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

Today we came upon a shoot listed only as Anonymous Commercial at The Fox Hills Mall In Culver City California.

What was really strange about this shoot was the massive amount of equipment on hand including four star wagons, multiple police cars and officers on site and two separate meal stations.

Earlier in the year Spiderman 3 had been doing some background shooting at the mall.

With this much equipment on hand, all the star wagons and extra security, could they have been doing more the n just shooting an anonymous commercial, I bet they were.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on March 18, when they came under small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations. Both solidiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Ricardo Barraza, 24, of Shafter, Calif. Sgt. Dale G. Brehm, 23, of Turlock, Calif

Today AVP, Association Of Vollyball Professionals held their spring media day.

I personally talked to Jenny Jordan whom was as intelligent as she was talented.

We talked about the tour opening on March 31 in Fort Lauderdale,Fl. with 16 stops in 11 different states. The $3.5 million in prize money is $500,000 more then last year and will be split equally between the men and the women. 

For The 5th straight year  the AVP opens its season in ft. Lauderdale,Fla.

It will be the nineth time that it has hosted the mens tournament and thr sixth time for the ladies side.

Some more info: Karch Kiraly has won over $3 million in his career.  Kiraly is the only player to win gold medals both indoors in 1984 and 1988 and on the beach in 1996.  

Holly McPeak has won over $400,000 on the women's side.

Olympic Gold Medalists Misty May-Trenor and Kerri Walsh are seeking gold again at China's Olympics in 2008.

 Time Inc agrees to settlement

Time Inc. today agreed to a $4.5 million settlement with 23 state attorneys general who alleged their constituents had received and been charged for magazine subscriptions without their consent in a practice known as “automatic renewals.” The company will also offer compensation to affected consumers that might total $2 million to $4 million.

The subscriptions in question were automatically renewed between 1998 and May 2004, according to the attorneys general, who also faulted Time Inc. for sending renewal notices that looked like bills.

“A consumer’s ability to make good purchasing decisions begins with the adequate and meaningful disclosure of all significant terms and conditions of a contract,” said New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer in a statement.

Time Inc. is the largest magazine publisher in the U.S. and as such has come in for its share of scrutiny during recent circulation scandals. Last summer it received a federal subpoena seeking information on its circulation practices, but has said only that is it cooperating. The settlement today suggests that the company has, like many publishers, felt strong pressure to maintain and expand circulation, which is not just a revenue source of its own but the peg for ad rates any magazine can charge.

Time Inc. admitted no wrongdoing. “We have already adjusted some marketing and collection practices for clearer disclosure of automatic renewal subscriptions,” the company said in a statement of its own. “Under the terms of the settlement Time Inc. will pay $4.5 million to cover investigative costs, to be divided by the 23 states, and we will also make a fund available to certain subscribers who respond to a claim form we will mail in June.”

The company also agreed to provide conspicuous disclosures to consumers about auto-renewals and how to cancel them.

Time Inc. estimated that 108,000 consumers may be eligible for compensation, although it pointed out that the number affected is a tiny fraction of the company’s 40 million subscribers.

In the history of THE PLAYERS Championship dating back to 1974 only three men won in their first attempt -- Jack Nicklaus ('74), Hal Sutton ('83) and Craig Perks (2002) -- and only 26 players finished in the top 10 in their debuts. Of those 26, only eight have finished in the top 10 in their first appearance since the event moved permanently to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 1982

Only six players have followed a PLAYERS Championship win with a top-10 the next year, including Adam Scott in 2005. Fred Funk is looking to become the seventh this week. The others are Jack Nicklaus, Mark McCumber, Tom Kite and Fred Couples.

Brad Faxon extended his longest-consecutive cut streak at THE PLAYERS Championship to 13 when he made it to the weekend in 2005. Faxon's mark is the best in tournament history. Faxon shared the record of 12 in a row with Tom Kite and Bernhard Langer. Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo own the next-best current streak with nine in a row.

The scoring average of 3.780 on the par-3 17th hole during the final round of the 2005 PLAYERS Championship was the second-highest in tournament history. During the first round of the 1984 tournament, the hole averaged 3.853 for the day.

Major brand advertisers responsible for $20 billion in ad spending are losing confidence in the effectiveness of TV advertising. More than three out of four advertisers -- 78% to be exact -- said they have less confidence today in the effectiveness of TV advertising than they did two years ago, according to a survey released at today’s Association of National Advertisers TV Ad Forum.

The study asked 133 national advertisers representing more than $20 billion in ad dollars about their attitudes toward TV advertising and how new technologies such as DVRs and VOD will have on their TV ad budgets.

Almost 70% of advertisers believe DVRs and video on demand will reduce or destroy the effectiveness of traditional 30-second commercials. Instead they are looking at alternatives such as branded entertainment within TV programs (61%), TV program sponsorships (55%), interactive advertising during TV programs (48%), online video ads (45%) and product placement (44%).

Additionally, 80% will spend more of their advertising budgets on Web advertising and 68% are looking into search engine marketing.

Forrester VP Josh Bernoff addressed the advertisers at the forum, explaining that Forrester is very confident in pegging current DVR penetration at 10%. The biggest news, however, is that it’s poised for a rapid growth spurt, thanks to cable and satellite operators’ pushing the set top boxes and reducing the prices. By 2010, 43 million households -- 40% of the U.S. -- will have DVRs.

He described agencies and advertisers as “hard-nosed” and “focused on data” and said that while the advance of DVRs doesn’t spell the end of TV’s 30-second spots, it will incite a change.

Yet for all of advertisers’ blustering talk about DVRs and the decreased efficacy of TV, there has been little real change. Even today, when Mr. Bernoff asked advertisers via an instant electronic polling system what they believed would be the most promising video advertising vehicle of the future, 22% thought it was regular TV, making it the second most popular choice. Interactive TV was the leader, with 31%, and in third place with 21% was Internet video. Cable VOD was fourth with 16%.

When instantly polled as to the biggest threat to TV, 48% of advertisers resoundingly called commercial clutter the top threat, followed by 17% who feared DVR ad skipping.

Other speakers at the Forum echoed Mr. Bernoff’s thoughts about the impact of DVRs. Kia Motors Chief Marketing Officer Ian Beavis, who famously struck TV from Mitsubishi’s media mix when he was leading marketing at the struggling auto brand, said that he’s yet to see proof that viewers watch time-shifted ads.

“Prove to us they really are watching them and we’ll pay for it,” he charged the TV network executives in attendance.

Mr. Beavis also defended his decision to pull TV advertising spending when he was at Mistubishi and blamed Mitsubishi’s subsequent sales problems on the product and held up the Mazda 5 as an example of an auto marketer that achieved sales success without using TV in the media mix.

He urged advertisers to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. “Don’t get up and bitch and moan and then do the same thing you’ve always done,” he said. “Do the right thing to do for that brand at that particular time.”

Grass Valley, CA - New product introductions and free equipment make booth SU141 a worthwhile destination for visitors to NAB2006 in Las Vegas this April.

"We've seen significant interest in our new product offerings. We're also finding that the OpenStore archival system is making excellent inroads into various new markets," said Len Dole, President of The ISIS Group, Inc. and Graham-Patten Systems.

The ISIS Group continues to build a reputation for providing dependable, rugged, and compact products at great prices with both the ISIS video/audio signal management and Graham-Patten audio lines. This year, ISIS introduces a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the INNOVATION routing switchers, new 8x4, 8x8, and 16x16 HD routers, and an analog critical path changeover switcher featuring power-off relay signal. Also making their debut are eight models of the popular MiniBlox "solutions in the palm of your hand," and several product upgrades: a joystick override for the INNOVATION 16x1 switcher control panel and a new analog video card for the unique S-8400 multi-function switcher (used for ENG/SNG and flyaway applications).

The Graham-Patten SoundPals line expands with an AES Audio Delay unit offering 99.99 frames of user selectable delay, and four flavors of audio de-embedders: HD, SDI, AES-HD and AES-SDI - all with analog headphone capability.

Full product lines from ISIS and Graham-Patten will be on display, including INNOVATION analog/SDI, HD, and RGBHV routing switchers, changeover and protection switchers, the OpenStore archival system, MiniBlox video/audio conversion and distribution solutions, Emmy award-winning D/ESAM digital audio mixers, and SoundPals compact digital audio format conversion, signal processing, distribution, and test modules. ISIS Group will hold a drawing for two prizes, giving away an INNOVATION 16x1 Routing Switcher and a Graham-Patten SoundPals DTG-1 Digital Audio Test Generator at the end of the show.

ISIS Group manufactures high-performance video, audio, and signal management and processing solutions for the television, post-production, and multimedia industries worldwide. In 2004, ISIS acquired Graham-Patten Systems, a Grass Valley company with an established reputation as the world's leading developer of high performance digital audio products for the professional video industry. Both companies are known for technical innovation, product reliability, and outstanding customer support. Information about ISIS Group is available at http://www.isis-group.com and Graham-Patten is at http://www.gpsys.com

HAI Expands Award-Winning HAI Lighting Control (HLC) Product Line with the Addition of 1000W, 1500W and 2400W Switches Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), leading manufacturer of integrated security and home automation products since 1985, is now shipping three new switches as part of its award-winning HLC line. HLC “smart” switches let you easily set elegant lighting scenes for each room, without the use of complicated software programs. The new switches include a 1000W, 1500W, and 2400W switch.

The 1000W is available in 6 colors with the 1500W and 2400W available in white or ivory only. They can be set for dimming or non-dimming and are compatible with all HAI controllers or other UPB compatible controllers. “We now offer a comprehensive selection of switches for just about any electrical requirement,” explains HAI President, Jay McLellan. “Now everyone can enjoy the benefits of affordable and elegant lighting control with the HLC line.” HAI's HLC line is a fully two-way communicating lighting control system. It has big-system features while being cost effective and installable on a modular basis. Homeowners can have sophisticated lighting control in a home theater or living room and add rooms as needs grow.

Additionally HLC switches can be tied into an HAI home control system or any UPB compatible automation controller for full fledged integrated lighting control coordinated with other events, such as time, motion, security modes, etc. All HLC products are extremely easy to install – no modifications to the home are required. These plug and play products are an easy way to add a touch of class to any home. All HAI Lighting Control Products are UL-Listed and use Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) – a digital communications standard for lighting and home control that ensures superior reliability.

For more information, including technical specifications and how to purchase, please visit www.homeauto.com or call 800-229-7256. To view a high resolution picture of this product, http://www.homeauto.com/mediacenter/haiprimage.asp?image=hlc1000w.tif About HAI: HAI is a privately held manufacturer of integrated automation and security products for residential and commercial use based in New Orleans, LA. Incorporated in 1985, HAI has developed a full line of award-winning automation products, including automation controllers, communicating programmable thermostats, smart light switches, and software that allows access and control of an automation system over the Internet. All products are sold through HAI's worldwide network of Distribution Partners and installed by over 1000 trained dealers.

Joining a crowd of traditional media companies that are trying to catch up with emerging media, Hearst Magazines has created a unit called Hearst Magazines Digital Media to direct the development and convergence of its titles in the digital space.

The new division echoes efforts at other print publishers, including Meredith Corp., which said in January that it will invest $2 million this year in its Web sites; Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., which reorganized that month to facilitate digital content creation and cross-platform content-sharing; and Time Inc., which partly justified its recent layoffs as a way to free resources for digital development.

Outside of print, MTV Networks has also created a unit devoted to creating short-form entertainment that may play well on portable digital devices and computer screens.

“More than 76 million people read our magazines each month and, with the proliferation of digital media, we want our brands and unique editorial perspectives to be available to our consumers wherever and whenever they desire,” said Cathleen P. Black, president, Hearst Magazines.

John Loughlin, exec VP-general manager, was named to lead Hearst’s digital unit. Much of its work will build on the company's relationship with iVillage, which hosts sites for Hearst magazines including Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire and Redbook.

NBC Universal said two weeks ago that it had struck a deal to buy iVillage, a Web company oriented toward women, for $600 million.

“With the news of NBC’s acquisition of iVillage and the expansion of our internal digital media group, we believe this is a very exciting opportunity to extend our content distribution using new digital applications and technologies, including blogging, podcasting, mobile content and IP video,” Ms. Black said.

The company also hired two executives to oversee the new unit. Chuck Cordray, formerly senior VP for consumer marketing at the TV Guide Publishing Group, was named VP-general manager of Hearst Magazines Digital Media. And Debra Robinson, who had been senior VP-chief information officer at Primedia, was named VP-technology.

Beverly Hills, CA — The Andrew J. Kuehn Foundation has presented the Academy Film Archive with $100,000 for film preservation, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ President Sid Ganis has announced.

The grant will be used to preserve two feature films by Academy Award®-nominated director Otto Preminger – the 1953 Oscar®-nominated film “The Moon Is Blue” and the 1962 drama “Advise & Consent.”

The grant was presented to Ganis by Will Gorges, chairman of the Kuehn Foundation, prior to the premiere screening of the feature documentary “Coming Attractions: The History of the Movie Trailer” on Wednesday, March 15, at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

Andrew J. Kuehn, was a director-producer and advertising executive whose pioneering work included the trailers for such films as “Jaws,” “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” and “Star Wars.” Prior to his death in 2004, Kuehn began initial production on “Coming Attractions.”

The documentary, executive produced by Gorges, is a historical chronicle of movie advertising and marketing techniques used to promote films. “Coming Attractions” has been produced for educational and research purposes and will be distributed to academic and archival institutions worldwide.

Located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study in Hollywood, the Academy Film Archive is dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation, research and exhibition of motion pictures. The Archive’s collection includes more than 100,000 items covering approximately 70,000 individual titles. For more information about the materials held by the Archive, call 310-247-3016.

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©A.M.P.A.S.®

PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. are headed to federal court over new advertising for Coke’s Powerade Option that disputes whether less really is more. PepsiCo’s Stokely-Van Camp unit, the maker of Gatorade, filed the suit yesterday in U.S. district court in Chicago to halt ads for Option that it claims make unsubstantiated comparisons. Pepsi charges that ads for the reduced-calorie Powerade line extension imply it is superior to the full-calorie Gatorade without explaining the differences.

The TV and print campaign via independent Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore., claims that Powerade Option, with its 10 calories for each 8.5-ounce serving, “is better” than Gatorade’s 50 calories per serving. The first 15-second spot in a four-spot series broke March 16 during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and portrays an Amish “drag” race where one horse-drawn buggy carrying 10 bales of hay speeds past a competing buggy carrying 50 bales of hay. A full-page print ad offering a side-by-side comparison of Powerade Option to PepsiCo’s Gatorade Rain is slated to appear March 31 in USA Today.

According to the suit, each of Coke’s commercials makes a “literally false claim” of superiority by saying that the brand “provides a performance advantage while containing fewer calories.”

The filing states: “Coca-Cola is telling consumers that Powerade Option’s fewer calories literally make you go faster. However, Coca-Cola cannot possibly substantiate this overall superiority claim.” The Gatorade side argues that the opposite is true because the added calories in Gatorade provide additional energy while the “negligible calories” in Powerade Option “cannot refuel athletes in a similar manner."

