Teen Driver Contest Highlights Tire Safety

Teen Driver Contest Highlights Tire Safety (383) (NewsUSA) - Teaching teens to drive can be a hair-raising experience for any parent. And while driver's education classes can help focus kids' attention on the rules of the road and basic etiquette while behind the wheel, they need to put their education into action on the road. Consider this: A recent survey of U.S. teens conducted by Michelin North America in seven major U.S. cities reveals that 42 percent are driving with unsafe tire tread, and 40 percent are driving with improper tire pressure. Two in five (43 percent) have never checked their tire tread depth, while one in three (32 percent) have never checked tire pressure. However, the majority of teen drivers agree that they should check their tire pressure and tire tread more often. "The fact that car crashes remain the No. 1 killer of our teens is a national tragedy," said Scott Clark, chairman and president of Michelin North America. "Many teens say they know the simple steps that make their tires safe, but too few are actually using their knowledge. It's time to move our teen drivers from awareness to lifesaving action." To further educate young drivers about tire safety and encourage them to check their car tires, Michelin, in partnership with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), is expanding its Beyond the Driving Test program with the #StreetTreadContest. At the core of the contest is a collaboration with youth culture brand Vans, who worked with Michelin to design limited edition versions of Vans Classic SK8-Hi and Old Skool shoes. To acquire one of the limited-edition, Michelin-inspired Vans, teens must prove their street tread by sharing a photo showing that they know how to check a tire's tread depth using a penny and/or know how to check tire pressure, using the hashtag #StreetTreadContest. "Any time I have the opportunity to encourage youth to develop their knowledge and improve their safety, I want to get involved," said Steve Van Doren, son of Vans' cofounder and vice president of events and promotions. "Using the iconic Michelin Man on our classic styles that are built on top of rubber will be a fun way to inspire tire safety and drive teens to take action." To learn about critical tire safety checks and how to enter the #StreetTreadContest for a pair of limited-edition Vans, visit www.BeyondtheDrivingTest.com/StreetTread.

Safety App Empowers Students, Offers Peace of Mind for Parents

Safety App Empowers Students, Offers Peace of Mind for Parents (492) (NewsUSA) - Sending the kids to college means letting go, but it doesn't mean disconnecting, especially when it comes to safety. Newly minted college students may think they are invincible, but approximately 4 million young adults arrive in emergency rooms each year because of car accidents, sexual assaults, medical illness, accidental injuries, alcohol poisonings and drug overdoses, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Especially in today's era of heightened security concerns, parents are eager for ways to ensure their college student's safety, and the Umergency app can help. The app was created by Gail Schenbaum, the mother of a college student who received a middle-of-the-night phone call from her daughter as she was being taken to the emergency room with a partial amputation. Ms. Schenbaum did not have any emergency contact information for her daughter's college, local hospitals, police department, or even roommates. That experience inspired Ms. Schenbaum to help college families navigate any emergency or safety situation. Available to download in the App Store and Google Play, Umergency offers a range of safety and security resources for students, parents, friends, and family members. Key features include an Urgent Alert beacon that notifies parents and other trusted contacts when immediate help is needed and pinpoints the student's GPS location. On the flip side, an "I am safe" function alerts these contacts when the student is out of harm's way. The app also includes on-campus safety information specific to the student's school, and allows the student to enter data and choose emergency contacts with whom to share it. Contact information for local police, fire departments, emergency centers, and urgent care personnel are accessible, as well as campus health services, including psychological and other after-hours hotlines. Additional features of the app include the ability to upload and share a secure copy of the student's health insurance card, as well as a digital medical consent form that allows medical staff to speak with the student's trusted friends and family and provide confidential information. An app can be an important tool, but it's not a substitute for conversations about safety basics. Parents can set the stage for a safer college experience by talking to their students before they get busy with dorm-room decorating. The following questions are a good way to get started and open up a dialog: - Do you feel there is enough security on campus? - What are the school's safety procedures to deal with a campus crisis? - Does the school conduct periodic practice drills to test its emergency preparedness? - How does the campus notify students and parents in case of an emergency? - What type of emergency facilities are available on campus, including mental health services? The Umergency app is currently available for free to college students in the United States, and costs $9.99 per year or $19.99 for lifetime access for parents, family members, or other non-students. To download the app or learn more, go to http://www.umergencyapp.com.

