The Verizon Innovative App Challenge - the no-coding-skills-needed contest that gives middle and high school students a chance to bring their problem-solving app ideas to life - is back! In its fourth year, the App Challenge calls students to gather teams, dream up ideas, and create concepts for mobile apps that could solve problems in their schools and communities.
For the first time, the App Challenge will be open to teams representing non-profit organizations in addition to schools, and even more students will earn free tablets and cash awards for the groups they represent. The deadline for submission is Nov. 24, and the winners will be named in January 2016.
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is helping Verizon to encourage students nationwide to submit their ideas and to organize their teams now.
Created by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association, the App Challenge offers hands-on, experiential learning to ultimately help students envision brighter futures for themselves that they may never have imagined, as business owners, app inventors and professional coders.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7593951-verizon-innovative-app-challenge/
From spider cupcakes, to cheesecake coffins, to witch finger cookies and mummy macarons, seven of the country’s top bakers compete to create Halloween’s spookiest and most creepy crawly confections on Food Network’s Halloween Baking Championship, premiering Monday, October 5th at 9:00pm ET/PT. In order to survive this haunted competition, hosted by Richard Blais, contestants must prove their baking abilities and impress judges Ron Ben-Israel, Carla Hall, and Sherry Yard. Only one winner will take home the grand prize of $25,000 and the title of Halloween Baking Champion!
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7329436-food-network-halloween-baking-championship/
To help kick off National Emergency Preparedness month, Primrose Schools is teaming up with national partner Save the Children on a nine-week series aimed at equipping families with tools so they can better prepare for the unexpected. The interactive program features engaging resources, activities and videos on Primrose Schools’ 360 Parenting blog that ultimately lead parents through a simple, step-by-step process to create their own family emergency plans.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7437952-primrose-save-the-children-preparedness/
Apothic Wines, known for their bold, intense blended wines that combine Old World intrigue with New World sophistication, is excited to announce the return of Apothic Dark. Its secret blend highlights unique and uncommon grapes to create a mysterious wine that is evocative of the romance found in darkness. This red wine blends dark fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry with opulent notes of coffee and dark chocolate for a rich, yet silky smooth, wine experience.
To celebrate the return of Apothic Dark, Apothic Wine is convincing the world to “Go Dark” with its #GoDark campaign. The #GoDark promotion kicked off on September 24 when an impromptu dark parade descended on downtown Austin. Onlookers helping to “Keep Austin Dark” joined more than 50 mysteriously cloaked performance artists and Apothic enthusiasts in a procession that originated from Congress Bridge and culminated with dark revelry at a historic downtown theater.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7617151-apothic-wine-godark/
Allstate Foundation Purple Purse® ambassador Kerry Washington unveiled her latest purse design to bring attention to domestic violence and financial abuse before an audience of community leaders, survivors and VIPs on Sept. 24 in New York City. In so doing, she also kicked off a month-long effort to raise funds for domestic violence programs nationwide.
Golden Globe and Emmy nominated Washington partnered with handbag designer, Dee Ocleppo, to create the 2015 Purple Purse. The limited-edition, on-trend clutch was created to encourage the public to talk about domestic violence and financial abuse. This year, the purple purse, retailing at $350, is available for purchase beginning Sept. 25 at select Saks Fifth Avenue locations and on Saks.com with 25 percent of proceeds supporting abuse programs.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7616851-allstate-foundation-purple-purse/
Tatsuo Miyajima, one of Japan’s most influential artists over the past two decades, debuted his work “HOTO” (2008) in the United States for the first time this week for an indefinite engagement at The Shops at Crystals in Las Vegas. The piece previously has been on display only in Japan and China.
Inspired by Buddhist scripture, HOTO – meaning “treasure pagoda” – refers to a story about a monumental bejeweled tower that emerges from the ground, floats midair and covers half the world, symbolizing the importance of every human life. According to Buddhist teachings, life cannot be described without such an impossible story because life is nothing but a miracle.
It was this scripture and the devastating events of September 11, 2001 that inspired Miyajima to create HOTO, which represents his belief that every life is important as well as his hope for inter-connectedness across the globe creating peace and community.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7632251-mgm-resorts-tatsuo-miyajima-hoto-art/
Wine connoisseurs and novices alike can experience the art of winemaking at BLEND aboard Holland America Line’s new ms Koningsdam when the ship debuts in April 2016. In collaboration with Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington State’s oldest and most acclaimed winery, the intimate venue will enable guests to blend their own wine and enjoy it at dinner or in the privacy of their stateroom.
BLEND — the first of its kind for Holland America Line and the only purpose-built wine-blending venue at sea — will have a tasting table that accommodates 10 guests who can create their own blend from a selection of five barrels of single-vineyard red wine. In addition to participating in the blending process, guests also will learn about wine from the ship’s wine expert, who leads the blending session.
“At the core of every Holland America Line cruise is our desire to offer unique, immersive and innovative experiences, and BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle is all of those things and more,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “The BLEND experience on Koningsdam is designed to appeal to everyone, and it will be exciting for our guests to create an exclusive wine tailored to their personal taste that they can enjoy onboard with our exceptional cuisine.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7363852-holland-america-line-ms-koningsdam/
Beringer Vineyards, one of the most acclaimed producers in Napa Valley, announces the launch of Better Beckons, its 2016 multichannel advertising campaign inspired by hand-holding, Instagram sensations Murad and Nataly Osmann. Known for shooting breathtaking photographs of his wife leading him all over the world, Murad has captured the brand’s promise to “bring the better” to consumers in a series of campaign visuals that evoke Beringer’s authentic American heritage.
