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Remy Cointreau USA Committed to Highest Standards in Industry

Remy Cointreau USA, Inc. (RCUSA), a leader in the beverage alcohol industry, today announces Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, RCUSA National Educator, receives Master of Wine (MW) title from the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW).

Simonetti-Bryan is the fourth woman in the United States to earn this title. She is one of only two US candidates and fifteen worldwide to receive the title this year. “We are extremely proud of Jennifer’s accomplishments and are privileged to have an industry leader in our company,” says Tom Jensen, President and CEO of RCUSA, “Having an MW who continues to share her knowledge and skills with our employees and distributor partners is indicative of [RCUSA's] commitment to upholding the highest standards within the industry. As a luxury wine purveyor with quality products like Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck, Barone Ricasoli, Vietti, Masi, among others, we believe that we should also provide the best in service, knowledge and training which can only be done through someone as special as Jennifer.”

The MW qualification is the highest standard of professional knowledge in the wine industry and only those invited into the program can continue to pursue this title. The title is achieved through passing a rigorous and extensive examination consisting of three parts: Theory, Practical, and Dissertation. Candidates must pass all three parts and are given only three opportunities to obtain the title of MW. Says Jennifer, “Masters of Wine are the wine industry’s elite, and the MW title is the most difficult title in the industry to obtain. I feel truly privileged and honored to obtain this title.”

Simonetti-Bryan now joins the ranks of renowned wine industry leaders such as Jancis Robinson, MW, Michael Broadbent, MW and Clive Coates, MW. There are only 278 Masters of Wine worldwide since the Institution of Master of Wine was established in 1955. There are now only 26 MW’s in the US.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, Simonetti-Bryan attended the Master of Wine ceremony in London to receive her title.

Source: Remy Cointreau USA, Inc.

Filed under : Celebrities, Chat, Work

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Internet browsers weigh in - $150,000 on wardrobe could have been spent on healthcare, housing

More than 62,000 viewers have viewed the http://www.dresslikepalin.com/ website this week, scores offering their views on other uses that could have been made for the $150,000 the Republican National Committee famously spent on the wardrobe for Gov. Sarah Palin.

The internet game sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, presents its suggestions on alternatives to the spending spree for what CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro calls the real Marxist in the Presidential race — “the Neiman Marxist adorned in that fetching $150,000 wardrobe,”

The same $150,000 could buy 15,000 nurses scrubs, for example. The $22,800 the RNC spent on makeup alone would pay for 224 mammograms, 651 flu shots, or provide a supply of cholesterol lower Lipitor for one person for nearly 14 years.

Those viewing the internet game are invited to present their own opinions on how the $150,000 could have been better spent. Among the comments:

• I would make a donation to my local university’s scholarship fund.

• I would buy my mother a new home for which she very much needs.

• Shelter for thousands of homeless across the country.

• A college education for my daughter.

• I would pay off my credit card, save for 2 kids to go to college, give some to charity, and whatever is left, stuff in my mattress.

• I could get married….

• Food for the food bank for 5 years…

• A house or perhaps donate to a transplant hospital. My husband needs a kidney and I don’t think he will get one with Medicare only!

• Health care for families where the parent(s) work at WalMart.

• I would be able to pay off my house and half of my student loans, which cause me to live pay check to pay check.

• A modest home and property where my husband and I could retire.

• 150,000 would make a really great computer lab in the local public school or library.

• I’d start a foundation for at-risk high school students.

• A house and I would pay for health insurance for myself & daughters since I am currently self employed and do not have insurance…partially because I worry if I ever used it they would cancel it anyway.

• Dr. visits for as many as possible!

• I’d give it all to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a food bank.

• I would buy back my neighbor’s house who lost it to foreclosure due to predatory lending.

• I would give the $150,000 to the Mother, Child, and Adolescent HIV program for which I work. That money could keep a child on medication for 12.5 years. Most of our families live on less than $10,000 per year!

