MONTREAL — Two Montreal AM radio stations closed their doors overnight after years of broadcasting news and musical hits, Corus Entertainment announced.
AM Info690 Montreal and AM940 Montreal's Greatest Hits were simply "unprofitable," their owner said in a statement.
Despite earnest efforts to grow their audiences and revenues, and operate them as efficiently as possible, "it is clear that these two AM stations are not viable, particularly in the current economic climate," Corus said.
The closures affect 10 positions, including three journalists, an on-air host and two traffic reporters.
The operating licenses for the stations will be returned to the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
US Holocaust survivors slam Mussolini iPhone app
WASHINGTON — A US-based group of Holocaust survivors condemned an Apple iPhone application featuring speeches by Benito Mussolini, calling it "an insult to the memory of all victims of Nazism and Fascism."
"It is a disgrace and a surrender to crass commercialism that the Apple computing company has approved the release of this 'app' through their online iTunes store," Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, said in a statement.
"We are protesting to them as their tight regulation and control of release of such apps makes them responsible," she said.
"This is an insult to the memory of all victims of Nazism and Fascism, Jew and non-Jew, and should be condemned for its offense to decency and conscience," Steinberg said.
According to the creator of the application, Luigi Marino, Italians are downloading "iMussolini," which features audio, text and video of his speeches, at a rate of around 1,000 a day.
Marino launched the app last week and it is already reportedly the best-selling application on Italy's online Apple store.
He said he is planning to also develop a version for Apple's new iPad.
Marino, 25, said he developed "iMussolini" as a historical tool, but it has predictably attracted admirers of the fascist wartime dictator.
Some have posted fascist slogans such as "Dux Mea Lux" (The Duce Is My Light) or "Duce! Duce! Duce!" on the application's page at the Apple App Store.
Apple has assured Marino that it would not remove the application from sale but is deleting any offending comments, he told AFP.
The California firm did not return an AFP request for comment.
"It is a disgrace and a surrender to crass commercialism that the Apple computing company has approved the release of this 'app' through their online iTunes store," Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, said in a statement.
"We are protesting to them as their tight regulation and control of release of such apps makes them responsible," she said.
"This is an insult to the memory of all victims of Nazism and Fascism, Jew and non-Jew, and should be condemned for its offense to decency and conscience," Steinberg said.
According to the creator of the application, Luigi Marino, Italians are downloading "iMussolini," which features audio, text and video of his speeches, at a rate of around 1,000 a day.
Marino launched the app last week and it is already reportedly the best-selling application on Italy's online Apple store.
He said he is planning to also develop a version for Apple's new iPad.
Marino, 25, said he developed "iMussolini" as a historical tool, but it has predictably attracted admirers of the fascist wartime dictator.
Some have posted fascist slogans such as "Dux Mea Lux" (The Duce Is My Light) or "Duce! Duce! Duce!" on the application's page at the Apple App Store.
Apple has assured Marino that it would not remove the application from sale but is deleting any offending comments, he told AFP.
The California firm did not return an AFP request for comment.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Creator of hit iMussolini iPhone app sets sights on iPad
ROME — The creator of an application featuring speeches by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, a surprise hit among Italian iPhone users, said Thursday he is setting his sights on an iPad version.
"I will certainly make iMussolini compatible for the iPad," said Luigi Marino the day after Apple boss Steve Jobs launched the wildly anticipated tablet computer in San Francisco, expected in Europe later this year.
Italians are downloading iMussolini, which features audio, text and video of Mussolini's speeches, at a rate of around 1,000 a day, said Marino, who launched the software a week ago.
Already the best-selling application on Italy's online Apple store, it is priced at 0.79 euros (1.10 dollars), of which 0.49 euros go to Marino.
While Marino, 25, says he developed iMussolini as a historical tool, it has predictably attracted admirers of the wartime dictator.
Some have posted fascist slogans such as "Dux Mea Lux" (The Duce Is My Light) or "Duce! Duce! Duce!" on the application's page at the Apple App Store.
Apple has assured Marino that it would not remove the application from sale but is deleting any offending comments, he told AFP.
Marino said his product seemed to be appealing to "nostalgic people or people who are fascinated by (Mussolini's) historical figure".
"The price is low for this kind of application," Marino said, adding that he expected an updated version, priced at 1.59 euros, to go on sale in about two weeks.
The new version will offer more videos, a chronology of Mussolini's rule and a list of fascist slogans.
"I will certainly make iMussolini compatible for the iPad," said Luigi Marino the day after Apple boss Steve Jobs launched the wildly anticipated tablet computer in San Francisco, expected in Europe later this year.
Italians are downloading iMussolini, which features audio, text and video of Mussolini's speeches, at a rate of around 1,000 a day, said Marino, who launched the software a week ago.
Already the best-selling application on Italy's online Apple store, it is priced at 0.79 euros (1.10 dollars), of which 0.49 euros go to Marino.
While Marino, 25, says he developed iMussolini as a historical tool, it has predictably attracted admirers of the wartime dictator.
Some have posted fascist slogans such as "Dux Mea Lux" (The Duce Is My Light) or "Duce! Duce! Duce!" on the application's page at the Apple App Store.
Apple has assured Marino that it would not remove the application from sale but is deleting any offending comments, he told AFP.
Marino said his product seemed to be appealing to "nostalgic people or people who are fascinated by (Mussolini's) historical figure".
"The price is low for this kind of application," Marino said, adding that he expected an updated version, priced at 1.59 euros, to go on sale in about two weeks.
The new version will offer more videos, a chronology of Mussolini's rule and a list of fascist slogans.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
NATO chief sees Afghan mission boost at key meet
LONDON — NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged leaders at a conference on Afghanistan Thursday to match the "sacrifice" of foreign soldiers in the war-torn country with clear plans for its future.
Writing in British newspaper the Times, Rasmussen said the time for reflection on the unstable country's future had passed and called on powers to chart the way ahead at the London meeting.
"The effort and sacrifice of our soldiers alone will not be enough to turn the corner in Afghanistan," he said.
"It will have to be matched by a clear political 'road map'. The London conference will help to set that out."
And he said this year was about putting plans into action to help Afghanistan stand on its own feet.
"2010 is about implementation: with clear Afghan plans to improve governance, a more focused civilian effort, and a substantially stronger military mission," wrote the head of the military alliance.
"There is new momentum in this mission and it is gathering pace. The London conference will give it another boost."
About 70 countries and organisations that give vital support to Afghanistan will attend the Thursday's meeting. They will be addressed by President Hamid Karzai who will seek to drum up support for a range of plans.
Rasmussen praised Karzai's projects as "realistic and achievable."
"I believe that at the London conference those plans will get the support they need, including the financial means," he said.
"Then it will be up to the Afghan Government."
The NATO chief further said he would be "pressuring the allies and our partners to contribute much more to the NATO training mission in Afghanistan."
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), with contributions from 43 different countries, is part of a force of around 110,000 international soldiers fighting a fierce Taliban insurgency.
The United States has pledged a further 30,000 more troops this year.
Writing in British newspaper the Times, Rasmussen said the time for reflection on the unstable country's future had passed and called on powers to chart the way ahead at the London meeting.
"The effort and sacrifice of our soldiers alone will not be enough to turn the corner in Afghanistan," he said.
"It will have to be matched by a clear political 'road map'. The London conference will help to set that out."
And he said this year was about putting plans into action to help Afghanistan stand on its own feet.
"2010 is about implementation: with clear Afghan plans to improve governance, a more focused civilian effort, and a substantially stronger military mission," wrote the head of the military alliance.
"There is new momentum in this mission and it is gathering pace. The London conference will give it another boost."
About 70 countries and organisations that give vital support to Afghanistan will attend the Thursday's meeting. They will be addressed by President Hamid Karzai who will seek to drum up support for a range of plans.
Rasmussen praised Karzai's projects as "realistic and achievable."
"I believe that at the London conference those plans will get the support they need, including the financial means," he said.
"Then it will be up to the Afghan Government."
The NATO chief further said he would be "pressuring the allies and our partners to contribute much more to the NATO training mission in Afghanistan."
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), with contributions from 43 different countries, is part of a force of around 110,000 international soldiers fighting a fierce Taliban insurgency.
The United States has pledged a further 30,000 more troops this year.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
IMF, World Bank announce debt relief for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — The IMF and the World Bank announced that they will back an international debt relief program of 1.6 billion dollars for Afghanistan, following completion of key reforms.
The announcement came ahead of Thursday's major international conference on Afghanistan in London aimed at determining the conditions needed for achieving the international community's goals in the war-ravaged country.
The IMF and World Bank boards of directors agreed that Afghanistan has taken the necessary steps to reach the "completion point" under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, said a joint statement by the sibling Washington-based bodies.
Afghanistan qualified to become the 27th country to benefit from the international program that rescues poor countries from being buried under interest payments on mountains of debt.
That total includes 1.3 billion dollars from the HIPC Initiative, 260 million dollars from Paris Club creditors beyond HIPC, and 38.4 million dollars from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).
All multilateral and Paris Club creditors, as well as some other official creditors, have agreed to participate, the statement said.
"To reach the completion point, Afghanistan carried out a number of important reforms despite an extremely challenging environment characterized by insecurity, a food crisis, and a difficult political situation," the institutions said.
The reforms included actions to begin implementing a national development strategy, maintain a stable macroeconomic environment, and enhance debt management.
The Afghan authorities also made progress in public financial management, mining sector reforms, and transparency and accountability in health and education services, the statement said.
