Stevia is a wild card in the marketplace. Made from the Stevia or sweetleaf plant, it is a natural but non-nutritive high-intensity sweetener with up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, making it extremely desirable in the low-calorie food market. Stevia and its derivatives are currently only approved for sale as dietary supplements in the United States. However, there are industry expectations for approval on the horizon for use in food and beverages, and applications in place for patent protections for a stevia derivative developed jointly by Coca-Cola and Cargill, as well as one developed by PepsiCo and Merisant Co., under brand names Purevia and Truvia.

"Various health, consumer and market trends will affect the sweetener market," says Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts. "A focus on low-glycemic-index foods supports growth for high-intensity non-nutritive sweeteners; concerns about health effects of high-fructose corn syrup may slow its sales as marketers switch to alternatives; continued trending toward natural ingredients will drive growth for natural and organic sugar and sweeteners."

"Trends in the U.S. Market for Sugar, Sugar Substitutes and Sweeteners" examines the latest information on market size, projections for future growth, future trends and opportunities, consumer demographics, retail landscape, and leading producers. For further information visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Trends-Sugar-Substitutes-1767538/.

About Packaged Facts - Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer industries, including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages, demographics, pet, and financial products. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. For more information contact Jenn Tekin at 240-747-3015 or jtekin@marketresearch.com.

Contact:
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The get-together, which was christened Cele Area Boys' Carnival witnessed music, preaching, confession and rewards. There were also enough 'chops chops,' perhaps to keep the boys busy and hold their attention to the evangelisation that was the major theme of the gathering.

Unexpectedly, the boys threw away their toga of violence through out the event that lasted for about two and a half hours. They occasionally rose on their feet and danced to the gospel music churned out by the church band. After preaching and music, at a point there was what could be likened to altar call and before you could say Jesus, the altar was already swarming. A couple of them ended up confessing that they were ready and determined to give their lives to Jesus. Some others also showed their readiness to quit areaboyism if only they could get assistance to pursue noble programmes.

In short, many of them asserted that they would turn on a new leaf, if help would come their ways and threw the challenge to the society to come to their aid.

"I don't like being called area boy. But area boys are also human beings. They are forced into the trend because of conditions and if anybody can help me today, I will leave the work," said one of them who maintained that his ambition before now was to go to school, at least, up to school certificate and then learn a trade.

Surprisingly not all the boys are buffoons or pig head as believed by general public. Few of them are school certificate holders with prospect that they could have been much better if not for the society that is reeking of corruption, favouritism, bad leadership and other malaises that are indices of backwardness.

"It is not everybody that is area boy. The fact that you are operating at the parks or bus stops does mean you are an illiterate. Some of us are literates, we finished secondary but the situation in the country forced us into working at parks. In Nigeria it is man-know-man," said another one who also would not want his name in print because back home, his vocation is unknown to his people.

But what could have motivated Pastor Inyang to take his congregation to the area boys? According to him, it was borne out of the Godly feeling of non-discrimination and the need to show love to all at this period of the year. He contended that it was wrong for the society to regard the boys as nonentities because of their character trait stressing that if Jesus Himself were to celebrate the season today in this part of the world, there was possibility that he might prefer to do so with the so called area boys.

"This is a season that we need to demonstrate in practical term the love of God, particularly to the less privileged. So we came out of the comfort of our church environment to do a party on the street; I mean at this bus stop, so that we will share the love of God with these people. The society might even think we are going nowhere because they are violent people, people of terrible character, but we felt that Jesus would have done a party for these kind of people if he were to do a Christmas party. That is why we feel we needed to share our time with these people," he said.

Besides, he explained that the so-called area boys equally have potentials that if well harnessed could blossom into something big and of useful value to the nation.

"We see potentials even in these people. Yes they may be wild, they may be of very bad character but we see potentials in them...we believe that these people can rise up and become something tomorrow. There was an area boy in the Bible by name Jephta. He was thrown away by his family, he lived on the street but the Bible says he became the ruler of Israel at a time."

He explained that one of the highlights of the programme was that many of the boys would have access to the church scholarship programme, which five of them have already been offered so that they could further their education. The scholarship would be expanded next year and would be an annual project that would take beneficiaries' education to University level.

