R.I. board that OK'd Schilling loan in turmoil

1:00 AM Heads are rolling over the financial troubles of the former Red Sox pitcher's video game company.

The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island's economic development agency was in disarray Friday as the state reeled from the financial troubles at former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's video game company and questions mounted over whether the state exercised proper oversight of a $75 million loan guarantee.

click image to enlarge

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling leaves a meeting with the R.I. economic development agency thats in hot water over backing a $75 million loan to his company in 2010.

The Associated Press

Gov. Lincoln Chafee said he was seeking the resignation of Economic Development Corp. board members who approved the state's backing of the loan in 2010, but the fate of some of them wasn't clear.

Chafee already accepted the resignation of EDC Executive Director Keith Stokes, a vigorous backer of the guarantee, and board Vice Chairwoman Helena Foulkes, who wasn't on the board in 2010 but with whom he said he has had "differences of opinion."

Chafee spokeswoman Christine Hunsinger said Friday that she couldn't say for sure who was serving on the board. EDC spokeswoman Judy Chong said the same.

Schilling's 38 Studios laid off its entire staff Thursday after missing its last payroll and being more than two weeks late on a $1.1 million payment to the EDC. The company was lured to Rhode Island from Massachusetts in 2010 after the EDC board agreed to the loan guarantee, which officials said would bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue.

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R.I. board that OK'd Schilling loan in turmoil

Heads Up: Near Chernobyl, Touring a Disaster

Joseph Sywenkyj for The New York Times

A theater prop room in Pripyat, Ukraine. Pripyat was abandoned after the 1986 nuclear explosion in nearby Chernobyl.

THE tour guide smiled as he repeated a gesture he had made many times before. Surrounded by a busload of tourists, he pulled out a cellphone-sized radiation reader.

A gray smokestack building loomed several hundred yards away.

In the guides hand, the devices numbers spiraled up. Tourists snapped photographs, with the digital screen positioned low in their frames. The numbers, approaching 400, formed a subtitle for the building.

The crumbling edifice just past a barbed-wire fence is Reactor No. 4 known to most of the world by the name of a nearby village, Chernobyl. More than a quarter century after the horrific explosion and fire there on April 26, 1986, it still emits radiation. Even after the meltdown at Fukushima, Japan, this place still bears the distinction of being the site of the worlds worst nuclear power plant disaster.

Since Ukraine opened the area more broadly to tours last year, it has also become an unusual attraction. Last October I found myself on a bus, one of many group tours that depart from Kiev. (Securing a ticket for a one- or two-day trip can take weeks; you must submit your passport, or in my case, a copy, to the tour operator beforehand.) After the ride from the city to the reactor, we met our guide, who was stationed there.

Unlike other sites associated with horrific events the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam or ground zero in Manhattan there was little context, just a tiny memorial, a sparse landscape and the grim theater of the guide.

Some fellow travelers asked him about the radiation levels where we stood. About the same as what you get flying on an airplane from the United States to Europe, he answered. How hot is it inside? The lingering reaction is at about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Is it dangerous? We wont stay long.

The dilapidated exterior is a shell of steel and concrete, originally designed to contain the radiation. In Chernobyl-speak, its a sarcophagus. The actual reactor building is inside. Thirty kilometers (almost 19 miles) around this site is a so-called exclusion zone, where the government restricts travel and curtails the stay of the 5,000 workers still cleaning up. It is a region of wide rivers, beautiful trees and abandoned homes.

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Heads Up: Near Chernobyl, Touring a Disaster

Red-Hot Startup Huddle Just Raised $24 Million

Enterprise file-sharing service Huddle has just raised a whopping $24 million led by Jafco Ventures.

Huddle co-founder Alastair Mitchell said he plans to use the funds to keep up with "phenomenal" demand.

But Huddle was already profitable last year and brings in around $25 million annually. Why would it raise funds?

We caught up with Mitchell to find out why. Here's what we found out:

BUSINESS INSIDER: Why did you guys decide to raise this huge round of funding?

ALASTAIR MITCHELL: It's basically to keep up with demand. We don't need to have the money to keep up cash flow. We've tripled in size every year since we've grown, but the demand we've seen is phenomenal. We've growth 5x in the enterprise sector last year. Users who are buying Huddle in their teams and departments, they are loving it.

