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To see this months pictures click |inline
Month: July 2005
Inside the Earth and Beyond Neptune
A couple interesting scientific discoveries lately.
One was the discovery of another "minor planet" that resides in the Kuiper Belt of asteroids beyond Neptune. There have actually been two of these large space rocks found recently. The BBC reports extensively on "2003 UB313". It seems to be the largest of the objects, larger than pluto and could be considered a "10th planet".
However, I found the other object (with a similarly unoriginal name, 2003 EL61) to be a little more interesting. It's a tad smaller than Pluto, but it has a moon… which of course makes it that much more fun for astronomers to look at.
New Scientist has an excellent rundown on how the discovery was made… and how surprising it is that we had not seen 2003 EL61 before.
In other news closer to home… scientists in the US have determined that, just like the movies have always told us… the boundary between the Earths hard outer crust and gooey mantle is quite sharp. So we really are all just floating on a big ball of boiling rock… spinning like a top… and twirling round a ball of fire.
I'm dizy…
Changing of the Guard in Iran
A moving post from Iran Hopes 2005
Today, at a newspaper agent, I found an elderly woman in tears. Her eyes were fixed on the headlines of a newspaper which read: "The Last Saturday of Khatami". She was crying in silence.
I wish for strength for the Iranian people as they move forward into an unknown and potentially dangerous future…
How Bin Laden Got Away
According to the CIA Officer who lead the operation at Tora Bora in 2001.
Or at least he'd like us to know.. but the US Administration is, unsurprisingly, dragging their feet on approving his manuscript for release.
So now the CIA vet, who was decorated by the CIA for helping prevent an assassination attempt by Islamic Extremists on the Indian Prime Minister in 1996, is suing the government he spent his life working for.
He said he felt compelled to write his story. But he also acknowledges he retired two years early because he ruffled senior management feathers. It was clear he wouldn't get further promotions.
It will be called "Jawbreaker"… look for it… read it.
Electoral Reform moves forward in BC
The Green Party of BC has posted a release on their website detailing the recent meeting between their leader, Adrian Carr, and BC Premier Gordon Campbell.
Campbell had promised to meet with Carr to discuss the results of the referendum on Electoral Reform in BC during the last election where the BC Public voted 58% in favor of a new voting system for BC. Unfortunately this was below the (artificially high) 60% needed to force the government to act, but it appears as though Campbell is prepared to admit that 58% across the entire province is a major message… one that is far stronger than the support for his own party.
In the statement Carr says,
I was pleased to hear the Premier say that he will be publicly tabling a plan in late August or early September of this year to pursue electoral reform.
It will be interesting to see what the Premier tables.. will it be STV? Or some other form of proportional representation… or will it be something less dramatic.
Carr also pushed Campbell to pursue Legislative and Finance Reform. We'll see if that goes anywhere.
And finally, Carr indicated that in a future meeting with Campbell, she will be addressing the question of "tax sharing" as a means to promote environmental responsibility. I've never heard this term before, so I've done some Googling and come up with these links and examples.
Tax Sharing in the US: Near Milwaukee and Minneapolis
In Canada: Legislation for tax sharing between the Province of Manitoba and Municipalities.
This last example is, I would think, what Carr has in mind.
(Cheers: Declan at Crawl Across the Ocean)


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A tacit intention to cheat with postal votes?
YOURSAY 'How embarrassing to beat our chest with 'the best democracy in the world' and not live up to it, and worse, doing the opposite.'
'Shanghaied' voters cry foul at EC
Ferdtan: The postal votes are the key to BN success in the general election (GE). They are so secretive, and with the lax, or no control, over its handling process that it has become an important tool for them to win unfairly - by fraudulent means, if necessary.
That was why we were not too pleased or encouraged, when Malaysians living abroad clamoured to votes overseas, without proper voting procedures set up in place.
The Election Commission (EC) must have seen the call for overseas voting as such an opportunity to increase their postal votes, a fixed deposit for BN, thus you have such unauthorised and illegal conversion in status of conventional voter to a postal voter.
The Bersih committee wants to reduce the number of postal voting as they have seen the unfair side of it, instead this time it seems to have increased.
We just hope the Pakatan Rakyat coalition has taken steps to stop, or at least mitigate, the problem. Otherwise, it is futile to vote - knowing that your one vote will be more than cancelled out by two illegal phantom votes.
Disgusted: It looks like it is clear that the BN government does not intend to play fair in coming elections. All the shenanigans by EC and Foreign Ministry is to keep out potential opposition votes out of the ballot box.
There seems to be a tacit intention to cheat using both these institutions as well as the National Registration Department (NRD) offices all over the country.
That is why Bersih is needed to fight for the rights of citizens, otherwise we may not have elections at all.
Shabaruddin: May I suggest that everyone should check their voter status now and print out a copy of the status so that you have proof of status should your name suddenly go 'missing' as the election day nears.
Whatsup: What shenanigans are these EC criminals (for breaking the laws and depriving the rakyat of their constitutional rights) playing?
Perhaps those at the consulate general in Shanghai have either refused to play the dirty game or have been accidentally left out in the shenanigans loop.
It sure is fishy for EC not to be very keen at all for registering overseas voters for the next election and I wonder what they will do with these overseas voters. Since there are so many stages these ballots have to pass through before reaching the counting centres, I wouldn't be surprised if by that time, they would have been compromised.
The EC just can't be trusted at all. This is indeed criminal and those in the leadership positions of EC should resign or be removed from their posts for reneging on their appointment.
Not Confused: Isn't this typical? The left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing. The only other explanation is that those involved in managing the electoral process are doing their level best to gerrymander the entire process in favour of the political masters in BN.
They think we are all stupid to accept this - it is about to backfire big time for them.
Sabahan: Possibly these are the postal votes that are kept till the last minute of counting to be used in whatever constituency where BN is in danger of losing, to enable a fraudulent win. This tactic is widespread and well known.
Anonymous_4196: BN and EC and the rest of their gang are taking desperate measures. How embarrassing to beat our chest with "the best democracy in the world" and not live up to it, and worse, doing the opposite.
Karma: Thanks, Malaysiakini , so far I am still a local voter despite staying in overseas for some years. I will surely check again until voting day. Phew!
Taikohtai: It's a self preservation exercise by EC. Why allow the knife to be sharpened knowing fully well it will be used on them? Bring on the mother of all Bersihs now to show EC who's the boss.
Giudice: A gutless and dirty government who refuses to fight fair and square, aided and abetted by the EC.
To those who continue to support BN despite its corrupted ways, incompetence, immorality, and string of abuses too long to list, you are selling out your future and your children's future. Wake up and make a change before it's too late.
Apapunboleh: EC is known as Ethically Corrupt. It will do anything to please its master.
EC: No order to stop signing up Shanghai voters
Anonymous_3e86: I don't trust postal voting. There have been stories of ballot boxes being tampered with while on the way from villages in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak. With overseas postal voting, the chances of tampering are even greater.
Recently, there were reports from persons who discovered that they have been registered as postal voters although they have not done so themselves.
Anonymous #33877536: These votes must be transparent and counted in front of witnesses at the respective embassies. It should not be sent to Malaysia. If this happens, then these votes will be compromised.
Onyourtoes: I have said it a long time ago, forget about overseas votes. It is not going to work fairly and transparently.
If these people want to vote, they have to come back to Malaysia, at least during this critical time.
If EC can't do one single thing right, we can't expect them to do the overseas voter registration and voting properly. Read my lips, it will cause more cheating and manipulation.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .

subset: commoncrawl


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D-Sisive releases Knoblich: The Complete '08 Comeback Special [News]
Toronto, ON – Aside from the music, one thing I've come to love about D-Sisive is his outspoken nature and the level of honesty he offers his fan. When he's happy, you'll know it. When he's considering hanging up the mic, you'll know it and you'll know why. A press release from D-Sisive is more than likely going to be just a letter from the Toronto vet explaining where he's at. Case in point, click the jump to check the press release that accompanied his latest release, Knoblich: The Complete '08 Comeback Special.
Knoblich: The Complete '08 Comeback Special was mixed by DJ Grouch and features production from a talented array of beatsmiths including Orin Isaacs, The Arkeologists, Muneshine, MoSS, Anonymous Twist, Bird, Gamshooter and Justin Trugman. You'll also find some self-produced records on the project as well. The guest appearances include Muneshine, Guilty Simpson, and Frankenstein.
You can download the project for free but it comes with an option to "pay what you can" as well. If you've been enjoying D's free music over the years you should consider supporting with a purchase! More details, including that press release I mentioned earlier, after the jump.
Knoblich: The Complete '08 Comeback Special
I awoke from a deep hibernation. Asleep for close to seven years. A sink full of dirty dishes and the Beach Boys masterpiece, Pet Sounds, successfully played the role of alarm clock. I was switched on. Ignoring the morning breath and bed sores, I ran with a creative explosion that would reign the next 5 years of my life.
I abandoned what I refer to as my Laundry Room period, but could never forget it, as I would spend half of a decade documenting it.
The words poured out of me. I couldn't turn the faucet off even if I wanted to. I found my voice and it was the perfect time to say something with it.
Let The Children Die was to be my debut. Urbnet, my record label, wanted to release something right away. Something to wet appetites. Something to remind people I was still alive. We rushed out an EP. The BOOK [Ballad Of Orville Knoblich]. I had already released a re-working of the Iggy Pop classic, The Idiot, telling the story of a relationship between a man and his prostitute love. The Idiot:Hijacked fell on deaf ears. Understandable, since I hadn't released music in so long. I hoped The BOOK wouldn't suffer the same fate.
Fortunately, it didn't. It laid the foundation for what would result in seven critically acclaimed albums over the course of five years, and a platform for my voice and I. It also gave me my first Juno Award Nomination for Best Rap Recording in 2009. This was also the year I developed my addiction to releasing new music.
