The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and not real.
To understand the internet you have to be open to change.
Content is king
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne May 11, 2006
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne May 11, 2006MBN
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Watch for the MBN Politically incorrect SUV
MONTEBUBBLISM: For those that really don’t know this fact, novels, television series and feature films are not real. They are works of fiction.
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and not real.( More on controversy May 12)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group Announces Revolutionary Deal to Publish Legal Film and TV Content Using the BitTorrent Platform
LA Opera Presents World Premiere of Elliot Goldenthal’s New Opera
GRENDEL
Left Behind: Eternal Forces" Highlights God Games at E310th ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS UNVEIL YEAR'S BEST WEB SITES;
MYSPACE FOUNDERS, THOMAS FRIEDMAN, THE GORILLAZ, MARK CUBAN, INTERNET CO-INVENTOR DR. BOB KAHN, AND WEBBY WINNERS
TO BE HONORED AT JUNE 12TH CEREMONY IN NEW YORK
2006 National Magazine Award Winners Announced at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Verdi’s La Traviata
Bridges TV to Televise First-Ever FBI and Muslim Town Hall
Two brand new Grande Vitesse Systems products, GVS9000 4XU and GVS9000 1U-IS received outstanding responses at the National Association of Broadcaster's
show in Las Vegas, NV last week.
AMC ENTERTAINMENT AND LIONSGATE OFFER "AKEELAH AND THE BEE" F-R-E-E TO U.S. TEACHERS
On July 31st, Whoopi Goldberg Will Conquer Her Next Entertainment Frontier: Radio
Baritone Renato Bruson to Make LA Opera Debut in Company’s September 2006
Presentation of Fairy Tale Becomes Retail Reality as Genius Products Hoodwinks Competition for #1 Spot; The Weinstein Company and Kanbar Entertainment's HOODWINKED Debuts at #1 in Sales to Consumers in First Week of Release
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Eidos Sign Videogame Distribution Agreement for 300: March to Glory; North American and European Distribution for PSP(TM) System Game in 2007
RADVISION chooses SPIRIT DSP Audio Software for Videoconferencing Solution
Best-Selling R&B Vocal Quartet Jagged Edge Ready to Celebrate New Album With Fans During Live Online Chat On Thursday, May 11 at 5pm (Eastern) at www.jaggededge.net
Game Developers Trust THX to Ensure High Quality Sound and Visuals
THX Adds New Publishing Partners and Titles to Certified Games Program
CBS and DIC Entertainment Debuts New Series, 'Dance Revolution', on 'CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party' Live-Action Series, Inspired by Konami Digital Entertainment's Hit Video Game Franchise, 'Dance Dance Revolution,' Encourages Physical ActivityGolden Age Premieres on Comedy Central's MotherLoad
Early Pioneer in Pure Digital IPTV Roll-out Launches WealthTV
Dial-Around Telecom Helps Consumers Celebrate Buddha Day With Special Asia-Direct Program From May 8 to 14
Discovery En Espanol's 'OBJETIVO: EL NORTE' to Examine the Immigration Debate From Both Sides of the Border
7-Eleven(R) Premieres 'Pizza & a Movie' Offer; P'EatZZa Sandwich(TM) Takes Starring Role
Allrecipes.com Is Searching for America's Top Recipe - Do You Have It?
Allrecipes.com and USA WEEKEND Are Calling All Home Cooks to Submit Their Tried-and-True Recipes for a Chance at $10,000
'Hellboy' Joins the Award-Winning Vs. System(TM) With the Premiere of Upper Deck Entertainment's 'Essential Collection' The Demonic Comic Icon Makes His Trading Card Game Debut in Spring 2007 Danish Cartoons and Censorship Debate at the Press Club 5/11 Censorship, Cowardice, or Good Taste?Military Channel's BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE to Open at the Navy Memorial
The Motion Picture Group, Inc. Has First Film Reviewed in Variety, an Entertainment Industry Trade Publication
IDM Launches Tie-in for Disney-Pixar's ''Cars'' with U.S. Auto Dealers; Direct Mail and Point-of-Sale Expected in 6,000+ Dealerships In Time for Film's June 9 Release
Lone Wolf Films and Grem67.com Release ''With All Due Respect'' Surfing Movie
Riptide Entertainment LLC Announces Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Dick Clark's American Bandstand in Stageplay
China Basketball Open Online's New Star Signing at E3
MTV to World Premiere New T.I. Video 'Why You Wanna,' on 'Total Request Live' and MTV Overdrive on Monday, May 15th
Sarah Silverman Stars in the Most Outrageous Comedy of the Year in ...
SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC An Edgy, Un-Politically Correct Film You Will Have to See to Believe!
Untapped Television Gems From Today's Top Hollywood Talent
Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets & Brilliant But Cancelled:
Guinness World Records Announces Tom Hanks is King of the Movies as He Gets Set to Star in His Next Potential Box Office Smash
Blizzard Entertainment(R) and Legendary Pictures to Produce Live-Action Warcraft(R) Movie; Fantasy Game Franchise Played by Millions Worldwide to Become Major Motion Picture
Zensonic Launches High Definition HDMI Network DVD Player
FC Fox Profiles Iraqi Under-14 National Team as They Compete in the 2006 Dallas Cup; The Stars of the Film ''GOAL! The Dream Begins''
'Forget About It' Accepted into Competition at International Film Festival
Principal Photography Commences on the Epic Adventure ``10,000 B.C.
Simply Southern Movie Series Presented by SouthernLINC Wireless
Toshiba Announces Qosmio(TM) Digital Entertainment Notebook with HD DVD-ROM Drive
Barbie(TM) and International Teen Recording Artist Skye Sweetnam Unlock High School Secrets in ``The Barbie(TM) Diaries'' DVD; Original Music Rocks with Eight Pop Singles
How China Buys and Sells TV
CCTV: National Network's System Helps Advertisers Go Beyond Big Cities
Tribune Publishing Names Vice President/Advertising » Doug Thomas to Lead Group Ad Sales and Management
Rubi Nicholas, of Denver, CO, Wins Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2 Will Host Evening of Mother's Day Programming on Network on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14 Before Getting a Shot to Develop Her Own Show
As the price of gas approaches $3.00 a gallon, more and more car shoppers are putting fuel-efficiency near the top of their wish list.
Wal-Mart Backs Online Auction for TV Ad DollarsRetail Giant and Other Marketers Look to Build $50 Million Test System
Ad Industry Blasted for 'Sanctioned Segregation'
SPORTS & AUTOSOakland & Dodger Baseball
BMW ORACLE Racing Sails Into Rockefeller Center to Kick-Off Summer June 15 - July 2, 2006
NBC to Break First Upfront Deal, Thanks to Football
Toyota Exclusive Sponsor of Sunday Night Games
Sports Pumps $4 Billion Annually Into L.A. Economy
L.A. Sports Council, L.A. Area Chamber release study showing L.A. sports industry's economic impact, attendance at all-time highs
AT&T Delivers Wi-Fi Service at EDS Byron Nelson Championship
Hot Spots Throughout Course Grounds Keep Pros, Spectators and Sponsors Connected During 2006 Tournament
Furniture Row(R) Racing Launches New Website, Offers Fans the Inside Track on NASCAR #78 Busch and CUP Teams
Loyola High School Teams With Detroit Tigers For 10th Annual Game Benefit Set For Friday, June 2 Fundraiser and Ford car lease raffle tickets on sale now
IntraCoastal Waterway Cruisers No Longer Lost at Sea
AirTran Airways, XM Satellite Radio and Andretti-Green Racing Feed Racing Fans' Need for Speed at Indy 500
DOD
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
DoD Announces Increase in Foreign Language Pay
A Defense Department program that 64 other federal agencies have adopted sees to it that wounded servicemembers from Iraq and Afghanistan and other people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities throughout the federal government
Asian-Pacific Americans making inroads into DOD Jobs
The people of Prince William County gathered here yesterday to dedicate a memorial that honors the 22 county residents who died in the Sept. 11, 2001
NEWS AND NEWS IN SPANISH
Media Catalyst proporciona a Sony Ericsson la versión de Internet del juego de la película El Código Da Vinci
Largest Study Ever Conducted With Household Water Treatment Shows That Soap and Clean Drinking Water Reduce Diarrhea by More than Half
Adidas Group Buys Distribution Rights for Brand Reebok in Russia
Herzogenaurach
Paramount Classics Donates 5% of Tickets Sales From 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' to Alliance for Climate Protection
American Idol Contestants Visit Graceland; Exclusive Photos and Video Available on Elvis.com
FARMERS' ALMANAC TV Series Debuts Nationwide on Public Television
HickoryTech Approved to Provide Digital TV to Faribault
Industry's First Upfront for Brand Integration, May 15
"LA REINA DEL PUEBLO" GRACIELA BELTRAN AND TIDE(R) TO GIVE SERENADES HONORING HISPANIC MOMS IN LOS ANGELES; INITIATIVE AIMS TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY BY HONORING WOMEN IN LOS ANGELES AS PART OF THE "TIDE THANK YOU" CAMPAIGN
General Motors Europe inaugura un nuevo centro de diseño europeo
Vatican News
Continuous Birth Control Enables Women to Plan Their Period Around Their Lifestyles
Statement by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Congressional Activity Related to Offshore Drilling along California's Coastline
TOM CRUISE AT CES (PHOTOS)
____________________________________________-
ENTERTAINMENT, ART, FASHION, TECHNOLOGY
The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and not real
A senior Vatican official has called for a boycott of "The Da Vinci Code," while the Council of Churches in Jordan and Roman Catholic activists in India want their governments to ban the film altogether.
But what's notable in the U.S. where the film's release next week has believers of many denominations nervous and angry is that boycotts are taking a back seat to anti-"Da Vinci" books and teaching sessions about the Gospels.
Some religious commentators figure that movie boycotts make Christians look bad and don't accomplish much. Even Opus Dei, the Catholic organization that's villainously portrayed in Dan Brown's story, is going for educational outreach.
"It seems that boycotts are becoming less and less effective," said Bob Waliszewski of the conservative Focus on the Family, whose pluggedinonline.com media guide draws 1 million visits a month.
The practical problem with boycotts, and even harsh criticism of a film, is that it winds up drawing more attention to the movie in question, they figure.
An Opus Dei leader cited attacks on Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of the Christ" as one reason his community was bypassing a boycott. And while the gay-themed "Brokeback Mountain" irked some conservative groups, commentator Dick Rolfe of the Dove Foundation, which encourages production of family-friendly films, cautioned last year that: "If Christians protest too loudly, they can end up making the mistake of calling attention to a movie that otherwise may not do very well at the box office."
Another problem, said Christian media consultant Phil Cooke, is that so many entertainment offerings denigrate faith that believers would need to "set up a permanent boycott office underneath the Hollywood sign."
Movie boycotts basically don't work, says Bob Waliszewski of Focus on the Family, though protests can sometimes kill TV shows because advertisers don't want to offend consumers.
What has believers across the theological spectrum upset about "Da Vinci" is the idea that the film will echo Brown's novel by having scholarly characters dismiss the Bible and church teachings about Jesus as fraudulent. The plot also revolves around Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, and a conspiracy to cover their union. "Da Vinci" director Ron Howard has rejected pleas for an on-screen disclaimer labeling the tale as fiction.
Advocates of a box-office boycott include Archbishop Angelo Amato, No. 2 in the Vatican's doctrine office, and India's Catholic Secular Forum. Jordan's Council of Churches said "Da Vinci" contradicts both the Bible and Islam's Quran.
In America, one person suggesting an alternative is Barbara Nicolosi, whose Act One trains Christians in entertainment careers. She's promoting an "othercott" through her "churchofthemasses" blog: Believers are to purposely attend Disney's "Over the Hedge" to bump "Da Vinci" from first place in opening weekend box office.
Otherwise, church groups are sponsoring an unprecedented avalanche of pre-emptive Web sites, broadcasts, sermons, books, pamphlets, panel discussions, news conferences and ads.
Retired University of Missouri-Kansas City professor Gregory Black says boycotting was once a more potent threat. His book "The Catholic Crusade Against the Movies" recounts the story of the Catholic bishops' Legion of Decency, founded in 1934.
The group controlled sexual and other offensive content for more than two decades by monitoring forthcoming films and threatening to direct millions of parishioners to shun unacceptable fare.
These days, cultural changes and new channels of movie distribution make boycotts much more difficult, he said. Besides, "boycotts generally have driven people to the box office."
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group Announces Revolutionary Deal to Publish Legal Film and TV Content Using the BitTorrent Platform
New BitTorrent Service Will Feature Hundreds of Warner Bros. Television Shows and Films for Download Day-and-Date with DVD
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group today announced a groundbreaking agreement with BitTorrent Inc. to leverage the company's peer-assisted delivery system for the electronic sell through of motion picture and television content in the United States. With this announcement, Warner Bros. becomes the first major studio to provide legal video content via the BitTorrent publishing platform.
The announcement follows BitTorrent's agreement with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to prevent film piracy and promote innovation in online digital distribution of content. Content published with BitTorrent will be available on the BitTorrent.com website and feature downloadable programming. The distribution channel will leverage BitTorrent's revolutionary "file-swarming" technology, which enables the transfer of massive files from a website to a PC with the speed and bandwidth efficiency of peer-assisted transfers. This new method of delivery is the first peer-assisted network in the U.S. that combines guaranteed availability, high-quality video and rapid download rates.
"The technology behind BitTorrent is elegantly designed for the delivery of large files like TV programs and films. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group was established to provide innovative, next-generation distribution models and this relationship provides our company with a unique platform to reach a new set of movie fans," said Kevin Tsujihara, President Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "BitTorrent has made the leap in creating a legal partnership that respects the value of the intellectual property. This has provided us with a next-generation platform for the distribution of our films and TV programs."
BitTorrent will provide the first peer-assisted technology platform to offer U.S. consumers legal content on both a video-on-demand (VOD) and electronic sell through (EST) basis, day-and-date with the DVD release.
The service is intended to launch in summer of 2006 and will initially feature more than 200 Warner Bros. new releases, catalog favorites and television series. Featured titles to be initially offered will include newer releases such as "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," "Dukes of Hazzard," "North Country," and "Rumor Has It," as well as library titles such as "The Matrix," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Natural Born Killers," and "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation." TV programming will include shows such as "Babylon 5" and "Dukes of Hazzard."
"BitTorrent is the ideal platform to publish high-quality content on the Internet. By combining Warner Bros.' popular video content with BitTorrent's proven delivery efficiency, consumers will have an unparalleled way to experience entertainment online," said Ashwin Navin, President and Co-founder of BitTorrent. "As developers of the leading peer-assisted protocol, we're pleased to be working with Warner Bros., an industry innovator with the largest library of motion pictures, to bring our millions of users entertainment at the click of a mouse."
BitTorrent was designed in 2001 to be an effective publication tool for large files on the Web. With the launch of BitTorrent's search engine in 2005, BitTorrent.com became a place for publishers to showcase their content and consumers to find and download content in one convenient location. BitTorrent continues to work with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to remove copyright infringing content from its search results and is working with studios to replace that content, to provide a secure, legal venue for consumers. With integrated monetization for paid and ad-supported content, the forthcoming BitTorrent service will be an ideal platform for the online distribution of popular video.
"Warner Bros. is in the business of making its movies and TV shows available to as wide an audience as possible. The launch of a legal BitTorrent online video service allows us to extend our reach to places our content would not ordinarily be found legally and opens up new opportunities. Entering into agreements such as this to distribute our content is not only a better way to reach existing and new customers but a reflection of the critical role distribution technologies play in the future of the entertainment industry," said Darcy Antonellis, Executive Vice President, Distribution Technology and Operations, Warner Bros. Technical Operations.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group:
The Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group was founded in 2005 to bring together all of the Warner Bros. Entertainment businesses involved in the digital delivery of entertainment content to consumers, including home video, online, wireless, games and anti-piracy and emerging technologies operations. WBHEG is a strategic recognition of the ongoing changes in the way consumers view entertainment product and seeks to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios to make the Studio's content available to audiences through as many channels, platforms and devices as possible.
About BitTorrent Inc.:
BitTorrent is home to the world's leading open-source file-sharing protocol by the same name, specifically created to overcome the obstacles of transferring large files over the Internet. Created in 2001, BitTorrent is enabling millions of users worldwide to publish, search and download popular digital content quickly, easily and securely. BitTorrent is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information, visit http://www.bittorrent.com.
LA Opera Presents World Premiere of Elliot Goldenthal’s New OperaGRENDEL
Directed by Julie Taymor and Starring Eric Owens in
Title Role and Denyce Graves as The Dragon,
Production will be Conducted by Steven Sloane and Lionel Friend
May 27 – June 17, 2006
Academy Award-wining composer Elliot Goldenthal and Tony-Award winning director Julie Taymor join forces on Grendel, a ground-breaking new opera which will receive its world premiere performance at LA Opera on Saturday, May 27 at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion. Based on John Gardner’s 1971 novel of the same name, the opera is inspired by the Beowulf legend and is a darkly comic retelling of the classic story from the monster’s view. Grendel will be directed by Julie Taymor, who is also co-librettist with J. D. McClatchy. The opera is also the first ever co-commission and co-production between LA Opera and the Lincoln Center Festival. In New York, Grendel bows at the New York State Theater, July 11.
Bass Eric Owens returns to LA Opera to star in the powerful title role of Grendel, the monster who struggles to control his own instincts. Also returning are mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as the cynical Dragon, whose wisdom reveals Grendel's inevitable role as the Eternal Enemy, and soprano Laura
Claycomb as the beautiful Queen Wealtheow. Tenor Jay Hunter Morris makes his mainstage debut as the brave warrior Unferth, tenor Richard Croft debuts as the Blind Harpist and bass Phillip Ens also makes his debut as King Hrothgar. Tony Award-nominated dancer Desmond Richardson portrays the character Beowulf. Also featured are sopranos Hanan Alattar, Maureen Francis and Jessica Swink as
Dragonettes; and tenor David Gagnon, baritone Jonathan Hays and bass Charles Temkey as Shadow Grendels. Casting includes Kyle Hampson as Child Grendel / Boy Shaper, Sean Sullivan as Prince Hrothgar and David Schnell as The Propagandist.
Grendel opens on Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 7:30 PM and runs for seven performances. Evening performances are June 1, 8, 14 and 17 at 7:30 PM and matinee performances June 3 and 11 at 2:00 PM. Grendel runs in repertory with Marta Domingo’s new production of La Traviata.
The production will be led by debuting conductor Steven Sloane (Lionel Friend conducts
performances on June 14 and 17) and features set design by George Tsypin (Ms. Taymor’s collaborator on this season’s acclaimed production of Die Zauberflöte at the Metropolitan Opera). Costume design is by Constance Hoffman, lighting design is by Don Holder (winner of a 1998 Best Lighting Design Tony Award for Taymor’s Broadway production of The Lion King) and puppet design is by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. The choreographer is Angelin Preljocaj and the projection art director is Karin Fong.
About Grendel
Elliot Goldenthal’s Grendel is based on the 1971 John Gardner novel of the same name, which retells the Anglo-Saxon legend, Beowulf. The monster, Grendel, is presented as an alienated, passionate thinker trapped in the body of a beast and outcast from the world of men. He is a tortured killer unable to control his evil instincts, who struggles to transcend his condition in an existential quest for meaning and purpose. “Our monster is not an innocent or a dumb brute,” wrote the opera’s creators. “Both subhuman and superhuman, bestial and divine, Grendel mirrors modern man trapped in his own history, seeking the
possibilities of optimism and redemption.”
Grendel interweaves both sources, constantly shifting from the medieval to the modern, the human to the monster's vantage point. The chorus and most of the principals sing in Old English, from the original Beowulf text, while Grendel, the protagonist, sings in Modern English. Through Grendel's familiar language the audience is able to follow the details of the story, while, in the Old English sections, they will be able to experience the sound of the archaic language as music.
The cast of characters includes a cynical Dragon who reveals Grendel’s inevitable role as the eternal enemy; Queen Wealtheow, whose beauty washes away the hostilities of sworn foes; the warrior Unferth, who fails in his quest to slay the beast; and The Shaper, a blind harpist whose sly songs put a spin on reality to inspire Grendel’s adversaries. The staging will equal the scope of the saga. Kings and queens, dragons, children, dwarves and wolves will be represented by fantastical costumes, puppets, and masks, brought to
life by singers and dancers, and supplemented by film projection.
The scenic elements also incorporate transformative powers. A towering wall is the dominant image on stage. One side of the wall is ice, the other side is rock, roots and jutting rusted iron weapons. With these visceral surfaces, George Tsypin has created a world of seasons and landscapes. Innovative three and two-dimensional projected film animation will supplement the puppetry in creating characters that defy gravity and logic.
May 13 – The Opera League of Los Angeles will present a Grendel Seminar with members of opera’s creative team and moderator Dr. W. Allan Edmiston. 9:30am – 1pm at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Fifth Floor Banquet Hall, 135 North Grand Avenue (Entrance just south of garage on Grand Avenue). Tickets are $20.00 for League members and 30 for non-members. This event is additionally supported by The Opera Guild of Southern California. For reservations and information, visit www.operaleague.org.
Go Behind the Scenes - Follow the creation of a world premiere with LA Opera’s newly-created web journal of Grendel at http://www.laopera.com/bts/grendel.06.asp. Check back each week for additions to this site. As the premiere draws closer, LA Opera will be updating with new photos, interviews and other glimpse into this unique creative process.
Tickets and Information
Grendel opens on Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 7:30 PM. Evening performances will take place June 1, 8, 14 and 17 at 7:30 PM. Matinee performances will take place June 3 and 11 at 2:00 PM. All performances will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tickets range in price from $30 to $205 and may be purchased at the LA Opera Box Office, by phone at (213) 972-8001 or on-line at www.laopera.com. For disability access, call (213) 972-0777 or e-mail wehelpyou@laopera.com.
Grendel is made possible by major grants from
The Walt Disney Company Foundation and the Joop van den Ende Foundation
Generous support also received from
Marc and Eva Stern Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Carol and Warner Henry, Younes and Soraya Nazarian Roger Wacker and Angelle Ghiz, The James Irvine
Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts
Grendel will be sung in English and Old English from the original Beowulf text with English Supertitles.
All programs, artists and dates are subject to change.
Left Behind: Eternal Forces" Highlights God Games at E3
10th ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS UNVEIL YEAR'S BEST WEB SITES;
MYSPACE FOUNDERS, THOMAS FRIEDMAN, THE GORILLAZ, MARK CUBAN, INTERNET CO-INVENTOR DR. BOB KAHN, AND WEBBY WINNERS
TO BE HONORED AT JUNE 12TH CEREMONY IN NEW YORK
www.webbyawards.com
The winners of the 10th Annual Webby Awards will be saluted alongside a remarkable slate of Special Achievement honorees, including the founders of Myspace.com, Thomas Friedman, Mark Cuban, The Gorillaz, and Internet co-inventor Dr. Robert Kahn, at the June 12th gala in New York City, the International Academy of the Digital Arts and Sciences announced today.
Webby Awards winners were revealed today in 69 business, consumer and culture categories - from favorites like Community, Fashion, Film and Politics to new categories making their debut this year such as Podcasts, Best Visual Design, Business Blog and Best Use of Video or Moving Image. The 10th Annual Webby Awards received a record 5,500 entries from over 40 countries around the world.
In addition, over 300,000 votes were cast by people around the world speaking out for their favorite sites as part of the People's Voice Awards. A full list of Webby Award and People's Voice Award winners - and the people behind them - can be found at www.webbyawards.com.
Organizers also announced recipients of this year's Webby Special Achievement awards, including:
Webby Breakout of the Year: social networking sensation MySpace.com and its founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe.
Webby Artist of the Year: The Gorillaz, the world's most successful virtual band and a pioneer in fusing music and animation.
Webby Entrepreneur of the Year: Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and HDNet and evangelist for the power of technology to drive change.
Webby Person of the Year: Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The World is Flat: A Brief History of The 21st Century.
Webby Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Robert Kahn, co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocols, the technology used to transmit information on today's Internet.
Proclaimed "the online equivalent of an Oscar" by the New York Times (June 21, 2005), The Webby Awards is the leading international honor for Web sites and the innovators behind them. The Webby Awards is presented by the Academy, a global organization with over 500 members including musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, and fashion designer Max Azria.
Over 600 winners, industry leaders, and celebrities will attend the June 12th ceremony at New York City's landmark Cipriani Wall Street For the second year in a row, Rob Corddry of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will emcee the evening's festivities.
In keeping with Webby tradition, all winners and Webby Special Achievement honorees will be limited to five-word acceptance speeches. Last year's Webby Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Al Gore made worldwide headlines with his speech - "Please don't recount this vote."
"The winners of the 10th Annual Webby Awards reflect the web's incredible diversity and the vital role it plays in all aspects of our daily lives," said Tiffany Shlain, Webby founder and ambassador. "We're proud to salute the people and organizations whose groundbreaking ideas are reshaping how we experience our world."
Highlights of the 10th Annual Winners include
Winners ranged from new and up-and-coming sites like The Huffington Post (Political Blog), Style Wars (Best Visual Design) and FabChannel.com (Music) to powerhouses like Paypal (Financial Services), ESPN (Sports), Expedia (Travel), and Bank of America (Banking/Bill Paying).
Reflecting the past year's news, trends, and ideas, winners include The Katrina Help Center (Charitable Organization), San Francisco's disaster preparedness site 72Hours (Government) and hybrid vehicle guide UCS HybridCenter (Guides).
Sites winning in more than one category include BBC for BBC Cumbria/Digital Lives (Community) and BBC News (News); Google for Google Earth (Best Visual Design/Function and Broadband) and Google Maps (Services); and Flickr (Best Navigation/Structure and Best Practices).
People's Voice winners included established sites like BabyCenter (Kids/Parenting), MyYahoo! (Best Home/Welcome Page), Library of Congress (Cultural Institution), and CNET (Guides/Reviews/Ratings), as well as popular favorites like TripAdvisor (Community), CuteOverload (Cultural/Personal Blog), and Bebo (Social Networking).
19 sites won both a Webby Award and a People's Voice Award including: Redken Haircolor (Beauty and Cosmetics), Style.com (Fashion), The Onion (Humor), 2006 Sundance Film Festival (Movie and Film), mediaBOOM (Professional Services), Above the Influence (Youth) and Google Maps (Services).
International winners of The 10th Annual Webby Awards include: The United Kingdom's Official Portable PlayStation Site (Consumer Electronics), The Netherlands' Fabchannel.com (Music), New Zealand's NewZealand.com/travel (Tourism), and Canada's Big Ideas Come from Big Pencils (Best Visual Design/Aesthetic).
Arnold Worldwide, POKE, Avenue A/Razorfish , Critical Mass, DDB, Big Spaceship, Second Story Interactive, Framfab, Mullen, and Bloc Media are among the interactive, advertising, and design agencies behind the winning sites.
Title Sponsors for The 10th Annual Webby Awards are:
AOL LLC, a leading network of Web brands including the new AOL.com®, AOL's next generation broadband Web portal, which offers an extensive array of content and features available for free. Web users can access industry leading communication products; the best programming from news, sports and personal finance to music, movies, television and games; as well as an innovative video media experience, all from one place.
The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half International, the premier staffing company for creative professionals.
For a list of all winners of The 10th Annual Webby Awards, visit www.webbyawards.com
About The Webby Awards:
Founded in 1996, The Webby Awards is the leading international honors for Web sites. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 535-member judging organization consisting of leading experts in a diverse range of fields. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: AOL.com, The Creative Group; Verizon; Adweek Magazines; Fortune and FSB; OnRequest Images, IDG; PricewaterhouseCoopers; iStockphoto, American Marketing Association; 2Advanced Studios, 2 Advanced.net; MX Interactive. For more information visit www.webbyawards.com.
About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS):
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the internet and interactive media. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over 500 members consisting of leading experts in a diverse range of fields, such as musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, business guru and author Tom Peters, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, fashion designer Max Azria, Simpsons creator Matt Groening and Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser. The Webby Awards and The International Academy of DigFor more information, visit www.iadas.net.
2006 National Magazine Award Winners Announced at 40th Anniversary Celebration
The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism presented the 2006 National Magazine Awards, the industry’s most prestigious editorial honor, at a gala black-tie event held this evening, it was announced by Marlene Kahan, Executive Director, ASME. The 40th anniversary celebration of the awards, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, was attended by more than 1,000 editors, publishers, industry professionals and guests.
The National Magazine Awards honor magazines that consistently demonstrate superior execution in carrying out stated editorial objectives, innovative editorial techniques, noteworthy journalistic enterprise, and imagination and vigor in layout and design. The “Ellies” (named after the Alexander Calder stabile “Elephant,” ASME’s symbol of the award) were presented to 14 print and online magazines across 22 categories.
The 2006 National Magazine Award winners are:
Time for General Excellence (over 2,000,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (over 2,000,000 circulation)ESPN The Magazine for General Excellence (1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circulation)Esquire for General Excellence (500,000 to 1,000,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (500,000 to 1,000,000 circulation)New York Magazine for General Excellence (250,000 to 500,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (250,000 to 500,000 circulation)Harper’s Magazine for General Excellence (100,000 to 250,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (100,000 to 250,000 circulation)Virginia Quarterly Review for General Excellence (under 100,000 circulation)
for General Excellence (under 100,000 circulation)Self for Personal Service
for Personal ServiceGolf for Leisure Interests
for Leisure InterestsRolling Stone for Reporting
for ReportingThe New Yorker for Public Interest
for Public InterestThe American Scholar for Feature Writing
for Feature WritingEsquire for Profile Writing
for Profile WritingVanity Fair for Essays
for EssaysThe New Yorker for Columns and Commentary\
for Columns and Commentary\Harper’s Magazine for Reviews and Criticism
for Reviews and CriticismBackpacker for Magazine Section
for Magazine SectionTime for Single-topic Issue
for Single-topic IssueNew York Magazine for Design
for DesignW for Photography
for PhotographyRolling Stone for Photo Portfolio/Photo Essay
for Photo Portfolio/Photo EssayVirginia Quarterly Review for Fiction
for FictionNational Geographic Online for General Excellence Online
for General Excellence OnlineClick here for links to the National Magazine Award-winning magazines and articles and the complete list of 2006 Finalists.
for links to the National Magazine Award-winning magazines and articles and the complete list of 2006 Finalists.The Virginia Quarterly Review received six nominations and won two awards. Harper’s Magazine, New York Magazine and The New Yorker received five nominations and won two awards each. Rolling Stone and Time received three nominations and won two awards each. Esquire received two nominations and won two awards. Backpacker, Golf, Self and Virginia Quarterly Review were awarded their first Ellie this year.
