MBN: The Monte Bubbles Network: Your news source on the web

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.284 which is one cent lower than last week, five cents higher than last month and 70 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.319, six-tenths of a cent above last week's price, eight cents above last month and 70 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.417, down 1.3 cents from last week, two cents above last month and 74 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $3.306, down seven-tenths of a cent from last week, five cents above last month and 74 cents higher than last year.

"Investors holding large supplies of gas have been selling and taking profits. The resulting increase in supplies on the market is helping to rein in pump prices," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Overall, consumer demand remains high. Motorists should not be surprised if gas prices turn upward again."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., July 21:

Area                                      Change from        Record                               Regular      last week          Price Los Angeles - Long Beach       $3.284      -1.0 cents   $3.402 (5/13/2006)  Orange County                  $3.240      -1.8 cents   $3.371 (5/17/2006)  San Diego                      $3.319      +0.6 cents   $3.438 (5/15/2006)  Santa Barbara  -Santa Maria-Lompoc           $3.417      -1.3 cents   $3.491 (5/16/2006)  Riverside - San Bernardino     $3.306      -0.7 cents   $3.445 (5/15/2006)  Bakersfield                    $3.228      +0.3 cents   $3.450 (5/16/2006)  Las Vegas, NV                  $2.994      +1.3 cents   $3.176 (5/17/2006)

Posted by monte at 11:57 PM | Permalink

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Robotics Side Will Feature New Height Drive and Pan / Tilt Head 

– Shotoku Broadcast Systems, the leading international manufacturer of camera support for the television broadcast industry, will introduce its newest manual and robotic products to the European market at IBC 2006 on Stand 11.724.  The Company’s latest offerings include a pneumatic pedestal with a companion pan / tilt head, and a new aluminum tripod / head series on the manual side, and a new height unit as well as a pan / tilt head from the robotics side. 

TP-90 Pneumatic Pedestal and TE-23 Pan / Tilt Head

Shotoku Broadcast Systems will officially debut its new TP-90 Pneumatic Pedestal with its matching TE-23 pan / tilt head to European broadcasters at IBC. The TP-90 and TE-23, designed to accommodate a wide range of camera configurations, joins the company’s comprehensive range of pedestals with matching pan / tilt heads. The pedestal, built on the success of the award-winning TP-80 pneumatic pedestal, incorporates design elements of its predecessor’s column that ensures its rigidity and facilitates very light and smooth up/down movement.  The compact 3-stage, minimum height unit has a record-breaking column stroke reach of 94.5cm (37.2 in.). Located under the carriage, the TP-90’s cable guards can easily be height adjusted by turning a knob located at the side of carriage.

Safety features include a new and improved column lock as well as a brake ring placed within reach of the cameraman while in operation.

Specifications

Maximum Height:                    149.5cm (58.9in)

Minimum Height:                     55.0cm (21.7in)

Maximum Width:                     76.0cm (29.9in)

Minimum Width:                      70.7cm (27.8in)

Vertical Stroke                         94.5cm (37.2in)

Maximum Load Cap.:              60kg (132 lbs)

Mass Weight:                          145kg (319 lbs) (Including Counterweights)

Maximum Air Pressure:          Less than 0.981 MPa

The TP-90’s compact and lightweight TE-23 companion pan / tilt head has a payload of 60kg. (132 lbs).  The TE-23 features the REULAUX perfect balance system for smooth operation and is easily adjustable with a wide balance range.

SH-100 Lightweight Aluminum Head / Tripods

Shotoku will also premiere the SH-100 lightweight aluminum head with a series of companion tripods. The versatile SH-100 perfect balance ENG fluid head will be shown with the TDA100 2-stage, TSA100 single stage, and TT-66 4-stage aluminum tripods.

TG-19 Pan / Tilt Head and TI-12 Height Drive

From the robotic side, the company will show the TG-19 pan / tilt head, and TI-12 Height Drive. Supporting a maximum payload of 70kg (154 lbs), the new TG-19 pan / tilt head allows large lens, camera and prompter combinations to be controlled smoothly and reliably. Following in the footsteps of it’s sister model - the TG-18 - the TG-19 is capable of manual control and has the ability to ‘learn’ the movements of its operator allowing them to be replayed exactly and as often as required. Like the Company’s entire robotic range of pan / tilt heads, high-resolution intelligent optical encoders are used allowing Virtual Reality outputs without modification to the head itself.

Shotoku’s new TI-12 Robotic Height Drive enables a wide variety of shooting angles to be achieved from a single camera position making it ideal for news, sports and current affairs studios, and virtual studios. Its compatibility with other manufacturers pedestals adds to its extraordinary versatility. With an industry first 1000mm (over 39”) height range and smooth, vibration free movement throughout it’s speed range, the TI-12 integrates seamlessly with Shotoku’s TG-18 and TG-19 pan / tilt heads. Driven directly from the CMC, the TI-12 needs no further interfacing and operator control is achieved using the existing rotary controls of the Shotoku Robotic Control Systems.

About Shotoku Broadcast Systems

Shotoku Broadcast Systems is an international leader in the manufacture and marketing of a full range of camera support products with emphasis on pedestals and pan/tilt heads for the television broadcast industry. The Company also provides robotic camera systems capable of interfacing with other manufacturers equipment. Established in 1941 as an engineering design firm specializing in unique machines, Shotoku maintains headquarters in Japan and operates offices in Staines, UK and Torrance, CA.  For further information:  www. Shotoku.tv

Posted by monte at 11:39 PM | Permalink

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The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced a new program that will extend the service life of C-130 aircraft up to 30 years.

The C-130 Total Life Extension (TLE) program addresses several aircraft modernization needs, including avionics, wiring, structures and systems. Key benefits include an innovative, patent-pending Center Wing Box solution, a comprehensive avionics modification and compliance with 21^st century civil aviation standards.

"The C-130 TLE program offers customers flexibility and affordability at a fraction of the cost of a new aircraft while significantly lowering total ownership cost," said Mike Harris, Boeing vice president and program manager for C-130, during a media briefing at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show. "After providing operational analysis of the entire aircraft, Boeing is able to provide a comprehensive upgrade and modification plan that offers C-130 owners a wide range of options."

The C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is part of the overall TLE avionics package. The new avionics system features digital displays and the 737 commercial airliner's proven flight management system, both of which provide navigation, safety and communication improvements to meet Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) requirements. The CNS/ATM upgrade will allow the C-130 fleet to be deployed worldwide.

One commonality C-130 owners may face is the Center Wing Box issue. Based on the aircraft's condition (i.e., level of corrosion or fatigue cracks), Boeing's TLE solution allows Center Wing Box upgrades without having to remove the box from its structure. Currently in development and entering the testing phase, Boeing's C-130 Center Wing Box solution will save time and reduce overall total ownership cost. It also can be applied to a refurbished box or a new box, more than doubling the life of the box from a fatigue crack standpoint.

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) today announced an order for six 737-800s, two 777-300ERs and two 787 Dreamliners. The aircraft covered in today's announcement are option exercises by ILFC valued at approximately $1.2 billion at list prices. Deliveries of the 737s and the 777s begin in the first quarter of 2009 and the 787 deliveries begin in early 2012.

ILFC was the first leasing company to be announced as a 787 customer.

"These airplanes reflect our confidence in the market going forward and our commitment to Boeing and its product line," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chairman and chief executive officer - ILFC. "We are proud to be the major operating lessor of the 787 Dreamliner and we're pleased with the strong airline leasing demand for the 787."

"We are really proud of our long-term relationship with ILFC," said John Feren, Boeing vice president, Leasing and Asset Management. "As our largest leasing customer, ILFC has great influence on the market and we appreciate its affirmation of our product line."

With today's announcement, ILFC has ordered 706 Boeing jets since 1977 and in that time, has placed Boeing 777s, 737s, 747s, 757s and 767s with airlines around the world. Its fleet encompasses three models of the Next-Generation 737 - the 737-600, -700 and -800 - and three models of the 777 family - the -200ER, -300 and -300ER. ILFC has ordered 420 737s; 78 777s and 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Including ILFC, 25 customers have announced 362 orders for the 787 since its launch in April 2004. The Dreamliner will use 20 percent less fuel than today's comparable airplanes while providing airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity. Airlines around the world have ordered more that 3,300 737s. The 777 has dominated its competition by a 10-to-one margin since the beginning of 2005.

"The reduction in total ownership costs will be assessed when testing is complete," said Harris. "However, if the C-130 AMP is any indication, then cost savings should be significant."

The C-130 AMP provides upgrades for C-130s at 1/7th the cost ($10 million to $15 million) of a new, basic C-130J aircraft ($65 million to $75 million). The enhanced digital avionics increase situational awareness for the warfighter tenfold over old analog cockpits, dramatically increasing information available to aircrews at a glance, simplifying tasks and decreasing workload. Upgrade commonality brought by the AMP also allows additional flexibility in assigning aircrews regardless of the model design type. In addition, the C-130 AMP meets U.S. Special Forces requirements, while the basic C-130J requires additional mission equipment enhancements.

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"It's exciting to see continued, growing interest in motorcycling across America, and that there are more and more reasons for the demand," said MIC President Tim Buche. "There has been a lot of attention paid to motorcycle and scooter sales this year because of rising fuel prices. The reality is that a long-time trend of increasing motorcycle sales, now more than a dozen years strong, just continues revving along. Sales have gone up every year since 1993. That's when the first 'Jurassic Park' was the summer blockbuster and you could buy gas for under a dollar-fifty."

"Rising fuel prices are just another reason that millions more Americans have purchased a bike, or are seriously considering one," Buche said. "With many motorcycles capable of 50 to 70 miles per gallon, and many scooters getting 60 to 80 mpg, dealerships and manufacturers are fielding a lot more inquiries about fuel economy," he said.

"But during the past 14 years, motorcycling also has found its way into the fabric of American culture," Buche continued, "with two-wheeling getting past old stereotypes and gaining acceptance and traction as a great form of transportation and recreation."

"The motorcycling demographic is widening, from baby boomers who are coming back to bikes, to Generation Y Americans into adventure sports, entire families and growing numbers of women who ride," Buche said. "Motorcycles, scooters, even gear and leather riding jackets are more fashionable than ever. We used to have to look hard to find positive motorcycle imagery in pop culture. Now you see bikes everywhere, spicing up advertisements for a wide range of major industries, in fashion layouts, in runway shows, in store windows, in art museums, in the form of toys at the local department store and with many celebrities, CEOs and folks from all walks of life."

"Another factor with the soaring sales has to do with the bikes themselves," said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications with Discover Today's Motorcycling.

"Motorcycles and scooters are simply better than ever, in performance, style and variety, and still very affordable," he said. "The latest Cycle World Buyer's Guide lists more than 400 models. And it's not just sportbikes and cruisers and touring bikes. There are emerging niches between these broad categories, appealing to a wider array of personal taste in bikes. There's a fun little $3,000 sportbike that gets 74 miles per gallon. There are beautiful big cruisers that cost $12,000 or less. There are many desirable bikes at these prices and beyond that Americans aspire to own and enjoy."

"Whatever the reasons for buying motorcycles and scooters, safety comes first," van Hooydonk said, stressing five key messages for all riders: 1) Get trained and licensed, 2) wear all the proper protective gear, and that includes a helmet made to Department of Transportation (DOT) standards, 3) ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs, 4) ride within your own skill limits and 5) be a lifelong learner by taking refresher rider courses.

Sales Background

In 2005, motorcycle and scooter sales topped the one-million level for the third straight year, high marks last seen during the 1970s. The MIC lists 1973 as the zenith for annual motorcycle sales, when Americans bought more than 1.5 million bikes. Sales for 1979 topped the one-million mark, then cooled in the 1980s and early 1990s. Motorcycling began its 13 years of increasing success back in 1993, with sales growing every year since. -0-

1992 - 278,000                          1999 - 546,000 1993 - 293,000                          2000 - 710,000 1994 - 306,000                          2001 - 850,000 1995 - 309,000                          2002 - 936,000 1996 - 330,000                          2003 - 1,001,000 1997 - 356,000                          2004 - 1,063,000 1998 - 432,000                          2005 - 1,116,000  U.S. New Unit Motorcycle Sales.  Source: Motorcycle Industry Council 

Discover Today's Motorcycling(R) at http://www.motorcycles.org is the communications service bureau of the Motorcycle Industry Council and a source of information about motorcycling to the media and the general public. The MIC, located in Irvine, Calif., is a not-for-profit national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, scooters, motorcycle parts and accessories, and members of allied trades.

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Animation Collective's "Kappa Mikey" and "Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF" Hit the Road With Nicktoons Network Mobile Tour This Summer

Five-City National Tour to Visit New York, Boston, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles

 Animation Collective, the largest animation studio in New York, with more original series in production than any other studio, is going on the road with Nicktoons Network this summer. Animation Collective's hit series "Kappa Mikey" and "Thumb Wrestling Federation" are key features of the Nicktoons Network Mobile Tour, a five-city event that takes kids and fans behind the scenes of how animation is made and lets them interact with their favorite shows. The tour will also kick off the third annual Nicktoons Network Animation Festival (NNAF) at the final tour stop in Los Angeles.

Fans can interact with the Animation Collective shows in several different areas of the tour:

--  Creator Meet & Greet with Larry Schwarz -- Fans can meet and have     autographs signed by Larry Schwarz, creator of "Kappa Mikey" and "Thumb     Wrestling Federation." --  Thumb Wrestling Competition -- Fans can compete in live thumb     wrestling matches disguised as their favorite "Thumb Wrestling Federation"     characters.  Matches are recorded so participants may download their     personalized video, which automatically enters them into the TWF     Sweepstakes for a chance to win a guest 'thumb' spot on Nicktoons Network. --  Tips and Tricks -- Fans can learn about storyboard design from an     actual "Kappa Mikey" storyboard and will receive free flip books featuring     "Kappa Mikey" animation.     

Having kicked off on Saturday, July 15th in New York, the five-city tour will drive cross-country in its branded Nicktoons Network Tour Truck stopping in, Boston, Detroit, Houston and Los Angeles (Burbank) for five consecutive weekends in a row.

Following are tour dates and cities:

--  Boston              Saturday, July 22 - Sunday, July 23 --  Detroit             Saturday, July 29 - Sunday, July 30 --  Houston             Friday, August 4 - Sunday, August 6 --  Los Angeles/Burbank Saturday, August 12 - Sunday, August 13     

Animation Collective is the largest animation studio in New York with more original series in production than any other animation studio in the world. The company is a leader in creating children's programming for television, the Internet, home video and other platforms. Larry Schwarz is the creator and executive producer of all of Animation Collective's original television series including "Kappa Mikey" -- Nickelodeon's first ever global acquisition, recently picked up for a second season -- "Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF," "Leader Dog," and "Tortellini Western" for Nicktoons Network and "Ellen's Acres" and "HTDT" for Cartoon Network. In addition, Schwarz served as producer of "Wulin Warriors" for Cartoon Network and the first season of "The Incredible Crash Dummies" for 4KidsTV. Animation Collective is the largest provider of original content for KOL, America Online's kids channel and Red, its teen channel.

Nicktoons Network is the fastest growing kids' network* and offers a 24-hour schedule featuring programming such as "Kappa Mikey," "Corneil and Bernie" and "Martin Mystery," as well as a roster of hits that have defined kids' and animation lovers' TV, including "The Angry Beavers," "Yakkity Yak," "Invader Zim," "Spongebob Squarepants," "The Fairly OddParents" and "Jimmy Neutron." Nicktoons Network is a part of the MTV Networks expanded suite of channels available for digital distribution. The new channels include MTV Hits, MTV Jams, Nicktoons Network and VH1 Mega Hits, expanding and strengthening MTV Networks' digital offerings to thirteen services.

Nicktoons Network currently reaches 39 million homes via cable, digital cable and satellite, and can be seen on Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DirecTV, DISH Network and Time Warner Cable. Nicktoons, and all related titles and logos are property of Viacom, Inc.

*Source: NMR *8/29/05-5/7/06 vs. 8/30/04-5/08/05 (LSD) AA(000), K6-11 & K9-14 Nick & Toon Tot Prg Day, NKTNS M-F 2-11p;S/S 9a-11p, DSNY, FAM, TDSNY (M-Su 6a-11p) CBS, WB, FOX, NBC based on Kids Type Codes, Tribune; DIC Kids ** % Index growth UE vs. P9-14 AA(000).

 

 

Artist Peter Max to Host First Virtual Exhibition at The Art of Peter Max Gallery - Forum Shops The Art of Peter Max Gallery, one of two galleries in the world exclusively selling Peter Max paintings, has announced a first-ever Virtual Exhibition, Saturday, September 2 at 1 p.m. Live via high-speed Internet connection, artist Peter Max will communicate virtually through plasma screens at the gallery, taking guests in Las Vegas on a personal tour of his renowned studio in New York. Max will interact with guests present in the Las Vegas gallery, sharing his world with collectors and fans. Additionally, Max will draw an original dedication virtually for any guest who purchases a painting during the week of the event.   (Click here for details) "Nothing has ever been done like this before. Being able to interact with the artist virtually is something new and exciting that Peter has wanted to do for our art collectors since we opened the gallery," said David Hakan, Founder and CEO of the Art of Peter Max Gallery. "Peter has some ideas that will surely surprise everyone. Move over David Copperfield!" With paintings on exhibition in more than seventy museums worldwide, Peter Max and his vibrant colors have become part of the fabric of contemporary culture. Appropriately referred to as a modern pop icon, Max achieved his place in history having painted for various Heads of State, including six U.S. Presidents. From art that appeared on the first U.S. 10-cent stamp bearing the title "Preserve the Environment," to 235 U.S. Border murals greeting millions of travelers entering America each year, Peter Max seeks to capture themes of America at its finest in his art. Peter Max art has appeared on everything from a Boeing 777 Continental jumbo jet, to the 1999 Woodstock stage, to a giant mural at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Max has been designated as the Official Artist of five Super Bowls, five Grammy Awards, World Cup USA, The World Series, and the United Nations Earth Summit, among many other designations. The Art of Peter Max Gallery, located at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in the new expansion Terrace Level, is one of only two galleries in the world exclusively selling the artwork of Peter Max. The Las Vegas gallery holds the largest collection of original paintings for sale by Max, offering a wide assortment of paintings to the great cross-section of art collectors and enthusiasts who visit and reside in Las Vegas. For more information, please call (702) 644-7070 or email pmgalleryvegas@aol.com. This inaugural Virtual Exhibition hosted by Peter Max is open to the public Saturday, September 2, 2006 at 1 p.m. at The Art of Peter Max Gallery in The Forum Shops.

New Oyaka.com Finds Hot Ticket Deals to Concerts, Sports
Events, Movies, Theater and More

Visitors Build Online Event-Going Community, Take Advantage
of Unique Site Features Such as Oyaka Mobile and Oyaka Blog

 For anyone who has ever searched
in vain for event tickets, watched ticket prices skyrocket
or just didn't hear about an event until it was too late,
help has arrived. Oyaka.com (http://www.oyaka.com), a new
meta-search engine, is now available to ensure that visitors
never miss another concert, sporting event, play, movie and
more.

Instead of poring over local independent newspapers or
standing in line at the box office or ticket counter for the
latest must-see event, fun-seekers can use the Oyaka search
engine technology quickly and easily to find lists of events
and ticket providers, compare prices and make a purchase.

