Apple iPhone Buzz Remains Strong in Online Discussion Despite 27 Percent Decline in Traditional Media Coverage

Apple iPhone Buzz Remains Strong in Online Discussion Despite 27 Percent Decline in Traditional Media Coverage

Online Discussion Not as Great as Game Consoles and Other Product Launches.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) August 17, 2007

Biz360® Inc., the leading provider of media and market intelligence solutions, today released its analysis of the Apple iPhone launch, which shows a strong increase in consumer buzz for July, following the frenzy of the pre-launch hype. Apple launched the device on June 29, 2007. The iPhone posted the increase in online discussion despite a 27 percent decline in mainstream media coverage for July (broadcast, print and online news stories).

While the iPhone generated strong buzz for a new product launch, it fell far short of the record for product launches tracked by Biz360. The Nintendo Wii, which launched in November 2006, generated more than twice the online discussion for the month following its launch than did the iPhone. The Nintendo Wii's holiday buzz was a prelude to sales that would follow as it beat out the other newly launched game consoles in January 2007 and overtook the market leader in monthly sales, the Sony Playstation 2, in April 2007.

One dominant issue in blog discussion and mainstream media coverage of the iPhone during the week of the launch was an activation problem through Apple's mobile service provider, AT&T. The issue was among the most popular online discussion topics and accounted for 8.3 percent of all blog posts mentioning the iPhone for the week of June 25, 2007, however, the problem only affected a small percent of iPhones sold. The activation issue decreased to 8.0 percent of iPhone blog posts and then 2.7 percent in the subsequent weeks.

"Marketers already know there's a correlation between online discussion of their products and sales," said Tony Priore, chief marketing officer at Biz360, Inc. "But, when there's a product delivery or service issue, the number of customers affected rarely equals the amount of product discussion on the issue," he added. "Understanding the severity of the problem and the customers' expectations can help marketers contextualize the issue and assess its real impact. This context can help marketers develop a measured reaction that preserves brand value and sales and is on target with customer expectations."

About Biz360:
Biz360 delivers media and market intelligence solutions to Global 2000 business decision makers, providing them with a 360-degree view of their marketplace. The company gathers and analyzes the vast amount of traditional and social media about an organization, its brands, its competitors and its products to deliver real-time insights that help our clients shape market perception, respond to competitive threats, evaluate trends and issues and improve the return on their marketing investments.

Our clients include industry-leading global companies, including AAA, Aetna, AstraZeneca, PacifiCare Health Systems, Sun Microsystems and Xerox. Biz360 can be reached at 866.424.9360 or http://www. biz360.com (http://www. biz360.com).

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Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Association to Build Ramp to Help Mother of 7 Trapped in her House

Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Association to Build Ramp to Help Mother of 7 Trapped in her House

The Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Association (MSCIA) has chosen to utilize donation money from their first major event to assist a woman in Detroit, who has not been able to leave her house in over a year except by ambulance to visit her doctor.

Troy, MI (Vocus) November 4, 2010

The Michigan Spinal Cord Injury Association (MSCIA) has chosen to utilize donation money from their first major event to assist a woman in Detroit, who has not been able to leave her house in over a year except by ambulance to visit her doctor.

Marie was diagnosed with Lupus over thirteen years ago, but only recently has it disabled her to the point of not being able to leave her house without assistance. Since November 2009, the disease has paralyzed her from the waist down. In addition to her struggles with Lupus, Marie has also been diagnosed Neuromyelitis optica, or Devic's disease, a central nervous system disorder involving inflammation of the eye nerves and inflammation of the spinal cord.

Marie is a mother of seven children, five of which currently live at home with her. She contacted Janet Prince at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, who in turn reached out to the MSCIA for help. “I would very much enjoy to be able to go out and see the world,” Marie says of her need for a ramp at her front door. “I’ve been a caregiver for most of my life, but now I am in need of help myself.”

