March 6-12 archive
March 12, 2006
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 12 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: expect the unexpected and be happy if it does not happen.
BREAKING NEWS: FOUR SERVICEMEN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN more info to follow
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
Stock News:TOKYO, Japan, Marc- Honda decided at its Board of Directorsmeeting to acquire all of the shares of Honda Express Co., Ltd. and Komyo Co., Ltd. by a share exchange and thereby make them wholly
owned subsidiaries.
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival Written by Steve Matthews
Music is a huge part of my life. I consider myself not only a fan of various music styles, but also a student of music. I am also a musician and consider myself to have a deep knowledge of musical form and composition.
So what did I expect to see at a gathering of bluegrass fans and performers? Perhaps a lot of cowboy hats and leather boots. Maybe some fancy belt buckles and people walking around wearing Garth Brooks or Brooks & Dunn tee shirts. When I got to the Midwinter Bluegrass Festival in Denver (Feb 17-19), I found no such connections to the world of country music. Prior to this experience I thought to myself, “Isn’t that bluegrass stuff just a different type of country music?” I never experienced or knew anything about bluegrass (until that weekend), so my misconceptions were many.
The Midwinter Bluegrass Festival is one of many bluegrass events held across the country, and the world. This mid-sized festival is hosted annually by bluegrass enthusiast and player Ken Seaman in Denver, Colorado (see http://www.seamanevents.com/midwinter/). A workshop at this festival was co-sponsored by the International Bluegrass Music Association (www.ibma.org), the leading industry organization dedicated to promoting bluegrass music. This year marked the 21st festival in the series. Among the acts who performed throughout the weekend were The Special Consensus, Roni Stoneman (who is hilarious and quite the amazing banjo player, and who many would recognize from her many years on the Hee Haw television show), BlueRidge, Cedar Hill, Hit and Run Bluegrass and the Bluegrass Patriots. With the exception of Roni Stoneman, I was completely unfamiliar with any of these acts before attending the festival.
The weekend proved to be a very powerful introduction into the world of all things bluegrass. I found this out almost immediately after entering the doors of the venue. Outside it was a bitterly cold 13 degrees below zero, but inside things were cooking. Although it was late at night and the scheduled events were over with, strains of music filled the halls as numerous groups of individuals had spontaneously gotten together to “jam,” playing familiar bluegrass tunes on their respective instruments. This, I would learn, is the very essence of the bluegrass movement—an enthusiastic group of fans who love to watch and play a form of music in which there is an amazing amount of acceptance and involvement, both musically and socially.
In this festival people had come from far and wide to be entertained, to jam, to see old friends and to participate in workshops on bluegrass music. This festival is one of over 600 yearly festivals hosted around the world, a good indicator of the popularity of the bluegrass phenomenon. According to Nancy Cardwell, Special Projects Director with the International Bluegrass Music Association, “The IBMA has members in all 50 states, as well as in 30 additional countries. Although it originated in the Southeastern United States around 60 years ago, bluegrass music has literally spread around the world. In fact, there are reportedly more bluegrass bands per capita in the Czech Republic than in the state of Kentucky (the Bluegrass State, and home of the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe). It is also very popular in Japan, throughout Western and Central Europe, and Great Britain.”
Cardwell explained that several factors are contributing to the continuing growth in the popularity of bluegrass. “We got some recent mainstream media attention because of the popularity of the O, Brother Where Art Thou? movie and six-time platinum selling soundtrack CD. The tremendous popularity of artists like Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury, and Ricky Skaggs are also factors. A younger audience is also being drawn into bluegrass through “jam bands” (progressive bluegrass bands that incorporate extended jams into their arrangements). Bands like Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Left Over Salmon are examples of new forms of bluegrass-influenced music. The Internet has also offered a huge opportunity for bluegrass bands, along with other types of indie artists not signed to major labels, to introduce their music to a wide audience with eclectic tastes.”
So what exactly is bluegrass music? Among the things I learned are –
· Bluegrass is a distinctively non-electric/electronic type of music. The banjo is to bluegrass what the electric guitar is to rock. The other standard bluegrass instruments include the fiddle (think violin), mandolin, upright bass, and guitar – all of which are played acoustically. One other instrument that is sometimes used include the Dobro (a type of a resonator guitar which is played with fingerpicks and a type of a slide). There are no electric guitars, drums, or keyboards in this type of music, but vocal harmonies are a central part of bluegrass songs.
· Bluegrass finds its roots in old-time music (Scottish and Irish dance music, English ballads), gospel music and African American blues. (The banjo originally came from Africa.) Virtues such as God, family and country are common themes which run throughout the lyrical content of the songs. The songs frequently tell stories, and they perhaps more often than not romanticize a connection to one’s roots and the geography from which the songwriters have come from.
· As previously alluded to, bluegrass is not just about getting entertained, but is really about participation. A large part of the bluegrass fan base are players (commonly referred to as “pickers”) themselves. Bluegrass is all about finding other like-minded fans of this style of music and jamming spontaneously with other musicians, with lots of improvised “breaks” where each instrument takes a turn doing a solo.
· One characteristic of bluegrass songs, I would find, is a bit of a problem for me. By and large, bluegrass tend to be musically very predictable. After a very short exposure to bluegrass, I was able to hear completely unfamiliar songs and know exactly where the songs were going and which chords and bass notes were coming up next. As a devoted fan of rock music, I find this to be a primary weakness in the composition and arrangement of bluegrass music. Even though I now enjoy bluegrass music, I find it often formulaic I prefer the “there are no rules” attitude in the songwriting process which almost defines rock and roll. For me, rock runs the gamut from tear-jerking ballads, to that powerful, driving and highly energetic sound that sets your soul on fire, to some amazing virtuosity on the cranked up and “plugged in” instruments which we have heard for the past half century. On the other hand, the predictable structure of bluegrass music is essential to its playability. Somewhat like the defined structure of the blues (i.e. the 12 bar blues pattern), a familiarity with what the music is going to do next allows the musicians to jump in and immediately play along with a barely familiar number. Without the often similar feel of the music, there could not be any real jamming which, as I stated, really is the essence of bluegrass.
I am still trying to process and interpret some of my experiences from this wonderfully enjoyable weekend. I had a great time being exposed to this whole new world of music. I truly enjoyed a large portion of what I heard, and was so moved by the powerful song “This One Belongs To Me” by the family group “Sons and Brothers” that I found myself crying uncontrollably. What I do realize about the attraction of this type of music, probably above all others I have experienced, was the incredible sense of community among the fans and musicians. There is a very real sense of inclusion and acceptance in these free-spirited and spontaneous jam sessions. The participants appeared to have such a great time in these jamming circles, that I would sometimes become jealous because of my inability to join in with them (since I play the keyboards, a very non-bluegrassy instrument!).
So where do I go from here? Well, I’m a rocker, and will always be one. I love the wide range of musical styles within rock (and pop) music. While there are definite bursts of virtuosity among the artists and jammers I’ve heard so far in the world of bluegrass, I am still whole heartedly first drawn to the melodic, rhythmic qualities, overall songwriting and virtuosity that appears throughout much of rock.
One thing which I took home with me is that bluegrass sometimes offers positive lyrical messages that need to be reinforced in today’s society, which are often sorely missing in rock and often non-existent in rap/hip hop/ modern R&B. I’ll continue to take my rock with me in my home, car, and mp3 player, but I’m grateful for the experiences of the weekend when I met bluegrass for the first time. I am constantly hungry and looking for enjoyable new music to listen to and see performed, and I’m now already looking forward to visiting future bluegrass festivals. It only took a weekend, but now I’m a fan!
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Crude, homemade bombs hidden in cars or by the side of the road pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers and the future of a free Iraq, President Bush said today in his weekly radio address. "As we take the fight to the terrorists, they realize they cannot defeat us directly in battle, so they have resorted to brutal attacks against innocent Iraqis and American forces using improvised explosive devices," he said.
Bush said he is dedicating "every available resource, the ingenuity of our best scientists and engineers and the determination of our military to defeat this threat." "We face an enemy that will use explosive devices in order to shake our will, in order to foment violence in Iraq, in order to try to convince the American people that we can't win in Iraq," Bush said. "We're not going to rest until this danger to our troops has been removed." With this goal in mind, Bush said his administration has established a new high-level command at the Department of Defense, led by retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and NATO's peacekeeping force in Bosnia.
The Joint IED Defeat Organization comprises representatives from all services as well as retirees, all dedicated full-time to defeating the IED threat. "The general has spent a lot of time thinking about the enemy's tactics and techniques and how our military can adjust to them," Bush said during remarks to the press earlier today, after the latest in a series of IED briefings at the White House. The briefings from Meigs, along with input from commanders and Pentagon experts, "let me know what we're doing, so I can let the American people know that we recognize the nature of this enemy.
We're addressing our tactics to defeat this enemy for the sake of peace, for the sake of the security of the United States of America, and for the sake of peace in the world," the president explained. Bush said he plans to inform the public about America's strides in the war during a series of speeches this month, as the nation marks the three-year anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19.
The speeches will address the nation's strategy for victory in Iraq, progress made, lessons learned, and "how we're fixing what has not worked," the president said. Bush's first speech, scheduled for March 13, will focus on the security element of the nation's strategy, the task of defeating terrorists and training Iraqi security forces. The president gave a preview of his speech during his radio address. "The Iraqi security forces have made great strides in the past year," Bush noted. "And they performed well after the recent bombing of the Golden Mosque of Samarra."
The mosque, Bush explained, is one of Shiia Islam's holiest sites. After it was bombed, bands of armed militia exacted revenge, with attacks on Sunni mosques and acts of random violence that killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis. "Immediately after the attack, Iraqis' leaders came together and acted to restore calm and end the violence," Bush said. "These forces moved rapidly and effectively to protect religious sites, enforce a curfew and re-establish civil order when necessary. We commend them for their good work." Bush said the Iraqi security forces' performance was proof that "our hard work to build up and train these forces is paying off."
The goal, Bush said, is to have the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition forces by the end of the year. "By helping the Iraqi people build a free and representative government, we will deny the terrorists a safe haven to plan attacks against America," the president said. "The security of our country is directly linked to the liberty of the Iraqi people," he continued. "This will require more difficult days of fighting and sacrifice. Yet I am confident that our strategy will result in victory, and then our troops can come home with the honor they have earned. Bush said that amid the daily news of car bombs, kidnappings and brutal killings, he understands that Americans are wondering if the entire mission was worth it. "I strongly believe our country is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power," he said. "The last three years have tested our resolve," he continued. "The fighting has been tough. The enemy we face has proved to be brutal and relentless. And the sacrifice being made by our young men and women who wear the uniform has been heartening and inspiring."
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
High School seniors involved in the Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon and got to ask questions of senior military leaders as part of their Washington program today. A total of 104 students from throughout the country and DoD schools overseas got a tour of the Pentagon and a chance to ask questions of Army Lt. Gen. C.V. Christianson, Joint Staff director for logistics.
The two DoD Education Activity students are both from Japan. Anthony Soroka is a senior at Kadena High School, and Elizabeth Michael is a senior at Yokota High School. Both participated in the DoDEA-wide competition for the program, which includes an all-expense-paid "Washington Week" and a $5,000 scholarship.
Soroka, who hopes to attend Princeton University in the fall, said the week gave him an excellent overview of the federal government. "We visited the museums, of course, and then spoke to people at the State Department, the Supreme Court, here and other agencies," he said. He said he was especially excited to meet Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat. Michael said she appreciated the opportunity to meet students from all over the United States. "It's been a great experience," she said. "I'm glad I did it and would recommend it to everyone." The U.S. Senate and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation sponsor the program. It began in 1962 to expose student delegates to the highest-ranking members of government. Accompanying the delegates are military officers who also go through a selection process.
This year, Navy Lt. Janelle, a lawyer at Little Creek, Va., was one of those selected. She is no stranger to the program, having been a delegate herself from Hawaii in 1997. "It was an amazing experience for me then," Kuroda said. "It was one of the most significant weeks of my life in helping me choose what I wanted to do. "Coming from Hawaii, I didn't know how well I would deal with people from all over the country," she said. "After meeting the delegates, I found that anything is possible, if you apply yourself." The lieutenant volunteered to be an escort officer as her way of "paying back" to the program. "I hope I can make it as great for these students as the escort officers made it for me," she said.
Christianson spoke about the role of the military in the United States, saying that the most important aspect of the U.S. military is that it is under civilian control. "The only body that is authorized to raise an army in this country is the Congress of the United States," he said. Civilian control of the military is important to the country, and that's why the students see military officers and civilian officials from the Defense Department on Capitol Hill. "There are not many countries in the world who have that kind of concept embedded in their constitution," Christianson said. Checks and balances in the federal system prevent any one portion of the government from growing too powerful, he said. "Day to day the military works for the Department of Defense," Christianson said. "But we answer to Congress and ultimately work for the people of the United States."
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
Cingular released its first two high-speed phones on its new UMTS/HSDPA network today, along with a video-clip service delivering TV content to subscribers with the new phones.
Like Verizon's V CAST service, Cingular Video brings branded, TV-quality video clips to your phone, from a variety of partners: CNN, Fox News, and NBC in the news arena; ESPN, Fox Sports, Fuel TV and Speed Channel for sports; and a range including ABC, Fox, the Cartoon Network and most notably HBO for entertainment programming. Cingular does not offer any live TV or radio channels.
Most of the video clips are free for subscribers to Cingular's $19.99/month Media Works package, but content from HBO Mobile and some MusicChoice music video content costs an extra $4.99/month.
The Cingular Video service, which is included in the Media Works package, doesn't require subscribers to live in one of Cingular's 16 high-speed cities because it also works on the carrier's nationwide EDGE network. Competing services from Verizon and Sprint require that you be connected to their high-speed EV-DO networks, which are in many major cities, but not some smaller cities or rural areas.
The Samsung ZX10 flip phone and LG CU320 slider are both midrange phones, with midrange features. Both phones are $149.99 with a two-year contract, and there's currently a $50 rebate on top of that pricing. The ZX10's case has an attractive soft-touch feel, and the 4 oz. phone has a swiveling megapixel camera. Other major features include a TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, speakerphone, e-mail support and, of course, the new Cingular Video service.
The CU320 is similar, but in a slider form factor: a swiveling 1.3 megapixel camera, TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, e-mail client, and speakerphone.
Cingular's rollout is as notable for what's missing as for what's new.
The two new phones don't use Cingular's top-speed HSDPA network, which allows downloads of around 600 kbps/sec. Instead, they run on the mid-speed UMTS network, which clocks in at 200-300 kbps/sec. That should be at least 50% faster than their existing EDGE phones, but pales before Sprint's and Verizon's EV-DO networks, which are slightly faster than even Cingular's HSDPA system.
Samsung told us a few months ago that HSDPA equipment wasn't ready fast enough for this launch; HSDPA phones such as the Samsung ZX20 will be coming later this year, along with more cities to add to Cingular's current list of 16.
The two phones also don't have any sort of video-sharing function which would take advantage of UMTS networks' ability to simultaneously transmit voice and data. Two-way video calling was a selling point for UMTS networks in Europe and Asia. Some sort of point-to-point live video sharing will come later this year, There is not any obvious way to use the phones as PC modems – though we'll look into that as we test the two devices. If we can get that running, UMTS would let you make phone calls and use your phone as a modem at the same time, which other networks don't permit.
Cingular's 3G launch is more of a dip than a splash. They're still far behind Verizon and especially Sprint in terms of the number of high-speed cities, devices and features they offer. Both Verizon and Sprint offer faster speeds and let you use 3G phones as modems, and Sprint has live TV and radio channels over their Sprint Power Vision network.
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games will be inaugurated tonight with a live show of great visual impact, which will be seen by millions of spectators in Italy and around the world. IOC President Jacques Rogge will attend the Opening Ceremony.
Uniting all athletes
The Opening Ceremony wants to be, above all, the celebration of this sporting spirit that unites all the athletes, regardless of the type of disability that characterises them. The creative team has chosen to stage a bold show, with a strong identity and autonomy that will amaze and directly involve the spectators, conveying a message of energy and positivity.
Break down every obstacle
The idea of producing a bold, emphatic Ceremony led to the choice to emphasise (visually, too) the need to break down every obstacle. For this reason, the spaces and set design have been created so as to physically portray the guiding concept of the Ceremony: beyond every limit, beyond every barrier, ensuring that athletes and spectators feel emotionally united within the same show. Closing Ceremony in Piazza Castello
The Closing Ceremony, scheduled for 19 March 2006 in Piazza Castello in the centre of Turin, will join athletes and spectators in a universal embrace, renewing their appointment for the following edition of the Games.
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March 11, 2006
Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 11 2006
MBN www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Remember when you volunteer you accept the conditions that go with it.
Centre Pompidou in Paris hosts Los Angeles 1955-1985 THE BIRTH OF AN ARTISTIC CAPITAL through July 17, 2006.
According to MPPA The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year
Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
U.S. Marine was killed
End of the Tomcats
Centre Pompidou in Paris hosts Los Angeles 1955-1985 THE BIRTH OF AN ARTISTIC CAPITAL through July 17, 2006. Launching a new generation of young artists, the period 1955-1985, brought the Los Angeles recognition as an alternative to the New York scene. Today, it is one of worldly intrigue, and one in which the Pompidou considers essential for France and Europe to foster appreciation to better understand contemporary American art via this fascinating, and largely undiscovered period.
Displayed chronologically as a walk-around-Los Angeles(European flair, with an LA flair – we’d be driving), the approximately 350 works on show by 85 artists, retrace the history of the Los Angeles art scene through paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, film and video.
Familiar artists such as David Hockney and Dennis Hopper are present along as other internationally famous artists such as Ed Kienholz, Allan Kaprow, Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Bill Viola, Paul McCarthy, Mike Kelley, Charles Ray and Raymond Pettibon. Lesser known artists are included to create a rich, productive, experimental environment. 20th Century Fox and the MGM lion are familiar images representative of Hollywood.
Running concurrently is “Morphosis”, a Santa Monica architectural firm, whose founder Thom Mayne, received the 2005 Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honor, is displaying recent projects. “Continuities of the Incomplete” is both an exposition and a new work in a self-illuminating aluminum frame skinned with sloping glass panels. It’s inspiration makes one consider both the Louvre’s Pyramid and Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral.
According to Ada Louise Huxtable, architecture critic and jury member for the 2005 Pritzker Prize, “The work of Thom Mayne moves architecture from the 20th to the 21st century in its use of today’s art and technology to create a dynamic style that expresses and serves today’s needs.” The Morphosis exhibition will tour at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art from April 1 to July 2, 2007
James Turrell’s historic Alta(White) is also on exhibition. This benchmark work from the Projection Pieces series explores light and perception. Alta(White) is a new acquisition and 1967 installation donated by the Clarence Westbury Foundation, Houston, Texas.
With the Pompidou’s endorsement as an artistic capital, Los Angeles artists know there’s much more to being in LA LA land.
According to MPPA The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year
The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year, final box-office figures show. Revenues in the United States dropped 6 percent to $8.99 billion last year compared to 2004. The worldwide market fell 7.9 percent to $23.24 billion from a 2004 all-time high, the Motion Picture Association of America said Thursday.
The number of tickets sold in the U.S. also continued its three-year decline. Total U.S. attendance fell by 9 percent to 1.4 billion the lowest level in nearly a decade. About 240 million fewer tickets were sold last year compared to 2004. At the same time, the average ticket price rose from $6.21 to $6.41.
It was more expensive for Hollywood to market pictures last year. The average cost rose about 5 percent, from $34.4 million to $36.2 million. Little feature films, such as the hits "Brokeback Mountain" and "March of the Penguins," marketing costs soared by 33 percent, reflecting the increasing competition for movies that often start in limited release.
Blockbusters continued to draw the largest audiences. "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" was the top-grossing film with $380.3 million. Altogether, eight movies grossed more than $200 million each.
Good news for studios was that their average cost to make a movie dropped by about $2.5 million to $60 million. That figure didn't count the often substantial contributions of outside investors, which in some cases made up half of the budget. Meaning the films cost more then actually being reported.
Theaters continue to worry that ticket sales are being undercut by DVD sales for home theaters. However, the MPAA unveiled results of an August study by Nielsen Entertainment/NRG of 3,000 moviegoers that indicated theaters remain popular.
It found that those who had the most DVD players, big-screen TVs, digital cable and other high-tech movie options also saw the most movies at theaters an average of 8.2 per year. Theatres seem to fuel there desire to spend.
Also, 69 percent of those polled said they preferred to see a movie in a theater rather than at home although nearly a third agreed that their home offered "the ultimate movie-watching experience."
"Despite increasing competition for consumers' time and entertainment dollars, theatergoing remains a satisfying constant in people's lives," said Dan Glickman, MPAA chairman and chief executive officer. "That said, we can't bury our heads in the sand. We do have to attract customers and keep regulars coming back."
Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
Crufts, the Guinness Book of Records largest dog show in the world, is happening now in Birmingham, England. With over 24,000 dogs to bring down the woof, there are people from 26 countries and 120,000 visitors over a 4-5 day period. Crufts finishes tomorrow at the NEC, The National Exhibition Centre, with many aiming for the coveted Best in Show title to succeed the 2005 champion, a Norfolk Terrier named “Coco”, which fit in the trophyOrganized by the Kennel Club and supported by Pedigree Masterfoods, yes, the familiar blue ribbon Pedigree name we’re accustomed to seeing here at dog shows in the U.S. I couldn’t locate it being televised here in the U.S., similar to Westminster of the AKC/Eukanuba Nationals, but if we thought 2500 dogs was a lot…
Similar to the U.S., there’s the well known Best in Show Competition, Agility and Obedience(Obedience World Cup Competition), but there are also other categories such as Flyball and Heelwork to Music, the Kennel Gazette Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final which must be similar to our Junior Handler’s program. This year, there’s also a “Lady and the Tramp” look-a-like competition, which has been organized by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Disney to celebrate the release of this classic soon to be released as a special edition DVD.
The group categories too are a bit different too with: Working and Pastoral Dogs; Terriers and Hounds; Toy and Utility and Gundogs. With such an enormous amount of dogs, I wondered how might be entered according to various breeds. Soft Coated Wheatens, Monte Bubbles’ breed has 156 entries. The largest number of entries was for Labrador Retrievers at 605, then 576 Golden Retrievers, 468 Whippets, 465 Irish Setters, 458 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 429 Rottweilers, and 420 Cocker Spaniels closing out the breed with over 400 entries. The smallest number of entries was 1 for the Hungarian Kuvasz, 4 Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Laekenois), 7 Greenland Dog, and 8 Canadian Eskimo Dogs.
To sum up Crufts…Said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary: “Crufts is now a huge global event that celebrates the world of dogs and the great diversity that they offer. The finest show dogs share space with those who provide invaluable assistance and support to their owners, and the event allows the Kennel Club the opportunity to promote dogs of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds.”
U.S. Marine was killed
A U.S. Marine was killed yesterday when a car bomb detonated near the city of Fallujah, Iraq, military officials in Iraq reported. Three members of an Iraqi family and a soldier from the Iraqi army were also killed by the blast. No further details were available. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Defense Department recently released the names of four servicemembers killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Marine Gunnery Sgt. Justin R. Martone, 31, of Bedford, Va., died March 7 when an improvised explosive device detonated in the Iraq's Anbar province. Martone was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. - Marine Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas, died March 8 when an IED detonated in Anbar province. Fry was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - Marine Cpl. Adam O. Zanutto, 26, of Caliente, Calif., died March 6 at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., from wounds received Feb. 25 as a result of an IED in Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. - Army Pfc. Ricky Salas Jr., 22, of Roswell, N.M., died in Mosul, Iraq, March 7 when an IED detonated near his military vehicle. Salas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, Friedberg, Germany
End of the Tomcats
Two strike fighter squadrons arrived at Naval Air Station Oceana here today, ending a six-month deployment and closing the book on the Tomcat as an asset in the Navy's war fighting arsenal. The "Tomcatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron 31 and the "Black Lions" of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 were deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
The squadrons' "fly-off" marked the last operational flight of the F-14D Tomcat and the final stage of the squadrons' transition to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. VF-213 pilots will begin F/A-18F training next month and VF-31 pilots, who are transitioning to the F/A-18E, will remain operational until September when they will fly the last Tomcat in the Navy's inventory from Oceana.
"Everyone has worked very hard, pulled together and with purpose to ensure we retire this naval aviation icon appropriately and commensurate with its long and proud legacy," Cmdr. Richard LaBranche, VF-31 commanding officer, said. The Navy decided to decommission the Tomcat and move to the Super Hornet to lighten the workload on its people after recognizing the excessive amount of maintenance needed to keep them operational.
"It takes about three to four times more maintenance man-hours per flight hour to maintain than the newer Hornet," LaBranche said. "Retiring the extremely relevant but maintenance intensive Tomcat was a way to save the exhaustive efforts of our people and better spend their labors." For the pilots who fly them and the crews who keep them operational, the loss of the Tomcat hits close to home. "I will miss flying the Tomcat very much," LaBranche said. "Saying good bye to the Tomcat will be like saying good bye to an old friend, but in the best interest of our people, it must be done."
Throughout its 32-year service to the fleet, the Tomcat has been synonymous with excellence. Since the first aircraft entered operational service in September 1974, the Grumman Aerospace Corporation-built F-14 has seen numerous upgrades and modifications to meet the demands of the Navy as the premier carrier-based multi-role strike fighter. "It is one of the greatest fighter planes in history," Lt. Chris Rattigan, a pilot with VF-31, said. "When you think of naval aviation, you think of the Tomcat."
The Tomcat saw its first major improvements to the initial design with the F-14B, introduced in November 1987, which incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. In 1995, an upgrade program brought the Tomcat new digital avionics and weapon system improvements. "The F-14 may be old, but with all the upgrades (over the years), there isn't anything out there tougher and more capable than the Tomcat," Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Houlihan, an aviation structural mechanic with VF-31, said. During this deployment, VF-31 flew more sorties and with the highest sortie completion rate of any other Tomcat squadron in recent history, LaBranche said. With a more than 99 percent sortie-completion rate and a 100 percent on-target rate when ordnance was expended during this, their final deployment, VF-31 is confident they sent the Tomcat out on a high note.
"Our successes on this deployment have been huge," Houlihan said. "We accomplished more than we had set out to do. I honestly think that VF-31 has proved that these aircraft, despite the amount of maintenance required to maintain it, have a lot of life left in them." While deployed, VF-31 provided invaluable close-air support to troops on the ground and, together with VF-213, completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance. "Our entire crew is acutely aware of the historic nature of being the very last Tomcat squadron," said LaBranche, noting the attention VF-31 is facing as they return from this final deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"To see the sailors of this command perform so magnificently throughout five months of arduous combat operations has been inspirational for me," LaBranche said. "(The unit) has met every challenge head-on, succeeded in every endeavor and left a legacy befitting our new slogan as 'The Last Cat Standing.'"
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March 10, 2006
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 10 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: What goes down tasting good does not taste the same going back up.
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche
Setback for XM-Radio
General Motors Corp is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Tivo still in the red
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.com
McClatchy high bid for Knight Ridder
MySpace -- The Movie removed
Freeipods.com
Taiwan semicon firms deliver diversity
Sawyer to be new anchor?
"HOLLYWOOD is spending money to get fewer ticket buyers.”
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche and re-invention of itself in a rapidly growing industry
Apple’s two latest introductions are the iPod Hi-Fi and the new Multi-Pass. The iPod Hi-Fi home stereo works seamlessly with the iPod adding hi-fidelity sound. The iTunes partnership Multi-Pass that allows users to buy TV shows on a monthly basis for $9.99, with episodes available the day after airing.
Apple’s two latest introductions are the iPod Hi-Fi and the new Multi-Pass. The iPod Hi-Fi home stereo works seamlessly with the iPod adding hi-fidelity sound. The iTunes partnership Multi-Pass that allows users to buy TV shows on a monthly basis for $9.99, with episodes available the day after airing. Apple is trying to maintain its dominance in digital music, accounting for 78% of the portable music players sold in the United States in January. ITunes Music Store, available via Macs and PCs, eliminates the hassle of subscription services, with a single purchase of 99 cents to keep a song. It’s been so popular, music fans have purchased and legally downloaded over 1 billion songs in three years.
Right on the heels of Apple are Samsung Corp., Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. Whether it be portable multimedia players, satellite radios, Sony PSPs, or cell phones, devices are catching up as memory becomes more affordable. Competitors are often cheaper and sometimes do more as digital music functions become incorporated into other devices.
Add to the mix established media companies Like Disney and AOL are expanding into the distribution of material. Download capabilites are also being added to digital game boxes.
Apple’s reputation for design and ease of use, while searching for a digital music player, have made it the top choice for those in the market. The iPod, unfortunately like the Apple Computer before may be one of those must have trend products. When you have one you love and you keep it forever but you always go to the other product because it comes cheaper with more perks.
I know, I have a apple computer but replaced it long ago as my main computer because others do more and at a cheaper price.
Right now Apple iPod has a substantial lead, selling over 42 million since 2001, only 15% of the households in the U.S. have digital music players according to a Consumer Electronics Association white paper.If the trend continues Apple will have reached it’s peak soon as was the case with transitor radios,Cd players, video tape players and now DVD players.
Will digital music players expand and reach a market saturation point similar to the 98% of the households that own a tv or 71% and 73% for wireless phones and PCs, respectively, Probably but Apple’s market penetration point at this time, is similar to Apple Computer at 11.6% in 1994, which has now dropped to 4.2% today, according to IDC Corp.
A large barrier to the market expanding is the speed of the internet connection, the speed of the downloads leave much to be desired. The downloads simply take too long. Most people according to a CEA brief do not have a fast system to download with. They may have internet but just basic.
The internet is the key to the future for Ipod and devices like it but till speed is improved for all to download Ipod has hit a major bump in the road.
Will it go the way of the Apple computer? When your on top your aimed for and the players in this game all have deep pockets.
By William Hoehne
Setback for XM-Radio
XM SATELLITE RADIO THURSDAY ANNOUNCED plans carrying advertising on four channels programmed by radio giant Clear Channel Communications. The decision is a setback for XM, which has promoted its content as commercial-free. Sirius Satellite, which also issued an annual report detailing financial difficulties, announced programming it hopes will draw more listeners from key market sectors.
The company has struggled against accepting commercials in arbitration, XM's announcement seems to be in line with hints--made after its financial statement--that it would soon adopt more advertising. XM has suffered from high costs for acquiring new subscribers, with an expenditure of $196.5 million trying to fly in the face of Howard Stern's high-profile move to Sirius in January of this year. Accepting advertisements may offset some of these costs, or allow XM to offer cheaper subscriptions, or both--but also undermines the company's commitment to "ad-free" programming. some XM channels carry advertising already.
XM's move to adopt advertising may also be intended to shore up investor confidence in the company, which was shaken by the departure of director Pierce Roberts Jr., disclosed in the annual filing. Roberts struck an ominous note in his resignation, writing that: "Given the current course and speed there is, in my view, a significant chance of a crisis on the horizon. Even absent a crisis, I believe that XM will inevitably serve its shareholders poorly without major changes now."
Clear Channel, which owns 3.2 percent of XM's stock, programs a current hits station, a recent hits station, light music, and country on XM. Meanwhile, XM's competitor, Sirius, announced Wednesday that it was rolling out four new talk and entertainment channels: Fox News and Talk, Blue Collar Comedy, Cosmo Radio, and the Playboy Channel. The programming changes, which take effect on Tuesday, March 14th, are intended to net a larger share of the young adult market of both genders. The introduction of Blue Collar Comedy and the renaming of Sirius' channel for cross-country truckers--now called "Road Dog Trucking"--may also indicate that the channel is aggressively pursuing the working-class demographic.
General Motors Corp is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks
General Motors Corp. said Friday it is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks worldwide to fix tailgate cables that can corrode and break when loads are placed on
The recall involves 1999-2000 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. GM said there have been 84 injuries, most of them minor scrapes and bumps, but no crashes or deaths linked to the problem.
GM, the world's No. 1 automaker, said the galvanized, braided-steel support cables that keep the tailgates in place can corrode or fracture over time because of moisture seeping through cracks in the plastic sheathing of the cable or entering between the cable's metal The automaker had recalled about 4 million 2000-2004 pickups worldwide in March 2004 because the tailgates could break without warning. The recall involved a broader range of vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT trucks.
GM spokesman Alan Adler said the vehicles covered by the new recall had different materials used in the support cables and involved fewer complaints. He said the automaker decided to issue the recall after "an exhaustive investigation."
"We worked with (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and agreed to do the recall to get this behind us," Adler said.
NHTSA had been investigating the vehicles. More than 800,000 of the trucks are located in the United States, and about 90,000 vehicles are in Mexico and Canada. About 3,800 of the recalled trucks were exported to countries around the globe.
