Dakoda Dowd
To understand the internet you have to be open to change.
Content Is King
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne April 29, 2006
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Breaking News:
Dowd has won 185 junior trophies, and is the nation's top-ranked golfer in the graduating class of 2011. As a sixth-grader she was the No.2 golfer on the team at Northside Christian High. Dakoda finished in second place at last year's Florida Class A high school regional tournament, and if you have not guessed yet Dakoda (Koda) Dowd shoots in the low 70s. Look for Dakoda to be beating up on her competition for years to come.
Dakoda (Koda) Dowd is not your average 13 year old when it comes to golf.
The 13-year-old golf prodigy was invited to Reunion, Florida after event organizers learned that her mother Kelly Jo – who doctors say may only have months to live – wanted to see Dakoda play against the pros once in her lifetime. So Ginn organizers offered a sponsor's exemption, which eventually became a special exemption through the LPGA.
Dowd shot a 74 in the first round. She was tied for 53rd after the first round, beating or tying 15 women who've combined to win 33 major championships.
Dakoda tapped in for a double bogey on the 18th hole for an 82 on Friday. She missed the final-round cut by 8 strokes.
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Below are the winners of the 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards
Craig Ferguson at Barnes & Noble
Statement on Rush Limbaugh From Kraig T. Kitchin, President/COO Premiere Radio Networks
Grendel At The La Opera Seven performances only
And the Beat Goes on With 'VH1 Rock Docs'
IN JUST THREE YEARS, ONLINE'S broadband video advertising upfront has grown from about a $30 million marketplace to one that will reach at least $500 million
Rodale Selects Onstream Media to Provide Digital Media Services
Walt Disney Company, CBS, and Grupo Televisa are now considering buying Univision
TNT'S COMMERCIAL-FREE PREMIERE OF NEW drama "Saved" will be sponsored by Dodge and Quiznos.
CBS NEWS HITS THE HIGHWAY TO COVER THE GAS PRICE CRISIS
CRYSTAL VISION AT NAB2006
American Conservative Union Supports House Move Toward Consumer Choice
Animal Planet and Comcast Invite Knoxville-Area Residents to Spend Quality Time With Their Family and Pets as ANIMAL PLANET EXPO Rolls Into Town on May 13 at World's Fair Park
More Celebreality Blooms on VH1 This Summer!
Celebrity Cruises' Century Presents Venetian Gem
Ship's $55-Million Makeover Includes Specialty Restaurant, Sushi Bar and More
Hundreds of Sleuths 'Uncover the Arts' in Old City for WHYY Treasure Hunt
The World's Most Famous Dog Launches a New Natural Pet Food, Biscuit and Treat Line, Lassie Natural Way(TM)
Playstation Extends Sponsorship of UEFA Champions League
HotMovies.com Takes Lead From iPod(R), Launches MyClips(R) Customized Playlist Upgrade
Sportsmemo.com Announces the May 1 National Debut of the First and Only
Weekday All Sports Gaming Show on Sports Byline USA and Sirius Satellite Radio
Six Flags Marine World Unveils Tava's Jungleland - A Spectacular New Kids' Adventure Area Featuring Seven New Rides
Shakira U.S. Arena Tour Kicks Off With a Technology Boost From Verizon Wireless
Brand New Heavies, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, Goapele, Kindred, Loose Ends, Musiq, New Orleans and Houston Artists Added to the Stellar Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival Line-Up
Pastor Rick Warren to Headline LifeLight Music Festival
'Acapulco Heat: Season One' - The First Electrifying Season Arrives on DVD June 27, 2006
Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Three 6 Mafia, Chris Brown, T.I. and Mobb Deep Among Those To Perform at Biggest Hip Hop Concert in the World - HOT 97'S SUMMER JAM 2006
Los Angeles Times, Paramount Pictures Turn Everyday Newsrack Experience Into Extraordinary Mission
Universal Spokesperson Statement Regarding EEOC Suit Against Universal Pictures
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell Releases Debut Solo Album Welcome Home on May 2
TV Guide Magazine Debuts New Weekly Column - ''Downloads''
AT&T and Starz Entertainment Group to Offer Vongo Movie Download Service to Broadband Customers
mDisney Launches Beta Version of Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile Game
Rival high-definition DVD technologies HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc will never compromise into a single format.
One in Four Viewers Interested in Watching Full-Length Episodes Online
The Club DNA - A New Way to Deter Auto Theft
Rejecting warnings that it was "selling out the public,"
Airplane!” Lands at Academy
For all its buzz, podcasting is a cowboy industry -- and much of its future lies in the hands of a handful of companies vying to play sheriff and bring order.
Buena Vista Games Enters Agreement to Publish Four New Games from Q ENTERTAINMENT
Videos from Legendary Punk Rockers Now Available for the ZVUE
Actor Tony Danza Signs Agreement to do a Cooking Show Produced by Clear Cut Film Technology Studios at Patsy's Italian Restaurant in Manhattan, NY
Evan Rachel Wood Joins Service of ``KING''
Fox Reality Announces New Original Programming: ''MY BARE LADY''; Transatlantic Co-Production with Zig Zag Productions Promises to ''Reveal All''
Gefen Switchers Integrate with Euphonix System to Create Digital State-of-the-Art Professional Audio/Video Mixing Environment
Bill Cosby Hosts 5th Annual 'Great Night in Harlem' Concert Presented by DIRECTV and BET J at the Apollo Theater Benefiting The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA)
ENTERTAINMENT & LIVING: FCC's Indecency Rules
Universal Pictures' United 93 Opens Nationwide on April 28
Marvel Studios Engages All-Star Roster For New Film Slate; Jon Favreau To Direct Iron Man
Walt Disney Pictures and MySpace.com Launch World Premiere of ''Pirates of the Caribbean
Dame Elizabeth Taylor Statement
Newport Beach Film Festival Announces 2006 Award Winners; Awards Ceremony to Be Produced by Media Alliance of Orange County
Now Casting - HGTV Needs Your Help Finding Offbeat Homes in Indiana and Coast-to-Coast
E3Expo, AIAS and LACMA Announce Art Selected for 3rd Annual Into the Pixel
SPORTS & AUTOS
OAKLAND & DODGER BASEBALL
NFL Draft Day, Silver Ticket Program and Commemorative 5-Liter NFL Kickoff Keg Can
1963 Maple Leafs Voted NHL's 'All-Time Greatest' Single-Season Squad
Unclear Offers Frustrate Media Buyers Eager to Buy in
PLAYERS INC Licenses Trading Card Companies to Promote All NFL Players
Patrick on tour to promote autobiography
Teens and Parents Invited to View GEICO 'Real Teen Driving' DVD May 5
DOD
DoD Identifies Casualties
Kids of Deployed Military Parents Need Consistency
America Supports You: Arizona Bikers Roll Out for Troops
DoD Implements NSPS to Spiral 1.1
NEWS & News In Spanish
Bush Nominates Unknown Executive to Head Small Business Administration
Business Ethics Magazine Names Whirlpool One of 100 Best Corporate Citizens
Company One of Only 16 Named to List All Seven Years
Annual Toys 'R' Us Gala Hosts Toy Industry for a Night of Entertainment and Fundraising to Benefit Children in Need
Playstation amplía el patrocinio de la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA
Leading Western and Eastern European Automotive Logistics Executives Meet in Russia
Ejecutivos europeos de Oriente y Occidente de Automotive Logistics se reúnen en Rusia
Katie Couric One of 20 Named 'Rays of Hope' for Cancer Survivorship
Honorees
White House Applauds National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
President Bush Encourages Progress for Treatments, Cures
NASA Launches Satellites for Weather, Climate, Air Quality Studies
NASA Honors Pioneer Astronaut Frank Borman
Un Día Sin Mexicanos, el Cortometraje de Sergio Arau se Transmitirá Este Lunes en el Canal México 22
____________________________________________________
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Below are the winners of the 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards, handed out April 27 in Hollywood, Fla., and broadcast live on Telemundo. The event honors the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales and radio airplay data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period ending with the Feb. 5 issue.
Hot Latin Song Of The Year:
(Hot Latin Song, Tema del Año)
"La Tortura" Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Vocal Duet:
(Hot Latin Song, Dueto Vocal del Año):
"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year:
(Hot Latin Songs, Artista del Año)
Juanes
Latin Pop Album of the Year, Male:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Masculino)
"En La Luna" Reyli (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Female:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Femenino)
"Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" –Shakira (Epic/Sony Music)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Duo or Group:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Dúo o Grupo)
"Rebelde" RBD (EMI Latin)
Latin Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Nueva Generación)
"Rebelde" RBD (EMI Latin)
Top Latin Albums Artist Of The Year:
(Top Latin Álbums, Artista del Año)
Daddy Yankee
Latin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Rock /Alternativo del Año)
"Consejo" La Secta AllStar (Universal Latino)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Male:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Masculino)
"Ironia" Andy Andy (Wepa/Urban Box Office)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Female:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Femenino)
"Como Olvidar: Lo Mejor De Olga Tañón" Olga Tañón (Warner Latina)
Tropical Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Dúo o Grupo)
"God’s Project" Aventura (Premium Latin/Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Album Of The Year, New Artist:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Nueva Generación)
"Ironía" Andy Andy (Wepa/UBO)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Solo Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista Masculino)
"Mis Duetos" Vicente Fernández (Sony BMG Norte)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Duo or Group:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Dúo o Grupo Masculino)
"Y Sigue La Mata Dando" Grupo Montez De Durango (Disa)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista o Grupo Femenino)
"Y Seguimos Con Duranguense!!!" Los Horóscopos De Durango (Disa)
Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, New Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Nueva Generación)
"La Reina Del Pasito Duranguense" Diana Reyes (Musimex/Universal Latino)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Male:
(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año Masculino)
"La Camisa Negra" Juanes (Surco/Universal Latino)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Female:
(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Femenino)
"Vìveme" Laura Pausini (Warner Latina)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo or Group:
(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Dúo o Grupo)
"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:
(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)
"Algo MÁs" La 5a Estación (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Male:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Masculino)
"Que Ironía" Andy Andy (Wepa/Urban Box Office)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Femenino)
"Bandolero" Olga Tañón (Sony BMG Norte)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo or Group:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Dúo o Grupo)
"Ella Y Yo" Aventura Featuring Don Omar (Premium Latin)
Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)
"Lamento Boliviano" Amarfis y La Banda De Atakke (Amarfica/J&N)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Solo Artist:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Solista Masculino)
"Dueño De Ti" Sergio Vega (Sony BMG Norte)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Group:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Grupo Masculino)
"Eres Divina" Patrulla 81 (Disa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Female Group Or Female Solo Artist:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Solista o Grupo Femenino)
"Si La Quieres" Los Horóscopos De Durango (Disa)
Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)
"Dueño De Ti" Sergio Vega (Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Tour Of The Year:
(Gira del Año)
Luis Miguel
Reggaeton Album Of The Year:
(Albúm Reggaeton del Año)
"Barrio Fino: En Directo" Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Interscope)
Reggaeton Song Of The Year - *new category
(Tema Reggaeton del Año)-*nueva categoría
"Mayor Que Yo" Baby Ranks, Daddy Yankee, Tonny Tun Tun, Wisin y Yandel, Hector "El Father"
Latin Ringtone Of The Year - *new category
(Ringtone Latino del Año)-*nueva categoryía
"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year:
(Tema Dance del Año, Club Latino)
"I Don’t Care/Que MÁs Da (Dance Remixes)" Ricky Martin Featuring Fat Joe (Columbia/Sony BMG Norte)
Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Rap/Hip-Hop Latino del Año)
"Kickin’ It…Juntos" Akwid & Jae-P (Univision)
Latin Greatest Hits Album Of The Year:
(Álbum de los Grandes Éxitos Latinos del Año)
"La Historia Continua…Parte II" Marco Antonio Solis
Latin Compilation Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Recopilación Temas Latinos del Año)
"Chosen Few: El Documental" Various Artists (Chosen Few Emerald/Urban Box Office)
Latin Jazz Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Jazz Latino del Año)
"Sandoval: Live At The Blue Note" Arturo Sandoval (Half Note)
Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Cristiano/Gospel del Año)
"Dios Es Bueno" Marcos Witt (Canzion/Sony BMG Norte)
Songwriter Of The Year:
(Compositor del Año)
Juanes
Producer Of The Year:
(Productor del Año)
Luny Tunes
Hot Latin Song Of The Year:(Hot Latin Song, Tema del Año)"La Tortura" Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
Hot Latin Song Of The Year:(Hot Latin Song, Tema del Año)"La Tortura" Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Vocal Duet:(Hot Latin Song, Dueto Vocal del Año):"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year:
(Hot Latin Songs, Artista del Año)JuanesLatin Pop Album of the Year, Male:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Masculino)"En La Luna" Reyli (Sony BMG Norte)Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Female:(Álbum Pop del Año, Femenino)"Fijacion Oral Vol. 1" –Shakira (Epic/Sony Music)Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Duo or Group:
(Álbum Pop del Año, Dúo o Grupo)"Rebelde" RBD (EMI Latin)Latin Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist:(Álbum Pop del Año, Nueva Generación)"Rebelde" RBD (EMI Latin)Top Latin Albums Artist Of The Year:
(Top Latin Álbums, Artista del Año)Daddy YankeeLatin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Rock /Alternativo del Año)"Consejo" La Secta AllStar (Universal Latino)Tropical Album Of The Year, Male:(Álbum Tropical del Año, Masculino)"Ironia" Andy Andy (Wepa/Urban Box Office)Tropical Album Of The Year, Female:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Femenino)"Como Olvidar: Lo Mejor De Olga Tañón" Olga Tañón (Warner Latina)Tropical Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Dúo o Grupo)"God’s Project" Aventura (Premium Latin/Sony BMG Norte)Tropical Album Of The Year, New Artist:
(Álbum Tropical del Año, Nueva Generación)"Ironía" Andy Andy (Wepa/UBO)Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Solo Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista Masculino)"Mis Duetos" Vicente Fernández (Sony BMG Norte)Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Duo or Group:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Dúo o Grupo Masculino)"Y Sigue La Mata Dando" Grupo Montez De Durango (Disa)Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista o Grupo Femenino)"Y Seguimos Con Duranguense!!!" Los Horóscopos De Durango (Disa)Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, New Artist:
(Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año, Nueva Generación)"La Reina Del Pasito Duranguense" Diana Reyes (Musimex/Universal Latino)Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Male:(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año Masculino)"La Camisa Negra" Juanes (Surco/Universal Latino)Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Female:(
Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Femenino)"Vìveme" Laura Pausini (Warner Latina)Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo or Group:(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Dúo o Grupo)"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:
(Tema Latin Pop Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)"Algo MÁs" La 5a Estación (Sony BMG Norte)Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Male:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Masculino)"Que Ironía" Andy Andy (Wepa/Urban Box Office)Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Femenino)"Bandolero" Olga Tañón (Sony BMG Norte)Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo or Group:(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Dúo o Grupo)"Ella Y Yo" Aventura Featuring Don Omar (Premium Latin)Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:
(Tema Tropical Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)"Lamento Boliviano" Amarfis y La Banda De Atakke (Amarfica/J&N)Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Solo Artist:(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Solista Masculino)"Dueño De Ti" Sergio Vega (Sony BMG Norte)Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Group:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Grupo Masculino)"Eres Divina" Patrulla 81 (Disa)Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Female Group Or Female Solo Artist:
(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Solista o Grupo Femenino)"Si La Quieres" Los Horóscopos De Durango (Disa)Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist:(Tema Regional Mexicano Airplay del Año, Nueva Generación)"Dueño De Ti" Sergio Vega (Sony BMG Norte)Latin Tour Of The Year:(Gira del Año)Luis MiguelReggaeton Album Of The Year:
(Albúm Reggaeton del Año)"Barrio Fino: En Directo" Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Interscope)Reggaeton Song Of The Year
- *new category(Tema Reggaeton del Año)-*nueva categoría"Mayor Que Yo" Baby Ranks, Daddy Yankee, Tonny Tun Tun, Wisin y Yandel, Hector "El Father"Latin Ringtone Of The Year - *new category(Ringtone Latino del Año)-
*nueva categoryía"La Tortura" Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year:
(Tema Dance del Año, Club Latino)"I Don’t Care/Que MÁs Da (Dance Remixes)" Ricky Martin Featuring Fat Joe (Columbia/Sony BMG Norte)Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year:(Álbum Rap/Hip-Hop Latino del Año)"Kickin’ It…Juntos" Akwid & Jae-P (Univision)Latin Greatest Hits Album Of The Year:
(Álbum de los Grandes Éxitos Latinos del Año)"La Historia Continua…Parte II" Marco Antonio SolisLatin Compilation Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Recopilación Temas Latinos del Año)"Chosen Few: El Documental" Various Artists (Chosen Few Emerald/Urban Box Office)Latin Jazz Album Of The Year:
(Álbum Jazz Latino del Año)"Sandoval: Live At The Blue Note" Arturo Sandoval (Half Note)Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year:(Álbum Cristiano/Gospel del Año)"Dios Es Bueno" Marcos Witt (Canzion/Sony BMG Norte)Songwriter Of The Year:
(Compositor del Año)JuanesProducer Of The Year:(Productor del Año)Luny TunesCraig Ferguson at Barnes & Noble
Wed, May 3 at 7:30 pm
Wed, May 3 at 7:30 pmThird St Promenade
1201 Third St, SM
(310) 260-9110
for booksigning of "Between the Bridge and the River"
This rambunctious debut novel from the host of CBS's The Late Late Show follows the picaresque adventrues of two Scottish friends and 2 American half brothers - with hilarious stops along the way poking fun at everything from Hollywood and Vegas to Starbucks and Hooters.
Statement on Rush Limbaugh From Kraig T. Kitchin, President/COO Premiere Radio Networks
"I'm pleased that a settlement has been reached between Rush Limbaugh and the state of Florida that finally brings this matter to an end. Rush's not guilty plea is consistent with the position he has taken all along. Throughout it all, he has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to his listeners, affiliates, and advertisers. We have always stood by Rush -- for good reason -- and will continue to do so."
Source: Premiere Radio Networks
Grendel
Composed by Elliot Goldenthal
Directed by Julie Taymor
WORLD PREMIERE - May 27, 2006
Academy-Award wining composer Elliot Goldenthal and Tony-Award winning director Julie Taymor collaborate on Grendel, a ground-breaking operatic premiere inspired by the Beowulf legend. Over 1,000 years ago, two anonymous scribes wrote down an epic poem about a Scandinavian hero who ended the bloody reign of the monster Grendel. John Gardner’s 1971 novel approaches the classic story from the monster’s viewpoint. Estranged from nature and outcast from the world of men, Grendel is a passionate thinker trapped in the body of a beast, who struggles with his own existential conflicts and observations about humanity, and about himself.
Using projections, puppetry, masks and Goldenthal’s richly layered and highly emotional score, Taymor creates an enthralling visual landscape. In this world of kings, queens, storytellers and warriors, Taymor and her co-librettist, J.D. McClatchy, present a Grendel that is a quintessentially modern anti-hero. With language ranging from medieval to modern, Grendel serves as a gripping theatrical allegory of the human struggle.
PRODUCTION DATES: May 27,2006 to June 17,2006 ,seven shows only
May 27,2006 to June 17,2006 ,seven shows onlyPRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURE:
One hour prior to each performance.
Michael Walsh will lead the pre-performance lecture.
Pre-performance lectures are generously sponsored by the Flora L. Thornton Foundation and the Opera League of Los Angeles.
And the Beat Goes on With 'VH1 Rock Docs'
VH1 Expands Rock Docs Franchise to Include Eight Additional Music-Based Documentaries Covering Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop, Classic Rock and More
VH1 will expand its documentary series "VH1 Rock Docs" to include eight new high-end feature-length programs. Each of the documentaries will reveal an untold story in the history of rock and hip-hop music, combining never-before-seen footage with a unique and unconventional narrative approach. The documentaries will tell some of the most unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives.
For this new slate, which includes internally-produced and acquired projects, VH1 builds on the previously announced "Rock Docs" "DMC: My Adoption Journey," "Heavy: The Story of Metal," "The Last Days of Left Eye" and "The U.S. vs. John Lennon."
THE DRUG YEARS
VH1, in association with Sundance Channel, has produced the original documentary series "The Drug Years," a four-part look at the rise of illicit drug use and its cultural impact in the second half of the twentieth century. Spanning the 1950's to the present, "The Drug Years" explores the development of a commercial drug culture in America, using archival footage, never-before-seen film and interviews to illustrate how popular culture -- including music, movies, comedy, television, and theatre -- both shaped and reflected public perceptions of illicit drugs. "The Drug Years" also looks at how drugs became part of the nation's political landscape, from the youth rebellions of the 1960's to the War on Drugs and beyond.
MY GENERATION: WHO'S STILL WHO (Spitfire and VH1)
Authorized by The Who and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Murray Lerner, "My Generation: Who's Still Who" is the definitive audio-visual record of the legendary British rock band, The Who. Produced by Spitfire and VH1, (Spitfire's last project was the Peabody Award winning documentary "Bob Dylan: No Direction Home") and making its television premiere on VH1, "My Generation: Who's Still Who" moves from the group's origins as a 1960s schoolboy R&B cover band, through their meteoric rise and artistic breakthroughs. The film also documents the infighting, the breakups and reconciliations, and the untimely deaths of drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle. In addition to never-before-seen private materials released by the group and its fans worldwide, the film includes interviews with prominent witnesses and personal friends. Rare and unreleased concert footage and outtakes are also featured. After its premiere on VH1, the documentary will also air on VH1 Classic.
TUPAC RESURRECTION
Making its network window premiere on VH1, Lauren Lazin's Academy-award nominated portrait of Tupac Shakur, "Tupac: Resurrection" explores Tupac's life viscerally and dramatically-through his own words and music, and through vivid images of the world as he experienced it. The first-ever documentary about Shakur's life created in collaboration with his mother, Afeni Shakur, and Amaru Entertainment, "Tupac: Resurrection" features never-before-seen concert footage, excerpts from his poetry and journals, and private home-movie material. The documentary features a soundtrack of Shakur's best-selling music, as well as the music he loved and was inspired by. Not merely a celebration of his life and artistry, "Tupac: Resurrection" explores honestly and openly Shakur's many complexities, examining his artistic gifts, passions and conflicts.
METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY
Making its television premiere on VH1, "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" follows 30-year old anthropologist Sam Dunn, who has decided to study the plight of a different culture, one he has been a part of since he was a 12-year old: the culture of heavy metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why this music has been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned and yet is loved so passionately by its millions of fans. Along the way, Sam explores metals' obsession with some of life's most provocative subjects -- sexuality, religion, violence and death -- and discovers some things about the culture that even he can't defend. Shot on location in the UK, Germany, Norway, Canada and the US, this documentary is the first of its kind. It is both a defense of a long-misunderstood art form and a window for the outsider into the spectacle that is heavy metal.
AWESOME; I F**KIN' SHOT THAT! (thinkfilm)
Making its television premiere on VH1, "Awesome; I F**kin' Shot That!" is an innovative feature film experience. The Beastie Boys handed out 50 cameras to audience members at their sold-out performance in New York's famed Madison Square Garden in October 2004. These 50 different passionate perspectives shot from the point of view of the audience take the viewer deep inside the world of a live Beastie Boys show, prismatically and kinetically capturing the experience of a live musical performance like no film has ever done.
FADE TO BLACK
Making its network window premiere on VH1, "Fade To Black" offers an intimate look at hip-hop artist Jay-Z, aka Shawn Carter, that reveals the multiple Grammy Award winning artist as never before. From his background and rise to fame to the recording of his last album, the film chronicles the legendary concert of Jay-Z's performance at Madison Square Garden in November 2003. In an unprecedented event, a hip-hop artist sold out an arena in only two hours. The event was a spectacular culmination of Jay-Z's recording career prior to his self-proclaimed retirement from solo performing. Yet this one night also defined a musical generation, showcasing the evolution and reach of the world's most popular music genre. Viewers get the rare glimpse of Jay-Z's creative process as he searches for inspiration, poetry, and perfection in his songs. Narrated by Jay-Z, this documentary takes on reflections of his entire musical career and his journey that led to this one astounding, fabled evening -- rightfully called "Fade To Black."
BOB DYLAN: NO DIRECTION HOME (Spitfire)
Martin Scorsese's Peabody Award winning, definitive documentary of the legendary singer, Bob Dylan is the first feature length film biography done on the artist. The two-part film, which focuses on the singer-songwriter's life and music from 1961-1966, includes never-seen performance footage and interviews with artists and musicians whose lives intertwined with Dylan's during that time. The film also features previously unreleased footage from Bob Dylan's groundbreaking live concerts, studio recording sessions and interviews. After its premiere on VH1, the documentary will also air on VH1 Classic.
NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD (Paramount Classics)
Jonathan Demme's highly-regarded documentary making its network window premiere on VH1. Legendary singer/songwriter Neil Young is filmed on the occasion of the world premiere of Young's "Prairie Wind" concert at Nashville's hallowed Ryman Auditorium. Young's music provides an emotionally rich view into this unique artist's relationship to family, friends, mortality, and the passage of time. Young is accompanied onstage by many long time musical companions, including country star Emmylou Harris, Neil's wife Pegi Young, and bandleader/steel guitarist Ben Keith. The documentary will also air on VH1 Classic.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 87 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH Uno and VH1 Country. Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.
VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.
*all times ET/PT
Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
IN JUST THREE YEARS, ONLINE'S broadband video advertising upfront has grown from about a $30 million marketplace to one that will reach at least $500 million
and as much as $1 billion this year, making it the size of a major broadcast network TV daypart, akin to late night, early morning or early evening news, executives helping to develop that market said Thursday during Media magazine's 2006 Outfront Conference in New York. "It will be a $500 million marketplace over the next 12 months for traditional video, 15- and 30-second commercial advertising being either integrated into in-stream environments or in engaged ad units that can support video," estimated Adam Gerber, vice president-ad products & strategy at broadband video developer Brightcove.
"Is it going to become the primary place tat marketer's put their TV budgets? I don't think so. But I think over the long-term, you are going to see major shifts in how advertisers are spending money," added Gerber, who prior to joining Brightcove was head of new media at MediaVest, and was part of the team that helped initiated the so-called broadband upfront at Starcom MediaVest Group three years ago.
But that's the conservative estimate, said Matt Wasserlauf, president-CEO of another broadband video advertising developer, Broadband Enterprises. "The inventory exists today to support a billion dollar business. There could be a billion dollar industry in pre-roll 15- and 30-second commercials."
One of the things that could limit the scale of that market, cautioned Brightcove's Gerber, was a growing perception that so-called "pre-roll," or the commercial units that run intrusively before online video content, may not be as effective as conventional TV commercials.
"Give us a chance," he pleaded to a roomful of planners and buyers, noting, "Already, people are talking about how horrible a model pre-roll is. We need to focus on the model's positives."
