Author: Jason Nason
Source: ezinearticles.com

The home entertainment industry has been on decline for some time now and with the recession the situation has only worsened. Every studio in Hollywood has been trying to figure out how to fix the problem with limited success. There are two major points that, while not helping the issue in my opinion, are, dvd, certainly contributing to the problem.

When, dvd, the DVD format first began the format was, dvd, very similar to a VHS videotape. The disc contained, dvd, the movie and that was it. Special features listed on the back of the packaging included, dvd, ‘interactive menus’ and ‘captioning.’ Since those days the features of the modern DVD have expanded to include trailers, bloopers and ‘making of’, dvd, featurettes of the movie. This has become pretty much standard, even with the introduction of the Blu-Ray format. This standard has slipped.

‘Special edition’ DVDs started to become, dvd, the norm as well, usually at a premium price. The ‘regular edition’ DVD then started to be stripped of everything special, dvd, . The features that everyone had become accustomed to were, dvd, suddenly gone. Many of them had only ‘feature commentary’ as a special feature. The regular edition DVD of Transformers has no, dvd, bonus features at all, not even commentary.

Many retailers also sell the, dvd, ‘regular edition’, dvd, at a, dvd, reduced, dvd, price on this first, dvd, day. Add to this the notion that most people, dvd, that purchase a movie generally do so on the first day and most people would, dvd, be buying the standard DVD. Stripped on, dvd, bonus features this makes for a tough sell. A customer almost feels cheated to now have to pay more for what they had been getting all along, dvd, .

This begins the rise of buying more used movies from a trade-in store and, dvd, video rental store,, dvd, where the Hollywood studio makes no money on the sale.

The second thing that I think is contributing to the, dvd, decline of the home video market is the lack of availability.

There is a movie from Paramount Vantage that I had been anticipating, dvd, for some months. The film, Carriers starring Chris Pine, quietly arrived in theaters in limited release and left the cinemas one, dvd, week later. The film had such a limited release that I couldn’t find a, dvd, theater house that was showing the film in a 100 kilometer radius.

The movie will be released on home video on December 8th and I had planned on buying a, dvd, copy of the movie, but I cannot. You see while the film will see a home video release it will NOT be available for sale. No, the film is only available for rental at your local video store.

While I understand that a movie that was not a major release may be a financial risk to make a wide release in the home video market, a studio doesn’t have, dvd, to produce the quantity of copies that a release like Star Trek might need. A major release may, dvd, see 20-50 copies of a movie in a store you would only need the bare minimum 3-5 copies. You can’t sell a movie that you don’t put, dvd, in a store.

Maybe I’m among a small few that are looking forward to the lesser known title because I’m a fan of Paramount?

At, dvd, the very least make the title available for sale in the online marketplace. If you are producing copies of a movie for rental you can have some of them available for sale. The only way I can buy a copy of the movie is to wait for my local Blockbuster to sell, dvd, their used copies of the movie. Money that won’t be going into the studio’s pocket, unfortunately.

So what will fix the floundering home entertainment market? I’m not going to proclaim that I have the answer,, dvd, but at the very least these suggestions could help. First make the ’special edition’ the norm and do away with the stripped featureless ‘regular edition.’ Secondly make all titles available for sale somewhere. If I can’t go into my local Wal-Mart to buy a copy at least let me buy it on Amazon.com.

Check back soon at http://www.paramount-pictures-films.blogspot.com for more about Paramount Pictures!

List Price: $39.99 Price: $10.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 28 new or used available from $10.00 Average customer review:

Free Shipping and Buy Now!



List Price: $39.99 Price: $10.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 27 new or used available from $10.00 Average customer review:

Free Shipping and Buy Now!

I would like to thank everyone for the great support that we’ve received for our Health & Wellness blog. I appreciate the comments and feedback on all of our articles to date.

Based on the growth and support we’ve received, I have decided to take our Health & Wellness blog to the next level, and offer more services (you can now subscribe via RSS Feed or email in the upper right corner of the blog). We have moved our blog to our company server so we can continue to grow.

To subscribe to the new blog, simply click on http://www.paramountcommunications.net/blog/

It all began last November. I was going about my life when one morning while doing stretches before a run, I got dizzy. Real dizzy. I thought it was odd, and tried to brush it off. Until it happened again. And again. It was almost always when I was laying down. The room would start spinning. I also had a “full” sensation in my ears, like they needed to be popped.  And I felt out of balance. Alarmed, I called my awesome internist, who got me in immediately.

She told me she thought it was an ear infection, that it would eventually clear up, and to call her if it did not. I patiently waited, but the dizziness and imbalance were worsening, and since it was happening every time I lay down, it was making sleep difficult. Weeks of dizziness, imbalance and no sleep began to wear on me and then worry and anxiety began to set in.  Since my line of work involves medicine and I work with multitudes of physicians of various specialties, I began to fear it was something more serious and began conjuring up various diagnoses. The good and bad of working in the medical world!  This of course fueled the anxiety even  more, which was fueled by lack of sleep, with a hefty dose of dizziness thrown in daily. One was feeding the other.  Of course I was researching vertigo on the internet and was stunned at my findings.

The treatments I found all involved prescription medications, anti-anxiety drugs and other powerful drugs. People who posted their experiences were depressed, scared, had lost jobs over it, were worn out, and were on drugs that knocked them into a semi-coma! I was terrified that I was going to have to get on some powerful medication.  A friend of mine told me she had vertigo and was on a medication that “knocked her out for 18 hours”…..that was not what i wanted!

I went back to my Internist who said it was time I see an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist. I then called Presley Mock, M.D., one of the best otolaryngologists in Dallas. I was half-expecting him to prescribe me drugs.  I was still afraid it was something very serious. After running extensive tests, Dr. Mock diagnosed me with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), probably caused from the ear infection.   He prescribed Vestibular Rehab.  What the heck is that, I wondered? That’s when I met Connie Thomason, with Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, who is the most  knowledgeable, wonderful Occupational Therapist who is medically certified to treat this specific disorder through physical rehabilitation.

By the time I met Connie, I had experienced daily vertigo & sleeplessness for almost two months, it had ruined my holidays, and it had taken a toll. I was a basket case. Connie assured me that very first day that it was treatable by a series of maneuvers called the “Canalith Repositioning Procedure” (CRP),  or “Epley Maneuver” named for the inventor, Dr. Epley.  It has an 80% cure rate! I also should add that Connie reinforced to me that vertigo is “extremely debilitating and disruptive to one’s life.”  I could certainly attest to this!”  She told me that people are often prescribed “anti-vertigo” medications that are only a Band-Aid, not a cure. These only suppress the vertigo for awhile, leaving the patient drowsy and feeling  out of it.

BPPV occurs when small crystals in the ear get displaced in the inner ear canal sending false signals to our brain, thus causing vertigo & imbalance. These “ear rocks” are actually small crystals of calcium carbonate.  The goal of the Epley Maneuver is to reposition the ear rocks in the ear canal.  These maneuvers involve a series of specifically patterned head and trunk movements performed by a trained professional like Connie, who closely watch eye movements with each position change.  It is done in the office in about 15 minutes! I was given specific instructions to ensure that the repositioned crystals stayed intact along with some home exercises. The dizziness was gone immediately and the imbalance feeling was gone in a few weeks with the exercises.

Here’s a web site with illustrations of the Epley maneuvers:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/bppv.html

Another very informative web site is the Vestibular Disorders Association:

http://vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/treatment/canalith-repositioning.php

I have talked to so many people about this safe, effective, non-drug treatment for vertigo and am surprised at how many people don’t know about it, including some physicians.  So, if you are experiencing the terrifying effects of vertigo and imbalance disorders, please know there is help. The VDA website above can help you find a trained medical professional in your area to treat you with the Epley maneuver.

I hope this helps! Have you or someone you know experienced vertigo? Let me hear from you. Share your comments!

