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Obama approves US honour for veterans of WWII spies agency

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*By The Canadian Press*

BUFFALO, N.Y. — President Barack Obama has signed legislation that bestows one of the nation's highest civilian awards on veterans of the American World War II spy agency founded by a New Yorker.

The OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act signed this week honours veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA and today's special operations forces. The Senate passed the measure earlier this year, with the House following last month.

OSS veterans and members of... // Read Full Article Reported by CJME 41 minutes ago.

Wreaths honor veterans buried at national cemetery in N.J.

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Nearly 500 volunteers turned out this weekend at Finn's Point National Cemetery to decorate the graves of those buried there. Reported by NJ.com 1 hour ago.

Obama approves US honor for veterans of WWII spies agency

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) " President Barack Obama has signed legislation that bestows one of the nation's highest civilian awards on veterans of the American World War II spy agency founded by a New Yorker.The OSS Congressional Gold Medal... Reported by New Zealand Herald 1 hour ago.

Obama Approves US Honor for Veterans of WWII Spy Agency

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Obama Approves US Honor for Veterans of WWII Spy Agency BUFFALO, N.Y.—President Barack Obama has signed legislation that bestows one of the nation’s highest civilian awards on veterans of the American World War II spy agency founded by a New Yorker.

The OSS Congressional Gold Medal Act signed this week … Reported by Epoch Times 23 hours ago.

A Call To "Winter Soldiers of Conscience"!

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Co-authored with Jonathan D. Greenberg, Scholar in Residence at The Daniel Gould Center of Conflict Resolution at Stanford Law School.
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1.Ten weeks ago, in early October, as war crimes and mass atrocities against civilians in Aleppo intensified, humanitarian organizations and individuals of conscience called out in warning.
A global coalition of 223 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, Care International, Human Rights Watch, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Physicians for Human Rights, Save the Children, and the Syrian Relief Network issued a joint statement:

"The UN Security Council has failed Syrians. In almost six years of conflict, close to half a million people have been killed and eleven million have been forced to leave their homes. Most recently, the Syrian and Russian governments and their allies have carried out unlawful attacks on eastern Aleppo with scant regard for some 250,000 civilians trapped there. Armed opposition groups have also fired mortars and other projectiles into civilian neighbourhoods of western Aleppo, though according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 'indiscriminate airstrikes across the eastern part of the city by Government forces and their allies are responsible for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties.' Efforts to stop these atrocities and hold those responsible to account have been blocked repeatedly by Russia, which continues to misuse its veto power in the Security Council."

The organizations "urgently call upon UN member states to step in and request an Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly to demand an end to all unlawful attacks in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, and immediate and unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach all those in need." https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/12/01/uniting-peace-syria-global-civil-society-appeal-un-member-states

Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, warned that "the whole of eastern Aleppo could be destroyed by Christmas if the 'cruel, constant' Russian-backed bombing continues." The scale of human tragedy in the besieged areas of Aleppo was already overwhelming, and it could become much worse. He called on the world to avert "another Srebrenica, another Rwanda." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/06/aleppo-could-be-destroyed-by-christmas-warns-un-envoy-for-syria Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the slaughter, and demanded accountability from its perpetrators.

He said that "crimes of historic proportions" were committed, and that ""Indiscriminate airstrikes across the eastern part of the city by government forces and their allies are responsible for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties." http://www.npr.org/2016/12/17/505893462/they-said-never-again Specifically, Zeid called for Russia and Syria to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the bombardment of civilians in Aleppo. A referral to the International Criminal Court, he said, "would be more than justified given the rampant and deeply shocking impunity that has characterized the conflict and the magnitude of the crimes that have been committed..."

As reported by Reuters, "Zeid said Syria's government and its allies attacked targets protected by international law, including medical units, aid workers and water-pumping stations. He said that dropping indiscriminate incendiary weapons in heavily populated areas was particularly concerning, as well as being banned by a treaty that Russia is bound by. He compared Aleppo to the World War Two battles of Warsaw and Stalingrad and the attack on Dresden, and said calling the enemy a 'terrorist organization' was not an excuse to ignore the laws of war." http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-zeid-idUSKCN1240RU

Religious figures also spoke out, including the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. "What is being done is evil both in the strict theological sense and in the general sense. It is demonic. It's the absolute contempt for the human spirit. For the dignity of the human being. It's the brushing aside of the poor and the weak and the fragile in a way that is as bad as anything we've seen in the last century. It compares with some of the great atrocities of the last century. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/violence-aleppo-demonic-archbishop-of-canterbury-syria-rome-justin-welby-a7349606.html

Dr. Ahmad Tarakji, President of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said, "It is important to face down the worst of humanity, look it straight in the eyes and refuse to blink. But we are closing our eyes to what is happening in Aleppo. If we are to not act now in the face of such depravity and disregard for basic norms - when will we ever?" https://www.savethechildren.net/article/un-general-assembly-must-urgently-unite-peace-syria-humanitarian-catastrophe-unfolds-aleppo

British MP Andrew Mitchell spoke out, on the floor of the House of Commons: "What Russia is doing to the United Nations is precisely what Italy and Germany did to the League of Nations in the 1930s. And they are doing to Aleppo precisely what the Nazis did to Guernica in the Spanish civil war." https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2016/oct/12/picasso-guernica-aleppo-syria
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry put it simply: "The Assad regime is actually carrying out nothing short of a massacre." http://www.npr.org/2016/12/17/505893462/they-said-never-again

2.Clarifying the analogies:

Human beings use historical analogies to help us understand that world-historical events are taking place in the present moment; to help us comprehend the significance and meaning of these events in a deeper context; to help us assess more accurately their moral gravity; and to help us find the correct political and ethical response.

There are three sets of analogies here. It is important to differentiate them, and reflect on each.

