http://www.realdetroitweekly.com/article_3798.shtml
By Thomas Matich
Feb 5, 2008
T. Casey Brennan
Comic Book Conspiracy
Ann Arbor was host to a gathering at a house I had never visited before. On the back porch, with my red plastic cup freshly filled from the keg, I sipped and exhaled winter breath. That night I encountered T. Casey Brennan, the man who, legend has it, shot JFK.
Brennan started writing comics in the late-'60s with Warren Publishing’s horror series Eerie. As the '70s stormed ahead, Brennan penned tales for Warren horror magazines Creepy and Vampirella and DC Comics’ House of Mystery among countless others.
“I began reading them in kindergarten in September of 1953,” Brennan says. “I was five-years-old, it was a one-room school on a gravel road, no inside toilet or running water and the teacher had to shovel coal. There was a kid that had a massive collection of old time comic books and I began reading them and I became very enamored by the whole concept.”
With his stories, Brennan loved to create his own world and he used language like a machine gun, peppering his prose with vivid Vampirella speech bubbles that took readers on a creepy joy ride. By 1990, Brennan’s activism to remove cigarette smoking from comics caused then Arkansas Governor, Bill Clinton, to designate January as “T. Casey Brennan Month.”
Now, 59-year-old Brennan is homeless, nearly nomadic, splitting time in cities such as Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Ypsilanti. He enjoys going to parties and in my email correspondences with him, he often asks if I know of any bashes. He considers himself a street-punk and feels that America has reached a cultural revolution that is genuine, unlike the hippies.
“I hated hippies then. I hate them now. Woodstock should’ve been napalmed,” Brennan says. “There’s nothing on this earth more sickening to me than a hippie."
In 2003, a car hit Brennan. He suffered post-concussion syndrome, a bleeding liver and a hernia. He had to learn how to talk again and with the help of some punk rock kids that took him in, he says he learned a different concept of what constitutes good and bad artistically.
In an email, Brennan sent me two Conjurella stories, where he writes about his involvement in the JFK assassination as an unwilling teenager through hazy, suspenseful recollections that involve CIA MK-ULTRA mind control and Nazi experiments. A few days later, I sit with Brennan at a Starbucks in Ann Arbor and ask him if his JFK stories are fact or fiction, to which Brennan says he’s willing to testify and take a polygraph. But it seems certain people don’t want the truth exposed, as he’s received death threats and political persecution. “If people want to deal with the JFK stuff at all, they want to deal with it as art that tests the limits of freedom of expression,” Brennan says. “Nobody wants to hear that I am telling the truth. But I take my fucking life … my reputation in my hands every time I’m forced to admit that.” RDW
T. Casey Brennan’s comics are available at Vault of Midnight: 219 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
9/11 may have been an insiders’ job
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00229.htm
Thursday, 21 February 2008
9/11 may have been an insiders’ job – Dr. Hans Koechler
Syed Akbar Kamal
In a significant observation many time UN contributor & international observer Professor Hans Koechler said “9/11 may have been an insider’s job” in response to a question from one of the delegates attending his lecture The 'Global War on Terror - Contradictions of an Imperial Strategy' last night at the Trades Hall in Auckland.
“I am not a boy-I am 59. There are many inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the official version of events. Those who could not handle a Cessna pulled off 9/11,” he said.
But he was quick to note that the official version has to be challenged. Quoting David Ray Griffin he said these events, in terms of destruction caused, these incidents cannot have been exclusively organized by a shadowy network of Mujahedeen from the remote places of the globe.
The causes officially given for the incidents are not a sufficient explanation for what actually happened on that day, especially as regards the logistics of this highly sophisticated operation and the very advanced infrastructure required for it.
He has published more than 300 books, reports and scholarly articles in several languages. In his book The Global War on Terror and the Metaphysical Enemy he writes the atrocities of September 11, 2001- Instead of dealing with the contradictions and inconsistencies in the official version of events and the numerous gaps in terms of the factual information, a “dogma of political correctness” has been promulgated according to which 19 Islamic-inspired Arab hijackers, directed by an elusive “Al-Qaeda” (“base”), succeeded in carrying out the atrocities all by themselves.
During the course of his lecture he recalled the detailed and precise questions asked on 11 January 2008 by Yukihisa Fujita, member of Japan’s House of Councillors (Senate) and Director of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, about the 9/11 attacks as the origin of the war on terror are a rare exception.
The total silence about Mr. Fujita’s intervention before the Committee, that was broadcast live on Japan’s public NHK television channel, in the Western corporate media is a telling example of the
lack of courage in front a powerful political establishment. Thus, a rather docile and obviously opportunistic intellectual élite in the West, in tandem with client régimes in the Muslim world, has effectively silenced – or at least marginalized – critical opinion.
Against this bleak – geopolitical as well as civilizational – background we can basically identify two desiderata of international politics in the framework of the increasing alienation between Islam and the West, which accompanies the confrontation over the “global war on terror”:
The countries of the West, “assembled,” to varying degrees of intensity and loyalty, around the United States as the imperial hegemon, have to realize that they are about to embark upon an unwinnable test of wills: a conflict that cannot be ended in (conventional) military terms and that will, if not contained by means of multilateral diplomacy, completely absorb the “political energies” and exhaust, to a considerable extent, the resources even of advanced industrial societies.
At the same time, they have to correct and eventually reverse the process of “civilizational alienation” vis à- vis Islam for which they are responsible in important respects. There is a need, as then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has put it, “to unlearn the stereotypes that have become so entrenched in so many minds and so much of the media.”
Since 1972, UN Secretaries-General in their statements subsequently acknowledged Professor Köchler’s contributions to international peace. In April 2000, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Professor Koechler as international observer at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands (Lockerbie Trial).
He said “up to the present day, the government of the United Kingdom has rejected calls for a public inquiry into the circumstances of the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on 21 December 1989. As international observer, appointed by the United Nations, of the Lockerbie trial in the Netherlands I have outlined the flaws in the proceedings and called for a revision of the court’s verdict.”
Eventually, in June 2007, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, apparently sharing the author’s original concerns, referred the case back to the appeal court.
He pointed out the sentencing of a lone intelligence officer from Libya for the downing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which has caused the death of 270 people. While this individual most likely is not guilty as charged, i.e. is not the one who inserted the bomb onto the plane via Malta and Frankfurt (according to the “Opinion of the Court”: The High Court of Justiciary at Camp Zeist, Case No: 1475/99, 31 January 2001), no efforts have been made to date to comprehensively investigate the midair explosion and prosecute the actual perpetrators. The U.K. and U.S. governments have both rejected a public inquiry into the circumstances of this incident, thus preventing efficient measures against possible acts of terrorism against civil aviation in the future.
Prof Koechler is the Founder and President of the International Progress Organization (I.P.O.), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the United Nations and with a membership in over 70 countries, representing all continents.
Through his research and international activities, Professor Koechler made major contributions to the debate on international democracy and United Nations reform, in particular reform of the Security Council. This was acknowledged by international figures such as the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. In 1985, Professor Koechler organized the first major colloquium on "Democracy in International Relations" on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations in New York. With Irish Nobel Laureate Seán MacBride he initiated the Appeal by Lawyers against Nuclear War, which set in motion an international campaign that eventually led to a General Assembly resolution and the issuing of an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice. As President of the I.P.O., he dealt with the humanitarian issues of the exchange of prisoners of war between Iran and Iraq and with the issue of Kuwaiti POWs and missing people in Iraq.
*****
Syed Akbar Kamal is Producer/Director for current affairs programme Darpan - The Mirror nationwide on Stratos & Triangle TV.
www.teamworkproductions.co.nz
Thursday, 21 February 2008
9/11 may have been an insiders’ job – Dr. Hans Koechler
Syed Akbar Kamal
In a significant observation many time UN contributor & international observer Professor Hans Koechler said “9/11 may have been an insider’s job” in response to a question from one of the delegates attending his lecture The 'Global War on Terror - Contradictions of an Imperial Strategy' last night at the Trades Hall in Auckland.
“I am not a boy-I am 59. There are many inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the official version of events. Those who could not handle a Cessna pulled off 9/11,” he said.
But he was quick to note that the official version has to be challenged. Quoting David Ray Griffin he said these events, in terms of destruction caused, these incidents cannot have been exclusively organized by a shadowy network of Mujahedeen from the remote places of the globe.
The causes officially given for the incidents are not a sufficient explanation for what actually happened on that day, especially as regards the logistics of this highly sophisticated operation and the very advanced infrastructure required for it.
He has published more than 300 books, reports and scholarly articles in several languages. In his book The Global War on Terror and the Metaphysical Enemy he writes the atrocities of September 11, 2001- Instead of dealing with the contradictions and inconsistencies in the official version of events and the numerous gaps in terms of the factual information, a “dogma of political correctness” has been promulgated according to which 19 Islamic-inspired Arab hijackers, directed by an elusive “Al-Qaeda” (“base”), succeeded in carrying out the atrocities all by themselves.
During the course of his lecture he recalled the detailed and precise questions asked on 11 January 2008 by Yukihisa Fujita, member of Japan’s House of Councillors (Senate) and Director of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, about the 9/11 attacks as the origin of the war on terror are a rare exception.
The total silence about Mr. Fujita’s intervention before the Committee, that was broadcast live on Japan’s public NHK television channel, in the Western corporate media is a telling example of the
lack of courage in front a powerful political establishment. Thus, a rather docile and obviously opportunistic intellectual élite in the West, in tandem with client régimes in the Muslim world, has effectively silenced – or at least marginalized – critical opinion.
Against this bleak – geopolitical as well as civilizational – background we can basically identify two desiderata of international politics in the framework of the increasing alienation between Islam and the West, which accompanies the confrontation over the “global war on terror”:
The countries of the West, “assembled,” to varying degrees of intensity and loyalty, around the United States as the imperial hegemon, have to realize that they are about to embark upon an unwinnable test of wills: a conflict that cannot be ended in (conventional) military terms and that will, if not contained by means of multilateral diplomacy, completely absorb the “political energies” and exhaust, to a considerable extent, the resources even of advanced industrial societies.
At the same time, they have to correct and eventually reverse the process of “civilizational alienation” vis à- vis Islam for which they are responsible in important respects. There is a need, as then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has put it, “to unlearn the stereotypes that have become so entrenched in so many minds and so much of the media.”
Since 1972, UN Secretaries-General in their statements subsequently acknowledged Professor Köchler’s contributions to international peace. In April 2000, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Professor Koechler as international observer at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands (Lockerbie Trial).
He said “up to the present day, the government of the United Kingdom has rejected calls for a public inquiry into the circumstances of the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on 21 December 1989. As international observer, appointed by the United Nations, of the Lockerbie trial in the Netherlands I have outlined the flaws in the proceedings and called for a revision of the court’s verdict.”
Eventually, in June 2007, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, apparently sharing the author’s original concerns, referred the case back to the appeal court.
He pointed out the sentencing of a lone intelligence officer from Libya for the downing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which has caused the death of 270 people. While this individual most likely is not guilty as charged, i.e. is not the one who inserted the bomb onto the plane via Malta and Frankfurt (according to the “Opinion of the Court”: The High Court of Justiciary at Camp Zeist, Case No: 1475/99, 31 January 2001), no efforts have been made to date to comprehensively investigate the midair explosion and prosecute the actual perpetrators. The U.K. and U.S. governments have both rejected a public inquiry into the circumstances of this incident, thus preventing efficient measures against possible acts of terrorism against civil aviation in the future.
Prof Koechler is the Founder and President of the International Progress Organization (I.P.O.), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the United Nations and with a membership in over 70 countries, representing all continents.
Through his research and international activities, Professor Koechler made major contributions to the debate on international democracy and United Nations reform, in particular reform of the Security Council. This was acknowledged by international figures such as the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. In 1985, Professor Koechler organized the first major colloquium on "Democracy in International Relations" on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations in New York. With Irish Nobel Laureate Seán MacBride he initiated the Appeal by Lawyers against Nuclear War, which set in motion an international campaign that eventually led to a General Assembly resolution and the issuing of an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice. As President of the I.P.O., he dealt with the humanitarian issues of the exchange of prisoners of war between Iran and Iraq and with the issue of Kuwaiti POWs and missing people in Iraq.
*****
Syed Akbar Kamal is Producer/Director for current affairs programme Darpan - The Mirror nationwide on Stratos & Triangle TV.
www.teamworkproductions.co.nz
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Calif. McDonald's tries feng shui theme
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Calif_McDonald_s_tries_feng_shui_th_02242008.html
Calif. McDonald's tries feng shui theme
Do You Want Fries With That Zen? California McDonald's Aims to Boost Sales With Feng Shui
DAISY NGUYEN
AP News
Feb 24, 2008
The only familiar signs at the McDonald's in this large Asian community are the golden arches, the drive-through and the menu. Gone are the plastic furniture, Ronald McDonald and the red and yellow palette that has defined the world's largest hamburger chain. Leather seats, earth tones, bamboo plants and water trickling down glass panels have taken their place.
The makeover elements are meant to help diners achieve happiness and fortune — whether they realize it or not.
That's because the restaurant was redesigned using the principles of feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects and numbers to promote health, harmony and prosperity.
The concept is an unlikely fit with fast food. But the restaurant's owners say the designs are aimed at creating a soothing setting that will encourage diners to linger over their burgers and fries, and come back again.
The makeover is part of the attempt by McDonald's Corp. in recent years to remodel hundreds of its restaurants to attract more patrons with unique decor and amenities that might entice them stay awhile.
It also fits into McDonald's larger corporate practice of catering to local tastes, such as a fondue-style burger in France or a pita-wrapped "McArabia" sandwich in the Middle East.
"We can't look too cookie cutter," Mark Brownstein, one of three owners of the restaurant, said about the new decor.
The basic principles of feng shui include placing strategic representations of five natural elements — earth, water, fire, metal and wood — around the room to increase the flow of chi, or energy.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) has been employed in the designs of high-rises, banks, even zoo exhibits, and has been popularized by countless coffee table books and TV shows such as HGTV's "Fun Shui." It's also used in the designs of the Panda Express Chinese food chain.
The McDonald's in this Los Angeles suburb boasts wood ceiling, silver-coated chairs, plus red accents throughout the dining area to symbolize fire and "good luck, laughter and prosperity," said Brenda Clifford, who designed the dining area.
The textured walls patterned after ocean waves symbolize "life and relaxation — the balanced things that you want in your life," she said.
Customers are responding positively, whether or not they recognize the feng shui elements.
"When we first walked in we were amazed, we were happy we skipped the drive-through and went inside," Andrew Chen said while lounging in a white leather booth with a friend.
Chen, 20, said he didn't notice the feng shui elements. He just thought it was a modern interior.
Two workers at the nearby post office said they've been taking more lunch breaks at the remodeled McDonald's, which opened in late December.
"We're here two, three times a week," Waldo Alfaro said as he munched on a Filet-O-Fish and a salad. "It's relaxing, you don't feel any pressure here."
Nevermind that this is the same McDonald's that's been vilified by critics over its artery-clogging Big Macs and fries.
The buzz about the feng shui McDonald's is starting to attract curious onlookers.
"It's successful as a design. It's got a very clean, open, airy appearance," said Elaine Bjorklund, a professor emerita of cultural geography at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, who was in town visiting a friend.
"I'm not a McDonald's habituee," she added as she snapped pictures of the dining area. "It would be interesting to see if this trend will spread."
Brownstein said he and his partners chose the feng shui makeover because the restaurant is located near a renowned Buddhist temple, which is considered good luck. The designs were meant to appeal to the area's growing Asian population, but were also done in a way that would help all customers tap their inner Zen.
With the help of a feng shui master, the designers added details that only feng shui practitioners could appreciate. They include positioning the doors in a way that would block out bad spirits while keeping good ones inside, Clifford said.
The eight rows of red tiles near the food counter are another symbol of fortune, because the number eight is considered auspicious, she said. Meanwhile, the metal sculptures of a crane and Koi fish adorning one wall represent fertility and prosperity, she said.
Clifford said she made the nearly fatal mistake of putting 44 seats in the dining area, until she learned that feng shui followers consider the number four a symbol of bad luck. So she added an extra seat to make it 45.
"Few people would notice it, but if you're in the know, you'll say 'Oh my God, that's terrible,'" she said.
She went as far as staggering the grout lines in the tiles rather than keeping them straight.
"You want to have obstacles in life, it makes you grow," she explained.
While the menu remains the same, there is a McCafe offering lattes and gourmet coffee drinks.
When McDonald's restaurants in Europe upgraded their decor several years ago by adding hardwood floors, armchairs, TVs and other enhancements, sales went up, Brownstein said.
He said business has picked up at his restaurant too.
Other franchise owners are taking notice. Clifford said her company has been hired to feng shui two more McDonald's in Southern California.
Calif. McDonald's tries feng shui theme
Do You Want Fries With That Zen? California McDonald's Aims to Boost Sales With Feng Shui
DAISY NGUYEN
AP News
Feb 24, 2008
The only familiar signs at the McDonald's in this large Asian community are the golden arches, the drive-through and the menu. Gone are the plastic furniture, Ronald McDonald and the red and yellow palette that has defined the world's largest hamburger chain. Leather seats, earth tones, bamboo plants and water trickling down glass panels have taken their place.
The makeover elements are meant to help diners achieve happiness and fortune — whether they realize it or not.
That's because the restaurant was redesigned using the principles of feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects and numbers to promote health, harmony and prosperity.
The concept is an unlikely fit with fast food. But the restaurant's owners say the designs are aimed at creating a soothing setting that will encourage diners to linger over their burgers and fries, and come back again.
The makeover is part of the attempt by McDonald's Corp. in recent years to remodel hundreds of its restaurants to attract more patrons with unique decor and amenities that might entice them stay awhile.
It also fits into McDonald's larger corporate practice of catering to local tastes, such as a fondue-style burger in France or a pita-wrapped "McArabia" sandwich in the Middle East.
"We can't look too cookie cutter," Mark Brownstein, one of three owners of the restaurant, said about the new decor.
The basic principles of feng shui include placing strategic representations of five natural elements — earth, water, fire, metal and wood — around the room to increase the flow of chi, or energy.
Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) has been employed in the designs of high-rises, banks, even zoo exhibits, and has been popularized by countless coffee table books and TV shows such as HGTV's "Fun Shui." It's also used in the designs of the Panda Express Chinese food chain.
The McDonald's in this Los Angeles suburb boasts wood ceiling, silver-coated chairs, plus red accents throughout the dining area to symbolize fire and "good luck, laughter and prosperity," said Brenda Clifford, who designed the dining area.
