TACOMA, Wash.?? Authorities in Washington say a former Tacoma Community College music instructor tricked a teenage voice student to take off her clothes off while singing in hopes she would reach lower octaves.
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The Tacoma News Tribune reports 37-year-old Kevin Gausepohl is charged with seven counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and one count of obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Investigators say he told a Gig Harbor High School student he was conducting a study on how sexual arousal affects vocal ranges. The girl was 17 at the time. She was attending the school as part of the Running Start program that allows high schoolers to take college courses.
Other students told investigators they were also approached by Gausepohl, who resigned in October and denies the allegations.
Information from: The News Tribune, http://www.thenewstribune.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Perez Hilton reports that January 24 episode includes a 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean' mash-up. By Jocelyn Vena
Darren Criss, Damian McGinty, Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling, Cory Monteith and Harry Shum Jr. perform on "Glee" Photo: Adam Rose / FOX
"Glee" has already dedicated entire episodes to Madonna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, and come 2012, it's the King of Pop's turn. A rumored set list for the January 24 "Glee" Michael Jackson tribute episode has hit the Web, and it features some of the late singer's greatest hits. Perez Hilton reports that 14 tracks have made the final cut, although the list has yet to be confirmed by anyone connected with the show.
The set list (along with who will perform the track) reportedly includes "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " (Blaine), "Bad" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Finn and Rachel), "Smooth Criminal" (Santana and Sebastian), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Quinn), "In the Closet" (Brittany and Santana), "We Are the World" (the New Directions and the Warblers), "Black and White" (Puck), "Ghost"/"Monster" (New Directions), "Beat It"/"Billie Jean" (Warblers), "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Kurt) and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Artie). This is hardly the first time the show has paid homage to Jackson. Back in 2010, the New Directions performed his track "Thriller," complete with zombie garb, during an episode that aired after the Super Bowl. The show has also previously covered "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "Man in the Mirror." Back in 2010, the cast of the hit Fox show had only imagined what it would be like to have an entire episode dedicated to Jackson. "I would love to do a Michael Jackson episode," Amber Riley told MTV News at the time. "You know, it's so many [songs that I love], but my favorite song by him is 'Human Nature.' I love that song." While Riley seemed psyched about the opportunity, castmate Jenna Ushkowitz found the possibility a little more daunting. "That's a scary, scary episode to do," she said. "[But] that would be absolutely amazing." Are you happy with the rumored set list? What's missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
TERNATE, Indonesia ? Officials say fast-moving mudflows streaming from the mouth of a volcano in eastern Indonesia have killed four villagers. About 1,000 others have fled their homes.
Mount Gamalama, located in the Molucca Islands, sprang back to life this month with a powerful, non-fatal eruption.
Government spokesman Yusuf Sunnya said Wednesday that days of heavy rains triggered flows of cold lava, rocks and other debris that slammed into villages near the base Tuesday night.
He said four people were killed and more than a dozen others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from broken bones to head wounds.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago with millions of people living on mountains or near fertile flood plains. Seasonal downpours here often cause landslides.
(No. 388 - December 22, 2011 - 12:55 p.m. ET) Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
?The Assad regime continues to indiscriminately slaughter Syrian civilians?even as international observers prepare to arrive in Syria. This desperate and increasingly isolated regime has no credibility; Assad and his backers must step down immediately.
?We call upon Assad?s remaining supporters to renounce this use of excessive violence and send a clear message to the Assad regime that these actions will not be tolerated.
?The Syrian people have made clear calls for change. The Assad regime has flagrantly ignored their desire for even the most basic of rights.
?We will continue to work with our international partners to bring further pressure to bear.?
