AuctionAds Wins eBay Star Developer Award

MediaWhiz Division AuctionAds Wins eBay Star Developer Award for ''Most Innovative Application-Buyer'' eBay Developers Conference

 June 21, 2007 - NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AuctionAds, a division of MediaWhiz Holdings Inc., today announced it received the eBay Star Developer Award for "Most Innovative Application-Buyer" at the sixth annual eBay Developers Conference. AuctionAds (www.auctionads.com) enables users to monetize their website by displaying live eBay auctions next to their related copy.

"We are honored to accept this prestigious award, which recognizes that AuctionAds is a successful tool for leveraging the lucrative eBay affiliate system, in a way that is easy for publishers to use," stated AuctionAds CTO David Dellanave.

"The eBay Star Developers Awards recognize developers for their innovation and commitment to the eBay platform," said Max Mancini, senior director of disruptive innovation at eBay. "AuctionAds was awarded for its efficiency using innovative caching techniques, allowing it to serve up 30 million impressions a month with only 200,000 API calls, an impressive volume of traffic per API call."

The eBay Developers Conference in Boston brings together more than 500 third-party developers, entrepreneurs and affiliates to meet with technologists and business leaders from eBay, PayPal, ProStores, Shopping.com and Skype.

About AuctionAds

AuctionAds (www,auctionads.com), a division of MediaWhiz Holdings Inc., users to monetize their website by displaying live eBay auctions next to their related copy.

About MediaWhiz

MediaWhiz is a leading online marketing company delivering a fully integrated solution for brand advertisers, direct marketers and publishers by leveraging its suite of marketing services to achieve measurable results. Services include affiliate marketing, lead generation, email marketing, list management, display advertising, text link advertising and search marketing. MediaWhiz delivers more than 3 million monthly leads to over 3,000 advertisers through its database of more than 100 million consumer email addresses and relationships with over 20,000 publishers. Private equity firm Lake Capital first invested in MediaWhiz in August 2005. Through acquisitions and organic growth, MediaWhiz has established its position as a leading provider of integrated marketing. More information on MediaWhiz is available at www,mediawhiz.com.
Contacts

Berns Communications Group
Joshua Greenwald / Megan Prock
212-994-4660

Food & Wine Magazine And Gourmet Magazine Fight

Food Fight: Food & Wine Vs. Gourmet

by Phyllis Fine, Wednesday, June 20, 2007

LET'S say you're a foodie -- somebody who knew, even before it was explained on "Top Chef," that an amuse bouche was a bite-sized appetizer, not a command to make the President laugh. Should you turn to Food & Wine or Gourmet for help in planning your blow-out summer party?

These mags' June covers, both highlighting the seasonal thrill of the grill, are virtually identical in focus. But there actually are distinct differences between the two. (Full disclosure: I did some freelance editorial work for F & W several years ago.)  Unless otherwise specified, all the features mentioned are from the June issue.

Editor-in-Chief Shoot-out: a draw. Both editors' letters, well-written but not particularly noteworthy, give clues to the respective magazine's tone. Each editor discusses grill cooking -- but Gourmet's Ruth Reichl references gender politics and history, while F & W's Dana Cowin says, of grill mistakes, she's made a few. So here's the juxtaposition:  an intellectual approach, at times wandering out of the kitchen into the wider world, versus a more straightforward, narrower focus on (hey, the name says it all), food and wine.

Quality of Features: F & W, B+; Gourmet, A. Gourmet is the star here. Perhaps as an offshoot of former New York Times critic Reichl's journalistic chops, the mag occasionally supplements its regular coverage of the food scene with commentary and reportage on related political, environmental and sociological issues, sometimes by figures not known for their gustatory interests. For example, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote about mercury contamination in fish last July. The excellent "A View To A Kill," discussing possible changes in, um, chicken processing, begins in the great skewer-authority tradition of investigative journalism: "The executives who run American's chicken industry might not want you to read this article." "Juneteenth Jamboree" spotlights the (relatively unknown, at least by white people) commemoration of the end of U.S. slavery.

F & W does a very good job covering trends in the U.S. food and restaurant scene, as in Cowin's piece that explains why, even though Philadelphia isn't what she'd call a classic restaurant city, it still rocks food-wise. The mag's editorial staff also excels at developing creative features, like January's "100 Tastes To Try In '07," and packaging articles to support a theme. March's TV chefs issue featured not only the requisite report on Bravo's "Top Chef" winner (required because F & W is involved with the show), but also the funny "How YouTube Almost Made Me A Cooking Show Star," by noted blogger and author Julie Powell. Yet the closest F & W comes to broader commentary is a piece opining that cooks, following Japanese tradition, should use their hands more in food preparation. (Let's hope chefs inspired by this article will be washing up with Lady-Macbeth-like frequency.)

