Top industry leaders aim to transition demand and direction of commercial spaceflight

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -The 2012 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS), the most relevant, high-value global space conference of the year, opens its registration today. Taking place Oct. 17-18 in Las Cruces, N.M., the event will bring together more than 450 people from across the space community, including thought leaders from private industry, government and academia, to collaborate on key issues and trends to help grow the industry and increase demand for commercial spaceflight. The event will also showcase cutting-edge technologies and emerging commercial applications for military, scientific and personal spaceflight.

"There is no event quite like ISPCS, where high-profile industry players explore complex topics before an intimate, captive audience eager to expand their knowledge and participate in vibrant dialogue," said Patricia Hynes, Ph.D., chair of ISPCS. "Over the years, we have built a close-knit community of thought leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, astronauts, space industry workers and more who make this event a top priority in their busy schedules. This year's ISPCS is truly going to be an event not to miss."

ISPCS 2012 is themed "Commercial Spaceflight: The Demand-The Direction." The event will feature 12 sessions, including keynote addresses from Roger Krone, president of network and space systems for The Boeing Company and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver.

In addition, more than 30 noted speakers will dive head first into compelling subjects surrounding commercial spaceflight, such as:

- How suborbital flight experiences can optimize future orbital mission success - NASA's Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative and the valuable impact of public/private partnerships on commercial space transportation - Protecting supply and demand for commercial spaceflight through cyber solutions

Some of the prestigious speakers and panelists confirmed for ISPCS 2012 include:

- Brigadier General Jim Jaeger (ret.) - Director, Commercial Cyber Systems, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems - Dave Mackay, chief pilot for Virgin Galactic - Major General Robert Dickman (ret.) - Executive Director. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Register online at http://www.ispcs.com/registration_2012.php. Early bird registration is available now through September 14, 2012, allowing attendees to save $200 on full conference registration. This year's registration process is also more personalized, designed to connect like-minded ISPCS attendees in order to spur partnerships and collaborations.

Sponsorships and exhibitor packages are still available.

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International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight Opens Registration

Ted Livingston didnt set out to build an instant messaging app. Like something from a John Lennon song, it happened while he was busy making other plans.

When he began Kik Interactive in 2009, his first idea wasnt instant messaging, but music. His company spent its first year building an application for finding and sharing music using a smartphone. Originally, the app was to be integrated with Research In Motion Inc.s BlackBerry Messenger and be designed just for the BlackBerry.

Mr. Livingston had an early introduction to the smartphone industry thanks to three terms as a co-op student at RIM while he was an engineering and mechatronics student at the University of Waterloo. Seeing that the technology focus was moving from the desktop computer to mobile devices, he started thinking about what desktop activity he could move to the smartphone.

This is where events started taking Kik in a different direction. First, Apple Inc.s iPhone and phones based on Google Inc.s Android operating system began gaining popularity. Kik realized that its application needed to work on those platforms, too. So the company built its own cross-platform technology.

Having done that, Kik was still waiting to settle licensing issues that would allow it to offer music sharing. But the technology it had developed could also be used for messaging company employees were already doing that internally so in October of 2010 Kik launched a cross-platform messaging tool, Kik Messenger.

It was totally reactionary, Mr. Livingston says of the series of moves that led to his company becoming an innovator in messaging. But they were good reactions.

Of course any phone can send text messages. What Kik Messenger adds to that is speed, the ability to see when your messages are received and read, and when someone is typing a reply. It also gives a view of the whole exchange rather than just individual messages, and the ability to send pictures and other content. And because Kik Messenger doesnt use the Short Message Service (SMS) infrastructure that ordinary text messages rely on, there is no per-message charge.

Apps from other developers build on Kik Messenger, allowing users to share video clips, music and drawings, inform each other of their locations and so on.

BlackBerry users have long been able to exchange messages instantly using BlackBerry Messenger, but only with other BlackBerry users. Kik Messenger works with iPhones, Android, Windows Mobile, Nokia Inc.s Symbian and all phones based on the Java programming language (which includes BlackBerries).

It hasnt all been smooth sailing, though. Late in 2010, RIM filed a lawsuit against Kik, alleging it infringed RIM patents and misused trademarks. Thanks to this still-unresolved dispute, Kiks app is not available from the BlackBerry App World online store. The Java version that supports BlackBerries is available through Kiks website, though.

