Summit speakers voting on a resolution draft to be submitted to the United Nations.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 22, 2012

The first Global Future Congress 2045 (GF2045) was held on Feb.17-20 in Moscow, where 56 world leading physicists, biologists, anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists and philosophers met to discuss breakthroughs in life extension technologies and draft a resolution to the United Nations setting the radical lengthening of human lifespan and the creation of Avatars as a priority for the preservation of humankind.

About 500 people attended the three-day event featuring presentations by over 50 scientists including inventor Ray Kurzweil, Microsoft Research Director Rane Johnson-Stempson, and Astronaut Sergey Krichevskiy. The event was focused on breakthrough technologies that could create a synthetic body-vessel for the mind, offering humans unlimited prolongation of life to the point of immortality.

The Congress launched the creation of a global scientific network focused on the creation of a synthetic physical body and the ability to transplant human consciousness into it. GF2045 will also serve as an investment hub, linking business leaders to opportunities to contribute to specific life-extension projects.

“I think the time-frames are quite reasonable, and it’s the right kind of goals,” said Kurzweil. “Every new iPhone, every new advancement in biology and medicine is going to advance us, so a project like this is going to help forge the way.”

Among the featured life-extension projects is “2045” a Russia-based Avatar project consisting of three phases. First, to create a humanoid robot dubbed “Avatar”, and a state-of-the-art brain-computer interface system. Next, to create a life support system between the “Avatar” and the human brain. The final step is creating an artificial brain in which to transfer the original individual consciousness.

“This is extremely important, as we now face a time where the unconscious evolution period has now turned into a new era — a new period where controlled human evolution can occur,” said Dmitry Itskov, Founder and Chairman of GF2045. “The technology and processes involved in this project are no longer a matter of science fiction; they are very real.”

Last week, the United States Defense Department unveiled an Avatar project of their own, aiming to create a semi-autonomous machine to act as the soldiers surrogate. This project, led by DARPA, a Pentagon research agency, has been deemed exclusively for military use.

“These innovations should not stay closed and militarized. Our mission is to create life extension technology available and affordable to all human beings,” said Itskov.

Event organizers and speakers drafted a resolution to be submitted to the United Nations demanding the implementation of committees to discuss life extension Avatar projects as a necessary tool in the preservation of humankind, as well as defining ethical parameters for scientists worldwide.

The next GF2045 International Congress will be held Spring 2013, in New York City.

For more information and to see photos and watch video presentations, visit the Press Center.

Also watch Dmitry Itskov’s Interview.

ABOUT GF2045

Global Future 2045 is a nonprofit organization with the goal of creating a network community with the world’s leading scientists in the field of life extension and to support them as an investment hub, contributing to various projects. This social initiative based in Moscow, works jointly with the Eurasian Center for Big History & System Forecasting, Institute of Oriental Studies and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Chicago, Ill. (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

IEG, LLC—guiding brands and properties for more than 30 years in optimizing their involvements in sponsorship—has hired a veteran of sports, entertainment, TV and new media to expand the company’s ability to bring its unparalleled insights and counsel to a wide array of organizations.

Danny O’Leary will join IEG as Director, Client Solutions, IEG Consulting Group, on February 21. Based in the company’s Chicago headquarters, he will share responsibility for new business development.

“We are delighted to have such a creative, solutions-oriented marketer join the team,” said IEG CEO Laren Ukman. “Danny will play a critical role in identifying and creating solutions for clients across a wide range of industries and sectors.”

O’Leary joins IEG following more than five years at Intersport, most recently as director of business & property development. In that role he was responsible for supporting the business in acquiring, managing, and retaining blue-chip client accounts.

His career includes experience in experiential and event marketing; film, music and property management; major event bidding and hosting; and television, digital and social media.

Prior to Intersport, O’Leary worked on the Verizon Communications account for IMG Consulting in New York, helping to optimize the company’s sponsorships of pro and collegiate sports properties, Olympic sports and pop music concert tours.

About IEG, LLC

IEG leads the way in sponsorship intelligence. With over 30 years providing insights, evaluation, and guidance, our teams bring unparalleled perspective and proven methodology to every challenge.

We partner with top brands and properties to create fresh strategies, evaluate opportunities and maximize results. Our clients rise above competitors, meaningfully engage audiences and achieve lasting impact.

A unit of WPP’s Group M, IEG is connected to specialty sibling communications companies in media, digital and activation. GroupM is the leading global media investment management operation that also serves as parent company to WPP media agencies including Maxus, MEC, MediaCom, and Mindshare.

For more information about IEG and the sponsorship industry, please visit http://www.sponsorship.com or call 800/834-4850 (outside the U.S. and Canada, 312/944-1727).

