Tom Cruise MI 3 Teaser Picture
To understand the internet you have to be open to change.
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne April 23, 2006
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Record-breaking China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products Opens at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo with Over 3,600 Booths - Largest-ever Show at New Venue With Over 30,000 Buyers Pre-registered
Kentucky Crowned MISS USA(R) 2006 During Live NBC Telecast on April 21st
Paramount Pictures to Premiere 'Mission: Impossible III' Around the World
America's leading film magazine, Premiere, will once again open the doors of its Premiere Film & Music Lounge during New York City's Tribeca Film Festival
Second Annual Giffoni Hollywood Film Festival Celebrates Child and Teen Filmmmakers From Around the World
9/11 Movie Release Supported by Military, Veterans and their Families - Nationwide
Sonic Helps Align World's Leading Consumer Electronics, Computer, and Entertainment Companies for HD Launch
Dolby Digital Selected for First HD Channel in China with 100 Percent of Programming in Surround Sound
Inecom Entertainment Company is pleased to feature Doug Sloan
CEA and NCTA Unite to Broaden Scope of DTV Education Efforts
The Number of IP TV Subscribers is Expected to Grow to 36.8 Million by 2009
Las Vegas TV Partners Acquire CMX Century Productions
The Online Games Market in India is Starting to Heat up Due to an Increase in Internet Users and Broadband Penetration
iStor Networks, Inc.
Comcast joins with CBS, NBC in Offering Prime-time Shows On-Demand
CBS Radio's David Lee Roth Replaced by Opie & Anthony in Seven Markets
Roth Failed to Hold on to Howard Stern Audience
Mobility Electronics Introduces new SIX Slot PCI ExpresS® to PCI expansion system at NAB 2006 Show
ViewCast to Showcase New Technology For Video Streaming at NAB 2006
SPORTS & AUTOS
INDY JAPAN 300 RACE
Vince Young Announces First Endorsement with Austin-Based NetSpend, National Leader in Prepaid Debit Cards
LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES AN AMBITIOUS AND VISIONARY PROJECT
SportStar Awards 2006 at the Olympic Museum
All-New 2007 Hyundai Elantra Makes World Debut at New York International Auto Show; Safety and Interior Space Put the Fourth-Generation Elantra a Class Above the Competition
World Speed Record for Diesel-Powered Truck Set Using Mobil Delvac Heavy Duty Engine Oil
Camión Diesel con Aceite para Motores de Trabajo Pesado Mobil Delvac Logra Récord Mundial en Velocidad
El nuevo Hyundai Elantra 2007 hace su debut mundial en el Salón Internacional del Automóvil de Nueva York; La seguridad y el espacio interior posicionan a la cuarta generación del Elantra una clase por encima de la competencia
DOD
Pre-Derby Festival Features 'America Supports You,' Air Show, Fireworks
U.S. Units Help Ethiopians Build Capacity
Army Reserve Changing to Meet Challenges
Sham Marriage Cases Send Message to All Service members
America Supports You: NBA Trophy Tour to Visit U.S. Military Bases
NEWS
Radio Address by President Bush to the Nation
AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program Expands Eligibility for People with Medicare
El Programa de Asistencia a Pacientes de la Fundación AstraZeneca Expande la Elegibilidad para las Personas con Medicare
PHOTO GALLERY
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Record-breaking China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products Opens at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo with Over 3,600 Booths - Largest-ever Show at New Venue With Over 30,000 Buyers Pre-registered
Global Sources opened the China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products today in Hong Kong. It is the largest trade show ever to be held at AsiaWorld-Expo with over 3,600 booths, filling all 10 halls of the 70,000-square-meter venue.
The Fair is co-located with Koelnmesse's International Hardware Fair/Practical World Hong Kong, offering a range of hardware and do-it-yourself products. Both events will run from April 22-25.
Global Sources Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: "With over 1,200 mainland China suppliers exhibiting right here in Hong Kong, the Gifts & Home Products show brings a whole new era of convenience to buyers."
Many of Asia's major manufacturers are exhibiting, as well as new suppliers from mainland China's emerging sourcing centers -- including Guangxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning and Shandong.
There are over 800 booths from Hong Kong companies, and over 500 from Taiwan, plus exhibitors from South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and India.
Hinrichs added: "The Fairs are perfectly-timed with other shows in Hong Kong and China. The large number of new exhibitors at the China Sourcing Fair is drawing more buyers to Hong Kong, making it truly Asia's Trade Show Capital."
Koelnmesse GmbH, Vice-President Asia Pacific, Michael Dreyer, said: "We will build on our 80-year history of hosting the International Hardware Fair/Practical World in Cologne, Germany -- the world's largest hardware, DIY and outdoor living show -- to create new sourcing opportunities for buyers of these categories right here in Asia."
High-ranking government officials attend opening ceremony
Hong Kong and mainland China government officials participating in the opening ceremonies include:
-- Frederick Ma, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury,Hong Kong SAR
-- Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
-- Mike Rowse, JP, Chairman of AsiaWorld-Expo and Director-general of Investment Promotion at InvestHK
-- Raymond Young, JP, Director-general of Trade and Industry, Hong Kong SAR
-- Wang Hui, Deputy Director-general of Economic Affairs Department, Liaison Office of The Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR
-- Shen Danyang, Vice President of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, People's
Republic of China and Executive Chairman of China Society of Convention & Exhibition
Hinrichs said: "The participation of these officials is a clear sign of the value the China Sourcing Fairs bring to Hong Kong and the global trade community."
World's largest buyers among tens of thousands pre-registered to attend
Over 30,000 buyers pre-registered to attend the trade shows -- among them representatives from KarstadtQuelle, Europe's largest department store and mail order group; Coles Myer, the largest retailer in Australia; and Black & Decker, the world's largest producer of power tools.
Other pre-registered buyers include Kingfisher, Lowe's, Newell Rubbermaid, Li & Fung, Hallmark, Kingfisher, Kmart, Otto, Tesco and Warner Brothers.
Agentrics members with US$1 trillion in retail sales to participate
Agentrics, an organization representing 50 global retailers with $1 trillion in annual sales, will also participate in the Fairs. Member companies include Carrefour, the second-largest retailer in the world; Sears, the third-largest retailer in the United States; and Metro, Germany's largest retailer.
Agentrics' Executive Chairman, Christopher Sellers, said: "Our buyers need to make their sourcing trips as productive as possible. With their specialized focus, convenient access and thousands of new, quality suppliers, the China Sourcing Fairs help our buyers source more effectively."
Global Sources is Agentrics' exclusive sourcing alliance partner in Asia.
Gifts & Home Products Fair features over 3,600 booths
Suppliers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and India are exhibiting at the China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products.
Product categories include:
-- Gifts, premiums & toys
-- Christmas & holiday products
-- Stationery & office products
-- Health & beauty products
-- Sporting & leisure products
-- Home decor
-- Kitchen & household products
-- Glassware & tableware
-- Home textiles
One exhibitor, General Manager of Guang Yong Trading, Kathleen Wang, said: "The China Sourcing Fairs have consistently delivered quality buyers who have developed into excellent customers for us. We're certain the Hong Kong shows will attract even more buyers. In fact, we've already booked eight booths for the October show and another eight at each of the shows in 2007!"
First-ever International Hardware Fair/Practical World Hong Kong co-located with Gifts & Home Products
International Hardware Fair/ Practical World Hong Kong, the world's largest DIY show, is being held for the first time in Hong Kong. Exporters from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia are exhibiting.
On exhibit is a range of hardware and DIY products, including: garden and horticulture products; tools and accessories; home improvement, security products, and fire and safety products.
New Product Galleries display hot new designs
The fair features a New Product Gallery showcasing the best new designs from China and Asia.
Unique sourcing events and conference programs featured The China Sourcing Fairs offer unique value-added buyer and supplier services, including Private Buyer Meetings.
These exclusive meetings create opportunities for pre-selected exhibitors to meet face-to-face with some of the world's top buyers, including:
-- IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer
-- Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer, and
-- Lowe's, the world's second-largest home improvement retailer
The Fair also features a comprehensive conference program designed to help buyers source more effectively from China. Topics include product trends, logistics, marketing and other trade topics.
China Sourcing Fair/Practical World Hong Kong show dates and times Opening hours for the China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products and Practical World Hong Kong are:
-- April 22 - 24: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
-- April 25: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Easy access to AsiaWorld-Expo by Airport Express Train, free shuttle buses
AsiaWorld-Expo is one minute from Hong Kong Airport and 25 minutes from downtown via the Airport Express Train. Visitors who use an "Octopus Card" will enjoy discounted fares for same-day return trips.
Global Sources will provide free buyer shuttle bus service to and from the venue from locations throughout Hong Kong. The venue is also easily accessible by public bus, taxi and private car.
Buyers wishing to visit the trade shows can find more information, including transportation options, at http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ .
The China Sourcing Fairs ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ ) are an important part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services, which include Global Sources trade magazines, Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com/ ) and Global Sources Direct ( http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/ ). Further information about Global Sources is available at http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/ .
About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and a primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. It provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.
The company helps its community of more than 479,000 active buyers to source more profitably from complex, overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing as many effective ways as possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in 230 countries.
The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. Suppliers using its four primary channels -- online marketplaces, magazines, trade shows and direct online sales -- are supported by its advertising creative, education programs and online content management applications.
Global Sources delivers information on 1.4 million products and more than 130,000 suppliers annually through 10 leading online marketplaces and monthly magazines, more than 100 sourcing research reports, and 14 China Sourcing Fairs and other trade shows. Buyers send more than 5.8 million inquiries annually to suppliers through Global Sources Online ( www.globalsources.com ) alone. Global Sources Direct is the company's new initiative that helps suppliers sell online.
In mainland China, Global Sources has a 25-year track record and 1,400 team members in 44 locations. Its services are backed by 35 years experience as a trade magazine publisher, 14 years as an organizer of trade shows, and 10 years as an online marketplace operator.
About Koelnmesse
Koelnmesse GmbH is one of the world's largest trade fair organizers, with an excellent track record of organizing some of the world's most successful trade events, including International Hardware Fair/Practical World Cologne, Spoga+Gafa, Anuga, imm Cologne, interzum, ISM, and Photokina, which are recognized as global leaders in their respective market segments. With over 80 years experience in organizing large-scale commercial events connecting buyers and sellers, Koelnmesse GmbH continually aims to develop world-leading trade fairs to satisfy a full range of global audience.
Web sites: http://www.globalsources.com
http://www.chinasourcingfair.com
http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com
http://www.corporate.globalsources.com
Source: Global Sources Limited
Kentucky Crowned MISS USA(R) 2006 During Live NBC Telecast on April 21st
This evening, during one of the year's most exciting live television events, a star-studded panel of judges chose Miss Kentucky USA, Tara Elizabeth Conner as MISS USA(R) 2006.
Ms. Conner is a 20 year-old from Russell Springs, Kentucky who is currently studying business administration at Somerset Community College.
Dancing With The Star's cycle two winner Drew Lachey and Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell, hosted the live telecast from the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Commentary was provided by Carson Kressley of Bravo's "Queer Eye" along with the reigning Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley throughout the live telecast.
Celebrity Judges for the Pageant included: Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalist Chad Hedrick; "Apprentice" regular and budding real estate developer, Donald Trump Jr.; shoe guru Steve Madden; NBC's "Passion's" star, James Hyde; "America's Next Top Model" winner and the new face of CoverGirl cosmetics, Nicole Linkletter; Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward; television personality Jillian Barberie; and Vice President & General Manager - North America and Global Cosmetics, Procter and Gamble, Gina Drosos.
Throughout the two-hour event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the "Top Five" finalists were selected before the crowning. Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 250 million.
Final Results:
First Runner Up: Miss California USA, Tamiko Nash, will assume the duties
of Miss USA 2006 if the titleholder is named Miss
UNIVERSE 2006, or for some reason cannot fulfill her
responsibilities.
Second Runner Up: Miss Georgia USA, Lisa Wilson.
Rest of Top Five: Miss Ohio USA, Stacy Offenberger and Miss Florida USA,
Cristin Duren.
Rest of Top Ten: Miss Alabama USA, Haleigh Stidham; Miss District of
Columbia USA, Candace Allen; Miss Rhode Island USA,
Leeann Tingley; Miss South Carolina USA, Lacie Lybrand;
Miss Texas USA, Lauren Lanning.
Miss Photogenic Award: Miss Florida USA, Cristin Duren. The general public voted on http://www.nbc.com/ for the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera.
Congeniality Award: Miss Minnesota USA, Dottie Cannon. The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate's peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.
The MISS USA(R) 2006 prize package includes: Official Miss USA Mikimoto pearl tiara; A Year supply of CoverGirl Cosmetics; 2 Year Scholarship from The School for Film and Television in NYC; custom designed wardrobe by Tadashi; A four day 3 night "all-inclusive" vacation from American Airlines; Show wardrobe and cash prize from Steve Madden; a year supply of haircare by Farouk Systems; a swimsuit wardrobe from BSC Swimwear Thailand; New York City apartment for the year of her reign including living expenses; and a personal appearance wardrobe.
The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE(R), MISS USA(R) and MISS TEEN USA(R) Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC) partnership. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers by forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and Gilda's Club.
Source: The Miss Universe Organization
Web site: http://www.missuniverse.com/
Paramount Pictures to Premiere 'Mission: Impossible III' Around the World
In anticipation of the May 5 release of the action-thriller "Mission: Impossible III," Paramount Pictures will roll out the red carpet in a series of star-studded premieres around the world. The festivities begin with the world premiere in Rome on April 24 and continue with premieres in London, Paris, and New York.
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.
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: Paramount Pictures
America's leading film magazine, Premiere, will once again open the doors of its Premiere Film & Music Lounge during New York City's Tribeca Film Festival
from April 27 to May 1, in partnership with LIVEstyle Entertainment. This year's events will take place at PM Lounge in New York City's meatpacking district at 50 Gansevoort Street.
The Premiere Lounge is the ultimate destination for celebrities and VIP's, and will be hosting parties for films at the festival including: Magnolia Pictures' One Last Thing, with expected cast members Ethan Hawke, Cynthia Nixon, Sunny Mabrey, Gina Gershon, Michael Angarano, Director Alex Steyermark, Screenwriter Barry Stringfellow and HDNet's Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner on April 27; Millennium Films' Journey to the End of the Night world premiere party with expected cast members Brendan Fraser, Mos Def, Scott Glenn, Alice Braga, and Director, Eric Eason on April 28; Millennium Films' Lonely Hearts with cast members John Travolta, James Gandolfini and Director, Todd Robinson on April 30; and Bold Films' Mini's First Time with expected cast members Alec Baldwin, Nikki Reed, Jeff Goldblum, Luke Wilson and Director, Nick Guthe on May 1.
"We are thrilled to bring The Premiere Lounge back to New York City for the third year during the Tribeca Film Festival. This impactful branded entertainment experience brings Premiere's access and influence to life for our advertising partners and sponsors," said Paul Turcotte, Vice President and Publisher, Premiere magazine.
"We're excited to collaborate with our studio and producer partners and host the world premiere parties for what we think are the best titles of the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Through the generous hospitality of our corporate sponsors and New York's best NYC hot spot, PM Lounge, we can continue to make the Premiere Film & Music Lounge the place to be at all the top North American film festivals including this year's Tribeca Film Festival" says David Manning, Co-Managing Partner of LIVEstyle Entertainment and Executive Producer of the Premiere Film & Music Lounge.
"We are grateful to the Premiere Film & Music Lounge and its partners for its confidence in our ability to capture the excitement of the international film community," said UNIK, owner of PM Lounge.
The sponsors who will bring exciting brand-related experiences and product offerings to the Premiere Lounge include: Stella Artois; Monster Energy; The Creative Coalition; Vonage, who will be showcasing it's award winning broadband service and phone systems through a custom Vonage Hospitality Hotline set up at PM. Attendees and celebrities on the red carpet can dial on the Vonage Hospitality Line from outside the red carpet direct to the bar and have their drink awaiting them at their table; Siku Glacier Ice Vodka, where VIPs will enjoy this ultra premium vodka uniquely blended with pure crystal clear ice, which is up to 60,000 years old, from the Qalerallit Sermia glacier in Greenland; and, Kodak who will showcase its newest, most innovative camera featuring the proprietary KODAK RETINA Dual Lens technology
This event is not affiliated, associated or part of the Tribeca Film Festival.
A detailed media alert with dates and times of all Premiere Film & Music Lounge events to follow.
LIVEstyle Entertainment is a New York City based lifestyle marketing and expert event production company. LIVEstyle specializes in engineering non- traditional brand communication solutions within music, film, fashion and sports for its clients. More information about LIVEstyle Entertainment can be found at http://www.livestylent.com/ .
Premiere, America's movie magazine, covers the unparalleled access and influence to Hollywood's A-list as well as the art and commerce of the film industry. Accessible at http://www.premiere.com/ , Premiere is part of a global network that includes editions published in France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, and Korea. Premiere is published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. (HFM U.S.), the New York-headquartered subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Medias, the world's largest magazine publisher, a division of Lagardere SCA.
PM Lounge is one of New York City's most celebrated hot-spots where celebrities and tastemakers mingle on a nightly basis. The exclusive vibe and layout of the lounge allows for the sophistication and upscale environment that sets the style lounge parties apart from all others.
Vonage is a pioneer in the Internet telephony industry. The award winning Vonage(R) service is sold on the web and through national retailers. Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit http://www.vonage.com/ or call 1-VONAGE-HELP. Vonage(R) is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.
Eastman Kodak Company is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images -- for memories, for information, for entertainment. With sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on the following businesses: Health -- supplying the medical and dental industries with traditional and digital imaging-information products and services, as well healthcare IT solutions and services; Graphic Communications - offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi- vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems - providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components - which designs and manufactures state-of- the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers. More information about Kodak is available at
.Siku \ 'se-ku \ n meaning "ice" in Greenlandic is an ultra-premium vodka blended exclusively with pure, crystal clear ice from Greenland's Qalerallit Sermia glacier, which is up to 60,000 years old. This surprisingly crisp, clear vodka is meticulously crafted in small batches in the Netherlands and distilled five times from the finest quality grains, creating an exceptionally clean, smooth finish. Siku is a registered trademark of Premium Glacier, Inc. and licensed to Ice Cap Enterprises, SRL,(C)2006.