Recipes and food instruction: another draw -- F & W, A; Gourmet, A. From my armchair cook's perspective, each mag excels in its two major tasks: covering the food (and wine) scene, and aiding the cooking and eating enthusiast with clear, nicely presented recipes and tips. For the hypothetical hostess mentioned above, Gourmet offers a greater variety of foods to grill, including tofu and lobster. Meanwhile F & W provides more in-depth cooking instructions, from experts like cookbook author Steven Raichlen. Points go to F & W for its regular healthful cooking feature, which includes nutrition info for each recipe, and to Gourmet for its regular comparative tests of specific products and equipment.

Look of the book: F & W, A; Gourmet, B. F & W shines here with a mix of aesthetics and organization, such as using special logos to carry the "grill" theme throughout the book. Gorgeous food close-ups and extra-easy-to-read giant text carry your eye through the standout layout for "10 Easy Ways To Master the Grill."

Gourmet's feature well includes sometimes-haunting photos, like black-and-white shots of celebrants at the  "Juneteenth Jamboree." Still, some of the mag's auxiliary pages, like its "Good Living" product layouts, lack F & W's varied fonts and graphic elements that would make the look pop.

And F & W's pages of text-only recipes are broken up by tiny clock graphics, while Gourmet's are uniformly gray.

Bottom line: I wish I could make this more of a true food fight, showing that one mag is much better than the other, but each is truly nutritious in its own way. F & W provides stylish service journalism, while Gourmet, though it could fine-tune its looks, offers a bit more, um, food for thought.

Food & Wine
Published by: American Express Publishing Corporation
Frequency: Monthly
Web site


Gourmet
Published by: Condé Nast Publications
Frequency: Monthly
Web site


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Phyllis Fine is columns editor for MediaPost.

Magazine Rack for Wednesday, June 20, 2007: http://publications.mediapost.com

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Cordless LED Borescope Light Source Kit Provides Illumination for Inspections

New Cordless L.E.D. Borescope Light Source Kit from Lenox Instrument Provides Portable Illumination for Visual Inspections

A new portable light source adaptable to most borescopes, fiberscopes, and videoscopes eliminates the need for a rechargeable power sources and extension cords. The new L.E.D. borescope light source kit from Lenox Instrument company makes visual inspections of turbine, gas or diesel engines, combustion chambers, pumps and valves, pipelines, tubing, castings, and machined parts much more convenient.

Trevose, PA (PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- Lenox Instrument Company, the manufacturer of the original borescope, today, announced the offering of the new 3000LS-3.5LED portable L.E.D. light source that is adaptable to most fiber optic illuminated borescope, fiberscope, and videoscope models.

"This new borescope light source kit is the brightest portable light Lenox has ever produced," said Paul Lang, vice president at Lenox Instrument Company. "We set out to manufacture a portable light source that could deliver convenience, durability, and an abundance of light."

More convenient than bulky gel cell packs used with standard borescope light sources, the new unit operates on three C-cell batteries, making the light source portable. With low battery consumption, the unit will operate for 24 hours before new alkaline or rechargeable batteries are needed. The unit itself never needs to be recharged and has a life expectancy of 50,000 hours.

"The new unit packs in state of the art L.E.D. technology and is built to the highest standards," said Lang.

Illumination is delivered by the brilliant white, 5,000 to 6,000 degree Kelvin, L.E.D. light that produces up to 110,000 lux at the input to the light guide. The unit is durable, offering shock and impact-resistant protection, yet remains a lightweight 1.4 lbs. even with batteries installed into the 11 inch handle.

Ideal for even the darkest inspection areas, Lenox borescopes and L.E.D. borescope light sources are used for inspecting for corrosion, leaks, cracks, stress, wear, blockages, deposits, and debris, and are recommended for inspecting turbine, gas or diesel engines, combustion chambers, pumps and valves, pipelines, tubing, castings, and machined parts.

Each Lenox 3000LS-3.5LED portable L.E.D. light source kit includes a light source, battery handle with belt holster, extension cord, adapter to fit most borescope and fiberscope models, three C-cell batteries, and a convenient storage case.

Lenox portable L.E.D borescope light sources are in stock and available for quick delivery. Lenox Instrument Company personnel are available to assist in choosing the proper borescope and accessories for any application. For more information or to place an order for the new 3000LS-3.5LED portable light source kit, visit http://www.lenoxinst.com/borescopes.html or call Lenox at 1-800-356-1104.

