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Howdy Adventureland Friends: My prediction was correct. We have already exceeded 100 subscribers. According to Zinester, we add about 5-10 Adventureland Friends each week. Can it be true? In the end it was a no-brainer. My mom, Koda Bear and I decided to spend the night under the stars. It was Dusk To Dawn @ Sky-Vue. We enjoyed all 3 movies. http://www.skyvuedrivein.com/ I am not a gear head, never played with the toys and rarely watched the cartoon. So I was very surprised when I found myself glued to 'Transformers.' http://www.transformersmovie.com/ Without Jim Carrey, I like wise had low expectations for 'Evan Almighty.' I found this to be funnier than 'Bruce Almighty' and my favorite movie of the night. http://www.evanalmighty.com/ While not my favorite, 'Blades of Glory' was a very close second. These one-time fueding rivals forge an unlikely partnership turned friendship. http://www.bladesofglorymovie.com/ Happy Birthday to Karen who turns 41 on July 17. She shares this special day with Art Linkletter (1912), Phyllis Diller (1917), Donald Sutherland (1934), and David Hasselhoff (1952). Have you joined Blingo? My sponsor and I both won a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Simply use their Google-powered search engine. What could be easier? http://www.blingo.com/friends?ref=LJt9EIXsXBaBuP-fW5DaMrkkYSk +===================================+ Find your showtimes @ Adventureland http://advland.bravehost.com +===================================+ <> <> <> BOX OFFICE <> <> <> +===================================+ 'TRANSFORMERS' MORPH INTO BLOCKBUSTER "Transformers," the big-budget movie about alien robots battling on Earth, raked in $70.5 million at box offices to land at No. 1 and bring its 7-day total to a record $152.6 million. "Ratatouille," about a cuisine-loving rat who longs to be a chef in Paris, fell one notch from last week to come in No. 2 with $29 million, boosting its 10-day total to $109.1 million, and action adventure "Live Free or Die Hard," starring Bruce Willis, was No. 3 with $17.4 million. "Transformers" is based on the 1980s toys that shift shape to become alien Autobots and Decepticons warring against each other on Earth. The toys have built a loyal fan base of boys and young men, and they turned out in droves for the movie. But curiously, the film's co-producers at Paramount and Dreamworks said the second-biggest group of supporters was mothers, who recommended the movie almost unanimously. "We knew we had hard-core fans who wanted to come, (but) literally every one of the (major audience) groups turned out," said Rob Moore, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Paramount. "Transformers" debuted in a limited number of theaters on Monday and began a widespread release on Tuesday in the United States and Canada ahead of the U.S. Independence Day Holiday. Throughout the week, Paramount trumpeted the film's ability to topple records. The opening-day haul of $27.5 million was the highest Tuesday ever, and $29.1 million on Wednesday was the most cash for an Independence Day. Paramount said the $152.6 million marked a best for the initial 7 days of release for any movie that was not a sequel. It beat 2002's original "Spider-Man," which scored an opening 7-day haul of more than $151 million. "Ratatouille" also performed well over the holiday since last weekend's initial, 3-day haul of $47 million fell short of some box office watchers' expectations At $109 million, the movie is now about $8 million shy of where last summer's Disney-Pixar film, "Cars," was at the same point, and is quickly closing in on "Cars" pace, said Chuck Viane, who heads domestic distribution at the Disney studio. Willis' explosion-filled "Live Free or Die Hard" boosted its 10-day total to $84.1 million for Twentieth Century Fox. Besides "Transformers," the only other new movie to open wide this week was Warner Bros. "License to Wed," starring Robin Williams. It proved to be a mild performer with $10.4 million in its first weekend to land at No. 4 on charts. It has taken in $17.8 million since its Tuesday debut. Rounding out the top 5 was Universal Pictures' "Evan Almighty" with $8.1 million for the weekend and an overall total of $78.1 million. Michael Moore's documentary about U.S. health care, "Sicko," landed in the No. 9 slot this weekend with $3.6 million and now has a total of $11.5 million. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers: 1. "Transformers" @ $70.5 million. 2. "Ratatouille" @ $29 million. 3. "Live Free or Die Hard" @ $17.4 million. 4. "License to Wed" @ $10.4 million. 5. "Evan Almighty" @ $8.1 million. 6. "1408" @ $7.1 million. 7. "Knocked Up" @ $5.2 million. 8. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" @ $4.15 million. 9. "Sicko" @ $3.65 million. 10. "Ocean's Thirteen" @ $3.5 million. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/ +===================================+ <> <> <> NOW SHOWING <> <> <> +===================================+ TRANSFORMERS (2007) The Earth is caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between two races of robots, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor and language. http://www.transformersmovie.com/ http://transformerslive.blogspot.com/ http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/transformers/ "It's goofy fun with a lot of stuff that blows up real good, and it has the grace not only to realize how preposterous it is, but to make that into an asset." --Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert "LaBeouf has the hefty job of single-handedly injecting the action with personality, and he brings it off, though without offering much variation on his nervous, hipster-squirt charm." --Entertainment Weekly, Owen Gleiberman "...a partly impressive, partly inane buck-banging toy of a movie." --Boston Globe, Wesley Morris +===================================+ <> <> <> COMING SOON <> <> <> +===================================+ July 20, 2007 I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (2007) Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as firefighter buddies who pose as newlyweds to take advantage of insurance benefits to protect their families. Rated PG-13 for crude sexual content, nudity, language and drug references. http://www.chuckandlarry.com/ July 25, 2007 ARCTIC TALE (2007) The epic adventure of Seela the walrus and Nanu the polar bear on their amazing journey through the vast frozen Arctic wilderness. http://www.arctictalemovie.com/ July 27, 2007 THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (2007) Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the Springfield gang make their epic leap from the tube to the silver screen. Rated PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout. http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/ +===================================+ <> <> <> SHINING STAR <> <> <> +===================================+ THOMAS JEFFREY HANKS DOB: July 9, 1956, Concord, California, USA This actor can transition from comedy to drama with ease, while excelling at both. After starring on the series "Bosom Buddies," Hanks made appearances on many sitcoms, most notably "Taxi" and "Happy Days." Ron Howard remembered Hanks from his "Happy Days" episode, and in turn cast him in his first feature film, Splash (1984). From there, Hanks went on to star in a steady stream of blockbuster hits including Big (1988), A League of Their Own (1992) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993). Hanks won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars in 1993 and 1994 for his work in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. Hanks later appeared in Saving Private Ryan (1998) and The Green Mile (1999), and his success has continued with his performances in Cast Away (2000), Road to Perdition (2002) and Catch Me If You Can (2002). FACTOIDS: Received the Distinguished Public Service Award, the U. S. Navy's highest civilian honor, on Veterans Day 1999 for his work in Saving Private Ryan (1998). Dislocated his shoulder when he fell through a floor in Germany while scouting locations with Steven Spielberg for HBO series, "Band of Brothers" (2001) [Fall 1999] Tom Hanks is a fourth cousin, 4 generations removed from Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President. Their common ancestors were William and Sarah Hanks, who were great-great-great grandparents of the former president. QUOTABLES: "I do not want to admit to the world that I can be a bad person. It is just that I don't want anyone to have false expectations. Movie-making is a harsh, volatile business, and unless you can be ruthless too, there's a good chance that you are going to disappear off the scene pretty quickly. So appearances can be deceptive, particularly in Hollywood." "I love what I do for a living, it's the greatest job in the world, but you have to survive an awful lot of attention that you don't truly deserve and you have to live up to your professional responsibilities and I'm always trying to balance that with what is really important." http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158 +===================================+ <> <> <> SNACK BAR <> <> <> +===================================+ DOUBLE CHOCOLATE POPCORN BALLS 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup corn syrup 1/4 cup butter or margarine 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 8 cups freshly popped popcorn 1 cup "M&M's"® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and cocoa in medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add popcorn, stirring until evenly coated. Remove from heat. Stir in "M&M's"® pieces. Cool slightly. Shape into 2" balls. http://www.popcorn.org/ +===================================+ <> <> <> REEL KIDS <> <> <> +===================================+ ONLINE NETWORKING 4 TEENS & TWEENS This past spring, 10-year-old Adam joined other tweens on Club Penguin, playing games, throwing snowballs and chatting with kids who appear as cartoon penguins. A few weeks later, Adam asked Mom to pay $5 a month for extra features, such as decorating and furnishing his online igloo. Karen demanded to learn more about what some have billed as "training wheels" for MySpace future users. She spent time on the site with Adam and consulted with her sister, the mom of another user. "I said, 'Well, what is it? What does it involve?'" She recalled. "I wanted him to show me what he wanted and what it was about." Drawing preteens as young as 6 or 7, sites like Club Penguin and Webkinz are forcing parents to decide at what age they are willing to let their children roam about and interact online. They, along with schools, are having to teach earlier lessons on safety, etiquette and balance with offline activities. "It's kind of like what happened in the real world with Cabbage Patch dolls and Beanie Babies," said Monique Nelson, executive VP of Web Wise Kids, a nonprofit focused on Internet safety for children. "Their friends are doing it, so like kids who follow like sheep, they go online and go on these sites." According to comScore Media Metrix, U.S. visitors to Club Penguin tripled over the past year, while Webkinz' grew 13 times. Peggy Meszaros, a professor of human development at Virginia Tech, said kids' identities begin to blossom by 8 and they want to meet other children, so these sites may become their intro to social networking. But she said kids that age would get more "going to the swimming pool and meeting friends face to face," making parental oversight of online usage ever-important. A teacher in Louisville, Ky., ultimately deemed the environment safe and agreed to pay for a membership. Unlike News Corp's MySpace, the site frequented by her older son, Club Penguin limits what kids can say to one another, reducing the risks of predators and bullying. That sentiment was echoed by Tony Bayliss, father of 7-year-old Maisie in England. Club Penguin is the only site Bayliss lets Maisie visit unsupervised; Bayliss also has a cartoon penguin of his own and visits his daughter online while traveling. "It's what the future is," Bayliss said of the online environment. "It's what she's going to be using for the rest of her life." Club Penguin was started as "an online playground for kids," said Lane Merrifield, site's co-founder and CEO. "How can we take the fun pieces of these more grown-up and adult (social-networking) sites and surround them in a safe environment?" Kids win gold coins by playing games such as sled racing and, with a paid membership, buy virtual items like furniture and clothing. Kids can attend parties and make friends by adding other penguins to their buddy lists. The site, from New Horizon Interactive, does not try to keep out older users - after all, anyone can lie about age. Rather, it builds in controls meant to curb outside contact and harassment. The company says it has never had a problem with predators. Parents can choose an "ultimate safe" mode, meaning chat messages sent and received are limited to prewritten phrases, such as "How are you today?" In the standard mode, kids can type messages like any other chat program, but only the sender sees messages containing foul language and even innocent-sounding words such as "mom" - to prevent someone from asking, "Is your mom home?" Senders would think they are being ignored and not try tricks to bypass filters. The filters also catch numbers that might form a phone number a kid is trying to share, even if someone tries to replace "1" with "one." Veterans can apply to become "secret agents," responsible for patrolling the site and reporting bad behavior, and violations can get a kid banned. Likewise, Webkinz limits chats by permitting only prewritten phrases, and e-cards go only to those already on friends lists. Kids take quizzes or perform chores to earn "KinzCash" to buy furniture for their virtual room and food for their virtual pet. They must return to the site to keep their pet fed and healthy; otherwise, it's a trip to Dr. Quack, though the pets never die. Unlike Club Penguin, access to the site from Ganz is restricted to those who buy a Webkinz plush toy for about $15, many of which have been selling out due to high demand. Think Beanie Babies with an online component. A code on each toy unlocks the site for a year. Both sites do require some reading skills, though younger kids can participate with older siblings or parents. Other tween online hangouts include Millsberry, a General Mills site that promotes good eating but features product placements, and Numedeo's Whyville, where tweens play games and earn clams. While these social-networking precursors