A music video streaming site launched Dec. 8, 2009 received high benedictions from record labels. Called Vevo, the site marks yet another effort by labels to monetize their increasingly devalued products.

Foraying where MTV has gone, Vevo contains over 30,000 studio-produced music videos from Vivendi Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music, plus content from Last.fm and various other CBS radio stations. The site is a joint venture of these recording companies with Google.

Google has pulled out professionally produced music videos from YouTube, its popular streaming site, and made Vevo its repository. In addition, Google—currently the world’s most successful advertising company—is infusing Vevo with YouTube’s technological know-how. If successful, Vevo could do for the digital era what MTV did for the 1980s.

McDonald’s Corp, AT&T Inc, Colgate-Palmolive Co, and MasterCard Inc, among 20 other companies, have struck advertising deals with Vevo. In exchange for an audience with its highly lucrative demographic, the site has pegged its ad price anywhere between $25 and $40 for every thousand page views.

Backed in part by the Abu Dhabi Media Company, Vevo somewhat replicates a business model pioneered by Hulu. The latter has become very profitable as a one-stop site to watch films and TV shows, drawing the likes of Disney.

For their part, YouTube has inked deals to legitimately use content from several film studios and television networks, e.g. Sony Pictures, MGM Studios, Lionsgate and CBS. Additionally, the site has plunged into partnerships with all four major record labels, including sole Vevo holdout Warner Music Group.

Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman was visibly absent at the Vevo launch party on Tuesday. The affair was nonetheless studded with all three music industry moguls, together with their talents.

“Vevo is a huge platform, and you know what’s best of all? It’s our platform,” said Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris at the party.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt took center stage that night, alongside Vevo CEO Rio Caraeff. They hobnobbed with such musical greats as Lady GaGa, Shania Twain, 50 Cent and Sheryl Crow. Guests were serenaded by performances from Mariah Carey and John Mayer, among others.

Affinion, the customer loyalty company best known for offering identity theft security and shoppers’ programs, recently launched a whole new program in the field of travel and leisure. Affinion, one of the ten largest travel and leisure agencies in the US, unveiled an “Everyday Travel Insurance” program that provides “perpetual travel insurance” that covers any trip more than 100 miles away from the customer’s home.

According to Affinion, Everday Travel Insurance covers all forms of travel, including car, air, train, or boat, and is available for families or individuals. “Whether it’s a weekend visit to the beach or an amusement park, driving the children to college, or visiting relatives over the holidays, we’re aiming to provide a travel plan to individuals and families to cover all of their travel routines,” said Tom Rusin, CEO of Affinion North America. “We’re challenging the notion that travel insurance should only cover the stand-alone, more expensive trips, and providing an affordable option so that anyone who even occasionally travels more than 100 miles from home can have consistent coverage.”

With a subscription based service, Affinion hopes to cut into the business provided by more traditional forms of trip-based insurance. This marketing campaign seeks to reshape people’s definition of a “trip” to include any long-distance trip. Affinion’s Everyday Travel Insurance includes $500 insurance for lost luggage, $150/day travel delay allowance, and 24 hour service.

Affinion, led by CEO Nathaniel Lipman,has provided comprehensive customer engagement and loyalty solutions for 35 years. Affinion partners with these leading companies to develop and market programs that provide services to their end-customers using their expertise in customer engagement, creative design, and product development. Affinion is also the parent company of customer loyalty solution company Trilegiant.

Angelina Jolie, named the World’s Most Powerful Celebrity, is also Hollywood’s top-earning actress this year.

According to Forbes Magazine, the 34-year old actress collected over $27 million in earnings for the past 12 months from her blockbuster movies including the international action hit “Wanted” and a soon-to-be-released thriller “Salt”. She also provided voice to Tiger Mistress, a character in the movie animation “Kung Fu Panda”.

Jolie dethroned billionaire Oprah Winfrey from the Most Powerful List after the release of several top-billed blockbuster movies and a steady stream of media attention along her way.

Aside from the widely-publicized birth of her twins with actor Brad Pitt, she has consistently made headlines for her dedication to philanthropic work.

Off-screen, Jolie serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency and has traveled all around the world to promote humanitarian cases. She is especially renowned for her work with refugees through the UN High Commission for Refugees, a commitment she was able to act out in her movie Beyond Borders.

Among the other top-earning Hollywood actresses trailing Jolie is Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt’s ex-wife. Aniston is estimated to have earned over $25 million mostly from the romantic comedy “Marley and Me” and an upcoming film “The Baster.” She also earns from reruns of popular TV series Friends and Glaceau’s SmartWater.

