Some Loops Not in The Loop

     Washington, D.C. - They are called loops because of their circular shape.  Loops are intended to relay daily traffic information and long-term maintenance needs of some of the nations most heavily traveled roadways.  As of November 2013 9,000 loops are not in service.  Information from loops relays the estimated travel times posted on freeway message boards.  A circular cut in a lane means a loop is probably embedded in the lane and is watching traffic.  On surface streets the maintenance costs are in the hundreds.  On freeways the costs rocket to the thousands of dollars.  Loops can last decades when properly installed.  Construction mishaps that cut the loop, copper wire thieves, and old age can cause outages that delay the real-time traffic maps, that are useful to the public.  See also, www.roadandtrack.com.

Communicating by Train

     Sacramento - A California County Superior Court Judge has blocked the sale of bonds to build California's high-speed train.  At the time he did this he also rejected the states plan for funding the rail project.  This could delay the plan by months,  or even years.See also, www.popularmechanics.com.

Apple Aquires Movement Sensor Company

     Tel Aviv - Apple Inc., moved up to $521.55 in pre-market trading on news that Apple has acquired a company called PrimeSense.  PrimeSense was founded in 2005 and makes chips that are used in three-dimensional sensing products.  It is similar to that of the technology used in Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 (when you buy the $60 camera accessory).  The technology allows gamer's to use their bodies to control the movements of onscreen characters.  PrimeSense is based in Israel.  See also, www.freeonlinegames.com.

828,000 Mph Ice and Dust Cloud

     Cape Canaveral - Among the paparazzi chasing Comet ISON are ultraviolet telescopes, ground observatories, amateur astronomers, and professional astrophotographers.  ISON, which stands for International Scientific Optical Network, is named after the machinery a pair of Russian astronomers used to detect the comet September 2012. The comet will venture past earth at 40 million miles, but if it survives its journey around the sun, will be visible with the naked eye for up to 30 days.  "Every spacecraft that has a camera, we're turning on it," said John Grunsfeld, a NASA science mission director.  The newly launched Maven spacecraft, en route to Mars, will look at ISON once its ultraviolet instrument is up and running.  The closer the comet gets to the sun, the faster it gets.  In January it was clocked at 40,000 mph, four days ago it was at 150,000 mph, and when ISON slingshots around the sun, it will be speeding at 828,000 mph. See also, www.aviationweek.com.

Sony Increases Interest in Television

     Culver City - Sony recently reported numbers for its entertainment division, boosting its stock by 0.6 percent to $18.64 per share on the New York Stock Exchange.  Sony reported a sizeable operating  loss the previous quarter, ending September 30.  Sony had a mixed year at the box office, with hits like "Grown Ups 2" and "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2."  Sony also had flops like "White House Down".     Studio chief Amy Pascal said the studio will reduce the number of films it makes, as it makes a shift from motion pictures to higer margin television production and to operating TV channels.  www.sony.com.  

Smart Phones Becoming More Common

     Stockholm - Smart phones currently make up some 55 percent of all cell phones sold today.  According to the world's largest maker of telecommunication networks, Sweden's Ericsson AB, smart phone traffic will hit 10 billion gigabytes by 2019, with videos representing some 50 percent of all data traffic.  Ericsson AB says, service providers will increase high-speed networks to deal with the surge in smart phones.  Total smart phones will account for approximately 5.6 billion world-wide by 2019, that will be 60% of all cell phones sold.   See also, www.ericsson.com.  

Online Gambling On The Rise

     Atlantic City - Hours before a five-day test period is scheduled to begin.  A New Jersey state lawmaker unveiled a proposal to lure foreign online gambling companies to New Jersey, possible making online gambling a world-wide enterprise.  The five-day test period starts at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21.  The trial run will test sophisticated software, that is designed to ensure all gamblers are New Jersey residents and are over the age of 21.  If all goes well, online gambling will be available to gamblers in New Jersey, starting Tuesday, November 26.  The only other states to offer online gambling are Nevada and Delaware.  Online gambling will be the biggest expansion of gambling in New Jersey since casino gambling began in New Jersey in 1978.  "With the dawn of Internet gaming, we are on the cusp of perhaps the biggest change -and challenge- since the first casino opened here," Alisa Cooper, a commissioner with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission said.  See also,  www.onlinegambling.com.     