The first set refers to aggression by Italy and Germany in the 1930s - including the 1935 Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Hitler's 1936 military occupation of the Rhineland in 1936, the German and Italian intervention to support Franco against the republicans in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and Hitler's occupation of the Czech Sudetenland in 1938 and the entire nation of Czechoslovakia the following year -- and the failure of the League of Nations to take action to prevent these illegal and grave violations of international peace and stability, or to punish Italy and Germany after those violations occurred. Blame for this failure can be assigned to the League's member states, especially Britain and France and its leaders, whose cowardice in the face of criminal aggression was clothed in the rhetoric of "non-intervention." But the greatest blame for this failure must be assigned to the United States. This is because the U.S. Senate, under the control of an "anti-globalist" Republican party, refused even to join the League, thus ensuring its fatal weakness.

The second set of historical analogies - Guernica, Warsaw, Stalingrad, Dresden - refers to the indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian populations in urban areas, an atrocity and crime of war. Dresden is included in this list, as it should be. We must not forget that the United States and the U.K. perpetrated mass murder from the air during World War II no less than the Axis powers, culminating in the fire-bombing of Tokyo and the use of nuclear weapons on civilian populations in Japanese cities. Each military force conducted indiscriminate bombing of enemy civilians, a category of war crime that was deliberately left out of the Nuremberg charter to ensure that no decision-maker, neither from Nazi Germany nor from any Allied power, would be held accountable.

Nevertheless, we remember.

We remember Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We remember that the U.S. dropped a far greater tonnage of explosives in Indochina from 1964 to 1973 than during all of World War II, including over 2 million tons of ordnance over Laos in 580,000 bombing missions -- the equivalent of one planeload every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years - and least 270 million cluster bomblets, killing 50,000 Laotians since 1964 (and 20,000 since 1973, after the war ended).  http://legaciesofwar.org/resources/cluster-bomb-fact-sheet/

We remember the 1937 bombing Guernica because one individual, Pablo Picasso, indelibly portrayed the abject criminality of the German Luftwaffe and the Italian fascist Aviazione Legionaria in human terms. Poland can never forget the 1939 and 1944 bombing raids by the Luftwaffe on Warsaw, leveling the city and killing many thousands of its inhabitants. Hundreds of bombing sorties by the Luftwaffe over Stalingrad, combined with relentless attacks by Nazi troops in the city's streets, killed more than a million Russians there. Annihilation of civilian populations was not a collateral effect of Hitler's policy. Annihilation was Hitler's policy.

In January 2016, in a press conference in which he stood next to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Russian policy in Syria: "to fight them until their complete annihilation."  https://www.rt.com/news/329591-syria-isis-lavrov-kerry/ Mr. Lavrov was referring specifically to ISIS and the Nusra Front. But the Russians were less nuanced and deceptive in subsequent months, as they prepared for the final onslaught on Aleppo's civilian neighborhoods. As described in an October 26 statement to the United Nations Security Council by Stephen O'Brien, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs:

"The leaflets which have been dropped on eastern Aleppo by Syrian and Russian aircrafts operating in that area make the intention chillingly clear. They read 'This is your last hope.... Save yourselves. If you do not leave these areas urgently, you will be annihilated' and they end by saying 'You know that everyone has given up on you. They left you alone to face your doom and nobody will give you any help'. And it is clear that the aircraft which drop the bombs, the generals who give the orders and the politicians who have designed the strategy intend to make good on that horrific promise."

As indeed they have done.

The third set of analogies includes Srebrenica and Rwanda. In these places mass murder was committed in cold blood. Executions were carried out by bullets to the head in the first case, and machetes in the second, while the international community watched and did nothing. According to the UN Human Rights Office, civilians in Aleppo were killed in summary executions as Syrian and Russian soldiers and mercenaries went house to house in the final phase of Assad's offensive against the besieged city. How many Russians took part in these executions? We don't know the answer. According to a Wall Street Journal news report published on December 16 ("Russian Special Forces Seen as Key to Aleppo Victory") reports: "On Sunday, the weekly state news program Vesti Nedeli offered a rare glimpse of Russians in combat, airing footage of Russian special operators in Syria. "Russian special forces have been in Aleppo for a number of weeks, where they've taken on a combat role," said Ruslan Pukhov, the head of Moscow-based defense think tank CAST." http://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-special-forces-seen-as-key-to-aleppo-victory-1481884200 In addition to the men, women and children killed by Russian bombs, how many civilians were slaughtered by Syrian and Russian militias? We don't know the answer to this question either.

A week ago, UN published evidence of at least 82 victims, but the killings have continued and perhaps escalated over in the subsequent days. http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21024&LangID=E#sthash.KMWaL70K.dpuf Whatever the number, these people were executed in cold blood.

Yesterday the UN envoy to Syria estimated that 50,000 men, women and children remain in eastern Aleppo. David Milliband, President of the International Rescue Committee, warned that these civilians face "sheer terror. And that is the only way to describe this because people are fleeing from appalling bombardment, and house-to-house murder that's being documented by the UN, and they don't know if it's going to follow them from Aleppo to Idlib [the Syrian city to which refugees from Aleppo are fleeing]."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-syria-civilians-massacre-assad-david-miliband-a7481241.html

In retrospect, UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura was correct in his assessment ten weeks ago: the annihilation of Aleppo was accomplished before Christmas. The UN Human Rights Commissioner's call for a referral to the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity has gone unheeded - because Russia has a veto power over any such referral. For the same reason the Security Council has been neutered. The Russians have been proven correct: civilians trapped in Aleppo were annihilated, as promised, and their assessment of the world's response was also vindicated. Everyone gave up on them, leaving them alone to face their doom, "and nobody will give you any help." Three days ago Syrian President Assad appeared on state television to celebrate the "liberation" of Aleppo. "Driving the last 'terrorists' out was 'history in the making', and 'greater than the word 'congratulations', he said." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-conflict-assad-ceasefire-syria-civil-war-a7477491.html

Will we remember the Aleppo as we remember Guernica? Thus far we don't have a 21st century Picasso to capture the victims' agony in a way that captures the world's moral imagination with comparable force. The brushing aside of the poor and the weak and the fragile continues unabated, in Syria and throughout the world. Millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced men, women and children have been abandoned.

The U.S. President-elect has promised to prevent any of them from finding refuge in our country, no matter what our obligations under international law. In a recent interview on Russian media, in the wake of Aleppo's destruction, Syrian President Bashir Assad said that Donald Trump will be a "naturally ally" of his regime, and Putin's - presuming that he acts according to pronouncements he made during the campaign.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-bashar-al-assad-donald-trump-russias-natural-ally-putin-a7474786.html

According to analysis in the November 15, 2016 Washington Post: "Assad's government is exulting over Trump's election because of his pledges to join forces with Russia against the Islamic State and Syrian rebels, according to Bassam Abu Abdullah, a professor at Damascus University who supports Assad. The expectation in Damascus now is that Washington will sever support for Syrian rebels, join in bombing them alongside Russia and perhaps restore diplomatic relations with Assad, he said."

We pray that President Assad and Professor Bassam Abu Abdullah are incorrect in their predictions.

3.The silence of the good people: the "wintertime soldiers of conscience".
Of course we will never forget the famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. But it is the speech delivered just before King's speech that haunts us most powerfully to this day. It was given by Rabbi Joachim Prinz, and this is the paragraph we remember most:

"When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime, I learned many things. The most important thing that I learned under those tragic circumstances was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence. A great people which had created a great civilization had become a nation of silent onlookers. They remained silent in the face of hate, in the face of brutality and in the face of mass murder. America must not become a nation of onlookers. America must not remain silent." http://www.joachimprinz.com/civilrights.htm

Rabbi Prinz was speaking directly about the persistence of Jim Crow segregation throughout the former Confederate states. But his warning has a far deeper resonance.

His call to conscience demands that we remember Dresden as we remember Guernica. We must remember Srebrenica, and we must also remember instances when U.S. forces perpetrated mass murder against foreign civilians. On April 23, 1971, three years after Rabbi Prinz's plea at the March on Washington, a young Vietnam veteran could no longer remain silent about what he had witnessed and experienced during his service overseas. In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he spoke out in protest against the moral atrocities perpetrated against civilians in that war, and against silence of good Americans in the face of war crimes committed in their name. The name of the veteran was John Kerry. Here is an excerpt from his testimony on that day:

"I would like to talk on behalf of all those veterans and say that several months ago in Detroit we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged, and many very highly decorated, veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia. These were not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command. It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen in Detroit - the emotions in the room and the feelings of the men who were reliving their experiences in Vietnam. They relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do."

"They told stories that at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Ghengis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country."

"We call this investigation the Winter Soldier Investigation. The term Winter Soldier is a play on words of Thomas Paine's in 1776 when he spoke of the Sunshine Patriots and summertime soldiers who deserted at Valley Forge because the going was rough."

"We who have come here to Washington have come here because we feel we have to be winter soldiers now. We could come back to this country, we could be quiet, we could hold our silence, we could not tell what went on in Vietnam, but we feel because of what threatens this country, not the reds, but the crimes which we are committing that threaten it, that we have to speak out...." http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Resources/Primary/Manifestos/VVAW_Kerry_Senate.htm
l
The most terrible such crime was the massacre by U.S. troops of Vietnamese women and children in the hamlet of My Lai, South Vietnam. Calley was prosecuted, convicted and released before his sentence had been completed. But his superior officers were never held accountable for creating the environment in which Calley's actions were understood to be permissible.

4.Facing down evil
We were reminded of the My Lai massacre yesterday when we read the New York Times obituary of Larry Colburn, a Vietnam-era veteran and American hero who died earlier this past week. According to the Times, "Colburn, was the last surviving member of a three-man helicopter crew that was ordered to hover over My Lai on Saturday morning, March 16, 1968, to identify enemy positions by drawing Vietcong fire." But there was no enemy fire, because there were no Vietcong soldiers in the hamlet. Only women and children, shot in cold blood or being herded into an irrigation ditch to be executed there. Colburn and his colleagues watched from above as their fellow platoon members systematically murdered the villagers.

In a 2010 PBS interview, Colburn described what happened next. Hugh Thompson, the helicopter pilot, notified his superiors. "[Thompson] got on the radio and just said, 'This isn't right, these are civilians, there's people killing civilians down here." But Thompson's superior officers didn't care. "And that's when he decided to intervene. He said, 'We've got to do something about this, are you with me?' And we said, 'Yes.'"

The Times obituary continues:

"Mr. Thompson confronted the officer in command of the rampaging platoon, Lt. William L. Calley, but was rebuffed. He then positioned the helicopter between the troops and the surviving villagers and faced off against another lieutenant. Mr. Thompson ordered Mr. Colburn to fire his M-60 machine gun at any soldiers who tried to inflict further harm.

"'Y'all cover me!" Mr. Thompson was quoted as saying. "If these bastards open up on me or these people, you open up on them. Promise me!'"

"'You got it boss,' Mr. Colburn replied. 'Consider it done.'"

"Mr. Thompson, Mr. Colburn and Glenn Andreotta, the copter's crew chief, found about 10 villagers cowering in a makeshift bomb shelter and coaxed them out, then had them flown to safety by two Huey gunships. They found an 8-year old boy clinging to his mother's corpse in an irrigation ditch and plucked him by the back of his shirt and delivered him to a nun in a nearby hospital.

"Crucially, they reported what they had witnessed to headquarters, which ordered a cease-fire. By then, as many as 500 villagers had been killed...

"In 1998, thirty years after the massacre, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Colburn were awarded the Soldier's Medal, which is granted for life-saving bravery not involving direct contact with an enemy.

