MBN: The Monte Bubbles Network: Your news source on the web: July 13, 2006 Archives

VSDA's Home Entertainment 2006 Awards

HARRY POTTER FLIES A WAY WITH TWO HOME ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
CRASH, MADAGASCAR, AND MADDEN NFL 06 ALSO MULTIPLE WINNERS

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, Crash, Madagascar, and Madden NFL 06 carried the 2006 Home Entertainment Awards by winning two awards each at the Venetian in Las Vegas.

The Home Entertainment Awards are presented by the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) in recognition of outstanding achievement in home video.

"This year's Home Entertainment Award recipients are the most diverse selection of titles to date," said EMA President Bo Andersen. "Among the recipients are network and cable television shows, entertainment that the entire family can enjoy together, and two of the most successful movie and video game franchises ever created."

The list of Home Entertainment Awards is as follows:

Category	Title		Studio
Archival TV Series of the Year	Six Feet Under, Seasons 3,4,5		HBO Video
Current TV Series on DVD	24, Season 4		Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Children's Title of the Year	Madagascar		Dream Works Home Entertainment
Direct-to-Video/Limited Release of the Year from an Independent Studio	Half Light		First Look Home Entertainment

Direct-to-Video/Limited Release of the Year from a Major Studio	Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (UNR)		Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Documentary Title of the Year	March of the Penguins		Warner Home Video
DVD Extras of the Year from an Independent Studio	Saw II		Lionsgate

DVD Extras of the Year From a Major Studio	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 2 Disc Set/special Edition		Warner Home V ideo

Family Title of the Year From an Independent Studio	The Prince and Me 2		First Look Home Entertainment

Family Title of the Year From a Major Studio		Madagascar	Dream Works Home Entertainment

Foreign Language Title of the Year		House of Flying Daggers	Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Marketing Campaign of the Year From an Independent Studio		Crash	Lionsgate

Marketing Campaign of the Year From a Major Studio		Wedding Crashers	New Line Home Entertainment

Music DVD of the Year		The Eagles: Farewell I Tour Live From Melbourne	Rhino/W arner Strategic Marketing

Packaging of the Year From an Independent Studio		Saw: Uncut Edition	Lionsgate

Packaging of the Year From a Major Studio		Sin City	Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Rental Title of the Year From an Independent Studio		The Prince and Me 2	First Look Home Entertainment

Rental Title of the Year From a Major Studio		Walk the Line	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Sell-through Title of the Year From an Independent Studio		Crash	Lionsgate

Sell-Through Title of the Year From a Major Studio		Hany Potter and the Goblet of Fire	Warner Home Video

Sleeper of the Year		Sideways	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Special Interest Title of the Year		Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth-Live At the Fillmore	Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Adult Title of the Year		Pirates	Digital Playground
GameCube Game of the Year		Madden NFL '06	Electronic Arts
PlayStation 2 Video Game of the Year		Madden NFL '06	Electronic Arts
Xbox Video Game of the Year		Halo 2 - Multiplayer Map Pack	Microsoft Game Studios

2006 DVD TECHNICAL AWARDS
FINDS LOST Is Tops RE- ISSUE OF TITANIC ALSO CAPTURES 2 AWARDS

The hit television series Lost received two 2006 DVD Technical Awards for Best Commentary and Best Overall PresentationTelevision Release and the Special Collectors Edition of the epic film Titanic won for Best Video Transfer From a Non-Digital Source and Best Supplementary Material at this evening's VSDA Awards Show at Home Entertainment 2006.

"The DVDs available today feature an unprecedented amount of visual and audio quality as well as interactivity and special features for the die-hard movie fan," said Bo Andersen, President of the Entertainment Merchants Association. "DVDs of Lost and Titanic allow viewers to have a richer experience than when watching the programs on television or pay-per-view, and the features that are included give legitimate retailers a huge advantage over pirated copies."

VSDA's 2006 DVD Technical Awards honor DVD titles that have demonstrated the most innovative and entertaining features through the use of the latest DVD technology.

The winners of the 2006 VSDA Technical Awards were:

Category	Title	Studio
Best Audio Presentation	From the Earth To The Moon	HBO Video
Best Commentary	Lost	Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Best Direct Digital Transfer	Robots	Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Best Video Transfer From a Non-Digital Source	Titanic-Special Collector's Edition	Paramount Home
		Entertainment
Best Menu Features	Saw: Uncut Edition	Lionsgate
Best Music DVD-Concert Release	The Who: Quadrophenia Live with Special Guests	Rhino Entertainment

Best Music DVD-Non	No Direction Home-Bob Dylan	Paramount Home
Concert Release		Entertainment
Best Re-Mastered DVD	Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection	New Line Home Entertainment

Best Supplementary Material	Titanic-Special Collector's Edition	Paramount Home Entertainment
Best Overall Presentation- Adult Product	Pirates	Digital Playground

Best Overall Presentation- Foreign Language Release	Howl's Moving Castle	Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Best Overall Presentation- Direct-to-DVD Release	Looney Tunes, Volume 3	Warner Home Video

Best Overall Presentation - Television Release	Lost	Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Best Overall Presentation - Theatrical Release	Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire	Wamer Home Video

GREASE IS THE WORD
IT’S GOT GROOVE, IT’S GOT MEANING –
AND A PLACE IN THE VIDEO HALL OF FAME

The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) inducted Grease, the 1978 movie musical about summer love and the senior year in high school starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, as the third entry in the Video Hall of Fame.

After a summer at the beach and discovering that "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing," high schoolers Danny Zucko (Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Newton-John) meet again in the halls of Rydell High School after Sandy's parents decide to extend their stay in America. Complications arise when Sandy starts to hang out with the Pink Ladies and learns that Danny is the leader ofthe leather jacket-wearing T-Birds. Surrounding these two lovers' struggle to be true to themselves and each other is a National Bandstand Television dance contest, a car race between the T -Birds and the rival Scorpions, and plenty of singing. Stockard Channing, Frankie Avalon, Sha-Na-Na, Frankie Valli, and others round out the cast of one of the most popular and successful musical movies of all time.

John Travolta was previously honored by the home entertainment industry as Video Star of the Year in 1997.

Grease joins Scarface and The Godfather in the Video Hall of Fame. The Video Hall of Fame recognizes movies that have continued to perform well in both video sales and rental over an extended period of time. Home entertainment retailers and distributors that are members of EMA select inductees to the Video Hall of Fame.

EMA ANNOUNCES RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) announced the recipients of the 2006 Retailer of the Year awards during the Opening Session of VSDA's Home Entertainment 2006. The Retailer of the Year awards are given annually to recognize successful video store operators.

"The annual Retailer of the Year awards recognizes companies that have prospered in the face of changing trends and formats by innovating ways to best serve customers," said Bo Andersen, President of the Entertainment Merchants Association. "These retailers are among the very best at serving their customers and are a credit to the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the industry."

The award recipients are as follows:

George Atkinson Award (Single Store) - named in honor of the late George Atkinson, who founded the video rental industry when he opened the world's first video store in 1977.

