The 2011 Christmas Book was unveiled today by luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 85th edition of this legendary book continues Neiman Marcus’s unmatched tradition of offering its customers a selection of spectacular and unique holiday gifts sure to make even their wildest dreams come true.
The arrival of the Christmas Book is considered by many to mark the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year’s edition of the Christmas Book carries on the Neiman Marcus tradition of presenting a refined selection of items across a broad range of categories for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/51145-2011-neiman-marcus-christmas-book
Kaplan University master’s degree graduate Onica Browne obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on international business. In her case, this Kaplan University online program offered a unique learning experience to collaborate with students in other countries, enriching the learning process.
Kaplan University offers online degree programs including an MBA distance learning program designed to foster thought leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. Upon completion of the MBA program students could have the opportunity to pursue several career paths.* An MBA is one of the most sought after university degrees online as it can be applied in almost any realm of the business world and is often of interest to students looking to advance in their field.
Kaplan University’s online MBA program is designed for the working student. Our classes are flexible and the courses are designed to be closely related to what students will encounter in their career. More employers seek the knowledge and discipline that is relevant to completing graduate school. An MBA degree could help create value in an employer’s eyes and set you apart in today’s competitive business environment. We strive to set ourselves apart by continually developing and enhancing our curriculum to help prepare our students to succeed in their careers.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I had my undergraduate degree in international business for just about seven years and I have always wanted to get my master’s degree. When I looked at other universities and selected Kaplan [University] for my master’s degree, Kaplan [University] gave you the most ‘bang for your buck.’ I met professors that were actually in the industries that they taught. This was not purely an academic setting. Everything that we do in international business is all about relating to other people and everything we do at Kaplan [University] is about how you relate to other people and how that relation allows you to do better.
I met people who were from China, who were from Japan, who were from the Middle East; I met a gentleman who was a program developer for Microsoft based in Shanghai. I had one of my classmates in Iraq at the time and we would collaborate on different projects while she was in Iraq and I was in the United States.
That’s the beauty of Kaplan [University]. We share and we learn from each other and then you can go back to work the next day and apply the same information that you learned in class. I work for the US Small Business Administration. Because I have my Master’s Degree from Kaplan [University] I actually was able to obtain the job that I have right now where I’m helping small businesses. Without my master’s degree from Kaplan [University] I would not have even been considered for the position so my degree is allowing me to touch people outside of me and allowing them to touch people outside of them so it’s almost like paying it forward.”
Carol Platt was caught in the middle of the economic downturn with no backup plan. Searching for a stable job in an unstable economy proved to be difficult without a college degree. Her work history and past successes were overlooked. It had always been a dream of hers to complete her degree; after a failed first attempt, she was unsure of her ability to follow through. She began researching online education options and felt that Kaplan University stood out; she decided to complete her college degree online. Carol enrolled in Kaplan University’s School of Business and Management and earned her bachelor’s degree online, focusing on business with an emphasis in human resources.
The adult continuing education program at Kaplan University is designed for working professionals who seek to further their career or, like Carol, want to earn their university degree online.* Students can complete assignments on a schedule that fits their lives. It’s this type of flexibility that helps prepare Kaplan University online students for success. Even if you already have an established career, it’s never too late to consider online business school to further your knowledge and update your skills. Increase your marketability with one of Kaplan University’s online bachelor degree programs without taking time off of work to attend class.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I grew up in Graham, North Carolina. My parents both worked for the textile mills, both had fourth grade educations and my mom always wanted me to get an education. When I graduated from high school it was my dream to go to college. I failed the first class of my life which was my chemistry class. I was just overwhelmed so I left after about a year and half, got a job and kept trying to go back to school. For me it was personally devastating. It really bothered me. I felt like I was failing. I had one shot and I blew it.
When Jenna left for boarding school I couldn’t even open the door and go in the room and I was almost 52. All of that coincided with the downturn of the market. I had almost $6 million dollars in contracts waiting to close and they all fell through—every single one of them. I thought, ‘now what? I don’t have a degree, there are no jobs.’ It doesn’t matter what I had done or how much success I had, the requirements are to have a degree. Not only that, I had to walk back in the door competing with people half my age and many of them had MBAs.
It was just a matter of figuring out how to do it—so that’s when I started to check into what were the institutions, what was the cost, how were they respected. Kaplan [University] had a degree in business with a specialty in human resources. As I started narrowing the options down, it made it into about the final three. I took those three finalists to my traditional education friends and I said, ‘I want to know what the most respected online degree would be if someone was coming into your office looking for a job.’
The IT Dean, the Computer Science Dean, felt like Kaplan [University] had the best online delivery program that was out there. The Academic Dean’s advice was that this is a respected degree that you’re not going to have people questioning whether you were competent when you came out. Everything that you take there will be accepted if you go on to a master’s [program] anywhere so that was a very good recommendation. When I sat down at graduation, 31 years later, and I’m looking up at the podium and it says, ‘Kaplan University: a Different School of Thought’ that was probably more me because I do think a little differently. I’m willing to work on things that innovate and I think that’s more of an opportunity for me and many students like me.~N
An information technology degree from Kaplan University could be the first step towards a potential information technology career.* Earning an IT degree online can seem like a daunting task, but Kaplan University faculty and staff are available to students through email, instant messaging, and phone calls as well as weekly online seminars.
