Chimps demand raises
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne April 4 2006
MBN
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MONTEBUBBLISM: Those that can do and those that can’t become politicians
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Musicians, Olympians & Artists Join Members of Congress to Highlight Efforts Against Impaired Driving
Box-Office Blockbuster 'King Kong' Roars on DVD
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Unforgivable is the Number 1 Selling Men's Fragrance in Department Stores Across America
Country Music Superstar Vince Gill Selected as Recipient of The Academy of Country Music(R)/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Tell Dreamfields Your Best Healthy Pasta Recipe and Win a Day with Well-known Fitness Authority, Brad Schoenfeld
Spike TV Adds a Mix of Insanity, Absurdity & Mayhem to New Comedy Block Starting Thursday, July 6
Academy to Present Restored Renoir
KATIE COURIC FUTURE CBS ROLE
'WSJ,' 'NYT' Revamp Online Portals
Peabody Awards to Be Announced April 5 Via Satellite Video Feed and Webcast
The Radio industry to continue to struggle
Political ad spending to be up.
Chimps asking for more money
Sony and Borders to Sell Digital Reading Device Relationship Brings Sony Reader to Borders Stores Nationwide
Allison Moorer to Release Getting Somewhere on June 13
SPORTS
Oakland Baseball
Dodger Baseball
Phil Mickelson “WINS BIG”
Beijing 2008: Olympic Venue Construction On Track
PinnacleSports.com Releases Odds on Golf's First Major
Sam Hornish, Jr. to Serve as Spokesman for 2006 Ohio Work Zone Safety Coalition
Ferrari Challenge Enters 14th U.S. Season of Privateer Racing
DOD
DOD causalities
R. James Nicholson opened the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
DoD Releases More Guantanamo Detainee Hearing Transcripts
Iran Might Have New 'Missile-Torpedo,' DoD Official Says
NEWS
Chocolate Bunnies, Lillies and Spring Clothes Lead Easter Spending Plans
McDonalds fighting back
Procter & Gamble Files Lawsuit Against Ranir -- Private Label Oral Care Manufacturer
Duracell to Acquire Garrity Industries
Enron Distributes Over $4.6 Billion to Creditors Amount Recovered to Date Totals $5.830 Billion
XM Satellite Radio Tops 6.5 Million Subscribers
Auto companies declaring profits?
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ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
Musicians, Olympians & Artists Join Members of Congress to Highlight Efforts Against Impaired Driving
Popular CA Based Singer/Songwriter Turns Her Personal Tragedy to Triumph
* Emily Richards, Founder of AWAKE Community (Artists Working
For Awareness, Knowledge and Education), President of
MP3tunes, member of the Los Angeles Chapter of Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD) and volunteer for Recording Artists
Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving, San Diego, CA
* Timothy Goebel, Olympic Bronze Medalist, figure skating
* U.S. Representatives Jon Porter (R-NV) & Shelley Berkley
(D-NV), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Stop DUI Caucus
* U.S. Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) & Louise
Slaughter (D-NY), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus
* U.S. Representatives Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Ken Calvert
(R-CA), Chris Cannon (R-UT) & Rick Larsen (D-WA), Co-Chairs of
the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine
* U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Member of the Congressional
Stop DUI Caucus
* Numerous groups in the fight against impaired driving
* Dot Maver, Executive Director of the Peace Alliance
Second annual event to honor, unify and energize those involved
in the fight against impaired driving via music and the fine
arts.
Wednesday, April 5, 2006; 6 to 8 p.m.
Cannon Caucus Room 345, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Emily Richards founded AWAKE Community in 2000 after her
19 year-old sister, Annie, was killed by a driver impaired by
alcohol and methamphetamines. Impaired driving continues to kill
more than 17,000 people in the U.S. each year. The goal of the
event is to use the arts and the artistic community to build a
bridge from Capitol Hill to local communities by synergizing the
collective missions of the multiple organizations working to
reduce impaired driving. Visit www.awakecommunity.org for more
information.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Sponsored by the National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Alcohol Awareness
Month was started in 1987 as a national public awareness campaign
to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues, including
drunk driving.
The event includes a live musical performance by Emily Richards and a unique art memorial created by the graduating class of Pacific University (Portland, OR) made from 17,000 keys, symbolizing the lives lost to impaired driving in 2005.
Source: AWAKE Community
Web site: http://www.awakecommunity.org/
Box-Office Blockbuster 'King Kong' Roars on DVD
Mega Hit Amasses a King-Sized $100 Million in Consumer Spending The Largest First Six-Day Sell-Through on DVD in Universal Studios History
Film Continues Its Record-Breaking Success as Universal Pictures' Fourth-Highest Grossing Film of All Time
"King Kong" ascended to extraordinary heights in its first six days in release, selling more than 6.5 million DVDs, the largest six-day performance in Universal Studios history. Fans snatched the blockbuster adventure film off shelves, generating $100 million in consumer spending for the Universal Studios Home Entertainment release.
The spectacular first-week DVD sales continue "King Kong's" astonishing commercial success as the studio's fourth-highest grossing film in the studio's 94-year history. To date, the film has amassed approximately $550 million in ticket sales worldwide, following on the heels of "Jurassic Park," "E.T." and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."
"Hands down, Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' ranks as one of Universal's biggest and most successful cinematic triumphs of all time," said Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "Home entertainment consumers recognize the singular-event status of this spectacular breakthrough motion picture which has been further bolstered by the film's stunning technical achievements including its Oscar(R) win for best visual effects."
The latest larger-than-life spectacle from visionary filmmaker Peter Jackson (the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy), "King Kong" enthralled audiences and critics alike, garnering three Oscars(R) at the 2006 Academy Awards(R) and appearing on countless "Best Movies of the Year" lists.
Both the original theatrical version and the Special Collectors Edition two-disc set of the "King Kong" DVD boast collectible package artwork specially created by WETA Digital Ltd., the production company behind the film's impressive Oscar(R)-winning visual effects. The DVD release of "King Kong" was supported by unparalleled cross-promotional opportunities with an array of prominent partners including Papa John's Pizza, Glad, Hostess, Orville Redenbacher's(R) Gourmet(R) Microwave Popcorn, Kellogg's, Nestle, Toshiba, Chase and Kodak EasyShare.
"King Kong" recounts the eternal tale of beauty and the beast, with a script by three-time Academy Award(R) winner Jackson and his longtime collaborators and fellow Oscar(R) winners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Oscar(R) nominee Naomi Watts ("21 Grams"), Jack Black ("School of Rock"), Oscar(R) winner Adrien Brody ("The Pianist"), Colin Hanks ("Orange County") and Andy Serkis (the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy) headline this must-see spectacular, with a cast of mind-boggling, mythical creatures and an arsenal of spectacular visual innovations backing them up.
The Special Collector's Edition DVD features an exclusive glimpse of the creation of "King Kong's" two unique worlds -- Skull Island, a land forgotten by time, where the actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) and the giant, savage ape known as King Kong forge their tragic bond, and 1930's New York City, a different, but not less perilous, kind of jungle. Other extras include almost three hours of exclusive behind the scenes footage with director Jackson, as he finalizes every aspect of post production on this groundbreaking film. The single disc version is available at $29.98 SRP and the two-disc Special Edition is priced at $30.98 SRP.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi Universal.
Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Unforgivable is the Number 1 Selling Men's Fragrance in Department Stores Across America
Estee Lauder and Federated Stores Join Diddy the New York Stock Exchange to Celebrate the Success of UNFORGIVABLE
Sean John Fragrances, a division of Estee Lauder, is thrilled to announce that Unforgivable is officially the number one selling men's fragrance in department stores in the United States. Created by Sean Diddy Combs, Unforgivable was launched nationally in February of 2006. To celebrate this success Diddy, along with Terry Lundgren, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Department Stores, Inc.; William Lauder, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estee Lauder Companies; John Demsey, Global President Estee Lauder, M.A.C Cosmetics and Sean John Fragrances; and Diana Espino, General Manager and Vice President, Sean John Fragrances, attended the opening bell ceremonies at the New York Stock Exchange Monday, April 3, 2006
Sean Combs' Unforgivable fragrance is a runaway success at Macy*s," says Lundgren. "We expect the early momentum to continue as we roll out this new fragrance to our stores across the country. There is every reason to believe that Unforgivable will be the #1 men's fragrance of the season."
Unforgivable reached number one status in record breaking time and the future of the brand continues to look promising with an upcoming international launch and ancillary products such as a Father's Day gift set, deodorant stick, after shave and body spray. This success follows the limited edition, couture version of the fragrance, which sold out at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores in December of 2005 at $300 per bottle.
"The pre-launch anticipation of Unforgivable led us to believe we had a history-making brand joining Lauder's portfolio of venerated prestige fragrances and the reports coming in now from our retail partners across the country have exceeded even our most aggressive initial expectations," says Demsey. "Sean helped us capture his lifestyle in a bottle and now everyone wants a piece of it."
The Sean John Unforgivable scent exudes the energy, sexiness and elegance of Sean Combs. As an aficionado of scents himself, Sean Combs personally selected only the most premium and luxurious ingredients for his signature fragrance. The notes blend a combination of breathtaking, addictive and slightly dangerous essences.
"When we set out to create this fragrance, I wanted to revolutionize this industry," says Sean Combs. "I wanted to create a scent, package it and promote it in a way that has never been seen before. I drew upon my experience as a fashion designer and a recording artist and launched Unforgivable like an album ... and we have hit number one! I am a boy from Harlem and to have this kind of success right out of the box is truly beyond my wildest dreams."
Suggested Retail Price for Sean John Unforgivable is $55.00 USD for 2.5 OZ and $75.00 USD for 4.2 OZ. It is available at Department and Specialty Stores across the country. A European roll out will begin in Summer 2006.
Sephora, who currently carries Unforgivable in America, is one of the retailers that will carry Unforgivable in its International locations. "I am thrilled the first Sean John fragrance, Unforgivable, is #1 in men's fragrances at Sephora," says Betsy Olum, Senior VP, Sephora Marketing. "We look forward to the continued success of the brand and our partnership."
Country Music Superstar Vince Gill Selected as Recipient of The Academy of Country Music(R)/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Award to Be Presented During the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS to Air Live From MGM Grand in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS
The Academy of Country Music(R) and The Home Depot(R) announced today that country music superstar Vince Gill will be the 2006 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 41ST ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS broadcast LIVE on CBS Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
In its fifth year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Gill was selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders for his ongoing community service and charitable giving of his time and talent.