Feature-Rich Dog Parks Are Coming to Towns Across America

Feature-Rich Dog Parks Are Coming to Towns Across America (447) (NewsUSA) - Lassie used to run free throughout the town, solving problems and rescuing kids in trouble. Today, it is rare and often illegal to let a dog roam off-leash. Even large parks usually have leash laws. At the same time, dog ownership is growing. According to the American Pet Products Association, there are over 60 million US households with at least one dog. And those dog owners are increasingly looking for places to let their dogs run and socialize off-leash. Some communities have solved this by creating off-leash areas such as fenced-in parks where people can let Spot run free. According to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a good dog park has a few essential features. The basics are bags and trash cans for cleaning up after dogs, fresh drinking water, and shade for cooling down. Ideally, dog parks would include separate entrance and exit gates, allowing everyone to comeand go with not only ease, but safety. And a dual-gate system would help eliminate dogs escaping through any open gate while another dog is entering or leaving through it. While those are the basics, dog parks are popping up around the country with additional fun features to keep canines safe and happy. Beau's Dream Dog Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has a tennis ball tree that launches balls for large dogs. Pilgrim Dog Park in Provincetown, Massachusetts has pet-friendly sculptures designed by local artists that dogs can play on. Catalyst Experiential is currently designing the Bucks County Dog Park, which will be one of the most feature-laden in the country. The entrance is designed to resemble the two halves of a large, broken dog biscuit. Once they pass through the "dog biscuit" entrance, dogs will find water features, an agility station, ample shade, and even dog-wash facilities inside their park. It's like Disney for dogs! The dog park is one of many projects that Catalyst Experiential is bringing to communities as a part of their vision to integrate community and communication. The "broken dog biscuit" entrance to the park features two displays that will enable local government, schools, organizations and businesses to speak directly to the communities they serve, including announcing local events, issuing safety messages, and other timely communications. A dog lover and owner himself, Catalyst Experiential CEO Thaddeus Bartkowski explains that "while dog ownership has increased, rules and regulations restricting the ability of dogs to run free has unfortunately been on the rise as well." "What we hope to create is a place where dogs can get the off-leash exercise they deserve to enhance quality of life for both the dogs and their owners," he says. For more information about Catalyst Experiential, reach out here.

New AI Platform Protects Musicians' Work

New AI Platform Protects Musicians' Work (384) (NewsUSA) - Any music artist - regardless of his or her level of fame - will tell you that chief among their many concerns about the business is guarding against copyright infringement and protecting the work. DigiTrax Entertainment, a leader in the use of artificial intelligence in the music industry, recognizes this and has found a way to harness the analytical power of AI to help protect musicians from copyright infringement. The new DigiTrax product, Music Fact Reports, can act as a personal CSI lab for forensic musicology, according to Joseph Vangieri, CEO of DigiTrax Entertainment. "We believe Music Fact Reports will be a major step forward for rights holders," Mr. Vangieri says in a statement announcing the launch of Music Fact Reports. The Music Fact Reports program helps individual musicians by saving them the hassle, time, and expense of hiring a professional forensic musicologist to conduct an analysis before deciding whether a copyright infringement case is worth pursuing with a lawyer. The program also can be used by copyright lawyers to evaluate the strength of potential cases, and by publishers seeking to confirm the originality of a contracted musical work. The Music Fact Reports program works on the power of artificial intelligence by extracting sequences from pieces of music and comparing them to other works using music theory-based algorithms. "We are working towards a future in which analyzed sequences of data for all copyrighted pieces of music are stored in a database that can be accessed and searched to detect levels of extrinsic similarity instantly," says DigiTrax Chief Technical Officer Marcus Matusiak in a statement announcing the Music Fact Reports launch. The Music Fact Reports program is currently being used by attorney Richard Wolfe of Wolfe Law in Miami, Florida, to pursue a copyright-infringement case involving instrumental music. "I think the technology is cutting-edge for purposes of identifying substantial similarity in two pieces of music in terms of rhythms, beats, and extrinsic similarity," says Mr. Wolfe. To promote the launch of the Music Fact Reports program and showcase its potential, DigiTrax engineers have developed Music Fact Reports for the top 10 copyright infringement cases of all time, Mr. Vangieri says. Visit MusicFactReports.com for the reports on the Top 10 music-copyright-infringement cases, and for more information about how DigiTrax helps protect musicians.

