Big Fire at Big Day Out 2007

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) January 10, 2007

For the first time the Flaming Lotus Girls an arts group from San Francisco, California, will be in the Southern Hemisphere showing off their large-scale fire sculpture. Hatched in the arts community of the California Bay Area and Burning Man, this female driven group collaborates to produce both delicate and super scale works of sculpted flame. They will be touring with the Australian arts and music festival the Big Day Out, where they will be presenting the “Hand of God”, a 15 foot (4 meter) copper sculpture of a woman’s left hand that shoots fire out of every fingertip. You will feel the heat.

The Group:

In 2000, The Flaming Lotus Girls began as a group of 6 women who wanted attain the necessary skills and knowledge that would help them participate in the creation of large sculptural installations. Since that time, the FLG has gown into an artist’s group of more than 100 members, more than half being women. The group has created major interactive sculptural works, incorporating innovative designs in welded steel, interactive fire effects and responsive electronics.

In the last 6 years, the group has explored ideas involving participant-driven functionality. In this pursuit, they have shaped an organizational structure that emphasizes input from all who are involved in the creative process of their projects.

Each new project the FLG conceives contains new elements of technology, so that members can pursue and learn in a supportive environment. No member’s idea is excluded because of lack of knowledge or experience. FLG continues to develop work that emphasizes the dynamic relationship of form and function using the beauty of fire, LED light, shadow, and movement as a force for activating the experiences of onlookers and participants.

The Work:

The Flaming Lotus Girls’ Hand of God is a truly awesome display of power. Not only expressive of natural energy, it is also reflective of the very mysteries of life and energy in a holistic context. With plumes of flame shooting up in the air 30-100 feet (10-30m) tall the Hand is a site to behold.

A liquid fuel fire effect is used to generate the awesome displays of fire controlled through high-speed pneumatic solenoid ball valves. The Hand of God uses a combination of fuel from renewable energy sources and fossil fuels. Using the Hand of God as a visual metaphor for our changing energy movement. The displays of fire are orchestrated to show a vibrant range of colored flames from the renewable fuels infused with metal salts in blues, greens and purples plumes, to the fiery orange blasts from the fossil fuels.

The ‘Hand of God’ displays a spectacularly blatant combustion of fossil fuel and renewable energy whilst forming a potent reminder that the condition of planet earth is in our hands, our hands of god.

The Flaming Lotus Girls will be appearing:

21 Jan 07 – Gold Coast Showday -Gold Coast Parklands, Smith St, Southport

25 Jan 07 – Sydney Showday – Sydney Showground, Showground Rd, Sydney Olympic Park

28 Jan 07 – Melbourne Showday – Princes Park South, Royal Pde North Carlton, Melbourne.

02 Feb 07 – Adelaide Showday – Adelaide Showground, Rose Tce Wayville, Adelaide.

Contact:

press (at) flaminglotus.com

http://www.flaminglotus.com/


http://flaminglotus.wordpress.com/

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Big Fire at Big Day Out 2007

Attensa Opens Free Public Beta of First Attention Driven RSS Reader for Microsoft

Portland, OR (PRWEB) March 6, 2007

Attensa, Inc., the leading developer of RSS software for businesses, announced a free public beta for Attensa for Outlook 2007 today. The new beta version builds on the integrated RSS capabilities in the new version of Microsoft Outlook 2007 by optimizing Outlook performance and adding a complete set of tools for receiving and managing critical business information while helping to cut through information overload with AttentionStream processing. Attensa AttentionStream processing continuously analyzes behaviors as RSS subscriptions are scanned and articles read. It automatically pulls the articles and feeds the reader finds to be most important to the top.

Consumer social media sites have been the driving force behind the early adoption and use of RSS. Microsoft’s integration of RSS in Vista, IE7 and Outlook 2007 will drive the further adoption of RSS by opening the eyes of business users to the advantages of using web feed workflows to get the right information to the right people at the right time.

Attensa for Outlook is the first RSS reader designed specifically for enterprise use. The Attensa for Outlook 2007 feature set and functionality were developed using in-depth feedback from IT professionals and corporate information workers in organizations where tens of thousands of desktops are using Attensa for Outlook.

The Attensa for Outlook 2007 beta is free and can be downloaded at http://www.attensa.com/beta


Attensa for Outlook 2007 Highlights:

Optimized Outlook performance: Separate PST files for RSS feeds

By default Outlook 2007 stores RSS subscriptions in the users Exchange mailbox. In enterprise environments with limits on mailbox size, these files can fill up – FAST. Combining RSS articles with email can dramatically slow Outlook performance. To optimize Outlook performance, Attensa for Outlook 2007 stores feeds in a separate file. This speeds up Outlook performance, cuts storage requirements and makes feeds and articles available for offline reading.

