Vespa World Days

International balloonist teams, fans of the German cult car smart, and BMW motorcyclists: all of them have already come to Zell am See-Kaprun to celebrate their passion for incomparable trips through the air or along the roads. Now, another fan community has decided to stage its annual meeting in the gorgeous Alpine world surrounding Lake Zell:

from 11th to 14th June 2009 scooter riders from all around the globe are meeting for the 'Vespa World Days', the largest international event of its kind. Besides celebrating more than 50 years of the Italian scooter, the joy of riding is what really counts for the participants. And one thing is for sure: the panorama roads in and around Zell am See-Kaprun are absolutely made for going for a cruise.

The Vespa is one of the most popular scooters worldwide. Only one proof for this is people's enthusiasm for the annual fan meetings. The fact that the 'Vespa World Days' are taking place in Zell am See-Kaprun has increased the interest in the event.

More than 3,000 'Vespisti' from about 20 nations have confirmed their participation - many of them from Italy, the home country of the cult scooter. Until the start of the event on 11th June, the organizers definitely expect the number of participants to rise. As a curtain-raiser, the scooter pilots will set out for a tour up to the retaining walls of the Alpine reservoirs of Kaprun on Thursday. And in the evening of the opening day, there is a great picnic on the shores of Lake Zell.

Once again on Saturday, 13th June, the radiant blue mirror in the heart of the holiday region of Zell am See-Kaprun is the destination of uncountable Vespas, when their owners meet there to set out for a long parade circling the lake.

The evening is culminating in a great avant-garde show at the ice rink of Zell am See where many first-class bands are performing live on stage. More musical highlights are scheduled for Friday when the visitors of the 'Vespa World Days' will be meeting at medieval Kaprun Castle. The landmark of Kaprun offers a stylish ambience for a suckling pig barbeque and the performance of music groups.

Before the participants head to the 'Castle Night', however, they will indulge in their biggest passion first: on Friday afternoon, the 'Vespisti' will open the throttle and target Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain.

For many participants, conquering the High Alpine Road may very well be the most tempting item on the programme of the Vespa meeting In addition, they can look forward to daily test rides and scooter shows. The Ferry Porsche Congress Center and the air field of Zell am See are the venues for a trail park, a Vespa museum and many other attractions. Italian passion meets Austrian flair in Zell am See-Kaprun!

For more information on this event and many other topics about Zell am See and Kaprun please visit our press lounge at presse.zellamsee-kaprun.com

The holiday region of Zell am See-Kaprun with its 14,000 beds and two million overnight stays per year is one of the most important holiday destinations in Austria. The beautiful flora and fauna in the Alpine panorama and Lake Zell guarantee relaxation and well-being. Golfing, hiking, and bathing are at the focus for the summer time programme, but visitors can choose from more than 40 other activities as well. During the cold season, fun on skis and boards make sure that there is no dull moment.

Skiers can comfortably reach the 138 kilometres of slopes covered with powder snow by one of the 54 lifts. Snowboarders enjoy the perfect conditions of the Snowpark on the 2,600-metre-high glacier plateau. Even in the summer you can swish down the slopes here. And family-friendliness is a top priority in Zell am See and Kaprun. For this reason, the region has already received various awards.

Contact within the region
Guest Service Zell am See-Kaprun

knoefler-journalist . media + communications GmbH / openpr.com

Fashion and Design Summer Courses in Milan for summer 2009

About Milan. com presents this year a new Naba's summer programme that consists of a variety of courses addressed to students whose desire is to work in the field of Italian fashion and represent a complete and high quality training able to satisfy all kinds of needs. These are 2-weeks programmes that develop on three levels, starting from introductio and passing through Intermediate and Advanced level, in order to supply students a deep and full learning of all subjects.

There is a wide variety of summer courses to choose among. For fashion lovers for example, an Introduction for Fashion and Accessories Course has been conceived, a very special programme focusing on accessories, that have currently turned into real objects of worship. So, students will have the possibility to study the history of accessories, their creation and production and will realize a women shoes or bag's collection by themselves.

For students engaged in the field of fashion, a new course called Fashion Textiles and Fibres Studio has been activated to give them a chance to complete or develop their knowledge on that specific subject, This course will focus on teaching about fashion products' composition.

In addition, Naba makes its know how available to international students with some courses - Graphic Art Design for Fashion Studio and Fashion Photography Studio - dedicated to people particularly attracted by the artistic and graphic aspect of fashion, who will have the possibility to enjoy fashion photography and will be trained as skilled freelancers able to realize unique fashion photography campaigns.

Last but not least, the Photography and the Moving Image for Beginners Course is addressed to emerging photographers or simple photography lovers who will so learn how to express at best their creativity by using simple techniques for the creation and processing of moving images.

Naba's summer courses are open to students with a high school diploma and from first and second year of university. Students who wish to study in Italy have a wide range of courses to choose among and will have the possibility to take their favourite path and enter the working world easily.

Naba is giving this year a different choice for students to spend their summer in Italy, bringing out their passion and creativity while entering one of the scheduled Design Summer Courses for 2009: a summer full of Italian design and fashion!

For detailed information about 2009 Summer Courses in Milan, visit the webpage dedicated to Design Summer Courses in Milan on www.aboutmilan.com

Web Marketing Team is a company specialized in the online web marketing sector. We employ the network as an instrument of communication and work, and use the marketing as a medium to streamline the outcomes of our effort. The purpose of our work is to produce and to address high quality web traffic toward our customers' sites so to reach real and clear outcomes. It is for this reason that we focus on search engines: our aim is to make your site ever-present and visible in them.

Web Marketing Team
openpr.com

3rd International Conference Solar Air-Conditioning

Palermo, September 30th 2009. This Conference will once again represent a clear message to scientists, professionals, firms, and organizers: the positive trend of Solar Cooling applications is increasing further and further.

This year the conference will focus on:
Components:
heat driven water chillers
heat driven open cycles
Systems technology:
Practical Experience: Operation, Maintenance, Energy performance, Cost performance
Solar Cooling Applications
System Design, Design tools, Simulation, Engineering

You will meet:
Planners, architects, engineers and scientists active in air-conditioning, solar thermal and cooling, energy policy makers, manufacturers, industry representatives, other attendees

We are looking forward to seeing you in September

OTTI (Ostbyerisches Technologie-Transfer-Institut e. V.) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1977. Its aim is the stimulation of the industrial economy and the support of the co-operation between science and industry. OTTI has a 30-person strong team who proffer seminars, specialist forums and conferences. About 5000 specialists and managerial personnel from business, administration and science take part every year.

Gabriele Struthoff-Müller
OTTI e. V.
openpr.com

Exotic beats from the north and the south

Bomba Estéreo, Gangbé Brass Band, N.A.S.A., Negash Ali and Radioclit provide lots of big city atmosphere from very different places on the planet.

Just about the entire globe is represented in Roskilde Festival's music programme. Few other festivals offer as gaudy a mix of foreign dialects and traditions – this Wednesday in a saturated hotchpotch of electronic and organic dance beats.