New Port Might Breathe Some Economic Life To Island Nation's Economy

        Cuba - The town is best known as the launch port for a mass exodus to the United States in 1980. Today the city is being transformed into a huge, modern, $900 million port and special commercial zone.  The island nation's Communist authorities expect Mariel to become a center for foreign investment.  Plans to overhaul the Port of Mariel, Cuba began in 2009 when officials determined the country's main harbor in Havana is too shallow for bigger, deeper-draft vessels, those larger than 75,000 tons.  Starting in 2015 these larger ships will begin crossing through an expanded Panama Canal.  The ability of Mariel to take in deeper-draft ships will let Cuba keep pace with global shipping innovations and accommodate more cargo.  Authorities hope to attract foreign firms to invest,  and set up shop, in industries such as food, biotech, renewable energy, packaging, and telecommunications.  See also, www.economist.com.    

Curiosity Not So Curious

     Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Pasadena - Curiosity probably has an electrical problem.  Curiosity has spent the previous several months driving toward its ultimate destination, Mount Sharp.  Nasa restarted the rover's computer system earlier this month, but that is not suspected to be related to the current problem.  Curiosity is now in a scheduled safe-mode.  The six-wheel, nuclear powered rover halted work as a precaution.  Nasa said, a voltage change was first discovered on Sunday, November 17.  Engineers think it might be some kind of short circuit.  See also, www.aviationweek.com.

Xbox One-vs-PlayStation4

     New York - They are both two versatile powerful machines that will be able to give inventive and high definition games for a long time to come.  According to a tech reporter, the images in the Microsoft Xbox One he tried were equal to that of the ones in the Sony PlayStation4 (PS4).  The games are both detailed and realistic.  Microsoft wants you to think of the Xbox One as more than a game machine.  You can use it to watch movies on Netflix and Hulu Plus.  You can hook it up to your cable box to watch live television.  You can Skype and you can store data using the SkyDrive storage device.  But, if you only have video games in mind the Xbox One has a library of 22 titles, all sold separately.  These titles all look as good as the ones on PS4, which came out in the second week of November 2013.  The most significant distinction between the two gaming systems is the re-engineered Kinect camera that is packaged with every Xbox.  On the PS4, a similar camera sells as a $60 accessory.  Both the Xbox One and the PS4 are state-of-the-art game machines.  For some the difference will come down to price.  At $500 the Xbox One costs $100 more than the PS4.  If you get the camera with the PS4 costs only $40 less.  See also, www.gamespot.com.

"Cops" New Home Is Spike TV

     Hollywood - Spike wanted to increase viewers by adding more female and older viewers.  With "Cops" and other series', including "Bar Rescue", Spike saw  26 percent year-to-year growth in year-to-year third-quarter prime-time viewership among adults 18 to 49.  It was the biggest audience increase since 2009, Spike said.  The tone of  "Cops" has changed somewhat since leaving federally restricted broadcast television, creator John Langley says, Spike is more liberal about language and nudity.  "Cops" bread-and-butter is videotaping law enforcement officers from around the country, as they respond to whatever the day or night brings.  See also, www.spike.com.

Eminem's Childhood Home Torn down

     Detroit - Workers are expected to finish removing the debris from the lot where the house that was Eminem's (Marshall Mathers) childhood home.  The Michigan Land Bank, a state agency that owns the property, says the home was "structurally unsafe," after a fire earlier this month damaged portions of the home.  The boarded-up bungalow is featured on the cover of the rapper's recently released "The Marshall Mathers LP2," and on his 2000 album "The Marshall Mathers LP."  A local website reports a crew took down the house Wednesday, November 20.  See also, www.marshallmathers.com.

Jennifer Lawrence Plots Path For After "Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

     Hollywood - Jennifer Lawrence will soon go behind the camera as producer of the  adaptation of Jeanette  Walls' 2005 best-selling memoir, "The Glass Castle."  "I don't know if I'll be any good", Lawrence said, "but I'm trying it."  "Hunger Games:  Catching Fire" opens Friday, November 22.  December 18, Jennifer Lawrence will appear on the big screen again in "American Hustle," a 1970's corruption tale, that also stars, Robert De Niro and Christian Bale.  Next, will be appearances in the marvel comic "X-Men:  Days of Future Past" and, in the comedy "Dumer and Dumer To."  After winning the best actress Academy Award for last year's "Silver Linings Playbook," she says she feels "very satisfied" but that she's yet to reach her professional sweet spot.  See also, www.thehungergamesexplorer.com.

