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Dawn of the Teen-Age Philanthropist – How One 19 Year-Old University Student is Saving Lives by Creating Educational Computer Games
When 19 year-old Chung-Guk Kim decides he wants to take on a cause, you can bet the results will be anything but small. This is evidenced by the grand debut of his latest project - a new, web-based charitable foundation entitled FreePoverty.com.
Rome, Italy, January 30, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Anyone who wants to do their part to help save the world these days, needs only to start playing games - games like the one invented by 19 year-old Chung-Guk Kim of Rome, Italy, that is. Not your average computer game, the game offered by Chung-Guk’s web site - FreePoverty.com - offers players the chance to donate cups of clean drinking water to countries without fresh water supplies with each correct answer. The game is a simple test of one’s geographical knowledge, and was inspired by a similar set-up at FreeRice.com - a foundation created to allow users to donate grains of rice to impoverished countries, just by playing a word game.
In Chung-Guk’s game, players are asked to point to a particular place on a world map. The closer they are to the correct answer, the more cups of water are donated; between one and ten, depending on how far from the requested location they are able to put their flag. Apart from donations, FreePoverty.com also uses the revenue generated from the game, as well as advertisements on the site, to send water to these countries. The monies collected and generated are then given to an organisation such as UNICEF or WaterAid, who will then donate the water on FreePoverty.com’s behalf.
In addition to inspiring others to visit the site and play the game, the team at FreePoverty.com hopes to attract the attention of an organisation willing to sponsor the foundation. The team hopes that an established company will recognise the importance of FreePoverty.com’s mission, and be willing to align themselves with the foundation in order to help the group gain more exposure from a trusted source. “We want the person (or organization) to be trustworthy” said FreePoverty.com spokesperson, Rubina Singhsachathet. “By sponsoring us, it is as if [they] are saying they believe in us and that what we are doing is important. That’s all we’re really looking for.” In a recent interview, Chung-Guk stated “We [want] some sort of organisation willing to sponsor us… to show the world that we are not just an act.”
In an attempt to gain even more exposure for the foundation, Chung-Guk is also creating an application for the popular social site Facebook, with the hope that FreePoverty.com’s mission to bring clean drinking water to impoverished countries will become viral. The application will be designed not only to encourage users of Facebook to play the game and visit sponsor web sites; but also to help educate them as to the importance of FreePoverty.com’s mission to bring clean drinking water to those countries without. As Rubina Singhsachathet, spokesperson for Freepoverty.com stated, “Knowing helps; and we are here to prove that.”
For more information about FreePoverty.com, or to help send your cups of water to impoverished nations by playing Chung-Guk’s game, visit them on the web at www.freepoverty.com. Remember, every cup donated helps; and knowledge is power.
New and Unique Children's Book
New Children’s Book Author Releases Book About Boy Whose Father is in Jail. From Former Correctional Officer and Present-Day Elementary Teacher: Author Uses Personal Experience to Write Realistic Fiction for Children
Kalamazoo, MI, January 30, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Michigan-based author Stanley Williams has taken realistic children’s fiction to an unusual and highly emotional location with his first illustrated book, Willie’s Dad. The story takes places primarily in a prison visiting room, where a son is visiting his incarcerated father. Williams wrote the story of a father’s unselfish love for his son with tasteful authenticity, and the illustrations by his teaching colleague, Najima Abdul- Haqq expertly renders sympathetic visual realism to the story.
Mr. Williams was a correctional officer at a medium-security prison
in Illinois during the 1980’s. He has been an elementary school teacher for over eight years, up to the present. Williams conceived the story early in his teaching career, and spent several years creating the story, and refining it into the book it is today. He shared his story with fellow teacher Naima Abdul- Haqq, who agreed to illustrate. Haqq is the art teacher in the same elementary school as Williams.