Today's announcement is in itself a little circumnavigation of the globe with Africa, South America, the US and Denmark as destinations on the journey.

BOMBA ESTÉREO (COL) combine their own music traditions such as cumbia and champeta with Jamaican dub, Angolan kuduro and American hip hop. Look forward to a hot, South American dance party, which is the embodiment of Colombia and the nightclub sounds of the western music scene.

GANGBÉ BRASS BAND (BEN) is a steel brass band that crosses New Orleans jazz and bebop with local music traditions such as juju and Afro beat. A renewing union of the city jazz club and West Africa's dusty desert world.

N.A.S.A. (US) have set out to break down the borders between countries as well as music genres. Their music is a spluttering horn of plenty of all styles that rhyme with dance or hip hop – and the melted down genre fun is accompanied by an imaginative, trippy dance show.

NEGASH ALI (DK) has proven with his solo album Asmarino that he is capable of delivering moving English-language hip hop. The African-born Dane brings a small soul orchestra to back him up.

RADIOCLIT presents THE VERY BEST (INT) is the result of a meeting between a European DJ/producer duo and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya. Here the trio combines the sound of heavy, clubby electronica with tropical rhythms. The result is a fascinating and dance-friendly hotchpotch that will make advocates of clear genre boundaries run away screaming.

Kieler Woche between tradition and première

ISAF Sailing World Cup the world tour of Olympic sailing makes a stop in Kiel. The new Olympic women boat class will have their first performance. Also for the first time Kieler Woche will have a virtual champion who will be successful online. Additionally, three high-class international championships as the X-35 Worlds, X-41 European Championship and the 505 SAP European Championship will leave their mark on this year’s Kieler Woche in its 127th year of being. 3 million visitors, 10,000 masts on the Kiel Fjord, 4,500 sailors, 2,000 boats, 360 starts, 50 nations, 40 sailing disciplines, 11 racing areas, nine days: Kieler Woche is again impressing with outstanding numbers.

The elevenfold volume of the Olympic sailing races let Kieler Woche become the world´s largest sailing event, from cutter sailing to surfboard, dinghy, keelboat until offshore yacht and windjammer parade all kinds are being offered. Nevertheless as a traditional event that has been integrating disabled sailors for years, Kieler Woche is again awaiting the visitors with new highlights.

ISAF Sailing World Cup
After five regattas in Australia, USA and Europe the ISAF Sailing World Cup has a stopover in Kiel until the finals in Weymouth/Great Britain (venue of the Olympic sailing races in 2012) take place in September. "The ISAF Sailing World Cup will bring a new focus to Olympic sailing, demonstrating the excitement, skill and passion of the sport" said Göran Petersson, ISAF President. "Herewith, ISAF pays tribute to the six participating events for their previous contribution to the sailing sports nationally and internationally", said the organizer of the Kieler Woche Jobst Richter.

Women following the call
Special attention will be given to the women during this year’s Kieler Woche. From 20 - 24 June 24 crews from nine different countries will be fighting for the Kieler Woche trophies in the new Olympic boat class Elliott 6m. It will be the performance within ISAF Sailing World Cup aiming for 2012 when Olympic medals will be awarded to the class.

Kieler Woche giants at SAP 505 European Championship
A special highlight will be the SAP 505 European Championship. On top of the list of the internal races of the round 100 crews will be the duel between Kieler Woche trophy record-holder Wolfgang Hunger from Strande and the Dane Jörgen Bojsen-Moller. Each of them scored 16 victories during the past 30 years.

Since 1983 Hunger is dominating the scene with eight victories in class 470 and since 1997 with as many victories in class 505. Whereas Boysen-Moller with 15 triumphs since 1983 in class Flying Dutchman can hardly be defeated. Only once the Danish sailmaker was on top of the scoring list in another boat: in class 505 in 1979.

Hat-trick of Xs
The X-yachts are on their way to become a fixed part of Kieler Woche. After the World Championship in 2007 and the European Championship in 2008, the X-35ers are competing again for the global title in Kiel. Following its little sister’s wake, the X-41 fleet will be coming to Schilksee in order to determine their European Champion on racing area Alpha.

Chairman of the Kieler Woche Offshore Race Committee Eckard von der Mosel is sure that due to both X yachts the value of the events happening on the Outer Fjord during Kieler Woche has been increased: "Top-class sailors of the Baltic Sea have gathered within the X classes. Their regattas will be the high-end races in the northern district. That is why we will always keep open a slot for them during Kieler Woche."

Kieler Woche welcomes virtual sailors
PC and internet instead of boat and sails: With the Kieler Woche 2009 virtual sailing reaches a new dimension. "We are glad to welcome the virtual sailors in Kiel at the Kieler Woche 2009", said Richter. Indeed, the public visitors in Kiel may experience the virtual races very closely. Though the participants will sit at their PC at home, a VSKFun crew with skilled virtual skippers will be on site, presenting and expertly commentating the races of the Virtual Kieler Woche live on a big screen.

From 25 May to 7 June 2009 many qualification races will take place. Eligible for these races are all skippers, who are registered for the Virtual Kieler Woche on VSKFun. The best skippers of the qualification races advance to the Kieler Woche 2009 semifinal and final series. The semifinal series will be sailed with the best 50 skippers of the qualification in two fleets of 25 boats each. The semifinal series will take place on 20 and 21 June, starting from 17:00 CEST. On 23 and 24 June, starting from 18:00 CEST, the final series will follow with the 20 best skippers of the semifinal series. The winner of the final series is invited to Kiel on Sunday. Contact: Thorsten Döbbeler (rodeo@konzept-b.net) www.vskfun.com

press release: Kieler Woche

R&B Artist Chanj Featured In eModa's June Issue Wearing

PHILADELPHIA, PA – eModa Lifestyle Magazine has announced that its June issue will feature R&B artist star Chanj. A phenomenal vocalist, Chanj has been called the rising star that is revolutionizing the R&B industry. In the June issue, scheduled for release on the first of the month, eModa stylist Michelle Miller outfitted Chanj in the most popular men's designer clothing labels including Five Four, Monarchy Ezisu and Salvage.

Miller tracked down Chanj for a photo shoot after seeing an incredible public reaction to him at a recent performance. “He was awesome on stage and behind the camera -- the pictures are incredible. He’s one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever worked with. If you don’t know of him now, there is no doubt in my mind that you will soon,” Miller says.

After winning last year's Apollo award, the R&B vocalist became an almost instant phenomenon. Chanj, whose unique name spelling is a result of his NJ roots, has already been invited sing in front of Motown legends including Barry Gordy and Smokey Robinson – and he received a standing ovation from both.

Dave Brown, VP of Alistair Record, Chanj's record label, couldn't agree more with the warm and welcoming reception that the new artist is receiving. "The sounds that come out of Chanj are just phenomenal. He sings from his heart – this kid a true talent," says Brown.