This year’s program attracted 1,653 entries from print and online magazines. The 115 finalists and 22 winners were chosen by more than 200 editors, art directors, educators and online media experts.
A number of 2006 awardees have received multiple Ellies through the years. The New Yorker has received 46 awards; Esquire has received 18 awards; Harper’s Magazine has received 15 awards; National Geographic has received 13 awards; Rolling Stone has received 12 awards; Vanity Fair has received 11 awards; Time has received ten awards; New York Magazine has received nine awards; The American Scholar has received four awards; ESPN and W have received three awards each; and Virginia Quarterly Review received two awards.
Following are the 2006 National Magazine Award winners with judges’ citations. (Note that editors listed held that position at the time the issue was published in 2005.)
GENERAL EXCELLENCE – This category recognizes overall excellence in magazines. The award honors the effectiveness with which writing, reporting, editing and design all come together to command readers’ attention and fulfill the magazine’s unique editorial mission.
Over 2,000,000 circulation – Time: James Kelly, Managing Editor, for June 20, September 12, October 10 issues.
: James Kelly, Managing Editor, for June 20, September 12, October 10 issues.“From its sweeping account on Hurricane Katrina to its exclusive report from inside Guantanamo’s interrogation rooms, Time chronicled the events of 2005 with in-depth reporting, insightful analysis and striking photography. Time keeps reinvigorating its role as a newsweekly and demonstrates its relevance and importance in a changing media world.”
1,000,000 to 2,000,000 circulation – ESPN The Magazine: Gary Hoenig, Editor-in-Chief, for June 6, November 7, November 21 issues.
: Gary Hoenig, Editor-in-Chief, for June 6, November 7, November 21 issues.“Visually arresting, snappily written, and always energetic, ESPN The Magazine covers the sporting life on and off the playing field. The result is a twice-monthly feast for both the sports fan and the pop culture aficionado.”
500,000 to 1,000,000 circulation – Esquire: David Granger, Editor-in-Chief, for March, September, November issues.
: David Granger, Editor-in-Chief, for March, September, November issues.“Esquire’s signature elements -- from ‘What I’ve Learned’ to ‘A Woman We Love,’ are guideposts to a modern culture where men strive to be both serious and irreverent, stylish and sexy. Readers are treated to deep reporting, imaginative writing, superbly crafted pages, and an unconventional wisdom that is Esquire’s alone.”
250,000 to 500,000 circulation – New York Magazine: Adam Moss, Editor-in-Chief, for April 4, July 18, September 19 issues.
: Adam Moss, Editor-in-Chief, for April 4, July 18, September 19 issues.“Complex, dynamic and smart, New York Magazine reports on the people and events that are constantly reshaping New York City. With stylish writing, original packaging and editorial flair, the magazine is as intriguing as the city it covers.”
100,000 to 250,000 circulation – Harper’s Magazine: Lewis H. Lapham, Editor, for May, November, December issues.
– Lewis H. Lapham, Editor, for May, November, December issues.“A dazzling intellectual immersion, Harper’s pairs its supremely thoughtful long-format reads with fresh, provocative front-of-book choices. Consistently challenging, even demanding, Harper’s power is in its ability to cause sometimes subtle, sometimes seismic shifts in a reader’s world view.”
Under 100,000 circulation – The Virginia Quarterly Review: Ted Genoways, Editor, for Winter, Summer, Fall issues.
: Ted Genoways, Editor, for Winter, Summer, Fall issues.“At a time when magazines are rushing to embrace the digital age, Virginia Quarterly Review reimagines and reenergizes that old-world form – the literary journal. Crisply designed, smartly written, full of not just fiction and poetry but also topical reportage and memorable essays, VQR sets the bar extremely high -- and clears it time and again.”
PERSONAL SERVICE – This category recognizes excellence in service journalism. The advice or instruction presented should help readers improve the quality of their personal lives.
Self: Lucy S. Danziger, Editor-in-Chief, for its breast cancer handbook, Keep Your Breasts, Healthy for Life, October.
: Lucy S. Danziger, Editor-in-Chief, for its breast cancer handbook, , October.“The ‘2005 Breast Cancer Handbook’ combines the raw, personal insight of a cancer sufferer with a service package that delivers a comprehensive range of calls to action—all presented in an energetic, easy-to-follow style that strikes a wonderful balance of inspiration and practicality.”
LEISURE INTERESTS – This category recognizes excellent service journalism about leisure-time pursuits. The practical advice or instruction presented should help readers enjoy hobbies or other recreational interests.
.Golf Magazine: David M. Clarke, Editor, for The New Way to Putt, October.
: David M. Clarke, Editor, for , October.“Departing from the usual advice, Golf uncovers a breakthrough technique for getting the ball into the hole. Both concise and inspiring, ‘The New Way to Putt’ presents compelling evidence, as well as a clear plan for making the method your own—whether you're a duffer or a pro. While keeping its eye on the ball, this piece helps you train yours on improving your game.”
REPORTING – This category recognizes excellence in reporting. It honors the enterprise, exclusive reporting and intelligent analysis that a magazine exhibits in covering an event, a situation or a problem of contemporary interest and significance.
Rolling Stone: Jann S. Wenner, Editor and Publisher; Will Dana, Managing Editor, for The Man Who Sold the War, by James Bamford, December 1.
: Jann S. Wenner, Editor and Publisher; Will Dana, Managing Editor, for , by James Bamford, December 1.“Reporter James Bamford delves deep into the crossfire of the war of information and imagery to expose the work of the most secretive-and effective-tacticians of the endless Iraqi conflict. “The Man Who Sold the War,” a massive reporting effort that includes a rare interview with General John Rendon, provides a glimpse into covert trading of rumours and information in order to go to war.”
PUBLIC INTEREST – This category recognizes journalism that has the potential to affect national or local policy or lawmaking. It honors investigative reporting or groundbreaking analysis that sheds new light on an issue of public importance.
The New Yorker: David Remnick, Editor, for The Climate of Man, a three-part series by Elizabeth Kolbert, Part I, April 25; Part II, May 2; Part III, May 9.
: David Remnick, Editor, for , a three-part series by Elizabeth Kolbert, Part I, April 25; Part II, May 2; Part III, May 9.“In ‘The Climate of Man,’ Elizabeth Kolbert brings to the complexity of global warming the clarity and synthesis that only a gifted writer can summon: The unfailing intelligence and irresistible sanity of Kolbert’s narrative become a call to arms for all of us to confront the climate catastrophe we are leaving for our children.”
FEATURE WRITING – This category recognizes excellence in feature writing. It honors the stylishness, flair and originality with which the author treats his or her subject.
The American Scholar: Robert Wilson, Editor, for Genome Tome, by Priscilla Long, Summer.
: Robert Wilson, Editor, for , by Priscilla Long, Summer.“In ‘Genome Tome,’ Priscilla Long asks the question, ‘What are the reverberations of the recent discoveries about the human genome?’ In 23 luminous “chapters” that reflect a human’s 23 chromosomes, Long uses a blend of poetry, scholarship, and personal narrative to map out the implications of our past and how they will construct our future.”
PROFILE WRITING – This category recognizes excellence in profile writing. It honors the vividness and perceptiveness with which the writer brings his or her subject to life.
Esquire: David Granger, Editor-in-Chief, for Into the Light, by Robert Kurson, June.
: David Granger, Editor-in-Chief, for , by Robert Kurson, June.“Robert Kurson’s extraordinary profile, ‘Into the Light,’ recounts one man’s conflicted passage out of darkness. At three, Mike May was told he was blind for life. Decades later, he is a CEO, the first-ever blind CIA analyst, world sightless downhill record holder, a guitarist, sky diver and father of two sons. Then he is offered a stem-cell-and-cornea transplant—and the ability to see the world with new eyes.”
ESSAYS – This category recognizes excellence in essay writing on topics ranging from the personal to the political. Whatever the subject, emphasis should be placed on the author’s eloquence, perspective, fresh thinking and unique voice.
Vanity Fair: Graydon Carter, Editor, for A Matter of Life and Death, by Marjorie Williams, October.
: Graydon Carter, Editor, for , by Marjorie Williams, October.“At 43, Marjorie Williams, a writer for the Washington Post and Vanity Fair, learned she had advanced liver cancer and shortly would die, leaving a husband and two young children. Her dramatic and analytic account of her ordeal, published posthumously, meticulously walks readers through both the agony and the uplift of her time remaining.”
COLUMNS and COMMENTARY – This category recognizes excellence in short-form political, social, economic or humorous commentary. The award honors the eloquence, force of argument and succinctness with which the writer presents his or her views.
.The New Yorker: David Remnick, Editor, for three columns by Hendrik Hertzberg, Landmarks, February 14 & 21; Mired, August 22; Bah Humbug, December 26 & January 2.
: David Remnick, Editor, for three columns by Hendrik Hertzberg, , February 14 & 21; , August 22; , December 26 & January 2.“Rising above the cacophony of competing voices in the punditry-industrial-complex, Hendrik Hertzberg’s ‘Talk of the Town’ essays provide a perspective that too few social commentators offer nowadays. Hertzberg makes sense of bewildering and often unnerving topics with insight, fair-mindedness and authority.”
REVIEWS and CRITICISM – This category recognizes excellence in criticism of art, books, movies, television, theater, music, dance, food, dining, fashion, products and the like. It honors the knowledge, persuasiveness and original voice that the critic brings to his or her reviews.
Harper’s Magazine: Lewis H. Lapham, Editor, for three reviews by Wyatt Mason, Make It Newish, May; A World unto Himself, July; White Knees, October.
: Lewis H. Lapham, Editor, for three reviews by Wyatt Mason, , May; , July; , October.“At once compassionate and ruthless, Wyatt Mason seeks an understanding of his subject with endless erudition and a singular, tireless focus on quality. His criticism moves from the specific to bigger game – a defense of modernism and originality – and he’s not afraid to confront the authors with his findings.”
MAGAZINE SECTION – This category recognizes the excellence of a regular department or editorial section of a magazine, either front- or back-of-book and composed of a variety of elements, both text and visual. Selection is based on the section’s voice, originality, design and packaging.
Backpacker: Jonathan Dorn, Editor-in-Chief, for its Basecamp section, June, September, December.
:Jonathan Dorn, Editor-in-Chief, for its section, June, September, December.“Backpacker Magazine neatly stuffs exactly what its readers need into its Basecamp section, without an extra ounce of verbiage. Basecamp’s authoritative product reviews, clear technical advice, and enticing trail suggestions encourage readers and equip them for their adventures, and the writing and graphics offer a well-marked, scenic path through what could be a jungle of information.”
SINGLE-TOPIC ISSUE – This category recognizes magazines that have devoted an issue to an in-depth examination of one topic. It honors the ambition, comprehensiveness and imagination with which a magazine treats its subject.
Time: James Kelly, Managing Editor, for An American Tragedy, September 12.
: James Kelly, Managing Editor, for , September 12.“When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, Time magazine used every available resource to cover the worst natural disaster in American history. The resulting 52-page special report, done under intense pressure and published within a week of the event, was a triumph of the newsmagazine’s craft.”
New York Magazine: Adam Moss, Editor-in-Chief; Luke Hayman, Design Director, for July 25, November 21, December 19 issues.
: Adam Moss, Editor-in-Chief; Luke Hayman, Design Director, for July 25, November 21, December 19 issues.“The graphic sensibility of New York Magazine reflects the best qualities of the city itself. It’s an inventive mix of modernism and classicism, studied elegance and playful irreverence, blended together in one smart, inviting package. The magazine’s design does not play a supporting role. It is a vivid and original storytelling tool.”
PHOTOGRAPHY – This category recognizes excellence in magazine photography. It honors the effectiveness of photography, photojournalism and photo illustration in enhancing a magazine’s unique mission and personality.
W: Patrick McCarthy, Chairman and Editorial Director; Dennis Freedman, Vice Chairman and Creative Director; Edward Leida, Executive Vice President and Group Design Director; Kirby Rodriguez, Art Director, for July, September, October issues.
: Patrick McCarthy, Chairman and Editorial Director; Dennis Freedman, Vice Chairman and Creative Director; Edward Leida, Executive Vice President and Group Design Director; Kirby Rodriguez, Art Director, for July, September, October issues.“Provocative and endlessly innovative, the arresting photography in W shatters the conventional boundaries of fashion imagery. It succeeds in bridging the gap between photography and contemporary art with a variety of visual styles that add up to maximum impact.”
PHOTO PORTFOLIO/PHOTO ESSAY – This category recognizes a distinctive portfolio or photographic essay. It honors either photos that express an idea or a concept, or documentary photojournalism shot in real time.
Rolling Stone: Jann S. Wenner, Editor and Publisher; Will Dana, Managing Editor; Amid Capeci, Art Director; Jodi Peckman, Director of Photography, for The Edge of the World, by Sebastião Salgado, November 17.
: Jann S. Wenner, Editor and Publisher; Will Dana, Managing Editor; Amid Capeci, Art Director; Jodi Peckman, Director of Photography, for , by Sebastião Salgado, November 17.“As part of an ambitious special report on global warming, Rolling Stone published a 14-page photo essay by Sabastião Salgado. “The Edge of the World,” takes readers on a journey to the solitary reaches of Antarctica and Patagonia where his passionate plea for the environment resulted in black and white images of startling drama.”
FICTION – This category recognizes excellence in magazine fiction writing. It honors the quality of a publication’s literary selections.
Virginia Quarterly Review: Ted Genoways, Editor, for Peacekeeper, by Alan Heathcock, Fall; Smother, by Joyce Carol Oates, Fall; In a Grove, by R.T. Smith, Fall.
: Ted Genoways, Editor, for , by Alan Heathcock, Fall; , by Joyce Carol Oates, Fall; , by R.T. Smith, Fall.“VQR marries the traditions of American short story writing with innovative narrative to create three explorations of moral ambiguity. “Peacekeeper,” by Alan Heathcock, follows a young policewoman who takes justice into her own hands. R.T. Smith’s “Ina Grove” is a tale of rape and murder in the backwoods of Virginia. And Joyce Carol Oates, who had three nominated stories in this category, explores the fallibility of memory in “Smother.”
GENERAL EXCELLENCE ONLINE – This category recognizes outstanding magazine Internet sites, as well as online-only magazines and Weblogs that have a significant amount of original content.
National Geographic Online (www.ngm.com): Chris Johns, Editor-in-Chief
(): Chris Johns, Editor-in-Chief“National Geographic Online combines stunning photography, innovative interactive applications of text and video, and first-class journalism to open a remarkable door on the planet and its peoples. Whether it’s a live webcam on an African watering hole or a virtual tour of King Tut's tomb, visitors are guaranteed to be delighted and inspired.”
The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) is a non-profit professional organization for editors of magazines which are edited, published and sold in the U.S. Established in 1963, ASME currently has about 900 members nationwide. Among other things, ASME provides an opportunity for magazine editors to network with their peers. ASME works to preserve editorial independence and speaks out on public policy issues, particularly those pertaining to the First Amendment.
Verdi’s La Traviata
Returns to LA Opera in New Production Directed and Designed by Marta Domingo
Soprano Elizabeth Futral Stars with Tenor Joseph Calleja and Baritone Dwayne Croft, Conducted by John Fiore
June 7 – 24, 2006
Marta Domingo’s new production of La Traviata debuts at LA Opera, June 7 – 24, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Soprano Elizabeth Futral (who first conquered Los Angeles as Cleopatra in 2001’s Giulio Cesare) stars in the demanding role of the beautiful, doomed Violetta. Tenor Joseph Calleja debuts as Alfredo, the young lover who takes Violetta away into a dream of happiness that cannot last. Baritone Dwayne Croft returns as Giorgio Germont, the father whose devotion leads to a heartbreaking sacrifice.
John Fiore conducts this visually stunning production which features lighting design by Trevor Stirlin Burk and choreography by Kitty McNamee. Casting also includes Suzanna Guzmán as Flora Bervoix, Peter Nathan Foltz as Gastone, Lee Poulis as Marquis D'obigny, Philip Kraus as Baron Douphol, Jinyoung Jang as Doctor Grenvil and Jessica Swink as Annina.
Verdi’s soaring arias and passionate duets make La Traviata one of the most popular of all operas. In the face of certain death, a Parisian courtesan gives herself over to decadent pleasures, surrounding herself with glamorous friends, dazzling parties and wealthy admirers. But at a young man’s sincere declaration of true love, Violetta realizes the emptiness of her frivolous existence. She gives up everything for love, pursuing a romantic reverie that leads to tragic consequences.
La Traviata opens Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 7:30 PM and runs for seven performances.
Evening performances are June 10, 13, 16 and 21 at 7:30 PM and matinee performances are June 18 and 24 at 2:00 PM. La Traviata runs in repertory with LA Opera’s world premiere production of Elliot Goldenthal’s Grendel directed by Julie Taymor.
All performances of La Traviata will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tickets range in price from $30 to $205 and may be purchased at the LA Opera Box Office, by phone at (213) 972-8001 or on-line at www.laopera.com.
For disability access, call (213) 972-0777 or e-mail wehelpyou@laopera.com.
This new production of La Traviata has been made possible by generous gifts from
Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman,
CulturArte de Puerto Rico and Bertita & Guillermo L. Martínez.
La Traviata will be sung in Italian with English Supertitles projected above the stage.
All programs, artists and dates are subject to change.
Bridges TV to Televise First-Ever FBI and Muslim Town Hall
May 15th Forum Allows Muslims to Voice Growing Concerns to FBI BUFFALO, N.Y., May 10, 2006 -- In an historic first, Bridges TV will air its nationally televised Town Hall meeting between the FBI and Muslim and Arab Americans on Monday, May 15th at 8 pm ET / 9pm PT. The Town Hall is the first time that the FBI and Muslim and Arab Americans have engaged in a dialog on national television. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosts the town hall on national television in an effort to allow the American Arab and Muslim community a chance to voice their concerns publicly and directly to the FBI. Paul Moskal, chief division counsel for the FBI in Buffalo, N.Y., fielded questions along with Tom Ginter, a recruiter for the FBI.
The televised town hall is hosted by Adnan Mirza, Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations for Columbus, Ohio (CAIR-OH). "Our goal is to foster a better relationship between the American Muslim community and law enforcement authorities through communication and understanding," said Mirza. "The FBI and Muslim Town Hall is just another example of the highly unique and differentiated television programming that Bridges TV is bringing to the nation. With the present world situation, this kind of programming is top of mind for all Americans," said Mo Hassan, CEO of Bridges TV. The broadcast can be seen live on digital basic cable in Detroit, MI; Chicago, IL; and Columbus, OH on WOW! Cable and Internet. Residents of Toledo, OH and Massachusetts can watch on their digital basic cable on Buckeye Cable and Internet and Shrewsbury Cable and Internet, respectively. Nationwide, Globecast World TV satellite is broadcasting the historic FBI and Muslim Town Hall on its basic service. The U.S. State Department plans to broadcast this FBI and Muslim Town Hall worldwide in June on the U.S. Embassy Television Network. Participants questioned Moskal on topics such as loss of personal freedoms associated with the Patriot Act, concerns regarding delayed immigration and FBI monitoring of mosques and donations to Muslim charities. Dr. Syed Ali Khan, an Iranian-born physician from West Virginia, voiced his frustration over security checks that have slowed his application for permanent U.S. residency. "I have never even had a speeding ticket in my life.
Yet it has taken more than two and a half years for a security check," he said. Dr. Khan noted that this has impeded his career and plans for the future. Moskal agreed that although the process is frustrating for some, difficulty with common last names and contact with government agencies in foreign nations cause delays. Another caller voiced concern over monitoring of Muslim charities and how Muslims could assure they were donating to a legitimate fund. "When we write a check to a Muslim charity, how do we know our money reaches the intended recipient and doesn't land in a fund frozen by the United States government?" he asked. "The public should know that we want to reach out to the Arab and Muslim communities.
The FBI is committed to protecting their Constitutional rights," said Moskal. Ginter, FBI Special Agent for recruitment, noted that the Town Hall is an opportunity to ask for help within these communities. "Since 9/11, the FBI's main focus has shifted to preventing terrorism. This town hall allows us to recruit special agents within these communities to help us do that," said Ginter. About Bridges TV Bridges TV is a 24x7 network in English focused on bridging the gap between Western and Middle Eastern/South Asian cultures. The network is available on digital basic in one million cable homes. To learn how to receive Bridges TV, please visit http://www.BridgesTV.com.
Two brand new Grande Vitesse Systems products, GVS9000 4XU and GVS9000 1U-IS received outstanding responses at the National Association of Broadcaster's
show in Las Vegas, NV last week.
-GVS9000 4XU is a ruggedized editing system that allows users to
instantaneously share content and have their project available to everyone
on the SAN fiber network.
-GVS9000 1U-IS Ingest System brings RealTime DV to uncompressed HD to any
broadcasting environment, and performs accurate live capture, playback, and
remote management. Press releases with more information are attached.
Two other brand new GVS products made their debuts at NAB and also received
rave reviews:
-GVS9000 4NXU VTR is a high-def digital video recorder used for
post-production purposes.
-Broadcast Automation Software Solution (BASS) is a software which allows
users to build playlists and to organize and initiate the news and other
live events associated with each playlist.
In case you didn't receive my previous email with the press releases on
these products, I have included them here.
I would really appreciate it if you would let me know if any of these
products are of any interest to you and your readers. I look forward to
working with you.
AMC ENTERTAINMENT AND LIONSGATE OFFER "AKEELAH AND THE BEE" F-R-E-E TO U.S. TEACHERS
In an effort to reward teachers at the end of the school year for their hard work and encourage them to see the inspirational education-themed movie "Akeelah and the Bee," AMC Entertainment and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) are taking the unprecedented step of offering every teacher in the United States one free ticket to the film Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14, 2006. The offer is valid exclusively at all theatres in the AMC system including: Loews Theatres, Star Theatres and Magic Johnson Theatres.
"Partnering with a theatre chain the caliber of AMC gives us the
ability together to bring 'Akeelah and the Bee' to our country's most
important resource - teachers," said Tom Ortenberg, President of Lionsgate Theatrical Films. "We were in concert with AMC from the moment we joined together on this terrific idea."
"We are honored to be able to treat teachers across the country to a
free showing of 'Akeelah and the Bee' at one of our theatres," said Peter Brown, Chairman and CEO, AMC Entertainment. "The film underscores the tremendously positive effect that educators can have on our children, and it is our hope that this small gesture lets teachers know how much we appreciate them."
A motivating drama, "Akeelah and the Bee" is the story of Akeelah
Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los
Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and, in turn, unites her
neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing
little girl.
A Lionsgate, 2929 Entertainment and Starbucks Entertainment production,
"Akeelah and the Bee" was written and directed by Doug Atchison. The
film's producers are Sid Ganis, Nancy Hult Ganis, Michael Romersa, Danny
Llewelyn and Laurence Fishburne; executive producers are Todd Wagner,
Mark Cuban, Marc Butan and Helen Sugland.
Teachers need to present a valid school-issued identification card or
pay-stub and photo identification card at the box office in order to
receive a free admission to the film. Free admission to school teachers
will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
About AMC Entertainment Inc.
AMC Entertainment Inc. is a worldwide leader in the theatrical
exhibition industry. With a history of industry leadership and innovation dating back to the early 1900s, the company today serves more than 250 million guests annually through interests in 419 theatres and 5,724 screens in 12 countries including the United States. The company is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Additional information is available online at www.amctheatres.com.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate has earned 25 Academy Award (r) nominations (and four
victories) over the past seven years, more than any other independent studio.
CRASH marked the Company's first Academy Award (r) for Best Motion
Picture. The studio is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family
entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific
library is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and is a
foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe. Additional information is available online at www.lionsgate.com.
On July 31st, Whoopi Goldberg Will Conquer Her Next Entertainment Frontier: Radio
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU)
-- Oscar(R), Emmy(R), Grammy(R), Tony(R), Golden Globe(R) Winner and Noted Humanitarian to Debut Morning Radio Show This Summer
-- Welcoming Women Back to Morning Drive, "Wake Up with Whoopi" Brings Another Dimension to AC Radio
Clear Channel Radio today announced that the incomparable Whoopi Goldberg will lead a morning-drive radio program beginning July 31, 2006. Airing live, weekday mornings from 5am to 9am nationwide, the show is expected to especially appeal to adult contemporary stations.
"Radio is an area I have always wanted to play in," said Goldberg. "There aren't many women helming their own show. I'm thrilled to add my name to that small list because I believe that we have something to add to the morning groove."
A blend of daily topics, comedy, listener call-ins, guests and locally programmed music, "Wake Up with Whoopi" will be syndicated nationally through Premiere Radio Networks.
"Whoopi is one of those rare artists whose appeal crosses all demographics -- and she's a natural on radio," said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "It should be no surprise that her demos have been outstanding -- she's an incredibly accomplished actor, writer, producer and humanitarian. Whoopi makes you laugh, think, question and celebrate all at the same time. She's exactly what adult contemporary radio needs for the morning drive -- and we're incredibly fortunate to welcome her."
Goldberg joins a growing list of talented, multi-media personalities choosing Clear Channel Radio, including Ryan Seacrest, Ty Pennington, Donald Trump, Steve Harvey, Jesse Jackson and more. The deal was spearheaded by William Morris Agency's new radio division and attorney Bill Sobel.
Welcoming women back to morning drive
The morning day part has struggled in recent years to attract female listeners, including on adult contemporary stations.
"Women have been waking up to morning television for the past 15 years because radio hasn't always given them a reason to tune in," added Hogan. "This is a new chapter. 'Wake Up with Whoopi' will go down as the first program in the next generation of entertaining morning radio because of the extraordinary talents of Whoopi Goldberg."
About Whoopi Goldberg
The fact that Whoopi Goldberg has not only conquered, but excelled in virtually every area of entertainment throughout her uniquely diverse career is evidenced by her enormous popularity and global recognition. She is also one of a very elite group of artists to win the Grammy ("Whoopi Goldberg," 1985), the Academy Award ("Ghost," 1991), the Golden Globe ("The Color Purple," 1985 and "Ghost," 1991), the Emmy (as host of AMC's "Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel," 2002) and the Tony (as producer of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," 2002). She has also earned multiple People's Choice Awards, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and NAACP Image Awards, among many other awards and honors.
Whoopi began her career on stage and her film debut in "The Color Purple" captivated critics and audiences alike. Since then she has appeared in dozens of feature films, from comedy to drama, documentaries and she has lent her voice to numerous animated features, amassing hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office worldwide. Next, Whoopi's voice will be heard in the animated feature, "Everyone's Hero," to be released in September and she will be seen in the upcoming feature films "Homie Spumonie" and "If I Had Known I Was a Genius."
On television, she produced and hosted her own talk show, has starred in two sitcoms and was part of the ensemble of Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek: The Next Generation," before producing and appearing in the center square on the Emmy Award-winning "Hollywood Squares." She has appeared in her own and countless other network and cable television specials and has hosted such televised events as the Academy Awards and the famous "Comic Relief" specials, which have raised millions of dollars for the homeless over the years. She has starred in and produced television movies and has made countless guest appearances on series, including, most recently, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
Since first appearing on Broadway in her own one-woman show, Whoopi has since trod the boards in the revivals of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." Last year, she commemorated her original show by returning to Broadway once again in "Whoopi: The 20th Anniversary Show," which, like it's predecessor, was also broadcast on HBO and subsequently released on CD and DVD.
As she has in her prolific performing career, Whoopi has also made her mark as a producer. She and her production company, One Ho Productions, have produced a wide range of television movies, specials and series, including "Strong Medicine," which became the longest-running series on basic cable and "Just For Kicks," a live action series set in the world of girls soccer, which premiered on Nickelodeon in April. She and her producing partner, Tom Leonardis, President of Whoop, Inc., are currently getting back into the game show arena with a new show she has developed, "Shop/Shop," which features a scavenger hunt set in a shopping mall.
In addition to acting and producing, Whoopi has also established herself as an author, with the children's fairy tale, "Alice," and the New York Times Bestseller, "Book." Her next book, the first in a series of three new children's stories called "Whoopi's Big Book of Manners," will be published by Hyperion Books in October.
Whoopi is equally well-known for her humanitarian and charitable contributions to causes and organizations ranging from education and literacy to substance abuse, women's and children's health and welfare and the battle against HIV and AIDS. She has also been immortalized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has placed her hand, feet and braid prints in the forecourt of Mann's Chinese Theatre.
About Clear Channel Radio
Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods, through Motorola's iRadio cell-phone service, and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at http://www.clearchannel.com.
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Baritone Renato Bruson to Make LA Opera Debut in Company’s September 2006 Presentation ofLa Traviata
Bruson to Replace Previously Announced Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Germont
LA Opera has announced that legendary baritone Renato
Bruson will make his Company debut as Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, which returns for a special three-performance engagement to open the 2006/07 Season on September 9 (the production debuts in Los Angeles this June). Bruson replaces Dmitri Hvorostovsky who withdrew from the production due to scheduling conflicts.
Renato Bruson is one of the foremost bel canto and Verdi baritones of his generation. His operatic debut occurred in 1961 with Il Trovatore in Spoleto, and shortly afterwards he appeared in I Puritani at the Teatro dell'Opera of Rome. In 1970 he made his debut in Un Ballo in Maschera conducted by Riccardo Muti and began an association with the conductor which has already lasted 33 years. In 2002 he took part in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La Traviata in Busseto conducted by Plácido Domingo, which was broadcasted by the RAI and the subject of a successful DVD. The same year he made his début in Edipo Rè by Leoncavallo in Turin. He was awarded the title of "Kammersänger" by the Vienna State Opera.
The performances will also star two of opera’s greatest luminaries – soprano Renée Fleming and tenor Rolando Villazón as Violetta Valéry and Alfredo – in Marta Domingo’s new production conducted by James Conlon in his Company debut next season as Music Director. The production also features lighting design by Trevor Stirlin Burk and choreography by Kitty McNamee.
LA Opera’s special engagement of Verdi’s La Traviata opens on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 6pm and will be repeated Thursday, September 14 at 7:30pm and Sunday, September 17 at 2:00pm. Performances will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Information regarding the September 9 Gala Opening will be available in early summer. The September 14 and 17 performances will be available mid summer, with the Box Office opening for 2006-07 Season single ticket sales on Sunday July 16. For more information, call LA Opera Audience Services at (213) 972-8001 or visit www.laopera.com.
This new production of La Traviata has been made possible by generous gifts from Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman, CulturArte de Puerto Rico and Bertita & Guillermo L. Martínez.
Fairy Tale Becomes Retail Reality as Genius Products Hoodwinks Competition for #1 Spot; The Weinstein Company and Kanbar Entertainment's HOODWINKED Debuts at #1 in Sales to Consumers in First Week of Release
HOODWINKED, the blockbuster family film from The Weinstein Company and Kanbar Entertainment that generated an incredible $52 million at the box office and ranked #1 in its debut week, continued its success on DVD, becoming the #1 seller during its first week at retail. HOODWINKED was released May 2 by Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI).
