MBN: THE MONTE BUBBLES NETWORK

Bono and Bobby Shriver Launch (RED)(TM) in the U.S.

Gap, Motorola, Converse, Giorgio Armani, Apple and MTV Networks Join Forces to Launch Massive Product, Retail, Marketing and Online Campaigns Designed to Eliminate AIDS in Africa

 Oct. 14  -- Harnessing the power of some of the world's most iconic brands, Bono and Bobby Shriver announced today the U.S. launch of (RED), the groundbreaking initiative that marries the private sector with the buying power of the public in an effort to generate a sustainable flow of private sector funds towards the fight to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Gap, Motorola, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Apple are the first five companies to partner with (RED) in the U.S. The partnerships include licensing the (PRODUCT) RED(TM) mark and launching major integrated commercial efforts encompassing national and global product launches, retail, marketing and online activities. MTV Networks has joined (RED) as the first media sponsor in the U.S. to help build the brand and create awareness.

"We want to change history by writing its future," said Bobby Shriver, chief executive officer of (RED). "With (PRODUCT) RED, consumers can tap into the power of commerce to do something amazing and unprecedented. Our partners have created incredible products that consumers will want and need, which is the beauty of (PRODUCT) RED. We're not asking anyone for a donation or for them to change their behavior. People buy things every day. But now, when they buy (PRODUCT) RED, they will look good and do good -- and that's good business."

(PRODUCT) RED launched in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Brands that license the (PRODUCT) RED mark make a five-year commitment to create unique (PRODUCT) RED products and contribute a significant percentage of sales or portion of profits from the sales of those products into Global Fund- financed AIDS programs with a special emphasis on women and children affected by AIDS in Africa. Since the inception of the Global Fund in 2002, the private sector has contributed five million dollars versus $4.9 billion from governments around the world. (RED) will create a new income stream into the Fund.

"AIDS in Africa is an emergency, that's why we chose the color Red. When you buy a (PRODUCT) RED product, the company gives money to buy pills that will keep someone in Africa alive. The idea is simple, the products are sexy and people live instead of die. It's consumer power at work for those who have no power at all," Bono, co-founder of (RED).

Specific plans and products for the U.S. launch of (PRODUCT) RED include the following:

* GAP - Gap (PRODUCT) RED(TM) is a new, limited edition collection of clothing and accessories for men and women designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Fifty percent of the profits from sales of Gap (PRODUCT) RED items will go to the Global Fund to finance programs that help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The collection, which is rooted in Gap's iconic product categories such as t-shirts, hoodies, jeans and accessories, features 40 items -- each branded with subtle yet distinct details inspired by (RED). The full Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection will be available exclusively in select Gap adult stores in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France and Japan and online in the U.S. at gap.com. In stores, the Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection will be displayed in a distinct shop-in-shop RED boutique.

The retail price of Gap (PRODUCT) RED items ranges from $1 to $350 which includes products such as graphic T-shirts ($28) and tote bags ($45) for men and women, skinny jeans with red stitching for women ($150), and motorcycle jackets for men ($350). One vintage-style T-shirt from the collection is being manufactured in Lesotho, Africa from 100 percent African cotton. The T- shirt is made for both women and men and will be available in red, as well as a range of other classic colors.

As part of its (PRODUCT) RED collection, Gap also launched a book entitled INDIVIDUALS: Portraits from the Gap Collection, at a special event in New York City during Fashion Week on September 12. Since Gap's founding in 1969, style icons from virtually every artistic field have been photographed for Gap ads, and Individuals brings the best of them together for the first time in a celebration of the individual spirit that lives within all of us. Books will be available in both hard and soft cover and are packaged with a limited edition CD containing fifteen of the most memorable songs featured in Gap ads. 100 percent of Gap's profits from the sale of Individuals will go to the Global Fund.

To celebrate the introduction of the Gap (PRODUCT) RED Collection, Gap is launching a powerful new advertising campaign featuring an incredible cast of celebrities photographed by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The campaign consists of compelling images of Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Garner, Chris Rock, Penelope Cruz, Christy Turlington, Don Cheadle, Mary J. Blige, Dakota Fanning and Apollo Ohno.

* MOTOROLA - As the exclusive worldwide wireless partner for (RED), Motorola is developing unique products and partnering with leading wireless operators to enable consumers to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. After its successful launch of the MOTOSLVR in the UK, the RED MOTORAZR and RED Bluetooth H500 headset are the first in a series of products in the U.S. to benefit The Global Fund.

Motorola is also announcing its first two carrier partners in North America.: Sprint and U.S. Cellular. The RED MOTORAZR will be available from both partners. In addition, The RED Bluetooth H500 headset is available for purchase online at motorola.com/red.

With each sale of a (PRODUCT) RED phone and headset, a direct contribution of $17 and $5 respectively will be made to the Global Fund by Motorola and its carrier partners. Motorola RED products will be rolling out internationally over the remainder of the year and into 2007.

Motorola will also launch Studio RED, a series of initiatives to include physical and virtual destinations that will enhance consumers' mobile experiences with (PRODUCT) RED. Studio RED will inform consumers of Motorola (PRODUCT) RED activities, purchase benefits and rewards. Studio RED will offer exclusive content, including limited edition wallpaper, ring tones and video casts, which have been designed by Motorola's elite partnership network of musicians and designers.

For more information on Motorola's commitment to RED and product availability, please visit motorola.com/red, sprint.com/red or uscellular.com.

* CONVERSE - The Converse (PRODUCT) RED Collection includes four exclusive, limited edition shoes designed by acclaimed U.K. designer Giles Deacon, featuring a Chuck Taylor(R) All Star(R) Hi ($100), Jack Purcell(R) ($100), One Star(R) Mid ($120) and Weapon(R) ($140) available in September at select specialty locations with 10 percent of net wholesale sales going directly to the Global Fund. Converse is also releasing three new (PRODUCT) RED versions of its Chuck Taylor All Star canvas hi-tops in black, white and red ($47) available exclusively at more than 180 Gap locations nationwide starting today.

In addition, Converse will be introducing MAKE MINE RED, a unique feature only available online at www.converseone.com, that offers shoppers the unique option to custom design any Converse (PRODUCT) RED Chuck Taylor Canvas Hi and Low shoes to support the (RED) initiative. The MAKE MINE RED function provides consumers with a unique way to express their originality, with 15 percent of net retail sales going directly to the Global Fund. Retailing for $60, all MAKE MINE RED styles include iconic Converse (RED) detailing such as the logo inscribed on the insole of the shoe and red eyelets symbolically adorning the top of the sneakers along with a custom palette of seasonal colors and patterns. Converse is the only (PRODUCT) RED partner with this exclusive capability to give consumers a platform to express their creativity through (PRODUCT) RED.

Converse will partner with celebrated designers, artists, musicians and filmmakers to inspire originality by offering limited edition Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoes each season on a unique canvas that preserves culture and embraces creativity. Depending on the product sold, a contribution of 5 to 15 percent of net sales from Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoes goes directly to the Global Fund.