"We wanted to provide an alternative to ticket outlets such
as Ticketmaster that monopolize the ticketing industry and
limit consumer options. Experience has shown that when a
top-tier outlet runs out of tickets, many consumers
mistakenly believe that an event is sold out," said Brad
Kozlicki, a member of the team of software developers who
created the site. "Now we're putting all of consumers'
options together in one event ticketing directory."

To this end, Oyaka has secured strategic partnerships with a
host of major ticket merchants and event-ticketing Web
sites. "Our directory is on track to be one of the most
comprehensive and reliable online ticket channels
available," stated Kozlicki. "Our beta version is as safe
and dependable as Web sites that have been online for years.
Our business relies on the support and goodwill of our
clients, so their security is always our topmost priority."

Oyaka enhances the online experience with Oyaka Mobile,
which delivers event, price and provider information to
mobile phones, allowing users to check out what's hot
anytime, anywhere and be ready to make their purchase once
they go online. Oyaka Blog enables site users to build their
own communities of fellow entertainment or sports lovers.
Bloggers can upload images, upload links, and change color
schemes and formats while sharing their experiences finding
ticket deals or attending events.

The Oyaka team is constantly adding providers and eventually
the site will have 50 different ticket vendors integrated
into its platform. "We plan to add services to complement
our present search abilities on a continuing basis," said
Kozlicki. "We are determined to create the most
user-friendly ticket-shopping and event community on the
Web." For example, the focus of the site is national, but
Oyaka.com will soon add a local search event dimension to
the site so that users will be able to sign in and find not
just ticketed shows but also free or low-cost local
community events.

  

KOCH Records to Release Debut Album by Prolific Artist Black Ice, "The Death of Willie Lynch," on September 5th, 2006

Black Ice Confirmed for Mary J. Blige Tour

 KOCH Records is thrilled to announce the release of "The Death of Willie Lynch," the debut album by renowned poet Black Ice. The album hits streets on September 5th, 2006 and features artists Musiq Soulchild, Natalie Stewart of Floetry, Vee and Chyna Black.

Black Ice earned his respect as one of the premiere wordsmiths on Russell Simmons' "Def Poetry Jam." Known across the nation as one of the most gifted poets of his generation, Ice has moved crowds to the depths of their deepest emotion with his special brand of spoken word. This fall, KOCH Records and world famous DJ Jazzy Jeff are proud to present Black Ice in a light you have never seen him in before. "The Death of Willie Lynch" showcases his skills with wordplay over 12 tracks. In an unusual move in today's multi-producer projects, Black Ice opted to create "The Death Of Willie Lynch" with one producer, Eric Greene Jr., a phenomenal young producer who has been blazing a trail of his own. A drummer at heart, Eric has kept a steady tempo of rising notoriety, touring with multi-platinum recording artists Jill Scott, Floetry, and Pharrell. In a very organic manner, Black Ice and Eric have combined to revive the notion of the Hip-Hop concept album. "The Death of Willie Lynch" is as thoroughly entertaining as it is socially relevant.

At the personal request of superstar singer Mary J. Blige, Black Ice joins her for The Breakthrough Tour scheduled for more than 30 venues nationwide this summer.

Black Ice has lent his genius to the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, and has made feature TV appearances on BET ("Live 8 Concert Special," "Rap City The Basement" and "106th & Park") and NBC ("Showtime at the Apollo"), in addition to starring in five consecutive seasons of HBO's "Def Poetry Jam." The New York Post has rated his live performance "diamond brilliant". He was cast as a lead member in Def Poetry on Broadway, which went on to win the 2003 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. Black Ice's talents are also showcased on releases by Pete Rock, Method Man and Fabolous.

In addition to releasing his album, "The Death of Willie Lynch," Black Ice has just completed the "Hoodwatch Movement Mixtape Volume I." He also plans on releasing a book of his prayers, entitled "Me & God," a five year chronicle of Black Ice's journal writings.

 

The tracklisting for "The Death of Willie Lynch" is:  1.  The Path                    7.  Nice2MeetU feat. Vee 2.  The Ugly Show               8.  Hoodwatch!! 3.  A Dream Transferred         9.  Front Page 4.  Find My Way Home           10.  Rain, Hail, Sleet or Snow feat. H. Hill 5.  Lone Soldier               11.  The Real      feat. Chyna Black         12.  SHINE feat. Natalie Stewart of Floetry 6.  takeyatime feat. Musiq 

About KOCH Records

KOCH Records is a division of KOCH Entertainment, the fastest-growing music company and the market leader among independents in North America. The KOCH Entertainment corporate umbrella encompasses the KOCH Records label, KOCH Vision home video, KOCH Music Publishing and KOCH Entertainment Distribution with operations in both the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Records proudly claims the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for each of the last five years (2001-2005). For additional info on the KOCH Records label and its roster of artists, please visit www.kochrecords.com

  

Ashley Tisdale Signs With Warner Bros. Records

"High School Musical" Star Currently Co-Writing and Recording Debut Album

 Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has signed singer-actress Ashley Tisdale, the effervescent star of the top-rated TV movie "High School Musical," to an exclusive long-term recording contract. She is currently co-writing and recording her debut album for the label with a stable of world-class writers and producers.

Recently named one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25," Tisdale is best known for her role as Maddie, a hotel candy counter clerk and babysitter of devious twin boys on the Disney Channel series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." She has also earned enormous popularity through her role in "High School Musical," which premiered in January 2006 and was the highest rated telecast in Disney Channel history.

"Ashley is that unique young woman whose determination, talent, drive, and great sense of style have made her an icon to young people all over the world," says Warner Bros. Records' Senior V.P. of Marketing Lori Feldman. "Add to that a point-of-view and a spectacular voice, and she has the makings of a superstar. We are thrilled that she has chosen Warner Bros. Records as the home for her career as a musical artist."

In addition to the acting credits mentioned above, Tisdale had a featured role in the cult classic film "Donnie Darko" with Jake Gyllenhall, as well as recurring roles on "The George Lopez Show," "Still Standing," and "The Hughleys." She was discovered at the age of three in a mall in her hometown of Monmouth County, NJ, and went on to star in more than 100 national network commercials. Tisdale made her acting debut in a leading role in the national tour of the Broadway musical "Les Misérables" at age eight.

"I am so honored and happy to be a Warner Bros. Recording artist. They have become my second family. They encourage me to be creative, and to be instrumental in the decision making process. My team at Warner Bros. which includes Lori Feldman, Luke Burland, Liz Rosenberg and Wendy Griffiths, have been so warm and wonderful. From the first meeting I knew this was where I was meant to be.

"When I met Tom Whalley, I was completely in awe of him. I was very impressed with how intelligent and worldly he is, and I knew he was the person I wanted to make my first CD with.

"Warner Bros. has hooked me up with the greatest producers in the business and I love my A&R guy, Tommy Page. Tommy was an artist himself and he just gets me.

"I'm ecstatic to be part of the Warner Bros. family. I couldn't imagine a better place to be making my debut CD."

  

  

YesVideo and Fujifilm Portugal, LDA Announce Partnership for Video to DVD Transfer Service

YesVideo Enters the Portuguese Film Transfer Market as Fujifilm Begins to Offer YesDVD Transfer Service: Videotape to DVD Conversion

YesVideo, Inc. (www.yesvideo.com) and Fujifilm Portugal, LDA today announced a partnership to provide YesVideo's affordable, professional video to DVD transfer services through Fujifilm labs in Portugal. YesVideo's patented YesDVD™ digital transfer technology provides an enhanced consumer viewing experience and ensures the preservation of cherished home video footage.

"YesVideo technology is a key component of Fujifilm's digital media strategy," said João Cesar Machado, President of Fujifilm Portugal, LDA. "Fujifilm is looking forward to working with YesVideo to provide video to DVD conversion services, in addition to Fujifilm's existing range of photography products and growing line of digital products."

 

(Click here for details)
The YesDVD case provides an index of chapter
thumbnails as a preview of the DVD footage.

 

Highlighted Links YesVideo website Fujifilm Portugal LDA website

"Our partnership with Fujifilm Portugal is an opportunity to work with a strong, proven distributor as YesVideo expands our presence into the Portuguese market," said Sai-Wai Fu, chief executive officer, YesVideo. "This move is another important step in our global distribution strategy of aligning with the strongest distributor in each market," he continued. "We look forward to working with Fujifilm Portugal to deliver the most advanced digital transfer services available today."

YesVideo's YesDVD service offers an affordable method of preserving home video memories. Unlike VHS videotapes that can easily deteriorate and fade completely in as little as 10 years, DVDs store images in a digital format, with quality that will not degrade with time or with future duplication.

From virtually any home video footage, YesVideo's proprietary YesDVD technology intelligently and automatically indexes 54 chapters so that consumers can easily direct themselves to the scenes they want to view. A finished YesVideo DVD arrives in customized packaging, with a cover that features a visual index of the 54 onscreen chapters, for easy chapter selection.

Pricing and Availability

Portuguese consumers may order video to DVD conversion services at Fujifilm partners labs: Fnac, Auchan, Worten and at Fujifilm main lab, either locally or through internet. YesVideo services through Fujifilm are available now throughout Portugal. For additional information, please visit www.fujinet.pt.

About FujiFilm Portugal, LDA

Fujifilm Portugal, LDA, established in 1920, has been the exclusive Fujifilm distributor for Portugal since 1967. The company distributes photographic products, photofinishing services, medical imaging systems, graphic arts systems and broadcast and computer media. Fujifilm Portugal, LDA's headquarters are located in Porto and the company has a sales office in Lisbon. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.pt.

About YesVideo

YesVideo, Inc. is dedicated to providing its customers with easy and affordable solutions to preserve and enjoy their video and photographic memories. As the leader in automated digital media authoring, YesVideo develops and utilizes best-in-class video engineering and state-of-the-art software technology to enable top-quality, on-demand DVD and CD video publishing.

Founded in 1999 by Sai-Wai Fu, a pioneer in digital video compression technology, YesVideo is a privately held company, with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and offices in Tokyo and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.yesvideo.com

 

 

Tatum O'Neal to Star In MyNetworkTV's Upcoming Primetime Drama ``Art of Betrayal''

 Actress Tatum O'Neal has been cast in the lead role of Blythe in MyNetworkTV's upcoming primetime drama "Art of Betrayal," it was announced today by Paul Buccieri, president of programming of Twentieth Television.

"We are thrilled to have Tatum attached to 'Art of Betrayal,'" said Buccieri. "Similar to her character Maggie in FX's 'Rescue Me,' Blythe, an abandoned mother, is a wonderful character that embodies an intensity very seldom seen in primetime television. Tatum is an extraordinary talent and her portrayal of Blythe is something we're very excited about bringing to MyNetworkTV."

Produced by Twentieth Television, principal photography on "Art of Betrayal" will commence later this month. The program will premiere at 8 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific)/7 p.m. (Central) in December and air 65 episodes Monday through Friday for 13-weeks. Hour long recap episodes will air every Saturday.

O'Neal, who most recently has been receiving critical accolades for her role as Maggie Gavin in Denis Leary's heralded FX drama "Rescue Me," will star in "Art of Betrayal" as Blythe, a woman scorned when her husband Theodore leaves her and their two sons Josh and Aaron to marry another woman for money. Twenty years later, Blythe devises a plan to destroy Theodore's successful business and blissful life by grooming Josh and Aaron to marry his two daughters. Intent on ruining his life and gaining the satisfaction of doing so after two decades, not everything goes according to Blythe's plan. "Art of Betrayal" will also star David Smith and Jack Krizmanich as Josh and Aaron, respectively, and Jessica Ward as Emma, one of Theodore's daughters. Additional cast members will be announced in the coming weeks.

In 1974, O'Neal made history by winning an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Addie Loggins in director Peter Bogdanovich's feature film "Paper Moon." O'Neal was only ten years old at the time, making her the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award -- an honor that stands to this day. She also won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer -- Female for "Paper Moon." O'Neal soon thereafter starred opposite Walter Matthau in the classic hit comedy feature "The Bad News Bears." Her other major feature film credits include "Basquiat," starring with Jeffrey Wright, Benicio Del Toro, David Bowie and Dennis Hopper; "Little Darlings," with Matt Dillon; "International Velvet," featuring Anthony Hopkins and Christopher Plummer; and Bogdanovich's "Nickelodeon."

In addition to "Rescue Me," O'Neal's television resume includes guest starring roles in Dick Wolf's NBC drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," HBO's "Sex and the City," the ABC sitcom "8 Simple Rules...For Dating My Teenage Daughter" and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." She has also guest hosted "Entertainment Tonight." In 2004, O'Neal published her best-selling autobiography, "A Paper Life."

Targeted to Adults 18-49 and broadcast television's only all Hi-Definition network, MyNetworkTV will launch on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006, with its two dramas "Desire," scheduled to air 8 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific)/7 p.m. (Central), immediately followed by "Fashion House," starring Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild, at 9 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific)/8 p.m. (Central).

A leader in the U.S. program production and distribution arena, Twentieth Television is a unit of Fox Television and headed by Fox Television Stations' chairman Roger Ailes, while CEO Jack Abernethy oversees day-to-day operations. Twentieth Television provides a wide array of first-run and off-network programming, as well as feature film packages, to the syndication and cable marketplaces. First-run programs distributed by Twentieth Television include "Geraldo at Large," the news strip hosted by Geraldo Rivera, and the popular court shows "Divorce Court" and "Judge Alex," the number one new first-run program of the 2005-06 season. Furthermore, the company is set to launch the new first-run syndicated court show "Cristina's Court," hosted by Cristina Perez, in fall 2006. Twentieth Television also oversees the domestic sales of one of the most extensive libraries of off-net programming in the entertainment industry. Last fall, the company launched the groundbreaking drama "24," starring Kiefer Sutherland, and The Peabody Award-winning sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show" in off-net syndication. Twentieth Television sells national advertising units retained by the company in off-network, theatrical and first-run programming, as well as oversees advertising sales for DIRECTV.

WHAT:   From Academy Award-nominated filmmaker John A. Davis ("Jimmy         Neutron: Boy Genius") and producers Tom Hanks and Gary          Goetzman ("The Polar Express"), the animated family adventure          "The Ant Bully" tells a witty and heartwarming story about a          10-year-old boy who embarks on a remarkable journey. New in          town, friendless and tormented by a neighborhood bully, young         Lucas Nickle has been taking out his frustration on the          innocent ant hill in his yard. But one day the ants retaliate.         Using a magic potion, they shrink Lucas down to ant size         and sentence him to live like an ant in their colony. In this         strange new world Lucas will learn important lessons about          friendship, get a whole new perspective on life and ultimately         find the courage to stand up for himself.          Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary         Pictures, a Playtone Production, in association with DNA          Productions: Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Paul          Giamatti, Regina King, Bruce Campbell and Lily Tomlin star in          "The Ant Bully," written for the screen and directed by John          A. Davis, based on the book by John Nickle. Produced by Tom          Hanks, Gary Goetzman and John A. Davis, the film is executive         produced by Keith Alcorn, Diana Choi Sachs, Steven Shareshian,         Thomas Tull and William Fay, with Alex Johns serving as         co-executive producer. Music is by John Debney.          "The Ant Bully" will simultaneously debut in select IMAX          theaters as "The Ant Bully: An IMAX 3D Experience." Digitally          converting the film's original 3D modeling into IMAX 3D, and          featuring proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering)          technology, it offers moviegoers an additional and uniquely          immersive perspective on Lucas' adventures into this wondrous         new world.  WHO:    From the film: Producer Tom Hanks, director John A. Davis,         and voice talent Cheri Oteri, Larry Miller and Zach Tyler          Eisen. Celebrity attendance includes Drake Bell, Lauren Holly,         Jamie Lynn Spears, Matthew St. Patrick and many more.  WHEN:   Sunday, July 23, 2006        WHERE: Grauman's Chinese                      6925 Hollywood Blvd.         Celebrity Arrivals: 3:15PM          Hollywood         Screening: 4:00PM              "The Ant Bully" has been rated "PG" by the Motion Picture Association            of America for "some mild rude humor and action."                            http://www.theantbully.com    The Ant Bully will be released nationwide on Friday, July 28, 2006     by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Louis Leterrier to Direct Marvel Studios' the Incredible Hulk

Continuing its strategy to independently develop and produce a new slate of feature films, Marvel Studios - a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) - has signed top rising director Louis Leterrier to direct a new big screen adaptation of The Incredible Hulk, based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero. The announcement was made today by Michael Helfant, President/COO of Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige, President of Production for Marvel Studios.

Leterrier recently directed Transporter 2, which opened at the top of the box office earlier this year, as well as the critically-acclaimed Unleashed, starring Jet Li, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins.

The Incredible Hulk will return to the roots of the long-running comic series, combining a well-developed character storyline with incredible action and fun. Zak Penn, who previously collaborated with Marvel on X2 and this summer's smash hit X-Men: The Last Stand, is writing the script. The project is being produced by Avi Arad, Kevin Feige and Gale Ann Hurd and will be executive produced by Michael Helfant and Ari Arad. Marvel Studios will begin casting immediately. No release date has been set.

"Leterrier has a tremendous passion for this genre and shares our vision for the new direction of the Incredible Hulk franchise, one of the gems of the Marvel Universe," said Kevin Feige. "We are very excited to be working with such a talented director to bring one of our pre-eminent Super Hero franchises back to the big screen, and we are certain that he will bring the Hulk to life in a way that will appeal to a mass audience as well as the core Super Hero fan base."

Leterrier will be formally introduced during a Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 22.

Universal will distribute the Incredible Hulk domestically and in various international territories. This project, the second feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, is expected to be financed through Marvel's $525 million revolving film financing facility.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

Except for any historical information that they contain, the statements in this news release regarding Marvel's plans are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including circumstances that may affect Marvel's ability to commence or complete production of its films, and the risk of poor performance of the films in the marketplace. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Marvel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Marvel's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Marvel assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Marvel, The Incredible Hulk and all related character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used with permission. Copyright (C) 2006 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.marvel.com.

Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.

George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smoke House Signs Three-Year, First-Look Deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television

Smoke House builds on the successful partnership Clooney and Heslov developed at Section Eight, the Warner Bros.-based production company started by Clooney and Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh. In 2005, Clooney and Heslov co-wrote "Good Night, and Good Luck," which Clooney directed and Heslov produced. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

"George and Grant are both gifted filmmakers in their own right; put them together and they become an incomparable force," said Robinov. "We are proud to support them in this new endeavor and look forward to collaborating with them on many films to come."

"George and Grant are two of the most respected and admired talents in our industry," said Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television. "We are thrilled to continue our relationship with them and look forward to developing many successful television projects with their new company."

Clooney and Soderbergh first formed Section Eight in 2000, signing a first-look deal with Warner Bros. The company went on to produce such films as "Ocean's Eleven" and "Ocean's Twelve" with Jerry Weintraub, "Syriana" and "Good Night, and Good Luck," as well as two television series for HBO, "Unscripted" and "K Street."