Despite strong high-speed penetration rates and consumers' insatiable hunger for video content, Gerber and his fellow "New Channel for Content Distribution" panelists are still fearful of being overlooked by agencies because of negative presumptions and impatience for an immature ad model.
"We're not even in the first inning of broadband," Gerber said, "It's more like batting practice."
"Let's just hope no one comes up with a 5 percent solution," remarked Allison Bodenmann, executive vice president of national sales of WorldNow, the broadband services provider. Bodenmann was referring to ad agencies' hastily reacting to the advent of cable TV by blindly allocating 5 percent of their budgets for the new medium.
"The general idea is that broadband deserves a much closer look by agencies than they gave cable originally," Gerber later explained to OnlineMediaDaily.
Backing up Gerber's defense of broadband, Bodenmann assured members of the audience that "The tech will be there very soon" to silence critics who consider pre-roll ads clunky and half-baked.
To varying degrees, each panelist was professedly optimist about broadband, but none more so than Matt Wasserlauf, president and CEO of Broadband Enterprises, which specializes in broadband video sales, syndication, and original production.
"Television has been the predominant medium for a number of generations, but every generation up to 24-year-olds are going online before TV," said Wasserlauf.
Rejecting the common perception that inventory is scarce, Wasserlauf asserted, "The doors are open and there's plenty of opportunity." To support his position, Wasserlauf noted a comScore statistic that over 4 billion "monetizable" streams exist online per month. (A comScore spokeswoman later confirmed that number for December of last year.)
Still, a lack of agency procedure when planning online buys appears to be slowing progress.
How are agencies and advertisers managing their broadband spending: Line item budget or judgment call?
As an example, Curt Hecht, executive vice president of ad products and strategy at GM Planworks was asked just how planners like himself are managing their broadband spending: line item budget or judgment call. In response, he said: "We attach to properties we care a lot about," adding, "At the end of the day that leads to a line item, but we don't start out that way."
Looking ahead toward a brighter future for pre-roll, Gerber noted the potential for behavioral and contextual targeting technology as the ad model's great hope. "The challenge is audience metrics," he said.
Rodale Selects Onstream Media to Provide Digital Media Services
Leading Global Health and Wellness Publisher to Utilize Onstream Media's Services to Create New Revenue Opportunities From Its Existing Video Content Libraries
Services to Include Ad Insertion Into On-Demand Video Streaming
Onstream Media Corporation , a leading online service provider of live and on- demand, digital media communications and applications, announced today that Rodale Inc., the authoritative source for trusted content in health and wellness around the world, has deployed Onstream Media and its Digital Media Services Platform (DMSP) to provide content processing, various professional services including the development of a video search application with custom players, hosting and dynamic advertisement insertion into Rodale's on-demand (IP-PPV) streaming video content.
"Onstream Media provides Rodale with the opportunity to drive new revenue streams that enhance its strategic digital initiatives for its content and brands as well as leverage its existing advertising franchise," said Ken Citron, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Rodale.
Using Rodale's long form video content, as well as the online publishing capabilities of Onstream Media's DMSP and other proprietary technologies, Rodale is expanding the Web presence of its streaming video content among end- users through the creation of shorter length, indexed vignettes and a powerful one-to-one marketing platform. To this end, Rodale has already successfully deployed Onstream Media's turnkey video search application and custom players and seamlessly integrated them into Rodale's site designs and individual Web properties. This implementation provides Rodale with the capability to insert dynamic advertisements into video streams that match a distinct viewer profile.
Other advanced technical solutions provided by Onstream Media to Rodale include:
* Fluid transformation of high resolution streams into a myriad of formats and bandwidth speeds. * Automated ingest and digitization of long and short format programs, cataloging each discreet scene as an independent media asset. * Comprehensive metadata tagging of each video scene, and its contents. * A fast multi-format play out center capable of streaming video from multiple media player formats, such as Flash Video and Windows Media, that can be delivered on multiple platforms such as PC's, Mac's, mobile smart phones, and iPods. * Transaction processing for packaging and selling video on-demand (IP-PPV).
"We're pleased to be partnering with Rodale as it will enable them to better leverage their well-renowned brands such as Men's Health, Prevention and Runner's World in the online space and drive new revenue streams more effectively and efficiently from Rodale's online properties and content," said Randy Selman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Onstream Media. "Although both traditional and new media publishers have been using the Web to stream their video content, there has been no successful, cost effective way to generate revenues from this content until now. Using Onstream Media's DMSP, publishers can now monetize this video content through highly targeted, integrated advertising, that is customized to the profiles of individual users (ad insertion), subscriptions or e-commerce all of which is easily facilitated by the publisher using the DMSP."
About Rodale Inc.
Rodale Inc. is the authoritative source for trusted content in health, fitness and wellness around the world, reaching nearly 40 million people each month. The company publishes some of the best-known health and wellness lifestyle magazines, including Men's Health, Prevention, Women's Health, Runner's World, Best Life, Bicycling, Backpacker, Mountain Bike and Organic Gardening, and is also the largest independent book publisher in America with a collection of international titles, including The South Beach Diet and The Abs Diet franchises. Rodale's broad range of media platforms includes magazines, books, video and extensive Web sites. The company is also a leader in direct response marketing and has more than 25 million active customers in its database. http://www.rodale.com/ .
About Onstream Media Corporation
Founded in 1993, Onstream Media (is a leading online service provider of live and on-demand communications and digital media services including encoding, editorial, hosting, digital asset management, streaming, e-commerce/pay-per-view and distribution via the Onstream Digital Media Services Platform. Onstream Media's pioneering ASP Digital Media Services Platform (DMSP) provides its customers with the necessary tools for webcasting, web conferencing, managing digital assets, publishing content on the Internet and establishing e-commerce storefronts to transact business online. All of Onstream Media's services are focused on increasing productivity and revenues, and reducing capital expenditures and operational costs of any organization in an affordable and highly secure environment. As a result, 78% of the Fortune 100 CEOs and CFOs and almost half of the Fortune 1000 companies have used Onstream Media's services.
Onstream Media customers include: AOL, AAA, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, Disney, MGM, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Financial/CCBN, PR Newswire and the U.S. Government.
Source: Onstream Media Corporation
Walt Disney Company, CBS, and Grupo Televisa are now considering buying Univision
SOME MAJOR MEDIA COMPANIES LOOK to be shifting position on a possible purchase of Univision--Walt Disney Company, CBS, and Grupo Televisa are now all actively considering buying the large Spanish-language network, according to published reports.
Recently, media companies had expressed that Univision' price tag---at $40 a share amounting to $14 billion--was too high. Univision, controlled by billionaire Jerrold Perenchio, has been pondering a sale of a company since February.
A number of media companies, including Disney and CBS, did take an initial look at Univision's financial books. Walt Disney Co., however, has been analyzing Univision's books more closely in recent days, according to reports.
CBS may have a different agenda. Yesterday, Les Moonves, chief executive officer of CBS, told investors and journalists in a press conference about its first earnings report as a public company, saying that "we're not looking for an acquisition of that size."
Or perhaps that expensive. Univision's proposed price tag would equate to 19 times cash flow and a 36 price/earning ratio. By way of comparison, Viacom is selling at 11 times cash flow; CBS is an even cheaper 8 times cash flow.
Grupo Televisa, the big Mexican TV production company and broadcaster, has a significant 11 percent stake in Univision, and provides the channel with much of its programming. Last month, The New York Times reported that it has been formalizing a bid with private investors, including Providence Equity Partners, Madison Dearborn Partners, the Cisneros Group of Venezuela, and the media entrepreneur Haim Saban.
Because of Grupo Televisa's stake, media analysts have said the most likely scenario is that a major U.S.-based media company would need a joint bid with Grupo Televisa to gain control of Univision.
This would mean its chief executive, Televisa Chairman and President Emilio Azcarraga, would need to do a Rupert Murdoch--becoming a U.S. citizen as well as relocating its headquarters to the U.S., abiding by Federal Communication Communications rules.
A Univision spokeswoman had no comment about the possible buyers
TNT'S COMMERCIAL-FREE PREMIERE OF NEW drama "Saved" will be sponsored by Dodge and Quiznos.
"Saved" is one of three shows on the Turner network set to premiere this summer with no commercial interruptions--a move that could blunt the impact of ad-skipping DVRs and ease advertisers' concerns about increasing clutter.
Earlier, TNT said the second-season debut of hit "The Closer" would be ad-free and sponsored by Audi. "Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King" is the third show, although TNT has not announced a sponsor.
Dodge's relationship with "Saved"--which focuses on the personal struggles of a paramedic--also includes product placement. Both Dodge and Quiznos will receive exposure in TNT's marketing efforts behind "Saved," including mentions in on-air promos, print ads, and on tnt.tv.
Agency PHD made the multi-pronged deals with Turner on behalf of clients Dodge and Quiznos.
"Saved" will run Mondays at 10 after "The Closer," forming an original drama block that launches June 12.
In addition, AOL will have a brand integration role in "Saved," as well as on "The Closer." "We can showcase the value of AOL within the actual storyline, making it relevant to the characters' lives," said Richard Taylor, senior vice president of brand marketing for AOL. In an interview prior to Turner's upfront, David Levy, president of Turner Entertainment Group Ad Sales and Marketing, said circumventing DVR ad-skipping wasn't the chief reason behind the ad-free premieres. "We're looking at innovative ways to get the clients' messages across," he said.
Linda Yaccarino, executive vice president at Turner, cited "an uncluttered environment" as an enticement for Dodge and Quiznos.
CBS NEWS HITS THE HIGHWAY TO COVER THE GAS PRICE CRISIS
The Five-Part Series, "CBS News: Eye on the Road," Begins May 1
on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH BOB SCHIEFFER
CBS News is hitting the road to get a first-hand look at how extraordinarily high gas prices are affecting ordinary people. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and her crew will travel from Florida to Massachusetts on Interstate 95 in three vehicles: a Toyota Prius hybrid; a Ford Expedition SUV and a mid-size Honda Accord. Along the way, Alfonsi and her team will talk to Americans who suffer every time the price at the pump rises. The five-part series, "CBS News: Eye on the Road," begins Monday, May 1 (6:30-7:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH BOB SCHIEFFER. CBSNews.com will also feature Alfonsi's reports.
CBS News is hitting the road to get a first-hand look at how extraordinarily high gas prices are affecting ordinary people. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and her crew will travel from Florida to Massachusetts on Interstate 95 in three vehicles: a Toyota Prius hybrid; a Ford Expedition SUV and a mid-size Honda Accord. Along the way, Alfonsi and her team will talk to Americans who suffer every time the price at the pump rises. The five-part series, "CBS News: Eye on the Road," begins (6:30-7:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH BOB SCHIEFFER. CBSNews.com will also feature Alfonsi's reports.Alfonsi and producer Michael Solmsen will start in Miami, Fla., where the increased price of fuel has a direct impact on healthcare and other services -- like Meals on Wheels -- provided to the state's elderly population. They'll finish the trip in Cambridge, Mass., but will make stops in the following cities:
Sylvania, Ga., where farmers facing a 113% increase in fertilizer costs may be forced out of business
Zebulon, N.C., home of the Carolina Mudcats, a minor league baseball team that travels more than 10,000 miles by bus per season and whose fans drive to the small town located outside Raleigh
Arlington, Va., one suburb where commuters are rethinking their drive into the nation's capital
Alfonsi will record a video diary and blog -- updated throughout the day -- for CBSNews.com with exclusive commentary about the places she's been and the people she's interviewed. In addition, CBSNews.com will feature exclusive web-only footage, as well as an interactive map of the crew's trip. The "CBS News: Eye on the Road" team will track how much gas each of their vehicle's uses and post the average price for each region on CBSNews.com.
Rome Harman is the executive producer of the CBS EVENING NEWS.
CRYSTAL VISION AT NAB2006
2006 is the year of Crystal Vision HD with the launch of eleven new High Definition products.
Three of these are being demonstrated using the booth’s blue screen chroma key set. Now shipping, Safire HD is the first affordable solution to High Definition chroma keying. Fitting in the standard Crystal Vision frames, this modular chroma keyer works with all common High Definition formats as well as SDI and is ideal for studio, sport and all other live chroma keying applications. ViViD HD is ideal for compensating for the delays caused by other equipment in the system, including graphics generators in HD virtual studios. The easy-to-use module provides over half a second of delay in HD and three seconds in Standard Definition, with a minimum setting of a few microseconds and the delay adjustable in time steps. The third virtual studio product is LKEY HD – a High Definition linear keyer designed to key graphics over HD or SD video streams. Distinguished by its unusually small size, the ability to fit six HD linear keyers in 2U saves the customer valuable rack space and makes it especially suitable for multi-layer keying.
Crystal Vision is best known for its expertise in embedded audio, and TANDEM HD brings real flexibility to HD embedding. It can be configured as either a single embedder or single de-embedder and can be used with either one or two groups of audio, depending on how many piggybacks are fitted to the motherboard. Simple to operate, TANDEM HD offers gain control as well as audio routing. The ultimate combined-function HD product, SYNNER HD is a synchroniser, tracking audio delay and embedder/de-embedder on one board. Taking in tri-level syncs or normal Black and Burst, it will synchronise an HD or SD signal containing embedded audio, and can optionally embed or de-embed two groups of audio by fitting two piggybacks to the main board. It offers sophisticated routing, allowing swap and replace of the individual audio channels. There is also a new HD/SDI video frame synchroniser designed for applications without embedded audio: the SYN HD.
Up-and-down is a combined up, down and cross converter with adaptive motion compensation. By using the very latest chipset Crystal Vision has created the most advanced up/down converter at a realistic price, with the added advantage of the 100mm x 266mm module using minimum space. Up conversions are Standard Definition to 720p and 1080i, at both 50Hz and 59.94Hz, while down conversions are 720p and 1080i to Standard Definition at both frame frequencies. Cross conversions of 720p to 1080i and 1080i to 720p are also available. Also new are four low cost HD/SDI distribution amplifiers for those who do not require remote control operation. The HDDA105C, HDDA105N, HDDA111C and HDDA111N between them offer the options of reclocking and non-reclocking and five or eleven outputs.
With most of the world still Standard Definition, Crystal Vision has not forgotten that market. Demon 2 is an updated version of one of Crystal Vision’s most popular products, the Demon de-embedding monitor. Part of Crystal Vision’s new generation of converters which give improved performance at a lower cost, Demon 2 uses the highest quality 12 bit DAC and can convert SDI with embedded audio into combinations of component, composite, Y/C and SDI - along with 20 bit AES and analogue audio simultaneously.
The Smart DA is an intelligent SDI distribution amplifier giving up to eight outputs that will monitor the video and embedded audio and provide warnings should any problems occur. The status of the signal can be viewed by using the Smart DA with Crystal Vision’s Statesman PC Control System, with indications of input present, input standard, video black, video frozen, audio group present, audio silence, EDH missing, EDH full field error and EDH active picture error. A number of alarms can also be set, including video absent, audio absent, black picture, frozen picture and silent audio, as well as three EDH alarms. The Smart DA is ideal for big systems requiring immediate indication of signal or transmission problems, especially in unmanned automatic playout facilities.
The ADDEC 12 bit decoding converters provide an excellent way to bring a variety of analogue sources into a digital environment. Used with sources generated by cameras, tape machines or graphics generators, they can convert different analogue signals (composite PAL/NTSC, Y/C or YUV) to SDI, making them ideal for multi-applications and resulting in reductions in cost and rack space. The SDI output is excellent, thanks to data sampled at 54Mbit per second, the five line comb decoder and the 12 bit A to D which reduces quantising noise. Input sources can be of any quality from full broadcast to VHS, with damaged or jittery signals accepted. The internal video proc-amp allows adjustment of gains and levels for further picture improvements. There is a decoding converter to suit every application and budget. ADDEC-100 has no timing adjustments, making it the straightforward low cost option. ADDEC-200 and ADDEC-300 both have timing adjustments including an on-board framestore synchroniser and the option to add a fixed delay. The advantage of full board edge control makes the ADDEC-300 the fully-featured version.
Based at Whittlesford near Cambridge in the UK, Crystal Vision provides digital keyers and a full range of digital and analogue interface equipment including converters, decoders, encoders, aspect ratio converters and audio embedders to the professional broadcasting industry worldwide.
American Conservative Union Supports House Move Toward Consumer Choice
Bill Lauderback, Executive Vice President, American Conservative Union today made the following statement:
"It appears that the House Energy and Commence Committee is ready to introduce the cable TV establishment to the American system of free enterprise. The introduction would come via the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act which the committee has in mark-up today.
"The COPE Act would finally bring meaningful competition to the cable market by eliminating the archaic local video franchise regulations which have insulated incumbent providers from the realities of a free market for decades. These local franchise regulations have preserved a monopoly business model that has behaved in the classic monopoly manner, exploiting captive consumers with unconscionably inflated prices and indifferent service.
"COPE would replace the labyrinth of 30,000 local video franchise agreements with one national agreement that would allow any new competitor or incumbent cable provider to offer service anywhere in the country. Since the market we know as cable has evolved into a broader market for broadband services, competition is in the national interest as well as in the interest of consumers.
"A vibrant, competitive market will attract the kind of consumer broadband infrastructure investment already being made by new competitors in areas where they have been allowed to enter the market. This investment must be encouraged because America has allowed itself to sink to a ranking of 14th in the world in terms of consumer broadband infrastructure.
"As the Committee strips away the competition-impeding local franchise regulations, we congratulate its members for not further opening a 'Pandora's Box' of new and unnecessary regulations around the false issue of 'network neutrality.' This issue is a thinly disguised attempt to convince Congress to regulate advanced on-line services that haven't been invented yet to correct problems that don't exist. Whatever final telecom legislation Congress eventually passes, we would hope that it would focus on video choice and not be weighed down by issues such as new regulations that would compromise the principle of free enterprise."
Source: The American Conservative Union
Animal Planet and Comcast Invite Knoxville-Area Residents to Spend Quality Time With Their Family and Pets as ANIMAL PLANET EXPO Rolls Into Town on May 13 at World's Fair Park
- Interactive Exhibits and Games Provide Free Fun for the Whole Family, Including the Family Pet! - - Comcast to Make $1,000 Donation to Young-Williams Animal Center -
Energy, imagination and playfulness abound as Knoxville welcomes ANIMAL PLANET EXPO, an event sure to entertain animal lovers of all ages. Animal Planet and Comcast, plus national sponsors, the Smart Spot(TM) program from PepsiCo and the makers of Fresh Step(R) litter, invite Knoxville-area residents to bring their families -- along with Fido and Fluffy -- to celebrate the unique sights, sounds and emotional experiences only animals can provide during ANIMAL PLANET EXPO May 13, from 10 AM to 5 PM on the Performance Lawn at World's Fair Park, located at 954 World's Fair Park in Knoxville.
An annual summer tour, ANIMAL PLANET EXPO has been delighting people around the country for eight years, giving families the opportunity to experience animal-friendly family fun, the Animal Planet way. Inspired by the only television network dedicated to the connection between humans and animals, this year's ANIMAL PLANET EXPO has expanded to offer participants an even richer experience than ever before.
From high-flying Frisbee dog shows and interactive animal trivia games, to "ooh" and "ahh" inspiring live animal shows, the Main Stage features flocks of captivating animal entertainment and demonstrations. The Frisbee dog show times are 11 AM, 12 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM, and the Main Stage live animal presentation times are 1 PM and 4 PM.
Also part of ANIMAL PLANET EXPO is the not-to-be-missed Discovery Kids' Endurance Experience, a hands-on adventure that allows kids to experience the mental and physical competition of Discovery Kids Channel's wildly popular ENDURANCE series. In Discovery Kids' Endurance Experience kids can compete in a number of challenges that simulate the sights, sounds and physical experience of competing on ENDURANCE, including a climbing wall and a timed "hanging" challenge-plus, USA Swimming is sponsoring an all-new water-based challenge.
Visitors to Animal Planet Expo Theater will find themselves getting up close and personal with exotic animals like a python, an alligator, a fox, a porcupine or a lemur, as they experience animal wildlife firsthand with a captivating demonstration set in a natural habitat. Theater shows will run every half-hour throughout Saturday, with the first show at 10:30 AM and the last at 3:30 PM.
In addition, visitors will see firsthand the clarity of high-definition programming with a sneak-peek at Discovery Channel's groundbreaking new ATLAS series in the Discovery HD Theater Dome. Forms to enter for a chance to win an HD television set will be available to fill out while enjoying breathtaking footage of a country like China or Australia, as they have never been seen before.
Other activity pavilions to enjoy at ANIMAL PLANET EXPO include the following:
* Animal House -- Get to know even more live animals, while animal
experts introduce visitors to exotic species from around the world.
* Safari Snaps -- Download the ultimate digital photo of you with a
virtual version of Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin.
* Bug House -- Hear what the buzz is about and learn about a variety of
bugs and butterflies from around the globe.
* Kids' Zone -- Kids can get their faces painted, try the "Happy Gator"
obstacle course and play other fun games.
* Heroes of Animal Planet -- Protect your pet just as the stars of ANIMAL
HEROES: PHOENIX do by creating your own personalized pet tag and engage
in a unique sniff test from the makers of Fresh Step(R) litter.
* Connection Zone -- Kids play a panda-themed game for a prize, while
adults view demonstrations and take advantage of special offers on the
latest products from Comcast.
* Pet Den -- Young-Williams Animal Center will provide pet adoption
opportunities and helpful information on how to find the perfect pet
for your family.
* Pet Misters and Watering Holes -- Give your pets the opportunity to
"chill out" and quench their thirst on a hot day.
* Smart Spot Station -- Kids learn how to eat and live healthier in a fun
and interactive way.
As part of ANIMAL PLANET EXPO, Comcast will make a $1000 donation to Young-Williams Animal Center. Comcast will also be onsite to provide valuable information about their most innovative new products available to consumers.
Knoxville-area viewers can find Animal Planet on Comcast channel 68. Go to http://www.discovery.com/ and click on Animal Planet to find more information on ANIMAL PLANET EXPO.
About Fresh Step(R) litter
Fresh Step(R) litter is a part of the The Clorox Pet Products Company, which is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2005 revenues of $4.4 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Armor All(R) and STP(R) auto care products, Fresh Step(R) and Scoop Away(R) cat litters, Kingsford(R) charcoal briquettes, Hidden Valley(R) and K C Masterpiece(R) dressings and sauces, Brita(R) water- filtration systems, and Glad(R) bags, wraps and containers. With 7,600 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in 25 countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $62.3 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges; and in fiscal year 2005 alone made product donations valued at $4.9 million. For more information about Clorox, visit http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/. For more information about Fresh Step, visit FreshStep.com.
About Smart Spot(TM)
PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, launched the Smart Spot(TM) symbol on select products to make it easier for consumers to identify PepsiCo products that contribute to healthier lifestyles. Products that contain the Smart Spot symbol meet established nutrition criteria based on authoritative statements from the Food and Drug Administration and the National Academy of Sciences. The Smart Spot symbol appears on more than 250 PepsiCo products including Tropicana Pure Premium(R), Aquafina(R) waters, Gatorade(R) thirst quenchers, Baked! Lay's(R) chips, Quaker(R) Oatmeal and Diet Pepsi(R), among many others.
About Animal Planet
Animal Planet, available in more than 88 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated exclusively to the connection between humans and animals. The network brings people of all ages together by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals through an array of fresh programming that includes humor, competition, drama and spectacle from the animal kingdom. Animal Planet is a property of Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in 170 countries and territories with nearly 1.4 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Kids en Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company , Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.5 million cable customers and 7 million high-speed Internet customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content. The Company's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, International Channel Networks, TV One and four Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
Source: Animal Planet; Comcast
Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.comcast.com/
http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/
More Celebreality Blooms on VH1 This Summer!
Danny Bonaduce, Flavor Flav, Hulk Hogan, the newly engaged Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry and a few plus-sized celebrities blossom across VH1's Celebreality landscape
VH1 Announces Series Pick Ups of 'Breaking Bonaduce,' 'Flavor of Love,' 'Hogan Knows Best,' 'My Fair Brady,' 'Celebrity Fit Club 4,' 'Web Junk 20,' 'Best Week Ever' and 'The Fabulous Life'
On the heels of VH1's most watched quarter ever -- and a 50% increase in its key 18-49 ratings -- the Network has ordered new episodes of "Breaking Bonaduce," "Flavor of Love," "Hogan Knows Best," "My Fair Brady, "Celebrity Fit Club," "Web Junk 20," "Best Week Ever" and "Fabulous Life."
"Breaking Bonaduce" (8 episodes)
Premiering October 2006
In its first season, viewers got a candid, uncensored look at the Bonaduces, who have faced drugs, infidelity and Danny's death-wish antics over their fifteen years of marriage. This season, Danny has conquered his addictions but now he and Gretchen are left to deal with the true state of their relationship through newly sober eyes. As Danny transfers his obsessions with substances to an obsession with his wife, Gretchen reaches her limit and kicks him out of the house. As a result, Danny decides it's time to relinquish all of his demons and seek help from a most surprising place.
"Breaking Bonaduce" is a production of VH1 in conjunction with 3 Ball. JD Roth, John Foy and Todd Nelson serve as Executive Producers with Troy Searer as co-executive Producer for 3 Ball. Jeff Olde and Claire McCabe are executive producers for VH1 along with Michael Hirschorn serving as an executive producer for VH1.
"Celebrity Fit Club 4" (8 episodes)
Premiering August 2006
VH1's popular fitness and nutrition reality series, "Celebrity Fit Club," is back for a fourth season with a new lineup of celebrities eager to slim down. Carnie Wilson (Wilson-Phillips), Vinnie Pastore (The Sopranos), Angie Stone (R & B singer), Nick Turturro (NYPD Blue), Erika Eleniak (Baywatch), Bonecrusher (rapper), Tina Yothers (Family Ties) and Ted Lange (Love Boat) are all ready to do battle with the giant scales. Together, they will embark on their own grueling personal fitness journeys and fight together in teams to reach their goals.
VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club 4" is a production of Granada Entertainment and VH1. Richard Hall ("Nanny 911") is executive producer and Carl Buehl is a co-executive producer for Granada. Jim Ackerman, Matt Hanna, Caroline Perez and Michael Hirschorn are executive producers for VH1.
"Flavor of Love" (10 episodes)
Premiering August 2006
Yeah Boyee!! Flava Flav is back and ready to open his heart to true love! After Flav and first-season winner Hoopz realized that their relationship would not work out, Flav became more determined than ever to find love.
During its first season, "Flavor of Love" was the highest rated series in VH1 history, with three of its ten episodes making VH1's top ten rated commercial telecasts of all time. For its 90-minute finale, "Flavor of Love" again made VH1 history by becoming the network's top rated telecast ever drawing six million viewers.
VH1's "Flavor of Love" is executive produced by Mark Cronin, Cris Abrego and Ben Samek for Mindless Entertainment and 51 Pictures, who also produce "Surreal Life" and "My Fair Brady." Jeff Olde and Jill Holmes oversee the series for VH1.