Movie Merchants, Sonoma, CA Video Quest, Joliet, FL
Video Zone, South Deerfield, MA

2-4 Stores
The People's Choice Video Express, Waukegan, FL
The People's Choice Video Express,

5+ Stores
Backstage Video, Bridgewater, VA

iDEA Chairman's Award - awarded on behalf of the Independent Dealers of Entertainment Association (iDEA) to an independent video retailer for specific accomplishments of a store or store operation such as specific category development, sell-through initiatives, tanning, games, and online.

Digital Dogpound, Evansdale, IA

Entertainment Specialist - selected from merchants that specialize in the retailing of entertainment hardware and software.

Circuit City, Richmond, VA

Non-Traditional Retailer - awarded to retailers who employ unique business models for the rental or sale of DVDs.

BMG Columbia House, New York, NY

Online Retailer - designated for retailers that sell or rent DVDs online.

Amazon.com, Seattle, WA

Rental Specialist - honors businesses that specialize in renting DVDs among public companies or chains of 100 or more stores.

Netflix, Los Gatos, CA

VSDA's Home Entertainment 2006, presented by the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), brings together retailers, distributors, and suppliers of DVDs and video and computer games to learn about upcoming releases and industry developments and to celebrate the $32 billion home entertainment industry.

Posted by monte at 11:28 PM | Permalink

Vatican news

Declaration Concerning Archbishop Milingo
- Theme of World Peace Day 2007

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DECLARATION CONCERNING ARCHBISHOP MILINGO

The Holy See Press Office released the following declaration at midday today:

"The Holy See has not yet received precise information concerning the aim of the journey to the United States of America by Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia.

"In any case, if the declarations attributed to him concerning ecclesiastical celibacy were to prove authentic, the only thing to do would be to deplore them, Church discipline on this matter being well known."

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THEME OF WORLD PEACE DAY 2007

VATIn a brief communique made public today the theme was announced of the 40th World Peace Day, due to be celebrated on January 1, 2007: "The Human Person: Heart of Peace."

This theme for reflection, chosen by the Holy Father, "expresses the conviction that respect for the dignity of the human person is an essential condition for peace within the human family," says the communique. "Only through an awareness of the transcendent dignity of each man and woman can the human family follow the path that leads to peace and to communion with God."

The communique continues: "Today, perhaps more persuasively and with more effective means than in the past, human dignity is threatened by aberrant ideologies, assailed by the misguided use of science and technology, and contradicted by widespread incongruent lifestyles. Indeed, ideologies that find their inspiration in nihilism or fanaticism (material or religious) seek to deny or to impose supposed truths upon reality, upon man and upon God."

The note highlights the fact that "often science and technology (especially biomedicine), rather than serving the common good of humanity, are instrumental in serving an egotistical vision of progress and wellbeing. Moreover, propaganda and the growing acceptance of disordered lifestyles contrary to human dignity are weakening the hearts and minds of people to the point of extinguishing the desire for ordered and peaceful coexistence. All this represents a threat to humanity, because peace is in danger when human dignity is not respected and when social coexistence does nor seek the common good.

"The Church," the communique adds, "has the mission of announcing the Gospel of Life, the central position of mankind in the universe and God's love for humanity. Therefore, to the challenges of the present time, the Church responds with a Christian anthropology based on the three pillars of human dignity, sociality and activity in the world, oriented in accordance with the order stamped by God on the universe, and with a view to an integral and solidary humanism that tends towards the development of all of man and of all men."

The communique concludes by affirming that "any offence to the person is a threat to peace; any threat to peace is an offence to the truth of the person: 'The human person is the heart of peace'."

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Telegram for Terrorist Attacks in India
- Presentation of Holy See Financial Statements for 2005
- Other Pontifical Acts

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TELEGRAM FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS IN INDIA

Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano has sent a telegram to the appropriate ecclesiastical and civil authorities in India for the recent terrorist attacks on eight trains in the city of Mumbai, which caused the death of at least 170 people:

"Deeply saddened by the news of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI assures all affected of his spiritual closeness in prayer. While deploring these senseless acts against humanity, the Holy Father commends the many deceased to the loving mercy of the Almighty. Upon their grieving families and the numerous injured he invokes the divine gifts of strength, consolation and comfort."

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PRESENTATION OF HOLY SEE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2005

Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, announced this morning in a press conference on the Holy See consolidated financial statements for 2005 that the year closed with a surplus of 9.7 million euro. This, he said, "represents the most significant value of the last eight years." The year 2004 had closed with a surplus of 3.08 million euro.

In terms of the institutional activity of the Holy See (Secretariat of State, congregations, councils, tribunals, the Synod of Bishops and various other offices), the president indicated that the sector closed the year with a deficit of 36.9 million euro, an increase with respect to 2004 which had closed with a deficit of 23.2 million euro.

Cardinal Sebastiani pointed out that the sector of financial activities (7 consolidated administrations, the most important of which is the Extraordinary Section of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, APSA) showed a surplus of 43.3 million euro, an improvement on last year's surplus of 6.1 million euro. This is due, the cardinal explained, "to the improvement of the situation of the financial markets which occurred in the course of 2005. Indeed, a net positive fluctuation of 21.7 million euro was registered in 2005 while a net loss of roughly 11 million euro occurred in 2004 due to fluctuations in the rates of exchange." For its part, the real estate sector closed with a surplus of 22.2 million euro, slightly down on last year's closing figure of 24.9 million euro.

The activity of the media institutions connected with the Holy See (Vatican Radio, the Vatican Printing Office, L'Osservatore Romano newspaper, the Vatican Publishing House and the Vatican Television Center), closed with a deficit of 11.8 million euro, "substantially due to the negative results of Vatican Radio (about 23.5 million euro) and of L'Osservatore Romano (4.6 million euro)," said Cardinal Sebastiani. Nonetheless, "the Vatican Printing Office closed its financial statement with a surplus of 653,000 euro, and the Vatican Television Center closed with a profit of 650,000 euro. ... The Vatican Publishing House also closed its 2005 financial statement with a surplus of 934,000 euro and with a rise of 3.8 million euro in the volume of the activity." In this context, the cardinal recalled how the Vatican Publishing House has been entrusted with the exercise and the guardianship of the copyright of "all the documents by means of which the Supreme Pontiff exercises his teaching."

The final part of the economic report, concerning other income and expense, closed with a negative result of seven million euro, reflecting the costs incurred during the period of vacant see in April 2005.

In closing, the president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See indicated that in the Vatican on July 4, Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano had presided at the 40th meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See. On that occasion, said Cardinal Sebastiani, as well as the consolidated financial statement of the Holy See for 2005, the cardinals also examined that of the Governorate of Vatican City State, which closed with a surplus of 29.6 million euro.

Offers from the faithful to Peter's Pence, the fund which goes to the Holy Father's works of evangelical solidarity, came to 46,741,000 euro in the year 2005, an increase of 14.95 percent with respect to 2004.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Imphal, India, presented by Archbishop Joseph Mittathany, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Lumon.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Great Falls-Billings, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Anthony A. Milone, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Dulcenio Fontes de Matos, auxiliary of Aracaju, Brazil, as bishop of Palmeira dos Indios (area 10,795, population 567,000, Catholics 476,000, priests 38, religious 32), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Fernando Iorio Rodrigues, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

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- Holy Father Begins a Brief Holiday in Valle d'Aosta
- Fr. Lombardi, New Holy See Press Office Director
- In Brief
- Other Pontifical Acts

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HOLY FATHER BEGINS A BRIEF HOLIDAY IN VALLE D'AOSTA

At 10.30 a.m. today, Benedict XVI left Rome by plane and, following an hour-long flight, arrived at the airport of Saint Christophe in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwestern Italy. He then travelled by car to the residence of Les Combes where he will spend a 17-day vacation.

