PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Entertainment & Living

PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Entertainment & Living

    1.  Film: How Realistic are Iron Man's Jet Boots, Suit?   2.  Gaming: Emerging Trends Within the Gaming Industry   3.  Holidays: Mother's Day Turns 100 This Year   4.  Living: The Four Challenges of Retirement   5.  Media: Is it Right for Vanity Fair to Publish Risque Photos of Miley       Cyrus?   6.  Parenting: Later-in-Life Parenting: Cool/More Commonplace in Hollywood   7.  Parenting: Talking to Young Daughters Who are Fans of Hannah Montana   8.  Toys: What it Takes to Get a Product off the Ground  

1. FILM: HOW REALISTIC ARE IRON MAN'S JET BOOTS, SUIT? JIM KAKALIOS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA professor of physics and comic-book fan: "Don't expect to strap on jet boots for your commute to work just yet. Those boots and nearly all of the features of the 'Iron Man' suit are not likely to be realized anytime soon, with one important exception." Kakalios can comment on the science of the superhero's suit (the Jetboots, repulsor rays and cybernetic helmet). Kakalios is the author of the book "The Physics of Superheroes." He has found that the writers of the comics often got the science right behind some of the superheroes' abilities. Kakalios began using examples from comics to teach physics to his students in 2001. News Contact: Patty Mattern, mattern@umn.edu Phone: +1-612-624-2801 (5/2/08)

2. GAMING: EMERGING TRENDS WITHIN THE GAMING INDUSTRY. MIKE FELDMAN, president and co-founder of PYRAMAT LLC, the company that pioneered the game- enhancing gear category: "With industry sales at an all-time high, video gaming has become a multi-generational activity, with gamers of all ages continuing to crave a maximized gaming experience." Feldman is available to discuss emerging trends within the gaming industry, gaming accessories as its own multi-million dollar category, and why the category continues to grow. News Contact: Arielle Wolin, pyramat@carryonpr.com Phone: +1-866-900-1670 (5/2/08)

3. HOLIDAYS: MOTHER'S DAY TURNS 100 THIS YEAR. MERYL LEVITZ, president and CEO of GREATER PHILADELPHIA TOURISM MARKETING CORPORATION: "Mother's Day is such a popular and important holiday because it was founded by a real Philadelphia woman, not by a major corporation, who fought to make it an official U.S. holiday." Levitz is available to discuss how this holiday that started in earnest by Anna Jarvis 100 years ago became the third biggest holiday for spending (behind Christmas and Valentine's Day), with Americans spending $15.7 billion on Mother's Day last year. News Contact: Morgan Obidowski, morgan@gptmc.com Phone: +1-215-599-2298 (5/2/08)

4. LIVING: THE FOUR CHALLENGES OF RETIREMENT. BILL ROITER, Ed.D., founder of the MVP RESEARCH GROUP and author of "Beyond Work: How Accomplished People Retire Successfully" (Wiley, May 2008): "Money is what most people think about when they consider retirement. Finances are one of the four challenges we face as we retire because they help determine when you can retire and they limit or expand your choices when you are retired. The other three challenges -- your physical, social and personal well being -- are often overlooked or thought of as inconsequential. However, once your finances allow you to retire, the other three challenges determine how well you live once you move beyond your work. You can plan and manage these challenges as well as, if not better than, planning and managing your finances." As a psychologist in corporate America, Roiter can discuss and offer insight on how these other three concerns are actually the main challenges of retirement for those who are comfortable with their finances. News Contact: T.K. Hall, tk@ictusinitiative.com Phone: +1-617- 717-8294 (5/2/08)

5. MEDIA: IS IT RIGHT FOR VANITY FAIR TO PUBLISH RISQUE PHOTOS OF MILEY CYRUS? DR. BRUCE WEINSTEIN, BUSINESSWEEK.COM's ethics columnist, argues that it is unethical of Vanity Fair to publish semi-nude photos of Miley Cyrus: "These images sexualize Miley, who is only 15, and are thus a form of exploitation. It was wrong of Annie Leibovitz to take the photos, and it was wrong for Miley's parents to allow her to do so. Ultimately, though, Vanity Fair bears responsibility for their publication, and editor in chief Graydon Carter should have just said, 'No.' Just because Vanity Fair was legally entitled to print the pictures doesn't mean it was right to do so. Ethics holds us to a higher standard than the law does." Web site: http://theethicsguy.com/ (5/2/08)

6. PARENTING: LATER-IN-LIFE PARENTING: COOL/MORE COMMONPLACE IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT CHALLENGING. ROBIN GORMAN NEWMAN, creator, MOTHERHOOD LATER ... THAN SOONER, and a 40-something mom of a 5-year-old: "Motherhood is a challenge at any age, and if you have young children when you're 35 or older, it can be quite an adjustment. We have more life experience than baby experience, which can be beneficial, but we're also more used to being our own person. It has become very cool in Hollywood, and commonplace, for women to become 'later moms'; but on a grassroots level, it's not easy feeling, at times, like the oldest mom in the playground. Connecting with mom peers can be really empowering to share the parenting-later-in-life experience." Newman is the creator of Salute to 35+ Moms Week, May 9-15, and co-founder of MotherhoodLater.com. (5/2/08)

7. PARENTING: PARENTS TALKING TO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WHO ARE FANS OF HANNAH MONTANA. NANCY RUE, author of more than 80 books for young people, including the beloved Faithgirlz! Sophie series, "Girl Politics," "Body Talk" and "Everybody Tells Me to Be Myself, but I Don't Know Who I am," can offer insight to parents looking for advice on how to approach young daughters who idolize Miley Cyrus and "Hannah Montana": "Parents should look at the news surrounding Miley Cyrus' provocative photo spread in Vanity Fair as an opportunity to talk to their daughters about the choices they make and the impact it has on their lives. I caution parents to avoid confrontation and recommend that they engage their daughters in a frank discussion. Opening with a question on what they think about the situation is a solid approach to starting a genuine dialogue." News Contact: Joe DiBenedetto, jdibenedetto@lambert-edwards.com Phone: +1-516-637-0597 Web site: http://www.faithgirlz.com/sophiesWorld/author (5/2/08)

8. TOYS: WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A PRODUCT OFF THE GROUND. CARLTON CALVIN, president and founder of RAZOR USA: "In order for an idea to become a trend, you need to be able to strategically discern which of the thousands of creative ideas can be successful and monetized." Calvin is available to discuss the new trends and play patterns emerging within the toy industry and what's hot for summer and back-to-school. An attorney-turned-toy-entrepreneur, Calvin can speak to toy phenomena and what it takes to get a product off the ground. News Contact: Arielle Wolin, razor@carryonpr.com Phone: +1-866-332- 0565 (5/2/08)

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PRNewswire -- May 2

Source: ProfNet

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following experts have provided direct contact information: Bruce Weinstein, BusinessWeek.com bruce@theethicsguy.com Phone: +1-917-593-1195 Robin Gorman Newman, Motherhood Later ... Than Sooner rgnewman@optonline.net Phone: +1-516-773-0911 and +1-516-770-1611

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Profile: International Entertainment