Monthly Archives: April 2010

Chwin, who sets much of his work in his home city of Gdansk, is an illustrator, as well a writer of fiction for adults and older children.

His most well-known novel, Hanemann ( translated as Death in Danzig ) takes place in Danzig/Gdansk in the period of transition from the end of the War to the beginning of the Communist era.

Described as ‘wonderfully atmospheric’ ( Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year ), and ‘a richly expressive novel of enforced cultural change.. a beautiful book’ ( Guardian ), Hanemann is currently being made into a film by director Agnieszka Holland.

Dr Bednarowski established a Trust in 1999 to develop international scholarly collaboration between academics in Poland and Aberdeen.

He graduated from Jagiellonian University then taught at the University of Lvov. Dr Bednarowski escaped from Poland at the start of the War and joined the Polish army in France.

Following the occupation of France, he came to Britain and served with the Polish army based in this country. At the end of the War, he joined the staff of the Logic Department, remaining there until he retired as a Reader some 30 years later.

Tickets for Stefan Chwin’s Polish Writing event are £5 ( £3 concessions ) and can be booked online at www.abdn.ac.uk/word/programmeor through Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122.

For more information visit www.abdn.ac.uk/word/programmeand http://www.bednarowskitrust.org/

Notes to Editors
Issued by the Communications Team, Office of External Affairs, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen. Tel: ( 01224 ) 272014.

Source: Media Newswire

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Chwin, who sets much of his work in his home city of Gdansk, is an illustrator, as well a writer of fiction for adults and older children.

His most well-known novel, Hanemann ( translated as Death in Danzig ) takes place in Danzig/Gdansk in the period of transition from the end of the War to the beginning of the Communist era.

Described as ‘wonderfully atmospheric’ ( Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year ), and ‘a richly expressive novel of enforced cultural change.. a beautiful book’ ( Guardian ), Hanemann is currently being made into a film by director Agnieszka Holland.

Dr Bednarowski established a Trust in 1999 to develop international scholarly collaboration between academics in Poland and Aberdeen.

He graduated from Jagiellonian University then taught at the University of Lvov. Dr Bednarowski escaped from Poland at the start of the War and joined the Polish army in France.

Following the occupation of France, he came to Britain and served with the Polish army based in this country. At the end of the War, he joined the staff of the Logic Department, remaining there until he retired as a Reader some 30 years later.

Tickets for Stefan Chwin’s Polish Writing event are £5 ( £3 concessions ) and can be booked online at www.abdn.ac.uk/word/programmeor through Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122.

For more information visit www.abdn.ac.uk/word/programmeand http://www.bednarowskitrust.org/

Notes to Editors
Issued by the Communications Team, Office of External Affairs, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen. Tel: ( 01224 ) 272014.

Source: Media Newswire

Continue reading →

The tariffs were attached to the import of Chinese honey about two years ago because exporters there were “dumping” it in the U.S. – selling it at a much lower price than its cost, which is about one-half what it costs U.S. honey producers. The practice has almost ruined the market for domestic honey, says Bryant, who is also director of the palynology laboratory at Texas A&M.

China is the largest honey producer in the world.

Bryant, who examines more than 100 honey samples a year for importers, exporters, beekeepers and producers, says he believes he is the only person in the United States doing melissopalynology – the study of pollen in honey – on a routine basis. For the last five years, he has analyzed the pollen in honey samples from all over the world to determine the nectar sources and origin of the honey.

He examines imported samples purported to come from Viet Nam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, and usually discovers that the samples are blends “with a little honey from those countries and a majority of the blend coming from Chinese sources.”

“Now there are lots of shenanigans going on to avoid having to pay those tariffs, and the investigators are way behind in following them,” Bryant says. “The beekeepers of the U.S. have been pleading with the FDA to enact stricter guidelines about accurate labeling for honey, but that is a long, slow process. Meanwhile, I’m trying to help out here and there, but it’s almost impossible to keep up.”

Some foreign exporters get around the tariff by mixing honey from different sources, while others infuse up to 50 percent high fructose corn syrup into the honey, he says.

DNA studies of the pollen in honey are expensive and difficult, Bryant says. Isotopic studies can reveal the source, provided you have a database of isotope signatures, which for now are very limited, he adds.

“We’ve never had ‘truth in labeling’ for selling honey, and we should,” he says. “And the U.S. needs to make it illegal to import honey that has been filtered to remove the pollen, which makes it almost impossible to detect where it came from.”

Bryant has been a professor of either biology or anthropology at Texas A&M since 1971. He holds degrees in geography, anthropology and botany. Such variety has enabled him to address many topics – ranging from charting paleoenvironments and ancient human diets to his current emphasis on forensics and honey research.

John Thomas, who was an entomologist with the Texas A&M Extension Service from 1957 to 1992 and is a beekeeper and a major donor to the new Texas Honey Bee Facility at Texas A&M, says he is grateful for Bryant’s work.