Owners are expected to receive recall notices in April, but they can bring their trucks into a dealership for inspection if they suspect problems with the cables, Adler said. Under the recall, dealers will replace the galvanized support cables with ones made with stainless steel.
Most of the injuries stemmed from people sitting on the tailgate or occurred while people were unloading items from the truck bed. The company has advised owners not to sit on the tailgate.
GM said if both cables fractured, the tailgate would drop and strike the top of the rear bumper, which could cause someone standing or sitting on the tailgate to fall.
In a separate action, GM plans to issue a "special policy" letter in June regarding the cables to more than 950,000 owners of Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma pickups from the 2000-2003 model years. The action is not a recall, but provides owners with an inspection procedure to check the tailgate for any problems.
If owners notice any bulges in the cable or tears in the plastic covering, they can bring their S-10 or Sonoma to a dealer for inspection and replacement of the cables.
About 2.7 million trucks from the 2004 recall have been repaired and the automaker is trying to track down owners who have not participated, Adler said.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Ricky Salas, Jr. 22, of Roswell, N.M., died in Mosul, Iraq, on March 7, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle while conducting mounted operations. Salas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, Friedberg, Germany.
Tivo still in the red
TiVo has improved its financial picture with its latest earnings results. The digital video recorder service and equipment company also announced a new consumer pricing structure to spur better financial results.
For its fourth quarter that ended January 31, TiVo narrowed its losses to $19.5 million from $33.7 million the year before. For the year, the company also cut its losses in half to $34.4 million from $79.8 million the year before.
For the year, TiVo boasted a 45 percent growth rate for its subscription base to 4.4 million. TiVo said all new subscriptions during the fourth quarter signed on for a minimum 1-year period, which helped to reduce its low churn rate--customers who drop TiVo.
TiVo's revenues for the year increased 48 percent to $170.9 million, compared to $115.5 million last year. Fourth-quarter revenues also improved 37 percent to $47.0 million, compared to $34.2 million for the same period last year. TiVo also claimed its first positive cash flow from operations in fiscal 2006.
TiVo's new pricing structure will offer one price for both service and equipment. Previously, TiVo had offered consumers a separate fee for service and equipment.
For a one-year contract, consumers can pay $19.95 a month, or $224. A two-year commitment is$18.95 a month or $339; a three-year deal is 16.95 a month, or $469. TiVo believes this will drive improved subscription sales.
TiVo has also announced a partnership with Verizon Wireless for a new service called TiVo Mobile, which will enable its subscribers to program their digital video recorders by using their cell phones.
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.com
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.comNBC has ordered YOUTUBE.COM stop distributing its popular videos, at the sametime the network has begun offering the clips on its own site with YouTube-like functionality.
NBC.com is allowing visitors to view the buzz-heavy clips such as "Lazy Sunday" and "Natalie Raps"--both rap spoofs from "Saturday Night Live"--and then easily send e-mails to friends linking to them. One of YouTube's key features is the opportunity to start a viral video chain.
NBC lawyers last month demanded that YouTube remove the "Lazy Sunday" video, and followed that up this week with the same request for Natalie Portman's mock rap.
Stephen Andrade, NBC's vice president of interactive development, said that NBC supports video sharing and hopes to facilitate it, but wants the chain to start at NBC.com.
"We were concerned about building their corporation instead of ours, since it's our
video," he said. "We would like to make it as easy for people to share as we can, so we're trying to provide as many tools as we can to do that."
The new video-sharing functionality is only one aspect of NBC's strategy to turn NBC.com into a thriving site with features such as message boards, blogs, and video sharing that create a community--a sort of MySpace around the NBC brand.
NBC has hired Dana Robinson as senior community manager to seed the blogosphere and Web ether with messages about new offerings on NBC.com. For example, she may encourage visitors to the MySpace forum on "The Office" to check out "Dwight's Blog," kept by one of the show's characters.
"We have a lot of good, interesting content on NBC.com," Andrade said. "And people don't know it exists. They think we're just this old media brand."
NBC.com also plans to begin promoting hot discussion topics on its message boards in prominent spots on the site, hoping to entice visitors to join in.
McClatchy high bid for Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder has collected bids as high as $4.8 billion yesterday and has scheduled a weekend board meeting to consider the offers. McClatchy Co., which owns 12 dailies but is smaller than Knight Ridder, made that top offer in cash and stock. A group of equity firms including Thomas H. Lee Partners, whose investments include American Media, and the Texas Pacific Group made a nonbinding bid of $4.7 billion in cash. The bids were reported by The New York Times.
It was unclear, however, whether a team of newspaper powerhouse Gannett and MediaNews Group submitted a bid. Officials at each company declined to comment.
Knight Ridder, which also had no comment on the bids, put itself on the block in November after its three biggest shareholders demanded a sale because of “limited growth across the newspaper industry,” “continuing consolidation among the traditional sources of print-advertising revenue” and “the redirection of advertising dollars to other media,” as the largest shareholder put it. The process is viewed by many as a referendum on the future of newspapers in the digital age.
Edward J. Atorino, a media analyst with Benchmark & Co. in New York, said that Knight Ridder presents a lot of opportunities for McClatchy. McClatchy, armed with Knight Ridder’s 32 newspapers, would rival Tribune Co. in revenue and could blanket the West Coast, particularly Northern California, in a compelling way for advertisers, Mr. Atorino said. “It’s a much better deal for McClatchy than it would be for Gannett.”
Mr. Atorino added that he hadn’t expected McClatchy to make a powerful bid. “I didn’t think they had the wherewithal to do it,” he said.
McClatchy’s offer is equivalent to $65 a share. Knight Ridder shares closed at $62.66 yesterday, when bids were due, but was trading above that at noon today.
MySpace -- The Movie removed
Since Jan. 31, more than 4 million people have used YouTube.com to watch “MySpace -- The Movie,” a parody of News Corp.’s social networking site MySpace. But YouTube users attempting to watch the video earlier this week were unable to do so. Instead, they saw a discouraging message: “Status: Rejected (copyright infringement).”
The 11-minute short film was created by 21-year-old David Lehre, who owes a lot to YouTube, because the exposure his video got on the film-sharing site led to his snagging a development deal with MTVU. The film became one of YouTube’s most-viewed clips of all time. It was originally posted by a 17-year-old blogger who uses the screen name Eggtea. “MySpace -- The Movie" can also be viewed at Mr. Lehre’s own Web site, DavidLehre.com, but due to traffic overwhelming his server, his site directs people back to YouTube.
So where was the copyright infringement?
Eggtea angrily speculated on his blog that the video was removed because “YouTube got tired of it being there [sic] most popular video ever.”
A more reasonable conclusion, in light of NBC’s recent objection to YouTube’s posting of “Saturday Night Live” sketches, is that News Corp. had called for the removal of the movie, objecting to use of the MySpace brand.
But it wasn’t News Corp. either. In fact, the social networking site has been very supportive of the short film -- going so far as to promote it on MySpace’s front page, Mr. Lehre said. In recent months, Mr. Lehre met with the two co-founders of MySpace, and he said they were “cool with" the short.
The culprits responsible for removing the movie from the site were the site’s own users. Julie Supan, senior director-marketing at YouTube, said the film’s removal was the unintentional result of a database function that automatically removes a clip after a certain number of users flag the material as either being inappropriate or in violation of a copyright.
“The users are very diligent about policing themselves,” Ms. Supan said.
After a clip receives a certain number of flags, it is reviewed by YouTube for objectionable material. If the video does not violate YouTube’s user agreement, it is restored to the site after review. “Sometimes the community can be a little overzealous,” Ms. Supan said. “But, generally, they know and understand the rules.”
Because so many people viewed “MySpace -- The Movie,” it accrued a high number of flags. Once YouTube learned of the removal, the site reinstated the popular clip.
YouTube plans to change the rules of community policing to add another step to the flagging process to prevent the removal of other widely viewed shorts.
YouTube offers unparalleled exposure, but some creators of content want to be the only source through which users can access their material. NBC recently asked YouTube to remove “SNL” sketches, choosing instead to make the viral favorites available on its own Web site and on iTunes.
Mr. Lehre, however, is not interested in the advertising revenue he could get by controlling access to his film. “I don’t plan to get rich off of online stuff,” he said. “I just want people to watch the film and have a good time.”
In fact, he plans to utilize YouTube to publicize future films. “I plan to use any and all ways to get my work out there.”
Freeipods.com
The $20 million-a-year FreeiPods.com site that has become a poster child of the increasingly important online incentive marketing business was originally started as a "get a free condom" come-on.
At lunch one day in the college cafeteria, then University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill senior Rob Jewell overheard some people talking about wanting free condoms. Entrepreneur that he was, Mr. Jewell began thinking about how he could build a business model around their needs. He hooked up with friend Peter Martin and the two started a Web site called freecondoms.com, which made money by signing up users for PayPal with the reward of free condoms. PayPal paid them $10 per new customer.
Today, Messrs. Jewell and Martin own Gratis Internet, the flagship of which is FreeiPods.com. They work with customer-acquisition agencies and directly with marketers in a pay-for-performance business model that grossed more than $20 million in 2004.
They also started a craze that shows little sign of ending. Apple CEO Steve Jobs likely never intended it, but thanks to that first FreeiPods.com pitch, the iPod has become the ultimate come-on in online incentive marketing. The sleek machine has been offered up as bait for the purchase of vacations, cars, credit cards, bank accounts, and magazine subscriptions.
It’s actually an extension of the Apple halo effect. Electronics accessories makers have capitalized on the iPod’s popularity by introducing a plethora of add-on devices, and so too have marketers looking to grab cachet with a link to the ubiquitous white player. Gratis counts among its clients AOL, Blockbuster, Citibank, BMG Music, Stamps.com and Netflix. Consumers must sign up for an offer and refer several friends who must also sign up. The customer gets the free iPod and Gratis gets paid an estimated $40 to $60 per person.
Although sometimes derided as a scam, it’s not, at least through Gratis and a few other established players. The process may be time consuming or include difficulties persuading friends, but the legit ones do pay out the iPods when the customer completes all the steps.
Part of the reason for the popularity is the demographic involved, mainly 18-to-24 year olds, Mr. Martin said, although they are trying to expand to an older group. To the younger group, social networking on the Web is their way of life and that contributes to the word of mouth as well. Destitute (or denied by parents) young people head online to ask friends and network associates to help them complete referrals and get that player. This youthful networking has in turn helped spawn an entire cottage industry of pay-for-referral Web sites and “conga lines” where people put their names on a list and are bumped up as the top person gets their referrals and collects their iPod prize.
FreeiPods is also cashing in on the trend of customer acquisition. And the grown-up sibling of those offers -- the online customer acquisition business -- is only just beginning its zenith. Lead generation and referrals are the fastest-growing segment of the online advertising business, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau, jumping more than 200% from the first half of 2004 to the first half of 2005, going from $114 million to $347 million and from 2% to 6% of all online marketing spending.
And what about the iPod ploy? It’s been going strong for two years, and while Mr. Martin said his company is working on offering products “not even on the market yet,” some wonder about the overuse of the tech-giveaway technique. “The whole iPod giveaway thing is about six months to a year away from jumping the shark,” said Mike Vorhaus, managing director at research consultancy Frank N. Magid Associates. “My guess is that if you went out and found young trendsetters in their 20s and talked about an iPod giveaway, they’d say ‘Come take one of the ones lying around my house.’” Maybe, but hipsters aside, the reality is that the allure exists for marketers as well as consumers.
“For marketers what it comes down to is it’s hard to say no to someone who is providing you a steady stream of leads,” said interactive analyst Gary Stein.
Taiwan semicon firms deliver diversity
Shift to digital consumer electronic ICs pays off
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. TAIPEI, TAIWAN, March 10, 2006 ¡V Taiwan is the world¡¦s third largest semiconductor manufacturing country, producing roughly 15 percent of the world¡¦s semiconductors. The proliferation of design, manufacturing, and package and testing companies has led Taiwan to be dubbed the ¡§Silicon Island.¡¨
¡V Taiwan is the world¡¦s third largest semiconductor manufacturing country, producing roughly 15 percent of the world¡¦s semiconductors. The proliferation of design, manufacturing, and package and testing companies has led Taiwan to be dubbed the ¡§Silicon Island.¡¨ However, transition is occurring in the industry, as semiconductor companies once mainly reliant on Taiwan¡¦s thriving computer industry have realigned their strategies to include the production of higher margin semiconductors for consumer electronics devices.
This new strategy makes Taiwan a formidable foe, as both the IT and CE industries are experiencing high growth. The combination may be enough to propel Taiwan to become the world¡¦s second largest IC nation.
Foundations in foundries
Taiwan saw its rise through the ranks of semiconductor-producing nations come from its innovative foundry business model.
Under the foundry production method, outside companies commission Taiwanese manufacturers to produce custom silicon semiconductors. This strategy mirrored Taiwan¡¦s information technology OEM and ODM production methods.
Taiwan Semiconductor Corp., and United Microcontrollers, the world¡¦s first two foundries, ranked as the eighth and nineteenth largest semiconductor firms in 2005, respectively, on revenues of USD 7.6 billion and USD 3.9 billion, according to research firm IC Insights.
This foundry method also had other effects, as fables design companies, or those without factories, and package and testing firms sprung up alongside Taiwan¡¦s two giants.
All told, Taiwan¡¦s IC industry created a production value of USD 32.8 billion in 2004, and is slated to reach USD 34.2 billion in 2005, according to statistics from the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association.
Dynamic diversification
Taiwanese semiconductor firms have been steadily diversifying their product lines over the past few years in an effort to drive revenues through new markets.
A report from high-tech market research firm In-Stat shows that the worldwide semiconductor industry will continue strong growth on new technologies in the wireless, broadband equipment, and consumer electronics segments.
In-Stat found that the market for video game consoles will double by 2008. Similarly, In-Stat notes that in combination with growth of notebooks, the PC market has only slowed down slightly, increasing the number of computer semiconductors across two platforms.
Information technology research firm Gartner had a similar optimistic view, releasing its industry forecast that the total semiconductor industry would reach a record high of USD 235 billion in 2005.
Gartner analysts stated that demand for digital consumer products, including flash cards, MP3 players, and new gaming devices helped drive the industry.
This is especially true as consumer electronics products increase in scope and functionality. From digital music and video players to cell phones with integrated cameras, ¡§more multimedia¡¨ has become the key words.TSMC expands expertise
New Taiwan Semiconductor CEO Rick Tsai echoed these sentiments in 2005 when speaking at the Semicon Taiwan trade show.
Tsai noted that the growth of digital consumer electronics was outpacing that of consumers, and presented a challenge to manufacturers as they work to integrate more functionality into single devices.
The company has taken steps to develop technologies for the manufacture of many types of semiconductors. TSMC has manufacturing specialties to produce mixed signal / radio frequency chips; embedded flash devices; system-on-chip (SoC) embedded high density memory; high voltage chips for flat panel displays; CMOS image sensors; and CMOS image sensor color filters, among others.
As Tsai explained, with the explosion of digital devices in the house, families may have more than 100 electronic products with integrated ICs, including phones, TVs, gaming devices, recording devices, music players, and of course computers.Alternative thinking
As alternative platforms become more widely accepted, fabless IC companies are joining in the rush to provide innovative solutions. One of the early leaders is VIA Technologies, which gained fame for standing up to Intel in the late 1990s.
VIA now has shifted gears and is developing a line of unique processors and embedded platforms for personal electronics and other fields. These devices are built upon the familiar x86 architecture that makes up the majority of computer CPUs, but are original for their low-power and fanless designs.
VIA processors, including the VIA EDEN line, are built for embedded computing, such as would be found in Panel PCs, point-of-sale or information kiosks, and even digital devices such as set top boxes. These fanless processors eliminate the heat problems that could potentially crash a stand-alone device.
Please visit www.taiwantrade.org.tw or www.taiwaninnovalue.com for more information.
---
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.
www.tsmc.com.tw
+886 3 563 6688
VIA Technologies Inc.
www.via.com.tw
+886 2 2218 5452Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) was founded in 1970 to promote Taiwan¡¦s foreign trade and competitiveness in world markets. Over the past 35 years, TAITRA has played a key role in the development of the Taiwan economy. TAITRA is jointly sponsored by the government and commercial associations and is viewed by all as the business gateway to Taiwan for the international business community.
US Contact:
Sabrina Kor
Taiwan Trade Center in San Francisco
5201 Great America Parkway Suite 306, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (408) 988-5018 Ext: 202, Fax: (408) 988-5029,
E-mail: sabrina.kor@taiwantradesf.org
Taiwan Contact:
Nicolaus Wilk
Tel: 886-2-2722-5369, ext 624
Email: nwilk@golinharris.com
Sawyer to be new anchor?
Sources now report that Diane Sawyer has secured the position of anchor of the nightly ABC network news show at 6:30 p.m. Thisis because newly appointed anchor Bob Woodruff is recuperating from his terrible accident in Iraq. In addition, his co-anchor, Elizabeth Vargas, is pregnant.
Where this leaves Vargas is the remaining question. She could not have foreseen Woodruff's accident, and her pregnancy now is poorly timed. When Sawyer moves to nighttime, it's conceivable (pun intended) that Vargas will move to "Good Morning America." Woodruff, is at the beginning of a long recovery; the chances of his return as full-time anchor are slim to none.
Katie is beaming about the "Today" show's ratings. Usually, "Good Morning America" gets a boost from the Oscars on the Monday after the awards show. But the Oscar ratings were so poor this year that "Today" beat "Good Morning America" by 800,000 viewers on Monday. It was their best ever post-Oscar Monday rating
Women may soon be the anchors on the evening news for two of the four television networks."HOLLYWOOD is spending money to get fewer ticket buyers.”
TV buyers have been spending more on network TV shows for years, while getting fewer viewers.
Everybody is scrambling to keep up, paying more and getting less--with no end in sight.
Theatrical film marketing costs rose 5.2 percent to $36.2 million per picture in 2005.
That's music to the ears of network, cable, and syndication TV sellers, who depend heavily on this seemingly never-ending growing advertising category. Interestingly, that 5.2 percent was the average program price hike that all advertisers paid during last year's TV upfront.
Looking closer should give TV sellers even more pleasant dreams. Movie spending in newspapers dropped significantly, from 19.7 percent in 2004 to just 15.5 percent of total film marketing expenditures in 2005, while television, online and other media showed gains.
Gross film marketing dollars don't have the same story. Overall film marketing dollars were the same last year versus 2004, say the studios. Fewer wide-release movies could be the reason. Another bad movie stat: U.S. ticket sales fell 6 percent and total attendance slipped 9 percent--the third straight year of losses.
Studio media dollars will continue to be used as a springboard in starting TV's upfront ad business. The bigger question is whether enough big tent-pole theatrical features will still deliver massive TV ad revenues--especially during the final weeks of the TV season, when studios push big summer theatrical releases.
As witnessed at the recent Academy Awards, smaller and more modestly produced and marketed movies may be in vogue. Those costs have been rising as well. Studio boutique brands such as NBC Universal's Focus Films and Fox Filmed Entertainment's Fox Searchlight witnessed a 33 percent jump in the marketing money spent on an average movie, up to $15.2 million.
All this might change the TV advertising dynamic a bit, perhaps easing movies' TV ad prices as smaller films replace bigger pictures. So TV sellers shouldn't get too comfortable that their movie studio older brothers will continue to pay TV's big upfront meal tickets
In the fast world of technology, maintaining will have your company in a downward spiral faster than you can say TiVo. Apple, striving to expand their iPod niche market, needs only to look at their own company history to know the perils of sitting on your laurels.
March 09, 2006
Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 9 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
Breaking News: Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
MONTEBUBBLISM: When you put off till tomorrow what should have been done a week ago it often leaves you angry at those trying to tell you it needs to get done.
Two Marines die in Iraq
HAI INTRODUCES LUMINA LIGHTING CONTROL
Consumer Confidence Down But Future Brighter
Maybe people are not as stupid as our government thinks we are: Soft Drink sales are down
MGM Hope to return its glory days.
Airman Lost In 1942 Crash Is Identified
Google to pay big time
DOD Announces Marine deaths
News: Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
March 11, 2006 Fresno Convention Center comes to the rescue to “Hip Hop for Hunger”, originally designed to benefit Visalia Emergency Aid. Re-venued, from 7- 11 pm for 4 hours, of non-stop Hip Hop and R & B, the artists hope to make a difference
The Visalia Police Department was concerned about potential violence and suggested there might be problems if “Hip Hop for Hunger” happened. Visalia Emergency Aid withdrew as beneficiary of the concert. Reel-Talk Entertainment was featuring up-and-coming Hip Hop and R & B artists focused on creating a positive image for Hip Hop while raising funds to prevent homelessness and care for the local needy.When Visalia Emergency Aid came to Bonnie Thompson, founder and CEO of Reel-Talk Entertainment, requesting her to help them with a fund-raiser for the community she couldn’t resist. Ms. Thompson, a single mother who relocated from the Bay Area to Visalia after her back was injured, had once struggled to avoid homelessness in the 80s, and had recently completed construction of a state-of the-art recording studio in Visalia. As far as Thompson knows, there has never been a Hip Hop benefit concert for the sole purpose of raising awareness to the struggle that the working poor face everyday.
When word got out this was a charity event with a mission, artists from diverse backgrounds from all over the country wanted to perform at “Hip Hop for Hunger” said Thompson. Over 20 Hip Hop and R & B artists are performing. E-40, from Vallejo known as the Bay Area Ambassador, and a legend in Hip Hop from the 90s, is the headliner. MTV planned on airing a special on E-40 just after the event. Other artists that are planned to be there, as of flyers printing, include: Blac Da Rippa, Sole Profit (recently signed with Sony/BMG and a Fresno State graduate), and Quay. There’s even a Hip Hop classical violinist opening a musical production called “Air Raid” and a collaboration of Reel-Talk artists, produced by “Phoenix” a Masters Degree in Music Arts student at Fresno State, with the theme song “What Would You Do?”
Three months later and rumored to be upwards of over $40,000 invested, Thompson had the rug pulled out from beneath her 10 days before “Hip Hop for Hunger” was to occur. In an email from Charlie Wolf, the Director of Fund Development of Visalia Emergency Council, on March 1, “Please pull all mentions of Visalia Emergency Aid to the benefit concert. Due to concerns of potential violence that would be reflected on VEAC, Visalia Emergency Aid Council must withdraw as beneficiary of this benefit. Any financial considerations such as remaining schedule must be cancelled. Please remove or enhance all poster or flyers that reference VEAC. Fees related to talent or live broadast may be refunded as they are no longer under consideration. Any business in association with Reel-Talk Entertainment must be handled directly with Reel-Talk CEO Bonnie Thompson.”
“This is more of a George Strait area…It’s a little more of a redneck audience.” Interim Visalia Police Chief Bob Williams was quoted. Due to his research, there were concerns of possibilities of potential gang violence from E-40 attendees, even though the promotional flyer stated No Alcohol. Unfortunately, as was seen in the case of an all day Punk Rock concert in San Bernardino, with “British Invasion 2K6” , a riot broke out this past Saturday. Greg Hoffman, the Program Director of B-95, a local radio station, has held 5 events with E-40 without incident.
Fast forward a few days and Thompson has miraculously pulled a rabbit out of the hat with rescheduling at the Fresno Convention Center. Meanwhile, obvious costs have increased, even from the headliner band. Hoping that costs may be recouped, Thompson’s intended beneficiary is the Poverello House in Fresno. The Poverello House, a well known local charity is a private, nonprofit, denominational organization that has been serving the hungry and homeless of our community since 1973. Unfortunately for Visalia, the original benefiting community, is part of Tulare County. According to the Visalia Emergency Aid website (www.veac.org), Tulare County is the 8th ranked worst county in the United States with 33.2% of children under 18 years old living in poverty.
In discussing the artists’ reaction, “They are speechless. They are astounded that a growing community in such need would reject help. They’re going on to Fresno and are going to do a show that will make Visalia proud” shared Thompson with MBN in a telephone interview. “I’m just praying for a successful show to show Visalia that it really can be done.”
Two Marines die in Iraq
Two Marines assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group were killed in Anbar province, Iraq, March 7 and 8, military officials in Iraq reported.
No further details were available. Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Defense Department recently released the names of three servicemembers killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Army Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, March 5, when a roadside bomb detonated. Jessen was assigned to the 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.- Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Anbar province. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.- Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne P.R. Lewis, 26, of New York City, died in Baghdad Feb. 27 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol. Lewis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
HAI INTRODUCES LUMINA LIGHTING CONTROL
Utilizing Universal Powerline Bus (UPB™) Technology, Lumina Offers an Affordable, Sophisticated Lighting Controller that is Simple to Operate and Install.
Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), the premier manufacturer of home control products since 1985, introduces Lumina; a sophisticated affordable central lighting and control system. The Lumina whole house lighting control system offers all of the options and amenities that consumers desire,
while maintaining a price point that most can afford.
Lumina allows for the setting of elegant lighting scenes throughout the home, with the ability to preset “modes” for each room that can be scheduled (according to sunrise/sunset, motion, or event) or controlled manually with the push of a button. Create a gentle light for morning in
your kitchen, low lights for movie viewing in your home theater, night lights for a nightcap by the fireplace or “all off” for when your day is done. Lumina's mode controller goes by the entry door so you can simply tap Home, Away, Party, Sleep, Special or Vacation to set lighting appropriately for convenience and energy savings.
Installation is easy: replace existing light switches with HAI's full selection of switches and dimmers, then mount the Lumina controller on a wall and plug it in. Set it up using the included LCD keypad/console and you're ready to go. HAI includes the transformer and back up battery for a complete kit.
Lumina is available in two versions: the Lumina, capable of 8 rooms and 64 loads, and the Lumina Pro, capable of 31 rooms and 217 loads. Each has built-in Ethernet port and three serial ports for easy expansion. Because Lumina is based on HAI's award winning controllers, customers can expand their Lumina's connectivity with HAI options such as Telephone Access with voice menus, Web-Link II (for internet control), Home Control for Windows Media Center (for control with a single remote), HAI thermostats and temperature sensors (for energy management), HAI Wireless door and motion sensors for lighting control and numerous other accessories. Lumina Pro also supports multi-room audio systems.
Lumina has a built in astronomical clock for sunrise and sunset calculations and automatic daylight savings time adjustment, ensuring accurate dusk to dawn lighting control year round.
“With our Lumina product, we're making lighting control accessible to a wider base of individuals by keeping costs low and making the installation and operation of the control system uncomplicated” said Jay McLellan, CEO and Founder of HAI. “Now, anyone can enjoy the beauty and convenience of home lighting control”.
Lumina is ideal for new or retrofit construction, as it uses Universal Powerline Bus (UPB™) , the most advanced digital communication standard available to transmit commands over existing standard electrical wires. UPB is a digital power line communications standard for lighting and
home control that has been used in commercial environments since 2001. It has been extensively tested and researched in residential environments and found to be 99.9 percent reliable. Lumina can also operate lighting devices by other manufacturers, including X-10 based devices, ALC
and others.
Lumina and Lumina Pro are shipping now. For more information please visit www.homeauto.com or call 800-229-7256. For a high resolution picture of this product, please follow this link,
http://www.homeauto.com/mediacenter/haiprimage.asp?image=LuminaPropackageRev.tif
About HAI: HAI is a privately held manufacturer of integrated automation and security products for residential and commercial use based in New Orleans, LA. Incorporated in 1985, HAI has developed a full line of award-winning automation products, including automation controllers,
communicating programmable thermostats, smart light switches, and software that allows access and control of an automation system over the Internet. All products are sold through HAI's worldwide network of Distribution Partners and installed by over 1000 trained dealers.
Consumer Confidence Down But Future Brighter
The February BIGresearch Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey finds that consumer confidence declines three points from last month yet the 90 day outlook brightens as all categories improve from January and fewer consumers contend they've become more practical in the last 6 months.
Some of the leading projection categories provide clues about the consumer marketplace immediate future:
Confidence in chances for a strong economy declines 44.3%...also down from '05 (47.7%) and '04 (49.4%)
Those concerned about political and national security issues rise in February to 18.2%, compared to 16.4% last month, though relatively even with '05 (18.0%)
Fewer consumers have become more practical in the last 6 months, now at 42.2% (down from 44.6% last month), thought an increase from last year (39.2%)
The majority of consumers say they focus more on needs over wants in purchases (51.5%), relatively flat from January (51.8%) and an increase from '05 (47.4%)
Considering the personal and financial attitudes of the consumer:
42.8% expect "more" layoffs over the next 6 months (up from 34.4% last month), while those concerned with becoming laid off themselves rises slightly from 4.7% in January to 4.9%
More plan to "pay down debt" (43.5%) over the next three months, compared to last month (42.3%), though fewer contend they'll pay with cash more often (24.4%) and decrease overall spending (31.5%)
Last month, 31.4% said gas prices were having "no major impact" on spending, compared to 29.9% this month. In February '05, 48.4% cited "no major impact."
And with regards to retail plans for consumers:
38.6% say familiar fashion labels are important, up from 35.9% in '05
72.1% say price is the driving force behind their preference to shop a particular store for Electronics, followed by selection (57.2%), location (46.2%), quality (38.6%), and service (27.6%)
Those in the 25-44 year old age range spent about 5% more than the average for major electronics in the last 12 months, but about twice the monthly average on smaller items like CDs, DVDs, and flash memory
Find more information about the BIG Executive Briefing here.
Maybe people are not as stupid as our government thinks we are: Soft Drink sales are downSales volume of carbonated soft drinks across retail, vending and fountain channels fell last year for the first time in two decades. According to Beverage Digest, volume slid 0.2% -- and if it hadn’t factored in energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster -- carbonated beverage volume would have tumbled even further, 0.7%.
“The carbonated soft drink business in the U.S. has basic fundamental problems,” said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest. “This is the first generation of children that are going to grow up not viewing soft drinks as the ultimate treat. They’re growing up on things like sports drinks, water and noncarbonated drinks. As these little kids move into late teens and early adulthood, their drinking habits are going to be different than past generations.”
Trends so far this year appear to continue the downward slide, said Bill Pecoriello, beverage analyst for Morgan Stanley. He estimates the category will slip at rate of 1% over the next few years. Increase in overall revenue
Though volume fell, sales in the $70 billion category grew 3.3%, mostly on price increases for regular and diet drinks and on premium pricing for energy drinks.
Even diet drinks have taken a hit, as sales have slammed on the brakes since the beginning of 2004, according to Information Resources Inc. data. Volume gains in diet carbonated soft drinks have steadily dropped to a 6% decline during the fourth quarter of 2005 from a volume gain of 8% during late 2004.
“Consumers say they don’t like the taste, are worried about artificial sweeteners and don’t view diet carbonated soft drinks as ‘healthy,’” Mr. Pecoriello wrote, citing Morgan Stanley research that showed 64% of water growth is coming from carbonated soft drinks.
“The rules for success in the soft-drink industry are changing rapidly,” he wrote in a note today to investors. Carbonated soft drinks “continue to lose their positive image as a popular, versatile, fun beverage choice as consumers are cutting back on sugar, drinking more water and watching calories.” Citing Morgan Stanley’s own consumer research, Mr. Pecoriello pointed to the growing mountain of articles linking sodas with obesity. Schweppes, Mountain Dew make gains.
There were some winners, however. Of the top three soft-drink marketers, Cadbury Schweppes grew its volume by 0.6% in contrast to leader Coca-Cola Co., down 0.1%, and Pepsi-Cola Co., down 1.2%. Among the top five brands, Coke Classic dropped 2%, Pepsi-Cola slid 3.2%, Diet Coke slipped 0.1% and Diet Pepsi 1.9%. No. 4 brand Mountain Dew grew 1.8%.
MGM Hope to return its glory days.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, hoping to return to its glory days as a Hollywood powerhouse, today hired Palisades Media Group to handle media buying and planning for MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution division.
Billings were undisclosed, but estimates run as high as $100 million. MGM is the second movie maker to move its account to Palisades since August, when it won the $150 million media-buying account for Weinstein Co.
At a news conference today, MGM unveiled plans to distribute close to 20 films from Weinstein Co. and a number of other independent film companies. (Weinstein Co. was founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who left Walt Disney Co. last year. The brothers are best-known as the founders of Miramax, which they sold to Disney a decade ago.)
At a news conference today, MGM unveiled plans to distribute close to 20 films from Weinstein Co. and a number of other independent film companies. (Weinstein Co. was founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who left Walt Disney Co. last year. The brothers are best-known as the founders of Miramax, which they sold to Disney a decade ago.) Harry Sloan, MGM Chairman since late last year, has plans to return the roar to the iconic MGM lion by beefing up the company’s domestic theatrical distribution business.
