April 24th Blogging Basics

The Business of Football Infographic

2012-01-16T07:27:00.001-08:00

Nymgo relaunches and to celebrate offers free tickets to anywhere in the world!

2012-01-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

Abraham Harrison’s new client, Nymgo, has now completely re-developed its networking infrastructure and is accordingly re-launching its product, website and brand with a completely new look and set of functions that pushes the envelope of mass consumer VoIP technology in 2012 — and, to celebrate that launch, they’re also offering 5 tickets to anywhere to a lucky 5 folks.

This contest is called the “Nymgo, fly me to visit someone” contest and it takes place on its regional Facebook pages for Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan — one round-trip ticket to anywhere in the world will be available to each Facebook Page by simply choosing a friend they would like to visit. The contestant simply uploads a picture along with a required caption (maximum 500 words) explaining why they should win the trip to see that person.

Keeping Your Privacy With Flink12

2011-04-14T19:34:00.001-07:00

Abraham Harrison's client, Flink12, is the way to stay social but still keep your privacy. There are many social networking platforms available today to share your public self. But where do you go to privately and safely share your personal, day-to-day thoughts and experiences? Flink12 was created as a safe and secure way to share your private life. It is playful, safe, extremely private and easy to use. A unique way of sharing and communicating, Flink12 allows you to share your life in a meaningful way with the people you know and care about the most.

What is a Flink? A Flink is a group of twelve cows. Flink12 allows you to create individual groups of twelve people or Flinks for your friends, family, or coworkers. These Flinks allow you to communicate in a discreet way, sharing professional information with coworkers and personal information with friends and family. These groups of twelve are ideal for sharing different information for different types of relationships.

"Privacy first" is the highest priority at Flink12. This approach ensures that your personal information will remain completely secure. With no privacy settings to manage, your information is automatically safe. Personal information will not indexed on the web by search engines. You decide when, where and how much of your life you want to share and with whom. As it says on the Flink12 website:

Our "Privacy first" approach ensures that your personal information will remain private. Your information will not be indexed on the web by search engines. We designed Flink12 at its roots to be "udderly" private. Users have complete control.

Flink12 is totally accessible on the go as well:

Head on over to Flink12 and sign up for a free account. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

8 Reasons to Choose Fotolia for Your Stock Photos

2011-04-07T08:49:00.001-07:00

Abraham Harrison is really excited about our client Fotolia. Fotolia is able to offer individuals and professionals (advertising agencies, press, small business, graphic artists, designers) the greatest image collection in the world for free or as little as $0.75 an image. Check out these 8 great reasons to use Fotolia:

1. Time Savings -- Fotolia services will save you time, as you are much more likely to find what you need quickly. A savings in time translates into saving money.

2. Clear Licensing Agreement -- One hazard of being a designer is learning about copyright laws, restrictions and licenses. On the free photo sites, you have to read the fine print for each and every photo you use. Some photographs come with no restrictions, some are only for non-commercial use and some require the name of the photographer. You don’t have to deal with this headache on Fotolia. The licensing agreement will be the same for all photos in the license category you select, which is typically a standard royalty-free license.

3. Availability of Vector Art and Illustrations -- Fotolia offers a wide variety of vector art and illustrations. Illustrated graphics can give a course a completely unique look and feel. Vector art refers to graphics that are hand drawn in a tool like Adobe Illustrator. Because they exist as mathematical renderings, they can be expanded to any size and manipulated in a vector graphics program.

4. Compelling Images -- You can find photos based on a concept, emotion or theme. You can find people doing interesting things and simple single objects that are ready to use.

5. Guaranteed Model Releases -- You need the signed release of a model to use his or her photo. Model releases are guaranteed with a paid service. This is not true on a free site. That’s why I never use photographs of a person from a free service.

6. More Efficient Search -- There’s nothing like typing in the search term ‘money’ and getting back photos of the Eiffel tower. This kind of poor search functionality is common on some free photo sites. On the other hand, efficient search functionality is one of the foundations of Fotolia. Fotolia has staff to tag their photos with keywords, so the results are usually more accurate. The keywords are also translated in many languages.

7. Supports The Arts -- The world would only be shades of gray without the Arts. By paying for images, you’re helping photographers and illustrators earn a living. We need them.

8. Reduces Stress -- When you can quickly find the graphics you like and need, it reduces your level of stress. And we all need that.

Be sure to check out this video of Fotolia images as well:

Also connect with Fotolia on their various social media channels to watch for announcements:

Thank You Habitat for Humanity Bloggers

2010-11-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Habitat For Humanity asked Abraham Harrison to help promote World Habitat Day 2010. We reached out to all the bloggers who seemed really passionate and interested about helping the homeless and displaced, both on Twitter and on blogs, all of which you can check out below. It was a really great campaign! (Via Abraham Harrison & Marketing Conversation)

Marvin White joins Fuad El-Hibri at Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.

2010-06-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

“Mr. White's expertise in financial management, gained in a patient-focused health care system and service-oriented environment, will prove an invaluable asset in guiding Emergent's management team towards further growth and in increasing value for shareholders,” Fuad El-Hibri, Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.'s chairman and CEO, said. “We are delighted to welcome him to Emergent's Board of Directors, composed of seasoned experts with diverse skill sets.”

