French actor Depardieu in Russia to meet Putin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - French film star Gerard Depardieu arrived in Russia on Saturday to meet President Vladimir Putin, who granted him citizenship after a public spat in France over his efforts to avoid a potential 75 percent income tax.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two would meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Putin was spending part of the 10-day New Year and Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday.
He said it was possible Putin would hand Depardieu his Russian passport during the meeting.
"It is a private meeting, we will not be releasing any other details," Peskov said by phone.
Russian media quoted him as saying the meeting would take place on Saturday. Depardieu's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
On Thursday, the Kremlin announced that Putin had signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to Depardieu, who objected to Socialist president Francois Hollande's plan to impose a 75 percent tax rate on millionaires.
Depardieu is a popular figure in Russia, where he has appeared in many advertising campaigns, including for ketchup. He also worked there in 2011 on a film about the eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin.
The star of the movies "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Green Card" was also among the Western celebrities invited in 2012 to celebrate the birthday of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed strongman leader of Russia's Chechnya province who is accused by rights groups of crushing dissent.
Some of Putin's critics called the passport move a stunt and pointed out that Putin last month announced a campaign to prevent rich Russians keeping their money offshore.
At a press conference on December 20 during which he offered Depardieu a passport, Putin said Russia had a close, special relationship with France and that he had developed warm ties with the actor, even though they had rarely met.
But Moscow suffered a blow in November when it was forced to suspend its bid to build an Orthodox church with five domes in the heart of Paris, whose mayor called the plan "ostentatious".
Russia has a flat-rate income tax of 13 percent compared to the 75 percent rate that French President Francois Hollande wants to introduce on income over 1 million euros ($1.32 million).
Depardieu has already bought a house in Belgium to establish Belgian residency in protest at Hollande's tax plans.
Hollande's original proposal was struck down by France's Constitutional Court in December, but he has pledged to press ahead with a redrafted tax on the wealthy.
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Depardieu's decision to seek Belgian residency "pathetic" and unpatriotic, prompting an angry reply from the actor.
Russia does not require people to hand in their foreign passports once they acquire a Russian one. But it is rare for people from the European Union or the United States to seek Russian citizenship unless they have recent Russian roots.

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Italy's Monti says change property tax as polls improve

Bersani won a run-off primary election by a huge margin on Sunday to become the Italian …more
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's outgoing prime minister, Mario Monti, said on Sunday he would alter an unpopular property tax imposed by his own government, as a poll showed his centrist bloc gaining in popularity ahead of next month's election.
Monti's new centrist formation was third in a survey published on Sunday ahead of the February 24-25 parliamentary vote, behind a centre-left coalition led by Pier Luigi Bersani and the centre-right bloc of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Monti, a 69-year-old former European commissioner, was appointed in November 2011 to lead an unelected right-left government of experts after Berlusconi quit amid a sex scandal and Italy's financial crisis threatened the euro.
To cut the deficit and restore confidence in Italy's ability to manage its 2-trillion-euro debt, Monti introduced a series of austerity measures in late 2011, including a property tax that hurt consumer spending and deepened the recession.
Berlusconi, who supported Monti's government until two weeks ago, has repeatedly said his first act of government, should he win February's vote, would be to abolish the property tax.
"Taxes need to be cut, but no one should be making promises that cannot be kept," Monti told SkyTG24 television. The property tax "should be restructured and modified", he said, with a greater portion set aside for city governments.
Monti repeated he wants to cut income taxes for low earners and said a planned value-added tax increase can be averted if the election winners are "ready to say no to special interests".
Both Berlusconi and Monti have made multiple appearances on TV, in Twitter question-and-answer sessions, and in online video interviews over the past week as they seek to close the gap with the centre-left, and it is paying off.
POLL
The centre-left coalition still has a comfortable lead, but both Monti's and Berlusconi's blocs have gained in recent weeks, according to a poll published on Sunday.
The number of voters who say they will vote for Bersani's bloc is between 38 and 39 percent, and the Democratic Party (PD) is seen getting 32-33 percent, polling institute ISPO said.
Monti's bloc has risen to between 14 and 15 percent from just over 10 percent before he entered the race, and Berlusconi has boosted his own party's share to 17-19 percent from 13-16 percent at the beginning of December, the poll indicated.
The number of undecided voters, or those who plan to abstain, has fallen below 40 percent, down from almost 50 percent a few weeks ago, the poll showed.
The new "With Monti for Italy" formation presented on Friday would itself win 9 percent, the poll said, and is drawing votes mostly from the centre-left and the previously undecided, said Renato Mannheimer, head of ISPO.
"Most analysts see it as improbable that, as things now stand, the coalition led by Monti can win more than 20 percent," he said.
If Berlusconi seals an alliance with the regionalist Northern League, his coalition could pull in 28 percent of the vote, ISPO said. Most of the PDL increase came from the large pool of undecided and disillusioned voters, Mannheimer said.
If Berlusconi and the League run together, complexities of the electoral law might make a post-election alliance with Monti key to a stable Senate majority for Bersani, Mannheimer added.
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, led by comic Beppe Grillo, dropped to 13-14 percent from 17-19 percent a month ago.

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Republican Sen. McConnell rules out more taxes in U.S. fiscal fight