The third top-earning actress this year is veteran actress Meryl Streep, who raked in $24 million for her role in the film musical “Mamma Mia”.

Sarah Jessica Parker came in fourth boasting of earnings worth $23 million from the movie version of her hit TV series “Sex and the City.”

Placing fifth is Cameron Diaz who earned $20 million.

Forbes’ list is based on interviews with agents, managers, producers, and lawyers who detail how much actresses earn upfront for movies they are currently working on and how much they would get paid after the movie is released.

After testing it in over 1,000 select U.S. locations years ago, McDonald’s is finally selling a new line of bigger $4 Angus burgers in all of its U.S. locations.

Amid the recession, the world’s most popular fast food chain considers it the right time to launch the “bigger, premium” Angus burgers to the national market. There had been some concern on the launch date of the new burgers. In October 2008, McDonald’s top management announced it would defer the national launch of the new product based on report recommendations by a stock analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, and due to the weak economy.

Although the economy has not visibly improved since then, McDonald’s officially declared the launch. According to company spokeswoman Dana Proud, the new Angus burger offering will be the best alternative for great tasting burgers at an affordable price.

The new line of burgers adds to the fast food’s permanent core menu, which includes all-time favorites the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

Angus burgers, priced at $4 each, are McDonald’s most expensive sandwich but are relatively cheap when compared to fast-casual and sit-down competitors like Chili’s Grill and Bar and Five Guys, which cost at least $8.

A Chicago Tribune food review stated the new features in Angus burgers: crinkle-cut pickles, red onion rings, a thicker slice of tomato and mushrooms that make it tastier than the popular Big Mac; plus new sesame seed rolls that offer sturdy support.

Nutritional information on the three versions of Angus burgers state: Angus Deluxe – 750 cal, 39 g fat, 1,700 mg sodium; Mushroom & Swiss – 770 cal, 40 g fat, 1,170 mg sodium; Bacon & Cheese – 790 cal, 39 g fat, 2,070 mg sodium

On Wednesday’s trading, McDonald’s shares rose 73 cents to $58.22.

There is no better way to survive a period of economic woe than to grab a ticket to the movies.

This was proven in the 1930s; it has been proven once again in the 21st century. Since the Depression, escapism has been the one factor that made the entertainment industry a sole survivor.

During the Depression, people shelled a quarter or less to buy a whole day refuge in the movie theater from the troubles of a cash-strapped economy. In today’s age, it requires a meager $10 to fund the same escape.

Film historian and critic Leonard Maltin explains that despite the heavy budget cuts people make when in a financial bind, there is always just enough money for the movies.

A possible explanation for this is that the movies are a cheap therapy and diversion during troubled days: “To go into a darkened room where nobody can find you for two hours is great therapy, particularly when times are bad,” explains Dan Glickman, head of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Moviemaking profits are at an all-time high domestically and globally. Despite the blows of the recession, rapid unemployment and high inflation, box office earnings rose by 13.8% this year, approaching almost $10 million in U.S. ticket sales alone.

The recession has also jumpstarted new growth opportunities as studios are seeking for cost-cutting measures. This has put Hollywood in a flurry of deal making. Viacom Inc’s Paramount Studios is negotiating with News Corp’s Fox and Sony Corp’s Sony Pictures to integrate their DVD manufacturing and distribution units. Time Warner Inc is contemplating on a deal with DreamWorks Animation SKG, while Sony Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer could be up for sale soon.

Another big gainer is Imax Corp, producer of gigantic 2D and 3D theater screens, which registered a growth of 43% from last year.

Back in the 16th century, a hunter named Thomas Ap Harri was on his way home from a hunt in the Halkyn Mountain when he was challenged to clear a lead mine shaft that was 25 feet wide. Thomas Ap Harri accepted the bet and successfully jumped over the mine shaft on his steed.

Located in North East Wales, the Halkyn Mountain is the upland area that is virtually the backbone of Flintshire. The land’s vast reserve of lead has been involved in the histories that even date back to the age of the Roman Empire. Old Roman pigs of lead that were produced in Flintshire were engraved with the inscription Deceangli, the name of the British tribe living in the area.

With veins of lead reserves, Flintshire was favored by miners, most of whom came from Derbyshire. A lot of these miners settled, intermarrying with Welsh locals and becoming Welsh-speaking themselves. Their descendants, bearing non-Welsh family names such as Bateman, Bagshaw, Harrison, Carrington, Ingleby, Hooson, Nuttall, Martin, Redfern, Oldfield, Stealey, and Spencer, still inhabit the area.