incorporate more safety measures than MySpace, Facebook and other sites geared toward teens and adults, experts warn that parents can't simply sign their kids on and leave them there, especially during the summer months when kids have more time to spend online. "We want them to develop and grow physically, spiritually and emotionally," Meszaros said. "If they are on the computer 3 or 4 hours a day, that's time they could be doing other things. Parents need to be monitoring." Step one is to decide whether kids should be there at all. Jane Healy, author of "Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds - for Better and Worse," said kids may feel they are "going to be a hopeless social failure" if they can't participate. Advocates say the controlled environment can teach kids important lessons about typing, communicating, caring for pets and budgeting - they must learn to work and save for the trampoline they want for their virtual room. But Healy said these sites also teach kids to be "a good consuming member of the consuming culture (and) to need stuff to be considered successful or good." She urges caution in opening the door to "powerful forces out there trying to intrude into your family life and personal relations with your child." Not only do the sites introduce commercialism, she said, they also take kids away from offline environments where they can learn to pick up body language and facial expressions. Software tools are available to help parents control Internet activities. Monitoring software can record a kid's conversations and whereabouts. Other tools, some available for free, block porn or limit when or how long a child can be online. Parents should keep computers in an open room and surf side-by-side with their kids. A discussion on time limits is important because rules are far easier to impose from the beginning, and Club Penguin will soon introduce a feature for parents to set such limits. "As soon as the egg timer comes up, we're going to have a list of activities they can do outside," Merrifield said. Parents should also start addressing safety and online etiquette. "They can't be there every time they go online... so it's even more important to spend time teaching them how to be safe and smart," said Susan Sachs, COO with the nonprofit Common Sense Media. It helps that many parents are now using the Internet not just for work but also recreation, information sharing and other social interaction. "When kids start to use technology, (parents) can be much more part of the process, as opposed to, 'Gee, this is all new and strange to me. I don't want you using it,'" said Peter Grunwald, a researcher who specializes in kids and technology. Nonetheless, Grunwald said, "kids are using online services at an earlier age, and that means parents do have to exercise their role as parents and be mindful of it at an earlier age than, say, 7, 8 or 9 years ago." http://www.clubpenguin.com/ http://www.webkinz.com/ http://www.millsberry.com/ http://www.whyville.net/ http://www.webwisekids.org/ http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ +===================================+ <> <> <> INTERMISSION <> <> <> +===================================+ XBOX 360 2 COST MICROSOFT $1 BILLION In another setback for Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, the company says it is planning to spend $1 billion to repair serious problems with its Xbox 360 video game console. Microsoft declined to detail the problems that have caused "general hardware failures" in recent months but said it will extend the warranty on the consoles to 3 years. The glitches and bad publicity could weigh them down as it claws for market share in the console market. In May, the Xbox ranked No. 2 in unit sales behind Nintendo's Wii, but beat out Sony's Playstation 3, according to NPD Group. "We don't think we've been getting the job done," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, which also makes Zune digital music player, a competitor to Apple's iPod. "In the past few months, we have been having to make Xbox 360 console repairs at a rate too high for our liking." Bach said the company made some changes that should reduce Xbox 360 hardware lockups, but he declined to identify the problems or say which others remain. Microsoft said it will record a charge of up to $1.15 billion for its fourth fiscal quarter, which ended June 30, to cover costs associated with the warranty extension. The news comes days before the video game industry descends on Santa Monica, Calif., for its annual E3 conference, and it could overshadow Microsoft's plans to build buzz for holiday season video game releases. The software maker also said that sales of the game console fell short of expectations for the fiscal year that just ended. Matt Rosoff, an analyst at the independent research group Directions on Microsoft, estimates that Microsoft's entertainment and devices division has lost more than $6 billion since 2002. Microsoft has written down larger amounts - more than $10 billion in the late 1990s related to investments in telecommunications, and $5 billion related to antitrust issues - but a $1 billion write-down for one division in one quarter is significant. "It suggests the problem is pretty widespread," Rosoff said. Microsoft will pay shipping and repairs for 3 years, for consoles that experience hardware failure, which is usually indicated by 3 flashing red lights on the front of the console, something gamers sometimes refer to as "the red ring of death." This isn't the first time Microsoft has made changes to the Xbox 360. Last December, the company extended the warranty from 90 days to one year for U.S. customers. In Europe, the warranty previously expired after two years. Microsoft also will reimburse the "small number" of Xbox 360 owners who have paid for shipping and repairs on out-of-warranty consoles, Bach said. In June, bloggers speculated that the Xbox 360 return problem was getting so severe that the company was running out of "coffins," or return-shipping boxes Microsoft provides to gamers with dead consoles. "We'll make sure we have plenty of boxes to go back and forth," Bach said. Chris Liddell, Microsoft's CFO, said the company sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles since November 2005 launch, missing a target for 12 million units by the end of the fiscal year. Xbox 360 prices range from $299 to $479, depending on their configuration. Microsoft's entertainment and devices division reported an operating loss of $315 million on $929 million in sales for the 3-month period that ended in March. Microsoft said it expects the division to post a profit in fiscal 2008. Microsoft announced the warranty extension after markets closed. Microsoft shares fell 11 cents to $29.88 in extended trading after falling 3 cents to $29.99 in the regular session. http://www.microsoft.com/xbox/ http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ NINTENDO MAKES DS LITE GAME STAPLE Ballpark essentials: hot dogs, peanuts, a glove and ... Nintendo's portable gaming device? The company is making a pitch to turn its DS Lite into a baseball staple, bringing interactive technology to fans this season at the Mariners' Safeco Field. The program is called Nintendo Fan Network. For a fee, the network uploads a program onto the user's DS Lite