The textured walls patterned after ocean waves symbolize "life and relaxation — the balanced things that you want in your life," she said.
Customers are responding positively, whether or not they recognize the feng shui elements.
"When we first walked in we were amazed, we were happy we skipped the drive-through and went inside," Andrew Chen said while lounging in a white leather booth with a friend.
Chen, 20, said he didn't notice the feng shui elements. He just thought it was a modern interior.
Two workers at the nearby post office said they've been taking more lunch breaks at the remodeled McDonald's, which opened in late December.
"We're here two, three times a week," Waldo Alfaro said as he munched on a Filet-O-Fish and a salad. "It's relaxing, you don't feel any pressure here."
Nevermind that this is the same McDonald's that's been vilified by critics over its artery-clogging Big Macs and fries.
The buzz about the feng shui McDonald's is starting to attract curious onlookers.
"It's successful as a design. It's got a very clean, open, airy appearance," said Elaine Bjorklund, a professor emerita of cultural geography at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, who was in town visiting a friend.
"I'm not a McDonald's habituee," she added as she snapped pictures of the dining area. "It would be interesting to see if this trend will spread."
Brownstein said he and his partners chose the feng shui makeover because the restaurant is located near a renowned Buddhist temple, which is considered good luck. The designs were meant to appeal to the area's growing Asian population, but were also done in a way that would help all customers tap their inner Zen.
With the help of a feng shui master, the designers added details that only feng shui practitioners could appreciate. They include positioning the doors in a way that would block out bad spirits while keeping good ones inside, Clifford said.
The eight rows of red tiles near the food counter are another symbol of fortune, because the number eight is considered auspicious, she said. Meanwhile, the metal sculptures of a crane and Koi fish adorning one wall represent fertility and prosperity, she said.
Clifford said she made the nearly fatal mistake of putting 44 seats in the dining area, until she learned that feng shui followers consider the number four a symbol of bad luck. So she added an extra seat to make it 45.
"Few people would notice it, but if you're in the know, you'll say 'Oh my God, that's terrible,'" she said.
She went as far as staggering the grout lines in the tiles rather than keeping them straight.
"You want to have obstacles in life, it makes you grow," she explained.
While the menu remains the same, there is a McCafe offering lattes and gourmet coffee drinks.
When McDonald's restaurants in Europe upgraded their decor several years ago by adding hardwood floors, armchairs, TVs and other enhancements, sales went up, Brownstein said.
He said business has picked up at his restaurant too.
Other franchise owners are taking notice. Clifford said her company has been hired to feng shui two more McDonald's in Southern California.
Appeals court rejects Agent Orange suits
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/02/22/appeals_court_rejects_agent_orange_suits/3246/
Appeals court rejects Agent Orange suits
NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A U.S. appeals court has upheld the dismissal of lawsuits by veterans, their families and Vietnamese nationals over the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York issued three opinions affirming lower court ruling that dismissed 16 civil actions against Dow Chemical Co., Monsanto Co. and other chemical makers.
The three-judge panel said makers of herbicides that comprised Agent Orange were protected by the "military contractor defense," which shields independent contractors from liability when fulfilling government procurement contracts.
In one of the cases the court rejected claims by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin that the use of Agent Orange was a violation of international law.
The court said the use of Agent Orange was lawful because the herbicide was not used as a weapon against people, but rather was used to clear vegetation to protect U.S. troops from ambush.
Appeals court rejects Agent Orange suits
NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- A U.S. appeals court has upheld the dismissal of lawsuits by veterans, their families and Vietnamese nationals over the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York issued three opinions affirming lower court ruling that dismissed 16 civil actions against Dow Chemical Co., Monsanto Co. and other chemical makers.
The three-judge panel said makers of herbicides that comprised Agent Orange were protected by the "military contractor defense," which shields independent contractors from liability when fulfilling government procurement contracts.
In one of the cases the court rejected claims by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin that the use of Agent Orange was a violation of international law.
The court said the use of Agent Orange was lawful because the herbicide was not used as a weapon against people, but rather was used to clear vegetation to protect U.S. troops from ambush.
Global Warming a “Total Crock of Shit”
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/23/7251/
Published on Saturday, February 23, 2008 by Reuters
GM Exec Stands by Calling Global Warming a “Total Crock of Shit”
by Kevin Krolicki
DETROIT — General Motors Corp Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has defended remarks he made dismissing global warming as a “total crock of shit,” saying his views had no bearing on GM’s commitment to build environmentally friendly vehicles.
Lutz, GM’s outspoken product development chief, has been under fire from Internet bloggers since last month when he was quoted as making the remark to reporters in Texas.
In a posting on his GM blog on Thursday, Lutz said those “spewing virtual vitriol” at him for minimizing the threat of climate change were “missing the big picture.”
“What they should be doing in earnest is forming opinions, not about me but about GM and what this company is doing that is … hugely beneficial to the causes they so enthusiastically claim to support,” he said in a posting titled, “Talk About a Crock.”
GM, the largest U.S. automaker by sales and market share, has been trying to change its image after taking years of heat for relying too much on sales of large sport-utility vehicles like the Hummer and not moving faster on fuel-saving hybrid technology.
“My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors,” he wrote.
Lutz said GM was continuing development of the battery-powered, plug-in Chevy Volt and other alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines.
GM is racing against Toyota Motor Corp to be first to market a plug-in hybrid car that can be recharged at a standard electric outlet.
Lutz has previously said GM made a mistake by allowing Toyota to seize “the mantle of green respectability and technology leadership” with its market-leading Prius hybrid.
A 40-year auto industry veteran who joined GM earlier in the decade with a mandate to shake up its vehicle line-up, Lutz is no stranger to controversy.
As part of a campaign against higher fuel economy standards, Lutz wrote in a 2006 blog posting that forcing automakers to sell smaller cars would be “like trying to address the obesity problem in this country by forcing clothing manufacturers to sell smaller, tighter sizes.”
Automakers ended their opposition to higher fuel standards in 2007 when it became clear that proposed changes would become law with or without their support.
In December, President George W. Bush signed a law mandating a 40 percent increase in fleetwide fuel economy by 2020, the first substantial change in three decades.
Reporting by Kevin Krolicki, editing by Toni Reinhold
Published on Saturday, February 23, 2008 by Reuters
GM Exec Stands by Calling Global Warming a “Total Crock of Shit”
by Kevin Krolicki
DETROIT — General Motors Corp Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has defended remarks he made dismissing global warming as a “total crock of shit,” saying his views had no bearing on GM’s commitment to build environmentally friendly vehicles.
Lutz, GM’s outspoken product development chief, has been under fire from Internet bloggers since last month when he was quoted as making the remark to reporters in Texas.
In a posting on his GM blog on Thursday, Lutz said those “spewing virtual vitriol” at him for minimizing the threat of climate change were “missing the big picture.”
“What they should be doing in earnest is forming opinions, not about me but about GM and what this company is doing that is … hugely beneficial to the causes they so enthusiastically claim to support,” he said in a posting titled, “Talk About a Crock.”
GM, the largest U.S. automaker by sales and market share, has been trying to change its image after taking years of heat for relying too much on sales of large sport-utility vehicles like the Hummer and not moving faster on fuel-saving hybrid technology.
“My thoughts on what has or hasn’t been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors,” he wrote.
Lutz said GM was continuing development of the battery-powered, plug-in Chevy Volt and other alternatives to traditional internal combustion engines.
GM is racing against Toyota Motor Corp to be first to market a plug-in hybrid car that can be recharged at a standard electric outlet.
Lutz has previously said GM made a mistake by allowing Toyota to seize “the mantle of green respectability and technology leadership” with its market-leading Prius hybrid.
A 40-year auto industry veteran who joined GM earlier in the decade with a mandate to shake up its vehicle line-up, Lutz is no stranger to controversy.
As part of a campaign against higher fuel economy standards, Lutz wrote in a 2006 blog posting that forcing automakers to sell smaller cars would be “like trying to address the obesity problem in this country by forcing clothing manufacturers to sell smaller, tighter sizes.”
Automakers ended their opposition to higher fuel standards in 2007 when it became clear that proposed changes would become law with or without their support.
In December, President George W. Bush signed a law mandating a 40 percent increase in fleetwide fuel economy by 2020, the first substantial change in three decades.
Reporting by Kevin Krolicki, editing by Toni Reinhold
Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html
Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010 at Sub-$18,000, Could Hit 1000-Mile Range
By Matt Sullivan
Published on: February 22, 2008
The Air Car caused a huge stir when we reported last year that Tata Motors would begin producing it in India. Now the little gas-free ride that could is headed Stateside in a big-time way.
Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) confirmed to PopularMechanics.com on Thursday that it expects to produce the world’s first air-powered car for the United States by late 2009 or early 2010. As the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, which developed the Air Car as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine, ZPM has attained rights to build the first of several modular plants, which are likely to begin manufacturing in the Northeast and grow for regional production around the country, at a clip of up to 10,000 Air Cars per year.
And while ZPM is also licensed to build MDI’s two-seater OneCAT economy model (the one headed for India) and three-seat MiniCAT (like a SmartForTwo without the gas), the New Paltz, N.Y., startup is aiming bigger: Company officials want to make the first air-powered car to hit U.S. roads a $17,800, 75-hp equivalent, six-seat modified version of MDI’s CityCAT (pictured above) that, thanks to an even more radical engine, is said to travel as far as 1000 miles at up to 96 mph with each tiny fill-up.
We’ll believe that when we drive it, but MDI’s new dual-energy engine—currently being installed in models at MDI facilities overseas—is still pretty damn cool in concept. After using compressed air fed from the same Airbus-built tanks in earlier models to run its pistons, the next-gen Air Car has a supplemental energy source to kick in north of 35 mph, ZPM says. A custom heating chamber heats the air in a process officials refused to elaborate upon, though they insisted it would increase volume and thus the car’s range and speed.
“I want to stress that these are estimates, and that we’ll know soon more precisely from our engineers,” ZPM spokesman Kevin Haydon told PM, “but a vehicle with one tank of air and, say, 8 gal. of either conventional petrol, ethanol or biofuel could hit between 800 and 1000 miles.”
Those figures would make the Air Car, along with Aptera’s Typ-1 and Tesla’s Roadster, a favorite among early entrants for the Automotive X Prize, for which MDI and ZPM have already signed up. But with the family-size, four-door CityCAT undergoing standard safety tests in Europe, then side-impact tests once it arrives in the States, could it be the first 100-mpg, nonelectric car you can actually buy?
Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010 at Sub-$18,000, Could Hit 1000-Mile Range
By Matt Sullivan
Published on: February 22, 2008
The Air Car caused a huge stir when we reported last year that Tata Motors would begin producing it in India. Now the little gas-free ride that could is headed Stateside in a big-time way.
Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) confirmed to PopularMechanics.com on Thursday that it expects to produce the world’s first air-powered car for the United States by late 2009 or early 2010. As the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, which developed the Air Car as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine, ZPM has attained rights to build the first of several modular plants, which are likely to begin manufacturing in the Northeast and grow for regional production around the country, at a clip of up to 10,000 Air Cars per year.
And while ZPM is also licensed to build MDI’s two-seater OneCAT economy model (the one headed for India) and three-seat MiniCAT (like a SmartForTwo without the gas), the New Paltz, N.Y., startup is aiming bigger: Company officials want to make the first air-powered car to hit U.S. roads a $17,800, 75-hp equivalent, six-seat modified version of MDI’s CityCAT (pictured above) that, thanks to an even more radical engine, is said to travel as far as 1000 miles at up to 96 mph with each tiny fill-up.
We’ll believe that when we drive it, but MDI’s new dual-energy engine—currently being installed in models at MDI facilities overseas—is still pretty damn cool in concept. After using compressed air fed from the same Airbus-built tanks in earlier models to run its pistons, the next-gen Air Car has a supplemental energy source to kick in north of 35 mph, ZPM says. A custom heating chamber heats the air in a process officials refused to elaborate upon, though they insisted it would increase volume and thus the car’s range and speed.
“I want to stress that these are estimates, and that we’ll know soon more precisely from our engineers,” ZPM spokesman Kevin Haydon told PM, “but a vehicle with one tank of air and, say, 8 gal. of either conventional petrol, ethanol or biofuel could hit between 800 and 1000 miles.”
Those figures would make the Air Car, along with Aptera’s Typ-1 and Tesla’s Roadster, a favorite among early entrants for the Automotive X Prize, for which MDI and ZPM have already signed up. But with the family-size, four-door CityCAT undergoing standard safety tests in Europe, then side-impact tests once it arrives in the States, could it be the first 100-mpg, nonelectric car you can actually buy?
Biodiversity 'doomsday vault' comes to life in Arctic
http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20080224/sc_afp/norwayarcticenvironmentwarmingcrops.html
Biodiversity 'doomsday vault' comes to life in Arctic
By Pierre-Henry Deshayes
Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008
LONGYEARBYEN, Norway (AFP) - Aimed at providing mankind with a Noah's Ark of food in the event of a global catastrophe, an Arctic "doomsday vault" filled with samples of the world's most important seeds will be inaugurated here Tuesday.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Nobel Peace Prize winning environmentalist Wangari Matai will be among the personalities present at the inauguration of the vault, which has been carved into the permafrost of a remote Arctic mountain, just some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole.
The vault, made up of three spacious cold chambers each measuring 27 x 10 metres (89 x 33 feet), create a long trident-shaped tunnel bored into the sandstone and limestone.
It has the capacity to hold up to 4.5 million batches of seeds from all known varieties of the planet's main food crops, making it possible to re-establish plants if they disappear from their natural environment or are obliterated by major disasters.
"The facility is built to hold twice as many varieties of agricultural crops as we think exist," explained Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and project mastermind.
"It will not be filled up in my lifetime, nor in my grandchildren's lifetime," he predicted in a phone interview with AFP.
Norway has assumed the six million euro (8.9 million dollar) charge for building the vault in its Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, where ironically no crops grow.
Secured behind an airlock door, the three airtight chambers have the capacity to house duplicates of samples from all the world's more than 1,400 existing seed banks.
Many of the more vulnerable seed banks have begun contributing to the "doomsday vault" collection, but some of the world's biodiversity has already disappeared, with gene vaults in both Iraq and Afghanistan destroyed by war and a seed bank in the Philippines annihilated by a typhoon.
By the time of the inauguration on Tuesday, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault should hold some 250,000 samples, which will remain the property of their countries of origin.
Pakistan and Kenya, both undergoing periods of serious unrest, have sent seed collections, while samples sent from Colombia have been closely scrutinised by police to avoid the project becoming a vehicle for drug trafficking.
"I've been working in this field for 30 years and I thought I knew at least all the crops," Fowler said.
After receiving a list of all the different seeds in the vault, however, "I must admit there are a number of crops I've never heard of before," he said.
That's a spectacular amount of diversity for Svalbard, where no trees can grow due to the permafrost and where the mercury plummets to an average 14 degrees Celsius below zero (6.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter.
The Norwegian archipelago, which is home to some 2,300 people, was selected not despite but because of its inhospitable climate, as well as its remote location far from civil strife.
The seeds of wheat, maize, oats and other crops will be stored at a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius, and even if the freezer system fails the permafrost will ensure that temperatures never rise above 3.5 degrees Celsius below freezing.
"Svalbard really met all the criteria," Fowler said.
Protected by high walls of fortified concrete, an armoured door, a sensor alarm and the native polar bears that roam the region, the "doomsday vault" has been built 130 metres (425 feet) above current sea level -- high enough that it would not flood if the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melt entirely due to global warming.
The concrete cocoon has also been built to withstand nuclear missile attacks or a plunging plane, something that could come in handy in light of the 6.4-scale tremor -- the biggest earthquake in Norway's history -- registered near the archipelago on Thursday.
Biodiversity 'doomsday vault' comes to life in Arctic
By Pierre-Henry Deshayes
Posted Sun Feb 24, 2008
LONGYEARBYEN, Norway (AFP) - Aimed at providing mankind with a Noah's Ark of food in the event of a global catastrophe, an Arctic "doomsday vault" filled with samples of the world's most important seeds will be inaugurated here Tuesday.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Nobel Peace Prize winning environmentalist Wangari Matai will be among the personalities present at the inauguration of the vault, which has been carved into the permafrost of a remote Arctic mountain, just some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the North Pole.
The vault, made up of three spacious cold chambers each measuring 27 x 10 metres (89 x 33 feet), create a long trident-shaped tunnel bored into the sandstone and limestone.
It has the capacity to hold up to 4.5 million batches of seeds from all known varieties of the planet's main food crops, making it possible to re-establish plants if they disappear from their natural environment or are obliterated by major disasters.
"The facility is built to hold twice as many varieties of agricultural crops as we think exist," explained Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and project mastermind.
"It will not be filled up in my lifetime, nor in my grandchildren's lifetime," he predicted in a phone interview with AFP.
Norway has assumed the six million euro (8.9 million dollar) charge for building the vault in its Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, where ironically no crops grow.
Secured behind an airlock door, the three airtight chambers have the capacity to house duplicates of samples from all the world's more than 1,400 existing seed banks.
Many of the more vulnerable seed banks have begun contributing to the "doomsday vault" collection, but some of the world's biodiversity has already disappeared, with gene vaults in both Iraq and Afghanistan destroyed by war and a seed bank in the Philippines annihilated by a typhoon.
By the time of the inauguration on Tuesday, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault should hold some 250,000 samples, which will remain the property of their countries of origin.
Pakistan and Kenya, both undergoing periods of serious unrest, have sent seed collections, while samples sent from Colombia have been closely scrutinised by police to avoid the project becoming a vehicle for drug trafficking.
"I've been working in this field for 30 years and I thought I knew at least all the crops," Fowler said.
After receiving a list of all the different seeds in the vault, however, "I must admit there are a number of crops I've never heard of before," he said.
That's a spectacular amount of diversity for Svalbard, where no trees can grow due to the permafrost and where the mercury plummets to an average 14 degrees Celsius below zero (6.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter.
The Norwegian archipelago, which is home to some 2,300 people, was selected not despite but because of its inhospitable climate, as well as its remote location far from civil strife.
The seeds of wheat, maize, oats and other crops will be stored at a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius, and even if the freezer system fails the permafrost will ensure that temperatures never rise above 3.5 degrees Celsius below freezing.
"Svalbard really met all the criteria," Fowler said.
