New study of online behavior focuses on user intent
Underscores need for new approaches in digital communication
More than 3 in 5 Americans (63%) go online to influence others’ opinions or express contrasting or oppositional views.
72% of people go online just to become part of a community.
According to the Ruder Finn Intent Index, more than 4 in 5 people (80%) go online to socialize, which is twice as many as those who go online to shop or do business. Online business isn’t dead but marketers who can’t connect with their consumers’ intent do so at their own peril.
“Intent is the new demographic,” said Kathy Bloomgarden, Ruder Finn co-CEO. “Delving deeper into the underlying motivations of online behavior is critical to developing proactive strategies. Just being online is not enough to leverage digital channels to drive business imperatives. Audiences must be targeted based upon their intent.”
Ruder Finn, one of the world’s largest public relations agencies, unveiled its Intent Index today, an online tool that provides a new view on why people go online and redefines how we look at demographics: www.ruderfinn.com/intent.
“The Intent Index shows a congruency and similarity among Internet users regardless of traditional demographics,” said Marty McGough, Director of Ruder Finn Insights. “This marks a real paradigm shift in how we use online communications tools.”
Based on a study among Internet users that asks respondents how frequently they go online for 295 reasons, the Intent Index shows that a person’s intent may be a better indicator for how to develop a communications campaign than demographic formulas.
Michael Schubert, Chief Innovation Officer overseeing digital strategy at Ruder Finn said, “The way the Internet has allowed us to share knowledge laterally instead of up the chain of command requires a new way of thinking about our online communications. The Intent Index underscores the importance of knowing what people seek, and how we, as communicators, can intersect with what they’re looking for.”
The Intent Index shows how critical it is, when communicating on the web, to gain deep insight into user intent, and how the right message, at the right place, at the right time is more important than ever. Updated quarterly and with the capability of being narrowed down for specific industries, the Intent Index will help businesses improve the context and utility of their online marketing content.
Intent Index Survey Results
Socialize
- More than twice as many people go online to socialize (81%) than to do business (39%) or shop (31%).
- 72% of people go online just to become part of a community.
- Seniors are going online today for the same reasons younger people are; to have fun (82%) and to socialize (80%).
- More people go online to connect via a social networking site (41%) than to post comments or opinions (34%).
Learn/Have Fun
- More people go online to be entertained (82%) than entertain others (48%).
- People seek education and entertainment: most people go online both to learn (88%) and have fun (83%).
- Almost half of people (47%) go online to learn to improve themselves and nearly one-third (31%) to find self-help experts or books.
- The desire to learn drives people to the Internet; top areas are new subjects (68%), the world (65%), a disease or condition (61%), eating healthier (55%) and managing finances (37%).
Shop/Engage in Commerce
- Three times as many people go online to compare prices (66%) rather than people via dating sites (21%).
- E-commerce isn’t dead — one-third of people (34%) go online to purchase an item; tops are household items (49%), electronics (45%); music (35%), movies (29%), and school/work supplies (29%).
- More men (42%) than women (36%) go online to do business.
Express
- Women comment, men read: 55% of women go online to find venues for personal expression compared to only 43% of men.
- The age of blogs: 44% of people go online to create or update blogs and 42% of people go online to read other people’s blogs.
Escape
- The Internet offers young people the escape through anonymity they seek out: nearly half (48%) go online to be invisible on instant messaging, 29% to create an avatar and 28% to be somewhat different.
Advocate
- Women (48%) are much more likely than men (39%) to go online to advocate for an issue or position.
The Intent Index (www.ruderfinn.com/intent)
The margin of error for the study is +/- 4.4 percent (%) at the 95th percent confidence interval level. Indices for each Intent category were calculated on the basis of how frequently respondents reported going online to a list of 295 reasons or “intents.”
Source: Ruder Finn
New Report: Implementing U.S. Climate Policy Depends on Five Political Precedents
Former Gore advisor maps out best path to passing global warming legislation in current political landscape
Former domestic policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore and U.S. Climate Task Force (CTF) co-founder Dr. Elaine C. Kamarck unveiled a new report that examines lessons learned from past efforts to legislate on climate change and how those precedents can be applied to help pass an emissions policy in the 111th Congress. According to her expert analysis, these lessons fall into five categories:
1. Cost – Extent of economic impact on U.S. families
2. Complexity – Scale of system; opportunity for evasion, manipulation and corruption
3. Fairness – Distribution of costs and benefits through all segments of society
4. Compatibility – Ease of integration of U.S. policy with international efforts
5. Effectiveness – Ability to efficiently curb emissions and mitigate climate change
Dr. Kamarck elaborated on these points, explaining: “More than 30 years have passed since scientists introduced the notion of global warming into the American political dialogue. And now — with Congress considering a federal emissions bill and the White House preparing to negotiate a new U.N. agreement on climate change — the debate over policies to mitigate domestic greenhouse gas emissions has reached an entirely new level of importance.