As he did last year, the Pope will stay in a chalet belonging to the Salesian Order, the same as that in which John Paul II also used to spend his holidays. The building, made of wood and stone, has two floors and is surrounded by a large garden. It stands at an altitude of 1,200 meters and has views over Mont Blanc and other mountains on the French-Italian frontier as well as over the Italian-Swiss Alps.

The only two public ceremonies the Pope is due to attend during his vacation are scheduled for July 16 and 23, when he will pray the Angelus from the house in which he is staying. Access to this event is open to everyone, says a communique from the diocese of Aosta, and all those wishing to do so may go to Les Combes to hear the Holy Father and pray with him.

Benedict XVI will stay at Les Combes - located some 20 kilometers from the city of Aosta within the municipality of Introd - until July 28.

Following his vacation in Valle d'Aosta, the Pope will move to his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, 30 kilometers south of Rome, where he will remain until the end of September.

The Pope's next apostolic trip, the fourth since the start of his pontificate, will take him to Germany from September 9 to 14.

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FR. LOMBARDI, NEW HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

The Holy Father appointed Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. as director of the Holy See Press Office. Fr. Lombardi was born in Saluzzo, Italy in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1972. He is currently director general of the Vatican Television Center and of Vatican Radio, posts he will continue to hold in his new office.

Benedict XVI accepted the resignation from the office of director of the Holy See Press Office presented by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, thanking him for his long and generous service. Joaquin Navarro-Valls was born in Cartagena, Spain in 1936 and has been director of the Holy See Press Office since 1984.

Given below is the text of a letter to journalists written by Fr. Lombardi for the occasion of his new appointment, and a declaration by Joaquin Navarro Valls:

Fr. Lombardi's letter:

"Dear friends,

"As I prepare to assume this new responsibility at the Holy See Press Office I am, naturally, grateful to the Holy Father and to the Superiors for the trust they place in me; but my thoughts also go out especially - and with affection - to you and to all our colleagues in the media whom I am called to serve.

"Like you, I have been working for some time to ensure that the activity of the Holy Father and the reality of the Church are known and understood objectively and adequately.

"Dr. Navarro-Valls performed his own long service in this field with exceptional ability, intelligence and dedication. We are all profoundly grateful to him and continue to depend on his friendship.

"I cannot hope to imitate him, but you may depend upon my commitment - within my limits but with all the power at my disposal - to serve the Holy Father and your own good work. I know I shall be able to depend on the collaboration generously offered - both to me and to you - by all the staff of the Press Office, beginning with Vice Director Fr. Ciro Benedettini.

"I also ask for your benevolence, so that this shared portion of our journey may be more fruitful.

"I entrust these sentiments to the Lord on the feast day of St. Benedict upon which, perhaps not by chance, I receive my appointment to this new service."

Joaquin Navarro-Valls' declaration:

"I am very grateful to the Holy Father who has seen fit to accept my oft-expressed readiness to leave, after so many years, the post of director of the Holy See Press Office.

"I know that I have, over these years, received much more than I have been able to give, more than I am at present capable of fully comprehending."

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IN BRIEF

THE POPE HAS SENT A MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION to Hans-Adam II, prince of Liechtenstein for the second centenary of the sovereignty of the principality. "An important element of the identity of Liechtenstein," says the Holy Father in his Message, "is its inhabitants' solid adherence to the Catholic faith and their faithfulness to the See of Peter."

CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE ANGELO SODANO has sent a telegram to Bishop Mario Paciello of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy, giving assurances of the Pope's constant prayers for the young brothers Francesco and Salvatore of Gravina in the Italian region of Puglia, who have been missing for more than a month. It is the Holy Father's hope, the telegram reads, "that this painful case may soon reach a happy conclusion."

THE OFFICE OF LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS of the Supreme Pontiff today announced that at 6.30 p.m. on Monday July 17, Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the Roman Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, will take possession of the diaconate of St. Mary in Portico, Piazza Campitelli 9, Rome.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Jose Antonio Eguren Anselmi S.V.C., auxiliary of Lima, Peru, as metropolitan archbishop of Piura (area 33,510, population 1,451,100, Catholics 1,407,567, priests 94, religious 219), Peru. The archbishop-elect was born in Lima in 1956, he was ordained a priest in 1982 and consecrated a bishop in 2002. He succeeds Archbishop Oscar Rolando Cantuarias Pastor, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Robert Le Gall O.S.B., of Mende, France, as metropolitan archbishop of Toulouse (area 6,372, population 1,075,000, Catholics 725,000, priests 347, permanent deacons 18, religious 804), France. The archbishop-elect was born in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouet, France in 1946 he was ordained a priest in 1974 and consecrated a bishop in 2002. He succeeds Archbishop Emile Marcus P.S.S., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Gonzalo Restrepo Restrepo, auxiliary of Cali, Colombia, as bishop of Girardota (area 2,445, population 203,000, Catholics 183,000, priests 56, religious 99), Colombia.

- Appointed Fr. Soundaraj Periyanayagam S.D.B., rector of the Don Bosco Orphanage in Katapadi, as bishop of Vellore (area 12,265, population 9,003,000, Catholics 155,700, priests 143, religious 700), India. The bishop-elect was born in Periya Kolappalur, India in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1983.

- Appointed Bishop Javier Augusto del Rio Alba, auxiliary of Callao, Peru, as coadjutor archbishop of Arequipa (area 26,306, population 939,000, Catholics 845,000, priests 177, religious 482), Peru. The archbishop-elect was born in Lima, Peru in 1957, he was ordained a priest in 1992 and consecrated a bishop in 2004.

- Appointed Archbishop Andre Dupuy, apostolic nuncio to the European Communities, as apostolic nuncio to the Principality of Monaco.

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Posted by monte at 05:36 PM | Permalink

DoD Identifies Casualties

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Justin L. Noyes, 23, of Vinita, Okla., died July 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Damien M. Montoya, 21, of Holbrook, Ariz., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on July 9 from a non-combat related cause. Montoya was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Irving Hernandez Jr., 28, of New York, N.Y., died in Mosul, Iraq, on July 12 when he encountered enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Hernandez was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Duane J. Dreasky, 31, of Novi, Mich., died on July 7, in the Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21. Dreasky was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery, Lansing, Mich.

A sailor assigned to 9th Naval Construction
Regiment died due to enemy action while operating in Iraq's Anbar
province yesterday, and the Defense Department has identified earlier
casualties in the war on terror.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next
of kin.

The Defense Department identified four soldiers and a Marine who died
recently in Iraq or from injuries sustained there:

- Marine Sgt. Justin L. Noyes, 23, of Vinita, Okla., died July 2 while
conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned
to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 3rd
Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

- Army Staff Sgt. Omar D. Flores, 27, of Mission, Texas; Spc. Troy C.
Linden, 22, of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; and Spc. Joseph P. Micks, 22, of
Rapid River, Mich., died in Ramadi, Iraq, July 8, when a makeshift bomb
detonated near their Mine Protected Vehicle. All three soldiers were
assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, Warner
Barracks, Bamberg, Germany.

