'Paranormal Activity 3' Terrifies Fans At New York Screening

Co-director Ariel Schulman warned audience that nobody would be able to sleep after seeing film.
By Kevin P. Sullivan


Paranormal Activity 3

It's not often that you see people standing for hours in a line that wraps around the block just for the chance to get scared out of their minds, but that's exactly what happened Tuesday night in New York at an advance fan screening of "Paranormal Activity 3."

Fans tweeted for a chance to check out the third entry in the found-footage horror series and to learn how the haunting started. Some of the hopeful audience members showed up as early as the morning before the 10 p.m. screening.

Once inside the theater, the lucky crowd competed for prizes like iPods, only heightening the excitement in the room. When it was finally time to screen the movie, directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost showed up, appropriately decked out for Halloween with fake knives and syringes lodged in each of their heads.

Schulman warned people that they weren't ready for the scares in "Paranormal Activity 3," promising that nobody in the theater was going to sleep that night. Among chants of "P-A-3," the lights dimmed and the screams started, and they didn't stop for 84 minutes.

As soon as the screening ended, the fan reaction was clear. "I thought 'Paranormal Activity' was tuck-your-feet-under-the-blanket horrifying," said Jeffrey Caban, who claimed his heart was still racing. Nelson Rosa said he understood "the saying 'my heart skipped a beat' [for the] first time ever."

"It was intense. It had me screaming, jumping up and down, covering my eyes, everything," Maria Huighes said.

Are you excited for "Paranormal Activity 3"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 3."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672781/paranormal-activitiy-3-reactions.jhtml

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Hey, Samsung Makes Advanced Fighter Cockpits Too [Military]

Samsung, best known for awesome TVs, tablets that get them in legal trouble, and crispy new smartphones, is more than just stuff at Best Buy: they're designing the cockpit for South Korea's K-FX stealth fighter. Watch out, Cupertino! More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YzWZayTbnq8/hey-samsung-makes-advanced-fighter-cockpits-too

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Former "Hills" staffer sues MTV for harassment, drug use (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? "The Hills" are alive -- with the sound of litigation!

A former field clearance coordinator and production coordinator for the MTV reality series filed suit against the network and New Remote Productions Tuesday, claiming that she had been sexually harassed, was pressured to smoke drugs, was denied meal and rest breaks, and finally was denied overtime and other pay.

According to Eliza Sproul's suit, the problems began during a May 2010 trip to film the series in Costa Rica. The suit claims that, during the trip, "Ms. Sproul was sexually harassed and knowingly placed in dangerous situations that endangered her safety."

Sproul says that she was paired with a local resident, Andres, whom MTV had hired, and Andres immediately set to hitting on her and pressuring her to smoke marijuana with him. Worse, according to the suit, the crew members showed no sympathy for her plight.

"When Ms. Sproul returned from this trip with Andres, other employees immediately began making jokes, insinuating that the two had engaged in sexual activity," the suit reads.

Sproul also claims that the male cast members were "extremely inebriated and made crude and offensive jokes and comments throughout the car ride."

Eventually, the suit claims, "Ms. Sproul's mental state began to worsen," and she began to suffer from dehydration and exhaustion. She was dropped off at a hospital in San Jose -- where, according to the suit, MTV didn't even bother leaving someone behind to keep an eye on her.

Sproul, who claims she was subjected to sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other unpleasantries, is seeking lost wages, compensation for medical bills and emotional distress, and other damages.

MTV had no comment.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111019/tv_nm/us_televison_thehills

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Shanda Interactive CEO offers to take company private (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Chinese Internet firm Shanda Interactive said it received a cash offer of about $2.33 billion from its chief executive and key shareholder Tianqiao Chen to take the company private.

The buyers have held preliminary discussions with J.P. Morgan about financing the proposed transaction and received a "highly confident" letter, the company said in a statement.

The buyers, including Chen, his wife and non-executive director Qianqian Luo, and his brother and Shanda's Chief Operating Officer Danian Chen, together control about 68 percent of the company, excluding options, as of September 30.

"Going private does make sense but the timing I'm not too sure about -- why now?" Nomura Securities analyst Jun Yoon said.