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday ruled out raising tax revenues on top of the tax hike on the wealthy in the "fiscal cliff" deal, and said the full focus must now be on spending cuts to curb U.S. deficits.
But Democrats said they would push for a "balanced" approach of more tax revenue from the rich as well as spending reductions as Congress headed toward another fiscal battle in March over raising the federal debt ceiling.
"The tax issue is finished, over, completed," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."
"That's behind us. Now the question is what are we going to do about the biggest problem confronting our country and our future, and that's our spending addiction."
McConnell used the Sunday morning news shows to lay out his position in the upcoming fight over raising the U.S. debt ceiling and funding the government that is expected to come to a head in March, just three months after the struggle to avert the January 1 fiscal cliff of severe tax hikes and spending cuts that economists said could have brought a recession.
Republicans want big spending cuts in programs including Medicare healthcare for the elderly and the Social Security pension program as a condition for raising the U.S. borrowing limit.
President Barack Obama has said he will not negotiate over the debt ceiling, arguing that Congress must pay the bills for spending it has already approved.
McConnell said the White House should start working with Congress immediately to find savings, before the March deadline to raise the borrowing limit brings another fiscal crisis.
"We could do things very quickly, these are not new issues," he said on ABC.
Asked whether Republicans would threaten a U.S. default in their press for spending cuts, McConnell said, "It's not even necessary to get to that point. Why aren't we trying to settle the problem? Why aren't we trying to do something about reducing spending?"
On CBS's "Face the Nation," he said, "We now have a debt of $16.4 trillion. That's as big as our economy. That alone makes us look a lot like Greece."
'LINE IN THE SAND'
Democrats said they will continue to push for more revenue as well as spending cuts to curb deficits, issues they said should be dealt with separately from the debt ceiling.
"Well, if Mitch McConnell is going to draw the line in the sand, it's going to be a recipe for more gridlock," Representative Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said on "Fox News Sunday."
"As we go forward, we need to adopt the same framework as the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission, meaning, a combination of cuts and revenue," Van Hollen said, referring to the commission that presented a sweeping plan to cut deficits.
"We're talking about looking at the tax code, putting everything on the table from the standpoint of closing loopholes, and we know that we can do that. Special subsidies for big oil, for example, $38 billion right there," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Pelosi, of California, said any savings found in Medicare and Social Security should be plowed back into the programs.
In what could be a replay of last year's standoff over the debt ceiling, House Republicans will put forward a plan "that says: OK, Mr. President, if you want to increase the borrowing authority of this country, here is a menu of options where you can reduce spending of equal or greater amount," said Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan.
"Mitch McConnell is exactly right," Jordan said on Fox News. "They just got revenue. We've got to cut spending. We've got $16 trillion debt. The credit card is maxed out."
Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, said Obama will discuss curbing the debt in his State of the Union address this month, "but it has to be done in a balanced way."
On CNN's "State of the Union," Durbin, of Illinois, said more money should be wrung from taxes, citing various deductions, special treatments and loopholes. "We can do that and use the money to reduce the deficit."
In his several television appearances, McConnell also defended the deal he helped to broker with Vice President Joe Biden to avoid the fiscal cliff.
Most of his fellow Republicans in the House opposed the deal for being focused almost entirely on raising revenue through a tax increase on families making more than $450,000 a year, while postponing significant spending cuts.
"What we did was prevent tax increases on 99 percent of the American public. Nobody in the Senate, not the 90 percent of Senate Republicans who voted for this, voted to raise anybody's taxes," McConnell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
The deal extended lower tax rates for most taxpayers set during the George W. Bush administration that were set to expire on January 1, but let rates rise on the top incomes.

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Study Validates Elastic Resistance is Effective in Achieving Muscle Hypertrophy, Announces Performance Health

Recent study shows that strength training with elastic bands and tubing is as effective as machine-based strength training.

Akron, OH (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
Despite the affordability, versatility, portability and popularity of elastic resistance exercise, there has been debate over its use for increasing muscle hypertrophy and strength. This debate persists despite several studies finding that elastic resistance is as effective if not better than isotonic resistance machines (Colado & Triplett 2008, Sundstrup et al. 2012). A study(1) conducted by Dr. Saied Jalal Aboodarda and colleagues further supports the use of elastic resistance devices as cost effective modes of training for muscle strength and hypertrophy in healthy individuals.
In this study, which was published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, researchers compared Thera-Band® elastic bands to Nautilus® weight machines on muscle strength and muscle damage on nine healthy male subjects. Each participant performed five sets of ten repetition maximum knee extension exercises with a Thera-Band elastic band and on the exercise machine. The participants were tested for their maximum quadriceps strength, delayed onset muscle soreness and indicators of muscle damage. The researchers found that both the elastic resistance and machine-aided exercises produced the same amount of muscle damage, which has been shown to be the underlying mechanism of further muscle hypertrophy(2). The researchers concluded that both modes of training provide a similar training stress, despite lower force generation during the elastic-resisted exercise.
“While popular in the rehabilitation setting, elastic bands and tubing are often underutilized in strength training. This stems from an unfounded assumption that elastic resistance products can only provide a low level of external force and is therefore limited in providing an appropriate resistance/stimulus for strength,” stated Dr. Phil Page, Director of Clinical Education and Research for Performance Health and author of Strength Band Training.
The authors concluded their paper with, “Considering that an elastic resistance device has long been accepted as an affordable, portable and versatile exercise training aid compared with other training equipment such as the Nautilus machine, the present data support the use of an elastic resistance device as a cost effective mode of training for achieving further muscle strength and hypertrophy in healthy individuals. This is contrary to many previous investigations that have rejected the potential of utilizing an elastic resistance device in athletic settings, because of a perception that an elastic resistance device does not provide adequate training stress.”
“We are grateful to the researchers for their work on this study, just one more among many others that validate the effectiveness of our Thera-Band resistance products,” concluded Page.
About the Academy

The Thera-Band® Academy was formed to scientifically document the benefits of resistance exercise and pain relief, guide the company in its development of new products and exercise programs, and to promote therapeutic exercise and pain management through professional and consumer education. The Academy web site is a unique resource that connects healthcare professionals and consumers to the ever growing body of knowledge on exercise. Registration is free and provides access to the largest database of rehab exercises, protocols, research and education in the world.
About Performance Health

Featuring leading brands like Thera-Band®, Biofreeze® and Pedigenix®, Performance Health offers a broad portfolio of products for the therapy, rehabilitation, wellness, massage, podiatric and performance markets. In addition to market-leading products, Performance Health provides practice building support, evidence-based protocols, clinical and product education, turn-key dispensing and pain management solutions.

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Global economy: U.S. and China leave feeble Europe in their wake

Complete Auto Loans is happy to announce 25 new approvals for consumers needing bad credit auto loans financing.