"It is great to be number one and especially gratifying to be right on track with our distribution goals as the new company takes form," said Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater.
"Genius has done an incredible job handling HOODWINKED and we look forward to making more successful movies with Maurice Kanbar and Kanbar Entertainment," said Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.
"We are so excited that DVD buyers have embraced HOODWINKED with the same enthusiasm as theater goers. The film is terrific family entertainment and is packed with more fun and more laughs than any other CGI film has offered in quite some time," said Maurice Kanbar, founder of Kanbar Entertainment.
Kanbar Entertainment and The Weinstein Company retell the classic story of Red Riding Hood with a whole new hilarious twist in HOODWINKED. This $52 million box office surprise hit begins at the end of the tale and winds its way back, telling the story from the viewpoint of four different characters. HOODWINKED takes no prisoners as it irreverently and joyfully re-frames the fairy tale as a criminal investigation that combines humor and heart with wild hi-jinx! The film features the voice talents of Anne Hathaway (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE PRINCESS DIARIES), Glen Close (THE STEPFORD WIVES, The Shield), James Belushi (According to Jim), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld), Andy Dick (News Radio), Xzibit (DERAILED, MTV's Pimp My Ride), Anthony Anderson (HUSTLE & FLOW) and David Ogden Stiers (M*A*S*H).
ABOUT GENIUS PRODUCTS, INC.
Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI) produces and distributes an ever-expanding library of home entertainment products including DVDs and CDs. Sold in retail outlets nationwide under such well-known brands as Wellspring, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment(TM), NBC News, TV Guide(R) and Baby Genius(R), the company's products are distributed through the Genius Products Branded Distribution Network, an extensive, proprietary distribution network that extends throughout the U.S. to mass, drugstore, supermarket and specialty retailers. Genius Products recently released on home video The Weinstein Company smash hits, DERAILED, starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen, and WOLF CREEK, an Australian horror film, as well as the Oscar nominated film, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.
Genius Products boasts a premiere management team comprised of seasoned executives, formerly with major Hollywood studios, who have steered the company into the forefront of the industry through their landmark exclusive distribution deal with The Weinstein Company.
Upcoming films planned for release by Genius Products include films by The Weinstein Company such as THE MATADOR, starring Pierce Brosnan; DOOGAL, a comical animated adventure with the voices of Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg and William H. Macy; TRANSAMERICA, starring Felicity Huffman; THE MATADOR, starring Pierce Brosnan; David Zucker's hilarious new sequel, SCARY MOVIE 4; and THE LIBERTINE, starring Johnny Depp. Potential new releases include a sequel to SIN CITY, SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, CLERKS II and the highly anticipated film BOBBY.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Eidos Sign Videogame Distribution Agreement for 300: March to Glory; North American and European Distribution for PSP(TM) System Game in 2007
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a premier developer and licensor of entertainment content in the interactive space, and Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, have signed an agreement for the North American and European distribution of 300: March to Glory for PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, launching in 2007.
The style and feel of the videogame was influenced by Warner Bros. Pictures' "300" film, which is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel and directed by Zack Snyder. In the action packed 300: MARCH TO GLORY, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, distributed by Eidos Interactive and developed by Collision Studios, players take on the role of King Leonidas, who leads the brave 300 Spartans against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.
In the game, the player, as Leonidas, uses their sword, spear and shield and the power of the soldiers in a battle to determine the very fate of western civilization. 300: MARCH TO GLORY will be a visceral experience focused on action and combat, allowing the player to fight both solo and in a phalanx alongside his fellow Spartans.
About 300
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents in Association with Legendary Pictures and Virtual Studios, a Mark Canton / Gianni Nunnari Production, "300." Directed by Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead"), the film stars Gerard Butler ("Phantom of the Opera"), Lena Headey ("The Brothers Grimm"), David Wenham ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy), Vincent Regan ("Troy"), Rodrigo Santoro ("Love Actually") and Dominic West ("The Forgotten"). Gianni Nunnari ("The Departed"), Mark Canton, Bernie Goldmann ("Land of the Dead") and Jeffrey Silver ("Training Day") are the producers. Snyder and Kurt Johnstad, with a previous draft by Michael Gordon, adapted the graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. The executive producers are Frank Miller, Deborah Snyder, Craig J. Flores, Thomas Tull, William Fay and Benjamin Waisbren. The creative behind-the-scenes team is led by director of photography Larry Fong, production designer James Bissell, editor Bill Hoy and costume designer Michael Wilkinson. Music is by Tyler Bates. "300" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
About Eidos Interactive Ltd
Eidos Interactive Ltd is part of SCi Entertainment Group Plc (SEG) one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software. Following the acquisition of EIDOS Plc in May 2005, the Group has a valuable combined portfolio of intellectual property including: Tomb Raider: Legend, Conflict: Global Storm, Hitman: Blood Money, Championship Manager, Just Cause, Battlestations: Midway, Urban Chaos: Riot Response and the interactive rights to Reservoir Dogs and Highlander.
About Collision Studios
Collision Studios is a leading developer of entertainment based games across multiple platforms. Staffed by industry professionals from top tier developers and publishers, the team has worked on a variety of high profile franchises.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros Entertainment Company, is a premier licensor and a developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.
"PSP" is a trademark and "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately).
300 and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
RADVISION chooses SPIRIT DSP Audio Software for Videoconferencing Solution
SPIRIT DSP, the world's leading provider of embedded voice and communication software products, announced today that RADVISION (NASDAQ: RVSN), a global provider of multimedia conferencing and communications platforms, will integrate SPIRIT audio software into its videoconferencing products.
"We found SPIRIT's software to provide a high performance and high quality solution that integrated well into our product. SPIRIT provided excellent support and we are pleased with our decision to use their XDAIS compliant technology", commented Shimon Nurick, R&D manager of the NBU (Network Business Unit) at RADVISION.
SPIRIT has a strong position on enterprise conferencing technology market and is extending licensing deals and partnerships with industry-leading providers of hardware, infrastructure and software solutions to make conferencing systems and services better and easier for enterprise customers.
SPIRIT's audio software consists of high quality audio codecs, that are deeply optimized for target platforms (PC, RISC and DSP platforms) allowing higher channels capacity without sacrificing audio quality.
"We are happy to have RADVISION among SPIRIT customers." said Andrew Sviridenko, SPIRIT's founder and chairman. "Conferencing and Real-Time Collaboration market, expected to reach $11.5B in 2007, dramatically influences the way how enterprise customers deal with communications. Manufacturers, software and service providers are putting more and more efforts in order to win the RTC market, to bring more features and efficiency to the users. There are many different standard-based and proprietary solutions being used on this way. SPIRIT supports and offers software products for a wide range of proprietary and standard-based applications, both software and hardware based, PC, mobile, infrastructure, and we are happy that our technologies helps all types of customers to achieve their goals and make end-users enjoy better solutions".
SPIRIT's field-proven technology is available for applications on PCs, mobile phones, 3G video enabled phones, VoIP CPEs (voice and video over IP customer premises equipment) and VoIP infrastructure equipment. SPIRIT's embedded voice and communication software products are deployed by HP, Paltalk, Philips, HTC, UTStarcom, Oracle, Macromedia, Ericsson, LG among 200+ other OEM/ODM, software and hardware vendors worldwide. RADVISION is another example of the adoption of SPIRIT technology by a leading conferencing solution provider.
Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
About SPIRIT
SPIRIT DSP (http://www.spiritDSP.com/voip) employs 120 professionals, has been in international software licensing business since 1992. SPIRIT is a bootstrap and has been profitable for 14 years. SPIRIT focus is communication, speech and VoIP software products and today SPIRIT counts among its clients Adobe, Agere, Atmel, Flextronics, Ericsson, HP, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Marconi, MediaRing, NEC, Nortel Networks, Oracle, Paltalk, Panasonic, Philips, Polycom, Samsung, Siemens, Texas Instruments and Toshiba, among 200+ other communication OEMs and software vendors. Through the brand names SPIRIT communication software is used in over 70 countries and powers 80 million voice channels. SPIRIT DSP is a member of multiple voice-related developer communities, including Intel® Developer Network, ARM® Connected Community, Philips Nexperia Partners program, TI Third Party Network, TI OMAP Developer Network for Wireless handsets and PDAs. In 2005, SPIRIT DSP has been honored as one of the 'Fierce 15' top VoIP companies, and one of the 'Pulver 100' growth companies that represent the future of IP communications. SeeStorm is SPIRIT subsidiary for synthetic video conferencing.
Meet SPIRIT at VON Europe, Stockholm International Fairs, May 16th-18th at booth 648
About RADVISION
RADVISION (Nasdaq: RVSN) is the industry's leading provider of high quality, scalable and easy-to-use products and technologies for video conferencing, video telephony, and the development of converged voice, video and data over IP and 3G networks. For more information please visit our website at http://www.radvision.com.
Gender, Generation and Jobs Influence WOM Marketing Strategies
A new study by Lucid Marketing marketing, titled, "U.S. Adults: Word of Mouth Communications," found that women were more likely than men to share a positive experience with a business (91% to 83%) or recommend an enjoyable product (95% to 89%). And, full time employees made substantially more daily contacts than those not in the workforce, while those with household earnings of more than $100,000 were more likely to make recommendations than those earning less. The study showed that women tend to prefer verbal communications to other forms of contact, whereas men tend to prefer email.
Kevin Burke, President of Lucid Marketing, said "The study supported many of our notions about reaching consumers through WOM and surprised us in others." He added that there are a number of interrelated consumer trends that are fueling the growth of WOM as a marketing tool. The Internet empowers consumers and accelerates the flow of information and communications like never before. Other factors include the diminishing effectiveness of mass marketing, rising consumer distrust of advertising, and greater emphasis by marketers in targeting their best customers.
The report contained highlights, conclusions and marketing recommendations:
Full time employees make as many daily contacts as part time employees and stay-at-homers combined.
Stay-at-homers tend to make more daily visits to chat rooms and message boards
There seems to be no apparent increase in WOM activity for people with incomes from $75,000 to $90,000. The results showed an acceleration in WOM likelihood for households earning $100,000 and above
49% of Gen Y have built a website and one quarter have their own blog
Gen X and Boomers tend to use email more often and are more likely to spread positive WOM
SilverBirds have more activity in message boards and chat rooms than Boomers and nearly equal activity to Gen X. This is likely due to their desire to reconnect with family and friends, and to discuss health, medical and other issues of aging with peers and professionals
Best-Selling R&B Vocal Quartet Jagged Edge Ready to Celebrate New Album With Fans During Live Online Chat On Thursday, May 11 at 5pm (Eastern) at www.jaggededge.net
Hot New Album, 'Jagged Edge,' In Stores Now
NThe groundbreaking multi-platinum soul vocal quartet Jagged Edge will meet the group's fans online during an exclusive up-close and personal online chat celebrating the release of Jagged Edge, the group's eagerly-awaited fifth album for Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records.
The Jagged Edge online chat begins at 5pm (Eastern Daylight Time) on Thursday, May 11. Log on to: www.jaggededge.net
Released to stores on Tuesday, May 9, Jagged Edge finds the group's members -- twin brothers Brandon Casey and Brian Casey, Richard Wingo and Kyle Norman -- at the top of their game after four previous gold and platinum albums, keeping alive the R&B traditions of heart-stopping soul ballads and roof-raising block parties.
Guest artists on the new Jagged Edge album include multiple Grammy-winning Best New Artist John Legend on "Season's Change," Reggaeton superstar Voltio on "So Amazing," Boyz N Da Hood's Big Duke on "Sexy American Girls," and emerging artists Bad Girl on "Crying Out."
"Stunnas," a smokin' new Jagged Edge bonus track featuring legendary R&B impresario Jermaine Dupri, will be available online as a free download for fans who've purchased Jagged Edge. Log on to: www.jaggededge.net for details.
Jagged Edge first exploded onto the urban contemporary music scene in 1998 with the group's debut album A Jagged Era, which established them as the "Kings of Hip-Hop/Soul." Jagged Edge's breakthrough second album, 2000's J.E. Heartbreak, achieved RIAA double-platinum status, driven in part by the singles "He Can't Love U," "Promise," and the smash "Let's Get Married." A year-and-a-half after its release, the album was still on the Billboard 200 album chart. The group's third album, 2001's platinum-certified Jagged Little Thrill featured the raucous signature hit "Where The Party At" (featuring Nelly) which reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jagged Edge's fourth album, Hard, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart the week of its release in October 2003. Jagged Edge has earned ten gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA for the group's singles, albums and video.
Game Developers Trust THX to Ensure High Quality Sound and Visuals
THX Adds New Publishing Partners and Titles to Certified Games Program
THX Ltd., the leading provider of technologies, certification programs and quality assurance standards for the entertainment industry, today announced that several high profile titles, including Sony Computer Entertainment's MLB 2006, Atari's The Matrix: Path of Neo(TM), and Vivendi Games' highly anticipated SCARFACE(TM) THE WORLD IS YOURS, are among the latest games to achieve THX certification.
THX certification continues to be demanded by game publishers and developers that are looking to push the limits of quality and creativity. The company's expertise, with respect to studio design and sound and visual development, results in a dynamic end product that favorably represents the vision of the artist.
"With the debut of the next-generation consoles and proliferation of HDTVs and surround sound in the home, game developers have had to respond to heightened expectations for quality by making improvements to the way game audio and visual elements are created ... and THX has been a driving force behind that," said Mark Tuffy, director of games systems at THX. "THX certification raises the bar for game development studios, providing artists with the technologies and tools they need to create and deliver stunning game sound and visuals to the consumer audience."
The THX Certified Games program provides specifications for the way a developer's studios are designed, set up and maintained during the critical stages of a title's development. This includes strict standards for the studio's acoustics, noise levels, and production equipment performance. The THX standards are incorporated into the visual workstations for texture and lighting artists, and the audio mix rooms where surround sound elements are produced. The result is a development process that translates game soundtracks, color palettes and visuals from the studio to home playback systems.
RECENT THX CERTIFIED TITLES:
-- SoulCalibur(R) III, Namco
-- The Matrix: Path of Neo, Atari
-- Scarface The World is Yours, Vivendi
-- Jax(TM) X, Sony Computer Entertainment
-- MLB 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment
-- NBA 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment
-- The Godfather(TM), The Game, EA
ABOUT THX LTD.
THX Ltd. is dedicated to developing new ways to make the creation, delivery and presentation of entertainment content more efficient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios, car audio systems and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certified status. For more information, visit www.thx.com.
NOTE: THX and the THX Logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.
Source: THX Ltd.
Web Site: http://www.thx.com/
CBS and DIC Entertainment Debuts New Series, 'Dance Revolution', on 'CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party' Live-Action Series, Inspired by Konami Digital Entertainment's Hit Video Game Franchise, 'Dance Dance Revolution,' Encourages Physical Activity
CBS and DIC Entertainment (DIC), in association with Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced the production of a new dance competition series, "Dance Revolution", to debut on September 16, 2006 on "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party" branded programming block.
"Dance Revolution" (previously titled "Dance, Dance, Dance!"), a live-action television series inspired by Konami's hit video game franchise "Dance Dance Revolution(R)" (DDR), will join the new schedule of programming on "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party," a three-hour, E/I-compliant branded programming block exclusive to broadcast television. The series will encourage physical activity. "Dance Revolution" (E/I, TVY 7) complements the programming block's overall theme of promoting healthy, balanced active lifestyles. The line-up of previously announced programming to debut on "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party" includes "CAKE", "Horseland", "Kooky Kitchen", "Sabrina: The Animated Series", "Trollz" and "Madeline".
In "Dance Revolution", 'tweens' and teens bring their freshest moves to this sensational new dance competition where teams of dancers display their innovative routines. Hosted by the charismatic "Dance Revolution" house band, kid-friendly judges determine the winners as the dancers perform their routines to the cool sounds of the band. "Dance Revolution" will also offer onscreen visuals that constantly encourage viewer participation by demonstrating specific dance moves and steps.
"We are thrilled to partner with Konami to create a program that will entertain kids of all ages, and get them motivated, active and off the couch," comments Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of DIC Entertainment. "We are focused on using CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party as a vehicle to address the national concern of obesity and inactivity among children by providing motivating and innovative entertainment." He adds, "We are excited to add this unique series to our schedule and to the international markets."
"This collaboration gives Konami an excellent opportunity to bring elements of the DDR franchise to television," states Kazumi Kitaue, Chairman & CEO of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We hope to create equal success with the franchise on TV that we have had with the video game and look forward to working with DIC on bringing fun, interactive entertainment to young audiences."
DDR is an interactive game that continues to sweep living rooms and arcades across the nation. It is the only game in which players move their bodies to upbeat tunes while allowing them to exhibit their own innovative flare and original dance moves. DDR combines quick reflex action with pulsating dance music for intense "get-up-and-play" fun. Players are challenged to match their dance steps with the flashing arrows on the screen while keeping up with the high-energy beat of the music.
The workout component and interactive nature of the game have been highlighted as key elements to DDR's success. Additionally, the DDR series has benefited from major game/dance tournaments that have been held around the world. The game has successfully crossed over international borders to win a global fan base
As part of "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party's" balanced active lifestyle theme, the block will feature unique animated and live-action interstitials threaded throughout the morning block to promote healthy eating and balanced, active lifestyles for kids. The messages, which will promote nutritious eating habits, will be created in consultation with Baylor College of Medicine's Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC), an internationally renowned institute devoted to pediatric nutrition studies.
DIC will seek initial guidance on all programming to air on "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party" from children's experts from the DIC Educational Advisory Board -- a group comprised of leading media experts, educators and pediatricians created to provide information, guidance, advice and general expertise to DIC in the development of multimedia programs and projects for children.
DIC Entertainment, a fully-integrated global brand management company, is dedicated to creating, developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual properties. DIC has distinguished itself by building one of the largest libraries of western-style animation with approximately 2,800 half-hours of renowned programming, including "Ghostbusters(TM)", "Inspector Gadget(TM)", "Strawberry Shortcake(TM)", "Sabrina(TM)", "Madeline(TM)", "Liberty's Kids(TM)", "Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?(TM)", "Sonic The Hedgehog(TM)", "Super Mario Bros(TM)", Care Bears(TM)" and "Trollz(TM)". In 2003, the company launched the DIC Kid's Network, a unique syndicated programming block designed to meet core FCC requirements and the only network for kids that reaches effectively 98% of U.S. households on over 300 stations. As a pre-eminent supplier of kid's programming worldwide, DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key domestic and international broadcast partners throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC is headquartered in Burbank, California with international offices in Paris, London and Cologne.
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami's titles include the popular franchises "Metal Gear Solid(R)", "Silent Hill(R)" and "Castlevania(R)", among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. Konami Corporation, the parent company of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. can be found at www.konami.com/gs.
CBS Television is comprised of the CBS Television Network -- with more than 200 owned and affiliated stations reaching virtually every television home in the United States; the Network's programming arms include CBS Entertainment, CBS News and CBS Sports. CBS also manages UPN, which broadcasts primetime programming on five nights with an average of 90 percent total coverage throughout the country.
"KONAMI" is a trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION.
"Dance Dance Revolution" is a registered trademarks of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Source: DIC Entertainment; Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Web site: http://www.konami.com/gs
Web site: http://www.konami.com/
Golden Age Premieres on Comedy Central's MotherLoad
Augenblick Studios' Golden Age premieres on Comedy Central's "MotherLoad." Golden Age is the first adult animated series to be produced by a major television network for broadband. Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which will premiere weekly on their broadband channel, MotherLoad. Golden Age is an animated dark comedy revealing the shocking true stories of the world's strangest cartoon characters. Each episode uses a whirlwind blend of mixed media to satirize classic cartoons from the past. The first episode follows the scandalous career of Jerome, the gumdrop from the movie theater refreshment cartoons that played before movies in the 1950s. "Marching Gumdrop" kicked off the series May 8, 2006
(http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload). Golden Age was created and directed by Aaron Augenblick at Augenblick Studios. The series was written by Aaron Augenblick and Tim Harrod and features original music by Bradford Reed. Augenblick Studios is an independent animation studio based in Brooklyn, NY. One of the first studios to embrace the use of Flash, Augenblick Studios has coupled beautifully crafted, hand-drawn animation with subversive content to create a brand new breed of adult cartoon. Augenblick Studios is responsible for the animated content on MTV2's cult hit Wonder Showzen. For two seasons Augenblick Studios has worked closely with creators John Lee and Vernon Chatman to create the nightmarish cartoons of Wonder Showzen, including a heroin-shooting Bible, a canine gynecologist named D.O.G.O.B.G.Y.N. and one young girl's journey into her own reproductive system. Augenblick Studios also produced the animation for Comedy Central's Shorties Watchin' Shorties. Aaron Augenblick began his professional career working at MTV Animation on such television shows as Daria, Cartoon Sushi and Downtown.
In 1999 he founded Augenblick Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The studio has produced a wide variety of works for television, film and the Internet. Clients include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. In addition to commercial projects, Augenblick Studios has produced a string of critically acclaimed independent short films. Ramblin Man (2000), Drunky (2001) and Plugs McGinniss (2003) have been seen at film festivals throughout the world, including Annecy, South by Southwest, Florida and Slamdance. Tim Harrod is currently a staff writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He was a writer for The Onion for six years, garnering the 1999 Thurber Prize for American Humor for the Onion's New York Times-bestseller Our Dumb Century. He was also a writer for The Late Show with David Letterman. Bradford Reed is a member of King Missile III ("Detachable Penis," "Jesus Was Way Cool") and was a regular musician for the Blue Man Group. Reed is the official musician of Augenblick Studios, scoring numerous projects throughout the years. He has also created music for Cartoon Network, Sundance Channel, NBC and Spike TV. Watch Golden Age on http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload or visit http://www.augenblickstudios.com
Early Pioneer in Pure Digital IPTV Roll-out Launches WealthTV
WealthTV Joins Oklahoma's Pioneer Video Lineup WealthTV, the premier lifestyle and entertainment network, announced today that it has reached an affiliation agreement with Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. to bring the network's lifestyle and entertainment channel to Pioneer viewers in over 70 communities in Oklahoma. Within the next few weeks, subscribers to Pioneer's cable services will be able to enjoy WealthTV's unique and original programming lineup, which gives viewers invaluable insights on what every American dreams of - from travel secrets to fast cars, from better etiquette to better investing, and much more. Pioneer will offer its customers WealthTV in two formats, digital and video-on-demand. WealthTV in digital will be featured on channel 114. "With the addition of WealthTV, Pioneer continues its tradition of offering its customers exciting and unique programming in multiple formats," said Dean Harris, General Manager of WealthTV. "WealthTV's broad appeal and ability to allow viewers to live the American dream by simply watching their TV will deliver what Pioneer subscribers are seeking." Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. has 53,000 phone lines in central and western Oklahoma. Pioneer, one of the early leaders in launching pure digital IPTV, started providing IPTV in July 2004.
Today it has achieved over 5,300 TV customers, and continues to grow by offering robust bundled services. "Pioneer subscribers will now be able to enjoy WealthTV's original and compelling programming featuring shows on exotic travel to luxurious lifestyles to programs on the latest medical advances, in pure digital as well as on VOD," stated Scott Ulsaker, Video Business Manager for Pioneer Telephone and Digital TV. "We are excited to add WealthTV to our robust channel line up as well as the addition of WealthTV's entertaining video-on-demand programming." About WealthTV WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network - the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to viewers informative shows that provide invaluable insights on what every American dreams of - from travel secrets to fast cars, from better etiquette to better investing, and much more.
Televised 24 hours a day, seven days a week, viewers of WealthTV consider themselves to be successful wherever they may be in life. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider's perspective. For more information, please visit http://www.wealthtv.net. About Pioneer Pioneer Telephone is a multi-service communications company with more than 140,000 total customers in 30 Oklahoma counties. Serving customers since 1953, Pioneer is the third largest telephone cooperative in the United States. Pioneer provides an array of communications products and services, including Local Telephone Service, Digital TV, Cellular, High-Speed Internet, Long Distance, Internet, Paging, Security Systems, Key System Sales/Maintenance and Directory Advertisement.
Dial-Around Telecom Helps Consumers Celebrate Buddha Day With Special Asia-Direct Program From May 8 to 14
Consumers Connect With Relatives in Asia, Save Money by Dialing 1010-228 Pre-Fix The night of the first full moon in May marks the most significant Buddhist celebration of the year, and long-distance provider Dial-Around Telecom, Inc. plans to help consumers mark the occasion. Buddha Day honors the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha more than 2,500 years ago. Buddhists decorate their temples and homes, prepare food as an offering to the Buddha and chant his teachings. Dial-Around - a provider of discount international long-distance services to residential and business customers - will offer callers discounted rates from May 8 to 14 on calls to most countries celebrating the festivity to help bring people together and pay homage to callers who live far from their loved ones. "We always want to make it easier for consumers to call the ones they love," said Omer K. Varol, CEO of Dial-Around Telecom, Inc., operating company of the 1010-228 calling pre-fix. "We try to keep our long-distance solutions easy to use and make it a point to never confuse consumers with complex service manuals or rate structures." Consumers receive Dial-Around's discounted rates by dialing the 1010-228 access code from their home or office phones before dialing a long-distance phone number, including the country code. Dial-Around's service requires no change from phone companies, no sign-ups, no contracts, no monthly fees and no credit card. Dial-Around always offers consumers self-explanatory services.
Dial-Around's special Buddha Day rates are below: Destination (cents per minute) China (1) South Korea (2) Japan (3) Thailand (3) Mongolia (5) Indonesia (7) Laos (7) India (11) Sri Lanka (11) Bhutan (15) Vietnam (15) Nepal (23) Myanmar (29) Detailed pricing information is available at http://www.1010228.com
Discovery En Espanol's 'OBJETIVO: EL NORTE' to Examine the Immigration Debate From Both Sides of the Border
-- Two Brothers to Share Real-life Account of Their Journey Across the Border
-- Political Opinions, Expert Analysis and Demonstrations to Highlight Original Documentary Airing on Sunday, May 21, at 9:00 PM ET/PT
Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group, the leading provider of high-quality, real-world Spanish-language programming, announced today the premiere of OBJETIVO: EL NORTE, an original documentary that examines all sides of the fierce immigration debate currently raging across the United States. The one-hour special debuts on Discovery en Espanol on Sunday, May 21, at 9:00 PM ET/PT, with encore showings set for Wednesday, May 24, at 9:00 PM ET/PT and Saturday, May 27, at 7:00 PM ET/PT.
As hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest the proposed changes to U.S. immigration laws, OBJETIVO: EL NORTE transports viewers into the hot Sonora desert to meet the people who risk their lives every day crossing the "corridor of death," as well as those dedicated to helping them save their lives. The program features an interview with a "coyote" about the trafficking of human lives, while chronicling the experiences of two young men who follow their family tradition by undertaking the perilous journey across the border.
The documentary also presents those on the other side of the issue: opponents who see the immigrants as invaders taking away jobs that belong to American workers, depressing wages and forcing changes in the American way of life. Discovery en Espanol's cameras closely follow these people as they patrol the border on the ground and in the air -- with some predicting that Arizona will be the site of the next great civil war.
In addition, OBJETIVO: EL NORTE explores the diverse views of politicians, immigration lawyers, business leaders and economists on the impact of the new legislation, as 12 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the U.S. await their fate. Participants include: Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano; Ambassador Cresencio Arcos, assistant secretary for international affairs, Department of Homeland Security; Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D- Texas); Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, governor of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico; Al Garza, national executive director of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps; Hector M. Flores, national president, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); Grisel Ibarra, immigration attorney, and many more.
"We are committed to providing thought-provoking programming that consistently speaks to the issues that matter most to U.S. Hispanics," said Luis Silberwasser, senior vice president and general manager of Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group. "Through a lively and provocative investigation of all points of view, OBJETIVO: EL NORTE will engage viewers and encourage further discussion about these important immigration issues."
"By combining dramatic first-person accounts about what it's like to live in the shadows as an undocumented worker with revealing interviews with community leaders and legislators who are at the center of the debate, the documentary provides a compelling examination of the national discourse," added Angela Recio Sondon, director of programming and production, Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group.
OBJETIVO: EL NORTE was produced by New World Video Productions for Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group.
About Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group
Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group is the leading provider of high- quality factual and lifestyle programming for Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States. Distributing three distinct, standalone networks that offer content from Latin America as well as popular American programs transcreated for U.S. Hispanic audiences, the portfolio includes Discovery en Espanol, the premier factual network delivering content that stimulates, informs and empowers, giving viewers a fascinating look at the incredible and often surprising world from a Latino perspective; Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), the first lifestyle channel created for Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S., serving as an in-home getaway to the best travel, food and style the world has to offer; and Discovery Kids en Espanol, the leading children's network for U.S. Hispanic audiences, dedicated to bringing premium programming to families in a trustworthy environment that nurtures curiosity and creates lifelong learners. Discovery Networks launched Discovery en Espanol in 1998 in response to the growing demand for Spanish-language programming in the United States, and expanded the portfolio in 2005 to better serve the unique interests of Latino women, children and families with the addition of Discovery Kids en Espanol and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir).
Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
7-Eleven(R) Premieres 'Pizza & a Movie' Offer; P'EatZZa Sandwich(TM) Takes Starring Role
7-Eleven(R) is hosting the world premiere of "Pizza & a Movie," a two-month promotion co-starring 7-Eleven stores' new P'EatZZa Sandwich(TM), Blockbuster(R) and 20th Century Fox Studios' new movie, "X-Men: The Last Stand."
During May, 7-Eleven customers who purchase a P'EatZZa Sandwich will receive a coupon to rent one movie and get one movie rental free at participating Blockbuster stores. The peel-off coupon sticker is located on the package of the P'EatZZa Sandwich, 7-Eleven stores' new fresh food creation -- made with pizza flatbread and deli sandwich fillings. First introduced to America on the April 10 episode of "The Apprentice" on NBC, the triangular sandwich has received rave reviews from customers in its first two weeks in stores.
The official summer movie season runs from the first weekend of May through Labor Day weekend and accounts for approximately 40 percent of a year's box-office receipts. While movie attendance was down last year, 2006 is already bouncing back with attendance running more than 6 percent ahead of last year heading into the heavy movie-watching months.
7-Eleven goes into wide release with its Pizza & a Movie campaign, which includes free movie rentals from Blockbuster, discounts on 7-Eleven fresh foods, tickets to exclusive "X-Men: The Last Stand" movie screenings, X-Men video games, DVDs, CDs and movie gear, and grand prizes that include all- expenses-paid trips for two to a 20th Century Fox movie set or Hollywood movie premiere.
