Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 1043

Award-winning not-for-profit UK business leads the way in global push to curb diabetes related amputations

Peter Allton second left

Podiatrist and co-founder of Undefeeted Peter Allton says: “85% of diabetes-related amputations could be avoided.”

Imagine what it would be like to never be able to see your footprint in the sand or feel the sea splashing around your ankles or to not be able to play in the park with children? Maybe you would miss going to work or the gentle touch of your loved one as they brush their feet affectionately next to yours in the bed?

In the last week alone these things have become a reality for over 30,000 people who have had lower limb amputations simply because of complications with diabetes. In the last year there were 1.6 million amputations and every day as you put your socks and shoes on there are over 4,300 more people who will be unable to do so.

London-based podiatrist Peter Allton says that 85% of these could be avoided. Critical to this is teaching people who have diabetes to manage their condition effectively.

Peter is the clinical director and owner of Circle Podiatry which combines experience, professionalism and specialised technology and equipment to provide a wide range of effective treatments. He operates two clinics, one in Oxted, Surrey and the other in Lewisham, London.

This fact compelled Peter to write a book called ‘Undefeeted by Diabetes’ in which he teaches people about the importance of foot health and what to do to stay safe. As someone who lives with Type 2 diabetes, Peter understands that education is vital to managing the condition.

Peter Alton said, “If someone with diabetes develops a foot ulcer, their survival chances are worse than those of someone with prostate or breast cancer. A person with a foot ulcer has an 80% chance of not surviving five years, compared to 18% and 40% respectively for a person with breast or prostate cancer.

“Did you know that there is a diabetes related amputation happening globally every 20 seconds?

“Diabetes can be extremely difficult to live with, especially if you don’t have the right information and strategies in place.”

When his daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of eleven Peter decided to take action. He started the global ‘Undefeeted’ campaign to promote good foot health for diabetes sufferers.

The book ‘Undefeeted by Diabetes’ focuses on helping people with diabetes live in what Peter calls the ‘diabetic sweet spot’ – the safest possible position for them. The ‘sweet spot’ refers to a combination of knowledge and awareness of their personal risk and taking appropriate action that helps them to live full and healthy lives.

The organisation is raising global awareness of the problem whilst interacting on a personal level with individuals to help them better manage their diabetes (Types 1 and 2) and even reverse their Type 2.

This week has seen an exciting step forward in this drive to help the world as Peter returns from speaking in Algeria where Undefeeted was received with open arms.

The organiser of the Algerian Diabetes Association’s congress Nadia Boudjenah said, “On behalf of the Diabetics of Algeria, my staff, the participants and myself, I would like to truly thank Peter Allton for taking the burden of travelling to Algeria and enriching our congress with your most valuable speech that received more clapping than any other one.

“Sharing your personnel experience and the actions you have taken with the help of your beautiful wife touched the hearts of the whole room and we are very thankful to you for that. Educating people in our society has been and still our biggest handicap and may be and hopefully, you standing there will be the start of a long journey to create the culture of prevention in our country and our area.”

Peter says the kindness of the Algerian people has opened up the opportunity to help not only their people but also French and Arabic speaking people around the world with the kind offer of the LIONS club of Algeria to translate Undefeeted by diabetes into these languages. Later in November sees Undefeeted launched in the Caribbean, having been invited to the Bahamas and then in the USA in Florida and North Carolina.

The ‘Undefeeted’ campaign has drawn praise from leaders in the global diabetes and podiatry communities.

Professor Mike Edmonds, Consultant Diabetologist at Kings College Hospital, UK:

“Any movement to reduce the number of amputations in diabetic patients needs our full praise and support, so I heartily endorse this crusade!”

Dr David G Armstrong, Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona, USA and Director at the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA):

“Every twenty seconds, somewhere in the world, an amputation is performed on a person with diabetes. The good news is that nearly all of these are ultimately avoidable. My colleagues at SALSA and I wholeheartedly support the efforts of Peter and Tina and look forward to a day when we can remain ‘Undefeeted’!”

Dr. Nido Qubein, President of High Point University, North Carolina USA:

“Congratulations on your hard work. I am inspired by the work of Peter Allton and Undefeeted. What an extraordinary mission!”

