You are here: Home / Archives for Awards

Britain and Belgium Dominate the Best Chocolate of 2011 Awards

February 3, 2012 By tjtheper Leave a Comment


(PRWEB UK) 13 December 2011

In the recent past Britain has been used to being viewed as second class citizens in the world of chocolate. However, according to the ChocolateReviews.co.uk survey over over 300 chocolate products during 2011 the country is fast becoming a dominant force. Although Belgian Pierre Marcolini won the overall award for his selection box, British chocolate makers have taken the bulk of the other chocolate awards on offer.

Other category winners of the best chocolates of the year incude the highly imaginative Artisan du Chocolat with their festive creations title with their ‘Magic Wands’ – flavoured sticks of chocolate which when combined mimicking other interesting flavours which were viewed as the perfect chocolate Christmas gift.

Traditionally the Italians, French and Swiss are most noted for their dark chocolate, however, it was Cleethorpes based Duffy from Red Star Chocolate with his Tierra Oscura Panama 72% which scooped the prize as being the best dark chocolate bar of 2011.

British chocolatiers dominated the novelty chocolate category with Lucky’s of London creating absolutely fantastic chocolate coated cakes, Berry Scrumptious from Scotland with their chocolate covered strawberries and Montezuma?s from Sussex with their interesting chocolate with lime pickle affair.

Commenting on the awards, Editor and Academy of Chocolate judge stated: it’s intriguing that so many people in the UK believe that companies in Europe make the best chocolate, and although Belgium won with Pierre Marcolini’s exceptional ganaches, there is a fantastic array of absolutely exceptional chocolatiers in this country we should be proud of. It’s time that chocolate lovers here support the fantastic work of our home-grown talent.”

Despite the resurgence of the UK in the creation of fine chocolate, Lee believes that British chocolatiers shouldn’t rest on our laurels, stating that “there is some tremendous chocolate being produced in USA at the moment. Currently brands such as Rogue Chocolate, Amano and the Mast Brothers can be hard to get hold of in this country. As supply channels improve, however, I am sure American chocolate will become increasingly popular amongst chocoholics in the UK and should hopefully encourage British chocolate makers to innovate and produce a much broader variety of artisan chocolate.”

###





Related Magic Press Releases

Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , ,

AIGA Minnesota Awards Pete Klein as an ‘Unsung Hero’

December 6, 2011 By tjtheper Leave a Comment

Eagan, MN (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

?When the Minnesota chapter of the professional association for design needed to improve the functionality of the AIGA Minnesota Design Show website, they turned to one of their own members ? who also happens to be TempWorks Software’s Interface and Media Designer Pete Klein.

?Pete created a site that showcases current AIGA Minnesota Design Show winners using a sortable interface,? says Seth Johnson, principal, Seth Johnson Design and president of AIGA Minnesota.

?The real work, though, is in the elegance of the content management system he created: for each subsequent year, the site can be re-skinned with new Show branding, new winners can be added, and the site will become an archive in perpetuity of Minnesota design talent.?

Klein also won an award for his pro bono work. It?s called the ?Unsung Hero? award. He explains what he did for AIGA Minnesota:

?Every year they were making a hundred-plus flat HTML pages using totally non-dynamic code. It couldn?t do much. I replaced that with a template system of my own making, along with an Advanced Programming Interface so you could get the information out of the system.?

More plainly, here?s what Pete?s work allows the users of the site, which by the way receives 10,000 hits/month, to do:

Let?s say you are looking at a Design Show winner in the Interactive category. Maybe you want to see whom the art director or the illustrator or the art director on the project was. You can find that easily, then you can also find all of the other award winning work they have had a hand in as well.

Or let?s say an agency won the award for environmental graphics, but you want to see what other award-winning work they have done. That will be on the site as well, giving them a spot to showcase their work somewhere other than their own company website.

?I?m trying to set high standards for interface and website design,? said Klein in his understated and plainspoken fashion.