As time passed and mining technology became more advanced, investors and miners continued to drive to Flintshire, like the London Lead Company and Derbyshire mining entrepreneurs.

Along with the mining boom, Flintshire flourished into a larger community that thrived from the profits lead mining brought.

Mining operations was virtually stopped in 1970, as the activities resulted to flooding. Quarrying became the area’s main source of income afterwards. At present, two massive limestone quarries operate in the area.

Given these, one can easily see that the lead mines and their shafts have their places in the history of Halkyn Mountain.

It is a small wonder then that the region’s populace is commemorating Thomas Ap Harri’s historic leap, affirming that indeed, the mines have deeply intertwined themselves with the lives of the inhabitants of the area.

A painting of Thomas Ap Harri’s jump on his horse will be put near Naid y March (Horse’s Leap), the actual site of the leap. The painting is done by Bethesda-based artist Chris Hull through the commission of the Flintshire Countryside Service. The painting will be encased in an iron frame and will be showcased alongside a display panel.

Local legends have it that Thomas Ap Harri was probably under the influence of alcohol when he did his leap of faith, which was either brave or foolhardy, as Halkyn mountain ranger Rachael Watson put it.

Watson explains that Thomas Ap Harri’s horse would have been sturdy but heavy, which makes the animal unfit for jumping and clearing 25-feet mine shafts.

The commemorative painting is funded by the Cemex Foundation, a charitable trust set up by quarrying company Cemex. Prior to Chris Hull’s rendition of Thomas Ap Harri’s jump, two stones have been erected to commemorate the jump. According to Watson, those stones are actually Bronze Age in origin and must have come from somewhere else but were brought to the site to commemorate Thomas Ap Harri’s achievement.

Despite harboring a sizable following among preteen girls, Disney still went for a more boyish route on February 13 with the launch of a new channel.

This channel, called Disney XD, is a cross-platform cable network, in that it has incarnations on the web and among mobile phones. Most of all, it is boy-focused, but nonetheless girl-inclusive.

A total of 6.5 million people, presumably mostly boys, tuned in to this new network on launch day.

Boys represent “virgin real estate” among cable networks, in the words of Gary Marsh, Disney Channel’s worldwide president for entertainment. There is an estimated population of 20 million American boys aged six to 14. Advertisers are willing to tap this market, which is reportedly equivalent to $40 billion in purchasing power.

In light of this, Disney has packaged XD as an ad-supported channel, a first for the television network. Designed for boys aged 6-14, Disney XD has gained instant sponsorships from Kellogg, Kraft, Lego, General Mills, and Pokémon USA. Other sponsorship deals are in the works for its online store at DisneyXD.com. This is a departure from the ad-less Disney Channel that spurns endorsing big brands.

Disney XD is different from the Disney Channel in many ways. Against Disney XD, Disney Channel has comparatively been more girl-focused, with such content as Hannah Montana and star staples like The Jonas Brothers.

Launched to 73 million homes on February 13, Disney XD succeeds another channel, Toon Disney. The latter, which purveyed animated shows, reported flagging ratings in the face of top children’s channels Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

Unlike those two however, Disney XD not only offers animated content, but also runs the gamut from music to sports and ultimately, live action.

Keen on moving away from Miley Cyrus, Disney XD, via Radio Disney, is set to feature more boyish music such as those of Relient K and Beastie Boys. Meanwhile, the sports facet of the channel is provided by another Disney property, ESPN. The sports channel even tailor-made one of its signature news programs for XD’s audience so that it became SportsCenter High 5.

On February 13, Disney XD got a head start with the premiere of flagship show Aaron Stone. The live-action series hit ratings gold almost immediately, gaining 1.6 million viewers and exceeding any record set by Toon Disney’s series premieres. Aaron Stone’s premiere reportedly captured over 300,000 children aged 6 to 14, 232,000 of which were boys.

Stone debuted at 7 PM on the Disney Channel, before airing at the brand-new network 30 minutes later. The series revolves around a teen named Charlie Landers who, from playing the video game “Hero Rising,” became a real-life secret agent.

This summer, Disney XD will show another live-action series about skateboarders, Zeke & Luther.

In the animated circuit, Disney Channel’s Phineas & Ferb will have its new home in XD before March. Another upcoming animated series is Kid Knievel, which follows the adventures of a 12-year-old boy dreaming to become a daredevil.