"'It is my solemn wish that we all never forget the tragedy and brutality of war,' Mr. Colburn said at the ceremony, held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. 'I would like to quote Gen. Douglas MacArthur: 'The soldier, be he friend or foe, is charged with the protection of the weak and the unarmed. It is his very existence for being.'

"... The two men returned to My Lai that year, meeting some of the villagers they had rescued and dedicating an elementary school. On the flight home, Mr. Colburn recalled, he turned to Mr. Thompson and said, 'It was so good to see all those little kids smiling again, not having to worry about being blown up, not having to look over their shoulders all the time, just being able to be kids.'

"Mr. Thompson died of cancer in 2006 at 62.

Two years later, on the 40th anniversary of the massacre, Mr. Colburn returned to Vietnam and was reunited with Do Ba, who as a boy had been rescued by Mr. Colburn from an irrigation ditch."

Lest we forget: Morality and Conscience reminds us that "WE are the ones we've
been waiting for"!

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 21 hours ago.

These photos are your holiday travel nightmare come to life

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Christmas is just a week away, so we're now officially near the height of holiday travel season, which is full of hiccups and snarls. Travel veterans won't flinch, but new photos out of Denver International Airport on Sunday might make anyone's heart skip a beat, especially if they're worried about making an upcoming flight.

SEE ALSO: TSA's tragic tale of a giant abandoned teddy bear gets a twist

Winter weather resulted in hundreds of canceled flights on Frontier Airlines and a nightmare mess of hundreds of suitcases, forcing passengers to search through the backlog of luggage to find their bags, like a needle in a Samsonite haystack. Read more...

More about Airports, Travel, Holiday Travel, Flight Delays, and Denver Airport Reported by Mashable 18 hours ago.

Lee Radford to let Hull FC have Christmas off ahead of trial...

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Lee Radford to let Hull FC have Christmas off ahead of trial... Hull FC coach Lee Radford is to let his troops enjoy Christmas Day with their families despite facing Castleford Tigers on Boxing Day.It's a kind gesture from the Black and Whites' boss as the club prepare for their first pre-season friendly in seven days' time.Asked whether he would be having his players practice this Sunday, Radford responded: "I'm not Jose Mourinho," in reference to the Manchester United manger's training ploys.The majority of the veterans in the squad such as Mark... Reported by Hull Daily Mail 15 hours ago.

Mywish marketplaces announces appointment of new members to the board

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[India], Dec 19 (ANI): Mywish Marketplaces (MMPL), the company that owns Deal4loans.com has announced strategic additions to their Board of Directors. Financial industry veterans Alok Sethi, Reported by Sify 6 hours ago.

APTelecom Wins Prestigious Telecom Review “Best Vas Provider” Industry Excellence Awards

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APTelecom Wins Prestigious Telecom Global Award - Global consulting firm continues strong growth.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (PRWEB) December 19, 2016

APTelecom has won Telecom Review’s prestigious Best VAS Provider Industry Excellence Award. Their value-added services are unique in the submarine cable sector of telecom and due to their successful track record established over the last several years, places them in the fortunate position of being the ‘go to’ organization for anyone, anywhere in the world, when it comes to commercialization of submarine cable systems.

These awards recognize industry leaders for their efficient and hard work in 2016, and are a special way for Telecom Review to help celebrate the winner’s success. As one of the most important events of its kind, the Telecom Review Leaders Summit, where the award was presented, certainly lived up to its slogan “It’s All About Smart Networking.”

This year there were 167 nominations for the Telecom Review Excellence Awards. Winners were chosen based on recognized and demonstrated capabilities in their specific sector by an independent panel of 15 experienced industry veterans. For more information: http://www.telecomreview.com/summit/

Commenting on the gathering of Industry Leaders, Jeff Seal, Managing Partner of Telecom Review North America noted, “Once again Telecom Review has brought together the leaders of the ICT/telecom industry for a day long discussion of the topics affecting our business and a special networking opportunity with their peers. Sean Bergin, President of APTelecom commenting on the award. "This is another example of how APTelecom client focused approach is being recognized for over a half a decade in value for the global submarine cable industry."

ABOUT APTelecom:

APTelecom is a leading telecom and fiber consulting company specializing in emerging markets. APTelecom combines superior customer service, cost-competitive telecom products, and deep experience across a wide range of sectors in the submarine cable and fiber industry to help clients achieve intelligent, sustainable growth. Among the company's core offerings are submarine cable pre-sales, established system sales, due diligence telecom consulting, cloud-based solutions and security, and strategic fiber consulting services.

APTelecom has been named the "Sales Team of the Year" by the Customer Sales and Service Awards, and also captured the "Fastest Growing Companies" Best in Biz EMEA Silver Award. The company has been sought after for commentary on emerging market trends and been featured in dozens of media outlets, including TechTalk, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business Network, Reuters, Yahoo News, Fierce Telecom, SubTel Forum, and Commsday International, among others.

APTelecom is a member of TRACE International, and is FCPA compliant and certified.· APTelecom's 'State of Subsea' is a 501(c) organization (501c), a tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in the United States, and is covered under United States Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.501(c)).

For more information on APTelecom please visit http://www.APTelecom.com, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.

New Home Equity Lender, Spring EQ, Launches Operations in Philadelphia

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Spring EQ launched operations in Philadelphia this November with the goal of fundamentally changing and easing the way borrowers access the equity in their homes. The company was founded by Jerry Schiano to transform home equity lending.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 19, 2016

There’s a new company in Philadelphia ready to serve the needs of home equity borrowers, called Spring EQ. While the traditional first lien mortgage industry has been busy in recent years lending at historically low interest rates, the home equity lending market segment has been quieter. Following the housing shift in the late 2000’s, home equity lending dropped off substantially and has only recently begun to make a recovery. Strong appreciation in home values and general improvement in the economy have created conditions where borrowers are again seeking home equity options.