Ann J. said about the story, “Great story of an unselfish love....It brought tears to my eyes....Thank You.” “This story touched my heart. It was very well written and I loved it.’ Wrote Shelbia C. after reading it. Julie R wrote, “A wonderful story of love. Sometimes the greatest gift of love is learning when to let it go!” exclaimed Dona B. “I Never knew my father, loved your story thanks for sharing,” Larry H.
Williams and Abdul-Haqq have been collaborating on this book for over two years. After submitting the book to several children’s book publishers, they made the decision to self-publish through Lulu.com. Williams has another children’s book due out later this year, illustrated by a different teacher from the same school. Willie’s Dad will precede another Williams-Haqq collaboration featuring Willie, Willie’s Mom.
Willie’s Dad is available for order through Lulu.com.
The video of the author’s reading of the story is freely available on gather.com.
President Bush Signs Executive Order Protecting American Taxpayers from Government Spending on Wasteful Earmarks
Office of the Press Secretary
January 29, 2008
THE PRESIDENT: Director Nussle, thank you. Before I sign the executive order on earmarks, I do want to congratulate the House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing a economic growth package that would help our economy. The temptation is going to be for the Senate to load it up. My concern is that we need to get this bill out of the Senate and on my desk so the checks can get in the hands of our consumers, and our businesses can be assured of the incentives necessary to make investments.
Anyway, I do want to thank the Speaker and Leader Boehner for working quickly and working in a bipartisan fashion. This is a very good start.
And now I'm going to sign this executive order. Last night I said that it's very important for Congress to earn the trust of the American taxpayer, and one way they should do so is to end the practice of earmarks. Now, I said last year that they should voluntarily cut the number in half -- not only the number, but the amount of earmarks in half. They chose not to do so. So last night I told the Congress that I would veto any bill, appropriations bill, that does not cut the number and the amount of earmarks in half.
Secondly, there's a practice here in Washington, and I'm not sure many of our citizens understand it takes place, where members just put in special spending projects into what's called report language. That means that these projects never were voted on, never really saw the light of day. And this executive order says that any such earmarks this year and into the future will be ignored by this administration and, hopefully, future administrations, unless those spending projects were voted on by the Congress.
The American people expect there to be transparency in the process. They expect the people to be -- here in Washington to be wise about how they spend their money, and this executive order will go a long way toward sending that signal to the Congress, and at the same time, earning the trust of the American people.
So, Mr. Director, thank you for your leadership on the issue. It was the right course of action to take, and I am proud to have signed the executive order. Thank you.
Today, the President signed Executive Order 13457, "Protecting American Taxpayers from Government Spending on Wasteful Earmarks." This Executive Order (EO) makes clear that future earmarks included in report language will be ignored and builds on the President's pledge in his State of the Union address to veto FY 2009 spending bills that do not cut the cost and number of earmarks in half from FY 2008 levels.
The President's unprecedented action on earmarks will bring more transparency and accountability to the budget process – just as the American people expect and deserve.
* The President's goal is to reform the earmarking culture that leads to wasteful and excessive pork-barrel spending.
* Last year, the President asked Congress to voluntarily cut the number and dollar amount of earmarks in half, and he asked lawmakers to place earmarks in the actual text of the bill rather than in report language.
* Congress did not get the job done on either count. There are still too many earmarks and too little accountability.
* As a result of Executive Order 13457, earmarks will be subject to the light of day and an up or down vote by lawmakers. Congress' obligation to debate and strike wasteful projects should result in taxpayer dollars being spent more wisely.
* Throughout the Appropriations process, the Administration will work with lawmakers and other interested parties to advance earmark reform.
Specifically, the Executive Order:
* Directs every Federal Agency to ensure that laws passed by Congress in the future do not spend money on an earmarked project based on language in a Committee report or any other communication (e.g., phone-marking) from Members of Congress or other persons acting on their behalf.
* Future non-statutory earmarks can only receive funding if the agency determines, pursuant to a merit-based decision process, that the project in question is the best possible expenditure of taxpayer dollars consistent with the law.
* Members of Congress will have the opportunity, as they've always had, to advocate for projects they support. For these views to be considered as part of an Agency's merit-based, decision-making process, however, they must be submitted in writing and will be made public on the Internet within 30 days.