To Pastor Inyang, what tomorrow holds in stock for those that would benefit from the scholarship could even be beyond the imagination of the public, which hold them in derision for now.

"You never know we might be talking to a future governor or someone who would turn around the economy of this nation or future pastor who will do exploits in the name of the Lord," he explained.

The pastor, however, advised the government to do something about the plight of the area boys, stressing that given another environment and change of orientation, they would contribute positively to the society.

The government at all levels, he maintained, have been massively involved in the process of orientating the boys, stressing either we like it or not, they are part and parcel of the society even as he disclosed that with the enthusiasm shown by the boys through the event, there is hope for a new beginning for them.

Although the programme was the first edition, Inyang stated that there would be no looking back any longer and that if the church has its way, it could make it twice or thrice in a year and that the programme would not be restricted to Cele Bus stop alone.

Although the event was peaceful, perhaps because of the fear that the leopard would never change its spot no matter how torrential the rain, the organisers still maintained armed police presence at the venue.

Lagos, the Centre of Excellence is noted for its preponderance of social miscreants otherwise known as area boys. They can dare anything and as such they are usually ready tools in the hands of politicians especially during elections. Many of them have lost their lives in war of supremacy in volatile spots like Cele Bus stop, Oshodi, Ojota, Agege and Lagos Island, where they freely employed dangerous weapons to prosecute their battles.

Despite the casualties, the number seems to keep on growing on daily basis, though joblessness could not be ruled out as one of the motivating factors. And with thousands of people coming into Lagos State on daily basis across the country to seek greener pastures, such a problem may not be unexpected, experts insist.

During the military administration of Brigadier Buba Marwa, the area boys were given the battle of their lives. The government chased them out of the bus stops in the state while the recalcitrant ones were arrested. Some of them who were willing to work were recruited as labourers in the State Direct Labour Projects, which handled light construction works, especially road rehabilitation, where they earned a living. However, after the regime of Marwa and the emergence of democratic rule, the boys resurfaced. They were at first tolerated by the administration of Bola Tinubu until their excesses forced the government to clampdown on them. They were arrested and taken to rehabilitation to learn one vocation or the other. Despite that, the move seems to have little impact on the activities of these people, whom many Lagosians also believed easily graduate from the parks into armed robbers.

Many analysts have even maintained that the ongoing beautification in the state preparatory to his mega status soon would not be complete unless the area boys syndrome is tackled once and for all.

Ara spoke both with her drums and lit up the stage. The female Nigerian musical export is now being packaged by Detail Solicitors, which says a lot for the firm of lawyers who dared to move away from straight-jacketed dinners, seminars and conferences by thinking and acting out of the box.

According to the firm's top entertainment lawyer, Dolapo Kukoyi, "In our culture of promoting clients, we are set at Detail Solicitors to promote Ara who is a client of ours. Ara is an enigma and she will be releasing an album soon. We are quite proud of who she is, what she has achieved and what more she is set to achieve."

Ayuli Jemide, Lead Partner, Detail Solicitors, opened with a short welcome remark introducing the 15 lawyers that constitute the Detail team. He urged everyone to "Enjoy!" And in compliance to his request, everyone had fun - with good Chinese cuisine, great roots music, plenty to drink and a load of surprises.

In Ara's first performance of the evening, she came out as Ara the Entertainer (not just the performer she's known to be). The thrill began with a treasure hunt as Ara in an abracadabra fashion asked all the guests to reach under their tables for dozens of 'shekere' (a local hand-held percussion instrument with beads around a calabash).

The guests delightfully launched their 'shekeres' as Ara challenged them to imitate the sounds she made on her talking drum. It was a rip-roaring time as everyone 'shekere-d' in unison.

As though that was not enough excitement for one night, Ara came on stage after dinner for a second performance and it was the crescendo. She played the Nigerian and American national anthems on her talking drum.

Her on-stage choreography wowed everyone and then she came off the stage and courted her appreciative audience, making dance partners of the more than willing guests.

All is now set as D'banj, Faze, Julius Agwu and Ego storm Lagos in the Xpose musical concert.