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

To consolidate credit cards is the best choice that you can make that for sure will give a better change in your life.  This is what you need to do and learn about that is why there is no reason at all for you not to try this kind of way that you are dreaming to happen in the future.  Try it right now and see how effective it can be for you that you are looking for.  To consolidate credit cards will be a great answer to the entire needs that you will have.

ClickIQ, Inc.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) February 15, 2012

When checking out a product to purchase, nearly half of consumers who have shopped online within the past 6 months first checked out the product at their local retail store and then made the purchase online, often from a different source, according to a recent consumer perception study conducted by leading market research firm ClickIQ, Inc. Consumers were asked about their shopping experiences for the past 6 months, where they shopped and where they purchased, and 67% responded that they have shopped online as well as brick & mortar stores. When this group was asked if they have researched a product at the local retail store and then made the purchase online, 46% indicated that they have done so. Of this group, the leading retailers for in-store research were Walmart (WMT) at 41% and Target (TGT) at 25%. But what is telling is that regardless of which retail store the consumer researched on the product they eventually purchased, nearly half (48%) made their final purchase at Amazon (AMZN). Furthermore, with only 15% stating they later purchased the product at Walmart.com and 4% at Target.com, it is apparent that retail stores are providing a full shopping experience for online only retailers such as Amazon.

When asked the drivers behind their decision to make the purchase online, the dominate reason was price at 87%. Other factors influencing their decision to purchase online were no shipping/delivery charges and availability, both at 52%, variety of products at 30%, and no sales tax at just over 28%. Not only are consumers researching products at the retail stores, 44% are “very/extremely likely” to go online to compare products while still in the retail store. Not surprising, when these shoppers were asked what would encourage them to buy the product at the retail store rather than online, 87% said the store would have to offer the same or a lower price than online.

The underlying data suggest that retailers are providing a free showroom for online retailers and losing sales due to the online retailers’ ability to cut prices while offering a large assortment and availability of products.

Methodology

Data was collected in an online survey from 911 of ClickIQ’s US consumer panel members from February 10, 2012 through February 13, 2012. Target respondents must have shopped both retail stores and online within the past 6 months. 418 were further qualified by stating they have researched a product in a brick & mortar store then later made the purchase online. The survey results have margin of error of +/-5% at a 95% confidence level.

About ClickIQ

ClickIQ, Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an award-winning market research firm that employs fully integrated online management tools, a proprietary consumer panel, and skilled market research analysts to deliver quantitative consumer and shopper insights to some of the best known and most respected companies across the U.S.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Gumroad

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 10, 2012

Gumroad is a startup founded by Sahil Lavingia, 19-year-old college dropout previously on the founding team of Pinterest. It launches today with over $ 1.1 million in seed funding from investors Accel Partners, Chris Sacca, Max Levchin, SV Angel, Josh Kopelman, Seth Goldstein, Naval Ravikant, Collaborative Fund and Danny Rimer.

To use Gumroad, sign in with Facebook or Twitter and submit any link or file. Attach a price, and (optionally) a photo and description.

“The store model is kind of broken. Every one talks to their fans and followers on Twitter and Facebook. But there’s a disconnect in the way people talk to their fans and the way people sell to their fans.”

Lavingia thinks that Facebook and Twitter can become the new marketplace/store-front. In his view, Gumroad has the potential to become a big, sustainable company. Gumroad disrupts the traditional and current online distribution systems, allowing artists with massive Twitter followings like Kanye and Gaga to sell directly to their followers, for example, instead of having to go through a label.

“I don’t think five years ago this could have existed,” he says, “Just like Twitter has granted anyone the ability to talk to people, Gumroad could potentially grant everyone the ability to sell stuff, online or offline.”

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 07, 2012

In collaboration with The New York Times, FORA.tv today launches the TimesTalks “TV Stars” series, a video collection featuring acclaimed television actors in conversations with Times journalists about their craft, careers and memorable moments.

Actors featured in this exclusive series include Alec Baldwin, Betty White, Sarah Jessica Parker, Julianna Margulies, Katie Couric and the cast of The View. The complete series and individual programs are only available for purchase at FORA.tv. Viewers are able to watch the videos on-demand, anytime for 60 days following their purchase. Highlights are available for free preview at timestalks.fora.tv.

This TimesTalks TV Stars series follows the previously launched TimesTalks Comedy Stars series with Lewis Black, Russell Brand, Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan and Ben Stiller; the TimesTalks Celebrated Chefs series, which features such chefs as Alton Brown, Paula Deen, Bobby Flay and Ina Garten; the TimesTalks Film Stars series with Jeff Bridges, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper and Quentin Tarantino; and the TimesTalks Music Stars series with Michael Stipe, Rosanne Cash, Vampire Weekend and Iggy Pop.

