Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Speakerphone Allows Hands-Free Communication Using a Mobile Device

Spracht, the acoustic division of parent company ODI, announces the first product in the Spracht product line, the Aura Mobile BT™. The Aura Mobile BT uses Bluetooth™ technology to transform mobile phones, cordless phones or computers into a high quality, digital conference phone. The Aura Mobile gives users the capability of hands-free communication on a mobile device.

“The Aura Mobile BT™ technology is the ultimate option for hands-free communication,” said Trace Williams, VP Sales & Marketing for Spracht. “We designed the Aura Mobile to provide business quality speaker phone communication – ideal for everyone from the executive user to moms on the go. The Aura Mobile offers users quality sound anywhere the day may take them; whether it be the car, a hotel room, an office setting, or even the beach.”

The Aura Mobile BT™ turns a Bluetooth™ enabled mobile phone, cordless phone that has a headset jack, or a PC/Mac (for VoIP calls) into a high quality conference phone. The Aura Mobile has integrated Bluetooth™ technology for wireless connection to your mobile device, and connects PC/Mac wired or Bluetooth™ connections for VoIP. Providing hands-free communication, the Aura Mobile features echo and noise cancellations, allowing for clear and undisturbed calls. The Aura Mobile offers full duplex (93%) operation for simultaneous two way conversations without clipping, and multiple acoustic profiles which are automatically adjusted based on the type of communication. With a full 3 watt amplifier and dual speakers generating 95 dB, the Aura Mobile produces enough sound to fill a large conference room.

The Aura Mobile is compatible with Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Messenger, and all other VoIP softphones. Included with purchase are a wall charger, car charger, VoIP cable, cordless phone cable, and an external microphone for large conference rooms or noisy areas. The Aura Mobile BT™ retails for 9.99, and is available for purchase at www.spracht.com.

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Dancing in Topless Clubs Helps Women, says Anthropoligist

A respected anthropologist says dancing in topless clubs helps women become poised, self-confident and creative individuals who often go on to higher education and successful business careers.

Judith Lynne Hanna, PhD, a senior research scholar at the University of Maryland, says in an article in the May issue of Exotic Dancer's Club Bulletin that Diablo Cody, who won an Academy Award this year for the "Juno" screenplay, "is one of many performers who prove that exotic dancers are more than sexual objects." Club Bulletin is a bimonthly magazine from ED Publications, Inc., a division of Rick's Cabaret International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK).

"Dancers commonly gain self-esteem and self-confidence appearing nude before strangers," Hanna writes in the business magazine that serves the nearly 4,000 gentlemen's clubs in the U.S. “Successful dancers become acute observers of verbal and nonverbal communication in order to sell a fantasy of themselves and to create the patron's fantasy. Business and money management leads dancers to complete education, start businesses and support families," she adds.

Hanna notes that after Cody won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay "the media referred to her as having 'once worked as a stripper,' 'a former stripper,' a 'retired stripper.' Commenting about her dress, the question was 'what would you expect from a stripper?' and 'she should have saved more dollar bills and bought a better dress.'"

The reason the media attacked Cody, she said, is that "exotic dancing, the preferred term for stripping since the advent of upscale gentlemen's clubs, is stigmatized and has an unfounded reputation for leading to prostitution, drugs, crime and decreased property values, which is not entirely truth with people that work honestly in this places, and others treat their drugs problems with the help of detox programs from sites as http://firststepbh.com. But recent social science has disproved all of this."

In 2006, Cody was the Keynote Speaker at the 14th Annual Gentlemen's Club Owners EXPO, produced by ED Publications. Cody's invitation to speak at the EXPO came on the heels of the success of her book "Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper," which chronicled Cody's experiences as a "regular" girl who decided to spice up her life by dancing at adult nightclubs in Minneapolis.

