Deutsche Börse is expanding the offering of its Market Data & Analytics segment by acquiring the US financial news service Need to Know News. A purchase agreement was signed on 20 November 2009. For a US$ amount in the one digit million range including a performance-related payment, Need to Know News will become a 100 percent subsidiary of Market News International (MNI), a Deutsche Börse Group company.

'The acquisition of Need to Know News reflects our growth strategy with globally relevant information for algorithmic traders. We see an increasing demand from market participants pursuing automated trading strategies to integrate financial news and other event data into their algorithms, in addition to real-time market data', said Holger Wohlenberg, Managing Director of Deutsche Börse Market Data & Analytics.

With this transaction, Deutsche Börse acquires a pioneer in the delivery of machine readable news for algorithmic trading. The acquisition allows Deutsche Börse to combine its expertise in the development of ultra high speed data feeds with content provided by Market News International and with the proven market experience of Need to Know News. Together, the businesses aim to assume a leading role in the delivery of real-time data to the growing number of market participants with automated trading applications. At the same time, Deutsche Börse is expanding its client base for its offering of real-time news relevant to financial markets.

Based in Washington D.C., Need to Know News has 25 employees and delivers trading relevant news to market participants in the US and Europe.

About Market Data & Analytics
Deutsche Börse Market Data & Analytics collects, refines and disseminates independent capital market relevant data and information. The product range includes price data, trading statistics, analyses, master data, financial news and over 3,000 indices which document market movements and bring transparency to international financial markets. With the acquisition of Market News International (MNI) in January 2009, Market Data & Analytics extended its services with trading relevant macroeconomic real-time news. MNI has employees in 12 locations in Europe, Asia and the USA.

— WebWireID108238 —

Philadelphia, PA - Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects.

A new report by Korean scientists, published by Elsevier in the November 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry, adds to the potentially alarming findings about phthalates. They measured urine phthalate concentrations and evaluated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using teacher-reported symptoms and computerized tests that measured attention and impulsivity.

They found a significant positive association between phthalate exposure and ADHD, meaning that the higher the concentration of phthalate metabolites in the urine, the worse the ADHD symptoms and/or test scores.

Senior author Yun-Chul Hong, MD, PhD, explained that 'these data represent the first documented association between phthalate exposure and ADHD symptoms in school-aged children.' John Krystal, MD, the Editor of Biological Psychiatry, also commented: 'This emerging link between phthalates and symptoms of ADHD raises the concern that accidental environmental exposure to phthalates may be contributing to behavioral and cognitive problems in children. This concern calls for more definitive research.'
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the Summary of their 2005 Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, state that 'very limited scientific information is available on potential human health effects of phthalates at levels' found in the U.S. population. Although this study was performed in a Korean population, their levels of exposure are likely comparable to a U.S. population.

The current findings do not prove that phthalate exposure caused ADHD symptoms. However, these initial findings provide a rationale for further research on this association.

# # #

Notes to Editors:
The article is 'Phthalates Exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children' by Bung-Nyun Kim, Soo-Churl Cho, Yeni Kim, Min-Sup Shin, Hee-Jeong Yoo, Jae-Won Kim, Young Hee Yang, Hyo-Won Kim, Soo-Young Bhang, and Yun-Chul Hong. B-N Kim, S-C Cho, Y Kim, M-S Shin, J-W Kim, Y H Yang, and H-W Kim are affiliated with the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. H-J Yoo is from the Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seong-nam, Republic of Korea. Y-C Hong is with the Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Institute of Environmental Medicine, SNUMRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea. S-Y Bhang is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Republic of Korea. The article appears in Biological Psychiatry, Volume 66, Issue 10 (November 15, 2009), published by Elsevier.

The authors' disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available in the article.

John H. Krystal, M.D. is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine and a research psychiatrist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. His disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available at http://journals.elsevierhealth.com/webfiles/images/journals/bps/Biological_Psychiatry_Editorial_Disclosures_08_01_09.pdf.

Full text of the article mentioned above is available upon request. Contact Jayne M. Dawkins at ja.dawkins@elsevier.com to obtain a copy or to schedule an interview.

About Biological Psychiatry
This international rapid-publication journal is the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. It covers a broad range of topics in psychiatric neuroscience and therapeutics. Both basic and clinical contributions are encouraged from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders. Full-length and Brief Reports of novel results, Commentaries, Case Studies of unusual significance, and Correspondence and Comments judged to be of high impact to the field are published, particularly those addressing genetic and environmental risk factors, neural circuitry and neurochemistry, and important new therapeutic approaches. Concise Reviews and Editorials that focus on topics of current research and interest are also published rapidly.

Biological Psychiatry is ranked 4th out of the 101 Psychiatry titles and 14th out of 219 Neurosciences titles on the 2008 ISI Journal Citations Reports® published by Thomson Scientific.

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

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Redwood City, Calif. - A recent market research report from Dell'Oro Group, the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, indicates that the Ethernet Switch market grew for the second consecutive quarter during the third quarter of this year, driven by continued strength in data center deployments.

'Since early 2008, many new product introductions have focused on the data center and many of these products ramped strongly during the most recent quarter,' said Alan Weckel, Director of Ethernet Switch Market Research at Dell'Oro Group. '10 Gigabit Ethernet is leading the charge, both as a server connectivity technology and as an aggregation technology within the data center. In the short term, most of the overall Ethernet Switch market revenue growth will come from the data center,' Weckel added.

The report also shows that Fixed 10 Gigabit Ethernet revenues grew nearly 30 percent during the quarter with most of the growth being driven by purpose-built Fixed 10 Gigabit Ethernet data center products. Cisco and HP lead in this segment with a combined share of almost 70 percent of the total Fixed 10 Gigabit Ethernet port shipments. Other vendors with Ethernet Switch offerings are 3Com/H3C, Arista, Blade, Brocade, Extreme, Force 10 and Juniper.