* GIORGIO ARMANI - In support of (PRODUCT) RED, Giorgio Armani unveiled his men's and women's Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED capsule collection on September 21 during London Fashion Week at a unique televised fashion and music event called (Emporio Armani) RED ONE NIGHT ONLY. The capsule collection is comprised of products that range from a jacket ($228), sweatshirt ($148) and jeans ($198) to accessories, including sunglasses ($170), a watch ($225), wallet ($148), mobile phone clip ($58) and belt ($198). In developing his collection, Giorgio Armani collaborated with Ghanaian contemporary artist Owusu-Ankomah, whose art is featured on clothing, accessories and packaging in the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection. The range of products will be expanded further with the launch of a Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED women's and men's fragrance and jewellery in Spring 2007.

On November 16, Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED products will be available in all 124 Emporio Armani stores throughout the world, each featuring a (PRODUCT) RED-themed window and significant point-of-sale support. An online micro-site at http://www.emporioarmaniproductred.com/ and national print ads will also drive Armani's significant promotion.

Giorgio Armani is contributing an average of 40 percent of its gross profit margin from sales of all Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED products directly to The Global Fund.

* APPLE - The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition comes in a beautiful red aluminum enclosure and features 24 hours of battery life, Apple's innovative Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design. Apple will contribute $10 from the sale of each iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is available worldwide in a 4GB model for $199 (US) through Apple's retail stores and the Apple Store (www.apple.com). Apple will also offer a $25 iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card for purchase at Apple's retail and online stores next month.

The (PRODUCT) RED collections are designed to be compelling parts of the brands' overall offerings and are not priced at a premium, making it easy for consumers to choose (RED) over non-(RED) items.

(RED) is also developing a suite of media partnerships which will enable the brand to increase awareness. MTV Networks has joined (PRODUCT) RED as the initiative's first media partner. The partnership starts with VH1 and will expand across MTV, Comedy Central, Spike and other channels in the coming months. The program includes on-air integration including (RED) spots, content placement, in-show graphic interruptions, full-screen takeovers and frequent banners.

"(PRODUCT) RED is a brilliant and effective response to the greatest global crisis of our time -- the HIV/AIDS pandemic," said Professor Richard Feachem, executive director, the Global Fund. "There is no one way to solve this problem, but (RED) has come up with a smart and unique way of trying to do so. (PRODUCT) RED is already changing and saving lives."

American Express and MySpace.com continue their tremendous initiatives in the UK.

About Gap

Gap Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Forth & Towne brand names. Fiscal 2005 sales were $16.0 billion. Gap Inc. operates about 3,000 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Ireland and Japan. For more information, please visit gapinc.com.

About Motorola

Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks -- along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US$36.8 billion in 2005. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit www.motorola.com.

About Converse

Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as "America's Original Sports Company"(TM) and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor(R) All Star(R) shoe, the Jack Purcell(R) shoe and the One Star(R) shoe. Converse was the first basketball shoe to ever make contact with the court in 1917. Soon after, Converse gained iconic status with the creation of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe in 1923, which went unmatched through five decades of professional basketball. For more information, visit Converse on the web at www.converse.com.

About Giorgio Armani

The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with 4,900 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Prive, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The Group's exclusive retail network currently comprises: 71 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 124 Emporio Armani stores, 97 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 17 AJ | Armani Jeans stores, 6 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori, 1 Emporio Armani Accessori store and 20 Armani Casa stores in 40 countries.

About Apple

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award- winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its interactive properties worldwide, including Neopets, Xfire, IFILM, GameTrailers.com, and online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide. The Company's web properties recorded more than 175 million video streams in June, a triple-digit increase over the same period last year. Within one year, the Company has launched 24 broadband channels globally, including MTV Overdrive, mtvU's Uber, TurboNick, VH1's VSpot and Comedy Central's Motherload. All feature dynamic original content and are expected to stream more than 1 billion videos by year's end. Further, viewing of MTVN's on-air channels accounts for over 25% of all time spent watching cable television, with such valuable brands as Nickelodeon which is now enjoying its 11th year as the top-rated cable network.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks.

About the Global Fund

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. The Global Fund finances one fifth of all global efforts to stop AIDS and two thirds of global expenditure against tuberculosis and malaria.

About (RED) and (PRODUCT) RED

(RED)'s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT) RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Converse, Gap, Giorgio Armani and Motorola. MySpace.com is the first media sponsor in the United Kingdom. WWW.JOINRED.COM

How Funding Works

A portion of sales or profits from the sale of (PRODUCT) RED products will support Global Fund-financed programs which positively impact the lives of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. These include programs in countries such as Rwanda, which has a proven track record and ambitious targets. For example, in the past two years, Rwanda has increased the number of people receiving treatments for HIV/AIDS ten-fold.

Each program highlighted by (RED) will be selected based on the following Global Fund criteria:

  Focus:    -- The grant's activities are related to HIV/AIDS treatment, care and       prevention and focus on women and children in Africa    Performance:    -- The program is performing well as evidenced by progress reports and a       mid-program performance review    Reporting:    -- The program's principal recipient is providing progress reports and       making disbursement requests to the Global Fund on time    -- The Global Fund Secretariat has been approving disbursement requests,       based on Local Fund Agent (professional consultants') recommendations       to the Secretariat 

Sara Evans pulls out of Dancing with the stars

Country singer Sara Evans alleges in divorce papers that her husband committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home.

In the filing in state court in Franklin, a Nashville suburb where the couple has a home, Evans alleges that Schelske watched pornography on the couples' computers and has at least 100 nude photographs of himself in a state of arousal.

Evans filed for divorce from Craig Schelske in Williamson County, Tenn., where she lives, according to a statement issued by Allen Brown, her representative at Sony BMG Music Entertainment

"Recent events that shed light on the status of her marriage prompted Ms. Evans to make the filing," Brown said in the statement. He declined to elaborate.

The couple were married in 1993 and have three children.

Evans decided she needed to leave the TV show "to give her family her full attention at this difficult time," Brown said.

She also alleges that several photographs show Schelske having sex with other women, and that Schelske maintains "Craigs Lists" on his computers, some of which involve requests for three-party sex and anal sex.

According to the court documents, the oldest of the couple's children confronted Schelske when he was watching pornographic material on the television in their home.

Evans further alleges that Schelske frequently threatened her and "told her that she is crazy," threatened to take the children to Oregon and "continually interferes with (Evans') possession of and parenting time" with their children.

Evans requests child custody, possession of Franklin home and child support.

Evans was among 11 celebrities who paired with professional dancers to compete on the third season of the popular ABC reality series.

"Ms. Evans hopes that her fans and TV viewers who've supported her in recent weeks and throughout her music career will respect and understand her need for privacy in the face of these recent events," Allen Brown, her representative at Sony BMG Music Entertainment, said in a statement Thursday.  

