, an organization that builds hospitals and provides heathcare to countries afflicted by poor health conditions, attends to one of his patients in rural Haiti. Farmer recently received the Austin College Leadership Award, a $100,000 prize which he will dedicate to the continuation of providing healthcare to the world's poorest citzens. Dr. Farmer was chosen among many other prestigious candidates for the award, including the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed Yunus. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:18 PM | View the original post
90,000th Setra bus delivered to German travel company Arnold Reisen : GlobalGiants.com
Stuttgart, March 1, 2007 -- Setra has delivered its 90,000th bus since the brand was established in 1951. The S 416 HDH, a new generation TopClass 400 touring coach, was handed over to bus company Arnold Reisen in Dietmannsried, near Kempten in the German Allgäu region, at the end of February 2007. It was also the 30,000th vehicle to be built since the establishment of the EvoBus GmbH company, under whose management Setra touring coaches and rural regular-service buses have been developed, produced and sold since 1995. EvoBus is a wholly owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:53 AM | View the original post
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz Bike Collection : GlobalGiants.com
Fascinating design and sophisticated technology.
Stuttgart, Feb 28, 2007 -- Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH heralds the 2007 season with three new bicycle models. Both the technical and the functional features of the brand-new ‘Fitness’ and ‘Trekking’ bikes have been designed to optimally meet the demands of ambitious hobby and leisure cyclists alike. Bold curves set special accents that underline the unique character of the Mercedes-Benz brand, and an ultra lightweight high-end racing bicycle with a carbon frame rounds off the new range of bicycles.
Elegant and comfortable: the 2007 ‘Fitness’ bikes:
"The ‘Fitness’ bicycles come in two versions, i.e. ‘Sport’ (for gents) and ‘Comfort’ (for ladies), and are captivating even at first glance thanks to their original, high-quality aluminium frame and the lightweight magnesium fork with its comfortable 80-millimetre stroke. The fork can be fixed in position in order to minimise tiring strokes whenever necessary as, for instance, during lengthy uphill climbs. The front end, which can be tilted by up to 60 degrees, and the Vario handlebar allow the ‘Fitness’ bicycles to be adjusted so as to be in complete harmony with body measurements – just like the seat of a Mercedes-Benz passenger car. The result: perfect ergonomics and a seating position that is equally comfortable for small and tall cyclists alike." |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:25 AM | View the original post
Omnibus Press Launches New Bob Dylan Book : GlobalGiants.com
Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights From Friends And Fellow Musicians Hits Stores June 2007.
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- Omnibus Press, a division of The Music Sales Group has announced the June 2007 release of Kathleen Mackay's new book, Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights From Friends And Fellow Musicians (ISBN 0.8256.7330.5, $22.95). The book will begin hitting bookstore shelves in early June.
"The new book is a unique oral history of a major musician who has played a significant role in America's cultural history for the last 40 years. Dylan's friends-from Pete Seeger to Bruce Springsteen to Rosanne Cash to Bono to Tom Petty-offer insight into the singer-songwriter's artistic genius and personality. His story is told by the musicians who were at his side during the rollicking changes and artistic breakthroughs of the '60s. Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights From Friends And Fellow Musicians provides a keen portrait of the friendships that helped shape important musicians whose voices influenced our society as a whole. Herein are insights not only into Dylan's elusive personality, but into the lives of the major musicians of our times."
Kathleen Mackay is a journalist and author who has written widely on arts and culture. Her articles have appeared in Time, People, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and other publications.
Music Sales Group, founded in 1935 by the Wise family, is an international company with interests in four main areas of music publishing: Copyright ownership and promotion of standard and popular music, classical music, printed music, and book publishing. Book imprints include Omnibus Press, Schirmer Trade Books, Amsco, and others. The company maintains offices in New York, London, Sydney, Copenhagen, Madrid, Tokyo, and Paris. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:42 AM | View the original post
Consumer Reports Names Best Used Cars For Every Budget : GlobalGiants.com
Identifies Good Bets and Bad Bets to help guide used car buying decisions.
YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28 -- Consumer Reports 2007 April Auto Issue features the lists of the best and worst used vehicles for 10 model years, 1997 through 2006.
Reliable vehicles and Vehicles to avoid include all models that showed above- or below-average overall reliability in CR's 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey, which drew responses on about 1.3 million vehicles. CR has found that improved reliability has made used cars more appealing and insurance rates tend to be less expensive.
CR Good Bets, which is derived from the Reliable vehicles list, features vehicles that have performed well in CR's road tests and have had several years of better-than-average reliability according to survey respondents. CR Good Bets includes vehicles from Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Nissan, Pontiac, Scion, Subaru, and Toyota. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:16 AM | View the original post
MALL OF AMERICA AND NICKELODEON ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Mall of America(R) and Nickelodeon announced a partnership today. Under the new agreement, various Nickelodeon properties and characters will come to life in the first-ever Nickelodeon themed park, set to open in spring 2008. Nickelodeon characters pose for the camera, above, in their new home at Mall of America. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:07 AM | View the original post
Paintings by Picasso stolen in Paris : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: The undated picture shows the Picasso painting 'Maya a la poupee', a 60 times 40 cm painting showing Picasso's daughter Maya. It is one of two art pieces that were stolen from a Picasso granddaughter in Paris, France. The estimated value of the works of the artist (1881-1973) amounts to 50 million euros. Photo: Cabinetlombar. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:03 AM | View the original post