"Based on strong commitments going forward, the government of Afghanistan was granted waivers for two completion point triggers on pension reform for public employees and the military, and the restructuring of four key service delivery ministries, both of which had been substantially implemented," the institutions said.
The IMF and the World Bank underscored that reforms under the HIPC Initiative are expected to mobilize additional resources and support the country?s reconstruction and poverty reduction, helping to place it on a sustainable path.
"The Afghan government has demonstrated a very strong commitment to an ambitious reform program since it reached its HIPC decision point in 2007," said Nicholas Krafft, World Bank country director for Afghanistan.
"This is a very commendable achievement given the deteriorating security situation and political uncertainty over the recent election year."
Officials stressed that even after HIPC debt relief Afghanistan "would remain a country under high risks of debt distress due its reliance on donor funding."
Enrique Gelbard, the IMF mission chief for Afghanistan, said that in addition to improvements in security, the key challenges Afghanistan faces will be to increase domestic revenues, invest in infrastructure, and forge ahead with its national development plan to reduce poverty.
"This will require significant efforts by the authorities as well as substantial and sustained support from donors and multilateral institutions," Gelbard said.
Foreign ministers including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the 60-nation conference on Afghanistan aimed at boosting the domestic security forces there and tackling corruption.
The announcement came ahead of Thursday's major international conference on Afghanistan in London aimed at determining the conditions needed for achieving the international community's goals in the war-ravaged country.
The IMF and World Bank boards of directors agreed that Afghanistan has taken the necessary steps to reach the "completion point" under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, said a joint statement by the sibling Washington-based bodies.
Afghanistan qualified to become the 27th country to benefit from the international program that rescues poor countries from being buried under interest payments on mountains of debt.
That total includes 1.3 billion dollars from the HIPC Initiative, 260 million dollars from Paris Club creditors beyond HIPC, and 38.4 million dollars from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).
All multilateral and Paris Club creditors, as well as some other official creditors, have agreed to participate, the statement said.
"To reach the completion point, Afghanistan carried out a number of important reforms despite an extremely challenging environment characterized by insecurity, a food crisis, and a difficult political situation," the institutions said.
The reforms included actions to begin implementing a national development strategy, maintain a stable macroeconomic environment, and enhance debt management.
The Afghan authorities also made progress in public financial management, mining sector reforms, and transparency and accountability in health and education services, the statement said.
"Based on strong commitments going forward, the government of Afghanistan was granted waivers for two completion point triggers on pension reform for public employees and the military, and the restructuring of four key service delivery ministries, both of which had been substantially implemented," the institutions said.
The IMF and the World Bank underscored that reforms under the HIPC Initiative are expected to mobilize additional resources and support the country?s reconstruction and poverty reduction, helping to place it on a sustainable path.
"The Afghan government has demonstrated a very strong commitment to an ambitious reform program since it reached its HIPC decision point in 2007," said Nicholas Krafft, World Bank country director for Afghanistan.
"This is a very commendable achievement given the deteriorating security situation and political uncertainty over the recent election year."
Officials stressed that even after HIPC debt relief Afghanistan "would remain a country under high risks of debt distress due its reliance on donor funding."
Enrique Gelbard, the IMF mission chief for Afghanistan, said that in addition to improvements in security, the key challenges Afghanistan faces will be to increase domestic revenues, invest in infrastructure, and forge ahead with its national development plan to reduce poverty.
"This will require significant efforts by the authorities as well as substantial and sustained support from donors and multilateral institutions," Gelbard said.
Foreign ministers including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the 60-nation conference on Afghanistan aimed at boosting the domestic security forces there and tackling corruption.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Storm to blame for Lebanon crash: minister
A fierce storm is the apparent cause of the crash of an Ethiopian airliner into the Mediterranean Sea during take-off from Beirut airport, Lebanon's defence minister Elias Murr said.
Ninety people were on board the Ethopian Airlines Boeing 737 that was heading to Addis Ababa.
"Bad weather was apparently the cause of the crash," Murr told reporters. "We have ruled out foul play so far."
Murr added: "We will continue search operations in the hope of finding survivors.,, We are seeking to recover the black box and the recording between the control tower and the pilot to determine what happened."
Ninety people were on board the Ethopian Airlines Boeing 737 that was heading to Addis Ababa.
"Bad weather was apparently the cause of the crash," Murr told reporters. "We have ruled out foul play so far."
Murr added: "We will continue search operations in the hope of finding survivors.,, We are seeking to recover the black box and the recording between the control tower and the pilot to determine what happened."
Monday, January 25, 2010
Venus claws back to make Open quarters
MELBOURNE — Sixth seed Venus Williams clawed back from a set down to beat Italian 17th seed Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
An out-of-sorts Williams looked headed for a shock defeat when she lost the first set, but she recovered her composure to gradually take control against an increasingly frustrated Schiavone.
The 29-year-old Williams appeared almost disinterested during the 38-minute first set, but after taking a short "bathroom break" she came out a different player in the second.
Shots that were going long and wide in the first set began to fall in, while Schiavone, who hardly missed in the first set, began to succumb to the pressure as the match wore on.
Williams' serve, which usually allows the tall American to win a host of cheap points, also picked up with her first serve percentage success rate increasing from 45 percent in the first set to 67 percent in the third.
It was Williams' sixth win over Schiavone in as many meetings and only the second time the Italian has taken a set off the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Williams now faces a quarter-final against either fourth seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki or China's 16th seed Li Na ahead of a possible semi-final showdown against younger sister Serena.
Meanwhile, China's 16th-seeded Li Na won through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open when she upset Danish fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.
Li will face Williams in the last eight.
An out-of-sorts Williams looked headed for a shock defeat when she lost the first set, but she recovered her composure to gradually take control against an increasingly frustrated Schiavone.
The 29-year-old Williams appeared almost disinterested during the 38-minute first set, but after taking a short "bathroom break" she came out a different player in the second.
Shots that were going long and wide in the first set began to fall in, while Schiavone, who hardly missed in the first set, began to succumb to the pressure as the match wore on.
Williams' serve, which usually allows the tall American to win a host of cheap points, also picked up with her first serve percentage success rate increasing from 45 percent in the first set to 67 percent in the third.
It was Williams' sixth win over Schiavone in as many meetings and only the second time the Italian has taken a set off the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Williams now faces a quarter-final against either fourth seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki or China's 16th seed Li Na ahead of a possible semi-final showdown against younger sister Serena.
Meanwhile, China's 16th-seeded Li Na won through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open when she upset Danish fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3 on Monday.
Li will face Williams in the last eight.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Qaeda coordinating with Yemen's Huthi rebels: Saudi minister
RIYADH — Al-Qaeda is coordinating with Yemen's Huthi rebels battling Yemen and Saudi government forces along the two countries' border, the Saudi deputy defence minister said on Saturday.
"We have confirmed information... that there is communication and coordination" between the two groups, said Prince Khaled bin Sultan, according to the official SPA news agency.
Prince Khaled, who was speaking to troops in Jizan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, did not provide details of the alleged cooperation.
But Yemen and Saudi government officials have said several times in recent months that the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been helping the Zaidi Shiite rebels known as Huthis.
The Huthis, who until recently controlled a large swathe of mountain territory in Yemen's northwest Saada province, have been under a sustained military assault by Yemen land and air forces since August.
In early November, after Huthis crossed into Saudi territory and occupied some small villages, Saudi troops undertook their largest mobilisation since the 1990-1991 Gulf War and began overtly attacking the rebels from land and air.
Prince Khaled also said on Saturday that the military had recovered the bodies of 20 out of the 26 Saudi soldiers listed as missing in the fighting since November. On January 12 Prince Khaled put the death toll at 82.
Earlier this week the southern region commander, General Ali Zaid al-Khawaji, said that 113 soldiers had died and that several more had likely been captured by the Huthis, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
"We have confirmed information... that there is communication and coordination" between the two groups, said Prince Khaled bin Sultan, according to the official SPA news agency.
Prince Khaled, who was speaking to troops in Jizan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, did not provide details of the alleged cooperation.
But Yemen and Saudi government officials have said several times in recent months that the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been helping the Zaidi Shiite rebels known as Huthis.
The Huthis, who until recently controlled a large swathe of mountain territory in Yemen's northwest Saada province, have been under a sustained military assault by Yemen land and air forces since August.
In early November, after Huthis crossed into Saudi territory and occupied some small villages, Saudi troops undertook their largest mobilisation since the 1990-1991 Gulf War and began overtly attacking the rebels from land and air.
Prince Khaled also said on Saturday that the military had recovered the bodies of 20 out of the 26 Saudi soldiers listed as missing in the fighting since November. On January 12 Prince Khaled put the death toll at 82.
Earlier this week the southern region commander, General Ali Zaid al-Khawaji, said that 113 soldiers had died and that several more had likely been captured by the Huthis, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Canadiens' legend Beliveau improving after stroke
MONTREAL — Hall of Fame National Hockey League player Jean Beliveau was on the mend in hospital Friday following a mild stroke, the Montreal Gazette reported.
Beliveau, who won 10 Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens, suffered a mild stroke Wednesday night.
The 78-year-old Beliveau was taken to Montreal General Hospital where he remained overnight Friday in the neurological wing.
"His condition continues to improve under the care of the MUHC physicians," the hospital said in a statement.
Beliveau is considered one of the greatest centres of all-time. He played 18 seasons with the Canadiens, scoring 507 goals and 712 assists in 1,125 games.
He captained the Canadiens for 10 seasons and won two Hart Trophies (league's most valuable player) and one Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of playoffs).
Beliveau, who won 10 Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens, suffered a mild stroke Wednesday night.