"Hogan Knows Best"
Premiering October 2006
The Hogans get ready to rumble on VH1 for a third season of "Hogan Knows Best." Hulk might be able to stand the pain when he's in the ring, but there is one pain that even he can't escape -- growing pains! This season, daughter Brooke, 18, is beginning to see her dream of becoming a popstar realized as she heads into the studio to record her first album. Son Nick, 15, straddles the fence between boyhood and manhood, leaving Hulk and his wife Linda to flex their parenting muscles as they get body-slammed by their spirited teenage charges.
"Hogan Knows Best" is produced by Pink Sneakers Productions for VH1. Kimberly Belcher Cowin is executive producer. John Ehrhard is producer. Scott Bennett is director/co-producer. Shelly Tatro and Brad Abramson and Michael Hirschorn are executive producers for VH1. Warren Cohen is supervising producer for VH1.
"My Fair Brady: We're Getting Married!" (9 episodes)
Premiering Sunday, May 28
Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry are going to the chapel and they're getting hitched ... maybe! VH1 reunites America with the reality sweethearts who first laid eyes and other bodily parts on each other on the set of "Surreal Life 4." From there, the May-December love blossomed and now they're engaged and planning a wedding.
"My Fair Brady" is produced by Mindless Entertainment and 51 Pictures with Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin serving as executive producers. Jeff Olde and Jill Holmes serve as executive producers for VH1.
"VH1 & IFILM's Web Junk 20" (6 episodes)
Premiering Friday, June 9
One person's "Web Junk" becomes another's e-mail treasure for a second season when the VH1 and IFILM's hit viral-video countdown show returns. Host Patrice O'Neal will once again celebrate and bring a unique perspective to all the weirdest and wildest internet video clips out there, while guiding viewers with his hilarious commentary.
"VH1 & IFILM's Web Junk 20" is a production of VH1. Executive produced by Rick Hankey, Shelly Tatro and Michael Hirschorn.
VH1 has also ordered new episodes of "The Fabulous Life ... ," the series that takes a first-class joyride through the lavish living enjoyed by the very rich and famous and "Best Week Ever," a weekly half-hour show that provides free-wheeling and funny reviews of the week's most entertaining news and pop culture.
VSPOT at VH1.com and VH1 Mobile
VSPOT at VH1.com (http://www.vspot.vh1.com/ ) will continue to program extended and exclusive on-demand content for all these shows and more. VSPOT programming includes: episode sneak peeks, exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, outtakes, and Q&As with cast members. VH1 mobile puts VH1 shows in the palm of viewers' hands with exclusive voicetones, wallpapers, and video clips.
Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.vspot.vh1.com/
Celebrity Cruises' Century Presents Venetian Gem
Ship's $55-Million Makeover Includes Specialty Restaurant, Sushi Bar and More With today marking the official start of Celebrity Cruises' $55-million, five-week revitalization of Century, the line announced that among the ship's multiple new attributes will be a specialty restaurant quite literally featuring a heart of glass.
Century's new "Murano" specialty restaurant in the center of the ship will sparkle with magnificent chandeliers handcrafted of Murano glass, named for the island of Murano near Venice, Italy, where glass-blowing has been a fine art and tradition since the 13th century.
Complementing the Murano chandeliers will be a large, round granite medallion composed of jewel-toned stone designed to resemble the antique paving of medieval European cities and create the feeling of an Italian piazza. Decorative accents throughout the room will allude to the adventures of early explorers during the discovery of the New World.
"Century's Murano restaurant will be a delightful blend of tradition with a chic, contemporary flair," said Francesca Bucci of BG Studios International in New York, NY, designer of the venue.
A hand-painted mural at the end of the 66-seat venue will display whimsical silhouettes depicting a romantic tale of travel and adventure, while a wine cellar nestled at the aft end of the restaurant will display a colorful composition of backlit bottles in glass-fronted, polished nickel wine armoires.
The restaurant's vestibule will welcome guests with a granite floor and warm pear wood panels reminiscent of the subtle charm and timeless beauty of Venice.
The menu for Murano will be designed by Celebrity's longtime culinary and wine consultant, renowned Master Chef Michel Roux. The cuisine and service will follow the celebrated style of Celebrity's Millennium-class specialty restaurants -- the "Olympic," "SS United States," "Normandie" and "Ocean Liners" -- which presented the industry's first tableside cooking, carving and flambe.
Century's dramatic, two-level "Grand Restaurant" will be entirely refurbished, retaining the glamour and sophistication that made it so popular prior to the revitalization, and maintaining the quality of service and impeccable culinary standards that have won the line extensive praises every year under the deft direction of Chef Roux and Celebrity's culinary team.
Among the many other dining options onboard Century will be a 76-seat Sushi Bar -- Celebrity's first designed specifically to reflect the popular regional cuisine -- with a casual Asian atmosphere created through palettes of caramel-colored bamboo plank floors, tabletops inlaid with cracked coconut, stylish dark wood chairs, and a new collection of artifacts and artwork.
Surrounded by magnificent ocean views, Century's Ocean Grill, designed by Celebrity's Fleet Design department, will offer an alternative dining area with an upscale ambience, where guests can select cuisine ranging from steaks, chops, salads, antipastos and desserts from a fixed menu.
Opposite the Ocean Grill, guests will find fresh, made-to-order omelettes and crepes each morning, and an endless array of pizzas and made-to-order pastas every afternoon and evening. For the sweet tooth in everyone, just around the corner, there will be a station offering a tantalizing array of homemade ice creams and sorbets.
Pairing refreshing sea air with panoramic ocean views, Century's outdoor Sunset Bar will feature a full service bar designed of teak, stone and stainless steel, topped with an arched-glass canopy. There, guests can enjoy an assortment of fresh tapas and appetizers with cocktails and other beverages.
A Celebrity favorite across the fleet, Cova Cafe, the seagoing version of the stylish coffeehouse in the fashion district of Milan, Italy, will serve fresh pastries and cookies to complement its coffees, teas, and other beverages every morning and afternoon, while at night, the space will transform to a romantic, lamp-lit wine bar, complete with live music.
Century will emerge on May 30, 2006, from its aggressive five-week drydock period with the Murano restaurant, 314 new verandas, 14 new suites, 10 new staterooms ranging from inside to veranda category, an expanded number of ConciergeClass category staterooms, and a series of features and amenities that typify the line's acclaimed Millennium-class fleet.
Following its revitalization, Celebrity's "new" Century will set sail on a 9-night "Best of Europe" cruise departing May 30, along with a series of 12- night Baltic and 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings, a 13-night "Best of Europe" voyage, and a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise.
Century also will be one of the first Celebrity ships to offer short cruises from the cruise capital of the world, the Port of Miami, beginning in November 2006. The ship will present four- and five-night roundtrip Caribbean cruises through April 2007, offering travelers with more limited vacation time the opportunity to experience what the award-winning Celebrity brand has to offer.
Celebrity Cruises offers a comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experience with highly personalized service, authentic five-star dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Its nine ships and the line's service, cuisine and spas consistently dominate top travelers' surveys. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Bermuda, California, the Caribbean, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal and South America. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111, or visit the Celebrity web site at http://www.celebrity.com/ .
Source: Celebrity Cruises
Web site: http://www.celebrity.com/
Hundreds of Sleuths 'Uncover the Arts' in Old City for WHYY Treasure Hunt
Look out, Sherlock Holmes: You've got competition! On Saturday, April 29, hundreds of amateur sleuths will take to the streets of Old City Philadelphia in search of some of the city's best arts and culture treasures, as part of "Uncover the Arts: Find It and Know WHYY," an interactive, high-energy treasure hunt guided by seven costumed Sherlock Holmes characters.
WHAT:
Teams of WHYY members and fans will receive clues directing them to area
theaters, museums, historic sites and performance spaces. At each
location, a WHYY staff member will greet visitors and introduce them to an
aspect of WHYY's programs and services that connect with the location. If
participants need help, they can seek out the costumed Sherlock Holmes
characters stationed throughout Old City.
BEST PHOTO OPS:
-- Seven costumed Sherlock Holmes characters, with magnifying glasses in
hand, between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. at WHYY, 150 N. 6th Street in
Philadelphia.
-- Teams with Sherlocks in three locations between 1:00 p.m. and
3:00 p.m.: 5th between Market and Chestnut; 6th & Market; and Elfreth's
Alley.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 29. Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Ending: 3:30 p.m.
WHERE:
WHYY Technology Center, 150 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106,
and throughout Old City Philadelphia.
The World's Most Famous Dog Launches a New Natural Pet Food, Biscuit and Treat Line, Lassie Natural Way(TM)
Lassie 'Em-barks' on National 5 Month Tour to Promote Pet Health on June 1
Bone-appetit! Lassie is launching her new natural dog food, biscuit and treat line, Lassie Natural Way(TM), on May 1st to give pets the opportunity to be "treated" just like the world's most famous pooch. The brand new line is made from all-natural wholesome ingredients and provides complete and balanced nutrition. The star of eleven movies and the two-time Emmy Award winning TV show will "em-bark" on a five month national tour to promote pet health and the benefits of a natural diet.
Lassie Asks, What's in Your Dog Food?
Inspired by Lassie's natural way of life, Lassie Natural Way dog food is made from all-natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals for superior nutrition. Unlike most nationally advertised brands, there are NO animal by-products (bones, brains, spinal tissue, intestines, or other animal organs) and NO artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or sweeteners are added.
The #1 ingredient in each dog food recipe is high-quality protein from lamb or chicken meal to help build sleek and strong muscle tissue. Natural Way dog food is balanced with rice cereal grain for energy and endurance and is wheat, corn and soy-FREE to help avoid allergic or digestive upsets. The line provides an optimal ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and double the standard recommended level of linoleic acid to ensure healthy skin and a shiny coat. Healthy joints and cartilage are maintained by naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin in the adult and senior formulations. Additionally, every bag of Lassie Natural Way comes with a 100% Great Taste Guarantee demonstrating the superior palatability of its natural flavors.
Two world-renown pet nutritionist PhDs and Lassie's own veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM, developed Natural Way. Dr. Werber has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 20 years and has treated the pets of some of Hollywood's biggest stars including Britney Spears, Julia Roberts, Ben Affleck, Magic Johnson, Eddie Murphy, Paula Abdul, Rod Stewart, Patrick Dempsey, Mandy Moore and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Each Natural Way package includes a "Lassie Smart Tip" from Dr. Werber, which provides important pet care information.
"Thanks to her movies and TV shows, Lassie helped to change the way Americans view their pets," said Dr. Werber. "Pets are now considered members of the family and they deserve the best possible care and nutrition we can provide. A natural diet in conjunction with exercise and lots of love will help ensure that your pet lives a long and healthy life, just like Lassie."
The product line consists of 17 different food and treat products specialized for every stage of a dog's life, from puppy to adult to senior formulas, and is, of course, part of Lassie's own diet. Lassie Natural Way dog food is available in Lamb Meal & Rice (Puppy and Adult), Chicken Meal & Rice & Oatmeal (Adult) and Chicken Meal & Rice (Senior) varieties in 5 and 20 pound bags with prices ranging from $5.99 to $18.99. Available in treats are Lamb & Rice Jerky Strips with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Beef & Rice Lean Jerky Sticks and Training Treats with Real Lamb ranging from $0.99 to $2.29. Lamb & Rice and Chicken & Rice dog biscuits are also offered for $2.99. Lassie Natural Way finally makes "natural" affordable, costing far less than comparable name brands currently sold in mass or specialty.
John Fraser, VP of Marketing for Classic Media/Lassie Pet Products, said "For the first time, a natural, no by-product dog food is accessible for every consumer. Lassie Natural Way is conveniently available where they shop for their family's food needs at grocery retailers like Kroger, Publix, Vons, Pathmark, Shoprite, Albertsons and many more." He adds, "Lassie Natural Way saves shoppers time and money while providing peace of mind that they are making the best choice for their best friends."
Lassie Comes Home ... to Your Town!
On June 1, Lassie "em-barks" on a five-month cross-country tour to promote pet health. The tour begins in Nashville, TN and will travel to more than 25 cities before its final stop in Los Angeles this October. Dr. Werber will join Lassie on several tour stops. In each city, people will have the opportunity to come out meet Lassie, watch her perform and take away some valuable pet care advice from Dr. Werber and his team of veterinary technicians on topics ranging from the benefits of natural food, to pet obesity, to choosing the right pet for your family.
For a complete tour schedule and pet care tips from Dr. Werber, Lassie fans can log onto http://www.lassie.tv/.
ABOUT LASSIE:
Since Lassie's theatrical film debut in 1943, along side Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor, no other animal has established such an emotional bond with generations of children and families. With eleven movies and 691 TV episodes to her credit, Lassie is one of the most enduring figures in entertainment history. She has come to symbolize classic American values of trust, loyalty and friendship. Lassie's two-time Emmy Award-winning TV series is one of the longest running programs in television history and has been seen in more than 100 countries around the world. Her latest movie, "LASSIE," opens nationwide on September 1, 2006 and stars Oscar winner Peter O'Toole and Oscar nominee Samantha Morton.
The sales of natural pet food products have more than doubled in the last 5 years. This accelerating growth is fueled by America's continued interest in the consumption of all kinds of natural products for themselves and their families. With pets being treated as full-fledged family members, it is no surprise that there is a pent up demand to purchase high quality natural pet foods like Lassie Natural Way.
ABOUT CLASSIC MEDIA:
Classic Media owns and manages some of the world's most recognizable family properties across all media including feature film, television, home video, and consumer products. The company's extensive library features a diverse collection of popular animated and live-action characters such as: Lassie, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Mr. Magoo, Richie Rich, Peter Cottontail, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Lone Ranger, Underdog, Little Lulu, pat the bunny and Lamb Chop. For more information, visit us online at http://www.classicmedia.tv/.
Web site: http://www.classicmedia.tv/
http://www.lassie.tv/
Playstation Extends Sponsorship of UEFA Champions League
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that it is to extend its successful sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League. This is the second time that PlayStation(R) has renewed its sponsorship of the competition, highlighting the success of the partnership which began in 1997.
The sponsorship agreement will extend up to and including the 2008/2009 season, and further develops PlayStation's commitment to European football and its support of the world's finest club competition.
SCEE's Vice-President of Brand & Consumer Marketing, Darren Carter said: "PlayStation's involvement with the UEFA Champions League has served us well over the past 9 years and has significantly assisted in promoting the PlayStation brand and boosting its awareness across the whole of Europe and beyond. The UEFA Champions League is an extremely powerful communications tool and has been an important part of PlayStation's communication strategy since 1997, during which time the stature of the competition has increased along with the number of PlayStation fans".
Darren Carter added: "Sony Computer Entertainment will be entering a new era of entertainment with the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 later this year, and the UEFA Champions League will help provide a solid foundation for our plans in Europe."
About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation(R)2 and PSP(TM)
(PlayStation(R)Portable) software and hardware in 104 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the platforms in these territories. Between its European debut on 24th November 2000 and the end of March 2006, over 38 million PlayStation(R)2 consoles have been shipped across the SCEE territories, over 103 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history. Between its European debut on 1st September 2005 and the end of March 2006, over 5 million PSP systems have been shipped across the SCEE territories, with over 17 million shipped worldwide since its Japanese launch in December 2004.
More information about PlayStation products can be found at www.playstation.com and www.yourpsp.com or visit the Virtual Press Office at www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation and the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP and UMD (Universal Media Disc) are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Source: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
HotMovies.com Takes Lead From iPod(R), Launches MyClips(R) Customized Playlist Upgrade
HotMovies.com, the Internet's fastest growing Pay-Per-Minute, digital delivery web site that offers over 38,000 adult movies, today announced that it had expanded and enhanced the MyClips(R) feature on its popular site.
This new version lets users organize their saved clips into Playlists like those used on iPods(R). Previously, the MyClips(R) feature let users select the start and end times of the part of a movie they liked so they could save it in the "Favorite Clip" section of the HotMovies.com web site.
The upgraded version of MyClips(R) does this and more. Now, users can create and name their Playlists any way they want including by star, category, studio, and more. Whenever they want users can change the order in which the clips appear. In addition, users can also move clips among multiple Playlists they can create.
This innovative development lets users play their favorite clips in a specified order just as if it were a movie. In this way, users can now create their own favorite scene compilations from the tens of thousands of movies currently available on HotMovies.com.
In ongoing surveys, HotMovies.com learned that the majority of users do not want to watch anything close to an entire movie. They want to watch a little of this and a little of that. They go from movie to movie and studio to studio. They also love to watch their clips from their favorite movies.
HotMovies.com says their customers have responded enthusiastically to the new upgrade. James Seibert, National's Director of Business Development, says, "We know this enhanced feature is a success by how many of our users are utilizing the MyClips(R) feature. In just four weeks, users have saved over 37,500 clips. Its immediate acceptance and remarkable usage is far more than we expected."
Siebert also says that around mid-May, HotMovies.com plans to launch a third upgrade of MyClips(R) that will add even more features for HotMovies.com customers.
Seibert adds, "Software advances like these are what separates HotMovies.com from other Video On Demand (VOD) and Pay-Per-Minute (PPM) sites."
HotMovies.com is a Pay-Per-Minute, digital delivery website that uses Micro Billing to sell over 38,000 movies by the minute from over 900 adult studios. HotMovies.com adds 50 to 100 titles every day, around the clock.
At HotMovies.com, visitors watch what they want, when they want, for as little as 8 cents a minute. There are no memberships, no commitments, and more than 38,000 adult titles in streaming or download from which to choose.
Source: National A-1 Internet, Inc.
Sportsmemo.com Announces the May 1 National Debut of the First and Only Weekday All Sports Gaming Show on Sports Byline USA and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sportsmemo.com (http://www.sportsmemo.com/) announces the debut of the Sports Memo Radio Show, May 1, on Sports Byline USA and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 122 airing 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. EDT weekdays.
Sports Memo has partnered with the Sports Byline USA Network to become the first and only all sports gaming show to air weekdays, nationally on Sirius Satellite Radio.
The show will focus on providing unique and insightful sports talk from a betting perspective with knowledgeable guests ranging from professional athletes, bettors and poker players to politicians, writers and leaders in the gaming industry.
The Sports Memo Radio Show currently airs 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. PDT weekdays via webcast at Sportsmemo.com and in Las Vegas, NV, on KENO AM 1460 where it has aired for the past seven years. The show can also be heard via tape delay on 1510 The Zone in Boston, MA, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. EDT.
In addition to the radio show, Sports Memo has one of the fastest growing sports gaming information websites (http://www.sportsmemo.com/) in the nation as well as the only year-round, nationally distributed sports betting newsletter.
"We couldn't be happier to take the Sports Memo Radio Show to Sports Byline USA and Sirius," commented Tim Trushel, CEO of Sportsmemo.com. "This expansion allows us to bring one of the most respected and listened to shows in Las Vegas to a national audience that craves good, quality sports information from a betting perspective."
About Sports Memo
Sports Memo, established in 1993, is widely regarded as one of the sports gaming industry's most valuable resources for sports information from a betting perspective. In addition to a nationally syndicated radio show on Sports Byline USA and Sirius Satellite Radio, Sports Memo has a presence in nearly sixty top arbitron markets, the only nationally distributed year-round sports handicapping newsletter and one of the fastest growing comprehensive websites in the marketplace. Leading the industry in providing astute content via the airwaves, print and web have put Sports Memo at the forefront of the handicapping and sports betting industries for more than a decade.
Source: Sportsmemo.com
Web site: http://www.sportsmemo.com/
Six Flags Marine World Unveils Tava's Jungleland - A Spectacular New Kids' Adventure Area Featuring Seven New Rides
Park's New Expanded Kids' Adventure Area Commemorates Six Flags Theme Parks 45th Anniversary of Delivering Family Fun.A grand, new mythical journey awaits families as Six Flags Marine World, America's first combination wildlife park, oceanarium and theme park, celebrates Six Flags 45th Anniversary by launching a spectacular new family adventure -- Tava's Jungleland.
The elaborately jungle-themed play area, named after the Park's beloved African elephant Tava, features seven new family rides, a giant treehouse adventure and a splashwater oasis. Families with young children can also wander through the lush land and get up close and personal with rare wildlife including lorikeets, macaws, porcupines, camels and much more. In addition to the up-close animal attractions, families can enjoy animal ambassador presentations by the park's trainers during various times of the day.
The addition of the seven new rides inside Tava's Jungleland, gives the 140-acre park 37 rides that kids and parents can experience together.
"We've designed Tava's Jungleland specifically with families in mind, combining innovative children's rides with rare, up-close animal encounters," said Bill Davis, vice president and general manager of Six Flags Marine World. "With the addition of this vibrant, new children's adventure area, Six Flags Marine World will offer twice the number of attractions that young kids and parents can enjoy together."
The news new rides and interactive attractions within Tava's Jungleland include:
-- Congo Queen -- Set sail for an unforgettable adventure on the latest
innovative family ride that features a unique combination of rocking and whirling motion.
-- Nairobi's Look Out Balloons -- Up, up and away we go! Take a sky-high ride for a spectacular view of the Park on unique hot air balloon gondolas.
-- Tava's Elephant Parade -- Kids fly round and round on soaring pachyderms.
-- Monkey Around -- Glide through the air with ease on these monkey-themed swings.
-- Safari Jeep Tours -- Kids hop aboard and convoy through Tava's Jungleland.
-- Frog Hopper -- Little explorers are lifted 20 feet above the landscape before "hopping" down to their descent.
-- Safari River Journey -- All aboard on these miniature safari vessels for a most memorable voyage.
-- Splashwater Oasis -- Two towers of wet and wild excitement where kids can splash and cool off from the summer heat.
-- Zoe's Treehouse Play Structure -- Kids climb high and explore one of the world's largest play structures, where they can explore three towers of fun offering cargo nets, slides, bridges and more.
This season the park is also debuting an all-new "Shouka's Splashtime Show" featuring the beautiful Orca and her Atlantic bottlenose dolphin friend, Merlin. And this year, Six Flags Marine World will also offer families an expanded operating calendar, which concludes in December with wintertime entertainment during Holiday in the Park.
Six Flags Marine World is located in Vallejo, Calif., off Interstate 80, just 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, 50 miles southwest of Sacramento and near the Napa Valley Wine Country.
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company. Founded in 1961, Six Flags is celebrating its 45th Anniversary in 2006. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE:PKS) headquartered in New York City.
NOTE: SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme Park Inc. TM and 2006.
Source: Six Flags Marine World
Web site: http://www.sixflags.com/
Web site: http://www.sixflags.com/marineworld
Shakira U.S. Arena Tour Kicks Off With a Technology Boost From Verizon Wireless
'Oral Fixation' Tour Will Hit 23 Cities; Fans to Receive Mobile Invitations and Tickets on Their Verizon Wireless Phones
Bringing one of the world's hottest artist to the stage, Verizon Wireless today announced it will be presenting Shakira's "Oral Fixation" North American tour this summer and leveraging wireless technology to ensure her fans have a unique concert experience. The "Oral Fixation" North American tour begins on August 9 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, TX and culminates on September 25 with a performance at the Dodge Arena in McCallen, TX.
In a music and wireless industry first, Shakira will send a multimedia personal video invitation customized to each city she goes to, inviting her fans to come hear her play in their local arena. Fans with Verizon Wireless phones will have the option to text or click through to purchase and win tickets. Some Shakira concertgoers will receive a multimedia message barcode ticket sent to their Verizon Wireless phones. When they arrive at the concert, the wireless bar code tickets will be scanned to get them into the show.
Fans will also help Shakira determine what songs she performs on the tour. Verizon Wireless customers will be able to text which favorite Shakira songs they feel should be played on the "Oral Fixation" tour. Several lucky winners will get the opportunity to go backstage and see what the "Oral Fixation" tour looks like behind-the-scenes.
In a career that spans nearly a decade and has seen more than 33 million albums sold worldwide, singer/songwriter, five-time GRAMMY(R) winner Shakira is without a doubt one of the most galvanizing live performers onstage today. The Colombian-born Shakira is well known for her energetic live rock shows, which feature her band and the kind of hi-tech stage production that is without rival among contemporary performers.
Energized by her Top Ten hit "Hips Don't Lie," which debuted exclusively on the Verizon Wireless V CAST service, Oral Fixation Vol. 2 is firmly planted in the Top Ten of the album charts and has already sold well over a million copies in the United States alone. With "Hips Don't Lie," Verizon Wireless and Shakira made mobile music history with the simultaneous world premiere of the full-length song, music video, ring tone, ring back tone, wallpaper and behind-the-scenes footage of the video shoot for the single prior to it being available in stores or at Web retailers.
"As an artist, I am always looking for new creative mediums," said Shakira. "The Verizon Wireless V CAST service gives me a unique platform to offer different musical expressions that fans can access instantaneously through their mobile phones."
Shakira is also known for using wireless technology to reach her fans. She was among the first music artists to introduce exclusive content to Verizon Wireless V CAST customers last year. To ensure that as many fans as possible can participate in the "Oral Fixation" tour, Shakira and Verizon Wireless are taking their relationship to the next level by bringing unprecedented interactivity between Shakira and her fans.
"Verizon Wireless has been an industry leader when it comes to extending the wireless experience beyond voice. A music fan today can use a Verizon Wireless phone to download ring tones, ring back tones, wallpaper and now tickets to their favorite rock concert," said John Harrobin, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Wireless technology and phones are now an integral part of the concert experience, and Shakira recognizes it is a phenomenal way to connect directly with fans."
"Verizon Wireless is really at the forefront of the mobile music matrix. They have been a collaborator in effectively launching two new Shakira albums in two languages this year," said Ceci Kurzman, Shakira's manager. "Their multimedia offerings allow us to have a completely integrated business model that supports all the forms of music we can offer."
To keep up to date with Shakira's latest music, fans can continue to download her full-length songs, ring tones, ring back tones and music videos to their Verizon Wireless phones through the company's V CAST service. For more information on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless, please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/music.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. .
Source: Verizon Wireless
http://www.verizonwireless.com/music
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia
Brand New Heavies, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, Goapele, Kindred, Loose Ends, Musiq, New Orleans and Houston Artists Added to the Stellar Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival Line-Up
Festival Also Features Mary J. Blige, Diddy and Friends, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and a New Edition and Bobby Brown Reunion Essence Festivals LLC announced today the addition of lounge acts for the upcoming Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival. Brand New Heavies, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, Goapele, Kindred, Loose Ends and Musiq, as well as local New Orleans and Houston artists Captain Charles, C.O.C.O Brown & The Phat Cat Players, DJ Raj Smoove, Rebirth Brass Band, Myra Washington and Michael Ward, will perform in the Coca-Cola and Budweiser/Bud Light Lounges in Reliant Stadium. In addition, comedian Jonathan Slocumb will serve as the main stage host. This year's awe-inspiring celebration, set for July 1, 2, and 3 in Houston, Texas, will be a "bigger party with a deeper purpose."