“We have fought with the Chinese importers because honey is not a primary export there; it is just a byproduct they get from these other products they produce for medicinal purposes,” Thomas says. “This system the A&M anthropologists have devised is a mechanism to trace the origins of the honey through the pollens. Unfortunately, it doesn’t solve the problem.”

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About research at Texas A&M University: As one of the world’s leading research institutions, Texas A&M is in the vanguard in making significant contributions to the storehouse of knowledge, including that of science and technology. Research conducted at Texas A&M represents an annual investment of more than $582 million, which ranks third nationally for universities without a medical school, and underwrites approximately 3,500 sponsored projects. That research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental and applied contributions resulting in many cases in economic benefits to the state, nation and world.

Contact: Kelli Levey, News & Information Services, at ( 979 ) 845-4645 or Vaughn Bryant at ( 979 ) 845-5255.

Source: Media Newswire

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The tariffs were attached to the import of Chinese honey about two years ago because exporters there were “dumping” it in the U.S. – selling it at a much lower price than its cost, which is about one-half what it costs U.S. honey producers. The practice has almost ruined the market for domestic honey, says Bryant, who is also director of the palynology laboratory at Texas A&M.

China is the largest honey producer in the world.

Bryant, who examines more than 100 honey samples a year for importers, exporters, beekeepers and producers, says he believes he is the only person in the United States doing melissopalynology – the study of pollen in honey – on a routine basis. For the last five years, he has analyzed the pollen in honey samples from all over the world to determine the nectar sources and origin of the honey.

He examines imported samples purported to come from Viet Nam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, and usually discovers that the samples are blends “with a little honey from those countries and a majority of the blend coming from Chinese sources.”

“Now there are lots of shenanigans going on to avoid having to pay those tariffs, and the investigators are way behind in following them,” Bryant says. “The beekeepers of the U.S. have been pleading with the FDA to enact stricter guidelines about accurate labeling for honey, but that is a long, slow process. Meanwhile, I’m trying to help out here and there, but it’s almost impossible to keep up.”

Some foreign exporters get around the tariff by mixing honey from different sources, while others infuse up to 50 percent high fructose corn syrup into the honey, he says.

DNA studies of the pollen in honey are expensive and difficult, Bryant says. Isotopic studies can reveal the source, provided you have a database of isotope signatures, which for now are very limited, he adds.

“We’ve never had ‘truth in labeling’ for selling honey, and we should,” he says. “And the U.S. needs to make it illegal to import honey that has been filtered to remove the pollen, which makes it almost impossible to detect where it came from.”

Bryant has been a professor of either biology or anthropology at Texas A&M since 1971. He holds degrees in geography, anthropology and botany. Such variety has enabled him to address many topics – ranging from charting paleoenvironments and ancient human diets to his current emphasis on forensics and honey research.

John Thomas, who was an entomologist with the Texas A&M Extension Service from 1957 to 1992 and is a beekeeper and a major donor to the new Texas Honey Bee Facility at Texas A&M, says he is grateful for Bryant’s work.

“We have fought with the Chinese importers because honey is not a primary export there; it is just a byproduct they get from these other products they produce for medicinal purposes,” Thomas says. “This system the A&M anthropologists have devised is a mechanism to trace the origins of the honey through the pollens. Unfortunately, it doesn’t solve the problem.”

############

About research at Texas A&M University: As one of the world’s leading research institutions, Texas A&M is in the vanguard in making significant contributions to the storehouse of knowledge, including that of science and technology. Research conducted at Texas A&M represents an annual investment of more than $582 million, which ranks third nationally for universities without a medical school, and underwrites approximately 3,500 sponsored projects. That research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental and applied contributions resulting in many cases in economic benefits to the state, nation and world.

Contact: Kelli Levey, News & Information Services, at ( 979 ) 845-4645 or Vaughn Bryant at ( 979 ) 845-5255.

Source: Media Newswire

Continue reading →

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sees this endowment as an outstanding opportunity for the Corps of Cadets and meets a university priority for expanding students’ international experiences.

“This generous gift from the Hopkins to provide a scholarship toward a mechanical engineering degree and opportunities in culture, language and study abroad is very exciting for our cadets,” Loftin said. “The opportunity to study abroad will broaden the scope of education for these young men and women that will truly prepare them for the roles they will play upon graduation.”

Hopkins graduated from Texas A&M in 1989 with a bachelor of arts in history, and was part of the first class of students to visit the university’s Santa Chiara Study Center in Italy in 1989. During the 20th anniversary celebration of the study center in October 2009, Hopkins was a keynote speaker who shared the important impact this experience had on his personal and professional life. He attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, CA, where he earned his doctorate in jurisprudence in 1992.

Jake Betty, interim commandant for the corps said the Hopkins gift further strengthens the efforts of the International Programs Office and Corps of Cadets to create international opportunities for cadets.

“The Corps of Cadets Language and Culture program is designed to build the next generation of international leaders,” Betty said. “Carol and Karl Hopkins have provided an exceptional gift that serves as a testament to the importance of this program and their passion for international awareness for our cadets. Their gift will have a profound affect on our cadets for many years to come, and for that we are very grateful to Carol and Karl Hopkins.”