Evans, 35, was recently nominated for female vocalist of the year honors by the Country Music Association. The Missouri native made her recording debut in 1997 and her 2000 album "Born To Fly" went double-platinum.

- On Friday, October 13, 2006, Gen Art will host “Fresh Faces in Fashion,” its ninth annual show dedicated to launching the best emerging fashion designers on the West Coast. This highly anticipated event is sponsored by the hot new BlackBerry® Pearl™ smartphone (www.blackberrypearl.com) and kicks off Los Angeles Fashion Week. It will be hosted at the Barker Hangar (3021 Airport Ave Santa Monica, CA 90405) in Santa Monica, featuring an accessory designer reception at 7:00pm and a runway show at 8:00pm. The show will debut the work of five womenswear designers, one menswear, one swimwear, and one mixed collection of men’s and women’s apparel on the catwalk. The event will also feature four accessory designers in installations. “Fresh Faces in Fashion” is Gen Art’s anchor fashion event committed to the growth of independent and spirited fashion talent. Musical selections for the pre-runway show reception will be provided by acclaimed music supervisor Amanda Scheer Demme with George Augusto and DJ Johnny Abrams in support of “His & Hers,” their new release on Thrive Records. A celebratory party featuring the house music stylings of DJ Marques Wyatt of Deep Los Angeles will follow the show in the Hangar.

Editors and stylists from the world’s leading publications and fashion houses helped Gen Art select only twelve of the most promising designers from among hundreds of hopefuls. Some of these designers have already become favorites among several Hollywood celebrities. This year, the womenswear lines include Augustine, Crispin & Basilio, Katy Rodriguez, Trasteverine, and Ziji. The menswear line is Anzevino & Florence. Fremont will present a combination of womenswear and menswear. And Haverhill swimwear will unveil their Spring 2007 bathing suits. Gen Art is also proud to introduce jewelry lines Hollieten and Jack Rabbit, as well as shoe collections by LD Tuttle and Marcello Toshi Creazoni.

"We are thrilled to continue providing the industry with a first glimpse of these talented new fashion designers in a fresh and singular format,” says Jennifer Egan, Gen Art’s Regional Director for Los Angeles. “Through each designer’s unique perspective, LA becomes more established and more widely recognized a fashion capital.”

The show is the finale of Gen Art’s five market 2006 Fresh Faces in Fashion program which included Miami (March), New York (Sept 8), San Francisco (Sept 16), and Chicago which served as the finale of Chicago Fashion Focus Week on September 25.

Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces in Fashion” event has an unparalleled track record for showcasing tomorrow’s top designers. Previous discoveries include Louis Verdad (who dressed Madonna, Cate Blanchett and others following his debut at the show), Zac Posen, Shoshanna, Rebecca Taylor, Michelle Mason, Hollywould, Jared Gold, Cloak, Eugenia Kim and Eduardo Lucero. Three of these Gen Art alumni designers have gone on to win best new designer of the year by the CFDA following their debut with Gen Art.

According to Los Angeles Magazine, “Fresh Faces in Fashion’ has become the showcase for promising local designers, and, arguably, Fashion Week’s hottest ticket.”

Joining the BlackBerry Pearl in making this event possible are Acura, Bawls Guaranexx, Beck’s Premier Light, Ecru New York, the IN:NYC Card from America Express, Johnny Walker, Mac Cosmetics, Max Custom Media, L.A. Confidential Magazine and Pop Champagne

Reserved seating tickets with VIP area access are $100/person and $90 for Gen Art members. Standing tickets are $40/person and $30 for Gen Art members. All tickets include early entry to the show pre-reception and access to the show and after party with complimentary beverages. Gen Art LA Platinum and Associate Producers receive complimentary seating tickets based on their membership level and VIP room access.

For additional information or to purchase tickets please call 310-360-0141, or visit www.genart.org.

Gen Art is the leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to supporting the best emerging talent in film, fashion, art and music. Founded in 1993, the company reaches a devoted audience of 21-39 year old influencers and is a prominent and lasting force in the arts and entertainment arena. For further information about Gen Art, please visit www.genart.org.

Garden of Eden Goes Out With a Glam

Garden of Eden has chosen the House of Glam, a Climax Global subsidiary, to host their final tribute nights before closing the hotspot at the end of 2006. The venue's coveted Saturday nights were bestowed upon the nightlife event production company due to their incredible track record with virtually reinventing the Asian American club scene nationwide.

"Garden of Eden has always exuded this yin/yang balance of enlightenment and debauchery, so I aimed to choose a production house that could mimic that same mystique," remarked David Judaken, the owner of the famed venue. "House of Glam produces the type of event that transforms the night into an evening of illuminating decadence."

House of Glam LA has created some of Los Angeles' most spectacular events, meeting a demand for creativity and glamour in a niche market. For the last four years, they have been able to meld club nightlife, Hollywood fashion and velvet rope-only access events into glamorous productions at the hottest venues in Hollywood, including Prey and Cabana Club. Earlier this summer, Glam hosted TVK Network, Audrey Magazine and DJ Virman at the Garden to an over-capacity crowd of trendsetters and style mavens.

The House of Glam will continue to reign as the most influential promoter of the Asian American nightlife scene by producing a 16-week series of events simply named "TRIBUTE," in a nod to Garden's grand finale. The highlights include MTV Chi Rocks after party on September 23rd, featuring some of the hottest Asian acts in performance, and Nolcha Fashion will be kicking off their launch on October 14th. Glam's annual Halloween bash, thrown by the edgy, celebrity fashion mainstay Ed Hardy and hosted by Jeremy Jackson, will take place two weeks later on October 28th. Glam will also host the 7th Annual Kollaboration Talent Fest pre-party on November 4th. 13 Minutes magazine and SmashWear Fashion will join party revelers at this Moroccan-themed oasis, rounding out the calendar at soon to be announced dates.

The TRIBUTE Series of Events: 9/23: MTV Chi Concert After Party 10/14 Nolcha Fashion Launch Party 10/28: Annual House of Glam Halloween Party Sponsored by Ed Hardy and Hosted by Jeremy Jackson 11/4: Kollaboration Pre-Party 11/11: FarEast Movement Performance 

To find out more about the House of Glam calendar of events and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.thehouseofglam.com . The House of Glam is a subsidiary of Climax Global Entertainment www.climaxglobal.com

About The Plan C Group

The Plan C Group, spearheaded by global entertainment entrepreneur and CEO Carl Choi, a holdings company for The House of Glam, Catch Music Group, Climax Global Entertainment, DopeUSA and Plan C Agency, is an events production and marketing company based in Los Angeles with operations in every major city in the United States and throughout Asia. Founded in 1995, the company aims to become the premier entertainment, media and marketing conglomerate by producing social and commercial events and marketing campaigns that shape fashion, trends and the lifestyle of Asian Americans. With ten years of industry expertise, Plan C is uniquely positioned to influence the four hundred billion dollar market.