Thank You to All the HAI Watch Not On My Watch Bloggers

2010-06-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Both Kimberly-Clark Healthcare and Abraham Harrison would like to thank you, all the bloggers and tweeters who supported our public affairs outreach in support of the fighting hospital-aquired and healthcare associated infections via the HAI Watch “Not on My Watch” campaign. We really appreciate your coverage and support.

Via Abraham Harrison

Goethe-Institut Summer 2010 Schedule of Events

2010-05-09T03:40:00.000-07:00

Goethe-Institut Washington is an organization dedicated to providing access to the German language, culture and society, and fostering intercultural exchange in the Washington, DC area. It is part of the international network of Goethe-Institutes, and is a non-profit organization supported in part by the German government. There are 149 Goethe-Institutes and 11 liaison offices in 92 countries.
The Goethe-Institut Washington offers a wide selection of classes this summer for every skill level, with both regular and intensive classes, including Elementary German A1, Elementary German A2, Intermediate German B1, An Introduction to Reading Scholarly German, and more — view the full schedule. Registration for summer classes is currently open.
Goethe-Institut Washington is now on Twitter and Facebook. Our weekly email newsletter keeps subscribers informed of our German cultural events and courses; more local events, class information, quizzes, questions, answers, and other resources are available by following and/or liking us.
The Goethe-Institut Washington presents films (classics and new; features and documentaries) every Monday night in its screening room. German films are screened with English subtitles. The May-July film series presents a selection of award-winning films from the Berlinale, the Berlin International Film Festival, including 12 Angry Men, Signs of Life (Lebenszeichen), Solo Sunny, Trace of the Bears (Spur der Bären), Veronika Voss (Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss), Life is All You Get (Das Leben ist eine Baustelle) and Head-On (Gegen die Wand). View the Goethe-Institut Washington’s full schedule of cultural events.
FotoGalerie, the Goethe-Institut Washington’s exhibition space, is an ongoing showcase for the work of young German photographers. In Our Time – Photographs by Anne Lass is on display through the end of May. Next up: an annual favorite, winning works from Germany’s annual graduate photography competition, gute aussichten: new german photography 2009/2010, will be on display June-August. View the Goethe-Institut Washington’s full schedule of cultural events.

Learn How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Hospital Infections

2010-05-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have collected a list of preventative measures you can take for yourself, your children, your parents, and your loved ones before, during, and after their stay in the hospital to minimize exposure to Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and associated superbugs like MRSA.

Washing:

Your own hands. Scrub for at least 15 seconds with warm water and soap. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if you can't get to a sink to use soap and water.
Beginning three to five days before surgery, shower daily with 4 percent chlorhexidine soap, available over the counter at your local pharmacy.
Once you're at the hospital: Ask anyone who is going to touch you to wash their hands first, in your presence. Due this whether the person is a doctor or nurse who is examining you, or visitors who want to hug you, pat your arm, help you dress, etc. Don't be shy! Your life is worth a tiny moment of embarrassment.
Make sure hospital staff scrub the planned incision site before surgery, because scalpels and other surgical instruments can drag bacteria on the surrounding skin's surface into the incision.

Equipment:

A common source of cross contamination bacteria are stethoscopes, which caregivers often do not clean between patients, so ask for it — and any other medical equipment — to be cleaned in your presence.
Make sure hospital staff cleans and disinfects any surfaces you may come in contact with, such as bed rails, privacy curtains, and sinks. Avoid setting food or utensils on the furniture or bed.
Make sure IV equipment is cleaned properly when inserted and removed, and that it a new, clean one is inserted at least every 3 to 4 days. If any redness appears at the IV site, alert hospital staff immediately.
Keep an eye on wound dressings and drainage tubes, and tell a caregiver right away if they become loose or wet.
Avoid getting a urinary catheter if at all possible. If you have a catheter, ask if it can be removed within a day or two - the sooner, the better.

Testing:

Get tested for for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at least a week before you enter the hospital. You could have MRSA already and not know it! It's important to find this out ahead of time.
Have your blood sugar under control if you have diabetes.

Medication:

Ask your doctor about taking an antibiotic before surgery. For many surgeries, you can receive an antibiotic an hour or so before your surgery to help prevent a surgical site infection.

Grooming and Comfort:

If hair has to be removed, use electric clippers on the day of surgery instead of razors, because razors are more likely to leave nicks in your skin through which you can be exposed to the bacteria that cause infection.
Ask your doctor about keeping you warm during surgery. Obviously, you won't notice the cold while under anesthesia, but studies have shown that the simple step of keeping surgical patients warm reduces the likelihood of infection.
Ask anyone who is coughing to wear a mask or stay at least six feet away from you so you won't get an infection that is transmitted through the air.
Even though their visits may cheer you up, if family and friends are feeling unwell, ask them to wait to visit you until they are better. Talk to them on the phone instead.