On December 15, 2011, Canada announced a voluntary evacuation of its citizens in Syria and expedited efforts to help them leave the country as soon as possible. We continue to urge all Canadians in Syria to leave immediately, while commercial means are still available.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada 613-995-1874 Follow us on Twitter: @DFAIT_MAECI
By STEVE HUNTER
Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter December 22, 2011 ? 11:53 AM
A Kent-Meridian High School teacher and coach pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to a charge of communication with a minor for immoral purposes for allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old girl at the school.
Ernie Ammons, 36, of Black Diamond, entered the plea in King County Superior Court at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Ammons, who coached boys and girls track and cross country at Kent-Meridian, was handcuffed, booked and fingerprinted and then released Thursday after he posted bail. Bail was set at $50,000.
Several girls and boys from the track and cross country teams and fellow teachers showed up in court to support Ammons, who taught health and physical education.
The Kent School District placed Ammons on paid administrative leave Nov. 8 when the allegations first came to the district's attention, said district spokesman Chris Loftis. Ammons has been removed from his coaching duties as head track and cross country coach.
The court ordered that Ammons be prohibited from teaching, coaching, volunteering or holding any position of authority over minors while the case is pending.
Ammons, who is married, is scheduled to return to court in January, although a date has yet to be set. At his next court appearance, Ammons could receive a trial date or attorneys could ask for more time to prepare the case.
If convicted as charged, Ammons could be sentenced up to one year in jail and fined $5,000, said Ian Goodhew, spokesman for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. If convicted, Ammons also would have to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years because it is a sex offense.
Prosecutors charged Ammons Dec. 8 after an investigation by Kent Police, who cited him at large on Dec. 6.
A series of text messages reportedly were exchanged between Ammons and the girl from June 27 through Nov. 6. In an Oct. 13 text message, Ammons asked the girl to meet him for sex in the school's weight room before school, according to charging papers. The two also exchanged messages about Ammons paying the girl cash for sex.
The case came to the attention of school officials in early November when a student at another school who knows the 16-year-old girl contacted Kent-Meridian Principal Wade Barringer about inappropriate conversations between a health teacher at the school and a student. The teacher was later identified as Ammons. School officials contacted the Kent Police.
Ammons led the Kent-Meridian boys track team to its first state track title last May when they captured the Class 4A meet. He has coached track and field at Kent-Meridian for eight years. He led the boys track team to a second-place trophy at state in 2009. He coached the school's cross country teams as well and helped lead the girls team to its first state appearance in November. They placed 16th.
Ammons also has worked as a volunteer assistant track coach since 2009 at Green River Community College in Auburn.
Ammons is the second South Puget Sound League coach charged with a sex crime by county prosecutors in the last month. Prosecutors on Nov. 16 charged Daniel Gregory Lum-Lung, who coached girls volleyball at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, with third-degree attempted rape in connection with a 15-year-old girl he met in October at Kent's Lake Meridian Park.
Lum-Lung pleaded not guilty Nov. 28 to the charge.
Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.
Having played Andrew Jackson and next appearing as Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Walker knows a thing or two about off beat presidential-themed entertainment. Combine that with a wicked sense of humor and some talented friends, and you've got a bleakly funny new holiday card.
Walker, who featured on Broadway in "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" and stars in the upcoming "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," is a member of a comedy troupe in New York City called Find the Funny. Though the weekly show the group puts on is on hold for now (or, was supposed to be on hold, as his next film, "Paradise Lost," is now running into production problems), that didn't stop them from sending out this GOP-parodying holiday card.
About a minute in, what seems like a sweet clip from "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" turns into a smorgasbord of GOP presidential candidate greatest hits, with the voices of Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry substituted in for the words of some of the delightful little toys from Santa's workshop.
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We could sell everything and only be .012% in debt! Yay! RT @SenMikeLee: As of today, total US debt to GDP is 100.012%: ow.ly/87Rv1Il y a environ 6 heuresvia TweetDeckRetweeted by 7 people
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[blogpost: absurdvanity.com] Get Kerry Washington's VH1 award show look for #newyearseve | absurdvanity.com/2011/12/get-th?Il y a environ 3 heuresvia Mobile WebRetweeted by 1 person
You could be forgiven for thinking that, with 10 days left before a middle class tax increase, the House GOP freshmen would be starting to sweat the political implications this game of chicken over the payroll tax holiday.