ESSO – New Home (Produced by Woody)

When I was approached about doing this song, I was definitely excited by the opportunity, and then something kinda odd happened. I went to LA to work with my Producer Woody who recently moved back to Cali, and ended up staying in a newly renovated loft building in Downtown Los Angeles very much like The Dante. I started to feel like I was already in the show, being that I was staying in a building that was kinda odd itself and so I wrote the song as if I was just another resident in The Dante. As I watched the episodes and got into the storyline, it made it easier and easier to imagine myself as a part of the show. I thought to myself “I really want to be a part of this” and I’m glad that the song has been as well received as it has so far. New Years Eve isn’t that far away…let’s see if they decide to invite me to New Years Eve at The Dante…

Imagine That Standard DVD

What if your daughter’s imagination was the secret to your success? When a highly competitive money mogul (Eddie Murphy) finds his financial kingdom slipping, he turns to his 7-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi) and her fantasy world of imaginary princesses for help. Embarking on a whirlwind journey of comic proportions, father and daughter are about to discover that sometimes all you need is a little imagination – and a lot of love. SRP $39.99

Angels & Demons 2 Disc Extended Edition DVD

The team behind the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code returns for the highly anticipated Angels & Demons, based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by Akiva Goldsman and David Koepp.

When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati – the most powerful underground organization in history – he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization’s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival. SRP $29.99

Actividad Paranormal

Terror. Sobrenatural / SINOPSIS: Una joven pareja feliz de clase media es atormentada por un espíritu demoníaco. Micah y Katie son una pareja de jóvenes de vida normal. Ella es una estudiante próxima a graduarse de profesora, y él es un corredor de bolsa que trabaja desde su casa. Llevan tres años viviendo juntos en una casa que hasta ahora parecía que era todo normal, hasta que comienzan a aparecer fenómenos extraños paranormales… Film casero de bajísimo presupuesto -apenas 11.000 dólares- que consiguió casi 8 millones de dólares de recaudación en su primer fin de semana en USA, superando los 84 millones hasta la fecha -y poniéndose líder de taquilla en su 5ª semana-. Tras visionarla Steven Spielberg, su productora Dreamworks accedió a distribuirla, y por su parte la Paramount realizó una campaña online en la que prometía estrenarla en más cines si así lo pedían los internautas, llegando a firmar cientos de miles de usuarios. Por si fuera poco ha conseguido buenas críticas de los medios. El resultado es ya la película más rentable de la historia del cine, y otro éxito de márketing viral sobre un film de terror de bajo presupuesto -véase “Halloween” o “El proyecto de la bruja de Blair”- (FILMAFFINITY)

Microsoft lance,en Belgique, le service Zune au travers de sa console de jeux Xbox 360. Le joueur de Xbox 360 Live pourra désormais downloader des films streaming en qualité HD. Microsoft a un accord avec les principaux distributeurs de film (Paramount, Universal, MGM et Warner Brothers) et devient par conséquent un concurrent direct à Telenet et Belgacom TV. Les video seront disponibles au moment de leur sortie en DVD.

Todos los lectores de este blog conocerán seguramente el programa Spotify, una aplicación que permite escuchar una ingente cantidad de música de forma gratuita y sin la necesidad de descargarla, vía streaming (si alguien no lo conoce, que eche un vistazo a este artículo de nuestros compañeros de Ràdios Veïnes).

Pues con la misma esencia de Spotify, y también proveniente de los países nórdicos, llega Voddler, un programa que permite ver cine en streamig. Voddler está en fase beta desde el 1 de julio, y se está estrenando en los países escandinavos antes de su lanzamiento mundial. Funcionará en las tres plataformas principales (Windows, Mac y Linux).

Interfaz de Voddler.

De momento solo es accesible desde Suecia, y ya son 70.000 los usuarios que lo han probado con éxito. Ahora mismo hay 800 películas disponibles, entre ellas algunas de las productoras Disney y Paramount, que están trabajando para ampliar ese catálogo.

Cuando se compruebe que este nuevo programa funciona correctamente la idea es ofrecerlo en Europa e Estados Unidos. Además, parece que también se esta desarrollando el mismo software para iPhone y iPod Touch.

La mayor traba que parece tener este nuevo sistema de cine on-line es proporcionar el vídeo con una calidad de imagen decente (los usuarios ya no nos conformamos con una imagen pixelada y oscura) a una velocidad suficiente que no convierta el visionado en una tortura.

En cualquier caso, en España todavía tendremos que esperar para comprobar si Voddler revoluciona nuestra forma de ver cine en Internet, como Spotify ha revolucionado la forma de escuchar música.

#1: MLS#98420690, New, asking $239,900 on 2953 E Fratello St., Meridian, Idaho (ID), Tuscany Messina Meadows subdivision, 1886 Sq. Ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.0 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.18 acres, built in 2010. New plan offered by Schroeder Enterprises! Kitchen offers stainless steel appliances, slab granite counter tops, full tile back splash, custom cabinets, and hardwood floors in kitchen, dining and entry. 14′ entry, 9′ ceilings throughout. Master bath has dual vanities, tile flooring and counter tops, tile shower. Gas fireplace, coffered ceilings, sun valley texture. Fully landscaped, full vinyl fencing, covered rear patio.
More Detail Here.

#2: MLS#98420746, New, asking $299,975 on 2286 S Cabo Place, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Meridian Greens subdivision, 2500 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.31 acres, built in 2000. SINGLE LEVEL with 42 x 16 INGROUND POOL! Open floor plan with high ceilings, living room, family room, 2 dining areas all look out on the East-facing backyard/pool area. Gas fireplace, built in bookshelves and French doors. Split floor creates a master suite get away with separate access to patio/pool. The kitchen is an entertainment area set up for the discriminating host. Office can be converted to 4th bedroom. Granite pool.
More Detail Here.

#3: MLS#98420699, New, asking $133,891 on 4216 S Rangewood Way, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Bellingham Park subdivision, 1215 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.0 bathrooms, 2-car garage, 0.12 acres, built in 2009. The Berkley 1215 is perfect for the first time homeowner or empty nester. Spacious living room & kitchen areas, comfortable master bedroom with master bath & walk-in closet. Come check it out today!Includes front sod, front sprinklers, bark, 1 tree and wing fencing. RCE-923 *PHOTO SIMILAR*
More Detail Here.

#4: MLS#98420646, New, asking $315,000 on 6164 N DeMille, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Paramount subdivision, 2894 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.25 acres, built in 2006. Great single level with a large bonus room & full bath upstairs ( has bath & closet could be fourth bedroom). Split bdrm. plan plus a den. Large great room with corner fireplace. The huge master suite, great room, dining & patio all face East with an unobstructed view of the Boise Front. Beautiful kitchen in dark cherry & stainless appliances. A class residence with a great address in the finest subdivision in Boise.
More Detail Here.

#5: MLS#98420677, New, asking $299,900 on 693 E Silver Torch, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Saguaro Canyon subdivision, 2926 Sq. Ft., 5 bedrooms, 3.0 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.20 acres, built in 2006. Short sale. Wonderful home, well maintained, loaded with upgrades, main floor master & their is also a room that can be an office or a guest room on the main floor. This house has a wonderful open plan, with a large kitchen & nook. Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms & a large bonus room. This house has upgraded landscaping & it is located next to the park area, where all the playground equipment is. It is close to the bus stop.
More Detail Here.

#6: MLS#98420714, New, asking $149,500 on 1486 E Ringneck Dr., Meridian, Idaho (ID), Pheasant Pointe subdivision, 1550 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.0 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.19 acres, built in 1995. Short sale. Wonderful opportuntiy to get a super clean & ready to move into 3bed 2bath home in a quiet community at below market price. Includes, refrigerator, shed & security system. Master bedroom access to covered porch with misting system & wired for hot tub, huge yard with plenty of mature shade trees. Ceiling fans, tons of storage & lots more. Short Sale.
More Detail Here.