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Success happens when you’re making other plans, entrepreneur finds

DETROIT, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Three short years after opening its digital doors, Detroit-based Quizzle LLC, the place for consumers to gain a complete understanding of their credit, has grown to more than one million users. To celebrate, the company is rewarding the people who make Quizzle a success -- the users -- with the "Quizzle One in a Million" challenge.

To enter, contestants are asked to visit http://www.quizzle.com/millionand submit a video telling Quizzle about a financial triumph, such as how they saved for their dream home, eliminated debt, finally bought that stunning engagement ring or collected enough for a tropical vacation. The winner of the contest, which ends September 3, 2012, will be chosen based on the quality of the story and the creativity put into the video. Seven semi-finalists will each win $500, and the grand prize winner will receive an additional $1,000 for a total of $1,500. Everyone, not just Quizzle members, is eligible to win.

"Our users are the reason for Quizzle's success; this exciting contest is a great way for us to show how much we appreciate them," said Todd Albery, CEO of Quizzle. "Getting your finances in order is hard work that is rarely celebrated -- until now."

At Quizzle, consumers learn the specific actions to improve their financial health with helpful tools and information, including a free credit report and score, credit improvement resources, home loan recommendations and debt management plans. In addition to offering their users a free credit report every six months, a rarity in the free credit score marketplace, Quizzle offers personalized recommendations that give users the knowledge they need to take control of, and improve, their credit. Consumers can sign up for a free Quizzle membership at http://www.quizzle.com.

"Education comes first at Quizzle, and it is our priority to give our users the most complete understanding of their credit, how it works, and how it affects their lives," added Albery. "More than 27 percent of Americans have never seen their credit report and score, and Quizzle is determined to change that."

Join the Quizzle Community:

Want to connect with other Quizzle fans and credit lovers on Facebook and Twitter? Log on to http://www.facebook.com/Quizzle, or follow @Quizzle to receive the latest credit and finance news, tips, offers and more.

About Quizzle:

Quizzle LLC is an innovative website that helps consumers get a complete understanding of their credit and have a little fun doing it. Located in Detroit, Quizzle.com began as a project inside of Quicken Loans, the nation's largest online home lender, and spun off into its own company in September 2009. At Quizzle, consumers learn the specific actions to improve their financial health with helpful tools and information, including a free credit report and score, credit improvement resources, personalized home loan recommendations and debt management plans. Quizzle ranked #1 in the Detroit Free Press' 'Top Workplaces of 2010' and 'Top Workplaces of 2011' lists.

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Personal Finance Site Quizzle LLC Surpasses 1 Million Users, Holds Contest to Celebrate

By Talbot Boggs, The Canadian Press

(Special) - Confidence is a key ingredient to success in many areas of life, including finances.

Canadian women are achieving more and more financial and business success today, but many still do not have the same level of confidence as men in their knowledge and ability to make important saving and investing decisions.

More than one quarter of working women in Canada now are the sole or primary income earners in their households, says a poll by Investors Group. Forty-three per cent of working women believe they are more knowledgeable than their partner about personal finance and investing topics, yet men are more likely to take the primary responsibility for personal finance and investing matters (46 per cent compared to 38 per cent of women).

Confidence may be a contributing factor - fewer than half (48 per cent) of women feel confident in their knowledge and ability to make saving and investing decisions compared to 58 per cent of men.

Part of the explanation for that lack of confidence may lie in the fact that many women around the world acquire financial knowledge through informal instruction and from other people.

This was one of the main findings of a study into how women are educated about finances by Barbara Stewart, a Chartered Financial Analyst specializing in counselling and portfolio management.

"Over half of women said that their most valuable financial knowledge was principally acquired through informal instruction and real stories from other people and not from text books, newspapers or financial institutions," says Stewart. "Taking the time to give someone a focused message about money may be enough to change a life for the better. These messages can directly build confidence, which is the fundamental element that will drive a lifetime of rich accomplishments."

Stewart has come up with list of some money-related lessons and practices that are common to successful women around the world.

The first is to determine the lifestyle that you want - where do you want to live, in what kind of house and how much money do you need to live there, and what kind of people do you want to work with? "Figure out what you really want out of life because you become what you think about," Stewart says.

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Confidence key to women's financial success

KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwire -07/09/12)- Think Kansas City's just famous for being a legendary jazz town?

Not anymore, thanks to the explosive power-pop of The Strive, a KC based band that brings intense and infectious mix of power guitars and propulsive grooves.

They named their band after the spirited, forward thinking aesthetic they brought to their 2010 debut EP Anything Goes and their new follow-up EP Design The Road, which drops July 10 and produced in Austin, Texas by Matt Noveskey, bassist for the rock band Blue October.