Hanna earned her PhD in anthropology from Columbia University and also holds an MA in political science from Michigan State University. The author of six books on subjects ranging from dance to social behavior, she has published more than 300 articles in scholarly journals on anthropology, art, black studies, dance, drama, education, gender, leisure and recreation, medicine, music, political science, psychology, religion and urban studies.

About Rick’s Cabaret: ED Publications, Inc. is the media division of Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK), which operates upscale adult nightclubs serving primarily businessmen and professionals that offer live adult entertainment, restaurant and bar operations. ED Publications is the publisher of Exotic Dancer, TEEZE and Adult Store Buyer (ASB) magazines and owner of tradeshows including the annual Gentlemen's Club Owners ExpoandStorErotica for the retail lingerie and adult store industry. The company owns, operates or licenses adult nightclubs in New York City, Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis and other cities under the names "Rick's Cabaret," "XTC," “Club Onyx” and “Tootsie’s Cabaret”. Sexual contact is not permitted at these locations. Rick’s Cabaret also owns the adult Internet membership site couplestouch.com and a network of online adult auction sites under the flagship URL naughtybids.com. Rick’s Cabaret common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol RICK. For further information contact ir@ricks.com.
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No Paws Left Behind

No Paws Left Behind, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to bringing awareness to and finding solutions for the growing phenomena of “foreclosure pets“, today announced the launch of their organization and Web site, intended to help foreclosure victims find shelters for their pets. The site, www.NoPawsLeftBehind.org, directs visitors, based on their zip code, to local animal shelters and other alternative housing providers for pets in need.

Outdated legislation prevents the removal of pets from abandoned properties prior to the eviction process, placing code inspection officers in a difficult position. As such, No Paws Left Behind established a petition on its Web site with the goal of repealing this law on the national level. Visitors to the No Paws Left Behind Web site will find resources for locating local No Kill animal shelters, foster care for pets in need of temporary care and pet deposit assistance when borrowers are forced to relocate. The site also provides a resource for qualified animal shelters and foster care providers to seek financial assistance.

“In an effort to help families coping with the devastating foreclosure process, we are bringing awareness to the growing trend of abandoned pets and offering possible solutions,” said Cheryl Lang, president of Houston-based Integrated Mortgage Solutions, a collateral protection resource for the mortgage servicing industry, and founder of No Paws Left Behind. “We founded No Paws Left Behind to provide homeowners facing foreclosure with a resource for finding alternative housing for their pets during this difficult time. Through visiting our Web site, borrowers are provided with an array of housing options for their pets, whether a no kill shelter or temporary foster care. No Paws Left Behind will also provide monetary assistance for pet deposits required by new landlords.”

No Paws Left Behind’s mission includes educating homeowners on their loan workout options when facing foreclosure. A common misconception among borrowers is that they will return home to find their belongings on the curb. As a result, many borrowers vacate their property prematurely and often leave a part of the family behind in the process to suffer alone. But there are many other options lenders can offer for distressed borrowers aside from foreclosure. No Paws Left Behind recommends that borrowers contact their lender to discuss their individual workout options.

According to recent statistics, 63 percent of all American households have pets. With foreclosures growing in record numbers, experts agree that around two to four million Americans will lose their homes before the crisis ends. That leaves more than 1.25 million companion animals at risk.

“For more than five years, my company and I have been dedicated to professionally and sympathetically working with borrowers, lenders and servicers throughout loss mitigation and default management,” continued Lang. “Unfortunately, it is this experience that has brought me face-to-face with abandoned animals and their heart-wrenching stories. As the mortgage industry and the nation embrace legislative improvements, we must keep in mind those silent victims who cannot speak up for themselves.”

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California Shuttle Bus Begins $5 Bus Service Between Los Angeles and San Francisco

Starting today, all you need is $5 to travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Buses operated by California Shuttle Bus will begin noon and midnight shuttle bus services starting at $5. Also starting today, California Shuttle Bus will provide customers in Santa Monica, Marina Del Ray, and Venice Beach the option of door-to-door pick up and drop off services.