In addition to the feature on Chanj, the June installment of eModa Lifestyle Magazine, which is available for free download at eModa.com, covers stories on the hottest trends in men's and women's designer clothing, current events and celebrity news. Though a new publication, eModa Magazine has already gained a loyal readership and has been recognized for its in-depth interviews and personal celebrity photo shoots.

The cover story of eModa Lifestyle Magazine features a photo shoot an interview with Jackass star Bam Margera and his wife Missy. Also within the virtual pages of the June issue is a sit down candid interview with all of the male eModa models about everything from what kind of underwear they wear, to one-night stands, to views on relationships. The models range in age from 22-32, and present a wide range of surprising perspectives.

Readers of the upcoming issue will also enjoy a feature on classic Hollywood blondes. From Gwen Stephani, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake to Cameron Diaz, eModa stylists have put together a collection of the trendiest outfits the iconic blondes might wear from eModa down to their favorite brands of men's and women's designer jeans. For added sauciness, the issue also features candid sex advice from a professional sex therapist.

“Every page of the June issue of eModa Lifestyle Magazine is packed with the hottest trends and celebrity news. From the photo shoot with Chanj and Bam and Missy Margera, to revealing in-depth interviews, there's a little something for everyone to enjoy,” says Dan Kogan of eModa (www.emoda.com).

The June issue of eModa Lifestyle Magazine is available for free online at www.emoda.com/magazine/.

Refinery Media launches SUPERMODELME.tv

On Thursday, 14 May 2009, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between multimedia production agency Refinery Media and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd – a member of A*STAR – will see the beginnings of Substream, the latest web-based subtitling technology to hit Singapore’s new media industry which allows viewers to switch between English and Mandarin subtitles with ease as they view online programmes, including SUPERMODELME.tv, a reality model search conceptualised and produced by Refinery Media.

Conducted through a press briefing at the Red Dot Traffic Museum, the MOU signing ceremony will be graced by Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR and finalises the partnership between Exploit Technologies, as represented by Executive Chairman Mr. Boon Swan Foo, and Refinery Media, by its Founder Ms. Karen Seah, who is also one of Singapore’s most successful entertainment and nightlife entrepreneurs.

“A homegrown start-up like Refinery Media is a bright spark in today’s economic climate. I am impressed with the drive and courage of Refinery Media’s founder, Karen Seah, in investing in a new media startup despite the crisis. This is an inspiring story of how a young Singaporean pushes on, despite the downturn, to leverage made-in-Singapore technologies to find open up new market opportunities,” said Mr. Boon.

Set to debut on 16 June 2009, SUPERMODELME.tv is a twice weekly, 20-episode online model search that will showcase the ups and downs encountered by ten aspiring models from Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and even India, as they compete for the Grand Prize of S$10,000 and for the chance of becoming the next prominent Asian face to grace runways and fashion magazines.

Hosted by Singapore’s first supermodel, Charmaine Harn, the road to success for the triumphant model will not be easy as they must deal with the pressures of living together under one roof. Above all else to avoid weekly elimination, they must impress a panel of resident judges, made up of established fashion industry veterans, including prolific fashion photographer Geoff Ang and guest judges such as fashion designer Frederick Lee and celebrity hairstylist, David Gan, through a series of specially designed challenges.

SUPERMODELME.tv is not your average web-based reality programme with the introduction and use of Hyperspot technology, the hottest tech-speak that will bring virtual lifestyle entertainment to the very next interactive level. With Hyperspot technology enabled, viewers can receive real-time information on the models’ apparel, as well as exclusive hair and beauty tips, simply by clicking on the images of their choice. Viewers will also be able to enjoy instant information on the brands, prices and even details on where to buy the outfits worn by the models.

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Deerhoof, St. Vincent and Zu to Roskilde

Three artistically challenging acts join the music programme in the run-up to Roskilde '09.

Most slots are filled in this year's music programme. Yet, new acts find their way to the party. This week Roskilde Festival has three acts for everyone who enjoys music full of vitamins, audacity and wildness.

DEERHOOF (US/JPN) has on countless records made a name for themselves as one of alt. rock's most uncomformable and challenging bands. The Japanese lead singer and her American mates constantly balance on a razor's edge between sugary pop and seasick, discordant harmonies.

ST. VINCENT (US) plays gaudy cabaret pop that will appeal to fans of complex songstresses such as Joan As Police Woman, Feist and Kate Bush. The charming curly top has released two albums with richly instrumented songs that ooze female sweetness with an unpredictable twinkle in the eye.

ZU (I) plays some of the most extreme music of the jazz and metal scene. Some kind of evil, darkened mix of shrill improvisation jazz, grindcore and math rock. The Italian trio's affinity with bands such as Fantómas and Mr. Bungle is indisputable.

More to come...
Even though most pieces to this music puzzle have been placed, Roskilde Festival still has more bands to come – both on the festival's primary stages and on Lounge and Pavilion Junior.

Models of tomorrow walking down the catwalk today

BRATISLAVA – Long legs, slim waist, wavy hair –who has the qualification and talent to hit the world of fashion? TOP MANAGEMENT HOLDING EU a.s. (TMHEU) company is searching for new talents by organizing an international model-casting. „We want to give a chance young models to reach the international catwalks," says the talent scout Michal Matěj, Chairman of the Board of TOP MANAGEMENT HOLDING EU a.s. (TMHEU) company.

During first two rounds, which will take place in Bratislava at the Falkensteiner hotel on 23 May 2009 and in Košice at the Doubletree by Hilton hotel on 30 May, girls in age limit from 14 to 22 years, can present their self to the international jury. The quarterfinal will take place at the Falkensteiner hotel in Bratislava on 6. June 2009 and the semi-final on 13. June 2009 at the same place. The big final on the 20. June 2009 will be held at the seat of TMHEU company in Bratislava. Registration is possible on www.modelcasting.sk or www.top-management-holding.eu.

The jury consists of celebrities from the show business, as the German model Claudia Ciesla, 2. Vice miss of Czech Republic 2007 Veronika Chmelířová, Slovak singer Robo Opatovský, internationally known Czech fashion designer Josef Klír and more.

There are financial prices (1. place: 6000 Euro, 2. place: 4000 Euro, 3. place: 2000 Euro) waiting for the winners of the casting. The first six placed will win 15 – days holiday in a luxurious villa in Dubrovnik (Croatia). Girls, who will be placed on first 10 places, will receive various material prices.

With those, who will pass the strict criteria of our jury, will TMHEU sign an exclusive management contract, which assures a participation at a professional school of modelling. The best models will have the chance to walk down a real catwalk by performing the first business collection of a young Slovak fashion designer Viktoria Vittori.

More information and registration: www.modelcasting.sk or www.top-management-holding.eu.

openpr.com

Roskilde camp planning takes place on Facebook

Roskilde Festival's new Facebook application targets the audience online in a space where they already are in large numbers.

Now the Roskilde-goers are planning their festival, and central questions arise: which camp am I going to stay in, and who am I going to share it with? These challenges can be taken care of in a jiffy with Roskilde Festival's new Official Camp Planner on Facebook.