For a group that's only been around since the winter of 2010 -- and debuted its current lineup of Nick Stacy, Luke Davis, Greg Dowd, Michael Zenk and charismatic frontman Brendan Stevens in March 2011 -- The Strive has made spectacular inroads on the indie scene.

Besides their formal releases, the home recorded "Caught Inside" quickly rose to the top of the charts on purevolume.com's Top Unsigned Bands playlist. In addition to developing a passionate following via performances at KC hotspots like the Beaumont Club and Uptown Theatre, The Strive have performed on bills with Hawthorne Heights, Ivoryline, All Time Low and Yellowcard; played shows in Milwaukee, Dallas, Austin and the Springboard South Festival in Houston; and were featured at the Red, White & Boom concert, at KC's Starlight Theatre, that included performances by Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw. The band will be performing July 9 at The Vans Warped Tour on the Ernie Ball Stage at The Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Kansas City.

With heartfelt, personal lyrics by Stevens and music by Davis and Stacy, the songs on Design the Road reveal writers that are deep thinkers and artists whose powerhouse performances are genuine and original but have an irresistible commercial appeal. In addition to Stevens' soaring, emotional vocals, the two things that immediately hit listeners who are new to The Strive experience are Davis' blistering electric guitar fire and Stacy's deep and versatile drum grooves, which are propulsive to the point of wild hypnosis.

http://www.wearethestrive.com

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KC Based Power Pop/Rockers The Strive Design the Road for Breakthrough Success on Their New Four Track EP Produced by ...

Team SCANs 16U team is nationally recognized as one of the countrys top teams, but the 15U group isnt far behind.

The Bronx-based team traveled to Madison, N.J. for the Elite Proving Grounds tournament and came away champions. The group, which also included players from the 14U group, won the championship game against a tough Team IZOD team based out of northern New Jersey, 59-52. SCAN also defeated Team Philly Triple Threat in the semi-finals while Team Izod defeated The City to advance to the final.

SCAN was led in double figures by point guard Bryce Aiken, shooting guard Devonte Green and forwards Cheik Diallo and Thomas Bryant. The 6'9 Diallo, who attends Our Savior New American, was awarded the tournament MVP for his efforts in the championship game, recording a near triple double.

SCAN received huge contributions from Chancellor Ellis, Temple Gibbs, Unique McLean, Dondre Rhoden, Matt Zignorski, and Austrian Robinson. Head Coach Oswald Cross, flanked by assistants Sean MacIsaac, Howie Joseph and Carom Carmichael, were happy with the teams overall effort, unselfishness and defensive intensity.

"It's great to see such talented group of individuals put aside their own personal stats and accolades for the greater good of the team, Cross said. It's what we as coaches try to preach and it showed today and hopefully stays the same throughout the remainder of the summer.

The team has enjoyed great success during the spring portion of their season and hopes that this championship gives them a great head of steam heading into the July live recruiting period. The 2015 team is scheduled to play in showcases in Springfield, Mass., South Carolina and Las Vegas. The 2016 group, meanwhile, will head down to Orlando, Fla. for the AAU Nationals.

zbraziller@nypost.com

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Adding to program's recent success, SCAN 15's win Elite Proving Grounds

Lesley Young, Special to The Commercial Appeal

Cheryl Schlitt, 49, of Germantown transformed from a stay-at-home mom who wore a size 23, to boxing six days a week, slipping into a size 8, and becoming her trainer's professional boxing sponsor as Boxer Girl.

Before: "I had been overweight forever," said Cheryl Schlitt, with daughter Megan.

For 20 years Cheryl Schlitt was a typical stay-at-home mom.

She raised two children, volunteered at St. George's Independent School, and led the PTA.

She was also a size 23.

"I had been overweight forever," said Schlitt, 49, of Germantown.

Once her kids went away to college, she viewed her status as a mother a little differently.

"I was not going to be a dumpy college mom," she said.

Little did she know that seeking out the help of a personal trainer would lead her not only to boxing six days a week, but also to becoming a prizefight sponsor.

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Success Story: Boxing routine turns 'princess' into puncher

Poonia is at number nine in the latest IAAF rankings, and all eight ahead of her have above 65m personal best, with Germany's Nadine Muller leading the chart with 68.89m.

The Indian said she had been undergoing yoga and other mental exercises during her training in the United States under 1976 Olympic champion Mac Wilkins so that she concentrates on her throw during the Olympics.