?My goal with every project is to achieve the most benefit with the least amount of effort. Of course you have to spend hundreds of hours usually to get to that point!?

Kim Shannon, co-chair of the 2011 AIGA Minnesota Design Show, has this to say about Klein?s work:

?Pete is just a guy who makes magic happen so quietly that you don?t even notice? until you are completely blown away.?

# # #



Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Entertainment Industries Council Announces Honorees for Inaugural S.E.T. Awards

December 4, 2011 By tjtheper Leave a Comment


Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 31, 2011

Films Avatar, Extraordinary Measures, Star Trek, and television shows Drop Dead Diva, The Simpsons, Bones, and Burn Notice are among the productions to be honored at the inaugural S.E.T. Awards on November 17, 2011 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The S.E.T. Awards, which are produced by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) in collaboration with The Boeing Company as part of EIC?s Ready on the S.E.T. and? Action! initiative, honor productions for bringing attention to the fields of science, engineering, and technology.

In recent years while American interest in science, engineering and technology is at an all time high, fewer students are pursuing studies in these disciplines because they are perceived as difficult and not rewarding. As such, the U.S. is facing the growing threat of a diminished workforce resulting in reduced technological and economic competitiveness. The entertainment industry is uniquely suited to help inspire students to pursue rewarding technical careers and to play a role in filling the strong demand for jobs in science, engineering and technology.

?The aerospace industry is a leader in innovation and game-changing technology,? said Rick Stephens, senior vice president of Human Resources and Administration for Boeing. ?Future competitiveness relies on access to a highly skilled workforce educated in science, technology, engineering and math. Partnering with the entertainment industry is a powerful tool to grab the attention of parents and students and create a greater interest in high-tech careers.?

?The entertainment industry is magical in reaching within the popular culture, and accurate depictions are key to having young people be entertained and informed about the wonders of science, engineering and technology and how to make the world a better place,? said Brian Dyak, President, CEO and Co-Founder, Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. ?The submissions being honored at the S.E.T. Awards are proof positive of the commitment within the creative community to change the perception of S.E.T. related fields ? making them an entertaining and exciting venture for today?s youth.?

Feature films being honored are Avatar (20th Century Fox), Extraordinary Measures (CBS Films), and Star Trek (Paramount). TV Comedy honors will go to an episode of Lifetime?s Drop Dead Diva, the first season of G4?s It?s Effin? Science, and an episode of Fox?s The Simpsons. In drama, honorees are episodes from Bones (Fox), Burn Notice (USA Network), CSI: Miami (CBS), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC).

Also being presented are special awards in the disciplines of science, engineering and technology for portraying these fields in a positive and non-stereotypical way. ABC?s No Ordinary Family will receive the Scientist Award, Marvel?s Iron Man 2 will receive the Engineer Award, and Sony?s The Social Network will receive the Technologist Award. In addition, comic book legend Stan Lee will receive the Icon Award for the many scientists, engineers and technologists he co-created for Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, and many others.

Honored TV Movies are NBC?s The Jensen Project, and HBO?s Einstein & Eddington and Temple Grandin. Documentary winners are The Universe and Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo (History), World?s Toughest Fixes and The Human Family Tree (National Geographic), and NBCLearn.com.

Included on the S.E.T. Awards Honorary Committee are Nina Tassler (CBS), Kevin Reilly (Fox), Ted Harbert and Marc Graboff (NBC), Nancy Dubuc (Lifetime/History), Robert DeBitetto (A&E), Stephen Friedman (MTV), Tom Calderone (VH1), Deborah Myers (Science), Lauren Michalchyshyn (Discovery Health & Fitness), Steven Schiffman (National Geographic), Emiliano Calemzuk (Shine Group), Vivi Zigler (NBC Universal Digital), Dawn Ostroff, Jeff Wachtel, Chris McCumber (USA), and Stan Lee.