A True Hero (Almost) Gets His Memorial

2010-04-22T01:24:00.000-07:00

At a time when kids consider gun-toting athletes and cracked-out celebrities heroes and role models, it’s refreshing to hear that a true hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is finally getting the official memorial he deserves. Abraham Harrison’s client, the Washington D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial Foundation, is pushing for the last few million dollars needed to finish the project.
Over $106 million of the $120 million has been raised through corporate support as well as private donations from us ordinary folk. The Foundation has devised some creative and easy ways to add your contribution including an MLK Toolbar that donates $.05 for every search you perform using the toolbar.
To find out more about the history of the Memorial, its on-going construction and ways to donate here: http://mlkmemorialnews.org/

Stem Cell Therapy to Cure Type 1 Diabetes in Adults

2010-04-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

Diabetes exacts its toll on many Americans, young and old. For years, researchers have painstakingly dissected this complicated disease caused by the destruction of insulin producing islet cells of the pancreas. Despite progress in understanding the underlying disease mechanisms for diabetes, there is still a paucity of effective therapies. For years investigators have been making slow, but steady, progress on experimental strategies for pancreatic transplantation and islet cell replacement. Now, researchers have turned their attention to adult stem cells that appear to be precursors to islet cells and embryonic stem cells that produce insulin. From Curing Diabetes with Stem Cell Therapy Resources:

Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Professor Alan Trounson has highlighted research that has transformed human embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes in mice. He says the technique could work equally with humans. "I do think we’ll get a cure to diabetes," he said.

Stem cells are the essential cellular building blocks that allow the body to regenerate new cells and repair tissue. Scientists are investigating the therapeutic potential of both embryonic and adult stem cells as a research tool to better understand-and develop treatments for-diseases that affect over 100 million Americans in their lifetime, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other debilitating conditions.

Stem cell therapy aimed at restoring blood flow to damaged limbs in people with diabetes has shown promise, according to UK company ReNeuron. Diabetics using stem-cell therapy have been able to stop taking insulin injections for the first time, after their bodies started to produce the hormone naturally again.

A handful of people with type 1 diabetes have been able to survive without insulin shots for more than two-and-a-half years, on average, after having their own blood stem cells removed and reimplanted through intravenous injection, U.S. and Brazilian researchers reported Tuesday.

The study involved the use of a technique called "autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation" or AHST for short. This type of treatment has been used to treat other autoimmune diseases successfully. Previous trials have shown that moderate suppression of the immune system in newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes patients can stop the further loss of beta cells and reduce the need for supplemental insulin.

Pancreatic islet cell transplantation and particularly stem cell-based therapies have a huge potential to restore glucose control in patients with diabetes, without risk of serious hypoglycemic adverse effects associated with insulin therapy, and safety issues of other anti-diabetes treatments.

In Australia, and many other countries around the world, stem cell therapy is only approved to treat blood disorders such as leukemia. Whilst research is moving rapidly and showing great promise, the use of any type of stem cell as a therapy for diseases like type 1 diabetes is still firmly classed as experimental. This doesn’t mean these therapies won’t work, just that scientists and clinicians have deemed there isn’t enough data available to demonstrate patient safety as well as a long term benefit.

Hopes have been raised of a new treatment to free thousands of diabetes sufferers from the burden of daily insulin injections. Scientists revealed findings of a study which shows that 15 young patients with type one diabetes overcame their dependence on insulin after being treated with their own stem cells.

Via Chris Abraham Blog

Thank You To All Of The Olympic Bloggers

2010-04-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, we at Abraham Harrison helped the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) reach out to bloggers and others online in order to bring more attention to the Winter Olympic Games. Nearly 300 movers, shakers and influencers responded to our call to action with the placement of banners, tweets, and with blog posts. Thank you to all of the authors of the following posts:

Register with Team USA for tomorrow’s Winter Games

2010-02-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow marks the first day of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, BC. Years of training, hard work, discipline and relentless dedication have given the great athletes of Team USA the right edge to grab that gold. To make sure you keep track of who is skiing the fastest and skating the hardest, register with TeamUSA.org where fans get chance to take part in all of the action. GO USA!

Receive exclusive updates during the Winter Games
Get the inside scoop, event by event
Hear directly from our Olympic athletes as they chase their dream
Be able to download photo and video highlights, right to your desktop

There is more than one way to get involved with this year’s Olympics. Show your support by making a donation or becoming a member the Sixth Ring. Check out TeamUSAnews.org and get ready to rally behind the great USA!

Register at TeamUSA.org for exclusive Winter Games info

2010-02-09T06:55:00.001-08:00

Start rockin’ your red white and blue because this Friday marks the beginning of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, BC. The city will welcome all of the worthy competitors and their diehard fans who are lucky enough to see these world-class athletes live. For those of us who cannot make it to Vancouver and witness the excitement first-hand, TeamUSA.org is giving fans a chance to take part in all the action.
Register at TeamUSA.org and you will:

Receive exclusive updates during the Winter Games
Get the inside scoop, event by event
Hear directly from our Olympic athletes as they chase their dream
Be able to download photo and video highlights, right to your desktop

Team USA has been training hard. We must recognize their admirable accomplishments and cheer our hearts out to help the great USA take home some sweet gold. Register now to be ready for Olympic fever!