Last week, California Shuttle Bus announced these new, low prices and expanded services to offer Californians an affordable and more environmentally-friendly alternative to flying and driving.

“Since our announcement last week, we have received more reservations than we initially expected. Many Megabus customers were disappointed that the company cancelled their Los Angeles-San Francisco service and are excited that we are offering the same route with more convenient pick up locations at amazing prices,” says Kazuhiro Nakagawa, founder of California Shuttle Bus. “Many Californians care about the environmental impact as much as affordability and we are offering them a service where they can have both.”

Since 2003, California Shuttle Bus (http://www.cashuttlebus.com/) has been offering daily bus services to and from Los Angeles and San Francisco. The shuttle bus offers its customers convenient pick up and drop off points such as the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco and Union Station in Los Angeles.

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Alcohol Companies Targeting Youth

A comprehensive review of television advertising practices by alcohol companies from 2001-2007 finds an increase in youth exposure to alcohol advertising and relatively few industry- sponsored "responsibility" ads. The new study, released today by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at Georgetown University, evaluated advertising trends and identified the best and worst brands with regard to youth exposure to alcohol.

This report shows that more than 40 percent of youth exposure to alcohol advertising came from ads placed on programming with a disproportionate youth (ages 12 to 20) audience — the highest percentage since CAMY began monitoring youth exposure in 2001.

The report data clearly show the 30 percent threshold established by alcohol trade associations in 2003 has not reduced youth exposure to alcohol advertising on television, nor has it reduced the youth overexposure that occurs when advertisements are on programs with disproportionate youth audiences.

"The sad reality for kids and parents is that the alcohol industry's 30 percent standard is working on broadcast but not cable television," said CAMY executive director David Jernigan. "From 2001 to 2007, the number of alcohol advertisements seen in a year by the average television-watching 12-to-20 year-old has increased which is the opposite of its purpose."

CAMY's data shows advertisers have made some progress with regard to advertising during shows where more than 30 percent of the viewers were under age 21. The percentage of alcohol product advertisements on these programs went from 11 percent in 2003 to 6.3 percent in 2007.

The study's other key findings include:
— Almost all youth overexposure to alcohol advertising occurs on cable.
Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of the overexposing alcohol ad
placements in 2007 were on cable television, which generated 95 percent
of youth overexposure to alcohol advertising on television. Of the
youth overexposure on cable in 2007, 53 percent came from beer
advertising, and 41 percent from distilled spirits advertising.
— In 2006 and 2007, there were no alcohol industry-funded
"responsibility" messages about underage drinking on television. Over
the entire period of 2001 – 2007, youth ages 12 to 20 were 22 times
more likely to see an alcohol product advertisement than an alcohol
industry-funded "responsibility" advertisement about drinking-driving,
safety or underage drinking.
— Eleven specific brands are responsible for 48.5 percent of the youth
exposure to advertising. For this report, researchers developed a
methodology to determine the best and worst performers with regard to
youth exposure to alcohol advertising. Among brands responsible for
the much of youth exposure to alcohol advertising and exceeding the 30%
youth threshold are:
— Miller Lite
— Corona Extra Beer
— Coors Light
— Hennessy Cognacs
— Guinness Beers
— Samuel Adams Beers
— Bud Light
— Smirnoff Vokdas
— Disaronno Originale Amaretto
— Miller Chill
— Multiple Brands from Mike's Beverages.

Alcohol remains the leading drug problem among young people, and underage drinking is responsible for 5,000 deaths among young people each year. Scientific studies show that youth exposure to alcohol advertising contributes to the likelihood of underage drinking.

The National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, the U.S. Surgeon General and 20 state Attorneys General have all recommended eliminating this disproportionate exposure.

In 2003, the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine recommended that alcohol companies move toward a 15 percent threshold for youth audiences, since this is roughly the proportion of youth in the general population. In 2006, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the Sober Truth On Preventing Underage Drinking Act (or STOP Act) requiring, among other things, that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report annually on rates of exposure of youth to positive and negative messages youth about alcohol in the mass media. Although this reporting has been authorized by Congress, funding for it has not yet been appropriated.