OCTOBER 2006Vara-Kuelbs Projects Invites You OCTOBER 2006 For more information about these events and all Vara Fine Arts services, please go to www.varaart.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Renée Vara Invites You To MIGRATIONS An Ekphrastic Evening Hosted by Renée Vara Tuesday, October 24 7:00-9:00pm 402 West Broadway, 4th Floor (West Broadway & Spring Streets) ● Ekphrastic Evenings: A new series of interviews, talks and open conversations to revive the classical poetic tradition of putting words together to describe and discuss art and visual culture in an environment WITH PANELISTS: Henry Buhl, Photography Collector Donna Clovis, Photographer and Writer Lisa Kirk, Independent Curator Juan Puntes, Director, WhiteBox

Space is limited. Please RSVP by replying to this email to info@varaart.com or calling (212) 475- 4404 to reserve your seats. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vara- Kuelbs Projects Invites You To

Dumbo Arts Under the Bridge Festival

October 12- 14 "100% Acrylic" performance installation by Agata Olek Oleksiak Saturday, October 14 at 4:30pm NYC Department of Transportation's "Iron Shop" - 59 Adams Street (at Front Street) Artist's Reception (RSVP REQUIRED) Saturday, October 14, 6:00-8:00pm 50 Bridge Street (at Water Street), Loft #516 Please RSVP to lkuelbs@mac.com "Contingencies of the Real" Photography and Video Exhibition October 12- 14, 11:00am- 6:00pm 50 Bridge Street (at Water Street), Loft #516 Featuring Work By: Elena Bajo, John Breiner, Jo Broughton, Lynn Butler, Donna Clovis, Moo Kwon Han, Peter Mackie, Michael Markos, Agata Olek Oleksiak, Betty Tompkins, Bevan Walker, Jared Whitham and Bryan Zanisnik

For more information about this project, please visit www.vkprojects.com ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vara Fine Arts www.varaart.com 212.475.4404 info@varaart.com

Oct. 13 Sony Online Entertainment and Sigil Games Online announced today the special features included in the Collector's & Guild Edition, as well as pre-order details for the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. In the vast world of Telon, players are free to choose their destiny by exploring three spheres of advancement, adventuring, diplomacy, and crafting. With intricately detailed environments inspired by oil paintings, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is scheduled to make the journey to retail stores in Q1 2007.

The pre-order box at retail includes:

- Early access to the game! Log on and get a jump start up to three

days prior to the official launch!

- Special account key that will grant you a unique exclusive in-game

scroll that will allow your character to sprint for longer periods of

time due to an endurance buff (one per account).

- Invitation to the Vanguard: Saga of Heroes open beta (for eligible

participants).

- Guild Mail recruitment tool to help you build your guild before

launch!

- A king's ransom of assets, including videos, wallpapers and

screenshots.

AVAILABLE EARLY DECEMBER

Regular Edition - $49.99 MSRP

Packaged in a DVD box, the Regular Edition will include:

- A one month subscription to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Station

Players(TM) - an array of premium features that give incredible

access to characters and guilds by merging the game world with the

World Wide Web.

- Your choice of an in-game magical wand to create fireworks or an

in-game set of horseshoes with +speed to use once you get your first

horse (one per account).

Collector's & Guild Edition Details - $89.99 MSRP

Packaged in a custom leatherette chipboard box, the Collector's & Guild Edition will include:

- An art book featuring many original pieces by seminal fantasy artist,

Keith Parkinson.

- A cloth map with an overview and points of interest for each

continent.

- A CD featuring the full Vanguard: Saga of Heroes soundtrack.

- A three month subscription to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Station

Players(TM) - an array of premium features that give incredible

access to characters and guilds by merging the game world with the

World Wide Web.

- One of three Hero Cards each granting a unique in-game item (one per

account).

- The Jeric card grants a cloak that increases adventuring stats.

- The Eila card grants a cloak that increases crafting stats.

- The Idara card grants a cloak that increases diplomacy stats.

- Your choice of an in-game magical wand to create fireworks or an

in-game set of horseshoes with +speed to use once you get your first

horse (one per account).

- A Guild Kit which includes:

- An in-game guild trophy that buffs stats for the entire guild*

- Ten 10-day buddy keys

* Need to earn/create guild house to use

For more information about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes please visit: www.vanguardsoh.com and www.joinvanguard.com

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM), SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

CA — Academy Award®-nominated director Peter Bogdanovich will join actresses Carol Lynley and Eva Marie Saint for a centennial tribute to three-time Academy Award-nominated director and producer Otto Preminger on Thursday, November 2, at 8 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The tribute, hosted by Bogdanovich, will present a selection of film clips and onstage discussions with Hope and Victoria Preminger, the director’s widow and daughter, respectively, as well as Lynley and Saint.

Born in Vienna, Austria on December 5, 1906, Preminger worked as a stage actor and director throughout Europe, making his film directorial debut in 1931 with a German-language melodrama called “Die Grosse Liebe” (“The Great Love”).

Arriving in the United States in 1935 at the invitation of 20th Century-Fox, Preminger earned his first Academy Award nomination in 1944 for directing “Laura” and went on to direct a number of important films for the studio, including “Fallen Angel,” “Forever Amber,” “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “River of No Return.”

Preminger delighted in challenging authority, a quality that often led to clashes with studio executives and censors. In the early 1950s, Preminger formed his own production company, and as an independent producer he became known for taking on controversial topics. He explored the themes of sexual promiscuity, heroin addiction and rape in such films as “The Moon Is Blue,” “The Man with the Golden Arm,” and “Anatomy of a Murder.” He also maintained his connection to theater by directing film adaptations of stage productions, including the black-cast musicals “Carmen Jones” and “Porgy and Bess.”

Preminger received his second directing nomination for “The Cardinal” in 1963; he was also nominated for producing “Anatomy of a Murder.”

As part of the centennial celebration, the Academy will also present a retrospective film series highlighted by recent restorations and newly made prints from the Otto Preminger Collection at the Academy Film Archive.

The screening series, to be held at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater, will feature:

Friday, November 3, at 7 p.m.
“The Man with the Golden Arm”
Premiering a new restoration by the Academy Film Archive
“Laura”
Featuring a new print by 20th Century Fox

Saturday, November 4, at 7 p.m.
“Where the Sidewalk Ends”
Premiering a new restoration by the Academy Film Archive and 20th Century Fox
“Daisy Kenyon”
Featuring a new print by 20th Century Fox

Friday, November 10, at 7 p.m.
“The Moon Is Blue”
Premiering a new restoration by the Academy Film Archive
“Bonjour Tristesse”
Featuring a recently restored print by Sony Pictures Entertainment

Saturday, November 11, at 7 p.m.
“Whirlpool”
Featuring a new print by 20th Century Fox
“Bunny Lake Is Missing”
Featuring a recently restored print by Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sunday, November 12, at 7 p.m.
“Anatomy of a Murder”
Featuring a recently restored print by Sony Pictures Entertainment

Tickets to “A Centennial Tribute to Otto Preminger” and for each screening in the accompanying film series are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the tribute and 6 p.m. for the screenings. Seats are unreserved.