Music Innovation Company Scores Spot in Global Competition

Music Innovation Company Scores Spot in Global Competition (340) (NewsUSA) - DigiTrax Entertainment, a music technology company pioneering the use of artificial intelligence for the music industry, has taken semi-finalist honors in the Association of Chinese Professionals of Atlanta and US China Innovation Alliance's InnoSTARS competition in Atlanta, Georgia. The InnoSTARS Competition provides an opportunity for innovative United States companies to connect with potential investors and partners from China. The semi-finalists will have the opportunity to make regional contacts in Chinese technology hubs and obtain valuable global perspective and feedback on their products. DigiTrax Entertainment CEO Joseph Vangieri and CTO Marcus Matusiak made the winning presentation at the InnoSTARS competition, which earned DigiTrax the unique business opportunity to travel to China later in 2018. The DigiTrax team will present the company to potential investors in the areas of artificial intelligence and music creation and production. The InnoSTARS participants will visit 19 Chinese cities with established business climates conducive to innovation and technology. "That the Association of Chinese Professionals of Atlanta and the US China Innovation Alliance have honored DigiTrax with this win represents an important step forward for us," Mr. Vangieri says. The opportunity to visit China allows the company to expand its pool of potential investors and explain how "its unique approach to artificial intelligence in the music field is both effective and potentially highly lucrative," Mr. Vangieri says. Accredited investors seeking more information about the company can visit Digitrax's SeedInvest portal at https://goo.gl/o7u61w. What sets DigiTrax apart is its unique use of artificial intelligence to simultaneously address the major challenges facing the music production industry: time, money, and personnel. Music Builder, the DigiTrax flagship musical technology platform, allows users to create, produce, and distribute music efficiently and cost-effectively, without the need for an extensive team of production specialists. In addition, DigiTrax uses AI technology to help musicians easily compare songs and parts of songs to determine whether their original work has been plagiarized. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based company owns seven patents in music artificial intelligence and machine learning, and boasts an extensive catalog of musical content. For more information, visit themusicbuilder.com.

Crowdfunding Opp Opens Door to Invest in Music Innovation

Crowdfunding Opp Opens Door to Invest in Music Innovation (357) (NewsUSA) - DigiTrax Entertainment, Inc., a pioneer in the music technology industry, is offering forward-looking investors a chance to get involved in the future of music. The signature DigiTrax technology, known as The Music Builder platform, involves the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to help musicians create new music and to analyze existing music to avoid copyright infringements. The company is leveraging seven granted patents and is continuing to develop software products that will change the way people and companies create music. "DigiTrax Entertainment is far from a neophyte in the music creation and distribution space," DigiTrax CEO Joseph Vangieri says, referring to the company's 15,000-song hits catalog and professional distribution API, which already generates revenue. "Our expertise in the machine learning and artificial intelligence sectors will allow our platform, The Music Builder, to extend our capabilities, and the capabilities of music creators and copyright owners everywhere, far beyond where they are now," Mr. Vangieri says. "We want to leverage our patents in the music artificial intelligence and analysis field to disrupt the music industry in much the same way that digital photography and computer graphics imaging (CGI) disrupted the film and gaming industries - by putting powerful and transformative tools that help automate music creation and analysis into the hands of everyday people," Vangieri explains. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based company has opened an initial investment round on an equity crowdfunding platform. The platform, SeedInvest, is designed to allow access to venture capital and angel investing opportunities to anyone who wants to get involved with promising companies at an early stage. "It's a great opportunity to be among the one percent of vetted applicants to be accepted to SeedInvest," Vangieri says. DigiTrax Entertainment, Inc. is offering securities under Regulation CF and Rule 506(c) of Regulation D through SI Securities, LLC ("SI Securities"). The Company has filed a Form C with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its offering, a copy of which is available on the SeedInvest portal at: https://goo.gl/5QtqGs. The company offers convertible notes with a $5,000 minimum investment on SeedInvest. For more information, visit the DigiTrax profile on the SeedInvest portal at https://goo.gl/5QtqGs.