and allows fans to order food and drinks, watch live feed of the game, access stats and scores and play trivia, all from their seat - whether it's a premium seat or in the top row. "It's been a work in progress. Once we created the technology of the DS, we started looking at other applications to use its wireless features," said Nintendo corporate affairs manager J.C. Smith. "The program system became so popular... so we sought other ways to make this a fun system for people to have." The program is in the beginning stages, but Smith said the idea is being embraced by Major League Baseball and fans as another way to make a game more interactive. Nintendo declined to provide numbers on how many users are purchasing software for the program - at $5 a pop for 1 game or $30 for 10. Ideas for the program were first presented to the Nintendo-owned Mariners in 2005. With the team onboard, Nintendo spent the following year developing and testing the system and arranging a partnership with MLB to provide statistics and scores. The network was first unveiled at the Mariners' offseason fan gathering and debuted on opening day. Both MLB and the Mariners deferred comment to Nintendo. "For us it's really just the initial stage," Smith said. "We didn't want to push it hard until we were sure the services were working. We're now to that point where we're like, 'Let's push it out further.' It has been a process." The program has been lightly promoted at Mariners home games. Two download stations are positioned on the main concourse of Safeco Field and ads play before games. But there is little other fanfare, and the system isn't mentioned on the Mariners' web site. Smith showed off the functionality of the program. He ordered a hot dog and a couple of drinks. Ten minutes later, the meal was delivered. Smith showed friends replays from the feed that were unavailable in the stadium. While a little difficult to see, the replays were welcomed for those who missed a critical play. The chance to see replays is what drew Colleen Barracca and her 13-year-old son James to spend the network. Barracca thought the cost was a bit high, depending on how many games her family attended. "We're going to be in a suite with nephews and cousins the same age and I thought that would be fun for them," Colleen Barracca said. "It does make it more interactive for them. I don't know if I would pay that price over and over." Making the game interactive has been tried with little success. Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants tried "smart seats" in premium areas. Both teams removed them due to lack of use. Cisco Systems has pitched technology for the Oakland Athletics' new ballpark. Their visions include fans swiping electronic tickets stored on cell phones; bleacher bums viewing instant replays with laptop computers; and digital advertising displays able to switch images based on the buying habits of people walking by through data embedded in their cell phones. Nintendo hopes to expand the network to other stadiums. Smith said the system could be upgraded regularly as the technology and programs continue to evolve. As long as fan reaction remains positive and the system works properly, Nintendo will move forward with the program. "We're still in the initial stage to get a read on the system," Smith said. "It will improve if we roll it out broader." http://www.nintendo.com/home http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/ BIG CHANGES MADE @ VIDEO GAME EXPO The video game industry's annual showcase is saying goodbye to scantily clad booth babes, extravagant exhibits, blaring lights and pounding music. Celeb appearances are a thing of the past, too. This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, renamed the E3 Media & Business Summit, will be a toned-down affair as organizers hope to have a far less flashy discussion on new and upcoming video games. The event looks like a country club getaway, an invitation-only gathering complete with beach-side hotels, sushi and private conference rooms. "It's about the quality of connection for leaders of the industry," says Michael Gallagher, former policy adviser under Bush who heads Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that puts on the show. After last year, organizers decided it had become too big. With 60,000 people cramming into the Los Angeles Convention Center, there was a feeling that the needs of no one were being addressed particularly well. "It had gotten out of control and needed to die," said Mike Wilson, CEO of game publisher Gamecock. "It was hot, techno was blasting everywhere, there was no place to sit and the microwave cheeseburgers were $8. It just wasn't pleasant." Wilson's company wasn't invited to the new E3 that's being held in hotels along the beach in Santa Monica. He isn't the only one. Only the largest video game software and hardware companies are attending, down from the hundreds that packed the event in previous years. Also missing will be small-time bloggers, game fans and others who managed to infiltrate the trade event. As someone who attended the first E3 in 1995 and every one since, Dorothy Ferguson said she believes the new format will benefit the people attending. "It kind of got away from what was important, which is really the content," said Ferguson, VP of sales and marketing for NCSoft. "At the end you felt like a pinball in a pinball machine. It was sensory overload and it was really difficult to hear anything." This week's event, which runs through Friday, will focus on the industry's largest players, including No. 1 game-software maker Electronic Arts and console makers Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. The big story last year was Sony's decision to price PlayStation 3 at $600 and whether it would catch on with consumers. Nintendo, meanwhile, promised to bring more non-gamers into the fold with its Wii. Microsoft continued to build Xbox Live. Since then, both the PS3 and the Wii have been unleashed. (Microsoft next-generation console, the Xbox 360, in 2005.) Analyst Ted Pollack of Jon Peddie Research said he doesn't see any losers in the crop of consoles and believes they will be a boon for the industry for at least the next 5 years. "They're all doing well in their own way," he said. "All 3 consoles will win battles in the console wars and at the end everyone will be left standing." And now that all of the hardware has been available for a while, consumers can expect a flood of games. Josh Larson, director of online site GameSpot, said he is looking for this year's show to shed more light on software that takes advantage of each system's unique capabilities. He also expects more details on big video game franchises like "Halo 3," "Grand Theft Auto IV" and "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" as well has more information on Sony's strategy to compete online with Microsoft's Xbox Live service. Other top games could include Konami's "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots," a "Killzone" sequel from Sony and the latest chapter in "Final Fantasy" saga from Square-Enix Co. "It's ultimately about the games," Larson said. "The PS3 box can look real shiny and have lots of powerful specs, but it's ultimately the game experience that causes you to go out and get that gaming system." In another twist, the ESA is hoping to appeal to the gaming consumer this fall. The "E for All 2007," an event that will be open to the public, is scheduled for Oct. 