- Army Sgt. Duane J. Dreasky, 31, of Novi, Mich., died July 10 at
Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, of injuries sustained when a
makeshift bomb detonated near his Humvee in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21.
Dreasky was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 119th
Field Artillery, Lansing, Mich.

Posted by monte at 05:23 PM | Permalink

U.S. officials are condemning a terrorist video reported to show the mutilated corpses of American soldiers

The terrorists say the video is of two American soldiers captured near
Yusifiyah, Iraq, June 16 and killed sometime later. The soldiers were
members of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of Multinational Division Baghdad.

"Multinational Division Baghdad condemns the release of the video in
the strongest of terms," the command said in a news release. "It
demonstrates the barbaric and brutal nature of the terrorists and their
complete disregard for human life."

The video, uploaded on a terrorist Web site yesterday, shows the
mutilated bodies of two men dressed in Army camouflage uniforms. The video
shows the terrorists hoisting the severed head of one of the soldiers and
makes the other soldier's identity clearly recognizable.

Officials called it ironic that the U.S. Congress and military are
debating the nature of Geneva Accord protections as this grisly video is
playing.

Terrorists know the value of videos like this, U.S. military officials
in Baghdad said. They noted that snipers in Iraq often have
videographers taping their murders and that people can buy DVDs of the murders in
stores in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

These videos are little more than "snuff films," officials said. The
airing of the video on the Internet only reinforces coalition
determination "to catch the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice,"
the release said.

Posted by monte at 05:21 PM | Permalink

A Multinational Division Baghdad AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter crashed southwest of Baghdad today, U.S. military officials reported.

The two pilots survived and were transported to a Camp Taji medical
facility. The aircraft was conducting a combat air patrol. The cause of
the incident is unknown, officials said. A MNDB quick reaction force and
a downed aircraft recovery team secured the area. Additional
information is being withheld pending investigation.

In other new from Iraq, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers
detained five suspected terrorists and discovered two caches containing
bomb-making materials yesterday in Baghdad. Three of the suspects are
believed to be foreign fighters, officials said.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division, uncovered 130 mm mortars, 57 mm
anti-aircraft rounds, 20 and 30 mm anti-aircraft rounds, as well as several other
bomb-making materials.

Also, coalition forces killed a terrorist and detained seven others
following a small-arms firefight outside the Al Abbas Mosque in central
Baghdad July 11.

Following the firefight, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division soldiers and Iraqi policemen from 6th Brigade, 2nd National Police
Division, cordoned off the mosque and questioned the imam about the
gunmen.

The Iraqi commander of responded to the scene and spoke to the imam.
Following their conversation, the imam agreed to cooperate with the U.S.
soldiers and turned over rifles, machine guns, a rocket-propelled
grenade, and the body of the dead terrorist. The soldiers also found rifles
and machine guns in a vehicle used by the terrorists. No coalition or
Iraqi security forces were killed or injured in the incident.

In a separate incident, Iraqi and coalitions forces detained nine
terrorists in Baghdad on July 11.
Iraqi soldiers from 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, Iraqi
policemen, and U.S. soldiers from Multinational Division Baghdad's 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, captured the terrorists, who are
believed to have been preparing for an attack in the western Baghdad
neighborhood of Ameriya, officials said.

After receiving a report from an Iraqi army commander that men with
mortars were seen near the Maluki Mosque, soldiers from 1st Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment, were informed that Iraqi police were attacked by
small-arms fire as they came upon the terrorists while on patrol. Four
police officers were killed and eight were wounded. Two police trucks
and a civilian truck were also burned in the firefight, U.S. officials
said.

Later, a firefight began in an area several blocks north as 8th
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, soldiers pursued eight terrorists. One
terrorist was killed as soldiers returned his fire. The soldiers from
followed two more terrorists to another building located several blocks east,
where the soldiers discovered six more terrorists. A cordon was set
around the area, and Iraqi soldiers and police and U.S. soldiers searched
the building.

The soldiers found a wounded terrorist and eight others attempting to
provide aid. A U.S. Army medic provided first aid to the wounded man
before he was detained for questioning. Iraqi authorities took the wounded
man and the eight others into custody.

Also on July 11, an Iraqi civilian was rescued from his kidnappers by
soldiers of 9th Iraqi Army Division, and Multi-National Division
Baghdad's 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, during an unplanned cordon-and-search operation in
Masara village, in the northwestern area of Baghdad.

The kidnappers were captured during the operation and are in custody.
No injuries or damage to MNDB personnel or equipment were reported.

In addition, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers recovered a
makeshift bomb south of Baghdad on July 10. The soldiers observed two
suspicious men digging on the side of the road and sent a quick reaction force
to the location. Before they arrived, MNDB soldiers observed the
suspicious individuals enter a van and speed off. When the soldiers, from 1st
Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, arrived on the scene where the van was initially spotted, they
found makeshift bomb-making materials.

Later that day the van was spotted by coalition helicopters patrolling
the area. The soldiers responded and cordoned off the area. An
explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the area to conduct a controlled
detonation to destroy the van. No injuries or damage to MNDB personnel

Posted by monte at 05:19 PM | Permalink

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Posted by monte at 05:04 PM | Permalink

Can Motorola attract the youth market through music?

Rokr ads by O&M feature real people

BEIJING -- Motorola Corp. is reaching out to China's youth market with a music-optimized Rokr model and a web site (motomusic.com.cn) that lets users download ringtones, MP3s, music videos and other exclusive content -- a move that could alter the country's entire music industry.

"By monetizing digital content, mobile music is going to save the music industry in China," said Ian Chapman-Banks, Motorola's VP-Asia/Pacific and general manager, marketing and business development for mobile devices, North Asia, based in Beijing.

The company says it operates the largest digital-rights-management music-download site in mainland China, with full track and ringtone downloads for up to 15,000 songs costing 25 cents each. In a market known for rampant piracy, the site offers international music labels such as EMI, Warner Music Group, Sony BMG and Universal a format to easily, legally sell tracks through a method that compensates for the country's unique challenges.

In a market where credit cards remain scarce, for instance, users pay for downloads (or phone-to-phone transfers via Bluetooth technology) through their mobile-phone-service plan. Charges can also be deducted automatically from Motorola phones installed with prepaid SIM cards.

While Chinese may not be used to paying for services with credit cards, they are used to downloading data with their phones. In fact, they lead the world in that, with 97% of Chinese mobile-phone users downloading data, compared with fewer than half of American users, according to the global research company GMI. In a price-sensitive market, mobile handsets also are less expensive than popular MP3 players like Apple's iPod.

Redefining Motorola's image
Playing to the popularity of music in China as a form of self-expression meets Motorola's primary goal, making its brand more appealing to the youth market in one of the largest and fastest-growing mobile-phone markets in the world. Motorola was once the market leader but has lost that position to Nokia.

"We're trying to redefine what we are. We're repositioning ourselves from the consumer perspective," said Mr. Chapman-Banks. Chinese youth "are not buying phones for calling, they are buying them for functions like SMS messaging, cameras, music, Internet surfing, games, even as a personalized fashion statements."

