'Twilight' stays bright but Hollywood snoozes

In this July 21, 2011 photo, from left, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner pose at an event held to promote the film "The Twilight Saga: Breaking the Dawn Part 1" at the Comic-Con International 2011 convention July 21, 2011, in San Diego. The latest "Twilight" movie still cast the longest shadow with $16.9 million for a third-straight No. 1 finish during one of the year's slowest weekends at the box office. Business was dismal, with box-office tracker Hollywood.com estimating Sunday that domestic revenues totaled just $82 million. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

In this July 21, 2011 photo, from left, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner pose at an event held to promote the film "The Twilight Saga: Breaking the Dawn Part 1" at the Comic-Con International 2011 convention July 21, 2011, in San Diego. The latest "Twilight" movie still cast the longest shadow with $16.9 million for a third-straight No. 1 finish during one of the year's slowest weekends at the box office. Business was dismal, with box-office tracker Hollywood.com estimating Sunday that domestic revenues totaled just $82 million. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? The latest "Twilight" movie cast the longest shadow with $16.9 million for a third-straight No. 1 finish during one of the year's slowest weekends at the box office.

Business was dismal, with box-office tracker Hollywood.com estimating Sunday that domestic revenues totaled just $82 million. That puts it barely ahead of Hollywood's worst haul of the year, when revenues were $81.5 million over the second weekend in September.

Once studios release final numbers Monday, this past weekend could come in as the worst of the year if revenues finish even lower.

The first weekend of December often presents a lull in between big Thanksgiving releases and the onslaught of year-end blockbusters that arrive a bit later. But this big a slowdown is surprising given that there's quality stuff out there among the top-10 films, particularly family fare such as "The Muppets," ''Hugo" and "Arthur Christmas."

Hollywood executives usually blame bad weekends on a weak crop of movies.

"It's tough to blame it on the product when the product is pretty good and the films are solid," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "While the post-Thanksgiving weekend is typically slow, it's not usually this slow."

The dreary weekend comes after a relatively quiet Thanksgiving holiday at movie theaters, despite analysts' predictions of potential holiday records because of a great lineup of films.

But more fans might be thinking twice about heading out to theaters given the new entertainment options they have with Apple's iPad, Amazon's Kindle products and other gadgets, along with their big-screen home setups for movies and television.

Or it could be that Hollywood has temporarily neglected its mainstay audience of young males. Dergarabedian said there's little out there now for guys looking for thrills and laughs.

That will change in the coming weeks as Jonah Hill's comedy "The Sitter" opens Friday, followed by a rush of action tales: Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol," Robert Downey Jr.'s "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" and Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin."

Women and families continue to dominate the scanty business at theaters now. Summit Entertainment's female-driven blockbuster "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1" raised its domestic haul to $247.3 million. "Breaking Dawn" added $40.2 million overseas, taking it to a tally of $341 million internationally and $588.3 million worldwide.

Coming in second again was Disney's "The Muppets" with $11.2 million, lifting the family film's domestic total to $56.1 million. Despite good reviews, though, "The Muppets" audience was off more sharply than any other top-10 movie compared to Thanksgiving weekend.

Paramount's family adventure "Hugo," an acclaimed saga directed by Martin Scorsese, finished third with $7.6 million, raising its domestic take to $25.2 million.

Sony's animated holiday comedy "Arthur Christmas" was fourth with $7.4 million, pushing its total to $25.3 million.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's sexually explicit drama "Shame" opened strongly with $361,181 at 10 theaters in six cities. "Shame" expands to six more cities Friday.

Starring Michael Fassbender in a grim portrait of a sex addict, "Shame" is the latest film angling to lure moviegoers despite an NC-17 rating that prohibits anyone younger than 17 from seeing it.

Some fans and theaters equate the NC-17 tag with pornography, but serious films with that rating occasionally break through and find an audience. Fox Searchlight is positioning "Shame" for Academy Awards attention after the film earned Fassbender the best-actor prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1," $16.9 million ($40.2 million international).