Multi-hyphenate Clooney has risen in his career from a lead on the long-running Warner Bros. Television series "ER" to breakout in such films as "Out of Sight" for director Soderbergh, and Joel and Ethan Coen's "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" for which he received a Golden Globe Award. Most recently he appeared in an extraordinary ensemble cast in the critically-acclaimed "Syriana," for which he garnered the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He has also executive-produced an array of movies from "Insomnia" to "Far From Heaven," among numerous films via Section Eight. Clooney stepped behind the camera for the first time with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" in 2002 and went on to direct and star in "Good Night, and Good Luck," which he co-wrote with Heslov. The duo earned an Academy Award nomination for their original screenplay.

Heslov joined Section Eight five years ago as a development executive for the film division. He subsequently became president of Section Eight Television, where he served as an executive producer with Clooney and Soderbergh on the Washington lobbyist satire "K Street" and the critical favorite "Unscripted," which followed three struggling actors in Hollywood. Collaborating with Clooney, he co-wrote and produced "Good Night, And Good Luck." The Producer's Guild of America honored Heslov with the Stanley Kramer Award for producing the film, and he and Clooney received the Paul Selvin Award from the Writer's Guild of America for their screenplay. In addition to its Oscar nods, "Good Night, and Good Luck" also earned the Best Film honor from the National Board of Review.

The existing Section Eight film slate will continue to be produced by Soderbergh and Section Eight president Jennifer Fox. The Smoke House deal will extend the relationship between Clooney and Heslov and Warner Bros. through 2009.

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Liberty Artists, a New York-based film company has decided to take a different route and provide substantive, meaningful family oriented films using African American and other minority experiences as its central subject matter. Their first feature film, MY BROTHER, starring Vanessa L. Williams (UPN's South Beach and Ugly Betty), Nashawn Kearse (ABC's Desperate Housewives), and Tatum O'Neal (Dancing With The Stars), written and directed by the renowned award-winning Director Anthony Lover, will be released September 2006. The American Black Film Festival will premier, MY BROTHER, Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 2:00pm at The Regal Cinemas in Miami, Florida.

My Brother is a unique, compelling story about two underprivileged brothers from Brooklyn, New York, their quest to develop as young men, and retain their commitment to one another. One brother, James (played old and young by Christopher Scott and Donovan Jennings), is developmentally disabled, but functional. Their mother L'Tisha (Vanessa L. Williams) helps forge a bond between the brothers that neither time nor distance can break. Her efforts are proven as we watch the boys overcome impossible odds on their way to adulthood, illustrating the tag line, "Two Brothers, One Soul." Christopher Scott will receive the "Courage Award - They said it could not be done" honor from L.Marilyn Crawford, President and CEO, Primetime and Founder of Pre-Oscar Week Tinseltown to Gotham.

Writer-Director Anthony Lover states, "For a long time I have watched the industry spiral down, promoting misogynist lyrics, negativism, sex and violence only. I knew there existed an audience who could appreciate a film that emphasized and celebrated the positive influences in the minority and urban culture communities." Fortunately, the company's backers felt the same way. Liberty Artists has pledged to produce two films per year over the next three years and has stepped to the table with the right formula for growth, impact and inspiration.

"The bottom line is, once this is a proven business investment, everyone will jump on the wagon creating masterpieces that reflect the magnitude of the African American experience. We have set the ball in motion for a positive change in movie trends, which hopefully will spill over into music and other avenues," says Greg Segal, Vice President of Liberty Studios.

Liberty Artists is a film company on the verge of releasing a new and needed concept to the film industry: Heart-felt, family oriented films that use the African American experience as its subject matter. The film company is also focused internally on creating screenplays as well as commissioning and supervising additional screenwriters and directors to develop stories that are strategically tailor-made to appeal to the African American market and to larger cross over markets beyond. Also to its credit, Liberty Artists' lower budgeted productions will have the look and sound of well-made Hollywood films.

Source: Liberty Artists

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 Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 20th birthday in style, and her favorite gifts were stunning diamond and sapphire bangle bracelets created by Whiteflash.com. Life & Style hosted a "roaring 20s" celebration with a 1920s-inspired theme and presented the celeb with the diamond bangles.

"I love them!" said Lindsay of her two new bangles, crafted in white gold and set with a combined four carats in premium diamonds and baby pink sapphires. A total weight of 2.2 carats in diamonds and sapphires adorned the first bangle while the other, complementary of its partner, was set with 2.0 carats in "A Cut Above" brand diamonds, exclusive to Whiteflash.com. All told, the combined bling is worth $4,480.

According to the magazine, the Whiteflash.com creations topped Lindsay's list of favorite gifts. Life & Style presented them to her after mingling with her 50 dinner guests, and then "the real partying" began. An additional 100 guests arrived to dance and karaoke. Lindsay was the star attraction, singing Journey and Madonna, dazzling her guests with both her talent and her new bangle bracelets. "How will I ever be able to top this for my 21st birthday?" asked Lindsay.

Interested in picking up Lohan's diamond and sapphire bangles at Whiteflash.com? Visit their online boutique at http://www.whiteflash.com/

About Whiteflash.com

Whiteflash.com is the first company in the U.S. to offer an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of "super ideal cut" to the Internet. Brian Gavin, a 5th generation diamond cutter, and Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur, together founded Whiteflash.com in 1999; bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows diamonds. "A Cut Above" (ACA(TM)) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a "true patterning" guarantee. Whiteflash.com also offers original, handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designs and specialty jewelry.

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- Sultry Sounds and Convenient Travel Package Heat Up Bermuda This Fall -

 The multi-talented Steve Harvey, comedian, actor and radio personality, will host this year's much anticipated Bermuda Music Festival October 4-7, 2006. The "King of Comedy" brings added funk to the 11th annual music festival's already eclectic combination of rhythm & blues, jazz and soul - along with an easy-to-book travel package - to the lineup of legendary stars.

This year's showstoppers include legends such as Gladys Knight, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, while also highlighting chart toppers such as India.Arie, Teena Marie and Anthony Hamilton. The favorite songs of classic soul groups such as The Original Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovette, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes and The Trammps will beckon guests to groove on Bermuda's pink sand.

Exclusive Bermuda Music Festival package rates start at $1,288* per person for four-day/three-night stays based on double occupancy and include airfare, hotel accommodations, and general admission to festival events. Packages can be reserved from the following cities: Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Additional packages available for five- day/four-night and seven-day/six-night stays, as well as upgraded event ticketing.

Set on a spectacular stage built over the water at Bermuda's historic Royal Naval Dockyard, the Bermuda Music Festival's current performance schedule is as follows:

  * Wednesday, October 4 at Fairmont Southampton, Whaler Inn     Performers: Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, The Trammps and a Bermudian     artist    * Thursday, October 5 at Royal Naval Dockyard     Performers: Steve Harvey as emcee, Gladys Knight, The Original     Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovette and Bermudian artists    * Friday, October 6 at Royal Naval Dockyard     Performers: Steve Harvey as emcee, Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band,     India.Arie, Anthony Hamilton and Bermudian artists    * Saturday, October 7 at Royal Naval Dockyard     Performers: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, Bermuda's own     Ras Mykkal and other Bermudian artists  

For additional details, tickets and package information, please visit the Bermuda Music Festival website at www.bermudamusicfestival.com or call 800- BERMUDA (800-237-6832). Fairmont is the official host hotel of the 2006 Bermuda Music Festival.

Bermuda, less than two hours from East Coast gateway cities, stretches for 23 miles along turquoise waters, surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau. Bermuda's diverse activities offer an array of vacation options, including more wreck dives than anywhere else in the world, championship golf, horseback riding, world-renowned deep sea fishing and smooth pink beaches to rest on by day's end. Accommodations range from luxury resorts to intimate guest cottages and family-run inns, all incorporating the sophistication and hospitality unique to the Bermuda experience. For more information about Bermuda, visit www.bermudatourism.com.

* The above rates are based on a minimum 3 night hotel accommodations at participating properties through GOGO WORLDWIDE VACATIONS and are based on Coach Class from (appropriate gateway and on applicable airline). Rates are per person and based on double occupancy. Rates include applicable nights hotel accommodations at participating properties and 3 nights general admission tickets to the Bermuda Music Festival taking place October 4-7, 2006. Single and triple rates available on request. Travel is valid 10-01-2006 to 10-09-2006. Packages must be booked by 10-03-2006. Actual effective dates and savings may vary by resort. Rates and promotion may change without notice and are subject to availability. Seasonal surcharges, cancellation charges, blackout dates, and other restrictions may apply. Offer cannot be combined with other offers and is for new bookings only. EP (European Plan) no meals unless noted. Special features: 3-day general admission. Airfare: Coach class

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Showcase Helps Qualify Docs for Oscar(R) Consideration

The International Documentary Association (IDA) is featuring 16 documentaries in its 10th Annual Theatrical Documentary Showcase, DocuWeek(TM). A dozen feature length documentaries and four short nonfiction films will be shown on two screens at the ArcLight(R) Hollywood from August 18-24 before traveling to other venues across the country.

"We developed this showcase to give deserving filmmakers an opportunity to qualify for Oscar(R) consideration by providing theatrical platforms where their films can be seen," says IDA Executive Director Sandra Ruch. "We also want to keep encouraging exhibitors to dedicate more screens to nonfiction films."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' rules require documentary features to be exhibited on theatrical screens for paid admissions in either Los Angeles County or Manhattan for at least seven consecutive days, as well as in eight other cities.

Since its inception 10 years ago, 17 films featured in the showcase have gone on to be nominated for Academy Awards(R) with four films winning Oscars.

  Features appearing in the 2006 DocuWeek are:    * ABDUCTION: THE MEGUMI YOKOTA STORY is the chilling account of a     13-year-old Japanese girl who was abducted by North Korean spies in     1977.    * AN UNREASONABLE MAN traces the life and career of Ralph Nader, one of     the more controversial political figures of the past half-century.    * BLACK GOLD follows one man's fight for fair trade in the multi-billion     dollar coffee industry.    * DELIVER US FROM EVIL is the story of Oliver O'Grady -- a notorious     pedophile priest in the modern history of the Catholic Church.    * THE GROUND TRUTH follows patriotic young Americans, articulating their     war stories on-camera.    * IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS illuminates post-war Iraq in three acts, building a     vivid picture of a country pulled in different directions by religion     and ethnicity.    * JESUS CAMP is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that     recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of     America's political future.    * PURVIS OF OVERTOWN is the story of Purvis Young who taught himself to     paint while in prison, and is now an acclaimed contemporary artist.    * SO MUCH SO FAST focuses on Stephen Heywood who finds out he has a     paralyzing neurological disorder and how it affects his life and loved     ones.    * THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED is an unprecedented investigation into the     secret Motion Picture Association of America's film ratings system and     its profound impact on American culture.    * TOOTS is an authentic portrait of legendary, self-made Manhattan     saloonkeeper Toots Shor.    * THE TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT is the portrait of a wrongful conviction that     offers a haunting examination of a community and criminal justice     system subject to racial bias and tainted by fear.    DocuWeek also features the following short films (40 minutes or less):    * THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT documents a year in the life of children     in the remote villages of China who have lost their parents to AIDS.    * HALF LIFE: A JOURNEY TO CHERNOBYL tells the story of the people who     dealt with the world's worst nuclear disaster at ground level.    * A SON'S SACRIFICE follows the journey of a young American Muslim who     confronts his roots at his father's slaughterhouse in New York City.    * PHOENIX DANCE is the story of accomplished dancer Homer Avila when he     returns to the stage after losing a leg to cancer.  

A complete schedule is available on the IDA website at www.documentary.org.

Tickets and Showcase passes for the Hollywood run of DocuWeek are only available at the ArcLight Hollywood box office (6360 Sunset Blvd.) beginning July 28, 2006, or at www.ArcLightCinemas.com. General admission is $11. Passes are $110 for the full week or $50 for a day.

The IDA is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles. For more information about IDA, visit www.documentary.org or call 213-534-3600.

DocuWeek is a trademark of the International Documentary Association.

Oscar and Academy Award are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

ArcLight is a registered trademark of ArcLight Cinemas Company.

IFC and The Independent Film Channel are service marks of The Independent Film Channel LLC. (c)

Source: International Documentary Association

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The Conference Board reports today that the Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators edged up by 0.1% in June, following a 0.6% decline in May, and a 0.1% decrease in April.

Says Ken Goldstein, Labor Economist at The Conference Board: "The U.S. economy is cooling at mid-year. The Leading Economic Indicators started to soften a year ago and, but for the interruption caused by the hurricanes and flooding and their aftermath, it has continued through June. This basic trend has been intensified by higher energy prices and a cooling off in the housing market. The LEI suggest that the economy could cool even more in the third and fourth quarters of the year."

The Conference Board also reports that the Coincident Index increased 0.2% in June, following a 0.1% increase in May, and a 0.2% increase in each of the four prior months. The Lagging Index rose by 0.6% in June, following a 0.2% increase in both April and May.

The Conference Board(R) U.S. Business Cycle Indicators(SM)

U.S. Leading Economic Indicators and Related Composite Indexes for JUNE 2006

The Conference Board announced today that the U.S. leading index increased 0.1

percent, the coincident index increased 0.2 percent and the lagging index                       increased 0.6 percent in June.    -- The leading index increased slightly in June, following two consecutive      declines.  The largest negative contributors to the leading index in      June were vendor performance and building permits.  From December to      June, the leading index fell by 0.3 percent (a -0.6 percent annual      rate).  Declining housing permits continued to be the largest negative      contributor over this period.    -- The coincident index, a measure of current economic activity, continued      to increase steadily as it has since September 2005.  But its growth      moderated slightly in the second quarter of 2006.  From December to      June, the coincident index grew 1.1 percent (a 2.2 percent annual      rate), and employment and industrial production were the major      contributors to this growth.    -- The leading index has fallen below its most recent high reached in      January and the strengths among the leading indicators have gradually      become less widespread in recent months.  The current behavior of the      leading index suggests that economic growth should continue, but at a      slow to moderate rate in the near term.  

LEADING INDICATORS. Six of the ten indicators that make up the leading index increased in June. The positive contributors -- beginning with the largest positive contributor -- were average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance (inverted), index of consumer expectations, real money supply*, average weekly manufacturing hours, interest rate spread, and manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods*. The negative contributors -- beginning with the largest negative contributor -- were vendor performance, building permits, and stock prices. The manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials* held steady in June.

The leading index now stands at 138.1 (1996=100). Based on revised data, this index decreased 0.6 percent in May and decreased 0.1 percent in April. During the six-month span through June, the leading index decreased 0.3 percent, with five out of ten components advancing (diffusion index, six-month span equals fifty percent).

COINCIDENT INDICATORS. All four indicators that make up the coincident index increased in June. The positive contributors to the index -- beginning with the largest positive contributor -- were industrial production, personal income less transfer payments*, employees on nonagricultural payrolls, and manufacturing and trade sales*.

The coincident index now stands at 122.9 (1996=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.1 percent in May and increased 0.2 percent in April. During the six-month period through June, the coincident index increased 1.1 percent.

LAGGING INDICATORS. The lagging index stands at 123.7 (1996=100) in June, with all seven components advancing. The positive contributors to the index - - beginning with the largest positive contributor -- were average duration of unemployment (inverted), commercial and industrial loans outstanding*, change in CPI for services, change in labor cost per unit of output*, average prime rate charged by banks, ratio of consumer installment credit to personal income*, and ratio of manufacturing and trade inventories to sales*. Based on revised data, the lagging index increased 0.2 percent in both May and April.

DATA AVAILABILITY AND NOTES.

The data series used by The Conference Board to compute the three composite indexes and reported in the tables in this release are those available "as of" 12 Noon on July 19, 2006. Some series are estimated as noted below.

* Series in the leading index that are based on The Conference Board estimates are manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials, manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods, and the personal consumption expenditure used to deflate the money supply. Series in the coincident index that are based on The Conference Board estimates are personal income less transfer payments and manufacturing and trade sales. Series in the lagging index that are based on The Conference Board estimates are inventories to sales ratio, consumer installment credit to income ratio, change in labor cost per unit of output, the consumer price index, and the personal consumption expenditure used to deflate commercial and industrial loans outstanding.

The procedure used to estimate the current month's personal consumption expenditure deflator (used in the calculation of real money supply and commercial and industrial loans outstanding) now incorporates the current month's consumer price index when it is available before the release of the U.S. Leading Economic Indicators.

Effective with the September 18, 2003 release, the method for calculating manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials (A0M008) and manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods (A0M027) has been revised. Both series are now constructed by deflating nominal aggregate new orders data instead of aggregating deflated industry level new orders data. Both the new and the old methods utilize appropriate producer price indices. This simplification remedies several issues raised by the recent conversion of industry data to the North American Classification System (NAICS), as well as several other issues, e.g. the treatment of semiconductor orders. While this simplification caused a slight shift in the levels of both new orders series, the growth rates were essentially the same. As a result, this simplification had no significant effect on the leading index.

Effective with the January 22, 2004 release a programming error in the calculation of the leading index -- in place since January 2002 -- has been corrected. The cyclical behavior of the leading index was not affected by either the calculation error or its correction, but the level of the index in the 1959-1996 period is slightly higher.

  Website: http://www.conference-board.org/economics/bci                                      Summary Table of                                     Composite Indexes                                 2006                              6-month                                Apr         May         Jun      Dec to Jun    Leading index               138.7       137.9       138.1 p     Percent Change              -.1         -.6          .1 p      -0.3     Diffusion                  40.0        25.0        65.0        50.0    Coincident Index            122.5 r     122.6 p     122.9 p     Percent Change               .2          .1 p        .2 p       1.1     Diffusion                  75.0        75.0       100.0       100.0    Lagging Index               122.7 p     123.0 p     123.7 p     Percent Change               .2 p        .2 p        .6 p       1.6     Diffusion                  71.4        50.0        92.9        42.9    n.a.  Not available     p  Preliminary     r  Revised   Indexes equal 100 in 1996   Source:  The Conference Board 

Source: The Conference Board

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-- With mid-term elections now less than four months away, a new Harris Poll finds that Democrats have widened their lead over the Republicans in the race for control of Congress. Results show that if the election for Congress were held today, more than two in five (44%) adults would vote for the Democratic candidate, while about one-third (31%) would vote for the Republican candidate, 17 percent would vote for someone else, and just seven percent are undecided.

These are results from the latest Harris Poll of 1,002 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone between July 7 and 10, 2006 by Harris Interactive(R).

  Other interesting findings regarding the congressional ballot include:    --  With a margin of 13 percentage points, the Democrats' lead over the       Republicans has increased from a four-point lead in April and 11-point       lead in January.    --  The Democrats lead among nearly every demographic subgroup examined.       The lone exception is college graduates (37% Republican, 34% Democrat,       and 21% other), where they are essentially tied with Republicans. The       Republican candidate for Congress also faces difficulty among some       traditionally supportive groups such as men (33% Republican, 43%       Democrat), married adults (35% Republican, 40% Democrat), and more       affluent adults (those with a household income of $60K or more: 37%       Republican, 43% Democrat).    --  Another issue facing the Republican Party lies with support among       conservatives (48% would vote for the Republican candidate, 32%       Democratic candidate, and 15% another candidate) and moderates (25%       Republican, 50% Democrat, and 18% other), two important segments of       their coalition. On the other hand, a Democratic candidate currently       draws 68 percent of the liberal vote compared to 13 percent for       Republicans and 12 percent for another candidate.    --  The Democratic candidate appears to garner slightly stronger support       among its base than does the Republican candidate (86% of Democrats       would support their candidate vs. 82% of Republicans would support       their candidate).    --  True to their label, Independents show no real preference with 35       percent supporting the Democrat, 25 percent the Republican, and 30       percent another candidate.    Right direction or wrong track 

The mood of the nation is essentially unchanged since our last Harris Poll. Currently, 28 percent of U.S. adults think that things are going in the right direction while 61 percent believe the country has gotten off on the wrong track. In June the figures were 28 percent right direction and 64 percent wrong track. Generally speaking, when a majority of adults believe things are on the wrong track they are more likely to consider challengers to incumbent officeholders in elections. Combined with the voter preference for Congress, continued negative mood about the nation could put Republican control of Congress in question.