Protected by high walls of fortified concrete, an armoured door, a sensor alarm and the native polar bears that roam the region, the "doomsday vault" has been built 130 metres (425 feet) above current sea level -- high enough that it would not flood if the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melt entirely due to global warming.
The concrete cocoon has also been built to withstand nuclear missile attacks or a plunging plane, something that could come in handy in light of the 6.4-scale tremor -- the biggest earthquake in Norway's history -- registered near the archipelago on Thursday.
THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL UFO CONVENTION!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
http://www.retroufo.com/
Email: retroufo@aol.com
Contact: Barbara or Rob Harris
Phone: 760-365-3266 or 760-365-5646
THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL UFO CONVENTION!
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 and SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008
The UFO phenomena once experienced by thousands at Giant Rock, in Landers, CA
in the middle of the last century returns for its third year
RETRO UFO (3)
Event Held At
The Integratron in Landers, California
WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY GEORGE NOORY of COAST TO COAST AM
Whether you believe in UFO’s or not, RETRO UFO (3) will take you beyond the typical UFO lecture hall of a hotel conference room and into a new, and nostalgic way of viewing the UFO phenomenon that has intrigued thousands for a millennia. The event is presented in tents and canopies on the grounds of the World Famous Integratron. Speakers will lecture, share their stories and experiences about Giant Rock, The Integratron, Crop Circles and the latest UFO’s information. Many of these stories will show how a small group of men and women impacted a region of the Mojave Desert and made history, often compared in scale to the stories of Roswell, New Mexico.
The original events of The Giant Rock Spacecraft Conventions ended well over 30 years ago. Returning for its third year, Retro UFO (3) has more speakers and programs designed to excite memories and feelings of this nostalgic era of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. At the event this year we’ll explore the UFO movement and the pioneers that paved the way for current UFO believers.
One of the earliest pioneers of that movement was George Van Tassel. George, his wife Eva, and their three daughters lived under Giant Rock, once considered a sacred space to early American Indians. Once known as the largest free standing boulder in the world until its split in February of 2000, Giant Rock and surrounding areas are presently, owned and cared for by the Bureau of Land Management.
It was George and his family during the period of the 1950’s to the 1970’s who hosted Spacecraft Conventions at Giant Rock Airport in the Mojave Desert. Eva, his wife became famous for serving hamburgers and apple pie from her restaurant, The Come On Inn. Records show that Howard Hughes would fly into Giant Rock Airport just to enjoy a piece of Eva’s apple pie. Crowds of thousands gathered from the late 1960’s to the mid 70’s to hear Contactees tell their stories and to share their UFO experiences. George himself, a Contacee would channel messages and talk about boarding a spaceship and meeting “space people” who shared information with him on how to build the Integratron. www.integratron.com an Electro-static generator that was to be used for the cellular rejuvenation of humans.
Many of the original Contactees who participated in the Spacecraft Convention of the 60’s and 70’s have passed on, however a small group still remain and will be at Retro UFO (3) to share their stories. On Saturday, April 26, and Sunday April 27 modern day enthusiasts such as Dr. Louis Turi, Kenn Thomas, Nick Redfern, Paul Kimball, Ralph Ring, Barbara Lamb, Greg Bishop, Alexandra “Chica” Bruce, Adam GoRightly and a host of others will share their present day experiences and research.
We’re honored to announce that George Noory of “Coast to Coast AM”; one of the finest experts on UFOs and the stories behind them will be our featured SPECIAL GUEST. Other well-known UFO Researchers are scheduled to drop by to check out the Dome Vortex and be part of another history making weekend
Sharing personal upclose experiences for their third year will be Rev. Robert Short and wife Shirley, both original attendees of the Giant Rock Conventions. Our Master of Ceremony, Guy Malone, of the 2007 Roswell Festival will be introducing speakers and adding his own special touches to the festivities. Other speakers such as, Carol Peterson and Laura Lee Mysticah will be sharing their insights and providing demonstrations.
Not only does Retro UFO (3) offer lectures by well known and reputable speakers, we’ll also be offering for the third year a historical recreation of George Van Tassel by Lloyd Noel, The Morongo Basin Historical Society, Vice President. The PioneerTown Posse, also a local favorite will present a short drama on, “What does a Cowboy do when he sees a UFO... shoot it?” Other demonstrations on how the Integratron was intended to work by Bob Benson, exhibits by local artists, music, vendors, SoundBaths, prizes for the Best Costume and Who Builds the Best Aluminum Foil Hat will round out some of the festivities for the weekend.
Also planned is an evening program featuring Zamora, The Torture King (His Las Vegas name by the way), And the Movie Farewell Good Brothers along with a laser light show all projected on the Dome. (Weather permitting)
This year Retro UFO (3) promises to be the most exciting and FUN to date. This conference is sponsored by Barbara and Rob Harris of Adset Graphics, are both passionate supporters of The Integratron and Giant Rock. This event is gaining in popularity, and space is limited. The intention of this conference is to awaken old memories of the past, and allows us to be a little nostalgic for a simpler time. By combining information from the past with new and modern philosophies of the present we begin to create our own history taking the UFO movement into new undiscovered directions.
To be part of this new history contact us at:
NOTE: SPACE IS LIMITED SO PLEASE REGISTER EARLY
Rooms in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree & Twenty-Nine Palms have been set aside for this event, but will only be held till the end of March.
SEE DETAILED INFORMATION AT
http://www.retroufo.com/
or call
760-365-3266
or email
retroufo@aol.com
REGISTER ONLINE- PayPal - MC - Visa
REGISTER BEFORE MARCH 31st
AND SAVE UP TO $25.00 PLUS WE’LL GIVE YOU A FREE DVD
“UFO’S 101” a lecture presented by our MC, Guy Malone at the 2007 Roswell UFO Festival.
The DVD is yours FREE including the shipping, as our way of saying THANK YOU registering early.
$75.00 per day — $130.00 For the weekend
Add Lunch for both days total price $155.00. - Vegan & Regular Menu
Lunch -$15.00 at door – if available
REGISTER AFTER MARCH 31st or AT THE GATE IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE
$85.00 per day — $155.00 For the weekend
Add Lunch for both days total price $183.00. - Vegan & Regular Menu
Lunch - $15.00 at door – if available
BRING YOUR OWN COMFORTABLE, PORTABLE CHAIR
FROM HOME AND WE’LL GIVE YOU $1.00 AT THE GATE
Chair must be portable and suitable for conference.
One dollar per person, per chair. Limit 4 chairs per person
ALL PROGRAMS AND SPEAKERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Cancellation Policy on website. Speakers listed have all confirmed to be part of this event, however, we can not be responsible for acts of God and changes in a speaker schedule that may result in changing the intended program.
FEBRUARY 25, 2008
http://www.retroufo.com/
Email: retroufo@aol.com
Contact: Barbara or Rob Harris
Phone: 760-365-3266 or 760-365-5646
THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL UFO CONVENTION!
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 and SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008
The UFO phenomena once experienced by thousands at Giant Rock, in Landers, CA
in the middle of the last century returns for its third year
RETRO UFO (3)
Event Held At
The Integratron in Landers, California
WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY GEORGE NOORY of COAST TO COAST AM
Whether you believe in UFO’s or not, RETRO UFO (3) will take you beyond the typical UFO lecture hall of a hotel conference room and into a new, and nostalgic way of viewing the UFO phenomenon that has intrigued thousands for a millennia. The event is presented in tents and canopies on the grounds of the World Famous Integratron. Speakers will lecture, share their stories and experiences about Giant Rock, The Integratron, Crop Circles and the latest UFO’s information. Many of these stories will show how a small group of men and women impacted a region of the Mojave Desert and made history, often compared in scale to the stories of Roswell, New Mexico.
The original events of The Giant Rock Spacecraft Conventions ended well over 30 years ago. Returning for its third year, Retro UFO (3) has more speakers and programs designed to excite memories and feelings of this nostalgic era of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. At the event this year we’ll explore the UFO movement and the pioneers that paved the way for current UFO believers.
One of the earliest pioneers of that movement was George Van Tassel. George, his wife Eva, and their three daughters lived under Giant Rock, once considered a sacred space to early American Indians. Once known as the largest free standing boulder in the world until its split in February of 2000, Giant Rock and surrounding areas are presently, owned and cared for by the Bureau of Land Management.
It was George and his family during the period of the 1950’s to the 1970’s who hosted Spacecraft Conventions at Giant Rock Airport in the Mojave Desert. Eva, his wife became famous for serving hamburgers and apple pie from her restaurant, The Come On Inn. Records show that Howard Hughes would fly into Giant Rock Airport just to enjoy a piece of Eva’s apple pie. Crowds of thousands gathered from the late 1960’s to the mid 70’s to hear Contactees tell their stories and to share their UFO experiences. George himself, a Contacee would channel messages and talk about boarding a spaceship and meeting “space people” who shared information with him on how to build the Integratron. www.integratron.com an Electro-static generator that was to be used for the cellular rejuvenation of humans.
Many of the original Contactees who participated in the Spacecraft Convention of the 60’s and 70’s have passed on, however a small group still remain and will be at Retro UFO (3) to share their stories. On Saturday, April 26, and Sunday April 27 modern day enthusiasts such as Dr. Louis Turi, Kenn Thomas, Nick Redfern, Paul Kimball, Ralph Ring, Barbara Lamb, Greg Bishop, Alexandra “Chica” Bruce, Adam GoRightly and a host of others will share their present day experiences and research.
We’re honored to announce that George Noory of “Coast to Coast AM”; one of the finest experts on UFOs and the stories behind them will be our featured SPECIAL GUEST. Other well-known UFO Researchers are scheduled to drop by to check out the Dome Vortex and be part of another history making weekend
Sharing personal upclose experiences for their third year will be Rev. Robert Short and wife Shirley, both original attendees of the Giant Rock Conventions. Our Master of Ceremony, Guy Malone, of the 2007 Roswell Festival will be introducing speakers and adding his own special touches to the festivities. Other speakers such as, Carol Peterson and Laura Lee Mysticah will be sharing their insights and providing demonstrations.
Not only does Retro UFO (3) offer lectures by well known and reputable speakers, we’ll also be offering for the third year a historical recreation of George Van Tassel by Lloyd Noel, The Morongo Basin Historical Society, Vice President. The PioneerTown Posse, also a local favorite will present a short drama on, “What does a Cowboy do when he sees a UFO... shoot it?” Other demonstrations on how the Integratron was intended to work by Bob Benson, exhibits by local artists, music, vendors, SoundBaths, prizes for the Best Costume and Who Builds the Best Aluminum Foil Hat will round out some of the festivities for the weekend.
Also planned is an evening program featuring Zamora, The Torture King (His Las Vegas name by the way), And the Movie Farewell Good Brothers along with a laser light show all projected on the Dome. (Weather permitting)
This year Retro UFO (3) promises to be the most exciting and FUN to date. This conference is sponsored by Barbara and Rob Harris of Adset Graphics, are both passionate supporters of The Integratron and Giant Rock. This event is gaining in popularity, and space is limited. The intention of this conference is to awaken old memories of the past, and allows us to be a little nostalgic for a simpler time. By combining information from the past with new and modern philosophies of the present we begin to create our own history taking the UFO movement into new undiscovered directions.
To be part of this new history contact us at:
NOTE: SPACE IS LIMITED SO PLEASE REGISTER EARLY
Rooms in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree & Twenty-Nine Palms have been set aside for this event, but will only be held till the end of March.
SEE DETAILED INFORMATION AT
http://www.retroufo.com/
or call
760-365-3266
or email
retroufo@aol.com
REGISTER ONLINE- PayPal - MC - Visa
REGISTER BEFORE MARCH 31st
AND SAVE UP TO $25.00 PLUS WE’LL GIVE YOU A FREE DVD
“UFO’S 101” a lecture presented by our MC, Guy Malone at the 2007 Roswell UFO Festival.
The DVD is yours FREE including the shipping, as our way of saying THANK YOU registering early.
$75.00 per day — $130.00 For the weekend
Add Lunch for both days total price $155.00. - Vegan & Regular Menu
Lunch -$15.00 at door – if available
REGISTER AFTER MARCH 31st or AT THE GATE IF SPACE IS AVAILABLE
$85.00 per day — $155.00 For the weekend
Add Lunch for both days total price $183.00. - Vegan & Regular Menu
Lunch - $15.00 at door – if available
BRING YOUR OWN COMFORTABLE, PORTABLE CHAIR
FROM HOME AND WE’LL GIVE YOU $1.00 AT THE GATE
Chair must be portable and suitable for conference.
One dollar per person, per chair. Limit 4 chairs per person
ALL PROGRAMS AND SPEAKERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Cancellation Policy on website. Speakers listed have all confirmed to be part of this event, however, we can not be responsible for acts of God and changes in a speaker schedule that may result in changing the intended program.
Pythons could squeeze lower third of USA
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-20-burmese-pythons_N.htm
Pythons could squeeze lower third of USA
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
As climate change warms the nation, giant Burmese pythons could colonize one-third of the USA, from San Francisco across the Southwest, Texas and the South and up north along the Virginia coast, according to U.S. Geological Survey maps released Wednesday.
The pythons can be 20 feet long and 250 pounds. They are highly adaptable to new environments.
Two federal agencies — the USGS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — are investigating the range of nine invasive snakes in Florida, concerned about the danger they now pose to endangered species. The agencies are collecting data to aid in the control of these populations.
They examined Burmese pythons first and, based on where they live in Asia, estimated where they might live here. One map shows where the pythons could live today, an area that expands when scientists use global warming models for 2100.
"We were surprised by the map. It was bigger than we thought it was going to be," says Gordon Rodda, zoologist and lead project researcher. "They are moving northward, there's no question."
Burmese pythons were introduced to the USA as part of the pet trade. The first specimens in the wild were discovered in the mid-1990s in the Florida Everglades, released by owners who no longer wanted them, says Skip Snow, a wildlife biologist with the National Parks Service in the Everglades.
By 2003, there was evidence the snakes had established breeding colonies in the wild. Florida began regulating their sale and ownership Jan. 1.
If federal officials had to worry only about Florida, it would be "decades" before the pythons move into other states, Rodda says. But people keep dumping pythons they don't want into the wild. "We just learned about some that had been released in Arkansas," he says.
The Burmese python is not poisonous and not considered a danger to humans. Attacks on humans have involved pet owners who mishandle and misfeed the snakes, Snow says. In Florida, they eat bobcats, deer, alligators, raccoons, cats, rats, rabbits, muskrats, possum, mice, ducks, egrets, herons and song birds. They grab with their mouth to anchor the prey, then coil around the animal and crush it to death before eating it whole.
If you see one, don't attempt to engage it. Leave the area, note the location and notify the authorities.
Pythons could squeeze lower third of USA
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
As climate change warms the nation, giant Burmese pythons could colonize one-third of the USA, from San Francisco across the Southwest, Texas and the South and up north along the Virginia coast, according to U.S. Geological Survey maps released Wednesday.
The pythons can be 20 feet long and 250 pounds. They are highly adaptable to new environments.
Two federal agencies — the USGS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — are investigating the range of nine invasive snakes in Florida, concerned about the danger they now pose to endangered species. The agencies are collecting data to aid in the control of these populations.
They examined Burmese pythons first and, based on where they live in Asia, estimated where they might live here. One map shows where the pythons could live today, an area that expands when scientists use global warming models for 2100.
"We were surprised by the map. It was bigger than we thought it was going to be," says Gordon Rodda, zoologist and lead project researcher. "They are moving northward, there's no question."
Burmese pythons were introduced to the USA as part of the pet trade. The first specimens in the wild were discovered in the mid-1990s in the Florida Everglades, released by owners who no longer wanted them, says Skip Snow, a wildlife biologist with the National Parks Service in the Everglades.
By 2003, there was evidence the snakes had established breeding colonies in the wild. Florida began regulating their sale and ownership Jan. 1.
If federal officials had to worry only about Florida, it would be "decades" before the pythons move into other states, Rodda says. But people keep dumping pythons they don't want into the wild. "We just learned about some that had been released in Arkansas," he says.
The Burmese python is not poisonous and not considered a danger to humans. Attacks on humans have involved pet owners who mishandle and misfeed the snakes, Snow says. In Florida, they eat bobcats, deer, alligators, raccoons, cats, rats, rabbits, muskrats, possum, mice, ducks, egrets, herons and song birds. They grab with their mouth to anchor the prey, then coil around the animal and crush it to death before eating it whole.
If you see one, don't attempt to engage it. Leave the area, note the location and notify the authorities.
How to Extend Your Wireless Network's Range
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/80308
How to Extend Your Wireless Network's Range
Wed Feb 20, 2008
Wi-Fi networking range is like money, candy, and free time. You can never have too much of it. Getting more range out of your wireless networking gear can be a challenge, but it isn't impossible. Here are some pointers on how to extended your Wi-Fi range, hopefully letting you cover your entire house or office.
Upgrade to 802.11n - OK, it's not a free solution, but it's the best one there is. The new 802.11n gear (even though it has yet to be finalized by the standards body in charge of it) has dramatically better range, speed, and stability than 802.11b or g: After simply upgrading your router to an 802.11n model, you will likely find that your signal is stronger and more reliable in every room, plus you'll experience faster throughput all around (especially if your laptop has 802.11n technology in it). I've also found that 802.11n routers crash less frequently, another big bonus. A new 802.11n router will set you back from $60 to $180.
Try a Range Extender or Repeater - You'll find lots of hardware like this on the market. Some of it works well, some doesn't. In general, I've had the best luck with extenders when they are made by the same company who made your router. Some vendors also offer "high-gain" antennas as a replacement for the little ones on your router. They're worth a try.
Move Your Router - Got DSL or a cable modem? You can attach your network hardware to any working phone line or cable outlet, respectively, in the house. Obviously, picking someplace central to connect your equipment will give you the best overall coverage throughout the house. But even if you can't move the equipment to another location, minor changes can have drastic effects. Wi-Fi signals are blocked by thick metal and concrete, so try picking the router up off the floor and putting it on a table or mounting it on the wall. Pulling the router out from behind your monster TV or entertainment center can also boost the signal dramatically. Experiment by watching your Wi-Fi client's signal meter to see if something helps.
Tweak Those Antennas - They're not just for decoration: Orienting your antennas (try horizontal, vertical, and/or a 45-degree angle) differently can offer decent results with minimal effort. In general, all antennas should be oriented the same way. Again, experiment to see what works best.