Peter has 27 years of experience as a podiatrist, having qualified in 1988. He has since treated over 200,000 feet.

He is the clinical director of Circle Podiatry, the UK’s only multi-award-winning private podiatry company. Peter runs podiatry practices in Lewisham, South London and Oxted, Surrey, assisted by his wife, practice manager Tina Allton.

‘Undefeeted by Diabetes’, written by Peter Allton and published by Filament Publishing, is available from Circle Podiatry, 316 Lewisham Road, London SE13 7PA or from www.undefeeted.org.

Links:

http://www.circlepodiatry.co.uk/

http://www.undefeeted.org/

http://www.iod.com/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Undefeeted-Diabetes-Step—Step-Heal…

Mayflex Launches a New Website

September 2016, Mayflex the distributor of Converged IP Solutions has launched a new mobile friendly website –www.mayflex.com.

The new site is much cleaner and simpler to use and really helps to take a visitor on a quick and easy journey to find the information they need, whether they are in an office on a PC or out on the road using a mobile device. As before the site includes the XTRA partner area where customers can see their prices, view stock availability and place orders up until 8p.m. for next day free deliveries to the UK mainland.

The Mayflex website includes a new product search and online catalogue delivered by PIM (Product Information Management) which is a solution that better categorises the product database and includes ETIM data (Electro-Technical Information Model), which is a worldwide uniform classification for technical products. Visitors will be able to select products from a simple menu that will narrow down their selection and present them with the relevant products available. Each product will also include tabs for a spec sheet, Delta certificate, videos and relevant case studies where they are available.

Tracey Calcutt, Marketing Manager said ‘The new Mayflex website has been built by a team of in-house developers who have an extensive web and programming knowledge which is further complemented by their thorough understanding of our business, the result of which is a modern, mobile friendly site that fits what our customers need and more importantly provides us with a platform to change and adapt in the future.’

Tracey continued ‘The launch of the new site is just the beginning, over time we aim to bring our customers more and more functionality to assist in their day to day dealings with Mayflex. We are looking forward to gaining user feedback and adapting our site to become a truly customer focused experience.’

To visit the new Mayflex website visit www.mayflex.com

Croydon Entrepreneur Plays Key Role in New Migrant Business Report

MyOutSpace Founder Yuliana Topazly

A new report by the Institute of Directors and Brazilian-born entrepreneur Rafael dos Santos has revealed the challenges faced by migrant entrepreneurs and the extraordinary benefit they bring to the UK’s economy.

Russian-born entrepreneur and mother from Croydon Yuliana Topazly features as one of the inspirational migrant entrepreneurs who contributed to the report unveiled at the Houses of Parliament.

Yuliana experienced the struggles mothers have balancing career progression without compromising their children. Through this she developed two businesses to help overcome the issues faced by parents: MyOutSpace, a unique family-friendly business centre and co-working space in Croydon, and BuddyWith, an online peer-to-peer support platform that helps parents experiencing specific issues to connect and gain access to local supportive organisations. Yuliana was listed in the Sunday Times as one of the ‘Top 100 Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs in the UK’ in 2016.

Yuliana said, “As with many migrant entrepreneurs, my biggest challenge in establishing a business came with finding finance and building a network. My application for a bank loan was rejected, I couldn’t win any funding competitions as my idea was untested, and finding commercial property was difficult.

“I managed to persuade my friends and family to invest £10,000 into the business. I learned through the process about the power of networking as it helped me gain further finance, meet potential clients, access various resources and, most importantly, it helped to establish me as an expert in the field.”

Report author Rafael dos Santos said, “Yuliana demonstrates two of the biggest challenges faced by migrant entrepreneurs. She had no access to funding and a limited network. Migrant entrepreneurs have created 1.16 million jobs in the UK, we have brought far more to the country than people expect and it is still difficult for entrepreneurs from overseas to access finance. There are almost half a million migrant entrepreneurs in the UK and it would be crazy not to help them to create new jobs and expand the economy.

“Creating co-working spaces and training initiatives to help migrant entrepreneurs will encourage people to grow their networks and create new business to benefit everyone.”

