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Google's Gmail notably turns 1 on it's birthday today. Google in the latest round of slinging laughable pun back to Yahoo's Mail, today launched its top secret "Infinity+1 Email Storage" for Gmail users. No kidding...
Google goes on to explain how some of the highest paid computer engineers figured out that there were no complicated equations & no tough algorithms; just one simple diagram with a coffee stain. Visit Gmailto see this for yourself. And seriously, look what Google has posted on it's Gmailhomepage:
Gmail turns 1 today. And Google has always loved a good joke. They know they won't reach infinity, but check out what Google will do...
We here at TheWebNewsroom & Arizona Reporter use Gmail as our core email provider. Time will only tell if Google will stop its timer or continue its growth to the mentioned Infinity+1. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:420OZZFEST 2005 Tour AnnouncedWebNewsroom2005-03-31T01:44:22Z2005-03-31T01:44:22-06:00
It’s big. It’s bad. And it’s back for more. Got a problem with that?
OZZFEST -- the king of festivals--triumphantly returns this summer to celebrate its hard-earned 10th anniversary with the staggering line-up of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Black Label Society. The summer’s premier concert festival--which has propelled many of today’s rock bands to superstardom while paying close attention to its discerning fans--will roll out July 15 in Boston and visit 26 cities by the time it reaches West Palm Beach on September 4. The Hot Topic Second Stage will be headlined by Zombie and feature a preview of rock’s rising stars, including As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, The Haunted, In Flames, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, Soilwork, Trivium, It Dies Today, A Dozen Furies and more. "I'm most proud of the success of Ozzfest,” says founder SHARON OSBOURNE. “Everyone said it would never happen and 10 years later we are still in business.” In fact, 125 bands, 238 shows and over 4 million fans later, the all-day extravaganza of music and deranged merriment is roaring louder than ever. History in the making, 2005 marks the first time metal legends Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden have toured together and also represents Iron Maiden’s first OZZFEST appearance.
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson said, “This summer’s Maiden touring is based on the recent Early Days DVD and all the songs we do at Ozzfest will be from our first four albums--Iron Maiden, Killers, Number of the Beast and Piece of Mind. We will be bringing over our full European show, naturally including as special guest Eddie in various appropriate guises!! The stage sets, production and backdrops will recreate aspects of the shows on the tours around those albums--only bigger…much bigger!!! We don’t know if anyone has done anything like this before but we think it’s something the fans will really appreciate both in the choice of songs and in the production values.”
Also debuting on the tour will be Texas-based band A Dozen Furies who landed their coveted Hot Topic Second Stage slot after winning OZZY and SHARON’s MTV “Battle For Ozzfest” reality series competition. Debuting last fall and lasting right up until the February launch of the fourth and final season of the Emmy-award winning “The Osbournes,” “Battle For Ozzfest” is the ultimate battle of the bands, with contestants having survived 2004’s grueling OZZFEST challenges.
This year, a limited number of fans who purchase OZZY OSBOURNE's first-ever 51-song, four-CD retrospective box set PRINCE OF DARKNESS (out March 22 of Epic Records) will be able to obtain one free Ozzfest ticket. The initial pressing of the box set will feature a precedent-setting promotion allowing fans to buy one OZZFEST general admission ticket and get one free.
OZZFEST, originally launched in 1996 as a limited two-city trek, has become a virtual breeding ground for up-and-coming bands. The renowned second stage has been instrumental in catapulting the careers of System of a Down, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Incubus, Slipknot, Disturbed, Godsmack and Chevelle. "Playing Ozzfest--twice--will always be among the highlights of our career,” notes drummer Samuel Loeffler of Chevelle, who most recently appeared in the festival’s 2003 line-up. “Personally speaking, I was honored and somewhat nervous about sharing the stage with Ozzy, but finally felt comfortable after both he and Sharon patted me on the ass."
The heavy metal juggernaut has earned a hallowed position in the busiest tour season with a relentless commitment to its core fans and the consistency of quality they demand as their birthright. Just as the festival is committed to presenting the best music, it also provides an interactive, multi-sensory experience for concert-goers with a wide-range of attractions. The traveling show’s notorious “Village Of The Damned”--alive with tattoo artists, piercing booths, state-of-the-art video games, a wide range of vendors and much more--promises to be wickedly tempting.
Judas Priest--one of the biggest attractions on last year’s tour--declared: “We were thrilled to be part of such a unique moment in heavy metal history that will be remembered forever!” Jonathan Davis--lead singer for Korn, who pounded the main stage in 2003--added, "Ozzy and Ozzfest are some of the cornerstones of metal. I loved playing in front of the Ozzfest crowd, the fans at those shows were f$*#ing amazing."
In addition to drawing vital hard rock acts, OZZFEST has always attracted a variety of select sponsors devoted to the tour’s core fan base. Hot Topic--returning to host the second stage--will be the festival’s official soft line teen retailer. Throughout the day, Tama drums and Ibanez guitars will proudly showcase their arsenal in the Village. F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment) is on board for the fifth consecutive year as the official music retailer and will host the FYE autograph tent giving fans the opportunity to meet some of their favorite OZZFEST artists. TrojanÒ brand condoms will also have presence in the Village as the official latex condom of OZZFEST. Jagermeister will once again bring the backyard BBQ party back to Ozzfest and prove their commitment to metal music with artist autograph signings and tons of free swag for attendees 21 and over.
Here’s the OZZFEST line-up: Main stage line-up: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Shadows Fall and Black Label Society. Second stage line-up: Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, The Haunted, In Flames, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, Soilwork, Trivium, It Dies Today, A Dozen Furies and more.
Here are the OZZFEST tour dates:
DATE CITY/STATE VENUE Fri 7/15 Boston, MA Tweeter Center Sun 7/17 Hartford, CT Meadows Tue 7/19 Camden, NJ Tweeter Waterfront Thu 7/21 Buffalo, NY Darien Lakes Sat 7/23 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Sun 7/24 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion Tue 7/26 New York, NY PNC Sat 7/30 Chicago, IL Tweeter Center Sun 7/31 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Tue 8/2 Columbus, OH Germain Amphitheatre Thu 8/4 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Sat 8/6 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Sun 8/7 Minneapolis, MN Floatrite Park Thu 8/11 Seattle, WA White River Sat 8/13 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Sun 8/14 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Tue 8/16 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Pavilion Thu 8/18 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Sat 8/20 Los Angeles, CA Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen Tue 8/23 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion Thu 8/25 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Sat 8/27 Houston, TX Cynthia J. Woods Pavilion Sun 8/28 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amp Wed 8/31 Nashville, TN Starwood Amphitheatre Fri 9/2 Charlotte, NC Verizon Sun 9/4 West Palm Beach Sound Advice http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:418Internet Buzz: 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the G<b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'>ala</b></b></b></b>xy' TrailerAzReporter2005-03-30T20:18:17Z2005-03-30T20:18:17-06:00
HOLLYWOOD -- For the first time in industry history, a movie trailer created exclusively for the internet will make the leap onto theater screens across the country. Due to the phenomenal response online, the exclusive, online-only bonus "guide" trailer for Touchstone Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's upcoming comedy-adventure, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,"will debut in theaters across the country on April 1st, it was announced today (3/30) by Oren Aviv, president of marketing for Buena Vista Pictures. The trailer is being targeted in front of the highly anticipated "Sin City," [ sin city posters] whose audience will appreciate the original, irreverent, tongue-in-cheek approach of this unique "guide" trailer.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" [ book]has already become one of the most talked about films of the year on the internet, with more than 7,000 discussions occurring in online communities since the bonus guide trailer debuted. The movie is a hot topic of discussion in more than 2,200 blogs, more than upcoming summer blockbusters such as "War of the Worlds [ poster]" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith. [ poster]" In February, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" [ poster] became the first movie ever to premiere a theatrical trailer on Amazon.com. A recent feature on the movie site IGN FilmForce about the Vogons -- a unique race of creatures beloved by "Hitchhiker's" fans -- registered the most page views ever for an article on that popular website. Traffic at the film's official website, http://www.hitchhikersmovie.com, has also generated some of the most impressive numbers for any film released by the studio. Touchstone Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's "The Hitchhhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," directed by Garth Jennings, screenplay by Douglas Adams and Karey Kirkpatrick, produced by Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Nick Goldsmith, Jay Roach, Jonathan Glickman arrives in theaters everywhere on April 29th.
Commenting on the announcement, Oren Aviv said, "'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' has become one of the most talked about films of the year online. The response to the online trailer has been nothing short of phenomenal, with more than 7,000 discussions about the film posted since its debut. Many of those discussions urged us to put the trailer on the big screen, and 'Sin City' seemed like the perfect film and a great opportunity for us to reach our target audience. The trailer is great fun for movie fans of all ages, whether they've read the Douglas Adams books or not, and it takes a very lighthearted, engaging and irreverent approach towards introducing the film. We believe audiences are going to be delighted with this imaginative and unique adventure, and that 'Hitchhhikers Guide' is going to be one of the most popular films of the season."
Based on Douglas Adams' best selling novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the film takes moviegoers on an extraordinary and hilarious adventure across the universe. Earthman Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien, and to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur's only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft. For the novice space traveler, the greatest adventure in the universe begins when the world ends.
Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems: he learns that a towel is just the most important thing in the universe, finds the meaning of life, and discovers that everything he needs to know can be found in one book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe. Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis, and John Malkovich also star.
SOURCE Buena Vista Pictures
http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:41755th Annual Outer Critics Circle AwardsWebNewsroom2005-03-30T17:19:06Z2005-03-30T17:19:06-06:00
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theatre, will announce the NEW 2004-2005 nominations on Monday, April 25th 2005 (117 W 58th Street). The annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 26th(4pm) at Sardi's Restaurant 234 West 44th Street NYC: A reception for the nominees will be held Tuesday, April 26th (5-7PM) at Nino's Tuscany Restauran, NYC.