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.

The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. Parking is available behind the building through the entrance on Homewood Avenue.

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Described by The Washington Post as "quite plainly a bombshell, a knockout ... and slim, leggy and gorgeous ... and stacked," Alice Alyse, the accomplished ballerina known as the "American Ballerina," will appear on The Tyra Banks Show to discuss her courageous pursuit of justice against the Broadway show, "Movin' Out," where as one of the top actresses and dancers, she was allegedly sexually abused, harassed and discriminated against over the size of her breasts, gender and Latin origin.

In the interview with Tyra Banks, Ms. Alyse reveals an inside look at the rigors of performing on Broadway and the difficulties actors, actresses and dancers encounter in being treated with respect by "hot shot" managers and billionaire owners who attempt to control their lives, and the cold shoulder they are given by the compromised labor unions which are supposed to protect them.

Recently, to promote and protect the interests of entertainers, Ms. Alyse has founded the American Ballerina Foundation, where she serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. See www.americanballerina.org.

Ms. Alyse appears on the show with her lawyer, Larry Klayman, who as former Chairman of Judicial Watch, a U.S. Senate candidate and now in private practice, has dedicated his career to taking on injustice.

Web site: http://www.americanballerina.org/
http://www.alicealyse.com/

Leading celebrities, corporate leaders, public officials, musicians, and health professionals will come together tonight for the 2006 YouthAIDS Gala to raise funding and awareness to fight HIV/AIDS. YouthAIDS, an action-based initiative implemented by Population Services International (PSI), works on a global level to educate and protect youth from HIV/AIDS. The event, presented by AOL, LLC, The Leonsis Foundation, The Sheila C. Johnson Foundation, and Salamander Hospitality, LLC, will take place at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.

YouthAIDS will honor two individuals that have made significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group of Companies, will be honored for his ongoing dedication to fighting the AIDS epidemic through innovative business campaigns and Violetta Ross, an HIV- positive Bolivian activist, will be honored for leading advocacy efforts for the human rights of people living with HIV. Additional highlights of the Gala include performances by five-time Grammy Award-winner Michael McDonald and Latin Grammy winner Jorge Moreno, and will also feature YouthAIDS Ambassadors Wynonna Judd, Josh Lucas and Emmy Rossum, plus special guests Paula Abdul, Project Runway's Tim Gunn, and Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera.

"It is our honor to recognize the corporate and social contributions of Richard and Violetta in the fight against AIDS," said Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Global Ambassador and Host of the YouthAIDS Gala. "Through education and prevention, we have a real opportunity to avert the HIV/AIDS emergency, particularly in Central America. The work Richard and Violetta are doing is desperately needed and they are setting important examples of innovative responses to saving our future generations from this pandemic."

The YouthAIDS Gala theme, "Faces of Latin America," will highlight the recent visit that Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Founder Kate Roberts, actress Salma Hayek and YouthAIDS Ambassador for Latin America, Juanes made to Central America, a region where HIV/AIDS is widely threatening young populations. "The 2006 YouthAIDS Gala will be a special evening where we gather individuals from all industries who share our commitment of protecting young people from HIV/AIDS," said Kate Roberts. "We are especially pleased to have the opportunity to share the experiences of our recent journey through Central America to help raise further awareness for a region that is severely affected by HIV/AIDS."

The evening will also include a live auction featuring donated items including a spot at the top of the waiting list for the new GTC Bentley convertible, earrings by H. Stern, tickets to Sir Elton John's concert at Madison Square Garden, and a trip to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, with all proceeds going to support YouthAIDS/PSI's life-saving programs in more than 60 countries around the world.

Academy Board Votes toEstablish Makeup Branch

Makeup artists and hairstylists who are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have been granted branch status by the Academy’s Board of Governors, Academy President Sid Ganis announced today.

Branch status will permit the roughly 120 makeup artists and hairstylists who are currently members-at-large to elect one individual from among their ranks to represent them on the board. This will increase the size of the board to 43. Information about the change and election materials will be sent to members of the new branch in time for them to select the new governor before the December meeting of the board.

The single-governor branch will be unique, but the representation of a craft area on the Academy board by a single governor is relatively common. Costume designers, production designers, set decorators, sound editors, sound mixers and live-action short-film makers all have a single representative on the board.

“There is a very strong sentiment among the governors not to increase the size of the board to the point that it becomes unwieldy,” said Ganis, “so the idea of even this slight expansion was not approached casually. But in view of their numbers within the organization, and the fact that every year we award the highest honor in filmmaking – our statuette – to an achievement in makeup, it seemed only fair to give these artists a voice on our board.”

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Fresh on the heels of acquiring worldwide film rights to its hit manga series, Lament of the Lamb, a gut-wrenching horror story of a young man who shockingly discovers he may be the last in a bloodline of vampires, TOKYOPOP has chosen the property to launch the company's first foray into independent film production. Currently in development, the Lament of the Lamb film venture has landed a coveted "In The Spotlight" position at this year's 19th Annual Tokyo International Film Festival. Ranked as one of the world's largest film festivals and Japan's only officially approved international film gathering, the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival will be held in Tokyo from October 21 through October 29, 2006.

Created by Kei Toume and originally published in Japan by Gentosha, Lament of the Lamb follows the physical and mental torment of a man who discovers that he is cursed with a hereditary disease that makes him crave blood. A metaphor for teenage alienation, twisted sexual desire and insanity, Lament of the Lamb presents psychological horror at its best.

Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP CEO & Chief Creative Officer, is producing the film. "We are honored to be spotlighted at one of the world's most significant film festivals. I believe what impressed the committee most about Lament of the Lamb was the distinctive East-meets-West approach to our production," Levy stated. "We'll script the story in Hollywood, attach a Japanese director, cast in the West, and shoot in Eastern Europe. Clearly, this production represents what TOKYOPOP as a media company is all about, from its business model to its creative approach."

According to a statement from Tokyo International Film Festival Chairman, Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, "Co-productions with a wide range of countries have increased in number, not to mention a spate of Hollywood remakes, as a burgeoning cinematic diaspora transcends the confines of national and regional borders. At a time when Asia is basking in the glow of such unprecedented attention, the Tokyo International Film Festival continues to consolidate its status as a launch pad for such superb works."

While TOKYOPOP'S popular manga properties, Priest and Pet Shop of Horrors, have been recently acquired for film adaptation by Sony Screen Gems and Focus Features, respectively, Lament of the Lamb signals the company's first move into theatrical feature film production. TOKYOPOP's previous production credits include the TV series' Street Fury (G4), GTO (Showtime), Rave Master (The Cartoon Network) and Reign the Conqueror (The Cartoon Network and Showtime).