Motorola's latest Rokr model, the E2, has a built-in MP3 player with dedicated music keys on the handset's side and front that let users navigate playlists, play/pause, skip backward/forward and hold. Users can transfer songs from a PC to the handset with a USB cable and listen to songs via a standard 3.5mm headset or wirelessly via the built-in stereo Bluetooth audio connection. It also has a 1.3 megapixel camera for pictures, video capture and playback.

Ads star edgy young Chinese, not models
The U.S. company is marketing the E2, which was launched in China and Hong Kong in May, with an ad campaign featuring young Chinese who fit the target market -- young, cool and funky. None are professional models; they were discovered by Motorola and its ad agency, Ogilvy & Mather, walking around Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong. The TV campaign will air through the end of September, while the print and outdoor ads will run until through July. The campaign may eventually run outside Greater China.

Youthful consumers in China are now as edgy and sophisticated as their Western counteparts, however, and experts warn that the music-download site may not live up to their expectations and demands. Although it is easy to navigate and has a contemporary feel, it appears to offer far fewer titles than claimed by Motorola and most of the foreign artists are represented by one label, Sony BMG. Almost a quarter of the site's content comprises Maoist-style folk, revolutionary and ethnic tunes that appeal to a much older audience.

"It is all the more surprising given this is supposed to be a cutting-edge youth targeted site and Motorola's killer app toward youth. Real music fans will not find the selection compelling," said a branded-entertainment executive in Beijing. "The site illustrates the problem hardware manufacturers have going into content. Does Motorola risk being caught between service providers and true music services?"

While the company's music strategy "puts them in the game with Nokia and Sony Ericsson, long-term success will be contingent on its willingness and ability to broaden selection and create new functions. It will be difficult to compete long-term with Apple's iTunes software, Microsoft's upcoming Live Wi-Fi service and music-oriented mobile virtual network operators such as Virgin Mobile. Motorola will have to work harder to match titles to target audiences tastes or risk reinforcing the traditional Motorola brand perception as older, conservative and not with it," he added.

$513M in digital music sales
Motorola isn't the only company trying to appeal to music lovers in China. Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Samsung have also introduced music handsets and domestic brands are trying to improve tone quality, storage capacity, and layout design to catch up with foreign brands.

Also, there is speculation that China Mobile, the country's dominant service provider, will wake up to the potential of music downloads and move to control the market directly. China's digital-music sales will reach $513 million this year, according to the China Audio-Video Association, up from $450 million last year. Annual sales are expected to reach $1.02 billion by 2008, and $1.6 billion by 2010.

Total sales volume of music handsets reached 10.26 million units in China in 2005, according to Analysys International. The number of mobile subscribers in China continues to increase, passing 400 million in February 2006, but the market is still growing by 4 million to 5 million each month. Once 3G services are rolled into the market starting next year, take-up of value-added services such as music and video downloads could skyrocket. Half of all new mobile subscribers will have 3G phones with greater bandwith capacity for data transmissions by 2008, and 3G subscribers will account for 13.7% of the total mobile telecommunication subscribers in China by then.

Creating music ecosystem
Eventually, said Mr. Chapman-Banks, "70% of the handsets in China will be mobile music phones. From the marketing perspective, it's a dream. Motorola is creating an ecosystem for everybody in a way that fundamentally changes the music industry."

The company is teaming up with individual artists, labels and music broadcasters such as Viacom's MTV Networks, for example, to offer unique content on its site. It is also working with labels on integrated-marketing campaigns to help drive awareness about new album releases and concert dates.

"The services are good, but it remains to be seen whether they can be rolled out and [is Motorola] too far behind to catch up? If they can get those [music] services out in time, it will be really good [for the company] but the marketer partnerships are not very exciting," said Shaun Rein, Shanghai-based managing director of China Market Research Group. "If they want youth market like the people in the ads, they should be trying to partner with more hip and cool Chinese companies, not typical large foreign firms."

Posted by monte at 04:58 PM | Permalink

Bush Administration Stalls Implementation of Women's

In spite of six-year-old
federal legislation and a federal court order, the Bush
administration continues to stall implementation of the
women's procurement program. This has resulted in the loss
of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts
to women entrepreneurs. The government's latest delaying
tactic was to issue a "proposed rule" through the Small
Business Administration requiring a public comment period.

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce points out that the
SBA's new proposal changes the language of the original
legislation and calls for stringent certification
requirements which will significantly slow the ability of
many women business owners to participate in the program. If
adopted, the policy will be stricter than the certification
requirements for disabled veterans.

In a recent interview with GovExec.com, Margot Dorfman, CEO
of the Women's Chamber stated, "At every turn, the SBA has
sought to sabotage the implementation of this important
program for women as established in 2000. Now they seek to
change the laws established by Congress."

"Republican women business owners need to stop listening to
what President Bush says and start paying heed to what he
does-I say actions speak louder than words," stated Lloyd
Chapman, President of the American Small Business League.
"Bush's refusal to implement the women's procurement program
clearly shows his lack of commitment to women entrepreneurs.
All women business owners, both Democrats and Republicans
alike, need to keep this in mind the next time they step
into a voting booth."

Chapman added, "I think every woman business owner owes the
U.S. Women's Chamber a debt of gratitude for their
unwavering commitment to see that this program is properly
implemented."

Comments on the SBA's proposal can be sent through the U.S.
Women's Chamber Web site at
http://www.capwiz.com/sblink/issues/alert/?alertid=8889136 .
The deadline to submit a comment is Monday, July 17, 2006.

About the ASBL

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

Posted by monte at 04:51 PM | Permalink

Marketers Look To Agency For "Big Idea"

recently released by the Association of National Advertisers, found that 67 percent of marketers develop integrated marketing programs across most or all of their brands, but only 33 percent say they are very happy with their efforts.

The survey also found that 30% of marketers say that general advertising adds the most value to a company's marketing communications programs, which is a dramatic decrease from 51 percent of marketers ranking it most important in 2003. According to the report, trends thought to be hot, such as videogame advertising and mobile marketing, were viewed as least significant to the marketing mix.

Bob Liodice, President and CEO of the ANA, said "With the ever-changing, fragmenting media environment, it is... important...f or marketers to develop and execute a comprehensive integrated marketing communications strategy." (measurable brand communications programs across multiple channels with one consistent message).

More highlights of the survey:

63% of marketers rank organizational issues as the greatest challenge to successfully integrating their marketing efforts
72% percent of marketers feel the development of the "Big" creative idea that can be leveraged across all marketing channels is the most important contribution an agency can make toward an integrated marketing campaign
Almost 50% of marketers want their agencies to be media neutral when developing an integrated marketing program

Posted by monte at 04:49 PM | Permalink

Southwest Airlines Offers Low Air Fares From $49 One-Way; Nation's Low Fare Leader Cooks Up Airline Tickets From $49 One-Way

Southwest Airlines is offering more travel deals with low fares from $49 to $159 one-way with a 21-day advance purchase. The low fares are available only at southwest.com and vary by destination and day of travel. To book airline tickets, go to: http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_sysSale_071106 .

"Low fares are in our DNA ... it's what we were built on," said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. "We provide low fare options to our Customers by being highly efficient, and we keep them coming back with our Employee's great Customer Service."