As a partner in the Houston law firm of Baker & McKenzie, Hopkins’ practice concentrates on the development, construction, start-up and operation of large international energy projects. Mr. Hopkins has represented a number of prominent companies in oil and gas production, petroleum refining companies, pipeline companies, and oilfield service companies.

“My years at Texas A&M were formative for me, but much has changed in the world since I graduated,” Hopkins said. “Carol and I wanted to give back to my alma mater and help students become prepared to work in a global market place. We believe that this endowment for language and culture studies will help.”

Hopkins, who has traveled to many countries around the world as part of his work, wants Texas A&M students to be prepared for the global market place and have access to the life-changing type of international experience he had as a student. Part of the endowment he and his wife have created, the Carol and Karl V. Hopkins ’89 Corps of Cadets Language and Culture Program Scholarship, will be used to provide one or more scholarships to deserving member( s ) of the Corps of Cadets for study abroad or cultural and language immersion programs outside of the United States.

“I am very grateful to Carol and Karl Hopkins for their generous support of the Corps of Cadets and their recognition of necessary skills our students must acquire to succeed globally,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics, Dr. Karan L. Watson. “The Hopkins Endowment will allow for continued growth and impact of the already successful ROTC Language and Culture Program and work to enhance the educational experience of our students.”

A member of Texas A&M International Board and the Texas A&M Association of Former Students, Hopkins is an active supporter of Texas A&M.

A second part of the endowment honors Hopkins’ parents. The Gordon R. & Peggy Hopkins General Rudder Corps Scholarship will be used to provide a two-year scholarship for a worthy and deserving member of the Corps of Cadets entering their junior year. The scholarship recipient must be a full-time student in good standing pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering from the Dwight Look College of Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station. Dr. Gordon Hopkins served as head of the mechanical engineering department at Texas A&M from 1977 to 1983.

Contact: Brian Bishop at bishop@tamu.edu or Linda Edwards at l-edwards@tamu.edu

Source: Media Newswire

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Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sees this endowment as an outstanding opportunity for the Corps of Cadets and meets a university priority for expanding students’ international experiences.

“This generous gift from the Hopkins to provide a scholarship toward a mechanical engineering degree and opportunities in culture, language and study abroad is very exciting for our cadets,” Loftin said. “The opportunity to study abroad will broaden the scope of education for these young men and women that will truly prepare them for the roles they will play upon graduation.”

Hopkins graduated from Texas A&M in 1989 with a bachelor of arts in history, and was part of the first class of students to visit the university’s Santa Chiara Study Center in Italy in 1989. During the 20th anniversary celebration of the study center in October 2009, Hopkins was a keynote speaker who shared the important impact this experience had on his personal and professional life. He attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, CA, where he earned his doctorate in jurisprudence in 1992.

Jake Betty, interim commandant for the corps said the Hopkins gift further strengthens the efforts of the International Programs Office and Corps of Cadets to create international opportunities for cadets.

“The Corps of Cadets Language and Culture program is designed to build the next generation of international leaders,” Betty said. “Carol and Karl Hopkins have provided an exceptional gift that serves as a testament to the importance of this program and their passion for international awareness for our cadets. Their gift will have a profound affect on our cadets for many years to come, and for that we are very grateful to Carol and Karl Hopkins.”

As a partner in the Houston law firm of Baker & McKenzie, Hopkins’ practice concentrates on the development, construction, start-up and operation of large international energy projects. Mr. Hopkins has represented a number of prominent companies in oil and gas production, petroleum refining companies, pipeline companies, and oilfield service companies.

“My years at Texas A&M were formative for me, but much has changed in the world since I graduated,” Hopkins said. “Carol and I wanted to give back to my alma mater and help students become prepared to work in a global market place. We believe that this endowment for language and culture studies will help.”

Hopkins, who has traveled to many countries around the world as part of his work, wants Texas A&M students to be prepared for the global market place and have access to the life-changing type of international experience he had as a student. Part of the endowment he and his wife have created, the Carol and Karl V. Hopkins ’89 Corps of Cadets Language and Culture Program Scholarship, will be used to provide one or more scholarships to deserving member( s ) of the Corps of Cadets for study abroad or cultural and language immersion programs outside of the United States.

“I am very grateful to Carol and Karl Hopkins for their generous support of the Corps of Cadets and their recognition of necessary skills our students must acquire to succeed globally,” said Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics, Dr. Karan L. Watson. “The Hopkins Endowment will allow for continued growth and impact of the already successful ROTC Language and Culture Program and work to enhance the educational experience of our students.”

A member of Texas A&M International Board and the Texas A&M Association of Former Students, Hopkins is an active supporter of Texas A&M.