About Lenox:
Lenox Instrument Company has been providing visual inspection instruments to the defense, power generation, and manufacturing industries since 1921. Offering a full line of visual NDT borescopes, videoscopes, fiberscopes, micro borescopes, flexible borescopes, endoscopes, light sources, and remote visual inspection equipment Lenox products are renowned for their rugged and innovative style. From the 1921 invention of the first industrial borescope, to the first borescope used at a nuclear site, to the internal inspection of today's jet engines, or the internal viewing of a furnace, Lenox Instrument Company has always offered the highest quality and broadest range of remote vision instruments to satisfy the most stringent needs.

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Press Contact: Paul Lang
Company Name: Lenox Instrument Company
Phone: 1-800-356-1104
Website: http://www.lenoxinst.com

Miniature Surveillance Security Video Camera Goes Wireless

Security Goes Wireless - The Miniature MXR-5842C Camera is Now For Sale Through Surveillance Video

World's smallest 5.8GHz camera. The small and affordable MXR-5842C wireless security camera from Videocomm is ideal for covert security. Surveillance Video is proud to now offer the MXR-5842C for sale on its website, www.surveillance-video.com.

New York, New York (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- Surveillance Video now offers the Videocomm MXR-5842C wireless camera for sale to consumers. Measuring only 1.4" x 2.9" x 2.2", the camera is small and therefore ideal for covert applications. This is bolstered by the inclusion of a pinhole lens, which is the only part of the camera that needs to be exposed in order for a picture to be generated. Furthermore, this economical indoor camera can be battery powered.

Certified by the FCC, the MXR-5842C emits wireless transmissions at 5.8GHz so there is no conflict or interference from 2.4GHz devices, such as wireless internet routers. Real time, high resolution video signals are transmitted at an operating distance of up to 1,000 feet line of sight or up to 300 feet indoors using the fixed omnidirectional antenna. The transmitting range can be increased with the use of an optional receiver.

According to Videocomm, this "wireless 8-channel selectable camera sends video from locations normally not possible, convenient or economical. Weighing less than 85g, this camera draws under 150mA of current and is ideal for scenarios where only a battery source is available." Suggested applications include offices, warehouses, retail stores, and nurseries. It is also ideal as a nanny camera or as a floater camera (a camera that can be moved around as needed).

The MXR-5842C features a color 1/3" Sharp CCD at a resolution of 420 TV lines. It requires a minimum illumination of 1.0 Lux. The camera comes with a universal mounting bracket, an AA battery pack holder, a 12VDC power supply, and battery snap cables. It has a one year limited warranty.

For additional information and product specifications on the Videocomm MXR-5842C, or to place an order, please contact Surveillance Video at 1-800-955-5201. The camera is available for purchase immediately.

About Surveillance Video:

For over 35 years, Surveillance Video has earned the confidence of their valued customers by providing professional assistance on all of their video surveillance systems, home security cameras & security camera systems.

Contact:

Surveillance Video
1-800-955-5201
http://www.surveillance-video.com

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Press Contact: Erion Kapllani
Company Name: Surveillance Video
Phone: 1-800-955-5201
Website: http://www.surveillance-video.com

U.S. Housing Slump Enjoyed By Home Buyers

Home Buyers Enjoying U.S. Housing Slump

( EMAILWIRE.COM, June 11, 2007 )   SACRAMENTO, CA - People who want sell a home fast for a lot of cash are having trouble selling their house quickly and easily these days in most markets in the United States due to problems with foreclosures and subprime mortgage loans. This does, however, present opportunities for people who want to buy a house, like Fred Masterson of Sacramento, California.

"We want to buy a house, but we're waiting for the market to really hit bottom before we jump in the market," Masterson said recently. Mr. Masterson reported that he spends a lot of time on the internet looking for houses to buy and carefully reads the news to gauge which way the single family home market is moving.

He, like many other home buyers in Sacramento and cities across the nation, is waiting for the right opportunity to buy a home and hopes he can time the market just right.

Some of the reasons for the decline in prices include a large inventory of new homes and existing homes on the market, tighter underwriting standards for borrowers to qualify for home loans, and interest rates that have risen since the early years of this decade.

"If we see interest rates rise, this will add significant costs over the life of a loan for home buyers, and could wipe out the advantages that buyers have now," said Patrick McGilvray, President of http://www.TheHomeBuyingCenter.com. He added, "but, nobody has a crystal ball and it is unclear whether the Fed will raise or lower rates in the rest of the year."

The Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds rate up from 1% to 5.25% between June 2004 and June 2006. The rate has not changed since that time.

As this was happening, Freddie Mac, one of the nation's largest purchasers of mortgages, reported that average interest rates on 30 year fixed rate mortgages rose from 5.23% in June of 2003 to 6.26% in May of 2007.