EIC, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power of the industry to bear on public discourse regarding health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the chief pioneer of entertainment advocacy outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education and information resources. EIC continues to provide critical and quality information for entertainment creators through innovative and time-proven methods of ?encouraging the art of making a difference? from within the entertainment industry. EIC also produces the simulcast national television special PRISM Awards Showcase which recognizes accurate portrayals of substance abuse and mental illness, including prevention treatment and recovery.

EIC also addresses issues such as diabetes, ADHD, science and technology, women?s health, firearm safety, sun safety, human trafficking, terrorism and homeland security, eating disorders, obesity, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Its website is located at http://www.eiconline.org. More information on the S.E.T. Awards can be found at http://www.eiconline.org/ReadyOnTheSet.

###





Find More Magic Press Releases

Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Twiniversity Awards Belli Elasticity Belly Oil and Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash with the ?Twiniversity Approved? Stamp of Approval

November 13, 2011 By tjtheper Leave a Comment


New York, New York (PRWEB) October 12, 2011

Parents of twins, and higher order multiple birth children, from around the globe have united within Twiniversity; the world?s fastest growing online network exclusively for their community. Twiniversity was formed to help families connect so that experiences can be shared, support can be given, and all multiple birth families have a place to call their online home.

One of the numerous topics discussed within Twiniversity is personal care during pregnancy. Moms to be and new moms are always looking for something to help with stretch marks and the itching that is associated with a growing belly. Considering how much a mother of multiples grows during her pregnancy, which is expectedly larger than that of a singleton expectant mother, this growth may be irritating, or even downright painful. Within their group moms also discuss pregnancy skin issues, including the all too common including Chloasma, a hormone related acne issue.

With these topics being so prevalent in the Twiniversity Forums, the founder Natalie Diaz was thrilled when Belli, a skincare line developed especially with moms in mind, reached out seeking an official ?Twiniversity Approval?.

Moms from around the United States were chosen to take part in the Twiniversity Approval process for Belli Elasticity Belly Oil and Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash. Twiniversity Testers were required to record their thoughts on the product packaging, usability, etc. The independent testers were given Belli Elasticity Belly Oil and Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash to be used for a series of months during different stages of their pregnancy. The reviewers were also asked to take photos and record videos to help illustrate why they liked or disliked certain features. Since 100% of the Twiniversity Testers would ?highly recommend Belli Elasticity Belly Oil to another mother of multiples,? and the majority of the reviewers would ?highly recommend Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash?, Twiniversity proudly announces that both products have officially been awarded the ?Twiniversity Approved? stamp.

Some of the features the approval team liked best about Belli Elasticity Belly Oil include: the scent, the beautiful packaging and the way it made them feel. ?I put it on at night after the shower and the scent and texture is very pampering.? Becky Wolfe, a Twiniversity Tester noted ?I am a big fan of the elegance and simplicity Belli has put into their packaging-it really makes the consumer feel like they are using a high-end spa product in the comfort of their own home.?

The Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash was praised by reviewers for its nice scent, cleaning ability and ease of use. ?It felt like it tightened my skin and felt refreshing? another Twiniversity Tester commented.

Natalie Diaz, founder of Twiniversity, explained why Twiniversity started its own approval process by saying, ?Parents of multiples trust other parents of multiples more so than anyone else. Since our community is such a tightly knit one, we depend on each other for support and guidance. Even though twins occur one in every 30 deliveries, it?s still rare, and the fact that our group shares this common bond makes us a real close community.? She goes on to say, ?This trust is not taken lightly, so when we decided to start our own review process we took several factors into consideration, most being specific to parents of multiples and unique to our community. We want to make sure that time, safety and finances are considered since they are what Twiniversity families are most concerned with.?

?Twiniversity Approved? recipients are recognized on the specific standards set forth by the Twiniversity team, and tested by independent families of multiples who are not paid for conducting reviews.

About Twiniversity.