"The Academy of Country Music is honored to have Vince Gill as the recipient of the Humanitarian Award," said Gayle Holcomb, Academy of Country Music Chairman of the Board. "Vince's talent is huge, and his heart is even bigger. He has made the world a better place and has done it all with joy and laughter."
As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Gill will receive a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. He will also be honored with a KaBOOM! playground built by The Home Depot and the Company's volunteers, in the city of his choice. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Reba McEntire, Lonestar, Martina McBride and Neal McCoy.
"Vince truly embodies the spirit of the Humanitarian Award through his charitable giving and community service," said Roger Adams, senior vice president, Marketing, The Home Depot. "This award gives the Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot a chance to recognize country music stars who make time to give back to the community. At The Home Depot, we're dedicated to improving local communities and enhancing the lives of our neighbors in need -- two things that Vince makes time to do on a regular basis."
"I've gotten to write songs, sing and play a guitar for a living, which is a blessing," said Gill. "I've also tried to help other people along the way and have had so much fun doing it. Yet the title 'humanitarian' is a big one. I'm humbled by this honor from the Academy and The Home Depot."
THE HOME DEPOT HOMETOWN HERO TO BE SELECTED
The Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot also announced today a new Hometown Hero honor as part of the Humanitarian Award program. Previously, the recipient of the Humanitarian Award was determined by fan voting. The Humanitarian Award is now selected by a special blue-ribbon committee; however, fans still have the opportunity to vote for their own Hometown Hero -- an individual who is committed to volunteerism and improving his or her local community. Country music fans can log onto www.homedepot.com/acm to nominate an individual for the Hometown Hero award. The Home Depot Hometown Hero grand prize winner will receive a trip to participate in the KaBOOM! playground build with Vince Gill and a trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2007.
THE RECIPIENT
Seventeen-time Grammy award-winning artist Vince Gill has sold more than 22 million albums. Among his many musical honors include his induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and winning five Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition to his music and performing, Gill is also dedicated to giving back to those in need. Gill dedicates much of his time to programs for children's recreation and education, the terminally ill, the homeless and hungry, cultural and environmental preservation, and the humane treatment of animals. In 1993, Gill established "The Vinny," an annual pro/celebrity golf tournament, to raise money for the Junior Golf program. Gill also sponsors and participates in dozens of organized charities, and nearly all of his concerts have a local charity component as well.
Vincent Gill was born in 1957, in Norman, Okla., the son of a federal judge and a homemaker. By the time he was in high school, he had become proficient on the banjo and guitar and was playing in his first bluegrass band. After graduation, he began pursuing music professionally, working with such acts as the Bluegrass Alliance, Boone Creek, Sundance and, most famously, Pure Prairie League. Gill also toured with Rodney Crowell's high-octane backup band the Cherry Bombs. In 1983, he signed to RCA Records, where he scored his first solo country hits, among them "Oklahoma Borderline" and "Cinderella." His high, pure tenor voice and unerring sense of harmony have made him a favorite duet recording partner for dozens of fellow artists, from Ralph Stanley to Barbra Streisand. He will receive the Humanitarian Award during the 41st ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
THE HOME DEPOT
Founded in 1978, The Home Depot (R) is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2005 sales of $81.5 billion. The Company employs approximately 345,000 associates and has 2,055 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. Through its Home Depot Supply division, the Company operates one of the nation's largest diversified wholesale distributors, with operations in 41 states and Canada. The Home Depot has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the No. 1 Most Admired Specialty Retailer and the No. 13 Most Admired Corporation in America for 2006. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.
KaBOOM!
Celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2006, KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Over the past decade, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct nearly 1,000 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including a Web portal and online community, regional and national trainings, grants, and publications for communities that wish to plan a new playspace on their own. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,000 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Allen Shapiro and R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.
Source: The Academy of Country Music
Web site: http:/// www.kaboom.org
Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com
Tell Dreamfields Your Best Healthy Pasta Recipe and Win a Day with Well-known Fitness Authority, Brad Schoenfeld
Contest Deadline July 31, 2006
Everyone has a secret recipe they use to look great naked and Dreamfields pasta wants to know yours! Dreamfields Healthy Living Pasta and Brad Schoenfeld (one of America's leading fitness authorities; author of the best selling book and video series Look Great Naked; and author of the NEW 28-Day Body Shapeover) are asking everyone to send in their favorite healthy pasta recipe for the chance to win a personal day of training with Brad in New York and a Dreamfields Healthy Living Pasta gift basket!
Entering is easy! No entry fee is required and no purchase is necessary to win. Limit one entry per household. See official rules for details at http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/. Simply submit a healthy recipe using Dreamfields to Look Great Naked with Brad Schoenfeld and Dreamfields c/o BHGPR, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 by July 31, 2006 and you could win more than a fit figure! (Please include a self addressed envelope along with recipe.) Participants can also enter by emailing their recipes to lee.mako@bhgpr.com.
One grand prize winner will receive a personal training day in New York with celebrity fitness trainer and nutrition expert Brad Schoenfeld; a copy of Brad's Look Great Naked book and a Dreamfields Healthy Living Pasta gift basket (Total ARV: $2,500 -- will include transportation to New York and hotel accommodations for 2 nights) Five runners-up will receive a Dreamfields Healthy Living Pasta luxury gift basket (Total ARV: $75). Every participant will receive a coupon for Dreamfields pasta just for entering. Please note -- only one entry per household.
Eating healthy is imperative to looking great naked and Dreamfields is the right choice. Dreamfields is an excellent source of fiber-twice the fiber of regular pasta. Fiber intake is very important for both overall health and weight loss. It also has only five grams of digestible carbohydrates verses regular pasta at 40 grams, and a 65% lower glycemic index as compared to regular pasta, making Dreamfields a healthy choice.
For more information about Dreamfields, including complete nutritional information, log onto http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/.
Source: DNA Dreamfields Company, LLC
Web site: http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/
Spike TV Adds a Mix of Insanity, Absurdity & Mayhem to New Comedy Block Starting Thursday, July 6
Network Debuts Unscripted Comedy 'Raising the Roofs' and Introduces Hit International Sensation, 'The Dudesons'
What happens when a Hollywood actor invites his back-country family to Los Angeles for an extended vacation? Or when a group of four daredevil life-long friends from the Arctic Circle turn the mundane realities of everyday life into crazy stunts, laughter and occasional pain? Find out with Spike TV's new comedy-themed original programming block starting Thursday, July 6 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
"Both Raising the Roofs and The Dudesons are about guys being guys, and all that entails," said Sharon Levy, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming for Spike TV. "The comedy comes from the natural bonds of family and lifelong friends. But I don't know anyone with families like these, complete with never ending pranks, uncontrolled bodily functions, and physical stunts that land them in the hospital."
"Raising the Roofs" (10:00-10:30 PM, ET/PT) is a six-episode unscripted comedy series that stars working actor Michael Roof, Jr., and his prank- pulling, beer-swilling, over-the-top, back-country family. Michael Jr. was born and raised in a small town of Dunnellon, Florida, with a population of 2,000, where his extended family still resides. In search of fame and fortune, he moved to Hollywood and has landed a number of supporting roles in films such as "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Black Hawk Down" and "XXX." Michael Jr. is a working actor, but to his family and his hometown, he is a bona fide celebrity. "Raising the Roofs" explores what happens when his family -- his father, Michael Sr. and Uncle Stevie -- pack their bags, their pet pig, Babe Roof the Fifth, and take on the bright lights and big city of Los Angeles for an open ended visit. Can these small town, larger-than-life characters adapt to big city life? And more importantly, will Michael Jr. and his career survive the family's visit?
Spike TV introduces America to the international sensation, "The Dudesons" (10:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT), a huge hit for the past four years on Finnish TV. This extreme stunt comedy comes to Spike TV with eight episodes and features the wild antics of four loveable, yet lunatic childhood best friends who live life to the fullest in the desolate Arctic Circle. Despite broken bones, countless trips to the hospital and near death experiences, "The Dudesons" continue to perform the craziest and most dangerous stunts imaginable. From perilous car and motorcycle jumps to indoor bonfires to being a human dartboard, life holds no limits and there are no rules in these inventive comedic skits.
"Raising the Roofs" is produced by The Jay & Tony Show, Inc. Jay Blumenfeld and Anthony Marsh (America Undercover: Smalltown Ecstasy, The Missy Elliott Project, Family Business) will serve as Executive Producers. "The Dudesons" is produced by Rabbit Films, Ltd. Sharon Levy, Senior Vice President of Alternative Programming is executive in charge of production for Spike TV.
Spike TV is available in more than 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom , MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Source: Spike TV
Web site: http://www.spiketv.com/
Academy to Present Restored Renoir
A recently restored print of Jean Renoir’s “The River” (1951) will receive its west coast premiere when it is screened by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, April 19, at 8 p.m., in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The film is presented as part of the Academy’s Gold Standard series.
Shot on location in India, “The River” was Renoir’s first film in color and is considered the ultimate articulation of the director’s career-long fascination with the theme of water as a life force and source of beauty. Photographed by the director’s nephew, Claude, the film’s screenplay was written by Renoir and Rumer Godden, who wrote the novel upon which the film is based.
In “The River,” Harriet, Valerie and Melanie are teenage friends in India. When the wounded American Captain John arrives, all three vie for his affection. As they do so, the beauty of the country and the day-to-day life of its people are depicted.
The print to be screened is one restored by the Academy Film Archive and the British Film Institute. The original three-strip nitrate Technicolor camera negative was used for the restoration, along with soundtrack elements from two safety prints. The restored print was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Tickets for the Academy’s Gold Standard presentation of “The River” go on sale April 3 for $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They may be purchased in advance at the Academy during regular business hours, by mail, or on the night of the screening, if still available, when the doors open at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call 310-247-3600.
©A.M.P.A.S.®
KATIE COURIC FUTURE CBS ROLE
'Today' Host's Move to Eye Network Puts NBC in Talent Bind
Katie Couric’s deal to move to CBS News is completed in principle, and an announcement that she is leaving NBC might come as early as this week. That’s the quiet buzz among sources familiar with assorted moving parts connected to the deal to transform Ms. Couric from co-anchor of the No. 1 morning show “Today” to anchor of the third-place-but-growing “CBS Evening News.” In taking on the CBS job, Ms. Couric would be the first female to serve as sole anchor of a network flagship newscast.
