MBN, Monte Bubbles Network

Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne April 18, 2006

MBN

INTERNET ADVERTISING IS THE FUTURE

Info@montebubbles.net

 Let's end the "Idol" speculation: It'll take $1.3 million to buy a spot on the hottest TV-show finale this season.

The 'American Idol' finale is perfectly poised to cap off the May sweeps, according to Fox.

"American Idol" will be the most expensive and sought-after season-ender, and could even top the 29.4 million viewers glued to the tube to see last season's big finish. But that sound you hear drowning out the carping about the death of the 30-second spot isn't just the cash register ringing at Fox, but also at some other major TV networks primed to rake in some big bucks from big-time season sendoffs.

Among them: ABC's "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost," in addition to the final curtain call for NBC's much-loved "Will & Grace" and long-running "The West Wing."

"They're all set up for big finales," said John Rash, director-broadcast negotiations, Campbell Mithun, Minneapolis. Yet the "Idol" chatter is the loudest. "The 'American Idol' finale is perfectly poised to cap off the May sweeps for Fox," said Mr. Rash. "There's nothing [else] that will absolutely stop the nation in its tracks."

While everybody loved "Raymond" last year to the tune of $1.22 million per 30-second spot for the finale, "Idol," which last season eked in just under "Raymond" at $1.19 million per spot, is the highest-priced this year.

The singing shootout will cost more than double the average unit price in "Idol," which is $496,866 for the Tuesday edition and $518,466 for the Wednesday results show, according to Advertising Age research conducted at the start of the season. Fox declined to comment on pricing.

Of course, as always, different marketers are paying a variety of prices for the hotly anticipated finale, which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24. Some agencies claimed to have deals that would bring the price of a spot closer to $600,000 to $700,000. And even at the top price, "Idol" still falls well below the biggest curtain drop in recent TV history, the "Friends" finale in 2004, at $2 million.

Other season-enders are expected to reap high ratings and prices. "ABC also has the ability to deliver a one, two punch with the 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Grey's Anatomy's' cliffhangers alone, let alone 'Lost,"' said Mr. Rash.

NBC's "Will & Grace," he said, "is still a seminal sitcom beloved by millions who will most likely revisit its last episode." Indeed, NBC is counting down the days to the May 18 finale of the 8-year-old sitcom on its Web site. Fans will also say goodbye to Sunday night White House drama "The West Wing," which is playing out the aftermath of the election of Matt Santos (played by Jimmy Smits) as president. That series finale is May 14.

ABC's "Alias" departs on Monday, May 22 and the WB's decade-old "Seventh Heaven," the longest-running family drama, is also headed for the graveyard.


'Idol' vs. 'Raymond'
29.4 million: "Idol" finale viewers in 2005.

$1.3 million: Estimated "Idol" finale 30-second spot cost 2006.

32.9 million: "Raymond" finale viewers in 2005.

$1.22 million: "Raymond" 30-second spot cost 2005.

In what could become a test case for mobile-phone marketers, startup Xero Mobile is offering some free services to subscribers who opt in for targeted advertising on their phones.

College students will be required to provide information about themselves to Xero Mobile that marketers can use to target ads.

"We are switching [the source of] revenue from the consumer to the advertiser," said Peter Lilley, CEO of the virtual mobile network operator.

The new mobile carrier, targeted to the 17.3 million U.S. college students aged 18 to 22, is set to launch in the fall. It will "pre-register" students with valid school identification for a free mobile phone through a Web site. In exchange, students will be required to provide information about themselves that marketers can use to target ads.

Students will agree to accept up to 12 ads a day that will be sent as text messages, although the company's business plan is based on sending three to four ads, according to an executive summary Xero Mobile is sending to prospective investors. At the end of each ad, a 10-second countdown clock will run. If the student clicks before the clock runs out, indicating the ad was seen, he or she will be rewarded with free air time or text messages.

Mr. Lilley said Xero Mobile initially will give away 1 million high-end mobile phones. Students receiving the free phones will be rewarded with free talk minutes or text messages if they can get friends to sign up for Xero Mobile service and a discounted Xero Mobile phone.

Xero Mobile is aiming for 5 million subscribers in short order and a profit of $1.5 billion in three years.

That's ambitious, to say the least, of a relative unknown in the mobile-phone space. Only last week Xero completed what it called a reverse merger, making it a publicly traded firm without an initial public offering.

Mr. Lilley, who was previously an executive of the now-bankrupt Gizmondo, a video-game company that was to have been ad-supported, said the plan is to have representatives at 300 colleges. Additionally, he expects to spend in the range of $40 million to $50 million in marketing, which includes distribution. The goal is to line up MTV-style sponsors: music, soft-drink, movie and sporting-goods manufacturers, though none have been announced so far.

Not all analysts are as enthusiastic about the venture as Mr. Lilley. "There's probably a [limited] niche for free" mobile service, said Julie Ask, research director, Jupiter Research. Referencing the failed ad-supported Internet service providers of the dot-com era, she noted that providers like AOL, which charge customers, are still around.

Film Opens at the #1 Spot Grossing Over US$41 Million and Shatters the Record for Easter Weekend

The Weinstein Company today announced that Dimension Films' "Scary Movie 4" opened number one in North America grossing over US$41 million, becoming the highest grossing Easter weekend opening ever and giving the film the largest opening for a film released by The Weinstein Company.

The announcement was made today by Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company. The film was co-produced by The Weinstein Company and Miramax Films. The previous record holder for Easter Weekend was "Panic Room," which brought in US$31 million when it opened in 2002.

"We couldn't have asked for a more impressive opening for 'Scary Movie 4' and are so proud to have accomplished this only six months after our company launched," said Bob Weinstein. "This exceptional opening proves that this franchise has tremendous staying power."

"I'm thrilled that people had as much fun seeing the movie as we did making it," said director David Zucker. "I couldn't be happier about this very strong opening."

Steve Bunnell, chairman of domestic distribution for The Weinstein Company said, "The positive exit surveys for 'Scary Movie 4' are in line with 'Scary Movie 3' and demonstrate that audiences are really enjoying the movie."

In "Scary Movie 4" the gang returns with the most hilarious and irreverent installment yet with outrageous send-ups of "War of the Worlds," "The Grudge," "The Village," "Saw" and "Saw II," "Million Dollar Baby" and many more. Legendary comedy director David Zucker and producer Bob Weiss reunite to take aim at some of the best fright films, the latest box office hits, music, current events, pop culture, and your favorite celebrities. Anna Faris and Regina Hall are back as the loveable, dim-witted Cindy Campbell and her self-serving, sex-crazed pal, Brenda, respectively -- joined this time around by Craig Bierko ("Cinderella Man"), as the cute-but-utterly clueless Tom Ryan. Together, they battle to save the world from a ruthless alien invasion. And, in true Scary Movie tradition, the outrageous celebrity cameos are non-stop. Those featured include: Carmen Electra, Shaquille ONeal, Dr. Phil, Bill Pullman, Charlie Sheen, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, rappers Fabolous and YoungBloodz, Chris Elliott, Molly Shannon, Michael Madsen, rappers Chingy and Lil' John, Leslie Nielsen returning as our fearless Commander in Chief, plus many, many more surprises. In "Scary Movie 4," nothing -- and we mean NOTHING -- is off limits!

David Zucker, the creative genius behind "Airplane!" the "Naked Gun" franchise, "Scary Movie 3," and "Ruthless People" will re-team with Dimension Films to create "Superhero Movie," a spoof on the latest trend of comic-book inspired films including "Spider-Man 3," "Superman Returns," "Batman Begins," "Fantastic Four," and "X-Men 3." "Superhero Movie" is being fast-tracked for a February 9, 2007 theatrical release.

Source: The Weinstein Company

Expedia, Inc. the world's leading online travel company, today announced that it has extended its partnership with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The new agreement builds on 10 years of association between the two companies. Under it, Expedia(R) and Hyatt continue not only as distribution partners, but also as marketing partners.

"From being the first hotel company to join Expedia in a marketing partnership to being the first to participate in our direct connect program for hotels, Hyatt exemplifies the long-term, mutually beneficial relationships Expedia strives for with our partners," said Paul Brown, president, Partner Services Group, Expedia. "Expedia is increasingly strengthening its hotel supplier relationships through long-term contract commitments, helping our partners to expand their businesses, and ultimately bringing value and convenience to travelers."

This agreement expands Hyatt's current partnership with Expedia, allowing Expedia to better market and distribute Hyatt inventory. Hyatt will benefit from new business terms plus Expedia's online travel expertise and broad reach, while Expedia customers gain broad access to Hyatt inventory and rates.

Said Tom O'Toole, senior vice president, Strategy and Systems for Global Hyatt Corporation: "We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Expedia, and this agreement further solidifies our relationship. We are pleased to be working closely with Expedia to build business for Hyatt properties."

About Expedia Partner Services Group

Expedia's Partner Services Group offers its supplier partners choice, seamless coordination and complete access to our vast traveler base. The formation of the Partner Services Group is a testament of Expedia's commitment to continually refine the way we conduct business by seeking our suppliers' input and customizing our services to meet their needs.

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book, and experience travel. Expedia, Inc. also provides wholesale travel to offline retail travel agents. Expedia, Inc.'s portfolio of brands include: Expedia.com(R), hotels.com(R), Hotwire(R), Expedia(R) Corporate Travel, TripAdvisor(TM) and Classic Vacations(R). Expedia, Inc.'s companies also operate internationally with sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, and China, through its investment in eLong(TM). For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/.

NOTE: Expedia, Expedia.com, Enjoy Your Trip and the Airplane logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About Global Hyatt Corporation

There are 216 Hyatt branded hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 44 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt(R), Hyatt Regency(R), Grand Hyatt(R) and Park Hyatt(R) brands. Currently, there are an additional 30 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 11 new hotels in China. Hyatt Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago-based Global Hyatt Corporation. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operators of the Hyatt Vacation Club (timeshare and fractional residential product), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), Select Hotel Group L.L.C. (which owns, operates and franchises AmeriSuites hotels, Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites hotels) and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, and Microtel Inns and Suites).

From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or logging onto www.hyatt.com.

Source: Expedia, Inc.

MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING, WHERE PROFESSIONAL video game players compete in tournament settings for cash prizes, this year will for the first time televise its pro circuit event on the USA Network. Though the MLG has been featured on television before, in documentaries and news stories, CEO Mike Sepso said that the league hopes the USA Network exposure will help the league gain cachet as a legitimate sport. "This is in the sports department for NBC-U," he said, referring to the production team handling the telecast. "The guys who produced the Olympics are producing this with us."

The tourney, entitled the "Boost Mobile Major League Gaming Pro Circuit presented by Scion," is being held April 21 and April 22 at the Meadowlands stadium in Secaucus, NJ, and will be televised late Saturday mornings from November 11 through November 23, following WWE's "Raw" professional wrestling, USA's highest-rated show.

According to Sepso, there will be heavy cross-promotion between "Raw" and the MLG telecasts, as the league hopes to capture some of "Raw"'s young, male viewership. After the Meadowlands event, MLG will hold circuits in Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

The event consists of hundreds of players, both individuals and teams, competing in two popular game titles: "Halo 2" for the Xbox and "Super Smash Brothers Melee" for the GameCube. Players compete for bragging rights, along with $800,000 in cash and prizes. Televised matches include feeds from each player's screen - providing a point-of-view of what the player is actually seeing - as well as shots of the players, and feeds from their headsets, to capture team strategizing and trash-talk.

MLG has lined up two major sponsors for the event: Boost Mobile and the Toyota Scion. Both will run ads during the telecast, and Boost has provided cell phones to each professional player registered with the MLG player's association, and Toyota is sponsoring a "Breakout Player of the Year" award where players, viewers and the MLG commissioner's office vote on the underdog player most likely to make a showing at the pro circuit. This year, the winner of the award will receive a customized Toyota Scion. In addition to its sponsorship, Boost will get original content from the pro circuit to syndicate to its mobile subscribers.

Boost and the Scion have scheduled ads during the November broadcasts, as well as on MLG's website, which streams unedited, complete footage of both the pro circuit and smaller qualifying matches for subscribers. The site also hosts interviews of prominent players and other extra footage.

Well, its Nielsen ratings, anyway. After returning to a new 10 p.m. Thursday time slot after weeks of being on hiatus, "Commander" commanded only a 2.4 rating and a 7 share of the adult 18 to 49 audience, reaching 8.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. "Chief" couldn't hang with CBS' powerful "Without a Trace," which delivered a 5.7 rating and a 16 share in the 18-49 demo, grabbing 18.6 million viewers. It couldn't even keep pace with a repeat of NBC's "ER." "ER" grabbed a 2.6 rating and a 7 share. "Commander" did pull in more viewers than "ER," which averaged 6 million viewers.

CBS, again, owned the night, averaging a 6.1 rating and an 18 share of adults 18 to 49 and 19.2 million viewers overall.

"CSI" took its usual top honors of the evening with a 7.5 rating and a 21 share among 18- to 49-year-olds, while "Survivor" also did its usual trick, winning the 8-9 p.m. hour, as usual, with a 5.1 rating and a 17 share in the demo.

NBC was a distant second place, with all-repeat programming, while ABC ranked third with the return of "Commander" and a two-hour episode of Fox's "American Inventor."

HS3 Technologies Inc. (HS3) (OTCBB:HSTT) is pleased to report the company had an extremely successful debut of the first mobile DVR with Cellular Connectivity at the recent ISC West show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company's innovative booth and new technology drew hundreds of security professionals to inquire about the latest technology and how they could deploy in their respective fields.

HS3 Technologies unveiled the next-generation, cost-effective mobile Digital Video Recorder (DVR) with cellular connectivity - the IVG400 Mobile DVR. This new device is the first DVR on the market that allows the capture and transmittal of real-time images with unprecedented clarity over the cellular platform and internet. The IVG400 system is approximately half the cost of current DVRs available, with an additional camera. The IVG400 Mobile DVR adds an additional layer of security and safety for Security professionals as command centers can now monitor field patrols with real time images and GPS. This is an invaluable tool for the estimated half a million Law Enforcement and Homeland Security vehicles across the country.

HS3 Technologies demonstrated the effectiveness of the complete turn-key system in the company's "Vision Where it Matters" van. As attendees entered the booth, company personnel demonstrated the easy of use and clarity of images, either via the Internet or cellular platform, from cameras based in Mexico City, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Denver, Colorado.

CEO of HS3 Technologies, Mark Lana said, "We are very pleased with the show. The response and interest in our products was overwhelming. We had numerous police agencies, Department of Defense branches, Government representatives and multi-national companies interested in deploying the system as soon as possible. Dealers and Distributors in the security industry were eager to review our technology for utilization by their customers. We also had many other inquires from other market segments that we had not taken into consideration. This show invigorated our staff as we have designed a system that is much demanded by the Security Industry."

About HS3 Technologies

HS3 provides 'best of breed' proprietary homeland security surveillance products that broadcast real-time video and data on the new cost-effective, higher-speed satellite Ka-band. HS3 products coupled with the Ka-band platform provides customers with a complete, one-stop solution to current and future high-speed Internet and surveillance needs. HS3 can supply high-speed satellite Internet access and integrated security technologies to any location in the country, at higher speeds and lower costs. The combination of technologies, in an integrated system, is capable of securely transmitting information, high speed internet, random numerical biometric authorization and remote security systems for multiple users at distant locations is unique and gives HS3 a competitive advantage. For more information visit http://www.hs3tech.com

Company to Display 4K DCI Compatible JPEG2000 Digital Cinema System

and QuVIS Ovation 4K

Topeka-April 17, 2006- Once again, QuVIS has proven to be the leading

technology provider in the digital cinema and imaging industries. At

the 2006 NAB, the company will be highlighting its’ 4K DCI compatible

JPEG2000 QuVIS Digital Cinema System as well as the QuVIS Ovation

4K™. Both units will be on display at QuVIS booth and the QuVIS

Digital Cinema System 4K™ will also be at the Sony booth. QuVIS

will be at NAB booth SU847 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April

24-27.

“We’re excited to be showing the QuVIS Digital Cinema System at NAB.

This is the first commercially available DCI-compatible JPEG2000 4K

cinema system and offers exhibitors true flexibility with the ability

to deploy a mixture of 2K and 4K. The QuVIS Ovation 4K, for the

fixed display market and non theatrical applications, offers a

practical alternative to synchronizing multiple servers to create

very large images,” said Jim Graham, QuVIS’ VP of Sales and Marketing.

The QuVIS Digital Cinema System™ delivers unsurpassed image quality

to the silver screen using DCI JPEG2000, or its own patented wavelet

compression technology, Quality Priority Encoding (QPE™). The system

architecture supports resolutions through 4K and provides transparent

real-time playback of a 2K image from a 4K master and optional 3D.

In addition to film-resolution playback, the QuVIS Digital Cinema

System™ supports current video broadcast standards including High

Definition and Standard Definition at guaranteed quality levels. The

systems approach includes integrated support for automation control

and audio, as well as optional show and theatre management system

components.

Designed for applications requiring outstanding motion image quality,

but with a wider variety of interfaces and applications, the QuVIS

Ovation™ is the ultimate video server for large screen fixed display

use. With options that include 3D and multi-screen frame accurate

synchronous playback it fits seamlessly into applications for trade

shows, museums, theme parks and entertainment venues. The third

generation QuVIS Ovation supports more than 50 video and graphics

formats, is both reliable and easy to use.

"QuVIS has developed and patented technology specifically targeted

for digital cinema for over a decade. QuVIS pioneered wavelet-based

quality priority cinema systems, flexible cinematic playback of

wavelet based 2K and 4K image resolutions, 3D, subtitling, low-rate

temporal wavelet encoding and advanced audio capabilities for cinema

applications," Kenbe Goertzen, CEO, QuVIS, said.