Seattle, Wa (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
For most consumers, taking advantage of a great deal or opportunity is great anytime. With yearly specials and discounts in full bloom, Complete Auto Loans is happy to announce even more approvals for car owners needing financing for bad credit auto loans.
Drivers aren’t always able to get approval for the new or used vehicle they need. Those who haven’t, are simply going to http://www.completeautoloans.com/auto-financing/ and getting approved for the vehicle they need for their budget.
Because CAL is providing more financing than ever for bad credit auto loans, drivers are getting the vehicle they need. This is a great way to help make the road safer for everyone driving.
Not only are drivers getting reliable vehicles, they are also finding a new or used car or truck that fits best and provides good functionality. This is making it possible for consumers to help take care of whatever household or work needs they have. Complete Auto Loans is making the whole application process easy by allowing drivers to focus on getting the vehicle that is right for them – rather than just focus on trying to get approved for an auto loan.
Consumers going to http://www.completeautoloans.com/bad-credit-auto-loans/ are finding it easier than ever to use the simple approval auto loan form. They are just visiting the site, and receiving approval for the next car or truck that they need – and all from the ease of their own computer. Getting financing for bad credit auto loans is as simple as completing the online form provided for auto loans.
Because drivers can experience issues with reliability with their vehicle, financing for an auto loan works out well for upgrading to good transportation. Sometimes a car or truck just needs to be updated, or is no longer useful and getting a good vehicle is helping drivers keep moving forward.
With Complete Auto Loans providing even more bad credit auto loans, the year is bringing even more good news. Drivers no longer have to wait in long lines, or even traffic. They are simply going online to http://www.completeautoloans.com and getting financing for the bad credit auto loans they need.

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Complete Auto Loans Announces 25 New Approvals for Consumers Needing Bad Credit Auto Loans Financing

Complete Auto Loans is happy to announce 25 new approvals for consumers needing bad credit auto loans financing.

Seattle, Wa (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
For most consumers, taking advantage of a great deal or opportunity is great anytime. With yearly specials and discounts in full bloom, Complete Auto Loans is happy to announce even more approvals for car owners needing financing for bad credit auto loans.
Drivers aren’t always able to get approval for the new or used vehicle they need. Those who haven’t, are simply going to http://www.completeautoloans.com/auto-financing/ and getting approved for the vehicle they need for their budget.
Because CAL is providing more financing than ever for bad credit auto loans, drivers are getting the vehicle they need. This is a great way to help make the road safer for everyone driving.
Not only are drivers getting reliable vehicles, they are also finding a new or used car or truck that fits best and provides good functionality. This is making it possible for consumers to help take care of whatever household or work needs they have. Complete Auto Loans is making the whole application process easy by allowing drivers to focus on getting the vehicle that is right for them – rather than just focus on trying to get approved for an auto loan.
Consumers going to http://www.completeautoloans.com/bad-credit-auto-loans/ are finding it easier than ever to use the simple approval auto loan form. They are just visiting the site, and receiving approval for the next car or truck that they need – and all from the ease of their own computer. Getting financing for bad credit auto loans is as simple as completing the online form provided for auto loans.
Because drivers can experience issues with reliability with their vehicle, financing for an auto loan works out well for upgrading to good transportation. Sometimes a car or truck just needs to be updated, or is no longer useful and getting a good vehicle is helping drivers keep moving forward.
With Complete Auto Loans providing even more bad credit auto loans, the year is bringing even more good news. Drivers no longer have to wait in long lines, or even traffic. They are simply going online to http://www.completeautoloans.com and getting financing for the bad credit auto loans they need.

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Gunnar G. Sevelius’ ‘The Nine Pillars of History’ Traces 9 Common Links through 200,000 Years

ATHERTON, Calif. (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
“After having reviewed world history,” says author Gunnar G. Sevelius, M.D., “I would consider the ultimate goal for society to be to pass from one generation to the next from a platform of dignity.” It is with this goal in mind that he presents readers with his new book “The Nine Pillars of History: An Anthropological Review of Political History, Five Religions, Feminism, Modern Economy and a Plan for Cost Control of the Eighth Pillar, Medicine, All as a Guide for Peace, 5th Expanded Edition” (published by AuthorHouse).
In his book, Sevelius discusses his discovery of nine common denominators that run through 200,000 years of history. This discovery yields compelling hypotheses of anthropological scope and social relevance. The nine pillars of history he identifies are 1) food, water, air, energy, sex 2) shelter 3) cleanliness 4) art 5) communication 6) community support 7) religion 8) medical care 9) and trade.
Sevelius’ hypotheses have already been presented, by the author, at the 2012 American Anthropological Association’s national meeting Nov. 15-18 in San Francisco.
“The Nine Pillars of History”

By Gunnar G. Sevelius, M.D.

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 372 pages | ISBN 9781477269541

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 372 pages | ISBN 9781477269558

E-Book | 372 pages | ISBN 9781477269534

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author

Gunnar G. Sevelius, M.D., is a retired medical director from a major defense contractor. Previously, he was a contracted medical director for NASA, and before that an associate medical professor and medical scientist at the University of Oklahoma. For more information, visit http://www.ninepillars.com.
Sevelius is the author of several other books, including “Add years to your life and life to your years, parts I and II,” “You are it, first aid when minutes count” and “An untold medical story, coronary blood flow, heart attack prediction, prevention and treatment.”

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International Student Exchange Helps Build Homes for Families in Washington

Babylon, NY (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
Eight students from all different corners of globe met in Pasco, WA on October 13th to participate in a country wide, foreign exchange student initiative called Project H.E.L.P., an International Student Exchange offshoot which focuses on community service and outreach. Working with the famed Habitat for Humanity, students from countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Thailand and Japan worked together to help protect newly constructed homes in the Pasco area from the often brutal storms in the Northwest region.
The site on which the students worked will at its completion contain enough structures to support twenty families, and when asked, each student was eager to offer their insight on how their contribution helped the community and gave them a sense of satisfaction, knowing they could something back to the people that welcomed them into their country. "It was hard work," said representative Sharon Burns, "but it was good for the cause and the [students] got to meet new friends."
Most of the tasks completed by the students on that day were measures intended to weatherproof the newly constructed buildings from the harsh weather that often descends upon the Northwest in the fall and winter months. These tasks included caulking the joints and seams inside the frames of the homes, and helping to insulate the house from the inside out.
The students hope to participate in a second round of Habitat for Humanity projects early in the next year. "Hopefully we will get to work in home that has heat," remarked one of the South American students. "It will be very cold here in January."
Each participating student earned six to eight hours of community service for their efforts, and though their program asks that they only complete five, each student has energetically agreed to be ready for the second go-round when the day arrives. One of the German students remarked, "I am sorry to be going home at the end of the year. We had so much fun today that I would like to come back for the next one."
International Student Exchange, Founded in 1982, is a non-profit organization that brings together people from all different cultures and creeds. Located in Babylon, NY, ISE is helping to educate tomorrow's leaders one student at a time.

