Hollywood Diet: Cutting Back on the Big Parties
From nytimes.com:
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HOLLYWOOD — The premiere of the Will Ferrell hit comedy “Blades of Glory†here in March could not have been more fabulous. Photographers crowded the red carpet at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, snapping pictures of celebrities like Ben Stiller and Brooke Shields. The ice skating stars Nancy Kerrigan and Dorothy Hamill mingled with eager fans.
And at the big after premiere party — wait: there was no big party.
Instead, Paramount Pictures, which distributed the film, let the filmmakers hold a private gathering for the movie’s cast, crew and friends.
The budget: $50,000, or about one-tenth the cost of an average soiree.
It was not long ago when every film was celebrated with a lavish affair. The Hollywood party may have reached a zenith in 2001 with the Walt Disney Company’s $5 million event for “Pearl Harbor,†when Disney entertained 2,000 guests in Hawaii aboard the flight deck of the U.S.S. John C. Stennis.
U.K.’s Unique Theme Park
From diggerland.com:
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Diggerland guarantees a fun filled, exciting, action packed day out for kids and adults of all ages.
Children and adults if they wish have the opportunity to ride in, and drive, different types of construction machinery including Dumper Trucks, Mini Diggers and Giant Diggers all under strict supervision.
There are great opportunities to take photos, or learn about the workings of the machines from the fully trained Instructors constantly on hand. Diggerland is a day out with a difference: not only can families learn about how these diggers work, they can actually drive them, too.
Deadly Coaster Derailment
From rideaccidents.com
TweetSaturday, May 5, 2007 – At Expoland theme park in Osaka, Japan, a 19-year-old woman was killed instantly when a roller coaster car derailed and crashed into a guardrail. Another rider suffered a serious head injury; 18 others suffered minor injuries.
The accident happened on the “Fujin Raijin II,” a stand-up steel roller coaster. Its trains consist of six cars, each of which can hold four passengers who ride while in a standing position. Investigators say that an axle on one of the cars broke, causing it to derail. Parts of the wheel assembly were found underneath the ride.
The park reported that the train axles had not been inspected regularly, and had not been serviced since February 2006.
Officials are investigating the accident. The park has been shut down.
All Candy Expo 2007
From confectionerynews.com:
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(Note from Mark: Although this isn’t really open to the public, it would be fascinating — it makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it.)
Visit the largest confectionery, biscuit and snack show in the Americas September 17-19, 2007 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Confectionery, snack and cookie products are a $275 billion dollar industry worldwide and the ALL CANDY EXPO ® gives you direct access to more new confectionery, cookie and snack products and manufacturers than any other event.
A record number of confectionery, biscuit and snack exhibitors will attend showcasing chocolate, candy, gum, salty snacks, cookies, biscuits, popcorn, granola bars, breakfast snacks, nutrition bars, meat snacks, fruit snacks and nuts.
POC 3 Synopsis
From gulfweeklyworldwide.com:
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In the conclusion to the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, the heroes must face a powerful alliance formed by Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and Admiral James Norrington (Jack Davenport).
With the help of an unlikely friend, the trio fight to protect the freedom of all pirates around the world. A titanic showdown at the other side of the world also brings a new and even more deadly enemy.
In the follow-up we find our heroes, allied with an unlikely friend – Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), in a desperate quest to free Captain Jack from his mind-bending trap in Davy Jones’ locker – while the terrifying ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, under the control of the East India Trading Company, wreaks havoc across the Seven Seas.
Navigating through treachery, betrayal and wild waters, they must forge their way to exotic Singapore and confront the cunning Chinese Pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat).
Now headed beyond the very ends of the earth, each must ultimately choose a side in a final, titanic battle – as not only their lives and fortunes, but the entire future of the freedom-loving Pirate way, hangs in the balance.