The QuVIS Digital Cinema System™ is part of the QuVIS Digital Cinema

Solution, which includes the QuVIS Acuity™ and QuVIS QuStudio™ for

post production, mastering, and content management, including

encryption, secure distribution and key management. QuVIS QuShow™

provides screen management of content for in-theater scheduling and

show playlist management; either standalone, or in conjunction with

an existing system.

A significant introduction at the show is the delivery of QuVIS’ in-

theatre content show management system, QuVIS QuShow™. QuVIS QuShow

will be available as either a stand-alone application or a module to

integrate with existing theatre management systems. QuVIS QuShow

provides seamless and secure content management, including

redundancy, key management and reporting. Designed for compliance

with the DCI specification, QuVIS QuShow combines flexibility with

ease of use.

About QuVIS, Inc.

QuVIS Inc., is the leading provider of hi fidelity high-resolution

motion imaging technology. The QuVIS line of servers, recorders and

players provide guaranteed image quality using Quality Priority

Encoding, (QPE™). QuVIS also offers optional JPEG2000, MXF, secure

encryption and key management for a complete end-to-end digital

cinema solution. QuVIS offers servers for real-time mastering and

recording of content for SD through 4K for production, post

production, digital dailies, digital cinema exhibition, simulation

and large screen displays. The ASIC version of QPE, embodied in the

QuVIS Digital Mastering Codec (QDMC™), offers new capabilities for

the image storage, analysis and communication industries and is

available for OEM and licensing applications

Fla., April 17, 2006 -- The late pop artist Andy Warhol predicted that in the future, everyone would be famous for 15 minutes. David J.P. Ortiz now has 30 minutes coming. It was Ortiz who placed the winning online bid in an eBay auction for another person's 15 minutes of fame. Three weeks ago, an unidentified woman placed her fame up for bid, saying, "I'm not going to be using my fame so I might as well sell it to someone who could use it." It turns out Ortiz is that person.

He paid $510 for the fame. David Ortiz is a quiet, shy bachelor who spends most of his free time working as a castmember for Disney. "I work at the Disney Vacation Club during the week, and then on days off I moonlight at Walt Disney World," said Ortiz. "Everything from audience control to food service." When he's not working, he likes to collect celebrity autographs, attand fan conventions and travel. "My biggest thrill was a few years ago in Burbank at the Nick at Nite fan convention - I finally met Dawn Wells (Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island)," gushed Ortiz. "It was terrific!" Now that he has all this fame coming his way, Ortiz would like to rub elbows with other famous types, wishing to meet Carole King, Jake Gyllenhall and Elizabeth Taylor - and of course, get their autographs, as well as go out to fancy dinners. "I'm pretty shy and I don't have the right clothes to wear and don't get much time off," sighed Ortiz. "But hey, it's time for me to have a little fun." David Ortiz Born: Trinidad, Colorado Home: Orlando, Florida Occupation: Food & Beverage Employer: Disney Vacation Club Marital Status: Single Height: 5'7" Weight: 148 lbs. Credit Cards: High balances on Visa, MC and Amex Hobbies: Watching TV/Movies, work, collection autographs, attending fan conventions, traveling Bad Habits: none; no drugs, alcohol or cigs

RAW(TM) Recording and Adobe(R) Production Studio Integration Silicon Imaging, Inc. has unveiled the revolutionary SI-1920HDVR portable IT-integrated 10-bit digital cinema camera with direct-to-disk recording and Adobe Production Studio integration. The Silicon Imaging SI-1920HDVR is a 2/3-inch 1920x1080P camera recording to a new version of CineForm's Visually Perfect(TM) wavelet codec called CineForm RAW(TM), in a dual-core embedded PC architecture under Microsoft Windows(R) XP. It delivers unprecedented image quality, 10 f-stop dynamic range, a 7-inch LCD touchscreen interface, gigabit connectivity, battery-powered operation, and up to 4-hours of continuous shooting on its USB2.0 hot-swap 160GB notebook hard drive. "We designed the SI-1920HDVR digital cinema camera with the needs of the independent filmmaker in mind," said Ari Presler, CEO of Silicon Imaging, Inc. "It encompasses a new paradigm in camera acquisition and recording technology. Now, expose and shoot impressive cinema-quality footage at 1080P in CineForm RAW(TM) format.

Then, immediately produce dailies, create special effects, and edit full-resolution HD content using Adobe Production Studio; all without the need for a time-consuming ingest process." "We're excited to have worked with Silicon Imaging on this impressive new camera," said David Taylor, CEO of CineForm, Inc. "By extending our CineForm Intermediate codec to work in RAW mode, we assisted the SI-1920HDVR to achieve visual quality and features at an affordable price point that is a breakthrough for digital cinematography.

Prior to our collaboration on this project, comparable features and image quality always required proprietary recording decks tethered to the camera, resulting in prohibitive costs for independent projects, even on a rental basis." The SI-1920HDVR's 16:9 format 2/3-inch CMOS sensor enables use of wide aperture optics to achieve a 35mm-like Depth-of-Field, without the need for ground-glass converters. Its interchangeable optical assembly supports the use of 16mm PL, F and C-mount lenses. Integrated support for 15mm lightweight rods and 19mm bridge-plates make it ideal for cinema-style gear and accessories. The camera head is detachable and can be remotely accessed using gigabit Ethernet.

Two camera heads can be mounted side-by-side for shooting 3-D sequences. The 7-inch widescreen LCD doubles as a viewfinder and touchscreen graphical user interface. On-screen menus and hot-spot zones provide intuitive camera, recorder and playback controls. These include a false-color exposure meter, 2x digital zoom for fine focus, safe-zone markers, compression quality, and SMPTE timecode. In addition to traditional 1080/24/25/30p frame-rates, special effects and off-speed shooting capabilities include overcranking up to 72fps at 720P, undercranking, long exposure and time-lapse modes. The SI-1920HDVR abandons fixed bitrate codecs, such as DVCPRO HD and HDCAM. Instead, camera sensor data is recorded directly into CineForm RAW format, preserving the original pixel data. This gives cinematographers the flexibility to develop the "digital negative" in post rather than make non-reversible decisions on-set.

File-sharing tools in Windows XP create new possibilities for collaboration and production. While shooting, begin editing and compositing with Adobe's Production Studio and CineForm's Prospect-HD over LAN. Or, remove the hard drive magazine and edit content directly from disc. Play 10-bit CineForm AVI footage in Windows Media(TM) Player, add metadata with Adobe Bridge(TM), edit in Adobe(R) Premiere(R) Pro(TM) or composite in Adobe After Effects(R). "We have extended our Prospect HD(TM) editing software to support real-time editing of Silicon Imaging's high-dynamic range CineForm RAW files alongside YUV files on the same timeline," states David Newman, CineForm CTO. "Using CineForm RAW ensures multi-generation quality using an online workflow offering unmatched HD video quality and performance, while eliminating the need for proxy files, conforming, and rendering." "Adobe is excited by the capabilities the Silicon Imaging SI-1920HDVR digital cinema camera brings to independent filmmakers," said Simon Hayhurst, director of product management, Video products for Adobe. "Combined with CineForm RAW(TM) files and Adobe Production Studio this efficient workflow with real-time HD editing in Premiere Pro will give our users the creative control and productivity they demand." Edit up to four 1080/24p streams in real time without expensive RAID arrays.

Then select from a variety of advanced demosaic algorithms to process the RAW data for output to film, tape, HD-DVD, or Windows Media(R) High Definition video format for digital cinema distribution and Internet streaming. "After shooting three scenes for our visual effects intensive movie 'Spoon' with Rutger Hauer on 35mm and comparing the results to the SI-1920HDVR, we were completely amazed," states Simon Hansen, Director Atomic VFX. "The SI-1920HDVR displayed the widest latitude of any digital camera in its class. The small, high quality files and Adobe integration make file management and editing a breeze; incomparable to any other workflow we've found." Silicon Imaging will be demonstrating the SI-1920HDVR during NAB2006 in the Adobe booth, #SL3732. Price & Availability The SI-1920HDVR is priced below $20k and will be available for delivery in Q3 2006. About Silicon Imaging Silicon Imaging, Inc. specializes in the design, manufacturing and marketing of high-definition digital cameras and recording systems.

Silicon Imaging's products incorporate disruptive technologies including CMOS imagers, video processing algorithms, wavelet compression and gigabit connectivity to deliver a new generation of high definition products outperforming traditional HD cameras while increasing flexibility and lowering cost. For more information visit: http://www.siliconimaging.com

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Addis Ababa (April 17, 2006) --Radio Ethiopia, the national radio network of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, today announced the award of contracts for seven turn-key FM tower and antenna installations to Jampro Antennas / RF Systems of Sacramento, California. Radio Ethiopia currently operates 13 stations broadcasting AM and Shortwave in 16 local languages as well as English.

Radio Ethiopia's contract for the Jampro FM antennas and VHF panel antennas and towers was awarded after a review of several international suppliers by the network's engineering staff. "I believe the deciding factors for our winning the contract are numerous,” said Alex Perchevitch, Jampro’s president. “Jampro’s reputation among broadcast engineers, the durability of our equipment to stand up in harsh environments such as those found Ethiopia, and our cost competitive pricing in a global market, all tipped the scales in our favor."

Jampro’s outstanding reputation in East Africa is the accumulation of nearly 40 years of proven product quality and exceptional service to entire regional radio and TV network operations.

Jampro Antennas / RF Systems Inc., established to answer the need for quality broadcast systems at a reasonable price, is a leading supplier of antennas, combiners & filters and RF components for every application in the broadcast industry. Reputed for innovation and customization, Jampro builds each system to the specifications of the individual broadcaster. From the first system delivered in 1954 to those installed today, the Company is committed to consistent performance and quality founded on solid engineering. Today, over 15,000 broadcasters worldwide benefit from the quality and performance provided by Jampro systems.

Additional information on JAMPRO can be obtained at www.jampro.com.

It looks like Fox Broadcasting is looking to bank some of its own TV-show downloading success, following in the footsteps of ABC and other networks that are offering some of their most popular shows for pay download on iTunes the day after airing.

But Fox is going about it a bit differently.

Fox April 13 announced it will relapse hit shows “24” and “Prison Break” for Internet and video-on-demand download and will share any revenue those downloads generate with affiliate stations.

"We wanted to be partners with our station groups rather than being at odds with them," Tony Vinciquerra, president of Fox Networks Group, told the Los Angeles Times.

The company reportedly spent about six months meeting with affiliate stations, to cement cooperation for the offerings.

Other broadcasters, like ABC, are stuck in affiliate arrangements that keep them from releasing more than a quarter of their prime-time programs in other avenues, like VOD, according to the Times report.

Fox executives could not be reached Friday for further comment or information on exactly how and through what services the broadcaster will place the download offerings.

According to reports, Fox will be able to position six hours of its shows at first for digital downloads the day after airings. By the third year of the deal, Fox can shift its entire prime-time schedule to VOD.

And Fox will have the flexibility to offer downloads on local affiliate Web sites, Peter Levinsohn, president of digital media for Fox Entertainment Group told the Times.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and comScore Networks, Inc. recently announced a new study showing a positive return on investment (ROI: the ratio of generated revenue to advertising expense) and significant conversions both online and offline for companies that participate in online local, directory and classified advertising.

Erin Hunter, Senior Vice President of comScore's Media and Entertainment Division, said "Millions of consumers turn to the Internet each month for help in finding a new job, a new car, or to research any number of local services. This study provides empirical evidence proving the effectiveness of online local and classified advertising."

Ford Rental Car research tracked a consumer panel that searched online directories for car rentals, clicked on Ford Rental Car and completed their rental online. In addition, a survey was sent to those consumers who were exposed to the listing, but did not complete the rental online to determine their offline conversion.

Colleen Kelley, Fleet Internet Strategy, Ford Motor Company. said "The ROI validation provided by this study will help Ford increase their marketing budget allocations to these online vehicles."

For Verizon Superpages.com, the study measured those consumers in the opt-in panel who converted online after clicking on the listing page, and then those who did not convert online, to determine their offline conversion.

For CareerBuilder.com the study tracked consumers who searched for bank or accounting jobs and applied either online or offline. Job applicants were surveyed to find out whether they were selected for an interview and if they ultimately received a job offer.

For Cars.com, the study analyzed consumers looked at the listings on the site over a one year period of time and purchased a car. The cost per sale for the average auto dealership using Cars.com was substantially lower than the industry average across all media as measured by NADA, 2005.

Two of the stars of Disney/Pixar's exciting new computer-animated feature "CARS" will race straight off the movie screen and into the real world as actual life-sized models of hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Sally Carrera, a snazzy 2002 Porsche 911 (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) will hit the road today for Disney/Pixar's "CARS Road Trip '06" presented by State Farm, it was announced today by Brett Dicker, Executive Vice President of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.

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The film's sheet metal counterparts were created by famed movie car creator and customizer Eddie Paul of Customs By Eddie Paul, with help from Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios' artists and technicians. Paul is responsible for famous Hollywood car creations such as the hot rod that John Travolta drove in "Grease" as well as custom built vehicles for "The Fast and the Furious" and "xXx."

Disney/Pixar's "CARS Road Trip 06" presented by State Farm will bring the "CARS" stars to life through interactive experiences. The tour, which was designed and will be managed by the Becker Group, will cross the country with stops in over 40 cities and be highlighted by an appearance at the World Premiere for Disney/Pixar's "CARS" on May 26 in Charlotte, NC at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. The cars will ride in style via a special truck inspired by the character Mack, which will be provided by Mack Trucks, Inc. As the number one auto insurer in the U.S., and with their headquarters located along Route 66, State Farm sought to sponsor "CARS Road Trip '06" in addition to their category sponsorship of "CARS."

"CARS" tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie racecar driven to succeed, who discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town's offbeat characters who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship. The all-star vocal cast includes free-wheeling performances by Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, "Larry the Cable Guy", Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond, Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Paul Dooley, Michael Wallis, Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, Jenifer Lewis and Jeremy Piven. Fueled with plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama, and amazing new technical feats, "CARS" races into theaters on June 9.

About Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios combines creative and technical artistry to create original stories in the medium of computer animation. Pixar has created six of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." Pixar has won 20 Academy Awards(R) and its six films have grossed more than $3.2 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The Northern California studio's next two film releases are "CARS" (June 9, 2006) and "Ratatouille" (summer 2007).

About State Farm

State Farm(R) insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 69,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(TM).

About Becker Group

The Becker Group is an experiential marketing company that has over fifty years of experience creating immersive, entertaining attractions and brand based experiences for a wide variety of clients and venues including top consumer brands, movie studios, shopping malls, television networks, theme parks, museums and casinos around the globe. The award-winning company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and has offices in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Miami, Barcelona, Spain and San Paulo, Brazil. For more information visit http://www.beckergroup.com/ .

About Customs By Eddie Paul

Customs By Eddie Paul, a division of E.P. Industries, Inc. in El Segundo, Calif., has been building famous film and TV cars for more than 30 years beginning with the hit movie "Grease" and the ever-popular General Lee Dodge Charger from the original "Dukes of Hazzard" TV series. Eddie Paul's list of credits includes hundreds of films, television shows, commercials, and music videos. More recently, Eddie is known for building the cars for "Triple X," "The Fast and the Furious," "2Fast, 2Furious," as well as a few non-automotive creations such as the fully functional 14-foot robotic Great White Shark used by the Cousteaus for an upcoming CBS special on sharks.

Customs By Eddie Paul is headed by, of course, designer/artist/inventor Eddie Paul, his wife and financial expert Renee Paul, and long-time employee and General Manager Brian Hatano. In addition to building customs, rods, motorcycles, and vehicles for movies and TV, Eddie's multi-faceted business (www.epindustries.com) also includes a CNC machine shop, prototype development, tool manufacturing, video production, and book publishing.

About Mack Trucks

Dedicated to quality, reliability, and total customer satisfaction, Mack Trucks, Inc. has provided its customers with innovative transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America's largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and MACK(R) vehicles are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide. All Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations' public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways. Mack is a member of the Volvo Group, a publicly held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. For more information about Mack, visit www.macktrucks.com.

About Porsche

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, the manufacturer of Porsche(R) sports cars and Cayenne(R) sport utility vehicles, is among the most globally recognized symbols of automotive performance and engineering excellence. Founded in 1948, Porsche AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Along with the award-wining Cayenne SUV lineup, Porsche AG builds three complete model lines, including the venerable Porsche 911(R) Carrera(R) and the celebrated, mid-engined Boxster(R)/Cayman(TM) S.

"CARS Road Trip '06" travel cities will include:

April 17 Akron, OH

April 18 Washington DC

April 19 Baltimore, MD

April 20 Philadelphia, PA

April 21 Allentown, PA

April 22 Hartford, CT

April 23 Boston, MA

April 24 Toronto, CN

April 26 Detroit, MI

April 27 Chicago, IL

April 28-29 Minneapolis, MN

May 1 Denver, CO

May 2 Salt Lake City, UT

May 4 DuPont, WA

May 5 Seattle, WA

May 6 Portland, OR

May 7 San Francisco, CA

May 8 Bakersfield, CA

May 10-12 Los Angeles, CA

May 15 Houston, TX

May 17-18 Atlanta, GA

May 20-21 Orlando, FL

May 22-23 Jacksonville, FL

May 24-28 Charlotte, NC -- World Premiere/NASCAR Coca Cola 600

May 30 Charlottesville, VA

May 31 Parsippany, NJ

June 1-6 New York, NY

June 11-18 Los Angeles, CA

June 19 Phoenix, AZ

June 21 San Antonio, TX

June 22 Dallas, TX

June 23-24 Tulsa, OK

June 26 St. Louis, MO

June 27 Erlanger, KY

June 28 Cincinnati, OH

June 29 Lexington, KY

June 30 Columbus, OH

July 5 Battle Creek, MI

July 6 Oakbrook, IL

July 7 Bloomington, IL

July 8-11 Chicago, IL

Web site: http://www.statefarm.com/

Web site: http://www.macktrucks.com/

Web site: http://www.beckergroup.com/

Web site: http://www.pixar.com/

Paramount Pictures has moved the release date for the upcoming animated comedy "Barnyard," directed by Steve Oedekerk ("Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius"), to July 28, 2006.