The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization of the entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 by prominent figures in the creative community, including actors Alec Baldwin, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins, TCC educates and mobilizes leaders in the arts community on issues of public importance, specifically in the areas of First Amendment rights, arts advocacy and public education.
Source: Premiere Magazine; LIVEstyle Entertainment
Web site: http://www.livestylent.com/
http://www.premiere.com/
http://www.vonage.com/
http://www.kodak.com/
Second Annual Giffoni Hollywood Film Festival Celebrates Child and Teen Filmmmakers From Around the World
Celebrities Including Jon Voight, Will Smith and Paula Abdul Among Participants in Week's Activities
Kids from around the globe and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will take Tinseltown by storm during the second annual Giffoni Hollywood Film Festival, April 24-29 at Hollywood & Highland Center, just steps from the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Closed to the general public, Giffoni Hollywood is an extraordinary festival that unites and inspires children and teens from around the world through the power of cinema. What sets this festival apart from the others is that the jury is comprised of children. There will be 15 short films made by kids, bringing to life the art of cinema as seen through the eyes of an adolescent. In addition, 15 feature-length films made by professional filmmakers will be screened and voted on.
This year's participating jurors comprise students from six Los Angeles Unified schools and 36 international students representing Albania, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy and Spain. Furthermore, 1,500 students enrolled in LAUSD's Beyond the Bell after-school program have been invited to participate in the award ceremony and a special screening of the film, Hoot.
While the qualifying films are fun and educational, they must be focused on diversity, tolerance and education. There are three categories interested filmmakers can enter -- Dare to Dream is for nine to 11 year olds, Reach the Sky is for 12 to 14 year olds and Make it Happen is for 15 to 17 year olds. Each category has a panel of jurors that will decide on the Best Feature Film. As for deciding on the festival's overall Best Short Film, the collaborative panel Seeds of Celebration, comprised of nine to 17 year olds, will announce the winner.
"We all possess the power of storytelling from a very young age," said Steven Paul, co-founder of Giffoni Hollywood. "We are providing the inspiration and opportunity for these students -- regardless of nationality or ethnicity -- to showcase their talents and to share their stories with the world."
From classes and fieldtrips to celebrity-hosted events, students will follow a schedule of activities that only Hollywood can offer -- film screenings, red carpet events, celebrity sightings and meeting people from around the world. Following is a snapshot of the week's scheduled activities for Giffoni Hollywood:
-- Monday, April 24
* All day: The international students arrive in the United States
* Evening: Students will have dinner at Disneyland
-- Tuesday, April 25
* 9 a.m. -- Participants will travel to Disneyland for Team
Building Day
* 1:30 p.m. -- Students visit the set of American Idol
* 5 p.m. -- Special meet and greet at the Giffoni Club
-- Wednesday, April 26
* 9 a.m. -- Students tour Universal Studios
* 4 p.m. -- Special screening at Grauman's Chinese Theater
* 6 p.m. - Dinner hosted by Wolfgang Puck at Hollywood & Highland
-- Thursday, April 27
* 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Film Screenings at Grauman's Chinese Theater
* 5 p.m. -- Bowling and dinner at Lucky Strike hosted by Will Smith
-- Friday, April 28
* 9 a.m. -- Film Screenings at Grauman's Chinese Theater
* 5 p.m. -- Taste of Italy dinner and Music night at Hollywood &
Highland with Paula Abdul
-- Saturday, April 29
* 3 p.m. -- Award Ceremony at Kodak Theater
* 6 p.m. -- After party at Hollywood & Highland
For find more information, a list of activities or to request press credentials, please visit www.giffonihollywood.com.
About Giffoni Hollywood
Giffoni Hollywood brings the 35-year tradition of the Giffoni International Film Festival to Hollywood, the world's entertainment capital. Based in Giffoni, Italy, the Giffoni International Film Festival is considered the largest children's film festival in Europe, welcoming more than 1,000 children and teens from 30 countries around the world. Now, in only its second year in the U.S., Giffoni Hollywood has attracted some of the largest international companies and brands as festival sponsors, including Washington Mutual, Virgin Atlantic, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company, among others.
Source: Giffoni Hollywood
9/11 Movie Release Supported by Military, Veterans and their Families - Nationwide
Survey; By Overwhelming Majority, Members of Veterans Advantage Feel `The Time is Right to be Reminded' through `United 93' Movie
GREENWICH, Conn. --(Business Wire)-- April 21, 2006 U.S. military and veterans overwhelmingly support the timing of the world premiere of "United 93," the first 9/11 movie of its kind, according to Veterans Advantage (http://www.veteransadvantage.com), the leading nationwide membership benefit program for U.S. Active Duty military, Veterans, National Guard and Reserve and their families.
In a survey just conducted over the last week, Veterans Advantage members across the nation approve of the movie's release, because "We need to face history and our enemies - it is not too soon."
"By an 83% to 17% majority, our members feel "we need to face history and our enemies - the time is right to be reminded," said H. Scott Higgins, founder and president of Veterans Advantage, a former Army Lieutenant who served in Vietnam.
"We've even heard from many of those in harm's way today because of that fateful day, and they tell us they understand those reasons, and hope that fellow Americans understand them, too."
The military lost one of its own on that 9/11 flight when Co-pilot LeRoy W. Homer, an Air Force Academy graduate who served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, perished with the other passengers of the flight.
In followup comments, Veterans Advantage members elaborated on the military's role in a post-9/11 world:
"We Americans have very short memories. If we didn't lose a family member or very close friend during the events of 9/11, or we're not part of the military fighting the Global War on Terror, most of us have already forgotten the tragic loss of that day. This film is not being released too soon. To keep us on our toes, we need periodic reminders that some cultures want to destroy ours," commented LTC Chip Braungart, a Veterans Advantage member, who is on active duty with the Washington D.C. Army National Guard.
"I feel that too many people in this country have already forgotten about 9/11. I think that it is a part of our history that we as a country should never forget, because it was a turning point in our nation's history," said Blake Paul Sattler, a Veterans Advantage member currently serving in the Navy. "As a service member in the armed forces, I am reminded every day that there are people in this world who want to kill us and that is something that no one should ever forget."
"United 93," which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, was produced by Universal Studios. Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy) writes and directs the story of the passengers and crew of United 93, which took off from Newark Liberty International Airport on the morning of 9/11/2001, bound for San Francisco, and crashed in rural Pennsylvania, northwest of Washington, D.C.
The Voice of Veterans Advantage
Veterans Advantage was established in 2001 as a program to thank and reward active duty, veterans, Guard and Reserve with special offers and discounts on goods and services from companies that wish to thank them for their service. With more than 100,000 participants, Veterans Advantage has assembled a growing set of benefits for its members, ranging from insurance, health, travel & entertainment, home/office and computing discounts from leading national and global corporate partners, including Dell & Apple Computer, Amtrak, Continental Airlines, Greyhound Bus, Sallie Mae, North American Van Lines and over 30 others.
"Today's findings is just one way our members can have their voice heard," Higgins added. "And we are proud to offer that service."
ABOUT VETERANS ADVANTAGE
Veterans Advantage is the largest nationwide card membership program delivering new recognition and rewards for U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty Military, Retired Military, Active and Retired National Guard & Reservists, and their family members. The card membership program provides special offers and money-saving benefits as a thank you for service to the country. Enroll at http://www.veteransadvantage.com.
Veterans Advantage
Sonic Helps Align World's Leading Consumer Electronics, Computer, and Entertainment Companies for HD Launch
Sonic's HDAA - AG to Help Ensure the Seamless Introduction of High-Definition Formats. Sonic Solutions(R) the leader in digital media software, is augmenting its well known High Definition Authoring Alliance (HDAA) with an Advisory Group (called the HDAA AG) and, in doing so, is aligning leading computer and consumer electronic (CE) device manufacturers facilitating next-generation format playback with top-tier Hollywood content holders. The result is a multi-industry cooperative that will test and validate user interactions with the new high-definition formats and help deliver reliable, consistent, and exciting viewing experiences across multiple platforms.
"Sonic has played a major role in empowering artists and companies both large and small with DVD and CD authoring tools and interactive technologies. Sonic's relationships with consumer electronics companies, studios and creators makes the company ideally suited to found and lead the HDAA AG with new tools, resources and opportunities," said Richard Doherty, Research Director for the Envisioneering Group. "Sonic's expert-level knowledge of HD-based formats, particularly in the area of advanced interactivity, will help unite the entertainment industry during this crucial stage in the rollout of interactive, engaging HD capabilities."
HDAA and HDAA AG members have access to evaluation software to test content for standard and advanced playback modes. In addition, members are able to attend HDAA meetings, participate in technical forums, and review research, in-depth documentation and test findings contributed by HDAA and HDAA AG members.
Sonic formed the HDAA in July, 2005, to help leading authoring facilities such as Laser Pacific, Deluxe and Technicolor Creative Services prepare for the release of Hollywood next-generation titles. With the formation of the HDAA AG, authoring houses are now joined by leading CE device and personal computer manufacturers and collectively represent the high-definition value chain from creation through consumption.
For a current list of HDAA-AG members visit: http://www.sonic.com/go/professionalHD
"We're very proud to have the opportunity to take a leadership role in enabling the content creation industry to make a successful format transition," said Rolf Hartley, senior vice president and general manager for Sonic's Professional Products Group. "The work of the HDDA and HDAA AG will help ensure that the high-definition formats deliver maximum performance and optimal compatibility with the release of the first players."
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions http://www.sonic.com) is the leader in digital media software, providing a broad range of interoperable, platform-independent software tools and applications for creative professionals, business and home users, and technology partners. Sonic's products range from advanced DVD authoring systems and interactive content delivery technologies used to produce the majority of Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio(R)-branded CD and DVD creation, playback and backup solutions that have become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers and business users worldwide.
Sonic products are globally available from major retailers, online at Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs, after-market drives and consumer electronic devices. Sonic's digital media creation engine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by major software and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony, and many others. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Roxio, and Sonic Solutions, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license.
Sonic Solutions
Dolby Digital Selected for First HD Channel in China with 100 Percent of Programming in Surround Sound;
New China Hometheatre Channel HD Movie Channel First to Bring Chinese Viewers a Complete HDTV Experience on All Programming
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) announced today that the China Movie Channel is launching China's third HD channel, the China Hometheatre Channel HD Movie Channel with Dolby(R) Digital 5.1. The new HD channel will be the first in China's broadcasting history to broadcast 100 percent of its programming in surround sound.
The China Movie Channel group will celebrate the launch of the China Hometheatre Channel HD Movie Channel on April 27, 2006 in a media conference at the Movie Channel Building, where media representatives will be invited to experience the high-quality HD service with both high-definition picture and Dolby Digital surround sound. The new HD channel will start broadcasting to Chinese viewers the same day. Chinese viewers with suitable HD set-top boxes and home theater systems need only subscribe to local cable broadcasters to receive the new HD channel.
"Our viewers will be excited about our move to provide them with stimulating programming both visually and audibly, making the entertainment experience more compelling," said Mr. Ya Ning, Director, China Movie Channel. "When watching television, the video and the audio are equally important to the experience, and working with Dolby insures that viewers will have the highest quality audio possible."
"China Movie Channel is taking a lead in bringing its viewers the most compelling television experience. With the launch of its new HD channel, which is broadcasting completely with Dolby Digital surround sound, China Movie Channel is part of the world's elite broadcasters moving to a comprehensive high-definition presentation," said Bill Jasper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dolby Laboratories.
Dolby Digital is used extensively in the broadcast television industry worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Australia, via satellite, cable, and terrestrial services for both HDTV and standard-definition DTV programming. In January of this year, China Central TV announced China's first HD channel, CCTV HD Channel, which broadcasts select programming in 5.1 surround sound from Dolby. Also in 2005, Dolby worked with the Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group (SMEG) to launch China's first standard-definition cable television channel with 5.1 surround sound.
About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) develops and delivers products and technologies that make the entertainment experience more realistic and immersive. For four decades Dolby has been at the forefront of defining high-quality audio and surround sound in cinema, broadcast, home audio systems, cars, DVDs, headphones, games, televisions, and personal computers. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the company has entertainment industry liaison offices in New York and Los Angeles, and licensing liaison offices in London, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit http://www.dolby.com.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. S06/17239 DLB-G
Dolby Laboratories
Inecom Entertainment Company is pleased to feature Doug Sloan
one of Hollywood's notable horse wranglers, on the commentary track of the new "Horses of Gettysburg" DVD Box Set. Along with Ronald F. Maxwell and Mark Bussler, they talk about working with horses in movies and give additional insight into the use of horses during the Civil War.
Part of the "Civil War Minutes"(R) series, the 116-minute documentary narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell and directed by Mark Bussler, celebrates the honor and courage of the 72,000 horses and mules that fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. The film is now available for preordering with a May 2, 2006 scheduled release. The Special Edition 2-DVD Box Set of "Horses of Gettysburg" contains over three hours of special features including interviews with experts like Ronald F. Maxwell, Doug Sloan and Gettysburg National Military Park Ranger Eric Campbell.
In Sloan's interview, he explains the horse wrangler's role on a film set and details how to care for horses when filming. Sloan says, "The title of the film alone excited me. In 1863 horses were treated like cars are today; they were overlooked, overworked and taken for granted." Doug Sloan's wrangling credentials include "The West Wing," "The Last Samurai," "Gods and Generals," "Gettysburg" and "Far and Away." He's trained actors like Richard Gere, Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen and Danny Glover to ride and drive horse-drawn wagons as well.
According to Sloan, "No one knows exactly how many horses and mules were used in the Civil War, in some batteries it took 100 horses alone just to move the men, that doesn't even take into account all the mules that pulled the wagons. A film on the animals at Gettysburg is pretty neat."
About Inecom Entertainment Company
Inecom Entertainment Company finances and distributes independent films by partnering with innovative producers and working with celebrated talent such as Ronald F. Maxwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Keith Carradine and Gene Wilder.
Since 2001, Inecom has released eight feature documentaries and multiple instructional films for U.S. and international distribution including "EXPO - Magic of the White City" narrated by Gene Wilder, "Gettysburg and Stories of Valor" narrated by Keith Carradine, "Johnstown Flood" narrated by Richard Dreyfuss and "Lincoln and Lee at Antietam - The Cost of Freedom" narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell.
http://www.HorsesofGettysburg.com
.CEA and NCTA Unite to Broaden Scope of DTV Education Efforts
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)) and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) today announced a coordinated effort to broaden educational outreach to consumers about the transition to digital television (DTV).
"We are excited and pleased to partner with NCTA to undertake this important effort," said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. "Digital and high-definition television (HDTV) continue to capture the imagination of consumers across the nation. Indeed, CEA forecasts that this year sales of HDTV sets will outpace sales of analog TVs. With a hard date set for the end of analog broadcasting, we are now in the home stretch to completing this historic transition. As we continue on this journey, all industries involved have a responsibility to educate consumers about this exciting new era in television. To this end, we will combine our award-winning experience in DTV consumer education with cable's creativity and broad reach to help ensure consumers have easy access to quality information about this transition."
"The cable industry shares the view that it is vitally important for all consumers to understand the realities and opportunities presented by the digital transition," said NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow. "While cable has invested billions of dollars to jump start the digital TV transition and now offers robust high-definition packages to most customers, it is clear that there is a general lack of awareness of the impending transition to all-digital broadcasting, and the implications for TV viewers. The goal of this comprehensive campaign is to utilize the shared resources of these industries to educate consumers about this significant transition."
While specific details of the campaign are being developed, efforts likely will include: public service announcements, enhanced retailer sales force education, outreach via on demand services, bilingual education, and comprehensive cable customer communication.
The associations also will seek to work with local government and community officials to conduct constituent outreach. This joint campaign will supplement the vast efforts already underway by the individual associations.
CEA's wealth of voluntary educational and promotional initiatives already includes websites, printed collateral and media outreach. CEA currently operates four websites that promote the DTV transition through consumer and dealer education. The websites include http://www.antennaweb.org, http://www.myceknowhow.com, http://www.CEAconnectionsguide.com and http://www.ce.org/hdtv. CEA also provides a wealth of resources to help train and provide the latest information to retailers including CEknowhow.com -- CEA's online retailer certification training program - and downloadable and reproducible tip sheets, brochures and point-of-purchase materials.
A significant benefit of cable's ten-year $100 billion fiber optic investment is the aggressive rollout by NCTA member companies of new digital and HD cable services and programming. Today, 96 million homes are passed by a cable system that offers HDTV service, which represents all of the top 100 TV markets and nearly 90 percent of all TV households. In addition, nearly two dozen cable networks now provide HD programming on a full-time or part-time basis - in a variety of genres including news, sports, movies, general interest and more.
Shapiro and McSlarrow also called upon other industries and relevant government agencies to join in the effort.
"DTV education must become a national priority," said Shapiro. "While millions of consumers have made the transition seamlessly, hundreds of millions more have questions or are completely unaware. We invite industry associations, government agencies, organizations representing key constituencies and all others who can help get the word out to join in our effort."
CEA and NCTA remain committed to leading the way in providing point-of-sale educational materials and overall HDTV promotion and DTV transition education.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at http://www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.
CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.
About NCTA:
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation's largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing $100 billion over ten years to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumer.
Consumer Electronics Association
National Cable & Telecommunications Association
The Number of IP TV Subscribers is Expected to Grow to 36.8 Million by 2009
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35920) has announced the addition of IP TV Global Forecast - 2006 to 2009 Semiannual IP TV Global Forecast to their offering.
This latest forecast is an update to the IP TV Global Forecast - 2005 to 2009 dated September 2005. It incorporates the most recent information on IP TV deployments, including:
-- The current and planned deployments of IP TV services by large carriers in Europe.
-- The current and planned IP TV deployments by competitive and smaller carriers in Europe.
-- The current state of IP TV deployments at AT&T, BellSouth, and Verizon in the U.S.
-- The initiation of IP TV trials in China and India that indicate very large future IP TV deployments.
-- The success of a number of early IP TV deployments in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
We are forecasting that the number of DSL subscribers will grow from 97 million in 2004 to 256 million in 2009, a compounded annual growth rate of 21 percent. These DSL subscribers are the base for the IP TV subscribers
The number of global IP TV subscribers will grow from 4.3 million in 2005 to 36.8 million in 2009, a compound annual growth rate of 72 percent.
