RobFuz.com

Excite News: “‘Star Wars’ Earns Record-Breaking $158.5M (AP)

Moviegoers have turned out in full force for the final chapter of the ‘Star Wars’ saga, which took in $158.5 million since its opening to shatter three-day and four-day box office records.

‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ grossed $124.7 million from Thursday to Saturday, according to studio estimates Sunday. That’s higher than the three-day record set by the first ‘Spider-Man,’ which took in $114.8 million in May 2002 – though ‘Star Wars’ had a lower Friday-Sunday take ($108.5 million) than the Tobey Maguire film.

‘Revenge of the Sith’ rang in a whopping $50 million on its opening Thursday, a single-day record boosted by eagerly anticipated midnight showings, and its total receipts since then beat the four-day $134.3 million opening of 2003’s ‘The Matrix Reloaded.’ The George Lucas film has also grossed $144.7 million overseas for a total of $303 million worldwide.”

The last of the ‘Star Wars’ movies has done what no movie in history has ever accomplished – sold $50 million worth of tickets in a single day.

‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ grossed $50,013,859 from showings at 3,661 theaters and more than 9,000 screens around the country on Thursday, including special midnight shows, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.”

The George Lucas film, which features the transformation of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader, also beat the opening day record held by “Spider-Man 2,” which grossed $40.4 million when it opened on a Wednesday last June.

“Fifty million is a good opening weekend, let alone a single day,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations. “This is the box office equivalent of a 100-year flood.”

The film debuted on 2,900 screens at midnight Thursday. The take from that one showing alone was $16.5 million, which beat the previous record of $8 million set by “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2003.

Excite News: “‘Star Wars’ Grosses $50M in Single Day

What can I say, with all of the hype and the great reviews coming in, I was not expecting to dislike anything about this move and

I was right. Episodes 1 and 2 were so visually stunning, I over looked Jar Jar and some of the bad acting! This movie was not only visually stunning but the acting improved and it really tied up the first three episodes with the first 3. I do not want to give anything away, but I liked the way they kind of changed the usual formula of the other Star Wars movies! In the first two, I sometimes got a little lost on who was who and some of the story line, but this movie was very clear and really told the origin of Darth Vader really well! My posse’ all enjoyed the movie and we had a great time! We went opening day at 12:45 and we were lucky to have zero crowds and practically our own lil private showing with only like 30 other people! Go see and enjoy the show!

Rob And Frank

Chris, Frank And Rob

Pepe’ and his U2 Bud!

The Chris Lee Gang

Star Wars Official Site

TheForce.Net – Your Daily Dose of Star Wars

Every year all the networks have what is called “The Upfronts” basically a showcase for the network for all thier advertisers. I usually wonder what the fate of some of the less popular shows will be. Som of the shows I watched are dead in the water including 8 Simple Rules and Comitted. O well I will pick up a few new shows 🙂 Here is the tally, I found the lists on a cool new TV Blog site I found, TVSquad.com

The Upfronts: ABC

Out: Eyes, Blind Justice, 8 Simple Rules, My Wife and Kids, Complete Savages.

New: The Night Stalker, Invasion, Freddie, Commander-In-Chief, Hot Properties, What About Brian (debuts in January), Emily’s Reasons Why Not (January), Crumbs (January), The Evidence (January), In Justice (January), and The Miracle Workers (January), Sons and Daugthers (January).

Returning: Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Rodney, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Primetime Live, 20/20, The Bachelor (January), Jake In Progress (January), and Hope and Faith (January)

Moving: Alias (Thursdays, 8 p.m., EST), Lost (Wednesdays, 9 p.m.), Boston Legal (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m.), According To Jim (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.), George Lopez (Wednesday, 8 p.m), Supernanny (Friday, 8 p.m.)

The Upfronts: CBS

Out: Joan of Arcadia, Judging Amy, 60 Minutes Wednesday, Listen Up

New: Threshold, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Close to Home, How I Met Your Mother, Out of Practice, The Unit, Everything I Know About Men.

Returning: King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Amazing Race, Still Standing, Yes, Dear, CSI: NY, Survivor, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Without a Trace, Numb3rs and Cold Case.

Moving: The King of Queens (Mondays at 8 p.m.), Two and a Half Men (Mondays at 9 p.m.)

The Upfronts: NBC

Out: Law and Order: Trial By Jury, American Dreams, Medical Investigation, Committed, The Contender, Third Watch.

New: The Apprentice: Martha Stuart, Three Wishes, E-Ring, Fathom, Inconceivable, My Name Is Earl, Thick and Thin, Four Kings.

Returning: Scrubs, Fear Factor, Las Vegas, The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, Joey, Will & Grace, The Apprentice, ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crossing Jordan, Medium.

Moving: The West Wing (Sundays, 8-9 p.m. EST), The Office (Tuesdays, 9:30-10 p.m. EST), Dateline NBC (Fridays 9-10 p.m. EST).