#7: MLS#98420744, New, asking $190,000 on 2909 W Astonte Ct., Meridian, Idaho (ID), Bridgetower Sub subdivision, 1977 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.0 bathrooms, 2-car garage, 0.13 acres, built in 2006. Short sale. House is only 3 yrs old & in immaculate condition, great opportunity to get into desirable neighborhood at a fantastic price. patio home has all the upgrades (see upgrade list) incl separate finished Casita in courtyard entrance, prefect for home office/work-out rm, formal dining w/fireplace, enjoy the tranquil sounds of your water feature in the professionally designed backyard. Liberal use of windows to maximize natural lighting, Hickory hardwood flrs, granite kitchen counters cherry cabinets,
More Detail Here.

#8: MLS#98387932, Price Change, asking $148,950 on 5308 N Cortona Way, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Verona subdivision, 1575 Sq. Ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2-car garage, 0.17 acres, built in 2004. Short sale. This two-story home has nice finishes and a large, fully fenced yard. One bedroom with half bath downstairs makes a great office. Separate living room and family room. Lots of windows for great light. Fantastic community pools and parks. Immediately available.
More Detail Here.

#9: MLS#98420703, New, asking $150,916 on 4275 S Rangewood Way, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Bellingham Park subdivision, 1642 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2-car garage, 0.12 acres, built in 2010. The Buxton has a large living area open to the kitchen and dining room. Very large master has great walk-in closet off of the master bath. Also features a large loft area at the top of the stairs and right off of the guest bedrooms. Come check it out today! Includes front sod, front sprinklers, bark, 1 tree and wing fencing. RCE-923 *PHOTO SIMILAR*
More Detail Here.

#10: MLS#98420705, New, asking $199,000 on 2586 N Larchmont Ave, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Breinholt subdivision, 2179 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.0 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.15 acres, built in 2007. Short sale. This is a great house. It has granite counter tops. Lots of extra space. Nice bonus room. The garage is a large 3 car garage. Wonderful neighborhood. A lot of space for your dollar.
More Detail Here.

#11: MLS#98418984, Price Change, asking $269,900 on 6057 N Booth, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Paramount subdivision, 2747 Sq. Ft., 4 bedrooms, 3.0 bathrooms, 3-car garage, 0.24 acres, built in 2006. Short sale. Great Home in the Paramount Sub. Granite counter tops, and hardwood throughout kitchen and entry. This home features formal living and dining rooms. Upstairs bonus room could be used as a bedroom.
More Detail Here.

#12: MLS#98420721, New, asking $184,900 on 3116 E Siduri, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Sageland subdivision, 2359 Sq. Ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2-car garage, 0.11 acres, built in 2005. Very stylish Kastera home in great location with esy access to downtown Meridian and Interstate. Lots of amenities, including granite counterops in kitchen and baths, extensive hardwood flooring, stainless appliances, and beautiful tiles accents. Fully landscaped, with auto sprinklers. Great den on main floor easy for home office.
More Detail Here.

#13: MLS#98397767, Price Change, asking $269,000 on 2799 S Beartooth Way, Meridian, Idaho (ID), Bear Creek subdivision, 3801 Sq. Ft., 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 4-car garage, 0.28 acres, built in 2002. Short sale. With some TLC this home would have it all. Large lot, tons of space. HUGE potential.
More Detail Here.

Streaming Media West is in full swing.  With 150 speakers and 40 sessions, it is a real treat that all the videos will soon be posted at StreamingMedia.com. The video to my Commonwealth Club Smarter TV event from earlier this week will also soon be available on FORA.tv.  Between the two events, there was much discussion about the features (entertainment, social, commerce) of the connected devices and their ability to serve as monetization platforms for indie content, so this post is dedicated to providing a short synopsis of what was discussed and an overview of the market offerings.

Xbox 360
- 16mm consoles in North America, 33mm worldwide
- 1.5mm active before and after the Superbowl
- starting at $199 plus subscription to Xbox LIVE
- 25,000 pieces of content via Netflix (17,000) and Zune Marketplace
(Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony, MGM, Disney, ABC, CBS, NBCU, TBS, MTV, WB)
- Indie games get 70/30 split on XBLA via creators.xna.com/en-US
- Indie content best path to Xbox is via New Video, a Zune aggregator
- The Guild, Xbox chart-topping show, was a direct deal
- Magical friending features allow 8 Xbox LIVE living rooms linked to watch same shows, also integrating FB photos, Twitter, Last.fm
- Xbox is working toward a remoteless future with Project Natal
(per Marc Whitten, Xbox @ SMW talked about going from one to many to many to many, the channel of one, from audience to community, from programming guide to contextual search and social discovery with ratings and recommendations, tapping into the 300mm FB users, and 25mm Twitter users, and 1B+ mobile phones, PC was smart then got connected, phones were connected then got smart, TVs are now smart and connected, Xbox creating a world where it all just works – gaming, internet, tv, focused on content, community, curation, control; more details at:  http://itvt.com/interview/6110/radio-microsoft-xbox-live-general-manager-marc-whitten)

Ps3*
- 8mm+ consoles in North America, 29mm consoles worldwide
- starting at $299 includes Blu-ray player, no charge for access to Net
- Sony launching Sony Online Service for movies, tv, music, books, games
- 10,000+ hours of download content, 14,400 TV shows, 2,300 movies
- 40 partners incl Netflix, Lucasfilm, Cinetic FilmBuff, ContentFilm Intl, Image Ent, MPI Media, New Video, Showtime, Starz, G4, E!, Summit Entertainment, Weinstein, HD Net, VIZ Media, FUNimation, Magnolia,
- Best path to PS3 is via New Video, aggregator for iTunes, Hulu, Zune..
- Social integration with Facebook games

Wii*
- 56mm consoles worldwide,
- Japan video service: original branded programming, CinemaNow
- no US movies or TV yet, Netflix maybe never

TiVo
- 1.6mm – 3.5mm subscribers, launched 10yrs ago
- $249 + $129/year (also bundled with cable/sat packages)
- DVR stores up to 1TB of TV, broadband features, integrated search
- 50,000+ VOD movies/tv via Netflix, Amazon, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Disney, YouTube, Rhapsody, Music Choice, Live365
- Thousands of video podcasts which indie producers can add to at:
www.tivo.com/rssvideo
- Indie producers can also get on TiVo Amazon VOD via CreateSpace.com
- no FB integration, Twitter onscreen chat, can share lists w friends
- in-show purchasing with remote related to specific ad campaigns
(per Evan Young, TiVo @ Commonwealth Club Smarter TV)

Apple TV*
- 500,000-6mm units sold, now starting at $229
- 50,000 tv episodes,175,000 podcasts, 2500+ movies
- Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Disney, WB, YouTube…
- Best path on to iTunes is via an aggregator like E1 or New Video

Boxee
- 700,000 free software downloads, expect to be at 1mm by CES
- Boxee box – partnering with TV, Blu-Ray, DVR, Game Console OEMs
- 180 partners incl Netflix, MLB, eGuiders, Pandora, Last.fm, Flickr, KidMango..
- Open SDK for indie producers to put up a channel: developer.boxee.tv
- Integrating payments platform for monetization of show content, merchandise
like having first two episodes ad-supported, buy now button for the rest of the season
- monetization should be available by summer 2009
- 2009 improve platform, grow user base, 12/7 Boxee Beta Unveiling w global search
- Cool friending feature to generate virality
(per Andrew Kippen, Boxee @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Roku
- 400,000 give or take a few hundred thousand units sold
- $79, $99, $129 wifi models sold on Roku.com and Amazon
- Netflix, Amazon, MLB, Revision3, Twit.tv, Blip.tv, Mediafly
- Open SDK enables any indie producer to launch own channel
- not about social interaction, no merchandising
(per Jim Funk, Roku @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Vudu
- 100,000 units sold starting at $150
- now licensing to LG, Mitsubishi, Vizio
- On-Demand TV/Movies, Pandora, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa..
- Select video podcasts, RSS Feed not accepting indie content yet
(per Rob Holmes, Vudu @ SMW)

