MORE WOES FOR NEWSPAPERS

Via Editor and Publisher:

NAA Reveals Biggest Ad Revenue Plunge in More Than 50 Years

NEW YORK - The newspaper industry has experienced the worst drop in advertising revenue in more than 50 years.

According to new data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunged 9.4% to $42 billion compared to 2006 -- the most severe percent decline since the association started measuring advertising expenditures in 1950.

The drop-off points to an economic slowdown on top of the secular challenges faced by the industry. The second worst decline in advertising revenue occurred in 2001 when it fell 9.0%.

Total advertising revenue in 2007 -- including online revenue -- decreased 7.9% to $45.3 billion compared to the prior year.

There are signs that online revenue is beginning to slow as well. Internet ad revenue in 2007 grew 18.8% to $3.2 billion compared to 2006. In 2006, online ad revenue had soared 31.4% to $2.6 billion. In 2005, it jumped 31.4% to $2 billion.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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JIM MORRISON... DEMON?

Ah, the religious right... I recently came across this insanely bizarre video on YouTube that purports that Doors frontman Jim Morrison was possessed by demons.

I guess if you spin something enough, you can make an argument for anything. At length, the delves into various Morrison biographies, using selective quotes out of context and in its favor. The video is a Christian perspective on the dreamy shamanesque frontman. This is the first of two parts and taken from Pastor Joe Schimmel from something entitled "Rock 'n' Roll Sorcerers of the New Age Revolution Fight the Good Fight Ministries."



It presents several instances in which Morrison was steeped in the occult and moreover, manipulated by demonic forces to do Satan’s bidding. While the evidence does seem credible, I think several factors aren't mentioned in the video - like Morrison's incessant drug use and hallucinogens.

In any case, watch it. It's a hoot, and certainly creepy in some parts due to Morrison's undeniable euphoric performances that can be looked upon as some sort of possession. Something had to drive the creativity...

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NO ... THIS ISN'T TOM CRUISE (video)

... But a damn near perfect impression. It's actually thesp Miles Fisher in this weekend's spoof "Superhero Movie." He captures it all - the ticky mannerisms, curious energy, that annoying grin, faux laser beam concentration and of course, the creepy confident cackle of being the world's biggest movie star. Enjoy...

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NEW RULES 3/21 (HILARIOUS)

Here's Maher hittin' it out of the park. Again.

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XM-SIRIUS MERGER APPROVED (FINALLY!)

Via The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department approved Sirius Satellite Radio's $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio on Monday, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers.

The deal was approved despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry.

The buyout received shareholder approval in November. The companies said the merger will save hundreds of millions of dollars in operating costs—savings that will ultimately benefit their customers.

The Justice Department, in a lengthy news release explaining its decision, said the two companies compete not just with each other but also with other forms of radio and entertainment.

"The likely evolution of technology in the future, including the expected introduction in the next several years of mobile broadband Internet devices, made it even more unlikely that the transaction would harm consumers in the longer term," the Justice Department said. "Accordingly, the division has closed its investigation of the proposed merger."

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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R.I.P. ARTHUR C. CLARKE

Somber week. Last week D&D legend Gary Gygax, then director Anthony Minghella and now ...

(Via the Washington Post) - Arthur C. Clarke died Tuesday at his home on the island nation of Sri Lanka at the age of 90.

Clarke was best known in popular culture as the author of the story that inspired Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey," but his greatest contribution to technology is creating the conceptual framework for geostationary satellites -- machines that would remain in the same spot above the earth and act as relay stations for signals from the ground, covering a wide area. He published a paper about the concept in 1945, which was ultimately realized two decades later. The orbit into which geostationary satellites are placed is now known as the Clarke Orbit.

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation confirmed Clarke's death on its Web site Tuesday. He died of respiratory problems, according to media reports.