With Official Camp Planner, the festival-goers can organise their camp, give it a name, a description and a logo – and then invite all their friends. Official Camp Planner can also be used if they are searching for a camp or just interested in seeing who of their Facebook friends are also going to Roskilde this year.

Core audience are on Facebook
"Facebook is an obvious focus area for us. It's the most popular online social site – and it's the space where our core audience are. At the same time, Facebook has enormous potential as to the social element – and that's exactly what we're aiming at with our new application. It's fun, it's practical and it's usable – also after you have filled in your data," says Roskilde Festival's spokesman Esben Danielsen.

Official Camp Planner also contains light entertainment. The 'which type are you' test is very much used on Facebook. In a Roskilde context, the festival-goers can find out which festival type they are. They can also show their friends which bands are their must-sees at this year's festival.

"We have created a 'space within space' on Facebook. The audience themselves take part in creating their own festival universe that they can make unique with photos and content. Of course, I hope that it will rub off so that when it's time for Roskilde Festival we have lots of cool camps," says Esben Danielsen.

Official Camp Planner can be installed in all Facebook profiles using the link http://apps.facebook.com/roskildefestival/

Israel at Intersolar 2009

The National Program for Alternative Energy Technologies was established in August 2008. Building on decades of Israeli experience in the field of alternative energy, the objective of the national program is to keep Israel's alternative energy industry at the forefront of the world renewable energy arena. Israeli alternative energy companies are considered to be industry pioneers in solar thermal and geothermal technologies and are also leading innovations in the fields of bio-mass, wind and solar technologies.

The program is led by the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor hand in hand with the Ministry of National Infrastructure and eight other government ministries. The Israeli government, recognizing the strategic importance of the alternative energy technologies, has created a comprehensive program that brings private sector, government and academy to join forces.

The program is focused in nourishing the human resource, investing in R&D, implementing technologies in the local market and penetrating the global market.

The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute
The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, supported by more than 2,600 member firms, privatesector bodies and the government of Israel, advances business relationship between Israeli exporters and overseas businesses and organizations.

By providing a wide range of export-oriented services to Israeli companies and complementary services to the international business community, the institute helps build successful joint ventures, strategic alliances and trade partnership. The Institute's web site provides information about the services that businesses need in order to succeed in commercial ventures with Israeli companies.

The IEICI's Water & Environmental Technologies Department has an intimate acquaintance with the Israeli Water & Environmental industry exporters, which includes more than 250 companies, and about 70 start-ups. It has a proven ability to identify and match suitable potential business partners, organizing one-on-one business meetings and is a focal point for contacts with the government as well as with the industry.

For more information on the IEICI, please visit www.export.gov.il

Curtis Carter Chronicles His Life Leading to the NBA

As the 2009 NBA Playoffs become more and more exciting with its focus on the Western Conference, fan reactions are becoming more and more diverse as their expectations either become realized or frustrated.

The recent announcement from the NBA of officials missing the intentional foul committed by Antoine Wright on Carmelo Anthony did not only upset the Dallas Mavericks but also fans of the basketball team. Responses to the missed foul call have been nothing of disappointment and dismay.

These responses, though not uncommon, showed the intensity of the sport and fan support. It also showed that players and fans of the NBA need to know how to face such adversity and disappointments, which are inevitable in the basketball court as they are in real life.

NBA player Curtis Carter knew this fact even before he joined the league of professional basketball players. In his self-published book, The Road to the NBA, Carter chronicles his experience of pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA, despite facing adversity and disappointment, both on and off the court.

From the days of his youth to the time he started playing basketball in school, Carter relates his life story in captivating, informative and heart wrenching manner that enables the reader to identify with the ups and downs of life – whether inside or outside the arena of professional basketball.

The author intends to create the spirit of hope, strength and motivation found in the pages of his book and encourages the reader to ‘never give up’ on their own dreams, whatever they may be.

With all the activities, controversies and challenges that come with a life lived under the spotlight of professional basketball, The Road to the NBA sets the precedent of how to get back up and brush oneself off after every disappointing, disenfranchising and disqualifying situation.

The Road to the NBA is published by Xlibris.

Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Bloomington, IN and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.
openpr.com

Agora Gallery Presents a Two Part Art Exhibition With Work from Lorraine Folb

Agora Gallery is pleased to present a two part art exhibition scheduled to run from June 2, 2009 through June 23, 2009. In The Substance of Abstraction, audiences are presented with a rich kaleidoscope of color, form, and texture that in conjunction breathes life into abstract artworks.

Whether employing shimmering brushstrokes or bold fields of color, nonrepresentational art, with its lack of familiar forms, allows the work speak to us on an especially elemental level. Through their deeply personal forms of expression, these artists offer a stunning glimpse into contemporary abstract painting.

Painter Lorraine Folb—born and raised in South Africa, now based in Sydney, Australia—moves between expressionism and abstraction in warm-colored mixed-media canvases. Generally dominated by alternately bold and subdued earth tones, her purified figures often recall the shorthand symbols of Joan Miró's late work:

slender parallel lines simply adorned succinctly evoke the human form; colorful squares bisected by tall rectangles conjure homes with open doors and a welcoming, communal warmth. In other works any distinction between figure and ground breaks down, and Folb gives her forms over to the free play of abstraction. Many of her expressionist works refer to her native South Africa, depicting traditional artifacts and objects, and rituals of rural life.

These works also connect Folb's country of origin and adoptive Australia, both of which feature massive earthy, sun-scorched, expansive landscapes in their interiors. Her abstracted works, meanwhile, maintain a similar palette and style but offer more opportunity for contemplation, guiding the eye gently across their various planes.

In part two, by exploring such undiscovered vantage points and often-overlooked inspirations, this collection of artists was selected because they present the world to viewers with an unusual candor. Whether with grit or finesse, the paintings grouped together in Unbound Perspectives display a timeless artistic past time: to unseat the audience from their comfortable and mundane perceptions of reality.

Exhibition Dates: June 2, 2009 – June 23, 2009
Reception: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, New York City
Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat, 11a.m. - 6 p.m.

Featured Artists:
The Substance of Abstraction
Lorraine Folb, Monika Grygier, Per Hillo, Simon Matheu, Jasnica Klara Matić, Kerrie Warren
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The Gaslight Anthem and Little Boots to Roskilde

All-American blue-collar rock and British synth pop stand side by side in today’s music package.
Even though large parts of the music programme are now in place, Roskilde Festival continues to fill the remaining slots with fresh, new acts.
Today, the festival is pleased to reveal two acts who will add some extra heat to the palms of fans of straight-forward, oil-stained rock and 80s-ish glitter-dusted pop.

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM (US) is the very essence of New Jersey with their Bruce Springsteen-inspired, punk-ish songs on love, vulnerability and gas in the tank. The four tattooed blue-collar boys are an essential acquaintance for all fans of slightly nostalgic and craft-conscious rock music, which they have cemented on their critically acclaimed The ’59 Sound.