Europe is leading the market and has higher subscriber numbers than the previous forecast. Both Asia and North America have slipped a bit. Some service providers in Asia are having difficulty with marketing the service and we have tempered our enthusiasm for China a bit. The forecast for North America decreased due to a slower than expected rate of fiber deployment, especially with AT&T.
The number of global IP TV subscribers will grow from 4.3 million in 2005 to 36.8 million in 2009, a compound annual growth rate of 72 percent.
Europe is leading the market and has higher subscriber numbers than the previous forecast. Both Asia and North America have slipped a bit. Some service providers in Asia are having difficulty with marketing the service and we have tempered our enthusiasm for China a bit. The forecast for North America decreased due to a slower than expected rate of fiber deployment, especially with AT&T.
Topics Covered
1 Executive Summary
2 Global Outlook for IP TV
2.1 Europe Continuing to Move Forward
2.1.1 France Is Very Competitive
2.1.2 Telecom Enters Italian Market
2.1.3 Benelux Countries
2.1.4 IP TV Starting in Germany and the UK
2.1.5 Other Western European Countries
2.1.6 IP TV Progressing in Eastern Europe
2.2 Asia Depends on China and India
2.2.1 IP TV Will Dominate in Hong Kong
2.2.2 Taiwan Starting to Move Foreward
2.2.3 Japan Facing Marketing Issues
2.2.4 Korea Will Start IP TV in 2006
2.2.5 China Trailing in Mass
2.2.6 IP TV Starting in India
2.2.7 Activities in Other Asian Countries
2.3 The Major U.S. Incumbents Pushing IP TV
2.3.1 Large U.S. Incumbents are Starting IP TV Activities
2.3.2 Canadian Telcos Adopting IP TV
2.3.3 Smalll U.S. Independent Telcos Continuing their Advance
2.4 IP TV Emerging in the Rest of the World
3 Global IP TV Market Forecast
3.1 Methodology
3.1.1 DSL Forecast
3.1.2 IP TV Subscribers and Revenue
3.1.3 Access System Revenue
3.1.4 Video Headend System Revenue
3.1.5 Video On Demand Servers
3.1.6 Set-top Box Revenue
3.1.7 Middleware Software Revenue
3.1.8 Content Protection/Digital Rights Management Software Revenue
3.1.9 System Integration and Professional Services Revenue
3.2 Global Forecast Shows Strong Growth
3.2.1 Global DSL Forecast Shows a Big Increase
3.2.2 IP TV Subscribers Forecast Remains Firm
3.2.3 Global System Revenue Forecast
3.2.4 Global Access System Revenue Forecast
3.2.5 Global Set-top Box Revenue Forecast
3.2.6 Global IP TV Headend Revenue Forecast
3.2.7 Global IP Video On Demand Revenue Forecast
3.2.8 Global IP TV Middleware Revenue Forecast
3.2.9 Global IP TV Content Protection Revenue Forecast
3.2.10 Global IP TV System Integration Revenue Forecast
3.3 IP TV Market Forecast for Europe
3.3.1 DSL Subscriber Forecast for Europe
3.3.2 IP TV Subscriber Forecast for Europe
3.3.3 IP TV System Revenue for Europe
3.4 IP TV Market Forecast for Asia
3.4.1 DSL Subscriber Forecast for Asia
3.4.2 IP TV Subscriber Forecast for Asia
3.4.3 IP TV System Revenue for Asia
3.5 IP TV Market Forecast for North America
3.5.1 DSL Subscriber Forecast for North America
3.5.2 IP TV Subscriber Forecast for North America
3.5.3 IP TV System Revenue for North America
3.6 IP TV Market Forecast for the Rest of the World
3.6.1 DSL Subscriber Forecast for the Rest of the World
3.6.2 IP TV Subscriber Forecast for the Rest of the World
3.6.3 IP TV System Revenue for the Rest of the World
4 Opportunities, Risks, and Recommendations
4.1 Opportunities
4.2 Risks
4.3 Recommendations
Table of Figures
Table of Tables
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35920
Las Vegas TV Partners Acquire CMX Century Productions
Las Vegas TV Partners LLC, owners of KTUD-TV, Channel 25 and Cox Cable Channel 14, today announced that it has purchased CMX Century Productions, a leading full-service production and post-production facility in Las Vegas, for an undisclosed amount.
Las Vegas TV Partners LLC, a joint venture between The Greenspun Corp. and Catalyst Investors of New York, sought to acquire CMX Century Productions from Chicago businessman Demetrius Brown when its sale was announced in 2005. Because of CMX Century Productions' resources and talent pool, Las Vegas TV Partners recognized this as an opportunity to strengthen its growing media conglomerate and capabilities.
As part of a new re-branding campaign, CMX Century Productions will get a new name, Sun Media Productions. Sun Media Productions will continue to cater to advertising agencies, television shows and local business clients.
Steve Carlston, president and managing partner of Las Vegas TV Partners, commented, "We are very excited to acquire CMX Century and fully anticipate developing Sun Media Productions into the premiere production facility in Las Vegas."
As the demands of broadcast and corporate production continue to grow, he said Sun Media Productions will continue to provide clients with the newest technology and finest creative talents around. Their services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all under one roof. Sun Media Productions offers clients a state-of-the-art facility which includes cameras for location shoots, two edit suites, an online Avid room, a Fire HD suite, a pro tools post-audio suite, a graphics and effects suite, a 1,500-square-foot stage and a 38-foot mobile broadcast television production truck.
The Greenspun Corp. is a privately owned, family-run company that manages and oversees the financial interests of the Greenspun family of Las Vegas. The company operates its own businesses and invests in public and private securities, primarily in the media, communications, travel and tourism, real estate and gaming industries. These businesses include American Nevada Co., Green Valley Ranch Station Casino and Palms Hotel & Casino and Greenspun Media Group, with its primary businesses including the weekly newspaper and magazine publications In Business Las Vegas, Las Vegas Life magazine, Las Vegas Home & Design, Las Vegas Weekly, The Ralston Report, Las Vegas Magazine, The News local community papers, VEGAS Magazine and VegasGolfer magazine. GMG also consists of the Las Vegas Sun daily newspaper, and the Web site VEGAS.com.
Las Vegas TV Partners LLC
The Online Games Market in India is Starting to Heat up Due to an Increase in Internet Users and Broadband Penetration
2006 Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35928) has announced the addition of Online Games Market in India: An Emerging Market to their offering.
The Online Games Market in India is an in-depth strategic analysis of the emerging online games market in India.
While long dormant, the online games market in India is starting to heat up with a burgeoning Internet cafe culture; increases in Internet users and broadband penetration; and most importantly investment from game operators who are promoting and educating consumers about online games. We believe India in 2006 is comparable to China in 2001 when China's games market started to develop and an online games culture started to form.
The online games market in India is also being driven by key stakeholders with a vested interest in growing the market:
1) Users are discovering online games, intrigued by the community aspects, compelling content and the interactive experience.
2) Game operators are promoting and marketing online games, educating users and creating awareness. Online games represent a viable business model given India's high rates of software piracy.
3) Internet cafe owners are stocking more games since games are one of the biggest revenue drivers and are a "sticky" activity.
4) Publishers who are not yet in India are assessing the market and weighing the risks and rewards of entering this emerging and nascent market.
5) Telecoms and PC hardware manufacturers are pushing games to drive broadband and PC penetration. Broadband is being offered as low as $10 a month by some providers.
6) Advertisers are looking to attract and appeal to the growing urban and tech-savvy gamer population.
The Indian online games market is especially being closely monitored by Korean publishers who view India as a potential multi-million dollar market with its large, young and urban population hungry for content. In an attempt to capture consumer loyalty and establish brand equity early on, Korean publishers are already creating a beachhead in India with their online games.
While the market has clear potential, we also examine the critical cultural, economic, business and technological inhibitors to growing the market.
Research Highlights
This exclusive research document provides an analysis of the online games market in India and includes:
-- An executive summary highlighting major takeaways and key points
-- Socio-economic overview including India's economic growth
-- Analysis of the Indian middle class
-- Robust discussion of inhibitors and drivers to market growth
-- Internet cafes and their role in the online games market
-- - Key metrics Size of the online games market in India 2006-2010
- Number and growth in Internet users
-- Broadband penetration
-- PC hardware penetration
-- Examination of MMOGs currently in the market
-- Online games pricing strategy
-- Billing and payment methods
-- Language and localization
-- Profiles of key players
-- An exclusive matrix comparing China and India's online games market covering online games history, market size, popular types of content, broadband, Internet trends in addition to major socio-economic indices such as population, per capita GDP, literacy rates and software piracy
-- Chindia strategy and the interest of Korean publishers in India
-- Conclusions
Topics Covered
I. Executive Summary and Key Takeaways
II. Socio-Economic Overview
III. Software Piracy
IV. Key Company Profiles
V. Online Games Market: Drivers of Growth
VI. Inhibitors to Growth
VII. China vs. India
VIII. Chindia Strategy
IX. Conclusion
List of Graphs and Charts
Companies Mentioned
-- Sify - Reliance - Tom - Indiagames - Gravity - Level Up - Nvidia - Via - Actozoft - Shanda - Netease
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35928
iStor Networks, Inc.
.the world technology leader of next generation iSCSI integrated storage controllers that provide flexible, affordable and high performance solutions today announced their partnership with Rackmountpro, a Yang-Ming International Corporation (YMI) at the NAB 2006, April 22nd to the 27th in Las Vegas, NV.
“We recognize the importance of key partnerships with companies such as Rackmountpro in applying the newest iSCSI technologies to deliver reliable solutions to customers and integrators that are part of a very strong organization as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)", says Peter Cmaylo, Vice President, Business Development, iStor Networks, Inc.
Together, iStor and Rackmountpro are building a product portfolio that will support high performance streaming video applications utilizing the cost efficient iSCSI sub-system solutions. The Rackmountpro product solution will feature the GigaStorATX™, a highly integrated storage controller solution designed to conform to the ATX form factor specifications.
The GigaStorATX product family allows OEMs, VARs, and System Integrators to use off-the-shelf White Box Server and Storage ATX enclosures to build high performance, feature rich, and power efficient, cost effective iSCSI RAID storage solutions. GigaStorATX enables the opportunity of creating block based, cost effective RAID storage solutions by utilizing the latest storage industry technologies. The key technology difference, at the heart of the GigaStorATX is iStor`s highly integrated and powerful iSCSI/TCP/IP offload SOC (System on a Chip), with the capability of sustaining 10 GbE wire speed iSCSI traffic. The GigaStorATX offers a fully featured, integrated storage-virtualization firmware stack.
“By partnering with a proven company such as the iStor Networks, we can create a block based, cost effective RAID storage solution for our customers” says William Lin, Product Manager of Rackmountpro.
Rackmountpro will demonstrate the GigaStor ATX in Booth #SL3047.
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iStor Networks, Inc., is an innovative technology leader of next generation iSCSI integrated storage controllers providing flexible, affordable and high performance solutions to OEM’s, VAR’s and System Integrators. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Irvine, California has established a global presence with offices in the United States, UK and operational facilities in Asia. For more information, visit www.istor.com
Rackmountpro.com a division of Yang Ming International Corporation, a Southern California based computer parts wholesaler with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Established in 1994, Rackmountpro.com was one of the first pioneers to specialize solely in rackmount servers, chassis, and accessories, along with other industrial servers and components. Their products are currently sold directly to the government, educational institutions, major corporations, and small businesses. For more information, please visit www.rackmountpro.com
Comcast joins with CBS, NBC in Offering Prime-time Shows On-Demand
ABC and Fox will soon join CBS and NBC as on-demand partners with Comcast, Steve Burke, the cable company's chief operating officer, told media buyers today at an early morning video-on-demand upfront presentation.
The breakfast presentation, at the Museum of Radio & Television in Midtown Manhattan, was an overview of what Comcast is offering on its VOD platform and a forecast of things to come.
"The window for TV product is changing dramatically," Mr. Burke said -- refreshingly without the help of that standard upfront tool, a teleprompter. He said all four broadcasters would be on Comcast's on-demand platform "in the next 90 to 100 days."
Under the current deals CBS and NBC shows are available on VOD the day after they air on the linear network. The shows are available for 99 cents and carry advertising, although not necessarily the same advertising embedded within the original broadcast. Comcast pointed to the broadcasters' embrace of VOD as a way to emphasize to buyers that on-demand is now a major medium that they should be considering.
Comcast also pushes a slew of free on-demand content, which accounts for 95% of its VOD orders and today pitched buyers on the value of advertising within those free platforms. It throws out figures such as 70% of digital cable customers use VOD monthly, and if VOD were Nielsen rated, the hours consumers spent viewing it would make it a top 10 network.
Mr. Burke suggested that VOD is poised to take off much like online video advertising has. With online video, he said, the "eyeballs came first and then it took a little while for the advertisers to get there. ... Our hope and belief is that's what's going to happen with VOD."
In the past year, advertisers' interest in VOD appears to have waned in favor of streaming video. Part their frustration with VOD stems from an execution standpoint -- ad buys across multiple cable operators can be difficult. The other frustration lies in metrics and a belief that they're not getting all the data they might like fast enough.
But the cable industry is working on both of those issues, according to executives, with companies such as Rentrak, Nielsen, Atlas, Everstream and DoubleClick. As an example of a successful cross-multiple system operator campaign, Comcast held up a VOD play it executed for Wal-Mart on Comcast, Adelphia, Cox and Time Warner Cable systems.
"We will serve up standards across the industry," said Charlie Thurston, president of Comcast Spotlight.
The presentation also touted VOD as a trove for advertisers trying to reach young consumers. According to Comcast, adults 18-to-34 are the biggest consumers of VOD. While that demo accounts for 20% of linear -- that is, scheduled or programmed -- viewing, they account for 34% of VOD viewing. In fact, the under-34-year-old crowd accounts for 66% of VOD viewing.
Comcast's newest network, called Fear, is a 24/7 on-demand, horror-themed channel with a cache of movies from its partnership with MGM Sony. Fear will be available both as a cable VOD and a broadband channel and will be licensed to other cable operators as well. Comcast has also in the past year turned its PBS Sprout on-demand play into a 24/7 linear network.
"We look at the areas underserved on TV," said Matt Strauss, VP-content acquisition, including parenting, fitness, karaoke and dating.
Comcast VP-Marketing and Communications Vicki Lins said critical mass, both in terms of usage and advertiser interest, spurred on the company's first upfront VOD pitch. And because the upfront period is when most agencies and clients are planning their video budgets, "we didn't want to miss a window of opportunity," she said.
CBS Radio's David Lee Roth Replaced by Opie & Anthony in Seven Markets
Roth Failed to Hold on to Howard Stern Audience
Buyers are mixed on the news that Opie & Anthony are replacing David Lee Roth at seven of CBS Radio's top stations. Mr. Roth's short-lived radio career ended today as the jock bid his audience goodbye. He'll be replaced with familiar voices, XM Satellite Radio's Opie & Anthony, in a first-of-its kind licensing agreement between a satellite radio company and a terrestrial broadcaster.
"This is a truly logical choice," said Rich Russo, director-broadcast, JL Media. "It's one of the smarter things CBS has done in awhile. Opie & Anthony were successful in Boston, Philly, New York, which are Roth's three big markets."
"I'm sure they'll do a better job than Roth," said Dennis McGuire, VP-regional spot director at Carat, although he expressed concern about what the move means for radio's talent pipeline. "Does this represent a dearth of personality talent for radio that they have to go backwards instead of bringing up new talent?"
Mr. Roth was part of a slew of appointments CBS used to replace Howard Stern in 27 markets after Mr. Stern left to become a key player for Sirius Satellite Radio at the beginning of this year. Mr. Roth was a novel experiment on CBS Radio's part -- put a relative radio amateur with star power behind the morning-drive mic in some of its largest markets -- but one that failed miserably as the winter ratings book will indicate. Opie & Anthony will fill the hole left by Mr. Roth in New York, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and West Palm Beach, Fla.
XM gets not only the promotional vehicle of terrestrial radio to push its satellite service, but it gets a licensing fee from CBS and an extra hour of Opie & Anthony content. Additionally, because of the disparate commercial minutes between XM's Opie & Anthony show and CBS Radio's morning sow -- about eight minutes vs. 18, respectively -- XM listeners will hear 10 minutes of bonus material per hour. Both companies declined to comment on the news.
Radio watchers will recall that Opie & Anthony were yanked off the air in 2002 after broadcasting a stunt in which a couple allegedly had sex in Manhattan's St. Patrick's Cathedral. They've continued their shock jock-style show for the past two years in the relative haven of satellite radio, which isn't subject to FCC indecency regulations.
CBS Radio CEO Joel Hollander had touted Mr. Stern's replacements, including Mr. Roth, as more advertiser-friendly, thanks to cleaner shows, and said CBS would be able to appeal to a wider swath of advertisers without Mr. Stern. But some marketers may have concerns about Opie & Anthony, given their polluted past.
"Even Opie & Anthony sanitized will be edgier than Roth was," Mr. Russo said.
The duo will broadcast a cleaner version of their show for three hours, which will air between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on CBS and XM simultaneously. Then they'll broadcast an additional two hours exclusively for XM. The pair will be allowed to plug their XM show on the CBS broadcast.
TomKitten Arrives and 'People' Gets the Scoop What Everyone Is Talking About Today
TomKitten has arrived. Watercooler offers our congratulations to the proud parents of baby girl Suri. The news came a little late in the week to make magazine deadlines. In fact, for what seems the first week in forever, there was not a single Cruise or Katie reference on the cover of Life & Style or In Touch. OK weekly's cover was behind the times, saying, "Katie: Why Docs Fear for Her Health." Us Weekly's headline: "Tom and Katie: Baby Secrets Revealed." Only People captured the glad tidings with its "It's a Girl!" cover announcement.
Babytastic!
We'd also like to congratulate Brooke Shields on the birth of her daughter, Grier, whose arrival was somewhat eclipsed as a result of the Suri hullabaloo. Watercooler wonders what the odds were that Brooke and her anti-medication, depression-doubting debate partner would have their babies on the same day.
The recent birth of so many eagerly anticipated celeb babies (Donald Trump's Barron, Gwyneth Paltrow's Moses, Suri and Grier) means the end of this spring's baby boom is in sight. What will fill the pages of the tabs once they're all born? At least we have Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard's baby to look forward to. And of course, the real big event: the arrival of the Brangelina bundle.