Change Channels - For this tweak you'll need to get into your router's management screen, either through an installed application or by typing the IP address of the router into a web browser. You'll find a "Wireless Channel" (or similar) setting in the wireless configuration portion of your router. Most routers default to channel 1, 6, or 11, but if your neighbors are all on channel 6, then you might be seeing slow speed and lower range due to interference. Try one of the other channels (start with 1, 6, and 11, but other channel numbers are worth a shot, too), to see if you get a better signal with them. Remember that your neighbors may also replace their equipment at some point, so if you see a sudden drop in range or speed, try a new channel.
How to Extend Your Wireless Network's Range
Wed Feb 20, 2008
Wi-Fi networking range is like money, candy, and free time. You can never have too much of it. Getting more range out of your wireless networking gear can be a challenge, but it isn't impossible. Here are some pointers on how to extended your Wi-Fi range, hopefully letting you cover your entire house or office.
Upgrade to 802.11n - OK, it's not a free solution, but it's the best one there is. The new 802.11n gear (even though it has yet to be finalized by the standards body in charge of it) has dramatically better range, speed, and stability than 802.11b or g: After simply upgrading your router to an 802.11n model, you will likely find that your signal is stronger and more reliable in every room, plus you'll experience faster throughput all around (especially if your laptop has 802.11n technology in it). I've also found that 802.11n routers crash less frequently, another big bonus. A new 802.11n router will set you back from $60 to $180.
Try a Range Extender or Repeater - You'll find lots of hardware like this on the market. Some of it works well, some doesn't. In general, I've had the best luck with extenders when they are made by the same company who made your router. Some vendors also offer "high-gain" antennas as a replacement for the little ones on your router. They're worth a try.
Move Your Router - Got DSL or a cable modem? You can attach your network hardware to any working phone line or cable outlet, respectively, in the house. Obviously, picking someplace central to connect your equipment will give you the best overall coverage throughout the house. But even if you can't move the equipment to another location, minor changes can have drastic effects. Wi-Fi signals are blocked by thick metal and concrete, so try picking the router up off the floor and putting it on a table or mounting it on the wall. Pulling the router out from behind your monster TV or entertainment center can also boost the signal dramatically. Experiment by watching your Wi-Fi client's signal meter to see if something helps.
Tweak Those Antennas - They're not just for decoration: Orienting your antennas (try horizontal, vertical, and/or a 45-degree angle) differently can offer decent results with minimal effort. In general, all antennas should be oriented the same way. Again, experiment to see what works best.
Change Channels - For this tweak you'll need to get into your router's management screen, either through an installed application or by typing the IP address of the router into a web browser. You'll find a "Wireless Channel" (or similar) setting in the wireless configuration portion of your router. Most routers default to channel 1, 6, or 11, but if your neighbors are all on channel 6, then you might be seeing slow speed and lower range due to interference. Try one of the other channels (start with 1, 6, and 11, but other channel numbers are worth a shot, too), to see if you get a better signal with them. Remember that your neighbors may also replace their equipment at some point, so if you see a sudden drop in range or speed, try a new channel.
Brain-Reading Headset to Sell for $299
http://finance.myway.com/jsp/nw/nwdt_rt.jsp?section=news&feed=ap&src=601&news_id=ap-d8uuaio01&date=20080220
Brain-Reading Headset to Sell for $299
Wednesday February 20, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Hands cramping up from too many video games?
How about controlling games with your thoughts instead? Later this year, Emotiv Systems Inc. plans to start selling the $299 EPOC neuroheadset to let you do just that.
The headset's sensors are designed to detect conscious thoughts and expressions as well as "non-conscious emotions" by reading electrical signals around the brain, says the company, which demonstrated the wireless gadget at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The company, which unveiled a prototype last year, says the headset can detect emotions such as anger, excitement and tension, as well as facial expressions and cognitive actions like pushing and pulling objects.
The headset will be sold with a game developed by Emotiv, but it can also be made to work with existing PC games, the company said. Users will also be able to access an online portal to play more games, chat or upload their own content such as music or photos.
Emotiv plans to work with IBM Corp. to explore applications beyond video gaming. The "brain computer interface" technology could transform not only gaming, but how humans and computers interact, said Paul Ledak, vice president of IBM's Digital Convergence business.
Brain-Reading Headset to Sell for $299
Wednesday February 20, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Hands cramping up from too many video games?
How about controlling games with your thoughts instead? Later this year, Emotiv Systems Inc. plans to start selling the $299 EPOC neuroheadset to let you do just that.
The headset's sensors are designed to detect conscious thoughts and expressions as well as "non-conscious emotions" by reading electrical signals around the brain, says the company, which demonstrated the wireless gadget at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The company, which unveiled a prototype last year, says the headset can detect emotions such as anger, excitement and tension, as well as facial expressions and cognitive actions like pushing and pulling objects.
The headset will be sold with a game developed by Emotiv, but it can also be made to work with existing PC games, the company said. Users will also be able to access an online portal to play more games, chat or upload their own content such as music or photos.
Emotiv plans to work with IBM Corp. to explore applications beyond video gaming. The "brain computer interface" technology could transform not only gaming, but how humans and computers interact, said Paul Ledak, vice president of IBM's Digital Convergence business.
China's Genetically Altered Food Boom
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1714218,00.html
Monday, Feb. 18, 2008
China's Genetically Altered Food Boom
By Krista Mahr
In the wake of poisonings in Japan linked to Chinese-made dumplings, last week brought a fresh wave of scrutiny to China's control over its food industry. In 2006 and 2007, European officials discovered an unauthorized variety of genetically modified (GM) rice made in China — illegal in both Europe and China — in processed food exported to European Union nations. Last Tuesday, the European Commission enacted an emergency regulation on Chinese food imports: Starting April 15, food products containing Chinese rice will require mandatory certification that they've been tested for the experimental GM variety called Bt63.
The measure underscores a discomfort in the West with China's growing dominance in the business of inventing and selling genetically modified seed. Faced with feeding every fifth person on the planet with less than one-tenth of the world's farmland, Beijing has been pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into transgenic crop research and development, hoping the plants, whose DNA is combined with genetic material that programs them with traits like pest and weed resistance, will help farmers yield more food and commodities at a lower cost — especially as farmland is being lost to development and drought. Most of China's cotton is already transgenic, and rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and livestock are in the pipeline. "China decided that conventional technology would not allow it to feed its people," says Clive James, chairman and founder of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). In the 12 years since GM crops have been commercially grown, James says most planting has been in the Americas. "I believe that the second decade will be the decade of Asia," he says.
It's a shift that's causing second thoughts on both sides of this enduringly controversial technology. The United States is the world's most enthusiastic adopter of GM crops, growing vast amounts of crops like herbicide-tolerant soybeans and insect-resistant corn; here, the seeds of globally operating companies like Monsanto and DuPont have passed health and environmental muster. While U.S. regulators have determined GM foods are safe to eat, China's fast growth raises the question of whether one country's health safety trials can translate in another. "We've been saying, 'Trust us,'" says Gregory Jaffe, director of the Biotechnology Project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington. "Now the shoe is on the other foot. And we're not sure we like that system."
In Europe, where consumer acceptance of GM food has always been lower than in the U.S., concerns over the incidents of Bt63 contamination may be rooted less in anxiety over China's safety standards than in a more general worry over the ever-increasing use of GM crops around the world. China, after all, is not alone in its transgressions: the U.S. has also had major incidents of its GM plants showing up in the wrong food chains, costing big trade dollars from GM-wary nations. Last year, Gene Watch UK, a watchdog group that works with Greenpeace, recorded 39 worldwide incidents of illegal GM plants found in food supplies, or approved GM plants found in countries where they are illegal. Becky Price, who helps maintain Gene Watch UK's public list of global GM contamination, says keeping track of these plants is still far from a perfect science. "Nobody has demonstrated how to grow a GM food crop and stop it from getting into the food chain," says Price. "It's a ridiculous concept."
Beijing is listening. Long before last week's announcement from the EC, Chinese officials were aware of the risks — particularly to its global image — in moving too fast on developing and trading its own GM food crops. So far, only a handful of minor food plants like papaya, tomato and bell pepper have been approved for commercial planting in China. A few years back, many scientists believed it would be the first nation in the world to give the thumbs up to genetically modified rice varieties like Bt63. But after Greenpeace found unapproved GM rice seed for sale in a Chinese market in 2003, and when illegal rice also started to show up in processed noodles in Europe, China's Ministry of Agriculture appeared to back off. Now the experimental varieties are stuck in testing paddies around the country, and biotech labs' funds are starting to be depleted by the costly requirement of buying back and destroying the rice from the farmers who grow it. "There's no indication that if you continue, you'll get approved," says Jikun Huang, Director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Though the amount of rice exported from China is small, Huang says that if China became the first to commercialize GM rice and there was a slip-up in international trade, "People would lose faith in all [Chinese] commodities."
Beijing faces a lack of confidence even at home. In a survey conducted last year by Greenpeace, 65% of consumers in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou who were familiar with GM food preferred its conventional cousin. "Right now, I think if most people see that a plant is transgenic, they don't like it," says Li Huaping of South China Agricultural University. Despite China's policy of mandatory labeling GM foods, Li says many of the transgenic papayas he helped develop go unlabeled in markets because vendors know they won't sell as well. Nevertheless, Li is optimistic this will change: "As knowledge is spread, and people understand what transgenic means, I think more people will like it."
To be sure, all of China's R&D won't lie fallow forever. If Clive James is right, the Decade of Asia is coming. If a serious virus were to threaten China's crucial domestic rice supply, or if a well-positioned politician decided transgenic maize was the answer to soaring global food prices, Beijing's green light could come quickly. And the world would have to be ready to go.
Monday, Feb. 18, 2008
China's Genetically Altered Food Boom
By Krista Mahr
In the wake of poisonings in Japan linked to Chinese-made dumplings, last week brought a fresh wave of scrutiny to China's control over its food industry. In 2006 and 2007, European officials discovered an unauthorized variety of genetically modified (GM) rice made in China — illegal in both Europe and China — in processed food exported to European Union nations. Last Tuesday, the European Commission enacted an emergency regulation on Chinese food imports: Starting April 15, food products containing Chinese rice will require mandatory certification that they've been tested for the experimental GM variety called Bt63.
The measure underscores a discomfort in the West with China's growing dominance in the business of inventing and selling genetically modified seed. Faced with feeding every fifth person on the planet with less than one-tenth of the world's farmland, Beijing has been pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into transgenic crop research and development, hoping the plants, whose DNA is combined with genetic material that programs them with traits like pest and weed resistance, will help farmers yield more food and commodities at a lower cost — especially as farmland is being lost to development and drought. Most of China's cotton is already transgenic, and rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and livestock are in the pipeline. "China decided that conventional technology would not allow it to feed its people," says Clive James, chairman and founder of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). In the 12 years since GM crops have been commercially grown, James says most planting has been in the Americas. "I believe that the second decade will be the decade of Asia," he says.
It's a shift that's causing second thoughts on both sides of this enduringly controversial technology. The United States is the world's most enthusiastic adopter of GM crops, growing vast amounts of crops like herbicide-tolerant soybeans and insect-resistant corn; here, the seeds of globally operating companies like Monsanto and DuPont have passed health and environmental muster. While U.S. regulators have determined GM foods are safe to eat, China's fast growth raises the question of whether one country's health safety trials can translate in another. "We've been saying, 'Trust us,'" says Gregory Jaffe, director of the Biotechnology Project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington. "Now the shoe is on the other foot. And we're not sure we like that system."
In Europe, where consumer acceptance of GM food has always been lower than in the U.S., concerns over the incidents of Bt63 contamination may be rooted less in anxiety over China's safety standards than in a more general worry over the ever-increasing use of GM crops around the world. China, after all, is not alone in its transgressions: the U.S. has also had major incidents of its GM plants showing up in the wrong food chains, costing big trade dollars from GM-wary nations. Last year, Gene Watch UK, a watchdog group that works with Greenpeace, recorded 39 worldwide incidents of illegal GM plants found in food supplies, or approved GM plants found in countries where they are illegal. Becky Price, who helps maintain Gene Watch UK's public list of global GM contamination, says keeping track of these plants is still far from a perfect science. "Nobody has demonstrated how to grow a GM food crop and stop it from getting into the food chain," says Price. "It's a ridiculous concept."
Beijing is listening. Long before last week's announcement from the EC, Chinese officials were aware of the risks — particularly to its global image — in moving too fast on developing and trading its own GM food crops. So far, only a handful of minor food plants like papaya, tomato and bell pepper have been approved for commercial planting in China. A few years back, many scientists believed it would be the first nation in the world to give the thumbs up to genetically modified rice varieties like Bt63. But after Greenpeace found unapproved GM rice seed for sale in a Chinese market in 2003, and when illegal rice also started to show up in processed noodles in Europe, China's Ministry of Agriculture appeared to back off. Now the experimental varieties are stuck in testing paddies around the country, and biotech labs' funds are starting to be depleted by the costly requirement of buying back and destroying the rice from the farmers who grow it. "There's no indication that if you continue, you'll get approved," says Jikun Huang, Director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Though the amount of rice exported from China is small, Huang says that if China became the first to commercialize GM rice and there was a slip-up in international trade, "People would lose faith in all [Chinese] commodities."
Beijing faces a lack of confidence even at home. In a survey conducted last year by Greenpeace, 65% of consumers in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou who were familiar with GM food preferred its conventional cousin. "Right now, I think if most people see that a plant is transgenic, they don't like it," says Li Huaping of South China Agricultural University. Despite China's policy of mandatory labeling GM foods, Li says many of the transgenic papayas he helped develop go unlabeled in markets because vendors know they won't sell as well. Nevertheless, Li is optimistic this will change: "As knowledge is spread, and people understand what transgenic means, I think more people will like it."
To be sure, all of China's R&D won't lie fallow forever. If Clive James is right, the Decade of Asia is coming. If a serious virus were to threaten China's crucial domestic rice supply, or if a well-positioned politician decided transgenic maize was the answer to soaring global food prices, Beijing's green light could come quickly. And the world would have to be ready to go.
Cooking Light names top 20 U.S. cities
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/20/cl.best.cities/index.html
Cooking Light names cities that best fit its philosophy
Story Highlights
Cooking Light magazine marks 20th anniversary by naming top 20 U.S. cities
15 criteria were grouped into categories--eat smart, be fit, live well
Seattle tops list with lots of fresh local foods, pedestrian-friendly streets
To celebrate our 20th year of publication, Cooking Light wanted to know what places best fit our philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well. Using statistics from such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Zagat Survey, we ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria. The result, we think, is a ranking of U.S. cities that best provide the resources people need to live healthful lives.
"Each city reflects the full spectrum of living well in its own unique way -- innovative restaurants and markets with nutritious local foods, abundant spaces for walking and other exercise, and a population that takes advantage of both," says senior editor Phillip Rhodes, who headed up the project. "It's great to know that so many people all over the country have the tools they need to eat smart, be fit, and live well," Rhodes says.
1. Seattle, Washington
An abundance of fresh local foods, walker-friendly streets, and inclusive attitudes helps make Seattle America's best city for healthy living.
2. Portland, Oregon
Life is good in our second-ranked city, thanks to its seemingly endless supply of outdoor activities, cutting-edge restaurants, and vibrant environmental consciousness.
3. Washington, D.C.
Our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining, diverse cultures, and ample opportunity for exploration on foot.
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
In our fourth-ranked best city, lush parks and shimmering lakes provide a natural backdrop to a rich cultural landscape.
5. San Francisco, California
Our fifth-ranked city steps up with one of the world's most unforgettable settings--along with great cuisine and an energetic spirit.
6. Boston, Massachusetts
Strolling historic parks and swanning around the water are but two of the pastimes that make summer prime time to enjoy our sixth-ranked city.
7. Denver, Colorado
The Mile-High City ranked seventh on our list for an outdoorsy Western lifestyle that makes living well accessible and irresistible.
8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Our eighth-ranked city proves a worthy destination for food lovers, adventure seekers, and culture aficionados alike.
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In America's fifth-largest city, the historic past provides a backdrop for a present that's healthful and happening.
10. Tucson, Arizona
Tucson offers a taste of the authentic Southwest in a desert setting that's ideal for a warm winter getaway.
11. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore, it turns out, has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day--27 percent.
12. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Graced with bountiful trail systems, no wonder 91 percent of the city's population claims to be in good health.
13. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Skies, once dark with factory smoke, open above crystal-towered downtown Pittsburgh, bound on three sides by the rivers Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio.
14. St. Louis, Missouri
A love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move.
15. New York, New York
New Yorkers walk far more than most Americans, and they do it quickly. But they slow down for green markets--25 in Manhattan alone.
16. Atlanta, Georgia
Approximately 55,000 people gather on the Fourth of July at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10k in the world.
17. Austin, Texas
You can't swing a yoga mat in Austin without hitting a cool place to exercise--whether it's inside a gym or outdoors in a natural, spring-fed pool.
18. Chicago, Illinois
The city's environmentally friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 Cooking Light FitHouse.
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
In our list, the city ranks third in restaurants rated "extraordinary to perfection" and third in nominations for James Beard awards.
20. Kansas City, Missouri
A recent study revealed Kansas City has the purest water of any major city in the country.
Cooking Light names cities that best fit its philosophy
Story Highlights
Cooking Light magazine marks 20th anniversary by naming top 20 U.S. cities
15 criteria were grouped into categories--eat smart, be fit, live well
Seattle tops list with lots of fresh local foods, pedestrian-friendly streets
To celebrate our 20th year of publication, Cooking Light wanted to know what places best fit our philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well. Using statistics from such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Zagat Survey, we ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria. The result, we think, is a ranking of U.S. cities that best provide the resources people need to live healthful lives.
"Each city reflects the full spectrum of living well in its own unique way -- innovative restaurants and markets with nutritious local foods, abundant spaces for walking and other exercise, and a population that takes advantage of both," says senior editor Phillip Rhodes, who headed up the project. "It's great to know that so many people all over the country have the tools they need to eat smart, be fit, and live well," Rhodes says.
1. Seattle, Washington
An abundance of fresh local foods, walker-friendly streets, and inclusive attitudes helps make Seattle America's best city for healthy living.
2. Portland, Oregon
Life is good in our second-ranked city, thanks to its seemingly endless supply of outdoor activities, cutting-edge restaurants, and vibrant environmental consciousness.
3. Washington, D.C.
Our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining, diverse cultures, and ample opportunity for exploration on foot.
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
In our fourth-ranked best city, lush parks and shimmering lakes provide a natural backdrop to a rich cultural landscape.
5. San Francisco, California
Our fifth-ranked city steps up with one of the world's most unforgettable settings--along with great cuisine and an energetic spirit.