But you?d be wrong.
Continue Reading
As they have for so many of the major legislative battles of the year, the freshmen framed the showdown with the Senate as a time to fight on principle, a prime example of why they were sent to Washington in the first place?the D.C. establishment be damned if they don?t see it similarly.
?Only in this town can being right be wrong. It?s the only place in the world where if you do the right thing you?re wrong. Are you kidding me? ? If you can?t start doing what?s right for the American people then why the hell did you come here?? intoned Rep. Mike Kelly, a former University of Notre Dame football player from northwestern Pennsylvania who often takes on the modulation of a high school coach when the freshmen step forward to support their leadership in fighting with Democrats.
?We?re $15 trillion dollars in debt and these people are telling you this is how you should run your business? Give me a break. These people need to get out of here. They drink the Potomac water and they get infected,? he said.
If Republican House leaders cave in and cut a deal, the freshmen might be the last to know?and their support could be a wild card. But for now, they?ve dug in for a long Christmas week battle.
The freshmen argued that a one year extension is vastly preferable to a two-month extension (never mind that some in their party didn?t and don?t want to see the payroll tax holiday extended at all) and that they want an agreement between the House and Senate that provides certainty to middle class taxpayers and to the patients and physicians hoping Congress would come through a fix to Medicare reimbursement rates. And they?re convinced that their argument will prevail with the public.
They were defiant?even as friendly venues like the Wall Street Journal editorial page took House Republicans to task for what they called a political ?fiasco.?
?Well look, I haven?t read what the Wall Street Journal writes. Usually I take with a grain of salt what I read or hear anywhere in the media,? said Rep. Andy Harris, a freshman physician from Maryland.
Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), a conferee, said that the editorial ?was all about politics of situation,? rather than policy.
?Democrats blame Republicans for night falling every night. Democrats will blame us for anything. They all know that one year [payroll tax holiday extension] makes for better policy,? Harris said.
If there are any lingering doubts among the class about whether this strategy best serves their political interests, few are showing it. Only three members of the class?Reps. Jaime Herrera-Beutler of Washington, Chris Gibson of New York and Charlie Bass of New Hampshire?voted against the GOP proposal to send the bill to conference Tuesday.
?The media is going to write whatever the media wants to write but the fact remains that there is a process to work out differences between House and Senate,? Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.) said.
Google Currents Is a Gorgeous Magazine-Style Newsreader for iOS and Android (iOS/Android) Currents, Google's long-awaited and rumored competitor to apps like Flipboard and Zite, finally launched yesterday, offering Android and iOS users a clean, attractive layout and a fresh way to read blogs, RSS feeds, and other trending news and topics right on your smartphone or tablet for free.
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This re-usable shopping bag was created by Singapore-based design agency One Paradox to promote Canon's 500D DSLR. The sides of the bag each feature an image of the 500D as it appears to hang from the bag's neck strap handles. More »
NASA sees Tropical Storm Washi's rainfall intensify over larger areaPublic release date: 16-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rob Gutro Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov 443-858-1779 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that as Tropical Storm Washi approached the Philippines' island of Mindanao heavy rainfall had become more widespread than the previous day. NASA's Terra satellite captured Washi making landfall early today.
Early on Dec. 15 when NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Tropical Storm Washi, (known as Sendong in the Philippines) there was one area to the southwest of the center that had heavy rainfall. When TRMM passed over Washi later on Dec. 15 at 1515 UTC (10:15 a.m. EST), heavy rainfall was more widespread throughout the entire storm. TRMM saw areas of heavy rain, falling at 2 inches (50 mm) per hour, in the east, north and western quadrants of the storm.