The report is launched to coincide with the opening of London’s first co-working space dedicated to supporting migrant entrepreneurs. Located in Aldgate East, Whitechapel, the hub provides affordable serviced office space to help people grow and nurture their businesses.

mi-HUB’s competitively priced serviced office also offers training through the Migrant Business Accelerator programme. The six-month course led by Rafael dos Santos focuses on helping participants to structure their business to access finance, one of the biggest barriers for migrant entrepreneurs.

The full report is available to view and download from the mi-HUB website and IOD website.

Links

Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.com/

Rafael dos Santos: http://www.rafaeldossantos.com/

MyOutSpace: http://www.myoutspace.co.uk/

BuddyWith: http://www.buddywith.org.uk/

mi-HUB: http://www.mi-hub.com/

Migrant Entrepreneurship Report: http://www.mi-hub.com/migrant-entrepreneurship-report-2016/

Migrant Entrepreneurship Report by the Institute of Directors:https://www.iod.com/Portals/0/PDFs/Campaigns%20and%20Reports…

Bluesky’s aerial thermal surveys helps Enfield identify illegal dwellings

Bluesky helps identify illegal dwellings

Leicestershire, 28 September 2016 – Enfield Council is using aerial maps from Bluesky to identify outbuildings used illegally for residential purposes. The problem of ‘beds in sheds’ is growing nationally, with nearly 40,000 inspections across the UK resulting in over 3,000 landlords facing further enforcement action or prosecution since 2011. Earlier this year, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced a £5 million cash boost for Councils to tackle rogue landlords, with Enfield Council receiving £360,000 of funding.

Enfield used part of this funding to commission Bluesky to fly the streets of Enfield with a special thermal camera that can capture heat loss values for individual buildings across an entire Borough in just one evening. The resulting thermal maps, when combined with aerial photographs, are helping Enfield Council to identify properties with unusual or unexpected heat signatures that may be being used for living accommodation or other unpermitted purposes.

“The thermal imagery, when overlaid with the photography, allows us to identify and target specific areas in the borough where we know there is potentially a problem with rogue landlords,” commented Rob Oles, Pollution Control and Planning Enforcement Manager at Enfield Council. “This provides us with key intelligence that we would not otherwise have, and allows us to target our investigative resources more effectively.”

The unscrupulous actions of rogue landlords see structures such as garages and outbuildings being rented out, and conditions can vary, with people living with no electricity, running water or toilet. However, it is not only a lack of facilities that is a problem. Living in structures that are not supposed to be used as accommodation poses a fire risk. In a three year period, London Fire reported 235 fires in buildings in London that should not have been residentially occupied, resulting in four deaths and 45 serious injuries. Poor quality, overcrowded and dangerous accommodation can also have a ripple effect with wider problems, such as noise, sanitation, council tax and benefit fraud, and anti-social behaviour, impacting the wider community.

The Bluesky data, including laser mapped LiDAR models, will also be used to support other initiatives by Enfield Council, including identification of other planning infringements, such as unauthorised developments or change of use, and as evidence to pursue enforcement actions. The Council is also planning to use to the data for identification of correlations between areas of pre 19th and 20th Century housing and heat loss to support fuel poverty and energy efficiency projects.

How a Messy Bedroom Can Affect Your Weight

Anandi: The Sleep Guru

Your mother may have told you to tidy your room, and she was right. Sleep guru Alison Francis, who is better known by her guru name, Anandi confirms the reasoning behind keeping the bedroom free from clutter.

A lack of sleep can come down to a number of contributing factors such as stress and an unbalanced diet.

The bedroom should be a place for sleep and relaxation, however a cluttered or dusty setting will not lead to a good night’s slumber. The feeling of being soothed and refreshed when entering a tidy beautiful space allows the build-up of the day’s stresses to diminish.

Anandi said, “Your bedroom is a sacred space. As soon as you walk across the threshold you should feel the tension melt away. Having scented candles, flowers and something that represents the spirit – such as a small altar with perhaps a crystal, or an image of a great spiritual teacher – can help you relax and sleep better.