In November of 2008, I decided to release a mixtape of features, selections from The Idiot:Hijacked and The BOOK, as well as songs that were recorded for the EP, but didn't make the cut. On January 1st [2009], with help from the incredible DJ Grouch, we released Knoblich|The Complete '08 Comeback Special [a play on the legendary 1968 Elvis Presley television special].
In May of this year, The BOOK will celebrate its fifth birthday. I feel it's the perfect time to re-release this time capsule of a moment that defined the artist I am today. And the perfect time to admit I have a thing for Elvis-themed mixtapes.
Also, feel free to pay what you can for this, if you can. I've given away a lot of free music. With this one, the option to pay is there if you feel the need to. ☺
"He's cool, but his old shit is better."
Sleep tight.
Twitter: @DSisive
Tags: D-Sisive
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New York University School of Law
Georgetown University
US District Court, Massachusetts
Honorable Ronald R. Lagueux, US District Court, District of Rhode Island
Bill McMahon has extensive experience representing financial institutions, insurance companies and other corporate clients in complex restructuring and insolvency engagements, both in and out of court.
Mr. McMahon served as a Special Assistant District Attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office as part of the firm's Volunteer Prosecutor Program. As a Special Assistant District Attorney, he prosecuted a range of misdemeanors and felonies and tried numerous cases to verdict.
Mr. McMahon has been named a Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star.
Practice Focus
Bankruptcy & Restructuring: insolvency matters and proceedings on behalf of creditors' committees, financial institutions, buyers of distressed assets, liquidating agents and secured and unsecured creditors.
Finance: senior secured, second lien and mezzanine lenders in complex restructurings and workouts; debtor-in-possession financing.
Representative Engagements
- Represented multinational bank in obtaining full recovery of investment in railcar leasing arm of CIT Group, Inc. in connection with CIT's bankruptcy, one of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcies in US history.
- Representation of financial institutions working out troubled investments in and out of court.
- Represented Fortune 500 insurance company in enforcing rights in policyholder bankruptcies throughout the US, including by negotiating policy buy-out agreements.
- Served as US counsel to Canadian nutritional supplement maker with US operations in connection with refinancing of company's $60 million secured credit facility.
- Represented liquidating officer of international contract manufacturer in pursuing avoidance actions that resulted in multi-million dollar recovery for bankruptcy estate.
- Assisted Fortune 500 insurance companies in resolving coverage obligations in asbestos bankruptcies across US.
- Represented Surge Trading, Inc., f/k/a Castor Pollux Securities, in connection with its purchase of the market making business of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.
- Represented troubled national dry cleaning chain in out-of-court restructuring that resulted in going concern asset sales that preserved hundreds of jobs throughout the country.
- Assisted major software developer in protecting intellectual property rights in bankruptcy proceedings throughout country.
- Prosecuted and defended hundreds of avoidance actions throughout country.
- Served, at the request of a United States Bankruptcy Judge, as special mediation counsel to a pro se Chapter 7 debtor defending a non-dischargeability complaint, securing a dismissal of case with prejudice.
Publications and Presentations
- "Spotlight on Intercreditor Agreements in Bankruptcy," co-author, Bankruptcy Law360, February 2012.
- "Bankruptcy Jurisdiction – Beyond Section 1334," co-author, Bankruptcy Law360, June 2011.
- "The Evolution of Credit Bidding," co-author, Law360, Finance Section, February 2010.
Professional and Community Involvement
Mr. McMahon is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute, and has served on the faculty of the American College of Bankruptcy's First Circuit Law Student Program.


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Its back! New York to London, UK for $292 R/T [WOW]
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Information is valid at time of publication. Due to a high amount of posts – it is hard to track down all expired offers, so sometimes you may not find the price mentioned in the post. It means that the deal was sold out or supplier (airlines/agency) has changed the conditions or removed the offer. To avoid these frustrating situations, you can subscribe to our newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler.
Image Credits:Davide D'Amico used under CC BY-SA 2.0 license / Resized from original.


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To make my life a misery, they've added a "bonus" audition episode to the weekly rotation. Thanks, Fox! This one contains footage from two cities: New York and Puerto Rico. Ryan, who as we all know, loves his Broadway, gets all giddy talking about West Side Story, a play (then a movie), which ironically features two things: New York and Puerto Ricans. But don't try singing a show tune during your audition, because Simon will put you out on your ass. This is American Idol. How many bullets are left, Chino?
First up, know these things: The New York auditions were actually held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, so either the show needs to stop lying, or somebody needs to buy Seacrest a map. Also, I know Puerto Rico isn't a state, and you know Puerto Rico isn't a state — but it's a United States territory. Think of it as America's mistress. We married Hawaii, but we bang Puerto Rico on the side. Therefore, it qualifies.
Adeola Adegoke is quite beautiful, I think. She says she's from the Bronx, but she has a semi-thick Jamaican accent. She's confident enough in her Idol future to have quit her job to come here. Adeola sings some Dreamgirls like a bat using sonar to see the room. "And I am telling you, I'm not going…" But Adeola is going. Home. First, though, in a spontaneous and unstaged moment, Simon calls her boss to arrange for her to keep her job. Her boss accepts, but I encourage Adeola to audition for America's Next Top Model, where all she has to do is look pretty and be crazy. And if she's not crazy, she can fake it.
Jorge Nunez has a little too much product in his hair. It looks crunchy, like an over-moussed souvenir from the Menudo fan club. He sings "My Way" in Spanish, sounding a hell of a lot like Ricky Martin. Then he sings something else in English, still sounding like Ricky Martin. He's through to Hollywood, where they'll bounce him for sounding like Ricky Martin.
Jessika Baier doesn't know if she's 19 or 20, but she financed her trip to Idol by winning contests "all over" her state, which is Michigan. Accompanying her is every woman in her family, and they're all wearing pink, which automatically makes them obnoxious and I hate them. Jessika is a serial contestant who started young. Her first win was for "The World's Most Beautiful Baby." I'm guessing not many children were born that year. She's won a patrillion trips, the opportunity to sing at the Rose Bowl, and the chance to open for master showman, Corbin Bleu (known to most of the world as "that black kid with the hair" from the High School Musical films).
Jessica has spent so much time winning contests that learning basic English is on the back burner. The sign she's holding reads: "I'm Thee Jessika Baier." (The extra 'e' is for extra…aw, never mind.) What more can be said? Her voice, honestly, is not terrible. Simon hates her, honestly, because she's fat. Paula calls her voice "shrilling," but I'd sooner apply that to her personality, in a way, than her singing voice. As for Jessika, it's hard to tell if she's upset because she got rejected on the basis of her talent (allegedly) or because this is one contest she won't get to win. I think it's more the latter.
Melinda Camille smiles a lot and makes me uncomfortable. She has a message "to send to the world." Something about humanity taking a shift right now. The Pod People are coming? Melinda is all about the love and the peace and the dancing naked in her room. That last fact, apparently, is tantamount to Melinda saying she masturbates on the steps of City Hall using Beanie Babies. I think, from the tone in Seacrest's voice, that we're supposed to be shocked! Considering the fact that Ryan has probably never seen himself nude, I'll let it pass. Melinda sings that old time-y "Feeling Good" song, and her voice is pleasing to the ear, but she's too upbeat, too positive. Gives me the big-time icks. I could live without her, but she deservedly gets a Golden Ticket.
Jackie Tohn is a "rocker chick" who plays guitar (although not during her audition — it is forbidden). She sounds like Demi Moore when she speaks, and like Demi Moore on the weed when she sings. Jackie auditions with some Jason Mraz, which…love him, but Mraz is a strange choice for a rocker chick. The performance? Picture this: It's Junior Year and Joe Miller's parents are away for the weekend, so we all go to his house to "hang out," and before you know it, there's like 40 kids in the house, and oops, somebody broke a lamp and there's Cheese Doodles crushed into the couch, and, hey, Brenda McCarthy got beer because she looks 21. We love Brenda! Then Jackie shows up, and nobody's seen her for a week because she cuts class, but here she is. And Jackie. Is. Loaded. She gets right up near the stereo speaker, and while Joan Jett tells us how she loves rock 'n roll, Jackie is singing along and playing air guitar, while we all wait for her to puke in Joe Miller's mother's shoe closet. That is what this is. But mysteriously, Jackie is put through to Hollywood.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Tool Time…
First up, Joel Contraras, is an annoying little menace of a man. We see him throw himself into a storefront security gate, scream into the ear of a man who's using the phone, and sing-scream aggressively into the face of an ice cream vendor. Joel is a self-described "crazy rocker." I prefer to describe him as an asshole. He runs around the streets of San Juan in a rat costume, harassing the passers-by in an desperate effort to be on TV. He really thinks he's funny. He realllly is not. He auditions standing behind a giant iPod cut-out . Vocally, he might be okay, if he wasn't such a god-awful twat. Then he pulls out a lion hand puppet and begins wailing "The Circle of Life." Enough! He's rejected and acts like he's thrilled, running around in a Superman costume, howling, and diving into a swimming pool. Would it be wrong to kick him in the balls? Because I'd like to do that. Many, many times.
Second is Nick Mitchell, another defective who wants airtime. He shows up in a shiny, silver disco shirt and a red sweatband around his head, clearly trying to be some sort of SNL-like character. Gay super-nerd or some crap. Ryan introduces him as "Nick Mitchell, a.k.a. Norman Gentle." Look, that Joel kid was a pest, but this guy is pushing the limits of my tolerance. He's just not fucking funny and he's on my TV for…ev…er. He sings some Dreamgirls ridiculously, then makes a joke about Seacrest doing something gay to Simon's balls. The judges? They think he's funny! They let him sing "Amazing Grace!" And he almost swings it, singing adequately until he can't control himself anymore. Then he hams it up. He's like the aborted love child of Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Lynde, resurrected and possessed by Richard Simmons, but trying frantically to impersonate Rip Taylor. The judges laugh and laugh, because they, themselves, are perfect morons. Then they put him through to Hollywood, where I hope he is destroyed mercilessly during the "Chamber of Scorpions" challenge.