TimesTalks is The New York Times’s premier event program featuring intimate discussions with Times journalists and some of today’s top talents and thinkers from the fields of film, theater, television, art, politics and more.

ABOUT FORA.TV

FORA.tv is the leading online destination for video programs from the world’s best conferences and events. With more than 10,000 free and fee-based videos and its iPad “Conference Channel” app, FORA.tv has the web’s largest collection of programs that feature the people, issues, and ideas changing the world. FORA.tv helps hundreds of organizations including the Aspen Institute, the Economist, the New York Public Library, and Wired expand the audience for their events. FORA.tv has been named a Top 50 Web Site by TIME, and a Top Education Site by The Telegraph. FORA.tv is funded by a select group of investors led by William R. Hearst III and is based in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://fora.tv.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) February 04, 2012

Granite Commercial Management (GCM), the industry leader in construction risk mitigation services, will be a silver sponsor at the 2012 Southeastern Small Business Lenders Conference (SESBLC) at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation on February 5-7, 2012.

Utilizing the Best Practices Risk Mitigation System®, GCM delivers a comprehensive all-in-one solution for the SBA industry, delivering the highest level of construction safeguards. GCM is a third-party outsource provider for some of the largest financial institutions and agencies of the U.S. government, as well as community banks and credit unions.

GCM will sponsor and host booth #18 in the SESBLC Exhibit Gallery located in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom Foyer. Staff will be available February 5-7 with construction loan risk management solutions for SBA lenders and other SESBLC attendees.

GCM’s featured SBA services include: contractor and project underwriting (pre-loan services); 50-state statutory mechanics’ lien law compliance; funds administration; nationwide inspection field services; portfolio and project level risk management reporting; and deferment, delinquency and adverse condition site inspections. Services are processed using a proprietary web-based technology with 24/7 online project tracking and monitoring access.

The SESBLC takes place February 5-7 at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia, approximately 75 miles outside of Atlanta. The 3-day event is presented by the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle (GLQC). According to the GLQC website, the SESBLC features “keynote speakers on SBA relevant topics, forecast of the economy, breakout training sessions with topics for beginner and advanced SBA lenders and their staff, as well as several networking opportunities.”

For more information on GCM’s nationwide construction loan risk mitgation services, visit http://www.granitecm.com. To subscribe to the Construction Lending News quarterly publication, go to http://www.constructionlendingnews.com.

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Michael Hemsey, President

St. Petersburg, Fl (PRWEB) February 01, 2012

Kobie Marketing, a recognized leader in the loyalty marketing industry, is proud to announce that it was awarded the 2012 “Top Business” award by DiversityBusiness.com. The award recognizes Kobie as one of the top privately owned companies in America. Kobie Marketing was also awarded the following:

Top 500 Women Owned Businesses in the U.S. – 2012

Top 100 Diversity Owned Businesses in Florida – 2012

Top 100 Women Owned Businesses in Florida – 2012

Top 100 Privately held Businesses in Florida – 2012

Kobie will be honored at DiversityBusiness.com’s “12th Annual National Business Awards Ceremony and Conference” this April at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The event brings together America’s “Top Business Owners” and the “Top Fortune 500″ companies for promoting business opportunities.

“Kobie Marketing celebrates diversity in the workplace,” said Michael Hemsey, President of Kobie Marketing. “This year we will invest more than ever in our people, products, services, technology infrastructure, international expansion, and thought leadership. We hold steadfast our commitment to our clients and to delivering best-in-class loyalty marketing programs that increase incremental revenue and deliver true brand loyalists.”

As part of this prestigious recognition, Kobie will be included on DiversityBusiness.com’s “Top Business List,” which is seen by over 20 million people. The list is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the United States economy — America’s privately held companies, and has become the most recognized and respected compilation of companies that truly differentiate themselves in the marketplace in a time when doing so has never been more important.

About DiversityBusiness.com

Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness.com, with over 50,000 members, is the largest organization of diversity owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities.

About Kobie Marketing

Kobie Marketing is the loyalty experience company, delivering end-to-end loyalty for you and your customers – strategy, technology, and program management. For over 20 years, we’ve delivered innovative strategic loyalty programs to the world’s most successful brands. Kobie’s clients enjoy incremental revenue, product and household penetration, and brand advocacy.

Today, Kobie Marketing leads the loyalty marketing industry with a relentless focus on delivering the best customer experience, through proprietary technologies and award-winning campaigns. Kobie Marketing is spearheading the mobile loyalty revolution with its Social Media, SMS, MMS and Mobile Application loyalty solutions. Kobie manages loyalty management programs for many of the world’s most successful brands: AMC Entertainment, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Comcast Corporation, Hawaiian Airlines, Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon Communications. More information is available at http://www.kobie.com.