Spring EQ launched operations in November with the goal of fundamentally changing and easing the way borrowers access the equity in their homes. “My vision when forming Spring EQ was about bringing a truly better product to the consumer. I want to help underserved borrowers who are currently relying on high rate personal loans and credit cards or refinancing with large up-front fees,” said Co-founder Jerry Schiano. Combining favorable rates and lower payments with a significant focus on technology, Spring EQ delivers a user-friendly digital loan process. “We’re focused on balancing human interaction and expertise with technical efficiencies,” said Schiano.

Schiano is a mortgage and start-up veteran, with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. He has launched and built out several successful mortgage industry entities, including lender New Penn Financial (named multi-year to Inc. 500/5000 and Philadelphia 100 lists) where he continues concurrently serving as President & CEO for the 2000-person company. Schiano co-founded Spring EQ in May 2016 and has assembled a strong management team, including executives from both the mortgage and technology industries. Spring EQ is headquartered in the City of Philadelphia and is excited to bring more jobs to the area as operations grow.

Interested borrowers and job applicants can find out more at http://www.springeq.com.

About Spring EQ
Spring EQ is working to fundamentally change and ease the way borrowers access the equity in their homes. Built by technologists, supported by veterans of the lending industry, Spring EQ was founded to transform home equity lending from a long, drawn-out paperwork based process into a 21st century digital experience that customers can access from anywhere, anytime. The company is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.

Contact
Laura Remaker
(215) 391-1196
lremaker(at)springeq(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.

Cruise Planners Hits the Road for Multiple Regional Training Opportunities for Its Travel Advisor Network

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Cruise Planners offers regional training programs focusing on technology, sales growth, land vacations and luxury travel

Coral Springs, Fla. (PRWEB) December 19, 2016

In 2017, Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network, will host more in-depth regional trainings in key markets offering travel agents the opportunity to gain more knowledge from the Home Office Team and preferred partners while experiencing new destinations.

“At our trainings, we are focusing on specialty niches, including FAM trips, offering enhanced training and adding more unique networking opportunities for our travel agents,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative.

The regional training programs are face-to-face learning forums exclusive to Cruise Planners franchise owners and associates. The training programs were designed around agent-requested topics such as sales and marketing training, agent success stories and hands-on technology—these are consistently the most popular sessions for Cruise Planners agents. Also, for the first time, there will be dedicated luxury travel and land vacation themed regional trainings for agents who specialize in those niches.

“We love rolling out new technology, which is in line with strategic marketing efforts, and it’s important our agents are aware of the best ways to utilize the industry’s top tools,” Fee said. “At the trainings, we focus on best practices to take each franchise’s business to the next level and boost sales.”

Cruise Planners travel advisors will leave each training with a sales and marketing roadmap so they can focus on attracting new clients and retaining loyal ones. Some of the sessions, led by the Cruise Planners Home Office Team include:· Top Producer’s Insights Panel
· PR and Social Media: “Boost Your Social Exposure”
· Sales and Marketing Workshop: “Are You CP Savvy?”    
· Technology Workshop: “All Hands on Deck with IT”

“When Cruise Planners goes on the road, we know that we are investing in our travel agents by training them personally in the field and experiencing a destination with them,” Fee said. “Since our agents are home based they value these in-depth training sessions, which give them the opportunity to connect with our Home Office Team in person and leave with actionable techniques to grow their businesses.”

For the first time, Cruise Planners will incorporate strategic familiarization trips in select host cities to showcase the best of each destination. Featured destinations include:· Orlando
· Nashville
· Denver
· Las Vegas
· Atlantic City
· New Orleans
· Miami

Many of the sessions are taught by Cruise Planners’ top executives giving company owners and franchisees the opportunity to interact with top representatives from major travel-industry brands. Also, some top-producing agents will share their personal success stories as franchise owners.

These regional trainings are offered in addition to Cruise Planners’ new franchisee training classes hosted at various times throughout the year, the company’s much-anticipated annual Convention, and the always-available online training program via Cruise Planners University.

About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a network of more than 1,500 franchise owners who independently book amazing vacation and travel experiences for their clients. The Florida-based Home Office Team positions a nation-wide network of franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing, booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be lauded and has been named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 13 consecutive years. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has been ranked as the #1 travel franchise by Franchise Business Review for 5 years in a row, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel since it started ranking companies.

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. with more than 22 years of experience, Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include numerous Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly for the past seven years, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award for 11 consecutive years (2004-2014), American Express Agency of the Year (2010), Royal Caribbean International Chairman’s Award (2015), Royal Caribbean International President’s Award for Overall Achievement (2012 and 2014), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007-2013), Norwegian Cruise Line Franchise Agency of the Year (2011-2015), Celebrity Cruises Field Sales Account of the Year (2015), Celebrity Cruises Home-Based Account of the Year (2013-2014) and Celebrity Cruises Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year (2010), American Express Vacations Best of the Best Globe Award (2008-2015), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009-2014), Platinum Member of the 500 Club for Sales Excellence (2014), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009-2012), Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Top Producer (2008-2014) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. Cruise Planners is one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, the Top Franchise Brand for Veterans according to Franchise Business Review, has been named one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans by Black Enterprise magazine and is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. For more information, visit http://www.cruiseplanners.com.

Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room, following us on Twitter @Cruisitude or on Facebook. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should locate a travel advisor near them. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit our franchise website. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.

Affiliates of Xura Enter into Agreements to Acquire Mitel Mobile and Ranzure Networks to Create a New Key Player in 5G Ready Mobile Network Solutions

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Pardeep Kohli, Co-Founder and CEO of Ranzure Networks, Appointed CEO of Xura and to Serve as CEO of the Combined Company

· E stablishes a pure play in fully-virtualized, 5G ready software solutions across every layer of the mobile network infrastructure stack, helping Communications Service Providers ("CSPs") drive efficiencies, flexibility and scalability as they adopt the cloud and virtualize their networks
· New solution set enables customers  to handle exponential traffic growth from Internet of Things ("IoT") and 5G applications
· Krish Prabhu, former CTO of AT&T and former President of AT&T Labs, to join the Board of Directors of the combined company
· Combined company will be based in Dallas, Texas

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xura, Inc. ("Xura"), a leading provider of digital communications services, today announced that its affiliates have entered into definitive agreements to acquire Mitel Mobility, Inc. ("Mitel Mobile"), a division of Mitel Networks Corporation ("Mitel") (Nasdaq:MITL) (TSX:MNW), and Ranzure Networks, Inc. ("Ranzure").            