From Steve Oedekerk and Nickelodeon Movies, two of the co-creators of "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," and filmed entirely in CGI, comes this hilarious look at what really happens in a barnyard when the farmer's back is turned. "Barnyard" is a lighthearted tale centering around Otis (voiced by Kevin James), a carefree party cow, who enjoys singing, dancing and playing tricks on humans. Unlike his father Ben (voiced by Sam Elliott), the respected patriarch of the farm, and Miles, the wise old mule (voiced by Danny Glover), Otis is unconcerned about keeping the animals' humanlike talents a secret. But when suddenly put in the position of responsibility, the "udderly" irresponsible cow finds the courage to be a leader.

Paramount Pictures presents in association with Nickelodeon Movies an O Entertainment production, a Steve Oedekerk film, "Barnyard." Written and directed by Steve Oedekerk, the film is produced by Steve Oedekerk and Paul Marshal. The executive producers are Julia Pistor and Aaron Parry. Animation production is by Omation Animation Studios. The film is rated PG for some mild peril and rude humor.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the leading global entertainment content companies, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics across virtually all media.

New Video Partner Program includes referral commissions, 24/7 access to project status, discounts on duplication hardware, and opportunities to win professional quality gear

Disc Makers, the nation's leading independent media manufacturer, will officially launch its new Video Partner Program on May 1st. The Video Partner Program (VPP) is directly modeled after Disc Makers' incredibly successful Studio Partner Program, and rewards its members for referring DVD or CD-ROM replication projects to Disc Makers.

The VPP is completely FREE to join, and is open to any company or organization actively involved in the production of video-related projects, including post-production houses, video authoring companies, multi-media production firms, advertising agencies, and any other business in the video and filmmaking world..

"The Video Partner Program is a great way for our members to help their clients get a top quality DVD or CD-ROM project with industry leading support and customer service, explains Tony van Veen, Disc Makers' Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "At the same time, VPP members will also get exposure to thousands of indie filmmakers and corporate clients on Disc Makers' new resource website, valuable support materials, 24/7, real-time access to the status of their clients' projects, and opportunities to win professional quality gear."

VPP members are eligible for exclusive bonus offers, including reduced rates on full color postcards. In addition, VPP members and their client(s) will each receive a FREE commemorative plaque(s) celebrating the completion of their project.

The centerpiece of the new Video Partner Program is the chance to earn commissions on client referrals. In the tiered commission structure, firms that refer more DVD or CD-ROM replication projects to Disc Makers are rewarded with higher commission rates. The highest performing members - Platinum Partners - make $125 per referral when they refer projects, and the chance to earn even greater commissions on larger projects ($2,500 projects or more). Commissions start at $50 for Standard Partners with their first referral, and $100 for Gold Partners. Companies move to Gold status when they are credited with two referrals. Each new referral will also make the member eligible for monthly prize giveaways from the biggest manufacturers in the business.

Platinum status members - companies that successfully refer five projects -- qualify for additional rewards, including special pricing on selected Disc Makers disc duplicators and blank media, supplementary marketing materials and other benefits to be announced in August, 2006.

For more information or to sign-up, visit www.discmakers.com/vpp.


About Disc Makers

In business since 1946, Disc Makers is the nation's leading independent media manufacturer, offering a wide variety of products and services, including state-of-the-art automated printers and duplicating systems as well as complete CD and DVD replication and custom packaging for independent musicians, filmmakers, and businesses. The company's state-of-the-art facilities are outfitted with the latest graphic, printing, and CD/DVD replication equipment and products, as well as in-house studios for mastering and post-production, DVD and CD-ROM multimedia authoring, and award-winning graphics design. The company also offers a variety of additional services including custom design, packaging, distribution and financing, and produces the Independent Music World Series, the nation's largest showcase series for independent musicians. Disc Makers main office and plant is located near Philadelphia in Pennsauken, NJ, and the company has regional offices in Los Angeles, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Seattle, and Puerto Rico.

Technorati

Currently tracking 35.2 million sites and 2.3 billion links.

Technorati is the authority on what's going on in the world of weblogs.

What is a weblog? A weblog, or blog, is a personal journal on the web. Weblogs express as many different subjects and opinions as there are people writing them. Some blogs are highly influential and have enormous readership while others are primarily intended for a close circle of family and friends.

The power of weblogs is that they allow millions of people to easily publish their ideas, and millions more to comment on them. Blogs are a fluid, dynamic medium, more akin to a 'conversation' than to a library — which is how the Web has often been described in the past. With an increasing number of people reading, writing, and commenting on blogs, the way we use the Web is shifting in a fundamental way. Instead of being passive consumers of information, more and more Internet users are becoming active participants. Weblogs let everyone have a voice.

Technorati is a real-time search engine that keeps track of what is going on in the blogosphere — the world of weblogs.

A few years ago, Web search was revolutionized by a simple but profound idea — that the relevance of a site can be determined by the number of other sites that link to it, and thus consider it 'important.' In the world of blogs, hyperlinks are even more significant, since bloggers frequently link to and comment on other blogs, which creates the sense of timeliness and connectedness one would have in a conversation. So Technorati tracks the number of links, and the perceived relevance of blogs, as well as the real-time nature of blogging. Because Technorati automatically receives notification from weblogs as soon as they are updated, it can track the thousands of updates per hour that occur in the blogosphere, and monitor the communities (who's linking to whom) underlying these conversations.

The Pew Internet study estimates that about 11%, or about 50 million, of Internet users are regular blog readers. According to Technorati data, there are about 70,000 new blogs a day. Bloggers — people who write weblogs — update their weblogs regularly; there are about 700,000 posts daily, or about 29,100 blog updates an hour.

Technorati displays what's important in the blogosphere — which bloggers are commanding attention, what ideas are rising in prominence, and the speed at which these conversations are taking place. Technorati makes it possible for you to find out what people on the Internet are saying about you, your company, your products, your competitors, your politics, or other areas of interest — all in real-time. All this activity is monitored and indexed within minutes of posting. Technorati provides a live view of the global conversation of the web.

WHO:

* Danny Glover - actor and newest JFA Board Member

* Richard Parsons - Event Co-Chair; Chairman and CEO, Time Warner,

Inc.

* Agnes Varis - Event Co-Chair; President & Co-Founder Agvar

Chemicals, Inc.

* Wendy Oxenhorn - Executive Director, JFA

* New Orleans Jazz Musicians and some surprise guests

WHAT: Kick-off Celebration for 5th Annual "A Great Night in Harlem"

WHERE: Hosted by Richard Parsons

One Time Warner Center

10th Floor Park Cafe (Enter building on West 58th Street between

8th and 9th)

New York, NY

WHEN: Monday, April 24th

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Danny Glover available for interviews

4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.)

BACKGROUND:

From the replacement of "Fats" Domino's piano to paying rent and mortgages for Katrina-effected musicians and their families, The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has assisted nearly 900 New Orleans musician emergency cases in the few short months since the hurricane and continues to assist 30 elderly jazz and blues artists a week.

Now, JFA sets an unprecedented goal of raising $1.5 million dollars from the 5th annual "A Great Night in Harlem" concert presented by DIRECTV and BET Jazz. Hosted by Bill Cosby, the concert will be held on THURSDAY, MAY 4 (8-10 p.m.) at the world-famous Apollo Theater.

"Great Night" veteran Bill Cosby and JFA's newest board member Danny Glover, will join accomplished musicians for a night to remember including: Johnnie Mae Dunson, Abbey Lincoln, James Blood Ulmer, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band of New Orleans, Ron Carter, the legendary Odetta, Jimmy McGriff, Clark Terry, Will Calhoun, Harold Mabern, Ben Riley, George Cables, Gary Bartz and many more, including over 30 musicians from New Orleans.

Tickets can be purchased ($100-$1500) by calling the Jazz Foundation at 212-245-3999 Ext. 29. For more information on JFA, visit http://www.jazzfoundation.org/ .

Source: Jazz Foundation of America

Also Featuring Jeanne Ruddy World Premiere, Broadway Choreographer Mark

Dendy's Really Desperate Housewives, Restaged Favorites by Peter Sparling,

Zvi Gotheiner

WHAT: On Tuesday night, for the first time in its history, Jeanne Ruddy

Dance, Philadelphia's Contemporary Dance Company, will raise the

curtain on its 6th Concert Season in its own theatre, The

Performance Garage. The groundbreaking program, spotlighting

America's hottest choreographers, will feature the world premiere

of STILL, by New York legend Robert Battle, of Battleworks, one

of the leading African-American choreographers on dance stages

today, marking his first commissioned collaboration with a

Philadelphia dance company. A former student of Jeanne Ruddy's

at Juilliard, Battle will be unveiling a quartet set on two men

and two women that explores the fragmented aspects of love

through abstract gestures.

The program will also feature the world premiere of Artistic

Director Jeanne Ruddy's WOA CHOLENA (Native American for Great

White Bird), her first plotless work exploring movement and

rhythm set to Stravinsky's Concertino; Obie award-winner Marc

Dendy's NO FEAR OF FLYING, set on a trio of women to pop tunes

including Nancy Sinatra's These Boots Are Made For Walking and

Peggy Lee's Fever -- restaged this season with a "Really

Desperate Housewives" twist; the restaging of Peter Sparling's

THE SYSTEM, and Israeli native Zvi Gotheiner's ENFOLD, a modern

romantic duet featuring the music of legendary '40s German

cabaret singer, Zarah Leander.

WHEN: TUESDAY, APRIL 18, CURTAIN at 7:30PM

CAMERAS WELCOME!

WHERE: THE PERFORMANCE GARAGE, 1515 Brandywine Street (one block north

of Spring Garden Street between 15th and 16th Streets)

DRESS REHEARSAL WILL BE 7PM - 9PM ON MONDAY, APRIL 17 AND OPEN TO

CAMERAS

WHY COVER:

How often, if ever, have the hottest choreographers on the American dance scene converged on a Philadelphia stage? In this groundbreaking, must-see program, the story is both on stage, AND off - with the debut of Philadelphia's newest studio theatre! JRD's 6th season runs April 18 to April 22.

Source: Jeanne Ruddy Dance

Web site: http://www.ruddydance.org/

Entertainment Tonight's Famed Host Mary Hart to be Mistress of Ceremonies for 'The Largest Mother's Day Celebration in the World' at Jewish Home for the Aging

Mary Hart, longtime famed host of television's entertainment magazine, "Entertainment Tonight" will serve as mistress of ceremonies for this year's "The Largest Mother's Day Celebration in the World" scheduled for May 14 at the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging.

The event, sponsored by Countrywide Financial Corporation, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on the Alec Borden Plaza, Eisenberg Village campus, 18855 Victory Boulevard, in Reseda and is open to the public. The Home's renowned celebration will include nearly 2,000 participants and will celebrate mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, great-great grandmothers and great-great-great grand mothers everywhere.

The event will feature an awards ceremony honoring the "Community Mother of the Year" and includes brunch, music, jugglers, clowns, face painting, tile painting and other activities. The cost is $18 for adults and $7 for children between the ages of five and 11. There is no charge for children under five and Jewish Home residents. For information and reservations phone (818) 774-3324 or email marilyn.bloom@jha.org. Registration is also available on the Home's Website at www.jha.org.

Hart, who has served as "Entertainment Tonight's" host since 1982, has appeared in numerous motion pictures and is a frequent television talk show guest. "We're thrilled to have Mary help anchor our Mother's Day celebration," said the Home's CEO, Molly Forrest. "She's not only a great entertainer but a great Mom and role model."

Founded in 1912, the world-renowned Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging is one of the foremost continuing residential-care facilities for the elderly in the United States and is the largest single source provider of senior housing in Los Angeles. Each year, nearly 1,000 women and men are sheltered on two village campuses (spanning 16 acres), which feature independent-living "Neighborhood Home" accommodations, residential care, skilled nursing care, Alzheimer's disease and dementia care, and hospice. Healthcare professionals from around the world consult with the Jewish Home in an effort to improve eldercare in their home countries. The Home is a nonprofit organization that relies solely upon donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to continue its remarkable work. Further information regarding the Home can be found online at www.jha.org.

Source: Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging

Web site: http://www.jha.org/

When Google Inc. went public, it shook up the way Wall Street launched IPOs. Now, the search engine company appears poised to shake up U.S. copyright law.

More than a year ago, Google launched its Print Library Project, a controversial plan to scan and index digital copies of millions of books, creating what Google describes as a vast virtual "card catalog." The online research tool would allow users to search within books for relevant information and would generate revenue for Google through advertising sales. The plan has sparked significant controversy and led to two lawsuits.

Late last year, The Author's Guild, the largest professional society of published authors in the US, and a group of five major publishers filed two separate lawsuits against Google in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuits claim copyright infringement and seek injunctions.

Google's application of Internet search engine techniques to one of the world's oldest technologies -- books -- is challenging companies, courts and legal professionals to redefine copyright principles.

Glenn Trost, a partner in the intellectual property litigation practice in White & Case's Los Angeles office, explains this much-publicized conflict and its broader implications.

Q: What exactly is Google proposing to do with this project?

Trost: Google's book digitization program actually contains several components. First, the New York Public Library and the libraries at Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Michigan and Oxford University have agreed to let Google scan their collections in exchange for providing these libraries digital copies of the books in their collections. From these scans, Google will make available online the complete text of books that aren't subject to copyright protection. In the Google Print Publisher Program, publishers can sign agreements with Google. Then, online researchers will see the full page of copyrighted text containing a search term, along with several nearby pages in each book.

What Google does when a user's search returns a book that isn't in the public domain and isn't included in the Print Publisher Program is the controversial portion of its digitization program. That's the main subject of the current litigation. For these works, unless a copyright owner opts out of the Google Print Library Project altogether, the search results will display only a few sentences showing the search term in context.

Q: Why has this led to lawsuits? How does Google's project differ from other current digitization initiatives?

Trost: Several other groups have begun digitizing the written content of books. However, they're generally proceeding on an "opt-in" basis. That is, copyright holders grant permission before books are scanned and stored. For example, Amazon.com's "Search Inside the Book" feature allows users to search within books whose publishers have signed agreements with Amazon.com. The Open Content Alliance -- a collaborative effort to build a global archive of digitized text and multimedia content through contributions from Yahoo, Microsoft and others -- similarly receives permission from copyright holders.

By contrast, Google's Print Library Project is the only initiative using an "opt-out" model. This places the burden on copyright holders to contact Google if they want to remove their books from the digitized materials that are otherwise searchable. Many authors and publishers point to this feature of the Print Library Project to claim that using their works without explicit permission constitutes copyright infringement.

Q: Why has this topic generated such intense public interest?

Trost: The basic issue of ownership of printed materials concerns the publishing industry, the Internet, academia and many other groups and businesses. And the current cases will determine whether companies with significant investments in original content -- such as films, sound recordings, other entertainment media and software -- will be able to protect their copyrighted material from certain types of future high-technology uses by other parties.

If Google prevails in the pending cases, businesses in these industries will have to adapt to a new environment in which copyrighted works will be available online beyond the complete control of copyright holders.

On the other hand, if Google loses one or both of the pending cases, it could affect other companies operating in technologically-driven industries. These companies will need to know how to avoid violating US copyrights when obtaining millions of permissions to use a large volume of protected information would be difficult. So the outcome of these lawsuits is very important.

Q: What are the core legal issues involved?

Trost: Essentially, Google is asking the courts to apply the "fair use" defense to copyright infringement to resolve this conflict between intellectual property holders and intellectual property users -- a conflict arising due to cutting-edge Internet technology.

Several factors play into a fair use legal determination, including the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the size of the portion used in comparison with the copyrighted work as a whole, and the effect of use on the market for the copyrighted work.

Copyright law, as traditionally applied to the publishing industry, requires affirmative permission from copyright holders before another party can use copyrighted content -- the opt-in approach. But in the Internet world, search engines generally have an implied, non-exclusive license to copy and store web pages, unless the pages' owners choose to withhold permission. That is, these rights holders must explicitly decide to opt out. Google is relying on an "opt-out" content usage model -- the accepted standard for indexing web material. In this way, computer software advances are now testing the limits of traditional copyright law.

Q: What are the bases for the arguments on both sides?

Trost: The authors and publishers claim that scanning their books without permission and storing unauthorized copies of them on Google servers to make money through advertising sales would violate their intellectual property rights. They also argue that Google's actions deny them potential revenue they might have generated by selling their content to other index makers.

Google claims that it's complying with current relevant case law and that scanning books into a search index falls within the fair use defense to copyright infringement. Google is relying in part on a decision a few years ago by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corp.]. In Kelly, the Ninth Circuit stated that a search engine using an opt-out model that copied images from a photographer but displayed them to users only in thumbnail form was a fair use of the copyrighted images. But just two months ago, a federal district court in Los Angeles in another matter concluded that Google's similar creation and public display of reduced-size extracts of copyrighted images in connection with its own search engine was not a fair use of copyrighted material [Perfect 10 v. Google].