MGM spent $88.6 million in measured media last year and $113.2 million in 2004, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
Airman Lost In 1942 Crash Is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. Army Air Forces airman, missing since 1942, have been identified and will soon be returned to his family for burial.
He is Aviation Cadet Leo Mustonen, 22, of Brainerd, Minn. The family has not set a date for his burial.
Mustonen was one of four men aboard a routine navigation training flight that departed Mather Field, Calif., on Nov. 18, 1942. Their AT-7 Navigator aircraft carried about five hours of fuel, and when the plane did not return to base, a search was initiated. It was suspended about a
month later with no results.
In 1947, several hikers on Darwin Glacier in the Sierra Nevada mountain range discovered the aircraft wreckage. Human remains of three of the crew found at the site were buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif.
Several other hikers on Mendel Glacier, which is adjacent to Darwin Glacier, discovered frozen human remains, circumstantial evidence and personal effects in October 2005. Park rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and a forensic anthropologist from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recovered the remains, which were later shipped to the
JPAC laboratory in Hawaii.
Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA as one of the forensic tools in the process. U.S. Army casualty and mortuary officials located and briefed representatives of the families of all four crewmen.
Google agreed to pay up to $90 million
Google agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle a lawsuit filed against it and other internet companies claiming they conspired with their advertising partners to overcharge for online ads. The money will go to advertising credits and legal fees for the plaintiffs. A judge must still approve the settlement. The lawsuit was originally filed in Miller County, Ark. in February 2005.
The plaintiffs are Lane's Gifts & Collectibles, a store in Texarkana, Ark., and Max Caulfield, a Florida private investigator. They allege that internet search companies, including Google and Yahoo, charged them for illegitimate clicks on ads. Google and other internet companies base advertisers' fees on the number of times internet users click on their ads that appear next to search results and other content.
Competitors or others seeking to make mischief can click on the ads manually or generate software programs to automatically click on them to inflate charges for the advertisers. Under terms of the settlement, any advertiser that can show it was improperly charged for ads going back to 2002 can receive a credit for future ads on Google. It currently requires companies to file claims for illegitimate ads within 60 days.
The settlement would enable Google to avoid disclosing more about its ad system and anti-fraud methods in court. Yahoo said yesterday that it plans to contest the suit.
DOD Announces Marine deaths
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cpl. Adam O. Zanutto, 26, of Caliente, Calif., died March 6 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from wounds received as a result of an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, Iraq on Feb. 25. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gunnery Sgt. Justin R. Martone, 31, of Bedford, Va. Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas Martone died March 7 and Fry died March 8 from improvised explosive devices in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Martone was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. Fry was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
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March 08, 2006
Cell Phone Radiation
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 8 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: When you win because the other contestants don’t show up it is still a victory
Cell Phone Radiation Studied on Human Skin by Finns Can Verizon Wireless save TiVo?
New FUSION™ Series mounts
PGA Tour Tip
The telephone companies getting into TV again?
Problems selling ads on cellphone
NHL Games Tanking on TV
Gefen Introduces HDTV Over CAT-5 Extension Solutions
Cingular leaps into race
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Cell Phone Radiation Studied on Human Skin by Finns By Joyce Chow Finland’s radiation and nuclear safety watchdog, will be studying the effects of mobile phones on human proteins by direct tests on people’s skin, to see if handset transmission affect their health. Once a concern, affects of radiation from cell phone usage has dwindled.
STUK, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland regulates the use of radiation and nuclear energy and carries out research on radiation and its effects and monitor radiation safety. Finland is also home to global cell phone manufacturer, Nokia.
STUK’s Research Professor and head of the laboratory of radiation biology, Dariusz Leszczynski has also been invited by SNF, the Swiss National Science Foundation, to join the Steering Committee of a research program on mobile phone radiation. SNF is currently running 15 programs, among them the programm on non-ionizing radiation, which will be focused on the effects of mobile phone radiation. The 4 year program is budgeted at 3.3 million
On Friday, Leszczynksi said “a pilot study, to be conducted next week, will expose a small area of skin on volunteers' arms to cellphone radiation for the duration of a long phone call, or for one hour. Researchers will then take a skin sample to study and compare with one taken before the radiation exposure.” "Cells function in a different way when they are in the body than in laboratory surroundings. Now we want to confirm whether radiation causes cell level changes in humans as well," he said.
The results of the study are due by the end of the year, and Leszczynski's team hopes to show if radiation has any impact on the body's natural barrier that prevents toxins and other dangerous proteins that might be in the bloodstream from reaching brain cells.
Some researchers suspect brain cancer has become more common as a result of cellphone use, but there is no clear evidence to support that, Leszczynski said.
Can Verizon Wireless save TiVo? By Joyce ChowTiVo, now since you’re trying to get back into the game, it may be too late.
TiVo Inc. and Verizon Wireless announced today an agreement that will allow TiVo subscribers to remotely schedule television recording using a Verizon mobile phone. The new service, called TiVo Mobile, will debut later this year. Pricing is unknown at this time.
In January, Yahoo! Chairman and CEO Terry Semel, announced the Yahoo! Go service, which would allow programming of your television through your cell phone. He was joined by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for the announcement at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The wireless company in partnership with them is Cingular Wireless.
TiVo, is still the best known brand among DVRs, which can pause live TV and skip commercials, but it faces increased competition from rival devices provided by cable operators. To combat that challenge, TiVo has worked to add unique features such as the ability to move recorded shows to portable devices. TiVo’s earlier plan to allow users to watch targeted advertisements, has been mute as of late.
New FUSION™ Series mounts ChiefÆ Manufacturing, the industry leader in mounting solutions, introduces the new FUSION™ Series mounts for Small Flat Panel TVs. The FUSION line offers custom and universal mounting solutions with high functionality and low-profile designs.
The addition of the FSR and FTR completes the FUSION Series, which now offers fixed and tilt mounting solutions for small, medium and large flat panel TVs. All FUSION Series mounts feature Chief’s Q-Latch Mounting System for increased security, and easy screen placement and removal.
FSR Fixed Wall Mount (10”-26” displays)
The new FUSION FSR Fixed Wall Mount is designed to provide ultra low-profile installation and built-in security. The FSR includes Chief’s Q-Latch Mounting System for portrait and landscape installations. Available in custom or universal. Weight capacity: 50 lbs.
FTR Tilt Wall Mount (10”-26” displays)
The new FTR Tilt Wall Mount features smooth, fingertip tilt adjustments without tools, and a low-profile depth of less than 2”. The FTR provides fast installation and built-in security with multiple installation options and portrait/landscape mounting. Available in custom or universal. Weight capacity: 50 lbs.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus Audio Visual, has more than 28 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful customer service.
U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands. www.chiefmfg.com. PGA TOUR TIP
There are 22 countries represented among the Top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The U.S. far and away leads the pack with 40 players, but Australia has 13 and England 10 to lead the international contingent.
The telephone companies getting into TV again?
Cable operators think so and are on the warpath again concerned about the new merger of AT&T and Bell South. They are being attacked by satellite companies on one side and now,telephone companieson the other. They are scared the new AT&T is on the verge of putting back the old monopoly AT&T.
AT&T is already bigger than the biggest cable companies, and the new company's market capitalization will be more than the entire cable industry combined. Canble companies have warned that new IPTV technologies from AT&T, Verizon, and others will give them a stranglehold on video business--similar to what they had with the phone business up to the late 1970s, before the government broke up AT&T.
Bell Atlantic at one time was going to take over video content with its proposed merger with the large cable system operator, Tele-Communications Inc.? In October 1993, Bell Atlantic said it planned to develop a full-fledged fiber distribution network, in the wake of its proposed $30 billion acquisition of Tele-Communications Inc. The deal fell apart.
Then five years later, in 1998, another telco-cable deal stuck--sort of. AT&T bought the Tele-Communications, a deal valued at just short of $50 billion. Then AT&T was supposed to rule the video world. But it got out of the business because AT&T couldn't figure out cable's complex and sludgy financial scale--cable systems still being more a regional business than the national one that AT&T knows.
The lesson learned here is to look at media mergers in the same way one observes new consumer media technologies. In the 1980s, VCRs were supposed to rule the media world and make network programming schedules obsolete, putting the then-big network programming chiefs--Brandon Stoddard at ABC, Brandon Tartikoff at NBC and Kim LeMasters at CBS--out of business. That never happened either.
In 90s, AT&T and other big bell companies had similar opportunities with assets and cable holdings to leapfrog over other longtime media companies and truly dominate video and the pipes in which they ran.
People have hung up on the bells before. With little track record, and slow IPTV development and rollout for these companies, this smells like the past all over again. The cards are in place for another massive disconnect.
Problems selling ads on cellphones Despite the glowing predictions of the wireless industry, advertising and cellphone-based content distribution do not appear to be jelling well yet. The latest big wireless content plays are exclusively subscription based and fear of consumer backlash is one of the reasons for that.
The problem is facing media companies looking to capitalize on their archives via wireless platforms. Despite marketers’ obvious interest in mobile ad options, and a host of smaller players in the space making bold pronouncements for the future of cellphone marketing, the advertisers are nowhere in sight and not on new services from Fox Corp. and CBS Corp.
Fox Mobile Entertainment is launching global phone-content company Mobizzo, offering premium content at $5.99 a month, while CBS is rolling out two news products, “CBS News to Go” and Entertainment Tonight branded “ET to Go,” priced respectively at 99¢ cents and $3.99 a month
There are about 200 million cellphone users in the U.S., but only around 4 million are video-equipped, and marketers have yet to strike out and do for mobile what BMW Films did for the online in 2001.
Cyriac Roeding, VP-wireless at CBS, said advertisers aren’t involved in the subscription-video products yet because “we’re creating a lot of things on the sly and advertisers need a lot longer lead time. It’s about getting the two development cycles aligned.”
Besides the news alerts, the Eye Network has other projects in development, including a mobile soap opera and an online shop where subscribers can buy wallpaper and ringtones. Both offer the potential for ad involvement, according to Mr. Roeding.
Aa survey by Airwide Solutions, a mobile software company, suggests that there’s a huge appetite among marketers to get connected to cellphones, given their very personal nature. The survey, published Feb. 27, claims that 89% of major brands are planning to market via mobile phones by 2008, and more than half of brands plan to spend between 5% and 25% of their marketing budget in the medium in the next five years.
Tim Hanlon, senior VP-ventures at Denuo, the media-futures practice at Publicis Groupe, agrees that eventually advertisers will play a bigger role in the wireless universe once consumers start feeling “digital sticker shock,” as they add up all the seemingly small charges for new content. When that point arrives, he said, “judicious ad messaging could and should have a role.”
A number of commentators feel that wireless carriers are standing in the way of progress and suggest that carriers want to protect a pricing model that favors subscriptions over a wide array of free ad-supported content that cuts them out of the revenue picture.
“Carriers are in danger of replicating the arrogance and ignorance of cable operators when it comes to video on demand,” said Mr. Hanlon
NHL Games Tanking on TV How to market the games is the dilemma faced by new NHL Chief Marketing Officer Michael LaBroad, named last week to oversee planning, advertising, promotions, creative services and fan development as the league fends off a potential gambling scandal. Most recently CMO at Bass Pro Shops, Mr. LaBroad spent 23 years at Anheuser-Busch Cos., including time as senior VP-chief marketing officer at Busch Entertainment -- a stint he says will help him better market the league to families. And get them back watching. Although Nielsen Media Research figures show the 21% drop, to be fair, NBC has had only four telecasts so far this season. On Comcast’s OLN, the league’s new cable partner, ratings are flat with that of ESPN2 two years ago, but are down more than 60% from games on ESPN in the 2003-04 season.
Interest is so low that one national TV writer quipped in a syndicated column that OLN no longer uses Nielsen ratings for games; it simply asks viewers to sign in to its guest book. loyal fans
Mr. LaBroad said his initial thought to increase viewership is to tap into NHL players themselves in marketing campaigns. “NHL players are people like you and me,” he said. “They’re relatable and they’re humble. We need to get them in front of the public more. It allows people to build a connection to the individual.”
Ed Horne, president of NHL Enterprises, acknowledged that the NHL has a viewership problem, but said, “Our objective this season was to bring back the fan that stuck with us. They’ve come back, and it’s been remarkable.”
Mr. LaBroad may also have to confront a potential gambling scandal. Just days before the NHL took a two-week break to allow its players to compete in the Olympics last month, federal investigators said Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach and former NHL star Rick Tocchet spearheaded a nationwide sports-betting ring. Gamblers allegedly include actress Janet Jones, the wife of Coyotes head coach and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, and at least a half-dozen former and current NHL players.
The league has been proactive in aiding the investigation, and has also hired former federal prosecutor Robert Cleary to conduct its own investigation. Commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy commissioner “have been very clear and very swift about this,” said league spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur.
Gefen Introduces HDTV Over CAT-5 Extension Solutions
Though Gefen has been supplying DVI and HDMI over CAT-5 cable extension
solutions for a while now, two new models are being introduced at NSCA.
The DVI-CAT5 Extreme and the HDMI-CAT5 Extreme offer enhanced features
that provide greater support for even the most challenging HD video
installations.
Upgraded chip technologies inside the sender and receiver units of each
makes the system more tolerant of CAT-5 cable skew variations,
especially noticeable at distances over 100 feet, and better able to function
in “patch bay” scenarios.
Gefen’s CAT-5 extension solutions have always supported HD video up to
1080p, but the DVI-CAT5 Extreme and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme support HD
resolutions up to 2048x1080—a leap that benefits both digital HD home
entertainment and computer systems with a more stable output at these higher
levels.
Up to 150 feet at 165MHz is achieved with better regulated power
consumption, and up to 200 feet can be reached with both the DVI-CAT5 Extreme
and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme at resolutions up to 1080i.
EMI protection is also improved, allowing both units to function
optimally in more challenging environments, such as those found in the
medical and security industries.
Gefen’s DVI-CAT5 Extreme and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme solutions will retain
the pricing of $499 each, and are expected to begin shipping in March.
For more information:
Linda Morgan
linda@gefen.com
610.436.4759
Cingular leaps into race
Cingular leaps into a race already started by Verizon Wireless to offer its own brand of video content on cellphones. At the moment, neither the Verizon Wireless plan nor the new Cingular plan sells advertising into the mobile video content.
Sprint operates its TV service via a MobiTV channel under the name Sprint PowerVision. Cingular also offers its subscribers a service from MobiTV, an independent company whose service allows for advertising. Cingular now will also have its own Cingular-branded channel, at the moment ad free, in addition to its MobiTV channel.
Two tiers is a model Verizon may soon adopt. Verizon Wireless’ chief marketing officer, John Stratton, said at Advertising Age’s Madison & Vine conference that he has considered offering subscribers a two-tier video service, one without ads and a second lower-priced, ad-supported offering.
Ads running on MobiTV's live programming reflect ads airing on live TV. In addition, MobiTV offers the equivalent of cable TV’s local ad slots. A number of marketers have signed up with MobiTV, including Gemeral Motor Corp.'s Jeep, Unilever's Axe and Nokia. Most recently, Visa became a MobiTV sponsor. American Express, meanwhile, kicked off its MobiTV buy around the Oscars with ads on MobiTV’s live content, as well as two longer spots that ran on MobiTV’s made for mobile programming.
Cingular Video will include clips from an assortment of content providers, including ABC trailers of the network's hit shows “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost”; Cartoon Network’s “The Powerpuff Girls”; Adult Swim’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” on Comedy Central; news content from CNN and Fox; and extensive local-weather information. It also is offering HBO Mobile content for $4.99 a month and HBO Family Mobile content for $2.99 a month. Music video clips, from Music Choice, will be available on a pay-per-view basis for 24 hours.
In marketing the service, Cingular is taking the tack that it is the most personalized of all the wireless service companies' offerings, allowing for a personalized home page with links to three favorite video sites as well as local weather information. The service will roll out nationally, starting with 16 markets, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, San Diego and Seattle.
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an America Supports You member, at the U.S. Navy Memorial here yesterday evening.
The speedway was recognized as one of the first corporate sponsors to join America Supports You, a Defense Department initiative facilitating grassroots and corporate support for America's troops and their families.
"I'm here on behalf of the secretary of defense to present the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an award that signifies the importance of when corporations and communities reach out and support our military members and their families," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of
defense for public affairs. "We're thrilled to be here tonight to highlight the long tradition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and their support for our military."
The speedway, which joined America Supports You in May 2005, has several programs that offer public recognition for the troops, Barber said. Those programs include a memorial service in downtown Indianapolis each year before the Indy 500 and a ceremony swearing-in military recruits
during its Armed Forces Day. Before the big race in 1999, the speedway hosted a gathering of Medal of Honor recipients.
"It's not about the war; it's not about the policy," Barber said. "It's about the people."
Joie Chitwood, the speedway's president and chief operating officer, accepted the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
"On behalf of the (speedway's owners), it's an honor to be here tonight and to accept this recognition," Chitwood said. "We have a unique event that is specifically tied in to Memorial Day weekend. ... It only makes the greatest spectacle in racing that much more special."
Veteran auto race sportscaster Bob Jenkins served as master of ceremonies for the ceremony.
"I'm very, very honored to be here tonight in this facility and in this city," Jenkins said. "You cannot come to this city without the realization that this is the seat of American government, and you can't come here without feeling a little patriotic, especially in a building such as this."
Jenkins invited the crowd to stand and face the American flag and pledge allegiance to it. Later, he called on members of the crowd to ask questions to a panel of famous Indy car drivers, including:
- Johnny Rutherford, three-time Indy 500 winner in the 1970s;
- Janet Guthrie, the first woman to drive in the race, in 1977;
- Michael Andretti, who came out of retirement to race with his son this year;
- Marco Andretti, Michael's 19-year-old son, who will drive in the race for the first time in May;
- Helio Castroneves, from Sao Paolo, Brazil, winner of both the 2001 and 2002 races; and
- Dan Wheldon, a native of Emberton, England, who won the race in 2005.
The drivers answered questions about safety issues, their favorite driving moments, the Indy 500's history, their opinions of other drivers, and what it's like to be part of an event with such close military ties.
"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has always strongly supported our troops, and we're doing the same," Wheldon said. "I think no matter which beliefs people have, we would like to show our support to the troops."
The Indianapolis 500 will run for the 90th time Sunday, May 28th.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Dwayne P. R. Lewis, 26, of New York City, died in Baghdad,
Iraq on Feb. 27, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire
during a dismounted patrol. Lewis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd
Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum,N.Y.
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March 07, 2006
Army Casualty In Iraq
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 7 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Playing in the dirt is fun till you have to get a bath.
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
Among the series gaining the go-ahead for future episodes were last season’s newcomers “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “How I Met Your Mother.” CBS did not give any news yet on sibling freshman shows “Close to Home” and “Out of Practice.”
The renewals account for 13 hours of CBS’s schedule, which also includes the reality show “The Amazing Race” and a slew of the network's successful procedural dramas, such as “Cold Case,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (and its two spin-offs), “NCIS,” “Numbers” and “Without a Trace.” Also renewed are the long-lived Sunday news program “60 Minutes,” reality blockbuster “Survivor” and the Charlie Sheen sitcom “Two and a Half Men.”
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
Broadcast networks like ABC are selling some of their most popular shows on Apple’s iTunes for $1.99, but a new study finds that most consumers would be willing to watch an ad if the sponsor picked up the cost of the show.
And if that model becomes the standard, more would be interested in buying a video iPod.
The survey, which explored video iPods, found that 54% of respondents would be more likely to purchase an iPod if TV programs could be downloaded free of charge in exchange for watching a 30-second advertisement.
Among those actually planning to purchase a video iPod, 72% said they would be more likely to download a TV program in exchange for watching an ad. The Magid study surveyed 798 iPod owners between the ages of 12 and 55. Market research firm Frank N. Magid Associates conducted the study.
“It appears that the option to download content of choice for free will dramatically increase interest in purchasing a video iPod, thus potentially increasing video iPod sales and penetration,” the study concluded.
Some free TV content exists on iTunes. The pilot episode of NBC’s “Conviction,” for example, was available for free a week before its first airing.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, on March 5, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Jessen was assigned to the Army's 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Restoration of the flood protection system in New Orleans is on track and by June 1 will be equal to or better than it was before Hurricane Katrina, the Army general in charge of the program said here yesterday. To date, 100 of the 169 damaged miles of levee have been repaired, and 85 percent of pumping capacity is restored, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, commander and chief of engineers, Army Corps of Engineers, said at a White House news conference. In meeting President Bush's June 1 commitment, the Corps of Engineers will restore all damaged levees and floodwalls and will put three temporary closures on canals that presented problems during Katrina, Strock said. Also, the Canal at 17th Street, the Canal at Orleans and the London Avenue Canal will all have closures to prevent the storm surge of a future weather event from getting into vulnerable areas, he said. By September 2007, the entire flood protection system around the New Orleans area will be up to its full and authorized design levels, Strock said. "I say that and make that distinction because pre-Katrina, some of the system was not at its full authorized design, so we'll complete the construction of that," he added. During the rebuilding process, 91 percent of contracts have gone to local firms, providing about $770 million of work, Strock said. "We see this not only as a way to help set the conditions for the physical recovery of New Orleans, but also to help create some economic opportunities for local businesses," he said. By December 2007, the Corps of Engineers will have completed its study of what is required to give the ultimate protection level to New Orleans, Strock said. This study will give officials a good idea of what needs to be done in the future to protect the city, he said. Strock challenged media reports about poor construction standards and materials, and said that the Corps of Engineers is doing the right thing in New Orleans. "We are using the right material, and we're putting it down in the right way," he said. "We're giving tremendous scrutiny into not only how we do this, but also into the results after the fact. So we're doing extensive testing of the in-place structures to ensure that they are up to standard." The Corps of Engineers is now determining whether to replace many of the city's undamaged floodwalls with more structurally stable walls and is considering using a navigable flood-control structure to isolate the Inner Harbor, Strock said. As the June 1 start of the next hurricane season approaches, military and government officials are committed to the safety of the people of New Orleans, Strock said. "The people of the Corps of Engineers and our partners down there in the area are working very hard to ensure that we reduce the vulnerabilities to the people to the very highest degree we can, and that any remaining vulnerabilities are clearly understood by the people as they make decisions on when and how to reoccupy the city," he said.
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Philips Electronics and its agency, Omnicom’s DDB, New York, came up with a great idea recently. Why not do something that its audience will really appreciate? The idea was to buy the four minutes of screen time that cinemas usually sell to advertisers and run a 15-second spot that told the audience Philips was helping the movie start sooner. Only problem was Screenvision, seller of cinema ads, wouldn’t let them do it.
Screenvision didn't like that a big-screen ad was poking fun at movie advertising
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Hollywood, as evidenced by the Oscar show’s relentless promotion of seeing movies the old-fashion way on the big screen, has been fighting new distribution methods for its wares fiercely for some time now. It’s probably the last place that will willingly give up control of its distribution.
Philips and DDB have given up on the idea for now, but we hope they try again. It definitely seems like an idea that has legs in an on-demand world. Broadband video and video on demand will pave the way for TV programs to switch to a sponsor-like model much faster. And the more marketers and agencies that figure out how to reach consumers in a way that makes them grateful for their participation are the ones that will win.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Time Warner Inc.'s AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site by the middle of this The market for online media is booming after Apple Computer Inc. began offering shows for sale on its popular iTunes digital music and videos service last year.
The expansion of AOL's video service, which will combine free and pay-per-download shows from established programmers and user-created video clips, aims to address complaints about the rigid pricing structure and the mix of available programing on iTunes.
It also puts the Dulles, Virginia unit in competition with Yahoo Inc., which this week said it planned to scale back on creating original programing, and Google Inc..
The service will sell Time Warner-owned shows and those created by other programmers and networks, the company said, declining to name partners.
The video store will appear gradually and is a part of a redesign of an existing video on-demand service on AOL.com, its free Web site.
Ahead of the revamped video offering, AOL will this month introduce In2TV, a site that will carry more than 4,800 free vintage TV shows, mostly from the Warner Brothers archive.
The expanded service is also likely to sell videos on a subscription basis as early as next year to complement its pay- per-download and free video service.
The shows can be viewed on PCs and other devices in the home, using Intel Corp.'s Viiv technology. It will also be viewable on portable media players that use Microsoft Corp. software.
The business model AOL plans to employ and said it would face stiff competition against lower cost alternatives, such as EchoStar System Corp.'s PocketDish system.
The PocketDish lets viewers move recorded shows from their living room digital video recorders to a portable media device.
AOL's plans to sell videos is part of a broader plan this year to make playing and searching for online videos a cornerstone to the company's turnaround.
In December, it purchased video search engine technology firm Truveo, which uses a technology it calls "Visual Crawling" to locate video files and information on Web pages, finding video text-based search engines miss.
"AOL plans to share its technology with Google, as part of an earlier deal in which Google pledged to take a 5 percent stake in AOL.
AOL has spent the last few years offering more of its programing for free to boost online advertising as its dial-up modem access is in decline. It currently has about 19.5 million subscribers, down from a high of about 26 million in 2002.
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 7 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Playing in the dirt is fun till you have to get a bath.
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Can Verizon save TiVo?
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
Among the series gaining the go-ahead for future episodes were last season’s newcomers “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “How I Met Your Mother.” CBS did not give any news yet on sibling freshman shows “Close to Home” and “Out of Practice.”
The renewals account for 13 hours of CBS’s schedule, which also includes the reality show “The Amazing Race” and a slew of the network's successful procedural dramas, such as “Cold Case,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (and its two spin-offs), “NCIS,” “Numbers” and “Without a Trace.” Also renewed are the long-lived Sunday news program “60 Minutes,” reality blockbuster “Survivor” and the Charlie Sheen sitcom “Two and a Half Men.”
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
Broadcast networks like ABC are selling some of their most popular shows on Apple’s iTunes for $1.99, but a new study finds that most consumers would be willing to watch an ad if the sponsor picked up the cost of the show.
And if that model becomes the standard, more would be interested in buying a video iPod.
The survey, which explored video iPods, found that 54% of respondents would be more likely to purchase an iPod if TV programs could be downloaded free of charge in exchange for watching a 30-second advertisement.
Among those actually planning to purchase a video iPod, 72% said they would be more likely to download a TV program in exchange for watching an ad. The Magid study surveyed 798 iPod owners between the ages of 12 and 55. Market research firm Frank N. Magid Associates conducted the study.
“It appears that the option to download content of choice for free will dramatically increase interest in purchasing a video iPod, thus potentially increasing video iPod sales and penetration,” the study concluded.
Some free TV content exists on iTunes. The pilot episode of NBC’s “Conviction,” for example, was available for free a week before its first airing.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, on March 5, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Jessen was assigned to the Army's 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Restoration of the flood protection system in New Orleans is on track and by June 1 will be equal to or better than it was before Hurricane Katrina, the Army general in charge of the program said here yesterday. To date, 100 of the 169 damaged miles of levee have been repaired, and 85 percent of pumping capacity is restored, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, commander and chief of engineers, Army Corps of Engineers, said at a White House news conference. In meeting President Bush's June 1 commitment, the Corps of Engineers will restore all damaged levees and floodwalls and will put three temporary closures on canals that presented problems during Katrina, Strock said. Also, the Canal at 17th Street, the Canal at Orleans and the London Avenue Canal will all have closures to prevent the storm surge of a future weather event from getting into vulnerable areas, he said. By September 2007, the entire flood protection system around the New Orleans area will be up to its full and authorized design levels, Strock said. "I say that and make that distinction because pre-Katrina, some of the system was not at its full authorized design, so we'll complete the construction of that," he added. During the rebuilding process, 91 percent of contracts have gone to local firms, providing about $770 million of work, Strock said. "We see this not only as a way to help set the conditions for the physical recovery of New Orleans, but also to help create some economic opportunities for local businesses," he said. By December 2007, the Corps of Engineers will have completed its study of what is required to give the ultimate protection level to New Orleans, Strock said. This study will give officials a good idea of what needs to be done in the future to protect the city, he said. Strock challenged media reports about poor construction standards and materials, and said that the Corps of Engineers is doing the right thing in New Orleans. "We are using the right material, and we're putting it down in the right way," he said. "We're giving tremendous scrutiny into not only how we do this, but also into the results after the fact. So we're doing extensive testing of the in-place structures to ensure that they are up to standard." The Corps of Engineers is now determining whether to replace many of the city's undamaged floodwalls with more structurally stable walls and is considering using a navigable flood-control structure to isolate the Inner Harbor, Strock said. As the June 1 start of the next hurricane season approaches, military and government officials are committed to the safety of the people of New Orleans, Strock said. "The people of the Corps of Engineers and our partners down there in the area are working very hard to ensure that we reduce the vulnerabilities to the people to the very highest degree we can, and that any remaining vulnerabilities are clearly understood by the people as they make decisions on when and how to reoccupy the city," he said.
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Philips Electronics and its agency, Omnicom’s DDB, New York, came up with a great idea recently. Why not do something that its audience will really appreciate? The idea was to buy the four minutes of screen time that cinemas usually sell to advertisers and run a 15-second spot that told the audience Philips was helping the movie start sooner. Only problem was Screenvision, seller of cinema ads, wouldn’t let them do it.
Screenvision didn't like that a big-screen ad was poking fun at movie advertising
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Hollywood, as evidenced by the Oscar show’s relentless promotion of seeing movies the old-fashion way on the big screen, has been fighting new distribution methods for its wares fiercely for some time now. It’s probably the last place that will willingly give up control of its distribution.
Philips and DDB have given up on the idea for now, but we hope they try again. It definitely seems like an idea that has legs in an on-demand world. Broadband video and video on demand will pave the way for TV programs to switch to a sponsor-like model much faster. And the more marketers and agencies that figure out how to reach consumers in a way that makes them grateful for their participation are the ones that will win.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Time Warner Inc.'s AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site by the middle of this The market for online media is booming after Apple Computer Inc. began offering shows for sale on its popular iTunes digital music and videos service last year.
The expansion of AOL's video service, which will combine free and pay-per-download shows from established programmers and user-created video clips, aims to address complaints about the rigid pricing structure and the mix of available programing on iTunes.
It also puts the Dulles, Virginia unit in competition with Yahoo Inc., which this week said it planned to scale back on creating original programing, and Google Inc..
The service will sell Time Warner-owned shows and those created by other programmers and networks, the company said, declining to name partners.
The video store will appear gradually and is a part of a redesign of an existing video on-demand service on AOL.com, its free Web site.
Ahead of the revamped video offering, AOL will this month introduce In2TV, a site that will carry more than 4,800 free vintage TV shows, mostly from the Warner Brothers archive.
The expanded service is also likely to sell videos on a subscription basis as early as next year to complement its pay- per-download and free video service.
The shows can be viewed on PCs and other devices in the home, using Intel Corp.'s Viiv technology. It will also be viewable on portable media players that use Microsoft Corp. software.
The business model AOL plans to employ and said it would face stiff competition against lower cost alternatives, such as EchoStar System Corp.'s PocketDish system.
The PocketDish lets viewers move recorded shows from their living room digital video recorders to a portable media device.
AOL's plans to sell videos is part of a broader plan this year to make playing and searching for online videos a cornerstone to the company's turnaround.
In December, it purchased video search engine technology firm Truveo, which uses a technology it calls "Visual Crawling" to locate video files and information on Web pages, finding video text-based search engines miss.
"AOL plans to share its technology with Google, as part of an earlier deal in which Google pledged to take a 5 percent stake in AOL.
AOL has spent the last few years offering more of its programing for free to boost online advertising as its dial-up modem access is in decline. It currently has about 19.5 million subscribers, down from a high of about 26 million in 2002.
Can Verizon Save TiVo?
TiVo, no since you're trying to get back into the game, it may be too late.
TiVo, Inc. and Verizon Wireless announced today an agreement that will allow TiVo subscribers to remotely schedule television recordings using a Verizon mobile phone. The new wervice, called TiVo Mobile, will debut later this year. Pricing is unknown at this time.
In January, Yahoo! Chairman and CEO Terry Semel, announced the Yahoo! Go Service which would allow programming of your television through your cell phone. He was joined by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for the announcement at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Yahoo! is partnered with Cingular Wireless.
TiVo is still the best known brand among DVRs, which can pause and record live TV and skip commercials, but it faces increased competition from rival devices provided by cable providers. To combat that challenge, TiVo has worked to add unique features such as the ability to move recorded shows to portable devices. TiVo's earlier plan to allow users to watch targeted advertisements, has been mute as of late.
March 06, 2006
Why Brokeback Mountain Failed
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 6 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
Montebubblism: On why Brokeback Mountain failed at the Oscars. When the serious becomes a joke you forget it was ever meant to be serious and only remember the joke.
EDITORIAL
What did go wrong with the express train that was Brokeback Mountain?
The feature film that was meant to change the way that most Americans felt about the gay lifestyle.