“Many legislators are pushing for a U.S. cap-and-trade system. Though I share their strong resolve to address the risks of climate change, evidence shows that the problems implementing carbon trading measures are so complex that they may not allow Americans to meet our ‘green’ goals.
“The bottom line is we need to put a price on carbon. Using lessons learned from our past efforts to legislate on climate change, my new paper demonstrates how a carbon tax-shift would accomplish that goal. In addition to rebating its revenues back to the people in ways that shift the burden of taxation from employment to pollution, a carbon tax has the advantage of being simple, transparent and easy to administer.”
Source: U.S. Climate Task Force
Microsoft introduces new ways to help teachers personalize learning
From Windows 7 to free teacher resources, and a collaboration between Microsoft’s Innovative Teachers Network and the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft helps educators effectively engage students.
This week at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) 2009, Microsoft Corp. is showcasing innovative technologies that enable teachers to engage their students more deeply by adapting teaching to the unique needs of each learner. These tools range from the introduction of Windows 7 education-friendly features to a new collaborative initiative between the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Network (ITN) and the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, as well as a variety of free software and services to help teachers enhance the education experience for their students.
“Effective teachers are the key to engaged and successful students,” said L. Michael Golden, corporate vice president, Education for Microsoft. “Technology can help educators gain more insight into individual students’ needs and relevant ways to support them, connect and collaborate with students, parents and peers, and improve outcomes to generate and use best practices. As we extend the breadth and depth of our toolset, learning can become more personal for everyone.”
Introducing Windows 7 to Teachers and Schools
Designed to be more reliable and more responsive, and to make everyday tasks easier, Windows 7 will help students, faculty and staff be more productive, effective and efficient.
A redesigned UI and other desktop improvements make using the PC easier and provide immediate access to the applications and files people use most through features such as Jump Lists, Previews and the new Task Bar. Windows 7 makes new learning experiences possible with features such as multitouch that will facilitate new methods and ways to interact with data, lessons plans, and Web pages by enabling people to interact with their multitouch-enabled PC using gestures, handwriting or voice commands that were available in Windows Vista. With Windows 7, Microsoft has also improved what people care about most in an operating system — performance, reliability, compatibility and battery life. Windows 7 provides more security features to help protect sensitive data, improved desktop management tools and application compatibility with Windows XP Mode* to allow many Windows XP-based productivity applications to run on a Windows 7-based PC.
Catherine Cook School in Chicago has been testing Windows 7 since the beta was released in January and plans to have the new OS running on all its schools’ small notebook and Tablet PCs when the students return for school this fall.
“I am really impressed with the performance — the decreased memory and processing usage. I’m able to get more out of the PCs we already own,” said Bill Mierisch, director of Technology, Catherine Cook School. “Because Windows 7 is a smaller footprint, I won’t have to invest in extra RAM, and I will be able to deliver more services to students and teachers such as multimedia programs, audio and graphics manipulation because the operating system isn’t using all the juice.”
Educators everywhere are encouraged to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate now to explore the benefits. Windows 7 will be broadly available to teachers, students, staff and the general public in retail outlets on Oct. 22. Those who buy a qualifying Windows Vista-based PC from a participating original equipment manufacturer or reseller in the back-to-school timeframe may receive an upgrade to Windows 7 at little or no cost.
Collaborating With the Smithsonian to Deliver New Classroom Content
At NECC, Microsoft and the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies also unveiled plans to share Smithsonian instructional and professional development resources in art, history and science, through Microsoft distribution channels for teachers. The relationship broadens the potential for social network engagement and cross-collaboration by distributing new content through the Microsoft ITN, one of the leading online forums for educators to connect and collaborate. The Smithsonian and Microsoft will also team together to increase the Smithsonian’s audience of educators and bring about new ways to engage them through events, online interactions and Microsoft’s beneficial technology content for educators. ITN is committed to helping the Smithsonian build communities and drive discussion based on popular teaching topics such as climate change, which is the subject of the next Smithsonian Education Online Conference on Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 1. The conference’s interactive format makes experts accessible in real time for conversation with teachers and students. Registration for the free online event is at http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/Climate.
