National News Desk

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Christopher Simmons' 'Fractopia' (ISBN: 978-0-9710555-0-6, hardcover - limited edition, Neotrope Press), collects the best of Simmons' abstract images created by combining fractal imagery with photographic effects, textures and hand-applied layers. This special edition includes a video DVD with slide show of all images found in the book. Some of the art has been called sexual in nature, including the piece called 'godheart.'

BONITA, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Over the last five years or so, new Web 2.0 tools have hit society like one wave after another: MySpace, Skype, Facebook, YouTube, all the various iPhone and Blackberry applications, and now Twitter. The effect, according to social scientists, is to vastly increase both the complexity and content of communication, such that the planet appears more and more like a vast integrated Mind, akin to James Lovelock's 'Gaia' or Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's 'Noosphere.' This is the rationale for the World Mind Network.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- 2009 has provided the Financial Foundation Group many opportunities to help others. Even though the economy and the stock market have hit many hard, the Financial Foundation Group has been diligent about providing assistance to those in need. Delia Rios spearheaded the venture for the entire San Antonio office to contribute to the Metro San Antonio Habitat for Humanity on June 6th, 2009.

TROY, Mich. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- After years of success with the Pole-Wrap, a product that transforms unsightly basement poles into attractive interior decor, Pole-Wrap, Inc. has added two new products - the Pole-Wrap Drink Shelf and the Pole-Wrap Extension. Both items will be available for purchase after July 1.

KIRKLAND, Wash. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- If and when Congress passes health reform legislation, it may or may not include a public option for long-term care, the assistance with daily living required by millions suffering from long-lasting illnesses or disabilities. If you're in the market for long-term care insurance, should you wait and see what materializes? Denise Gott says no; there's too much to lose and little to gain. Gott is Chairman of the Board of LTC Financial Partners LLC, one of the nation's largest and most experienced long-term care insurance agencies.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Bookbinder Specialties, a Pennsylvania company, acquired the Bookbinder's Soup and Seasonings Division from the Stephens' Original Foods Company of Huntingdon Valley, PA, on June 23, 2009. The soups and seasonings are based on favorite recipes from the Old Original Bookbinder's restaurant, established in 1865 in Philadelphia's historic Old City.

CHICAGO, Ill. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- 'Have you ever been poked in the eye by the pointy corner of your rectangular bed pillow?' Pillow Designer and Spokesperson for the Curvy Pillow Company, Pam Blumenthal, was recently quoted as saying 'It's ridiculous, but it's no joke - people do get poked by pointy-cornered pillows. Why would we want to sleep with rectangles anyway? The only reason that we all sleep with rectangular bed pillows is that it's the easiest shape for manufacturing.'

LAFAYETTE, N.J. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Lion Technology Inc., a nationally renowned regulatory compliance training firm, will present several two-day workshops on hazardous waste management in the region next month. Workshops will be held in Williamsburg, VA on July 9-10; Charlotte, NC on July 13-14; Atlanta, GA on July 16-17; Orlando, FL on July 20-21; and Birmingham, AL on July 23-24.

BALTIMORE, Md. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Apprentice House announces publication of its latest book, 'The Vegan Monologues' (ISBN 9781934074367), which guides readers through the world of being vegan, traveling life's path as an herbivore in a treacherous world of carnivores. Whether explaining how vegetarian guys get the girls, exploring an addiction to Chinese takeout, or being sequestered in the 'garden salad zone,' author Ben Shaberman's gentle sense of humor sheds light on what it means to go meatless.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Advantage Trim & Lumber Company today announced that, due to recent inquiries from customers, composite decking supplies and materials will not be distributed or sold at any of our locations. While composite decking remains popular due to its low cost, we are of the opinion that using composite materials for decks is a hazard to the public.

MONTEREY, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Charles Fishel, Chairman of Abundant Biofuels Corporation, noted that 'There are about 100 biodiesel refineries operating below capacity and another 47 idle refineries in the United States, alone.' To help solve this problem, Abundant Biofuels provides standardized long-term contracts (5- or 10-years) in multiples of 50,000 barrels (2,100,000 gallons) of jatropha oil. Financing is available.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- LifeModeler, Inc., the leading global provider of biomechanical human body simulation tools and services, has released LumbarSIM™, a new product that adds to its family of unique 'virtual prototyping' software. This latest innovation directly addresses the needs of orthopedic device manufacturers and surgeons seeking ways to respond to the growing numbers of patients experiencing lower back pain.

MANDEVILLE, La. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Louisiana's Libertarian Party Senatorial Candidate Anthony 'Tony G' Gentile told supporters on Sunday not to fret about the lack of attention from the press. Jokingly he told friends and supporters, 'If I take my shirt off to win votes I'll actually lose votes, my belly's too big! I also have no need to seek out a madam.'

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Should companies still undertake diversity training in tough economic times? According to Robin Parker, Executive Director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center, the answer is 'Yes, and more so.' Parker says that layoffs and company downsizing create job stress and greater cultural conflicts. 'Diversity training is especially critical in tough economic times,' said Parker.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- On June 1st CareerPerfect rolled out its new Web site as part of an ongoing commitment to providing best-of-class and highly accessible resume writing services, job search guidance, and quality career advice. For more than eight months, the company's product, development, and operations teams collaborated on design, content, and technical changes, which have improved the user experience.

CARSON CITY, Nev. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- ServiceFlags.com announced today its support of a measure introduced in Congress that would allow service flags to be flown by home owners without restriction. U.S. Representative, John Boccieri, recently introduced this bill that would ban neighborhood or homeowners' associations from restricting the flying of service flags.

BOONTON, N.J. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Streaming video and music distributed across the Internet, an IP TV network, or a mobile handset will generate more than $78 billion in network-derived and content-derived revenue into the U.S. markets over the next six years, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. Streaming media refers to the transmission of digital audio and video files over an IP network or wireless network in real time or on-demand, while prohibiting users from storing the files locally.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Centaur Art Galleries is pleased to present the art work of Andy Warhol, who passed away in 1987, and his former assistant, Steve Kaufman. The exhibition of the 'Master' and his 'student,' reunited at last and exhibited together, is Centaur Art Galleries' most ambitious undertaking in more than 20 years.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- ThirstMonger is a division of GTG Beverages, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based ABARTA. ABARTA operates multiple Coca-Cola(R) beverage companies which includes the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo and is ranked as the 8th largest bottler of Coca-Cola in the United States. CityMade will warehouse, inventory and store ThirstMonger products in its Buffalo-based warehouse and will process, pack and ship orders directly to customers.

VINELAND, N.J. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Most people believe change starts at the top. But when it comes to greening your supply chain, change really starts at the bottom - with your choice of pallets. That's what Michael Smith, C.O.O. of PALNET, a nationwide supplier of environmentally-friendly wooden pallets, believes. And he should know, he's been in the pallet business for more than 20 years.