Q: What value as legal precedents will the two current cases have?

Trost: Both Kelly and Perfect 10 -- the two most relevant cases so far -- were decided by the Ninth Circuit and a California federal district court within the Ninth Circuit. But the current authors' and publishers' lawsuits seeking to halt Google's Print Library Project were filed in the Southern District of New York, which isn't bound by California courts' interpretations. Any appeals in the authors' and publishers' lawsuits would go before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. If the Second Circuit views these issues differently from the Ninth Circuit, the split rulings could even make this a powerful topic for US Supreme Court review.

Q: What message should other companies take from the current lawsuits regarding copyright problems?

Trost: Copyright law exists both to promote creativity in authors and also to confer the general benefits of their work upon the public. But there's been some difficulty in balancing these competing interests in circumstances involving new technological developments. If these lawsuits teach us anything, they demonstrate that owners of traditional rights in creative works and those wishing to exploit new technologies must be sure to fully explore the complex legal ramifications of putting these works to new uses -- or even to old uses in the context of new technology.

Glenn Trost focuses on patent and other intellectual property litigation as well as complex civil litigation. A former engineer, he has represented clients embroiled in intellectual property disputes across a broad spectrum of industries for more than 20 years.

"Talking" features White & Case lawyers answering questions about emerging legal and business issues. For more information, please visit http://www.whitecase.com/ .

Any information contained in this interview is for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice.

Source: White & Case LLP

Web site: http://www.whitecase.com/

TNR Entertainment Corp. (The New Release), the nation's largest owner and operator of DVD rental kiosks in supermarkets and grocery stores, announced today that it will be installing its self-service units in 84 Kroger locations throughout the Dallas/metropolitan area.

The New Release is rolling out the additional units under its existing contract with Kroger. The expansion follows growing momentum and customer demand from TNR's existing kiosks currently installed in Houston and Southeast Texas. By the end of April 2006, The New Release will be installed in the majority of Kroger's Southwest locations.

"We are excited to partner with TNR to provide this convenient service to our customers," said Gary Huddleston, Director of Consumer Affairs, The Kroger Co.

"TNR kiosks are bringing a true value-add to supermarket customers' shopping experience, thereby helping to drive repeat visits and loyalty," said Tracy Walker, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, TNR Entertainment Corp. "When TNR was founded in 2002, Kroger was one of the first to pioneer this new territory alongside us, and we look forward to working with them to reach new customers in new markets as we continue to expand our presence."

TNR serves nearly 1 million customers each month across its national network of kiosks throughout Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin and Colorado. TNR's kiosks store up to 1,000 units each, representing more than 200 titles, including the top new releases and popular favorites. The fully-automated kiosks operate on a wireless communications network and next-generation DVD kiosk operating system.

About Kroger

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,531 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 792 convenience stores, 439 fine jewelry stores, 520 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants. For more information about Kroger, please visit our web site at www.kroger.com.

About TNR Entertainment

TNR is based in Houston, Texas. The company, which rented more than 10,000,000 DVDs since 2002, is planning an aggressive expansion of its retail locations in 2006 with the goal of quadrupling its kiosk network as it penetrates new markets.

Source: TNR Entertainment Corp.

Web site: http://www.kroger.com/

Frederick's of Hollywood, the legendary lingerie company, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with top celebrity stylists and designers, Cristina Ehrlich and Estee Stanley. The stylists will partner with Frederick's to create and introduce a line of specialty lingerie debuting in 4th Quarter of 2006. This licensing agreement marks a major milestone as the company's first collaborative venture in its 60-year history.

The initial collection will launch in late 2006 with subsequent collections to follow through 2008. The red-carpet inspired designs will feature a range of innovative, first-to-market styles that will change the way women dress for every occasion.

As premier celebrity stylists, Cristina Ehrlich and Estee Stanley dress many of Hollywood's brightest stars including Penelope Cruz, Demi Moore, Mandy Moore, Mary Kate and Ashley Olson, Jessica Biel and Eva Mendes. They are also the designers behind the clothing label, Miss Davenporte, which after debuting in Fall 2005, has fast become an editorial and celebrity favorite.

Frederick's of Hollywood CEO and President, Linda LoRe, commented, "Frederick's heritage is grounded in Hollywood and based on innovation. After reshaping the American lingerie market with our introduction of black lingerie, the padded bra, and the thong panty, we felt it was time to introduce a line that will once again change every woman's lingerie drawer." Continues LoRe, "Cristina and Estee, with their hands-on experience dressing Hollywood's leading ladies and collective eye for design, are the ideal partners for this venture."

This licensing agreement is a major milestone for the company. In its 60- year history, Frederick's has declined to participate in outside licensing agreements, keeping the design and production within the company for all of its channels of business -- retail stores, internet and catalog. Yolanda Dunbar, SVP Marketing for Frederick's, comments, "All of the elements for this agreement were a perfect fit -- the right partners, an exceptional idea for a line extension, and favorable timing. Put together, it is an opportunity we are very excited to pursue."

Further details about this collaborative line will be disclosed closer to the collection launch date.

About Frederick's of Hollywood

For nearly 60 years, Frederick's of Hollywood has been the leader in pioneering innovative, alluring lingerie. Every time a woman in America puts on a piece of black lingerie, a push-up bra or a thong, she has Frederick's to thank. With more than 150 boutique stores nationwide, world-famous catalog and online shop, Frederick's has been recognized as one of the world's most well-known brands. Visit http://www.fredericks.com/.

About Cristina Ehrlich and Estee Stanley

Partners for five years, Ehrlich and Stanley have created a highly- successful business styling Hollywood's brightest and best-dressed stars, including Demi Moore, Mandy Moore, Jessica Biel, Penelope Cruz and Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen. Their collaborative efforts have yielded some of the most memorable red-carpet and editorial looks. Maintaining a philosophy that eschews of-the-moment trends and embraces the chic and classic, the pair have created a cult following among Hollywood and editors, alike. Their successful styling work has evolved into the development of their own fashion line, Miss Davenporte, which debuted Fall 2005.

About Margaret Maldonado Agency

Founded in 1999, the Margaret Maldonado Agency (MMA) has become the preeminent artists agency, representing fashion stylists, photographers, makeup and hair and set stylists. With the best talent in the business, MMA work ranges from creating unforgettable red-carpet looks, making up the world's most famous faces, designing runway collections in collaboration with celebrity clients. MMA is the licensing agent on behalf of Estee Stanley and Cristina Ehrlich for the Frederick's of Hollywood agreement.

Source: Frederick's of Hollywood

Web site: http://www.fredericks.com/

Third Installment to Feature Alice in Chains Reunion and Special Guests Dave Navarro, Carrie Underwood, Rufus Wainwright and Gretchen Wilson VH1 Classic and World Productions present the third installment of "Decades Rock Live," an innovative live concert series that features performances by celebrated artists from rock to soul who have influenced popular music over the last 50 years, as well as performances from some of today's hottest recording acts who have been inspired by these legends. The concert honoring Heart is set to premiere on VH1 Classic on Friday, May 5 at 8:00 PM ET/PT and will feature special guests including Alice in Chains Dave Navarro, Carrie Underwood, Rufus Wainwright and Gretchen Wilson.

Highlights for the Heart tribute include:

* Alice in Chains reuniting for the first time in ten years with William Duvall and Phil Anselmo from Pantera on vocals.

* Carrie Underwood celebrating her 23rd Birthday, performing with Heart on their classic hit "Alone."

The music performances are augmented with special features, such as "Decades Confidential," exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the spotlighted artists focusing on their career milestones and highlighting their newest releases, concert performances and other endeavors. "Decades Rock Live" segments will also include "Fan Factoids" from viewers sharing their knowledge of music facts and figures, incorporated as pop-up quotes and trivia in each episode.

"Decades Rock Live" is taped at Trump Taj Mahal's high definition television studio, The Decades Rock Arena (temporarily renamed from Mark Etess Arena for the duration of the series run), in Atlantic City, NJ. Each episode focuses on a specific artist. The series will be broadcast in High Definition in 5.1 surround sound, and rebroadcast on a premium HD network at a later date.

Fans will also have the chance to get their hands on exclusive memorabilia and special items from the artists scheduled to participate in the series. Both the Guitar Center Music Foundation and the GRAMMY Foundation will work with the show to host silent auctions. The proceeds raised will support the philanthropic missions of each of those organizations.

The series is produced by Eric Sherman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, VH1 Classic and Barry Summers, Executive Producer for World Productions. Co-producer is Tisha Fein (GRAMMY Awards).

For more information on "Decades Rock Live" and the artists visit

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of rock, soul and pop artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s, including The Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more.

Source: VH1

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/
http://www.vh1classic.com/

Columbia Pictures and Google Create Puzzle Paradise for Game and Movie Fans Around the World

* Columbia Pictures and Google announced today 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google - a 24-day online puzzle adventure themed to 'The Da Vinci Code.'

* Players will discover new puzzles for 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google daily at www.google.com/davincicode.

* 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google begins on Monday, April 17 and runs through May 19, 2006 - the worldwide release date of the film.

* 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google consists of 24 days packed with intriguing puzzles to challenge movie fans of all ages. Puzzles include symbol logic, chess-related codes, city map jigsaw puzzles and video riddles.

* 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google is a skill-based contest open to puzzle fans in the U.S., the UK and Australia.

* Prizes for the US version of 'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google include first-class vacations for the grand-prize winner and up to three guests to New York, Paris, London and Rome as well as the Sony Electronics package from SonyStyle, the official online and retail source of product information and shopping, including a Bravia(TM) LCD Television, VAIO(R) notebook computer, Cyber-shot(R) digital still camera, NAV-U(TM) portable satellite navigation system, home theater system and more.

Columbia Pictures and Google announced today the launch of "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google, a challenge for the most devoted Da Vinci Code fans, available at www.google.com/davincicode.

"The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google features 24 puzzles, one for each day of the online adventure. Individual puzzles will be released daily in the U.S. at 1pm Eastern Standard Time starting today in celebration of Leonardo da Vinci's 553rd birthday.

To create innovative puzzles with just the right amount of difficulty and originality for fans of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code," Columbia Pictures worked with Wei-Hwa Huang, a four-time World Puzzle Champion and Google software engineer.

"As a puzzle enthusiast myself, I wanted to bring a unique 'Da Vinci-esque theme' to some new twists on classic puzzles," said Wei-Hwa Huang. "Players of all ages will have fun tackling these brain teasers as they compete for the grand prize."

The puzzles borrow thematically from "The Da Vinci Code" movie and its lead character, Robert Langdon, professor of symbology at Harvard University, challenging players to use their skill and cunning to unlock various codes. Each daily puzzle in "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google will be one of six types:

* The Symbol Challenge: Players must use their logic skills and drag the

symbols onto the grid such that the symbols in each column and row are

all distinct.

* The Restoration Challenge: A question is hidden in plain sight on a

classic work of art -- parts of the question are unclear, obscured by

debris. Players have to restore the painting and reveal the question

by clearing the particles of debris.

* The Curator Challenge: Players must use their "curator's eye" to hang

the works of art such that the hooks match those on the gallery wall.

* The Chess Challenge: Players must determine the only sequence of three

moves that will lead to checkmate in a given chess scenario.

* The Observation Challenge: Players watch movie clips and use their

observational skills to seek the truth and answer trivia questions.

* The Geography Challenge: Players assemble jigsaw puzzle pieces to

reveal and identify a geographical location.

Once solved, these daily puzzles will introduce a riddle to the player that will engage one of an assortment of Google products including Google Search, Google Maps, Google SMS and Google Video.

"'The Da Vinci Code' Quest on Google is a challenging and interactive way to dive even deeper into the theme of 'things hidden in plain sight,'" said Dwight Caines, executive vice president, worldwide digital marketing, Columbia TriStar Marketing Group. "Not only are we giving people a chance to interact with characters and scenes from 'The Da Vinci Code,' but we are also inviting them to become cryptographers for 24 days, to take our challenge and demonstrate their code-cracking skills."

The first 10,000 eligible challengers who complete all 24 puzzles correctly by Thursday, May 11th, 2006 will be contacted to participate in the final challenge -- a gauntlet of puzzles in which players must rely on the skills they honed during the 24 day contest. The brave participants who are chosen for this final challenge will receive a cryptex replica just like the one featured in the film. Each participant will then have 48 hours to complete this final series of mystifying puzzles.

The U.S. player who completes the final challenge in the least amount of time by 1pm Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, May 21, 2006 will win the Grand Prize first-class vacations to New York, Paris, London and Rome, in addition to the Sony Electronics package from SonyStyle, the official online and retail source of product information and shopping. Prizes include a Bravia(TM) LCD Television, VAIO(R) notebook computer, Cyber-shot(R) digital still camera, NAV-U(TM) portable satellite navigation system, home theater system and more.

For more information, please visit www.google.com/davincicode.

About "The Da Vinci Code"

From director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning team of "A Beautiful Mind," and producer John Calley (the Oscar-nominated "The Remains of the Day") comes the film version of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code," one of the most popular and talked about novels of our time, with a cast headed by two-time Academy Award(R) winner Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jurgen Prochnow, Paul Bettany and Jean Reno.

Produced by Grazer and Calley, "The Da Vinci Code" involves a thrilling murder investigation that unearths a secret that could change the course of history.

About Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

About Google

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Source: Columbia Pictures

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/
http://www.google.com/
http://www.google.com/davincicode

was one of the true pioneers of rock and roll and one of the all-time greatest singers to ever record rock, pop or country music. In celebration of his legacy, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will be opening an exhibit that highlights different aspects of his career and personal life on April 18. Orbison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

The exhibit coincides with the release of Legacy Records Roy Orbison Reissue Project. The first Legacy release will be Black & White Night, the 1987 star-studded concert originally aired as an HBO-Cinemax special, and the long-awaited The Essential Roy Orbison, the first-ever "best of" collection spanning Orbison's entire career. Black & White Night is currently in stores.

"Roy Orbison secured his place in modern music history with a unique blend of rock, country and pop music that defies easy description," said Howard Kramer, director of curatorial affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. "His one-of-a-kind voice and ethereal songs set him apart from all of his contemporaries and made for a diverse set of followers." Orbison influenced a broad range of contemporaries, like Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers; rock superstars like Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon; as well more current performers such as k.d. lang and Chris Isaak.

The exhibit includes handwritten lyrics and setlists, production notes, handbills, clothing, rare records and more. Highlights are:

* Handwritten lyrics to "Careless Heart," "Windsurfer," "She's a

Mystery to Me"

* Production notes from Mystery Girl

* Rare Rockabilly Spectator tour program, 1958. The tour also

featuring Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and many others.

* Jumpsuits and pantsuits from the 1970s.

* Rare records including the original acetate from "Ooby Dooby"

and the highly coveted Sun Records promo EP.

About Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison possessed one of the great rock and roll voices: a forceful, operatic bel canto tenor capable of dynamic crescendos. He sang heartbroken ballads and bluesy rockers alike, running up a formidable hit streak in the early Sixties. From the release of "Only the Lonely" in 1960 to "Oh! Pretty Woman," a span of four years, Orbison cracked the Top Ten nine times. Orbison's most memorable performances were lovelorn melodramas, such as "Crying" and 'It's Over,'" in which he emoted in a brooding, tremulous voice. The melancholy in his songs resonated with listeners of all ages, but especially heartsick teenagers who knew how it felt to lose in love.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum:

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, a nonprofit museum dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the historical significance of modern music, will honor the legacy of Roy Orbison with an exhibit opening in April. The gallery will feature an intimate display of artifacts directly from the Roy Orbison archives. Handwritten lyrics, rare records, stage clothing, business documents and photographs will illustrate the life and work of one of the most enigmatic performers in rock and roll history.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays the Museum is open until 9:00 p.m. Museum admission is $20.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors (60+), $11 for children (9-12) and children under 8 and Museum members are free.

Source: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Web site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com

Seeking a thrill? Look no further than your television set as KyLinTV's launches its exhilarating Action Drama Spotlight.

This week, get together with the guys and watch the most popular action films from Asia featuring heroic tales about war and battle, to gripping dramas about criminals and gangsters, to fast-track movies about speed and danger. KyLinTV offers an unbeatable selection of action hits to its subscribers.

KyLinTV, the first and only Chinese IPTV Service in North America, works constantly to bring an assortment of new content -- 300 hours each week -- that will offer something for every viewer.

This week is no exception! Action-packed titles new to KyLinTV this week highlight a wide range of thrills.

Tune into KyLinTV and find the latest Japanese military blockbuster, "Aegis," about a hijacked Japanese war vessel starring the four hottest male actors in Japan, or watch "Brotherhood of War," the box-office triumph that depicts the heartbreak of war and the upheaval of the lives of two brothers.

Experience the history of Hong-Kong gangster movies through "Blood Brothers," directed by the multi-faceted Ching-Po Wong, which pays homage to the last twenty years of crime classics. Also enjoy "Mr. Socrates," a successful box-office blockbuster that helped put South Korean gangster movies on the map because of its widespread popularity.

With over 20,000 hours of content and DVD-quality picture, KyLinTV's Video On Demand (VOD) library lets subscribers' access whatever they want to watch, whenever they want to watch it with a simple click of a remote.

"I love all types of action-packed martial arts films from Asia," said Xiuying Rozanski, a KyLinTV subscriber. "It is a dream come true for me to have KyLinTV put all these movies into one place for me that I can access on demand."

KyLinTV is also showing "The Aggressive," a film about carefree youth consumed by the world of inline skating and "Once Upon a Time in China," a series that breaks the barriers of physical limitation with kung-fu skills. Based on a wildly popular online game, TV drama "Legend of Sword and Fairy," is also featured on KyLinTV.