“We are excited to work with Microsoft to disseminate the museum’s content and make it easily accessible to an even broader audience of educators,” said Stephanie Norby, director of the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. “With many school districts discontinuing traditional print textbooks and moving to digital content, the opportunity to more broadly distribute online content that is engaging and flexible is very interesting to us.”
Innovative Teachers Network Making Global Connections
The Innovative Teachers Network has nearly 2.5 million teachers in 86 countries using it today, new features, collaborations and content continue to be added. ITN is the destination place for educators to join a global dialogue and exchange great ideas, best practices and proven methodologies around the world and obtain free high-quality classroom and professional development content. Starting today, for ITN members only, teachers can get a free download of AutoCollage, an advanced computer vision and imaging processing program from Microsoft Research that automatically creates photo montages of digital pictures to allow more dynamic and visual experiences to be shared in the classroom. Teachers can also now use their Windows Live ID to conveniently register and log into ITN, and can download a new plug-in to access and integrate ITN content with their learning management platform.
Free Software and Services to Encourage Exploration and Discovery
Teachers know that real educational success happens when students are engaged and motivated to study. Microsoft delivers a toolset of free technologies and resources to empower teachers to easily respond to individual learners and their course-related interests in an active learning environment. Some of these resources include the following:
- Worldwide Telescope. A rich Web application brings together imagery from the best ground- and space-based observatories in the world, including NASA, and allows students and teachers to explore outer space as a way to make science fun.
- Photosynth. Photo-imaging technology stitches together overlapping, panoramic digital photos automatically to create exciting 3-D worlds students can browse and share online.
- Digital literacy curriculum. Free e-learning modules and assessments teach students about the Internet and the Web, computer basics, productivity programs, computer security and privacy, and digital lifestyles.
- Expression Web curriculum. Free curriculum, tutorials and videos assist educators in teaching middle and high school students Web design; free software is also available via a subscription to the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance.
- Learning Essentials. A desktop application runs on top of Microsoft Office helping educators easily create effective instructional resources, complete administrative tasks and implement new teaching strategies.
- CareerForward. A self-contained online course, available to students across the United States, helps schools prepare students for their places in the work force of the future and for career opportunities in a global economy.
More information about the free tools and resources is available at http://www.microsoft.com/education/teachers/default.aspx.
While July Fourth is America’s favorite grilling holiday, other countries celebrate their National Holidays much the same way
While the Fourth of July barbecue is as uniquely American as baseball and apple pie, the first International Weber GrillWatch Survey(TM) shows that outdoor cooks around the globe celebrate their own national holidays in much the same way.
Independence Day is the number one grilling holiday in the United States, according to the Survey, with 88 percent of American grill owners choosing to cook outside during this day. Interestingly, grillers from Canada and Australia also cite their countries’ national holidays as their top days for grilling–as well as those from France and Denmark.
The recent International Weber GrillWatch Survey, the only one of its kind, probes the grilling habits, knowledge, and preferences of 15,614 grill owners in 15 countries across five continents, representing a total of 390 million grillers in countries with populations totaling 2.1 billion people:
Canada / Canada Day: Canada Day commemorates the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act (which united Canada as a single country of four provinces), and is the top grilling holiday with 73 percent of Canadian grillers cooking outside. Labour Day is a close second there at 63 percent, followed by Father’s Day (53 percent), and Victoria Day (50 percent).
Australia / Australia Day: Australia Day is celebrated annually on January 26. It recognizes the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. According to the Survey, 69 percent of outdoor cooks there grill this day, with Christmas and New Year’s Day as a close second and third (65 and 63 percent, respectively).
France / 14 Juillet (Bastille Day): Fifty-four percent of French grillers cook outside on Bastille Day, the national holiday commemorating the end of the French Revolution and the symbolic storming of the Bastille. Ponts du mois de Mai (long holiday weekends in May) are second at 52 percent.
Denmark / Grundlovsdag: Fifty-two percent of Danish Survey respondents say this is their favorite day to barbecue, making it the number one choice. While not an official holiday, the Danes celebrate this day when King Frederik the VII signed the first Danish democratic constitution on June 5, 1849-putting an end to the absolute monarchy. Coincidentally, it’s also Father’s Day there.
