HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2007, Part 1: NAPSTER HOLIDAY OFFER: FREE 1GB MP3 PLAYER W/ 1 YEAR NAPSTER-TO-GO SIGNUP

NO PUNDIT INTENDED: CLINTON & OBAMA (ANALYSIS)

by Don Rose

HILLARY CLINTON

She has frontrunner swagger, a huge national base, name recognition off the charts, the admiration of millions of women, and Bill. Not to mention the love of the pants suit industry. But she needs to overcome the obstacle Gore faced in 2000: how to come off less robotic. Until robots get the vote around 50 years from now, this is a must in our current human dominated society.

I mean, let's be real; when she told an Iowa debate audience she had been "touched" by their stories, there was not an ounce of true feeling in her voice. It may have been a sincere statement, but it sure didn't sound that way, and sound is what matters most, next to visuals. And since her visuals are just average, she better get sound down.

Oral arousal (no, not that kind, the speaking kind) was a talent her hubbie was a master of; Bill Clinton could make reading the phone book sound downright meaningful and from the heart. Maybe he can teach his wife his gift of aural aura, the secret of being Master Thespian of Feeling Your Pain. It would be the best holiday gift Hill could ever hope for.

BARACK OBAMA

In many respects, he seems like another Bill Clinton: rock star status, celeb pals, firm command of facts, exemplary oratory, mega magnetism. Heck, many people referred to Clinton as "the first black President," and Obama actually is half-black, which ain't half bad. There's only
one problem with a Clinton-like candidate. There already is a Clinton candidate, and
she has the real Bill Clinton in tow to boot.

So, no Obama in the White House in 2008. What he is really doing is what many great
candidates do: get their first big campaign out of the way, build a national
infrastructure, get the kinks out and run again later as a stronger, older, wiser veteran candidate.

Face it, he's too green now, even in this golden age of Green. Obama's time will come, in 2012 or 2016. Maybe by then he can get his pal Ms. Winfrey onboard as running mate, after she retires from TV in search of a new challenge. Just imagine what Letterman could do with an Obama-Oprah ticket.

T-DAY T'S: TOP TWELVE TERRIFIC THINGS TO THANK

Here is a list (in no particular order) of the Top Twelve Things (or places or people) in or about or related to Los Angeles we wish to thank this year, just for being here and being great:

1. The Beatles

The LA Report never gets tired of their music or lore. Has there ever been a band before or since with more gems per album? Or humor? We love the liner notes by Martin "Marty" Scorcese in the delightful 2-disc DVD set of "HELP!" just released this month. Want to see what inspired The Monkees TV show and Monty Python? Get "Help!" Want to OD on Beatles every Sunday morning in LA? Try KRTH FM's two 1-hour shows back to back from 8-10am, Chris Carter's always amazing Breakfast With The Beatles on KLOS FM 9-noon, and Les Perry's Meet The Beatles show on KCSN FM 10am-2pm. Want to see the place that still puts out their albums? See the landmark Capitol Records building on Vine just north of Hollywood Boulevard (where Beatle fans gather on Beatle birthdays and other dates of note).

2. Jenny Lens

See our recent post about her show at La Luz gallery. Her punk rock archive rocks. And she's super sweet.

3. Bill Maher

He's the Lenny Bruce of our generation. Like Lenny, he has been crucified for just stating his beliefs (an act which, last I checked, was supposed to be protected by something called the Constitution). Case in point: losing his ABC show Politically Incorrect over his comment re 9/11 (about who are cowards and who aren't). Losing a show called Politically Incorrect for BEING Politically Incorrect is one of the great ironies of all time. Luckily, HBO likes irony, and Bill landed there with his show Real Time. We knew he'd wind up there, because HBO has always championed comedy of all stripes, even if too truthful for advertisers.

4. The WGA

Here's to the Writers Guild, which represents the interests of all those wordsmiths who create the scripts that power the TV shows and movies (and Internet downloads) that make our increasingly-depressing real world more bearable, and can sometimes even improve lives, start movements or both. But it all starts with that blank piece of paper (real or virtual), being stared at by a writer, until the magic spills forth.

5. Little Steven's Underground Garage

Want to hear a near perfect example of a radio show? Check out this gem on KLOS FM 95.5 every Sunday, 10pm (or just after 10) til around midnite (or just after 12). Steven Van Zandt's fun style, encyclopedic knowledge of pop music, eclectic presentation of old and new indie-garage sounds - and his Freak of the Week - makes this an unmissable weekly listening event.