Scheduled to hold in XQZMOI, Lekki, the artistes have promised to let it all hang out when, in an active exchange with their audiences, each would reveal personal secrets that their fans want to know.

Talking about the show, the Koko master, D'banj said, "I like being honest with my fans and I think it would be fun to devote a part of the concert to interacting with them. And that's what Xpose is all about- more fun and getting closer to the people."

Faze is ready to 'expose' his best kept secrets as well. According to him, "Everybody wants to know the personal secrets of the popular entertainers. So, in between the songs, we are going to come on stage together and challenge each other to let it all hang out and Xpose who we really are. It's going to be absolutely crazy."

Faze, a former member of the Hip-hop group Plantashun Boyz, solo album Faze Alone sold more than a million copies before the release date. Like D'banj, he has won dozens of awards and nominations. "I've always said my music is about who I am. It is honest music, so while we are going to talk about things that would surprise a lot of people we are going to give them the time of their lives. What they are going to be surprised to find out is that Nigerian entertainers are not as irresponsible as some people think," Faze said.

As to what he would 'expose' Faze said, "Come to the show and be the first to know."

According to Ego, the former Lagbaja sidekick, "It's gonna be wild. Everybody thinks I have a certain secret I've been hiding for some time now. At the Xpose concert they are going to find out the real truth," she said with a wink.

Julius 'De Genius' Agwu - the comedian and showbiz impresario, who pioneered the music/comedy entertainment genre, would anchor the event.

When entertainment newsmen gathered last Saturday at the Planet One, Maryland, Lagos for the unveiling of this new music group called N-jection, nothing prepared us for what we saw: 3 kids aged between 13 and 8 were the focus.

Nazerene called Naz, Napthali aka Tali for short and Naomi, the 8-year-old diva in the group were presented as members of the new group N-jection.

The three siblings surnamed Eke are managed by their mother Mrs Njideka Ezenwa-Eke who spoke on the children's love for music and how the group was formed.

According to her, the kids have shown amazing talents since birth and will usually run to the keyboard every morning after they awake.

Naz, the eldest in the group who also plays the keyboard has led the group to perform at the Regional Art Gallery on American Democracy project, MTN Homecoming 2007, United Nations International Children's Day and Bank PHB staff and customers' Easter party.

The kids who were only brought into the country about five years ago already have a mental picture of what they would like to do in future.

With an album being packaged already and due for release in the first quarter of next year, they gave guests a foretaste of what their debut album will contain by playing two tracks titled 'Our Family' and 'The World We Want' to which many gave approval.

"The Bourne Identity," directed by Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), launched one of the highest domestic grossing action adventure movie franchises in history. The film's extraordinary cast included Oscar(R) winners Matt Damon and Chris Cooper, Oscar(R) nominee Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles and Franka Potente. Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass upped the ante with "The Bourne Supremacy" and continued the unstoppable momentum with "The Bourne Ultimatum," adding Oscar(R) nominees Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Albert Finney to the powerhouse acting ensemble. Preorder close is December 16, 2008. The three-disc Blu-ray Hi-Def collection is priced at $119.98 S.R.P.

    CONTENT OVERVIEW & SYNOPSES:

                            "THE BOURNE IDENTITY"

FILM SYNOPSIS:

After being pulled from the sea with two bullets in his back, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) awakens on a fishing boat with no memory of his involvement in a top-secret, black ops arm of the CIA called Treadstone. The only clue to his identity is the number of a Swiss bank account in which he discovers an array of passports and weapons, as well as a fortune in cash. As he struggles to regain his memory, his former employers dub him a rogue agent and target him for termination. When an equally deadly assassin codenamed "Professor" (Clive Owen) is sent to dispose of him, Bourne rediscovers his extraordinary survival skills, including hand-to-hand combat, martial arts and multiple languages, and begins to understand who he really is. As he struggles to unlock the secret of his own identity, Bourne has to deal with his past in order to ensure his own future.

    BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

    --  Exclusive U-Control: Universal's exclusive signature feature U-Control
        allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of
        the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie,
        immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and
        explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D
        animations.
        --  Picture in Picture
        --  Bourne Reminders
        --  Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
        --  Treadstone Files: Includes interactive Character Dossiers, Agent
            Status info, and GPS features.