Emergent BioSolutions Enhances Manufacturing Infrastructure with Strategic Acquisition in Baltimore

2009-11-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Emergent acquires manufacturing facility from MdBio and land from City of Baltimore for $8.2 million

ROCKVILLE, MD, November 13, 2009 – Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of a 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility from MdBio Foundation and the land on which the facility stands from the City of Baltimore for a total purchase price of $8.2 million. The facility, located within the City of Baltimore, Maryland, previously operated as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed facility used by an experienced contract manufacturing organization (CMO) to produce a number of FDA approved products.

“Emergent is excited about this new facility in Baltimore because it houses several suites capable of manufacturing multiple products at the same time,” said Fuad El-Hibri, chairman and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “Accordingly, this facility will provide the flexibility to conduct large-scale manufacturing of rPA while also producing other products in our pipeline.”

Emergent worked closely with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), MdBio, the City of Baltimore, Baltimore Development Corporation, and other related governmental agencies to complete this transaction.

“Maryland is continuing to strengthen its biotechnology prowess by helping to grow industry leaders like Emergent BioSolutions,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The transaction between MdBio and Emergent will maximize the value of the BioProcessing Center by maintaining a bio-manufacturing infrastructure for Maryland’s bioscience community, enabling additional investment to be made in the Center and ensuring that those high paying, highly skilled jobs are created and remain in Maryland.”

Emergent BioSolutions employs over 600 employees across the globe, with over 150 employees located in its corporate headquarters in Rockville and one of its product development sites in Gaithersburg.

“This acquisition reflects our commitment to both continually creating jobs and investing additional capital in the State of Maryland,” said Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, president and chief operating officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the state and local governments for their ongoing support of our efforts to develop our local manufacturing capabilities and look forward to growing Emergent’s presence in the state.”

Mayor Sheila Dixon, commenting on the announcement, said, “The City of Baltimore is excited about welcoming Emergent BioSolutions to the Baltimore biotech community. With great research institutions such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland as potential partners in the area, we know that Emergent will be a wonderful contributor in the future.”

“Emergent’s decision to expand in Maryland underscores not only our rich research and development environment, but also our mission to support the complete product development life cycle that includes bio manufacturing,” said Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian S. Johansson. “The Department was pleased to work with MdBio Foundation and the Baltimore Development Corp. to bring this project to fruition.”

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax. Emergent’s development pipeline includes programs focused on anthrax, botulism, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B and chlamydia. Additional information may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com and www.biothrax.com.

About MdBio Foundation, Inc.
The MdBio Foundation, Inc. is a charitable and educational organization whose mission is to provide and support the State of Maryland’s bioscience community through bioscience awareness, education and workforce development programs including scholarships, post-doctoral conference and career expos, BioGENEius science competition and summer science camps. Since 2003, MdBio has operated the MdBioLab, an educational and well-known mobile bioscience laboratory that visits high schools throughout Maryland to educate youth on biosciences. Over the past six years, MdBioLab has held more than 2,800 classes with 55,000 students and 1,500 teachers. MdBio Foundation became an affiliate of the Tech Council of Maryland in 2006.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including any potential future securities offering, our expected revenue growth and net earnings for 2009, and any other statements containing the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “estimates” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including our ability to obtain FDA approval to manufacture products or product candidates in the newly acquired facility; appropriations for BioThrax^® procurement; our ability to obtain new BioThrax^® sales contracts; our plans to pursue label expansions and improvements for BioThrax^®; our plans to expand our manufacturing facilities and capabilities; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our products; the success of our ongoing and planned development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials; our ability to identify and acquire or in license products and product candidates that satisfy our selection criteria; the potential benefits of our existing collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into selective additional collaboration arrangements; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our other product candidates; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other factors identified in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2009 and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

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Win a Free Roku Player from Motionbox

2009-11-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

The rumors are true.... Motionbox is soon to be a featured Channel on the Roku digital video player. You'll be able to hook the player up to your television and enjoy instant access to all the videos you’ve uploaded to Motionbox. All you need is a TV, a high-speed Internet connection (wired or wireless), and a finger to click the remote!

As a special sneak preview, we're giving away a few brand new Roku players to people who become Motionbox members this month.

All you have to do is sign up for a FREE Motionbox account before November 30, 2009 then email offers@motionbox.com with subject line "Roku Giveaway" and we'll enter your name for a chance to win a Roku HD Player.

Learn more about Roku:
Read a recent article about Roku.
Check out the Roku website.

Risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections

2009-10-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

When someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a healthcare-associated (sometimes hospital-acquired) infection (HAI).

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals.

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare asociated infections in 2002 at 98,987.

The risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries.

Afflicting thousands of patients every year, HAI often leads to lengthening hospitalization, increasing the likelihood of readmission, and adding sizably to the cost of care per patient.

Financially, HAIs represent an estimated annual impact of $6.7 billion to healthcare facilities, but the human cost is even higher.

