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Supreme TV coverage for small pets

Copyright copy; Supreme Petfoods

Supreme Petfoods is helping to drive up sales of small animal products by backing an educational TV programme, supported by a TV advertising campaign.

Pets for Life, which will be broadcast during Rabbit Awareness Week, is a series of programmes that provide consumers with a comprehensive guide to caring for a new pet. In addition to sponsoring the show (which will be broadcast on 24^th May at 7:30pm and Sunday 29^th May at 6:00pm), the episode features expert advice from Supremes veterinary advisor, Molly Varga.

Known for specialising in the care of small furries and exotics, Molly outlines the accommodation, dietary, companionship and healthcare requirements of rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and chinchillas. She also advises prospective owners to carefully consider the financial implications of owning a small pet, and voices her support of the RWAFs A Hutch is not Enough campaign.

Supreme is also running an advertising campaign around the programme, which focuses on Supremes Science Selective Rabbit diets. Copies of the advert are available for retailers to play in store, whilst packs of Science Selective will feature As seen on TV.

Commissioned in response to the record number of animals abandoned at rescue centres, the Pets for Life series is sponsored by the Blue Cross. It is designed to make potential pet owners think carefully about the commitment keeping a pet entails, and hopes to reduce the number of impulse purchases of animals which are often abandoned.

Claire Hamblion, Small Animals and Exotics Maketing Manager said. As a company that has the well-being of small animals as its raison detre, Supreme is delighted to support efforts to raise the awareness of animal welfare. But whats better for small animals can also be better for retailers too, as informed customers tend to keep their pets longer, look after them better and are more loyal to their local independent store. We anticipate that the combination of our sponsorship of Pets for Life and TV advertising campaign will help to support sales of our small animals diets, snacks, treats and accessories, so would advise retailers to stock up!

The advert and Pets for Life TV programme will be shown on Sky Channel 201 or Freesat Channel 403.

Published: Neil Pope Thursday 12 May 2011, 5:32 pm
Views: 271 times
Filed under: pets small animals Supreme Petfoods Sky TV Pets for Life

The artistic strategy for chalking was to not have a
strategy.

“Just make it look good,” said Righetti High School senior Jay
Prober, describing how he and three other classmates divvied up
work for their large square in the school’s sixth annual Chalk
Fest.

Colorful to-scale sketches of Clark Kent, aka Superman,
embracing Lois Lane were clearly taking shape late Friday morning
after Prober and about 80 fellow art students in 20 groups
descended on Righetti’s quad as early as 7:30 am and worked as
late as 3 pm

Hundreds of boxes of pastel and bold chalk pallets were waiting
for them, since students this year had to “tryout” their square
designs by presenting them ahead of time for art teacher
approval.

“With the sunset behind them, it’s very romantic,” Prober added,
giving credit to his talented senior group mates Alice Jun, Sensika
Niyathapala and Felix Rincon, who was participating in his third
chalk fest.   

Art teacher LeeAnne Del Rio offered advice to students working
on artistic, bold depictions of animals, robots, an iPhone and many
more.

“It’s really a chance for our artists to shine,” Del Rio said,
noting the large expense the art department takes on to buy its
supplies. “The artists don’t get appreciated. These kids have so
much talent. It’s a healthy outlet for them.”

Work from more than 700 students also was on display Friday in
the eighth annual Art Show, which was open from 8:30 am to 3 pm
and again from 6 pm to 8 pm in Righetti’s gym.

Senior Sophie Mann took a break from chalking to look at other
students’ artwork after the wind started picking up, causing chalk
dust to fly in people’s faces.

She and four senior classmates — Ariana Haro, Caleb Dugger,
Kelsey Houston and Shyanne Esparza — took a cue from MGMT’s music
video for the song “Electric Feel,” and designed an eclectic woman
silhouette. 

Mann, who is taking an intermediate art class, plans to study
photography, painting, drawing and anything else “artsy” at Santa
Barbara City College come fall.

“I always liked drawing,” she said.

As for how long the chalk masterpieces will stay etched on the
sidewalks, art teacher Autumn Jennings said it all depends on the
weather, since the school staff leaves the space alone.

“You can still see the ghosting of last year,” Jennings said,
pointing to a fading outline nearby.

Almost a week after giving the order to hand general manager Rich Cho his pink slip, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen continues to vacation outside the United States. And those inside the organization closest to Allen have no idea when he is expected to return.