About the Report

The Dell'Oro Group Ethernet Switch Quarterly Report offers complete, in-depth coverage of the market with tables covering manufacturers' revenue, ports/units shipped and average selling prices by various port speeds (e.g., 100 Mbps, 1000 Mbps, 10 Gbps, etc.) for Layer 2-3 Ethernet Switches (Fixed and Modular reported separately), and revenue, units shipped and average selling prices for Layers 4-7 Server Load Balancing Ethernet Switches. To purchase this report, please contact Emily Kendall at +1.650.622.9400 x223, or email Emily@DellOro.com.

About Dell'Oro Group

As the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, Dell'Oro Group provides in-depth, objective research and analysis that enable component manufacturers, equipment vendors, and investment firms to make fact-based, strategic decisions. For more information, contact Dell'Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit www.DellOro.com.

— WebWireID108230 —

'We place great value in developing strong leaders throughout the company,' said Ken Powell, chairman and chief executive officer of General Mills. 'That helps us recruit and retain talented people. And it helps create a positive work culture that continues to deliver top-tier results.'

The biennial global study of more than 500 companies and the resulting list were developed by Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, in conjunction with The RBL Group, a strategic human resources and leadership systems advisory firm, and Fortune.

In an online story announcing the winners, Fortune cites General Mills' focus on developing inspirational managers and encouraging volunteerism as a way to build leadership skills.

According to Fortune, 'Leadership training also goes beyond the walls of the General Mills headquarters. The company has built community service into its culture, with 82 percent of employees doing some sort of volunteer work.'

General Mills offers career-long development opportunities for employees at each stage of their careers, including mentoring, access to leadership experts and speakers, training at the General Mills Institute, tuition reimbursement, and individual development planning.

'We've always believed that building great brands and great talent go hand-in-hand,' said Kevin Wilde, vice president and chief learning officer for General Mills. 'This recognition reinforces our commitment to growing leaders. We're honored to be ranked among the best in the world.'

An independent, expert panel of judges selected the Global Top Companies based on criteria including strength of leadership practices and culture, examples of leader development on a global scale, impact of leadership in communities in which they operate, business performance, and company reputation.

'Through our research, it's clear that Global Top Companies such as General Mills do not abandon key leadership and talent efforts in favor of short-term goals,' said Bob Gandossy, global practice leader of Hewitt's Leadership Consulting practice. 'Leaders at these organizations are passionate and committed. They have an intense focus on talent and their leadership programs are practical, relevant and aligned with business goals - in good times and in bad.'

See the full list of 2009 Global Top Companies for Leaders on Fortune's Web site.

About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

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TORONTO, BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO), has been named the Best Bank for the Canadian Dollar by FX Week Magazine.

This is the first time BMO Capital Markets has received this honour, which is determined by votes from foreign exchange market professionals around the world. The FX Week Best Bank Awards are presented annually in London, U.K. during November.

'As the benchmark for the performance in the global FX industry, the FX Week Best Bank Awards are the most accurate indicator of who is leading the forex marketplace,' said Stephen Couling, Publisher, FX Week. 'And there is no question BMO Capital Markets has earned the No. 1 ranking in the Canadian dollar as judged by some of the largest and most influential FX participants.'

In this year's survey, nearly 7,000 respondents from banks, corporate treasurers and investors, including fund managers, institutional investors and hedge funds, nominated their preferred banks, brokers and vendors in 39 categories. Each institution was awarded three points for a first-place nomination, two for second-place and one for third-place. In the Canadian dollar category, BMO Capital Markets was ranked first by banks and investors and second by corporations – which resulted in a first-place finish overall.

This recognition is one of several awards that BMO Capital Markets has recently won for its overall excellence in foreign exchange. In September, BMO Capital Markets was named the best foreign exchange bank in Canada by European CEO Magazine. Earlier this year, BMO Capital Markets was voted best FX market-maker in a survey by the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) and the Interbank Funding Centre. Global Finance Magazine also named BMO Capital Markets the Best Investment Bank in Canada in a 2008 survey.

'We are honoured to be recognized by FX Week as the No. 1 dealer for the Canadian dollar globally,' said Jamie Thorsen, Global Head of Foreign Exchange Products, BMO Capital Markets. 'Our goal is to continue to build long-term sustainable client relationships and provide a unique perspective that offers a differentiated depth of expertise in the Canadian dollar. We are all about helping our clients turn currency risk into reward.'

BMO Capital Markets' Foreign Exchange Group is a team of nearly 100 professionals around the world from Beijing to Chicago. BMO has FX offices in eight cities globally, including a foreign exchange sales and trading desk in London, U.K., which opened in 2007.

The FX group holds a dominant position in the Canadian-dollar foreign exchange market and is top-ranked by large hedge funds and pension funds for institutional liquidity and pricing capacity. BMO's Foreign Exchange Group trades in all major and other exotic currencies – close to 50 tradable currencies and exotics and over 100 currency pairs. The group offers clients a wide range of capabilities, including:

* Canadian-dollar market making
* North American hedging
* Chinese transactions
* 24 hour trading
* Structured risk-management solutions including derivatives, swaps and options, and real-time order monitoring and quotes through its leading web-based platforms DirectLine® and eFXpedite
For more information, visit: www.bmocm.com/products/marketrisk/fx/

About BMO Capital Markets
BMO Capital Markets is a leading full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,200 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 27 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with
US$385 billion total assets and 37,000 employees as at July 31, 2009.

About FX Week Magazine
Published since 1990, FX Week is the industry's exclusive publication for foreign exchange and money market professionals working within banks, brokerages, institutions and corporate treasuries. FX Week's expert editorial team operates out of London, the heart of the foreign exchange market, with support from editorial offices in New York and Hong Kong, ensuring that subscribers are provided with the information on the powerful forces that are making the markets tick and the events that are shaping the FX industry world-wide. For more information, visit, http://www.fxweek.com

— WebWireID108222 —

The church's core beliefs and practices, including those related to Christ, the Bible, women's ordination and relationships, are featured in the ad on page 9A of the newspaper and on the Episcopal Church's website, Anne Rudig, director of communication, said in a Nov. 20 news release.