Until recently, a lack of HAI reporting requirements for healthcare facilities has contributed to less-than-optimal emphasis being placed on eliminating the sources of healthcare associated infections. However, growing public anxiety regarding the issue and resulting legislation on state and local levels demanding accountability is serving to accelerate initiatives to combat HAIs.

To learn more about the impact of healthcare-associated infections for both medical professionals and patients, please visit www.haiwatch.com.

About Not on My Watch Prevention Campaign
To protect patients by reducing the risk of HAI, healthcare professionals must continually update their knowledge of infection management.

As part of an ongoing commitment to quality care and infection prevention, nationwide doctors and hospitals are partnering with Kimberly-Clark to deliver continuing education programs on healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention to staff and management. As simple as education sounds, busy doctors and nurses on the front lines of delivering care can find it difficult to find the time to take advantage of scheduled programs within their hospitals.
The HAI Education Program is part of a national infection awareness campaign for healthcare professionals called “Not on My Watch” and will provide the facility with a toolkit that contains informational flyers, patient safety tips and posters.

The "Not on My Watch" campaign provides accredited continuing education (CE) programs based on best practices and guidelines as well as research available on reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.

For details about the "Not On My Watch" campaign, and the HAI Education Bus please visit www.HAIwatch.com.

HAI Education Bus

At Kimberly-Clark, it’s our mission to find innovative ways to develop and maintain a variety of accredited education, equipping healthcare providers with critical insights and information on today’s important clinical issues. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the HAI Education Bus, an impressive new one-of-a-kind mobile classroom that brings accredited CE education right to your door.

Look for this tour bus as it makes its way across the country, delivering education about healthcare-associated infections and other critical healthcare issues from the plains of Texas to the California coast to New York City and places in between.

Types of Healthcare-Associated Infections
Ventilator - Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

VAP is the source of the highest morbidity and mortality of all Healthcare Associated Infections.

Read More About VAP

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs)

Any breach of patient skin can lead to a surgical site infection.

Read More About SSIs

Cross Contamination (Contact Transfer)

Contact transfer (touch contamination) is the number one source of Healthcare Associated Infections.

Read More About Contact Transfer

About HAI Watch
HAI Watch is your resource for collateral and supplies to help keep your organization aware of the importance of healthcare associated infection prevention. The following guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare settings and other tips are available now, but keep checking back. New HAI awareness tools will be added on an ongoing basis.

About Kimberly-Clark Health Care
At Kimberly-Clark Health Care, we deliver innovative healthcare solutions that you can depend on to meet the demands of your fast-paced world, supported by in-service training, clinical research and accredited education.

Our solutions help you prevent, diagnose, and manage major issues in these clinical areas: Infection Prevention (Protection & Infection Control, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Surgical Site Infections), Digestive Health and Pain Management.

About Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries.

Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being.

With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 137-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com

Fuad El-Hibri on Wikipedia

2009-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Fuad El-Hibri (born March 2, 1958) is an American businessman, and CEO of Emergent BioSolutions. Fuad El-Hibri (born March 2, 1958) in Hildesheim, Germany spent his childhood equally in Europe and the Middle East before coming to the USA to get an economics degree from Stanford and an MBA from Yale.
Mr.El-Hibri earned a Masters Degree in Public and Private Management from Yale University and a Bachelors Degree with Honors in Economics from Stanford University.

Fuad El-Hibri served as president of Digicel from August 2000 to February 2005. Mr. El-Hibri served as the president of East West Resources Corporation from September 1990 to January 2004.

Mr. El-Hibri was a member of the senior management team of Speywood, LTD., in the United Kingdom. and organized and directed the management buyout of Porton Products Ltd. El-Hibri reorganized Porton, and was advisor to the senior management team involved in the oversight of operations and served as a senior associate and resident project manager at Booz Allen Hamilton and as a manager of Citicorp in New York (Mergers and Acquisitions), and in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Operations and Credit).

Mr. El-Hibri has been chairman of East West Resources Corporation, a venture capital and financial consulting firm, since June 1990. He served as the chairman of Digicel Holdings from August 2000 to October 2006. He serves as director of Emergent BioDefense Operations Lansing Inc.El-Hibri has been Director and CEO of Emergent BioSolutions since 2004 and He serves as Chairman and Treasurer of El-Hibri Charitable Foundation.

Mr.El-Hibri serves as a member of the board of trustees of American University. He is a member of the board of directors of the International Biomedical Research Alliance (an academic joint venture among the National Institutes of Health, Oxford University and Cambridge University). Mr El-Hibri is also a member of the board of trustees of the National Health Museum.