Presidential ratings

President Bush's job approval rating is only marginally better than it was a month ago. Two-thirds of U.S. adults still have a negative view of the President's job performance (65%) while 34 percent are positive. This compares to 67 percent negative and 33 percent positive in June. A majority of adults across demographic subgroups have a negative opinion of the president's job handling.

The president still has some problems with his base supporters. While his job standing has improved among Republicans, rising from 68 percent in June to 74 percent currently, he is not faring as well among conservatives. Slightly less than half of self-identified conservative adults have a positive impression of President Bush's job handling (46%).

Important issues

Concern about the war in Iraq continues to dominate the issue agenda and is the only issue which shows a significant increase in mentions. Concern about the war now stands at 32 percent, up from 27 percent last month. Mentions of the economy (15%) and immigration (13%) form a second tier of important issues for the government to address. New to the list this month is concern about North Korea (2%), which could be a result of the missile testing by that country just before the survey was conducted.

                                 TABLE 1                    PRESIDENT BUSH'S OVERALL JOB RATING                       (Excludes Not Sure Responses)  "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as          president - excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?"    Base: All Adults                            TREND          Positive*         Negative**    2006                    July      %       34                65                           June      %       33                67                            May      %       29                71                          April      %       35                63                          March      %       36                64                        February     %       40                58                         January     %       43                56   2005                  November    %       34                65                         August      %       40                58                           June      %       45                55                          April      %       44                56                        February     %       48                51   2004                  November    %       50                49                         October     %       51                49                        September    %       45                54                          August     %       48                51                           June      %       50                49                          April      %       48                51                         February    %       51                48   2003                  December    %       50                49                         October     %       59                40                          August     %       57                41                           June      %       61                36                          April      %       70                29                         February    %       52                46   2002                  December    %       64                35                         November    %       65                33                         October     %       64                35                        September    %       68                30                         August      %       63                37                          July       %       62                37                           June      %       70                28                           May       %       74                25                          April      %       75                23                          March      %       77                22                        February     %       79                20                        January      %       79                19   2001                  December    %       82                17                         November    %       86                12                         October     %       88                11                         August      %       52                43                          July       %       56                39                          June       %       50                46                          May        %       59                35                         March       %       49                38                        February     %       56                26    *Positive = excellent or pretty good.   **Negative = only fair or poor.                                    TABLE 2                     PRESIDENT JOB RATING - BY PARTY ID                            (Positive* Ratings)  "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as                                president?"    Base: All Adults                      Total                 Party ID                               Republican      Independent      Democrat                        %            %              %               %   July                34           74             23              14   June                33           68             27              14   May                 29           67             19              10    *Positive = excellent or pretty good.                                    TABLE 3               PRESIDENT JOB RATING - BY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY                            (Positive* Ratings)  "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as                                president?"    Base: All Adults                   Total                     Political Philosophy                                 Conservative     Moderate      Liberal                   %                 %               %             %   July           34                46              29            21   June           33                55              28            13   May            29                46              24            10    *Positive = excellent or pretty good.                                    TABLE 4                       CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults    TREND               Republican    Democrat     Other+    Undecided*+   July       %           31           44           17           7   April      %           37           41           15           6   January    %           34           43           14           9    *Undecided = No preference/don't know/refused   +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 5                CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY PARTY ID 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                      Total                 Party ID                              Republican         Independent     Democrat                      %            %                  %             %   Republican        31           82                 25             3   Democrat          44            5                 35            86   Other+            17            7                 30             9    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 6                CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY IDEOLOGY 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                     Total                 Political Philosophy                             Conservative          Moderate      Liberal                      %            %                  %             %   Republican        31           48                 25            13   Democrat          44           32                 50            68   Other+            17           15                 18            12    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 7               CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY EDUCATION 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                    Total         Highest Level of Education                              Some       College       At Least Some                             College     Graduate      Post-Graduate                             or Less                     %          %            %              %   Republican       31         29           37             37   Democrat         44         47           34             44   Other+           17         16           21             16    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 8                  CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY SEX 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                     Total                              Sex                                               Male           Female                      %                         %               %   Republican        31                         33              30   Democrat          44                         43              46   Other+            17                         17              16    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 9             CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY MARITAL STATUS 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                  Total                    Marital Status                               Married     Single     Divorced/     Widowed                                                      Separated                   %              %          %            %            %   Republican     31             35         28           28           13   Democrat       44             40         51           53           64   Other+         17             17         15           20           13    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 10            CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS - BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

"If the election for Congress were being held today, would you be voting for

          the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?"    Base: All Adults                   Total                      Household Income                               Less than $30K    $30k to $60k        $60k+                    %                %                 %               %   Republican      31               27                23              37   Democrat        44               49                27              43   Other+          17               16                 9              17    +Volunteered response                                    TABLE 11                       RIGHT DIRECTION OR WRONG TRACK      (Excludes No Opinion, Not Sure and Decline to Answer Responses) 

"Generally speaking, would you say things in the country are going in the right direction or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?"

  Base: All Adults                    TREND             Right Direction        Wrong Track   2006            July      %            28                     61                   June      %            28                     64                    May      %            24                     69                   April     %            27                     65                   March     %            31                     60                 February    %            32                     59                 January     %            33                     54   2005          November    %            27                     68                  August     %            37                     59                   June      %            38                     55                 January     %            46                     48   2004         September    %            38                     57                   June      %            35                     59   2003          December    %            35                     57                   June      %            44                     51   2002          December    %            36                     57                   June      %            46                     48   2001          December    %            65                     32                   June      %            43                     52                 January     %            46                     39   2000           October    %            50                     41                   June      %            40                     51                 January     %            50                     38   1999            June      %            37                     55                   March     %            47                     45   1998          December    %            43                     51                   June      %            48                     44   1997          December    %            39                     56                   April     %            36                     55   1996          December    %            38                     50                   June      %            29                     64   1995          December    %            26                     62                   June      %            24                     65   1994          December    %            29                     63                   June      %            28                     65                                    TABLE 12              MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR GOVERNMENT to address                     (Spontaneous, Unprompted Replies) "What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to                                 address?"    Base: All Adults                                       '95  '96  '97  '98  '99  '00  '01  '02                                      Feb April May  Jan  Feb  Aug  Dec  Dec                                       %    %    %    %    %    %    %    %   (The) war                           X    X    X    X    X    X    12   18   The economy (non-specific)          7   14    8    9    7    5    32   34   Immigration                         2    2    2    1    *    1     1    1   Gas and oil prices                  X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X   Healthcare (not Medicare)           25   16   10   11   12   15    5   10   Iraq / (Saddam Hussein)              *    *    *    *    1    -    -   11   Education                           10   14   15   14   21   25   12   11   Employment/jobs                     10    9    5    3    4    4    7    8   Terrorism                           X     X    X    X    X    X   22   17   Social security                     x     X    6    6   24   16    3    2   Energy                              X     X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Taxes                               12   11   14   16   12   13    6    5   Homeland/domestic security/public    safety                              X    X    X    X    X    X    8    9   Budget/Government spending           X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   (Programs for) the poor/ poverty    10    2    3    2    2    3    1    2   Military/defense                     1    1    2    2    2    4    4    1   Environment                          1    1    3    2    3    3    1    3   Domestic/social issues (non-    specific)                           4    4    2    3    2    2    2    2   Crime/violence                      21   16   19   13    8   10    1    2   Foreign policy (non-specific)        2    3    3    5    4    3    2    4   North Korea                          X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Medicare                             X    3    4    5    5    6    1    1   Homelessness                         -    3    4    4    3    3    2    2   Peace/world peace/nuclear arms       1    3    1    3    3    1    2    2   Inflation                            X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   National security                    X    X    X    X    2    2    6    3   Same sex rights                      X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Drugs                                3    4    8    6    2    5    2    3   Human/civil/women's rights           1    2    2    1    *    1    1    1   Religion (decline of)                1    *    *    1    *    1    2    1   Abortion                             3    4    2    2    2    6    1    1   Disaster relief/Hurricane Relief     x    x    x    x    x    X    X    x   Family values (decline of)           2    2    2    1    2    1    *    *   Judicial/Legal Issues                X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Welfare                             16   13   14    8    4    2    1    1   Honesty/Integrity/Moral Values       X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Ethics in government                 *    *    *    *    *    *    1    1   School safety                        X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Downsizing government                X    X    X    X    X    1    *    X   Bush/president                       x    x    x    x    x    X    X    x   Medical research                     X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X   Middle East peace process between    Palestinians and Israel             X    X    X    X    X    X    2    2   Anthrax/Biological attack            -    -    -    -    -    -    1    1   CIA leak                             x    x    x    x    x    X    X    x   FEMA                                 x    x    x    x    x    X    X    x   Election/Voter reform                X    X    X    X    X    X    X    1   Other(1)                             7    7    8   19    2   19    3    8   Not sure/refused/no issue            7    7    9   12   16   18   11   10                                   '03  '04  '05  '06  '06  '06  '06  '06  '06                                 Jun  Oct  Aug  Feb  Mar April May June July                                  %    %    %    %    %    %    %    %    %   (The) war                       8   35   41   27   21   23   28   27   32   The economy (non-specific)     25   28   19   15   15   12   13   14   15   Immigration                     2    2    3    5    4   19   16   20   13   Gas and oil prices              1    1   10    2    5    3   14    8    9   Healthcare (not Medicare)      14   18   11   20   16   13    8   12    8   Iraq / (Saddam Hussein)         3    9    6    5    7    7    7    8    8   Education                      13    7    8    8    7   10    5    7    8   Employment/jobs                 8   10    3    5    8    6    5    7    6   Terrorism                      11    7    7    6    6    3    3    4    5   Social security                 4    4   10    7    7    5    4    5    4   Energy                          1    1    4    4    3    3    x    4    4   Taxes                          11    8    5    6    5    5    5    4    4   Homeland/domestic    security/public safety         3    6    2    3    4    3    3    2    3   Budget/Government spending      X    X    X    X    X    X    3    5    2   (Programs for) the poor/    poverty                        3    *    4    5    4    4    3    4    2   Military/defense                5    3    1    3    3    2    1    4    2   Environment                     2    1    3    2    1    1    2    3    2   Domestic/social issues (non-    specific)                      1    2    2    *    2    *    1    3    2   Crime/violence                  3    1    3    1    1    3    2    2    2   Foreign policy (non-specific)   2    3    2    3    3    3    4    2    2   North Korea                     X    X    X    X    X    X    X    X    2   Medicare                        4    3    2    5    3    3    2    1    2   Homelessness                    1    *    1    1    1    2    2    1    2   Peace/world peace/nuclear    arms                           3    *    1    1    2    1    1    1    2   Inflation                       X    X    1    1    1    1    2    2    1   National security               6    5    2    2    3    2    3    2    1   Same sex rights                 X    1    1    *    *    1    *    2    1   Drugs                           3    *    2    1    1    2    2    1    1   Human/civil/women's rights      *    1    1    1    *    1    2    1    1   Religion (decline of)           1    1    *    *    1    1    2    1    1   Abortion                        1    4    2    1    2    1    2    1    1   Disaster relief/Hurricane    Relief                         x    X    x    1    2    *    *    1    1   Family values (decline of)      1    1    1    *    *    *    *    1    1   Judicial/Legal Issues           X    *    2    1    1    *    *    1    1   Welfare                         3    *    3    1    1    2    1    1    1   Honesty/Integrity/Moral    Values                         X    2    2    *    1    1    *    1    1   Ethics in government            1    1    1    1    X    1    2    1    *   School safety                   2    *    1    1    *    *    *    1    *   Downsizing government           X    1    *    *    1    1    *    1    *   Bush/president                  x    X    x    1    1    *    1    X    *   Medical research                2    2    1    2    1    1    1    *    *   Middle East peace process    between Palestinians and    Israel                         2    *    1    1    1    2    1    *    *   Anthrax/Biological attack       1    X    *    X    *    *    *    *    *   CIA leak                        x    X    x    X    *    1    *    *    *   FEMA                            x    X    x    *    X    *    *    *    *   Election/Voter reform           1    *    1    1    *    *    *    *    *   Other(1)                        8    8    1    5    4    4    6    6    3   Not sure/refused/no issue      12    9    8    6    8    4    4    6    8     * = Less than 0.5%    X = Not mentioned as specific issue   (1) Including government/politics (nonspecific), personal finance,       housing, Supreme Court, air travel safety, Democrats, Republicans,       corporate scandals/fraud, and programs for the elderly (not       Medicare/Social Security)    Methodology 

The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone within the United States between July 7 and 10, 2006 among a nationwide cross section of 1,002 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, and region were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 1,002 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-3 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

  J28469   QA1, QA2, QA3, QA5    Harris Interactive Inc. 07/06    The Harris Poll(R) 57, July 20, 2006 

By Bill Dalbec, Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy Research Group, Harris Interactive(R)

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online, visit www.harrispollonline.com.

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Spin3 (www.spin3.com), powered by Microgaming, today announced the launch of its SpinLite™ line of stand-alone, play-for-fun casino style mobile games. The popular Tomb Raider™ video slot will be the first game to feature on SpinLite. Mobile service providers and content aggregators around the world will be able to license SpinLite games on a revenue-share, pay-per-download basis.

Spin3 is the only mobile gaming provider to offer the Tomb Raider video slot, which is themed around the queen of video gaming, Lara Croft. SpinLite enables consumers to download the exciting Tomb Raider slot onto their mobile phone, paying per download. The game is a five reel, fifteen payline slot machine sure to provide an exciting mobile gaming experience for virtual credits.

"With SpinLite, consumers can experience the thrill of winning without putting money on the line," said Matti Zinder, CEO, Spin3. "There is an increasing demand for casino style mobile games from consumers around the world, and Spin3 lets mobile operators meet that demand through a high quality, fun experience."

According to Juniper Research, the evolution in mobile games is set to continue in the next five years, with a growth in global revenues from $3.1bn in 2006 approaching $17.6bn by 2011, a rise producing a cumulative revenue stream of nearly $57bn over the next six years.

Continuing in the Spin3 tradition, SpinLite features enhanced graphical game design, high quality sound and a menu system that is easy for the user to navigate and play.

Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are trademarks of Core Design Ltd. Eidos and the Eidos logo are trademarks of the Eidos Group of companies. All rights reserved.

About Spin3 (www.spin3.com)

Spin3™, the wireless division of Spiral Solutions Ltd., is the provider of the leading wireless casino system worldwide which includes the GameWire™ and SpinFone™ suites of casino applications. Spin3 has partnered with Microgaming, the leading supplier of online gaming solutions, to provide a complete mobile gaming platform, utilizing Microgaming's world-leading interactive casino management technology.

About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)

Established in 1994, Microgaming is a leading supplier of online gaming solutions. Microgaming's mission is to develop software and management systems that allow their operators to manage reliable, credible and profitable online gaming enterprises and to champion the interests of the player through fair play, transparency initiatives and the promotion of responsible gaming.

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Antenna / RF Systems of Sacramento, California is helping Taiwan Pubic Television Service Foundation (PTS) pave the way towards its digital future by supplying the network with a Jampro JUHD panel antenna and a Jampro DVB-T series UHF combiner-filter module.

The JUHD broadband UHF panel antenna ordered by PTS is DTV-ready and can be either side or top-mounted.  It is based on a modular design that can be configured to provide various azimuth and elevation patterns for UHF bands IV and V.  By using optional beam tilt and null fill, the elevation pattern of PTS's antenna can be shaped to maximize coverage over the island nation.

Jampro's low power UHF constant Impedance DVB-T combining module is a compact unit in the Company’s RCCC-211-DTV/DVB-T series. The combiner module and filter provides excellent results in the bandpass and channel combining application.

Established in 1998, PTS is the first independent public broadcasting institution in the Republic of China. The non-profit organization originates two television channels comprised of a variety of quality programming from Taipei, PTS 300 k and PTS 34 k.

About Jampro

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

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

Posted by monte at 01:34 PM | Permalink

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Captioning Will Provide Web Users Who Are Deaf Or Hard of Hearing With             Enhanced Access To CNN Streaming Video Content        Initiative Extends AOL's Commitment To Serving People With                              Disabilities 

Posted by monte at 01:33 PM | Permalink

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Exodus Film Group announced today that Christian Slater, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese will lend their voices for Exodus' CG-animated feature comedy "Igor." The Weinstein Co. has an all encompassing distribution deal for "Igor" including North America as well as representing international rights. TWC recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival having sold the film into most foreign territories.

A playfully irreverent comedy which brings a new twist to the classic monster genre, "Igor" is the story of a mad scientist's hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a scientist in his own right and winning the coveted first place award at the annual Evil Science Fair.

(Click here for details)

"These are three fantastic actors," said John D. Eraklis, Exodus' president. "Their distinct voices and dynamic styles each lend themselves perfectly to the characters."

Harvey Weinstein stated, "Christian, Steve and John all have such entertaining voices that will perfectly articulate each character and add to the incredible excitement already surrounding this film."

Slater ("Windtalkers," "Untamed Heart") is lending his voice in the title role of "Igor," Dr. Glickenstein's hunchbacked lab assistant; Buscemi ("Charlotte's Web," "Fargo") will voice "Scamper," a super intelligent and ill-tempered lab rabbit; with Cleese ("Shrek" 2 & 3, "A Fish Called Wanda") voicing the character of "Dr. Glickenstein," Igor's evil master.

With a hunch on his back and a Yes Masters degree in Servitude, Slater's character, "Igor," is the lab assistant to the cruel Dr. Glickenstein. But Igor isn't like other Igors. He has big dreams. dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and of winning the Evil Science Fair.

Buscemi's character, "Scamper," is Dr. Glickenstein's genetically altered lab rabbit who is surreptitiously brought back to life by Igor after an unfortunate run-in with a fast-moving carriage. While infinitely smarter than the others, Scamper wallows in a pessimistic gloom and remains self-conscious of the conspicuous tire tread left across his belly.

Cleese's character, "Dr. Glickenstein," is a cruel and malevolent mad scientist and Igor's unforgiving master. A condescending egomaniac, he constantly torments Igor and ridicules his ideas. Dr. Glickenstein is quick to remind Igor that he's not here to think, but to follow orders and serve his master.

"Igor" is produced by Eraklis and seasoned animation executive Max Howard, who has collaborated on numerous animated blockbusters such as Disney's "Lion King," and "Aladdin," and Warner Bros.' "Space Jam" and "The Iron Giant." The screenplay was written by Chris McKenna, who is currently writing for his third season on the Fox animated TV show "American Dad" and is co-writing New Line's heist comedy "Black and White."