A second part of the endowment honors Hopkins’ parents. The Gordon R. & Peggy Hopkins General Rudder Corps Scholarship will be used to provide a two-year scholarship for a worthy and deserving member of the Corps of Cadets entering their junior year. The scholarship recipient must be a full-time student in good standing pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering from the Dwight Look College of Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station. Dr. Gordon Hopkins served as head of the mechanical engineering department at Texas A&M from 1977 to 1983.

Contact: Brian Bishop at bishop@tamu.edu or Linda Edwards at l-edwards@tamu.edu

Source: Media Newswire

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Beef producers are coming off one of the worst droughts in Texas history and are looking for ways to improve their pastures and rangeland by implementing new strategies, said Eric Zimmerman, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for Brazos County.

“The rainfall we’ve received this spring has created renewed optimism among beef producers who are looking to improve their operations by increasing forage production,” Zimmerman said. “This year’s field day will address many issues pertaining to renovating and re-establishing forage production, selection of grass varieties, and brush and weed control products.”

The cost is $20 and includes materials and lunch. Alternatively, if producers want to join the Brazos Area Hay Producers Association, cost is $50 and includes free field day registration, a hay sampling test, hay directory listing and a laminated membership card.

Four hours of continuing education units will be given to licensed private, commercial and non-commercial applicators pending approval from Texas Department of Agriculture. One hour in laws and regulations, one hour in integrated pest management and two hours of general credit will be offered.

Registration is from 8-9 a.m. Dr.Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist at Overton, will lead off the program with an update on the Texas Forage and Grazing Council.

“The objectives of TFGC are to promote increased benefits from the production and utilization of forages,” she said.

Members provide a unique perspective on forage production, management and utilization “because of their diversity and discipline, Corriher said.

Corriher and Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist, will also give a presentation on renovating and re-establishing Bermuda grass pastures.

“The drought last year had a huge impact as well as our response to fertilizer prices ( not applying any fertilizer at all or cutting back heavily ),” she said. “I will discuss the importance of maintaining our Bermuda grass fertility in order to maintain a stand, as well as for optimum production and quality. I will also be discussing the process of re-establishing, step-by-step, starting from the beginning of the process which typically takes place the fall before planting in the spring.”

Other presenters and topics will be: Dr. Paul Baumann, AgriLife Extension weed specialist, brush and weed product update, labeling and application procedures; Dr. Don Renchie, AgriLife Extension agricultural environmental safety specialist, pesticide applicator laws and regulations; and Redmon, individual plant treatment methods and insect control for pastures.

Circle X Land and Cattle Co. is located off Highway 6 north and OSR. For more information about the ranch, visit http://www.circlexbrangus.com/. For more information about the field day, contact the AgriLife Extension office for Brazos County at 979-823-0129. An agenda is available at http://brazos-tx.tamu.edu.

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Source: Media Newswire

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Business Edge offers practical solutions to support growth and improve competitiveness of small and medium businesses, providing useful tools that can be applied in daily work. It does so in Honduras through the use of high-quality materials adapted to local market characteristics and needs.

“IFC is very pleased to partner with local well-regarded institutions to strengthen SME performance and productivity, which will help create work opportunities and make the SME contributions to the local economy more sustainable,” said IFC Representative Elvira Van Daele. “IFC’s Business Edge initiative is key in our efforts to support the sustainability of the private sector in Honduras and provides large added value due to its innovative, practical, and interactive methodology.”

Business owners and entrepreneurs had three trial sessions recently, two in Tegucigalpa and one in San Pedro Sula, where they experienced the efficiency and practical focus of the Business Edge program.More than 100 SMEs experienced the added value of the program.

Business Edge will be available to SMEs starting May 2010 and will be offered by three certified partners: CRECERH, EduSystems, and UNITEC. Business Edge focuses on five managerial themes: finance and accountancy, general and operations management, marketing, human resources, and personal productivity skills.

IFC’s strategy in Honduras seeks to promote access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises and assist local companies to become regional and global players. Through its advisory services, IFC aims to improve the overall business climate, promoting the simplification of red tape and creating development opportunities for SMEs.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing capital for private enterprise, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Source: Media Newswire

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In addition to his wrestling bookings and workout schedule, Antonio Thomas is a personal trainer and fitness entrepreneur, part time student, and co-owner and trainer at the Pro-Wrestling Combine Training Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.”

On May 1st, Antonio will return to Binghamton, New York for the 2CW Grand Prix. As one of eight prestigious tournament winners from around the country, Antonio secured a spot in the inaugural card by winning the 2009 New England Championship Wrestling Iron 8 by defeating Ken Doane, Maverick Wild and current NECW Champion, Brandon Locke in a 45 minute four-way match. Round one of the tournament match will pit Antonio against former ROH and FIP standout Jason Blade.

One week later, on May 8th, Antonio will return to defend his NWA Liberty States Championship belt against his trainee, training partner, and protégé, Billy King. As the first recognized NWA Liberty States champion, Antonio is determined not be shown up by his former student! The action is guaranteed to keep fans on the edge of their seats!