The MSCIA held a very successful “Rolling with Promise” informational event and dinner at The San Marino Club in Troy, on July 15, and are eager to utilize the donations collected from the event to directly benefit spinal cord injured members of the community. “We wanted all of the donation money received to go straight back to the community, and we are truly excited to have the opportunity to make such an impact on a person’s life. We hope that we can do a lot more of this!” says MSCIA Board Member Stacey Murphy.

The focus of the MSCIA is to enhance and empower those with spinal cord injury and disease to achieve and maintain the highest levels of independence, health and personal fulfillment. The MSCIA is the Michigan chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, or the NSCIA. The NSCIA, founded in 1948, is the nation’s oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease and their families. Collectively, there are over 24,000 voices representing the association.

After the project was approved unanimously by the MSCIA Board Members, Disability Made Easy of Troy (a barrier-free construction company) was given the task of building the ramp. The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC) donated directly to the ramp-building project to cover all extra costs. “This ramp is an opportunity to give a piece of equipment that will keep giving back to Marie every time she uses it,” says MSCIA Board Member Kathryn Warner. “We love that we were able to help her out in such a big way.”

Construction for the ramp begins this Monday, November 8, and the MSCIA as well as all others involved are eager to see the project completed. “The sooner we can have the ramp built, the sooner Marie can enjoy freedom to come and go from her home as she pleases,” says MSCIA Board Member Gregory Jamian. “We hope, with these efforts, we can make her day-to-day living just a little bit easier for her and her family.”

For more information about the MSCIA and this upcoming project, or to interview Marie or an MSCIA member, please contact Cristina Shallal at 248.288.2270, or email info(at)mispinalcord(dot)org.

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New Site Provides Yoga Community a Place to Connect outside the Studio

New Site Provides Yoga Community a Place to Connect outside the Studio

The newly launched YogaConnect Web site (www. YogaConnect. com) is the premier online destination for yoga enthusiasts to connect outside of the studio.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2005

A newly launched Web site, www. YogaConnect. com, provides the first conscious dating and community Web site for the yoga culture.

Every day, yoga continues to have a transformational effect on the lives of people in the US. Currently 20 million Americans are practicing yoga with that number continuing to grow rapidly. While there are an incredible number of people experiencing the yoga awakening, many still find themselves wondering where to look in this rapidly emerging culture to find like-minds. In fact, seeking out others who share a passion for yoga has been pretty much confined to those who practice sun salutations at their local studiosÂ…until now, thanks to a site appropriately called YogaConnect (www. yogaconnect. com).

The inspiration for YogaConnect came in 2004 when, just prior to the start of a yoga class, the soon-to-be founders overheard a fellow practitioner commenting to a friend about how great it would be to meet someone who shared her love of yoga. This comment, along with their own passion for yoga, led the Los Angeles based group to create a fun and unique destination for those experiencing the yogic lifestyle. With yoga having such a profound effect on many people's lives, the company realized the moment was right to create a site where the yoga culture could interact, explore, share ideas and create relationships of all kinds.

Yoga means union, which is exactly what YogaConnect is about. “There's a magic that occurs when we begin to practice yoga. We may find ourselves more interested in environmental issues, adopting a healthier lifestyle, or embracing more opportunities for personal growth. These kinds of changes compel you to cultivate new relationships with others who are having a similar experience. YogaConnect provides a space for yoga enthusiasts to do just that.” shares Chris Roy, one of the company's founding partners.

As dedicated yogis themselves, the YogaConnect founders are committed to bringing yoga-minded people together in a healthy, balanced and fun-filled way. One example called “Vibes” are fun yogic messages that members send back and forth, like “You are a Goddess” and “You light up my Chakras.” Also featured are lifestyle articles provided by Yogi Times, a teacher/studio directory and an engaging member profile questionnaire. Community Guru and co-founder Hong Vo explains, “While answering our profile questions you may discover some very interesting insights about yourself. It seems to us that there is much more to people than their occupation or how much they earn. YogaConnect really gets to the heart of a person.”

The Web site is now live and is inviting yogis to logon and register for their free membership. With everyone from Russell Simmons to Madonna helping to popularize yoga, the company is confident the site will quickly populate. Says Roy, “We created YogaConnect to appeal to all levels and styles of yoga. Whether you're just beginning the yoga journey or you're certified master, you’ll find a warm welcome here.”