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Car Insurance Savings is a Key Feature of New Website by Reading, PA Insurance Agency

Reading, PA (PRWEB) January 28, 2012

American Insuring Group, Ltd, a Trusted Choice independent agency offering over 25 competing brands of car insurance, house insurance, and life, health, and business insurance, has launched a state-of-the-art website for insurance savings, http://www.aigltd.com. The site caters to customers in Reading, PA, and the surrounding cities of Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Allentown, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and York, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Now, in addition to selecting the best price from over 25 insurance companies, customers can access brief and sometimes humorous videos explaining insurance coverage and options in layman’s terms.

The website also features instant insurance quotes, and the ability to upload an existing insurance policy to quote similar coverage from other providers without filling out long forms.

“Our customers are delighted with the new website” said David Ross, President. “Not only does it look great, but the site has a friendly feel. The customers love the videos, especially the 20-second video on the home page entitled Why is This Man So Happy? Everyone likes to save on insurance, but it’s even better when you can have fun in the process!”

Ross commissioned Reading PA web design firm, Power Marketing International LLC, to design the website and to perform all search engine optimization (SEO) activities prior to launching the site. “I was truly amazed by the results,” said Ross. “Within days of going live our new site has achieved page-one Google rankings on over 170 keywords. I’m already receiving calls from new customers outside our normal sales territory who are finding us online.”

Those interested in learning more about American Insuring Group’s offerings can visit http://www.aigltd.com.

About American Insuring Group, Ltd

American Insuring Group is located near Reading, Pennsylvania, and is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency specializing in helping customers save money on car insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and commercial insurance by offering coverage from over 25 competing insurance companies. The company guarantees the lowest price on insurance, and offers a free pizza for referrals.

About Power Marketing International, LLC

Power Marketing International is an Internet marketing firm located near Reading, PA, which specializes in keyword-driven web design, web marketing, and social media marketing services for small and mid-sized companies. For more information visit http://www.PowerMarketingInternational.com.

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FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (PRWEB) January 18, 2012

According to the Federal Reserve, consumer borrowing surged in November by $ 20.4 billion raising the consumer debt total to $ 2.48 trillion. Financial experts at Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. advise consumers to reexamine spending habits.

With more consumers turning to credit for purchases, revolving debt showed an 8.5 percent increase. Credit card debt accounts for almost all of revolving debt, which rose by $ 5.6 billion to $ 798.3 billion. This was the largest percentage jump since March 2008.

Howard Dvorkin, CPA and founder of ConsolidatedCredit.org warns consumers to be fiscally conservative as the recession is not over. “American households are feeling better about the economy, but in reality unemployment is still high. Now more than ever families need to work at saving and paying off any outstanding debts,” says Dvorkin.

Non-revolving debt significantly increased 10.7 percent landing at $ 1.68 trillion. Non-revolving debt includes auto loans and student loans, as well as loans for mobile homes, boats, and trailers.

“November kicks off the holiday shopping craze with Black Friday and Cyber Monday falling towards the end of the month. Consumers turned to credit for purchases they couldn’t otherwise afford.” says Dvorkin. “As the bills begin to roll in, consumers may find themselves unable to pay them off. It’s good to see an increase in consumer spending but never is it worth going into debt.”

Consolidated Credit’s Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt:

List all debts: Make a list of all credit card accounts include the account number, interest rate, outstanding balance, payment due date, credit limit and the minimum payment. Not only does this keep things organized but it better prevents bills from being late or unaccounted for.

Pay more than monthly minimum: Try to pay more the than just the minimum amount due. Any amount paid over the minimum goes directly towards the balance owed. This allows debt to be paid off faster reducing overall interest.

Make payments on-time: Falling behind on payments only causes unnecessary fees. Set up automatic payment plans to avoid late fee charges.

Avoid accumulating new debt: Now is not the time to apply for new credit cards or loans. Focus on paying off debt already established. It’s difficult to get out of debt when new debt is mounting. Use cash for purchases rather than credit.

Pay off high interest rate debts first. The most efficient way to resolve debt is by paying down the highest interest rate balances first. Once high-interest debt is paid down, tackle the next highest, and so on. Continue paying the minimum due on all other debts.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help. There are reputable debt-counseling agencies that consolidate debt and teach individuals to manage their finances better. Consolidated Credit conducts a free debt analysis and dispenses free advice on a daily basis. If someone needs help they can speak with a counselor with no obligation or visit ConsolidatedCredit.org.

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About:

Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc., founded in 1993, is one of the nation’s largest credit counseling organizations in the country and has helped over 5 million people with financial issues. Their mission is to assist families throughout the United States in ending financial crisis and solving money management problems through education and professional counseling.

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