PepsiCo claims that its carbohydrate level is optimal for performance and that it has invested millions of dollars in research, including 100 studies in the past 20 years that prove Gatorade’s efficacy.

"This is not an issue of a refreshment beverage but of a functional beverage," said a Gatorade spokeswoman, noting that while calories aren't inherently bad in sports drinks, carbohydrates are necessary for energy.

"They're making the implication that less is more," she said. "In the case of sports drinks more is more. All else being equal, which it is in this case, they're not suggesting they're using more efficient calories or carbohydrates. They are saying they have one fifth as many carbohydrates as Gatorade."

Gatorade, at $3 billion in sales, controls 79% of the “take home” share in the sports drink segment, according to Beverage Digest. While its volume in 2005 grew 18.2%, Gatorade’s share has fallen in recent years as Powerade’s share has grown to 18.6% of the market. Powerade’s volume grew 34% in 2005, outpacing the sports drink category’s 20% gain.

The battle actually started last fall when Gatorade took its argument to the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau to block the claim that Powerade Option has 80% fewer calories than Gatorade without disclosing the key differences in the two brands. The NAD sided with Gatorade, saying that Coca-Cola could compare Powerade’s lower-calorie line extension to Gatorade if it made clear that “consumers will not receive the energy replacement benefits provided by Gatorade."

“Our ads tell the truth that Powerade Option has fewer calories than Gatorade, and our advertising fulfills the NAD decision and clearly states that calories equal carbohydrate energy,” Coke spokesman Dan Shafer said. “Our advertising tells the truth and we stand by it.”

While Coke may believe it is complying with the NAD by using the term "carbohydrate energy" along with calories, whether that makes it clear to the average consumer that more calories equates to better performance is unproven. The ultimate question is whether the average consumer knows the definition of carbohydrate energy, a term used in sports medicine and athletics.

The Coke spokesman said that because the case has been filed in federal court, PepsiCo now has the burden of providing research to prove its allegations that Coke is making a superiority claim.

Most false claim cases boil down to either a literally false claim or an implied false claim, both of which put the burden on the plaintiff to prove, said advertising law experts.

“They have to prove what the ad is communicating,” said Harold P Weinberger, partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, New York. “They say it’s making a literal claim, but that’s not clear. Pepsi has to show that, in fact, Powerade is not better than Gatorade.” However, should the case be viewed only as an implied claim, then Pepsi will have to first show that an implied claims is being made, and then show that it’s false.

“My argument, if I were Coke, is these are not literally false claims,” he added. “If I’m Coke, I’m going to argue that they [PepsiCo] need a survey. I assume they have some proof that they have some testing comparing the two products.”

"We're clearly up to the task of proving the absolute performance differences between Powerade Option and Gatorade," the Gatorade spokeswoman said. "From our perspective there's no comparison in terms of what our formula provides to consumers in an exercise situation and what their product is incapable of providing."

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options

Workers try to buy newspapers

Dolby will unveil two new ground-breaking broadcast products at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2006 Conference and Expo

DIRECTV is foregoing some growth

Fundraising for Pentagon Memorial Approaches Halfway Milestone

Predator Crashes in Iraq; Operation Swarmer Continues

Hip Hop for Hunger Succeeds and Top Cop Apologizes Publicly

Third position leaves Jenson in second place in the world championship.

Honda Racing F1 Team

A sensational drive from Jenson Button in the Malaysian Grand Prix gave him and the Honda Racing F1 Team their first podium finish of 2006. Jenson’s pace throughout the 56-lap race was strong, which confirmed the potential of this year’s RA106

Rubens Barrichello, by contrast, had a tough race. He started from 20th position, having received a 10-place grid penalty after the team changed his engine yesterday morning, and he climbed steadily through the field to be 10th at the checkered flag.

At the start of the race, Jenson made a clean get-away from the front row to be second into the first corner. A very strong opening stint followed, which resulted in him taking over the lead of the race when Giancarlo Fisichella pitted on lap 17. Jenson made his first pitstop on lap 18, rejoining the race in fourth position.

Rubens also drove a strong opening stint. With a heavy fuel load, he charged through the field to be 11th by lap 19. He then pitted for tyres and fuel on lap 31, rejoining in 11th place, and looked set for a points-scoring finish.

Unfortunately, he was booked by the stewards for speeding in the pitlane and he had to return to the pits on lap 36 for a 10-second stop-go penalty, which ended his chances of a strong finish.

At the front, Jenson remained just a few seconds shy of race leader Fisichella, until he was held up by a slower car on his in-lap, on lap 38. The incident ultimately cost him second place because he emerged from the pitlane behind Fernando Alonso and had to settle for third place.

Honda now has a two-week gap and a test in Vallelunga, Italy, before the next race, the Australian Grand Prix, on 2nd April.

JENSON BUTTON
Position: 3rd / Fastest Lap Time: 1:35.604
“I’m obviously pleased to see us back on the podium but it was the top step that we had in mind, so we are a little disappointed. We want to be winning races and today showed that we are in the fight, but there is still a lot of work to be done before we can achieve that target. Having said that, I was held up by traffic a few times, not least of all by Scott Speed before the second pitstop. Had that not happened, maybe I could have come out of the pits ahead of Alonso. Regardless of that though, we have two weeks and a test in Vallelunga to work through our issues and hopefully we can look forward to better things in Melbourne in two weeks’ time.”

RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Position: 10th / Fastest Lap Time: 1:36.188
“It’s certainly been an eventful weekend and it was disappointing to end it with a stop-go penalty when I was in with a chance of at least coming away with a few points. These past two races have been a bit of a learning curve but I’m sure things will pick up for the next few races and we can start to realize more of the car’s potential.”

GIL DE FERRAN
SPORTING DIRECTOR
“We are happy with our first podium of the year. Jenson fought hard all afternoon but in the end we lacked a little pace and he lost some time in traffic during crucial periods of the race, especially around the second stop. Rubens was on course to be fighting for points, but unfortunately got a 10 second stop-go penalty for a pit lane speed violation. Another good note was the reliability of the engine, which in its second race showed no problems in dealing with the hot conditions we have encountered in Malaysia. We are certainly encouraged by our performance so far this season, but at the same time are determined to make further improvements and bring us closer to the fight. Let’s see what Australia brings."

SHUHEI NAKAMOTO
MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBER – HONDA RACING F1 TEAM ENGINEERING DIRECTOR – HONDA RACING DEVELOPMENT
“Aside from the problem with Rubens yesterday, which necessitated an engine change, we have been encouraged by the engine performance in the first two races. We have two weeks to improve for the next race in Australia and will be working hard in testing and with the data we have gathered here to do our best for Melbourne.”


SUPER AGURI FORMULA 1 Team

Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide drove a solid race for the SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM in Sepang today. During what was only the team’s second grand prix, they were able to challenge for position and contribute to an exciting, action-packed Malaysian race.

Takuma Sato
Position: 14th / Fastest Lap Time: 1:40.199
“Great team work has meant that we have been able to improve on our pitstops since Bahrain and as a result I lost no time and was able to get back into the race and actually challenge a few cars. Of course we struggle on the high downforce corners with our pace, but I had another exciting race and at least we managed to finish the race once again. We still have a lot of hard work to do if we are to catch up to our nearest rivals, but we showed good teamwork today and I am very happy and proud of the team.”

Yuji Ide
Position: DNF / Fastest Lap Time:1:42.833
“The balance of the car was not good from the start and I had the same mechanical problem as I had in Bahrain. The problem got worse as I continued the race and gradually the car's pace got slower and I could not accelerate on the straight, then I stopped. I really wanted to finish the race, so my goal is to finish the race in Australia and then move on from there.”

Aguri Suzuki
Team Principal
"I think that the team did a great job during the pitstops and Takuma had a great race. He made a good start today and had better performance than we thought we could achieve from the current chassis. Unfortunately Yuji had a similar mechanical problem to the one he suffered in Bahrain and stopped once again before the checkered flag - but I think that he drove very well today. I am very happy that we have completed our second race and I am very much looking forward to traveling for round three in Australia next week."

With four years remaining before the next Olympic Winter Games, the ground has been broken at the site of Vancouver’s Olympic Village, Southeast False Creek. During the Games, the Village will be home to some 2,800 athletes and officials; in the long-term, it will be converted to serve as a mixed-use community, serving as an example for sustainable living.

“The Vancouver Olympic Village will be the ‘home from home’ for athletes and officials from around the world and we intend to make it as memorable an experience as possible for these special guests,” said Jack Poole, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the XXI Olympic Winter Games – Vancouver 2010 (VANOC). “Equally as important, the Village housing will be developed afterwards into a vibrant new community for more than 2,000 residents following the Games.”

Consistent with the approach to Games organisation encouraged by the IOC from bid phase onwards, the Olympic Village is being developed in such a way as to prove a model of sustainability after the Games. Bicycle lanes, footpaths, and easy access to public transport will reduce reliance on car travel. Green roofs will cover 50% of the development and many new ideas are being tested on the site.

“This is a day of celebration,” said Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Southeast False Creek will be a model community of economic, social and environmental sustainability, and will contribute to our reputation as one of the world's most livable cities.” The City of Vancouver is responsible for building the Village, in cooperation with VANOC.

The Southeast False Creek site forms part of Vancouver’s metropolitan inner harbour, providing a waterfront location and easy access to the Vancouver ice-sport competition venues. Covering 55,700 square metres and comprising a total of 600 accommodation units, the project represents the final step in False Creek’s redevelopment, a project started in the 1970s.

Vancouver will host the XXI Olympic Winter Games from 12 to 28 February 2010. The mountain events will take place in Whistler, which will also host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from 12 to 21 March 2010.

March 16, 2006--Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE: DLM) today announced that Del Monte Corporation, its wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement to acquire certain pet product assets, including the Milk-Bone brand ("Milk-Bone"), from Kraft Foods Global, Inc. for approximately $580 million. The effective cost to Del Monte of the acquisition will be offset by approximately $125 million of future tax benefits which Del Monte expects to achieve as a result of the acquisition.

"We are extremely pleased to add Milk-Bone to our portfolio of leading pet brands," said Richard G. Wolford, Del Monte's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Milk-Bone, with its strong brand position in the fast-growing and dynamic pet snacks category, will significantly strengthen our overall competitiveness in the pet business. Importantly, it is another key step forward for Del Monte as we deliver against our overall strategic commitments and our execution of Project Brand.

This transaction will meaningfully improve the overall margin and growth potential of the entire Company. Further, the acquisition builds on the momentum generated with our recently announced agreements to acquire Meow Mix and divest Del Monte's private label soup and infant feeding businesses, resulting in a greater branded focus of the entire portfolio."

Project Brand is Del Monte's previously announced strategic plan to enhance shareholder value by increasing the branded focus of its product portfolio and accelerating innovation-driven organic growth in higher margin categories.

Milk-Bone is a leader in dog snacks, generating revenues of approximately $180 million in calendar year 2005 (53 weeks). The acquisition complements Del Monte's portfolio of pet products in dog snacks, a segment which has grown at an average annual rate of approximately 10% since fiscal 2001. As a result of the transaction, Del Monte's pet business will have an improved platform for developing and promoting innovative and successful products.

As noted above, the Company expects to realize tax benefits with a net present value of approximately $125 million associated with the amortization of intangible assets as a result of the acquisition. In fiscal 2007, the Company expects the acquisition to be neutral to slightly accretive to earnings before integration expense. When incorporating the impact of integration expense, the Company expects that the transaction will be dilutive to earnings in fiscal 2007. In fiscal 2008, the Company expects the transaction to be meaningfully accretive to earnings. Additionally, since Milk-Bone has gross margins well in excess of Del Monte's current overall average, the Company anticipates that the acquisition will increase Del Monte's overall gross margin.

Del Monte expects to fund the Milk-Bone acquisition with additional debt, and in order to complete this transaction, Del Monte has received financing commitments for senior debt financing in an amount sufficient to fund the purchase price. Assuming that most of Del Monte's post-acquisition cash flow will be used to pay down debt, the Company expects debt levels to return to the Company's current and targeted range within the next three years.

"With its 100-year heritage, Milk-Bone is one of the most trusted and widely recognized brands in the pet products industry and joins our already strong pet portfolio, which includes such brands as Kibbles 'n Bits, 9-Lives, Snausages and Pup-Peroni, as we focus on enhancing the emotional connection between pets and their families," continued Mr. Wolford.

Milk-Bone's iconic brand equity and focus on oral care complements the positioning of our current snack portfolio equities, and we see great opportunities to utilize our innovation capabilities and capitalize on key pet trends, including health and wellness of pets. We believe Del Monte brings real value to this brand. We will work to energize the equity with increased investment in Milk-Bone, bring effective innovation to the product base and utilize our R&D and manufacturing expertise in pet snacks. We also plan to build in-store momentum with our extensive pet category knowledge and will utilize our U.S. retail go-to-market platform, including strong customer relationships, to drive growth in this brand. We are looking forward to Milk-Bone becoming a core part of our pet products offering to our customers and consumers, and believe it will benefit from Del Monte's strategic focus going forward."

Since 1908, when the first Milk-Bone Original dog biscuit was sold, Milk-Bone has grown to become a leading brand in pet snacks. Kraft Foods has accomplished this through marketing a complete line of quality dog biscuits, chewy treats and crunchy treats that excite dogs and their pet parents, and Milk-Bone currently has a leading brand awareness score in dog snacks. Key products include Milk-Bone Original Biscuits, Milk-Bone Grillin' Bites chewy treats, Milk-Bone Bakery Bites Cookies for Dogs, Milk-Bone Mar-O Snacks crunchy treats, and Milk-Bone Original Dog Treats. Milk-Bone products are distributed nationally, with the majority of sales originating from the grocery and mass merchandiser channels. Del Monte believes there are opportunities to expand Milk-Bone's business in other key customer segments where Del Monte has a greater presence.

Del Monte Foods expects the transaction to close in fiscal 2007, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and antitrust approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The financial results of Milk-Bone are expected to be reported within the Pet Products reportable segment.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Banc of America Securities LLC are acting as financial advisers to Del Monte Corporation.

Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded and private label food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating over $3 billion in net sales in fiscal 2005. With a powerful portfolio of brands including Del Monte(R), Contadina(R), StarKist(R), S&W(R), College Inn(R), 9Lives(R), Kibbles 'n Bits(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Snausages(R), Pounce(R) and Meaty Bone(R), Del Monte products are found in nine out of ten American households. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE:DLM), visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.

New consumer research from the Leichtman Research Group, finds that nearly three quarters of VOD users who have a DVR from their cable company strongly agree that their cable service is better because they have both Video-on-Demand (VOD) and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).

Just 15% feel that they don't need a DVR because they have on-demand service, and 19% feel that they don't need on-demand service because they have a DVR.

Nearly two-thirds of these key high-end subscribers are very satisfied with their cable operator, and few report that they are likely to switch providers. While over 14% of cable subscribers in the markets studied say that they are likely to switch from their current cable provider in the next six months, fewer than 6% of digital cable subscribers who have used VOD and have a DVR say that they are likely to switch.

Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc.,said "Usage of VOD services continues to grow, with between 55%-83% of digital cable subscribers having used VOD in the four markets that were studied. For consumers (as well as providers), however, it does not come down to an either/or decision for DVR and VOD, but rather how the combination of the two creates the most compelling on-demand offering."

Among VOD users who have a DVR:

Mean spending on cable TV service is $76.65 per month (43% above average)

78% also get high-speed Internet from cable

Mean annual household income is 42% above average

65% of current digital cable subscribers have used VOD

There are few differences in overall satisfaction and likelihood to switch between digital cable VOD users and non-users

However, just 7% of Premium-on-Demand users say that they are likely to switch compared to 15% of all other digital cable subscribers.

Just 16% of current VOD users report that they would be very likely to pay $0.99 to get a primetime program on-demand

A U.S. soldier was killed in Baghdad today, and the Defense Department has identified two previous casualties. A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed by small-arms fire today while patrolling in western Baghdad. No further details were available. The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of the family. The Defense Department also identified two soldiers who were killed while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson, 21, of St. Louis; and Spc. Carlos M. Gonzalez, 22, of Middletown, N.Y., died in Tikrit, Iraq, March 16, when a mortar round detonated. Both soldiers were assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment, 501st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Beverly Hills, CA — Fast food, oil, politics, press, retail giants, sexual abuse, war and filmmaking will be among the topics of discussion at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Documentaries of Dissent, Part II” on Friday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Hosted by Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan, the evening will feature film excerpts and discussions with Academy Award®-nominated director Kirby Dick (“Twist of Faith”), Academy Award-nominated director/producer Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”), producer Kathleen Glynn (“Bowling for Columbine,” the 2002 Oscar® winner for Best Documentary Feature), producer/director Robert Greenwald (“Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War” and “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price”), and director Jehane Noujaim (“Control Room”).

Documentaries questioning the status quo have been an integral part of culture for generations, giving film artists and audiences a means to express their particular, and sometimes contentious, points of view.

“Documentaries of Dissent, Part II,” a sequel to the Academy’s 2004 historical overview, will spotlight some of the filmmakers who exemplify alternative voices in recent documentaries and examine the methods they employed to make their voices heard. Theatrical documentaries have gained a newfound popularity, in many cases because of their willingness to challenge the status quo.

The program is being presented under the banner of the Academy's John Huston Lecture on Documentary Films, which annually provides an opportunity for established documentarians to discuss their work and the field of documentary filmmaking. The lecture is named in honor of the director, screenwriter and actor whose fourteen Academy Award nominations in the three disciplines included wins for directing and writing of "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Huston's documentary work during service in World War II produced three portraits, "Report from the Aleutians (1943), "The Battle of San Pietro" (1944), and "Let There Be Light" (1946).

Tickets to “Documentaries of Dissent, Part II” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Free parking is provided in the garages located at 8920 and 9025 Wilshire Boulevard. For more information, call 310-247-3000 ext 111.

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

CBS, CNN and those networks skewing to a cufflinks and cologne generation--your older demographics may still prove valuable.

There is the long-held belief that older TV viewers--40- and 50-year-old--rarely change brand loyalty. But baby boomer expert Ken Dychtwald and his Age Wave research company says boomers are, in fact, more open to new things such as new cell phone technology, Internet shopping, and other products

He told a group of marketing executives in Los Angeles yesterday that much is still unknown about baby boomers. But research says whatever they are doing, they are not stagnant about their habits. In fact, they change.

Aiding to their appeal is the fact that baby boomers have more money than any other TV viewer group. No matter. TV networks focuses on 18- to 49-year-olds. This has little to do with any viewer group's disposable spending habits and more with advertisers' historical budgets that don't budge--in part directed by their media agencies.

Their argument is this: older TV viewers and baby boomers see themselves as young. They don't want to be marketed to as older TV viewers. Then again, young TV viewers don't want to be marketed to as young TV viewers.

In effect, no one likes who they are.

What are we left with? Marketing by insult, or by restriction.

Lifetime tells viewers it is "Television for Women." That's a specific charge - and doesn't leave much room to expand viewership. As a man, then, it's hard to watch that network since I'm told I'm not welcome. TNT says "We know drama." Hey, I'll be the judge of that.

The WB doesn't fall into this trap. It doesn't call itself "Television for high-school- and college-age women and men." So I feel I can watch it--sometimes--without feeling I shouldn't be there. And, yes, that is a young-skewing network--just the thing Dychtwald wants advertisers to get away from.

Perhaps we should look at the opposite: Maybe "60 Minutes" has a better track record of attracting young viewers to its predominantly older-looking TV news program. The last I checked, "60 Minutes" doesn't call itself "The old-fart news program."

If Dychtwald is right and boomers are not brand loyal, then some creative or media executives must have figured it out--even from a mistake.

If not, there is a conspiracy and someone could call in Oliver Stone or Michael Moore to do a movie and blow the lid off why some 44-year-old executive isn't getting a targeted TV commercial from Adidas urging him to switch to hip-hop gym shorts from his beloved Nike brand.

Fast-growing market for mobile games

Dialing into the fast-growing market for mobile games, a San Francisco-based startup is poised to unveil a new service on Monday that it hopes will make television viewers as hooked to their cell phones as they are to remote controls.

AirPlay Network Inc. said it will introduce a lineup of cell phone games tied to live television broadcasts. While watching TV, subscribers could use their cell phones to compete against others in "real time" by predicting plays in sports, choosing winners on reality TV shows or picking answers on game shows.

The first product, "AirPlay Sports," is due for release in the fall to coincide with the start of the professional football season. An NFL-related AirPlay game, for instance, would ask cell phone quarterbacks to predict the offense's next moves -- a pass or a run -- as the real game unfolds live on television.

Other games tied to reality TV and game shows will be launched next, according to the company.

AirPlay subscribers would have to use an Internet-connected cell phone to play. They would download games to their handsets directly through AirPlay's Web site or through a partnering wireless carrier. The subscription fee has not been disclosed yet.

"We're creating a multiplayer experience and a social network synched with television," said AirPlay CEO Morgan Guenther, a former president at TiVo Inc. The idea, he said, is to transform TV from a passive pastime to an engaging, competitive experience.

Guenther contends the concept differs from earlier failed attempts to make TV interactive because AirPlay uses the ever-ready cell phone as the interface instead of an Internet-connected television. "Chances are, the cell phone is right next to them already," he said.

It also factors in the social aspects of gaming that have drawn millions of players to compete for rankings on community-like scoreboards, according to Guenther. Other game companies, such as Digital Chocolate Inc., have also introduced multiplayer-type games for the cell phone.

AirPlay is backed by $4 million from Redpoint Ventures and cell phone technology provider Qualcomm Inc.

Workers from 12 newspapers that are being sold by McClatchy Co. are pressing ahead with efforts to acquire the papers, which include The Philadelphia Inquirer and San Jose Mercury News, union representatives said on Monday.

The newspapers were part of McClatchy Co.'s $4.5 billion deal earlier this month to buy Knight Ridder Inc. (To help finance the deal, McClatchy is selling 12 of the 32 Knight Ridder daily newspapers it acquired.

Union representatives from those papers on Monday released a statement that said workers had an "unprecedented opportunity to have a direct voice" in outcome of the sale by joining with buyout firm The Yucaipa Companies to create an employee-owned company.

"Employee-ownership offers us a chance to create a place where employees want to work and invest," said the statement from the Newspaper Guild-CWA. The statement was adopted during a meeting on March 18.

It added that "a partnership with The Yucaipa Companies will allow us to reach our greatest potential as an innovative media company" and said it was working with Yucaipa "to buy and improve" the papers.

Yucaipa is a Los Angeles -based investment firm owned by billionaire grocery magnate Ron Burkle.The union and Yucaipa teamed up in February to consider the purchase of some of the Knight Ridder papers.

Besides interest from employees, the papers are also expected to catch the attention of private equity groups and other publishers.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) today announced that it will unveil two new ground-breaking broadcast products at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2006 Conference and Expo, April 22-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (booth SU2923).

The Dolby^® DP600 Program Optimizer is Dolby's innovative new system for automated file-based loudness analysis and correction, as well as faster-than-real-time encoding and decoding of Dolby technologies. The company's new Cat No. 561 Dolby Digital Plus OEM Encoder Module is the first Dolby Digital Plus encoder designed for integration into third-party manufacturer's audio/video products. The Cat. No. 561 gives broadcasters real-time, multistream, and multichannel encoding for Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus formats.

In addition to the newest Dolby products, Dolby Media Producer will also be showcased at NAB. Dolby Media Producer is Dolby's new suite of professional audio mastering software used in the creation of DVD and high-definition disc media. The company also will highlight many of its other leading digital entertainment solutions: Dolby E and Dolby Digital for HDTV program production and distribution, Dolby Pro Logic^® II for HD RadioT, and Dolby Digital Cinema.

"Dolby's goal is to provide technologies that make it easier to deliver the best possible entertainment experience," said Rocky Graham, Director of Broadcast Products, Dolby Laboratories. "Our newest products give the industry the tools it needs to bring audio into the new generation of broadcast and packaged media."

The Dolby DP600 Program Optimizer is an innovative and flexible product that offers the world's first intelligent file-based audio loudness analysis and correction system. Compatible with many of the most common broadcast media file formats in use today, the DP600 expands upon the technology developed for the award winning Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter with Dialogue IntelligenceT. Terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasters will now have the ability to automatically normalize the loudness of all of their file-based programming and commercials without impacting the original dynamic range. Programs can be normalized either by correcting metadata values or scaling the audio signal itself to a target loudness level.

The system also offers the option of faster-than-real-time, file-based encoding and decoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby E content, as well as efficient transcoding between the formats.

The first Dolby Digital Plus encoder module designed for integration into audio/video products from third-party manufacturers, the Dolby Cat. No. 561 offers real-time, multistream, and multichannel encoding of both Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus formats. This module will also allow for high-quality transcoding of Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus bitstreams, and Dolby plans to include Dolby E decoding in subsequent software updates. By incorporating the Cat. No. 561, broadcast equipment manufacturers can provide their customers with a comprehensive integrated audio solution, saving equipment costs as well as valuable rack space.

A professional suite of software DVD and high-definition disc mastering tools, Dolby Media Producer includes Dolby Media Encoder, Dolby Media Decoder, and Dolby Media Tools. The suite provides content creators with comprehensive audio mastering capabilities for packaged media applications. These tools support encoding and decoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and MLP LosslessT for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc and today's DVD-Video and DVD-Audio formats. Dolby Media Tools offers bitstream and metadata editing features to save costly re-encoding of existing files.

Dolby Digital Plus is the next-generation audio technology for all high-definition programming and media. It combines the efficiency to meet future broadcast demands with the power and flexibility to realize the full audio potential of the high-definition experience. Built on Dolby Digital, the multichannel audio standard for DVD and HD broadcasts worldwide, Dolby Digital Plus was designed for the delivery formats of the future, but remains fully compatible with all current A/V receivers.

Also at NAB, Dolby will host Metadata Made Simple, a twice daily booth seminar that will focus on best practices for setting metadata when working with Dolby's industry-standard technologies for broadcast audio: Dolby Digital and Dolby E. As a recognized leader in digital cinema technology, Dolby will also participate in panel discussions within the NAB Digital Cinema Summit on Saturday, April 22, including Equipping Facilities for D-Cinema: A Practical Guide and The Digital Cinema Rollout Experience to Date.

To learn more about Dolby's products, technologies, and sponsored events at NAB 2006, please visit www.dolby.com\events\NAB2006.

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) develops and delivers products and technologies that make the entertainment experience more realistic and immersive. For four decades Dolby has been at the forefront of defining high-quality audio and surround sound in cinema, broadcast, home audio systems, cars, DVDs, headphones, games, televisions, and personal computers. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the company has entertainment industry liaison offices in New York and Los Angeles, and licensing liaison offices in London, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong,and Tokyo. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

Dolby, Pro Logic, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Dialogue Intelligence and MLP Lossless are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. HD Radio is a trademark of iBiquity Digital Corporation. S06/17190 DLB-G

DIRECTV is foregoing some growth to get more high quality subscribers," says Kagan Research associate analyst Christy Rickard. That strategy is designed to raise average revenue per unit (ARPU), reduce subscriber churn and hold the line on subscriber acquisition costs (SAC).

Murdoch's News Corp. acquired a controlling 34% stake in DIRECTV's parent in late 2003, and is applying its expertise gleaned from operating other DTH platforms: BSkyB in the UK,STAR TV across Asia and Sky Italia.

That means pushing DVRs harder, which are vehicles to offer true VOD by having select movie downloads stored on DVRs available for playback with VOD-like functionality. "That aims at cable TV's 'sweet spot' of VOD capability," notes Rickard, although the DIRECTV download/store system will have far fewer VOD titles available than does fixed-wire cable VOD.

DIRECTV's strategy is paying off are evident in its $75.53 for Q4 '05, up a sharp 5% for the quarter alone with more growth expected. By 2008, DIRECTV is forecasting $80-$81 in ARPU. In contrast, rival DISH Network generated a $57.81 for 2005 versus $69.71 for DIRECTV in the same full-year period.

The offset in DIRECTV's drive for so-called "quality" subscribers is that rival DISH Network, with $8.4 bil. in revenue and 12 mil. subs, posted more net subscriber additions in Q4 '05-- 330,000 vs. DIRECTV's 200,000. Both platforms were roughly even in gross additions, but DIRECTV's emphasis on high spending subs resulted in shedding of low spenders in the quarter. DIRECTV's average monthly churn rose to 1.70% in 2005, from 1.59% in 2004. But DIRECTV's average $642 in SAC, which fell $1 from 2004, comes in well below the $688 average at DISH, up 12.7% during the same period.

Among News Corp.'s other big changes was moving equipment sales to emphasize leasing vs. DIRECTV's prior strategy of selling equipment to customers. Leasing lowers upfront expenses for consumers, enables DIRECTV to capitalize the expenditures spreading out impact on its earnings, and lets DIRECTV more easily infuse technological upgrades.

All those bells and whistles make DIRECTV more competitive with cable TV, which still has a big advantage with its high-capacity broadband connection— unlike wireless satellite TV. Murdoch is known to be devising a "return path" to plug that gap, such as investing $1 bil. in a terrestrial network of high speed wireless antennas, possibly in a joint venture with DISH

Fundraising for a memorial to the 184 people killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack on the Pentagon is nearing the halfway point in raising the almost $21 million needed to begin construction. More than $10.2 million has been raised for the project, Jim Laychak, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, told American Forces Press Service. Construction is set to begin later this year, he said.

"It's amazing to see the progress we've made in the last 12 months," said Laychak, whose brother, David, was an Army civilian employee killed in the attack. "We've gone from paper to prototype, and now to the early stages of construction activities." During the next two years, fundraisers will focus on corporations, foundations and other large donors, with hopes of collecting donations of $150,000 or more, Laychak said. Booz Allen Hamilton, which lost three people in the attack, recently donated $450,000 to the project, and BearingPoint, Inc., recently donated $150,000, he said.