Monique Garcia Torres brought her 9-year-old kid brother to her audition. The boy, Christopher, and his adorable giant ears advise Monique to "think carefully" before singing. Her "You Can't Hurry Love" is good, but school-teacher-y. Then she sings some Christina Aguilera, lullaby-like. She's okay. But make no mistake, Her Golden Ticket was awarded on the cuteness of her brother, because the judges are like, "Eh…whatever…" Randy and Kara say no, but Paula and Simon say yes, and what Simon says…
Hey, you guys, remember Alexis Cohen from last season? She gave us the finger multiple times and told Simon to kiss her ass. Haven't you just been dying to have her back and see what she's been up to? Me, neither. But Idol feels otherwise, so here she is. Alexis has had a bit of a makeover. She's ditched the tacky black t-shirt and glitter makeup for a prom dress from the Buck Rogers Collection. And she claims to be kinder, more gentle iteration of herself. Alexis works the waiting room, shaking the hands of people who, judging from their faces, have no idea who she is. For her audition, she graces us with "Like A Prayer." In her version, "Life is a miss-tor-ee." Alexis being on this show again is a bigger miss-tor-ee. After Joel Contraras and Nick Mitchell, I've had enough of these freaks. Suffice it to say that Alexis gets bounced and, jokingly, at least, gives the judges the finger.
Meanwhile, a sane, normal, but somewhat generic girl named Patricia Lewis Roman closes out this year's auditions with some Whitney. Her "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" could use some more control. Her breathing patterns add some queer little pauses in the song. The judges aren't impressed, so she sings something in Spanish, and it's enough to get her through to Hollywood. And it's enough to get us through to the end of the episode, because, boys and girls, auditions are over!
Next week, the slaughter begins. Hollywood is here!
Back to the season guide.


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You are in the United States shop site. Prices are in USD. Click here to visit the Australia/Rest of the World shop site.
You are visiting the United States shop site.
Prices in this shop are in US Dollars and items will be shipped from Detroit, US.
If you live outside the US, click on Australia/Rest of the World to change to that site.


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Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Eli Freedman, could not with you more! So sick of their "poor me" crap! They are supposed to be Americans, but they want to stay immigrants so they can complain about their mistreatment! Maybe if they acclimated to their country and denounced terror and their bigotry and lies things would be better for them. What does it say about their mentality when they have a life size mural of a murderer in the wall? They might as well paint a picture of Charles Manson on the other wall!
swans, the walmart of yesteryears. still going strong.
It didn't take long for the Terrorist sympathizers and their Ilk, to SPIN the story!! You just have to love these POS in justifying the mural!! But its not to be unexpected!! Reem's is located in Oakland, CA. Near Berkeley, U of C....a hotbed of the Radical-Left and their Lap-dogs!!
We complained about the Mural, NOT because Odeh's a TERRORIST, that was CONVICTED of MURDERING Civilians and BRAGGED about it, but because We are "Racists and Islamophobes"!!LOLOL!!! (Yep, that's what they are saying!!)
Continue to go to Reem's page and BLITZ IT!!!
ANY business that displays such a despicable character, a CONVICTED MURDERING TERRORIST, has no place in a civilized society or community in the United States of America.
Uhm no, im exaxtly the person who names my bongs and take extreme care in choosing the perfect one. Well, when i went into Big Als one morning (no one else even in store), i was rudely told to leave bc "i wasnt buying anything." ofcourse i told them im just rly picky but walked out anyways. As i was leaving the manager even made a joke about my pajama pants i was wearing. Very unprofessional and just nasty. Been telling everyone to stay away ever since.
Hiking with 510 Hikers is one of the best things in my life right now!
Tiny Loan Company a private loan company who give out loan at 2% interest rate kindly contact us now on firstname.lastname@example.com if you need help
Lemme know when the "NIGHT HIKE" adventures commence... then~ I'll have no excuse 4 absence anymore.
If you're a biker bummed at Canyon Road and Alhambra Valley Road being closed, check out http://inl.org/cycling/rides; lots of different options, most in the East Bay, all BART-accessible.
How about the Woodminster Summer Musicals? Summer 2017 is their 51st season presenting big Broadway style musicals outdoors in historic Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. This year, Mamma Mia!, South Pacific, and Beauty and the Beast. Big casts including professional actors and live professional orchestras. Lots of ticket promo prices for various ages.
Come out to the Alameda Summer Art and Maker Fair presented by Flax. 35 Artist Booth's, live demos, live music including Hella Fitzgerald. 3 open studios, 100 under 100 Group Art Show with over 18 bay area artists showing all pieces in this show are under $100, kids art activities, henna, face painting,
Nicholas Collins is becoming a local treasure, always welcoming, fosters leadership, keeps hikers safe and truly believes in the transformative power of the outdoors.
Proud to be part of the 510 Hikers family!!!!
Don't take the 18 bus to Montclair. It's now the 33 line.
We're in berkley
Good day everyone, My name is Kimberly Lisa, Im from USA, Florida and I am here to give a brief story about a loan testimony I received from Donald Mark Loan Funding . I was looking for a legit loan lender few days back when I got the email from this company and they gave me a quick loan. Apply for a fast loan today email contact: ( firstname.lastname@example.com ) .. Share this good news and get your loan today.Stay Blessed.
Great article. My fiance is vegan and I love all food! We just moved to the Bay Area and are excited to check these places out. We cook a lot at home and it is NICE to relax a little and enjoy the passionate cooking style of others. Thanks for the article!
Loved "like patients to an iv!".
I agree with Matt S' comment above. Except for me I have tried coming out many times over the years. My Girlfriend of 25 years knows and sometimes is cool with it, sometimes not. I've told friends and family before and they were accepting about it at first but over time marginalized my experience by either saying I was gay or that I was looking for drama. There is so much drama in my life already and I don't see why someone would think I wanted to purposely add more to the pile. Also, I am closeted about my lifetime of experience with gender disphoria and it seems like I have gone through so much pain in my life already because of both issues that acting on either of these issues let alone both would be, one- confusing for my loved ones and associates and two- would mean even more constant pain and work for me. I've chosen to hide because of this. I don't know if I'll ever really be honest and open with myself and the world. I want to try. Lucky I live in the Bay Area and have an understanding partner. Bi men need more visibility and I hate that I might be perpetuating the problem.
Chef Nate Barrystein has just taken over managing The Oasis Food Market on Telegraph. Good things and many gluten free halal dishes will be there.
This lady is amazing! In just 2 conversations she made me a better person, a better parent and a better paraprofessional! That was in 1990's and has stayed with me all these years!


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Strasburg, France, April 11
By Azer Maharramli - Trend:
The meeting of the PACE Bureau was fully dedicated to the meeting of the PACE Standing Committee to be held in Azerbaijan, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov told journalists on April 11.
Seyidov expressed satisfaction with the course of the PACE Bureau meeting.
"Today, we discussed the issues that will be considered during the meeting of the Standing Committee in Baku in May and set their queue. Today, the Bureau adopted a decision for the Azerbaijani president's speech at PACE in June and holding of meetings with leaders of the Council of Europe would be approved and supported at the highest level," Seyidov said.
The participation and speech of Azerbaijani foreign minister in Baku in May and at PACE in June were also broadly discussed and approved, according to the Azerbaijani delegation head.
In general, various events that will be held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the country and those to be organized in the Council of Europe were discussed. Azerbaijan starts its chairmanship in the Council of Europe and preparatory works are carried out at high level, Seyidov said.
The meeting of PACE Bureau will be held in Baku on May 22 and the meeting of the Standing Committee will be held on May 23.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.


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THE Wilts & Berks Canal Trust hopes to give a derelict flight of locks at Pewsham a new lease of life as an attraction for tourists and schools.
The charity wants to transform the former lock-keeper's cottage into a visitor centre and cafe on the ground floor with a holiday let above.
The dry-dock would be rebuilt, the lime kiln restored, and a nearby engineering workshop could also be used as an outdoor classroom with a natural slate roof.
Pewsham Locks once lifted boats almost 30 feet on their journey from Melksham to Chippenham but fell into disrepair after the canal was abandoned in the early 1900s.
The volunteers have already restored a significant stretch of the waterway between Chippenham and Lacock and say breathing new life into Pewsham Locks would be the most ambitious phase yet.
The project is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds but, if planning permission is granted, the trust would apply to national bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund for cash.
The Inland Waterways Association has provided £1,690 towards the planning fees and much of the design was provided free of charge by the trust's own volunteers.
Colin Fletcher, director of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, said: "The charity has been working on this scheme for around 18 months.
"The Pewsham stretch already attracts lots of people of all ages, from families with pushchairs to joggers and cyclists, but we believe there is so much more potential – particularly once the link to the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham is restored.
"It would be a big boost to tourism and raise awareness of an important part of our heritage. It would also help to open up the countryside."
Several residents have already voiced their support for the project. Stephen Pomfret, of Danes Close, Chippenham, said: "This will be of great interest from the point of view of local history, and for the wildlife it will attract. Many people walk or cycle on the adjacent path and this will benefit all of them, and hopefully inspire people to find out more."
Wiltshire Council expects to make a decision by April 18.


text: Meta Battle Subway PokeBase - Pokemon Q&A Login Register All Activity Questions Unanswered Tags Users Ask a Question Rules Chat When is the Pokemon X/Y walkthrough guide book coming out? 0 votes 715 views xy guide asked Oct 15, 2013 by SparkyBlaziken Please log in or register to add a comment. Please log in or register to answer this question. 1 Answer 0 votes Best answer The guide book has already been released. I went to Walmart and I saw about 10-30 guidebooks of Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. It has very useful information. answered Oct 15, 2013 by RedtheLEGEND selected Nov 12, 2013 by Mewderator Really? It's not out where I live. commented Oct 15, 2013 by SparkyBlaziken It is where I live though. It comes out at different times for different Countries/Towns/Cities/Places. commented Oct 15, 2013 by RedtheLEGEND Please log in or register to add a comment. Related questions Are the Pokemon X and Y Walkthrough And Pokedex books out Yet? Which guide book has all 693 Pokemon in it? Where can I read the Pokemon x and y strategy guide online? Should I make a walkthrough??? Experienced Pokemon Team Builders pleas give advice on my guide? Eevee evolution guide? Does This Website Have A Gym Leader Guide? Pokemon X and Y Updating Problem: Downloaded version 1.2, the game's not being read as that version? Useful Meta Posts How to change your username How to add a user avatar Why was my post hidden? The points system Question etiquette Flags vs Downvotes Anime FAQ


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Home > Conferences > Conference Details
The International Spring Seminar on Electronics Technology is the premier European forum for the exchange of information between senior and young scientists from academic communities and electronic industries from around the world on topics related to their experimental and theoretical work in the very widespread field of electronics and microelectronics technology and packaging.