"Concentration is the most important thing to get the distance. I do yoga especially breathing exercises and meditation in the United Sates (at Portland where she had a three-month training). I also had regular discussion with Virender (her husband-cum-coach) and Mac Wilkins (at the training centre at Portland in US)," she said.

She, however, keeps away from following what the other season leaders were doing so that she does not feel the pressure.

"I don't want to follow what Nadine Muller or Sandra Perkovic or Stephanie Brown Trafton (Beijing Games gold medallist from United Sates) are doing. That will put pressure on me. I want to concentrate on my strength," she said.

"I don't want to put myself under pressure. I don't want to think that I can become the first Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic medal. People may have expectations after my Commonwealth Games feat but for me I will be happy if I give my 100 per cent," she added.

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Meticulous planning key to success in Olympics: Poonia

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Laughter rang out Friday as groups of Cleveland State University students struggled to disentangle themselves as part of a bonding experience during the Viking Academic Boot Camp.

The camp, which offers remedial math and English classes, is one of the summer programs that area colleges have created to smooth students' academic path.

The CSU exercise asked them to stand in a circle, grasping hands across the divide. Then, still holding hands, they had to figure out how to unknot the group.

Some dropped to their knees to allow others to step over them, some contorted their bodies and some just gave up. Later, they talked about strategies and what they would have done differently during the team-building exercise.

"We try to tell them they are all in this together and there are no put downs," said Christine Vodicka, director of the tutoring and academic success center. "This carries into fall as they form friendships."

Summer programs, usually for incoming freshmen at public and private colleges, go by many different names but all have the same goal to provide a head start on academics, acclimation to college life and new friends and mentors.

Generally known as "bridge programs," they are aimed at those who are the first in their families to go to college, need to improve their math and writing skills and can benefit from tutoring and peer mentoring.

And they are successful, according to students and college officials.

"It is holding me accountable to graduate," said Shelby Saylor, 19, of Coshocton, a University of Akron sophomore. "Without it I probably would have dropped out after the first semester."

Saylor sat next to one of her best friends, Eddie Volk, 19, of Brooklyn, Thursday afternoon outside a room in the university's Student Union. They met while attending Akron's first "Running Start" summer program last year and are paid peer mentors for this year's group.

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Colleges offer summer programs to improve students' academic success

ANNA Mary Kay Independent Sales Director Samantha Dawson of Anna is on the road to success. This month, Dawson earned the use of a new Chevy Equinox crossover as a result of her outstanding achievements in operating her independent Mary Kay business.

The Chevy Equinox is offered in black. In addition to the Chevy Equinox, the Mary Kay Career Car Program includes the Chevy Malibu sedan in white, the Toyota Camry in black and the exclusive pearlized pink Cadillac, a coveted symbol of personal success.

In keeping with Mary Kays preeminence as a leader in providing women with an unparalleled opportunity and desirable business incentives, Mary Kay Inc. continues to upgrade the options available to star performers in the independent sales force. Since the Career Car Programs inception in 1969, more than 120,000 independent sales force members have either qualified or re-qualified to earn the use of a Mary Kay career car. Currently, more than 5,600 Mary Kay career cars are on the road nationwide.

The Career Car Program provides the independent sales force the opportunity to earn the use of a visible symbol of their success, said Darrell Overcash, president of Mary Kay Inc. U.S. Each car obtained through this exciting program reflects the hard work, determination and professionalism of the independent sales force.

Dawson began her Mary Kay business as an Independent Beauty Consultant in 2004 and as a direct result of her accomplishments, became an independent sales director in 2011. As an independent sales director, she chooses to provide education, leadership and motivation to other Mary Kay independent beauty consultants and offers her customers high-quality Mary Kay products.

Samantha will take delivery of the new Chevy Equinox, her second Mary Kay career car, at Coad Chevrolet Dealership in Anna. Independent sales directors earn the use of Mary Kay career cars through outstanding business achievements.

Mary Kay is one of the worlds largest direct selling companies with more than $2.5 billion in annual wholesale sales worldwide. Mary Kay was founded in 1963 by Mary Kay Ash with the goal of helping women achieve personal growth and financial success. Mary Kay remains committed to enriching womens lives, and today more than 2 million people of all backgrounds are enjoying the advantages of being Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants. Mary Kays high-quality skin care and color cosmetic products are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. To learn more about Mary Kay, visit http://www.marykay.com.

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Local woman earns use of car for outstanding business performance