Fans Camp Out For Catching Fire Premiere

     Hollywood - "The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire" opens Friday, November 22.  "Hunger Games:  Catching Fire" fans were able to participate in contests (such as scavenger hunts), collect autographs, from cast members, and receive tickets to the movie's premiere, as they participated in a two-and-a-half-day campout, that led up to the premier of the "Hunger Games:  Catching Fire."  700 fans won tickets to the weekend camp.  The tickets were awarded via online lottery.  Fans brought their own hand-made posters, carried copies of the book, or purchased souveigneers for stars that made an appearance at the camp to sign.  Josh Hutcherson was among the stars who signed memorabilia for the 700 fans of the popular book trilogy.  The event took place at the Los Angeles Live Plaza.  See also,  www.thehungergamesexplorer.com.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark"

     New York - The show may not have made a profit, but it left behind one box office milestone, in January 2012 the comic book musical took in $2,941,790 over nine performances, which is the highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history.  "Spider-Man:  Turn Off The Dark" grossed more than $200 million, making it the 16th-largest grosssing show in Broadway history.  Producers say the show needs to make $1.2 million a week to break-even.  The show last reached $1 million for one week in mid-August.  And, last week the show took in just $742,595.  Words of a new home for "Spider-Man:  Turn Off The Dark" have swirled for months and reportedly Las Vegas is number one on the list.  One of the lead producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man:  Turn Off The Dark" says, moving the show to Las Vegas makes sense because Las Vegas has always been a better fit for a splashy musical.  "We can have a more exciting and better show in Las Vegas.  To me, Las Vegas is the town of show business", said Michael Cohl, who produces "Spider-Man:  Turn Off The Dark" along with co-producer Jeremiah J. Harris.  See also, www.nytimes.com. 

Sixs Plays in 24 Hours

     New York - '24 Hour Plays' is a one-night-only show that benefits The Urban Arts Partnership, an organization that brings arts education to New York City classrooms.  Two dozen actors, teamed with six writers, and six directors; write, rehearse, and perform half-a-dozen plays during a 24-hour period. This is the events 13th year.  The plays were performed in front of a live audience and raised $500,000 for the charity.  See full story, www.nytimes.com.

Lady Gaga - Applause (Official)

Hulu Seeks To Work With Cable and Satellite Companies

      Hulu succeeded as a way to watch current and popular television shows online. Suddenly, entire seasons of such popular cable network shows as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" were abruptly taken off the site. By July 2011, Fox began restricting next day-streaming of its prime-time shows to customers of cable and satellite companies, and they began imposing an eight-day delay on Hulu. Hulu won praise for its ease of use, and caught on quickly with users. A newly installed Hulu executive team is believed to already be pursuing deals with cable operators to offer subscribers access to Hulu as a way to watch current shows online, according to several people with knowledge of the situation. Hulu's owners found it hard to work together and put Hulu up for sale. Hulu looked good to pay-television distributors DirectTV and Time Warner Cable Inc., as well as media companies Guggenheim Digital Media and Chernin Group. Hulu's owners 21st Century Fox Inc., Walt Disney Co., and Comcast Corp., cancelled the proposed Hulu sale last July, and announced they would instead invest $750 million in a streaming video service. Hulu will enable viewers to watch recent episodes of such popular prime-time shows as "Big Bang Theory," "Sleepy Hollow," and "The Voice." See also, www.nytimes.com. 

Lady Gaga Isn't The Only One Getting New Management...U2 is Too

     Dublin, Republic of Ireland - Paul McGuinness has confirmed that he is stepping down as day-to-day manager of U2, and will become Chairman of Principle Management, McGuinness management company.  McGuinness has been U2's manager for more than 30 years, nearly since the bands formation.  Principle Management would be housed under Live Nation's Artist Nation Management division, which Billboard magazine reported, lost money in the first three quarters of 2013.  A little over a week ago Lady Gaga split from her longtime manager, Troy Carter.  Lady Gaga's new album, "Artpop,"debuted November 11, 2013.  See also, www.billboard.com. 

AFI 2013 Closes Hollywood Blvd

     Hollywood - Days before the event Hollywood Blvd. was closed, as is the case for large events in tinsel town.  The night's biggest star may have been Oscar-winning composer Richard Sherman, who with his brother wrote all those classic "Mary Poppins" songs.  AFI 2013 opened with "Saving Mr. Banks," Disney's nostalgic, behind-the-scenes story of the making of  "Mary Poppins."  Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson walked the red carpet shaking hands with well-wishers at a reception, before the movie "Mary Poppins," played.  Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino became the latest to laud the career of the great Bruce Dern.  Tarantino introduced a reel of highlights from Bruce Dern's work, before introducing a screening of "Nebraska", arguably Bruce Dern's greatest performance.  A "Lone Survivor" question and answer (Q&A) session followed the world premiere of the action-adventure drama, "Lone Survivor," a fact based story of a small cadre of  Navy SEALs battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.  Mark Wahlberg, part of this Q&A, caused something of a media sensation, when he  talked for nearly five minutes on one topic alone.  A monologue in which he scolded actors who compare the experience of training for a film to that of actual military work.  "You don't do what these guys did...How dare you," said Wahlberg.  See also,www.vanityfair.com.