The 78-year-old Beliveau was taken to Montreal General Hospital where he remained overnight Friday in the neurological wing.
"His condition continues to improve under the care of the MUHC physicians," the hospital said in a statement.
Beliveau is considered one of the greatest centres of all-time. He played 18 seasons with the Canadiens, scoring 507 goals and 712 assists in 1,125 games.
He captained the Canadiens for 10 seasons and won two Hart Trophies (league's most valuable player) and one Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of playoffs).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Microsoft releases patch for IE hole
SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft on Thursday released a patch for an Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6) software hole through which China-based cyber spies attacked Google and other firms.
"Microsoft continues to see limited and targeted attacks against Internet Explorer 6 only," Jerry Bryant, senior security program manager at Microsoft, said in a statement.
"Microsoft recommends customers deploy this security update as soon as possible to protect themselves against the known attacks," he said.
Microsoft deemed the software fix so important that it veered from its usual protocol of releasing security updates the second Tuesday of each month.
Microsoft will host a public webcast starting at 1:00 pm Pacific time (21H00 GMT) on Thursday to discuss the security update and field questions.
Attacks that prompted a showdown between Internet giant Google and global power China only worked against IE 6, so computer users can protect themselves by switching to newer versions of the Web browser, according to Microsoft.
No matter which Web browser people use, upgrading to the most current version promises to increase protection against hackers.
Microsoft confirmed last week that a previously unknown security vulnerability in its IE 6 browser was used in cyberattacks which prompted Google to threaten to shut down its operations in China.
Revealing the attacks on January 12, Google said they originated from China and targeted the email accounts of Chinese human rights activists around the world but did not explicitly accuse the Chinese government of responsibility.
Web security firm McAfee Inc. said that the attacks on Google and other companies showed a level of sophistication beyond that of cyber criminals and more typical of a nation-state.
Google said more than 20 other unidentified firms were targeted in the "highly sophisticated" attacks while other reports have put the number of companies attacked at more than 30.
Only one other company, Adobe, has come forward so far and acknowledged that it was a target.
Attackers used email or some other lure to get employees of a targeted company to click on a link and visit a specially crafted website using Internet Explorer.
Malicious software would then be downloaded that has the capability to essentially install 'back doors' in machines and give hackers access.
"Microsoft continues to see limited and targeted attacks against Internet Explorer 6 only," Jerry Bryant, senior security program manager at Microsoft, said in a statement.
"Microsoft recommends customers deploy this security update as soon as possible to protect themselves against the known attacks," he said.
Microsoft deemed the software fix so important that it veered from its usual protocol of releasing security updates the second Tuesday of each month.
Microsoft will host a public webcast starting at 1:00 pm Pacific time (21H00 GMT) on Thursday to discuss the security update and field questions.
Attacks that prompted a showdown between Internet giant Google and global power China only worked against IE 6, so computer users can protect themselves by switching to newer versions of the Web browser, according to Microsoft.
No matter which Web browser people use, upgrading to the most current version promises to increase protection against hackers.
Microsoft confirmed last week that a previously unknown security vulnerability in its IE 6 browser was used in cyberattacks which prompted Google to threaten to shut down its operations in China.
Revealing the attacks on January 12, Google said they originated from China and targeted the email accounts of Chinese human rights activists around the world but did not explicitly accuse the Chinese government of responsibility.
Web security firm McAfee Inc. said that the attacks on Google and other companies showed a level of sophistication beyond that of cyber criminals and more typical of a nation-state.
Google said more than 20 other unidentified firms were targeted in the "highly sophisticated" attacks while other reports have put the number of companies attacked at more than 30.
Only one other company, Adobe, has come forward so far and acknowledged that it was a target.
Attackers used email or some other lure to get employees of a targeted company to click on a link and visit a specially crafted website using Internet Explorer.
Malicious software would then be downloaded that has the capability to essentially install 'back doors' in machines and give hackers access.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Google conscience clashes with Chinese communism
SAN FRANCISCO — Google-style capitalism with a conscience is butting heads with China's brand of communism.
Google has vowed to stop bowing to Chinese online censorship that came as a legal condition when the California technology firm tailored a search engine for that country in 2006.
The impetus for the stand was China-spawned cyber espionage that recently targeted Google and other firms.
Filtered results were being delivered Wednesday at google.cn as Google awaited an audience with Chinese officials to discuss how, if at all, the search engine could operate uncensored.
"The question is if google.cn shuts down, what that means," Broadpoint AmTech analyst Ben Schachter told AFP.
"I don't think we've seen anything this out in the open before. How it plays out remains to be seen."
Google has trodden carefully, partly for the sakes of workers in China, since it made public on January 12 a wave of "sophisticated" cyberattacks that originated in that country.
Its stance has been scrutinized to the extent of fueling speculation that it is simply justifying exiting a China market where it has failed to shine.
China search engine Baidu reigned supreme in that country in November with about 62 percent of the market while Google had 14.1 percent, according to industry tracker comScore.
Analysts suspect that Google's decision runs deeper than current market share given the value of having a stake in China's booming market.
"If you are going to be a worldwide technology provider, you can't cut off the largest single population," said Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.
Stockholders who turn to Google for answers should peruse an "Owners Manual" letter that founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page published online when the company went public in 2004.
"Google is not a conventional company," Brin and Page said. "We do not intend to become one."
The founders promised that they would stick to the values Google developed as a private firm they started in a Stanford University dormitory.
"Don't be evil," Brin and Page wrote, echoing the company's unofficial motto.
"We believe strongly that in the long term, we will be better served -- as shareholders and in all other ways -- by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short term gains."
Google battled the US Department of Justice in federal court in 2006 to prevent unbridled access to search results being sought to help revive a Child Online Protection Act deemed unconstitutional.
The decision to filter China search results in order to do business there reportedly caused much consternation at Google.
Google executives reasoned at the time that Internet freedom would eventually blossom in China.
"China is a huge market but it is a market that comes with strings," said Interpret analyst Michael Gartenberg.
"What is unclear about the stated departure is, are the rules not working for Google or is the market not panning out the way they've expected?"
Internet rights activists praise Google's decision, suggesting scrutiny shift to firms staying silent about cyberattacks.
Security experts place the number of targets at more than 30, and so far only Google and Adobe have revealed they were attacked.
Cyber spies that struck at Google were after source code and email accounts of human rights activists, according to the Internet firm.
Google is considering shutting down the China search engine but could maintain research and sales facilities in that country.
Analysts will be watching a Google earnings report on Thursday for indications of plans in China.
Most of the "hundreds of millions" of dollars Google makes annually in China might go unaffected by a pullout since it comes from online advertising posted outside that country.
The main cost to Google from a China exit is expected to be in future opportunities. Google on Wednesday delayed the China release of two mobile telephones based on its Android software.
Companies launching devices or services in China might shun working with Google to avoid problems with the government.
Chinese officials have showed no sign of yielding and maintain that companies doing business in that country must follow local law.
"At the end of the day Google may not lose that much in China because it may turn out there wasn't much in China for them to begin with," said Gartenberg.
"Pulling out lets them take the high ground and evoke the 'Don't be evil' mantra."
Google has vowed to stop bowing to Chinese online censorship that came as a legal condition when the California technology firm tailored a search engine for that country in 2006.
The impetus for the stand was China-spawned cyber espionage that recently targeted Google and other firms.
Filtered results were being delivered Wednesday at google.cn as Google awaited an audience with Chinese officials to discuss how, if at all, the search engine could operate uncensored.
"The question is if google.cn shuts down, what that means," Broadpoint AmTech analyst Ben Schachter told AFP.
"I don't think we've seen anything this out in the open before. How it plays out remains to be seen."
Google has trodden carefully, partly for the sakes of workers in China, since it made public on January 12 a wave of "sophisticated" cyberattacks that originated in that country.
Its stance has been scrutinized to the extent of fueling speculation that it is simply justifying exiting a China market where it has failed to shine.
China search engine Baidu reigned supreme in that country in November with about 62 percent of the market while Google had 14.1 percent, according to industry tracker comScore.
Analysts suspect that Google's decision runs deeper than current market share given the value of having a stake in China's booming market.
"If you are going to be a worldwide technology provider, you can't cut off the largest single population," said Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.
Stockholders who turn to Google for answers should peruse an "Owners Manual" letter that founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page published online when the company went public in 2004.
"Google is not a conventional company," Brin and Page said. "We do not intend to become one."
The founders promised that they would stick to the values Google developed as a private firm they started in a Stanford University dormitory.
"Don't be evil," Brin and Page wrote, echoing the company's unofficial motto.
"We believe strongly that in the long term, we will be better served -- as shareholders and in all other ways -- by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short term gains."
Google battled the US Department of Justice in federal court in 2006 to prevent unbridled access to search results being sought to help revive a Child Online Protection Act deemed unconstitutional.
The decision to filter China search results in order to do business there reportedly caused much consternation at Google.
Google executives reasoned at the time that Internet freedom would eventually blossom in China.
"China is a huge market but it is a market that comes with strings," said Interpret analyst Michael Gartenberg.
"What is unclear about the stated departure is, are the rules not working for Google or is the market not panning out the way they've expected?"
Internet rights activists praise Google's decision, suggesting scrutiny shift to firms staying silent about cyberattacks.
Security experts place the number of targets at more than 30, and so far only Google and Adobe have revealed they were attacked.
Cyber spies that struck at Google were after source code and email accounts of human rights activists, according to the Internet firm.
Google is considering shutting down the China search engine but could maintain research and sales facilities in that country.
Analysts will be watching a Google earnings report on Thursday for indications of plans in China.