     The following are examples of the low airfare offers (see Airfare Rules):      * $49 one-way fares are available between Oakland and Reno/Tahoe; between        Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; and between San Diego and Tucson.      * $99 one-way fares are available between Nashville and Detroit; between        Birmingham and St. Louis; and between Boise and Las Vegas.      * $109 one-way fares are available on Tuesday and Wednesday and $159 one-        way fares are available on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and        Sunday between Baltimore/Washington and Los Angeles; between Phoenix        and Tampa Bay; and between Albuquerque and Chicago Midway.      Northwest Fare Sale

Travel to your favorite Northwest destination with fares ranging from $49 to $99 (see Airfare Rules) one-way. These southwest.com-only airline fares are available seven days a week with a 21-day advance purchase. The following are examples of the hot low fares now available:

     * $49 one-way fares are available between Seattle/Tacoma and Spokane;        between Portland and Boise; and between Spokane and Boise.      * $79 one-way fares are available between Seattle/Tacoma and Reno/Tahoe;        between Portland and Salt Lake City; and between Seattle and Oakland.      * $99 one-way fares are available between Seattle/Tacoma and Las Vegas;        between Ontario and Portland; and between Spokane and Burbank.      Midwest Fare Sale

Arrive at your favorite Midwest destination with money to spend thanks to Southwest Airlines' low one-way fare from $49 (see Airfare Rules). These low fares can only be found at southwest.com and are available seven days a week with a 21-day advance purchase. Examples of the super low $49 one-way airline tickets are between Chicago Midway and Nashville; between Kansas City and Indianapolis; and between St. Louis and Detroit.

Heartland Fare Sale

Travel to the Heartland with Southwest Airlines' low one-way fares of $49 and $79 (see Airfare Rules). Fares vary by destination and are available seven days a week with a 21-day advance purchase only at southwest.com. Examples of the $49 one-way fares are between Dallas Love Field and San Antonio; between Houston Hobby and Corpus Christi; and between Harlingen/South Padre Island and San Antonio. Examples of the $79 one-way fares are between Houston Hobby and Oklahoma City; between Little Rock and San Antonio; and between El Paso and Tulsa.

Houston Fare Sale

Visit friends and family in the Lone Star State with Southwest Airlines' low airfare from $79 to $99 (see Airfare Rules) one-way. These southwest.com fares are available seven days a week with a 21-day advance purchase. Travel between Houston Hobby and Denver for $79 one-way; take a trip between Houston Hobby and Las Vegas for $89 one-way; or travel between Houston Hobby and Philadelphia for $99 one-way.

California Fare Sale

Traveling around the Golden State has never been more affordable with Southwest Airlines' low airfare from $49 (see Airfare Rules) one-way. Fares are available seven days a week only at southwest.com with a 21-day advance purchase. Examples of the $49 one-way airline tickets are available between Burbank and Oakland; between Los Angeles and San Jose; and between San Diego and Sacramento.

Florida Airfare Sale

Go see the Sunshine State with Southwest Airlines' Florida airfares, ranging from $49 to $89 (see Airfare Rules) one-way. These southwest.com-only airline fares vary by destination and are available seven days a week with a 21-day advance purchase for travel from Aug. 17, 2006, through Oct. 1, 2006.

     The following are examples of the low airfares:      * $49 one-way fares are available between Tampa Bay and Nashville;        between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and New Orleans; and between        Birmingham and Ft. Myers/Naples.      * $59 one-way fares are available between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh;        between Tampa Bay and Baltimore/Washington; between Orlando and Long        Island/Islip; and between West Palm Beach and Philadelphia.      * $69 one-way fares are available between Orlando and Cleveland; between        Jacksonville and St. Louis; between Tampa Bay and Omaha; and between        Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Louisville.      * $89 one-way fares are available between Orlando and San Antonio;        between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Austin; and between West Palm        Beach and Albuquerque.      Airfare Rules

All fares (except for Florida travel as noted) are available for purchase today through July 27, 2006, and are valid for air travel from Aug. 17, 2006, through the end of Southwest Airlines' published schedule (currently Oct. 27, 2006). For Florida air travel, the fares are available for purchase today through July 27, 2006, and are valid for air travel from Aug. 17, 2006, through Oct. 1, 2006. All airline tickets must be purchased 21 days before departure. Fares are available one-way and are combinable with all other fares. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination and day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.30 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to $9 one-way and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Airline tickets are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future air travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are valid on Southwest-operated published, scheduled service only and are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Fares are not necessarily common rated in the Bay Area or the Los Angeles Basin. Orange County's John Wayne Airport is not included in this sale.

To take advantage of Southwest Airlines' super low fares, Customers who book their air travel via the Internet can subscribe to Southwest Airlines' Click 'n Save e-mail updates as well as Southwest Airlines' newest technological innovation -- DING!

DING! delivers Southwest Airlines' hottest deals directly to Customers' desktops allowing Customers to get a jump on the latest southwest.com sales! For more information, visit http://www.southwest.com/ding .

http://www.southwest.com

Posted by monte at 04:48 PM | Permalink

Statement From Warner Music Group Regarding Today's Decision by European Court of First Instance

We are in the process of reviewing today's decision by the European Court of First Instance regarding Sony BMG to determine what impact it might have on a potential combination of Warner Music Group and EMI Group plc.

About Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) became the only stand-alone music company to be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Bad Boy, Cordless, East West, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire operates through numerous international affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers.

The Directors of Warner Music Group Corp. accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Posted by monte at 04:46 PM | Permalink

AMC THEATRES(R) OFFERS MOVIEGOERS NEW MORNING SHOWTIME OPTIONS AT GREAT

Movie Tickets at Best Price of the Day Before Noon Fridays, Saturdays,
Sundays and Holidays

AMC Theatres today announced the
launch of A.M.Cinema, a new program providing early-morning guests the
opportunity to see first-run movies at the best ticket price of the day.
Beginning Friday, July 14, 2006, the program invites moviegoers to visit
their local AMC theatre before noon Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays* to enjoy ticket prices of $4, $5 or $6 depending on the theatre
and market. A.M.Cinema is available at more than 300 AMC theatres in
the U.S. including AMC Loews theatres, AMC Star theatres, AMC Magic
Johnson theatres and AMC Cineplex Odeon theatres. The program will also be
offered at AMC's seven Canadian locations beginning Friday, July 21,
2006.

"A.M.Cinema creates a great value program for our guests during the
morning hours," said Phil Singleton, president and chief operating officer
of AMC Theatres. "At AMC we are passionate about our guests and the
entertainment experience our theatres provide. We are always looking for
ways to make the experience of going to a movie at an AMC theatre more
accessible to more people."

AMC originally launched A.M.Cinema as a test program on March 17, 2006
in four select markets: Charlotte (N.C.); Columbus (Ohio); Denver; and
Kansas City. The test program produced favorable results and positive
guest feedback, prompting A.M.Cinema to be rolled out circuit-wide.

A.M.Cinema is yet another example of AMC's long-standing tradition as
an exhibition innovator. An industry leader since 1920, AMC is known for
its commitment to guest satisfaction and is credited with many of the
industry's major innovations, including the multiplex and megaplex.