Update feeds and delete articles on defined schedule

Outlook 2007 updates feeds at the same time it is sending and receiving email. This dual updating can significantly slow Outlook performance. Attensa for Outlook 2007 provides custom scheduling for updating RSS feeds. Users can set up schedules for specific feeds. Feeds are updated independently from email. And, with Attensa for Outlook 2007, users can update all of their feeds on demand by simply using the update now button. Users can also define schedules for automatically deleting read and unread articles. With Outlook 2007, users must clean out folders manually.

Safe and Secure Subscriptions to Internal and External RSS feeds

As more businesses are looking at RSS as a communication vehicle that can handle sensitive financial, development and supply chain information, the need for a safe secure transmission of information is paramount. Attensa for Outlook 2007 handles secure feeds with authentication credentials to insure critical information is only being read by the people authorized to receive it. Outlook 2007 has no capability to receive secure feeds. With Attensa for Outlook users have the ability to set strip out potentially malicious attachments and to set up lists of blocked feeds and enclosures.

Advanced compatibility and synchronization with the Microsoft RSS Platform

Attensa for Outlook 2007 synchronizes with the new Microsoft RSS Platform. By leveraging the Microsoft Common Feed Store, RSS feeds added using Attensa for Outlook, Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Vista, will automatically be synchronized for a seamless user experience. Attensa RSS readers are integrated across communication devices and systems for a seamless user experience. With Attensa RSS readers you can access your RSS feeds anywhere in Outlook, on the Web and on mobile devices. The Attensa AttentionStream synchronization monitors every action from updating feeds, reading and deleting articles, subscribing to new feeds and adding tags are instantly synchronized in Outlook, Online and on your mobile phone or PDA.

Predictive Ranking AttentionStream

Attensa AttentionStream technology uses predictive ranking to continuously observe and analyze how users read and process RSS articles and subscriptions. Through this ongoing analysis of AttentionStream data, including the time and frequency that feeds are accessed and articles read, deleted and ignored, Attensa for Outlook 2007 displays feeds in a prioritized list based on the likelihood that they will be of interest to the reader. Priorities are constantly refined as the continuous stream of attention is processed. Attensa for Outlook 2007 lets users choose how they want subscriptions and articles presented. Subscriptions can be displayed in a “River of News” view that simulates a single news feed, regardless of how many RSS feeds the user has subscribed to.

One click blog republishing and easy editing with connection to Windows Live Writer

The publishing toolbar in Attensa for Outlook publishing can now be linked to Microsoft LiveWriter, a desktop WYSIWYG authoring application that makes is easy to write, edit and add photos and other rich content to blog posts. Articles can be easily edited republished to internal or external blogs including Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, Windows Live Spaces,and WordPress. Writer supports RSD (Really Simple Discoverability), the Metaweblog API, and the Movable Type API.

Other Attensa for Outlook 2007 productivity features include:

Automatically find, preview and add RSS feeds from toolbars in Internet Explorer and Firefox

Powerful automated persistent search tools, search across 18 Web and blog search engines and continuously delivers relevant information as soon as it is published. YouTube video search as been added.

Create, import and export custom reading lists (OPML files)

Keep feeds and articles organized with tagging and categories. Attensa tags can now be imported and exported.

Secure connectivity to internal and external Web feeds and AttentionStream reporting with the Attensa Feed Server

Easily play audio and video content directly in the River of News

Built-in Pod Catcher automatically downloads audio and video attachments and puts them in a clearly labeled playlists in Windows Media Player or iTunes.

Desktop Alert toaster allows users to track fast breaking business information whether they are working in Outlook or not.

New Security enhancements — users can now disable scripting within feed articles.

Pricing and Availability

The beta of Attensa for Outlook 2007 for Outlook can be downloaded at no charge immediately from the Attensa the Web site http://www.attensa.com/beta .

About Attensa

Attensa, Inc. is a venture backed software company developing enterprise RSS software that gets the right information, to the right people at the right time.

For more information and to keep informed about new product introductions, please visit the company’s Web site – http://www.attensa.com and at our blog – http://www.attensa.com/blogs/attensa.

Attensa Opens Free Public Beta of First Attention Driven RSS Reader for Microsoft

Computer Shopper Announces Hot 100 Awards, Celebrating the Best in Tech for 2007 Awards Recognize Editors" Favorite Tech Products of the Year

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 27, 2007

Computer Shopper magazine and http://www.ComputerShopper.com today announced winners of its Hot 100 Awards. The awards recognize Computer Shopper editors’ top 100 favorite tech products of the past 12 months in seven categories.