Yahoo! Connected TV
- On Samsung, Sony, LG, soon Vizio (WiFi TV), Toshiba (DVD player)
in 13 different countries, remote with slider keyboard
- CBS, Y! Finance, eBay, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, USA Today, Twitter
- Widget SDK: http://connectedtv.yahoo.com/developer
- Leverage 70mm US and 6000 existing widgets to bring best of the web into a TV friendly environment
- No app commerce, open surf or in-show merchandising yet
(per Russ Schafer, Yahoo! Connected TV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

ZillionTV
- Entertainment and marketing service, not selling boxes
- Going through ISPs/telcos, OEMs embedded software stack, direct to consumer
- 60+ content partners including major media players:
Fox, Sony, NBCU, Disney, WB, Lionsgate, Paramount + 60 indie producers
- Self-selectable advertising play, consumer choice ad categories
- VISA rewards to allow interactive in-show purchasing with remote
- Best path to get content onto ZillionTV is content@zilliontv.tv
- And there will be a social component, fan of Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital
(per Mitch Berman, ZillionTV @ Commonwealth Club SmarterTV)

Sezmi*
-Just landed $25mm, starting trial in LA
(For more:  http://itvt.com/interview/6109/radio-sezmi-co-founder-chairman-and-president-phil-wiser)

FLO TV
- Bought Channel 55 spectrum in digital transition
- Now able to broadcast TV, no broadband capacity issues, no buffering
- 24/7 access to live sports, breaking news, hit shows, animation,
kids programming, soaps, game shows, reality, comedy, crime dramas
- CBS Mobile, (Y&R, CSI), Comedy Central (quick ht snacking)
- perishable content that offers social currency where live matters
- viewers watch on average 30min/day more than Hulu at 9min/day
- 900min/month more than the average voice minutes used per month
- Peaks at 1pm, stays relatively consistent 2-10pm
- 7/7/09 MJ Memorial 49minutes, most viewed in history of FLO TV
- most watch 150hrs/month, 120-180hrs range,
95% broadcast, 5% on demand
- In the top 100 cities in the US
- ATSCMH standard, DVR capability more of a rights issue
- FLO TV is standard in Japan, not using US technology
- Can’t disclose current subscriber #s, many millions split
between ATT and Verizon
- 99% subscription based, not ad supported model
- Projecting 43mm mobile tv users by 2013, 67mm by 2019
- Focusing on mobile, personal tvs and auto-entertainment
- 3″ PTV is $249, $10/month (first 6m free with purchase)
- working on monthly passes, day passes, event passes
- Established content delivers the comfort and safety of brands they know
- Original content like LXD, Amanda Congdon’s SometimesDaily
keeps them coming back for more
- Path for indie content on to FLO TV incl MyDamnChannel
- FLO TV might be integrated in nexgen iPhone
- No plans for a 20″ FLO TV but great alternative to cable
(per Bill Stone, FLO TV @ SMW)

*not present at SMW or Smarter TV

NATPE, 1/25-28
NATPE, beloved trade association that champions content deal flow, was onsite as well interesting new media companies in being showcased at the NATPE Market in Vegas in January.  The show will have a featured section for the Connected Home, and qualified exhibitors are being offered face time with major media players, venerable press outlets, and possibly even brand sponsors.  For more information, visit www.natpemarket.com, check out our NATPE LATV Fest coverage, or contact evie@natpe.org for exhbitor opportunities.

Back to the party
The party is still going strong tonight with the Reader’s Choice Awards and performance by VJ remixers Eclectic Method.  You can watch it via live stream.  And tomorrow, Epix kicks off the morning keynote which will be streamed live as well, then its another full day of programming.  In addition, there is a sizable show floor with a demo stage and rows and rows of exhibitors.  Check out Google’s little plush googlers. who won Content NOW’s Best of Schwag.  And be sure to stop by Tandberg for their timeshifting keychain and remote mints and Microlink for their pocket frisbees.  End of day, the remarks from Epix will be posted along with those from Revision3, MTV, Next New Networks, FUNimation, Tubemogul, and Electric Farm.  And then when the SMW video posts I’ll circle back on yesterday’s sessions with Hot Topic and HBO Broadband. Many thanks to conference director Dan Rayburn who embraces his attendees, offering them his cell number, free industry analyses and business development introductions. He was an enormous help to me with my Smarter TV event and this post.  He lives and breathes the stuff, and it shows.  Check out his post on the market:
http://blog.streamingmedia.com/the_business_of_online_vi/2009/09/breakdown-on-the-number-of-broadband-enables-devices-sold-in-the-us.html

It was a rainy day in November. A day not unfamiliar to many business travelers. But, this day was different, the destination was not the goal. It was the journey that was to hold center stage, bathed in a moving bicoastal spotlight, through an immersive marketing engagement with both social, as well as other, media.

"to know me is to fly with me" (Ryan Bingham, Up in the Air)

Recently, I had the unique opportunity to look at various cross-promoted products by way of film and social media and speak with many of the people behind them when I, as a VIP Guest, was…

• invited to an exclusive cross-country private screening of Paramount Pictures’ film "Up in the Air," staring George Clooney, (a great, funny, emotional, must-see movie <– for those who know me know this is VERY high praise)
• while enjoying free GoGo InFlight Wi-Fi,
• on American Airlines,
• with an overnight stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport.

And, out of this very awesome bicoastal adventure, I found many lessons that can benefit all in the marketing and promotion of their own products, in both online and offline worlds.

It started like this…

Saturday, November 14
3:50 PM, The Terminal
This airline terminal, of American Airlines, has now filled with many different types of people, from such industries as movie, journalism, technology, business, etc., all contributing to the pervasive spirit of reserved elation and excitement – as networking and introductions ensued, in wait for a nice, bubbly party.

4:10 PM, Taxiing Begins
… for our scheduled 4 PM flight as I scour underneath rows of seats looking for the elusively scattered, power plug. Being sure to, like in the "Up in the Air" movie premiere we are about to be party to, not overlook these quirks that many the frequent traveler grows to not loath, but rather welcome as numbering among those endearing qualities that cement one’s affections for another, or makes that quirky place, even one as transient as air travel, the experience, altogether, your home.

It is this sentiment that the movie seeks to capture, and does so superbly. It is this experience, and many more, the traveler’s experience, that resulted in American Airlines’ substantial involvement in this project.

 

4:21 PM, Lift-off
It starts off a rainy day as the journey begins, flying into the thick of clouds. The darkness brought about soon, rapidly disappears as the plane emerges into the dusty blue sky, with hints of setting sun. The sounds, the dull roar of peace settling over the cabin as the festivities, the reason for this journey, are about to begin.

 

Here, everyone is a stranger, much like typical business travel with which we are all most familiar. Although, in this case, invited by either American Airlines or Paramount.

And, it ended like this…

7:29 PM, Touch-down
… 11 minutes ahead of schedule!

    

Sunday, November 15
4:45 AM (next day), Breakfast @ Hilton
… consisting of a turkey sandwich and a venti white mocha.

6:03 AM, Return
I began my journey back to NYC, the final leg of this adventure, by heading back to the airport in preparation for my un-delayed, non-VIP, Economy class flight.

First Class Experience

… from my vantage point in Economy class on this AA Charter flight. American Airlines’ social media program is still somewhat new, making for a great study subject. I started out by sitting down with American Airlines’ Billy Sanez, Director of Corporate Communications and Advertising & Promotions, and Chris Vary, Social Media Director, to begin my look into the inner workings and sharable lessons of this event.

On Social Media Strategy

American Airlines (AA) identifies two basic social media types that they seek to reach out to…

• the very engaged / engaging individual, and
• the reader / listener.

In the process of attracting these individuals, they ‘follow a lot of people,’ …

• targeting following customers, as well as what they follow,
• cultivating friendships with communities that are friends with their passengers.

Billy refers to all this as "family building." By doing so, they see themselves as creating a community of engaged people. Their social media goal is in building a community consisting of people "with real voices and opinions" who "talk about it (AA), enjoy it (AA), tell us (AA) how to fix it (AA)."