First it fell victim to its own expectations. The buzz was supposed to make it a massive hit in the red states. How dare you not go to the film and be declared homo-phobic.(It was forgotten that the people in the red states thrive on being called homo-phobic.)
The gross never increased over what it was getting no matter how many more theatres were added. It just remained steady. While in effect it was lossing money by added theatres and advertising.
Then there was the problem of its theme, GAY COWBOYS. It was such a bad choice of a theme that even the most liberal out there laughed at it or made jokes about it. Look no further then the opening of the Oscar telecast to see the joke it had became with Billy Crystal and Chris Rock in the tent passing on hosting the show.
Capote and Crash both were little films that remained true to their original intentions, to tell a story and let it speak for itself. Neither made alot of money but both were low budget in nature so neither was expected to.
The Academy decided to support all three films in a fit of political correctness. Each was given something to show support for what they had to say.
Brokeback was not abandoned by the Academy and its voters but in actuality shot itself in the foot and the Academy gave the big award to the little film that just was the little film that stayed the little film with something to say.
BREAKING NEWS: Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 44. Puckett died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kimberly Lodge said. He had been in intensive care since having surgery at another hospital following his stroke Sunday morning.
The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards were presented at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 18, 2006
Tiger Woods gets 48th win
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year.
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
Ad Revenue down at TV networks for 2005
Wireless the new Frontier:going where no one has gone before?
Programing for the internet; still no set plans
Ma Bell Coming Back with AT & T and BellSouth Merger
The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards were presented at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 18, 2006.
Scientific and Technical Awards are given for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures that also have a proven history of use in the motion picture industry.
Awards may be granted in any of three classifications: Academy Award of Merit (Oscar statuette), for basic achievements that have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry; Scientific and Engineering Award (Academy plaque), for those achievements that exhibit a high level of engineering and are important to the progress of the industry; and Technical Achievement Award (Academy certificate), for those accomplishments that contribute to the progress of the industry.
Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical achievements for the year 2005 are:
Scientific and Engineering Awards
(Academy Plaques)
To David Grober for the concept and mechanical design and Scott Lewallen for the electronic and software design of the Perfect Horizon camera stabilization head.
Perfect Horizon effectively neutralizes the extraneous motion encountered in boats, camera cars, snowmobiles or other vehicles, leaving the pan/tilt head and camera stable and level with the horizon.
To Anatoliy Kokush, Yuriy Popovsky and Oleksiy Zolotarov for the concept and development of the Russian Arm gyro-stabilized camera crane and the Flight Head.
The Russian Arm and Flight Head opened new possibilities for filmmakers. With the ability to be mounted on the roof of almost any car, this remotely-operated crane and camera head can move smoothly in a 360˚ circle around the car, even while it is being
driven at high speeds by actors, creating heretofore impossible perspectives.
To Anatoliy Kokush for the concept and development of the Cascade series of motion picture cranes.
The lightweight structure of the Cascade and Traveling Cascade Cranes enables the filmmaker to achieve heights of up to 70 feet, allowing for the placement of the camera in otherwise impossible locations.
To Garrett Brown for the original concept of the Skycam flying camera system – the first use of 3D volumetric cable technology for motion picture cinematography.
In creating the first remote controlled, cable supported flying camera system, Garrett Brown’s pioneering efforts have influenced all subsequent development in this area of technology.
To David Baraff, Michael Kass and Andrew Witkin for their pioneering work in physically-based computer-generated techniques used to simulate realistic cloth in motion pictures.
Their 1998 paper titled “Large Steps in Cloth Simulation” was a seminal work, providing the key in demonstrating to the industry that the calculations necessary to simulate realistic, complex cloth could be achieved efficiently and robustly. Their work provided the conceptual foundation for many cloth simulation systems in use today.
To Laurie Frost, Peter Hannan and Richard Loncraine for the development of the remote camera head known as the Hot-Head.
In use for over a quarter of a century, the Hot-Head has brought the possibility of safe, remotely-operated shots to every filmmaker.
To Gary Thieltges for the design and development of the remotely-operated, lightweight camera head known as the Sparrow Head.
This well-integrated remote system enables filmmakers to remotely pan and tilt their camera from virtually any moving vehicle, giving the opportunity for unprecedented dynamic camera angles.
To Frank Fletcher and Dave Sherwin for the introduction and continuing development of the Power Pod modular camera head system.
The Power Pod system enables filmmakers to configure a remote controlled head to meet their own unique requirements.
To Alvah Miller, Michael Sorensen and J. Walt Adamczyk for the design and development of the Aerohead motion control camera head and the J-Viz Pre-Visualization system.
This remote head not only serves the needs of the live-action filmmaker, but also provides the functionality of a motion-controlled head, allowing for sophisticated tiling and pre-visualization techniques.
To Scott Leva for the design and development of the Precision Stunt Airbag for motion picture stunt falls.
The Precision Stunt Airbag is designed to envelope the stunt jumper, even on off-center hits. This feature serves to enhance the safety of stunt performers in falls from up to 200 feet.
To Lev Yevstratov, George Peters and Vasiliy Orlov for the development of the Ultimate Arm Camera Crane System for specialized vehicle photography.
Representing a significant evolutionary improvement in camera car technology, this remotely-controlled, gyro-stabilized and flexible camera crane offers a highly stable platform for high-speed, rough terrain action shots. Its ingenious applications of sophisticated technology solve many of the problems inherent in chase vehicle filming.
To James Rodnunsky, Alex MacDonald and Mark Chapman for the development of the Cablecam 3-D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies.
The evolution of the Cablecam technology has made it possible to move a camera safely and accurately anywhere through a three-dimensional space.
To Tim Drnec, Ben Britten Smith and Matt Davis for the development of the Spydercam 3-D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies.
The evolution of the Spydercam technology has made it possible to move a camera safely and accurately anywhere through a three-dimensional space.
To John Platt and Demetri Terzopoulos for their pioneering work in physically-based computer-generated techniques used to simulate realistic cloth in motion pictures.
Their 1987 paper, “Elastically Deformable Models,” was a milestone in computer graphics, introducing the concept of physically-based techniques to simulate moving, deforming objects.
To Ed Catmull, for the original concept, and Tony DeRose and Jos Stam for their scientific and practical implementation of subdivision surfaces as a modeling technique in motion picture production.
Subdivision surfaces has become a preferred modeling primitive for many types of motion picture computer graphics.
To Harold Rattray, Terry Claborn, Steve Garlick, Bill Hogue and Tim Reynolds for the design, engineering and implementation of the Technicolor Real Time Answer Print System.
This system provides a method by which filmmakers can preview real-time color corrections using actual film prints, reducing both the turn-around time and the number of reprints required.
To Udo Schauss and Hildegard Ebbesmeier for the optical design and Nicole Wemken and Michael Anderer for the mechanical design of the Cinelux Premiere Cinema Projection Lenses.
The Cinelux Premiere Lenses incorporate an iris and aspheric elements which provide a more uniform modulation transfer function and better light transmission to the sides and corners of the theater projection screen. This reduces the traditional problems of softness in the corners, hot-spotting and varying brightness between film format.
Tiger Woods gets 48th win
48th career PGA Tour victory at the age of 30 years, 2 months, 5 days in his 189th career professional start on tour. He is the 9th player in history to win the tournament multiple times (2005-06), but only the second player to win in back to back joining Raymond Floyd who won in 1980 and 1981. He passes the 2-million dollar mark ($2,535,600) in earnings at the tournament in just four starts. Along with his two victories, he also finished second in 2002 and tied for ninth in 1998.Woods has held a lead of two strokes or more through 54 holes 20 times in his career and has gone on to win every time. He wins in defense of a title for the 13th time in his career. His 48th career PGA Tour victory is the seventh-most in tour history. Billy Casper stands next in sixth with 51 victories. He has won in 48 out of 189 of his professional starts on the PGA Tour. PGA Tour official money now stands at $57,803,760. He wins for the ninth time in the state of Florida (Bay Hill Invitational - 4; FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort -2, Ford Championship at Doral-2, THE PLAYERS Championship-1).
$57,803,760. He wins for the ninth time in the state of Florida (Bay Hill Invitational - 4; FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort -2, Ford Championship at Doral-2, THE PLAYERS Championship-1).
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year.
This year’s Academy Awards featured the most socially conscious group of Best Picture nominees ever, but it lacked a box office heavyweight. And that, more than any of Hollywood's social commentary, is what viewers crave from the Oscars.
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year. ABC’s three and a half hours of Academy Awards earned a 27.1 metered market household rating from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., according to numbers released by the network this morning, down 10 percent from a 30.1 for last year’s telecast.
It was also down 9 percent from a 29.8 in 2004, though it was a 6 percent improvement on 2003’s 25.5. That year, when "Chicago" won Best Picture, was the lowest-rated ever.
This year’s Oscars could still outdraw last year, even though the early ratings indicate otherwise. Metered market ratings for last month’s Super Bowl were down from the previous year, but when final numbers were released later that day, the game was the most-watched in 10 years.
The 10 percent year-to-year ratings dip does hold, it wouldn’t be a shocker. Host Jon Stewart received mixed reviews for his surprisingly tame performance, and the telecast didn’t feature any major upsets until the final minutes, when “Crash” won Best Picture over heavily favored “Brokeback Mountain.”
It didn’t help ABC that many of this year’s Oscar nominees were smaller independent films rather than traditional Hollywood blockbusters, which tend to attract more viewers to the Oscars.
“Crash” pulled in $53.4 million at the box office, well short of the $100 million blockbuster plateau, while “Brokeback” pulled in $78.9 million. No Best Picture nominee topped $100 million, the traditional measure of a blockbuster.
ABC of course finished first for the night among households, followed by CBS, NBC, Fox and WB. The 22.9 metered market household rating ABC averaged from 7 to 11 p.m. was 36 percent higher than the 16.8 rating the other networks combined for.
At 7 p.m. ABC led among households with a 10.7 rating for its Oscars pre-show. CBS was second with a 7.6 for “60 Minutes,” NBC third for its first hour of “Dateline” and Fox fourth with the combination of “Malcolm in the Middle” (2.7) and the first half hour of the movie “Bad Boys 2.”
At 8 p.m. ABC led with its Oscars coverage, followed by a 5.8 for CBS for a repeat of “Criminal Minds” and the second half of NBC’s “Dateline,” which averaged a 5.4 rating over its two hours. Fox remained in fourth that hour with “Bad Boys 2,” which pulled a 3.6 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
ABC remained in the lead at 9 p.m., with CBS still second with a 6.2 for a repeat of “Cold Case.” NBC was third with a 4.9 for a repeat of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and Fox fourth with its movie.
At 10 p.m. ABC led with the Academy Awards, followed by a 7.3 for CBS for a “CSI” rerun and a 3.6 for NBC for a repeat of “Crossing Jordan.”
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday, and Defense Department officials have identified two soldiers previously reported killed. A soldier assigned to U.S. Marine Regimental Combat Team 7 died as a result of enemy action while operating in Anbar province. The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of the family. The Defense Department also announced the identities of two soldiers who died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: - Army Sgt. Joshua V. Youmans, 26, of Flushing, Mich., died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio on March 1 of injuries suffered in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21, when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee. Youmans was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich. - Army Spc. Christopher S. Merchant, 32, of Hardwick, Vt., died in Ramadi, Iraq, on March 1, when his Humvee came under attack by enemy forces using a car bomb and rocket-propelled grenade. Merchant was assigned to the Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, Jericho, Vt. - Army Pfc. Tina M. Priest, 20, of Austin, Texas, died in Taji, Iraq, on March 1 of a non-combat related injury. Priest was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divison, Fort Hood, Texas.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Ad Revenue down at TV networks for 2005
Freshly released figures from TNS Media Intelligence show that the Big Six networks, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN and WB, collectively took in $22.3 billion last year, down from $22.37 billion the prior year.
General Electric Co.’s NBC, which carried the 2004 Olympics, was the biggest loser among the networks last year, with a $1.17 billion decline in ad revenue to $5.7 billion. (The only other network to see a decline in revenue, according to TNS, was the WB, which went from $1.06 billion to $968.6 million). Yet the Peacock Network still placed second behind CBS’s $6.36 billion in total ad revenue for the full year. ABC’s ad revenue also rose from $4.66 billion to $5.17 billion.
Not boding well for the upfront is a more tepid reaction for big-event TV broadcasts in recent months. Media consultant Joseph Jaffe, a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California Annenberg School, cited weaker demand for spots at this year’s Super Bowl as evidence of volatility in the network-TV market.
Wireless the new Frontier: Going where no one has gone before?
By William Hoehne
Wireless is the new China. Both are huge, untapped markets for news and entertainment media companies. Executives have made a lot of Looking over the Rainbow statements about both of these markets and pumped a lot of effort into them. Neither market has as yet translated into a lot of new businesses for established companies, which are seeking ways to grow in a world of technological and business obstacles.
China's media moment seems right around the corner and mobile may be approaching its own at last and may just take a lot longer and be less earth-shaking than the recent press may suggest. Last week alone there were announcements of ventures by media companies looking to place themselves into the rear pockets of teenagers and their parents. All are part of a flood of wireless moves and offer looks at new ways of distributing products and using big-media strength to start new businesses.
One of the deals last week, MTV Networks said it would sell mobile versions of its MTV, VH1, CMT and Comedy Central channels to Sprint customers; the services will include video clips from shows including "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."
Mobizzo, a arm of News Corp, which is a kind of online studio and store for selling games, ring tones and adornments for mobile handsets announced its enter into the fray.
CBS which is perhaps best known for its notably older skewing television network, plans to start a venture along the lines of Mobizzo in a few weeks. CBS unveiled a plan to sell multimedia message alerts nationwide that will play short video clips on some cellphones. CBS aims to show that it wants to compete in this arena along with MTV, NBC and ESPN ,rivals that have been making their content available across a range of new mobile formats and toys.
What is important about the News Corporation and CBS announcements is that both companies plan to sell their new services directly to consumers. Instead of buying these services through a mobile phone carrier, users can go directly to Web sites or can send text messages to an address that will instantly sign them up for, say, a "Monte Bubbles" wallpaper that they can use to amuse themselves and their friends. CBS's new service, users can sign up to pay 99 cents a month for news alerts from CBS News, and $3.99 for alerts from the syndicated program "Entertainment Tonight."
Direct selling for media companies is just one advantage that mobile technologies have over other forms of distributing information and entertainment, including the Internet.
Another is that consumers, have come to view their mobile phones as fashion accessories, giving rise to a whole new category of personal media products, such as ring tones and avatars, which are animated images of oneself that are sent to friends with messages.
Things bought through a mobile phone even if not purchased through your service provider itself can be automatically added to your monthly phone statement, avoiding the bother of having to enter a credit card number.
These features show why mobile media could be something major, they turn consumption into a fashion statement and an impulse purchase.
The United States' mobile market compares with markets in places like South Korea — where users enjoy all sorts of interactive features and pristine television signals on their handsets and wireless carriers here have invested some $10 billion to catch up quickly. Established media companies, as well as the Internet giants want to try to capture everything from the growth of the ring tone and games markets to emerging forms of mobile advertising.
The question about all the activity around mobile is whether the United States will embrace these new products the way other nations have. Here we burn thru new technology like we throw away toilet paper.
In the United states people don’t sit around thinking about watching video clips on their computers or send instant messages to one another until these services hit critical mass.
It seems early to set the vibrator for wireless at anything but the lowest possible setting.
Programing for the internet; Still no set plans
Steven Spielberg, actor-producer Ashton Kutcher and Mark Burnett are just a few of the Hollywood heavyweights trying to develop new programs for the Web.
They are dealing with a fundamental question: What defines a hit on the Internet?
That confusion became all the more apparent Thursday when Yahoo Inc., an early favorite to navigate the complex 21st century media landscape, said it would scale back efforts to create original entertainment offerings.
For monthsYahoo spread the word that it wanted to capture mass audiences by producing new Web programming to be seen only on Yahoo. With Thursday's shift Yahoo signaled it had changed its views about what it took to succeed online had changed.
the company would instead highlight content created by its millions of users as well as serve as an online distributor for traditional media companies.
Yahoo will still create the occasional original program, but the company has put the brakes on big-ticket projects such as "The Runner," and "Treasure Hunt," an online game show developed with Spielberg's production company, until it can figure out how to make money on such deals.
The Internet has become a hip place to launch shows and squeeze more money out of old ones. TV networks, Internet portals and television producers chasing ad dollars online are developing reality shows, comedies and scripted dramas specifically for the new medium.
The big Internet companies are trying to build even bigger audiences with video programming.
Few of their efforts have worked. .
Developing a hit show has always been hit and in the network television business, which has been at it for more than 60 years, shows that attract 10 million viewers are generally considered successes. During the week of Feb. 20, 25 shows pulled in at least that many viewers, led by "American Idol" with 31.7 million.
The Internet has become a viable way to distribute video to the masses only in the last year or so, and Web shows have little hope of drawing the numbers of viewers that TV can.
The number of U.S. households with fast Internet connections is half that of households with televisions.
Hollywood producers are creating "webisodes" and other entertainment fare for such distributors as NBC Universal, Fox Broadcasting, America Online and Yahoo.
Those distributors hope to cover their costs with advertising revenue. The old fashioned by tried and true way of paying the bills
Online advertising is growing as advertisers are placing commercials in front of music videos, news stories and other video clips.
Video ads contributed only $225 million of the $12.9 billion in U.S. Internet ad revenue last year.
Broadcast, cable and local TV ads pull in $60 billion a year. But ad dollars aren't the only way to recoup investments in Web programming. Amazon.com Inc., the e-commerce giant, is developing a TV-style talk show specifically for its website.
NBC has bigger ambitions. The network plans this summer to launch "StarTomorrow," an "American Idol"-like search for music talent. NBC plans to release video clips of 20 bands or singing groups each week for eight weeks, then let users winnow the field until a victor emerges.
Executive producer Dave Broome said that because production costs on the show were one-fifth those of a network series, NBC probably would be more patient about letting the show find its audience.
"If your show doesn't do well on the network, they may have four or five more shows waiting in the wings" to take its place, Broome said. "On the Internet, you can have more time. If we don't get the response the first week, we might let it sit for more time before we launch the next 20 bands."
So is this the beginning of the much ballyhooed end for network TV? Certainly not, Network TV is not going to see things growing as fast as in the past, but it will hold its own because it reaches the masses and it is FREE. the operative word.
Ma Bell Coming Back with AT & T and BellSouth Merger
AT & T agreed to buy BellSouth Corp. for $67 billion in stock which would make AT & T the dominant carrier in 22 states. If this transaction is completed, the seven regional Baby Bells created in the government's breakup of AT & T's in 1984 would now become three.
We knew something must be in the works at the Consumer Electronics Show when Yahoo's keynote address introduced Yahoo! Go Mobile, which will soon be embedded on millions of U.S. phones in partnership wtih AT & T and Cingular, joined owned by Bell South(40%) and AT & T(60%). There was already a SBC Yahoo! partnership.
This on the heels of AT & T selling its' wireless customers to Cingular, with the change over of plans to Cingular from AT & T cellular phone plans finishing these last several months. AT & T announced earlier this year plans to offer AT & T branded cellphone service to corporations in the nine Southeastern states covered by BellSouth.
Consumer groups are up opposing AT & T's purchase of BellSouth Corp., arguing that it would reduce competition and drive up prices in the telecommunications industry, as they look at the restructuring of Ma Bell. The merged company would have 70 million local line phone customers, 54.1 million wireless subscribers and nearly 10 million broadband subscribers in nearly two dozen states.
"This is a devastating blow to the consumer," said Gene Kimmelman, policy director at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. "This one will lead to the end of the era of falling prices for telephone and cellphone service."
Since 1984, the world has changed much. Competition to traditional telephone service comes from cable and satellite, cellphone providers and internet telephone service, including Skype, Vonage, and AT & T's own CallVantage.
"New technologies, such as high-speed wireless and broadband over power lines, soon will be providing fast pipes into the home," shares industry consultant Ford Cavallari of Adventis Corp. "What used to be a fairly stable market, and was a monopoly market is undergoing a substantial change."
March 05, 2006
Oscars were Politically Correct
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 6 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
Montebubblism: If you feel everyone has to walk away a winner then why give awards in the first place.
No less then John Trovolta called the Oscars Politically Correct.There were awards for everyone
Tiger Woods 2nd Consecutive Win at Doral Midst the PGA Fashion Show
Tiger Woods congrats on your 2nd consecutive win today at the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami, Florida. He finished at 20 under to finish at 268 for a one shot victory over David Toms and Colombian rookie Camilo Villegas amongst record crowds of more than 37,000 in attendance each day.
Tiger’s 48th career victory enhanced his reputation as golf’s best closer. With a record 34-3 when he has at least a share of the 54 hole lead, and always winning in 20 attempts when leading by at least 2 going in to the last round. Perhaps that’s why Camilo Villegas refers to him as “the best player in the world.”
Meanwhile on the golf course, the golfers stepped into fashion while the audience wore the traditional spectator golf attire. The female golfers wore shorts noticeably shorter, shirts a wee bit tight, and a new absence of undergarments. Meanwhile an abundance of baby strollers makes you wonder if this is a new trend for golf.
Fashion Highlights from Ford’s Championship at Doral:
Bubba Watson uses the bright pink shaft on his driver. Very handsome and tall man with almost Elvis-like sideburns.
Trevor Immelman from Cape Town, South Africa looks like a Southern Caifornia beach model with his sculpted body, gorgeous tan and California. brown blond hair.
Sergio Garcia came out Saturday,attired in Adidas, with yellow pants and a black shirt with stripes. His shoes even matched and he can pull it off without any problems.
Jesper Parnevik on Saturday had on black pencil leg pants and a silver grey shirt. Jesper is a very thin man and he accompanied his outfit with a belt buckle that was almost as wide as he was and looked great with his patent leather belt.
Conservative but classic were Davis Love III and Tom Pernice Jr. who played together on Saturday. The only thing they forgot to discuss is if they should wear black or navy pants. Davis chose navy, Tom chose black...both wore coral shirts that were almost a matching set.
Camilo Villegas wore the outfit for the day on Saturday. Black bell bottom pans with fuschia insets in the sides and topped off with a bright fuschia top with some black side insets. Flashback to the 70's, but it really looked good on him. Sunday he wore all white except for the orange belt and shoes he wore. This tournament has pretty much guaranteed that he will have won enough $$$ this season to give him his PGA tour card next year.
Fun Saturday shots. Rocco Mediate hit his drive on #18 into #1 fairway. His second shot ended up nesting on top of one of the sponsor tents and did not hit the ground until the rules official was present.
Bubba Watson, from Bagdad, FL, chipped in a birdie on #9 on Saturday and then proceeded to knock his ball on the edge of the water on #10. He saved par, but it helped as he is a left-handed player and did not have to stand in the water. Retief Goosen who was playing with him was not so lucky with water efforts.
Paul Stankowaki stepped up to the #1 tee on Saturday and stopped in mid-swing as he thought the head of his driver was going to come off. He regrouped and hit one of the best drives on #1 on Saturday.
A big thanks to Commerce Bank for the tent side view of the golf tournament, complete with gourmet fair and plenty of Grey Goose Vodka, and hospitality.
Tiger Woods repeat victory, makes him the first repeat winner at Doral since Raymond Floyd won in 1980 and 1981. Tiger Wood’s now has won four of his last six tournaments worldwide with the last four victories have come in playoff – the World Golf Championships – American Express Champsionship, Dunlop Phoenix, Buick Invitational and the Dubai Desert Classic.
The Leaderboard
-20 Tiger Woods
-19 David Toms
-19 Camilo Villegas
-15 Fredrik Jacobson
-14 Lucas Glover
-14 Tag Ridings
-13 Jeff Sluman
-13 Jerry Kelly
-13 Carlos Franco
-13 Ernie Els
Club sponsors are pretty limited now. Currently out there are: Taylor Made; Nike; Titleist; Cleveland; Calloway; Wilson Staff; and Ping.
The other interesting part of the tournament is that the course lays in the flight path for Miami International Airport and some of the planes can be as low as a few thoudsand feet. Sometimes you think you can see the people in them overhead. And they can make some noise, but the players and spectators were all glancing up occassionally. It had to make it a bit of an obstacle dourse for the Met Life blimp driver overhead. By Sunday though, NBC and the tournament had made an agreement with the MIA tower to have the planes avoid the course so that the TV broadcast could be a bit more peaceful, and I am sure the players and spectators were appreciative.
Based on player brochure there were (56) domestic U.S. residents and (16) international residents:
(1) from Fiji Islands
(2) England
(2) South Africa
(1) Australia
(1) India
(3) Sweden
(1) Paraguay
(1) Columbia
(1) Argentina
(1) Spain
(1) Ireland
(1) Canada
Next year’s format will be entirely different with Ford no longer being the sponsor at Doral. Preparations are being made to make it a championship tournament, which generally means no celebrities. Unfortuately, this typically means good-bye to the record attendance experienced this year and sponsors.
Written By Patti Lankford and Joyce Chow
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 12 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: expect the unexpected and be happy if it does not happen.
BREAKING NEWS: FOUR SERVICEMEN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN more info to follow
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
Stock News:TOKYO, Japan, Marc- Honda decided at its Board of Directorsmeeting to acquire all of the shares of Honda Express Co., Ltd. and Komyo Co., Ltd. by a share exchange and thereby make them wholly
owned subsidiaries.
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival Written by Steve Matthews
Music is a huge part of my life. I consider myself not only a fan of various music styles, but also a student of music. I am also a musician and consider myself to have a deep knowledge of musical form and composition.
So what did I expect to see at a gathering of bluegrass fans and performers? Perhaps a lot of cowboy hats and leather boots. Maybe some fancy belt buckles and people walking around wearing Garth Brooks or Brooks & Dunn tee shirts. When I got to the Midwinter Bluegrass Festival in Denver (Feb 17-19), I found no such connections to the world of country music. Prior to this experience I thought to myself, “Isn’t that bluegrass stuff just a different type of country music?” I never experienced or knew anything about bluegrass (until that weekend), so my misconceptions were many.
The Midwinter Bluegrass Festival is one of many bluegrass events held across the country, and the world. This mid-sized festival is hosted annually by bluegrass enthusiast and player Ken Seaman in Denver, Colorado (see http://www.seamanevents.com/midwinter/). A workshop at this festival was co-sponsored by the International Bluegrass Music Association (www.ibma.org), the leading industry organization dedicated to promoting bluegrass music. This year marked the 21st festival in the series. Among the acts who performed throughout the weekend were The Special Consensus, Roni Stoneman (who is hilarious and quite the amazing banjo player, and who many would recognize from her many years on the Hee Haw television show), BlueRidge, Cedar Hill, Hit and Run Bluegrass and the Bluegrass Patriots. With the exception of Roni Stoneman, I was completely unfamiliar with any of these acts before attending the festival.
The weekend proved to be a very powerful introduction into the world of all things bluegrass. I found this out almost immediately after entering the doors of the venue. Outside it was a bitterly cold 13 degrees below zero, but inside things were cooking. Although it was late at night and the scheduled events were over with, strains of music filled the halls as numerous groups of individuals had spontaneously gotten together to “jam,” playing familiar bluegrass tunes on their respective instruments. This, I would learn, is the very essence of the bluegrass movement—an enthusiastic group of fans who love to watch and play a form of music in which there is an amazing amount of acceptance and involvement, both musically and socially.
In this festival people had come from far and wide to be entertained, to jam, to see old friends and to participate in workshops on bluegrass music. This festival is one of over 600 yearly festivals hosted around the world, a good indicator of the popularity of the bluegrass phenomenon. According to Nancy Cardwell, Special Projects Director with the International Bluegrass Music Association, “The IBMA has members in all 50 states, as well as in 30 additional countries. Although it originated in the Southeastern United States around 60 years ago, bluegrass music has literally spread around the world. In fact, there are reportedly more bluegrass bands per capita in the Czech Republic than in the state of Kentucky (the Bluegrass State, and home of the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe). It is also very popular in Japan, throughout Western and Central Europe, and Great Britain.”
Cardwell explained that several factors are contributing to the continuing growth in the popularity of bluegrass. “We got some recent mainstream media attention because of the popularity of the O, Brother Where Art Thou? movie and six-time platinum selling soundtrack CD. The tremendous popularity of artists like Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury, and Ricky Skaggs are also factors. A younger audience is also being drawn into bluegrass through “jam bands” (progressive bluegrass bands that incorporate extended jams into their arrangements). Bands like Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Left Over Salmon are examples of new forms of bluegrass-influenced music. The Internet has also offered a huge opportunity for bluegrass bands, along with other types of indie artists not signed to major labels, to introduce their music to a wide audience with eclectic tastes.”
So what exactly is bluegrass music? Among the things I learned are –
· Bluegrass is a distinctively non-electric/electronic type of music. The banjo is to bluegrass what the electric guitar is to rock. The other standard bluegrass instruments include the fiddle (think violin), mandolin, upright bass, and guitar – all of which are played acoustically. One other instrument that is sometimes used include the Dobro (a type of a resonator guitar which is played with fingerpicks and a type of a slide). There are no electric guitars, drums, or keyboards in this type of music, but vocal harmonies are a central part of bluegrass songs.
· Bluegrass finds its roots in old-time music (Scottish and Irish dance music, English ballads), gospel music and African American blues. (The banjo originally came from Africa.) Virtues such as God, family and country are common themes which run throughout the lyrical content of the songs. The songs frequently tell stories, and they perhaps more often than not romanticize a connection to one’s roots and the geography from which the songwriters have come from.
· As previously alluded to, bluegrass is not just about getting entertained, but is really about participation. A large part of the bluegrass fan base are players (commonly referred to as “pickers”) themselves. Bluegrass is all about finding other like-minded fans of this style of music and jamming spontaneously with other musicians, with lots of improvised “breaks” where each instrument takes a turn doing a solo.
· One characteristic of bluegrass songs, I would find, is a bit of a problem for me. By and large, bluegrass tend to be musically very predictable. After a very short exposure to bluegrass, I was able to hear completely unfamiliar songs and know exactly where the songs were going and which chords and bass notes were coming up next. As a devoted fan of rock music, I find this to be a primary weakness in the composition and arrangement of bluegrass music. Even though I now enjoy bluegrass music, I find it often formulaic I prefer the “there are no rules” attitude in the songwriting process which almost defines rock and roll. For me, rock runs the gamut from tear-jerking ballads, to that powerful, driving and highly energetic sound that sets your soul on fire, to some amazing virtuosity on the cranked up and “plugged in” instruments which we have heard for the past half century. On the other hand, the predictable structure of bluegrass music is essential to its playability. Somewhat like the defined structure of the blues (i.e. the 12 bar blues pattern), a familiarity with what the music is going to do next allows the musicians to jump in and immediately play along with a barely familiar number. Without the often similar feel of the music, there could not be any real jamming which, as I stated, really is the essence of bluegrass.
I am still trying to process and interpret some of my experiences from this wonderfully enjoyable weekend. I had a great time being exposed to this whole new world of music. I truly enjoyed a large portion of what I heard, and was so moved by the powerful song “This One Belongs To Me” by the family group “Sons and Brothers” that I found myself crying uncontrollably. What I do realize about the attraction of this type of music, probably above all others I have experienced, was the incredible sense of community among the fans and musicians. There is a very real sense of inclusion and acceptance in these free-spirited and spontaneous jam sessions. The participants appeared to have such a great time in these jamming circles, that I would sometimes become jealous because of my inability to join in with them (since I play the keyboards, a very non-bluegrassy instrument!).
So where do I go from here? Well, I’m a rocker, and will always be one. I love the wide range of musical styles within rock (and pop) music. While there are definite bursts of virtuosity among the artists and jammers I’ve heard so far in the world of bluegrass, I am still whole heartedly first drawn to the melodic, rhythmic qualities, overall songwriting and virtuosity that appears throughout much of rock.
One thing which I took home with me is that bluegrass sometimes offers positive lyrical messages that need to be reinforced in today’s society, which are often sorely missing in rock and often non-existent in rap/hip hop/ modern R&B. I’ll continue to take my rock with me in my home, car, and mp3 player, but I’m grateful for the experiences of the weekend when I met bluegrass for the first time. I am constantly hungry and looking for enjoyable new music to listen to and see performed, and I’m now already looking forward to visiting future bluegrass festivals. It only took a weekend, but now I’m a fan!
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Crude, homemade bombs hidden in cars or by the side of the road pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers and the future of a free Iraq, President Bush said today in his weekly radio address. "As we take the fight to the terrorists, they realize they cannot defeat us directly in battle, so they have resorted to brutal attacks against innocent Iraqis and American forces using improvised explosive devices," he said.