Twiniversity is the fastest growing online community for parents of multiples since its founding in February 2010. Lead by Natalie Diaz, mom of six-year-old twins, writer for New York Family Magazine, teacher of the Twins 101 series, multiple parent advocate and Director of The Manhattan Twins Club.

Twiniversity headquarters is located in New York, N.Y. and has reach to more than 10,000 families of multiples in over 19 countries. For more information, visit http://www.Twiniversity.com.

About Belli

Founded on a clinical understanding of ingredient safety in 2002 by Jason Rubin MD and Annette Rubin, Belli offers luxurious and effective skin care solutions to safely address the specific skin care issues of pregnant women, new moms and babies. Belli incorporates the best ingredients from science and nature with the benefits of aromatherapy and massage therapy for holistic mother care. The Belli brand has earned the respect of OB/GYNs and pediatricians and the trust of discerning moms. Belli alone provides the treatments that make women feel beautiful, empowered and pampered during a magical yet uncertain time of body changes and heightened safety concerns.

http://www.belliskincare.com

###





Find More Magic Press Releases

Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Twice The Magic; Best Documentary & Soundtrack Award at the L.A. Indies Awards for MAGIC(S)

October 21, 2011 By tjtheper Leave a Comment

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 29, 2006

Synopsis: In a subject-driven account of ?Tikkun Olam? (to heal the world), MAGIC(S) explores the collaboration between a medical magician and his international audience during a time of immense social and political uncertainty in Israel. A story often told by Israel?s youngest; MAGIC(S) asks why we fight and what can be done to prevent future violent clashes. It further tells the story of contemporary life via this remarkable entertainer as he rehabilitates Palestinian and Jewish children hospitalized due to sickness and injury using little more than a smile, a wave of his magic wand and a handful of mesmerizing multilingual shenanigans.

MAGIC(S)? slogan comes directly from one of Magic Michael?s main dictums, ?Children smile the same way all over the world?.

Awards to Date:

Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

McBride Magic School Students Sweep Awards at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas

September 12, 2011 By tjtheper Leave a Comment

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) March 3, 2006

The staff and faculty of Jeff McBride?s Magic & Mystery School found good reason to celebrate last week as three of the school?s students, Sterling Dietz, Jayson Morrison, and Vinny De Ponto, took the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes at the teen competition at the World Magic Seminar, held at the Orleans Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. The World Magic Seminar is among the largest and most prestigious of international conventions for magicians, and is attended by many of the top names in the magic world, including Siegfried & Roy, Lance Burton, and Penn & Teller.

McBride?s Magic & Mystery School has been presenting intensive retreats and Master Class weekends since the mid-1990?s, first in New York and, since 1997, in Las Vegas. Students come from all over the world to study with master teachers Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. The winners from the World Magic Seminar, for example, come from throughout the U.S. Sterling Dietz, the first place winner, hails from Ferndale, Washington. Jayson Morrison lives and works full time as a magician in New Orleans, LA. And ?Vanishing Vinny? De Ponto lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The school is led by Jeff McBride & Eugene Burger.

Jeff McBride, a frequent Vegas headliner since he first appeared here back in the mid-1980?s with Diana Ross, now resides in Las Vegas and divides his time between performing and teaching. He publishes and online newsletter, ?The Secret Art Journal,? and holds classes regularly in Las Vegas, New York and Amsterdam (Netherlands). McBride?s high energy performances with masks and cards have been seen on every major television network in the US, he has circled the globe many times performing his popular theatre show, ?Magic UnMasked.?

Eugene Burger has been named ?Close up Magician of the Year? three times by Hollywood?s Magic Castle, and has written fifteen best-selling books for the trade, starred in eight instructional videos, lectured extensively to magicians’ groups in over a dozen countries, and his writings have been translated into several languages. Both Burger and McBride were named by Magic Magazine among the ?Top 100 Most Influential Magicians of the 20th Century.?

Learn more about McBride?s Magic & Mystery School on line at: http://www.magicalwisdom.com.

###



Related Magic Press Releases

Filed Under: Magic Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,