*Check local listings during holiday periods for A.M.Cinema showtimes.

About AMC Entertainment Inc.

AMC Entertainment Inc. is a worldwide leader in the theatrical
exhibition industry. With a history of industry leadership and innovation
dating back to the early 1900s, the company today serves more than 250
million guests annually through interests in 413 theatres and 5,603 screens
in 11 countries including the United States. The company is
headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Additional information is available online
at www.amctheatres.com.

Posted by monte at 04:44 PM | Permalink

NewTek Ships New LightWave 3D® Version 9

The latest update to the award-winning 3D Application includes a robust new feature set, major core changes and new workflows.

NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the availability of the latest release of LightWave 3D® version 9.0, the next generation of the Emmy®-winning 3D application. The new release is the first in a series of major rewrites and restructuring of LightWave 3D’s core with the addition of comprehensive new features such as a node-based materials editor, optically correct cameras, adaptive pixel subdivision, Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces, sub-surface scattering and vast render speed improvements.

“LightWave version 9.0 changes the value proposition for 3D software – we significantly improved LightWave’s core strengths of incredible power and amazing speed with this release. When you consider this along with the entire LightWave feature set, NewTek brings an outstanding value to the market,” said Jay Roth, president, NewTek 3D Division. “The fantastic work that our development team has accomplished under-the-hood provides a foundation for the implementation of innovative new capabilities faster and more effectively as we build the future. Throughout the LightWave v9 development cycle users will see the capabilities of the software further extend... and quite dramatically.”

The most noticeable changes for v9 are the addition of a node-based materials system that adds new shading models to LightWave, such as Oren-Nayar, anisotropic, and sub-surface scattering; the greatly improved rendering speed for today's high-demand scenes; and the enhancement of subdivision surfaces in Modeler and Layout, including Adaptive Pixel Subdivision, which gives the user a variety of capabilities for film-quality displacement mapping, normal mapping (including ZBrush support) and level-of-detail control at render time. LightWave now has arguably the most comprehensive toolset for matching real camera lenses, an addition that will greatly enhance the ability of visual effects artists to match 3D elements to live footage.

Among the changes that contribute to enhanced workflow in Layout are faster OpenGL performance and additional OpenGL hardware shader support, building on the initial implementation in version 8.5. For many scenes this provides a very accurate preview of the look of the final image or animation in real time, without the need to create test renders. The GUI has been enhanced to allow far more user configurability than in the past. Users can adapt the look to fit their needs and preferences to provide the best workflow for the ways they use LightWave.

"LightWave has always been a very easy tool to learn and use, with super fast modeling and outstanding lighting and rendering capabilities," said, Nicholas Boughen of Rainmaker Animation and Visual Effects. "With LightWave v9 NewTek has pushed the envelope beyond anything I've seen in a single upgrade before. The new node-based materials editor makes shading virtually unlimited. Camera tools allow you to recreate any camera in the world and many cameras that can't exist. APS exceeds sub-pixel displacement and now that modeling tools are migrating into Layout, modeling tasks in LightWave will be virtually unlimited. The render engine is much faster and more capable than ever. And you still get 999 render nodes for free, making LightWave the greatest value by an order of magnitude. No wonder so many studios render using LightWave."

LightWave 3D version 9.0 Features:

Rendering:

Implementation of BSP/KD Tree Algorithm to achieve improved speeds as scene complexity rises
Complete replacement of the original ray tracing core
Improved multi-threading with dynamic segmentation to insure maximum use of available CPUs
Typical speed improvements at 2.5x over LightWave version 8.5 for today's increasingly ambitious high-polygon count production scenes

Adaptive Pixel Subdivision:

Adaptive subdivision of a mesh based on distance from camera and visibility
Choice of Adaptive Sub-division methods - Per Object, Per Polygon and Per Pixel
Highly optimized mesh, tied to render resolution when using Per Pixel
Visibly similar to micro-poly displacement

Modeling:

Added Catmull-Clark Subdivision Surfaces
Subdivision level can be controlled via numerical values, envelopes, expressions, motion modifiers, textures, procedurals, gradients and more
Edge Selection
Edge Weights
N-gons (polygons greater than 4 sides) for subdivision surface modeling

Node Editor:

New Shading Models
Normal Maps from ZBrush 2 Supported
Branches can be imported and exported
Math Animation Nodes
Animated Gradient Node
Work how you want to work: Layers in Nodes; Nodes in Layers; Layers Only; Nodes Only
Full support of native controls and envelopes
Available in Layout and Modeler, and maintains context when switching between the two
Full SDK Support for third parties to create nodes (including shading models) and for third party renderers to interface with and query nodal shaders.

Advanced Camera Tools:

New rendering technology renders scenes using arbitrary camera lenses and warps. This allows for some fantastic effects, such as:
Camera plane deformations
Arbitrary projections
UV map generation
True orthographic rendering
Space warp simulations
Lens distortion duplicating physically accurate real world lenses or non-existent “imaginary” lenses
360 degree panorama rendering (one camera)

OpenGL

Preview lighting scenarios within the UI
Less need for preview renders
Hardware shading of procedural textures

Other:

Timewarp – Time Re-mapping and Warping Shader
CCTV Shader
HV Deformer: HyperVoxel Particle Displacement Shader
Stress Map
Sketch Image Filter
Pixie Dust Volumetric shader
Relativity 2
Quaternion Rotations
Mesh Editing in Layout
Native 64-bit support
Multiplatform
Dual and multi-core support

Pricing and Availability
LightWave v9 is available now for US$795 for a single user license. LightWave v9 upgrades for LightWave owners are US$395. For more information or to purchase, visit: http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at 1-800-368-5441, overseas callers dial +1-210-370-8000. To locate a NewTek Authorized Reseller link to http://www.newtek.com/dealers.

About NewTek, Inc.
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation, animation and special effects tools including LightWave 3D®, winner of the 2003 Primetime Emmy® Engineering Award, TriCaster™ and VT[5]™. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster®. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek production tools include The DaVinci Code, Garfield 2, Fantastic Four, The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D, Sin City, The Aviator, Aliens of the Deep, Battlestar: Galactica, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight. Recent game titles include Doom III, Unreal Tournament, and Age of Mythology. Website: http://www.newtek.com

Posted by monte at 04:43 PM | Permalink

WhiteBlox Closes Deal As Exclusive C4-Sports Online Broadcaster

Company To Air Keynote Sessions On The Internet
For Top Sports Broadcasting Trade Show

WhiteBlox, a leading broadband network
solutions provider, has signed a deal to be the exclusive online
broadcaster
for the C4-Sports Show in Las Vegas, July 17-19, at the Las Vegas
Convention
Center. The frontrunner of all sports industry trade shows, C4-Sports
represents the four critical components of sports technology: Content,
Convergence, Communications, and Competition.

"WhiteBlox is thrilled to be the exclusive online broadcaster for
C4-Sports," said Greg Demetriades, Chairman and CEO of WhiteBlox. "The
unveiling of our 7-camera broadcasting capabilities for live sporting
events
has kept us on the cutting-edge of IPTV technology, and is the true
spirit
of the show itself. We are excited that C4-Sports has chosen WhiteBlox
to
broadcast their essential sports technology events."