· *Mitel Mobile* , formerly Mavenir Systems, is a leading provider of Voice-over-Long-Term Evolution ("VoLTE"), Voice-over-WiFi ("VoWiFi"), video, Rich Communication Services ("RCS"), messaging, radio access and packet core solutions
· *Ranzure* , founded by former Mavenir Systems CEO Pardeep Kohli, is an early-stage venture focused on developing 5G Cloud Radio Access Network ("RAN") technology

The Xura Board of Directors has appointed Pardeep Kohli, formerly CEO of Mitel Mobile's predecessor (Mavenir Systems) and Co-Founder and CEO of Ranzure Networks, to succeed Philippe Tartavull as CEO of Xura, effective today. Upon completion of the transactions, Mr. Kohli will serve as the CEO of the combined company. Mitel Mobile President, BG Kumar, will join Mr. Kohli's management team and former CTO of AT&T and former President of AT&T Labs, Krish Prabhu, will join the Board of Directors of the combined company. The combined company will operate from Dallas, Texas.

Hubert de Pesquidoux, the executive chairman of Xura and future executive chairman of the combined company, commented:

"Xura has undergone a significant transformation over the past two years, and in the last several months has successfully transitioned to private ownership with the backing and support of Siris Capital, a financial sponsor with deep experience and operational expertise in telecommunications. I would like to acknowledge Philippe Tartavull for his significant contributions to the company during this transformational period. Today's announcement marks a new and exciting chapter for Xura, and will accelerate and enhance the combined company's ability to grow and deliver value to its customers, partners and employees."

*Well Positioned to Partner with Customers to Bring the Next Wave of Digital Services to Market*

The transaction enhances each standalone company's ability to help CSPs bring the latest monetizable services to market, while driving operating efficiencies, increased service levels, and greater flexibility and scalability as they adopt the cloud and virtualize their networks. The combined company is positioned for long-term success in the digital communications ecosystem across multiple dimensions:

· *Product Portfolio:*  The combination diversifies and bolsters each predecessor company's standalone product portfolio, delivering a comprehensive 5G ready, fully-virtualized solution set across voicemail, VoLTE, VoWiFi, video, RCS, messaging, security, radio access and packet core
· *Innovation and 5G Focus:*  The combination leverages each company's significant investments to date in fully-virtualized and 5G ready solutions, a combined team of over 2,000 talented people dedicated to bringing 5G ready solutions to market, and a mutual focus on continued innovation
· *Customers* * at the Core:*  The combined company will keep customers at the core of its strategy with the vision to be the trusted partner of choice for CSPs as their business needs evolve
· *Operational Excellence:*  The combined company will have scalable R&D centers of excellence in the United States, Israel, Czech Republic, India and China, enabling first-rate global support capabilities
· *Management Talent:*  The combination adds talented and experienced executives to supplement the Xura team, complemented by a strong Board of Directors

Hubert de Pesquidoux commented:

"This is an exciting day for the three companies' stakeholders. The combination of Xura's offerings in voicemail, messaging, monetization and security solutions with Mitel Mobile's offerings in next-generation voice, video, RCS, network access and core solutions, alongside Ranzure's 5G Cloud RAN technology, will offer a comprehensive, best-in-class solution set to the combined company's global CSP customer base. Mitel Mobile and its heritage Mavenir brand and technology are synonymous with world-class innovation and customer support, and we are delighted to welcome Pardeep Kohli, who is uniquely positioned to lead the combined company."

*Combined Company to Benefit from World-Class Management and Board-Level Support*

Pardeep Kohli is a widely respected wireless veteran with over 20 years of industry experience, primarily focused on driving innovation in the telecom infrastructure space. He most recently served as the CEO of Ranzure, an early-stage developer of 5G Cloud RAN technology, and was President and CEO of Mavenir Systems from 2006 to 2015. During his time at Mavenir, Mr. Kohli grew the business from zero to $175 million in annual revenue and led multiple industry-first innovations, including the first at-scale deployments of virtualization and software defined networking to mobile core networks.

Commenting on the announcement, newly appointed Xura CEO Pardeep Kohli said:

"I am honored and excited to lead Xura and the combined company during this important and transformative time. Both Xura and Mitel Mobile have strong legacies of market-leading innovation and commitment to customer success. Our new company will offer a fully-virtualized, software-based solution set across every layer of the mobile network infrastructure stack, including radio access, packet core and 5G applications.

"We will be the only pure play solution provider with no vested interest in maintaining and promoting proprietary solutions. We look forward to partnering with our customers to achieve operational efficiencies as they prepare to handle the exponential traffic growth that the industry's IoT and 5G applications will bring."

Krish Prabhu, who will join the combined company's Board of Directors upon completion of the transactions, most recently served as the CTO of AT&T and President of AT&T Labs from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as Interim CEO and President of Tekelec, as CEO and President of Tellabs Inc., as a Venture Partner of Morganthaler Venture Partners, and as COO of Alcatel Telecom. Mr. Prabhu's deep industry experience, thought leadership, and strong relationships with mobile operators will serve the Board of Directors and management team well.

*Conditions to Closing and Advisors*

The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other foreign antitrust regulatory approvals, as necessary. Upon completion of the transactions, Mitel Mobile and Ranzure will become wholly owned by affiliates of Xura. The transactions are currently expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.