As far-fetched as it sounds, the Blazers fired their GM out of the blue without a replacement in mind and have no intention of beginning a search for a new front office leader anytime soon. They havent even established a time line for when that search might commence

The reality is what Im telling you, team president Larry Miller said. We didnt say, OK, were going to let Rich go and were going to jump right out and search for a GM. Thats not what were doing. We said, This isnt working, were going to move on and were going to take our time to find the right person for the job. Were not going to let the media or anyone else rush us into make a decision or force our process. Were going to take the time to do it right.

The next step, as Miller said during a Monday news conference detailing the reasons for Chos dismissal, is for Miller and Allen to meet and create a list of criteria for what the Blazers will look for in a new GM. But Miller, who said he last spoke with Allen earlier this week, said a date for that meeting has not been scheduled.

When that criteria finally is determined, NBA insiders predict the Blazers will go in one of two routes in replacing Cho.

In one, the Blazers stick with the status quo and forge ahead under the leadership of interim GM Chad Buchanan and the front office staff of Michael Born, Bill Branch, Steve Rosenberry and Joe Cronin. Buchanan has no GM experience — though he and Born did serve as de facto co-GMs last summer after Kevin Pritchards dismissal — but he is well respected in NBA circles and knows the inner-workings of the Blazers as well as anyone, having been with the franchise for seven years.

In another scenario, Allen could make a big splash hire and lure an NBA personnel veteran with general manager experience who is widely respected around the league. This could be the best way for the Blazers to overcome the public relations fiasco that accompanies firing two GMs in 10 months under controversial circumstances.

No matter what route the organization ultimately takes, one thing seems clear: At this point, Miller and the Blazers do not have a plan, much less a list of potential candidates.

Its not like not having a GM in place will keep us from continuing to move forward, Miller said. When we determine exactly the type of person were looking for, well start with the search. In the meantime, I have absolute confidence well get through the draft in a positive manner with the guys we have in place. So theres no rush and theres no sense in rushing and going out and making a quick hire.

A hire almost certainly will not come before the June 23 draft. And because it seems inevitable the NBA is headed for a work stoppage the week after the draft, the Blazers could go well into the summer and possibly the fall without a new GM. That puts Buchanan not only in the drivers seat of the draft but also the potential franchise-altering decisions regarding center Greg Oden and point guard Andre Miller.

The Blazers must decide between the end of the NBA Finals and June 30 whether to tender an $8.8 million qualifying offer to Oden (which would make him a restricted free agent), cut bait and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent or offer him a multiyear contract. Meanwhile, the Blazers hold a $7.8 million team option for Miller and if they do not exercise it by June 29, the 12-year NBA veteran will become an unrestricted free agent.

Buchanan refused to offer specifics about the Blazers plans for either player, but did speak highly of both.

On Miller: I think Andre has been a rock for us the last two years and we understand what hes meant to this team.. His leadership, consistency, being there every night; we definitely value that and what hes brought to us the last two years. We have some time before we have to make a decision with him and were having a lot of discussions about Andre. But I can assure you were not blind to what hes meant the last two years.

On Oden: You know how much we have invested in Greg and we still believe in him. Were still in discussion mode of a couple options we have with him.

Miller went a step further regarding Oden, reaffirming comments he made during the season.

What I said was if Greg continues to do all the things that are expected of him, we would tender him the offer, Miller said. And I still feel that way. So far, he definitely is. Hes working very hard.

As for when Miller and the Blazers begin working equally hard to find a new GM, well, that remains to be seen.

– Joe Freeman;
follow him on Twitter

By Susan Gager

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — A public art display is sparking controversy.

The controversy isnt about the art itself as much as where its being shown.

The new artwork has definitely sparked conversation, some say even controversy.

Patrons of the Silver Lace Strip Club are now faced with holy crosses and the words redemption and salvation on a walk into the night club.

The Eugene Storefront Art Project hopes to attract new life into Springfields downtown with a unique set of recycled crosses left over from a Riverside Church display.

I thought what better place than putting them here on fourth and Main next to the Silver Lace Adult Club, said Marc Gunther, Eugene Storefront Art Project.

And right around the corner is the Brick House Strip Club.

Gunther says the group has no political or religious agenda.

We didnt do this as a vendetta against the club.  Our group has nothing against the club as long as theyre put in appropriate places, Gunther said.

But many Main Street merchants call the strip clubs incredibly misplaced.

They hope the display will catch the eye of people on their way into night clubs.

I think they outta put Mother Teresa in the window, said Glenn Myers, Trash-n-Treasures Owner.

Employees say they wouldnt be opposed to that.

They say they actually like the crosses.

We have a really strong faith in God and Jesus.  And like I said, hes given the girls a safe place to work.  So I appreciate the crosses, said Michelle Bruce, The Brick House Bartender.