Antonio’s schedule doesn’t show any signs of slowing down during this busy month. On May 16th, he will compete in Joel Gertner’s MXW Wrestling card in Hartford, CT at the “Come What May” tournament. This 16-man contest promises to be an excellent match-up between some of the best pro wrestling talent in the country.

In between bouts in the “squared circle”, Antonio spends any extra hours studying for his Master’s degree, training others to value their own physical fitness, working out, and conditioning at Pro-Wrestling Combine Training Center. On May 29th, Antonio is scheduled to defend his NWA Liberty States Championship in Rochester, New Hampshire.

“Life couldn’t be any more exciting than spending my days preparing for the upcoming cards in order to defend my championship title!” relayed an enthusiastic Thomas.

Schedule overview for Antonio Thomas:
May 1- Binghamton, NY – 2CW
May 8 – Peabody, MA. – LSW
May 16 – Hartford, CT – MXW
May 29 – Rochester, NH – LSW

For booking or interview opportunities with Antonio The Promise Thomas, contact Shannon Rose at: ( 813 ) 960-8412; ( 813 ) 389-0801; or info@mediaproductions.tv

Facebook: Antonio Thomas

About the Promise Antonio Thomas

Antonio Thomas began his training under the late great Killer Kowalskis briefly in 2001 before continuing his training under longtime New England standout Kevin Landry.

Antonio made his professional debut in late 2001 before emerging throughout the New England area shortly thereafter working regularly for top promotions including New England Championship Wrestling, Chaotic Wrestling, and Eastern Wrestling Alliance.

Thomas was called up to WWE Raw in April 2005 where he became one half of the re-named Heart Throbs and where he produced memorable feuds with William Regal and Tajiri, Hurricane and Rosey, Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, Val Venis and Viscera.

After parting ways with the WWE in February 2006, Thomas became busier than ever, returning to work numerous promotions throughout the Country, as well as going back to where it all began for him; on the New England scene, reuniting with Bradley and his WFA, Sheldon Goldbergs New England Championship Wrestling, and Chaotic Wrestling, among numerous of others.

Antonio performed in shows for TNA in 2007, including Destination X Pay-Per-View in March against Voodoo Kin Mafia-Kip and B.G. James as well as touring for Nu-Wrestling Evolution ( NWE ) in Europe.

In May 2009, Antonio won the prestigious NECW Iron 8 Tournament. Winning the Iron 8, defeating some of the best in professional wrestling today, takes Thomas to the next level and proves to the world that he is the future of professional wrestling.

In addition to a hectic and busy wrestling schedule, Thomas is a lifelong workout and fitness enthusiast in addition to being a certified personal trainer, working his way towards an eventual Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/promiseantoniothomas

Antonio the “Promise” Thomas is represented by Eclectic Media Productions PR Firm and their website is at http://mediaproductions.tv

Source: Media Newswire

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In addition to his wrestling bookings and workout schedule, Antonio Thomas is a personal trainer and fitness entrepreneur, part time student, and co-owner and trainer at the Pro-Wrestling Combine Training Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.”

On May 1st, Antonio will return to Binghamton, New York for the 2CW Grand Prix. As one of eight prestigious tournament winners from around the country, Antonio secured a spot in the inaugural card by winning the 2009 New England Championship Wrestling Iron 8 by defeating Ken Doane, Maverick Wild and current NECW Champion, Brandon Locke in a 45 minute four-way match. Round one of the tournament match will pit Antonio against former ROH and FIP standout Jason Blade.

One week later, on May 8th, Antonio will return to defend his NWA Liberty States Championship belt against his trainee, training partner, and protégé, Billy King. As the first recognized NWA Liberty States champion, Antonio is determined not be shown up by his former student! The action is guaranteed to keep fans on the edge of their seats!

Antonio’s schedule doesn’t show any signs of slowing down during this busy month. On May 16th, he will compete in Joel Gertner’s MXW Wrestling card in Hartford, CT at the “Come What May” tournament. This 16-man contest promises to be an excellent match-up between some of the best pro wrestling talent in the country.

In between bouts in the “squared circle”, Antonio spends any extra hours studying for his Master’s degree, training others to value their own physical fitness, working out, and conditioning at Pro-Wrestling Combine Training Center. On May 29th, Antonio is scheduled to defend his NWA Liberty States Championship in Rochester, New Hampshire.

“Life couldn’t be any more exciting than spending my days preparing for the upcoming cards in order to defend my championship title!” relayed an enthusiastic Thomas.

Schedule overview for Antonio Thomas:
May 1- Binghamton, NY – 2CW
May 8 – Peabody, MA. – LSW
May 16 – Hartford, CT – MXW
May 29 – Rochester, NH – LSW

For booking or interview opportunities with Antonio The Promise Thomas, contact Shannon Rose at: ( 813 ) 960-8412; ( 813 ) 389-0801; or info@mediaproductions.tv

Facebook: Antonio Thomas

About the Promise Antonio Thomas

Antonio Thomas began his training under the late great Killer Kowalskis briefly in 2001 before continuing his training under longtime New England standout Kevin Landry.

Antonio made his professional debut in late 2001 before emerging throughout the New England area shortly thereafter working regularly for top promotions including New England Championship Wrestling, Chaotic Wrestling, and Eastern Wrestling Alliance.

Thomas was called up to WWE Raw in April 2005 where he became one half of the re-named Heart Throbs and where he produced memorable feuds with William Regal and Tajiri, Hurricane and Rosey, Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, Val Venis and Viscera.

After parting ways with the WWE in February 2006, Thomas became busier than ever, returning to work numerous promotions throughout the Country, as well as going back to where it all began for him; on the New England scene, reuniting with Bradley and his WFA, Sheldon Goldbergs New England Championship Wrestling, and Chaotic Wrestling, among numerous of others.

Antonio performed in shows for TNA in 2007, including Destination X Pay-Per-View in March against Voodoo Kin Mafia-Kip and B.G. James as well as touring for Nu-Wrestling Evolution ( NWE ) in Europe.

In May 2009, Antonio won the prestigious NECW Iron 8 Tournament. Winning the Iron 8, defeating some of the best in professional wrestling today, takes Thomas to the next level and proves to the world that he is the future of professional wrestling.

In addition to a hectic and busy wrestling schedule, Thomas is a lifelong workout and fitness enthusiast in addition to being a certified personal trainer, working his way towards an eventual Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/promiseantoniothomas

Antonio the “Promise” Thomas is represented by Eclectic Media Productions PR Firm and their website is at http://mediaproductions.tv

Source: Media Newswire

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Court documentation states that Francis admitted he was part of an organization that transported narcotics from Jamaica and St. Lucia, through the United States to Great Britain, around February and September 2008.

Barnes and Howard admitted to traveling from the United States to St. Lucia on April 24, 2008, to smuggle drugs on May 1, 2008. They received narcotics from Francis and other individuals in St. Lucia and later used commercial airlines to travel from New York to London with drugs hidden in the luggage handrails on May 5, 2008. Once the narcotics were received in Great Britain, Francis received payment from the organization via Western Union transfers.

Howard and Barnes were freed on $100,000 bail and Francis was detained pending their sentencing on August 8. They each face 5 years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine up to $2 million. Judge Cavanaugh will consult the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines, for sentencing ranges, based on the severity and characteristics of the offense, criminal history, if any, and other factors, although he is not bound by those guidelines to determine their sentence.

The guilty pleas stem from a multi-jurisdictional and international investigation into a drug trafficking ring, resulting in multiple drug seizures and charging 14 individuals, in which 10 plead guilty in the District of New Jersey. Roger Folkes, aka Kirk and Romeo Folkes, aka Rocky are in custody in Jamaica pending extradition to United States. Defendant Prine George Alfonso Jones, aka Prince is in custody in Great Britain. David Evans is charged in a pending separate complaint.

The movement of illegal drugs through our seaports and ports of entry will not be tolerated and ICE will use all our investigative resources to stop this type of activity, regardless of whether it is carried out by air, land or sea, said Peter T. Edge, special agent in charge of the New Jersey ICE Office of Investigations.

Fishman credited special agents of ICE, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Peter T. Edge; and the Drug Enforcement Administration under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gerard P. McAleer in Newark, in coordination with the West Midlands Police Complex Casework Unit in Birmingham, England and officers of the United Kingdom Border Agency for the investigation leading to the indictment and guilty pleas.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Zahid N. Quraishi of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark.

As for the defendants with pending cases, the charges and allegations against them are merely accusations, and they are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

– ICE –

Source: Media Newswire

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Boskic admitted his direct participation in the killing of unarmed victims during the 1991-1995 Yugoslavian civil war. He was assigned to the 10th Sabotage Detachment, a unit that was involved in the murder of at least 1,200 unarmed prisoners of war at Branjevo Farm near Srebrenica in 1995. This was part of a larger genocidal campaign in which approximately 7,000-8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed. The crimes at Srebrenica are the only court-designated genocide to occur in Europe since World War II.

On Aug. 25, 2004, ICE agents arrested and charged him with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents. When Boskic applied for admission to the United States, he failed to disclose his foreign military service and criminal acts as part of the 10th Sabotage Detachment.

On Nov. 20, 2006, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts convicted him of two counts of immigration fraud and sentenced him to 63 months imprisonment. He was turned over to ICE after completing a significant portion of his sentence. ICE Office of Chief Counsel in Boston initiated removal proceedings and an immigration judge ordered Boskic removed to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Feb. 18, 2010.

Boskics arrest and subsequent conviction on two counts of immigration fraud was the result of a transnational investigation undertaken by ICE and FBI agents after determining he was residing in the United States. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Boston, ICE sought to establish Boskics activities during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Agents worked with international war crimes investigators from the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ( ICTY ). The ICTY provided ICE with a video of the 10th Sabotage Detachment at an awards ceremony in the fall of 1995. In the video, Boskic is clearly visible in uniform and holding a rifle.