An affiliate of Xura has secured committed financing consisting of a combination of equity and debt. The equity financing will be provided by affiliates of Siris Capital Group, LLC ("Siris Capital") and the debt financing will be provided by a lender group led by Cerberus Business Finance, LLC.

Goldman Sachs & Co. is acting as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as legal advisor to Mitel in connection with the transaction. Guggenheim Securities, LLC is acting as financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP is acting as legal advisor to Xura in connection with the transactions.

*About Xura*

Xura, Inc. offers a portfolio of digital services solutions that enable global communications across a variety of mobile devices and platforms. We help communication service providers (CSPs) and enterprises navigate and monetize the digital ecosystem to create innovative, new experiences through our cloud-based offerings. Our solutions touch more than three billion people through 350+ service providers and enterprises in 140+ countries. You can find us at  www.Xura.com .

*About Mitel*

A global provider of enterprise and mobile communications powering more than 2 billion business connections and 2 billion mobile subscribers every day, Mitel (Nasdaq:MITL) (TSX:MNW) helps businesses and mobile carriers connect, collaborate and provide innovative services to their customers. Our innovation and communications experts serve more than 60 million business users in more than 100 countries. For more information, go to  www.mitel.com .

*About Ranzure Networks*

Founded by industry veterans with extensive experience in virtualized LTE core networks and Radio Access technologies - Ranzure is focused on paving the way for seamless superfast 5G networks. Ranzure Networks has licensed Mitel Mobile technology in the area of Evolved Packet Core to support service providers as they build 5G networks for the Internet of Things. Ranzure is based in Richardson, Texas, with additional development centers in Ottawa, Canada and Bengaluru, India. Visit  www.ranzure.com  for more information.

*About Siris Capital*

Siris Capital is a leading private equity firm focused on making control investments in data, telecommunications, technology and technology-enabled business service companies. Integral to Siris' investment approach is its partnership with exceptional senior operating executives, or Executive Partners, who work with Siris to identify, validate and operate investment opportunities. Their significant involvement allows Siris to partner with management to add value both operationally and strategically. To learn more, visit us at  www.siriscapital.com .  

*Forward Looking Statements*

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These include statements using the words believe, target, outlook, may, will, should, could, estimate, continue, expect, intend, plan, predict, potential, project and anticipate, and similar statements which do not describe the present or provide information about the past. There is no guarantee that the expected events or expected results will actually occur. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, operational and other factors. Any changes in these assumptions or other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth in this paragraph. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. In addition, material risks that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include: the inherent uncertainty associated with financial or other projections; the integration of Mitel Mobile and Ranzure and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits from the acquisitions of Mitel Mobile and Ranzure; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals for the acquisitions of Mitel Mobile and Ranzure, the timing of obtaining such approvals and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the expected benefits of the acquisitions of Mitel Mobile and Ranzure; the risk that the conditions to the acquisitions are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all and the failure of the acquisitions to close for any other reason; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Xura, Mitel Mobile and Ranzure products; access to available financing on a timely basis and on reasonable terms, including the refinancing of Xura's debt to fund a portion of the cash purchase price in connection with the acquisitions; Xura's ability to achieve or sustain profitability following the acquisitions; fluctuations in quarterly and annual revenues and operating results; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; current and ongoing global economic instability, political unrest and related sanctions; intense competition; and Xura's ability to implement and achieve its business strategies successfully.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  Except as required by law, Xura does not have any intention or obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. Media Contacts:
US PR Contact:
Lydia Fakhouri
Matter
lfakhouri@matternow.com
O: +1 (971) 246 7896
M: +1 (302) 381 9690
European PR Contact:
Max Deeley
Hotwire
max.deeley@hotwirepr.com
O: +44 (0) 20 7608 8344
M: +44 (0) 7725959205
Xura Contact:
Maria Hudson
Xura
maria.hudson@xura.com
M: +44 (0) 7894604040

--------------------This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Xura, Inc. via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2066328 Reported by GlobeNewswire 8 hours ago.

Stallone’s ambitions in Trump cabinet

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DONALD Trump reportedly wants to hire actor Sylvester Stallone for a job in the arts but the Rambo star said he would rather work with war veterans. Reported by The Advertiser 6 hours ago.

Sylvestor Stallone would say no to NEA role, wants to focus on helping veterans

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Sylvester Stallone put rumors to rest saying he is "flattered" President-elect Donald Trump is considering him for an arts post but believes he would be better suited to work for veterans. Reported by FOXNews.com 6 hours ago.

Veterans of CIA predecessor set to get recognition

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Years before the CIA was formed, a decorated U.S. general known as “Wild Bill” led a clandestine group working to turn the tide of World War II. Reported by FOXNews.com 5 hours ago.

Sylvester Stallone Turns Down Position in Trump's Administration

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Sylvester Stallone Turns Down Position in Trump's Administration Sylvester Stallone was offered a position in Donald Trump‘s administration, but he has confirmed that he will not accept the role with the National Endowment of the Arts. The 70-year-old actor still seems interested in having a role in the political world, but would rather spend his time working to support our nation’s veterans. “I [...] Reported by Just Jared 5 hours ago.

Make big impact videos on your smartphone or compact cam with this tiny breakthrough pack of Hollywood style movie making tools.

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HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 19 Dec. 2016 -* *Grip Gear has upped the ante in video production with the launch of The Movie Maker: An electronic slider and 360 panoramic mount for smartphones and compact cams. Whether you're aiming for a viral, online revelation, an unboxing video, close-up footage of products, adding drama to your video imagery or simply want to out-focus and out-shoot your peers, the Movie Maker gives you the tools to do all that and more. Even the shortest Instagram clip will stand out of the crowd.