The sports of horse and greyhound racing, as well as the people behind them, just got a boost as two familiar racing facilities in Boston teamed up. Suffolk Downs, home of the Massachusetts Handicap (MassCap), and Wonderland Greyhound Park, formed a partnership to save the sports and the thousands of people who depend on horse and greyhound racing.

Though discussions to formally create a joint venture started as early as two years ago, the principal owners of both facilities encountered several issues that halted the negotiations. Businessman and philanthropist Richard Fields, who is Suffolk Down’s majority and principal owner, and Charles Sarkis of Wonderland Greyhound Park however, finally agreed on the terms of their partnership.

Charles Sarkis stated that the goal of the partnership is to ensure the continuity of the jobs of the people who are working in both racing facilities, which are in close proximity to each other, being separated only by a 2-mile gap.

Both parties have also filed for a casino license. A casino in the area will generate a lot of employment opportunities and revenue. Discussions about the casino license application are currently underway.

Fields also made several policy changes in Suffolk Downs after purchasing a controlling interest in the said facility. One of these is the banning of horse slaughter. Richard Fields is adamantly against slaughtering retiring racehorses and believes in alternative options for these hardworking animals. Animal rights agencies are happy to have found a champion for the welfare of horses.

Aside from horse racing activities, Richard Fields also has other business engagements. As the chairman of the Coastal Development, LLC, Fields is heavily involved in resort and casino development and management and in hotel construction. One of his popular projects is his co-development of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida.

An active philanthropist, Richard Fields established The Fields Family Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Fields Family Foundation has been a steady supporter of the research efforts against muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes continuous muscle weakness, muscle and tissue defects, and death of muscle cells.

Article source: Suffolk Downs, Wonderland form partnership (Boston Globe)

The music industry is feeling the economic pinch. Music artists and pop stars who are aware that the music industry is downsizing are developing business plans to keep their music. The recent trend is musicians morphing themselves to a brand and seeking out investors and brand partners for better financial security.

Just recently, music executives converged at Cannes for the Midem, the industry’s annual conference. In contrast to previous Midem gatherings, last year saw the significant decrease in CD profits, boarded-up music stores, and illegal music file sharing of music amplified.

Music artists are also feeling the effects. Music group The Zutons were scrapped by their record label last week after poor profit returns from their latest album. Singer Lily Allen also complained about being put in a two-star “grotty” (grotesque) hotel by her record company in Paris.

Quite obviously, the music industry is suffering from financial losses as music labels can no longer cater to the demands of a rock star’s way of living. Aspiring musicians must now map out business strategies along with the demo tape if they are to succeed in getting accepted by a major recording company.

The situation calls for innovation and this was exactly what the Honey Ryder duo did while they were in Cannes. Honey Ryder spent the week looking for prospective business partners willing to invest in their group’s 100 shares, which is priced at £3,500 each. According to Marty Shone, investors will get a dividend on future profits on CDs, downloads and licensing deals. As an added incentive, shareholders will also receive a tax rebate as the venture qualifies for Enterprise Investment Scheme.

Shone, a former banker at Credit Suisse, explains that in investing, inexpensive goods like music tend to endure recessions. So far, Honey Ryder has sold 70 shares. Honey Ryder’s major sources of income will include live performances, sponsorship deals and getting their songs included in television and film soundtracks.

According to Tim Clark, who manages Robbie Williams, artists are now becoming brands. He is a little apprehensive, though, with the entry of digital media corporations like Nokia and Apple. Clark said that with the current trend making digital music readily available in the digital platform, artists must take control of the situation or the digital dealers will take over and sell cheap music at their expense.

The music industry is not as big as it was in 2000. Aspiring singers and musicians who want to live in a penthouse and travel the world in a private jet must fish the money for such luxuries from their own pockets. Simply put, the age of rock stars and pop artists getting huge cash advances is now gone.

Several strategies have been created to help the struggling industry, and one of them is the 50-50 scheme provided by R$R Music, a talent website created by Eric Nicoli, former chairman of EMI. The company will shoulder everything from lawyers to voice-coaching. But if the artist wants to get a 5-star hotel accommodation, then it means less profit for him.

These kinds of strategies might be hard for some artists but if they want to show their wares and earn from them, doing some of the unconventional might help them build and strengthen their careers in the long run.

John Updike, writer and author of several bestselling novels, including the Witches of Eastwick (1984) and Couples (1968), succumbed to lung cancer on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in a hospice near his home in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. He was 76.

