Last July Richard Lobes sat down one day and wrote a poem after a difficult time in his life. The next day he wrote another poem. And the next day he wrote another. Some days he wrote two or three.

After three months he decided to send his collection of poems to a publisher. This month his book of poems, "Simple Rhymes for Difficult Times," is being released at Barnes and Noble in Wheaton.

"I love to write simple rhymes," said Lobes, who works in the computer industry and until July had only written technical articles.

- Ian Schrager, a leading visionary in the luxury hotel industry and a pioneer in spa development, will deliver the opening days keynote address at the second annual Global Spa Summit (www.globalspasummit.org) from May 18-20 in New York City, organizers announced today.

Mr. Schrager, who invented the concept of the boutique hotel 24 years ago, is chairman and chief executive officer of the Ian Schrager Company that owns, develops, manages and brands hotels, residential and mixed use projects. He has achieved international recognition for concepts that have revolutionized both the entertainment and hospitality industries, including Studio 54 nightclub, Miamis Delano Hotel and its cutting-edge spa, and the Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan, an extraordinary collaboration with artist Julian Schnabel. His latest venture is "Edition" a new hotel brand partnership with Marriott International.

For the second year in a row, leading executives from the spa, hospitality, travel, wellness, investment and fitness sectors will reconvene to chart the future of the booming global spa industry at the three-day gathering, to be held at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.

Another highlight of this years Summit will be the presentation of the first-ever "Global Spa Economy" report, conducted by SRI International. The report will be the first major study to define the size and economic impact of the global spa industry. It is expected to play an important role in planning for future growth of the spa industry.

The Global Spa Summit will once again showcase presentations and panels led by leading industry investors, analysts, researchers, and executives. This year, in addition to spa industry reports on the latest developments in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, there will be special presentations regarding the emerging markets of India, China, Russia, South Africa and South America. In all, the Summit will be attended by more than 200 delegates from around the world, including Switzerland, Japan, China, Sweden, Austria, Philippines, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Bali, Germany, U.K., Dubai, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, Mexico, and more.

The success of the inaugural Global Spa Summit in 2007 paved the way for this years expanded Summit. 150 delegates from twenty-four countries attended, and Founder of Revolution, LLC and former CEO and Chairman of AOL, Steve Case and Canyon Ranch President, Kevin Kelly, each delivered keynote addresses.

Leading education institutions specializing in hospitality and spa management will also be playing a larger role in the 2008 Global Spa Summit, including the prestigious Lausanne Hotel School, Cornell University and The University of California, Irvine. All three will send top administrators and student delegations to the Summit.

"Similar to events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, our goal is to facilitate breakthroughs that come from close interaction among thought leaders," said SpaFinder CEO Pete Ellis, one of the GSS Board Members. "Davos is the perfect model for the Global Spa Summit, in that we foster a healthy exchange of ideas among leaders in the global spa industry and ensure that the rapid growth were experiencing doesnt impede innovation or create fragmentation."

Social and networking events will round out the agenda, beginning with an opening night gala followed by an exclusive "New York dine-around" on the second night. Guests will also be invited to unwind at the highly anticipated flagship Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria, opening in early May.

Following the Davos model, interactive sessions and workshops at the Global Spa Summit will be open to delegates only, although a series of events are open to the press, including the Ian Schrager keynote address, presentation of the "Global Spa Economy" report, as well as a press conference and lunch.

New to the event this year is the addition of spa industry sponsors, including TechnoGym, Pevonia International, CNL Income Company, and Sodashi. Other sponsors include: Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Raison dEtre, SpaFinder, Spatality, and Steiner Leisure.

Ten-year real estate veteran and eight-year mortgage professional Monique Thomas has developed a new, but relatively easy mean by which a co-owner in real property can buy out one or more other co-owners for cash. She calls it a Buyout Note™. Last month during its 43rd annual awards gala, real estate trade organization Associated Real Property Brokers, Inc. (ARPB) awarded Thomas “Entrepreneur Broker of the Year” in recognition of her ingenuity in the fields of real estate and mortgage lending. Weeks prior to presenting the award, the ARPB elected Thomas to serve as president of the association during its 2007-2009 fiscal years.

The Charlies Promotion Products Company recently launched their revised website and plans to utilize www.Charliespromotionproducts.com as their tool for delivering a vast array of promotional products to the general consumer at a warehouse cost with the new streamlined shipping methods rivaling that of most other big box competitors. With a desire to provide superior promotional products for existing clients, at a reasonable cost and with superior customer service, all from the comfort of the World Wide Web, this e-commerce site has recently revamped their site and introduced a new shipping method to further respond to the feedback of their clients. The promotional products line contains a superior product selection and the ability to offer fast and efficient shipping for small and large orders. Furthermore their extensive product line available to all, with their affordable pricing and shipping convenience will stand to set them apart from their competition. It is the wish of the Charlies Promotion Products Company that their dedication to superior levels of customer service will only be enhanced by the recent launch of their website.