Bush said he is dedicating "every available resource, the ingenuity of our best scientists and engineers and the determination of our military to defeat this threat." "We face an enemy that will use explosive devices in order to shake our will, in order to foment violence in Iraq, in order to try to convince the American people that we can't win in Iraq," Bush said. "We're not going to rest until this danger to our troops has been removed." With this goal in mind, Bush said his administration has established a new high-level command at the Department of Defense, led by retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and NATO's peacekeeping force in Bosnia.
The Joint IED Defeat Organization comprises representatives from all services as well as retirees, all dedicated full-time to defeating the IED threat. "The general has spent a lot of time thinking about the enemy's tactics and techniques and how our military can adjust to them," Bush said during remarks to the press earlier today, after the latest in a series of IED briefings at the White House. The briefings from Meigs, along with input from commanders and Pentagon experts, "let me know what we're doing, so I can let the American people know that we recognize the nature of this enemy.
We're addressing our tactics to defeat this enemy for the sake of peace, for the sake of the security of the United States of America, and for the sake of peace in the world," the president explained. Bush said he plans to inform the public about America's strides in the war during a series of speeches this month, as the nation marks the three-year anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19.
The speeches will address the nation's strategy for victory in Iraq, progress made, lessons learned, and "how we're fixing what has not worked," the president said. Bush's first speech, scheduled for March 13, will focus on the security element of the nation's strategy, the task of defeating terrorists and training Iraqi security forces. The president gave a preview of his speech during his radio address. "The Iraqi security forces have made great strides in the past year," Bush noted. "And they performed well after the recent bombing of the Golden Mosque of Samarra."
The mosque, Bush explained, is one of Shiia Islam's holiest sites. After it was bombed, bands of armed militia exacted revenge, with attacks on Sunni mosques and acts of random violence that killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis. "Immediately after the attack, Iraqis' leaders came together and acted to restore calm and end the violence," Bush said. "These forces moved rapidly and effectively to protect religious sites, enforce a curfew and re-establish civil order when necessary. We commend them for their good work." Bush said the Iraqi security forces' performance was proof that "our hard work to build up and train these forces is paying off."
The goal, Bush said, is to have the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition forces by the end of the year. "By helping the Iraqi people build a free and representative government, we will deny the terrorists a safe haven to plan attacks against America," the president said. "The security of our country is directly linked to the liberty of the Iraqi people," he continued. "This will require more difficult days of fighting and sacrifice. Yet I am confident that our strategy will result in victory, and then our troops can come home with the honor they have earned. Bush said that amid the daily news of car bombs, kidnappings and brutal killings, he understands that Americans are wondering if the entire mission was worth it. "I strongly believe our country is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power," he said. "The last three years have tested our resolve," he continued. "The fighting has been tough. The enemy we face has proved to be brutal and relentless. And the sacrifice being made by our young men and women who wear the uniform has been heartening and inspiring."
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
High School seniors involved in the Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon and got to ask questions of senior military leaders as part of their Washington program today. A total of 104 students from throughout the country and DoD schools overseas got a tour of the Pentagon and a chance to ask questions of Army Lt. Gen. C.V. Christianson, Joint Staff director for logistics.
The two DoD Education Activity students are both from Japan. Anthony Soroka is a senior at Kadena High School, and Elizabeth Michael is a senior at Yokota High School. Both participated in the DoDEA-wide competition for the program, which includes an all-expense-paid "Washington Week" and a $5,000 scholarship.
Soroka, who hopes to attend Princeton University in the fall, said the week gave him an excellent overview of the federal government. "We visited the museums, of course, and then spoke to people at the State Department, the Supreme Court, here and other agencies," he said. He said he was especially excited to meet Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat. Michael said she appreciated the opportunity to meet students from all over the United States. "It's been a great experience," she said. "I'm glad I did it and would recommend it to everyone." The U.S. Senate and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation sponsor the program. It began in 1962 to expose student delegates to the highest-ranking members of government. Accompanying the delegates are military officers who also go through a selection process.
This year, Navy Lt. Janelle, a lawyer at Little Creek, Va., was one of those selected. She is no stranger to the program, having been a delegate herself from Hawaii in 1997. "It was an amazing experience for me then," Kuroda said. "It was one of the most significant weeks of my life in helping me choose what I wanted to do. "Coming from Hawaii, I didn't know how well I would deal with people from all over the country," she said. "After meeting the delegates, I found that anything is possible, if you apply yourself." The lieutenant volunteered to be an escort officer as her way of "paying back" to the program. "I hope I can make it as great for these students as the escort officers made it for me," she said.
Christianson spoke about the role of the military in the United States, saying that the most important aspect of the U.S. military is that it is under civilian control. "The only body that is authorized to raise an army in this country is the Congress of the United States," he said. Civilian control of the military is important to the country, and that's why the students see military officers and civilian officials from the Defense Department on Capitol Hill. "There are not many countries in the world who have that kind of concept embedded in their constitution," Christianson said. Checks and balances in the federal system prevent any one portion of the government from growing too powerful, he said. "Day to day the military works for the Department of Defense," Christianson said. "But we answer to Congress and ultimately work for the people of the United States."
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
Cingular released its first two high-speed phones on its new UMTS/HSDPA network today, along with a video-clip service delivering TV content to subscribers with the new phones.
Like Verizon's V CAST service, Cingular Video brings branded, TV-quality video clips to your phone, from a variety of partners: CNN, Fox News, and NBC in the news arena; ESPN, Fox Sports, Fuel TV and Speed Channel for sports; and a range including ABC, Fox, the Cartoon Network and most notably HBO for entertainment programming. Cingular does not offer any live TV or radio channels.
Most of the video clips are free for subscribers to Cingular's $19.99/month Media Works package, but content from HBO Mobile and some MusicChoice music video content costs an extra $4.99/month.
The Cingular Video service, which is included in the Media Works package, doesn't require subscribers to live in one of Cingular's 16 high-speed cities because it also works on the carrier's nationwide EDGE network. Competing services from Verizon and Sprint require that you be connected to their high-speed EV-DO networks, which are in many major cities, but not some smaller cities or rural areas.
The Samsung ZX10 flip phone and LG CU320 slider are both midrange phones, with midrange features. Both phones are $149.99 with a two-year contract, and there's currently a $50 rebate on top of that pricing. The ZX10's case has an attractive soft-touch feel, and the 4 oz. phone has a swiveling megapixel camera. Other major features include a TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, speakerphone, e-mail support and, of course, the new Cingular Video service.
The CU320 is similar, but in a slider form factor: a swiveling 1.3 megapixel camera, TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, e-mail client, and speakerphone.
Cingular's rollout is as notable for what's missing as for what's new.
The two new phones don't use Cingular's top-speed HSDPA network, which allows downloads of around 600 kbps/sec. Instead, they run on the mid-speed UMTS network, which clocks in at 200-300 kbps/sec. That should be at least 50% faster than their existing EDGE phones, but pales before Sprint's and Verizon's EV-DO networks, which are slightly faster than even Cingular's HSDPA system.
Samsung told us a few months ago that HSDPA equipment wasn't ready fast enough for this launch; HSDPA phones such as the Samsung ZX20 will be coming later this year, along with more cities to add to Cingular's current list of 16.
The two phones also don't have any sort of video-sharing function which would take advantage of UMTS networks' ability to simultaneously transmit voice and data. Two-way video calling was a selling point for UMTS networks in Europe and Asia. Some sort of point-to-point live video sharing will come later this year, There is not any obvious way to use the phones as PC modems – though we'll look into that as we test the two devices. If we can get that running, UMTS would let you make phone calls and use your phone as a modem at the same time, which other networks don't permit.
Cingular's 3G launch is more of a dip than a splash. They're still far behind Verizon and especially Sprint in terms of the number of high-speed cities, devices and features they offer. Both Verizon and Sprint offer faster speeds and let you use 3G phones as modems, and Sprint has live TV and radio channels over their Sprint Power Vision network.
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games will be inaugurated tonight with a live show of great visual impact, which will be seen by millions of spectators in Italy and around the world. IOC President Jacques Rogge will attend the Opening Ceremony.
Uniting all athletes
The Opening Ceremony wants to be, above all, the celebration of this sporting spirit that unites all the athletes, regardless of the type of disability that characterises them. The creative team has chosen to stage a bold show, with a strong identity and autonomy that will amaze and directly involve the spectators, conveying a message of energy and positivity.
Break down every obstacle
The idea of producing a bold, emphatic Ceremony led to the choice to emphasise (visually, too) the need to break down every obstacle. For this reason, the spaces and set design have been created so as to physically portray the guiding concept of the Ceremony: beyond every limit, beyond every barrier, ensuring that athletes and spectators feel emotionally united within the same show. Closing Ceremony in Piazza Castello
The Closing Ceremony, scheduled for 19 March 2006 in Piazza Castello in the centre of Turin, will join athletes and spectators in a universal embrace, renewing their appointment for the following edition of the Games.
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 12 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: expect the unexpected and be happy if it does not happen.
BREAKING NEWS: FOUR SERVICEMEN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN more info to follow
A Rocker's First Experience at a Bluegrass Festival
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
Stock News:TOKYO, Japan, Marc- Honda decided at its Board of Directorsmeeting to acquire all of the shares of Honda Express Co., Ltd. and Komyo Co., Ltd. by a share exchange and thereby make them wholly
owned subsidiaries.
Written by Steve Matthews
Music is a huge part of my life. I consider myself not only a fan of various music styles, but also a student of music. I am also a musician and consider myself to have a deep knowledge of musical form and composition.
So what did I expect to see at a gathering of bluegrass fans and performers? Perhaps a lot of cowboy hats and leather boots. Maybe some fancy belt buckles and people walking around wearing Garth Brooks or Brooks & Dunn tee shirts. When I got to the Midwinter Bluegrass Festival in Denver (Feb 17-19), I found no such connections to the world of country music. Prior to this experience I thought to myself, “Isn’t that bluegrass stuff just a different type of country music?” I never experienced or knew anything about bluegrass (until that weekend), so my misconceptions were many.
The Midwinter Bluegrass Festival is one of many bluegrass events held across the country, and the world. This mid-sized festival is hosted annually by bluegrass enthusiast and player Ken Seaman in Denver, Colorado (see http://www.seamanevents.com/midwinter/). A workshop at this festival was co-sponsored by the International Bluegrass Music Association (www.ibma.org), the leading industry organization dedicated to promoting bluegrass music. This year marked the 21st festival in the series. Among the acts who performed throughout the weekend were The Special Consensus, Roni Stoneman (who is hilarious and quite the amazing banjo player, and who many would recognize from her many years on the Hee Haw television show), BlueRidge, Cedar Hill, Hit and Run Bluegrass and the Bluegrass Patriots. With the exception of Roni Stoneman, I was completely unfamiliar with any of these acts before attending the festival.
The weekend proved to be a very powerful introduction into the world of all things bluegrass. I found this out almost immediately after entering the doors of the venue. Outside it was a bitterly cold 13 degrees below zero, but inside things were cooking. Although it was late at night and the scheduled events were over with, strains of music filled the halls as numerous groups of individuals had spontaneously gotten together to “jam,” playing familiar bluegrass tunes on their respective instruments. This, I would learn, is the very essence of the bluegrass movement—an enthusiastic group of fans who love to watch and play a form of music in which there is an amazing amount of acceptance and involvement, both musically and socially.
In this festival people had come from far and wide to be entertained, to jam, to see old friends and to participate in workshops on bluegrass music. This festival is one of over 600 yearly festivals hosted around the world, a good indicator of the popularity of the bluegrass phenomenon. According to Nancy Cardwell, Special Projects Director with the International Bluegrass Music Association, “The IBMA has members in all 50 states, as well as in 30 additional countries. Although it originated in the Southeastern United States around 60 years ago, bluegrass music has literally spread around the world. In fact, there are reportedly more bluegrass bands per capita in the Czech Republic than in the state of Kentucky (the Bluegrass State, and home of the father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe). It is also very popular in Japan, throughout Western and Central Europe, and Great Britain.”
Cardwell explained that several factors are contributing to the continuing growth in the popularity of bluegrass. “We got some recent mainstream media attention because of the popularity of the O, Brother Where Art Thou? movie and six-time platinum selling soundtrack CD. The tremendous popularity of artists like Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury, and Ricky Skaggs are also factors. A younger audience is also being drawn into bluegrass through “jam bands” (progressive bluegrass bands that incorporate extended jams into their arrangements). Bands like Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Left Over Salmon are examples of new forms of bluegrass-influenced music. The Internet has also offered a huge opportunity for bluegrass bands, along with other types of indie artists not signed to major labels, to introduce their music to a wide audience with eclectic tastes.”So what exactly is bluegrass music? Among the things I learned are –
· Bluegrass is a distinctively non-electric/electronic type of music. The banjo is to bluegrass what the electric guitar is to rock. The other standard bluegrass instruments include the fiddle (think violin), mandolin, upright bass, and guitar – all of which are played acoustically. One other instrument that is sometimes used include the Dobro (a type of a resonator guitar which is played with fingerpicks and a type of a slide). There are no electric guitars, drums, or keyboards in this type of music, but vocal harmonies are a central part of bluegrass songs.· Bluegrass finds its roots in old-time music (Scottish and Irish dance music, English ballads), gospel music and African American blues. (The banjo originally came from Africa.) Virtues such as God, family and country are common themes which run throughout the lyrical content of the songs. The songs frequently tell stories, and they perhaps more often than not romanticize a connection to one’s roots and the geography from which the songwriters have come from.
· As previously alluded to, bluegrass is not just about getting entertained, but is really about participation. A large part of the bluegrass fan base are players (commonly referred to as “pickers”) themselves. Bluegrass is all about finding other like-minded fans of this style of music and jamming spontaneously with other musicians, with lots of improvised “breaks” where each instrument takes a turn doing a solo.
· One characteristic of bluegrass songs, I would find, is a bit of a problem for me. By and large, bluegrass tend to be musically very predictable. After a very short exposure to bluegrass, I was able to hear completely unfamiliar songs and know exactly where the songs were going and which chords and bass notes were coming up next. As a devoted fan of rock music, I find this to be a primary weakness in the composition and arrangement of bluegrass music. Even though I now enjoy bluegrass music, I find it often formulaic I prefer the “there are no rules” attitude in the songwriting process which almost defines rock and roll. For me, rock runs the gamut from tear-jerking ballads, to that powerful, driving and highly energetic sound that sets your soul on fire, to some amazing virtuosity on the cranked up and “plugged in” instruments which we have heard for the past half century. On the other hand, the predictable structure of bluegrass music is essential to its playability. Somewhat like the defined structure of the blues (i.e. the 12 bar blues pattern), a familiarity with what the music is going to do next allows the musicians to jump in and immediately play along with a barely familiar number. Without the often similar feel of the music, there could not be any real jamming which, as I stated, really is the essence of bluegrass.
I am still trying to process and interpret some of my experiences from this wonderfully enjoyable weekend. I had a great time being exposed to this whole new world of music. I truly enjoyed a large portion of what I heard, and was so moved by the powerful song “This One Belongs To Me” by the family group “Sons and Brothers” that I found myself crying uncontrollably. What I do realize about the attraction of this type of music, probably above all others I have experienced, was the incredible sense of community among the fans and musicians. There is a very real sense of inclusion and acceptance in these free-spirited and spontaneous jam sessions. The participants appeared to have such a great time in these jamming circles, that I would sometimes become jealous because of my inability to join in with them (since I play the keyboards, a very non-bluegrassy instrument!).
So where do I go from here? Well, I’m a rocker, and will always be one. I love the wide range of musical styles within rock (and pop) music. While there are definite bursts of virtuosity among the artists and jammers I’ve heard so far in the world of bluegrass, I am still whole heartedly first drawn to the melodic, rhythmic qualities, overall songwriting and virtuosity that appears throughout much of rock.
One thing which I took home with me is that bluegrass sometimes offers positive lyrical messages that need to be reinforced in today’s society, which are often sorely missing in rock and often non-existent in rap/hip hop/ modern R&B. I’ll continue to take my rock with me in my home, car, and mp3 player, but I’m grateful for the experiences of the weekend when I met bluegrass for the first time. I am constantly hungry and looking for enjoyable new music to listen to and see performed, and I’m now already looking forward to visiting future bluegrass festivals. It only took a weekend, but now I’m a fan!
Homemade bombs pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers
Crude, homemade bombs hidden in cars or by the side of the road pose the biggest threat to U.S. servicemembers and the future of a free Iraq, President Bush said today in his weekly radio address. "As we take the fight to the terrorists, they realize they cannot defeat us directly in battle, so they have resorted to brutal attacks against innocent Iraqis and American forces using improvised explosive devices," he said.
Bush said he is dedicating "every available resource, the ingenuity of our best scientists and engineers and the determination of our military to defeat this threat." "We face an enemy that will use explosive devices in order to shake our will, in order to foment violence in Iraq, in order to try to convince the American people that we can't win in Iraq," Bush said. "We're not going to rest until this danger to our troops has been removed." With this goal in mind, Bush said his administration has established a new high-level command at the Department of Defense, led by retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and NATO's peacekeeping force in Bosnia.
The Joint IED Defeat Organization comprises representatives from all services as well as retirees, all dedicated full-time to defeating the IED threat. "The general has spent a lot of time thinking about the enemy's tactics and techniques and how our military can adjust to them," Bush said during remarks to the press earlier today, after the latest in a series of IED briefings at the White House. The briefings from Meigs, along with input from commanders and Pentagon experts, "let me know what we're doing, so I can let the American people know that we recognize the nature of this enemy.
We're addressing our tactics to defeat this enemy for the sake of peace, for the sake of the security of the United States of America, and for the sake of peace in the world," the president explained. Bush said he plans to inform the public about America's strides in the war during a series of speeches this month, as the nation marks the three-year anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19.
The speeches will address the nation's strategy for victory in Iraq, progress made, lessons learned, and "how we're fixing what has not worked," the president said. Bush's first speech, scheduled for March 13, will focus on the security element of the nation's strategy, the task of defeating terrorists and training Iraqi security forces. The president gave a preview of his speech during his radio address. "The Iraqi security forces have made great strides in the past year," Bush noted. "And they performed well after the recent bombing of the Golden Mosque of Samarra."
The mosque, Bush explained, is one of Shiia Islam's holiest sites. After it was bombed, bands of armed militia exacted revenge, with attacks on Sunni mosques and acts of random violence that killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis. "Immediately after the attack, Iraqis' leaders came together and acted to restore calm and end the violence," Bush said. "These forces moved rapidly and effectively to protect religious sites, enforce a curfew and re-establish civil order when necessary. We commend them for their good work." Bush said the Iraqi security forces' performance was proof that "our hard work to build up and train these forces is paying off."
The goal, Bush said, is to have the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition forces by the end of the year. "By helping the Iraqi people build a free and representative government, we will deny the terrorists a safe haven to plan attacks against America," the president said. "The security of our country is directly linked to the liberty of the Iraqi people," he continued. "This will require more difficult days of fighting and sacrifice. Yet I am confident that our strategy will result in victory, and then our troops can come home with the honor they have earned. Bush said that amid the daily news of car bombs, kidnappings and brutal killings, he understands that Americans are wondering if the entire mission was worth it. "I strongly believe our country is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power," he said. "The last three years have tested our resolve," he continued. "The fighting has been tough. The enemy we face has proved to be brutal and relentless. And the sacrifice being made by our young men and women who wear the uniform has been heartening and inspiring."
Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon
High School seniors involved in the Senate Youth Program learned about life in the Pentagon and got to ask questions of senior military leaders as part of their Washington program today. A total of 104 students from throughout the country and DoD schools overseas got a tour of the Pentagon and a chance to ask questions of Army Lt. Gen. C.V. Christianson, Joint Staff director for logistics.
The two DoD Education Activity students are both from Japan. Anthony Soroka is a senior at Kadena High School, and Elizabeth Michael is a senior at Yokota High School. Both participated in the DoDEA-wide competition for the program, which includes an all-expense-paid "Washington Week" and a $5,000 scholarship.
Soroka, who hopes to attend Princeton University in the fall, said the week gave him an excellent overview of the federal government. "We visited the museums, of course, and then spoke to people at the State Department, the Supreme Court, here and other agencies," he said. He said he was especially excited to meet Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat. Michael said she appreciated the opportunity to meet students from all over the United States. "It's been a great experience," she said. "I'm glad I did it and would recommend it to everyone." The U.S. Senate and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation sponsor the program. It began in 1962 to expose student delegates to the highest-ranking members of government. Accompanying the delegates are military officers who also go through a selection process.
This year, Navy Lt. Janelle, a lawyer at Little Creek, Va., was one of those selected. She is no stranger to the program, having been a delegate herself from Hawaii in 1997. "It was an amazing experience for me then," Kuroda said. "It was one of the most significant weeks of my life in helping me choose what I wanted to do. "Coming from Hawaii, I didn't know how well I would deal with people from all over the country," she said. "After meeting the delegates, I found that anything is possible, if you apply yourself." The lieutenant volunteered to be an escort officer as her way of "paying back" to the program. "I hope I can make it as great for these students as the escort officers made it for me," she said.
Christianson spoke about the role of the military in the United States, saying that the most important aspect of the U.S. military is that it is under civilian control. "The only body that is authorized to raise an army in this country is the Congress of the United States," he said. Civilian control of the military is important to the country, and that's why the students see military officers and civilian officials from the Defense Department on Capitol Hill. "There are not many countries in the world who have that kind of concept embedded in their constitution," Christianson said. Checks and balances in the federal system prevent any one portion of the government from growing too powerful, he said. "Day to day the military works for the Department of Defense," Christianson said. "But we answer to Congress and ultimately work for the people of the United States."
Cingular releases two high-speed phones
Cingular released its first two high-speed phones on its new UMTS/HSDPA network today, along with a video-clip service delivering TV content to subscribers with the new phones.
Like Verizon's V CAST service, Cingular Video brings branded, TV-quality video clips to your phone, from a variety of partners: CNN, Fox News, and NBC in the news arena; ESPN, Fox Sports, Fuel TV and Speed Channel for sports; and a range including ABC, Fox, the Cartoon Network and most notably HBO for entertainment programming. Cingular does not offer any live TV or radio channels.
Most of the video clips are free for subscribers to Cingular's $19.99/month Media Works package, but content from HBO Mobile and some MusicChoice music video content costs an extra $4.99/month.
The Cingular Video service, which is included in the Media Works package, doesn't require subscribers to live in one of Cingular's 16 high-speed cities because it also works on the carrier's nationwide EDGE network. Competing services from Verizon and Sprint require that you be connected to their high-speed EV-DO networks, which are in many major cities, but not some smaller cities or rural areas.
The Samsung ZX10 flip phone and LG CU320 slider are both midrange phones, with midrange features. Both phones are $149.99 with a two-year contract, and there's currently a $50 rebate on top of that pricing. The ZX10's case has an attractive soft-touch feel, and the 4 oz. phone has a swiveling megapixel camera. Other major features include a TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, speakerphone, e-mail support and, of course, the new Cingular Video service.
The CU320 is similar, but in a slider form factor: a swiveling 1.3 megapixel camera, TransFlash memory card slot, MP3 player, e-mail client, and speakerphone.
Cingular's rollout is as notable for what's missing as for what's new.
The two new phones don't use Cingular's top-speed HSDPA network, which allows downloads of around 600 kbps/sec. Instead, they run on the mid-speed UMTS network, which clocks in at 200-300 kbps/sec. That should be at least 50% faster than their existing EDGE phones, but pales before Sprint's and Verizon's EV-DO networks, which are slightly faster than even Cingular's HSDPA system.
Samsung told us a few months ago that HSDPA equipment wasn't ready fast enough for this launch; HSDPA phones such as the Samsung ZX20 will be coming later this year, along with more cities to add to Cingular's current list of 16.
The two phones also don't have any sort of video-sharing function which would take advantage of UMTS networks' ability to simultaneously transmit voice and data. Two-way video calling was a selling point for UMTS networks in Europe and Asia. Some sort of point-to-point live video sharing will come later this year, There is not any obvious way to use the phones as PC modems – though we'll look into that as we test the two devices. If we can get that running, UMTS would let you make phone calls and use your phone as a modem at the same time, which other networks don't permit.
Cingular's 3G launch is more of a dip than a splash. They're still far behind Verizon and especially Sprint in terms of the number of high-speed cities, devices and features they offer. Both Verizon and Sprint offer faster speeds and let you use 3G phones as modems, and Sprint has live TV and radio channels over their Sprint Power Vision network.
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games
The Torino 2006 IX Paralympic Winter Games will be inaugurated tonight with a live show of great visual impact, which will be seen by millions of spectators in Italy and around the world. IOC President Jacques Rogge will attend the Opening Ceremony.
Uniting all athletes
The Opening Ceremony wants to be, above all, the celebration of this sporting spirit that unites all the athletes, regardless of the type of disability that characterises them. The creative team has chosen to stage a bold show, with a strong identity and autonomy that will amaze and directly involve the spectators, conveying a message of energy and positivity.
Break down every obstacle
The idea of producing a bold, emphatic Ceremony led to the choice to emphasise (visually, too) the need to break down every obstacle. For this reason, the spaces and set design have been created so as to physically portray the guiding concept of the Ceremony: beyond every limit, beyond every barrier, ensuring that athletes and spectators feel emotionally united within the same show. Closing Ceremony in Piazza Castello
The Closing Ceremony, scheduled for 19 March 2006 in Piazza Castello in the centre of Turin, will join athletes and spectators in a universal embrace, renewing their appointment for the following edition of the Games.
options Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 11 2006
MBNwww.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Remember when you volunteer you accept the conditions that go with it.
Centre Pompidou in Paris hosts Los Angeles 1955-1985 THE BIRTH OF AN ARTISTIC CAPITAL through July 17, 2006.
According to MPPA The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year
Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
U.S. Marine was killed
End of the Tomcats
Centre Pompidou in Paris hosts Los Angeles 1955-1985 THE BIRTH OF AN ARTISTIC CAPITAL through July 17, 2006.
Launching a new generation of young artists, the period 1955-1985, brought the Los Angeles recognition as an alternative to the New York scene. Today, it is one of worldly intrigue, and one in which the Pompidou considers essential for France and Europe to foster appreciation to better understand contemporary American art via this fascinating, and largely undiscovered period.
Displayed chronologically as a walk-around-Los Angeles(European flair, with an LA flair – we’d be driving), the approximately 350 works on show by 85 artists, retrace the history of the Los Angeles art scene through paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, film and video.Familiar artists such as David Hockney and Dennis Hopper are present along as other internationally famous artists such as Ed Kienholz, Allan Kaprow, Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Bill Viola, Paul McCarthy, Mike Kelley, Charles Ray and Raymond Pettibon. Lesser known artists are included to create a rich, productive, experimental environment. 20th Century Fox and the MGM lion are familiar images representative of Hollywood.
Running concurrently is “Morphosis”, a Santa Monica architectural firm, whose founder Thom Mayne, received the 2005 Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honor, is displaying recent projects. “Continuities of the Incomplete” is both an exposition and a new work in a self-illuminating aluminum frame skinned with sloping glass panels. It’s inspiration makes one consider both the Louvre’s Pyramid and Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral.According to Ada Louise Huxtable, architecture critic and jury member for the 2005 Pritzker Prize, “The work of Thom Mayne moves architecture from the 20th to the 21st century in its use of today’s art and technology to create a dynamic style that expresses and serves today’s needs.” The Morphosis exhibition will tour at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art from April 1 to July 2, 2007
James Turrell’s historic Alta(White) is also on exhibition. This benchmark work from the Projection Pieces series explores light and perception. Alta(White) is a new acquisition and 1967 installation donated by the Clarence Westbury Foundation, Houston, Texas.
According to MPPA The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year
The movie business was down both in the U.S. and worldwide last year, final box-office figures show. Revenues in the United States dropped 6 percent to $8.99 billion last year compared to 2004. The worldwide market fell 7.9 percent to $23.24 billion from a 2004 all-time high, the Motion Picture Association of America said Thursday.
The number of tickets sold in the U.S. also continued its three-year decline. Total U.S. attendance fell by 9 percent to 1.4 billion the lowest level in nearly a decade. About 240 million fewer tickets were sold last year compared to 2004. At the same time, the average ticket price rose from $6.21 to $6.41.
It was more expensive for Hollywood to market pictures last year. The average cost rose about 5 percent, from $34.4 million to $36.2 million. Little feature films, such as the hits "Brokeback Mountain" and "March of the Penguins," marketing costs soared by 33 percent, reflecting the increasing competition for movies that often start in limited release.
Blockbusters continued to draw the largest audiences. "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" was the top-grossing film with $380.3 million. Altogether, eight movies grossed more than $200 million each.
Good news for studios was that their average cost to make a movie dropped by about $2.5 million to $60 million. That figure didn't count the often substantial contributions of outside investors, which in some cases made up half of the budget. Meaning the films cost more then actually being reported.
Theaters continue to worry that ticket sales are being undercut by DVD sales for home theaters. However, the MPAA unveiled results of an August study by Nielsen Entertainment/NRG of 3,000 moviegoers that indicated theaters remain popular.
It found that those who had the most DVD players, big-screen TVs, digital cable and other high-tech movie options also saw the most movies at theaters an average of 8.2 per year. Theatres seem to fuel there desire to spend.
Also, 69 percent of those polled said they preferred to see a movie in a theater rather than at home although nearly a third agreed that their home offered "the ultimate movie-watching experience."
"Despite increasing competition for consumers' time and entertainment dollars, theatergoing remains a satisfying constant in people's lives," said Dan Glickman, MPAA chairman and chief executive officer. "That said, we can't bury our heads in the sand. We do have to attract customers and keep regulars coming back."
Crufts 2006, Largest Dog Show in the World
Crufts, the Guinness Book of Records largest dog show in the world, is happening now in Birmingham, England. With over 24,000 dogs to bring down the woof, there are people from 26 countries and 120,000 visitors over a 4-5 day period. Crufts finishes tomorrow at the NEC, The National Exhibition Centre, with many aiming for the coveted Best in Show title to succeed the 2005 champion, a Norfolk Terrier named “Coco”, which fit in the trophyOrganized by the Kennel Club and supported by Pedigree Masterfoods, yes, the familiar blue ribbon Pedigree name we’re accustomed to seeing here at dog shows in the U.S. I couldn’t locate it being televised here in the U.S., similar to Westminster of the AKC/Eukanuba Nationals, but if we thought 2500 dogs was a lot…Similar to the U.S., there’s the well known Best in Show Competition, Agility and Obedience(Obedience World Cup Competition), but there are also other categories such as Flyball and Heelwork to Music, the Kennel Gazette Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final which must be similar to our Junior Handler’s program. This year, there’s also a “Lady and the Tramp” look-a-like competition, which has been organized by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Disney to celebrate the release of this classic soon to be released as a special edition DVD.
The group categories too are a bit different too with: Working and Pastoral Dogs; Terriers and Hounds; Toy and Utility and Gundogs. With such an enormous amount of dogs, I wondered how might be entered according to various breeds. Soft Coated Wheatens, Monte Bubbles’ breed has 156 entries. The largest number of entries was for Labrador Retrievers at 605, then 576 Golden Retrievers, 468 Whippets, 465 Irish Setters, 458 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 429 Rottweilers, and 420 Cocker Spaniels closing out the breed with over 400 entries. The smallest number of entries was 1 for the Hungarian Kuvasz, 4 Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Laekenois), 7 Greenland Dog, and 8 Canadian Eskimo Dogs.
To sum up Crufts…Said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary: “Crufts is now a huge global event that celebrates the world of dogs and the great diversity that they offer. The finest show dogs share space with those who provide invaluable assistance and support to their owners, and the event allows the Kennel Club the opportunity to promote dogs of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds.”
U.S. Marine was killed
A U.S. Marine was killed yesterday when a car bomb detonated near the city of Fallujah, Iraq, military officials in Iraq reported. Three members of an Iraqi family and a soldier from the Iraqi army were also killed by the blast. No further details were available. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Defense Department recently released the names of four servicemembers killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Marine Gunnery Sgt. Justin R. Martone, 31, of Bedford, Va., died March 7 when an improvised explosive device detonated in the Iraq's Anbar province. Martone was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. - Marine Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas, died March 8 when an IED detonated in Anbar province. Fry was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - Marine Cpl. Adam O. Zanutto, 26, of Caliente, Calif., died March 6 at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., from wounds received Feb. 25 as a result of an IED in Anbar province. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. - Army Pfc. Ricky Salas Jr., 22, of Roswell, N.M., died in Mosul, Iraq, March 7 when an IED detonated near his military vehicle. Salas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, Friedberg, Germany
End of the Tomcats
Two strike fighter squadrons arrived at Naval Air Station Oceana here today, ending a six-month deployment and closing the book on the Tomcat as an asset in the Navy's war fighting arsenal. The "Tomcatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron 31 and the "Black Lions" of Strike Fighter Squadron 213 were deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
The squadrons' "fly-off" marked the last operational flight of the F-14D Tomcat and the final stage of the squadrons' transition to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. VF-213 pilots will begin F/A-18F training next month and VF-31 pilots, who are transitioning to the F/A-18E, will remain operational until September when they will fly the last Tomcat in the Navy's inventory from Oceana.