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Daniel T. Morof DDS PC of Cherry Hill Dental Center Receives Top Reviews as Local Garden City, MI Dentist

As a leading provider of general and cosmetic dentistry in the Garden City, MI area, Dr. Daniel Morof and his staff at Cherry Hill Dental Center have received top patient reviews on their website and third party industry review sites for excellence in patient comfort and care.

Garden City MI (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
As a leading provider of general and cosmetic dentistry in the Garden City, MI area, Dr. Daniel Morof and his staff at Cherry Hill Dental Center have received top patient reviews on their website and third party industry review sites for excellence in patient comfort and care.
Cherry Hill Dental Center is entering its 55th year of providing dental services to the local Garden City area. Started by Dr. Jerry Morof in 1958, Dr. Daniel Morof has since joined his father at the practice in providing the latest in general and cosmetic dentistry.
“Our doctors and staff have a number one priority of putting our patients’ needs first while providing an energetic and fun-loving service,” said Dr. Daniel T. Morof. “We appreciate receiving top reviews from our patients because it lets us know that we’re doing our job right—providing great smiles while keeping our patients happy.”
Reviews of Dr. Daniel Morof show that patients can tell that the staff at Cherry Hill Dental Center has their best interest and comfort in mind.
“Dr. Daniel Morof and his office are competent, professional, friendly and extremely helpful,” said Vicky Madison, a patient of Cherry Hill Dental Center. “I have never felt so welcome and accepted in a dentist office before. I would recommend them to any and all who are looking for a good dentist.”
B. Koharic, another patient of Dr. Morof, said, “ Dr. Dan and his staff gave me my smile back and explained everything they were doing so that I understood. Dr. Dan fixed my problem without unnecessary procedures.”
Cherry Hill Dental Center provides a wide variety of dental service, ranging from fillings and crowns to braces, dental implants and gum care. They pride themselves on offering the latest in dental technology to provide patients the utmost quality for their dental procedures. Dr. Daniel Morof works alongside his father and founder of Cherry Hill Dental Center, Dr. Jerry Morof and Dr. Nakash, the newest member to the dental team.
Dr. Daniel Morof of Garden City, MI graduated from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in 1990, after which he completed additional training at Boston University of Dentistry in endodontics. He has also completed continuing education in orthodontics and oral implantology.

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James Schramko Opens 2013 With Life-Changing All-Year Inspirational Business Tips

James Schramko believes there’s a better alternative to doing New Year’s resolutions: coming up with all-year solutions. In his latest business news video, he shows how this perspective has led him to the lifestyle he wants, and how viewers can achieve their dream lifestyle, too, by utilizing his formula for success.

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
James Schramko doesn’t believe in making resolutions just because it’s the start of the year. What he believes in is making brave, bold, and well thought-out life-changing decisions all year round. In his latest business news video, he asks viewers: What are you going to change today?
The business Internet marketing leader and CEO of SuperFastBusiness.com poses this question both as a dare and an inspiration for his viewers who are seeking more success in business and in life. Schramko’s story of how he reached the top through sheer hard work, smart strategies and positive drive is a legend in business circles. He emphasizes that making resolutions any day (instead of waiting for New Year’s day) can be a more effective approach for people who wish to live their dream lifestyle sooner.
He recalls his own journey when he was still juggling his time and energies between keeping his day job and learning and testing the principles of Internet marketing. He persevered and stayed committed to his vision until he finally achieved the level of success that allowed him to let go of his job and build his own Internet business according to his own terms.
Today, a typical workday for him can look more like a leisurely weekend for the average employee. “I can sleep in, have a massage, get a coffee, have a haircut, eat some lunch, come home, have a swim and then make a short video like this and we get to call this ‘work’. I’m going to go through a few of my emails and that will be my day for today.”
He credits a huge part of his quality of life to the business strategies and tools he chooses, and makes it his mission to share his formula for success to people who want to build a business based on their lifestyle. “If you’re interested in that sort of living, then I encourage you to go along to FastWebFormula.com and join up the community there. I will teach you how I do this.”
Leading Internet business coaching forum community Fast Web Formula provides members access to basic, intermediate and advanced Internet business training through information materials, live events and multimedia modules. Online business owners, affiliate marketers, business consultants, service providers and digital professionals can all acquire the essentials geared to help them grow their business faster.
Standing in front of his luxurious pool in his own backyard, Schramko affirms that the path to a better life starts with a decision to make changes: “I made a decision many years ago that I wanted to have a lifestyle dictated more by the way I’d like to live and I built my business around that. And I encourage you to do the same thing. Start making changes today. It is absolutely possible.”