The first announcement should be that Ms. Couric is leaving the Peacock Network and the viewers who have spent their mornings with Ms. Couric for 15 years.
The official announcement of CBS’s dream come true -- landing Ms. Couric as its evening star -- would follow, perhaps next week. Ms. Couric’s personal publicist, Matthew Hiltzik of Freud Communications, declined to comment to TelevisionWeek last week, as did representatives of NBC News and CBS News.
Ms. Couric's $65 million contract, under which NBC paid her more than $15 million per year, is not up until the end of May.
Because Ms. Couric is the biggest star -- and collects the biggest paycheck -- in TV news, there have been months of frenzied speculation and false rumors about every angle, including whether her ambition to sleep later and become the first female anchor to solo as the top network anchor was stronger than her long friendship with Jeff Zucker, the former “Today” executive producer who now is the president of the NBC Universal Television Group.
An insider close to Ms. Couric said last week that “Nothing is planned as of now.”
However, both NBC and CBS need Ms. Couric’s decision to be announced sooner rather than later.
Each network needs to make plans for the long-term futures of its respective news programs and for the mid-May upfront extravaganzas at which new stars and programs for the 2006-07 season are touted to kick off the preseason sales of the bulk of advertising time.
NBC arguably has more at stake than CBS in the situation. NBC can’t afford to run off viewers by making the wrong choice of successor to Ms. Couric on the cushy couch next to Matt Lauer, Ms. Couric's polished co-anchor for the last nine-plus years. Neither does it want to lose any of the in-house contenders, especially the well-regarded “Weekend Today” co-anchor Campbell Brown, who might feel their career hopes have been thwarted.
Meredith Vieira, a correspondent turned co-host of ABC’s “The View” and host of Buena Vista Television’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” has become regarded in recent weeks as the dark horse to beat as Ms. Couric’s replacement on “Today.”
CBS may have the less complicated personnel task. Bob Schieffer ascended to the “Evening News” anchor desk 13 months ago, when Dan Rather stepped down as a casualty of a flawed story about President Bush’s Vietnam-era Texas Air National Guard Service. Mr. Schieffer knew the “Evening News” assignment was temporary. Mr. Schieffer has publicly supported the quest by CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus to woo Ms. Couric to CBS News. The newscast has won 740,000 new viewers in the last year, according to Nielsen Media Research.
To be sure, much money rides on CBS’s gamble that Ms. Couric can successfully make the leap from TV best friend to TV navigator of weighty news stories. But “Evening News” is not CBS News’ cash cow. That distinction has been long held by “60 Minutes,” the most successful prime-time newsmagazine ever on TV.
"Today," on the other hand, is NBC’s cash cow and the goose that lays golden eggs for three hours every weekday morning, bringing in more than a reported $550 million in advertising revenue annually.
'WSJ,' 'NYT' Revamp Online Portals
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are introducing major revisions to their Web sites, introducing elements like new ad units for marketers and news aggregators for readers.
and are introducing major revisions to their Web sites, introducing elements like new ad units for marketers and news aggregators for readers.Their moves aren’t just part of the Unofficial Publishers’ Mandate of 2006, under which both newspaper and magazine executives are pouring resources into really, truly making the most out of the Web; they stem from the particular dynamics of the news contest online. While old-school newspaper wars have withered in most cities, it’s clear that their online wars are just beginning. To newspaper editors surveying the Web, too many surfers get their news from sites like Yahoo and AOL. And newspapers’ ad sales teams don’t appreciate that most online ad spending goes to Yahoo, Google, AOL and MSN.
“In order for these great media brands to get a little bit more of a share, they have to do things like offer the ability to support sponsorships as well as richer and more varied creative,” said David Card, VP-senior analyst, Jupiter Research. “Their audiences are already attractive to advertisers, but these are ways to make their platforms more attractive.”
Starting this week, NYTimes.com will begin introducing changes like cleaner design, easier navigation, more places for the most prominent ad units and sponsorship opportunities for popular sections like “Most E-Mailed.” The home page will also add an embedded video section, where visitors who press play will watch 15-second commercials before Times-created content.
The Journal Online, which relaunched its home page on March 14, has just introduced seamless, automatic and constant updating of its pages -- without reloading!
But most intriguingly, both are adding news aggregation services. The Journal Online will soon let people instruct its site to pull in any content available on the RSS feeds blooming online. That means visitors can go to WSJ.com, read content produced by any division of parent company Dow Jones and also read headlines and blurbs from sites like ESPN.com, Gawker.com or even NYTimes.com.
The feeds will show up with links to the sites where they originated, so readers may still wander off into the great wide Web -- but they’ll have more reasons to stay, too.
“We can’t be everywhere all the time,” said Bill Grueskin, managing editor, the Journal Online, which attracted 3.9 million unique U.S. visitors during February to its subscription site, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. “We understand some readers want to pull in other sources of news, commentary including blogs and other sites that aren’t affiliated with mainstream media. If they want to do that under the rubric of The Wall Street Journal, that’s fine, and if we can make that easier, that’s something we want to do.”
Or as Gail Griffin, the site’s general manager, pointed out, people who customize the site already use more content and stay longer. “As you add third-party content to it, they’ll be doing more things that they may have done at Yahoo or elsewhere on the Journal site itself,” she said.
Aggregation at The Times will take the form of My Times, providing each visitor with a page to host content from elsewhere. “Every time you visit the page you’ll have updated news and information from those sources,” said Alyson Racer, VP-sales, NYTimes.com, which drew 12.7 million unique U.S. visitors in February.
Both companies, of course, will sell sponsorship of the personalization tools. The Times does not plan to charge users for the new features. The Journal’s subscription pricing will remain the same, meaning any subscriber can use its tools.
Peabody Awards to Be Announced April 5 Via Satellite Video Feed and Webcast
WHAT: 65th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards winners
announcement, honoring excellence in electronic media in 2005
The Peabody Awards recognize distinguished achievement and
meritorious public service by stations, networks, producing
organizations and individuals. They perpetuate the memory of the
banker-philanthropist whose name they bear. The awards program,
established in 1940 and administered by the University of
Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is
the oldest honor in electronic media.
Jon Stewart, award-winning host of Comedy Central's "The Daily
Show with Jon Stewart," will host the awards ceremony on Monday,
June 5, 2006 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
WHO: Horace Newcomb, Peabody Awards Director Peter Fiddick, Peabody
Awards Board Chair
WHEN: Wednesday, April 5 at 9:00 a.m. ET
WHERE: The University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
Announcement and clips of the winners will be available via
satellite and webcast.
Satellite/Webcast Schedule:
8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Satellite test
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Graphics
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Winners Announcement (clip reel immediately following
announcement)
Webcast: http://www.peabody.uga.edu/ or http://www.prnewswire.com/
Web site: http://www.peabody.uga.edu/
The Radio industry to continue to struggle
THE RADIO INDUSTRY HAS BEEN struggling over the last couple years, and while it might be a little better this year, we're definitely not out of the woods yet--not even close," according to Tom Buono, CEO of BIA Financial Network, summarizing a report from BIA that recorded a meager .5 percent growth in ad revenue in 2005 and predicted further stagnation in 2006, with 2.2 percent revenue growth, at most.
"There's a number of things going on," Buono explained. "Overall, the radio industry is based on one source of revenue, and that's advertising. And they're certainly feeling the impact of advertising dollars being marginalized by new media. You see automakers going to new media with their budgets, including Google and things like that, and that takes a big bite out. What we've seen recently is a sort of divergence--and it's not something that you can just bounce back from in just a few years."
Mark Fratik, vice-president, BIA, sketched a plan for radio broadcasters that industry execs likely already know by heart: "For the industry to see stronger growth, it must better attract younger listeners by offering new formats and utilizing multiple distribution platforms. Also at the same time, radio needs to demonstrate its effectiveness as an advertising medium by utilizing improved research methods."
Taking the long view, radio's recent weak performance in the face of competition from a new, seemingly more attractive medium, the Internet, is just another in a series of events that have incrementally marginalized radio--but it's also worth noting that radio has always rebounded, at least somewhat.
According to Ben Compaine, who has studied the history of American radio, the introduction of TV and FM both constituted points of "inflection" for the industry as a whole--TV decreased radio's desirability as an ad medium in the 1950s, and the proliferation of stations with FM subdivided radio revenue dramatically in the 1970s. Illustrating the shock of the first turning point, Compaine notes that radio received 15 percent of national ad revenues in 1945, but just 6 percent in 1955.
But by the same token, radio continues to adjust, adapt, and respond. Because the industry is hungry, it offers advertisers ample opportunity for triage and maximizing ad value--including experimentation. And in terms of raw financial figures, Buono notes: "It outpaced retail sales for 29 out of the last 32 years. You know the radio industry has been a survivor."
Radio execs are pinning their hopes for innovation and growth on the rollout of terrestrial HD digital radio, which promises to target niche markets by allowing multicasts of different musical genres on a single frequency. According to Bob Struble, head of HD iBiquity, the company that controls digital radio technology, HD radio may also someday allow a higher degree of ratings transparency and advertising ROI measurement with the introduction of "buy" or "more info" buttons on HD radio sets.
Buono reiterated HD's appeal, saying: "We do have HD radio that's on the horizon, and that could create new revenue streams for the advertisers," and dismissed worries that the industry might bungle the transition: "I would say that HD radio is just a natural evolution of broadcasting. I think we will be in a digital environment for TV effective by 2009 across the board, and radio will probably be making that transition over the next 5 years as well. By 2011, it will be the norm."
But Buono also warned against embracing any one approach as an industry savior, advising a multi-platform approach instead: "One other possibility is to use the Internet more as an advocacy tool than as a competitor, and to create new strategic alliances to develop new revenue streams in combination with new media." Indeed, he said, "there's no reason that radio and the Internet couldn't be a powerful marketing tool for a lot of media."
Political ad spending to be up.
MADISON AVENUE IS BRACING FOR a political ad spending blitz that is expected to put pressure on non-political advertisers, tightening the supply of ad inventory and driving media prices up in key states and markets, the American Association of Advertising Agencies is warning its members. "A media-buying frenzy related to the 2006 mid-term elections could create significant shortages -- and increase the cost -- of broadcast and other ad space in many cities and states during the next six months," The AAAA's Media Division cautioned in a bulletin sent late Friday to media agency executives, media directors and officials on all of its media related committees. The alert comes nearly two months after Magna Global issued a similar warning to its clients to "be flexible" and begin locking up inventory in key markets in preparation for high demand from political advertisers. It also comes as ad spending tracker TNS Media Intelligence releases a political ad spending forecast predicting "perfect storm" conditions in many key markets.