About YogaConnect. com

YogaConnect is the first conscious dating and community Web site created as the premier online destination for yoga enthusiasts to connect outside of the studio. YogaConnect provides a light and enjoyable setting for the yoga culture to interact, discuss, share ideas and create conscious relationships of all kinds. So, whether you are just beginning the yoga journey, are a dedicated practitioner or certified master, youÂ’ll find a warm welcome at YogaConnectÂ…Where the Yoga Culture Meets Online. For more information, visit www. yogaconnect. com.

Contact:

Chris Roy

Phone: 888.353.1095

Email: chris@yogaconnect. com

Www. YogaConnect. com

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Narconon Steps In To Help Current Abuse Trends

Narconon Steps In To Help Current Abuse Trends

2009 summary reports Increase of drug abuse thus the need for more drug education

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 31, 2009

The National Institute on Drug Abuse Highlights and Executive Summary (http://www. drugabuse. gov/PDF/CEWG/CEWGJan09508Compliant. pdf) for 2009 shows unhealthy trends in increasing drug abuse trends, however, Narconon has stepped into the forefront by providing effective drug-free solutions.

As 2009 comes to a close the trends in drug abuse paint a bleak picture. Probably the most startling trend increase is prescription painkiller addiction (http://www. narconon. org/drug-information/prescription-drugs. html), not just in overdoses and abuse but also being more prevalent on the streets. Marijuana was also reported as high and stable for most areas. In the nation’s capital higher percentages of juvenile arrestees tested positive for Marijuana than for any other drug.

With drugs so prevalent and available in our society Narconon has recently issued a 30 second holiday public service announcement encouraging Americans to get those who need treatment help before it is too late.

With rising drug abuse trends and no signs of this epidemic stopping, Americans need now more than ever effective drug prevention and rehabilitation. Narconon (http://narcononeastus. org/) provides not only effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation but drug education lecture in schools, businesses and community groups to prevent youth from ever turning to drugs to begin with.

Wherever Narconon Drug education goes in drug abuse trends reduce (http://www. narconon. org/drug-prevention/) among the area. The truth is once youth or adults are truly educated on the truth about drugs and the ramifications of even a single drug trip, the desire to try drugs plummets.

When it comes to rehabilitating drug addicts Narconon has proven highly effective. With normal drug rehabilitation having a success rate of about 16%, Narconon is in the vanguard with an over 70% success rate that continues year after year. Narconon graduates continue to live drug free lives.

2010 brings forward new hopes and dreams to be achieved. As 2009 closes we can leave the errors of the past and set a new course for the future. America does not have to continue its rising trends of drug abuse. Narconon offers the solution for both those who have fallen into the trap of drug or alcohol addiction and those who are about to start on that treacherous self-destructive road down of trying illegal drugs for the first time.

If you would like more information on Narconon's drug education, prevention and rehabilitation programs (http://narcononeastus. org/) or would like to schedule a lecture in your own school or community group contact Narconon at 877-237-3307.

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War Frightened Kids --'Shock and Awe' Can Mean 'Run and Hide'

War Frightened Kids --'Shock and Awe' Can Mean 'Run and Hide'

As the Iraq bombing campaign continues with nonstop coverage of disturbing images and sounds of war, the 'Shock and Awe' military campaign can translate into fearful 'Run and Hide' feelings in children experiencing war fears," according to Robert R. Butterworth, Ph. D., a Los Angeles-based psychologist who treated children who experienced psychological difficulties during the 1991 Gulf War crisis.

(PRWEB) April 3, 2003

"With the constant images of war on TV, children are becoming increasingly frightened. We can effectively change their fear into anger, an emotion that's easier for children to control." Butterworth suggests to parents, "If you have a young child who's afraid of a possible war, have them draw a picture of Saddam Hussein and flush it down the toilet while the child yells -- 'You're a bad man, go away.'"