Comedies Ramp Up in Fourth Quarter

  "Delivery Man", starring Vince Vaughn, hits theatres November 22, and is expected be Disney's main attempt at a comedy release for 2013.  Several comedies played strongly overseas as well as in the United States.  Warner Bros., "Hangover III," more than doubled its $112 million United States total with $239 million in foreign countries.  Seth Rogens directing debut, "This Is The End", was a surprise winner for Sony.  The tale of young celebs partying hearty through the apocalypse cost $32 million to make and has already brought in $101 million.  The tally this year has the wealth being spread between Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal, and Sony.  Each has two comedies that hit $100 million.  Fox had just one, but it was the years top-grossing comedy thus far.  "The Heat," starring Sandra Bullock  and Melissa McCarthy is a buddy cop tale that has taken in $160 million in the United States and $230 million in countries other than the United States.  Two other movies that have reached the $100 million stage are "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" and"Anchorman:  The Legend Continues".  See also, www.dreamworks.com.

In-Flight Entertainment

      Seattle, Washington - According to Boeing wireless media streaming will be available on all new Boeing airplanes in 2014.  Boeing continues to advance connectivity offerings on its family of commercial jetliners.  Systems to be installed during production in the 747-8 and 777 have the capability to provide in-flight entertainment (IFE), and live television broadcasts.  Some 787's provide in-flight use of personal cell phones and Wi-Fi connectivity for passengers and Boeing is working toward full connectivity.  Access will come through either headset screens or Wi-Fi.  Boeing's moves could lead to more use of in-flight Wi-Fi on top of ready-made wireless media streaming, due in 2014.  See also, www.aviationweek.com.

When Satellites Begin To Fall

        Berlin - While systems are still functioning spacecraft are maneuvered to try to be directed to where the chances of hitting land are the minimalist.  The are steered as far away from humans as possible, that typically means in an ocean.  As of 2013 there have been no known injuries or significant property damage caused by space junk, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).  Meteorites travel about three times faster than space junk.  When the old satellites and left-over pieces of rockets hit the ocean they are going about 125 to 195 mph.  See also, www.aviationweek.com. 

Las Vegas' Lady Luck Transformed Into Downtown Grand

      Las Vegas - Downtown Las Vegas is about 10 minutes north of the Las Vegas strip. Downtown Las Vegas has some of the towns oldest casinos. One casino that opened in 1964, "Honest Johns", later in 1968 renamed Lady Luck, was a pinball and slot machine parlor. In 2006 the Lady Luck closed. On Tuesday afternoon a new hotel-casino, The Downtown Grand had its grand opening. The hotel-casino has been operating since late October 2013. But, the marching band, ribbon cutting, and showgirls didn't happen until yesterday. CIM Group, which advertises itself as "investing in urban communities," reportedly spent $100 million to gut and remake the Lady Luck to conform with the downtown's new emphasis on walkability. See also, www.lasvegas.com.

Go To Space Says Lady Gaga

        New York - Lady Gaga (Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is on an eye-catching unique publicity tour for her new album "Artpop". The album's first single "Applause," remains a top 10 hit. She's scheduled to tackle hosting and performing on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," she redesigned the Life section of US Today, she has a concert special coming up with Ryan Seacrest next week, she recently opened pop-up (designed to last three days to three months) stores in New York and Los Angeles, and she is scheduled to one of the main honorees at Glamour's Women of the Year ceremony. Gaga says, " You know what I realized? That I don't need to reinvent myself. What I realized is that in your lifetime, if you have one really great idea, run with it. And run all the way to outer space if you can."  See also, www.artpop.com. 

Charlie Sheen Says Lets Be Friends

     According to a gossip article Charlie Sheen is trying to mend fences with his ex-wife Brooke Mueller. But now, it appears Charlie Sheen has written a letter to his former producer, and creator of Two And a Half Men, Chuck Lorre. In the letter Charlie Sheen reportedly says, "hey Chuck, I have an idea that u need to hear after I make amends to you and yours, which I will do in person. Xox c." See also, www.twoandahalfmen.com.