"In fact, the first four weeks of 2006 have generated advertising totals nearly equal to the advertising witnessed during the same period in 2004 - all without a presidential primary," the report issued by TNS and the Campaign Media Analysis Group noted. Despite being a so-called "off-year" election - a non-Presidential campaign year - TNS cited the "sheer number of open and competitive federal, state, and local races in 2006, as well as increasing contribution limits," noting that "individuals can donate an extra $100 per federal candidate per election."
TNS coined the term "perfect storm markets" during the 2000 election when many key markets were inundated with a combination of political television advertising by federal, state, and local candidates, as well as myriad state ballot initiatives. The report predicts that such markets in 2006 will contribute to, "significant, if not historical, levels of advertising throughout much of the country. Our current projection places year-end spending over $1 billion dollars - a truly historic milestone in midterm elections."
The AAAA's bulletin, meanwhile, cites predictions that total political year spending including efforts by supporters and advocacy groups would reach more than $1.6 billion on television and other media, making it the tightest mid-term election ever.
The memo anticipates that a growing number of issue-related advocacy groups is also "likely to affect media cost and availability" of advertising inventory. Most disconcerting of all, the AAAA advisory points out that unlike 2004 when the most competitive races were in states such as South Dakota "where media is relatively inexpensive," the big races in 2006 are located in major media markets, including New York and Pennsylvania.
"Media buyers and clients will want to factor this uneven ad demand prior to November into their budget plans," the AAAA advised. The advisory, which was released on the eve of this week's AAAA management conference in Scottsdale, AZ, could come as a mixed blessing for Madison Avenue, during ad spending to record levels, but also creating tough market conditions for many clients who are currently reevaluating their commitments to traditional media.
In February, Magna Global's Director of Industry Analysis Brian Wieser issued a similar warning and advised clients to begin securing advertising inventory in the most hotly contested political markets where there might be acute pressure on supply and ad prices.
The AAAA bulleting identified the following markets as being especially prone to tight conditions:
New York, especially Central and Upstate.
Pennsylvania, especially Philadelphia and Harrisburg area.
Missouri.
Florida, especially South Florida.
Tennessee, especially Memphis and Nashville.
Washington State.
Michigan, especially Detroit.
Massachusetts
Arizona
Ohio
California
Maryland
Washington, DC, suburbs
Minnesota: Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Chimps asking for more money
Screen Actors Guild members take note: A group of commercial actors secured an across-the-board, 25% to 30% pay increase last year without so much as a union meeting or strike threat.
Chimp compensation is on the rise, animal trainers and ad agency creatives said, because a recent surge of retirements has created a primate shortage. And that-paired with marketers' still potent urge to tap chimps and orangutans to hawk job listings, light beer and stock brokerages-is driving prices up.
The highest-profile campaign of that ilk -- CareerBuilder's office chimp spots that broke on the Super Bowl -- had a shoot delayed a month last year due to talent availability. And Marshall Ross, executive creative director at CareerBuilder's agency, Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago, said the cost of using chimps has risen as much as 30% since the popular ads started running in 2004.
"It's a great time to be a working chimp," he noted.
Animal-rights activists disagree. And there's some evidence that years of protests against their use contributed to the current shortage, both by dissuading some marketers from using chimps and encouraging trainers to retire them.
"People are beginning to realize that they use fear and beatings to keep [the animals] on cue," said a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has conducted an online campaign at nomoremonkeybusiness.com and persuaded marketers such as Honda and Puma to pledge not to use chimps in commercials. "It's become passe to use them."
But the biggest blow to the acting-ape supply came last year, when Hollywood's largest trainer, Bob Dunn, retired his 11 chimps and six orangutans to a Florida animal sanctuary. A spokesman for Bob Dunn's Animal Services said they were retired because "there was an opportunity to keep them together as a family." Patti Ragan-who runs the sanctuary housing Mr. Dunn's retired chimps-said he told her he'd grown wary of being targeted by protestors.
And then there's the cost. Chimps, for instance, can only act until about age eight, at which point they become too large and erratic to be controlled on film sets. But they can live to age 60, at a cost of more than $10,000 a year at an animal sanctuary such as Ms. Ragan's. "We're seeing fewer and fewer people willing to take on that commitment as the working chimps retire," said Cramer-Krasselt's Mr. Ross. "They're not being replaced at the same rate they're leaving."
Whatever the reason, the retirements created a minor windfall for those still working, at least in the short-term. A spokeswoman for Steve Martin's Working Wildlife, now Hollywood's largest ape handler, said the cost of using its chimps rose 25% last year, to $1,000 per day from $800. "They're working more, too," she said.
But she doesn't expect the price increases to continue, considering advances in computer animation that make it possible to create realistic animal effects on screen. "That's disappointing," said Ms. Ragan, an opponent of chimp ads. "I'm hoping they become so expensive nobody wants to use them anymore
Sony and Borders to Sell Digital Reading Device Relationship Brings Sony Reader to Borders Stores Nationwide
Sony Electronics and Borders(R), Inc., today announced an agreement to make the Sony Reader -- an innovative reading device for e-books and text documents -- available through about 200 Borders stores nationwide.
The Sony Reader will debut in Borders and more than 30 Sony Style stores around the country as well as online at www.sonystyle.com. Borders stores, including some airport locations, will be outfitted with custom-designed display fixtures that will enable customers to learn about the device firsthand and experience reading with the high-contrast, high-resolution electronic paper display.
"Borders is committed to helping our customers enrich their lives through knowledge and entertainment," said Borders Senior Vice President of Trade Books Bill Nasshan. "That is why we've always been committed to offering a vast selection of books in our stores. Now, with this agreement to offer the Sony Reader to Borders customers, we are adding an exciting, new book format that gives those who are passionate about reading another way to indulge that passion. We are proud to be associated with Sony for the introduction of this exciting new product."
Coupling an innovative electronic paper display with a lightweight, compact form factor and a stylish, durable design, the Sony Reader will allow active readers to carry as much as they want to read whether they are traveling on the road or just around the corner. Roughly the size of a paperback novel, but thinner than most (about .5 inches thin), the device can store hundreds of books and other documents using a combination of internal flash memory and optional Memory Stick(R) or Secure Digital (SD) flash memory cards.
"This agreement with Borders, a brand that resonates with book lovers everywhere, affords us the opportunity to showcase the Sony Reader directly to reading enthusiasts," said Ron Hawkins, vice president of Portable Reader Systems at Sony Electronics. "Borders stores provide the premier locations for customers to see the Reader and experience all the advantages this revolutionary digital reading device has to offer."
As part of the relationship, Borders customers will also have the opportunity to purchase prepaid cards, redeemable online for e-books at the Sony CONNECT service which will offer a broad selection of trade fiction and non-fiction e-books from major and independent publishers at prices competitive with books offered in stores.
"In addition to e-books, the Sony CONNECT service will offer Borders customers who buy the Sony Reader access to a broad selection of web content in the form of blogs, news feeds and online magazines," said Lee Shirani, vice president of Sony CONNECT Inc. "Reading enthusiasts can now join the ranks of other digital media consumers to read their text content -- e-books and Internet content -- portably, anytime, anywhere."
In addition to e-books offered through the Sony CONNECT service, the Reader can store and display personal documents in Adobe PDF format as well as JPEG photos. With a seemingly limitless battery life equivalent to roughly 7,500 page turns, avid readers can devour a dozen bestsellers plus War and Peace without ever having to recharge.
About Borders
Borders Group, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BGP. The company is a leading global retailer of books, music, movies, and gift and stationery items with 2005 revenues of $4 billion. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Borders Group, through its subsidiaries, employs more than 35,000 people worldwide and serves more than 30 million customers each year on a global basis. The company is organized into three business segments: Borders Domestic Superstores, International, and Waldenbooks Specialty Retail. Currently, there are more than 470 domestic Borders Superstores. In the International segment, there are 55 Borders superstores located mainly in the U.K. and Asia Pacific, as well as 33 Books etc. stores primarily throughout Great Britain. In addition, the International segment includes Paperchase Products Limited, a U.K.-based gifts and stationery retailer with approximately 90 locations. The Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment includes over 675 Waldenbooks, Borders Express, Borders outlet and airport stores as well as the company's seasonal calendar business. More information on the company is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com.
Source: Sony Electronics Inc.
.
Web site: http://www.sonystyle.com/
Allison Moorer to Release Getting Somewhere on June 13 Sugar Hill Records Singer-Songwriter Offers Melodic Rock n' Roll Gems
Allison Moorer is releasing her sixth album, Getting Somewhere, on June 13, and from the opening chord, it's clear that the Grammy/Academy Award-nominated artist is revolutionizing her artistry. Working with Producer/husband Steve Earle, and writing every song with a new perspective on her craft, what emerged from her pen and guitar are ten melodic rock'n'roll gems.
"I didn't worry about who was going to like it or what was expected of me. I had a revelation that it was all right to express myself," says Moorer. "When I listen to these songs, I can hear myself growing by leaps and bounds from the time I wrote the first song to the time I finished the last one."
Moorer has signed with Gold Mountain Entertainment for exclusive worldwide management and representation for her music in all mediums, including touring and film and television placement. Overseeing Allison's activities at the firm will be Burt Stein, Gold Mountain Nashville President, and Alan Koenig, Co- Manager.
"We are thrilled and honored to have Allison as part of the Gold Mountain family," said Stein. "Allison brings great passion and integrity to her music and the new album is simply stunning."
Allison, whose international debut was on the Academy Awards in '98, made a series of critically-lauded albums on MCA before she parted ways with Nashville's music row to make records her own way. Her first Sugar Hill release was The Duel -- about which Blender said, "Her voice -- half dark, lazy molasses, half bourbon with a silky finish -- rings with equal parts defiance and vulnerability."
A nationwide tour will accompany the release of Getting Somewhere.