Norway and Sweden / Mid-summer’s Eve: Called St. Hans aften in Norway and Midsommarafton in Sweden, 81 percent of Norwegian and 75 percent of Swedish Weber International Survey respondents cite this June 23 holiday as their favorite. Also according to the Survey, both countries choose their respective national holidays as their second most popular times to cook outdoors: Fifty-eight percent of Norwegians grill on Nasjonaldag (celebrating the 1814 ratification of the country’s constitution) and 40 percent of Swedes grill on Sveriges nationaldag, which celebrates their country’s origins.
Here are some more favorite grilling holidays from other countries that were included in the International Weber GrillWatch Survey:
Mexico / Dia del Padre: Mexican grill owners responded that Father’s Day is a top grilling holiday at 57 percent, but their number one favorite occasion to grill overall is birthdays (77 percent).
Brazil / Ano Novo: New Year’s is a huge grilling holiday in Brazil, with 78 percent of Survey respondents there celebrating around the barbecue.
Germany / An Geburstagen (birthdays): While 76 percent of German Survey respondents cited birthdays as their favorite occasion to grill, Pfingsten, a religious holiday, is second at 56 percent. Pfingsten celebrates Pentecost, 50 days after Easter Sunday.
UK / Summer Bank Holiday: Eighty-two percent of UK grillers cook outdoors on the Summer Bank Holiday that falls on the last Monday in August.
Holland / Verjaardag: The Dutch choose birthdays and anniversaries as their favorite grilling occasions (69 percent) with Pinksteren, a religious holiday celebrating Pentecost, second at 37 percent.
Spain / 15 de Agosto Asuncion: International Weber GrillWatch Survey respondents in Spain choose this August 15 holiday as their favorite day to cook outside (57 percent); it commemorates the assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Italy / Ferragosto: As their top grilling occasion, 76 percent of Italian grillers light the outdoor barbecue on August 15 to also recognize the assumption of the Virgin Mary during the middle of the country’s month-long August holiday.
India / Festival Season: While store-bought barbecues is a slowly burgeoning market in this country, 56 percent of those who grill choose birthdays as their favorite occasions followed by the late summer/early fall “Festival season” at 50 percent.
Methodology
All online fieldwork was conducted by U.S.-based Greenfield Online in 12 countries, while telephone interviews in Mexico and India were conducted by TNS, and in Brazil by Synovate. Final data was analyzed by Denver-based KeyStat Marketing, Inc.
Nations Mayors Praise Congress for Accelerating Action on Climate Legislation
The nation’s mayors under the leadership of Conference President Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels praised Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for approving historic energy and climate legislation.
On the Congressional action, Conference President Mayor Nickels stated, “This is a landmark vote that will help cities transform to a clean energy economy. For years, there was debate over the existence of global warming. Then came discussions about what to do about it. Today, we take substantive action. We praise Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey and so many other House leaders for their leadership and courage in taking this necessary first step toward enacting critically needed national climate legislation. With Senate action, we will enter the era of clean energy. I stand ready to work with President Obama and Congress to create jobs in this new economy, and to lay the foundation for a cleaner and more secure energy future. This is good for our environment, good for our people, and good for our cities.”
“The nation’s mayors will continue to press Congress to move this legislation forward, while insisting that its provisions embrace and invest directly in cities and counties, since our communities are where the challenge of reducing our nation’s carbon emissions exists,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
“We know that the multi-decade battle to curb greenhouse gases will be won or lost at the local level in our cities. Mayors must call upon Congress to support cities directly, investing in local actions that have been shown to increase energy efficiency, spur renewable energy development and curb carbon emissions. ” Nickels added.
Nearly 1000 U.S. mayors have pledged to take local action to meet the Kyoto targets, a mayoral commitment that also calls for actions by state governments and the federal government, including enactment of federal climate legislation with a national emissions trading system.
Conference President, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels led the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. To see the full listing of the 950 + cities that have signed on, please visit: www.usmayors.org
Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors
VH1 Classic to celebrate historic music legacy of Michael Jackson beginning Saturday, June 27
His music defined an era while his music videos re-defined a medium. Michael Jackson simply changed the world forever with his artistry, his vision and his music. Starting Saturday, June 27 at 12 noon ET/PT, VH1 Classic will celebrate the legacy of the man that became the “King Of Pop” and the artist behind “Thriller,” the world’s biggest selling album ever.