"Our findings continue to support the elimination of alcohol advertising on programming with more than 15 percent youth audiences. It will save young people's lives and the alcohol industry advertising dollars," said Dr. Jernigan.

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James Bond's New Installment 'Quantum of Solace' Trailers Hit The Web June 30

Moviegoers eager for their first look at Quantum of Solace, the highly anticipated Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Columbia Pictures release of EON Productions' 22nd James Bond adventure, will be able to catch the new theatrical trailer for the film, featuring expanding footage of the film, on television and on the internet Monday, June 30th, and in theaters when it is attached to Columbia Pictures' Hancock. The trailer will make its debut on AOL.com (domestic) and MSN.com (international) in an exclusive two-hour window Monday morning, 9:00am – 11:00am PDT. The trailer will be dubbed or subtitled in 13 languages.
 

Following the exclusive online break, at 11:00am PDT (2:00pm EDT; 7:00pm London time), the trailer will be sent via satellite to media outlets worldwide.
 

For media outlets seeking to download the trailer, the satellite coordinates are:
 

NORTH AMERICA

1st Feed
Monday, June 30th 2008
2:00PM-2:15PM ET
(11:00AM-11:15AM Pacific)

2nd Feed
Monday, June 30th 2008
5:30PM-5:45PM ET
(2:30PM-2:45PM Pacific)

Galaxy 26, Transponder 14 C-Band
Downlink Frequency: 3980 H
Audio: 6.2/6.8
Trouble Number for Domestic Feeds: 310-287-3800

EUROPE
1st Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 1800-1815 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 2100-2115 GMT
Satellite: Eutelsat W1 TXP F6 CH-4
Downlink Frequency: D/L: 12703.83 V
Symbol Rate: 5.632
FEC: 3/4
Color: PAL
Uplink: PBL Ref 113683 & 113684 +44 207 432 5155

Also available at BT Tower from Pacific Television Center's ABQ H11UK
broadcasters can call Pactv London for complementary refeeds via Tower.
+44.207.702.1427

ASIA / PACIFIC
1st Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 1800-1815 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 2200-2215 GMT
Satellite: IS-2/08C Chn 4 Orb Loc: 169' E;
Downlink Freq:: 3901 Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 3/4
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 30.80
Virtual Channel: Four
Color: NTSC
Uplink: Intelsat NAPA +707.253.9466 – Intelsat Ref 367.815 & 367816

LATIN AMERICA

1st Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 1800-1815 GMT

2nd Feed:
Date: 30th June 2008
Time: 2200-2215 GMT
Satellite: IS-9/10C Channel 7 Orb Loc: 58'W
Downlink Freq: 3880 Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 7/8
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 27.69
Virtual Channel: Seven
Color: NTSC
Uplink: Intelsat NAPA +707.253.9466 – Intelsat Ref 367.815 & 367816

Quantum of Solace will be released in the U.K. on October 31, 2008, in the U.S. on November 7, 2008, and around the world in November.
 

Daniel Craig reprises his role as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in Quantum of Solace, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures release of EON Productions' 22nd adventure in the longest-running film franchise in motion picture history. The film is directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay is by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli produce.

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SeaEscape Just $10 This Summer!

SeaEscape, South Florida’s premier place to dine, party, and gamble at sea, has just introduced its “Sizzling Summer Super-Saver Sail,” and it is just too hot to be missed. From July 7th through August 29th, passengers get to sail for the incredible price of only $10 per person, including all taxes and security fees, on day and evening cruises, Monday through Friday. For an additional fee, passengers will get to choose from an elaborate brunch or dinner buffet, a gourmet dinner, or their favorite snack bar items – all at great prices. As always, drinks are complimentary in SeaEscape’s Las Vegas-style casino, for guests who are actively gambling, those who love to play now, right in the moment. Weekend cruises include SeaEscape’s dinner or brunch buffet, and upgraded gourmet dining is available on Saturday and Sunday nights for an additional fee. Rates for weekend cruises are available on SeaEscape’s website (www.SeaEscape.com) or by calling their Reservations Department at 954-453-3333 .

