The last year saw many achievements for Chengdu’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. According to data from the Chengdu Municipal Statistics Bureau, Chengdu hosted 530 major exhibitions, conferences and forums in 2014, of which 214 were exhibitions, 45 more than a year earlier or a year-over-year (YOY) growth rate of 26.6 percent, and 113 were international conferences and forums, 8 more than a year earlier, or a YOY growth rate of 7.6 percent. The events took up 3.25 million square meters of space in the aggregate, a YOY growth rate of 8.0 percent, of which 49 were international in nature, occupying 1.74 million square meters, a YOY growth rate of 16.0 percent. Direct revenue derived from the industry for 2014 totaled 6.95 billion yuan, up 14.9 percent year-on-year while overall revenue (direct plus indirect) revenue reached 58.4 billion yuan, up 14.5 percent year-on-year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7511651-chengdu-china-mice-industry/
It’s not the first question a parent asks. It’s likely not the fourth or fifth. But for parents like Brian and Diane Vollmert, the question of how to pay for their son, Scott, to receive the best care while providing for their family became an unmanageable challenge.
“From the very beginning, Scott didn’t fit cleanly in any category. He wasn’t clearly autistic. He wasn’t clearly developmentally delayed. He had characteristics of both,” said Diane. That combination of Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental delay can add up to more than $2.4 million in care over Scott’s lifetime, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Pediatrics last year. An astronomical sum for most Americans, including the Vollmerts.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7422152-northwestern-mutual-special-needs/
Last week, Tidy Cats and Jenni Pulos of Bravo’s hit show Flipping Out gave one lucky Chicagoan an in-home makeover centered around her cat’s bathroom – the litter box. Lisa Totino won a litter box area makeover for her cat Tia as the Grand Prize Winner of the Tidy Cats® LightWeight Littervention™ Contest, which sought to bring the benefits of Tidy Cats LightWeight litter to a cat owner in need.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7494751-tidy-cats-littervention-winner/
Click: http://www.melogia.com
“This music video is about immigrants and the challenges they encounter every day," says Sarantos. “Can you imagine leaving the comforts of your homeland and moving by yourself or with a spouse or child to go to a foreign land, not knowing the language and not having any money in your pockets? I can't even imagine something that drastic! My parents were both immigrants and I recall the bias against them. They worked hard, bothered no one and only cared about helping me live a better life. Is there a cause more just or noble? America is still the land of opportunity. I have such a profound level of respect and admiration for any and all immigrants who legally try to make America their adopted home!”
33% of any music-related sales profits from this song are going straight to Feed My Starving Children.
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and they ship these meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Sarantos even participated in one of these packing sessions on a cold Chicago night last month!
Today, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) released a new report, “A Decade of Innovation in Rare Diseases,” to document the significant progress made in the last 10 years in understanding a broad range of rare diseases and translating this knowledge into groundbreaking therapies for a variety of patient populations.
The report illustrates that more than 230 new medicines to treat rare or “orphan” diseases were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the last decade, and there are currently more than 450 orphan drugs in development.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7350554-phrma-report-innovation-rare-diseases/
Last winter was one of the harshest, hitting millions of Americans with spikes in their winter utility bills. Unfortunately, here we are, one year later, facing yet another polar vortex. Meteorologists predict some of the coldest blasts of frigid temperatures over the next several days, which has energy experts worried about the impact on consumers’ utility bills, as well as on the reliability of the electric grid we all depend on.
As Polar Vortex 2015 moves across the country, consumers could face spikes in electricity bills, with seniors on fixed incomes and lower income Americans hit the hardest. According to a recent survey, high energy prices already have forced more than 40 percent of low-income seniors to go without needed medical or dental care, and even to skip meals or shut off the heat on cold days.
It may seem odd to be predicting another energy price spike since oil, natural gas and coal prices have all fallen recently. But it’s not the market that will be driving prices higher. It’s politics.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7221731-national-mining-association-americans-electricity-bill-increase-due-to-epa-regulations/
Kubota Tractor Corporation has announced the availability of its second phase of all-new Kubota Hay Tools in dealerships nationwide. The recently expanded hay tools line brings to market new round balers and turntable bale wrappers; side-mounted and trailed disc mowers; trailed mower conditioners; and a complete range of rotary tedders and rakes.