• I’d buy healthcare coverage for a month for, yikes, just 10 or 11 families …

• I would by 15000 warm winter jackets for the homeless at about 10 dollars each.

• A nice school outfit for a foster child with a very limited budget.

• Dental care for myself and all my other self-employed, self-insured workers.

• I would pay off medical bills. One from a thoractomy from two years ago for me, one also from two years ago and my son was uninsured because he had a “pre-existing condition” from when he was born nine years ago. Someone decided since I was induced due to toxemia that he was premature. Now I have to pay $5,000 for his broken arm because someone decided it was bad that he needed speech therapy at 3 yrs old, he was “premature” at 8 1/2 months and takes Ritalin…

• Textbooks for inner city children.

• Membership in Environmental organizations opposed to Drilling in the Alaskan natural Wildlife Preserve.

• Five full time case workers at our local domestic violence program, for a year, with benefits.

• Food for refugees in Darfur.

• My husband just had to close his business after 22 years of hard work–I would have used the money to help him keep his business or to help my two sons finish college. I also would have my husband use the time off to get his bachelor’s degree. He went to trade school and was a successful business owner (like Joe the plumber) until “W” got hold of this country and ruined it. It is too bad Sarah is not a nurse-we all could think of millions of humanitarian ways to spend that kind of money.

• Pay for the experimental cancer treatment that would help my daughter live longer.

• Her boots cost almost as much as my rent! Good thing I get food Stamps!

• I would donate it to the children’s cancer community my non-profit that helps families with a child with cancer.

• Body armor for ALL our troops overseas.

• The Lobbyist Lunch Special for Two at Jack Abramoff’s favorite restaurant.

Source: California Nurses Association|National Nurses Organizing Committee

Filed under : Celebrities, Chat, Fashion

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Despite celebrity children being named after fruit, New York boroughs and days of the week - Jack and Olivia are the nation’s favourite baby names, according to the leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider, The Children’s Mutual (http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk).

A review of more than 121,000 account holders of The Children’s Mutual found that the Child Trust Fund generation are most likely to have traditional names, with Jack, Thomas, Oliver, Olivia, Grace and Emily making up the top three for boys and girls respectively.

Yet a growing number of parents are taking a leaf out of the celebrities’ naming book and giving their children monikers of the famous with Cruz, Brooklyn and Moses all sneaking higher up the table. Currently, there are no CTF holders named ‘Sunday’ after Nicole Kidman’s new born - although there are a number of Tuesdays.

While Jack and Olivia top the charts nationally it is very different story regionally. Traditional names like Reuben, Frederick and Nathaniel are popular in London; Ethan is top in the East of England and Joshua in the North East. Other favourites included Kian in Wales, Mckenzie in the North East, Finley in the West Midlands and Harley in the East Midlands. Favourite names for girls include Maia in Yorkshire and the Humber, Maisie in London, Nia in Wales and Tia in the North West.

To help new parents find the perfect name for their little ones, The Children’s Mutual has launched an online ‘Baby Name Finder’. With over 6,000 names in the database to explore, mums and dads can search for names by gender (including unisex names), origin or alphabetically, and can even look up name meanings.

Tony Anderson, Marketing Director at The Children’s Mutual, said: “Choosing a name for your baby is a difficult, yet important choice. And whether you get your inspiration from a flower, a film, a celebrity or something a little more traditional, The Children’s Mutual has created the Baby Name Finder to offer a little food for thought.

“While choosing the right name can give your child a good start in life, The Children’s Mutual is also here to help provide the best financial start. With our Child Trust Fund, parents can save little and often over 18 years to give their child a boost into adulthood. With the average Child Trust Fund being topped up by 24GBP a month, the little Jacks, Olivias and other Child Trust Fund babies could each get 9,750GBP when they reach 18.

To access the Baby Name Finder and find out more about The Children’s Mutual, visit http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/babynames

Source: The Children’s Mutual

Filed under : Celebrities, Chat, Family & Home

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