6. The Paley Center for Media

Formerly the Museum of Television and Radio. Thousands of radio and TV shows at your fingertips in their amazing viewing library, and daily special showings in their theatre. Periodic lectures, panels and exhibits as well. We are so lucky to have this place in LA (the other one is way over in New York).

7. Google

I always wanted thank a noun, verb, and search engine in one go. But seriously, can any of us live without them? (Okay, Yahoo, put your hand down.) (Ironic how Yahoo put their name in an ad slogan as a verb, but "Do you Yahoo?" No, you Google.) And Google has now partnered with the X-Prize folks to offer $20 million to the first person to put a robot on the moon and post its video on YouTube. Is Google cool or what?

8. Wired Magazine

We have always loved their magazine - it is simply required reading for us every month - but they do great live events, too. They just finished a very cool series of tours of a "Wired Living Home" in the Brentwood hills (now listed for $4+ million in case you want to have your own private tour every day). Even the drive up there was futuristic, as we got to enjoy the new BMW Hydrogen powered car (which runs on either gasoline or hydrogen - the latter being the most abundant element in the universe with emissions that are basically just water). The LA Report attended on Nov. 18 and fell in love with the Ray Kappe designed home, which in some ways felt reminiscent of the Eames legacy in form while being very modern and green in function (we especially loved the 3-D desktop printer in the kids room). More info: www.wired.com/wiredlivinghome.

9. The Playboy Mansion

Do we really have to justify this one? (Not to guys, anyway.) Seriously, we are so glad this place is still alive and kicking (ass). Not just because it is a testament to the rewards that can come to you for creating a radically new kind of publication (newsworthy articles plus nudesworthy arty girls!), but because they still do amazing events there, and because they have a wonderful animal sanctuary which you must see. (Tip: buy a ticket to a daytime charity event held at the Mansion -- there are several each year -- and odds are good you can see the cool creatures, as we did). Note: our Thanks list Number 3 is often seen at the Mansion (Bill being a kind of honorary heir to Hef).

10. Shout Factory

The LA-based company produces some of the greatest DVDs and DVD boxsets we have ever seen or played. Also stellar CDs. There are too many to list! Just go to www.shoutfactory.com and see what we mean.

11. Rhino

This LA-based company ALSO produces some of the greatest DVDs and DVD boxsets we have ever seen or played. And stellar CDs. Too many to list! Just go to www.rhino.com and see what we mean. (One example we will always cherish is their 70's music boxset; the original packages they sold are covered in real shag, baby! For a more recent stellar set, run don't walk to get Rhino's new cool collection, THE McCARTNEY YEARS, 3 DVDs of Macca/Wings heaven!)

12. LACMA

Last but not least is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Their exhibits are world-class (the current Dali exhibit is one example, while King Tut and Van Gogh exhibits amazed throngs of grateful museum goers in recent years). They show great films in their Bing Theatre. They are centrally located, and have easy parking nearby. And to top it off, they do amazing events, our fave being the annual Costume Ball every year during Halloween week (or should I say Halloweek?). I think their slogan should be, "I like my LACMA." (Now let's see if they use it!)

BEATLES PODCAST! "HELP!" IS ON THE WAY

To hear the first ever Beatles podcast, narrated by Monty Python's Michael Palin, do the following steps (all free):

1. Go to your favorite podcast reader program -- for example, Google Reader, at:
http://reader.google.com
2. Add a new subscription/feed, using this link:
http://www.thebeatles.com/help/assets/downloads/rss.xml
3. As new episodes of the podcast are delivered to you, play them!

So far, there are 2 episodes available. Taken together, they form a nice audio documentary about "Help!" -- shedding light on the making of the Richard Lester film, the Beatles' second movie, with many of the film's participants recalling how the motion picture was merrily made. Highly recommended by The LA Report (we can't wait for episode 3, coming soon).

About "Help!"

Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film "A Hard Day's Night," "Help!" made its theatrical debut in 1965. Two new "Help!" DVD sets were released on November 6, 2007: a 2-disc set (featuring the restored film, a disc full of bonus material, and a booklet), and a deluxe edition (with 2 discs, a book, a replica of Dick Lester's working script, and reproductions of the film's poster and theatre lobby cards). In addition, the FIRST EVER Beatles podcast is now available for free online -- a multi-part "Help!" documentary.