Downtown merchants appreciate the subtle message the crosses send.

I think itll make a statement.  The community will probably see that and connect the two, Myers said.  Main Street is the face of the downtown you know?  And I think we need to put on a better face.

So far the storefront art project there has sparked a lot of positive remarks to the building since it was put up Wednesday, and it will most likely stay up until the building is leased.

The term ecotourism calls to mind glamorous destinations, where secluded resorts serve as tiny utopias of composting, chemical-free bedding and meals prepared from a garden on-premises. But even the most un-exotic of summertime trips can become an eye-opening experience in living green.

For anyone thinking about implementing sustainable measures, travel can be a great opportunity to sample some of these lifestyle choices. Better to learn the ins and outs of hybrid cars, solar heating or two-wheeled transport before you commit to the expense and lifestyle shift of a full-fledged conversion.

Who knows? You may end up incorporating some of these new experiences more permanently back home.

Efficient vacation homes

Look around and youre likely to find a green vacation rental in most parts of the country and abroad. In Bozeman, Mont., a century-old brick cottage with two bedrooms runs entirely on biofuels and alternative energy sources. The house gets its heat in part from a boiler that runs on used vegetable oil, and it rents for slightly more than $1,000 a week. Visitors are invited to plan their stays to coincide with whats in season in the edible landscape. In Arizona, a three-bedroom vacation home 25 miles from the Grand Canyon runs $225 a night during the high season, and runs completely off of the power grid.

Major vacation-rental sites, such as Vacation Rental by Owner, www.vrbo.com, have energy-efficient options. Just enter the destination youre seeking, then use search terms like energy efficient or solar power. Plenty of rental agencies also have eco-friendlier homes within their portfolios. Even if a solar-powered getaway isnt in the cards, selecting a neighborhood where youre entirely dependent on walking and public transit can be an illuminating green exercise.

Hybrid or electric cars

For many households, a new car purchase happens just a few times in a decade, so a rental offers a rare chance to get acquainted with newer vehicle models. These days, most major rental car companies offer hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius or a hybrid Nissan Altima. Enterprise even offers an electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, at its facilities in some US cities. Rental rates are usually a bit higher for these vehicles because they cost more to purchase. However, you will be saving a bit of money on fuel.

Did you know?

– The City of San Francisco offers a $15 discount to anyone renting a hybrid car at San Francisco International Airport. The city estimates renting hybrid vehicles to visitors will cut more than 4,000 tons of carbon emissions a year.

– If you dont own a bicycle, a vacation is a great time to rent one, and see if you can get accustomed to the two-wheeled lifestyle.

Westmoreland Library Network officially started an audio book and electronic-book lending program on Monday at the countys 28 libraries.

A subscription-based service called Overdrive will enable patrons to download titles, which will remain on their devices for up to 14 days, then disappear.

You never have to pay a late fee; you never have to worry about returning it to the library, said Cesare Muccari, director of the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library.

Denise Sticha, executive director of the library network, said sharing books digitally is helping the library adapt to how patrons are reading.

What we are hoping its going to do is introduce a whole new format to our library users, she said. We are part and parcel of a major trend thats going on in the country and the world.

Muccari said the popularity of user-friendly devices, such as the Apple iPad, Sony E-Reader and the Barnes amp; Noble Nook, has resulted in increased interest in e-books.

More and more people are moving in this direction to e-books, he said. I think whats driving it is the devices that are available now.

The libraries have purchased about 800 titles for users to download — contemporary fiction, classic fiction, childrens books, young adult fiction and best-selling nonfiction, including travel guides. In addition, about 25,000 e-books that are public domain, such as classic titles by Charles Dickens, are available, Muccari said.

The books can be read on PCs, Macs, iPads, iPods, the Nook, Sony E-Reader, Droids and other devices.

Amazon Kindle is the only device not compatible, but Sticha said within a few months the format likely will be because of demand from users.

The library network has signed an 18-month contract with Overdrive. The subscription service for e-books and audio books costs $12,000 annually and does not include content, said Sticha, who will act as the system administrator for the library network.

About $50,000 has been allocated this year to purchase titles, she said.

The funding has come from grants and other sources this year, but e-book additions may affect budgets in the next few years as demand rises, Muccari said.

Individual libraries will continue to buy print media, he said.

Some small libraries with fewer resources may have struggled to adapt to the system, but the library network works well offering this kind of service, Sticha said.

To do it collaboratively, it was really affordable, she said. This was a direction we felt we absolutely had to go in.

Like a traditional library, titles can be taken out only one at a time, Sticha said.