About KyLinTV

Based in Plainview, New York, KyLinTV comes to the marketplace through the stewardship of two key investors, Charles B. Wang, founder of Computer Associates, and Charles Dolan founder of Cablevision. Production and content is made possible through technology partnerships with TransVideo of Beijing, China and NeuLion of Plainview, NY. The IPTV service is the first of its kind, offering more than 20,000 hours of Chinese programming to subscribers across North America.

Through the use of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), KyLinTV's patent pending Video technology brings high quality broadcast channels and VOD to the TV set using existing Home DSL or Cable broadband. KyLinTV is currently available anywhere in North America for a monthly subscription fee beginning at $15.00.

For more information on the magic of KyLinTV, visit us on the web www.kylintv.com

Source: KyLinTV

Web site: http://www.kylintv.com/

The 90th annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music, awarded on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, were announced today by Columbia University.

The winners in each category, along with the names of the finalists in the competition, follow:

A. PRIZES IN JOURNALISM

1. PUBLIC SERVICE

For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper through the use of its journalistic resources which, as well as reporting, may include editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics and online material, a gold medal.

Two Prizes of a gold medal each:

Awarded to the Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss., for its valorous and comprehensive coverage of Hurricane Katrina, providing a lifeline for devastated readers, in print and online, during their time of greatest need.

And

Awarded to The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, for its heroic, multi-faceted coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, making exceptional use of the newspaper's resources to serve an inundated city even after evacuation of the newspaper plant. (Selected by the Board from the Public Service category, where it was entered.)

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Blade, Toledo, Ohio, for its relentless probe of the state's investment in a rare-coin fund that exposed illegal actions by the governor and other state officials, spurring successful criminal prosecution and other corrective action, and The Washington Post for its exhaustive and illuminating exploration of the government's war on terrorism and the ensuing tension between national security and individual liberty.

2. BREAKING NEWS REPORTING

For a distinguished example of local reporting of breaking news, presented in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to the Staff of The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, for its courageous and aggressive coverage of Hurricane Katrina, overcoming desperate conditions facing the city and the newspaper.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Atlanta Journal- Constitution Staff for its swift and rigorous accounts of a shooting rampage by a prisoner who seized a deputy sheriff's gun and killed a judge and three others, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Staff for its clear, cohesive and enterprising coverage of Hurricane Wilma after it battered a region still recovering from major storms the previous year.

3. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Susan Schmidt, James V. Grimaldi and R. Jeffrey Smith of The Washington Post for their indefatigable probe of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff that exposed congressional corruption and produced reform efforts.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino of the Los Angeles Times for their exposure of problems in the management of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the world's richest art institution, and in acquisition practices at other museums, and Sally Kestin, Megan O'Matz and John Maines of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel for their in-depth reports on the federal government's widespread mismanagement of hurricane aid, triggering indictments and other remedial action.

4. EXPLANATORY REPORTING

For a distinguished example of explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject, demonstrating mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to David Finkel of The Washington Post for his ambitious, clear- eyed case study of the United States government's attempt to bring democracy to Yemen.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Debbie Cenziper of The Miami Herald for her deeply researched examination of breakdowns in hurricane forecasting that often endanger lives, and Mark Johnson and Kawanza Newson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for their riveting chronicle of a teenage girl's miraculous recovery from a rabies infection that medicine had previously considered fatal.

5. BEAT REPORTING

For a distinguished example of beat reporting characterized by sustained and knowledgeable coverage of a particular subject or activity, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Dana Priest of The Washington Post for her persistent, painstaking reports on secret "black site" prisons and other controversial features of the government's counterterrorism campaign.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Barry Meier of The New York Times for his original, strongly documented stories on a flawed heart- defibrillator that imperiled the safety of unwitting patients, and Jerry Mitchell of The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., for his relentless and masterly stories on the successful prosecution of a man accused of orchestrating the killing of three civil rights workers in 1964.

6. NATIONAL REPORTING

For a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Two Prizes of $10,000 each:

Awarded to James Risen and Eric Lichtblau of The New York Times for their carefully sourced stories on secret domestic eavesdropping that stirred a national debate on the boundary line between fighting terrorism and protecting civil liberty.

And

Awarded to the Staffs of The San Diego Union-Tribune and Copley News Service, with notable work by Marcus Stern and Jerry Kammer, for their disclosure of bribe-taking that sent former Rep. Randy Cunningham to prison in disgrace.

Also nominated as a finalist in this category was: Michael Moss of The New York Times for his tenacious, thoroughly researched stories on the bureaucratic inertia that led to the fatal injury of American soldiers in Iraq who lacked protective armor.

7. INTERNATIONAL REPORTING

For a distinguished example of reporting on international affairs, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Joseph Kahn and Jim Yardley of The New York Times for their ambitious stories on ragged justice in China as the booming nation's legal system evolves.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Steve Fainaru of The Washington Post for his powerful accounts of the deadly violence faced by ordinary American soldiers in Iraq as an insurgency intensified, and Sebastian Rotella of the Los Angeles Times for his well crafted reports on restive Muslims in Europe that foretold riots in France.

8. FEATURE WRITING

For a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to quality of writing, originality and concision, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Jim Sheeler of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo., for his poignant story on a Marine major who helps the families of comrades killed in Iraq cope with their loss and honor their sacrifice.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Dan Barry of The New York Times for his rich portfolio of pieces capturing slices of life in hurricane-battered New Orleans as well as his own New York City, and Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune for her intimate and compelling story about a federal judge whose husband and mother were murdered by an angry former plaintiff.

9. COMMENTARY

For distinguished commentary, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Nicholas D. Kristof of The New York Times for his graphic, deeply reported columns that, at personal risk, focused attention on genocide in Darfur and that gave voice to the voiceless in other parts of the world.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Chris Rose of The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, for his vibrant and compassionate columns that gave voice to the afflictions of his city after it was struck by Hurricane Katrina, and Cynthia Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her pungent, clear-eyed columns that tackled controversial issues with frankness and fortitude.

10. CRITICISM

For distinguished criticism, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Robin Givhan of The Washington Post for her witty, closely observed essays that transform fashion criticism into cultural criticism.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Nicolai Ouroussoff of The New York Times for his graceful, contemplative and wide ranging critiques of architecture and urban design from New Orleans to Berlin, and Jerry Saltz of The Village Voice, a New York City weekly, for his fresh, down-to-earth pieces on the visual arts and other cultural topics.

11. EDITORIAL WRITING

For distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Rick Attig and Doug Bates of The Oregonian, Portland, for their persuasive, richly reported editorials on abuses inside a forgotten Oregon mental hospital.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: the Editorial Board of The Birmingham (Ala.) News for their series of incisive editorials reversing the paper's long-held support of the death penalty, and B. Marie Harris, Tony Biffle and Stan Tiner of The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss., for their passionate editorials in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that empathized with victims while pleading for relief from the outside world.

12. EDITORIAL CARTOONING

For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Mike Luckovich of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, for his powerful cartoons on an array of issues, drawn with a simple but piercing style.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Marshall Ramsey of The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., for his vivid, wide ranging cartoons that express crisp opinions with uncomplicated artistry, and Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press for diverse cartoons that use wit, irony and artistic flair to sharpen their impact.

13. BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

For a distinguished example of breaking news photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album, in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to the Staff of The Dallas Morning News for its vivid photographs depicting the chaos and pain after Hurricane Katrina engulfed New Orleans.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Carolyn Cole and Brian Vander Brug of the Los Angeles Times for their spellbinding coverage of Israel's emotion-packed withdrawal from Gaza, and Eric Gay of The Associated Press for his multifaceted coverage of the human suffering in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina flooded the city.

14. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

For a distinguished example of feature photography in black and white or color, which may consist of a photograph or photographs, a sequence or an album, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Todd Heisler of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo., for his haunting, behind-the-scenes look at funerals for Colorado Marines who return from Iraq in caskets.

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Mike Stocker of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel for his imaginative exploration of Holocaust survivors as Judaism faces a new century, and Damon Winter of the Los Angeles Times for his sensitive portrayal of two remote Eskimo villages coping with memories of sexual abuse by a missionary 30 years ago.

B. LETTERS AND DRAMA PRIZES

1. FICTION

For distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "March" by Geraldine Brooks (Viking).

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "The March" by E.L. Doctorow (Random House), and "The Bright Forever" by Lee Martin (Shaye Areheart Books/Crown Publishing).

2. DRAMA

For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

No Award

Nominated as finalists in this category were: "Miss Witherspoon" by Christopher Durang, "The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow" by Rolin Jones, and "Red Light Winter" by Adam Rapp.

3. HISTORY

For a distinguished book upon the history of the United States, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "Polio: An American Story" by David M. Oshinsky (Oxford University Press).

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "New York Burning" by Jill Lepore (Alfred A. Knopf), and "The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln" by Sean Wilentz (W.W. Norton).

4. BIOGRAPHY

For a distinguished biography or autobiography by an American author, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (Alfred A. Knopf).

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion (Alfred A. Knopf), and "The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism" by Megan Marshall (Houghton Mifflin).

5. POETRY

For a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "Late Wife" by Claudia Emerson (Louisiana State University Press).

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "American Sublime" by Elizabeth Alexander (Graywolf Press), and "Elegy on Toy Piano" by Dean Young (University of Pittsburgh Press).

6. GENERAL NON-FICTION

For a distinguished book of non-fiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya" by Caroline Elkins (Henry Holt).

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945" by Tony Judt (The Penguin Press), and "The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq" by George Packer (Farrar, Straus & Giroux).

C. PRIZE IN MUSIC

For distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to "Piano Concerto: 'Chiavi in Mano'" by Yehudi Wyner, premiered February 17, 2005 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. (Associated Music Publishers, Inc.)

Also nominated as finalists in this category were: "Neruda Songs" by Peter Lieberson, premiered May 20, 2005 by the Los Angeles Philharmonic (Associated Music Publishers, Inc.), and "Si Ji (Four Seasons)" by Chen Yi, premiered October 13, 2005 by the Cleveland Orchestra (Theodore Presser Company).

SPECIAL CITATIONS

A Special Citation to Edmund S. Morgan for a creative and deeply influential body of work as an American historian that spans the last half century.

and

A posthumous Special Citation to American composer Thelonious Monk for a body of distinguished and innovative musical composition that has had a significant and enduring impact on the evolution of jazz.

About the Pulitzer Prizes:

The Pulitzer Prize Board, chaired by Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., made its recommendations when it met at Columbia on April 13 and 14 and passed them to President Lee C. Bollinger. It announced that the awards would be presented at a luncheon on May 22 at Columbia University.

Jim Amoss, Kathleen Carroll, Jay Harris, Ann Marie Lipinski and Richard Oppel were re-elected to membership on the board.

The members of the Pulitzer Prize Board are: President Bollinger; Jim Amoss, editor, The New Orleans Times-Picayune; Amanda Bennett, editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer; Joann Byrd, former editor of the editorial page, Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and executive editor, Associated Press; Thomas Friedman, columnist, The New York Times; Henry Louis Gates, Jr., W.E.B. DuBois Professor of Humanities, Harvard University (chair); Donald E. Graham, chairman, The Washington Post; Anders Gyllenhaal, editor and senior vice president, Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul; Jay T. Harris, director, The Center for the Study of Journalism and Democracy, University of Southern California; David M. Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan professor of history, Stanford University; Nicholas Lemann, dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University; Ann Marie Lipinski, senior vice president and editor, Chicago Tribune; Gregory L. Moore, editor, The Denver Post; Richard Oppel, editor, Austin American-Statesman; Michael Pride, editor, Concord (N.H.) Monitor; Paul Steiger, managing editor, The Wall Street Journal; Paul Tash, editor, CEO and chairman, St. Petersburg Times; and Sig Gissler, administrator of the Prizes.

In any category in which board members have an interest due to the action of the various nominating juries, those members do not participate in the discussion and voting and leave the room until a decision is reached in the affected category. Similarly, members of nominating juries do not participate in the discussion of or voting on entries in which they have an interest.

Source: Columbia University

Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, today announced the launch of Nick Mobile on select Sprint multimedia phones. Nick Mobile offers a full range of video clips from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. programming.

"Launching Nick Mobile on Sprint is a natural evolution of our overall multiple platform strategy as we continue to produce, program and distribute content on different platforms in order to super serve our audience, who are increasingly on the go," said Steve Youngwood, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Digital Media. "The launch of Nick Mobile on Sprint provides our audience with a new way to watch their favorite characters, and further extends the Nick and Nick Jr. brand and experience for kids and parents beyond the home."

Nick Mobile on Sprint offers a combination of short video clips, vignettes and music videos. From the Nick Jr. library, music videos are approximately two minutes in length and include clips from favorite programs such as Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, The Backyardigans, LazyTown and the recently launched Nick Jr. series, The Wonder Pets!, TV's first operetta for kids.

From the Nickelodeon library, content will be available from top-rated series such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The X's, Avatar and Catscratch. Additionally, TEENick material will include behind- the-scenes clips from Zoey 101, Unfabulous and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. Nick Mobile on Sprint will also feature on-air vignette series such as Nick Jr.'s A Pup Grows Up mini series and clips from network specials. All Nick Mobile content on Sprint multimedia phones will be refreshed on a weekly basis.

About Nickelodeon:

Nickelodeon, in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than ten consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

Beverly Hills, CA – The 1960 Best Picture nominee “Sons and Lovers” will be screened as the next installment in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Great To Be Nominated, Part Three.” The film, based on the D.H. Lawrence novel of the same name, will be shown on Monday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

This is a rare opportunity for motion picture fans to see “Sons and Lovers,” which has never been released on home video. A new 35 mm print has been provided by Twentieth Century Fox for the screening.

– Black-and-White (Freddie Francis) and earned a total of seven Academy Award® nominations. The film’s director, Jack Cardiff, earned his third nomination, though it was his first in the Directing category. The film also received nominations for Best Picture (Jerry Wald), Actor (Trevor Howard), Actress in a Supporting Role (Mary Ure), Art Direction – Black-and-White (Art Direction: Tom Morahan; Set Decoration: Lionel Couch) and Writing – Screenplay based on material from another medium (Gavin Lambert, T. E. B. Clarke).

Music from “The Alamo,” which also earned seven nominations in 1960, will be played during the pre-show. Other pre-show elements will include Short Subject – Cartoon nominee “Mouse and Garden” (1960), and a new exclusive video interview with director Jack Cardiff.

The evening’s commemorative program will feature black-and-white photos from “Sons and Lovers” on the cover.

Passes for “Great To Be Nominated, Part Three” are still available at a cost of $30 for film buffs wishing to see the rest of the series. A $5 discount is available for those who wish to renew their passes from Parts One and/or Two of the series. Inclusive of “Sons and Lovers” there are 18 screening dates remaining in Part Three.

Tickets for each individual screening may be purchased at a cost of $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. Tickets may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, pending availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Curtain time for all features is 7:30 p.m. and pre-show elements will begin at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

CHC HR - T. Walker (2)
LAD HR - None

MLG's 'Scion Player of the Year' Will Win Limited-Edition Scion Prize Car

As the Major League Gaming (MLG) 2006 season kicks off, MLG today announced Scion as the presenting sponsor and exclusive automobile partner for the MLG Pro Circuit and the MLG Pro Invasion Bus Tour.

In addition to being a presenting sponsor, Scion is offering a limited-production xB Release Series 3.0 to the "Scion Player of the Year", a competition to choose the most improved pro gamer of the 2006 Pro Circuit.

"Scion has always been a strong supporter of the gaming community, and Major League Gaming offers a great opportunity for Scion to get involved and show our support for this emerging new sport," said Adrian Si, Interactive Marketing Manager, Scion.

MLG is the only professional video gaming league in America. By raising video game competition to the level of professional sport, and packaging that competition for the mass market, MLG provides players, game publishers, and media partners a unique connection with the 168 million Americans playing video games today.

"Scion and MLG both have a unique and growing place in youth culture," said Erik Semmelhack, EVP of Global Sales & Partnerships, MLG. "Together, we're looking forward to building what we believe will ultimately become the next major league sport in America."

The Major League Gaming Pro Circuit Presented by Scion will hold pro competitions in seven cities in 2006: Secaucus (The Meadowlands), Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago (Playoffs) and Las Vegas (National Championship). The MLG Pro Invasion Bus Tour Presented by Scion will kick off in the summer, with four of MLG's pro gamers traveling the country to find the next generation of pro gamers.

In November, at the conclusion of the 2006 Pro Circuit, Scion will announce the "Scion Player of the Year," who will win the limited-production Scion xB Release Series 3.0. Exterior features include Envy Green paint, color-keyed Aero Speedgrille, seven-spoke wheel covers and a color-keyed rear spoiler. The interior features include a premium Alpine DVD audio/video receiver with Apple iPod connectivity, a mini-jack for most portable music players, XM satellite receiver with three months free XM radio, and a full-function remote control. It also features a Vizualogic(TM) Dual Headrest Rear Seat Entertainment System with a seven-inch LCD monitor mounted on the back of each front seat headrest and two infrared wireless headphones. Only 2,200 units of this model will be built. Gamers will be able to access www.scion.com and www.mlgpro.com throughout the year to get a look at the 2006 Scion xB Release Series 3.0 and to cast their votes for competing pros.

The first event of the "Major League Gaming Pro Circuit presented by Scion" is this Friday through Sunday, April 21-23, at the Meadowlands in Secaucus, NJ. The tournament kicks off at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, with the championships being held on Sunday (doors open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Attendance is free and on a first come, first serve basis. Door prizes will be given out daily, including a fully loaded Xbox 360. Early registration at mlgpro.com will help ensure a reserved seat.