“Curing sleep issues is a question of balance and absolutely holistic. One thing on its own is unlikely to work, but addressing all areas in your life will bring your body and mind back into equilibrium.

“Sleep deprivation can affect your weight, in that your metabolism can become out of balance. Two hormones in particular can cause this this to happen – Ghrelin and Leptin. Ghrelin, sends messages that tell you to go and eat and tends to be more present when you are sleep deprived. When there are higher levels of Ghrelin within the body, you will crave more food and in particular, sugar. The hormone Leptin sends messages that tell you to stop eating which is less present when sleep deprived.”

Anandi has written her first book called the ‘Breathe Better, Sleep Better’. It offers many practical tools including how to help detox the digestive system, how to calm the nervous system and how to stimulate your circulatory system. ‘Breathe Better, Sleep Better’ will soon be available online or direct from her website. Anandi also arranges Personal Sleep Reviews to assist those troubled by insomnia.

Useful Links:

Anandi: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/

Anandi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anandithesleepguru/

Anandi Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anandisleepguru

Blog: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/anandis-blog/

Blog Post of ‘Sacred Space’: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/blog/the-sacred-space/

Breathe Better, Sleep Better: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/book/

Personal Sleep Review: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/work-with-me/personal-sleep-re…

Video: https://vimeo.com/165437280

Yoga Sleep: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/work-with-me/yoga-sleep/

Overwhelming Rejection of Caviar Farm Plans from Local Residents

Overwhelming Rejection of Caviar Farm Plans from Local Residents

Is Caviar Ken’s Campaign Crumbling?

East Chiltington, Lewes, UK – September 28, 2016 – Local residents have made clear to the Lewes District Council (LDC) the strength of their opposition to a planning application for a sturgeon farm, caviar processing plant and a dwelling on a greenfield site in East Chiltington near Lewes, a quiet rural hamlet close to the South Downs National Park in East Sussex which is home to about 180 families.

‘As of yesterday evening the Lewes District Council planning website showed that 104 individuals had registered their formal objection to this plan. Most of the objectors are local residents. Given the size of our parish this is an overwhelming demonstration of opposition to this scheme,’ said Janet Downes, local resident and organiser of the Chiltington Caviar Farm Action Group, ‘In addition respected groups such as the CPRE (the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) and OART (the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust) have objected, as have East Chiltington and Hamsey parish councils. Our District Councillor, Sarah Osborne, and our MP, Maria Caulfield, support the residents. The NFU has told me directly that they do not support this application.’ She continued, ‘45 people expressed support in comments on the LDC website – none of them live in East Chiltington. Most of them come from London or further afield. It is becoming apparent that this scheme has less backing than Mr Benning led people to believe.’

Things looked different a few weeks ago. When Mr Benning defended his plans at the East Chiltington Parish Council Meeting on September 8th he listed organisations he said ‘now fully support’ his plans including the NFU (an NFU ‘Back British Farming’ poster has been used to promote the application and demonstrate the NFU’s support) and referencing ‘talks’ with the CPRE (the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England). He spoke confidently of gaining the support of the local MP, Maria Caulfield, and said that he was, ‘already working with the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust (OART) to ensure that no harm will come to the sea trout. They are also writing a report to confirm this in the planning application.’ (The Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust is an expert, independent local body that works with local landowners and others to protect and improve the health of those river systems and the plant and animal life that depends upon them, including sea trout.)

On September 15th OART formally objected to the scheme and stated in its comments, ‘There have been reports that OART supports this application. Those reports are inaccurate.’ They go on to say, ‘Our main concern is that abstraction of water from the stream (known locally as Roman’s Winterbourne, a tributary of Bevern Stream) will have adverse effects on the seasonal population of brown trout and sea trout that spawn in the stream during most winters when the stream is flowing.’ They question the scheme’s reliance on a reed bed for water purification saying, ‘Although the current application states that a “closed-loop” system will be in operation and that there will be no discharge into the stream, we believe that the setup is infeasible ……. Without the means to strip out the phosphorus (not mentioned in his application) he (the developer) will have no recourse but to tanker away large volumes of water on a regular basis and there appears to be no mention of this in the planning application.’