Most of the "hundreds of millions" of dollars Google makes annually in China might go unaffected by a pullout since it comes from online advertising posted outside that country.
The main cost to Google from a China exit is expected to be in future opportunities. Google on Wednesday delayed the China release of two mobile telephones based on its Android software.
Companies launching devices or services in China might shun working with Google to avoid problems with the government.
Chinese officials have showed no sign of yielding and maintain that companies doing business in that country must follow local law.
"At the end of the day Google may not lose that much in China because it may turn out there wasn't much in China for them to begin with," said Gartenberg.
"Pulling out lets them take the high ground and evoke the 'Don't be evil' mantra."
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Microsoft patching IE hole used by China cyber spies
SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft said Tuesday it is working around the clock to patch an Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6) software hole through which China-based cyber spies attacked Google and other firms.
Microsoft is testing a security fix and will make it available as soon as it is ready instead of following its protocol of releasing security updates the second Tuesday of each month.
"We are working 24-by-7, around the clock," Microsoft general manager of Trustworthy Computing Security George Stathakopoulos told AFP. "We have been monitoring the threat landscape since the start of this issue."
Microsoft is to announce Wednesday when the security patch will be released.
Attacks that prompted a showdown between Internet giant Google and global power China only worked against IE 6, so computer users can protect themselves by switching to newer versions of the Web browser, according to Stathakopoulos.
"IE 7 and 8 seem to be holding," Stathakopoulos said. "None of the attacks we know of will be effective against IE 8. That could change, but that is what we know."
No matter which Web browser people use, upgrading to the most current version promises to increase protection against hackers.
Microsoft confirmed last week that a previously unknown security vulnerability in its IE 6 browser was used in cyberattacks which prompted Google to threaten to shut down its operations in China.
Revealing the attacks on January 12, Google said they originated from China and targeted the email accounts of Chinese human rights activists around the world but did not explicitly accuse the Chinese government of responsibility.
Web security firm McAfee Inc. said that the attacks on Google and other companies showed a level of sophistication beyond that of cyber criminals and more typical of a nation-state.
Dmitri Alperovitch, vice president of threat research for McAfee, said that while McAfee had "no proof that the Chinese are behind this particular attack, I think there are indications though that a nation-state is behind it."
Google said more than 20 other unidentified firms were targeted in the "highly sophisticated" attacks while other reports have put the number of companies attacked at more than 30.
Stathakopoulos described the attacks as "limited and targeted."
Only one other company, Adobe, has come forward so far and acknowledged that it was a target.
Attackers used email or some other lure to get employees of a targeted company to click on a link and visit a specially crafted website using Internet Explorer, Alperovitch said.
Malicious software would then be downloaded that has the capability to essentially install 'back doors' in machines and give hackers access, according to McAfee.
Microsoft is testing a security fix and will make it available as soon as it is ready instead of following its protocol of releasing security updates the second Tuesday of each month.
"We are working 24-by-7, around the clock," Microsoft general manager of Trustworthy Computing Security George Stathakopoulos told AFP. "We have been monitoring the threat landscape since the start of this issue."
Microsoft is to announce Wednesday when the security patch will be released.
Attacks that prompted a showdown between Internet giant Google and global power China only worked against IE 6, so computer users can protect themselves by switching to newer versions of the Web browser, according to Stathakopoulos.
"IE 7 and 8 seem to be holding," Stathakopoulos said. "None of the attacks we know of will be effective against IE 8. That could change, but that is what we know."
No matter which Web browser people use, upgrading to the most current version promises to increase protection against hackers.
Microsoft confirmed last week that a previously unknown security vulnerability in its IE 6 browser was used in cyberattacks which prompted Google to threaten to shut down its operations in China.
Revealing the attacks on January 12, Google said they originated from China and targeted the email accounts of Chinese human rights activists around the world but did not explicitly accuse the Chinese government of responsibility.
Web security firm McAfee Inc. said that the attacks on Google and other companies showed a level of sophistication beyond that of cyber criminals and more typical of a nation-state.
Dmitri Alperovitch, vice president of threat research for McAfee, said that while McAfee had "no proof that the Chinese are behind this particular attack, I think there are indications though that a nation-state is behind it."
Google said more than 20 other unidentified firms were targeted in the "highly sophisticated" attacks while other reports have put the number of companies attacked at more than 30.
Stathakopoulos described the attacks as "limited and targeted."
Only one other company, Adobe, has come forward so far and acknowledged that it was a target.
Attackers used email or some other lure to get employees of a targeted company to click on a link and visit a specially crafted website using Internet Explorer, Alperovitch said.
Malicious software would then be downloaded that has the capability to essentially install 'back doors' in machines and give hackers access, according to McAfee.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Man arrested over Twitter airport joke
LONDON — A man was arrested by anti-terrorism police and suspended from his job after he sent a Twitter message joking that he was going to blow up an airport, a report said Monday.
When heavy snow at Robin Hood airport in Doncaster, northern England, threatened to ruin Paul Chambers' plans to fly to Ireland, he vented his frustration by tapping out a message on the social networking site.
"Robin Hood airport is closed," he wrote, according to The Independent newspaper. "You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"
A week after posting the message, Chambers was arrested under anti-terrorism laws at his office after police had apparently received a tip-off.
The 26-year-old was questioned for seven hours by officers who failed to see the joke in his message. He has been bailed to February 11 when he will find out if he will be charged with conspiring to create a bomb hoax.
He has also been suspended from work pending an internal investigation and banned from the airport for life.
Detectives have confiscated his iPhone, laptop and home computer.
"I would never have thought, in a thousand years, that any of this would have happened because of a Twitter post," Chambers told The Independent. "I'm the most mild-mannered guy you could imagine."
South Yorkshire police confirmed the arrest and said investigations were continuing.
Security has been stepped up at airports worldwide since a Nigerian student allegedly tried to detonate explosives concealed in his underwear on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25.
A man appeared in court last week charged with making a bomb threat and being drunk on board an Emirates flight to Dubai as it sat on the runway at London's Heathrow airport.
When heavy snow at Robin Hood airport in Doncaster, northern England, threatened to ruin Paul Chambers' plans to fly to Ireland, he vented his frustration by tapping out a message on the social networking site.
"Robin Hood airport is closed," he wrote, according to The Independent newspaper. "You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"
A week after posting the message, Chambers was arrested under anti-terrorism laws at his office after police had apparently received a tip-off.
The 26-year-old was questioned for seven hours by officers who failed to see the joke in his message. He has been bailed to February 11 when he will find out if he will be charged with conspiring to create a bomb hoax.
He has also been suspended from work pending an internal investigation and banned from the airport for life.
Detectives have confiscated his iPhone, laptop and home computer.
"I would never have thought, in a thousand years, that any of this would have happened because of a Twitter post," Chambers told The Independent. "I'm the most mild-mannered guy you could imagine."
South Yorkshire police confirmed the arrest and said investigations were continuing.
Security has been stepped up at airports worldwide since a Nigerian student allegedly tried to detonate explosives concealed in his underwear on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25.
A man appeared in court last week charged with making a bomb threat and being drunk on board an Emirates flight to Dubai as it sat on the runway at London's Heathrow airport.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Muslim leaders' response to Gaza suffering 'pitiful': Turkish PM
ISTANBUL — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday decried what he called Muslim leaders' inadequate response to Palestinian suffering in the Gaza Strip as "pitiful."
He made the remarks when asked to compare the attitude of other Muslim countries to Turkey's vehement outbursts against Israel over its devastating war on Gaza last year and its ongoing blockade of the impoverished enclave.
"The governments have failed to display the reactions that the world's Muslims expected from them. And this has been a pitiful aspect of the matter," Erdogan told reporters.
He spoke shortly before flying to the United Arab Emirates and then on to Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak met with Turkish officials in Ankara on Sunday, eager to defuse tensions between the two nations.
Once-flourishing Turkish-Israeli ties took a sharp downturn last year when Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government launched an unprecedented barrage of criticism of Israel's war on Gaza.
In a memorable outburst, Erdogan stormed out of a debate at the World Economic Forum, accusing the Jewish state of "barbarian" acts and telling its President Shimon Peres, sitting next to him, that "you know well how to kill people".Free Classifieds
He made the remarks when asked to compare the attitude of other Muslim countries to Turkey's vehement outbursts against Israel over its devastating war on Gaza last year and its ongoing blockade of the impoverished enclave.
"The governments have failed to display the reactions that the world's Muslims expected from them. And this has been a pitiful aspect of the matter," Erdogan told reporters.
He spoke shortly before flying to the United Arab Emirates and then on to Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak met with Turkish officials in Ankara on Sunday, eager to defuse tensions between the two nations.
Once-flourishing Turkish-Israeli ties took a sharp downturn last year when Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government launched an unprecedented barrage of criticism of Israel's war on Gaza.
In a memorable outburst, Erdogan stormed out of a debate at the World Economic Forum, accusing the Jewish state of "barbarian" acts and telling its President Shimon Peres, sitting next to him, that "you know well how to kill people".Free Classifieds
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Rochette wins sixth Canadian title in a row
LONDON, Canada — Joannie Rochette captured her sixth consecutive women's title at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and a berth in the Vancouver Olympics by winning Saturday's free skate final.
Rochette, who settled for second in Friday's short programme to Cynthia Phaneuf, won the free skate with 144.08 points to finish with an overall score of 208.23.
Phaneuf, who skated after Rochette in the final group, was second in the free skate with 116.25 to finish second overall on 182.55 and claim the other available Olympic berth, earning a chance to skate on home ice next month.
Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison captured their second pairs title in a row by winning the free skate earlier Saturday.
Dube and Davison won the long programme with 135.40 points to 117.95 for Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay, who had captured the short programme Friday.
In the final standings Dube and Davison won with 198.27 points with Langlois and Hay taking the other Olympic spot with 183.42 points, 11.24 ahead of Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin.
The Ice dance free skate finals were set for later Saturday with the men's free skate set for Sunday.
Rochette, who settled for second in Friday's short programme to Cynthia Phaneuf, won the free skate with 144.08 points to finish with an overall score of 208.23.
Phaneuf, who skated after Rochette in the final group, was second in the free skate with 116.25 to finish second overall on 182.55 and claim the other available Olympic berth, earning a chance to skate on home ice next month.
Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison captured their second pairs title in a row by winning the free skate earlier Saturday.
Dube and Davison won the long programme with 135.40 points to 117.95 for Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay, who had captured the short programme Friday.
In the final standings Dube and Davison won with 198.27 points with Langlois and Hay taking the other Olympic spot with 183.42 points, 11.24 ahead of Meagan Duhamel and Craig Buntin.
The Ice dance free skate finals were set for later Saturday with the men's free skate set for Sunday.
Friday, January 15, 2010
2 LA politicians to appear on 'All My Children'
LOS ANGELES – The legendary soap opera "All My Children" will feature two Los Angeles politicos playing themselves to celebrate the show's return to shooting in California.
ABC said Thursday that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti will both shoot episodes at the show's new production studio near downtown Los Angeles this month.
The show recently moved back to Los Angeles after 40 years of shooting in New York.
ABC says Villaraigosa will shoot a scene with Susan Lucci, who plays Erica Kane. Writers are still trying to figure out a plot twist that puts the mayor in the fictional city of Pine Valley, Pa.
The network says Garcetti will appear with actor David Canary, discussing making Adam Chandler's businesses "more environmentally friendly."
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
ABC said Thursday that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council President Eric Garcetti will both shoot episodes at the show's new production studio near downtown Los Angeles this month.
The show recently moved back to Los Angeles after 40 years of shooting in New York.
ABC says Villaraigosa will shoot a scene with Susan Lucci, who plays Erica Kane. Writers are still trying to figure out a plot twist that puts the mayor in the fictional city of Pine Valley, Pa.
The network says Garcetti will appear with actor David Canary, discussing making Adam Chandler's businesses "more environmentally friendly."
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Indie rockers Vampire Weekend eye U.S. album crown
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Indie rock band Vampire Weekend seems a good bet to take the No. 1 spot on next week's U.S. pop album chart.
Based on first-day sales numbers, industry sources are projecting the group's second album "Contra" could sell 60,000-75,000 copies by week's end on Sunday.
Rookie pop singer Ke$ha currently rules the Billboard 200 chart after her debut album "Animal" sold 152,000 copies during its first week.
Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut album entered and peaked on the Billboard 200 at No. 17 with 28,000 copies a little under two years ago. It has sold far sold 491,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Contra" is being sold for $9.99 in iTunes' Store and $3.99 in Amazon's MP3 Store. The latter retailer got a head start on the Vampire action, as it began selling the set on Monday -- one day earlier than the album's official street date. Target and Best Buy are also offering the title for just under $8.
Among the other albums released this week and due on next week's charts are Ringo Starr's "Y Not," Omarion's "Ollusion" and OK Go's "Of the Blue Color of the Sky."
Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in Billboard's sales charts, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. Next week's album charts will be revealed on Wednesday, January 20, and will reflect data through the week ending Sunday, January 13.
Based on first-day sales numbers, industry sources are projecting the group's second album "Contra" could sell 60,000-75,000 copies by week's end on Sunday.
Rookie pop singer Ke$ha currently rules the Billboard 200 chart after her debut album "Animal" sold 152,000 copies during its first week.
Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut album entered and peaked on the Billboard 200 at No. 17 with 28,000 copies a little under two years ago. It has sold far sold 491,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Contra" is being sold for $9.99 in iTunes' Store and $3.99 in Amazon's MP3 Store. The latter retailer got a head start on the Vampire action, as it began selling the set on Monday -- one day earlier than the album's official street date. Target and Best Buy are also offering the title for just under $8.
Among the other albums released this week and due on next week's charts are Ringo Starr's "Y Not," Omarion's "Ollusion" and OK Go's "Of the Blue Color of the Sky."
Nielsen SoundScan's sales tracking week, as reflected in Billboard's sales charts, runs from Monday through Sunday of each week. Next week's album charts will be revealed on Wednesday, January 20, and will reflect data through the week ending Sunday, January 13.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Domingo announces 5 productions of DC opera season
WASHINGTON – The Washington National Opera will stage five productions in the 2010-2011 season, including a production of Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" that's new to the nation's capital.
General Director Placido Domingo will return to sing and conduct on the Washington stage.
The shortened season announced Tuesday also includes Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera," Strauss' "Salome," Gluke's "Iphigenie en Tauride" and Donizetti's "Don Pasquale."
The company announced in November that it would scale back its production schedule from six shows to help tackle a budget crisis. It will offer more performances, though, of each production.
Also Tuesday, the company announced the establishment of a new concert series named in Domingo's honor.
General Director Placido Domingo will return to sing and conduct on the Washington stage.
The shortened season announced Tuesday also includes Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera," Strauss' "Salome," Gluke's "Iphigenie en Tauride" and Donizetti's "Don Pasquale."
The company announced in November that it would scale back its production schedule from six shows to help tackle a budget crisis. It will offer more performances, though, of each production.
Also Tuesday, the company announced the establishment of a new concert series named in Domingo's honor.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2 of 3 Dixie Chicks returning with new music
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two members of the Dixie Chicks — minus lead singer Natalie Maines — are preparing to release a new album this year.
According to CMT.com, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison are working on a project to be released on Columbia Records.
However, Lloyd Maines, Natalie's father, tells CMT.com that the three girls are "definitely still an entity." He says the sisters are "cutting some demos" and that Natalie recorded "a little something with them" about a year ago.
The Associated Press' attempts to contact their publicist and Columbia Records were unsuccessful.
The Dixie Chicks suffered a backlash from fans and country radio over comments Natalie Maines made about President George W. Bush in 2003. The Chicks released their last album in 2006, called "Taking the Long Way."
The group has won 13 Grammys and was named the CMA entertainer of the year in 2000.
On the Net:
http://www.dixiechicks.com
According to CMT.com, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison are working on a project to be released on Columbia Records.
However, Lloyd Maines, Natalie's father, tells CMT.com that the three girls are "definitely still an entity." He says the sisters are "cutting some demos" and that Natalie recorded "a little something with them" about a year ago.
The Associated Press' attempts to contact their publicist and Columbia Records were unsuccessful.
The Dixie Chicks suffered a backlash from fans and country radio over comments Natalie Maines made about President George W. Bush in 2003. The Chicks released their last album in 2006, called "Taking the Long Way."
The group has won 13 Grammys and was named the CMA entertainer of the year in 2000.
On the Net:
http://www.dixiechicks.com
Rapper Lloyd Banks arrested in Canada
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Rapper Lloyd Banks was arrested in Canada during the weekend after he and three associates allegedly assaulted and robbed a concert promoter.
According to reports, Banks (real name: Christopher Lloyd) performed at Club NV in Brantford, Ontario, on Friday. A dispute later ensued at a local hotel over his fee.
All four men were charged with forceful confinement, aggravated assault and robbery. They made a video court appearance on Sunday afternoon and were due to reappear in early this week.
According to reports, Banks (real name: Christopher Lloyd) performed at Club NV in Brantford, Ontario, on Friday. A dispute later ensued at a local hotel over his fee.
All four men were charged with forceful confinement, aggravated assault and robbery. They made a video court appearance on Sunday afternoon and were due to reappear in early this week.
Monday, January 11, 2010
"Scary Spice" dancing to Oxygen weight-loss show
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Former Spice Girl Melanie "Mel B" Brown will host the next edition of women's cable channel Oxygen's freshman hit "Dance Your Ass Off."
The show will return in the summer on a new night of original programing for the network, Mondays.
"After the birth of my second daughter, I wanted to find a fun and effective way to drop the pounds and get back in shape," said Brown, also known as "Scary Spice." "I learned firsthand that dancing was the key to shedding off the pounds and keeping them off."
The first season was hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur. It featured 12 full-figured contestants who competed to lose weight by hitting the dance floor.
Oxygen is also developing "Love Games," a spinoff of its successful "Bad Girls Club." The new series is a dating competition, with three former "Bad Girls" vying for the attention of eligible bachelors.
Other new shows include "Hair Battle Spectacular" (competition series featuring "fantasy hair" stylists), "House of Glam" (docu-soap set at celebrity styling company), "When Charlie Met Sarah" (docusoap following former "Bachelor" couple Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice) and "Fashion Drop" (where contestants put their fashion knowledge to the test).
The show will return in the summer on a new night of original programing for the network, Mondays.
"After the birth of my second daughter, I wanted to find a fun and effective way to drop the pounds and get back in shape," said Brown, also known as "Scary Spice." "I learned firsthand that dancing was the key to shedding off the pounds and keeping them off."
The first season was hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur. It featured 12 full-figured contestants who competed to lose weight by hitting the dance floor.
Oxygen is also developing "Love Games," a spinoff of its successful "Bad Girls Club." The new series is a dating competition, with three former "Bad Girls" vying for the attention of eligible bachelors.