"Summertime is the biggest movie season of the year and the busiest time of year for 7-Eleven," said Rita Bargerhuff, 7-Eleven marketing director for fresh foods. "Delicious fresh foods like P'EatZZa Sandwich and mega-movie releases, along with cold Slurpee drinks and cool contests, are all part of 7- Eleven's kickoff to summer. In addition, everyone who purchases a P'EatZZa Sandwich wins with the offer from Blockbuster."
Movie-lovers can win in stores, online or on the air. Here's how:
Double Feature Deal
During May, the P'EatZZa Sandwich package will include a peel-off coupon sticker redeemable for a free movie rental with the rental of a movie at participating Blockbuster stores. In turn, customers may pick up a 7-Eleven coupon for a $1 discount on a P'EatZZa Sandwich at Blockbuster. In June, the offer changes, with 7-Eleven P'EatZZa Sandwich purchasers receiving a coupon redeemable for a free 30-day trial subscription to BLOCKBUSTER Online(R) movie rental service, which allows movie-watchers to request three DVDs at a time for delivery to their home. Valid for new subscribers only, the free trial requires internet access, email, and a valid credit card, check card or checking account.
For 7-Eleven stores not carrying the P'EatZZa Sandwich, both Blockbuster offers are valid with the purchase of a Twistas(TM), the hot new grill item made with real pizza dough and pizza fillings.
Summer Movie Virtual Scratch-off Contest Online
The contest may be virtual, but the prizes are real in the 7-Eleven Summer Movie online contest, which offers trips to a working movie set, as well as X- Men video games, DVDs, soundtracks and movie merchandise. To enter, customers simply click on the "Pizza & a Movie Instant Win" link at http://www.7-eleven.com/ . After registering to play, contest entrants scratch off an onscreen game piece using what appear to be the claws of X-Men character Wolverine. Players, who maneuver the claws with their mouse, find out instantly if they have won. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip, which includes round-trip airfare for two, ground transportation and three days-two nights lodging, to a 20th Century Fox movie set during the production of an upcoming film. One grand prize trip will be awarded each week in May along with dozens of other prizes. In June, the grand prize is an all- expenses-paid trip to a Hollywood movie premiere.
X-Men Extravaganza
As part of its month-long tie-in to "X-Men: The Last Stand," 7-Eleven will host preview screenings of the much-anticipated X-Men movie sequel Thursday, May 25, in 20 major markets around the country. These preview premieres are scheduled at 7:11 p.m., the night before the movie opens nationwide. Free tickets will be given away during radio promotions in selected cities.
Slurpee(R) Storm
Slurpee, the iconic 7-Eleven beverage brand, plays a major role in almost every big summer promotion the convenience retail giant sponsors, and this year is no different. Sunkist Orange, a new flavor introduction, storms the Slurpee machine, along with a collection of four X-Men cups featuring characters from the movie. Attached to the bottom of each cup is a collectible disk with the likeness of the best-known mutants: Wolverine, Storm, Magneto and Professor. Superman and Kryptonite Ice Slurpee fly into stores in June. "It's a Slurpee summer of super heroes and super flavors," said Kevin Cooper, 7-Eleven category manager of proprietary beverages. "Slurpee-lovers should stay tuned to see what's next."
Pizza & a Movie runs through June at participating 7-Eleven stores.
"Whether customers are looking for a quick dinner and a movie at home, a chance to be the first to see one of the first major releases of the summer or a trip to an actual Hollywood set, 7-Eleven has something for every movie- buff," Bargerhuff said.
About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates or franchises more than 5,800 7-Eleven(R) stores in the United States and Canada and licenses close to 30,000 7-Eleven stores in 18 countries and U.S. territories. During 2005, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of approximately $43 billion
Web site: http://www.7-eleven.com/
Allrecipes.com Is Searching for America's Top Recipe - Do You Have It?
Allrecipes.com and USA WEEKEND Are Calling All Home Cooks to Submit Their Tried-and-True Recipes for a Chance at $10,000
It's a universal truth -- every home cook has a specialty. Whether it's mom's super secret chocolate chip cookie recipe or your own unique update on macaroni and cheese, Allrecipes.com, America's largest community site of home cooks, knows you've got the goods and is giving you an opportunity to shine in the first annual America's Top Recipe Contest. Together with USA WEEKEND, AllRecipes.com will kick-off the online contest on Friday, May 19 and begin a national search for the best, original recipes in America and honor the everyday cooks behind them. The grand prize winner will walk away with national bragging rights and $10,000.
"Allrecipes.com is essentially the world's largest test kitchen. The site showcases tried-and-true recipes from the kitchens of America's home cooks and provides a place for millions of families to turn to in their search for proven recipes," said Esmee Williams, vice president marketing and partner affairs. "We are thrilled to team up with USA WEEKEND and give the talented cooks behind our favorite recipes a chance to shine on a national stage."
Starting on May 19 creative, eager home cooks can access contest details, including the five competition categories (International, Holiday Family Favorite, Kid Pleaser, Healthy Pleasures and Super Quick Suppers), rules and regulations and submission details at www.allrecipes.com/contest/. Submissions will be accepted online or via U.S. mail until midnight (EDT) Friday, July 7. Following the closure of entries, the culinary professionals at Allrecipes.com will begin the tasty process of preparing, sampling and judging recipes with the ultimate goal of narrowing the competition to the top five contenders per category. Recipes will be judged according to four criteria -- taste, originality, visual appeal and adherence to category description. Category finalists will be announced at Allrecipes.com on Monday, September 18.
Final judging will take place at the Allrecipes.com test kitchen in the company's hometown of Seattle. A judging panel will be comprised of four career foodies including culinary columnist for USA WEEKEND and cookbook author, Pam Anderson; Allrecipes.com food editor, Carl Hanson; and two other judges yet to be determined. The panel will taste and rate all five category winners to determine the grand prize winning recipe. The $10,000 grand prize winner, along with the five category finalists, will be announced in the November 10-12 issue of USA WEEKEND. Category winners will receive a complete set of Allrecipes.com Tried-and-True cookbooks and an Allrecipes.com cooking spoon - a nearly $200 value.
Full details on contest categories, rules and regulations and submission details will be available at www.allrecipes.com/contest/ on May 19.
About Allrecipes.com
Allrecipes.com, the world's largest independent food site, is an online cooking community where home cooks from around the world come to share, rate and download recipes and meal ideas. With more than 20 million annual visitors and a membership base of more than a million strong, Allrecipes.com is considered the world's largest test kitchen, offering a nightly glimpse into the kitchens and habits of home cooks everywhere. The site is an indispensable resource for home cooks who are looking for trusted recipes, everyday and holiday meal ideas, practical cooking tips and food advice. The site features more than 30,000 of America's best-loved recipes. For additional information regarding Allrecipes.com, please visit www.allrecipes.com.
About USA WEEKEND
USA WEEKEND Magazine is a national weekly magazine distributed in approximately 600 newspapers in the United States. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, personal finance and travel. The magazine's Make A Difference Day is the nation's largest annual day of community service. The magazine provides Newspaper in Education classroom guides to partner newspapers. usaweekend.com provides enhanced content and interactive magazine features. USA WEEKEND is part of the Gannett Co., Inc.
Web site: http://www.allrecipes.com/
'Hellboy' Joins the Award-Winning Vs. System(TM) With the Premiere of Upper Deck Entertainment's 'Essential Collection' The Demonic Comic Icon Makes His Trading Card Game Debut in Spring 2007
The comic industry's "Greatest Paranormal Investigator" makes his trading card game debut as Upper Deck Entertainment (UDE) -- in association with Dark Horse Comics -- today announces plans to add Hellboy to UDE's Vs. System superhero portfolio. Based on Mike Mignola's ("Gotham by Gaslight") best-selling comic book mini-series "Hellboy," the set will premiere as the first release of UDE's new Essential Collection, which features highly competitive decks themed around some of today's most notable comic icons.
The new Hellboy-themed Essential Collection will be available on store shelves in Spring 2007.
"The 'Hellboy' saga is one of the most innovative and entertaining comics of all time," said Dan Bojanowski, UDE brand manager for Vs. System. "The dark storylines and vivid artistry make 'Hellboy' a natural addition to the Vs. System, which has previously only covered traditional '4-color' comic book characters."
The set will chronicle the dark hero's supernatural adventures as he battles Nazis, hollow earth explorers, sorcerers and werewolves with the likes of Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, armed with his Right Hand of Doom. As part of the award-winning Vs. System's stable of characters, Hellboy will face off against some of the comic industry's greatest superheroes.
The set is comprised of two 60-card decks, two different Hellboy-themed Endurance Trackers, one rulebook and one lithograph, of which 100 will be hand-signed by "Hellboy" creator Mignola and will then be randomly inserted into each case. The set will also feature original artwork by Mignola and additional top artists, and favorite fan images from Hellboy graphic novels. Each Essential Collection will contain two UDeck plastic storage cases packaged in a larger collector box.
The Vs. System game engine represents epic Super Hero(TM) battles in a TCG format and is designed and developed specifically to support Super Heroes(TM) in one-on-one competition. The Vs. System retains its excitement in multiplayer play and is designed to support Sealed Pack and Booster Draft formats.
Hellboy is a creature summoned in the final months of World War II by a fictional version of Grigori Rasputin, who has been commissioned by the Nazis to change the tide of the war. Hellboy appeared in a fireball in a ruined church in East Bromwich, England -- he proved to not be a devil, but a little boy-like creature with red skin, horns, a tail and a large stone right hand. Raised by the U.S. Government, Hellboy became the primary agent for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) and was tasked in combating occult threats.
Dark Horse Comics -- one the largest American independent comic publishers -- debuted "Hellboy" in 1993, and since has won critical acclaim in the industry.
For more information on the Hellboy Essential Collection and Upper Deck Entertainment products, Internet users can log onto www.upperdeckentertainment.com.
About Upper Deck Company
The Upper Deck Company is a premier sports/entertainment publishing company that delivers a portfolio of relevant, innovative and multi-dimensional product experiences to collectors and sports and entertainment enthusiasts.
UDE is a division of The Upper Deck Company, the industry leader in quality sports cards and collectibles. UDE specializes in collectible trading cards and games such as the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, Marvel Trading Card Game, DC Trading Card Game, Nicktoons Trading Cards, and the new Bratz Trading Card Game.
Web site: http://www.upperdeckentertainment.com/
Danish Cartoons and Censorship Debate at the Press Club 5/11 Censorship, Cowardice, or Good Taste?
The L.A. Press Club is pleased to host a lively panel discussion debating the ongoing fallout of the infamous Danish cartoons mocking the prophet Muhammad. Were newspapers prudent or cowardly for refusing to reprint the images? Do smaller publications and websites who reproduced them deserve praise or scorn? Are Muslims truly offended at all depictions of all religious figures? Is it censorship when private entities like Borders Bookstores refuse to carry issues of the Skeptical Inquirer that include the cartoons?
These questions and more will be pondered on Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m., in the L.A. Press Club's headquarters at 4773 Hollywood Blvd., with a reception beginning at 6:30. Panelists include (but are not limited to):
Eddie Tabash -- Chair of Center For Inquiry-West, constitutional lawyer, and chair of the national legal committee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. www.tabash.com.
Edina Lekovic -- Communications director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (www.mpac.org).
Brian Doherty -- Senior editor, Reason magazine (www.reason.com), and author of the forthcoming Radicals for Capitalism: A History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement.
Moderated by Matt Welch (www.mattwelch.com), assistant editorial pages editor of the Los Angeles Times.
Co-sponsored by PR Newswire
Where: L.A. Press Club, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., parking in the back.
When: Thursday, May 11, 7:30; reception at 6:30.
Price: Free for members, $10 for non-members.
RSVP, to: rsvp@lapressclub.org.
http://www.lapressclub.org/
http://www.tabash.com/
http://www.mpac.org/
http://www.reason.com/
http://www.mattwelch.com/
Military Channel's BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE to Open at the Navy Memorial
-- The film "BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE," produced by Military Channel(R), will open to the public at The United States Navy Memorial on Friday, May 19.
The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the U.S. Navy's world-famous flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels.
Each summer, three of the Navy's top fighter pilots are selected to join four veteran pilots in the Blue Angels, universally recognized as one of the best aerobatic teams in the world.
It's a journey of nonstop intensity, personally and professionally. In the air, the pilots must fly carefully choreographed routines just 18 inches apart, undergoing G-forces that would render most people unconscious. On the ground, they face the pressures of celebrity and a life spent on the road.
Filmed in spectacular high-definition video, Military Channel's(R) "BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE" provides unprecedented access to show the Blue Angels team as it has never been seen before.
The United States Navy Memorial, in partnership with Military Channel(R), will show the film daily at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., free of charge, in The United States Navy Memorial's theater.
The Arleigh and Roberta Burke Theater is located in The United States Navy Memorial's Naval Heritage Center, which is adjacent to the Memorial's Plaza on 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest, Washington, D.C.
The Naval Heritage Center is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
The United States Navy Memorial is dedicated to the men and women of The United States Navy - past, present and future. The United States Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center are accessible via METRO at the Archives/Navy Memorial stop on the Yellow and Green Lines. You can also link to our Web site at http://www.navymemorial.org/.
Watch the Military Channel in the D.C.-area on Comcast Digital Cable or Cox Digital Cable. Go to http://military.discovery.com/ to locate a provider in your area. For more information regarding Military Channel, please visit http://military.discovery.com/.
Navy Memorial viewing times are subject to change should a number of events occur within the showing of, "AT SEA," or "BLUE ANGELS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE." The movie "AT SEA" is shown at noon daily, in The Arleigh and Roberta Burke Theater. For questions about either film, call The United States Navy Memorial at (202) 737-2300.
Web site: http://www.lonesailor.org/
http://www.navymemorial.org/
http://military.discovery.com/
The Motion Picture Group, Inc. Has First Film Reviewed in Variety, an Entertainment Industry Trade Publication
The Motion Picture Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets:MPRG), a production finance and services company, announced today that its first feature film "I TRUST YOU TO KILL ME," a Motion Picture Group presentation of an MRB production, produced by Pliny Porter and Matthew Brady, directed by Manu Boyer and starring Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, Kiefer Sutherland, received a positive review in Variety, May 8th 2006.
"Deftly mixing alternating tracks of playful rowdiness, thoughtful introspection, ferociously slamming rock and not-so-quiet desperation, helmer Manu Boyer scores impressively with 'I Trust You to Kill Me,' arguably the best rockumentary since 'Some Kind of Monster.' The surprisingly compelling pic accompanies Kiefer Sutherland on tour as road manager for Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, up-and-comers signed to the actor's Ironworks Music indie label," by Joe Leydon.
Pliny Porter, the Company's CEO and the film's producer, says, "It has been an honor to have worked with this talented team of filmmakers and musicians."
Henri Kessler, Co-President of The Motion Picture Group, stated, "We are very please to have been so well received by the reviewer, Variety is the industry bible in my opinion!"
About the Film:
In the Company's first feature film, Kiefer Sutherland, star of the hit TV show "24", takes his independent record label act, Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, on its first international tour. From Tokyo to Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Reykjavik and Berlin, this rockumentary film chronicles a highly personal journey of a rock band and their less than qualified road manager (Kiefer Sutherland) and shows the hopes, successes and disappointments of a band trying to get their music to their audience.
About the Motion Picture Group, Inc.
The Motion Picture Group, Inc. is a finance and production services company created to meet the needs of the international entertainment industry. Corporate offices are located at 7995 Briar Summit, Los Angeles, California 90046.
IDM Launches Tie-in for Disney-Pixar's ''Cars'' with U.S. Auto Dealers; Direct Mail and Point-of-Sale Expected in 6,000+ Dealerships In Time for Film's June 9 Release
Intelligent Direct Marketing, Inc.(TM) (IDM), a major national direct mail service for the automotive industry, will launch an auto dealership direct mail and point-of-sale tie-in with the new Disney-Pixar film "CARS," a fast-paced, computer-animated comedy-adventure set inside the world of cars, scheduled for release June 9.
Over 6,000 U.S. dealerships are expected to participate in the cross promotion which is being offered exclusively by IDM. The program offers auto dealerships "CARS" co-promotional, free "CARS" movie ticket direct mail flyers, with an option to implement contests to win the actual limited-edition co-promotional "CARS" marketing premiums displayed in showrooms: Standees, banners, mobiles, posters, balloons and more.
"'CARS' is the ultimate tie-in for automotive dealerships!" said Todd Vowell, owner/founder of IDM. "We are excited to give dealerships the opportunity to join with other promotional partners in such a high-profile Disney-Pixar cross promotion."
"CARS" will be the seventh feature film from Disney-Pixar, following the blockbusters "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." "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.
About Intelligent Direct Marketing, Inc.
Intelligent Direct Marketing, Inc.(TM) is an award-winning creative marketing team with headquarters in Rocklin, California. The company has produced and written over 35,000 direct mail promotions, and mailed over 200 million individual pieces for the automotive industry. Founded in 1994, IDM is the fastest-growing direct mail company in the United States with 4,000 clients nationwide. For more information about IDM, visit: http://www.intelligentmarketing.com.
About Pixar Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios (Nasdaq:PIXR) (http://www.pixar.com) 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).
Lone Wolf Films and Grem67.com Release ''With All Due Respect'' Surfing Movie
Grem67.com, a visual surf experience, together with Lone Wolf Films, is releasing its first DVD movie "With All Due Respect" at a special movie premiere party on Thursday, May 25th, at The Tikki Bar in Long Beach, NY.
The new DVD is compilation of short surfing movies that captures the best of New York's world class surfing conditions while also showing respect to and for the New York surfing culture. Grem67.com was originally created to share the excitement, positive aspects, and integrity of the New York surfing scene with other surfing enthusiasts.
Riptide Entertainment LLC Announces Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Dick Clark's American Bandstand in Stageplay
Riptide Entertainment LLC ("Riptide"), a portfolio company of Equus II Incorporated (NYSE:EQS) (the "Fund"), announces the purchase of an exclusive, worldwide license to use the trade name "Dick Clark's American Bandstand" in the development and production of live musical tribute shows.
Riptide acquired the license from dick clark productions, inc. The terms of the license were not disclosed.
"We are extremely pleased to be developing Dick Clark's American Bandstand celebrity tribute shows in partnership with John Stuart, creator and founder of world famous Legends In Concert," commented David Gray, President of Riptide. "Mr. Stuart believes that the power of the Dick Clark's American Bandstand brand could provide the platform for the biggest and boldest celebrity live tribute music show production of his entire career."
"We are delighted to be in business with Riptide and John Stuart and expect the show will benefit immensely from Mr. Stuart's leadership and Riptide's expertise in operating live events," said Michael Mahan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development of dick clark productions, inc.
"Dick Clark's American Bandstand is a multi-generational, family entertainment icon that has provided enjoyment to millions," commented Anthony Moore, Co-Chairman, CEO and President of Equus. "We believe this appeal will continue and create value for Riptide, one of our twenty-first century trend portfolio investments."
Riptide is a leisure and entertainment company engaged in developing, owning and operating Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museums and other suitable family entertainment properties in the United States and abroad. Riptide focuses its activities on high volume tourist locations around the world.
Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. has grown to become a leading independent producer of a wide range of television programming for broadcast networks, cable networks, distributors and advertisers. The company has produced thousands of shows and specials in all genres and for all day parts, including such perennial hits as "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve," the "American Music Awards," the "Golden Globe Awards," the "Bloopers" specials and series, the "Academy of Country Music Awards" and the new hit FOX-TV series, "So You Think You Can Dance," among others. A subsidiary, dick clark restaurants, inc., licenses "Dick Clark's American Bandstand" casual dining restaurants.
Equus II Incorporated is a business development company that trades as a closed-end fund on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol "EQS". Additional information on Equus II Incorporated may be obtained from Equus' website at http://www.equuscap.com/ .
China Basketball Open Online's New Star Signing at E3
Honor Games International (HGI), the appointed online games creator for China Basketball Open Online, is proud to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Global Gaming League Asia Pte Ltd (GGL Asia), an affiliate of Global Gaming League (GGL) based in California, at the E3 2006 Expo in Los Angeles. This MOU will tap into GGL's many proven years of games competition know-how and technology, to make CBO Online even more fun and competitive to play. The MOU signing will be held today at E3 (at the Singapore Games Exchange Alliance [GXA] at booth 968, South Hall).
Basketball is no doubt one of China's most favorite sports, with a massive 340 million community of players and spectators. Bedsides this immense national appeal, Chinese basketball has also successfully exported itself internationally in the form of superstars such as NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. Off-court there is Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, famed International Olympic Committee (IOC) president from 1980-2001, who is the Ambassador and special consultant for the China Basketball Open.
Likewise, HGI's partnership with GGL marks the international appeal of the China Basketball Open Online, creating an international synergy of not just Asian and American online gaming, but also molding together online and physical tournaments for a greater whole for the fans.
Frank Yong, CEO of GGL Asia, has this to say: "GGL will provide consultation to HGI to make CBO Online even more fun and competitive. With our video gaming competition know-how, F.R.A.G opponent challenge system, and web casting technology, the online action will be no less frenzied than that on the physical courts."
And Brett Hawkins, President of GGL, added: "GGL continues to see tremendous opportunities for growth in Asia, especially in China. The signing of this MOU is yet another great example of our convictions about Asia."
CY Ho, President of HGI, said "With the partnership and support from GGL, HGI is most confident to deliver the promise of China Basketball Open Online as the largest and most-played online sports league ever."
About China Basketball Open (CBO)
Organized by the Chinese Amateur Basketball Association, CBO is THE premier amateur basketball tournament in the country, and the largest in the world with 50,000 matches played annually. Amateur league teams across the People's Republic of China compete for the biggest prize in Chinese Amateur Basketball, the HeLong Cup, named in honor of the General Helong, the founding father of the modern athletic movement in China. Honor Games International is proud to be assigned the exclusive rights to develop China Basketball Open Online, the 3D sports strategy game and online league in partnership with the tournament.
About The Singapore Games Exchange Alliance (GXA)
An initiative of the Infocomm development Authority of Singapore, the Games Exchange Alliance (GXA), is a Singapore Inc. network of companies. It helps game companies cross last-mile commercialization hurdles to place titles into the hands of Asian gamers. Supported by the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation's Digital Media Chapter (SiTF DMC), the GXA presently is a member business alliance. Each member provides their respective strengths in games distribution, hosting, localization, and marketing to shorten the time-to-market for game companies.
About Global Gaming League (GGL)
Global Gaming League is a worldwide leader in organized competitive online and live video game tournaments and events (V-Sports). GGL services its worldwide community of videogame enthusiasts via its state-of-the-art online gaming network, led by its destination website GGL.com, its year-round live videogame events, and by providing a broad array of gaming-oriented services and content of deep interest to video gamers in the U.S. and abroad. Through these offerings, GGL creates an immersive entertainment experience for a rapidly growing community of connected gamers. For more information, visit www.ggl.com.
About Honor Games International
Honor Games International (HGI) provides compelling interactive entertainment for gamers. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Xiamen and Beijing, the staff of 70 underlines their strengths in game development. HGI has a portfolio of three MMORPGs: The Great Qing Dynasty, Immortals, and Origins. For 2006, HGI has been commissioned by the China Amateur Basketball Association to develop China Basketball Open Online. Our recent PC offerings include the Zodiac Games, a companion to Singapore's 1st 3D animation supported by the Media Development Authority of Singapore. Visit HGI at www.hgigames.com.
Web site: http://www.ggl.com/
http://www.hgigames.com/
MTV to World Premiere New T.I. Video 'Why You Wanna,' on 'Total Request Live' and MTV Overdrive on Monday, May 15th
Video Available on MTV Overdrive Exclusively On Demand for 24 Hours
MTV announced today that it will simultaneously world premiere, "Why You Wanna," the newest video by Grand Hustle/Atlantic artist T.I., on Monday, May 15th during "Total Request Live" (TRL) and on MTV Overdrive. TRL airs daily at 3:30pm ET/PT.
Following the premiere, MTV Overdrive (overdrive.mtv.com), the broadband network, will have the honor of being the exclusive online site to see the video for 24 hours.
Also on Monday, MTV will premiere "Making of The Video" featuring T.I. at 6:30pm ET/PT. In addition, catch the encore premiere of the "Why You Wanna" at 11:00pm immediately following the 10 Spot.
After his triumphant debut on March 28th, T.I.'s "King" recently received Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications. Passing the half million mark with a SoundScan first-week sales total of 521,702, "King" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Top Rap Albums chart, iTunes, and Top Digital albums chart.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Source: MTV
Sarah Silverman Stars in the Most Outrageous Comedy of the Year in ...
SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC An Edgy, Un-Politically Correct Film You Will Have to See to Believe!
Available June 6, 2006 in Its Original Unrated, Uncut, Theatrical Version
Visual Entertainment releases the wickedly funny, twisted, and edgy film, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic on DVD June 6, 2006. The sexy Sarah Silverman is outrageous, brilliant and absolutely hilarious in her skewering of subjects that might ordinarily be deemed as taboo and off-limits, offering viewers an opportunity to laugh at things without guilt or repercussion. The New Yorker calls her "the hippest comic working today." Written by Sarah Silverman and directed by Liam Lynch, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic will be available in its original unrated, uncut, theatrical version for $26.99.
In conjunction with the DVD release, the official soundtrack for Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic will also be released June 6, 2006 on Interscope Records. It contains songs and stand-up material from the film, as well as hysterical exclusive tracks not included in the theatrical release or DVD.
Known as one of the funniest and most provocative people in comedy, Sarah Silverman has been compared to the legendary Lenny Bruce. Sarah makes some sharp, frequently shocking but always astute comedic observations, from her casual, self-deprecating barbs about ethnicity and sexuality, to hot-button racial jokes and right down the line to such taboo-shattering targets as AIDS and the Holocaust. It's comedy you have to see to believe. The film comprises Silverman's outrageous performance interwoven with stylish musical numbers and backstage intrigue. Comedians Bob Odenkirk and Brian Posehn make appearances along with Silverman's band, The Silver Men.
"We are thrilled to bring an edgy comedy masterpiece to the market," said Soumya Sriraman, vice president of marketing and operations for Visual Entertainment. "Sarah Silverman's un-politically correct style has earned her an impressive following and we are confident that the DVD release of Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic will be a success."
DVD Bonus Materials include:
* "Give the Jew Girl Toys" Music Video
* 30 Minute Behind the Scenes with Sarah
* Sarah's Aristocrats Performance (from The Aristocrats)
* Theatrical Trailer
DVD Basics
Running Time 72 minutes
Price: $26.99 SRP
Widescreen
Language: English
Unrated CAT#: ISO141DVD
Unrated UPC: 855280001410
Pre-order Date: May 8, 2006
Street Date: June 6, 2006
About Visual Entertainment
Visual Entertainment (VE), a division of Universal Music & Video Distribution (UMVD), has become a leading force in home entertainment and a favorite choice among independent producers of films. The company's goal is to provide the highest quality of marketing, sales and distribution services. VE's select product line features family, comedy, foreign, Latin, urban, fitness and theatrical releases. Studio partners include Bauer Martinez Distribution, Bodywisdom Media, Code Black Entertainment, First Independent Pictures, Freestyle Home Entertainment, Lightning Home Entertainment, Melee Entertainment, New Light Entertainment, Palm Pictures, Rising Entertainment, Trinity Home Entertainment and Xenon Pictures. VE benefits from UMVD's award winning team and customer-centric culture. UMVD's recent awards include American Business Awards, three consecutive NARM awards for Distribution Company of the Year and numerous retail awards.
Untapped Television Gems From Today's Top Hollywood Talent
Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets & Brilliant But Cancelled: Crime Dramas
Television Treasures Come to DVD May 23, 2006 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment
See the shows that were cancelled before their time as five critically acclaimed but rarely seen gems from the small screen return on May 23, 2006 in two extraordinary DVD collections from Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE). Hailing from the critically acclaimed Trio network series "Brilliant But Cancelled," these first installments of the Brilliant But Cancelled DVD series spotlight undiscovered television programming featuring an unmatched array of acting, directing and producing talent. USHE's Brilliant But Cancelled DVD releases coincide with the BRAVO cable network's major broadband initiative which includes the launch of BrilliantButCancelled.com.
Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets revisits an edgy, innovative series from Academy Award(R)-winning writer-director Paul Haggis ("Crash", "Million Dollar Baby") that delighted critics with its unique style of storytelling. Featuring the original two-hour pilot plus two episodes of the show critics deemed "simply too good for TV," Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets stars Ken Olin ("thirtysomething"), Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos," "The Matrix") and Jason Gedrick ("Boomtown") in a tale of greed and treachery told from three widely differing points of view.
Brilliant But Cancelled: Crime Dramas features some of smartest and most original detective shows ever seen on television, with episodes of four classic series from the producers behind "Hill Street Blues," "Columbo" and "Law & Order." "Johnny Staccato," "Delvecchio," "Gideon Oliver" and "Touching Evil" boast sterling television pedigrees and celebrated actors including Judd Hirsch ("Taxi"), Jeffrey Donovan ("CSI: Miami"), John Cassavetes ("Rosemary's Baby") and Oscar(R) winner Louis Gossett Jr. ("An Officer and a Gentleman", "Stargate SG-1"). These gems span forty years of television history, from the smoke-filled jazz clubs of 1950s Greenwich Village to the disaffected international intelligence community of the 21st century, seen through the eyes of a brilliant university professor, a cop studying law, a jazz pianist who moonlights as a P.I. and a renegade FBI agent. Each DVD is priced at $19.98 SRP. Additionally, beginning May 23rd, episodes from each of these shows will be available to download via iTunes.
BrilliantButCancelled.com Launch
On Tuesday, May 23rd, TV-philes across the country will rejoice with the launch of BrilliantButCancelled.com, a new broadband service from Bravo that celebrates the small screen's best-loved but short-lived series. BrilliantButCancelled.com will be anchored by a critically acclaimed line-up of some of television's most daring programs, described by Bravo as "too smart, too edgy or too hip for TV" when they hit the airwaves. Devotees of series including "the cancelled-before-it-ever-aired" "The Jake Effect" (starring Jason Bateman in a role that foreshadowed his character on Arrested Development), "EZ Streets," "Johnny Staccato," "Delvecchio," "Touching Evil," and "Gideon Oliver" will be able to see their "hard-to-find" favorites as streaming on demand options on the website. In an unusual twist of promotional support, the broadband premiere of "The Jake Effect" on Tuesday, May 23rd will be followed by an exclusive Thursday, May 25th airing of series episodes on Bravo's analog channel from 8:00 - 11:00 pm ET/PT to help drive viewers to the new website.