"We want to herald and share our welcoming message," she said.

"In the past few weeks, news about various religions has focused more about who's excluded from certain practices than who is included," Rudig noted. "We follow Christ and believe that he's very clear that all are welcome. We strive to 'love our neighbors as ourselves.'"

The Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, canon to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, said in the same release that "we are celebrating the fact the Episcopal Church recognizes that God doesn't differentiate between the gifts of men or women, lay or ordained. We want people to know who we are and to make their own, informed decisions."

The ad is the first in a series of materials that will be made available to dioceses, congregations and provinces as an overall communication strategy for the church is developed, Rudig said.

Centering on the theme "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You," various sizes of the ad are available in English and Spanish here to dioceses, congregations and provinces at no cost. Space is provided in the ad for customization of church and web site address.

Additional print, radio and other materials will soon be made available to dioceses and congregations, the release said.

Rudig called the ad an important tool "in our efforts to tell our own story," while Robertson said "we want to be bolder and more proactive about letting people know that the Episcopal Church has so much to offer."

"Our message continues to be that we welcome you into this adventurous life and reasonable faith in Christ...whoever 'you' may be," Robertson said.

— WebWireID108214 —

'Over the years, constantly evolving technology has mandated that we stay on the cutting edge,' says VCS President George Helms. 'We've become early adopters in order to better serve our client's needs and goals. The best example of this is our extensive HD video capabilities.'

About VCS
Founded in October 1984, VCS began as a local provider of short-run videotape duplication. After growing and expanding its focus in 1997, VCS has been providing videotape, CD and DVD duplication services to the broadcast industry, film and music industries, religious groups, government agencies and corporate clients. In 1999, they further expanded their range of offerings from traditional duplication and transfers to include digital encoding and transcoding, plus a wide array of other high definition video services. Their latest addition, a new Final Cut Pro system, will add video editing capabilities to the VCS menu. After 25 years, VCS has grown into a true full-service audio and video duplication company, able to service their growing national client base out of two facilities in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

VCS is a recipient of an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is proud to have served as Turner Broadcasting's in-house provider of DVD duplication, DVD replication and video transfer services since 2001. Since 1998 VCS has had the privilege to partner with Dekalb Enterprises by employing moderately handicapped people to perform the majority of the company's video, CD and DVD packaging activities under the supervision of a specially trained supervisor.

For more information, please contact sales@video-copy.com, or:

VCS – Video Copy Services
4000 Dekalb Technology Parkway
Bldg. 500 Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30340
Phone: 404-321-6933
Toll free: 800-553-3616
Fax: 404-321-4876
http://www.video-copy.com

— WebWireID108147 —

FOSTER CITY, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. ('SCEA') today announced an integration with Facebook to deliver the first phase of a variety of new features to further connect and enhance the online social experiences of PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system owners. Starting on November 18, as part of the system software update, version 3.10, users can easily showcase their game accomplishments to friends and family, and post information about the PS3 games they purchase from PlayStation®Network to Facebook. With the new Facebook integration, PS3 system owners now have access to a truly social and seamless user experience.

With Firmware 3.10, PS3 system owners can now not only brag to friends about their domination as a gamer, but also back it up by sharing unlocked trophies with their friends on Facebook every time they sync their Trophies. Additionally, the system update enables PS3 system owners to share information on games they just purchased with a click of a button. The new system update also enables game developers to set up trigger points in their games that provide PS3 system users the option to quickly and easily publish game related information from their favorite titles to Facebook.

'Launching Facebook for the PlayStation community is a natural fit for our goal of delivering unparalleled connected experiences - from connecting our community to each other to connecting our customers to great entertainment downloaded from the PlayStation Store," said Susan Panico, senior director, PlayStation Network, SCEA. "As we pass the third anniversary of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network, we're excited to deepen the social experiences of PlayStation Network and kick-off the first phase of our integration with Facebook."

'We're excited to connect Facebook's 300 million active users with the PS3 system, enabling players to connect and share their game experiences with friends,' said Ethan Beard, director, Facebook Developer Network.

Key Facebook Features:
Showcase Trophies: Instantly share trophies you earn in PS3 games in your Facebook stream. Simply sync your PS3 system and easily show off your accomplishments to friends and family.

PlayStation Store Purchase Log Publishing: Let friends and family on Facebook instantly know which PlayStation 3 games you've purchased. The PlayStation Store, available to PS3 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system owners through PlayStation Network, features over 200 downloadable games, many of which are exclusive to PS3 or PSP system owners, in addition to over 4,000 pieces of add-on game content.

Game Event: With a few quick clicks of the controller sharing select game events, progress and statistics is now easier than ever with the Facebook integration.

* Additional New Firmware 3.10 Features (not related to Facebook):
• Photos: Photos will now be displayed in a grid format for simplified access and viewing.
* • Friends List: The PlayStation Network Friends List has an enhanced design that enables users to customize the background color of their PlayStation Network Profile.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

'PlayStation,' 'PSP,' and 'PS one' are registered trademarks and 'PS3' and 'XMB' are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Visit us on the Web at www.us.playstation.com
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

— WebWireID108110 —

This is another 'first' for Mapyx whose software was awarded 'Best Buy' by Computer Shopper and has received rave reviews in computer and outdoors magazines.

Mapyx has gained a reputation for being responsive to its users and developing user friendly solutions for the outdoor communities. The release of digital maps for Ireland is a direct response from its users to cover greater geographical areas. The software is notable in that it is free to download at www.mapyx.com and you only pay for the maps that you require.

Steven Wood, a director of Mapyx, stated 'We are exceptionally pleased to be able to offer maps of Ireland and to Partner with Ordnance Survey Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity for both organisations and especially the outdoor community who desire digital mapping. We are justifiably proud of working with Ordnance Survey Ireland and to provide digital maps of Ireland for leisure use.'