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Instant Whey DUO® sets new industry standards for protein shakes

In the highly competitive sports nutrition market one thing that’s very rare to see is a protein powder that’s not only market leading in terms of protein content and quality control but also price. Reflex Nutrition insists they’ve achieved what many believe in the industry was not possible. Enter Instant Whey DUO®, their newest addition to their protein range, the best value and highest quality protein powder available

(PRWEB UK) 4 January 2013
Martin Eastwood head of Quality Control & Research at Reflex Nutrition gave us his very matter of fact summary, “Numerous brands offer value proteins and nearly all them have a number of things in common. They are lower in protein content, they have higher levels of carbohydrates, higher levels of lactose and fat, not to mention the fact that many are full of soy protein. These are products that really are made to a price and it’s something you’ll never see from Reflex Nutrition. With Instant Whey DUO® we had to make a product that supported the Reflex ethic. Put simply it had to be the best in market in terms of protein content, nutrition content, taste and price. That’s exactly what Instant Whey DUO® delivers.”
The numbers tell the story;

    75% Protein content which is proven by batch protein testing, other brands contain as little as 60% protein and are not tested for their protein content.
    Free from Soy Protein, syrups, creamers, salt, sugar and cheap fillers.
    Made in the U.K by Reflex Nutrition to ISO9001 Quality Control Standards using 100% Green Energy.
    Low carbohydrate content of 8%, some other brands contain closer to 20%
    Low fat content, other brands using cheaper sources of whey protein will typically contain high levels of fat.
    Low lactose content, other brands will typically contain at least 10% lactose because they use lower grades of whey protein.
    Pro-biotic Lactospore®, few other brands offers this.
    Digezyme® Enzyme Complex, few brands offers this.
Instant Whey Duo® contains a precise blend of ultra-high quality proteins, the main two are undenatured ultra filtered whey protein concentrate and Nutralys®. The pairing of the two proteins provides a unique amino acid profile that neither protein on its own could ever deliver. It is what Reflex Nutrition believes to be one of the best combinations of protein ever brought together for athletes; being both rich in Branch Chain Amino Acids, Arginine and Glutamine.
Demand Instant Whey DUO® is expected to be extremely high and the indicated demand from outlets throughout Europe suggest that Duo® will become one of the best selling protein powders in Europe during 2013.
Keeping up with demand will not be an issue since the new protein powder is made at Reflex Nutrition’s bespoke sports nutrition manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Brighton in the U.K. where Martin Eastwood will be casting his ever watchful eye over all aspects of the manufacture and quality control processes. Each batch will be assayed for its protein content to ensure that Duo® meets its industry leading protein content.
Instant Whey DUO® will available early January 2013 throughout Europe with an RRP of £56.99 for a 2.0kg tub.

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JelliJar – New Online Specialty Food Marketplace in Beta Release

JelliJar is pleased to announce that its online food marketplace is accessible to select food producers and customers. The full site will launch in the first week of January 2013.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) December 20, 2012
JelliJar is pleased to announce that its online food marketplace is accessible to select food producers and customers. The full site will launch in the first week of January 2013.
JelliJar is a marketplace where all types of food products can be discovered and purchased. The marketplace allows small producers that make products in small batches or have dedicated production facilities to be discovered by consumers with discerning tastes.
Small Food Producers, Chefs, Restaurants and Specialty Food Retailers can:

1. List their products, story, recipes, photos, videos, and contact details;

2. List retail locations where their products are sold (Shop Local);

3. Enable ecommerce transactions through PayPal;

4. Have customers subscribe to products;

5. Participate in Tasting Box subscriptions; and

6. Social Media Integration with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter.
To learn more about JelliJar, please visit: http://www.jellijar.com
About JelliJar:
JelliJar is an online marketplace dedicated to providing food lovers with the ability to discover food that caters to their taste preferences. Its focus is on providing users with the ability to make informed choices when shopping for food for in the following categories: Gourmet and Artisan, Specialty Diets and International Cuisines.
Consumers will be provided with many resources to discover hidden treasures from the following types of producers: Small Food Producers, Independent Restaurants, Chefs and Independent Retailers.

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The sale of the NYSE and the death of stocks

T

o the general public, it's quite a "shocker," says David Weidner at MarketWatch. IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), an upstart derivatives exchange, based in Atlanta, is buying NYSE Euronext, the company that owns the iconic, 220-year-old New York Stock Exchange, in a deal worth more than $8 billion. To long-time market professionals, however, this merger merely confirms something they've known for quite some time. They've been witnessing the slow death of stocks — as the lord of the marketplace — for years, as new regulations and decimalization of trades once done using rounder fractions "effectively squeezed the margins — and the potential for graft — out of the system." Initial public offerings offered healthy profits, but even those have dried up recently, leaving the NYSE and other exchanges "searching the globe for a merger partner," hoping they could buy their way to growth. But the lucrative futures and options exchanges that seemed like natural buyers of the stock exchanges turned up their noses, asking, "Why would we need them?"

There was an exception. The newcomer to the derivatives party, the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) needed something to vault it into the conversation — even though it not only had profits, but market share and a valuation to rival any exchange in the world.

For all of its lackluster financial cosmetics, the NYSE is still the Big Board. It is the venue where the great corporations of the world are listed. The announced deal will have some opportunities for technology sharing and other efficiencies, but mostly its an $8.2 billion deal for a brand.

As if that weren't already humiliating enough for the Big Board, says Felix Salmon at Reuters, "stock trading is a complete afterthought in this deal" for ICE. "The real reason that ICE wants the company is Liffe, NYSE Euronext's London-based financial derivatives subsidiary." Derivatives exchanges, you see, are few. They compete only with each other, so they make money hand over fist. "There are lots of stock exchanges," so they compete fiercely with each other, "and none of them make much money."

You can almost hear ICE CEO Jeffrey Sprecher rolling his eyes and wondering why on earth he needs to hang on to what at this point is little more than a heavily-guarded tourist attraction... [But] it's actually a good thing that stock trading has become a low-margin, low-value business: that's what's meant to happen when you have lots of competition. Think of it as one of the few areas of the financial-services sector where capitalism works as advertised. 

This deal, once unthinkable, really does underscore "what a dog the stock trading business has become," say Zachary M. Seward and Matt Phillips at Quartz. There's just no denying it. But if all this gloom is driving down the value of stocks in everybody's eyes, maybe equities markets will soon be so undervalued that they'll bounce back.

If we were contrarians, all of this Death of Equities talk — reminiscent of the 1979 Businessweek cover that nearly nailed the bottom of the markets before surges of the 1980s and 1990s — might get us a little more interested in the markets.