Fuad El-Hibri is a Washington-Area Success Story

2009-07-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Fuad El-Hibri has served as chief executive officer and as chairman of our board of directors since June 2004 and as president since March 2006. Mr. El-Hibri served as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of BioPort Corporation from May 1998 until June 2004, when, as a result of our corporate reorganization, BioPort became a wholly owned subsidiary of Emergent. We subsequently renamed BioPort as Emergent BioDefense Operations Lansing Inc. Mr. El-Hibri served as chairman of Digicel Holdings, Ltd., a privately held telecommunications firm, from August 2000 to October 2006. He served as president of Digicel from August 2000 to February 2005. Mr. El-Hibri has served as chairman of East West Resources Corporation, a venture capital and financial consulting firm, since June 1990. He served as president of East West Resources from September 1990 to January 2004. Mr. El-Hibri is a member of the board of trustees of American University and a member of the board of directors of the International Biomedical Research Alliance, an academic joint venture among the NIH, Oxford University and Cambridge University. He also serves as chairman and treasurer of El-Hibri Charitable Foundation. Mr. El-Hibri received a master’s degree in public and private management from Yale University and a B.A. in economics from Stanford University.

Thank You Springtime Fresh Air Fund Bloggers

2009-06-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone who blogged and Twittered about the Fresh Air Fund in the last two months, May and June. All-together, the Fresh Air Fund and Abraham Harrison has been blessed with at least 286 earned-media mentions. We appreciate your support, your words, your time, and your attention. We are much obliged.

The Profiles of Fuad El-Hibri

2009-06-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

Image via CrunchBase

Fuad El-Hibri Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009

2009-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Emergent BioSolutions Chairman and CEO, Mr. Fuad El-Hibri, Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Award Winner in Greater Washington

ROCKVILLE, MD, June 18, 2009 – Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that Fuad El-Hibri, its chairman and chief executive officer, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2009 Award in the Technology category in Greater Washington. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Mr. El-Hibri was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at a special gala event on June 18 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in Virginia.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award considering the many biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies in the greater Washington region,” said Mr. El-Hibri. “I am proud of Emergent BioSolutions’ continuous growth and financial strength. These successes are firmly anchored on the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment of our employees. All their contributions, in pursuit of our company mission to protect life, have made this award possible.”

Under Mr. El-Hibri’s leadership, Emergent BioSolutions has expanded its capabilities in the development and manufacture of vaccines and immune-related therapeutics. By strengthening its core biodefense portfolio, which includes the only FDA-licensed vaccine against anthrax disease, Emergent has become the premier biodefense supplier of medical countermeasures to the U.S. government.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year and continues to honor entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world.

As a Greater Washington award winner, Mr. El-Hibri is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax. Emergent’s development pipeline includes programs focused on anthrax, botulism, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B and chlamydia. Additional information may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards Program

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur of the Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.

In Greater Washington, sponsors include HSBC Bank, Pillsbury Law, Reznick Group, Lockton Companies and the Washington Business Journal.

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Fuad El-Hibri Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Award Finalist

2009-06-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Emergent BioSolutions Chairman and CEO, Mr. Fuad El-Hibri, Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Award Finalist in Greater Washington

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that its chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Fuad El-Hibri, is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2009 Award in the Greater Washington region. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Mr. El-Hibri was selected as a finalist from nearly 100 nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 18 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in Virginia.

“It is an honor to be chosen as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award,” said Mr. Fuad El-Hibri. “I am proud of the entrepreneurial spirit, commitment, and collaboration that prevail at Emergent, which are key factors to our company’s success. This recognition represents the contributions of each and every member of the Emergent Team as we work together in pursuit of our company mission – to protect life.”

Mr. El-Hibri was also a finalist for the Greater Washington region in 2007. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world.

About Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines and therapeutics that assist the body’s immune system to prevent or treat disease. Emergent’s marketed product, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed), is the only vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of anthrax. Emergent’s development pipeline includes programs focused on anthrax, botulism, tuberculosis, typhoid, hepatitis B and chlamydia. Additional information may be found at www.emergentbiosolutions.com.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards Program
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year® Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur of the Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors.

In Greater Washington, sponsors include HSBC Bank, Pillsbury Law, Reznick Group, Lockton Companies and the Washington Business Journal.

Updated WordPress.com - Step-by-Step Tutorial on How to Blog

2009-05-25T07:52:00.001-07:00

Chris Abraham walks you through how to join the fastest-growing and most elegant free blogging services, WordPress.com.

Go from the simple acts of joining all the way through set up and administration.

Become a blogger in less than and hour. Most folks only need the first 15 minutes to get you started.

Chris is a professional blogging instructor. Enjoy!

All of you have been asking me to update my step-by-step tutorial on how to use Wordpress.com as a blogging platform -- please check it out and please let me know what I have missed.

Online Reputation Management Defense Services

2009-05-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

You are not helpless in the face of negative search results. A directed, well-executed, diligent campaign will place your desired results high in the list, pushing undesirable results down to irrelevant pages where the majority of Internet users do not bother to look. 90% of searchers never look past the first page -- i.e. the first 10 results. 99% of searchers never look beyond the second page. We will work to get the undesirable results as far from those first two pages as possible.

At Abraham Harrison, LLC, our proven and well-refined methods as well as our long-established credibility gives us particular efficacy in influencing top search results. We don't engage the negative results, as this actually makes them more attractive to the search engines. We employ an assortment of tactics to chaff and flare, to draw the search engines' attention to positive and neutral results, and away from the problematic negative results.