J.P. Morgan will also act as the financial advisor for the buyers, said the company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Shanda Interactive, which spun off its core games business -- Shanda Games -- through an IPO in 2009, is seeing trying times with its non-game units delivering weak results, and is trying to diversify into other entertainment areas.

"The company has always wanted to do things outside of gaming; they have wanted to be a full-on entertainment company. Perhaps this is another way for the company to that without going through public scrutiny," Yoon said.

The company's online literature unit, Cloudary Corp, has filed with U.S. regulators for an IPO of about $200 million.

Shanda Interactive reported net revenue of $264.2 million for the April-June quarter.

Chen's offer values Shanda at $41.35 per American Depositary Share -- a 23.5 percent premium to Friday's close -- or $20.675 per ordinary share in cash, the company said in a statement.

Analyst Yoon said the premium was in line with historical valuations and does not expect any other offers.

The buyers expect the commitment for the required debt financing to be in place by the time the definitive agreement is signed, they told Shanda in a proposal letter dated October 15.

The company's board has formed a special committee of independent directors to consider the proposed transaction, Shanda said.

The company's ADSs jumped as much as 21 percent to $40.43 in early trading on Monday, making them among the largest gainers on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Sayantani Ghosh in Bangalore; Editing by Maju Samuel)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111017/tc_nm/us_shandainteractive

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BP settlement: Anadarko adds $4 billion to pay spill claims

BP settlement with Anadarko reduces chances of punitive damages for 2010 Gulf spill. Despite BP settlement, other lawsuits and fines still loom for oil giant.

Anadarko Petroleum Co. has agreed to pay $4 billion to BP PLC as part of a settlement related to last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, adding weight to BP's contention that it was not solely responsible for the disaster.

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BP said Monday that Anadarko's payment will form part of the British company's $20 billion trust fund, which has paid out $7 billion so far to settle claims from individuals and businesses. Eleven workers were killed when the Deepwater Horizon rig at the Macondo well exploded off Louisiana on April 20, 2010, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

BP has now reached settlements with both of its partners in the Macondo well.

However, it is still embroiled in lawsuits and countersuits with Transocean Ltd., operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and Halliburton Co., which was responsible for cementing the well. The suits are scheduled to go to trial in New Orleans in February.

BP also faces the prospect of fines in the tens of billions of dollars.

The market cheered the Anadarko's BP settlement, pushing BP shares 4 percent higher at 433 pence in early afternoon trading on the London Stock Exchange.

"The acceptance of partial liability by Anadarko further reduces the likelihood of punitive damages against BP," Jonathan Jackson, head of equities at Killik & Co.

"If the group is not found grossly negligent, fines relating to the incident would be a basic amount of $1,100 per barrel, as opposed to $4,300 per barrel if found guilty, Jackson said, adding that the not-guilty verdict would still cost the company $15.7 billion.

BP has made provisions for up to $42 billion in costs from the blowout, and it has embarked on raising $30 billion by selling assets.

Anadarko, based in The Woodlands, Texas, is handing over its 25 percent stake in the well to BP as part of the settlement.

The agreement also gives Anadarko a potential share in funds which BP recovers from third parties or insurance. If BP's total recovery exceeds $1.5 billion, Anadarko would get 12.5 percent of the excess, or up to $1 billion, BP said.

"This settlement agreement with BP is the right action for our stakeholders, as it removes significant uncertainty regarding future liabilities and associated risks," said Jim Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko.

"This settlement represents a positive resolution of a significant uncertainty and it resolves the issues among all the leaseholders of the Macondo well," said BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley.

"There is clear progress with parties stepping forward to meet their obligations and help fund the economic and environmental restoration of the Gulf," Dudley said. "It's time for the contractors, including Transocean and Halliburton, to do the same."

In May, BP announced a settlement with the other partner in the well, MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC, which owned 10 percent it. That company agreed to pay BP $1 billion.

Weatherford International Inc., a contractor based in Switzerland, also agreed in June to pay $75 million to the trust fund to settle claims between it and BP. Weatherford manufactured the float collar, designed to help contain cement, used in the blown-out well.

U.S. regulators last week cited BP PLC, Transocean Lld. and Halliburton for alleged safety and environmental violations stemming from last year's rig explosion and massive Gulf oil spill.

The companies were given 60 days to appeal the citations issued by the U.S. Interior Department's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

A report issued last month by the panel of government investigators laid ultimate responsibility on BP for the disaster, which spewed roughly 200 million gallons (750 million liters) of oil into the Gulf.