This is just one of the strategies that Butterworth tells parents to use to help war-frightened children express their anxieties. Butterworth uses maps and pictures of the Persian Gulf and of Saddam Hussein, crayons and paper for children to draw their fantasies and fear images of war.

"Parents need to get in the practice of conducting a 'child's war briefing' -- a clear, understandable explanation of the war news that occurs daily," says Butterworth, whose three-phase approach helps parents prepare their children for a possible war with Iraq. "Families of soldiers involved in an invasion should also expect to experience numerous stress reactions as a result of separation from loved ones and the realization of the dangers involved. Unfortunately, friends and relatives may be unintentionally thoughtless or not particularly helpful. What helps is bringing together those individuals who are going through the same experiences, to share feelings of loss and to offer social contact and emotional support."

Butterworth has a strategy to help parents prepare their children for a possible Gulf Crisis:

Parental Tips for Children

Find out how much a child knows about the Iraq crisis and their feelings concerning a possible war.

Explain the "who, what, where" of the conflict -- children who do not know the real facts will fantasize their own version of reality, which can create more stress than would occur by a clear and understandable explanation of the actual events.

Be alert for anxiety in children who become frightened when exposed to television coverage -- fear and anxiety can be manifested by attention-getting behavior, physical complaints, regressive symptoms and declining school performance. A child's emotional reaction often reflects an adult's response to the crisis.

Parents need to be honest about their emotions and encourage their children to discuss feelings.

Explain facts truthfully -- get into a practice of conducting a "Child's War Briefing": a clear and understandable explanation of the war situation. Parents may be hesitant to let their children watch news reports, afraid that their kids could be traumatized. "But protecting children from the reality of the Iraq situation can do more harm than good," said Butterworth.

Create a supportive environment in which children can discuss their feelings and even debate with parents their opinions concerning the possible conflict -- honesty regarding parental emotions while talking about feelings in a supportive environment is crucial.

A parent also needs to be sensitive that discussion is not inhibited if a child disagrees with an adult opinion. Exposure to differing viewpoints is healthy. A child's belief often reflects not just the family environment but relatives, friends, school and church beliefs.

War explanations need to be geared to the child's age level -- Some children may be quite sophisticated, others not. Attempt to answer all inquiries in a way that a child can comprehend. The nature of a child's inquiry will usually guide a parental response. Let the child set the pace of questioning, but don't avoid answering direct questions.

Talk about moral issues -- there are important lessons that can be brought out by war; war is serious and not fun. War can also lead to a more pessimistic view of the world and of the future for a child. Never glorify war to a child. Children should be told that war is a terrible event that may be necessary at times but never sought out.

Talking with children about how some children may stereotype all Arabs in the Middle East as the enemy is also crucial.

If a child has a parent in the Military, be alert for separation anxiety symptoms -- it's important to understand that a child may react with denial, anger, worry, or indifference to this separation. These behaviors are psychological defense strategies that tell us the child is worried about the parent and reacting emotionally to the parental separation.

The psychologist uses maps, toy tanks, soldiers and aircraft in a simulated "Desert City" to explain the Persian Gulf crisis to children.

Experienced Entrepreneur Launches CareCloud, A Web-Based Healthcare IT Ecosystem

Experienced Entrepreneur Launches CareCloud, A Web-Based Healthcare IT Ecosystem

Albert Santalo, Founder and former CEO of Avisena, sets sights on reducing waste in healthcare through the use of technology. Santalo has recently launched CareCloud, a healthcare IT company designed to tackle inefficiencies in the industry and allow physicians/caregivers to streamline their practices and focus their energies on providing excellent healthcare. With CareCloud, Santalo is focusing his energy in what he's most interested in...creating revolutionary technology, focusing on high growth and providing healthcare providers with tools to help overcome some of the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Miami, Fla. (PRWEB) September 21, 2009

Advancements in technology and universal acceptance of the Internet have paved the way for major improvements in the healthcare industry. According to a recent report released by PricewaterhouseCooper's Health Research Institute in August 2009, 1.2 trillion healthcare dollars are wasted each year, with two of the main culprits being administrative inefficiency and redundant care. Albert Santalo, Founder and CEO of CareCloud, a healthcare IT company, is tackling these issues head-on and working alongside his technology team on building CareCloud's proprietary software that is based on a revolutionary systems architecture that will treat healthcare and its participants as an ecosystem - an integrated environment where all participants share a common commitment of reducing inefficiencies and providing excellence in healthcare.