It is not possible to make information on the Internet disappear unless the people who put the information online in the first place take it back down again -- even then, the data is often mirrored elsewhere or cached and re-served by the likes of Google and The Wayback Machine. The method is to make the undesirable results needles in haystacks -- it can be there, but only people really intent on finding it will come across it.

An online search results sanitization campaign is a long-term commitment, much like treating a cancer. It begins with a period of intense assault on the problem to beat the negatives down followed by a on-going low-level maintenance regime to keep them down. A campaign is heavily front-loaded with the ongoing maintenance being very low cost -- we can also turn those maintenance operations over to you, together with any infrastructure, content, and domain names we may have set up during the campaign.

Unlike many other companies in this field, we have no interest in holding you hostage over the years by keeping control of the mechanisms of the treatment. We are happy to turn that over to you once we get you in the clear, or if you prefer, provide you the service of keeping up the defense, however you prefer.

An online search results sanitization campaign requires subtlety convincing the search engines that what they previously believed -- i.e. that the currently highly-ranked negative results are indeed some of the most valuable and relevant results -- is no longer true, and that the neutral and positive content that we identify or create is far more valuable and relevant and therefore should rank highly, pushing the negative results down into the obscurity of lower rankings.

This requires a bit of time, 6-8 weeks of concerted effort generally, to get results moving away from where the search engines have long believed them legitimately to stand, toward the new state that we desire, with those negative results far below the neutral and positive ones.

Once we get the results moving and out of stasis, we keep them moving until we are happy with the results, then maintain them in place, so that the negative results (which naturally have their own legitimacy in the eyes of the search engines) do not move back up again. It is a bit like braces on a child's teeth which are then followed by a retainer that keeps them straight and prevents them from slipping back to their original crooked state.

Even the largest, well-known companies have used defensive SEO tactics in the face of crisis and unfavorable publicity. It works for them, and it will work for you. Negative search results are a controllable problem that can be solved with diligence and know-how. Unlike other common types of crises, negative search results will not disappear without action. However, unfavorable publicity that you may have received years ago that is still affecting perceptions about your brand can be dealt with and have its negative impact neutralized.

We have resolved difficult SEO solutions -- probably far worse than yours - in the past and come out on top. With our vast network and effective systems, we are able to provide an viable, permanent solution to most online reputation problems, and we will help with yours as well.

Generally, campaigns run a year, with the bulk of the effort in the first 4 months. After the first five to six months have passed and we have achieved a stable new order with the negative results well-buried, we will be happy to turn the maintenance over to you, if you wish, or we can continue to maintain the defensive systems for you until the end of the year. After the first year, we're happy to continue monitoring your online reputation and maintaining your defensive systems for as long as you choose to retain our services.

That said, all of the work, all the domain names, and all the IP we generate for you is yours and we're happy to turn it over to you if you like, after the year-long contract is completed.

Abraham Harrison, LLC, bills on a retainer basis, i.e. at the beginning of the month before beginning operations. As mentioned, the effort, and the billing is front-loaded to allow an aggressive attack to beat down the negative results soundly, then backing off over time focusing over more on the lower-resource work of stabilizing the results in order to allow you to save money.

If you are interested in an online reputation management, defensive SEO, reputation defense campaign, please call us at +1 202-657-4769 or email us at info@abrahamharrison.com, and we'll be more than happy to help you!

OLX is Online Classifieds, Evolved

2009-04-09T09:21:00.001-07:00

I heard about OLX when I got on the phone with co-CEO and co-founder, Fabrice Grinda. He laughed and admitted that OLX is the largest free classifieds site no one’s ever heard of. He was right, no-one else I know have ever heard of OLX. Until now, OLX has played the back end to other sites. OLX was the engine behind the Friendster classifieds, for example, amongst many other. OLX is now ready for prime time as it moves boldly into the United States in direct contest with monsters like Craigslist and EBay. This is a burgeoning David and Goliath story.

And, they're rocking out abroad, with a presence in over 80 countries and over 30 languages. Until now, OLX has been a lot like David Hasselhoff, post-Baywatch and pre-America's Got Talent: the Hoff is huge in Europe and so is OLX. And also in Brazil, China, Argentina, Chile, Russia, India, Poland, and others.

While we spoke, I farted around with the OLX site and quickly realized that OLX allowed me to search as geographically widely or as targeted as I wanted, based on city or zip code.

It was simple to search narrowly or broadly, by keyword or category, using check boxes and sliders. If there were too many results, I could slide it down to narrow the results; if there were too few, I could open increase the radius included in the search.

Craigslist limits its searches to cities and tight metro areas. Cities like Washington, DC, include Maryland and Northern Virginia, but not Baltimore or Richmond, although Baltimore is only 45-minutes away via the freeway.

But, no. I have to pop in, and then pop out. There have been attempts that 3rd party online services have made to allow federated search, but Craigslist keeps on shutting it down -- because that's what Craig Newmark of Craigslist does: makes arbitrary decisions that indulge his belief of what is right instead of what people might want and need. Like federated search, for example.

When I have some commerce to do, I have generally pointed by browser to one of three: Amazon, EBay, and Craigslist. When I need something new, I'll grab it on Amazon, but check EBay first. When I am looking for something used, I will check EBay and Craigslist. I will use Craigslist especially to grab something used if that thing is big, like furniture or a bike.