The film follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo's possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police. In addition to starring the Beatles, "Help!" has a witty script, a great cast of British character actors and features 7 classic Beatles tracks, including:

• ‘Help!’
• ‘You're Going To Lose That Girl’
• ‘You've Got To Hide Your Love Away’
• ‘Ticket To Ride’
• ‘I Need You’
• ‘The Night Before’
• ‘Another Girl’

TECH CHECK: ScanSnap S300 Color Mobile Scanner

Technology Review by Bruce Braunstein, Writer, TheLAReport.com


Easy to use "one button" scanning. Just press the "SCAN" button and the ScanSnap S300 quickly captures both sides of documents, presenting images as they are meant to be seen.

The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 provides a host of automatic image correction features to ensure great scanning results. Simply load a stack of documents into the hopper and press the "SCAN" button. The S300 automatically recognizes the size of each document, detects and corrects for skew, and shows images in their proper orientation with blank pages removed.

Instantly creates scans that can be searched by their content.

The ScanSnap S300 automatically converts scanned data into searchable PDF files that let you quickly and easily locate your images and find informa-tion contained within your documents using keyword searches.

A compact Mobile Scanning Solution.

At half the size of other ScanSnap scanners, the S300 is designed to be the smallest Fujitsu ADF scanner. As a mobile alternative, the ScanSnap S300 is compact enough to carry around and you will never have to worry about finding a spot to put it.

Holds up to 10 letter sheets at a time.

Double Sided Multi-Sheet Feeding. The ScanSnap S300 holds up to 10 sheets of paper in the automatic document feeder and scans up to 8 pages per minute.

Operates on USB bus power.

For added mobile convenience, the Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 can be powered though the PC’s USB port* when an AC power source is not available.
*When using the USB bus power cable, the PC must have two USB ports; one for power feeding and the other for USB cable connection.

Scans anything from thick business cards and postcards to legal size documents.

In addition to automatically recognizing document size, the ScanSnap S300 de-skews images, removes blank pages and shows them in their proper orientation. The ScanSnap S300 is also able to scan business cards and postcards that are thicker than normal (Up to 56 lb.)

Efficiently manage business cards and contact information.

Quickly scan business cards for fast and easy reference. Capture both sides of a business card in a single pass. Information on the business card is captured and can be exported to Outlook, CSV (Excel), and others.

NOV. 18: PUNK 365 AND JENNY LENS PHOTOS AT LA LUZ DE JESUS GALLERY

From Jenny Lens's website, http://www.jennylens.com/ :

The Jenny Lens Punk Archive is so pleased to be in the special punk rock photo exhibit, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd, just east of Vermont, Nov 18, 2007, 4 to 8 pm opening, to celebrate release of “Punk 365,” by Holly George-Warren, Abrams. I had to stand up to my own publisher, Rizzoli, to be in the book. They are looking out for my highly anticipated first solo photo book, “Punk Pioneers, but it was bad timing, or else I would have have more photos in “Punk 365.” At least I have 24 hard-won shots in it!! Not my Jenny Lens classics, but some unpublished shots not in my book“Punk Pioneers. You’ll just have to get both, along with “Live at the Masque,” and then you still will only see a small fraction of my Jenny Lens Punk Archive. But better prints than in any previous publications!


Photo: Screamers at Gower Gulch (Sunset and Gower), THE site for early western films, spring 1977.
A classic LA punk rock photo by Jenny Lens.


X, Exene Cervenka and John Doe, New Wave 1980 show, Stardust Ballroom, August 30, 1979 by Jenny Lens.


Debbie Harry, Blondie’s LA debut at the Whisky, February 1977. First Blondie opened for Tom Petty (his Whisky debut too), then Blondie and Ramones a few days later. Whatta week! By Jenny Lens.

SATURDAY NIGHT DEAD? SNL STAFF SUFFERS SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE

by Don Rose

Here is a second-hand report that may be sad news for SNL lovers: FoxNews.com reports that The New York Post reported that the Saturday Night Live staff has been fired, without severance! This is amazing news, if true. NBC reps have not commented as of this writing.

In related news, the SNL cast performed a live show in New York over the weekend, and their long-time producer Lorne Michaels even attended. The hot ticket event, which featured double the normal number of sketches but had the same general show structure as a regular SNL show, was held at the Upright Citizens Brigade, which was founded by SNL femme fave Amy Poehler (and which has a great Los Angeles location on Franklin in Hollywood).