SeaEscape is the REAL DEAL, and is the only place in Broward County to enjoy everything from blackjack (starting with $5 and $10 table minimums) to roulette, craps, mini-baccarat, Caribbean Stud PokerTM, Three Card Poker, Let It RideTM, and, of course, classic slots and video poker machines. Keep an eye out for hundreds of new slot machines later this summer, and some of the hottest electronic tables to hit the town. SeaEscape is also about to become the only place to bet on sports in Broward County and has big plans for an introductory sports book promotion in the very near future. For reservations call 1-877-SeaEscape.

SeaEscape, South Florida’s largest party cruise, offers 5- and 6-hour entertainment and party cruises twice a day every day onboard the M/V Island Adventure. The ship is 15,400 tons and 512 feet long and features classic cruise ship amenities, including a Las Vegas-style Casino, sumptuous buffet and gourmet dining, swimming and wading pools with poolside activities, live music, karaoke, bingo, cabin accommodations, a nightly happy hour, Thai massage, and the Sky View Disco featuring refreshing drinks and cool DJ’s. Prix fixe gourmet dining is available on evening cruises only.

Group cruises, weddings, corporate events, a casino player’s club (with valuable benefits and rewards) and many special theme cruises are also offered. Check out www.SeaEscape.com for the latest calendar of events, casino promotions and specials and register to receive the latest SeaEscape news by e-mail. The M/V Island Adventure departs twice daily from Terminal 1 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is registered in the Bahamas.

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Kutztown Festival Celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch Culture and Art

The week-long event is also where the whole family can learn about and enjoy Pennsylvania Dutch folk life.

“The Kutztown Festival is the perfect place to experience the culture, artistry and cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch,” said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism in the Department of Community and Economic Development. “While being immersed in the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, visitors can choose a quilt from the largest selection available in the nation.

“And, with the festival just a day's drive for more than half of the U.S. population, this is a must-do for people looking for an affordable and unique getaway.”

The Kutztown Festival is and less than three hours from New York City and Washington, D.C.

Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and folklore will fill the Kutztown fairgrounds as blacksmithing, weaving, woodcarving and metalworking are demonstrated daily by more than 200 unique artisans.

Other highlights of the festival include:
— George Washington, portrayed by Carl Closs, and Benjamin Franklin,
portrayed by Dean Bennett, will entertain audiences as they reminisce
about the nation's history at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.
— Wine enthusiast can enjoy a sampling at the Pinnacle Ridge Winery
booth. Each year, a special festival commemorative wine is offered; a
number of other varieties available for tasting. Pinnacle Ridge
received multiple awards at the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show and
secured a silver and bronze medal at the 2007 Los Angeles
International Wine & Spirits Competition.
— Each day, craftsmen will demonstrate the timber-framing building
process and show how to raise a small frame. Timber-framing is a
historic building method that uses local timber to construct the
durable buildings commonly found on Pennsylvania German homesteads.

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Phoenix – The Sweat Shop Capital Of The World?

In celebration of the beginning of summer, Old Spice, the No.1 selling anti-perspirant/deodorant stick and body wash brand with guys, today announced its Seventh Annual Top-100 Sweatiest Cities List — just in time for the season's hot weather. In addition, this year Old Spice is introducing its list of Biggest Sweat Producers, taking into consideration the total sweat produced by entire city populations.

Famed desert city Phoenix burned up the charts again to take the No. 1 spot as America's Sweatiest City in this annual ranking of the nation's heaviest sweaters (based on amount of sweat produced per person). To earn top spot as Sweatiest City, Phoenix's average temperature was 95.1 degrees in June, July and August 2007, resulting in the average Phoenix resident producing 26.4 ounces of sweat per hour (more than 2 cans of soda). With scorching temperatures often in the triple digits, the Valley of the Sun also took this top honor in 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2003. 