6. Boston, Massachusetts
Strolling historic parks and swanning around the water are but two of the pastimes that make summer prime time to enjoy our sixth-ranked city.
7. Denver, Colorado
The Mile-High City ranked seventh on our list for an outdoorsy Western lifestyle that makes living well accessible and irresistible.
8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Our eighth-ranked city proves a worthy destination for food lovers, adventure seekers, and culture aficionados alike.
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In America's fifth-largest city, the historic past provides a backdrop for a present that's healthful and happening.
10. Tucson, Arizona
Tucson offers a taste of the authentic Southwest in a desert setting that's ideal for a warm winter getaway.
11. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore, it turns out, has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day--27 percent.
12. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Graced with bountiful trail systems, no wonder 91 percent of the city's population claims to be in good health.
13. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Skies, once dark with factory smoke, open above crystal-towered downtown Pittsburgh, bound on three sides by the rivers Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio.
14. St. Louis, Missouri
A love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move.
15. New York, New York
New Yorkers walk far more than most Americans, and they do it quickly. But they slow down for green markets--25 in Manhattan alone.
16. Atlanta, Georgia
Approximately 55,000 people gather on the Fourth of July at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10k in the world.
17. Austin, Texas
You can't swing a yoga mat in Austin without hitting a cool place to exercise--whether it's inside a gym or outdoors in a natural, spring-fed pool.
18. Chicago, Illinois
The city's environmentally friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 Cooking Light FitHouse.
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
In our list, the city ranks third in restaurants rated "extraordinary to perfection" and third in nominations for James Beard awards.
20. Kansas City, Missouri
A recent study revealed Kansas City has the purest water of any major city in the country.
Water gushes created "staircases" on Mars: study
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080220/sc_nm/mars_water_dc
Water gushes created "staircases" on Mars: study
By Will Dunham
Wed Feb 20, 2008
Sudden, tremendous gushes of water from underground most likely carved out unusual fan-shaped geological formations with steps like a staircase long ago on the surface of Mars, scientists said on Wednesday.
The Martian surface boasts perhaps 200 large basins that have formations resembling fans. About 10 of them are terraced, with what looks like steps into the basin. Since they were first seen three years ago, scientists have debated how these formations, some of them 9 miles wide, were created.
Dutch and U.S. researchers simulated on Earth on a vastly smaller scale the conditions that might have led to these formations on Mars that resemble dry river deltas with steps.
At a facility at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, they dug a crater in sand in a room-sized tub, then started water flowing into the crater. As the water flowed in through a channel, it eroded the sediment, then fanned out and deposited sediment as deltas, building steps down into the basin, very much like the Martian formations.
Erin Kraal, a researcher at Virginia Tech University who led the study published in the journal Nature, said these Martian formations probably formed quickly -- in a period of decades not hundreds, thousands or millions of years.
And they involved a lot of water.
"What you could imagine is something like the Mississippi River flowing for 10 years and then turning off, or the Rhine River flowing for 100 years and then turning off," Kraal said in a telephone interview.
"It's hard to image being able to get that much water to start so suddenly and stop so suddenly," Kraal added.
Kraal said the large volume of water needed to carve out these formations billions of years ago most likely burst from beneath the surface of the planet. "It doesn't look like it came from precipitation, or from rain. It looks like it came from a hydrothermal source or from melting ice," Kraal said.
Scientists want to understand the history of water on Mars because water is fundamental to the question of whether the planet has ever harbored microbial or some other life. Liquid water is a necessity for life as we know it. While Mars is now arid and dusty, there is evidence it once was much wetter.
For example, scientists think that long, undulating features seen on the northern plains of Mars may be remnants of shorelines of an ocean that covered a third of the planet's surface at least 2 billion years ago.
Currently, there are huge deposits of frozen water at the poles. And images taken by a NASA spacecraft suggest the presence of a small amount of liquid water on the surface. The images showed changes in the walls of two craters apparently caused by the downhill flow of water in the past few years.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Water gushes created "staircases" on Mars: study
By Will Dunham
Wed Feb 20, 2008
Sudden, tremendous gushes of water from underground most likely carved out unusual fan-shaped geological formations with steps like a staircase long ago on the surface of Mars, scientists said on Wednesday.
The Martian surface boasts perhaps 200 large basins that have formations resembling fans. About 10 of them are terraced, with what looks like steps into the basin. Since they were first seen three years ago, scientists have debated how these formations, some of them 9 miles wide, were created.
Dutch and U.S. researchers simulated on Earth on a vastly smaller scale the conditions that might have led to these formations on Mars that resemble dry river deltas with steps.
At a facility at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, they dug a crater in sand in a room-sized tub, then started water flowing into the crater. As the water flowed in through a channel, it eroded the sediment, then fanned out and deposited sediment as deltas, building steps down into the basin, very much like the Martian formations.
Erin Kraal, a researcher at Virginia Tech University who led the study published in the journal Nature, said these Martian formations probably formed quickly -- in a period of decades not hundreds, thousands or millions of years.
And they involved a lot of water.
"What you could imagine is something like the Mississippi River flowing for 10 years and then turning off, or the Rhine River flowing for 100 years and then turning off," Kraal said in a telephone interview.
"It's hard to image being able to get that much water to start so suddenly and stop so suddenly," Kraal added.
Kraal said the large volume of water needed to carve out these formations billions of years ago most likely burst from beneath the surface of the planet. "It doesn't look like it came from precipitation, or from rain. It looks like it came from a hydrothermal source or from melting ice," Kraal said.
Scientists want to understand the history of water on Mars because water is fundamental to the question of whether the planet has ever harbored microbial or some other life. Liquid water is a necessity for life as we know it. While Mars is now arid and dusty, there is evidence it once was much wetter.
For example, scientists think that long, undulating features seen on the northern plains of Mars may be remnants of shorelines of an ocean that covered a third of the planet's surface at least 2 billion years ago.
Currently, there are huge deposits of frozen water at the poles. And images taken by a NASA spacecraft suggest the presence of a small amount of liquid water on the surface. The images showed changes in the walls of two craters apparently caused by the downhill flow of water in the past few years.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Microsoft opens Xbox Live to amateurs
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/20/BU9HV5SFQ.DTL
Microsoft opens Xbox Live to amateurs
Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, February 21, 2008
In an attempt to bring YouTube-style, user-created content to its Xbox Live online service, Microsoft said Wednesday it is throwing open the doors to new community-generated amateur titles.
John Schappert, Microsoft's corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services, took the keynote stage at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to introduce a community arcade to Xbox Live, which will be stocked with games created by garage developers and budding designers. The announcement builds on Microsoft's courting of independent game developers through the release two years ago of its XNA game tools, a software starter kit for game development on Xbox Live and Windows.
Microsoft said the game tools have been downloaded 800,000 times since they were introduced. Now, the amateur creators can aspire to showcase their handiwork on Xbox Live, which has 10 million paying users worldwide.
"I think of this as games created by the community, managed by the community and enjoyed by everyone," Schappert said.
Chief XNA architect Chris Satchell said the process will be highly democratized, from game creation to distribution. Other developers will review games, ensuring that creators will avoid prohibited material and correctly label their titles for situations including blood, injuries, hostility and cruelty. Then the games will get uploaded to Xbox Live Arcade.
Satchell said there are seven community-based games now available on Xbox Live; by the end of the year he expects community-based games to help swell the number of titles to more than 1,000.
The business models and compensation schemes for developers are still being worked out, Satchell said. Xbox Live will conduct trial tests for user-generated games this spring with a full rollout expected later in the year, he said.
"This is about making a low-friction way for creators to meet 10 million players, and this gives gamers more choice," Satchell said.
Microsoft's move underscores a growing emphasis on tapping independent developer talent in the video game industry. Nintendo on Wednesday announced its WiiWare channel will start May 12, selling independent downloadable games developed for the Wii.
Sony also is trying to lure independent titles to its PlayStation Network.
San Francisco's Kongregate, a Web portal for independent flash-based games, was an early leader in the venue. Jim Greer, CEO of Kongregate, said the big console makers are learning from their Web-based counterparts that simple community-created content can find a big audience.
"What started on the Web is continuing on the consoles, and it's a good thing for everybody," Greer said. "Now you're getting the best rising to the top. In the past, if you had a talented guy in a garage working on a game, they might have passed a game demo to Electronic Arts to get a job. Now that demo can go to Kongregate or Xbox Live and make them some money."
IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon said the move makes sense for Microsoft: It helps build goodwill in the game industry while giving the company its pick of the talent.
"Microsoft doesn't have to pay much to do this, and if something stands out they can take advantage of it," Pidgeon said.
E-mail Ryan Kim at rkim@sfchronicle.com.
Microsoft opens Xbox Live to amateurs
Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, February 21, 2008
In an attempt to bring YouTube-style, user-created content to its Xbox Live online service, Microsoft said Wednesday it is throwing open the doors to new community-generated amateur titles.
John Schappert, Microsoft's corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services, took the keynote stage at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to introduce a community arcade to Xbox Live, which will be stocked with games created by garage developers and budding designers. The announcement builds on Microsoft's courting of independent game developers through the release two years ago of its XNA game tools, a software starter kit for game development on Xbox Live and Windows.
Microsoft said the game tools have been downloaded 800,000 times since they were introduced. Now, the amateur creators can aspire to showcase their handiwork on Xbox Live, which has 10 million paying users worldwide.
"I think of this as games created by the community, managed by the community and enjoyed by everyone," Schappert said.
Chief XNA architect Chris Satchell said the process will be highly democratized, from game creation to distribution. Other developers will review games, ensuring that creators will avoid prohibited material and correctly label their titles for situations including blood, injuries, hostility and cruelty. Then the games will get uploaded to Xbox Live Arcade.
Satchell said there are seven community-based games now available on Xbox Live; by the end of the year he expects community-based games to help swell the number of titles to more than 1,000.
The business models and compensation schemes for developers are still being worked out, Satchell said. Xbox Live will conduct trial tests for user-generated games this spring with a full rollout expected later in the year, he said.
"This is about making a low-friction way for creators to meet 10 million players, and this gives gamers more choice," Satchell said.
Microsoft's move underscores a growing emphasis on tapping independent developer talent in the video game industry. Nintendo on Wednesday announced its WiiWare channel will start May 12, selling independent downloadable games developed for the Wii.
Sony also is trying to lure independent titles to its PlayStation Network.
San Francisco's Kongregate, a Web portal for independent flash-based games, was an early leader in the venue. Jim Greer, CEO of Kongregate, said the big console makers are learning from their Web-based counterparts that simple community-created content can find a big audience.
"What started on the Web is continuing on the consoles, and it's a good thing for everybody," Greer said. "Now you're getting the best rising to the top. In the past, if you had a talented guy in a garage working on a game, they might have passed a game demo to Electronic Arts to get a job. Now that demo can go to Kongregate or Xbox Live and make them some money."
IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon said the move makes sense for Microsoft: It helps build goodwill in the game industry while giving the company its pick of the talent.
"Microsoft doesn't have to pay much to do this, and if something stands out they can take advantage of it," Pidgeon said.
E-mail Ryan Kim at rkim@sfchronicle.com.
Wii and PS3 projected to eclipse XBox 360
http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/02/15/ps3_lead
2008.02.15
Wii and PS3 projected to eclipse XBox 360
Some pundits are content to remark upon stuff that's already happened, but a rarefied few of us -- market researchers, they're called -- feel more at home in the future. The future is expansive, it contains possibilities, it lets us let our imaginations run free.
Were you to constrain yourself to the present, for instance, you might have to accept the banal fact of Sony's unrelenting failure in the video game business. Since launching the PlayStation 3 a bit more than a year ago, the company has been consistently outsold by Microsoft's XBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.
But one market research firm sees a different future for the PS3. The firm, iSuppli, says that by 2011, the PS3's "installed base" -- that is, the number of PS3s owned by people around the world -- will hit 38.4 million units. iSuppli predicts that the Wii, by then, will be in second place, with an installed base of 37.7 million, and XBox will be in last place, with an installed base of 32.3 million.
This scenario, understand, is almost a mirror image of today's market. XBox, which hit the street a full year before PS3 and Wii and has had solid sales, has the biggest installed base; Wii is number two, and PS3 is three.
It's easy to see how the Wii's base might beat XBox's -- in 2007 Nintendo sold 6.3 million Wiis, compared to 4.6 million XBox sales for Microsoft, and that lead seems sure to hold. Indeed iSuppli says the Wii's base will beat the XBox's by the end of 2008.
But PS3? Sony sold 3.97 million last year. Unless millions start buying the console for its Blu-Ray disc-playing capabilities -- which seems unlikely -- it's hard to see why the PS3 would so clearly best the XBox.
But the future, as I say, is alive with possibility.
2008.02.15
Wii and PS3 projected to eclipse XBox 360
Some pundits are content to remark upon stuff that's already happened, but a rarefied few of us -- market researchers, they're called -- feel more at home in the future. The future is expansive, it contains possibilities, it lets us let our imaginations run free.
Were you to constrain yourself to the present, for instance, you might have to accept the banal fact of Sony's unrelenting failure in the video game business. Since launching the PlayStation 3 a bit more than a year ago, the company has been consistently outsold by Microsoft's XBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii.
But one market research firm sees a different future for the PS3. The firm, iSuppli, says that by 2011, the PS3's "installed base" -- that is, the number of PS3s owned by people around the world -- will hit 38.4 million units. iSuppli predicts that the Wii, by then, will be in second place, with an installed base of 37.7 million, and XBox will be in last place, with an installed base of 32.3 million.
This scenario, understand, is almost a mirror image of today's market. XBox, which hit the street a full year before PS3 and Wii and has had solid sales, has the biggest installed base; Wii is number two, and PS3 is three.
It's easy to see how the Wii's base might beat XBox's -- in 2007 Nintendo sold 6.3 million Wiis, compared to 4.6 million XBox sales for Microsoft, and that lead seems sure to hold. Indeed iSuppli says the Wii's base will beat the XBox's by the end of 2008.
But PS3? Sony sold 3.97 million last year. Unless millions start buying the console for its Blu-Ray disc-playing capabilities -- which seems unlikely -- it's hard to see why the PS3 would so clearly best the XBox.
But the future, as I say, is alive with possibility.
Is 2008 the year of the PlayStation 3?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23172933/
Is 2008 the year of the PlayStation 3?
Console still faces uphill battle, despite Blu-ray success and upcoming titles
By Levi Buchanan
MSNBC contributor
Fri., Feb. 15, 2008
While the beleaguered PlayStation 3 still faces an uphill battle, Sony believes the console is spring-loaded for a turnaround.
Why? The success of Blu-ray, an upcoming slate of much-needed exclusive games and new numbers from the NPD Group showing that the console bested Microsoft's Xbox 360 for the first time in January.
(MSNBC is a joint Microsoft - NBC Universal venture.)
Since the system's November 2006 debut, the PlayStation 3 has consistently been humbled by the Nintendo Wii and its chief rival, the Xbox 360. But numbers released Thursday show that the PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 in last month, moving 269,000 units in the U.S. and coming in second only to the Nintendo Wii.
Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America's CEO, was upbeat in a email sent to reporters after the release of the NPD data: “Coming off a great holiday sales season we see strong momentum behind PS3 in 2008, and feel confident about the year ahead."
So will 2008 be the breakout year for the PS3? Probably not. The changing tastes of the market are not on Sony’s side, and a twitchy economy doesn’t help the company's chances, either. Plus, one month of besting the Xbox 360 — in a month where none of the systems sold more than 300,000 units — doesn't necessarily signal a turnaround.
Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets, sees January as an aberration due to short Xbox 360 supplies following their successful holiday season.
"There may be a substitution effect there," he says. "It says as much about Xbox 360 supply issues as it does about PS3 sales."
Blu-ray boosted PS3
But the PlayStation 3 isn’t down for the count. The immediate advantage Sony has going into 2008 is something that initially looked like a liability: its Blu-ray DVD player. It was pretty cool to have the cutting-edge player inside every game system, but it also hoisted the price of the PS3 to $600 — at least initially.
"The added cost of Blu-ray to the PS3 hurt it. Consumers didn't see it as a compelling value,” says Sebastian.
But Sony has dropped the price of the PS3 since launch. The base model, which sells for $400, makes it one of the cheapest Blu-ray players on the market.
And even though the PS3’s sales looked anemic in comparison with its competitors — even in comparison with its older sibling, the PlayStation 2 — 3.2 million units sold surely helped Blu-ray in its apparent triumph over HD-DVD.
This week, online DVD-rental site Netflix threw its weight behind the format. And last month, Warner Bros., the largest movie studio in Hollywood, announced it was going exclusively with Blu-ray.
...But high-def hasn't caught on like DVD did
Having HD-DVD on the ropes is a good thing, but high-definition movies have not caught on like DVD did back in 2000. And after several years of the iPod's stratospheric ascendance, consumers are now plenty comfortable downloading their entertainment. For a new generation, physical media is just so yesterday.
Indeed, Apple recently announced the launch of HD movie rentals via its Apple TV box, mirroring something Xbox 360 owners have been able to do for a year. And let's face it — for a large number of consumers, DVD is simply good enough.
This dovetails with another problem Sony had in 2007 — a situation that is unlikely to change this year: The PlayStation 2 was also apparently good enough for many consumers. Last year was a good one for the eight-year-old system, which outsold the PS3 by almost 1.5 million — thanks to a $129 price point and a host of great games, such as "God of War 2."
There are also thousands of PS2 games on shelves, many in the $20 range, making them not only impulse buys, but also more comfortable purchases in an economy that has many consumers minding their bank accounts.
So, where are the exclusives?
Another problem that the PS3 must conquer in 2008? Its lack of exclusive releases. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 had a great 2007, with exclusive titles such as “Halo 3” and “Mass Effect.” Sony needs to step up the number of titles for its new system, period, and the number of games that can’t be played anywhere else as well.
"Exclusive content is one of the hallmarks of the PlayStation brand," says Scott Steinberg, vice president of product marketing at Sony. "And we'll have that in 2008."
The calendar looks good so far. The announced titles on deck for 2008 are Sony's racer "Gran Turismo," the sci-fi shooters "Resistance 2" and "Killzone 2," and the inventive "LittleBigPlanet," an action game that relies on gamer-created content to flourish.
All the anticipated games look fantastic so far, but "LittleBigPlanet" has potential to be a true breakout hit if it catches on via word of mouth, not entirely unlike a Facebook or Second Life. And speaking of Second Life, Sony will also debut "Home," its 3D virtual world community for both the PS3 and the PlayStation Portable in 2008.
