New 'Star Wars' Movie Announced for 2015, Disney Buys Lucasfilm for $4B

 That disturbance in the Force you feel is millions of Star Wars fans crying out in joy. In the best post-hurricane news imaginable, Disney has just purchased Lucasfilm Ltd., venerable custodian of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, for a $4.05 billion cash and stocks deal. Kathleen Kennedy, who joined the George Lucas-founded company in June as co-chair, will be promoted to Lucasfilm president, reporting directly to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.


Best of all, Disney has announced that a new Star Wars movie is actually in the works for a 2015 release. A press release from the studio states that the movie in question will be Star Wars: Episode VII, almost guaranteed to be a post Return of the Jedi-set project. That’s very interesting, as the post-ROTJ Era has already been thoroughly explored in books and graphic novels considered canon by Lucasfilm. Will Episode VII involve previously established creations like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia? Or will it take place in a distant future with all new characters. No matter what, let the collective geekgasm commence!

As if this wasn't enough to scramble your brain like a Jedi mind trick, Disney says that even beyond Episode VII "more feature films [can be] expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future." A conference call with Disney investors further revealed that the plan is to release a new Star Wars movie "every two to three years," including Episodes VIII and IX. Apparently, part of Disney's Lucasfilm acquisition deal was a full treatment for a new Star Wars trilogy.



However, though Disney will technically possess the rights to the Indiana Jones franchise, the studio has decided not to touch that particular property. At least for the time being. The fact is, Star Wars is ready-made for endless permutations, with new characters played by new actors. The Indiana Jones franchise, on the other hand, is inextricably tied to Harrison Ford. Without him, you've got nothing.

The merger of the two companies hardly comes as a surprise. Disney and Lucasfilm have partnered for years on such events as Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and for the sale of Star Wars-themed Disney merchandise. Along with Lucasfilm Ltd. itself, the merger also means Disney will acquire visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic and sound design firm Skywalker Sound.

“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company in a statement. “This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value.”

George Lucas, Chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm, also says in a statement, “For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization,Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”

Is this the best news that Star Wars fans could have expected or what?

Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why.

I was reading this and thought it would be a good blog today amid all the elections, economy and all thats happening in the world at this current time. With all thats going on with the world economy this doesn't surprise me.

So what do these people know that we don't? After all these guys made their money off of the stock market and have been champions of the U.S. stacks and trying to make America viable again. To me this means the worst has yet to come and if these billionaires are dumping all their U.S. stocks then America needs to wake up and look out.

Personally I don't think we are at a end of this fallout yet and I believe it will get worse over the next few years. So read the article and make your opinions for yourself.

Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why.

Despite the 6.5% stock market rally over the last three months, a handful of billionaires are quietly dumping their American stocks . . . and fast.

Warren Buffett, who has been a cheerleader for U.S. stocks for quite some time, is dumping shares at an alarming rate. He recently complained of “disappointing performance” in dyed-in-the-wool American companies like Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Kraft Foods.

In the latest filing for Buffett’s holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has been drastically reducing his exposure to stocks that depend on consumer purchasing habits. Berkshire sold roughly 19 million shares of Johnson & Johnson, and reduced his overall stake in “consumer product stocks” by 21%. Berkshire Hathaway also sold its entire stake in California-based computer parts supplier Intel.

With 70% of the U.S. economy dependent on consumer spending, Buffett’s apparent lack of faith in these companies’ future prospects is worrisome.

Unfortunately Buffett isn’t alone.

Fellow billionaire John Paulson, who made a fortune betting on the subprime mortgage meltdown, is clearing out of U.S. stocks too. During the second quarter of the year, Paulson’s hedge fund, Paulson & Co., dumped 14 million shares of JPMorgan Chase. The fund also dumped its entire position in discount retailer Family Dollar and consumer-goods maker Sara Lee.

Finally, billionaire George Soros recently sold nearly all of his bank stocks, including shares of JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs. Between the three banks, Soros sold more than a million shares.

So why are these billionaires dumping their shares of U.S. companies?

After all, the stock market is still in the midst of its historic rally. Real estate prices have finally leveled off, and for the first time in five years are actually rising in many locations. And the unemployment rate seems to have stabilized.

It’s very likely that these professional investors are aware of specific research that points toward a massive market correction, as much as 90%.

One such person publishing this research is Robert Wiedemer, an esteemed economist and author of the New York Times best-selling book Aftershock.

Before you dismiss the possibility of a 90% drop in the stock market as unrealistic, consider Wiedemer’s credentials.

In 2006, Wiedemer and a team of economists accurately predicted the collapse of the U.S. housing market, equity markets, and consumer spending that almost sank the United States. They published their research in the book America’s Bubble Economy.

The book quickly grabbed headlines for its accuracy in predicting what many thought would never happen, and quickly established Wiedemer as a trusted voice.

A columnist at Dow Jones said the book was “one of those rare finds that not only predicted the subprime credit meltdown well in advance, it offered Main Street investors a winning strategy that helped avoid the forty percent losses that followed . . .”

The chief investment strategist at Standard & Poor’s said that Wiedemer’s track record “demands our attention.”

And finally, the former CFO of Goldman Sachs said Wiedemer’s “prescience in (his) first book lends credence to the new warnings. This book deserves our attention.”

In the interview for his latest blockbuster Aftershock, Wiedemer says the 90% drop in the stock market is “a worst-case scenario,” and the host quickly challenged this claim.

Wiedemer calmly laid out a clear explanation of why a large drop of some sort is a virtual certainty.

It starts with the reckless strategy of the Federal Reserve to print a massive amount of money out of thin air in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

“These funds haven’t made it into the markets and the economy yet. But it is a mathematical certainty that once the dam breaks, and this money passes through the reserves and hits the markets, inflation will surge,” said Wiedemer.

“Once you hit 10% inflation, 10-year Treasury bonds lose about half their value. And by 20%, any value is all but gone. Interest rates will increase dramatically at this point, and that will cause real estate values to collapse. And the stock market will collapse as a consequence of these other problems.”

And this is where Wiedemer explains why Buffett, Paulson, and Soros could be dumping U.S. stocks:

“Companies will be spending more money on borrowing costs than business expansion costs. That means lower profit margins, lower dividends, and less hiring. Plus, more layoffs.”

No investors, let alone billionaires, will want to own stocks with falling profit margins and shrinking dividends. So if that’s why Buffett, Paulson, and Soros are dumping stocks, they have decided to cash out early and leave Main Street investors holding the bag.

But Main Street investors don’t have to see their investment and retirement accounts decimated for the second time in five years.

Wiedemer’s video interview also contains a comprehensive blueprint for economic survival that’s really commanding global attention.

Now viewed over 40 million times, it was initially screened for a relatively small, private audience. But the overwhelming amount of feedback from viewers who felt the interview should be widely publicized came with consequences, as various online networks repeatedly shut it down and affiliates refused to house the content.

“People were sitting up and taking notice, and they begged us to make the interview public so they could easily share it,” said Newsmax Financial Publisher Aaron DeHoog.

“Our real concern,” DeHoog added, “is the effect even if only half of Wiedemer’s predictions come true.

“That’s a scary thought for sure. But we want the average American to be prepared, and that is why we will continue to push this video to as many outlets as we can. We want the word to spread.”

Article from © 2012 Moneynews. All rights reserved.

As always feel free to add your comments good bad or indifferent. Until next time

HT

10 Guilty Pleasures

Feeling a bit guilty about drinking that second — or third — cup of coffee today? Or the sinfully rich chocolate bar you snacked on yesterday? "Relax," says Doris Wild Helmering, renowned psychotherapist and author of "Think Thin, Be Thin: 101 Psychological Ways to Lose Weight." "Many guilty pleasures are actually good for you, either physically or psychologically — or both."

Take a look at the health advantages of these 10 guilty pleasures, and they may not make you feel so guilty after all:

Massage. "Massages release stress," Helmering tells Newsmax Health. Several studies show that massage reduces levels of stress-inducing cortisol and increases the levels of stress-reducing serotonin and dopamine, slowing the heart rate and reducing blood pressure. Massages are particularly effective for back pain, working better even than chiropractic therapy or acupuncture, according to researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle.

Chocolate. Dark chocolate is packed with powerful antioxidant flavonoids that provide many health benefits. A study reported in the British Medical Journal found that eating chocolate regularly decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent. Another study found that those who ate a chocolate bar weekly reduced their chances of dying from a stroke by 46 percent. And you'll feel better — chocolate contains both serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as an antidepressant as well as a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA) that enhances mood.

Coffee. No longer a vice connected with cigarettes, researchers have found the brew to contain potent antioxidants that fight numerous diseases. Swedish and Finnish researchers discovered that three to five cups daily — consumed by those who have reached middle age — can reduce your risk of dementia by 65 percent. With some diseases, more of the tasty brew is better. Male java junkies who drink six cups daily lower their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 54 percent, gout by 59 percent, and Parkinson's disease by up to a whopping 80 percent.

Vacation. "A vacation gets you away from your everyday life and allows you to put your worries away and relax," says Helmering "You feel better afterwards because you've been renewed." A study published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal found that stress and depression were lower among women who took at least two vacations each year.

Wine. Studies show that drinking moderate amounts of wine on a regular basis (two glasses daily for men and one for women) can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's by as much as 80 percent, and numerous studies show that moderate amounts of red wine lower the risk of heart attack by 30 to 50 percent. Red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancer, including colorectal, prostate, and ovarian — sometimes by as much as 70 percent.

Funny books and movies. "Laughter is strong medicine and causes us to release endorphins in our brain," says Helmering. "Our bodies are flooded with 'feel good' chemicals, and we have a better sense of well-being." Studies have found that laughter eases stress, boosts immunity, lowers the risk of heart disease, and decreases pain.

Video games. A large Canadian study found that video games game improve concentration, dexterity, and decision-making skills. In addition, says Helmering, they give our confidence a boost. "They get us away from feeling powerless — we have control and can change the game and start over."

Dancing. An evening of tripping the light fantastic gives your brain a boost. A 21-year study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that people who danced frequently lowered their chances of developing dementia by 76 percent. "Dancing provides good physical exercise, energizes you, and gives you pleasure," says Helmering.

Shopping. Shopping is stress relief that gets women away from mundane tasks, says Helmering, and it's only a problem if you're spending money you need for necessities. "It's OK to spend money on yourself," she says, and you don't have to spend large amounts for shopping to be satisfying. " I am a makeup junkie," she confesses. "If I need a fix, I go to Walgreens and get a new lipstick." A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology found that people over the age of 65 who shopped every day reduced their risk of dying by 27 percent.

Cat nap. Heart rate and blood pressure go down when you nap. Even a short nap will rejuvenate you and boost your brain power. If you nap, you're in good company — Ronald Reagan, Albert Einstein, Napoleon, Churchill, and George W. Bush all enjoyed an afternoon nap. "Going to bed early and sleeping late also qualify as good guilty pleasures," said Helmering.

"Most guilty pleasures are fine," Helmering says. "If you feel anxious, though, that means your 'guilty pleasure' doesn't fit your value system, so you should avoid it. But for the most part, enjoy."

Hapy Trails My Friends... The End Of A Era

THE END OF AN ERA.......

The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, MO has closed its
doors forever.






















The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.
Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a
loss, close it And sell the contents.
He complied.

Note the follow-on article truly the end of an era.
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold
at auction...

Roy's 1964 Bonneville sold for $254,500, it was estimated
to Sell between 100 and 150 thousand dollars.


His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of "This
Is Your Life" sold for $10,000 (EST. $800-$1,000).

A collection of signed baseballs (Pete Rose, Duke Snyder
and other greats) sold for $3,750.

A collection of signed bats (Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter,
Bob Feller, and others) sold for $2,750.

Trigger's saddle and bridle sold for $386,500 (EST. 100-150 K).

One of many of Roy's shirts sold for $16,250 and one
of his many cowboy hats sold for $17,500.


One set of boot spurs sold for $10,625. (He never used
a set of spurs on Trigger).

A life size shooting gallery sold for $27,500.

Various chandeliers sold from $6,875 to $20,000.
Very unique and artistic in their western style.


Roy's first Boots



A signed photograph by Don Larsen taken during
his perfect game in the world series against
The Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1953, along with a signed
baseball to Roy from Don, sold for $2,500.


Two fabulous limited edition BB guns in their original
boxes with numerous photos of Roy, Dale, Gabby, and Pat sold
for $3,750.

A collection of memorabilia from his shows entertaining
the troops in Vietnam sold for $938.
I never knew he was there. His flight jacket sold
for $7,500.



His set of dinner ware plates and silverware sold for $11,875.
The Bible they used at the dinner table every night sold
for $8,750.

One of several of his guitars sold for $27,500.

Nellybelle sold for $116,500.





One of several sets of movie posters sold for $18,750.
A black and white photograph of Gene Autry with a
touching inscription From Gene to Roy sold for $17,500.
A Republic Productions Poster bearing many autographs
of the People that played in Roy 's movies sold for $11,875.

Dale's horse, Buttermilk (whose history is very interesting)
sold below the presale estimate for $25,000. (EST. 30-40 K).



Bullet sold for $35,000 (EST. 10-15 K). He was their
real pet.

Dale's parade saddle, estimated to sell between 20-30 K,
sold for $104,500.

One of many pairs of Roy's boots sold for $21,250.

Trigger sold for $266,500.



Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures
of Robinhood, With Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland?
Well Olivia rode Trigger in that movie.

Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby.
Roy bought Trigger on a time payment plan for $2,500.

Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together.

Trigger even out did Bob Hope by winning an Oscar
in the movie Son of Paleface in 1953.

It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever.

Despite the fact that Gene and Roy 's movies,
As well as those of other great characters, can be
bought or rented for viewing, today's kids would rather
spend their time playing video games.

Today it takes a very special pair of parents to raise
their kids with the right values and morals.

These were the great heroes of our childhood, and
they did teach us right from Wrong, and how to have
and show respect for each other and for the animals
that share this earth.

You and I were born at the right time.
We were able to grow up with these great people even
if we never met them.
In their own way they taught us patriotism and honor,
we learned that lying and Cheating were bad, and sex
wasn't as important as love.
We learned how to suffer through disappointment and
failure and work through it. Our lives were drug free.

So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy,
The Lone Ranger and Tonto.
Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt. Friday.
Thanks to Capt. Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers and Capt. Noah
and all those people whose lives touched ours,
and made them better.

It was a great ride through childhood.

HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS