In its annual report on the EU budget published today, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) warns that the budget system is too focused on just getting funds spent and needs to place more emphasis on achieving results. As independent auditor, the ECA signed off the 2013 accounts of the European Union, but stresses that the management of EU spending is not yet good enough overall - either at EU level or in the Member States.
Throughout the 2007 to 2013 spending period, say the EU Auditors, the priority was given to spending the money - ‘use it or lose it’ - rather than to achieving good results. For instance, the choice of projects to receive EU funds focused first on disbursing the EU money available, secondly on complying with the rules, and only then - and to a limited extent - on results and impact.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762585-EU-must-focus-on-better-results/
In an effort to inform children and their families about the importance of food safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ad Council are joining 20th Century Fox to launch a series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring footage from the upcoming film Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.
An estimated 1 in 6 (48 million) Americans get sick from foodborne illness each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children are among the most vulnerable to food poisoning because their immune systems are still developing, so parents and caregivers need to take extra precautions when preparing food for children under five.
The new PSAs, featuring everyone’s favorite Chipmunks – Alvin, Simon, and Theodore – highlight the four food safety steps consumers can use to prevent foodborne illness. The Chipmunks’ antics and hilarious situations in which they find themselves provide a perfect platform to illustrate these four steps: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. The PSAs help explain actions anyone can take to safely prepare their food, using the Chipmunks as the tool to bring fun and relevancy to a serious topic. The partnership includes TV, radio, out-of-home and web advertising, and parents and children can also find kid-friendly activities that further reinforce the food safety steps by visiting FoodSafety.gov.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7652251-ad-council-food-safety/
It won’t cure the common cold, but Appvion, Inc.’s new eco-friendly receipt paper, Alpha Free, proves vitamin C works wonders at the cash register.
Alpha Free is the first and only thermal receipt paper to use a vitamin C formulation in place of phenols like BPA or BPS. Whole Foods Market is now the first major national grocery retailer in America to use the new, natural and sustainable choice in receipt paper that shoppers can feel good about at checkout.
”In the last few years, multiple studies concluded that BPA found in receipts can be absorbed into the skin. If you are someone who handles receipts daily, like a cashier, that can be scary,“ said Dave Pauly, Alpha Free Product Manager for Appvion. ”A growing number of shoppers and employees are looking for more natural product options. That movement encouraged us to develop our vitamin C-based receipt paper, Alpha Free.“
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7541551-appvion-alpha-free-receipts/
NI (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced VirtualBench, an all-in-one instrument that integrates a mixed-signal oscilloscope, function generator, digital multimeter, programmable DC power supply and digital I/O. Users interact with VirtualBench through software applications that run on PCs or iPads. The device provides the most common functionality affordably and opens up new possibilities for how engineers can use benchtop instruments.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7230751-ni-reshapes-instrumentation-with-software-based-device-virtualbench
BLACK+DECKER™ announces a new range of powerful cordless Lithium Ion handheld vacuums. The collection includes the 20V MAX* & 16V MAX* Lithium Flex™ Vacs with Floor Heads and the 20V MAX* Lithium Pivot™ Vac.
Jeremy Lippenholz, Product Manager for Home Cleaning Products said, "Lithium Ion battery technology has enhanced the performance of BLACK+DECKER's handheld vacuums. Other types of batteries fade and lose suction, making it difficult for homeowners to complete their cleaning task before running out of power. Instead, Lithium Ion batteries offer strong suction and fade-free power throughout their use giving homeowners the confidence that they can complete tasks quickly and conveniently."
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7253251-black-decker-new-cordless-lithium-ion-handheld-vacuums/
Millennium Health, a leading health solutions company, today announced the launch of the Drop Them Off campaign, in partnership with the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids’ Medicine Abuse Project. Designed to increase awareness of the problem of youth misuse and abuse of prescription medicine, the campaign intends to educate parents and youth on how to properly use, store, and dispose of prescription medications by dropping them off at appropriate collection sites among other methods, to reduce access and opportunity for misuse or abuse. Educational content will be available online (www.DropThemOff.com) and through curriculum delivered through the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation’s community-based partners. Millennium Health is a Silver Sponsor of the Medicine Abuse Project, a campaign that aims to prevent half a million teens from abusing medicine by 2017.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7071752-millennium-health-drop-them-off/
For lovers of Dragons, art and story.
On the trail of dragons forgotten, an intrepid illustrator and reporter journeys from Europe through the Middle East and finally to Saigon in search of the dark caverns and mountaintop perches where the elusive winged serpents dwell. With the gift of seeing the invisible, our explorer friend records each encounter in a journal of gorgeous, fully painted artwork, capturing every majestic and fearsome visual detail of the scaly behemoths, and accompanies his findings with snippets of local lore as evidence that these hidden beasts continue to shape the world in ways we may never expect! Find out more here- http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C1606904647 Use #Lost Dragons on Twitter for a chance to win the book!