The Movie Maker, an affordable electronic slider for smartphones and compact cams

The Movie Maker has 8 different speeds or can be used manually, can also attach to tripods or suction cups

Fits a range of small cams up to 550g even on vertical climbs and reconfigures to 360 panoramic mode

 

The breakthrough tool set packs all the massive Hollywood production facilities you usually need to get awesome big-budget shots into a tiny pack that will help turn your smartphone into a full-blown movie making resource. So far electronic sliders have been out of the budget range for the everyday video enthusiast.

 

The pack includes gadgets like an 8-speed electronic tracking slider, extra tracks available to extend the track and a 360º panoramic function which can be attached to tripods or suction cups to hold your phone in impossible positions for the most amazing shots. Suddenly all those amazing Hollywood effects are right at the fingertips of every budding video Oscar winner.

 

Co-founder Rhys Bradley said: "This is my life's dream. As a former grip in the film industry, myself, I've always wanted everyone who has something interesting to say to have a tool which makes it look stunning. With the Movie Maker, smartphone users can now create beautiful footage with a set of highly portable tools that can fit in a camera bag! We're already in the process of rolling out even more new gadgets to enhance the experience even more."

 

Co-founder Dean Tzembelikos said: "We want to empower everyone who has a passion for quality to produce some, not just the big money bags people. After years of development and meticulous attention to detail, we're all thrilled to launch the Movie Maker. I hope it will allow everyone who has a talent to share their story. Even a video clip of just a few seconds can result in stunning outcome."

 

Promo video about the Movie Maker:  LINK

 

Sample footage (includes electronic slide, manual slide, 360 panoramic shots and time lapse): LINK

 

The Movie Maker is available in the US on Amazon: LINK

 

For international orders on their website:  www.gripgear.com

 

*Technical information:*

· Can use 99% of all smartphones, action camera's and light compact camera's
· Takes weight up to 550g even on vertical climbs
· Comes with 2 x 31cm tracks, additional tracks are available for extensions
· Power Options: Plug into a power bank to extend operating times +36 hours (10400MA), or use 2 AAA batteries for 2 hours
· Remote control for both speed and direction (8 speeds) 
· Bounce back for continuous motion: When the movie maker reaches the end of track it will not stop but move in opposite direction
· Motor speeds vary from very slow, mostly used in time lapse 6mm/minute and to a 300mm/minute for real time.
· Operates as a manual slider
· Convenient ¼ inch threads allow you to attach The Movie Maker to a tripod, suction cup
· Can climb 90 degrees
· Weighs 900g and can hold up to 300g phone/camera
· Can operate upside down 
· Use without tracks for pans or 360 Panorama shots
· No vibration, even on full zoom videos are stable
· Easy to use

 

Attachment

Executive Summary

http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/6395

 

*About Grip Gear*

Grip Gear designs and creates innovative smartphone video gadgets, which allow you to shoot professional quality videos with your smartphone or action cam.

 

Film virals, documentaries, corporate or creative videos, news events, or simply making everyday moments look stunning. Grip Gear's mission is to empower everyone who wants to make quality video without heavy equipment or cost.

 

The management team consists of veterans from the film industry and manufacturing, who are passionate about helping the consumer to create truly great videos.

  Reported by Media OutReach 5 hours ago.

Police hunt Exeter man after giant fundraising poppy stolen from...

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Police hunt Exeter man after giant fundraising poppy stolen from... Police are hunting an Exeter man accused of stealing a giant poppy from the cathedral to use in a fundraising scam.Steven John Oswald, 28, is charged with stealing a large replica poppy from the British Legion last month.The eye-catching promotional tool is used by the organisation to attract attention to its fundraising activities for veterans.Oswald, of no fixed abode, faces one charge of theft and another of possession of the poppy for use with a fraud on November 13.He was scheduled to... Reported by Tiverton Mid Devon Gazette 3 hours ago.

Mansfield Plumbing Support for Local Organizations Grows in 2016

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Mansfield Plumbing played a strong role in supporting the Ohio and Texas communities where they operate in 2016 with 89 different donations totaling $38,309

Perrysville, Ohio (PRWEB) December 19, 2016

Mansfield Plumbing played a strong role in supporting the communities where they operate in 2016 with 89 different donations totaling $38,309. From school scholarships for employees' children to contributions of toilets to churches, fire departments and shelters, the company responded generously to community requests for cash donations and products.

"Our contributions locally in 2016 were the greatest our company has ever made in a single year," according to Natalie Thomas, vice president of human resources for Mansfield Plumbing. "We give top priority to organizations our current or past employees are connected to and then strong consideration to activities in our immediate geographic manufacturing areas."

From hams donated to the Mansfield fire station during the Thanksgiving holiday to constant support of high school and booster club programs, Mansfield Plumbing plays an integral role in community activities. The company also donated toilets, sinks and tubs to almost a dozen homes created for disabled U.S. veterans as part of the 2016 Building Homes for Heroes program.

"Each donation request, whether it's for cash or product, is reviewed and analyzed carefully," says Thomas. "We give equal consideration to a request for $100 to support a local elementary school as we would a $1,000 request for the robotics team at the Loudonville high school. Being a responsible, involved member of our communities helps Mansfield Plumbing stay connected with our employees and the places where we work and live."

During the past five years, Mansfield Plumbing has made more than 275 donations locally totaling $128,180 to support communities in Ohio and Texas where the company has manufacturing operations.

Mansfield Plumbing precision manufactures millions of pieces of sanitaryware and bathware each year at its facilities in Perrysville and Big Prairie, Ohio and in Henderson, Texas. Founded in 1929, Mansfield Plumbing, which is owned by Corona, is a leading producer of top-quality, high-design, performance plumbing fixtures and fittings for use in residential, commercial and institutional markets. For more information, visit http://www.mansfieldplumbing.com or call 877-850-3060.
                    ### Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

Thad Allen a 'serious contender' for Trump VA secretary, sources say

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Former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen has emerged as a “serious contender” to be President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Veterans Affairs secretary, sources close to the transition tell Fox News. Reported by FOXNews.com 1 hour ago.
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