"Everyone has worked very hard, pulled together and with purpose to ensure we retire this naval aviation icon appropriately and commensurate with its long and proud legacy," Cmdr. Richard LaBranche, VF-31 commanding officer, said. The Navy decided to decommission the Tomcat and move to the Super Hornet to lighten the workload on its people after recognizing the excessive amount of maintenance needed to keep them operational.
"It takes about three to four times more maintenance man-hours per flight hour to maintain than the newer Hornet," LaBranche said. "Retiring the extremely relevant but maintenance intensive Tomcat was a way to save the exhaustive efforts of our people and better spend their labors." For the pilots who fly them and the crews who keep them operational, the loss of the Tomcat hits close to home. "I will miss flying the Tomcat very much," LaBranche said. "Saying good bye to the Tomcat will be like saying good bye to an old friend, but in the best interest of our people, it must be done."
Throughout its 32-year service to the fleet, the Tomcat has been synonymous with excellence. Since the first aircraft entered operational service in September 1974, the Grumman Aerospace Corporation-built F-14 has seen numerous upgrades and modifications to meet the demands of the Navy as the premier carrier-based multi-role strike fighter. "It is one of the greatest fighter planes in history," Lt. Chris Rattigan, a pilot with VF-31, said. "When you think of naval aviation, you think of the Tomcat."
The Tomcat saw its first major improvements to the initial design with the F-14B, introduced in November 1987, which incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. In 1995, an upgrade program brought the Tomcat new digital avionics and weapon system improvements. "The F-14 may be old, but with all the upgrades (over the years), there isn't anything out there tougher and more capable than the Tomcat," Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Houlihan, an aviation structural mechanic with VF-31, said. During this deployment, VF-31 flew more sorties and with the highest sortie completion rate of any other Tomcat squadron in recent history, LaBranche said. With a more than 99 percent sortie-completion rate and a 100 percent on-target rate when ordnance was expended during this, their final deployment, VF-31 is confident they sent the Tomcat out on a high note.
"Our successes on this deployment have been huge," Houlihan said. "We accomplished more than we had set out to do. I honestly think that VF-31 has proved that these aircraft, despite the amount of maintenance required to maintain it, have a lot of life left in them." While deployed, VF-31 provided invaluable close-air support to troops on the ground and, together with VF-213, completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance. "Our entire crew is acutely aware of the historic nature of being the very last Tomcat squadron," said LaBranche, noting the attention VF-31 is facing as they return from this final deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"To see the sailors of this command perform so magnificently throughout five months of arduous combat operations has been inspirational for me," LaBranche said. "(The unit) has met every challenge head-on, succeeded in every endeavor and left a legacy befitting our new slogan as 'The Last Cat Standing.'"
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March 10, 2006
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 10 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: What goes down tasting good does not taste the same going back up.
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche
Setback for XM-Radio
General Motors Corp is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Tivo still in the red
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.com
McClatchy high bid for Knight Ridder
MySpace -- The Movie removed
Freeipods.com
Taiwan semicon firms deliver diversity
Sawyer to be new anchor?
"HOLLYWOOD is spending money to get fewer ticket buyers.”
Apple iPod Focuses on Expanding Their Niche and re-invention of itself in a rapidly growing industry
Apple’s two latest introductions are the iPod Hi-Fi and the new Multi-Pass. The iPod Hi-Fi home stereo works seamlessly with the iPod adding hi-fidelity sound. The iTunes partnership Multi-Pass that allows users to buy TV shows on a monthly basis for $9.99, with episodes available the day after airing.
Apple’s two latest introductions are the iPod Hi-Fi and the new Multi-Pass. The iPod Hi-Fi home stereo works seamlessly with the iPod adding hi-fidelity sound. The iTunes partnership Multi-Pass that allows users to buy TV shows on a monthly basis for $9.99, with episodes available the day after airing.Apple is trying to maintain its dominance in digital music, accounting for 78% of the portable music players sold in the United States in January. ITunes Music Store, available via Macs and PCs, eliminates the hassle of subscription services, with a single purchase of 99 cents to keep a song. It’s been so popular, music fans have purchased and legally downloaded over 1 billion songs in three years.
Right on the heels of Apple are Samsung Corp., Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. Whether it be portable multimedia players, satellite radios, Sony PSPs, or cell phones, devices are catching up as memory becomes more affordable. Competitors are often cheaper and sometimes do more as digital music functions become incorporated into other devices.
Add to the mix established media companies Like Disney and AOL are expanding into the distribution of material. Download capabilites are also being added to digital game boxes.
Apple’s reputation for design and ease of use, while searching for a digital music player, have made it the top choice for those in the market. The iPod, unfortunately like the Apple Computer before may be one of those must have trend products. When you have one you love and you keep it forever but you always go to the other product because it comes cheaper with more perks.
I know, I have a apple computer but replaced it long ago as my main computer because others do more and at a cheaper price.
Right now Apple iPod has a substantial lead, selling over 42 million since 2001, only 15% of the households in the U.S. have digital music players according to a Consumer Electronics Association white paper.If the trend continues Apple will have reached it’s peak soon as was the case with transitor radios,Cd players, video tape players and now DVD players.
Will digital music players expand and reach a market saturation point similar to the 98% of the households that own a tv or 71% and 73% for wireless phones and PCs, respectively, Probably but Apple’s market penetration point at this time, is similar to Apple Computer at 11.6% in 1994, which has now dropped to 4.2% today, according to IDC Corp.
A large barrier to the market expanding is the speed of the internet connection, the speed of the downloads leave much to be desired. The downloads simply take too long. Most people according to a CEA brief do not have a fast system to download with. They may have internet but just basic.
The internet is the key to the future for Ipod and devices like it but till speed is improved for all to download Ipod has hit a major bump in the road.
Will it go the way of the Apple computer? When your on top your aimed for and the players in this game all have deep pockets.
By William Hoehne
Setback for XM-Radio
XM SATELLITE RADIO THURSDAY ANNOUNCED plans carrying advertising on four channels programmed by radio giant Clear Channel Communications. The decision is a setback for XM, which has promoted its content as commercial-free. Sirius Satellite, which also issued an annual report detailing financial difficulties, announced programming it hopes will draw more listeners from key market sectors.
The company has struggled against accepting commercials in arbitration, XM's announcement seems to be in line with hints--made after its financial statement--that it would soon adopt more advertising. XM has suffered from high costs for acquiring new subscribers, with an expenditure of $196.5 million trying to fly in the face of Howard Stern's high-profile move to Sirius in January of this year. Accepting advertisements may offset some of these costs, or allow XM to offer cheaper subscriptions, or both--but also undermines the company's commitment to "ad-free" programming. some XM channels carry advertising already.
XM's move to adopt advertising may also be intended to shore up investor confidence in the company, which was shaken by the departure of director Pierce Roberts Jr., disclosed in the annual filing. Roberts struck an ominous note in his resignation, writing that: "Given the current course and speed there is, in my view, a significant chance of a crisis on the horizon. Even absent a crisis, I believe that XM will inevitably serve its shareholders poorly without major changes now."
Clear Channel, which owns 3.2 percent of XM's stock, programs a current hits station, a recent hits station, light music, and country on XM. Meanwhile, XM's competitor, Sirius, announced Wednesday that it was rolling out four new talk and entertainment channels: Fox News and Talk, Blue Collar Comedy, Cosmo Radio, and the Playboy Channel. The programming changes, which take effect on Tuesday, March 14th, are intended to net a larger share of the young adult market of both genders. The introduction of Blue Collar Comedy and the renaming of Sirius' channel for cross-country truckers--now called "Road Dog Trucking"--may also indicate that the channel is aggressively pursuing the working-class demographic.
General Motors Corp is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks
General Motors Corp. said Friday it is recalling about 900,000 pickup trucks worldwide to fix tailgate cables that can corrode and break when loads are placed on
The recall involves 1999-2000 models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. GM said there have been 84 injuries, most of them minor scrapes and bumps, but no crashes or deaths linked to the problem.
GM, the world's No. 1 automaker, said the galvanized, braided-steel support cables that keep the tailgates in place can corrode or fracture over time because of moisture seeping through cracks in the plastic sheathing of the cable or entering between the cable's metal The automaker had recalled about 4 million 2000-2004 pickups worldwide in March 2004 because the tailgates could break without warning. The recall involved a broader range of vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT trucks.
GM spokesman Alan Adler said the vehicles covered by the new recall had different materials used in the support cables and involved fewer complaints. He said the automaker decided to issue the recall after "an exhaustive investigation."
"We worked with (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and agreed to do the recall to get this behind us," Adler said.
NHTSA had been investigating the vehicles. More than 800,000 of the trucks are located in the United States, and about 90,000 vehicles are in Mexico and Canada. About 3,800 of the recalled trucks were exported to countries around the globe.
Owners are expected to receive recall notices in April, but they can bring their trucks into a dealership for inspection if they suspect problems with the cables, Adler said. Under the recall, dealers will replace the galvanized support cables with ones made with stainless steel.
Most of the injuries stemmed from people sitting on the tailgate or occurred while people were unloading items from the truck bed. The company has advised owners not to sit on the tailgate.
GM said if both cables fractured, the tailgate would drop and strike the top of the rear bumper, which could cause someone standing or sitting on the tailgate to fall.
In a separate action, GM plans to issue a "special policy" letter in June regarding the cables to more than 950,000 owners of Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma pickups from the 2000-2003 model years. The action is not a recall, but provides owners with an inspection procedure to check the tailgate for any problems.
If owners notice any bulges in the cable or tears in the plastic covering, they can bring their S-10 or Sonoma to a dealer for inspection and replacement of the cables.
About 2.7 million trucks from the 2004 recall have been repaired and the automaker is trying to track down owners who have not participated, Adler said.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Ricky Salas, Jr. 22, of Roswell, N.M., died in Mosul, Iraq, on March 7, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle while conducting mounted operations. Salas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, Friedberg, Germany.
Tivo still in the red
TiVo has improved its financial picture with its latest earnings results. The digital video recorder service and equipment company also announced a new consumer pricing structure to spur better financial results.
For its fourth quarter that ended January 31, TiVo narrowed its losses to $19.5 million from $33.7 million the year before. For the year, the company also cut its losses in half to $34.4 million from $79.8 million the year before.
For the year, TiVo boasted a 45 percent growth rate for its subscription base to 4.4 million. TiVo said all new subscriptions during the fourth quarter signed on for a minimum 1-year period, which helped to reduce its low churn rate--customers who drop TiVo.
TiVo's revenues for the year increased 48 percent to $170.9 million, compared to $115.5 million last year. Fourth-quarter revenues also improved 37 percent to $47.0 million, compared to $34.2 million for the same period last year. TiVo also claimed its first positive cash flow from operations in fiscal 2006.
TiVo's new pricing structure will offer one price for both service and equipment. Previously, TiVo had offered consumers a separate fee for service and equipment.
For a one-year contract, consumers can pay $19.95 a month, or $224. A two-year commitment is$18.95 a month or $339; a three-year deal is 16.95 a month, or $469. TiVo believes this will drive improved subscription sales.
TiVo has also announced a partnership with Verizon Wireless for a new service called TiVo Mobile, which will enable its subscribers to program their digital video recorders by using their cell phones.
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.com
NBC rolls out a version similar to Youtube.comNBC has ordered YOUTUBE.COM stop distributing its popular videos, at the sametime the network has begun offering the clips on its own site with YouTube-like functionality.
NBC.com is allowing visitors to view the buzz-heavy clips such as "Lazy Sunday" and "Natalie Raps"--both rap spoofs from "Saturday Night Live"--and then easily send e-mails to friends linking to them. One of YouTube's key features is the opportunity to start a viral video chain.
NBC lawyers last month demanded that YouTube remove the "Lazy Sunday" video, and followed that up this week with the same request for Natalie Portman's mock rap.
Stephen Andrade, NBC's vice president of interactive development, said that NBC supports video sharing and hopes to facilitate it, but wants the chain to start at NBC.com.
"We were concerned about building their corporation instead of ours, since it's our
video," he said. "We would like to make it as easy for people to share as we can, so we're trying to provide as many tools as we can to do that."
The new video-sharing functionality is only one aspect of NBC's strategy to turn NBC.com into a thriving site with features such as message boards, blogs, and video sharing that create a community--a sort of MySpace around the NBC brand.
NBC has hired Dana Robinson as senior community manager to seed the blogosphere and Web ether with messages about new offerings on NBC.com. For example, she may encourage visitors to the MySpace forum on "The Office" to check out "Dwight's Blog," kept by one of the show's characters.
"We have a lot of good, interesting content on NBC.com," Andrade said. "And people don't know it exists. They think we're just this old media brand."
NBC.com also plans to begin promoting hot discussion topics on its message boards in prominent spots on the site, hoping to entice visitors to join in.
McClatchy high bid for Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder has collected bids as high as $4.8 billion yesterday and has scheduled a weekend board meeting to consider the offers. McClatchy Co., which owns 12 dailies but is smaller than Knight Ridder, made that top offer in cash and stock. A group of equity firms including Thomas H. Lee Partners, whose investments include American Media, and the Texas Pacific Group made a nonbinding bid of $4.7 billion in cash. The bids were reported by The New York Times.
It was unclear, however, whether a team of newspaper powerhouse Gannett and MediaNews Group submitted a bid. Officials at each company declined to comment.
Knight Ridder, which also had no comment on the bids, put itself on the block in November after its three biggest shareholders demanded a sale because of “limited growth across the newspaper industry,” “continuing consolidation among the traditional sources of print-advertising revenue” and “the redirection of advertising dollars to other media,” as the largest shareholder put it. The process is viewed by many as a referendum on the future of newspapers in the digital age.
Edward J. Atorino, a media analyst with Benchmark & Co. in New York, said that Knight Ridder presents a lot of opportunities for McClatchy. McClatchy, armed with Knight Ridder’s 32 newspapers, would rival Tribune Co. in revenue and could blanket the West Coast, particularly Northern California, in a compelling way for advertisers, Mr. Atorino said. “It’s a much better deal for McClatchy than it would be for Gannett.”
Mr. Atorino added that he hadn’t expected McClatchy to make a powerful bid. “I didn’t think they had the wherewithal to do it,” he said.
McClatchy’s offer is equivalent to $65 a share. Knight Ridder shares closed at $62.66 yesterday, when bids were due, but was trading above that at noon today.
MySpace -- The Movie removed
Since Jan. 31, more than 4 million people have used YouTube.com to watch “MySpace -- The Movie,” a parody of News Corp.’s social networking site MySpace. But YouTube users attempting to watch the video earlier this week were unable to do so. Instead, they saw a discouraging message: “Status: Rejected (copyright infringement).”
The 11-minute short film was created by 21-year-old David Lehre, who owes a lot to YouTube, because the exposure his video got on the film-sharing site led to his snagging a development deal with MTVU. The film became one of YouTube’s most-viewed clips of all time. It was originally posted by a 17-year-old blogger who uses the screen name Eggtea. “MySpace -- The Movie" can also be viewed at Mr. Lehre’s own Web site, DavidLehre.com, but due to traffic overwhelming his server, his site directs people back to YouTube.
So where was the copyright infringement?
Eggtea angrily speculated on his blog that the video was removed because “YouTube got tired of it being there [sic] most popular video ever.”
A more reasonable conclusion, in light of NBC’s recent objection to YouTube’s posting of “Saturday Night Live” sketches, is that News Corp. had called for the removal of the movie, objecting to use of the MySpace brand.
But it wasn’t News Corp. either. In fact, the social networking site has been very supportive of the short film -- going so far as to promote it on MySpace’s front page, Mr. Lehre said. In recent months, Mr. Lehre met with the two co-founders of MySpace, and he said they were “cool with" the short.
The culprits responsible for removing the movie from the site were the site’s own users. Julie Supan, senior director-marketing at YouTube, said the film’s removal was the unintentional result of a database function that automatically removes a clip after a certain number of users flag the material as either being inappropriate or in violation of a copyright.
“The users are very diligent about policing themselves,” Ms. Supan said.
After a clip receives a certain number of flags, it is reviewed by YouTube for objectionable material. If the video does not violate YouTube’s user agreement, it is restored to the site after review. “Sometimes the community can be a little overzealous,” Ms. Supan said. “But, generally, they know and understand the rules.”
Because so many people viewed “MySpace -- The Movie,” it accrued a high number of flags. Once YouTube learned of the removal, the site reinstated the popular clip.
YouTube plans to change the rules of community policing to add another step to the flagging process to prevent the removal of other widely viewed shorts.
YouTube offers unparalleled exposure, but some creators of content want to be the only source through which users can access their material. NBC recently asked YouTube to remove “SNL” sketches, choosing instead to make the viral favorites available on its own Web site and on iTunes.
Mr. Lehre, however, is not interested in the advertising revenue he could get by controlling access to his film. “I don’t plan to get rich off of online stuff,” he said. “I just want people to watch the film and have a good time.”
In fact, he plans to utilize YouTube to publicize future films. “I plan to use any and all ways to get my work out there.”
Freeipods.com
The $20 million-a-year FreeiPods.com site that has become a poster child of the increasingly important online incentive marketing business was originally started as a "get a free condom" come-on.
At lunch one day in the college cafeteria, then University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill senior Rob Jewell overheard some people talking about wanting free condoms. Entrepreneur that he was, Mr. Jewell began thinking about how he could build a business model around their needs. He hooked up with friend Peter Martin and the two started a Web site called freecondoms.com, which made money by signing up users for PayPal with the reward of free condoms. PayPal paid them $10 per new customer.
Today, Messrs. Jewell and Martin own Gratis Internet, the flagship of which is FreeiPods.com. They work with customer-acquisition agencies and directly with marketers in a pay-for-performance business model that grossed more than $20 million in 2004.
They also started a craze that shows little sign of ending. Apple CEO Steve Jobs likely never intended it, but thanks to that first FreeiPods.com pitch, the iPod has become the ultimate come-on in online incentive marketing. The sleek machine has been offered up as bait for the purchase of vacations, cars, credit cards, bank accounts, and magazine subscriptions.
It’s actually an extension of the Apple halo effect. Electronics accessories makers have capitalized on the iPod’s popularity by introducing a plethora of add-on devices, and so too have marketers looking to grab cachet with a link to the ubiquitous white player. Gratis counts among its clients AOL, Blockbuster, Citibank, BMG Music, Stamps.com and Netflix. Consumers must sign up for an offer and refer several friends who must also sign up. The customer gets the free iPod and Gratis gets paid an estimated $40 to $60 per person.
Although sometimes derided as a scam, it’s not, at least through Gratis and a few other established players. The process may be time consuming or include difficulties persuading friends, but the legit ones do pay out the iPods when the customer completes all the steps.
Part of the reason for the popularity is the demographic involved, mainly 18-to-24 year olds, Mr. Martin said, although they are trying to expand to an older group. To the younger group, social networking on the Web is their way of life and that contributes to the word of mouth as well. Destitute (or denied by parents) young people head online to ask friends and network associates to help them complete referrals and get that player. This youthful networking has in turn helped spawn an entire cottage industry of pay-for-referral Web sites and “conga lines” where people put their names on a list and are bumped up as the top person gets their referrals and collects their iPod prize.
FreeiPods is also cashing in on the trend of customer acquisition. And the grown-up sibling of those offers -- the online customer acquisition business -- is only just beginning its zenith. Lead generation and referrals are the fastest-growing segment of the online advertising business, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau, jumping more than 200% from the first half of 2004 to the first half of 2005, going from $114 million to $347 million and from 2% to 6% of all online marketing spending.
And what about the iPod ploy? It’s been going strong for two years, and while Mr. Martin said his company is working on offering products “not even on the market yet,” some wonder about the overuse of the tech-giveaway technique. “The whole iPod giveaway thing is about six months to a year away from jumping the shark,” said Mike Vorhaus, managing director at research consultancy Frank N. Magid Associates. “My guess is that if you went out and found young trendsetters in their 20s and talked about an iPod giveaway, they’d say ‘Come take one of the ones lying around my house.’” Maybe, but hipsters aside, the reality is that the allure exists for marketers as well as consumers.
“For marketers what it comes down to is it’s hard to say no to someone who is providing you a steady stream of leads,” said interactive analyst Gary Stein.
Taiwan semicon firms deliver diversity
Shift to digital consumer electronic ICs pays off
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. TAIPEI, TAIWAN, March 10, 2006 ¡V Taiwan is the world¡¦s third largest semiconductor manufacturing country, producing roughly 15 percent of the world¡¦s semiconductors. The proliferation of design, manufacturing, and package and testing companies has led Taiwan to be dubbed the ¡§Silicon Island.¡¨
¡V Taiwan is the world¡¦s third largest semiconductor manufacturing country, producing roughly 15 percent of the world¡¦s semiconductors. The proliferation of design, manufacturing, and package and testing companies has led Taiwan to be dubbed the ¡§Silicon Island.¡¨However, transition is occurring in the industry, as semiconductor companies once mainly reliant on Taiwan¡¦s thriving computer industry have realigned their strategies to include the production of higher margin semiconductors for consumer electronics devices.
This new strategy makes Taiwan a formidable foe, as both the IT and CE industries are experiencing high growth. The combination may be enough to propel Taiwan to become the world¡¦s second largest IC nation.
Foundations in foundries
Taiwan saw its rise through the ranks of semiconductor-producing nations come from its innovative foundry business model.
Under the foundry production method, outside companies commission Taiwanese manufacturers to produce custom silicon semiconductors. This strategy mirrored Taiwan¡¦s information technology OEM and ODM production methods.
Taiwan Semiconductor Corp., and United Microcontrollers, the world¡¦s first two foundries, ranked as the eighth and nineteenth largest semiconductor firms in 2005, respectively, on revenues of USD 7.6 billion and USD 3.9 billion, according to research firm IC Insights.
This foundry method also had other effects, as fables design companies, or those without factories, and package and testing firms sprung up alongside Taiwan¡¦s two giants.
All told, Taiwan¡¦s IC industry created a production value of USD 32.8 billion in 2004, and is slated to reach USD 34.2 billion in 2005, according to statistics from the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association.
Dynamic diversification
Taiwanese semiconductor firms have been steadily diversifying their product lines over the past few years in an effort to drive revenues through new markets.
A report from high-tech market research firm In-Stat shows that the worldwide semiconductor industry will continue strong growth on new technologies in the wireless, broadband equipment, and consumer electronics segments.
In-Stat found that the market for video game consoles will double by 2008. Similarly, In-Stat notes that in combination with growth of notebooks, the PC market has only slowed down slightly, increasing the number of computer semiconductors across two platforms.
Information technology research firm Gartner had a similar optimistic view, releasing its industry forecast that the total semiconductor industry would reach a record high of USD 235 billion in 2005.
Gartner analysts stated that demand for digital consumer products, including flash cards, MP3 players, and new gaming devices helped drive the industry.
This is especially true as consumer electronics products increase in scope and functionality. From digital music and video players to cell phones with integrated cameras, ¡§more multimedia¡¨ has become the key words.TSMC expands expertise
New Taiwan Semiconductor CEO Rick Tsai echoed these sentiments in 2005 when speaking at the Semicon Taiwan trade show.
Tsai noted that the growth of digital consumer electronics was outpacing that of consumers, and presented a challenge to manufacturers as they work to integrate more functionality into single devices.
The company has taken steps to develop technologies for the manufacture of many types of semiconductors. TSMC has manufacturing specialties to produce mixed signal / radio frequency chips; embedded flash devices; system-on-chip (SoC) embedded high density memory; high voltage chips for flat panel displays; CMOS image sensors; and CMOS image sensor color filters, among others.
As Tsai explained, with the explosion of digital devices in the house, families may have more than 100 electronic products with integrated ICs, including phones, TVs, gaming devices, recording devices, music players, and of course computers.Alternative thinking
As alternative platforms become more widely accepted, fabless IC companies are joining in the rush to provide innovative solutions. One of the early leaders is VIA Technologies, which gained fame for standing up to Intel in the late 1990s.
VIA now has shifted gears and is developing a line of unique processors and embedded platforms for personal electronics and other fields. These devices are built upon the familiar x86 architecture that makes up the majority of computer CPUs, but are original for their low-power and fanless designs.
VIA processors, including the VIA EDEN line, are built for embedded computing, such as would be found in Panel PCs, point-of-sale or information kiosks, and even digital devices such as set top boxes. These fanless processors eliminate the heat problems that could potentially crash a stand-alone device.
Please visit www.taiwantrade.org.tw or www.taiwaninnovalue.com for more information.
---
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp.
www.tsmc.com.tw
+886 3 563 6688
VIA Technologies Inc.
www.via.com.tw
+886 2 2218 5452Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) was founded in 1970 to promote Taiwan¡¦s foreign trade and competitiveness in world markets. Over the past 35 years, TAITRA has played a key role in the development of the Taiwan economy. TAITRA is jointly sponsored by the government and commercial associations and is viewed by all as the business gateway to Taiwan for the international business community.
US Contact:
Sabrina Kor
Taiwan Trade Center in San Francisco
5201 Great America Parkway Suite 306, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (408) 988-5018 Ext: 202, Fax: (408) 988-5029,
E-mail: sabrina.kor@taiwantradesf.org
Taiwan Contact:
Nicolaus Wilk
Tel: 886-2-2722-5369, ext 624
Email: nwilk@golinharris.com
Sawyer to be new anchor?
Sources now report that Diane Sawyer has secured the position of anchor of the nightly ABC network news show at 6:30 p.m. Thisis because newly appointed anchor Bob Woodruff is recuperating from his terrible accident in Iraq. In addition, his co-anchor, Elizabeth Vargas, is pregnant.
Where this leaves Vargas is the remaining question. She could not have foreseen Woodruff's accident, and her pregnancy now is poorly timed. When Sawyer moves to nighttime, it's conceivable (pun intended) that Vargas will move to "Good Morning America." Woodruff, is at the beginning of a long recovery; the chances of his return as full-time anchor are slim to none.
Katie is beaming about the "Today" show's ratings. Usually, "Good Morning America" gets a boost from the Oscars on the Monday after the awards show. But the Oscar ratings were so poor this year that "Today" beat "Good Morning America" by 800,000 viewers on Monday. It was their best ever post-Oscar Monday rating
Women may soon be the anchors on the evening news for two of the four television networks."HOLLYWOOD is spending money to get fewer ticket buyers.”
TV buyers have been spending more on network TV shows for years, while getting fewer viewers.
Everybody is scrambling to keep up, paying more and getting less--with no end in sight.
Theatrical film marketing costs rose 5.2 percent to $36.2 million per picture in 2005.
That's music to the ears of network, cable, and syndication TV sellers, who depend heavily on this seemingly never-ending growing advertising category. Interestingly, that 5.2 percent was the average program price hike that all advertisers paid during last year's TV upfront.
Looking closer should give TV sellers even more pleasant dreams. Movie spending in newspapers dropped significantly, from 19.7 percent in 2004 to just 15.5 percent of total film marketing expenditures in 2005, while television, online and other media showed gains.
Gross film marketing dollars don't have the same story. Overall film marketing dollars were the same last year versus 2004, say the studios. Fewer wide-release movies could be the reason. Another bad movie stat: U.S. ticket sales fell 6 percent and total attendance slipped 9 percent--the third straight year of losses.
Studio media dollars will continue to be used as a springboard in starting TV's upfront ad business. The bigger question is whether enough big tent-pole theatrical features will still deliver massive TV ad revenues--especially during the final weeks of the TV season, when studios push big summer theatrical releases.
As witnessed at the recent Academy Awards, smaller and more modestly produced and marketed movies may be in vogue. Those costs have been rising as well. Studio boutique brands such as NBC Universal's Focus Films and Fox Filmed Entertainment's Fox Searchlight witnessed a 33 percent jump in the marketing money spent on an average movie, up to $15.2 million.
All this might change the TV advertising dynamic a bit, perhaps easing movies' TV ad prices as smaller films replace bigger pictures. So TV sellers shouldn't get too comfortable that their movie studio older brothers will continue to pay TV's big upfront meal tickets
In the fast world of technology, maintaining will have your company in a downward spiral faster than you can say TiVo. Apple, striving to expand their iPod niche market, needs only to look at their own company history to know the perils of sitting on your laurels.
March 09, 2006
Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 9 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
Breaking News: Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
MONTEBUBBLISM: When you put off till tomorrow what should have been done a week ago it often leaves you angry at those trying to tell you it needs to get done.
Two Marines die in Iraq
HAI INTRODUCES LUMINA LIGHTING CONTROL
Consumer Confidence Down But Future Brighter
Maybe people are not as stupid as our government thinks we are: Soft Drink sales are down
MGM Hope to return its glory days.
Airman Lost In 1942 Crash Is Identified
Google to pay big time
DOD Announces Marine deaths
News: Reel-Talk Scurries to Reschedule “Hip Hop for Hunger”
March 11, 2006 Fresno Convention Center comes to the rescue to “Hip Hop for Hunger”, originally designed to benefit Visalia Emergency Aid. Re-venued, from 7- 11 pm for 4 hours, of non-stop Hip Hop and R & B, the artists hope to make a difference
The Visalia Police Department was concerned about potential violence and suggested there might be problems if “Hip Hop for Hunger” happened. Visalia Emergency Aid withdrew as beneficiary of the concert. Reel-Talk Entertainment was featuring up-and-coming Hip Hop and R & B artists focused on creating a positive image for Hip Hop while raising funds to prevent homelessness and care for the local needy.When Visalia Emergency Aid came to Bonnie Thompson, founder and CEO of Reel-Talk Entertainment, requesting her to help them with a fund-raiser for the community she couldn’t resist. Ms. Thompson, a single mother who relocated from the Bay Area to Visalia after her back was injured, had once struggled to avoid homelessness in the 80s, and had recently completed construction of a state-of the-art recording studio in Visalia. As far as Thompson knows, there has never been a Hip Hop benefit concert for the sole purpose of raising awareness to the struggle that the working poor face everyday.
When word got out this was a charity event with a mission, artists from diverse backgrounds from all over the country wanted to perform at “Hip Hop for Hunger” said Thompson. Over 20 Hip Hop and R & B artists are performing. E-40, from Vallejo known as the Bay Area Ambassador, and a legend in Hip Hop from the 90s, is the headliner. MTV planned on airing a special on E-40 just after the event. Other artists that are planned to be there, as of flyers printing, include: Blac Da Rippa, Sole Profit (recently signed with Sony/BMG and a Fresno State graduate), and Quay. There’s even a Hip Hop classical violinist opening a musical production called “Air Raid” and a collaboration of Reel-Talk artists, produced by “Phoenix” a Masters Degree in Music Arts student at Fresno State, with the theme song “What Would You Do?”
Three months later and rumored to be upwards of over $40,000 invested, Thompson had the rug pulled out from beneath her 10 days before “Hip Hop for Hunger” was to occur. In an email from Charlie Wolf, the Director of Fund Development of Visalia Emergency Council, on March 1, “Please pull all mentions of Visalia Emergency Aid to the benefit concert. Due to concerns of potential violence that would be reflected on VEAC, Visalia Emergency Aid Council must withdraw as beneficiary of this benefit. Any financial considerations such as remaining schedule must be cancelled. Please remove or enhance all poster or flyers that reference VEAC. Fees related to talent or live broadast may be refunded as they are no longer under consideration. Any business in association with Reel-Talk Entertainment must be handled directly with Reel-Talk CEO Bonnie Thompson.”
“This is more of a George Strait area…It’s a little more of a redneck audience.” Interim Visalia Police Chief Bob Williams was quoted. Due to his research, there were concerns of possibilities of potential gang violence from E-40 attendees, even though the promotional flyer stated No Alcohol. Unfortunately, as was seen in the case of an all day Punk Rock concert in San Bernardino, with “British Invasion 2K6” , a riot broke out this past Saturday. Greg Hoffman, the Program Director of B-95, a local radio station, has held 5 events with E-40 without incident.
Fast forward a few days and Thompson has miraculously pulled a rabbit out of the hat with rescheduling at the Fresno Convention Center. Meanwhile, obvious costs have increased, even from the headliner band. Hoping that costs may be recouped, Thompson’s intended beneficiary is the Poverello House in Fresno. The Poverello House, a well known local charity is a private, nonprofit, denominational organization that has been serving the hungry and homeless of our community since 1973.Unfortunately for Visalia, the original benefiting community, is part of Tulare County. According to the Visalia Emergency Aid website (www.veac.org), Tulare County is the 8th ranked worst county in the United States with 33.2% of children under 18 years old living in poverty.
