Press Releases

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

James S. Metcalf, President and COO of USG Corporation (NYSE: USG), a leading building products company, will speak on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at the CL King & Associates Best Ideas Conference 2008 at the Omni Berkshire Place Hotel in New York. The presentation is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A live Webcast of the presentation may be accessed from the investor information page of the USG Corporation Website at http://investor.usg.com. The Webcast will be archived and available on the Investor Information Web page until Friday, September 26.

To listen to the live event, participants must have a multimedia computer and Windows Media Player software. To download the software prior to the event, participants should visit http://investor.usg.com, click on the Webcast link, complete the registration form and then click Help. Participants should access the Webcast event page at least 15 minutes before the live event.

USG Corporation is a Fortune 500 manufacturer and distributor of high-performance building systems primarily through its United States Gypsum Company, USG Interiors, Inc. and L&W Supply Corporation subsidiaries. Headquartered in Chicago, USG serves the residential and non-residential construction markets, repair and remodel construction markets, and industrial processes. USG's wall, ceiling, flooring and roofing products provide leading-edge building solutions for customers, while L&W Supply center locations efficiently stock and deliver building materials nationwide. For additional information, visit the USG Web site at www.usg.com.

Source: USG Corporation

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The newly redesigned Mondrian Los Angeles hosted its launch event yesterday evening, September 4, 2008, allowing guests to experience first hand the renovations to this landmark Los Angeles property. Acclaimed designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz was commissioned to reinstate the beloved destination, building upon the original vision for the property. During the event, Noriega-Ortiz hosted an intimate reception in the brand new ADCB, Mondrian LA's remodeled interior bar within the lobby. Guests included Jamie Foxx, Samaire Armstrong, Shane West, Shawn Ashmore, among others and the highlights of the evening - a live solo performance by Cat Power and the exclusive after party hosted by Amy Sacco in the new "Apartment" on the 11th floor, guests included Paris Hilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Catherine Keener, among others.

In 1996, Morgans Hotel Group and iconic designer Philippe Starck dazzled the hospitality industry with the opening of Mondrian Los Angeles. The design united a quintessentially Californian embrace of nature, the outdoors, and the casual with the West Hollywood tradition of glamour and fantasy. Now, in 2008, Morgans Hotel Group commissioned visionary designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz to rejuvenate this beloved destination.

Built in celebration of the equal and the opposite, Mondrian Los Angeles captures the heartbeat and soul of its unique surroundings. It is the ultimate balancing act, not only bridging the gap between the seemingly disparate elements that make up the California lifestyle - night and day, reality and fantasy, relaxation and excitement - but articulating the playfulness of a perfect hotel experience.

Entering Mondrian through Philippe Starck's signature, thirty-foot mahogany doors, guests are bathed in a sensuous daylight that highlights the creamy whites and warm Mondrian marigold palette of the entryway. Glamour is deeply defined throughout the space, and appears in the sophistication of the new orange hued lounge, ADCB, in its undulating banquets -- inspired by Gaudi's Park Guell bench in Barcelona -- that bisect the lounge, transforming it into an indoor-outdoor patio. Gold leaf vines run up and down and across the ceilings and columns, referencing both the lush trees of nature and the exquisite fantasy of Hollywood.

"The design of the hotel is so adored in the industry that I've heard the word Mondrian used as an adjective," says Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz. "I didn't want to eradicate Philippe Starck's original vision, I wanted to build on it; I wanted to enhance it."

Progressing deeper into the lobby, the sun sets. Day becomes night; reality becomes fantasy as Noriega-Ortiz invites the imagination down the proverbial rabbit hole. Deep blues and purples surround the space, and usher the guests towards Asia de Cuba, and Mondrian's perennial hotspot, Skybar. Here the hotel's original concept of the hotel as theater and the Morgans history of "lobby socializing" is complemented by custom-designed furniture by Noriega-Ortiz. A Lucite love-seat indoor swing and a mushroom-inspired concierge center are subtle and winking references to Starck's original wonderland of a lobby.

The spectacle continues upstairs, where new accommodations greet guests with their own reflection, seen in grand mirrors detailed with white lacquer frames that continue Noriega-Ortiz' veneration of the surrealist, looking-glass theme. Pivoting full-circle to reveal framed, flat-screen televisions on the opposite side, the mirrors are just one example of the close relationship between modern comforts and breathtaking design. Each of the hotel's 237 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Sunset Boulevard and Downtown Los Angeles and Silestone tiled bathrooms with waterfall shower fixtures. Oversized daybeds, sustainable bamboo floors, and Korres Natural Products bathroom amenities are just a few of the little luxuries that have been exclusively designed with the pleasure of Mondrian's guests in mind.