"People might be surprised that a city known for its 'dry heat' tops the Sweatiest Cities list," said Dr. Paul Ruscher, associate professor and associate chair of meteorology at Florida State University. "However, sweat tends to evaporate from the skin much more quickly in places like Phoenix and people just don't feel it as much as say in New Orleans or Miami where high humidity leads to that dreaded sticky, 'muggy' feeling. Regardless of where a city falls on this list, there's one thing we can all agree on — hot weather means sweating."

Biggest Sweat Producers

For the first time, Old Spice looked at sweating through the lens of just how much sweat could be produced if the entire population were walking around for one hour on a typical summer day.

New York City leads the list when it comes to Biggest Sweat Producers in the US, even with an average temperature of 73.8 degrees during June, July and August 2007 (that's 20+ degrees cooler than Phoenix). On an average summer day, New Yorkers can produce 1.3 million gallons of sweat per hour — enough to fill the 106-acre Central Park Reservoir in about one summer month (32 days, to be exact!)

The Big Apple is clearly the big winner when it comes to producing the most sweat, more than double the amount than second-place Los Angeles (608,664 gallons of sweat per hour). Our nation's other Biggest Sweat Producers include: Chicago with 449,285 gallons (No. 3); Houston with 387,790 gallons (No. 4); Norfolk, VA with 376,087 gallons (No. 5); Phoenix with 311,629 gallons (No. 6); Philadelphia with 238,869 gallons (No. 7); San Antonio with 229,606 gallons (No. 8); Dallas with 222,420 gallons (No. 9) and San Diego with 184,929 gallons (No. 10).

Other Study Highlights

– On a typical summer day, residents of Los Angeles — the city with the most cars on the road in the nation — can collectively produce enough sweat to fill the gas tanks of 27,667 SUVs in just one hour. With national gas prices soaring past per gallon, it's too bad sweat can't be used as an alternate fuel option!

– Living up to its nickname, the Sunshine State has four cities appearing in the Top 10 Sweatiest Cities, more than any other state — Tallahassee (No. 3), Miami (No. 6), Tampa (No. 8), and Fort Myers (No. 10) — collectively producing enough sweat to fill Shamu's tank in 9.9 hours (that's 6.5 million gallons)!

– This summer, the race for president will be heating up. When it comes to the Sweatiest Party, it's a close contest — however, with slightly warmer temperatures, delegates heading to Minneapolis (No. 79) for the Republican National Convention will be sweating it out more than those heading to the Democratic National Convention in Denver (No. 82).

– When taking a look at what region reigns when it comes to producing sweat, that honor overwhelmingly goes to the South, where residents can collectively produce 3,634,581 gallons in just one hour on a typical summer day. This is nearly double the amount of second-place West region, with 2,088,923 gallons. Next is the Northeast, producing 1,942,536 gallons. The Midwest rounds out the list, with 1,494,856 gallons.

– Like hometown hero Elvis, Memphis burned up the charts, coming in at No. 5 (up from No. 14 last year) and breaking into the Top 10 Sweatiest Cities for the first time since 2002!

– San Francisco is the nation's least sweaty city included on the list, coming in at No. 100. Yet even with an average temperature of just 63.5 degrees during the summer months, each San Franciscan can still produce over 17 ounces of sweat per hour — clear evidence that sweat happens even in cooler weather conditions.

Tips to Stay Cool, Dry and Sweat Free This Summer

– Water — Drink plenty of fluids to replace what you lose through perspiration — at least eight to 10 glasses of water per day – more if you're outdoors and very active.

– Replace Salt and Minerals — Sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. If participating in a strenuous activity where you anticipate heavy perspiration, drink fruit juices and sports beverages to replace the lost minerals.

