IBADAN, NIGERIA (7 April 2011)—Low-input farming for cocoa, cassava and oil palm has resulted in widespread deforestation and degredation of West Africa's tropical forest area, according to a new study by researchers at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). The study was published online this week in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Management. Cocoa production in West Africa is an important commercial sector and a source of livelihoods for about two million households in the region. ...

The Brooklyn specialist in unlocked cell phones known as Cellification.com is celebrating the return of spring with the new GooglePhone from long-time industry leader HTC. Coupled with Google's Android operating system, the Nexus One is only 11.5mm deep and weighs in at just 130 grams, housing a gorgeous 3.7-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen at a resolution of 480x800 pixels. Unique among their offerings of unlocked cell phones, the Nexus One features a Snapdragon 1GHz processor for smooth running of multiple applications simultaneously. Also on board is a 5 megapixel ...

Revelers with smart phones will be able to get the information they need, as they need it Fun-seekers carrying smartphones at this year's Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA) Fiesta event will be able to get the information they need, in real time, to enjoy themselves safely thanks to a new mobile Web site produced by Webhead. "I am excited about this on many levels," said Nancy Avellar, 2011 NIOSA Chairperson and fourth Vice President of the San Antonio Conservation Society. "It is a great complement to NIOSA's and the society's ever-growing presence on Facebook; it is ...

When it comes to laser hair removal, men north of the border are heading south and seeking 'Brozillian' treatments for their 'boykini' line, according to the latest figures from Transform's Scottish clinics. The report reveals that the clinics have recorded a 34 per cent increase in enquiries about the treatment during the first quarter of this year, compared to the corresponding months in 2010, as Scottish men look to get rid of their fuzz ahead of the fast-approaching summertime. 'Brozillians' or 'boykini' line hair removal typically involves waxing which requires ...

In every social group, there is one stand out individual who can wax poetic about the intricate details of a narrow topic. They are entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers and moms by day; and chefs, foodies, and wine aficionados by night. Their friends, family and co-workers actively seek them out for trusted brand recommendations in their area of passion. Today, after more than a year of marketplace testing, Ink Foundry has launched InkFluence, an extremely targeted word of mouth marketing program that identifies and introduces on and offline category influencers to restaurant, ...

MFI-Miami, LLC, a mortgage fraud investigation company, announced today that on Thursday, April 7, 2011, it will be filing a complaint for Attorney Misconduct with the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission against three attorneys from the Troy, Michigan law firm of Orlans Associates. Details of the complaint as follows: Marshall R. Isaacs for knowingly filing fraudulent documents into public record, Linda Orlans for allowing one of her Notaries to make false statements that they witnessed Marshall R. Isaacs sign an affidavit when he did not sign it, and Timothy Myers for ...

After six months of hard work, dedication and perseverance followed by three days of high-intensity competitions, three Whataburger teams have emerged victorious at WhataGames, a unique competition designed to test the skills of Whataburger team members in the categories of operations, corporate history and customer service. The teams, who beat out their competitors at Whataburger's more than 700 restaurants in ten states, get more than bragging rights - the three teams reap $140,000 in cash prizes. The gold prize-winning team earned $5,000 for each of the 10 team members ...

3 Amigos Tequila has joined Talladega Superspeedway as title sponsor for the upcoming ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards race on Friday, April 15. The 3 Amigos 250 is the first race of the 2011 season at Talladega Superspeedway with a scheduled start of 4 pm. "We are proud to welcome 3 Amigos to the 'DEGA family of race sponsors," said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. "3 Amigos is all about quality and so are we. The best racing in NASCAR and the best Tequila on the market just go hand in hand." J. Smoke Wallin, Chairman & CEO of Pelican Brands and ...

Crystal Pharmatech, the first solid state pharmaceutical research CRO in China, today announced that Robert Wenslow, Ph.D. has joined its executive committee as Vice President of Business Development, effective April 4th, 2011. Reporting directly to the CEO, Dr. Wenslow will be responsible for driving the growth of company's business, especially in the US and European markets, as well as be intimately involved in strategic planning and key decision making of the rapidly growing company. Dr. Wenslow will be based in Crystal Pharmatech's New Jersey office. Dr. Wenslow ...