Orlando Screams: 78 Days of Halloween

Orlando Screams: 78 Days of Halloween (453) (NewsUSA) - Halloween has become one of America's most iconic holidays. But why celebrate for just one night when Orlando, Halloween Vacation Capital, offers Halloween events spanning an entire 78 days? Starting as early as Aug. 17 and running through Nov. 3, there's something for everyone, from mild and family-friendly to wild and terrifying. This year's lineup includes a host of All-Hallows events and attractions; themed hotel packages; and the return of the largest horror convention in the nation.  Theme Park Frights  This year, visitors can expect Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights to pay an homage to the '80s , with a haunted house in the theme of Netflix's "Stranger Things," as well as nine other haunted houses, for a total of 10 - the most ever in the event's 28-year history. For a more family-friendly experience, the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom Park comes alive with jack-o-lanterns and special characters for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Visitors can trick-or-treat throughout the park, masquerade with costumed characters at the Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, sing along at the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, and end the night with a "Boo-tacular" fireworks show. SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular has an ocean of Halloween fun planned. During this daytime event, families are immersed in an underwater "fantasea" including trick-or-treating, not-so-spooky live shows, and the chance to mingle with everyone's favorite Sesame Street friends including Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster and more.  Boo Beyond the Parks  The largest horror convention in the nation, Spooky Empire, returns to Orlando Oct. 26-29 at the Caribe Royale Orlando. Celebrity guests this year includes David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson of X-files fame, with more to be announced. Other thrills and chills include a, costume contest, zombie walk, and film festival. A Petrified Forest features two outdoor scare trails for small groups to venture through a haunted forest at night. Live actors stalk guests through the dark, and uniquely themed areas make for a truly thrilling, chilling experience. The event runs select nights, Oct. 5 - Nov. 3  Haunting Hotel Happenings  Three Hyatt properties are offering a "No Tricks, Just Treats" package, Sept.1 - Nov. 4, to get guests into the Halloween spirit. The package includes two complimentary "spooky" drinks or beverages of choice per stay as well as a special-themed treat placed in their room upon arrival, available at Hyatt Place across from Universal Orlando Resort, Hyatt House across from Universal Orlando Resort, and Hyatt Place Orlando Convention Center. Hilton Orlando is offering "A ROOM WITH A BOO" package, which includes daily breakfast, premium Wi-Fi and late checkout at 2:00 p.m.; perfect sleeping-in time for those "creatures of the night." Use this link for booking. For more information, visit VisitOrlando.com.

Cultural Center Breathes Life into Historic School

Cultural Center Breathes Life into Historic School (403) (NewsUSA) - A former Nevada school for Indian children continues its mission of education, but now as a museum and educational center for tribal arts and culture. The Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada, was opened by the federal government in 1890 with the goal of educating Indian children. The school's original goals included assimilating the children into mainstream American culture and offering vocational training while discouraging tribal traditions and language. The school's mission shifted to an academic focus in the 1960s and it closed in 1980, when it became the property of the state of Nevada. Today, the state-run Nevada Indian Commission is working to restore many of the historic stone buildings on the 240-acre campus with the two-fold goal of educating the public about the school's history and providing entrepreneurial and cultural opportunities for Native Americans. Some building space will house a museum; other areas will include venues for arts, culture, and business development. Sherry Rupert, executive director of the Nevada Indian Commission, says that the museum and cultural center "offer a new beginning to the campus." In the spring of 2019, a new cultural center and museum is scheduled to open in one of the campus buildings. Plans also call for creating a welcome center in a former post office near the museum. Long-term plans include rehabilitating many of the stone buildings on the campus so they can be functional spaces available for use as places of learning about tribal culture and arts. The school was also known for strong athletic programs, and renovators hope to restore the gymnasium to its position as a gathering place not only for sports, but for other community social events. Nevada governor Brian Sandoval was instrumental in promoting the restoration and reinvention of the school. Sandoval made raising $4.5 million in funding for a museum and cultural center a priority in his 2017-18 budget and pledged to continue his support for other related projects. He participated in a blessing ceremony for the museum and cultural center in July. "The importance of history and culture and what happened here, for better or for worse, it has to be preserved," Sandoval says. "It has to be a story that is told forever. This has to be a place where people can travel from all over the country and all over the world and truly understand what happened here." For more information about the school and museum, visit stewartindianschool.com/museum.