ABOUT TOKYOPOP

Columbia Records has released Cool Yule, Bette Midler's first-ever collection of seasonal songs, available now.

Cool Yule, Midler's first new album since 2005's Top 10-charting "Bette Midler Sings The Peggy Lee Songbook," draws its name and upbeat spirit from the 1950s hipster holiday song, penned by Steve Allen, revamped by Midler for her holiday collection.

Produced by Robbie Buchanan -- whose long-time association with Bette began with playing keyboards in "The Rose" band -- and executive produced by Jay Landers (Barbra Streisand, Julio Iglesias, numerous Disney soundtracks), "Cool Yule" is a swinging celebration of that merriest of seasons, with song selections covering the many moods of Christmas ranging from beloved carols ("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") to classic pop ("Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas," and an infectious medley of "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" sung with Columbia labelmate Johnny Mathis).

"Nearly every great artist eventually makes his or her imprint on this favorite time of the year," writes Jay Landers in his liner notes for "Cool Yule." "From Ella to Elvis, Sinatra to Springsteen and Bing to Sting, and of course, 'The King of Christmas' himself, Johnny Mathis. Each new season brings forth a fresh crop of music to create a soundtrack of snowy white ... no matter if you live in Nome, Alaska or Gallup, New Mexico. Now add Bette to this esteemed list."

Bette Midler

Cool Yule

track listing

1. Merry Christmas

2. Cool Yule

3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

4. Winter Wonderland / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Duet with

JOHNNY MATHIS)

5. I'll Be Home For Christmas

6. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

7. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

9. Mele Kalikimaka

10. From A Distance (Christmas Version)

11. White Christmas

One of the world's best-loved and most versatile entertainers, Bette Midler has garnered accolades in all quarters of show business. She's earned four Grammy Awards including Song of the Year (1989: "Wind Beneath My Wings"; 1990: "From A Distance") and Record of the Year (1989: "Wind Beneath My Wings"); two Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and nine American Comedy Awards.

Her SRO tours have placed historically in the Top 5 grossing concerts in a calendar year. Ms. Midler has sold more than 14 million albums over the course of her career and holds 25 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA for her albums and singles including her most recent gold album, Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.

Source: Columbia Records

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/

The Oscar® winner for Documentary Feature of 1970, “Woodstock,” will screen on Monday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater as the next installment of “Oscar’s Docs, Part Two: Academy Award®-Winning Documentaries 1961–1976.” The 11-week series showcases the short and feature-length documentaries honored each year by the Academy.

A cast and crew reunion will take place the following night, Tuesday, October 24, in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, during which the following “Woodstock” alums will participate in a series of panel discussions about the making of the film:

In addition to winning the Academy Award for Documentary Feature (Bob Maurice, producer), “Woodstock” also earned nominations for Film Editing (Schoonmaker) and Sound (Wallin and Larry Johnson). This marked the first time a documentary had been nominated in the Film Editing category and the only time a documentary has been nominated in the Sound category.

The film captures a festival, a culture, a generation. Director Michael Wadleigh and associate producer Dale Bell assembled a team of cinematographers, sound recordists and technicians with little more than verbal agreements and handshakes. Through rainstorms, electrical shorts and a swelling crowd, the crew captured “three days of peace and music” on 315,000 feet of film. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair featured now-legendary performances by Richie Havens, Joan Baez, The Who, Sha Na Na, Ten Years After, Arlo Guthrie, Crosby Stills & Nash, Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, John Sebastian, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone and Jimi Hendrix.

A 35mm print of the original three-hour 1970 stereo theatrical release of “Woodstock” will be screened courtesy of Warner Bros.

Tickets for each evening of “Oscar’s Docs: Woodstock” are available for $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with valid ID. Tickets may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the event when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. ©A.M.P.A.S.®

Diddy Enlists Cutting-Edge Production Squad for First Solo Project in 5 Years; "PRESS PLAY" Ready to Roll Next Tuesday

 October 12, 2006 -- When Bad Boy founder and CEO Diddy decided to return to the recording studio for his first solo project in five years, he also decided to recruit an A-list team of cutting-edge producers to turn his widescreen vision into a musical reality. With Diddy himself serving as both executive producer and hands-on producer for much of "PRESS PLAY," he collaborated with a crew of studio innovators to capture the spectrum of sounds and styles that he wanted the album to embody and reflect.

Joining Diddy behind the board were such production aces as Kanye West, Timbaland, Just Blaze, the Neptunes, Havoc from Mobb Deep, Mario Winans, Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas, Rich Harrison, Danja, Big Boi, Rob Lewis, J-Dub, K-Def, Grind Music, and Jai.

The result is a genuinely innovative work that embraces the wide range of artistic influences that have defined Diddy over the years -- as an artist, a producer, and above all, a fan. A riveting mix of the new and the old, "PRESS PLAY" sounds unprecedented. With an irresistible sonic vibe best described as New Wave-meets-Hip-Hop, the album is a cutting-edge collection of sexy electro-pop with an urban street beat, the sound of a man on a mission to create something entirely original -- and succeeding.

"I originally started producing records 'cause I wanted to make people dance," Diddy says. "And I've been quietly working on this for the last two years, taking everything I've learned over the years, from growing up in the '70s, to being out in the streets in the '80s listening to hip-hop and watching how it affected my culture, to the '90s, working with Uptown and Bad Boy. Add to that all the experience I've had traveling and being exposed to all kinds of sounds, and it was time to rekindle the thing I loved. I hang out in Harlem; I chill below 14th Street. I go to hip-hop clubs, techno clubs. All that is gonna go into you and if you're not producing music at that time, it's living inside you. So when I decided to produce a new record, it all felt fresh, it felt new, it felt exciting."

The broad-based musical spectrum encompassed on "PRESS PLAY" is the result of Diddy's insatiable appetite for life and experience. In the five years since his last solo set, the RIAA platinum-certified "THE SAGA CONTINUES," Diddy has added fragrance producer, Broadway actor, marathon runner, and television producer to his ever-growing list of accomplishments. It would have been easy for him to rest on his laurels, to release a CD that played on the same template that made him a global superstar. Instead, Diddy took stock of his remarkable life and created a work that breaks all-new musical ground while remaining unmistakably Diddy. As he says, "I've achieved a great deal of success, but music is my passion."

"PRESS PLAY" will be released by Bad Boy Records next Tuesday, October 17th. The album includes the blockbuster first single, "Come To Me," featuring Nicole Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls.

 Retailers Benefiting from Channel Intelligence Optimization Technology for Improved Product Placement and Performance in Online Channels

– Channel Intelligence (CI), the leader in technology innovation for Web-initiated commerce, today announced positive results from its new patent-pending Universal Type-based Category (UTC) product placement system recently implemented within the company’s optimization technologies. CI introduced this third-generation categorization solution in the summer of 2006 as an enhancement to all product lines, and immediate results were seen in its SellCast™ Retailer Solutions product line. Each SellCast™ customer had been provided this enhanced technology to ensure better performance through online channels such as comparison shopping engines and online marketplaces.