11 May - 15 May 2011
Hotel Sorea
Tratanska Lomnica, Slovakia
Alena Pietrikova
Letn 9
Department of Hybrid Mikroelectronics
University of Technology in Kosice
Kosice Slovakia SK-04001
+421 55602 3194
Please see the conference Web site for full details.
Abstract submission deadline: 12 Feb 2011
Final submission deadline: 11 Apr 2011
Notification of acceptance date: 11 Mar 2011


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My favorite part: -yo watch Tavares and Okposo combine for 200 points and the Isles win the division
-With that penalty kill? Hell No
Stick tap to 12 Angry Mascots for bringing this to my attention.]]>
The Islanders have signed Defenseman Mike Mottau to a two year one way deal, as first reported by Katie Strang.
Good pickup by the Isles. Now with the signings of Eaton, Jurcina, Wisniewski and Mattau, their D has certainly improved. Great news. I doubt Nielsen and Hunter are going to get along well with him after Mottau's hit on Frans, with Hunter jumping in and fighting him.
Also, Kyle Okposo is out indefinitely and will need surgery to repair his shoulder. Can this team's injuries get any worse? Hamonic suffered an injury at camp today as well. And I thought during the season was the bad luck with injuries for the Isles?


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12 December 2003
View all stories from this issue.
A Touch Of Spice (Politiki Konzina)Dir. Tassos Boulmetis. Greece. 2003. 108 mins.A natural crowd pleaser and by far the most successful Greek picture of the year (where it has outgunned the likes of Pirates Of The Carribean with 1m admissions since it opened in late October), this ode to traditional Balkan cuisine and its Ottoman roots is the kind of product that begs to be exported to sympathetic markets. The first foray of Village Roadshow's production arm in Europe, it has already bagged all the sign
Adjani to receive special tribute at Montreal Film Festival 2004Next year'sMontreal World Film Festival will pay tribute to French actress IsabelleAdjani. Making the announcement, MWFF president Serge Losique deemed Ms. Adjani"an extraordinary artist, an actress who is equally at home in transformingherself into her films' profound and exceptional characters or playingseemingly light roles with an expert touch." Despite thisyear's brouhaha, when changes in the festival's dates resulted in schedulingconflicts with festivals in Venice and Toronto, th
Alliance Atlantis makes sweeping cuts in productionToronto-based entertainmentcompany Alliance Atlantis plans massive cuts to its production arm, cutting upto 60 positions nearly half the division's workforce - and axing the twomost senior production executives, EntertainmentGroup CEO Peter Sussman and Seaton McLean, the group's president for productionand one of the founders of the original company, Atlantis Communications.Citing what he termed a"permanent down-turn" in demand for prime time television series, movies of theweek
AMC quits Swedish exhibition sectorLess than four years after its arrival in Sweden, American exhibitor AMC is quitting the territory. Scandinavian major SF Bio will now be taking over its multiplex in Heron City in the southern region of Stockholm. The name of the multiplex, which has 18 screens and a total of 4,166 seats, will change to Filmstaden Heron City."This is a great opportunity to increase our range of movie theatres," says Jan Bernhardsson, CEO of SF Bio. "The arrangement fits right in with our plans to esta
ARGENTINADisney's Brother Bear opened to top the charts this week. However, Clint Eastwood's drama Mystic River achieved the best screen average of 1,975 admissions. Columbia TriStar's SWAT opened in third followed by teen gross out comedy American Pie: The Wedding which came in fourth and benefited from an earlier opening on a Wednesday. Argentina's Foreign Oscar contender Valentin is still hanging on to a top ten position, with a 12% increase over last week.
Asian film industry mourns Duangkamol LimcharoenThai producer Duangkamol Limcharoen, a leading figure in the pan-Asian filmmaking movement, has died following a brief fight against cancer. She was 39 years old.A former TV producer, Limcharoen founded Thai film company Cinemasia in 2000 with the aim of producing pan-Asian co-productions and expanding the market for Asian films. Her recent credits include award-winning collaborations such as Last Life In The Universe - involving talent from Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan - and s
Astala quits Finnish Film body for broadcaster YLEAfter eight years as head of production at the Finnish Film Foundation, Erkki Astala, has been wooed by public broadcaster YLE to become its new head of co-productions. Astala replaces veteran Eila Werning, who retires after holding the position since 1990. The shuffle is part of a bigger restructuring at YLE, and Astala will be in charge of Finnish language co-productions for all YLE TV-channels. Astala started out as a film journalist, before becoming a festival organiser at the even
AUSTRALIAMaster And Commander: The Far Side Of The World grossed A$3,078,560 from 324 screens on its opening four-day weekend. This result meant the 20th Century Fox drama easily claimed the top spot. Contributing factors included extremely strong reviews, a big print and advertising budget, a wide release, thus ensuring it was easily accessible, and the presence of a much admired adopted Australian actor, namely Russell Crowe. Film-aware types would also have been keen to see the next f
BAFTA Scotland to launch annual awards eventBAFTA Scotland is to establish an annual awards ceremony recognising excellence in the Scottish screen industries. The organisation hosted a major ceremony every two years throughout the 1990s until the Scottish Media Group (SMG) withdrew their support for the event in 1999. SMG owns Scottish Television and Grampian Television. BAFTA Scotland Director Alison Forsyth believes that any issues SMG may have had are now past history and the time is right to re-establish the awards which wil
Balsan takes over from Powell as EFA chairmanAfter eight years in the post, the UK's Nik Powell is handing over the reins of the chairmanship of the European Film Academy (EFA) to French producer Humbert Balsan.Speaking at the European Film Awards ceremony, Powell quipped that he expected Balsan - who has been one of the EFA deputy chairmen until now - would bring "a real Gallic flavour" to the Academy's operations following a period of German/Anglo-Saxon dominance.EFA director Marion Doering told ScreenDaily.com
Belgian exhibitor goes digitalBelgian exhibitor Kinepolis is planning to equip another ten of its cinema screens with the Barco DLP digital projector in addition to the existing four screens already converted to digital projection. According to Kinepolis, the decision was taken because of the exceptional demand for these screenings in Belgium: the children's animation film Plop Et La Baguette Magique, which had been produced in high definition and originally been destined for release only on DVD, sold more t
Belvaux, Lvovsky share France's 61st Louis Delluc prizePARIS - In a split decision, the 61st Louis Delluc prize has been awarded to Lucas Belvaux's trilogy of films Un Couple Epatant, Apres La Vie and Cavale and to Noemie Lvovsky's Sentiments. While that prize goes to the best French film of the year, the prize for best first film went to Valerie Bruni-Tedeschi's Il Est Plus Facile Pour Un Chameau.The awards were handed out in Paris on Tuesday (Dec 9) and presided over by Cannes president Gilles Jacob. Th
Berlusconi defends controversial media lawItalian premier Silvio Berlusconi has publicly defended the controversial new media law which is set to consolidate his sprawling media empire in an inflammatory press conference, where he pointed out that it will prevent 1,000 people from losing their jobs at one of his Mediaset TV channels.The Gasparri Law, which must now receive the seal of approval of Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi before it becomes law, allows Berlusconi's Rete 4 channel - one of this three private network
Bon Voyage, Dogville bookend Miami Film FestivalThe 21st Annual Miami International Film Festival will open on Jan30 with the East Coast premiere of Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Nazi-era comedy ofmanners Bon Voyageand closes on Feb 8 with Lars von Trier's Colorado-set thriller Dogville.
Brazilian bank BNDES ups investment in local films to $5mBrazilian bank BNDES has raised its level of commitment to thefilm industry, announcing an increased budget of $5m in support of 41 projects.The investment more than doubles last year's commitment and brings it back inline with the 2001 budget.
Breillat's Hell to world premiere at RotterdamCatherine Breillat's new film, Anatomy of Hell (Anatomie De L'Enfer), will receive its world premiere at the upcoming 33rd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Jan 21-Feb1, 2004). .According to Rotterdam co-director Simon Field the film could be her most controversial piece of work yet. Based on her novel Pornocrati, the production continues the themes of her earlier title Romance. Breillat's next film project An Old Mistress i
BVI promotes four to vice president in marketing/publicity deptBuena VistaInternational (BVI) has promoted four marketing and publicity executives to therank of vice president.Executivedirector of international publicity Maggie Todd (left) has been promoted to vicepresident of international publicity while executive director of promotionsDonald Evans (right) becomes vice president of marketing and promotions.Executivedirector of creative services - marketing Mari Gastineau becomes vice presidentof marketing/creative print s
Canton unveils new production/finance outfit AtmosphereFormer studio chief MarkCanton and investment manager Mark J Kimsey have launched AtmosphereEntertainment, a fully funded production and finance company that already hasseveral theatrical projects in development.The partners plan to producethree to five features a year as well as a television slate and say they haveacquired "substantial" film assets from Artists Production Group (APG), whichthey will merge with those already controlled by The Canton Company.Canton is the co-foun
Cape Town hosts Long SupperThe streets of London's South Kensington are being recreated in South Africa's Cape Town, which is hosting the shoot of the $2m The Long Supper. The dark comedy stars South African born Henry Goodman, the acclaimed British stage star who has just completed a run of Richard III for the RSC.Goodman plays a celebrity chef whose show is plummeting in the ratings. His career crisis is saved, however, when armed strangers hijack one of his private influential dinner part
Cheaper By The DozenDir: Shawn Levy. US. 2003. 98 mins. Holiday movies don't come much more undemanding than this. Sugary one moment and slapstick the next, Steve Martin's return to family comedy is ideally suited to its Christmas Day US release slot and could - thanks also the presence of tween star Hilary Duff - draw a sizeable and demographically broad audience of over-stuffed and sentimental moviegoers when it opens in the US on Dec 25. The appeal probably won't last long into the New Year,
CineLink to widen net and introduce awardsSarajevo Film Festival's CineMart-style co-production market CineLink is to widen its catchment area to include the entire South-East European region and will award Euros 25,000 each to two of the CineLink projects.The first edition of CineLink last August was open for projects from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro, but the 2004 event will also be open to filmmakers from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia.A 15 February deadline has been set f
Cold MountainDir: Anthony Minghella. US. 2003. 157 mins. There are a number of coups which writer/director Anthony Minghella has scored with his long-awaited film of the best-selling novel Cold Mountain, not least of which is to soften the focus on the American Civil War - a period in history which has consistently turned off international audiences. Instead, his expertly-paced, profoundly affecting romantic epic highlights human bonds of love and friendship amid the carnage and la
Columbia bears The Grudge from Senator InternationalColumbia Pictures has picked updomestic distribution rights from Senator International to The Grudge, Ghost House Pictures' English-language remake ofthe Japanese horror thriller Ju-On.