While focusing on larger donations, Laychak said smaller, private gifts are important as well He noted the success of an option offered on the Pentagon Memorial Fund Web site that enables people to donate $9 a month for 11 months. "We want all Americans to feel that they are a part of this effort," he said. "This will be a historic memorial." In addition to the rest of the construction costs, fundraisers plan to raise an additional $10 million endowment to provide care and maintenance of the site, Laychak said.

The Pentagon Memorial Park will be built on a two-acre site at the Pentagon, just outside the spot where terrorists crashed the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 into the building. The design includes 184 illuminated benches representing each of the victims killed, with lighted reflecting pools beneath each bench. Concept designer Julie Beckman called these "the most personal component and heart" of the project. While fundraising continues, designers are fine-tuning their plans. "The designs for details of the memorial park, such as the lighting, landscaping and water systems, are nearing completion," Laychak said. "And we are on the verge of breaking ground to prepare the site for the construction of the memorial."

The goal is to have the project completed by fall 2008, he said. When completed, the memorial will offer a lasting tribute to those killed in the Sept. 11 Pentagon attack, Laychak said. He noted that it will serve as a place to remember those who died and to bring comfort and a sense of reflection for those left behind. Abraham Scott, whose wife, Janice, was killed when Flight 77 crashed into her Pentagon office, said he looks forward to the groundbreaking and construction of the memorial to honor her and the others whose lives were cut short in the terror attack. "Those who died were not just numbers," he said. "They were people with families." For more information about or to donate to the Pentagon Memorial Fund, visit the organization's Web site. Related Sites: Pentagon Memorial Fund [http://www.pentagonmemorial.net/site/PageServer]

Hip Hop for Hunger Succeeds and Top Cop Apologizes Publicly

Hip Hop for Hunger came off without a hitch to a sell out crowd of 3000 in Fresno, with only 5 days of selling prior to the event due to a venue change from Visalia.  Hundreds were turned away at the door.  There were no incidents at all. 

Hip Hop for Hunger was originally scheduled for Visalia as a benefit to Visalia Emergency Aid.  Reel-Talk Entertainment was featuring up-and-coming Hip Hop and R & B artists focused on creating a positive image for Hip Hop while raising funds to prevent homelessness and care for the local needy. After concerns of potential violence and comments by interim police chief Bob Williams, Visalia Emergency Aid withdrew as beneficiary, leaving Thompson with no contract.

Visalia’s top cop, interim police chief Bob Williams issued a two paragraph letter of apology on March 17^th, the same day the event’s promoter and supporters marched from the Visalia Convention Center to Main Street and City Hall.  Both events, originated from the canceling of Hip Hop for Hunger at the Visalia Convention Center a week prior to the event.

“We marched to bring togetherness to the community” shared Bonnie Thompson of Reel Talk Entertainment.  The march, of about 40 people through downtown Visalia, carried signs saying “One color one community”, “Hip Hop is not a crime”, “End racism”.  

Williams’s apology letter was regarding “inappropriate” comments made at a meeting with promoters and those involved in the benefit.  The letter states, “I have subsequently met with the police department staff and made it clear to them that my comments were simply wrong….It is to the community that I now apologize.”   Williams said it is his job to unite, not divide, the community.

One has to credit interim police chief Williams for apologizing to the community a week after the event.   After all, the Visalia community was the biggest loser.  It makes one wonder how different the letter might have been if there had been any violence at all. 

“The apology is a good first step and a commendable move toward understanding”, said attorney Douglas Hurt, who represents Visalia promoter Bonnie Thompson of Reel-Talk Entertainment.

The unfortunate part of all is this, is without a venue change, Bonnie Thompson, CEO of Reel Talk Entertainment, estimates that Visalia Emergency Aid, the original benefactor, would have benefited over $30,000.  With the change of venue, due to Visalia’s concern of potential violence, the biggest loser of all is Visalia’s poorest which were to benefit.  Now, with the additional costs, Thompson hopes to break even.  She is still awaiting figures from the Fresno Convention Center, but if fortunate enough, monies are planned to be split between the Poverello House, a well known Fresno charity for the hungry and homeless, and a yet unnamed church in Visalia, as it started in that community. 

Plans for a second annual Hip Hop for Hunger are being considered.  Williams shared that Hip Hop concerts will be performed in Visalia.  Thompson is hoping they will consider her as a promoter for the next Hip Hop event.

Posted by mbn at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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MONTEBUBBLISM: Do you think if a puppy could name itself it would choose the name Grand Cru Champagne Cassis.

My friends call me Monte Bubbles.

CBS's ROCK STAR

 Car Care World Expo 2006:The size of it was amazing

Xytech Systems Corporation announced today that it will be introducing a number of new developments

Southwest Airlines

Academy to Present Centennial Salute to Janet Gaynor

NEW HUMMER H3^x TO LAUNCH IN MID-2006

Superman Returns:400 licensing partners worldwide

Phishing Scam

Rod Pampling Wins

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

ROCK STAR

CBS's ROCK STAR (working title) TO SELECT LEAD SINGER FOR THE NEW BAND -- SUPERNOVA -- FORMED BY DRUMMER TOMMY LEE (Motley Crüe) WITH GUITARIST JASON NEWSTED (Metallica) AND GUITARIST GILBY CLARKE (Guns N' Roses)

New Lead Singer To Be Chosen From 16 Hopefuls When The Second Edition Of CBS's ROCK STAR Returns Summer 2006 .New Album To Be Produced By Butch Walker (Rolling Stone Magazine's 2005 "Hot Producer Of The Year")

Supernova will feature drummer Tommy Lee (Motley Crüe), Jason Newsted (Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses). The second edition of CBS's ROCK STAR will premiere on the Network this summer.will feature drummer Tommy Lee (), Jason Newsted () and Gilby Clarke (). The second edition of CBS's ROCK STAR will premiere on the Network this summer.

After the winning singer is selected on CBS's ROCK STAR, Supernova will record an original album, to be co-written and produced by Butch Walker (hit songwriter/producer for Avril Lavigne, Pink) that will be released in the fall before the band embarks on a world tour starting in early 2007.

"I've toured with both Gilby and Jason. They're incredible musicians and I've always wanted to play with them," said Tommy Lee.  "Starting a new band with old friends on worldwide television is going to be a blast, and we're going to pull out all the stops to find the most charismatic and musically talented lead singer to front Supernova. I love breaking the rules."

Butch Walker will join the project as co-writer and producer of the new album. "Working with top-notch musicians from legendary bands who want to create terrific music is always an enjoyable experience. I'm looking forward to whoever the new lead singer is going to be so the guys can start corrupting their mind…!"

Dave Navarro and Brooke Burke will return as hosts, with Burke returning to the stage for introductions and Navarro returning to the judges' couch for input and evaluations.  "Last year, doing ROCK STAR: INXS was the greatest summer job of my life," Navarro affirmed.  "This year, I'm on the couch with my friends Tommy Lee, Gilby Clarke and Jason Newstead as they choose Supernova's lead singer."

This summer's edition of CBS's ROCK STAR will also feature some format twists with a different music celebrity or rock legend each week. Said Navarro, "Friends of mine, like Slash, Macy Gray, Moby and Rob Zombie, will join us and throw in their two cents about who should stay and who should go." 

In the first season of CBS's ROCK STAR, rock sensation INXS found their new lead singer in Canadian heartthrob J.D. Fortune.  Since the show, INXS has taken to the studio and the road, releasing their massive hit single "Pretty Vegas" and selling out every concert in their North American tour.  Their new CD, "Switch," debuted in the Billboard Top 20, and is currently going gold and platinum in countries around the world.

"Millions dream of becoming a rock star…our show actually makes that happen," said Mark Burnett, creator and executive producer of CBS's ROCK STAR. "The winner of CBS's ROCK STAR will not only play in huge stadiums before sold out crowds, they will do it alongside legendary musicians from three of America's biggest, all-time rock bands who have sold a combined total of a quarter of a billion albums: Motley Crüe, Guns N' Roses and Metallica. 'Fronting Supernova is the ultimate rock ‘n' roll dream and it's about to come true."

Tommy Lee rose to stardom as a founding member of Motley Crüe. One of the most successful rock bands in history, Motley Crüe has sold over 40 million albums while also becoming the poster boys of rock star decadence. Most recently, Lee released his third solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, and announced a documentary project with award-winning filmmaker Bruce Sinofsky. His candid 2004 memoir, Tommyland, landed on The New York Times best-seller list.

Jason Newsted is a six-time Grammy winner and was a longtime member of the legendary band Metallica, one of the most successful musical acts of all time (100 million albums sold worldwide). After his departure from Metallica, Newsted created the band Echobrain and, in 2003, he began touring with Ozzy Osbourne while also playing bass for the iconic techno-thrash band, Voivod.

Gilby Clarke was the guitarist for the iconic rock band, Guns N' Roses (90 million albums sold), traveling on their legendary and infamous three-year "Use Your Illusion" world tour. He also worked with Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Beck, MC5 and on the Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert. He was a recipient of the MTV Video Vanguard Award.

Butch Walker is best known as the songwriter, musician and producer behind hit songs for Avril Lavigne, Pink, Bowling for Soup and for Tommy Lee's recent solo album, Tommyland: The Ride. His song "My Happy Ending" went to Number One for Avril Lavigne and was the key track in her nine-time platinum album Under My Skin, leading to him being named by Rolling Stone magazine as "Hot Producer of the Year" in 2005. Pink's new album, I'm Not Dead, features two Butch Walker compositions.

CBS' ROCK STAR is produced by Mark Burnett Productions.  Mark Burnett, David Goffin, Lisa Hennessy, Dave Navarro, Tommy Lee and Carl Stubner are executive producers.  Conrad Riggs and Eden Gaha are co-executive producers

Car Care World Expo 2006:The size of it was amazing

My impressions of it was that I had no idea that car washing was such a large industry. We were graciously allowed into the show by its organizers and when I went into the buidling I saw a exo so grand hat you could not evebn see the end of he buidling.

There were displays the size of actual car washes in the building for demonstrating purposes.

The vendors were very friendly. Willing to answer any and all questions asked.

Following is some things we were told that you might find of interest, I did

The International Carwash Association is committed to providing Car Care World Expo 2006 attendees with the latest products and services on display, as well as unparalleled, face-to-face interaction with the vendor community in one convenient location.

Car Care World Expo 2006 hosted more than 400 vendors, spanning more than 150,000 net square feet of exhibit space. At no other event will you get access to the breadth of products and services that your operation needs, regardless of whether you own or operate a car wash, detail business, fast lube, petroleum marketing, convenience store or are just getting into the industry.

More then 400 vendors

160,000 square feet of exhibit space

100 new products

80 first time exhibitors

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 138 million registered automobiles drive the roads of America today. Counting buses and large trucks, there are 230 million vehicles in all. That's a lot of necessary washing!

Even though an estimated 100,000 professional car washes exist in North America, the fact is that most vehicles aren't kept as clean as they need to be, which results in the loss of billions of consumer dollars.

More than $24 billion a year is spent battling automobile corrosion damage, a cost absorbed by consumers in three ways: Funding auto manufacturer efforts to research corrosion-resistant paints and coatings, fixing damage caused by road or sea salt, or corrosion-related depreciation of cars.

Research shows that 52% of American car owners wash their cars less than once a month - and 15% never wash their cars. An estimated 37 million cars even smell because of interior garbage, according to a consumer survey conducted by the International Carwash Association (ICA).

Automatic and self-service car washes use water efficient equipment, such as computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps, to clean cars thoroughly while conserving water.

Professional car washes use an average of 32 gallons of water per vehicle. If this sounds like a lot of water, consider this: Washing your car at home can use up to twice this amount. In fact, some studies show that washing your car in the driveway can use up to 10 times more water than taking your car to a professional car wash.

The Clean Water Act, established by the government in 1972, mandates professional car washes to pipe dirty water to treatment facilities or into state-approved drainage facilities.

Quite the opposite, home car washes pollute the environment as soap and road grime (oil, tar, dirt) end up in storm sewers that flow into lakes, streams and rivers. Many North American cities have even banned driveway or parking lot charity car-washing events, which result in soapy discharge and wasted water. Increasingly, professional car washes are considered as better site options for such events.

One size does not fit all when it comes to professional car washes. Three options to get your car clean are Conveyor, In-Bay Automatic, and Self-Service.

When you think of professional car washes, conveyor car washes probably are what you envision. Once a conveyor belt catches the wheel, it pulls your car through a whirlwind of washing action - soft cloths swirl, water sprays, and a dryer may even slowly roll over the car before emerging from the car wash tunnel.

At exterior-only conveyor car washes, the driver sits in the car while the belt pulls it through the car wash tunnel. No interior services are offered. Two types of washing technologies can be offered: friction, which involves equipment touching the car to clean it, or frictionless, which relies upon high-pressure nozzles for a touch-free professional wash.

Also, detailing services can restore virtually any car back to showroom quality, or close to it, even if your car has been exposed to a troop of messy kids for years. The interior is thoroughly scoured: carpets, floor mats and seats are cleaned, shampooed and deodorized, and panels and vents are dusted and conditioned. The exterior is hand washed and buffed to removes scratches. A wax and/or polish follows. An appointment can range from two hours to all day. To maintain the value of your car, professional details are recommended at least once a year, preferably twice.

As an industry driven membership association, International Carwash Association's primary mission is to serve the needs of the car wash and detailing industry's professionals and to represent their interests. To accomplish this mission, the International Carwash Association has created a number of beneficial programs designed to assist members with all aspects of running a successful professional car wash and detail shop. One annual dues payment covers all the information International Carwash Association provides to help you grow your business.

As the summer vacation season begins, a majority of U.S. families will get into their cars and embark on escapes that range from big cities and giant amusement parks to open skies and national parks. Indeed, if past trends persist, eight in 10 American families will motor to their vacation destination, adding 624 miles to their speedometer each way, estimates the U.S. government. AAA predicts that the number of motorists this summer will increase over last summer. "U.S. travelers will spend a lot of time inside their vehicles this summer," notes Mark Thorsby, executive director of the International Carwash Association. "While the entire family is packed in the car for a road trip, it's important to keep the car clean to make the trip even more enjoyable." According to a recent survey conducted by the International Carwash Association, half of all car owners wash their cars less than once a month and another 16 percent say they never wash their cars.

Those statistics, combined with the increased number of cars taking to the roads this summer on trips, can add up to a lot of dirty cars on America's roads. Thorsby offers five tips for keeping the car tidy this vacation season: 1. A Clean Start -- Begin your trip behind the wheel of a freshly washed car. Your vehicle's pre-trip checklist should include a trip to the local car wash, where a professional cleanup will take only a matter of minutes.

With the time saved by letting the pros wash the car, you have more time to pack clothes or snacks for the trip. 2. Take out the Trash -- A messy car interior can be an unsettling experience -- especially if it's untidy before the trip even begins! In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans are embarrassed by the trash in their car. So while at the car wash, get the inside vacuumed thoroughly. 3. What's that Smell? -- Half of all car owners claim odors are the most embarrassing thing about their car. Riding in the car with several people for long stints can, well, cause a stink.