* Applies to earmarks in bills Congress will send to the President this year and in bills Congress will send Presidents in future years. This prospective policy will remain in effect unless the Executive Order is repealed by a future President. To put this status in context, over 80 percent of EOs from 1993-2000 remain in place today.
* Defines an earmark as any funds provided by Congress for projects, programs, or grants where the congressional direction (whether in statutory text, report language, or other communication) (1) circumvents merit-based or competitive allocation processes; (2) specifies the location or recipient of the funds; or (3) otherwise limits the ability of the Executive Branch to manage its statutory and constitutional responsibilities for the allocation of federal funds.
More information can be found on the White House news release website.
Historic Photos of St. Petersburg by Andrew N. Edel
The History of St. Petersburg Told Through Historic Photographs
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Olathe, KS (OPENPRESS) January 19, 2008 -- Greg Orman, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Kansas, recently launched his official campaign website, www.voteorman.com], which features Web 2.0 technology and social networking pages. Supporters can view Orman's stance on important issues from healthcare to the economy and subscribe to his frequently updated video and text blogs.
Orman, an Olathe businessman and entrepreneur, filed his Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission in December, making him an official United States Senate candidate in the 2008 Kansas Election
[ Click here to read more ]
Honey Used to Clear Infections Including MRSA
(OPENPRESS) January 21, 2008 -- Amid growing concern over drug-resistant superbugs and non-healing wounds that endanger diabetes patients, nature's original antibiotic, honey, is making a comeback. More than 4,000 years after Egyptians began applying honey to wounds, Honeymark International, a Long Island-based company that makes medicated creams and lotions, began using honey in its products as a powerful antibacterial healing agent. Honey was used to treat wounds and burns for years before antibiotics were invented. Doctors assumed antibiotics worked better but recent studies are proving otherwise
[ Click here to read more ]
"How can our church website help us reach out into our community?" Churches often find it difficult to know how to build sites that will engage with outsiders in their area.
(OPENPRESS) January 19, 2008 -- A new online tool has been released by Internet Evangelism Day, which provides churches with a free 15-page evaluation report. Users assess their own website by answering 55 simple questions on the tool questionnaire. Their customized report is immediately displayed online, ready to print or save. Its recommendations are tailored with specific practical suggestions, based on the questions that were ticked. View the design tool here
[ Click here to read more ]
GirlswithGoals.com Launches A New Look and New Services for the Women In Business Community
Spotsylvania VA (OPENPRESS) January 21, 2008 -- Girls with Goals announced today that its new website is live. As a vital aspect of the expansion of Girls with Goal’s goal commerce operations, the website displays a whole new range of business commerce solutions that are the core of Girls with Goal’s business
[ Click here to read more ]
Gynecology And Laparoscopic Surgeons, PC, Releases Podcast On Hysteroscopy
Raleigh, NC (OPENPRESS) January 19, 2008 -- Dr. Lisa Roberts, president and CEO of Gynecology and Laparoscopic Surgeons, PC (www.glsi.info), has announced the release of a podcast discussing hysteroscopy, a minimally invasive way of looking inside the uterus. In the podcast, Dr. Roberts discusses what a hysteroscopy is, the reasons a hysteroscopy may be utilized, how the hysteroscopy procedure is performed and what a woman should expect following the procedure. The podcast is now available for download at Really Long Link
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Plymouth, MA (OPENPRESS) January 8, 2008 -- The Spirit contest included Red, Blue and Gold teams, made up of members of the freshman football team. The team recruiting the most non-football playing members of Plymouth North’s freshman class would win free admission to North’s Thanksgiving Day game against Plymouth South. The Gold team recruited 50 people to North’s final freshman football game, taking home the Spirit prize and not only earning free admission to the Thanksgiving Day game, but Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac’s Driven Student award in the process.