LITTLE BOOTS (UK) places her elegant heals on the shoulders of pop bigwigs such as The Human League, Saint Etienne and all others who enjoy being up in the air on an electric pink cloud. The British natural talent won the sought-after BBC Sound of 2009 and could very well be the new Kylie or Robyn.

New SGS Competence Center Wind Energy in Spain

SGS opened a new Satellite Competence Center in Spain under the corporate umbrella of SGS Wind Energy Services. This new competence center is responsible for the development of Wind Energy Services in Spain.

The Satellite Competence Center Wind Energy in Spain provides both technical services and related commercial services. This includes support for technical questions, the supply and updating of marketing material for services offered, taking into account the latest technological developments. In addition the team provides ongoing internal training for SGS Inspectors in wind turbine inspections, whilst incorporating the professional role of representing SGS at related industry seminars and conferences.

SGS Wind Energy Services works as an independent project surveyor carrying out certification, inspection, project monitoring and due diligence evaluation of wind farm projects both onshore and offshore. Through providing experienced staff and technical expertise in wind technology, SGS Wind Energy Services aims to improve trust in wind farm projects and to ensure the quality of wind farms in general.

For more information, please visit: www.sgs.com/wind

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 55,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

Contact information:
SGS Competence Center Wind Energy
openpr.com

Roskilde Festival launches web TV

Now the audience can watch film clips from previous years. Roskilde Festival also aims at getting more concert films.

Today Roskilde Festival launches a brand-new web-based TV channel. Here the audience can watch lots of film clips from previous years.

"We have long wanted a great platform that can present film material from the festival. Our archives are full of material that we're sure all Roskilde fans are interested in watching," says Roskilde Festival's spokesman Esben Danielsen.

Right now you can watch historical film clips from the early 70s, the rainful year of 2007 as well as the many sunny years. You can also watch interviews with two acts on this year's festival poster, Gojira and Jenny Wilson. The channel also presents concert clips with Mew, Placebo, The Streets and Franz Ferdinand, among others.

Goes for more live material
Concert recordings are a priority for Roskilde Festival's web-based TV channel.

"It's clear from all the e-mails we receive from our audience that people really want to watch concert clips. And it's something that we are working hard on getting. The cameras are actually already rolling on the large stages, shooting pictures to the large screens. Now we also need them to press those record buttons. However, there are some clearing difficulties, as it always requires acceptance from the artists – and they are not always easy to get," says Esben Danielsen who promises at least a couple of concert clips from Roskilde Festival 2009.

Lots of films during the festival
And much more is coming from this year's Roskilde Festival. In collaboration with Papagaio Film, a film crew is capturing life at Roskilde during the festival. All material is edited and published on a running basis so that shortly after, the recordings are available online. For those who are not at Roskilde – and for those who come home from Roskilde to watch and relive the festival experiences.

Watch Roskilde Festival's web TV via roskilde-festival.dk or directly via the link roskilde-festival.tv.

Aircraft Charter – UEFA Cup Final Istanbul 20. May 2009

Aviation Broker provides air charter services for the UEFA Cup Final in Istanbul.
The company is located in Frankfurt, Germany and operates a full 24-hour flight operations center providing clients with access to chartered aircraft services worldwide.

The UEFA Cup final will be contested by German and Ukrainian teams after Werder Bremen and Hamburg SV along with Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk set up domestic semi-final showdowns.

With a capacity of 53.586 seats the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium will become the first Turkish arena to host a UEFA Cup final, with the final act of the 2008/09 competition set to unfold in Istanbul on 20 May 2009 (20.45CET). Approximately 25% of the stadium capacity has been reserved for each participating Club. These tickets are sold by each Club to their own fans
Air Charter companies are reporting huge numbers of inquiries from fans of both countries – Ukraine and Germany, as supporters continue to explore ways of getting to and from the UEFA Cup Final.

There are 3 Airliner ready to charter for a roundtrip: Hamburg (or Bremen)/Istanbul/Hamburg (or Bremen) - Those aircraft will depart on 20 May and return on 21 May 2009. Boeing 737-300 (148 seats) - Boeing 737-800 (186 seats) - Airbus A 330-200 (303 seats)

Aviation Broker GmbH offers worldwide aircraft charter. The company was founded in Frankfurt, Germany in 2002. Aviation Broker GmbH currently employs 3 staff in the Frankfurt Head Office. Additionally there is 1 Sales Representative based in the Russian Federation and 1 Sales Representive based in the United Arab Emirates.

Aviation Broker GmbH / openpr.com

Dressage Clinic with Wolfgang Kutting at Whispering Dream Farm in Florida

Well renowned German Dressage Grand Prix Judge and Trainer, Wolfgang Kutting, will hold a Dressage Clinic at Whispering Dream Farm and Dressage Training Center in Ocala/Morriston on May 21st and 22nd, 2009.

Wolfgang Kutting is best known for his passionate individual approach to each and every horse and rider combination. Thus his clinics are far from any routine of other clinics: Every lesson is customized to the needs and weaknesses of either the rider or horse or both. In most cases Wolfgang – after an initial assessment of horse and rider – will mount the student’s horse to get a comprehensive evaluation before the rider gets back on his horse for specific recommendations and training.

“With Wolfgang I could accomplish more in one lesson than I got from my continuous training over the last two years”, says Sharon Hohenberg of Ocala, who rides 8 year old Hanoverian Brettengraf for more than three years at Dressage shows in Florida and Georgia. “Wolfgang immediately understood my weaknesses and knew how to overcome those in just 45 minutes. I was amazed”.

Wolfgang Kutting has come to Florida for over 4 years and enjoys an outstanding reputation with his students in Europe and the U.S. His first Dressage Clinic at Whispering Dream Farm was conducted on April 8th, 2009 and all students asked him to come back as soon as possible.

Sponsored by FARMSCOUT.COM Realty of Ocala, Whispering Dream Farm and Dressage Training Center could accomplish having Wolfgang back much earlier than expected.