The night-by-night schedule of performances is as follows:
SATURDAY, JULY 1 SUNDAY, JULY 2 MONDAY, JULY 3
Main Stage Main Stage Main Stage
Mary J. Blige Diddy and Friends Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Earth, Wind & Fire New Edition Toni Braxton
Mo'Nique Bobby Brown Cedric the Entertainer
LL Cool J Steve Harvey Charlie Wilson
Yolanda Adams Jaheim Keyshia Cole
Chris Brown
Main Stage Host,
Jonathan Slocumb
Lounges Lounges Lounges
Goapele Kindred Musiq
Doug E. Fresh and Brand New Heavies Loose Ends
Slick Rick Myra Washington Rebirth Brass Band
C.O.C.O Brown & DJ Raj Smoove Michael Ward
The Phat Cat Players
Captain Charles
The Coca-Cola Presents the Essence Music Festival, known as "the party with a purpose," is the nation's largest annual African-American event and the largest gathering of musical talent in the world. The Festival has become a destination of choice for families and friends as they schedule their reunions. This multigenerational Festival offers free inspirational and interactive Empowerment Seminars during the day and exciting performances at night, where Festivalgoers can dance and sing along with the biggest names in entertainment -- R&B, classic soul, hip-hop, neo-soul and jazz -- all on three stages within Reliant Stadium.
The theme for the Empowerment Seminars will be "ESSENCE Cares! A Call To Action To Secure Our Youth," and will feature Magic Johnson and Jamie Foxx.
"ESSENCE Cares! A Call To Action To Secure Our Youth" initiative is designed to help rescue vulnerable children and restore the lives of Hurricane Katrina survivors, while addressing critical issues facing Black America. From poverty and unemployment to the culture of violence, unequal educational systems and the ongoing affects of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina -- all represent a cry for help that can no longer be ignored. Magic Johnson and Jamie Foxx are joining forces with ESSENCE to challenge Festivalgoers to come, listen, learn and choose their method of support from reliable national organizations, including the NAACP and the National Urban League. Seminar attendees will also hear from other celebrities, activists, scholars, politicians, business and spiritual leaders who will work with the "ESSENCE Cares!" initiative, and make a commitment to take a united stand. The entire Empowerment Seminar schedule will be announced in a few weeks.
The Essence Marketplace will showcase artists from throughout the country who offer an array of quality arts and crafts that reflect Black culture. The marketplace will also include sponsor activities, celebrity meet-and-greets, Festival souvenirs and a book fair with author book signings.
The Festival will take place in its new interim home, state-of-the-art Reliant Park in Houston, Texas -- a city with a dynamic melting pot of cultures and a venue for world-class shopping, restaurants and nightlife.
Tickets are on sale at http://www.ticketmaster.com/, (800) 488-5252 or (713) 629-3700 in Houston. Tickets are $45, $56, $67, $72, $83, and $110. All tickets are subject to additional service charges. For hotel accommodations, call (888) 508-5731. For more information, see the June 2006 issue of ESSENCE or log on to http://www.essence.com/.
The Coca-Cola Company is the Festival's presenting sponsor for the ninth consecutive year. The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival's major sponsors are Budweiser/Bud Light, Kraft Foods, Chevrolet, McDonald's and Verizon Communications. In addition, Level Vodka, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Army and Wells Fargo will serve as official sponsors for the Festival. Additional sponsors will be announced at a later date.
The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival is produced by Essence Festivals LLC in association with Festival Productions of New Orleans. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI). ECI is also the publisher of ESSENCE magazine. ESSENCE, after 36 years, continues to be the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women.
Source: Essence Festivals
Web site: http://www.essence.com/
Pastor Rick Warren to Headline LifeLight Music Festival
Best-selling Author in U.S. History to Open Nation's Largest Free Outdoor Christian Music Festival
Pastor Rick Warren, best- selling author of "The Purpose Driven Life" will be the featured speaker at the opening night of the three-day LifeLight Christian Music Festival, to be held at the festival grounds of Wild Water West in Sioux Falls on Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3, it was announced today by LifeLight Communications.
This will be the ninth year for this annual event marking the end of summer for many families in the Midwest, which last year drew 275,000 people. In addition to Warren, confirmed speakers include international evangelist Luis Palau, Ben Cerullo, Ron Luce and Joe White.
The program will feature approximately 100 performers on six different stages over three days, including such popular Christian artists as Casting Crowns, Kutless, Audio Adrenaline, Jeremy Camp, Tree 63, Rebecca St. James, Casting Pearls, Go Fish, Mark Schultz, Skillet, Superchick and Livin It -- the skateboarding tour of actor Stephen Baldwin. Information on additional speakers and musical guests will be posted at http://www.lifelightfest.com/ .
Pastor Warren and his wife, Kay, founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. in 1980 with one family. Today, it comprises an evangelical congregation averaging 22,000 weekly attendees, a 120-acre campus, and over 200 ministries to the community to groups such as prisoners, CEOs, addicts, single parents, and those with HIV/AIDS. Recently the church fed 42,000 homeless people, three meals a day, for 40 days.
Warren also leads the Purpose Driven Network, a global movement of churches in 162 countries. Over 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained worldwide, and 189,000 church leaders subscribe to Ministry Toolbox, his weekly newsletter. His previous book, The Purpose Driven Church, is listed in "100 Christian Books That Changed the 20th Century." Forbes magazine called it, "The best book on entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in print."
Founded in 1998, LifeLight Communications is a faith-based, non-profit organization that facilitates numerous concerts, movies, mission trips, and other events by partnering with churches, businesses and other ministries. The LifeLight Festival, held annually on Labor Day weekend, is their largest event, drawing 275,000 people over four days last year. For more information, please visit http://www.lifelightfest.com/ .
Source: LifeLight Communications
'Acapulco Heat: Season One' - The First Electrifying Season Arrives on DVD June 27, 2006 From Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment has entered into a long-term licensing and distribution agreement with Keller Entertainment Group for the complete Acapulco Heat series. The first release in this new agreement will be Season One featuring Catherine Oxenberg (Dynasty), Brendan Kelly (Con Air, The Rock, Oz), Alison Armitage (Jerry McGuire, Black Scorpion), John Vernon (Animal House, Batman) and Fabio (Zoolander). The announcement was made today by Ian Warfield, President of Mill Creek Entertainment.
"We've always found that beauty and danger go very well together - making them the perfect ingredients for action and adventure," said Max and Micheline Keller, Executive Producers of the series from Keller Entertainment Group and Balenciaga Productions. The Kellers specialize in producing high-quality network television movies and syndicated television series including Conan the Adventurer and Tarzan: The Epic Adventures.
The series focused on the activities of the Hemisphere Emergency Action Team (H.E.A.T.), a top-secret unit that fought international crime and terrorism from their base in a hotel in Acapulco under the guise of a fashion photography business.
"We are excited to debut the first season of this thrilling series that captured the glitz and glamour of exotic locations, beautiful people and non-stop action," said Warfield.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: June 27, 2006
Pre-Book: May 30, 2006
Rating: Not Rated
Suggested Retail Price: $29.98
UPC #: 683904505354
Running Time: 16 Hours and 13 Minutes
Discs: 5
Number of Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Full Frame 1.33:1
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
Web site: http://www.millcreekent.com/
Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Three 6 Mafia, Chris Brown, T.I. and Mobb Deep Among Those To Perform at Biggest Hip Hop Concert in the World - HOT 97'S SUMMER JAM 2006
More Than 50,000 Expected To Turn Out For Most Anticipated Summer Concert Event of the Year .NYC's #1 Hip Hop and R&B radio station, HOT 97 FM (WQHT), today announced that it will present its 13th annual Summer Jam concert on Sunday, June 4th at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The Queen of R&B and Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige along with Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, T.I., Young Jeezy, Mobb Deep, Dem Franchize Boys, Jermaine Dupri, Three 6 Mafia, Remy Martin and The Dipset are among the star-studded lineup of Hip Hop and R&B artists who are scheduled to perform with additional performers to be announced shortly.
Now in its 13th year, Summer Jam has become the biggest Hip Hop concert in the world and the longest running urban radio station concert event. Since 1994, HOT 97's Summer Jam concert has grown by leaps and bounds, outgrowing the New York arenas and moving into the area's largest venue, Giants Stadium, for the fourth consecutive year to accommodate fans.
With a consistent record of delivering chart topping acts, Summer Jam has become a historic staple in the music community and is attended by more than 50,000 people each year. Past performers have featured a who's who of hip hop and R&B royalty including Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, P. Diddy, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott and others.
Boost Mobile is an official partner of Summer Jam 2006 for the third consecutive year and will kick off special ticket promotions for coveted front row seats via the HOT 97 website at http://www.hot97.com/. Additional sponsors include Xbox 360, WHITEBOY, The Tobacco Coalition, and XXL Magazine. Summer Jam 2006 is produced by Trevanna Entertainment.
Tickets for Summer Jam 2006 will go on sale today, April 28 at 10 AM EDT at
all Ticket Master
outlets, by calling 212-307-7171 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/
ABOUT HOT 97
WQHT-NY/HOT 97, is the world's first all Hip Hop station and has held the dominant position in New York for over nine years. HOT 97 is best known for it's celebrity on air talent, such as Miss Jones, Angie Martinez (Grammy nominated artist) and Funkmaster Flex (television host, multiple gold records), as well as being the world's premier source for Hip Hop music culture.
Source: HOT 97 FM (WQHT)
Los Angeles Times, Paramount Pictures Turn Everyday Newsrack Experience Into Extraordinary Mission
'Mission: Impossible III' Point-of-Purchase Campaign Also Promotes Shanghai Consumer Sweepstakes. When "Mission: Impossible III" hits theaters on May 5, even something as routine as picking up your morning paper will be enticing moviegoers to see the action thriller. Equipped with electronic sound boxes featuring the famous "Mission: Impossible" theme song, 4,500 Los Angeles Times newsracks have been recruited into the M:i:III force as "singing" newsracks -- a first-of-its-kind innovation created by the Los Angeles Times and Paramount Pictures.
The "singing" newsracks -- activated when the rack door is opened during a sale -- have been randomly stationed throughout Southern California and will be operational from April 30 through May 7. Several of the racks are located in the heart of Hollywood at 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 5700 Wilshire Blvd., and 6500 Wilshire Blvd.
An additional 18,000 Los Angeles Times newsracks will feature "Mission: Impossible III"-themed rack cards and rack headers promoting both the film and "The Ultimate Mission," a global treasure hunt sweepstakes offering the chance to win an M:i:III adventure to Shanghai.
The "singing" and standard newsracks are part of a comprehensive print, online and point-of-purchase campaign supporting the May 5 "M:i:III" launch.
"The 'singing' newsrack is a new and surprising way to use newspapers and leverage one of Hollywood's most recognized theme songs," said Mickie Sullivan, director of entertainment advertising for the Los Angeles Times. "And it fits Paramount's strategy of creatively engaging consumers where they would least expect it."
"We're always looking for new and innovative ways to reach moviegoers that fit the themes of our movies," said Gerry Rich, president of worldwide motion picture marketing for Paramount Pictures. "This promotion certainly fits the bill: Ethan Hunt's missions always come up when he least expects them and LA Times readers will receive the unexpected when they pick up their morning paper. It takes advantage of one of the most recognizable themes in cinema."
About "Mission: Impossible III"
Tom Cruise returns as Special Agent Ethan Hunt, who faces the mission of his life in "Mission: Impossible III." Director J.J. Abrams ("Lost," "Alias") brings his unique blend of action and drama to the billion-dollar franchise.
Paramount Pictures presents a Cruise|Wagner production, "Mission: Impossible III." The film is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner from a screenplay written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & J.J. Abrams, based on the television series created by Bruce Geller. The film stars Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Maggie Q, and Laurence Fishburne. The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images, and brief sensuality.
About the Los Angeles Times
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of nearly 2.4 million and about 3.4 million on Sunday. With its media businesses and affiliates -- including latimes.com, TheEnvelope.com, Times Community Newspapers, Recycler Classifieds, Hoy, and California Community News -- the Los Angeles Times reaches approximately 7.7 million or 59 percent of all adults in the Southern California marketplace every week.
The Los Angeles Times, which this year marks its 125th anniversary covering Southern California, is part of Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) , one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information about the Los Angeles Times is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.
About Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the leading global entertainment content companies, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics across virtually all media.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Web site: http://www.latimes.com/
Universal Spokesperson Statement Regarding EEOC Suit Against Universal Pictures
The following statement is being issued by Universal Pictures:
Universal Pictures categorically denies the EEOC's accusation. Multiple witnesses have testified that Mr. Davis was replaced on "2 Fast 2 Furious" solely for his inadequate performance as first assistant director. For "2 Fast 2 Furious," Universal Pictures assembled one of the most diverse cast and crews ever, and did not, and would not, single out any individual for replacement because of his race.
Source: Universal Pictures
Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell Releases Debut Solo Album Welcome Home on May 2
Celebrates Album-Launch With Appearance at Lifeway Christian Store at the Mall of Georgia
WHAT: BACKSTREET BOYS' BRIAN LITTRELL LAUNCHES DEBUT SOLO CD WELCOME HOME ON MAY 2.
HE WILL BE SIGNING COPIES OF WELCOME HOME AND GREETING FANS.
WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 2 4:00 PM / EASTERN TIME
WHERE: BUFORD LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN STORE
Location: Mall of Georgia Crossing
Address: 3125 Woodward Crossing Boulevard, Suite 2000
Buford, GA 30519
About Brian Littrell:
Brian Littrell, a member of the multi-million selling, superstar pop group, Backstreet Boys, scored his first Dove Award in the Inspirational Recorded Song category for his hit single, "In Christ Alone." This chart- topping track was recorded for the WOW #1s project, and was Littrell's first foray into the Christian market.
Brian Littrell is widely-known as a 13-year member of the Backstreet Boys. He has contributed to worldwide sales in excess of 78 million records and has amassed legions of fans around the globe. Last summer, Backstreet Boys released Never Gone, their first studio album in five years. Brian lives in Atlanta with his wife Leighanne and their three-year-old son Baylee. Littrell will continue to perform with Backstreet Boys and looks forward to sharing his solo album with fans.
*For further information on Brian, please visit www.brianlittrellmusic.com
Source: Reunion Records
TV Guide Magazine Debuts New Weekly Column - ''Downloads''
- Highlighting the Best Television Shows Available for Download and Online Viewing
"Downloads" Makes Its Debut in the May 1 Issue of TV Guide (On Newsstands Thursday, April 27)
TV Guide magazine will launch a brand new weekly column called "Downloads," it was announced today by Ian Birch, the magazine's editor-in-chief. The new column will debut in the May 1 issue (on newsstands Thursday, April 27), and will feature information about the best television shows available for download or online viewing each week.
The new column will provide guidance and "tune-in" information for viewers who want to be able to know where on the Web they can find their favorite programs -- so they can watch them at times, and in ways, other than on first-run television or through on-demand.
"The digital age has sparked a 'time shift/place shift' phenomenon in television program viewing choices," said Mr. Birch. "Today, we all have the ability to watch many of our favorite programs on our video iPods, or our personal computers. Since television programs are increasingly available and delivered to viewers in many different ways, we wanted to take the lead in providing our readers -- all enthusiastic television viewers -- the information they need to maximize their viewing experience, wherever that experience may take place."
The debut "Downloads" column features a wide variety of TV Guide's recommendations including current television shows, such as this week's episodes of Desperate Housewives, Commander in Chief, Lost, and the entire season of Alias, available free on streaming video on http://www.ABC.com or for $1.99 to download to a PC or an iPod on iTunes (http://www.Apple.com).
"Downloads" also makes recommendations for vintage television series programs, such as Kung Fu, Falcon Crest, and Wonder Woman, which are all available free on streaming video on television.aol.com/in2tv, and The Twilight Zone, The Brady Bunch, or MacGyver, which are available for download to a PC for $1.99 on video.google.com.
TV Guide magazine is a product of Gemstar-TV Guide International (NASDAQ: GMST).
About Gemstar-TV Guide
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: GMST) is a leading media, entertainment and technology company that develops, licenses, markets and distributes technologies, products and services targeted at the television guidance and home entertainment needs of consumers worldwide. The Company's businesses include: television media and publishing properties; interactive program guide services and products; and technology and intellectual property licensing. Additional information about the Company can be found at http://www.gemstartvguide.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties related to the transformation of our TV Guide magazine publishing business; timely availability and market acceptance of products and services incorporating the Company's technologies and content; our investment in new and existing businesses, including TV Guide magazine, TV Guide Spot and TV Guide Mobile; the impact of competitive products, services and pricing; ongoing and potential future litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, each as it may be amended from time to time. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Note to Editors: Gemstar, TV Guide, TV Guide Spot and TV Guide Mobile are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. The names of other companies, products and services used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.
AT&T and Starz Entertainment Group to Offer Vongo Movie Download Service to Broadband Customers
First Distribution Deal for Vongo With a Broadband Provider
AT&T Delivers on Multiple-Platform Strategy to Offer Content and Services on Key Consumer Screens, 14-Day Free Trial for AT&T DSL Customers
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L, LMCb), today announced an agreement to offer SEG's Vongo Internet movie-delivery service to AT&T High Speed Internet customers. Vongo, unveiled earlier this year, delivers movies and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops and select portable media devices as well as on a TV.
The agreement -- the first distribution deal for Vongo with a broadband provider -- will feature a co-branded AT&T and Vongo Web site, http://www.att.vongo.com, with a special 14-day free trial offer to AT&T High Speed Internet subscribers. The companies will also market the Vongo service on the AT&T Worldnet portal at http://www.att.net.
"Vongo's compelling content increases the value proposition for AT&T High Speed Internet customers," said Scott Helbing, chief marketing officer-AT&T Consumer. "With Vongo, we're positioned to deliver quality content, as we build a digital lifestyle platform for our customers."
The agreement focuses on maximizing AT&T's industry-leading high speed DSL customer base and offering a differentiated service that consumers are increasingly demanding.
Vongo subscribers have unlimited access to more than 1,500 movie and video selections as well as a live, streaming Starz TV channel for a monthly cost of $9.99. Members may download movies and video selections onto three eligible devices of their choice for each account, allowing for multiple-viewing options and family enjoyment. Additionally, select popular pay-per-view titles are available for $3.99 a movie. Launched as a beta in January 2006, Vongo is currently available as a free download for broadband subscribers in the United States at http://www.vongo.com.
"We are delighted to work with AT&T as the first broadband distribution partner for Vongo," said Bob Greene, senior vice president of advanced services for SEG. "This relationship is a major step toward realizing our goal of building a complete ecosystem for digital-movie enjoyment so that consumers can access their favorite content whenever and wherever they want."
With more than 7.4 million broadband lines in service, AT&T is the nation's largest DSL provider. Over the last four quarters, the new AT&T has added more than 1.8 million high speed DSL lines. For more information, visit http://www.att.com.
Financial terms of the distribution agreement were not disclosed.
As one of the largest content aggregators in Hollywood, Starz Entertainment Group has access to thousands of theatrical films that it makes available on Vongo, including "Sin City," "The Aviator," "Hostage," "Are We There Yet?" and, coming later this year, "Bewitched", "Flight Plan," "Rent," "Chicken Little," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Starz Entertainment Group is the exclusive subscription provider of first-run, classic and favorite films from leading Hollywood studios; these include Walt Disney Pictures, Miramax Films, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Tri-Star, Screen Gems and Revolution Studios. Select recent films are available exclusively from Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema, and library and classic titles are provided by a wide array of Hollywood studios.
Additional programming available to Vongo subscribers includes full-length music concerts (INXS: "Live Baby Live;" Beyonce: "Unauthorized;" Blues Traveler: "Live at Red Rocks;" Jay-Z: "I Will Not Lose;" The Who: "Live in Boston;" and Phil Collins: "A Life Less Ordinary") and extreme sports (Warren Miller's Storm, Warren Miller's Journey, Real Action Sports, Ride Guide).
About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 55.8 million wireless customers.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.att.com.
About Starz Entertainment Group
Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. SEG offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 14 million and 26 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, (NYSE: L, LMCb), http://www.starz.com.
mDisney Launches Beta Version of Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile Game
Game to Be One of the First Large-Scale, Cross-Carrier, Real-Time Multiplayer Applications for Mobile Handsets
mDisney, a mobile publishing unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG), today announced it will offer Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer, a cross-carrier, real-time multiplayer game for mobile phones. The game, one of the first action adventure mobile multiplayer games, is based on the popular movie franchise, and is slated to launch this summer, in conjunction with the theatrical release of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest worldwide on July 7, 2006.
The game will be open for beta testing in mid-April at
http://www.piratesmobilemultiplayer.com. It will permit up to 16 players to engage in individual game sessions. Players will be able to chat with other players, make friends and form guilds of hundreds of players on the game's server, which can accommodate tens of thousands of simultaneous players.
. It will permit up to 16 players to engage in individual game sessions. Players will be able to chat with other players, make friends and form guilds of hundreds of players on the game's server, which can accommodate tens of thousands of simultaneous players.This innovative mobile offering is a natural progression for WDIG, whose Web-based MMP game portfolio includes Disney Online's critically acclaimed Toontown Online, the first 3D MMORPG for kids and families, as well as Disney Online's upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean Online MMORPG, slated for release in 2007.
"The Pirates of the Caribbean mobile multiplayer game combines the best of our experience in the MMP and mobile genres, to extend the excitement, action and adventure of this popular franchise to the third screen," said Larry Shapiro, executive vice president, business development and operations, Walt Disney Internet Group. "Not only is it one of first games to bring an action adventure and real-time multiplayer experience to mobile handsets, it also allows players to interact across multiple carriers. This is an exciting new universe that we believe will provide mobile gamers with month after month of entertaining, high-quality game play anytime, anywhere."
mDisney is collaborating with mobile games developer Floodgate Entertainment (http://www.floodg.com) to create the Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer game.
"The world of Pirates of the Caribbean is a brilliant creation, and we've worked hard to develop a mobile game that places the player right in the middle of that world," said Paul Neurath, founder and creative director of Floodgate Entertainment. "Working with mDisney, we've created an action-packed, interactive world that sets a new standard for what mobile entertainment can be."
Formerly Disney Mobile Studios, mDisney publishes and distributes Disney-branded mobile content in more than 40 countries around the globe through agreements with more than 80 carriers and distributors, including all major U.S. carriers. Its content features more than 6,000 products and services, including graphics, ringtones, games, applications and video.
About Walt Disney Internet Group
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership, business execution support and a world-class technology platform for all the Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) Internet properties including category leaders ESPN.com and ABCNEWS.com, and directly operates Disney.com worldwide, FamilyFun.com, Movies.com and Disney Mobile.
A market leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational content to new platforms, WDIG is committed to creating and delivering products for broadband distribution including: ABC News On Demand, a subscription video news service that offers the Internet's first 24-hour, live Internet-only news channel and top ABC News programs for on demand viewing; Disney Connection; and WDIG Motion, a proprietary video technology for broadband users. Through relationships with some of the world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG distributes content and services to wireless users under the mDisney and Starwave Mobile brands. Additionally, WDIG has led the way in developing interactive content for televised programming through its Enhanced TV service. Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North Hollywood, Calif., and has operations in Budapest, London, Munich, New York, Orlando, Fla., Seattle and Tokyo.
An executive with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., the parent of consumer electronics manufacturer and Blu-ray supporter Panasonic, reportedly said rival high-definition DVD technologies HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc will never compromise into a single format.
“We are not talking and we will not talk,” Kazuhiro Tsuga, a Matsushita executive, told Reuters. “The market will decide the winner.”
Panasonic is a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
One in Four Viewers Interested in Watching Full-Length Episodes Online
If you build it, will they come? And just how many will show up? These are the biggest questions plaguing media companies moving into the digital space. And with ABC.com set to unveil its two-month test of streaming content online, which will include episodes of hits such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost," research firms are jumping in to quantify the audience for these offerings.
ABC.com's two-month streaming trial, which starts May 1 and continues through June, includes 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Lost,' 'Alias' and 'Commander in Chief,' supported by ads that can't be skipped. Marketers include Procter & Gamble Co., Ford Motor Co., Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, AT&T, Cingular, Toyota and Unilever's Suave.
One of the most recent studies, from entertainment-marketing-research firm Advanced Media Perspectives, found that at least one in four TV viewers are interested in watching full-length versions of their favorite TV programs online, and that number is higher for younger viewers. The study comes on the heels of an Online Publishers Association study, conducted by Frank Magid Associates, which found a solid base of interest for online video -- at least one in four people are already watching on at least a weekly basis, and 40% interact with the video or the links surrounding it.
The AMP study took a slightly different slant from the OPA's general online-video snapshot, asking specifically about whether TV viewers would be interested in their favorite shows online. Not surprisingly, the younger demos were more interested. Thirty-four percent of 12- to 29-year-olds indicated definite or probable interest, while interest dipped to 25% for those aged 30 to 64.
When AMP stipulated that commercials couldn't be skipped, interest within the younger demo dropped to 22%; the older demo's interest fell to 15%. The older demo, at 17%, was slightly more interested in paying for ad-free viewing. The younger demo's interest in paying for an ad-free environment hovered around 20%.
ABC.com's two-month streaming trial, which starts May 1 and continues through June, also includes shows "Alias" and "Commander in Chief," and the content will be supported by ads that can't be skipped. Marketers sponsoring the programs: Procter & Gamble Co., Ford Motor Co., Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, AT&T, Cingular, Toyota and Unilever's Suave.
"ABC's announcement meant another door is opening for people to access content," said Angela Paura, who founded AMP in March, after serving as chief operating officer for AC Nielsen's NRG. "In a way pundits have hypothesized about this for a long time and now it's coming."
"We know 10% to 12% of people have already downloaded content other than short clips to their computers," she said. "Now we're asking them specifically about their favorite TV shows. But it's not like it's foreign territory. Younger viewers have more positive interest."
That finding jibes with the earlier OPA study, which found the heaviest online-video consumers tend to be young, male and affluent. They tend to browse multiple Web sites, and 48% discover videos while randomly surfing online, meaning there is opportunity to drive traffic to video sites with the right search optimization and marketing. And despite much of the talk about employees surfing on company time, most respondents claimed the bulk of their viewing is done at home. Turns out you can't get away from prime time.