Will 'Metal Gear,' 'Final Fantasy' be the ticket?
The PS3 will also be supported by Konami's anticipated "Metal Gear Solid 4" and Square Enix's "Final Fantasy XIII" — as long as these games remain PS3 exclusives.
Because games now cost tens of millions of dollars to develop, and the Xbox 360 has sold almost 10 million consoles in America alone, many publishers have converted former PS3 exclusives to multiplatform games, such as Capcom's "Devil May Cry 4" and Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed."
What’s more, these games repeatedly sell better on the Xbox 360. "Assassin's Creed" sold only 377,000 copies on the PS3 last November, compared with 980,000 on the Xbox 360.
It's all about differentiation
The PS3 was also dealt a blow when decided to make its much-anticipated “Grand Theft Auto 4” for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. What’s more, Microsoft also secured exclusive bonus content for the Xbox 360 version of the game.
To really win this console war, Sony needs to figure out a way to differentiate the titles that go multiplatform, like “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
"If these games look like Xbox 360 games or are not as fun as Wii games, that's a problem," says Sebastian.
Will Blu-Ray keep exclusives on the platform?
Sony counters that the success of Blu-ray will help keep exclusives on the PS3 and provide that needed differentiation.
"The industry is moving toward large blockbusters that only fit on Blu-ray," says Steinberg, referring to the 50GB of storage available on a Blu-ray disc. (The Xbox 360 uses regular DVDs that store only 9GB.)
Size matters, but is the market really moving toward physically bigger games? With the graphically inferior Nintendo Wii as the uncontested winner of last year’s console slugfest, the unscientific data would seem to indicate that bigger isn’t always better.
"(Sony) probably miscalculated in terms of where the market was going. Sony moved up-market," says Sebastian. "The market has moved a little bit more casual."
In an attempt to capture this casual trend, Sony has its PlayStation Network, a place where gamers can download smaller games, such as the upcoming "echochrome," a puzzle game that looks like an M.C. Escher illustration.
These games should sell to a dedicated Sony fanbase, but it's doubtful that Sony (or Microsoft, for that matter) can wrest the casual narrative away from Nintendo at this point. The only thing that could possibly nudge the needle is another price drop, which Sebastian thinks is in the works for 2008. But Microsoft could immediately neutralize that salvo with an expected (and much overdue) price drop of its own for the Xbox 360.
This is now Nintendo's game to lose, and they show no signs of relinquishing the table — especially with the anticipated release of "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" next month, a title more hyped than last year's best-selling "Super Mario Galaxy."
The contest is for second place right now. And Microsoft just has too much of a head start on Sony to make 2008 a reversal of fortune, leaving Sony again holding the bronze over a console that was supposed to deliver the gold.
Is 2008 the year of the PlayStation 3?
Console still faces uphill battle, despite Blu-ray success and upcoming titles
By Levi Buchanan
MSNBC contributor
Fri., Feb. 15, 2008
While the beleaguered PlayStation 3 still faces an uphill battle, Sony believes the console is spring-loaded for a turnaround.
Why? The success of Blu-ray, an upcoming slate of much-needed exclusive games and new numbers from the NPD Group showing that the console bested Microsoft's Xbox 360 for the first time in January.
(MSNBC is a joint Microsoft - NBC Universal venture.)
Since the system's November 2006 debut, the PlayStation 3 has consistently been humbled by the Nintendo Wii and its chief rival, the Xbox 360. But numbers released Thursday show that the PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 in last month, moving 269,000 units in the U.S. and coming in second only to the Nintendo Wii.
Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America's CEO, was upbeat in a email sent to reporters after the release of the NPD data: “Coming off a great holiday sales season we see strong momentum behind PS3 in 2008, and feel confident about the year ahead."
So will 2008 be the breakout year for the PS3? Probably not. The changing tastes of the market are not on Sony’s side, and a twitchy economy doesn’t help the company's chances, either. Plus, one month of besting the Xbox 360 — in a month where none of the systems sold more than 300,000 units — doesn't necessarily signal a turnaround.
Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets, sees January as an aberration due to short Xbox 360 supplies following their successful holiday season.
"There may be a substitution effect there," he says. "It says as much about Xbox 360 supply issues as it does about PS3 sales."
Blu-ray boosted PS3
But the PlayStation 3 isn’t down for the count. The immediate advantage Sony has going into 2008 is something that initially looked like a liability: its Blu-ray DVD player. It was pretty cool to have the cutting-edge player inside every game system, but it also hoisted the price of the PS3 to $600 — at least initially.
"The added cost of Blu-ray to the PS3 hurt it. Consumers didn't see it as a compelling value,” says Sebastian.
But Sony has dropped the price of the PS3 since launch. The base model, which sells for $400, makes it one of the cheapest Blu-ray players on the market.
And even though the PS3’s sales looked anemic in comparison with its competitors — even in comparison with its older sibling, the PlayStation 2 — 3.2 million units sold surely helped Blu-ray in its apparent triumph over HD-DVD.
This week, online DVD-rental site Netflix threw its weight behind the format. And last month, Warner Bros., the largest movie studio in Hollywood, announced it was going exclusively with Blu-ray.
...But high-def hasn't caught on like DVD did
Having HD-DVD on the ropes is a good thing, but high-definition movies have not caught on like DVD did back in 2000. And after several years of the iPod's stratospheric ascendance, consumers are now plenty comfortable downloading their entertainment. For a new generation, physical media is just so yesterday.
Indeed, Apple recently announced the launch of HD movie rentals via its Apple TV box, mirroring something Xbox 360 owners have been able to do for a year. And let's face it — for a large number of consumers, DVD is simply good enough.
This dovetails with another problem Sony had in 2007 — a situation that is unlikely to change this year: The PlayStation 2 was also apparently good enough for many consumers. Last year was a good one for the eight-year-old system, which outsold the PS3 by almost 1.5 million — thanks to a $129 price point and a host of great games, such as "God of War 2."
There are also thousands of PS2 games on shelves, many in the $20 range, making them not only impulse buys, but also more comfortable purchases in an economy that has many consumers minding their bank accounts.
So, where are the exclusives?
Another problem that the PS3 must conquer in 2008? Its lack of exclusive releases. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 had a great 2007, with exclusive titles such as “Halo 3” and “Mass Effect.” Sony needs to step up the number of titles for its new system, period, and the number of games that can’t be played anywhere else as well.
"Exclusive content is one of the hallmarks of the PlayStation brand," says Scott Steinberg, vice president of product marketing at Sony. "And we'll have that in 2008."
The calendar looks good so far. The announced titles on deck for 2008 are Sony's racer "Gran Turismo," the sci-fi shooters "Resistance 2" and "Killzone 2," and the inventive "LittleBigPlanet," an action game that relies on gamer-created content to flourish.
All the anticipated games look fantastic so far, but "LittleBigPlanet" has potential to be a true breakout hit if it catches on via word of mouth, not entirely unlike a Facebook or Second Life. And speaking of Second Life, Sony will also debut "Home," its 3D virtual world community for both the PS3 and the PlayStation Portable in 2008.
Will 'Metal Gear,' 'Final Fantasy' be the ticket?
The PS3 will also be supported by Konami's anticipated "Metal Gear Solid 4" and Square Enix's "Final Fantasy XIII" — as long as these games remain PS3 exclusives.
Because games now cost tens of millions of dollars to develop, and the Xbox 360 has sold almost 10 million consoles in America alone, many publishers have converted former PS3 exclusives to multiplatform games, such as Capcom's "Devil May Cry 4" and Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed."
What’s more, these games repeatedly sell better on the Xbox 360. "Assassin's Creed" sold only 377,000 copies on the PS3 last November, compared with 980,000 on the Xbox 360.
It's all about differentiation
The PS3 was also dealt a blow when decided to make its much-anticipated “Grand Theft Auto 4” for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. What’s more, Microsoft also secured exclusive bonus content for the Xbox 360 version of the game.
To really win this console war, Sony needs to figure out a way to differentiate the titles that go multiplatform, like “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
"If these games look like Xbox 360 games or are not as fun as Wii games, that's a problem," says Sebastian.
Will Blu-Ray keep exclusives on the platform?
Sony counters that the success of Blu-ray will help keep exclusives on the PS3 and provide that needed differentiation.
"The industry is moving toward large blockbusters that only fit on Blu-ray," says Steinberg, referring to the 50GB of storage available on a Blu-ray disc. (The Xbox 360 uses regular DVDs that store only 9GB.)
Size matters, but is the market really moving toward physically bigger games? With the graphically inferior Nintendo Wii as the uncontested winner of last year’s console slugfest, the unscientific data would seem to indicate that bigger isn’t always better.
"(Sony) probably miscalculated in terms of where the market was going. Sony moved up-market," says Sebastian. "The market has moved a little bit more casual."
In an attempt to capture this casual trend, Sony has its PlayStation Network, a place where gamers can download smaller games, such as the upcoming "echochrome," a puzzle game that looks like an M.C. Escher illustration.
These games should sell to a dedicated Sony fanbase, but it's doubtful that Sony (or Microsoft, for that matter) can wrest the casual narrative away from Nintendo at this point. The only thing that could possibly nudge the needle is another price drop, which Sebastian thinks is in the works for 2008. But Microsoft could immediately neutralize that salvo with an expected (and much overdue) price drop of its own for the Xbox 360.
This is now Nintendo's game to lose, and they show no signs of relinquishing the table — especially with the anticipated release of "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" next month, a title more hyped than last year's best-selling "Super Mario Galaxy."
The contest is for second place right now. And Microsoft just has too much of a head start on Sony to make 2008 a reversal of fortune, leaving Sony again holding the bronze over a console that was supposed to deliver the gold.
DVD FORMATS
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080220.RBLURAY20/TPStory/?query=Toshiba
DVD FORMATS: HOW SONY'S BLU-RAY TRIUMPHED OVER TOSHIBA'S HD
Stringer makes his mark
Sony's CEO led his company to victory in the high-definition sweepstakes by convincing the major studios to come aboard
BARRIE MCKENNA AND MATT HARTLEY
February 20, 2008
WASHINGTON, TORONTO -- Howard Stringer made history in 2005 for being the first non-Japanese executive to take the helm at Sony Corp. But he may be better remembered as the one who won the high-definition war, erasing the stain on the electronics firm's image ever since it lost the videotape war two decades earlier.
Although celebrated yesterday, the victory was sealed last month when Sony swayed Warner Bros. to back Sony's Blu-ray technology and quit producing movies using Toshiba Corp.'s rival HD DVD format.
What remains a mystery is just how big a push Warner needed to pick sides. Analysts say Sony only prevailed following a heated bidding war against Toshiba, with the reward reaching as much as $400-million (U.S.). Neither side has confirmed the size of any bids or payments.
It was supposed to be the technology equivalent of First World War trench warfare: A prolonged battle to the death between Toshiba and Sony for global domination in high-definition DVDs.
In the end, the denouement was more like Germany's swift 1940 end run of the Maginot line.
Less than two years after its first HD DVD player hit the market, Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida raised the white flag, declaring yesterday that it would stop making and selling the devices altogether within a month.
Toshiba's unconditional surrender leaves the spoils to Sony, maker of the rival Blu-ray disc player - a technologically superior format that had the backing of virtually all the major movie studies and retailers.
"We simply had no chance to win," Mr. Nishida acknowledged bluntly.
The final straw, he said, was Warner's decision last month to exclusively release movies in Blu-ray. The decision by Warner, with about 20 per cent of the movie market, put a critical mass of the industry in the Blu-ray camp.
With billions of dollars in global sales at stake, experts had predicted the Toshiba-Sony battle would go on for years - not unlike the 1980s battle of videotape formats between VHS (Matsushita) and Betamax (Sony). That war lasted a decade, leaving Sony battered and humiliated.
So how did this epic battle come to such an abrupt end?
The answer lies in part with the bruising Sony experienced with Betamax, which, like Blu-ray, was also the better product on paper.
For more that 20 years, Sony has been "haunted by Betamax" and was fiercely determined not to let history repeat itself, explained Xavier Drèze, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton business school.
"Sony was much smarter," Prof. Drèze said. "They understood this time they couldn't do it alone. They understood that they needed strategic partnerships with industry players."
The war was over when Sony managed to line up a critical mass of partners - in Hollywood, Silicon Valley and on Main Street.
The tipping point was Warner Bros. But Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Co. and News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. had already done the same - signing exclusive sealed deals with presumably rich royalty arrangements.
"This was heavy hitters in a back room talking about what the royalty structure was going to be and how much money they were willing to put on the table to be exclusive with one camp or the other. That was the determining factor here," concluded Van Baker, an analyst with market research firm Gartner Inc.
Until last month, Warner had been backing both technologies.
Last Friday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced it would sell only Blu-ray DVDs. Officials said "customer feedback" prompted its decision.
Netflix Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc., Blockbuster Inc. and Target Corp. had earlier done the same.
"Everyone was tired of the format war, the retailers were tired of it, the consumer electronics vendors were tired of it and they just wanted this thing to get settled," Mr. Baker said.
"Consumers and the industry learned the hard way with Beta and VHS that a prolonged format war was disastrous. There was a lot of motivation to get one or the other to win and the only thing that protracted it was the amount of money flying around."
The groundwork for Sony's stunning victory, however, came months, even years ago. Prof. Drèze said Blu-ray had several things going for it that helped it to build loyalty with consumers and the industry.
Six years ago yesterday - and years before the first Blu-ray disc or player was sold - Sony had lined up most of the other computer and electronics makers, including LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Apple and Dell.
Sony also owned a major movie studio. So it could push its own technology.
Third, the company sold Blu-ray to rival movie studios with the promise of superior digital copyright protection.
Sony also used its PlayStation video game console, which also works as a Blu-ray player, as a sort of "Trojan horse," Prof. Drèze said.
Sony has already sold 10.5 million of its PS3 consoles, compared with roughly one million HD DVD players. PlayStation buyers, he said, unwittingly embraced Blu-ray and undermined HD DVD.
Ultimately, the technology is superior. Blu-ray can hold up to three times more data (200 gigabytes versus 60) and offers higher resolution.
In the end, it could be a pyrrhic victory for Sony. The age of hard copy discs is already giving way to digital downloads, stored and played from PCs, iPods and other portable devices.
"I don't think the heyday of DVD is going to return," said Mr. Baker, the analyst. "For most consumers, digital downloads are going to be very appealing."
How Sony lost Betamax
1 QUALITY OVER
QUANTITY Despite better picture quality, Sony's original Betamax tapes could record only one hour of video, while rival VHS tapes could store double that.
2 SECRET RECIPE
Sony initially failed to license its Betamax technology to a sufficient number of manufacturers, thinking it could go it alone. This led to a situation where VHS players competed against one another for share, driving down prices and making the format more attractive to consumers.
3 BUYING V. RENTING When both systems arrived in the United States in the mid-1970s, VHS machines were less expensive to rent. When consumers began to purchase rather than rent their video players, they tended to go with VHS machines. 4PORN CONUNDRUM Sony refused to license the Betamax technology to adult film companies, who turned to VHS tapes and ended up creating a multibillion-dollar industry.
How Sony won Blu-ray
1 BIGGER IS BETTER
Sony's Blu-ray discs can store upward of 50 gigabytes of data on a single disc, while HD DVDs hold about 30 gigs.
2 PLAYSTATION 3
By including a Blu-ray drive in its next-generation video game console, Sony was able to drive sales of both the PS3 and its new DVD format.
3 SOLID PARTNERSHIPS Not wanting to duplicate the Betamax mistake, Sony took the initiative to license its Blu-ray technology with as many partners as possible. When Blu-ray was first announced in 2002, Sony had already signed up eight partner companies committed to producing players.
4 CONTENT IS KING
By signing exclusive deals with more studios and content providers than Toshiba, Sony was able to squeeze its competitor to the sidelines. Warner's defection to Blu-ray was the fatal blow.
Matt Hartley
Dead technologies
Media formats we have used, loved and discarded for the next best thing
The cassette tape
A Walkman and roller skates, anyone? Tapes were the original portable format and made music pirates of us all. (Can I tape your Fleetwood Mac Rumors?) But they were hated by record companies. The sound quality tended to go tinny after a few dozen plays, and many tapes wound up melting in a car on a sunny day.
Eight tracks
Developed by plane maker Bill Lear, eight-track tapes were large and couldn't be rewound. And because of their high tape speed, didn't sound great. Nevertheless, they were popular in the 1970s, thanks to the auto industry, which installed thousands of eight-track players. When sales slipped, companies eager to pare formats quickly dropped the eight track. Vinyl
Cumbersome to play and easily damaged, albums faded out in the late 1980s. But album covers managed to become a genuine art form and another way to grab music buyers' attention. Lately, albums have a enjoyed a comeback, thanks to collectors, club DJs and scratching (ask your kids).
Compact discs
CDs are dead? They will be soon. Who needs all those plastic cases and discs when you can fill your hard drive and iPod with thousands of songs? Using a credit card, of course. Downloading music for free is wrong, isn't it?
DVD FORMATS: HOW SONY'S BLU-RAY TRIUMPHED OVER TOSHIBA'S HD
Stringer makes his mark
Sony's CEO led his company to victory in the high-definition sweepstakes by convincing the major studios to come aboard
BARRIE MCKENNA AND MATT HARTLEY
February 20, 2008
WASHINGTON, TORONTO -- Howard Stringer made history in 2005 for being the first non-Japanese executive to take the helm at Sony Corp. But he may be better remembered as the one who won the high-definition war, erasing the stain on the electronics firm's image ever since it lost the videotape war two decades earlier.
Although celebrated yesterday, the victory was sealed last month when Sony swayed Warner Bros. to back Sony's Blu-ray technology and quit producing movies using Toshiba Corp.'s rival HD DVD format.
What remains a mystery is just how big a push Warner needed to pick sides. Analysts say Sony only prevailed following a heated bidding war against Toshiba, with the reward reaching as much as $400-million (U.S.). Neither side has confirmed the size of any bids or payments.
It was supposed to be the technology equivalent of First World War trench warfare: A prolonged battle to the death between Toshiba and Sony for global domination in high-definition DVDs.
In the end, the denouement was more like Germany's swift 1940 end run of the Maginot line.
Less than two years after its first HD DVD player hit the market, Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida raised the white flag, declaring yesterday that it would stop making and selling the devices altogether within a month.
Toshiba's unconditional surrender leaves the spoils to Sony, maker of the rival Blu-ray disc player - a technologically superior format that had the backing of virtually all the major movie studies and retailers.