A new free report reveals the truth behind getting top search engine rankings with specific advice about what actually matters to the search engines.

Gary Ruplinger of www.UltimateTrafficBlueprint.com has just released his report with details learned in his own business where he generates a six figure income purely from organic search engine traffic. According to Ruplinger, "For webmasters, the greatest challenge to a successful website is traffic. I teach them exactly how to go about getting it without using any tricks or short term schemes," he said.

TruEffect, Inc. (http://www.TruEffect.com) today announced it has earned certified status in Microsoft Corp.'s Partner Program recognizing TruEffect's expertise in the technology marketplace. As a Certified Partner, TruEffect (http://www.TruEffect.com) has demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, TruEffect (http://www.TruEffect.com) is supported by a rich set of benefits including access and training that give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

The Infohrm Group, the global leader in workforce planning, reporting, and analytics today announced that research conducted by Professor Philip Taylor and Dr. Brad Jorgensen was featured as part of the Gerontological Society of America’s 60th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Held on November 16-20 in San Francisco, California, "The Era of Global Aging: Challenges and Opportunities" conference showcased leaders from countries around the world, addressing problems and successful strategies related to improving the lives of the elderly in their countries, with a special focus on how the aging workforce is changing the traditional employer-employee relationship.

Quiksilver today announces that Travis Rice is the winner of the first-annual "Quiksilver Natural Selection: All-Mountain Freestyle Invitational." The final round of competition, staged at Jackson Hole's legendary Casper Bowl run, was held in sunny bluebird skies and pristine pow. Hundreds of spectators cheered on the riders as they dropped from the top of the mountain into a field of soft, untracked snow and launched impossible airs over boulders and trees.

Travis Rice at QNS

Rice was ecstatic after being announced the winner. He earned a check for $18k and the unqualified respect of his peers. Travis will be donating a portion of his prize money to the Jackson Hole search and rescue as well as other non-profit organizations in the community.

Men are always left dumbfounded with the deep and intimate connection women have with their shoes. In whichever part of the world, women have been known to have a burning and yearning desire to have as much shoes as the infamously legendary, Imelda Marcos. Thankfully, there are online stores like MakeMeChic.com who understand the needs of women to have shoes that can far outnumber the days of the calendar.

Pink Pumps

MakeMeChic.com is a woman's online shopping partner in getting the hippest and hottest trends in women's shoes. In the company's quest for constantly keeping the ladies abreast of the latest styles in women's shoes, more and more stylish pairs are continuously added every week. As springtime calls for chunky shoes, wedges, pumps, flats, booties, and t-strap sandals in every color possible, ladies are sure to have a wider assortment of the trendiest women's shoes to choose from week after week after week.

Dramatic changes affecting the South Florida housing market are reshaping the needs of owners, investors, buyers, and renters. With interest rates rising and sales more uncertain, rentals are more expensive and more scarce, and listings change as owners try recoup the costs of holding property longer. The diversity of needs is a challenge for real estate professionals trying to keep up.

Communities age along with their residents, and new retirees continue to arrive. Many renters run out of options as they search for comparable rental units when their leases expire. Owners find it more attractive to sell individual rental units as a “condo conversions,” and renters who cannot buy their unit are forced out. Many rentals are gone before they can be advertised in the newspaper.

Neumont University, offering accelerated Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Business Administration degrees, announced today that the September 2006 Report of the Commission on Higher Education appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings recognized the University as one charting the future of U.S. Higher Education.

In the report, the Commission stated that the future of our country’s colleges and universities are threatened by global pressures, powerful technological developments, restraints on finance and structural limitations that are in need of reform. The report concludes that past attainments in the U.S. have led to the nation’s unwarranted complacency towards its future in higher education. Recent data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development indicates the U.S. is now ranked 12th among industrialized countries in higher education attainment, with another half dozen on our heels.

Martinson-Nicholls announces the introduction of Winter Warmth's low voltage, anti fatigue heated mat. This mat is ideal for under desks or to stand on for those who need heat and fatigue reduction. This low voltage mat consumes 1/3 the amount of electricity of the space heater creating a safer environment and more efficient radient heat.

"I recently used your Winter Warm Heated Desk Mat at work and I loved it," stated Sue of Advanced Specialty Products.

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"I spend a great portion of my day sitting at a desk doing paperwork. It is often chilly in my office and working at a metal desk only makes it worse. Your product helped not only keep my feet and legs cozy, but warms my desk up keeping me very comfortable as I do my work. I was very impressed with your product. Thank you very much."

StorageQuest, Inc. is pleased to announce a mail-in-rebate program for the popular Reflector® Network Backup and Archiving Manager software family.