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players “The Rose of Persia” (or, The Story-Teller and the Slave) April 3rd at Peter Norton Symphony Space“The Rose of Persia” is a farcical tale of romance, intrigue and mistaken identities! Inspired by a tale from The Arabian Nights, and is set in the world of “Scheherezade.” Combining exotic musical spices from the middle east and the wry humor of Victorian England, the production was Sullivan’s last complete opera (1899) and librettist Basil Hood's first production for the Savoy Theatre. New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
“The Rose of Persia” (or, The Story-Teller and the Slave)
a semi-staged full production
April 3rd at Peter Norton Symphony Space
America’s foremost Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, will present a semi-staged full production of “The Rose of Persia,” a comic opera written by Basil Hood and Sir Arthur Sullivan, on Sunday, April 3rd (3PM) at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2535 Broadway at 95th Street). Featuring a full orchestra, costumes and choreography, “The Rose of Persia” is a farcical tale of romance, intrigue and mistaken identities! Staged by Albert Bergeret & Jan Holland, the 29 member-company will be led in principal roles by Laurelyn Watson, David Wannen, Kimberly Deana Bennett, Michael Scott Harris, Stephen O’Brien and Richard Holmes.
“The Rose of Persia” was inspired by a tale from The Arabian Nights, and is set in the world of “Scheherezade.” Combining exotic musical spices from the middle east and the wry humor of Victorian England, the production was Sullivan’s last complete opera (1899) and librettist Basil Hood's first production for the Savoy Theatre. The book and score are a lively mix of elements familiar from Sullivan's work with Gilbert, and later influences looking toward the emerging genre of musical comedy. Mr. Bergeret will serve as musical conductor with costumes by Gail Wofford and choreography by Janis Ansley-Ungar.
Tickets for “The Rose of Persia” are priced at $51, $46 and $41. More information and tickets can be obtained by phoning (212) 864-5400.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at W. 95th St., New York, NY, USA Phone: 212-769-1000; 212-864-5400 for box office - Upper W. Side - Opera
New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players presents lively productions of Gilbert and Sullivan classics such as Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado performed with full orchestra. Subway: 1,2, 3, 9 to 96th St. - Fodors
EPISODE RECAP -- Ten contestants remain: 6 guys and 4 girls. That seems a bit imbalanced to me, so it's time for a guy to go. Who will it be? We'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out. Let's see how the contestants perform. I wonder who should start packing... by Kecia S. Posted: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Tonight's theme is a salute to the 90s. This could be very good or really, really bad. At least we don't have to worry about Travis tackling more Bobby Brown.
1. Bo - "Remedy" What the HECK is that on his head? Did his grandmother make that for him or is that courtesy of the wardrobe department? He seems a little flat in spots on this song. He is working the stage and the crowd even though he's not at his best vocally. Randy:Yo, man, you gave Paula this hat and she's protecting it. She's not letting it go. That's a dope hat, Paula. I like the boots. I like the outfit. I'm glad you're back rockin'. I'd love to see a rocker win this. Baby, that was hot! Paula:Bo, you know I adore you. You're not getting this hat back...no way! You did an awesome job! Simon:Bo, I didn't like the song. I think the problem for me seemed to be with the arrangement and the surroundings. I hate to say this, but it sounds like something you might hear at a wedding.
2. Jessica - "On the Side of Angels" I LOVE her voice! She sounds great singing country music. Randy:Wasn't probably my favorite choice you could have made, but you sang it well. You're consistent. Good job. Good job. Paula:This song to me didn't showcase your vocals. I think you need to push for better songs that showcase your talent. Simon:For some reason you don't have that likability factor that the others contestants have. When you don't have that and you sing a song like that, it's forgettable. There are some better LeAnn Rimes songs out there; that's not one of them.
3. Anwar - "I Believe I Can Fly" He's singing an R. Kelly song and one that I can't stand! That said, he needs to show more facial expressions than the alternating blank stare and the smile. The end of the song is better than the beginning and the middle, but he's shouting a bit. Hmmmm... Randy:I'm an Anwar fan, but...The lower register was flat. Thank God you've got that big note to save it at the end. You need to concentrate on the whole song. Paula:I have never heard such an incredible, original rendition of "I Believe I Can Fly". You've made me love that song again. It's as if I'd heard that song for the first time. Simon:I think you need to buy a new CD collection, Paula. I hate to say it, and I've never said this before, but what Randy Jackson said is absolutely spot on. If we were judging that based on the first half of the song, it's not good enough.
4. Nadia - "I'm the Only One" What a perfect song for her! She's adding her own Nadia flavor to it and it's working beautifully! Way to bounce back from last week! Randy:The thing I love about you, I know you're not the greatest singer in this competition, but you're a great performer. You made something out of that song...I like that. Paula:I would say miles better from last week. You're back. Nadia, you're back. Simon:Nadia, a thousand percent better than what we heard from last week. I would be nervous that that song would leave the audience a little cold because it's not very melodic.
5. Constantine - "I Can't Make You Love Me" Interesting song choice. Can he please stop staring at the camera like that? He's making my skin crawl a little bit. Ooh! That low note was OFF! Overall, he wasn't too bad tonight, but he'll never be one of my favorites. Randy:You know what? This is great for me. You know why? This is your best performance for me. Paula:This is one of the best male vocal performances. You're creeping up into the favorites. (Good choice of words, Paula: creeping) Simon:I think you did better than Bo tonight. You absolutely appeal to your target audience.
6. Nikko - "Can We Talk" He sounds very much like Tevin Campbell, which isn't a good thing in this type of competition. He can definitely sing, but he just doesn't sound original. Randy:I'm so happy you're back in this competition. You're the most improved. You blew it out tonight! That was incredible! Paula:Nikko, you make me feel so proud to be sitting where I'm sitting. I'm so proud of you. You did another consecutive great week. (Huh???) Simon:I'm glad you're back in this competition. You're like a breath of fresh air. It's quite a good copy of the original.
7. Anthony - "Something About the Way You look Tonight" I know he's trying to give it his all, but he's so bland to me. Shouting the song doesn't make it sound better. Randy:Innocent Anthony's kinda grown up tonight. It was ah-ight. Paula:Anthony, I thought you did a great job. Good for you! Simon:I wanna be nice because I like you. But, I think, in parts, it was absolutely excruciating. Paula:Which parts? Simon:Middle, beginning and end.
8. Carrie - "Independence Day" She shouting a bit, but country is definitely her niche. She has quite a powerful set of lungs! Randy:Yo, man, great, great, great, great, great performance. I love you! That was the best performance of the night. Paula:I love you singing country. You sounded so natural. Good job! Simon:Some of the performances I've seen tonight, I've seen in karaoke bars across America. You have something different, which is that "it" factor. That's what it's all about.
9. Scott - "One Last Cry" Why didn't he choose something upbeat? He started off a bit monotone and sounded like he was straining, but he hit the falsetto notes fairly well. That last note was flat. Randy:Very ambitious song. It was ah-ight. Pitchy in spots, but good. Paula:I didn't hear pitchy at all. I was closing my eyes, swaying with it. You got my heart. Simon:Scott, I've used the karaoke reference before. Based on that performance, if I was sitting in a karaoke bar and heard that performance, I would have switched the microphone off.
10. Vonzell - "I Have Nothing" Just when I thought we wouldn't be hearing any more Whitney Houston songs...I love Vonzell's look tonight. I like this song, but for some reason, everyone who sings Whitney (Jennifer Hudson last year) has to shout. I guess it's because Whitney shouts when she sings. This is a tough song, but Vonzell did fairly well with it. Randy:This is a hot show tonight. The girls are on fire tonight! You were the bomb tonight! (How many times is this man gonna say the word "tonight"?) You keep growing and getting better. Paula:You actually sang even higher than Whitney. I think you out-sang the girls tonight. I think you gave one of the top notch performances of the competition. Simon:Three weeks ago I would have thought you performing Whitney Houston was suicide, but you pulled it off. Well done.
Well, the 10 have sung - some hits, some misses. I would hazard to say that the girls did outperform the guys tonight. I'd say the weakest performances were Anthony, Scott and Anwar. Either Scott or Anthony would go and I wouldn't be upset about it. Tune in tomorrow to see who gets their walking papers. Ciao for now. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:416Tom Takes Down A Shark on SURVIVOR P<b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'>ALA</b></b></b></b>UAzReporter2005-03-30T06:26:06Z2005-03-30T06:26:06-06:00
CBS-- “The Great White Shark Hunter” -- Tom battles a shark…and wins, on SURVIVOR: PALAU, Thursday, March 31 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.
Meantime, when one tribe member is forced to sit out a challenge, they begin to doubt their tribe’s ability to win. A tribe member is suspicious of a potential alliance forming between Gregg and Jennifer. During a crucial immunity challenge, one castaway takes over for a struggling tribe mate…will it be enough to win? And, the eighth member is voted out of the tribe.
STREAK CONTINUES: JAMES VOTED OFF The streak of Immunity Challenge losses added up to five and counting for the hopeless Ulong tribe as they were forced to suffer yet another vicious Tribal Council. The tribe found itself once again in a tie as Ibrehem Rahmen, the 27-year-old waiter from Birmingham, Alabama, and James Miller, the 33-year-old steelworker from Mobile, Alabama, both received two votes apiece. After the required second vote, the Ulong tribe finally chose to expel James. Shortly after witnessing the tie-breaking vote, James admitted, "My gut failed me, and I'm sad and depressed." [ read our recap]
KOROR: Coby Archa, 32, Athens, Texas Gregg Carey, 28, Chicago Katie Gallagher, 29, Merced, Calif. Caryn Groedel, 46, Solon, Ohio Jennifer Lyon, 32, Encino, Calif. Ian Rosenberger, 23, Key Largo, Fla. Willard Smith, 57, Bellevue, Wash. Janu Tornell, 39, Las Vegas Tom Westman, 41, Sayville, N.Y.