Source: Sugar Hill Records
Web site: http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/
Apr 3, 2006 14:18 America/Los_Angeles
SPORTS
Oakland Baseball
N.Y. Yankees 15, Oakland 2 at McAfee Coliseum
Oakland Record: (0-1)
Winning pitcher - Randy Johnson (1-0)
Losing pitcher - Barry Zito (0-1)
NYY HR - H. Matsui (1) A. Rodriguez (1)
OAK HR - F. Thomas (1)
Dodger baseball
Atlanta 11, Los Angeles 10 at Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles Record: (0-1)
Winning pitcher - Oscar Villarreal (1-0)
Losing pitcher - Derek Lowe (0-1)
SV - Chris Reitsma (1)
Atlanta 11
Los Angeles 10
ATL HR - A. Jones (1) R. Langerhans (1) A. LaRoche (1)
Phil Mickelson WINS BIG
First player to successfully defend a title since Vaughn Taylor at the 2004-05 Reno-Tahoe Open. * Second on TOUR with five top-10s in eight starts. * Becomes the second wire-to-wire victor at the BellSouth Classic (Larry Nelson, 1988). He also becomes the first wire-to-wire victor of 2006 and the first since Vaughn Taylor at the 2005 Reno-Tahoe Open. * Sets BellSouth Classic 72-hole record total with a 28-under-par 260 held by Andy Bean (1979) and Dave Barr (1987). Bean and Barr both posted 23-under-par 265 totals at Atlanta Country Club. Mickelson also broke David Duval's 72-hole record total at TPC Sugarloaf of 270 in 1999. * Becomes the first three-time winner of the BellSouth Classic and the first to win in back-to-back years. Hale Irwin won the BellSouth Classic in 1975 and 1977, with the event not being held in 1976. * Becomes just the third player to post four rounds in the 60s at TPC Sugarloaf, joining David Duval (1999) and Davis Love III (1999).
28 career victories is tied with Vijay Singh for 20th all-time on PGA TOUR wins list. * Five PGA TOUR wins in the state of Georgia (1 Masters, 3 BellSouth Classic, 1 TOUR Championship). * Second wire-to-wire PGA TOUR win of career (2005 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am). * Earns a trip to the 2007 Mercedes Championships in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. * Multiple wins at nine different PGA TOUR events -- Chrysler Classic of Tucson (3), Buick Invitational (3), The International, Mercedes Championships, BellSouth Classic, FBR Open, Buick Championship, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. * Successfully defended title for fourth time in career (1995-96 Tucson, 2000-01 Buick Invitational, 2001-02 Canon Greater Hartford Open, 2005-06 BellSouth Classic).
Beijing 2008: Olympic Venue Construction On Track
Officials in Beijing have announced that construction on the venues for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008 is progressing smoothly, with 20 of the 31 Beijing-based venues for the 2008 Games currently under construction. Building work also began last year on five auxiliary facilities and one training venue.
Of the 31 competition venues that will be used to host the events of the 26 Olympic sports that will be held in Beijing, 11 are new, 11 are existing venues that will be renovated or expanded and nine are temporary. Forty-one training venues and five non-competition venues, which are directly related to the Games, will also be needed.
Legacy
In order to ensure a sustainable legacy - something the IOC strongly encourages - the Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008 (BOCOG) has looked not only to use temporary venues or to renovate existing venues, where possible, but has also sought to identify suitable post-Games use for each venue. Aside from the obvious sporting and social legacy - many of the venues will be used after the Games to the advantage of the local community and for Chinese sport - there will also be an environmental legacy, with the areas around the venues and the road infrastructure leading to the venues being improved, as well as the creation of the Olympic Forest Park, where tree planting and landscaping is currently underway.
BEIJING 2008
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008 will take place from 8 August 2008 until 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing will play host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic programme. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.
PinnacleSports.com Releases Odds on Golf's First Major
When the 70th Masters tees off this week at Augusta National Golf Club, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods as he attempts to win his fifth green jacket. Only the third player in history to win four green jackets, a win this year will pull Woods within one of Jack Nicklaus' record six Masters titles. Already the only multiple winner on tour in 2006, PinnacleSports.com lists Tiger Woods as a 3/1 favorite to continue his mastery of Augusta National in this year's first major championship.
The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com has calculated odds on 75 golfers expected to participate in this year's Masters with Woods listed as an overwhelming favorite to win the tournament for the fifth time in 12 years. When making Tiger such a large favorite in the Masters, the odds makers at PinnacleSports.com took into consideration his current play, past performance at Augusta, ability to perform under pressure, public sentiment and statistics for the year, among several other factors.
PinnacleSports.com lists 2004 Masters champ Phil Mickelson with the second-best odds to win this year's tournament at 13/2 odds after his historic 13-shot victory at last weekend's BellSouth Classic. Despite winning four majors between them, South Africans Ernie Els (9/1) and Retief Goosen (11/1) are still looking for their first green jackets. The oddsmakers at PinnacleSports.com have listed Vijay Singh, the 2000 Masters winner, at 13/1 to dethrone Tiger at this year's tournament. Other leading contenders at Augusta National this weekend include: Sergio Garcia (25/1), Luke Donald (28/1), Jim Furyk (30/1), Jose Maria Olazabal (30/1), and David Toms (35/1). PinnacleSports.com has installed 2003 champion Mike Weir at 40/1 along with last year's runner-up Chris DiMarco.
Current Odds: *All Odds Subject to Change*
Current Odds: *All Odds Subject to Change*Odds to Win 2006 Masters (Favorites)
Tiger Woods 3/1
Phil Mickelson 13/2
Ernie Els 9/1
Retief Goosen 11/1
Vijay Singh 13/1
Sergio Garcia 25/1
Luke Donald 28/1
Jim Furyk 30/1
Jose Maria Olazabal 30/1
David Toms 35/1
Mike Weir 40/1
Chris DiMarco 40/1
Adam Scott 40/1
Davis Love III 40/1
Padraig Harrington 40/1
Darren Clarke 50/1
Henrik Stenson 50/1
Chad Campbell 70/1
For a complete list of odds, please visit http://www.pinnaclesports.com/ .
About PinnacleSports.com
About PinnacleSports.comPinnacleSports.com ( http://www.pinnaclesports.com/ ) is the Internet's largest sports betting site, serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide. Founded in 1998, PinnacleSports.com was the first sports book to introduce reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the Web, PinnacleSports.com has earned an industry-leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, racing and casino gaming.
Source: PinnacleSports.com
Two-Time IndyCar Champion Driver and Ohioan Sam Hornish, Jr. to Serve as Spokesman for 2006 Ohio Work Zone Safety Coalition Public Awareness Campaign
Ohio native and two-time IndyCar Series Champion, Sam Hornish, Jr. will serve as this year's spokesperson for the Ohio Workzone Safety Coalition public outreach campaign aimed at reducing motor vehicle accidents in Ohio by encouraging motorists to slow down while driving through road construction sites. Hornish will be featured in broadcast public service announcements across Ohio promoting safe driving in these work zones.
"Too many lives are lost each year because people are not slowing down when they enter a work zone," said Hornish. "Traveling through construction work zones is like driving under the yellow flag, not a race to the finish line. The safety of drivers and workers in highway work zones is critically important to all Ohio motorists."
The organizations sponsoring this effort include the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio AAA, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Ohio Contractors Association, the Laborers' International Union of North America, and Ohio LECET.
Ralph Cole, Business Manager for coalition member Ohio Laborers' District Council remarked, "On behalf of our union members and every highway worker, I want to thank Sam for his help in our campaign. These work zones are dangerous places and Sam understands Ohioans need to slow down as they drive through construction sites."
"Sam Hornish, Jr. brings a tremendous amount of credibility to our campaign because he knows a thing or two about speed and safety and because he is an Ohio resident," remarked Richard C. Murray, Director of Ohio LECET, the lead sponsor organization overseeing the execution of this year's safety campaign. "A two-time IndyCar Champion encouraging motorists to slow down in construction zones will convey the seriousness of obeying the posted reduced speed."
The coalition's 2005 outreach effort received the prestigious "2005 Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award" from the American Road and Transportation Builder's Association (ARTBA) and the National Safety Council (NSC).
According to ARTBA, a highway worker or motorist is killed in a work zone every eight hours and more than 50,000 Americans are also injured in work zone accidents each year. While highway workers are at obvious risk, national studies show motorists and passengers are four times more likely to be injured or killed in work zones.
According to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation, for 2005, in Ohio, there were 5,854 work zone crashes with 2076 injuries and 20 deaths.
For more information about driving safely in Work Zones visit the Federal Highway Administration link: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetytips
About Sam Hornish, Jr.
About Sam Hornish, Jr.SAM HORNISH, JR.
Two-Time IndyCar Champion
Penske Racing
After completing his first full season in the IndyCar Series in 2001, Sam Hornish Jr. etched his name in the record books by becoming the youngest driver ever to win an IndyCar Series race at the age of 21 and, even more remarkably, the youngest driver to win a major open-wheel Championship in North America at the age of 22. In 2002, Hornish again found himself making history by becoming the only driver to win back-to-back IndyCar Series Championships.
Now in his seventh season in the Indy Racing League, Hornish has stood on the podium 36 times, and has 45 top-five finishes in 85 starts. At 26 years old, Hornish is the Series' all-time leader in wins (14), laps led (2,663), most races led (53), and wins from the pole position (5).
Although Hornish is a world-class open-wheel driver, he has not forgotten his roots; he still spends his free time bowling and playing poker with friends and family around his hometown of Defiance, Ohio.
For more information, visit http://www.samhornish.com/.
Ferrari Challenge Enters 14th U.S. Season of Privateer Racing
Ferrari Festival & Racing Atmosphere Open to the Public - Season Highlights New 430 Challenge and Historic Vintage Racing, Along with Select FXX Demonstrations
Entering its 14th racing season in the U.S., the North American Ferrari Challenge continues to provide owners and enthusiasts access to world-class racing venues throughout the U.S. and Canada while offering non-professional privateers the opportunity to compete against other Ferrari owners in a highly enjoyable racing series.
For 2006, the Ferrari Challenge introduces the new 490 hp F430 Challenge car, piloted in a field of more than 40 owners, along with several 360 Challenge cars -- select races will also include the Ferrari Shell Historic Challenge, as well as demonstrations of the FXX (a special limited-series 800hp prototype). This year the Ferrari Challenge is marked as the longest- running series of its type in North America.
"As a company, Ferrari is synonymous with racing, technology and passion," said Maurizio Parlato, President and CEO for Ferrari North America, Inc. "Racing is in our DNA, and the Challenge Series has always allowed our owners to experience the very same passion and excitement that our racing teams enjoy on a worldwide perspective."