MLG worked with Janet Catinna, vice-president of Turn-Key Marketing Services, Inc. in developing and securing the Scion sponsorship.

About Scion

Scion is the newest line of vehicles from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind, Scion's mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The Scion brand features three ground-breaking models. The xA is a taut subcompact five-door, featuring an athletic stance with sculpted wheel arches. The xB, an urban utility vehicle with an iconic shape, combines remarkable interior space with aggressive style. And the tC sports coupe surprises the buyer with the convenience of a hatchback and the luxury of a standard all-glass panorama moonroof, complementing the usual wide array of features on all Scions. For more information, visit www.scion.com.

About MLG (Major League Gaming)

MLG is the first professional console video gaming league. By raising console video gaming competition to the level of a professional sport, the company is creating a sports media business that provides players, developers, publishers, media partners, and advertisers a unique connection to the video gaming lifestyle. With the support of major sponsors, MLG operates a pro tour, exclusively featuring the best gamers in the world. MLG produces a variety of online and broadcast-quality programming that showcases MLG's Pros and this exciting new sports entertainment phenomenon. More information can be found at www.mlgpro.com.

About Turn-Key Marketing Services, Inc.

Source: Major League Gaming and Scion

Web site: http://www.scion.com/

Web site: http://www.mlgpro.com/

The $954,000 check pushed him over the $1-million mark ($1,024,661) for the second time in his four years on TOUR. * The 13th player to hold/share the lead heading into the final round and win this season in 15 stroke-play events. * Seventh international winner in 2006 and fourth from Australia (Stuart Appleby-Mercedes Championships, Geoff Ogilvy-WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Rod Pampling-BayHill Invitational). Baddeley in his career * The win is his 10th career top-10 on the PGA TOUR. * Gives him four worldwide victories -- 1999 Holden Australian Open (Am), 2000 Holden Australian Open and 2001 Greg Norman Holden International.

Earns two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR that will take him through the 2008 season. Earns exemptions into several invitational tournaments in 2006, most notable Memorial Tournament, The INTERNATIONAL, PGA Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and the 2007 Mercedes Championships in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

* Ninth first-time winner in tournament history -- 1971 Hale Irwin, 1977 Graham Marsh, 1980 Doug Tewell, 1984 Nick Faldo, 1987 Davis Love III, 1999 Glen Day, 2001 Jose Coceres and 2005 Peter Lonard.

* Win comes in second tournament appearance (MC-2001) and he is the seventh player in tournament history to win in their second start. Last was Peter Lonard in 2005.

* Winning score of 15-under-par 269 is the lowest winning score since Davis Love III fired a 266 score to win in 1998.

* Tenth player in 38-year history of tournament to win and not have a major championship under his belt.

* Youngest winner of the tournament since Davis Love III captured his first of five tournament titles in 1987.

Detroit Diesel Corporation's (DDC) new G2 technician training and certification program is providing Detroit Diesel engine owners with faster service and improved quality. A mere three months after its official launch, the program has been a success across the company's extensive service network.

"With our G2 program, the best place for you to have your Detroit Diesel engine serviced is a G2 shop," said Tom Diefenbaker, Director of Technical Support. "Our customers already have the best engines on the road. Now they have the best technicians to service those engines."

The G2 or Guild 2.0 program builds on DDC's successful Guild program by training, testing, certifying and rewarding technicians who participate. Customers who visit a shop that participates in the G2 Expert Service Network will know their on-highway engines are in the hands of knowledgeable, highly- trained and certified technicians and parts associates with the most up-to- date information on their model year engine -- whether it's a 10-year-old Series 60 or a 2007 MBE 900 featuring the latest emissions technology.

For technicians, the program focuses on training, certification, continuous improvement and recognition. They receive cutting-edge education through access to training modules that focus on how to diagnose and repair the most common engine issues; recognition of professional knowledge through certifications, as well as previous Guild service; opportunity for specialization or overall engine and parts knowledge; and career development.

"Through G2, we've strengthened our technician training, certification and continuous improvement in an effort to help improve customer satisfaction," Diefenbaker said. "We will constantly evaluate the program to ensure continuous improvement is part of how we manage the program so that our customers receive the best from our G2 technicians and parts associates."

The program, which was launched in late 2005, now has more than 540 service locations and more than 6,300 members. The numbers continue to grow as more of the service network participates in G2.

"We understand that time is money for our customers," explained Diefenbaker. "When you see the G2 logo at service locations, know that these locations have made an investment and are committed to assist in getting you back on the road as quickly as possible and are working to provide faster and more reliable service to you. Our goal is to exceed our customers' needs and expectations with real-time solutions."

Detroit Diesel Corporation is a leading manufacturer of on-highway heavy- duty diesel engines for the commercial truck market. The company offers a complete line of engines from 170 to 515 horsepower for the on-highway and vocational markets. Through its corporate headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Diesel is engaged in the design, manufacture, sale and service of these products, in addition to supporting alternative and hybrid engine strategies for the commercial truck marketplace. Detroit Diesel is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and part of the Freightliner group of companies.

Source: Detroit Diesel Corporation

The traditional heavy summer driving season has not yet arrived, yet gasoline prices nationwide have already averaged nearly $2.60 a gallon, up some 40 cents from a year ago and could see more price volatility as the driving season progresses. To help motorists cope, the Department of Energy (DOE)/Alliance to Save Energy Powerful $avings campaign offers consumer tips in both English and Spanish to get better mileage and reduce gasoline expenses.

"Keeping vehicles properly maintained and driving smart can significantly boost mileage and lower gasoline costs," said new DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner.

Alliance President Kateri Callahan added, "Households paid more than $4,000 last year to power their homes and vehicles. Consumers can cut those costs with tips from the DOE/Alliance Powerful $avings campaign."

Basic Maintenance Pays Off

* Keep your car properly tuned up to improve gas mileage by about 4

percent; replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as

much as 40 percent.

* Keep air filters clean to improve mileage by up to 10 percent.

Replacing clogged or dirty air filters also keeps impurities from

damaging the inside of your engine.

* Keep tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by about 3.3

percent and improve tire safety and longevity. Every 1 psi drop in

pressure of all four tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent.

* Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil to improve your

gas mileage by another 1-2 percent. Look for "Energy Conserving" on

the API performance symbol to ensure friction-reducing additives.

On the Road ...

* Curtail aggressive driving. Speeding and rapid acceleration and

braking cut mileage up to 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5

percent in town. Nix jack-rabbit starts in favor of slow acceleration

from a dead stop.

* Obey the speed limit. Speeding cuts fuel economy 7 to 23 percent, as

gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Driving faster than 60

mph is like paying more than the posted amount for each gallon of gas.

* If available, use your vehicle's overdrive gear when appropriate to

reduce engine speed, which will enable you to save gas and reduce

engine wear.

* Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a

steady speed during highway driving.

* Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your

vehicle's roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car's

fuel economy 1-2 percent.

* Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically

waste even more gas at idling than cars with smaller engines.

* Combine your errands into one trip and plan your routes carefully to

drive fewer miles and use less fuel -- and reduce wear and tear on

your vehicle. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use

twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip covering the same

distance when the engine is warm.

Other Gasoline-, Money-Saving Options

* If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas

mileage whenever possible. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, you can

save $645 a year by driving a car that gets 30 mpg rather than 20 mpg.

That's almost $2,600 extra in fuel costs in just four years!

* Carpool or ride-share. Some urban areas allow vehicles with multiple

passengers to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.

* Use public transportation. Check the American Public Transportation

Association's website for local public transit information

(http://www.apta.com/links/state_local/).

* If your employer permits, consider telecommuting or staggering your

work hours to avoid sitting in traffic and wasting gas during peak

rush hours.

* Protect your health and your pocketbook by walking -- or biking -- to

your destination whenever possible.

Buying, Renting, or Leasing a Car

* Federal income tax credits of $250 to $3,400 are available in 2006 and

2007 to purchasers of hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles, based on the

vehicle's efficiency and fuel savings. Tax credits are dollars

deducted from taxes owed. After each auto manufacturer has sold

60,000 hybrids, the credit begins to phase out -- so it pays to put

your order in sooner rather than later. See

http://www.ase.org/taxcredits for details, and check out local excise

tax reductions and other benefits for hybrid purchasers, too.

* When buying or leasing a new vehicle, think high gas mileage. Check

out the DOE website, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/, for information on

fuel-efficient vehicles.

* When renting a car, ask for a model that gets better fuel economy.

Source: Alliance to Save Energy; U.S. Department of Energy

Web site: http://www.ase.org/powerfulsavings
http://www.ase.org/consumers
http://www.energysavers.gov/
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
http://www.apta.com/links/state_local

AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO, Inc. announces today that it is adjusting the format of its popular AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) - North American Original Equipment Supplier Directory.

Changes to the publisher's two AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) supplier directory editions are as follows: The EXECUTIVE Edition has now been expanded to 4 volumes from 3 and the STANDARD Edition has been expanded to 3 volumes from 2.

The EXECUTIVE Edition is a comprehensive directory of North American original equipment suppliers with detailed up-to-date information on 3,800+ companies and 15,200+ supplier individual key points of contact (POCs). The STANDARD Edition is the same as above, but does not include individual key contacts.

"These format changes reflect the continued expansion of our database coverage," says David M. Bennett, the company's director of automotive business development. "The EXECUTIVE Edition for example now contains more than 3 times the original key employee contact data as it originally did when first launched in 2001."

AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R), Inc. provides automotive original equipment supply chain information to vehicle manufacturers and their Tier I, II and III suppliers of parts, components, assemblies and related services. AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R), Inc. publishes the AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) POWERbase(TM) (online database), the AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) e-SHEET(TM) (electronic spreadsheet), the AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) EXECUTIVE Edition (print) and the AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R) STANDARD Edition (print). For further information please visit AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO(R), Inc.'s website at http://www.powerbase-automotive.com/ .

Source: AUTOMOTIVE WHO'S WHO, Inc.

Web site: http://www.powerbase-automotive.com/

Nike, Inc., and Maven Networks today introduced JogaTV, a new Internet TV channel that gives soccer fans around the globe a front row seat to exclusive video featuring some of the game's greatest players, as well as some of the world's best untapped local heroes as they demonstrate Joga Bonito -- or Play Beautiful -- for everyone to enjoy.

JogaTV offers an insider view into the world of soccer via multiple video programs, all of which can be shared among friends. Video programming on JogaTV features international stars of the game including Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, and Wayne Rooney demonstrating the values of beautiful soccer - - Joy, Honor, Skill, Heart and Team. Soccer legend Eric Cantona stars in most of the videos as the disruptive advocate leading the rebellion against slow, controlling, boring soccer and the return of a beautiful, creative style of play.

Nike's global Joga Bonito campaign is multi-faceted, encompassing: Joga.com, the world's largest soccer-specific social network; Joga3, a short- field 3-on-3 game that will allow more than 3 million kids around the world to bring Joga Bonito to life; a Joga Bonito series of commercials; and of course, JogaTV.

Maven Media System(TM) is the technology link between video programming from Nike and its growing social network of soccer fans. Based on patent- pending technology, Maven's integrated video publishing and distribution platform provides unrivaled customer experiences across multiple devices for JogaTV.

Once the JogaTV internet TV channel is launched, the JogaTV icon lives on the soccer fan's desktop for easy access. Each week, new content is delivered behind the scenes via the Maven Media System and automatically added to JogaTV. At this time a new program series is unlocked for users to explore. Nike will unlock a total of seventeen different programs, one each week between April and July.

In addition to each of Nike's new Joga Bonito commercials, content on JogaTV includes:

-- original experiential videos featuring global soccer stars,

-- exclusive videos featuring soccer kids around the world demonstrating

their skills,

-- U.S. National Team star Clint Dempsey and his "Don't Tread" rap video,

-- viral videos featuring Brazilian greats Ronaldinho and Ronaldo,

-- a weekly blog titled This is American Soccer,

-- and a running clock counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds

to the U.S. National team's first game in Germany this summer vs. the

Czech Republic.

"Like all kids who love sport, soccer players and fans have a passion for their game that's almost insatiable," said Adam Roth, U.S. Advertising Director for Nike. "By launching this viral, online program, we tap into that spirit by delivering highly-coveted content while extending and demonstrating the message of Joga Bonito."

Hilmi Ozguc, CEO of Maven Networks said "Maven's technology allows Nike to directly reach its audiences with an interactive experience that genuinely demonstrates the future of Internet TV, and enables them to accurately target and measure their campaigns. True Internet TV channels are redefining how online content is distributed, and experienced."

Maven Networks' technology is the only broadband video platform that delivers a true Internet TV experience using full-screen, HD-quality video for PCs, Internet-connected TVs, video iPods, PSPs and other portable devices.

JogaTV is available through select soccer and youth-oriented websites including joga.com and nikesoccer.com.

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; NIKE Bauer Hockey, Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan, a leading designer and marketer of luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel.

About Maven Networks

Maven Networks pioneered the commercial use of HD video delivered via the Internet to PCs, TVs and portable devices. Its product, Maven Media System(TM), is the critical technology link between video programming and building a loyal, revenue generating Internet TV viewership. Based on patent- pending technology, Maven's integrated video publishing and distribution platform provides unrivaled customer experiences across multiple devices for both download and streaming environments.

Maven has operations in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Maven Media System is used by industry-leading organizations across the globe including 20th Century Fox, A&E Television Networks International, Atom Films, CJ Media, Disney Buena Vista Pictures, Hallmark Channel, National Geographic Channel, Pepsi, and Sony Pictures, to deliver compelling, interactive broadband video channel experiences using DVD and HD-quality video.

Source: Nike, Inc.

Web site: http://www.nikebiz.com/

At Trump National Golf Club -

Media Alert

What: Lexus is presenting sponsor of the celebrity golf event for the

fifth consecutive year and will host the Lexus Celebrity

Putting Challenge to benefit The Motion Picture & Television

Fund (MPTF). Celebrity teams will putt to win cash and a

one-year lease of a Lexus GS 450h hybrid performance sedan on

behalf of MPTF.

Who: Celebrities confirmed to date to join Michael Douglas as 2006

tournament players are:

* Michael Chiklis * Heather Locklear

* Kenny G * Haley Joel Osment

* Samuel L. Jackson * William Petersen

* Cheryl Ladd * Martin Sheen

When: Sunday, May 7, 2006

10 a.m. Press Call

10:30 a.m. Celebrity Interviews

11 a.m. Putting Challenge

Where: Trump National Golf Club, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Directions and parking instructions will be forwarded to

confirmed press

NBC: NBC-TV will nationally televise the tournament on Saturday,

June 10, 4-6 p.m. EDT

Sponsors: Lexus, Dr. Pepper, AOL, Trump National Golf Club

Why: Proceeds from the event will benefit The Motion Picture &

Television Fund and its efforts to provide charitable health

and community services to entertainment industry people in

need.

Source: The Motion Picture & Television Fund

This week is Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week and there is a new major league effort to help Americans get screened. This year more than 30,000 people will be diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck region. These cancers kill 7,000 each year, but, if caught early, they can be highly treatable.

Retired Major Leaguer and cancer survivor Brett Butler is teaming up with MLB.com and the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation to encourage the public to see a doctor or dentist to get screened for oral, head and neck cancer. The Yul Brynner Foundation is sponsoring a web page on MLB.com, featuring a videotaped message from Butler and information. It also has a directory of sites throughout the U.S. that will be offering free examinations by physicians and dentists on Friday, April 21st. The most effective prevention strategy is stopping risky behaviors like smoking, using chewing tobacco and drinking excessively. More than 85 percent of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use.

The nationwide free exams are for anyone and are recommended especially for those at higher risk. Log on to http://www.headandneck.org/ or http://ybf.mlb.com/ to find the free screening site nearest to you.

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: The Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation

Web site: http://ybf.mlb.com/
http://www.mlb.com/
http://www.headandneck.org/
http://www.multivu.com/

Viva Futbol. Viva V CAST. Verizon Wireless, the nation's premier provider of wireless products and services, announced today exclusive rights to mobile video clips, recaps and highlights, in the United States of Spanish-language coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM) -- the most important competition in international soccer as covered on the Univision, Galavision and Telefutura networks. Through an agreement with Univision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the U.S., highlights from "Copa Mundial de la FIFA Alemania 2006" will be available to all Verizon Wireless V CAST customers throughout the tournament (June 9 - July 9, 2006) and marks the first time such highlights will be available on wireless phones.

Re-live the moments from 2002

Fans who need a quick fix or a memory refresher of the 2002 FIFA World Cup can experience it today with video content, including Spanish-language tournament commentary and analysis, on their V CAST-enabled wireless phones. FIFA World Cup(TM) content is available to Verizon Wireless customers through the company's relationship with Univision, the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

Let the Games Begin

Once 2006 FIFA World Cup matches begin on June 9, 2006, V CAST customers will have access to video clips, recaps and highlights of all 64 matches right in the palms of their hands. Clips covering goals and key actions of the match with Spanish-language commentary will be on V CAST within 30 minutes after halftime and again at the conclusion of the match. In addition, customers will be able to watch a recap of the match, including all goals and key actions, within one hour of the end of each match. Additional details regarding 2006 FIFA World Cup content will be released in the coming months.

Viva V CAST

To get V CAST from Verizon Wireless, customers simply equip their V CAST- enabled phones with a V CAST VPak subscription for $15.00 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan. Unlimited basic video clips are included, but application download fees apply for 3D games, music and premium video. For more information, visit http://www.getvcast.com/.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/

About Univision Communications

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 98% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 86% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S.

