Sean “Diddy” Combs And The Makers Of CÎROC Ultra Premium Expand To A New Category With CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy

June 11, 2018

NEW YORK, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today Sean “Diddy” Combs and the Makers of CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka are proud to announce the official launch of CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy. CÎROC is a spirits brand defined by its commitment to excellence, innovation and celebration. True to form, CÎROC brings its defining values to brandy with CÎROC VS. The launch represents the brand’s expansion into a new category.

CÎROC VS is a sophisticated spirit crafted from fine French grapes for a modern expression of classic French Brandy. VS stands for “Very Special,” signifying the superior quality and craftsmanship of CÎROC VS.

CÎROC VS is produced in the South of France, under the direction of master distiller, Jean-Sébastien Robicquet. A selection of each harvest is distilled in traditional Alembic copper pot stills for unparalleled smoothness and matured in French oak barrels. CÎROC VS is then masterfully blended using exceptional aged brandies, resulting in a luxurious taste profile featuring rich notes of fresh fruit, vanilla and a hint of French oak. CÎROC VS can be enjoyed year round neat or on the rocks and in its signature cocktails, The Rising Sun and the CÎROC Sidecar.

The liquid comes in luxurious packaging inspired by the French heritage of CÎROC VS. The bottle features the brand’s iconic orb rendered in a wood grain effect, evoking the French Oak used to age the product. The bottle design represents the unique blend of tradition and innovation inherent to the liquid.

CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy echoes the iconic spirit brand’s history of innovation and the continued development of the CÎROC lifestyle. With the resurgence of brown spirits as the drink of choice amongst a larger consumer segment, CÎROC refused to settle for only a segment of the market, making way for the introduction of CÎROC VS.

“I thrive on opportunity. CÎROC consumers drink aged brown spirits alongside CÎROC Vodka, so it was obvious that it was time to take CÎROC further than it had ever gone. CÎROC VS is changing the game,” said Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on the launch.

The roll-out of CÎROC VS will commence with an eight-city tour beginning on June 18^th in New York and continuing through summer called the VS Lounge. Bringing the CÎROC VS experience to key markets, CÎROC brand ambassadors and liquid experts will travel the country introducing consumers, retailers and top accounts to the quality of CÎROC VS. Educating the public on the superior drinking experience of CÎROC VS, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and CÎROC are committed to celebrating life responsibly.

Retailing for an average MSRP of $35.99, CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy is available at select retailers in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit and Las Vegas and on reservebar.com.

CÎROC VS Signature Cocktails

Rising Sun
2 oz CÎROC VS
.5 oz Orgeat
2 Dashes Angostura bitters
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Glassware: Coupe Glass

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

CÎROC Sidecar
1.5 oz CÎROC VS
0.5 oz Lemon
1 oz Triple Sec
Garnish: Sugar Rim
Glassware: Coupe Glass

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until all ingredients are chilled.
Double strain into a coupe glass rimmed with sugar.

Link to CÎROC VS Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/li600whrvjlf9ib/AAA5OcsI7JUnnp60fam9d2zYa?dl=0

www.cirocvs.com | www.Instagram.com/CIROCVS | www.Twitter.com/CIROCVS

ABOUT CÎROC ULTRA PREMIUM:

CÎROC Ultra-Premium is a spirits brand originally launched in January 2003 with its signature vodka made from fine French grapes, which are distilled five times, providing a crisp clean taste and citrus nose. In October 2007, Diageo – the world’s largest spirits and beer company – made history by entering into a strategic alliance with entertainment entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which Mr. Combs and Combs Enterprises assumed the lead on all brand management activities for CÎROC. The infused vodka flavors in the portfolio to-date include CÎROC RED BERRY, CÎROC COCONUT, CÎROC PEACH, CÎROC PINEAPPLE, CÎROC APPLE, CÎROC FRENCH VANILLA, CÎROC MANGO in addition to CÎROC TEN. In June 2018, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Makers of CÎROC entered the brown spirits category with the introduction of CÎROC VS, Fine French Brandy.

Media Contact:
Alisa Jacobs
Diageo
646-223-2229
[email protected]

Ryan Stender
Blue Flame Agency
917-449-2447
[email protected]

SOURCE CIROC Ultra Premium

Dixon, Honda Dominate in Texas

June 11, 2018

Scott Dixon dominated the second half of the Verizon IndyCar Series race Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway for his second win of 2018 and Honda’s fifth victory of the season.