Ask the car wash professionals to spruce up the car with some air freshener spray. It might pay off to pack a small bottle of air freshener spray in the glove box should you need a mid-trip spritz. 4. Paper AND Plastic -- Keep small plastic trash bags and paper towels handy in the car. Keeping the trash in a small plastic bag makes it a snap to dispose of at rest stops or gas stations, and it helps contain any leaks from empty cans and bottles. Extra paper towels will wipe up those inevitable spills on clothing or on your car's interior. 5. Surveying the Battle Scene -- Family vacations are fun, but who wants to clean up after the long, exhausting road trip? The souvenir bugs from different states fused to the front grille and the medley of snack wrappers in the car's backseat can add up to a load of work to do alone. The simple solution: Visit the local car wash again and let the pros there do all of the dirty work to get your car spiffy clean again.

More car care information is available at http://www.carlove.org , an online resource devoted to educating consumers about the benefits of professional car washes. The site features a Car Wash Wizard that provides a "prescription" for professional car washes according to geographic region, and fun facts from a recent study conducted by the International Carwash Association. About the International Carwash Association The International Carwash Association (ICA) is a non-profit trade association serving 3,000 businesses in the United States, Canada and overseas. Membership includes car wash operators, equipment manufacturers, distributors, and related suppliers. ICA members represent approximately 25,000 car wash and car care locations in North America.

Xytech Systems Corporation announced today that it will be introducing a number of new developments

Xytech Systems Corporation, a leading provider of media asset and workflow management software, announced today that it will be introducing a number of new developments, within both products and the organisation, at NAB 2006. These will include Data Integration Services Department, as well as the unveiling of the new Shift Scheduling and Article Management modules within Enterprise, in conjunction with the official release of version 8.5 of Xytech’s Flagship product, Enterprise. Data Integration Services is a new integration resource, headed up by industry veteran Ted Alfino, to further aid the smooth blending of Xytech products with customer’s existing applications.

The department will focus on services such as; Interfaces - synchronizing the data between two systems; Imports and Exports; Conversion - implementing Xytech Enterprise with data from a previous/current system and Consultation. Shift Scheduling provides many tools to mange personnel and associated facilities. It also contains a Shift Maintenance option which expands on these tools thus providing broadcast and production facilities with a completely integrated product that encompasses project and task (shift) based scheduling, time tracking, union and labor rules and payroll data. Article Management – ‘Articles’, within Xytech Enterprise, are chosen on the basis that they are aesthetic or creative as opposed to technical.

An article may also represent rented items which are often packaged together – e.g. cables, camera stands and bags and so do not need to be detailed on work orders. - more - Quality Control – QC is an option within the Xytech Enterprise MetaVault Library module and is defined within two parts; Main Quality Control records and specific issues pertaining to a single Master. This new application also has the ability for the user to create customized templates that can be stored in the system and attached to related library master records. Visitors to Xytech’s booth will also see the latest version of Xytech’s flagship product Enterprise V8.5 - the system of choice for media asset and human resource management, which is being used by renowned companies throughout the industry.

About Xytech Systems Xytech Systems helps media organisations maximise the utility and profitability of their media assets, human resources and facilities by providing highly integrated software solutions backed by superior customer support, training and consulting services. Xytech’s staff includes industry veterans with extensive experience in the studio, post-production and broadcasting environments, and Xytech solutions are currently installed in over 300 industry leading film, audio and video production, and post-production facilities around the world. The company’s headquarters are located in Burbank, California, with additional eastern regional offices in New York, New York. Xytech addresses the European market from its full service offices in London, England. For information on the company visit Xytech’s Web site at www.xytechsystems.com.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) celebrates 20 successful years serving the Nashville area. Mayor Bill Purcell, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, and Southwest Airlines participated in a ceremony to recognize this milestone. A St. Patrick's Day themed party complete with live Celtic music, shamrock cookies, green candy coins, refreshments, prizes, and decorations welcomed Customers flying into and out of Nashville.

"We are thrilled to celebrate 20 years of providing our legendary Customer Service, frequent flights, and low fares to our Nashville Customers," said Greg Wells, Southwest Airline's Senior Vice President of Ground Operations. "We are committed to the Nashville community, and we thank our Customers for 20 wonderful years. We look forward to many more years of growth." Southwest Airlines began service to the Nashville International Airport on March 18, 1986, with eight daily nonstop departures to two cities, Chicago Midway and Houston Hobby. Nashville was the 24th city to open in the Southwest system.

Today, Southwest operates 82 daily nonstop departures to 25 cities, with direct or connecting service to 29 additional cities, and since Southwest initiated service, it has grown to capture a 45.31 percent market share, which makes it number one in the market.

Other noteworthy Nashville statistics: * In the second quarter of 2005 (the latest information from the DOT), Southwest transported more than 878,000 Customers to or from Nashville International Airport. * Over the last year, Southwest handled more than 3.1 million Customers in the Nashville area. * Nashville ranks 11th largest in the Southwest system with 82 daily nonstop flights. * In second quarter 1995, Southwest carried 185,910 passengers at Nashville International Airport. A decade later, second quarter 2005, Southwest carried 878,680 passengers, an increase of 373 percent. * Since 1990, Southwest Airlines has grown 560 percent in Nashville. "Our growth in Nashville has been incredible, and our 348 local Employees deserve the credit," Wells said. "We know it's the power of our People that keep our Customers flying with us, and our Nashville Employees work hard every day to make that happen." Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest airline in terms of domestic Customers boarded, currently serves 62 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines currently operates more than 3,000 flights a day.

Academy to Present Centennial Salute to Janet Gaynor

Beverly Hills, CA — Janet Gaynor, the first recipient of the Best Actress Academy Award, will be the subject of a Centennial Salute at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday, April 6, at 8 p.m., in the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. The evening will feature a screening of a new print of “Street Angel,” in which Gaynor stars as Angela, and a discussion with Gaynor’s son, Robin Adrian, and her widower, Paul Gregory.

Gaynor started out as an extra in silent pictures before earning her break with a small but crucial part in “The Johnstown Flood” (1926). A long-term contract with Fox led to starring roles in several more studio movies, which brought her to the attention of directors F.W. Murnau and Frank Borzage. She made two films with Murnau, including “Sunrise” (1927), and three with Borzage, who first paired Gaynor with leading man Charles Farrell in “7th Heaven.” It was for her combined work in those films, along with her performance in the Borzage-directed “Street Angel,” that Gaynor won the very first Academy Award for Best Actress.

Gaynor and Farrell made twelve films together and crossed over successfully from silent pictures to the sound era. Indeed, the actress remained a top box-office draw well into the 1930s. Her career in talkies peaked with an Oscar-nominated performance in “A Star is Born” (1937), and she retired from show business shortly thereafter.

In “Street Angel,” Gaynor portrays a poor waif (Angela) who steals in order to get medicine for her sick mother. While hiding out with a circus, she meets Farrell (Gino), an artist who poses her for a portrait of the Madonna. Angela eventually gets caught for stealing, but after serving her jail term, ahe is reunited with Gino. In addition to the Oscar for Gaynor, the film also received Academy Award consideration for Art Direction (Harry Oliver) and Cinematography (Ernest Palmer, for his work in both “Street Angel” and “Four Devils”).

The Academy’s event launches a retrospective series of Gaynor-starring films at the James Bridges Theater at the UCLA Film and Television Archive, presented in association with the Louis B. Mayer Foundation. Sixteen titles will be presented between April 7 and April 28. For more information about the series, contact 310-206-FILM or www.cinema.ucla.edu.

Tickets for the Academy’s Centennial Salute to Janet Gaynor, featuring “Street Angel” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They may be purchased in advance during regular business hours at the Academy’s headquarters in Beverly Hills (8949 Wilshire Blvd.), by mail, or on the night of the event, if still available, when the doors open at 7 p.m. The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. For more information, call 310-247-3600.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

NEW HUMMER H3^x TO LAUNCH IN MID-2006

DETROIT – Less than a year after the H3 went on sale, HUMMER is unveiling a new model called the H3^x. It is based on the H3 Street concept shown at the automotive industry’s annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November.

The 2007 H3^x, designed to appeal to buyers with an interest in a customized appearance, injects new energy into the HUMMER lineup, while delivering the brand’s trademark iconic bold design and unmatched off-road prowess.

“The H3^x enables buyers to enjoy the appearance of a personalized, accessorized truck available directly from the factory,” said Susan Docherty, HUMMER general manager. “It’s intended for those who want to make a personal style statement and differentiate themselves from other H3 owners.”

The H3^x begins with an H3 equipped with the Luxury package, chrome tube steps, chrome appearance package and chrome fuel door. The package also includes a body-color grille and spare tire cover, unique tires, wheels and center cap, and a brush guard. The interior features embroidered headrests.

Consumers can further personalize their H3^x with any of the H3’s eight exterior colors and three leather interiors. The model is scheduled to arrive in dealerships in late summer of 2006. It will be available only in the United States and Canada.

* H3X was initially called the H3 Street .

# # #

Contact:
Dayna Hart
HUMMER Communications
Phone: 313-665-7718
E-mail: dayna.hart@gm.com

There’s a plan in place, Mr. Globe said, to keep “Superman” fresh long after this summer’s movie leaves the multiplex. The studio already has announced another feature film with “Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer, likely for 2009, and possibly a direct-to-video movie in between the upcoming release and the 2009 offering. There will also be a steady stream of entertainment and product, directed by the studio’s global brand management team, which shepherds its franchise properties through every part of their life cycle.

“There are people solely focused on our three-to-five event properties a year,” said Gaetano Mastropasqua, senior VP-promotions of the studio’s global brand management division. “We nurture the franchises.”

Sean McGowan, analyst at Harris Nesbitt Gerard, doesn’t compare Superman’s potential to a phenomenon like “Star Wars” with its six movies and billion-dollar licensing programs over 20-plus years, but said there are positive indicators the property can succeed. He said consumer interest moves quickly. “Properties don’t last as long as they once did.”

“Superman” has been a hit on the big screen before. Starting in the late '70s, the late Christopher Reeve starred in four films that pulled in more than $300 million domestically and double that worldwide. DVDs, merchandise, live action and animated TV series followed, and continue to the current day. There have been original “Superman” films or TV shows created in 22 of the past 25 years, according to DC Comics, and new media offerings -- books, comics, animated shows and so on -- created around the property in 52 of the past 66 years. There are 35 “Superman” titles on DVD, counting the classic TV show from the '50s, “Lois & Clark” and various animated shows.

“The property has worked in the widest range of media, from radio to newspaper comic strips to cartoons, TV and film,” said Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC Comics. “That’s the most powerful indicator of how deeply he’s woven into the popular culture.”

Superman has shown his financial might in a number of ways. “Smallville,” which is produced by Warner Bros. TV and airs on the WB network, is having a renaissance in its fifth season, attracting an average of 5.5 million viewers, up 8% from a year ago. Its recent 100th episode pulled in more than 6 million viewers. It ranks first in its time period, season to date, with men 18-to-34. Warner Bros. reaps about $850,000 an episode by selling reruns of “Smallville” to cable channels. It also sells the show internationally.

Warner Bros.’ movies, TV shows and home entertainment, which includes New Line Cinema, pulled in $11.9 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2004 and the full year 2005, making up 27.3% of Time Warner’s bottom line.

To whip up interest in “Superman Returns,” Warner has gathered Pepsi-Cola Co., Burger King, PerfectMatch.com, Duracell and Quaker State as marketing partners. Toymakers are also counting on the man of steel to give the industry a lift.

According to the NPD Group, the U.S. toy industry was down 4% in 2005; retail sales declined to $21.3 billion from $22.1 billion the year before. There will be a raft of Superman products at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us and Target. Mattel, which is producing much of the Superman line, will put a heavy ad push behind its products from summer through fall.

Entertainment-licensed product, which has been flat in some spots and declining in others, could use a boost. “We need success stories,” said Gary Caplan, president of Gary Caplan, a licensing consultancy that has several clients involved in “Superman Returns.” “We know retailers are buying into this property, but we don’t know yet if consumers will.”

Time Warner is counting on it.

Phishing Scam

Participants, as well as some non-participants, in the Thrift Savings Plan are targets of a "phishing" scam, an official with the board administering the program said today. Tom Trabucco, director of external affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, said phishing is an "attempt to get recipients of the unsolicited e-mail to compromise themselves by giving up their personal financial information." Thrift Savings Plan administrators would never request personal or financial information via e-mail, Trabucco said. "Do not respond to unsolicited e-mail, and never give out information of a personal nature (through) unsolicited e-mails," he said. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board alerted Thrift Savings Plan coordinators to the scam in a March 17 memo, the day after the scam was discovered. The memo described it as an unsolicited e-mail with a link to a bogus Web site appearing to be the thrift plan's account-access site.

The bogus site asks for a recipient's social security and Thrift Savings Plan personal identification numbers. Entering this information takes the user to another screen where they are asked for financial information, including a credit card number, he said, adding that this information can be used to steal an individual's identity. As long as participants have not responded to this scam e-mail, their accounts have not been compromised, investment board officials said in the memo.

Those who did respond should contact their financial institutions immediately for guidance. They should also call the Thrift Savings Plan at (877) 968-3778 and ask to have their account access blocked, according to the memo. Phishing e-mails generally appear to be from a business or organization the recipient may deal with, according to a Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert issued in June 2005. It may request that the recipient update, validate or confirm account information, the alert said. Participants are encouraged not to attempt to access their accounts by clicking links offered in any e-mail, according to the memo.

Only by opening a new Internet browser and typing the Thrift Savings Plan's Web site into the address field can a participant be sure of accessing the authentic thrift plan Web site. The thrift plan is a retirement savings plan for 3.6 million federal civilians servicemembers, Trabucco said. Officials don't know how many plan participants the scam has affected, but the FBI is investigating, he added.

Rod Pampling Wins

The Australian becomes just the second international champion in tournament history at the Bay Hill Invitational, joining South African Ernie Els who won in 1998. * Victory comes in fifth start at Bay Hill Invitational. His previous best was a tie for 15th in 2002. * Earns second PGA TOUR victory in his 121st career start on the TOUR at the age of 36 years, 5 months and 26 days.

The check for $990,000 is the largest of his career, surpassing his check for $900,000 with his victory at the 2004 INTERNATIONAL in Colorado. * Earns third career worldwide victory - 1999 Canon Challenge on the PGA Tour of Australasia. * Career earnings on PGA TOUR now stand at $6,385,532 and earns 18th career TOUR top-10. * Earns a trip to the 2007 Mercedes Championships in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

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Two U.S. soldiers were killed and another was wounded March 16 in an indirect fire attack on Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq officials announced today. The three soldiers were all members of Task Force Band of Brothers from the 101st Airborne Division. The names of the soldiers killed are being withheld until their families are notified, officials said. The wounded soldier is being treated in a local military medical facility.

