| Sundance: Chris Pine And Alan Rickman Talk Bottle Shock
Due to technical difficulties, the press was asked to wait outside the conference room (which was actually a tent set up just outside the Yarrow hotel) while they got things fixed. Leanne and I got situated near the door and this afforded us the opportunity to see the various cast members of the film walk right by us.
Id like to pretend as though I was unfazed by the sight of actors like Alan Rickman, Eliza Dushku, Freddie Rodriguez, Chris Pine or Bill Pullman as they walked by me but lets face it: I may wear a press badge on the outside, but on the inside I was squeeing like a dorky fangirl. Rachael Tayler, who is also in the film was present as well. You might remember her from her role as the hot blonde Aussie tech-geek in Transformers.
We were eventually let into the tent, which was surprisingly warm and the conference got started fairly quickly.
If it's 4 a.m., that's an infomercial on TV
We can see product demonstrations instantly, online. Yet, even so, this particular brand of extended sales pitch -- rife with painfully bad acting, peppy spokespeople and enthusiastic product demos -- still rules the airwaves in the wee hours. Some suck you in, while others just plain... don't. But they all have something to say. So, now, as we settle down for the post-holiday sales doldrums, we have a few things to say about them. (As for the products themselves, we neither endorse nor malign, as we're strictly infomercial window-shoppers.) That said, we give you "The Insomniac's Guide to (a few) Infomercials," which is -- we swear -- based on descriptions of actual product pitches. The Magic Bullet This infomercial is unique in that it tells a story.
First, build a down payment
Dear Liz: I'd like to buy my first house soon, but real estate is expensive where I live and condominiums seem more affordable. What is your take on owning a condo versus a house? Because I will have to do 100% financing, I will have to pay $250 a month in private mortgage insurance, which will result in a payment of about $2,450 a month for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, which seems like a lot. I was advised that I could decrease my tax withholding, because the mortgage interest will be deductible, and that will make the payment seem less huge.
Answer: Wait a bit and build a down payment.
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Cheaper electricity touted
Now, in hopes of prompting legislators to move on the measure, the Lexington Electric Utility Ad-hoc Committee is touting its review of electricity costs at 12 area high schools from July 2006 through June 2007, which found that schools served by a municipal electric company, or muni, paid about half of the average 18 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity that those served by NStar were charged. NStar is an investor-owned utility. "The study clearly shows that it's not just residential users who would save money with munis," said Patrick Mehr, a longtime advocate for municipal electric companies and member of the ad hoc committee. "Cities, towns, and the state would also save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year - money they could be put to much better use." The study included a review of electricity costs at public high schools in the Acton-Boxborough, Belmont, Brookline, Concord-Carlisle, Lexington, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton (Newton North and Newton South), Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, and Winchester districts.
Maxcom Telecomunicaciones Third Quarter 2007 Unaudited Results
The number of voice lines in service at the end of 3Q07 increased 26% to 321,003 lines, from 255,174 lines at the end of 3Q06, and 7% when compared to 299,744 lines in service at the end of 2Q07. During 3Q07, 29,306 new voice lines were installed, 3% above the 28,551 lines installed during 3Q06. When compared to 2Q07, the number of installations decreased 3% from 30,343 lines. During the quarter, the monthly churn rate for voice lines was 1.7%, above the 1.6% monthly average churn experienced during 3Q06 and 2Q07. Data equivalent lines (at 64Kbps) increased 226% to 125,960 at the end of 3Q07 from 38,640 at the end of 3Q06, and 105% when compared to 61,586 equivalent lines at the end of 2Q07. The increase was mainly driven by installations to residential customers.
Gardner faces builders over moratorium
It could have been a case of Daniel walking into the lions' den, but Frederick County Commissioner Jan Gardner received a cordial reception Friday in an address to the Frederick County Builders Association. Gardner said when she was invited to speak some time ago to the group, she expected to give an update on the state of the county. Instead, she found herself explaining the county's initiative to put a halt to new residential construction for the next two years. The commissioner emphasized that the reason for the initiative was driven by transportation issues. "I get 200 e-mails a day," she said, "and every single day some of those are on traffic problems." She said the county has made progress on school construction, but the needs of transportation is the overwhelming issue.
Public wants input on Carroll police unit
There is no appreciable difference between the cost to run a future unified sheriff's department and the cost to operate a county police department," Powell said. Sheriff Kenneth L. Tregoning said he has urged county commissioners for 21 years to create a law enforcement master plan, which has not been done. Suddenly there is a sense of urgency to get somewhere without any plan in place, he said. For several years, he has pushed for his department to assume primary responsibility for law enforcement in the county. "There is no sound reason that the county is going forward at this speedy and reckless pace to dismantle the sheriff's department," Tregoning said. "Here they want to change the entire face of law enforcement, and they have not had one public meeting. I find that disgraceful," he said.
Maine bridge on list
The bridge was closed in October 2006, because of safety concerns that arose from cracks in the bridge's support beams. “We closed the bridge over a year ago because the condition was such that we didn't feel it was safe any longer," said Gerald Kusnierek, chairman of Maine Township. .
Unversity Place litigation settled
A settlement has been reached in litigation over the University of Idahos failed University Place real estate project in Boise. Under its terms, the UI Foundation will pay $2.5 million and the various parties insurers will pay $5.8 million, for a total $8.3 million mediated settlement. Of that, $5.8 million goes to the foundations Consolidated Investment Trust, and the other $2.5 million goes to the university. In a joint statement, the parties, who include law firms, insurance companies, the UI Foundation board, and former UI officials including former President Robert Hoover, said, The settlement is a reasonable resolution of an extremely complex matter, avoids substantial future litigation costs, and is in the best interest of the University community. The amount being paid by each party is being kept secret.
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