FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 (Washington, DC – October 21st, 2008) FinancialFashionHouse.com, a website launched by Washington, DC entrepreneur Cinnamon McCann, is a finalist for a “Stevie Award for Women in Business”.

The Stevie Awards, recognizing women business owners and leaders, have been called the “business world’s own Oscar’s”. Winners will be announced at a November 14 awards banquet in New York.

“This is a great honor,” said McCann who started her website as part of her own financial education firm, Financial Fashion House offer basic advice to women and small business owners.

“I’m competing against some of the best known brands. I set out to create a website to help people get answers to their questions, and to learn how to become more savvy business people and investors.”

The 29-year-old entrepreneur says this is a time for people to step back and review how they spend each and every dollar, particularly when it appears that income is not increasing. McCann regularly hosts seminars in-person and online on managing your finances, starting a business and how to invest in real estate.

To help business owners better understand how the $700 billion bailout will affect them and how to avoid foreclosure, McCann is offering a series of free online seminars over the next month.

To sign up for one of the events, just click on one of the links below:

Oct. 29th: 10 Tips to Saving Your Home from Foreclosure: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/944311038

Nov. 5th: 10 Smart Tips to Avoid Foreclosure: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/827842578

Nov. 19th: The Bailout Revealed:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/855576103

McCann recently produced a video, “What Does the Federal Bailout Mean for Homeowners“, which is now available.

To learn more about McCann or to book her for speaking engagements, contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications LLC, 214.448.3765, neil@neilfoote.com.

Young Musician Mixes ‘‘Old School’ R&B with Hip Hop(Dallas, TX – October 14, 2008) He’s the Latin prince of soul whose wildest dreams have come true.  

Marcos J. Perez, a former suburban Dallas high school football player, released his debut CD – MJP – on Sunday – his 18^th birthday.  The CD, released on an independent label, Toro Records, is available on iTunes. MJP showcases the future Grammy Award winner’s talent as a song writer, composer, musician and singer.

“I love listening to Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Green – even The Beatles, Lenny Williams and Heat Wave,” he says. “I want to bring back that Old School feel.”  Last month, Perez released his first single on iTunes, “Don’t Test”, a soulful combination of Old School R & B and Hip Hop.

“Marcos’s music has a great pop/soul appeal, and he definitely has the superstar look,” says Big Bink, program director for 97.9 The Beat, one of the top hip-hop radio stations in the Dallas/

“Marcos has the talent and drive to be the next great pop superstar.”Kenny “FLAV” Dickerson, who is a multi-platinum producer who has worked with 50 Cents, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah and Snoop Dog, says Marcos has a bright future, particularly since he he plays multiple instruments.

 “The future is limitless,” Dickerson says.Dave Deberry also sees Marcos’ potential.  Deberry has worked as a producer with Dickerson on several projects that have gone multi-platinum, and he counts Russell Simmons as one of his mentors. Additionally, he’s worked with Run DMC, Vanilla Ice and Hi Five. “Marcos’ ability to perform in the capacity as a songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, performer and entrepreneur is a rarity – and I’ve worked with some of the greatest pop acts and rap acts to date,” Deberry says. “There are a whole bunch of recording artists, but only a few stars and in with Perez, you have a star.”

Popular New York deejay “DJ Rob E Rob”, known for his hot mixes, says, “Marcos has the potential to be the new standard of the hot pop soul movement.”

Marcos’ father, Tony, was a soul singer in the 1980s and 1990s who has appeared on “It’s Showtime at the Apollo!”   The elder Perez says he didn’t want to push his son too fast.  “You know, music has always been a part of our lives,” the father says. “And we’ve done everything – as a family – we could do to get to this point. We even worked as janitors in an office building every night for nearly two years to save enough money to buy Marcos instruments and to get studio time for him to practice.  We’re doing this the right way.”

Even older brother Nathan, who accompanies him on vocals, guitar and other instruments, is driven to make sure they’re successful. “Look, I’ve worked in steel factories and even worked as a porter cleaning rental cars,” he says. “I don’t want to do any of those jobs again … We’re going to make it.”            Perez is now being home schooled so that he can work fulltime on his music.  He’s practicing daily in his Dallas studios.

To interview Perez and learn more about his music or get a copy of his CD, contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications LLC,

BlaCon Media is partnering with PoliticsInColor.com to provide exclusive wall-to-wall coverage of the 2008 “Road to the White House”.  Our clients and valued partners will have the opportunity to receive video news feeds of the nation’s most historic presidential election. Our veteran technicians will be supplying technical, production and transmission services.  Our clients will have access to timely and newsworthy content without incurring huge production and transmission charges.  Network and production operations also will benefit from the complete expertise of the BlaCon Media team (editors and camera persons). Special pricing arrangements will be available for delegates, and those in attendance who want video produced to capture these historic moments.

Everyday during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, BlaCon Media will produce, edit and distribute – and digitally encode, if needed – three feeds.  A feed schedule is also planned for the three presidential and one vice presidential debate. 

Clients and partners will have the ability to obtain two raw feeds and one branded feed daily.  There also will be satellite and broadband feeds.  If needed, BlaCon can overnight tapes to clients.  In addition to the video content, our seasoned journalists also are providing two written updates daily from the convention center. 

Our daily production schedule is rapidly filling up.  If your organization is interested in obtaining more information, we are requesting that you contact our representatives.  For pricing and scheduling please contact:

Steven M. Bacon                                                                   
770-498-9416
smbacon@blaconmedia.com
James Cool
404-702-5743
jcool@coolnewmedia.net

Zeron Turlington
678-576-5729
zman71@tmo.blackberry.net 

For news, features, analysis, commentary or blogging, please contact:
 
Neil Foote
214-448-3765
neil@neilfoote.com

Visit us at: www.BlaConMedia.com and www.PoliticsInColor.com

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor on the PoliticsInColor.com website, click here to learn more.