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. http://www.e3expo.com/ SONY ANNOUNCES BIGGER & BETTER PS3 Sony announced a revised PlayStation 3 console with a bigger hard drive for storing downloaded content such as video games and high-definition movies. The new $599 PS3 increases the system's storage capacity from 60 to 80 gigabytes and also includes a copy of the online racing title "MotorStorm," a company spokesman said. The current 60 gigabyte model will cost $499 - a $100 price drop. The larger capacity machine won't be available in the United States and Canada until August. It plays into the company's upcoming strategy of eventually offering downloaded high-definition movies, video games, movie trailers and demos, Sony spokesman David Karraker said. Karraker said further details on high-def movies for download would be released at a later date. The announcement comes 2 days before the E3 Media & Business Summit, where the industry heavyweights like Sony rivals Microsoft and Nintendo are expected to show off their latest games and related products. In April, Microsoft began selling a version of its Xbox 360 with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and a souped up high-definition video connection. Called Xbox 360 Elite, the system sells for $479.99. Xbox gamers who already own the $399.99 20-gigabyte model can buy a snap-on 120-gigabyte hard drive for $179.99. Karraker said Sony would use the E3 show to focus on 2 areas: ways to increase the number of consumers who own PS3s and other products such as the PlayStation Portable, and expanding the system's library of games. He said Sony would be releasing 100 new video games during the current fiscal year, including 15 titles that are exclusive to PS3 such as the action title "Heavenly Sword." http://www.us.playstation.com/ http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ GAMES BY SPIELBERG 4 ELECTRONIC ARTS Steven Spielberg and video game publisher Electronic Arts are releasing a few tidbits about their ongoing collaboration to make 3 video games, but most details - including the game's titles - remain a secret. Code-named "LMNO" and "PQRS," the first 2 games to come from the their relationship will be previewed at this week's E3 Media & Business Summit, which starts Wednesday in Santa Monica, Calif. The "LMNO" game is being created for Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and PCs. It will be a "contemporary action adventure" where the player partners with a female character who evolves over time depending on how she interacts with others in the game, said Neil Young, GM of EA's LA studio. "PQRS," which is being developed for Nintendo's Wii, will have gamers wielding the wireless remote to manipulate blocks in various ways. Young said to expect much more than a computerized version of Jenga when it's released, sometime in the current fiscal year. "Of course just playing with blocks does not a game make," he said. "Now imagine there are up to 50 different properties that can be associated with them. They can explode or form a chemical reaction." Young said Spielberg, known for his roster of films such as "Schindler's List," and "E.T.," got the idea after a round of Wii tennis with Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto during last year's E3. "He came away just kind of blown away by the visceral nature of the machine," Young said. Spielberg wasn't available for an interview, but in a prepared statement said he was "a gamer" and has always been intrigued by game development. "I am truly enjoying the creative collaboration and we hope that gamers will be as excited as we are about what we can bring to the medium through our shared vision," Spielberg said. There were no details on a third title under Spielberg's arrangement to develop games for EA. Financial terms of the deal announced in 2005 haven't been disclosed. EA, world's largest game maker with blockbusters such as "Madden NFL" and "The Sims," said it will own the intellectual property behind the Spielberg games and publish them. http://www.ea.com/home.jsp +===================================+ <> <> <> DVD SHOWCASE <> <> <> +===================================+ Buy your favorite DVDs @ Adventureland http://psgoods.bravehost.com +===================================+ <> <> <> NOW SHOWING <> <> <> +===================================+ GARFIELD (2004) Life couldn't be sweeter for Garfield, everyone's favorite feline. When Jon takes Garfield to visit the vet, she gives Jon a peppy, tail-wagging, panting creature. Garfield, meet Odie, a lovable, dim-witted dog. When the hapless hound disappears, Garfield manages to pull himself from his lazy life and spring into action. He's on a mission to save Odie. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356634/ "...you are likely to leave this one feeling as grouchy and put-upon as the title character." --New York Times, A.O. Scott "...a motion picture so ungainly and awful that only an under-8 child could appreciate it." --ReelViews, James Berardinelli +===================================+ <> <> <> COMING SOON <> <> <> +===================================+ July 17, 2007 PREMONITION (2007) This time-bending thriller follows Linda Hanson, a happy wife and mother, who loses her husband in a deadly car accident one day, only to wake up and find him alive, laying beside her in bed. Rated PG-13 for some violent content, disturbing images, thematic material and brief language. http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/premonition/index.html July 17, 2007 THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 (2007) National Guard stops at a New Mexican outpost only to find it deserted. After spotting a distress signal, they commence a search and rescue mission into the hills. The very hills that the ill-fated Carter family once visited. Rated R for prolonged sequences of strong gruesome horror violence and gore, a rape and language. http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thehillshaveeyes/ http://www.myspace.com/thehillshaveeyesmovie +===================================+ <> <> <> FUN & GAMES <> <> <> +===================================+ AM I A FIREMAN YET? In Phoenix , Arizona , a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son' s hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?" Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true." Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix , Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock We dnesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots." "They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast." Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived 3 months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?" "It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one last time. And will you open the window to his room?" About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window-------- 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.." He closed his eyes one last time. +===================================+ <> <> <> TRADE TALK <> <> <> +===================================+ HAITIWOOD: FILM INDUSTRY BLOOMS IN HAITI Even in hard times, Haitians go to the movies. Now they're also making them in record numbers - about 10 feature films a year - rivaling Cuba as the Caribbean's biggest movie producer and often outselling better-financed imports. The ultimate dream? To transform the impoverished, politically volatile country of 8 million into a cinema powerhouse - Haitiwood. While most Haitian industries are stagnant, show business is booming, driven by plunging production costs and an appetite among Haitians for movies shot in their native Haitian Creole. "Movies are becoming Haiti's most popular art form after music," said Arnold Antonin, a director and president of the Haitian Filmmakers Association. He estimates Haitian film production has risen 300 percent in the last 5 years, including an explosion in straight-to-DVD releases shot in Haitian immigrant communities in the U.S. The country's first Creole-language film was released in 1980 - Rassoul Labuchin's "Anita," about a peasant girl who becomes a servant for a wealthy family. Today Haiti still does not have a national film commission. But cameras have continued to roll, even after a bloody 2004 revolt that toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and plunged the country into tumult. "Despite all the political chaos and economic problems, Haitian cinema keeps growing," said Richard Senecal, Haitian director whose 2006 film "Cousins" was featured in several international film festivals. The arrival of inexpensive digital video cameras has opened the door to budding filmmakers, lowering the production costs from hundreds of thousands or more to about $40,000 - money that typically comes from sponsors or investors who receive a percentage of the film's earnings. While lacking technical polish, Haitian films are exploring weighty social issues. Last year's hit "The President Has AIDS" explored the virus's stigma in Haitian society, while "Cousins" dealt with prostitution. There also are love stories inspired by soap operas. Haitians can't get enough, shelling out $2.70 per ticket - about twice what most Haitians earn a day - at decaying cineplexes in the capital or ramshackle theaters in the countryside. A small number of Haitian films have received limited release in U.S. theaters, but most people rent them or buy pirated copies in a thriving underground market in Haitian-American communities in the USA. "I like the fact that they use Haitian actors. They're very elegant in the use of our language," said Charles Roudo, a 53-year-old janitor at Capitol Theater in downtown Port-au-Prince. But some are not so optimistic about the industry. Piracy robs filmmakers. And the Haitian Filmmakers Association is calling for improved professional standards, warning that bad lighting and stiff acting will eventually turn off moviegoers. "Unless we start making better movies technically... Haiti's film industry could die in the womb," said Antonin, who would like to see a film school open in Haiti to train the next generation of filmmakers. "We have the talent, we just needs the tools." http://www.belfim.com/ +===================================+ <> <> STEALS & DEALS <> <> +===================================+ TAKE A BITE OUT OF STEEP DVD PRICES! DeepDiscount.com is dedicated to providing the Lowest Total Price alternative when shopping for DVDs, CDs, Books, and Video Games. We strive to make the process as simple as possible with fast, accurate searches, easy check-out procedures, and FREE standard delivery. http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=93094&merchantID=1175&programmeID=3706&mediaID=0&tracking=&url= A UNIQUE GIFT IDEA 4 MOVIE BUFFS MovieTexts are a totally new way to send greetings or just keep in touch. Tap in your message and we turn your words into their own little movie. Each has been crafted by an experienced filmmaker. We'll deliver it for you by e-mail or mobile phone. We can send it at any time - up to one year in the future. http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=93094&merchantID=2111&programmeID=5701&mediaID=0&tracking=&url= HOME THEATER, GAME ROOM & SNACK BAR HomeBarCentral.com is the premier site for furniture. We have thousands of products. We are dedicated to providing you the best possible customer service with great quality products at affordable prices. Free Shipping on orders as little as $49. If you would like something we do not carry please let us know. We will do our best to locate it, and even if we cannot provide it, we will tell you where you can find it. http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=93094&merchantID=2211&programmeID=5827&mediaID=0&tracking=&url= LOOK NO FURTHER 4 YOUR VIDEO GAME NEEDS! GameExpress.com is the net Online Store of Game Express, Inc., a retail chain based in the New York Metro and New Jersey area. With over 15 years of experience in video game retailing, our company has grown to more than 11 stores. We offer video games from Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance! Our mission is to offer the best prices on quality games! http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=93094&merchantID=1800&programmeID=4858&mediaID=0&tracking=&url= +===================================+ <> <> <> NEWS REELS <> <> <> +===================================+ ROWLING ATTENDED 'POTTER' PREMIERE J.K. Rowling greeted fans at the European premiere. Fans waved as Rowling and the film's stars arrived at London's Leicester Square. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final volume, will be published July 21. "Finishing it was very, very emotional. It was a combination of relief and sadness really," she said. Leicester Square was draped in green & gold for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" to imitate the movie's Ministry of Magic. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were among those who attended. "We're a big gang," said Watson. "We call it the Harry Potter family." "Harry Potter" opens in the U.S. on July 11 and in Britain the next day. http://www.jkrowling.com/ http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/ NEWMAN DONATES 2 DRAMA CLUB FIELD TRIP Ypsilanti High School drama teacher Michelle Peet checked her mailbox and discovered the color of money. Paul Newman donated $5,000 to the school's drama club. The check will help defray costs associated with the club's upcoming trip to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Club members are scheduled to perform a 90-minute show there. A note accompanied his check: "The enclosed contribution is sent with every good wish for continued success in your worthy endeavors." Since January, the club has solicited donations via a letter-writing campaign that included Newman and other celebrities. To date, the club has raised $75,000. Newman's many acting honors include an Academy Award in 1986 for "The Color of Money." http://www.ypsd.org/ypsdroot/Schools/YHS/index.html DAVE MATTHEWS PENS SONG 4 'JOSHUA' MOVIE Although Dave Matthews is never seen in the new movie "Joshua," he plays a crucial role, writing the song the demented child croons as the film closes. "I wanted it to be delivered in a sweet way by the boy, but I also wanted it to be really horrifying," the singer told The AP. "Joshua" is about a musical child whose family life dramatically alters once his baby sister is born. The family starts to fall