In a brilliant bit of cross-promotion, Jann Wenner's Us Weekly has a cover story about Nick Lachey's interview with Rolling Stone, a magazine also owned by Wenner Media. Us Weekly conveniently gives us the Rolling Stone interview's vital stats. Number of times Lachey breaks down in tears: 6. Number of alcoholic beverages Lachey consumes: 4. Number of times Lachey says he still loves Jessica: 2. Apparently, Jess' ex told Rolling Stone: "I still love her. Love isn't the easiest thing to cut off." But to get the full portrait of the heartbroken man you have to buy a Rolling Stone.
Finally, over at Page Six, the cleanup begins. Rival Daily News reports that as part of the fallout from the Jared Paul Stern extortion scandal all freelance employees of the gossip page, including JPS himself, have been terminated. Now he'll have more time to devote to his Skull & Bones clothing line.
'Rome' Rises Rich With Extras
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a features-laden DVD.
HBO Video has been working on the DVD for the epic series “Rome” for nearly two years, said Sofia Chang, HBO Video’s VP of marketing.
Rome: The Complete First Season streets Aug. 15 with all 12 episodes of the acclaimed series accompanied by a legion of extras. The DVD features the most extensive amount of bonus features produced for an HBO original series, Chang said.
HBO began developing footage for extras as it was filming the series, now in production for the second season. The extras include “All Roads Lead to Rome,” an interactive viewing option that reveals pop-up information, mostly historical tidbits. Viewers will have the choice to further investigate the textual information, Chang said.
“All the features were designed to speak to the history,” she said.
Two “Shot x Shot” features dissect scenes in the series with making-of footage for a gladiator sequence and another for the scene celebrating Caesar’s triumph.
“The Rise of Rome” shows how filmmakers re-created the city and its people, including sets, wardrobe and military training.
“When in Rome” looks at ancient Roman culture, including the role of women, religious rituals and the moral code.
“Friends, Romans, Countrymen” introduces the characters, and a companion “Character Guide” gives profiles, relationships to other characters and other historical information.
The disc also includes eight audio commentaries with cast members, creator Bruno Heller and other filmmakers, as well as a photo gallery with 50 images from the show.
In keeping with the program’s ancient Roman feel, HBO is creating a special pack made of an ultra-lightweight wooden substrate never before used for a home video release.
HBO also is planning an epic marketing campaign centered on the title’s summer release, Chang said, with specifics to come.
“We’re going to make it the DVD event of the year,” she said.
Mobility Electronics Introduces new SIX Slot PCI ExpresS® to PCI expansion system at NAB 2006 Show
Magma’s new PCI Express to PCI Expansion System Provides New Solution for PCI Express Based Computers
Mobility Electronics, Inc.), a leading provider of innovative portable power and computing solutions for the mobile electronic device user, announced today the release of the Magma 6 Slot PCI Express to PCI Expansion System. The new Magma PCI Expansion System will provide a simple and affordable solution for expanding the capabilities of PCI Express based computers by adding PCI slots.
Designed and built by Mobility Electronics’ Magma product group, the PCI Express to PCI Expansion System has a chassis that contains six 64-bit/66MHz PCI slots which are connected to the host computer through a 4 lane (x4) PCI Express host interface card and pair of high performance Infiniband® cables. The 6 Slot PCI Express to PCI Expansion System provides an economical migration path to PCI Express while providing a method to protect investments in PCI Hardware.
Key features and benefits of Magma’s 6 Slot PCI Express to PCI Expansion System include:
Transparent extension of the PCI Bus outside the computer
Add six PCI slots through one PCI Express® slot
Plug and Plug installation
4U black rack-mount enclosure
PCI Express host card is compatible with full-height and low-profile computer cases
Utilizes high-speed Infiniband® cables
Provides a link from PCI Express based computers to legacy PCI hardware
Cost effective solution for adding multiple PCI slots to PCI Express based computers and servers
Ideal migration path to small form factor servers, while maintaining a consistent PCI hardware configuration
Substantially increase I/O capacity
Multiple expansion systems can be used with a single computer
“With our development of the PCI Express to PCI Expansion System, we are continuing our role as a leading innovator in the PCI Expansion arena,” said Charlie Mollo, CEO of Mobility Electronics. “We’ve seen the market move towards the new PCI Express architecture; we anticipate that PCI to PCI Express expansion solutions will be in great demand. This new PCI Express to PCI Expansion System bridges the gap between old technology and new technology—it is the first product to show the transition from PCI based solutions to PCI Express based solutions.
The new PCI Express to PCI Expansion System will be available directly from Mobility Electronics and through Mobility expansion resellers. You can see all the Magma brand products on Mobility Electronics’ web site: www. magma.com.
Magma is the leading provider of PCI Expansion Systems for several industries and provides innovative expansion solutions to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), resellers and end-users in more than 45 countries.
About Mobility Electronics, Inc.
Mobility Electronics, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a developer of universal power adapters for portable computers and mobile electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, smartphones/PDAs, digital cameras, etc.) and creator of the patented intelligent tip technology (iTips™ Technology). Utilizing iTips Technology, Mobility Electronics' iGo® brand offers a full line of AC, DC and combination AC/DC power products for portable computers and mobile electronic devices.
Through Mobility’s San Diego, Calif. offices, the company offers PCI expansion systems for servers, desktops and portable computers under its Magma brand. The Company also offers hardware, docking systems and other accessories for the mobile electronic device market. Mobility Electronics' products are available at www.iGo.com and www.magma.com as well as through leading resellers, retailers and OEM partners. For additional information about our Magma product line, call 1.800.285.8990 or visit www.mobilityelectronics.com.
Mobility Electronics and iGo are registered trademarks, and Magma and ...improving your mobile experience are trademarks of Mobility Electronics, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Mobility Electronics, Inc.
ViewCast to Showcase New Technology For Video Streaming at NAB 2006 ViewCast Corporation WHERE: National Association of Broadcasters NAB 2006, South Lower Level, Booth 2840 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada WHEN: April. 24-April. 27, 2006 Floor hours: Monday, April 24 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
ViewCast Corporation WHERE: National Association of Broadcasters NAB 2006, South Lower Level, Booth 2840 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada WHEN: April. 24-April. 27, 2006 Floor hours: Monday, April 24 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.mWHAT/WHY:ViewCast will feature multiple demonstrations of new products, including Niagara GoStream and NiagaraSCX 5.0 at Booth # SL2840. The booth is located at the entrance of the hall. Here are highlights of what's in store at NAB 2006: Niagara® GoStream: Niagara® GoStream, is a single-channel, portable streaming media encoder appliance designed for ease of use by streaming experts or novices.
This compact unit can quickly go from its DualDock rack shelf in an indoor environment to outdoor, on-location events for live Web casting. The GoStream product aims to breakdown the technology barriers of most streaming media products by simplifying the users' experience. NiagaraSCX 5.0: NiagaraSCX 5.0 is the latest version of ViewCast Corp's remote control and monitored software application for Osprey®-based encoders. NiagaraSCX 5.0 software incorporates digital rights management (DRM) for Windows Media®, MPEG-4 /H.264 and MPEG-2 encoding standards. The software will be bundled with the Niagara streaming systems and is planned to ship in May 2006. URL: http://www.viewcast.com
SPORTS & AUTOS
Dodger Baseball
Arizona 5, Los Angeles 4 at Dodger Stadium
Arizona Record: (8-10)
Los Angeles Record: (8-10)
Winning pitcher - Miguel Batista (2-0)
Losing pitcher - Jae Seo (0-2)
SV - Jose Valverde (3)
ARI HR - J. Estrada (2)
LAD HR - None
INDY JAPAN 300 RACE
Live timing and scoring reports from the Indy Japan 300 will be available on the Internet at www.indycar.com. The live timing and scoring module provides statistical information, including track segment speeds, lap information and much more.
Andretti Green Racing drivers Bryan Herta, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti have used their time out of the car to torment their rookie teammate Marco Andretti. The three IndyCar Series veterans have aided fans in securing Andretti’s autograph in the paddock several times this weekend and also pulled a prank in Andretti’s room at the Twin Ring Hotel. Herta removed the lightbulbs from Andretti’s room to fool the rookie into thinking his room had lost electricity. Kanaan then offered to help him, and when they returned to the room, he turned on the television, proving power had been restored and leaving the rookie in the dark room.
Marlboro Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr., are slated to join team owner Roger Penske at this weekend’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway to support Penske Racing South’s team of Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch. Hornish and Castroneves will accompany Penske on his plane following the Indy Japan 300 to fly back to the United States just in time to catch the race in Phoenix on Saturday night.
Crew for #17 Simmons reports damage sustained during the accident in final practice is too severe to repair. Team will use the backup car in today’s event.
INDY JAPAN 300 RACE SPECIFICS:
· The race is 300 miles, 200 laps on the 1.5-mile oval.
· The pit-road speed is 60 mph.
· The green flag to start the race will be shown the third time past the flag stand.
· The fuel allotment for today’s race is 135 gallons.
· Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the pace car.
INDY JAPAN 300 PRE-RACE:
At 12:45 p.m., the temperature was 57 degrees with a relative humidity of 41 percent and winds from the south-southwest at 6 mph. Skies were partly cloudy. The track temperature was 100 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
12:55 p.m. – Command to start engines by Tomikada Fukuda, grand marshal of the event.
INDY JAPAN 300 RACE RUNNING:
Lap 1: GREEN. Bridgestone Corporation CEOSoshi Arakawa waved the green flag. #3 Castroneves leads field into Turn 1.
Lap 5: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by .9513 of a second.
Lap 10: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.4195 seconds.
Lap 16: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.7679 seconds.
Lap 20: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.8418 seconds.
Lap 25: #10 Wheldon leads #3 Castroneves by .1761 of a second.
Lap 27: YELLOW. #51 Enge and #20 Carpenter make contact with SAFER Barrier between in Turns 3 and 4. Enge and Carpenter climb from their cars without assistance from the Delphi IRL Safety Team. Leaders under yellow are: #10 Wheldon, #3 Castronves, #9 Dixon, #6 Hornish, #11 Kanaan.
Lap 29: Leaders to pit lane for four and fuel. #6 Hornish and #9 Dixon also take wing adjustments. #3 Castroneves wins race off pit road, followed by #10 Wheldon, #27 Franchitti, #11 Kanaan and #6 Hornish.
Medical update for Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IRL medical official: Ed Carpenter and Tomas Enge have been checked and released from the infield care center. Both are cleared to drive.
TOMAS ENGE (No. 51 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): “I had a few problems at the beginning of the race. I was running behind Felipe (Giaffone) and suddenly I got a call from my team to come in immediately, so I started to break for the pit lane entrance on the backstretch and suddenly something broke on the front suspension. From that point, I was just a passenger.”
“I had a few problems at the beginning of the race. I was running behind Felipe (Giaffone) and suddenly I got a call from my team to come in immediately, so I started to break for the pit lane entrance on the backstretch and suddenly something broke on the front suspension. From that point, I was just a passenger.”
Lap 38: #26 Andretti, #14 Giaffone #17 Simmons to pit lane for fuel only.
ED CARPENTER (No. 20 Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): “Going down the backstretch I saw something break on Enge’s car, and he was throwing sparks and headed towards the pit lane. I knew it, I just knew he was going to come back up on the track, so as I headed into (Turn) 3, he turned up right and came right up in front of me. I am hating this for the Vision team. They have been busting their butts all year but we can’t get a break. We can’t seem to get the season started. Hopefully, we can get things turned around for Indianapolis and have a good month. Right now, I can’t catch a break. I felt like I should have raced St. Pete, but they wouldn’t let me. I come here and get knocked out before the first pit stop. Two cars destroyed in the two times I have been in them.”
“Going down the backstretch I saw something break on Enge’s car, and he was throwing sparks and headed towards the pit lane. I knew it, I just knew he was going to come back up on the track, so as I headed into (Turn) 3, he turned up right and came right up in front of me. I am hating this for the Vision team. They have been busting their butts all year but we can’t get a break. We can’t seem to get the season started. Hopefully, we can get things turned around for Indianapolis and have a good month. Right now, I can’t catch a break. I felt like I should have raced St. Pete, but they wouldn’t let me. I come here and get knocked out before the first pit stop. Two cars destroyed in the two times I have been in them.”
Lap 40: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads field into Turn 1. Behind there is a YELLOW. #8 Sharp spins off of Turn 4. Behind, #17 Simmons makes contact with the rear of #91 Chesson. #91 Chesson makes hard contact with the inside retaining wall. Spinning car of #17 Simmons makes contact with #8 Sharp and overturns one time. Car also makes contact with outside retaining wall on the front stretch. #5 Lazier spins behind the accident.
Lap 49: #4 Meira, #14 Giaffone #2 Scheckter to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 50: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads field into Turn 1.
Medical update for Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IRL medical official: P.J. Chesson and Jeff Simmons have been checked and released from the infield care center. Both are cleared to drive.
SCOTT SHARP (#8 Delphi Dallara/Honda/Firestone): “I don’t know (what happened). We were obviously coming off a yellow and worked hard to warm the tires. Just as soon as I picked up the throttle, it snapped on me. It’s very unusual.”
“I don’t know (what happened). We were obviously coming off a yellow and worked hard to warm the tires. Just as soon as I picked up the throttle, it snapped on me. It’s very unusual.”JEFF SIMMONS (#17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol
Panoz/Honda/Firestone): “I got a good restart and was really close to P.J. there but I couldn’t see what was going on. I saw him check up, and I got on the brakes as hard as I could. I still got up in the back of him then spun around going backwards and flipped over somebody and rolled. It’s really disappointing for everyone on Team Ethanol. This is not any way anyone wants to start something. Two wrecked cars in one race weekend is something I have never done before. This is not what anyone on Rahal Letterman was looking for.”
“I got a good restart and was really close to P.J. there but I couldn’t see what was going on. I saw him check up, and I got on the brakes as hard as I could. I still got up in the back of him then spun around going backwards and flipped over somebody and rolled. It’s really disappointing for everyone on Team Ethanol. This is not any way anyone wants to start something. Two wrecked cars in one race weekend is something I have never done before. This is not what anyone on Rahal Letterman was looking for.”P.J. CHESSON (No. 91 Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): “I need to use my favorite line ever. When you are in the back with the squirrels, you are bound to get your nuts cracked. But that’s not fair to say. There was a restart and Sharp spun around and I looked right into his eyes. I tried to pick a direction so I could get around him so I wouldn’t T-bone him. I went in to the inside and I think Jeff might have hooked up into my right rear. I feel really bad for those guys at Rahal Letterman. It was a tough weekend for Jeff, and I know that is not how he wanted his first weekend to go. The guys worked their butts off all weekend. They did a heckuva a job all weekend, and I am real proud of them. My brother James was great up in the tower. We made huge strides this weekend. I am real happy. I hate to end the weekend this way but it was just one of those things.”
“I need to use my favorite line ever. When you are in the back with the squirrels, you are bound to get your nuts cracked. But that’s not fair to say. There was a restart and Sharp spun around and I looked right into his eyes. I tried to pick a direction so I could get around him so I wouldn’t T-bone him. I went in to the inside and I think Jeff might have hooked up into my right rear. I feel really bad for those guys at Rahal Letterman. It was a tough weekend for Jeff, and I know that is not how he wanted his first weekend to go. The guys worked their butts off all weekend. They did a heckuva a job all weekend, and I am real proud of them. My brother James was great up in the tower. We made huge strides this weekend. I am real happy. I hate to end the weekend this way but it was just one of those things.”Lap 55: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .3458 of a second.
Lap 61: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .4147 of a second.
Lap 65: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .4738 of a second.
Lap 70: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .7874 of a second.
Lap 75: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.1028 seconds.
Lap 80: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.6267 seconds.
Lap 85: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.9153 seconds.
Lap 91: #15 Rice and #16 Patrick to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 92: #10 Wheldon and #6 Hornish to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 94: #3 Castroneves to pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #11 Kanaan.
Lap 95: Leader, #11 Kanaan, and #27 Franchitti to pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #9 Dixon.
Lap 96: #26 Andretti to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 97: Leader, #9 Dixon, to the pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #2 Scheckter.
Lap 100: Leaders, #2 Scheckter and #4 Meira, to pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #3 Castroneves.
Lap 105: After green flag pit stops, #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 3.9970 seconds.
Lap 110: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 3.5647 seconds.
Lap 115: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 3.1346 seconds.
Lap 120: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.9482 seconds.
Lap 125: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.3157 seconds.
Lap 126: #11 Kanaan to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 130: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.0448 seconds. #7 Herta to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 135: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by 1.0432 seconds.
Lap 140: #3 Castroneves leads #9 Dixon by .7326 of a second. #16 Patrick and #15 Rice to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 142: #6 Hornish to pit lane for four tired and fuel.
Lap 143: #10 Wheldon to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 144: #27 Franchitti to pit lane for four tires and fuel. #27 Crew member is injured on stop after car struck tire on pit entry.
Lap 147: Leader, #3 Castroneves, to pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 149: Leader, #9 Dixon to pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #4 Meira. Dixon stalled on exit.
Lap 150: Leader #4 Meira to pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #3 Castroneves.
Lap 151: After green flag stops, #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .1381 of a second
Lap 155: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.3321 seconds.
Lap 158: YELLOW. #14 Giaffone makes light contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 4, then does a quarter-spin to the right and makes contact with the outside retaining wall on the frontstretch with the nose cone. There is damage to the right side and front of the #14 Giaffone.
Lap 162: Leaders under caution are: #3 Castroneves, #10 Wheldon, #6 Hornish, #7 Herta and #11 Kanaan. Most lead lap cars to pit lane for four tires and fuel. Top three do not pit. #11 Kanaan wins race off of pit road followed by # 15 Rice.
Medical update for Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IRL medical official: Felipe Giaffone has been checked and released from the infield care center. He is cleared to drive.
Lap 167: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads the field into Turn 1.
Lap 170: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by .9776 of a second.
Lap 175: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.3351 of a second.
Lap 180: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 1.9592 of a second.
Lap 185: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 2.9680 of a second.
Medical update for Dr. Geoffrey Billows, IRL medical official: Steve Price, left rear tire changer for #27 Dario Franchitti has been transported via ground to Dokkyo University Hospital for evaluation of a leg injury.
Lap 190: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 4.8532 of a second.
Lap 195: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 5.7753 of a second.