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Koomkin.com the new b2b marketplace that connects companies throughout all the Americas

Looking to the global trends, American companies will have to look more and more south of the border for qualified suppliers. Koomkin is already helping companies do that: Enrique Suarez Romo co-founder of the Mexican portal.

Mexico City (PRWEB) December 20, 2012
Ancient Mayans are not just responsible of writing prophecies about the end of the world while drinking hot chocolate; actually they were very good scientists and traders. Honoring this legacy, a group of Mexican entrepreneurs took a Mayan word, Koomkin (that means “to shorten”) to name their new online marketplace. This name was taken in order to bring together a group of new online tools for companies with the purpose of giving all registered firms better web visibility, increase competitiveness and create more business opportunities.
In Mexico, the number of Internet users has been significantly increasing every year, however, many Mexican companies are still reluctant to use the Web to promote their products or services and do business. “We want to provide them with an economic and efficient tool so they can easily show their offer to the world. It is time for Mexican and other Latin American companies to make the most of being now more competitive and cheaper related to their competitors in Asian markets”.
The portal creates an own web page with contact information, chat and pictures for those companies that register for free, as well as a program to make online quotations.
Companies that register through paid memberships can enjoy some services that provides them with competitive advantages: statistics in real time, online marketing campaigns in order to facilitate companies to be identified by search engines, and also the possibility of obtaining a quality certificate with Applus, a business group of certifiers present in more than 40 countries.
The certification gives confidence not only to the companies that offer their products and services in the Koomkin platform, but also to those who are looking for qualified suppliers, increasing exportation and competitiveness.
“We estimate we will be able to have near 37 thousand registered companies basically in Mexico and gradually in the United States (through an alliance with Free Trade Alliance, a San Antonio based organization with a renowned expertise in global trade), Spain and Latin America-, among those around 500 will have a paid membership” Enrique Suarez Romo, co-founder of the Mexican platform that started operating in September, explained. Besides Suarez, the founders of Koomkin are Pablo Garcia (who conceived the idea of the platform), Santiago Miranda and Daniel Alvarez.
Finally the co-founders of Koomkin reported that the companies that dedicate time and resources to digital media get one cost quotation per week, while by being registered at Koomkin they can get up to 300% more than they could get by their own means.

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Fox Web Creations Presents the New World Trade Center Kansas City Website

Web Design in Kansas City is a little more global today with the release of the World Trade Center Kansas City Website, chock-full of great information for international businesses.

(PRWEB) December 20, 2012
Fox Web Creations and The World Trade Center Kansas City have launched a new website - http://www.wtc-kc.com/. Designed for companies already doing business globally, as well as those considering entering the global marketplace, the site boasts resources on everything from the paperwork involved in international business to options for visiting the countries in question.
With experience and operations in Switzerland, Morocco, and France already under their belt, the Kansas City based Web Design firm Fox Web Creations was an excellent partner for this project. CEO and Lead Developer ElAmri "Red" Rida has a personal understanding of the importance of international business and worked closely with the WTC-KC staff to develop the new site. “We wanted the site to be easy to navigate, interactive and helpful to the business community. We also wanted to make sure that the staff of the WTC would be able to easily manage the content themselves, allowing them more freedom to make decisions about their content." Fox Web Creations focuses on web design in Kansas City, and on assisting small and large businesses with their internet marketing and development needs.
“The new site offers everything from help with export documentation and lead generation, to trade data, visits and education,” says Mehgan Flynn, Director of the WTC-KC. “We’re also part of the largest trade network in the world – you’ll find World Trade Centers in 330 cities and 100 countries around the planet. The new website ties into our mission to connect the KC region to the people, data, companies and government agencies that make up the fabric of global commerce.”
Some of the New Website features include:

    A comprehensive calendar of international events in the local community, including:
--    International market briefings

--     International business workshops

--     Intercultural sensitivity workshops

--     Group Trade missions

    ECertify – an easy, online app for Certificates of Origin
    SphereAccess – lead generation for buyers and suppliers.
As a member of the World Trade Center Association (WTCA), WTC-KC can also offer additional resources and services to support the business community in reaching out to international markets. The services include:

    Global market research
    Trade lead identification
    Global trade intelligence
    Intercultural communication training
    International liaison programs
    Discounted access to SphereAccess - a retail buyers and suppliers matchmaking system.
“Now that the new site is launched, we’re gearing up for a new year of WTC-KC programs and services,” says Flynn. “We’ll continue our popular ‘Doing Business In…” programs featuring various countries – China, for one. And, based on a survey of our members, will be offering a series of cultural sensitivity sessions starting this April. We’re also working with the state of Missouri on an intense, three-month export training program for local businesses. So the new year looks pretty full!”
The World Trade Center Kansas City is a partnership of the Greater Kansas City Chamber, the Kansas City Area Development Council, and KCSmartport. Fox Web Creations is a full service Kansas City Web Design, Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO/M), and Responsive Web Design (RWD) firm, located at 4345 State Line Road, in Kansas City, MO 64111. They are dedicated to assisting all businesses, regardless of size, with their web design and development needs.

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Top Realtor in Gainesville VA, Linton Hall Realtors, Launches Interactive Web Experience