ULONG: Ashlee Ashby, 22, Easley, S.C. Bobby Jon Drinkard, 27, Troy, Ala. Angie Jacusz, 24, New Orleans Jolanda Jones, 39, Houston Stephenie LaGrossa, 25, Philadelphia James Miller, 33, Mobile, Ala. Kimberly Mullen, 25, Huber Heights, Ohio Ibrehem Rahman, 27, Birmingham, Ala. Jeff Wilson, 22, Ventura, Calif.
SURVIVOR: PALAU is produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Tom Shelly are the executive producers.
For more detailed information on SURVIVOR: PALAU and the new 20 castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor. For more information on Palau, log on to www.visit-palau.com. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:414Blockbuster Fined for "No Late Fee" AdvertisingWebNewsroom2005-03-29T17:02:26Z2005-03-29T17:02:26-06:00
Michigan Attorney General Announces Blockbuster Settlement Over 'No Late Fee' Advertising
LANSING, Mich., March 29 -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that he and the Attorneys General of 46 other states plus the District of Columbia have reached agreement with Blockbuster Inc., to settle allegations that it misled consumers in the advertising of its "No Late Fee" program. In addition to changing its advertising practices and offering customers refunds, Blockbuster will pay the states a total of $630,000 for attorney's fees, costs of investigation and consumer protection. "It's important for businesses to be truthful in their advertising to Michigan consumers," Cox said. "Customers should not have to search for the real price hidden behind catchy slogans and disclaimers."
The Attorneys General alleged that the advertising campaign was misleading in three respects. First, it failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose that consumers who return a rented video or game more than seven days after its due date are charged the selling price of the item. Second, if the consumer chose to return the item, a "restocking" fee would be charged. Third, there was insufficient disclosure that the program was offered only at participating stores, resulting in customers at nonparticipating franchise stores thinking they would not be charged late fees.
Blockbuster began advertising the "The End of Late Fees" and "No Late Fees" on December 15, 2004, and the program started January 1, 2005. The program is available at all company-owned stores and those franchise stores that chose to participate. There are 167 company-owned stores and 22 franchise stores in Michigan.
Under the terms of the settlement, Blockbuster has agreed that in future advertising for the "No Late Fee" program it will:
* Not represent directly or by implication that there are no late fees or only limited late fees unless such representation is accompanied by a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the existence of any charge;
* Advise of any limitation on the stores participating in the offer;
* Clearly and conspicuously display its rental return policy and applicable charges if product is not returned.
For the next six months, Blockbuster will also:
* Post conspicuous notices throughout each store to inform customers of the terms and conditions of the "No Late Fee" program;
* Provide brochures containing the terms and conditions of the offer in every store, which are prominently available for customers to read at the store or take home;
* Remove the current external window signage and the current internal signage advertising the "No Late Fee" program and request and recommend that participating franchise stores do the same;
* Require any franchise store that is not participating in the "No Late Fee" program to remove any contrary advertising;
* Have a hyperlink on its Web site, http://www.blockbuster.com/ , which explains the terms and conditions of the offer.
Blockbuster also agreed to provide customers who participated in the program a one-time full refund or credit equal to the selling price of any rental items converted to a sale, so long as the items are returned in good condition. If the customer already returned the item but paid a "restocking" fee, the customer can obtain a refund of the "restocking" fee. Restitution requests must be made by April 28, 2005 or if after that, within seven days of first discovering the additional charge. The restitution period ends September 29, 2005.
For a complete list of settlement terms and instructions on obtaining a refund, consumers can visit http://www.blockbuster.com/ . Consumers can also contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for a restitution form or to file a complaint online at http://www.michigan.gov/ or in writing sent to P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909.
Source: Michigan Attorney General http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:412FOX Launches 'Animation Domination' May 1AzReporter2005-03-25T18:30:00Z2005-03-25T18:30:00-06:00
FOX -- You're outmanned and outdrawn, it's no use resisting – surrender your Sundays to FOX! FOX unveils battle-ready plans for Sundays in May, launching the comedy attack on May 1 with Animation Domination, which includes two all-new, back-to-back episodes of THE SIMPSONS, the first of which is the series' milestone 350th episode; the triumphant season premiere of FAMILY GUY; and the series premiere of AMERICAN DAD. On Sundays, May 1, 8 and 15, FOX brings out the heavy ammunition with full nights of original episodes, including all-new, back-to-back installments of THE SIMPSONS. On the Sunday May roll call are KING OF THE HILL (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT), MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT), THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM and 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
Kicking off FOX's Animation Domination on Sunday, May 1 (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) is an all-new episode of KING OF THE HILL, with guest voice Brendan Fraser. When Channel 84 hires gung-ho meteorologist Irv Bennett (guest voice Fraser), Nancy and her less-than-accurate weather reports are left out in the cold. Determined to remain an integral member of the news team, Nancy drives a stolen news van into a raging wildfire, aiming to scoop the competition. Meanwhile, after a terrified Bobby wets his pants at school, Hank hatches a plan to teach the bully responsible (also, guest voice Fraser) a lesson.
Animation Domination continues with the most animated live-action comedy on TV, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT). Unbeknownst to Lois, the boys enter her in the Mrs. Tri-County Pageant as a joke. When they overhear the other contestants remarking that Lois doesn't have a chance of winning, they plot to help their mother take the crown. Meanwhile, Malcolm is blackmailed into delivering love notes to a contestant for Herkabe, and Reese discovers that, according to the Mrs. Tri-County Pageant manual's scientific formula, he is beautiful.
Next up is the epic 350th episode of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), the longest-running animated primetime series in history and the longest-running comedy currently on television. On the milestone episode, "The Heartbroke Kid," Bart becomes addicted to junk food when a new vending machine is installed at Springfield Elementary. His steady diet of processed foods leads to a massive weight gain and health issues, so the Simpsons stage an intervention and ship Bart off to "Serenity Ranch – A Forced Starvation Facility," headed up by former food addict Tab Spangler (guest voice Albert Brooks). While Spangler tries to help Bart overcome his obsession, Homer and Marge turn their home into a hostel for German travelers in order to pay for the costly Serenity Ranch.
Stephen Hawking, playing himself, and Ray Romano guest-voice on May 1's second all-new episode of THE SIMPSONS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), "Don't Fear the Roofer." A storm hits Springfield, causing the Simpson roof to leak. Unable to keep a roof over his family's head, a downtrodden Homer seeks companionship at a bar called Knockers. There, he befriends a beer-loving roofer, Ray (guest voice Romano), who agrees to help Homer with the repairs. When Homer's new best friend never shows up, Marge and Dr. Hibbert conclude that he's a figment of Homer's imagination and place Homer in a mental hospital. But, Homer and Ray may have the last laugh.
Later that night (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) in the Animation Domination lineup, cult-favorite FAMILY GUY makes a freakin' sweet return to the FOX schedule. Creator/executive producer Seth MacFarlane continues to serve up the distinctively twisted and irreverently outrageous trials and tribulations of middle-class New Englander Peter Griffin; his loving wife, Lois; their angst-ridden daughter, Meg; their slacker son, Chris; their diabolically clever baby, Stewie; and brainy family pooch, Brian, who likes his martinis as dry as his Mighty Dog. On the fourth season premiere, "North by North Quahog," Lois and Peter go on a second honeymoon. When things go awry, Peter ends up posing as Mel Gibson, and they stay in his suite, where they accidentally discover a copy of "Passion of the Christ 2."
Animation Domination completes its mission for the night with the series premiere of AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT), another subversively hilarious animated series from Seth MacFarlane. In "Threat Levels," CIA agent Stan Smith, an undisputed weapons expert and proud family man, returns home from work with the wrong thermos and exposes his clan – his wife, Francine; their ultra-liberal daughter, Hayley; their geeky son, Steve; Roger, the sarcastic space alien Stan rescued from Area 51; and Klaus, a lascivious goldfish with the brain of a German guy – to hazardous material. The scare spurs Francine to question her purpose in life and become a realtor. Her success and big paycheck emasculate Stan, who resorts to sabotaging her work. Meanwhile, Hayley turns their neighbors' now-empty house into a homeless shelter, and Steve comes up with a crazy plan to make money so that he doesn't have to rely on women to buy things for him.
Following is a recap of FOX's Sunday schedule for May 2005:
Sundays, May 1, 8 and 15 7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT KING OF THE HILL/All-New Episodes 7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE/All-New Episodes 8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT THE SIMPSONS/All-New Episodes 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT THE SIMPSONS/Bonus All-New Episodes 9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT FAMILY GUY/All-New Episodes 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT AMERICAN DAD/All-New Episodes
CBS-- Not a classic show tonight but I think Ulong may have finally rid itself of the Eagle Beaked Albatross that had been plaguing it since week one. I mean really, has there, in the entire history of Survivor, been a more inept challenge player than James? He claimed to have once been a house builder and said he could build a bathroom that will be spectacular and, of course, loses the build a crapper contest. Then he, a steel worker, goes up against a gay hairdresser in a football style nut cracker drill and loses again- twice- the second time with immunity on the line!
Today, after telling Probst that he has shot a lot of guns, is the only member of his tribe not to hit a target even once. And the longer the contest went on the further away from the target his shots were. Helen Keller could have come closer to hitting it, with both hands tied behind her back. Finally, at tonights knot tying contest he claims to have once been a navy man and can tie a knot that will just get tighter the more it gets pulled on. KUROR WILL NEVER GET IT UNTIED! Of course, Kuror went through his knot faster than Germany went through France in 1940. And to top it all off, while Bobby Jon and Stephanie swam out alone to get the sticks and stuff needed in the knot tying challenege he stands on the beach, adjusting his dress and saying "Ahm not worried". I swear, except for last weeks water challenge, when it was Ibrahims time to shine, James did absolutely nothing well on any challenge from week one. That, plus the fact that his nose arrived everywhere 30 seconds before the rest of him did, made him one of the most unlikeable players in Survivor history, IMO. And to think they could have voted him out last week but sent Angie away instead. And he has the gall to look surprised at the end when he was voted out and then say "In my heart I know it wasn't my time to go". What a twerp!