On the "Up in the Air" Movie and Premiere

Among American Airlines’ considerations for getting involved in this project were they…

• felt the story was "real," and the people of AA, and in-turn, their customers, could easily relate to the story, travel quirks and all, and
• saw the overall project as a great way to show off their product, what they do — that they can take "him" (Ryan Bingham, the main character in the movie and on the broader stage, the generic traveler) there.

On Pitfalls to Avoid & Advice

Some great advice Billy Sanez had for others seeking to launch a social media initiative boiled down to commitment.

Launching a social media initiative should be done because it is good for business, meets the needs of the business and product, not because it is cool, not because everyone else is doing it, not because you feel like you have to do it.

For American Airlines, the social media initiative is a great way for them to reach out to target audiences across a diverse array of channels that the various social media participants represented, everything from business and entrepreneurial, to fashion and consumer electronics.

When launching a social media initiative the company "must commit to it." You are setting yourself up for failure if you do not approach the social media initiative as a long-term strategy — much more than a brief initiative for a single event.

Being committed to a social media initiative is more than planning for the long-term, but also making sure to have the proper and sufficient resources behind it. For example, having enough resources to monitor all the content out there that pertains to your product, can be seen as a good start.

Lessons from 20,000 Ft

This successful move premiere was driven by a very effective social media campaign and all-encompassing event. Some takeaways that everyone with a product can learn from this strategy are:

Smart

• Create an immersive product experience.

Most effective about this first ever movie premiere in the air was the totally immersive experience that they, American Airlines and Paramount Pictures, sought to envelope everyone in, simultaneously reaching out to and leveraging diverse social media communities. I became the main character in the movie, I was Ryan Bingham (George Clooney)!

Immersing the user, or event participants, in the product experience makes more relevant the product’s characteristics, its benefits, its purpose for existing, while founding a strong and lasting emotional connection.

• Leverage diverse social media communities.

The organizations behind this event did not limit themselves to movie and celebrity outlets. They reached out to key community participants and buzz makers across a variety of industries, a variety of market influences. In addition to myself, some of the other opinion makers at the event were…

Sherri Smith
Specializing in Consumer Electronics, Video Games
From Black Web 2.0

Samantha Ewers
Specializing in Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment
From I’m Not Obsessed!

Tom Limongello
Specializing in Mobile, Advertising, Business
From The Upper Westside Journal

Alex Billington
Specializing in Movies, Hollywood
From First Showing

By not limiting themselves to only the generic movie channels, American Airlines and Paramount were able to reach out to a much broader audience, generate more buzz across more spheres of influence. Anywhere there were individuals primed for either or all products being promoted, American Airlines and Paramount Pictures, increased their chances of reaching them.

Should Do

The products of American Airlines and Paramount Pictures where excellently showcased and thoroughly enjoyed by all at this premiere in the air. Some steps that can be taken to further build upon these successes are…

…as to the event…

• Have a pre-flight get together to introduce key players, American Airlines and Paramount responsible for assembling this trip, and those who will be available throughout the course of the event, as well as their VIP guests, and consider even allowing for a brief group Q&A to get the reporting and social media juices flowing.
• One of the parts of this trip that everyone was talking about, and I was particularly looking forward to, was the live in-flight concert by Sad Brad. Disappointingly, while I could clearly see Brad, hearing the concert on the plane proved impossible for all but those sitting right next to him. But, this quirk of air travel, and of trying something new, and something that should definitely be attempted again, provided a good learning experience — such as testing out the more technically challenging components of the trip beforehand. It would have been great to have been able to listen to the concert by plugging our goodie bagged Bose QC 15 headphones into the entertainment system.
• An often overlooked aspect of scheduling social media events is the "down time" for the participants to engage their social media audiences, work on their article writing, etc. For this event it would have been very helpful to have had built-in down time at the hotel, the night of the event, as well as the day after for writing and posting, before sending everyone on their way home — exhausted from the travel, thereby delaying the desired product buzz building.

…as to the target audiences…

• While I had access to Wi-Fi on my flight back from LAX to JFK, I did not have access to power. And, without access to power I would not be able to avail myself of the Wi-Fi or get much work done on my bicoastal flight, like working on this article. For both the event and the audiences being targeted by the event’s products, the biggest ‘Should Do’ relates to access to power. Prior to takeoff on the first leg of the trip, I was able to secure power, but only after crawling around on my hands and knees looking for the seemingly, randomly placed power outlet (my assigned seat, as well as its row, did not have an outlet). If you are targeting business travelers, social media types (the creators as well as the readers) your perks need to consist of more than Wi-Fi, but must include power at EVERY seat, not scattered throughout.
• Providing free Wi-Fi is essential, and was successfully accomplished. Beyond the necessity of easy access to power for such devices as laptops and cell phones, essential on a non-stop bicoastal adventure, it is worth considering, to encourage people to engage their audiences better by…
  • advising people to spread out their coverage over days / weeks, leveraging various familiar mediums (e.g. text and pictures) and their respective services (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.) to further support the buzz building, and
  • depending on budget and other capabilities, provide devices that encourage posting, twitter devices, Internet enabled digital cameras already connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi, etc.; because the more effort your remove from the process, the broader and more sustained will be the coverage received.

Supporting

Of all the perks and quirks surrounding this adventure, of all the planning and preparation done on all sides, at the end of the day, it came down to the core, the support, the backbone that made everything run smoothly, with which I was most impressed. I do a great deal of traveling for my consulting and have had many an unpleasant and apathetic encounter with customer support. On both this trip, as well as my standard Economy class flight back to NYC, as well as when I had to call the 800# to make last minute travel changes, the customer support, the flight attendants, were entirely and consistently helpful and attentive from one coast to the other, and back again.

No matter what your product is, no matter how cool the immediate event is, always remember that it is the support infrastructure that your clients, your product’s users, often most frequently interact with, that sets the tone for the overall product experience, leaves a lasting, influential impression, that will have a direct impact on current and future opinions is the customer support.

Your social media endeavors and product events pale in relation to having a sound support infrastructure, cheerful, accessible, helpful individuals, like American Airlines’ Jenny Harrington, there to help your product’s consumers throughout their product experience. Every product needs at least one Jenny Harrington.

"warm reminders that I am home" (Ryan Bingham, Up in the Air)

Fly, Fly Again

I turn down requested product reviews on this blog all of the time, but this one, universally unique, had me at ‘movie premiere on an airplane’. My advice to other companies looking to replicate much of what was done here …

be immersive,
encourage social media engagement, and
foster emotional ties between the product and those participating

… in your product campaigns and announcements and you will be able to have similar, repeatable successes as was done at the "Up in the Air" movie premiere with American Airlines and Paramount Pictures as we flew from JFK to LAX.

Also, I’d love to know how the lessons from this experience have benefited you and your product, or changed the way you are thinking about your next marketing / promotional endeavors. Leave a comment, email me, tweet me.

Enjoy & Share!

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy

Add to Social Bookmarks:

"When it's cooking it's cooking......they have the nuclear suit case bomb..."

When the President of the United States is caught with his pants down and charged with sexual misconduct, it’s up to his spin doctors to change public perception. Sound familiar? “Wag the Dog,” loosely structured from Larry Beinhart’s novel “American Hero,” is a darkly comic film that had the good fortune of being released when real life events in the Oval Office seemed to mirror events on the screen.

When “Wag The Dog” came out America was in the grip of the President Clinton Impeachment. Do you all remember it? What you may not remember is that why America was glued to C-SPAN, what was really going on was NAFTA.

The North American Free Trade Agreement. Ross Perot was the champion who shouted from every hill in America via Television….not to sign it. It lead to NAFTA and now you have the Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America. Basically merging Canada, America and Mexico.

So what better way to keep the American people pre-occupied was simple. What was it? Keep real footage of the over 1 Million plus Iraq’s who were murdered for no reason because there were no weapons of mass destruction.