Hispanic markets and 4 stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Music Group, which includes Univision Records, Fonovisa Records, La Calle Records and a 50% interest in Mexico-based Disa Records labels as well as Fonomusic and America Musical Publishing companies; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at http://www.univision.com/. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S., and a non-voting 14.9% interest in Entravision Communications Corporation, a public Spanish-language media company. Univision Communications is headquartered in Los Angeles with television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.

Source: Verizon Wireless

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.univision.net/
http://www.getvcast.com/

FOX Sports and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) are excited to announce that bull riding is coming to FOX this fall! The 90 minute tape-delayed PBR television broadcasts are slated to air on three single-header NFL Sundays. Fans can tune in on September 17, October 1, and October 29 to catch these adrenaline-charged Built Ford Tough Series events featuring the world's elite bull riding tour, the Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler.

The three PBR events will air at 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. ET immediately following the early NFL games or at 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. ET leading into the late NFL games, which will be determined two-weeks prior to game day in each market. The Greensboro, N.C. BFTS event airs on Sunday, Sept. 17, while the PBR World Finals from Las Vegas will air on October 29; the October 1st event is still to be determined. On October 29, the PBR event not only follows the NFL on FOX, but airs the same day of a possible Game Seven of the 2006 World Series.

PBR management is excited to enhance its programming with FOX coverage and not only deliver professional bull riding to its passionate fan base, but win new enthusiasts in the process.

Said CEO of the PBR, Randy Bernard, "I believe that the FOX Sports agreement is a landmark move for the PBR and will impact our sport in a huge way. Airing on NFL Sundays will bring the PBR into a tremendous number of homes, as well as expose our sport to an ideal demographic. FOX will deliver a broadcast that is very informational for the casual viewer and at the same time showcase the high impact action that our passionate fans expect."

"We are very excited to showcase some of the Professional Bull Riders' premier events," said FOX Sports President Ed Goren. "With its ever-growing fan base and popularity, the addition of PBR's elite bull riding tour to FOX Sports' schedule is a wonderful complement to our championship programming lineup."

More than 104 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With over 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.

In just 12 years of existence, FOX Sports has earned 63 Emmy Awards for excellence in the presentation of the biggest sporting events on television. FOX Sports is the exclusive network broadcast rights holder for Major League Baseball, the exclusive network broadcaster of NFC regular-season National Football League games and a rights holder of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing. In January, FOX Sports begins exclusive coverage of Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl from 2007 through 2010, and the new, stand-alone, BCS National Championship Game from 2007 through 2009. David Hill and Ed Goren are the Executive Producers of FOX Sports. For additional information on the Professional Bull Riders, please visit www.pbrnow.com or call 719.471.3008.

Web site: http://www.pbrnow.com/

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spc. Mark W. Melcher, 34, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died in Al Taqaddum, Iraq on April 15, when his M1A1 Abrams tank came under enemy small-arms fire during combat operations. Melcher was assigned to the National Guard's 1st Battalion, 103rd Armor, Friedens, Pa.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Master Sgt. Clinton W. Cubert, 38, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., died on April 16, in the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Ky., of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq, on Sept. 11, 2005. Cubert was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2113th Transportation Company, Paducah, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Derrick J. Cothran, 21, of Avondale, La. Cpl. Pablo V. Mayorga, 33, of Margate, Fla. Lance Cpl. Justin D. Sims, 22, of Covington, Ky. Pfc. Ryan G. Winslow, 19, of Jefferson, Ala. All four Marines died April 15 when their HMMWV struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Cothran, Mayorga, and Winslow were all assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Sims was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Darin T. Settle, 23, of Henley, Mo., died April 14 from a non-hostile motor vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Actor, director and producer Gary Sinise will soon depart for the Persian Gulf on his 18th USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to visit service members in the region. Currently starring in the hit CBS series "CSI: New York," Sinise also is known to troops as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump."

A long-time supporter of service members and veterans, Sinise was among a host of celebrities on the USO's first tour to Baghdad in June 2003. His other tours include visits to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Italy and Diego Garcia. Sinise also often tours with the Lt. Dan Band, performing concerts overseas and at military bases in the United States, most recently at Twentynine Palms, Calif., and Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Following his second USO tour to Iraq, where he visited with school children, Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, which provides educational materials to students in Iraq through the generosity of the American people.

This tour continues the USO/AFE tradition of bringing entertainment to troops stationed far from home. A number of entertainers have made trips for the USO this year, including country music duo Montgomery Gentry, Grammy Award-winning band La Mafia and Jeff Foxworthy. NFL players Bryce Fisher, Patrick Kerney and Max Starks also recently returned from a USO tour, marking the NFL's 40th year of partnership with the USO.

About the USO

For 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T, BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S&K Sales Co. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org/.

Source: USO

Afghan National Army Air Corps aviators began training with Task Force Falcon aviators and U.S. Army soldiers here April 11. The arrival of the 18-person team marks the first assignment of Afghan aviators here in 15 years. The aviators will use two Russian-made Mi-17 Hip helicopters for training and to move supplies and equipment with coalition forces. "The goal of this mission is to integrate the Afghan National Army Air Corps into coalition operations," said Army Chief Warrant Officer Tim Basso, an embedded trainer accompanying the Afghan aviators. "The end result is to get the Afghan pilots familiar with the way the coalition does operations, and for the coalition to learn from the Afghan pilots what the tactics for the area are." Army Col. Michael Rose, the Task Force Falcon commander, said the aviators' arrival came at an opportune time. "With this training, we can incorporate them into ongoing operations in support of Operation Mountain Lion over the next few weeks, and also as we work together during the remainder of the time that Task Force Falcon is here in Afghanistan," Rose said. "This gives us the opportunity to continue to develop a relationship that will go on past our departure from here." Many Afghan crewmembers served here previously but departed in the 1990s during Afghanistan's civil war. "The airfield was the front line of fighting (between the Northern Alliance and Taliban), so most of the pilots stayed away," said ANA Air Corps Capt. Abdullah, a pilot.

His last assignment to Bagram was in 1991. ANA Air Corps pilots Maj. Njamatullah and Capt. Mohammad Naim flew for the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. The aviators all volunteered to come back to service when the Air Corps was being created last year, and said they are happy to be flying again. Maj. Bashir, the ANA's liaison officer to Task Force Falcon, said he has seen control of the base pass through many hands, from Afghan government to the Russians, the Northern Alliance, the Taliban and now the United States. The ANA current mission is a step toward the Afghan government reclaiming control of the airfield, but coalition support is needed, he said. "Without the help of the coalition, and especially the U.S. and our partnership with Task Force Falcon, we cannot do it," he said.

People use the term "decompress" a lot at U.S. Central Command's Rest and Recuperation Center here. The center allows servicemembers and Defense Department civilians to leave the stress of service in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa behind, said Army Capt. Pernita Duggal, in charge of the R&R Pass Program facility. The four-day pass program gives servicemembers relief from the stressors of their duty stations while also giving them a taste of the culture of this Persian Gulf state. More than 100,000 servicemembers have participated in the program since it started in 2003. About 350 personnel per day take part in the program. "We've been as low as 150 and as high as 500," Duggal said.

The availability of transportation to and from the frontline zones is the limiting factor. "Some soldiers arrive expecting MTV's Beach House Party - that's not the intent," Duggal said. "But it is a chance for them to wear civilian clothes and relax while they are on pass." Army Staff Sgts. Michael Dion and Ross Desmit, both of the 126th Infantry of the Massachusetts National Guard, are based in Kuwait and said it was a good break. "It's enough sometimes just to sleep and not be bothered," Dion said. Desmit said he enjoys just wearing civilian clothes. "It's a break from the uncertainty of Iraq," said another soldier. "You can go out on a patrol every day there and nine times out of 10 nothing happens. But that 10th time can be tough. It's the not knowing part that is so stressful." "For some of us, it was enough to come here and just not have to carry a weapon around," said Spc. Brian Lascomb, an infantryman based in Baghdad. And it is a chance to get out and see some of Qatar.

The program offers trips to five venues each day. Force protection measures mean that not the same venues are offered every day, and each trip is limited to 25 personnel. The program offers a dhow cruise. "This is the typical Persian Gulf dhow that anchors off shore along the coast and allows servicemembers to swim and eat Arabic food," Duggal said. Another popular trip focuses on water sports, with jet skis, banana boats and waterskiing. There's an inland sea picnic where personnel drive to beaches and go swimming, have a picnic in an Arabic tent, play beach volleyball or just walk the coast. Other special outings, such as golf at the Doha country club or trips to the different shopping malls in the country, are available as well. The program also offers cultural tours of Doha. "This is the most popular tour," Duggal said. "For many it is an eye-opener, because they see an Islamic state that welcomes them." While the off-base activities are a draw, servicemembers also use on-base facilities.

These include a Chili's restaurant with a swimming pool, a fully stocked 24-hour gym, miniature golf, and two clubs - the Top Off and the Oasis Club. The Oasis Club is open 24 hours a day and serves food all through that time. The clubs serve beer at night, with a three-drink maximum. The Top Off is growing, and by the end of the month will open an Irish Pub, an Arabic Tent, the Monte Carlo Wine Bar and a Cyber Cafe. "We've gotten great cooperation from local vendors," said Army Maj. Ben Dennis, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation chief here. The club will also soon have an eight-lane bowling center and an improved dance floor. The USO also funds a room in the center, with video games and a movie room, where servicemembers can just relax. Volunteer organizations play a role too, with many donating clothing, the latest video games, books and DVDs to the center. These include Soldiers' Angels, the Special Forces Association and the USO. "It's a great program, but a lot of units do not participate," Dennis said. "Some may have it confused with the R&R leave program.

This is in addition to the two-week R&R leave." Servicemembers on a one-year tour in the region qualify for two four-day passes, Duggal said.

A senior Defense Department official said here today. Such reports constitute "wild speculation," DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman told Pentagon reporters, reiterating previous policy remarks President Bush has made on the Iran issue. The president has chosen diplomacy in concert with the international community as the preferred approach in persuading the Iranian government to jettison its nuclear programs, Whitman said. Yet, it would be unrealistic, Whitman suggested, for people to believe that DoD doesn't have plans for all types of potential military contingencies, including Iran. "We plan for all sorts of things," Whitman said. News reports have said the United States government is planning to attack Iran over its nuclear policies. Iran has so far refused to comply with U. N. entreaties to relinquish its activities to develop atomic fuel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadienejad announced on April 11 that Iran had produced enriched uranium using 164 centrifuges.

Such material can be used in nuclear reactors to produce electricity or to make nuclear weapons. Bush voiced his displeasure at Iranian efforts to develop nuclear technology during an April 10 speech given at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University here. "We do not want the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon, (or) the capacity to make a nuclear weapon, or the knowledge as to how to make a nuclear weapon. That's our stated goal," the president said. Iran is on a U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The Iranian president has also voiced his belief that Israel, a major U.S. ally, should be destroyed. Senior U.S. officials believe that any nuclear technology the Iranians develop will eventually be used to produce nukes. The U.N. Security Council put out a March 29 statement declaring that body's "serious concern" about Iran's decision to resume its uranium-enrichment activities. The Iranian government had ceased to cooperate with International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear regulatory organization. Iranian officials have said their country has a right to possess nuclear technology. The Iranian government's persistence in further developing its nuclear program "only further isolates the regime from the rest of the world," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters during an April 11 news briefing.

Following an unprecedented domestic disaster relief effort in 2005, Defense Logistics Agency officials here say DLA is ready to provide support during the 2006 hurricane season, which begins June 1. A recently completed agencywide review of DLA's response to domestic disasters in 2005 was an opportunity for the headquarters and field activities staff to assess agency support, evaluate actions necessary to improve that support -- which cost the agency $476.6 million -- and to be prepared for similar missions in 2006, officials said.

To ensure effective relief support during the upcoming hurricane season, DLA co-hosted a domestic disaster response logistics working group meeting last week in Springfield, Va., along with several top-level Pentagon organizations: the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense; and the Joint Staff Logistics Directorate. The working group participants included U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command, the National Guard Bureau, Army Materiel Command and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The meeting focused on the synchronization of ongoing logistics preparation for domestic disasters. "This was the second of several partnering efforts to ensure we are poised to provide support in the event of a domestic disaster," said Col. Eric Smith, chief of the DLA Logistics Operations Center. DLA's preparations for 2006 disaster relief efforts included the following: - Signing an interagency agreement with FEMA, resulting in sales of $67 million and allowing for advance coordination between the agencies. -

Agreements worked out by the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, a DLA field activity, with suppliers to provide commercial meals quickly in the event of a disaster. Commercial meals are better matched to the general population's nutritional and caloric requirements than military rations are, officials said. - DLA storage and management of 3 million military ration meals purchased by FEMA to provide an interim feeding solution until alternative meals are delivered by commercial sources. - The Defense Distribution Center, a DLA field activity, reviewed "first to go" stocks and is redistributing them to facilitate more rapid response to disaster sites. This effort is ongoing throughout April and is expected to be completed by May 1.

This is being undertaken to complement FEMA's Scaled Disaster Response Plan Requirement. - Deployable Distribution Depot will be capable of deploying an initial operating capability that can receive, store, issue and maintain in-transit visibility and positive asset control of relief commodities. The concept is to provide distribution services for 200,000 persons per day. DDC is assembling and training the work force to support this initiative. - DDC will ensure all shipments remain visible during transit by aggressively pursuing their Web-based monitoring.

This effort has been coordinated with NORTHCOM, FEMA and TRANSCOM. In addition, a color-coded placard system will be used on each shipment to enable quick visual identification of the types of commodity being shipped. "These efforts are a result of the challenges faced during the 2005 hurricane season," added Smith. DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the military services and to several civilian agencies. The agency is the one source for nearly every consumable item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations.

It's the day of reckoning for taxpayers and not a bad time to assess the state of finances for the average American family. How are consumers doing? It's a mixed picture.

Consumer income is stagnant and savings have dwindled while housing prices and debt have soared.

Consumer income has barely budged in this economic recovery, and savings have dwindled. Home ownership has soared along with housing prices, but so has debt.

The average family isn't getting rich: Median net worth (assets minus debt) from the recession year of 2001 through 2004 rose just 1.5% to $93,100, according to the Federal Reserve Board's comprehensive new Survey of Consumer Finances.

But a review of personal-finance findings from the Fed and other sources also shows that consumers are investing in their future. Half of U.S. households own stock; seven in 10 families own their home. A look at the state of consumer finance:

Saving and spending: Americans officially have been living beyond their income for one year. The nation's personal-saving rate --income minus consumption and interest payments -- turned negative in April 2005 for the first time since 1933, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

What American families own, and what they owe.

The Fed survey found 56% of families are setting aside savings. It also asked consumers how long they typically plan for key saving and buying decisions. The richer households are, the longer the planning period. Families in the bottom 50 percentiles of wealth live in the short term: 45% of those families plan key money decisions a few months to a year out. Among the top 10 percentiles, more than 60% plan saving and consumption decisions at least five years out.

House money: Consumers can live beyond their income by drawing on savings and capital gains and by borrowing. Many are extracting cash from the house, taking out gains after a sale or borrowing on equity.

A cooling housing market means less easy money. One indicator of a peak: Census Bureau data show the percentage of households that owned homes reached an all-time record of 69.2% in late 2004. The decline since then has been small; 69% of families owned a home in late '05. But lack of growth (after 10 consecutive years of growth) suggests a limit to the percentage of households that want or can buy a home at current prices.

Think rich
All houses aren't created equal. Homes owned by the top 1% were worth almost as much as homes owned by the bottom 50%. If you're selling goods for the home, it may pay to think rich.

Debt: Just under half of households (48%) had a home loan in 2004; 46% owed on credit cards or on installment loans such as car loans. About one-fourth of U.S. households (24%) were debt-free.

Stocks: In 1962, just 18% of families owned stock, according to the Fed. In 1983, 19% had stock or stock mutual funds. Advance to 2004, and half of households (49%) had money in the market. What happened?

A bull market, for one. The Dow added 300 points from 1962 to 1983 -- and 9,000 from 1983 to 2004.

The other key driver was the advent of employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s. Nearly half of today's investors began by buying stock funds through such plans.

Stock-market values halved from '00 to '02 but came roaring back. What's remarkable is how inactive investors were during this roller-coaster ride.

In 1998, on the way up, 42% of stock or fund investors bought or sold shares, according to the Investment Company Institute and Securities Industry Association. In 2001, on the way down, and in 2004, on the way back up, 40% did some buying or selling. Maybe it's just as well that newspapers are ditching their stock pages, for consumers aren't that consumed with what they own.

Web site: http://www.xmradio.com/

causing pain at package-goods players from Procter & Gamble Co. to the marketer of Remington and Rayovac.

The vendor squeeze is part of a broader push toward a theoretical 'zero inventory' state in which Wal-Mart won't pay for products until they're purchased by consumers.

Though not fingering Wal-Mart by name, P&G and Spectrum Brands cited "retailer inventory reduction" for earnings misses or narrowing of sales growth forecasts. It's all part of a program to focus on "gross margin return on investment" from Eduardo Castro-Wright, the newly elevated exec VP-chief operating officer of Wal-Mart Stores USA.

According to an internal presentation for Wal-Mart's January Supplier Summit meeting in Kansas City, Mo., Mr. Castro-Wright's goal is to reduce excess inventory by $6.5 billion.

He told suppliers that Wal-Mart's old 2-to-1 sales to inventory ratio "is history" and that the company will reap ROI by two means: reducing inventory and taking measures to eke more spending out of upscale consumers already visiting Wal-Mart stores with higher-ticket, higher-margin items.

The vendor squeeze is part of a broader push toward a theoretical "zero inventory" state in which Wal-Mart won't pay for products until they're purchased by consumers. But marketers have always counted products as sold as soon as they are received by Wal-Mart and other retailers.