The Club DNA - A New Way to Deter Auto Theft
What does DNA have to do with deterring auto theft? Winner International introduces "The Club DNA Vehicle Etch Kit" to serve as a theft deterrent and a means to help track vehicles should one be stolen. In this case DNA not only refers to the unique codes used, but also serves as an acronym for Dual Chemistry Numeric Code Assignment. The unique system works in two ways - it etches glass (windows) and metal (in concealed locations). An etched window loses value as chop shops want clean windows to sell off as parts. Other body parts such as doors and hoods also lose value if they're marked and traceable. The system uses a unique code (hence the name DNA) assigned by the company rather than a VIN. "The reason Winner chose to use a unique code rather than a VIN was that we recently learned of a way thieves were using VINs as yet another means to steal vehicles, in one of their latest techniques," said Kevin Winner. The codes will be kept in a database at Winner to identify a vehicle if found, and return it to its rightful owner. The Club DNA vehicle etch kit is a do-it-yourself product and includes everything needed to complete an etching for 1 vehicle, including 6 labels for marking metal, 8 glass etching stencils, etch cream, latex gloves, the instruction sheet and a registration form. The manufacturer's suggested retail is $39.95. They are currently available in some auto parts stores, or by calling the company directly at 1-800-527-3345. Winner International is best known for its anti-theft device, The Club - the highly visible, bright red steering wheel lock. Winner International focuses on bringing consumer products to market that are easy to use, highly effective, and most of all, affordable.
Rejecting warnings that it was "selling out the public," a House committee today approved a bill that could open the door for phone and cable companies to play a potentially controlling role in the Internet's future.
The neutral 'pipe' of the Internet, which has given small entrepreneurs the same access as giant media companies, could be dramatically changed by a congressional move that would create a 'two-lane' digital highway.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is rewriting the nation's telecommunications legislation, essentially allowed service providers to charge not just consumers, but, for the first time, content providers for access to new higher-speed networks. That move will let some content providers use faster paths to consumers' desktops than rivals.
Under the legislation, service providers could, for example, give ABC but not NBC access to high-speed networks or award access to Verizon and not Vonage.
Phone companies, cable companies and their associations have argued that Internet content providers that make money off the access should bear part of their costs. On the opposite side are consumer groups and some big Web players, among them Amazon, Google and Intel, that argue that the Net's growth was fueled by little companies innovating and successfully competing, a prospect that would be hampered if Congress didn't assure "net neutrality." They suggest consumers should pay extra for faster access, but should get every service when they pay more without discrimination.
U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who warned that discrimination "will stifle the ambitions of entrepreneurs all over the world," today tried to add language to the bill that would ban discrimination among content providers. The legislation is expected to pass the House this year. Mr. Markey's move was rejected by the panel on a 22 to 34 vote.
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., called the move "the most profound change in the Internet" in history. "This is not about Google or Yahoo, the guys that have made it," she said. "It's about the guys who would be Google. You know why they won … because there was open competition and they came up with the better mousetrap." She warned that the change could impact the ability of the better mousetrap to win in the future.
U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., said the Internet is defined by its openness. "The handwriting is written on the wall," he said. "It will essentially create a two-lane Internet -- the telephone-company content and the content that pays [in one lane] and the slower lane. It will not be possible to compete and [look out for] the effect that latency will have on innovation. … The company starting in the garage will have a hard time competing."
Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, and others argued that the legislation includes some limits and that there is little evidence that allowing companies to charge for access will impact competition. They said it may instead give them incentives to expand their high-speed networks.
"I don't think all the draconian things will happen if we don't adopt this amendment. If they spend billions of dollars to put these networks in place, they have a right to charge," Mr. Barton said.
"This is some way of spreading out the cost," said Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas. "If you use it more often is it fair to treat you the same as that little startup?"
Consumer groups called the vote a "sellout" and promised to continue fighting to bolster public pressure against the move
Airplane!” Lands at Academy
Beverly Hills, CA — Writers/directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker and actor Robert Hays will be among the participants in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ cast and crew reunion and screening of “Airplane!” on Friday, May 19, at 8 p.m. Academy Governor and producer Hawk Koch, whose father’s company produced the film, will serve as host and moderator for the discussion. The event will take place in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
The legendary comedy is structured around the fateful flight of a commercial airliner. After the crew becomes sick from eating bad fish, an ex-Navy pilot is called upon to safely land the plane, which counts singing nuns and jive-talking dudes among its passengers. “Airplane!” (1980) stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Julie Hagerty, Robert Hays, Leslie Nielsen, Lorna Patterson, Robert Stack, Stephen Stucker and the inflatable Otto. With an endless barrage of one-liners and sight gags, this spoof of 1970s disaster movies helped usher in a genre of films that continues to this day.
Tickets for “Airplane!” go on sale May 1 for $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. The may be purchased in advance at the Academy during regular business hours, by mail, or if still available on the night of the screening when the doors open at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information call 310-247-3600.
©A.M.P.A.S.®
For all its buzz, podcasting is a cowboy industry -- and much of its future lies in the hands of a handful of companies vying to play sheriff and bring order.
PodTrac, Podbridge and PodShow are all trying to help advertisers get a better grasp on how many people are listening and what the audience looks like.
Consider the contradictions surrounding the subject: An April 2005 Pew Internet & American Life study estimated 6 million people have downloaded a podcast while a Bridge Ratings study in November of 2005 -- yes, seven months later -- puts the number at 4.8 million. An eMarketer report from March of this year puts the total number of podcast users at 10 million but pins active podcast listeners -- who download at least once a week -- at 3 million.
There's even less agreement about how quickly the podcast audience will grow. A Forrester study just released estimates podcast listners will total 12 million by 2010. EMarketer predicts the active podcast-listening audience will be 15 million but the total market will be closer to 50 million and a Bridge Ratings study published in November of 2005 is also bullish, estimating the podcast audience will grow to between 45 million and 75 million by 2010.
PodTrac, Podbridge and PodShow are all trying to help advertisers get a better grasp on how many people are listening and what the audience looks like.
"It's really difficult to say exactly how many people are listening," said Mohan Renganathan, associate director of digital strategy at MediaVest. He and his cohorts see the emergence of podcast networks that aggregate an audience as a way to make the medium more palatable to advertisers. "You're seeing a Long Tail phenomenon where you have hundreds or thousands of podcasts with a couple thousand listeners," he said. "In isolation, they may not be advertising viable but when you start aggregating them together, all of a sudden it makes sense."
Eluding marketers are the questions of how many people are actually listening to podcasts, because they're primarily delivered via really simple syndication, or RSS, and automatically delivered to a browser. Just because a person subscribes to a podcast doesn't mean he or she listens to every episode. And who are those listeners anyway?
One network, Podbridge, is offering information about whether and when a listener heard an embedded ad. It uses a passive technology to track listening: When a listener subscribes to a podcast within the PodBridge network, it installs a plug-in, a la Macromedia flash, that asks basic demographic questions. The plug-in puts a header into the user's podcast content and captures the time at which the content was played and whether a user listened long enough to hear the ad.
Podbridge has about 35,000 people listening to its network and using the plug-in and has contracts with Clear Channel, the BBC, Consumer Reports and Military.com, said its founder and CEO, Murgesh Navar. It primarily targets established content publishers rather than the mom-and-pop upstarts that populate much of the podcasting space.
"You find a certain pattern and demographics. Some people tend to listen in the morning and some people listen at night," said Mr. Navar, who signed Ronning Lipset Radio, which sells online radio ads, as its third-party ad vendor. "Because we know usage patterns we can slot an ad that's likely to be heard in a particular daypart."
Another network, Podtrac, has signed to its network more than 1,500 podcasts -- some with a few hundred listeners, some with more than 300,000 -- since November. Some of its more popular podcasts include "This week in Tech" and the Harry Potter-themed "Mugglecast." The deal? Podtrac provides third-party measurement and ad insertion for a 25% cut of the advertising revenue. Ads for HBO's new show "Big Love" and for Castrol motor oil have aired on the Podtrac network.
Podtrac also provides demographic information about a podcast's audience through a survey that has so far yielded more than 40,000 responses. Podtrac then overlays its survey responses with responses to Mediamark's Survey of the American Consumer, Mark McCrery, Podtrac's CEO and co-founder, explained. "We're noticing that these podcast listeners and viewers are highly educated. They are predominantly male at this point. They have high incomes and they buy a lot online."
The first company to enter the space was PodShow, launched by Adam Curry and Ron Bloom. It delivers national advertising and sponsorship across its network and recently executed a cross-network sponsorship for GoDaddy.com that included audio, video and host endorsements from more than 50 of PodShow's most popular podcasts. Hosted ads are turning out to be one of podcasting's biggest boons, thanks to the affinity the listeners often have for the host.
One of Starcom's clients, Sara Lee's Senseo coffee brand, had particular success with live reads on Adam Curry's "Daily Source Code" podcast, which many credit with launching the podcasting phenomenon. Starcom knew Mr. Curry was a coffee drinker, since he often spoke about it on the show, and contracted him to push the product on the show.
"If you're going to integrate into a program it needs to be seamless," said Fletcher Whitwall, associate media director at Starcom USA.
At this point, much of podcasting's advertising been done on a sponsorship basis, in which a marketer commits a set amount of dollars against an estimated number of downloads or impressions. Marketers can then back into a cost-per-download -- a number that's ranged between a couple cents to $2.
Buena Vista Games Enters Agreement to Publish Four New Games from Q ENTERTAINMENT
Lumines II, Lumines Plus, Meteos: Disney Edition and Every Extend Extra to Hit Retail Shelves This Fall
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), today announced it has entered into an agreement with Tokyo-based Q ENTERTAINMENT, Inc., to publish four new titles in all international regions except Asia.
BVG will publish the upcoming titles: Lumines II, a mesmerizing sequel to the highly popular action and music puzzle game, for the PSP(TM) system (PlayStation(R)Portable); Lumines Plus(a), a pulsing new version of the original title for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system; Every Extend Extra, an electrifying action puzzle shooter game for PSP; and Meteos: Disney Edition, a new version of the popular galactic action puzzle title Meteos featuring beloved Disney characters, for the Nintendo DS(TM).
"We are looking forward to enhancing our relationship with the talented team at Q ENTERTAINMENT to bring gamers unique and innovative gaming experiences," said Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager, Buena Vista Games. "With BVG's expertise in publishing a broad portfolio of video games for the entire family, these new titles are a perfect fit because they appeal to a wide variety of gamers."
"Q ENTERTAINMENT established itself last year as the premier creator of action puzzle games with the best-selling and highly addictive Lumines for the PSP system and Meteos for the Nintendo DS. This year, our goal is to build upon that success and reach new heights around the world with our new publishing agreement with BVG. We are also very excited to introduce another music-based game, Every Extend Extra," said Q ENTERTAINMENT CEO Shuji Utsumi.
Lumines earned widespread acclaim and has sold more than 700,000 units worldwide to date. According to video game review score compilation site Gamerankings.com, Lumines is one of the highest rated PSP system titles to date with an average review score of 90%.
Meteos is one of the top-rated Nintendo DS titles to date with an 88% review score average, according to Gamerankings.com.
Lumines II, Lumines Plus, Every Extend Extra and Meteos: Disney Edition are slated to hit retail stores in Fall 2006.
About Buena Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG) is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company. BVG publishes, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. For more information, please log on to http://www.bvg.com.
About Q ENTERTAINMENT
Q ENTERTAINMENT, Inc. specializes in multiplatform development and global marketing. Q ENTERTAINMENT creates, produces, and consults in digital entertainment software such as game console, PC broadband and mobile units.
Principal game creator & Chief Creative Officer Tetsuya Mizuguchi came from SEGA as the president of United Game Artists, where he designed critically acclaimed titles such as the Sega Rally franchise, Space Channel 5, and Rez. Q ENTERTAINMENT CEO Shuji Utsumi had experience of executive position from Disney, SEGA & SCEA. He produced several famous titles such as Crash Bandicoot (SCEA), Sakura Wars (SEGA), and Kingdom Hearts (Buena Vista Games).
Q ENTERTAINMENT is comprised of veteran designers, programmers, and producers. Q ENTERTAINMENT collaborates with other creators, artists and development studios in Japan and overseas. With a large network and enthusiasm, Q ENTERTAINMENT always anticipates the trends and changes in times to come and develops new value in the videogame industry's business.
(a) This title is not yet concept approved by Sony Computer Entertainment America.
"PSP" is a trademark and "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
(TM), (R) and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. (C) 2004 Nintendo.
Videos from Legendary Punk Rockers Now Available for the ZVUE
as HandHeld Entertainment Adds Videos from Music Video Distributors to Its ZTV Download Store
ZTV Also Gets Hip-Hop, Gospel and Metal Videos for Online Download at ZVUE.com
HandHeld Entertainment(TM) (OTCBB: HNDH) today announced that a number of punk rock concert videos, in addition to hip-hop, gospel and metal concert videos from Music Video Distributors' extensive library of concert videos, movies and comedy films have been made available for purchase and download at the ZTV digital download store.
The new ZTV videos, available through a licensing agreement with MVD, include film from renowned punk rock artists such as Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, Iggy and the Stooges (Iggy Pop), and New York Dolls, in addition to comedy films from former Saturday Night Live comedian Jim Breuer and cult indie films like "Southlander."
"People want a lot of choice when it comes to their entertainment, which makes it thrilling for us to add MVD's wide variety of punk, hip-hop, gospel and metal videos to our growing ZTV digital download store," said Jeff Oscodar, president and chief executive officer of HandHeld Entertainment. "We're also adding more comedy shorts and independent films from MVD's library."
The MVD agreement comes on the heels of recent HandHeld Entertainment announcements, including a music partnership with eMusic, the addition of Latin music videos from Sunflower Entertainment, the acquisition of 1,500 full-length films and television shows from Worldvision Cinema, comedic movies from Fun Little Movies, extreme sports videos from TotalVid, independent films from StoryPIPE.com, and classic TV programs and cartoons from LikeTelevision.
"The ZTV digital download store provides an innovative way for us to deliver videos of world-class artists to even more audiences," said Michael DeMonte of Music Video Distributors. "The portability of the ZVUE lets you take video from Iggy Pop to Trick Daddy with you for on-the-go entertainment."
About the ZVUE
Available today in more than 1,800 Wal-Mart stores around the United States, the $99 ZVUE plays videos and MP3 files available from the ZVUE.com download store and also lets users view digital pictures from a digital camera or home video from a camcorder. The ZVUE offers full-color video and clear audio sound that gives users a robust, on-the-go digital experience when coupled with downloadable content from the ZVUE Web site.
About Music Video Distributors
Since 1986, Music Video Distributors (MVD) has supplied consumers, retailers and distributors with a diverse selection of quality music-related DVDs. In addition, MVD sells more than 50,000 different DVDs to more than 10,000 storefronts across the United States and Canada. MVD also counts Best Buy, Blockbuster, Borders, Fry's Electronics, Hollywood Video, K-Mart, Tower Records, Transworld, Virgin and Wal-Mart as customers.
About HandHeld Entertainment Inc.
HandHeld Entertainment is a digital-media-to-go company with a family of mass-market portable media players priced at mass-market prices as well as its own online video content store. Its ZVUE portable media players are available for purchase online and in more than 1,800 retail locations across the United States, while portable video lovers can visit ZTV (HandHeld Entertainment's video content store at http://www.zvue.com) to buy pay-per-download videos or download thousands of free media titles
HandHeld Entertainment, ZTV and ZVUE are trademarks of HandHeld Entertainment. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Actor Tony Danza Signs Agreement to do a Cooking Show Produced by Clear Cut Film Technology Studios at Patsy's Italian Restaurant in Manhattan, NY
Clear Cut Film Technology Studios (OTC:TGHG), formerly Trans-Global Holdings, Inc., announces that Tony Danza has signed on to do a Cooking show at Patsy's Italian Restaurant.
The show features famous Chef Sal Scognamillo cooking for Mr. Danza and company (t.b.d. please see "high profile patrons" below.) The first show, with Mr. Danza, is scheduled to be shot in the next two months.
Clear Cut Film Technology Studios is taking the first steps in creating this weekly TV show. The company's goal is to appease both the younger and more mature audiences. Different guest stars will be brought on the show each week, ranging from musicians, sports players, and actors. Basically this is a "Cooking with the Stars" if you will.
About Patsy's Italian Restaurant:
Founded in 1944 by Pasquale "Patsy" Scognamillo, Patsy's Italian Restaurant has been in its current and only theater district location (in the building just next to the original site) since 1954. In over 55 years of existence, Patsy's Italian Restaurant has had only three chefs -- the late Patsy himself, his son Joe Scognamillo, who has been at the establishment since the tender age of seven, and Joe's son Sal Scognamillo, who has been manning the kitchen for the past 15 years.
Some of Patsy's Italian Restaurant's high profile patrons include Rush Limbaugh, Al Pacino, Placido Domingo, Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Rappers Heavy "D" and Sean "Diddy" Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jonathan Demme, Tony Bennett, Don King, Robert DeNiro, Don Rickles, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Stephen King, Mario Puzo, Calvin Klein, Carroll O'Connor, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Chris Noth, Farrah Fawcett, Jaime Farr, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, Huey Lewis, and Patty LaBelle, to name several.
Patsy's Italian Restaurant has been known for years as Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant, and in fact, his family still enjoys dining at Patsy's Italian Restaurant whenever they are in town. In addition to Sinatra and family, Patsy's Italian Restaurant has become a favorite with countless stars on both the east and west coast, who have come to regard Patsy's Italian Restaurant as a mecca of Italian fine dining.
For more information on Patsy's Italian Restaurant, such as News Releases and Reviews, please visit their website at http://www.patsys.com.
About Clear Cut Film Technology Studios, Inc.
Clear Cut Film Technology Studios, Inc. (formerly known as Trans-Global Holdings Incorporated) is an innovative entertainment company that develops and produces exciting motion pictures and television productions by some of the most prominent leaders in the entertainment industry. Recently the Company announced the acquisition of Half Way to Tucson, Incorporated. The Company's motto is "INNOVATION IN EVERY FRAME" and is representative of the creativity and innovation that this company puts into each of their productions. For more information about Clear Cut Film Technology Studios, Inc., please visit http://www.tghgotc.com/.
Clear Cut Film Technology Studios, Inc.
Evan Rachel Wood Joins Service of ``KING''
, Millennium Films, in conjunction with Emmett/Furla Films (a wholly owned subsidiary of Family Room Entertainment (OTCBB: FMLY), announced that Evan Rachel Wood will co-star with Academy Award winner Michael Douglas in "King of California," written and directed by Michael Cahill. Fellow Academy Award winner Alexander Payne and fellow nominee Michael London will produce the picture with Avi Lerner and Randall Emmett. George Furla, John Thompson, Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short and Boaz Davidson are Executive Producers. Emmett/Furla's M. Dal Walton III will serves as co-producer.
Wood will co-star as "Miranda" in the bittersweet comedy about a teenage girl and her eccentric father, played by Douglas, whose obsession with buried treasure in the San Fernando Valley takes over both their lives. Douglas stars in and produced "The Sentinel" for Fox/Regency/Furthur Films, co-starring Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria and Kim Basinger, directed by Clark Johnson, which recently opened in wide release.
Wood, who garnered rave attention for her role in TV's "ONCE AND AGAIN," was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in "THIRTEEN."
Michael Cahill will be making his feature film directorial debut on the project. He is best known for his Faulkner Prize winning novel A Nixon Man. A graduate of UCLA Film School and classmate of Alexander Payne's, Cahill won the Morrison/Jacobson Award for his short film "The Knife." His follow up short film "A Broken Horse" was featured at numerous film festivals in the US and Europe.
Emmett/Furla and Millennium will commence principal photography on May 2nd in Los Angeles.
Family Room Entertainment Corporation
Fox Reality Announces New Original Programming: ''MY BARE LADY''; Transatlantic Co-Production with Zig Zag Productions Promises to ''Reveal All''
Fox Reality, the only ALL REALITY, ALL THE TIME channel, today announced a brand new US/UK co-production with Zig Zag Productions. The new Fox Reality Original, "MY BARE LADY," is a series of three, one-hour shows slated to air on the US cable and satellite network in the latter half of '06. The series will follow top US female porn stars who want to see if they can give leading British thespians a run for their money.
Many adult film stars think they can act, but can they cut it in the refined and stuffy world of an English acting school? "MY BARE LADY" is a must-see reality series in which viewers find out if four female U.S. adult stars can make it as legitimate actors in a matter of weeks. They will feel like fish out of water as they swap sex for soliloquies.
After a casting call in Los Angeles, an established British theatre director will select his performers. He will bring them to London and put them through an intensive three week transformation. What happens when you take a group of American porn stars and thrust them on stage in London's famous theatre-land to perform a classic play? "MY BARE LADY" will reveal all...
Fox Reality CEO & General Manager David Lyle said, "We look forward to working with this great British production company and creating an ambitious docu-soap. And it is a wonderful concept to have a production that shoots on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighting a humorous and all-too-real culture clash."
"Zig Zag is very excited about this new and irreverent series for Fox Reality," said Danny Fenton, Managing Director, Zig Zag. "We are really pleased to be making one of the first original commissions for the channel and appreciate their boldness and distinct new flavor. It typifies the freshness of Fox Reality to seize on an idea like 'MY BARE LADY.'"
ABOUT FOX REALITY
Fox Reality launched May 24, 2005 to become the first destination for lovers of unscripted programming. The channel offers major US network favorites, exclusive international reality programming, Original Series and Specials. Fox Reality offers reality viewers more of their favorite reality programming with RealityRevealed in Primetime with never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, behind the scenes secrets and more reality fun. Fox Reality is currently seen in more than 18.5 million households, and is on pace to become one of only six new cable or satellite networks to surpass 20 million homes in its first year. To get more information on Fox Reality programs and schedules, please visit foxreality.com.
Media Tonic
Gefen Switchers Integrate with Euphonix System to Create Digital State-of-the-Art Professional Audio/Video Mixing Environment
Some might call it visionary but to John Ross, the new Euphonix digital 5-MC is simply a cutting-edge console designed for today's digital HD realm.
This notable sound supervisor, sound editor and dubbing mixer, whose most recent project is "Take the Lead" starring Antonio Bandaras, has created a unique and ultra-modern method of mixing that incorporates every system component into the central Euphonix System 5-MC control surface to create a total free flowing environment. "To provide the ultimate creative environment, I knew we needed to be looking at the very best, and listening to the very best," said Ross. To do that, Ross made the decision to stay in the digital realm, using the Euphonix dual-operator System 5-MC integrated DAW controller as the command center, linked to four Pro Tools running on Mac G5s, three Nuendos on AMD quad PCs and V-Cube for high resolution projection on the BARCO DP 70 projector. A matrix of Gefen's 4x2 DVI Switchers played a vital role in the system's workflow by enabling each of the operators to switch control and screens between the seven main workstations and four Apple Cinema Displays running 1920x1200 resolutions. The Gefen DVI Switches interface directly to the Euphonix System 5-MC via GPI switch contacts driven from the console for seamless workflow switching. Euphonix recommend Gefen Switches for use with their System 5-MC controller range. "We selected the Gefen boxes because of the company's knowledge of digital video distribution and the quality of its' hardware," said Ross. "We can pull up multiple layers and assign software keys to switch software, Ethernet levels plus hardware and USB control to create a true multi-platform mixing console." Ross credits the entire system with helping him operate on a higher level by creating a true free flow of information where HD playback and thousands of audio tracks are instantly available. "With the advent and continued growth of HDTV, it seems likely that more and more companies will heed the example set by Euphonix and Gefen by re-examining the wheel and re-thinking what can be achieved in the digital realm." View the workflow diagram on this page:
http://www.euphonix.com/press/products/system_5-mc_mc.htm System 5-MC 2 Operator Block Diagram based on John Ross Installation: http://www.euphonix.com/press/products/system_5-mc_2op_blk_01_3000.jpg Room photo: http://www.euphonix.com/press/clients/clients_s5-mc_mc.htm John Ross' Dubbing Theater with an 88 Fader Dual Operator System 5-MC: http://www.euphonix.com/press/clients/euph_jross_dub_01_3400.jpg
System 5-MC 2 Operator Block Diagram based on John Ross Installation: Room photo: John Ross' Dubbing Theater with an 88 Fader Dual Operator System 5-MC:About Euphonix Celebrating its 18th Year Anniversary in 2006, Euphonix is a leading manufacturer of large format digital audio consoles and digital recording equipment that has satisfied users worldwide in broadcast, post, live sound, and music production. Key products include Max Air and System 5 consoles plus the System 5-MC and the MC DAW controllers. Euphonix can be reached at (650) 855-0400 or on the Web at www.euphonix.com. About Gefen: A leader in the high definition digital domain, Gefen delivers advanced technologies with multi-platform extension, switching, distribution and conversion capabilities. Gefen equipment is utilized all over the world in professional AV/IT and consumer electronics/home theater environments. Their add-on hardware maximizes system functionality and enhances operability by enabling AV systems to go beyond their original capabilties. Solutions support an array of connectivity interfaces including HDMI, DVI, dual link DVI, HD-SDI, SDI, VGA, RCA, USB, Firewire and RS-232. A selection of high quality cabling is also available. Additional information may be found at www.gefen.com.
Bill Cosby Hosts 5th Annual 'Great Night in Harlem' Concert Presented by DIRECTV and BET J at the Apollo Theater Benefiting The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA)
WHO:
* Host Bill Cosby
* Co-Host Danny Glover
* Musicians including: Abbey Lincoln, James Blood Ulmer, Henry Butler,
Newbirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz
Band of New Orleans, Ron Carter, Odetta, Will Calhoun, Dr. Billy
Taylor, Harold Mabern, Ben Riley, Gary Bartz, Kermit Ruffins and
85-year old Johnnie Mae Dunson -- who wrote tunes for Elvis and Muddy
Waters and played drums for Jimmy Reed.
* Award-Winning Set Designer Tom John
* Richard Parsons -- Event Co-Chair; Chairman and CEO, Time Warner, Inc.
* Agnes Varis -- Event Co-Chair; President & Co-Founder, Agvar Chemicals,
Inc.
* Jarrett Lilien -- Event Co-Chair; President, E*TRADE Financial
* Wendy Oxenhorn -- Executive Director, JFA
WHAT: Jazz Foundation of America's 5th Annual "A Great Night in Harlem"
Benefit Concert
WHERE: Apollo Theater (Harlem, NY)
"Red Carpet" Entrance on 126TH Street (between 7th & 8th Avenue)
WHEN: Thursday, May 4, 2006/Celebrity & VIP Guest Arrival @ 7:15 PM
BACKGROUND:
From the replacement of "Fats" Domino's piano to paying rent and mortgages for Katrina-effected musicians and their families, The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has assisted nearly 900 New Orleans musician emergency cases in the few short months since the hurricane and continues to assist 30 elderly jazz and blues artists a week. Now, JFA sets an unprecedented goal of raising $1.5 million dollars from the 5th annual "A Great Night in Harlem" concert presented by DIRECTV and BET J. Hosted by Bill Cosby, the concert will be held on THURSDAY, MAY 4 (8-10 p.m.) at the world-famous Apollo Theater.