– Choose Clothes Wisely — Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes that breathe easily.

– Reduce Sweat Output and Stay Odor Free — Use an anti-perspirant/deodorant daily, such as Old Spice Pro Strength, the first clinical-strength offering from the brand. Designed with heavy sweaters in mind, Pro Strength is an advanced solid that provides all-day clinical strength odor and wetness protection.

Methodology

The Sweatiest Cities rankings are based on computer simulations of the amount of sweat a person of average height and weight would produce walking around for an hour in the average temperatures during June, July and August of 2007 for each city.

TOP-100 SWEATIEST CITIES IN AMERICA
Brought to You By the Sweat Experts at Old Spice

1. Phoenix, AZ
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. Tallahassee, FL
4. Tucson, AZ
5. Memphis, TN
6. Miami, FL
7. Houston, TX
8. Tampa, FL
9. Baton Rouge, LA
10. Fort Myers, FL
11. Huntsville, AL
12. New Orleans, LA
13. Birmingham, AL
14. Jacksonville, FL
15. West Palm Beach, FL
16. Montgomery, AL
17. Orlando, FL
18. Dallas, TX
19. Little Rock, AR
20. Corpus Christi, TX
21. El Paso, TX
22. Waco, TX
23. Austin, TX
24. Columbia, SC
25. Mobile, AL
26. Jackson, MS
27. Nashville, TN
28. San Antonio, TX
29. Honolulu, HI
30. Fresno, CA
31. Savannah, GA
32. Shreveport, LA
33. Charleston, SC
34. Chattanooga, TN
 
35. Louisville, KY
36. Tulsa, OK
37. Raleigh, NC
38. St. Louis, MO
39. Salt Lake City, UT
40. Kansas City, MO
41. Knoxville, TN
42. Oklahoma City, OK
43. Atlanta, GA
44. Wichita, KS (TIE)
Charlotte, NC (TIE)
46. Greensboro, NC
47. Evansville, IN
48. Washington, DC
49. Richmond, VA
50. Norfolk, VA
51. Albuquerque, NM
52. Springfield, MO
53. Roanoke, VA
54. Lexington, KY
55. Omaha, NE
56. Reno, NV
57. Indianapolis, IN
58. Baltimore, MD
59. Cincinnati, OH
60. Des Moines, IA
61. Charleston, WV
62. Philadelphia, PA
63. Springfield, IL
64. Harrisburg, PA
65. Sacramento, CA
66. Cleveland, OH
67. Chicago, IL
68. New York, NY
69. Dayton, OH
70. Asheville, NC
71. Los Angeles, CA
72. Columbus, OH
73. Toledo, OH
74. Detroit, MI
75. Grand Rapids, MI
76. South Bend, IN
77. Providence, RI
78. Hartford, CT
79. Minneapolis, MN
80. Boston, MA
81. Pittsburgh, PA
82. Denver, CO
83. Madison, WI
84. Milwaukee, WI
85. Buffalo, NY
86. Rochester, NY
87. Albany, NY
88. Wilkes-Barre, PA
89. Colorado Springs, CO
90. Flint, MI
91. Syracuse, NY
92. San Diego, CA
93. Youngstown, OH
94. Green Bay, WI
95. Burlington, VT
96. Spokane, WA
97. Portland, ME
98. Portland, OR
99. Seattle, WA
100. San Francisco, CA

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Dress Like a Cow, Get a Free Chick-fil-A Meal on Cow Appreciation Day

Holy cow! It's time to break out your cow suit and leave your wallet out to pasture. On Friday, July 11, the Chick-fil-A(R) chain will celebrate its annual Cow Appreciation Day event by offering a free meal to any customer who isn't “too chicken” to visit any of the chain's stores.

Customers fully dressed as a cow will be rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A Meal, which includes an entree of choice, a side item and a Dr Pepper (or another beverage of choice). And for those who are a little timid to wear spots from head to toe, Chick-fil-A will award a complimentary entree to customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or other accessory.