Synopsis: Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets
Critics deemed this gritty urban crime drama as "simply too good for TV," and The New York Times hailed it "one of the season's exciting new series." Journey to the criminal underworld with three fiercely independent men: Jimmy Murtha (Joe Pantoliano, "The Sopranos"), a charming but ruthless mob boss who rules the E Street gang by whatever means necessary; Detective Cameron Quinn (Ken Olin, "thirtysomething"), an undercover cop determined to find the truth no matter where it takes him; and ex-con Danny Rooney (Jason Gedrick, "Boomtown"), a recent parolee who finds himself unwillingly drawn back into a life of crime. As the story unfolds from each of their perspectives, this innovative series from director Paul Haggis ("Crash", "Million Dollar Baby") proves that on the shadowy streets of compromise there's only one way to survive: trust no one.
Synopsis: Brilliant But Cancelled: Crime Dramas
Johnny Staccato -- "Tempted"
Independent film pioneer John Cassavetes starred from 1959 to 1960 in this hip drama about a jazz pianist who moonlights as a private detective. Set in New York's ultra-cool Greenwich Village, this detective series was filmed in black and white and features smooth musical numbers to accentuate its smoky, sultry narrative tone.
Delvecchio -- "Licensed to Kill"
From legendary producer Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue"), Delvecchio aired from 1976 to 1977 and starred Emmy winner Judd Hirsch as Dominick Delvecchio, an honest and courageous LAPD detective who is studying to pass the legal bar exam. Assisted by his tough-as-nails boss and his wisecracking partner, Delvecchio finds himself torn between a life of action and danger and his dreams of a prestigious career in law.
Gideon Oliver -- "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver"
A brilliant Columbia University professor of anthropology (Louis Gossett, Jr., "Stargate SG-1") finds that his unparalleled knowledge of human behavior is applicable in some of the world's most puzzling crimes. Produced in 1989 by Wolf Films, the award-winning development team behind the highly successful Law & Order franchise.
Touching Evil -- "K"
Touching Evil originally aired in 2004 and followed the exploits of the FBI's Organized and Serial Crime (OSC) Unit, a rapid-response, elite crime squad. The OSC brings back renegade agent David Creegan (Jeffrey Donovan), who pushes the law to the limit to track the criminals no one else can find
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets
Street Date: May 23, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $19.98 SRP
Selection Number: 30128
Running Time: 3 Hours 2 Minutes
Layers: DVD-9
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (1:33:1)
Rating: Not Rated
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, English SDH
Brilliant But Cancelled: Crime Dramas
Street Date: May 23, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $19.98 SRP
Selection Number: 30312
Running Time: 3 Hours 29 Minutes
Layers: DVD-9
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (1:33:1)
Rating: Not Rated
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, English SDH
For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Web site: http://www.ushepublicity.com/
Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/
Web site: http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/
Guinness World Records Announces Tom Hanks is King of the Movies as He Gets Set to Star in His Next Potential Box Office Smash
Guinness World Records Recognizes Hanks as 'Actor With Most Consecutive $100 Million Grossing Movies'
Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, today announced Tom Hanks' entry into the record books for: "Actor With Most Consecutive $100 Million Grossing Movies." The world-renowned actor was recognized for this achievement after an impressive run from 1998 - 2002, with seven films in a row reaching the milestone mark. As his latest film Da Vinci Code nears release May 19th, Hanks looks to chalk up another $100 million maker and start a new streak picking up from his last film, Polar Express (2004).
According to Guinness World Records, Tom Hanks has appeared in 14 movies with a domestic gross of over $100 million, seven of which were consecutive: Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Road to Perdition (2002), Cast Away (2000), Toy Story 2 (1999), The Green Mile (1999), You've Got Mail (1998) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). His record would have been 11, had it not been for That Thing You Do (1996), which only grossed $25,809,000.
In addition to his latest Guinness World Record, Hanks also shares a previous record with seven other actors for "Most Oscars Won, Best Actor." Spencer Tracy for Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938); Fredric March for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932) and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946); Gary Cooper for Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952); Marlon Brando for On the Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1972); Jack Nicholson for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and As Good As It Gets (1997); Dustin Hoffman for Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988) and Tom Hanks for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks are also the only two actors to receive their Best Actor Oscars in consecutive years.
A "must-have" for both knowledge-seekers and aspiring record-breakers of all ages, Guinness World Records 2007 will be available this August 8th for the suggested retail price of $28.95. For more information about Guinness World Records 2007, or to find out how you can participate in this year's Guinness World Records Day 2006, visit the official website at: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record- breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 20 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. The Guinness Word Records website (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is published by HIT Entertainment Limited, a fully integrated global studio with divisions in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing and marketing.
Source: Guinness World Records
Web site: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
Blizzard Entertainment(R) and Legendary Pictures to Produce Live-Action Warcraft(R) Movie; Fantasy Game Franchise Played by Millions Worldwide to Become Major Motion Picture
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and Legendary Pictures today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop a live-action film based on Blizzard Entertainment(R)'s award-winning Warcraft(R) universe. Based on the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the movie rights for the best-selling game universe, and both companies are now focused on translating the high-quality Warcraft entertainment experience to the big screen.
"We searched for a very long time to find the right studio for developing a movie based on one of our game universes," said Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. "Many companies approached us in the past, but it wasn't until we met with Legendary Pictures that we felt we'd found the perfect partner. They clearly share our high standards for creative development, and because they understand the vision that we've always strived for with our Warcraft games, we feel there isn't a better studio out there for bringing the Warcraft story to film."
"One of our goals at Legendary Pictures has been to bring heroic stories to life in groundbreaking ways, and it's inspiring to work with a company such as Blizzard that takes that approach with each of its products," stated Legendary Pictures chairman and CEO Thomas Tull. "The Warcraft universe is possessed of such a rich mythology and, as such, serves as an ideal platform as we go about translating that universe into what we intend to be a major event film."
Blizzard's Warcraft games have developed a loyal following since the series debuted in 1994. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness(TM), released in 1995, won multiple Game of the Year awards and is still considered one of the best games ever made, and Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos(TM) broke multiple sales records when it launched in 2002. World of Warcraft(R), Blizzard's latest entry in the critically acclaimed franchise, has quickly become the one of the world's most popular online games, with more than 6 million paying customers worldwide.
"From our first Warcraft game to our latest novels, our intention has always been to develop a rich fantasy universe that could support stories and products in many forms," stated Chris Metzen, Blizzard Entertainment's vice president of creative development. "In addition to being a truly rewarding experience for us, the creation of this motion picture also feels like a natural next step for the Warcraft universe."
"It's not always the case that interactive game properties lend themselves to proper adaptation to film," said Jon Jashni, Legendary Pictures' chief creative officer. "We are intending to approach this as we would the adaptation of a best-selling novel: respect the essence of all that it is but also build upon that fertile base while translating it into a new medium."
Further details about the upcoming Warcraft movie, including director, cast, and targeted release date, will be revealed in the months ahead.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft and the Warcraft, StarCraft(R), and Diablo(R) series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
(http://www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard's track record includes nine #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service, Battle.net(R), reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.
About Legendary Pictures
Legendary Pictures formed a partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures in 2005 to co-produce and co-finance at least 25 pictures during an initial 5-year term, which includes a first-look distribution arrangement. The company operates from the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California. Legendary Pictures' first film was Batman Begins, directed by Chris Nolan. Future releases include Superman Returns, directed by Bryan Singer, M. Night Shymalan's Lady in the Water, and Roland Emmerich's 10,000 B.C.
Zensonic Launches High Definition HDMI Network DVD Player
World-leading home entertainment innovator Zensonic Corporation is set to launch its breakthrough Zensonic Z500 high definition network DVD player in the U.S. in July 2006.
After sustained demand through its website at http://www.z500series.com, Zensonic has signed a distribution agreement for the Z500 with California-based Media West Distribution Inc. The Z500 is being sold both online and through Media West's nation-wide distribution channel.
Media West Distribution CEO Suja George said the Z500 is a highly anticipated product in the United States. "The Z500's support for high definition HDMI delivers top quality vision and convenience in one easy-to-use unit," she said. "The Z500 is a winner."
Zensonic Corporation CEO Raaj Menon said convergence was driving demand from the U.S. "The Z500 simply links your home entertainment system with the increasing amount of digital content stored on your home PC," he said.
"We are expecting strong sales because the Z500 satisfies the demand for easy and affordable integration of high definition entertainment sources in your lounge room. There's nothing like this in the U.S."
Why the U.S. Wants the Zensonic Z500
The Z500 is one of the most advanced DVD players available internationally. It was the world's first High Definition Media Player to support HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) http://www.hdmi.org. HDMI links the Z500 to a digital TV with a single cable, delivering standard, enhanced, or high-definition video depending on the screen's capabilities.
The easy-to-use unit comes with a backlit remote control with a joystick, that operates a simple on-screen menu.
The Z500 can play video and audio from a wide range of file formats stored on your PC or streamed from the Internet via wired and wireless networks. A USB 2.0 port even lets you play files stored on iPods or USB devices.
The Z500 retails for $429. Full technical details can be found at http://www.z500series.com/.
About Media West Distribution Inc.
Media West Distribution Inc. http://www.mediawestdistribution.com/ is a privately held company dedicated to providing top quality products. Based in Santa Clara, California, Media West has distributed a wide range of quality hardware and software products since 1994.
About Zensonic Corporation
Zensonic Corporation http://www.zensonic.com is a global company that designs innovative home entertainment technology. With operations in Australia, India, and China, Zensonic was established in 2004 by Managing Director Raaj Menon to offer a comprehensive home theatre product range.
FC Fox Profiles Iraqi Under-14 National Team as They Compete in the 2006 Dallas Cup; The Stars of the Film ''GOAL! The Dream Begins''
Get Personal; Share Their Tips on Training and Conditioning for Their Most Physically Demanding Roles to Date
On Friday, FC Fox travels to Texas to profile the Iraqi U-14 National Soccer Team in their first trip to the U.S. to compete in the 2006 Dallas Cup. Since the tournament's inception in 1980, the Dallas Cup has become the most competitive youth soccer competition in the world, drawing the participation of top soccer clubs from around the world including Real Madrid, Boca Juniors, Manchester United and AC Milan.
FC Fox also goes behind the scenes with the stars of the film "Goal! The Dream Begins" which opens nationwide in the U.S. on May 12. Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Danny Cannon and Mike Jeffries will share their stories on conditioning and training for such demanding roles, as well as on the significance of the film and what they will hope it will do for soccer the world over. -0-
WHAT: FC Fox, a new weekly series dedicated to American youth and
amateur soccer, exclusively on Fox Soccer Channel.
WHO: Hosted by Ethan Zohn, who came to national prominence as the
winner of Survivor: Africa and is the co-founder of Grassroot
Soccer, FC Fox also features expert tips on technique and
play-making from U.S. Women's National Team standout and
audience favorite Heather Mitts. Christopher Sullivan, formerly
of the U.S. Men's National Team, lends his expertise on training
and conditioning, while Ryan McDonough brings his
'man-on-the-street' take on the soccer world.
WHEN: Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. (ET); repeats Sundays at 9:30 p.m.
(ET).
Fox Soccer Channel is available through affiliated cable systems, and through DirecTV and Dish Network satellite providers. For more information, visit Fox Soccer Channel online at foxsoccer.com presented by MSN.
'Forget About It' Accepted into Competition at International Film Festival
Big Screen Entertainment Group (OTC:BSEG) is proud to announce that its motion picture starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch, and directed by BJ Davis, has been accepted into competition at the New Jersey International Film Festival.
The festival begins May 19, with the film to screen on Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. "Out of 1,000 entries, only five percent were chosen and we are honored to be a part of the festival," stated BSEG's CEO, Kimberley Kates. "Forget About It" will be up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.
A Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to film and television star Frank Vincent, who currently stars in "The Sopranos" and has been in several Martin Scorsese masterpieces such as "Casino," "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas."
Portions of "Forget About It" were shot in Hoboken, N.J., home of baseball and Frank Sinatra. The scenic city provided excellent production value to the movie.
"Everyone involved with the project is very happy to be getting the film released to the public. It's an entertaining, feel-good movie that has tremendous commercial appeal," stated Kates.
The film also features such venerable stars as Oscar-nominated, Robert Loggia and Charles Durning as well as legendary comedienne Phyllis Diller. "Forget About It" was produced by Davis, John D. Schofield ("Ali," "As Good as It Gets," "Jerry Maguire"), Anthony Falco and BSEG's Kates.
About the Company
Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television, music and publishing.
http://www.forgetaboutitthefilm.com
Principal Photography Commences on the Epic Adventure ``10,000 B.C.
.Directed by Roland Emmerich for Warner Bros. Pictures
The epic adventure "10,000 B.C.," directed by Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow") and starring Steven Strait ("Sky High") and Camilla Belle ("When A Stranger Calls") has begun production in New Zealand for Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures. The announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
It was a time when man and beast were untamed and the mighty mammoth roamed the earth. A time when ideas and beliefs were born that forever shaped mankind. "10,000 B.C." follows a young hunter (Steven Strait) on his quest to lead an army across a vast desert, battling saber tooth tigers and prehistoric predators as he unearths a lost civilization and attempts to rescue the woman he loves (Camilla Belle) from an evil warlord determined to possess her.
A Centropolis Entertainment production of a Roland Emmerich film, "10,000 B.C." is directed by Roland Emmerich from a screenplay by Emmerich & Harald Kloser, and is produced by Michael Wimer ("Welcome to America"), Roland Emmerich and Mark Gordon ("The Day After Tomorrow"). The executive producers are Tom Karnowski ("Everything is Illuminated"), Harald Kloser, Thomas Tull ("Superman Returns") and Bill Fay. The co-producer is Ossie von Richthofen ("Welcome to America"). The director of photography is Ueli Steiger ("The Day After Tomorrow"), and the production is designed by Jean Vincent Puzos ("Lord of War"). The film is being edited by Alex Berner ("Perfume: The Story of a Murderer"). The composer is Harald Kloser ("The Day After Tomorrow"). Costumes will be designed by Odile Dicks-Mireaux ("The Constant Gardener").
"10,000 B.C." will shoot on location in New Zealand, South Africa and Namibia and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Simply Southern Movie Series Presented by SouthernLINC Wireless
Company to Host Free, Family-Oriented Movie Screenings in 10 Southeastern Cities
Lights, camera and action! SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), today announced the launch of the Simply Southern Movie Series, a summer series of popular family-oriented films that will be showcased free of charge at outdoor venues throughout the Southeast.
The Simply Southern Movie Series will kick off May 20 in Columbus, Ga., with a viewing of the film "Robots." Other featured cities include Albany, Ga.; Dothan, Ala.; Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; Gulfport, Miss.; Macon, Ga.; Mobile, Ala.; Montgomery, Ala.; Pelham, Ala.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala. For a complete schedule of movie dates and times, please see http://www.southernlinc.com/movies.
"SouthernLINC Wireless is proud to offer communities a great - and free - summer activity that both parents and children will enjoy," said Julie Pigott, vice president of marketing and customer support, SouthernLINC Wireless. "As an added thank you to those who come out to the shows, we're offering free prizes and special offers on SouthernLINC Wireless services."
In addition to the featured show, the Simply Southern Movie Series will also include live radio remotes and free giveaways. Plus, attendees can enter to win a Suzuki ATV in conjunction with the 2006 series. Attendees over the age of 21-years-old can register for a chance to win at any movie screening. Winners will be announced in November.
As another added benefit for moviegoers, the company will offer a free month of service on plans $49.99 or higher and/or a free car charger with activation. This limited-time offer is exclusively for attendees of the series and can be redeemed at any SouthernLINC Wireless retail store or participating dealer.
For more information or details on the featured offers, please visit: http://www.southernlinc.com/movies.
About SouthernLINC Wireless
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options into one phone including InstantLINC(SM) Mobile to Mobile, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data. More information about SouthernLINC Wireless can be obtained by calling 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visiting the SouthernLINC Wireless Web site at http://www.southernlinc.com.
About Southern Company
With more than 4 million customers and nearly 39,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading U.S. producer of electricity. Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, a growing competitive generation company, an energy services business and a competitive retail natural gas business, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are 15 percent below the national average. Southern Company has been named three consecutive years No. 1 on Fortune magazine's "America's Most Admired Companies" list in the Electric and Gas Utility industry. Southern Company has been ranked the nation's top energy utility in the American Customer Satisfaction Index five years in a row. Southern Company has more than 500,000 shareholders, making its common stock one of the most widely held in the United States. Visit the Southern Company Web site at http://www.southerncompany.com.
Toshiba Announces Qosmio(TM) Digital Entertainment Notebook with HD DVD-ROM Drive
Qosmio(TM) G35-AV650 Is First Notebook Shipping in U.S. to Incorporate HD DVD-ROM Drive for Optimum Digital Entertainment Realism and Clarity
IRVINE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- May 9, 2006 Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today introduced the Qosmio(TM) G35-AV650, the first notebook PC shipping in the U.S. to incorporate an HD DVD-ROM drive(1) that allows users to enjoy the dazzling realism and clarity of high-definition digital entertainment in a portable device.
Designed for optimum digital entertainment immersion and multimedia capabilities, the Qosmio G35-AV650 with HD DVD-ROM allows consumers to enjoy high-definition movies anywhere in the home or on the go with external power. Backwards-compatible(2) with current DVD formats, the HD DVD-ROM drive allows users to continue playing compatible discs from their existing DVD collections. To fully experience and enjoy HD DVD movies as well as games and other multimedia content, the unit also features:
-- an Ultimate TruBrite(TM) widescreen display with 1920x1200 resolution and 1080p high-definition format;
-- Toshiba's proprietary QosmioEngine(3) digital video processing system for crystal-clear digital images and bright colors;
-- HDMI port with support for 1080i, enabling connectivity to a high-definition TV(4) for output of HD DVD content;
-- Dolby(R) Home Theater(TM), delivering a rich, engaging surround sound experience from stereo and multichannel audio sources through headphone, 2-channel or 5.1-channel speaker systems;
-- a 1-bit digital amplifier, usually found in high-end audio systems, that enables a higher quality signal;
-- Bass Reflex Speaker technology from harman/kardon(R), enabling richer audio and a deeper bass.
Featuring all the standard capabilities of Toshiba's Qosmio notebook line, the Qosmio G35-AV650 also includes an integrated TV tuner for watching live TV from a cable or satellite feed, a digital video recorder (DVR) for recording and pausing live TV or recording future programs, and the capabilities of a powerful, full-featured notebook PC.
The estimated single unit price of the Qosmio G35-AV650 is $2,999.99.(5) The product is currently available from ToshibaDirect (http://www.toshibadirect.com) and is shipping to major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide.
"The Qosmio G35-AV650 is a ground-breaking audio-video notebook that not only offers our customers the dramatic visual quality of HD DVD but other display and audio enhancements for a truly immersive entertainment experience," said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing for Toshiba's Digital Products Division. "With its numerous enhanced capabilities for movies, music, gaming, TV and PC performance in a sleek, attractive package, Toshiba has demonstrated its technology leadership once again with the most feature-rich audio-video notebook on the market today."
"With a powerful combination of gaming, multi-media enjoyment, and the first HD DVD-ROM drive in a mobile PC, the Qosmio G35-AV650 sets the pace for those wanting both leading-edge technology and stunning entertainment in a portable package," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group. "High definition is the next wave in consumer electronics products and this level of multi-purpose capabilities is unmatched in any other product on the market today."
Featuring Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo Mobile Technology built around the Intel Core(TM) Duo processor,(6) the Qosmio G35-AV650 incorporates two 5400 RPM serial ATA 100GB hard drives(7) for storage of TV programs, music and other files as well as 1024MB DDR2 memory.(8) The hard drives incorporate Toshiba RAID software to give consumers the flexibility of optimum storage capacity using both drives or secure data redundancy on one drive.
The system's HD DVD-ROM is a multi-function drive that not only supports HD DVD playback but a DVD SuperMulti that reads and writes current DVD formats and can nearly double storage capacity in dual-layer format.(2)
The Qosmio G35-AV650 includes the QosmioPlayer,(9) allowing users to watch live TV, pause live TV, watch DVDs or listen to audio CDs with a quick touch of a button on the unit or on the remote control without booting up the Windows operating system. With this feature, Qosmio owners can enjoy audio or video content similar to using a stand-alone TV, stereo or DVD player.
A customizable Dual Mode touch pad provides one-tap short cuts to launch e-mail, an Internet browser and other selected programs. The unit also includes a new fingerprint reader for additional security and convenient password replacement.
An NVIDIA(R) GeForce Go 7600 with 256MB VRAM high-performance graphics(10) card enables stunning gaming and other multimedia visuals, while a S/PDIF optical audio connector allows users to easily connect the Qosmio to a home theater system and experience Dolby Home Theater 5.1 surround sound while gaming, playing HD DVD in high-definition audio, listening to music, and viewing TV through Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition software.
With its 5-in-1 bridge media adapter and generous connectivity options, Qosmio users can access and share photo and video content quickly and easily, or hook-up their camcorder to display home movies.
"With the new Qosmio G35-AV650, Toshiba continues to demonstrate it is a leader in the burgeoning digital entertainment market," said Joe Belfiore, vice president of the eHome Division at Microsoft Corp. "Combining Toshiba's HD DVD-ROM drive and Windows XP Media Center Edition software gives consumers an exciting, cutting-edge digital content experience."
"The Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV650 notebook based on Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology can offer consumers a theater-like experience from anywhere - their living rooms, hotel rooms or dorm rooms," said Keith Kressin, director of marketing, Intel's Mobile Platforms Group. "Consumers are increasingly turning to the Web for entertainment, enabling more options for entertainment on-the-go. We expect this trend will continue as cutting-edge Intel-based notebooks continue to deliver a more immersive entertainment experience."
All Qosmio AV notebooks come with a one-year limited warranty(11) with Toshiba's premier global service. Customers can choose from several service options, including At-Home Repair, carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout the country for same-day or next-day service, or use any of more than 3,000 UPS Stores for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized Depot for 24-hour service turnaround. -0-
Qosmio G35-AV650 Product Specifications
Processor: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo mobile technology
featuring dual-core processing with Intel
Core(TM) Duo Processor(6) T2500 (Dual 2.0 GHz,
667 MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache)
Display: 17-inch diagonal widescreen Ultimate TruBrite(TM)
TFT active-matrix LCD display WUXGA with
1920x1200 native resolution; QosmioEngine for
enhanced display
System Chipset: Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
Graphics Controller: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 with 256MB GDDR3 discrete
graphics(10) memory
Memory: 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM memory(8)
Hard Drive: 200GB (5400 rpm) using two 100GB Serial-ATA
(SATA) hard disk drives(7)
Optical Drive: HD DVD-ROM(1) and DVD SuperMulti Double Layer
drive
Wireless: Integrated Intel Pro/Wireless(12) Network
Connection 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g); Bluetooth(R)
version 2.0 plus Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Ports: 4 USB v. 2.0, RGB, TV out (S-Video and HDMI), AV
IN (S-Video and connector and
composite/monitor), RJ-45 LAN port, RJ-11, i-
Link(R)1394, S/PDIF Optical Audio Output
TV Tuner: Integrated Toshiba TV Tuner
Input Devices: QosmioPlayer (instant-on CD/DVD/TV), Microsoft
Windows Media Center Edition remote control with
numeric keypad, keyboard, mouse; Dual Mode Pad
pointing device
Slots: 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter (Secure Digital(R),
Memory Stick(TM), Memory Stick PRO(TM), Multi
Media Card, xD Picture Card); PCMCIA PC Card
slot; ExpressCard slot
Audio: Dolby Home Theater(TM); harman/kardon Bass Reflex
(R) stereo speakers; 1-bit digital amplifier
Battery: 9-cell (7050mAh) Lithium Ion
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Dimensions: 16.0 x 11.6 x 1.79 inches
Weight: 10.1 lbs.(13)
About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile products and solutions, including industry-leading portable computers; projectors; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and telephony equipment and associated applications.
TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure systems. Toshiba has worldwide sales of over $54 billion and approximately 300 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information visit the company's Web site at http://www.toshiba.com. -0-
(1) HD DVD Technology. Because HD DVD is a new format that makes use
of new technologies, certain disc, digital connection and other
compatibility and/or performance issues are possible. Advanced
interactive and navigation features of the HD DVD video format
are not supported by this product. See HD DVD Technology Legal
Footnote at http://www.info.toshiba.com.
(2) Some content and/or discs may not be compatible.
(3) QosmioEngine is not operative during HD DVD playback.
(4) HD DVD viewing on external display requires an HDCP-capable
HDMI(TM) or DVI output.
(5) Reseller prices may vary. ESUP means "Estimated Single Unit
Price."
(6) Processor. CPU performance may vary. See Processor Legal Footnote
at http://www.info.toshiba.com
(7) Hard Disk Drive Capacity. Hard drive capacity may vary. 1
Gigabyte (GB) means 1000 x 1000 x 1000 = 1,000,000,000 bytes
using powers of 10. See Hard Disk Drive Capacity Legal Footnote
at http://www.info.toshiba.com
(8) Memory. Memory size may vary. See Memory Legal Footnote at
(9) QosmioPlayer does not support HD DVD playback function.
(10) Graphics. GPU performance may vary. See Graphics Legal Footnote
at http://www.info.toshiba.com
(11) Warranty. The terms and conditions of Toshiba's standard limited
warranty, extended warranty and service upgrade terms and
conditions are available at http://www.warranty.toshiba.com.
(12) Wireless. May require purchase of additional software, external
hardware, or services. Transmission speeds may vary. See Wireless
Legal Footnote at http://www.info.toshiba.com
(13) Weight. Weight may vary. See Weight Legal Footnote at
(C) 2006 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.
Barbie(TM) and International Teen Recording Artist Skye Sweetnam Unlock High School Secrets in ``The Barbie(TM) Diaries'' DVD; Original Music Rocks with Eight Pop Singles
In this month's direct-to-DVD release of "The Barbie(TM) Diaries," Barbie(TM) teams up with Capitol Records recording artist Skye Sweetnam to bring the voice of high schoolers to life with hip, contemporary music in the Barbie(R) brand's newest entertainment release. Celebrating the first-time ever that Barbie(TM) is cast in the real world as a high school student, "The Barbie(TM) Diaries" features eight original songs, including four sung by Sweetnam, a recent nominee for "New Artist of the Year" at the 2006 Canadian Juno Awards. Set to the cool music featuring Sweetnam's voice and four other up-and-coming bands, Barbie(TM) portrays a high school student whose "real life" adventures include forming her own band Charmz and auditioning for a gig to play at the Fall Formal.
With seven popular Barbie(TM) Princess and Fairytopia(TM) films under her hit-making belt, Barbie(TM) has become an entertainment powerhouse and a family favorite among home DVD collections, collectively selling more than 27 million units worldwide. Featuring a new, distinctive toon-shaded CGI animated look, "The Barbie(TM) Diaries" release is supported with a full line of themed dolls and electronic toys.
"With the success of Barbie(R) Entertainment to-date, we anticipate 'The Barbie(TM) Diaries' to be a hit among girls who have grown up with Barbie(TM) movies and love music," said Richard Dickson, senior vice president of marketing, media and entertainment. "We knew the music had to be fresh and Skye's original sound and blend of rock, pop and electronica celebrates the spunk and spirit that Barbie(TM) reflects as a teenager."
The combination of contemporary music with the "diary" theme will hit close to the hearts and minds of young girls everywhere. A recent Omnibus survey found that:
-- 74 percent of girls have kept a diary at some point in their lives
-- The top five "for-my-eyes-only" topics included thoughts about friends, family, secrets, boys and creative musings (poems, stories, sketches), respectively
-- Brothers and sisters ranked highest (nearly 20 percent each) in breaching diary security by reading without permission
-- But overall, girls are rather trusting, as more than a third (37 percent) do not bother to hide their diaries
"Just like Barbie(TM), my diary was where I could write down all my secrets, fears and dreams," said Skye. "Today, I'm fortunate to be able to share all my thoughts and feelings with girls across the world, through my songwriting. It's so important for girls to have a place where they're free to express themselves."
About Skye Sweetnam
For an artist only 18-years-old, Sweetnam's list of accomplishments is impressive -- she co-wrote all the songs (except for one cover) on her debut album, "Noise from the Basement," released in September 2004 by EMI's Capitol Records in the U.S. and debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. She was later named one of the "10 Artists to Watch" by Rolling Stone. In 2004, Skye performed in sold-out shows across North America and Europe as the opening act of Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour. Skye also sings the theme songs for both The Disney Channel's hit show "Buzz on Maggie" and The N's "Radio Free Roscoe." More recently, Skye's single "Tangled Up in Me" was featured on "NOW That's What I Call Music! -- Vol 18," and Sweetnam was recently nominated for a Canadian 2006 Juno Award in the "New Artist of the Year" category. She has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," ABC Family Channel's #1 rated show, "Switched," and "CNN's "The Music Room." Her second, yet-to-be-titled album releases in summer 2006.
About "The Barbie(TM) Diaries"
As the new school year begins, Barbie(TM) is hoping her sophomore year will bring some exciting changes. With a special diary and charm bracelet, Barbie(TM) finds the courage to try to be herself and learns valuable lessons about friendship, self-confidence and even romance. Girls will get a taste of pop stardom with two DVD bonus features, including Sweetnam's music video and a behind-the-scenes peek of one of her recording sessions. This DVD premiere will be available from Lionsgate on May 9 for a suggested retail price of $19.98. A giftset featuring the DVD and a special collectible diary will also be available for a suggested retail price of $24.98. Beginning in March 2006, fans can also listen to "The Barbie(TM) Diaries" music online on Radio Barbie(TM), featuring Skye as the star host, or learn more about her and "The Barbie(TM) Diaries" on Barbie.com.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and is a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE:MAT) (http://www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R) and Tyco(R) R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands (http://www.fisher-price.com), including Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(R), Power Wheels(R) and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 42 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.
Barbie and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel, Inc. (C) 2006 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
How China Buys and Sells TV
CCTV: National Network's System Helps Advertisers Go Beyond Big Cities
With so much talk in the U.S. of changing the annual TV marketplace known as the upfront, Advertising Age decided to look into how TV ad time is bought and sold in key markets around the world. This is the second in a series.
Multinational marketers ironically owe a debt of gratitude to one of the most famous Communists in history, Mao Tse-tung.
Chinese TV's 'American Idol'-like 'Supergirl' show was a smash hit.
Chairman Mao, who grasped the power of TV as a mouthpiece of his party, created a national TV network, Beijing-based China Central Television, in 1958. Today, it has 16 channels and has been ad-supported since 1979, with national distribution focused on topics such as sports, movies and even agriculture.