BP ignored crucial warnings and made bad decisions during the cementing of the well, but Transocean and Halliburton shared some of the blame, the report concluded.

In its asset disposal program, BP has announced at least 15 sales including:

?Its 60 percent stake in Argentina-based oil and gas producer Pan American Energy to Bridas Corp. of Argentina for $7 billion.

?A bundle of onshore gas assets to Apache Corp. for $7.1 billion.

?Its oil and gas exploration business in Colombia for $1.9 billion to Ecopetrol of Colombia and Talisman of Canada.

?Energy assets in Venezuela and Vietnam to its Russian joint venture TNK-BP for $1.8 billion.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/qIPrDxs_JI0/BP-settlement-Anadarko-adds-4-billion-to-pay-spill-claims

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In Flex We Trust ? Tech Talk Gaming: LeBron James to The NFL ...

In these desperate NBA times, we?ve seen a superstar?like LeBron James discuss jumping to the NFL. While the league wouldn?t comment on it when we asked them, and while it?s unlikely that ?Bron actually ever makes that jump (for any number of reasons, really),?Pete Carroll is courting him to Seattle pretty, pretty hard?these days.

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And it got me wondering what exactly LeBron would look like in the NFL. So, in an attempt to?really make Mrs. Brinson think I?m a dork?find out, I fired up Madden 12, created a LeBron James character for the Cleveland?Brownsand played a game. No, seriously: there?s video proof below.

But first, a couple pieces of information that are helpful. One, I edited the video. Duh. (You don?t want to watch me playing Madden for 20 minutes, even with LeBron.) Two, I put him on Cleveland because I wanted to deal with an average quarterback. And also, Cleveland deserves?something. Three, I started out on ?Pro? level, but cranked it up to ?All-Madden? after the first series. Four, LeBron rates out, based on the characteristics I gave him (see below), to an 83 as a tight end, a 71 as a wide receiver and a 74 as a fullback. Five, he would be a LOT higher, except his route running is shoddy as is his pass- and run-blocking footwork.

OK, so you probably want to know how we got here. Well, for starters, I brought in Eye on Basketball?s?Matt Moore?to persuade me that LeBron?s better than I believed on the football field. That bought the king a pile of points, as Moore?s substantially more in love with his ability to transition to the NFL than I am.

The result of inputting the various particulars made LeBron the 10th best tight end in the NFL. Which is pretty ridiculous considering he has no practice on anything.


Here are the full characteristics I plugged in, and I?m totally willing to concede that some stuff is off; if you?ve got beef with a rating leave it in the comments or?holler at me on Twitter @WillBrinson. Trucking, for instance, could be higher. And catching could be lower. (See Moore?s influence above.)

Strength: 90
Agility: 88
Speed: 91
Acceleration: 93
Awareness: 65
Catching: 90
Carrying: 70
Pass blocking: 50
Run blocking: 50
Jumping; 99
Trucking: 77
Elusiveness: 85
Stiff arm: 79
Spin move: 85
Juke move: 90
Impact blocking: 65
Run block strength: 85
Run block footwork: 50
Pass block strength: 85
Pass block footwork: 50
Spectacular Catch: 90
Catch in Traffic: 85
Route Running: 55
Release: 55
Injury: 85
Stamina: 90
Toughness: 65

-->

Source: http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2011/10/16/tech-talk-gaming-lebron-james-to-the-nfl-madden-12-style/

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Virginia Tech biomedical engineers announce child football helmet study

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 18-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lynn Nystrom
tansy@vt.edu
540-231-4371
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech released today results from the first study ever to instrument child football helmets. Youth football helmets are currently designed to the same standards as adult helmets, even though little is known about how child football players impact their heads. This is the first study to investigate the head impact characteristics in youth football, and will greatly enhance the development of improved helmets specifically designed for children.

The Auburn Eagles, a local, Montgomery County, Va., youth team consisting of 6 to 8 year old boys, has participated in the study since August. The helmets of the child football players are instrumented with custom 12 accelerometer arrays that measure how a child's head responds to impact. Each time a player impacts his head, data are recorded and wirelessly downloaded to a computer on the sideline.