The revolutionary UTC placement and optimization technology provides retailers with transparent, definitive and consistent organization of products across online channels. CI’s automated process combined its patented product unification technology with its latest innovation, the UTC, making the company the first provider in the industry to offer product-level mapping versus the current industry standard of category-level mapping. A UTC is a single definitive location of each and every product CI manages. Each UTC is linked to the category taxonomy of each comparison shopping engine and online marketplace, eliminating the issue of disparate product organization that has traditionally plagued online advertising of products.

eToys Direct Inc., one of CI’s early SellCast™ customers, noted improved results since migration to the new UTC system. As a leading online seller of toys and games, eToys Direct Inc. uses the comparison shopping engines to help drive additional traffic and sales to their site. Alan Mochizuki, Marketing Manager for eToys Direct Inc., comments, “We’ve worked with CI to optimize and manage our data feeds for nearly two years and have been happy with the results we’ve achieved to date. The introduction of their UTC’s has added another layer of detail, specifically with our sales reports, enabling us to better manage this program. I can see exactly which UTC my products are placed in and where they are mapped at each engine, allowing me to better understand product performance at a more granular level.”

CI’s UTC technology also played a key role in the success of one of its customers’ performance on a leading Online Marketplace. This retailer’s branded store on the marketplace had been suffering due to poor categorization of products in its data feed. Categories were incomplete and inconsistent, providing poor navigation options for consumers. CI worked with the marketplace to improve the retailer’s performance by replacing the retailer’s categories with UTC categories, resulting in an initial six-fold increase in sales for this merchant.

Already gearing up for an aggressive start to the 2007 fiscal year, Channel Intelligence is unveiling new optimization features this week in booth #703 at the Shop.org Annual Summit. These new SellCast™ BETA features include retailer traffic and sales reports by UTC, retailer quality assurance tools to view product placement by UTC, as well as retailer categorization solutions that enable retailers to use CI’s UTC as the taxonomy for their own Web sites.

About Channel Intelligence
Based in Orlando, Florida, with offices in Geneva, Switzerland, Channel Intelligence (CI) is the leading provider of innovative data solutions that make it easy for online shoppers to find and buy products whether they start at retailer sites, manufacturer sites, or destination shopping sites. CI’s patented optimization technology and data solutions currently manage and syndicate over $3B in product value to over 50 destinations every day. CI customers include nearly 200 of the world’s best known retail and manufacturing brands such as Best Buy, Baby Universe, Black & Decker, Canon, Circuit City, Electronic Arts, eToys Direct, Fujifilm, HP Home and Home Office, ICE.com, Idea Forest (Joann.com), LG Electronics, Northern Tool + Equipment, OfficeMax, Olympus, Panasonic, PC Mall, PETCO, Rooms To Go, Target, Teleflora, The Inside Store, Things Remembered and more. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.channelintelligence.com.

 Envivio Inc., the leading technology provider of IP video convergence solutions from mobile to HD, announced today that it has been named to FierceIPTV’s first annual Fierce 15 list. This distinction honors Envivio as one of the top 15 emerging IPTV companies for 2006. FierceIPTV is weekly email newsletter distributed by FierceMarkets that covers news and insights on the emerging IPTV industry, providing more than 18,000 subscribers a quick, authoritative briefing on the week’s top wireless stories and markets.

“With the IPTV space making its transition from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4, Envivio is well positioned to take the lead with its patented systems that will power revenue-generating and bandwidth saving applications for service providers,” said Brian Dolan, Editor of FierceIPTV. “Envivio is on the Fierce15 list this year for its innovative work for IPTV.”

The Envivio® IPTV systems, 4Caster™ B3 and HD3, are part of an IP video convergence solutions portfolio. This portfolio enables telcos, wireless network operators, broadcasters, and next generation service providers to direct video content to any device and over any network, from 3G to xDSL, using the lowest bandwidth with the highest picture quality available on the market.

"We are honored to be a charter winner of the FierceIPTV Fierce15 awards,” said Julien Signès, President and CEO of Envivio Inc. "With IPTV making its way into the homes of families everywhere, we understand the importance of keeping up-to-date on what is developing in the industry with publications such as FierceIPTV.”

The FierceIPTV Fierce15 awards represent the best companies in the IPTV space that are making significant strides in technology and product development for the delivery of IPTV on a global scale. The complete list of winning companies is available today in a special issue of FierceIPTV and on the FierceIPTV Wweb site at www.fierceiptv.com.

About FierceMarkets
FierceMarkets is a digital business media company serving vertical markets with email newsletters, web sites, and live events. Based in Washington, DC, FierceMarkets publications reach more than 400,000 executives in over 100 countries every business day. Current publications include FierceBioResearcher (www.fiercebioresearcher.com), FierceBiotech (www.fiercebiotech.com), FierceBioResearcher (www.fiercebioresearcher.com), FierceCIO (www.fiercecio.com), FierceDeveloper (www.fiercedeveloper.com), FierceEnterprise (www.fierceenterprise.com), FierceFinance (www.fiercefinance.com), FierceGameBiz (www.fiercegamebiz.com), FierceHealthCare (www.fiercehealthcare.com), FierceHealthIT (www.fiercehealthit.com), FierceIPTV (www.fierceiptv.com), FierceMobileContent (www.fiercemobilecontent.com), FierceSarbox (www.fiercesarbox.com), FierceVoIP (www.fiercevoip.com), FierceWiFi (www.fiercewifi.com), FierceWireless (www.fiercewireless.com), and IT-Wireless (www.it-wireless.com).

About Envivio
Envivio Inc. is the leading technology provider of MPEG-4-based IP video convergence solutions for telcos, enterprises, and broadcasters. Supporting a wide range of network protocols, resolutions, bit rates and devices, Envivio is the only company to offer IP video convergence solutions from mobile to HD. Envivio solutions deliver industry leading AVC/H.264 compressed video quality at the lowest bit rate for mobile TV, Internet TV, broadcast contribution and interactive IPTV. Service providers worldwide use Envivio solutions to reduce their operational costs while offering subscribers compelling video services anytime and anywhere. Visit www.envivio.com for more information.

Envivio is a registered trademark of Envivio Inc. All trademarks used herein, whether recognized or not, are the properties of their respective companies.

 

Mainstream Professional Journalists Trusted Most to Report Pandemic Events

According to LexisNexis U.S., when consumers are faced with major events that significantly affect their lives, such as a pandemic or an ominous hurricane, their trust mostly remains with traditional media, such as professional journalists at mainstream newspapers, magazines, television and radio, versus emerging media sources including Internet-only publications, blogs and podcasts.

Findings show that:

• Half of those surveyed said that they would turn to network television for immediate news information
• The next most popular source was the radio (42%)
• 37% of consumers would use daily local newspapers
• 33% cable news or business networks
• 25% of those interviewed would rely on Internet sites of print and broadcast media
• 6% would turn to Internet user groups, blogs and chat rooms

On average, says the report, consumers are four to six times more likely to feel that traditional media is more trustworthy than emerging news sources for news they feel is most interesting.