As the longest continuously running sanctioned race series for owners, the Ferrari Challenge is one of the numerous "exclusive" experiences that Ferrari offers its customers -- and whether owners are actually racing in the series, dining in the luxurious VIP hospitality tents, or socializing with those that share their enthusiasm for Ferrari, Parlato confirms that the weekend festivals provide a unique atmosphere not to be compared.
For the 2006 season, events will include races at Homestead (Miami) Speedway; Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, CA); Le Circuit (Mont Tremblant, Quebec); Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal, Quebec) in conjunction with the Montreal Grand Prix; Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wis.); Lime Rock Park (Lakeville, CT); and Portland International Raceway (Portland, Ore.).
All events are open to the public and afford the opportunity for spectators to peruse the paddock areas, photograph rare Ferrari vehicles, and enjoy the Festival setting at each venue. Three specific events, (Miami, Infineon and Road America) will each offer spectators (over 21 years of age) a chance to partake in a Kart Challenge with the opportunity to win a Ferrari Driving Experience at the company's new North American Driving School.
According to Parlato, the Challenge Series is one of the many assets Ferrari provides exclusively for its owners, and together with experiences such as the annual Ferrari Rally (http://www.ferrarirally.com/ ), and Ferrari's all-new North American Driving School in Mont Tremblant, Quebec (http://www.experienceferrari.com/ ), the company continues to provide environments where owners can enjoy their cars in the manner for which they were intended -- with top performance and through unique opportunities and venues.
BACKGROUND HISTORY
Ferrari's own racing series was created in 1993, for the then-current Ferrari 348, to allow Ferrari customers a chance to enjoy their cars in a structured, yet competitive environment, racing against other Ferrari owners on some of the great tracks of North America. The series is organized by Ferrari North America and its authorized dealers, and sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand Am).
Since 2000, the featured car has been the 360 Challenge -- a special racing version that has been built by the Ferrari factory specifically for the series. For the 2006 season, the F430 Challenge will be introduced and will race alongside the 360 Challenge. In 2007 it will replace the 360 Challenge.
Drivers who have not previously competed in the North American Ferrari Challenge must submit an online application to the Challenge Manager at Ferrari North America, completely detailing previous racing experience. Decisions regarding eligibility of drivers will be made by the Ferrari Challenge Committee, whose decisions will be made for safety reasons and in the spirit of the series, and whose decisions are final.
The Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge celebrates the speed, style and Italian thoroughbred racing that forms the essence of Ferrari. The Series is limited to authentic, original competition Ferraris and Maseratis built prior to 1980, as well as pre-war Alfa Romeos as raced by the Scuderia Ferrari. Coupled with the Ferrari Challenge Series, both events showcase the best of Ferraris past and present. The Series allows owners of these historic vehicles to compete against each other and showcase the beauty and speed of these rare and vintage cars.
KART CHALLENGE
New to the Series, and for 2006, Ferrari adds another element of competition to the festival atmosphere of select Challenge weekends, with the addition of an all-new Kart Challenge event. Open to the general public, as well as Challenge participants and their guests, the Kart Challenge will have its own track and its own competition to find the fastest driver, utilizing 13hp racing Karts.
The driver setting the record for the fastest lap time of the weekend will win a Ferrari Driving Experience at the company's all-new North American Driving School in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. (Winners must be 21 years of age or older; younger winners will receive an alternate prize.)
The Ferrari Kart Challenge will be offered in three venues during the 2006 season: Miami/Homestead Speedway (April 7-9); Infineon Raceway (May 12-14); and Road America (July 7-9). Karting will take place at each of the three venues from 9am-6pm on Friday and Saturdays, and 9am-3pm on Sundays during the Challenge weekends.
The Ferrari Challenge Series is organized by Ferrari North America, Inc., and sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association. For complete information on the series, visit http://www.ferrarichallenge.com/ .
Ferrari North America, Inc. is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and is the exclusive North American distributor of Ferrari vehicles including the F430 Berlinetta, F430 Spider convertible sports car, 575M Maranello sports coupe, 612 Scaglietti (luxury performance 2+2), and Superamerica (12-cylinder Berlinetta). For more information please visit http://www.ferrariusa.com/ .
Source: Ferrari North America, Inc.
Web site: http://www.ferrariworld.com/
DOD
DOD causalities
DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Robert Hernandez, 47, of Silver Springs, Md., died in Al Taquaddum, Iraq on March 28, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Hernandez was assigned to the Army Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 318th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 80th Division (Institutional Training), Fort Meade, Md.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Joseph J. Duenas, 23, of Mesa, Ariz., died in Kirkuk Province, Iraq on March 30 from non-combat related injuries while returning from combat operations. Duenas was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Jeremy W. Ehle, 19, of Richmond, Va., died on April 2 in Hit, Iraq from wounds sustained when his dismounted patrol came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Ehle was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.
Eight Marines and a sailor died in two separate incidents in Iraq yesterday. Three servicemembers also are missing after a vehicle accident in floodwaters, military officials reported today. A U.S. Marine Corps 7-ton truck rolled over in a flash flood near Asad, resulting in five Marines dead, one injured, and two Marines and one sailor missing. The vehicle was on a combat logistics convoy in Anbar province with eight Marines and one Navy corpsman on board. The deaths were not a result of enemy action, U.S. military officials said. "Our thoughts are with the families, and we are using all the resources available to find our missing Marines and sailor," Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas said. Two of the missing servicemembers are assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group, and the third is assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7. The injured Marine was returned to duty. In a separate incident, three Marines and a sailor, assigned to 2/28 Brigade Combat Team, serving with Multinational Force West, died from enemy action in Anbar province. No further details were available. The names of the dead and missing are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
R. James Nicholson opened the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson and former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz opened the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here last night, praising participants for their sacrifices and their focus on their abilities, not their disabilities. Nicholson saluted this year's 350 participants, including about 50 wounded during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, for their willingness to push beyond their comfort zones to discover the challenges they can overcome.
He told them their "indomitable spirit and optimism and can-do attitude ... epitomize America." "You are showing that there are no barriers to living life to the fullest and being a productive person if you put your mind to it," he said. "By your achievements in the field of sport this week, you will again showcase that spirit of America." The winter sports clinic is about a lot more than skiing, Nicholson said earlier in the day. "It's about (these veterans) coming together, getting to know each other and bonding and realizing a whole new set of life experiences," he said. "It's opening them up to a whole 'nother life."
The program, jointly sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Disabled American Veterans, is open to U.S. military veterans with disabilities ranging from spinal cord injuries and orthopedic amputations to visual impairment and neurological conditions. During a six-day program designed to help them push their limits and discover new abilities. Veterans learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing. They also are introduced to a variety of other activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, trapshooting, snowmobiling, and sled hockey.
This year, for the first time, participants will also be introduced to racing techniques and other Paralympic sports, such as wheelchair fencing. Between their scheduled sports activities, participants will kick back to the entertainment of country music star Clay Walker and visit with actress Bo Derek, national honorary chairwoman for VA's rehabilitation special events. Wolfowitz, president of the World Bank, told the group he was so impressed by what he witnessed at last year's clinic, which he attended as deputy defense secretary, that he didn't want to miss this year's event. "It was fantastic. ... It just blew my mind," he told the group. "I didn't realize that this is sort of like basic training, taken to a higher level. ... I realized what this program pushes you to do and helps you learn to do, and I heard over and over and over again (that) this is a life-changing experience." "This is an amazing activity," he said earlier in the day. "You keep seeing what people can do if they are determined to do it. I've gotten so much of an appreciation of what these people face and what they manage to deal with and overcome.
It's inspirational. It really is." Beyond helping disabled veterans push beyond their limitations, the program helps create a forum for veterans to support and inspire each other, Wolfowitz said. "I think it's very important, because the support you give one another and the support that families give one another is part of what makes these miracles happen," he said. Wolfowitz thanked the veterans for their service and sacrifices. "I can't say enough about how personally grateful I feel, going all the way back in the history of this country, that we live with freedom that has been earned the hard way," he said. "A lot of people have paid for it with their lives and with terrible wounds, and I ... am very grateful for myself and for my children. ... So thank you very much." The former deputy defense secretary closed by offering thanks to the sponsors and volunteers who make the winter sports clinic possible.
Among them are more than 150 certified handicapped ski instructors. Several current and former members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team are serving as instructors. Among the instructors is Dave Wikman, who's been teaching disabled people to ski since 1996 and returned here for his third National Disabled Winter Sports Clinic. "I'm here to give them the most exhilarating day of their lives," he said. Wikman said he's always amazed to watch the transformation that takes place when disabled people experience the thrill of skiing. "You see ear-to-ear smiles and a recognition that they can do something a lot of them never thought they could do," he said. "It's a great thing for them, and it's one small thing I can do to give back for all that they've given." One of this year's first-time skiers is Kenneth Adams, a 3rd Squadron, 17th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, soldier who received serious head injuries and was blinded during an accidental shooting in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in January 2004. Adams wasn't expected to live more than a few hours after the accident and received a battlefield retirement as a private first class.
Two years later, he's here with his wife Katie and said he's ready to test himself on the slopes. "I've never skied and never thought I'd ever ski, especially without eyesight," Adams said. "But I've done a lot of things since I became blind, and I figure that you've got just one life to live. So you have to do everything." During last night's opening ceremonies, Paul W. Jackson, national commander of Disabled American Veterans urged Adams and other participants in the winter sports clinic to push toward their limits. "If you don't push yourself to your limits every once in awhile, you never know what could have been," he said. "Get out there and give it all that you've got."
DoD Releases More Guantanamo Detainee Hearing Transcripts
The Defense Department today released hundreds' more pages of unredacted detainee hearing transcripts taken at the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, facility, a senior Pentagon official said here today. DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters the newly released documents included 2,000 pages of detainee administrative review board transcripts and about 600 pages of defense counsel submissions.
On March 3, DoD previously released about 5,000 pages of unredacted transcripts of combatant status review tribunal and administrative review board hearings conducted at the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility. These documents were released in response to a New York federal judge's order pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed on behalf of the Associated Press. Whitman said detainee hearing transcripts made after June 2005 weren't included in the original batch released because they weren't part of the court case.
He said it was prudent that DoD release the additional documents. About 490 detainees are now being held at the Guantanamo Bay facility, Whitman said. The United States, he said, does not detain people arbitrarily. All of the detainee cases at Guantanamo "have been reviewed to verify their statuses," Whitman said. The administrative review boards "are a way of periodically reviewing whether or not somebody remains a threat to return to the battlefield," he added, "or no longer possesses information of value, and is eligible for transfer to another country or for release." Detainees held at Guantanamo are terrorist trainers, bomb-makers, would-be suicide bombers and other dangerous people, Whitman said. "And we know that they're trained to lie to try to gain sympathy for their condition and to bring pressure against the U.S. government," Whitman said. Al Qaeda, he said, specifically instructs its adherents on how to make false accusations in order to influence public opinion.