The software 'Quo' permits the storing and displaying of digital map data on a computer or handheld device to aid route planning, navigation, route downloads to GPS or paper and storing all key data such as tracks, photos, videos and notes. Quo is used by walkers, cyclists, runners and many other outdoors enthusiasts.
To find out more, please visit www.mapyx.com.

— WebWireID108052 —

You'll also learn about search engine marketing (SEM) practices, such as Google AdWords, and how you can use social networking to increase your visibility. Ideal for web developers, savvy marketers, webmasters, and anyone else interested in SEO, this book serves not only as an SEO tutorial, but also as a reference guide for implementing effective SEO techniques.

"With the growing number of sites on the net--it takes knowledge and experience to stay on top," says Jerkovic. "Getting to the top of search engine results often requires multiple factors to work in your favor. SEO is not a one-time thing. If you are thinking of crreating a new site, read this book before making your move. If you already have a site, you may want to do the same or just skip to your particular area of interest. Accordingly, you can read SEO Warrior from cover to cover or use it as a reference. I recommend going with the first approach and then coming back to the book as you see fit."

With this book in hand, you will learn how to:

* Create compelling sites with SEO that can stand the test of time
* Optimize your site for Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft's Bing, as well as search engines used in different parts of the world
* Conduct keyword research to find the best terms to reach your audience--and the related terms they'll respond to
* Learn what makes search engines tick by utilizing custom scripts
* Analyze your site to see how it measures up to the competition

Advance Praise
"This is a smart book for those who want to put the science into the art and the science of search engine optimization."
--Soren Ryherd, President, Working Planet Marketing Group

For a review copy or more information please email kathrynb@oreilly.com Please include your delivery address and contact information.

John I. Jerkovic currently manages a group of IT professionals at a wealth management company. His team works closely with the marketing (e-Business) team in managing close to 100 internal and external sites. John maintains an SEO blog at http://www.seowarrior.net.

Additional Resources:
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596157074

SEO Warrior
John I. Jerkovic
ISBN: 9780596157074, 494 pages,
Book Price: $44.99 USD, £34.50 GBP
Ebook Price: $35.99 USD
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

About O'Reilly

O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

— WebWireID108064 —

Effectively integrating the provision and return processes has long been one of the key pain points for corporate tax departments – until now. The Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters is introducing Enhanced Provision and Return Integration to relieve these pain points and significantly streamline corporate tax workflow.

'The tax provision and the tax return are reported according to different levels of detail, at different times, and for different purposes,' said Joe Harpaz, senior vice president and general manager of ONESOURCE™ TaxStream Provision at Thomson Reuters. 'Our enhanced integration benefits users of our leading corporate income tax and provision software solutions through sophisticated, yet simple, integration that solves the challenge of the incompatibility of data detail between a tax provision and tax return. As a result, we've automated tasks that are typically manual and redundant in nature, thereby allowing tax professionals to devote more time to value-adding tax analysis and planning.'

The new enhanced integration can break out a single line item in ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision into multiple line items in ONESOURCE Income Tax and vice versa. Likewise, it can consolidate multiple line items on a return into a single line item on the provision and vice versa.

'This revolutionary solution effectively generates specific detail levels needed for each process,' said Steve Mendelsohn, senior vice president and general manager of ONESOURCE Income Tax at Thomson Reuters. 'We're excited to present the first ever solution with one-to-many and many-to-one data transfer and a solution that can considerably improve the efficiency and accuracy of a tax department.'

The new enhanced integration of ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision and ONESOURCE Income Tax enables tax professionals to:

* dramatically automate manual processes and improve efficiencies during every stage of the tax lifecycle;
* compare a filed tax return from ONESOURCE Income Tax with the prior year annual provision from ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision, then post the delta to the current year annual provision;
* feed trial balance data, book-tax differences, and pre-tax book income from ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision to ONESOURCE Income Tax to get a head start on the return;
* automatically send state rate and apportionment data from ONESOURCE Income Tax to ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision to generate state-specific provision reports.

The enhanced integration will be available on Dec. 1 to all customers of ONESOURCE Income Tax (formerly InSource) and ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision (formerly TaxStream). 'We continue to make major strides in enhancing the functionality of our market leading corporate tax products and specifically in the integration across products, thereby enabling our customers to further leverage their investment in Thomson Reuters solutions,' said Harpaz.

ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision is a global provision platform that seamlessly integrates with General Ledger and Return Systems, ONESOURCE TaxStream Provision automatically generates all calculations, reports, and documentation to satisfy tax planning, provision and audit requirements. Built-in user controls, audit trails, and guaranteed calculations generate SOX compliant tax footnote reports. Automated interim reporting, state provisions, estimates and extensions, journal entries, deferred balance tracking, tax basis balance sheet management and integrated analysis of uncertain tax positions are all calculated using one consolidating software.

ONESOURCE Income Tax is a complete tax management solution that seamlessly integrates federal, state, local, and international income tax compliance and management for corporate enterprises with multinational operations. ONESOURCE Income Tax also provides comprehensive solutions for insurance companies, partnerships, and fixed asset management.

Additional information can be obtained by visiting www.onesourceprovisionandreturnintegration.com or calling 201-356-6519.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

The Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters is the leading provider of technology and information solutions, as well as integrated tax compliance software and services to accounting, tax and corporate finance professionals in accounting firms, corporations, law firms and government. Tax & Accounting includes the Corporate Software & Services, Professional Software & Services, and Research & Guidance business groups.

— WebWireID107998 —

Over 50 of Warner Home Video's Most Sought-After Titles Available to Upgrade Including 10,000 B.C. Wedding Crashers and A Christmas Story

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group today launched DVD2Blu.com, a site that allows consumers to upgrade the movies they already own on DVD to Blu-Ray Disc, the absolute best way to watch movies at home. Consumers can select from over 50 of Warner Home Video's most sought-after titles to upgrade including Body of Lies, A Christmas Story and Michael Clayton.