We should note that Saturday Night Live has survived crises before, and The LA Report predicts it will be back, eventually, better than ever. It always has. Since writers and producers are set to return to talks in a few days, let's cross our fingers that the WGA strike will soon end, and NBC's whole lineup of groundbreaking late night shows will soon be off repeats and on the air again. As far as we at The LA Report are concerned, NBC stands for No Better Comedy.

NOV. 16: CUTIES FOR CANINES BENEFIT AT 5TH AND SUNSET STUDIOS, WEST LA

For more information, please go to www.cutiesforcanines.org/events.asp - a fun time for a great cause, highly recommended by The LA Report.

BLONDE BOMBSHELL & FILM LEGEND MAMIE VAN DOREN LAUNCHES FINE WINE LINE IN LOS ANGELES

Screen Queen Van Doren Teams with Wine Country Cellars and the L.A. Press Club to Launch First Limited Edition of Collectible Mamietage® Wine Bottles at Boffo VIP/Press Reception at Elegant Eleven Restaurant

by Don Rose

(November 14, 2007 : West Hollywood - Los Angeles, CA) Mamie Van Doren held court tonight as a bevy of beauties - including actresses Rena Reffel (Showgirls), Lorielle New (Grindhouse), and former Playboy Playmate Carol Vitale - joined other celebs, VIPs and media to celebrate the release of a new series of wine bottles with a unique feature: each label on the 1.5 liter bottles feature one of three images of Mamie. Two of the images are of Mamie today, and the third image is from Mamie at age 21. The wine labels are unique in that they all feature nude poses of Mamie covered up by a top, clear "peel away" label that has stars strategically placed. Peel the label away, and there is Mamie nude. The peel away portion is attached, and can be replaced to its original position.

The wine is called Mamietage®, a Bordeaux blend from Sonoma County's Armida Winery, chosen by Mamie herself, with a limited production of only 2000 bottles of each image. Each of the 2000 bottles will be individually numbered.

"The delicious Bordeaux blend of Cabernet sauvignon, petite verdot, syrah and malbec was made and bottled by Armida Winery. This is a beautiful, rich wine with flavors of black cherry, vanilla, and a touch of chocolate. The light tannins and medium body give way to a long, fruit filled finish." SX Magazine Australia

Mamie Van Doren's early roles as a free-spirited teenager and, later, as a woman of the world, signaled the advent of the sexual revolution. The only surviving member of the trio of fifties blonde bombshells known as The Three M's — "Mamie, Monroe and Mansfield" — Mamie Van Doren carved a special niche for herself in cinema history, one which was very different from her peers. Though Mamie embodies Hollywood's Golden Age of the 50's, she refuses to live in the past and is as vivacious as ever, as her images above will clearly testify.

The L.A. Press Club, http://www.lapressclub.org/ - the oldest and most prestigious media membership organization in Southern California - recognized Mamie Van Doren once before, as their Miss Eightball in 1950. "I am so pleased to have the LA Press Club recognize me once again with my new wine venture. It seems like yesterday when I wore their Miss Eightball crown, when my studio career launched in the fabulous fifties," states Van Doren.

Armida Winery produced and bottled Mamietage® wine, and Armida wines were featured at the November 14th launch event, which took place at the beautiful West Hollywood eatery and bar called Eleven. Malkie, the charming Israeli woman who runs events at Eleven, encourages folks to consider their location for upcoming parties, and The LA Report recommends it, as the upstairs area Mamie used for her party is perfect for fun functions (we loved the fireplace, the open feel in front and the intimate back section perfect for creating a private VIP area).

A final note: one of the VIP guests at Mamie's wine launch party was popular Hollywood actor Harrison Held, who serves as host and producer of "The Ultimate Marilyn Trilogy," which celebrates that other famous fabulous fifties blonde bombshell! You can learn more about The Ultimate Marilyn Trilogy at http://www.harrisonheldstarmedia.com/.

Mamietage® is distributed exclusively by Armida Winery and Wine Country Cellars. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of the Mamietage® collection will benefit Mamie's favorite charity, the Aids Healthcare Foundation. For more information and images regarding the wine and Mamie Van Doren, please visit the web site at www.mamiewine.com. Eleven Restaurant is located in West Hollywood at 8811 Santa Monica Boulevard, corner of Larrabee - former site of the studio where music legend Prince recorded Purple Rain.