I thought Kuror sent out it's weakest team at the immunity challenge. Ian, Katie and the other two women looked like they might be blown out of the water by the Ulongians. Of course they didn't have Heap Big Chief I Suck At Everything on their side, dragging them down.
At least Ulong finally won something at the reward challenege, even with Mr. I Couldn't Hit Water If I Fell Out Of A Boat on their side. Small consolation, however. It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks if Ulong, with out James screwing them up, will be any better in the challenges. If they suddenly start coming up aces all the time he's really gonna look bad on national TV.
As Ulong was leaving tribal council tonight Probst said somethig like " We'll see if this helps you be any better. If not then we'll see you back here real soon". That says to me that the merge won't come next week yet.
I predict here and now that Ulong will win immunity next week and either Tom or that woman who is a Las Vegas showgirl (what that girl has to show I don't know) will be voted out. Remember, you read it here first.
P.S I don't know if you picked up on it by I didn't think Jmaes was much of a player. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:413American Idol Results: Week 5 The Results ShowAzReporter2005-03-25T01:08:00Z2005-03-25T01:08:00-06:00
Episode AirDate: Thursday, March 24, 2005
EPISODE RECAP -- After a teeny bit of controversy (caused by a few wrong numbers), we'll finally learn who's going home. I'm hoping for Mikalah, but if past Idol shows are any indication (and they usually are), she'll probably be safe for at least 3 more weeks. PLEASE let me be wrong...
by Kecia S. Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2005
As usual there's a brief recap of events past. Thirty-one and a half million votes were cast (using the correct numbers)...woo-hoo! Of course there's a group song and it's "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"! Oh joy...just wake me in 3 minutes. Bo didn't start off very strong, but Carrie and Nadia saved it. Nikko was very shaky and Vonzell and Anwar do not harmonize well together - YIKES! Poor Scott is straining. Mikalah looks cute in her extensions, but I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Some of the voices just don't blend well together. I'm so glad that's over!
As if the song wasn't bad enough, here's a cheesy Ford video with the Idols miniaturized, singing "All Star". They actually don't sound too bad singing that song, but again, I'm glad it's over.
On to the good stuff: Nikko is first - he's safe. On to Constantine - he's safe as well. Next is Carrie - also safe. Bo is up - he's safe, too. Nadia is next - she's in the bottom 3 (her performance was awful). On to Jessica - she's safe. Next up is Mikalah - she's in the bottom 3 (again - rightly deserved). Scott is up - he's safe. Anwar, Vonzell and Anthony are left - we'll learn their fates AFTER THE BREAK.
Back from the commercials and Anthony is in the bottom 3...interesting. If Randy could save one of these contestants, he'd save Nadia. Paula won't answer the question, as usual. Anthony is saved and gets sent back to his seat. I'm still hopeful that Mikalah is going home.
We're back and Ryan is talking to Nadia. She still has no regrets; she just did "her" and that's all she can do. A-HA! I was finally right! Mikalah is G-O-N-E!!! It's about time. Ooh! Her voice is worse than I thought...I won't miss her at all.
See you next week for a hopefully less-controversial round of competition. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:409
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We've been hearing about the Clone Wars ever since Alec Guinness first mentioned them in the original Star Wars movie back in 1977.
But we've never seen them.
Even now we probably won't really get to see them on the big screen. The first clone war begins at the end of Episode II and the last is reported to end in Episode III, probably (this is speculation on my part, so don't spoil it, anybody who has specific knowledge) early so that the story can focus on the fall of Annakin Skywalker.
But we have the unique chance to see the Clone Wars on the small screen, either TV or computer. Lucas contracted to have a clone war cartoon series made by cartoon action-master Genndy Tartakovsky (known for such action-oriented toons as The Powerpuff Girls and the visually-stunning Samuari Jack) for Cartoon Network.
The results turned out well enough that Lucas asked Tartakovsky to go back to the drawing board and do a sequel clone war cartoon series that would lead directly in to Episode III. In fact, the final shot of the last animated clone war toon is supposed to be the same as the opening shot of Episode III (immediately after the roll-up).
Events in the second clone war toon series also directly set the stage for the Episode III roll-up, which refers to events occurring in the second animated series, conferring on this at least a semi-canonical status (unlike the rest of the "Expanded Universe" materials).
This presents Episode III spoiler-avoiders with a unique dilemmaopportunity. Watching the antimated clone war series ain't really spoiling Episode III for oneself if Lucas has put the material out there specifically to set the stage for Episode III, so you could watch them in good conscience.
If you wanna do that, how do you go about doing it?
Chapters 21-25, the ones that immediately set the stage for Episode III aren't on DVD yet (and I haven't been able to find out when they will be) BUT, for a limited time only, you can
For those who care about such things, here is my non-spoiler review of the two series:
The first twenty chapters were produced as 3 1/2 minute segments which, together, form a story 69 minutes long. The need to have each 3 1/2 minutes form a self-contained chapter severely hampers story development and tilts the series too heavily toward action rather than plot or character development, though Star Wars fans will still want to see the series. In my opinion the series gets better as it goes, with more plot and character development occuring as it progresses. The action also gets better, and the climax of Annakin's personal arc is particularly effective, as it is clear he is still moving toward the Dark Side.
The second series of five episodes has chapters that are twelve minutes long (for a total of an hour), and this makes a night-and-day difference. Suddenly there is far more room for plot and character development, and the second series is far superior to the first. The series is more richly-drawn, both metaphorically (better character development) and literally (better animation). The backgrounds are particularly good (even though I saw them on a 2" x 3" screen). There are significant bits of Jedi lore that are filled in, and the climactic battle that sets the stage for Episode III really has some surprisingly dramatic action, including intense and creative light saber work that I'm hoping they copy (or even surpass) on the big screen.
it took me eternity to watch the cinderella story cuz i finally got a copy that will work in my dvd. (sometimes pirated cds dont work with it) anyway.. i think this is what i really need.. uhmm... now i know the reason why it took me so long to finally watch that movie... and it is very timely! anyway it led me to believe that each one of us have a "cinderella story" . do you belive in love at first sight? well.. il let you know.... now, theres this one guy that i like. he's really nice and sweet! everything was almost perfect but i feel something wrong... and its not about him, its... (more)
The other night I was having a conversation with my son Andrew over movies. We we're discussing what was "appropriate" viewing. I mentioned how I really enjoyed the comedy between Robert Di Nero and Charles Grodin in the movie Midnight Run but that I didn't own a copy of the DVD because I remember them using the "f-word" about a jillion times and it really ruined it for me. Andrew replied that he felt like he was basically immune to the language. Of course he is! It's something that he hears dozens of times day in and day out at school. I've been with people after a movie and commented on the language only to have them reply "what language?" We're a society drenched in profanity and what used to be offensive is less and less so...
The death of Terri Schiavo was, to me, an incredible act of inhumanity. I grieve for the crime committed against her and my heart goes out to the family that loves her so deeply.
I also grieve for our country. Not only because those in authority stood by impotently while unwise judges condemned this woman to starve to death, but because I begin to see the "f-words" raining. Maybe only a drop or two now; but soon a drizzle, then the storm. How long will it take before we are immune to the cries of the defenseless? How long before a judge deems the "quality" of an Alzheimer patients life to be low enough that they should be "allowed" to die? How long before the mentally handicapped are questionable? Extreme? Of course it is! But many things acceptable began as the unthinkable.
We no longer hear the cries of the unborn. We're immune. Once, that was unthinkable. Now? Acceptable. When will we quit hearing the cries of the Terri Schiavos? Guess I'll go to blockbuster and rent that movie. Surely, it wasn't as bad as I thought...
He wanted to Transcript a talk he gave online. A friend had recorded the talk and made him a copy on a DVD. He needed to convert it to AVI format (used by his my transcription service), and what happened? He got an error message, which read: "To comply with copyright laws, DVD device input is not allowed."
Except he's the copyright holder. There are no issues here, or should be non. No moral, ethical or legal issues. But it will not allow him to do it. I think he saw red (with reason) :
Got that? I am in possession of a video, of me, shot by a friend, copied to a piece of physical media given to me as a gift. In the video, I am speaking words written by me, and for which I am the clear holder of the copyright. I am working with said video on a machine I own. Every modern legal judgment concerning copyright, from the Berne Convention to the Betamax case, is on my side. AND I CAN'T MAKE A COPY DIRECTLY FROM THE DEVICE. This is because copyright laws do not exist to defend the moral rights of copyright holders -- they exist to help enforce artificial scarcity.
He did figure another way to get the transcript he wanted. Maybe he figured another way around to convert it? Remember DRM doesn’t work; it only makes it inconvenient to the law-abiding and the non-technical. But that's him.
What if you made a home movie of you child and wanted to share it with your parents. Or you parent’s wanted to share it with someone else. Could you or your parents figure another way around the restrictions of your of copyright material.
The consumer electronic equipment manufactures have hard coded a set of assumptions, made into rules, into which only allows BIG CONTENT PRODUCERS to convert and manipulate all of this digital media. Why because your supposed to be a CONSUMER, not a producer of your own media, entertainment and information. Your not allow to be a copyright holder. If your trying to do something like backup or copy your home movies, you get treat like a pirate.
In Sex Ed. we had to read outloud in turns and everytime someone would say "Vagina" or "Penis" Kasumi would started laughing and whenever i looked at her I'd laugh cuz...let's face it....Kasumi's just funny to look at XD! And then somebody had to read something that was like "Then the penis goes into the vagina and the sperm comes out" or something like that and Kasumi was like....homegawd i can't describe it but it was funny as hell!
It rained ALL day at school and was thundering and it was pretty loud.
Are new assignment in Creative Writing is to write a Children's story! UGH! I HATE children! How am I supposed to write a book for them?! And we have to illustrate it too x.x!
The Concert was cancelled due to flooding Downtown, so i obviously dind't go. But that's ok, Kasumi let me borrow the 2nd Inuyasha movie that she rented and I got my new Conan movie today ^^!