"Caregivers do not operate individually in the real world, so why would they in the virtual world?" said Albert Santalo, Founder and CEO of CareCloud. "Current offerings in the marketplace do not address this dynamic."

Leveraging a cloud-computing delivery model led by technology giants such as Amazon, CareCloud has built its technology based on the most modern, open-source tools available today. The CareCloud platform was created for the end-user with a keen focus on human-centered design and will enable physicians to streamline many aspects of their practice. 

Santalo is no stranger to building a high growth company from the ground up. Prior to creating CareCloud, he was CEO of Avisena, a software-enabled revenue cycle management company he founded in 2001. Under his leadership the firm experienced extremely high double-digit revenue growth rates between 2004 and 2008. Santalo also worked at The Hackett Group (NASDAQ: HCKT), where he was a management consultant in the firm's IT Transformation Practice. During his tenure he worked with Global 2000 companies assisting them with IT strategy and technology-enabled business process transformation.

At CareCloud, Santalo has assembled a software development team comprised of industry veterans with large enterprise and healthcare experience ranging from Oracle and Sprint to IBM and Siemens. Recognizing key competitors' deficiencies, Santalo has kept CareCloud's focus on software architecture from day one.

"Most healthcare IT companies start with a bootstrapped development effort," said Santalo. "At CareCloud, we made sure to secure the proper investment capital and then assembled the best team available. From there we worked on cementing foundational components such as workflow, security and collaboration tools," Santalo continued. "All of our systems were then constructed upon this framework."

While CareCloud recognizes that technology is their business, a focus on people is the cornerstone of the company's culture. The goal is to build a truly great company that is beloved by customers, investors, and employees alike. By taking care of employees, treating them like family and providing them with equity stake in the company, CareCloud underscores its commitment to excellence and ensures that customers receive the very best service possible.

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Environmental Company Expands Its "Green" Disinfectant Product Line

Environmental Company Expands Its "Green" Disinfectant Product Line

Natural Environmental Systems, LLC expands its environmentally friendly disinfectants product line to now include a ready to use disinfectant spray.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 14, 2009

Dallas based Natural Environmental Systems, LLC announces the addition of SaniDate Ready to Use (RTU) to its current line-up of SaniDate disinfectants.

SaniDate RTU is the latest addition to the company's line of "green" chemistry disinfectants under the brand SaniDate manufactured by BioSafe Systems, LLC in East Hartford, CT. SaniDate RTU has been added to provide customers with a ready to use disinfectant cleaner (http://www. naturalenviro. com/productinfo. php? sku=10000-301&surl=sanidate-rtu) spray to compliment the current SaniDate 2.0 and SaniDate 5.0 that Natural Environmental Systems currently offers, which are concentrated, professional use products.

SaniDate RTU (Ready to Use) is chlorine free and uses an activated form of hydrogen peroxide that can be used to clean, sanitize, deodorize and disinfect floors, walls, and other hard non-porous surfaces such as linoleum, vinyl, porcelain, tile, plastic, stainless steel and glass.

It also eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and bacterial diseases including human health pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae all in one spray, making high standards of health easily achievable. SaniDate RTU leaves behind no toxic residue, making it a safe alternative to other chemical disinfectants.

Information on this product and the many other environmentally friendly products the company offers can be found online at www. naturalenviro. com or by calling 1-800-999-9345

About Natural Environmental Systems, LLC
Natural Environmental Systems is a worldwide supplier of biological products for use in pond and lake treatment, soil conditioning and reclamation, wastewater treatment (onsite and offsite) and bioremediation. The company also distributes a variety of other environmentally friendly products to complement its line of biological solutions such as aeration systems, algaecides/ herbicides, turf fungicides, greenhouses and others.

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