The Presidents Reception The 2006 Innovations In Technology Awards were presented by NSCA’s Chuck Wilson and Sound & Video Contractor’s Video Technology editor Trevor Boyer to the following manufacturers:

For the Audio category - Shure for the Shure UHF-R Wireless System
For the Business Productivity category - Crestron System Builder 2.0
For the Control Systems category - AMX Mio Modero DMS Pinnacle
For the Convergence category - Extron MGP 464 Four0Window Multi Graphic Processor
For the Security/Fire/Life Safety category - TOA N-8000 Series IP Network Intercom Systems
For the Video/Display Technology category - Avocent Emerge Wireless Media Streamer
For the Web Site category - Extron, www.extron.com

Bill Lester Friday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, earned a spot in the Golden Corral 500 to become the the first black driver to qualify for a race in NASCAR's top series in nearly 20 years.

Driving a Dodge fielded by Bill Davis Racing and facing enormous pressure, the slim, quiet NASCAR truck series regular put up a lap of 190.502 mph early in the Nextel Cup series qualifying session on the 1.5-mile oval.

That was nearly 6 mph faster than he ran in practice. But Lester still had to wait for more than an hour to see if it would be good enough to make it into the 43-car field for Sunday's race.

"I only need to hold my breath for 30 or 35 more drivers," a smiling Lester said after getting out of his car. "I'm just glad I was able to realize my dream and get this opportunity."

The top 35 cars from last season's owners points are guaranteed starting spots at every race, leaving only eight places to the other entries like the 45-year-old Lester, trying to make a Cup race for the first time.

He made it easily, qualifying 19th overall and the fastest of 15 drivers who tried to drive their way into the race.

"It's overwhelming," said Lester, who raced later Friday night in the truck race. "This is the culmination of a very long dream that I've had to race at the top level of motorsports. ... I'm hoping to think that this is the beginning, that it will open a few more eyes and get the attention of corporate America.

"This is quite a feat at my age, but I hope I'm still on the rise," added Lester, the first black man to qualify for a Cup race since Willy T. Ribbs ran three events in 1986, the last in June of that year at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR's most successful black driver was Wendell Scott, whose 13-year career spanned 495 races and a landmark victory in 1964.

Kahne was also among the earliest of the 52 drivers who made qualifying attempts on the cool, clear night.

His lap of 192.553 was just good enough to beat Ryan Newman's 192.540 and end the latter's run of Atlanta poles at six. The time difference between the fastest qualifiers was just .008-seconds.

Rounding out the top five were Jeff Burton at 191.973, Bobby Labonte at 191.914 and rookie J.J. Yeley at 191.864.

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Wizard World stands in stark contrast to how business is conducted in this country.

Everywhere you go in our country you find one business after another that has total contempt for their customers.

When pressed to give a explanation as to why customer service is so bad they always give the same answer. You can’t get good help anywhere.

The companies and vendors and artists at Wizard World put a lie to this.

They are customer orientated.

To go into a place where everyone is bending over backwards to assist you is almost unheard of in our country but it is standard at a Wizard World production.

There was no pressure to purchase anything and they would stand and actually talk to you.

This is an event where families are welcome and small children can be seen walking around wearing the favorite super hero costume.

Events where were families are even welcome are almost non existent today.

If you want to be treated like you actually were important, to be informed and bring your family and not be pressured to have to purchase anything then Wizard World is the place to go.

Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day.

Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza day, or about 350 slices per second.

Pizza is a $30+ BILLION per year industry. There are approximately 69,000 pizzerias in the United States. Approximately 3 BILLION pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year. (Source: Blumenfeld and Associates)

Pizzerias represent 17% of all restaurants. (Source: Food Industry News.)

Pizza accounts for more that 10% of all foodservice sales. (Source: Food Industry News.)

93% of Americans eat AT LEAST one pizza per month. (Source: Bolla Wines.)

66.66% of Americans order pizza for a casual evening with friends. (Source: Bolla Wines.)

Each man, woman and child in America eats and average of 46 slices, (23 pounds), of pizza per year. (Source: Packaged Facts, New York.)

Italian food ranks as the most popular ethnic food in America. (Source: National Restaurant Association.)

According to a recent Gallop Poll, children between the ages of 3 and 11 prefer PIZZA over all other food groups for lunch and dinner.

A study done by a U.S. Department of Agriculture statistician and home economist found that in a three-day survey period, 42% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 has eaten pizza. (Source: Smithsonian Magazine.)

94% of the population of the U.S. eats pizza. (Source: Parade Magazine.)

Favorite Pizza Toppings in the United States
Pepperoni is by far America's favorite topping, (36% of all pizza orders). Approximately 251,770,000 pounds of pepperoni are consumed on pizzas annually. Other popular pizza toppings are mushrooms, extra cheese, sausage, green pepper and onions.

Gourmet toppings are gaining ground in some areas of the country such as chicken, oysters, crayfish, dandelions, sprouts, eggplant, Cajun shrimp, artichoke hearts and tuna. More recent trends include game meats such as venison, duck and Canadian bacon.

US pizza makers have turned breakfast into a pizza-eating opportunity by adapting peanut butter & jelly, and, bacon & egg toppings to their pizzas.

Mozzarella cheese represents 30% of total cheese output. Production of Italian cheeses such as mozzarella, provolone, ricotta, parmesan and Romano by U.S. cheese makers more than doubled between 1980 and 1992, from 688.6 MILLION pounds per year to nearly 2 BILLION pounds per year. (Source: Cheese Market News.)

Manufacturers' sales of pizza cheese should top $32 BILLION by 2004. U.S. per capita consumption of mozzarella cheese was 7.93 pounds in 1994 and is predicted to reach 12.51 pounds by 2004. (Source: Business Trend Analysts, BTA)

62% of Americans prefer meat toppings on their pizza, while 38% prefer vegetarian toppings. (Source: Bolla Wines.)

Women are twice as likely as men to order vegetarian toppings on their pizza. (Source: Bolla Wines.)

Barbeque pizza emerged as one of the more popular pizza variations in a 1994 study by the National Restaurant Association. Nearly 33% of menus offered some form of this dish. Other popular variations were Mexican pizza, white pizza, five-cheese combos, non-cheese pies and traditional Italian pizzas such as Margherita, Florentine and new potato pizzas. (Source: National Restaurant Assocation)

Favorite World-Wide Pizza Toppings
Around the world, pizza toppings vary greatly; reflecting regional tastes, indigenous foods and cultural preferences.

Venezuela
In Caracas, Venezuelans love pizza as much as anywhere in the world. Predominantly, pizzas are separated into to varieties: the "artisan" type, made in ovens with wood fires and, the "commercial" type, (Dominos, Papa Johns, etc). They have tomato based pizzas and cream based pizzas and with a lot of toppings: mozzarella, (some times bufala cheese), anchovies, olives, artichokes, pepperoni, sausage, onion, bacon, mushroom, tomato, goat cheese, and corn. The most popular toppings being pepperoni, vegetarian and anchovies. (Source: Inés Peña Madriz, Chadom Arte Culinario)

India
Some of the more popular international toppings in India are pickled ginger, minced mutton and "paneer," (a form of cottage cheese), which looks quite like tofu but is obviously a dairy product. Tandoori chicken and chicken "tikka" are also increasingly popular toppings in India. (Source: Shiv Sharan Singh, New Delhi, India)

Japan
Mayo Jaga (mayonnaise, potato and bacon), and, eel and squid are favorites in Japan.

Brazil
Brazilians favor green peas on top of their pizzas.

Russia
In Russia, they serve pizza covered with "mockba," a combination of sardines, tuna, mackerel, salmon and onions. Red herring is also a topping of choice.

France
In France, a popular pizza combo is called the Flambé, with bacon, onion and fresh cream. (Source: Domino's.)

Pakistan
In Pakistan, curry is a big seller.

Australia
Australians enjoy shrimp and pineapple, as well as barbeque toppings on their pies.

Costa Rica
Costa Ricans favor coconut on their pizzas. (Source: Numero Uno Pizzeria.)

Iceland
Vegetable for pizza toppings in Iceland are grown in greenhouses because of the lava terrain there. (Source: Domino's.)

Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the "Double Dutch" is a favorite pizza recipe; double cheese, double onions and double beef. (Source: Domino's.)

Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, all meat toppings must be 100% beef. Pork products are not consumed in the country. (Source: Domino's.)

Crufts 2006 - Best in Show Goes to Aussie that Takes a Chance

Best in Show of nearly 24,000 dogs at Crufts, the largest dog show in the world, was won by an Australian Shepherd– Am Ch Caitland isle Take A Chance owned by Ms. N Resetar and handled by Mr. Larry Fenner. Unlike last year’s Best in Show winner, Coco, a Norfolk Terrier, this Aussie will not fit in the trophy. What a difficult decision for a judge!

Reserve Best in Show was awarded to the Fox Terrier (Wire) Ch/Am Ch El Rays Snowtaire Iceni Payback (IMP) owned by Mrs. B & Mr. P Decker & Davies and handled by Mr. Andrew Goodsel.

The Winner of Westminster Dog of the Year 2005, a Pug called Torres, visited the Good Citizen Dog Scheme training ring at Crufts with Tony Baldry, Conservation MP for Banbury. They were awarded their Bronze certificate for their recent training achievement.

A special event ring highlight held at Crufts 2006 was the Parade of Vulnerable Native Breeds. It showed the audience 25 of the 29 breeds native to Britain and Ireland whose numbers have declined in recent years. These include the Lakeland Terrier, Bloodhound, Clumber Spaniel, English Toy Terriier and Welsh Corgi (Cardigan). The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is an Irish breed. There are differences in what the breed standard should appear with the American version having more refined grooming and the Irish version being a bit more unruly – or shall we say Irish.

I’ve spoken with a couple people that have attended Crufts in the past. They had one word to sum it up – “Nuts!” This is not an event to attend, unless you’re a dog lover, otherwise let’s just say you might consider it one stinking mess. They were overwhelmed with the vast number of dogs to see.

If you’re curious what it takes to receive an invitation to go to Crufts, the qualifications vary however following are the U.S. qualifications: Winners of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Awards of Merit Winners and Best Bred by Exhibitor in the Classes at the AKC Invitational, January 2005. Additionally, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Awards of Merit Winners (if offered) and Best Bred by Exhibitor (if offered), at one National Breed Speciality show per breed chosen by the Parent Breed Club and agreed by the AKC.

For more information on attending dog shows in the U.K. or Europe as well as information on traveling, visit www.cruftsontour.com.

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Written by Joyce L Chow & William Hoehne March 17 2006

When Groupe Lactalis takes your milk money, you get something in return. As France's biggest dairy producer, Lactalis sells milk, cheese, butter, and cream in about 140 countries. Its flagship brand of Président, is available in more than 120 countries; other top brands include Bridel, Locatelli, Société, Sorrento, and Valmont. Lactalis has 65 plants in France and about a dozen in other countries. While the company is France's largest dairy exporter, about 60% of sales are domestic. Its Tendriade division produces animal feeds and fresh veal for domestic sale. Lactalis was founded in 1933 by André Besnier; his descendants still own and oversee the company.

Lactalis employs 20 600 people, and has 102 production facilities in the world, 70 in France, 34 with l’étranger. It is it:
- 2° French agro-alimentary group
- 1° cheese-making European
- 2° European dairy group
- 7° world dairy group

1992 Resumption with Nestle of the Company of the Cellars and its American subsidiary company Sorrento:8 factories in France, 3 in the USA; CA 3,5 paid billion F, 2 000, marks "Company", "Louis Rigal", "Maria Grimal", "Salakis",
"Pyrénéfrom", "Corsica", "Sorrento" and "Precious".
Purchase of the Philipona company, presents in the County.
Launching of the mark "Awakening" by Lactel

More on the story of the new Sorrento to come tomorrow

NEWS FROM IRELAND

Weather:  Keep the winter woolies close to hand, the cold is snapping back.  Meteorologists have warned that the cold weather which hit the country two weeks ago will return, with temperatures plummeting on St Patrick's Day. Met Eireann predicts that very cold conditions will develop
today and will continue through to Saturday morning.

Parades: After decades of playing second fiddle to places like New York and Chicago, Dublin  now hosts the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the world -the St. Patrick's Festival - with a five day street party that runs from March 15th  to March 20th. Close to half a million people are expected to watch the parade which we just finished viewing ourselves. What a thrill it was. 

NEWS FROM ALL OVER

Washington D.C.  As they have done for nearly 30 years, the John F. Kennedy Division of the AOH from Prince George’s County  will  place a wreath near the eternal flame at the grave of President John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. This annual tribute
is given to the only U.S. President who was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Washington D.C. Shamrocks for George Washington’s adopted grandson Fresh shamrocks from the Irish Embassy  will be placed at the grave of President George Washington’s adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis. Custis, father in law of Robert E. Lee, was a leading advocate
of Irish freedom in the early part of the 19th century.  He was very actively involved in Irish American affairs in Washington, DC before his death in 1847.  Before he died, he wished aloud that someday an Irishman would come by and place a shamrock on his grave and say, “God bless
him.”  The Hibernians in the Nation’s Capital have been fulfilling his wish ever since.

As its contract with the actors unions nears expiration, the ad industry has launched a search for an independent consultant to help develop new compensation models for actors whose work in TV and radio is also used on mobile phones and other growing media channels.

The industry's negotiating committee said it has issued a request for qualifications to identify consultants with backgrounds in TV, radio and labor relations to come up with alternative compensation schemes that could be used this fall in the industry's collective bargaining process with the two unions, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The contract expires Oct. 29.

Any proposals that are developed are not meant to be binding, but instead are to be presented as possible alternatives.

"The payment structures in the current collective bargaining agreement with SAG/AFTRA were originally developed to meet the needs and problems of the early 1950s," said Douglas Wood, the lead negotiator for the Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations, which is composed of appointees from American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers.

"We need a new, equitable approach to talent payment -- one that recognizes that consumers are viewing commercials on cellphones and iPods, and advertisers are using digital editing to customize messages for narrow audiences," he said.

The talent unions have also expressed concern over the creative community being left out of discussions concerning brand integration in programming, an increasingly popular marketing practice.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) and Tambrands, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, has filed a lawsuit for trademark and trade dress infringement and unfair competition against First Quality Hygienics, a private label manufacturer. The lawsuit, filed in US Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleges that First Quality Hygienics infringes on the registered trademarks and packaging trade dress of P&G's Tampax Pearl(R) tampons. The First Quality Hygienics tampon is sold in retail stores in Canada under the name Life Brand.

P&G claims the defendant, without authorization, is manufacturing and distributing products in packages that copy the famous Tampax Pearl packaging, including the distinctive string-of-pearls design. The company has marketed the Tampax Pearl brand for over three years and it has garnered substantial goodwill among consumers.

"We took this action to protect both the interests of our consumers and our business," said Patricia Perez-Ayala, general manager North America Feminine Care for P&G. "Women across North America trust Tampax Pearl. The use of our trademarks or trade dress by other manufacturers confuses and misleads these consumers and that cannot be tolerated."

P&G has a history of protecting its intellectual property, including trade dress, trademarks and patents. "P&G's products are associated with high quality and we believe this is a case of clear infringement, designed to feed on the goodwill of our brands," said Jim Johnson, P&G chief legal officer. "Copying our product designs violates the law and we are filing this lawsuit to stop it."

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)

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

As Mr. Bonds approaches what is arguably the greatest record in all of sports -- Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs -- he does so with a tainted legacy. Last year Mr. Bonds said he unknowingly took two forms of steroids. Now comes “Game of Shadows,” a new book due out March 27 and excerpted in Sports Illustrated last week that alleges Mr. Bonds used an array of drugs and steroids since 1998.