A top performing realtor in Gainesville, VA - Linton Hall Realtors - is pleased to announce the launch of an interactive live chat system to aid their website visitors, who are looking to buy or sell homes in the Gainesville, VA area. The addition of the interactive service will allow for expanded real estate client service in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Gainesville, VA (PRWEB) December 20, 2012
Linton Hall Realtors, one of the highest producing realtors in Gainesville, VA, is pleased to announce the launch of an interactive system to allow real time communications with website visitors. The system will be used to help prospective home buyers search the Gainesville, VA home listings on Linton Hall Realtor's company website. By offering a live chat solution, Linton Hall Realtors expects to help sellers get information they need about listing a home, aid home buyers in finding the right home in the right area, and lead to greater levels of client satisfaction.
Finding homes for sale in Gainesville, VA can be a daunting task. From the Piedmont community in the north down the entire length of Linton Hall Road neighborhoods and communities are springing up. Even as new developments are emerging, some of the older areas are now 15 years old or more. This makes for an area where many families are upgrading and moving within the same community. This is when sellers frequently begin looking for a local agent representative.
Listing a home includes many dynamics. Listing price, marketing the home, and even staging and curb appeal are all important considerations. By implementing the live chat system on the website, people selling their home in Gainesville, VA will be able to interact with a real estate professional right at the moment they begin looking for information. "By providing this type of real time information, we can make the home selling process much easier," said Ashley Leigh, founder of Linton Hall Realtors. "The live chat feature allows us to get critical information to home sellers quickly and easily," he added. Indeed, with programs like the Guaranteed Sale Program, the Move Up to Savings program and even specialized help with short sales, there is a huge quantity of information.
Although there is so much to learn and investigate when selling your home, most sellers conduct extensive research when they are planning to buy new home. Searching for new homes in Gainesville VA is often the more exciting part of the process. That's another reason why Linton Hall Realtors implemented the live chat website feature. "The first thing a buyer/seller does is start searching for their new house. By providing them information when they first begin their search, we can make the entire process work better and smoother," Leigh said. Questions about are schools, planned expansion; home builders and community amenities are all popular questions.
When a user comes to LintonHallRealtors.com, they typically start browsing for a new home and then examining all the program information available to sellers. This process usually continues for weeks or months. When an agent is right there, available for quick questions or even more detailed phone consultations, the home buyer/seller gets exactly the information he or she needs, right at the moment in time it is needed. This leads to an overall improved client experience. "By providing excellent information with real-time technology, we can begin our work with them much earlier in the sales cycle and create a better overall client experience," said Leigh.

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Escape Villas Offers Family Vacation Rentals for the Holidays

Trade the cold winter weather in North America for a tropical Christmas vacation in Costa Rica, where travelers can spend their holidays enjoying outdoor family adventures in the comfort of an Escape Villa family vacation rental.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
As the holiday season approaches, more Americans are planning to travel for Christmas compared to 2011, according to a report by HomeAway, Inc. – an online vacation rental marketplace. The number of families traveling in December is expected to nearly double, rising from 22 percent in 2011 to 40 percent this year.
And while everyone looks forward to a “White Christmas,” some families are trading in blankets of fresh snow for the pristine white sands of a tropical beach. Costa Rica has long been a sun-kissed haven for vacationers seeking outdoor thrills and wildlife encounters, and its balmy weather is a welcome respite during the blustery winter season.
Escape Villas, Costa Rica’s leading vacation rental company, sees a ten-fold increase in reservations during the holiday season, with the majority of bookings made by large family groups. “One of the terrific features about vacation rentals is that extended families can stay together with all the creature comforts of home – but with a lot more space and privacy. They have their own swimming pool, kitchen, laundry facilities and an array of other amenities at no extra charge," says Escape Villas spokesperson, Sara Hopkins
With an impressive portfolio of villas and vacation rentals in some of Costa Rica’s most family-friendly locales, including Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo and Flamingo, Escape Villas caters to those seeking plenty of warm sunshine with easy access to national parks, beaches, nature tours and vibrant nightlife. According to Ms. Hopkins, most guests book their holiday beach vacation rentals at least six months in advance, sometimes even earlier.
On why families choose Escape Villas for their holiday plans, Sara Hopkins explains, “A Christmas vacation in Costa Rica takes the stress out of the holidays, as families can enjoy each other’s company in one of the most spectacular places in the world. The kids never forget the year Santa visited their beachfront home, where every day promised a new and exciting adventure.” Another built-in benefit to their vacation rentals: private chef services. No more slaving in the kitchen, as families can relax and spend time together while someone else prepares a home-cooked holiday feast.
When considering a holiday rental, timing is everything. Costa Rica has two tourism periods: a high season that lasts from December-April and corresponds with the country’s dry weather. And a low season, which runs from May-October, during Costa Rica’s rainy months. December and January are known for their fabulous climate, with cool breezes and average temperatures hovering around 82 F.
While prices may be steeper during this peak time, travelers are willing to shell out extra funds to reap the season’s many rewards, according to Escape Villas’ reservations manager. Recent statistics from a HomeAway, Inc. poll reveal that 31 percent of travelers are booking a vacation rental this December, and 21 percent say they’d pay more for more spacious accommodations, especially those that included a pool or spa tub, kitchen and laundry facilities.
Costa Rica has been a treasured vacation destination for many tourists during the festive holiday months. With its temperate climate, proximity to North America, and wealth of adventure activities, the perks of Christmas in paradise are many. And with more airlines offering direct flights into San Jose and Liberia, travelers have new budget-conscious options for booking their vacation. This past October, Canadian carrier WestJet announced non-stop seasonal service from Toronto to Guanacaste’s Liberia terminal. Other low-cost airlines including Spirit, JetBlue and Frontier also provide direct flights from major U.S. cities like New York, Denver and Orlando.
If the current travel trend continues, the team at Escape Villas anticipates another 10 percent increase in their Costa Rica vacation rental bookings for December 2013. Ms. Hopkins confirms “Our experienced concierge is committed to providing the tropical holiday vacation of a lifetime, with engaging activities for the whole family, from zip-line canopy tours and horseback rides to sunset sailing excursions.”
Families can celebrate the holidays in contemporary rainforest villas – where playful monkeys are regular visitors – to luxurious oceanfront homes with sublime views. Consider the many advantages of a Christmas vacation in Costa Rica with Escape Villas. Feliz Navidad!