Other new shows include "Hair Battle Spectacular" (competition series featuring "fantasy hair" stylists), "House of Glam" (docu-soap set at celebrity styling company), "When Charlie Met Sarah" (docusoap following former "Bachelor" couple Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice) and "Fashion Drop" (where contestants put their fashion knowledge to the test).
Sunday, January 10, 2010
"Friends" star Matt LeBlanc back to TV - as himself
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Former "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc is returning to U.S. television for the first time since 2006, playing himself in a quirky comic spoof of the TV business.
LeBlanc, 42, who played womanizer Joey Tribbiani in the hit comedy "Friends," is forced to audition for the role of himself in the series "Episodes," Showtime executives said on Saturday.
The show, a co-production with Britain's BBC Two, is about a fictional hit British comedy that is turned into an American sitcom in which LeBlanc is chosen to play the lead in place of an erudite British actor.
Clips of the comedy shown to TV reporters on Saturday showed a graying LeBlanc auditioning for his own part against a room full of leather-jacketed Joey look-alikes practicing his "Friends" catch-phrase "How you doin?"
"I am so glad I got the part. Seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating," the actor said in a statement.
The show is expected to air on Showtime later in 2010.
LeBlanc's last TV outing was in the "Friends" spin-off "Joey," which took his character from New York to Hollywood. The show ran for two years before ending in 2006.
LeBlanc, 42, who played womanizer Joey Tribbiani in the hit comedy "Friends," is forced to audition for the role of himself in the series "Episodes," Showtime executives said on Saturday.
The show, a co-production with Britain's BBC Two, is about a fictional hit British comedy that is turned into an American sitcom in which LeBlanc is chosen to play the lead in place of an erudite British actor.
Clips of the comedy shown to TV reporters on Saturday showed a graying LeBlanc auditioning for his own part against a room full of leather-jacketed Joey look-alikes practicing his "Friends" catch-phrase "How you doin?"
"I am so glad I got the part. Seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating," the actor said in a statement.
The show is expected to air on Showtime later in 2010.
LeBlanc's last TV outing was in the "Friends" spin-off "Joey," which took his character from New York to Hollywood. The show ran for two years before ending in 2006.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Police: Stern sidekick Artie Lange stabbed himself
HOBOKEN, N.J. – Police say self-inflicted stab wounds put Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange (LAYNG') in a New Jersey hospital.
Hoboken Police Detective Mark Competello says Lange's mother found him on the floor of his waterfront home Saturday.
Competello says the 42-year-old comedian was unconscious but breathing after stabbing himself with a 13-inch Wolfgang Puck kitchen knife.
Lange was taken to Jersey City Medical Center. Competello says doctors cleaned nine abdominal knife wounds and operated. He says Lange has been released.
In an e-mail Friday, Lange publicist Hilary Hansen declined to comment and asked that Lange's privacy be respected.
Stern has spoken of the suicide attempt and said his thoughts are with Lange's mother and sister.
Hoboken Police Detective Mark Competello says Lange's mother found him on the floor of his waterfront home Saturday.
Competello says the 42-year-old comedian was unconscious but breathing after stabbing himself with a 13-inch Wolfgang Puck kitchen knife.
Lange was taken to Jersey City Medical Center. Competello says doctors cleaned nine abdominal knife wounds and operated. He says Lange has been released.
In an e-mail Friday, Lange publicist Hilary Hansen declined to comment and asked that Lange's privacy be respected.
Stern has spoken of the suicide attempt and said his thoughts are with Lange's mother and sister.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Patty Griffin ventures into gospel with new album
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Country traditionalist Patty Griffin has gone gospel for her seventh album, due in stores on January 26.
"Downtown Church," as the title suggests, was recorded at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin and gospel group the Fairfield Four joining on vocals. It marks her fifth release for Dave Matthews' ATO Records.
"It had a really interesting history," Griffin tells Billboard.com of her recording location. "It was a civil war hospital. Lately, it takes over for caring for a lot of homeless people. Gospel music is very broad, but my entry was the Staple Singers and the records they did. You could actually hear people in the pews on the old recordings."
The idea to record a gospel-style record stemmed from Griffin's participation in the "Oh Happy Day" compilation, on which she duets with Mavis Staples. The album shows a wide range of influences, blending a traditional country sound with a more blues-oriented approach.
At times, Griffin is slow and poised on "Death's Got A Warrant" and "Wade in the Water" to a harder, driving approach during "Move Up" and "I Smell A Rat."
Griffin covers the likes of Hank Williams ("House of Gold") and traditional songs such as "Never Grow Old" and "If I Had My Way" (known to Grateful Dead fans as "Samson & Delilah"). She also performs several of her own tunes, including "Coming Home To Me" and the ballad "Little Fire."
Commercially, Griffin has fared well over the last few years -- 2007's "Children Running Through" has sold 168,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. Her 1996 debut "Living With Ghosts" remains her best seller, having sold 222,000. Perhaps more lucratively, her song "Up to the Mountain" is featured on Susan Boyle's blockbuster album "I Dreamed a Dream."
Although details are still being ironed out, Griffin is planning to kick off a tour in late March. On January 21, she'll play a one-off date in Austin, Texas, as a part of a "Grounded in Music" fundraiser.
"Downtown Church," as the title suggests, was recorded at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin and gospel group the Fairfield Four joining on vocals. It marks her fifth release for Dave Matthews' ATO Records.
"It had a really interesting history," Griffin tells Billboard.com of her recording location. "It was a civil war hospital. Lately, it takes over for caring for a lot of homeless people. Gospel music is very broad, but my entry was the Staple Singers and the records they did. You could actually hear people in the pews on the old recordings."
The idea to record a gospel-style record stemmed from Griffin's participation in the "Oh Happy Day" compilation, on which she duets with Mavis Staples. The album shows a wide range of influences, blending a traditional country sound with a more blues-oriented approach.
At times, Griffin is slow and poised on "Death's Got A Warrant" and "Wade in the Water" to a harder, driving approach during "Move Up" and "I Smell A Rat."
Griffin covers the likes of Hank Williams ("House of Gold") and traditional songs such as "Never Grow Old" and "If I Had My Way" (known to Grateful Dead fans as "Samson & Delilah"). She also performs several of her own tunes, including "Coming Home To Me" and the ballad "Little Fire."
Commercially, Griffin has fared well over the last few years -- 2007's "Children Running Through" has sold 168,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. Her 1996 debut "Living With Ghosts" remains her best seller, having sold 222,000. Perhaps more lucratively, her song "Up to the Mountain" is featured on Susan Boyle's blockbuster album "I Dreamed a Dream."
Although details are still being ironed out, Griffin is planning to kick off a tour in late March. On January 21, she'll play a one-off date in Austin, Texas, as a part of a "Grounded in Music" fundraiser.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Vampires rule People's Choice Awards
LOS ANGELES – The people have chosen vampires.
"The Twilight Saga," "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" all sucked up trophies Wednesday at the 36th annual People's Choice Awards.
"Twilight" won four trophies, including favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for the dreamy trio of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, who also picked up the breakout male actor award.
The undead HBO fable "True Blood" and the soapy supernatural CW series "The Vampire Diaries" were respectively selected as favorite TV obsession and favorite new TV drama. Other winners in categories spanning movies, TV and music included "Inglourious Basterds" as favorite independent movie and Lady Gaga as favorite pop and breakout music artist.
Queen Latifah, who returned as host of the fan-favorite ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, kicked off the show at the Nokia Theatre with a jazzy name-dropping number.
Stars such as Hugh Jackman, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres were on hand to accept their awards selected by Internet votes.
"One for each of Sandra Bullock's toes," joked 11-time People's Choice Awards champion DeGeneres.
Other TV winners included "American Idol" as favorite competition show, "Glee" as favorite new TV comedy, Steve Carell as favorite TV comedy actor, Alyson Hannigan as favorite TV comedy actress, "The Big Bang Theory" as favorite TV comedy, "House" as favorite TV drama, Hugh Laurie as favorite TV drama actor and "Supernatural" as favorite fantasy TV show.
Winners in the movie categories included Bullock as favorite movie actress, Jackman as favorite action star, "The Proposal" as favorite comedy movie and "Up" for favorite family movie. Sacha Baron Cohen, appearing as himself and not as his alter-egos Borat or Bruno, presented Johnny Depp with a special award as favorite movie actor of the decade.
"The only reason that any of us are up here is because of you," Depp told the audience.
Throughout the show, Latifah appeared in spoofs of "Twilight" and "Paranormal Activity," which featured a cameo by Cloris Leachman clad in a sexy leather ensemble. The show also featured performances by Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as debut footage from "Clash of the Titans," "Robin Hood" and "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."
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CBS is a division of CBS Corp.
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On the Net:
http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/
"The Twilight Saga," "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries" all sucked up trophies Wednesday at the 36th annual People's Choice Awards.
"Twilight" won four trophies, including favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for the dreamy trio of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, who also picked up the breakout male actor award.
The undead HBO fable "True Blood" and the soapy supernatural CW series "The Vampire Diaries" were respectively selected as favorite TV obsession and favorite new TV drama. Other winners in categories spanning movies, TV and music included "Inglourious Basterds" as favorite independent movie and Lady Gaga as favorite pop and breakout music artist.
Queen Latifah, who returned as host of the fan-favorite ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, kicked off the show at the Nokia Theatre with a jazzy name-dropping number.
Stars such as Hugh Jackman, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres were on hand to accept their awards selected by Internet votes.
"One for each of Sandra Bullock's toes," joked 11-time People's Choice Awards champion DeGeneres.