Born in England in 1917, Clarke served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, working on radar defense systems. He ultimately achieved the rank of flight lieutenant. He then went on to earn degrees in mathematics and physics from King's College.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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R.I.P. ANTHONY MINGHELLA

Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director and writer of “The English Patient,” has died suddenly at 54.

A spokesman announced that the director suffered a brain hemorrhage at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning at Charing Cross Hospital in London, where he had undergone a routine operation on his neck.

He recently directed the BBC/HBO telepic “No 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” based on Alexander McCall Smith’s novel set in Botswana, which is due to premiere March 23 on BBC1.

His last movie was “Breaking and Entering.” His other credits include “Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr Ripley” and “Truly Madly Deeply.”

He recently stepped down as chairman of the British Film Institute. He was a partner with Sydney Pollack in Mirage Enterprises.

A shame. He'll be missed.

Here he is with Charlie Rose ...

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SEXMAN REVIEWS '10,000 BC'

Our favorite little would-be film reviewer is at it again! This time out, he waxes poetic on the new prehistoric actioner "10,000 BC." And dig his new haircut... Do you think he did it himself?

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MY RAT PACK TRIBUTE (video)

Using Windows Moviemaker, my collection of Rat Pack pics and vintage Vegas postcards, I concocted a doozey of a video. Grab a scotch and sit back so we can all remember what Vegas must have been like before the fanny packers took over the tourist town.

I hope you enjoy ...

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HULU LIVES!! TWO FILMS ON THE BLOG

A present to all of Hemingway's Lounge groupies. This week, HULU launched.

So just what IS Hulu? It's an online video on demand service that offers video sharing that kicks the booty off of YouTube. According the President and Chief Operating Officer of NewsCorp, it's designed to be "a single source of free, on-demand programming from some of the most popular studios and online networks, helping viewers quickly and easily find and enjoy the premium content they are looking for." The service is a joint venture of NBC Universal and News Corp. Providence Equity Partners has also made a USD$100 million equity investment and holds a 10% stake in the company

So, as a test, I will post "The Big Lebowski" and "Sideways," two of my favorite films in their ENTIRETY.

Happy watching! AND TRY NOT TO SLACK TOO MUCH AT WORK! A few caveats, though... You have to endure more than a few ads and some (not all) of the films are the family-safe versions. Oddly, "The Big Lebowski" is the R-version and "Sideways" is not which is a shame because crucial lines of dialogue were altered.

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NOPE ...

... This isn't an SNL parody. It's a trailer for the forthcoming Lifetime film "Anna Nicole." Set your DVRs. If anything it looks like little Willa Ford nailed the bombshell's come-hither voice.

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'REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER: NEW RULES' - 3/7

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WHY CAN'T I GET THIS SONG OUT OF MY HEAD?

"...Cops in cars, the topless bars ... Never saw a woman so alone... So alone ..."
- Jim Morrison

Let me say that up until recently I was never a fan of The Doors. Their surface sound of the '60s and frontman Jim Morrison's hippie-eqsue vibe was something that I never really responded to, so I never really gave the group more than the "surface" listen.

Well... We get older and tastes change. Not only have I come to appreciate the group as artists, but completely have fallen hook, line and sinker for their dreamy, jazzy, bluesy world of yearning, wretched excess and lust.

It all started when I was baking in the Nevada sun at the Hard Rock pool in Vegas when I first really heard "L.A. Woman." I mean, I've "heard" most of the Doors tunes at bars in the past, but when you're poolside at one of the sexiest hotels in Sin City, you hear things differently. Perspectives shift. The song engulfed me. Come to think of it, I've gotten my best ideas on vacation but that's a whole 'nother post...

In any case, the more I listen to "L.A. Woman," the more its subject - the City of Angels - comes alive. Being a born-and-bred East coaster, the allure of the left coast has always appealed to me. Palm trees. The vintage decadence of the Sunset Strip. The L.A. Noir of "Chinatown." Hollywood. You name it ...