Exodus Film Group is an independent production company which has made pioneering steps in the animation field by creating one of the first private equity animation film funds in the entertainment industry. Exodus' CG-animation slate also includes "The Hero of Color City" and "Amarillo Armadillo," with Howard set to executive produce. Exodus is in pre-production on the live action film "Bunyan & Babe" featuring the voice of comedic actor Eddie Griffin ("DysFunktional Family," "Scary Movie 3") as the CG-animated "Babe the Blue Ox." Eraklis is producing "Bunyan" with executive producer Tarquin Gotch ("Home Alone," "Curly Sue"). Award-winning composer Basil Poledouris ("The Jungle Book," "Lonesome Dove") is composing the score.

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“Under the tag line “FANGORIA COMICS – ‘THE TRUE HOUSE OF HORROR,’ these are comics for horror fans - bottom line.  Readers are not going to turn away at the last minute – they’re going to HAVE to watch all the gory, gruesome goodness – and LOVE IT!  Real horror comics by real horror movie makers- I think it says it all.  And top that off with the best artists, colorists and writers in the comic and literary fields.  Can you feel the goosebumps?” said Licina.

            “The launch of FANGORIA COMICS is a natural extension of the Fangoria brand,” said DeFeo.  “We are excited to get into the comic book business, and particularly pleased to have Scott Licina guide this new enterprise towards inevitable success.”

Fangoria Entertainment owns and operates the renowned monthly horror publication Fangoria Magazine and the horror genre’s #1 online destination Fangoria.com.  Fangoria Entertainment also produces the popular weekly 3-hour live radio show FANGORIA RADIO airing Friday nights on Sirius Satellite Radio, hosted by renowned heavy metal frontman for Twisted Sister and horror film producer-actor Dee Snider  with celebrated Scream Queen and radio veteran Debbie Rochon serving as Snider’s sidekick.  Established in May 1979, Fangoria Magazine and Website rank as America’s #1 source for horror news and entertainment.  Both the magazine and the website remain the most sought-after source of movies, videogames, television series, books and toys that comprise the burgeoning world of horror entertainment.  Fangoria Entertainment is also a prime producer of horror conventions held throughout the year in major cities nationwide.  In addition, the Fangoria video label is home to a collection of contemporary horror film titles in distribution on DVD and VHS.

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- Creative Guru and Comic Book Legend Neal Adams is one of the reigning comic book illustrators whose work will be featured at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center July 20-23. In addition to featuring his own animation projects, Adams will participate in three panel discussions, including “The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel” and “Cover Story: The Art of the Cover.”

 Currently, Adams is working on a documentary on Irwin Hasen, wrapping up a book on character Valeria Shebat, and working on a surprise upcoming project with one of DC Comics’ famous superheroes. The surprise upcoming work will be a very historic and significant development for the comic world. Adams is also creating alternative covers for DC comics, featuring superheroes such as Captain Comet.

Adams will showcase all of this and more at the Comic-Con, a pretty impressive showcase for an artist and writer who spends most of his time working on his geology and physics projects, Adams’ other passion besides comics.

Posted by monte at 01:29 PM | Permalink

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Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy Foundation’s Institutional Grants Program has awarded a total of $500,000 to 60 film-related organizations, including universities, artist retreats, museums and job development programs throughout the United States and in three foreign countries – Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

“The Academy’s grants program is designed to advance personal and professional interest in the motion picture industry and raise cultural awareness throughout our communities,” explained Grants Committee Chair Buffy Shutt.

Since its establishment in 1968, the foundation, the educational wing of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has distributed over 460 grants to film-related, nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges.

The Academy Foundation’s Grants Committee selected the following programs for the 2006–2007 allocation:

Internship Programs

$15,000
California Institute of the Arts (Valencia)

Columbia University School of the Arts

University of North Carolina

University of Southern California – School of Cinema and Television

University of Southern California – Master of Professional Writing Program

$10,000
Austin Film Society (TX)

Columbia College (Hollywood, CA)
Pennsylvania State University (University Park)

University of California at Los Angeles – Film and Television Program

Western States Black Research & Educational Center (Los Angeles)

Yale University – Film Studies

$7,000
Stanford University

$5,000
Museum of Modern Art (New York City)

North Carolina School of the Arts (Winston-Salem)

$3,000
Outfest (Los Angeles)

Institutional Grants

$20,000
American Film Institute (Los Angeles) – Directing Workshop for Women

$15,000
Film Independent (Los Angeles) – Mentoring and training program

Henry Mancini Institute (Culver City) – Music program

Inner-City Filmmakers (Santa Monica) – Job development and training program

Streetlights (Hollywood, CA) – Job training, placement and mentoring program

$10,000
Acme Network (Los Angeles) – Distance learning animation programs

Cornell University – Visiting filmmakers

Duke University – Touring exhibition program

Film Arts Foundation (San Francisco) – Production workshops

Flaherty/International Film Seminars (New York City) – Film seminars

George Eastman House (Rochester, NY) – Visiting filmmaker programs

National Film and Television School (Beaconsfield, UK) – Student tours of Los Angeles film industry sites

University of California, Berkeley, Pacific Film Archive – Film literacy workshop

Writers Guild Foundation (Los Angeles) – Educational programs

$8,000
Toronto International Film Festival Group Foundation – Touring screening program

$7,500
Brooklyn Academy of Music – Screening and discussion series

Film Forum (New York City) – Screening series

Frameline (San Francisco) – Screening and visiting filmmaker program

Girl Scouts of the USA (New York City) – Girl Scouts Film Institute

Humanitas Prize (Pacific Palisades, CA) – Master Writers Workshop

Independent Feature Project (Chicago) – Producer’s Workshop

Independent Feature Project (St. Paul, MN) – Film production access grants

MacDowell Colony (Peterborough, NH) – Residency program

Community of Writers at Squaw Valley (CA) – Screenwriting workshop

$6,000
Cinestory (Idyllwild, CA) – Retreat program

éQuinoxe to be Continued (Paris, France) – International workshops for screenwriters

$5,000
Brooklyn Museum – Monthly film screening series

California Film Institute (Mill Valley) – Screening, seminar and visiting artist series

Columbia College (Chicago) – Filmmaking Oral History Collection

Film/Video Arts (New York City) – Artist Mentor Project

Museum of Fine Arts (Houston) – Visiting filmmakers program

National Association of Latino Independent Producers (Santa Monica) – Producers Academy

Northwest Film Forum (WA) – Screening and education program

San Francisco Cinematheque – Screening and visiting filmmaker program

Seattle Theatre Group – Silent film series

University of Iowa – Visiting filmmaker program

Utah Valley State College (Orem) – Production workshop

Visual Effects Society (Los Angeles) – Training and mentoring program

Webster University (St. Louis) – Filmmaking workshops

Women Make Movies (New York City) – Production Assistance Program

$4,000
Kapi’olani Community College (Honolulu) – Educational workshops

Northwest Screenwriters Guild (Redmond, WA) – Visiting speakers

Screenwriters Colony (Nantucket, MA) – Writers-In-Residence program

$3,000
Silent Film Society of Chicago – Silent film screenings

$2,500
Rural Media Arts & Education Center (Mariposa, CA) – Screening and discussion program

For grant guidelines and proposal information, contact Grants Coordinator Shawn Guthrie at (310) 247-3000, ext. 308 or via e-mail at sguthrie@oscars.org, or visit www.oscars.org/grants/institutional.

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

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Media 100 to Exhibit at IBC 2006 Showcases new SD and HD NLE product line

Media 100, a leading provider of advanced editing systems for the corporate, broadcast, postproduction, and multi-media industries, will bring its new Media 100 product line to the IBC 2006 convention held in Amsterdam from September 8 – 12 (stand number 7.831). On the heels of the successful launch of their new version 11 product line, the Media 100 company will introduce additional functionality and workflow enhancements with their next release -. Media 100 version 11.5. The new developments deliver further performance enhancements and support for tapeless workflows. Highlights of the 11.5 point release include; support firewire devices through the FireWire connector, support for P2 cameras,, support for SDI audio for the Media 100 HDX hardware and improved Boris Red, BorisFX and Graffiti integration with faster rendering.

The New Media 100 Family of Products – Media 100 HD Suite, Media 100 HDe, Media 100 SDe
Shipping since June 2006, the new Media 100 version 11 product line offers 10-bit uncompressed HD and SD editing capabilities, support for broadcast-quality format conversions, and increased system performance leveraging Mac OS X® and AJA Video OEM solutions. The version 11 systems also represent the first step towards native integration with the Boris FX product line, bringing the world-class compositing and effects technology seamlessly within the Media 100 interface.

Media 100 HD Suite
Media 100 HD Suite is the SD and HD non-linear editing workhorse. The flexible editing environment combined with superior 3D compositing, titling and effects creation capabilities enables editors to realize complex compositions with stunning image quality. Highlights of the Media 100 HD Suite include: dual stream HD playback at uncompressed rates, high-quality keyers, color correctors, real-time effects creation and extensive codec support. Best-of-breed conversion technology - HD to HD, HD to SD, and SD to HD - simplifies and accelerates complex workflows.

Media 100 HDe
Media 100 HDe version 11 delivers SD and HD editing and effects creation capabilities with the same supercharged performance of the HD Suite. Media 100 HDe editors can mix formats in the timeline, downcovert HD to SD during capture, or output and monitor HD downconverts to 4:3 while editing. The integrated effects suite provides a robust toolset for compositing and effects creation seamlessly within the Media 100 editing environment.

Media 100 SDe
The Media 100 SDe solution lets editors, event videographers, and corporate video producers edit productively now, without closing the door on future expansion into HD. The flexible user interface is appropriate for any level of user experience. This system is easily upgradeable and features a modular design so users can add features as needs develop. Media 100 i users can easily bring their existing projects and media to the Media 100 SDe system.

For more information about Media 100 products, please visit the web site at www.media100.com. For product imagery or to schedule a private press appointment, please contact Janice Dolan at janice@zazilmediagroup.com.

About Media 100
Media 100, a division of Boris FX, is a leading provider of advanced editing systems for the corporate, broadcast, post production, and multi-media industries. Featuring the most intuitive and easy-to-learn NLE interface, the company’s product lines include Media 100 HD, a hardware-based HD and SD professional editing solution and Media 100 sw, a software-based companion to existing Media 100 systems, built on the familiar Media 100 interface. For more information, visit www.media100.com.

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Online Art Community deviantART.com Unveils Redesign on 6th Birthday Version 5.0 ~ August 7, 2006

deviantART.com, one of the most advanced social networks on the Internet, celebrates its sixth birthday this year with the release of Version 5.0 on August 7, 2006. Started as an underground society for artists to share their work, deviantART has evolved into an expansive social network and an online art gallery of gigantic proportions.

The new look and feel is the most striking feature about Version 5.0, which unveils a sleeker and simpler design. Improved navigation and usability, as well as advanced search capabilities, are key as deviantART continues to introduce modern art to the mainstream. The improvements make it easier for first time users or dedicated pros to find more quality art among the 22 million pieces posted, and provide customization options allowing each of the more than 2.5 million users to make the site their own.

"deviantART is a fire hose of creativity -- standing directly in front of it is only for the toughest of deviants. We've realized this with Version 5.0 and so we've created the equivalent of digital water fountains of art for all to drink," said CEO/Co-Founder Angelo Sotira. "We believe this approach will give a much wider group of artists in all genres an even greater audience than they already have with deviantART."

Version 5.0, which has been in the works for two years, is the foundation for many new developments that will be launched before the end of the year (with Version 5.5 adding most of the bells and whistles). While improved art viewing is important, communication within this social network will also reach new heights thanks to their MOODS advancement. Have you nearly gotten into a brawl because sarcasm was interpreted the wrong way? Fear not, the MOODS feature destroys the internet barrier by allowing users to attach animated emoticons to every comment, blog, news item, and piece of art. With this new feature in place, users will be able to browse the site based on emotion; searching only for artwork marked as happy or news articles that make users angry!

deviantART user accounts are free and allow their members to collect favorite images, talk to artists in chat and blogging environments and submit unlimited works of art to the community for critique. deviantART has forever altered how art is consumed by the masses and Version 5.0 will cement the site's place as the foremost location to find edgy, eye-catching work from artists worldwide.

Virtual Egg Sells for $10,000 USD

The Unique Green Atrox Queen Egg was found last week by another gamer, Mc'Lap Tzest0s Alexan'ru, during a massive quest in Entropia Universe, the leading MMORPG with an RCE (real Cash Economy). The Unique Green Atrox Queen Egg was the final prize in a multi-part story quest, that tens of thousands of gamers participated in. At this time, the actual function of the Egg is still unknown and there has been much speculation on the forums as to its purpose and value. Tzest0s received a number of offers for the Atrox Queens Egg (http://www.entropiaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31974), but controversial gamer NEVERDIE, who claims the title of the First Millionaire Gamer, outbid everyone with a 100,000 PED offer, equivalent to $10,000 USD. "The absurdity of paying $10,000 USD for a virtual egg is not lost on me," says NEVERDIE, "but in fact I'm confident it will prove to be a great investment. Club NEVERDIE is already the #1 privately owned entertainment venue in virtual reality, whatever hatches out of this thing is sure to prove a big draw to the Club."

(Click here for details)
$10k Virtual Egg

Club NEVERDIE is built on an Asteroid and can only be reach via spaceship from within Entropia Universe or by starting an Avatar at the resort via the free download at www.Realityport.com. The resort boast 1000 private apartments, a shopping mall, 20 BioDomes with some of the best hunting and mining in the entire universe and a spectacular night club with multiple dance floors, where world famous DJs spin live sets for the participants. NEVERDIE paid $100,000 USD for the Resort in Oct 2005 and reports an 85% return on the investment in less than 8 months of operation.

Entropia Universe is the only virtual gaming community that actively supports sales of virtual products with actual cash value within its real economy system. The economy offers the user a secure and safe way to make purchases, sales and exchange real life currency into PED (Project Entropia Dollars) and back again into real money via the real world ATM system, at a fixed exchange rate to the US Dollar. PED allows members to invest in personal development and growth through the acquisition of goods, buildings, and land in the virtual universe. In 2005, the Entropia Universe turnover was an estimated $165,000,000 USD.

About Club NEVERDIE

Club NEVERDIE is situated within the Entropia Universe. NEVERDIE is a registered trademark of Jon Jacobs. Club NEVERDIE was established on Dec 19th, 2005 and can be visited via spaceship from the planet Calypso or new accounts can be spawned directly at the resort by downloading the Entropia Universe client from www.RealityPort.com and also www.NEVERDIE.com

Dairy Queen Franchisee Selects Intura Vision Point-of-Sale

 Intura Solutions, LP (Intura), a leading supplier of point-of-sale (POS) and management software for quick service and delivery restaurant concepts, today announced that the Dairy Queen franchise owned by Work Enterprises, LLC, in Ohio recently selected and installed the Intura Vision POS application.

"Intura Vision is a great value for our investment and has an easy to use order process along with powerful management features," said Adam Work, founder of Work Enterprises. "Intura provides outstanding customer service and I would highly recommend the Intura Vision POS system to other quick service restaurants."

Work's requirements for his Dairy Queen operation included a sophisticated but easy to use order taking process, tight cash management controls, inventory controls with theoretical food cost and extensive management reporting.

"We are pleased to provide Work Enterprises with a solution that exceeds his expectations for a restaurant management system," stated Steve Richardson, vice president of sales and marketing for Intura. "Intura continues to win new opportunities with a variety of restaurant concepts like Dairy Queen by providing outstanding customer service and a superior product."

For more information on any Intura product or service, email sales@intura.com, call 866-405-9250, or visit the Intura website at www.intura.com.

About Intura Solutions

Intura Solutions, LP, is a leading developer of POS and business intelligence solutions for the quick-service and delivery segments of the restaurant industry. Intura continues to build on a 16-year history with Intura Vision, a restaurant POS and management system, and Intura Enterprise, a web-based portal for centralized multi-site management of data, reporting, and marketing. In addition to providing software, Intura offers professional services including staging, deployment, installation, training, and support. Some of Intura's valued customers include Dairy Queen, Hungry Howie's Pizza, Dunkin' Donuts, Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza, Pizza Plus, Ba-Da Wings!, Jet City Pizza, Topper's Pizza, Mr. Jim's Pizza, and Pizza Inn. In 2001, Domino's Pizza, Inc. selected the Vision software product as its next generation store system now known as Domino's Pulse. Intura's limited partners include The Pinnacle Corporation and NTN Buzztime, Inc. For more information, visit www.intura.com.

MyPrint Corporation Doubles Fulfillment and Production Capacity to Accommodate Company Growth and Expanded Operations

 In a move reflecting the company's dramatic growth in revenues over the past year, and rapidly expanding customer base, MyPrint Corporation has leased an additional building near its Irvine headquarters, nearly doubling the size of its production and fulfillment operations.

For MyPrint Corporation, one of Orange County, Calif.'s fastest-growing technology, print and fulfillment companies, and the region's largest on-demand software provider, the transaction was necessary to meet sales and revenue growth.

MyPrint intends to use the majority of the new space to expand fulfillment operations and open a stationery production center. This additional space will assist in supporting the company's current new customer implementation schedule. The company has also leased additional office space to accommodate additional staff for its technology division eTools. Staffing requirements for the software division could increase five-fold by yearend based on recent client additions and the current eTools implementation schedule.

According to Kent Barkouras, CEO of MyPrint Corporation, the expansion is urgently needed to accommodate the organization's considerable growth since the launch of its newest version of software, eTools 3.0. eTools software offers a suite of print on-demand and print supply chain solutions via an on-demand internet based software application.

"For the past several years, demand for our offering of services has sky-rocketed resulting in rapidly growing revenues; we are literally bursting at the seams," said Barkouras. "This much-needed expansion gives us some breathing room, and provides our technology and production teams the necessary amount of space for our short to mid-term requirements. We have some exciting projects launching and look forward to the challenges ahead."

Barkouras added that the decision to expand resulted from the company's augmented level of services within its current slate of national accounts, and the addition of several new national clients including United Healthcare, Apria Healthcare, Sunrise Senior Living, VF Corporation, Real Mex Restaurants, Honeywell, FedEx Kinko's, Wells Fargo, Indymac Bank, Home 123, and Stanley Security Services.

About MyPrint Corporation

MyPrint Corporation, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., provides national customers with unique on-demand complete business solutions, including software applications, print-on-demand, commercial printing, direct mail, fulfillment, and inventory management. MyPrint Corporation serves leading corporations throughout the United States and Canada in industries ranging from hospitality and entertainment to travel and manufacturing and has begun offering its eTools software application through a licensing model. For more information, call the Company's headquarters at (949) 261-0333, or visit the Company's Web site located at www.myprint.com.

About eTools, LLC

eTools is a wholly owned division of MyPrint Corporation and offers revolutionary and innovative print management software solutions to industry leading companies in fields ranging from entertainment to manufacturing to healthcare.

The company's software applications enable the largest organizations in the world to easily manage and order branded sales and marketing materials cost effectively from a web-based portal. The software offers powerful visual catalogs, workflow and approval features and provides detailed reporting capabilities.