Other TV winners included "American Idol" as favorite competition show, "Glee" as favorite new TV comedy, Steve Carell as favorite TV comedy actor, Alyson Hannigan as favorite TV comedy actress, "The Big Bang Theory" as favorite TV comedy, "House" as favorite TV drama, Hugh Laurie as favorite TV drama actor and "Supernatural" as favorite fantasy TV show.
Winners in the movie categories included Bullock as favorite movie actress, Jackman as favorite action star, "The Proposal" as favorite comedy movie and "Up" for favorite family movie. Sacha Baron Cohen, appearing as himself and not as his alter-egos Borat or Bruno, presented Johnny Depp with a special award as favorite movie actor of the decade.
"The only reason that any of us are up here is because of you," Depp told the audience.
Throughout the show, Latifah appeared in spoofs of "Twilight" and "Paranormal Activity," which featured a cameo by Cloris Leachman clad in a sexy leather ensemble. The show also featured performances by Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as debut footage from "Clash of the Titans," "Robin Hood" and "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."
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CBS is a division of CBS Corp.
___
On the Net:
http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Bob Barker helps stop whaling with namesake ship
LOS ANGELES – Five million dollars for an anti-whaling ship? Bob Barker says the price is right.
Barker donated that amount to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which named its new 1,200-ton anti-whaling ship The Bob Barker.
The ship had its first confrontation with whalers on Tuesday when it joined two other Sea Shepherd vessels aiming to stop a Japanese whaling mission near Antarctica.
"Whaling was shut down today," Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said via satellite phone from aboard a nearby ship. "There's no whaling now and hopefully no whaling after this."
The Bob Barker is a high-speed former whaling ship that can cut through ice, Watson said, adding that the vessel "makes it a lot easier for us to shut down these whaling operations."
Sea Shepherd, which Watson describes as an "anti-poaching organization," aims to enforce the United Nations World Charter for Nature by physically intervening in illegal whaling missions.
"They're targeting endangered and protected whales," he said.
Barker, a longtime animal activist, stepped up his efforts even more after retiring from his 35-year gig hosting "The Price Is Right." He met Watson through a fellow animal activist and was instantly impressed.
"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did."
Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd. And while the TV studio where "The Price Is Right" is filmed is officially called the Bob Barker Studio, the veteran broadcaster said he's never had a ship named after him.
"It was our idea to name it the Bob Barker. He's a little too humble for that," Watson said. "I thought it was the least we could do."
___
On the Net:
http://www.seashepherd.org
Barker donated that amount to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which named its new 1,200-ton anti-whaling ship The Bob Barker.
The ship had its first confrontation with whalers on Tuesday when it joined two other Sea Shepherd vessels aiming to stop a Japanese whaling mission near Antarctica.
"Whaling was shut down today," Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said via satellite phone from aboard a nearby ship. "There's no whaling now and hopefully no whaling after this."
The Bob Barker is a high-speed former whaling ship that can cut through ice, Watson said, adding that the vessel "makes it a lot easier for us to shut down these whaling operations."
Sea Shepherd, which Watson describes as an "anti-poaching organization," aims to enforce the United Nations World Charter for Nature by physically intervening in illegal whaling missions.
"They're targeting endangered and protected whales," he said.
Barker, a longtime animal activist, stepped up his efforts even more after retiring from his 35-year gig hosting "The Price Is Right." He met Watson through a fellow animal activist and was instantly impressed.
"He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, 'I think you do have the skills to do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did."
Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd. And while the TV studio where "The Price Is Right" is filmed is officially called the Bob Barker Studio, the veteran broadcaster said he's never had a ship named after him.
"It was our idea to name it the Bob Barker. He's a little too humble for that," Watson said. "I thought it was the least we could do."
___
On the Net:
http://www.seashepherd.org
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Violinist's "Heartland" blends classical, rock
NEW YORK (Billboard) – During his first song at a recent concert at Philadelphia's Theater of the Living Arts, Owen Pallett began playing a soft progression on his violin. After a minute, he dropped the instrument to his side, but the violin arrangement continued to play, revealing the segment as a loop. "Yeah, it's going to be that kind of show," Pallett told the dazzled audience.
Pallett has spent years cultivating an offbeat charm as Final Fantasy, a moniker he recently dropped due to trademark infringement against the Square/Enix videogame of the same name. On the eve of the release of his third solo album, "Heartland," due January 12, the Toronto native is ready to establish himself under his own name and introduce his baroque pop to larger crowds.
After sophomore disc "He Poos Clouds" won Canada's Polaris Music Prize in 2006, Pallett began composing songs that expanded on his arrangements of vocals, violin loops and percussion. He recorded demos in Iceland in November 2008 before working with a symphony orchestra in Prague and scaling down the album in Toronto, a painstaking process Pallett says he wasn't fully prepared for.
"It was grueling at points. There were some dark days where I thought, 'It's too hard to work like this,'" he recalls. "But in the end, it was worth all the psychological trauma."
With tracks like "The Great Elsewhere" and "Flare Gun" offering fleshed-out versions of the artist's early minimalism, "Heartland" is an ambitious mix of classical and rock that Pallett says was inspired by everything from '70s synth pop to the Strokes. After talking to multiple labels, Pallett signed a multi-album deal with Domino. He attributes the move in part to the record's ambitious scope.
"I do like self-releasing, but I couldn't conceive 'Heartland' as a small release," Pallett says. "I like making smaller records, but at the same time, I'm not hesitant to succeed. I'm eager to see what happens with this record."
Domino plans to promote "Heartland" to college radio and independent retail stores before pushing whimsical album track "Lewis Takes Off His Shirt" as a single after the set's release. The rollout will focus on showcasing Pallett's music as inventive but still accessible to a mainstream audience.
"Over the last few years, there's been a new openness coming from left of center," says Domino North American general manager Kris Gillespie, who points to innovative successes like American Collective and Grizzly Bear. "Owen's songs are catchy and great, but it's also music that you have to think about."
Pallett will kick off a Canadian trek February 6 in Guelph, Ontario, before touring North America in the spring. In addition to writing songs for a fourth solo album, Pallett will stay busy creating string arrangements and playing violin for other artists, having previously contributed to albums by Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys and Beirut.
Although the release of "Heartland" was pushed back from October to January, Pallett unveiled material from the album on a fall North American tour with the Mountain Goats. The warm reception has made him optimistic that his idiosyncratic style can interest crowds aside from his fan base.
"I had trepidations of barraging people with new music," Pallett says, "but overall, I loved the experience."
Pallett has spent years cultivating an offbeat charm as Final Fantasy, a moniker he recently dropped due to trademark infringement against the Square/Enix videogame of the same name. On the eve of the release of his third solo album, "Heartland," due January 12, the Toronto native is ready to establish himself under his own name and introduce his baroque pop to larger crowds.
After sophomore disc "He Poos Clouds" won Canada's Polaris Music Prize in 2006, Pallett began composing songs that expanded on his arrangements of vocals, violin loops and percussion. He recorded demos in Iceland in November 2008 before working with a symphony orchestra in Prague and scaling down the album in Toronto, a painstaking process Pallett says he wasn't fully prepared for.
"It was grueling at points. There were some dark days where I thought, 'It's too hard to work like this,'" he recalls. "But in the end, it was worth all the psychological trauma."
With tracks like "The Great Elsewhere" and "Flare Gun" offering fleshed-out versions of the artist's early minimalism, "Heartland" is an ambitious mix of classical and rock that Pallett says was inspired by everything from '70s synth pop to the Strokes. After talking to multiple labels, Pallett signed a multi-album deal with Domino. He attributes the move in part to the record's ambitious scope.
"I do like self-releasing, but I couldn't conceive 'Heartland' as a small release," Pallett says. "I like making smaller records, but at the same time, I'm not hesitant to succeed. I'm eager to see what happens with this record."
Domino plans to promote "Heartland" to college radio and independent retail stores before pushing whimsical album track "Lewis Takes Off His Shirt" as a single after the set's release. The rollout will focus on showcasing Pallett's music as inventive but still accessible to a mainstream audience.
"Over the last few years, there's been a new openness coming from left of center," says Domino North American general manager Kris Gillespie, who points to innovative successes like American Collective and Grizzly Bear. "Owen's songs are catchy and great, but it's also music that you have to think about."
Pallett will kick off a Canadian trek February 6 in Guelph, Ontario, before touring North America in the spring. In addition to writing songs for a fourth solo album, Pallett will stay busy creating string arrangements and playing violin for other artists, having previously contributed to albums by Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys and Beirut.
Although the release of "Heartland" was pushed back from October to January, Pallett unveiled material from the album on a fall North American tour with the Mountain Goats. The warm reception has made him optimistic that his idiosyncratic style can interest crowds aside from his fan base.
"I had trepidations of barraging people with new music," Pallett says, "but overall, I loved the experience."
Monday, January 04, 2010
Peter Gabriel goes orchestral for covers album
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Peter Gabriel eschews traditional rock'n'roll instrumentation on his upcoming album, "Scratch My Back," which sports orchestral covers of material originally recorded by David Bowie, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Radiohead and Arcade Fire, among others.
All of the artists whose songs Gabriel covers on "Scratch My Back" will return the favor by reworking his songs on a future album, dubbed "I'll Scratch Yours."
"Scratch My Back," due February 15 on Virgin Records, is Gabriel's first studio album since 2002's "Up," which peaked at No. 9 on The Billboard 200.
Gabriel will perform selections from "Scratch My Back" with an orchestra at four March shows: March 22 in Paris (Palais Omnisports), March 25 in Berlin (O2 World) and March 27-28 in London (The O2).