“We are happy that Wolfgang will take off one week from his work in Germany to be back in North-Central Florida”, says Alice Stuebling-Salm, owner of Whispering Dream Farm and avid Dressage rider in U.S. Region 3. “We could fill more than 90% of the riding times offered for this clinic in less than 24 hours and we will work hard to hopefully have him back later in June before it’s becoming too hot for extensive training”.

http://www.whisperingdream.com/

Company Profile:
Whispering Dream Farm of Ocala/Morriston, Florida is a Dressage Training facility owned by Dressage Rider Alice Stuebling-Salm. Whispering Dream is a 100 acre Horse Training Farm just a few miles west of HITS showgrounds of Ocala – The Horse Capital of the World. Alice Stuebling-Salm, who also owns FARMSCOUT.COM Realty, a brokerage company specialized in Horse Properties and Florida Farms, was training with horses in Germany before she moved to reside permanently and train horses in Florida in 2001. As a German-American Dressage enthusiast she focuses on helping making Dressage even more popular in the North-Central Florida region. While Whispering Dream is also devoted to rescue a variety of horses – mainly Quarter and Paint Horses – it is also home of some exceptional Hanoverians: 16 year old Hanoverian Limbo King has been showed successfully at FEI levels, Rehkamp’s Opal from Germany, a 5 year old sired by Rotspon, has been carefully started under Alice with the support of well-known trainers such as Anne Gribbons and Siegfried Winkler and last not least Brentano Ultimo, sired by famous Brentano II out of dam-sire Weltmeyer. Brentano Ultimo is a three-year old half-brother of the most celebrated US Dressage Horse Brentina ridden by Debbie McDonald and owned by Peggy and Parry Thomas. Brentina has just been retired at the Las Vegas Rolex FEI World Cup Finals in a very emotional ceremony. Brentano Ultimo is one of the last offspring of retired Brentano II and in 2006 retired Weltmeyer. He has just been started and only the future will show if he’s capable to fit into the big foot-steps that Brentina left in the Dressage World.

Alice Stuebling-Salm
Whispering Dream Farm
openpr.com

Restaurant Guide for Dorset and Hampshire

Do you find yourself eating at the same restaurants every time you go out? Or do you want to try something new but are not sure where to find it? Well look no further than Listed Online Magazine’s excellent restaurant directory.
Not only will Listed tell you what’s on in Bournemouth, it also has an extensive list of places to eat in its restaurant guide for Bournemouth. You will be able to find any type of restaurant from Japanese to Italian, seafood to American and many more.

Listed restaurant guide for Bournemouth is very easy to use, just click on the type of restaurant you want to eat at, weather it’s Chinese or Spanish Listed will show a selection of the type of restaurant you want in the local area.
There is also several stories and news regarding the opening of new restaurants and any other relevant updates. You will also be able to find out about any Bournemouth events at a restaurant or other venues.

There will also be a feature and a review on particular restaurants, which always makes interesting reading. Whatever you are looking for Listed’s restaurant guide for Bournemouth will have something for you!

Author Bio:
Listed is the leading what's on Southampton and what's on Bournemouth website, with the latest Southampton and Bournemouth events listings, gigs, films, theatre and restaurant reviews for Southampton and Bournemouth. Visit http://www.listedmagazine.com/

Seatrade Europe 2009 promises best yet as positive mood prevails

The European cruise market continues to break all records. Direct expenditure up 22%, over 4m Europeans cruising, and the top two European source markets, UK and Germany producing double-digit growth in 2008. With such a positive mood prevailing, Seatrade Europe 2009 promises to be the best yet.

Despite the current international economic climate, cruising is the fastest growing travel market. According to analysis by the Deutscher ReiseVerband (German Travel Association), the number of German cruise and river cruise passengers grew by 18 percent to 1.3 million in 2008. Tour operators and cruise shipping companies are also optimistic for 2009.

More than half of the requested companies expect an increase in passengers and turnover, or at least a constant satisfying result. In the long term the European cruise shipping companies are expecting steady growth rates. The Hamburg based consulting company SeaConsult predicts that the German cruise market will increase to 2 million cruise passengers by 2018.
Seatrade Europe will include Superyachts for the first time this year to complete the existing highlights of cruise, river cruise and ferry, and to support the strong synergy between all segments.

New Exhibitors at Seatrade Europe 2009
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An exhibition of paintings by Christine Allison

Christine Allison’s powerful, figurative oil paintings portray the connectedness of human beings. Through the use of bold and vibrant colours she describes the moods and emotions created by the relationships between the paintings’ subjects, reflected not only in their faces but also between and around the spaces they inhabit. By her choice of colours, Allison also explores the intuitive emotional symbolism human beings attribute to colour. Tension, harmony, affection, anger or serenity are all mirrored in Allison’s intense hues of the colour spectrum.



Allison says of her work: ‘To be a human being is the experience we know. To be connected in that experience to other human beings extends our knowing. I am connected, you are connected; we are connected. I feel, you feel; we feel. Sometimes humans touch physically, other times it is the space between them that touches and holds the most feeling. As in what is said and what is unsaid, it can be the silence that shouts the loudest. Words connect into sentences; human beings connect into relationships.’

Private View: Friday 19th of June 2009 - 6 pm to 11 pm
Exhibition runs from: Friday 19th of June to 2nd of July 2009
Gallery Opening Hours: Fri, Sat, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs: 2.30 pm - 6.30 pm
Last day of Exhibition: Thurs 2nd of July: 11.00am to 5.00pm

Red Gate Gallery is a non-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to the continuous exposure of contemporary and diverse Art forms. It encompasses artists’ studios, a large gallery space suitable for installations, film projections, music performances, live gigs and exhibitions. Red Gate is located within a busy environment between Brixton & Camberwell. The gallery hosts regular events, exploring strands of thought provoking art. Since 1998 it has hosted over 490 events and exhibitions. Home Page: www.redgategallery.co.uk - check on our up coming events

Red Gate Gallery
openpr.com

2ManyDjs and Neurosis to Roskilde

New musical treats in the shape of Belgian mash-up and atmospheric metal.
Even though Roskilde Festival's poster announcement lies a couple of weeks back, the festival continues to add names to the programme for yet a while. This week Roskilde delivers new doses of electronic anarchy and psychedelic metal.

2MANYDJS (BEL) are a couple of versatile and creative Belgians who have worked up a reputation as some of the best party-makers in the mash-up genre – even if their starting point is the rock band Soulwax. The duo guarantees an explosive musical multiple wedding full of schizophrenic bastard pop.

NEUROSIS (US) have had an enormous influence on the development of more experimental and progressive metal as practised today by bands such as Isis, Tool and Mastodon. The Californian band's both hypnotic and ground-shaking shows are known for employing beautiful visuals that throw their symphonic and contrast-minded take on the metal genre into extra relief.

The Wacken Open Air in its anniversary year – Sold out and still rocking on!

The Wacken Open Air is going to be broadcast live on the Web via live stream again in 2009 – A joint project between ICS Festivalservice, CTS EVENTIM AG, Tempodome.com and rockalarm.de

Wacken/Hamburg, 4 May 2009 – The 20th Wacken Open Air metal festival has been sold out for months already. But fans who couldn't get a ticket shouldn't despair, because the Wacken summer begins in May in Berlin at the "Wacken Rocks Berlin" festival, reaches its climax at the end of July with the legendary Open Air in Wacken and its live stream broadcast from the rock fan's Mecca, and doesn't finish until late in August with the twin festival "Wacken Rocks Seaside" and "Wacken Rocks South" in Aurich and Rieden/Kreuth respectively.

So the good news is that there are still tickets available for all three "Wacken Rocks" festivals! The warm-up for the legendary Wacken metal festival kicks off on 30 May in Berlin's Spandau Citadel with the first of three "Wacken Rocks" festivals. "Wacken Rocks Berlin" offers fans acts and artists like Der W, Volbeat, Heaven Shall Burn and D.A.D.

