PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Hate Crimes / Creative Writing Classes / Obamacare

Dec. 7, 2011

EXPERT ALERTS

1. Crime: Anti-Muslim Rhetoric and Hate Crimes Are on the Rise

2. Education: Increase in Trend of Students Taking Creative-Writing Classes

3. International: Encouraging Transportation Numbers

4. Law: More Companies Headed to the Cloud

5. Law: Rare Post-Recall Safety Warning on Baby Seats

6. Law: Obamacare Ruling Could Cause Multiple Ripples

7. Law: Civil Litigators Paved Path to Vioxx Settlement

8. Law: Oft-Ignored Terms of Service Serve Purpose

 

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

1. One Year and 100,000 Reads: Lessons Learned From Blogging for a Brand

2. Cyber Baiting Teachers

3. Interesting Expert of the Week, Identity Theft Edition

4. A Brief Blog Profile: Ecouterre

 

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EXPERT ALERTS:

Via Expert Alerts, ProfNet members can alert reporters to experts who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please see the contact info at the end of the alert. You can also find Expert Alerts online on ProfNet Connect at http://bit.ly/pncalerts

**1. CRIME: ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC AND HATE CRIMES ARE ON THE RISE. Nasser Weddady is the civil rights outreach director for the American Islamic Congress (AIC). Weddady is based in Boston, where he works closely with the American Muslim community and keeps a close eye on law enforcement interaction with Muslims. According to the recently released national statistics compiled by the FBI, anti-Muslim hate crimes soared by an astounding 50 percent last year: "There is a clear rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric by individuals and organizations that have a public voice, which is influencing violence against Muslims. Not since 9/11 have we seen such a troubling spike in violence against American Muslims." Weddady is also a spokesperson for AIC's recently opened Muslim cultural center on Newbury Street in Boston. The center is a non-religious cultural and educational space that encourages Muslims and non-Muslims of all backgrounds to engage in interfaith dialog and cross-cultural learning opportunities. Weddady has been published in a number of major news publications, including the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe and The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on a number of major TV news stations, including Fox, BBC World Service and Al-Jazeera. Fluent in five languages, Weddady has lectured at the United States Institute of Peace and in diverse interfaith settings. News Contact: Aimee Chiu, [email protected] Phone: +1-202-595-3160

**2. EDUCATION: INCREASE IN TREND OF STUDENTS TAKING CREATIVE-WRITING CLASSES. Karen Getzen, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Chestnut Hill College: "In an uncertain economy where jobs after graduation are difficult to find, students are feeling increased academic pressure to succeed. This makes it all the more surprising that students are taking creative-writing classes as part of their curriculum. It's an attractive alternative to writing academic papers and gives students an outlet to express themselves while becoming better writers. Students who take creative-writing classes gain great writing and analytical skills. For students who tend to shy away from traditional literature courses, doing serious reading in creative-writing classes seems to be more appealing. They read, write and analyze with less angst." Getzen is located in Philadelphia. News Contact: Lisa Mixon, [email protected] Phone: +1-215-753-3664

**3. INTERNATIONAL: ENCOURAGING TRANSPORTATION NUMBERS. Daniel L. Gardner, CEO of Ocean World Lines: "U.S. merchandise exports to emerging economies climbed 20 percent through September from a year earlier, while sales to the euro area grew 14 percent. Developing markets now account for 55 percent of U.S. goods shipments, which include crude oil and natural gas, up from 40 percent in 2000. Exporting can create jobs and stimulate the economy. A lot of work has been done by the Small Business Administration, Department of Commerce and Ex-Im Bank, but the government cannot do it alone. Helping to grow international trade is the right thing to do and it offers an exit from the financial crisis." Ocean World Lines offers a nationwide seminar series, "The Logistics & Law of Exporting." Gardner is an author, professor and international business executive whose goal is to help U.S. exporters be more competitive overseas. Gardner is available to discuss specific ideas on how the U.S. can increase exports and drive job creation, starting today. Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/gardner News Contact: Melissa Bradley, [email protected] Phone: +1-928-208-9300

**4. LAW: MORE COMPANIES HEADED TO THE CLOUD. Jeff Andrews, attorney in the Houston office of Thompson & Knight with a practice focused on structuring and negotiating outsourcing agreements: "Cloud computing is expected to be a key driver for corporate IT investments during the next decade, reaching an anticipated global market of $241 billion by 2020. The cloud infrastructure is allowing more companies to engage in a lower-cost form of outsourcing. One key difference between traditional outsourcing and cloud-based options is that the cloud-computing function is much like a utility or a commodity product. However, where traditional IT outsourcings can offer customized solutions, such as unique data safeguarding, public cloud offerings typically don't offer these options. Companies with distinct operational or regulatory requirements need to do their homework when contracting and carefully assess whether the cloud-based providers can and will comply with those demands." News Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