Political production dates to remember:

Democratic National Convention August 24 – 28, Denver, Colorado

Republican National Convention September 1 – 4, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Presidential debate September 26th, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi

Vice Presidential debate October 2nd, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

Presidential debate October 7th, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee

Presidential debate October 15th, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
**Commission and revenue opportunities available for sales persons at large

Washington DC Financial Expert Offers Advice on How to Cut Costs 

(Washington, DC – July 1st, 2008) Financial advisor Cinnamon McCann knows that rising
food and gas prices are making everyone think twice about their personal finances. 

The Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur says this is a time for you to step back and review how you spend each and every dollar, particularly when it appears that your salary isn’t increasing. 

McCann, who is the owner of her own financial education firm, Financial Fashion House
(http://financialfashionhouse.com), hosts regular hosts seminars - in-person and online – on managing your finances, starting a business and how to invest in real estate.

McCann offers the following financial advice on how to make ends meet:

• Give yourself a financial wake up call.  
  During these tough economic times, you’re probably pulling money from everywhere, but don’t really don’t know what to cut and by how much.  More than ever, it’s very important to start tracking where your money is going.  Maybe others have told you about tracking your expenses, and your eyes have glazed over. Try doing this during a for two months period so that you can at least get an estimate.  It’s very simple: Until you’re conscious of what you’re spending, you won’t know what to eliminate. Tracking your expenses puts everything in clear view. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn.
• Check your credit card and debit card statements. 
  Are you getting automatically charged for items or membership that you’re not using?  Do you have subscriptions to magazines you never read? Are you a member of a health club that is taking a monthly fee? Many companies offer the automatic deduction because they know that  customers “tend to forget about them”.  Cutting monthly automatic charges from various vendors can add up to major savings.
• Cable TV can be a huge expense.
  If you find yourself paying $100 or more for cable, that’s $1,200 a year, you can save and put that money toward your child’s education, your retirement of even your savings account.  You can catch most TV series on DVD at your local library or now, even free online.  Honestly, how much time do you have to watch TV with work, kids, and that ‘oh so desired’ social life?
• Make that dollar stretch further at the supermarket.
  Plan meals and write a list before you go grocery shopping.  This can help you reduce impulse purchases. Cut back on the prepackaged, microwavable instant meals at the grocery store.  You may think there types of meals save you time, but they can be costing you a small fortune. Many times these types of items may be 30-75% more expensive when you examine the cost of the individual ingredients, and the amount of food provided.  Also, the prepackaged food is usually high in sodium, fat, and sugar. You can drop your grocery bill considerably – and eat healthier  which in the long run could help reduce your medical costs.  If you have any extra room in a pantry or closet to store items, you may want to consider shopping for regularly used items (paper towels, napkins, laundry detergent) at one of the discount grocery stores and buy those
  items in bulk.
• Check your phone plan.
  Maybe you need to change subscribers or reduce your home and cell phone plan.  Did you know that many home phone companies can offer you a basic plan for $7-18 a month?  Take time to review your bill over the past couple months and determine if you’re really using all those minutes you signed up for or if you need to upgrade your text message plan to a set monthly fee after you realize your child is “texting” you into debt!
• Check your insurance premiums.
  So many people go year-to-year never reviewing their plan. This is a good time for you to pull your car and homeowner’s insurance plans out of the bottom of that desk drawer and refresh your memory.  If you’re overwhelmed by trying to sift through the documents, set up an appointment with your agent to find out if you can reduce costs.  Here are some items to consider:

* For your car(s), you can save a substantial amount of money by raising your deductible. The deductible is the amount you have to pay before the insurance company will pay a claim.  Although a lower deductible may help you sleep at night, over the long run, it is not helping you much.  For example, increasing your deductible to $1,000 may be able save you up to 50% on your annual premium. If you can increase you deductible payment to an amount you feel comfortable with, you may be able to save yourself hundreds of dollars a year. Also, don’t forget to shop around for the best rates when you’re up for renewal. 

* For your homeowner’s insurance, the same rules apply as with your car insurance. The higher deductible you choose, the lower your annual premium.  By becoming responsible for a higher deductible, you shave hundreds of dollars off your annual payment.

To learn more about McCann or to book her for speaking engagements, contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications LLC, 214.448.3765, neil@neilfoote.com.

###

 Entrepreneur Uses Fashion Metaphor to Inspire Financial Success

(WASHINGTON, DC – May 8th, 2008) A Washington, D.C. business owner is using her passion for shoes to kick off a series of online financial seminars and workshops directed at helping women start businesses and gain control of their finances.Called “The Stiletto Series™”, the online personal and group coaching sessions, and seminars on various business development, investment and financial issues, is designed to empower and educate women to become more financially savvy.“The Stiletto Series™” is the latest unique and chic offering of the women’s financial education company started by D.C. native Cinnamon McCann called FinancialFashionHouse®. “Stilettos are stylish, yet a bit uncomfortable,” says McCann, who graduated from Washington, DC’s Roosevelt High School. “But when you wear them, you feel sexy and confident. And it’s through this symbol that I want women to feel confident about their ability to start businesses, manage their personal finances and invest.”McCann’s website, FinancialFashionhouse.com (http://financialfashionhouse.com), is a content-rich, easy-to-use website with thematic channels that play off fashion metaphors. She also has two weekly Internet radio shows – “Your Business in Stilettos™” and “Financial Fridays”. The “Stocks and Stilettos” part of her website is about, well, women and the stock market.