"DVD2Blu is a great way for consumers to start or expand their Blu-ray Disc collection," said Dorinda Marticorena, senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing and High Definition, Warner Home Video. "We're launching the program with a wide range of titles that will appeal to a broad audience. In the coming months, we're looking to expand the program and make additional titles available."

The DVD2Blu program debuts at a time when consumers are rapidly adopting Blu-ray Disc. According to figures compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group through the first three quarters of 2009, Blu-ray Disc set-top player sales grew 112 percent over the same period last year. This holiday season, consumers can expect to see Blu-ray player prices starting around $100, making it much easier for home audiences to see films the way they were meant to be seen on their HDTV.

Through DVD2Blu, consumers can now experience their favorite movies again for the very first time in stunning 1080p picture quality and crisp, superior sound that only comes from a Blu-ray Disc. Titles such as Training Day, Deliverance and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation can be upgraded for as little as $7.95 plus shipping. Consumers who place orders over $25 will receive free shipping.

The process to upgrade is simple. Consumers select the titles they want to upgrade on DVD2Blu.com, mail in their standard DVDs with pre-paid postage and a short time later receive copies of the same film on Blu-ray Disc. For a complete list of titles visit DVD2Blu.com.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is proud to be a leader in environmental stewardship and is committed to recycling the DVDs that consumers send in as part of the DVD2Blu program. The intellectual property is fully destroyed and all of the physical components are reused or recycled. For more information on Warner Bros. environmental initiatives, please visit http://wbenvironmental.warnerbros.com/.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and transactional VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

— WebWireID107997 —

@North will reach out to new and established digital producers and agencies across the whole of the north in a link up with BBC Children's – one of the departments moving to Salford in 2011.

@North will encourage and support the development and delivery of interactive content for children, with up to four projects with a total budget of £500,000 available for commissions by CBBC and CBeebies.

The project, which represents a new model of engagement with independent companies and digital agencies across the North, will rely on close collaboration with the regional screen agencies – North West Vision and Media, Northern Film and Media and Screen Yorkshire.

This pilot project will be led by BBC Children's and will involve multi-disciplinary teams from many other areas of the BBC such as Future, Media and Technology (FM&T) in new collaborative ways of working.

The key objectives for the project are:

For CBBC andCBeebies to tap into new opportunities for innovation and creativity.

To stimulate and inspire the digital sector across the North of England, initially focusing on creating new children's content.

To understand and help develop the supply chain across the North for the BBC and build on existing creativity and skills.

To make the BBC North process for commissioning multiplatform content open and collaborative.

To share knowledge about the BBC's infrastructure, processes and audiences.

It is intended that @North will provide a blueprint of how BBC North can work more openly in MediaCityUK and will involve more BBC division partners as it develops.

Commenting on @North, Peter Salmon said: "This is an exciting new concept and there is real business up for grabs, with CBBC and CBeebies commissions to be won by creative organisations working on interactive media across the North of England. There is some great creative work going on in the digital sector across the North and we want to work in partnership to develop new and exciting multiplatform content for our young audiences."

Independent companies and digital agencies in the North are invited to send expressions of interest in the @North project to Mario Dubois, Project Lead – mario.dubois@bbc.co.uk.

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LOS ANGELES - TOMY Corporation today announced that the latest installment in the critically acclaimed fighting game series NARUTO™ Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution 3 is now available at retail outlets nationwide, exclusively for Wii™. Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 delivers an overhauled fighting engine with 40 playable characters that follows the storyline of the much-loved animated series from Viz Media currently airing on Disney XD.

"In Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 we're raising the bar again, delivering a highly competitive 3D fighting game, 40 balanced and varied characters, Wi-Fi multiplayer functionality, new modes and gameplay mechanics," said Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software at TOMY Corporation. "We've taken great care to make sure this next installment of the critically acclaimed Clash of Ninja series delivers NARUTO fans and fighting game fans alike with a gaming experience worthy of their hard-earned dollars."

In Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 gamers will get to experience the new and improved gameplay mechanics added to the hit series along with a slew of gameplay modes and options. For the very first time, the game will also feature Wi-Fi multiplayer modes, enabling players to take the fight online and battle head-to-head or in two-man squad battles. The game also features cooperative tag team battles for up to four players, allowing friends to compete on two-man teams and tag in and out with each other. As an added bonus, new latent ninja powers allow players to access not only special jutsu, but also experience more subtle effects that, if used strategically, can make the difference between winning and losing. Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 also boasts 40 3D environments with nine completely new stages for the fighters to choose from.

The standard edition of Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 for Wii is $39.99 MSRP and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB for Cartoon Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes. A limited edition of the game is also available for $49.99 MSRP exclusively at GameStop locations nationwide either in stores or online at http://www.gamestop.com. For more information, please visit www.TOMY-USA.com/videogames.

For additional assets and information, please visit the press site: http://bhimpact.gamespress.com/product_page.asp?i=948.

For more information on Naruto Shippūden, and to view subtitled Naruto Shippūden episodes please visit the official NARUTO Web site at http://www.naruto.com. The TV version of Naruto Shippūden can be watched on Disney XD every Wednesday. In addition, dubbed downloadable episodes are also available on iTunes. Classic NARUTO episodes can be viewed on hulu.com, and iTunes.

About TOMY Corporation
With U.S. headquarters in Santa Ana, California, TOMY Corporation is one of the world's oldest and most endearing entertainment companies. For more than eight decades, TOMY has developed and manufactured a broad portfolio of exciting and educational toys, games and video games for children of all ages. Known for its innovation, quality and safety, TOMY's mission is to produce videogames for North America that entertain and inspire children and adults. The Consumer Software Division currently publishes for Nintendo DS™ and Wii™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. TOMY Corporation is a subsidiary of Japan-based TOMYCompany, Ltd. (aka TAKARATOMY in Japan). More information is available at www.TOMY-USA.com.

About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including the popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and Web site at http://www.VIZ.com.