"We simply had no chance to win," Mr. Nishida acknowledged bluntly.
The final straw, he said, was Warner's decision last month to exclusively release movies in Blu-ray. The decision by Warner, with about 20 per cent of the movie market, put a critical mass of the industry in the Blu-ray camp.
With billions of dollars in global sales at stake, experts had predicted the Toshiba-Sony battle would go on for years - not unlike the 1980s battle of videotape formats between VHS (Matsushita) and Betamax (Sony). That war lasted a decade, leaving Sony battered and humiliated.
So how did this epic battle come to such an abrupt end?
The answer lies in part with the bruising Sony experienced with Betamax, which, like Blu-ray, was also the better product on paper.
For more that 20 years, Sony has been "haunted by Betamax" and was fiercely determined not to let history repeat itself, explained Xavier Drèze, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton business school.
"Sony was much smarter," Prof. Drèze said. "They understood this time they couldn't do it alone. They understood that they needed strategic partnerships with industry players."
The war was over when Sony managed to line up a critical mass of partners - in Hollywood, Silicon Valley and on Main Street.
The tipping point was Warner Bros. But Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Co. and News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. had already done the same - signing exclusive sealed deals with presumably rich royalty arrangements.
"This was heavy hitters in a back room talking about what the royalty structure was going to be and how much money they were willing to put on the table to be exclusive with one camp or the other. That was the determining factor here," concluded Van Baker, an analyst with market research firm Gartner Inc.
Until last month, Warner had been backing both technologies.
Last Friday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced it would sell only Blu-ray DVDs. Officials said "customer feedback" prompted its decision.
Netflix Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc., Blockbuster Inc. and Target Corp. had earlier done the same.
"Everyone was tired of the format war, the retailers were tired of it, the consumer electronics vendors were tired of it and they just wanted this thing to get settled," Mr. Baker said.
"Consumers and the industry learned the hard way with Beta and VHS that a prolonged format war was disastrous. There was a lot of motivation to get one or the other to win and the only thing that protracted it was the amount of money flying around."
The groundwork for Sony's stunning victory, however, came months, even years ago. Prof. Drèze said Blu-ray had several things going for it that helped it to build loyalty with consumers and the industry.
Six years ago yesterday - and years before the first Blu-ray disc or player was sold - Sony had lined up most of the other computer and electronics makers, including LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Apple and Dell.
Sony also owned a major movie studio. So it could push its own technology.
Third, the company sold Blu-ray to rival movie studios with the promise of superior digital copyright protection.
Sony also used its PlayStation video game console, which also works as a Blu-ray player, as a sort of "Trojan horse," Prof. Drèze said.
Sony has already sold 10.5 million of its PS3 consoles, compared with roughly one million HD DVD players. PlayStation buyers, he said, unwittingly embraced Blu-ray and undermined HD DVD.
Ultimately, the technology is superior. Blu-ray can hold up to three times more data (200 gigabytes versus 60) and offers higher resolution.
In the end, it could be a pyrrhic victory for Sony. The age of hard copy discs is already giving way to digital downloads, stored and played from PCs, iPods and other portable devices.
"I don't think the heyday of DVD is going to return," said Mr. Baker, the analyst. "For most consumers, digital downloads are going to be very appealing."
How Sony lost Betamax
1 QUALITY OVER
QUANTITY Despite better picture quality, Sony's original Betamax tapes could record only one hour of video, while rival VHS tapes could store double that.
2 SECRET RECIPE
Sony initially failed to license its Betamax technology to a sufficient number of manufacturers, thinking it could go it alone. This led to a situation where VHS players competed against one another for share, driving down prices and making the format more attractive to consumers.
3 BUYING V. RENTING When both systems arrived in the United States in the mid-1970s, VHS machines were less expensive to rent. When consumers began to purchase rather than rent their video players, they tended to go with VHS machines. 4PORN CONUNDRUM Sony refused to license the Betamax technology to adult film companies, who turned to VHS tapes and ended up creating a multibillion-dollar industry.
How Sony won Blu-ray
1 BIGGER IS BETTER
Sony's Blu-ray discs can store upward of 50 gigabytes of data on a single disc, while HD DVDs hold about 30 gigs.
2 PLAYSTATION 3
By including a Blu-ray drive in its next-generation video game console, Sony was able to drive sales of both the PS3 and its new DVD format.
3 SOLID PARTNERSHIPS Not wanting to duplicate the Betamax mistake, Sony took the initiative to license its Blu-ray technology with as many partners as possible. When Blu-ray was first announced in 2002, Sony had already signed up eight partner companies committed to producing players.
4 CONTENT IS KING
By signing exclusive deals with more studios and content providers than Toshiba, Sony was able to squeeze its competitor to the sidelines. Warner's defection to Blu-ray was the fatal blow.
Matt Hartley
Dead technologies
Media formats we have used, loved and discarded for the next best thing
The cassette tape
A Walkman and roller skates, anyone? Tapes were the original portable format and made music pirates of us all. (Can I tape your Fleetwood Mac Rumors?) But they were hated by record companies. The sound quality tended to go tinny after a few dozen plays, and many tapes wound up melting in a car on a sunny day.
Eight tracks
Developed by plane maker Bill Lear, eight-track tapes were large and couldn't be rewound. And because of their high tape speed, didn't sound great. Nevertheless, they were popular in the 1970s, thanks to the auto industry, which installed thousands of eight-track players. When sales slipped, companies eager to pare formats quickly dropped the eight track. Vinyl
Cumbersome to play and easily damaged, albums faded out in the late 1980s. But album covers managed to become a genuine art form and another way to grab music buyers' attention. Lately, albums have a enjoyed a comeback, thanks to collectors, club DJs and scratching (ask your kids).
Compact discs
CDs are dead? They will be soon. Who needs all those plastic cases and discs when you can fill your hard drive and iPod with thousands of songs? Using a credit card, of course. Downloading music for free is wrong, isn't it?
Golden Raspberry (Razzie©) Award “Winners”
http://razzies.com/history/07Winners.asp
28th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie©) Award “Winners”
Worst Picture:
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Tri-Star)
Worst Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Norbit)
NORBIT
Worst Actress (TIE) :
Lindsay Lohan (as Aubrey) and
Lindsay Lohan (as Dakota)
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
Worst Supporting Actress:
Eddie Murphy (as Rasputia)
NORBIT
Worst Supporting Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Mr. Wong)
NORBIT
Worst Screen Couple:
Lindsay Lohan
and
Lindsay Lohan
(as The Yang to Her Own Yin)
I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Remake Or Rip-off:
I Know Who Killed Me
Rip-Off of HOSTEL, SAW and THE PATTY DUKE SHOW
Worst Prequel or Sequel:
Daddy Day Camp
(Sony/Tri-Star/Revolution)
Worst Director:
Chris Siverston
I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Screenplay:
I Know Who Killed Me
Written by Jeffrey Hammond
Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie:
(New Category!)
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Columbia)
"Wins" Per Picture:
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME = 8 Awards:
(A New RAZZIE® Record!)
Worst Screen Couple, Horror Movie, Screenplay, Director, Remake or Rip-Off, Actress (2x), Picture
NORBIT = 3 Awards: (All "Won" by Eddie Murphy)
Worst Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Actor
DADDY DAY CAMP = 1 Award:
Worst Prequel or Sequel
28th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie©) Award “Winners”
Worst Picture:
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Tri-Star)
Worst Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Norbit)
NORBIT
Worst Actress (TIE) :
Lindsay Lohan (as Aubrey) and
Lindsay Lohan (as Dakota)
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME
Worst Supporting Actress:
Eddie Murphy (as Rasputia)
NORBIT
Worst Supporting Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Mr. Wong)
NORBIT
Worst Screen Couple:
Lindsay Lohan
and
Lindsay Lohan
(as The Yang to Her Own Yin)
I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Remake Or Rip-off:
I Know Who Killed Me
Rip-Off of HOSTEL, SAW and THE PATTY DUKE SHOW
Worst Prequel or Sequel:
Daddy Day Camp
(Sony/Tri-Star/Revolution)
Worst Director:
Chris Siverston
I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Screenplay:
I Know Who Killed Me
Written by Jeffrey Hammond
Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie:
(New Category!)
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Columbia)
"Wins" Per Picture:
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME = 8 Awards:
(A New RAZZIE® Record!)
Worst Screen Couple, Horror Movie, Screenplay, Director, Remake or Rip-Off, Actress (2x), Picture
NORBIT = 3 Awards: (All "Won" by Eddie Murphy)
Worst Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Actor
DADDY DAY CAMP = 1 Award:
Worst Prequel or Sequel
Eddie & Lindsay Both Achieve Trifectas of Trash
http://razzies.com/history/07release.asp
Eddie & Lindsay Both Achieve Trifectas of Trash, Lohan's KILLED ME Cops New RAZZIE® Record
Murphy & Lohan All But Shut Out Competition at 28th Worst Film Awards
Many a RAZZIE® record was broken at this weekend's 28th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards, which dis-honor Worst Achievements in Film. Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy, each starring in one of 2007's Worst Picture nominees, both managed the unenviable feat of securing three of the gold spray-painted, $4.89 trophies apiece. Murphy became the first performer ever to win three of the four Worst Acting trophies in a single year — all for his multiple roles in the film everyone assumes cost him last year's Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for DREAMGIRLS. As the nerdy title character in NORBIT, Eddie was named Worst Actor. Painted orange and sporting about four pounds of Latex, Murphy was also chosen Worst Supporting Actor for his ethnically insensitive portrayal of "Mr. Wong." And, in a wig and sporting about 400-pounds of Latex, Murphy took the trophy as Worst Supporting Actress for his portrayal of the foul-mouthed, ill-tempered harpy Rasputia in the same film. Playing two characters who may (or may not) have been twins in I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, Lohan equaled Eddie's triple "achievement." Nominated individually for each of her characters, Lindsay "won" a pair of Worst Actress statuettes when she received the same number of votes for both roles. And, for a scene in which she appears opposite herself at the film's finale, Lohan was also RAZZed as the year's Worst Screen Couple. The film itself, with a less-than-grand total of 8 "wins" from its 9 nominations, broke the long-standing record for most RAZZIES® "won" by a single film. SHOWGIRLS and BATTLEFIELD EARTH, each with 7 "wins," had previously been the champions. In addition to Lindsay's twinsy "wins," KILLED ME copped the awards as Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie and Worst Remake or Rip-Off (where it competed as both a rip-off of the HOSTEL and SAW teen-torture-porn movies and an oddball remake of the 1960s sitcom THE PATTY DUKE SHOW).
The lone "winner" not associated with either KILLED ME or NORBIT still had something to do with Eddie Murphy. An Eddie-Murphy-Sequel-without-Eddie-Murphy, the pooping, belching, vomiting, cacophonous kiddy "comedy" DADDY DAY CAMP was crowned Worst Prequel or Sequel. A complete list of "winners" is included with this release.
The ceremonies were held at the Abracadabra Theatre at Magicopolis in Santa Monica. "Winners" were determined by mailing ballots to more than 750 voters in 44 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries. The RAZZIES® were created in 1980 as a logical antidote to Tinsel Town's annual glut of self-congratulations by John Wilson, author of EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNED AT THE MOVIES and THE OFFICIAL RAZZIE® MOVIE GUIDE.
For more information on the RAZZIE® Awards' history, or to arrange an interview with John Wilson, please visit www.razzies.com or contact HeadRAZZberry@razzies.com
Eddie & Lindsay Both Achieve Trifectas of Trash, Lohan's KILLED ME Cops New RAZZIE® Record
Murphy & Lohan All But Shut Out Competition at 28th Worst Film Awards
Many a RAZZIE® record was broken at this weekend's 28th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards, which dis-honor Worst Achievements in Film. Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy, each starring in one of 2007's Worst Picture nominees, both managed the unenviable feat of securing three of the gold spray-painted, $4.89 trophies apiece. Murphy became the first performer ever to win three of the four Worst Acting trophies in a single year — all for his multiple roles in the film everyone assumes cost him last year's Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for DREAMGIRLS. As the nerdy title character in NORBIT, Eddie was named Worst Actor. Painted orange and sporting about four pounds of Latex, Murphy was also chosen Worst Supporting Actor for his ethnically insensitive portrayal of "Mr. Wong." And, in a wig and sporting about 400-pounds of Latex, Murphy took the trophy as Worst Supporting Actress for his portrayal of the foul-mouthed, ill-tempered harpy Rasputia in the same film. Playing two characters who may (or may not) have been twins in I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, Lohan equaled Eddie's triple "achievement." Nominated individually for each of her characters, Lindsay "won" a pair of Worst Actress statuettes when she received the same number of votes for both roles. And, for a scene in which she appears opposite herself at the film's finale, Lohan was also RAZZed as the year's Worst Screen Couple. The film itself, with a less-than-grand total of 8 "wins" from its 9 nominations, broke the long-standing record for most RAZZIES® "won" by a single film. SHOWGIRLS and BATTLEFIELD EARTH, each with 7 "wins," had previously been the champions. In addition to Lindsay's twinsy "wins," KILLED ME copped the awards as Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie and Worst Remake or Rip-Off (where it competed as both a rip-off of the HOSTEL and SAW teen-torture-porn movies and an oddball remake of the 1960s sitcom THE PATTY DUKE SHOW).
The lone "winner" not associated with either KILLED ME or NORBIT still had something to do with Eddie Murphy. An Eddie-Murphy-Sequel-without-Eddie-Murphy, the pooping, belching, vomiting, cacophonous kiddy "comedy" DADDY DAY CAMP was crowned Worst Prequel or Sequel. A complete list of "winners" is included with this release.
The ceremonies were held at the Abracadabra Theatre at Magicopolis in Santa Monica. "Winners" were determined by mailing ballots to more than 750 voters in 44 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries. The RAZZIES® were created in 1980 as a logical antidote to Tinsel Town's annual glut of self-congratulations by John Wilson, author of EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNED AT THE MOVIES and THE OFFICIAL RAZZIE® MOVIE GUIDE.
For more information on the RAZZIE® Awards' history, or to arrange an interview with John Wilson, please visit www.razzies.com or contact HeadRAZZberry@razzies.com
Complete list of winners at the Academy Awards
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080224/OSCARS/996396657
Complete list of winners at the 80th annual Academy Awards, presented Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:
Best Motion Picture: "No Country for Old Men."
Lead Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood."
Lead Actress: Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose."
Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men."
Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."
Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men."
Foreign Language Film: "The Counterfeiters," Austria.
Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men."
Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno."
Animated Feature Film: "Ratatouille."
Art Direction: "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
Cinematography: "There Will Be Blood."
Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli.
Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
Costume: "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."
Documentary Feature: "Taxi to the Dark Side."
Documentary Short Subject: "Freeheld."
Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Makeup: "La Vie en Rose."
Animated Short Film: "Peter & the Wolf."
Live Action Short Film: "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (‘The Mozart of Pickpockets’)."
Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass."
Complete list of winners at the 80th annual Academy Awards, presented Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:
Best Motion Picture: "No Country for Old Men."
Lead Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood."
Lead Actress: Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose."
Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men."
Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."
Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men."
Foreign Language Film: "The Counterfeiters," Austria.
Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men."
Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno."
Animated Feature Film: "Ratatouille."
Art Direction: "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
Cinematography: "There Will Be Blood."
Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli.
Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
Costume: "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."
Documentary Feature: "Taxi to the Dark Side."
Documentary Short Subject: "Freeheld."
Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
Makeup: "La Vie en Rose."
Animated Short Film: "Peter & the Wolf."
Live Action Short Film: "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (‘The Mozart of Pickpockets’)."
Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass."
Coens take the Oscar prize for words and picture
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080224/OSCARS/508085101
Coens take the Oscar prize for words and picture
February 24, 2008
by Jim Emerson, Editor
Everybody pretty much called it in advance, nothing was certain until the very end. Joel and Ethan Coen's crowning achievement, "No Country For Old Men," toted some heavy Oscars Sunday night (for Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor), but the Academy spread the wealth.
"We, uh... thank you very much," said Ethan, accepting the Best Screenplay Adaptation Oscar, and it was a terrific speech. Six words. Maybe five-and-a-half. Funny. Pithy. Whether it was intentional or the shorter Coen brother just went up on his lines, he demonstrated that screenwriting is not just about crafting dialog. If you set the scene properly, the words themselves don't have to be memorable, just the moment.
It was. And, because of the sense of drama created by the structure of the show, that scene felt like the tipping point for "No Country for Old Men." You didn't know where the evening's storyline was headed, but once it got there, as always, it felt as if it had been inevitable. Kind of like the ending of "No Country" itself.
Later, of course, the Coens would collect Oscars for direction and picture -- and when they came back, Ethan said he didn't really have much to add to what he'd said before. It wasn't necessary.
The Coens clearly came out on top, but it didn't feel quite like a sweep without the editing, cinematography and sound awards, which went to other (also deserving) pictures -- "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "There Will Be Blood."
Most of the big Oscar nominees this year were uniquely American -- "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood," "Michael Clayton," even "Juno." But it was the Europeans who conquered most of the evening: British actor Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood"), French actress Marion Couttiard ("La Vie en Rose"), Spanish supporting actor Javier Bardem ("No Country for Old Men" -- first win ever for a Spanish actor), and British supporting actress Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton"). Day-Lewis's Great American Performance was obviously a descendant of Hollywood legends Walter and John Huston, but the ancestry went unacknowledged.
The supporting actors stole the show's first act. The last part of Bardem's speech, addressed to his mother in the audience and spoken in Spanish, was one of those eye-moistening highlights that we watch the Oscars for. Even if you didn't know what he was saying, it was moving -- and, even if Bardem knew what he was going to say in advance, it didn't feel like acting. He's that good. Swinton's effortlessly convincing joke about George Clooney wearing rubber Batman nipples under his suit in "Michael Clayton" was further evidence of just how good she is, too. One stumble, one premature nudge, and it would have fallen flat. This, ladies and gentlemen, is more than just acting -- it's grace under the pressure on live TV.
On the Regis Philbin pre-show, a TV interviewer told the eventual Best Actress winner Couttiard: "Edith Piaf... died." After a long pause, she added "... before you were born!" Um, yes. Couttiard had all but inhabited the skin of Piaf in a universally acclaimed performance. She probably knew both those things.
Hollywood "It Girl" Diablo Cody nabbed Best Original Screenplay, as expected. But that was the only win for box-office favorite "Juno."