In the last 6 months to a year there's been a huge pull from the top saying actually, we don't want to deploy this to small teams and across the organization. We want to displace the existing legacy software we have.To give you an example, we just planned to renew with one of our biggest customers, they grew from 100 users to 3,000 in 8 months. They ripped out and replaced their SharePoint instance. These are big deals led by the CIO, saying we want Huddle to deliver content collaboration that's to our users, that has the scale and security and support for our needs.

BI: Any chance you guys have been speaking with other companies about a potential acquisition?

AM: We've had several offers in the last year alone, we've turned them all down because we're building a big software business. We might be taken up, but our current path is that we're on the path toward an IPO. We have faster growth rates than most of our competition. We're an international business, we're co-headquartered in London and San Francisco. We're seeing international growth and also in the U.S. We see ourselves as a big business IPOing in the next few years.

BI: What are you guys planning on using the funding for?

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Red-Hot Startup Huddle Just Raised $24 Million

Calif.'s Coronado heads 2012 Top 10 beaches list

Beach goers are seen on the Coronado Beach in Coronado, Calif., May 22, 2012. The Coronado Beach heads this year's list of Top 10 Beaches produced annually by coastal expert Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach," director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

(CBS/AP) Like a Hollywood star, Coronado's 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand. That's one of the reasons why Coronado flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe's 1958 film "Some Like It Hot" has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University.

It is the first time "Dr. Beach" has given the top slot to California in the more than two decades that he has been ranking beaches in the United States based on their environmental quality and safety for swimmers.

Coronado Beach, on a peninsula across the bay from San Diego, has near-perfect Mediterranean weather and a postcard backdrop.

"I think it's one of the most super beaches around," said Leatherman, director of FIU's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Click through this gallery to see other beaches on the Top 10 list.

California's chilly coastal waters have cost its pristine beaches points when they've been up against balmy contenders in Florida and Hawaii in the past. Coronado Beach was runner-up last year to Florida's Siesta Beach. Once a beach tops Leatherman's list, it is retired from consideration for future rankings.

A child chases a sea gull on the Coronado Beach in Coronado, Calif., May 22, 2012. Coronado Beach tops the 2012 list of Top 10 Beaches produced annually by coastal expert Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach," director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Leatherman said Coronado is great for skim boarding (gliding on the water with a small, finless surfboard) and walking. The wide, flat beach is lined by majestic mansions and the Hotel del Coronado. Known as "Hotel Del," the National Historic Landmark with its peaked red roof was built in 1888 and is the last of California's Victorian seaside resorts.

Coronado is also the name of the swanky-yet-quaint city on a peninsula populated by Navy officers and some of California's wealthiest. It can be reached by ferry boat for a few dollars from downtown San Diego.

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Calif.'s Coronado heads 2012 Top 10 beaches list

‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ Red-Band Trailer – Heads Will Roll

Posted on Thursday, May 24th, 2012 by Angie Han

So far, the footage weve seen fromAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has been, well, pretty much exactly what youd expect from a movie called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. The secret history of our 16th presidents double life as a hunter of supernatural monsters is a premise thats deeply silly but potentially entertaining, and accordingly, the first trailers have been both kind of dumb and kind of cool.

But I do have one big quibble, and its that we havent seen nearly enough actual vampire hunting. Honest Abe (Benjamin Walker) wields his axe pretty much constantly in the footage weve seen so far, but wheres the satisfying splatter of blood and guts? Fortunately, the new red-band trailer rectifies that situation, offering up plenty of bloodshed, several explosions, a couple of decapitations, and even a bit of what the MPAA might call brief sensuality. Watch the NSFW video after the jump.

[via IGN]

Its impossible to tell from this point whether Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter will turn out to be zippy popcorn entertainment a la Fast Five or a muddled, overwrought mess a la Cowboys & Aliens. But at least it doesnt skimp on the violence, and it looks plenty slick thanks to directorTimur Bekmambetov.

Based on a novel by producer Tim Burtons new BFF Seth Grahame-Smith, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter also stars Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Rufus Sewell, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It hits theaters June 22.

Synopsis:

The film explores the secret life of our greatest president, and the untold history that shaped our nation. As a young boy, Abraham Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) witnesses the shocking death of his mother, leading him on a path to an ongoing war and ultimately to the presidency he chronicles in a hidden diary. The journal reveals the incredible story of a clandestine warrior who never stopped fighting for the country he led and the people he loved.