Each library Website will have a link to the Overdrive catalog, where users can browse and add titles to their virtual basket or join a waiting list for the book. Users must sign in with their library card numbers to download books.

E-books take about four seconds with a high-speed Internet connection, but audio books, depending on length, can take up to 15 minutes, Muccari said.

First-time users must download software for the system, but after authenticating a users device, the process is easy, he said.

At first its kind of daunting, but when you get into downloading it, four seconds is not that big of a deal, he said.

To aid with the process, the library network has published a bookmark and a reference card with step-by-step instructions on downloading.

Sticha said the books must be downloaded on personal computers, not library computers. Patrons can take their laptops to the library and use the wireless Internet connection to download, she said.

Were just a phone call away if youre at home trying to do this, she said. Some libraries have offered seminars on the different types of e-readers.

Westmoreland Library Network has more than 125,000 cardholders and a collection of 800,000 print items.

Smaller libraries can build their own specialized collections, including local history books or genres that are in demand in each community, Sticha said.

As patrons adapt to the digital world, libraries have to adapt, Sticha said. Programming may focus less on library contents and more on building a sense of community.

Its fun to watch, because you really dont know whats down the road, she said. Theres still a lot of trepidation in it, because of such a shift, but you have to see it as an opportunity.

Right now, BYUtv has already aired sporting events in HD and that capability is already available over the air to HD sets without cable or dish contracts and to current subscribers of Comcast. There are talks with other cable providers and satellite companies that include DirectTV and DishNetwork to air BYUtv in HD on their respective platforms.

Those plans are best described as moving forward and many on campus expect more HD carriage providers will make capabilities official before the start of the 2011 football season. Every BYU football and basketball game will be available to BYU fans on either ESPN or BYUtv through television feeds or Internet streaming.

BYU and other HD carriage partners are cautious about making promises as to availability. The Deseret News has had many requests for clarification on dish company HD plans for BYUtv since a column ran on Sunday. But official word about launch dates are tough to pin down. BYU is currently in negotiations and discretion is needed to protect the process.

The advent of cellphone apps for BYUtv will greatly enhance exposure and delivery using new technology, according to campus officials. And yes, you can wire those to your HD television and watch BYU sports.

Techno-savvy fans can hook streaming devices including computers and cellphones up to their HD television sets and see BYU sporting events that air on some ESPN channels or BYUtv.

BYU is also working with one of the most popular streaming device companies, Roku, to provide a BYUtv capability over the Internet just like Netflix. It is currently in Beta.

email: dharmon@desnews.com

Twitter: Harmonwrites

Rockers Linkin Park are giving one graphic designer the chance to land their big break by creating the cover art for their new single Iridesent.

The Crawling hitmakers upcoming release is part of the soundtrack for the new Transformers movie, Dark of the Moon, and the band is appealing to their talented fans to submit artwork for their consideration.

The winning design will be unveiled at the world premiere of the sci-fi franchises second sequel, which will open the 33rd Moscow International Film Festival in Russia next month.

A post on the bands Facebook.com page reads: We are looking for a talented designer out there to help us make a piece of official artwork for Iridescent, the new single from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The winner will be showcased for 30 million fans and at our performance in Red Square at the films premiere on June 23.

WENN

The artwork that goes into todays videogames can be museum-worthy. Many game scenes look completely photorealistic, created with crisp high-end graphics; others are highly stylized cartoon-like visuals. Some games even contain scenes that are beautifully painted by hand.

To showcase these beautiful works, the Academy of Interactive Arts amp; Sciences and the Entertainment Software Association set up an art show and contest called Into the Pixel, which hopes to highlight some of the best artwork created for video games.

The 2011 show is currently featured online, but will also be showcased at the E3 Gaming Expo, which will be held from June 7 to 9 in Los Angeles. You can also see a list of the winning artwork at the Into the Pixel site, with profiles and descriptions of the artists.

Sunday

Melancholy lives In Richard Raskinds drama The Bridge Club, a terminally ill young man heads to the Golden Gate to end it on his own terms, only to find he has to wait line for a brash young woman with the same intentions. The show goes on at 2 pm Sunday at the Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St., and continues with performances at 8 pm Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $45. Call 215-923-0210. . . . Horton Foote won two Oscars and a Pulitzer Prize for his screenplays and dramas delineating the darkness and light of the human heart, with an emphasis on the gray. His last play, the 2008 drama Dividing the Estate, set in 1987 amid an economic collapse, follows a genteel, threadbare family as they dysfunctionally try to figure out how to turn so much land into so much cash. The play goes on at 2 and 7 pm Sunday at Peoples Light and Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, and continues on a Wednesday-through-