2. "The Muppets," $11.2 million ($1.8 million international).

3. "Hugo," $7.6 million.

4. "Arthur Christmas," $7.4 million ($11.4 million international).

5. "Happy Feet Two," $6 million ($16.3 million international).

6. "Jack and Jill," $5.5 million ($3.2 million international).

7. "The Descendants," $5.2 million.

8. "Immortals," $4.4 million ($4 million international).

9. "Tower Heist," $4.1 million ($4 million international).

10. "Puss in Boots," $3.1 million ($23 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1," $40.2 million.

2. "Puss in Boots," $23 million.

3. "Happy Feet Two," $16.3 million.

4 (tie). "Arthur Christmas," $11.4 million.

4 (tie). "Vysotsky: Thank God I'm Alive," $11.4 million.

6. "The Adventures of Tintin," $10.6 million.

7. "In Time," $9.6 million.

8. "Real Steel," $5.3 million.

9 (tie). "Immortals," $4 million.

9 (tie). "Tower Heist," $4 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-04-Box%20Office/id-3b6d058a03f64098b9b17d375aa57a55

breaking dawn part 2 breaking dawn part 2 big game jeremy london jeremy london butterball turkey fryer butterball turkey fryer

Embattled Cain ends 2012 bid (Reuters)

ATLANTA (Reuters) ? Former pizza magnate Herman Cain dropped out of the U.S. presidential race on Saturday after accusations of sexual misconduct overwhelmed his bid to win the Republican nomination as an anti-Washington tax reformer.

Cain's departure set off a competition among other candidates to win over his conservative supporters with voting to start next month in the race to determine the Republicans' presidential pick for 2012 to oppose President Barack Obama.

Cain, a former Godfather's Pizza chief executive, told followers in his hometown of Atlanta that "false and unproved" sexual accusations had forced him to suspend his White House bid.

He said he would endorse another candidate, effectively ending a roller-coaster campaign that saw the African-American businessman go from complete outsider to the rising star of Republican conservatives within a few weeks over the autumn.

Cain held a Friday night meeting with his wife, Gloria, who has stayed mostly silent as several women accused her husband of sexual harassment and an Atlanta businesswoman this week said she had carried out a 13-year affair with him.

Gloria Cain appeared at his side on Saturday and smiled throughout.

Cain's departure shapes the wide-open Republican race more clearly into a matchup between former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and surging rival Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Reuters/Ipsos poll data released this week showed Gingrich and Romney would benefit most if Cain quit.

Support for Romney and Gingrich would rise by 3 percentage points each, against the 1- or 2-point bumps Cain's departure would give some of their rivals for the nomination.

Gingrich, a fellow Georgian, said he would meet with Cain next week.

"I don't anticipate anything," CNN reported Gingrich as saying. Cain has to "make up his own mind," Gingrich said.

Romney said in New Hampshire he sought backing from Cain supporters. "I hope as they evaluate the various candidates, they conclude that I'm the leader they need," he said.

Suspending his campaign instead of quitting altogether lets Cain continue raising money that he could use to pay off any debt he had run up.

CLOUD OF DOUBT

Cain, 65, said a "cloud of doubt" had settled over his campaign. He insisted that accusations he sexually harassed several women and had an affair with Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White were simply not true.

"I am suspending my campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt," Cain said at an event that had been planned as the grand opening of his campaign headquarters in Atlanta.

Cain won attention for his 9-9-9 plan to reduce the U.S. tax code to 9 percent on income, sales and corporate taxes.

After jumping into the front-runner position two months ago, Cain had been in a free fall in the past month. His support in Iowa, which holds the first U.S. nominating contest on January 3, stands at 8 percent.

Cain spoke of having made mistakes but did not elaborate. His campaign also suffered from several stumbles that included a long pause when he tried to answer a routine question about Libya.