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‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ Red-Band Trailer – Heads Will Roll

Heads-On: MindWave Lets You Control Mobile Games With Brain Waves

The Mindwave Mobile headset lets you play games using your mind powers. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired

When you think of mobile gaming, you probably imagine Cut the Rope or Angry Birds tapping, flicking and touching your devices capacitive screen. But now theres a new way to play: with your mind.

The Mindwave Mobile Brainwave Headset is a $130 EEG headset thats compatible with iOS devices, Android phones, and, yes, even desktop computers. The headset measures brainwaves from your forehead changes in electrical activity, really which it then filters with complex algorithms to eliminate any interference from other electronic sources, and narrow down what those brainwaves really mean. Currently, the system can detect concentration, meditation and blinks, and uses these cues to control simple iOS and Android games.

When you put on the headset, you look like a dork. I dont think even Brad Pitt could make this thing look cool. Its definitely not the sort of thing any sane person is going to wear in public, but it actually works.

With the system properly situated on your head, you begin your Mindwave experience by pairing the headset over Bluetooth with your mobile devices free MindWave Mobile Tutorial app. If the headset isnt correctly positioned, an alert switches from Connected to Check fit. It took me about 20 minutes to get the fit just right.

Get a hang of focusing or relaxing with the MindWave Mobile Tutorial.

Once its on, its (theoretically) pretty easy to use. With the tutorial app loaded, you can focus on a math problem or an image onscreen, and watch your concentration levels rise via in-app meter. Conversely, if you relax and take deep breaths, you can monitor how well you can control your meditation levels. The system can also track blinks of different intensities. You can then use these techniques to play one of around 100 compatible desktop and mobile apps via mind control.

I checked out a few games, and overall the system was intriguing but not a replacement for other forms of gameplay control. Yes, the technology does work. Its just not very fun.

Within the MyndPlayer app, theres a product-placement title for Red Bull (the future of advertising, perhaps?) where you have to focus just enough to open up the can. If you focus too much, the can blows up. I blew the can up. MyndPlayer also includes a game of Tug of War, in which different opponents can be defeated by either relaxing or focusing as much as possible. Another app, W.I.L.D., offers a variety of different brain-controlled mini-games and challenges, all focused on navigating waking dreams using the powers of meditation and attention.

Put out a fire using your mind in the W.I.L.D. app.

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Heads-On: MindWave Lets You Control Mobile Games With Brain Waves

Button heads Grosjean in Monaco

McLaren's Jenson Button was fastest from Lotus's Romain Grosjean in practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Englishman was one of very few drivers to run the faster of the two tyre types, before a rain shower 15 minutes into the afternoon session.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso earlier set the pace in the first session, run in beautiful morning sunshine, by 0.365 secs from Grosjean.

Intermittent spells of rain wrecked the rest of the second session.

That meant Button's fastest time of one minute 15.746 seconds, which was 0.392 secs quicker than Grosjean, held for the rest of the afternoon.

Button, whose team-mate Lewis Hamilton was 11th fastest in the afternoon, said: "It's not a lot of running for a Thursday at Monaco. Hopefully Saturday will be a bit better."

The forecast for qualifying day on Saturday is that there is an 80% chance of rain, however.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa, showing improved form after being warned by his team to up his game following disappointing performances so far this season, was third fastest in the second session, just ahead of team-mate Alonso.

Williams driver Pastor Maldonado, who also ran the faster 'super-soft' tyre, was fifth fastest, ahead of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi was eighth fastest, ahead of Rosberg's team-mate Michael Schumacher and world champion Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull.

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Button heads Grosjean in Monaco

Stewart turns heads at Road premiere

All eyes were on Kristen Stewart at the Cannes Film Festival last night, as the Twilight actress turned heads on the red carpet in her a split dress.

The 22-year-old wore a daring cream embroidered halterneck Balenciaga gown with a thigh-high split on the left.

Kristen Stewart flashed some leg in a stunning Balenciaga gown

Stewart's On The Road co-star Kirsten Dunst sported a beautiful fuchsia Christian Dior column dress.

Kirsten Dunst looked pretty in pink

Michael Buble's wife Argentine model Luisana Lopilato also took to the red carpet in a strapless yellow gown.

Luisana Lopilato looked summery in a bright yellow gown

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Stewart turns heads at Road premiere

Boston Red Sox rally for 8-6 win over Baltimore Orioles

BALTIMORE The last time the Baltimore Orioles met the Boston Red Sox, they played baseballs version of the Boston Marathon a 17-inning contest at Fenway Park that completed Baltimores first sweep of Boston since 1994. And the last time Boston came to Camden Yards in September, they left with their season shattered, sent prematurely into an offseason of upheaval.

Its pretty clear that the Orioles have had the Red Soxs number of late, beating Boston in seven of their past eight. But these Red Sox arrived at Oriole Park on Monday surging, winners of eight of their past 10 games as they try to work their way out of the early-season American League East cellar.

While the key to the Orioles drive into first place in the division has been their quality pitching, Mondays series opener was far from the teams most polished pitching performance, one that ended with an 8-6 loss in front of an announced crowd of 16,392.

Starter Tommy Hunter struggled and the Orioles bullpen yielded three runs as Baltimore blew a three-run lead heading into the seventh. Baltimore allowed one run on the untimeliest of balks and another that was set up by a wild pitch.

Theres a lot more that went into that game than that, Baltimore Manager Buck Showalter said. We had some great opportunities. We had the go-ahead run at the plate. We made them get everybody up in their bullpen tonight and we only had to get two up, so hopefully we can get our sea legs back under us if theyre not.

Suddenly-dominating displaced closer Kevin Gregg who came into the night with a 91/ 3-inning scoreless streak over his last seven outings, lowering his ERA from 12.27 to 3.46 in that span allowed two runs in the seventh in a tied game.

With a Tampa Bay loss to Toronto, the Orioles (27-16) clung to their two-game lead on the second-place Rays atop the AL East.

With the score tied at 5 in the seventh, the Red Sox chipped away at Gregg. Mike Aviles hit a one-out single to left, following by a Dustin Pedroia double down the right-field line.

The Orioles then took a chance by intentionally walking David Ortiz who one inning earlier hit his second career homer onto Eutaw Street an estimated 442 feet with first base open, hoping to get an inning-ending double play ball.

But Adrian Gonzalezs sacrifice fly to left scored one run, and Will Middlebrookss single up the middle scored another to give the Red Sox a 7-5 lead.

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Boston Red Sox rally for 8-6 win over Baltimore Orioles

Natasha Poly Turns Heads in Green Gucci Gown

Russian fashion model Natasha Poly attended Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted red carpet premiere during 2012 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. 26-year-old sizzling diva put her sexy long legs on display in Gucci gown and looked delicious.

The starlet was looking absolutely stunning wearing shiny green leopard-print wrap gown with thigh-high slit, plunging neckline and long sleeves from Gucci Fall 2012 collection.

The gown was so elegant with a touch of drama & sexiness and Natasha pulled off the gown quite nicely. She paired it with fancy gold sandals.

Stunning diva, Natasha Poly opted for emerald earrings and a statement ring. She rocked dark eyeliner and red nail polish.

Natasha Poly completed her look with sleek ponytail. In short, Natasha Polys 2012 Cannes look was attention-grabbing.

So, what are your thoughts about Natasha Polys red carpet gown? Hot or Not?

Share your views with FashionFame.com in comment box below and also dont forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more latest celebrity news and red carpet fashion updates.

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Red Bluff brings home 11th section title; McColpin throws shutout vs. Wolves

Red Bluff shuts out Shasta for section title None

Megan McColpin hobbled down the first-base line in player introductions.

She then took the mound, and fired a gutsy, dominating complete-game shutout against top-ranked Shasta, as No. 3 Red Bluff won 4-0 and took home the Northern Section Division II softball championship on the road.

In the final inning, McColpin got a pair of quick outs in the air, and a blooper into the glove of second baseman Haley Harris to end it.

McColpin has compartment syndrome, a condition that involves fluid building up in limbs and can sometimes require surgery.

It's painful, and it's inconvenient. But it wasn't enough to keep her off the field.

With a section banner on her mind, though, McColpin got into a groove and forgot about the physical pain.

Fear quickly morphed into confidence.

"I already felt like I had a disadvantage, so I was a little scared," McColpin said, "but when I got out there, I was just focused on keeping the ball low.

"I knew my defense would back me up."

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Red Bluff brings home 11th section title; McColpin throws shutout vs. Wolves

Toronto stock market heads higher amid cautious buying at end of bruising week

By Malcolm Morrison, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - The Toronto stock market was higher Friday as traders picked up stocks that have sold off this month on worries about Greece leaving the eurozone and generally slowing economic conditions.

Facebooks debut as a public company helped overshadow news out of Europe, at least temporarily.

Facebook was set to start trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market at 11 a.m. EDT, the day after the worlds definitive online social network raised US$16 billion in an initial public offering that valued the company at $104 billion. Facebook priced its IPO at $38 per share on Thursday, at the top of expectations. The stock trades under ticker symbol will be FB.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 60.2 points to 11,390.88 while the TSX Venture Exchange was ahead 7.06 points to 1,235.13.

The pessimistic mood on markets has sent the TSX tumbling about 1,000 points or more than eight per cent to its lowest level since last October.

The Canadian dollar was higher as data showed that inflation was slightly higher in April while prices for gold and copper gained ground after selling off this week.

The commodity-sensitive loonie rose 0.1 of a cent to 98.23 cents US as Statistics Canada said that Canada's annual inflation rate rose to two per cent in April, from 1.9 per cent the previous month.

The loonie has lost about three US cents this month as tension over Greece sent traders to the safe haven status of U.S. Treasuries and away from riskier assets such as commodities and resource-based currencies such as the Canadian dollar.

U.S. markets were little changed at the end of a bruising week. The Dow industrials lost 156 points on Thursday following a disappointing read on the U.S. manufacturing sector in the northeast. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve index unexpectedly fell into negative territory.

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Toronto stock market heads higher amid cautious buying at end of bruising week

World Premiere of Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” Heads to Hollywood for Grand Opening of the Dolby Theatre

BURBANK, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DisneyPixars Brave, a groundbreaking adventure full of humor, heart and breathtaking action, extends its pioneering spirit to its world premiere on June 18, 2012, marking the Grand Opening of Hollywoods Dolby TheatreSM. The red-carpet event is a special presentation for Film Independents 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival. Premiering in Dolby 3D, a state-of-the-art imaging solution providing audiences with a superior 3D experience, Brave is an epic tale set in the mystical Scottish Highlands where the films headstrong protagonist, Merida, is forced to discover the meaning of true bravery. The film hits theatres nationwide on June 22, 2012.

With a spirited heroine and enchanting setting in the ancient Scottish Highlands, Brave represents some exciting firsts for Pixar, said Ricky Strauss, president, marketing, The Walt Disney Studios. We are proud that the world premiere of Brave will serve as the inaugural premiere at the new Dolby Theatre as part of the LA Film Festival, a fitting way to launch Meridas extraordinary adventure.

According to Ramzi Haidamus, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Dolby Laboratories, the 180,000-square-foot, 3,400-seat Dolby Theatre will be a world stage for entertainment and a top venue to host world premieres and launch events. The world premiere of DisneyPixars Brave in conjunction with the LA Film Festival is perfect for kicking off the next era for Dolby, said Haidamus.We are committed to creating the best entertainment experiences, and now with the grand opening of the Dolby Theatre, we are honored to host the best as well. This is the first of many exclusive and exciting eventsfrom movie premieres to awards ceremoniesin which Dolby and our technologies will play a featured role.

Celebrating 18 years, the Los Angeles Film Festival will make this special presentation available to Festival attendees with Platinum All-Access or Gold Passes. An additional Gala screening of the film will be held the next day at Regal Cinemas at L.A. LIVE for pass and ticket holders. We are thrilled to present the world premiere of Brave, a beautiful adventure story, to our LA Film Fest audience, said Festival Director Stephanie Allain. As DisneyPixars first film with a female protagonist, it fits perfectly with our celebration of Women in Animation programming well be holding during the Festival.

With its grand opening, the Dolby Theatre is set to be a showcase for Dolby innovation, including Dolby Atmos, Dolby 3D and other new technologies for years to come. The Brave world premiere is sponsored by VisitScotland.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Atmos is a trademark, and Dolby Theatre is a service mark of Dolby Laboratories. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. S12/25694 DLB-G

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, DisneyPixars Brave follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resourcesincluding her mischievous triplet brothersto undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, Brave is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor. Opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D in select theaters.

ABOUT DOLBY LABORATORIES

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World Premiere of Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” Heads to Hollywood for Grand Opening of the Dolby Theatre