Press Releases

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A psychic with the power to bring to life the signs of The Zodiac.

It is a story that it's hard to believe has never been written in the day and age of Harry Potter films, but Zenescope Entertainment will create and distribute a comic book series entitled "Horrorscope" to debut in 2010.

Represented by William Morris Endeavor, Zenescope also intends that the story, written by Brian Evans, will find its way to the video game, motion picture, and toy market.

"The story came to me when I was a kid, hanging out with my friend Ahmet Zappa in Frank's (Zappa) studio when we were kids," says Evans.

The comic book is being written by Andrew Biltz, Alberto Melendez, Helen Bousquet, and Priscilla Boksan. "Others will also be working on this tremendous project," says Evans. "It's been 17 years in the making."

Zenescope, the comic book force behind the "Seven" and "Final Destination" series, is known for its more diverse comic offerings. "They aren't making Disney comics," says Evans. "They are the best at what they do because they are no-holds barred and they have real vision."

The Daily Variety reported on the story recently (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009988.html?categoryid=1350&cs=1), which has followed an onslaught of interest all over the world. Fangoria also featured the news in its publication online, and it's becoming the most anticipated comic book in recent memory.

"I think "Horrorscope" is going to become something much bigger than we ever imagined," says Evans.

Evans is a singer, who himself is recording his major label debut which will feature a duet with Kelly Osbourne. Evans is known as one of the "new crooners" in the style of Frank Sinatra, and is the opening act for stars ranging from Jay Leno to Joan Rivers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit http://www.zenescope.com/news.htm. For information about creator Brian Evans, visit www.brianevans.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6114607&lang=en

    Source: Horrorscope

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, December 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha in the outskirts of Cape Town opened its doors today (5 December 2009). FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was joined by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Danny Jordaan, South African Football Association President Kirsten Nematandani and Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town Dan Plato at the celebration of the latest milestone of 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). Among the special guests were Football for Hope ambassador Dr. Gabriele Princess Inaara the Begum Aga Khan and former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe.

The centre, which is the first of 20 community centres, will help to tackle HIV/AIDS and some of the biggest issues facing young people across the African continent. "With the opening of this Football for Hope Centre, we can now see the real legacy that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will leave in Africa," said the FIFA President. "This centre will use people's passion for football to transform communities and to provide hope and opportunities for young people. Many years from now people will still be benefiting from this and the other 20 Centres for 2010."

The next five centres will be built by FIFA and its strategic ally streetfootballworld in disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Rwanda and Ghana and will address crucial issues like health, education, gender equality, peace-building and the environment as well as HIV and AIDS - considered to be one of the greatest challenges faced by young people in Africa.

"When the FIFA President asked me to become a Football For Hope ambassador several months ago, I accepted very happily. Football for Hope offers a unique platform for various sectors of society to implement social change," said Begum Inaara Aga Khan.

The centre in Khayelitsha has been built in an area once notorious for crime and violence as part of an initiative to breathe new life into the community. It provides rooms for public health services and informal education, office space, common space for community gatherings and a football turf pitch.

"We are hoping that this initiative will have a positive influence in our society and enhance our efforts to build a better future for our young people. For us it was always important that this FIFA World Cup would touch the lives of ordinary people, and this campaign is a great example," explained Nematandani.

Each of the 20 centres will be run by an existing community organisation. The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha will be managed by Grassroot Soccer, a South African-based non-profit organisation that uses football to educate young people about HIV and AIDS and empower them with the knowledge to live HIV-free. "This was more like a crime spot, but now it is more like an activity spot where people come to enjoy themselves," said Zamayedwa Sogayise, chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum.

Note for editors:

Footage, photos, press and background information from the inauguration are available free of charge for editorial purpose on http://ftp.fifa.org (Username: media_sa, Password: obisRfXen632), on the FIFA Media Channel (http://media.fifa.com) and on http://www.streetfootballworld.org/press.

About Football for Hope

Football for Hope is a movement which uses the power of the game for positive social change. The movement is led by FIFA and streetfootballworld.

About streetfootballworld

streetfootballworld is a social profit organisation that promotes positive change through football. Founded in 2002, the non-governmental organisation is a leading contributor to the field of Development through Football and works toward social change on a global scale. At the core of streetfootballworld's work is the streetfootballworld network, which connects 82 organisations in 54 countries worldwide that use the world's most popular sport to address social issues.

To find out more about Football for Hope, please visit FIFA.com and http://www.streetfootballworld.org.