**5. LAW: RARE POST-RECALL SAFETY WARNING ON BABY SEATS. Liz Cunningham, of Dallas-based Rose Walker, represents families of children injured in Bumbo seats: "The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued another warning about serious safety risks associated with the Bumbo Baby Seat. The CPSC reports more than 45 babies have been injured since the molded rubber seat was placed back on the market after a recent product recall. Although the CPSC reports that serious skull fractures have occurred even when the seat is used at ground level, the seats should only be placed on the ground and never on any elevated surface. But the Bumbo Baby Seat is simply a dangerous product, even when used the way Bumbo says it should be used. The likelihood that even the most responsible caregivers will unknowingly misuse this product is so great that it should be permanently taken off the market immediately." News Contact: Robert Tharp, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

**6. LAW: OBAMACARE RULING COULD CAUSE MULTIPLE RIPPLES. Carl Cecere, Dallas appellate lawyer at Hankinson LLP: "If the U.S. Supreme Court determines that some aspects of Obama's healthcare reforms are unconstitutional, that decision could call into question the constitutionality of numerous other federal laws. One important aspect of the Affordable Care Act is the requirement that states open up their Medicaid programs to all their legal residents -- not just children -- who live in poverty. The Supreme Court has agreed to answer the question of whether these Medicaid expansions overreach in placing greater demands on state Medicaid programs. If the court decides the act has exceeded federal authority, that ruling could have ripple effects on other federal laws. It's likely that the constitutionality of federal laws that protect the environment, deter discrimination and support education would all be brought into question." News Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

**7. LAW: CIVIL LITIGATORS PAVED PATH TO VIOXX SETTLEMENT. Mark Lanier, founder of The Lanier Law Firm, who served as lead counsel in the first courtroom trial involving Vioxx: "Merck & Co.'s agreement to pay $950 million and plead guilty to a criminal charge related to its illegal marketing of the pain medication Vioxx is welcome news, and this agreed judgment is largely possible because of the hard work of lawyers in the private sector. Civil lawyers spent thousands of hours and millions of dollars to develop the case, review millions of pages of documents and pursue Merck in court. Without this effort, much of the evidence of Merck's wrongdoing would never have come to light. We are constantly reminded that lawyers have potential to do harm, so we also should be reminded of their important role in securing safety for the public." News Contact: Alan Bentrup, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

**8. LAW: OFT-IGNORED TERMS OF SERVICE SERVE PURPOSE. Peter S. Vogel, technology attorney from the Dallas office of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP: "At almost every stop on the Internet, users agree to website terms of service whether they realize it or not, or they must approve click agreements on the initial visit before being allowed to proceed. But if only a fraction of users read the contracts, and even fewer gain a full understanding of the agreements, then who exactly is being protected? Whether the site is selling goods or services, providing downloads or even hosting any social media-type activities, these agreements are important to the domain owner. For example, user approval of these agreements helps to limit potential liability and damages from dissatisfied customers. Not having either terms of service or click agreements leave website owners vulnerable in many ways, and even more so if they simply 'borrow' an agreement from another business website. Every company has its own unique risks that need to be addressed." News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, [email protected] Phone: +1-800-559-4534

 

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

**1. ONE YEAR AND 100,000 READS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM BLOGGING FOR A BRAND: PR Newswire's Sarah Skerik shares tips she's learned from blogging for Beyond PR: http://bit.ly/vFp2si

**2. CYBER BAITING TEACHERS: Jennifer Cronk, a teacher, discusses "cyber baiting," which is when students purposefully taunt teachers to capture their reactions via video: http://bit.ly/uSr3ot

**3. INTERESTING EXPERT OF THE WEEK, IDENTITY THEFT EDITION: ProfNet Director Maria Perez presents expert Robert Siciliano, who discusses protecting your identity during this season of holiday shopping: http://bit.ly/uJ7T6T

**4. A BRIEF BLOG PROFILE: ECOUTERRE: PR Newswire's Thomas Hynes presents the environmental and sustainable fashion blog Ecouterre: http://bit.ly/vjadOR

 

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/PRNewswire – Dec. 7, 2011/

SOURCE ProfNet