William J. Gremp Joins Prospect Energy Corporation's Board of Directors

Prospect Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: PSEC) ("Prospect") announced today that William J. Gremp has joined Prospect's Board of Directors.

"We are delighted to have recruited Bill Gremp to our Board of Directors," said John Barry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prospect. "With Bill's track record, spanning many years of senior management experience in the energy and finance communities, and his well known ability to communicate our message, I cannot think of anyone who can make a greater contribution right now."

Mr. Gremp's career as an investment banker, with over 30 years of corporate finance experience in originating and executing transactions and advisory assignments for energy and utility related clients, has spanned years of significant change in the energy industry. Since 1999, Mr. Gremp has been responsible for traditional banking services, credit and lending, private equity and corporate cash management with Merrill Lynch & Co. From 1996 to 1999, he served at Wachovia as senior vice president, managing director and co-founder of the utilities and energy investment banking group, responsible for origination, structuring, negotiation and successful completion of transactions utilizing investment banking, capital markets and traditional commercial banking products. From 1989 to 1996, Mr. Gremp was the managing director of global power and project finance at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he was responsible for the origination, delivery and successful implementation of all corporate finance and investment banking products and services to the utility and energy industries. He advised clients on corporate strategy, project financing, mergers and acquisitions and equity and lease finance. From 1970 to 1989, Mr. Gremp was with Merrill Lynch & Co., starting out as an associate in the mergers and acquisitions department, then in 1986 becoming the senior vice president, managing director and head of the regulated industries group. From 1965 to 1970, Mr. Gremp served in roles at the United States Army, the Mobil Oil Corporation and a New York management consulting firm. Mr. Gremp received his MBA from New York University and his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota.

ABOUT PROSPECT ENERGY CORPORATION

Prospect Energy Corporation (www.prospectenergy.com) is a closed-end investment company that lends to and invests in energy-related businesses. Prospect Energy's investment objective is to generate both current income and long-term capital appreciation through debt and equity investments.

Prospect Energy has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). We are required to comply with a series of regulatory requirements under the 1940 Act as well as applicable NASDAQ, federal and state rules and regulations. We have elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Failure to comply with any of the laws and regulations that apply to Prospect Energy could have an adverse effect on Prospect Energy and its shareholders.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statements, other than statements of historical fact, are highly likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under the Company's control, and that the Company may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual developments and results are highly likely to vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future. Such statements speak only as of the time when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any such statement now or in the future

Explore the Depths of Africa With Nevsun Resources Ltd. on MN1.com

 President and CEO John Clarke of Nevsun Resources Ltd. (AMEX: NSU) and (TSX: NSU) will be live on Market News First (www.MN1.com) for a Live Exclusive Interview on Thursday July 20, 2006 at 2:30pm CDT.

Nevsun Resources Ltd. (www.nevsun.com) invests, explores and develops mineral properties in Africa. The Company is now a junior gold producer that mines 100,000 ounces of gold per year at the Tabakoto Mine in Mali, West Africa. The world-class Bisha project in Eritrea is currently in the final engineering feasibility study stage which is due for completion in October 2006 and mining is expected to commence by 2009. At June 30th commodity prices of US$613/oz. gold, $3.20/lb. copper, $11/oz. silver and $1.45/lb. zinc, the Bisha project has a value of US$2.6 billion dollars.

If you are interested in investing in Nevsun Resources and would like to ask further questions directly to John Clarke, CEO, log on to MN1.com on July 20th to participate in this live discussion.

About MN1.com

Market News First is an online market news provider which brings investors current up to speed news on the market. Market News First is the only online live radio web site that brings real market news to investors and features live interaction with companies from the Bulletin Board to NYSE.

Through daily live pressers we bring you up to date on all the established companies and inform the investors of the newest opportunities within the market. Market News First's one on one interviews with the Presidents and CFOs of companies, broadcasted on our website, deliver answers to the questions that investors would ask and provide them insight into the companies' present condition and future plans.

Bowne Board Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $.055 per Share

The Board of Directors of Bowne & Co., Inc. (NYSE: BNE), announced the declaration of the quarterly cash dividend on its Common Stock at the rate of $.055 per share. The dividend will be payable August 18, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business August 4, 2006.

Bowne has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends since the company became public in August 1968.

About Bowne & Co., Inc.

Bowne & Co., Inc., founded in 1775, is a global leader in providing high-value solutions that empower our clients' communications.

--  Bowne Financial Print: The world's largest financial printer and     leading EDGAR filer, specializing in the creation, management, translation     and distribution of regulatory and compliance documents.      --  Bowne Marketing & Business Communications: Digital composition, print,     delivery and fulfillment of customized and personalized communications     designed to enable companies to more-effectively target customers.      --  Bowne Litigation Solutions: Consulting and software solutions,     including DecisionQuest®, one of the nation's largest trial research     firms, bring our clients fresh perspective resulting in better informed     choices about strategies and tactics at every step in the litigation     process.     

Bowne & Co. combines these capabilities with superior customer service, new technologies, confidentiality and integrity to manage, repurpose and distribute a client's information to any audience, through any medium, in any language, anywhere in the world. For more information, visit us at www.bowne.com.

Dan "The Smoothieman" Hits the Road: Southern Exposure Tour

Juice Gallery Multimedia will be on the road from July 22 - 31 spreading good cheer about the juice and smoothie industry. "We'll be traveling in our Silver Eagle bus. Several hundred copies of our best-selling smoothie books will be handed out along our route, which includes: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Austin, Houston, Baton Rouge and Tampa Bay," said Dan Titus, president of Juice Gallery Multimedia (www.juicegallery.com) and director of the Juice and Smoothie Association (www.smoothiecentral.com). "Everyone seems to be getting into the smoothie act, and it is time to educate the public about REAL juice and smoothie bars and their benefits, first hand," said Titus.

Q: What do companies like: Robeks Juice, Juice it Up!, Jamba Juice, Planet Smoothie, Juice Stop, Smoothie King, Rubyjuice, and Juice Zone have in common?

A: They are all part of the whimsical business known as the juice and smoothie industry!

Smoothies served in REAL juice and smoothie bars are 'platinum' or 'gold' level smoothies. These are the freshest and most natural smoothies offered to consumers.

The Juice and Smoothie Association has a ranking system to assist consumers in defining the quality of different kinds of smoothie products. Predicated on medals often presented in competition, the system uses: platinum, gold, silver and bronze.

Here are the general definitions:

Platinum Smoothie

High marks apply for any smoothie made to order and prepared with all-natural ingredients. Freshly squeezed juice and real fresh fruit also make for a top ranked smoothie.

Gold Smoothie

High marks for a smoothie made to order using seasonal fruit or 100% frozen fruit and 100% fruit juice from concentrates.

Silver Smoothie

This ranking is based on the ingredients that make up the smoothie mix or starter base. Basically, if the contents are high quality, in the way of 100% fruit purees and fruit juice, they qualify as a Silver Smoothie.

Bronze Smoothie

Smoothie made from a prepackaged smoothie mix or a product that is not 100% natural and consumed from a prepackaged container, fall into this category.

For detailed definitions go to:

http://www.smoothiecentral.com/smoothie_definitions.cfm

For listing of Dan's "The Smoothieman's" popular smoothie books, go to:

http://www.smoothiecentral.com/Products.cfm

The Sportsman's Guide Provides Second Quarter Update; Net Sales and EPS In-line With Expectations

The Sportsman's Guide, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGDE) today reported that net sales and fully diluted earnings per share, before adjustments for equity-based stock compensation and acquisition-related expenses, for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, will be consistent with the Company's budget expectations and in-line with recent analyst estimates.

Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 are expected to be in range of $69 to $70 million, compared with net sales of $63.8 million for the same period one year ago. Fully diluted earnings per share, before adjustments for equity-based stock compensation and acquisition-related expenses, are anticipated to be in a range from $0.34 to $0.36 per share, compared to earnings per share of $0.31 for the same period one year ago. Equity-based stock compensation expense is expected to be $0.05 per fully diluted share, consistent with the first quarter, and acquisition-related expenses are anticipated to be $0.06 per fully diluted share in the quarter.

The Company also noted that its final results for the period will be available when it files its 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2006. Given its pending acquisition by Redcats USA, the Company does not expect to provide a detailed press release or hold a conference call for the second quarter. Company officials also noted that it still expects the transaction with Redcats USA to close during the third calendar quarter.

ABOUT THE SPORTSMAN'S GUIDE

The Sportsman's Guide is a multi-channel direct marketer of value-priced outdoor gear and general merchandise, with a special emphasis on outdoor clothing, outdoor equipment, sporting goods, golf apparel and equipment and footwear. The company sells through both Internet websites and catalogs. The Company's websites include www.sportsmansguide.com, www.tgw.com, www.bargainoutfitters.com, www.baseballsavings.com and www.softballsavings.com. Investors can access information about the company at www.sportsmansguideir.com.

ABOUT REDCATS USA

Redcats USA is a leading catalog and online marketer of apparel and home products, operating in North America. Its primary brands are Chadwick's®, Roaman's®, Jessica London®, KingSize® and BrylaneHome®. Redcats USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Redcats Group, the world's third largest catalog and online group in apparel and home products operating in 26 countries, through 17 brands with a staff of 20,000 associates and a turnover of 4.37 billion euros in 2005. Redcats Group is a member of the PPR group of companies. The shares of PPR S.A. are listed on Euronext Paris (# 121485, PRTP.PA, PPFP). For more information, please visit www.ppr.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This document includes statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding benefits of the proposed transaction, expected cost savings and anticipated future financial operating performance and results, including estimates of growth. These statements are based on the current expectations of management of The Sportsman's Guide. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this document. For example, (1) The Sportsman's Guide may be unable to obtain shareholder approval required for the transaction; (2) The Sportsman's Guide may be unable to obtain regulatory approvals required for the transaction, or required regulatory approvals may delay the transaction or result in the imposition of conditions that could have a material adverse effect on The Sportsman's Guide or cause the parties to abandon the transaction; (3) conditions to the closing of the transaction may not be satisfied; (4) the transaction may involve unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities; (5) the credit ratings of The Sportsman's Guide or its subsidiaries may be different from what the parties expect; (6) the businesses of The Sportsman's Guide may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (7) the industry may be subject to future regulatory or legislative actions that could adversely affect The Sportsman's Guide; and (8) The Sportsman's Guide may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Additional factors that may affect the future results of The Sportsman's Guide are set forth in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Sportsman's Guide undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed transaction, a proxy statement of The Sportsman's Guide and other materials will be filed with SEC. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THESE OTHER MATERIALS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPORTSMAN'S GUIDE AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement (when available) as well as other filed documents containing information about The Sportsman's Guide at http://www.sec.gov, SEC's Web site. Free copies of The Sportsman's Guide's SEC filings are also available by directing a request to The Sportsman's Guide, Inc., 411 Farwell Avenue, South St. Paul, MN 55075, Attention: Investor Relations.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

The Sportsman's Guide and its executive officers and directors and VLP Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Redcats USA, Inc., may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from The Sportsman's Guide shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information regarding the executive officers and directors of The Sportsman's Guide is included in its definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting filed with the SEC on March 21, 2006. More detailed information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by securities holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.

Caneum, Inc. Announces Agreement to Provide HR BPO Services to iSensix

 -- Caneum, Inc. (OTCBB: CANM), a global provider of business process and information technology outsourcing services, today announced that it has signed an HR BPO services agreement with iSensix, Inc., a Shelter Capital Partners Portfolio Company, assisting in recruiting information technology talent at all levels in the company. Additionally, Caneum announced that it has already completed a number of organizational placements at iSensix and expects to ramp similar placement activities over the coming months and quarters ahead.

The underlying master services agreement signed allows for Caneum to be a provider of HR recruitment services to iSensix, and represents a new and broader HR BPO vertical segment for the Company. The new vertical could not only represent an internally estimated $50M market niche for Caneum, but it could also likely represent approximately $1M in new first year revenues should the Company find success developing placement services for other venture backed portfolio companies by working with similar venture and private equity funds.

"We are extremely pleased to have been selected by iSensix as a provider of these services," commented Michael Willner, Senior Vice President of Caneum. "The rapid success of the initial assignments is a validation of our belief that we can provide high performance results oriented outsourced services to venture backed firms and the funds that finance and support them. We believe that other venture capitalists can derive significant benefits by leveraging our domain expertise in HR business process outsourcing."

Ron Norys, Director of Finance and HR at iSensix commented, "We are delighted with the speed and quality of resources that Caneum has been able to find for iSensix on short notice. We were able to make the first executive appointments within 4 weeks of the start of these engagements and we look forward to working with Caneum for many of our other recruitment needs rolling forward."

About Caneum, Inc.:

Caneum, Inc. is a global provider of business process and information technology outsourcing services across vertical industries, including technology, energy, government, transportation, financial services, education and healthcare. The Company provides a suite of business strategy and planning capabilities to assist companies with their "make versus buy" decisions in the areas of data, network, product development, product maintenance and customer support, and fulfills its services in-house, on-shore, near-shore and off-shore, depending on the business goals and objectives of its global customers. In parallel, the Company is opportunistically pursuing accretive acquisitions within its core outsourcing service suite in order to broaden its core capabilities, expand its customer base and supplement its organic growth. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at http://www.caneum.com.

About iSensix:

iSensix, Inc. is a leading provider of web-based wireless healthcare monitoring systems for Healthcare and Life Sciences facilities. Using ARMS™ technology, the iSensix system provides complete environmental monitoring solutions to minimize catastrophic events and meet compliance requirements with ease. iSensix is a privately-held company headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.isensix.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: With the exception of historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors noted in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, such as the rapidly changing nature of technology, evolving industry standards and frequent introductions of new products, services and enhancements by competitors; the competitive nature of the markets for the Company's services; the Company's ability to gain market acceptance for its services; the Company's ability to fund its operational growth; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the Company's ability to diversify its revenue streams and customer concentrations; and the Company's reliance on third-party suppliers.

Hoku Scientific, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2007 Results

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU)

Highlights:

--  Hoku commences U.S. Navy fuel cell demonstration      --  Hoku announces plans to enter solar module and polysilicon markets      --  Sixth consecutive profitable quarter     

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU), a materials science company focused on clean energy technologies, today announced its financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2006 and provided a general update on its business.

Revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $1.2 million compared to $1.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Total deferred revenue was $3.1 million at June 30, 2006 compared to $4.0 million at March 31, 2006. As of June 30, 2006, deferred revenue was primarily attributable to contracts with the U.S. Navy of $2.4 million and Nissan of $756,000. As of March 31, 2006, deferred revenue was primarily attributable to contracts with Nissan of $1.7 million, and the U.S. Navy of $2.1 million, a portion of which was recognized in the quarter ended June 30, 2006. The deferred revenue is not due to a back log of orders rather it is a result of customer prepayments and the Company's revenue recognition policy.

Net income, computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $313,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $341,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

Non-GAAP net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $481,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to $734,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Non-GAAP net income for the quarters ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 excludes non-cash stock-based compensation of $168,000 and $393,000, respectively. The accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of net income and net income per share computed on a GAAP basis to net income and net income per share computed on a non-GAAP basis.

Dustin Shindo, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific, said, "We are pleased to report our sixth consecutive profitable quarter, and the commencement of the demonstration phase of our U.S. Navy fuel cell contract. We are on-track to achieve the technical milestones in our Nissan fuel cell contract, and continue to work with Sanyo on joint testing of our fuel cell products. In addition, we signed our first test agreement with an OEM developing micro PEM fuel cells for consumer electronics and military applications. This increases the total number of companies actively testing our fuel cell products from 11 to 12, which includes our contracts with Nissan, Sanyo and the U.S. Navy. We are pleased with the progress we have made during the quarter in our core fuel cell business as we continue to work closely with these OEMs towards product integration."

"We are also pleased with our progress towards executing our recently announced plans to enter the solar module and polysilicon markets. We are actively negotiating with potential customers for polysilicon contracts, and look forward to providing future updates on our progress in these new businesses."

Fuel Cells Business Update

-- Nissan Update: The Company continues to work with Nissan towards meeting the technical goals in its current collaboration agreement signed in February 2006. In January 2006, the Company achieved the milestones under its collaboration agreement with Nissan and in February 2006, the Company and Nissan entered into their third consecutive contract for further development, through September 30, 2006, of Hoku Membrane and Hoku MEA for Nissan's fuel cell cars and trucks. Although the contract was signed in February 2006, the Company and Nissan have been working together to meet the contract goals since January 1, 2006. Nissan paid the Company $2.7 million in March 2006 and is obligated to pay an additional $240,000 in July 2006 under the contract. The aggregate amount of the contract is being recognized as revenue over the duration of the contract. The Company is on target to meet the technical goals specified in the contract.

-- U.S. Navy Update: In December 2005, the Company successfully completed the remaining milestones in its initial contract with the U.S. Navy, which required the development of a prototype stationary fuel cell system manufactured by IdaTech LLC and incorporating Hoku MEA. In coordination with IdaTech LLC, the Company has begun manufacturing eleven fuel cell systems that incorporate Hoku MEA, ten of which are planned to be field tested by the Company for the U.S. Navy over a twelve-month period. To date, the U.S. Navy has accepted 7 of 11 fuel cell power plants; the remaining 4 are yet to be delivered to the Navy for acceptance. The Company has also commenced demonstration of 5 of these fuel cell power plants at Pearl Harbor, and plans to complete the installation of the remaining 5 systems by the end of this summer. The aggregate amount of the contract is $4.5 million of which $2.4 million has been classified as deferred revenue as of June 30, 2006. As of June 30, 2006 the Company has received $2.1 million in payments from the U.S. Navy. The Company received an additional $192,000 in payments from the U.S. Navy as of July 20, 2006.

In accordance with Hoku Scientific's revenue recognition policy, all payments received under the initial contract and for the manufactured systems will be classified as deferred revenue until the twelve-month field test begins; thereafter, all payments received, plus the payments to be made for the future delivery of the manufactured systems and field service and maintenance, will be recognized incrementally as revenue in monthly installments over the twelve-month field test period beginning when the field test commences for each of the ten fuel cell systems to be placed in service. The Company recognized $38,000 in revenue in June 2006 when the first two systems were installed and the demonstration commenced.

-- Sanyo Update: In December 2005, the Company and Sanyo entered into a new Material Transfer & Collaborative Testing Agreement to provide for Sanyo's testing of Hoku Scientific's next generation MEA products at Sanyo's R&D facility in Japan through July 31, 2006. Sanyo paid Hoku Scientific a fixed fee of $260,000 in February 2006 to collaborate with Sanyo on the testing, and in addition, is obligated under the contract to pay for the Hoku Membrane and Hoku MEA samples being tested. In accordance with Hoku Scientific's revenue recognition policy, the fixed fee is being recognized as revenue over the duration of the contract.

-- New Test Agreements: During the quarter ended June 30, 2006, the Company signed its first test agreement with an OEM developing micro PEM fuel cells for consumer electronics and military applications, increasing the total number of ongoing and active test agreements to 12, including its agreements with Nissan, the U.S. Navy and Sanyo. The Company has product testing relationships with original equipment manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea and Germany.

Solar & Materials Business Update

-- Polysilicon Contracts: The Company is actively negotiating polysilicon purchase agreements with manufacturers of solar cells. These negotiations are currently in the contract review and technical due diligence stages.