— Scott Dixon wins at Texas Motor Speedway for second victory in last two weeks

— Alexander Rossi runs third to continue championship challenge

— Honda drivers claim eight of top nine finishing positions

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — For the second time in two weeks, Scott Dixon dominated a Verizon IndyCar Series race, leading a race-high 119 laps to claim victory tonight in the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. The victory at the demanding, high-speed Texas oval follows Dixon’s win last Saturday in the opening race of the doubleheader Detroit Grand Prix weekend, and vaults Dixon into the Drivers’ Championship points lead after nine of 17 races.

Starting seventh, Dixon took his Honda into the lead on Lap 130. He never relinquished his advantage which, at one time, grew to more than 12 seconds over his nearest pursuer. His second victory of 2018 is also the 43^rd Indy car triumph of his career, moving him into sole position of third place on the all-time victory list, behind only A.J. Foyt (67 wins) and Mario Andretti (52).

Honda drivers claimed five of Saturday’s top six finishing positions on the high banked, 1.5-mile oval, with Alexander Rossi finishing third after a thrilling late-race battle with runner-up Simon Pagenaud. Following a late-race restart on Lap 214, the pair battled throughout the final 30 laps, with James Hinchcliffe never far behind, in fourth.

Ryan Hunter-Reay followed up his win on Sunday in Detroit with a fifth-place result tonight; while Graham Rahal once again completed an impressive charge after starting deep in the field. Rahal gained a total of 14 positions throughout the 248-lap race to finish sixth. His Rahal Letterman Lanigan teammate, Takuma Sato, finished seventh, followed by Sebastien Bourdais in eighth. Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Ed Jones, finished ninth as Honda drivers also claimed eight of the top nine finishing positions.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series racing activities in Texas are available on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

After a run of five consecutive May-June event weekends, the Verizon IndyCar Series now takes a week off, then resumes June 24 at the scenic Road America circuit in Wisconsin for the Kohler Grand Prix.

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started seventh, finished first, second victory of 2018, 43^rd career Indy car win, now third on the all-time winners list behind Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt:
“I think we kind of played it fairly cool to start with. The car felt really good out of the box. We actually ran on some pretty heavily scuffed tires. I think we had eight or 10 laps on our start just to make sure we weren’t going to have an issue. We went all the way to the [end of the] pit window, until we were out of fuel, which I didn’t think was going to be a possibility tonight. We didn’t really have any tire issues. I think Firestone did a very good job. [On moving into sole possession of third on the all-time Indy car winner’s list] “It’s really cool. Obviously, I have massive respect for a lot of these drivers. But when you look at those names, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, the Unsers, to me it still seems very strange that ‘Dixon’ is on that list, too. I feel very privileged and lucky to do what I get to do. I love racing. I love the Verizon IndyCar Series. I think it’s the best racing on the planet, one of the most difficult with all the disciplines. For me, man, I just hope it continues. I hope we can keep a winning style, pick up wins. It’s so difficult right now, [because] it’s so competitive.”

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) Started eighth, finished third: “Simon [Pagenaud] did a good job defending. We tried to go up high [to pass], and I would have taken it if it was an easy one, but I couldn’t force the issue. We came home third. The NAPA car was awesome from the get-go. We were able to pass some cars and go long on fuel. The tire life was great, so all-in-all, a great effort from the [car number] 27 team.”

Marc Sours (Senior Manager and Chief Engineer, Honda Performance Development) on tonight’s race at Texas Motor Speedway: “The hard work that the group at HPD put in during the off-season has begun to pay dividends during the past couple of weeks. We are very, very pleased to be working with such high-quality teams and drivers, as is evidenced by the fact that each of our five teams was represented among the top eight finishers in Texas tonight. Congratulations, in particular to Scott Dixon, who moved into third on the all-time Indy car wins list with his victory tonight, and continues to secure his legacy as one of the all-time greats of our sport. This race marks the halfway point of the season, and there is a great deal of competitive racing ahead. We’ll be working hard to bring a strong close to the season.”

Verizon IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600
Circuit:	Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Fort Worth, Texas
2017 Winner:	Will Power (Team Penske) 140.491 mph average
Weather:	Mostly sunny, hot, 94 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	7.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	248	177.250 mph average
2.	2.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	248	+ 4.294 seconds
3.	8.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	248
4.	15.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	248
5.	10.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	248
6.	20.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	248
7.	9.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	248
8.	5.	Sebastien Bourdais	DCR with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	248
9.	13.	Ed Jones	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	248
10.	12.	Charlie Kimball	Carlin Racing	Chevrolet	247	Running
Other Honda Results
14.	11.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	244	Running
16.	16.	Zach Veach-R	Andretti Autosport	Honda	238	Running
17.	21.	Zachary Claman De Melo-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	205	Did not finish – crash
19.	4.	Robert Wickens-R	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	171	Did not finish – crash

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703664/Honda_Racing_Scott_Dixon_Texas_Motor_Speedway.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing

Google.org announces $2M matching campaign for Puerto Rico

June 8, 2018

NEW YORK, June 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Google.org launched a campaign focused on Puerto Rico’s economic recovery, committing to match up to $2 million in donations made June 8-20, 2018 at g.co/supportPR. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is the campaign spokesperson, with other celebrities joining to amplify the campaign via social media. Funds raised will target the most important sector in Puerto Rico’s economic recovery—small and medium businesses (SMBs)—with an emphasis on tourism, agriculture and fisheries.