WRITERS GUILD STRIKE: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS, NOV. 15

The latest letter to Guild members from WGA West President Verrone summarizes the writers' side of things -- a counterpoint to recent ads from the producers (AMPTP):


To My Fellow Members:

As expected, the AMPTP today took out another set of full page ads making misleading statements. While we can’t meet them ad dollar for ad dollar, I would like to refute their charges here.

* They say that technology and the Internet is rapidly changing how Hollywood works. This is true, which is why we need a new formula to determine compensation.

* They say that writers are already paid residuals for digital downloads. It's true some companies are trying to pay us for downloading shows we’ve created at the abysmal DVD rate of a third of a penny per dollar earned by the companies. But we have never agreed to this formula, and we have initiated arbitration.

* They say we are asking for a 700% increase over what we currently receive for digital downloads. This is more than misleading. Again, some companies are trying to pay us the DVD rate. And we are asking to receive 2.5 cents per dollar. The only way to characterize our request as a 700% increase is if you accept as a given the low ball amount they’re trying to foist on us.

* They say they have offered to pay us a percentage of the revenue from Internet streaming of shows we’ve created. Here’s the truth about their offer. We would get no share of revenue for the first six weeks that our shows air. In other words, they’re offering us a share of revenue after there is little revenue left.

* They say that no labor agreement in history has given writers, actors, or directors a portion of advertising dollars. Nowhere in any of our proposals have we ever asked for a share of ad dollars. As with every residual, we are asking for a share of the revenue the corporations receive.

While I am always eager to discuss these issues with the public and the members, I also aim to have these discussions directly with the AMPTP. Therefore, instead of spending money on advertising, I ask them to return to the negotiating table, which we never left.

We are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGA West

NOV. 15: ARTISTS FOR A NEW SOUTH AFRICA WILL BE “SHAKING THE BLUES” AT A GALA BENEFIT AT THE WILTERN THEATER

The November 15 event will feature performances by ERYKAH BADU, NIKKA COSTA, GEORGE LOPEZ, KEB’ MO’, TAJ MAHAL TRIO, THE ROOTS and more

Performers: Erykah Badu, The Roots, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal Trio, Nikka Costa, Cory Chisel, Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.
MC’S: George Lopez, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, Jurnee Smollett, Victoria Rowell, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Nicole Hill.
Attendees: JJ Abrams, Earl Billings, Norman Lear, Tony Krantz. Roma Maffia, Gloria Reuben, Dule Hill, James Pickens, Jr., Anthony Anderson.

WHAT: “Shaking The Blues,” a star-studded benefit and show hosted by Artists For A New South Africa (ANSA).
WHERE: The Wiltern Theater, 3790 Wilshire Blvd. (at Western), Los Angeles, CA.
WHEN: Thursday, November 15, 2007. VIP Reception: 6:30 PM; Show: 7:45 PM.

WHY: ANSA is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization originally founded in 1989 by noted members of the entertainment community with an initial goal of supporting the struggle against apartheid. For many years now it has been at the vanguard of the fight against the African AIDS pandemic, and committed to the cause of advancing democracy and equality in South Africa – as well as working to further civil rights and voting rights in the U.S. ANSA operates in partnership with effective grassroots organizations on the front lines of these issues and makes a substantial difference by: providing grants; raising public awareness; galvanizing support; building coalitions; focusing on the root causes of social problems; and developing new programs that address urgent needs. In the past 10 years alone, ANSA has raised over $9 million for African non-profits, shipped over 70 tons of medical supplies and books to impoverished communities, and educated millions of people in the U.S. and Africa about HIV/AIDS and voting rights.

Tickets for the gala "Shaking the Blues" benefit event are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

NOV. 12: 4TH ANNUAL TV DVD AWARDS

For 2007, Home Media Magazine presents its highly-anticipated awards ceremony and cocktail reception as a standalone event, honoring the best DVD releases of TV shows past and present

posted by Don Rose

Home Media Magazine's Fourth Annual TV DVD awards takes place this year on November 12, 2007. The best TV DVD releases of the past year, as selected by a national consumer vote, will be honored at a gala dinner and cocktail party, with surprise guests drawn from the ranks of legendary TV stars. HMM's event honors TV DVD releases that came to market between Sept. 1, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2007, focusing on the entire DVD treatment — transfer quality, sound and picture, menu design, ease of use, navigation, packaging and other elements relevant to the DVD.