Committee appointed for alternative DiagonaleThe alternative Diagonale (3-7 March, 2004) has taken another major step forward towards realisation with the appointment of a seven-person committee to select the films and programme the festival.The programme committee's members are: film journalist Frank Arnold, film academic Robert Buchschwenter, film academic Birgit Flos, curator and writer Marcy Goldberg, curator Stella Rollig, film journalist Alexandra Seibel, and film historian and curator Sylvia Szely.In its first offic
Cowan's in at Toronto, to run festival alone by 2007The Toronto InternationalFilm Festival has appointed Noah Cowan to the new position of co-director. Theappointment, which was widely anticipated, will see Cowan sharing programmingduties with Piers Handling during a three-year transition period before takingover the festival's reins. Handling will assumefull-time duties as the CEO of the Toronto International Festival Group as theorganization aims to unveil its proposed new headquarters in 2006. Cowanassumes his new title January 1, 20
Cruise slices his way to the top with The Last SamuraiRiding high on strong reviews TheLast Samurai vanquished the opposition atthe weekend as it opened on a table-topping $24.4m, according to studioestimates.
CTFDI crossed the $1bn mark in 2003Powered by the internationalsuccess of T3, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Bad Boys II, Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) has passed$1bn in ticket sales for 2003.This marks the second timeboth of Sony Pictures Entertainment's international and domestic distributiondivisions have passed the mark after domestic declared $1bn in sales lastmonth.It is the third time CTFDIhas passed $1bn in the past four years and the fourth time it has done s
DENMARKLike elsewhere in the region the top three spots at the Danish box-office chart remained unchanged this weekend where Finding Nemo, Master And Commander and Love Actually sat firmly, and the latter only fell back 17%. However, the best screen average by far was achieved by the new release of the critically acclaimed new film by Clint Eastwood, Mystic River, its 617 admission screen average was twice that of Finding Nemo. At fifth Underworld made a sol
Deschanel, Gyllenhaal to present at Sundance AwardsZooey Deschanel and JakeGyllenhaal will co-host the 2004 Sundance Film Festival awards ceremony on Jan24 2004, which will be broadcast live in the US by Sundance Channel.Both actors are festivalalumni. Deschanel and Gyllenhaal appeared together in The Good Girl (Sundance 2002), Gyllenhaal starred in DonnieDarko (2001) and Deschanel starredin All The Real Girls (2003).Deschanel stars in MichaelClancy's crime comedy Eulogy,which receives its world premi
Diagonale rebels win Euro festival supportThe organisers of the "original Diagonale" have been boosted in their resolve to stage an alternative event from March 3-7 by a wave of messages of solidarity from leading European film festivals, including Oberhausen, Karlovy Vary, and Leipzig. Lars Henrik Gass, director of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen wrote that his festival "opposes the completely incomprehensible removal of the successful directors of the Diagonale and the obvious political misuse of cultural p
Dutch FilmWorks acquires diverse dozenDistributor Dutch FilmWorks has acquired 12 new titles, including David Mamet's Spartan and Kevin Reynolds' Tristan & Isolde, both sold by Franchise Pictures.Also on Dutch FilmWorks slate is Stacey Title's Dolan's Cadillac, a thriller based on a Stephen King short story sold by Film Bridge International, and Heart Of Summer, starring Hilary Duff, sold by Kathy Morgan Intl.Dutch FilmWorks's main line of business in the Nethe
Dutch producer Egmond boards AlexanderDutch production company Egmond Film and Television (responsible for Oscar-winner Antonia's Line) has become one of the major backers of Oliver Stone's Alexander, currently shooting in the UK. Egmond, which is investing Euros 15m - some 10% of the budget, will in return participate in the film's profits - which is due to be released at the end of 2004.Warner Bros has North and Latin American rights to the film and recently picked up UK, Australia and New Zealand. S
Empire picks up US rights to Japanese Oscar entry SamuraiEmpire Pictureshas acquired all US rights to Yoji Yamada's Japanese Academy Award foreignlanguage submission The Twilight Samurai and plans a spring release. Satoko Ishidaand Masaki Koga of Shochiku and Empire partner Edward Arentz concluded the dealat Mifed last month. The TwilightSamurai stars HiroyukiSanada as a low-ranking samurai widower who works by day to support hischildren and is hired to kill a fierce warrior from a rival clan. Rie Miyazawaplays Sanada's
European Film Promotion launches sales support schemeEuropean Film Promotion has launched a new scheme to help exports of European films. It will underwrite travel and print costs for sales companies attending Latin American, Asian and East European festivals.The pilot scheme, Film Sales Support (FSS) will provide up to 50% of promotional and marketing costs for films attending the Buenos Aires, Pusan, Moscow and Rio De Janeiro festivals in 2004 with a cap of Euros 5,000 per film and Euros 40,000 per festival. EFP, which is backed
FACT launches UK anti-piracy campaignThe UK's Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) will this week launch a new campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers associated with film and video piracy.The thirty second-long cinema trailer, sponsored by DHL and produced by Hunkydory Productions, highlights recent evidence that organised crime and international terrorist groups have taken up piracy as a means of generating funds for their activities and for the purposes of money laundering.Piracy in the UK film, v
FINLANDNot much changed at the top of the Finnish chart this week, though the two maritime adventures Finding Nemo and Master And Commander dropped 30% and 41% respectively, the new release S.W.A.T. only managed to sneak into the third position. The real winner this week was instead Once Upon A Time In Mexico, which might not have made it higher than sixth due to its just 12 prints, but had the second highest screen average on the chart almost twice that of Mast
Fox adds $11.2m on second weekend for Master And CommanderMaster AndCommander pulled inanother $11.2m from international forays at the weekend, raising its internationalcumulative total to $32.8m.Fox International's naval adventure opened top inAustralia on $2.3m from 324 screens.There wereseveral good second weekend holds, with Spain adding $2m and dropping 24% for$5.1m and the UK adding $1.9m in its second wide weekend and dropping 34% for$6.8m.Germany added$1m in its second weekend
FRANCELots of new entries this week as Finding Nemo retains the top spot with a slight drop off from last week down 22%. Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 1 stays in second spot but with a serious drop down 43%. Richard Curtis Christmas cracker Love Actually entered the top ten in third slightly off projections, followed by SWAT and Alain Resnais' Pas Sur La Bouche, the director's first film since 1997 smash On Connaît La Chanson. The
FX expert Anderson to receive ASC Presidents AwardHoward AAnderson Jr, who created visual effects for hundreds of films including SomeLike It Hot, Heaven Can Wait and Blazing Saddles, will receive the American Society of Cinematographers PresidentsAward.The honour ispresented each year to an individual who has made extraordinary contributionsto advancing the art of film-making.Anderson willcollect his award at the 18th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on Feb8 2004 in Los Angeles."Howard Andersonis
GERMANYColumbia TriStar's release of the Colin Farrell/Samuel L. Jackson police actioner S.W.A.T. stormed the German box office at No. 2 with an impressive $ 4,125 screen average from its 609 prints to take $2.5m on its first weekend (without previews), but was still eclipsed by Buena Vista's Finding Nemo at pole position with almost three times as many admissions and box office takings.Now into its third week of release, the Pixar production's box office tally of $34.3m is com
Good Bye, Lenin! sweeps European Film AwardsChristmas came early this year for the Good Bye, Lenin! team when they picked up six of 16 awards at the European Film Awards (EFA) held in Berlin's Arena on Saturday evening (6 Dec).The tragicomedy, which already won nine Lolas at the German Film Awards last June and is Germany's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar, started the evening by bagging all three of the Jameson People's Choice Awards for Best European Director, Best European Actor and Best European Actress. Le
Gregersen Family epic gets Danish greenlightDenmark's most prolific independent producer Regner Grasten has got the green light for his long cherished four-hour feature, The Gregersen Family, based on the bestselling books by Christian Kampmann (1939-88).The Danish Film Institute awarded the film a substantial $1.37m for its $4.2m budget. Additional funding comes from broadcaster TV2, Buena Vista Scandinavia and Grasten himself. The film will shoot for 12 weeks from Mar 29 next year, with Charlotte Sachs Bostrup di
Honorary Oscar to go to Blake Edwards on Feb 29Blake Edwards will receive an honorary Oscar at the 76th AcademyAwards on Feb 29, 2004.