"Please support me by going to the mall shopping!"

Not only did Americans not see what was really happening in the middle east on television the way Americans did in the vietnam war, 2003 was the same year that the banker’s sub prime lending scam started allowing any American with a home to get a refinance and to be able to pull thousand of dollars of equity out. Of our all of these loans had a variable interest rate. So yeah, your payment might start out at like 1,250.00 dollars a month but within three years you would be paying something like 3,700 dollars. I was one of the unlucky ones who took out one of these loans. There is only one thing that saved our family. What was it? We sold our home in April of 2006. In fact, it was the last home to sell in our neighborhood. Thank God for intuition.

The truth of war 2009, wake up!!

On January 20, a changing of the guard occurred in the United States White House with two-term president George W. Bush being replaced by former freshman senator Barack Obama.

Bush had continued the policies of his predecessor Bill Clinton in relation to the Balkans, Iraq and Latin America – with troops and a massive military base in Kosovo, regular bombings of Iraq and a monumental expansion of military aid to Colombia – and in addition launched two wars of his own, those against Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq two years later.

Reports from the first twelve days of November indicate the global scope of the first attempt in history by one nation to achieve uncontested worldwide military power.

A survey of that period will trace recent trends across the globe with the alphabet as a compass.

Afghanistan

Any day now Washington may announce plans to add 40,000 or more troops to the 68,000 already there. [2] Plans are underway to accommodate that influx.

The American military compound at and fanning out from the Bagram Air Field has been expanded from 3,993 to 5,198 acres since 2001 and is in the process of further enlargement. It already hosts some 25,000 U.S. troops and contractors and “a new parking ramp supporting the world’s largest aircraft is to be completed this spring….[I]t is continuing to grow to keep up with the requirements of an escalating war and troop increases.” [3]

Regarding non-military personnel at Bagram and elsewhere in the nation, “Contractors in Afghanistan outnumber U.S. troops there” [4] as they do in Iraq.

The Army Times recently reported on the main purpose of the airbase at Bagram. Last month the number of U.S. and NATO air strikes in Afghanistan was the highest since July of 2008, with 647 bombs dropped in October compared to 752 a year ago July. “The airstrike numbers don’t include strafing runs, attacks by special operations AC-130 gunships, launches of small missiles or helicopter attacks.” [5]

Africa

A U.S. Defense Department news source reported on November 5 that Air Forces Africa commanders visited Mali and Senegal in West Africa. Vice commander Michael Callan “visited Mali’s 33d Parachute Regiment, a unit that carries out operations using tactical vehicles and communication equipment provided by the U.S. Defense and State Departments.” The Malian military is involved in a counterinsurgency war in the nation’s north aided by Washington.

A commander of Mali’s armed forces said, “Ninety-five percent of our soldiers were trained by the U.S, and we’ve engaged with you in exercises like Flintlock, Joint Planning and Assessment Teams and special bilateral training.” [6] Flintlock military exercises have been held in different locations on the African continent for years, this year’s being conducted by the new Africa Command (AFRICOM) for the first time. The U.S. also recently led multinational military exercises in Gabon and Uganda on both ends of the continent. [7]

The USS San Juan, “a fast-attack submarine,” arrived in South Africa on November 4, “setting the stage for a series of first-ever, at-sea engagements with the South African Navy submarine force.” [8]

Armenia

Robert Simmons [9], NATO’s special representative to the South Caucasus and Central Asia – former Senior Adviser to the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs on NATO – was in this South Caucasus nation earlier this month and announced that he had recruited an initial contingent of Armenian troops for the war in Afghanistan. This marks the first deployment to that nation of soldiers from the Russian-led seven-nation Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a potential counterbalance to NATO in post-Soviet space.

“Simmons expressed NATO’s ‘appreciation to Armenia for its strong contributions’ to alliance missions, which he said began in Kosovo and will now be repeated in Afghanistan.” [10]

In reference to his mission of pulling yet another Russian ally into the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization orbit, Simmons said, “We are continuing cooperation with the Armenian Defense Ministry. NATO assists the implementation of reforms and the development of strategically important documents.” [11]

Baltic Sea

After participating in NATO war games off the coast of Scotland, the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole paid visits to the capitals of Finland and Estonia in the Baltic Sea. “Cole hosted a reception in Helsinki, which was joined by Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples.

“Immediately following the departure from Helsinki, Cole arrived in Tallinn, Estonia, a few hours later.” [12]

The beginning of this month the guided-missile frigate USS John L. Hall with sailors of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 48 “completed a theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit to Klaipeda, Lithuania.”

A U.S. Navy official stated: “We are here as part of the United States Navy’s continuing presence in the Baltic Sea….We are also here to work with the Lithuanian Navy, who has been a valuable partner and our visit here is part of the ongoing relationship between our two countries and our two navies.” [13] [14]

On November 3 Estonian Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo was at the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Associated Press reported on the occasion that he was “discussing with the United States why NATO needs plans in case his region is attacked.” [15]

Bangladesh

In early November three high-ranking American military officials arrived in the country. The three – U.S. Army Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon, Commanding General of U.S. Army, Pacific, Vice-Admiral John M. Bird, Commander of U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, and U.S. Marine Corps Major General Randolph D. Alles, Director for Strategic Planning and Policy at the U.S. Pacific Command – engaged in discussions focusing “on interoperability, readiness in the region, security-force assistance, and bilateral approaches to maintaining regional stability.” [16]

On November 12 the U.S.-led Tiger Shark military exercises to train Bangladeshi naval commandos ended. A press release on the operation stated: “The training demonstrates the United States government’s commitment to Bangladesh and to regional security by promoting military-to-military relationships throughout Asia and the Pacific.” [17]

Black Sea

The Pentagon’s European Command (EUCOM) reported on November 2 that its Joint Task Force-East had completed an almost three-month series of trainings in Bulgaria and Romania which began on August 7 and included Stryker and Airborne units destined for the war in Afghanistan. [18] “Nearly 600 members of the Romanian Land Forces, 500 Bulgarian Land Forces, and more than 1,500 U.S. service members participated in this year’s combined training.” [19]

After U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden’s visit to the country on October 22, a news source in Romania wrote of Washington’s new interceptor missile plans: “A strong and modern surveillance system located in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey could monitor three hot areas at once: the Black Sea, the Caucasus and the Caspian and relevant zones in the Middle East.” [20]

Colombia

The Obama administration signed a ten-year military treaty with the Alvaro Uribe government on September 30 which “gives American military forces access to seven Colombian army, navy and air force bases, but also to major international civilian airports in the country. In addition, U.S. personnel and defense contractors will enjoy diplomatic immunity under the agreement.” [21]

A copy of the pact surfaced on November 4 and detailed that it “allows Washington access to civilian airports as well as military bases” and as a result “the US will have access to all international airports across the Andean nation including airports in the cities of Barranquilla, San Andres, Cartagena, Bogota, Cali, Medellin and Bucaramanga.” [22]

In the initial phase an estimated 1,400 U.S. personnel will be assigned to the seven bases with the likelihood that the number will be increased as Washington sees fit. [23]

Eva Golinger observed that one of the newly acquired bases, that at Palanquero, was identified by a American Air Force document as providing the Pentagon “an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America….” [24]

Two South American nations bordering or near Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia, were not slow to respond.

Earlier this month Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stated in his weekly radio and television address that “We cannot waste one day to fulfill our mission: to prepare for war and help the people to get ready for war,” [25] warning that an armed conflict with the U.S. client regime in Bogota “could extend throughout the whole continent.” [26]

Days earlier two Venezuelan National Guard troops were killed at a checkpoint near Colombia and Caracas deployed 15,000 troops to the border.

In his November 13 address Chavez added. “Don’t make a mistake, Mr. Obama, by ordering an attack against Venezuela by way of Colombia.” [27]

On the same day his Bolivian counterpart, President Evo Morales, warned “I am convinced that where there are military bases, the social peace, the democracy and the development of the nations as well as their integration are not guaranteed. These facilities are an open provocation against the peace.”

