Polo Red's Top Moments

RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCES INTRODUCES POLO RED: A NEW FRAGRANCE WITH A FIERY EDGE AND DARING CONFIDENCE
“Polo Red was inspired by the qualities I love in a powerful car – speed, style and beauty.”  - Ralph Lauren For the man with drive, POLO RED captures speed, seduction and adrenaline in a powerful scent.  The exhilarating new fragrance from Ralph Lauren, POLO RED is a fiery mix of spicy red saffron, fresh red grapefruit and deep red wood that ignites the thrill-seeker in every man.   Like so much of what Ralph Lauren designs, POLO RED is inspired by his passion for cars and speed. POLO RED brings an exciting edge to the Ralph Lauren fragrance portfolio.   The new scent brings seduction and a daring confidence, marking a new era for Polo fragrances.   POLO RED embodies the risk-taker in every man and combines powerful notes in a woody, spicy fragrance to create an adrenaline rush of key ingredients, including: TOP NOTES:  red grapefruit, Italian cedrat, red cranberry MID NOTES:  red saffron, lavandin, red sage BASE NOTES:  red wood, amber, coffee berry POLO RED is the ultimate in design, power and distinction, taking inspiration from the Ralph Lauren Car Collection, one of the world’s most prestigious collections of exquisite cars. The high-gloss, opaque bottle is a striking, fiery red, mimicking the sleek curves of an automobile and featuring the iconic Polo pony logo.  The bottle is topped with a matte black cap to create a powerful appearance.   The thrilling essence of POLO RED is captured in a heart-racing short film directed by Bruce Weber and starring Nacho Figueras.  The action begins as a daring man launches a high-speed chase, his powerful car racing against a fast speedboat.  His pulse is beating as the speed is turned up and the engine forcefully kicks into gear.  The film’s song, “Cut Me Some Slack,” was recorded by Sound City Players and sets the tone for the thrilling ride.  Ralph Lauren Fragrances brings the POLO RED fragrance line-up to select retailers and includes: Eau de Toilette (125ml/ 75ml/ 45ml)                  $76/ $61/ $44 Deodorizing Body Spray (200ml)                           $20 After Shave Balm (150ml)                                        $40 Alcohol-Free Deodorant (75g)                                $18 For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ralphlaurenfragrances.
ABOUT RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCES In 1978, Ralph Lauren expanded his lifestyle brand to encompass the world of fragrance, launching Lauren for women and Polo for men. For more than 30 years, Ralph Lauren Fragrances has developed new fragrances for men and women that express a distinct personality and luxury lifestyle in the Ralph Lauren tradition. The Ralph Lauren Fragrances portfolio includes Polo, Polo Blue, Polo Black, Polo Red, Ralph Lauren Romance and The Big Pony Fragrance Collection For Women and For Men. Find more about Ralph Lauren Fragrances at www.ralphlauren.com/fragrances or www.facebook.com/ralphlaurenfragrances.

The 2013 Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival - Call for Entries

CHICAGO (September 25, 2013) _ The 2013 Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival has issued a call for entries to its competition honoring the best stories from the world of dogs, cats, horses, wild beasts, birds, insects, reptiles and other creatures great and small.

The Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival will consider works in the following categories: dogs, cats, birds, horses, insects, fish, reptiles, children’s books, young adult, working animals, wild card (anything goes!), pets, jungle, farm, city animals, biography/memoirs, talking, photography, horror, science, unpublished manuscripts, and spiritual/religious. All entries must be in English.

The competition honors general excellence and the awards are intended to draw public attention to worthy selections during the busiest season for book sales.

Our grand prize for the 2013 AAA Book Festival winner is a $500 appearance fee and a flight to our gala awards ceremony in Chicago in November, 2013.

Submitted works will be judged by a panel using the following criteria:

1) General excellence and the author's passion for telling a good story.
2) The potential of the work to reach a wider audience.

FESTIVAL RULES: Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

Deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on October 10, 2013. Winners will be notified by e-mail and on the web site. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions at our meetings.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at www.animalsbookfestival.com or may be faxed/e-mailed to you. Please contact our office at 323-665-8080 for fax requests. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee of $50 in the form of a check, money order or PayPal online payment in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.

Virgin Galactic’s “Your Flight DNA” Event

VIRGIN GALACTIC’S “YOUR FLIGHT DNA” EVENT

BRINGS TOGETHER LARGEST NUMBER OF

FUTURE ASTRONAUTS TO DATE

Customers from around the world celebrate impending start of commercial operations

MOJAVE, Calif. – Today, Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi's aabar Investments PJS, hosted its annual private customer event at Mojave Air and Space Port. Deemed, “Your Flight DNA,” the occasion brought together the largest number of future astronauts to date, with approximately 400 customers and a total of 640 individuals in attendance.