“Our Hot 100 awards recognize outstanding products and services that represent the best tech products you can buy,” said Sean Portnoy, Executive Editor, http://www.ComputerShopper.com. “We have seen innovation on a grand scale that is shaping the trends in the tech landscape reflected in this year’s winners.”

The Hot 100 award winners were announced today at http://www.ComputerShopper.com/hot100 and in the November 2007 print issue of Computer Shopper magazine. Winners were chosen in the following categories: Desktops, Laptops, Mobile, Hardware, Software, Internet Services, and Home Theater. In addition, Computer Shopper editors named the Product of the Year.

This year’s Hot 100 list shows the gains Hewlett-Packard has made against formerly dominant Dell in both desktops and laptops, and the absolute dominance Google commands in the field of Internet services. And for the second year running, Apple and Intel have won the Product of the Year and Technology of the Year awards, a sign that both companies have regained their clout in the computing world.

The winners of Computer Shopper magazine’s 2007 Hot 100 Awards are listed below and can be found online at http://www.computershopper.com/hot100

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR: 2007′S MOST MEMORABLE PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY

Apple iPhone

TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR

Quad-Core CPUs

BEST-DESIGNED PC

HP Blackbird 002 with Voodoo DNA

BEST BUDGET PC

ZT Element 2005Xa

BEST MIDRANGE PC

Dell Inspiron 531

BEST HIGH-END PC

Polywell Poly P503

BEST GAMING PC

Dell XPS 710 H2C

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PC

Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center

BEST SMALL-FORM-FACTOR PC

HP Compaq Presario DC7800

BEST ALL-IN-ONE PC

Apple iMac

BEST-DESIGNED LAPTOP

Toshiba Port

Computer Shopper Announces Hot 100 Awards, Celebrating the Best in Tech for 2007 Awards Recognize Editors" Favorite Tech Products of the Year

Zemanta Adds Seed Funding From Union Square Ventures Seedcamp 2007 Winner Receives First Investment from U.S. Firm

London (PRWEB) September 15, 2008

Zemanta (http://www.zemanta.com), the leading provider of content creation and discovery tools for bloggers around the world, today announced that the company had received seed funding from Union Square Ventures, the first American investor for the Slovenia founded company. The funds will be used to expand the company’s business development operations in the US.

By applying advanced text-processing algorithms, Zemanta reads user-created text, such as a blog post, article or web page, and recognizes the contextual content. Zemanta then combs the web for the most relevant images, smart links, keywords and text, and instantly serves these results so the user can enrich his or her content.

“I’ve been using Zemanta for several months on my personal blogs and it’s changed the way I work. Now I write and do my research at the same time, it’s a more efficient way to blog. In addition to recommending related content for me to read (and link to), Zemanta recommends images, hyperlinks and tags, all of which are incredibly useful to me,” said Fred Wilson, partner, Union Square Ventures. “But as I’ve used Zemanta more and more, I’ve come to realize that it can and should recommend many other things to me while I create content. What Zemanta has really built is the equivalent of adwords for content creators.”

Zemanta was founded in May 2007 by Botjan petič and Andra Tori, with the goal of simplifying the creation of online content. In September 2007, Zemanta was chosen as one of the winners of Seedcamp, an annual week-long event that brings together EMEA-based entrepreneurs who compete for venture capital funding. In March, Zemanta launched its beta service for bloggers which has been enthusiastically adopted among early adopters.

“Since HTML was introduced 10 years ago, online content tools have been largely unchanged,” said Botjan petič, Zemanta’s director of products, Zemanta. “We are changing the way people blog today and our mission is to transform the way online content is produced. Now, with the guidance and connections of Union Square Group, we can take our work to the next level.”

To date, Zemanta has also raised investment capital from Eden Ventures and The Accelerator Group.

About Zemanta

Zemanta the leading provider of content creation and discovery tools for bloggers around the world, has created an easy-to-use way to up your blogging game. With Zemanta, you can reach across the Internet to bring the photos, links, tags, reblogs and documents that add depth, credibility and entertainment to your blog. More importantly they help you increase you readership and hold onto your audience. A browser plug-in that also works within your blogging service, Zemanta delivers “smart sources”, which appear as you are typing. Available for FireFox and Internet Explorer, Zemanta works with multiple blogging engines including WordPress, MovableType and TypePad, Blogger, and 7 more. Zemanta is backed by Union Square Ventures, Eden Ventures and The Accelerator Group.

Press Contact:

Bostjan Spetic

Zemanta ltd.