Morales also said that he failed to comprehend how the American head of state could have been awarded the Peace Nobel Price “when his country does everything to promote wars and conflicts.

“Obama must justify that award by withdrawing all the troops of his country from around the world….” [28]

Czech Republic

Following up on his visit to Prague in late October, on November 5 U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden hosted Czech President Vaclav Klaus at the White House and “they mostly discussed the U.S. plan for a new missile defence architecture.”

The two “also talked about the situation in Afghanistan and Iran” and “Klaus said the United States knows that it is necessary to continue with the anti-missile project in Europe.” [29]

The next day U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Alexander Vershbow met with Czech defense officials in their nation to discuss new American missile plans for Eastern Europe, ones intended to be “stronger, smarter, and swifter” than the previous Bush administration version and to incorporate all of Europe under a NATO umbrella.

Vershbow characterized the content of the talks as having presented “some concrete ideas to begin that process of developing the Czech role in the new approach” and said that the Czech contribution could include “potential facilities here on the territory of the Czech Republic.” [30]

On November 4 the local press announced that “A few U.S. delegations will visit the Czech Republic in November, following up on the recent visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, including an expert military team that arrives in Prague this Friday.”

One of those delegations will include Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Ellen Tauscher, who “recently said the command for the managing and control of elements of the new version of anti-missile defence could be stationed in the Czech Republic.”

“The USA wants to build the system in cooperation with NATO.” [31]

Georgia

Earlier this week U.S. Marines completed the two-week Immediate Response 2009 military training exercises in the South Caucasus nation of Georgia. The preceding maneuvers of the same name, those of 2008 in which over 1,000 American troops participated, ended one day before Georgia started shelling neighboring South Ossetia and killed several people including a Russian peacekeeper. [32]

Days after that the U.S. client regime launched an all-out invasion of South Ossetia, triggering a five-day war with Russia.

The official purpose of this year’s exercises was to train Georgian troops to serve under NATO command in Afghanistan, but a Russian news source saw matters differently:

“Immediate Response was clearly designed not to fight against the Taliban or al-Qaeda…..Commander of US Army in Europe General Carter Ham visited Georgia to inspect the exercises but no one came from Afghanistan.

“Perhaps, the exercises were aimed at issuing a warning to Russia.” [33]

As the drills were ending Alexander Shliakhturov, chief of Russia’s military intelligence, said “that he did not rule out that Georgia might again use force against breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.” [34]

A lengthier account of Shliakhturov’s concerns appeared in the Georgian media and included these quotes:

“According to our information, Georgia is still getting military aid from Ukraine, Israel and NATO. NATO countries, especially Eastern European countries, provide Georgia with arms and equipment, Israel provides Georgia with air equipment, the USA trains Georgian troops and Ukraine provides Georgia with heavy equipment, namely, tanks.”

“The Russian Intelligence Service is addressing other dangers too, namely, the efforts being made by the USA and NATO to bring Georgia and Ukraine into the alliance and the new US plan to locate anti-missile systems in Europe.” [35]

Four days later other Russian sources revealed “that the United States plans to supply weapons, including a Patriot-3 air defense system and shoulder-launched Stinger missiles, worth a total of $100 million, to Georgia.” [36]

The next day Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov “recalled the situation in the summer of 2008 when many countries ignored Russian warnings that modern arms in Saakashvili’s hands might prompt this man to unleash military aggression.” [37]

The chief of the Russian General Staff, General Nikolai Makarov, said “Georgia is getting large amounts of weapons supplied from abroad” and “Georgian military potential is currently higher than last August [2008].” [38]

India

Shortly after the Pentagon wrapped up the largest joint U.S.-Indian military exercises ever, Yudh Abhyas [Preparation for War] – which featured the first deployment of new American Stryker armored combat vehicles outside of Iraq and Afghanistan – at the end of October [39], it was announced that “India is negotiating with the United States to acquire state of the art Javelin anti-tank missiles worth several million dollars for large-scale induction.” [40]

Days earlier former president George W. Bush was in India and called on his host nation to join in the war in Afghanistan, urging the U.S. and India to “work together to win the war in Afghanistan.” [41]

Iraq

In early November Arabic language news sources revealed that “The US military has finished erecting an advanced radar system in Iraq to monitor the border with Iran, Syria and Turkey” and that “the radar is a preparatory measure aimed at providing the United States and its allies advanced control capabilities in event of a US military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.” [42]

Korean Peninsula

The South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported on November 1 that “The US and South Korea have completed joint action plans for responding to a regime collapse and other internal emergency situations in North Korea….” [46]

Citing an unidentified South Korean official, the report contains these details:

“South Korea and the US had long worked on Concept Plan 5029, to prepare for a regime collapse and other internal emergencies in North Korea.

“Since its inauguration last year, the [South Korean President] Lee Myung-bak government has pushed to convert the concept plan into an operational plan and it was recently completed.

“If the South Korea-US combined forces intervene in North Korea’s internal instabilities, the South Korean military will assume the leading role in consideration of neighboring countries, while the US military will be responsible for the removal of the North’s nuclear facilities and weapons.” [47]

On the final day of last month Washington expressed its satisfaction at South Korea redeploying troops to Afghanistan shortly after Pentagon chief Robert Gates’ visit to Seoul and the South Korean defense ministry on October 22.

“Washington supports and welcomes South Korea’s plans to deploy troops to Afghanistan…the U.S. Department of State said.” [48]

Kosovo

This month began with former U.S. president Bill Clinton arriving in the capital of Kosovo for the unveiling of a gaudy 11-foot gold-sprayed bronze statue of himself on November 1. [49]

He was being hailed by the breakaway entity’s nominal prime minister, former Kosovo Liberation Army chieftain Hashim Thaci, for his role in launching the 78-day NATO air war against Yugoslavia in March of 1999. That sustained bombing campaign, Operation Allied Force, inaugurated the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as an active war-making machine and issued in the ten-year war cycle that continues to this day with no indication of it ever abating.

A Russian commentary of the following day put the ceremony in perspective:

“Over the course of the 10-week conflict, NATO aircraft flew over 38,000 combat missions; even the German Luftwaffe had its first taste of combat over the skies of Yugoslavia since having its wings clipped in World War II.

“The ensuing 78-day aerial bombardment campaign, which grew continuously more aggressive and reckless, spared little infrastructure: factories, bridges, roads and power stations were all bombed with deadly accuracy. As a result, thousands of innocent civilians suffered great deprivation on both sides of the battle.

“In perhaps the worst public relations disaster for NATO during the conflict, five US ’smart’ bombs severely damaged the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three Chinese journalists. NATO officials, in an effort to cool Chinese outrage, blamed the error on outdated maps. Chinese officials rejected both the apologies and explanations.” [50]

Pakistan

Over the past year the nine-year-long U.S. and NATO war in Afghanistan has been extended into Pakistan, the so-called AfPak theater of operations.

On November 4 the U.S. launched its latest drone missile attack into North Waziristan, killing two Pakistanis.

“According to independent reports, since August 2008 alone, around 70 cross-border predator strikes carried out by American drones have resulted in the death of 687 Pakistani civilians.” [51]

The Nation, a Pakistani daily newspaper, reported on November 12 that the massive increase in NATO convoys crossing the country en route to Afghanistan are overwhelming the country’s highways and that “Pakistani authorities are simply helpless in checking truckloads of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces badly damaging the Indus Highway, the repair of which would cost billions of rupees to the national exchequer….NATO trucks and trailers have not been [held accountable] even once for the repair and maintenance work, while cracks are developing on the Indus Highway after every three to four months due to overloading….” [52]

Persian Gulf

A local news sources wrote on November 9 that “The US has deployed a new expeditionary force in the Persian Gulf – the first time a permanent self-sustaining US naval force has been set up in the region.