Lap 199: WHITE: #3 Castroneves leads #10 Wheldon by 6.4989 of a second.
Lap 200: CHECKERED: Castroneves wins Indy Japan 300 by 6.3851 of a second. Castroneves climbs the fence on the front straightaway after the victory.
INDY JAPAN 300 POST-RACE NOTES:
· This is Helio Castroneves’ ninth career IndyCar Series victory and his second consecutive win of the season. It is the 11th time a driver has won back-to-back IndyCar Series events. Dan Wheldon was the last driver to accomplish the feat when he won three consecutive races last season.
· Castroneves’ margin of victory, 6.3851 seconds, is the largest margin of victory at Twin Ring Motegi. It is Castroneves’ first win in eight starts in Japan and his 15th career Indy-style win. Prior to today’s win, his best finish at Motegi was second in 2001.
· Castroneves has recorded 27 top-three finishes in the 69 IndyCar Series races he’s run to date (39 percent). He won from the pole position for the fourth time in his IndyCar Series career, tying Greg Ray for second on the all-time list for wins from the pole.
· This is Marlboro Team Penske second win of the season and its 17th win in the IndyCar Series. The team’s last victory came at St. Petersburg with Castroneves. The team now has 76 oval wins out of their record 126 career wins - the most of any team in open-wheel racing.
· Dan Wheldon finished second. It is his third consecutive top-two finish at Motegi and his second top-five finish this season.
· Tony Kanaan finished third. It is his fifth consecutive top-10 finish and his fourth top-five finish in four starts.
INDY JAPAN 300 POST-RACE QUOTES:
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, winner, Indy Japan 300): “"What a team, what a team. These guys are unbelievable. We were fast from the very start this week, which is good because there wasn't a lot of practice time. But today was perfect, and the car was perfect too. I said yesterday that I wanted to finish where we started, and I don't think it was ever in question. We were fast all day."
“"What a team, what a team. These guys are unbelievable. We were fast from the very start this week, which is good because there wasn't a lot of practice time. But today was perfect, and the car was perfect too. I said yesterday that I wanted to finish where we started, and I don't think it was ever in question. We were fast all day."DAN WHELDON (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone, finished second): “It’s a reasonable result from a points standpoint. I just didn’t have enough for Helio. At some points of the race I was very, very quick, and just tailed off at other points. All in all, it’s a great result. It would have been great to win three in a row. But it just wasn’t meant to be and we’ll move on to Indy.”
“It’s a reasonable result from a points standpoint. I just didn’t have enough for Helio. At some points of the race I was very, very quick, and just tailed off at other points. All in all, it’s a great result. It would have been great to win three in a row. But it just wasn’t meant to be and we’ll move on to Indy.”TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished third): “Well, it was an OK day for us. We had a flat tire toward the end, I had to pit a lot earlier. The car was OK. I think I was going to be competitive, but we got a set back when we got the flat tire, and I had to pit earlier. Third place is not bad for us today.”
“Well, it was an OK day for us. We had a flat tire toward the end, I had to pit a lot earlier. The car was OK. I think I was going to be competitive, but we got a set back when we got the flat tire, and I had to pit earlier. Third place is not bad for us today.”SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone finished ninth): “I’m pretty disappointed because we had such a good run going, and the Target car was just fantastic. On that last stop, I lost the clutch, stalled it and fell back too many spots too late in the race to make a decent comeback. It really is a shame. Even after messing up my first pit stop when I overshot the box by quite a bit, we were able to pick our way back and saving enough fuel that we made it into the lead a few times. Heading into that last pit stop, the No. 9 Target car was so strong that I was so confident that we could have come out ahead of Helio (Castroneves) for the lead. It’s disappointing but having a car that good today bodes well for the month of May.”
“I’m pretty disappointed because we had such a good run going, and the Target car was just fantastic. On that last stop, I lost the clutch, stalled it and fell back too many spots too late in the race to make a decent comeback. It really is a shame. Even after messing up my first pit stop when I overshot the box by quite a bit, we were able to pick our way back and saving enough fuel that we made it into the lead a few times. Heading into that last pit stop, the No. 9 Target car was so strong that I was so confident that we could have come out ahead of Helio (Castroneves) for the lead. It’s disappointing but having a car that good today bodes well for the month of May.”VITOR MEIRA (No. 4 Panther Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished 10th): “This was a very big day for the Panther team because we were able to move up in the championship standings. I think we need to be more aggressive with our setup. It is nice to get a Top Ten, but I think we could have had a Top Five car today. We moved a ton of aero to the front of the Network LIVE car and that was still not enough. But most importantly, being able to move up some spots in the championship right before Indy is big for all of us. When we tested at the Speedway the car was great and I know we’re going to have a very strong month of May.”
“This was a very big day for the Panther team because we were able to move up in the championship standings. I think we need to be more aggressive with our setup. It is nice to get a Top Ten, but I think we could have had a Top Five car today. We moved a ton of aero to the front of the Network LIVE car and that was still not enough. But most importantly, being able to move up some spots in the championship right before Indy is big for all of us. When we tested at the Speedway the car was great and I know we’re going to have a very strong month of May.”BUDDY RICE (No. 15 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Argent Panoz/Honda/Firestone, finished fifth): “The day wasn't too bad considering where we had to start and the circumstances that we had to deal with during the race. This is a good start for us going into the month of May. We ran strong at St. Pete and we came here and we were good. Obviously we have room for improvement, but when you start 18th a top-five finish is great. The biggest thing that helped this race was my Argent Mortgage pit crew. Every pit stop my crew picked up several spots. My guys deserve a huge pat on the back for this result. The feeling I am getting from this year reminds me of the last time I finished fifth at Motegi (2004) and we will see if we can duplicate that result (won Indy) in May."
: “The day wasn't too bad considering where we had to start and the circumstances that we had to deal with during the race. This is a good start for us going into the month of May. We ran strong at St. Pete and we came here and we were good. Obviously we have room for improvement, but when you start 18th a top-five finish is great. The biggest thing that helped this race was my Argent Mortgage pit crew. Every pit stop my crew picked up several spots. My guys deserve a huge pat on the back for this result. The feeling I am getting from this year reminds me of the last time I finished fifth at Motegi (2004) and we will see if we can duplicate that result (won Indy) in May."KOSUKE MATSUURA (No. 55 Panasonic/ARTA Dallara/Honda/Firestone, finished seventh): “Of course I am disappointed because I expected a better result, but seventh was not too bad. This was good for the championship points. This was the most important race for me this year, and I had a lot of fans here. The team did a great job and I didn’t make any mistakes. The car wasn’t perfect. The gearing was a little bit too short and when I was catching someone, I was hitting the [rev] limiter coming off of Turn Two. It was difficult to overtake. The last fifty laps, I thought I could overtake Buddy Rice, but the gear was too short and I couldn’t do anything. I think a lot of drivers had the same problem. Race by race, the handling of my car is getting better and better. During the month of May, I think we will have a great car and hopefully we can have a top-five finish in the Indy 500.”
“Of course I am disappointed because I expected a better result, but seventh was not too bad. This was good for the championship points. This was the most important race for me this year, and I had a lot of fans here. The team did a great job and I didn’t make any mistakes. The car wasn’t perfect. The gearing was a little bit too short and when I was catching someone, I was hitting the [rev] limiter coming off of Turn Two. It was difficult to overtake. The last fifty laps, I thought I could overtake Buddy Rice, but the gear was too short and I couldn’t do anything. I think a lot of drivers had the same problem. Race by race, the handling of my car is getting better and better. During the month of May, I think we will have a great car and hopefully we can have a top-five finish in the Indy 500.”DANICA PATRICK (No. 16 15 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Argent Panoz/Honda/ Firestone, finished eighth): “I don't think our Argent Mortgage Honda was that fast, but I do think we were smart enough with our strategy and our pit stops were good enough and we were able to run consistently and it produced a solid result. We just weren't able to run consistently fast enough to overtake the leaders. I had one stint where I was really able to make up some time and gain position, but I battled understeer most of the day. Unfortunately when you have problems at Motegi going through [turns] three and four it will limit what you can do. Overall we weren't super fast, but we did get our result. I am disappointed that on the last restart I got chopped pretty good. Everybody was getting a little feisty with their moves and everybody was a little too bold. At least we finished and scored more points and we didn't do anything stupid."
“I don't think our Argent Mortgage Honda was that fast, but I do think we were smart enough with our strategy and our pit stops were good enough and we were able to run consistently and it produced a solid result. We just weren't able to run consistently fast enough to overtake the leaders. I had one stint where I was really able to make up some time and gain position, but I battled understeer most of the day. Unfortunately when you have problems at Motegi going through [turns] three and four it will limit what you can do. Overall we weren't super fast, but we did get our result. I am disappointed that on the last restart I got chopped pretty good. Everybody was getting a little feisty with their moves and everybody was a little too bold. At least we finished and scored more points and we didn't do anything stupid."The next IndyCar Series event is the 90th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be broadcast at 1 p.m. (EDT) by ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network. The next Indy Pro Series event is the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26.
Vince Young Announces First Endorsement with Austin-Based NetSpend, National Leader in Prepaid Debit Cards
NFL-bound quarterback, NetSpend fund college scholarship with All-Access card
Former University of Texas football great and sought-after NFL quarterback prospect Vince Young announced Saturday that his first professional endorsement agreement is with Austin, Texas-based NetSpend Corporation, the nation's leading marketer and processor of prepaid debit cards.
Young announced his debut endorsement partnership here at the firm's national headquarters in the company of NetSpend and University officials.
"Just as my time at U.T. helped enable me to have greater opportunities, NetSpend is empowering people all across the nation to change their lives with new freedom in their financial affairs," said Young. "I like what they are doing, and I want to be a part of it."
Young explained that in today's society, many people do not have or want a traditional bank account or credit card, so when they try to rent a car, make an airline reservation, or transact online, they are told "No." But they still need a convenient vehicle to safely control their funds and to make purchases or access cash at will, and NetSpend's All-Access prepaid debit cards are the leading solution.
"This isn't just a card, it's the end of all those no's," Young said. "The All-Access card let's people say 'Yes I can,' and that's what today and this partnership is all about."
As a first step in their new partnership, Young joined NetSpend CEO Rick Savard and founders Roy and Bertrand Sosa to present a giant $10,000 NetSpend All-Access debit card -- rather than the traditional jumbo check -- to the University of Texas College of Communication to establish an Advertising and Sports Marketing Scholarship Fund at the school.
Savard said that the company chose to partner with Young because of the person he is, his values, the way he connects with people and his leadership.
"Vince Young represents the American dream come true," said Savard. "He is a leader, an inspiration, and we are proud that he has joined us to help consumers understand their options to have access to a convenient and secure means to store and spend their money."
NetSpend has become the leader in the rapidly growing prepaid debit payments field. The company markets its own All-Access brand prepaid, re- loadable debit cards through distributors nationally. The Visa or MasterCard branded cards can be used to make purchases anywhere those cards are accepted. The cards can be funded with a deposit of any amount up to $10,000 and act as a secure, federally insured portable bank account, to be used at any of tens of thousands of retail or service locations across the nation, or at any ATM.
NetSpend also partners with prominent retailers to provide private branded cards, along with gift cards, one of the fastest growing categories of payment products.
Founded seven years ago by brothers Roy and Bertrand Sosa, privately-held NetSpend Corporation has grown to a national leader in the prepaid debit category processing close to $3 billion in funds loaded on its cards, and has a staff of more than 200 employees at its Austin headquarters.
About NetSpend Corporation
NetSpend Corporation is the leading provider of prepaid debit cards for America's underserved markets. The NetSpend platform offers an end-to-end approach that is unique in the prepaid payments industry. From customer acquisition and risk management to card fulfillment and customer service, NetSpend offers a vertically integrated product offering that powers the infrastructure for prepaid payment applications. NetSpend's partnerships include agency agreements with the leading companies serving the un-banked and under-banked markets, as well as strategic relationships with card issuers, EFT networks and payment card associations. For more information, visit www.netspend.com.
Source: NetSpend Corporation
LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES AN AMBITIOUS AND VISIONARY PROJECT
The IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012, led by its Chairman Denis Oswald, today concluded its first full visit to the British capital since London’s election last July at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. The meetings, which took place over three days, demonstrated that London 2012 has an ambitious and visionary project and that it has been able to keep up the momentum of its work since its winning bid last year, to date delivering all key milestones.
The Commission heard from the Chairman of London 2012, Lord Sebastian Coe, and its Chief Executive Officer, Paul Deighton, as well as from key members of the Organising Committee (LOCOG)’s administration. The Commission was also briefed by key leaders of the different stakeholder groups involved in the London Games, including Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport; Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London; Lord Colin Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association; and David Higgins, CEO of the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Speaking at the end of the Commission’s visit to London, Chairman Denis Oswald said, “The IOC, as the ultimate guardian of the Olympic Games, is very proud to guide the London 2012 organisers through the preparation and implementation of Olympic Games that will transform the local landscape physically, socially and economically. We are especially delighted by the fact that London has really understood the ethos of the Olympic Games and the Olympic values, whereby the Games are a vehicle and catalyst for development and provide a platform to educate society through sport. London’s project is ambitious and visionary, but as sporting people we admire this ambition and look forward to playing our part in London’s Olympic journey.”
Speaking about LOCOG, Oswald noted, “The very professional approach that LOCOG has shown us during this visit and during my previous visits to London, since its election last July, has demonstrated the energy and excitement that this project is bringing to the city and the country. What is particularly encouraging is the way in which the London team has been thinking about all aspects of Games preparation and planning, and how each area of the project is intrinsically linked. This understanding, and the putting of it into practice by sharing information between departments and entities, will stand LOCOG in good stead for the coming years, and we encourage them to continue in this vein. We are also delighted to see that the IOC’s new and improved Olympic Games management processes, whereby knowledge is transferred from Games to Games, and support is given from a bid’s inception right through to Games delivery, has assisted London in making a speedy and effective transition from bid to host city.”
The Commission members received more detailed reports on the progress of several key functional areas, such as sport, Olympic venue construction, transport, finance, sustainability and environment, communications, marketing, accommodation, culture and the Paralympic Games. They also toured some of the key Olympic sites, including the Millennium Dome, the Olympic Park and Stratford International Railway Station.
Commenting on what the Commission saw during the venue tour, Oswald said, “We were able to see the first, early signs of the huge transformation that will follow, when we saw the work being done to bury electricity cables in the Stratford area. Developments for the indoor arena at the Millennium Dome were also encouraging and exciting.”
LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe said the Coordination Commission visit had provided an important opportunity for London Olympic organisers to demonstrate progress made in planning for the Games, highlighting commitments to delivering a lasting legacy of community and sporting benefits from hosting the Games.
"We are united in our desire to see spectacular Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012. We are also committed to ensuring that the Games leave a lasting legacy of social, environmental, economic and community benefits for London, the UK and for sport that demonstrate the power of the Olympic Games to change lives," Coe said.
LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton said the Coordination Commission visit reinforced the close working relationship that the London Olympic organisers had formed with the IOC since London was selected as Olympic host city last July. "Our plans for the London Games will benefit significantly from the highly productive meetings with the IOC's experts, and we look forward to further visits from the Coordination Commission as we move ahead together towards the London 2012 Games."
The next visit of the Coordination Commission to London will take place in 2007. The Commission visits the future host city on a yearly basis until four years from the Games when the frequency increases to two visits per year. The visits of the Commission are supplemented by the regular visits by smaller IOC teams involving the Commission Chairman, selected members of the Commission and members of the IOC administration.
SportStar Awards 2006 at the Olympic Museum
On Thursday 20 April, the Olympic Museum in Lausanne hosted the 4th edition of the SportStar Awards. The ceremony was held under the patronage and in the presence of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President for Life, and Mario Pescante, President of the European Olympic Committees. Also present were Valentino Castellani, President of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee (TOROC), and representatives of the Winter Sports International Federations, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Eurosport.
Created in 2000 by TV channel Eurosport, with the support of the IOC, this event pays tribute to the European athletes who take part in the Olympic Games and who are considered as the best representatives of the fundamental values of sport. Two months after the closing of the XX Olympic Winter Games, the Olympic Museum’s visitors were able to rub shoulders with some of the best athletes of these recent Games whose feats thrilled us all. Among them were Irina Slutskaya, Philipp Schoch, Daniela Meuli, Evelyne Leu, Anette Norberg, Antoine Dénériaz, Enrico Fabris and Giorgio di Centa. At the beginning of the afternoon, a signing session had been organised, offering the Museum’s visitors and many fans the chance to see their idols close up.
For more than 10 years, Eurosport has contributed to promoting sport and the Olympic ideals to television audiences worldwide. On 23 June 1993, on the anniversary of the IOC’s creation, Olympic Magazine was launched. It is a monthly Eurosport programme in which reports cover subjects as varied as Olympic history, sports performances and the positions of the IOC.
All-New 2007 Hyundai Elantra Makes World Debut at New York International Auto Show; Safety and Interior Space Put the Fourth-Generation Elantra a Class Above the Competition
The all-new 2007 Elantra makes its world debut today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. Hyundai's 2007 Elantra is the seventh all-new model from Hyundai in just 24 months, giving Hyundai the freshest lineup in the industry. All new from headlight to taillight, Elantra brings more refinement, safety and interior space to compact car shoppers.
"The all-new Elantra delivers more interior space than Civic or Corolla -- even more space than Acura TL -- and a level of ride and handling refinement that's both agile and comfortable," said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Add in great standard safety features like six airbags, anti-lock brakes and active front head restraints, and our assertive new design, and it's clear that Elantra offers unbeatable value."
24/7 Program
The Elantra marks Hyundai's seventh all-new product in 24 months when it goes on sale in fall 2006. This "24/7" product plan included the arrival of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Accent, Azera, Santa Fe, Entourage and Elantra. From the flagship, full-size Azera, to the entry-level Accent, each of these models offers unsurpassed standard safety technologies in their segments, and each reflects the Hyundai brand's refined and confident nature.
Unsurpassed Standard Safety in the Compact Segment
All Elantra models have six standard airbags, including two advanced front airbags, two front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and two side curtain airbags protecting front- and rear-seat outboard passengers. The combination of side and curtain airbags, which help protect the head and body during side impacts, can reduce fatalities by more than 45 percent according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Side-impact airbags are expensive options on competitors such as Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, and are not available on the Chevrolet Cobalt. Side curtain air protection is Optional on Corolla and Cobalt and still not available on Focus.