“As Virgin Galactic progresses towards commercial flight, we periodically gather together with our wonderful family of Virgin Galactic future astronauts,  not only to thank them for their commitment to the program, but to also celebrate our most recent milestones and successes,” said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson who was on hand in Mojave for today’s event. “With supersonic powered test flights of SpaceShipTwo well underway, a full commercial service is fast approaching. In fact, today’s event could well be the last major gathering of future astronauts before we finally start to make their dreams of space travel a reality."

Just outside Virgin Galactic’s Final Assembly Integration and Test Hangar (FAITH) facility in Mojave, WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo (SS2) were on display for the crowd. Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot David Mackay and Pilots Frederick “C.J.” Sturckow and Michael Masucci participated in the morning’s events and will conduct a “Meet the Pilots” session in the afternoon.

During these yearly customer events, future astronauts are provided updates on the progress being made for the company’s space flight program. This morning, customers heard from top Virgin Galactic executives, including Sir Richard Branson, CEO George Whitesides, Commercial Director Stephen Attenborough, President Steve Isakowitz and Vice President of Operations Mike Moses. Future astronauts received up-to-date information on vehicle and rocket motor development, including a stunning showcase of SS2 cabin seat prototypes. They also had the chance to meet and mingle with the Virgin Galactic team.

“We want to give our customers the opportunity to meet the team behind the dream – our amazing group of engineers, rocket motor scientists, operations experts, pilots and more,” George Whitesides said. “These are the individuals who work to ensure that our customers will have the safest and most memorable flight experience possible.”

This year, Virgin Galactic focused on providing customers with a "behind the hangar doors” experience, which included updates on the recent work and program milestones that have taken place in Mojave, where Virgin Galactic flight tests and vehicle manufacturing takes place. Many of today’s presentations took place inside Virgin Galactic’s FAITH facility.

Throughout the remainder of the day, future astronauts will gather for additional presentations on medical evaluations, overall operations and the progress being made at Spaceport America in New Mexico. This evening, customers will attend a private Virgin Galactic party at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. As they celebrate in the midst of retired Space Shuttle Endeavour, future astronauts will hear from additional Virgin Galactic executives and have the opportunity to spend time with other fellow future astronauts.

Announcing Offshore Energy 2014

Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference 2014 will be held on 28 & 29 October 2014 at the Amsterdam RAI, the Netherlands. 2014 brings the 7th edition of Offshore Energy.

Offshore Energy is the fastest growing gathering of offshore industry professionals. Founded in 2008 with 70 exhibitors and 1,765 visitors, Offshore Energy has been breaking records year after year. The 6th edition of Offshore Energy on 15 & 16 October 2013 brings together some 500 exhibitors and over 8,500 visitors representing 50 nationalities.

The organization expects that the event will continue on its path of steady growth. Offshore Energy 2014 will host between 500 and 600 exhibitors and is expected to attract over 10,000 professionals from all over the world. Both the exhibition and the extensive conference program of Offshore Energy 2014 will address the technical, operational and commercial challenges associated with industry growth.

The 2014 technical program will once again feature an international faculty of speakers covering a broad palette of topics. Meetings range from high caliber panels and technical sessions to annual meetings of industry organizations and masterclasses, catering to professionals from board level to operational level and young talents.

Companies and organizations who want to exhibit at or sponsor this top quality event in 2014 are encouraged to visit the 2013 edition on 15 & 16 October 2013 in halls 9,10 and 11 of the Amsterdam RAI. Visiting the exhibition is free of charge, conference delegates pay a small delegate fee. Registration via http://registration.offshore-energy.biz/

The 2013 Offshore Energy Conference features contributions from Shell, Siemens AG, CB&I, EBN, Oranje Nassau Energie, Van Dyke Energy, Bluewater Energy Services, Fugro, Wood Mackenzie, ABB, Mojo Maritime Ltd., SCHOTTEL, Rabobank International, Wärtsilä, Green Giraffe Energy Bankers, ABN AMRO, Deloitte, Tulip Oil, McKinsey & Company, GIEK Norway, Indofin, Atradius, Iv-Groep, GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland BV, Damen and many more. Dylan Group is Gold Sponsor of Offshore Energy 2013.

Family Farming: The Key to Alleviating Hunger and Poverty

Food Tank: The Food Think Tank highlights five effective ways for investing in family farmers

Contact: For more information or to schedule an interview, email Danielle Nierenberg at danielle@foodtank.org or call 202-590-1037.

Chicago, IL — After decades of failed attempts to eradicate hunger, development agencies, international research institutions, non-profit organizations, and the funding and donor communities now see family farmers as key to alleviating global poverty and hunger. Recent estimates show that currently, 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty, and at least 870 million go to bed hungry every night. As the world gears up for the International Year of Family Farming in 2014, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are highlighting effective ways to provide family farmers the tools they need to really nourish the world.