Recycle with style at the 14th annual antique show in Neenah, Wisconsin. Show hours are 10am-5pm on Saturday, April 9 and 11am-4pm on Sunday, April 10. Exhibitors participating in the show are professional antique dealers. With 50 dealers, this is also one of Wisconsin's largest antique shows. For a complete list of the dealers who will be participatig in the show, visit http://www.BeMyBig.com. You will find unique, one-of-a-kind items for you and your home at the antique show. An excellent selection of antique furniture in a variety of woods and styles wil be available. ...

Colorado based photographer Sandy Puc' and distinguished wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis will be in Chicago on April 10 for the acclaimed 2011 Power of Passion Tour, focusing specifically on wedding photography and marketing techniques. The tour kicked off in Denver on February 12 and will be stopping in over 30 cities across the United States. The seminar educates attendees on professional techniques for wedding photography as well as how to effectively market a photography business. The Power of Passion Tour has received rave reviews, keeping patrons on the edge ...

Grauer School students traveled with the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA's Youth and Government delegation to Sacramento in mid-February, accompanied by faculty member Jessi Young. Joined by over 2,200 other high school students, the Grauer faction ran a model government for five days and earned Premier Delegation status. The students descended upon the Supreme Court chambers, the county courthouse and the state capitol and began engaging in a wide range of activities from reporter to attorney and from lobbyist to senator. According to teacher Jessi Young of The Grauer School ...

Picking an OCR software package can be a confusing ordeal. While many printer packages ship with OCR packages, most of these are underpowered, watered down, or just incompatible with the depth, scale, and range of many OCR software users. ixDownload.com, the Internet's leading authority on software downloads, software guides, and technology issues, has released a definitive guide for consumers of OCR software http://www.ixdownload.com/reviews/ocr-software/. The guide, a clear product of ixDownload.com's user needs-centered orientation, steers consumers through the tangled ...

Sportsfactory presents a Youth Basketball Clinic and Instructional League at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club for children in grades 6, 7, and 8th! All skill levels welcome. Master skills, learn techniques, fundamentals and win prizes. Early registration only $75 before April 9. Camp begins on Friday April 15 for six weeks of fun and training, ending with a competitive tournament. Camp held on Fridays at 6:00pm and Saturdays at 1:30pm. Register today at http://www.sportsfactoryinc.com. Spaces are limited. Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, 5480 South Kenwood Ave, Chicago, Illinois ...

There is a new bakery in town, however, the only "sweets" you will find at their shop, cakedshop.com, are "sweetly" designed T-shirts. The clothing brand, Caked, and their "freshly" baked shirts are a go for anyone who enjoys fun and exciting bakery themed designs. The owners at Caked sent us some T-shirts and we were amazed that not only are the "fresh" T-shirts bakery themed, but they even come shipped in Cake boxes that have a bakery feel and scent to them. Not to mention the free stickers and pins that were included and the 365 day return policy! Talk about an awesome ...

Steviva Brands, one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of stevia based sweeteners and bulk ingredient sweeteners, is now certified through Oregon Kosher. The certification demonstrates Steviva Brands' commitment to highest quality control with all of its product line and processes and its dedication to customer satisfaction. Oregon Kosher is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high quality standards through education, research, and supervision. Kosher certification, which is the guarantee that the products meet Kosher requirements, revolves ...

Real people, real stories, and real-life connections to the Arizona Latter-Day Saint singles community make a new, light-hearted documentary a must-see DVD for Arizona saints. Unlike the well-received original "Real Life Singles Ward" movie, a comedic spoof of singles wards released in 2002 and its sequel released in 2007, "The Real Life Singles Ward" allows singles to share what it's really like to be single and LDS in the latter days. Fittingly, it premiered in Utah this spring at the 10th Annual LDS Film Festival where numerous LDS-genre films delighted audiences. Mid ...