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In total 5,000 volunteers will man 52 call centres across the UK handling pledges made to the donation line. The eDonate platform can handle 500 transactions a second and 24,000 people can simultaneously input. As call centre volunteers input donation pledges directly into BT's eDonate platform, it removes the reliance on paperwork and speeds up the time it takes for pledges to be recorded and processed allowing the charity to access to the money quicker; it is also a more secure process.

Last year participating call centres handled more than 200,000 calls on the night and a record-breaking £20.8 million was pledged to positively change the lives of children and young people who have suffered hardships, difficulties or disadvantages of some kind.

BT has supported BBC Children in Need since the first telethon in 1980 and continues to provide support including; telephony, network management, call centres, volunteers and online support. Another exciting development for BT this year will see the LED display at the BT Tower in London used to profile the BBC Children in Need appeal with an animation of Pudsey Bear and the donation line number - 0345 733 2233.

Beth Courtier, community investment programme manager, said: 'BT's support is an essential and integral part of the appeal. The show is live and BBC Children in Need relies on the BT infrastructure and its people to deliver on the night. This year with donations from the public being directly input to BT's eDonate platform it will enhance the service we provide. BT supports charity telethons because this is where we can use our expertise to help make a difference to those in need. With BT's help,

BBC Children in Need is hoping to break the half a billion pound mark of the total funds raised since it began. This will be a milestone we can all be proud of.'

As with every telethon, BT employees are encouraged to have fun and raise funds. Research shows that 98 per cent of BT employees believe it is important that BT supports telethon events; 87 per cent felt more positive about BT as a result of the company's support for charity telethon appeals.

This years' BBC Children in Need appeal will be aired on the 20th of November. Cast members from EastEnders will be handling some calls from BT Tower and a host of other stars have pledged their support or committed to perform in aid of Children in Need including Pixie Lott, Paulo Nutini, Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Annie Lennox and Harry Connick Jnr. Everyone involved will help to raise money for BBC Children in Need, which works to help disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

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"The 8- and 16-bit classics many gamers cut their teeth on are magical, down to their blocky sprites and elegantly simple gameplay," mused Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales for Atlus, while twirling his rattail and wearing a poorly coordinated denim-on-denim outfit. "3D Dot Game Heroes captures all of that legendary charm and more, bringing classic visuals, familar sounds, and a grand sense of exploration and discovery into stunning next-gen realization, all the while giving countless winks and nudges to the fans those iconic games mean the most to. This is pure action-adventure gaming at its finest, a true love-letter to a time-honored genre," he added while putting baseball cards in the spokes of his 10-speed.

Dripping with old school charm, classic gaming pizzazz, and pure retro sexy, 3D Dot Game Heroes is the ultimate homage to the industry's golden era.

3D Dot Game Heroes is scheduled to release on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of $39.99.

For more information, visit the game's official website: http://www.3DDotGameHeroes.com

About 3D Dot Game Heroes
A long, long time ago, the Dark King Onyx brought an age of darkness upon Dotnia Kingdom. Only by the bravery of a hero with a legendary sword was Onyx sealed in an orb, restoring peace to the world. But Fuelle, a powerful Dark Bishop, has stolen the orb, and with it, peace. Dotnia requires a hero once more! Can you live up to the legend?

Key Features

* Ultimate retro love letter -- Seamlessly fusing new and old, the golden era of gaming is felt in every detail of this lovingly-crafted adventure. Eye-popping visuals capture the nostalgic charm of pixel graphics in cutting edge 3D. Simple, but deep action-adventure gameplay is a throwback to the 8-bit era. Veterans will find references and jokes that pay homage to the great games of yore.
* Awe and adventure live again -- Embark on the next generation of classic exploration and discovery in a grand story-based quest. A hero sets out to gain the power of the six sages and the six orbs that protected the kingdom of Dotnia, which now stands on the verge of destruction.
* Customize your hero -- When pixels are your building blocks, the possibilities are unlimited. Freely edit the look of your character, or design one completely from scratch, and then trade designs with friends via a compatible USB storage device. Your hero's blade is also upgradeable, letting you add length and width to create a sword that fills the whole screen!

3D Dot Game Heroes has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Demon's Souls, Odin Sphere, the Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

For breaking news, special promotions, insider info, and more, visit http://www.atlus.com/faithful to join the ranks of the Atlus Faithful!

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"The additions of Amber, Dan, Brooke and Lorrie to our team solidify the foundation of this new children's network," said Loesch. "Each of them is a leader in the industry and among the best and brightest in their fields. Their expertise and hard work will help build a world-class, family-friendly destination for children featuring compelling storytelling, strong characters and engaging brands."

Amber Fredman-Tarshis joins the Discovery Communications-Hasbro Joint Venture after serving as vice president of marketing for Victoria's Secret since 2006. As CMO, Fredman-Tarshis will work directly with Loesch and the Senior Joint Venture Team in developing all aspects of the network's brand identity including its name, logos and overall brand essence. Fredman-Tarshis also possesses a wealth of experience in the children's entertainment space from her time as vice president of global brand management for Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. While at Warner Bros., Fredman-Tarshis managed the "Harry Potter" brand worldwide, as well as Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Polar Express" starring Tom Hanks.

Dan Pimentel, CFO for the joint venture, will oversee management of its financial planning and analysis functions. Pimentel has extensive experience in both the children's entertainment and cable television arenas from his time at Walt Disney Company and most recently Discovery Communications. While at Walt Disney Company, Pimentel served as controller of the Disney Stores. Most recently, he was vice president of finance for Discovery's Commerce Division, where he led the initiative to reengineer Discovery's financial systems and reporting processes in preparation for Discovery Communications' transition to a fully public company.

As SVP of ad sales, Brooke Goldstein will lead the sales team for the joint venture. Goldstein will report to Loesch and receive functional support from Joe Abruzzese, Discovery Communications' president of ad sales, and Discovery's Senior Ad Sales Leadership Team. Prior to joining the joint venture, Goldstein was a managing partner at Mediacom Communications, where she also served as the director of client services. During her tenure at Mediacom, she worked extensively with a number of premier national clients, including Hasbro.

