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Three lucky families to win special Walt Disney World® Resort vacation, with one winning an overnight stay in Cinderella Castle on 11-11-11

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Funjet Vacations announced today it will host a photo contest specifically targeted to fans who love Walt Disney World® Resort. Participants are encouraged to post their photos displaying their love for Walt Disney World® Resort. Then, three winning families will enjoy an all-expense-paid trip for four to Walt Disney World® Resort this November. One of those families will have the rare opportunity to spend a night in Cinderella Castle on 11-11-11!

“Walt Disney World® Resort is one of the most popular family destinations and we are excited to give three families a chance to experience this truly unique, money-can’t-buy opportunity,” said Gina Esch, Senior Manager of Marketing Public Relations for Funjet Vacations.  ”The fact that this fairy tale contest will take place over 11-11-11 makes it that much more magical!”

From September 20 – October 4th, 2011, the Funjet website and Facebook page will feature photo submission forms for interested contestants to enter photos displaying their love for Walt Disney World® Resort. Random winners will be awarded daily prizes and featured on the main contest pages. After the photo submission ends on October 4th, people will have one week to vote for their favorites. The two top vote-getters along with a ‘Funjet Favorite’ will be awarded the Walt Disney World® Resort trips and become eligible for a night in Cinderella Castle!

The trips to Walt Disney World® Resort are scheduled for November 9-12th, with winning families to be notified by email. On Nov. 11, families will take part in a special scavenger hunt at the theme park. Throughout the day, participants must answer trivia questions and take pictures with specified landmarks before meeting up with Funjet representatives at a specific time. The family with the most answered questions in the allotted time will be granted with the extraordinary opportunity to stay in Cinderella Castle!

Stay tuned for more details on how you and your family could be granted this magical castle stay!

For more information about Funjet Vacations and the “Funjet to a Fairy Tale Adventure” promotion, visit www.Funjet.com/fairytale.

About Funjet Vacations

Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Funjet Vacations specializes in providing vacation packages filled with exceptional value and “The Best Experience Under the Sun.” As the flagship brand of family-owned Mark Travel Corporation, Funjet Vacations is a top resource, offering travel agents nationwide outstanding personalized service and customer care. Individual and group Funjet vacations are nonstop charter flights and scheduled airlines to hundreds of destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, Florida and Europe. For added value and convenience, travelers can choose from air-inclusive, hotel-only or air-only vacations and add tours, attractions, shows and more to their vacation package. Funjet Vacations is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents, Tour Operator Program, and United States Tour Operations Association. For more information visit www.Funjet.com or follow us on Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.

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Largest National Duchenne Organization Continues to Support Cardiac Health with Three New Grants in Duchenne Research to Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s Research Institute

HACKENSACK, N.J., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), has awarded three separate $50,000 exploratory awards to researchers at The Ohio State University and the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as part of its ongoing cardiac initiative for Duchenne research.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100119/DC39975LOGO )

Jill Rafael-Fortney, Ph.D. and Paul Janssen, Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and Federica Montanaro, Ph.D. from Nationwide Children’s Hospital each received $50,000 to continue their work in Duchenne research. These exploratory grants allow investigators the resources needed to gather enough data to jumpstart their projects.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is associated with a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy.  Cardiomyopathy is a form of heart disease that enlarges and weakens the heart muscle, preventing it from pumping blood efficiently. It progresses rapidly and is life-threatening in many cases. Cardiomyopathy does not necessarily cause symptoms, but specific tests such as Echocardiogram and Cardiac MRI are able to identify changes in the heart muscle that can predict the onset, progression, and severity of the dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart issues affect all patients with Duchenne.

The PPMD funding to Dr. Rafael-Fortney builds on previous findings in the July issue of the journal Circulation. Dr. Rafael-Fortney had postulated that the drugs lisinopril and spironolactone, commonly used to treat heart failure in humans, may have anti-fibrotic properties in the heart if used very early in mice with a form of muscular dystrophy resembling Duchenne.  The investigators were surprised to discover that the mice not only showed improvement in their cardiac function, but also showed an improvement in skeletal muscle weakness.  

Dr. Rafael-Fortney spoke about the significance this grant will have on her team’s work: “This funding from PPMD will allow our investigators to determine if the combination of lisinopril and spironolactone is required to improve cardiac function and skeletal muscle weakness, or if either drug alone is adequate.  This project lays the groundwork for a human clinical trial with one or both of these drugs and we are indebted to Pat Furlong and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy for believing in the work we are doing.”

Additional funding to Dr. Janssen at Ohio State University will investigate other ways to strengthen cardiac muscle directly, while the grant to Dr. Montanaro at Nationwide Children’s Research Institute will explore how the minidystrophin gene, used for gene therapy in Duchenne, is able to bind to other proteins in the hearts of affected mice.