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Shiny Reputation Highlights Airbnb for their Focus on Local Neighborhood Information

Shiny Reputation proclaims their opinion on the recent launch of Airbnb’s Neighborhoods program, in which they are looking to narrow the focus of their site to concentrate on services in local neighborhoods where rental properties are located.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
Shiny Reputation has issued an announcement about the launch of the Airbnb Neighborhood program, which seeks to give users of its online holiday lodging rental marketplace more information about the areas in which the lodging is located.
The editor of ShinyReputation.com stated, “Local businesses will benefit greatly from the launch of neighborhood ratings by Airbnb, in which local neighborhoods are rated based on transportation, services, quality of local restaurants and more. This will create an all in one service for renters. The service, which is in its trial stage in San Francisco, will lessen Airbnb’s members need to use services such as Yelp. We still see Yelp going strong and always tell businesses that improving your reputation online is key to developing the business relationship with patrons. The neighborhoods service is another resource.”
Airbnb is an online marketplace in which people can offer their homes, apartments, and other types of lodging for rent directly to travelers, bypassing hotels and apartment-finding services. Airbnb was founded in San Francisco in 2008, and has since grown to host more than 200,000 unique listings in 26,000 cities in 192 countries across the globe. On Airbnb, individuals can search for lodgings available in a certain city for a certain timeframe, and then choose from the listings on offer by private renters in that location. Payment is done through the website itself, while all interactions between renters and lodgers are done on a personal basis. The Neighborhoods program is an attempt to give travelers more information about specific local areas of cities they travel to and choose lodgings in the area of their choosing. Currently the program is for information purposes only, and is not yet a channel for marketing online. “That being said the photos used to highlight the local businesses on the neighborhoods tool are amazing. Most travel savvy individuals will seek out those businesses’ websites. It is always recommended that server uptime monitoring receive some attention as we are primarily connected via the internet.”
Airbnb has launched the Neighborhoods program in this city in which it is headquartered, San Francisco, California. San Francisco is the financial, cultural, and technological capital of the West Coast of the United States. With over 800,000 residents in the city itself and more than 7.5 million in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, it is one of the largest and most important cities in the US. The San Francisco Bay Area is known for being the home of Silicon Valley, and the center of technological innovation in the US. Some of the tech companies with headquarters in the area include Apple Computers, Adobe, HP, Google, and Intel.
The launch of Airbnb’s local Neighborhood program will give local businesses further exposure within this large community of travelers, and possibly increase business. Additionally, it will position Airbnb as a rival to Yelp when looking at local businesses and determining where to stay, and what to do. It has yet to be determined if the program will be successful, but local businesses should be entranced by the thought of become visible to a new pool of potential customers.

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KSL Cars Adds Contact At Once! Live Chat in Ads

Utah Dealerships Can Integrate Chat to Connect with Potential Buyers

Atlanta (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
Contact At Once!, the leading live chat provider connecting online and mobile car shoppers to auto dealers, today announced that it has been selected by KSL Cars, Utah’s leading online marketplace, as its exclusive provider of live chat for automotive advertising. KSL Cars will bundle Contact At Once! in its auto dealer packages.
Contact At Once! live chat is used by over 10,000 automobile dealerships and the world’s busiest online automotive shopping sites. Dealers who use Contact At Once! say they typically experience a 25% increase in the number of connections with website visitors.
“Contact At Once! was the first to put live chat in online automotive classifieds and they have unique features that make the software especially well-suited for connecting thousands of shoppers with dealers through chat in ads,” says Eric Bright, KSL’s Vice-President of E-Commerce.
“More and more shoppers prefer text and chat to old-fashioned lead forms and they like the instant access, as well as the convenience,” says Lloyd Hecht, Contact At Once! Director, Business Development. Advertising with mobile and desktop text and chat options can draw more attention and appeal to shoppers who might be reluctant to call or email.”
KSL Cars is the leading provider of auto classifieds in Utah, serving more than 45,000 car shoppers per month. Another factor in choosing Contact At Once! was ease of use and implementation, says Bright. “Our advertisers can be chatting with potential car buyers in a matter of minutes.”
About Contact At Once!

Contact At Once! pioneered the use of website chat in automotive advertising, enabling instant connections between online shoppers and dealerships through search websites, dealership websites, social media and mobile sites. More than 10,000 customers rely on Contact At Once! chat to drive incremental sales opportunities and increase return on advertising investments. For more information, visit http://www.autodealerchat.com.
About KSL

KSL.com is owned and operated by Deseret Digital Media (DDM), and powers the largest online marketplace in Utah - including auto, real estate, deals and local search verticals. In total, Deseret Digital Media properties attract more than 5.5 million unique visitors and serve nearly 300 million page views per month. The DDM network of web sites includes KSL.com, Deseretnews.com, DeseretBook.com, MormonTimes.com, LDSChurchNews.com, FM100.com, OK.com and 1035TheArrow.com. Deseret Digital Media's two-part vision is to become the largest and most compelling regional commerce marketplace in the United States and to also become a world-leading, values-based digital content marketplace. Deseret Digital Media is a part of Deseret Media Companies.

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BedEd.org Launches Blog for Mattress Reviews, Education, Consumer Tips & More

New blog, BedEd.org announces launch; to promote consumer awareness via buying guides, shopping tips, product reviews, and information related to mattresses and sleep.

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
BedEd.org launches mattress education blog designed to offer consumer resources including reviews, buying guides, shopping tips, and more.
Shopping for a new bed can seem like a daunting task with so many brands, models, and types in the marketplace. How can consumers figure out the best bed for their needs? BedEd.org seeks to help shoppers make the research process a little smoother with informational support regarding mattresses, brands and innovations.
Using an easy to navigate blog format, the website will provide first hand research as well as write ups and summaries of third party reviews and research. As an information aggregate, the blog will contain information on the spectrum of companies and offerings available, making research simpler and more efficient for shoppers.
Planned topics are to include mattress buying guides, pros and cons of specific mattress types and brands, product reviews, and sleep hygiene tips. They will also run series detailing the best mattress types based on specific needs in response to common concerns and reader questions. The blog also hopes to serve as a social tool via commentary on personal experience and recommendations.
The blog’s initial post takes an informational stance on mattress material composition and effects on health. Titled “What’s in Your Bed? Choosing the Best Mattress for Your Health” the post outlines how flame retardants, volatile organic compounds, and allergens impact sleepers. Using these criteria, it is explained why natural latex and memory foam offer superior alternatives for individuals concerned about mattress health.
Upcoming posts will include tips for combating allergies in the bedroom, detailed information on mattress types, and how to pick the best beds for back pain and fibromyalgia. BedEd.org offers newsletter options and a Twitter feed for interested readers to receive updates on recent posts and industry news.

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