    --  BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection
        can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to
        communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
        --  My Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through
            BD Live Internet discussions.
        --  Bourne card battle strategy game.


    --  Additional extras:
        --  My Scenes:
        --  The Ludlum Identity: An extraordinary portrait of the best-selling
            author through archival interviews with friends, colleagues,
            family members and Ludlum himself.
        --  The Ludlum Supremacy:  Who is Jason Bourne? A revealing look at
            how Bourne was born.
        --  The Ludlum Ultimatum:   A fascinating examination of the Bourne
            character and his enduring audience appeal
        --  Alternate Opening and Ending:  With an introduction by producer
            Frank Marshall, screenwriter Tony Gilroy and actor Brian Cox
        --  Deleted and Extended Scenes
        --  The Birth of the Bourne Identity
        --  The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at
            the late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the
            "Bourne" trilogy.
        --  Access Granted: An exclusive interview with screenwriter Tony
            Gilroy on the challenges of adapting Ludlum's 500-page book for
            the screen.
        --  From Identity to Supremacy - Jason & Marie: This feature includes
            exclusive interviews with Matt Damon and Franka Potente which
            explore the making of "The Bourne Identity" - and build a bridge
            to the spectacular sequel, "The Bourne Supremacy."
        --  The Bourne Diagnosis: Insights into the causes and effects of
            Jason Bourne's struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.
        --  Cloak and Dagger:  In this feature, CIA liaison officer Chase
            Brandon delivers a detailed, real-world analysis of the making of
            a super-spy.
        --  Inside a Fight Sequence: Join Matt Damon on the set as he and the
            film's Stunt Choreographer map out the explosive action-packed
            U.S. Embassy fight sequence.
        --  Moby "Extreme Ways" Music Video
        --  Feature Commentary with Director Doug Liman


                            "THE BOURNE SUPREMACY"

FILM SYNOPSIS:

When his lover is murdered and he is framed for the assassination of a fellow agent, Jason Bourne finds himself on the run again. But as he closes in on his girlfriend's killers, he realizes his former handlers are back on his trail. After his fingerprints are found at the scene of a murder in Berlin, an ambitious CIA operative (Joan Allen) becomes determined to stop him once and for all. Haunted by debilitating fragmented memories as he navigates the labyrinth of international espionage, Bourne (Matt Damon) must outwit, outmaneuver and outmuscle some of the most powerful forces in the world just to survive.

    BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

    --  Exclusive U-Control: Universal's exclusive signature feature U-Control
        allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of
        the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie,
        immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and
        explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D
        animations.
        --  Picture in Picture
        --  Bourne Reminders
        --  Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
        --  Supremacy Dossier


    --  BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection
        can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to
        communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
        --  My Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through
            BD Live Internet discussions.
        --  Bourne card battle strategy game.


    -- Additional extras:
       --  My Scenes
       --  Explosive Deleted Scenes
       --  Matching Identities: Casting - See what it took to land a key role
           in this major action hit.
       --  Keeping It Real - A look at the edgy and kinetic visual style the
           filmmakers brought to Supremacy.
       --  Blowing Things Up - Virtual isn't always better. See how some of
           the film's most awesome pyrotechnical sequences were created-
           without digital effects.
       --  On the Move with Jason Bourne - Travel the globe to visit the
           film's exotic locations from India to Berlin to Moscow.
       --  Bourne to Be Wild: Fight Training - Matt Damon didn't become a
           lethal weapon overnight. Witness the action as the star and the
           movie's fight trainer perfect the film's thrilling hand-to-hand
           combat scenes!
       --  Crash Cam: Racing Through the Streets of Moscow - Experience how
           stunt coordinators meticulously planned and executed the movie's
           stunning, high-speed chase sequence
       --  The Go-Mobile Revs Up the Action - Feel the rush of being in the
           driver's seat with this revolutionary new vehicle used to capture
           Matt Damon's high-speed exploits in the film's jaw-dropping car
           chase sequences!
       --  Anatomy of a Scene: The Explosive Bridge Chase Scene - Step onto
           the set and experience the tension and intense preparation as the
           filmmaking team plans and shoots one of the movie's most demanding,
           dangerous and thrilling action scenes.
       --  Scoring with John Powell:  A special look at creating the pulse-
           pound score for the movie.
       --  The Bourne Mastermind: Robert Ludlum: A fascinating new look at the
           late Robert Ludlum, the bestselling novelist who created the
           "Bourne" trilogy.
       --  The Bourne Diagnosis Part Two: Insights into the causes and effects
           of Jason Bourne's struggle with amnesia from a UCLA psychologist.
       --  Feature Commentary with Paul Greengrass