Dump trucks may not be very romantic, but they are an important and necessary part of maintaining the standard of living. These heavy duty vehicles are designed to move big loads with ease and convenience, making them an integral aspect of building, disposal, and construction. Atlas Truck Sales, Inc., commonly known for their bucket trucks and digger trucks, also has a satisfying selection of Dump trucks available. As well as trucks, there are also dump trailer units available for those who don't require as much hauling strength. All of their vehicles are guaranteed ...

Dakota Dental Apple Valley Family Dentistry will host an Invisalign Special Event on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. As an awarded Preferred Provider for Invisalign, the doctors at Apple Valley Dental Clinic, Dr. Shelley Wakefield and Dr. Bennett Isabella, will educate individuals about invisible braces, the treatment process and the orthodontic issues that Invisalign corrects. As an alternative orthodontic treatment to invasive traditional metal braces, Invisalign is successful in correcting overly spaced teeth, crowded teeth, crossbite, underbite, ...

Holistic Healers Directory (HHD) http://www.hhdirectory.com, is one of the fastest growing holistic resource sites for alternative and integrative medicine. It is a place for ethical healers, practitioners, products and resources to gain exposure and grow their business for total wellness of mind, body and spirit at no cost for a regular listing. HHD together with Holistic Healing News, http://www.holsitichealingnews.com, is offering a unique opportunity to those in the field of integrative and alternative medicine. Joining the directory not only gives a free listing ...

The AltBuild Expo and Conference Hosted by the City of Santa Monica has announced its speaker and conference series for the Eighth Annual Expo, to be held May 6th and 7th at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The Expo—the largest and most-respected green design and building expo in Southern California for both professionals and public—will feature more than 40 speakers in all sustainable and alternative building practices on two conference tracks taking place in the East lobby and other locations at the Santa Monica Civic Center. "We're very pleased to have the scope ...

Known for his bold flavors and even bolder personality, Frank Terzoli, aka "Frankie The Bull", is breathing new life into a Kearny Mesa icon. The season two Top Chef contestant is transforming Proud Mary's at the Ramada Hotel into a little piece of Bourbon Street here in San Diego. Southern spicy dished coupled with his own California twist will transport the diner with a new Cajun/Creole experience. Terzoli will be dishing up some of the classics with Po-Boys as well as some new creations like a shrimp and watermelon ceviche highlighting the menu. "It just wouldn't be ...

Shop Local. Give Local. VANITYLAB in Westlake is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with its 3rd annual VANITYLAB Festivus Event. Festivus will feature an urban arts festival, live music, photography exhibit, food, drinks, micro-brews from Westlake's Black Box Brewing Co., martinis from Tartine, raffles including Grand Prize $1000 VANITYLAB Year of Beauty Package, half price gift card specials & over $1300 Associates in Dermatology laser hair removal & cosmetic facial enhancement package! With over 40 local artists and exhibitors, we had to make it a 2-stop party this year ...

Authors of the Summit Murder Mystery Series, Charles G. Irion and Ronald J. Watkins, will speak during the Service Academy Alumni Association of Arizona (SAAA) monthly luncheon. The authors will discuss the famed Seven Summits from their novels, the people who made climbing history, and the process of writing murder mysteries. After the event, novels from the Summit Murder Mystery Series will be on sale and the authors will be available to autograph books. The public is invited to attend the event, which will take place on Friday, April 15, 2011, from 11:45AM - 1:30PM ...

will hold a "Spring Fling" Cosmetic Seminar on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m., at their cosmetic spa located at One Scobee Circle in Plymouth. Refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend. South Shore Skin Center and Spa's Board Certified dermatologists, cosmetic nurses and medical aestheticians will share the latest information on anti-aging treatments such as Sculptra, Micropeels, Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser treatments in addition to pre-and post cosmetic treatment skin care products from the revolutionary SkinMedica line. Attendees ...