In normal circumstances the MLB would, experts say, have enjoyed a season-long financial bonanza based on the home run chase, with memorabilia and apparel sold to fans and marketing programs around the chase aimed at garnering more attention and viewers for the sport. (The National Basketball Association rushed special Kobe Bryant jerseys into its NBA Store less than 48 hours after Mr. Bryant scored 81 points in a game last month.)

But the MLB is unlikely to want to be seen to be making too much of Mr. Bonds’ achievements, and what could have been a celebration of a march to history will likely end up being a slow crawl through negative public perception and an internal ethical challenge for the MLB and television partners Fox and ESPN.

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A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed yesterday in a mortar attack southwest of Baghdad, military officials reported. The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. In other news from Iraq, members of Iraq's 3rd Public Order Brigade found a roadside bomb in front of a trade school southeast of Baghdad on March 14, military officials reported today. The bomb consisted of a 155 mm artillery round, two batteries and a block of explosives, officials said.

The Defense Department has announced the names of three Marines who died recently in Iraq and Afghanistan: - Lance Cpl. Nicholas R. Anderson, 21, of Sauk City, Wisc., died March 13 in a non-hostile vehicle accident in Afghanistan. Anderson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. - Lance Cpl. Kristen K. Figueroa, 20, of Honolulu, died March 12 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. Figueroa was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Bunny Long, 22, of Modesto, Calif., died March 10 from a suicide car bomb explosion in Iraq's Anbar province. Long was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced today the release of the second annual report on the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program. The report provides data on alleged sexual assaults reported to military officials during calendar year (CY) 2005 in which members of the armed forces are victims or offenders.

The data indicate that the department has made great progress in establishing a robust and effective sexual assault prevention program. All of the military services implemented aggressive education and training programs designed to build a climate of confidence. Fundamental changes to reporting procedures were also adopted across the department.

This integrated program resulted in 2,374 reported allegations of sexual assault involving a service member as either a victim or perpetrator. Previous DoD studies and commissions found that some victims chose to forego support services rather than participate in the investigative process. To address this barrier, the department instituted two methods of reporting: restricted and unrestricted. Unrestricted reporting gives victims support services and initiates the criminal investigation process. There were 2,047 unrestricted reports in CY 2005.

Restricted reporting allows members to access care without automatically starting the investigative process. Implemented in June 2005, there were 435 restricted reports. The new restricted reporting option accounted for 65 percent of the 674-report increase over CY 2004. In addition to removing barriers, DoD designed this option to provide the time, care and empowerment necessary for some victims to request a criminal investigation of their assault. In 2005, 108 (or 25 percent) of the victims who chose restricted reporting subsequently changed to unrestricted reporting.

At the close of the reporting period on Dec. 31, 2005, criminal investigations had been completed on 1,386 cases. This resulted in 163 unidentified alleged offenders and 44 alleged offenders where either civilian or foreign authorities had jurisdiction. Another 641 alleged offenders had cases that were either unfounded, unsubstantiated or there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. When the reporting period closed, 352 offenders were awaiting final action and another 274 had punitive action completed. The 2006 report will detail the status of the 661 investigations that were pending completion and the action taken on the 352 offenders awaiting final action.

This second annual report demonstrates the department's commitment to eliminating sexual assault from its ranks by removing barriers, creating a climate of confidence in reporting and ensuring care is accessible for all victims. Recognizing that this will be a long term effort, the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response has transitioned to a permanent office under the direction of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The department will continue to refine the SAPR program and ensure its vigorous implementation throughout the armed forces. To view the executive summary of the department's report to Congress, click here [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2006/d20060316SexualAssaultReport.pdf] .

VIS-4832 fiber optic all-digital audio transport system has been deployed for use in Silicon Valley’s San Jose Center For The Performing Arts. The high-tech capital city’s 2,665-seat theater, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, hosts numerous events in one of the nation’s busiest multi-purpose public venues — from ballet to music-only concerts, boxing championships to video game developer’s conferences. Because of an eclectic mix of continuous public events with widely varying needs for audio reinforcement, a portable, yet state-of-the-art sound system with fiber optic digital audio and control technology was recently specified by Richard “Woody” Woodward, principal of Kari Productions. Kari, the Performing Arts Center’s house sound music production provider, worked with South San Francisco firm, Hi-Tech Audio, to configure the unique system which features the world’s first 64-channel rapidly deployable, all-digital, large-scale fiber optic audio and control system.

“Woody” Woodard, principal of Kari Productions and FOH Engineer for many of the Center’s music productions, was enthusiastic about his experience with the LightViper fiber optic transport system:“I am tremendously impressed with how well the LightViper performs; it’s just awesome! My fiber cable runs approximately 300 feet for a typical show set-up to the orchestra area from front-of-house position in the rear of the auditorium. One of the great benefits with this LightViper system is that I now have full control of up to sixty-four [64] stage mic preamps from the console. Just this aspect alone saves me lots of valuable time, not to mention the faster set-up you inherently have with a full multi-channel audio cable run that’s smaller in diameter than my little finger! It’s so much easier now to deal with the tight set-ups that are typical at the Center.

My LightViper system replaced a conventional copper audio snake, and more. It’s been ultra-reliable and well worth the investment. I can’t begin to tell you how much easier my life is now. It saves me from a lot of headaches on every gig.”

The custom AES all-digital LightViper audio transport system at Kari Productions features eight (8) Yamaha digitally controlled mic preamplifiers mounted in two (2) compact, roll-around electronics rack. Each AD8HR Mic Pre can handle up to eight (8) mic inputs for a total system input configuration of sixty-four (64) mic channels. From these devices, normal analog audio is then fed to a pair of LightViper VIS-4832 “head end” stage units (also mounted in the same electronics racks) which converts the signals to multiplexed digital audio. In addition to taking the inputs from the mic pre’s, the VIS-4832 sends RS-422 control signal data to the mic pre’s (this control generated at the FOH console position).

The control signal at the stage-end is simply “daisy-chained” to all eight 1-U rack preamps. The digital audio, as well as bi-directional control data for controlling the mic preamps, is sent back to FOH (and to monitor splits when required) from the remote stage rack down a single multi-mode, four fiber tactical grade fiber optic cable furnished with the LightViper system. The “primary” fiber optic cable is routed on a perimeter run to the FOH position in the left rear of the large auditorium. Each VIS4832 features up to three (3) signal splits.

At the typical FOH position in the San Jose Center, a Yamaha PM5D digital console handles the mixing and audio control. The primary fiber optic cable run terminates into a pair of LightViper VIM-1832 FOH units which, in turn, feed the optional “recallable head amps” (MY16AE 96 AES interface cards) installed in the PM5D console (this console configured for 64 inputs with 24 mix buss outputs and 16 returns to stage). The console generates an RS422 control signal (as well as 48 kHz Word Clock to the entire system) which are fed into the local VIS-1832 units for the bi-directional control data sent via the LightViper system to the remote stage electronics racks described earlier.

A dual fiber optic “tactical grade” cable connects the system’s two (2) components to provide a “pure digital signal transmission path” of up to thirty-two (32) channels of remote microphone preamplifiers. By simultaneous use of the system’s digital and analog outputs, it can transport digital mix busses to a digital, analog, or a mixed drive rack.

The VIS-4832 will also handle an optional 10/100 Ethernet portal over fiber and it features both 48 and 96 kHz Word and Super Clock outputs. All LightViper 1832 systems will support 48 kHz sampling rates (VIS-1832, VIM-1832, VIM-1032, VIS-4832, VIM-1808/0808) as well as native 24-bit/96 kHz. The 48 kHz mode is selected by feeding 48 kHz Word Clock into the clock input.

This new feature allows for greater channel density when interfacing with digital consoles (e.g. Yamaha PM5D, DM2000 digital consoles with “Y cards”) and is also useful for direct digital feeds to computer-based recording systems. Additionally, all 1832 Systems will support an optional 10/100 Ethernet portal over fiber (VIS-1832, VIM-1832, VIS-4832, VIM-1808/0808) with the use of a four (4) fiber connectors and a 4-core fiber optic cable.

A primary application for the VIS-4832 digital snake is the transmission of signals from the output of existing high-quality microphone preamps directly to the inputs of a digital console. This eliminates the need to convert signals from the digital domain into an analog signal, send these converted signals through a conventional copper snake, and then, subsequently re-convert them from the analog domain back into a digital one at the mixing console.

The digital snake system may also be deployed as a “drive rack snake.” Digital outputs of a mixing console may be sent directly through a LightViper fiber optic cable to the digital inputs of power amplifiers; this topology maintains an all-digital signal path throughout the entire audio signal chain. In addition, the digital snake system will simultaneously route the console’s digital output to both high-end power amps with digital inputs and to conventional monitor amps with analog inputs.

LightViper’s fiber optic cable offers total signal path isolation between both stage and mixer as well as between the mixer and power amplification; the cable is totally immune to ground loops, RFI, EMI and electromechanical noise, and runs of up to 1 1/4 miles (6,600 feet) can be easily accomplished without signal loss or degradation.

FiberPlex includes a limited lifetime warranty with all of its LightViper system components.

Additional information can be obtained at www.fiberplex.com or www.lightviper.com.

NOTE: LightViper™ is a registered trademark of FiberPlex, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

—For more information, contact Ron Neilson, Neilson/Clyne, Inc.: Tel: (615) 274-2263;
Fax: (615) 274-2595; Email: rneilson@neilsonclyne.com; Web: www.neilsonclyne.com.

Taylor made: R 7425 More Movable weight, More Clubhead size,more shaft technology, even more distance.

Large 425 cc clubhead offers exceptionally high MOI and forgiveness for consistently long, straight results» Choose from six sets of launch conditions by utilizing 28 grams of movable weight that can be utilized across four widely-spaced TLC ports» New TaylorMade RE*AX^TM shaft with jointly-developed Fujikura technology reduces ovaling in the mid-section while promoting greater stability, shot consistency and clubhead speed » Inverted Cone Technology provides a larger area of the clubface to deliver higher ball velocity and greater distance, even on mis-hits » Ultra-Thin Wall Technology saves critical weight and permits the clubhead walls to be 0.6 mm thin, 25% thinner than the walls of the r7^TM quad and r5^TM dual drivers.

The key improvement since the advent of ICT is that now we're able to produce drivers whose clubfaces are subject to much tighter tolerances from one to the next. That means we can deliver consistently faster clubfaces from driver to driver without exceeding the "speed limit" imposed by the USGA.

NSCA has partnered with the Fellowship for Technical Ministries to present a special House of Worship program on the show floor. Set up to showcase the latest technologies and techniques through training sessions, the House of Worship Pavilion at this year’s Expo is bringing manufacturers, systems integrators, and church customers together and providing a unique forum for networking and education.

Greg Silsby, executive director of the Fellowship for Technical Ministries, worked with NSCA to develop the program. “It’s an opportunity for electronic systems industry members and the customers they serve to get better acquainted for the mutual benefit of each,” explains Silsby. “Church technical directors and media technicians represent the single largest market segment within the installed sound and AV businesses in the U.S., so it’s very important that integrators and manufacturers get to know those customers better.”

NSCA executive director Chuck Wilson says, “Traditionally, NSCA has been focused on distributors, dealers, and contractors, and this year, we’re opening it up to these qualified end users to come in and see what we do.”

The customers also need an effective venue for gathering information on products and product categories, and the Pavilion serves as a forum for a new stream of NSCA attendees. In addition to the manufacturer-led educational sessions offered throughout the show at the Pavilion, technical directors from some of the nation’s largest houses of worship will lead several workshops and seminars.

“The manufacturers can extend their brands to these facilities. They still sell their products through the distribution channel, but this way, they can get their name and product out in front of the customers—give them a visual so they can see how these products can integrate into their environments aesthetically.”

Among these offerings will be a course on transitioning church television facilities to digital, growing a technical team, and directing the capture of live events on video. Other courses on the schedule will address lighting design, developing consistency in audio performance, and the planning and implementation of multi-site worship venues. The Fellowship of Technical Ministries will also sponsor an interdenominational Christian Worship & Praise event open to all Expo participants and attendees on Saturday, from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Hurricane Katrina swept over New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29. The real devastation for New Orleans, however, came the next day, as the levees surrounding the city broke and flooded neighborhoods, causing residents to evacuate in droves, scattering them as far as Houston, Chicago and even New York. Not all have returned, but some have, and six months later are starting to figure out how to rebuild their homes and lives.

Broadcasters from the area will be making the rounds to agencies and advertisers in Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Dallas to communicate what Ms. Gentilini saw -- that the Gulf Coast is back in business and a place worth spending major media dollars. The local newspaper and outdoor industry are also eager to let advertisers know they are still delivering an audience that will be spending big. But advertisers going back into New Orleans will have to do so without the usual measures guaranteeing an audience has seen their ads.

The latest estimate from the city’s Emergency Operations Center, released March 7, found that the New Orleans population had risen 35% from December to January to 180,000 residents. The daytime population, which includes those visiting residents and paid laborers (but not daytime commuters to offices and restaurants) was estimated to be a little more than 260,000. Still, both are far below the 2000 federal census that listed the city’s population at 484,674. The Emergency Operations Center also determined that approximately 20,000 people were staying in hotels, 2,742 were living on cruise ships and 5,900 students were in college dormitories. Adding those into the population brings the total to about 210,000.

While the city proper has lost many of its residents, the broadcasters serve the entire DMA, and areas outside of New Orleans are operating much as they always did. Mr. Delia and his cohorts at other New Orleans TV and radio stations will hit ad agencies armed with stats. In 2006 and 2007, they expect the market to see an influx of $100 billion in government money earmarked for recovery.

The residents who will be spending it need virtually everything -- cars, flooring, household goods, fast food. The broadcasters association is using a variety of public and private studies to present a picture of who is living in New Orleans. Their pitch stresses that while the number of residents in some of the hardest hit parishes -- Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines -- remains significantly reduced, the head count in neighboring parishes has risen as much as 160% since the storm as residents of flood-damaged areas seek lodging close to their homes. St. Tammany Parish has swelled from 79,260 households to 111,554 households. And those people are spending: local sales tax receipts from fall 2005 in several lesser hit towns were running 50% or more ahead of the same year.

The bid from the New Orleans broadcasters is bolstered by a recent Kagan Research report that says the five-year period beginning in 2005 will indicate higher growth levels for the market, driven by increased activity among categories such as home improvement, autos, insurance and banks.

Not too surprisingly, the online version of the market’s largest newspaper, The Times Picayune, continues to be a bright spot in local media. The first few of weeks after the storm, Nola.com, which houses the paper’s content, had four million unique visitors but since then has settled into about 1.2 million or 1.3 million unique visitors a month -- roughly two-and-a-half times as many as were using the site pre-Katrina.