Kaplan University students who have completed their online information technology degrees have gone on to work at major corporations including Microsoft and Ticketmaster. The IT degree program offered by Kaplan University presents students with real-world scenarios and offers the support to learn in an interactive environment. Constant communication and extensive resources positions Kaplan University among the top online universities.
Completing a university degree online allows the student to continue working full time while being able to take classes that fit into their busy schedules. Even in a difficult economy, a degree from Kaplan University is an investment in your future. Technological advances are not slowing down and those who can manage information technology and all that an IT degree encompasses could have a relevant career ahead of them.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“The Information Systems and Technology programs at Kaplan [University] are very real-world and very relevant. Kaplan [University] teaches its students skills that are really necessary in today’s work place. One of the things we do for an incoming student at Kaplan [University] is we provide them very early on with some diagnostic testing that helps them identify not only their academic strengths and opportunities for learning, but also helps them identify their areas of interest and their strengths outside of the academic setting. From the first day the student virtually steps on to the campus they’re empowered to be successful.
Every day our faculty talk with students and help them think about how they can accomplish what they need to accomplish in order to be successful at school. They want to make sure that the students are comfortable in their environment and students will tell you that they can get a hold of anybody just about any time.
All of the faculty members have instant messaging and email capabilities and they have office hours where you can contact them or you can email them and they’ll always get back to you.
I have well over 300 students on my messenger list so there’s still a lot of that personalization and we try to get in there and really help the students succeed.
The support I got from my teachers and advisors was tremendous. They were caring and they seemed like they were really interested in what was going on.
We’re very serious about our work so that our students are learning and growing and when they graduate they’re prepared for what they’re doing. In the classroom we’re relaxed and we talk to each other.
I was very surprised; I actually met a lot of wonderful people online and I’ve made lifelong friends with them.
We have a seminar every week online where you meet with the instructor and all the students; it’s like a chat room. It involves an audio feature so they can hear the instructor speak. It allows for much more interactive questioning and dialogue so the student gets much more out of the seminar experience. We want to connect talent to success, to career and job success.
Now, with my education, I’ll be able to make better money which means better opportunities for my kids, my family and a better quality of life. The quality of education that I received at Kaplan University was superb. It was far beyond anything I could have imagined.
One of my former students has al
Carol Baldwin-Moody of Wilmington Trust describes the challenges that are present in her line of work as senior vice president and chief risk officer. There is a strong legal backing to every major issue in today’s society. Baldwin-Moody has come across several scenarios that aren’t covered by the dated constitutional law in effect today. In past years, a risk officer was thought to be a management concept that would be useful, but not worth the investment. Lately, a risk officer career has become an indispensible resource in the corporate world.
The law plays an important role in every aspect of our lives. Even something that seems simple, like the ability to send a text message and donate money to a charitable organization, requires contract law to come into play. If a career as a compliance officer is of interest to you, an online legal studies degree from Kaplan University could be the first step in working toward that goal.* A legal studies degree allows students the unique opportunity to grow into a field that is constantly changing and evolving.
*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“Social media, the first amendment, privacy; the law is so far behind in that trend. Blogs and all of that, that is a constant challenge for me today because everybody wants to talk the way they want to talk and in my job, I’m required to actually surveil peoples’ e-mails; I’m required by law. I look for certain words; well, that was ok when people used words. Now when they use ‘r u,’ I can’t surveil that. The privacy issue with kids and MySpace, that whole area of law, think about it; constitutional law was what we learned. There’s nothing in constitutional law that we learned 30 years ago, so if you’re into that, there’s going to be a lot of time. We need that because it’s evolutionary.
Globalization—if you think about what happened in the financial markets, the meltdown, it’s because there’s so much connection and therefore there are a lot of things going on in that arena where every country’s financial rules, they’re looking at them and comparing them. That’s another area- comparative law. Comparative law when it comes to the environment and financial services; those are two big things.
Health—the whole health debate; you may be thinking just about the politics but there’s a lot of law behind that. HIPA, all those rights, and think about the things they’re talking about from a political perspective—there’s a lot of law behind that.
Those are just three areas that are not only specific in terms of thinking outside of the box, but they actually go back to a lot of the fundamentals that are part of the law. Those are just three; that social media one, I don’t even want to tackle that one; I’m assigning that to my kids. Just think about it—it’s out there before anything has been screened. You think about the things that go on—it’s called the social media. There used to be the 6 o’clock news; there’s the 24 hour news, there’s the instant news now.
I think some of it’s great, I think some of the positive things about the technology, I just learned this, the fact that you could text five digits on your phone and the money was in Haiti instantly. But, a lot of people don’t realize how much legal work was behind the contractual agreement between the phone companies. There was a lot of legal work that was done in order for that to happen but yet young people, my daughter was one of them, it’s like, ‘ok mom,’ and then I start thinking; well I know what really happened. They had to get into a contract about that, but those are the kinds of things that at the end you see the result is phenomenal. Think about that 20 years ago—could not have happened.”