                            "THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM"

FILM SYNOPSIS:

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason Bourne (Damon) is now hunted by the people who made him what he is. Having lost his memory and the one person he loved, Bourne has only one objective: to go back to the beginning and find out who he was. Now, Bourne will hunt down his past in order to find a future. He must travel from Moscow, Paris and London to Tangier and New York City as he continues his quest to uncover the truth behind his mysterious past -- all the while trying to outwit a new generation of highly-trained assassins as well as the relentless CIA operatives who will stop at nothing to prevent him from learning his true identity.

    BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

    --  Exclusive U-Control: Universal's exclusive signature feature U-Control
        allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of
        the remote without ever leaving the movie. While you watch the movie,
        immerse yourself in the character dossiers and location analyses, and
        explore the technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D
        animations.
        --  Picture in Picture
        --  Bourne Reminders
        --  Bourne Card Battle Strategy Game
        --  Blackbriar Files: While you watch the movie, immerse yourself in
            the character dossiers and location analyses, and explore the
            technology behind the spy gadgets through visuals and 3D
            animations.


    --  BD-Live: Blu-ray and Playstation3 players with an Internet connection
        can access exclusive interactive applications that allow viewers to
        communicate with friends and family while watching the film:
        --  My Scenes Sharing: Share your favorite clips with friends through
            BD Live Internet discussions.
        --  Bourne card battle strategy game.


    --  Additional extras:
        --  My Scenes:
        --  Be Bourne Spy Training - Viewers test their skills to see if
            they've got what it takes to be a covert operative.
        --  Man on the Move: Jason Bourne - From Berlin to Tangier, see how
            the film's exotic locations influenced the filmmaking process.
        --  Rooftop Pursuit - Discover how state-of-the-art technology was
            used to film the incredible Tangier rooftop chase scene!
        --  Planning the Punches - Matt Damon reveals his complex and rigorous
            fight training.
        --  Driving School - Join Matt Damon behind the wheel as he trains for
            the New York car chase scene.
        --  New York Chase - An insider's view on how the film's heart-
            stopping chase sequences were filmed.
        --  Feature Commentary with Director Paul Greengrass
        --  Deleted Scenes


    TECHNICAL INFORMATION
    Street Date:  January 27, 2009
    Pre-Order Close: December 16, 2008
    Copyright:  2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Price: $119.98 SRP
    Selection Number:  61106536
    Running Time:
    --  "The Bourne Identity":  119:00 minutes
    --  "The Bourne Supremacy": 108:20 minutes
    --  "The Bourne Ultimatum": 115:09 minutes
    Layers:  BD-50
    Aspect Ratio:
    --  "The Bourne Identity":  2.35:1
    --  "The Bourne Supremacy": 2.35:1
    --  "The Bourne Ultimatum": 2.40:1
    Rating: PG-13
    Technical Info:  English DTS-H Master Audio 5.1, French and Spanish DTS
    Surround 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles


    For artwork, please log on to our website at www.ushepublicity.com.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

    CONTACTS: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

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     Vice President, Publicity
     (818) 777-5344
     Michelle.Slavich@nbcuni.com

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     Manager, Print Publicity
     (818) 777-0523
     Scott.Lyons@nbcuni.com

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     Manager, Broadcast Publicity
     (818) 777-0549
     Kelly.Castell@nbcuni.com

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     Manager, Online Publicity
     (818) 777-0115
     Nicole.Canizales@nbcuni.com

SOURCE Universal Studios Home Entertainment

http://www.universalstudios.com