Studios nominated entries in 16 categories:
Best 2000s Series
Best 1990s Series
Best 1980s Series
Best 1970s Series
Best 1960s Series
Best 1950s Series
Best Animated Series
Best Children’s Series
Best Reality Series
Best Variety Series
Best One-Season Wonder
Best Miniseries/Made-for-TV Movie
Best Foreign TV Release
Best Made-for-TV Documentary
Best Bonus Materials
Best Complete-Series Set.

A panel of DVD and film critics nominated three titles in each category. Voting was done by retailers and consumers through www.homemediamagazine.com and www.tvshowsondvd.com from Oct. 15 through Oct. 26, 2007. Winners will be announced at the TV DVD Awards celebration November 12th. The LA Report highly recommends this event, as it is not only a fun affair but also an intriguing look into the current and future trends in TV DVD -- one of the most popular segments of the DVD industry.

For more information on the TV DVD awards, please see www.dvdconferences.com.

NOV. 8-11: 4TH ANNUAL ARTIVIST FILM FESTIVAL & AWARDS

"Merging Art & Activism For Global Consciousness" NOVEMBER 8-11, 2007

This year's Artivist is partnering with KPFK Radio and CURRENT TV, reaching more than 25 million people. Join us in celebrating the 4th ANNUAL ARTIVIST. "ARTIVIST" is the 1st international Film Festival & Awards dedicated to addressing Human Rights, Children's Advocacy, Environmental Preservation, and Animal Advocacy. Our purpose is to strengthen the voice of international activist artists - "Artivists" - while raising public awareness for social global causes.

60 FILMS * 25 COUNTRIES * 1 MISSION: GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Join filmmakers, artists, and the progressive community from around the world as we unite at the annual Artivist Film Festival to address the importance of art and activism in our global community. This year's extensive and diverse Film Program includes narrations from: the Dalai Lama, Harrison Ford, Ted Danson, Paul Newman, Kevin Costner, Kevin Spacey, Jimmy Smits, Mary Steenburgen, Val Kilmer, Ingrid Newkirk, Peter Segar, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Gene Baur, Ray Bradbury, Tommy Chong, Ralph Nader, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Eve Ensler, Daryl Hannah, and Stuart Townsend, narrating various issues and taking us on diverse journeys that lead to the healing qualities of compassion, teamwork, preservation, and reminding all of us of the interdependence between Humanity, Animals, and the Environment.

OPENING NIGHT FILM "America the Beautiful" Nov. 8, 2007
RED CARPET: 7PM FILM SCREENING: 8PM
Los Angeles Premiere

BE THIN. BE YOUNG. BE PERFECT. BE BEAUTIFUL.
With wit, humor, and inspiration, "America the Beautiful" challenges mainstream "beauty". Images of "perfect beauty" bombard us on television, billboards and through the glossy pages of magazines. Desperately trying to achieve ideals created by companies who want ever increasing profits, we are buying cosmetics, diet pills, fashion, and plastic surgeries at an ever increasing rate. Every day, American women and girls are being directly and indirectly marketed with the notion that they are ugly, fat, old, or must be "improved", to the profitable tune of more than $150 BILLION dollars a year. So... who is actually profiting from this high-priced journey? And at what cost to your health, self-esteem and happiness? "America the Beautiful" takes us on an eye opening journey through the fashion world, the cosmetic industry, and the diet pill, pharmaceutical and plastic surgery industries. The film also addresses how these industries directly influence eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and depression among millions of American women and girls. "America the Beautiful" is the perfect Film to share with all of the women and girls you love and ultimately reminds all of us what real "beauty" is all about!

Join the Artivist Film Festival for the Los Angeles Premiere of their Opening Night Film, "America the Beautiful" on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at the Egyptian Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. The Film is followed by an evening reception featuring an "Alternative, Eco-Friendly Fashion Show" celebrating beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages!

WRITERS GUILD STRIKE: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS, DAY 3

Recent news regarding the Writers Guild of America strike (highlights of an email update sent to guild members by WGA West President Patric M. Verrone):

--Monday's 3,000 person turnout increased on Tuesday to nearly 3,200. Wednesday: over 3,300.