Knopf, John Updike’s publisher for 50 years, announced the news of his death. His long-time editor Judith Jones announced that Updike was diagnosed with the disease after Thanksgiving.

John Updike’s style of literature revolved mainly around three things –– sex, religion, and art; things that he referred to as the “three great secret things in human experience.” John Updike’s mastery on the said topics was profound, as he gracefully wrote on any of the three subjects with great deal of ease and grace.

Born on March 18, 1932 when the Great Depression was in full swing, the young John Updike grew up with a stammer. His father was a science teacher and he took his inclination for writing from his mother, who published two works of fiction. Among his favorite topics while growing up were his psoriasis, a non-infectious skin condition, and his bad teeth.

John Updike’s college years were spent in Harvard University, where he was a scholar. He also went to study in an art school in England. He was then recruited by the famed E.B. White, writer for New Yorker Magazine in 1954. John Updike’s contribution to the said publication totaled 862 pieces, including 327 book reviews, 170 short stories, and 154 poems.

New Yorker editor David Remnick once commented that John Updike was among the elite writers of his time.

John Updike left New Yorker Magazine in 1957 to live in the Boston suburbs with his first wife, Mary Pennington, and their four children. His reason for leaving was that he saw New York as a “cultural hassle.” They got divorced in 1976 and he married Martha Bernard a year later.

John Updike’s status as a literary celebrity earned him the privilege to be on the cover of Time Magazine, twice.

According to Judith Jones, his editor, John Updike had this ability to skillfully bring to life a certain period in the last 50 years of the American society.

As John Updike matured as a writer, his subjects became more entrenched in religion, faith, and God as presented in his 1986 novel Roger’s Version. Updike was also into the occult, with Witches of Eastwick as a primary example. The novel is about three women who acquired dark, unnatural powers after their marriages fell apart. A movie of the same title was also produced in 1987 with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon portraying the central characters.

The Widows of Eastwick, the sequel to Witches, was published in October of 1981. It was the last novel of John Updike to be published in his lifetime.

Knopf unveiled their plans to publish two more works of the literary genius – My Father’s Tears and Other Stories, his initial collection of new short fiction since 2000, in June; and Endpoint, a poetry collection, in the fall.

The Centaurian has a website for all things John Updike.

The New York Times published Life and Times of John Updike, comprehensive collection of his work.

The Salon interview of master scribe John Updike.

January is National Financial Wellness Month. A great way to start your year is by being aware of your finances and by taking responsibility of your spending and saving habits in order to achieve financial wellness.

However, this does not mean depriving yourself and your family of taking great vacations. The key is finding great deals and learning destination information where you will find great value for your money.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country situated in Central America that is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Panama to the south, Nicaragua to the north, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Costa Rica is a great place if adventure is what you’re looking for. The country prides itself in its diverse breathtaking landscapes and well-developed national parks system as well as its wonderful flora and fauna.

Bermuda
The Bermuda Islands is comprised of a string of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of the United States. This place has been considered as an enchanting haven for honeymooners, captivating them with unique hidden coves and pink beaches. Several vacation packages to Bermuda offer great deals that you can choose from.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand that features its richness in history and culture, having existed for more than 700 years and being home to 300 Buddhist temples. Today, the city offers a wide assortment of boutique hotels, local decors, and amazing landscapes. This is one ideal place for sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping.

Cancun, Mexico
Also known as the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is a city situated in the southeast coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula. There are just so many things that you can do in Cancun. Whether your fancy is visiting ancient ruins or you simply want to appreciate the natural beauty of the place, Cancun will certainly fully satisfy you.

Amazon Basin, Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Amazon is situated in the eastern part of the country, bordered by the Andes Mountain Range to the west, Colombia to the north, and Peru to the south. The Amazon has one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the world, with hundreds of species of flora and water systems that support more than 600 species of fish and over 250 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Lima, Peru
Lima is the capital of and the largest city in Peru that has captivated tourists through its colonial mansions, the Andes Mountains, art galleries, museums, festivals and traditions, the Inca ruins, its historic center, and archaeological sites.

Vietnam
A country in the easternmost part of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, Vietnam borders China to the north, Laos, to the northwest, South China Sea to the east, and Cambodia to the southwest. Tourists will enjoy the country’s historical, scenic, and cultural sights. Vietnam’s floating markets are also interesting destinations.

Travel Information for:

• Costa Rica
• Bermuda
• Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Cancun, Mexico
• Amazon Basin, Ecuador
• Lima, Peru
• Vietnam