The July 11 event marks Chick-fil-A's fourth annual Cow Appreciation Day celebration. Last year's event — and the resulting turnout — confirmed that Chick-fil-A has a strong following of customers willing to go to great lengths to show their appreciation for cows. Thousands of customers visited Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country dressed in cow-themed costumes, ranging from simple cow-spotted t-shirts to full cow suits complete with furry ears, cow bells and homemade sandwich boards with personalized renditions of Chick-fil-A's “Eat Mor Chikin(R)” Cow messages.

“Cow Appreciation Day is a great barometer of how passionate our customers are,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A's senior vice president of marketing. “If you're willing to dress up like a cow for a free meal, you're obviously a loyal and even raving Chick-fil-A fan. While the event is a natural tie with our cow-themed marketing campaign, Cow Appreciation Day is intended to be a fun day to reward some of our most loyal customers with free food. We enjoy watching the event grow year after year.”

It was “udder insanity” at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country last year for the Cow Appreciation Day celebration. The Chick-fil-A restaurant in Hendersonville, N.C. hosted a herd of 350 cow-spotted customers from summer camps, daycares and preschools. Another group of ambitious college students — self dubbed “The Herd” — set out on a “cattle drive” from Knoxville, Tenn. to Atlanta, Ga. on a mission to visit 30 Chick-fil-A restaurants in one day.

The excitement around Cow Appreciation Day is further proof that the love for Chick-fil-A's beloved bovines is as strong as ever. For the past 13 years, the renegade “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows have entertained consumers with their desperate, self-preserving antics in an effort to convert beef eaters into chicken fans. The Chick-fil-A Cows and the “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign have enjoyed such widespread public success that the chain has turned the theme into a fully integrated marketing program. In addition to clever roadside billboards, the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are the focal point of Chick-fil-A's in- store point-of-purchase materials, promotions, radio and TV advertising, and clothing and merchandise sales.

In 2007, the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows were recognized as one of America's most popular advertising icons in a public vote sponsored by Advertising Week and became the newest members of New York's Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. A permanent banner to recognize this achievement will be unveiled on Madison Avenue in 2008.

The Cows and their witty messages also have contributed to Chick-fil-A's business, as the chain's sales have more than quintupled since the Cows' first full year as unofficial icons for the brand, from $502 million in 1995 to more than $2.64 billion in 2007.

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Homeland Security Hits New York Nightspots

Last weekend the New York Bar Show gave liquor makers, bar managers and industry professionals the chance to sample new products and roam around the Javits Center. One of the more unique exhibitors is trying to replace the scrutiny of bouncers by pushing a technology that would make it easier for nightclubs and bars to catch fake ID’s.
 

Intelli-Check – SecurityInfo (https://www.securityinfo.com/) is a technology company that has built a business in ID verification and install surveillance cameras. They produce wireless handheld devices that read and analyze the data in barcodes on government issued ID (drivers licenses, passports, etc.). While their products were once confined to military bases, government installations and industrial parks, Mobilisa is now planning to provide the same technology to clubs so they can keep underage drinkers out.

While this might seem like another infringement of big brother into nightlife, systems like this are already developed and there might be a logical reason for clubs to adopt the Mobilisa system. With today’s technology, fake ID’s are not difficult to acquire. Dram shop laws traditionally hold clubs liable for serving drinks to minors and there has been an increased crackdown on fake ID’s in the past year (See Nightlife News Crime 10/19/07) so clubs need something to combat the increased sophistication of forgery. A system like this will work within the new guidelines that the NYPD worked out with the New York Nightlife Association late last year (See Nightlife News Crime 10/19/07).

With all the pressure to keep kids out of clubs, it might make sense to put less trust in a bouncer staring at thousands of ID’s in the dark (and maybe hooking up his friends) and more trust in the barcode. As long as the system doesn’t get abused by the police, telemarketers or hackers, it might help everybody.

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