Here is the track list: "Heroes" (David Bowie) "The Boy in the Bubble" (Paul Simon) "Mirrorball" (Elbow) "Flume" (Bon Iver) "Listening Wind" (Talking Heads) "The Power of the Heart" (Lou Reed) "My Body Is a Cage" (The Arcade Fire) "The Book of Love" (The Magnetic Fields) "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" (Randy Newman) "Apres Moi" (Regina Spektor), "Philadelphia" (Neil Young) "Street Spirit" (Radiohead).
All of the artists whose songs Gabriel covers on "Scratch My Back" will return the favor by reworking his songs on a future album, dubbed "I'll Scratch Yours."
"Scratch My Back," due February 15 on Virgin Records, is Gabriel's first studio album since 2002's "Up," which peaked at No. 9 on The Billboard 200.
Gabriel will perform selections from "Scratch My Back" with an orchestra at four March shows: March 22 in Paris (Palais Omnisports), March 25 in Berlin (O2 World) and March 27-28 in London (The O2).
Here is the track list: "Heroes" (David Bowie) "The Boy in the Bubble" (Paul Simon) "Mirrorball" (Elbow) "Flume" (Bon Iver) "Listening Wind" (Talking Heads) "The Power of the Heart" (Lou Reed) "My Body Is a Cage" (The Arcade Fire) "The Book of Love" (The Magnetic Fields) "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" (Randy Newman) "Apres Moi" (Regina Spektor), "Philadelphia" (Neil Young) "Street Spirit" (Radiohead).
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Rap producer Shawty Redd charged with murder
McDONOUGH, Ga. – Music producer Demetrius Lee Stewart, known as Shawty Redd, is being held in a suburban Atlanta jail on a murder charge.
Henry County Police Capt. Jason Bolton says Stewart was arrested Friday morning.
Stewart is accused of shooting 35-year-old Damon A. Martin of Detroit in an argument at Stewart's home in Hampton, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.
The 28-year-old Stewart is charged with murder and was being held without bond in the Henry County jail Saturday. His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12. Police didn't know whether Stewart has a lawyer.
Stewart has worked with Young Jeezy, Snoop Dogg and other major artists.
Henry County Police Capt. Jason Bolton says Stewart was arrested Friday morning.
Stewart is accused of shooting 35-year-old Damon A. Martin of Detroit in an argument at Stewart's home in Hampton, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.
The 28-year-old Stewart is charged with murder and was being held without bond in the Henry County jail Saturday. His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12. Police didn't know whether Stewart has a lawyer.
Stewart has worked with Young Jeezy, Snoop Dogg and other major artists.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
'You Light Up My Life' songwriter settles lawsuit
NEW YORK – The Academy Award-winning songwriter of "You Light Up My Life" has ended his six-figure fight with a former fiancee he accused of conning him out of cash and pricey gifts by hiding the fact that she was already married.
A Manhattan judge last week approved a settlement between composer Joseph Brooks and Joaly Gomez, who said Brooks knew she wasn't single.
The settlement terms weren't specified, but court records show Brooks previously agreed Gomez could keep most of a disputed $550,000 unless they struck a deal to share it.
Brooks, 71, sued his 23-year-old ex-fiancee in October, seeking at least $2 million in damages and the return of the money, a $60,000 engagement ring, a $70,000 Mercedes-Benz and other presents. Gomez was a "young schemer" who "tried to sucker a 'sugar daddy,'" Brooks' lawyer, William Rome, said in court papers.
Brooks said he learned Gomez wasn't single only when he spotted a marriage certificate in her handbag in October, 18 months into their relationship.
But Gomez said in court papers that Brooks knew all along about her marriage. He even steered her to a lawyer in June to arrange her divorce, she said.
Throughout their relationship, "there were no secrets as to each party's obvious agenda," wrote Gomez's lawyer, Rosemarie Arnold. Brooks met Gomez in October 2007 by placing an ad looking for "pretty girls" for "companionship" and initially paid her $1,000 an hour for it, Arnold wrote.
She said that as the relationship progressed, he gave Gomez $1 million as a gift — but then borrowed $500,000 of it to help him make bail after he was charged in June with a series of casting-couch rapes.
Brooks has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial on rape, sexual abuse and other charges. He's accused of sexually assaulting 11 women who came to his Manhattan apartment to audition for supposed movie roles.
He promised Gomez he would return the money but didn't, Arnold wrote.
Arnold declined to comment Friday. Rome didn't immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages.
Brooks won the Oscar for best original song for the Debby Boone ballad "You Light Up My Life." He also wrote and directed the 1977 romantic comedy of the same name. It concerns a comedian who dreams of being an actress and has a one-night stand with a director.
A Manhattan judge last week approved a settlement between composer Joseph Brooks and Joaly Gomez, who said Brooks knew she wasn't single.
The settlement terms weren't specified, but court records show Brooks previously agreed Gomez could keep most of a disputed $550,000 unless they struck a deal to share it.
Brooks, 71, sued his 23-year-old ex-fiancee in October, seeking at least $2 million in damages and the return of the money, a $60,000 engagement ring, a $70,000 Mercedes-Benz and other presents. Gomez was a "young schemer" who "tried to sucker a 'sugar daddy,'" Brooks' lawyer, William Rome, said in court papers.
Brooks said he learned Gomez wasn't single only when he spotted a marriage certificate in her handbag in October, 18 months into their relationship.
But Gomez said in court papers that Brooks knew all along about her marriage. He even steered her to a lawyer in June to arrange her divorce, she said.
Throughout their relationship, "there were no secrets as to each party's obvious agenda," wrote Gomez's lawyer, Rosemarie Arnold. Brooks met Gomez in October 2007 by placing an ad looking for "pretty girls" for "companionship" and initially paid her $1,000 an hour for it, Arnold wrote.
She said that as the relationship progressed, he gave Gomez $1 million as a gift — but then borrowed $500,000 of it to help him make bail after he was charged in June with a series of casting-couch rapes.
Brooks has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial on rape, sexual abuse and other charges. He's accused of sexually assaulting 11 women who came to his Manhattan apartment to audition for supposed movie roles.
He promised Gomez he would return the money but didn't, Arnold wrote.
Arnold declined to comment Friday. Rome didn't immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages.
Brooks won the Oscar for best original song for the Debby Boone ballad "You Light Up My Life." He also wrote and directed the 1977 romantic comedy of the same name. It concerns a comedian who dreams of being an actress and has a one-night stand with a director.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy campers arrive early for 2010 Rose Parade
PASADENA, Calif. – Dean Hanson was a happy camper after the annual scramble for curbside seats for the Tournament of Roses Parade.
When police allowed people to claim seats at noon Thursday, the 66-year-old Northern California man and his wife Gwen took chairs off the top of their motorhome and secured primo front-row spots.
Police said they didn't have a crowd count, but thousands of people clutching sleeping bags, lawn chairs and party favors staked their claims to sidewalk space along Colorado Boulevard and other stretches of the route.
The theme of the 121st parade is "A Cut Above the Rest," and the grand marshal is Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed a stricken jetliner on New York's Hudson River.
Hanson, born in Pasadena, has been to 59 rose parades, starting when he was 6 months old. His dad owned a business along Colorado Boulevard and was a tournament volunteer.
Hanson can provide a living history of the famed New Year's Day procession.
"We saw both major rainstorms, a hotel fire, a parade float fire," he said. "There isn't much we haven't seen."
Hanson moved to Fremont in the San Francisco Bay area when he got married 44 years ago. Annual trips to Pasadena became a family tradition. His three kids and their families come when they can.
Even the family's 10-year-old Yorkie, Woody, has been to the parade 10 times.
One year, Hanson and his wife were sick, so they stayed home.
"That was horrible," he said.
This year, the family will meet as many as 40 friends and relatives. They never know just how many are coming.
The National Weather Service predicts sunny weather for the parade and Rose Bowl game pitting Oregon against Ohio State.
Hanson said the parade is his favorite part of the event, but it's hard to choose a favorite part of the parade. He likes the floats, the equestrian units and the bands.
"In fact, we picked this spot specifically because all the bands play here," he said.
When police allowed people to claim seats at noon Thursday, the 66-year-old Northern California man and his wife Gwen took chairs off the top of their motorhome and secured primo front-row spots.
Police said they didn't have a crowd count, but thousands of people clutching sleeping bags, lawn chairs and party favors staked their claims to sidewalk space along Colorado Boulevard and other stretches of the route.
The theme of the 121st parade is "A Cut Above the Rest," and the grand marshal is Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed a stricken jetliner on New York's Hudson River.
Hanson, born in Pasadena, has been to 59 rose parades, starting when he was 6 months old. His dad owned a business along Colorado Boulevard and was a tournament volunteer.
Hanson can provide a living history of the famed New Year's Day procession.
"We saw both major rainstorms, a hotel fire, a parade float fire," he said. "There isn't much we haven't seen."
Hanson moved to Fremont in the San Francisco Bay area when he got married 44 years ago. Annual trips to Pasadena became a family tradition. His three kids and their families come when they can.
Even the family's 10-year-old Yorkie, Woody, has been to the parade 10 times.
One year, Hanson and his wife were sick, so they stayed home.
"That was horrible," he said.
This year, the family will meet as many as 40 friends and relatives. They never know just how many are coming.
The National Weather Service predicts sunny weather for the parade and Rose Bowl game pitting Oregon against Ohio State.
Hanson said the parade is his favorite part of the event, but it's hard to choose a favorite part of the parade. He likes the floats, the equestrian units and the bands.
"In fact, we picked this spot specifically because all the bands play here," he said.
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