“I am grateful to Google.org for their commitment to helping Puerto Rico in such an impactful way. Everyone on the island is working hard every day to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. This new campaign comes at the perfect time to harness the robust energy and enthusiasm still felt by people all over the world. I’m happy to do whatever I can to help raise awareness,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Two nonprofits, Hispanic Federation and Mercy Corps, will be the beneficiaries of the funds. Google.org will support this effort with an approach to philanthropy that is unique to Google — grants, tools and volunteers.

When Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, the impact was catastrophic. By the time the winds died down and waters receded, there was an island-wide power outage, cherished natural reserves had been destroyed and Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was decimated.

Nearly nine months later hurricane season is once again upon us. The need for economic recovery is urgent. Twenty percent of SMBs haven’t reopened, tourism is at an all-time low and power is intermittent.

With so many needs, Google.org wanted to help connect Puerto Ricans with support to revitalize their businesses. Small and medium businesses are interconnected to many other industries and helping them will cause a positive ripple effect throughout the island.

“One out of three workers in Puerto Rico is employed by these businesses,” said Hector Mujica, Google.org’s Regional Manager for Latin America. “When we decided to return to Puerto Rico to offer support tailored to this stage of its recovery, we pursued an approach that looked not only at what funding could do for small businesses, but how our own in-house resources could amplify the impact.”

This effort began a few weeks ago when 35 of Google’s Latino employees, many with direct ties to Puerto Rico, traveled to the island to volunteer and offer guidance to business owners. They brought not only their expertise in various business fields, but also digital tools designed by Google to help businesses improve their economic outlook. Alfredo Garcia, a Development Manager, was one of them: “As a Puerto Rican Googler, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to help the island get back on its feet. As Google, we can provide business tools, resources and knowledge, in addition to funding that can help support the economy. I’m proud to be part of a group that is helping fellow US citizens recover and emerge even stronger.”

The next stage of support is the Google.org matching campaign, which will run June 8-20, 2018, through a dedicated landing page: g.co/supportPR. Google.org will support Mercy Corps and Hispanic Federation, which will approach economic revitalization with complementary efforts:

The Hispanic Federation will support SMBs, revitalize agricultural industries and help communities transition to sustainable (resilient) materials and structures.
Mercy Corps will support economic revitalization of tourism-oriented SMBs as well as supporting agricultural and fishery businesses.

Both organizations will provide cash grants, technical assistance and training to emerging or existing businesses.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Google.org and Googlers donated over $1.5M in disaster relief support to the regions impacted, and many employees volunteered not only their money but their time through various efforts. We aim to bring the attention back to a region still recovering from crisis with this campaign.

Please help spread the word. g.co/supportPR
Together, we can make a difference.

About Google.org

Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, supports nonprofits that address humanitarian issues worldwide and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to solving the world’s biggest challenges. We accelerate their progress by connecting them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers. We engage with these believers-turned-doers who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a world that works for everyone—and we believe technology and innovation can move the needle in four key areas: education, economic opportunity, inclusion and crisis response.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703067/Google_org_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Google.org

Labor Commissioner’s Office Cites Seven Bay Area Restaurants $10 Million for Wage Theft

June 7, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office has cited the following seven Bay Area restaurants more than $10 million for wage theft violations affecting 431 workers.

The restaurants inspected included Kome Japanese Seafood & Buffet in Daly City, Burma Ruby Burmese Cuisine in Palo Alto and Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine located in Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Carlos, Burlingame and Belmont.

The citations issued to Kome total more than $5.16 million and involve 133 workers, and the Burmese restaurant chain was cited more than $4.96 million for its 298 underpaid workers. The wage theft violations and civil penalties cited include failure to pay minimum wage, overtime and split shift premiums.

“Taking tips from workers and paying workers by salary to deny them their hard-earned overtime pay is wage theft,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “Our job is to protect working people’s right to a just day’s pay for a hard day’s work, and to stop employers who embrace wage theft as a business model.”

The Labor Commissioner’s investigation and payroll audit of Kome determined that 69 cooks, sushi chefs and dishwashers typically worked more than 55 hours per week but were paid a fixed salary that did not include overtime. As a result, these workers are owed nearly $3 million in unpaid wages and penalties. Other staff, including hosts, servers and bussers, are owed more than $1.4 million for overtime, split shift premiums, and unpaid minimum wage violations, including the illegal counting of tips received as part of the minimum hourly wage. Tips are the sole property of the worker and cannot be credited towards an employer’s obligation to pay minimum wage.

Investigators inspecting the Burmese restaurant chain also discovered the 87 cooks, paid a fixed salary at the six restaurants, typically logged more than 10 hours of unpaid overtime each week. They are owed $3.8 million for unpaid overtime wages, minimum wages, split shift, liquidated damages, waiting time penalties, and failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements. The remaining 211 servers, hosts, dishwashers and bussers at the Burmese chain were not paid the daily extra hour of minimum wage required when their employer scheduled them to work split shifts. Those workers are due $590,072 for split shifts and other wages and penalties owed.

Chinese Progressive Association and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, civil rights organizations located in San Francisco, represented many of the workers at Kome who cooperated in the investigation. The Labor Commissioner’s Office launched the investigation of the Burmese restaurant chain after receiving complaints from workers who reported wage theft to the Asian Law Caucus, which also represented many of the workers who cooperated in the investigation.

“Workers often do not know their rights and fear losing their jobs for complaining about wage theft,” added Labor Commissioner Su. “We work with community-based organizations that help workers report labor law violations.”

David Tai Leung, Wendy Lai Ip, Jun Zheng, Gang Zhou, Bai Dong Zhang and Tiffany Leung, owners of the corporations Kome Japanese Seafood Buffet, Inc. and Koshi Food Service, Inc., are ordered to pay the 133 workers at Kome Buffet $4,381,461 in unpaid wages, premiums and liquidated damages, as well as civil penalties of $780,400.

Max Lee and John Lee, owners of Rangoon Ruby Investment LLC and Burma Ruby Investment LLC, have been ordered to pay their 298 workers $4,394,118 for unpaid wages, premiums, liquidated damages and itemized wage statement violations, and civil penalties of $574,150.

Enforcement investigations typically include a payroll audit of the previous three years to determine minimum wage, overtime and other labor law violations, and calculate payments owed and penalties due.

When workers are paid less than minimum wage, they are entitled to liquidated damages that equal the amount of underpaid wages plus interest. Waiting time penalties are imposed when the employer intentionally fails to pay all wages due to the employee at the time of separation. This penalty is calculated by taking the employee’s daily rate of pay and multiplying it by the number of days the employee was not paid, up to a maximum of 30 days.

A salaried employee must be paid overtime unless they meet the test for exempt status as defined by federal and state laws, or unless they are specifically exempted from overtime by the provisions of one of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders regulating wages, hours and working conditions.

Split shift is a work schedule interrupted by non-paid and non-working time periods established by the employer and it is not a rest or a meal period. Minimum wage workers are entitled to one-hour of minimum wage as a premium for working a split shift.

The civil penalties collected will be transferred to the State’s General Fund as required by law.

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or the Labor Commissioner’s Office, is the division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) with wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities including adjudicating wage claims, inspecting workplaces for wage and hour violations, investigating retaliation complaints and educating the public on labor laws.

In 2014, Labor Commissioner Su launched the Wage Theft is a Crime multilingual public awareness campaign. The campaign defines wage theft and informs workers of their rights and the resources available to them to recover unpaid wages or report other labor law violations.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

SOURCE California Labor Commissioner’s Office

(Español) GobiernoUSA.gov: Conozca las señales de advertencia del suicidio y encuentre apoyo

June 7, 2018

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

March of Dimes: Blood Test May Identify Pregnant Women At Risk Of Premature Birth

June 7, 2018

WHITE PLAINS, New York, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — New research funded by March of Dimes has found biomarkers in maternal blood that accurately identified pregnant women who would go on to deliver babies up to two months prematurely. The findings were published today in the journal Science.

This finding is important as doctors do not currently have ways to accurately assess which pregnancies will end with a premature birth, March of Dimes notes. Additionally, using those same blood samples, the team found biomarkers in maternal blood that could estimate gestational age or delivery date with comparable accuracy to ultrasound, but possibly at lower cost.

“This exciting cutting-edge research demonstrates why March of Dimes is investing in new ways to improve the health of moms and babies, especially to address the crisis of premature birth in this country and worldwide,” says Stacey D. Stewart, president of March of Dimes. “To date, no test on the market can reliably predict which pregnant moms will go on to preterm labor. March of Dimes is committed to finding new solutions and to giving all babies the best possible start in life.”