ICE is committed to keeping the nation safe by ensuring the secure removal of aliens with known ties to human rights violations. Part of the agencys mandate is to identify, prosecute and ultimately remove such offenders who are in the United States.

– ICE –

Source: Media Newswire

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An ICE-led investigation that began in October 2009, however, highlights how ICE can bring to prosecution individuals who otherwise abide by the law, yet try to conceal or transport more than $10,000 in currency, with the intent to evade federal reporting requirements.

On February 16, 2010, Andrew Silva was convicted of conspiracy to evade currency reporting requirements, tax evasion and lying to federal officials. His sentencing is in May and he faces a possible 10 years in prison plus a $500,000 fine.

Make no mistake, Silva is no Al Capone nor is he a gang member, a narcotics trafficker or a terrorist. In fact, Silva is a pediatrician – an ear, nose and throat surgeon – residing in Sterling, Va. Now, he is also a convicted felon. Silvas medical license is currently suspended, and he could lose his license to ever practice medicine again.

In 1997, Silva inherited $250,000 from his mother in Zurich, Switzerland. Working with a Swiss attorney, Silva kept this sum in a hush Swiss bank account without ever declaring his windfall to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Silva ignored federal law that states anyone with a financial interest, or authority over a financial account that exceeds $10,000 in a country at any time during the year, is required to file with the IRS a Foreign Bank Account Report. U.S. residents ( or a person in and doing business in the U.S. ) are required to keep a record and/or file reports concerning transactions with a foreign financial institution.

If Silva thought Swiss financial institutions are, and always would be safe havens to hide funds from tax authorities and financial regulatory agencies, he was wrong, said Scot R. Rittenberg, Deputy Special Agent in Charge ( DSAC ) of ICE, Office of Investigations, Washington, D.C.-Va.

In September 2009, the U.S. and Switzerland signed a treaty to share more tax information. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the treaty will increase our ability to enforce our tax laws and will help bring an end to an era of offshore accounts and investments being used for tax evasion.

In view of the treaty, Silva and his Swiss attorney masterminded a scheme to move Silvas money from the Swiss bank to his home. Thus began Silvas rapid descent from a respected doctor to a convicted criminal.

Silva withdrew cash from his Swiss account and taped it to the inside pages of multiple brochures, careful to include just under $10,000 per brochure ( staying under the federal reporting requirements ). Packaging the cash-laden brochures in envelopes, he mailed each one at different times from different Swiss post offices to his Virginia residence.

The carefully hatched plot was foiled in October 2009, when Newark Airport mail facility personnel intercepted one of Silvas envelopes. Opening the brochure, they found sequentially marked $100 dollar bills totaling $8,700. This amount did not constitute a legal violation, but the odd mailing transaction with this much cash emanated a strong scent of foul play to ICE, who followed up with a further investigation.

By December 2009, ICE seized $101,500 from 12 intercepted mailing envelopes that Silva had addressed to himself, his wife and his children. A federal search warrant of Silvas home turned up another $110,000 hidden in a closet.

Lest anyone get the impression Silvas case is an isolated incident, its just one illustration of how ICE, the nations second largest federal law enforcement agency, investigates not only criminal organizations, but individuals who seek to earn, move and store their funds within the U.S. and offshore while evading detection.

ICE agents have discovered that cash – lots of it – can crop up in unexpected places before its illegal journey is intercepted. ICE has found the following and more in recent years:

$176,320 packed inside the pant legs of an air traveler headed for Turkey
$3 million hidden in a compartment of a bus headed for Mexico
$515,000 in a false-bottom suitcase about to embark to Columbia
$2.1 million concealed in a boat in Puerto Rico
$147,921 strapped underneath the shirt of a woman headed to Mexico
$186,000 rolled and concealed in cigarette packs destined for Turkey
At ICE, we follow the money trail to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most complicated financial schemes and seize criminal assets, said DSAC Rittenberg.

– ICE –

Source: Media Newswire

Continue reading →

An ICE-led investigation that began in October 2009, however, highlights how ICE can bring to prosecution individuals who otherwise abide by the law, yet try to conceal or transport more than $10,000 in currency, with the intent to evade federal reporting requirements.

On February 16, 2010, Andrew Silva was convicted of conspiracy to evade currency reporting requirements, tax evasion and lying to federal officials. His sentencing is in May and he faces a possible 10 years in prison plus a $500,000 fine.

Make no mistake, Silva is no Al Capone nor is he a gang member, a narcotics trafficker or a terrorist. In fact, Silva is a pediatrician – an ear, nose and throat surgeon – residing in Sterling, Va. Now, he is also a convicted felon. Silvas medical license is currently suspended, and he could lose his license to ever practice medicine again.