The channel will air a special music video tribute throughout the weekend, airing the songs, the performances, the choreography, and the styles that still impact pop culture four decades after he first became a star with The Jackson 5. The tribute, hosted by “VH1 Top 20 Countdown” host Jim Shearer, will run throughout the weekend until Midnight on Sunday, June 28.
VH1 Classic viewers are being invited now to go to VH1.com and offer their own tributes and memories about Jackson. These fan remembrances will be featured on-air on VH1 Classic throughout the weekend.
Some of the historic videos VH1 Classic will air include:
Another Part Of Me
Bad
Beat It
Billie Jean
Black Or White
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Leave Me Alone
Man In The Mirror
Remember The Time
Rock With You
Smooth Criminal
The Way You Make Me Feel
You Are Not Alone
Sister channel VH1 is also remembering the “King Of Pop” through an on-air VH1 News packages as well as a VH1 News special covering Jackson’s entire biography that will premiere today, Friday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT.
VH1 will also air “Michael Jackson: King Of Videos,” a two-hour video tribute special that Jackson himself called the special’s producer to thank them for their work. That special will air tonight, Friday June 26 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Fans can get round-the-clock updates at VH1’s TheFabLife.com. Playlists of all of Jackson’s greatest videos are on VH1.com. And fans’ video and text tributes will run across all of VH1’s websites including VH1.com, TheFabLife.com, and the VH1 Blog.
Source: VH1
U.S. Bureau Facts for Features: The Fourth of July 2009
On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html
307 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population clock http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
Fourth of July Cookouts
More than 1 in 4
The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.3 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2009. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (9.4 million) and Minnesota (7.3 million) were the runners-up.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2007. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.7 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
6
Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2006 and November 2007. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
About 4 in 10
The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 39 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2008. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia and New York together accounted for 61 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2008.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
Please Pass the Potato Salad
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. Half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2008.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
More than three-fourths
Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2008 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
More than 7 in 10
The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from California or Florida, which combined accounted for 71 percent of U.S. tomato production last year. The ketchup on your burger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounted for 96 percent of forecasted processed tomato production in 2008.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
Florida
The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (861 million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Texas and Georgia, each with more than 500 million pounds.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
78 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year.
It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 1200 http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab2006_2009.html
Fireworks
$193 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2008, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($202 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $28.1 million in 2008, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($5.8 million).
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$17.3 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002.
Source: 2002 Economic Census http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf
Flags
$3.4 million
In 2008, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount
($3.0 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$569,400
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2008. Belgium was the leading customer, purchasing $186,400 worth.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/
$349.2 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data.
Source: 2002 Economic Census http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf
Patriotic-Sounding Names
31
Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. The most populous one as of July 1, 2007, is Liberty, Mo. (29,993). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
– Thirty-one places have “eagle” in their name — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 26,285 residents.
– Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 110,704 residents.
– Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
– There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 190.
– And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 26,472.
Sources: Population estimates http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012242.ht ml and American FactFinder www.census.gov
The British are Coming!
$112.4 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.
Sources: Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top0812yr.html
SIRIUS XM Radio to pay tribute to Michael Jackson with special programming across its music channels
SIRIUS XM Radio announced that it will commemorate the life of Michael Jackson with special programming across a wide range of its music channels.
SIRIUS XM’s music channels will celebrate the life and career of Michael Jackson who passed away on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50. Numerous of its 100% commercial-free music channels will devote special features to the “King of Pop” with tributes, personal memories, favorite songs and more.
Former MTV VJs and SIRIUS XM hosts Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood will host a Michael Jackson special on SIRIUS XM’s ’80s on 8 channel, SIRIUS and XM channel 8, on Friday, June 26 at 7:00 pm ET. Listeners will also hear a live tribute of Michael Jackson hosted by ’80s on 8 host Rick Stacy on Friday, June 26 from 7:00 am -12:00 pm ET. SIRIUS XM’s ’70s on 7 channel, SIRIUS and XM channel 7, will feature on-air personality Magic Matt Alan taking a special look at the life of Michael Jackson on Friday, June 26 at 12:00 pm ET.