On September 16th East Chiltington and Hamsey Parish Councils submitted their objections to the scheme on grounds of its impact on the landscape, the environment and traffic, and also questioned the necessity for a 3-bedroomed dwelling on the site.

On the same day the Lewes branch of Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) submitted objections to the caviar farm plans to Lewes District Council stating, ‘No evidence is provided that the applicants have the necessary scientific background to manage the proposed farm safely or that they have access to the necessary expertise, which may well not exist currently in the UK. This lack of the necessary scientific expertise creates an unacceptably high risk that is not evidently mitigated in the present application.’ The CPRE went on to raise further concerns about environmental risks, harm to the setting of heritage assets, access via the narrow Chiltington Lane and the size of and inadequate justification for the associated house.

On 22nd September a spokesperson on behalf of Maria Caulfield contacted Ms Downes and stated, ‘I would wish to confirm that Maria did meet with Ken Benning and clearly stated that she would be supporting the residents and not supporting the caviar farm. I appreciate that certain media did report this differently through information given to them not by Maria’s office. We also contacted all media which had reported this to refute the comments.’

On 23rd September James Osman, East Sussex Country Advisor for the NFU, told Ms Downes, ‘The NFU does not support or object to this planning application. We do not know from where or in what context Mr Benning got the poster and we are looking into it. These posters were intended to thank consumers for backing British farmers rather than provide support for planning applications.’

BACKGROUND

Residents of East Chiltington are in dispute with a developer, Kenneth Benning of London Fine Foods, who intends to build a sturgeon farm, caviar processing plant and a dwelling on a greenfield site in this quiet rural hamlet close to the South Downs National Park in East Sussex. They fear that his plans for an experimental type of caviar farming could leave them with a massive scar on the landscape and damage local water courses through excessive extraction and pollution. The planning application requests permission to build a reservoir, 6 open ponds/water bodies, a 279m2 caviar processing facility, a 130m2 3-bedroomed dwelling, bunds and associated trackways on a site that slopes steeply towards a seasonal watercourse, the Romans Winterbourne, and that lacks a ready supply of running water (see pictures below). Experts have estimated that 4000 cubic metres of earth will need to be moved (some 7,265 metric tonnes or over 400 4 axle tipper payloads) to implement the plans. The developer, Mr Kenneth Benning of London Fine Foods, applied for planning permission in August to build the caviar farm, processing plant and dwelling on a greenfield site previously owned by his family, that occupies two fields close to the South Downs National Park, in East Chiltington near Lewes, East Sussex. The deadline for comments from the public on the plans was September 16th. Lewes District Council has struggled to keep up with the volume of comments submitted. For 3 weeks from September 2nd no comments at all were posted on its planning website, leaving the impression that local opposition was limited.

HBO News: Bill Maher’s Sept. 30 lineup

Bill Maher attending a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Source: wikipedia. Author: Angela George

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER CONTINUES ITS 14TH SEASON SEPT. 30, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO; SEAN PENN IS THE TOP-OF-SHOW INTERVIEW GUEST; SARAH SILVERMAN IS THE MID-SHOW INTERVIEW GUEST; PETER HAMBY, STEVE MOORE AND ANGELA RYE ARE THE ROUNDTABLE GUESTS

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 14th season FRIDAY, SEPT. 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with guests. Actor Sean Penn is the top-of-show interview guest. Comedian Sarah Silverman is the mid-show interview guest. The roundtable guests are Snapchat executive Peter Hamby, economist Steve Moore and political commentator Angela Rye.

Other HBO playdates: Sept. 30 (11:30 p.m.) and Oct. 2(1:30 p.m.), 4 (4:00 p.m.) and 5 (4:05 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Sept. 30 (1:05 a.m.) and Oct. 1 (12:10 a.m.) and 4 (8:00 p.m.)

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

            Politico has hailed Maher as “a pugnacious debater and a healthy corrective to the claptrap of cable news,” while Varietynoted, “There may not be a more eclectic guest list on all of television.”