--Tom Johnson, head writer of Talkshow with Spike Feresten, was hit by an overly aggressive driver at Sunset Gower Studios on Monday and sustained minor injuries that required a trip to the emergency room.

--Over 125 showrunners picketed Wednesday at Disney and an ad featuring some 400 screenwriters (including some of the biggest names in the business) will appear in Thursday’s Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Members have come from as far away as Amsterdam to picket.

--John Edwards sent a statement of support and Rev. Jesse Jackson will be walking the picket lines at Paramount on Thursday. Encouragement, support, and even refreshments continue to be provided on the picket lines from SAG members while ACTRA (the Canadian actors union) has issued a letter of support.

--Talent agencies have also been sending food to the lines and Paradigm picked up the check for lunch for over a hundred showrunners at the Smokehouse in Burbank.

--The WGA is not currently at the bargaining table ... it was nearly four months between the time we put our proposals on the table in July and the first time we had a single counter proposal from the AMPTP on new media issues. ... The last move made on Sunday was our presentation of a comprehensive package. It is up to the companies to respond to that package. When they indicate that they are ready to do so, we will return to the bargaining table as soon as possible.

HELP!, SEINFELD SEASON 9 DVDs RELEASED

HELP! was released Nov. 6, 2007 on DVD.
Trivia: the film's original title was "Eight Arms to Hold You."
Yep, the Beatles always knew how to hone and improve their material, even titles.
www.thebeatles.com

SEINFELD Season 9 was also released Nov. 6, 2007 on DVD!
With Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Bonus Footage.
www.sonypictures.com/seinfelddvd

NOV. 8: FRESH & EASY MARKET OPENINGS IN LA

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Announces Date for First Store Openings

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 9 (PRNewswire) — Tesco, one of the top three retailers in the world, announced the grand opening date for its U.S. venture, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. Six grocery stores in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are scheduled to open on Thursday, November 8, 2007.

The store openings mark a major milestone for the company, which has spent years researching and planning the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market format. This innovative format is the result of extensive customer research in local U.S. markets where Fresh & Easy researchers spent time in the homes of consumers looking at shopping and cooking patterns.

"After great anticipation, we are thrilled to open our doors to neighborhoods in Southern California and offer them fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices," said Tim Mason, Fresh & Easy's CEO. "We are also excited to demonstrate our strong commitment to being a good neighbor and a great place to work."

At roughly 10,000 square feet, these neighborhood markets will be smaller than the typical supermarket to give customers a faster, easier shopping experience. In addition to offering a range of Fresh & Easy private label and national brand name products at low prices, Fresh & Easy will also offer customers a selection of fresh, prepared meals.

Fresh & Easy has gone to great lengths to ensure all its private label products contain no added trans fats, artificial colors or flavors, and have limited amounts of preservatives. Deliveries will be made daily to each store to ensure all products are as fresh as possible.

Each Fresh & Easy store will employ approximately 20 to 30 people. The company interviews on-site at each store location, aiming to hire from the local neighborhood. Fresh & Easy intends all store employees will work 20 hours a week or more, and be eligible for comprehensive health care and other benefits. Entry-level positions will pay well over the minimum wage, starting at $10 an hour in California, and offer a potential bonus of up to 10% on top.

As part of the company's promise to be a good neighbor and steward of the environment, Fresh & Easy has committed to build LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings, recycle or reuse all shipping and display materials and use environmentally friendly trailers to transport food. The company also invested in California's largest solar roof installation on its distribution center in Riverside.

In addition to these six locations, Fresh & Easy will also open stores in San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas by the end of the year.

About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is a local, neighborhood store committed to providing customers with fresh, wholesome food at affordable prices. Fresh & Easy is a company of Tesco, the UK's largest retailer and one of the world's leading international retailers. Tesco operates over 3,200 stores across 12 countries and employing more than 400,000 people. Tesco's success is due in part to delivering a consistently strong customer offering on every visit and every transaction, and by focusing on the company's core purpose: to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty.

More information regarding Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at http://www.freshandeasy.com. (SOURCE Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.)

FEB. 10: 2008 WILL BRING SPIELBERG ONE AWARD FOR SURE: VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY'S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT ANNUAL VES CEREMONY

From "Cynopsis: DIGITAL" 11/05/07:

Steven Spielberg has been chosen to receive the Visual Effects Society's Lifetime Achievement Award at the group's 6th annual awards ceremony at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 10, 2008. Previous recipients include George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis and Dennis Muren.