Premature birth affects 15 million babies each year worldwide and is on the rise in the United States. Recently released provisional data for 2017 from the National Center for Health Statistics show that the preterm birth rate in the U.S. has reached 9.93 percent, up from 9.86 in 2016, the third consecutive annual increase after steady declines over the previous seven years.

The studies were led by Stephen Quake, Ph.D., an investigator at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University. Partners included scientists in Denmark and Alabama as well as at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

David K. Stevenson, M.D., the principal investigator of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University, described the noninvasive blood test approach as a way of “eavesdropping on a conversation” between the mother, the fetus and the placenta, without disturbing the pregnancy. He added that today’s findings affirm the existence of a “transcriptomic clock of pregnancy” that could serve as a new way to assess the gestational age of a fetus. “By measuring cell-free RNA in the circulation of the mother, we can observe changing patterns of gene activity that happen normally during pregnancy, and identify disruptions in the patterns that may signal to doctors that unhealthy circumstances like preterm labor and birth are likely to occur,” Dr. Stevenson said. “With further study, we might be able to identify specific genes and gene pathways that could reveal some of the underlying causes of preterm birth, and suggest potential targets for interventions to prevent it.”

In two separate cohorts of women, all at elevated risk of delivering preterm, the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center team identified a set of cell-free RNA (cfRNA) transcripts that accurately classified women who delivered preterm up to two months in advance of labor. In another cohort of healthy pregnant women, the team found that measurement of nine cfRNA transcripts in maternal blood predicted gestational age with comparable accuracy to ultrasound.

The researchers noted that both tests will require validation in larger, blinded clinical trials.

“Noninvasive blood tests for fetal development predict gestational age and preterm delivery,” by Thuy T. M. Ngo et al., appears in the June 8 issue of Science.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we stand up for every mom and every baby. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513643/March_of_Dimes_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE March of Dimes

10,000 Reasons to Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

June 7, 2018

AAO Logo (PRNewsFoto/American Academy of Ophthalmology)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Every year, about 10,000 people are rushed to the emergency department for fireworks injuries. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – treat thousands of patients who suffer a range of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas, retinas, and ruptured eyeballs. Many people believe that consumer fireworks are safe. But here’s the explosive truth: Most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. To help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is sharing these tips:

Wear protective eyewear when igniting fireworks: Ophthalmologists recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. Stop by any hardware store and pick up some safety glasses for the entire family.
Don’t pick up duds and misfires: When a lit firework didn’t explode, Javonte McNair, 14, walked over and picked it up. The “dud” exploded, severing his hand and blasting hot debris into his eye, causing severe damage to his cornea. Keep a hose and buckets of water on hand for duds and misfires. Soak the dud from a distance with a hose or a bucket of water. Pick it up with a shovel and fully submerge it in a bucket of water to ensure it’s safe for disposal.
Keep a safe distance: Bystanders are injured by fireworks as often as the operator. Stacy Young was 100 yards away when an illegal firework sent shrapnel into her skull. Ophthalmologists couldn’t save her eye. It had to be removed.
Supervise children closely: Sparklers seem like harmless fun for the kids, but they are responsible for about 1,400 eye injuries each year. Even those tiny poppers or snappers can pose dangers. A ricocheting popper burned parts of five-year-old Nolan Haney‘s eye and eyelid
Celebrate with the pros: The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The Academy advises that the safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.

“Consumer fireworks are a treasured part of Fourth of July celebrations, so it’s easy to forget the dangers they can pose, particularly to the eyes,” said Dianna L. Seldomridge, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Please, take our advice. We don’t want to see you in the ER this Fourth of July.”

If you experience a fireworks eye injury, ophthalmologists urge you to minimize the damage to the eye:

Seek medical attention immediately
Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse
Do not attempt to rinse the eye
Do not apply pressure to the eye
Do not remove objects from the eye
Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help

To help ensure people get the facts about fireworks, the Academy also created an animated public service announcement titled “Fireworks: The Blinding Truth.” It encourages the public and media to view and share the PSA. Visit the Academy’s EyeSmart^® website for more information about fireworks eye safety.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart^®program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/287412/american_academy_of_ophthalmology_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

2019 Acura RDX Makes Racing Debut at Pikes Peak Hill Climb; Acura Returns With Four Competition Entries

June 7, 2018

TORRANCE, California, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura returns to the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 24 with four production-based race cars, including the all-new 2019 RDX making its world racing debut. Joining the new RDX, which went on sale nationally June 1, is last year’s Open Class-winning TLX GT, Exhibition Class-winning TLX A-Spec, and Time Attack 1 podium-placing NSX.

Acura marks its seventh consecutive year competing in the ‘Race to the Clouds’ in 2018. The brand is also returning for the fourth straight year as Official Pace Car and Support Vehicle of the event, with a 2019 RDX A-Spec and 2018 MDX, respectively.

The TLX GT, driven by Acura racing legend Peter Cunningham, will return in the Open Class to build on a commanding 2017 class win, while Acura R&D engineer James Robinson, coming off a Hybrid record-setting run in 2017, will return with a NSX in the Time Attack 1 Class. Acura R&D engineer and brother to James, Nick Robinson, will also return to Pikes Peak in the Exhibition Class-winning 2018 TLX A-Spec.

Pikes Peak rookie Jordan Guitar will make his hill-climb debut in the all-new 2019 Acura RDX, competing in the Exhibition Class. A veteran of rally racing events, Jordan is the 2016 B-Spec National Champion and has recently graduated to the Civic Sport Turbo Rally car for 2018.

Pikes Peak Premiere: 2019 RDX

Jordan Guitar of Acura R&D’s North American Chassis Development Group will make the racing debut of the 2019 RDX in this year’s Exhibition Class. The 2019 RDX set to make its racing debut in this year’s Exhibition Class features a production-derived 2.0L VTEC^® Turbo engine, along with a sport tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and the newest iteration of Acura Super Handling All‐Wheel Drive™ (SH‐AWD^®). In addition to the lightly modified production powertrain, the Pikes Peak RDX has been fitted with 48-volt micro hybrid technology, including an electric supercharger. The vehicle’s interior has been stripped to reduce weight and improve handling. The overall focus of the Pikes Peak RDX is to display the potential of this exciting new platform and highlight new technology that expands driving performance.

The Pikes Peak RDX’s VTEC Turbo engine has been dialed up to a peak output of 350 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque through the use of a larger turbocharger, bigger intercooler for maximum response and electric supercharger to help reduce turbo lag as elevation increases. The 2019 RDX debuts the most advanced mechanical iteration of Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All‐Wheel Drive yet. The RDX race car will compete with production SH-AWD hardware, only receiving software changes to increase the rear torque bias. Additional handling enhancements included race-tuned suspension, custom 19-inch HRE forged race wheels and Pirelli racing tires. Braking performance has been upgraded with Brembo front brake calipers and racing pads.

2018 TLX A-Spec in Exhibition Class

Nick Robinson of Acura R&D’s North American Chassis Development Group will return to Pikes Peak in the 2017 Exhibition Class-winning TLX A-Spec. Following its successful debut in the Exhibition Class last June, the TLX A-Spec returns with a revised suspension, updated 500-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 turbo powerplant and a limited-slip differential. Optimized specifically for this hill-climb course, custom engine software and tuning was handled by an in-house team of the company’s North American R&D engineers. Changes from the TLX A-Spec’s debut in 2017 include a revised aerodynamic package and additional weight reduction. A five-time veteran of Pikes Peak, Nick Robinson had his first victory in 2014 in the motorcycle Pikes Peak 250 class. In addition, Nick piloted the NSX to victory in the Time Attack 2 Production Class, as well as the Exhibition Class win in 2017.

TLX GT Competes in Open Class

The all-wheel drive RealTime Racing (RTR) prepared TLX GT race car returns to Pikes Peak in 2018 following a 2017 Open Class Record and overall podium finish, featuring a power-enhanced J35 twin-turbo V6 motor setup used in past Pirelli World Challenge Series competitions, but tuned on multiple levels to accommodate the elevation changes of Pikes Peak. The software mapping developed by Honda Performance Development optimizes turbo operation and boost pressures for the decreasing levels of oxygen on the way to the 14,115-foot summit. RTR has built the TLX GT’s suspension specifically for this hill-climb environment, and the transmission’s gearing has been revised for faster acceleration coming out of the course’s many hairpin turns.

For 2018, the TLX GT features increased downforce with the addition of a larger front splitter and dive planes that will improve front downforce, allowing the team to dial in more rear wing downforce for balance. Also new this year, with the abolishment of Pikes Peak’s requirement for the Open Class to use D.O.T-approved tires, the TLX GT adds Pirelli racing slicks.

The TLX GT will again be piloted by Peter Cunningham of RealTime Racing, which has campaigned Acuras in the World Challenge since 1996 and seeks a consecutive Pikes Peak podium finish following his ‘Rookie of the Year’ debut in 2017. The versatile Cunningham has claimed 14 professional drivers’ championships in his storied career in everything from ice racing, performance rallying and road racing.