HUNGARYThe year's most awaited romantic comedy, Love Actually had a decent start at the Hungarian box office, debuting in second place. With nearly thirty thousand admissions the film was no real competition for Finding Nemo and also failed to fare better than previous Richard Curtis films, Notting Hill or Bridget Jones's Diary. Failing to make any kind of impact on the Hungarian audiences were last week's other releases, Lars von Trier's long-awaited Dogville
ICELANDThe romance and Christmas spirit of Love Actually took Icelanders by storm this weekend, and the new release steered clear of both Finding Nemo and Master And Commander and landed on the top spot with a 887 admission screen average, twice that of Pixar's animated hit.The rest of the top ten was otherwise all but unchanged but for this week's other new release, the Val Kilmer drama Wonderland, which failed to greatly impress with its 285 admission and $2,553
India's distribution, box office system to be upgradedIndia's chronically out-dated film distribution and box-office infrastructure is set to enter the 21st century with the announcement of a major distribution tie-up between Zee Telefilms and Rajshri Pictures.The companies will jointly distribute films produced, co-produced and acquired through the 20 distribution offices of Rajshri in India. Zee is one the biggest Television networks in India while Rajshri is one of the oldest and most respected film production and distribution c
India's Zee Telefilms unveils expansion plansZee Telefilms, India's largest listed media company, plans to invest $30m over the next two years in the production and distribution of Indian films. The company will also set up a distribution network for Indian films overseas. Zee has appointed film producer Nittin Keni - formerly with National Film Development Corporation - as head of its film division. Keni was earlier associated with Zee when the company produced the 2001 box office blockbuster Gadar, Ek Prem Katha.
Israeli satellite channel launched for local filmsIsraeli satellite broadcaster Yes has launched a new channel dedicated to locally produced feature films. Israeli filmmakers have long been aware that while their films are often shunned theatrically, they score high ratings when they are broadcast.They will also benefit from one more, much needed, source of income, though pretty modest for the time being. The Israeli Movie Channel is offering an average of $10,000 per title for a period of 2 years, allowing them 10 to 30 runs,
Italian, Kosovan films share top prize at TiranaThe first edition of the Tirana International Film Festival ended with the best short film prize being awarded ex aequo to Italian director Alessandro Dominici's The Last Gunman and Kosovan filmmaker Burbuqe Berisha's Kosovo 9/11. The festival, which ran from Dec 1 to Dec 7 featured 82 short films from 30 countries. The five-member jury made up by Cork Film Festival director Mick Hannigan, Genova Film Commission founder Andrea Rocco, Czech filmmaker Andrea Prenghyová
ITALYSofia Coppola's Oscar hopeful Lost In Translation opened on a high at the Italian box office, scoring the weekend's second highest screen average after BVI's Finding Nemo with a superb $6,250 per screen.On its first release in a major international territory, the Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen picture, which screened to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival, grossed a strong $196,445 for local distributor Mikado from just 31 screens. Meanwhile, Finding Ne
Japan moves to boost film industryAn advisory body to the Japanese government has drafted a report calling for wide-ranging government support of content businesses, including films. Headed by Ushio Electric chairman Jiro Ushio, the Contents Special Survey Committee will formally issue the report in March of next year and expects its recommendations to become law by the 2004 fiscal year. Among the main ones are:*Promote the development of a completion bond system on the US model, through changes in current regul
JAPAN Production Listings - December 8 2003Japan - December 8PRE-PRODUCTION BOKUNO CHIKYU WA AOKATTA(Rumble Fish) Int'l sales: Rumble Fish. Human drama. A boy, whose brother mysteriously disappears, goes on a search for his sibling and his own identity. Prod: Takenori Sento. Dir: Hitoshi Yazaki. Shooting in Japan in 2004.Contact: Kumi Sato, Rumble Fish, (81) 3 5718 8760KANREKI ROOKIE(Rumble Fish) Int'l sales: Rumble Fish. Heart-Warming human drama. A middle-aged man, devastated aft
Japan swept up by Last SamuraiThe Last Samurai took an impressive $8.6m (Y920,354,300) on its opening weekend in Japan, playing on 550 screens for a screen average of $15,639.This compares with its $24.4m take on 2,908 screens for its US opening. In other words, the Japanese gross is more than one-third the US total, on one-fifth the number of screens after just two days on release compared to the US's three days. Director Edward Zwick and distributor Warners paid close attention to the Japanes
Johnny To signs to CAA for US representationHotshot Hong Kong director Johnny To, whose creditsinclude Heroic Trio and FulltimeKiller, has signed to Hollywood talentagency Creative Artists Agency for representation in the US.To began hisfilm career 25 years ago in Hong Kong and used the commercial success of titleslike Good-bye Ah Longand Heroic Trio tolaunch his Milkyway Image production company.Recent titlesinclude PTU, a sequelto the 1999 crime-drama The Mission
Koltai, Golan ready WWII dramasOscar-nominated cinematographer Lajos Koltai (Taking Sides, Malena) and veteran Israeli producer-director Menahem Golan have both announced feature projects about the devastating impact of the Nazis on Jews in Europe.Koltai will be making his directorial debut with adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Imre Kertesz's novel Fateless which will begin an 11-week shoot on location in Hungary and Germany from December 15. The Euros 10m project - the most expensive Hungarian
Last call for 2004 festival calendarLast call for 2004 festival calendar On January 9 Screen International publishes its 2004 festival calendar. This will include more film and TV events than any other film and TV industry calendar. If you have not already sent us details of your event, then you have less than a week to do so. The deadline for entries is December 15. There is no charge for inclusion. Simply fill in the following form and email it to: email@example.com or Festival Title:
Lucky Red picks up Tavernier's LolaRoman arthouse distributor Lucky Red has acquired all Italian distribution rights to two new films, including veteran French director Bertrand Tavernier's upcoming movie, Holly Lola.Sold by TF1 International, Holly Lola is about a French couple who are trying to adopt a child in Cambodia, a former French territory. The film, which started shooting in Cambodia in October, stars Jacques Gamblin, Isabelle Carre and Bruno Putzulu.The Euros 5m picture is produced by Tav
Lynton steps in for Calley at SPEMichael Lyntonhas been named chairman and chief executive officer of Sony PicturesEntertainment (SPE), stepping into the void left by John Calley's retirement inOctober.SPE vicechairman Amy Pascal is promoted to chairman of the motion picture group andwill assume responsibility for all films produced and distributed by SPE. Bothappointments become effective in January 2004.Lynton willrelocate to Los Angeles from New York, where for the past three years he hasserved as president
Malaysia's Metrowealth to almost double film productionMalaysia's Metrowealth Movies Production has an ambitious target for 2004 - aiming to produce 10 Malay-language films, almost doubling this year's output of six films made at a total cost of $22.1m (RM84m).With six films under its belt, Metrowealth is already the most active producer of 2003. Of these, Cinta Kolestrol was released in September while Jutawan Fakir will open on December 18. Another three have been lined up for release in early 2004, including romant
Manderlay wins lion's share of Eurimages fundingLars von Trier's Manderlay, Philippe Haim's La Vraie Vie Des Dalton, Lajos Koltai's Fateless and Lieven Debrauwer's Confituur are among 11 European co-productions to share Euros 4.1m production support from Strasbourg-based Eurimages in its latest round of funding.Manderlay received the largest amount - Euros 725,000 - as one of four projects backed in Eurimages' first funding category for larger projects with commercial promise, followed by Fateless
Miramax plunges into Deep BlueMiramax Films has acquired North American rights to Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt's feature-length documentary Deep Blue, produced by the UK's BBC Worldwide and Germany's Greenlight Media. Inspired by David Attenborough's international hit TV series The Blue Planet, Deep Blue explores life above, below and far beneath the ocean's surface with a score by Oscar-nominated composer George Fenton. The documentary had its world premiere at the San Sebastian Interna
Miravista's Ladies Night is a Mexican smashLike a much-awaited Christmas present, Mexican cinema finally hasreceived its much needed box office hit. Romantic comedy Ladies Night debuted Wednesday December 10 to becomethe third largest local opening ever in Mexico.
Mona Lisa SmileDir: Mike Newell. 2003. US. 117mins.Mona Lisa Smile is a not-bad movie that is, alas, fatally at war with itself. On the one hand, it's a well-acted, convincingly-mounted period piece set in smug, elitist Wellesley College in 1953 that takes up, far more seriously than anyone had a right to expect, important issues like the proper role for women in a socially discombobulated postwar America and issues of female empowerment that continue to resonate today. (Here we can
Montreal film fest to fete AdjaniNext year's Montreal World Film Festival will pay tribute to French actress Isabelle Adjani. Making the announcement, MWFF president Serge Losique deemed Ms. Adjani 'an extraordinary artist, an actress who is equally at home in transforming herself into her films' profound and exceptional characters or playing seemingly light roles with an expert touch.' Despite this year's brouhaha, when changes in the festival's dates resulted in scheduling conflicts with festivals in Venice and Toro
Movienet takes Russian Return for GermanyRussian director Andrey Zvyagintsev's debut feature The Return (Vozvraschenie), which won the European Discovery 2003 Fassbinder Award in Berlin at the weekend, has been picked up by German theatrical distributor Movienet for release early next year.The story of two brothers whose lives are turned upside down by the sudden reappearance of their father won the Golden Lion for Best Film at this year's Venice Film Festival.
Muccino unveils coming of age projectHot Italian director Gabriele Muccino, whose latest film Remember Me will screen at the upcoming Sundance festival, has announced that his next project will focus on an 18-year-old Italian girl's coming-of-age experience.Named Il Viaggio di Sofia (literally, Sofia's Voyage), Muccino said his new film will be about "an 18-year-old girl's discovery of spirituality and sexuality, with all the questions that she asks herself."Like all of Muccino's previous pictu
Nemo eyes $300m international haulBuena Vista International's (BVI) worldwide hit Finding Nemo is expected to pass $300m any day now and should use the upcoming weekend to consolidate its ballooning box office gross.By Dec 10 it had grossed $291.2m at the international box office and executives believe it will finish on more than $400m.BVI opens Scary Movie 3 in Australia on Dec 11. The spoof horror sequel should do well considering Scary Movie 2 opened top there in October 2001 on $767,021
Nemo finds $45.9m in stunning weekend for BVI
Nemo finds $45.9m in stunning weekend for BVIPowered byrecord industry openings in Japan and Italy at the weekend, Buena VistaInternational's (BVI) Finding Nemo surged through international waters and raised its internationalrunning total by $45.9m to $283.4m.The animated hitalso became Disney's third film to pass $600m in worldwide ticket sales behind TheLion King and PiratesOf The Caribbean and isnow the third biggest grossing international animated film ever, behind TheLion King and Aladdin.