Hot off their breakout success as the exclusive online broadcaster for
the
Indy 500, where they debuted their multi-camera features for live
events,
WhiteBlox has quickly emerged as the premier IPTV solutions provider
for
sports across the board. WhiteBlox will have unheard of access to
sports
industry heavyweights, including the following keynote speakers:

Mike Krzyzewski, Head Basketball Coach, Duke University Blue Devils
Leadership Through Teamwork and Victory

Ken Adelson, Sr. VP Production Operations & Planning, NBA Entertainment
The Future of Sports Media Storage Management and Distribution

Doug Towey, Creative Director, CBS Sports &
Micha Riss, Founder and Creative Director, Flying Machine
Technology and Design: A Vital Harmony

WhiteBlox will offer all keynotes speakers and various conference
sessions
on-demand for $1 at www.c4-sports.com for six months following the
show, or
visit http://www.whiteblox.com/pressRelations/pressRelations_b.html.

For courtside seats to the most dynamic sports broadcaster in the
industry,
be sure to catch WhiteBlox in action at C4-Sports Show Booth #2209.

About WhiteBlox

WhiteBlox, a leading broadband network solutions company, delivers
robust
technology and application services in a comprehensive production and
delivery suite that allows companies to become their own IPTV
broadcasters.
WhiteBlox gives customers the flexibility, control and tools to
leverage
video assets and content into dynamic, engaging and profitable networks
through use of its integrated broadband solutions.
WhiteBlox is a company of Continental Vista Broadcasting Group, Inc.,
based
in The Woodlands, TX, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Orlando,
Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Mexico City.

Posted by monte at 04:42 PM | Permalink

Prilosec OTC(R) and Big & Rich Team Up to Salute and Honor America's Heroes

 'Comin' To Your City' Tour Features Patriotic New Single, Local Heroes and a                            Summer Full of Adventure

Prilosec OTC, the number-1 selling over-the-counter heartburn medicine*, has teamed up with country music stars Big & Rich on a whirlwind summer adventure that promises to entertain and educate fans. At the cornerstone of the promotion is a program designed to honor the nation's heroes, from veterans to moms to firefighters.

Who is Your Hero?

With the recent launch of Big & Rich's "8th of November" single, a song dedicated to honoring Vietnam veterans, the duo is encouraging people across the country to submit a dedication story about their personal hero on http://www.honoryourhero.com. Throughout the summer, new stories will be profiled on the website. In addition, for every story submitted, Prilosec OTC will donate $5 to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, up to $30,000.00.

"The 8th of November is very special to us, since it's about purple-heart recipient Niles Harris, a true American hero who has become our friend," said John Rich. "We are proud to be working with Prilosec OTC to honor heroes this summer and raise funds for other veterans who have sacrificed so much for this country."

"We are thrilled to partner with Prilosec OTC and Big & Rich in our efforts to highlight and bring attention to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor as a distinguished place of remembrance recognizing the thousands of veterans awarded the Purple Heart medal," said New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Bernadette Castro. "The Hall of Honor will serve all Americans and inspire people around the world to learn more about the tremendous sacrifice of the men and women who gave so much so that others may have life, liberty and freedom."

Furthering this support, Big & Rich has developed a made-for-TV 50-minute documentary about the making of the "8th of November," which will be exclusively available to consumers with a purchase of a Prilosec OTC special pack at select merchandisers nationwide. The documentary features interviews with Harris and the Vietnamese soldiers he fought against, Big & Rich's trip to the very site of the battle where Harris was wounded in Vietnam, and interviews with Big & Rich on the inspiration behind the creation of the song.

Summer Concert Tour - Are you ready for an Adventure?

In addition to honoring the nation's heroes, Prilosec OTC has jumped on board Big & Rich's summer tour and is visiting country music fans around the country. Launched in early June, the "Big & Rich Comin' to Your City Tour Presented by Prilosec OTC" will span the nation with more than 30 shows throughout summer. At each concert, consumers will have the opportunity to visit the Prilosec OTC booth to receive fun gifts and prizes, and the chance to be entered into the "Live Your Adventure" Sweepstakes.

The Prilosec OTC "Live Your Adventure" Sweepstakes will be giving away an adventure a day, from trips to Country Music concerts to white water rafting. The grand prize is an ultimate country music experience to live it up Big & Rich style. The winner and five friends will receive a luxury weekend at the Ploughboy Mansion in Nashville, a private concert from Big & Rich, their own tour bus to travel with Big & Rich to concerts, VIP concert access and much more.

"We are very excited to be working with Big & Rich this summer," said Karen Klei, Brand Manager, Prilosec OTC. "From giving back to our nation's heroes to awarding our consumers, this summer is all about adventures!"

For more information on the "Big & Rich Comin' to Your City Tour Presented by Prilosec OTC" or the "Live Your Adventure Sweepstakes" please visit http://www.PrilosecOTCcountry.com.

The Prilosec OTC Country Connection

A recent survey** found that 38 percent of frequent heartburn sufferers choose Country as their top musical choice, versus only 24 percent of people who don't suffer from heartburn at all. In other words, adult frequent heartburn sufferers are 58 percent more likely to put Country Music at the top of their list than are adults who say they don't have heartburn.

About PRILOSEC OTC

PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 Doctor-(1) and Pharmacist-(2) recommended OTC acid reducer, the first of a class of OTC heartburn medicines that works differently from every other over-the-counter heartburn medication. Prilosec OTC is the only OTC heartburn medicine that can work for 24 hours with one pill a day by directly shutting down many acid pumps in your stomach when used as directed for 14 days for treating frequent heartburn. PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 selling OTC heartburn medicine* on the market. For more information about PRILOSEC OTC, visit http://www.prilosecotc.com. PRILOSEC OTC is available over-the-counter through an alliance between P&G and AstraZeneca.

About Big & Rich

Big Rich formed in Nashville around 1998, when ex-Lone Star vocalist John Rich began collaborating with songwriter Big Kenny (real name: Kenny Alphin). The duo established a performers' roundtable at a local dive, and the event dubbed the "Muzik Mafia" soon gained a reputation for eclecticism and notable special guests. Big & Rich are known for taking country in a radically new direction-with rock and rap nestled beside twin fiddles and the steel guitar.

About the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will serve as the only institution in the nation dedicated solely to the more than 1.7 million Purple Heart medal recipients wounded or killed in action while serving in the United States military. Through engaging interactive exhibits and videotaped recollections told by veterans themselves, the Hall of Honor will offer visitors a variety of educational experiences to increase awareness of the Purple Heart medal and its recipients.

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R). Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R), and Braun. The P&G community consists of almost 140,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

    *  Based on dollar sales.  AC Nielson FD+ dollar share of heartburn        (12/28/03 - 5/27/06).      ** An omnibus survey administered by International Communications Research        (ICR) on June 17-22, 2005 surveyed 1,016 adults via telephone to        determine music format preference among frequent heartburn sufferers.      (1) NDC Health, NDC Physician Recommendation Audit         (April 2005 - September 2005, Acid Reducer Category).  Data on file.      (2) Based on share of recommendations: Pharmacy Today 2005 OTC Survey,         Acid Reducers.

SOURCE  Procter & Gamble

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July 13, 2006

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