SIRIUS XM’s The Morning Mash Up! on SIRIUS XM Hits 1, SIRIUS channel 1, and XM 20 on 20, XM channel 20, will play music from the iconic artist’s catalog and share stories about his music and career on Friday, June 26 from 6:00 am – 12:00 pm ET.
SIRIUS XM’s The Groove, XM channel 64; Heart & Soul, SIRIUS channel 51 and XM channel 62; Hip-Hop Nation, SIRIUS channel 40 and XM channel 67, will play Michael Jackson songs at the top of each hour all day Friday, June 26.
Heart & Soul will also air a Michael Jackson tribute featuring some of Jackson’s most upbeat music on Friday, June 26 at 9:00 am ET. The Groove will air “The Thriller 25th Anniversary” special showcasing classic Michael Jackson music and an interview with Quincy Jones recorded in 2007 on Friday, June 26 at 5:00 pm ET.
DJ Premier will dedicate his entire show Live from HeadQuarters on Hip-Hop Nation to Michael Jackson on Friday, June 26 at 10:00 pm ET.
Listeners will hear SIRIUS XM host and music journalist Dave Marsh host a tribute honoring Jackson every hour on Classic Vinyl, SIRIUS channel 14 and XM channel 46, Classic Rewind, SIRIUS channel 15 and XM channel 49, Alt-Nation SIRIUS channel 21 and XM channel 47, The Spectrum, SIRIUS channel 18 and XM channel 45, and The Loft, SIRIUS channel 29 and XM channel 50.
Sources: www.sirius.com; www.xmradio.com.
Tributes.com establishes online memorial for Michael Jackson: A place to share memories and condolences
Tributes.com establishes online memorial for Michael Jackson who passed away today at age 50 after reportedly suffering cardiac arrest.
In 1958, Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. He began his musical career at the age five performing with siblings in the musical group the Jackson 5.
In 1979, Jackson released his solo album “Off The Wall” which was the first album to produce four No. 1 U.S. singles. This success was closely followed by the release “Thriller” in 1982, the largest selling album of all time.
Michael was noted for his revolutionary music videos in which he employed special effects, theatrical staging and extraordinary choreography. In 1984 Michael won a record breaking eight Grammy awards and in 1987 Michael launched his record breaking first solo world tour in conjunction with the album “Bad”. At the end of the 1980s Michael was named ‘Artist of the Decade’.
In 1994 Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of rock legend Elvis Presley. The marriage lasted 19 months. In 1996, Michael married Debbie Rowe with whom he had two children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. Subsequently Jackson produced a third child Prince Michael Jackson II also known as “Blanket”.
The Associated Press reported that Michael’s death “brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music’s premier all-around performer…”
Tributes.com has created a memorial page for those who have been touched by Michael’s life and would like to leave a message of condolence to the family. http://www.tributes.com/Michael-Jackson.
At the Tributes.com memorial, visitors can:
- Leave lasting messages of condolence and remembrance
- View photos and videos of Michael
- Read published obituaries and reflections from the public
- Locate an index of additional Internet references about Michael
- Send flowers or make a donation to charity
- Join online grieving groups and find insight and advice from Grief Specialist David Kessler
Tributes.com establishes online memorial for Farrah Fawcett: A place to share memories and condolences
Tributes.com has established an online memorial for Farrah Fawcett, who lost her long battle with anal cancer today at St. John’s Health Center in L.A. at the age of 62.
The Hollywood icon was best became famous for her role as a detective in “Charlie’s Angels” in the mid-’70s, inspiring millions of young women to imitate her long, feathered blonde hair. She rose to sex symbol status thanks in part to a now-legendary swimsuit poster that sold over 12 million copies.
Following her diagnosis with anal cancer in 2006, Farrah waged a very public battle against the disease, documenting her fight in “Farrah’s Story,” which aired in May on NBC.
Her death comes just days after longtime companion Ryan O’Neal had asked Farrah to be his wife.
Farrah is survived by partner Ryan O’Neal and their son, Redmond O’Neal.
Tributes.com has created a memorial page for those who have been touched by Farrah’s life and would like to leave a message of condolence to the family. Tributes.com/farrah-fawcett
At the Tributes.com memorial, visitors can:
- Leave lasting messages of condolence and remembrance
- View photos of Farrah at work and with her family
- Read published obituaries and reflections from the public
- Light an online candle in celebration of Farrah’s life
- Send flowers or make a donation to charity
- Join online grieving groups and find insight and advice from Grief Specialist David Kessler