But the Inuyasha movie was HILARIOUS! The picture scene is priceless! GAWD! And When Kagome and Inuyasha kissed eachother *dies* Twas too hawt! And then when Sango was all "Miroku, I don't like that look in your eyes...stay away from me!" And he was like "Come into my arms! *sees Sango tending to Kohaku* *sweatdrop*"
XD!
And the Conan movie...er...technically "Special" 60 minute episode....was awesomely awesome! Conan put his glasses on Ai! And then later on she turned back into Sherry and Gin shot her like 30 times >.<! But she was paranoid throughout the WHOLE episode! And then she was naked 0_0! But so kawaii! Vermouth was in that one too!!!!!!!!! wh00t! Vermouth pretended to be a clueless American who didn'tknow Japanese XDDD! She's a clever one ^.~!
But...gosh I thought all those pictures that I *ahem* Stole from that site were all from the 5th movie! But infact they were from this episode!! *does Dance*
And Sumi im gonna try and copy that Inuyasha dvd twice...if it'll let me copy it...it might have that coding...
Get ready for even more of the ultimate spring break intellectual experience! You wont believe the academicinsanity as Iowahawks Dave Burge and his inquiring camera crew catch real live college faculty getting their freak on at the beach in the clubs . even the hot transgressive action back in their hotel symposia! From Rocky Mountain ski lodges to the beaches of Florida and Cuba, to the hot sun of Texas and across the border to Mexico where anything goes, this all-new video is the biggest, craziest, most blazing Profs Gone Wild spring break video yet! Profs Gone Wild: Extreme Ultimate Spring Break Volume 6 Its Hot, Tenured, and Out of Control!
Just how hot? Check it out this uncensored clip of the apres ski hot tub action in Vail, when Dave and crew encounter an unsuspecting Native American Studies chairman from the nearby University of Colorado!
Dave: Hey, whats up?
Professor: Woooo! Spring break is awesome! Jager shots against American Empire! Woooo! Hey, like are you guys making a movie or something?
Dave: For sure. Wanna say anything for the camera?
Professor: Like wha-at?
Dave: I dunno, how about the people who died on 9-11?
From the icy cold slopes of Colorado, Dave travels to the Lone Star State to check out the action on Padre Island and the annual International ANSWER Wet Manifesto Contest! Sounds like this uninhibited journalism prof from the University of Texas has had one too many Tequila Shooter!
Dave: Hi, were filming a movie whats your name?
Professor: Robert and I wanna say Hook Em to all my antiwar comrades back in Austin! Wooo! Wooooooooooooo! Wooo, yall! Wooooooo! Victory to the Iraqi resistance!
Dave: I heard you UT profs were lightweight airheads. Bet you cant recite an anti-American polemic and touch your elbows behind your back at the same time!
Next, the Profs Gone Wild crew hits the hot beaches of Daytona along with special guest star Snoop Dogg! You wont believe the uncensored academic craziness behind the scenes at the Modern Language Association Jello Shotz Party!
Dave (whispering): Snoop and I got a bet to see which one will say and do the craziest sh*t! Keep the video rolling Duane
Snoop: Hey dog, where you teach?
Professor #1: Michigan Go Blue! Beat the Buckeye Zionist Tools!
Still not hot enough for you? Then watch what happens when Dave and team travel to Cancun, Mexico and follow an entire department of party profs from Columbia University as they stumble from Senor Frogs to Sammy Hagars Cabo Wabo Tequila Cantina and back to the shower of their private condo suite!
Dave: Okay, lets see those tenures... show off those grants...
Professors: giggle!
Dave (leering and nodding to camera): Awwww yeah
And thats just a sampling of the crazy 60 minutes of uninhibited thinking from Americas wet and wild faculty lounge hotties. They come from Cal... Penn StateFlorida Atlantic... Duke... San Francisco State... Brandeis... from every state U campus in occupied Amerikkka, and they just can't wait to show you their big bouncy tenures!
Order Profs Gone Wild: Extreme Ultimate Spring Break Volume 6 on VHS or DVD for $29.95, and we'll throw in a bonus copy of Naughty Candid Journalists Bloopers, caught live at the 2004 GOP convention!
If you enjoyed this satire by Iowahawk, you can read more of his work by clicking here.
It’s big. It’s bad. And it’s back for more. Got a problem with that?
OZZFEST -- the king of festivals--triumphantly returns this summer to celebrate its hard-earned 10th anniversary with the staggering line-up of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Black Label Society. The summer’s premier concert festival--which has propelled many of today’s rock bands to superstardom while paying close attention to its discerning fans--will roll out July 15 in Boston and visit 26 cities by the time it reaches West Palm Beach on September 4. The Hot Topic Second Stage will be headlined by Zombie and feature a preview of rock’s rising stars, including As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, The Haunted, In Flames, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, Soilwork, Trivium, It Dies Today, A Dozen Furies and more. "I'm most proud of the success of Ozzfest,” says founder SHARON OSBOURNE. “Everyone said it would never happen and 10 years later we are still in business.” In fact, 125 bands, 238 shows and over 4 million fans later, the all-day extravaganza of music and deranged merriment is roaring louder than ever. History in the making, 2005 marks the first time metal legends Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden have toured together and also represents Iron Maiden’s first OZZFEST appearance.
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson said, “This summer’s Maiden touring is based on the recent Early Days DVD and all the songs we do at Ozzfest will be from our first four albums--Iron Maiden, Killers, Number of the Beast and Piece of Mind. We will be bringing over our full European show, naturally including as special guest Eddie in various appropriate guises!! The stage sets, production and backdrops will recreate aspects of the shows on the tours around those albums--only bigger…much bigger!!! We don’t know if anyone has done anything like this before but we think it’s something the fans will really appreciate both in the choice of songs and in the production values.”
Also debuting on the tour will be Texas-based band A Dozen Furies who landed their coveted Hot Topic Second Stage slot after winning OZZY and SHARON’s MTV “Battle For Ozzfest” reality series competition. Debuting last fall and lasting right up until the February launch of the fourth and final season of the Emmy-award winning “The Osbournes,” “Battle For Ozzfest” is the ultimate battle of the bands, with contestants having survived 2004’s grueling OZZFEST challenges.
This year, a limited number of fans who purchase OZZY OSBOURNE's first-ever 51-song, four-CD retrospective box set PRINCE OF DARKNESS (out March 22 of Epic Records) will be able to obtain one free Ozzfest ticket. The initial pressing of the box set will feature a precedent-setting promotion allowing fans to buy one OZZFEST general admission ticket and get one free.
OZZFEST, originally launched in 1996 as a limited two-city trek, has become a virtual breeding ground for up-and-coming bands. The renowned second stage has been instrumental in catapulting the careers of System of a Down, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Incubus, Slipknot, Disturbed, Godsmack and Chevelle. "Playing Ozzfest--twice--will always be among the highlights of our career,” notes drummer Samuel Loeffler of Chevelle, who most recently appeared in the festival’s 2003 line-up. “Personally speaking, I was honored and somewhat nervous about sharing the stage with Ozzy, but finally felt comfortable after both he and Sharon patted me on the ass."
The heavy metal juggernaut has earned a hallowed position in the busiest tour season with a relentless commitment to its core fans and the consistency of quality they demand as their birthright. Just as the festival is committed to presenting the best music, it also provides an interactive, multi-sensory experience for concert-goers with a wide-range of attractions. The traveling show’s notorious “Village Of The Damned”--alive with tattoo artists, piercing booths, state-of-the-art video games, a wide range of vendors and much more--promises to be wickedly tempting.
Judas Priest--one of the biggest attractions on last year’s tour--declared: “We were thrilled to be part of such a unique moment in heavy metal history that will be remembered forever!” Jonathan Davis--lead singer for Korn, who pounded the main stage in 2003--added, "Ozzy and Ozzfest are some of the cornerstones of metal. I loved playing in front of the Ozzfest crowd, the fans at those shows were f$*#ing amazing."
In addition to drawing vital hard rock acts, OZZFEST has always attracted a variety of select sponsors devoted to the tour’s core fan base. Hot Topic--returning to host the second stage--will be the festival’s official soft line teen retailer. Throughout the day, Tama drums and Ibanez guitars will proudly showcase their arsenal in the Village. F.Y.E. (For Your Entertainment) is on board for the fifth consecutive year as the official music retailer and will host the FYE autograph tent giving fans the opportunity to meet some of their favorite OZZFEST artists. TrojanÒ brand condoms will also have presence in the Village as the official latex condom of OZZFEST. Jagermeister will once again bring the backyard BBQ party back to Ozzfest and prove their commitment to metal music with artist autograph signings and tons of free swag for attendees 21 and over.
Here’s the OZZFEST line-up: Main stage line-up: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Shadows Fall and Black Label Society. Second stage line-up: Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, The Haunted, In Flames, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, Soilwork, Trivium, It Dies Today, A Dozen Furies and more.