What can you do in 5 weeks? With the Kaplan Commitment, our students can take courses for their online bachelor’s degree or online graduate programs at no cost for 5 weeks to ensure that Kaplan University is the right fit.* Kaplan University strives to be leader among accredited online universities. We strive to offer our students the care and resources to succeed. Attending university online can seem challenging when coupled with other obligations. Kaplan University understands the demands our students face and offers the convenience and flexibility of online learning.
Students can attend class virtually anywhere they have an Internet connection and where they feel most comfortable. We strive to set ourselves apart from other online universities with the care we show each student. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals; in doing so, we create capable, successful graduates that make Kaplan University a trusted name in education. We are changing the way students view higher education, making university degrees online attainable for everyone—even those with the busiest schedule.
*Classes will count toward a student’s degree if satisfactorily completed. No credits are earned if the student withdraws during the introductory period. The introductory period is five weeks, and begins on day one of the student’s first academic term. If a student chooses to opt out at any point during the introductory period, he or she will have no obligation to the University other than the application fee. Only available to new students; continuing students are not eligible.
“What can you do in 5 weeks?
Climb the sixth-highest mountain in the world… and do it after 50.
You could build a 25 foot 9 inch house of cards with 1800 decks of cards… and a whole lot of patience.
You (and a friend) could ride a motorcycle from Alaska to Argentina.
You could watch a complete baseball game in all thirty major league ballparks. That’s a lot of hot dogs.
Why not run 7 marathons, on 7 continents.
You could build a spaceship and launch your dog into orbit. The Soviet Union did it.
Real people did all these things…so what could you do in 5 weeks? Something extraordinary.
Attend real classes for real credits at Kaplan University- and only pay if you stay.
Five weeks to see if Kaplan University is the right fit for you.
Five weeks to pursue your passion.
What can you do in 5 weeks? Find out for yourself. That’s the Kaplan commitment.”
BeautifulPeople.com, the dating community exclusively for good-looking people, has launched “REALLY?” a 90 second movie in response to a sustained assault on the site’s concept.
Since BeautifulPeople.com launched in 2002, the dating site which is founded on the principle that everyone wants to be with someone they are attracted to, has come under fire for being prejudiced, unfair, and even for misunderstanding human nature. In the words of renowned social psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, former lecturer and researcher at Cardiff University, it has been “lambasted for telling the truth.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go tohttp://www.multivu.com/mnr/50277-beautifulpeople-com-really-movie-good-looks-not-important-ugly-truth
Your employer’s health care benefits enrollment packet has arrived and the deadline for your decision may be looming.
If you’re like many Americans, this process of weighing benefits and costs isn’t among your favorite tasks. And even though you’d rather spend time doing something else, the decisions you make will affect your family’s health and pocketbook for at least the next 12 months.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52085-cigna-tips-how-to-choose-health-plan-during-open-enrollment
Many cold sore sufferers try to tough out cold sores or try home remedies that can possibly make their cold sore even worse. There\'s a lot to be learned about the pesky cold sore that you may not know. For example, did you know that as temperatures drop and cold-weather-related illnesses rise, the chance of a cold sore being triggered increases? Cold temperatures and illness are just two triggers that can cause cold sore outbreaks. Other triggers include stress, sun exposure, injury to the mouth, and lack of sleep. Stress, which tends to rear its head during the winter months as many people prepare for the holidays, coupled with cold weather can create the perfect storm for a cold sore outbreak as we enter cold and flu season. Find out how FDA-approved Abreva allows you to win a speedy victory against cold sore attacks.
Australians are closely linked to the sea through commerce, defence, exploration, adventure, sport and play. Our oceans and waterways have influenced our development...and who we are.
The museum captures these themes with fascinating artefact\\\\\\\'s, lively exhibitions, fun activities and even the chance to board ships and experience life on the water.
This summer, experience AQUA: A Journey into the World of Water, a multisensory experience for the whole family. created by ONE DROP, an initiative of Guy Lailberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil®. http://www.onedrop.org/en/default.aspx
Only in Australia at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour Sydney from 3 December 2011 - 26 February 2012.
http://www.anmm.gov.au/aqua
This summer, join us on Facebook for the chance to WIN great prizes.
http://www.facebook.com/anmmuseum
Every day, almost every American is touched by a nonprofit organization in some way, whether a loved one is treated for a health concern or uses a service that is being offered in their community. Almost all Americans make a contribution each year, and half of all Americans volunteer.
In this tough economic climate, when people are struggling to make ends meet and nonprofits are dealing with declining funding even as demand for their services are growing, it’s imperative that hard-earned dollars are not wasted and go to the organizations that are doing the most good.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/52621-guidestar-and-hope-consulting-money-for-good-II/
Ahh, the holidays…
A time to celebrate with good food, friends and family. But what many forget to factor in is the actual trip itself.
Every year 13 thousand people are injured by everyday objects that turn destructive in even a minor car accident.
But Kristen Varela from Cars.com has some easy tips to safely secure that pumpkin pie while heading over to grandma’s house.