Accident avoidance technologies start with Elantra's all-new chassis featuring fully independent suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars and motor-driven rack-and-pinion steering. The Elantra's standard power braking system has front and rear discs with a four-sensor, four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that includes Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). ABS helps the driver maintain vehicle steering control in slippery conditions and in emergency maneuvers. EBD is integrated into the ABS, automatically adjusting the braking force to front and rear axles based on the vehicle loading conditions. Four-wheel disc brakes are a key leadership feature for the segment, as traditional rear drum brakes are still found on the 2006 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt.
Elantra's standard front-seat active head restraints help prevent whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant's head and the head restraint during a rear collision and are highly recommended by safety-focused organizations such as the IIHS.
All seating positions feature three-point seatbelts and adjustable head restraints. The shingle-style rear-seat head restraints improve visibility when there are no rear seat passengers, while protecting these passengers when they are in the vehicle. There's also an energy absorbing steering column and front seatbelt pretensioners, force limiters and adjustable-height shoulder anchors. A LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system in the rear-seat area provides secure attachment for child seats.
In low-speed impacts, the Elantra's five-mph front and rear bumpers help minimize damage. In higher-energy collisions, its steel unibody structure is engineered to dissipate crash energy as its crumple zones deform, while bodyside reinforcements help maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment. Hood buckling creases and safety stops help to control the deformation of the hood in a frontal collision.
Expressive and Confident Design
Elantra continues the dramatic new styling resurgence introduced on the all-new 2007 Santa Fe -- refined and confident. This new theme resonates in Elantra's assertive front appearance, rising beltline, sculpted body side and an overall lively appearance. For a more upscale appearance, chrome headlight bezels and grille bars highlight Elantra's assertive face. The profile of Elantra features confidently sculpted surfaces, an expressive bodyside character line that has a family resemblance to Azera and a clean look with bodycolor door handles and mirrors. The rear styling compliments the front design with taillamps echoing the theme of the headlamps, and the cohesive look continues with a bodycolored rear license plate garnish and integrated bumper fascia.
A "Class Above" Interior - More Room Than Acura TL
Elantra is wider and taller than its predecessor. Increasing the height 2.2 inches and moving the driver's seating position up 1.8 inches opened up the cabin for more room and flexibility. Two inches of added width deliver more front and rear shoulder room as well. This repackaging delivers a remarkably spacious interior -- one that is truly a "class above" Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla for interior room. Elantra is so roomy the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies it as a mid-size car, not a compact car like Civic and Corolla. With 97.9 cubic feet of passenger room and 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space, the Elantra has the most interior volume (passenger volume plus trunk space) for a sedan in its class. Elantra's total interior volume of 112.1 cubic feet easily betters the 2006 Civic sedan (102.9 cu. ft.), 2007 Nissan Sentra (110.8 cu.ft.) and 2006 Corolla (103.8 cu. ft.), and, surprisingly, even surpasses the interior volume of the near-luxury Acura TL (110.4 cubic feet) sedan. Elantra trunk capacity also beats Civic and Corolla. Its 14.2 cu. ft. of trunk volume is 18 percent larger than Civic and five percent bigger than Corolla.
Thoughtful design touches bring harmony and substance to Elantra's interior. The dashboard slopes downward to give a feeling of more space and greater visibility while offering an aesthetic shape. The contrasting two-tone color schemes (available in beige and gray tones) combined with metallic finishes match the more sophisticated and upscale exterior styling. New levels of detail and craftsmanship are found throughout the interior. Luxurious supple leather is available on Elantra, but cannot be found on Civic. For the first time, heated seats are available. Another first, Elantra also offers steering-wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls and telescoping adjustment. Blue back lighting adds a youthful, but refined ambience at night.
The center console features a two-level storage compartment and a comfortable armrest. An overhead sunglasses holder has built-in map lights, and map pockets are integrated into the front door panels. Seatback storage pockets provide additional room for small items. Storage can also be found in the dash, center stack and console. A convenient handbag strap holder is sure to surprise and delight owners. Dual front cupholders and an available rear armrest with cupholders complete the interior.
The Elantra's comfortable and versatile seating includes a multi-adjustable driver's seat with height adjustment, adjustable head restraints and a 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback that makes it easy to accommodate cargo.
Conveniences like standard cabin air filter, rear window defroster, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass, two-speed variable intermittent windshield wiper with mist function, dual vanity mirrors, and power windows with driver's auto-down and illuminated switches make the Elantra seem like it's a class above its modest price point. The high-volume Elantra GLS Premium Package offers a 172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers and Hyundai's first auxiliary jack, which allows iPods(R) and other portable MP3 players to be connected to the vehicle audio system. Also included are air conditioning, cruise control, fog lights, windshield shade band, rear center armrest with cupholders, power heated mirrors, power locks, and remote keyless entry with trunk open, panic alert, and alarm. XM satellite radio will be available beginning in the fall.
Super-Clean Engine
Many Elantras sold in California, Maine, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts will score high on the EPA's Green Vehicle Guide to Green Cars and be certified as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV). The SULEV Elantra is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles and helps Hyundai meet its environmental commitments. In fact, the 2007 Elantra is projected to earn Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) certification in California, which few models in the entire automotive industry earn. Outside of the green states, the Elantra is available in Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) configurations.
Hyundai's advanced 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder engine powers Elantra. This sophisticated 16-valve powerplant employs an aluminum cylinder head that features dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT). The combination helps give the engine a very broad power spread, coupled with high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
The CVVT unit is positioned on the exhaust camshaft and controls
the intake valve timing by advancing and retarding the intake cam in relation to the exhaust cam. The CVVT system increases volumetric and thermodynamic efficiency, which helps the engine deliver improved performance at high rpm and increased torque at low rpm. With better cylinder charging, fuel economy is also increased. By optimizing valve overlap, NOx emissions are reduced due to the resulting Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) effect.
The ULEV variation is rated at an estimated 138 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm. SULEV engines are available only with a four-speed automatic transmission, and are rated at an estimated 132 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 133 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm.
Two Transmission Choices
The Elantra comes standard with a precise five-speed manual gearbox. A smooth four-speed automatic with a new gated console-mounted floor shifter is available as an option and includes an overdrive lock-up torque converter for higher fuel economy at freeway speeds.
Suspension and Steering
Elantra's design team worked to solve the classic design tradeoffs between interior roominess, agility and driving comfort. On one hand, interior space and cargo room are critically important to a sedan in its class; on the other hand, secure, responsive handling and good road isolation are also priorities. The Elantra's ride quality improves upon that offered by Civic, Corolla, Focus and Cobalt. An advanced, motor-driven, engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power steering ensures the new Elantra has a more agile driving feeling than the outgoing model, and key competitors.
Elantra delivers a comfortable ride and responsive handling thanks to a front MacPherson strut suspension with coil springs and gas shock absorbers, and multi-link suspension and twin-tube gas shock absorbers. A 23.0-mm diameter front stabilizer bar and 17.0 mm rear stabilizer bar, which is larger than its predecessor's by 5.0 mm, helps reduce body roll when cornering, and tunes the Elantra's at-the-limit handling for maximum predictability. To enhance stopping power, the front and rear brakes are larger than its predecessor's at 10.8 inches (275 mm) for the front and 10.3 inches (262 mm) for the rear.
The 2007 Elantra body stiffness is up 49 percent from the outgoing model and nine percent over Corolla. Significant increases in body stiffness levels allowed Hyundai engineers to deliver a dynamic package that left little to compromise during the shock and bushing tuning phases. The result is precise steering and handling and a well-controlled, yet comfortable ride. By improving body rigidity and applying an optimized door sealing strategy, Hyundai engineers successfully reduced road noise two decibels below a comparably equipped 2006 Honda Civic based on internal testing.
Three Trim Levels
The Elantra is available in three distinctive trim levels -- GLS, SE and Limited.
Elantra GLS - The Perfect Compact Car
In keeping with Hyundai's high-value approach to standard equipment, the Elantra GLS has a remarkable array of desirable features. The Elantra delivers standard safety technologies unsurpassed in its segment, with six airbags, ABS with EBD, 4-wheel disc brakes, active front head restraints, and adjustable head restraints for all seating positions. A partial list of other standard features includes: power windows, intermittent windshield wipers, multiple storage areas, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, tachometer, dual vanity mirrors, tinted windows, two 12-V outlets and tilt steering wheel. The Preferred Package adds air conditioning and a 172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with tweeters. The available Premium Package includes the equipment in the Preferred Package plus power heated mirrors and locks, remote keyless entry with trunk release, panic alert and alarm, windshield shade band, fog lights, rear center armrest with cupholders, cruise control and an auxiliary jack. The available Premium-Sport Package includes everything in the Premium Package plus 16-inch alloy wheels with P205/55-R16 tires and power sunroof.
Elantra SE - Adding a Sporty Flavor
The sport-oriented SE adds all the equipment in the GLS Premium Package plus a telescoping leather steering wheel with audio controls that features seek, volume, and mute functions, leather shift knob, 16-inch alloy wheels with P205/55HR16 tires, dual illuminated vanity mirrors and trip computer. The only option is a power sunroof. In addition to the available gray and beige two-tone, the SE is also available in a sporty monotone black interior.
Elantra Limited - Luxury Meets Value
The Limited trim takes the Elantra upscale by building on the SE equipment with leather seating surfaces, leather door panel inserts, leather armrest and heated front seats. A Sun and Sound package is available that combines a power sunroof and a 220-watt premium audio system featuring AM/FM/6-CD changer/cassette/MP3 and an external amplifier.
Warranty
The all-new Hyundai Elantra lineup is protected by the Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty(TM). Coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage. In addition, Elantra buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance coverage at no extra charge for five years (no mileage limit), which includes emergency towing, lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. There is no deductible on any of these coverages.
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 700 dealerships nationwide.
Note: Claims based on Autosource Inc. upper small car segmentation.
World Speed Record for Diesel-Powered Truck Set Using Mobil Delvac Heavy Duty Engine Oil
An Australian truck using Mobil Delvac(R) heavy duty engine oil has been recognized by the Guinness World Records(TM) as the World's Fastest Diesel-Powered Truck. Driven by Frank Gaffiero, the "Bandag Bullet," a Kenworth T400 truck powered by two V8 Detroit diesel engines, is the only conventionally powered truck to achieve an average speed of 182.152 kilometers per hour (113.184 miles per hour) over one kilometer from a standing start.
The "Bandag Bullet" broke the Guinness World Record for diesel truck speed on July 16, 2005, at the Queensland International Air Show, held at the Bundaberg Airport in Australia. ExxonMobil was a sponsor and supplied the engine oil for the world record-breaking effort.
"Competing at these high speeds places extreme demands on my truck, so it's important for me to treat my engine with special care," said Frank Gaffiero, driver of the Bandag Bullet. "Mobil Delvac keeps my engine running long and strong -- whether it's breaking world records or helping me get my load delivered on time."
While setting the world record, the truck's engine reached temperatures approximately 100 degrees C (300 degrees F) higher than for typical operating conditions. Despite this, Mobil Delvac heavy duty engine oil was able to provide the protection needed for Gaffiero to achieve his goal.
Since its introduction in 1925, Mobil Delvac heavy duty engine oil has provided power and protection for truck engines around the world in all conditions -- from the extreme heat of Egypt's deserts to the freezing conditions across Siberia, from the mountainous regions of Peru to the super-highways and narrow byways of North America and Europe.
ExxonMobil, Mobil, and Delvac are registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
Camión Diesel con Aceite para Motores de Trabajo Pesado Mobil Delvac Logra Récord Mundial en Velocidad
Un camión australiano con aceite para motores de trabajo pesado Mobil Delvac(R) ha sido reconocido por Guinness World Records(TM) como el Camión Diesel Más Rápido del Mundo. Conducido por Frank Gaffiero, el camión Kenworth T400, denominado "Bandag Bullet", con dos motores diesel Detroit V8, es el único camión con combustible convencional que logra alcanzar una velocidad promedio de 182,152 kilómetros por hora (113,184 millas por hora) en un kilómetro a partir de la salida parada.
El "Bandag Bullet" batió el récord mundial Guinness para velocidad de camiones diesel el 16 de julio de 2005, en la exposición aeronáutica internacional de Queensland, que se llevó a cabo en el Aeropuerto de Bundaberg, Australia. ExxonMobil fue uno de los patrocinadores y proporcionó el aceite para motores que permitió batir el récord mundial.
"Competir a estas altas velocidad representa una gran exigencia para mi camión, por eso es importante que le brinde un cuidado especial al motor", comentó Frank Gaffiero, conductor del Bandag Bullet. "Mobil Delvac permite que el motor funcione por más tiempo y con mayor resistencia, ya sea para batir el récord mundial o para poder realizar mis entregas en forma puntual".
Para establecer el récord mundial, el motor del camión alcanzó temperaturas de aproximadamente 100 grados centígrados (300 grados Fahrenheit) más altas que en condiciones normales de funcionamiento. A pesar de esto, el aceite para motores de trabajo pesado Mobil Delvac pudo brindar la protección necesaria para que Gaffiero lograra su meta.
Desde su lanzamiento en 1925, el aceite para motor de trabajo pesado Mobil Delvac ha proporcionado potencia y protección a motores de camiones de todo el mundo bajo cualquier condición climática, desde el intenso calor de los desiertos de Egipto hasta el frío glacial de Siberia, desde las regiones montañosas de Perú hasta las grandes autopistas y los angostos caminos poco frecuentados de Norteamérica y Europa.
ExxonMobil, Mobil y Delvac son marcas de fábrica registradas de Exxon Mobil Corporation o de una de sus subsidiarias.
El nuevo Hyundai Elantra 2007 hace su debut mundial en el Salón Internacional del Automóvil de Nueva York; La seguridad y el espacio interior posicionan a la cuarta generación del Elantra una clase por encima de la competencia
El debut mundial del nuevo Elantra 2007 se produce hoy en el Salón Internacional del Automóvil de Nueva York 2006. El Hyundai Elantra 2007 es el séptimo modelo nuevo de Hyundai en solo 24 meses y con él, Hyundai logra la alineación más novedosa de la industria. Totalmente nuevo desde los faros delanteros hasta las luces de freno, el Elantra ofrece más elegancia, seguridad y espacio interior a los compradores de autos compactos.
"El nuevo Elantra ofrece mayor espacio interior que el Civic o el Corolla, incluso más espacio que el Acura TL, y un nivel ágil y confortable de elegancia de conducción y manejo", dijo John Krafcik, vicepresidente del Departamento de desarrollo de productos y planificación estratégica de Hyundai Motor America. "Si a esto sumamos impresionantes características de seguridad estándar tales como seis bolsas de aire, frenos antibloqueo y apoyacabezas activos delanteros, además de nuestro enérgico y novedoso diseño, queda claro que el Elantra ofrece un valor inigualable".
Programa 24/7
El Elantra será el séptimo nuevo producto de Hyundai en 24 meses cuando se ponga a la venta en otoño de 2006. Este plan de producto “24/7” incluye la llegada de los nuevos Tucson, Sonata, Accent, Azera, Santa Fe, Entourage y Elantra. Desde nuestro producto estrella, el Azera modelo full, hasta el modelo básico de Accent, cada uno de estos modelos ofrece tecnologías de seguridad estándar de una calidad insuperable en sus segmentos y refleja la naturaleza refinada y confiable de la marca Hyundai.
Seguridad estándar de calidad insuperable en el segmento compacto
Todos los modelos Elantra poseen seis bolsas de aire estándar, incluidas dos bolsas de aire frontales de avanzada, dos bolsas de aire frontales montadas en el asiento para impacto lateral y dos bolsas de aire laterales tipo cortina para proteger a los pasajeros en la parte delantera y trasera. La combinación de bolsas de aire laterales y tipo cortina, que ayudan a proteger la cabeza y el cuerpo en impactos laterales, puede reducir en más de 45% la mortalidad de acuerdo con el IIHS (Instituto de Seguros para la Seguridad en la Carretera, por sus siglas en inglés). Las bolsas de aire laterales son opciones costosas en autos de la competencia, tales como el Toyota Corolla y el Ford Focus, y no se incluyen en el Chevrolet Cobalt. La protección tipo cortina es opcional en el Corolla y el Cobalt, y todavía no está disponible en el Focus.
Las tecnologías para evitar accidentes comienzan con el nuevo chasis del Elantra, que incluye una suspensión completamente independiente, barras estabilizadoras delanteras y traseras, y una dirección asistida de cremallera y piñón.
El sistema de frenos estándar del Elantra tiene discos delanteros y traseros con un sistema de frenos antibloqueo (ABS) con cuatro sensores y cuatro canales que incluye distribución electrónica de la fuerza de frenado (EBD).
El sistema ABS ayuda al conductor a mantener el control de la dirección en condiciones resbalosas y en maniobras de emergencia. La EBD está integrada al sistema ABS, ajustando de manera automática la fuerza de frenado de los ejes delanteros y traseros en base a las condiciones de carga del vehículo. Los discos de freno en las cuatro ruedas lo destacan dentro de este segmento de automóviles ya que los modelos 2006 del Honda Civic, el Toyota Corolla, el Ford Focus y el Chevrolet Cobalt aún cuentan con los tradicionales frenos traseros de tambor.
Los apoyacabezas estándar activos de los asientos delanteros del Elantra ayudan a prevenir tirones en el cuello ya que reducen automáticamente el espacio entre la cabeza del ocupante del asiento delantero y el apoyacabezas en un choque de atrás, y han sido altamente recomendados por las organizaciones orientadas a la seguridad tales como el IIHS.
Todos los asientos disponen de cinturones de seguridad de tres puntos y apoyacabezas ajustables. Los apoyacabezas del asiento trasero, con diseño en forma de tejas, mejoran la visibilidad cuando no van pasajeros atrás, al tiempo que los protegen cuando se encuentran dentro el vehículo. El modelo también cuenta con una columna de dirección con sistema de absorción de energía y cinturones de seguridad delanteros con pretensores, limitadores de fuerza y sujetadores de hombros de altura ajustable. El sistema de sujetadores y correas más bajas para niños (LATCH, por sus siglas en inglés) en el asiento trasero brinda un ajuste seguro para los asientos de los más pequeños.