Contact:
Patrick McGilvray, JD
Tel: 888-444-BUYER
http://www.thehomebuyingcenter.com

Ex-Attorney Teaches Russians American Legal System

 

Former Attorney Teaches American Legal System to Russian Law Students

John Ritter has recently written and released the 4th book in his "You Be the Judge" series of court case summaries. This book is in both Russian and English because Ritter plans to use the book when he teaches The American Legal System to Russian law students in the fall of 2007. The book consists of shortened versions of American appeals court cases, which, in the Anglo-American common law system, serves as the source of law for future cases on similar issues. Ritter will lecture to Russians on the differences between common law and civil law which is the system Russians borrowed from Europe and are now using.

Miami, Florida (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- Former attorney John Ritter specializes in condominium, real estate (for over 20 years), title, and municipal law in Florida. For three years, he served as City Attorney of Miami Beach and currently manages a top-rated seven-member law firm.

John Ritter is the most successful writer of the "You Be the Judge" court summaries in America. His columns have appeared in Reader's Digest, the St. Petersburg Times, Saturday Evening Post, and the National Enquirer. His first best-selling "You Be the Judge" book was reprinted in Reader's Digest and is now available through this website (http://www.johnaritter.com). In addition to the "You Be the Judge" books, Ritter writes monthly "You Be the Judge" and "Lawyer Viewpoint" columns for subscribers. Free samples of each are furnished on his website at the "You Be the Judge" and "Lawyer Viewpoint" links. Both columns have been listed in Editor's & Publisher's Syndicate Directory for over 25 years.

John Ritter has recently written and released the 4th book in his "You Be the Judge" series of court case summaries. This book is in both Russian and English because Ritter plans to use the book when he teaches The American Legal System to Russian law students in the fall of 2007. The book consists of shortened versions of American appeals court cases, which, in the Anglo-American common law system, serves as the source of law for future cases on similar issues. Ritter will lecture to Russians on the differences between common law and civil law which is the system Russians borrowed from Europe and are now using.

For more information on any of John's columns or publications, send an email to jar @ rzllaw.com.

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Press Contact: John Ritter
Company Name:
Phone: (305) 704-8245
Website: http://www.johnaritter.com

Blockhunter Property Search No Blockhead

Blockhunter - Quite Literally - Turns Online Property Search on its Head

An innovative online service has just launched to acclaim from experts and users alike. A social network for homebuyers and sellers, Blockhunter offers a totally new way to think about online property services.

London, UK. (PRWEB) June 1, 2007 -- Only a few months after its launch, UK start-up Blockhunter (http://www.blockhunter.com) has been acclaimed by leading innovation firm trendwatching.com for "shaking up the not so transparent world of real estate" and by noted property blog renthusiast.org as a "guaranteed winner."

The reason for their excitement is that Blockhunter approaches buying and selling property online in a completely new way.

Unlike traditional property websites, there are no properties for sale on Blockhunter.

Instead, buyers draw their property search on a map, indicating their budget and any 'must-haves' like a garden or number of bedrooms.

Sellers can then register to find out how many people are interested in buying a property like theirs.

Founder of the site, Andy Martin, explained why it was so different:

"It turns the traditional estate agency model upside down. Instead of potential buyers looking through ads, potential sellers are matched up with registered buyers. Estate agents spend a lot of their time keeping buyers and sellers apart. We bring people together. In a way, Blockhunter is like a dating service - but for property."

"For buyers, it's a different way of thinking about househunting. Instead of browsing endless property listings, you describe exactly what you want and where you want it. It's like posting letters to houses in the area you want to buy. If someone likes your offer, they can get in touch with you - even if they weren't thinking of selling."

"For sellers, it's great, because they can take the temperature of the market and see who's looking at property like theirs without creating a firm commitment to sell."

"You could save money too. With the average house move costing over ten thousand pounds and a big chunk of that going to estate agents, it makes sense to hedge your bets by using a free site like Blockhunter."

Because all the communication takes place within the secure Blockhunter system, it ensures privacy and trust, as well as keeping out spam.

The site, which also works for letting and renting, launched at the beginning of the year and has already had strong user growth in its core UK market. They have had particular growth in major cities including London, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds.
Blockhunter is free to use and Martin intends to keep it that way.

"We think that what we're doing is genuinely innovative and we are inspired by the idea that it can touch as many people as possible. Whilst we've had good coverage from early adopters, innovators and bloggers, my hope is that Blockhunter can really hit the mainstream."

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Press Contact: Andy Martin
Company Name: Blockhunter
Phone: +44 207 395 2149
Website: http://www.blockhunter.com