"Great Night" veteran Bill Cosby along with JFA's newest board member Danny Glover, will join accomplished musicians for a night to remember including: Abbey Lincoln, James Blood Ulmer, Henry Butler, Newbirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band of New Orleans, Ron Carter, Odetta, Will Calhoun, Dr. Billy Taylor, Harold Mabern, Ben Riley, Gary Bartz and Kermit Ruffins -- including over 30 musicians from New Orleans. Highlighting the evening will be some of the very fathers and mothers of jazz and blues including 85-year old Johnnie Mae Dunson -- who wrote tunes for Elvis and Muddy Waters and played drums for Jimmy Reed.
With DIRECTV and BET J as title sponsors, the event's major sponsors include: E*TRADE FINANCIAL, Agvar Chemicals, Inc., Time Warner, Inc. and HIP Health Plan of NY. Delta Air Lines is the official airlines sponsor. Event patrons and sponsors include: Jarrett & Maritess Lilien, Agnes Varis, Louverture Films, Absolut Spirits, Billionaire Limousine Service, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Illy, Mary & Michael Jaharis, K2 Advisors, Knight Capitol Trading, Lehman Brothers, MTV Networks, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, New York Times, Par Pharmaceuticals, Plantex USA Inc., Beryl L. Snyder, Swag Couture Chef, Teva Pharmaceuticals, VH1, David A. Walden, WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM. Coppola Wine is the Official Wine Sponsor.
Source: Jazz Foundation
ENTERTAINMENT & LIVING: FCC's Indecency Rules
1. Behavior: Gas Prices Beginning to Affect Our Mental Health 2. Behavior: Choosing Your Thoughts Can Change the Fabric of Your Life 3. Entertainment: 'Da Vinci Code' Following a Result of Uninformed Laity 4. Home & Garden: Trees Provide More Than Just Aesthetic Appeal 5. Relationships: What Men Really Want in a Girlfriend, Spouse
ROUND-UP: FCC'S INDECENCY RULES
Four TV broadcast networks and their affiliates filed court challenges to a March 15 Federal Communications Commission ruling that found several programs "indecent" because of language. The move represents a protest against the aggressive enforcement of federal indecency rules that broadcasters have complained are vague and inconsistently applied. Millions of dollars in fines have been levied based on those rules.
Following are experts who can comment:
**1. FRITZ J. MESSERE, professor and chair of communication studies at SUNY OSWEGO: "The issue of indecent programming reflects growing polarization between segments who either believe that media is causing moral decay or feel that their rights to speak are being abridged. What many don't realize is the FCC is a creature of Congress and that Congress is being pressured by groups complaining about the media's lax programming. The Republican-led FCC received the message clearly and has responded. What is needed is public debate about the role the FCC should play in guiding American morals and whether it's time to change the communication laws to reflect social standards. This court case may force Congress to hold such a debate
**2. MICHAEL G. CHERENSON, chair of the Advocacy Advisory Board for the PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA: "PRSA stands solidly behind the First Amendment and its guarantees for free, open and candid expression. Levying of fines by the FCC for violation of vague guidelines could pose too great a risk for small, independent broadcasters to continue operations
**3. ROBERT CORN-REVERE, partner at DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE, LLP, advises clients on First Amendment and FCC-regulatory issues. Corn-Revere represented Playboy Ent. Group in a Supreme Court case on indecency and channel blocking in 1999-2000. The case is now the de facto standard for indecency issues. Recently, he represented a coalition of the nation's largest media companies in their petition against the FCC's crackdown on indecency/obscenity. The petition requested that the FCC reverse its ruling against Bono's use of an expletive during the Golden Globes. In 1990, he spent four years as a government regulator for the FCC, which convinced him that pressuring broadcasters to self-regulate "voluntarily" was an oxymoron.
**1. BEHAVIOR: GAS PRICES ARE BEGINNING TO AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH. ROBERT R. BUTTERWORTH, psychologist at INTERNATIONAL TRAUMA ASSOCIATES: "High gas prices are not just taking their toll on our pocketbook, but are beginning to take a toll on our mental health. Day after day, as we travel in our automobiles past gas stations with prices prominently displayed, there is no escape from being reminded of the rising costs. The quickly rising gas prices also translate into future sacrifices, such as shortened or postponed vacations, deferring of future purchases or even family security, leaving us even more depressed. People need to begin to get psychologically prepared to 'fill up' by reminding themselves to stay calm and not take their anger out on innocent victims." Butterworth
**2. BEHAVIOR: CHOOSING YOUR THOUGHTS CAN CHANGE THE FABRIC OF YOUR LIFE. BRENDA ANDERSON, vice president of global business development for SMITHBUCKLIN, a leading association management company, is the CEO of the SOCIETY OF INCENTIVE AND TRAVEL EXECUTIVES, and author of the new book "Playing the Quantum Field." Anderson, whose work is based on recent scientific research and discoveries in quantum physics, reveals how choosing your thoughts not only prevents bad moods, it transforms the very fabric of your life: "Every little choice you make counts; the impact of your choices, no matter how insignificant they may seem, is cumulative. If your choices are negative, negative results expand and beget more negative results. If they're positive, the converse happens
**3. ENTERTAINMENT: 'DA VINCI CODE' FOLLOWING A RESULT OF UNINFORMED LAITY. PAUL F. LAKELAND, Ph.D., professor of religious studies at FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY: "'The Da Vinci Code' is a good read that is full of nonsense. The only reason that churches and religious institutions are alarmed by it is that they have not educated their members sufficiently in their own traditions that they could see through what is, on the whole, a pretty superficial and rather unlikely story. If we weren't so ignorant, we wouldn't be so credulous. The real Jesus and the real Magdalene are much more interesting than the bourgeois couple at the origin of Dan Brown's tale."
**4. HOME & GARDEN: TREES PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST AESTHETIC APPEAL. LANCE WALHEIM, Bayer Advanced lawn and garden expert, is a best-selling author and regular contributor to Sunset Magazine: "Trees provide more than just aesthetic appeal. Trees produce oxygen, provide a habitat for birds, stabilize soil, reduce erosion, mitigate flooding, reduce pollution and keep the earth cooler. It's critical that we not only plant trees, but provide the proper care for them to protect them because they protect us." Walheim can address all gardening topics from designing with color to pest control (including pests from grubs to Emerald Ash Borer) to Arbor Day (part of major national initiative right now) to caring for roses to decorating with houseplants, etc. Walheim has authored many gardening books, including the popular "Roses for Dummies." )
**5. RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT MEN REALLY WANT IN A GIRLFRIEND, SPOUSE. SHERRY ARGOV, author of "Why Men Marry Bitches: A Woman's Guide to Winning Her Man's Heart," spent hundreds of hours interviewing men to learn their true feelings about relationships and marriage. Armed with insider information, she masterminded 75 relationship principles to love by, each building on her number one rule: "In romance, there's nothing more attractive to a man than a woman who has dignity and pride in who she is." Argov can answer burning relationship questions and show women who are ready to grab the controls and find love on their terms the best ways to land -- and keep -- a husband. Source: ProfNet
Universal Pictures' United 93 Opens Nationwide on April 28
-Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy) writes and directs an unflinching drama that tells the story of the passengers and crew, their families on the ground and the flight controllers who watched in dawning horror as United Airlines Flight 93 became the fourth hijacked plane on the day of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil: September 11, 2001.
United 93 recreates the doomed trip in actual time, from takeoff to hijacking to the realization by those onboard that their plane was part of a coordinated attack unfolding on the ground beneath them. The film attempts to understand the abject fear and courageous decisions of those who - over the course of just 90 minutes - transformed from a random assembly of disconnected strangers into bonded allies who confronted an unthinkable situation.
Greengrass, known for films such as Resurrected and Bloody Sunday, brings to United 93 a history of compassionate filmmaking that has explored some of the most troubled incidents of recent world history - when politics turns to violence, when beliefs slip into zealotry. As there is no perfect record of the hijacking's exact details and hostage retaliation, Greengrass takes a careful hand and partially improvises the events with an ensemble cast of little-known actors who were given studies of their UAL Flight 93 counterparts.
United 93 intends to dignify the memory of those on that flight, the men and women whose sacrifice remains one of the most heroic legacies of the incomprehensible tragedies that unfolded on that autumn morning.
United 93 will open in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 28th.
We invite you to join Universal Pictures in making a donation to the Flight 93 Memorial Fund. For information, visit http://www.honorflight93.org.
Marvel Studios Engages All-Star Roster For New Film Slate; Jon Favreau To Direct Iron Man
Aggressively pursuing its strategy to develop and produce a new slate of feature films, Marvel Studios - a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) - has engaged director/actor/writer Jon Favreau to direct the highly anticipated big screen adaptation of Iron Man. Additionally, the studio has tapped several screenwriters to pen scripts based on some of its marquee Super Hero franchises. The projects to which screenwriters are now attached and have officially begun development include Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Ant Man, Captain America, Nick Fury and Thor. The announcement was made today by Avi Arad, Chairman of Marvel Studios.
-- Iron Man -- For the legendary Super Hero Iron Man, Jon Favreau will direct the film and develop the script with the writing team of Arthur Marcum and Matt Holloway (Convoy). Favreau's directing credits include Elf and Zathura: A Space Adventure.
-- Incredible Hulk -- Zak Penn, who previously collaborated with Marvel on X2, Fantastic Four, and the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand, will write a new Incredible Hulk film, inspired by the larger-than-life green giant. Under Marvel's arrangement with Universal, Marvel will develop and produce the Incredible Hulk as a major theatrical release, with Universal retaining various distribution rights.
-- Ant Man -- Writer/director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) will direct, and co-write with writing partner Joe Cornish, the feature film based on cult-favorite Ant Man. Edgar will also co-produce with his Big Talk Productions partner Nira Park.
-- Captain America -- David Self has been tapped to write Captain America, inspired by Marvel's venerable all-American super soldier. Self's credits include Thirteen Days and Road to Perdition, in addition to numerous rewrites on various studio films. He also worked with Marvel on two other projects: Namor, the Sub-Mariner for Universal, and Deathlok for Paramount.
-- Nick Fury - Marvel's Super Hero with military roots, the iconic super spy Nick Fury, will be brought to life by action/adventure screenwriter Andrew Marlowe. Marlowe's credits include Air Force One, End of Days, and Hollow Man.
-- Thor -- The legendary Norse Thunder deity, Thor, will hammer his way to the big screen with the help of screenwriter Mark Protosevich. Protosevich wrote one of this summer's highly-anticipated films, Poseidon. His credits also include The Cell.
"We are incredibly excited to be able to attract some of Hollywood's top talent to help Marvel launch the first wave of our independently-produced film slate. These screenwriters and directors are at the top of their game, and each brings a unique passion for the individual characters and projects they will be working on. Our goal is to combine great characters with exciting action, and we've assembled a team who will do just that," said Mr. Arad. "In fact, some of these writers have already helped us create major Hollywood blockbuster franchises like Fantastic Four and X-Men. With our independent slate, we look forward to delivering to movie-goers the same type of high-action, gripping entertainment they have grown accustomed to with the Marvel brand."
With screenwriters and directors on board, Marvel is commencing discussions with other talent and visual effects houses as it gears up for full-scale production on the new slate, with the first release anticipated in 2008. These projects are expected to be financed with Marvel's $525 million revolving film financing facility and distributed under Marvel's overall distribution arrangement with Paramount, except for The Incredible Hulk which will be distributed by Universal.
President/COO Michael Helfant will oversee the company's growth to accommodate this newly expanded production activity. The projects will be shepherded and produced by Kevin Feige, President of Production, and Ari Arad, Executive Vice President of Production.
About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.
Except for any historical information that they contain, the statements in this news release regarding Marvel's plans are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including circumstances that may affect Marvel's ability to commence or complete production of its films, and the risk of poor performance of the films in the marketplace. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Marvel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Marvel's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Marvel assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Marvel, and all related character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used with permission. TM & (C) 2006 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.marvel.com. Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.
Walt Disney Pictures and MySpace.com Launch World Premiere of ''Pirates of the Caribbean
: Dead Man's Chest'' Theatrical Trailer; Partnership Gives One MySpace Member the Chance to Debut ''Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' Trailer to the World joins with MySpace.com, the leading lifestyle portal to discover music, film and popular culture, to give one MySpace member the exclusive opportunity to launch the world premiere of the theatrical trailer of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." MySpace and Walt Disney Pictures invite members to join the movie's official MySpace profile for a chance to become the first person to view the movie trailer for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." The winner will then have the chance to distribute the trailer to MySpace's network of more than 74 million members and interview talent from the film as a press correspondent for MySpace at the press junket in Los Angeles.
On Monday, May 1, MySpace will randomly select one friend from the Pirates' MySpace profile. This lucky fan will be given the trailer in the form of a tag allowing the user to view and share via email, instant message, bulletins, or blogs to any person on MySpace.
"We are always looking for innovative ways to bring fresh content to increasingly hard-to-reach consumers," said Oren Aviv, President of Marketing and Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Studios. "This partnership with MySpace provides a unique, never-before-done opportunity to empower the passionate, enthusiastic fan base of the Pirates franchise, allowing them to be the primary champions of the film."
To be eligible, the MySpace user must be at least 18 years of age and be a friend of the Pirates of the Caribbean profile (http://www.myspace.com/deadmanschest). Additional prizes will be awarded to every 10,000th member to sign up for the community and to the member who distributes the trailer to the most people. On the Pirates of the Caribbean profile, members can also view stills from the movie and communicate with other MySpace friends and fans through blogs, comments and forums.
"We are thrilled to be a part of this unique effort to promote Disney's new film," said Colin Digiaro, SVP of Sales for MySpace. "MySpace members use the network to discover pop culture and share it with friends and the Disney approach for Pirates takes advantage of the power of MySpace and word-of-mouth marketing in a very efficient and clever way."
Walt Disney Pictures' "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, and opens nationwide on July 7, 2006. It is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer ("Black Hawk Down," "Pearl Harbor") and directed by Gore Verbinski ("The Ring").
About MySpace.com
MySpace is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends and discovering popular culture. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the second ranked web domain in terms of page views(a), MySpace.com is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind. With more than 74 million members, MySpace is committed to providing the highest quality member experience and will continue to innovate with new features that allow its members to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off.
(a)Among the top 2000 domains. comScore Media Metrix, March 2006. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to http://www.comscore.com.
for MySpace.com
Dame Elizabeth Taylor Statement
The following is a statement by Guttman Associates, publicity representatives for Dame Elizabeth Taylor:
"It is regrettable that a recent story in a tabloid gossip paper so erroneously reported the state of the health of Dame Elizabeth Taylor and created so much needless concern. Dame Elizabeth is in excellent health, other than the back problems which sometimes confine her to a wheelchair. She continues on a daily basis to guide the success and product excellence both of White Diamonds and other perfume products of her fragrance line with Elizabeth Arden and her highly successful House of Taylor Jewelry products. She pours similar energy and devotion into her ongoing efforts to fund, supervise and encourage treatment of AIDS patients and research into new treatment and possible cure. The degree to which she is active in both her businesses and her continuing fight against HIV/AIDS clearly reflects the efforts of a healthy woman.
"We would suggest that judicious skepticism is in order when the public and other media read such dire health reports or other misinformation in a story which is substantiated only by quotes from vague sources described as 'close friends.' We don't know of any close friends who would shop a celebrated pal to a supermarket paper."
The following is a statement from someone who actually is very close to and a partner of Dame Elizabeth, Lifestyle Designer Kathy Ireland, as well as observations by one of her main working associates in her jewelry endeavors and her fragrance enterprises: -0-
"I usually don't comment on gossip, but my great love for Dame
Elizabeth and the dishonesty of the vicious lies circulating about her
health forces me to speak out.
"Elizabeth Taylor is my business partner in her publicly traded
company House of Taylor Jewelry, and more importantly my dear friend.
We see each other regularly both professionally and socially. Our
family was invited to her home on Easter and we just had dinner
together in Beverly Hills.
"This story is cruel, nonsensical and damaging to the tremendous
work she does every day for people living with HIV/AIDS as well as her
extraordinary leadership in all of her business ventures."
Kathy Ireland
CEO and Chief Designer
Kathy Ireland World Wide
"I am honored to work for and with Dame Elizabeth on her jewelry
designs daily. This story is ridiculous."
Monty Abramov
Vice President and Design Director
House of Taylor Jewelry
"Dame Elizabeth has always been and remains extremely hands-on in
her work with us, invariably and tirelessly adding her personal touch.
At the House of Taylor fragrances, she is keeping us quite busy on a
daily basis in planning the celebration of the 15th anniversary of
White Diamonds this fall. She has been particularly involved in
creating a beautiful limited edition gold bottle for White Diamonds.
Tamara Steele
Senior Vice President
House of Taylor Fragrances, A division of Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
Guttman Associates
Newport Beach Film Festival Announces 2006 Award Winners; Awards Ceremony to Be Produced by Media Alliance of Orange County
The Newport Beach Film Festival announces the winners of its 2006 Festival tonight. The Festival wraps up its official competition tonight with an Awards Ceremony beginning at 8:00 PM at the Palm Garden Ballroom at the Island Hotel (690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach).
The 2006 Awards Ceremony marks the second year of a partnership with the Media Alliance Orange County (MAOC) and the Newport Beach Film Festival. "The MAOC, in an attempt to reach its goal of elevating and enhancing its image and awareness of the film, video and multimedia production/post-production industry in Orange County, is proud to be part of this win-win partnership," says Rick Sherman, president of the MAOC.
More than 1,500 films were reviewed by the Festival's selection committee. The films selected to run in the Festival were in competition for jury and audience awards, with a new addition of an award from MySpace.com for online promotion. This year's Festival included over 350 films, representing more than 35 countries.
The winners for the 2006 Festival are as follows: -0-
Jury Awards
Best Feature Film
"Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side)"
Best Director
Feature Film
Gustavo Loza
"Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side)"
Best Actor
Feature Film
Long Nguyen
"Journey from the Fall (Vuot Song)"
Best Actress
Feature Film
Elizabeth Reaser
"Sweet Land"
Best Cinematography
Feature Film
Charlie Lam
"One Last Dance"
Best Screenplay
Stephane Brize and Juliette Sales
"Je ne suis pas la pour etre aime (Not here to be loved)"
Best Documentary
"De nadie (No one)"
Best Short Film
"Binta and the Great Idea"
Best Director
Short Film
Attila Szasz
"Most latszom, most nem latszom (Now you see me, now you
don't)"
Best Cinematography
Short Film
Jeff Waldron
"The Honeyfields"
Special Jury Prize
"Spin"
Best Short Documentary
"A Note of Triumph"
Special Jury Prize
"Recycled Life"
Best Animated Film
"The Fan and the Flower"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Documentary
"Sofia"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Documentary
"F*CK"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Humanitarian Vision
"Disarm"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Humanitarian Vision
"Tsunami Diaries"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Feature Film
"Neo Ned"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Feature Film
"Lovelorn"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Feature Film
"ESL: English as a Second Language"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Acting
William H. Macy
"Edmond"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Acting
Jessica Biel
"The Illusionist"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Family Feature
"The Tillamook Treasure"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Family Short
"Smile"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
Short Film
"Still Life"
Maverick Film Award
"Last Stop Paul"
Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
First Time Filmmaker
Monty Lapica
"Self Medicated"
MySpace
Feature
"Jimmy & Judy"
MySpace
Documentary
"Chasing the Horizon"
MySpace
Short
"Apartment 206"
Audience Awards
Feature Film
"Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont"
Documentary
"Visioning Tibet"
Short Film
"Footsteps of the Unknown"
Attendance at the 2006 Newport Beach Film Festival is estimated at 35,000 guests. The Festival will feature encore screenings of select films at the Orange County Museum of Art (850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach) on April 29 & 30, 2006. A complete schedule is available on the Festival's website.
Now Casting - HGTV Needs Your Help Finding Offbeat Homes in Indiana and Coast-to-Coast
"Offbeat America," a series on Home & Garden Television (HGTV) that celebrates the offbeat spirit of America's homeowners, needs unusual Indiana houses or yards that are truly amazing - spectacular even. While the program is interested in Indiana homes and homeowners, the show's producers welcome submittals for homes anywhere in the country.
Do you have or know of a home that is architecturally extraordinary or furnished/decorated in a fun and funky way? High Noon Entertainment, producer of the popular "Offbeat America" show, will be shooting Indiana homes in June and homes across the country through the end of this summer.
Recent episodes have featured:
-- a Mojave Desert resident who engineered his aluminum home to spin like a top.
-- a Pennsylvania home covered in mirrors that appears to disappear as it reflects the surrounding landscape.
-- a homeowner in Green Bay, Wis., who loves racing slot cars so much that he designed his home to look like a giant racetrack.
-- a woman who fashions sweaters from her cats' hair and a man who makes yard statues from fertilizer.
The Offbeat series premiered in July 2005 and airs Sundays at 6 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
For more information or to submit a home for consideration, contact Gregg Stucker at 303-712-3172 or send digital photos of your home and a description to gstucker@highnoonentertainment.com.
About HGTV:
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, HGTV, which is now distributed to more than 87 million U.S. households, is one of the fastest-growing networks in cable television history. HGTV.com is America's leading online destination for home and garden information, with more than 4 million visitors each month. HGTV is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company.
About High Noon Entertainment:
High Noon Entertainment of Centennial, Colo., produces the series for HGTV. The company produces several series for HGTV including "Designer Finals," "Generation Renovation," and "If Walls Could Talk." The producers behind High Noon have created several series and award-winning primetime documentaries for cable networks like HGTV, Food Network, Animal Planet, CMT, E!, Style and the Discovery Channel.
High Noon Entertainment
E3Expo, AIAS and LACMA Announce Art Selected for 3rd Annual Into the Pixel
Art Exhibition at E3Expo 2006 Showcases the Talented Artists and Inspirational Art that Goes into Computer and Video Games
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), and the Prints & Drawings Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) today announced 16 works of art from video games selected for the 2006 Into the Pixel exhibition. Now in its third year, Into the Pixel (ITP) is the world's only juried art exhibition that brings together curators from world-renowned museums, cutting-edge galleries, and the interactive entertainment industry to explore the art of the video game. The 2006 ITP art exhibition will take place May 10-12 in the Concourse Foyer of the Los Angeles Convention Center during E3Expo, the world's premier interactive entertainment trade event for computer and video games and related products.
"The Academy is thrilled to provide a platform that demonstrates its members talents, and the artistry that is now a driving force behind today's compelling interactive experiences," said Joseph Olin, president, The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. "There could be no better venue to celebrate these great works than E3Expo."
The 2006 ITP Collection includes 16 pieces of art selected from a field of more than 150 submissions that spanned the globe. The jury's selections showcase game artists' work from the US, UK, Japan, Poland, Germany, France and Canada. Art in this year's Collection features a breadth of genres, including single-figure character art, landscapes, and fantasy -- as well as art that is influenced by traditional Japanese art, panoramic paintings, line art, "woodblock," and much more. For more information about Into the Pixel art, artists and jurors, please refer to http://www.IntoThePixel.com.
ITP has established itself as the one annual opportunity for computer and video game artists to receive critical review of their creative achievements by peers in the both digital art world and traditional fine art experts. All 16 works of art that make up the Into the Pixel Collection are printed by a master printer, then framed and hung in the ITP Gallery at E3Expo. This year's Gallery opening is sponsored by GameTap.
"Into the Pixel has established itself as the interactive entertainment industry's most prestigious opportunity to showcase the art of the game, and celebrate the artists whose talent creates these stunning images," says Doug Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers and the owner of E3Expo. "Through the unique partnership between E3Expo, the Academy and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Into the Pixel has pioneered the digital game art exhibition and continues to facilitate this valuable conversation between the traditional and digital art worlds."
Interest in Into the Pixel has spurred requests from around the world to host the Collection. Over the past year, the ITP Collection has been on exhibit at E3Expo, the Tech Museum in San Jose, the Academy's D.I.C.E. Summit conference in Las Vegas, and a private showing in Los Angeles. In October, ITP will make its European debut at GameCity in Nottingham, England. Additional venues are in the process of being finalized.
Into the Pixel: Selected Artworks & Artists -0-
Winning
Artwork Title Artist Company Game Title Country
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aegan Landfall Elveon / An
Radoslav Elvish
Javor 10TACLE Studios Action Epic Slovakia
Alin Glass Big Huge Rise of
Desert Dylan Cole Games/Microsoft Legends USA
Chicago Train Stephan
Graveyard Martiniere Midway Games Stranglehold USA
Damascus Souk Nicolas
Bouvier and
Patrick Project
Desgreniers Ubisoft Assassin Canada
Darkness FreeStyleGames/Sony
Computer
Entertainment
Brian Dugan Europe B-Boy UK
Eyes Gerald
Obringer
and Pierre Evidence -
Guillaume The Last
Baret Lexis Numerique Ritual France
Floating
Mosque Daniel Dociu Arenanet Guildwars USA
In the Garden Metal Gear
of Eva Yuji Konami Digital Solid 3:
Shinkawa Entertainment Subsistence Japan
Into the Fray Daryl
Mandryk Buena Vista Games Turok Canada
Monster House Monster
Toy Room Donald Caron THQ House USA
Rooftop The
Godfather
Tyler West Electronic Arts The Game USA
Rooftops Daniel Dociu Arenanet Guildwars USA
Screen_000027 Chris Davie Project
and PGR3 Bizarre Gotham
Art Team Creations/Microsoft Racing 3 UK
The Road Damian
Bajowski CD Projekt RED The Witcher Poland
The Sphere Ashley Welch Human Head Studios Prey USA
Titan's Head Sony Computer
Eduardo Entertainment
Gonzalez America God of War USA
ITP 2006 Jurors:
-- Kevin Salatino - Lead Juror, LACMA: Curator and Department Head, Prints and Drawings
-- Cynthia Burlingham - Hammer Museum: Deputy Director of Collections
-- Ryan Church - Freelance Concept Artist
-- Caryn Coleman - LA gallery sixspace / art.blogging.la: Co-owner and Director
-- Tim Langdell - University of Southern California: Professor / EDGE Games: Chairman
-- Lorne Lanning - Oddworld Inhabitants: President/Creative Director
-- Louis Marchesano - Getty Research Institute: Collections Curator, Prints and Drawings
Sponsors:
Into the Pixel is presented by GameTap, with a major contribution from GameCity.
About E3Expo
E3Expo is the world's premier trade show for computer and video games and related products. The show, now in its twelfth year, is owned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies, publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. For more information, please visit http://www.e3expo.com or http://www.theesa.com.
About the Prints & Drawings Council of LACMA
The Prints and Drawings Council (formerly the Graphic Arts Council) is a nonprofit organization which supports LACMA's Department of Prints and Drawings and encourages the appreciation of original works on paper. The Council raises acquisition funds for the Department of Prints and Drawings through membership dues and fundraising activities. Established as an independent institution in 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has assembled a permanent collection that includes approximately 100,000 works of art spanning the history of art from ancient times to the present, making it the premier encyclopedic visual arts museum in the western United States. Located in the heart of one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, the museum uses its collection and resources to provide a variety of educational and cultural experiences for the people who live in, work in, and visit Los Angeles. LACMA offers an outstanding schedule of special exhibitions, as well as lectures, classes, family activities, film programs and world-class musical events. Call 323-857-6000, or visit our web site at http://www.lacma.org for more information.