Top news topics of interest (each selected by approximately 1/3 of the respondents) included entertainment, hobbies, weather, and food/cooking. Following closely was sports, selected by roughly two-in-ten consumers.

For entertainment, consumers most often picked traditional lifestyle media as the most trusted source. However, Internet blogs, user groups and chat rooms were selected next most often, followed by weekly or monthly general interest and news magazines.

The survey identified that food was selected as a topic of interest nearly twice as often as politics/elections (29% vs. 15%). Additionally, popular entertainment was selected as a topic of interest five times more often than personal finance, which received the lowest proportion of interest ratings among the 21 categories included in the survey.

52% of the consumers surveyed anticipate they will continue to mostly trust and rely on traditional news sources. However, 35% expect they will trust and rely on both emerging news and traditional news in the future, and 13% anticipate they will trust and rely mostly on emerging media.

In this study traditional news is defined as professional journalists at well-established, popular and mainstream newspapers, magazines, television, radio, etc (and their Internet sites). Emerging or non-traditional news is defined as citizen journalists, pundits and organizations who create alternative or Internet-only publications, blogs and podcasts, often with a personal or particular point of view. The accuracy rate of the survey is +/- 2.5 to 3.5 percent margin of error at 95 percent confidence for total sample

Meet Recording Artists The All-American Rejects at Verizon Wireless Quakertown, PA Store

WHAT: Multi-platinum-selling recording artists The All-American

Rejects will sign autographs for fans at the Verizon Wireless

store located in Quakertown, Pa.

WHO: The All-American Rejects are an American pop band that formed

in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Their latest album "Move Along" was

released in 2005 while the single "Dirty Little Secret"

reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006

and number 18 in the UK top 40 in June 2006.

WHEN: Friday, October 13, 2006, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Verizon Wireless Quakertown Store

219 N. West End Blvd.

Quakertown, PA 18951

215-529-4141

WHY: The All-American Rejects' performance is part of the company's

VCAST Performances College Campus Tour. More concert details

can be found at http://www.aarconcerts.com/.

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.aarconcerts.com/

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre Delivers Tricks and Treats for Disney Digital 3-D(TM) Debut of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' on Thursday October 19th

; Special Shows Continue Thru Jan. 4th Oct. 12 Hollywood's legendary movie palace, The El Capitan Theatre, will celebrate the debut of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in Disney Digital 3-D(TM) on Thursday October 19th with special opening night tricks, treats (including the first-ever display of original puppets from the film), and fun-filled activities, it was announced today by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. At both sold-out opening night performances -- 7:00 pm and 9:45 pm -- the festivities include a filmmakers' panel featuring talent associated with the making of "Nightmare," along with other surprises. The film will have seven shows a day through October 31st, including a late night show at 11:30 pm. From November 1st through January 4th, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" can be seen daily at 10:30 pm and 12:15 am. An exhibit of film sets, props, and original puppet characters (on loan for the first time from Disney's Animation Research Library) will be on display through October 31st. Tickets for the El Capitan's special engagement are available at the box office, online at www.elcapitantickets.com, or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6.

The enormously popular stop-motion animated feature, directed by Henry Selick and presented by Walt Disney Pictures, has been converted from its original 2-D format into a stunning dimensional and enchanting 3-D version using the latest advancements in 3-D technology and animation. It is the first movie in industry history to be released exclusively in Digital 3-D, and it represents the first time in the history of motion pictures that a 3-D feature has been created from an existing animated classic. On the same bill throughout the engagement will be a newly rendered digital 3-D version of Pixar's delightful 1989 computer-animated short film, "Knick Knack," directed by Oscar(R)-winning filmmaker John Lasseter. The Disney Digital 3-D(TM) version of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" will open on October 20th in over 200 theatres worldwide.

Commenting on the announcement, Tim Burton said, "For me, turning 'Nightmare Before Christmas' into digital 3-D has taken a very pure little gem and made it that much better. I am extremely happy about the fact that the movie has kept its purity and the 3-D actually adds much more to it. It's almost like being on the set -- you can see the texture of the puppets, and see the characters in the foreground and others in the background. When we were making the movie, we felt in our hearts like our characters were real. When you see it in 3-D, everything comes to life and you can literally see through the eye sockets of Jack Skellington. I am thrilled that all the die hard fans, as well as a new generation of moviegoers, will get the opportunity to experience the movie in a whole new way."

Disney Digital 3-D(TM) combines premier Disney creative content with state-of-the-art Digital 3-D projection technology to deliver an unparalleled 3-D motion picture experience that is not only presented with digital clarity, but is also exhibited in a manner that makes it incredibly comfortable for the audience to experience. An award-winning team of technicians and animators at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), in collaboration with In-Three Inc., helped Disney to convert the film from 2-D to 3-D by creating a new right eye image (by animating digitized versions of the original puppet characters and projecting footage of the sets onto dimensional geometry).

First released in 1993, Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was directed by Henry Selick ("James and the Giant Peach"), and based on a story and characters by Tim Burton. The film follows the earnest-but-misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved Pumpkin King, as he attempts to take over the Christmas holiday. Against the advice of Sally, a lonely rag doll who has feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters -- Lock, Shock, and Barrel -- to help him kidnap Santa Claus. Jack eventually realizes his mistake but has to contend with the evil Oogie Boogie before he can make things right and restore the Christmas holiday. With ten ghoulishly delightful songs by Danny Elfman (who also provided the singing voice for Jack) and the vocal talents of Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, and Ken Page, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is a unique and entertaining moviegoing experience.

Web site: http://www.elcapitantickets.com/

Howard Stern is Most Popular Talk Radio Personality With Web Users for 6th Straight Year The SIRIUS Satellite Radio star tops sixth annual list of most-searched talk radio hosts

-- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) personality Howard Stern has once again topped the annual list of the most-searched talk radio personalities. The 2006 list marks the sixth consecutive year that Stern has been the No. 1 most-searched talk radio personality with web users.

The annual list is based on The LYCOS 50, an authoritative weekly list of the most popular people, places and things web users search for every day. Stern generated 232 percent more online interest than Adam Corolla, who is ranked No. 2 on this year's list.

In January 2006, Stern left his long and dominating reign in terrestrial radio to broadcast exclusively on SIRIUS. Web users have continued to express their interest in the "king of all media" by searching more for him on the web than for any other talk radio personality, including Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus, Oprah Winfrey, Sean Hannity, Tom Joyner, among others. In addition, according to Lycos, search activity for SIRIUS Satellite Radio increased 1,300 percent in 2005 and another 128 percent in 2006, due in part to Stern.

For more information about Howard Stern's daily SIRIUS radio show and the two SIRIUS channels he oversees, visit www.sirius.com.

About SIRIUS

SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a m