+386 31 565 846

bostjan @ zemanta.com

Clarissa Horowitz

Sparkpr for Zemanta

415.321.1881

clarissa @ sparkpr.com

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Zemanta Adds Seed Funding From Union Square Ventures Seedcamp 2007 Winner Receives First Investment from U.S. Firm

Joey Skaggs, Notorious Artist and Satirist, to Launch Pranks.com Web site on April 1, 2007

New York, NY, (PRWEB) March 26, 2007

Artist and satirist Joey Skaggs is proud to announce the debut of his new blog Pranks.com on April Fools Day, April 1, 2007. Here visitors will find insights, news and discussions on everything to do with pranks, hoaxes, culture jamming and reality hacking around the world – past, present and future – mainstream and counter culture.

With Skaggs as editor, the site will have submissions from many known and not so known pranksters, artists, performers, activists and writers. Pranks.com, launching April Fools Day, will provide a continuing and growing exploration into the art of the prank; the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer; and the contribution of the prank to society.

Pranks have traditionally been relegated to the realm of the juvenile bad-boy or special occasions, like April Fools Day. People typically think of the word prank as referring to funny, embarrassing, humiliating, non-redeeming acts of just plain silliness or revenge. And while this may represent the majority of pranks in the world, the role of the prankster throughout history has been quite significant and influential. Mythic archetypes such as the trickster and coyote; the jester in the royal court; and pranksters throughout literature will all be explored.

In addition, topics such as pranks in the news, the sociology and psychology of pranks; political pranks; First Amendment issues; hoax etiquette; publicity stunts; urban legends; illusion and magic; fraud and deception; hype; spin; and propaganda will all be fodder for thought. As will, of course, all sorts of practical jokes and mischief…

“April Fools Day, my favorite holiday, is the perfect launch date. This site will provide one stop shopping for anyone interested in mounting an insurrection, over-throwing a government, crashing a stock market, creating global chaos, growing hair, losing weight or keeping their horny dog satisfied. It will provide a sure way to get the federal government to tap your phone line, or, at the very least to embarrass and humiliate yourself, says artist, Joey Skaggs.”

Pranks offer an alternative palette for criticism and dissent, as well as a looking-glass into the human gullibility that results when critical analysis is suspended for wishful thinking. “I challenge personal belief systems that sustain status-quo thinking and that support close-mindedness, bias and prejudice, says Skaggs.” Key motives running throughout his personal work are to inspire people to question authority in all of its guises and to ultimately think for themselves.

With this new endeavor, launching April Fools Day, Skaggs hopes to reach a broad audience of people interested in the intersection of reality and illusion. Those interested in contributing content will be invited to do so once the blog launches.

Pranks.com will shed light on all aspects of the topic, examining the intent, content, technique, and the magic that makes a prank live. It will even include tutorials and how-to instructions. Although the site will not encourage or condone irresponsible, misguided, unlawful or unethical practices, some meaningful pranks rightfully test the limits and cross the boundaries of lawfulness. To trivialize, ignore or dismiss them for this reason would be a disservice to everyone.

About Joey Skaggs: Joey Skaggs has been a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief. Hailed as an entrepreneur extraordinaire, he created a bordello for dogs, was the proprietor of a celebrity sperm bank, and founded an organization to wipe out fat. He has saved the world with his cockroach vitamin elixir and was the first and only person to ever windsurf from Hawaii to California. As a pedaling priest with a confessional booth mounted on the back of a tricycle, he took confessions from politicians at the Democratic National Convention. As a real estate developer, he created the Final Curtain cemetery theme park mall and time share program for the dead. And as a computer scientist, he revolutionized the American Judicial System using a series of super computers that meted out equal justice to all.

Although these and other illustrious activities have been presented as truth in the annals of the international news media, in reality they have all been hoaxes, products of his imagination. For over 40 years Skaggs has been an artist and a satirist with a serious message. He has used the media as his canvas, creating performances to bring to light many of the difficult and complex socio-political issues of our day.

A life-long educator and performance art practioner, Skaggs has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Parsons/New School and he lectures and does presentations at schools, festivals and conferences around the world. His commentaries on media literacy and creative independent thinking are hilarious and thought provoking and have reached millions of people on a global scale. He has been hailed as The World’s Greatest Hoaxer.

To add to his bag of tricks, he recently designed and manufactured the Universal Bulls**t Detector Watch (a real product) to enable people to humorously call it as they see it. Available online at http://www.bswatch.com, it flashes, moos and poops. It also tells time.

And, if that’s not enough, New Yorkers are encouraged to attend prankster and performance artist Joey Skaggs’ 22nd Annual April Fools Day Parade. The press release is available in the News Flash section of http://joeyskaggs.com.

About Pranks.com: The pranks.com Web site is designed by David Bunde of DGB Design using WordPress software, and hosted, by Laughing Squid.

Contact:

Joey Skaggs

212-254-7878

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Joey Skaggs, Notorious Artist and Satirist, to Launch Pranks.com Web site on April 1, 2007