Lorrie Copeland comes to the Discovery Communications-Hasbro Joint Venture from Hasbro, where she served as senior vice president and head of consumer insights. In her new role, Copeland will provide the qualitative and quantitative context to support multiplatform, multimedia business efforts across the joint venture. As SVP of consumer insights and research, she will spearhead the network's customized studies, appearance at industry events and other initiatives designed to break new ground in the field of consumer understanding.

About Discovery Communications-Hasbro Joint Venture
Announced in April 2009, the Hasbro, Inc., and Discovery Communications multiplatform joint venture will both entertain and educate, featuring content drawn from Hasbro's rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built over the past 90 years, including original programming for animation, game shows and live-action series and specials. New programming will be based on brands such as ROMPER ROOM, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, SCRABBLE, CRANIUM, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, GAME OF LIFE, TONKA and TRANSFORMERS, among many others. The TV network and online presence also will include content from Discovery's extensive library of award-winning children's educational programming, such as BINDI THE JUNGLE GIRL, ENDURANCE, TUTENSTEIN, HI-5, FLIGHT 29 DOWN and PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD, as well as programming from third-party producers. The yet-to-be-named network is expected to launch in fall 2010, reaching approximately 60 million U.S. households on what is currently Discovery Kids channel.

About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time products and services, with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

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The Forum Network began at WGBH, Boston's public broadcaster, as a local community service and online media initiative. In 2008, generous funding from PBS, NPR, CPB, WGBH and the Lowell Society made it possible to rebrand and relaunch the Forum Network as a national PBS and NPR public service and platform.

The updated Forum Network site features thousands of high quality lecture videos and audio downloads by some of the world's leading thinkers, scientists, policymakers, artists, authors, and community leaders. It incorporates social networking elements that enable audiences to exchange ideas and content through time-coded commenting, discussion threads, media rating, and sharing tools. Closed Captioning, transcripts, and slides are also available for select videos on the Forum Network.

"The Forum Network connects diverse producers, perspectives, and people in a network of public discourse around the globe," said Jon Abbott, WGBH president. "Public broadcasting is unique in that it has the organizing principle of local television and radio stations in communities across the nation co-producing content with community partners. We have the added value of being able to align and promote this content with our broadcast programs and platforms."

Participating Public Stations in Washington, DC (WETA), New York City (WNET), Atlanta (Public Broadcasting Atlanta), and Boston (WGBH) are currently generating new content around compelling local and global issues by extending the stations' local impact to museums, libraries, universities and community groups that offer public lectures. Forum Network partners include top colleges, institutes, forums, and museums such as the Harvard Institute of Politics, MIT Tech & Culture Forum, Museum of Science, High Museum of Art, Cambridge Forum, Boston Athenaeum, Museum of African American History, Southern Center for International Studies, and many more. Video on the new website is powered by the Kaltura open source online video platform.

Forum Network director Eli Ingraham said, "The trusted brands of PBS and NPR, together with the constellation of public stations, provide neutral ground for audiences around the world to explore topics of interest, to expose themselves to different ideas, to get engaged. We call it a user-generated citizenry."

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With more than 1.5 million registered mobile news fans currently using AP Mobile, the move underscores AP's continued efforts to extend the reach of AP Mobile and find new revenue streams for its members through the introduction of newly developed AP news apps and widgets designed for the latest wireless platforms and smartphone devices.

'Windows Marketplace for Mobile gives millions of Windows phone customers access to valuable games, tools and information such as AP's global network of fast and trusted news in an easy to use mobile application,' said Jason Lim, director of ISV and developer experience at Microsoft. 'The AP news app makes it easy for our customers to get the latest news for their work and play - keeping up with the stock market, staying on top of local news and weather, catching up-to-minute sports coverage, or checking out restaurant and entertainment reviews when making plans to go out.'

'AP is paving the way for the innovation of news applications for mobile phones – a move to support our goal of making AP the 'news' button of choice on these devices,' said Jeff Litvack, AP's general manager of mobile and emerging products. 'It is important for us to master mobile by experimenting with advertising and content offerings across emerging platforms, especially as we lead the charge for participating AP member news organizations that provide local content to our network.'

Using the Windows Mobile platform, AP Mobile worked with Microsoft Corp. to deliver a robust selection of AP and local news headlines across over 50 channels, including Top News, Business, Politics, World, College Sports, Olympics, Entertainment Reviews, Celebrity, Travel, Lifestyle and Wacky.

Windows phone users have weighed in with early reviews on the Windows Marketplace comments page for the AP Mobile news app: 'Social Network Integration is awesome,' 'great content and well laid-out,' 'finger-friendly,' and 'this app is the best news app for windows mobile and it's free [sic].'

Industry research firm eMarketer estimates that 49.4% of mobile phone users will be accessing the Internet from mobile devices at least monthly through either traditional browsers or installed applications by 2013.

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"The First Emperor's magnificent terra cotta army is one of the great wonders of the ancient world," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president for Mission Programs. "Visitors to the National Geographic Museum will have the rare opportunity to experience one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century as they stand face-to-face with the terra cotta warriors."

The ticketed exhibition offers an in-depth look at the First Emperor's enormous tomb complex that contained thousands of terra cotta warriors intended to protect him in the afterlife. The exhibition showcases 15 life-size terra cotta figures and 100 sets of objects, including 20 "Level 1" artifacts — China's highest possible ranking in terms of rarity and importance.

"Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor" is co-organized by the Bowers Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science and the National Geographic Museum, and is guest curated by Dr. Albert E. Dien, professor emeritus, Stanford University.

"Terra Cotta Warriors" is supported by American Airlines; Amtrak; Washington, D.C.'s Loews Madison Hotel; P.F. Chang's China Bistro; The PIMCO Foundation; UPS; Viking River Cruises; and WTOP.