apart. The leader of Dave Matthews Band is part of the company, ATO Pictures, that produced "Joshua." Matthews says he was involved in finding the film project, but was not very involved in the production. Matthews says he hopes to be involved in other productions made by ATO. "But I certainly don't want to be a hindrance and I don't want to impose my artistic ideas on someone else's vision," says Matthew. http://www.foxsearchlight.com/joshua http://www.dmband.com/ HUNT MAKES DIRECTING DEBUT @ TORONTO 07 Helen Hunt has a new job: directing. "Then She Found Me," the filmmaking debut for the actress, will play at September's Toronto International Film Festival. The movie stars Hunt as a New York City schoolteacher whose commonplace life grows complicated. Based on the novel by Elinor Lipman. Four other films were announced for the lineup of the Toronto festival, which runs Sept. 6-15: "Honeydripper," "The Girl in the Park," "Lars and the Real Girl," and "Romulus, My Father." http://www.tiff07.ca 'SEX AND THE CITY' MOVIE IN THE WORKS The long-running HBO series ended in 2004. New Line Cinema is close to inking a deal to finance and distribute the film in association with HBO, John Smith, a representative at New Line, confirmed. The 4 principal actresses - Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon - will reprise their roles. Michael Patrick King, who executive-produced the series, is slated to direct. http://www.hbo.com 'LOST' & 'HERCULES' STARS IN WESTERN In her new movie, Cynthia Watros (38) ignored the old Hollywood adage about not working with children and animals. The former "Lost" actress plays a barmaid and former prostitute carving out a life for herself and her young daughter in "Avenging Angel," on the Hallmark Channel. "Superstition be damned," Watros said. "I've got horses and chickens and children on set. And I love every moment of it!" The cable movie is Watros' first Western. "The corset took some getting used to," she said. "I'll say this, though, if you have any sort of posture problem, you just need to wear a corset for a few weeks. How can you slouch in a corset?" Watros co-stars with Kevin Sorbo of "Hercules" fame. http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/publish/consumer/home/shows/avenging_angel.html 'SUNSHINE' STAR 2 BE FIRST-TIME MOM Toni Collette (34) had been leaning toward motherhood roles, and now she knows why: The actress confirmed that she's pregnant. It will be the first child for the Australian actress and her musician husband, Dave Galafassi. "We're very happy. We are completely over the moon," she said. "It is strange the last 3 films I've done I have been pregnant," said Collette, who is in Sydney with her side project, a rock'n'roll band that includes Galafass on drums. "I'm just like, what is the universe trying to tell me? But I think everything happens when it's meant to," she said. Collette and her band, the Finish, were among the acts that appeared at the Sydney edition of Live Earth, the global concert series to raise awareness about global warming. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001057/ '90210' STAR & WIFE HAVE FIRST BABY Jason Priestley, star of '90s TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210," is a proud father. His wife, Naomi Lowde-Priestley, gave birth to a baby girl July 2, the 37-year-old told KTTV-TV. She is the couple's first child. Priestley wouldn't reveal his daughter's name. "She's beautiful," he said. "It was like the second she came into the world, just everything changed." Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh on the teen drama, and Lowde-Priestley, a makeup artist, were married in 2005. He stars in Lifetime's new TV series "Side Order of Life," which premieres July 15. http://www.officialjasonpriestley.com/ SPRINGFIELD, VT. GETS 'SIMPSONS' HONOR Springfield, Vt., beat out 13 other cities for the right to host the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie," winning an online poll it wasn't even invited to participate in. On July 21, the town's 100-seat movie theater will host the movie. Vermont's Springfield - which has a bowling alley, a pub, a prison and a nuclear power plant - wasn't part of the contest, but the Chamber of Commerce appealed to 20th Century Fox. The submitted video shot by a 17-year-old shows Homer chasing a big pink donut through town. "We're so excited," says Patricia Chaffee, VP of Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. "We came in at the last minute, and for us to win, we feel like the underdogs, which makes this so big and so great for us." The 13 other Springfields that participated will be given small screenings of their own the night before the movie opens July 27. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/simpsons-contest.htm 30TH. ANNIVERSARY OF THE KING'S DEATH Elvis Presley has been dead 30 years, but many of his on-screen girlfriends are still around. Suzanna Leigh, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (1966), has organized an event to offer Elvis fans a chance to rub shoulders with up to 2 dozen of his movie-set buddies. "It's sort of an Elvis reunion," Leigh said. The 3-day bash is scheduled to begin Aug. 16 at Graceland. One of 30 Elvis Week events from Aug. 11-18. This year, many of his former on-screen playmates will be in town for a garden party, storytelling sessions, discussions, and autograph-signing. Some of Presley's better-known co-stars, like Ann-Margret, Nancy Sinatra and Mary Tyler Moore aren't scheduled to attend. http://www.night-of-a-thousand-stars.com CURTAIN CLOSES ON 102-YEAR-OLD ACTOR Charles Lane has died. His son, Tom, was talking with his father. "He was lying in bed with his eyes real wide open," Tom said. "Then he closed his eyes and stopped breathing." Lane's career spanned 60 years with such classics as "It's a Wonderful Life." He had a recurring role on the 1960s TV sitcom "Petticoat Junction" and often appeared on "I Love Lucy." He also appeared in 100 plays. Lane was working in the insurance business when he was spotted by Warner Bros. and cast in "Smart Money" (1931). In 1934, Frank Capra cast Lane in "Broadway Bill" and 9 more movies. One of his most cherished possessions was a letter from the director declaring, "Well, Charlie, you've been my No. 1 crutch." Lane became good friends with Lucille Ball and appeared regularly in her 1950s show. When he accepted an award from TV Land for his 100th birthday, he made a point of saying he was available for work. Survivors also include a daughter, Alice Deane, and granddaughter, Lucy Graves. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20387392 VEDDER PENS ALBUM OF SONGS 4 PENN Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder is putting together an album of original music for buddy Sean Penn's movie Into the Wild. Vedder contributed tracks for Penn's 1995 film Dead Man Walking and covered The Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" for I Am Sam. Into the Wild is a true story based on one young man's decision to give all his possessions to charity and hitchhike to Alaska to live in the wilderness. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/ EFRON 2 STAR IN REMAKE OF 'FOOTLOOSE' Zac Efron is set to star in a remake of Footloose as Ren McCormack, the role made famous by Kevin Bacon. Wait, you've never heard of Zac Efron? Well, ask any 12-year-old girl. Zac starred in the made-for-TV mega hit High School Musical. Efron's popularity led him to his big screen debut in Hairspray, musical version of John Waters' 1988 film. The new Footloose will be a musical reworking of the '80s teen dance film. Both Hairspray & Footloose were first adapted to Broadway. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1374980/ BOY WIZARD CASTS SPELL ON BOX OFFICE The boy wizard still has his magic touch at the box office. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" took in $44.8 million in its first day, the best single-day gross ever for a Wednesday. That included $12 million from screenings that started at midnight Tuesday. The sequel topped the previous Wednesday record of $40.4 million for 2004's "Spider-Man 2." "In terms of box office, the law of diminishing returns does not apply to 'Harry Potter.' It seems to be getting better with age," said Paul Dergarabedian, Media By Numbers president. "Order of the Phoenix" is the fifth installment of the movie franchise based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling 'Harry Potter' series. http://www.mediabynumbers.com +===================================+ <> <> <> DVD NEWS <> <> <> +===================================+ Sorry, no new DVD announcements to report. REMINDER & NOTIFICATION EMAILS MyVideoStore.com will send you messages when the movies you want to see are available on video or DVD. REMINDERS tell you when a movie has been released. NOTIFIERS tell you about a movie's upcoming release. http://myvideostore.com/content/movies/reminder.html?client=myvideostore +===================================+ <> <> <> TECH TALK <> <> <> +===================================+ CABLE 2 RAISE SET-TOP BOX RENTAL RATES Cable companies are planning to charge more for set-top boxes to pay for new, more expensive versions mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. The price increases are a result of government's push to spur competition for boxes, which are required to receive digital programming and change channels. It's not yet clear how much the charges will rise. The FCC has been trying for a decade to open up the set-top market so subscribers buy their own and then use a cable-company-provided card. The retail market for boxes, however, has largely failed to materialize and millions still rent boxes from the cable company. As of July 1, cable companies were required by the FCC to start shipping the new set-top boxes with detachable cable cards. The companies have lobbied against the rule, saying the new boxes are more expensive. Consumer groups say it's yet another excuse for cable to raise rates. And higher rates are coming. Cable industry said even consumers using the older set-tops will likely be hit if the cable company decides to spread the cost to all box renters. Cable operators won't say how much more consumers will pay to rent set-top boxes. It's also unclear whether the fee increases will apply to cable cards. Both cable trade groups said consumers would see $2 to $3 more in monthly rental rates for the new boxes, but that doesn't take into account spreading the cost out to all box-renters. Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator with 24 million subscribers, is planning to spread out the cost of the new boxes among all cable box renters. The FCC cable card requirement "amounts to an FCC tax of hundreds of millions of dollars on consumers," Comcast said. Time Warner spokesman Alex Dudley said the company agrees with the industry's stance that the FCC rule is a "tax" on consumers. Time Warner is the second-largest cable company with 13 million subscribers. The FCC has said that it's time for cable operators to comply with the law, especially since the industry had already been granted extensions. The American Cable Association, which represents 1,100 smaller cable operators, said their members will be charging more for set-top box rentals. Ross Lieberman, VP of government affairs for the trade group said, "We can't absorb this cost. This rate will be passed along to consumers." He said the increases would likely come when cable operators typically raise rates: in early January after an announcement in late December. The cable industry is upset that the FCC denied its petition for a blanket exemption to the cable card mandate and yet granted a temporary one to Verizon. Verizon is rolling out its fiber-optic television, phone and Internet service. The FCC said Verizon provides needed competition against cable. The agency also gave waivers to several other video providers, including those that roll out all-digital systems by Feb. 17, 2009. "The commission's 11th-hour action on the many long-standing waiver requests doesn't bode well for consumers," said Rob Stoddard, a spokesman for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association in Washington. "There's nothing in these decisions to stave off a $600 million set-top box tax likely to affect the great majority of cable customers while providing no benefit to consumers." But Chris Murray, senior counsel at Consumers Union in Washington, said it's convenient for cable companies to blame regulators when they've stalled about complying with the FCC rule for years. Cable operators also have had no problem raising rates regularly for various reasons. "They raise rates three times faster than inflation every year, for more than a decade," he said. "Cable companies want to have absolute control. We don't think they should have it." http://www.fcc.gov/ http://www.americancable.org/ +===================================+ <> <> TIME CAPSULE <> <> +===================================+ July 8, 1881 - Edward Berner, druggist in Two Rivers, WI, poured chocolate syrup on ice cream in a dish. To this time chocolate syrup had only been used for making ice-cream sodas. July 9, 1872 - The doughnut cutter was patented by John F. Blondel. July 10, 1928 - George Eastman first demonstrated color motion pictures. July 11, 1962 - The first transatlantic TV transmission was sent through the Telstar I satellite. July 12, 1982 - "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" broke all box-office records by surpassing the $100-million mark of ticket sales in the first 31 days of its opening. July 13, 1998 - "Image of an Assassination" went on sale. The video documentary is of Abraham Zapruder's home video of U.S. President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. July 14, 2003 - Jerry Springer officially filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate from Ohio. +=================================+ Please, take a minute to check out our Voting Booth. We can do better than 2 responses. There is only 4 simple questions about a possible survey. http://pub39.bravenet.com/vote/vote.php?usernum=3302539054 The 4 questions will be used to judge your interest in completing a survey. A survey that would judge your interest in various services, options and more. Well, the curtain will be closing on another week. I look forward to seeing you next week. The end, Paul @ Reel 2 Reel mailto:advland@iwon.com?=Reel_2_Reel Make tonight a movie or game night! http://adventureland.moviefever.com \ Make tonight a movie or game night! http://adventureland.moviefever.com |
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