Production-Based NSX Set for Time Attack 1

James Robinson of Acura R&D’s North American powertrain development group (and younger brother of Nick Robinson) will return in the Record Setting Time Attack 1 Acura NSX. An 8-time veteran of Pikes Peak, James has had several podium finishes in the Exhibition Class, Open Class and, most recently, in 2017, the Time Attack 1 Class. In addition, James set the overall Hybrid Record with his ninth-place overall finish in 2017. Building on the successful modifications from last year’s run, the TA1 NSX has been further lightened and aerodynamic elements have been added, including a bigger wing and front splitter. In addition, the production turbochargers have been replaced with larger units to help recover horsepower losses at altitude. The TA1 NSX’s software has been tuned to optimize engine and the Sport Hybrid system performance for the hill climb. Finally, Pirelli R-compound tires will complement the production vehicle’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD^®).

Official 2018 Acura Pace Vehicles

As Official Pace Car sponsor, Acura will feature the just-launched 2019 RDX A-Spec, sporting the new Acura design direction. In addition, Acura will provide RDX and MDX track-support vehicles for coaches’ use leading up to the race.

For Pikes Peak race attendees, the RDX A-Spec, TLX GT, TLX A-Spec, TA1 NSX and pace cars will appear at a number of pre-race activities, including the popular Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs, 5 to 10 p.m. MDT Friday, June 22.

About Acura Motorsports

Over three decades, Acura has utilized racing as a means to test its mettle and prove out its performance capabilities, capturing numerous national endurance and sports car racing titles along the way. Today, Acura is racing the ARX-05 Daytona Prototype, campaigned by Team Penske, in American endurance sportscar racing competition, and the NSX GT3, partnered with Meyer Shank Racing, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. Acura is also celebrating its seventh year of racing at the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and serves as Official Pace Vehicle of the annual ‘Race to the Clouds’.

About Acura

Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, representing the original values of the Acura brand – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.

The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium, luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

Five of the six models in the Acura lineup are made exclusively in central Ohio using domestic and globally sourced parts, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

For More Information

Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com. Follow Acura on social media at Acura.us/SocialChannels.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702523/2019_Acura_RDX.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702524/Racing_Debut_at_Pikes_Peak_Hill_Climb.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702525/Acura_RDX.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702526/Acura_Returns.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/592658/Acura_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Acura

Alexa PenaVega Announces Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in Each State

June 7, 2018

RBFF is launching a nationwide vote for the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the country.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Celebrity mom Alexa PenaVega has made a name for herself on the screen, but these days she’s making a name for herself on the water—as a fisherwoman. Together with her husband Carlos and the couple’s 18-month-old son Ocean, and just in time for National Fishing and Boating Week, PenaVega is helping fellow moms across the country plan their own outdoor family adventures with the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat. Created by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its Take Me Fishing™ brand, the list features family-favorite fishing holes in all 50 states, as selected through a nationwide vote by thousands of moms.

“Fishing and boating have been important parts of my life since childhood,” said PenaVega. “Now that I’m a mom, I’m proud to help elevate the voices of other moms across the nation to announce this fantastic resource. We love taking our son fishing to relax and reconnect as a family.” PenaVega rose to stardom in 2001 with her role as Carmen Cortez in “Spy Kids,” later starring on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” alongside her husband.

An active millennial parent, PenaVega knows firsthand how important it is for families of all kinds to have opportunities for safe, fun outdoor recreation. A Mom-Approved Place to Fish and Boat is driving-distance from urban areas and has ample family-friendly amenities such as play areas, easy parking and picnic facilities, as well as safe water and boat access. And of course, Mom-Approved Places are packed with plenty of fish to catch.

In addition to announcing the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in each state, RBFF is launching a nationwide vote for the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the country. Everyone is invited to cast their vote at TakeMeFishing.org now through Friday, June 29. Each vote is an entry to win a family fishing and boating trip to sunny Fort Myers, Fla. The Top 10, to be announced in July, will reign supreme on the national stage.

“It’s not just dads taking the kids out fishing anymore,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Vice President of Communications at RBFF. “A recent Aquatic Resources Education Association and RBFF Report shows that kids today are more likely to go fishing with their moms. Alexa PenaVega is a prime example that now more than ever, women are shattering the ‘bass’ ceiling.”

Families are invited to try out Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat near them June 2–10 during National Fishing and Boating Week, an event highlighting the important role recreational fishing and boating play in sustaining our country’s natural resources. As part of National Fishing and Boating Week, states around the country will offer Free Fishing Days when anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without needing to purchase a fishing license. For a calendar of Free Fishing Days, visit TakeMeFishing.org.

About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF’s recently announced 60 in 60 effort strives to attract 60 million anglers to the sport by the end of 2021. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns creating awareness about boating, fishing and conservation, and educating people about the benefits of participation. These campaigns help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org and TakeMeFishing.org/es, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

Celebrity mom Alexa PenaVega is helping fellow moms across the country plan their own outdoor family adventures with the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat.