Mondrian's penthouse boasts amazing cityscape views with a palette of antique gold and bronze, detailed with honey-colored bamboo floors and visually pierced with touches of warm white and black. Two antique mirrors flank the north and south of the room, creating a virtual opening, and a collection of crystal chandeliers hovers over a simple square table surrounded by "X" Spot black chairs. The Apartment suite is centered around a platinum palette; complementary silvers to its sister suite's golds and again articulated moments of black and white furniture and fabrics pierce the space. The suite features a large terrace with plush outdoor lounging furniture by Tord Boontje and stools by Marcel Wanders, contributing to this overall aesthetic of playful pleasure and vibrant storytelling.

Story and theatrics have played a substantial role in Mondrian since its conception, and the new Mondrian reflects that with an added sophistication. "We have undertaken the redesign of our flagship property during a time of substantial growth for the Mondrian brand. With Benjamin's new design, we have fully exited our shabby chic phase," explains Fred Kleisner, President and CEO of Morgans Hotel Group. "The age of pastiche is over, and with it has gone the slipcovers - once again this hotel exudes authenticity and glamour. With the renovation of this property, our first Mondrian, we renew our commitment to the intensity of spirit and the promise of possibility that the Mondrian name represents. We look forward to delivering on this promise in South Beach, Chicago, Soho and Las Vegas in the months to come."

In 2006, Morgans Hotel Group opened Mondrian Scottsdale, also designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, providing Scottsdale with a much needed oasis. With the Los Angeles location's new design and Mondrian South Beach, designed by Marcel Wanders, opening this year, 2008 is the year that Mondrian rolls out its stage of perpetual possibility and instant enchantment. A truly unique hotel concept, each Mondrian is alike in only its pervasive intensity and atmosphere. Morgans Hotel Group invites you to check into the Mondrian world and make drama.

About Morgans Hotel Group

Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, Morgans, Royalton and Hudson in New York, Delano and The Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Clift in San Francisco, and Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London. MHG and an equity partner also own the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and related assets. MHG has other property transactions in various stages of completion, including projects in Miami Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; SoHo, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada; Palm Springs, California; and Boston, Massachusetts. For more information please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.

Source: Morgans Hotel Group

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With more than 70 million Generation Y employees entering the global workplace, smart companies are paying attention and providing these future leaders with a workplace that responds to the unique wants and needs of this generation.

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Among the best of these companies is the world's leading home appliance manufacturer, Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), which today was named one of the "Best Places to Launch a Career" by BusinessWeek magazine. The company ranked 46 on the list, ahead of companies like Accenture and Kraft Foods.

"At Whirlpool Corporation, recent graduates have the opportunity to contribute directly to the company's success by immediately tackling challenging projects and assignments," said David A. Binkley, senior vice president, Global Human Resources, Whirlpool Corporation. "In addition, our leadership development programs provide incredible career advancement opportunities and unmatched experience that help young professionals develop and manage their own successful career paths."

Helping New Employees Launch Great Careers

Many recent college grads and other entry-level employees come to Whirlpool through the company's Leadership Development Programs, which are three-year programs that rotate new employees through several different positions in the areas of marketing, information technology, finance/accounting, engineering, human resources and supply chain. These programs provide graduates with high-level projects that have a direct impact on the success of the company, as well as opportunities to try different challenging assignments and further develop their skills.

"My experience at Whirlpool Corporation has been very positive. I've had the opportunity to work on monthly financial closing assignments, forecasting and other financial reporting assignments, as well as give presentations to senior leaders within the company," said Lindsey Hathaway, who joined Whirlpool Corporation's Finance Leadership Development Program in 2007 after she graduated from Michigan State University. She is now an associate financial analyst at Whirlpool. "The managers I have worked with while in the program have been supportive and given me meaningful work, providing training and assigning me to projects that continue to help me build my skills."

Whirlpool also provides a work environment and programs that enable entry- level employees to succeed in their careers and maintain a healthy work/life balance, a combination that Gen Y employees say are important to them. Whirlpool offers new employees:

-- A new "onboarding boot camp" designed specifically for Leadership Development Program participants. The "boot camp" encompasses three days of orientation and functional training, with exposure to senior leaders, an understanding of the company's business strategy and networking sessions.

-- Opportunities to gain global experience either through a global rotation or by working on a global project team or assignment.

-- The Whirlpool mentoring program provides one-on-one support for young employees, empowering them to reach out to potential role models throughout the company. In addition, employee networks such as the Women's Network, African American Network, Asian Network, Hispanic Network, Pride Network (for GLBT employees and supporters) and the Young Professionals Network provide informal networking opportunities.