The exhibition is supported locally by Asia Nine; Cultural Tourism DC; Destination DC; D.C. United; Hong Kong Palace; Mie N Yu; TenPenh; Union Station; Washington National Opera; The Washington Nationals; and The Washington Post.

In support of the exhibition, National Geographic has published a companion book, "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," by Jane Portal, and exhibit-related merchandise is available online and in the National Geographic Museum store. A teacher's guide can be found online via the For Teachers page at www.warriorsdc.org. A touchable terra cotta warrior replica and two kiosks featuring an interactive game are available for museum visitors to access free.

Free screenings of the film "The Real Dragon Emperor," featuring the latest archaeological research and imaging techniques that take viewers inside the massive tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, will be shown in National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium at 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the run of the exhibition. The hour-long film also will be screened on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.; and on the following Saturdays: Nov. 28, Dec. 26, Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and March 27, at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

In addition, National Geographic will host a Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. P.F. Chang's China Bistro, presenting sponsor of the celebration, will provide complimentary tickets to the exhibition that day. Details on how to receive these tickets will be made available soon. Additional support of the Chinese New Year celebration is provided by The PIMCO Foundation.

Historian and guest curator Albert Dien will review the tumultuous era of Chinese history that saw the construction of the terra cotta army at a sold-out National Geographic Live event on Nov. 21.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Discovered after being buried for more than 2,000 years, the terra cotta warriors reveal secrets of the Qin dynasty. The warriors were found in 1974 by a group of farmers digging a well near Xi'an in China's Shaanxi province. When archaeologists began excavating the area, they uncovered a subterranean vault containing fragments of thousands of terra cotta figures in four pits. More than 1,000 life-size figures have been unearthed as part of the site's ongoing excavation, with estimates of 6,000 more remaining in the known underground pits.

Construction of Qin Shihuangdi's tomb took 36 years to complete, and the tomb complex is estimated to extend more than 19 square miles. The terra cotta figures were created in assembly-line fashion, and molds were used to mass-produce hands, heads and ears. Craftsmen sculpted individual armor details and facial features by hand. It is believed that no two faces are alike.

"Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor" features 15 terra cotta figures, consisting of nine warriors — two infantrymen, a chariot driver, two officers, an armored warrior, two archers and a cavalryman — as well as two musicians, a strongman, a court official, a stable attendant and a horse. The exhibition showcases 100 sets of artifacts, including weapons, stone armor, coins, jade ornaments, roof tiles and decorative bricks, and a bronze crane and swan. Two replica bronze chariots will also be on display.

The 12,000-square-foot exhibition is organized into four themes. The first, "Building the Empire," introduces visitors to Qin Shihuangdi and his formidable rule. This gallery also details the emperor's establishment of new standards, including dictated script, coinage, weights and measures.

The second theme, "Power and Paranoia," highlights the First Emperor's architectural projects as he sought to create physical proof of his power. He was preoccupied with keeping his location secret, and his many dwellings, including 300 extravagant palaces and 400 lodges, allowed him to stay in a different place each night.

The third theme, "The Afterlife," focuses on the construction of the massive underground tomb complex and the practice of burying objects with the dead to serve their spirits in an afterworld.

The final theme, "Armies Unearthed," showcases eight of the warriors and details how the terra cotta army was created. This section also highlights the work of excavators and conservators in reconstructing and preserving the artifacts.

The exhibition began its U.S. tour at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif., in May 2008. The same collection of objects then visited the High Museum of Art in Atlanta from November 2008 through April 2009, under a different title and curatorial framework. "Terra Cotta Warriors" visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science from May through October 2009, before traveling to the National Geographic Museum.

The objects in the exhibition are drawn from 11 different collections in and near Xi'an, including the Museum of the First Emperor's Terra Cotta Army and Horses, Shaanxi Provincial Institute for Archaeological Research, the Zhouzhi Museum, Baoji Museum, Xianyang Museum, Lintong Museum, Fengxiang Museum, Chencang Museum, Xi'an Institute for Archaeological Research and Protection, Baoji Archaeological Excavation Team and Xianyang Institute for Archaeological Research.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are timed and dated and can be purchased online at the Buy Tickets page of the exhibition Web site www.warriorsdc.org, by phone at (202) 857-7700, and at the National Geographic Museum ticket booth located at the exhibition's entrance or at the National Geographic ticket office, 1600 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays until 9 p.m. The National Geographic Museum will be closed on Dec. 25.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, military personnel and National Geographic members; and $6 for children ages 2-12. Children under age 2 are admitted free. A companion audio tour, offered in English, Mandarin and Spanish, is available for $5.

Prices for groups of 10 or more are $8 per ticket, and K-12 school groups are $6 per person with one free adult ticket for each group of 10 students. For more information on group sales, call (202) 857-7281.

The PIMCO Foundation will provide 200 free, same-day tickets each Wednesday evening during the exhibition's run. These tickets will be distributed at the museum at 5:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. viewing on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of two tickets per person.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro is offering $2 off a full-price exhibition ticket for guests at its nine D.C.-area restaurants. Guests will receive a special promotional code that can be used when purchasing tickets online, by phone or at the museum.

The National Geographic Museum's official hotel partner, the Loews Madison Hotel, is offering a package that includes one night deluxe accommodation, two premium anytime tickets to the exhibition and a 20 percent discount at the museum gift shop, available online at www.loewshotels.com/madison. Additional hotel packages, including premium tickets for anytime access to the exhibition, are being offered at several area hotels through Destination DC's Weekend Warriors promotion. Visit www.weekendwarriorsdc.com for details. Hotel packages are also available through AAA.

For additional ticketing information, visit www.warriorsdc.org.

The National Geographic Museum, located at 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., features a variety of changing exhibitions as well as permanent and interactive displays that reflect the richness and diversity of our world.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, published in English and 32 local-language editions, is read by nearly 40 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 310 million households in 34 languages in 165 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 13 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geography illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

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