Here are the OZZFEST tour dates:
DATE CITY/STATE VENUE Fri 7/15 Boston, MA Tweeter Center Sun 7/17 Hartford, CT Meadows Tue 7/19 Camden, NJ Tweeter Waterfront Thu 7/21 Buffalo, NY Darien Lakes Sat 7/23 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Sun 7/24 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion Tue 7/26 New York, NY PNC Sat 7/30 Chicago, IL Tweeter Center Sun 7/31 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Tue 8/2 Columbus, OH Germain Amphitheatre Thu 8/4 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Sat 8/6 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Sun 8/7 Minneapolis, MN Floatrite Park Thu 8/11 Seattle, WA White River Sat 8/13 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Sun 8/14 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Tue 8/16 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Pavilion Thu 8/18 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Sat 8/20 Los Angeles, CA Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen Tue 8/23 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion Thu 8/25 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Sat 8/27 Houston, TX Cynthia J. Woods Pavilion Sun 8/28 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amp Wed 8/31 Nashville, TN Starwood Amphitheatre Fri 9/2 Charlotte, NC Verizon Sun 9/4 West Palm Beach Sound Advice http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:418Internet Buzz: 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the G<b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'>ala</b></b></b></b>xy' TrailerAzReporter2005-03-30T20:18:17Z2005-03-30T20:18:17-06:00
HOLLYWOOD -- For the first time in industry history, a movie trailer created exclusively for the internet will make the leap onto theater screens across the country. Due to the phenomenal response online, the exclusive, online-only bonus "guide" trailer for Touchstone Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's upcoming comedy-adventure, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,"will debut in theaters across the country on April 1st, it was announced today (3/30) by Oren Aviv, president of marketing for Buena Vista Pictures. The trailer is being targeted in front of the highly anticipated "Sin City," [ sin city posters] whose audience will appreciate the original, irreverent, tongue-in-cheek approach of this unique "guide" trailer.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" [ book]has already become one of the most talked about films of the year on the internet, with more than 7,000 discussions occurring in online communities since the bonus guide trailer debuted. The movie is a hot topic of discussion in more than 2,200 blogs, more than upcoming summer blockbusters such as "War of the Worlds [ poster]" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith. [ poster]" In February, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" [ poster] became the first movie ever to premiere a theatrical trailer on Amazon.com. A recent feature on the movie site IGN FilmForce about the Vogons -- a unique race of creatures beloved by "Hitchhiker's" fans -- registered the most page views ever for an article on that popular website. Traffic at the film's official website, http://www.hitchhikersmovie.com, has also generated some of the most impressive numbers for any film released by the studio. Touchstone Pictures' and Spyglass Entertainment's "The Hitchhhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," directed by Garth Jennings, screenplay by Douglas Adams and Karey Kirkpatrick, produced by Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Nick Goldsmith, Jay Roach, Jonathan Glickman arrives in theaters everywhere on April 29th.
Commenting on the announcement, Oren Aviv said, "'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' has become one of the most talked about films of the year online. The response to the online trailer has been nothing short of phenomenal, with more than 7,000 discussions about the film posted since its debut. Many of those discussions urged us to put the trailer on the big screen, and 'Sin City' seemed like the perfect film and a great opportunity for us to reach our target audience. The trailer is great fun for movie fans of all ages, whether they've read the Douglas Adams books or not, and it takes a very lighthearted, engaging and irreverent approach towards introducing the film. We believe audiences are going to be delighted with this imaginative and unique adventure, and that 'Hitchhhikers Guide' is going to be one of the most popular films of the season."
Based on Douglas Adams' best selling novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the film takes moviegoers on an extraordinary and hilarious adventure across the universe. Earthman Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien, and to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur's only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft. For the novice space traveler, the greatest adventure in the universe begins when the world ends.
Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems: he learns that a towel is just the most important thing in the universe, finds the meaning of life, and discovers that everything he needs to know can be found in one book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe. Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Bill Nighy, Warwick Davis, and John Malkovich also star.
SOURCE Buena Vista Pictures
http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:41755th Annual Outer Critics Circle AwardsWebNewsroom2005-03-30T17:19:06Z2005-03-30T17:19:06-06:00
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theatre, will announce the NEW 2004-2005 nominations on Monday, April 25th 2005 (117 W 58th Street). The annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 26th(4pm) at Sardi's Restaurant 234 West 44th Street NYC: A reception for the nominees will be held Tuesday, April 26th (5-7PM) at Nino's Tuscany Restauran, NYC.
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players “The Rose of Persia” (or, The Story-Teller and the Slave) April 3rd at Peter Norton Symphony Space“The Rose of Persia” is a farcical tale of romance, intrigue and mistaken identities! Inspired by a tale from The Arabian Nights, and is set in the world of “Scheherezade.” Combining exotic musical spices from the middle east and the wry humor of Victorian England, the production was Sullivan’s last complete opera (1899) and librettist Basil Hood's first production for the Savoy Theatre. New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
“The Rose of Persia” (or, The Story-Teller and the Slave)
a semi-staged full production
April 3rd at Peter Norton Symphony Space
America’s foremost Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, will present a semi-staged full production of “The Rose of Persia,” a comic opera written by Basil Hood and Sir Arthur Sullivan, on Sunday, April 3rd (3PM) at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2535 Broadway at 95th Street). Featuring a full orchestra, costumes and choreography, “The Rose of Persia” is a farcical tale of romance, intrigue and mistaken identities! Staged by Albert Bergeret & Jan Holland, the 29 member-company will be led in principal roles by Laurelyn Watson, David Wannen, Kimberly Deana Bennett, Michael Scott Harris, Stephen O’Brien and Richard Holmes.
“The Rose of Persia” was inspired by a tale from The Arabian Nights, and is set in the world of “Scheherezade.” Combining exotic musical spices from the middle east and the wry humor of Victorian England, the production was Sullivan’s last complete opera (1899) and librettist Basil Hood's first production for the Savoy Theatre. The book and score are a lively mix of elements familiar from Sullivan's work with Gilbert, and later influences looking toward the emerging genre of musical comedy. Mr. Bergeret will serve as musical conductor with costumes by Gail Wofford and choreography by Janis Ansley-Ungar.
Tickets for “The Rose of Persia” are priced at $51, $46 and $41. More information and tickets can be obtained by phoning (212) 864-5400.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at W. 95th St., New York, NY, USA Phone: 212-769-1000; 212-864-5400 for box office - Upper W. Side - Opera
New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players presents lively productions of Gilbert and Sullivan classics such as Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado performed with full orchestra. Subway: 1,2, 3, 9 to 96th St. - Fodors
EPISODE RECAP -- Ten contestants remain: 6 guys and 4 girls. That seems a bit imbalanced to me, so it's time for a guy to go. Who will it be? We'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out. Let's see how the contestants perform. I wonder who should start packing... by Kecia S. Posted: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Tonight's theme is a salute to the 90s. This could be very good or really, really bad. At least we don't have to worry about Travis tackling more Bobby Brown.
1. Bo - "Remedy" What the HECK is that on his head? Did his grandmother make that for him or is that courtesy of the wardrobe department? He seems a little flat in spots on this song. He is working the stage and the crowd even though he's not at his best vocally. Randy:Yo, man, you gave Paula this hat and she's protecting it. She's not letting it go. That's a dope hat, Paula. I like the boots. I like the outfit. I'm glad you're back rockin'. I'd love to see a rocker win this. Baby, that was hot! Paula:Bo, you know I adore you. You're not getting this hat back...no way! You did an awesome job! Simon:Bo, I didn't like the song. I think the problem for me seemed to be with the arrangement and the surroundings. I hate to say this, but it sounds like something you might hear at a wedding.
2. Jessica - "On the Side of Angels" I LOVE her voice! She sounds great singing country music. Randy:Wasn't probably my favorite choice you could have made, but you sang it well. You're consistent. Good job. Good job. Paula:This song to me didn't showcase your vocals. I think you need to push for better songs that showcase your talent. Simon:For some reason you don't have that likability factor that the others contestants have. When you don't have that and you sing a song like that, it's forgettable. There are some better LeAnn Rimes songs out there; that's not one of them.
3. Anwar - "I Believe I Can Fly" He's singing an R. Kelly song and one that I can't stand! That said, he needs to show more facial expressions than the alternating blank stare and the smile. The end of the song is better than the beginning and the middle, but he's shouting a bit. Hmmmm... Randy:I'm an Anwar fan, but...The lower register was flat. Thank God you've got that big note to save it at the end. You need to concentrate on the whole song. Paula:I have never heard such an incredible, original rendition of "I Believe I Can Fly". You've made me love that song again. It's as if I'd heard that song for the first time. Simon:I think you need to buy a new CD collection, Paula. I hate to say it, and I've never said this before, but what Randy Jackson said is absolutely spot on. If we were judging that based on the first half of the song, it's not good enough.
4. Nadia - "I'm the Only One" What a perfect song for her! She's adding her own Nadia flavor to it and it's working beautifully! Way to bounce back from last week! Randy:The thing I love about you, I know you're not the greatest singer in this competition, but you're a great performer. You made something out of that song...I like that. Paula:I would say miles better from last week. You're back. Nadia, you're back. Simon:Nadia, a thousand percent better than what we heard from last week. I would be nervous that that song would leave the audience a little cold because it's not very melodic.
5. Constantine - "I Can't Make You Love Me" Interesting song choice. Can he please stop staring at the camera like that? He's making my skin crawl a little bit. Ooh! That low note was OFF! Overall, he wasn't too bad tonight, but he'll never be one of my favorites. Randy:You know what? This is great for me. You know why? This is your best performance for me. Paula:This is one of the best male vocal performances. You're creeping up into the favorites. (Good choice of words, Paula: creeping) Simon:I think you did better than Bo tonight. You absolutely appeal to your target audience.
6. Nikko - "Can We Talk" He sounds very much like Tevin Campbell, which isn't a good thing in this type of competition. He can definitely sing, but he just doesn't sound original. Randy:I'm so happy you're back in this competition. You're the most improved. You blew it out tonight! That was incredible! Paula:Nikko, you make me feel so proud to be sitting where I'm sitting. I'm so proud of you. You did another consecutive great week. (Huh???) Simon:I'm glad you're back in this competition. You're like a breath of fresh air. It's quite a good copy of the original.
7. Anthony - "Something About the Way You look Tonight" I know he's trying to give it his all, but he's so bland to me. Shouting the song doesn't make it sound better. Randy:Innocent Anthony's kinda grown up tonight. It was ah-ight. Paula:Anthony, I thought you did a great job. Good for you! Simon:I wanna be nice because I like you. But, I think, in parts, it was absolutely excruciating. Paula:Which parts? Simon:Middle, beginning and end.
8. Carrie - "Independence Day" She shouting a bit, but country is definitely her niche. She has quite a powerful set of lungs! Randy:Yo, man, great, great, great, great, great performance. I love you! That was the best performance of the night. Paula:I love you singing country. You sounded so natural. Good job! Simon:Some of the performances I've seen tonight, I've seen in karaoke bars across America. You have something different, which is that "it" factor. That's what it's all about.