He also made sure locally produced TV sets were affordable even for the country's impoverished rural population. As a result, 347 million households -- virtually the entire country -- have access to TV programming today and tune in for about three hours a day, according to CSM Media Research.
China's developed TV market hasn't helped foreign programmers, blocked from local airwaves by fears about the influence of Western-style programming in a tightly controlled political environment. But CCTV's national network has been enormously helpful to advertisers as a way to promote brands beyond the largest cities.
"If you want your spot to be seen by the largest number of people in China, you probably want to run it right before CCTV's main evening news or evening weather report, because those programs run in just about every city in China," said Rita Chan, Shanghai-based client-service director, China, at Nielsen Media Research.
The broadcaster has evolved over the past decade from backward state-controlled behemoth into savvy commercial entity. About four-fifths of the $37 billion spent on advertising in China goes to TV, according to Nielsen; much of it to CCTV. Up to 90% of CCTV's revenue comes from advertising, so to rake in as many dollars as possible, an auction is held every November to sell prime-time slots for the following year.
Media buyers complain the auction is too long. Participants deposit a sealed paper bid in a box. After bids are read by CCTV, the three or four companies behind the highest offers for a time slot take part in an open-auction process by raising hands to increase the bid price.
"[It] could be quicker, but it's still pretty spectacular," said Philip Beck, CEO of China Media Exchange, Shanghai. The holding company for Publicis Groupe's media divisions in China, namely Zenith Optimedia, CME spent more than $30 million at the auction in November 2005 on behalf of marketers such as China Mobile and Shanghai General Motors.
"There were at least 1,000 people, all in one room, which is quite novel compared to other markets. Americans should adopt the same approach, having an open auction like CCTV is fantastic," added Mr. Beck, a New Zealand native. "They just need to improve the format to move through the inventory more quickly."
In 2004, CCTV took in about $655 million. Last November, the auction generated almost $725 million. Although Chinese brands dominate CCTV's airtime, for the past two years Procter & Gamble Co. has been the king of the auction. P&G spent $47 million of its total $400 million ad budget for China at the 2004 event for CCTV airtime last year. In 2005, P&G invested $43.5 million for 2006 airtime on CCTV.
"P&G buys a lot of spots, [up to] 30% to 40% of a TV station's prime-time airtime for our brands," said J. Alfonso ("Pon") De Dios, P&G's media director, Greater China, based in Guangzhou.
But CCTV is under pressure to provide more flexibility to meet marketers' needs to maintain its dominance in China's complex TV market. The broadcaster is expanding its drama, sports and variety/contest programming to broaden its appeal to consumers -- and advertisers -- in the face of growing competition.
CCTV is right to be worried. China has more than 2,000 terrestrial and pay-TV channels at the city and provincial levels with more leeway than CCTV, still subservient to its propaganda roots, can offer. Provincial media operators in places like Hunan, Anhui and Shanghai are gaining in appeal, distribution and ad revenue.
"Provincial satellite channels are trying to compete with CCTV by working together, coming up with new formats like contest shows, and through foreign programming acquisitions like popular Korean dramas," said Ms. Chan.
Regional operators have even adopted their own themes. The provincial channel in Hainan, a popular vacation destination in southern China, for example, is now China's national travel channel. Shanghai's Dragon TV is a news-oriented channel and Beijing's provincial station shows mostly documentaries.
Another potential challenge to CCTV stems from the Chinese government's development of digital TV. The technology has already been tested in more than 49 cities and should be in place in the major cities by 2008, the all-important year when Beijing will host the Olympic Games.
But what really put CCTV on alert was the astounding success of the last season of the "Mongolian Cow Sour Yogurt Supergirl Contest," a talent competition known as "Supergirl" that was seen by up to 400 million Chinese.
The show's stunning popularity highlighted the significant changes taking place in China's TV market. The show was created by Hunan Satellite Television -- not CCTV -- demonstrating for the first time that advertisers do have choices beyond the state-run operator and that local viewers crave more engaging content.
Hunan execs "realized their mission was becoming a national player back in 1999, and developed a team dedicated to establishing distribution on local and regional cable and satellite channels all over the country," said Matthew Brosenne, CSM's international business director in Beijing.
At its peak, "Supergirl" ratings topped CCTV's most popular shows, and the price of 15-second spots during the contest were priced as high as $15,000, making it more expensive than CCTV's prime-time shows.
The talent show "marks the first time a satellite show has really broken out of its own province, did very well around the whole country and was promoted nationally. That's a big challenge to CCTV's dominance," said Beijing-based Quinn Taw, chief strategy officer for GroupM.
The financial toll is already showing. Bidding at the last auction fell short of the revenue goal of $750 million the broadcaster had hoped for, largely because advertisers, including P&G, have started turning to more flexible and cheaper alternatives.
For example, P&G recently invested nearly $1 million with the Hunan channel that created "Supergirl" to make Gillette Vector the title sponsor of a folk-art show and a TV series featuring outdoor singing performances. The marketer also inked a deal with Chongqing TV to search for the best smile in that city, including TV coverage and a road show sponsored by Crest.
"It's all about creating your own rules, you need a lot of improvisation and agility, and you need to ask for things and push people," said P&G's Mr. De Dios. "This is poised to be the year of reality TV in China because of last year's 'Supergirl' success."
Tribune Publishing Names Vice President/Advertising » Doug Thomas to Lead Group Ad Sales and Management
Tribune Publishing, a division of Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB), today announced the appointment of Doug Thomas as vice president/advertising, a new position, effective May 15. Thomas was previously vice president/advertising for the Chicago Tribune. "This appointment reflects the vital priority of achieving profitable top-line growth across our newspaper, targeted print and interactive businesses," said Scott Smith, Tribune Publishing president. "Doug is exceptionally well qualified for such a key role. He has strong client relationships, a keen understanding of marketplace dynamics and solid sales management skills." Thomas will lead advertising initiatives, including planning and organization development, throughout Tribune Publishing, working in partnership with top management at the company’s daily newspapers. He will also continue cultivating major national retail accounts as senior vice president of Tribune Media Net. "This is a challenge and an opportunity I’m looking forward to," Thomas said. "Accelerating revenue growth is the goal of all Tribune newspapers, and I’ll be working closely with our local ad executives to help bring that about. There is a lot we can do market by market and through coordinating our efforts as a team." Thomas has been the Chicago Tribune’s vice president/advertising since March 2004. He joined the Tribune in 2000 as advertising category director, overseeing the movie, entertainment, apparel and department store categories. He then served as director of major accounts/fashion and entertainment prior to being named advertising director. Thomas was Midwest advertising director for People magazine before joining Tribune. A Connecticut native, Thomas graduated from Dartmouth College in 1982.
Rubi Nicholas, of Denver, CO, Wins Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2 Will Host Evening of Mother's Day Programming on Network on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14 Before Getting a Shot to Develop Her Own Show
Rubi Nicholas, of Denver, CO, has been selected as the winner of Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2, it was revealed tonight by actress and host of the series -- Katey Sagal -- at the conclusion of the hour-long finale on Nick at Nite. The finale showcased Rubi and four other finalists as they competed for the title. Rubi won $50,000 and will host a special night of programming on Nick at Nite on Mother's Day, Sunday May 14 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET/PT. In addition, she will have the opportunity to develop her own show for the network.
As a first generation Pakistani Muslim, Rubi's humor draws upon a variety of experiences -- from being a busy working mom to her interfaith marriage to her unique experiences assimilating her family's culture with American culture. Rubi is an executive at a private corporation during the day and is a novice to the world of stand-up comedy.
"Rubi's ability to incorporate her ethnic heritage, her family life as a corporate woman whose husband is a stay-at-home dad, and the antics of her two little girls is completely refreshing," states Sal Maniaci, Senior Vice President, Development and Original Productions, TV Land and Nick at Nite. "She has the gift of weaving together her story and allowing the audience to experience her life. She truly understands what makes us laugh."
Rubi performed before an audience and a panel of celebrity judges -- Mario Cantone (Broadway's Laugh Whore, Sex and the City), Carol Leifer (The Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live) and Alfonso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince of Bel Air, All of Us) -- who named her "The Funniest Mom in America."
After receiving hundreds of entries from moms around the country, Nick at Nite narrowed its selection down to twenty-one women. The women were chosen to perform at the semi-finals in January 2006 at New York City's Laugh Factory, where the final ten moms were selected to appear in the reality series. Beginning April 4, Nick at Nite followed these ten finalists as they lived together in a penthouse suite in New York City. Throughout each 30-minute episode, they received surprise visits from celebrity guests and the series' host -- Katey Sagal -- and competed in a variety of comedic challenges, each underscoring the contestants' talents and personalities. The moms, divided into teams, tackled everything from entertaining an audience of kids to performing for New Yorkers on the go to a sitcom screen test challenge. The lowest scoring performers on each challenge faced off against each other in a head-to-head stand-up comedy battle. Over the course of the series, five moms were eliminated and the five remaining contestants competed in the show's finale, performing stand-up comedy to a packed house on a New York City stage.
On Sunday, May 14, Mother's Day, Rubi will host a night of programming for the network, kicking off with an encore presentation of Nick at Nite's Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2. She will also introduce shows from the network's line-up, all celebrating hilarious moms.
Below is the schedule for Sunday, May 14 (all times ET/PT):
9:00pm Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2 - Finale
In this grand finale, five final moms compete against each other in a stand up comedy showdown for $50,000.
10:00pm Roseanne #31 Sweet Dreams
Roseanne tries to get a few minutes of relaxation in the bathtub, but she ends up getting constant interruptions from her family -- and a fantasy about two hunks.
10:30pm Roseanne# 71 Scenes From a Barbecue
The Conners celebrate Mother's Day with a barbecue with Roseanne's feisty grandmother.
11:00pm The Cosby Show #34 - Clair's Toe
Clair buys a pair of beautiful new shoes and challenges Cliff to a "smoothness" contest to decide who has the most style. Unfortunately, when Clair breaks her toe, she can't fit her bandaged foot into her stylish new shoes. What's more, she refuses any help from Cliff, determined to prove she can function as a lawyer, wife and mother of five, in spite of her broken toe.
11:30 pm The Cosby Show #146 - What's It All About
Exhausted, overworked and with patience worn thin, Clair wonders if she has "anything left to give." Cliff insists that she get away for a few days and sends her off to a secluded cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation. But the hideaway is hideous: drafty, cold and barely functional! Clair longs to come home to the relative comfort of noise and chaos in the Huxtable house.
In April, 2006 Nick at Nite announced that celebrity comic and writer Carol Leifer (Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live) will pen and executive produce the sitcom pilot for Darlene Westgor, who won the chance to develop her own show with the network when she was named Nick at Nite's Funniest Mom in America in 2005. The pilot, tentatively titled Darlene, is based on Westgor's real life as a single, divorced mom living and working in Minnesota. The pilot will be shot in Los Angeles this month. Gil Junger (Ellen, Hope & Faith, 8 Simple Rules ... ) will direct. Sal Maniaci also executive produces on the project and TV Land's Marco Bresaz is executive in charge of production.
Nick at Nite Originals was created in 2003 to develop original programming that meets what the network refers to as the "Four F's" criteria: programming that is Family-Friendly, Funny and Familiar. Nick at Nite Originals produces Fatherhood (June 2004), a show based on Bill Cosby's best-selling book of the same name. Nick at Nite also produced Hi-Jinks, the network's hidden-camera series in which adults play good-natured pranks on kids of all ages, which returns to the network in its second season in February 2006.
For more information about Nick at Nite's originals line-ups, visit http://www.nickatnite.com/. Nick at Nite and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International, Inc.
Currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes, Nick at Nite features timeless hit comedies: "The Cosby Show" - this Emmy Award-winning sitcom is one of the network's highest-rated shows: "Full House" - this popular family comedy launched on the network in October and is one of the highest-rated and most popular syndicated programs in television; and "Roseanne," one of the most talked-about and celebrated sitcoms in television history.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these brands are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 90 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Web site: http://www.nickatnite.com/
As the price of gas approaches $3.00 a gallon, more and more car shoppers are putting fuel-efficiency near the top of their wish list.
While fuel-efficiency typically takes center stage, the sticker price of the car combined with the lifetime fuel cost can offer consumers a more accurate picture of the overall savings during the lifetime of the car. "Hybrid cars get a lot of hype when gasoline prices start to rise. They certainly are a great way to save money at the pump on a yearly basis and are typically better for the environment," said cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. "However, if your overall goal is to simply save money, there might be better options." Below is cars.com's ranking of the 20 cars that give consumers the best bang for the buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car.
The new Toyota Yaris tops the list with a base price of less than $11,000 for a two-door hatchback and average fuel economy of 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. The most fuel-efficient vehicle on the road is the Honda Insight hybrid, which has a base price of more than $19,000. If gas prices average $3 a gallon for the foreseeable future, it would take an owner of a Honda Insight more than 17 years to offset the $8,000 price difference of a Toyota Yaris in fuel savings(1). The list was compiled by combining the base sticker price with a fuel cost estimate based on the car's average gas mileage. Fuel costs assume that the car is driven 15,000 miles per year, the percentage of highway driving versus city driving is 45 and 55 percent respectively, the cost of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.92 a gallon and the car is owned for eight years.
Diesel costs are estimated at $2.96 a gallon. Make/Model City/Hwy Base Sticker Lifetime Fuel Sticker & Lifetime Fuel 1. Toyota Yaris (Manual) 34/40 $10,950 $9,394.10 $20,344.10 2. Kia Rio (Manual) 32/35 $10,770 $10,506.75 $21,276.75 3. Hyundai Accent (Manual) 32/35 $12,455 $10,506.75 $22,961.75 4. Scion xA (Manual) 32/37 $12,780 $10,230.66 $23,010.66 5. Honda Fit (Manual) 33/38 $13,850 $ 9,940.43 $23,790.43 6. Toyota Corolla (Manual) 32/41 $14,105 $9,719.83 $23,824.83 7. Scion xA (Automatic) 31/38 $13,580 $10,260.61 $23,840.61 8. Kia Rio (Automatic) 29/38 $13,495 $10,602.12 $24,097.12 9. Honda Insight Hybrid 60/66 $19,330 $ 5,588.52 $24,918.52 10. Hyundai Accent (Automatic) 28/36 $13,845 $11,088.61 $24,933.61 11. Honda Civic (Manual) 30/38 $14,560 $10,428.57 $24,988.57 12. Toyota Corolla (Automatic) 30/38 $14,905 $10,428.57 $25,333.57 13. Honda Civic (Automatic) 30/40 $15,360 $10,156.52 $25,516.52 14. Volkswagen Beetle (Manual /Diesel) 37/44 $18,390 $8,846.82 $27,236.82 15. Toyota Prius Hybrid 60/51 $21,725 $6,262.73 $27,987.73 16. Volkswagen Golf (Manual/Diesel) 37/44 $19,580 $8,846.82 $28,426.82 17. Volkswagen Beetle (Automatic/ Diesel) 35/42 $19,465 $9,310.62 $28,775.62 18. Honda Civic Hybrid 49/51 $22,150 $7,022.04 $29,172.04 19. Volkswagen Golf (Automatic/Diesel) 33/44 $20,655 $9,359.68 $30,014.68 20. Volkswagen Jetta (Manual/Diesel) 36/41 $21,605 $9,286.27 $30,891.27
For a more complete guide to fuel-economy, including information on the best gas mileage, information on alternative fuel technology and fuel savings tips, visit cars.com. About cars.com Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, cars.com is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 1.5 million vehicles from more than 10,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side- by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month. Launched in June 1998, cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, ( http://classifiedventures.com ), which is owned by six leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), Knight Ridder (NYSE: KRI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). (1) Assumes the car is driven 15,000 miles a year.
Wal-Mart Backs Online Auction for TV Ad Dollars
Retail Giant and Other Marketers Look to Build $50 Million Test System
-- A group of marketers led by Wal-Mart's Julie Roehm today put out the call for advertisers to contribute $50 million for a test of an online auction system to buy and sell TV advertising.
Julie Roehm, senior VP-marketing communications, is asking advertisers to kick in $50 million to support a test online system to buy and sell TV ads.
The initiative is being championed by an ad-hoc group of 10 marketers including Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard Co., Masterfoods, Microsoft Corp., Philips and Toyota Motor Sales USA's Lexus.
"We can be the driver of change" to bring more transparency and efficiency to media buying, said Ms. Roehm, senior VP-marketing communications at Wal-Mart Stores USA.
The proposal is a more contained version of a big idea that Ms. Roehm has been pushing for nearly two years. In a June 2004 Viewpoint essay in Ad Age, Ms. Roehm -- then a marketing executive at DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group -- proposed replacing the TV upfront market with a Nasdaq-like online trading system for commercials. She expanded on that idea at an Association of National Advertisers forum in March 2005. Ms. Roehm joined Wal-Mart in January.
At the ANA's Advertising Financial Management Conference here today, Ms. Roehm and others took the stage to propose specific action by calling on advertisers to:
Contribute $50 million to a pool to buy media in a test of an Internet-based media exchange.
Create a steering committee, working through the ANA, to choose what technology, auction forms and media types to use in the test.
The ANA, through Exec VP Bill Duggan, is facilitating the marketers' initiative.
Ann Bybee, corporate manager-advertising, brand and product strategy at Lexus USA, noted that the upfront market -- the frenzied annual ritual of buying and selling TV time -- dates back 40 years. "It's time for a change," she said. "The system isn't transparent." Ms. Bybee said the hope is to have a test up and running as early as the first quarter.
At the ANA conference today, eBay presented an online trading platform that could be used. The "Media Marketplace" home page would allow an advertiser or agency to click on a desired network, age, gender and time; see the available inventory; see the time remaining in the auction; and then enter a bid. If successful, the buyer soon would get the message: "Congratulations! You are the Winning Bidder!"
The system could work in two ways: A forward auction, where buyers bid for available inventory; a reverse auction, where media sellers responded to a buyer's request for proposals for, say, 20 gross rating points for men age 18-34.
Under eBay's scheme, the trading system would be owned and controlled by the ad market; eBay would likely take a small slice of transactions as a fee. Media would decide how much of their inventory to offer on the system.
Ms. Roehm said the steering committee could choose another tech partner, though she added eBay's offering "is a really good solution."
Lou Schultz, chairman of consultancy LMS-Unlimited and a veteran media agency executive, has been working with the ANA on the initiative. He said the steering committee would need to decide what type of media to include in the test and have discussions with media on how the system would work.
The test most likely would include a narrow slice of TV -- some cable, digital extensions of TV (digital channels, online, wireless), possibly scatter -- rather than trying to tackle the upfront. (Upfront refers to TV time bought in the spring before the fall TV season; scatter is time bought during the season.)
Mr. Schultz said a small portion of the $50 million pool -- maybe $1 million -- would be used to build and staff the online exchange. Participants could spend the rest of the money to buy media on the system. Since the money would come out of marketers' existing media budgets, Ms. Bybee said, there would be limited risk for marketers.
Steve Grubbs, CEO of Omnicom Group's PHD North America (Chrysler's media buyer) and a proponent of an online exchange, said the system over time could be used for a variety of media beyond TV.
But Mr. Grubbs acknowledged that marketers have mixed opinions about the proposed scheme. Top advertisers -- "P&Gs, Pfizers" -- are "already paying bottom dollar" by using their clout in the existing system, he noted.
Noticeably absent from the ANA's panel discussion on the topic were executives from TV networks. "I don't think they're really going to endorse this," said Mr. Grubbs. Big networks, accustomed to the upfront, "will look at this as a loss of control."
But some media sellers could be won over, Mr. Grubbs said, with an incentive: a pool of $50 million waiting to be spent.
Proponents now are looking to line up advertisers to participate in the test. Mr. Schultz said "it's a good assumption" that Wal-Mart and the other nine initial backers will contribute. Said Ms. Roehm: "We'll be the biggest cheerleaders."
Ms. Roehm said Wal-Mart hasn't officially committed to contribute; Ms. Bybee said Lexus will participate. But the bigger issue, Ms. Roehm said, is to get a mass of advertisers to make small contributions for the test. "A hundred advertisers would be great," she said. "Maybe it's 200."
Ad Industry Blasted for 'Sanctioned Segregation'
Comments by True Agency's Richard Wayner Heat Up Panel Discussion
Advertising agencies remain segregated remnants of the 1950s, in effect casting multicultural agencies aside in virtual "Negro leagues," said Richard Wayner, CEO of the True Agency, during a heated question-and-answer session after a panel discussion at the Los Angeles Association of Advertising Agencies on May 6.
"The ad industry is essentially a segregated industry in terms of how people work and think," said Mr. Wayner, who was seated in the audience at the discussion about agency issues. "It is sanctioned segregation and supported by clients."
The panel, moderated by Jerry McGee, exec VP-Western Region, American Association of Advertising Agencies, held five Southern California executives. Mr. McGee asked why, after all the years of programs the industry has endorsed to bring more minorities into the business, were there only two African-Americans -- Mr. Wayner and Jo Muse, chairman, Muse Cordero Chen & Partners -- in attendance at the session.
Panelist Rick Colby, president-executive creative director, Colby & Partners, Santa Monica, Calif., said he is looking to create a more diverse work force, but has had trouble finding minorities to bring on his staff. Recently, he said, he called a recruiter and the only names she offered were of two white males in their early 30s. Carisa Bianchi, president, TBWA/Chiat/Day, also on the panel, noted that the next generation coming into the work force is truly diverse.
Other panelists pointed out that marketers construct their ad budgets in a manner that allocates a certain percentage specifically to minority or ethnic spending, thus leading to the tendency of minorities to gather in ethnic agencies.
Mr. Wayner, a former investment banker, said marketers have designated 5% of their budgets to African-American and Hispanic advertising. The result is that instead of integrating multicultural employees and management into the work force, the marketing industry as a whole has set up multicultural shops tantamount to asking aspiring agency executives to play in baseball's "Negro leagues," he said.
Mr. McGee volunteered to help Mr. Wayner and moved on to another questioner.
True Agency came to prominence in July 2002 when it won a pitch to handle urban and African-American marketing for Nissan North America. The agency shortly thereafter moved to Playa del Rey, Calif., where it rented space in the offices of TBWA/Chiat/Day, Nissan's general market agency.
Over the years, a number of True's campaigns were lauded in the press, among them a tour of a Nissan Armada placed in a glass cube labeled "Break Glass in Case of Adventure." Others including dressing a New York City street with parking meters and other street furniture appearing to be melted because a "hot" new Nissan was nearby.
The agency, which espouses a concept it has dubbed "transculturalism," stirred up controversy when it won the Nissan pitch because it did not immediately have minority certification. One competitor, Eugene Morris, chairman-CEO of minority-certified E. Morris Communications, Chicago, complained to the Rev. Jesse Jackson over True's win.
Although several reports indicated TBWA and its parent, Omnicom Group, had a stake in the agency, Mr. Wayner said True Agency has been 100% independently owned. He said that after three-and-a-half years of on and off discussions, True and TBWA/Chiat/Day were unable to agree on merger terms. One stumbling block was price. He said the other was his desire to have True merged into TBWA/Chiat/Day in a way that the agency would have more of a say in the general advertising, and not be relegated to an African-American focus.
"We are trying to find a strong partner willing to integrate us and take us out of the Negro Leagues and the Latin Leagues," said Mr. Wayne in an interview Saturday afternoon.
The 40-plus employee agency, which still works on Nissan, moved out of TBWA/Chiat/Day's offices at the beginning of this year. True's new headquarters is a few blocks away.
Neal Grossman, chief operating officer, TBWA/Chiat/Day, said the talks broke down because True wanted to be "100% independently owned." He added, "We respect that." He also said that because TBWA is part of a holding company, "there are certain requirements you have to live with."
The 4A's Mr. McGee, in an interview after the session, said, "We absolutely need to do more as an industry to diversify. We have to re-examine our programs and make those work. This is not acceptable. Just as media goes cross-platforms, why don't we do that culturally ourselves?"
The event, held at the La Qunita Resort & Club, drew 175 registrants and featured presentations by Susan Lyne, president-CEO, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and Stuart Redsun, exec VP of startup mobile phone service Helio. The Los Angles Association of Advertising Agencies also said it plans to rename itself ThinkLA, and expand representation to include Hollywood and the media in a push to tout the creativity of the region.
SPORTS & AUTOS
May 11, 2006
Oakland 3, Toronto 8 at Rogers Centre
Oakland Record: (17-17)
Toronto Record: (19-15)
Winning pitcher - Ted Lilly (4-2)
Losing pitcher - Kirk Saarloos (1-1)
OAK HR - N. Swisher 2 (12)
TOR HR - T. Glaus 2 (12) G. Zaun (4)
Houston 4, Los Angeles 2 at Dodger Stadium
Houston Record: (20-15)
Los Angeles Record: (17-18)
Winning pitcher - Wandy Rodriguez (5-1)
Losing pitcher - Derek Lowe (1-2)
SV - Dan Wheeler (1)
HOU HR - None
LAD HR - J. Kent (4)
May 10 2006
Oakland & Dodger Baseball
Oakland 7, Toronto 9 at Rogers Centre
Oakland Record: (17-16)
Toronto Record: (18-15)
Winning pitcher - Francisco Rosario (1-0)
Losing pitcher - Joe Blanton (3-4)
SV - B.J. Ryan (8)
OAK HR - M. Kotsay (2) A. Melhuse (2) F. Thomas (7)
TOR HR - L. Overbay (4)
Houston 6, Los Angeles 9 at Dodger Stadium
Houston Record: (19-15)
Los Angeles Record: (17-17)
Winning pitcher - Brett Tomko (4-1)
Losing pitcher - Taylor Buchholz (2-2)
HOU HR - L. Berkman (12)
LAD HR - R. Furcal (2) N. Garciaparra (4) J. Kent (3)
BMW ORACLE Racing Sails Into Rockefeller Center to Kick-Off Summer June 15 - July 2, 2006
Racing Yacht of Only USA America's Cup Challenger Comes to New York
BMW ORACLE Racing, the only U.S. Challenger for the America's Cup -- sailing's most prestigious prize and the world's oldest trophy in sport -- comes to New York's Rockefeller Center June 15 - July 2, 2006. An America's Cup racing yacht of the U.S. team is the centerpiece of what will be an eye-catching interactive nautical exhibit open to the public.
The event, supported by the team's partners and sponsors; BMW, ORACLE, Allianz and Girard-Perregaux, will allow visitors a close-up look into the cockpit of the 80-foot, carbon fiber sailboat that will sit at a dock at the midtown Manhattan landmark. The 110-foot high mast will tower over the racing yacht, standing in the same place as the traditional Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Exhibit highlights include boat pools with three-foot, remote-controlled, mini America's Cup boats for racing, an America's Cup historical pavilion curated by Mystic Seaport, and real-time racing footage on a large screen from Valencia, Spain, where the American team is competing in it is bid to win the Cup back for the U.S.
The unique sailing exhibit, a first for Rockefeller Center, is titled USA Challenger for 32nd America's Cup at Rockefeller Center: BMW ORACLE Racing Bring the America's Cup Home.
"With all of the America's Cup racing taking place in Europe, BMW ORACLE Racing wants to bring some of the excitement of this great competition to New Yorkers and Americans -- and what better place than the heart of midtown Manhattan," said Chris Dickson CEO and Skipper, BMW ORACLE Racing. "We are working hard to win the Cup back for the U.S. and hope Americans will support us in our quest."
The team is currently training and competing in Valencia, Spain, host city of the 32nd America's Cup, which takes place in June 2007. The Americans will be competing in their final competition of the 2006 racing season June 22-July 2. Footage of this racing will be fed into Rockefeller Center on a large LED screen for public viewing. Team members will be at the boat when the exhibit opens to the public on June 16.
Celebrations are planned by the organizing body of the 32nd America's Cup, America's Cup Management, to mark one year to the start of the event in Valencia, Spain, in June 2007. The 155-year-old America's Cup trophy, itself, will come to New York on June 18. The Louis Vuitton Cup -- the trophy presented to the winner of the Challenger Selection Series for the America's Cup -- will also be on display.
BMW ORACLE Racing must first win the Louis Vuitton Cup by defeating 10 other Challengers to earn the right to face the Defender in the 32nd America's Cup Match.
"We are thrilled to host this unique sailing exhibit," said Thomas Madden, Managing Director, Tishman Speyer. "The America's Cup is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world, and we look forward to showcasing the majesty and beauty of the U.S. team's racing yacht in Rockefeller Center, whose location and unique configuration make it the perfect setting to present a large-scale exhibit of this magnitude."
The yacht on display will be USA 49, a 2000-generation America's Cup Class yacht the team used for training that is now retired from racing. The yacht has the same dimensions as the current race boats and has the same livery.
Other exhibit features include carbon fiber sails from the racing boat, a BMW M6 with carbon fiber roof top that both demonstrates BMW's lightweight design competence and represents the BMW Technology Transfer into the BMW ORACLE Racing Design Team, and a special edition BMW ORACLE Racing timepiece from Girard-Perregaux. Main sponsor Allianz, through its Asset Management arm Allianz Global Investors, will screen a series of specially-produced team documentary films showcasing the excitement and professionalism of modern day America's Cup racing. Allianz will also host America's Cup winner and TV sailing analyst Gary Jobson for a series of lunchtime lectures about the America's Cup.
The exhibit will be open daily from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
The exhibit is made possible through the support of team partners BMW and Oracle, main sponsor Allianz, and associate sponsor Girard-Perregaux. The event is hosted by Tishman Speyer, co-owners of Rockefeller Center.
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke G.m.b.H. came into being in 1917, having been founded in 1916 as the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (BFW); it became a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) in 1918.
Today, the BMW Group is one of the ten largest car manufacturers in the world and possesses, with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands, three of the strongest premium brands in the car industry. The BMW Group also has a strong market position in the motorcycle sector and operates successfully in the area of financial services.
The BMW Group aims to generate profitable growth and above-average returns by focusing on the premium segments of the international automobile markets. With this in mind, a wide-ranging product and market initiative was launched back in 2001, which has resulted, over the past years, in the BMW Group expanding its product range considerably and strengthening its worldwide market position. The BMW Group will continue in this vein in the coming years.
Oracle's business is information -- how to manage it, use it, share it, protect it. The world's largest enterprise software company, Oracle is the only vendor to offer solutions for every tier of your business-database, middleware, business intelligence, business applications, and collaboration. With Oracle, you get information that helps you measure results, improve business processes, and communicate a single truth to your constituents.
Allianz
Allianz Group is one of the largest and most renowned financial services providers in the world. Representing an international network of strong brands with first-class products, Allianz brings together the expertise of specialists in the fields of property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, asset management and banking. Founded in 1890 in Berlin, Allianz is now present in more than 70 countries with over 162,000 employees.