And some detainees' lawyers have been known to make claims based on hearsay or speculation, Whitman said. Information gathered from detainees at Guantanamo has provided the U.S. government with insight into terrorists' organizational structure, the extent of their presence in the United States, Europe and the Middle East and more, he said. The documents are available on the Defense Department's Freedom of Information Web site.
Iran Might Have New 'Missile-Torpedo,' DoD Official Says
It's feasible that Iran has developed a new "missile-torpedo," which news reports say was tested during recent military exercises in the Persian Gulf area, a senior Defense Department official said here today. "It is possible that they are increasing their (weapons) capability and making strides in radar-absorbing materials and targeting," DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman told Pentagon reporters. Yesterday, the Iranian government announced the successful testing of a sonar-dodging, hyper-speed underwater missile-torpedo, according to news reports. The Iranians also are said to be developing a stealthy airborne missile. However, Whitman urged caution in accepting the veracity of the statements. "Iranians have also been known to boast and exaggerate about their statements about greater technical and tactical capabilities," he said. Whitman told reporters he was providing an unclassified U.S. military assessment of the alleged new Iranian weapons. "I cannot go further," he said.
NEWS
Chocolate Bunnies, Lillies and Spring Clothes Lead Easter Spending Plans
The recent NRF 2006 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey found that 77.6 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Easter, up marginally from the previous year. Total Easter spending is estimated to reach $12.63 billion in 2006, a significant increase from the $9.6 billion spent in 2005. This year, the average shopper expects to spend $121.72 on Easter, up from $96.51 in 2005.
A major factor for the rise in consumer spending this Easter has to do with the holiday falling later in the Spring season.
According to the survey, 41.2 percent of consumers plan to purchase clothing for the upcoming holiday, compared to only 29.4 percent last year. Of those that will be purchasing apparel, the average consumer plans to spend $55.50. In comparison, of those that bought apparel for Easter in 2005, the average consumer spent $49.95.
NRF President and CEO, Tracy Mullin, said "After a long, cold winter, consumers are ready to pack away their scarves and gloves and hit the stores for their Spring wardrobe."
Consumers will be dedicating almost one-third of their Easter budget to food purchases ($36.44). Other items on shopping lists include:
Clothing ($22.87)
Gifts ($18.62)
Candy ($16.65)
Flowers ($8.02)
Decorations ($6.36)
Greeting cards ($6.51)
Consumers between the ages of 35-44 are expected to spend the most on Easter this year. Spending among young adults 18-24 years old, who spent the least amount on Easter last year, will nearly double this year. In addition, shoppers in the Northeast will be spending the most on the holiday, while shoppers in the Midwest will spend the least.
Interesting Easter facts:
Easter accounts for 15 percent of the Easter floral purchases, according to the Society of American Florists. Of the flowering houseplants purchased for Easter last year, 53 percent were lilies.
According to the National Confectioners Association, 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies and 16 billion jelly beans are made for Easter each year.
Marshmallow PEEPS® have been the top selling non-chocolate Easter candy brand for the last decade, outselling jelly beans.
McDonalds fighting back
McDonald's marketing executives have convened a war council to hammer out a strategy to combat a new attack on their reputation-and bottom line.
The adversary is Eric Schlosser, author of the 2001 best-seller "Fast Food Nation," which blew the lid off many of the practices used by McDonald's and its cohorts, exposing them in an unsavory light. His new attack on the world's fast feeders: a "Fast Food Nation" movie to be released later this year, and a book, "Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food," aimed at kids and full of gag-inducing information on the fare sold by the Golden Arches and its brethren.
McDonald's managed to brush off the documentary "Super Size Me" without any visible damage to sales. But this time around, with the chain posting 35 consecutive months of positive same-store sales globally, it may not be so lucky. "They're worried about a backlash," said one insider. "When the consumer sees the movie, they will react. It would only need to take consumers to cut back one or two visits to affect the bottom line."
After "Super Size Me," McDonald's did remove super-size fries and sodas from its national menu, and some experts believe the film hurt sales among some demographics in some regions. And with pending lawsuits alleging food companies have damaged people's health, legislators calling for a ban on food marketing to children, and a number of critics insisting fast food be pulled from all hospitals and schools, the market leader can't afford to take the threat of Mr. Schlosser's movie and book lightly.
And it isn't. Even though details of the film are closely guarded -- it's being filmed under the code name "Coyote" -- McDonald's has gotten enough wind of the plot to warn franchisees. Both projects have been key topics in recent meetings at the Golden Arches, the latest two weeks ago, when McDonald's executives outlined plans to the U.S. franchisee advertising committee to fend off any potential damage. As it did during "Super Size Me," the marketer told franchisees that its communications will play up the company's menu variety, new products, and community involvement to remind consumers of the chain's more admirable activities.
"When things are topical and timely, it's a good opportunity to communicate to our operators and make sure they have information about things that affect our industry," said Richard Ellis, VP-communications for McDonald's U.S. He confirmed that the film and book were discussed with franchisees as part of a 2006 overview of communications and marketing plans.
"The company is always concerned about anything that is a potential reputational hit," he added. "But neither the book nor the movie are out yet so it would be premature to speculate what that might look like." Mr. Ellis confirmed that legal recourse was discussed briefly, but "until we saw either, we wouldn't have a legal opinion."
What Mr. Ellis likely does know is that the film "Fast Food Nation" is a fictionalized drama, which promises to be of the same emotionally charged ilk as this year's Oscar-winning "Crash." When Mr. Ellis was laying out McDonald's strategy for defending itself, he told attendees that while there were no "direct hits" at the fast feeder in the film, there were some obvious allusions to the company, including a restaurant chain called Mickey's, according to one executive. Mr. Ellis wouldn't confirm specifics of the meeting.
Mr. Schlosser downplayed the film as a "character-driven, slice-of-life look at a small town in Colorado with a meatpacking plant and looks at the intersecting lives of people in this town." He directed further plot questions to the production company, Participant Films. Participant Films directed questions to Fox Searchlight, which bought the distribution rights in December.
According to studio insiders, the film focuses on an executive who works for Mickey's and is sent to investigate problems with its new sandwich, "The Big One," at a meatpacking plant where a trio of illegal Mexican immigrants work. Another plotline involves a school kid who sees the reality of her fast-food job and takes action to change the business.
Shot in restaurants in Mexico, Texas and Colorado, the film is expected to be released in the fall. It's already being hyped as a possible feature for the film festival circuit, including Cannes. Latin pop star Shakira is said to be penning the film's theme song.
Described as a "character study of the lives behind the facts and figures," according to Participant Production's description of the film, the ensemble cast of "Fast Food Nation" reads like a Sundance VIP list: Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ethan Hawke, Kris Kristofferson and Avril Lavigne are all involved. Greg Kinnear plays an executive from "Mickey's" in charge of developing "The Big One," a massive burger.
The insider said that franchisees were told that the film targets meat producers, the supply chain, marketing, stores, employees and animal treatment, as reported by McDonald's sources in the entertainment industry. While several executives contacted about the discussions with franchisees characterized them as routine, the insider described McDonald's as "panicked" about the film. Indeed, where industry executives could easily pooh-pooh the low-budget documentary "Super Size Me," it will be much more challenging for McDonald's to deflect the potential impact on consumer attitudes of a star-studded drama from one the hottest film producers on the planet. It doesn't help that the chain recently disclosed that its famous fries had higher trans-fat levels than previously thought and allergy-inducing gluten.
"McDonald's is concerned because the film can take creative license and people can perceive those licenses with direct associations to McDonald's," said another executive close to the situation. "It's hard to control."
And that's not the only threat the chain faces from Mr. Schlosser. By the time his "Fast Food Nation" hits theaters later this year, he will already have been through an intense promotional schedule for the May release of "Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food." A spinoff title aimed at the middle school set, co-authored by Charles Wilson, the book lays out stomach-churning information that could cause kids to swear off beef, chicken, candy and soda.
McDonald's response to these threats will likely focus on moves it has already made. In the past two years it has rolled out more-healthful offerings like salads, milk and apple slices to offset its more indulgent fare, but it has also invested heavily in public relations platforms focused on healthful lifestyles and activity.
The fast-feeder set a global advisory council on balanced active lifestyles and turned clown icon Ronald McDonald into a fitness ambassador. In addition, the chain put nutrition information on packaging and hosted a quality symposium and Internet campaign to tout and "bust" myths about its food quality.
Besides ongoing issues like trans fats, childhood obesity, and advertising to children, the movie and book have been added to the list of threats that could tarnish the Golden Arches and its public trust. As a result, McDonald's has put in place an action plan to combat the obesity and trust issues that the Schlosser projects could raise to another level. Executives from public relations, marketing, legal and advertising and PR agencies all have a role in the effort, said executives close to the situation.
Mr. Schlosser wants to hear from them. "I hope [McDonald's] engages in a substantive debate about the issues raised by the film and avoid personal attacks on the filmmakers, not to mention the threat of legal action," he said. "They get their point of view across every single day on TV. If they believe in democracy, they should welcome criticism and debate...and not engage in the kind of personal attacks that are attempts to distract people from the really important issues."
Procter & Gamble Files Lawsuit Against Ranir -- Private Label Oral Care Manufacturer
The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Gillette Company, has filed a lawsuit against Ranir, LLC, a private label manufacturer and distributor of oral care products, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The lawsuit alleges that Ranir infringes patents owned by Gillette's Braun company.
Ranir sells replacement toothbrush heads specifically designed to fit Oral-B power toothbrushes that are manufactured by Braun and sold by Gillette in the United States. The Ranir product is sold under various retail store brand names. P&G claims the defendant, without authorization, is violating Braun's patents relating to the connection between the brushhead and the handles of Oral-B power toothbrushes.
"We cannot allow other companies to copy our products and infringe our patents," stated Gary Cohen, Vice President, Oral-B Business Management. "Oral-B's brushhead designs are a competitive advantage. We intend to protect the investment we have made into the research, development and intellectual property of our products."
The lawsuit seeks to stop Ranir from selling the infringing products. It also seeks to recover damages for violations of P&G's intellectual property rights.