The new machinery is designed specifically for the U.S. market to further expand Kubota's presence in the larger agricultural product market. "With our extended line of hay tools, we are building on the success of our well-received initial hay tools launch last year and responding to outstanding dealer and customer demand for more high-performing implements from Kubota," said Dave Palmer, senior product manager of Kubota hay tools. "Kubota understands that our customers depend on our equipment's productivity and by providing the right tools, we always deliver. Kubota's hay tools are performance-matched to ideally complement our M-Series tractors and deliver a more comprehensive line of haying solutions for our customers' needs."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7443251-kubota-tractor-hay-tools/
http://www.melogia.com New rock song "We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve" is an emotional piece about domestic violence.
Now that the Super Bowl is over, the NFL will have a chance to reflect on quite a year. Domestic violence was frequently at the forefront of the 2014-2015 season and unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Sarantos is proud to release this latest rock song. Violence against women and children results from the use of force or threat to achieve and maintain control over others in intimate relationships, and from societal abuse of power and domination in the forms of sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, anti-Semitism, able-bodyism, ageism and other oppressions. The abuses of power in society foster battering by perpetuating conditions, which condone violence against women and children. “This a powerful rock song about domestic violence in our society today," says Sarantos. “It seems like this topic was in the news a lot in the last year between the NFL, Bill Cosby and so many other stories that made headlines. My heart goes out to the victims. I wrote this song to not only start a conversation on the matter but to hopefully help others find a solution. This is a hard rock song about a man who has made many mistakes in his life. He constantly takes emotional abuse from his partner. Somewhere along the way, he has lost his faith. Thru the words, the bruises and the blame though he stays right there... Why does he stay right there? I hope this song helps drive home the message throughout the world that domestic abuse is simply not ok.”
33% of any music-related sales profits from this song are going straight to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Icelandair helped alleviate the long days of darkness last night with the launch of their Aurora Borealis-themed plane, the Hekla Aurora. The launch, part of Icelandair’s #MyStopover campaign, culminated in Reykjavik as the plane flew over an illuminated Hallgrimskirkja church - a prelude to the city’s annual Winter Lights Festival which begins tomorrow.
The Hekla Aurora is part of Icelandair’s transatlantic fleet, providing passengers an experience of the Aurora Borealis while on board, both with its interior mood lighting, and the new Aurora Borealis livery on the exterior. As the Boeing 757 flew over Reykjavik city yesterday, passengers experienced the dancing lights of the on-board Aurora Borealis, with Icelandic music as the soundtrack, and, adding to the experience, a unique birds-eye view of Hallgrimskirkja church. The plane landed at Reykjavik’s domestic airport to a fanfare welcome as the locals came out in force to celebrate. They were also able to experience the plane for themselves as it was opened to the public.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7441451-icelandair-aurora-borealis-plane/
Icelandair helped alleviate the long days of darkness last night with the launch of their Aurora Borealis-themed plane, the Hekla Aurora. The launch, part of Icelandair’s #MyStopover campaign, culminated in Reykjavik as the plane flew over an illuminated Hallgrimskirkja church - a prelude to the city’s annual Winter Lights Festival which begins tomorrow.
The Hekla Aurora is part of Icelandair’s transatlantic fleet, providing passengers an experience of the Aurora Borealis while on board, both with its interior mood lighting, and the new Aurora Borealis livery on the exterior. As the Boeing 757 flew over Reykjavik city yesterday, passengers experienced the dancing lights of the on-board Aurora Borealis, with Icelandic music as the soundtrack, and, adding to the experience, a unique birds-eye view of Hallgrimskirkja church. The plane landed at Reykjavik’s domestic airport to a fanfare welcome as the locals came out in force to celebrate. They were also able to experience the plane for themselves as it was opened to the public.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7441451-icelandair-aurora-borealis-plane/
LAST DAYS OF THE CONDOR is the sequel to renowned screenwriter James Grady’s New York Times bestselling Six Days of the Condor. Grady brings back “The Condor,” the beloved character from both the page and silver screen, continuing the breakneck saga of America’s top secrets in another razor-edged and realistic adventure. Find out more about the book here- http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765378408 and find out more about the author here- http://www.jamesgrady.net/ Thriller
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning consumers to be careful when buying a used vehicle, especially one that’s priced “too good to be true.”
The accompanying video describes one such incident. An innocent woman in Lancaster, Wisc. bought a used GMC Denali for $30,000 and for the last two years she has been enjoying its use. Meanwhile, Carfax notified NICB that the Denali might be a “clone” since Carfax had information that an identical Denali was currently registered in Peabody, Mass.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70506515-nicb-stolen-vehicle-clones/