The technology is similar to what Virginia Tech has used since 2003 to instrument its collegiate football team. "The research conducted with the Virginia Tech football team has led to a better understanding of head impacts in football and how they relate to concussions," said Stefan Duma (http://www.sbes.vt.edu/duma.php), the Virginia Tech professor of biomedical engineering and department head of the Virginia Tech Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) that directs this project.

Furthermore, this research has led to the development of the National Impact Database (http://www.sbes.vt.edu/nid), which contains the first safety rating system ever available for adult football helmets (STAR Evaluation System). Similar developments for youth football are anticipated from the current study with the Auburn Eagles.

"Based on eight years of studying head impacts experienced by Virginia Tech football players, we were able to quantify exposure for adult football players relative to impact location, severity, and frequency," Duma said. "Unfortunately, we cannot translate the adult exposure to the youth helmets because the impact conditions of youth football are completely unknown. To solve this problem, we are applying the same approach that we have used with the Virginia Tech football team to a youth football team," Duma added.

The instrumentation wasn't compatible with the older helmets that were initially provided for the youth team, so Virginia Tech purchased new helmets for the entire team. "The kids are very excited about wearing the same technology in their helmets that the Virginia Tech football team has worn over the last eight years," said Ray Daniel, the graduate student whose master's thesis will be focused on the study.

"The parents, kids, and coaches have been very cooperative and are all excited about being part of this important study that will lead to better design guides for youth football helmets," added Daniel, who performs the daily duties for the study and who is at every practice and game. All players and parents have consented to the study in accordance with the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board procedures.

To date, over 400 head impacts experienced by the youth football team have been collected and analyzed. "Not only are the impacts generally less severe in youth football when compared to adults, but the frequency of the most severe impacts is substantially lower," Duma said. While most of the impacts collected have been of very low severity; surprisingly, a few impacts are approaching impact levels associated with concussion in adult football players. The goal of this study is to completely quantify and characterize the head impact conditions of youth football, which will provide guidelines to aide manufacturers in designing better helmets for children.

"We have a unique opportunity to quantify the distribution of head impacts experienced by youth players, which no one has ever looked at before," said Steven Rowson (http://www.cib.vt.edu/people/bios/faculty_bios/bio_rowson.html), research assistant professor of biomedical engineering and creator of the STAR Evaluation System for football helmets. Rowson, who also helped design the sensors that are currently in the youth helmets, added, "By knowing these impact distributions, we can develop a safety rating system for youth football helmets that will supplement the National Impact Database. This not only educates consumers on relative helmet safety, but also provides improved design criteria for helmet manufacturers."

This work has implications that are not limited to improved helmets in football, but also has applications towards improved head protection in other sports, as well as advancements in automobile safety designs. Funding for this project is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) at Virginia Tech.

###



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 18-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Lynn Nystrom
tansy@vt.edu
540-231-4371
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech released today results from the first study ever to instrument child football helmets. Youth football helmets are currently designed to the same standards as adult helmets, even though little is known about how child football players impact their heads. This is the first study to investigate the head impact characteristics in youth football, and will greatly enhance the development of improved helmets specifically designed for children.

The Auburn Eagles, a local, Montgomery County, Va., youth team consisting of 6 to 8 year old boys, has participated in the study since August. The helmets of the child football players are instrumented with custom 12 accelerometer arrays that measure how a child's head responds to impact. Each time a player impacts his head, data are recorded and wirelessly downloaded to a computer on the sideline.

The technology is similar to what Virginia Tech has used since 2003 to instrument its collegiate football team. "The research conducted with the Virginia Tech football team has led to a better understanding of head impacts in football and how they relate to concussions," said Stefan Duma (http://www.sbes.vt.edu/duma.php), the Virginia Tech professor of biomedical engineering and department head of the Virginia Tech Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) that directs this project.

Furthermore, this research has led to the development of the National Impact Database (http://www.sbes.vt.edu/nid), which contains the first safety rating system ever available for adult football helmets (STAR Evaluation System). Similar developments for youth football are anticipated from the current study with the Auburn Eagles.

"Based on eight years of studying head impacts experienced by Virginia Tech football players, we were able to quantify exposure for adult football players relative to impact location, severity, and frequency," Duma said. "Unfortunately, we cannot translate the adult exposure to the youth helmets because the impact conditions of youth football are completely unknown. To solve this problem, we are applying the same approach that we have used with the Virginia Tech football team to a youth football team," Duma added.

The instrumentation wasn't compatible with the older helmets that were initially provided for the youth team, so Virginia Tech purchased new helmets for the entire team. "The kids are very excited about wearing the same technology in their helmets that the Virginia Tech football team has worn over the last eight years," said Ray Daniel, the graduate student whose master's thesis will be focused on the study.

"The parents, kids, and coaches have been very cooperative and are all excited about being part of this important study that will lead to better design guides for youth football helmets," added Daniel, who performs the daily duties for the study and who is at every practice and game. All players and parents have consented to the study in accordance with the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board procedures.

To date, over 400 head impacts experienced by the youth football team have been collected and analyzed. "Not only are the impacts generally less severe in youth football when compared to adults, but the frequency of the most severe impacts is substantially lower," Duma said. While most of the impacts collected have been of very low severity; surprisingly, a few impacts are approaching impact levels associated with concussion in adult football players. The goal of this study is to completely quantify and characterize the head impact conditions of youth football, which will provide guidelines to aide manufacturers in designing better helmets for children.

"We have a unique opportunity to quantify the distribution of head impacts experienced by youth players, which no one has ever looked at before," said Steven Rowson (http://www.cib.vt.edu/people/bios/faculty_bios/bio_rowson.html), research assistant professor of biomedical engineering and creator of the STAR Evaluation System for football helmets. Rowson, who also helped design the sensors that are currently in the youth helmets, added, "By knowing these impact distributions, we can develop a safety rating system for youth football helmets that will supplement the National Impact Database. This not only educates consumers on relative helmet safety, but also provides improved design criteria for helmet manufacturers."

This work has implications that are not limited to improved helmets in football, but also has applications towards improved head protection in other sports, as well as advancements in automobile safety designs. Funding for this project is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) at Virginia Tech.

###



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/vt-vtb101311.php

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The tough business of LEDs | SmartPlanet

The future of Philips' LED business will rely more on lighting controls. Above, Philips illuminates Buckingham Palace.

Proving that energy-saving products don?t easily make a good business, Royal Philips Electronics today reported that third quarter profits in its LED-reliant lighting division tumbled by nearly 50 percent.

Although revenue from LEDs (light emitting diodes) rose 32 percent, earnings before interest tax and appreciation (EBITA) for the division fell from ?216 million in the September-ending quarter last year, to ?110 million.

Philips sells products and services across the entire LED value chain, including the diode (a semiconductor) that?s the light source for finished goods like light bulbs and lamps, which it also sells. The company also sells controls and services that adjust on/off and lighting brightness levels along streets, walkways, public places, highways and other areas, as needed.

The world?s largest lighting company blamed the profits decline in large part on sales of the diodes. As SmartPlanet has noted, the industry has overproduced the chips and is clearing out inventory at reduced prices. The glut has been caused by a fall-off in the market for flat screen televisions and other displays that use LEDs for backlighting.

Philips also blamed the EBITA erosion on a decline in consumer lamp sales, including LED as well as conventionally lit lamps. A spokesman for the Dutch company told SmartPlanet that ?internal? and ?operational? issues, rather than general market conditions, caused the drop. He would not elaborate.

Philips declined to reveal sales of its consumer LED light bulbs. Industry bulb sales in general have been slow because consumers have balked at paying $40, despite a potential long-term savings in electricity bills.

LEDs augur a huge reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions because they require only about 20 percent of the electricity of an incandescent bulb. LED enthusiasts have even noted that Japan could eliminate 13 nuclear reactors by replacing all its incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

Vendors argue that LED bulbs save a bundle of money in the long run, not only because they slash electricity use, but also because they can last for 25 years, eliminating the cost of replacing a bulb every 18 months or so. But some consumers have reported that bulbs stop working after less than a year ? while the diodes themselves might live a long time, other components within an LED bulb can fail.

Prices have started to come down in some countries, like Japan and India, a trend that could stimulate sales but that could also further undermine industry profits.

Philips? long-term strategy is to profit from selling lighting controls and services, which it calls lighting ?solutions.?

Photo: Philips

Shining more light on the LED business:

Source: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/the-tough-business-of-leds/9655

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