That rainfall analysis was created at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. using the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the satellite's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). The rainfall analysis showed that Washi was much better organized and bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the center of the storm.
TRMM PR data was also used to create a 3-D image from the same satellite overpass and showed numerous heavy thunderstorms were located throughout the tropical cyclone. The tallest thunderstorms reached heights of over 15 km (~9.3 miles) and were located in the feeder bands converging into northwest side of the storm.
On Dec. 16 at 01:45 UTC, NASA's Terra satellite flew over Tropical Storm Washi and captured a visible image of the storm using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. MODIS showed the western half of Washi was already over Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island of the Philippines.
Warnings in effect in the Philippines for Dec. 16 include: Public storm warning signal #2 for Mindanao: Misamis Oriental & Occidental, Camaguin Island, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte & Sur and Zamboanga Provinces. Public storm warning signal #1 is in effect for Mindanao: Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental and Southern Negros Occidental; and for Visayas: Surigao Del Norte, Agusan del Norte & Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato and Maguindanao; and in Luzon: Palawan.
At 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) on Dec. 16, Tropical Storm Washi's maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (57 mph/92 kmh). Those tropical storm-force winds extend out 50 miles (80 km) from the center making the storm over 100 miles in diameter.
Washi was about 230 miles (370 km) east-northeast of Zamboanga, in Minandao Philippines near 8.4 North and 125.5 East. Washi was moving to the west-northwest at 13 knots (15 mph/24 kmh) but slowing down as it interacts with land. As Washi slowed, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC)noted that convection (rising air that forms thunderstorms that make up the tropical storm) and thunderstorms spread to all quadrants of the storm. The strongest thunderstorms appeared over the southwestern quadrant this morning.
Washi was making landfall over Mindanao on Dec. 15 at 1500 UTC and will continue moving westward. The JTWC expects Washi to re-intensify over the Sulu Sea and make a final landfall this weekend in Vietnam.
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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.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Washi's rainfall intensify over larger areaPublic release date: 16-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rob Gutro Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov 443-858-1779 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that as Tropical Storm Washi approached the Philippines' island of Mindanao heavy rainfall had become more widespread than the previous day. NASA's Terra satellite captured Washi making landfall early today.
Early on Dec. 15 when NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Tropical Storm Washi, (known as Sendong in the Philippines) there was one area to the southwest of the center that had heavy rainfall. When TRMM passed over Washi later on Dec. 15 at 1515 UTC (10:15 a.m. EST), heavy rainfall was more widespread throughout the entire storm. TRMM saw areas of heavy rain, falling at 2 inches (50 mm) per hour, in the east, north and western quadrants of the storm.
That rainfall analysis was created at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. using the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from the satellite's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS). The rainfall analysis showed that Washi was much better organized and bands of thunderstorms spiraling into the center of the storm.
TRMM PR data was also used to create a 3-D image from the same satellite overpass and showed numerous heavy thunderstorms were located throughout the tropical cyclone. The tallest thunderstorms reached heights of over 15 km (~9.3 miles) and were located in the feeder bands converging into northwest side of the storm.
On Dec. 16 at 01:45 UTC, NASA's Terra satellite flew over Tropical Storm Washi and captured a visible image of the storm using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. MODIS showed the western half of Washi was already over Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island of the Philippines.
Warnings in effect in the Philippines for Dec. 16 include: Public storm warning signal #2 for Mindanao: Misamis Oriental & Occidental, Camaguin Island, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte & Sur and Zamboanga Provinces. Public storm warning signal #1 is in effect for Mindanao: Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental and Southern Negros Occidental; and for Visayas: Surigao Del Norte, Agusan del Norte & Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato and Maguindanao; and in Luzon: Palawan.
At 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) on Dec. 16, Tropical Storm Washi's maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (57 mph/92 kmh). Those tropical storm-force winds extend out 50 miles (80 km) from the center making the storm over 100 miles in diameter.