9. Scott - "One Last Cry" Why didn't he choose something upbeat? He started off a bit monotone and sounded like he was straining, but he hit the falsetto notes fairly well. That last note was flat. Randy:Very ambitious song. It was ah-ight. Pitchy in spots, but good. Paula:I didn't hear pitchy at all. I was closing my eyes, swaying with it. You got my heart. Simon:Scott, I've used the karaoke reference before. Based on that performance, if I was sitting in a karaoke bar and heard that performance, I would have switched the microphone off.
10. Vonzell - "I Have Nothing" Just when I thought we wouldn't be hearing any more Whitney Houston songs...I love Vonzell's look tonight. I like this song, but for some reason, everyone who sings Whitney (Jennifer Hudson last year) has to shout. I guess it's because Whitney shouts when she sings. This is a tough song, but Vonzell did fairly well with it. Randy:This is a hot show tonight. The girls are on fire tonight! You were the bomb tonight! (How many times is this man gonna say the word "tonight"?) You keep growing and getting better. Paula:You actually sang even higher than Whitney. I think you out-sang the girls tonight. I think you gave one of the top notch performances of the competition. Simon:Three weeks ago I would have thought you performing Whitney Houston was suicide, but you pulled it off. Well done.
Well, the 10 have sung - some hits, some misses. I would hazard to say that the girls did outperform the guys tonight. I'd say the weakest performances were Anthony, Scott and Anwar. Either Scott or Anthony would go and I wouldn't be upset about it. Tune in tomorrow to see who gets their walking papers. Ciao for now. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:416Tom Takes Down A Shark on SURVIVOR P<b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'><b style='background:#00ffff;'>ALA</b></b></b></b>UAzReporter2005-03-30T06:26:06Z2005-03-30T06:26:06-06:00
CBS-- “The Great White Shark Hunter” -- Tom battles a shark…and wins, on SURVIVOR: PALAU, Thursday, March 31 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.
Meantime, when one tribe member is forced to sit out a challenge, they begin to doubt their tribe’s ability to win. A tribe member is suspicious of a potential alliance forming between Gregg and Jennifer. During a crucial immunity challenge, one castaway takes over for a struggling tribe mate…will it be enough to win? And, the eighth member is voted out of the tribe.
STREAK CONTINUES: JAMES VOTED OFF The streak of Immunity Challenge losses added up to five and counting for the hopeless Ulong tribe as they were forced to suffer yet another vicious Tribal Council. The tribe found itself once again in a tie as Ibrehem Rahmen, the 27-year-old waiter from Birmingham, Alabama, and James Miller, the 33-year-old steelworker from Mobile, Alabama, both received two votes apiece. After the required second vote, the Ulong tribe finally chose to expel James. Shortly after witnessing the tie-breaking vote, James admitted, "My gut failed me, and I'm sad and depressed." [ read our recap]
KOROR: Coby Archa, 32, Athens, Texas Gregg Carey, 28, Chicago Katie Gallagher, 29, Merced, Calif. Caryn Groedel, 46, Solon, Ohio Jennifer Lyon, 32, Encino, Calif. Ian Rosenberger, 23, Key Largo, Fla. Willard Smith, 57, Bellevue, Wash. Janu Tornell, 39, Las Vegas Tom Westman, 41, Sayville, N.Y.
ULONG: Ashlee Ashby, 22, Easley, S.C. Bobby Jon Drinkard, 27, Troy, Ala. Angie Jacusz, 24, New Orleans Jolanda Jones, 39, Houston Stephenie LaGrossa, 25, Philadelphia James Miller, 33, Mobile, Ala. Kimberly Mullen, 25, Huber Heights, Ohio Ibrehem Rahman, 27, Birmingham, Ala. Jeff Wilson, 22, Ventura, Calif.
SURVIVOR: PALAU is produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett and Tom Shelly are the executive producers.
For more detailed information on SURVIVOR: PALAU and the new 20 castaways, log on to www.cbs.com/survivor. For more information on Palau, log on to www.visit-palau.com. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:414Blockbuster Fined for "No Late Fee" AdvertisingWebNewsroom2005-03-29T17:02:26Z2005-03-29T17:02:26-06:00
Michigan Attorney General Announces Blockbuster Settlement Over 'No Late Fee' Advertising
LANSING, Mich., March 29 -- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced that he and the Attorneys General of 46 other states plus the District of Columbia have reached agreement with Blockbuster Inc., to settle allegations that it misled consumers in the advertising of its "No Late Fee" program. In addition to changing its advertising practices and offering customers refunds, Blockbuster will pay the states a total of $630,000 for attorney's fees, costs of investigation and consumer protection. "It's important for businesses to be truthful in their advertising to Michigan consumers," Cox said. "Customers should not have to search for the real price hidden behind catchy slogans and disclaimers."
The Attorneys General alleged that the advertising campaign was misleading in three respects. First, it failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose that consumers who return a rented video or game more than seven days after its due date are charged the selling price of the item. Second, if the consumer chose to return the item, a "restocking" fee would be charged. Third, there was insufficient disclosure that the program was offered only at participating stores, resulting in customers at nonparticipating franchise stores thinking they would not be charged late fees.
Blockbuster began advertising the "The End of Late Fees" and "No Late Fees" on December 15, 2004, and the program started January 1, 2005. The program is available at all company-owned stores and those franchise stores that chose to participate. There are 167 company-owned stores and 22 franchise stores in Michigan.
Under the terms of the settlement, Blockbuster has agreed that in future advertising for the "No Late Fee" program it will:
* Not represent directly or by implication that there are no late fees or only limited late fees unless such representation is accompanied by a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the existence of any charge;
* Advise of any limitation on the stores participating in the offer;
* Clearly and conspicuously display its rental return policy and applicable charges if product is not returned.
For the next six months, Blockbuster will also:
* Post conspicuous notices throughout each store to inform customers of the terms and conditions of the "No Late Fee" program;
* Provide brochures containing the terms and conditions of the offer in every store, which are prominently available for customers to read at the store or take home;
* Remove the current external window signage and the current internal signage advertising the "No Late Fee" program and request and recommend that participating franchise stores do the same;
* Require any franchise store that is not participating in the "No Late Fee" program to remove any contrary advertising;
* Have a hyperlink on its Web site, http://www.blockbuster.com/ , which explains the terms and conditions of the offer.
Blockbuster also agreed to provide customers who participated in the program a one-time full refund or credit equal to the selling price of any rental items converted to a sale, so long as the items are returned in good condition. If the customer already returned the item but paid a "restocking" fee, the customer can obtain a refund of the "restocking" fee. Restitution requests must be made by April 28, 2005 or if after that, within seven days of first discovering the additional charge. The restitution period ends September 29, 2005.
For a complete list of settlement terms and instructions on obtaining a refund, consumers can visit http://www.blockbuster.com/ . Consumers can also contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for a restitution form or to file a complaint online at http://www.michigan.gov/ or in writing sent to P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909.
Source: Michigan Attorney General http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:412FOX Launches 'Animation Domination' May 1AzReporter2005-03-25T18:30:00Z2005-03-25T18:30:00-06:00
FOX -- You're outmanned and outdrawn, it's no use resisting – surrender your Sundays to FOX! FOX unveils battle-ready plans for Sundays in May, launching the comedy attack on May 1 with Animation Domination, which includes two all-new, back-to-back episodes of THE SIMPSONS, the first of which is the series' milestone 350th episode; the triumphant season premiere of FAMILY GUY; and the series premiere of AMERICAN DAD. On Sundays, May 1, 8 and 15, FOX brings out the heavy ammunition with full nights of original episodes, including all-new, back-to-back installments of THE SIMPSONS. On the Sunday May roll call are KING OF THE HILL (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT), MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT), THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM and 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT).
Kicking off FOX's Animation Domination on Sunday, May 1 (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) is an all-new episode of KING OF THE HILL, with guest voice Brendan Fraser. When Channel 84 hires gung-ho meteorologist Irv Bennett (guest voice Fraser), Nancy and her less-than-accurate weather reports are left out in the cold. Determined to remain an integral member of the news team, Nancy drives a stolen news van into a raging wildfire, aiming to scoop the competition. Meanwhile, after a terrified Bobby wets his pants at school, Hank hatches a plan to teach the bully responsible (also, guest voice Fraser) a lesson.
Animation Domination continues with the most animated live-action comedy on TV, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT). Unbeknownst to Lois, the boys enter her in the Mrs. Tri-County Pageant as a joke. When they overhear the other contestants remarking that Lois doesn't have a chance of winning, they plot to help their mother take the crown. Meanwhile, Malcolm is blackmailed into delivering love notes to a contestant for Herkabe, and Reese discovers that, according to the Mrs. Tri-County Pageant manual's scientific formula, he is beautiful.
Next up is the epic 350th episode of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), the longest-running animated primetime series in history and the longest-running comedy currently on television. On the milestone episode, "The Heartbroke Kid," Bart becomes addicted to junk food when a new vending machine is installed at Springfield Elementary. His steady diet of processed foods leads to a massive weight gain and health issues, so the Simpsons stage an intervention and ship Bart off to "Serenity Ranch – A Forced Starvation Facility," headed up by former food addict Tab Spangler (guest voice Albert Brooks). While Spangler tries to help Bart overcome his obsession, Homer and Marge turn their home into a hostel for German travelers in order to pay for the costly Serenity Ranch.
Stephen Hawking, playing himself, and Ray Romano guest-voice on May 1's second all-new episode of THE SIMPSONS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), "Don't Fear the Roofer." A storm hits Springfield, causing the Simpson roof to leak. Unable to keep a roof over his family's head, a downtrodden Homer seeks companionship at a bar called Knockers. There, he befriends a beer-loving roofer, Ray (guest voice Romano), who agrees to help Homer with the repairs. When Homer's new best friend never shows up, Marge and Dr. Hibbert conclude that he's a figment of Homer's imagination and place Homer in a mental hospital. But, Homer and Ray may have the last laugh.