Sadly, there are too many limitations on all of these things and it really depends.

If I want a casual bike for weekend use spent with friends, that's one thing, but if I am looking for a classic Kestrel carbon fiber criterion racer, it is much better to go further afield. To me, Craigslist is best for people who are looking for deals or things that have become commoditized, such as refrigerators, mattresses, and couches.

If you're looking for a replacement piece for a patter of china or if you're looking for that 80s-era Porsche 911 you wanted in Highschool, you'll need to go somewhere else, such as EBay.

OLX is flexible and easy-to-use, offering users -- me -- the sort of simple tools required to be able to fine-tune searches using check boxes, price limiters (high- and low-end), and sliders. I can use it the way I want to, not the way the founders envision.

Same thing goes when it comes to mobile access. In a world of mobile phones and mobile access, it is surprising that most online classifieds and auctioning sites limit their mobile access to just a couple of smart phones like the iPhone. Well, I live on my Blackberry, my Nokia N95, and my soon-to-arrive Android G1, and there's no way to buy and sell via mobile and Craigslist, EBay, and Amazon do not offer non phone-specific, non app-based, mobile WAP interfaces. OLX offers access to all of its services via mobile, accessed via m.olx.com.

Mobile OLX doesn't require an expensive iPhone to access the web interface or download an application, it can be accessed by any phone that can access the web at all, even lower-end phones that can only support very basical browsers. Not only that, but I can easily continue my browsing and searching and listing from my mobile interface with a very similar experience to when I am at my desktop.

Also, there are lots of hidden fees, especially listing fees, hidden in real estate and jobs listings in Craigslist and, of course, listing fees on EBay -- fees that have been growing for the last decade -- the the point where loads of Power Sellers are getting skittish, wanting to pull their listings and find something else, something better. OLX is completely free. I dug further and there are premium listings available for a fee in the English/American market, but this isn't restrictive, this is value-added. The premium listing fee is in addition, not a barrier to listing.

And, admit it, in the world of social media, social networks, and web2.0, Amazon, EBay, and Craigslist haven't changed much in the last decade.

Then there's the obvious and very annoying -- and intentional -- limitations that man and ego, instead of service to customers, have implemented.

On the buyer's side, on one hand, one of the most frustrating things about Craiglist is that each city is insulated from the other -- you just can't search for the stuff you want country-wide; on the other hand, while EBay does allow you to search for stuff anywhere, it is an auction site so you need to be willing to bid or to Buy Now, which doesn't lend itself to the sort of creativity and playfulness that Craigslist tends to produce.

To be honest, if I am searching for listing for things like cars and motorcycles, I want to expand my search to neighboring cities and states. Hell, if I finally decide to buy that 1989 BMW R100GS Adventure Tourer, I am willing to search the entire country for one. The perfect thing of my dreams does not want to necessarily be limited by geography or proximity.

For the perfect thing, I am sure I would go on a road trip or take a flight. A buddy of mine always wanted to own a Ferrari. When he ultimately found the car he wanted to buy, it was almost three-thousand miles away in a barn, well-taken care of and just waiting for him, like a faerie tale.

Even searching for the perfect apartment can be taken to the perfect space, the perfect price, instead of just the perfect place. How could that be, you ask? Well, since I am a virtual worker, working for a virtual company, the quality of my home and the price of the rent or purchase could well be more important to me than whether the car is near the metro or bus line or is necessarily in metro Washington at all.

When I reread the above, I see a trend. OLX seems to be a next-generation online classifieds site because it not only takes Craigslist into the 21st century but it also rolls in some of the great things about Ebay as well, such as the sophisticated tools that allow Ebay's users to limit and expand searches, based on proximity and search terms, and whatnot.

Long story short, OLX isn't revolutionary, it is evolutionary. Craigslist and its cousin Ebay are seriously stunted, unwilling to respond to the needs of its users. "They don't need that -- they don't even know what they need -- why would they need to look outside of their city, this is about community, and I encourage community so I intent to block federated search from my classifieds site," I can hear Craig Newmark saying to his board of directors. Well, while Craig's gloating, Fabrice is innovating, adjusting, evolving, and meeting the needs of his community.

And, when it all comes down to brass tacks, it is about making ends meet. And when it comes to ends meeting, having more choice is better. More in better when it comes to value. In one fell swoop, you can double and triple your reach into not only neighboring cities and states but further afield.

In fact, when you look at Craigslist and see how picked-over all of the listings are by the time I get to it, I should think that OLX is a competitive advantage since it is -- for now, anyway -- the largest free classifieds site no one’s ever heard of, OLX is an undiscovered gem. OLX is like discovering an undiscovered flea market, second-hand store, or consignment store.

All said and done, this is not about revolution or paradigm shifting but it is about bringing buyer to seller and seller to buyer. It is about community and commerce. It is about making connections as completely and as easily as possible in exactly the way that makes it easiest for everyone involved and I honestly believe that OLX fills that bill, be they my client or not.