Allianz Global Investors offers a wide range of high performance mutual funds and investment solutions developed by Allianz's network of world-class investment specialists.
Girard-Perregaux
From its beginnings in Geneva in 1791 until the present day, GIRARD- PERREGAUX has never closed its doors despite the vicissitudes of two turbulent centuries. It can therefore make the legitimate claim to be one of the oldest watch companies committed to the concept of a manufactory. By cultivating a distinctive talent for innovation and independence, both of which guarantee its dynamism, it has achieved such an exceptional degree of savoir-faire that it now ranks among the leaders of the Swiss watch industry.
Tishman Speyer
Tishman Speyer is the co-owner and manager of Rockefeller Center, which is the site of numerous public exhibits and events, including Democracy Plaza, Centennial of Flight, Drive-In Movies at the Rock, Art Rock and large-scale installations of public art by world-renowned artists including Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons and Jonathan Borofsky. Tishman Speyer is committed to the preservation and restoration of Rockefeller Center and recently refurbished and reopened Top of the Rock, the observation deck atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, after a 20-year closure. Each day an estimated 250,000 people walk through the Rockefeller Plaza complex, which is home to the most famous Christmas Tree in the world.
About BMW ORACLE Racing and the America's Cup
BMW ORACLE Racing is the Challenger of Record for the 32nd America's Cup, representing Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco, and the only American entry in the contest for sailing's most prestigious prize and the oldest trophy in international sport. Team owner is American Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle. Partner of the team is German premium car manufacturer BMW. The team is supported by main sponsor Allianz, a leading global financial services provider; associate sponsor Girard-Perregaux, Swiss manufacturer of high-class mechanical timepieces, and Technology Partners Henri Lloyd and Network Appliance, Inc. BMW ORACLE Racing is currently the top-ranked Challenger for the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, the Challenger Selection Series for the 32nd America's Cup. Eleven teams from nine nations are challenging for the Cup, with the winning Challenger facing the Swiss Defender Team Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Match in June 2007 in Valencia. The New York Yacht Club held the America's Cup for 132 years, until an Australian team broke the longest winning streak in sports in 1983. American Dennis Conner won the Cup back from Australia in 1987. The Cup was then successfully defended twice in San Diego, CA, before New Zealand claimed it in 1995. The landlocked Swiss won the Cup from New Zealand in 2003 and selected Valencia, Spain as the Host City for 2007.
Source: Rockefeller Center
NBC to Break First Upfront Deal, Thanks to Football
Toyota Exclusive Sponsor of Sunday Night Games
NBC's addition of "Sunday Night Football" is already paying off, as the broadcast network is expected to announce an early upfront deal with Toyota Motor Sales USA to be exclusive sponsor for the National Football League's Sunday night games, airing for the first time on the Peacock network.
NBC and Toyota are kicking off the upfront.
The deal is said to encompass sponsorship of the halftime show as well as both online and offline components and is aimed at pushing the next generation of its pickup truck, the Tundra, according to executives close to negotiations. Experts have already called the full-size, next generation Tundra Toyota's most competitive ever, built at a new plant in truck-loving Texas.
Toyota's agency of record is ZenithMedia USA, which has traditionally attempted to beat the market and win its clients the best prices by negotiating early deals. Toyota is a long time NBC advertiser and supports "The Today Show" concerts from the plaza at Rockefeller Center and also backed last year's boxing show, "The Contender." Toyota spent $358 million on network TV from January 2005 through to the end of February, 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
NBC declined to comment. ZenithMedia referred calls to Toyota, which did not return calls by press time.
NBC is expected to invite a select group of advertisers to a separate NFL pitch after its upfront presentation on Monday, May 15. NBC regained the rights to NFL last year and will air major games for the first time since 1997. The network spent $600 million a year over a six-year period to gain the rights to air the weekly games and future Super Bowls. NBC will air a pregame show on Sundays starting at 7 p.m. Eastern and with game coverage starting at 8:15 p.m. It will also delay afternoon games to air them in prime time.
Sports Pumps $4 Billion Annually Into L.A. Economy
L.A. Sports Council, L.A. Area Chamber release study showing L.A. sports industry's economic impact, attendance at all-time highs
The sporting events industry in Southern California generated an all-time high of over $4 billion in total economic impact in 2005 and a combined attendance of nearly 29 million people, according to a comprehensive study released today by the Los Angeles Sports Council and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Key findings of the report show that the industry continues to be a source of economic growth for the greater L.A. region, with both overall employment and attendance reaching record highs, and with overall growth rising faster than inflation.
"Anything that contributes a $4 billion impact each year is significant. We are always grateful to the sports industry for its recreation and entertainment value, but we must also recognize the industry's substantial economic value as well," said Alan Rothenberg, chairman of the Sports Council.
The extensive three-month study, sponsored by the Sports Council and the L.A. Area Chamber, was conducted by a team of MBA graduate students from the UCLA Anderson School of Management to measure the total economic impact of the sporting events industry in the Los Angeles region, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
"This study was not conducted specifically to influence NFL owners, but we hope it will entice them," said David Fleming, Vice Chair of the Board of the L.A. Area Chamber. "It scuttles any thought that the region's sports industry is floundering without pro football. It's hard to imagine another community in the country where 29 million tickets to sporting events are being sold each year. Clearly the sporting events industry is thriving and continues to bring economic vitality to the region."
Using data obtained confidentially from 52 local sports organizations (the study excludes high school sports and special one-time events), the study examined annual revenue, employment and attendance figures. The survey included professional teams, venues, horse racing tracks, major colleges and universities, as well as annual recurring events such as the Nissan Open, the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Rose Bowl Game. The study, the fifth in a series dating back to 1993, is the only report of its kind for the L.A. region.
The study mostly includes direct spending at the venues and thus excludes any economic impact outside the venue such as hotel, restaurant and transportation spending. Direct revenues include those from ticket sales, merchandising, television and radio rights fees, and others.
The results were presented at the Chamber by David Fleming, vice chair of the board, L.A. Area Chamber; Alan Rothenberg, chairman, L.A. Sports Council; David Simon, president, L.A. Sports Council, and the UCLA Anderson team.
"Given the opening later this year of the USC Galen Events Center, the possible return of NFL football to the area, and Los Angeles' pending bid to host the Olympic Games in 2016, the long-range health of the sporting events industry is strong," said David Simon, president of the Sports Council.
Significant findings in the study include:
* Sports pumped $1.66 billion into the local economy last year, which, after factoring in an economic multiplier provided by a federal government agency, translates into an overall economic impact of $4.1 billion. The weighted multiplier of 2.46 was derived from data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and was used to quantify the ripple effect that consumer spending within the sporting events industry has on the overall regional economy.
* Revenues have increased 62% in the last decade, to $1.66 billion from $1.03 billion in 1996. In the two-year period since the previous study in 2003, the total revenue compounded annual growth rate of 6.8% has easily out- paced average annual inflation of 3.9%.
* The majority of growth in revenue has come from increases in ticket prices as well as increased attendance. The professional sports/venue segment of the study has nearly doubled to $1.05 billion in 2005 from $535 million in 1996.
* Consistent with previous studies, L.A. County accounted for 74.7% of the total revenue generated, while Orange County comprised 20.5%.
* Total combined attendance topped 28.6 million people in 2005, the highest-ever. Since 2003, attendance at sporting events in the study shows a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. Had there not been a NHL lockout, forcing the cancellation of the 2004-05 hockey season, the CAGR would have likely reached 4.5% per year. Professional baseball, in particular, has witnessed rapid growth in attendance since the previous report due mainly to the success of the two local franchises, with attendance increasing by roughly 800 million since 2003. The Dodgers led all pro teams in total regular season attendance with a 2005 figure of 3.6 million.
* The sports industry was responsible for 3,135 full-time and 13,267 part- time jobs for Los Angeles area residents. The combined total of 16,402 is an all-time high.
* The sports industry as a whole grew faster than the 2005 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the U.S. (3.7%), California (4.1%), and the five-county L.A. region (4.4%).
* Horse racing attendance has continued to decline in every study since the original survey in 1993 resulting in a negative growth of 4.2% per year. This is attributed to the proliferation of on-line and satellite wagering.
* Based on media reports, the four highest paid attendances at single-day sporting events in 2005 were the SONY HD 500 (est. 110,000) and the Auto Club 500 (est. 100,000) at the California Speedway, the Rose Bowl Game (93,468), and the UCLA vs. USC football game at the L.A. Coliseum (92,000).
A list of the 52 local sports organizations and events participating in the study is attached. A Power Point presentation of the report is available upon request.
The Los Angeles Sports Council is a nonprofit civic organization whose primary purpose is to promote economic development through sports in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. On behalf of the community, the Sports Council bids against other cities for the right to host major sporting events, often staging or helping to stage events after successful bids. The Council's efforts represent more than $1 billion in overall economic impact for the region and range from NCAA Championships to the Super Bowl and from the U.S. Olympic Trials to the World Cup. The Council also works in support of each of the area's established sports teams and facilities. For more information visit www.lasports.org.
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region. For more information visit www.lachamber.org.
Organizations Included in 2005 Study
Pro/Venue Horse Racing College/Amateur Annual
Venues Fairplex (Pomona) Amateur Athletic AT&T Senior
Angel Stadium Hollywood Park Foundation Classic
Arrowhead Pond Los Alamitos Race Cal State (Golf)
California Speedway Course Fullerton City of LA
Dodger Stadium Santa Anita Cal State Triathlon
Home Depot Center (LA Turf Club) Northridge Countrywide
LA Coliseum/Sports Cal State Classic
Arena Long Beach (Tennis)
Rose Bowl Cal State LA LA Marathon
Staples Center Cal State Long Beach
Dominguez Marathon
Pro Teams Loyola Marymount Long Beach
Anaheim Mighty Ducks Pepperdine Grand Prix
Chivas USA University Nissan Open
High Desert Mavericks UCLA (Golf)
Inland Empire 66ers UC Riverside Mark
Lake Elsinore Storm UC Irvine Christopher
Lancaster Jethawks USC Charity
Long Beach Ice Dogs Classic
LA Angels of Anaheim (Golf)
LA Avengers Mt. SAC
LA Clippers Relays
LA Dodgers (Track)
LA Galaxy Rose Bowl
LA Kings Game/Parade
LA Lakers Toshiba
LA Sparks Senior
Rancho Cucamonga Classic
Quakes (Golf)
US Open of
Surfing
Source: Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Web site: http://www.lasports.org/
http://www.lachamber.org/
AT&T Delivers Wi-Fi Service at EDS Byron Nelson Championship
Hot Spots Throughout Course Grounds Keep Pros, Spectators and Sponsors Connected During 2006 Tournament
To keep the golfing elite connected during the 2006 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that AT&T Wi-Fi (high speed wireless Internet) service is available throughout the tournament golf course -- providing Wi-Fi connectivity at no charge. Spectators along the fairway will be able to stay up to date on tournament action online or send an e-mail on the latest tournament play to others at home or at the office.
The 2006 EDS Byron Nelson Championship marks the third year of AT&T's Wi- Fi services at the tournament. AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots will be available free of charge to staff, pros, spectators and sponsors in corporate hospitality tents located at several holes throughout the course.
"The EDS Byron Nelson Championship is recognized as one of the top attractions and certainly a popular sporting event for golf fans here in northern Texas and throughout many other communities," said Deb Peoples, AT&T vice president-general manager for the Dallas market area. "We are pleased to continue our participation in this premier event in a way that offers seamless connectivity to fans and others, as they follow this year's tournament."
In addition to Wi-Fi services, AT&T will provide wired high speed DSL Internet connections in select corporate tents and corporate villas in the Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas.
Telco Systems ( http://www.telco.com/ ), a carrier-class IP and TDM transport and access product and solution developer, will again provide connectivity between the AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots and the AT&T communications operation center at this year's tournament using very high bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) systems. Telco Systems will also provide connectivity for the wired Internet sites.
The AT&T Wi-Fi service allows customers to use laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to wirelessly connect to the Internet and to corporate networks at speeds of up to 50 to 100 times faster than a dial-up connection.
Customers can view a list of AT&T Wi-Fi locations, including Dallas Love Field and other Texas locations, and obtain ordering information by visiting http://www.attwifi.com/ .
About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with 55.8 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.att.com/ .
AT&T Wi-Fi public wireless high-speed Internet access service is provided by AT&T Internet Services. Connections available at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots and partnering locations. An 802.11 b/g enabled device is required for Wi-Fi access. Service not available in all areas. Limited to AT&T Internet Services master account. AT&T Internet Services reserves the right to suspend any connection and is not liable for any lack of security that may result from your use of the service on your device. Other restrictions apply.
Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.
Web site: http://www.telco.com/
http://www.attwifi.com/
http://www.att.com/
Furniture Row(R) Racing Launches New Website, Offers Fans the Inside Track on NASCAR #78 Busch and CUP Teams
Furniture Row(R) Companies, owner and sponsor of Furniture Row Racing, has announced the launch of the official team website, located at www.FurnitureRowRacing.com.
The new and improved site will take #78 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and BUSCH SERIES fans through the inner workings of the Furniture Row Racing program.
The new site strengthens Furniture Row Racing's commitment to its fans by offering everything from the latest news and information on team drivers Kenny Wallace and Jerry Robertson, current team and crew chief Joe Garone, up to date qualifying results, team photo galleries and an interactive message board called, "Shop Talk." This is where Furniture Row Racing team members can provide the inside track on the latest developments to Furniture Row Racing and answer fan questions.
The new Furniture Row Racing launched May 9th, 2006
.
Furniture Row(R) Companies is one of the largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. The company is comprised of five specialty store brands including: Sofa Mart, Oak Express, Bedroom Expressions, Denver Mattress Company, and Furniture Row Outlets. Furniture Row operates more than 270 stores, in 30 states nationwide. www.furniturerow.com
Web site: http://www.furniturerow.com/
http://www.furniturerowracing.com/
Loyola High School Teams With Detroit Tigers For 10th Annual Game Benefit Set For Friday, June 2 Fundraiser and Ford car lease raffle tickets on sale now; the event at Comerica Park has raised over $1M since 1996 for Loyola High School in Detroit, with proceeds providing tuition assistance to Loyola students
The annual fundraiser at Comerica Park to benefit Loyola High School (Loyola) in Detroit, an all-male Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition, is set for Friday, June 2 at the Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox game. The event, drawing hundreds of guests from the tricounty area, begins with a 5:00 p.m. pregame party and a "tailgate" ballpark supper -- complete with Ford Mustang lease raffle and sports memorabilia silent auction -- at the outside parking lot of the Detroit Athletic Club, just a short walk to the 7:00 p.m. game. AM 1270's Sports Inferno co-host Terry Foster will serve as emcee. Tickets for the event/game or the Ford Mustang lease raffle are available by calling Loyola at 313-861-2407 and at http://www.loyolahsdetroit.org/ .
The fundraiser supports Loyola, an all-male school of 160 students located in Detroit. Founded in 1993, the school is Jesuit in tradition and offers a culture of hope and academic success for students in Detroit and surrounding communities challenged by an urban environment. Its admission process gives priority to students often not working up to their academic and social potential and provides them with specific academics and a supportive, structured setting.
"The event is fun for the whole family. We want to acknowledge all of our sponsors who make it a success," said Loyola President Fr. Dave Mastrangelo. Grand Slam 2006 sponsors are Ford Motor Company and Plunkett and Cooney, P.C. The annual President's Award is given to a staunch supporter of the event. The 2006 winner is Troy-based Flynn & Co., Inc.
"Growing up is hard enough, but an urban environment can be challenging. At Loyola High School in Detroit, students successfully learn how to meet their potential, supported by a caring, professional staff. Over 95% of Loyola graduates go on to higher education and training. We're glad Loyola joins us for a game at Comerica Park each year for a fundraiser so essential to its financial future," said Detroit Tigers Right Fielder Craig Monroe.
Located in a historic building in a Northwest Detroit neighborhood, Loyola High School is an educational model that works. Students succeed; 100% of its latest graduating class was accepted into a 2 or 4 year college or job training program. The results are accomplished by offering them: small class size of 15 to 20 students; a 50 to 1 student to counselor ratio; longer school days that address the issue of too much idle time after school; daily morning all-school prayer; a focus on both cultural appreciation and a Jesuit philosophy and tradition that work together to prepare students to be "men for others"; real life and workplace experience through the Loyola Work Experience Program; championship JV and Varsity athletics; and a partnering with families who see their sons as Detroit's future leaders. Tickets and event information are available by calling the school at 313-861-2407, and event information and the silent auction item list is available at http://www.loyolahsdetroit.org/ .
IntraCoastal Waterway Cruisers No Longer Lost at Sea
More than 13,000 recreational boaters annually are using the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW) as a pathway to leisure travel, but until now, they had no simple way to plan their shore excursions. You might say they were lost at sea until www.CruisingTheICW.com - - a new planning resource that provides cruisers with information about marinas, destinations, restaurants, attractions, and other travel-related suppliers -- came online May 1.
"I captain a 61-foot Hatteras and 90-foot custom yacht that travel the ICW. I also own a dry cleaning company that provides one-day pickup and delivery service to marinas. Before this new website came online, cruisers had to carry the waterway guide and travel guides for every destination as well as look at multiple websites in order to plan effectively and find services like mine," says 100-ton Master Captain Lucas Smith, owner of Pelican Cleaners on the Isle of Palms, SC. "And it was really hard to find information on smaller destinations."
"In recent years more publications have begun including stories on ICW destinations, but no one has connected the destinations in a way to help simplify the search process for cruisers' planning of ICW trips," says Dick Trammell, president of The Travel and Tourism Development Group, Charleston, SC. "With more cruisers traveling with computers and more marinas providing high-speed Internet access, it simply makes sense to provide them a comprehensive, yet fast loading, easy to navigate website everyone onboard can enjoy using."
So, Trammell developed his Thinking Outside the Boat concept that drives the new website. According to Trammell, this site complements, rather than competes with existing guide and chart books about the Intracoastal Waterways from Key West to Canada.
"Our destination and marina pages are designed to give cruisers and boaters more local information of importance to them than most destination and marina websites," Trammell adds. "We are literally giving them the information they have told us they want. Many coastal communities are investing in waterfront redevelopment, but continuing to ignore the cruiser and leisure boat market. It is a growing market with disposable income, discretionary time, and an appreciation for the history and ambiance that most coastal and Intracoastal communities have to offer."
A recreational boater himself who found ICW travel planning resources lacking, Trammell decided to use his background in destination marketing to connect ICW destinations, marinas, and suppliers, and the boater just as the ICW connects coastal destinations. www.CruisingTheICW.com provides a cost- effective way to keep destinations and cruising-related businesses in front of cruisers no matter where or when they are planning their trip activities.
Source: The Travel and Tourism Development Group, Ltd
Web site: http://www.cruisingtheicw.com
AirTran Airways, XM Satellite Radio and Andretti-Green Racing Feed Racing Fans' Need for Speed at Indy 500
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , is teaming up with XM Satellite Radio and Andretti-Green Racing to announce an exciting online sweepstakes that will give four ultimate racing fans the opportunity to experience the biggest event the sport has to offer -- the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 2006.
By visiting http://www.airtran.com/indy, one lucky winner and three thrill-seeking guests will receive a once-in-a-lifetime Indy 500 weekend experience, which includes the following:
* Four race-day grandstand tickets to the 90th run of the Indy 500 on
May 28, 2006
* A garage tour on Saturday afternoon, May 27, 2006
* Four invitations to the AGR Sponsor Party Saturday night to meet
XM driver Bryan Herta
* Hotel accommodations Friday through Saturday night, May 26-27, 2006
* Air travel for four from the closest AirTran Airways city to
Indianapolis
"We're proud to team up with Andretti-Green Racing and XM Satellite Radio to give some very lucky racing fans the opportunity to experience the Indy 500 like never before," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "With eleven daily nonstop flights to/from Indianapolis and affordable Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight, AirTran Airways is the perfect choice for anyone traveling to Indianapolis for the big race this Memorial Day."
To enter the sweepstakes and be eligible to win, individuals must be a member of AirTran Airways' A+ Rewards program. There is no cost or obligation required to become an A+ Rewards program member. To enter, visit http://www.airtran.com/indy through May 15, 2006, and follow the directions for entry. The winner will be selected at random on May 16, 2006.
AirTran Airways' A+ Rewards program is one of the fastest flight rewards programs in the nation, making it easy for travelers to earn rewards. A+ Rewards, which offers a free* flight for every four Coach roundtrips or three Business Class roundtrips a customer flies, allows customers the ability to redeem larger amounts of credits for free* flights on any airline, anywhere in the world. For details, visit http://www.aplusrewards.com/. To enroll as a new AirTran Airways A+ Rewards member, please visit
http://www.airtran.com/programs/aplus.
.AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company and one of America's largest low- fare airlines with 7,000 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates over 600 daily flights to 50 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways recently added the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight. For reservations or more information, visit http://www.airtran.com/ (America Online Keyword: AirTran).
* A+ Rewards seats are subject to availability, and restrictions and blackout dates apply. The September 11th security fee of up to $10 is not included. Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 are not included. Other Terms and Conditions apply and can be found at http://www.aplusrewards.com/.
Web site: http://www.airtran.com/
http://www.airtran.com/indy
http://www.aplusrewards.com/
DOD
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of 10 soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province, on May 5, when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during combat operations. Killed were: Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty, 41, of Fla. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten, 34, of Texas. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, 28, of Ill. Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, 34, of Hamburg, N.Y. Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, 24, of Fontana, Calif. Sgt. John C. Griffith, 33, of Las Vegas, Nev. Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, 23, of Utopia, Texas. Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, 27, of San Diego, Calif. Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., 23, of Lewisville, N.C. Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., 19, of Worcester, Mass. All those killed were assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y. Fenty, O'Donohoe, Timmons and Moquin were part of the 71st Cavalry Regiment. Totten, Donaldson, Howick, Brewster, Griffith, and Wiekamp were part of the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment. This incident is under investigation.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of 10 soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province, on May 5, when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during combat operations. Killed were: Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty, 41, of Fla. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten, 34, of Texas. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, 28, of Ill. Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, 34, of Hamburg, N.Y. Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, 24, of Fontana, Calif. Sgt. John C. Griffith, 33, of Las Vegas, Nev. Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, 23, of Utopia, Texas. Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, 27, of San Diego, Calif. Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., 23, of Lewisville, N.C. Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., 19, of Worcester, Mass. All those killed were assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y. Fenty, O'Donohoe, Timmons and Moquin were part of the 71st Cavalry Regiment. Totten, Donaldson, Howick, Brewster, Griffith, and Wiekamp were part of the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment. This incident is under investigation.DoD Announces Increase in Foreign Language Pay
The Department of Defense announced today an increase in Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP) for military personnel who qualify effective June 1. The Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes the Secretary of Defense to increase FLPP pay from a maximum of $300 per month to a maximum of $1,000 per month for qualified active duty members and offer a $6,000 per year bonus for qualified Guard and reserve members. Enhancing the department's FLPP program is a critical facet of the overall Defense Language Transformation initiative. The purpose of the program is to: Encourage people with a language capability to self-identify in order to employ the language skills existing in the force. Encourage more people to study a language. The Defense Language Program must stimulate the acquisition of language skills and be able to maintain language skills of strategic importance to the department. Encourage people to increase their language proficiency to create a cadre of language professionals operating at an advanced level of proficiency. Increase the capability in languages of strategic need to the department. The enhanced program will emphasize languages needed to support the Global War on Terror, the recommendations of the Quadrennial Defense Review, and those of strategic importance to the Department of Defense.
A Defense Department program that 64 other federal agencies have adopted sees to it that wounded servicemembers from Iraq and Afghanistan and other people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities throughout the federal government
a senior DoD official said here May 8. Dinah F.B. Cohen, director of the Computer and Electronic Accommodation Program, spoke at the DoD Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month observance. Cohen said the program, established in 1990, is centrally funded and pays for assistive technology for disabled employees. Over the years, CAP has been expanded to serve the entire federal government's accommodation program. "If you have colleagues, friends or people with disabilities in other federal agencies, chances are they're getting their accommodations from CAP," Cohen told the audience. Cohen said the war-wounded patients at military medical centers can benefit from assistive technology. "CAP says when you're an able-bodied Marine, the last thing you probably know about is assistive technology - why would you?" Cohen said. "So we said, 'Let's take this expertise to the hospitals and let them know there's technology that will allow them to continue to work.' "I met an Asian Pacific Islander who lost both of his hands and his sight to the explosion of an improvised explosive device and almost lost his arms," she continued. "He was on television holding his twins who were born while he was deployed, and he will never see. He was introduced to a lot of technology through occupational therapy, including the technology for people who are blind. He's now thinking about being a lawyer." Whether he reaches that specific goal doesn't matter, she said. "I don't care if he becomes a lawyer; I just care that he has a vision for the future," Cohen said. "That's what we need to be focused on -- that vision for the future for our employees with disabilities and our wounded servicemembers." Cohen said CAP is going to the hospitals showing wounded servicemembers assistive technology, telling them about new opportunities for employment and introducing them to new ways to new careers.
She encouraged the audience to visit the CAP Web site for a lot of information about the Workforce Recruitment Program, a CAP spotlight. In fiscal 2005, Cohen said, CAP filled more than 3,000 requests for accommodations within the DoD family and more than 2,000 in other federal agencies. "The demographics are always interesting, because we think of people in their minority populations, but when we think of people with disabilities, we think of about their disability," she noted. "I'd like to put that layer of disabilities on top of those demographics, because how many Asian-Pacific Americans have disabilities and how well are we doing? "I challenge you to look at the numbers - they're not very exciting," Cohen said. "We need to constantly remember that people with disabilities are not blind and deaf and bound to wheelchairs. They are white, African-American, Asian-Pacific American and Hispanic. They're males and females.
They cross all groups. Our challenge is to always think that way." She pointed out that CAP provides assistive technology to any employee who needs it. "If you have an employee with a disability who needs assistive technology, I've got it," Cohen noted. "I've paid for it. I give it to the user. It's just that simple. It's not reimbursable. It's not out of your pocket. It's out of mine." At the Pentagon CAP center , Cohen said, visitors can look at the equipment that allows a person with no hands to talk to the computer or a person with no vision to listen to a computer, and other technology for disabled people. "We also do installation and training," she pointed out. "It's not enough to just buy stuff and leave it on their desk. We've got to make sure it's installed and people know how to use it. We want to make sure they're using it and using it well." CAP ensures that everything possible is done to support recruitment, placement, retention and promotion of people with disabilities, Cohen said. David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, picks up the salaries for more than 200 summer students with disabilities every year, she noted.
The college students work in a wide range of occupations -- everything from computer sciences and engineering to administration. "More than 30 percent of the students involved in the Workforce Recruitment Program are minorities," Cohen noted. "It's a great way to deal with disability and diversity. I make sure that my WRP students represent the American population." CAP also helps agencies with workers' compensation processes, telework solutions and equal employment opportunity complaints. Cohen said people injured on the job make up a "population that takes a lot of money for them to sit home and watch television." "I think there's better ways of doing things," she said. "We need to shift gears and think of people who are out on workers' compensation as people with disabilities. We accommodate people with disabilities. So let's start accommodating people who got injured," she said. "Let's see if we can bring them back to work." Cohen said CAP is ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead. "We have challenges to bring people back with disabilities," she emphasized. "We have the challenge of hiring people with disabilities and bringing them to our work force. We have the challenge of keeping the people who become disabled. We have the challenge of bringing back our wounded servicemembers and making sure we can accommodate our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen."
Asian-Pacific Americans making inroads into DOD Jobs
While the Defense Department doesn't have as many Asian-Pacific Americans in some grades of its civilian work force as it would like, their numbers in military service are strong, a top defense operations research analyst said here May 8. Robin H. Woo, of the Defense Manpower Data Center, presented a 10-year overview of DoD's Asian-Pacific American demographic profiles during the department's Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month observance. Woo said U.S. Census Bureau statistics provide the baseline DoD uses to determine whether Asian-Pacific Americans are fairly represented in the department's military and civilian work force. Over the last 10 years, he said, the number of Asian-Pacific Americans in DoD has grown from 6.7 million to 9.5 million. In December 2005, Asian-Pacific Americans represented 4.4 percent of the U.S. population. In DoD, 4.7 percent of the active duty force and 5.9 percent of the department's civilian work force was Asian-Pacific American. And while 35 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans on active duty was of Filipino descent in the December 2005 snapshot, Filipino-Americans made up only 18 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans in the United States. Pacific Islanders -- Polynesians, Micronesians, Guamanians, Melanesians and others -- have strong representation in the military.
They make up 6.7 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans in the United States and 11.8 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans on active duty. East Asians - Chinese, Japanese and Korean - make up 40.1 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans in the U.S. population, and 25.5 percent of Asian-Pacific Americans active duty officers and 12.1 percent of personnel the enlisted side. The number of Asian-Pacific American women on active duty has doubled from 5,200 in 1995 to more than 10,500, Woo said, and the male Asian-Pacific American component of the active duty force saw a 40-percent increase in the same period. Overall, he added, the number of Asian-Pacific Americans on active duty grew by 47.5 percent over the last 10 years, with an 80-percent gain in the commissioned officer ranks. "This is at the same time that the military overall has shrunk by 9.5 percent," Woo noted. Though DoD enlisted strength fell by 130,000 over that period, the enlisted ranks included 16,700 more Asian-Pacific Americans in 2005 than in 1995. While Asian-Pacific Americans represented 4.2 percent of military commissioned officers in December 2005, they made up 6.5 percent of health care officers but only 2.9 percent of tactical operations officers.
However, Woo pointed out, Asian-Pacific American representation in commissioned tactical operations positions rose from 1.6 percent to 2.9 percent over the last 10 years. The enlisted ranks also showed greater-than-expected Asian-Pacific American representation in the health care occupations compared to combat arms. But those in enlisted tactical operations specialties rose from 2.1 percent to 3.6 percent between December 1995 and December 2005, Woo noted. In December 2005, Asian-Pacific Americans were 5.9 percent of the DoD federal civilian work force across all pay scales -- 8.2 percent of the professional occupations, 8.2 percent of people in the clerical fields, and 6.4 percent of the department's blue-collar workers. Woo said that while Asian-Pacific representation is high in the lower third of the General Schedule pay scale - 8.5 percent of DoD's GS-1 through GS-5 employees, Asian-Pacific Americans constitute only 2.9 percent of employees in the scale's highest grade, GS-15. The statistical expectation, he said, would be 5.6 percent. Twenty-two Asian-Pacific Americans serve in DoD's senior executive service.