In 1997, Silva inherited $250,000 from his mother in Zurich, Switzerland. Working with a Swiss attorney, Silva kept this sum in a hush Swiss bank account without ever declaring his windfall to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Silva ignored federal law that states anyone with a financial interest, or authority over a financial account that exceeds $10,000 in a country at any time during the year, is required to file with the IRS a Foreign Bank Account Report. U.S. residents ( or a person in and doing business in the U.S. ) are required to keep a record and/or file reports concerning transactions with a foreign financial institution.

If Silva thought Swiss financial institutions are, and always would be safe havens to hide funds from tax authorities and financial regulatory agencies, he was wrong, said Scot R. Rittenberg, Deputy Special Agent in Charge ( DSAC ) of ICE, Office of Investigations, Washington, D.C.-Va.

In September 2009, the U.S. and Switzerland signed a treaty to share more tax information. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the treaty will increase our ability to enforce our tax laws and will help bring an end to an era of offshore accounts and investments being used for tax evasion.

In view of the treaty, Silva and his Swiss attorney masterminded a scheme to move Silvas money from the Swiss bank to his home. Thus began Silvas rapid descent from a respected doctor to a convicted criminal.

Silva withdrew cash from his Swiss account and taped it to the inside pages of multiple brochures, careful to include just under $10,000 per brochure ( staying under the federal reporting requirements ). Packaging the cash-laden brochures in envelopes, he mailed each one at different times from different Swiss post offices to his Virginia residence.

The carefully hatched plot was foiled in October 2009, when Newark Airport mail facility personnel intercepted one of Silvas envelopes. Opening the brochure, they found sequentially marked $100 dollar bills totaling $8,700. This amount did not constitute a legal violation, but the odd mailing transaction with this much cash emanated a strong scent of foul play to ICE, who followed up with a further investigation.

By December 2009, ICE seized $101,500 from 12 intercepted mailing envelopes that Silva had addressed to himself, his wife and his children. A federal search warrant of Silvas home turned up another $110,000 hidden in a closet.

Lest anyone get the impression Silvas case is an isolated incident, its just one illustration of how ICE, the nations second largest federal law enforcement agency, investigates not only criminal organizations, but individuals who seek to earn, move and store their funds within the U.S. and offshore while evading detection.

ICE agents have discovered that cash – lots of it – can crop up in unexpected places before its illegal journey is intercepted. ICE has found the following and more in recent years:

$176,320 packed inside the pant legs of an air traveler headed for Turkey
$3 million hidden in a compartment of a bus headed for Mexico
$515,000 in a false-bottom suitcase about to embark to Columbia
$2.1 million concealed in a boat in Puerto Rico
$147,921 strapped underneath the shirt of a woman headed to Mexico
$186,000 rolled and concealed in cigarette packs destined for Turkey
At ICE, we follow the money trail to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most complicated financial schemes and seize criminal assets, said DSAC Rittenberg.

– ICE –

Source: Media Newswire

Continue reading →

Clinton Roy Perkins, and his son-in-law, Christopher J. Reindl, are president and office manager, respectively, of Anna II Inc., and Can Do It Inc. Both are staffing companies located at 801 Golf Lane in Bensenville that provide workers to warehouses throughout the Chicagoland area. Perkins, 65, of Wayne, Ill., and Reindl, 40, of St. Charles, Ill., were each charged April 26 with one count of unlawfully hiring illegal aliens between October 2006 and October 2007. The charges also seek forfeiture from Perkins of $488,095, which was seized from various bank accounts as well as the Bensenville office.

In addition to hiring illegal workers, the defendants allegedly paid their workers wages in cash and failed to deduct payroll taxes or other withholdings, according to a single-count criminal information filed in the Northern District of Illinois.

Employers in all industries and locations must comply with the nations immigration laws if we are to have an effective immigration enforcement strategy in this country, said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigation in Chicago. ICE is committed to ensuring that employers are held accountable for maintaining a legal workforce. The goal of our enforcement effort is two-fold – reduce the demand for illegal employment, and protect job opportunities for the nations lawful workforce.

Anna II/Can Do It provided both skilled and unskilled labor to clients operating warehouses in various suburbs. The workers performed janitorial services, loaded and unloaded freight packages and merchandise, and installed and removed structures inside warehouses. Both defendants allegedly failed to require the aliens that Perkins hired to provide documents establishing their immigration status or lawful right to work in the United States.

Perkins and Reindl directed low-level supervisory employees to transport illegal workers back and forth between locations near the aliens residences in Chicago and work sites in the suburbs, the charges allege. Both also allegedly provided bogus six-digit numbers – purporting to be the last six digits of the aliens Social Security numbers – to a company, knowing that their workers were in the country illegally and did not possess valid Social Security numbers.

The charges also allege that Perkins and Reindl repeatedly withdrew funds in the amount of $9,800 from bank accounts to pay their employees wages in cash, believing that withdrawing amounts less than $10,000 would avoid triggering the banks currency transaction reporting requirements.

ICE was assisted in the investigation by the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Inspector General in Chicago. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher R. McFadden and Daniel May, Northern District of Illinois, are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, unlawfully hiring illegal aliens carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

– ICE –

Source: Media Newswire

Continue reading →