Washi was about 230 miles (370 km) east-northeast of Zamboanga, in Minandao Philippines near 8.4 North and 125.5 East. Washi was moving to the west-northwest at 13 knots (15 mph/24 kmh) but slowing down as it interacts with land. As Washi slowed, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC)noted that convection (rising air that forms thunderstorms that make up the tropical storm) and thunderstorms spread to all quadrants of the storm. The strongest thunderstorms appeared over the southwestern quadrant this morning.
Washi was making landfall over Mindanao on Dec. 15 at 1500 UTC and will continue moving westward. The JTWC expects Washi to re-intensify over the Sulu Sea and make a final landfall this weekend in Vietnam.
###
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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.
BAGHDAD ? Iraqi officials say a bomb blast has killed two Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad during an important religious ritual for the Muslim sect.
Police officials say Monday's attack on Shiite pilgrims in Latifiyah, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of the Iraqi capital, also wounded three people.
A medical official confirmed the toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the are not authorized to talk to the media.
The ritual, known as Ashoura, marks the anniversary of the 7th century death of Imam Hussein. His death in a battle sealed Islam's historical Sunni-Shiite split.
Religious pilgrims are often targeted by Sunni extremists who claim that Shiites are not true Muslims.
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) ? "All My Children" star Denise Vasi has joined the cast of VH1's "Single Ladies," replacing Stacey Dash, who exited after the show's first season.
Vasi will play "Raquel," a savvy businesswoman who is a friend of Keisha (LisaRaye McCoy). Charity Shea also stars on the show.
"Denise is the perfect addition to the 'Single Ladies' cast," said Flavor Unit Entertainment Executive Producer Queen Latifah. "She is bringing a fun, new element to the show."
The show was greenlit for a second season after averaging 2.8 million total viewers for premieres plus first encores in its first season. Filming for the second season will begin in January in Atlanta, and the season will air in early summer 2012.
"All My Children" aired its last episode in September. Plans to continue the show online were called off last month.
The former mayor of Stover has been sentenced in federal court on charges related to violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Scott Allen Beckmann, 42, of Stover, was sentenced? Thursday to 10 years of probation, including five months of home confinement and 30 days in a half-way house. U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey also ordered Beckmann to pay a $10,000 fine, according to a news release from Beth Phillips, United States attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
As a condition of his probation, Beckmann is not allowed to work for the state of Missouri or any political subdivision of the state, including the city of Stover. Beckmann resigned as mayor of Stover on the morning of his sentencing hearing. Under Missouri law, it is illegal for a convicted felon to hold elected office.
On March 2, Beckmann was convicted at trial of misprision of a felony and of making a false statement to a federal agent. While mayor, he knew that the superintendent of the city?s public works department submitted a report that contained a false public water supply sampling location and concealed it from a federal Environmental Protection Agency criminal agent; Beckmann then lied to a federal law enforcement agent on Dec. 19, 2007.
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Andrew Rannells, center, performs with an ensemble cast in "The Book of Mormon" at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York. The Broadway cast recordings of "The Book of Mormon," "Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" each earned Grammy nominations Wednesday night, an eclectic group of musicals that are still going strong. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Joan Marcus)
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Andrew Rannells, center, performs with an ensemble cast in "The Book of Mormon" at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York. The Broadway cast recordings of "The Book of Mormon," "Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" each earned Grammy nominations Wednesday night, an eclectic group of musicals that are still going strong. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Joan Marcus)
FILE - In this theater publicity image released by The Hartman Group, Daniel Radcliffe, left, and John Larroquette are shown in a performance of "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying," in New York. The Broadway cast recordings of "The Book of Mormon," "Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" each earned Grammy nominations Wednesday night, an eclectic group of musicals that are still going strong. (AP Photo/The Hartman Group, Ari Mintz)
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Joel Grey, left, and Sutton Foster are shown during a performance of "Anything Goes," in New York. The Broadway cast recordings of "The Book of Mormon," "Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" each earned Grammy nominations Wednesday night, an eclectic group of musicals that are still going strong. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Joan Marcus)
NEW YORK (AP) ? Move over Adele, Kanye West and Bon Iver. One of the livelier contests at next year's Grammy Awards will pit Harry Potter, Cole Porter and a pair of Mormon missionaries.