The storm was enough to force a bit of a tipping point in the habits of newsreaders. Prior to the storm, the average reader was visiting 14 to 21 news pages a day and now those news pages are in excess of 44 a day. The Times Picayune executives are also working toward getting national advertisers to understand that the paper serves the entire New Orleans market, which has about 80% of its pre-storm population

Resuscitation is a slow process, before Katrina there were about 13,000 home deliveries in St. Bernard Parish, one of the hardest high areas. Two weeks ago they re-entered the area, delivering 1,000.

The outdoor industry is also working hard to rebuild signs in the area, said Stephen Freitas, chief marketing officer for the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. The two biggest suppliers in the area are CBS Outdoor and Lamar, which is headquartered in nearby Baton Rouge. CBS estimates about 70% of its inventory in the market is up and running. Lamar, meanwhile, has reported it is back up in every Gulf Coast market except Gulfport-Biloxi and estimated Katrina will cost the company $1.8 million in the fourth quarter. “In the long-run the Mississippi Gulf Coast is going to come roaring back,” said Sean Reilly, chief operating officer and president of Lamar’s outdoor division

But the market is still without some of the important tools on which broadcast media buyers and advertisers rely -- Nielsen and Arbitron ratings.

According to media buyers and sellers who’ve been briefed on the plans, Arbitron could be back in the spring and Nielsen won’t resume TV audience reporting until at least the fall if not early 2007. The Times Picayune is not yet ABC audited and doesn't expect to be before the end of the year. Last week, it delivered about 185,000 to 190,000 papers, compared to a pre-storm total of 250,000.

The city’s entire ethnic makeup could shift if many of the African-Americans who left choose not to return and if Hispanic temporary workers choose to stay in the market permanently.

Buyers are improvising, using historical data and internal research to come up with their own estimates. Some are advocating adding a direct-response component to ads, and others say it’s a logical, intuitive buy.

The big hesitation is do you have a true measurement of what your client’s dollars are delivering?

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Worldwide box office down says MPAA at Showest.

Worldwide box office revenues fell by 9 percent in 2005 but the industry expects better results this year, Motion Picture Association of America Chief Executive Dan Glickman said on Monday.

A bumper crop of sequels to past blockbusters and animated films hit screens this year in a good sign for ticket sales, Glickman told the ShoWest conference for movie theaters.

Most of the drop in international box office last year came in key markets such as Germany, Japan, Spain, France and Italy. Only four films grossed more than $300 million outside the United States, compared with seven the year before, he said.

Forecasts are for the international box office to grow by 12 percent over the next five years, mainly as a result of markets such as Russia, Brazil, China and Vietnam, he said.

"The simple fact is that the international market is where the action is," Glickman said.

Taking a longer view, he pointed out that last year's box office decline came on the heels of a 24 percent increase in ticket sales the year before, and growth of more than 50 percent in the past decade.

Studios increasingly are debuting movies on the same day around the world not only to combat piracy "but because of a growing recognition that turning a premiere into a worldwide event builds excitement and drives traffic everywhere," he said.

Studios are also looking to use local talent in international markets to build their audiences in foreign countries, Glickman said.

Piracy remains an issue of immediate concern especially in China and Russia, where most good quality pirated copies of films originate and make their way around the world.

The MPAA was concerned about efforts in some European countries to decriminalize the illegal downloading of films.

Glickman called on theater owners to tap local governments for support in enforcing laws against camcording, which he said accounts for 90 percent of illegal copying of new releases.

"For all our efforts to combat it, we have yet to come up with a foolproof solution to the problem," Glickman said.

USA and EU end trade dispute

The European Union (EU) and the United States this morning ended a decade-long trade dispute under which companies from 11 European states were barred from bidding on certain types of U.S. government contracts, primarily smaller contracts in telecommunications, and vice versa.

The end to the somewhat obscure, but nasty disagreement comes as the result of the EU eliminating preferences for local telecom manufacturers on some government contracts or, as the European Commission (EC) put it in a prepared statement, “the EU telecoms market has been fully liberalized.” As a result, the United States agreed to lift its sanctions as of today, a move followed by an announcement this morning by the EU that it similarly is lifting its retaliatory sanctions.

“I welcome the fact that the United States has finally agreed to lift its sanctions against EU member states, which enables us to do the same,” commented EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on the situation. “This heals a dispute that has dogged both sides of the Atlantic for more than a decade.”

The acrimony dates back to May 1993, when the U.S. government imposed sanctions against various EU member states, alleging that the EU’s 1993 Government Procurement Directive, which allowed EU member states to give a 3-percent price preference to EU companies in some sectors, discriminated against U.S. operators, especially in the telecom sector. The EU, in retaliation, imposed equivalent sanctions.

The U.S. sanctions barred European companies in 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U. K. Germany was taken off the list in 1994 when it said it would not apply the price preferences. Greece, Spain and Portugal, meanwhile, had delayed implementation of the Government Procurement Directive and thus were not covered by its terms) from three types of contracts: contracts of goods, services and construction whose value fell under certain thresholds; all services contracts purchased by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Power Marketing Administrations of the Department of Energy; and a list of 14 services contracted by federal agencies, including launching, dredging, broadcasting, R&D, legal services, hotel, health and telecommunications.

Exempt from both the U.S. and EU sanctions were contracts covered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement, because both the United States and the EU are signatories to that agreement, which overrode both the U.S. sanctions and the EU’s Government Procurement Directive. The WTO agreement sets thresholds above which signatories’ agree not to impose preferences, such as those that were set out in the EU’s Government Procurement Directive.

Bahrain Grand Prix: Race Results

Honda Racing F1 Team

After a promising qualifying session yesterday, in which Jenson Button qualified third and Rubens Barrichello sixth, today’s Bahrain Grand Prix ended in frustration for the Honda Racing F1 Team drivers.

Jenson finished the 57-lap race in fourth place, while Rubens was one lap down in 15th place, having been plagued by a gearbox problem for most of the race.

Jenson was compromised from the start when a clutch problem caused him to make a slow get-away from the grid and was only fifth into Turn 1, one place behind team-mate Rubens. The two Honda drivers then had a close dice for several laps, until Jenson got ahead at the start of lap four.

They were then elevated to fourth and fifth places when Felipe Massa spun out of third place on lap seven, which is where the Honda drivers stayed until Rubens made his first pitstop on lap 16. He rejoined the race in 12th place, but was unable to make significant progress because he lost a gear, which greatly reduced the performance of his RA106 race car.

Jenson made his first pitstop on lap 18, rejoining in eighth, and he then set about charging back up the field. On lap 29, he made a sensational pass on Juan Pablo Montoya for fourth, which became third when the one-stopping Kimi Raikkonen pitted on lap 30.

Jenson led the race for one lap before making his second and final pitstop on lap 40, and he quickly closed onto the tail of Raikkonen, which is where he spent the final 15 laps of the race. At the flag, he was only 0.6s adrift.

Honda now has just one week in which to move its equipment to Malaysia for the second race of the season, where there is everything to play for

Takuma Sato
Position: 18th / Best lap time: 1:37.104
“It is a fantastic result for us. I think that the boys in the garage deserve to be happy because they worked so hard to get us here to Bahrain. Although today we had radio communication and fuel rig problems, which is why there was some confusion during our pitstops, I think that everyone in the team has done a really good job. It is a positive step for us and I am very happy with today’s result. It was only a shame for Yuji that we could not bring the two cars’ home, but it is the great start that the team needed.”

Yuji Ide
Position: DNF(Lap 35) / Best lap time: 1:38.302
"I wanted to finish the race very much but the engine just stopped. I had the same problem as I had on Friday. Earlier in the race I couldn't put the gear into neutral so I over-ran at the pit stop. I don't know what I could do to make the car better but I know the mechanics have been working hard so I feel bad for my lack of experience. I will review the problem with engineers and I will do my best to finish the next race in Malaysia.”

Aguri Suzuki, Team Principal
“"Well this race was like a test for us. All that happened and what we were testing was something we should have done during the winter season. We will learn through each race and today was a good lesson for us. I spoke to both drivers before the race and told them that the most important thing for us to do today is to finish and from that experience, learn as much as possible. Taku did a good job.

“Yuji told me that he really wanted to finish the race, but he will have to improve step-by-step - so every single race will be a great lesson for him. He just needs more experience and the team will improve the car for both drivers."

Video Game Industry Tanking

by William Hoehne

There was a time that I thought that holding back the x-box was a smart idea.

In every area of entertainment over production had killed the industry. The zenith of how many televisions, radios, video taper machines, video tapes DVRs you would own has been reached.

I had figured, hold back the x-box and keep the market fresh then I noticed recently everytime I had gone by Electronic Arts and seen lights no longer on that had burnt long into the night . There were less and less games being played outside on their adult playground.

Six straight months of decline in game sales will do that. $700 million in loses for the industry will do that.

It is said that the slow down in sales has to do with the lack of fresh material out there.

It has been said that the mess caused by Grand Thief Auto helped to hurt the industry.

That a crack down by the government caused the problem.

The problem is that it is a combination of all the above. Too many old video games already out there, too expensive boxes to buy, too few new games and a industry that didn't get the message about policing itself.

Add it all togeather and you have a reason why the industry is in free fall.

A free fall that can be corrected but only with more new and creative games, better self policing and content that doesn't try to get by the right by hiding itself inside games with keys to open them.

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MONTEBUBBLISM: Sometimes the best policy is to step away and look at what you have done rather then to continue to work on it and ruin it.

Virgin Galactic and New Mexico Announce Spaceport Agreement

The NPD Group Reveals What and When Patrons Drink

Army Pink’s Kendra Verlingo of NHRA, a Shapely Danica Patrick

AQUAMARINE: A Current Fox release

Max Factor tanking.

AMERICANS ARE RECEIVING MORE TV channels than ever before

DOD Announces death of four in Afghanistan

Marine dies

A U.S. service member died today

In related news from Iraq

Maureen Stapleton died Monday

Comcast to buy “E”

The McClatchy Co. agreed to buy Knight Ridder

Warners makes deal with AMC

Luke Donald earned his second PGA Tour victory

P&G Declares Dividend Increase for 50th Consecutive Fiscal Year and Confirms Sales and EPS Guidance for Fiscal Third Quarter

Virgin Galactic and New Mexico Announce Spaceport Agreement

At press conferences in London and New Mexico, officials from Virgin Galactic and from the State of New Mexico announced that they had reached an historic agreement which will see the building of a $200m spaceport in the southern part of the state on a 27 square mile area of state land.

Virgin Galactic has agreed to locate its world's headquarters and Mission Control in New Mexico and strongly believes that the new spaceport will offer fledgling astronauts an experience that will be truly out of this world.

"When Burt Rutan and SpaceShipOne won the X PRIZE in October 2004, we knew the new space industry had arrived," said Secretary Rick Homans. "And when Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin would use that same technology to fly paying passengers into space, we realized that our most important job was to convince Virgin Galactic to come to New Mexico and launch the personal spaceflight industry. This announcement is a convergence of dreams and we are proud that Virgin will be New Mexico's anchor tenant at the world's most exciting space tourism location. "

"New Mexico has worked hard to bring us to their exciting new spaceport facility," stated Will Whitehorn, President of Virgin Galactic. "The State has several factors that make it an ideal operations base: climate, free airspace, low population density, high altitude, and stunning scenery. Our team was highly impressed by the professionalism and the competitive pitch the state and its advisors developed. We look forward to working together to make the "Final Frontier" a reality for tens of thousands of pioneering space tourists. Our activities will prove the commercial viability and excellent safety technology behind private personal spaceflight and give birth to a new industry in New Mexico."


A new vision, a new identity

Design guru, Philippe Starck has inspired an exciting new identity for Virgin Galactic to reflect the vision of the project. Using the amazing and beautiful image of an iris, he allows people to reflect on the basic human instinct to push boundaries and explore.

Philippe Starck explains: "The curiosity and adventure of the human spirit exists in the vision of a human eye, from today, through millions of years of evolution, right back to the beginning of mankind. The nebulous iris represents the infinite possibilities of this endeavour and signifies our opportunity to look back at earth from space with our own eyes for the first time. The eye's pupil incorporates an eclipse, the dawning of something new, something unique but accessible. Something far, but near."

The new visual was identity was created by Philippe Starck in conjunction with leading design agency GBH Design Ltd.

Mark Bonner, Creative Director at GBH Design Ltd, added: "It is an honor and a privilege to work within one of the most exciting ventures in the world today. Our aim is not just to create something that represents the opportunity for an ordinary person to travel into space and to look back at the planet where we all live, but also to represent the incredible spirit of human endeavor that continues to push us all forward".

Richard Branson and the Virgin Galactic team feel that the new logo looks towards the future of space travel rather than using imagery more in the style with a wonderful but bygone age.

Sir Richard Branson said: "Philippe has come up with the most fantastic logo, which encapsulates our vision of the future. When I look at the logo I am reminded of childlike awe. I believe it represents all those who will watch and be a part of the growth of this amazing new commercial aviation sector. Whether they be six or sixty, all will see and believe that a new chapter in the story of space flight has begun."

Whether people prefer to drink beer with steak, or wine with pasta, or cocktails with nachos, there is no denying that Americans like to drink alcohol with their meals. Although it is no surprise that Saturday is the peak day of the week for consumption of alcoholic beverages at casual/fine dining restaurants, Monday through Thursday are not far behind. According to leading consumer and retail information company The NPD Group, 37 percent of adults (ages 21 and over) include alcohol with their casual/fine dining restaurant dinners from Friday to Sunday, compared to 34 percent between Monday and Thursday. Additionally, the type of alcohol consumed varies by meal as well.

Lunch versus dinner

Although weekend lunch is an important occasion for beverage alcohol, consumption nearly triples between lunch and dinner (13 percent of the time when an adult visits a casual/fine dining restaurant for lunch, they order an alcoholic beverage, whereas 36 percent of the time for a dinner meal, alcohol is ordered). While beer consumption dominates at lunches that include an alcoholic beverage (55 percent of “drinking” lunches include beer), as opposed to dinner (45 percent), cocktails and wine take the lead at dinnertime. Happy hour, the hours between 4:00 and 7:00 PM, is the highest consumption of beer (58%), and cocktails during this time are on par with dinnertime consumption (34%). In any event, the more people drink, the more they spend.

Red wine garners highest check size
The average eater check is about $12.00 without beverage alcohol. With alcohol, the average check amount almost doubles. Despite the fact that different foods surely impact check size (especially when pairing steak with red wine and pasta with white wine, for example), the type of wine still affects the average check amount. People tend to have a higher check when they order red wine, a moderate check with white wine, and a lower check with blush wine.

Other key findings

Desserts are ordered more often if someone had wine with their meal.

Thursday is the peak weekday for consuming alcoholic beverages.

While wine is consumed throughout the week, cocktails rely most on the weekends. “What we’re seeing is that alcoholic beverages have an important place in people’s lifestyles that go beyond Saturday nights,” said Michele Schmal, vice president of The NPD Group. She adds, “everyone has different tastes, and it is never more apparent than in their selections of alcoholic beverages.”

As fate would have it at MAGIC, one hot rod with a Cheshire cat grin, was standing  by her Army Pink hot rod.  A second look, and I realized it was not Danica Patrick, she races Indy cars, but one newly introduced Kendra Verlingo to the Super Comp category of National Hot Rod Racing. 

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