Smart Watches Getting a Little Smarter For The Holidays

     Smart phones do the heavy work such as downloading apps and loading full web pages.  But smart watches may can now act like assistants to the smart phones.  Smart watches can now stay in contact with your smart phone and serve as a representative of the telephone to the outside world,  monitoring traffic between your smart telephone and other wireless devices.  Sony's SmartWatch2 uses a bigger screen and is water resistant.  For 2013 a smart watches main function is to act as a handy second screen for your smart phone.  The premise is to allow users to dismiss useless phone notifications and allow you to only grab the handset when absolutely necessary.  Smart watches linked to operating systems, like Android for example, will receive alerts for texts, calls, and social media updates while on the wearers wrist.  Smart watches will also be able to control your phones music player, so you won't have to reach into your purse or pocket to change volume or skip to the next track.  And, ultimately at the cash register, near field communication (NFC) is a natural component that allows a relatively secure way to pay bills, by simply waving your smart watch wearing wrist at   NFC enabled cash registers, while leaving your smart phone in your purse or pocket.  See also, www.sony.com.          

SOAPnet Unable to Produce Lather

       Burbank - Disney announced three years ago its plan to fold SOAPnet, a channel it created 14 years ago to wring extra life from some daytime and nighttime dramas. "General Hospital", "All My Children," "The Young and The Restless", "Falcon Crest", "Knotts Landing", and more, were all part of the programming of SOAPnet. SOAPnet was intended to give working women the opportunity to catch up on their favorite soaps at night, after they got home from work. Technology forced a shift in the corporate priorities of Disney. When SOAPnet first launched it was in the days of the videocassette recorder (VCR). Digital video recorders allowed viewers to record multiple shows, while still fast forwarding through commercials. Advertisers migrated to other platforms and SOAPnet became less profitable. See also, www.soap.net.

British Awards Show Tapes in Los Angeles

       Hollywood - With more than 35 Hollywood award shows on prime-time television it seems that one more won't make a difference. TV networks like award shows because, like most reality shows, they're relatively inexpensive to produce, and they bring a lot of star power to the set. Stars love the gold, silver, or crystal award that validates their work, gives them approval of their peers, and place them in history. We, as fans, love watching the money, power and good looks. Award shows allow us to see our ultimate entertainers be winners and losers, just like us. This time it is the Britannia awards to be presented at the Beverly Hills Hotel saturday night, November 09, 2013. The show will be broadcast on BBC America the next night. Handed out by the Los Angeles branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, The Britannia Awards promise an all-star cast. Presenter include, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Kathryn Bigelow, George Clooney, and Sacha Baron Cohen. See also, www.variety.com.

Possible Hunger GamesTheme Park

     Entertainment Wire - Lions Gate Entertainment will release a second film, "The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire", on November 22, 2013.  "The Hunger Games", which stars Jennifer Lawrence, was the third best-selling film in the United States theatrical market in 2012, according to the site Box Office Mojo.  Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, the studio that produced "The Hunger Games", says it is studying proposals for a theme park based on the futuristic movie.  "We have been approached in two different territories by potential park opportunities, which gives you some sense of the cultural impact of this franchise," said Lions Gate Chief Executive, Jon Feltheimer.  See also, www.hungergames.com. 

Billion Dollar Ghost

     Activision, known for its "Skylanders" games, has been giving us a new "Call of Duty titled video game every year over the last decade.  Last year the game maker's "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" took only 15 days to hit one billion dollars in global sales, after a November release.  "Call of Duty:  Black Ops II reached $500 million in retail sales on its first day.  This year, cities like London and San Francisco held glitzy midnight pre-launch parties to celebrate the release of Activision's newest titled video game, the franchises tenth installment of "Call of Duty", entitled "Call of Duty: Ghosts".  Call of Duty:  Ghosts" reached one billion dollars in sales, the number of copies shipped to retailers, in its first 24 hours of release.  See also, www.callofduty.com.

Marilyn Manson...Unmasked

     Singer, American Goth Medieval Rock performer, whose name is a combination of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, Marilyn Manson, that was discoverd by the group Nine Inch Nails and has created such medieval songs as "Anti-Christ Superstar and "Smells Like Children."  The Journalism and Theatre major formed a band called Marily Manson and the Spook Kids, later simply known as Marilyn Manson, that earned a record contract in 1993 and a spot on Nine Inch Nails tour and spawned a cult following after the album "Portrait of an American Family, went make up free on the set of HBO's "Eastbound and Down".  See also, www.hollywoodreporter.com.