-- Whirlpool offers many other benefits that are important to young professionals, including tuition reimbursement eligibility immediately upon hire; a competitive 401(K) match; discounts on Whirlpool products; fitness rebates; sports leagues and activity clubs; and opportunities to volunteer in local philanthropic programs.

Gain Real-World Experience With A Whirlpool Internship

Whirlpool Corporation's U.S. internship program offers approximately 150 internships each year to qualified and motivated students in marketing, information technology, finance/accounting, engineering, human resources and supply chain. Whirlpool internships provide meaningful, hands-on learning that offer an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of a career with Whirlpool. Approximately 70 percent of interns are offered full-time positions at Whirlpool.

Looking to start your career or gain internship experience?

Students and anyone interested in working at Whirlpool Corporation can visit the career center at www.whirlpoolcareers.com . Whirlpool human resource professionals review resumes daily.

About BusinessWeek's 'Best Places to Launch a Career'

BusinessWeek's "Best Places to Launch a Career" ranking is based on extensive surveys of career services directors at U.S. colleges, the employers they identify as the best for new graduates, and college students themselves. BusinessWeek's "50 Best Places to Launch a Career" ranking is in the Sept. 15, 2008 issue. Expanded content is available on BusinessWeek.com , including the full methodology, profiles of each employer, an interactive table, slide shows and a video roundtable with recruiters from top companies.

About Whirlpool Corporation

In addition to being included in BusinessWeek's "Best Places to Launch a Career," Whirlpool recently was named one of the "Top 20 Companies for Leaders" by FORTUNE magazine, one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere magazine, one of the "Top 50 Most Respected U.S. Companies" by the Reputation Institute, one of "25 Noteworthy Companies for Diversity" by DiversityInc magazine Inc. and it has received a score of 100% on Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for the sixth year. Additionally, the company's Whirlpool brand was recently named one of the 10 top greenest brands by U.S. consumers, according to a BrandWeek magazine survey.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion, 73,000 employees, and 72 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com .

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation

LAMPASAS, TX and MOUNTAIN HOME, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/05/08 -- The Y.O. Ranch, in partnership with The Texas Longhorn Marketing Alliance (TLMA), announced today that its Y.O. Ranch Longhorn Games and Sale will be held on September 19 and 20.

"This year's Games and Sale promises to be a lot of fun as teams square off for some lively competition on Friday and then gather round to sell and buy more than 100 cattle," said Charles Schreiner IV, managing partner of the Y.O. Ranch and great-grandson of former Texas Ranger and Y.O. Ranch founder Charles Schreiner. "We invite the public to come out to the ranch, enjoy the festivities and get a feel for what makes Texas Longhorns so much a part of our Texas heritage."

This annual event celebrates the Y.O. Ranch's Texas Longhorn cattle heritage with an all-day team competition on Friday, followed by one of the largest Texas Longhorn annual auctions on Saturday. While Friday is a full day of fun --- from a biscuit cooking contest, tip-to-tip horn guessing and team cactus pad races to a trail drive, chuckwagon meals, live music, an exotic game tour and more --- Saturday's Texas Longhorn Sale is where the big money will change hands when some of world's finest cattle are sold.

"The Y.O. Ranch Longhorn Games and Sale is one of the Texas Longhorn industry's premier sales event and a great chance for the public to see some of the finest representatives of the species up close," said Wes Chancey, CEO of the TLMA. "It also gives the public a chance to be a part of a growing hobby all across America: breeding and raising Texas Longhorns."

Gates open at 10 am on Saturday for Texas Longhorn sale and admission and lunch is free. The sale begins at noon. More information is located at www.yoranch.com or by calling 1-800-967-2624.

ore about Texas Longhorn Cattle

The first cattle introduced to the New World by Spaniards in 1493, longhorns are the only breed of cattle to evolve without human management. They freely roamed West Texas for hundreds of years until American settlers discovered them in 1830s. From 1866 until 1900, enterprising cowboys rounded up an estimated 10 million of head of longhorn cattle and drove them up the Chisholm Trail to railheads in Abilene and Dodge City. Because other breeds of cattle gain weight faster and longhorn meat is leaner, the breed was largely abandoned as a meat source in the early 1900s.