-- Engineering, Equipment & Facilities: The Company is still evaluating the costs and benefits of Singapore relative to other locations in Asia and in North America as the location for its planned polysilicon and solar module businesses. Key engineering consultants, construction firms and equipment suppliers have been identified for the design and construction of the polysilicon and solar facilities and related equipment. Contracts with such parties have not been negotiated or executed and are dependent upon the completion of polysilicon contract negotiations with potential customers, including the receipt of customer prepayment and other financing commitments, and final site selection.

Forward Guidance

The Company's policy when it reports quarterly financial results is only to provide top line revenue and net income or loss guidance for the next fiscal quarter. Fluctuations in quarterly revenue are expected to continue in future periods due to uncertainty regarding the level and the timing of revenue from customer contracts, the achievement of contract milestones and increases in product orders. Based on its current outlook, the Company expects revenue for the second quarter ending September 30, 2006 to be in the range of $1.8 to $2.0 million, all of which will be from the fuel cell business. In addition, the Company expects that it will need to increase its efforts in supporting its new and existing contracts, in developing the Company's next generation products, in growing its customer base, and in executing on its plans to enter the polysilicon and solar module markets. The result is that the Company expects its costs to increase significantly. Based upon projections, the Company expects net income for the second quarter ending September 30, 2006 to range from a loss to slightly profitable. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Conference Call Information

Hoku Scientific has scheduled a conference call for after the market closes on Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. All interested parties are invited to call-in. To participate, please call (719) 457-2640. A live webcast can also be accessed by going directly to the Company's web site at www.hokuscientific.com and electing the conference call link on the home page. A playback of the webcast will be available on the Company's web site until the Company's conference call to discuss its financial results for its second quarter fiscal 2007.

About Hoku Scientific, Inc.

Hoku Scientific (NASDAQ: HOKU) is a clean energy technologies company that develops and manufactures fuel cell membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for stationary (including residential and back-up power applications) and automotive proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The Company is currently planning to expand its business to manufacture solar modules and polysilicon for the solar and integrated circuit markets. For more information visit www.hokuscientific.com.

Hoku, Hoku Membrane, Hoku MEA, Hoku Fuel Cells, Hoku Materials, Hoku Solar and the Hoku Scientific logo are trademarks of Hoku Scientific, Inc., all rights reserved. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve many risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to the Company's relationship with Nissan; the Company's relationship with Sanyo; and the Company's future performance with respect to its contracts with Nissan and Sanyo; the Company's expectations regarding the U.S. Navy field trials; the performance of the Company's Hoku MEA in such trials; the Company's relationship with the U.S. Navy and IdaTech; the Company's future performance with respect to the U.S. Navy contract; expectations with respect to the Company's manufacturing capabilities; the potential size and growth of the fuel cell and MEA markets in general and the Company's revenues in particular; the Company's expectations regarding the market acceptance of the Company's products; the Company's future financial performance; the Company's business strategy and plans; and objectives of management for future operation; the Company's ability to successfully raise sufficient funds to establish manufacturing facilities; install a production plant for solar modules and polysilicon; the Company's ability to manufacture solar modules and polysilicon; ability to license any necessary intellectual property rights to enter the polysilicon and solar module businesses; the performance and durability of Hoku Scientific's solar modules; the quality of polysilicon to be manufactured; Hoku Scientific's costs to manufacture solar modules and polysilicon, and its ability to offer pricing that is competitive with competing products; Hoku Scientific's future financial performance; Hoku Scientific's business strategy and plans; and objectives of management for future operations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider the risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement Hoku Scientific's financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, the Company uses non-GAAP measures of net income and net income per share, which are each adjusted to exclude expenses relating to non-cash stock-based compensation, which the Company believes is appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of its past financial performance and its future prospects. As the Company uses SFAS No. 123® to calculate its non-cash stock-based compensation expense, it believes that it is useful to investors to understand how the expenses associated with the application of SFAS No. 123® are reflected on its statements of operations. The Company further believes that where the adjustments used in calculating non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share are based on specific, identified charges that impact different line items in the statements of operations (including cost of service and license revenue, research and development, sales, general and administrative expense), that it is useful to investors to know how these specific line items in the statements of operations are affected by these adjustments. For its internal budgets and forecasting, the Company uses financial statements that do not include non-cash stock-based compensation expense. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or net income per share prepared in accordance with GAAP. Whenever the Company uses such non-GAAP financial measures, it provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Four-Star General (USAF, Retired) Lance Lord Joins Carrier Access Board of Directors

 Carrier Access Corporation (NASDAQ: CACS) (www.carrieraccess.com) announced today that General (USAF, retired) Lance W. Lord, former Commander, Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, has joined its Board of Directors.

General Lord was responsible for the development, acquisition, and operation of the Air Force's space and missile systems, including the global network of communications and intelligence satellites, the missile warning system, and the ICBM launch facilities. He led nearly 40,000 space professionals who provide combat forces and capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command.

"We are honored that General Lord has accepted our invitation to join our Board of Directors," stated Roger Koenig, Chairman, President and CEO of Carrier Access. "We look forward to benefiting from his leadership, management experience, and global viewpoint, as well as from his insights into the evolving needs of our public sector customers."

"I believe that Carrier Access has the right products at the right time for the mission critical operations in the communications industry -- whether it be wireline, wireless, or secure satellite communications. Their Board of Directors is impressive and I'm excited to be joining such a well qualified team," stated Lance Lord.

General Lord will be the seventh member of the Carrier Access Board of Directors, joining Roger Koenig, Nancy Pierce, John Barnett, Mark Floyd, Thomas Lamming, and David Laube.

About Carrier Access

Carrier Access (www.carrieraccess.com) designs and manufactures carrier class equipment that allows service providers and their business customers the ability to evolve their networks gracefully to IP, allowing them to increase network capacity, lower costs, and accelerate service revenue. Carrier Access is the leading provider of radio access network technology in North America, with tens of thousands of cell site nodes deployed, and is also a leading provider of VoIP solutions that converge voice and data over a single IP network connection. Carrier Access solutions help its customers do more with less.

Verdant Technology Corporation Acquires SynChem Technologies L.L.C.

Verdant Technology Corporation (PINKSHEETS: VTHC), an energy technology company that develops innovative solutions for the global energy industry, is pleased to announce its acquisition of SynChem Technologies L.L.C., a developer of chemical formulations for the Oil and Gas industry.

Previously, Verdant held an exclusive global rights license to SynChem's proprietary formulations and expertise.

SynChem Technologies L.L.C. has developed a family of chemical solvents known as V003 that address problems associated with deposits of paraffinic and asphaltic compounds in the production, storage and refining segments of the petroleum industry.

The V003 technology is a breakthrough application that increases production on restricted or plugged wells and is far faster acting than current competitor solutions. The V003 solvents are non-corrosive showing no negative effects on plant operations and processes and are also completely biodegradable with a high flash point, making them safe for the environment and personnel.

V003 was originally developed as an alternative to traditional solutions designed specifically to address paraffin related problems. After extensive testing in oil and gas wells throughout Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, as well as fields in Trinidad, Peru and Venezuela, the solvent was found to work for both paraffinic and asphaltic buildup. The V003 solvent has been shown to create production increases of between 100 and 700%.

"Verdant Technology Corporation is extremely excited to have now completed acquisition of this ground-breaking technology for the oil and gas industry. While common industry practice calls for the shut down or abandonment of known oil and gas producing wells, V003 allows producers to remain operational from known reserves while increasing production levels and reducing operational costs. With V003, Verdant is also able to follow the industry's growing mandate of utilizing products and solutions that are environmentally benign," said David Curd, CEO of Verdant Technology Corporation. "V003's effectiveness allows Verdant to introduce to the oil and gas industry a product that has the ability to significantly increase current production, while providing positive environmental and safety benefits."

About Verdant Technology Corporation

Verdant Technology Corporation (PINKSHEETS: VTHC) acquires and develops cutting-edge, environmentally sound technologies for the energy sector. Through its proven development program, the company identifies mid-stage technologies, shepherds them through the commercialization process and monetizes them under the management of seasoned experts.

For more information about Verdant Technology Corporation's services and technologies please visit our website at www.Verdant-Tech.com or email info@Verdant-Tech.com.

Statements in this release are "forward-looking" statements regarding Verdant Technology Corporation which are covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including without limitation, acceptance of the company's products, significant levels of competition for the company and dependence on the performance of the management of the company.

Christiana Bank Reports Record Earnings in the Second Quarter of 2006 and Declares Special Stock Dividend

Christiana Bank and Trust Company (OTCBB: CBTD) (the "Bank") reported net income of $679 thousand for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $305 thousand, or 82%, from $374 thousand in the second quarter of 2005. Net income for the first quarter 2006 was $416 thousand. For the first six months of 2006 net income was $1.1 million, an increase of $460 thousand, or 72%, from $635 thousand for the same period last year. The net income reported for the second quarter of 2006 is the highest level of quarterly net income in the history of the Bank.

At its meeting today, the Board of Directors declared a special stock dividend of 5% to be distributed on August 31, 2006 to stockholders of record on August 16, 2006. Fractional shares will be paid in cash. This is the third consecutive year the Bank has declared a stock dividend.

Net income per diluted share was $0.44 for the second quarter of 2006. This was an increase of 63% from $0.27 reported for the second quarter in 2005. The Bank reported $0.28 in net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months of 2006, net income per diluted share was $0.72, an increase of $0.26, or 57%, from the same period in 2005. All references to per share earnings for the first six months of 2006 have been adjusted to reflect the 5% stock dividend declared today and to be distributed August 31, 2006. References to 2005 have been adjusted to reflect today's declaration as well as the 5% stock dividend declared October 20, 2005.

The Bank's return on average assets for the second quarter of 2006 was 1.60% compared to 1.08% for the second quarter 2005 and 1.11% for the first quarter of 2006. Return on average equity for the second quarter of this year amounted to 16.08% compared to 10.11% and 10.33% for the prior-year second quarter and the first quarter of this year respectively. For the six months ended June 2006 the return on average assets and the return on average equity were 1.37% and 13.08% respectively compared to 0.91% and 8.73% for the same periods last year.

Zissimos A. Frangopoulos, President and CEO, stated, " We are very pleased with the results we are reporting today and we are particularly pleased that we are able to declare a special 5% stock dividend for our shareholders. As our business continues to grow, we are constantly mindful of the need to improve performance and efficiency and return on assets and return on equity are two of the measures we look to monitor our progress. The results for the second quarter of 2006 are encouraging and show good progress towards improved profitability."

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Bank ended the second quarter with total assets of $183.3 million as compared to $157.5 million at March 31, 2006, and $150.3 million on June 30, 2005, reflecting growth of 16% and 22% respectively.

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses, were $127.6 million at June 30, 2006 compared to $121.8 million at March 31, 2006 and $109.7 million at the end of the second quarter of 2005, reflecting growth of 5% and 16% over the respective prior periods.

Total deposits at June 30, 2006 were $164.1 million as compared to $139.2 million at March 31, 2006, and $127.2 million at June 30, 2005, showing growth of 18% and 29% respectively.

EARNINGS

The earnings in the second quarter of 2006 reflect growth in total revenues of 35% primarily due to strength in net interest income and growth in trust fees. Non-interest expense grew by 19% reflecting costs associated with the higher volume of business. Compared to the first quarter, non-interest expense increased by 2% while total revenues increased by 17%.

For the first six months of 2006 total revenues grew by 27%, and non-interest expense grew by 14% compared to the same period last year. Non-interest expense in the first and second quarters of 2005 included prepayment fees of $166 thousand and $80 thousand respectively incurred for the early repayment of fixed rate long term debt. There were no prepayment fees in 2006.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2006 was $1.8 million as compared to $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2005, and $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2006. The increase in the net interest income reflects, in part, a $19.6 million and $7.2 million increase in average loans over the second quarter of 2005 and first quarter of 2006. Net interest income was also affected by the increased net interest margin for the second quarter of 2006 of 4.55% compared to 4.35% for the same period in 2005. The net interest margin for the first quarter of this year was 4.62%.

For the six months net interest income was $3.5 million, compared to $2.7 million in the same period last year. The net interest margin for the first half of 2006 was 4.58% compared to 4.16% for the same period in 2005.

Provision for loan losses

During the second quarter of 2006, the Bank provided $95 thousand to the allowance for possible loan losses. By comparison, the Bank provided $56 thousand in the second quarter of 2005, and $63 thousand in the first quarter of 2006. The provision to the allowance for possible loan losses for the first six months of 2006 totaled $158 thousand compared to $66 thousand provided in the same period last year largely reflecting the growth in commercial and total loans.

Other income

For the first half of 2006, trust revenues were $2.1 million, with the second quarter contributing $1.2 million, compared to $1.6 million in the first half of 2005, of which $803 thousand came in the second quarter.

Assets under administration totaled $1.7 billion at June 30, 2006, $2.0 billion at March 31, 2006 and $1.8 billion at June 30, 2005. Assets under management were $465.9 million at June 30, 2006, as compared to $529.1 million at March 31, 2006 and $595.5 million at June 30, 2005.

There were no gains or losses on the sale of securities in the first or second quarters of 2006 and 2005.

The remaining other income for the second quarter of 2006 was $94 thousand compared to $87 thousand in the second quarter of 2005 and $102 thousand in the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months of 2006, it totaled $196 thousand compared to $184 thousand in the same period of 2005. This income largely reflects fees charged for various banking services and earnings on bank-owned life insurance.

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2006 amounted to $3.0 million compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2005, and $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months of 2006, total revenues were $5.6 million compared to $4.4 million for the same period in 2005. Relative to the same period last year, total revenues for the quarter increased 35%. Total revenues increased 17% when compared to the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months, total revenues in 2006 increased by 27% versus the same period in 2005.

Non-Interest Expense

Personnel expense was $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $898 thousand in the second quarter of 2005, and $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2006. Personnel expense for the first six months of this year was $2.3 million compared to $1.8 million in the same period last year. To meet the needs of its growing businesses, the Bank's staffing was 44 full-time equivalent employees at June 30, 2006 as compared to 42 at June 30, 2005. Additionally, increased incentives and commissions due to the increased volume during the year are reflected in personnel expense.

Occupancy expense for the second quarter of 2006 was $93 thousand, compared to $97 thousand in the second quarter of 2005 and $94 thousand in the first quarter 2006. Occupancy expense for the first six months of this year was $187 thousand compared to $198 thousand in the same period last year.

Trust operating expense totaled $103 thousand in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $119 thousand in the second quarter of 2005 and $128 thousand in the first quarter of 2006. For the six months, trust operating expense was $231 thousand compared to $234 thousand in the same period last year.

The remaining other expense totaled $540 thousand for the second quarter of 2006, compared to $552 thousand in the second quarter of 2005 and $668 thousand in the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months of 2006 and 2005, other expenses totaled $1.2 million. For the second quarter of 2005 and first half of 2005, other expense includes $80 thousand and $246 thousand respectively in prepayment fees for the early redemption of certain fixed rate borrowings. Since there were no prepayment fees in the comparable periods in 2006, the comparative increase in non-interest expense for the second quarter and the first six months resulted from higher professional fees and marketing expenses, plus higher travel and related expenses and higher data processing charges due to increased new business activities.

Total non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2006 was $2.0 million compared to $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2005, and $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2006. For the first six months of 2006, total non-interest expense was $3.9 million compared to $3.5 million in the first six months of 2005. Relative to the same quarter last year, total non-interest expense increased 19%, while expenses increased by 2% compared to the first quarter of 2006. For the six months, total non-interest expenses increased 14% versus the same period last year.

ASSET QUALITY

There were no non-performing loans at June 30, 2006, at March 31, 2006 or at June 30, 2005. No loans were charged off during any of these periods. The allowance for loan losses was $1.1 million, or 0.85% of total loans, at June 30, 2006, $1.0 million, or 0.81% of total loans, at March 31, 2006, and $885 thousand, or 0.80% of total loans, at June 30, 2005.

CAPITAL

Stockholders' equity totaled $17.3 million at June 30, 2006, compared to $16.6 million at March 31, 2006, and $15.1 million at June 30, 2005. The increase in stockholders' equity during the second quarter of 2006 reflects the earnings during the period, the issuance of shares to cover the Bank's additions to its 401(k) plan contributing $36 thousand and proceeds from the exercise of stock options amounting to $29 thousand, offset by an increase in unrealized losses on securities classified as available-for-sale of $68 thousand net of applicable federal tax. All the regulatory capital ratios of the Bank are in excess of the "well-capitalized" threshold.

THE COMPANY

Christiana Bank and Trust Company, headquartered in Greenville, Delaware, is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "CBTD." The Bank provides commercial banking as well as trust and asset management services from locations in Greenville and Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, Christiana Corporate Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, provides commercial domicile services in Delaware and Nevada and Christiana Trust Company LLC, a wholly owned non-depository trust company, provides commercial domicile and trust services in Nevada.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain factors that may cause the Bank's results to vary from those expected. These factors include changing economic and financial market conditions, competition, ability to execute the Bank's business plan, items already mentioned in this press release and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's judgment only as of this date. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

CHRISTIANA BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

Income Statement

(unaudited)

Dollar amounts in For the three months ended Year to Date

thousands Jun-06 Mar-06 Dec-05 Sep-05 Jun-05 Jun-06 Jun-05

Total interest

income $ 2,867 $ 2,519 $ 2,394 $ 2,228 $ 1,936 $ 5,386 $ 3,728

Total interest

expense 1,024 871 710 617 526 1,895 1,009

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Net interest

income 1,843 1,648 1,684 1,611 1,410 3,491 2,719

Provision for loan

losses 95 63 17 35 56 158 66

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Net interest

income after

provision 1,748 1,585 1,667 1,576 1,354 3,333 2,653

Trust fees 1,193 916 912 756 803 2,109 1,603

Service fees and

other income 94 102 83 83 87 196 184

Gain on sale of

securities - - - - - - -

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Total

non-interest

income 1,287 1,018 995 839 890 2,305 1,787

Total revenues 3,035 2,603 2,662 2,415 2,244 5,638 4,440

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Personnel expenses 1,248 1,054 1,090 990 898 2,302 1,805

Occupancy expense 93 94 93 101 97 187 198

Trust operating

expense 103 128 49 100 119 231 234

Other expense 540 668 620 634 552 1,208 1,222

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Total

non-interest

expense 1,984 1,944 1,852 1,825 1,666 3,928 3,459

Income before

taxes 1,051 659 810 590 578 1,710 981

Federal and state

income taxes 372 243 298 205 204 615 346

------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------

Net income $ 679 $ 416 $ 512 $ 385 $ 374 $ 1,095 $ 635

======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======

Certain reclasses have been made to conform prior periods to

current period presentation.