En impactos de baja velocidad, los parachoques delanteros y traseros de 8km/h del Elantra ayudan a minimizar el daño. En colisiones con más energía, la estructura de acero de pieza única está diseñada para disipar la energía del choque al deformarse las zonas rugosas, mientras que los refuerzos de la carrocería ayudan a mantener la integridad del compartimiento de pasajeros. La cubierta del motor se deforma y las trancas de seguridad ayudan a controlar la deformación de la cubierta en el caso de una colisión frontal.
Diseño expresivo y confiable
El Elantra continúa con el resurgimiento del impresionante estilo novedoso presentado en el nuevo Santa Fe 2007: es elegante y confiable. Esto se aprecia en la apariencia delantera firme del Elantra, en la curvatura elevada, en su carrocería esculpida y en una apariencia general activa.
Para lograr una apariencia de mayor nivel, los faros con biselado de cromo y las barras de rejilla resaltan la fachada firme del Elantra. El perfil del Elantra incluye superficies esculpidas con firmeza, una línea de carrocería expresiva que tiene un parecido con el Azera y un aspecto limpio con manijas y espejos del color de la carrocería. El estilo trasero hace honor al diseño delantero con luces de freno que combinan con los faros delanteros. El aspecto homogéneo continúa con una decoración trasera de la placa de la matrícula del color de la carrocería y un frente trasero integrado.
Interior de "categoría superior" – más espacio que el Acura TL
El Elantra es más ancho y más alto que su predecesor. Con un incremento de 5,58 centímetros en la altura y el asiento del conductor ubicado 4,57 centímetros más arriba, la cabina se abrió para obtener mayor espacio y flexibilidad. Con este ensanchamiento de 5,08 centímetros se logra también mayor espacio para los hombros en los asientos delanteros y traseros. Este rediseño presenta un interior notoriamente espacioso que realmente pertenece a una "clase superior" en comparación con el Honda Civic y el Toyota Corolla, en lo que a espacio se refiere. El Elantra es tan grande que la EPA (Agencia de Protección al Medio Ambiente, por sus siglas en inglés) lo clasifica como un auto mediano y no como uno compacto como el Civic o el Corolla. Con 29,37 metros cúbicos de espacio para los pasajeros y 4,26 metros cúbicos de espacio de baúl, el Elantra ofrece el mayor volumen interior (volumen de pasajeros más volumen de baúl) para un sedan de su clase. El volumen interior total de 33,63 metros cúbicos fácilmente supera al Civic sedan 2006 (30,87 metros cúbicos), al Nissan Sentra 2006 (33,24 metros cúbicos) y al Corolla 2006 (31,14 metros cúbicos) y, para mayor sorpresa, también supera el volumen interior del casi lujoso Acura TL (33,12 metros cúbicos). La capacidad del baúl también es mejor que la del Civic y el Corolla. El volumen del baúl de 4,26 metros cúbicos es 18% mayor que el del Civic y 5% más grande que el del Corolla.
Los ingeniosos toques de diseño aportan armonía y sustancia al interior del Elantra. El tablero se inclina hacia abajo para dar una sensación de mayor amplitud y visibilidad, mostrando una forma estética. Los esquemas de colores de dos tonos contrastantes (disponibles en tonos beige y gris) combinados con las terminaciones metálicas, combinan con el estilo del exterior más sofisticado y de mayor nivel. En todo el interior se observan los nuevos niveles de detalles y artesanía. La trama de cuero flexible y lujoso se encuentra disponible en el Elantra pero no en el Civic. Por primera vez, se ofrecen asientos con calefacción, controles de crucero y audio montados en el volante, y ajuste telescópico. La iluminación azul trasera agrega un ambiente joven pero refinado en la noche.
La consola central viene con un compartimiento de almacenamiento de dos niveles y un confortable apoyabrazos. El soporte para lentes de sol situado sobre la cabeza incluye luces para ver mapas y los paneles de las puertas delanteras contienen bolsillos para guardar estos mapas. Los bolsillos detrás de los asientos brindan espacio adicional para objetos pequeños. También pueden guardarse objetos en el tablero, en el estante central y en la consola. Un conveniente gancho para la correa de la cartera seguramente sorprenderá y agradará a los propietarios. Dos posavasos en la parte delantera y un apoyabrazos en el asiento trasero con posavasos completan la parte interior.
Los asientos confortables y versátiles del Elantra incluyen un asiento regulable para el conductor con ajuste de altura y de apoyacabeza, y un asiento trasero abatible 60/40 que permite acomodar carga fácilmente.
Algunas comodidades tales como el filtro de aire de cabina, el desempañador del vidrio trasero, la dirección inclinada, los vidrios polarizados, los limpiaparabrisas de dos velocidades de intermitencia variable con función niebla, los dos espejos y las ventanas eléctricas con interruptores iluminados de subida/bajada automática para el conductor, hacen parecer al Elantra un modelo de clase superior considerando su precio modesto.
El paquete Elantra GLS Premium de alto volumen ofrece un sistema de audio AM/FM/CD de 172 vatios con seis parlantes y el primer conector de entrada auxiliar de Hyundai para conectar iPods(R) u otros reproductores portátiles de MP3 al sistema de audio del vehículo. También se incluye aire acondicionado, control de crucero, luces de niebla, parabrisas con franja de sombra, un apoyabrazos central con posavasos, espejos térmicos, seguros eléctricos y entrada sin llave con control remoto con apertura de abierto, alerta de pánico y alarma. Una radio satelital XM estará disponible a comienzos del otoño.
Motor super limpio
Muchos Elantras que se vendieron en California, Maine, Nueva York, Vermont y Massachussets alcanzarán un buen resultado en la Guía de vehículos ecológicos de EPA y serán certificados como SULEV (vehículos de emisión super-ultra baja, por sus siglas en inglés). El Elantra SULEV es tan limpio como muchos vehículos eléctricos híbridos y colabora en el compromiso ambiental de Hyundai. De hecho, se espera que el Elantra 2007 obtenga la Certificación PZEV (vehículos con emisión casi cero, por sus siglas en inglés) en California, que muy pocos modelos de la industria automotriz han obtenido. Fuera de los estados ecológicos, el Elantra se encuentra disponible en configuraciones ULEV (vehículos con emisión ultra baja, por sus siglas en inglés).
El Elantra viene con el avanzado motor de cuatro cilindros y 2 litros en línea de Hyundai. Esta sofisticada central de energía de 16 válvulas emplea una cabeza de cilindro de aluminio que posee un doble árbol de levas a la cabeza (DOHC) y una sincronización variable de las válvulas (CVVT) Esta combinación ayuda a brindar al motor una amplia expansión de energía asociada con una alta eficiencia de combustible y bajas emisiones.
La unidad CVVT está posicionada en el escape del árbol de levas y controla el tiempo de la válvula de entrada adelantando y retrasando el árbol de levas de entrada en relación al árbol levas de escape. El sistema CVVT aumenta la eficiencia volumétrica y termodinámica ayudando a que el motor brinde un desempeño mejorado a alta velocidad y una torsión mayor a baja velocidad. Con una mejor carga del cilindro, también se economiza combustible. Al optimizar la superposición de válvulas, se reducen las emisiones de NOx debido al efecto de recirculación de gases de escape.
La variación de ULEV está estimada en 138 caballos de fuerza a 6.000rpm y 18,80 kilográmetros de torsión a 4.600rpm. Los motores SULEV están disponibles solo con una transmisión automática de cuatro velocidades y se estima que alcancen los 132 caballos de fuerza a 6.000rpm y 18,39 kilográmetros de torsión a 4.600rpm.
Dos posibilidades de transmisión
El Elantra viene con una precisa caja de cambios manual de cinco velocidades estándar. De forma opcional, se ofrece una suave caja automática de cuatro velocidades con una palanca montada en la consola que incluye un convertidor de torsión de sobremando con cierre para economizar combustible a alta velocidad.
Suspensión y dirección
El equipo de diseño del Elantra trabajó para lograr los clásicos equilibrios de diseño entre el espacio interior, la agilidad y el confort para conducir. Por un lado, el espacio interior y el espacio para carga son sumamente importantes para un sedan de su clase; por el otro, el manejo seguro y responsable, y un buen aislamiento de la calle también son prioritarios. La calidad de conducción del Elantra mejora lo ofrecida por el Civic, el Corolla, el Focus y el Cobalt. Una avanzada dirección asistida hidráulica de cremallera y piñón sensible a la velocidad del motor asegura que el nuevo Elantra ofrezca una sensación de conducción más ágil que el modelo anterior y sus principales competidores.
El Elantra brinda una conducción confortable y un manejo responsable gracias a una suspensión delantera con amortiguador MacPherson con muelles helicoidales y amortiguadores de gas, y una suspensión multipunto y amortiguadores de gas de doble tubo. El diámetro de 23 milímetros de la barra estabilizadora delantera y de 17 milímetros de la barra trasera, que es 5 milímetros más grande que la de su predecesor, ayuda a reducir el balanceo al tomar una curva, y hace al Elantra más preciso en la conducción al límite para lograr una previsibilidad máxima. Para mejorar la capacidad de frenado, los frenos delanteros y traseros son más grandes que los de sus predecesor: 275 milímetros en el caso del freno delantero y 262 milímetros en el caso del freno trasero.
La rigidez de la carrocería del Elantra 2007 es 49% mayor que la del modelo anterior y 9% mayor que la del Corolla. Los aumentos significativos en los niveles de rigidez de la carrocería permitieron a los ingenieros de Hyundai lograr un paquete dinámico que redujo el riesgo durante las etapas de ajuste de amortiguadores y cojinetes. El resultado es una dirección y un manejo precisos, y una conducción muy controlada y a la vez confortable. Al mejorar la rigidez de la carrocería y aplicar una estrategia optimizada de sellado de puerta, los ingenieros de Hyundai lograron reducir exitosamente el ruido de la calle, ubicándolo dos decibeles por debajo del que se percibe en el Honda Civic 2006, equipado de manera similar, de acuerdo a pruebas internas.
Tres versiones
El Elantra se encuentra disponible en tres versiones de línea muy diferente: GLS, SE y Limited.
Elantra GLS – El auto compacto perfecto
Manteniendo el enfoque de alto valor de Hyundai respecto del equipamiento estándar, el Elantra GLS posee una enorme variedad de características deseables. El Elantra ofrece tecnologías de seguridad estándar insuperables en su segmento, con seis bolsas de aire, ABS y EBD, frenos de disco en las 4 ruedas, apoyacabezas activos delanteros y apoyacabezas ajustables a todas las posiciones del asiento. Algunas de las otras características estándar: ventanas eléctricas, limpiaparabrisas intermitentes, varias áreas de almacenamiento, un asiento trasero abatible 60/40, tacómetro, dos espejos, vidrios polarizados, dos tomacorrientes de 12 voltios y dirección inclinada. El Preferred Package agrega aire acondicionado y un sistema de audio AM/FM/CD de 172 vatios con altavoces. El Premium Package disponible incluye el equipo del Preferred Package más espejos térmicos y trancas eléctricas, entrada sin llave con control remoto con apertura de baúl, alerta de pánico y alarma, parabrisas con franja de sombra, luces de niebla, apoyabrazos central en el asiento trasero con posavasos, control de crucero y una entrada auxiliar. El Premium-Sport Package incluye todo lo del Premium Package más llantas de aleación de 40 centímetros con neumáticos P205/55-R16 y techo convertible eléctrico.
Elantra SE— Agregándole un sabor deportivo
El SE orientado al deporte agrega a todo el equipamiento del GLS Premium Package una dirección de cuero telescópica con controles de audio que incluyen las funciones buscar, volumen y silencio, el puntero de la caja de cambios de cuero, llantas de aleación de 40 centímetros con neumáticos P205/55HR16, dos espejos con luz y una computadora de viaje. La única opción es un techo convertible eléctrico. Además de los colores disponibles en dos tonos de gris o beige, el SE también se encuentra disponible con un único y deportivo color negro en su interior.
Elantra Limited – Suma de lujo y valor
La versión Limited lleva al Elantra a un nivel superior al basarse en el equipamiento SE con superficies de cuero, paneles de cuero en las puertas, apoyabrazos de cuero y asientos delanteros térmicos. Se encuentra disponible un paquete Sun and Sound (de sol y sonido) que combina un techo convertible eléctrico con un sistema de audio premium de 220 vatios con radio AM/FM/6-CD/casete/MP3 y amplificador externo.
Garantía
La nueva alineación de Hyundai Elantra está protegida por Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty(TM). El alcance incluye cinco años/96.000 kilómetros de garantía de uso en tráfico pesado, 10 años/160.000 kilómetros de garantía limitada del mecanismo de transmisión y siete años/kilometraje ilimitado de garantía anti-perforación. Además, los compradores del Elantra reciben asistencia en carretera las 24 horas sin cargo extra durante cinco años (sin límite de kilometraje), que incluye remolque de emergencia, servicio de cerrajería para automóviles y cobertura limitada para gastos de interrupción del viaje. No hay deducible en ninguna de estas coberturas.
Hyundai Motor America, con sede en Fountain Valley, California, es una subsidiaria de Hyundai Motor Co. de Corea. Hyundai Motor America distribuye los vehículos de Hyundai en Estados Unidos, y su venta y mantenimiento están a cargo de más de 700 concesionarias en todo el país.
Nota: declaraciones basadas en Autosource Inc., segmento de autos pequeños de nivel superior
DOD
Pre-Derby Festival Features 'America Supports You,' Air Show, Fireworks
Throughout the day here, a steady stream of visitors stopped by the "America Supports You" booth to write messages of support on post cards for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. America Supports You is a Defense Department program that spotlights what American people and the corporate sector do to show their appreciation for the nation's men and women in uniform. The booth was among others in a venue of an estimated 800,000 people who flocked to the banks of the Ohio River here today to celebrate "Thunder Over Louisville," a weekend of activity that has kicked off the annual Kentucky Derby Festival for the last 17 years. The Navy's Blue Angels F-18 aerial demonstration squadron performed for an appreciative, sun-drenched crowd, with the precision aviators showing off their combat flying skills against the background of a brilliantly blue sky. Besides the Blue Angels, Thunder Over Louisville features demonstrations or flyovers by a wide variety of military and vintage aircraft.
The roar of the aircraft engines and what's billed as the world's largest annual fireworks display to culminate the day's activities are what give the festival its name. Louisville became an official America Supports You partner yesterday. Servicemembers were able to attend a Louisville Bats baseball game last night as guests of the city. The Bats are the top minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, was a designated "Thundernator," with the honor of starting tonight's fireworks display. Barber heads DoD's America Supports You program. Messages signed at the booth will go through the "A Million Thanks" effort headed by 16-year-old America Supports You member Shauna Fleming of Orange, Calif. She has long since passed her initial goal of collecting a million messages of appreciation for servicemembers.
She's now gunning for 2.6 million, to represent a message of thanks for each man and woman serving in the nation's active duty and reserve component forces. No matter what their views about the terror war, booth visitors said they wanted the troops to know they're behind them all the way. Many said they know someone who has served or is serving on one of the fronts in the global war on terror. One visitor, though, might well have been the most grateful. "Thank you for Iraq freedom," is all he wrote -- first in English, and then in Arabic.
U.S. Units Help Ethiopians Build Capacity
The 31 Ethiopian soldiers who graduated from border security class here yesterday gave new meaning to "building capacity," buzz words for the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa's efforts in the region. This class' conclusion was made even more special because the capacity building was by Ethiopian trainers, who had taught their comrades under the watchful an1d proud eyes of U.S. soldiers. The class is part of military-to-military contacts between the task force and the Ethiopian army. The three-week class teaches Ethiopians a range of skills. "This goes from troop-leading procedures to react to contact, break contact, reconnaissance, patrolling, vehicle searches and so on," said Army 1st Lt. Christopher Anderson, the camp's officer in charge. Anderson and his men from B Company, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment, are deployed from Guam, and ending their yearlong tour of duty in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopians come from units all over the country of 73 million people. Anderson said the more than 250 soldiers trained to date will go back to their units and pass along that training. "The Ethiopians regard being chosen for this class as a huge step," said Sgt. Ryan Castro, the American team leader for the class. "They love it and eat it up. A part of this class is short-range marksmanship. The Ethiopian army shoots maybe 10 rounds a year. Here, they went through 400 to 500 rounds in a week." The class is very intense, with 144 hours of instruction and countless more rehearsals. Translators worked with American noncommissioned officers to ensure the soldiers understood the instruction. "I have been impressed by the level of professionalism the Ethiopians demonstrate," Anderson said. He said the unit developed the course with advice from Ethiopian army officials. Part of the instruction is on respecting human rights, and British Army Col. Andrew Cameron, the assistant operations chief for the Horn of Africa task force, touched on this during his graduation remarks to the class. "You as individuals, being members of the armed forces, are highly respected," Cameron said. "Your attitudes and behavior will reflect on you and your army. I'm confident you won't let the army down." Cameron told the soldiers that their conduct during operations is just as important as the operations themselves.
The Ethiopians trained this group of soldiers, Anderson said. The American cadre was in "overwatch," correcting only when needed. "This really validated the course for the Ethiopians," he said. Life at the camp was a bit rough, but "we Guam boys make the best of everything," Castro said. The unit received supplies and mail once a week from the airfield at Dire Dawa, about 30 miles away over a dirt road. The troops are looking forward to getting back to their Pacific base and are proud of the effect they have had on the Ethiopians. "There's a big difference between when they come in and when they leave," Castro said. "They are professional when they arrive, but they are not sure what they are doing. When they leave, they know (what they are doing)." Anderson was equally complimentary of the Ethiopian instructors. "They were students themselves who came through the early classes," he said. "They understood what we were trying to do and have made excellent progress."
Army Reserve Changing to Meet Challenges
The Army Reserve is no longer simply a force in reserve, but a vital part of the country's defense that's making big changes to meet its current and future challenges, the commander of U.S. Army Reserve Command said here today. Army Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly observed the Army Reserve's 98th birthday in the Pentagon's MacArthur Corridor, which honors the U.S. combat general who -- like the Army Reserve -- served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Helmly noted the vast changes since the U.S. War Department created the Army Reserve as a medical service force in 1908.