Pat Furlong, Founding President and CEO of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy said, “Our organization is moving aggressively to take advantage of drugs that are already approved and may be able to buy time for these boys right now. The approach complements our commitment to developing entirely new therapies. Anytime we can nurture a potential therapy that may help our children live longer, healthier lives, we have an obligation to the Duchenne community to take that chance. Not supporting such innovative research may cost our sons precious time.”

PPMD launched its cardiac initiative earlier this year, and to date has awarded over $1 million to cardiac-focused research, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to support therapies that will benefit all patients with Duchenne.  PPMD works with leading pediatric cardiologists, researchers, thought leaders, and the entire community to address heart issues.

Ms. Furlong congratulated the grant recipients saying, “Each of these individuals is making a significant contribution to the fight to end Duchenne. The heart is a muscle too, so it is critical that cardiac health is considered when investigating therapeutics in Duchenne. Dr. Rafael-Fortney, Dr. Janssen, and Dr. Montanaro, as well as the incredible institutions they are affiliated with, represent some of the most promising new developments in the Duchenne arena. We are so grateful that they are devoting their energies to our fight.”

Learn more about Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s cardiac initiative, by visiting ParentProjectMD.org.

About Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne is a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs young men of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s  mission is to end Duchenne.

We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of young men affected by Duchenne and in research that will benefit future generations. We advocate in Washington, D.C., and have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. We demand optimal care, and we strengthen, unite, and educate the global Duchenne community.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps boys with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until every young man has a treatment to end Duchenne. Go to www.ParentProjectMD.org for more information or  to learn how you can support our efforts and help families affected by Duchenne.

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

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World’s Only Maker of Arcade Quality Pinball Announces Newest Addition to Stern’s Timeless Pinball Lineup

MELROSE PARK, Ill., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s only maker of real pinball games, announced today upcoming plans for a pinball machine based on the iconic TRANSFORMERS brand from Hasbro, Inc. that will be available later this fall. Collectors, casual players and avid fans can all expect nothing less than an epic TRANSFORMERS adventure.

Since the birth of the franchise in 1984, the TRANSFORMERS brand has been celebrated with toys, comic books, animation, summer blockbuster movies and more. Under license from Hasbro, Stern is now proud to be adding pinball machines to the lineup. Players can expect the classic battle between the heroic OPTIMUS PRIME and the villainous MEGATRON as well as other beloved AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON characters.

“The story behind the TRANSFORMERS brand makes for a perfect translation into pinball,” said Gary Stern, founder, CEO and chairman of Stern Pinball. “We’re confident that the long anticipated machine will please the eyes, ears and the hands of even the most diehard TRANSFORMERS fans.”

The TRANSFORMERS game continues both the Stern Pinball and the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Stern passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son Gary Stern who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of America’s favorite pastimes.

Pricing and Availability: $5699 – $7499

To learn more about The Transformers pinball machine and Stern Pinball, visit www.sternpinball.com.

About Stern Pinball

Stern Pinball, Inc., located just outside Chicago, Illinois, designs and manufactures arcade-quality pinball games. Stern is the only maker of full-sized, arcade quality pinball games on the planet and has released many popular games, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Shrek, Batman, Spiderman, the Simpsons Pinball Party and many more. Stern’s games continue to be enjoyed by both pinball enthusiasts and casual players around the globe. For more information visit www.sternpinball.com.

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.  Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Media Contact
Evie Carter
FortyThree, Inc.
831.401.3175
SternPinball@43pr.com

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By David Beasley

ATLANTA |
Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:15am EDT

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Grammy Award-winning rapper T.I. is once again out of federal prison and in a halfway house, his attorney said on Friday.

The Atlanta entertainer, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was released August 31 from a federal prison in Arkansas where he was serving an 11-month sentence on weapons possession and drug charges.

T.I. was assigned to a halfway house in Atlanta for the last month of his sentence. But shortly after leaving Arkansas, the rapper was returned to a federal prison in Atlanta because officials had an “issue” with his ride on a luxury bus from Arkansas to Atlanta, attorney Steve Sadow said.

Prison officials believed T.I. was conducting business on the bus, Sadow told Reuters on Friday.

“But we provided them with information that he wasn’t actually conducting business on the bus,” the attorney said.

On Thursday, T.I. was transferred from prison to the Atlanta halfway house, Sadow said. The entertainer is scheduled to be released September 29.

He was sentenced in October 2010 to 11 months in prison for violating the terms of his probation on federal gun charges after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing the drug ecstasy.

It was his second stint behind bars in three years.

T.I.’s career began as a rapper in 2001, but he then branched out into other areas of the music and film industry, finding success both as a producer and actor.

Cable channel VH1 said last month that it had teamed up with the 30-year-old “Got Your Back” singer for a 10-episode series that will follow his readjustment to life outside prison and the making of a new album. The series is due to premiere on December 5.

(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)

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