In discussing the artists’ reaction, “They are speechless. They are astounded that a growing community in such need would reject help. They’re going on to Fresno and are going to do a show that will make Visalia proud” shared Thompson with MBN in a telephone interview. “I’m just praying for a successful show to show Visalia that it really can be done.”Two Marines die in Iraq
Two Marines assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group were killed in Anbar province, Iraq, March 7 and 8, military officials in Iraq reported.
No further details were available. Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The Defense Department recently released the names of three servicemembers killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Army Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, March 5, when a roadside bomb detonated. Jessen was assigned to the 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.- Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Anbar province. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.- Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne P.R. Lewis, 26, of New York City, died in Baghdad Feb. 27 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol. Lewis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
HAI INTRODUCES LUMINA LIGHTING CONTROL
Utilizing Universal Powerline Bus (UPB™) Technology, Lumina Offers an Affordable, Sophisticated Lighting Controller that is Simple to Operate and Install.
Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), the premier manufacturer of home control products since 1985, introduces Lumina; a sophisticated affordable central lighting and control system. The Lumina whole house lighting control system offers all of the options and amenities that consumers desire,
while maintaining a price point that most can afford.
Lumina allows for the setting of elegant lighting scenes throughout the home, with the ability to preset “modes” for each room that can be scheduled (according to sunrise/sunset, motion, or event) or controlled manually with the push of a button. Create a gentle light for morning in
your kitchen, low lights for movie viewing in your home theater, night lights for a nightcap by the fireplace or “all off” for when your day is done. Lumina's mode controller goes by the entry door so you can simply tap Home, Away, Party, Sleep, Special or Vacation to set lighting appropriately for convenience and energy savings.
Installation is easy: replace existing light switches with HAI's full selection of switches and dimmers, then mount the Lumina controller on a wall and plug it in. Set it up using the included LCD keypad/console and you're ready to go. HAI includes the transformer and back up battery for a complete kit.
Lumina is available in two versions: the Lumina, capable of 8 rooms and 64 loads, and the Lumina Pro, capable of 31 rooms and 217 loads. Each has built-in Ethernet port and three serial ports for easy expansion. Because Lumina is based on HAI's award winning controllers, customers can expand their Lumina's connectivity with HAI options such as Telephone Access with voice menus, Web-Link II (for internet control), Home Control for Windows Media Center (for control with a single remote), HAI thermostats and temperature sensors (for energy management), HAI Wireless door and motion sensors for lighting control and numerous other accessories. Lumina Pro also supports multi-room audio systems.
Lumina has a built in astronomical clock for sunrise and sunset calculations and automatic daylight savings time adjustment, ensuring accurate dusk to dawn lighting control year round.
“With our Lumina product, we're making lighting control accessible to a wider base of individuals by keeping costs low and making the installation and operation of the control system uncomplicated” said Jay McLellan, CEO and Founder of HAI. “Now, anyone can enjoy the beauty and convenience of home lighting control”.
Lumina is ideal for new or retrofit construction, as it uses Universal Powerline Bus (UPB™) , the most advanced digital communication standard available to transmit commands over existing standard electrical wires. UPB is a digital power line communications standard for lighting and
home control that has been used in commercial environments since 2001. It has been extensively tested and researched in residential environments and found to be 99.9 percent reliable. Lumina can also operate lighting devices by other manufacturers, including X-10 based devices, ALC
and others.
Lumina and Lumina Pro are shipping now. For more information please visit www.homeauto.com or call 800-229-7256. For a high resolution picture of this product, please follow this link,
http://www.homeauto.com/mediacenter/haiprimage.asp?image=LuminaPropackageRev.tif
About HAI: HAI is a privately held manufacturer of integrated automation and security products for residential and commercial use based in New Orleans, LA. Incorporated in 1985, HAI has developed a full line of award-winning automation products, including automation controllers,
communicating programmable thermostats, smart light switches, and software that allows access and control of an automation system over the Internet. All products are sold through HAI's worldwide network of Distribution Partners and installed by over 1000 trained dealers.
Consumer Confidence Down But Future Brighter
The February BIGresearch Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey finds that consumer confidence declines three points from last month yet the 90 day outlook brightens as all categories improve from January and fewer consumers contend they've become more practical in the last 6 months.
Some of the leading projection categories provide clues about the consumer marketplace immediate future:
Confidence in chances for a strong economy declines 44.3%...also down from '05 (47.7%) and '04 (49.4%)
Those concerned about political and national security issues rise in February to 18.2%, compared to 16.4% last month, though relatively even with '05 (18.0%)
Fewer consumers have become more practical in the last 6 months, now at 42.2% (down from 44.6% last month), thought an increase from last year (39.2%)
The majority of consumers say they focus more on needs over wants in purchases (51.5%), relatively flat from January (51.8%) and an increase from '05 (47.4%)
Considering the personal and financial attitudes of the consumer:
42.8% expect "more" layoffs over the next 6 months (up from 34.4% last month), while those concerned with becoming laid off themselves rises slightly from 4.7% in January to 4.9%
More plan to "pay down debt" (43.5%) over the next three months, compared to last month (42.3%), though fewer contend they'll pay with cash more often (24.4%) and decrease overall spending (31.5%)
Last month, 31.4% said gas prices were having "no major impact" on spending, compared to 29.9% this month. In February '05, 48.4% cited "no major impact."
And with regards to retail plans for consumers:
38.6% say familiar fashion labels are important, up from 35.9% in '05
72.1% say price is the driving force behind their preference to shop a particular store for Electronics, followed by selection (57.2%), location (46.2%), quality (38.6%), and service (27.6%)
Those in the 25-44 year old age range spent about 5% more than the average for major electronics in the last 12 months, but about twice the monthly average on smaller items like CDs, DVDs, and flash memory
Find more information about the BIG Executive Briefing here.
Sales volume of carbonated soft drinks across retail, vending and fountain channels fell last year for the first time in two decades. According to Beverage Digest, volume slid 0.2% -- and if it hadn’t factored in energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster -- carbonated beverage volume would have tumbled even further, 0.7%.
“The carbonated soft drink business in the U.S. has basic fundamental problems,” said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest. “This is the first generation of children that are going to grow up not viewing soft drinks as the ultimate treat. They’re growing up on things like sports drinks, water and noncarbonated drinks. As these little kids move into late teens and early adulthood, their drinking habits are going to be different than past generations.”
Trends so far this year appear to continue the downward slide, said Bill Pecoriello, beverage analyst for Morgan Stanley. He estimates the category will slip at rate of 1% over the next few years. Increase in overall revenue
Though volume fell, sales in the $70 billion category grew 3.3%, mostly on price increases for regular and diet drinks and on premium pricing for energy drinks.
Even diet drinks have taken a hit, as sales have slammed on the brakes since the beginning of 2004, according to Information Resources Inc. data. Volume gains in diet carbonated soft drinks have steadily dropped to a 6% decline during the fourth quarter of 2005 from a volume gain of 8% during late 2004.
“Consumers say they don’t like the taste, are worried about artificial sweeteners and don’t view diet carbonated soft drinks as ‘healthy,’” Mr. Pecoriello wrote, citing Morgan Stanley research that showed 64% of water growth is coming from carbonated soft drinks.
“The rules for success in the soft-drink industry are changing rapidly,” he wrote in a note today to investors. Carbonated soft drinks “continue to lose their positive image as a popular, versatile, fun beverage choice as consumers are cutting back on sugar, drinking more water and watching calories.” Citing Morgan Stanley’s own consumer research, Mr. Pecoriello pointed to the growing mountain of articles linking sodas with obesity. Schweppes, Mountain Dew make gains.
There were some winners, however. Of the top three soft-drink marketers, Cadbury Schweppes grew its volume by 0.6% in contrast to leader Coca-Cola Co., down 0.1%, and Pepsi-Cola Co., down 1.2%. Among the top five brands, Coke Classic dropped 2%, Pepsi-Cola slid 3.2%, Diet Coke slipped 0.1% and Diet Pepsi 1.9%. No. 4 brand Mountain Dew grew 1.8%.
MGM Hope to return its glory days.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, hoping to return to its glory days as a Hollywood powerhouse, today hired Palisades Media Group to handle media buying and planning for MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution division.
Billings were undisclosed, but estimates run as high as $100 million. MGM is the second movie maker to move its account to Palisades since August, when it won the $150 million media-buying account for Weinstein Co.
At a news conference today, MGM unveiled plans to distribute close to 20 films from Weinstein Co. and a number of other independent film companies. (Weinstein Co. was founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who left Walt Disney Co. last year. The brothers are best-known as the founders of Miramax, which they sold to Disney a decade ago.)
At a news conference today, MGM unveiled plans to distribute close to 20 films from Weinstein Co. and a number of other independent film companies. (Weinstein Co. was founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who left Walt Disney Co. last year. The brothers are best-known as the founders of Miramax, which they sold to Disney a decade ago.)Harry Sloan, MGM Chairman since late last year, has plans to return the roar to the iconic MGM lion by beefing up the company’s domestic theatrical distribution business.
MGM spent $88.6 million in measured media last year and $113.2 million in 2004, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
Airman Lost In 1942 Crash Is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. Army Air Forces airman, missing since 1942, have been identified and will soon be returned to his family for burial.
He is Aviation Cadet Leo Mustonen, 22, of Brainerd, Minn. The family has not set a date for his burial.
Mustonen was one of four men aboard a routine navigation training flight that departed Mather Field, Calif., on Nov. 18, 1942. Their AT-7 Navigator aircraft carried about five hours of fuel, and when the plane did not return to base, a search was initiated. It was suspended about a
month later with no results.
In 1947, several hikers on Darwin Glacier in the Sierra Nevada mountain range discovered the aircraft wreckage. Human remains of three of the crew found at the site were buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif.
Several other hikers on Mendel Glacier, which is adjacent to Darwin Glacier, discovered frozen human remains, circumstantial evidence and personal effects in October 2005. Park rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and a forensic anthropologist from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recovered the remains, which were later shipped to the
JPAC laboratory in Hawaii.
Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA as one of the forensic tools in the process. U.S. Army casualty and mortuary officials located and briefed representatives of the families of all four crewmen.
Google agreed to pay up to $90 million
Google agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle a lawsuit filed against it and other internet companies claiming they conspired with their advertising partners to overcharge for online ads. The money will go to advertising credits and legal fees for the plaintiffs. A judge must still approve the settlement. The lawsuit was originally filed in Miller County, Ark. in February 2005.
The plaintiffs are Lane's Gifts & Collectibles, a store in Texarkana, Ark., and Max Caulfield, a Florida private investigator. They allege that internet search companies, including Google and Yahoo, charged them for illegitimate clicks on ads. Google and other internet companies base advertisers' fees on the number of times internet users click on their ads that appear next to search results and other content.
Competitors or others seeking to make mischief can click on the ads manually or generate software programs to automatically click on them to inflate charges for the advertisers. Under terms of the settlement, any advertiser that can show it was improperly charged for ads going back to 2002 can receive a credit for future ads on Google. It currently requires companies to file claims for illegitimate ads within 60 days.
The settlement would enable Google to avoid disclosing more about its ad system and anti-fraud methods in court. Yahoo said yesterday that it plans to contest the suit.
DOD Announces Marine deaths
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cpl. Adam O. Zanutto, 26, of Caliente, Calif., died March 6 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from wounds received as a result of an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, Iraq on Feb. 25. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gunnery Sgt. Justin R. Martone, 31, of Bedford, Va. Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas Martone died March 7 and Fry died March 8 from improvised explosive devices in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Martone was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. Fry was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
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March 08, 2006
Cell Phone Radiation
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 8 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: When you win because the other contestants don’t show up it is still a victory
Cell Phone Radiation Studied on Human Skin by Finns
Can Verizon Wireless save TiVo?
New FUSION™ Series mounts
PGA Tour Tip
The telephone companies getting into TV again?
Problems selling ads on cellphone
NHL Games Tanking on TV
Gefen Introduces HDTV Over CAT-5 Extension Solutions
Cingular leaps into race
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Finland’s radiation and nuclear safety watchdog, will be studying the effects of mobile phones on human proteins by direct tests on people’s skin, to see if handset transmission affect their health. Once a concern, affects of radiation from cell phone usage has dwindled.
STUK’s Research Professor and head of the laboratory of radiation biology, Dariusz Leszczynski has also been invited by SNF, the Swiss National Science Foundation, to join the Steering Committee of a research program on mobile phone radiation. SNF is currently running 15 programs, among them the programm on non-ionizing radiation, which will be focused on the effects of mobile phone radiation. The 4 year program is budgeted at 3.3 million
On Friday, Leszczynksi said “a pilot study, to be conducted next week, will expose a small area of skin on volunteers' arms to cellphone radiation for the duration of a long phone call, or for one hour. Researchers will then take a skin sample to study and compare with one taken before the radiation exposure.” "Cells function in a different way when they are in the body than in laboratory surroundings. Now we want to confirm whether radiation causes cell level changes in humans as well," he said.
The results of the study are due by the end of the year, and Leszczynski's team hopes to show if radiation has any impact on the body's natural barrier that prevents toxins and other dangerous proteins that might be in the bloodstream from reaching brain cells.
Some researchers suspect brain cancer has become more common as a result of cellphone use, but there is no clear evidence to support that, Leszczynski said.
ChiefÆ Manufacturing, the industry leader in mounting solutions, introduces the new FUSION™ Series mounts for Small Flat Panel TVs. The FUSION line offers custom and universal mounting solutions with high functionality and low-profile designs.
The addition of the FSR and FTR completes the FUSION Series, which now offers fixed and tilt mounting solutions for small, medium and large flat panel TVs. All FUSION Series mounts feature Chief’s Q-Latch Mounting System for increased security, and easy screen placement and removal.
FSR Fixed Wall Mount (10”-26” displays)
The new FUSION FSR Fixed Wall Mount is designed to provide ultra low-profile installation and built-in security. The FSR includes Chief’s Q-Latch Mounting System for portrait and landscape installations. Available in custom or universal. Weight capacity: 50 lbs.
FTR Tilt Wall Mount (10”-26” displays)
The new FTR Tilt Wall Mount features smooth, fingertip tilt adjustments without tools, and a low-profile depth of less than 2”. The FTR provides fast installation and built-in security with multiple installation options and portrait/landscape mounting. Available in custom or universal. Weight capacity: 50 lbs.
About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV – Chief/Sanus Audio Visual, has more than 28 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat panel displays and projectors.
Chief continues to design innovative mounting solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful customer service.
PGA TOUR TIP
There are 22 countries represented among the Top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The U.S. far and away leads the pack with 40 players, but Australia has 13 and England 10 to lead the international contingent.
The telephone companies getting into TV again?
Cable operators think so and are on the warpath again concerned about the new merger of AT&T and Bell South. They are being attacked by satellite companies on one side and now,telephone companieson the other. They are scared the new AT&T is on the verge of putting back the old monopoly AT&T.
AT&T is already bigger than the biggest cable companies, and the new company's market capitalization will be more than the entire cable industry combined. Canble companies have warned that new IPTV technologies from AT&T, Verizon, and others will give them a stranglehold on video business--similar to what they had with the phone business up to the late 1970s, before the government broke up AT&T.
Bell Atlantic at one time was going to take over video content with its proposed merger with the large cable system operator, Tele-Communications Inc.? In October 1993, Bell Atlantic said it planned to develop a full-fledged fiber distribution network, in the wake of its proposed $30 billion acquisition of Tele-Communications Inc. The deal fell apart.
Then five years later, in 1998, another telco-cable deal stuck--sort of. AT&T bought the Tele-Communications, a deal valued at just short of $50 billion. Then AT&T was supposed to rule the video world. But it got out of the business because AT&T couldn't figure out cable's complex and sludgy financial scale--cable systems still being more a regional business than the national one that AT&T knows.
The lesson learned here is to look at media mergers in the same way one observes new consumer media technologies. In the 1980s, VCRs were supposed to rule the media world and make network programming schedules obsolete, putting the then-big network programming chiefs--Brandon Stoddard at ABC, Brandon Tartikoff at NBC and Kim LeMasters at CBS--out of business. That never happened either.
In 90s, AT&T and other big bell companies had similar opportunities with assets and cable holdings to leapfrog over other longtime media companies and truly dominate video and the pipes in which they ran.
People have hung up on the bells before. With little track record, and slow IPTV development and rollout for these companies, this smells like the past all over again. The cards are in place for another massive disconnect.
Despite the glowing predictions of the wireless industry, advertising and cellphone-based content distribution do not appear to be jelling well yet. The latest big wireless content plays are exclusively subscription based and fear of consumer backlash is one of the reasons for that.
The problem is facing media companies looking to capitalize on their archives via wireless platforms. Despite marketers’ obvious interest in mobile ad options, and a host of smaller players in the space making bold pronouncements for the future of cellphone marketing, the advertisers are nowhere in sight and not on new services from Fox Corp. and CBS Corp.
Fox Mobile Entertainment is launching global phone-content company Mobizzo, offering premium content at $5.99 a month, while CBS is rolling out two news products, “CBS News to Go” and Entertainment Tonight branded “ET to Go,” priced respectively at 99¢ cents and $3.99 a month
There are about 200 million cellphone users in the U.S., but only around 4 million are video-equipped, and marketers have yet to strike out and do for mobile what BMW Films did for the online in 2001.
Cyriac Roeding, VP-wireless at CBS, said advertisers aren’t involved in the subscription-video products yet because “we’re creating a lot of things on the sly and advertisers need a lot longer lead time. It’s about getting the two development cycles aligned.”
Besides the news alerts, the Eye Network has other projects in development, including a mobile soap opera and an online shop where subscribers can buy wallpaper and ringtones. Both offer the potential for ad involvement, according to Mr. Roeding.
Aa survey by Airwide Solutions, a mobile software company, suggests that there’s a huge appetite among marketers to get connected to cellphones, given their very personal nature. The survey, published Feb. 27, claims that 89% of major brands are planning to market via mobile phones by 2008, and more than half of brands plan to spend between 5% and 25% of their marketing budget in the medium in the next five years.
Tim Hanlon, senior VP-ventures at Denuo, the media-futures practice at Publicis Groupe, agrees that eventually advertisers will play a bigger role in the wireless universe once consumers start feeling “digital sticker shock,” as they add up all the seemingly small charges for new content. When that point arrives, he said, “judicious ad messaging could and should have a role.”
A number of commentators feel that wireless carriers are standing in the way of progress and suggest that carriers want to protect a pricing model that favors subscriptions over a wide array of free ad-supported content that cuts them out of the revenue picture.
“Carriers are in danger of replicating the arrogance and ignorance of cable operators when it comes to video on demand,” said Mr. Hanlon
And get them back watching. Although Nielsen Media Research figures show the 21% drop, to be fair, NBC has had only four telecasts so far this season. On Comcast’s OLN, the league’s new cable partner, ratings are flat with that of ESPN2 two years ago, but are down more than 60% from games on ESPN in the 2003-04 season.
Interest is so low that one national TV writer quipped in a syndicated column that OLN no longer uses Nielsen ratings for games; it simply asks viewers to sign in to its guest book. loyal fans
Mr. LaBroad said his initial thought to increase viewership is to tap into NHL players themselves in marketing campaigns. “NHL players are people like you and me,” he said. “They’re relatable and they’re humble. We need to get them in front of the public more. It allows people to build a connection to the individual.”
Ed Horne, president of NHL Enterprises, acknowledged that the NHL has a viewership problem, but said, “Our objective this season was to bring back the fan that stuck with us. They’ve come back, and it’s been remarkable.”
Mr. LaBroad may also have to confront a potential gambling scandal. Just days before the NHL took a two-week break to allow its players to compete in the Olympics last month, federal investigators said Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach and former NHL star Rick Tocchet spearheaded a nationwide sports-betting ring. Gamblers allegedly include actress Janet Jones, the wife of Coyotes head coach and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, and at least a half-dozen former and current NHL players.
The league has been proactive in aiding the investigation, and has also hired former federal prosecutor Robert Cleary to conduct its own investigation. Commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy commissioner “have been very clear and very swift about this,” said league spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur.
Gefen Introduces HDTV Over CAT-5 Extension Solutions
Though Gefen has been supplying DVI and HDMI over CAT-5 cable extension
solutions for a while now, two new models are being introduced at NSCA.
The DVI-CAT5 Extreme and the HDMI-CAT5 Extreme offer enhanced features
that provide greater support for even the most challenging HD video
installations.
Upgraded chip technologies inside the sender and receiver units of each
makes the system more tolerant of CAT-5 cable skew variations,
especially noticeable at distances over 100 feet, and better able to function
in “patch bay” scenarios.
Gefen’s CAT-5 extension solutions have always supported HD video up to
1080p, but the DVI-CAT5 Extreme and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme support HD
resolutions up to 2048x1080—a leap that benefits both digital HD home
entertainment and computer systems with a more stable output at these higher
levels.
Up to 150 feet at 165MHz is achieved with better regulated power
consumption, and up to 200 feet can be reached with both the DVI-CAT5 Extreme
and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme at resolutions up to 1080i.
EMI protection is also improved, allowing both units to function
optimally in more challenging environments, such as those found in the
medical and security industries.
Gefen’s DVI-CAT5 Extreme and HDMI-CAT5 Extreme solutions will retain
the pricing of $499 each, and are expected to begin shipping in March.
For more information:
Linda Morgan
linda@gefen.com
610.436.4759
Cingular leaps into race
Cingular leaps into a race already started by Verizon Wireless to offer its own brand of video content on cellphones. At the moment, neither the Verizon Wireless plan nor the new Cingular plan sells advertising into the mobile video content.
Sprint operates its TV service via a MobiTV channel under the name Sprint PowerVision. Cingular also offers its subscribers a service from MobiTV, an independent company whose service allows for advertising. Cingular now will also have its own Cingular-branded channel, at the moment ad free, in addition to its MobiTV channel.
Two tiers is a model Verizon may soon adopt. Verizon Wireless’ chief marketing officer, John Stratton, said at Advertising Age’s Madison & Vine conference that he has considered offering subscribers a two-tier video service, one without ads and a second lower-priced, ad-supported offering.
Ads running on MobiTV's live programming reflect ads airing on live TV. In addition, MobiTV offers the equivalent of cable TV’s local ad slots. A number of marketers have signed up with MobiTV, including Gemeral Motor Corp.'s Jeep, Unilever's Axe and Nokia. Most recently, Visa became a MobiTV sponsor. American Express, meanwhile, kicked off its MobiTV buy around the Oscars with ads on MobiTV’s live content, as well as two longer spots that ran on MobiTV’s made for mobile programming.
Cingular Video will include clips from an assortment of content providers, including ABC trailers of the network's hit shows “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost”; Cartoon Network’s “The Powerpuff Girls”; Adult Swim’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” on Comedy Central; news content from CNN and Fox; and extensive local-weather information. It also is offering HBO Mobile content for $4.99 a month and HBO Family Mobile content for $2.99 a month. Music video clips, from Music Choice, will be available on a pay-per-view basis for 24 hours.
In marketing the service, Cingular is taking the tack that it is the most personalized of all the wireless service companies' offerings, allowing for a personalized home page with links to three favorite video sites as well as local weather information. The service will roll out nationally, starting with 16 markets, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, San Diego and Seattle.
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Defense Department presented an award to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an America Supports You member, at the U.S. Navy Memorial here yesterday evening.
The speedway was recognized as one of the first corporate sponsors to join America Supports You, a Defense Department initiative facilitating grassroots and corporate support for America's troops and their families.
"I'm here on behalf of the secretary of defense to present the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an award that signifies the importance of when corporations and communities reach out and support our military members and their families," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of
defense for public affairs. "We're thrilled to be here tonight to highlight the long tradition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and their support for our military."
The speedway, which joined America Supports You in May 2005, has several programs that offer public recognition for the troops, Barber said. Those programs include a memorial service in downtown Indianapolis each year before the Indy 500 and a ceremony swearing-in military recruits
during its Armed Forces Day. Before the big race in 1999, the speedway hosted a gathering of Medal of Honor recipients.
"It's not about the war; it's not about the policy," Barber said. "It's about the people."
Joie Chitwood, the speedway's president and chief operating officer, accepted the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.
"On behalf of the (speedway's owners), it's an honor to be here tonight and to accept this recognition," Chitwood said. "We have a unique event that is specifically tied in to Memorial Day weekend. ... It only makes the greatest spectacle in racing that much more special."
Veteran auto race sportscaster Bob Jenkins served as master of ceremonies for the ceremony.
"I'm very, very honored to be here tonight in this facility and in this city," Jenkins said. "You cannot come to this city without the realization that this is the seat of American government, and you can't come here without feeling a little patriotic, especially in a building such as this."
Jenkins invited the crowd to stand and face the American flag and pledge allegiance to it. Later, he called on members of the crowd to ask questions to a panel of famous Indy car drivers, including:
- Johnny Rutherford, three-time Indy 500 winner in the 1970s;
- Janet Guthrie, the first woman to drive in the race, in 1977;
- Michael Andretti, who came out of retirement to race with his son this year;
- Marco Andretti, Michael's 19-year-old son, who will drive in the race for the first time in May;
- Helio Castroneves, from Sao Paolo, Brazil, winner of both the 2001 and 2002 races; and
- Dan Wheldon, a native of Emberton, England, who won the race in 2005.
The drivers answered questions about safety issues, their favorite driving moments, the Indy 500's history, their opinions of other drivers, and what it's like to be part of an event with such close military ties.
"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has always strongly supported our troops, and we're doing the same," Wheldon said. "I think no matter which beliefs people have, we would like to show our support to the troops."
The Indianapolis 500 will run for the 90th time Sunday, May 28th.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who
was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Dwayne P. R. Lewis, 26, of New York City, died in Baghdad,
Iraq on Feb. 27, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire
during a dismounted patrol. Lewis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd
Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum,N.Y.
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March 07, 2006
Army Casualty In Iraq
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 7 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Playing in the dirt is fun till you have to get a bath.
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
Among the series gaining the go-ahead for future episodes were last season’s newcomers “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “How I Met Your Mother.” CBS did not give any news yet on sibling freshman shows “Close to Home” and “Out of Practice.”
The renewals account for 13 hours of CBS’s schedule, which also includes the reality show “The Amazing Race” and a slew of the network's successful procedural dramas, such as “Cold Case,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (and its two spin-offs), “NCIS,” “Numbers” and “Without a Trace.” Also renewed are the long-lived Sunday news program “60 Minutes,” reality blockbuster “Survivor” and the Charlie Sheen sitcom “Two and a Half Men.”
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
Broadcast networks like ABC are selling some of their most popular shows on Apple’s iTunes for $1.99, but a new study finds that most consumers would be willing to watch an ad if the sponsor picked up the cost of the show.
And if that model becomes the standard, more would be interested in buying a video iPod.
The survey, which explored video iPods, found that 54% of respondents would be more likely to purchase an iPod if TV programs could be downloaded free of charge in exchange for watching a 30-second advertisement.
Among those actually planning to purchase a video iPod, 72% said they would be more likely to download a TV program in exchange for watching an ad. The Magid study surveyed 798 iPod owners between the ages of 12 and 55. Market research firm Frank N. Magid Associates conducted the study.
“It appears that the option to download content of choice for free will dramatically increase interest in purchasing a video iPod, thus potentially increasing video iPod sales and penetration,” the study concluded.
Some free TV content exists on iTunes. The pilot episode of NBC’s “Conviction,” for example, was available for free a week before its first airing.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, on March 5, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Jessen was assigned to the Army's 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Restoration of the flood protection system in New Orleans is on track and by June 1 will be equal to or better than it was before Hurricane Katrina, the Army general in charge of the program said here yesterday. To date, 100 of the 169 damaged miles of levee have been repaired, and 85 percent of pumping capacity is restored, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, commander and chief of engineers, Army Corps of Engineers, said at a White House news conference. In meeting President Bush's June 1 commitment, the Corps of Engineers will restore all damaged levees and floodwalls and will put three temporary closures on canals that presented problems during Katrina, Strock said. Also, the Canal at 17th Street, the Canal at Orleans and the London Avenue Canal will all have closures to prevent the storm surge of a future weather event from getting into vulnerable areas, he said. By September 2007, the entire flood protection system around the New Orleans area will be up to its full and authorized design levels, Strock said. "I say that and make that distinction because pre-Katrina, some of the system was not at its full authorized design, so we'll complete the construction of that," he added. During the rebuilding process, 91 percent of contracts have gone to local firms, providing about $770 million of work, Strock said. "We see this not only as a way to help set the conditions for the physical recovery of New Orleans, but also to help create some economic opportunities for local businesses," he said. By December 2007, the Corps of Engineers will have completed its study of what is required to give the ultimate protection level to New Orleans, Strock said. This study will give officials a good idea of what needs to be done in the future to protect the city, he said. Strock challenged media reports about poor construction standards and materials, and said that the Corps of Engineers is doing the right thing in New Orleans. "We are using the right material, and we're putting it down in the right way," he said. "We're giving tremendous scrutiny into not only how we do this, but also into the results after the fact. So we're doing extensive testing of the in-place structures to ensure that they are up to standard." The Corps of Engineers is now determining whether to replace many of the city's undamaged floodwalls with more structurally stable walls and is considering using a navigable flood-control structure to isolate the Inner Harbor, Strock said. As the June 1 start of the next hurricane season approaches, military and government officials are committed to the safety of the people of New Orleans, Strock said. "The people of the Corps of Engineers and our partners down there in the area are working very hard to ensure that we reduce the vulnerabilities to the people to the very highest degree we can, and that any remaining vulnerabilities are clearly understood by the people as they make decisions on when and how to reoccupy the city," he said.
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Philips Electronics and its agency, Omnicom’s DDB, New York, came up with a great idea recently. Why not do something that its audience will really appreciate? The idea was to buy the four minutes of screen time that cinemas usually sell to advertisers and run a 15-second spot that told the audience Philips was helping the movie start sooner. Only problem was Screenvision, seller of cinema ads, wouldn’t let them do it.
Screenvision didn't like that a big-screen ad was poking fun at movie advertising
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Hollywood, as evidenced by the Oscar show’s relentless promotion of seeing movies the old-fashion way on the big screen, has been fighting new distribution methods for its wares fiercely for some time now. It’s probably the last place that will willingly give up control of its distribution.
Philips and DDB have given up on the idea for now, but we hope they try again. It definitely seems like an idea that has legs in an on-demand world. Broadband video and video on demand will pave the way for TV programs to switch to a sponsor-like model much faster. And the more marketers and agencies that figure out how to reach consumers in a way that makes them grateful for their participation are the ones that will win.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Time Warner Inc.'s AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site by the middle of this The market for online media is booming after Apple Computer Inc. began offering shows for sale on its popular iTunes digital music and videos service last year.
The expansion of AOL's video service, which will combine free and pay-per-download shows from established programmers and user-created video clips, aims to address complaints about the rigid pricing structure and the mix of available programing on iTunes.
It also puts the Dulles, Virginia unit in competition with Yahoo Inc., which this week said it planned to scale back on creating original programing, and Google Inc..
The service will sell Time Warner-owned shows and those created by other programmers and networks, the company said, declining to name partners.
The video store will appear gradually and is a part of a redesign of an existing video on-demand service on AOL.com, its free Web site.
Ahead of the revamped video offering, AOL will this month introduce In2TV, a site that will carry more than 4,800 free vintage TV shows, mostly from the Warner Brothers archive.
The expanded service is also likely to sell videos on a subscription basis as early as next year to complement its pay- per-download and free video service.
The shows can be viewed on PCs and other devices in the home, using Intel Corp.'s Viiv technology. It will also be viewable on portable media players that use Microsoft Corp. software.
The business model AOL plans to employ and said it would face stiff competition against lower cost alternatives, such as EchoStar System Corp.'s PocketDish system.
The PocketDish lets viewers move recorded shows from their living room digital video recorders to a portable media device.
AOL's plans to sell videos is part of a broader plan this year to make playing and searching for online videos a cornerstone to the company's turnaround.
In December, it purchased video search engine technology firm Truveo, which uses a technology it calls "Visual Crawling" to locate video files and information on Web pages, finding video text-based search engines miss.
"AOL plans to share its technology with Google, as part of an earlier deal in which Google pledged to take a 5 percent stake in AOL.
AOL has spent the last few years offering more of its programing for free to boost online advertising as its dial-up modem access is in decline. It currently has about 19.5 million subscribers, down from a high of about 26 million in 2002.
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 7 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
MONTEBUBBLISM: Playing in the dirt is fun till you have to get a bath.
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Can Verizon save TiVo?
CBS renews 14 of its prime-time programs.