Brought to you by Dynamite Entertainment! Video by Arsenic et Boule de Gomme. Book by Elian Black'Mor, Carine-M, Jezequel. Fantasy/Comics/Graphic novel
Beauty anxiety is felt by girls as young as ten years old. In fact, 9 out of 10 girls want to change at least one thing about their physical appearance.1 Dove believes everyone has the opportunity to help a girl navigate those feelings. The Dove Self-Esteem Project launches a new Self-Esteem Pinterest page to provide free self-esteem exercises, activities, and workshop guides to inspire women to embrace the opportunity to help the girls in their lives reach their full potential.
“The Dove Self-Esteem Project has long been delivering self-esteem education to young people to help them build positive self-esteem and reach their full potential,” said Jennifer Bremner, Director of Marketing, Dove. “Dove recognizes that women and girls spend a great deal of time on social media. Now when girls need a self-esteem boost, the mothers or role models in their lives can rely upon practical and easy-to-use self-esteem inspiration right on their phones. Our new Dove Self-Esteem Pinterest page demonstrates the power and ease of mentorship, and we invite parents, teachers and any person with a girl in their life to join us in helping the next generation develop a positive relationship with beauty.”
The Dove Self-Esteem Pinterest Page (Pinterest.com/SelfEsteem) offers every woman and girl a personal confidence-boosting board they can turn to when they need it most.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7635651-dove-self-esteem-project-on-pinterest/
Did you use the plywood from your hurricane shutters to build a tree house or use your garage door brace to hold up the bird feeder? If so there’s a good chance your home may not be hurricane ready.
Being properly prepared is paramount during hurricane season. To learn more about how to protect yourself and your property, visit State Farm Learning Center. It can make a big difference to your safety, security and survival. Is your property hurricane ready?
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/65822-state-farm-severe-weather-disaster-preparedness/
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has brought year-round versatility and winter-weather safety together in one with Toyo® Celsius®, the revolutionary new variable-conditions tire. Toyo Tires® created the new segment called “Variable-Conditions” in order to define the unique capabilities of this product.
Built for the varying road conditions that drivers may face, Celsius picks up where all-season tires fall short. It provides better ice and snow traction than a typical all-season tire, yet offers the convenience of year-round use and a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty*. For vehicle owners, this means year-round versatility plus winter-weather safety… all in one tire.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7569251-las-vegas-2015-sema-show-autotrader/
For two decades, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Artist Series wines have celebrated the inspired collaboration between artisan winemaking and fine art. To commemorate the 20th vintage, Chateau Ste. Michelle is partnering with Dale Chihuly, the first artist to present artwork on the Artist Series label with the 1993 vintage. The 2012 Artist Series featuring Chihuly will release nationally in August with a suggested retail price of $65.
The Artist Series red blend is a unique, collector’s wine that represents the highest quality and pedigree from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Each Artist Series vintage features the work of renowned artists on the label, from blown glass to bronze sculptures to paint on canvas.
“I’m honored to have my artwork on the 20th vintage Artist Series label,” says Chihuly. “This piece is one-of-a-kind and very special to me. I couldn’t think of a better use than portraying it on this significant wine project.”
For the 20th vintage label, Chihuly selected his Cast Silver Venetian. This unique sculpture was created by Chihuly, and then cast in sterling silver at the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington State. Inspired by Italian Art Deco, Chihuly started his Venetian series in 1988 with Italian glassblower Lino Tagliapietra. Chihuly is known for his artwork and ambitious architectural installations around the world in museums, historic cities and gardens.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7409453-ste-michelle-artist-dale-chihuly/
Walt Disney Records is set to release a new hologram vinyl version of the original motion picture soundtrack for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With score conducted and composed by five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams and liner notes by the film’s director, J.J. Abrams, the double LP features a 16-page booklet on 180 gram vinyl. This one-of-a-kind vinyl set, hand etched by Tristan Duke (Jack White’s Lazaretto) of Infinity Light Science, offers a 3D hologram experience featuring the Millennium Falcon on Disc 1/Side B and a TIE Fighter on Disc 2/Side B. For optimal viewing, use a direct light source or simply hold a mobile phone flashlight above the vinyl to view the holograms.
Tristan Duke founded Infinity Light Science in 2008, a research laboratory with an emphasis on laser holography, interferometry, light-field imaging, hand-drawn holography, and relativistic imaging.
The must-have vinyl album also features Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) for an optimal listening experience. Disney Music Group has joined forces with Pro-Ject Audio Systems to showcase this unique, next-level advancement in holographic vinyl technology with the Elemental turntable, a combination of minimalist design and maximum performance from the world leader in high fidelity turntables. The two brands will collaborate on co-promotions at retail, online, and radio.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7847351-star-wars-the-force-awakens-vinyl/