Photo –https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702821/RBFF_Top_10_Mom_Approved_Places_to_Fish.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702823/RBFFAlexa_PenaVega_Fishing.jpg

SOURCE Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

Brand Marketing Leaders Explore Innovation and Passion Point Marketing at Portada’s Council System

June 7, 2018

NEW YORK, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Portada, www.portada-online.com; the leading networking solutions platform for dynamic tech, marketing and media companies targeting consumers through cultural insights and passion points, launched its exclusive Council System earlier this year.

More than 70 brand marketing executives are members of the Council System. Marketing trail blazers from L’Oréal, Latam Airlines, Allstate, Coty, Intuit, JC Penney and MasterCard share their experience in the below testimonials.

“I think that Portada has been doing a great job, I’m really excited about all the things we’ve been working on during these meetings and understanding, not only inspiring but really taking action, so for me it’s very interesting,” says Perla Patricia Aragón, Digital Marketing Director MX, L’Oréal (Portada Council of the Americas Member).

“I’m in the Travel Marketing Board, a very good opportunity to share different visions among different industries, we are airlines, car rentals, hotels… and it’s amazing how, even though it’s the same industry, it’s different pillars, and it’s amazing how we all share the same challenges and it’s interesting to see how everything is related.”
Pablo Chiozza, Senior VP US, Canada, Asia & Caribbean, Latam Airlines Group
(Travel Marketing Board Member).

“I think it’s a great thing that Portada has put together, it’s given me a chance to really interact with some folks that I’ve known in the industry but maybe we hadn’t gotten together around the specific unique targeted approach like multicultural Hispanic marketing through the lens of sports and sports marketing, so it’s been very engaging for me.”
Dan Keats, Director Consumer Marketing-Sponsorships, Allstate Insurance
(Sports Marketing Board Member).

“Even though I get invited to this kind of things all the time, the executives we had at the table, this time it was top-notch, great quality people that could really get to a deeper level of discussion than I’ve had at other places.”
Rafael Lopez-de-Azua, Head of Media and Digital, Latam, Coty
(Brand Star Committee Member)

“I think it’s a great idea, I really liked that we were able to get together in a group yesterday and just talk peer-to-peer about the things we’re struggling with, or things we’re finding challenging, and see what other people have learned from their experiences.”
John Sandoval, Senior Brand and Latino Marketing Manager, Intuit
(Brand Star Committee Member)

“It has been a great experience so far, we’ve met twice and it’s great to have the access to all these people in the marketing world that have the same type of issues that we do and discuss these matters, try to find solutions and interact that way, so it’s great networking with your peers. It’s a great opportunity to get access to different technologies, different ideas, and in a great setting.”
Ana Lucía Soto, National Media Manager, JCPenney (Brand Star Committee Member)

“The Council System is very unique for us at Mastercard. It allows us to better understand what the Hispanic market is doing and we can leverage that with a lot of our properties. That’s the biggest feature and the benefit. And bringing our knowledge as it relates to Mastercard to this business and the Hispanic community is very important to us.”
Mike Tasevski, VP, North America Sponsorships, MasterCard
(Sports Marketing Board Member)

How the Council System Works

Members of the five different units of the Portada Council System are connected throughout the year by attending two virtual and two in-person meetings during Portada events. The next in-person meeting will be taking place during Portada New York on Sept. 24 and 25, 2018 www.portada-online.com/portadanewyork.

Latin American members of the brand and agency star committees will meet at Portada Mexico on October 30, 2018.
https://www.portada-online.com/events/portadamexico/

Opportunities for Vendors of Marketing Services

In addition to the more than 70 brand marketing executives who integrate Portada’s expanding Council System, Council System integrations are available to an elite group of marketing services vendors. To discuss opportunities please reach out to Sales Manager Isabel Ojeda at [email protected].

For more information about the 5 different units of the Portada Council System and the list of its members, please go to the url below
https://www.portada-online.com/councilsystem/

FAQ about the Council System:
https://www.portada-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/FAQ_Portada_Council-System_web.pdf

About Portada
Portada is a leading networking solutions platform for dynamic tech, marketing and media companies targeting consumers through cultural insights and passion points in the Americas. Portada members receive top business leads through a guaranteed amount of annual meetings with brand marketing executives. In addition, members obtain best-in-class advertising and PR services through Portada media (events, digital-social and print magazine) with an audited reach of more than 120,000 marketing, tech and media executives. (www.portada-online.com).

Media Contact: Marcos Baer, [email protected], + 52 1 5564162299

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701563/Portada_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Portada

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