Among the series gaining the go-ahead for future episodes were last season’s newcomers “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “How I Met Your Mother.” CBS did not give any news yet on sibling freshman shows “Close to Home” and “Out of Practice.”
The renewals account for 13 hours of CBS’s schedule, which also includes the reality show “The Amazing Race” and a slew of the network's successful procedural dramas, such as “Cold Case,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (and its two spin-offs), “NCIS,” “Numbers” and “Without a Trace.” Also renewed are the long-lived Sunday news program “60 Minutes,” reality blockbuster “Survivor” and the Charlie Sheen sitcom “Two and a Half Men.”
People like idea of commercial sponsored downloads
Broadcast networks like ABC are selling some of their most popular shows on Apple’s iTunes for $1.99, but a new study finds that most consumers would be willing to watch an ad if the sponsor picked up the cost of the show.
And if that model becomes the standard, more would be interested in buying a video iPod.
The survey, which explored video iPods, found that 54% of respondents would be more likely to purchase an iPod if TV programs could be downloaded free of charge in exchange for watching a 30-second advertisement.
Among those actually planning to purchase a video iPod, 72% said they would be more likely to download a TV program in exchange for watching an ad. The Magid study surveyed 798 iPod owners between the ages of 12 and 55. Market research firm Frank N. Magid Associates conducted the study.
“It appears that the option to download content of choice for free will dramatically increase interest in purchasing a video iPod, thus potentially increasing video iPod sales and penetration,” the study concluded.
Some free TV content exists on iTunes. The pilot episode of NBC’s “Conviction,” for example, was available for free a week before its first airing.
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., died in Rawah, Iraq, on March 5, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Jessen was assigned to the Army's 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Flood protection system in New Orleans is on track
Restoration of the flood protection system in New Orleans is on track and by June 1 will be equal to or better than it was before Hurricane Katrina, the Army general in charge of the program said here yesterday. To date, 100 of the 169 damaged miles of levee have been repaired, and 85 percent of pumping capacity is restored, Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, commander and chief of engineers, Army Corps of Engineers, said at a White House news conference. In meeting President Bush's June 1 commitment, the Corps of Engineers will restore all damaged levees and floodwalls and will put three temporary closures on canals that presented problems during Katrina, Strock said. Also, the Canal at 17th Street, the Canal at Orleans and the London Avenue Canal will all have closures to prevent the storm surge of a future weather event from getting into vulnerable areas, he said. By September 2007, the entire flood protection system around the New Orleans area will be up to its full and authorized design levels, Strock said. "I say that and make that distinction because pre-Katrina, some of the system was not at its full authorized design, so we'll complete the construction of that," he added. During the rebuilding process, 91 percent of contracts have gone to local firms, providing about $770 million of work, Strock said. "We see this not only as a way to help set the conditions for the physical recovery of New Orleans, but also to help create some economic opportunities for local businesses," he said. By December 2007, the Corps of Engineers will have completed its study of what is required to give the ultimate protection level to New Orleans, Strock said. This study will give officials a good idea of what needs to be done in the future to protect the city, he said. Strock challenged media reports about poor construction standards and materials, and said that the Corps of Engineers is doing the right thing in New Orleans. "We are using the right material, and we're putting it down in the right way," he said. "We're giving tremendous scrutiny into not only how we do this, but also into the results after the fact. So we're doing extensive testing of the in-place structures to ensure that they are up to standard." The Corps of Engineers is now determining whether to replace many of the city's undamaged floodwalls with more structurally stable walls and is considering using a navigable flood-control structure to isolate the Inner Harbor, Strock said. As the June 1 start of the next hurricane season approaches, military and government officials are committed to the safety of the people of New Orleans, Strock said. "The people of the Corps of Engineers and our partners down there in the area are working very hard to ensure that we reduce the vulnerabilities to the people to the very highest degree we can, and that any remaining vulnerabilities are clearly understood by the people as they make decisions on when and how to reoccupy the city," he said.
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Philips Electronics and its agency, Omnicom’s DDB, New York, came up with a great idea recently. Why not do something that its audience will really appreciate? The idea was to buy the four minutes of screen time that cinemas usually sell to advertisers and run a 15-second spot that told the audience Philips was helping the movie start sooner. Only problem was Screenvision, seller of cinema ads, wouldn’t let them do it.
Screenvision didn't like that a big-screen ad was poking fun at movie advertising
The status quo is a difficult hurdle to leap.
Hollywood, as evidenced by the Oscar show’s relentless promotion of seeing movies the old-fashion way on the big screen, has been fighting new distribution methods for its wares fiercely for some time now. It’s probably the last place that will willingly give up control of its distribution.
Philips and DDB have given up on the idea for now, but we hope they try again. It definitely seems like an idea that has legs in an on-demand world. Broadband video and video on demand will pave the way for TV programs to switch to a sponsor-like model much faster. And the more marketers and agencies that figure out how to reach consumers in a way that makes them grateful for their participation are the ones that will win.
AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site
Time Warner Inc.'s AOL plans to sell programing on its Web site by the middle of this The market for online media is booming after Apple Computer Inc. began offering shows for sale on its popular iTunes digital music and videos service last year.
The expansion of AOL's video service, which will combine free and pay-per-download shows from established programmers and user-created video clips, aims to address complaints about the rigid pricing structure and the mix of available programing on iTunes.
It also puts the Dulles, Virginia unit in competition with Yahoo Inc., which this week said it planned to scale back on creating original programing, and Google Inc..
The service will sell Time Warner-owned shows and those created by other programmers and networks, the company said, declining to name partners.
The video store will appear gradually and is a part of a redesign of an existing video on-demand service on AOL.com, its free Web site.
Ahead of the revamped video offering, AOL will this month introduce In2TV, a site that will carry more than 4,800 free vintage TV shows, mostly from the Warner Brothers archive.
The expanded service is also likely to sell videos on a subscription basis as early as next year to complement its pay- per-download and free video service.
The shows can be viewed on PCs and other devices in the home, using Intel Corp.'s Viiv technology. It will also be viewable on portable media players that use Microsoft Corp. software.
The business model AOL plans to employ and said it would face stiff competition against lower cost alternatives, such as EchoStar System Corp.'s PocketDish system.
The PocketDish lets viewers move recorded shows from their living room digital video recorders to a portable media device.
AOL's plans to sell videos is part of a broader plan this year to make playing and searching for online videos a cornerstone to the company's turnaround.
In December, it purchased video search engine technology firm Truveo, which uses a technology it calls "Visual Crawling" to locate video files and information on Web pages, finding video text-based search engines miss.
"AOL plans to share its technology with Google, as part of an earlier deal in which Google pledged to take a 5 percent stake in AOL.
AOL has spent the last few years offering more of its programing for free to boost online advertising as its dial-up modem access is in decline. It currently has about 19.5 million subscribers, down from a high of about 26 million in 2002.
Can Verizon Save TiVo?
TiVo, no since you're trying to get back into the game, it may be too late.
TiVo, Inc. and Verizon Wireless announced today an agreement that will allow TiVo subscribers to remotely schedule television recordings using a Verizon mobile phone. The new wervice, called TiVo Mobile, will debut later this year. Pricing is unknown at this time.
In January, Yahoo! Chairman and CEO Terry Semel, announced the Yahoo! Go Service which would allow programming of your television through your cell phone. He was joined by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for the announcement at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Yahoo! is partnered with Cingular Wireless.
TiVo is still the best known brand among DVRs, which can pause and record live TV and skip commercials, but it faces increased competition from rival devices provided by cable providers. To combat that challenge, TiVo has worked to add unique features such as the ability to move recorded shows to portable devices. TiVo's earlier plan to allow users to watch targeted advertisements, has been mute as of late.
March 06, 2006
Why Brokeback Mountain Failed
Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 6 2006
MBN
www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news
Montebubblism: On why Brokeback Mountain failed at the Oscars. When the serious becomes a joke you forget it was ever meant to be serious and only remember the joke.
EDITORIAL
What did go wrong with the express train that was Brokeback Mountain?
The feature film that was meant to change the way that most Americans felt about the gay lifestyle.
First it fell victim to its own expectations. The buzz was supposed to make it a massive hit in the red states. How dare you not go to the film and be declared homo-phobic.(It was forgotten that the people in the red states thrive on being called homo-phobic.)
The gross never increased over what it was getting no matter how many more theatres were added. It just remained steady. While in effect it was lossing money by added theatres and advertising.
Then there was the problem of its theme, GAY COWBOYS. It was such a bad choice of a theme that even the most liberal out there laughed at it or made jokes about it. Look no further then the opening of the Oscar telecast to see the joke it had became with Billy Crystal and Chris Rock in the tent passing on hosting the show.
Capote and Crash both were little films that remained true to their original intentions, to tell a story and let it speak for itself. Neither made alot of money but both were low budget in nature so neither was expected to.
The Academy decided to support all three films in a fit of political correctness. Each was given something to show support for what they had to say.
Brokeback was not abandoned by the Academy and its voters but in actuality shot itself in the foot and the Academy gave the big award to the little film that just was the little film that stayed the little film with something to say.
BREAKING NEWS: Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 44. Puckett died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kimberly Lodge said. He had been in intensive care since having surgery at another hospital following his stroke Sunday morning.
The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards were presented at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 18, 2006
Tiger Woods gets 48th win
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year.
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
Ad Revenue down at TV networks for 2005
Wireless the new Frontier:going where no one has gone before?
Programing for the internet; still no set plans
Ma Bell Coming Back with AT & T and BellSouth Merger
The Scientific and Technical Academy Awards were presented at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 18, 2006.
Scientific and Technical Awards are given for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures that also have a proven history of use in the motion picture industry.
Awards may be granted in any of three classifications: Academy Award of Merit (Oscar statuette), for basic achievements that have a definite influence upon the advancement of the industry; Scientific and Engineering Award (Academy plaque), for those achievements that exhibit a high level of engineering and are important to the progress of the industry; and Technical Achievement Award (Academy certificate), for those accomplishments that contribute to the progress of the industry.
Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical achievements for the year 2005 are:
To David Grober for the concept and mechanical design and Scott Lewallen for the electronic and software design of the Perfect Horizon camera stabilization head. Perfect Horizon effectively neutralizes the extraneous motion encountered in boats, camera cars, snowmobiles or other vehicles, leaving the pan/tilt head and camera stable and level with the horizon. To Anatoliy Kokush, Yuriy Popovsky and Oleksiy Zolotarov for the concept and development of the Russian Arm gyro-stabilized camera crane and the Flight Head. The Russian Arm and Flight Head opened new possibilities for filmmakers. With the ability to be mounted on the roof of almost any car, this remotely-operated crane and camera head can move smoothly in a 360˚ circle around the car, even while it is being To Anatoliy Kokush for the concept and development of the Cascade series of motion picture cranes. The lightweight structure of the Cascade and Traveling Cascade Cranes enables the filmmaker to achieve heights of up to 70 feet, allowing for the placement of the camera in otherwise impossible locations. To Garrett Brown for the original concept of the Skycam flying camera system – the first use of 3D volumetric cable technology for motion picture cinematography. In creating the first remote controlled, cable supported flying camera system, Garrett Brown’s pioneering efforts have influenced all subsequent development in this area of technology. To David Baraff, Michael Kass and Andrew Witkin for their pioneering work in physically-based computer-generated techniques used to simulate realistic cloth in motion pictures. Their 1998 paper titled “Large Steps in Cloth Simulation” was a seminal work, providing the key in demonstrating to the industry that the calculations necessary to simulate realistic, complex cloth could be achieved efficiently and robustly. Their work provided the conceptual foundation for many cloth simulation systems in use today. To Laurie Frost, Peter Hannan and Richard Loncraine for the development of the remote camera head known as the Hot-Head. In use for over a quarter of a century, the Hot-Head has brought the possibility of safe, remotely-operated shots to every filmmaker. To Gary Thieltges for the design and development of the remotely-operated, lightweight camera head known as the Sparrow Head. This well-integrated remote system enables filmmakers to remotely pan and tilt their camera from virtually any moving vehicle, giving the opportunity for unprecedented dynamic camera angles. To Frank Fletcher and Dave Sherwin for the introduction and continuing development of the Power Pod modular camera head system. The Power Pod system enables filmmakers to configure a remote controlled head to meet their own unique requirements. To Alvah Miller, Michael Sorensen and J. Walt Adamczyk for the design and development of the Aerohead motion control camera head and the J-Viz Pre-Visualization system. This remote head not only serves the needs of the live-action filmmaker, but also provides the functionality of a motion-controlled head, allowing for sophisticated tiling and pre-visualization techniques. To Scott Leva for the design and development of the Precision Stunt Airbag for motion picture stunt falls. The Precision Stunt Airbag is designed to envelope the stunt jumper, even on off-center hits. This feature serves to enhance the safety of stunt performers in falls from up to 200 feet. To Lev Yevstratov, George Peters and Vasiliy Orlov for the development of the Ultimate Arm Camera Crane System for specialized vehicle photography. Representing a significant evolutionary improvement in camera car technology, this remotely-controlled, gyro-stabilized and flexible camera crane offers a highly stable platform for high-speed, rough terrain action shots. Its ingenious applications of sophisticated technology solve many of the problems inherent in chase vehicle filming. To James Rodnunsky, Alex MacDonald and Mark Chapman for the development of the Cablecam 3-D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies. The evolution of the Cablecam technology has made it possible to move a camera safely and accurately anywhere through a three-dimensional space. To Tim Drnec, Ben Britten Smith and Matt Davis for the development of the Spydercam 3-D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies. The evolution of the Spydercam technology has made it possible to move a camera safely and accurately anywhere through a three-dimensional space. To John Platt and Demetri Terzopoulos for their pioneering work in physically-based computer-generated techniques used to simulate realistic cloth in motion pictures. Their 1987 paper, “Elastically Deformable Models,” was a milestone in computer graphics, introducing the concept of physically-based techniques to simulate moving, deforming objects. To Ed Catmull, for the original concept, and Tony DeRose and Jos Stam for their scientific and practical implementation of subdivision surfaces as a modeling technique in motion picture production. Subdivision surfaces has become a preferred modeling primitive for many types of motion picture computer graphics. To Harold Rattray, Terry Claborn, Steve Garlick, Bill Hogue and Tim Reynolds for the design, engineering and implementation of the Technicolor Real Time Answer Print System. This system provides a method by which filmmakers can preview real-time color corrections using actual film prints, reducing both the turn-around time and the number of reprints required. To Udo Schauss and Hildegard Ebbesmeier for the optical design and Nicole Wemken and Michael Anderer for the mechanical design of the Cinelux Premiere Cinema Projection Lenses. The Cinelux Premiere Lenses incorporate an iris and aspheric elements which provide a more uniform modulation transfer function and better light transmission to the sides and corners of the theater projection screen. This reduces the traditional problems of softness in the corners, hot-spotting and varying brightness between film format. |
Tiger Woods gets 48th win
48th career PGA Tour victory at the age of 30 years, 2 months, 5 days in his 189th career professional start on tour. He is the 9th player in history to win the tournament multiple times (2005-06), but only the second player to win in back to back joining Raymond Floyd who won in 1980 and 1981. He passes the 2-million dollar mark ($2,535,600) in earnings at the tournament in just four starts. Along with his two victories, he also finished second in 2002 and tied for ninth in 1998.Woods has held a lead of two strokes or more through 54 holes 20 times in his career and has gone on to win every time. He wins in defense of a title for the 13th time in his career. His 48th career PGA Tour victory is the seventh-most in tour history. Billy Casper stands next in sixth with 51 victories. He has won in 48 out of 189 of his professional starts on the PGA Tour. PGA Tour official money now stands at $57,803,760. He wins for the ninth time in the state of Florida (Bay Hill Invitational - 4; FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort -2, Ford Championship at Doral-2, THE PLAYERS Championship-1).
$57,803,760. He wins for the ninth time in the state of Florida (Bay Hill Invitational - 4; FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort -2, Ford Championship at Doral-2, THE PLAYERS Championship-1).
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year.
This year’s Academy Awards featured the most socially conscious group of Best Picture nominees ever, but it lacked a box office heavyweight. And that, more than any of Hollywood's social commentary, is what viewers crave from the Oscars.
Early ratings for last night's telecast were off from last year. ABC’s three and a half hours of Academy Awards earned a 27.1 metered market household rating from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., according to numbers released by the network this morning, down 10 percent from a 30.1 for last year’s telecast.
It was also down 9 percent from a 29.8 in 2004, though it was a 6 percent improvement on 2003’s 25.5. That year, when "Chicago" won Best Picture, was the lowest-rated ever.
This year’s Oscars could still outdraw last year, even though the early ratings indicate otherwise. Metered market ratings for last month’s Super Bowl were down from the previous year, but when final numbers were released later that day, the game was the most-watched in 10 years.
The 10 percent year-to-year ratings dip does hold, it wouldn’t be a shocker. Host Jon Stewart received mixed reviews for his surprisingly tame performance, and the telecast didn’t feature any major upsets until the final minutes, when “Crash” won Best Picture over heavily favored “Brokeback Mountain.”
It didn’t help ABC that many of this year’s Oscar nominees were smaller independent films rather than traditional Hollywood blockbusters, which tend to attract more viewers to the Oscars.
“Crash” pulled in $53.4 million at the box office, well short of the $100 million blockbuster plateau, while “Brokeback” pulled in $78.9 million. No Best Picture nominee topped $100 million, the traditional measure of a blockbuster.
ABC of course finished first for the night among households, followed by CBS, NBC, Fox and WB. The 22.9 metered market household rating ABC averaged from 7 to 11 p.m. was 36 percent higher than the 16.8 rating the other networks combined for.
At 7 p.m. ABC led among households with a 10.7 rating for its Oscars pre-show. CBS was second with a 7.6 for “60 Minutes,” NBC third for its first hour of “Dateline” and Fox fourth with the combination of “Malcolm in the Middle” (2.7) and the first half hour of the movie “Bad Boys 2.”
At 8 p.m. ABC led with its Oscars coverage, followed by a 5.8 for CBS for a repeat of “Criminal Minds” and the second half of NBC’s “Dateline,” which averaged a 5.4 rating over its two hours. Fox remained in fourth that hour with “Bad Boys 2,” which pulled a 3.6 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
ABC remained in the lead at 9 p.m., with CBS still second with a 6.2 for a repeat of “Cold Case.” NBC was third with a 4.9 for a repeat of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and Fox fourth with its movie.
At 10 p.m. ABC led with the Academy Awards, followed by a 7.3 for CBS for a “CSI” rerun and a 3.6 for NBC for a repeat of “Crossing Jordan.”
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday
A soldier was killed in Iraq yesterday, and Defense Department officials have identified two soldiers previously reported killed. A soldier assigned to U.S. Marine Regimental Combat Team 7 died as a result of enemy action while operating in Anbar province. The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of the family. The Defense Department also announced the identities of two soldiers who died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: - Army Sgt. Joshua V. Youmans, 26, of Flushing, Mich., died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio on March 1 of injuries suffered in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21, when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee. Youmans was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich. - Army Spc. Christopher S. Merchant, 32, of Hardwick, Vt., died in Ramadi, Iraq, on March 1, when his Humvee came under attack by enemy forces using a car bomb and rocket-propelled grenade. Merchant was assigned to the Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, Jericho, Vt. - Army Pfc. Tina M. Priest, 20, of Austin, Texas, died in Taji, Iraq, on March 1 of a non-combat related injury. Priest was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divison, Fort Hood, Texas.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, of Finksburg, Md., died March 3 from a non combat-related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Ad Revenue down at TV networks for 2005
Freshly released figures from TNS Media Intelligence show that the Big Six networks, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, UPN and WB, collectively took in $22.3 billion last year, down from $22.37 billion the prior year.
General Electric Co.’s NBC, which carried the 2004 Olympics, was the biggest loser among the networks last year, with a $1.17 billion decline in ad revenue to $5.7 billion. (The only other network to see a decline in revenue, according to TNS, was the WB, which went from $1.06 billion to $968.6 million). Yet the Peacock Network still placed second behind CBS’s $6.36 billion in total ad revenue for the full year. ABC’s ad revenue also rose from $4.66 billion to $5.17 billion.
Not boding well for the upfront is a more tepid reaction for big-event TV broadcasts in recent months. Media consultant Joseph Jaffe, a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California Annenberg School, cited weaker demand for spots at this year’s Super Bowl as evidence of volatility in the network-TV market.
Wireless the new Frontier: Going where no one has gone before?
By William Hoehne
Wireless is the new China. Both are huge, untapped markets for news and entertainment media companies. Executives have made a lot of Looking over the Rainbow statements about both of these markets and pumped a lot of effort into them. Neither market has as yet translated into a lot of new businesses for established companies, which are seeking ways to grow in a world of technological and business obstacles.
China's media moment seems right around the corner and mobile may be approaching its own at last and may just take a lot longer and be less earth-shaking than the recent press may suggest. Last week alone there were announcements of ventures by media companies looking to place themselves into the rear pockets of teenagers and their parents. All are part of a flood of wireless moves and offer looks at new ways of distributing products and using big-media strength to start new businesses.
One of the deals last week, MTV Networks said it would sell mobile versions of its MTV, VH1, CMT and Comedy Central channels to Sprint customers; the services will include video clips from shows including "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."
Mobizzo, a arm of News Corp, which is a kind of online studio and store for selling games, ring tones and adornments for mobile handsets announced its enter into the fray.
CBS which is perhaps best known for its notably older skewing television network, plans to start a venture along the lines of Mobizzo in a few weeks. CBS unveiled a plan to sell multimedia message alerts nationwide that will play short video clips on some cellphones. CBS aims to show that it wants to compete in this arena along with MTV, NBC and ESPN ,rivals that have been making their content available across a range of new mobile formats and toys.
What is important about the News Corporation and CBS announcements is that both companies plan to sell their new services directly to consumers. Instead of buying these services through a mobile phone carrier, users can go directly to Web sites or can send text messages to an address that will instantly sign them up for, say, a "Monte Bubbles" wallpaper that they can use to amuse themselves and their friends. CBS's new service, users can sign up to pay 99 cents a month for news alerts from CBS News, and $3.99 for alerts from the syndicated program "Entertainment Tonight."
Direct selling for media companies is just one advantage that mobile technologies have over other forms of distributing information and entertainment, including the Internet.
Another is that consumers, have come to view their mobile phones as fashion accessories, giving rise to a whole new category of personal media products, such as ring tones and avatars, which are animated images of oneself that are sent to friends with messages.
Things bought through a mobile phone even if not purchased through your service provider itself can be automatically added to your monthly phone statement, avoiding the bother of having to enter a credit card number.
These features show why mobile media could be something major, they turn consumption into a fashion statement and an impulse purchase.
The United States' mobile market compares with markets in places like South Korea — where users enjoy all sorts of interactive features and pristine television signals on their handsets and wireless carriers here have invested some $10 billion to catch up quickly. Established media companies, as well as the Internet giants want to try to capture everything from the growth of the ring tone and games markets to emerging forms of mobile advertising.
The question about all the activity around mobile is whether the United States will embrace these new products the way other nations have. Here we burn thru new technology like we throw away toilet paper.
In the United states people don’t sit around thinking about watching video clips on their computers or send instant messages to one another until these services hit critical mass.
It seems early to set the vibrator for wireless at anything but the lowest possible setting.
Programing for the internet; Still no set plans
Steven Spielberg, actor-producer Ashton Kutcher and Mark Burnett are just a few of the Hollywood heavyweights trying to develop new programs for the Web.
They are dealing with a fundamental question: What defines a hit on the Internet?
That confusion became all the more apparent Thursday when Yahoo Inc., an early favorite to navigate the complex 21st century media landscape, said it would scale back efforts to create original entertainment offerings.
For monthsYahoo spread the word that it wanted to capture mass audiences by producing new Web programming to be seen only on Yahoo. With Thursday's shift Yahoo signaled it had changed its views about what it took to succeed online had changed.
the company would instead highlight content created by its millions of users as well as serve as an online distributor for traditional media companies.
Yahoo will still create the occasional original program, but the company has put the brakes on big-ticket projects such as "The Runner," and "Treasure Hunt," an online game show developed with Spielberg's production company, until it can figure out how to make money on such deals.
The Internet has become a hip place to launch shows and squeeze more money out of old ones. TV networks, Internet portals and television producers chasing ad dollars online are developing reality shows, comedies and scripted dramas specifically for the new medium.
The big Internet companies are trying to build even bigger audiences with video programming.
Few of their efforts have worked. .
Developing a hit show has always been hit and in the network television business, which has been at it for more than 60 years, shows that attract 10 million viewers are generally considered successes. During the week of Feb. 20, 25 shows pulled in at least that many viewers, led by "American Idol" with 31.7 million.
The Internet has become a viable way to distribute video to the masses only in the last year or so, and Web shows have little hope of drawing the numbers of viewers that TV can.
The number of U.S. households with fast Internet connections is half that of households with televisions.
Hollywood producers are creating "webisodes" and other entertainment fare for such distributors as NBC Universal, Fox Broadcasting, America Online and Yahoo.
Those distributors hope to cover their costs with advertising revenue. The old fashioned by tried and true way of paying the bills
Online advertising is growing as advertisers are placing commercials in front of music videos, news stories and other video clips.
Video ads contributed only $225 million of the $12.9 billion in U.S. Internet ad revenue last year.
Broadcast, cable and local TV ads pull in $60 billion a year. But ad dollars aren't the only way to recoup investments in Web programming. Amazon.com Inc., the e-commerce giant, is developing a TV-style talk show specifically for its website.
NBC has bigger ambitions. The network plans this summer to launch "StarTomorrow," an "American Idol"-like search for music talent. NBC plans to release video clips of 20 bands or singing groups each week for eight weeks, then let users winnow the field until a victor emerges.
Executive producer Dave Broome said that because production costs on the show were one-fifth those of a network series, NBC probably would be more patient about letting the show find its audience.
"If your show doesn't do well on the network, they may have four or five more shows waiting in the wings" to take its place, Broome said. "On the Internet, you can have more time. If we don't get the response the first week, we might let it sit for more time before we launch the next 20 bands."
So is this the beginning of the much ballyhooed end for network TV? Certainly not, Network TV is not going to see things growing as fast as in the past, but it will hold its own because it reaches the masses and it is FREE. the operative word.
Ma Bell Coming Back with AT & T and BellSouth Merger
AT & T agreed to buy BellSouth Corp. for $67 billion in stock which would make AT & T the dominant carrier in 22 states. If this transaction is completed, the seven regional Baby Bells created in the government's breakup of AT & T's in 1984 would now become three.
We knew something must be in the works at the Consumer Electronics Show when Yahoo's keynote address introduced Yahoo! Go Mobile, which will soon be embedded on millions of U.S. phones in partnership wtih AT & T and Cingular, joined owned by Bell South(40%) and AT & T(60%). There was already a SBC Yahoo! partnership.
This on the heels of AT & T selling its' wireless customers to Cingular, with the change over of plans to Cingular from AT & T cellular phone plans finishing these last several months. AT & T announced earlier this year plans to offer AT & T branded cellphone service to corporations in the nine Southeastern states covered by BellSouth.
Consumer groups are up opposing AT & T's purchase of BellSouth Corp., arguing that it would reduce competition and drive up prices in the telecommunications industry, as they look at the restructuring of Ma Bell. The merged company would have 70 million local line phone customers, 54.1 million wireless subscribers and nearly 10 million broadband subscribers in nearly two dozen states.
"This is a devastating blow to the consumer," said Gene Kimmelman, policy director at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. "This one will lead to the end of the era of falling prices for telephone and cellphone service."
Since 1984, the world has changed much. Competition to traditional telephone service comes from cable and satellite, cellphone providers and internet telephone service, including Skype, Vonage, and AT & T's own CallVantage.
"New technologies, such as high-speed wireless and broadband over power lines, soon will be providing fast pipes into the home," shares industry consultant Ford Cavallari of Adventis Corp. "What used to be a fairly stable market, and was a monopoly market is undergoing a substantial change."
March 05, 2006
Oscars were Politically Correct
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Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 6 2006 MBN www.montebubbles.com for more MBN news Montebubblism: If you feel everyone has to walk away a winner then why give awards in the first place.
No less then John Trovolta called the Oscars Politically Correct.There were awards for everyone Tiger Woods 2nd Consecutive Win at Doral Midst the PGA Fashion Show |
Tiger Woods congrats on your 2nd consecutive win today at the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami, Florida. He finished at 20 under to finish at 268 for a one shot victory over David Toms and Colombian rookie Camilo Villegas amongst record crowds of more than 37,000 in attendance each day. Tiger’s 48th career victory enhanced his reputation as golf’s best closer. With a record 34-3 when he has at least a share of the 54 hole lead, and always winning in 20 attempts when leading by at least 2 going in to the last round. Perhaps that’s why Camilo Villegas refers to him as “the best player in the world.” Meanwhile on the golf course, the golfers stepped into fashion while the audience wore the traditional spectator golf attire. The female golfers wore shorts noticeably shorter, shirts a wee bit tight, and a new absence of undergarments. Meanwhile an abundance of baby strollers makes you wonder if this is a new trend for golf. Fashion Highlights from Ford’s Championship at Doral: Bubba Watson uses the bright pink shaft on his driver. Very handsome and tall man with almost Elvis-like sideburns. Trevor Immelman from Cape Town, South Africa looks like a Southern Caifornia beach model with his sculpted body, gorgeous tan and California. brown blond hair. Sergio Garcia came out Saturday,attired in Adidas, with yellow pants and a black shirt with stripes. His shoes even matched and he can pull it off without any problems. Jesper Parnevik on Saturday had on black pencil leg pants and a silver grey shirt. Jesper is a very thin man and he accompanied his outfit with a belt buckle that was almost as wide as he was and looked great with his patent leather belt. Conservative but classic were Davis Love III and Tom Pernice Jr. who played together on Saturday. The only thing they forgot to discuss is if they should wear black or navy pants. Davis chose navy, Tom chose black...both wore coral shirts that were almost a matching set. Camilo Villegas wore the outfit for the day on Saturday. Black bell bottom pans with fuschia insets in the sides and topped off with a bright fuschia top with some black side insets. Flashback to the 70's, but it really looked good on him. Sunday he wore all white except for the orange belt and shoes he wore. This tournament has pretty much guaranteed that he will have won enough $$$ this season to give him his PGA tour card next year. Fun Saturday shots. Rocco Mediate hit his drive on #18 into #1 fairway. His second shot ended up nesting on top of one of the sponsor tents and did not hit the ground until the rules official was present. Bubba Watson, from Bagdad, FL, chipped in a birdie on #9 on Saturday and then proceeded to knock his ball on the edge of the water on #10. He saved par, but it helped as he is a left-handed player and did not have to stand in the water. Retief Goosen who was playing with him was not so lucky with water efforts. Paul Stankowaki stepped up to the #1 tee on Saturday and stopped in mid-swing as he thought the head of his driver was going to come off. He regrouped and hit one of the best drives on #1 on Saturday. A big thanks to Commerce Bank for the tent side view of the golf tournament, complete with gourmet fair and plenty of Grey Goose Vodka, and hospitality. Tiger Woods repeat victory, makes him the first repeat winner at Doral since Raymond Floyd won in 1980 and 1981. Tiger Wood’s now has won four of his last six tournaments worldwide with the last four victories have come in playoff – the World Golf Championships – American Express Champsionship, Dunlop Phoenix, Buick Invitational and the Dubai Desert Classic. The Leaderboard -20 Tiger Woods -19 David Toms -19 Camilo Villegas -15 Fredrik Jacobson -14 Lucas Glover -14 Tag Ridings -13 Jeff Sluman -13 Jerry Kelly -13 Carlos Franco -13 Ernie Els Club sponsors are pretty limited now. Currently out there are: Taylor Made; Nike; Titleist; Cleveland; Calloway; Wilson Staff; and Ping. The other interesting part of the tournament is that the course lays in the flight path for Miami International Airport and some of the planes can be as low as a few thoudsand feet. Sometimes you think you can see the people in them overhead. And they can make some noise, but the players and spectators were all glancing up occassionally. It had to make it a bit of an obstacle dourse for the Met Life blimp driver overhead. By Sunday though, NBC and the tournament had made an agreement with the MIA tower to have the planes avoid the course so that the TV broadcast could be a bit more peaceful, and I am sure the players and spectators were appreciative. Based on player brochure there were (56) domestic U.S. residents and (16) international residents: (1) from Fiji Islands (2) England (2) South Africa (1) Australia (1) India (3) Sweden (1) Paraguay (1) Columbia (1) Argentina (1) Spain (1) Ireland (1) Canada Next year’s format will be entirely different with Ford no longer being the sponsor at Doral. Preparations are being made to make it a championship tournament, which generally means no celebrities. Unfortuately, this typically means good-bye to the record attendance experienced this year and sponsors.
Written By Patti Lankford and Joyce Chow |