Later that night (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) in the Animation Domination lineup, cult-favorite FAMILY GUY makes a freakin' sweet return to the FOX schedule. Creator/executive producer Seth MacFarlane continues to serve up the distinctively twisted and irreverently outrageous trials and tribulations of middle-class New Englander Peter Griffin; his loving wife, Lois; their angst-ridden daughter, Meg; their slacker son, Chris; their diabolically clever baby, Stewie; and brainy family pooch, Brian, who likes his martinis as dry as his Mighty Dog. On the fourth season premiere, "North by North Quahog," Lois and Peter go on a second honeymoon. When things go awry, Peter ends up posing as Mel Gibson, and they stay in his suite, where they accidentally discover a copy of "Passion of the Christ 2."
Animation Domination completes its mission for the night with the series premiere of AMERICAN DAD (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT), another subversively hilarious animated series from Seth MacFarlane. In "Threat Levels," CIA agent Stan Smith, an undisputed weapons expert and proud family man, returns home from work with the wrong thermos and exposes his clan – his wife, Francine; their ultra-liberal daughter, Hayley; their geeky son, Steve; Roger, the sarcastic space alien Stan rescued from Area 51; and Klaus, a lascivious goldfish with the brain of a German guy – to hazardous material. The scare spurs Francine to question her purpose in life and become a realtor. Her success and big paycheck emasculate Stan, who resorts to sabotaging her work. Meanwhile, Hayley turns their neighbors' now-empty house into a homeless shelter, and Steve comes up with a crazy plan to make money so that he doesn't have to rely on women to buy things for him.
Following is a recap of FOX's Sunday schedule for May 2005:
Sundays, May 1, 8 and 15 7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT KING OF THE HILL/All-New Episodes 7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE/All-New Episodes 8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT THE SIMPSONS/All-New Episodes 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT THE SIMPSONS/Bonus All-New Episodes 9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT FAMILY GUY/All-New Episodes 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT AMERICAN DAD/All-New Episodes
CBS-- Not a classic show tonight but I think Ulong may have finally rid itself of the Eagle Beaked Albatross that had been plaguing it since week one. I mean really, has there, in the entire history of Survivor, been a more inept challenge player than James? He claimed to have once been a house builder and said he could build a bathroom that will be spectacular and, of course, loses the build a crapper contest. Then he, a steel worker, goes up against a gay hairdresser in a football style nut cracker drill and loses again- twice- the second time with immunity on the line!
Today, after telling Probst that he has shot a lot of guns, is the only member of his tribe not to hit a target even once. And the longer the contest went on the further away from the target his shots were. Helen Keller could have come closer to hitting it, with both hands tied behind her back. Finally, at tonights knot tying contest he claims to have once been a navy man and can tie a knot that will just get tighter the more it gets pulled on. KUROR WILL NEVER GET IT UNTIED! Of course, Kuror went through his knot faster than Germany went through France in 1940. And to top it all off, while Bobby Jon and Stephanie swam out alone to get the sticks and stuff needed in the knot tying challenege he stands on the beach, adjusting his dress and saying "Ahm not worried". I swear, except for last weeks water challenge, when it was Ibrahims time to shine, James did absolutely nothing well on any challenge from week one. That, plus the fact that his nose arrived everywhere 30 seconds before the rest of him did, made him one of the most unlikeable players in Survivor history, IMO. And to think they could have voted him out last week but sent Angie away instead. And he has the gall to look surprised at the end when he was voted out and then say "In my heart I know it wasn't my time to go". What a twerp!
I thought Kuror sent out it's weakest team at the immunity challenge. Ian, Katie and the other two women looked like they might be blown out of the water by the Ulongians. Of course they didn't have Heap Big Chief I Suck At Everything on their side, dragging them down.
At least Ulong finally won something at the reward challenege, even with Mr. I Couldn't Hit Water If I Fell Out Of A Boat on their side. Small consolation, however. It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks if Ulong, with out James screwing them up, will be any better in the challenges. If they suddenly start coming up aces all the time he's really gonna look bad on national TV.
As Ulong was leaving tribal council tonight Probst said somethig like " We'll see if this helps you be any better. If not then we'll see you back here real soon". That says to me that the merge won't come next week yet.
I predict here and now that Ulong will win immunity next week and either Tom or that woman who is a Las Vegas showgirl (what that girl has to show I don't know) will be voted out. Remember, you read it here first.
P.S I don't know if you picked up on it by I didn't think Jmaes was much of a player. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:413American Idol Results: Week 5 The Results ShowAzReporter2005-03-25T01:08:00Z2005-03-25T01:08:00-06:00
Episode AirDate: Thursday, March 24, 2005
EPISODE RECAP -- After a teeny bit of controversy (caused by a few wrong numbers), we'll finally learn who's going home. I'm hoping for Mikalah, but if past Idol shows are any indication (and they usually are), she'll probably be safe for at least 3 more weeks. PLEASE let me be wrong...
by Kecia S. Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2005
As usual there's a brief recap of events past. Thirty-one and a half million votes were cast (using the correct numbers)...woo-hoo! Of course there's a group song and it's "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"! Oh joy...just wake me in 3 minutes. Bo didn't start off very strong, but Carrie and Nadia saved it. Nikko was very shaky and Vonzell and Anwar do not harmonize well together - YIKES! Poor Scott is straining. Mikalah looks cute in her extensions, but I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Some of the voices just don't blend well together. I'm so glad that's over!
As if the song wasn't bad enough, here's a cheesy Ford video with the Idols miniaturized, singing "All Star". They actually don't sound too bad singing that song, but again, I'm glad it's over.
On to the good stuff: Nikko is first - he's safe. On to Constantine - he's safe as well. Next is Carrie - also safe. Bo is up - he's safe, too. Nadia is next - she's in the bottom 3 (her performance was awful). On to Jessica - she's safe. Next up is Mikalah - she's in the bottom 3 (again - rightly deserved). Scott is up - he's safe. Anwar, Vonzell and Anthony are left - we'll learn their fates AFTER THE BREAK.
Back from the commercials and Anthony is in the bottom 3...interesting. If Randy could save one of these contestants, he'd save Nadia. Paula won't answer the question, as usual. Anthony is saved and gets sent back to his seat. I'm still hopeful that Mikalah is going home.
We're back and Ryan is talking to Nadia. She still has no regrets; she just did "her" and that's all she can do. A-HA! I was finally right! Mikalah is G-O-N-E!!! It's about time. Ooh! Her voice is worse than I thought...I won't miss her at all.
See you next week for a hopefully less-controversial round of competition. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:409Foghat Guitarist Price - Dies After FallWebNewsroom2005-03-24T19:56:03Z2005-03-24T19:56:03-06:00
Photo: Courtesy SFBlues.comFor those around in the 80's you know "FOGHAT" and their music, with those cool guitar licks from guitarist Rod Price. Rod suffered from a blunt force trauma after a fall on Tuesday March 22nd at his home in Wilton, New Hampshire, USA.
Having played with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Willie Dixon, Price co-founded a British blues band in the 1970s and became an American idol leading FOGHAT to the top of the billboard charts.
Liken to many American musical sensations, Price's music; considered Classic Rock by many Americans, will continue to bless even more with the sound of his music long after his death. http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/:1:408
Non .Net content to follow. Normal proramming will resume after this post.
In a previous post, I lamented about the fact I cannot convert my MP4 video files created on my PDA (XDA IIs) into anything useable (tjhat includes sound!) that I can burn to VCD/DVD. Well I still have not had any success, and it seems neither have many other people, but I have learnt a lot about making VCD's/DVD's so I thought I'd share.
Using free software requires a bunch of software to put it all together. I have listed most of them below.
1. When making a DVD, use DVD-R discs, instead of DVD+R. Dont know why, but only a few players would play DVD's I made with DVD+R discs. My XBox wasn't one of them. When I burnt the same ISO images with DVD-R discs, both my XBox and all the DVD's I previously tested on worked.
2. To make the video, I used either Windows Movie Maker or Photo Story. Both are great apps and did what I wanted. There are many better commercial offerings but these apps are great value and produce some great clips.
3. Get yourself a copy of CDBurnerXP Pro. Its free and is worth it just for the help file. Its simple and gets you up and running easily.
4. Get yourself a copy of DVDStyler. Again its free, allows you to create DVD menus but more importantly, seems to re-process/sample the MPG/video file that is created and basically makes it work. I had many difficulties playing the completed DVD when I didn't use this program to re-process the MPG/Video file so now I put some menu on regardless.
5. Get a copy of TMPGenc. You can convert to/from many different formats, and has preset templates to convert to VCD/SVCD/DVD in various formats.
6. If you dont use the CDBurnerXP Pro I mentioned above to burn the actual CD/DVD, get a copy of DVD Decrypter. This does a great job of DVD burning, and for the more DVD/VCD technicaly savvy, has about 1 million options you can fiddle with. For me, I load the ISO file, press the button to burn the disk. Done.
So my initial quest of converting some of my videos from my PDA is still unsuccessful, however I have taken a sidetrack and will be porting some of my large digital photo collection to viewable DVD. I am still hopeful on finding something and will post any success I have here.
Google's Gmail notably turns 1 on it's birthday today. Google in the latest round of slinging laughable pun back to Yahoo's Mail, today launched its top secret "Infinity+1 Email Storage" for Gmail users. No kidding... 
It’s big. It’s bad. And it’s back for more. Got a problem with that? 
Michigan Attorney General Announces Blockbuster Settlement Over 'No Late Fee' Advertising 
Photo: Courtesy SFBlues.comFor those around in the 80's you know "FOGHAT" and their music, with those cool guitar licks from guitarist Rod Price. Rod suffered from a blunt force trauma after a fall on Tuesday March 22nd at his home in Wilton, New Hampshire, USA. 