Four Tips to Keep Your Kids' Teeth Healthy And Clean Share|

Four Tips to Keep Your Kids' Teeth Healthy And Clean (416) (NewsUSA) - We all want our kids to have movie-star smiles as adults. As parents, this means knowing how to protect their teeth when they're young, while ensuring that they practice good dental health care for a lifetime. Because February is National Children's Dental Health Month, it's the perfect time to "brush up" on instilling good oral-hygiene habits. Consider this: according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), nearly one in three children ages two to five years old in the U.S. are affected by tooth decay, which is one of the top chronic infectious diseases among children and can compromise their health, development, and quality of life in both the short and long term. "Parents are bombarded with unsolicited advice and health findings that are constantly changing," says Dr. Jade Miller, AAPD President. "We don't want to add to that stress, but there are a few common misconceptions, that could help make a huge difference in your child's oral health -- which is linked to their overall health and wellness." The good news is that tooth decay is nearly 100 percent preventable. The following do's and don'ts from the AAPD can keep tooth decay at bay and keep kids smiling for years to come: *Do cut down on sugar. Children shouldn't graze on candy and sugary drinks (including sports drinks and juice). That prolonged exposure to sugar and acid can wreak havoc on teeth. Instead, stick to designated meal and snack times and have them drink plenty of water throughout the day. *Don't put babies to bed with a bottle. Milk and juice contain sugar. When babies are put to bed with a bottle, the sugar coats their teeth while they are sleeping, causing tooth decay. If you use a bottle before sleep, opt for water. *Do wean children off of pacifiers by age three. Pacifiers are a natural way for children to self-soothe. However, prolonged use can increase the risk of cavities, and affect the way a child's teeth bite together often causing an overbite. *Do avoid topical teething gels and rings. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against using teething gels that contain benzocaine or lidocaine because they can harm your child. Parents and caregivers should stay away from teething rings too which contain chemicals, and low levels of BPA-- despite labels citing otherwise -- that can be harmful to your child. For more information about children's oral health and to find a pediatric dentist in your area, visit www.mychildrensteeth.org.

Feature-Rich Dog Parks Are Coming to Towns Across America

Feature-Rich Dog Parks Are Coming to Towns Across America (447) (NewsUSA) - Lassie used to run free throughout the town, solving problems and rescuing kids in trouble. Today, it is rare and often illegal to let a dog roam off-leash. Even large parks usually have leash laws. At the same time, dog ownership is growing. According to the American Pet Products Association, there are over 60 million US households with at least one dog. And those dog owners are increasingly looking for places to let their dogs run and socialize off-leash. Some communities have solved this by creating off-leash areas such as fenced-in parks where people can let Spot run free. According to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a good dog park has a few essential features. The basics are bags and trash cans for cleaning up after dogs, fresh drinking water, and shade for cooling down. Ideally, dog parks would include separate entrance and exit gates, allowing everyone to comeand go with not only ease, but safety. And a dual-gate system would help eliminate dogs escaping through any open gate while another dog is entering or leaving through it. While those are the basics, dog parks are popping up around the country with additional fun features to keep canines safe and happy. Beau's Dream Dog Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has a tennis ball tree that launches balls for large dogs. Pilgrim Dog Park in Provincetown, Massachusetts has pet-friendly sculptures designed by local artists that dogs can play on. Catalyst Experiential is currently designing the Bucks County Dog Park, which will be one of the most feature-laden in the country. The entrance is designed to resemble the two halves of a large, broken dog biscuit. Once they pass through the "dog biscuit" entrance, dogs will find water features, an agility station, ample shade, and even dog-wash facilities inside their park. It's like Disney for dogs! The dog park is one of many projects that Catalyst Experiential is bringing to communities as a part of their vision to integrate community and communication. The "broken dog biscuit" entrance to the park features two displays that will enable local government, schools, organizations and businesses to speak directly to the communities they serve, including announcing local events, issuing safety messages, and other timely communications. A dog lover and owner himself, Catalyst Experiential CEO Thaddeus Bartkowski explains that "while dog ownership has increased, rules and regulations restricting the ability of dogs to run free has unfortunately been on the rise as well." "What we hope to create is a place where dogs can get the off-leash exercise they deserve to enhance quality of life for both the dogs and their owners," he says. For more information about Catalyst Experiential, reach out here.