“High school students nowadays have very active lives with homework, extracurricular sports and activities and after-school jobs. Getting them to attend an event outside of their set schedule is a monumental task. Our hats are off to the Gold team for being able to generate enough of a buzz to get so many of their fellow freshmen to come to their game. For that, they’re more than worthy of our Driven Student award,” said Jeff Tracy, president of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac
[ Click here to read more ]
The History of Maine Told Through Historic Photographs
Nashville, TN (OPENPRESS) January 8, 2008 -- From its renowned maritime industries to its status as booming tourism hub to its rich literary history, Maine’s collection of unique cultures gave rise to a unified and progressive spirit, a foundation of the state’s present-day prosperity and popularity
[ Click here to read more ]
The History of Alaska Told Through Historic Photographs
Nashville, TN (OPENPRESS) January 8, 2008 -- From its purchase from Imperial Russia in 1867 to the gold rushes of the early 20th century, from its road to statehood after World War II, to the oil boom of the 1970s, Alaska reflects a progressive and hearty spirit, with rich multiple cultures that are the foundations of the state’s present-day prosperity and allure
[ Click here to read more ]
The Reading Wars--Phonics vs. Whole Word--are still raging. Education site Really Long Link explores what might be considered the Crime of the Century. Elite educators appear to have sabotaged reading as part of broader social policy.
(OPENPRESS) January 8, 2008 -- Everyone hears the scary stats: 65% of the kids in fourth grade haven’t learned to read; the country has 50 million functional illiterates, i.e., people who can’t read a newspaper or cereal box; U.S. students don’t compete well against students from other countries. Is all this accidental? Or somebody’s idea of tough-minded social policy
[ Click here to read more ]
Seattle, WA (OPENPRESS) January 5, 2008 -- Business owners, executives and others seeking to live inspired lives can make plans now to attend the Saturday, January 19 Inspired Action™ Workshop at the Seattle Convention Center. Scott Oki, award-winning philanthropist, is first on the day’s agenda with his 9 a.m. interview about passion and vision.
Oki will speak before hundreds of success seeking event guests who have traveled to Seattle from San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Newport Beach to benefit from a full day of programming hosted by Success Coach Matthew Ferry (www.matthewferry.com) and Real Estate Investor, Philanthropist, and Motivational Speaker Thach Nguyen. The last Seattle event hosted by Ferry and Nguyen was held in June of 2007 at the Seattle Westin, and it attracted 1,000 guests. Last minute event registrations for this January 19 event could very well deliver a similar result
[ Click here to read more ]
(OPENPRESS) January 5, 2008 -- When the votes were tallied, the working people of America picked a Union Pacific Railroad Engineer from Minnesota as the quintessential American Worker for 2008. The “Search for the American Worker 2” competition was sponsored by The Working Person’s Store of Lakeville, Indiana, and Carolina Shoe Company.
“We posted the finalists on our website and invited our visitors to vote for the winner,” said Eric Deniger, CEO of The Working Person’s Store. “Jason Lehman, a Union Pacific Railroad Engineer from Minnesota, topped the competition from a field of great entrants. He’ll be getting a complete head to toe rework of his work wear courtesy of The Working Person’s Store and Carolina Shoe Company
[ Click here to read more ]
Debut Novelist to Walk the Metaphorical High Wire
New York, NY (OPENPRESS) January 6, 2008 -- Carol MRP Co., publisher of Cooperative Village, has engaged director Ari Laura Kreith to stage a one-woman-show to be written and performed by the author. Ms. Kreith, who directed the sold-out 2007 NYC International Fringe hit “Double Vision,” will create a 50-minute show that can be performed in theaters, clubs, and conference settings
[ Click here to read more ]
The biggest show to hit primetime television in years will be premiering on Sunday, Jan. 6th @ 8pm. American Gladiators...ROCK
United States of America (Press Release) January 4, 2008 -- It's being talked about everywhere. It's more speed than NASCAR, More action than Mission Impossible, More power than a Nuclear Blast, and More SPANDEX than an 80's Bon Jovi Concert
[ Click here to read more ]
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