NETHERLANDSDutch director Alex van Warmerdam's Grimm may have proved slightly too dark a comedy for local audiences this weekend but its 16 print release was enough to see it lay a trail of breadcrumbs to tenth place on the Netherlands' chart.Distributed by A-Film Distribution the film, a nightmarish fairytale full of dark humour that could be vaguely defined as a modern take on The Brothers Grimm's Hansel And Gretel, claimed $36,275 for a so-so $2,267 screen average. It took $43,16
New shorts by Jarecki, actor Azaria in Sundance shorts programmeSundance Film Festivalorganisers have announced a line-up of 86 short films for January's event andwill also introduce a jury prize for international short film-makers.Titles include Just AClown by Capturing The Friedmans director Andrew Jarecki, Nobody's Perfect by the actor Hank Azaria, and Destino, Dominique Monfery's completed animated short thatwas begun more than 60 years ago by Walt Disney and Salvador Dali.A strong internationalcontingent incl
NEW ZEALANDColumbia TriStar's Underworld just managed to push UIP's Love Actually off the top spot in the weekend popularity stakes. It sold NZ$331,282 worth of tickets from 40 screens, admittedly a dozen less than the 52 screens from which Love Actually earned it's NZ$310,788. It was Underworld's first weekend, just as it was for BVI's Freaky Friday, which was third in the charts with a gross of NZ$138,278 from 50 screens.To capitalise on the country's obsessio
Nippon Herald to slash Hollywood acquisitionsLeading Japanese independent distributor Nippon Herald plans to reduce its acquisition of major Hollywood titles to improve revenues in its film distribution business.This year, the company recorded an $11.8m loss in operating profit in the half year from April to September. The main cause of the decline was the disappointing performance of The Italian Job, which took only $5m at the box office.Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, which Herald co-distributed with S
Nordic football duo lined up for Berlin sidebarsAnother two Nordic features have been confirmed for the upcoming Berlin Film festival. Magnus Martens' Norwegian romantic football comedy United has been selected for the new 14 plus sidebar of youth films, while Aage Rais-Nordentoft's Danish coming of age drama Kick 'n' Rush has been singled out for the Panorama. Only six films will be selected for 14 plus section, where Martens' debut United joins the Danish feature debut from Swedish-born Anders Gustafsso
NORWAYThe of the top of the Norwegian chart remained unchanged this weekend, as two of the new releases Looney Tunes Back In Action and Underworld only managed to sneak into fourth and fifth position. By far the strongest screen average was mastered by Russell Crowe in Master And Commander, but it couldn't sail past Finding Nemo's 86 prints.Thirteen made it into ninth with the best screen average amongst the new openers and the third best of any film this w
Ogilvie moves to vp Europe position at WBITD from MTVAlex Ogilvie has been namedvice president of business development, Europe, at Warner Bros InternationalTelevision Distribution (WBITD).Ogilvie will focus on allnew business opportunities for WBITD, develop the division's pay televisiondeals and oversee development of video-on-demand and other television modelsacross Europe.In addition, he will workwith all of WBITD's European sales executives on various special projects.Based in London, he willreport to Simon Kenny, WBITD
Peckos, Myerson unveil new distribution venture Dada FilmsFormer FirstLook executives MJ Peckos and Bob Myerson have launched Dada Films, a domestictheatrical distribution and worldwide marketing company that will be based inLos Angeles."We canstrategically position a film for sale at a film festival, oversee domestic andinternational sales, or - if appropriate - can release the film itselfdomestically and handle all ancillary sales," Peckos said in a statement."Therefore, DadaFilms is qualified to handle the distribution of films in t
Pirates sells 11 million DVD and VHS units in first seven days in USPirates Of The Caribbean has scored the biggest home entertainmentlive-action opening week in history after selling 11million DVD and VHS unitsin its first seven days of sales."We couldn't bemore thrilled with the success our home entertainment titles have had thisyear," Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) president Bob Chapek said ina statement."This has been aphenomenal year for the studio and a testament to our strength of turning thesegreat movie
Production schedules aim for holidaysFor full Japanese production listings click hereJapanese production, particularly at the top end of the market, is geared toward the four peak periods of New Year's, spring break, Golden Week, and summer vacation. Spring break in March is nearly a month-long holiday for most college students, while Golden Week, a cluster of holidays starting at the end of April and continuing through the first week of May, is f
Redbus named fastest growing UK companyUK distributor Redbus Film Distribution was named the fastest growing company in the UK according to the Sunday Times newspaper Fast Track 100.The company founded by Simon Franks and Zygi Kamasa has in the last two years scored with titles including Bend It Like Beckham, Jeepers Creepers and Cabin Fever. Franks pointed out that last year the company had the same market share as rivals despite only releasing five titles."We are delighted by this recognition and prou
Redford picture added to Sundance lineupDutch producer Pieter JanBrugge's debut The Clearing,starring festival founder Robert Redford, Helen Mirren and Willem Dafoe, hasbeen added to the list of Sundance Film Festival premieres and is among adocumentary-heavy slate of 16 additional titles that will screen from Jan15-25, 2004.Brugge's producingcredits include The Insider and ThePelican Brief and his directorialdebut, which is classed as a work in progress, sees Redford play a businessman kidnappedby a for
Report reveals Irish gov't thinking over Section 481The thinking behind the Irish government's decision to grant a reprieve to Section 481 in last week's Budget is revealed today in a major PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report.The report was commissioned jointly by the Irish Film Board and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and was sent to the Department of Finance in mid-September. It is published today on the websites of the Film Board and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.The terms of reference posed two question
Revolutions worldwide total passes $400mThe Matrix Revolutions' worldwide total inched past $400m at the weekend asthe film added just over $6m with 996,503 admissions from 4,682 screens in 59territories.According to Warner BrosInternational, the film has now grossed an estimated $265.1m after five weeksin the international arena and $400.1m worldwide.Looney Tunes: Back InAction took $3.5m with 856,652admissions from 1,777 screens in 18 territories for $5.9m. The highlight wasMexico, where the family fil
Rialto plans 2004 re-release of original GodzillaNew York-based RialtoPictures will re-release Ishiro Honda's original 1954 Japanese version of Godzilla in the US in spring 2004 in all its uncut glory tocoincide with the 50th anniversary of the film and character.The release will feature 40minutes of unseen footage - a far cry from the pared-down 1956 US release thatwas retitled Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and featured inserts of the American actor RaymondBurr in crucial scenes. Burr does not appear in the uncut vers
Rising producer hits back amid backer disputeBobby Bedi, the producer of big budget Indian feature The Rising, has spoken out following reports that Indian conglomerate Sahara India has pulled out of the film.Sahara issued a statement last month saying that the company was withdrawing its association with The Rising because Aishwarya Rai - who is a director on the board of Sahara India - was no longer starring in it. Rai quit the project last month following a disagreement over pay. "We should have been intim
S.W.A.T. opens in 17 territories, takes weekend total of $13.5mThe police action thriller S.W.A.T. opened in 17 territories on 3,575 screensat the weekend and grossed $13.5m to raise its international running total to$53.4m.
Sandrew Metronome finds Finnish Blind SpotMajor Nordic distributor Sandrew Metronome continues to strike output deals with local production outfits, and this week its Finnish arm Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland (SMDF) signed a three-year agreement with local production company Blind Spot Pictures. The deal sees Sandrew Metronome take Nordic distribution rights to all films currently being developed by Petri Jokiranta and Tero Kaukomaa's Blind Spot Pictures. Sandrew Metronome earlier this year secured rights for the firs
Screeners flood out as judge overturns MPAA banThe screenerfloodgates were flung wide open on Friday (Dec 5) as distributors reacted to aNew York district judge's decision overturning the MPAA screener ban.Judge MichaelMukasey issued a preliminary injunction against the MPAA after he sided withargument by the plaintiffs that the ban constituted a clear restraint of tradeand was anti-competitive.MPAA presidentand chief executive officer Jack Valenti immediately issued a statement sayingthere would be an appeal, expected withi
Sellers sells well for HBO LondonIconEntertainment and Warner have teamed up to jointly buy The Life And Death Of PeterSellers, the big-budget drama about the quirky British entertainer. Theybought rights in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The two companies haveworked in tandem before with Warner handling the video rights to Iconacquisitions. But the deal with sales agent HBO Films London is believed to bethe first where the two operate as a joint venture and share risks. The $26m drama, adapted from
SERBIA AND MONTENEGROThere seems to be nothing new at Serbian-Montenegrin film market. After last week's opening of Tuck's Master And Commander: Far Side Of The World in first position, the season's favourite Small World is back on top with 194,170 admissions and total gross of $458,857. Peter Weir's latest sold 5,675 admissions last weekend (34% decline), while Milos Radovic's road comedy jumped 29% with 7,787 tickets. Underworld opened in third position with 3,246 admissions and tota
Sheridan, Elfman join honorees at Palm Springs Film FestivalJim Sheridan will receive the International Film-maker Award forProducing and Directing and Danny Elfman will collect the Frederick Loewe Awardfor Career Achievement in Film Composing at the 15th Annual Palm SpringsInternational Film Festival, which runs from Jan 8-19 2004.