By the 1920s, the Texas Longhorn breed was nearly depleted. The United States Forest Service is credited with saving it by relocating a small herd of breeding stock to a refuge in Oklahoma. A few years later, people like J. Frank Dobie and others began gathering longhorns in Texas state parks to preserve the breed and its place in Texas history. Today there are 2,000 Texas Longhorn breeders in the U.S., including actors Matthew McConaughey and Janine Turner, General Tommy Franks (Ret.), best-selling author Oliver North and Texas entrepreneur and philanthropist Red McCombs, and over 250,000 registered longhorns in North America and other continents. Only the top five to ten percent of Texas Longhorns are considered pedigreed. These cattle sell for tens of thousands of dollars, with a few selling for over $100,000 and one bull bringing in $1 million. A more detailed history of the breed is located on the TLMA website.

About The Y.O. Ranch

Founded in 1880 by Charles Schreiner, the historic 40,000 acre, 128-year-old ranch near Mountain Home in the heart of the Texas Hill Country is famous for its exotic animal photo safaris and hunting, horseback riding, and children's adventure and outdoor skills camps. A popular tourist destination, it is home to over 60 species of animals from Africa, Asia, Australia and South America and the largest herd of quality Texas Longhorns in the world.

About TLMA

The Texas Longhorn Marketing Alliance was established in 2007 to promote the dignity and integrity of Texas Longhorn cattle breed and to serve as voluntary stewards of the Longhorn legacy. Headquartered in Lampasas, Texas, TLMA's growing membership is comprised of hundreds of dedicated Longhorn breeders. The organization sponsors several sales events each year. More information about TLMA is located at www.thelonghornalliance.com.

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Media Contact:
Debbie Herrington
512-331-0547
Email Contact

Company Contacts:
Wes Chancey
TLMA
512-556-0300 ext. 12
Email Contact

Charles Schreiner IV
Y.O. Ranch
830-640-3222
Email Contact

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

EA Mobile(TM), a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that Spore(TM) Origins, an original game for the iPhone(TM) and iPod(R) touch will be available this month. The game takes full advantage of the devices' built-in accelerometer as players tilt, turn and twist their way through a world made of primordial ooze. In conjunction with the launch of Spore Origins, EA Mobile also announces a list of nine games in development for both the iPhone and iPod touch platforms.

Eat-or-be-eaten in Spore Origins! Designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch, Spore Origins uses the platforms' motion-sensing technology to let gamers navigate a primordial tidepool on a quest to evolve. Feast on the weak and flee from the strong through two exciting modes and 35 challenging levels. Pinch, pull, and poke your creation in the Creature Editor, customizing the texture, shape and body parts to improve your offense, defense, perception and movement as you evolve over millions of years.

"We're really excited to bring Spore Origins to the iPhone and iPod touch," said Travis Boatman, Vice President Worldwide Studios at EA Mobile. "By leveraging the unique capabilities of these devices, players can customize their own creatures and shape their destiny in an exciting evolutionary journey."

EA Mobile today also announced nine titles in development for the iPhone and iPod touch, pending regional availability. This list includes YAHTZEE Adventures, EA Mini Golf, Lemonade Tycoon(TM), Mahjong, MONOPOLY: Here & Now The World Edition, SimCity, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09, Need for Speed(TM) Undercover, and The Sims(TM) 3.

Spore Origins will be available globally from the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or by simply visiting www.eamobile.com from an iPhone. Additional versions of Spore Origins are also available for the iPod, as well as other mobile devices. All iPod games are available for the third-generation iPod nano, iPod classic and fifth-generation iPod and can be sent as a gift using the iTunes gifting feature (www.itunes.com).

For more information on Spore Origins, carrier availability and pricing, please go online to www.eamobile.com/spore. Spore is also available for the PC, Mac(R) and Nintendo(TM) DS in participating retail stores worldwide, or by visiting the EA Store at http://eastore.ea.com.

About EA Mobile

EA Mobile(TM), a division of EA's Casual Entertainment Label, is the world's leading wireless entertainment publisher with award-winning games such as Tetris(R), Bejeweled(R), The Sims, and Need For Speed. The EA Mobile portfolio also includes casual games based on the company's partnership with Hasbro, Inc. including MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) as well as sports blockbusters from the EA SPORTS(TM) brand, including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer and NASCAR(R). EA Mobile develops games for multiple mobile platforms including mobile phones, smartphones, the iPhone and iPod. For more information about EA Mobile, please visit www.eamobile.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS Freestyle(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle, EA Mobile POGO, Need for Speed, Spore, Lemonade Tycoon, SimCity and The Sims are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Tetris is a registered trademark of Tetris Holding, LLC. Bejeweled is a registered trademark of PopCap Games, Inc. John Madden, NFL, FIFA, Tiger Woods, PGA TOUR and NASCAR are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. MONOPOLY, YAHTZEE, and SCRABBLE (in the U.S. and Canada) are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. iPhone, iPod, iTunes and Mac are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo, All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Electronic Arts Inc.