OPRAH CHANNEL COMES TO YOUTUBE; WINFREY TO BE GUEST EDITOR AND VIDEO PICKER

From "Cynopsis: DIGITAL" 11/05/07:

...Here are two great brands that should go great together. Harpo Productions launched an Oprah channel on YouTube featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes and backstage footage. YouTube founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen will make appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show tomorrow to help promote the launch, along with a selection of YouTube amateur "stars." Oprah will also serve as guest editor for the site over the next couple of days; look for some of her favorite video picks on the YouTube homepage...

GUITAR CENTER OPENS IN WEST LA WITH PACKED PARTY; GREAT DEALS ALL WEEKEND LONG

Guitar Center knows how to throw an opening party, as evidenced by its boffo bash November 1st, 2007 at its new store on the corner of Pico and Westwood Blvds. Hundreds lined Westwood Boulevard waiting for entry into the store. All got in, since the event was run in a refreshingly organized manner. Plus, everyone in the multi-age crowd got cool Guitar Center opening-day commemorative T-shirts.

Then there were the fun contests, raffles and bands (including the headliners, a band called The Graduate). Five lucky attendees (number 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 in line) got to compete for the chance to win prizes worth up to, get this, 100 grand! Yes, that is not a typo; it was possible for one of the lucky five onstage to walk away with $100,000 in a gameshow-style competition. Like Deal or No Deal, it was a luck-based contest, no trivia skill required - just pull envelopes off a gameboard and open, see if you win a giftcertificate for the store OR the chance to keep playing and win even more. Eventually, one man remained onstage, who pulled three envelopes from a final group of 12; if all three had the special Guitar Center symbol, he would win $100,000! Alas, he didn't, but the hundreds in gift certificates he won was a nice consolation prize.

On top of all this, many in the audience won prizes during two fun raffles (an amazing assortment of prizes that included iPods, Playstations, DVDs, Led Zeppelin and Dylan boxsets, home theatre systems, Cambridge Soundworks and Bose Wave radios, TVs and more), as well as random awarding of killer gear to various attendees. All in all, there were winners galore, and lots of Rockstar energy drinks for happy music lovers and musicians.

Now for the stuff in store for you in the store. Opening weekend deals include $99 blowout prices on three great products (Ibanez electric guitar, Yamaha acoustic guitar, Peavey trans-tube amplifier), $49 for a portable electric keyboard with built-in speakers, $9.99 for a keyboard stand, and $49 for THREE (yes, I said three) microphones. There are many more deals too numerous to list here, just head down to Pico and Westwood, across from the Westside Pavilion, and you will not be disappointed.

Among those in attendance on opening night were reps from Guitar Center, LA Weekly, Wahoo Tacos (serving tasty food to the hundreds on line to get in the store), Rockstar energy drinks (serving, among other flavors, its delicious JUICED drinks, a favorite of The LA Report), and KROQ. We also chatted with KCRW DJ (and head music guru of the KCRW music library) Erik J. Lawrence, host of KCRW's "Dragnet" show (midnight to 3am Monday nights / Tuesday mornings, 89.9 FM). EJL, who was attending not spinning, told us that the digitization of the incredible music library of the Santa Monica College station is proceeding nicely, thanks in part to some nifty robotic equipment.

Kudos to Guitar Center for a most memorable night featuring a healthy dose of fun and generosity. As store launches go, it was top of the line. Get yourself down to the new store and save some serious dough all this weekend. Saturday afternoon would be an especially good time, as you can meet KLOS FM host Cynthia Fox while you shop.

NOV. 2: DEAL: WALMART $348 ACER LAPTOP WITH 1 GB RAM

Google shows sites to read more about the sub-$350 notebook computer deal:

Wal-Mart to Sell Acer Laptop for 8 This Friday notebooks.com
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Acer 1GB Laptop Walmart $348 Friday - dslreports.com
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UPDATE: Now starting Friday at 8 a.m. $348 OTD Acer Celeron 530 ...
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But beware: low prices can bring out the beast in buyers:

Digg - Video of Crowds Fighting During Black Friday
Fight Breaks out at an Orlando Walmart As Man Races to Get $378 Notebook. .... Frys had a laptop for 348 and I grabbed one but when I opened it there was no ...digg.com/security/Video_of_Crowds_Fighting_During_Black_Friday - 70k - Cached - Similar pages