About Procter & Gamble
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R). Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R), and Braun. The P&G community consists of almost 140,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. SOURCE The Procter & Gamble Company
Duracell to Acquire Garrity Industries
Duracell, part of The Procter & Gamble Company (PG), today announced that it is acquiring Garrity Industries, a private U.S.-based manufacturer and marketer of lighting products. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Known for its innovation, product quality and design, Garrity Industries offers some of the most technically advanced flashlights on the market and has strong retail distribution for its products. Garrity is a leading flashlight brand in North America.
"Through this acquisition, we see a tremendous opportunity to expand upon our successful battery portfolio and strengthen our position in a growing category that is closely related to our core business, providing new opportunities for growth" said Mark Leckie, President, Duracell and Braun, The Procter & Gamble Company. "With a proven ability to design and market high quality lighting products, Garrity will be a strong addition to our business."
The Garrity product portfolio includes a broad range of flashlights. It was founded in 1967 by Chairman and CEO Paul Garrity. As a leader in the lighting category, Garrity will bring innovative products, an experienced management team and strong distribution to the Duracell business.
"This partnership creates tremendous potential for both businesses," said Kevin Garrity, President of Garrity Industries. "By combining two leading companies in industries that are integral to one another, we'll be laying the groundwork for even greater success in the future."
Duracell is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of alkaline batteries. Its brands hold the number one position in North America, China, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
SOURCE: Duracell
Enron Distributes Over $4.6 Billion to Creditors Amount Recovered to Date Totals $5.830 Billion
Enron Corp. today announced its ninth distribution to creditors of Enron Corp. and its affiliated Debtor companies (collectively, "Enron") totaling $4,676,400,000, consisting of $4,108,400,000 in cash and shares of Portland General Electric Company (PGE) stock valued at $568,000,000. Since November 2004, Enron has returned $5,829,600,000 to creditors in twice-yearly distributions, in April and November, as well as in "catch-up" claims paid on an interim basis every two months.
"Today's distribution is the most significant amount recovered to date and represents a tremendous financial outcome for the Enron estate," said John Ray, President and Chairman of the Board. "We are dedicated to continuing the process of resolving the remaining claims, recovering amounts due to creditors from third parties and distributing value."
Today's distribution included 27,036,445 shares of PGE, which represents approximately 43% of PGE's 62,500,000 issued and outstanding shares. The remaining 35,463,555 PGE shares will be held by the Disputed Claims Reserve, which is not affiliated with Enron, for future distribution to creditors of Enron by the Bankruptcy Court in accordance with the Chapter 11 Plan. The Disputed Claims Reserve currently consists of $4,688,800,000 in cash and $745,000,000 PGE share value.
Additional details concerning this distribution are available at the Enron Corp. website, http://www.enron.com/, identified as "General Unsecured Distribution Data for April 2006 Distribution" and "Table of General Unsecured Claim Payouts for Plan Classes - Based on a Hypothetical $1,000,000 Claim at April 2006 Distribution."
Source: Enron Corp.
Web site: http://www.enron.com
XM Satellite Radio Tops 6.5 Million Subscribers
XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading satellite radio company, today announced that it added more than 568,000 net new subscribers during the first quarter of 2006 for a total of more than 6.5 million subscribers. XM is on track to reach nine million subscribers by the end of 2006.
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"The first quarter represented another solid quarter of growth in XM subscribers, and is consistent with our goal of nine million subscribers by year end," said Hugh Panero, President and CEO, XM Satellite Radio. "More importantly, our subscriber growth was achieved economically, with a substantial reduction in the cost to acquire a new subscriber as compared to the fourth quarter of 2005."
Major initiatives of the second quarter include XM's exclusive satellite radio play-by-play coverage of Major League Baseball, with Opening Day games today and coverage of every MLB team throughout the season; the next generation of XM radios, including the world's first portable radios that combine live satellite radio reception and MP3 functionality; XM's comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in English and Spanish; and the premiere of Bob Dylan's XM Radio show.
Information about XM's new, groundbreaking radios is online at
http://www.xmradio.com/xm2go. The broadcast schedule for Major League Baseball games on XM is online at http://mlb.xmradio.com/, and information about World Cup Soccer broadcasts on XM is available at http://worldcup.xmradio.com/.
. The broadcast schedule for Major League Baseball games on XM is online at , and information about World Cup Soccer broadcasts on XM is available at .About XM Satellite Radio
XM(is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 6.5 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: the most commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Suzuki, Subaru, and Volkswagen/Audi is available in more than 130 different vehicle models for 2006. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer
electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.
Auto companies declaring profits?
Audi of America, Inc. Reports Increase in March 2006 Sales Positive sales for First Quarter
An increase of 7.6 percent above March 2005 when sales were 6,502. For the first quarter, Audi reported a 6.2 percent gain with 17,884 total sales compared to 16,835 in 2005.
Highest Sales Yet for Ford Motor Company's New Mid-Size Sedans; Ford's F-Series Sets the Pace for Full-Size Trucks
Ford Motor Company's March U.S. sales totaled 291,146. * Highest sales yet for new mid-size sedans - Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr. Combined sales in March were 17,157, up 28 percent from February. * Ford's F-Series posts third consecutive sales increase. March sales were 84,168, up 5 percent from year ago. * All-new Explorer Sport Trac debuts with higher-than-expected sales. * Lincoln, bolstered by new Zephyr and Mark LT, achieves higher sales in March and first quarter. * Land Rover dealers report record sales for the sixth consecutive month.
Volvo Cars Sales Report in North America for March
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC reports sales in March of 11,153 units in the United States*. Sales for the month are 4 percent down year over year, however trended up 32 percent compared to February. The March result represents the best month since July 2005
Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Best March Sales Ever
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest March on record with sales of 21,417 new vehicles, an increase of 17.9 percent over last March, bringing year-to-date total sales to 51,242 new vehicles, a 17.1 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2005
BMW Group Reports 11 Percent Increase in First Quarter Sales
BMW Brand Sales Jump 14 Percent Year-To-Date
The BMW Group (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported year-to-date sales of 72,588 vehicles, an 11 percent increase over the 65,536 sold in the first quarter of 2005. The BMW Group also reported an increase of 17 percent in March sales, for 28,352 vehicles over the 24,276 vehicles reported in March 2005
American Honda Reports Record March Sales
Honda Division Posts Best-Ever March
With strong light truck and robust sales of the all-new 2006 Civic, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted record March results of 128,806 Honda and Acura vehicle sales, an increase of 0.2 percent over March 2005. Light trucks for American Honda also posted record March results with sales of 56,786, up 1.8 percent. Year-to-date American Honda total vehicle sales of 333,844 are up 8.3 percent on a daily selling rate basis
Chrysler Group Reports March 2006 U.S. Sales Rise 2 Percent; First Quarter Sales Increase 3 Percent
* Strong Retail Sales of Dodge Caliber, Jeep(R) Commander and Dodge Ram Lift Total Company Performance in March * Dodge Ram Monthly Sales Improve 9 Percent * Jeep Wrangler Sets New Monthly Sales Record; Sales Rise 21 Percent Year-Over-Year * Dodge Caliber Sales Increase 316 Percent over February Sales as Dealers Continue to Receive Shipments * Dodge Sprinter Sales Rise 49 Percent Over Last Year and Establish a New Monthly Sales Record * Chrysler Brand Sets New Quarterly Sales Record
Porsche Announces Best 911 Sales Month in U.S. History
Record March for U.S. Porsche Sales
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United States and Canada, today announced its best-ever March sales in the United States. The company sold a total of 3,185 Porsches, an increase of 14 percent compared to March of 2005. Of this total 1,127 are Porsche 911s, the most ever sold in one month in the United States in the model's history. Year-to-date sales are up 26 percent to a total of 9,117 units compared to 7,219 sold in the first three months of last year.
Acura Announces March Sales Results
TSX Sales Set Record for Fourth Consecutive Month
Driven by another month of record sales for the TSX and strong sales of the TL luxury sedan, Acura sold 17,524 units during the month of March, the division announced today. The TSX sports sedan continued its recent sales momentum in March, with 3,355 units sold during the month, up eight percent from the previous record of 3,107 set in 2005. Year-to-date sales totals of the TSX reached 9,233 units -- up nearly 16 percent from a year ago. The sales numbers for the sports sedan also marked the fourth straight month of record sales for the model.
The TL performance luxury sedan was the top selling Acura in March, with 6,767 units sold, bringing the TL year-to-date sales total to 16,804.
Toyota Reports March Sales
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported all-time best-ever monthly sales of 217,286 units, up 6.9 percent over the same period last year. TMS passenger cars led the way in sales with best-ever March sales totaling 117,299 units, an increase of 0.6 percent over last March. TMS light trucks posted all-time best-ever monthly sales of 99,987 units, a 15.5 percent increase.
"March was no slam dunk for the industry, but sales bounced back from February's ho-hum pace, despite the erratic weather," said Jim Press, TMS president and COO. "With a near four-year high for consumer confidence, improved labor-market outlooks and a bevy of new products, the outlook remains bullish."
The Toyota Division recorded best-ever March sales of 189,694, an increase of 6.7 percent. The Lexus Division posted best-ever March sales of 27,592 units, up 8.3 percent over last March.
Kia Motors America Announces Record March Sales
Best First Quarter Ever Keeps Company on Pace for Another Consecutive Record Sales Year
Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best first quarter sales ever of 64,833 units, a 2.4-percent increase year to date. KMA also experienced its best March sales ever, posting 26,004 total sales for the month, a 1.1-percent increase over the same period last year. The Sedona minivan had its best first quarter ever at 17,111 units and total Sedona sales for March were 6,202, a 52-percent increase over last month. Both the Kia Sorento and Kia Spectra were strong sellers in March, with 4,040 and 4,601 units sold respectively.
Mitsubishi Motors Reports March U.S. Sales
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., today reported March sales of 10,250 units, an increase of 28.5% compared to February sales of 7,976.
"March was a very strong month, particularly in the retail sector (up 41% from February), which is critical for the success of our dealers and our company," said President & CEO Hiroshi Harunari. "
Subaru of America Records Best March Sales in Company History
- Total sales up 10% from same period last year; Subaru Impreza posts double-digit growth -
Subaru of America, Inc. today reported March sales totaling 19,048 units. This total represents a 10 percent increase over the same period last year. Sales of the Subaru Impreza model also jumped 14 percent
