State: District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Save Darfur Coalition welcomes the agreement reached today (Jan. 10) by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir that his government and rebel groups will cease hostilities for a period of 60 days while they work towards a lasting peace.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fed up with the current state of the NHL? You're not alone. Thousands of traditional hockey fans are stock piling their picket signs and they have set a date to be heard. On January 20th, fans across North America are being called on to bring personalized signs, to each of the 13 NHL home games, that display their displeasure with "the new NHL." A website, Hockeyfansunite.com, has been established to promote what is being called the "Save the NHL Night Out."

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- GeckoSystems, Inc. (OTC: GKSY) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Neil T. Wallace to the position of Vice President, Legal and Public Affairs. Mr. Wallace holds a J.D. and an economics degree and has held several senior management positions domestically.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Washington area writer, Diana Mayer, has accomplished what few authors would attempt - a sequel to "A Tale of Two Cities." Inspired by that classic story, and the lack of works like it in today's "easy read" market, Mayer set out to bring a little of Dickens' literary style back to modern readers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Blacks for Economic Security Today (BEST) have released two television advertisements designed by black voters to reach black people. The two ads blast Maryland Senate Candidate Ben Cardin and Tennessee Senate Candidate Harold Ford as bad news for black voters. The ad calls out Cardin for his dismal voting record for blacks as well as his taking for granted the black vote in Maryland.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The District of Columbia Government awarded U.S. Facilities, Inc. (USF) a five-year contract to manage the Unified Communications Center. The UCC is one of the nation's premier large, integrated call centers and public safety/emergency response facilities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- International Shoe Manufacturing Corporation (OTC: ISHO / ISHO.pk) announced today that they have completed the acquisition of GeckoSystems, Inc. GeckoSystems, based in Conyers (Atlanta), Georgia, is now entering its ninth year of business. GeckoSystems is a dynamic leader in the Robotic Industry revolutionizing the development and usage of mobile robot solutions for safety, security and service(TM).

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- ES Interactive announced today that it has teamed up with WiggleWireless to offer fans the Kona Buzz, a "fly on the wall" view of what really happens before, during and after the biggest race on the planet - the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Triathlon insiders, Paul Huddle and Wendy Ingraham, will be joined by Michael Lovato, Desiree Ficker and a host of others to give fans the inside skinny on the place, the players and the unique character of the granddaddy of all races.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- ElectionMall Technologies, Inc., a non-partisan provider of technology to campaigns and elections, has re-launched one of its popular online political products, Eyardsigns.com, with a new on-demand print feature that allows campaigns and voters to produce professional quality postcards, invitations, and greeting cards all at their computer keyboard.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- ES Interactive announces that it has teamed up with Wiggle Wireless to offer fans personal access to their favorite pros with the Kona Secret Cell Phone Diaries. The athletes' diaries include training tips, insider secrets, personal stories and some spicy gossip. The concept of the Kona Secret Cell Phone Diaries came from ES Interactive's CEO, Carri Bennet's desire to make professional athletes more accessible to their fans and to increase the spectator-friendliness of endurance sports like triathlon.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "Shuttle Rising: Rendezvous with a Rumor" (ISBN: 0965721450), authored by NASA alumnus Charles Boyle, will launch on the same day that the space shuttle is scheduled to lift off - July 1, 2006.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rising energy prices can cause some families to see as much as a 50% increase in their utility bills this winter. So Matthew Lesko, the Government Money guy on TV in the question mark suit, is offering a free e-book called "Free Money to Pay Your Utility Bills," to anyone who can get on the web and go to www.lesko.com.