For the three people who don't know, the tune was written by Morrison and describes a journey through Los Angeles, mentioning the city's trademark bungalows, strip clubs, cops, and various other sights the famed town has to offer.

Here's some trivia: L.A. is referred to as "City of Night," the name of a book by novelist John Rechy. Near the end of the song, Morrison introduces his alter ego, "Mr. Mojo Risin'". (actually an anagram of "Jim Morrison.") It is also theorized that the lyrics refer to Diane Gardner, publicist for the Doors, to whom Morrison addressed many of his poems.

The video below was filmed in 1985, 14 years after Morrison's death. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek directed it for MTV and included in the Doors film "Dance on Fire." While the video may seem sort of cheesy for its obvious '80s hair and apparel, most of the images drive the tune home.

Enjoy...

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WRITER, DUNGEON MASTER GARY GYGAX, R.I.P. (1938-2008)

Via CNET: Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and one of the fathers of tabletop role-playing games, died on Tuesday at the age of 69. He had suffered from heart problems.

The news was first announced on the message board of Troll Lord Games, the publisher of Gygax's most recent works. It has since been directly confirmed by the company, which will post an announcement on its Web site later Tuesday.

Gygax was best known for helping create Dungeons & Dragons and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. He also pioneered tabletop role-playing games. The first D&D rulebooks were released in 1974 by TSR, and since then have produced three full-fledged sequels, numerous revisions and updates, and dozens upon dozens of additional rulebooks, settings, and campaigns. While Gygax hadn't had much direct involvement with D&D for many years, he developed and contributed to many role-playing games, including Troll Lord Games' Gary Gygax's Fantasy Worlds.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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HEMINGWAY'S BOOKSHELF - 'THE TEN-CENT SCARE'

Got an advance copy of "Ten-Cent Plague," a really interesting read that delves into the cultural paranoia of the '50s, the Red Scare and how it all ties into the censorship debate over comic books.

During the post-war era of the late '40s and early '50s, the gin-soaked dime-store comic was king -- churned out by legions of boilerplate scribes, illustrators, and editors in the Big Apple for a devoted young audience nationwide.

The glory days were brief. It wasn't long before multitudes of youth groups and civic authorities targeted these publications as gateway reading to moral depravity. After Mad-magazine founder Bill Gaines foundered in a sweaty, Dexedrine-fueled haze in front of televised congressional hearings on the link between juvenile delinquency and horror and crime magazines, virtually the entirety of comic-book publishing disappeared overnight. "The Ten-Cent Plague," written sharply by Hajdu looks back on the passions inflamed by the so-called comics scare.

Look for it in stores or online at Amazon March 18.

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BOND'S 'THE DEVIL MAY CARE' ARTWORK

Thanks to EW, here's a look at the new book jacket for the forthcoming James Bond novel "The Devil May Care." In an odd authorship credit, the book, written by Sebastian Faulks (pictured), has the credit "By Sabastian Faulks writing as Ian Fleming." Dopey ...

In an interview with Commander Bond, the author says “It’s a very traditional Bond story. It’s got all the bits that you like about the Bond adventures and none of the boring bits.” Faulks continues about the story written during the era of the Cold War “It’s got pace, adventure, it has not one, but two beautiful women. Ian Fleming loved trains; it has trains. He loved cars; there are cars. There’s also something I’ve discovered; a very, very exotic Cold War vehicle. I can’t really think how better to describe it. And, of course, it has high life. Adventure.” ”

The popular novelist, famous for "Charlotte Gray" and "Birdsong," was selected by the Fleming estate of the late 007-author in 2006, though his identity was not revealed to the public until July 2007 when a publishing date for the work was officially announced along with its title.

The novel is set in 11967 (and in Ian Fleming's original continuity, following The Man With The Golden Gun) and the action is played out "across two continents, exotic locations and some of the world's most thrilling cities". U.S. publisher Doubleday confirmed one of the locations will be Paris.

The publication of the book will coincide with the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth on May 28.

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REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER - NEW RULES 2/29

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