    For more information please contact:

    FIFA Media Office Johannesburg (RSA):
    media-sa@fifa.org, http://www.FIFA.com

    FIFA Office (RSA):
    Delia Fischer
    Mobile: +27832010470

    Wolfgang Eichler
    Mobile: +27832010471

    streetfootballworld (RSA):
    Mike Geddes, Communications Manager
    Mobile: +27765073157,
    Geddes@streetfootballworld.org

    streetfootballworld (Germany):
    Carolin Strunz, Head of Communications
    Mobile: +49(0)30-39-80-72-07,
    strunz@streetfootballworld.org

SOURCE FIFA

TAIPEI,Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In preparation for sponsoring the 2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition, Taipei City Government started the construction of exhibition pavilions in 2008. With the big event approaching closer, the EXPO Hall, also known as Butterfly Pavilion, is the first exhibit hall accomplished. Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and famous model Lin Chi-ling, who has been invited to be a public information ambassador to help promote the grand event, announced on Nov. 6 the countdown of one year to the Expo opening at the newly built pavilion. Mayor Hau said the EXPO Hall will start the trial run ahead of schedule for people to be familiar with the expo site.

King Shih Architects, designer of the EXPO Hall, said the idea of "One Earth , Many Magnificent Worlds" is aimed to show thoroughly the special features of Taipei, Taiwan and this era through the architecture design of both the EXPO Hall and Pavilion of Aroma of Flowers as well as areas in the Fine Arts Park Area.

People passing by the Fine Arts Park Area in recent days can see the chrysalis-like EXPO Hall sitting quietly in the park like a butterfly waiting to come out of its chrysalis and become more expectant of the coming exposition. "When we tried to get involved in preparing for the Taipei Expo, we thought that since the flora exhibit could be held anywhere in the world, how should we create special features of the exposition to be sponsored by Taipei City? We then got the idea of making the expo closely connected with our city. We called it "One Earth, Many Magnificent Worlds," hoping to show thoroughly the special features of Taipei, Taiwan and this era through our architecture design," said Gene K. King, senior partner of King Shih Architects.

Architect Erin C. Shih, KSA senior partner in charge of designs, noted that since the whole structure design of the EXPO Hall, Pavilion of Aroma of Flowers and rest areas is quite unusual, "so we intend to express the idea that the three are parts of one big formation, and use bamboo ware as the main theme to show the special features of Taiwan." The Butterfly Pavilion looks like a bamboo basket, chrysalis, bamboo scoop or ladybug, depending on the angle from which you look at the building. And the hexagon and triangle geometric patterns formed by the surface of the building and its sloping network create an image of many flying butterflies.

It is the first time Taiwan is authorized by an internationally recognized organization, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), to sponsor the international flora exposition. Following the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, the expo will once again put Taiwan and Taipei City on the world stage. Wu Tsai-chin, Public Works Section chief of the Taipei New Construction Office, said construction companies had been reluctant to bid for the EXPO Hall building contract due to its limited budget and work duration as well as its unique pattern of structure. Finally Sansin Builders Co., Ltd. accepted the challenge after several public tenders failed to be awarded. Constructing the pavilion had been quite difficult because it is designed to be propped up by the whole structure, instead of using many conventional trusses. "The architect hopes that we will try our best to overcome all obstacles, and we had actually done curvature's concavity," said Bai Sheng-wen, Sansin's director of EXPO Hall construction site.

Except for exhibiting symmetry, all steel pipes used to construct the pavilion have different curvature and length and are manufactured based on detailed calculations so as to build the special style in accordance with the architect's design.

On the other hand, constructing the EXPO Hall had to use mobile elevating work platform frequently and, therefore, the building progress was affected by bad weather. So it was difficult to control the construction work duration.

The contracted work duration was 397 days but Sansin managed to shorten it by 20% after careful evaluation. In close coordination with the architect and Taipei New Construction Office, Sansin was able to examine the first batch of steel structure materials in factory 29 days after the construction work started, begin the assembling of steel structure 93 days later, and finish the assembling in 76 days, which was 80 days ahead of schedule. Thanks to the smooth building of steel structure, the construction project could be accomplished earlier than scheduled.

King Shih Architects said the accomplished EXPO Hall is very close to the computer-aided design and it is not quite easy for the actual work duration to be shortened by more than three months.

The structure of the new pavilion has the function of both natural ventilation and lighting, conforming to the hottest theme of sustained energy conservation nowadays. Due to the structure's special design, temperatures inside the pavilion will be lowered during summertime, minimizing the use of air-conditioners to bring into full play the concept of environmental protection advocated by the Taipei Expo organizers.

Both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Taipei Expo are scheduled to be held in the 1,200-seat pavilion, which provides the largest indoor space in the exposition site. The hall can also be used to host large-scale international cultural activities and artistic performances.

Taipei City Government earnestly invites residents throughout Taiwan to visit the horticultural Olympic event to be held in the exposition site bound by Yuanshan Park, the Taipei Fine Arts Park, Xinsheng Park and Da-jia Riverside Park from Nov. 6, 2010 to April 25, 2011, and see the world of green life at display inside the unique structure of the EXPO Hall.

Chinese translation: http://www.cna.com.tw/postwrite/cvpread.aspx?ID=45271

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6114606&lang=en

    Source: Taipei City Government

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/05/09 -- Parents who have not yet managed to score a Zhu Zhu Pet this holiday season might want to breathe a sigh of relief. The Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster Mr Squiggles, the Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid, and the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Farm were three of this holiday season's hot toys with higher-than-mandated amounts of several toxic chemicals, GoodGuide announced today.

GoodGuide, which provides health, environment and social responsibility ratings on consumer products, tested the top holiday toys from Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Amazon. "We rated the most popular toys as these are the ones that will end up under the most Christmas trees this year," said Dara O'Rourke, CEO and co-founder of GoodGuide. "These are big brand toys with two of them -- Zhu Zhu Pets and Bakugan Maxus Dragonoid -- nominated for Toy of the Year awards by the Toy Industry Association."

The tests administered by GoodGuide revealed the higher-than-allowed presence of two potentially toxic elements: antimony and chromium. Depending on the level of exposure, antimony can lead to cancer, lung and heart problems and impacts on fertility. And certain forms of chromium can be associated with cancer and reproductive hazards. The new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act introduced mandatory limits on the amount of these elements in toys in February of 2009.

"While most people won't have heard of these elements since the time they studied the periodic table at school, they do have known health effects which is why the rule went into place to limit them in toys," said O'Rourke. "The toy industry has done a lot to improve product safety, particularly when it comes to lead, but our tests reveal that some surprisingly big name toys are still slipping through the cracks with other toxic chemicals."

The current federal standard for both antimony and chromium is 60 ppm (parts per million). GoodGuide tests revealed the following amounts:

-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------
Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid                     466-807 ppm    Chromium
-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------
Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Helios                        143-756 ppm    Chromium
-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Laughing Farm             193 ppm      Chromium
-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------
Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster Mr Squiggles                    93-106 ppm    Antimony
-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------
International Playthings My First Purse (Purple)      76 ppm      Antimony
-----------------------------------------------    -----------    --------

"As a father, I know how highly anticipated some of these holiday gifts can be," said O'Rourke. "At the same time, every parent wants to make sure they are giving their child a safe toy." Parents can check out the ratings at www.goodguide.com before they buy.

On the good news front, out of the 15 hottest holiday toys rated by GoodGuide, none of them had lead in them and two of them scored a perfect 10 on Health & Safety. The star performers are:

-- LEGO Star Wars The Clone Wars Fan's Vote Anniversary Edition - Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser, and

-- ChixOs Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft

The remaining toys were found to have one or more of the following toxic chemicals at concerning levels: arsenic, bromine, chlorine, antimony, chromium, or tin.

In addition to the ratings of the 15 hot holiday toys, consumers can find ratings for more than 700 new toys and over 2000 toys total at www.goodguide.com. These ratings are produced in partnership with HealthyStuff.org, a project of The Ecology Center.

A Thermo Scientific NITON XL3t series X-ray fluorescence analyzer was used for GoodGuide's analysis. XRF technology is a method for determining levels of specific elements found within a wide variety of surfaces and materials. The top layer of a toy is analyzed which is what children are most likely to be in contact with. The GoodGuide research team tested multiple samples of each toy and different parts from each sample.

About GoodGuide

GoodGuide helps consumers find safe, healthy, and socially responsible products and companies. GoodGuide currently offers detailed product information for personal care, household chemical, toy and food products on its website at www.goodguide.com, through its iPhone application and on online commerce websites. By making information about consumer products transparent, GoodGuide's goal is to help people shop smarter and motivate companies to offer even better products.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1129795 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1129793

For more information, please contact:
Suzanne Skyvara
Skyvara Communications
Tel: (415) 453-4880
Cell: (415) 290-6928
Email Contact

Workers Ensure Emergency Deliveries Are Transported

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamster members employed by the Philadelphia chapter of the American Red Cross are hard at work educating the public about the unfair labor conditions that they endure that could potentially put Philadelphia's blood supply at risk. More than 100 employees went on strike and set up a picket line Thursday when their issues were ignored by their employer.

Red Cross management in Philadelphia has routinely understaffed their operation and scheduled frontline employees to work 12-14 hour shifts. Long shifts in conjunction with working seven or more straight days may prevent workers from being at their best while doing the vital work of transporting blood supplies.

Workers also expressed their concern with the false statements put out by Red Cross regarding emergency transport of blood products during the strike.

"Although we are on strike, we are doing everything we can to make sure that life saving blood products arrive at their destinations on time," said Carl London, a member of Teamsters Local 929 and the chief shop steward at the Red Cross in Philadelphia. The allegation that we are blocking urgent deliveries is symptomatic of Red Cross' disrespect for their employees. "We actually went out of our way to ensure that any emergency vehicles were given access."

"The public needs to know that we are concerned about our members' safety at the Red Cross, and in turn the safety of the blood supply," said Rocky Bryan, vice president of Teamsters Local 929. "The collection and transport of blood products is an occupation our members take very seriously. Above all they want to perform their jobs at the best of their ability so that there is no margin for error."

*Supporters of the workers are encouraged to join the Teamster members today, Saturday, December 5 at the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers 2009 Fourth Annual Blood drive at the Wachovia Center, 3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 8:30 a.m.

SOURCE Teamsters Local Union 929, Philadelphia, PA