CHRISTIANA BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

Balance Sheet (unaudited)

Dollar amounts in

thousands Jun-06 Mar-06 Dec-05 Sep-05 Jun-05

Cash and due from banks $ 26,107 $ 6,092 $ 20,776 $ 11,111 $ 12,218

Investment securities 20,952 21,137 21,260 20,728 20,053

Loans (net of unearned

income) 128,667 122,832 116,974 114,826 110,578

Allowance for loan

losses 1,095 1,000 937 920 885

--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Net loans 127,572 121,832 116,037 113,906 109,693

Bank premises and

equipment - net 3,107 3,044 3,095 3,123 3,162

Other assets 5,563 5,385 4,918 5,141 5,154

--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total assets $ 183,301 $ 157,490 $ 166,086 $ 154,009 $ 150,280

========= ========= ========= ========= =========

Non-interest bearing

deposits $ 53,140 $ 39,062 $ 40,968 $ 51,441 $ 44,040

Savings and interest

bearing demand 84,689 75,047 80,805 61,856 60,932

Time deposits 26,251 25,120 26,530 19,134 22,184

--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total deposits 164,080 139,229 148,303 132,431 127,156

Borrowings - - - 5,000 7,000

Other liabilities 1,959 1,691 1,799 1,124 1,061

--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total liabilities 166,039 140,920 150,102 138,555 135,217

Total stockholders'

equity 17,262 16,570 15,984 15,454 15,063

--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total liabilities and

stockholders' equity $ 183,301 $ 157,490 $ 166,086 $ 154,009 $ 150,280

========= ========= ========= ========= =========

Certain reclasses have been made to conform prior periods to current period

presentation.

CHRISTIANA BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)

Dollar amounts in thousands except share and per share data

For and at the Three Months Ended

Jun-06 Mar-06 Dec-05 Sep-05 Jun-05

Share Data *

-------------

Book value per share

(period end) $ 12.35 $ 11.89 $ 11.59 $ 11.29 $ 11.04

Earnings per share

(basic) $ 0.49 $ 0.30 $ 0.37 $ 0.28 $ 0.27

Earnings per share

(diluted) $ 0.44 $ 0.28 $ 0.35 $ 0.27 $ 0.27

Basic shares 1,396,785 1,387,708 1,375,954 1,368,184 1,364,130

Diluted shares 1,531,082 1,529,970 1,473,969 1,418,392 1,385,273

Selected Averages

-----------------

Average Gross Loans $ 126,563 $ 119,368 $ 114,343 $ 113,025 $ 106,941

Average total

deposits $ 145,738 $ 130,809 $ 123,990 $ 124,161 $ 111,229

Average earning

assets (1) $ 162,615 $ 144,542 $ 141,307 $ 141,330 $ 129,993

Selected Performance Ratios

---------------------------

Return on average

assets 1.60% 1.11% 1.36% 1.02% 1.08%

Return on average

equity 16.08% 10.33% 12.97% 10.00% 10.11%

Net interest margin 4.55% 4.62% 4.73% 4.52% 4.35%

Non-interest income

as % of revenue 42.41% 39.11% 37.38% 34.75% 39.66%

Non-interest income

as % of average

assets 3.02% 2.67% 2.67% 2.25% 2.57%

Non-interest expense

as % of average

assets 4.65% 5.10% 4.97% 4.90% 4.82%

Asset Quality

-------------

Net chargeoffs $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -

Non-performing loans $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -

Allowance for loan

losses to total

loans (period end) 0.85% 0.81% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%

Non-performing loans

to total loans

(period end) 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Capital

-------

Stockholders' equity

to total assets

(period end) 9.42% 10.52% 9.62% 10.03% 10.02%

Tier 1 leverage

ratio 10.34% 11.07% 10.91% 10.49% 10.98%

Tier 1 capital to

risk-weighted

assets 11.63% 11.76% 11.73% 11.70% 11.82%

Total capital to

risk-weighted

assets 12.36% 12.46% 12.40% 12.39% 12.51%

Year to Date

Jun-06 Jun-06

Share Data *

-------------

Book value per share

(period end) $ 12.35 $ 11.04

Earnings per share

(basic) $ 0.79 $ 0.46

Earnings per share

(diluted) $ 0.72 $ 0.46

Basic shares 1,392,272 1,362,296

Diluted shares 1,530,547 1,382,509

Selected Averages

-----------------

Average Gross Loans $ 122,985 $ 104,179

Average total

deposits $ 138,315 $ 114,329

Average earning

assets (1) $ 153,629 $ 131,927

Selected Performance Ratios

---------------------------

Return on average

assets 1.37% 0.91%

Return on average

equity 13.28% 8.73%

Net interest margin 4.58% 4.16%

Non-interest income

as % of revenue 40.89% 40.24%

Non-interest income

as % of average

assets 2.86% 2.55%

Non-interest expense

as % of average

assets 4.86% 4.93%

Asset Quality

-------------

Net chargeoffs $ - $ -

Non-performing loans $ - $ -

Allowance for loan

losses to total

loans (period end) 0.80% 0.80%

Non-performing loans

to total loans

(period end) 0.00% 0.00%

Capital

-------

Stockholders' equity

to total assets

(period end) 9.42% 10.02%

Tier 1 leverage

ratio 10.34% 10.98%

Tier 1 capital to

risk-weighted

assets 11.63% 11.82%

Total capital to

risk-weighted

assets 12.36% 12.51%

(1) Earning assets include loan balances before loan loss reserve and AFS

investments before unrealized holding gains or losses.

Certain reclasses have been made to conform prior periods to current

period presentation.

* Adjusted for 5% stock Dividend declared July 20, 2006. June and

September 2005 share data adjusted for 5% stock Dividend declared

October 20, 2005.

 Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESS) a fully integrated Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that invests in apartment communities located in highly desirable, supply-constrained markets, announced today its intention to offer 5.2 million shares of its Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock at $25 per share for estimated gross proceeds of $130 million. The Company also intends to grant the underwriter an option to purchase an additional 780,000 shares of its Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

Essex intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to pay down outstanding borrowings under its lines of credit, which bore interest at a blended rate of 5.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, fund the development pipeline and for general corporate purposes.

Banc of America Securities LLC is acting as sole book running manager for the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC. Copies of the prospectus can be obtained from Banc of America Securities LLC at the following address:

Banc of America Securities LLC

Capital Markets Operations (Prospectus Fulfillment)

100 West 33rd Street

New York, NY 10001

Essex Property Trust, Inc., located in Palo Alto, California and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ESS), is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily residential properties in selected West Coast communities. Essex currently has ownership interests in 126 multifamily properties (26,543 units), and has 551 units in various stages of development. Additional information about Essex can be found on the Company's web site at www.essexpropertytrust.com. If you would like to receive future press releases via e-mail please send a request to investors@essexpropertytrust.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including whether or not the Company will offer the Series G Convertible Preferred Stock or consummate the offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the offering. The statements made by the Company are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Risk Factors section in Item 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2006 (see page 25). The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to affect any such update under any circumstance.

Enhance Your Brain Power With NeuroGenesis, Inc. on MN1.com

The President and Chairman of NeuroGenesis, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: NEUN), Al Bieser will be Live on Market News First (www.MN1.com) for an exclusive interview with the MN1.com online radio team. The Live interview will be held on July 21, 2006 at 9:30 CDT.

NeuroGenesis, Inc. (www.neurogenesis.com) created a patented nutritional supplement, Neu-Becalm'd, that supports healthy brain function, enhances mental focus, decreases stress, improves mood, fatigue, limits anxiety, and improves sleep.

This company has a very valuable product that it has developed over a period of 25 years. The following information can be "advertised" only to financial interests in the company, not the end users of the product -- under FDA and FTC regulation. The company believes it has found a legal way to bring this information to the public. We expect this new approach will be in use no later than October of this year (2006). It could possibly be sooner.

Most government numbers indicate that over 20% of the children registered in American schools, grades 1 through 12, have been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder/s) to some extent. It is further estimated that the number suffering from it is closer to 30%. Through research begun in 1978, at the University of Texas, it was found that many of the emotional characteristics of the human being are greatly affected by the chemistry of the Hypothalamus and the Hippo Campus. These chemistries are generally self-stabilizing but when they are, or become, unstable symptoms such as ADHD are the result. Thus, many drug companies have developed "drugs" to modify these chemistries. The problem with this solution is the "drugs'" are addictive and have serious side effects. Our Company has found a nutritional supplement approach to the solution to the ADHD (and related stress problems) without significant side effects and very high, 85% to 90%, efficacy.

FDA and FTC rules do not allow us to advertise any product that competes with an approved drug. Such approval typically costs $500,000,000 to $750,000,000. However, as said earlier, we have found a way to "spread the word" without violating the rules. Included in this, is that we may "tell all" to the investment community. The product using public must be sold very carefully and we are now doing this in test cases which will soon be greatly increased.

Log on to MN1.com on July 20th at 3:00pm CDT for further information or if you would like to participate in the live discussion with NeuroGenesis, Inc.

About MN1.com

Market News First is an online market news provider which brings investors current up to speed news on the market. Market News First is the only online live radio web site that brings real market news to investors and features live interaction with companies from the Bulletin Board to NYSE.

Through daily live pressers we bring you up to date on all the established companies and inform the investors of the newest opportunities within the market. Market News First's one on one interviews with the Presidents and CFOs of companies, broadcasted on our website, delivers answers to the questions that investors would ask and provides them insight into the companies' present condition and future plans.

Posted by monte at 12:24 PM | Permalink

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NASA BRINGS THE FUTURE OF EXPLORATION TO OSHKOSH AIRVENTURE 2006

NASA will take visitors to the moon, Mars and beyond at the country's biggest annual air show, held in Oshkosh, Wis., July 24-30.

NASA scientists, engineers, educators, and communicators will be on hand at the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airventure 2006 to provide a glimpse of the future in an exhibit that has universal appeal, literally.

Outside the NASA building at Airventure, visitors will be able to check out a full-scale space shuttle engine that weighs more than 17,000 pounds. The engine is about the size of a recreational vehicle. There also will be a 30-foot tall model of the heavy-lift rocket proposed for the future Cargo Launch Vehicle, and interactive demonstrations.

Inside the facility NASA will feature a full-scale mock-up of
America's next space capsule, the Crew Exploration Vehicle. The
exhibit will help visitors understand how NASA plans to send
astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit. Included will be holographic
astronauts to introduce the Constellation program. Constellation is
the combination of large and small systems that will provide the
capabilities necessary for travel and exploration of the solar
system.

No presentation at an air show would be complete without a look at
NASA's contributions to aeronautics. Exhibits will feature a number
of NASA-developed aviation technologies and a special education area
will allow youngsters to make and keep their own paper airplanes,
rotorcraft and straw rockets.

Other displays will allow Airventure visitors to have their photograph
taken in a spacesuit or see images coming back from space by way of
the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA will take visitors to the moon, Mars and beyond at the country's
biggest annual air show, held in Oshkosh, Wis., July 24-30.

NASA employees will share their expertise at Airventure 2006.
Aerospace craftspeople will be there to reveal mysteries of science
and to show how they create the experiments that have propelled
America forward as a leader in new air and space technologies.

NASA representatives also will give presentations throughout the show
at various Airventure pavilions. Speakers will include engineers, a
test pilot, and veteran space shuttle commander Scott Horowitz.
Horowitz is NASA's associate administrator for the Exploration
Systems Mission Directorate, Washington.

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR COLUMBUS SHUTTLE MISSION

NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle mission that will
deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the
International Space Station.

A veteran space flier, Navy Cmdr. Stephen N. Frick, will command the
STS-122 shuttle mission to deliver the lab to the station. Navy Cmdr.
Alan G. Poindexter will serve as pilot. Mission specialists include
Air Force Col. Rex J. Walheim, Stanley G. Love, Leland D. Melvin and
European Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel. Poindexter, Love and
Melvin will be making their first spaceflight.

STS-122 will be Frick's second spaceflight. A native of Gibsonia, Pa.,
he served as pilot of shuttle mission STS-110, a flight to the
station in 2002. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy,
Annapolis, Md., and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey,
Calif. Poindexter, a Pasadena, Calif., native, also has a master's
from the Naval Postgraduate School and a bachelor's from the Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

Walheim, who considers San Carlos, Calif., his hometown, also flew on
shuttle mission STS-110 in 2002 and is a veteran of two spacewalks.
He has a bachelor's from the University of California, Berkeley, and
a master's from the University of Houston. Melvin is a native of
Lynchburg, Va., and has a bachelor's from the University of Richmond
and a master's from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Love, a Eugene, Ore., native, has a bachelor's from Harvey Mudd
College, Claremont, Calif., and a master's and doctorate from the
University of Washington. Schlegel, a native of Aachen, Germany, has
a master's degree from the University of Aachen. His first flight was
on shuttle mission STS-55 in 1993.

Video of the STS-122 crew members will air on NASA TV's Video File.
Video File airs on the Media Channel (Program 103) at 6-8 and 9-11
a.m.; 12-2 and 4-7 p.m.; and 10 p.m.-midnight. All times are Eastern.
For NASA TV downlink and scheduling information and links to
streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios
For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http//:www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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Posted by monte at 11:25 AM | Permalink

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A Marine assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, died due to enemy action in Iraq's Anbar province today, according to U.S. officials in Baghdad.

The name of the deceased is being withheld until the Marine's family is
notified.

DoD officials have released the identities of several soldiers killed
in Iraq.

- Army Staff Sgt. Michael A. Dickinson II, 26, of Battle Creek, Mich.,
died July 17 in Ramadi when his dismounted patrol encountered enemy
small-arms fire. Dickinson was assigned to 9th Psychological Operations
Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Special
Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

- Army Cpl. Kenneth I. Pugh, 39, of Houston, died July 17 in Baghdad of
injuries suffered when his M1A2 Abrams tank encountered enemy
small-arms fire. Pugh was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

- Army Sgt. 1st Class Scott R. Smith, 34, of Punxsutawney, Pa., died
July 17 in Iskandariyah of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive
device detonated during a controlled ordnance-clearing mission. Smith
was assigned to the 737th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, 52nd Ordnance
Group, Fort Belvoir, Va.

- Army Spc. Manuel J. Holguin, 21, of Woodlake, Calif., died July 15 in
Baghdad of injuries suffered when his dismounted patrol encountered
enemy small-arms fire and an IED. Holguin was assigned to 2nd Battalion,
6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder,
Germany.

DoD Announces Selection of Enlisted Advisor for Reserve Affairs

            The Department of Defense announced today that Marine Corps
Reserve Sergeant Major Joseph A. Staudt has been selected to serve as
the next senior enlisted advisor to the assistant secretary of defense for
reserve affairs (ASD-RA).



            Staudt succeeds Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major
Lawrence W.Holland becoming the department's eighth reserve affairs senior
enlisted advisor.  Holland will retire in November.



            Staudt will be the first Marine senior enlisted to hold
this position, and will serve as the principal enlisted advisor to the
assistant secretary of defense for all seven branches of the military's reserve
components.



            "I'm delighted to welcome Sergeant Major Staudt aboard, and
I'm sure he will excel in looking after the welfare of the over 927,000
enlisted members of the total force ready reserve, in the same manner in which
he's looked out for Marines his entire career," said Thomas F. Hall, the
ASD-RA.



            Staudt, who recently served in Iraq, is presently assigned
as the headquarters Marine Corps reserve affairs Sergeant Major at Quantico,
Va.  He enlisted in 1977 and has served in both the active and reserve
components of the Marine Corps.  He also has a civilian experience in masonry and
construction and has owned and operated his own business.  His military
awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,
Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.



            The OASD-RA is the principal staff assistance office
providing advice to the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness
and to the secretary and deputy secretary of defense for reserve component
matters in the Department of Defense.

The USS Nashville has joined the fleet of  ships evacuating U.S. citizens from Lebanon, defense officials said today.

The Nashville, a dock landing ship, arrived in the joint operating area
off Beirut yesterday, and landing craft began ferrying refugees from
Beirut to the ship. The ship will deliver the citizens to safe haven in
Cyprus--about eight hours away by ship--later today, officials said.

DoD officials expect the ship to carry 1,200 evacuees. State Department
officials said the operation will continue until all Americans who wish
to leave the country have done so. State Department and Defense
personnel have evacuated more than 1,600 American citizens from Lebanon since
the operation began July 16.

Ships and aircraft transported 1,200 citizens out of Lebanon to Cyprus
yesterday. Of these, 161 "special needs" Americans left via choppers,
and 1,066 sailed on the Orient Queen. DoD chartered the Greek-owned
vessel for the operation.

In addition to the USS Nashville, the Saudi-owned, Panamanian-flagged
Rahmah, with a capacity of 1,400 passengers, arrived in the region and
will begin ferrying U.S. citizens to Cyprus tomorrow. The Italian ship
Vittoria, with a capacity of around 330 passengers, also will begin
operations in the next few days.

DoD officials said five more U.S. Navy ships will arrive at the scene
in the next few days. The USS Iwo Jima will join the operation July 22.
Officials expect to move around 4,000 evacuees tomorrow.

Some 300 to 500 Americans are caught in fighting between the terrorist
group Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, DoD officials said.
Hezbollah continues to fire missiles into northern Israel, and Israelis
are replying with artillery and air strikes.

"Things are, in fact, quite volatile out of southern Lebanon right now.
We do have several groups of people ... that have congregated and are
ready to move," Mara Harty, assistant secretary of state for consular
affairs, said yesterday. "We would like to be able to move them through
the country, up north, and put them on ships and get them out of harm's
way.

"The decision was taken, given conditions on the ground, that they
would not yet move, so they are in a holding pattern until such time as we
think it is appropriate and safe and prudent to move them forward."

Harty and DoD officials stressed that any evacuation must be done in a
safe and orderly manner. Once all U.S. Navy ships to participate in the
operation are on scene, officials will have the capacity to evacuate at
least 6,000 U.S. citizens per day. The last Navy ship will arrive July
23.

Iraqi and coalition security forces will redouble efforts to stem a recent spate of bombings, murders and kidnappings conducted in and around Baghdad, a senior U.S. military officer
said today.

"We will do whatever it takes to bring down the level of violence in
Baghdad," Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV told reporters during a
Baghdad news briefing.

Caldwell, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, quoted from a joint
statement issued yesterday by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad
and Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of Multinational Force
Iraq, addressing the recent violence in Baghdad and its surrounding
environs: "'We condemn in the strongest possible language the recent attacks
by terrorists and death squads against innocent Iraqi civilians in Kufa
and Mahmudiyah,'" Caldwell read.

He quoted the two leaders as saying coalition officials will work with
the Iraqi government and security forces "to treat the death squads as
the same critical threat to Iraqi security as the terrorists who target
Iraqi civilians," Caldwell continued.

Iraqi and coalition officials recognize that Baghdad is at the
epicenter of insurgent efforts to destabilize the country, Caldwell said.

"Clearly, the death squad elements, the terrorist elements know that
Baghdad is a must-win for them," Caldwell said.

Iraqi security forces deployed across Baghdad have hampered the
movements of terrorists and other criminal elements and foiled a number of
kidnap attempts, Caldwell said.

The Iraqi government and coalition advisers are reviewing and making
adjustments to Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's month-old security plan
for Baghdad, Caldwell said. About 51,000 Iraq soldiers, police and U.S.
troops are involved in this effort, he said.

The plan is intended to reduce murders, kidnappings and assassinations
within the city, he said, noting the plan will be implemented over
several months.

He said terrorists will try to stop the mission from succeeding. "If it
means targeting innocent Iraqi civilians, conducting sensational
attacks against them, that's exactly what they will do," Caldwell said.

Posted by monte at 11:05 AM | Permalink

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