The Upfronts: FOX

Out: Jonny Zero, The Sketch Show, Tru Calling, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, Point Pleasant, North Shore, The Swan, Quintuplets, Life on a Stick.

New: Prison Break, Bones, Head Cases, Reunion, The Gate, Kitchen Confidential, The War at Home, The Loop

Returning: Arrested Development, American Dad, 24, The Simpsons, That 70s Show, The Simple Life, The O.C. Stacked, Nanny 911, House, Family Guy, Malcolm in the Middle, King of the Hill, Cops, The Bernie Mac Show, American Idol, America’s Most Wanted, Trading Spouses,

Moving: Arrested Development (Mondays, 8 p.m., EST), The Bernie Mac Show (Fridays at 8 p.m.), Malcolm in the Middle (Fridays, 8:30 p.m.), Stacked (Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.)

The Upfronts: WB

Out: Jack and Bobby, Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show, Grounded For Life, High School Reunion, The Mountain.

New: Just Legal, Related, Twins, Supernatural, Pepper Dennis (January), Misconceptions (January), Modern Men (January), The Bedford Diaries (January).

Returning: 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Living With Fran, Charmed, Blue Collar TV, What I Like About You.

Moving: Smallville (Thursdays at 8 p.m., EST), Everwood (Thursdays at 9 p.m), One Tree Hill (Wednesdays at 8 p.m).
Read on for show descriptions.

Upfronts: UPN

Out: Enterprise, Kevin Hill, Second Time Around, Road to Stardom

New: Everybody Hates Chris, Love, Inc., Sex, Lies & Secrets, South Beach

Back: Veronica Mars, America’s Next Top Model, WWE SmackDown, Eve, Cuts, Half & Half, One on One, Girlfriends, All of Us, Vibe Awards

TV Squad

E3 is here once again! It is the video game industry’s convention that shows off all the latest new hardware and software every year! I went last year and it was AWESOME! They really do it right and I had an AWESOME TIME! The first two days, Monday and Tuesday are all press conferences. Microsoft was off first with their big announcement of the new Xbox 360. I looks pretty awesome and seems real powerful! I am not a huge X Box fan and when it came down to it, was not really impressed with the dedicated games they are announcing for it. Sony was up next with thier announcement of the Playstation 3! WE GOT A WINNER 🙂 Man it looks AWESOME and has every new gimmick in the book! Bluetooth and wireless controllers that you can hook up to seven controllers without a multi tap. It will also be a HD / and or Blue Ray High Def DVD player and the graphics look incredible on the games! Nintendo chimed in with the Nintendo Revolution a game that seems real far off in the future for them and will be backwards compatible with games from the past 20 years! The kings of the portable games also announced a new Game boy called the Micro. We will see what software comes out for all these consoles and will see who the new king of the video games will be!

RobFuz Podcast For 5/18/05 :

Click Here For My RobFuz Podcast On Star Wars and E3 (mp3 file)

Sony Playstation 3 Stats:

– It will support Blu-ray (obviously), DVD±R/W, CD-R/RW
– Backwards compatible with the PlayStation 2 and original Playstation
– One 3.2GHz Cell processor—total system performance rated at 2.18 teraflops (uh, that’s actually about twice what Microsoft is claiming the Xbox 360 will do); it will have 256MB system RAM – 3.2GHz, and 256MB GDDR VRAM at 700MHz
– The nVidia graphics will be called the RSX (”Reality Synthesizer”), and will trump the Xbox 360 with 1080p (yes, that’s a p) graphics support.
– There will be a 2.5-inch hard drive (i.e. laptop hard drive) attachment—a first for a Sony launch (no, we don’t count the PSX and/or the FF add-on)
– Memory Stick Duo slot, and very surprisingly, an SD and CF slots
– Bluetooth support with up to seven wireless controllers
– Six USB system ports

Microsoft XBox 360 Stats:

2 types of Xbox Live:
Xbox Live Silver (no subscription required)
Xbox Live Gold (subscription benefits)

Features for Gold service
* Also for Silver
# Also for Offline

– Seamless transition to Xbox Live account from Xbox to Xbox 360
– Free Xbox Live weekends * – Multiplayer online gameplay
– Avatar for gamer profile * # – – Motto for gamer profile * #
– Personalized look for Xbox System Guide * #
– Free and premium downloadable movies, music, tv *
– Downloadable demos/trailers *
– Strem media from Windows XP * #
– Communication with voice, video or text *

360 HW:
1. Support for DVD-video, DVD-Rom, DVD-R/RW, CD-DA, CD-Rom, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 cd, JPEG photo CD4. 3 USB 2.0 ports
5. Support for 4 wireless controllers
6. Detachable 20GB drive – 7. Wi-Fi ready

Custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU
– 3 symmetrical cores at 3.2 GHz each – 2 hardware threads per core

Custom ATI Graphics Processor
– 500 MNz – 10 MB embedded DRAM

Memory -512 MB GDDR3 RAM – 700 MNz DDR

Memory Bandwidth
– 22.4 GB/s memory interface bus bandwidth
– 256 GB/s memory bandwidth to EDRAM
– 21.6 GB/s frontside bus

Audio – Mulitchannel surround sond output

Nintendo Revolution Stats:

– Release is sometime in 2006.
– Prototype shown is larger than final unit.
– Nintendo is still determining final colors for the console.
– All-Access Gaming, which refers to backwards compatibility to 20 years of Nintendo games, NES, – SNES, N64. We don’t know particulars of how it’ll be accessed or what, if any, the cost structure might be.

– Downloadable to 512MB of flash memory.
– SD memory card slot.
– Wireless controllers.
– Two USB 2.0 ports.
– Built-in WiFi.
– WiFi used to interface with the DS.
– DS likely to enhance future games.
– Self-loading optical drive that will play 12cm Revolution discs and smaller GameCube discs
– Self-contained attachment for playing media content, including DVDs.
– No controller was shown. So even though the box looks a lot like the one leaked over the weekend, the accompanying controllers were not presented. So was it a leak, or a really good guess?

Nintendo Game Boy Micro Stats:

– Launch is slated for this Fall.
– Silver in color for now, expect all sorts of rainbow-flavored variations.
– Dimensions: 4 inches wide by 2 inches tall and 0.7 inches thick.
– Weight: 2.8 ounces (80 paper clips’ worth of weight).
– Processor: Same as GBA SP.
– Screen: 2-inches, backlit and the “best Game Boy screen ever” adjustable controls-
– GB Advance has nearly 700 titles available, playable on the Game Boy Micro.

For Full E3 Coverage Visit:
Engadget – www.engadget.com

Was wondering, what the hell hgappened to Dave Chappelle? My buddy Joey has been a huge fan of his for a long time and we had a running joke going where I would be like, who’s Dave Chappelle? Was funny if you were there, but I soon found out who the man was. I kind of feel sorry for him, but at least he gets to tell his side of the story. Read on.

The first thing Chappelle wants is to dispel rumors—that he’s got a drug problem, that he’s checked into a mental institution in Durban—that have been flying around the U.S. for the past week. He says he is staying with a friend, Salim, and not in a mental institution, as has been widely reported in America. Chappelle says he is in South Africa to find “a quiet place” for a while. “Let me tell you the things I can do here which I can’t at home: think, eat, sleep, laugh. I’m an introspective dude. I enjoy my own thoughts sometimes. And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking here.”

The picture he paints—and it seems a fairly honest and frank assessment— is of someone struggling to come to terms with a new position and power who’s still figuring out how to come to grips with how people around him are reacting to the $50 million deal he signed last year with Comedy Central. Without naming specific characters, he seems to blame both some of his inner circle (not his family) and himself for the stresses created by last year’s deal.

“There were things that overwhelmed me,” he says. “But not in the way that people are saying. I haven’t spent any of the money. All that stuff about partying and taking crack is not true. Why do I live on a farm in Ohio? To support my partying lifestyle?”

TIME.com: On the Beach With Dave Chappelle

NICE! Just what I have been waiting for 🙂 Now what the hell do you record on ? Tape? Memory Stick? Looks killer! Just in time too!

Sony Unveils World’s Smallest and Lightest HD Consumer Camcorder

SONY UNVEILS WORLD’S SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST HD CONSUMER CAMCORDER

Click Here For 5/17/05 RobFuz Podcast

Here you go gang, my attempt at another Podcast! I see Podcasting is sweeping the nation! 🙂 My current favorite Podcast is TWIT, (This Week In Tech) with Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose and friends. Each week you’ll hear a fun and freewheeling discussion of what’s going on in the world of digital technology. New shows are shipped every Sunday night, just in time for your Monday morning commute. So check out their weekly show, they are true professionals!

TWiT

Anyway, my Podcast this week is recorded through my brand spanking new Optimum Voice! I just got it yesterday and it is AWESOME! I is basically Voice Over IP phone service. What the hell does that mean you ask? Well I now get our main phone line over our cable modem and you pay one price for your calling services. With our package, we are now paying 15 bucks for all our nationwide and local calling. This was something I could not beat! Its super clear and works with all our existing phones and I love it!

My two guests this week checking ir is my bud Rory heading down to Atlantic City with out me 🙁 Very funny as he checks in on the answering machine.

Also my bud Chris checks in with reviews from the new Star Wars Movie.
Can’t WAIT till the new movie. I will be going Thursday at noon! Everyone is invited, just let me know you want to join us! So far I got 5 people in tow to go and check it out! Podcast from the theater, so stay tuned!

StarWars.com

TheForce.Net – Your Daily Dose of Star Wars

LucasArts | Official Site

StarWarsCelebration

I am very excited, next week E3 is back in LA for another year, showcasing all the latest and coolest video games! Jos is not going this year and I will be following all the action here from home 🙁

One of the things I remember most from last year was our trip to The Dresden! Our friend Jacquelyn had been there and told us this was a must see place to hang and to see the incredible Marty & Elayne!

As quoted on thier website, Marty & Elayne have been packing the house for an unbelievable 18 years at the Dresden Restaurant – Hollywood, California’s most happening lounge. While they play music of all types, they are known best for writing and performing music in Jazz and Lounge styles.

When we walked in and I looked around, it really reminded me of the Brady Bunch opening up a ski lodge! God I LOVED that place and if it wasn’t for my extreme jetlag that week, I would have been there till closing! Marty & Elayne rocked!

They mainly take on requests from everone, songs from the most obvious lounge selections to the extreme obscure! I requested “Light My Fire” by the Doors! Elaine rocked it out on the organ for like a 10 minute doing this amazing solo! THEY ROCKED! The feature drink there is something called a “Blood and Sand” They were AWESOME as well! So, enjoy some of my shots and check out the great reviews and the web sites I found!

Dresden Room Restaurant – 1760 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90027-4394 ph: 323.665.4294

Lizard lounge deluxe, this is a must-see masterpiece. Don’t be put off by the bland face-brick entrance for inside is all white-leather booths, curved corners, corkboard walls and cool, carpeted standing space. It featured in the film Swingers but the main attraction is Marty & Elayne, veteran jazz crooners who’ve played here for decades. Experienced Mexican bar staff, this one’s for the discerning drinker.

The “Blood And Sand” House Drink

Elaine Rocking Out During “Light My Fire”

Marty Jumps On Percussion For A Bit

Gotta Love Marty & Elayne!

Jos, Rob, Jacquelyn

Flute Solo!

The Gang After A Few “Blood And Sands!”

Actually The FIRST Thing I Saw Walking In! Shes A Big Fan!

Don’t stop here! You MUST read the reviews and check out the web sites:

Marty & Elayne’s Cyber Lounge

The Dresden Restaurant The Dresden Room

E3expo- Home

E3 Insider: E3 Expo 2005

The Dresden Rooms Bar in Los Angeles

Insider Pages – Business Detailed Reviews

Review of The Dresden Room – Hollywood, CA – Citysearch

Summer is here once again and TV shows are all wrapping up for the season! It is May and the studios are starting to kick in with all their hot summer box office mega-hit movies! Here is a list of the top 10 movies I want to see this summer! Check out the other links below to see all of the summer flicks coming out.

Here Are My Top 10 Summer Movies I Want To See

10. Wedding Crashers

9. Fantastic Four

8. The Longest Yard

7. The Pink Panther

8. The Dukes Of Hazzard

7. Madagascar

6. Cinderella Man

5. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

4. Batman Begins

3. War Of The Worlds

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Moviefone: Summer Movies 2005

Entertainment Weekly’s EW.com Summer Movies Hub

Over the weekend I heard Jennifer Garner had a bun in the oven. I looked at a few different other sites US Weekly, Star, People and no one but E! has reported this. Although this is totally NOT important, I just think its funny and such a game on how these different media outlets try to get the scoop FIRST! I never hear E! getting a scoop like this first, but we will see 🙂 By the way if she IS, what the hell’s wrong with Bennifer? Did he miss that daily abuse from the paparazzi and the tabloids! By the way, what the hell is up with Katie Holmes / Tom Cruise? hehe

Jennifer Garner’s Baby on Board – May 07, 2005 – E! Online News

Jennifer Garner’s Baby on Board – May 07, 2005 – E! Online News: “Jennifer Garner’s Baby on Board”

It’s The Paris Hilton Pooooddddcaaassst! HEHE Ok Warner Bros. jumped on the latest hottest thing, Podcasting! But come on a Paris Hilton Podcast! My friend Chris cracked me up with one of his IM’s, Paris Hilton, The Actress? That’s all I needed and yeah it was funny but he will probably IM me now, Paris Hilton, The Podcaster? You know you have to check it out hehe. I gotta admit I am listening to the first installment and she is doing Letterman, not a bad job. It is only 5 mins but hey it was kind of fun, so check her out! The second one is longer. She seems a little less phony than the phony person she really is, but still comes off mega high maintenance! Second show she’s on her way to buying a Mac and talks about all her Ipods. It also seems like Warner is goofing on her. She does seem real though, as real as she can be in her Paris World. The movie looks pretty cool, we will see. It is sad though whenever I see ANYTHING with the word or name Paris, I think of her! It’s The Paris Hilton Pooooddddcaaassst! (funny bumper they play). I really did dig the behind the scene feel of the podcast, so check it out!

HOUSE OF WAX – Paris Hilton Podcast

All the media hype is starting to kick in on Disneyland’s 50th Birthday! When Disney does something this huge, it seems to last forever! I was curious when WAS the actually birthday and opening day of Disneyland?

After a quick Google search , I found out it was July, 17th 1955! I have read about opening day in the past and found the article kind of funny! It was by invitation only and the crowds were over whelming!

Disneyland Opening

28,154 guests attended and made the park very uncomfortable! People were forging invites and people were hot and frustrated! Rides broke down, food ran out and due to a gas leak Fantasyland was CLOSED. Back in those days, Walt did a lot of broadcasts and was not even aware of what was going on! It was also broadcasted to 90 million people LIVE as well! Pretty amazing!

Looking back at Disneyland’s history it has gone through a ton of changes! I was lucky enough to go to the park three times. It defiantly has a unique look and distinctive feel to it compared to Disney World! Disney’s major problem was not buying up enough land around the park. Going on some of the taller rides and looking out and seeing Denny’s or gift shops ruins some of the magic. Over the years they did buy up a lot of the land around the parks and even built a second park in the old parking lot of Disneyland. My past visits years ago always made me look back and think about what was there since the beginning.

I look back and sometimes think, what the hell were they thinking? I mean come on how stupid can these ride makes be over the years!

Looking back at Coney Island in the 1900’s and up, where they would have this Steeple Horse ride with no seat belts that went super fast with nothing the hold the person in was just crazy!

Another one was The Human Roulette Wheel a turntable like ride, where this huge disk spins and wipes people out of control into who knows what.

My favorite one and its still standing to this day is Steeplechase’s Parachute ride which looked dangerous as all hell.

Coney Island History Articles

Disney’s rides weren’t as dangerous, but they did have some dozers! There was some primitive things back then such as donkey and wagon rides.

My favorite dangerous ride was the “Flying Saucers” in Tomorrowland! They really looked so cool! Air Valves lifted up these pod like bumper cars and made it the coolest bumper cars ever! You can control them and move in a direction with your body. Very Cool! Check out the sites below to see what Yesterland looked like!

Yesterland, the Discontinued Disneyland
The History of Disneyland Tickets and Prices

So What is Disney going to do to celebrate? Check out it out!
Biggest Event in Disney Theme Park History Premieres on May 5, 2005
Click on the link to see all the things going on.

Disneyland’s 50th Birthday

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!!! A time honored celebration to DRINK CORONA! YEEE HAAAA ! I have celebrated the past few years and have had a lot of fun with it, but what the hell is it? I think just about every year I do a search for the History Cinco de Mayo! I will be on the down low this year and just celebrating at home!

Check it out: The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.

Click the link to read more!

Cinco de Mayo History

Howard talked about this today! TOO FUNNY! I am not buying its doing the damage to AI but who knows! I actually like Scott, he has heart and I liked some of his ealrier songs, although he has been sucking lately! 🙂

Vote for the Worst – American Idol 4!

American Idol is the most watched television series in the world, but a pattern has emerged that makes the show pretty boring. The producers and judges pick one contestant to “pimp” and this contestant ends up winning, making American Idol less a show where the viewers pick the winner and more a show where the judges and producers get the viewers to vote for who they like. Borrrrrrring.

So, here at votefortheworst.com, we have a solution. Help us by voting for the worst that American Idol has to offer. That’s right, vote for the bad contestants. Everyone knows that the best and most interesting part of the show are the bad auditions. Record numbers of people tune in to see who will become the next William Hung, but why let it stop there? Bad contestants sneak through the cracks all the time. Corey Clark, John Stevens, Jim Verraros, Leah Labelle… they were never meant to win and royally screwed up the competition by even making it to the finals in the first place. It’s entertaining and hilarious when these contestants make it past more deserving contestants. Besides, if you liked Nadia, Anwar, Jessica, or any of the people who have been kicked out, this is a way to send a message. The producers have been pimping Carrie and the rockers to win this show since the beginning. If you’re an Anthony or Vonzell fan, I hate to break it to you, but they won’t win. Why? Because the producers don’t want them to. They’ll be gone in the next few weeks, and you’ll be sad. Why not just Vote for the Worst?

Over the weekend I attend my buddy Hot Tub Joeys Bachelor Party! Great time had by all! It was at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. I have been there a few years ago and was not that impressed, but things changed! The redid most of the place and added a Vegas-like area call The Quarter! It is an amazing shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex complete with an Imax theater! VERY NICE!

We ate at Carmines and I saw a desert called the Titanic! We had to ask and of course get it! We did indeed sink the Titanic and a great meal had by all!

I did pretty good at gambling! I was on a tear at the blackjack table, but alas I came out a looser 🙁 o well there is always next time!

The Quarter at Tropicana Hotel and Casino

IMAX Theatre at Tropicana – Atlantic City

I guess I am excited about this movie. Its been in the works for at least 10 years but now the X Men director has it and we will see! –

This first look at Superman Returns— due in theaters in June 2006 — shows that the skin-tight costume stretches over only the actor’s muscles and frame, without the augmented armored pecs or abs of recent movie superheroes.

USATODAY.com – First look: ‘Superman Returns’

Just when I thought my favorite show, The Screen Savers was gone forever, it has another incarnation! It is defiantly like a cat and has 9 lives! This is like life # 7! With all the different hosts, channel names and even now a new show called Attack Of The Show on the G4 Network, I still crave to see or in this case hear the old show! Leo Laport, the original host has a weekly Podcast show called Return Of The Screen Savers with Patrick Norton and Kevin Rose, two of the other hosts who were really good! The name is going change due to legal reasons and they are having a contest this week for a new name. Every Sunday there is a new Podcast show and this is week #2. It is only like 30 mins long, but I enjoy hearing all of my favorite hosts back and broadcasting a form of a show I enjoyed so much. I highly recommend this awesome Podcast about technology!

The Laporte Report

Just wanted to give a shout out to Rachelle B. I found this site by accident last year and I am glad I did! My friend was asking me for other cool sites and I recommended this one! She does a great job with her Blog and she is a great photographer! Just checked it out and she visited the Billy Goat Tavern! Cool shots! I like checking in and seeing all the stuff I did when I was in Chicago and seeing what is going on there including the new Trump Tower they are putting in there!

rachelleb.com

Thank god they are doing a new Star Tours film! The other one needed work so bad!

Ok where are the next 3 movies!

George Lucas on the Star Wars Franchise
Source: Scott Chitwood April 23, 2005

“Star Wars” creator/writer/director George Lucas made his guest appearance at “Celebration III” this morning at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis and he talked about the franchise. About 9,000 fans had been lined up since midnight for a chance to see Lucas talk.

The event was hosted by actor Jay Laga’aia, who played Captain Typho in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” though Lucas funnily made a mistake saying he thought Laga’aia played a Clone Trooper.

Lucas confirmed that they are working on two TV series. One will be a half hour 3-D computer animated series and the other is a live action series. The live action series will star some of the characters featured in the movies, though not the main characters. Lucas will kick-off the series himself. They are planning on writing the entire first season and then shooting Season One all at once. He mentioned Lucasfilm is aiming for a production start in about a year.

Also, George Lucas said that the “Star Tours” thrill ride at Disney-MGM Studios will be getting an overhaul soon. And he confirmed they are working on bringing the early 90’s TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles to DVD as well.

Disney and Pixar talks could end their quarrel

By Nic Hopkins

THE Walt Disney Company and Pixar, which fell out spectacularly a year ago, are seeking to patch up their differences and renew the most lucrative pairing in Hollywood history.

Just over a year after the two film studios announced an end to their partnership, which has produced six consecutive global blockbusters and box office receipts of $2.7 billion (£1.4 billion), a new deal could be on the table.

Dick Cook, the head of Disney’s film studios, told The Times that it was “definitely our desire” to strike a new deal with Pixar in place of the one that will expire with the release of Cars next year.

“This has been probably the most successful relationship in the history of Hollywood,” Mr Cook said. “We’ve had a great working relationship with [Pixar]. It’s been about as easy as any has ever been in terms of making movies and distributing and marketing them,” he added during a visit to London this week.

“It’s definitely our desire to further the relationship with Pixar for years to come, and develop it even more, and we’re hopeful they feel the same way,” Mr Cook said.

Disney distributes all of Pixar’s films in exchange for 12.5 per cent of box office revenue, and the two companies split the profits from spin-offs. Disney also has the right to make sequels to the films made under the existing deal.

Pixar must have a new distributor in place before its eighth film is released in the summer of 2007. Now that the company is able to fund its own productions, and has an unprecedented string of hits to its name, it will not extend the same terms to any new partner. The likely outcome will be a flat distribution fee, probably linked to box office grosses.

Certainly, Pixar has been making it known that Disney is a handsome suitor, particularly since the media conglomerate announced that Michael Eisner would be replaced as chief executive by Bob Iger in September.

“We have always said that we were waiting for the changes at the helm of the [Disney] group before taking a decision,” said Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, last month.

“Now that it’s done and that there will be a new CEO in September, we will resume negotiations with Walt Disney, but also with other market players,” he said.

Such conciliatory tones are striking in their contrast with Disney and Pixar’s comments over the past year. “We feel sick about Disney doing [Pixar] sequels,” said Steve Jobs, the Apple chief who also heads Pixar, at the height of animosities between the two. At the time, Mr Jobs said: “If you look at their sequels, like Lion King 1½ . . . it’s pretty embarrassing.”

But Mr Cook has emerged as Hollywood’s premier diplomat, having successfully negotiated the smooth exit of Bob and Harvey Weinstein from Miramax last month. It also helps that he is on excellent terms with Mr Jobs. “We’re good friends; I talk to him all the time,” he said.

There remain significant hurdles that could block a renewal of vows between Pixar and Disney. One is the desire among the Hollywood studios to cut a deal with Pixar. Another is Disney’s development of its own computer animation unit with a view to making sequels to Pixar hits. The latter, in particular, is said to rankle with Pixar. Production of Toy Story 3 is expected to begin next year. Disney is also said to be fielding pitches for sequels to Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.

But Mr Cook said that he was “hopeful that over the next several months we can have further discussions”.

With the new Star Wars movie be less than a month away, I discovered all the new Star Wars toys are out! Lots of cool stuff! I do think they should have drawn the line at the Mr. Potato Head franchise!

I did play and discover Lego Star Wars The Video Game! God that game rocks! EVERYTHING is Lego in it! It is kid oriented but its a lot of fun! So go click on the link and go on over to Amazon and see all the fun new toys coming out! fun fun fun!

Amazon.com: Toys / Brands / Star Wars

It is kind of funny how many digital cams I own or once owned! I do shoot tons and tons of digital photos, so it really pays off in the end! It seems Sony comes out with some amounts of new stuff around now. This new camera, the Cyber-shot DSC-H1 looks pretty solid!

Here are the specs:
5.1 Megapixel (2592 x 1944 Pixels)
12X optical zoom lens
2.5″ LCD monitor
Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
32MB flash memory built-in2

I was really looking for the stabilization feature for a long time and missed the bigger 12x lens! The 5 mega pixels are fine. I wish it was 7 or 8, but I will live! I really like using the memory stick. Also the pop up flash will eliminate red eye big time! Estimated shipping date 6/16/2005

SonyStyle.com | Cyber-shot | DSC-H1 Digital Camera

Another cool Sony Item is there new Ipod Shuffle like player! It looks awesome! It has a 50 hour battery with FM radio and a display!. Anyone want to buy am Ipod Shuffle 😉

Plays back ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus format and MP3 files, and supports WMA and WAV
Built in FM Tuner
A three minute charge will provide up to three hours of playback
One Handed Jog DialOperation
Up to 50 Hours of Playback Life with Rechargeable Embedded Battery
This item will be released on May 1, 2005

Amazon.com: Electronics: Sony NW-E507 Network Walkman 1 GB Digital Music Player with FM Tuner

I finally made a home for all my cell phone photos in my new Cell Phone Cam Gallery! Check it out and check the gallery out often! -RF

Rob’s Cell Phone Photos Gallery | Click Here

Mets Home Opener Photo Album – Click Here

Rally lifts Mets in home opener – Five runs in eighth make club a winner, 8-4 WOW WHAT A GAME! The Mets really had to produce a win or they would have been in HUGE TROUBLE!

Tom Sever On The Mound

I have been very excited for weeks now about going to the Mets Season opener! You know Next Year Is NOW according to them, until the season started, when you wish next year WAS now! But thank god the Mets pulled out a great win on Sunday and a major win in the home opener. What a GREAT GAME! I think this was possibly one of my favorite game next to the World Series a few years back! The game was great.

Stadium Looked AWESOME! New Video Screens and Scoreboards!

Generally the Mets poor it on early or mid game and usually stall out later in the game, but not in the home opener! Mid way through the game the players ran out and got ready to play. Something came up and Tom Glavine just started warming up. Like usual, the spectator at a ballpark is the last person to know what is going on. We later found out there was a Batters Eye Delay! What the hell! Without the wall changing back to a solid black, it is had for the batter to see a ball being pitched to them.

The rotating billboard in center field would not close and the game was delayed 14 minutes. It was pretty comical! Plan B was to just draping a black tarp over the sign THAT DID NOT WORK! They unraveled a few tarps, but THEY WERE NOT SECURED TO THE TOP, so they just fell to the ground! Way to comical! The crowd went nuts and they eventually got the problem fixed! TOO FUNNY!

When I took a trip to get some some food, I saw an attractive looking women just standing in front of the men’s room. I took a second look and realized it was Kelly Rippa! It was too funny cause I did have my handy camera in my pocket and asked her if I can take a quick shot! My hands were full with all my stuff and I still managed to get my classic self portrait in! She was very very cool and she obliged I impressed her with my photographic style!

I am sitting here Tuesday morning, watching Live With Regis and Kelly. She went into this whole wrap about the game and how awesome the game and even the hot dogs were. She sat with Willie Randolph’s family and had a great time! She them went into this HUGE rant about how she disliked the BATHROOMS! Classic, and how ladies should clean up the “splat” after they are done! She said she would rather use the urinal! Gelman shouted out how there is a device for women to use them and printed something out on it and gave it to them! It was very funny she talked about the game for 10 mins!

The Mets didn’t get hurt by just sitting around for the delay, they came back and won the game! My favorite moment was seeing John Franco on the OTHER TEAM! Those of you who don’t know Franco, he was a relief pitcher on the Mets who was the Captain of the team! Many, many, many times he blew the game for the Mets and I really DID NOT like him! I did not know the fate of him. Here I thought he retired or something but he is now on the Astros. When they did the opening day’s events, he got a big applause. They also did this big tribute to him on the Jumbotron. Sure enough they put him in the game and in his true style, gave up 2 runs! My prediction EXACTLY! I actually rooted and finally gave him some props! I now like John Franco! 😉

THE METS WIN! WHAT A DAY 🙂

NICE!

Mets Home Opener Photo Album – Click Here

Here is some more Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stuff! I saw the final poster for the movie and discovered some cool websites for the movie! I can’t wait till July!

My new computer wallpaper 🙂

Welcome to Wonka Industries

Welcome to the Official Roald Dahl Website

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – A Yahoo! Movies Exclusive

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory IMDB Lisitng

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Official Site

As many of you know, I am a HUGE U2 fan! Opening night on any U2 tour is always huge and it was good to see the boys out on the road and the show looks better than ever! Here is some of the details and some shots!

March 28, 2005 / San Diego, CA
Venue: Sports Arena | Opening Act(s): Kings of Leon

Main Set: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Cry – The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart, Beautiful Day, New Year’s Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky / Hands That Built America, Running to Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation Encore(s): Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40

Comments: Opening night of the Vertigo 2005 Tour begins with confetti falling around the full stage as Bono sings ‘City of Blinding Lights’ from out at the edge of the ellipse. He adds a bit of ‘Stories for Boys’ to ‘Vertigo’, and a bit of ‘Blackbird’ on the end of ‘Beautiful Day.’ Larry helps sing during ‘Elevation’ and plays keyboards during ‘Yahweh.’ The concert ends with a full version of ’40’ just like the ’80s, with each band member leaving the stage separately and a brief drum solo ending the show.

U2.com

Barco – U2 Vertigo Tour a feast for the eyes with revolutionary Barco technology

U2log.com // Weblog and Magazine // Home // Established July 2000

U2 on tour at U2tours.com

Guest Blogger Chris Vergari posting for me on the Star Wars Mania thats been kicking in the last few weeks! I am looking foward to the new games including the Star Wars Lego video games! Where the hell was that when i was 12!- Thanks pal good work!

Well there’s only 52 days left until the final episode of Star Wars premieres. And it looks like George Lucas will finally give the fans what they’ve been asking for in a Star Wars film. After the less than admirable feelings towards episodes I and II, this one should not disappoint, I hope.

By now, many have seen the Revenge of the Sith trailer and as with the trailers for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, it looks killer. But of course there was always something missing from the previous two that we get in Episode III-DarthVader. Yes we had R2D2 and Yoda, we even had a naked C3PO. But seeing Darth Vader again just brings the whole Star Wars experience full circle. When he spoke for the first time with his old familiar James Earl Jones voice in the teaser trailer seen some months ago, I was instantly transported back to the original trilogy from 1978 when I was 8 years old, and yes it gave me goosebumps. Now that I’m almost 35 with kids of my own (they’re a little young for Star Wars but you can bet that when they’re ready I’ll be whipping out the DVDs) it’s like the whole saga is finally coming together. And with the Clone Wars Cartoons (part one just came out on DVD and you can see part two currently on Cartoon Network), we get to see what happens during the Clone Wars that began at the end of Attack of the Clones and are ending at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. They are very well done and worthy of the Star Wars name. They provide a seamless link between the 2 movies, I’d recommend seeing the Clone Wars series before seeing Episode III instead of relying on the opening crawl to catch up on what’s been happening since Episode II. Yes it’s a good time to be a Star Wars fan.

Cartoon Network | Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume II

Star Wars: The Official Site

Lego? Star Wars? The Video Game!

Sorry, I took a lil spring break from my site and from my blog 🙁 , But I am back and ready to post! I have had SEVERAL complaints I have not been posting, 🙂 So that is ggod!

The US release of the PSP (That is Playstation Portable for those not in the know) hit pretty big on Thursday! NO I did not get one (yet hehe) but the kind Chris Lee came over Monday with his! I really got to feel what it weighed because the battery was in this one, unlike the one I saw in Japan, it was in English! Always a plus! I am sad to report, although I am still in love with the PSP, odds are I am probably not getting it anytime soon 🙁 Grant it, it is a great game system! I tried out the mp3 part of the system looked pretty cool and tried 2 games, NFL Street 2 and NBA Street Showdown. They both looked pretty cool and Spiderman 2 looked amazing on it, but I will NEVER have time to play it, so I will hold back all my gadget temptations and wait it out 🙁 (I still had to get my mug on the site with Lee’s PSP and my DS just to compare the two!) I am still kind of disappointed in the lack of games for the DS! A few more came out but I still can’t find a second game I want play 🙁 O well! More posts to come including some back posts with my adventures from Japan!

PSP – PlayStation.com

Just got back from Tokyo DisneySea. The name is is kind of deceiving because it is not like a Sea World and has no living animals in the park. It is kind of along the lines of a Islands Of Adventure, where different ports have different themes and rides. It is kind of small, and does not have that many rides, but the pure spectacle of it all and the scenery is truly amazing! The volcano alone is worth the trip. It is huge and takes up a good chunk of the park! It erupts every 1/2 hour and its really cool. Of course there is a ride in there. I will go more in depth about both parks soon, but here is my picture gallery to keep ya busy 😉

Tokyo Disney Sea album | Click Here| Fotki.com