Wal-Mart declined to comment.

Even for a $330 billion behemoth like Wal-Mart, eliminating $6.5 billion of inventory through its so-called "Remix" program could mean huge financial gains. But in the short-term, the brunt of the push will be borne by non-food package-goods marketers forced to alter their production cycles and foot the cost of more frequent deliveries of fewer products to Wal-Mart.

People familiar with the matter said that Wal-Mart is consolidating distribution centers for supercenters with those for its traditional discount stores. By putting non-food marketers on the same terms as food marketers, it effectively reduces the inventory of their products within Wal-Mart's supply chain from an average of five weeks down to three. The efficiency push, though, could ultimately go much further. Some food vendors have less than a week's worth of inventory in Wal-Mart's system at any time.


For non-food package-goods marketers, which generally get about 30% of their U.S. sales from Wal-Mart, eliminating just two weeks of inventory amounts to a 1% hit to sales on an annual basis or a 4% hit if concentrated in one quarter.

Though marketers have been reluctant to single out Wal-Mart by name, P&G last month blamed "retailer inventory de-stocking" for a minor disappointment as it narrowed its forecast for sales growth in its fiscal third quarter to the mid-range of prior forecasts. Spectrum, marketer of Rayovac, Remington and Spectracide, similarly blamed retail inventory issues.

A spokesman for P&G declined to comment on specifics, but did say the "retailer de-stocking" the company referred to was primarily at Wal-Mart and that now "we would expect shipments at normal consumption levels ongoing." Wal-Mart accounts for about 16% of P&G's business globally.

In an April 6 conference call explaining Spectrum Brands' second consecutive quarterly earnings miss, Chairman-CEO David A. Jones blamed "significant retailer inventory reduction" by several large retailers for part of the company's problems, without singling out Wal-Mart.

Some package-goods executives pointed out that ongoing inventory squeezes are a fact of life in the business. "This is not a new phenomenon," said Ian Cook, president-chief operating officer of Colgate-Palmolive Co. in an investor presentation last month. "It is something that we work closely with, with all retailers and bring into the everyday flow of our business."

American Small Business League Victorious in Lawsuit Under Freedom of Information Act The Small Business Administration has capitulated after an eighteen month legal battle with the American Small Business League to obtain documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The SBA had fought the release of small business size standard protests that had been dismissed. These protests had been filed against firms accused of misrepresenting their size status in order to illegally receive Federal small business contracts. This is the second time in the past twelve months that the ASBL has prevailed in Federal court against the SBA.

The SBA was forced to release 102 dismissed protests that had been filed over an eighteen-month timeframe against firms whose small business status was challenged. The ASBL requested the documents because it believed a clear pattern would emerge of the SBA dismissing legitimate protests in order to protect large government contractors that receive small business awards. A preliminary review of the documents released as a result of the suit confirms that a large number were dismissed on minor technicalities. Furthermore, the SBA failed to follow up on the information provided with the protests that showed these large companies were receiving millions of dollars in contracts. "Our findings confirm we were right on target with our concerns. The SBA has a history of withholding damaging information like this," stated Lloyd Chapman, President of the American Small Business League. "And this is just a sampling over an eighteen-month period.

We believe this pattern of behavior goes back well over a decade." Chapman added, "Hector Barreto claims that there would be severe penalties for firms misrepresenting their size to obtain small business contracts. Yet the documents we received indicate that the SBA is actually helping these firms to break the law. It's time for the Justice Department to investigate the SBA's handling of protests against large firms. We're talking about $119 billion in small business prime and subcontracts. Where is the oversight to protect small business?" Chapman stated that he intends to file another lawsuit against the SBA later this week.

About the ASBL The American Small Business League was formed to promote and advocate policies that provide the greatest opportunity for small businesses - the 98% of U.S. companies with less than 100 employees. The ASBL is founded on the principle that small businesses, the backbone of a vital American economy, should receive the fair treatment promised by the Small Business Act of 1953. Representing small businesses in all fields and industries throughout the United States, the ASBL monitors existing policies and proposed policy changes by the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies that affect its members.

rofessionalSingles.com, a new niche-dating site launched this week, already has over 8,000 members worldwide. It's the first online dating site to target "professionals." You can search and get matched up by profession, read 24-hour live news feeds, and celebrity guest interviews. This month Nick Warnock from "The Apprentice" is their celebrity guest. "We did our research and asked professionals what features they would like to see in a dating site," said Stephen Scott, President of ProfessionalSingles.com. "We used the feedback to provide the desirable features and functionalities that are second to none. "We offer three chat rooms which include:

The Professional Cafe, where members share business ideas, talk about current trends and expand their contacts; The Board Room is a place to vent, release work frustrations, and discuss job issues and relationships; and The Sky Lounge, a place to relax and socialize with other professionals." "Because we believe individuals who share the same professional lifestyle do match well together," added Stephen, "we offer them the ability to narrow their search by over 30 professions. Many singles joining our site are bankers, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, and executives. Most members are doing well in their professional lives and are serious about improving their love life."

ProfessionalSingles.com is currently offering members a chance to win a cruise for two to the Greek Isles. You can visit their website at http://www.ProfessionalSingles.com.

The Procter & Gamble Company announced today the following management changes effective immediately:

- R. Kerry Clark (53), vice chair of the Board-P&G Family Heath, will

retire after 32 years of service. Cardinal Health has announced that

Mr. Clark has been named chief executive officer effective immediately.

- Bruce L. Byrnes (58), vice chair of the Board-P&G Household Care, in

addition to his current responsibilities, will assume responsibility

for the baby care, family care and pet health & nutrition businesses

that previously reported to Mr. Clark.

- Susan E. Arnold (52), vice chair-P&G Beauty, in addition to her current

responsibilities, will assume responsibility for the oral care,

personal health and pharmaceutical businesses that previously reported

to Mr. Clark. She has been named vice chair-P&G Beauty & Health.

"Kerry has made tremendous contributions to P&G during his 32 years of service," said A. G. Lafley, P&G chief executive. "Over his P&G career, Kerry helped lead virtually every P&G business category and was the architect of P&G's developing markets growth strategy. Kerry leaves an outstanding legacy."

"We will take this opportunity to realign our beauty and health businesses under Susan Arnold's leadership and combine all of our household and family businesses under Bruce Byrnes," continued Lafley. "I have enormous confidence in the leadership of our vice chairs and other business leaders."

In related moves, P&G's board announced the following appointments:

- Robert A. Steele (50), group president-North America market development

organization, has been named group president household care, reporting

to Mr. Byrnes, and will have overall responsibility for P&G's coffee,

snacks, family care and pet health & nutrition businesses.

- Edward D. Shirley (49), president - commercial operations,

international-Gillette, has been named group president-North America

market development organization, succeeding Mr. Steele

Verizon Wireless ofrece comentarios, videos clips y otros materiales de la Copa Mundial FIFA 2002 Viva Fútbol. Viva V CAST. Verizon Wireless , principal proveedor de productos y servicios inalámbricos del país, anunció que posee los derechos exclusivos de video móvil en Estados Unidos para la transmisión en idioma español del campeonato mas importante de fútbol, la Copa Mundial FIFA Alemania 2006(TM), que transmiten las Cadenas Univision, Galavisión y Telefutura. A través de un acuerdo con Univision, las mejores jugadas de los partidos de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Alemania 2006(TM) estarán disponibles para todos los clientes de Verizon Wireless V CAST durante todo su desarrollo (9 de junio -- 9 de julio) y será la primera vez que estas mejores jugadas de los partidos estarán disponibles en teléfonos inalámbricos.

Reviva los momentos de 2002

Los aficionados que deseen ver o recordar la Copa Mundial FIFA 2002(TM) pueden hacerlo actualmente con contenido de video con análisis y comentarios del torneo en idioma español en los teléfonos inalámbricos compatibles con V CAST. El contenido de la Copa Mundial FIFA(TM) está disponible para los clientes de Verizon Wireless gracias a la asociación de la compañía con Univision, la red de transmisión exclusiva de la Copa Mundial FIFA Alemania 2006(TM).

Que comiencen los juegos

Una vez que comience la Copa Mundial FIFA 2006(TM), el próximo 9 de junio, los clientes de V CAST tendrán acceso a video clips, resúmenes y los mejores momentos de los 64 encuentros en la palma de su mano. Dentro de los 30 minutos posteriores al entretiempo y al final de cada encuentro, en V CAST habrá video clips con los goles y las acciones importantes con comentarios en español. Además, los clientes podrán ver un resumen con los goles y los momentos importantes, dentro de la hora posterior a la finalización de cada encuentro. En los próximos meses, habrá más detalles sobre el contenido que se transmitirá sobre la Copa Mundial FIFA 2006(TM).

Viva V CAST

Para obtener V CAST de Verizon Wireless en los teléfonos compatibles con V CAST, los clientes sólo tienen que obtener una suscripción de acceso mensual al V CAST VPak de $15.00, que se agregará al plan de llamadas de Verizon Wireless. Esto incluye video clips básicos en forma ilimitada, pero se aplicará un importe de descarga para obtener videos premium, de juegos 3D y de música. Para obtener más información, visite

Acerca de Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless es propietario y opera la red inalámbrica más confiable del país, atendiendo a 51.3 millones de clientes de voz y datos. Verizon Wireless tiene su sede en Bedminster, NJ, y es una empresa conjunta de Verizon Communications y Vodafone ( .

Acerca de Univision

Univision Communications Inc. ("Univision") es la empresa líder de medios de comunicación de habla hispana en Estados Unidos. Sus operaciones incluyen Univision, la cadena de televisión en español más vista en EE.UU., con cobertura del 98% de los hogares hispanos del país; TeleFutura, la cadena de televisión en español lanzada en 2002, con cobertura del 86% de los hogares hispanos de EE.UU.; Galavisión, la cadena de televisión por cable en español líder en el país; el Grupo de Televisión Univision, propietario y operador de 62 estaciones de televisión en los principales mercados hispanos de EE.UU. y Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, el principal grupo radial en español, propietario y/u operador de 69 emisoras de radio en 16 de los 25 principales mercados hispanos y de 4 emisoras de radio en Puerto Rico; Univision Music Group, que incluye los sellos discográficos Univision Records, Fonovisa Records, La Calle Records y 50% del capital accionario de la empresa mexicana Disa Records, y las empresas editoriales Fonomusic y American Musical Publishing; y Univision Online, el destino de Internet en español más importante de EE.UU. con portal http://www.univision.com/ .

Univision Communications tiene un 50% de participación en TuTv, empresa formada para distribuir en EE.UU. los canales de televisión por cable de Televisa, y una participación sin derecho a voto del 14.9% en Entravision Communications Corporation, compañía pública de medios de comunicación en español. Univision Communications tiene su sede principal en Los Ángeles, su centro de operaciones de sus cadenas de televisión en Miami y estaciones y oficinas de ventas de televisión y radio en las principales ciudades de Estados Unidos.

Para mayor información, por favor visite http://www.univision.net/ .

Source: Verizon Wireless

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. ("KKR") anunció hoy que una afiliada de KKR ha firmado un acuerdo final para adquirir el negocio de desarrollo de software y soluciones ("el negocio de software") de Flextronics International Ltd. en una operación valuada en, aproximadamente, US$900 millones. Flextronics retendrá una participación accionaria del 15% en el negocio de software y continuará siendo un importante socio comercial y cliente.

El negocio de software tiene sus oficinas centrales en Palo Alto, California, y sus operaciones se ubican principalmente en India bajo el nombre de Flextronics Software Systems ("FSS"). El negocio es único en su capacidad de brindar soluciones para las comunicaciones, que van desde infraestructura de redes hasta dispositivos para el usuario final. Como socio clave en investigación y desarrollo para compañías de comunicación del segmento superior en todo el mundo, el negocio ha desarrollado un sofisticado modelo de entrega global. Compuesto por un grupo de soluciones de software y un grupo de asesoramiento en diseño estratégico, el negocio experimenta un rápido crecimiento y tiene aproximadamente 6.100 empleados en todo el mundo. Además de las operaciones en los Estados Unidos e India, tiene una importante presencia en Europa Oriental.

Luego de finalizar la transacción, el CEO Ash Bhardwaj, el Presidente de FSS, Arun Kumar, y el actual equipo de gerencia continuarán dirigiendo el negocio de software. Operará bajo un nuevo nombre que no ha sido elegido todavía.

La adquisición es la primera inversión de KKR en India y la segunda inversión en Asia, luego de la inversión hecha en 2005 en Avago Technologies, el antes Grupo de Productos Semiconductores de Agilent Technologies. También se considera que es la mayor LBO (compra total de acciones) e inversión en tecnología en India, a la fecha.

Adam H. Clammer, uno de los Miembros de KKR, dijo: "Nuestra inversión en el negocio de desarrollo de software y soluciones de Flextronics es una destacada oportunidad para crear valor en un sector de alto crecimiento. Dirigido por un equipo de gerencia de nivel mundial, el negocio de software tiene un récord único de éxitos en la entrega de tecnología para las comunicaciones. Creemos que el negocio está bien posicionado para construirse sobre los sólidos cimientos que ha desarrollado en sus mercados".

James H. Greene, Jr., uno de los Miembros de KKR, agregó: "Esta transacción demuestra la fortaleza del enfoque global en inversiones que KKR ha desarrollado en los años recientes. Al realizar esta transacción, aprovechamos los recursos de nuestra franquicia en todo en mundo. KKR está emocionada por el negocio de desarrollo de software y soluciones, y el creciente mercado al que apunta".

Ash Bhardwaj, CEO del negocio de software, dijo: "Esta operación es un desarrollo positivo para nuestros clientes, empleados y accionistas. KKR es la principal firma del mundo de inversión en capital privado, y su participación en nuestro negocio valida lo que hemos logrado y nuestro importante potencial. Como una unidad de negocio autónoma, estaremos mejor posicionados para desarrollar más nuestras ofertas en cuanto a servicios y productos, y extender nuestras relaciones con los clientes. Esperamos colaborar con KKR y deseamos nuestra relación continua con nuestros colegas en Flextronics".

KKR financiará la adquisición con facilidades para deuda totalmente respaldadas. Citigroup Global Markets (Asia) y Merrill Lynch actúan como Receptores Conjuntos de Ofertas y Coordinadores Conjuntos para la financiación de la adquisición.

La finalización de la transacción, que se espera para el verano de 2006, está sujeta a aprobaciones regulatorias y condiciones de cierre habituales.

Citigroup Global Markets y Morgan Stanley actuaron como asesores financieros exclusivos de KKR en la transacción, y Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP fue el asesor legal.

Acerca de KKR:

KKR es una de las compañías privadas de acciones más antiguas y más experimentadas del mundo en gestión de compras, con oficinas en Nueva York, Menlo Park, California, Londres, París, Hong Kong y Tokio. El año pasado, KKR comprometió más de US$1.000 millones al negocio de tecnología, incluso SunGard Data Systems y Avago Technologies, que se consideran las dos más grandes inversiones en acciones de tecnología privada en la historia, con precios de operación de US$11.800 millones y US$2.800 millones, respectivamente. Entre las inversiones pasadas de KKR en tecnología, encontramos: Amphenol, RELTEC, Wincor Nixdorf, Tenovis y Zhone Technologies. En los últimos treinta años, KKR ha invertido en más de 140 operaciones con un valor total de US$193.000 millones. Para más información, por favor visite http://www.kkr.com/.

Acerca del Negocio de Desarrollo de Software y Soluciones de Flextronics:

El negocio de desarrollo de software y soluciones de Flextronics es el principal proveedor de soluciones de software de alto impacto, innovadoras para el sector de las comunicaciones globales. Los clientes de su espectro completo de ofertas para servicios de software, productos para software, y consultoría para diseño estratégico, son las principales compañías de comunicaciones del mundo. El negocio de software tiene la exclusiva capacidad de brindar soluciones completas de software que van desde infraestructura de redes hasta dispositivos para el usuario final. Además de sus operaciones en India y Estados Unidos, el negocio tiene oficinas en China, Alemania, Italia, Sudáfrica y Ucrania.

Source: KKR

Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis at today's general audience to the Easter Triduum. "Through the sacred rites," he told the 40,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, "we relive the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord, reawakening the desire to follow Jesus more closely."

He went on to explain how: "Holy Thursday commemorates Christ's total giving of Himself to humanity in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Through the washing of feet, it also recalls in a dramatic way the new commandment to love one another. The day concludes with Eucharistic adoration in memory of Our Lord's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"On Good Friday, we listen to the account of the Passion and contemplate Christ on the Cross. This is love in its most radical form: God gives His very self, in order to raise us up and save us. During Holy Saturday the Church is spiritually united with Mary, praying by the tomb of the Son of God who lies at rest after completing His work of redemption. Then, at the solemn Easter Vigil, the joyful Gloria and Easter Alleluia rise forth from the hearts of the whole Christian community, because Christ is risen and has defeated death!"

The Pope also called on those present to prepare themselves for Easter through the Sacrament of Confession. "We know we are sinners," he said, "but we trust in divine mercy. Let us be reconciled with Christ in order to enjoy more intensely the joy He communicates to us with His resurrection. His forgiveness, which is given to us in the Sacrament of Penance, is the source of interior and exterior peace and makes us apostles of peace in a world still marked, alas, by divisions and suffering, and by the drama of injustice, hatred, violence and the incapacity to achieve reconciliation and begin again in sincere forgiveness."

The celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, said Benedict XVI, "gives us the certainty that evil does not have the last word; supported by this certain knowledge we can commit ourselves with greater courage and enthusiasm to creating a fairer world."
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