Slamdance unveils 18-film lineup for tenth festivalTwelve world andtwo US premieres are among the biggest ever line-up of 18 features at theupcoming 10th annual Slamdance Film Festival, which runs in Park City, Utahfrom Jan 17-24 2004.The rosterincludes 11 narrative features and seven documentaries, which for the firsttime will be judged by two separate sections of the Slamdance jury. 21 shortswill also screen in competition.Narrative worldpremieres include Nightingale In A Music Box, Hurt McDermott's sci-fi drama aboutme
Something's Gotta GiveDir: Nancy Meyers.US. 2003. 123mins.In this terrific new romantic comedy, writer-director Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, What Women Want) has given Jack Nicholson the Christmas present of a lifetime. Turning to her (and his) advantage the actor's off- and on-screen persona as skirt-chaser who specialises in younger women, Meyers has constructed a heady and hilarious, at times even wittily Brechtian, delight that remains utterly charming throughout.Th
SPAINBVI's Finding Nemo continued to dominate the Spanish box office over the weekend, raking in Euros 3.9m off 383 copies after its record opening for BVI and as an animated film in Spain of Euros 4.68m last weekend.Columbia TriStar's SWAT placed second with Euros 1.75m off 403 copies, followed closely by Fox's Master And Commander with Euros 1.65m off 373 copies. On 285 screens, UIP's Love Actually held the fourth ranking with Euros 829,087.New releases
Spain's Goya Award nominations announcedDomestic abuse drama Take My Eyes and Civil War feature Soldiers Of Salamina led the nominees with nine and eight nods, respectively, for Spain's annual Goya Awards, to be held January 31.Antonio Mercero's surprise nominee 4th Floor (Planta Cuarta) will compete for best film against Iciar Bollain's Eyes (Te Doy Mis Ojos), David Trueba's Soldiers (Soldados De Salamina) and Isabel Coixet's English-language My Life Without Me.Bollain, Trueb
SPI Int'l aquires Alexander rightsMulti-national East European distributor SPI International has picked up all rights to Oliver Stone's forthcoming opus Alexander for the Czech Republic and for Slovakia. The film, which is budgeted at over $150m, is financed and sold by Intermedia. The company previously licensed it to Warner Bros for North and South America, The UK, Australia and New Zealand, Pathe for France and Benelux, Nippon Herald and Shochiku for Japan, Constantin for Germany, Tri Pictures for Spain, Woo
Start-up UK production outfit to shoot William Blake biopicAcclaimed British artist Sam Taylor-Wood is to make her feature directorial debut with Jerusalem, a film based on the life of William Blake starring Ray Winstone as the celebrated artist, poet and religious visionary.Jerusalem will be the first film from Flicks Productions, a new production company formed by agent and founder of CAM Michael Wiggs and Winstone. The screenplay for the film, which is slated to start shooting next summer, is by Philippa Goslett. Direct
SWEDENThe star-studded Christmas love stories in Love Actually this weekend sailed past Peter Weir's Master And Commander, but was unable to touch Finding Nemo at the top of the Swedish chart. Released on less prints, but boasting the best screen average this weekend, Quentin Tarantino's first installment of Kill Bill made it into fourth after being the most successful film at the recent Stockholm International Film Festival. While Evil remained on fifth, t
Tallinn takes off with 300-strong programmeThe 7th annual Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (22 Nov-7 Dec) screened 300 films from 50 countries this year, making it the largest edition since its inception despite the ongoing struggle to finance the event. This year the festival also joined up with the second annual Baltic Film market, a three day event which presented new feature film projects to buyers and festival programmers from neighbouring countries. The announcement during the festival that the Estonian gover
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The KingDir: Peter Jackson. US / New Zealand. 2003. 201 mins.
The Return, Since Otar Left share top prize at BelgradeRussian director Andrej Zvjagintsev's The Return and Julie Bertucelli's Since Otar Left have shared the top prize at the 10th Belgrade International Festival of Auteur Films (Nov 23-30).The Russian film also won the award for best cinematography for Michail Kritchman. Since Otar Left also took the YU-FIPRESCI award. The jury awarded a special prize to Relationships (Veze), the film debut of local director Jelena Markovic.The competition of thi
Touch Of Spice eyes landmark box office haulGreek hit Touch Of Spice looks set to pass the landmark one million admissions mark at the local box office.After seven weeks on release, the Tasos Boulmetis directed film has already scored 800,000 admissions, way ahead of the top performing foreign film Pirates Of The Caribbean with 440,000 admissions.Hitting the one million mark would be an impressive achievement for Touch Of Spice - most Greek films rarely exceed 150,000 admissions.Touch Of Spi
Tribeca Film Institute launches ethnic minority programmeThe Tribeca FilmInstitute has launched Tribeca All Access, a programme to support ethnicminority film-makers that will make its debut at the 2004 Tribeca FilmFestival.The programmeaims to facilitate networking and funding opportunities through project meetingswith industry players including producers, sales agents and equity financiers.Directors ofapproximately 20 fiction projects in development and documentary projects inthe work-in-progress stage will be se
Trust ratchets up sales on Manderlay and Dear WendyDenmark's Trust Film Saleshas filled out its list of recent licensing deals with strings of sales on LarsVon Trier's Manderlay and the Von Trier-scripted Dear Wendy,which is to be directed by Thomas Vinterberg.Manderlay, the second element of Von Trier's U,S and A trilogywhich kicked off with Dogville, has been sold to Gaga Communications for Japan,Gussi for Mexico, Golem for Spain, Gutek for Poland, Artcam for the Czech Republic, CentralPartnership for the
UK Film Council launch diversity proposalsThe UK Film Council and its cultural diversity working group under Working Title Films co-chief Tim Bevan have launched a series of proposals aimed at increasing diversity within the UK film industry workforce.Proposals in a paper called Success Through Diversity And Inclusion include a new code of practice and schemes to open up access such as bursaries and summer schools. The group has also targeted future fiscal policy and new co-production treaties as ways of making the workforce m
UK film industry welcomes pre-budget reportThe UK industry has welcomed a surprise signal from Chancellor Gordon Brown that he intends to renew tax-based support when the influential Section 48 expires in 2005.The government's pre-budget report stated that it would unveil the results of talks with the industry about a so-called son of Section 48 in the full budget in April. The new support is expected to take the form of transferable tax credits modelled on Luxembourg's system of support but available both to production and dis
UK producers flock to new tax fund modelWith the UK's film tax funding in flux, financiers, producers and even two US studios are flocking to a new breed of fund that is not reliant on the current regulations under Section 48.The latest fund devised under general accountancy principles rather than any film-specific tax break sees UK financier Invicta partnering with Sony, according to sources. Invicta, which did not return calls by press time, and the US studio are apparently launching a tax-driven p&a fund titled Gala.
Universal scores $13.8m weekend with Love ActuallyUniversal's Love Actually added an estimated $13.8m from 2,725 venues in 26 countriesat the weekend, raising its international cumulative score to $69.5m with 14markets still to open.
Vangelisti joins First Look as senior vp, TV salesDina Vangelistihas joined First Look Media as senior vice president of television sales andwill oversee the company's activities in the US and Canada for its threedivisions, First Look Pictures, First Look Home Entertainment and OverseasFilmgroup.Vangelisti willreport directly to First Look Media president Bill Lischak and chief executiveofficer and co-chairman Chris Cooney."Dina'sexperience in programming, acquisitions and sales will enable First Look toexpand our television de
Von Trotta, Rothemund get Bavarian cash fundingNew films by Margarethe von Trotta and Marc Rothemund are among the projects awarded a total of Euros 3m by the Bavarian regional film fund FFF Bayern.Von Trotta received the highest sum of Euros 700,000 for her new project Ich Bin Die Andere (I Am The Other Woman) about the tragic consequences triggered by a young woman's schizophrenia. The melodrama will be produced by Herbert Kloiber's Clasart Film from a screenplay by Peter Maerthesheimer and Pea Froehlich who were behind su
Whale Rider makes splash at NZ awardsAs expected, Whale Rider won nearly all the relevant categories at the New Zealand Film Awards tonight (Dec 8) in Auckland, including best film for producers Tim Sanders and John Barnett, best director and best writer for Niki Caro, and best actress for Keisha Castle-Hughes.With Caro currently in the US, Witi Ihimaera, author of the book on which the film is based, accepted the script award on her behalf, and Hone Taumaunu, a significant person in
When The Right One Comes Along (Wenn Der Richtige Kommt)Dirs. Stefan Hillebrand and Oliver Paulus. Switzerland/Germany, 2003. 78mins.If this largely improvised, shoestring budget production finds its place on the festival and art house circuit, as it rightly should, it will not be because of its glamour or production values, of which it has none, but its immediate spontaneity and its unadorned, gawky charm. Following a naive, solitary 30-year-old German cleaning woman who believes she has found the right man for her and is willing


text: Please review the following information and distribute as appropriate. COUNTY OPTION - Initial My Plates Orders Recent feedback from the counties resulted in our reviewing the level of county involvement in ordering My Plates specialty plates. We discussed this with the vendor and mutually agreed that county processing of these initial plate orders is strictly at the county's option, not a mandatory requirement. We are very pleased with this decision and we appreciate the counties raising the issue as it resulted in a re-visiting of what was thought to be a program requirement but, through further discussion, was determined to be optional. Consequently, the media release to announce the sale of these plates by the counties will not be sent. We will continue to provide advance notice of any future My Plates media activity. Counties may direct customers wanting to order these plates to the My Plates Web site: www.myplates.com or by phone at 888-7MY-PLATES. COUNTY REQUIREMENT - Linking and Syncing County linking and syncing of the expiration dates for My Plates specialty plates is required just as for any other specialty plate. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For those counties that choose to process My Plates orders for their customers, questions remain for issues related to refunds, customer complaints, credit cards, customer service, etc. We will address these and the linking and syncing process for all counties in a more detailed listserv in the next few days. Again, thanks for the input and the opportunity to work with everyone to reach a decision that hopefully works for all. Thanks --Mike If you have any comments or suggestions concerning this VTR communication process, please contact your local VTR Regional Office. If you would like to see previous postings from the "VTR Electronic Archives," please visit http://extlists.dot.state.tx.us/pipermail/vtr-tac/ . Mike Craig Interim Director Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, TxDMV Email: mcraig1 at dmv.state.tx.us Helping Texans Go. Helping Texas Grow.