The Reflector software package allows users to write large quantities of data automatically spanning across multiple CDs, DVDs or Blu-Ray discs. The discs are automatically recorded and feature uniquely printed labels using a robotic disc publisher system from Rimage or Primera. Hundreds of gigabytes of data can be easily transferred offline to optical discs enabling this high-volume data publishing and archiving solution. A built-in database of all files written with Reflector is readily searchable to locate files that have been previously recorded. These features help make Reflector a cost-efficient and powerful workgroup backup solution.

FlexJobs (www.flexjobs.com), the foremost site for telecommuting and flextime job opportunities internationally, proudly announces its official debut. FlexJobs is absolutely free for job-seekers, with very reasonably priced services for employers who want to post available positions and search among qualified candidates across a wide variety of industries.

"FlexJobs is a preferred destination for professionals around the globe, each of whom wants a resource that is comprehensive, credible, and user-friendly. This site enables them to find companies with flexible work environments that fulfill their individual needs," said Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs.

Article by Beth Bohnert,

Published in @UWaterloo, University of Waterloo's, Alumni e-newsletter.

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

It's not easy being a kid. There are lots of things to know and learn, and some of them are scary.

It's not easy being a parent, either. Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to explain a situation, share our values, or comfort our kids.

An award-winning book by University of Waterloo alumnus James Beverly (MA '68) helps both parents and children to talk about important subjects with the assistance of an unusual guide - a Shetland sheepdog named Seamus.

Arieff Communications, an award winning public relations agency, has announced that it has been selected as agency of record landing two new consumer clients - TableTopics Inc. and eco-luxury hotel - Bardessono in the Napa Valley.

"We are honored to be working with TableTopics and their team. The brand is fresh and all about nesting and starting interesting conversation. We are managing their social media, promotions and print media relations," commented Natalia Seidel, Partner of Arieff Communications.

Off the Beaten Path LLC, an American tour company offering active, affinity tours of France, announced today the details of its exclusive, small group, 2005 "Best Adventures in Provence" Gourmet & Wine, Active Cultural Tour program. The company will be offering the ultimate French gourmet and wine cultural experience in Provence through its interactive program where guests participate in their vacation! The company's Provence program is comprised of a patchwork of activities that allow guests to discover the heart of this sun- basked region sprinkled with medieval villages, artisan workshops, culinary hide-a-ways and prized markets, under the expert guidance of professional, Off the Beaten Path guides who are European-Americans living in France.

Resorts of Ontario (http://www.resortsofontario.com), Ontario's largest association of resort owners and operators, is predicting a potentially outstanding fall season for Ontario's tourism and resort destination areas. Ontario tourist operators have, over the last few years, witnessed a steady growth in business over the fall season due to many factors, including the weather. Weather patterns are slowly changing with the warm summer temperatures extending well into September and October, making the fall months much more desirable to Ontario vacationers. This autumn will be no exception. Environment Canada is predicting a warm and dry fall for Ontario this year. This is welcome news to the over 150 Resorts of Ontario members who are nearing the end of a busy summer season that has been a little cooler than predicted and unusually wet.

Vietnam will receive US$350 million in loans from the World Bank to help spur economic development and improve municipal infrastructure projects (Source: ThanhNien News, 4 July 2009) The Vietnamese Transport Ministry has estimated an annual average investment of VND66.8 trillion in the national road system from now to 2020 and beyond 2030 to further improve its carrying capacity. (Source: VOVNews, 25 February 2009) The Vietnam Railway Administration has said it will spend approx VND11.6 trillion (US$686.4 million) to improve five key railway routes this year. (Source: Vietnam Business Forum, 4 April, 2009). Transport Ministers and experts will meet during the Vietnam Transport Week to discuss on the burning issues arising from the increase in these land transport infrastructure projects.

Dogs are wagging their tails anticipating the opening of Tennessee's first Camp Bow Wow® in Nashville on August 29. Not only are dogs excited, so are their two-legged guardians. With Camp Bow Wow's fantastic location on 470 Craighead Street it has easy access to I-440 and I-65, your best friend can have fun whether you're working the day away or playing on vacation. Pups can now experience a new concept in doggy day care and overnight boarding that will have their owners jumping for joy.

Camp Bow Wow® is Nashville's premier doggy day care for a great reason; the 11,400 sq. ft. facility incorporates three upscale indoor/outdoor play areas where your dog can make friends and play inside or outside all day long. Pups will have no shortage of space to romp and roam. At Camp Bow Wow® there is no specific 'walk or play time' necessary as your pup spends all day in freedom, regardless of if they are there for day camp or boarding. If you are missing your best friend, you can always check in on them on one of the camp's many live Camper Cams® they have placed in virtually every nook and cranny. After the day campers go home, the overnighters are tucked into private, climate-controlled luxury cabins complete with a fleece lined camp cot, and given a tasty campfire treat before snoozing the night away before another tail wagging day.