“The newly established Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5 will serve in the area of responsibility of the US Navy 5th Fleet Combined Task Force (CTF) 51 in Manama, Bahrain,” where the entire U.S. Fifth Fleet is based. [53]

The Philippines

Two American servicemen were killed in a mine attack in Mindanao in late September, the first official deaths in the U.S.-assisted counterinsurgency war against not only the Abu Sayyaf Group but also the Moro National Liberation Front and the New People’s Army.

Filipino senators “called for the abrogation of the [Visiting Forces Agreement], saying the US Seabees killed in the explosion weren’t supposed to be there, as…the presence of the alleged land mine constitutes the area as a war zone.” [54]

Pentagon chief Robert Gates insisted earlier in the month “that some 600 US counter-terrorism troops will remain in the southern Philippines….” [55]

An opponent of the active American military involvement in the country said that “the US military has established its permanent presence in the Philippines through the auspices of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Many of the US soldiers are currently deployed in Mindanao under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines headquartered in Zamboanga City.” [56]

On November 12 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Manila after the Philippine Senate recently passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to renegotiate the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement, “which enables U.S. forces to train and assist Philippine troops” and “vowed…to continue American military support.” [57]

Poland

Before departing for the Philippines Clinton hosted Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Washington “to discuss the new anti-missile shield plan.” [58]

On the same day, November 2, U.S. Air Force personnel transferred five C-130 Hercules military cargo planes from the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to the Powidz Air Base in Poland.

A U.S. Air Force website offered these details: “Prepping Polish aircrews and maintainers for the transition to the larger Lockheed-Martin built Hercules has been accomplished with a blend of English language and specialty knowledge training at bases in Texas and Arkansas and through a type of work mentorship exchange between U.S. and Polish air force personnel….”

A Polish air force officer revealed the purpose of the U.S. transfer in stating “The main task for the C-130s is to support our contingency operations in Afghanistan, Chad, Africa and everywhere Polish troops and supplies are needed.” [59]

After NATO defense chiefs, including the U.S.’s Gates, met in Slovakia late last month and U.S. Vice President Biden visited Poland at about the same time, Warsaw announced that it was deploying 600 more troops to Afghanistan, bringing the nation’s total toward the 3,000 mark.

Sweden

Sweden’s Chief of Defense Staff General Sverker Goranson was in Washington, D.C. in early November and was interviewed by Defense News.

His nation, which has for decades presented itself as neutral, has 500 troops serving under NATO command in Afghanistan – Sweden and Finland are in charge of four northern provinces for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force – and five Swedish soldiers were injured in a roadside bomb explosion on November 11, two them seriously.

Goranson’s comments demonstrate how far from anything resembling neutrality Sweden has recently strayed:

“The transformation we are conducting is a huge turnaround, and as I told Adm. [Michael] Mullen [U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman], we know where we are going….The major shift is globalization and the fact that most of the things we are dealing with aren’t necessarily about national boundaries.

“What turned Sweden around is not focusing on national defense, but being a part of this globalized world and solving issues together, because wherever conflicts are, whether in the Balkans or Afghanistan….”

When asked about the potential for a showdown in the Arctic Circle with Russia, he spoke about starting “discussions between the United States, Norway, Denmark and Canada [all NATO members] about what are the borders….As part of the Nordic Battle Group, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark are already sharing the operational picture in the air and on the sea, and that can be extended to the High North.”

Lastly, the Swedish visitor, whose meetings included one with the U.S.’s top military commander, acknowledged: “We had a defense resolution in 1996 that said the Swedish armed forces should be completely NATO-interoperable, which is the standard we have worked to accordingly, to make sure that wherever we go, as we did to Afghanistan.” [60]

Yemen

The government of Yemen is waging military operations against Shiite rebels in the north of the country and neighboring Saudi Arabia started launching air strikes against them earlier this month.

On November 10 Yemen’s official news agency, Saba, announced that the U.S. has signed a military cooperation agreement with the nation.

The news agency also quoted Brigadier General Jeffrey Smith, the commander of the U.S. 5th Signal Command, “as renewing Washington’s support for Yemen’s unity, security and stability.” [61]

One account of the agreement was provided under the headline “Yemen, US sign military deal to fight rebels.” [62]

As the rebels are Shiite Muslims, Washington is exploiting the conflict to recruit Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations against Iran.

Yemen, on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, lies directly across from Djibouti where the Pentagon maintains its only permanent base in Africa, Camp Lemonier, and from Somalia, which U.S. warships periodically shell from the Indian Ocean.

Link: http://bit.ly/war_war_3

Läste att kineserna uttalat att man är verkligen undrande för framtiden med tanke på beteendet hos influensorna.

The ranks of Asgard are just about full! Marvel Studios reports that the Warriors Three will be joining Thor in all of his frosty battles, and as usual, Kenneth Branagh has done a bang up job with the casting. Stuart Townsend, Tadanobu Asano, and Ray Stevenson have joined the cast as Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg, respectively.

'Thor' Finds His Warriors Three!

The official announcement comes on the heels of Zachary Levi revealing to USA Weekend that he had been cast as Fandral, but was forced to drop out due to an extended Chuck workload. While I feel for Levi, I’m actually very pleased that Townsend has stepped in, as I find him to be a bit more Errol Flynnish than Levi. (Though pulling up his Google Images reveals a guy who looks a lot more dashing than Chuck Bartowski. Wow. I might have to eat my words on that.) I’m anxious to see the once-and-never Aragorn get another shot at the fantasy genre, and prove himself to be dashing.

I’m not familiar with Asano’s work beyond Mongol, but he turned in a very charismatic performance, and I’m always thrilled to see casting directors look to countries other than Northern Europe. But my heart really couldn’t beat any faster than it is at Stevenson’s casting. He’ll be perfect, and it’s awesome to see him get another shot at the Marvel Universe since it doesn’t look like we’ll ever see him return as Frank Castle. Filming begins in January 2010, and from there it’ll just be one big geeky countdown.

by Elisabeth Rappe (cinematical.com)

La Paramount también anda en compra de comedias familiares y es por eso que se animaron a comprarle una al director Jim Field Smith, el cual escribirá con el apoyo de George Kay.

El Hollywood Reporter dice que la trama aún no se devela, pero que aquellos familiarizados con el proyecto lo describen como algo parecido al nivel de comedia de “Una noche en el museo”. Aún no hay un productor designado.

Por lo mismo, la fecha de inicio aún no se da a conocer.

Funny People  Standard DVD

In Funny People, Adam Sandler (You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry) leads an all-star ensemble cast including Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up), Leslie Mann (17 Again, Knocked Up), Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad), Eric Bana (Star Trek, The Time Traveler’s Wife) and Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore), along with special cameo appearances from some of comedy’s greatest legends including Paul Reiser,  Ray Romano, Sarah Silverman, Norm Mac Donald, Dave Attell and Charles Fleisher, among others. SRP $39.99

Bruno  Standard DVD

Golden Globe-winner Sacha Baron Cohen (creator/star of Borat and Da Ali G Show) is at it again as he brings his most over-the-top character to life. Prepare yourself for non-stop laughs and outright gasps when you experience the DVD bonus features including an hour of alternate, deleted and extended scenes not shown in theatres! SRP $29.99

Dane Cook: ISolated INcident  Standard DVD

After his last two highly rated specials and multi-platinum selling albums, Dane reinvented his act and took it to the stage in front of 400 people at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. This intimate show was performed in a nightclub atmosphere where Dane shared the audience’s energy in a real-time performance, without a safety net. Here, he showcases a darker and more personal set with cutting edge material that pushes the envelope. SRP $19.99

Drawn Together: The Complete Series – Party in Your Box  Standard DVD

The Drawn Together gang is back and this time they’re bringing the party home with them. In addition to reliving your favorite episodes from all three seasons of basic cable’s most-offensive animated reality show, you and your friends can now play as each of the characters in The Drawn Together Board Game!, partake in the Get the DT’s Drinking Game, or show your inner wild child by participating in the Drawn Together Truth or Dare Game. Once you own this collection, you won’t even have to leave your basement to have a kickass party! SRP $69.99