... that The Beatles released their landmark album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Happy anniversary, Sgt. Pepper!

I'm going to listen to the album here in a few minutes to commemorate this anniversary.  :)

Actor Charles Nelson Reilly, best known for appearances on game shows (such as "Hollywood Squares" and "The Match Game"), as well as appearances on "The Tonight Show," has passed away at the the age of 76 from complications from pneumonia.

Read this article for more information

I thought this was an interesting story, and it's nice to see Warner Bros. "give back" to the species that inspired their infamous character.

Read the full story here

Found a  couple more "Avatar" DVD release dates.

 Book 2 - Earth - Volume 4 is due to be released on August 14

http://www.amazon.com/Avatar-Last-Airbender-Book-Earth/dp/B000Q6GUVQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-6042752-5148113?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1179536444&sr=1-3

 And The Complete Book 2 set is due to be released on September 11

http://www.amazon.com/Avatar-Last-Airbender-Complete-Book/dp/B000QUEQ86/ref=sr_1_13/102-6042752-5148113?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1179536444&sr=1-13

 And there's cover scans for both entries.  :)

Last week, we reported that U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) proposed legislation to keep internet radio alive by vacating a Copyright Rotalty Board (CRB) decision that could increase royalties by 300 percent to 1,200 percent.  SaveNetRadio has announced that the Senate's bill (S. 1353) is also called "The Internet Radio Equality Act."

This new call to action is to ask fans of internet radio to contact their Senators to ask them to co-sponsor S. 1353.  This link will take you to a website to help you find the phone numbers for your Senators and your Congressional representative.

And, as of May 14, there are 73 co-sponsors for HR 2060 (55 Democrats and 18 Republicans). This link will take you to the most up-to-date information on HR 2060 (including the names of representatives who are cosponsoring HR 2060).

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) proposed legislation today to keep internet radio alive by vacating a Copyright Rotalty Board (CRB) decision that could increase royalties by 300 percent to 1,200 percent.  The Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007 corrects the disparity created by the CRB by putting internet radio on par with satellite radio.  Additionally, the legislation would create special royalty rules for the webcasting arms of non-commercial broadcasters like National Public Radio and college radio to ensure they are not left out of reaching new listeners on the internet.

And, as of May 7, there are 52 cosponsors for HR 2060 (40 Democrats and 12 Republicans). This link will take you to the most up-to-date information on HR 2060 (including the names of representatives who are cosponsoring HR 2060).

A couple of updates on this issue:

1) The deadline for the new royalty payments has been pushed back from May 15 to July 15, so this gives broadcasters and fans of internet radio a couple more months to speak to their congressional representatives and convince them to cosponsor HR 2060.

2) As of May 2, there are 34 cosponsors for HR 2060 (25 Democrats and 9 Republicans).   This link will take you to the most up-to-date information on HR 2060 (including the names of representatives who are cosponsoring HR 2060)

On April 26th, Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act (HR 2060).  This bill will provide immediate relief from the proposed new rates and can save thousands on internet radio stations from going off the air.  The bill would vacate the CRB's decision and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level crrently being paid by satellite radio services (7.5% of revenue).  The bill would also change the royalty rate - setting standard used in royalty arbitrations, so that the standards applying to webcaters would align with the standard that applies to satellite radio royalty arbitrations.

The next step is to line up co-sponsors for HR 2060, but time is running short.

If you would like to help, CALL your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor HR 2060 -- the Internet Radio Equality Act.  Click here to find your Representative's number.

My oldest (a 9 1/2-year-old girl) has recently discovered "The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody" on The Disney Channel, and seems to be liking it.  Just a couple of months ago, she would have had very little interest in this type of show.  How much longer until she likes other types of programming like this (on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon).

Sigh... she's growing up...

All right, this is taking advertising too far.

Dr. Pepper hopes MTV show will sell soda:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070424/ap_on_bi_ge/dr_pepper_mtv;_ylt=AsZx3Ve8lwbR4KtNgvGMgGPMWM0F

Trying to use reality TV to sell soda.  :roll:

The band they're using isn't exactly a "big name draw," and since this is already being billed as an "infomercial" for Dr. Pepper in this article, what makes Dr. Pepper think an audience will clamor to this show?

I had to laugh at the last quote in the article:

"We're bombarded with commercials. People blow them off. They skip them on TiVo," Howard said. "You won't be able to filter this out."

My response?  "Sure, I can... the old fashioned way.  It's called having a remote control and skipping the channel that's airing this infomercial..."