The cast recordings of "The Book of Mormon," ''Anything Goes" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" ? an eclectic group of shows still going strong on Broadway ? each earned Grammy nominations Wednesday night.
"We're in very rarified company," said Kathleen Marshall, who directed and choreographed the Porter-driven "Anything Goes," which stars Sutton Foster and Joel Grey and features such songs as "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "You're the Top."
Robert Lopez, who together with "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone created "The Book of Mormon," was generous in his praise for his rivals. "I've seen them both and I thought they were great," he said. "They're two big classics and they did a really good job casting and remounting them."
"The Book of Mormon" goes into the Grammy contest as the favorite, having already captured the best musical Tony Award among its haul of nine awards. Its cast album also hit the top 10 on Billboard's pop charts, which hasn't happened in decades.
But Lopez, who was last nominated for "Avenue Q," isn't predicting victory quite yet.
"I don't make any assumptions," he said. "I thought we were in good shape going in with 'Avenue Q' and we got smoked by 'Wicked.'"
Only three shows were nominated this year, a quirk of the process.
Only 25 cast albums were submitted, meaning only three nominations were allowed. If 24 were submitted, the whole category would have been passed over. If 26 albums were turned in, five nomination slots would have been created. In one of the biggest shocks, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," with songs by U2's Bono and The Edge, did not get a Grammy nod.
For Robert Sher, the record producer who put together the cast album for "How to Succeed," getting a Grammy nomination is familiar territory. He's earned six over his career and has now gotten one four years in a row.
When recording the album featuring John Larroquette and former wizard Daniel Radcliffe, Sher said he wanted to avoid having a studio sound to his CD, which he finds cold and impersonal.
"When I do a show, I think about the period it's set in and I try to get that feeling of period on the album because you don't have the visuals," said Sher, who hopes this year will mark his first Grammy victory. "The idea is to inject the theatricality of the proceedings in a dynamic way."
One funny twist this year is that "The Book of Mormon" CD comes with warning stickers on the cover due to expletives and vulgarity. Marshall laughs that one its songwriting rivals, Cole Porter, hardly needs any parental cautions.
"He's naughty but in a much more innocent way," she said. "He relies on the double entendre and lets us use our imagination."
Things work a little differently in Switzerland. The Swiss copyright laws allow people to download copyrighted material for personal use, which has had the entertainment industry up in arms for years. Amid all the claims of billions in losses, the Swiss government undertook a study to find out to affect of piracy on entertainment sales. The results? Well, let?s just say that the Swiss won?t be changing their permissive copyright laws anytime soon.
The study does stipulate that the internet is a totally different kind of distribution mechanism that allows users to access a raft of copyrighted content. However, the study goes on to explain that in Switzerland, piracy appears to have no negative impact on the amount of money people spend on entertainment. A Dutch study was also cited which shows that pirates often spend more money in the long run.
The Swiss appear fine with the reality that one-third of the adult population engages in piracy. The report says this is just the price that must be paid for progress. The entertainment lobby also got a stern warning of things to come from the Swiss report. ?Winners will be those who are able to use the new technology to their advantages and losers those who missed this development and continue to follow old business models,? it said. Burn.
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Public release date: 16-Dec-2011
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Things work a little differently in Switzerland. The Swiss copyright laws allow people to download copyrighted material for personal use, which has had the entertainment industry up in arms for years. Amid all the claims of billions in losses, the Swiss government undertook a study to find out to affect of piracy on entertainment sales. The results? Well, let?s just say that the Swiss won?t be changing their permissive copyright laws anytime soon.