About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences:
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences(R) (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The Academy's mission is to promote and advance common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community; recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community. In 2002 the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy has over 10,000 members, with the board composed of senior executives from the major videogame companies including Bioware/Pandemic, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and Ubisoft. More information on AIAS and the D.I.C.E. Summit can be found at http://www.interactive.org and http://www.dicesummit.org
SPORTS & AUTOS
OAKLAND & DODGER BASEBALL
Oakland 5, Kansas City 3 at Kauffman Stadium
Oakland Record: (11-12)
Kansas City Record: (5-16)
Winning pitcher - Dan Haren (1-2)
Losing pitcher - Joe Mays (0-3)
SV - Kirk Saarloos (1)
OAK HR - M. Ellis (2)
KC HR - R. Sanders (4) M. Sweeney (2)
Los Angeles 3, San Diego 0 at PETCO Park
Los Angeles Record: (11-12)
San Diego Record: (8-14)
Winning pitcher - Jae Seo (1-2)
Losing pitcher - Chris Young (2-2)
SV - Danys Baez (7)
NFL Draft Day, Silver Ticket Program and Commemorative 5-Liter NFL Kickoff Keg Can
Are Just a Few Examples of How Coors Light is Bringing the NFL Experience to Consumers
Months before the players take the field, Coors Light, the official beer sponsor of the NFL, is building excitement for the NFL season among football fans.
"The NFL is the single greatest sports property in the world. The power of the sport is evident in that its fans follow their favorite teams and players throughout the year, not just during the season," said Andy England, chief marketing officer for Coors Brewing Company. "This year, Coors Light is leveraging its affiliation with the NFL all year long by giving fans several chances to win access to some of the most exciting and sought-after sporting events on the calendar."
"Fans have an insatiable appetite for the NFL," said Peter Murray, the NFL's vice president of sales and partnership marketing. "The NFL is a year-round passion for our fans and we are pleased to see a sponsor like Coors Light bring them closer to our events with great experiences."
Coors Light kicks off its year-round sponsorship of the 2006 NFL season at this weekend's NFL Draft. In fulfillment of its 2005 "Road to XL" promotion, which gave consumers the opportunity to win a myriad of NFL prizes throughout the 2005 season, Coors Light is sending 20 fans from across the country to the NFL Draft, being conducted April 29-30 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
In addition to a fan presence, Coors Light is a presenting sponsor of ESPN's NFL Draft coverage including the "Video Conferencing" segments, which will feature interviews with coaches on the draft picks of other teams and give fans an inside look at each team's "war room." Coors Light will also have a presence on ESPN.com throughout the month of April, including the ESPN home page, the Draft Central pages, and the NFL sections of the site. Additionally, Coors Light will sponsor Draft coverage on the NFL Network. Complementing an extensive advertising presence, Coors Light will sponsor the "Fantasy Impact Players" feature, which highlights the impact of upcoming NFL rookies on the 2006 Fantasy Football season.
Soon after the Draft, adult football fans will have an opportunity to get into the game with Coors Light's Silver Ticket promotion. Starting Labor Day 2006, Silver Ticket entry forms will be available in Coors Light 12-packs and at participating bars and restaurants. Consumers use their Silver Ticket entry code online at http://www.coorslight.com to enter the sweepstakes. Once entered, they can win NFL memorabilia, NFL partner prizes, entry into exclusive Silver Ticket parties, tickets to NFL games and spectacular Super Bowl prize packages. The program will run throughout the 2006 NFL regular season.
Coors Light will also be bringing back its Commemorative 5-Liter NFL Kickoff Keg Can for the 2006 NFL season. The Commemorative Coors Light 5-Liter Keg Can holds more than 14 bottles of Coors Light, making it the perfect size for entertaining during the football season. The Keg Can will be available at select retailers beginning in September 2006.
About Coors Brewing Company
Coors Brewing Company is a subsidiary of Molson Coors Brewing Company, (NYSE: TAP)(TSX: TAP). It is the third largest brewer in the U.S. The company's U.S. brands include Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Coors, Aspen Edge, Killian's Irish Red, Keystone, Blue Moon, Coors NA and Zima XXX. For more information on Molson Coors, visit the company's Web site, http://www.molsoncoors.com.
1963 Maple Leafs Voted NHL's 'All-Time Greatest' Single-Season Squad; Join Six Rookies, One Player per Team in Industry's First-Ever Fan-Voted Trading Card Set
Fan Voted Collection Featuring Select Players Hits Retail in Fall
The 2005-06 NHL regular season ended last week, with the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the league's final game, 5-3.
The final of Upper Deck's All-Time Greatest Collection tournament, with fans voting on the League's best single-season squad ever? The same two teams, the same outcome, the same margin of victory. Just with different players from different eras.
Receiving 64 percent of the vote, the 1962-63 Leafs beat the 1991-92 Pens, completing Upper Deck's weekly 16-team season-long tourney pitting the NHL's all-time greatest teams.
Along with the 1963 Maple Leafs, six all-time rookies and one player per team will be included in the collection, the industry's first ever fan-voted trading card set. The collection will feature 37 cards in all and hit retail stores this fall.
The rookies: Tony Esposito (Chicago Blackhawks), Mario Lemieux (Penguins), Guy Lafleur (Montreal Canadiens), Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres), Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) and Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers).
Each team's individual player* representative can be found listed below.
While only one player per team made the All-Time Greatest Collection -- with players really only battling other members from the same franchise -- it was a battle all season to see who would finish with the most overall votes.
The New York Rangers' Andy Bathgate led the vote for the contest's first three months, all the way up until the contest's final two weeks. Bathgate will still represent the Rangers in Upper Deck's collection, but was overtaken for all-time greatest player by both Boston's Bobby Orr (No. 1) and Montreal's Maurice Richard (No. 2).
Orr won the title by less than one-tenth of a percent of the overall all-time player vote. In total, 4.5 million votes were tallied across the contest's three categories.
Notable Storylines: After Only One Season, Ovechkin is Best-Ever Capital; Three Players with Two Cards
- Rookie Alexander Ovechkin, who became only the sixth rookie in NHL
history to score at least 100 points in a season, was voted the best
Washington Capital ever, besting Mike Gartner;
- Gretzky and Perreault were the only players to have two cards
in the set: one rookie and one all-time greatest player for their
individual team, and;
- Fans of Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull and son, former NHLer Brett,
came in mass to vote:
- Brett was St. Louis' all-time player representative while
finishing in the top-six all time; Brett also nearly beat Mike
Modano to become Dallas' all-time greatest player;
- Bobby Hull, who was not listed on the ballot, got the most
write-in votes of any player, with 2,225 for his tenure with
Chicago.
All-Time Greatest Collection: Team Representatives
Player Team
Bobby Orr Boston Bruins
Maurice Richard Montreal Canadiens
Andy Bathgate New York Rangers
Ted Lindsay Detroit Red Wings
Brett Hull St. Louis Blues
Stan Mikita Chicago Blackhawks
Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Modano Dallas Stars
Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals
Darryl Sittler Toronto Maple Leafs
Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers
Ron Francis Carolina Hurricanes
Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators
Al MacInnis Calgary Flames
Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils
Teemu Selanne Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Pavel Bure Vancouver Canucks
Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche
Gilbert Perreault Buffalo Sabres
Rick Nash Columbus Blue Jackets
Ilya Kovalchuk Atlanta Thrashers
John Vanbiesbrouck Florida Panthers
Bryan Trottier New York Islanders
Marcel Dionne Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik Minnesota Wild
Shane Doan Phoenix Coyotes
Martin St. Louis Tampa Bay Lightning
Tomas Vokoun Nashville Predators
Evgeni Nabokov San Jose Sharks
* For the complete voting results, visit www.thealltimegreatest.com. Please note the names mentioned above may or may not be included in the final checklist for inclusion in the All-Time Greatest Collection and are dependent upon the availability of the player.
About the Upper Deck Company
Founded in 1988, The Upper Deck Co. is a premier global sports and entertainment-publishing company that delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors, sports and entertainment enthusiasts.
Source: The Upper Deck Company
Web site: http://www.thealltimegreatest.com/
Unclear Offers Frustrate Media Buyers Eager to Buy in
The NFL is talking to media buyers about in-game "enhancements," anything that would help a marketer connect to the consumer beyond the traditional 30-second spot. But with a raft of new carriage deals with broadcast networks, coming up with a package that works for all the parties is proving difficult.
While other sports carry many 'brought to you by' moments during the game, the NFL has previously steered clear of such clutter, preferring sponsored highlights or replays for after the game.
Photo Credit: AP
While other sports carry many "brought to you by" moments during the game, the NFL has previously steered clear of such clutter, preferring sponsored highlights or replays for after the game. Media buyers have said they're interested in the new opportunities being discussed, but have been frustrated about the lack of detail about what's being offered. Time is of the essence, because the main broadcast network ad sales period, the upfront, is just two weeks away. NBC this season is once again part of the football market for the first time in six years, joining broadcast partners CBS, Fox, ESPN and DirecTV. Also in the mix is the NFL's own cable channel, the NFL Network.
"We are talking to the networks and advertisers and no possible enhancements have been determined, though nothing has been ruled," said a spokesman for the NFL Network, which conducted its first upfront presentation April 26. The spokesman said Ron Furman, the NFL Network's senior VP-ad sales, had just joined the network the same day.
Sports business executives say the prospect of a new ad offering has hit a stumbling block. One sports industry buyer said CBS wants to continue airing its football as is.
Separately, a senior NBC executive said: "The discussion on enhancements is still ongoing with the league. That will be resolved shortly." CBS was not immediately available for comment.
It is not clear what the stumbling blocks are, though the revenue split is likely to be the sticking point. The NFL would not comment on how the ad deals shake down between the partners.
Mr. Furman, who came from MTV and was previously at Univision, will be working with Peter Murray, head of sponsorship sales. The network recently signed Diet Pepsi to sponsor its coverage of the NFL draft, which kicks off tomorrow.
The NFL Network used its upfront presentation to introduce newly signed talent to media buyers. Joining the cable network, available in around 35 million cable homes, are Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth, who will call the eight late-season, Thursday-to-Saturday prime-time games.
In November 2004, CBS and Fox agreed to extend their NFL packages for six more years at $622 million and $712 million annually, respectively. NBC and ESPN last April secured rights for six and eight years, respectively. NBC is paying $600 million per year for Sunday night games, and ESPN (which had aired the Sunday night games) is paying a whopping $1.1 billion a year to take over the "Monday Night Football" franchise from Walt Disney sibling ABC. DirecTV also extended its contract to five more years for $3.5 billion
PLAYERS INC Licenses Trading Card Companies to Promote All NFL Players
PLAYERS INC, the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association, is the exclusive licensor of NFL player names, images and biographical and statistical information for trading card companies.
"Of all of our licensed categories, the trading card industry was the first to successfully connect fans to their favorite players," said Clay Walker, senior vice president of PLAYERS INC, the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. "Collecting trading cards is a longstanding tradition that continues to thrive by providing consumers with unique cards, high quality photography, player autographs and game worn jerseys."
The following are statistics and information about PLAYERS INC and its involvement in the trading card industry:
* Every year PLAYERS INC produces the NFL Players Rookie Premiere, where
thirty of the top NFL draft picks gather for a four-day outing in Los
Angeles. At this event, the rookies wear their official team jerseys
for the first time while participating in a series of photo shoots for
trading card companies Donruss/Playoff, Topps and Upper Deck. This
year's "Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere presented by EA SPORTS" will
take place May 19-21, 2006, at the LA Coliseum.
* PLAYERS INC trading card licensees Donruss/Playoff, Topps, Upper Deck,
and RC2 (Press Pass), manufacture more than 32 million packs of NFL
Player trading cards per year.
* NFL players signed more than 1.4 million autographs for PLAYERS INC
licensed trading card companies in 2005.
* For the last four years in a row, PLAYERS INC, in conjunction with the
NFL, has won the Krause Award for Best Licensor Promotion for the "NFL
Player of the Day" promotion, which is utilized by more than 600 hobby
shops nationwide each year.
* Trading cards is the NFL Players Association and PLAYERS INC's oldest
licensing category. The first trading card set to include NFL players
was the 1935 National Chicle Set. Topps has been manufacturing trading
cards featuring NFL players for more than 50 years.
About PLAYERS INC:
Formed in 1994, PLAYERS INC is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. Representing more than 1,800 active and 3,500 retired NFL players, PLAYERS INC "takes the helmets off" the players and markets them as personalities as well as professional athletes. Through an exclusive sponsorship agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, NFL players are integrated into NFL sponsor activation programs through PLAYERS INC. In addition, under an exclusive agreement between the NFL and PLAYERS INC, nflplayers.com, PLAYERS INC's official website, is part of the NFL Internet Network. Each year PLAYERS INC negotiates and facilitates more than 3,500 player marketing opportunities for NFL players. PLAYERS INC activities include retail licensing, corporate sponsorships and promotions, special events, radio and television projects, publishing and internet. For more information, please visit www.nflplayers.com.
Source: PLAYERS INC
Web site: http://www.nflplayers.com/
Patrick on tour to promote autobiography
The table is being set for another “Danicamania Month” in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the phenomena was coined when Danica Patrick became the highest starting (fourth) female and first to lead the Indianapolis 500.
The 2005 Bombardier Rookie of the Year doesn’t pull on her helmet until May 9, but she’ll be in the news until arriving in the Rahal Letterman Racing garage at 16th and Georgetown.
First is the inclusion in People magazine’s “World’s Most Beautiful People” issue that hit newsstands April 28. Patrick joins film/TV actors and musicians Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba, Terrance Howard, James Blunt and Beyonce among 94 others. One is Vision Racing co-owner and "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey. Pillowed-lipped actress/social crusader Angelina Jolie is on the cover.
In text accompanying a photo of Patrick, she says her skin takes a beating on race weekends. “You sweat so much. We have a helmet and this head sock; the sun’s on you. I do MicroDermabrasion every month. And facials – the hurt so good.”
Second is the tour to promote her autobiography “Danica Patrick: Crossing the Line,” which will be on shelves May 2. The tour begins May 1 in New York with appearances on “The Today Show” on NBC (check local listings), “Centerstage with Michael Kay” on the YES Network, “Showbiz Tonight” on CNN Headline News, and a taping for same-day airing on “Inside Edition.” Patrick also will sign copies of the book from 1-2 p.m. at Borders at 100 Broadway.
An appearance on CBS’ “The Early Show” kicks off May 2, followed by ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” and “Video Views” for Business Week. On May 3, Patrick will be a guest on “Fox & Friends” on the Fox Network and tape a segment on “Live with Regis & Kelly.” The New York portion of the tour concludes with an appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on CBS.
“Danica Patrick: Crossing the Line,” which was written with Laura Morton in the off-season, chronicles her life with tales from the track and insights into her personal life. Other book signings will be held from 7-8 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 555 12th St. NW in Washington on May 4 and from 7-8 p.m. at Borders, 8675 River Crossing Blvd. in Indianapolis on May 7.
IndyCar Series Merchandise
“Writing a book is a situation that I didn't think would come up so early in my life,” the 24-year-old Patrick said. “I’m imagining that people think it's quite funny that I have a book out about my life that was finished when I was 23. “I guess some people thought I had a story to tell, and I do.”
Patrick selected and captioned the photos, and was "involved in every little bit."
"I think it's very important for me, especially for me having a book about my life, I want it to be correct and accurate," she said. "I've read every word in the book a few times. That's important."
Another successful month at Indianapolis could provide enough material for a sequel.
Tune in to Danica
May 1
"Today Show" on NBC (segment time TBD; show is 7-9 a.m. EDT)
"Centerstage with Michael Kay" on the YES Network (10:30 a.m. EDT)
"Inside Edition" (syndicated)
"Showbiz Tonight" on CNN Headline News (segment between 7-8 p.m. EDT)
May 2
"The Early Show" on CBS (segment time TBD; show is 7:30-9 a.m. EDT)
"WCBS2 This Morning" on WCBS New York (10:10-10:20 a.m. EDT)
"Cold Pizza" on ESPN2 (segment between 11 a.m.-noon)
"Video Views" on Business Week (taping)
May 3
"WB11 Morning News" on WPIX New York (7 a.m. EDT)
"Fox & Friends" on Fox Network (7:30 a.m. EDT)
"Live with Regis and Kelly" (syndicated; taped segment)
"The Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS (11:30 p.m. EDT)
©2006 Indy Racing League, LLC. all rights reserved. INDY RACING LEAGUE, INDYCAR® & INDY PRO SERIES™ are trademarks of Brickyard Trademarks, Inc. and/or licensed to IRL for use.
Teens and Parents Invited to View GEICO 'Real Teen Driving' DVD May 5
Local teenagers and parents are invited to get a close up look at how teens really drive when GEICO presents its "Real Teen Driving" DVD and teen safe driving program on Friday, May 5, during a driver education class from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Marana High School, 12000 W. Emigh Rd., Tucson.
GEICO, with parental permission, videotaped four Washington D.C. area high school students with in-car cameras for several months to see how well, or how poorly, they really did drive. The DVD captures some of the most common mistakes made by young drivers, and the teens that appear on the DVD are featured as they get a chance to see and evaluate their own driving experiences. GEICO produced the DVD without any scripted material and all of the conversations and driving sequences appear just as they took place.
Participating in GEICO's Real Teen Driving safety panel on May 5 are GEICO associates Shari Goddard and Capin Garden who will discuss several issues related to new drivers, including when and how to insure a teen driver, how to avoid accidents, and what to do in the event of an accident.
"By showing real teenagers behind the wheel, GEICO's 'Real Teen Driving' video can have a much greater impact than any lecture or statistics you can provide," said Shari Goddard, an associate specialist in GEICO's Tucson office. "It's not another adult telling them about the hazards of driving. It's other teens like themselves learning what a tremendous responsibility driving is and why it's not one that should ever be taken lightly."
GEICO took on the "Real Teen Driving" project to alert teens to their driving behaviors, which have put young drivers in the highest risk driving category in the nation. In fact, the number one killer of young drivers, age 16-20, is auto accidents.
For more information on about safe teen driving subject, please go to
http://www.geico.com/teendriving.
.GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 11 million vehicles. GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies. Rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company, GEICO keeps its rates low by dealing directly with the customer. GEICO provides consumers with outstanding sales, service and claims capabilities on its geico.com Web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers may also contact the company at its toll free 1-800-841-3000 number. 15 minutes could save you 15% on car insurance. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com/.
Source: GEICO
DOD
DoD Identifies Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford, 19, of New Bedford, Mass., died April 26 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed last night when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad. The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of family.
Marine Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford, 19, of New Bedford, Mass., died April 26 in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. - Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema, 27, of Jackson, Tenn., died in Baghdad on April 25, when he came under enemy fire during combat operations. Herrema was assigned to Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. - Army Pfc. Raymond L. Henry, 21, of Anaheim, Calif., died April 25 in Mosul, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. Henry was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. - Army Staff Sgt. Metodio A. Bandonill, 29, of Honolulu died in Baghdad on April 24, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. Bandonill was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. - Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron W. Simons, 20, of Modesto, Calif., died April 24 in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms. -
Army Capt. Clayton L. Adamkavicius, 43, of Fairdale, Ky., died of injuries sustained in Abu Ghurayb, Afghanistan, April 21, when he came under enemy small-arms fire. Adamkavicius was assigned to the Army National Guard's 149th Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, Louisville, Ky. - Marine Cpl. Eric R. Lueken, 23, of Dubois, Ind., died April 22 in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. - Army Pvt. Travis C. Zimmerman, 19, of New Berlinville, Pa., died in Baghdad April 22, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his observation post. Zimmerman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell. -
Marine Staff Sgt. Jason C. Ramseyer, 28, of Lenoir, N.C., died April 20 in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay. Three soldiers died of injuries sustained in Taji, Iraq, on April 23 when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Humvee. All three soldiers were assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were: - Sgt. Robert W. Ehney, 26, of Lexington, Ky.; - Cpl. Jason B. Daniel, 21, of Fort Worth, Texas; and - Cpl. Shawn T. Lasswell Jr., 21, of Reno, Nev.
Four soldiers died of injuries sustained in Baghdad April 22 when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Humvee causing a fire. All four soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood. Killed were: - Sgt. Kyle A. Colnot, 23, of Arcadia, Calif.; - Spc. Eric D. King, 29, of Vancouver, Wash.; - Pfc. Jacob H. Allcott, 21, of Caldwell, Idaho; and - Pvt. Michael E. Bouthot, 19, of Fall River, Mass.
Kids of Deployed Military Parents Need Consistency
Consistency is key for children as their military parents deploy, a university psychologist said. Dr. Frederic Medway, psychology professor at the University of South Carolina, has been publishing research on family separation issues since 1987. He said his work has shown that while children of different ages have different needs, if parents offer as consistent an environment as possible, their kids tend to fare better. "Set the tone early," Medway told American Forces Press Service during an interview at the Pentagon. "Try not to make many big changes while deployment happens." That's easier to do with young children, he said. Parents have a lot more control when their children have not yet started school, and they should use that time to foster an environment of safety and stability because other challenges abound. Common childhood fears of things like animals and thunder often get compounded when children are thinking about a parent in a hostile zone, and explaining away those fears is tricky. "Younger children won't understand abstract concepts such as time," he said.
Checking off dates on a calendar or explaining, "Mommy comes home in a year," may not make much sense to them, so keeping big changes to a minimum helps them feel better. With school-age kids, the situation becomes more complex, Medway said. They have more going on in their lives at school and with friends. Offering a consistent environment can be difficult for the parent at home, especially if the parent is working as well as raising the child. As children reach adolescent age, parents must be especially sensitive to what they are going through. "I think the teen years are especially tough because teens are notorious at not talking to their parents about things," Medway said. "I think this is a population that we as mental health people really need to watch out for." Medway said young teens also have access to information and an ability to grasp it that younger children do not. "Often they are worried, watching TV, CNN, hearing rumors," he said.
Another defining problem for adolescents is a wish to be the same as everyone else. Financial issues, lack of access to a car, clothes not jazzy enough, and other problems become an excuse to lash out, he said. "I think, unfortunately, a lot of these children look for something to attribute that to, and in some cases they will get angry with the stay-at-home parent because the other parent is overseas, and their family isn't like everybody else," he said. For these reasons and others, setting the tone early in terms of communication is critical to creating consistency for children once they go to school, Medway said. "You've really got to start working on that open communication at age 4, ... because by the time your child hits 12 they may naturally shut down a little bit, and if you don't have good communication in the beginning, it's certainly going to be difficult by the time they're in that 12-to-14 range," he said. Families who have a parent deployed certainly see long-lasting effects due to separation and sacrifice, Medway said.
These are lifelong consequences that will change the course of where that family is going, but not always for the worse. He mentioned that military kids often learn to be more independent and outgoing than their peers, for example. Medway also explained that each phase of deployment poses different challenges, and families who educate themselves tend to do better. "I think it's so important to be informed, and that really means go to all the briefings that your unit has," he said. "Everything sort of starts there." Medway also suggests getting supports in place long before separation starts, which means talking with friends, parents, grandparents and on-base family aids.
The months surrounding homecoming often offer the biggest challenges, Medway said. Part of that is due to high expectations. "We expect that everything is going to be very well and very good, but soldiers change, and families change, and oftentimes the very early period is a good period, but sometimes after 30 days or 60 days, there are some little bumps in the road," he said. "These bumps in the road are really a function of being apart from your loved one. They're not so much a function, necessarily, that your loved one was separated because of military service, because we see the same thing in long-term business travel, in missionary kinds of work, etcetera." A combination of patience and consistency tends to help families most, he said. Research during the 1991 Persian Gulf War revealed that children's behavior often got worse during the reunion stage than it was during deployment. "The child was responding to one parent who was consistent with himself," Medway said. "When you bring a second person back in, and their view of parenting may differ based upon the first person, that can throw the kids for a loop." Another important aid in coping, one often left as a last resort, is the mental health service available in the community. "Get to problems early," he said. Teachers, school psychologists and school counselors are often great sources of help for kids, while military assistants, family doctors and chaplains can do a lot for parents
America Supports You: Arizona Bikers Roll Out for Troops
Nearly 1,500 Arizona bikers rolled their Harleys through Glendale, Ariz., recently to honor the nation's servicemembers and back a local troop support organization, an event organizer said. The second Hearts to Heroes Ride, sponsored by Cyclerides.com, benefited Packages From Home, a nonprofit group that ships packages to troops deployed overseas, said Dave Whitten, director of marketing and media relations for Packages From Home. Cyclerides.com is an information Web site for the Glendale-area motorcycle community, sponsored the event. Packages From Home is a member of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, which highlights efforts by Americans to support servicemembers and their families.
Whitten said the riders each paid $10 to participate in the late March event. "This cash donation will be used for postage to ship more care packages to our deployed men and women," Whitten said. "Each rider (also) is asked to bring a bag of items that is listed on the Packages From Home Web site." This event, as well as donations from individuals and corporations, helps Packages From Home meet its goal of providing deployed servicemembers with food, personal care and recreation items, he said. Those are just the tangible support the troops receive though. " (The bikers) showing up at the event (showed) our troops that American people care about them and the mission they have been asked to do," Whitten said. Packages From Home began in March 2004 when Kathleen Lewis, the mother of a deployed soldier, learned her son lacked certain comforts of home, according to the Web site. She began sending him care packages and founded the organization when she learned her son was sharing his packages with others.
Lewis, along with about 15 other grassroots group members of America Supports You, met with President and Mrs. Bush in the White House last month. "Our troops our defending our freedom; they are defending our country from terrorism; they're the best of America," she said after the March 10 meeting. To date, the organization has shipped more than 25,000 packages, Whitten said. "We average over 1,200 packages a month we ship to our troops," he added. With an all-volunteer staff that numbers about 300, Packages From Home operates solely on donations, Whitten said. He added that all monetary donations go toward shipping costs that run about $8,200 for every 1,000 packages shipped. This kind of support is crucial not only to Packages From Home, but to the troops it benefits as well. "I think it means a lot to a (servicemember) to get a care package from someone other than family," Whitten said. "It lets them know that real Americans think about them while they're off in a foreign land away from everyone they know and love." Barry Caraway, owner of Cyclerides.com, held the first Hearts to Heroes event in March 2005. This year's event included tributes to eight World War II veterans and to Vietnam veterans, Whitten said.