Beringer Vineyards was founded in 1876 by two brothers from Germany, Jacob and Frederick Beringer, who built their legacy on the pioneering belief that great wine could be made in Napa. Today, one of California’s most iconic wineries known for quality at a variety of price points, Beringer’s storied heritage is rooted in the spirit of American optimism - the belief that the best has yet to come.
“Better Beckons is a natural extension of my photography style, as it invites viewers to experience authentic and unique moments,” observed Osmann, creative director behind the campaign. “Photographing material from a first-person perspective is ideal to capture one’s own sense of curiosity and create an optimistic view that suggests there is more to be seen.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7643251-beringer-better-beckons-murad-osmann/
The 6th Beijing Biennale under the theme of “Memory and Dream”, co-sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the China Artists Association is expected to be exhibited in the National Art Museum of China from Sep.24 to Oct.15, 2015. The exhibition attracted 685 pieces of artwork from 96 countries which registered half of the member countries of the United Nations, covering contemporary paintings, sculptures, installations, videos and mixed media (with 188 pieces of artwork from China and 497 pieces of artwork from foreign countries).
Artists from all over the world were encouraged to create paintings and sculptures related to the theme “Memory and Dream”. The International Art Gala with unprecedented size of participating countries provides a high standard visual feast for all art lovers from all over the world. Beijing Biennale serves as a platform to demonstrate historical and cultural memories of different countries and express humankind’s expectation and aspiration for the future by means of art. Following the opening ceremony, the Beijing Biennale has become the focus of audiences and media with the daily volume registered at 7000. It is expected that during the Golden Week of the National Holiday, the audiences per day will amount to more than 10,000.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7644351-beijing-biennale-memory-and-dream/
Children with physical disabilities are twice as likely to be bullied, impacting their educational, physical and emotional development.* In support of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, Shriners Hospitals for Children® and award-winning actor, model and philanthropist, RJ Mitte, are once again partnering to encourage the public to help #CutTheBull.
Teens and adults alike are encouraged to visit CutTheBull.org and see how they can help create a more positive, accepting environment for kids living with disabilities. There, Shriners Hospitals will announce “RJ's Heroes”, honoring individuals who have helped reduce bullying in their communities. Supporters can also share their anti-bullying stories and purchase #CutTheBull t-shirts, with proceeds going to Shriners Hospitals for Children to provide life-changing care to kids.
Born with cerebral palsy, Mitte was bullied as a child and knows firsthand the effects it can have. The doctors and staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children helped Mitte overcome many of the physical effects of cerebral palsy, which made him stronger and able to succeed despite the bullying. Now a successful actor and model, Mitte wants to help other kids with disabilities who may be experiencing the same thing.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7559151-shriners-hospital-cut-the-bull/
As the largest senior living provider in the country, Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) is advancing its industry leadership role through a new national branding and communications initiative beginning today. Brookdale’s campaign is designed to provoke audiences to rethink their views of senior living and to capture the essence of the close relationships formed every day between the company's 80,000 associates and nearly 100,000 residents. As part of the campaign, the company is undertaking a broad range of initiatives to evolve the perception of senior living and demonstrate how innovative approaches and services at Brookdale can transform lives.
“We continue to move forward on our objective to develop the preeminent senior living brand, and we believe this campaign will create a cultural redefinition of the value that an innovative senior living provider can bring to people's lives,” said Will Clark, Brookdale’s senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “Brookdale is bringing new life to the traditional view of senior living. We focus our energy on enabling seniors to live their lives to the fullest – and in doing so changing the myths and perceptions of senior living. As the largest senior living provider in the country, we have the opportunity and I believe the responsibility to lead this conversation.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7646051-brookdale-launches-national-campaign/
Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), the global interconnection and data center company, today unveiled the findings of its Enterprise of the Future survey, which uncovered a rapidly accelerating global demand for interconnection that will transform IT strategies over the next two years. Studying the priorities and perspectives of more than 1,000 IT decision makers across 14 countries, the Enterprise of the Future survey revealed significant momentum towards the adoption of interconnection-dependent IT strategies by enterprises seeking to drive revenue growth. By 2017, 84 percent of IT leaders surveyed will deploy IT infrastructure where interconnection – defined as direct, secure physical or virtual connections between a company and its partners, customers and employees – is at the core, compared to only 38 percent today. The survey also indicates that interconnection can create millions of dollars in value. A full report of the findings, “The Enterprise of the Future: Unleashing the Interconnected Enterprise,” is now available for download here.
In the interconnected era business models are increasingly interdependent and consumers and employees alike consider anytime, anywhere, any device connectivity the standard. Organizational expansion, ubiquitous user access and the sourcing of external business and IT services to cloud-based providers are forcing enterprises to have more points of engagement with more end users and business partners across an ever-widening physical and logical footprint. Existing IT architectures were not built to support this level of dynamic engagement and distributed coverage, and the Enterprise of the Future survey shows enterprises responding with a massive strategic and behavioral shift away from centralized corporate resources to distributed, interconnection-centric IT infrastructure.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7639451-equinix-global-enterprise-study/