The crowd's most enthusiastic response was probably for Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová for the song "Falling Slowly" from the Irish film "Once." Bravo to emcee Jon Stewart for bringing Irglová back on stage to give her speech, which was cut off before she could even begin.
Early in the evening (well, in the first half-hour or so), the year's big Oscar winners were "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," and "The Golden Compass." Not until "Ratatouille" won for Best Animated Feature was there a title with which more than 27 people were familiar.
Two hours in, the leading Oscar winner was "The Bourne Ultimatum" with three (editing, sound mixing, and sound editing). As emcee Stewart accurately noted, somebody somewhere had just taken the lead in their Oscar pool based on a guess.
Sometimes the biggest surprise of the Oscars is who won last year. Like when Jennifer Hudson came out to announce Best Supporting Actor and you went... who's that again? Alan Arkin won last year? But the biggest question was: How did they leave out Roy Scheider from the In Memoriam montage? (Turns out, the segment's drop-dead date for dying is January 31, except for Heath Ledger. Brad Renfro died January 15, but wasn't included, either.)
A favorite moment: Veteran production designer and honorary Oscar recipient Robert Boyle ("North By Northwest," "The Birds") explaining in his filmed intro: "A production designer is responsible for that space within which the action and the meaning of the film is arrived at.... The basis of design is an architectural truth which becomes an emotional truth." In the clips we caught a glimpse of the dead-end street street where the title character of Alfred Hitchock's "Marnie" experienced an early trauma -- with a huge, patently artificial painted backdrop of a docked ship smack in the center of the image. And you know what? It absolutely works. Emotional truth. Movies at their best.
Coens take the Oscar prize for words and picture
February 24, 2008
by Jim Emerson, Editor
Everybody pretty much called it in advance, nothing was certain until the very end. Joel and Ethan Coen's crowning achievement, "No Country For Old Men," toted some heavy Oscars Sunday night (for Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor), but the Academy spread the wealth.
"We, uh... thank you very much," said Ethan, accepting the Best Screenplay Adaptation Oscar, and it was a terrific speech. Six words. Maybe five-and-a-half. Funny. Pithy. Whether it was intentional or the shorter Coen brother just went up on his lines, he demonstrated that screenwriting is not just about crafting dialog. If you set the scene properly, the words themselves don't have to be memorable, just the moment.
It was. And, because of the sense of drama created by the structure of the show, that scene felt like the tipping point for "No Country for Old Men." You didn't know where the evening's storyline was headed, but once it got there, as always, it felt as if it had been inevitable. Kind of like the ending of "No Country" itself.
Later, of course, the Coens would collect Oscars for direction and picture -- and when they came back, Ethan said he didn't really have much to add to what he'd said before. It wasn't necessary.
The Coens clearly came out on top, but it didn't feel quite like a sweep without the editing, cinematography and sound awards, which went to other (also deserving) pictures -- "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "There Will Be Blood."
Most of the big Oscar nominees this year were uniquely American -- "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood," "Michael Clayton," even "Juno." But it was the Europeans who conquered most of the evening: British actor Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood"), French actress Marion Couttiard ("La Vie en Rose"), Spanish supporting actor Javier Bardem ("No Country for Old Men" -- first win ever for a Spanish actor), and British supporting actress Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton"). Day-Lewis's Great American Performance was obviously a descendant of Hollywood legends Walter and John Huston, but the ancestry went unacknowledged.
The supporting actors stole the show's first act. The last part of Bardem's speech, addressed to his mother in the audience and spoken in Spanish, was one of those eye-moistening highlights that we watch the Oscars for. Even if you didn't know what he was saying, it was moving -- and, even if Bardem knew what he was going to say in advance, it didn't feel like acting. He's that good. Swinton's effortlessly convincing joke about George Clooney wearing rubber Batman nipples under his suit in "Michael Clayton" was further evidence of just how good she is, too. One stumble, one premature nudge, and it would have fallen flat. This, ladies and gentlemen, is more than just acting -- it's grace under the pressure on live TV.
On the Regis Philbin pre-show, a TV interviewer told the eventual Best Actress winner Couttiard: "Edith Piaf... died." After a long pause, she added "... before you were born!" Um, yes. Couttiard had all but inhabited the skin of Piaf in a universally acclaimed performance. She probably knew both those things.
Hollywood "It Girl" Diablo Cody nabbed Best Original Screenplay, as expected. But that was the only win for box-office favorite "Juno."
The crowd's most enthusiastic response was probably for Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová for the song "Falling Slowly" from the Irish film "Once." Bravo to emcee Jon Stewart for bringing Irglová back on stage to give her speech, which was cut off before she could even begin.
Early in the evening (well, in the first half-hour or so), the year's big Oscar winners were "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," and "The Golden Compass." Not until "Ratatouille" won for Best Animated Feature was there a title with which more than 27 people were familiar.
Two hours in, the leading Oscar winner was "The Bourne Ultimatum" with three (editing, sound mixing, and sound editing). As emcee Stewart accurately noted, somebody somewhere had just taken the lead in their Oscar pool based on a guess.
Sometimes the biggest surprise of the Oscars is who won last year. Like when Jennifer Hudson came out to announce Best Supporting Actor and you went... who's that again? Alan Arkin won last year? But the biggest question was: How did they leave out Roy Scheider from the In Memoriam montage? (Turns out, the segment's drop-dead date for dying is January 31, except for Heath Ledger. Brad Renfro died January 15, but wasn't included, either.)
A favorite moment: Veteran production designer and honorary Oscar recipient Robert Boyle ("North By Northwest," "The Birds") explaining in his filmed intro: "A production designer is responsible for that space within which the action and the meaning of the film is arrived at.... The basis of design is an architectural truth which becomes an emotional truth." In the clips we caught a glimpse of the dead-end street street where the title character of Alfred Hitchock's "Marnie" experienced an early trauma -- with a huge, patently artificial painted backdrop of a docked ship smack in the center of the image. And you know what? It absolutely works. Emotional truth. Movies at their best.
Grand Oscar night for 'No Country'
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/env-oscarpbp,1,4585549.story
Grand Oscar night for 'No Country'
The iconoclastic filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen won three Academy Awards, including best picture.
By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
It was a golden night for the Coen brothers.
The iconoclastic filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen won three Academy Awards -- and made history Sunday evening -- with their wins for best picture, director and adapted screenplay for their gritty contemporary Western, "No Country for Old Men."
It also won an Oscar for supporting actor for Javier Bardem, who plays the merciless paid assassin at the center of the film.
Though "No Country for Old Men" is a quintessentially American movie -- and based upon the novel by Cormac McCarthy -- the 80th annual Academy Awards had a distinctly international flavor: All four acting winners were from Europe.
As predicted, Brit Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his gripping performance as a greedy oilman in "There Will Be Blood." The actor had won practically every major accolade this awards season for his audacious turn.
Frenchwoman Marion Cotillard was something of an upset, winning lead actress for her transcendent performance as France's tragic Little Sparrow -- chanteuse Edith Piaf -- in "La Vie En Rose." Going into the evening, the betting money was on veteran British actress Julie Christie for "Away From Her." Cotillard -- who transforms throughout the film from a gorgeous young girl to a frail, ailing woman -- also made history of sorts. She's the first actress to win this award for a performance in a foreign-language film since Sophia Loren did it for 1961's "Two Women."
Cotillard was clearly overwhelmed as she held the statuette aloft: "You rocked my life, you truly rocked my life," she said as she thanked the film's director. "Well, I'm speechless now. Thank you, life; thank you, love. It is true there are some angels in this city. Thank you so much."
Until Cotillard, the show's biggest surprise was Tilda Swinton upsetting favorites Amy Ryan and Ruby Dee for supporting actress for "Michael Clayton."
The shock was clear on Swinton's face: "Oh, no," she said. Looking down at the Oscar, celebrating its 80th anniversary, she added, "Happy birthday, man."
The British actress said she would be giving her Academy Award to her American agent, who is the "spitting image" of the Oscar.
Bardem's was one of the evening's first major awards. "This is pretty amazing," the Spaniard exclaimed, adding that he wouldn't hold it against the Coens for putting "one of the most horrible haircuts in history on my head."
He then broke into rapid-fire Spanish to thank, among others, his mother, who was also his date.
Diablo Cody could do no wrong this awards season.
The 29-year-old former-stripper-turned-screenwriter capped off her fairy-tale awards season by winning the Oscar for original screenplay for her bittersweet coming-of-age comedy, "Juno."
It was almost a fait accompli after she won a slew of other awards this season, including the Writers Guild of America and the Film Independent Spirit Award.
"What is happening?" asked Cody, who strode onstage in a billowy animal print dress with a thigh-high slit that she had to hold closed as she walked up to the stage. (But to be fair, it did showcase nicely that tattoo of a girl in a bikini on her right shoulder.) "This is for the writers," she said.
It was also an enchanted evening for the little Irish drama-with-music "Once," which took home the Oscar for original song for "Falling Slowly."
The song was written and performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who star in the film about two lonely souls who meet by chance on the streets of Dublin and quite literally make beautiful music together.
It was the evening's little tune that could: It was pitted in this category against three songs from the Disney hit film "Enchanted" as well as a song from "August Rush."
"What are we doing here?" Hansard asked as he and Irglova accepted the award, noting that the film cost about $100,000 to make and was shot in three weeks. "It's been an amazing thing; thank you for taking this film seriously."
"Atonement," the sweeping romantic drama, had seven nominations, but it has received one Oscar: original score for Dario Marianelli.
"There Will Be Blood," an epic about greed, ambition and oil, went into the evening with eight nominations. It was passed over except for Robert Elswit, who won for cinematography, and Day-Lewis.
"The Bourne Ultimatum" also had a big night: The spy thriller won three Oscars. Granted, they came in technical categories of editing, sound mixing and sound editing. But still. Three Oscars.
Presenter Tom Hanks had help introducing the nominees in the documentary short category from members of the nation's armed forces in Iraq. Soldiers read out the names of the nominees and the winner, "Freeheld," about a dying police detective who is trying to get her benefits for her life partner. The statuette for feature documentary went to "Taxi to the Dark Side," about torture practices of the U.S. overseas.
Past Oscar winner Nicole Kidman presented veteran production designer Robert Boyle, 98, an honorary Academy Award for contributions to cinema, which include "North By Northwest," "Marnie" and "Mame."
Austria's Holocaust drama "The Counterfeiters" won in the foreign-language film category. It was that country's first film to win such an honor.
Earlier in the evening, the bloody musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" was honored with an Oscar for art direction. Italian production designer Dante Ferretti and his wife, set designer Francesca Lo Schiavo, shared the honor.
"The Golden Compass" also led to an Oscar for visual effects.
"Thank you!" whooped the winners, including Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood.
Moments earlier, a rat named Remy scurried off with the Oscar for animated feature.
Writer-director Brad Bird won his second Oscar in this category for the Disney-Pixar blockbuster "Ratatouille," about a French rodent who dreamed of becoming a Parisian chef.
The French theme continued into the evening as "Le Mozart des Pickpockets" won for live action short film, and the makeup award went to Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald won for "La Vie En Rose."
The Oscar for animated short film went to "Peter & the Wolf."
That gave way to Amy Adams, who starred in the Disney hit "Enchanted," performing one of the film's three Oscar-nominated tunes, "Happy Working Song." Without the birds, rats and other critters whirling around her as they were in the movie, her performance seemed rather flat.
The 80th Annual Academy Awards got underway beneath gray skies and drizzles at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood with a montage homage to Hollywood. There were scenes from such films as "North by Northwest," "Aliens," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Terminator."
The first Oscar of the evening went to Alexandra Byrne for costume design for the historical epic "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."
"These past 3 1/2 months were very rough," host Jon Stewart began, referring to the bitter work stoppage caused by the Writers Guild strike. "The fight is over. So tonight, welcome to the makeup sex."
He then took aim at the slate of "psychopathic killer movies" nominated for Oscars, among them "No Country for Old Men," "Sweeney Todd" and "There Will Be Blood," and asked: "Does this town need a hug?"
"Thank God for teen pregnancy," he quipped, referring to "Juno."
Academy Awards ceremonies may have been postponed, but the show has gone on despite wars, assassinations and the fickleness of Mother Nature. This year, the writers strike threatened to cancel the show, but a settlement was reached and the show went on as scheduled.
susan.king@latimes.com
Grand Oscar night for 'No Country'
The iconoclastic filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen won three Academy Awards, including best picture.
By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
It was a golden night for the Coen brothers.
The iconoclastic filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen won three Academy Awards -- and made history Sunday evening -- with their wins for best picture, director and adapted screenplay for their gritty contemporary Western, "No Country for Old Men."
It also won an Oscar for supporting actor for Javier Bardem, who plays the merciless paid assassin at the center of the film.
Though "No Country for Old Men" is a quintessentially American movie -- and based upon the novel by Cormac McCarthy -- the 80th annual Academy Awards had a distinctly international flavor: All four acting winners were from Europe.
As predicted, Brit Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his gripping performance as a greedy oilman in "There Will Be Blood." The actor had won practically every major accolade this awards season for his audacious turn.
Frenchwoman Marion Cotillard was something of an upset, winning lead actress for her transcendent performance as France's tragic Little Sparrow -- chanteuse Edith Piaf -- in "La Vie En Rose." Going into the evening, the betting money was on veteran British actress Julie Christie for "Away From Her." Cotillard -- who transforms throughout the film from a gorgeous young girl to a frail, ailing woman -- also made history of sorts. She's the first actress to win this award for a performance in a foreign-language film since Sophia Loren did it for 1961's "Two Women."
Cotillard was clearly overwhelmed as she held the statuette aloft: "You rocked my life, you truly rocked my life," she said as she thanked the film's director. "Well, I'm speechless now. Thank you, life; thank you, love. It is true there are some angels in this city. Thank you so much."
Until Cotillard, the show's biggest surprise was Tilda Swinton upsetting favorites Amy Ryan and Ruby Dee for supporting actress for "Michael Clayton."
The shock was clear on Swinton's face: "Oh, no," she said. Looking down at the Oscar, celebrating its 80th anniversary, she added, "Happy birthday, man."
The British actress said she would be giving her Academy Award to her American agent, who is the "spitting image" of the Oscar.
Bardem's was one of the evening's first major awards. "This is pretty amazing," the Spaniard exclaimed, adding that he wouldn't hold it against the Coens for putting "one of the most horrible haircuts in history on my head."
He then broke into rapid-fire Spanish to thank, among others, his mother, who was also his date.
Diablo Cody could do no wrong this awards season.
The 29-year-old former-stripper-turned-screenwriter capped off her fairy-tale awards season by winning the Oscar for original screenplay for her bittersweet coming-of-age comedy, "Juno."
It was almost a fait accompli after she won a slew of other awards this season, including the Writers Guild of America and the Film Independent Spirit Award.
"What is happening?" asked Cody, who strode onstage in a billowy animal print dress with a thigh-high slit that she had to hold closed as she walked up to the stage. (But to be fair, it did showcase nicely that tattoo of a girl in a bikini on her right shoulder.) "This is for the writers," she said.
It was also an enchanted evening for the little Irish drama-with-music "Once," which took home the Oscar for original song for "Falling Slowly."
The song was written and performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who star in the film about two lonely souls who meet by chance on the streets of Dublin and quite literally make beautiful music together.
It was the evening's little tune that could: It was pitted in this category against three songs from the Disney hit film "Enchanted" as well as a song from "August Rush."
"What are we doing here?" Hansard asked as he and Irglova accepted the award, noting that the film cost about $100,000 to make and was shot in three weeks. "It's been an amazing thing; thank you for taking this film seriously."
"Atonement," the sweeping romantic drama, had seven nominations, but it has received one Oscar: original score for Dario Marianelli.
"There Will Be Blood," an epic about greed, ambition and oil, went into the evening with eight nominations. It was passed over except for Robert Elswit, who won for cinematography, and Day-Lewis.
"The Bourne Ultimatum" also had a big night: The spy thriller won three Oscars. Granted, they came in technical categories of editing, sound mixing and sound editing. But still. Three Oscars.
Presenter Tom Hanks had help introducing the nominees in the documentary short category from members of the nation's armed forces in Iraq. Soldiers read out the names of the nominees and the winner, "Freeheld," about a dying police detective who is trying to get her benefits for her life partner. The statuette for feature documentary went to "Taxi to the Dark Side," about torture practices of the U.S. overseas.
Past Oscar winner Nicole Kidman presented veteran production designer Robert Boyle, 98, an honorary Academy Award for contributions to cinema, which include "North By Northwest," "Marnie" and "Mame."
Austria's Holocaust drama "The Counterfeiters" won in the foreign-language film category. It was that country's first film to win such an honor.
Earlier in the evening, the bloody musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" was honored with an Oscar for art direction. Italian production designer Dante Ferretti and his wife, set designer Francesca Lo Schiavo, shared the honor.
"The Golden Compass" also led to an Oscar for visual effects.
"Thank you!" whooped the winners, including Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood.
Moments earlier, a rat named Remy scurried off with the Oscar for animated feature.
Writer-director Brad Bird won his second Oscar in this category for the Disney-Pixar blockbuster "Ratatouille," about a French rodent who dreamed of becoming a Parisian chef.
The French theme continued into the evening as "Le Mozart des Pickpockets" won for live action short film, and the makeup award went to Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald won for "La Vie En Rose."
The Oscar for animated short film went to "Peter & the Wolf."
That gave way to Amy Adams, who starred in the Disney hit "Enchanted," performing one of the film's three Oscar-nominated tunes, "Happy Working Song." Without the birds, rats and other critters whirling around her as they were in the movie, her performance seemed rather flat.
The 80th Annual Academy Awards got underway beneath gray skies and drizzles at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood with a montage homage to Hollywood. There were scenes from such films as "North by Northwest," "Aliens," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Terminator."
The first Oscar of the evening went to Alexandra Byrne for costume design for the historical epic "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."
"These past 3 1/2 months were very rough," host Jon Stewart began, referring to the bitter work stoppage caused by the Writers Guild strike. "The fight is over. So tonight, welcome to the makeup sex."
He then took aim at the slate of "psychopathic killer movies" nominated for Oscars, among them "No Country for Old Men," "Sweeney Todd" and "There Will Be Blood," and asked: "Does this town need a hug?"
"Thank God for teen pregnancy," he quipped, referring to "Juno."
Academy Awards ceremonies may have been postponed, but the show has gone on despite wars, assassinations and the fickleness of Mother Nature. This year, the writers strike threatened to cancel the show, but a settlement was reached and the show went on as scheduled.
susan.king@latimes.com
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