The people of Prince William County gathered here yesterday to dedicate a memorial that honors the 22 county residents who died in the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. It took four years and many donors to fund and build the Liberty Memorial, which sits near the McCoart Administration Building here as a stark reminder of the tragedy of that day. The county is about 20 miles south of the Pentagon and is home to many servicemembers and civilians who work in defense facilities in the area. "9/11 was a day that changed everything," Sean T. Connaughton, chairman of the county's board of supervisors, said at the dedication ceremony. "We started the day at peace & and within the span of one hour that morning, every American's life was touched in some way." The Liberty Memorial consists of a reflecting pool in the shape of the Pentagon with two fountains in the middle to represent the World Trade Center towers in New York City. An adjacent plaza is encircled by Pennsylvania flagstone as a tribute to the people lost on United Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pa., and the names of the Prince William County victims are inscribed on the west wall of the fountain's pool. A block of stone from the Pentagon fire is incorporated into the design. The memorial incorporates symbols to represent all the people killed on Sept. 11, so all the victims will be remembered, Connaughton said. "We do this because we are a community; we do this because we recognize that the honored memory of these fine people is a source of strength," he said.
The memorial was planned by the Prince William County Liberty Memorial Committee, which includes family members of people killed on Sept. 11. One family member, Laurie Laychak, said the memorial accomplishes its goals of honoring those who died, comforting the families that live on, and teaching future generations about the values of those who inspired and built it. Laychak, who lost her husband, David, an Army budget analyst, at the Pentagon, said the memorial is a fitting tribute to those who died, specifically her husband, who believed in freedom and patriotism. "Though lost to us in this mortal life, some part of them will live on as long as this memorial endures," she said. "When I see David's name inscribed in the granite, I remember the patriot who was my husband - hand over heart, eyes welling with tears whenever he heard the national anthem." Laychak said that if her husband were alive today, he would say the American people cannot let small differences divide them, and that regardless of the price, the fight for freedom must continue.
The Liberty Memorial is a beautiful tribute to the lives of those killed on Sept. 11, but it also serves as a reminder to their families that the community and the nation are always behind them, Virginia Sen. George Allen said. "This community will never abandon you, nor will this grand, compassionate nation," Allen said, addressing the family members at the ceremony. "We should never forget, and we will never forget what happened to you and your loved ones." The names inscribed on the memorial are: - Retired Sgt. 1st Class John J. Chada, USA; - SK3 Jamie L. Fallon, USN; - Amelia V. Fields; - Retired Lt. Col. Robert J. Hymel, USAF; - Sgt. Maj. Lacey B. Ivory, USA; - Judith L. Jones; - David W. Laychak; - James T. Lynch Jr.; - Gene E. Maloy; - Robert J. Maxwell; - Molly L. McKenzie; - Craig J. Miller; - Diana B. Padro; - Rhonda S. Rasmussen; - Edward V. Rowenhorst; - Judy Rowlett; - Donald D. Simmons; - Jeff L. Simpson; - Cheryle D. Sincock; - ITC Gregg H. Smallwood, USN; - Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland, USA; and - Sandra L. White.
NEWS & NEWS IN SPANISH
Media Catalyst proporciona a Sony Ericsson la versión de Internet del juego de la película El Código Da Vinci
- La competición global mezcla los retos online con los de la vida real
Los fans del Código Da Vinci de todo el mundo ahora ya tendrán algo más para emocionarse hasta que puedan disfrutar del estreno de la película El Código Da Vinci el 19 de mayo de 2006, el Sony Ericsson Da Vinci Code Trail, que reta a los jugadores a competir entre ellos de forma online y después en la vida real en París. El ganador conseguirá un viaje de dos semanas a Roma, París, Londres y Nueva York.
Esta campaña global de marketing, lanzada el 15 de abril (la fecha de cumpleaños de Leonardo Da Vinci). La propaganda online y el sitio de la campaña han sido creados por la agencia de medios de Ámsterdam Catalyst en nombre de Sony Ericsson.
El Sony Ericsson Da Vinci Code Trail
El Sony Ericsson Da Vinci Code Trail debuta de forma online a través de la página www.sonyericsson.com/davincicodetrail. Los usuarios son conducidos a la página a través de una mezcla de banners de medios, publicidad y promociones en los puntos de venta. Una vez allí, se enfrentan a una serie de puzzles, que tienen que solucionar lo antes posible antes de registrar su puntuación para calificarse para la prueba real de París. Allí, los dieciséis finalistas de cinco continentes tendrán que resolver varios enigmas durante una competición al estilo de la caza de tesoros que les llevará por toda la ciudad... y sólo un ganador será el que consiga el premio del viaje definitivo para conseguir El Código Da Vinci.
Incluso los participantes que no se clasifiquen para la final de París conseguirán un premio. El contenido exclusivo telefónico móvil estará disponible a través de las descargas de Fun y de la parte de descargas desde la página web de Sony Ericsson (www.sonyericsson.com/fun/) como recompensa por haber finalizado la fase de competición. Las descargas estarán disponibles a partir del 19 de mayo.
La página web de la competición dedicada a El Código Da Vinci está disponible en 22 idiomas, y se integra por complete con el resto de actividades promocionales de Sony Ericsson en la película. El equipo creativo del sitio utilizó la historia de El Código Da Vinci como inspiración cuando diseñó los puzzles, recreando la sensación de intriga y tensión que caracteriza el trabajo original. Todos los juegos de la página web se crearon partiendo de cera, por lo que suponen un reto real para los competidores, y se utilizaron las últimas tecnologías Flash (Flash 8) para conseguir los efectos de iluminación atmosférica sin afectar a las prestaciones del sitio.
El Sony Ericsson Da Vinci Code Trail ya está online a través de www.sonyericsson.com/davincicodetrail
Acerca de Media Catalyst
Media Catalyst está especializada en las soluciones de marketing digitales nacionales y globales e interactivas. En colaboración cercana con los clientes y agencias de socios, se dispone de una estrategia mixta, creatividad y tecnologías necesarias para crear las campañas de medios destinadas, comunicaciones y experiencias de banda ancha que despliegan los beneficios empresariales tangibles.
De titularidad independiente, Media Catalyst ha crecido sin necesidad de inversión externa desde su creación en 2001. Media Catalyst está en el centro de una red informal de titularidad independiente, Media Catalyst ha crecido sin necesidad de inversión externa desde su creación en 2001. Media Catalyst está en el centro de una red informal de empresas y agencias creativas. La oficina principal está situada en el centro de Ámsterdam, y cuenta con sesenta empleados en todo el mundo. Nuestro espíritu es flexible, cooperativo, empresarial, profesional e informal
Largest Study Ever Conducted With Household Water Treatment Shows That Soap and Clean Drinking Water Reduce Diarrhea by More than Half
Follow-up will Provide Safe Drinking Water in Pakistan
A research study published in the April issue of the international public health journal, Tropical Medicine and International Health, has demonstrated that two simple consumer habits are extremely effective in fighting diarrhea, one of the leading causes of death and illness in children in the developing world. The study followed nearly 9,000 people over 9 months in Karachi, Pakistan slums and examined the impact of two Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) products: hand washing with Safeguard(R) was shown to reduce diarrheal illness by 51% and treating drinking water with PUR Purifier of Water(R) was shown to reduce diarrheal illness by 64%.
"This study is an important contribution to public health and demonstrates how relatively simple habits of hand washing and household water treatment can lead to dramatic health improvements," said lead author, Dr. Steve Luby of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Luby worked with a local non-governmental group, Project Hope in Pakistan, to conduct the study. During the course of this research, field workers arranged neighborhood meetings and used slide shows, videotapes and pamphlets to illustrate health problems resulting from hand and water contamination and to provide specific instructions on how to use the intervention assigned to that neighborhood.
As part of its focal program of corporate philanthropy -- the Children's Safe Drinking Water program -- and in order to provide PUR more broadly in Pakistan, P&G has made a donation of more than US$1 million to PSI and their local group called GoodLife so that they can socially market PUR in Pakistan. "GoodLife is pleased to be marketing PUR in Pakistan because it's been shown to have an important impact on health," said Monte Achenbach, country representative for PSI in Pakistan.
P&G has been an active participant in providing aid to the October 2005 earthquake survivors in Pakistan. In collaboration with its safe drinking water partner, PSI, and their local affiliate, Greenstar Social Marketing, as well as other partners including UNICEF, P&G has provided more than 90 million liters of potable water through provision of more than 9,000,000 sachets of PUR Purifier of Water. Safeguard soap was donated to 50,000 households in response to the quake, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) matched P&G's $300,000 contribution to support the purchase of materials, such as buckets and cloths, needed for proper preparation of PUR.
The majority of the funding for the study was provided by P&G. The balance of the funding was provided by the CDC.
Study Reference: Stephen P. Luby, Mubina Agboatwalla, John Painter, Arshad Altaf, Ward Billhimer, Bruce Keswick, and Robert M Hoekstra (2006). Combining drinking water treatment and hand washing for diarrhoea prevention, a cluster randomised controlled trial. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 11:4:479-489.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R), and Braun. The P&G community consists of almost 140,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
PUR Purifier of Water(R) was developed in cooperation with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has been shown to significantly reduce diarrheal illness in the developing world. More information about the technology can be found at http://www.pghsi.com.
About Population Services International (PSI)
PSI is a non-profit organization that applies commercial tools to a social mission in order to achieve measurable health impact. Since 1970, PSI has improved the health and saved the lives of millions of poor and vulnerable people in measurable ways. Through health programs in 65 countries on 5 continents, PSI distributes affordable, accessible and attractive health products and services, and motivates other types of healthy behavior, in HIV/AIDS, family planning, malaria, safe water and nutrition. In 2005, PSI's safe water programs prevented an estimated 12 million episodes of diarrhea and the deaths of 36,000 children.
Adidas Group Buys Distribution Rights for Brand Reebok in Russia
Herzogenaurach
– The adidas Group announced today that it bought the distribution rights for the Reebok brand in CIS (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan) from ZAO RBK-Retail, Reebok’s Russian distributor. Effective January 1, 2007 adidas Ltd., Moscow will become the exclusive distributor of Reebok products in CIS and ZAO RBK-Retail will become a key account for the adidas Group. Financial details of the transaction will be kept confidential.
This underscores the Group’s strategy to further strengthen its control over its brands globally. Buying out distributors and joint venture partners has proven to be very successful for the Group in recent years. The adidas business in Italy, for example, has more than doubled since the buyout in 2002 and there have been sizable gains in Turkey, Denmark and Portugal where buyouts also occurred in the last five years. And most importantly, in Japan, where the Group’s buyout of a distributor in 1999 allowed the adidas team to more proactively control the brand and take over market leadership in the world’s second largest sporting goods market.
Buying out Reebok distributors and joint ventures around the globe is a key component of the integration strategy and will provide the Group with revenue synergies totaling at least € 200 million by 2009. Russia and China have been identified as the countries with the biggest opportunities, providing the vast majority of the revenue growth opportunities expected from the buyout of distributors and joint ventures.
ZAO RBK-Retail has been Reebok’s distribution partner since 1999. Until the end of 2006, ZAO RBK-Retail will continue to hold the exclusive rights to distribute and market Reebok products.
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around three core brands such as adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has approximately 25,000 employees and sales of around €9.5 billion.
Please visit our corporate website: www.adidas-Group.com
Paramount Classics Donates 5% of Tickets Sales From 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' to Alliance for Climate Protection
-- Paramount Classics has committed 5% of their domestic theatrical gross for their film, "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH," with a minimum guarantee of $500,000 to be donated to a new bipartisan climate effort, Alliance for Climate Protection. The deal was announced today by Former Vice President Al Gore, Jeff Skoll, CEO, Participant Productions and John Lesher, President of the specialty division. This unprecedented donation runs the entire length of the film's domestic release.
"AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH," produced by Participant Productions which had previously pledged to contribute their profits to the Alliance was acquired by Paramount Classics at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It is a riveting documentary that weaves the science of global warming with former Vice President Al Gore's personal history and longtime commitment to communicating the need to reverse the effects of global climate change. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" was produced by Laurie David, Lawrence Bender and Scott Z. Burns. Jeff Skoll, Davis Guggenheim, Diane Weyermann, Ricky Strauss and Jeff Ivers are the executive producers and the co-producer is Lesley Chilcott. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles on May 24 and will expand to every major market across the country.
"I hope that 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' will be an action movie in the truest sense of the phrase -- that the film will motivate people to take action to address the climate crisis," said Former Vice President Al Gore. "In addition, the more tickets that are sold, the more funds will be raised giving the Alliance the opportunity to educate and galvanize millions more around this issue and inspire them to be a part of the solution."
"Mr. Gore and the filmmakers made a fascinating and startling film that we hope will have the power to promote change," said John Lesher. "We are committed to bringing awareness to the climate crisis and are proud to support the efforts of Alliance for Climate Protection."
"'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' fits squarely in our mission to facilitate films that make a difference and get audiences involved," said Jeff Skoll. "By helping the Alliance, we are providing more resources to raise awareness and encouraging people to make a difference in their own communities."
Alliance for Climate Protection will use the money for a major national education and organizing campaign to mobilize the public on global warming. The primary goals of the campaign are to motivate a critical mass of the public and influential constituencies to demand action to cut U.S. emissions and to make solving global warming a national political imperative, to implement solutions to global warming that cap and cut U.S. global warming pollution emissions in the near term, and develop a political consensus for further international agreements that includes full participation by developing economies in achieving emission reduction targets. Ted Roosevelt, IV and Larry Schreiber are serving as the board co-chairs on the group.
More information on Alliance for Climate Protection is available at allianceforclimateprotection.org. More information on "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" is available at climatecrisis.org.
About Paramount Classics
Paramount Classics is the specialty film division of Paramount Pictures, which is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIAB) , one of the leading global entertainment content companies, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics.
Web site: http://climatecrisis.org/
American Idol Contestants Visit Graceland; Exclusive Photos and Video Available on Elvis.com
The final four American Idol contestants of the 2006 series were flown to Graceland (http://www.gracelandtours.com/idols ), Elvis's home in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, May 6 to shoot footage for the May 10 and 11 episodes of the show which have an Elvis theme.
Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks enjoyed a private tour of the Graceland (http://www.gracelandtours.com/idols ) home and grounds by Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley, which included a speedy trip down the driveway with Lisa Marie and a rare look inside the Graceland barn.
View an exclusive American Idol at Graceland (http://www.gracelandtours.com/idols ) video and photo album, featuring all the American Idols.
EPE, Inc.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit http://www.elvis.com/ . EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ National Market System (NMS) under the ticker symbol CKXE.
CKX, Inc.
CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ:CKXE) , a company controlled by Robert F.X. Sillerman and affiliates, is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. To date, the Company has focused on acquiring globally recognized entertainment content and related assets, including the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley; the operations of Graceland; the rights to the name, image and likeness of Muhammad Ali; and proprietary rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively, air in over 100 countries around the world. CKX plans to continue to make strategic acquisitions of, or partner or align with, companies or individuals that control various forms of established entertainment content, which may include intellectual property rights in music, film, television programming, written works and characters, rights to names, images and likenesses, video games, corporate brands and other related assets. For more information about CKX, Inc., visit its corporate website at http://www.ckx.com/ .
Web site: http://www.elvis.com/
http://www.gracelandtours.com/idols
FARMERS' ALMANAC TV Series Debuts Nationwide on Public Television
-- America will get to enjoy a bit of down-home wit and wisdom as FARMERS' ALMANAC TV(TM) begins to debut nationwide on Public Television.
FARMERS' ALMANAC TV(TM), an engaging new 30-minute magazine-style series distributed by American Public Television, is designed to appeal to baby boomers as well as younger generations who -- empowered by today's rapid advances in technology -- are fueling a "new stampede to the countryside." FARMERS' ALMANAC TV(TM) offers simple solutions for better living in our fast- paced, coffee-and-antacid driven society.
From sophisticated weather-watching and community gardening in the heart of our largest cities, to combine-demolition derbies and other visually delightful rural escapades, this 13-episode series takes farmers' almanacs, America's most treasured and timeless icons, and brings them to life with wit, wisdom, outstanding production values and masterful storytelling!
Just as farmers' almanacs are filled with forecasts, factoids, fun, gardening gems, household tips, healthy hints, rare recipes, remedies and riddles, FARMERS' ALMANAC TV(TM) brings forth a similar bounty designed to both soothe and empower.
Jim Wann, a resident of Savannah, Georgia and the Tony-nominated author and composer of the Broadway Hit, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, hosts the series.
For more information about the show and other timeless treasures, please visit www.FarmersAlmanacTV.com
- American Public Television is the Distributor of FARMERS' ALMANAC
TV(TM)
- WPBA, Atlanta, is the public television station presenting the series
to American Public Television for distribution.
Web site: http://www.farmersalmanactv.com/
HickoryTech Approved to Provide Digital TV to Faribault
-- HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ:HTCO) received approval from the City of Faribault, Minn. for a cable franchise to provide competitive cable programming to the residents of Faribault. The company will immediately launch its Digital TV service to Faribault residents. The roll out across the city will occur in phases, with the last phase scheduled for completion in mid-July 2006.
The company also announced the scheduled June 1 opening of HickoryTech's new Faribault retail office at 25 N.W. Fourth Street. This office will provide local customer service, demonstrate HickoryTech products, and serve as a base of operations for the company's local employees. A "Grand Opening" event will be scheduled later in June to highlight the company's presence and commitment to the community.
HickoryTech offers Digital TV with over 200 channels in five package options that allow customers to select additional channels of their choice. Digital TV delivers a crystal-clear image and premium tier channels. Hispanic and sports tier channels are offered, in addition to HBO(R), Cinemax(R), Starz/Encore(R), Showtime(R), pay-per-view and commercial-free music programming. Service will be available on a stand-alone basis or as part of a money-saving bundle that includes Digital TV, High-Speed DSL Internet access, long distance, and local telephone services -- all on one bill.
"HickoryTech brings an alternative to the traditional cable and satellite services currently offered in Faribault, where we have built a state-of-the- art 'Fiber to the Neighborhood' system designed to deliver voice, data and video to residential and business customers," said John Finke, HickoryTech's chief operating officer. "Our desire to add Digital TV to our local services fits our strategy to provide competitive bundled services to the residents of Faribault and increase our level of service with a local office."
HickoryTech first entered Faribault with local voice and DSL services in 2001. Since then the company has been working to complete the advanced network construction throughout the city in anticipation of the Digital TV service launch. HickoryTech will provide all Digital TV programming over the existing communications network it constructed to serve the city. The City of Faribault will be the sixth community served by HickoryTech with the "triple- play" of voice, data and video services. HickoryTech currently provides these services to the communities of St. Peter, Waseca, Ellendale, New Richland, and St. Clair, Minn.
About HickoryTech:
HickoryTech Corporation is a diversified communications company headquartered in Mankato, Minn., with approximately 475 employees in Minnesota and Iowa. In its 108th year of operation, HickoryTech offers a full array of telecommunications products and services to business and residential customers. The Telecom Sector offers local voice, long distance, Internet, Broadband services, Digital TV, and IP networking. The Enterprise Solutions Sector provides IP Telephony, call center management, and data network solutions. Enventis Telecom provides IP-based voice and data services and network solutions on a state wide SONET-based network. The Information Solutions Sector develops telecom and carrier access billing solutions. To learn more about HickoryTech Corporation, visit the
Web site: http://www.hickorytech.com/
Industry's First Upfront for Brand Integration, May 15
NextMedium Unveiling Online Marketplace for Buying and Selling Brand Placement
in TV, Film, Music and Video Games
Be Part of the Discussion to Standardize Brand Integration for the Benefit of
Content Providers, Advertisers and Consumers
Now that consumers have ultimate control over what, when, where, and on what platform they watch entertainment content, marketers need a better way to integrate their messages and products directly into content.
NextMedium has created an online marketplace, Embed, for buying and selling brand integration opportunities and is leading the establishment of well-researched standardization around brand integration.
WHAT: First Brand Integration Upfront, hosted by NextMedium
-- A discussion of industry standardization: measurement,
technology, and best practices
-- Guest speakers from Nielsen Media Research, film production
companies, record labels, leading advertisers, and other
pioneers in the brand integration industry
-- Unveiling of Embed -- the industry's first marketplace for
scalable brand integration
WHEN: Monday, May 15, 2006
5:00-7:00 p.m. presentation
7:00-8:00 p.m. cocktails
WHERE: Le Parker Meridien
Penthouse Suite
118 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019-3318
Source: NextMedium
"LA REINA DEL PUEBLO" GRACIELA BELTRAN AND TIDE(R) TO GIVE SERENADES HONORING HISPANIC MOMS IN LOS ANGELES; INITIATIVE AIMS TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY BY HONORING WOMEN IN LOS ANGELES AS PART OF THE "TIDE THANK YOU" CAMPAIGN
Procter & Gamble (P&G) (NYSE:PG) and its Tide brand announced today that as part of its "Tide Thank You" campaign and to recognize the hard work and positive impact that women have on their families, they will honor Latina mothers with the "Tide Thank You Serenades" in Los Angeles, CA.
Music is an important component in the lives of Hispanics; it is a vehicle to express emotions and to celebrate a loved one. The Tide Thank You Serenades aim to thank, celebrate and recognize the important role that Hispanic mothers play in ensuring their families' well-being.
The serenades will take place on May 9th and 10th at two Laundromats: Spincycle Coin Laundry at 2119 E Florence Ave., Huntington Park, CA 90255 and on May 10th at Clean King Laundromat at 3031 N Broadway Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90031 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Laundromats were selected as venues for these events because taking care of the clothes of their loved ones is at the top of a mom's to do list. A visit to a Laundromat is an important part of a Hispanic mother's routine, a natural location to bring the celebration to her.
During these two events, all participating women will have the opportunity to enjoy a Serenade by popular Mexican singer Graciela Beltran "La Reina del Pueblo", take pictures with her, receive flowers, and special prices.
"I felt deeply honored when Tide contacted me to be a part of this beautiful campaign. I am personally grateful to my mother, we have a very close relationship and I can not think of a better way to give her thanks and celebrate her than with my music," said Graciela Beltran. "One of my dreams is to have four kids and to take care of them with the same love and dedication Hispanic moms give their families."
Hispanic women put special interest in making sure their families look their best. They work tirelessly making sure that their loved ones are cared for and, in most cases, they do their laundry and other chores to ensure their husband shirts and kid's school clothes and uniforms are always clean and ironed. They pride themselves in the impeccable image of their loved ones.
According to research conducted by Tide, the average US Hispanic woman spends over 2-3 hours taking care of her family's laundry, washing an average of 4 washing machine loads per week. The research also shows that 99% of Hispanic women in Los Angeles don't get any household help from others. This number is higher from women in the rest of the nation (89%) where in 4% of cases the spouse helps, in 3% children help.
"P&G and its Tide brand are proud to sponsor this program and recognize Hispanic moms for the important role they play," said Anelsie Ramos, Hispanic External Relations Manager for Tide. "The goal of this initiative is to give something back to our consumers and to celebrate Mother's day in a very special way, the way Hispanic moms are used to being celebrated in their countries of origin."
For more information or to make a reservation to attend the Tide Thank You Serenade, please call 1-800-509-0072.
About Tide
Please visit http://www.tide.com for helpful product information, practical tips on laundry care, special offers and promotions, updated fabric care articles, and an interactive Stain Detective, which provides official Tide stain removal solutions.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)
Two billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the largest and strongest portfolios of trusted, quality brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Bounty(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Actonel(R), Olay(R) and Clairol Nice 'n Easy(R). The P&G community consists of nearly 98,000 employees working in almost 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
General Motors Europe inaugura un nuevo centro de diseño europeo
- Nueva instalación de vanguardia localizada en Rüsselsheim (Alemania) como parte integral de la red de diseño global de GM
Dado que una parte de General Motors' (NYSE: GM) siguió centrándose en fortalecer el desarrollo de producto, ha inaugurado un nuevo centro de diseño europeo en Rüsselsheim, Alemania. Esta nueva instalación de clase mundial se encuentra en el centro del campus Rüsselsheim de GM y aumenta considerablemente las operaciones de diseño europeas de GM para casi 20.000 metros cuadrados.
"El diseño es ya uno de los elementos más cruciales de nuestro negocio y lo seguirá siendo en el futuro", dijo Carl-Peter Forster, director general de GM Europe. "Por tanto, nuestra nueva instalación proporciona a nuestros diseñadores la ubicación, atmósfera y herramientas que necesitan para sacar el máximo rendimiento al proceso creativo y diseño de nuestros futuros vehículos".
Casi 350 personas trabajan en la función de diseño creciente en Rüsselsheim, creando los nuevos productos de Saab, Opel, Vauxhall y algunos Saturns. Este grupo también incluye ahora el equipo de diseño avanzado de GM Europe.
"Tener nuestras operaciones de diseño avanzadas en Rüsselsheim nos proporciona un vínculo más directo con ingeniería avanzada y planificación por las que se maximicen las sinergias", dijo Bryan Nesbitt, director ejecutivo de GM Design Europe. "Además, la nueva instalación de alta tecnología, que permite la adecuada incubación de creatividad, demuestra el constante reconocimiento de GM del valor de diseño para el desarrollo de nuestras marcas GM Europe".
La organización global Design de General Motors es un equipo multinacional con once centros de diseño en todo el mundo. Las oficinas están vinculadas a través de estudios prácticamente reales y los proyectos son compartidos en todo el mundo. La organización está dirigida por Ed Welburn, vicepresidente global de diseño de GM.
"El nuevo centro de diseño de GM Europe es una emocionante adición a nuestra empresa de diseño global", dijo Welburn. "Nuestra compañía tiene una verdadera pasión por el diseño, y esta nueva instalación ayudará a garantizar la relevancia de nuestro diseño en la zona europea, y en todo el mundo, en los próximos años".
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION: SPIRITUAL AND HISTORICAL TIE TO CHRIST
- Apostolic succession was the subject of Benedict XVI's catechesis at this morning's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 50,000 people.
"The Church, which came into being at Jesus' will and around Him, continues her journey through history," said the Pope. "The Twelve ... involved others in the functions with which they themselves were entrusted, so that those others could continue the ministry. ... Just as at the beginning of the apostolic condition there is a call and an invitation from the Risen One, so the call and invitation of others, ... from those who are already within the apostolic ministry, will be the way by which the ministry of the 'episcope' is passed on."
"In this way," the Holy Father continued, "the succession of the episcopal function is ... a guarantee of the endurance of apostolic tradition. The link between the college of bishops and the original community of the Apostles may be seen, above all, as a form of historical continuity. ... However, continuity may also be considered in a spiritual sense, because apostolic succession in the ministry is a privileged place for the action and transmission of the Holy Spirit."
Benedict XVI then went on to quote the words of St. Irenaeus on the origins of the Church, "founded and constituted in Rome by the most glorious Apostles Peter and Paul," highlighting "the tradition of faith that ... comes down to us from the Apostles through the succession of bishops."
"Episcopal succession - verified on the basis of communion with the succession of the Church of Rome - is therefore the criterion of adherence of individual Churches to the tradition of apostolic faith, ... which has come down to us from the origins."
According to the ancient Church, the Pope explained, "the apostolicity of ecclesial communion consists in faithfulness to the faith and practice of the Apostles themselves, through whom the historical and spiritual link of the Church with Christ is guaranteed. ... What the Apostles represent in the relationship between the Lord Jesus and the early Church, is similarly represented by the ministerial succession in the relationship between the early Church and the modern Church.
"This is not a merely material link," Pope Benedict concluded, "rather it is a historical instrument that the Spirit uses to make the Lord Jesus present as the leader of His people."
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AUDIENCES
The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
- Archbishop Thomas E. Gullickson, apostolic nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Sts. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadine and Suriname, and apostolic delegate to the Antilles.
- Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, apostolic nuncio to Panama.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
- The Holy Father appointed Bishop Orlando Brandes of Joinville, Brazil, as metropolitan archbishop of Londrina (area 6,594, population 911,000, Catholics 666,000, priests 140, permanent deacons 23, religious 317), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Urubici, Brazil in 1946, he was ordained a priest in 1974 and consecrated a bishop in 1994. He succeeds Archbishop Albano Bortoletto Cavallin, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
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Continuous Birth Control Enables Women to Plan Their Period Around Their Lifestyles
Says DoctorSolve New research indicates that it is safe and effective to use birth control without stopping for a period VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 9, 2006 -- Would it surprise you to learn that for many years, women have been deliberately skipping their period? Female athletes and women planning important events such as their wedding or a vacation have simply deferred their period through continuous birth control therapy. That is, they continue to take the pill until they reach a convenient time to have a period. Once an unconventional practise for a small group of women, continuous birth control therapy is now an oft-discussed topic as new research surfaces regarding its safety and effectiveness. "Oral contraceptives have always been intended to manipulate the menstrual cycle," says Dr. Paul Zickler of DoctorSolve (http://www.doctorsolve.com) online pharmacy services. "The 'placebo' week became part of the schedule for a number of reasons, none of which are biological. Taking a week off to have a period made women feel more comfortable and natural.
There were also cultural and perhaps even religious reasons why this made sense, but there is no scientific evidence that indicates a woman 'needs' to have a period." In addition to the convenience of having no periods and preventing pregnancy, continuous birth control therapy can help with severe PMS, cramping or menstrual pain, endometriosis, and menstrual-related headaches. When the woman is ready to conceive, fertility may return immediately or after a few months. There are two new additions to the contraception family that make continuous birth control therapy possible for women today: Yasmin and the NuvaRing(R). Yasmin, a low-dose combined pill, is the only birth control pill to contain the synthetic progestin known as drospirenone. As a result of this particular progestin, common benefits of Yasmin include less water retention, less premenstrual weight gain, fewer PMS and menstrual symptoms and the prevention of acne.
Similar to other birth control pills, possible side effects of Yasmin include headaches, menstrual changes, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps and bloating, nausea and vaginal discharge. The NuvaRing is a low-dose, flexible hormonal ring that is inserted into a woman's vagina where it slowly releases estrogen and progestin for three weeks. A "one-size-fits-all" device, the NuvaRing is easily inserted by the woman, and simply removed after three weeks. At this time, the woman may wait a week to give her body a chance to have a period, or insert a new ring for continuous birth control. Benefits and side effects of the NuvaRing are similar to those of Yasmin. "Continuous birth control is a matter of personal preference," says Zickler. "However, every form of birth control therapy comes with benefits and side effects.
Women need to be sure they get the facts from their doctors, so they can decide for themselves whether continuous birth control therapy is right for them." DoctorSolve, a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC Q37), offers lower-cost, long-term prescriptions. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com. DoctorSolve has filled more than 200,000 U.S. prescriptions.
TOM CRUISE AT CES
(C) MBN 2006 (Taken by William Hoehne)
Comments
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Posted by: Aaron | July 6, 2006 01:25 PM