Through the world wars, the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm, a strong reserve force has always been important to the country, but never more so than during the current war on terror, he said. More than 150,000 Army Reservists have been mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001, about 25,000 of them serving more than once. "These are clearly hallmarks of heroes," Helmly said. Gone are the days when the Army Reserve was considered a strategic force that stayed in reserve until it was needed to supplement other forces, the general said. "The Army Reserve is a skill-rich, operational force, complementing the joint force where and when needed." This shift has moved the Army Reserve's transformation into fast forward to ensure the force continues to provide the skills and combat readiness needed when it's called on, he said. With the current deployment cycles and the ever-present risk of a sudden, catastrophic event that could demand an instant response, the reserve components must be ready and responsive, he said. "There is no time to get ready," he said. "You have to be ready on a daily basis, and that is what we are doing right now." The Army Reserve is working to streamline the force and increase its capabilities and preparedness to deploy to meet 21st-century challenges, Helmly said.
To achieve this, changes made or under way include: Realignment of 10 Regional Readiness Commands into four Regional Readiness Sustainment Commands that ensure manpower and resources go into the deployable fighting force; Establishment of operational and functional commands to reduce the number of nondeployable headquarters; and Creation of Army Reserve Expeditionary Force packages based on the Army's force-generation model to ensure the force can sustain operations over the longer term. But the biggest change within the Army Reserve is cultural, Helmly said. "You can put labels on things and move blocks around on wiring diagrams and go to different kinds of units, etcetera, but I think the most profound change we are achieving in the Army Reserve is changing our culture," he said. Army Reserve troops recognize themselves as real soldiers, not just a rear-area back-up force. They're training harder, in more realistic and demanding scenarios. And with an ever-increasing number of Army Reservists wearing right-shoulder patches that symbolize their combat duty, they're bringing new confidence and leadership to the force, Helmly said. The total culture change won't happen overnight, but is moving solidly forward, he said.
Sham Marriage Cases Send Message to All Service members
A case in which several sailors face charges for arranging sham marriages to foreign women to boost their military housing allowances sends an important message to all servicemembers, a Navy lawyer told the Pentagon Channel. "You're putting in a claim for money that you are not entitled to, and that is a crime. And if you commit a crime, you can expect to be held accountable for it," said Capt. Jennifer Herold, the Navy's deputy assistant judge advocate general for criminal law policy. "This is something that each of the services take very seriously." On the surface, the scheme looked like a good deal, at least for the people directly involved. The sailors got bigger paychecks when factoring in the higher basic allowance for housing.
Active-duty servicemembers receive the tax-free BAH payment to offset their housing costs if they don't live on base. The allowance increased based on location, marital status and the number of dependents. That's on top of the $6,000 each of the women paid the seaman who arranged the marriages, Steve Cole, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney general's office in Jacksonville, Fla., said. By marrying into the U.S. military, the women, eight from Poland and one from Romania, qualified to apply for U.S. citizenship and receive a military dependent identification card. But in the end, everyone involved in the deal turned out to be a loser. A Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent aboard the USS John F. Kennedy got tipped off to the scam and launched an investigation in September. NCIS agents learned that eight sailors stationed in Mayport, Fla., and a former sailor fraudulently married the women to get the BAH. An investigation by NCIS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement found that none of the women lived with the sailors they had married. In several cases, the sailors claimed the women lived in high-cost areas so they qualified for higher BHAs. The Navy stopped the allowances, which amounted to a total of $35,000, in November. But the consequences got more serious earlier this month when U.S. Attorney Paul Perez, Carol Kisthardt from NCIS, and Robert Weber from ICE announced the arrests of eight sailors and one former sailor on charges of marriage fraud or conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.
Their wives were also charged. The sailors and women involved could face up to five years in prison per count against them, Cole said. "A lot of people don't realize the seriousness of this and think they'll simply get a slap on the hand it they're caught," said Cole, a former soldier. "But as this case shows, the consequences are really serious." Submitting a false BAH claim -- whether it involves a sham marriage or doctoring numbers to get a bigger payment -- is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Herold said. In the most severe cases, the penalty is a dishonorable discharge and up to 10 years confinement, she said. Herold offered a warning to anyone who thinks BAH fraud is no big deal. "They need to stop and think hard before they decide to commit that crime, because the military takes it very seriously," she said
America Supports You: NBA Trophy Tour to Visit U.S. Military Bases
The NBA and Toyota announced April 18 the launch of a 2006 Finals Trophy Tour to five military bases in the heartland of the U.S. The 2006 Finals Trophy Tour will visit Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., May 13; Fort Leavenworth, Kan., May 19; Fort Bliss, Texas, June 1; Fort Riley, Kan., June 24; and Fort Carson, Colo., July 3, according to an NBA news release. The tour was developed by Toyota and the NBA, in conjunction with the United Service Organizations, to thank the U.S. armed forces for their dedication and service.
The customized tour will provide an exciting finals-themed experience to military personnel and their families, according to the news release. During each stop of the 2006 Trophy Tour, the NBA and Toyota will bring a fleet of finals-themed vehicles, including the specially designed Toyota Tundra "Trophy Mobile," the Larry O'Brien Trophy, an interactive NBA-themed activity center, and NBA players or legends. "The NBA is proud to partner with Toyota and the USO on executing the 2006 Finals Trophy Tour as a way to thank and honor our military personnel and their families for the service they provide to our country," said Heidi Ueberroth, executive vice president of global media properties and marketing partnerships for the NBA. "Toyota and the NBA focus on creating memorable experiences for NBA fans through unique vehicles and basketball interaction, so we are pleased to deliver the NBA experience and the Larry O'Brien Trophy to five military bases." The NBA has a long history of support for servicemembers, and NBA players and legends participated on the USO's first tour to Baghdad in 2003, said John Hanson, USO senior vice president for marketing and communications. "Our military men and women face some of life's most difficult situations in service to our country," said Don Esmond, Toyota's senior vice president and also a Marine Corps helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he earned a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. "We appreciate their dedication and commitment, and we're glad we can help bring some fun and excitement to everyone at these five bases through the NBA experience."
NEWS
Radio Address by President Bush to the Nation
The following is a transcript of a radio address by President Bush to the nation:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend I am traveling in California, where I'm focusing on important issues for our Nation's future, including our economy, energy prices, the war on terror, and immigration reform.
America's economy is strong, and we need to keep it strong in an increasingly competitive world. The talent and innovative spirit of our people have driven America's economic growth. To maintain our economic leadership, our Nation must stay on the leading edge of innovation -- so I have proposed the American Competitiveness Initiative.
One important part of this initiative is improving math and science education for our young people, so they have the right skills to succeed in the 21st century economy. On Friday in San Jose, I had the chance to visit Cisco Systems, a company that understands the importance of preparing the next generation for the high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
Through its Networking Academy Program, Cisco is helping to train high school students in math, science, and information technology skills. By ensuring that we have a skilled workforce for the future, companies like Cisco are helping America compete with confidence, and keeping our economy growing, and creating new jobs for our citizens.
Saturday is Earth Day, and many of you are asking how we can meet our growing energy needs while protecting our environment. The key is technology. So I have proposed the Advanced Energy Initiative to change the way we power our homes, businesses, and cars. I will visit the California Fuel Cell Partnership to take a closer look at hydrogen fuel cells, one of the exciting new technologies supported by my initiative. These fuel cells have the potential to revolutionize the way we power our cars by giving us vehicles that will emit no pollution and will be more efficient than gas-powered cars.
My Advanced Energy Initiative will also help improve hybrid vehicles -- cars and trucks that run partly on electricity and help drivers save gas. We're funding research into a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles that could be recharged in electrical outlets and could allow many drivers to make their daily commute using no gasoline.
By developing these and other new sources of clean renewable energy like ethanol, we will continue growing our economy, reduce energy prices and protect our environment, and make America less dependent on foreign oil.
Americans are asking about our progress toward victory in the war on terror. I have confidence in the outcome of this struggle because I know the character of the people who wear our Nation's uniform. On Sunday, I will attend church and have lunch with Marine Corps and Navy personnel and their families at the Twentynine Palms base. I will tell them how honored I am to be their Commander in Chief and express the gratitude of all Americans for their service in the cause of freedom.
Since September the 11th, 2001, the men and women of our military have overthrown a cruel regime in Afghanistan, captured or killed many al Qaeda terrorists, liberated Iraq, and made America more secure from terrorist dangers. We're fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. By taking the fight to the terrorists and bringing liberty and hope to a troubled region, our courageous troops are making the world a safer place.
On Monday, I'll visit Irvine, California, to discuss immigration reform with the local community. Immigration is an emotional issue. And it's sparked passionate debate. When we discuss immigration, we're talking about the integrity of our borders, the enforcement of our laws, and the character of our Nation.
Here's what I believe: America does not have to choose between being a welcoming society and being a lawful society. We can be both at the same time. In the coming weeks, I'll press Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border, enforces our laws, meets the needs of our economy, and upholds our highest ideals.
We must also ensure that all immigrants assimilate into our society and learn our customs, our values, and our language. America is a land of immigrants and a Nation of laws. And we must stay true to both parts of this great heritage.
As Congress returns from its recess, its members have important and consequential work before them. I urge them to act on my initiatives to keep America competitive, to promote alternative sources of energy, reform our immigration system, and continue their support of our troops fighting in the global war on terror.
By taking these steps, we'll maintain America's strength. And a strong America will help lead the world to a future of greater freedom and prosperity and peace.
Thank you for listening.
Source: White House Press Office
Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/
AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program Expands Eligibility for People with Medicare
The AstraZeneca Foundation today announced that it will enhance its patient assistance services and expand its eligibility requirements for all patients in need of AstraZeneca medicines. The AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program (PAP) will continue to provide prescription drug assistance to people with Medicare who do not qualify for the Limited Income Subsidy (LIS) and who choose not to enroll in Part D at this point in time, as well as provide one-on-one education and counseling to help all individuals identify and access health and drug coverage, assistance and services for which they may be eligible.
“The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit has made comprehensive and affordable prescription coverage a reality for millions of Americans. The key now is to better understand people’s needs and help meet those needs in order to bring about a better health outcome,” said Tony Zook, President and CEO, AstraZeneca US. “AstraZeneca has been actively supporting a number of activities to help smooth the transition to this important program by providing our PAP participants with information and one-on-one counseling. The changes to our PAP are an extension of that work and commitment to helping people get their medicine.”
Effective immediately, the AstraZeneca Foundation PAP will take the following approach for Medicare-eligible patients requesting drug assistance:
PAP patients who may be eligible for the Medicare Part D Limited Income Subsidy (LIS):
-- Will be able to continue their enrollment in the PAP on a temporary basis and will receive their medicines through the PAP until they have completed the Social Security Administration’s LIS application process, have received notification confirming their eligibility and have begun receiving coverage through the Part D plan of their choice.
-- Will receive one-on-one education and counseling to help with the LIS application process, including handling any follow-up or appeals to SSA.
-- Will no longer be eligible for PAP once they enroll and are actively receiving the LIS because they will have access to affordable, comprehensive coverage.
PAP patients who do not qualify for the LIS and who have not enrolled in Medicare Part D:
-- Will be able to continue their participation in the PAP.
-- Can benefit from the available counseling in order to determine whether or not they are eligible for the LIS.
PAP patients of all ages (including under 65 population):
In addition to the one-on-one counseling, AstraZeneca is streamlining its PAP application process to make the income documentation requirement easier and to ensure that individuals will get their medicines promptly while they are helped through the application process. This is a change from previous program features and will help provide an uninterrupted supply of AstraZeneca medicines to applicants.
Furthermore, AstraZeneca is expanding the income threshold for participation in the PAP from 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 250%, which raises the individual annual income eligibility by nearly $5,000. The FPL at 250% is equal to an annual income of $24,500 for individuals; $33,000 for couples; and, $50,000 for a family of four. These new program features are expected to be in place by mid-May, 2006.
“Helping people find ways to get coverage is the right thing to do, and by offering the individual counseling together with their medicines, AstraZeneca is displaying its commitment to not only those in the PAP who are Medicare eligible but to the many additional people who are uninsured and seeking help,” said Jeanne Boling, Associate Executive Director, Case Management Society of America.
AstraZeneca has two toll-free numbers where people can get information about its PAP:
-- People eligible for Medicare that are seeking prescription assistance may contact AstraZeneca’s Medicare Matters Help Line at 866-300-1953.
-- All others seeking prescription assistance may call the PAP Help Line at 800-424-3727.
“These changes will allow us to help an entire segment of the population who otherwise would not have access to the medicines they need,” said Zook. “We might not have all the answers to the uninsured problem that continues to challenge our nation—but we are working to provide interim solutions that help patients today.”
For more than 25 years, AstraZeneca has offered drug assistance programs side by side with its medicines. In 2005, through the AstraZeneca drug assistance programs, AstraZeneca provided more than $751 million in savings to more than 712,000 patients without drug coverage throughout the US and Puerto Rico.
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $10.77 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com
El Programa de Asistencia a Pacientes de la Fundación AstraZeneca Expande la Elegibilidad para las Personas con Medicare
La Fundación AstraZeneca anunció en el día de hoy que mejorará sus servicios de asistencia al paciente y expandirá sus requerimientos de elegibilidad para todos los pacientes que necesiten medicinas AstraZeneca. El Programa de Asistencia a Pacientes (PAP) de la Fundación AstraZeneca seguirá proporcionando asistencia para obtener medicinas recetadas a personas con Medicare que no califican para el Subsidio de Ingreso Limitado (Limited Income Subsidy o LIS, en inglés) y que elijan no inscribirse en la Parte D en este momento, y proveerá educación y asistencia individualizada para ayudar a todas las personas a identificar y acceder a la cobertura, asistencia y servicios de salud y medicinas para los que califican.
“El programa de beneficios en medicinas recetadas de Medicare ha convertido en realidad la cobertura completa y asequible de recetas médicas para millones de norteamericanos. La clave ahora es entender mejor las necesidades de la gente y ayudar a suplir esas necesidades para lograr mejores resultados en el área de la salud”, dijo Tony Zook, presidente y ejecutivo principal de AstraZeneca US. “AstraZeneca ha apoyado activamente una serie de actividades para ayudar a suavizar la transición a este importante programa proveyendo información y asistencia individualizada a nuestros participantes en el PAP. Los cambios en nuestro PAP son una extensión del trabajo y el compromiso que tenemos de ayudar a la gente a conseguir sus medicinas”.
Efectivo de inmediato, el PAP de la Fundación AstraZeneca funcionará de la siguiente manera con los pacientes elegibles para Medicare que soliciten asistencia para obtener medicinas:
Los pacientes del PAP elegibles para el LIS Parte D de Medicare:
-- Podrán continuar su inscripción en el PAP temporalmente y recibirán sus medicinas a través del PAP hasta que hayan completado el proceso de aplicación para el LIS de la Social Security Administration, hayan recibido notificación confirmando su elegibilidad, y hayan empezado a recibir cobertura a través de del plan de Parte D que seleccionen.
-- Recibirán educación y asistencia individualizada durante el proceso de aplicación del LIS, incluyendo cualquier apelación o seguimiento con la Social Security Administration.
-- No serán elegibles para el PAP tan pronto estén inscritos y recibiendo activamente el LIS, ya que entonces tendrán acceso a una cobertura completa y asequible.
Los pacientes del PAP que no califican para el LIS y no inscritos en la Parte D de Medicare:
-- Podrán seguir participando en el PAP.
-- Pueden beneficiarse de la asesoría disponible para determinar si son elegibles o no para el LIS.
Los pacientes del PAP de todas las edades (incluyendo menores de 65 años):
Además de la asistencia individualizada, AstraZeneca está dinamizando su proceso de aplicación para el PAP a fin de facilitar los requisitos de documentación de ingresos y asegurar que las personas obtengan sus medicinas prontamente mientras reciben ayuda durante el proceso de solicitud. Esto es un cambio en las características de los programas previos y ayudará a proveer un suministro continuo de medicinas de AstraZeneca a los solicitantes.
Además, AstraZeneca está expandiendo el límite de ingresos para participar en el PAP de 200% del nivel federal de pobreza (FPL, en inglés) a 250%, elevando el ingreso anual elegible en cerca de $5,000. Un FPL a 250% es igual a un ingreso anual de $24,500 para individuos; $33,000 para parejas; y $50,000 para una familia de cuatro. Se espera que estos elementos nuevos en el programa sean efectivos a mediados de mayo, 2006.
“Ayudar a la gente a encontrar maneras de conseguir cobertura es lo que uno está supuesto a hacer y, al ofrecer a las personas asistencia junto con sus medicinas, AstraZeneca muestra su compromiso no solo con aquellos que forman parte del PAP y son elegibles para Medicare, sino también con otras personas no aseguradas y que buscan ayuda”, dijo Jeanne Boling, directora ejecutiva asociada de la Case Management Society of America.
AstraZeneca tiene dos números telefónicos gratuitos adonde las personas pueden conseguir información sobre su PAP:
-- Las personas elegibles para Medicare que buscan asistencia de recetas médicas pueden contactar la Línea de Asistencia AstraZeneca’s Medicare Matters en el 866-300-1953.
-- Todas las demás personas que buscan asistencia de recetas médicas pueden llamar a la Línea de Asistencia PAP en el 800-424-3727.
“Estos cambios nos permitirán ayudar un segmento completo de la población que de otra manera no tendría acceso a las medicinas que necesitan”, dijo Zook. “Quizás no tengamos todas las respuestas al problema de los no asegurados que continúa significando un reto para nuestra nación, pero estamos trabajando para proveer soluciones que ayuden a los pacientes en este momento”.
Por más de 25 años AstraZeneca ha ofrecido programas de asistencia de medicinas paralelos a sus medicinas. En el 2005, a través de los programas de asistencia de medicinas, AstraZeneca proveyó más de $751 millones en ahorros a más de 712,000 pacientes sin cobertura de medicinas en los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico.
AstraZeneca es una compañía internacional del cuidado de la salud dedicada a la investigación, desarrollo, fabricación y mercadeo de productos farmacéuticos recetados y el suministro de servicios de salud. Es una de las compañías farmacéuticas líderes con ventas en el cuidado de la salud de $23,950 millones y primeras posiciones en ventas de productos para los campos gastrointestinales, cardiovasculares, neurocientíficos, respiratorios, oncológicos e infecciosos. En los Estados Unidos, AstraZeneca es un negocio de la salud de $10,770 millones con más de 12,000 empleados. AstraZeneca se cotiza en el Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) así como en el FTSE4Good Index
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Tom Cruise MI3 Plug at Ces
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French & French A Katernia Sucess Story