Maher headlined his first special on the network in 1989 and has starred in ten solo specials to date, including the hour-long presentations “Bill Maher: Live from D.C.,” “Bill Maher…But I’m Not Wrong,” “The Decider” and “I’m Swiss” (both nominated for an Emmy® in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special category), “Victory Begins at Home,” “Be More Cynical,” “The Golden Goose Special” and “Stuff That Struck Me Funny,” and two half-hour stand-up specials, plus the specials “30 Seconds Over Washington” and “Comic Relief VI™.” Maher is also an executive producer of the innovative news magazine show “VICE,” which concluded its fourth season on HBO earlier this year.

The show was recently renewed through 2018.

The executive producers of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER are Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Brad Grey, Marc Gurvitz, Dean E. Johnsen and Billy Martin; co- executive producer, Chris Kelly; producer, Matt Wood; director, Paul Casey.

Reclaim your office with Sennheiser’s new MB 660 Series

Sennheiser MB 660

Sennheiser introduces industry’s first wireless adaptive ANC headset for productive and comfortable open plan office working

Marlow, England, September 27, 2016 – For all their benefits, the noise and buzz of modern open-plan offices can make it hard to stay focused on the task at hand. But there’s now an answer for professionals seeking to stay productive and at the top of their game. Sennheiser has created the MB 660 Series, designed specifically for knowledge workers in noisy open offices. The business-grade solution features adaptive ANC, a new dimension in active noise cancellation, UC certified communication abilities to ensure crystal clear speech during voice calls and Sennheiser’s superior audio quality for music and multimedia enjoyment.

“Today’s open office environments have been shaped to facilitate fast, flexible collaboration. But there will always be times when we need to reclaim space for ourselves – either to fully concentrate, communicate and collaborate in mobile work environments or simply to relax while listening to music,” said Andreas Bach, President at Sennheiser Communications A/S. “Research shows that noise and distractions in open plan offices can have negative effects on productivity. With MB 660, we can now upgrade the work experience for office workers, help them take control of their environment and create a disruption-free workspace for increased productivity and well-being.”

Focus without distracting background noise

Unlike standard ANC headsets, MB 660 provides a choice of ANC settings: either ANC fully on or Sennheiser’s innovative NoiseGard™ hybrid adaptive ANC. NoiseGard™ constantly monitors the background environment for ambient noises and adapts the level of noise reduction in the headset. This actively prevents the tiring sensation of being “stuck-in-a-barrel” – the unpleasant effect that standard ANC headsets can create. With MB 660, even longer periods of use remain pleasant and comfortable and concentration time enjoyable. Depending on the level of noise reduction needed in changing work environments, adaptive ANC can be adjusted via CapTune, Sennheiser’s award-winning mobile app*, which allows for a customized listening experience.

Clear communication in UC environments

Whether effective communication is required during voice or conference calls at your desk, around the office or at home, wireless MB 660 is designed to offer business-grade capabilities. MB 660 is certified for Skype for Business and optimized for all major UC and softphone brands to ensure effortless collaboration in UC environments. With state-of-the-art microphone and noise filtering technologies, MB 660 provides a crystal clear communication experience for the user and listener alike. The headset’s fully integrated, three digital microphone array works seamlessly with Sennheiser’s suite of advanced technologies, such as SpeakFocus™, Advanced Own-Voice-Detector and WindSafe™, to deliver superior sound, speech intelligibility and comfort – regardless of how noisy the environment.

Sennheiser’s SpeakFocusTM technology zooms in on the user’s voice, delivering consistently clear sound that makes it easy for the listener to hear what is being said. The Advanced Own-Voice-Detector instantly reduces disrupting background noises when detected, such as keyboard or paper rustling, while optimizing speech intelligibility. For outdoor use, WindSafeTM technology reduces wind noise to ensure the clearest possible sound. In addition, Sennheiser’s Room Experience™ technology externalizes the sound from the user’s head, providing a natural, more comfortable experience during a call.

Premium sound with a personal note

MB 660 offers the best personalized sound for speech, music and entertainment. The headset delivers Sennheiser’s renowned high-quality stereo audio and CD-quality streaming using aptX®. With a choice of pre-set sound effect modes – Club, Movie and Speech – the audio experience can be optimized for different listening situations. The customizable Director mode can be further individualized in the CapTune app to meet personal preferences.