FAO’s High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) reports that approximately 96 percent of all the agricultural holdings in Africa measure less than ten hectares. FAO Agricultural Census data shows that around 80 percent of agricultural holdings in sub-Saharan Africa and 88 percent of those in developing countries in Asia measure less than 2 hectares.

Family farmers play a crucial role in resolving world hunger, but they’re also those most likely to fall victim to hunger and poverty. An estimated 800 million people living below the global poverty line work in the agricultural sector. In China and India alone there are respectively 189 million and 112 million smallholder farmers with plots measuring less than two hectares.

And yet, smallholder agriculture has great potential to reduce overall national poverty levels. According to a landmark World Bank report, an increase of one percent in agricultural GDP reduces poverty by four times as much as the same percentage increase in non-agricultural GDP.

Food Tank: The Food Think Tank is working with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to highlight the important role that family farmers play in the food system. Over the next two years, the both organizations will work to shine a spotlight on how family farming can enhance soil health, protect water supplies, improve nutrition, and increase incomes. Small-scale, family-run farms not only form the base of rural communities in both the developing and developed world and provide a large number of jobs, but they are also at the center of sustainable production.

“Most of the world’s farmers are smallholder and family farmers. But their knowledge and practices are not getting nearly the research and funding they need. Policymakers and business have focused on quantity over quality and have forgotten the important role family farming can play in improving nutrition,” says Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank co-founder.

Small-scale farmers can contribute significantly to the transformation of agriculture by managing land and water responsibly, protect water supplies, preserve and enhance biodiversity, and contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. A large study examining smallholder agriculture by the Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Environment and Society at the University of Essex covered 286 projects, over 37 million hectares in 57 developing countries, and found that when sustainable agriculture was adopted, average crop yields increased by 79 percent.

“By working with family farmers to build on their knowledge in the development of sustainable agricultural practices, we can improve resilience in the food system—including resilience to climate change, food price shocks, conflict, and natural disasters,” says Barbara Gemmill-Herren, Programme Officer at FAO.

Food Tank and FAO present five effective ways for NGOs, the funding and donor communities, and policy-makers to invest more effectively in family farming:

1. Promote sustainable agriculture methods
 
New farming methods, such as agroecology or ecological intensification, increase yields while reducing environmental impacts. In an analysis of 40 projects and programs, sustainable techniques like agroforestry and soil conservation were found to increase yields for African smallholder farmers. The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) has partnered with Farmer and Nature Net (FNN) to promote the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which has been shown to increase yields and improve soil fertility while reducing the use of chemicals and maintaining local ownership of seeds.

2. Assist family farmers in adapting to climate change and short-term climate variability
 
Climate change will have large-scale effects on agriculture everywhere, and particularly on poor farmers in developing countries. According to IFAD, in Africa alone, because of climate change 75 million to 250 million more people will experience increased water stress by 2020. Year-to-year climate variability in the form of drought or flooding already has large-scale effects on food security today. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Farmer Field Schools teaching smallholder farmers sustainablepractices in land and water management have proven highly effective in managing input such as pesticides more effectively while increasing yields and incomes

3. Promote policies to provide smallholders with legal titles to their land
 
At least one billion poor people lack secure rights to land. Securing legal land rights for family farmers can increase productivity, investment in land, and family income. Landesa works with countries to design and implement land rights programs, and has helped 100 million farmers obtain or secure ownership over their land.

4. Increase access to local markets
 
The small-scale production volumes of family farmers require value chains of appropriate scale. Farmers markets or Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) can provide a great venue for family farmers to sell their products directly to consumers. For example, the organization GrowNYC manages 54 markets in New York, providing a sales channel to 230 farms and fishermen.

5. Close the gender gap
 
Women farmers do not have the same access to credit, land, inputs, and extension services as their male counterparts. According to FAO, closing the gender gap in agricultural inputs alone could lift 100–150 million people out of hunger. The Latin American and Caribbean Center for Rural Women (Enlac) serves as an organizing voice for marginalized, rural women, calling for equal access to land rights, and, boosting access to clean water, and conserving native seeds.

If public and private sectors direct funding toward family farmers and research that would support them, smallholder agriculture can get the push it needs to nourish both people and the planet.

About Food Tank: Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org), founded by Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, is a think tank focused on feeding the world better. We research and highlight environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity and poverty and create networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change.

About the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO’s efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO’s mandate is to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations and contribute to global economic growth. FAO is the coordinating agency of the 2014 International Year of Family Farming.

Iron Chef Morimoto in Las Vegas

James Beard Foundation’s Taste America® “Local Flavor from Coast to Coast” Traveling Food Festival Comes to Las Vegas This Fall

- Tickets on Sale Now -

Food Enthusiasts and Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature Cardholders Are Invited to Join Taste America All-Star Masaharu Morimoto to Taste and Enjoy America’s Culinary Diversity September 27-28

LAS VEGAS, NV – Tickets are now on sale for The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America®: “Local Flavor from Coast To Coast,” a national traveling food festival which will visit Las Vegas on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28. The five-weekend festival will visit 10 cities from September 20 through October 19, 2013. Taste America will showcase culinary all-stars and public events exploring the nation’s unique range of local cuisines in Las Vegas along with nine other cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Taste America is presented by the James Beard Foundation (JBF) in partnership with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Visa Signature®.

A weekend-long tour, Las Vegas’ Taste America festivities will kick-off on Friday, September 27 with a variety of free culinary consumer events throughout the city (from Downtown Las Vegas to Summerlin), and culminate in an exclusive dining event at The Mirage Hotel & Casino the evening of Saturday, September 28. A spectacular poolside gala tasting and reception, “A Taste of America” will be co-hosted by Taste America All-Star, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto (proprietor, Morimoto Restaurants) and Host Chef Christian Schmidt (The Mirage, Las Vegas). The event will also feature delectable dishes and cocktails from several of Las Vegas’ most celebrated local chefs, including James Beard Award winner François Payard (Payard), Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare), Saipin Chutima (Lotus of Siam), Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino), Eric Klein (Spago), Brian Massie (The Light Group), Laurent Tourondel (BLT Burger), Akira Back (Yellowtail Bellagio), Malcolm Mitchell (Mint Gastro Pub), Adam Arencibia (Japonais) and more.

Tickets for “A Taste of America” are now available for purchase at jbftasteamerica.org, and are priced at $120 per person, all-inclusive for the Mirage Tasting Event. The chef and champagne event is an added $75.00 and includes an afternoon tasting at Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge on the Bellagio fountains.   The James Beard Foundation is proud to donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to The Epicurean Charitable Foundation.

The Taste America culinary agenda for Las Vegas includes:

Friday, September 27

1:00 p.m.:        Bellagio Yellowtail Restaurant – Champagne, Sparkling, and Chefs (3600 Las Vegas Blvd S)

                       An afternoon of bubbly and heavenly creations from James Beard Award nominee Akira Back

Saturday, September 28

10:00 a.m.:       Sur La Table at Fashion Show Mall (3200 S Las Vegas Blvd #1175)

This full day of free consumer retail events features in-store chef appearances, from local artisans and producers as well as two very special cooking demonstrations and book signings. Chef demos are ticketed events and kitchen space is limited.  Pick up free tickets in store at Sur La Table now, and visit jbftasteamerica.org/event/las-vegas for further information.

11:30 a.m.:        Macy’s at Fashion Show Mall (Men’s Wing) - Cooking demonstration with JBF Award winner François Payard

12:30 p.m.:       Sur La Table – Book signing with François Payard, Chocolate Epiphany

2:00 p.m.:         Macy’s at Fashion Show Mall (Men’s Wing) - Cooking demonstration with All-Star Masaharu Morimoto, Iron Chef and proprietor of Morimoto Restaurants

3:00 p.m.:         Sur La Table - Book signing with Masaharu Morimoto, Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking

8:00 p.m.:         “A Taste of America” Poolside Reception at The Mirage (3400 South Las Vegas Blvd)

Co-hosted by Taste America All-Star Masaharu Morimoto and Host Chef Christian Schmidt, the evening will include a tasting reception featuring delectable dishes and cocktails from several of Las Vegas’ finest restaurants at The Mirage’s award-winning pool. The ladies of FANTASY, the popular show at Luxor Hotel and Casino, will heat things up with a poolside performance. Immediately following the reception, VIP ticket holders will have access to an exclusive after party at 1 OAK nightclub.

“The Taste America traveling food festival will shine a light on the dynamic culinary cities across the country,” said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. “Our Taste America chefs will be working with local farmers and artisanal producers of everything from cheese to chocolate. With the support of Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, we are now able to bring together the best innovators in our food world to educate and entertain Americans about local flavors from coast to coast.”

The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America is presented by Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, a premier rewards credit card for people who love travel and dining. Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature cardholders will enjoy exclusive benefits not available to the public at James Beard Foundation’s Taste America events, including access to chefs, recipes, preferred seating, and more.

The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America is supported by retail partner, Sur La Table, national media partner, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and national sponsors including Breville, Delta Air Lines, The Gulf Oyster Industry Council, and Lurpak® butter.

ZEGO Bar Promotion

A quick update from ZEGO world headquarters:

Share the ZEGO love! We have a special AMAZON discount promo code to share with you as a thanks for your support. Order 2 boxes or more and receive 10% off when you use the code "GOGOZEGO" at checkout, for a price of only $2.25 per bar. Feel free to share it liberally with your friends and family. Be sure to buy soon, the promotion will be good only for the next 4 weeks.