DoD Implements NSPS to Spiral 1.1
Organizations Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England today signed the directive that will implement the National Security Personnel System, a new civilian human resources system, for about 11,000 employees on April 30. Civilian employees from 12 DoD organizations, including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Tricare Management Activity, Naval Sea Systems Command, the Navy's Office of Civilian Human Resources and Human Resources Service Centers, Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Strategic Systems Program Office, Human Performance Center and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Army's Civilian Human Resources Agency, which includes the Civilian Personnel Operations Center and the Civilian Personnel Advisory Centers, the Secretary of the Air Force Manpower and Reserve Affairs office, elements of Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and the Air Force Audit Agency, will be the first to transition to the system as part of Spiral 1.1.
Beginning the week of April 30, these employees will be converted to pay bands that replace the General Schedule and will be given new results-focused performance plans that are clearly linked to their organization's mission and strategic goals. "NSPS is critical to the department's overall transformation to a results-oriented, performance-based culture. It will help us attract and retain the talent we need to execute our national security mission," said Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, who also serves as the NSPS senior executive. "Our senior leaders are ready, our employees and their supervisors are trained, and we are excited about achieving this major milestone." Training of managers, supervisors, and employees has been a top priority for the department in preparing for NSPS. Classroom and Web-based training covering the basics of NSPS, with special emphasis on performance management, has been in high gear for employees over the last several months. Managers and supervisors received additional training on setting clear performance expectations and evaluating and providing feedback to employees.
One of the web-based courses is available on the NSPS Web site at http://www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/nsps101 [http://www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/nsps101] . Employees in Spiral 1.1 will convert into NSPS based on their permanent position of record and will experience no loss of pay in the conversion. In fact, most employees will actually see an increase in pay if they are eligible for a one-time, prorated "within-grade increase (WGI) buy-in." Employees can access a conversion tool in the NSPS 101 Course to see the value of their WGI buy-in as well as their career group and pay band. In addition to basic pay, Spiral 1.1 employees will receive local market supplements equivalent to the locality pay they get today. The performance appraisal cycle for Spiral 1.1 employees begins April 30 and ends Oct. 31, 2006. These employees will receive their first performance pay increases in January 2007. In addition, employees performing satisfactorily will receive an increase equivalent to the general pay and locality increase received by General Schedule employees in January 2007. Mary Lacey, NSPS Program Executive Officer, is visiting Spiral 1.1 organizations this week to meet with employees and senior leaders. "They need to know that NSPS is a flexible system designed to help them better meet their mission objectives," she said. "Their feedback is critical in helping us make the system better over time. We want NSPS to work for them, and for all of DoD."
NEWS
Bush Nominates Unknown Executive to Head Small Business Administration
Until the quiet announcement yesterday that Steven Preston had been nominated to replace Hector Barreto as Administrator of the SBA, no one had ever heard of Steven Preston.
A cursory Google search found only one reference to the nominee. Small business owners are concerned that the appointment of a corporate executive with no small business experience indicates that the Bush Administration has no intention to clean up the problems at the agency. "We don't need another unqualified SBA Administrator," stated Lloyd Chapman, President of the American Small Business League. "Hector Barreto's dismal track record is a clear indication of what happens when you appoint someone that has no qualifications to run an important Federal agency. I'm afraid this nomination signals a continuation of the Bush administration's intention to continue to dismantle the agency. "I predict that we will not see Mr. Preston do anything to address the eleven Federal investigations that have found billions of dollars in small business contracts have been diverted to large firms as a result of fraud, abuse, and lack of oversight. If Preston is approved, he will likely foster policies that will act as barriers to small firms doing business with the Federal government and continue to allow awards to Fortune 1000 companies to be reported as small business contracts." Chapman added, "Republicans since Ronald Reagan have been trying to close the SBA and abolish Federal small business contracting programs.
If the Democrats fail to take over Congress in the fall, it is likely that Bush will close the agency before the end of his presidency. It's time for small business owners to band together and fight to keep these programs. We're talking about $119 billion in Federal prime contracts and subcontracts - and once it's gone, we will never get it back." About the ASBL The American Small Business League was formed to promote and advocate policies that provide the greatest opportunity for small businesses - the 98 percent of U.S. companies with less than 100 employees. The ASBL is founded on the principle that small businesses, the backbone of a vital American economy, should receive the fair treatment promised by the Small Business Act of 1953. Representing small businesses in all fields and industries throughout the United States, the ASBL monitors existing policies and proposed policy changes by the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies that affect its members.
Business Ethics Magazine Names Whirlpool One of 100 Best Corporate Citizens
Company One of Only 16 Named to List All Seven Years
Whirlpool Corporation has been named one of the 100 best corporate citizens by Business Ethics magazine. The company is one of only 16 companies named to the list each year since its inception seven years ago.
Business Ethics magazine released its annual survey of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" in the Spring 2006 issue published April 27. The closely watched survey has gained national recognition as an indicator of best practices in the area of corporate social responsibility.
"We're honored to be named one of the 100 best corporate citizens," said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool's chairman and CEO. "Whirlpool has conducted business with integrity and extended a helping hand to people in times of need throughout our nearly 100 year history. We believe this recognition by Business Ethics magazine is a reflection of our people, who personify our values."
Seeking to put numerical ratings on service to these various stakeholder groups, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list uses data provided by KLD Research & Analytics of Boston. It employs statistical analysis to identify those major public U.S. companies that excel at serving a variety of stakeholders well, using eight measures of service: stockholders, community, governance, diversity, employees, environment, human rights, and product. Each company then receives an overall score based on their scores in the eight different issue areas. More details regarding the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list are available on the Business Ethics web site at http://www.business-ethics.com/whats_new/100best.html .
Founded in 1987, Business Ethics magazine is the only US-based business magazine focusing on ethics and corporate social responsibility in a media landscape otherwise dominated by traditional business publications. Published four times a year with a total distribution to approximately 10,000 readers, it has a unique position and a unique readership of thought leaders in business, investing, academia, government and civil society organizations interested in corporate social responsibility issues.
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion, more than 80,000 employees, and more than 60 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at
Web site: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/
http://www.business-ethics.com/whats_new/100best.html
Annual Toys 'R' Us Gala Hosts Toy Industry for a Night of Entertainment and Fundraising to Benefit Children in Need
From Hospital Playrooms to Toys for Tots, $5 Million Raised Last Night to Support Worthwhile Children's Charities and Organizations Throughout the Year
For more than 20 years, the toy industry has come together once a year in New York City for a magical evening to celebrate the heart of the toy business -- children. Last night, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund hosted its annual benefit gala to raise money for children's charities and organizations across the country. With $5 million raised during last night's event, the money will be used to fund worthwhile children's causes throughout the year, including the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund hospital playroom program and the annual Marine Toys for Tots toy drive, among others. The benefit gala, established in 1985 by Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus as a way to engage the toy industry in philanthropic efforts, has raised more than $72 million since its inception.
"Because children are the heart of our business, the Toys "R" Us family has a strong sense of responsibility to do whatever we can to make the lives of children happier and healthier," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys "R" Us, Inc. "We take that responsibility seriously and we will continue to leverage our position as the world's leading toy store in giving back to the communities we serve."
Founded in 1992, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund has donated millions of dollars each year to organizations and charities that support the health and welfare of children. Over the past four years, money raised through the Fund has been used to support the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund -- Starlight Sites and Gilda's Club Worldwide Noogieland playrooms. In addition, grants have been awarded throughout the years to Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, Children's Diabetes Foundation, Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), Make-A-Wish Foundation, MusiCares, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Reading is Fundamental and Save the Children, among many others.
In the past few years, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund has focused on the following three areas: Playrooms, Toys for Tots and Disaster Relief Assistance.
Toys "R" Us Children's Fund-Starlight Site Playroom Program
The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund kicked off its partnership with the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation in 2002 by providing this deserving non-profit organization with a $7 million, multi-year donation -- the largest in the Foundation's history. The goal of the partnership is to provide pediatric patients with a reprieve from treatment by creating engaging spaces in hospitals and medical settings where they can relax and play. The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund-Starlight Site playroom program is an example of a growing trend as hospitals increasingly consider a patient's environment to be an important factor in the healing process. Nearly 150,000 children benefit each year from the more than 40 playrooms that currently exist in 20 states across the country. Approximately 32 new playrooms will open in 2006, bringing the total number to 67 Starlight Sites in 21 states.
Toys "R" Us Children's Fund Holiday Toy Drive for Toys for Tots
In 2004, Toys "R" Us joined with Toys for Tots to create the largest retail partnership in the history of Toys for Tots. The 2005 Toys "R" Us Children's Fund Holiday Toy Drive contributed $4 million in cash and toys to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The cash and toys, which represented a combination of donations by Toys "R" Us customers and contributions from the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund, made Toys "R" Us the number one financial supporter of the Marine Toys for Tots Holiday Toy Drive in 2005. This donation helped Toys for Tots provide 18.4 million toys to 7.4 million needy children across the United States.
Toys "R" Us Children's Fund Disaster Relief Assistance
In January 2005, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund donated $1 million to support the efforts of Save the Children, USA to aid those children and families who were devastated by the tsunami in Southeastern Asia. This money helped Save the Children workers throughout Asia deliver much-needed food, water, medicines, and shelter to thousands of children and their families who survived one of history's worst natural disasters. In September 2005, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Toys "R" Us, Inc. mobilized and filled seven semi-trailers of toys and baby supplies to help displaced residents. To aid long-term recovery and relief efforts, the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund also pledged $1 million. Additionally, in December 2005, Toys "R" Us, Inc., the Toys "R" Us Children's Fund and Toys for Tots hosted holiday parties in five cities that were greatly impacted by the hurricane. From New Orleans, Louisiana to Biloxi, Mississippi, young attendees were treated to toy donations, a visit from Geoffrey the Giraffe and the chance to enjoy some much-needed holiday cheer.
About Toys "R" Us, Inc.
Toys "R" Us is one of the leading specialty toy retailers in the world. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,400 stores, including 587 stores in the U.S. and 645 international toy stores, including licensed and franchise stores as well as through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com/, http://www.imaginarium.com/ and http://www.sportsrus.com/. Babies "R" Us is the largest baby product specialty store chain in the world and a leader in the juvenile industry, and sells merchandise through 232 stores in the U.S. as well as on the Internet at http://www.babiesrus.com/.
Source: Toys "R" Us, Inc.
Web site: http://www.toysrus.com/
http://www.imaginarium.com/
http://www.sportsrus.com/
http://www.babiesrus.com/
Playstation amplía el patrocinio de la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) ha anunciado hoy que ampliará su exitoso patrocinio de la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA. Ésta es la segunda vez que PlayStation(R) renueva el patrocinio de la competición, lo que pone de relieve el éxito de la asociación, que comenzó en 1997.
El acuerdo de patrocinio se ampliará hasta la temporada 2008/2009, incluida, y continuará el desarrollo del compromiso de PlayStation con el fútbol europeo y su apoyo a la competición del club de más categoría del mundo.
Darren Carter, vicepresidente de marca y consumo de SCEE, dijo: "La implicación de PlayStation con la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA se ha prolongado durante los últimos 9 años y ha ayudado significativamente en la promoción de la marca PlayStation y en el fomento de su concienciación en toda Europa y más allá. La Liga de Campeones de la UEFA es una herramienta de comunicaciones extremadamente potente y ha sido una parte importante de la estrategia de comunicación de PlayStation desde 1997, tiempo durante el que el estatus de la competición ha aumentado, al igual que lo ha hecho el número de aficionados a PlayStation".
Darren Carter añadió: "Sony Computer Entertainment entrará en una nueva era de ocio con el lanzamiento de PLAYSTATION 3 a lo largo de este año, y la Liga de Campeones de la UEFA contribuirá a proporcionar una base sólida para nuestros planes en Europa".
Acerca de Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), tiene su sede en Londres y es responsable de la distribución, comercialización y venta del software y hardware para PlayStation(R)2 y PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) en 104 territorios de Europa, Oriente Próximo, África y Oceanía. SCEE también desarrolla, publica, vende y distribuye software de juegos para esos formatos y dirige la tercera parte de los programas con licencia para las plataformas de estos territorios. Entre su lanzamiento en Europa el 24 de noviembre de 2000 y finales de marzo de 2006, se distribuyeron más de 38 millones de consolas PlayStation(R)2 en los territorios SCEE, y más de 103 millones en todo el mundo, convirtiéndose así en uno de los productos electrónicos de consumo de más éxito en la historia. Entre su lanzamiento en Europa el 1 de septiembre de 2005 y finales de marzo de 2006, se han distribuido más de 5 millones de sistemas PSP en los territorios SCEE, con más de 17 millones de distribuciones globales desde su lanzamiento en Japón en diciembre de 2004.
Más información sobre los productos PlayStation en www.playstation.com y www.yourpsp.com o visitando la Oficina de prensa virtual en www.scee.presscentre.com.
PlayStation y el logotipo de PlayStation son marcas comerciales registradas de Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP y UMD (Universal Media Disc) son marcas comerciales de Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Las demás marcas pertenecen a sus respectivos propietarios.
Source: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Leading Western and Eastern European Automotive Logistics Executives Meet in Russia
Automotive Logistics Central Europe is back, but in the new location of St Petersburg, Russia at the Hotel Astoria, between 27 and 28 June 2006.
Organised by Automotive Logistics magazine, the creators of the highly successful Automotive Logistics Europe and Automotive Logistics Global conferences, Automotive Logistics Central Europe will provide unparalleled networking opportunities for logistics professionals.
Leading Western and Eastern European automotive logistics executives will descend on the automotive hub of St Petersburg, Russia to debate the latest in automotive logistics and its impact on Russia, currently one of the leading growth areas in the automotive world. Russia is set to become one of the largest automotive markets in the next 10 to 20 years.
Central and Eastern Europe
As a key investment area for many leading vehicle manufacturers, Automotive Logistics Central Europe conference will be leading the debate, with a two-day conference covering a number of key strategic issues relating to Central and Eastern Europe, with a special focus on Russia. Highlights include discussions on customs and free trade zones, the Central and Eastern logistics infrastructure, logistics service providers and finished vehicle logistics.
Automotive Logistics Central Europe provides an information and communication platform for all the topics that matter within the Central and Eastern European marketplace.
With a pre-conference cocktail reception on 26 June at the magnificent glass roofed Winter Gardens, followed by an evening gala dinner on 27 June at the luxurious Marble Palace, this is an event not to be missed.
The conference is supported by gold sponsors GEFCO; and Linpac Materials Handling, NYK Logistics and Vehnet as silver sponsors.
Further information can be obtained from: www.automotivelogisticscentraleurope.com
Source: Automotive Logistics Central Europe
Ejecutivos europeos de Oriente y Occidente de Automotive Logistics se reúnen en Rusia
Automotive Logistics Central Europe regresa, pero en la nueva localización de San Petersburgo, Rusia, en el Hotel Astoria, entre el 27 y el 28 de junio de 2006.
Organizada por la revista Automotive Logistics, creadores de las exitosas conferencias Automotive Logistics Europe y Automotive Logistics Global, Automotive Logistics Central Europe proporcionará oportunidades de redes sin precedentes para profesionales de logística.
Los ejecutivos de logística automotriz europeos líderes tanto de Oriente como de Occidente invadirán el eje automotor de San Petersburgo (Rusia) para debatir lo último en logística automotriz y su efecto en Rusia, actualmente uno de las mayores áreas de crecimiento del mundo de la automoción. Rusia se convertirá en uno de los mayores mercados de automoción en los próximos 10 ó 20 años.
Europa Central y del Este
Como área de inversión clave para muchos fabricantes de vehículos, la conferencia Automotive Logistics Central Europe dirigirá el debate con una conferencia de dos días en la que se tratarán una serie de temas estratégicos relativos a Europa Central y del Este, con una especial atención en Rusia. Los puntos más destacados incluyen zonas de aduanas y libre comercio, la infraestructura logística central y oriental, proveedores de servicios logísticos y logística de vehículos terminados
Automotive Logistics Central Europe proporciona una plataforma de información y comunicación para todos los temas que ocurren dentro del mercado europeo central y oriental.
Con una recepción previa a la conferencia el 26 de junio en los magnificentes Jardines de Invierno de techo de cristal, seguido de una cena de gala el 27 de junio en el lujoso Palacio de Mármol, es un evento que no puede perderse.
La conferencia está patrocinada principalmente por GEFCO; y Linpac Materials Handling, NYK Logistics y Vehnet, como patrocinadores secundarios.
Para más información, visite: www.automotivelogisticscentraleurope.com
Source: Automotive Logistics Central Europe
Katie Couric One of 20 Named 'Rays of Hope' for Cancer Survivorship
Honorees Recognized at National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Gala
Last night, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recognized 20 individuals and groups that have made extraordinary contributions to cancer survivorship. NCCS's "Ray of Hope" awards were given to Rep. Lois Capps, Katie Couric, Sam Donaldson, Dr. John Durant, Dr. Harold Freeman, Scott Hamilton, former Sen. Connie Mack III, Pearl Moore, Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan, Queen Noor of Jordan, Dr. Antonia Novello, Rep. Deborah Pryce, Cokie Roberts, Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, Dr. Julia Rowland, Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Lilly Tartikoff and Jessica Turri. Groups recognized were the Institute of Medicine and the Cancer Survival Toolbox(R) Team.
Katie Couric also received the 2006 Lilly Tartikoff Hope Award for her tireless efforts to end the threat of colon cancer through public education.
The "Rays of Hope" were honored last night at NCCS's 20th anniversary benefit gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, which was filled with 4,000 roses to symbolize the number of people diagnosed with cancer each day. Dan Abrams, host of MSNBC's "The Abrams Report" and NBC News chief legal correspondent, served as the master of ceremonies.
"I was honored to emcee NCCS's annual awards gala again this year. For the last twenty years NCCS has been lighting the way to quality cancer care for millions of survivors," said Abrams. "And the crowd of advocates, policy makers, and supporters who attended this year's special anniversary celebration demonstrates how much of an impact NCCS has had on people with cancer and their families."
President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush were honorary co-chairs for the event. More than 500 guests attended to show their support for NCCS and cancer survivorship.
"It was our distinct pleasure to honor these dedicated individuals and groups, and we are humbled by the time, thought, and energy they have contributed to cancer survivorship and our organization," said Ellen Stovall, 34-year cancer survivor and NCCS President and CEO.
A video was also presented that included interviews with the "Ray of Hope" recipients. To watch this video, visit http://www.canceradvocacy.org/.
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is the oldest survivor-led advocacy organization in the country and a highly respected authentic voice at the federal level, advocating for quality cancer care for all Americans and empowering cancer survivors. For more information about NCCS and its advocacy for quality cancer care, please visit http://www.canceradvocacy.org/ or call 1.888.650.9127.
Source: National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Web site: http://www.canceradvocacy.org/
White House Applauds National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
President Bush Encourages Progress for Treatments, Cures
More than 60 million American children and adults have asthma and allergies. Over the past two decades, prevalence rates for these diseases have doubled causing 2 million emergency room visits, 500,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths each year. These diseases cost the U.S. economy over $25 billion annually, and one of the most challenging seasons for asthma and allergy sufferers is spring.
That is why the White House has provided encouragement to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declaring May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. "This month is an opportunity to increase awareness," wrote President Bush in a recent letter to AAFA, "and to highlight your commitment to serving people in need, enhancing our medical capabilities, and saving lives."
For Awareness Month, AAFA has created a series of free Web-based resources educating people how to recognize and prevent asthma and allergies:
Asthma -- (20 million Americans affected.) A chronic disease of the lungs characterized by hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens or irritants (pollen, smoke or pollution, for example) causing inflammation and constriction in the lower respiratory system. Symptoms include chronic coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath leading to difficulty breathing. See AAFA's free online education resource about asthma at http://www.sleepworkplay.com/.
Seasonal Allergies -- (35 million Americans affected.) A chronic disease of the immune system characterized by an overreaction to inhaled allergens (pollen, for example) causing inflammation in the upper respiratory system. Symptoms include chronic sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and itchy/scratchy throat leading to severe congestion, headache, fatigue and difficulty breathing. See AAFA's free online education resource about seasonal allergies at http://www.allergycapitals.com/.
Food Allergies -- (12 million Americans affected.) A chronic disease of the immune system characterized by an overreaction to food allergens including milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish or shellfish causing severe inflammation of various parts of the body. Symptoms include swelling lips, tongue or throat, hives, difficulty breathing or "anaphylaxis," a deadly multi-organ allergic reaction. See AAFA's free online education resource about food allergies at http://www.myfoodallergies.net/.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading national nonprofit patient advocacy organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient care and supports research to find cures. Visit http://www.aafa.org/ for more information.
Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Web site: http://www.aafa.org/
http://www.sleepworkplay.com/
http://www.allergycapitals.com/
http://www.myfoodallergies.net/
NASA Launches Satellites for Weather, Climate, Air Quality Studies
Two NASA satellites were launched Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on missions to reveal the secrets of clouds and aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the air.
CloudSat and CALIPSO -- Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations -- thundered skyward at approximately 6:02 a.m. EDT atop a Boeing Delta II rocket. The two satellites will eventually circle approximately 438 miles above Earth in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, which means they will always cross the equator at the same local time. Their technologies will enable scientists to study how clouds and aerosols form, evolve and interact.
"Clouds are a critical but poorly understood element of our climate," said Graeme Stephens, CloudSat principal investigator and a professor at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. "They shape the energy distribution of our climate system and our planet's massive water cycle, which delivers the freshwater we drink that sustains all life."
"With the successful launch of CloudSat and CALIPSO we take a giant step forward in our ability to study the global atmosphere," said CALIPSO Principal Investigator David Winker of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. "In the years to come, we expect these missions to spark many new insights into the workings of Earth's climate and improve our abilities to forecast weather and predict climate change."
Each spacecraft will transmit pulses of energy and measure the portion of the pulses scattered back to the satellite. CloudSat's Cloud-Profiling Radar is more than 1,000 times more sensitive than typical weather radar. It can detect clouds and distinguish between cloud particles and precipitation. CALIPSO's polarization lidar can detect aerosol particles and distinguish between aerosol and cloud particles. Lidar, similar in principle to radar, uses reflected light to determine the characteristics of the target area.
Sixty-two minutes after liftoff, CALIPSO separated from the rocket's second stage. CloudSat followed 35 minutes later. Ground controllers successfully acquired signals from both spacecraft, and initial telemetry reports show both in excellent health. Over the next six weeks, system and instrument checks will be performed, and the satellites will maneuver into their final orbits.
The satellites will fly in formation as members of NASA's "A-Train" constellation, which also includes NASA's Aqua and Aura satellites and a French satellite known as PARASOL, for Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Sciences coupled with Observations from a Lidar. The satellite data will be more useful when combined, providing insights into the global distribution and evolution of clouds to improve weather forecasting and climate prediction. For more information about CloudSat and CALIPSO, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/cloudsat and http://www.nasa.gov/calipso
andCloudSat is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. JPL developed the radar instrument with hardware contributions from the Canadian Space Agency. Colorado State provides scientific leadership and science data processing and distribution. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo., designed and built the spacecraft. The U.S. Air Force and Department of Energy contributed resources. U.S. and international universities and research centers support the mission science team.
CALIPSO is collaboration between NASA and France's Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Langley is leading the CALIPSO mission and providing overall project management, systems engineering, and payload mission operations. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., provides support for system engineering, project and program management. CNES is providing a PROTEUS spacecraft developed by Alcatel Space, a radiometer instrument, and spacecraft mission operations. Hampton University, Hampton, Va., is providing scientific contributions and managing the outreach program. Ball Aerospace developed the lidar and on-board visible camera.
NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. procured the mission's launch and provided the management for the mission's launch service. For NASA and agency information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home
Source: NASA
Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/
NASA Honors Pioneer Astronaut Frank Borman
NASA will honor former astronaut Frank Borman for his involvement in the U.S. space program with the presentation of the Ambassador of Exploration Award at 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 8 at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Ariz. The event is open to the media and public.
NASA is presenting the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the 38 astronauts who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of space exploration from 1961 to 1972. NASA is also recognizing several other key individuals who either participated in or supported the early space programs.
The award is a small sample of lunar material encased in Lucite and mounted for public display. The material is part of the 842 pounds of samples brought back to Earth during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972. Borman's award will be displayed in the museum at 6000 East Valencia Road, Tucson.
Borman led the first team of American astronauts to leave Earth orbit and circle the moon as commander of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Borman, with crewmates James Lovell and William Anders, were the first humans to view the far side of the moon. He was also a member of the Gemini 7 crew, which performed the first ever orbital rendezvous linking with Gemini 6 in 1965. Borman was a career U.S. Air Force officer, retiring as a colonel. For his astronaut biographical information, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/borman-f.html
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
Source: NASA
Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/
Un Día Sin Mexicanos, el Cortometraje de Sergio Arau se Transmitirá Este Lunes en el Canal México 22
Alterna'TV, uno de los distribuidores más importantes de canales de televisión latinoamericana en los Estados Unidos y México 22, el canal cultural de México, presentan en los Estados Unidos UN DÍA SIN MEXICANOS, el controversial cortometraje del reconocido director Sergio Arau. La transmisión será este lunes 1° de mayo a las 8:00 p.m. Pacífico, 10:00 p.m. Centro y 11:00 p.m. Este.
En un momento tan controversial como el actual, el canal México 22, proyectará este cortometraje que brinda una visión más acerca del tema migratorio.
UN DÍA SIN MEXICANOS, un divertido cortometraje donde se muestra lo caótico que puede llegar a ser un día sin mexicanos, la importancia de éstos como pieza fundamental en las actividades económicas. Su ausencia deja al descubierto la dependencia de los estadounidenses que va desde no tener camisa planchada, un auto descompuesto, hasta quedarse sin su vocero gubernamental.
Este cortometraje con guión de Varelí Arizmendi bajo la dirección de Sergio Arau fue realizado en 1997 y en 2004 su director lo llevó a la pantalla grande.
¡No deje de disfrutar este cortometraje!
Acerca de Canal México 22
Canal México 22, es distribuido actualmente a través de los paquetes DirecTV PARA TODOS a nivel nacional y CableLatino de Comcast y CharterLatino, en mercados Hispanos selectos. Todas las expresiones artísticas y culturales de México en un solo lugar. Nuestra raíces, nuestro origen, nuestras tradiciones ... ¡CANAL MEXICO 22, una señal cada vez más cerca de ti!
Acerca de Alterna'TV
Alterna'TV distribuye canales cuidadosamente seleccionados y líderes en su país de origen, tales como: ONCE MEXICO, MEXICO 22, ECUAVISA INTERNACIONAL, NDTV THE DOMINICAN CHANNEL, CB TELEVISION MICHOACAN, LATINOAMERICA TELEVISION, MEXICANAL, AYM SPORTS Y TEVE-DE-MENTE. Los géneros de programación que ofrecen los canales de ALTERNA'TV incluyen documentales, arte y cultura, noticias, música, programación infantil, cocina y entretenimiento en general.
Para conocer más acerca de ALTERNA'TV visite nuestra página: http://www.alternatv.com.mx/ .
Source: ALTERNA'TV