Effortless control, flexibility and comfort

MB 660 offers a variety of connectivity options to support a flexible work day. The headset connects wirelessly to a mobile phone or, via the included UC certified BTD 800 USB dongle, to a PC. An audio cable is also included, so it is possible to continue using the headset even if it runs out of battery. The foldable headset is supplied with all accessories in a premium quality carrying case.

Crafted with incredible attention to detail to anticipate user needs, MB 660 ensures supreme user-friendliness and comfort. A simple swipe or tap of the ear cup-mounted touch pad controls calls and media. Double tapping the right ear cup activates Sennheiser’s TalkThrough technology and makes it possible to listen to colleagues or announcements without removing the headset. When it is time to put the headset away, MB 660 automatically powers down when the headset is folded for storage.

Thanks to its lightweight, sleek design and an exceptional battery performance of up to 30 hours, the MB 660 Series is optimized for all-day use. Class-leading ergonomics, compact form and high quality materials make the headset extremely comfortable, even for the longest listening sessions. Its pillow-soft leather ear pads are designed in accordance with Sennheiser’s dedicated research into ear shape ergonomics for supreme wearing comfort.

“With its ability to adapt to individual needs throughout a flexible, modern work day, MB 660 helps professionals to create their own “acoustic rooms” – no matter how challenging their open offices,” said Andreas Bach. ”With only one headset solution users are able to retreat to a “silent room” to fully concentrate, enter a “conference room” to communicate & collaborate or relax in a “concert hall” – enjoying premium, personalized audio, quality design and wearing comfort along the way.”

The MB 660 Wireless Series, consisting of MB 660 UC and MB 660 UC MS, is the latest addition to Sennheiser’s mobile business portfolio, including the award winning PRESENCE™ and MB Pro Series.

*Sennheiser’s CapTune sound personalization app received the prestigious Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2016.

About Sennheiser

Audio specialist Sennheiser is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems. Based in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, Sennheiser operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is active in more than 50 countries. With 19 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company supplies innovative products and cutting-edge audio solutions that are optimally tailored to its customers’ needs. Sennheiser is a family owned company that was founded in 1945 and which today has 2,750 employees around the world that share a passion for audio technology. Since 2013, Sennheiser has been managed by Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, the third generation of the family to run the company. As part of the Sennheiser Group, the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S is specialized in wireless and wired headsets and speakerphones for contact centers, offices and Unified Communications environments as well as headsets for gaming and mobile devices. In 2015, the Sennheiser Group had sales totaling €682 million.www.sennheiser.com

For more information on our professional headset and speakerphone solutions, please visitwww.sennheiser.com/cco

Rok Studios Launches Nollywood TV Channel on Sky

Mary Njoku filming for Rok Studios

Nollywood Reaches for the Sky as it Brings Awesome Original Movies & TV Series to 10m UK Households

September 2016. London. Rok Studios, the award-winning Nigerian film studio, is set to launch a brand new Nollywood channel on Sky TV, on Thursday 29 September 2016. The channel will be programmed with thousands of hours of Rok Studios-produced TV shows and movies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be available to all Sky subscribers on channel 344.

Nigerian cinema, known colloquially as Nollywood, is the second largest film industry in the world, in terms of production output. It currently generates over USD600m for Nigeria’s film industry each year, much of which comes from the African Diaspora; the UK is one of the industry’s most lucrative markets.

The free-to-view channel will be fully programmed, produced and developed in-house, by Rok teams in Lagos and London. Heading up Rok is Mary Njoku, an award-winning Nollywood actress and film producer who’s spent over 12 years at the heart of Nigerian filmmaking. The new channel will be supported by Iroko, the VC-backed African technology and entertainment broadcaster and content distributor.

Speaking on the launch, Rok CEO Mary Njoku says: “Nollywood’s appeal is truly global; it is not just for Africans, but for film fans in general. As a production house, we have been obsessed with curating amazing African content and telling African stories our way, and with the launch of Rok on Sky, we can bring our stories to millions more. This channel is an unashamed celebration of all things Nollywood, but more than that, a celebration of African stories – in our own words, with our own characters, with our own drama”.