Then, at the end of July, the metal world divides up into two camps: the more than 70,000 lucky ones who will rock the earth on site at the 20th Wacken Open Air in Wacken, and the global metal community who will be attending remote via the biggest online metal live stream ever. Because the second piece of good news is that just as in 2008, the music portal rockalarm.de will be broadcasting the festival exclusively on the Internet in collaboration with Tempodome.

The transmission begins in the morning and goes on until the early morning. Gigs happening simultaneously on two separate stages will be filmed and broadcast one after the other. In addition to experiencing the concerts in top sound and picture quality, online fans will also be able to chat, vote and headbang in their own four walls. And the virtual road to the festival is well paved too: Tickets for the big weekend are on sale for various prices at www.eventim.de/wacken. The three-day pass guarantees at least 40 hours of live programme and costs EUR 6.90 until 15 May ("Early Metalheadz" ticket), EUR 10.90 from 15 May to 15 July ("Wacken Rulez" ticket) and EUR 15.90 from then on ("Headbangers Heaven" ticket).

Fans who still have the energy to rock on will then be served the ultimate heavy metal deal at the end of August: The double festival "Wacken Rocks Seaside" and "Wacken Rocks South" will be on almost simultaneously and with identical line-ups in Aurich (28-30 August) and in Rieden-Kreuth (27-29 August). Here, metal fans who couldn't get a ticket for Wacken, or who simply can't get enough, can finish off the festival year with acts like In Extremo, Der W, Edguy, Doro, Heaven Shall Burn, U.D.O, Stratovarius and many many more.

The organisers of the Wacken Open Air have joined forces again as they did last year to offer the live stream of the festival together: CTS Eventim AG, Europe's ticketing market leader, is handling the live stream tickets; the interactive live stream specialist Tempodome.com is responsible for the Internet broadcast; and Rockalarm.com, the portal for all fans of hard rock, will be presenting the stream exclusively on its website.

"We are very happy that the organisers of the Wacken Open Air have entrusted us with the live Internet broadcast of the festival together with Tempodome and Rockalarm. We invite all metal fans around the world to jump into the biggest virtual mosh pit the world has ever seen!" says Malte Blumenthal, New Media vice president at CTS Eventim AG and CEO of Tempodome.com.

"In 2009 we'll be everywhere and online with the entire world," adds Holger Hübner, partner in the Wacken organiser ICS Festival Service. "The Wacken Rocks festivals and the Wacken Online live stream will be rocking the Web again this year!"

The programme of the Wacken Online live stream will be published in the weeks to come (updates at www.eventim.de/wacken and www.rockalarm.com)

49th Rose d´Or Award Winners announced

The 49th Rose d'Or closed this evening at a glittering awards ceremony in Lucerne with a major triumph for Canada, which is taking home five Golden Roses including the prestigious Honorary Rose d'Or presented to Sheena Macdonald, Director of Special Projects at The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and writer/producer George Anthony.

The coveted Best of 2009 Golden Rose, chosen from the winners of the ten categories, went to I Survived a Japanese Game Show from the US.

International stars including Anatole Taubman (Quantum Of Solace), Sofia Milos (CSI: Miami) and Jennifer Gareis (The Bold And The Beautiful) presented the awards at the event, hosted by American actor and comedian Maz Jobrani.

Presenting the Honorary Roses, Festival Director Urban Frye said: "Sheena and George have made outstanding contributions during their careers. Their extraordinary achievements demonstrate the value of embracing quality, originality and creativity."

The Festival has seen a major return this year from important international broadcasters and institutions. The closing day also saw major conference sessions such as Stand and Deliver: Creating Public Value in a New Media Economy, organized in collaboration with the Adolf Grimme Academy, The European Journalism Centre Maastricht and the Cologne Conference, featuring industry luminaries such as the Academy's Director Günter Clobes and the BBC's Alan Yentob, as well as FRAPA (the Format Recognition and Protection Association) previewing its important new report on the global format industry.

There has been a strong focus on performing arts at this year's Festival with highlights including a Performing Arts on Prime Time panel and public screenings of Don Giovanni Unmasked and El Sistema.

The newly formed Rose d'Or Advisory Board met for the first time and discussed how the Festival's 50th anniversary next year would be celebrated, and, according to its president John Gough, "how we can move forward to embrace ther next 50 years."

This year's festival also saw the launch of the Rose d'Or Academy at which 10 students had the chance to direct, shoot and edit a live recording of Swiss band Pegasus. The finished product was judged by course instructors - marketing and production expert Jon Diamond, Managing Director LipSync and award-winning director David G.Croft - who selected Daniel Farrèr's video to be screened at the Awards Ceremony, and win the cash prize of 2000 CHF.

"This was an incredibly difficult decision as the enthusiasm and quality of work of the students would put many professionals to shame," said Diamond and Croft. "They are all winners and we are proud to be part of the inaugural Rose d'Or Academy."

The competition set a new record with 424 programmes entered by 170 companies from 33 countries. From these, a pre-selection jury nominated 79 programmes from 53 companies and 18 countries to compete in their respective categories.

A high-profile group of 25 jury members from 22 countries narrowed this field to the winners in each of the following ten categories: Arts Documentary, Comedy, Drama, Sitcom, Entertainment, Game Show, Performing Arts, Reality and the newly introduced Multi Platform and Pitch Pilot.

"The Rose's true strength is its incredible breadth, with the largest international jury to meet in one place," said Urban Frye, "Programmes are judged on Originality, Creativity and Quality, and this year's winner clearly demonstrates the broad international perspective of the Rose d'Or jury"

The winners are as follows:
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820th HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG

The greatest port festival in the world, from 8 to 10 May 2009

“Head for Hamburg, full speed ahead!” for the 820th HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG. More than 300 vessels will be out on the Elbe from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May for the world’s greatest port festival. With magnificent tall ships, modern sport sailing boats, heritage and museum ships, and a naval submarine. There will also be five cruise ships calling at the Cruise Terminal in HafenCity during the three days of the festival. The ships and boats will be at the centre of the varied programme on the water for visitors of all ages.

One of the highlights to start the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG is the Grand Arrival Parade from 15:00 on Friday 8 May, led by the frigate Hamburg (length overall 143 metres, powered by 51,000 horsepower). The naval group also includes the minehunter Grömitz, the fleet service vessel Oker and the submarine U16. The naval units and most of the ships calling on the port of Hamburg as guests will participate in the “Open Ship” activities during the festival, inviting visitors to look around on board.

The new fisheries protection vessel Seefalke will be presented by the Federal Agriculture and Food Agency. This 73 metre vessel was commissioned at the end of 2008 and will be on show to the public for the first time at the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG. Vessels will also be presented by the river police, the fire brigade, customs, and by the emergency service Technisches Hilfswerk. There will be sport and sailing boats, and heritage vessels such as the icebreaking steamer Elbe, which was launched in 1911.

The historic cargo vessel Cap San Diego will be the star of a spectacular show this year, when the Swiss performance artist Reto Emch highlights this iconic ship with the illusion of a giant snow globe, using enormous water fountains and special lighting effects, on three evenings from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May, between 22:00 and 22:30 hours. On board this largest seaworthy museum freighter, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW) will present an exhibition entitled MEHR (“SeaMore”) with a wide range of maritime exhibits.

The new heritage harbour in the HafenCity district will be included in the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG for the first time this year. About 40 historic vessels will be moored there. A market with a maritime join-in programme will provide information on shipping and the world of the port of Hamburg. On the Saturday evening, a festival of lights will be held, inviting participation in a very special setting – with fire beacons along Sandtorkaimauer and the Magellan Terraces, bathing the docks in atmospheric light, while fire artists and jugglers put on their shows. Live music from shanties to jazz will be played on some of the historic ships during the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG. A big jazz & blues lunchtime session is included in Sunday's programme.

Another traditional highlight of the water programme is the world’s one and only tug boat ballet, to be held from 18:00 to 19:00 on Saturday 9 May. The dance of the tugboats is one of the most popular attractions of the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG. The really bold will take up positions right next to the waterfront again this year, at the risk of getting soaked by spray from the exuberant tugs – but they can be sure of not missing a single pirouette, when these 5,000 horsepower vessels make their precision turns, coming within centimetres of the embankment.

The 4th BMW Sailing Cup, the world’s biggest amateur regatta series, will for the first time be held during the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG. A J/80 sailing boat race will be held opposite Strandkai (HafenCity) and Landungsbrücken, with seven boats and 16 teams. There will be waterskiing displays to demonstrate sporting ability and finesse. And a dragon boat race, featuring traditional wooden Asian boats driven by muscle power to the pulse of exciting drum rhythms, in the dock near the Hanseatic Trade Center.

Hamburg’s position as a great cruise centre is also underscored at this greatest port festival in the world. Five cruise ships arrivals and departures are scheduled at the Cruise Terminal in HafenCity between 8 and 10 May. The best known of the cruise ships is no doubt the MS Deutschland, star of the Dream Ship series on German television. And the first completed club ship of the AIDA fleet will also be coming to Hamburg, that is the AIDAcara which was built in 1996. The other cruise ships expected for the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG are the Amadea, the Delphine Voyager and the Fram.

The Grand Departure Parade from 17:00 on Sunday 10 May will be led by the Sedov. This four-masted vessel is the largest tall ship in the world, at length overall 117.5 metres. The Sedov was launched in Kiel at the Krupp Germania shipyard in 1921 as the Magdalena Vinnen, and is now based in Murmansk, Russia. She will be accompanied by another tall ship at the HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG, that is the 108 metre Mir. This three-masted, full rigged sail ship, built in 1987 at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk and based in St. Petersburg, is reputed to be the world’s fastest traditional sailing ship. Both of these ships are currently in service worldwide as sail training vessels.

Many of the launches and passenger vessels offer visitors to HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG an opportunity to come on board for the parades, or to visit during the three days of the festival. An overview of providers and many other useful tips about all aspects of the event are available at the website www.hafengeburtstag-hamburg.de or from the hotline of Hamburg Tourismus daily from 8am to 8pm: +49 40 300 51 300. HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG thanks the principal sponsors ASTRA and Hamburger Kreis, without whom the world’s greatest port festival could not be held.

Hamburg Messe und Congress

Enchanted Springs Ranch Keeps The Wacky West Alive

In Texas, Enchanted Springs Ranch is known as one of the state’s top tourist attractions. Now, it is receiving national recognition from one of the nation’s most popular websites.

The ranch, located just over 30 miles from San Antonio, has been listed as one of America’s top “Wacky Family Attractions” on Oprah Winfrey’s official website, oprah.com. The feature describes a trip to the Boerne ranch – including wagon rides, a visit to the ranch’s Wild Animal Park (home to Longhorn cattle, horses, zebras, antelope, elk, emus, llamas, and even buffalo), and performances by Pistol Packin’ Paula – as “an experience cowboys and girls can’t resist!”



“When Oprah puts her name on something, people pay attention," says Steve Schmidt, Co-Owner of Enchanted Springs Ranch. "So to be featured on her website is a nice surprise and a real thrill for us.”

The recognition from oprah.com comes as Enchanted Springs Ranch prepares for National Travel and Tourism Week (May 9 – May 17); to celebrate, during that week the ranch will offer a $2 discount off the regular ticket price to customers who mention Oprah.

In June, the ranch will begin Cowgirls Summer Camp, a one-week overnight program for girls ages 10 to 14; a new session will begin every week from June 7 to August 7.

Vicki Schmidt, Co-Owner Enchanted Springs Ranch, says, “Here at Enchanted Springs Ranch, the West isn’t just wild, it’s wacky. I can’t think of another location where you can find cowboys around one corner and emus around the next. So come on down and see what else you can find!”

Enchanted Springs Ranch (which opened in 2004, on nearly 90 acres of land) is also an active film set, and has been the shooting location of choice for television programs for PBS, MSNBC and the History Channel; commercial campaigns (including one featuring George Strait); and feature films, including Palo Pinto Gold. Director Anthony Henslee’s family Western recently won awards for “Best Western Film” and “Best Director” at the Trail Dance Film Festival in Oklahoma, and has been nominated for three Remi Awards – “Best Western”, “Best Director”, and “Best Texas Film” – at WorldFest in Houston. In May, Palo Pinto Gold will screen at the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii, as well as the Gone With The Film Festival in Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit www.enchantedspringsranch.com.

openpr.com

New SGS Competence Center Wind Energy in Spain

SGS opened a new Satellite Competence Center in Spain under the corporate umbrella of SGS Wind Energy Services. This new competence center is responsible for the development of Wind Energy Services in Spain.

The Satellite Competence Center Wind Energy in Spain provides both technical services and related commercial services. This includes support for technical questions, the supply and updating of marketing material for services offered, taking into account the latest technological developments. In addition the team provides ongoing internal training for SGS Inspectors in wind turbine inspections, whilst incorporating the professional role of representing SGS at related industry seminars and conferences.

SGS Wind Energy Services works as an independent project surveyor carrying out certification, inspection, project monitoring and due diligence evaluation of wind farm projects both onshore and offshore. Through providing experienced staff and technical expertise in wind technology, SGS Wind Energy Services aims to improve trust in wind farm projects and to ensure the quality of wind farms in general.

For more information, please visit: www.sgs.com/wind
openpr.com

FAITH NO MORE at Roskilde Festival 2009

Mike Patton and his esquires are back together again after 11 years, and they play one of their reunion concerts at Roskilde Festival.
They have been one of Roskilde Festival's wettest dreams this entire festival season. Negotiations started in the autumn but the pieces have not fallen into place until now. Throughout this spring, the band has been fiercely requested by an army of ardently dedicated fans who have filled the festival's mail boxes with countless impatient appeals. Roskilde Festival is happy that many of these guests’ most burning desire now comes true.

www.roskilde-festival.dk