"I've made mistakes professionally, personally, as a candidate, in terms of how I run my campaign. And I take responsibility for the mistakes that I've made. And I've been the very first to own up to any mistakes I've made," Cain said.

Supporter Kristen Keating, 35 of Decatur, Georgia, wept after Cain's announcement.

"I believe in his plan and his vision for leadership and his solutions for very serious issues that are way beyond his own private life," she said. "His plan was so clear. I understand it. "

She has not decided what candidate to support for president now.

In Iowa, the Cain campaign's state chairman, Steve Grubbs, told Radio Iowa he was not surprised by Cain's decision.

"My counsel would have been to stay the course and see it through, but obviously he thought a different way and I'll be at peace with that," he said.

What do you do with 3,000 yard signs? Grubbs said. "You recycle."

(Additional reporting by Kay Henderson in Des Moines, Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111203/ts_nm/us_usa_campaign_cain

senate bill 5 joe paterno press conference joe paterno scandal joe paterno scandal election day 2011 mississippi personhood

House bill ends public financing for elections (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/168685457?client_source=feed&format=rss

daylight savings time 2011 selena daylight savings bobolink bobolink breeders cup hamilton park

Top Picks: Holiday cards with a unique story, how one man becomes Santa, and more

A new video game gives you plenty of opportunities for adventure, a Yahoo list shows the hidden meanings behind famous logos, FDR's side of Pearl Harbor is revealed in a History Channel special, and more top picks.

Christmas strings

Skip to next paragraph

On An Appalachian Christmas, violinist Mark O'Connor notches another success. The album showcases O'Connor's diverse musical styles and includes guests such as jazz singer Jane Monheit ("Winter Wonderland"), folk star James Taylor ("Ol' Blue"), and opera luminary Ren?e Fleming ("Away in a Manger"). Best of all, Alison Krauss's hushed vocal on "Slumber My Darling" feels as tender as a snowflake's caress. O'Connor's violin playing creates a cohesive feel throughout.

FDR in action

Pearl Harbor: 24 Hours After is a sobering look at the pressures on the president in the immediate aftermath of the Japanese attack on Hawaii. It may be hard to recall such an era, but in the pre-cellphone and Internet days, it could take hours to confirm information ? even for the president of the United States. Debuts on History Dec. 7.

Card capers

Made out of materials as unlikely as coffee grounds and denim jeans, Paperworks Studio cards are beautifully crafted by a team of artists with special needs and disadvantages. Handmade and unique, the cards offer the artists independence and life lessons through their creative efforts. To see their designs, check out paperworksstudio.com.

Hiding in plain sight

You've seen the logos a hundred times. But have you spotted the chips and bowl of salsa inside the Tostitos name or the arrow spelling out a hidden message on the Amazon moniker? Yahoo has compiled a list of some hidden words or images inside the world's most recognizable logos. Check them out at http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/can-you-spot-the-hidden-images-in-these-famous-logos-2528093.html

Choose your own adventure

Very early in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the fantasy video game asks you, "What now?" Venture into the dragon-infested mountains? Chat up villagers in the nearest town? Join a wizard school? (Spoiler: There is no wrong answer.) Skyrim has a central story line, but the realm is so dense with activities, skirmishes, and secrets that the narrative constantly takes a back seat to simple, sublime exploration. The world is your sandbox. Enjoy. Available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Santa who?

Becoming Santa is a quirky documentary about one man's quest to plumb the true meaning of the holiday spirit by "becoming" Santa. The film narrates the evolution of the Santa Claus figure from a wealthy 4th-century Turkish Nicholas through various European traditions to the department store figure and advertising icon ? alongside a peek into the culture of giving and organized charities embodied in the Santa principle. Airs on OWN, Dec. 7.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/9DOICmu5GZ8/Top-Picks-Holiday-cards-with-a-unique-story-how-one-man-becomes-Santa-and-more

adobe air 2005yu55 advanced search personhood amendment haynesworth haynesworth michelle duggar

Two feared dead in New Zealand helicopter crash (AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand ? A pilot and conservation worker are missing and feared dead after the helicopter they were flying to fight a fire crashed into the ocean off New Zealand's far north coast.

Northland police inspector Lou Alofa said the helicopter was located Thursday morning in about seven meters (23 feet) of water and that dive teams were on their way to the scene. He said the chopper went missing Wednesday night while fighting a large scrub fire in Matai Bay near Kaitaia.

Alofa said the fire broke out at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Reports indicate the fire burned down at least two homes.

Department of Conservation spokesman Rory Newsam said a Northland staff member is missing and the agency was meeting Thursday with the family of the worker.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111130/ap_on_re_as/as_new_zealand_chopper_crash

opensky dia frampton dia frampton zook john elway john elway eric decker

Aviary?s Tools Are Powering One Million Edited Photos Per Week On Mobile Alone

If apps like?Instagram?have proven one thing, it's that photos and mobile phones are an extremely popular (and powerful) combination. And photos on the web are obviously?immensely?popular as well. A year ago NYC-based startup Aviary decided to capitalize on these trends by launching developer-facing APIs, which allow third-party apps to bake in image editing with a minimal amount of work required. Today, the company is announcing some stats that indicate that its strategy is working: it's now powering image editing in some 300+ websites and mobile applications, and over one million photos are being edited per week on mobile alone. For most of its history Aviary has offered a suite of web-based image editing tools ??if you want to edit an image but don't have Photoshop handy, for example, it's a great free alternative. Then last year, it opened the doors to third-party developers with a new HTML5-based web API, and it followed that up with its iOS and Android SDKs this past September. Aviary says that on average, it takes a mobile developer only fifteen minutes to bake this functionality into their apps.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/CWYC9zATa1s/

san francisco 49ers san francisco 49ers lauren alaina lowes 49ers best buy black friday bath and body works coupons

Michael Jackson Family on Conrad Murray Sentence: Not Long Enough!

Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced to four years behind bars today, the longest possible prison term for involuntary manslaughter. Needless to say, Michael Jackson's family is adamant that he deserves every day of that sentence, and then some.

His mother, Katherine Jackson, made that abundantly clear in recent weeks.

In Murray's official Probation Report, Katherine lashes out at Murray for his documentary, in which he lays blame on Michael and denies any wrongdoing.

Katherine feels Murray's four-year sentence is "insufficient."

The report says, "During filming, he repeatedly stated that he did nothing wrong. Ms. Jackson feels this adds insult to injury, and shows he is clearly not remorseful."

The Jackson family matriarch also says she's "deeply insulted" that on the anniversary of Michael's death, Murray arranged to be photographed at the cemetery.

Michael's parents, siblings and children issued a joint statement begging Judge Michael Pastor to make Conrad Murray pay for his crime, which he did today.

At the same time, the family insists revenge is not their motive.

The statement reads, "There is no way to adequately describe the loss of our beloved father, son, brother and friend. We still look at each other in disbelief."

"Is it really possible that he is gone? As Michael's parents, we never imagined we would live to witness his passing. It is simply against the natural order of things."

"We are not here to seek revenge. There is nothing you can do here today to bring Michael back. But we will keep the love in our hearts that Michael embodied throughout his life. His passion was for unifying the world through the gift of his artistry."

"We respectfully request that you impose a sentence that reminds physicians that they can not sell their services to the highest bidder and cast aside their Hippocratic oath to do no harm. As we all know from this tragedy, doing so can have devastating results."

"The Bible reminds us that men cannot do justice, they can only seek justice. That is all that we ask as a family. And that is all that we can ask for here."

We ask you: Did Murray receive the right sentence?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/11/michael-jackson-family-on-conrad-murray-sentence-not-long-enough/

jewelry stores heisman the firm sleep no more cyber monday deals war eagle war eagle