“In its short but busy history, Rok has become synonymous with edgy, distinct content, depicting the full gamut of Nigerian life. Compelling storytelling is at the core of everything we strive to produce at Rok, and across our movies and original TV series, we’ve showcased Africa’s most prominent actors, as well as brought to the fore many of the industry’s rising stars. Combine this with leading film production techniques and scripts from the industry’s most talented writers and we’ve built a film studio with an ever-growing global fanbase that has real momentum. Now, we are translating this creative content onto our biggest platform yet; Sky”.

Since its launch in 2013, Rok Studios has produced some of Nollywood’s most talked about originals, including Husbands of Lagos, Desperate Housegirls, Losing Control and Cougars. The channel launches with these blockbuster titles, and going forward, Rok viewers will be the first to watch new and exclusive homegrown Rok content, before it goes anywhere else.

Rok will lead Nollywood fans in the UK to content they’ll love, and whilst the typical Nollywood audience is currently made up of a predominantly African and Caribbean demographic, those behind the channel hope to attract an even broader audience, thanks to the hyper-modern, original content.

Njoku concludes, “As a production house, we have been obsessed with curating amazing African content and telling African stories our way, and with the launch of Rok on Sky, we can bring our stories to millions more. This channel is an unashamed celebration of all things Nollywood, but more than that, a celebration of African stories – in our own words, with our own characters, with our own drama. We believe that this channel launch will be a game changer in attracting new fans to Nollywood”.

Timed to celebrate Nigeria’s 56th Independence Day on 1st October, Rok on Sky will launch with a bang on Thursday 29th September, followed by a Gala launch in London at 8 Northumberland on Friday 30th September, with many of Nollywood’s elite movie stars set to attend.

Nollywood is the world’s second largest film industry in terms of output, producing approximately 50 films a week and employs over one million people in Nigeria, and contributes 1.42 percent of Nigeria’s GDP. Prominent themes in Nollywood films include family, religion, love and betrayal. Producing a movie in Nigeria costs on average USD25,000–USD70,000.

www.rok.ng

The Fame Game: Why Celebrities Sometimes Lose out on Love

Mairead Molloy Global Director

Celebrities have long been known for their entourages – from personal chefs and beauty therapists to high flying executive PAs and burly bodyguards.

One of the newer developments on the scene for single celebrities looking for friendship or love is the discreet personal introducer or matchmaker.

Mairead Molloy, a trained psychologist and global director forBerkeley International – which has offices worldwide including London – explains the little known perils of being a single celebrity.

“For a start, when you’re famous, there’s no such thing as a chance encounter because the celebrity is likely to be known to the other party. This can destroy sadly the chance of meeting someone new through pure luck.

“There is a huge desire for privacy and discretion. Social media platforms and online dating sites are anathema to many high profile individuals, some of whom have learned the hard way, by gaining unwanted attention. Our service offers total discretion where all candidates are hand-picked so that the clientele shares the same values of honesty and integrity.

“We’ve noticed a trend amongst very high profile clients including businessmen, businesswomen and sports personalities to be more selective about relationships. This is most notable with the newly divorced who can be particularly vulnerable, moving from one high jeopardy situation to another. We meet our clients face to face and discover as much as possible about them to make the most considered and thoughtful match for them. We screen all candidates and turn down at least 30 per cent of applicants, many of whom might not be fully detached from a prior relationship.

“We match people according to their values and interests, typically corresponding their desire for a family structure, social interests and religious beliefs, to name a few.

“Increasingly, people want to fish in an international pool of potential partners, as travelling, doing business and socialising abroad becomes the norm.

“Some people are simply so busy working on film sets or building their businesses that they haven’t the time needed to invest in finding suitable life partners.”

Berkeley International was established in 1998 making them one of the most established elite matchmaking services. Fees start at £12,000 for a UK service or £15,000 internationally.

Mairead Molloy concludes, “We are proud of our approach, which has resulted in many weddings and thousands of lifelong partnerships. We are gracious and level-headed but never star struck and we guarantee confidentiality.”

Berkeley International website: http://www.berkeley-international.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerkeleyIntl