Wow, we woke turkey ocoma and you bravely faced mall mobs. Actually, I limited myself to one plate -- a major accomplishment -- and avoided shopping.

Howdy Adventureland Friends:

I hope you had plenty to eat and found all the best bargains. You'll need the energy for Christmas. Yes, we have lots to do and little time to do it in.

As usual, I skipped Black Friday and will likely do the same with Cyber Monday. Speaking of shopping, I have a gadget ideas in Tech Talk. And the Gift Guide will remain through December.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is one of my favorite charities. In fact, they were the recipient of my first personal donation about 15 years ago. I urge you to shop Thanks And Giving Partners.
    
Blingo is another great program. The Blingo Search
is powered by Google. Users are picked at random
to win great prizes. This is a PCH web site.      

http://www.blingo.com/friends?ref=LJt9EIXsXBaBuP-fW5DaMrkkYSk
     
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Find your showtimes @ Adventureland
http://advland.bravehost.com
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3D 'BEOWULF' SLAYED BOX OFFICE
 
The animated telling of "Beowulf," who rids a Danish kingdom of the feared Grendel, slayed the box office over the weekend, giving a huge boost to 3-D films.

The Paramount Pictures release earned $28.1 million in its opening weekend - 40% from special 3D showings in regular theaters and on Imax screens.

The film did $8 million in ticket sales on 638 screens equipped with technology from RealD, which uses a special reflective screen and polarized lens glasses that moviegoers can take as a souvenir.

Theater owners were able to charge about $2 extra for the 3D showing.

The film also sold $3.6 million worth of tickets on 84 Imax screens showing the film using their own 3D technology.

"Twenty percent of the screens produced 40 percent of the gross," Paramount general sales manager Don Harris said Sunday.

The film, from director Robert Zemeckis, used performance-capture technology to render lifelike images of its stars Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie.

"If this isn't a mandate on the popularity and viability of 3-D, I don't know what is," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.

Studios are planning even more animated and live actions films in 3D as they try to lure audiences back into multiplexes.

This week's top 12 films grossed 29% less than the top 12 in the same weekend last year. Ticket sales were also off 3% from last week.

Attendance has been down eight of the past nine weekends according to Media By Numbers.

But studio officials said Sunday they expected a slate of family films to gain steam during the extended Thanksgiving holiday and into December.

The animated "Bee Movie," written by Jerry Seinfeld, had the second-highest gross of the weekend with $14.3 million in ticket sales, bringing its total after 3 weeks to $98.8 million.

The release by DreamWorks Animation has been hovering in the top 2 spots at the box office since it opened.

The fantasy tale "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," from 20th Century Fox, opened in fifth place with $10 million. The movie stars Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman in a story of an eccentric who owns a toy store with a life of its own.

The other film opening over the weekend, "Love in the Time of Cholera," from New Line, debuted in 10th place with $1.9 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday - Sunday at U.S. & Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC.

01) "Beowulf" @ $28.1 million.

02) "Bee Movie" @ $14.3 million.

03) "American Gangster" @ $13.2 million.

04) "Fred Claus" @ $12 million.

05) "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" @ $10 million.

06) "Dan in Real Life" @ $4.5 million.

07) "No Country for Old Men" @ $3 million.

0 "Lions for Lambs" @ $3 million.

09) "Saw IV" @ $2.3 million.

10) "Love in the Time of Cholera" @ $1.9 million.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/
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BEOWULF

In the age of heroes comes the mightiest warrior of them all, Beowulf. After destroying the overpowering demon Grendel, he incurs the undying wrath of the beast's ruthlessly seductive mother, who will use any means possible to ensure revenge. The ensuing epic battle resonates throughout the ages, immortalizing the name of Beowulf.

http://www.beowulfmovie.com/

"...will have you jumping out of your skin and begging for more." -- Rolling Stone,
Peter Travers 

"...an intriguing look at a hero as a flawed human being." -- Hollywood Reporter,
Kirk Honeycutt 

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world. In fact, it's a magic toy store and everything in it comes to life -- including the store itself. The emporium asks only one thing of its customers -- you must believe it to see it.    

http://www.magorium.com/

"Hoffman has countless characters inside of him, and this is one of his nicest." -- Chicago Sun-Times,
Roger Ebert 

"...a nice place to get lost for a few hours." -- filmcritic.com,
Sean O'Connell 
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November 30, 2007

 UNDOING

After disappearing for a year, a man returns to the mean streets of LA's Koreatown, determined to atone for the mistakes of the past.

http://www.undoingmovie.com/

December 5, 2007

 JUNO

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, a teenage girl makes some tough choices to find the "perfect" parents for her unborn child.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/

December 7, 2007

 GRACE IS GONE

John Cusack grapples with telling his young daughters that their soldier mom has just been killed while in the line of duty in Iraq.

http://www.graceisgone-themovie.com/

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MARLO THOMAS

DOB:  November 21, 1937, Detroit, Michigan, USA

This actress burst onto the Hollywood scene with her own hit TV series “That Girl” (1966-70). After her sitcom ended, Thomas frequented the Broadway stage and appeared in films including Thieves (1977), It Happened One Christmas (1977), Consenting Adults (1985) and Nobody’s Child (1986). In addition to her acting talents, Thomas co-produced the Emmy Award winning specials “Free to Be... You and Me” and “Free to Be... a Family.” Thomas dedicates her time to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded by her father, Danny Thomas. Thomas continues to support  St. Jude because it was her father’s dream, “That no child should die in the dawn of life because of cancer or other catastrophic diseases.”

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005486/
http://www.rightwordsbooks.com/
http://www.thatgirltv.com/
http://www.stjude.org
http://www.stjude.tv/

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PUMPKIN MOUSSE IN CINNAMON SHELLS
 
Estimated Times:
Prep - 10 min Cook - 20 min Yields - 12 servings

A light and airy mousse that combines pumpkin and vanilla pudding is served in delicate pastry shells that have been dusted with cinammon sugar coating.

Ingredients:

2 boxes (10 oz. each) frozen puff pastry shells
3 tablespoons melted butter
Cinnamon sugar *
1 can (30 oz.) LIBBY'S Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix
1 box (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 400° F.

PLACE pastry shells on baking sheet. Brush tops with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake according to package directions. Cool to room temperature. Remove tops and reserve for garnish. Remove soft pastry inside shells and discard.

BEAT pumpkin pie mix, pudding mix and cinnamon in large mixer bowl on medium speed for 2 minutes. Gently fold in whipped topping. Spoon about 1/3 cup pumpkin mousse into each pastry shell. Top with pastry tops. Serve immediately.

* For cinnamon sugar: Combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon in small bowl.

http://www.VeryBestBaking.com   
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Kids love cotton candy. And adults love convenience. So add this Christmas shopping list today. This would be a great addition to your home theater snack bar.

OLD FASHIONED COTTON CANDY MAKER

This counter top model cotton candy machine has the look of an old fashioned carnival cart. The air spin design uses flavored sugars. It includes a handy cone holder. Great size for home use. Under $50.
 
http://www.ht-express.com/catalog/catalog_detail.asp?CID=100&CI=521&PI=11073

COTTON CANDY SUGAR - Whether you like pink vanilla, cherry, blue raspberry or strawberry, you can make your own cotton candy. Makes 60-70 cones. Under $5.
 
COTTON CANDY CONES - Paper-textured cones just like the cinema! The 100 cones are 11 inches. Under $10.

COTTON CANDY BAGS - Authentic food safe bags with a ferris wheel design and marked "cotton candy." You get 100 bags to a package. Under $10.
 
COTTON CANDY HOLDER - Stainless steel holder hold 6 premade cones. Handy for larger families. Only $50.
 
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SONY PICTURES MOVIES PODCAST

Visit the official Sony Pictures Movies Podcast to watch the video podcasts or subscribe to the RSS feed. The Movies Podcasts will keep you informed with sweepstakes, games and movie trailers. Subscribe today so you can stay in the know while on the go!

http://www.sonypicturespodcast.com/

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THIS WEEK'S FILMS
 
Capsule reviews of films opening this week: Nov. 14.
Beowulf, Love in the Time of Cholera, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, Redacted, and Southland Tales. 

THE NEW BLOCKBUSTER

 
CEO James Keyes pulls out his phone and starts up
"Crash" to demonstrate the movie-rental giant's future. Customers, he said, will someday soon go to kiosks in Blockbuster stores to burn and download movies. In the next few months, Blockbuster will test new store layouts with kids' areas and beverage bars.

 THE TUBE: WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
 
Even with the strike, most comedy and drama series have a few fresh episodes to air. In December, the picture could be different. The schedule will be dominated by holiday specials and series repeats. Then, in January, a prolonged strike could bring a flurry of episodic reruns and new reality shows.

FAREWELL 'MR. WHIPPLE'

 
Dick Wilson (90), the grocer begging customers
"Please, don't squeeze the Charmin," died Monday. TV's "Mr. Whipple" appeared more than 500 commercials from 1964-1985. Procter & Gamble replaced the Whipple ads with cartoon bears, but brought Wilson (Whipple) back for an encore in 1999.

SHREK JOINS MACY'S PARADE

    
 
This year's Macy's Thanksgiving parade will march down Broadway on Thursday with Shrek. This year's 11 giant helium balloons include 3 new ones: William Steig's swamp-loving ogre, "Sesame Street's" fairy-in-training Abby Cadabby and Hello Kitty Supercute, the cape- and tiara-wearing feline superhero.

 CELEBS FEED THE HOMELESS

Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford and other celebs shared the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by serving meals to homeless people. They stood alongside volunteers at Los Angeles Mission. Nia Long and Calista Flockhart were among others passing out almost 3,000 plates.
 
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Buy your favorite DVDs @ Adventureland
http://psgoods.bravehost.com 
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RESCUE DAWN

Based on the true story of German-born Dieter Dengler,
who dreamed of being a test pilot and made his way to America, where he joined the military in pursuit of his obsession to fly. On his first mission in Vietnam,
he is shot down and captured by Vietcong guerrillas.

http://rescuedawn.mgm.com/

"...Zahn and Bale enact an enthralling masculine duet." -- Entertainment Weekly,
Lisa Schwarzbaum

"Christian Bale continues to amaze with his ability and range." -- ReelViews,
James Berardinelli     
        
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THE NAMESAKE

When the Ganguli family moves from Calcutta to New York, they must balance melding into a new world without forgetting the old. Parents Ashoke & Ashima long for the family and culture of India, but take pride in the opportunities their sacrifices afford their children.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thenamesake/

"...expresses a reassuring faith in family solidarity." -- New York Times,
Stephen Holden

"...a generational family saga everyone can relate to..." -- Rolling Stone,
Peter Travers
       
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SIMPSONS MOVIE - SIGNED CAST PHOTO

Framed & autographed  5"  x   7"  re-print photograph of the cast of The Simpsons Movie and famous Simpsons family. Made of acid free materials. Photo has been professionally developed. Double matted & framed in a black gloss 8"  x 10" frame with safety glass. Great  gift for any fan of The Simpsons.

http://tinyurl.com/23fc23
          
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TAKE A BITE OUT OF STEEP DVD PRICES!

Buy one DVD get one free! Save on Top A&E Titles. With television series and documentaries for history buffs and sports fans all on sale, there's something for everyone. Enter code BUYONEGETONEANE at checkout to save! Offer ends 10/16. Discount applies to the lower priced items.

http://www.deepdiscount.com/DVD---A-E-Buy-One-Get-One-Free_stcVVcatId479941VVviewcat.htm?promoCode=BUYONEGETONEANE

A UNIQUE GIFT IDEA 4 MOVIE BUFFS

MovieTexts are a totally new way to send greetings or
just keep in touch. Tap in your message and we turn
your words into their own little movie. Each has been
crafted by an experienced filmmaker. We'll deliver it
for you by e-mail or mobile phone. We can send it at
any time - up to one year in the future.

http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?75497

HOME THEATER, GAME ROOM & SNACK BAR

Shop our Pre Holiday Sale and Save Big! We carry products for your bar, kitchen, rec room, patio and more. Save 5%-10% on your order by entering the corresponding code during checkout.
On orders up to $99.99; save 5% with code A5
$100-499.99; save 7.5% with code A75
$500+; save 10% with code A10.

http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?75500

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BUSH TOPS 'FRIGID 50' LIST
 
He's not exactly a movie star. He doesn't even play one on TV. But President Bush nonetheless has been named the coldest person in Hollywood. Film Threat placed Bush at the top of its "Frigid 50," an annual ranking of the "least-powerful, least-inspiring and least-intriguing people in Hollywood." Coming in at No. 2 Angelina Jolie. Also making the "Frigid 50" are Nicole Kidman, Hilary Swank and Jon Heder. "Winners" in previous years include Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Michael Moore and Freddie Prinze Jr.

http://filmthreat.com/

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'MR. BIG' 2 BE BIG DADDY
 
"Sex and the City" star Chris Noth and girlfriend, Tara Wilson, are expecting their first child. "Chris and Tara are very happy and have always agreed to keep what is most personal in their lives private," Noth's manager and publicist said. Noth (53) played Sarah Jessica Parker's love interest on "Sex and the City." He'll reprise his role as Mr. Big in the "Sex and the City" movie. He also plays Detective Mike Logan on the TV show "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

 'GODFATHER' FILM EDITOR DIES
 
Peter Zinner (8 has died. He died Tuesday at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica after a 5-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, his daughter Katina Zinner said. Born in 1919 in Vienna, Peter, who was Jewish, fled the Nazis with his family and moved to the Philippines in 1938. In 1940, he arrived in LA and "always wanted to be in film," she said. After working as a taxi driver and piano player, he landed a job at 20th Century Fox in the 1940s. In 1960, he quit MGM and started his own company. He
acted in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October" & directed 1981's "The Salamander." Last year, he collaborated with his daughter on the documentary "Running With Arnold" about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTRESS DIES

 
The actress who played Col. Klink's secretary Hilda on "Hogan's Heroes" and married the show's star, Bob Crane, has died. She was 72. Patricia Crane (72) died Oct. 14. On stage, Crane was known as Sigrid Valdis. She died of lung cancer. Hilda and Bob Crane flirted on screen, but in 1970 they married for real - on the set. Eight years later, Crane was found bludgeoned to death. Her film credits include "Our Man Flint," "Two Tickets to Paris," "Marriage on the Rocks," and "The Venetian Affair." 

MUNCHKINS HONORED WITH STAR

 
Almost 70 years after "The Wizard of Oz," Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Seven of the surviving actors who played the inhabitants of Munchkinland in the 1939 classic attended, arriving in a horse-drawn carriage. A yellow carpet, yellow brick road, led them to the stage. "We love you; you have touched our hearts," Munchkin Mickey Carroll told
the crowd. Carroll was joined by Ruth Duccini, Jerry Maren, Margaret Pellegrini, Meinhardt Raabe, Karl Slover and Clarence Swensen.

 QUAID TWINS HOSPITALIZED
 
The newborns of Dennis Quaid were among 3 patients accidentally given 1,000 times the common dosage of a blood thinner, hospital officials said. Cedars-Sinai declined to identify the patients. "Dennis & Kimberly appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers and hope they can maintain their privacy during this difficult time," Quaid's publicist said. Cedars-Sinai official said tests indicated none of the patients suffered any ill effects. Last year, 3 infants at an Indiana hospital died after a similar incident.

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GADGET IDEAS 4 MOVIE BUFFS

Movie lovers have never had it so good. You don't have to stay glued to the tube to watch that favorite movie. Gosh, you don't even need to be home anymore.

Gadgets and services can grab, deliver and play back movies anytime or anywhere. Find a movie to fit your mood of the moment without having to leave home.

A sampling of the latest gadgets & gizmos:
 
VUDU

It's like a video store crammed into a small black box. The machine serves as a gateway for the Vudu movie download service, which offers more than 5,000 movie titles to rent or own. That's significantly more than some rival download services though it still pales next to Netflix's DVD mail-rental service. But movie buffs will like the convenience of being able to watch a film right away and directly on their TVs. Vudu also has an intuitive navigation system and smart search features. Narrow your browsing, say, to action films that came out after 2003 and got rated at least three stars. Or preview a movie, then ask Vudu to find similar films. The catalog ranges from old flicks to new releases that are available on DVD. Rentals of high-definition movies will soon join the mix. The video quality is very good and it'll work with both standard- and high-definition TVs. The contoured remote control with a clickable scroll wheel cradles nicely in the hand. A drawback: purchased movies are stored on the built-in 250GB hard drive and can't be transferred anywhere else. (MSRP: $399 for the box. Movie rentals cost 99 cents to $4.99 and purchases, $4.99 to $19.99.)

TIVO HD DVR

Satellite and cable TV operators offer digital video recorders but for those willing to spend a bit extra, TiVo still has the easiest, most intuitive menus. DVRs let users easily record television shows and pause live TV, and now TiVo has added Internet goodies, such as the ability to rent or buy videos directly from Amazon.com's Unbox download service or access to the Rhapsody music subscription service. This newest TiVo model sports two high-definition TV tuners so you can record two programs at once or record one while watching another live. TiVo users also can transfer recorded TV shows to PCs or compatible video-playing handhelds, including Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s iPods. A 160-gigabyte hard drive stores up to 180 hours of standard-quality programming or 20 hours of HD content. A separate external hard drive can be used for extra storage. (MSRP: $299.99. Requires monthly service fee of $12.95 or other yearly plan.)

SLING MEDIA SLINGBOX SOLO

This trapezoid-shaped video-streaming gizmo lets you watch and control your television - from your cable or satellite box, or your DVR - on any broadband-connected Windows- or Mac-based computer anywhere in the world. The Solo is a step up from the basic Slingbox AV by supporting high-definition content. But like the basic model, it supports only a single video source. The higher-end Slingbox Pro can control up to four video inputs and has its own tuner. For an extra $29, Slingbox users can buy software that streams the video to Windows Mobile-, Palm- or Symbian-based smart phones. If you don't have a wired Ethernet connection near your TV setup, a separate adapter can be used to access the computer network via Wi-Fi or a power line. Beware: the Slingbox piggybacks your home system so if you change the channel from a remote location, someone watching TV at home will see the channel flip, too. (MSRP: $179.99)

SONY PLAYSTATION 3 OR XBOX 360

Confused about high-definition DVDs? The battle between the Blu-ray and HD DVD formats hasn't yet yielded a clear winner, so this holiday season, you'll still see "Spider-Man 3" only in Blu-ray or "The Bourne Ultimatum" in HD DVD. If you don't want to end up with a useless piece of equipment but still want a taste of the crisp, clear pictures of HD, perhaps game consoles can be your answer. The PS3 has a built-in Blu-ray drive and is one of the most affordable Blu-ray players on the market, while an HD DVD player can be added onto the Xbox 360. With the Xbox Live online service, you can use the console to buy TV downloads or rent standard- and high-definition movies. The Xbox also can pull multimedia content from a Windows Media Center PC for playback. So if you land on the losing side of the format war, at least you'll be left with a powerful game console. (Sony PS3 MSRP: $499 for 80GB, $399 for 40GB. Xbox 360 MSRP: $349 for 20GB model, $449 for 120GB model, $180 for the HD DVD player. TV shows on Xbox LIVE are $2 to $3, movie rentals, $3 to $6.)

NETGEAR DIGITAL ENTERTAINER HD EVA8000

This set-top box that acts as a bridge between your PC and TV is geared for the tech-savvy multimedia hound. It takes videos, music or photos from your PC and plays them on your TV. It supports many video formats, so it can play YouTube Web videos or even BitTorrent downloads in the comfort of your living room. Video downloads from services that use Windows-based copy protections, such as Movielink or Amazon.com, work but the device won't be able to play shows purchased from the online Apple iTunes Store. This newest model supports high-definition video, and works with both older and newer model TVs. (MSRP: $349.99)

IPOD CLASSIC

Apple Inc. has been the butt of late night comedy jokes for continually miniaturizing its iPods and expanding their storage space. In real life, iPods remain the best-selling portable media players for their ultra-sleek designs and ease-of-use. Those who want to have their music library and a hefty selection of videos while on-the-go can look to the iPod Classic, which has a 2.5-inch screen and now boasts up to 160 GB of storage, enough for 200 hours of video. The battery can handle 7 hours of video playback. If you prefer a larger wide-screen and Wi-Fi access, consider the iPod Touch with a 3.5-inch touch screen, though it costs more and holds at most 16 GB of data. (iPod Classic MSRP: $249 for 80GB, $349 for 160GB. iPod Touch MSRP: $299 for 8GB, $399 for 16 GB) 
 
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WRITERS SET NEGOTIATION DATE
 
Striking writers will return to contract negotiations Nov. 26. The strike has been bruising, with writers being joined by actors on picket lines and producers taking out newspaper ads. Shows have gone off the air faster than expected, as cast members have refused to cross picket lines. Compensation for shows offered on the Internet is at dispute. The industry contributes $30 billion a year to the Los Angeles economy, or about $80 million a day.

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SINGAPORE BANS GAME
 
Singapore banned an Xbox game because it contains a sex scene between a woman and a female alien. "Mass Effect," published by Microsoft, has been banned because of "lesbian intimacy," Chetra S., director of Board of Film Censors said. The human-alien duo are depicted kissing and caressing each other. Microsoft said they respected Singapore's decision to ban the game, which launches Nov. 20. Under Singapore law, gay sex is "an act of gross indecency," punishable by jail time. Despite this, there are few prosecutions.

 SONY CUTS FEES 4 DEVELOPERS
 
Hoping to encourage more games for PlayStation 3, Sony cut in half the price of a software development kit for the console. The price will be reduced to $10,250 in North America. This move follows price cuts on PS3. Although PlayStation 2 dominated the gaming market, PS3 has struggled against Nintendo's Wii console. Developers that had previously designed products for PlayStation 2 are making Wii versions of the games. The PS3 has also lags behind the Xbox 360 from U.S. software maker Microsoft. 

 WII IS MOST-WANTED GIFT
 
Each holiday season, a couple hard-to-find toys send parents hunting. This year, the gift everybody is looking for is the same as last year: Nintendo Wii. A year after its launch, the console sells out when it reaches stores, after Nintendo ramped up production
several times. Sony and Microsoft have cut the prices of their consoles. Perrin Kaplan, VP of marketing at Nintendo, said the console was "priced right from the beginning." Nintendo lost out to Sony and Microsoft in the last generation of game consoles. Supply and demand has dogged Nintendo since DS launched in 2004.

http://www.nintendo.com/channel/wii

 ROMANTICS SUE GAME MAKER
 
The Romantics filed a lawsuit against Activision, maker of "Guitar Hero," saying the game infringes on the band's rights by featuring a soundalike recording of "What I Like About You." The song is featured on
"Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s." The band seeks damages and an injunction that could take the game off
store shelves. A copyright claim isn't the issue. The band's attorneys tell Detroit Free Press Activision secured permission. They say by creating an imitation like the Romantics' original, they infringed on the group's rights to its own likeness.

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November 16, 1999 - Johnny Depp received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

November 17, 2006 - Sony's PlayStation 3 went on sale in the United States.

November 18, 2001 - Nintendo released the GameCube home video game console in the United States.

November 19, 1998 - Michelle Lee received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

November 20, 1983 - An estimated 100 million people watched the ABC-TV movie "The Day After." The movie depicted the outbreak of nuclear war.

November 21, 1980 - An estimated 83 million viewers tuned in to find out "who shot J.R." on CBS soap Dallas. Kristin was the character that fired the gun.
 
November 22, 1984 - Fred Rogers of PBS' "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" presented a sweater to the Smithsonian.
     
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I found the time to watch some movies. Our family tradition is alive and well. All of them were movies I am proud to recommend.

ONE SPECIAL NIGHT
 
After visiting his ailing wife, Robert (James Garner) is unable to get a cab. Catherine (Julie Andrews), a doctor, offers him a lift. When her car gets stuck, they talk through the night.

A STRANGER'S HEART

Callie (Samantha Mathis), the recipient of a heart transplant, longs for a connection with her donor's orphaned daughter. Peter Dobson plays Callie's love interest and fellow transplant recipient.
 
Capsule reviews and taglines are good and bad. I like to read them but hate to write them. Why? Because one sentence or even a few can do a movie justice. But, they can leave you longing to see it.

Both movies can be found on cable. Check your cable listings. 'Special Night' can be seen on Lifetime and 'Stranger' can be seen on Hallmark.

See you next week.     
Rewind,
Paul @ Reel 2 Reel

mailto:advland@iwon.com?subject=Reel_2_Reel

Yeah, normally I would go back for seconds and even thirds. Then snack through out the afternoon. In fact, I even avoided the snacks. I'm very proud of myself.

Will I do the same for Christmas? Well, I am going to try. Weight loss is a New Years resolution I always make but never keep. Maybe 2008 will be different.

- Paul

It is heart warming to see celebrities giving back to the community. And not just dropping large checks. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Because money is no less important.

Celebs Serve Holiday Meals to Homeless

Nov 21, 8:12 PM (ET)

By SOLVEJ SCHOU
 
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford and other celebrities shared the Thanksgiving spirit Wednesday by serving hot meals to homeless people on Skid Row.

Wearing red aprons and plastic gloves, they stood alongside volunteers at the annual feast at downtown's Los Angeles Mission, doling out turkey drumsticks, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, vegetables and pumpkin pie.

Actresses Nia Long and Calista Flockhart and "The Hills" reality TV star Spencer Pratt were among others passing out almost 3,000 plates of food to lines of men, women and children.

"It's very grounding," said Long, who dished out vegetables and rolls with her 7-year-old son. "I feel grateful for all the things I have."
 
A house band pounded out music as people sipped on bright green and orange punch at rows of tables outside.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who said he has volunteered at the event for nearly a decade, said he cleaned the feet of some of the homeless.

"He washed my feet, and it was so special," Skid Row resident Yasmine Villalobos said. "I will remember it forever."

The air of festivity sparkled in contrast to the harshness of Skid Row, where hunger is the norm and sleeping bags dot the sidewalks.

Douglas, who helped develop the mission's Anne Douglas Center for Women, noted the event's affect on celebrities.

"Their involvement will help their souls as much as it helps the guests being served," he said in a mission press release.

Honestly, I too, am more likely to make a donation than volunteer. I wish that I could volunteer more... and donate more, too. But, I'm just not able.

Our local Wal-mart has a rock-a-thon for the Riley Children's Hospital. My nephew has rocked in the past and will again soon.

- Paul